product #2

here is another product that i just love for kids. i found these at the pottery barn outlet last year before school started. the kanteens that i bought have more designs on the outside of the bottle but the function of these is just great. plus the added bonus of no harmful stuff...

• bpa free


• food grade18/8 stainless steel


• the inside of the bottle is not coated with epoxy


• flavors do not stay in the material because it is stainless steel...drinks always stay fresh

as i thought about the kids drinking day after day out of whatever bottle i sent to school with them, i decided it was worth the initial investment. if i want the drinks to stay super cold i throw them in the refrigerator the night before. they not only are the drink they are also the "ice pack" to keep the food cold.

~type to you soon~

a favorite product

let me first start off my saying that my opinion on this product has not been bought, coerced, or pushed in a certain direction due to some sort of incentive. this is something that i just really like because i really like it. they are excellent quality, have stood the test of time, are extremely useful, or they are just really cute...the majority of the time the last one does not come into play around these parts. i am going to tell you about one product today (more to come) that i think are a must with little ones.
1. the LLBEAN backpack...oh my word...let me just say they had me at hello after my sweet husband (was just a "friend" at the time) bought me one as a high school graduation gift (16 years ago) uugghh...did i just type that? 16 years!!!!! that makes me want to vomit a little bit...BUT that should really be a true testament to this backpack. i am still using it and it really still looks like new. no worn corners, zippers work great, no problems at all. so i bought the junior version for our little ones when they started preschool. "dub" is going on his 5th year of using his backpack and there is absolutely no sign of wear. "cheeks" is on year 3. g is going on one year but you could equate that to ten years of use and it still looks like new. these things are excellent. dub is going to outgrow his before it wears out and we are not easy on backpacks around here.
moral of the story...quit buying those backpacks you have to replace every year. these are not expensive...maybe $5-$10 more than a walmart backpack but you have to replace those all the time, sometimes mid-year. think of the money i have saved in the case of buying "dub" a backpack that i did not replace every year. this is one of those situations where quality matters.
link to the kid one HERE
link to the adult one HERE
now...go fourth and purchase ll bean backpacks
~type to you soon~

yard sale finds

retail: $59.00 bought today for $8 new in the box still wrapped in the plastic...the best part...i needed one, mine broke over a year ago and i had not replaced it.

i also bought a set of pottery barn dishes, glasses, coasters, 2 trays, and 2 cookie tins for a friends birthday. they suite her perfectly. they were still new in the boxes...retail over $120 paid $15.

oh my, what a day of savings:)

~type to you soon~

fresh from the garden this morning

the kids have already downed every little bit of this...i had one pea.

~type to you soon~

it's been way to long

photo credit: compassion dave

go ahead and give me the years worst blogger award. i know it has been ridiculously long since i posted, in fact probably no one will even read this because they have given up on me. so here is the long list of updates...

1. God has blessed me with an amazing new job. i will most likely be teaching 4th grade.

2. our garden is bursting at the seams with peas and strawberries right now.

3. i have done very few domestic things lately but i have done a few

a. make vanilla extract (post coming VERY soon)

b. transplanted lots of plants to different places in the yard that look so much better iin the new spot

c. made homemade yogurt (a great use for whole milk before it goes bad)

d. dried a serious amount of pineapple and apples that i bought from aldi and the co-op

for really cheap

4. but most importantly i have been spending as much time as possible my husband and children. returning to work has really given me a whole new perspective on time with them. realizing this, my goal for posting will be 2-3 times per week on the average. more at times when we are off and away on vacation and i can sit by the pool and type away. blogging really is fun for me when i am on vacation and have time to spend and be creative. its my own mini vacation on our regular vacation...i know i'm weird. no need to point out the obvious.

~type to you VERY soon~