Tropical Traditions Lip Moisturizer: A Giveaway

I don’t wear makeup.

OK, I lied. 

On rare occasions you will spot some mineral mascara on my eyelashes, all to rival a certain family member’s long lashes. 

I don’t wear lip stick.  If I did, I certainly wouldn’t let you call  it lipstick.  Just like if I use something that looks like a purse I won’t respond to any questions about said baggage if you refer to it as a purse.  It’s a satchel.

Likewise, I wear chap stick.

As do my sons.

The whole reason I wanted to try this chap stick out is because of Asher, who wouldn't have anything to do with posing for me.  He is the one who profited the most from this review.  Even before he entered the world he could be seen biting his lip.  It only happens when he is tired.  It makes for chapped lips.

Ezra was getting ready to go outside.  He loves the camera.  He wanted to protect his lips.  I got some cute pictures as a result.

He was concerned that the chap stick might turn his face yellow.   After all, the stick is yellow.

But it didn’t.  See?

Like most other Tropical Tradition products, once I sample their products – I’m hooked.  The Tropical Traditions Orange Cinnamon Lip Moisturizer is no different.  (It smells like Christmas!)

I could tell you a bunch of facts regarding this product, but you need to read for yourself. 

My personal favorite truth about this Tropical Tradition product:  you could eat it.  I wouldn’t.  But you could.  You know your kids will.  Could the ingest your current chap stick in safety?

Want to win a bit of Christmas on you lips?  Keep Jack Frost away!  By the way, Ezra was wondering – who is Jack Frost?

Enter to win!

RULES
Please, please, please . . .do not put more than one entry per comment. I will be using www.random.org to pick the winners.

Make sure you are logged in to Disqus or please leave your email address in your comment.

All options are worth 1 entry.

(Mandatory) Click on the link and subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter.

1. Become one of my fans through Google Connect if you aren't already! (It’s over there on your right . . . see all of the little people?)
2. Tell me who Jack Frost is.
3. Buy something from Tropical Traditions. When they ask you how you heard about Tropical Traditions, list my sponsor id (5498794). I won't make any money off of this . . . but I will get a coupon for other Tropical Traditions products.) 
4. Tweet or blog about the giveaway and then come back and leave me the link. Only once, please.

Remember, only #1 is mandatory. The rest of the entries are optional, but you MUST comment separately for each one.

The Fine Print: I will email you when you have won. You must respond within 48 hours.

Contest ends December 3, 2010 at Midnight

Author's Note: I was given this product to review from Tropical Traditions, and I do not have to return the product to the vendor. I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine unless otherwise noted.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have been rather remiss in posting daily what I am thankful for . . . but I have found that managing two blogs, and writing for two others plus having a newborn, along with all of my previous duties makes for a busy Jodi.

But I am thankful. 

Let’s see how thankful. 

If I go with my original thankful goal last year of listing 10 things a day that I am thankful for, then I need to write 125 items below. 

Here goes.  (Please give me grace for any typos or unintentional exclusions.)

1. Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for me (and the world) that provides almost minutely forgiveness for me!  I have asked God recently to show me what He has saved me from . . .  yea.  I’ll leave it at that right now.
2. The Holy Spirit that helps me to understand the Bible and convicts me . . . thus enabling me to change, be it ever so slow.
3. the Hottie . . . who is too funny, extends grace, loves me despite my popped balloon appearance right now.
4. (According to birth order)  Mussoorie and that she is still alive thanks to steroids
5. Asher – my helpful son full of gifts of service, words of encouragement, and homemade gifts
6. Ezra – my snuggly bundle of energy whom I can always count on to sit and read a book with or have a delightful date with
7. Gabe – the little boy who provides constant amusement and a smile
8. Naomi – forever my Sweet Pea who is a a joy and every so pleasant to wear around.
9. a fast and safe delivery on October 18th
10. our new house and that we didn’t have to do much aesthetically to it . . . it was as if God gave the previous owner a vision of how to prepare it for us!
11. My mom coming over to help on Tuesdays.
12. My Mother-In-Law for coming to help on Wednesdays.
13. Starbucks . . . it is only 2 minutes from my house.
14. my Sunday night Bible Study with beautiful women.
15. my Monday night Bible Study . . . filled with new friends and delightful conversation
16. Twitter – that it can bridge miles
17. all of the meals that were delivered to our house after Naomi was born
18. my sister who keeps me hoping with creative ideas
19. sisters and brothers-in-laws and their kids
20. Mothering Magazine
21. my father-in-law who helps us with all sorts of household projects
22. a warmer house now that we have fresh insulation
23. my texting plan
24. I’m thankful that I once lived in Colorado and India
25. 11 years of marriage
26. I still love my husband and want to date him.
27. We got to keep our swing set.
28. Despite having hypothyroidism and PCOS, I am able to nurse Naomi.
29. homemade pie crust
30. Endangered Species Chocolate
31. a great Dad who provided my excellent education
32. the Canada cabin
33. hand-me-down clothes from friends
34. our church
35. my laptop . . . it’s portable
36. my camera, Willow
37. Neo, who allows the kids learn how to use the computer
38. creative friends
39. yoga pants
40. my Vita-Mix
41. my new toaster oven
42. I love my bedroom.  It is such a haven.
43. book club
44. paperbackswap
45. great blogs that help me with school and encourage me in life
46. the hope that I may go to Relevant next year
47. I have only dated my husband.
48. I’m thankful that I learned to ski, backpack, and play games.
49. our house sold quickly
50. my sewing machine
51. I have an outlet – my blog, even though most don’t understand why it is so important to me
52. Green B.E.A.N. Delivery – ordering all my groceries on line
53. my great midwife, who is also my friend
54. all of my friends . . . I’m not going to mention you all . . . that would be too easy to fill up my thankful list!
55. that I live in a country where I can read my Bible in public, worship freely, homeschool, and so far make my own health care decisions
56. boxes at my doorstep
57. when the mail man brings my mail to the door
58. a haircut
59. no zits
60. deodorant that works
61. big driveway
62. trees in my yard
63. Cutco knives
64. stoneware
65. a good steak
66. when people show up with surprise coffees and they guess my favorite beverage correctly! 
67. the smell of baking bread
68. coconut oil
69. almond oil
70. SmartWool socks
71. Mountain Hardwares cool logo
72. raw milk and Mark and  the farm ours comes from
73. finally finding a pizza crust that I like (thanks Jolanthe)
74. silence
75. flowers
76. garden produce
77. Farmer’s Markets
78. the perfect Vanilla Latte
79. Christmas trees
80. Christmas music
81. being able to print without being attached to the printer
82. baby girl clothes
83. minky sheets
84. how precious Naomi’s room looks
85. miracles
86. a cheesecake that comes out of the oven without cracks
87. a shower after two days in the same clothes (not that I would know)
88. snail mail
89. coupons
90. organization
91. exercising without peeing your pants
92. diapers that aren’t poopy when you go to change them
93. a good nights sleep that is longer than 4 hours
94. the love Naomi’s brothers have for her
95. fences
96. living near a state park
97. canoe rides
98. bright houses
99. easy solutions
100. answers to prayer
101. having someone know you really well
102. feeling beautiful
103. hoodies
104. Dansko shoes
105. not having to wait long at the doctor’s office
106. good music like Jon Foreman, Toby Mac, 100 Portraits, Seeds of Worship, U2
107. Pandora – it’s free
108. knowing that heaven awaits me – no crying, no pain, no hurt feelings, seeing Jesus, clothes that you don’t outgrow
109. glue sticks
110. Hottie’s days off
111. the weekend
112. the Hottie’s new blog and our idea for it . . . now he just needs the time to write
113. having what you need and not having to run out to the grocery store
114. a family dinner full of conversation, no fighting, and everyone likes what they are eating
115. vacations
116. snow
117. the smell of spring
118. making a pile of leaves
119. the smell of Naomi’s head – or the top of any newborn baby’s head
120. making Operation Shoebox boxes with my kids
121. baking cookies
122. watches with timers
123. my inductive study Bible
124. unconditional love
125. sweet fellowship
126. when my children have ah-ha God moments

and there are more . . . but I met my goal and it is time to go celebrate!

Head on over to Conny’s blog for some more Thankful Things!

Tummy Time Tuesday: Caesar Salad Recipe

I really thought that Caesar salad had something to do with an conqueror.  But it doesn’t.

The Caesar salad actually isn’t a very old recipe at all.  The story (one of several) is told that it was created on a busy 4th of July weekend when the kitchen was short on food.  So as not to disappoint his customers,  Caesar Cardini (an Italian-born Mexican) hurriedly created what was first known as the Aviator Salad.  To make the salad appear that the menu was planned with forethought, Caesar assembled this classic salad at his customers’ tables.

Though not prepared tableside, this salad is a frequent accompaniment to our meals.  We typically create a modified version of the original recipe that the Hottie wooed me with when we were dating.

Caesar Salad (only if you use ALL the ingredients)

(Call it a Jodi Salad if you go with only the NECESSARY ingredients)

• wooden bowl
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• raw egg {ONLY if it is from a healthy bird that you could go visit} (optional)
• 2 pounds romaine lettuce, washed and dried
• 8 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese (good cheese is a must)
• croutons (optional)

(By the way, the Hottie strongly disagreed with me listing certain ingredients as optional.  To him – they are not optional.  To me – if I am making this salad with 3 kids running around and a baby slung on my hip – they are optional.)

Press garlic bulbs into wooden bowl using a fork. 

Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard  in the bottom of the bowl. 

Add optional ingredients lemon juice, Worcestershire, egg, and Tabasco sauce.  Work combined ingredients up the sides of the bowl so that the mixture doesn’t remain concentrated at the bottom only to drown the lettuce leaves. 

Toss washed and torn lettuce leaves into the bowl, making sure to thoroughly coat the romaine. 

Garnish with croutons and Parmesan cheese.

Green Bean Delivery Day

Excitement, for Gabe, is when the Green B.E.A.N. delivery van is parked outside of our house. 

He watches our delivery like a vulture, waiting to rip open the contents of our newly arrived green containers – hoping for a treat that he can soon munch on.

It is his brothers who get to bring the containers into the house.

And it is I who feels good about the contents of those heavy containers, often filled with items locally grown.

I am thankful for Green B.E.A.N. because it allows me to buy local, order online, stay within our budget, AND stay home!

First Things First: A Review

For starters, the rumors circulating about football star, Kurt and (his wife) Brenda Warner, simply aren’t true.  Yes, they are a rags to riches story BUT they did not meet in the grocery store were Kurt was a stock boy.  Nope.  Nothing like that.  But you gotta read the book to find out HOW they met.

What book? First Things First.  I highly recommend it.

For a fast, interesting, AND applicable book – this is the book for you (and me).  I honestly thought this would be a nice book but wasn’t expecting to read it as if it were one of my “vacation books.” 

However, the Warner’s excellently combined real life stories with practical application.  For example, I pulled a few “rules” out of the book and began applying them in our family.

• I’m completely OK if the boys dress themselves.  I will allow them to wear whatever concoction they come up with, even if it is glaring to the eyes.  I will intervene if they are wearing shorts, though, in sub-zero weather.  If the Warner’s don’t care that their children didn’t walk out of a Gap commercial, then I don’t need to either.  One less thing to argue about.
• I’ve always prayed with the kids . . . like at mealtimes, moments of stress, for ouchies . . . . but never “OVER” them – like as in a blessing.  So, at night I have been asking them their prayer requests and then entreating the Lord’s protection, asking for sweet dreams, and for their current and future spiritual walks.  I felt like an idiot for not already doing this – better late than never.
• At dinner, I have begun to ask everyone what their favorite part of the day was . . . hoping to inspire thoughtful conversation.

To pull three things out of a book AND actually remember them without flipping through the book . . . I’d say it has to be a pretty practical book.

Complete with color pictures and collectable football cards makes this book a hit for the entire family!

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishing for sending me this book to read and review.  I was not paid for this post, nor do I have to return the book.  It will remain in our family library because I really want Brian to read it.