Friday, September 26, 2014

Big News!



I wanted to share some exciting news with you today. This past week, after much prayer and thought I have decided to become a consultant for Usborne Books and More!

Why Usborne? 
There's SO many opportunities out there and I've tried a few others before. I have loved Usborne books since Chelsea was little. Every time we see the books the kids wanted to take them all home! They are just fun to look at and read. They get kids excited about reading!

That leads me to the 2nd reason why I chose Usborne. They aren't just about wanting to get people rich or sell more products. They have a bigger mission! Statistics show that almost 80% of kids from 4th grade and above are reading below grade level! Kids would rather play video games than pick up a good book. that makes me sad. I LOVE reading and want to share that with more families. I want to help them find books their kids will love and in turn, ignite a love of reading in them.


Ready for some fun? 
Join me Sunday night, September 28th at 9 PM EST on my Facebook page for My Blessings Homschool for an Usborne Books party! All you will need is your PJ's, computer and some snacks and get ready for some fun and a chance to WIN a FREE book! 

Will I "see" you Sunday night? 


Friday, September 19, 2014

5 Favorite Toddler Books & Setting up a Kid Library



What a better way to spend time with little ones than snuggling up on the couch and read a few books?  Or if your little on is feeling more independent how about setting up a book area for them? Today I have a few favorite books for toddlers and tips for setting up a toddler-sized library.

Favorite books for toddlers 

What Makes a Rainbow
Lots of fun in this book because as you read the story you'll make your own rainbow with ribbons.




Tumble Bumble 


Where is Baby's Belly Button 
We have gone through a few of these! It's a lift the flap book that's lots of fun to read!



Goodnight Moon



The Napping House




Setting up a toddler library
1. Kid sized shelf















2. A comfy seat

3. A trip to the library
Kids always love going to the library and mine seem to enjoy books from the library more than the shelves of books we have here. Take a trip to the library for some extras to add to your shelf!

What are your favorite toddler books?

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

You're in luck

If you didn't get to buy the bundle yesterday you are in luck. Because of a major server error yesterday many people were unable to get their hands on the bundle.  So to make up for the peoblems they have offered to extend the sale until 3pm today eastern time. So, if you missed it yesterday you are in luck! Be sure to do it now!

Click here to get your healthy living bundle.

Monday, September 15, 2014

3 Benefits of Homemade Baby Food +MORE




With three of my children I bought baby food you find in the stores along with the boxed grain cereals. Some did better than others with it. My son was not a fan at all and it took a long time to get him to eat any type of vegetable. Over the past year or so I've learned a lot about making my own foods from scratch and decided I wanted to make baby food for Miss Allie instead of buying it.Although she didn't eat it for very long (she was quite interested in what we were eating instead) I did enjoy making baby food for her for several reasons.


1. I know what's in it
With store bought food you don't really know where it came from or what "extras" may have been added to it. When you make your own, you put in just what you want and can even use your own homegrown veggies and fruits!

2. Fresher
We used a Baby Bullet to make our food which comes with these cute littler containers with a ring of numbers for setting the date that the food was made. That way when I pulled one out of the refrigerator I knew exactly when I made the food and how fresh it was.

3. Affordable
Jars of baby food may seem cheap at the time but have you ever taken the time to add it up? Lets say the jars cost fifty cents. Baby eats 3 jars a day (or more so that's about $2 a day times 7 days that's $14 just in baby food.

When you make it yourself you can buy food that you usually eat and save a small amount to be made into baby food. Out of one apple I would get 2-3 Baby Bullet jars.


There you have my top three benefits of making your own baby food! Some babies are ready for food and excited early on while others are more confusing. When is the best time to start? What do I start with first and how do I go about introducing solids to my baby?

First Bites and Beyond, by Kristen Burgess helps with a lot of these questions! Find out everything you need to know about feeding baby and get your questions answered.

Also in the first bites book you'll find: 
    First Bites and Beyond
  • How you can make homemade food for your baby
  • (And be sure it tastes good)
  • Use fresh, varied ingredients in your child’s diet
  • Fit it all into your busy schedule
  • Essential child nutrition facts
Here’s a deeper look at what you’ll find inside of First Bites and Beyond:

  • Get detailed info on all the ages & stages of feeding babies and toddlers
  • Find out why moms in the past had healthier babies
  • Discover why modern baby feeding advice is leading your child down the path to obesity, diabetes, and lower quality of life
  • Get the truth about a vegetarian diet and children
  • Review detailed solids readiness signs
  • Authoritative info about delaying solids (do you know when your baby should start?)
  • Picture guide to textures – know when your baby is ready to move up to new textures
  • Spoon Feeding vs. Baby-led weaning – get the inside scoop on which is really best for babies
  • Know how much food your baby really needs (and get an inside picture of how much that tiny tummy actually holds)
  • Combining breastfeeding and solids – introduce your baby to good food while you maintain your vital nursing relationship
  • Sample menus – confidently feed age-appropriate foods and amounts
  • Dealing with others – gain the confidence to stand your ground (and the respect of others when you do)
  • Raw food for babies? – know which foods can be raw (this will surprise you)
  • And there’s much more packed into the guide!
First Bites and Beyond is so much more than just a book – it’s a complete system for nourishing your baby – and freeing you from jarred food and hours in the kitchen.

First Bites and Beyond is part of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle! The bundle has six books geared toward raising healthy children to get you on the right track whether you are just starting out feeding your new little blessing or if you have older children who are struggling with changes you're making toward real foods. 




I've shared here about my tips for getting picky eaters to cooperate but it can be hard at times! We've made a lot of changes over the past year and I still get questions from my kids at times. "Why can't we buy ______ anymore"? They still desire some of the convenience foods we bought so often even though the healthier, homemade options have been offered in their place. I'm excited to read Kids Eat Real food and the book for picky eaters.





If you'd like to get these ebooks and ALL the others included in the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle be sure to do so today, at midnight the sale ends and it's gone for good!

If you'd like to find out more info about the bundle sale, take a look at the video to see everything you'll be getting when you place your order.


The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle from Ryan Langford on Vimeo.



Sounds great doesn't it? Don't miss out before it's gone!
Have you made your own baby food? What did your little one like the best?

Note: This post includes affiliate links, these do not effect the cost to you, only blesses my family with a small portion. 

Friday, September 12, 2014

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things....



Today I want to share a few of the books and resources from the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle sale that I'm most excited about. Remember, this sale ends Monday, so you'll want to grab yours ASAP. This is just a list of a few that I'm excited to read, if you'd like to see a complete listing of books you can take a look here and learn more about the authors here. If you have any questions about how the sale works, you can check out the FAQ page.


Making Organic Food Affordable


I like buying organic foods because I know that they are healthier but so often, the healthier stuff seems SO expensive! This book sounds like a great tool for helping me be able to get more organic produce to feed my kiddos.

More about the book:
Making Organic Food Affordable covers ideas, tips, tricks, strategies and resources to help you AT LEAST match what you currently spend on conventional food while you work your way toward ZERO organic food costs.

In one simple, affordable resource you’ll find:

  • 18 tips to navigate the farmer’s market and get the most for your dollar
  • Where to find the best wholesale prices or organic food coupons
  • 8+ ways to get organic food ABSOLUTELY FREE
Making Organic Food Affordable is not a bunch of hype. If you really want to get your grocery bill down to zero it will take a serious commitment on your part. But it’s possible and Making Organic Food Affordable will show you how to make organic food affordable in your own home!


A Practical Guide to Children's Health

Every day I'm reading something else about things we should or shouldn't use, eat, buy, or do. Many of those are kid related. I feel like I get so confused at times! This book looks like a great resource to turn to for lots of good information. 

More about this book:

In it, there are three main sections: Food, Health, and Environment. In each, there are several topics that are important to parents, like super foods; special diets; picky eaters; healthy snack ideas; milk, grains and sugar; healthy recipes; OTC medications; prescription medications; vaccines; herbal remedies for common conditions; sleep issues; herbal guide; alternative practitioners; organic clothing and bedding; car seat safety; and even schooling and positive discipline. These topics examine the controversial and misleading information and explain the options concisely.
The book is supported by over 300 primary research sources, largely from medical journals. The foreword is written by Dr. Tyson Perez, DC.
A Practical Guide to Children’s Health is a handbook of basic, well-researched information for parents to turn to when they need help with health.



Easy Beauty Recipes
It's not very often that I buy skincare or beauty products between the price and the junk that's in most of them, I just can't justify spending the money on them. This book looks great! It's got recipes for things like chapstick (which I use plenty of in the winter), lotion sticks and several others. 

More about this book:
Easy Beauty Recipes is exactly what the title suggests: simple beauty recipes that are easy and quick to make!

If you want to make your own lip balms and lotions, this is the book for you! All of the beauty recipes are made with the best ingredients for the best price.

Never made a beauty project before? No problem. You’ll be walked through the process step-by-step.

For less than the price of a grande nonfat latte, you can start replacing your store-bought beauty products with homemade ones today.

Beauty Recipes and Goodies Inside:

Homemade Chapsticks
Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub
Coconut Oil Lotion
Solid Lotion “Sticks”
Coconut Oil Solid Lotion Bars
Naturally-Tinted Lip Balm
Coconut Oil Lip Scrub
Whipped Body Butter
Solid Perfume “Sticks”
All-Natural Roll-On Perfume
Cute, printable labels for all of your homemade beauty products
Plus, info about where you can buy all of the materials you need!
The Urban Chicken
My husband is getting tired of hearing it....I want chickens! LOL This book looks like a great guide to get me started when we are finally able to do that! I know nothing about raising chickens and so I could use all the help I can get even if it's a ways off in the future! 

More about this book:
Are you interested in getting fresh eggs from your own backyard? Are you wanting some natural bug control? Are you just short on entertainment?

The Urban Chicken has answers just for you! From chick to dinner, this book will get you on the road to chicken ownership with ease. It’s packed full of vital info on coops, feeding chickens, as well as collecting and storing eggs.


42 Days to Fit
I've been attempting to keep up with exercising and such but I find that it's easy to skip or if I don't go run before the kids get up it's just not going to happen! I need a way to get myself on track and stay that way. To fit exercise into my day even with the kids and crazy happenings of a family with four kiddos and often many extras around. 

More about this book:
Are you interested in getting fresh eggs from your own backyard? Are you wanting some natural bug control? Are you just short on entertainment?

The Urban Chicken has answers just for you! From chick to dinner, this book will get you on the road to chicken ownership with ease. It’s packed full of vital info on coops, feeding chickens, as well as collecting and storing eggs.

Essential Oils and Natural Health E-Course

I've used some essential oils but would love to learn more about them. Wouldn't you? I know they can be used for such a variety of things around the home but how much, which is best and when to use them? This ecourse sounds like a great way to learn more about using essential oils. 

More about this Ecourse
Tired of getting conflicting information on essential oil safety and appropriate uses? Get the facts on how you can use essential oils in your home for healthy living, medicinal benefits, and a wellness focused lifestyle with a practical approach to aromatherapy in this online course. The program includes a close look at 12 different essential oils, an evidence based look at potential interactions and contraindications, and step-by-step instructions for dozens of useful and effective household must-haves ranging from body care products to natural medicine.
This course covers the use of essential oils in body care, as antimicrobial, for green living, in traditional aromatherapy, and even addresses the myths and facts surrounding the controversial internal use of these potent oils! Course content is delivered in the interactive student portal through audio lectures, PDF downloads, video demonstrations, interactive quizzes, and a personal course instructor for feedback, guidance, and encouragement! Once you begin, you’ll have a full 90 days to access the course content, which includes reviews of scientific studies and over 45 aromatherapy formulas for natural health.
This program includes video demonstrations, online quizzing, audio lecture delivery, and other features which require high speed Internet access for optimal benefit. Satellite Internet is not compatible with our online quizzing feature. All of Vintage Remedies’ programs are self-paced, and upon course completion, you do have the option of purchasing extended access or upgrading to an advanced course at a discount.

How about you? What are you excited to dig into from the bundle? 

Note: This post contains affiliate links. This does not effect the cost to you in any way, only blesses my family with a small portion. 

Thursday, September 11, 2014

5 C's of Babywearing


I found out about babywearing when I was pregnant with my third baby. I tried out a few carriers on my toddler son and loved it! I could carry him hands free and it wasn't like the store bought carriers that pull on your back. It was comfy!

When Natalie was born I got a stretchy wrap and and a ring sling. It was SO nice! Now about five years later and baby number four is here and I am often found wearing her when we are out and about or just at home. Here's my top five benefits of babywearing!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Healthy Living...Made Eas





We all want to make better health and lifestyle decisions for ourselves and those we love. We want to lose some weight, have more energy, use greener products, create nutritious meals for our families, get fit, and feel confident that we’re doing all we can to prevent serious diseases.
But it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the masses of healthy living advice out there – to the point where we’re frozen into complete inaction instead!
That’s where The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle comes in. For the ridiculously low price of just $29.97 (for the PDF version) or $39.97 (for the eReader version), you can get access to a carefully curated collection of eBooks and eCourses with a total combined value of $1,030.
The bundle contains a wealth of information from the very finest healthy living writers out there – but there’s no risk of getting overwhelmed! A useful Getting Started Guide is included with your purchase, which will help you identify the most valuable resources for your specific health priorities.
The Ultimate Bundles team has done all the hard work for you – finding the top experts across a number of healthy living fields and combining their products into one essential collection. If you want to take control of your health, there’s no better way to start!
The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle will only be on sale for 6 days – from 8am EST on Wednesday, September 10 until 11:59pm EST on Monday, September 15.
But don’t wait until the last moment – there are only 30,000 bundles available and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
You can buy with confidence because your purchase is covered by the Ultimate Bundles one-year guarantee: you have a full year to enjoy all the books and courses in the bundle, and if you don’t feel like it’s made a huge difference to your family’s health, you’ll get your money back in full!

Click here for more info or to buy now.



As if this great collection of eBooks and eCourses wasn’t enough, the Ultimate Bundles team has also partnered with 10 fantastic companies who’ve each agreed to give a special bonus to every buyer. The bonuses have a total value of over $200 – more than 5 times the price of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle itself!
The bonuses include free goodies aplenty: a bottle of Healthy Mouth Blend from OraWellness, a baltic amber bracelet from Sweetbottoms Boutique, and a starter culture from Cultures For Health. You’ll also get gift sets from Made On Skin Care Products and Homegrown Collective.
There are virtual goodies, too – a 4-month membership to StayAtHomeYoga.com and a 3-month premium membership to meal planning service Tradishen. And as if all that weren’t enough, there are also $15 gift certificates for TheJoyfulGiraffe.com, Strawesome.com and Trilight Health. There is a nominal shipping charge for many of the bonuses, based on each company’s standard shipping rates, and is usually $3-5.


Here’s what you need to know about the sale:

When? 7 a.m. EST Wednesday, September 10 until 11:59 p.m. EST Monday, September 15

What? 73 eBooks and 7 audio & eCourses, PLUS over $200 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!

Where? Purchase the bundle HERE.
How much? Well now, that’s the best part. The entire package is worth $1030, and it’s selling for less than $30. Sweet deal, right?

Click here for more info or to buy now.
Want to know exactly what’s included in the bundle?
Take a look through the categories, as well as the full list of eBooks and eCourses.
We think there’s something here for everyone, and don’t forget… our Getting Started Guide will show you exactly which resources cover the topics and health concerns that matter most to you!

Alternative Health & Home Remedies

Audio Courses & eCourses

Fitness


Gardening & Homesteading


Green Cleaning


Healthy Children


Meal Budgeting & Planning


Natural Beauty & Skincare


Real Food Recipes


Seasonal


Special Diets



Click here for more info or to buy now.
Remember, this bundle is available for 6 days only, from 7 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, September 10th to 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday, September 15th.



Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions about the bundle.
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