Guidecraft Cubes and Cylinders

For some reason I have a silly advertising jingle in my head . . .

“What would you do-oo with a klondike bar?!”

But I’ve changed it to, “What would you do-oo with some cubes and cylinders?!”

There are lots of things to do with the latest wooden toy we have been playing with from Guidecraft. 

These were wooden toys that were enjoyed by three very different little boys. 

I initially let them explore – especially Mr. Smiley, who particularly needs that kind of play to understand how his world works.

He had fun stacking the cylinders.

 

But he became a little baffled as to why they didn’t always stack easily.

I can’t tell you why . . . but it was much easier for him to organize the cubes.

 

And stack them.

Kind of.

Like any toddler he liked to fill the cubes,

. . . dump them, and try to fit other things inside of the cubes. 

Who wouldn’t?  I love tiny boxes!

  

So,  “What would you do-oo with some cubes and cylinders?!”

My ideas for these colorful, wood, non-toxic toys . . . .

• nesting
• stacking
• color sorting
• see how many beans or other object can fit inside each cube or cylinder
• have your child trace each cube or cylinder and then cut out and color them
• hide objects underneath them for your Toddler to discover
• have your child practice putting popsicle sticks inside each cube or cylinder (Starbucks no-spill sticks also work!) while you count
• use the cubes and cylinders to learn colors

And the best part?  Go win these great wooden toys over at Thanks, Mail Carrier, who is hosting a giveaway thanks to Guidecraft!  If you don’t win, you can purchase these fabulous wooden toys from the Guidecraft website for $20 or at Amazon for slightly cheaper. 

As a Guidecraft Mom blogger, this product was given to me for review purposes. I do not have to return the product to the vendor and I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

_____________________

What’s in my house?  An e-course in fermentation, bible studies from Grapevine Studies, kitchen fun with Cultures for Health, and Nourished Kitchen for dinner, with a little help from the GAPS grain-free menu plan. Blend that with a  Vitamix.  

Water Kefir Grain Giveaway

Finally.  It’s here.

I am giddy.

Stupendously excited to share a unique giveaway with you.

You could be the future owner of  your very own Water Kefir Grains. 

• If you are a soda addict – now is the time to give it up. 
• If you love juice – now is the time to put your juice into a healthier beverage and still maintain the sweet flavor you savor. 
• Struggle to remember to ingest your daily dose of probiotic pills but always remember to drink a beverage throughout the day? 
• Like a little carbonation?

Water kefir baabbyyyy.

This giveaway is for you.

Water kefir grains . . .




Unusual . . . yummy . . . healthy . . . refreshing . . .

EASY to make.  Easy. Seriously.

Everyone wins something in this giveaway – see the mandatory entry.

Enter to win

a

Water Kefir Starter Kit

(includes grains and strainer)

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 leave your email address in your comment.  All options are worth 1 entry.
 
(Mandatory) Click on the link and subscribe to the Cultures for Health newsletter.  (You will receive a free kefir recipe e-book to download.)

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. Read about The Nourished Kitchen e-course and tell me one thing that you would like to learn if you enrolled in it.
3. Read my blog post about making Water Kefir and tell me you did so . . . be honest.
4. What recipe would you make with your Water Kefir grains?
5. Tweet or blog about the giveaway and then come back and leave me the link.  Only once a day, please.
6. Tell me why you want to win some water kefir grains and how long have you been wanting to make this delightful beverage. 
7. What else would you like me to do a tutorial on?  Pick something out from Cultures for Health or something from your own brain.
8. Subscribe to my blog.
9. Leave me a note that will make me laugh! 

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 February 27, 2011 at Midnight


Author's Note: I was not given this product to review from Cultures for Health.  I purchased it over a year ago, BUT you will be given a new batch of water kefir grains and strainer. I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine unless otherwise noted.

I Am Still The Same

You may have noticed a few changes on my blog.  Or some repeated links in my blog posts.

For the record, I haven’t changed. 

I’m still blogging the same. 

Yes . . . I have ads.  I’m promoting.

BUT and that is a big BUT . . . I am only advertising those resources that I USE IN MY HOME.

My blog doesn’t make a lot of money.  In fact, if you tallied the time I have spent writing and the total of goods that I have received, I would still be in the red. 

Deep. 

However, I have prayerfully decided to include a few TRUSTED ads on my blog.  And really . . . I am just an affiliate. 

So when you click on them maybe, not always, but maybe I will earn a penny or two. 

Pocket change.

If I accumulate enough pocket change . . . then just maybe all of my pocket change will help me attend the Relevant Conference.

So who am I supporting?

• Yea, I have been mentioning the Nourished Kitchen a lot.  I’ve kind of exhausted all of my family recipes.  Now I blog about our meal plan experiences . . . . annnnnnnnnd the great e-course Jenny is offering (which I hope to sign up for).

• In the future, I’ll be sharing about Cara’s GAPS meal plan that I am using for our breakfast and lunch meals.  You can view more Information about Grain Free Meal Plans  over at Cara’s blog.  Or you can even sign up for Grain Free Meal Plans here.

• Remember how much I heart Water Kefir Soda? Well, I will soon be partnering with Cultures for Health for a water kefir grain giveaway!

• I also use a certain appliance that has made our whole foods experience SIGNIFIGANTLY easier . . . seriously.  And that is my Vita Mix . . . I hope to share with you all the ways it has helped our family.

• Last but not least . . . and perhaps my favorite . . . introducing our Bible Curriculum, GrapeVine Studies.  If you will remember, I wrote a review about our experience with GrapeVine last year . . . sweet sweet people.  Go visit their website . . . fabulous materials that use the WORD as the textbook.

 

So . . . yes, I have ads.  I wrestled with this decision for a long, long, long time. 

I’m still the same.  I’m not out to make money.  I only want to go to the Relevant Conference on my own blogging power through the working of the Holy Spirit as God guides me.

My blog isn’t about me.  I don’t want it to be about me.  When it comes down to it . . . I began blogging at the Lord’s urging.  I continue to blog for God. 

And that urging will be manifested even more  . . . but it’s time for snacks and school.

Just remember . . . I’m still the same.  (And I also have the approval of my husband in my endeavors.)  Bonus!

Email me if you have any questions.

Get Cultured!

I like to grow bacteria. 

It’s fun.

And now you can learn to grow bacteria . . . in your PJ’s. 

With some accountability.

At your leisure. 

You could even use it as a home-economics course for your school room. 

Nourished Kitchen has just announced its upcoming e-course, Get-Cultured:  How to Ferment Anything!

So instead of reading my blog, you can take a course.  You could become a certifiable licensed bacteria-growing specialist.  How cool would that be?

Sorry.  The title doesn’t come with a badge. 

What will you learn?

(Ahem.  I thought I knew a lot.  But reading the checklist of what the Nourished Kitchen will teach you . . . I don’t know diddily-squat.)

• Why fermented foods  are critical to your health
• How beneficial bacteria can actually work with your DNA to build immunity
• How to enhance digestive health through real food
• How you can make everyday foods like ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise that enhance your family’s health
• How to make yogurt and kefir using raw milk, pasteurized milk or even coconut milk
• How to make natural, low sugar sodas that are actually good for your kids
• How to make bacon and corned beef without added nitrates/nitrites in just a few simple steps
• How to preserve foods naturally with the lost art of fermentation
• How to troubleshoot when your home-fermented foods go funky
• How to ferment foods naturally and safely

OK . . . if this list wasn’t enticing enough to you foodies  . . . then here is WHY you NEED to take this e-course:

• You want to build immunity naturally
• You want to optimize gut health and digestion
• You want to give up processed commodity foods and start eating real
• You value cooking from scratch and mastering the lost arts of traditional foods
• You want to restore the proper balance to your gut
• You  or your family suffers from digestive ills or food intolerances.
• You adhere to a real food diet or the dietary guidelines of the Weston A Price Foundation.
• You want to SAVE money by making good food at home from scratch
• You’re on a restricted diet such as GAPS or SCD which places importance on the value of fermented foods

What will you get (for a lifetime) with this $149 class that lasts 13 weeks (or one week access for $20)?

A lot.  Originally, I had it all listed for you.  But to see a detailed description of the course, head on over to Nourished Kitchen.

What else will you get?  The benefits to this course are long lasting.

I am excited about the recipes . . . and learning to make coconut yogurt. 

I don't share this with you lightly.  I believe in the value of including fermented foods with EVERY meal.  My journey into whole foods and fermentation was initially LONELY.  There was a lot of trial and error.  And no one to ask.

But you have the opportunity to learn with a group . . . and gain valuable information that can provide true health. 

So, sign up.  Your gut will thank you. 

Registration ends February 28th (the price goes up March 1st) and classes begin March4th! 

Wordless Wednesday: Winter

Mommy Bear, Mommy Bear, what do you see?

I see icicles outside my door. . .

Growing . . .

  

Growing . . .

One or two more days and I will have my very own non-cave stalacto-stalagmite formation.

For more Wordless Wednesday posts, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom!