Giveaway: Introducing Love With Food (5 Winners)

Love with Food is a monthly subscription where you get to try out foods that are themed to go along with the season. I received January's box, and since many people have made resolutions to eat healthier, this month's box is themed to go along with New Year's Resolutions. Next month, being February, the theme will be based on Valentine's Day, and the box is appropriately themed Sweetheart Treats (for orders placed no later than 1/31).

Mommy, Is Daddy Sleep?

This is a picture of my precious 3 year old. Remember, he was the baby. And he reigned as baby longer than any of our other children had. He and I had gotten pretty close too. How I spoiled him. Not long ago, my oldest son moved his toddler bed into their room because he wanted him to be with the rest of them, at least for that night. His bed has been there ever since.

It seems he's not quite accepted that abrupt move into the big boy room. It wasn't done with the intention that it would be permanent, but apparently my hubby thinks that it was a good thing.

Lastnight he came to our door. All of his other siblings were asleep. "Mommy is dad deep?" he asked. "Huh?" I said. I don't always understand everything he says. He's been a little on the slower side picking up with speech (but trust me he makes up for it in wittiness). "Mommy is dad deep?" he asked again. I told my husband I think he's saying mommy and daddy, thinking he had something to say to the both of us. When my husband answered, he cried and began to walk away.

"Wait a minute. Come back." I said, feeling heartbroken because he was hurt and I didn't understand why. He opened the door and I asked him again what he was saying. "Is dad deep?" I figured he was saying is dad sleep, and so I asked him if that's what he was saying. "Yes." He was waiting for his dad to fall asleep because he knows that dad's going to send him back to his big boy bed if he's awake. I was so touched by how emotional he'd gotten, and after talking with his dad, we invited him in to stay the night. He gladly came in and greeted "his" baby and talked with me to the best of his ability and put his arm around me. It's still hard letting him grow up.

January's Cravebox and Tonight's (1/26/12) Cravebox Twitter Party Details

Check out the contents of January's Cravebox in the video above or read about them below. Also there is a Cravebox Twitter Party taking place tonight at 9pm est. Topics discussed will include

• Healthy Ways to Cook
• How to Keep Up Your Energy
• Must Have Beauty Products 
• And Much More

Prizes will be given out every 10 minutes which will include items from the Cravebox, and you may win a Cravebox for yourself. Check out the SheSpeaks site to RSVP and find out more.

Now back on to the contents. You may remember I shared clues which included:

• Healthy Way to Cook Your Food
• Keeping Track Every Step of the Way
• Must Have Addition to Your Beauty Regimen
• Extra Boost to Keep You Energetic All Day
• Stay Informed on How to Keep Healthy

The items I received were Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a 5 ounce size, a S2HSTEP pedometer, Mèreadesso Face and Neck Toning Gel, Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mix and a Prevention Magazine + a 1 Year Subscription.

I was just using olive oil lastnight in place of just any other old oil and doing so just made me feel good because i've heard positive things about olive oil in the past, which I will hopefully get around to sharing in one of my health tips posts. 

Yes I do realize I personally do need to walk more, but the cold weather makes it somewhat inconvenient at this time. I mentioned how my husband's job requires lots of walking, so i'm thinking i'll pass it on to him. I think he'd really like to know how many steps he takes daily. I told him that I think i'm starting to see the effect of all the walking he's doing, and I think a pedometer will inspire him to walk a little further. Besides, it happens to be his favorite color, blue. It was also interesting to see that according to the box that you can get rewards. I checked out these rewards and they range from ringtones to giftcards and more. How's that for motivation??

Next is the Mèreadesso Woman face + neck toning gel in a 1.7 oz size. Pretty much enough said right there. I don't know if i'm personally ready to use it, but perhaps I can find someone if I decide that it's not for me.

Emergen-C. This one is a bonus for me. I can totally use this with 5 kids with whom i'm home all day. It's tangerine flavored and is packed with 24 nutrients and 7 B vitamins. Designed to give me energy . Yes!

Lastly there's the Prevention magazine. At first I thought it was only the magazine in the box, but found out I scored again because i'm getting a years' worth.

It is my understanding that Cravebox opened a few more spots which were filled randomly from those already on the waiting list. If you want in, you can sign up here to be notified when more spots become open.

Are You Getting Enough Water?

You've probably heard different takes on how much water you should be drinking. I've heard at least three. One says that you should drink at least 8 cups or 64 ounces a day. Then there's the one where you do a little math factoring in your weight. Most recently I heard just drink until you feel satisfied.

Your Complete Guide to Free Tax Tools - Yahoo! Finance

Found this on Yahoo. I know that tax season is here and I hope that someone find this useful.

Your Complete Guide to Free Tax Tools - Yahoo! Finance

Yum Yum Dishes Make a Great Idea for Portion Control. Save 20% With This Coupon Code..

Snack-time can definitely get crazy. It often takes place in front of the television which means that you easily lose track of how much you've really eaten. That is until you reach down into the bag and are feeling the bottom of it. I was recently introduced to Yum Yum Dishes, which make it possible to make sure you aren't over doing it.

See how it fits right in the palm of my hand? These porcelain dishes are designed with adults and children in mind. They come in bright, attractive colors and a little message, "Yum Yum time is..." and when you get to the bottom after finishing your snack, you see "Over." I like that the bowls come with lids, which makes it ideal for taking snacks on the go, or easily refilling them during road trips. Kids like them because they have something that's all theirs. 

Yum Yum Dishes also recently introduced plates, so that you can insure portion control for a full meal. These are designed so that you know exactly what proportion you should put for each food group without overdoing it.

Yum Yum Dishes come in sets of four and are available for purchase online at YumYumDish.com. I also have a code for my readers where you can save 20% off of your total order. All you have to do is enter code NEWYOU (no space all caps). This offer will end 2/29/12.

*I was sent a product to facilitate this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Company Store Helps Keep Children Warm BOG(ive)O

Updated to show that this program will last through the end of March

• Families comprise nearly 40% of the homeless population and are its fastest growing segment
• This year 3.5 million people will experience homelessness in the United States
• One out of every 50 children will experience homelessness before the age of 18
• More than 200,000 children are homeless in America tonight
• More than 1.3 million children will experience homelessness this year
• 15% of Americans live in poverty, including 1 in 5 children
• Every 29 seconds a child is born into poverty in the United States

The Company Store is working along with Family Promise, the nation's leading non-profit committed to helping homeless and low income families to achieve lasting independence. For every comforter purchased through the Buy One, Give One Comforter Program through the end of March, The Company Store will donate a new comforter to a child in need. When a customer places an order through this initiative, a comforter is automatically donated to a child in need. What a great way to give to someone in need that doesn't cost you anything extra.

*I was offered a free gift in exchange for this post.