Off the Farm: OMG, You Mean I'm Really OFF the Farm

Yes I did!
I went on a lovely hike with my hubby to a couple of alpine lakes - Diamond Lake and Cliff lake.

Here is the first part of the hike:




I'll show you the second half at another time.
It was quite snowy.

Bloomin' in June - Review and Giveaway: Boudreaux's Butt Bath and Baby Butt Smooth

WHAT?!
I can hear you all now.
I know!
I don't have kids - well except for this kind...

...and they don't need soap. They help me MAKE soap!

But (one T) I have to say these products are good for adults too!
The Baby Butt Smooth Dry Skin Ointment is wonderful! It is thick and rich but not at all greasy or heavy. It has a very light smell that is very pleasant.

I have been using it on my hands - I wash them more times a day than I can count - and my hands have been nice and soft.

Here is some info from the site:

• Can be used daily to keep your baby's skin moisturized
• Peruvian Balsam for healthy skin
• Moisturizes & softens skin after bathing

Next the hubby tried the Body Wash and Shampoo.
He said he liked the way it lathered up. It cleaned his hair very well and it left it feeling nice and soft - I can attest to that! It also has a very pleasant, light scent.

Here is the info from the site:

Boudreaux's Baby Butt Bath^™ is a gentle non-irritating formula for infants and children that restores moisture to delicate skin and helps prevent the drying effects of cleansing.

Effectiveness

• Soothes irritated skin
• Tear free
• PH-balanced
• Non-irritating

Obviously if you have kids these would be great for them too! And guess what?! I have a set for one winner!

How do you win? It's easy!
But first a rule:

US only as I am shipping these and they are a touch heavy.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to Boudreaux's page and tell me something else you might want to try.  Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and Boudreaux's are helping you to have soft skin @http://tinyurl.com/2ftd2kr #giveaway

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Broken Teepee and Boudreaux's(this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
4. "Like" Boudreaux's Butt Paste on Facebook and tell them Broken Teepee sent you 

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.



All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on July 14th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner.  He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received samples from Boudreaux's gratis.  Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free product. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Bloomin' in June - Review and Giveaway: Juni by XANGO

I have to say that I am truly Bloomin' this June!
I have had the opportunity to try some really wonderful products and there are a few more I am going to tell you about.

Today I get to share a wonderful line with you, Juni by XANGO. I received a sample kit that had me covered from head to toe. A lovely little bag had shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion and a bar of soap. Before I get to how lovely I felt after I got out of my shower, here is a bit about the Juni story:


The Juni family of products is a family that embraces simplicity, purity and safety. It is a gentle line of hair and body care that appreciates the same things that you and your family love. Safe and effective for all ages, you can confidently use Juni as your primary care for children, adults and everyone in between.


Pure Goodness Inside
Every ounce of Juni is enriched with an exclusive blend of mangosteen actives, saturating your skin, scalp and follicles with phytonutrient goodness. Combined with pure botanicals and fresh lavender—the signature essential oil blend—Juni calms, cleanses, purifies and hydrates your hair and body. When you use Juni Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Body Lotion and Body Bar, you’re giving your family the very best in its simplest, purest form.


A Natural Clean
Society may have gotten comfortable with sulfates, silicones and other painless poisons that perk up the outward appearance. But you haven’t. You don’t want hair that shows a chemical glow… you want hair that shines with good health! You want skin that is clean, fresh and free to breathe. Ready to take responsibility, Juni offers wholesome hair & body products that blend the most powerful phytonutrients of the mangosteen with other family-friendly botanicals for a pure and simple revitalization that doesn't go against nature. It’s a natural clean. 


Mother Approved
Every mother’s desire is to keep her loved ones safe. That’s what makes choosing Juni so easy. Juni sets the same high standards of care as safety-conscious mothers everywhere. Juni products are safe, gentle, effective and preferable for everyone. No harsh chemicals, synthetic dyes, sulfates or unwanted substances allowed. Juni is your first step to happy hair and body. The more you use Juni, the healthier your skin and hair become. Feel good about what your family uses every day. 


I took myself into the shower with the body wash, the shampoo and the conditioner. They all have a soft. lovely scent. The shampoo did a good job on my long hair - nice and squeaky clean just like I want. The conditioner didn't leave any icky residue but my hair was easy to comb out afterward. The body wash lathered up very nicely and left me feeling fresh and clean.

After I dried myself off I used the body lotion - it is light yet did a good job of moisturizing my skin. The scent was not at all overpowering and was pleasant. 


I was very happy with these products and I am sure you will be too!

And guess what? Two lucky readers will get to try the Juni by XANGO line for themselves!
How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:


US only
No PO Boxes


MANDATORY ENTRY:


Go to the XANGO site and tell me another product you would like to try. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.


EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and Juni by XANGO are providing a great, pure line of bath products @http://tinyurl.com/35jqsp2  #giveaway

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Broken Teepee and XANGO(this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
4. Tell me something you learned about Mangosteen
5. "Like" Juni on Facebook and tell them Broken Teepee sent you 

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.


All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on July 13th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winners. They will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose new winners.


Good luck everyone.


Disclosure:  I received a gratis sample kit of Juni by XANGO products. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free products.  I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Blog Tour and Book Review: Missing Max by Karen Young

From the Publisher's Website:

It took precious seconds of 16-year-old Melanie's diverted attention at the Mardi Gras parade for someone to take baby Max from his stroller. Another hour for police to present Max's mom, Jane, with all the kidnapper left behind...one small shoe.

Six months later, the family is in a turmoil they cannot seem to escape. Max is out there somewhere - Jane is certain and she won't stop until she finds him - while Melanie takes a horrific step to make amends for those few seconds of attention lapse. Kyle doesn't know who to comfort first and, even if he could determine whether his wife or daughter needs him most, he can't put aside his own anguish over his missing infant son to chart a corrective course of action.

With their marriage on the rocks and a teenager taking matters into her own hands, can this family survive MISSING MAX?

About the Author:

 

Karen Young has sold over 10 million copies of her emotion-filled tales. She has penned romance, romantic suspense, and thrillers, but always keeps romance at the core of her stories.

After a nomadic lifestyle involving 25 moves, Karen has settled in Texas and fallen in love with its culture. To learn more - including how you could win a Kindle! - visit www.KarenYoung.net. 

My Opinion:

This book grabs you from the start. It opens in New Orleans at Mardi Gras when Jane leaves her infant son with her step-daughter and a friend to get some food. A medical emergency pulls Jane's friend Christine away from the baby and Jane's step-daughter Melanie is distracted by a parade float with some high school boys.  In that instant baby Max is kidnapped.  The only thing the police find is his stroller and one baby shoe.

The book then skips to six months later and shows us how the family is coping - or not. Each family member blames themself and another for the loss of the baby. They are falling apart as a family. Will they be able to come back together?

Jane is falling behind at work and throwing herself into helping others as a volunteer for a child search program. Kyle, her husband blames Jane for leaving Max with Melanie and drowns himself in work and moves into the spare bedroom. Melanie concocts the scariest idea of all - I won't tell you what, it will spoil a major plot point.

The book moved along quickly and was easy to read. It was not entirely believable but if you just suspend your belief and go along with the story it is a good, suspenseful book for an afternoon's read. I found myself involved with the characters even as I was thinking - this is just so stupid. The ending was satisfying.

 

 

Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of Missing Max from Glass Road Public Relations. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

 

Managing Your Stress Level from Making Work at Home Work

As you may remember, I recently partnered up with Making Work at Home Work as a blogger.


Expanding and Contracting: Managing Your Stress Level
By Mary M. Byers
My work is seasonal. I make about 30% of my income for the entire year in one month! That's
the good news. The bad news is that it can be stressful getting through such a busy time. That's
where the concept of "Expanding and Contracting" comes in.

Expanding and contracting requires making a conscious decision regarding how big your life
view is going to be at any given time. For example, I once had a speaking engagement in my
home town. Since my mother lived there, I decided to take my children along so they could
spend some time with grandma.

Several weeks before the engagement, my world view was still large. I could look at the
calendar for the entire month, make plans for later in the summer, and keep an active “To
Do” list for the week. As the engagement approached, however, I narrowed my focus to
getting my presentation ready and getting myself and the kids packed. The day before our
departure, getting out the door and to Grandma’s house was ALL I focused on. As soon as my
presentation was over, however, I was able to expand my focus again and begin planning for
our next trip—a family vacation.

You’ve probably used these concepts of expanding and contracting without even knowing
it. Think about the last time you had friends over for dinner. When you called to extend the
invitation, your life view was still large. As you approached the day of the meal, your view
contracted as you began to plan the menu and make your grocery list. The day of the event,
your view likely contracted even more, to the point of being focused on straightening the house
and getting the food prepared. After your guests arrived, your view could begin to expand again
and by the time they left, you were probably already thinking ahead to what the next day would
bring.

Expanding and contracting your view is extremely useful in staving off stress. As I view my
calendar some days and an overwhelmed feeling starts creeping over me, I simply take a
deep breathe (or two, or three, or ten, depending on the situation!) and ask myself, “How can
I contract my focus?” Doing so keeps me from being paralyzed and gives me a focal point
toward which to direct my energy. It's an extremely effective means of staying sane when you're
running a home and a business under one roof. Having a laser focus is necessary sometimes
just to get you through the day.

What techniques do you use to help you get through your work-related
busy times? E-mail me at mbyers@marybyers.com and I'll share your tricks in my next
post. Until then, now that I'm done traveling for awhile, I'm expanding my focus again and it
feels good!

______________________

Mary Byers is the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully
Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof. You can learn more about
making work at home work by subscribing to Mary’s free blog at www.makingworkathomework.com. Interested in
more articles like this? Join the blog ring here.

Bloomin' in June - Review and Giveaway: Resveratrol Collagen Enhance 1000

I ain't no spring chicken - as they say.
So my face isn't what it used to be.
*sigh*
Good thing my hubby's eyesight isn't what IT used to be.

Now I am not one to go running to put poison in my face to make it line free. I figure I earned those lines. I am not against a little cream here and a little serum there but with all the reading I have done about the chemicals in most commercial products I am sticking to organic and natural creams, thank you very much.

When I started my Bloomin' in June series I was contacted by ResVitale to see if I wanted to try their Collagen Enhance 1000. It's an organic, all natural supplement made from grape skins. Cool, huh?

Here is the scoop straight from the ResVitale site:
Resveratrol is a powerful polyphenol found in the skin, seeds, stem and vine of red wine grapes that exerts significant antioxidant properties. Thought to serve as one explanation for the French Paradox - the idea that the French have a remarkably low incidence of heart disease compared to Americans despite a diet rich in high-fat foods - Resveratrol has over 2,000 associated clinical studies documenting the amazing benefits. 

Harvard University biochemists believe that Resveratrol turns on the sirtuin gene, also known as the SIRT1 'longevity gene.' By activating this gene, scientists believe Resveratrol mimics the effects of caloric restriction, which is thought to slow the aging process by limiting dietary energy intake. Resveratrol is also thought to slow many of the degenerative effects associated with aging and may potentially increase lifespan. Some of these health benefits may include protection from Alzheimer's Disease, Arthritis, cardiac disease and certain forms of cancer.

Trans-Resveratrol, the bioactive form of the Resveratrol polyphenol, has been proven in clinical studies to activate SIRT1 and enhance cellular productivity. Trans-Resveratrol has also been shown to increase the number of mitochondria in cells, thus increasing energy capacity and enhancing sensorimotor function. 

I have been taking the pills for just about a month now and while I don't look 20 again (heh) I do feel my skin is looking a bit brighter and feels a bit softer. I will say these are big, honkin' pills though.
I have the worst problem swallowing pills so I hope you all appreciate the things I do for you....

Now for the good news! I have a bottle of Collagen Enhance 1000 for one lucky reader.
How do you win? It's easy!
But first, a rule:

US only

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to the ResVitale site and tell me something you learned. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow my blog. If you already do just say so, and thank you
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @ResVitale are helping to enhance your skin @http://tinyurl.com/27gsndj #giveaway

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Broken Teepee and ResVitale(this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
4. Follow @ResVitale on Twitter
5. Subscribe to the ResVitale Newsletter - this is good for two entries so leave two comments

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on July 12th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received a gratis sample of ResVitale. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free product. I received no monetary compensation for this post. 

Proctor and Gamble Celebrates Moms with its "Thank You Mom" Reunion Contest

There is nothing more heartwarming that the reunion between a mother and her child.
Many mothers have been separated from their children for a long while and due to financial constraints they have been unable to see those children.

Proctor and Gamble wants to help  lucky moms have a special reunions. The "Thank You Mom Reunions” will bring together 105 moms with their children, who are unable to do so on their own.  (15 per month for a 10 month campaign.)
Entries were requested and posted to the Thank You Mom Reunion Contest to reward those moms with a $1,000 travel voucher and digital video camera to record there special visits.

You can go to the voting page HERE and vote for your favorite entry or enter one of your own!
Voting ends on June 30th so hurry!

My mom is no longer living so I am not personally seeking a reunion right now.
Maybe many, many years from now....


Disclosure:  I received no monetary compensation for this post. Due to my relationship with the One2One Network I will be entered into a drawing for one of five gift cards.

But why not go and vote so a deserving mom gets a great memory.
One she might not have had otherwise.

Yurtgress - My Bathroom Vanity

I really like my bathroom vanity. I was very excited when it was installed.
The hubby has really been getting a lot done around the yurt. Woo hoo for that.

The vanity is all hardwoods. All of the cabinets and furniture we have bought have been hardwoods.
We bought it from Costco - I found it online. It came in several large boxes.

I just loved the modern, clean lines of it. And the fact that it was black and it would fit into the decor of the room.

The only problem was that the opening in the back didn't line up with the plumbing parts so the hubby had to do some adjusting.

He then put on the little aluminum feet.

The picture doesn't show it too clearly but there are three sections with doors and three that are open. They are quite deep and will give us a fair bit of storage.

Next the white quartz top went on.

Then the porcelain vessel sink. It's really deep and very nice to use.

Then the hubby installed my beautiful faucet but that is a post all on its own.

It's another little step to getting moved in!

New Freschetta FlatBread Pizza

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you hear?
Freschetta has a new pizza!

How cool is that?
Well, I guess technically it is hot....

Freschetta is introducing their new Freschetta FlatBread Pizza. I haven't had a chance to try it yet and I'm going to have to sit and ruminate 'cause they have four new flavors. How am I going to choose?!
Do I go with the Zesty Italian? Mmmm, I can taste it now - oregano, basil and other tasty spices.
Or the Roasted Garlic and Spinach? Now that is the one I know the hubby would love. He is a big fan of spinach! And of garlic - in any form.

Then there's the Pepperoni - everyone loves pepperoni! But what about the 5 Cheese? How could I not try that? I think I might have to buy all four. Good thing I can get a coupon for a dollar off.
You can too!

So which one do you want to try?

I know that I have always enjoyed Freschetta's Rising Crust Pizza on those nights when I just don't feel like cooking. In fact we had the pineapple and Canadian bacon last Friday. It was the first time I had tried that flavor and it was really tasty. Now the hubby had me put anchovies (blech) on his half. I cannot tell you how THAT tasted 'cause I don't do anchovies on pizza.

So now there is a new Freschetta to taste test.
Bummer, right?
:)

A Little Treat for Me

I love cooking with fresh lemons.
So many recipes just need that little touch of acid.
Problem is lemons are beyond expensive here.
One of those weird things - I can get prime rib for under $4 a pound living in cattle country like I do - but a lemon runs anywhere from 80 cents to a dollar. EACH.
I do a little happy dance when they go on sale for 2 for $1.00 and the big sale - the 3 for $1.00 I think I send the hubby into the store every day to buy three lemons. That happens once a year.

It's just so sad.

So I read on a blog that Meyer lemon trees can be grown indoors in my climate and will produce.
So I bought me a Meyer lemon tree!

Isn't is cute?

Sherpa thinks so too.


If all goes well it should have little lemons in about a year.
I am babying this tree like you cannot believe.

If it works I'm going to go back and get the lime tree and the orange tree.
You don't want to know what oranges cost....

Book Review: The Dark Rose by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

From the Publisher's Website:

In Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’s worldwide bestsellers, the majestic sweep of English history is richly and movingly portrayed through the fictional lives of the Morland family.
It is 1501, and Paul, great-grandson of Eleanor Morland, has inherited the estate and has a son to follow him. But he fathers an illegitimate boy by his beloved mistress, and bitter jealously between the half-brothers causes a destructive rift that threatens to destroy them all.
Paul’s niece Nanette has her own passions, and becomes maid-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn. At the court of Henry VIII, she witnesses firsthand the events leading up to the rift with Rome, her mistress’s execution, and the further efforts of the sad, ailing king to secure the male succession. And through all the turmoil of Henry VIII’s reign—from drought to floods, from religious reform to court intrigue—the Morlands find new ways to come together while the world seems intent on tearing them apart.

About the Author:

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is a prolific and successful British novelist^[1], best known for her Morland Dynasty series.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born in Shepherd's Bush, London and educated at Burlington School. Her first successful novel was The Waiting Game (1972), and she became a full-time writer in 1979.

My Opinion:

This is the second volume in the 31 book Morland Dynasty series. I reviewed the first, The Founding previously. In The Dark Rose Ms. Harrod-Eagles takes on Tudor England. It is one of my favorite time periods in history and I, like many others, have done a lot of reading on Henry VIII. So that in some ways made this book familiar. The fictional Morland family is inserted into history to be the axis upon which the story spins.

I so wanted to like this this because of my familiarity with the content. I love reading new takes on old stories. But the Morlands in this tale are, for the most part, very unlikeable. Paul Morland is the head of the household as the book unfolds and is feeling resentment towards his half brother Jack. He thinks Jack is trying to steal everything he has; Morland Place, the love of the people, his son. Everyone loves Jack but everyone merely obeys Paul because he is the master.  Paul feels slighted because his wife has only given him one son while Jack has a large family.

Paul's son grows into an entitled, unpleasant young man. Paul also has an illegitimate son by his mistress who grows up resenting Paul and promising revenge for Paul's neglect. I don't want to give away too many plot points but with one exception most of the characters you could get behind end up dead. It's just plain depressing.

Paul's niece, Nanette ends up at court as a lady in waiting to Anne Boleyn. I was not fond of the characterization of Anne Boleyn. It ran contrary to most that I have read. Since the novel focuses more on Anne than Henry this was difficult.

Paul does end up softening towards the end due to a newfound love that will raise some eyebrows but the relationship would have been acceptable in its time. He and his son find themselves on opposite sides of the religious battles raging at the time with Cromwell doing his harm to England.

I still want to continue along in the series but if the third book is also full of unlikeable characters that will probably be the end for me.  I just feel you need someone to like and root for in a book. It was easy to read and I enjoyed the history but I struggled a bit with this one.

The Dark Rose is available at Amazon.com














Disclosure:  I received a copy of The Dark Rose gratis from Sourcebooks. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Weekly Giveaway Linky

A New Baby on the Farm

My goat Mallory had a new kid and we have named her Marion - after John's mother.
She is a cute little doe and looks like she is going to be dark chocolate brown. 

Marion is very friendly and she met the rest of her family today. It went pretty well.
No one tried to kill her which was very good.

I love having baby goats around; they make me laugh.

CSN Giveaways

 Dana's is having a $60 CSN giveaway while talking about a new vanity for her home.

$80 GC to CSN is up for grabs at Bird Crafts 

Then there is a $60 GC giveaway at Peace and Quiet. Just think of all the fun you could have if you won them all!

CSN is also sponsoring a great giveaway at Great Blog Giveaways for a $70 GC. Enter HERE

$60 GC is available at Littles Rule the Roost 

Whew! There are so many wonderful opportunities! $80 GC at Struggling to be Stylish

Giveaway Winner - Beachcomber Hair Styling Product

Yay - it's time to announce a winner.
Someone is going to have Beach hair.
That's right!
Thanks to Beachcomber. I have Beach hair so I know how cool it is!

The lucky comment is



Here are your random numbers:

1

Timestamp: 2010-06-26 22:45:16 UTC

and the winner is:

karenk

woo hoo!


Thanks so much to Philip Pelusi for sponsoring this giveaway and thank you to everyone who entered.


Remember - if you didn't win you can purchase Beachcomber HERE and have Beach Hair no matter where you live!

Bloomin' in June - Review and Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Organic Moisturizing Lotion

In the summer it gets hot around these parts.
Now I like hot. I am not happy until it hits 80* or higher.
Drives the hubby crazy.
But it is also dry here. While I like that my skin is not so happy.
So I need a nice lotion.

I tried the Organic Moisturizing Lotion from Tropical Traditions and I am very happy with it! It is not at all greasy and it absorbs into my skin very quickly. I chose the Arnica which is described on the site like this:

Excellent for massaging tired muscles. Ingredients: purified water, organic virgin coconut oil, organic jojoba, emulsifying wax (plant based, no soy), grapefruit seed extract, virgin palm oil, organic macerated arnica oil, and organic essential oils of wintergreen, peppermint, clove, helichrysum, and spruce.

I LOVE the scent. It's hard for me to describe but it reminds me of those old candy cigarrettes that you used to be able to buy. I know that's odd but I always loved how they smelled.  The lotion is a joy to use. My skin is happy, my nose is happy - what more could I ask?

Guess what?! One of you will get to have happy skin too!
That's right! Thanks to Tropical Traditions one reader will get to win a bottle of Organic Moisturizing Lotion in the scent of their choice.

How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US and Canada only
No PO Boxes

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to Tropical Traditions sign up for their newsletter. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @TropTraditions are giving your skin moisturizing lotion @http://tinyurl.com/279wq2u #giveaway

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Broken Teepee and Tropical Traditions(this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
4. Follow @TropTraditions on Twitter
5. "Like" Tropical Traditions on Facebook and tell them Broken Teepee sent you 

6.  Go to Tropical Traditions and tell me something else you would like to try. 

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

 All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on July 10th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Review: Sinus Buster

My poor husband has suffered with sinus problems for as long as I have known him. He has tried every prescription and non-prescription drug out there. He found some relief from AllegraD but while he could breathe it kept him from sleeping.

Hmmm, breathe well or sleep.
Hard choice.

He even tried a sinus surgery.

NOTHING has worked for him. Yes, he tried the neti pot.
Trust me, we have been through everything there is to try.

Then I saw the opportunity to try Sinus Buster. It was something new, something he hadn't tried yet. It contains capsaicin and it was promising relief. He had nothing to lose so I requested a sample.

O.M.G.
He has finally found something that works for him. I can't believe it. In fact he sat on his trial bottle and broke it so he had me go to Amazon and buy him some more. We ordered the Sinus Buster and the Allergy Buster (Allergy Buster has nettle in addition to the capaicin) so he could see if there was any difference with the addition of the nettle and Amazon made an error with the order and sent two Allergy Busters. 

For the couple of days he had the Sinus Buster he loved it (I highly recommend you don't sit on your Sinus Buster. Your butt does not need it, nor does your recliner) and he was sleeping at night. He is finding the same relief with the Allergy Buster. He hasn't had to take either the AllegraD or his over the counter sinus pills.

He says that he does feel a burn when he inhales the Allergy Buster but the label does warn of that. He says it is not too bad but it is worth it for the relief it provides.

Now some information from the site. First on Sinus Buster:

Sinus Buster is the first capsaicin based nasal spray. And it's 100% natural. Sinus's Buster's safe and powerful formula has been clinically proven to start relieving congestion, pressure and sinus headache pain in under a minute. Study subjects who received Sinus Buster continued to show significant improvement in symptoms throughout the duration of the 2-week study. Importantly, the study also showed Sinus Buster to have a favorable safety profile. Sinus Buster was well tolerated without a rebound effect. There was no negative effect on sense of smell. In fact, patients who received Sinus Buster showed a statistically significant improvement in sense of smell.

Sinus Buster provides powerful relief from:

• • Nasal Congestion
• • Sinus Pressure
• • Sinus Headache

Sinus Buster is all-natural, which means it does not contain chemicals, additives or preservatives of any kind. It is non habit forming, zinc-free and has no known drug interactions.

And about Allergy Buster:

Combines the power of capsaicin with nettle to provide maximum relief of allergy symptoms. And it's 100% natural.

This formula quickly relieves:

• • Nasal Congestion
• • Runny Nose
• • Sneezing
• • Sinus Pressure & Headache

Allergy Buster is all-natural, which means it does not contain chemicals, additives or preservatives of any kind. It is non habit forming, zinc-free and has no known drug interactions.

Both products come with THIS money back guarantee.

You should also be aware that you should not use these products if you are not symptomatic.

Now, I am no doctor, nor is the hubby and I can only tell you of his experience. I am very glad he was able to try these products and that he has found relief. 

He is easier to live with.



Did I just type that.....?


Sinus Buster and Allergy Buster are available for purchase HERE.


Disclosure:  I received a sample of Sinus Buster gratis. Any opinions expressed are my interpretation of my husband's comments and experiences. We purchased the Allergy Buster with our own money. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Recipes to Put You in a Good Mood

I am excited to offer you a new recipe excerpt, Recipes That Make You Feel Better by doctor and author Judith J. Wurtman.  The article offers three different dinner options: Pasta with Meat and Mushroom-Tomato Ragu, Nam Chinese Noodles with Tofu or Chicken, and Couscous with Zucchini and Chicken.  The interesting thing about each recipe is they are proven to release serotonin in the brain which is the happy chemical! Serotonin is nature's own appetite suppressant. This powerful brain chemical curbs cravings and shuts off appetite. It makes you feel satisfied even if your stomach is not full. The result is eating less and losing weight.

 

A natural mood regulator, serotonin makes you feel emotionally stable, less anxious, more tranquil and even more focused and energetic.  Feeding your family and friends has never felt so good!

Recipes That Make You Feel Better
By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD and Nina T. Frusztajer, MD,
Authors of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain

There are some evenings when we all wish our Moms were in the kitchen cooking a meal that would make us feel better. We are too old to be fretting over a bad test grade or nasty remark from someone on the playground but being grown up doesn't mean we don't need comfort when we return home.

Fortunately, it is really easy to prepare a dinner yourself that will calm you down, soothe away your stress and turn down that chatter in your brain about what went wrong with your day.

Comfort dinners work because if they have the right components, your brain will make the calming , feel-good  chemical, serotonin as soon as the food is digested. And that means that by the time you put the dishes in the dishwasher, the troubles of the day will be forgotten.

Serotonin is made when you eat any sweet or starchy carbohydrate (except the carbs in fruit). Carbohydrates set in motion a process that brings an amino acid called tryptophan into the brain. When tryptophan arrives, it is immediately converted to serotonin. And serotonin immediately makes you feel better.

Only two rules must be followed if your comfort dinner is really going to comfort:

• Keep the protein portion of the dinner to a minimum. No more than 1-2 ounces. This is because protein interferes with tryptophan getting into the brain.
• Keep the fat portion of the dinner to a minimum. No more than two tablespoons of olive oil, butter, high fat cheese or cream. This is because fat slows down digestion and will make you wait too long to feel comforted.

Here are some easy to prepare, tasty and comforting dinner recipes. Enjoy!

Pasta with Meat and Mushroom-Tomato Ragu

This is a simple and delicious dish made with a mushroom sauté. The pasta and mushrooms take about the same time to cook, so the dish should be ready 12 minutes after the water boils for the pasta.

Rigatoni or any short pasta, cooked according to package directions
    Women: 1 cup/Men: 1½cups 
Olive oil cooking spray 
1 teaspoon olive oil 
2 cloves garlic, minced 
½ pound mushrooms 
Lean ground beef or turkey 
    Women: 2 ounces/Men: 4 ounces 
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 
1 teaspoon sugar 
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or several fresh basil leaves 
1 cup low-sodium reduced-fat or fat-free jarred tomato sauce 
1 tablespoon low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese with sun-dried tomatoes 

Place drained pasta back into the pot. Set aside. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray, add the oil, and warm over medium-high heat. Sauté the garlic, mushrooms, and ground beef or turkey for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms are soft. Add the pepper, sugar, and Italian seasoning or basil and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring several times. Add the mushroom mixture and tomato sauce to the pasta and heat until warm. Put in a large bowl and sprinkle with the cheese. Serve with Lemon Garlic Spinach.

Makes 1 serving 
Per serving (women): 473 calories, 30 g protein, 65 g carbohydrates, 13 g total fat, 8 g dietary fiber, 772 mg sodium 

Per serving (men): 649 calories, 44 g protein, 81 g carbohydrates, 19 g total fat, 9 g dietary fiber, 814 mg sodium 

Nam Chinese Noodles with Tofu or Chicken

You can make this recipe with Italian pasta, or use fresh noodles from a Chinese grocery store.

Chinese noodles or spaghetti, cooked according to package directions 
    Women: 1 cup/Men: 1½ cups 
Canola oil cooking spray 
1 teaspoon sesame oil 
1 1" piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped, or 1 teaspoon ground dried ginger 
2 cloves garlic, minced 
2 tablespoons low-sodium teriyaki sauce 
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth 
½ tablespoon cornstarch 
½ cup canned straw mushrooms, drained 
¼ cup canned water chestnuts, drained and chopped 
½ cup frozen snow peas or asparagus 
Finely chopped firm tofu or cooked chicken breast 
    Women: 2 ounces/Men: 4 ounces 

Put the cooked noodles in a large bowl and set aside.

In a large saucepan coated with cooking spray, heat the sesame oil over low heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the teriyaki sauce and ¼ cup of the chicken broth and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the remaining ¼ cup of the chicken broth with the cornstarch until the cornstarch dissolves.

Add the cornstarch mixture to the teriyaki mixture and simmer for 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Add the mushrooms, water chestnuts, snow peas or asparagus, and tofu or chicken to the sauce and cook until heated, about 3 minutes.

Toss the cooked, drained noodles with the sauce.

Serve with chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce topped with the dressing of your choice.

Makes 1 serving 

With tofu 

Per serving (women): 466 calories, 24 g protein, 68 g carbohydrates, 12 g total fat, 9 g dietary fiber, 923 mg sodium

Per serving (men): 647 calories, 37 g protein, 90 g carbohydrates, 18 g total fat, 12 g dietary fiber, 931 mg sodium 

With chicken 

Per serving (women): 477 calories, 33 g protein, 64 g carbohydrates, 9 g total fat, 8 g dietary fiber, 957 mg sodium

Per serving (men): 669 calories, 54 g protein, 85 g carbohydrates, 12 g total fat, 9 g dietary fiber, 1,000 mg sodium 

Couscous with Zucchini and Chicken

If you make this dish ahead of time, microwave it to heat it through before serving.

½ tablespoon olive oil 
1 small onion, chopped 
½ teaspoon cumin 
½ teaspoon cinnamon 
½ teaspoon curry powder 
2 small zucchinis, cut crosswise into ¼" rounds 
Cooked chicken breast, cut into ½" pieces 
    Women: 2 ounces/Men: 4 ounces 
Couscous, cooked according to package directions 
    Women: ¾ cup/Men: 1¼ cups 
¼ cup canned chickpeas, drained 
1 tablespoon golden raisins 
Ground black pepper 

In a large skillet, heat the oil over low-medium heat. Add the onion, cumin, cinnamon, and curry powder and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the zucchini and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken, couscous, and chickpeas and heat through. Toss the raisins into the mixture just before serving. Season with pepper to taste. Serve with a mixed green salad topped with Spanish Dressing.

Makes 1 serving 

Per serving (women): 499 calories, 31 g protein, 73 g carbohydrates, 11 g total fat, 12 g dietary fiber, 243 mg sodium

Per serving (men): 680 calories, 51 g protein, 91 g carbohydrates, 13 g total fat, 13 g dietary fiber, 289 mg sodium 

The above is an adapted excerpt from the book The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain by Judith J. Wurtman, PhD and Nina T. Frusztajer, MD. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.Copyright © 2010 Judith J. Wurtman, PhD and Nina T. Frusztajer, MD, authors of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain

Author Bios
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, has discovered the connection between carbohydrate craving, serotonin, and emotional well-being in her MIT clinical studies. She received her PhD from George Washington University, is the founder of a Harvard University hospital weight-loss facility and counsels private weight management clients. She has written five books, including The Serotonin Solution, and more than 40 peer-reviewed articles for professional publications. She lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

Nina T. Frusztajer, MD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs -- Nature's Own Appetite Suppressant -- to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, counsels private weight management clients and is a practicing physician and certified professional life coach. She received her master's degree in Nutrition from Columbia University and her medical degree from George Washington University. She lives in Boston, MA.

For more information, please visit www.SerotoninPowerDiet.com.

 

Review and Giveaway: - Easy Lunchbox

I have mentioned that the hubby is fire chief in our little town.
He goes into the office three days a week; well his schedule is three days a week.
I like to send him in a bit to eat and I was looking for an eco-friendly lunchbox.

I wanted something that wouldn't contribute to the landfill so that meant I was going to end up with either plastic or glass. Glass makes me uncomfortable because if it breaks someone could cut themselves. But plastics have their issues - I wanted to make sure that any container I found was free of BPA or other harmful chemicals. I wanted something that would be easy to use.

Well guess what?!
I found it!

It's the Easy Lunchbox system and it's really spiffy!
Just check out this video:






I received the dark red cooler and the color is lovely. I was also sent the 4 pack of food containers.
It reminds me of the bento lunch box take outs my hubby and would get when we were in Hawaii. We would pick them up and take them to the beach - I love having each little section with something different to eat.

I can see how this would also make an AWESOME kids lunch box too! Just imagine your child's face when he/she opened their cooler - in THEIR favorite color - and found a lunch packed specially for them. Each little compartment holding a goodie. How cool would that be?

The food containers are very sturdy and are freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe. The cooler is strong and made of non-toxic materials. I CANNOT wait to take it on a picnic.

Here is some more information direct from the Easy Lunchboxes site:

They're BPA-free, SAFE and environmentally friendly, too! You'll find it easy to 'go green' by using EasyLunchboxes for a waste-free lunch. In my house, we keep a few sets of Easy Lunch Boxes. This way, I pack lunches for my family in one set of containers, while the other lunchboxes are in the dishwasher! Easy! No more messy (and environmentally unfriendly) plastic bags, good only for a single use. The best lunchboxes accommodate different types of food, and our three compartment plastic food containers can hold a sandwich and two side dishes. Now, if you have 3 kids like I do, you’ll appreciate that there are only 6 pieces in your dishwasher every night instead of the 18 different plastic bottoms and lids you’d have to use if you were to pack the same lunches! What a timesaver, now that you won’t have to dry and put away all those mismatched food container pieces!

I am thrilled to let you know that I have an Easy Lunchbox system to give away to one reader.
How do you win? It's easy!
But first some rules:

US and Canada only
No PO Boxes

If you have won an Easy Lunchbox in the last three months please let someone else win. The owner has requested the right to disqualify a winner if they have received free product within that time period.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to Easy Lunchboxes and tell me what color cooler you would choose. Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow my blog publicly. If you already follow, just say so. And thank you.
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - @BrokenTeepee and @EasyLunchboxes are making lunch easy and fun @http://tinyurl.com/23qk5k8#giveaway

3. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Broken Teepee and Easy Lunchboxes(this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments)
4. Follow @EasyLunchboxes on Twitter
5. "Like" Easy Lunchboxes on Facebook and tell them Broken Teepee sent you 

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MDT on July 8th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner.  He/she will have 48hrs to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

You will notice I have a cute widget off to the left for Easy Lunchboxes. If you click through and purchase a system I will receive a small commission. So if you do not win the giveaway and decide to purchase the system - it really IS cool - please consider purchasing through my site. Thank you 

Disclosure:  I received a gratis Easy Lunchbox system. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by the receipt of the free system.  I received no monetary compensation for this post. 

Yurtgress - My Bedroom is Coming Together

The hubby put my spiffy new bed together. I have to say I just love it.
Isn't it pretty?

I love the way the cherry stain contrasts with the bamboo flooring.
The underbed storage is PERFECT! Four big drawers. I can fit both my summer AND my winter clothes in the room now between the drawers and my spiffy closet system.

 and we don't need any other furniture in the bedroom. Woo hoo for that!

I have a quilt that I won more years ago than I can count that I have had sitting in the trailer closet just waiting for a real bed! In fact, I painted the room yellow to showcase the quilt!

The only problem we have encountered is the mattress is just a touch too short for the bed so we will be going mattress shopping in the near future.

On the plus side the cats can fit through and sleep under the bed. I think they will be disappointed when we get a new mattress. 

We thought about different headboards but decided that the windows did a good job. Not much can compete with the beauty of the mountains!  But I have to say I was rather enamored of this one

I am always one for putting storage wherever I can. Of course I would need to find it in cherry. But it's moot as it would block the windows and I don't want to do that!

We are sleeping in the yurt so that's a start. The hubby says he will hook up the rest of the kitchen plumbing this weekend and then it's just waiting for the furniture to arrive.

I hope my patience holds out.

Giveaway Winner - Uprinting Custom Stickers

Another giveaway winner!
Yay!
I am happy to announce the lucky comment for the 250 custom stickers from UPrinting:

Here are your random numbers:

8

Timestamp: 2010-06-24 03:20:30 UTC

and the winner is:

m
Yay!

I will send m an email and she will have 48 hours to respond. If she does not I will choose a new winner.

Thanks to all who entered and a big THANK YOU to UPrinting for sponsoring the giveaway.
Remember, if you did not win you can purchase these very cool stickers at UPrinting.com

4th of July Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving Reminder

 As we start to plan our 4th of July celebrations it is very important to keep in mind the safety of all the drivers on the road. AND the pedestrians walking along the roads. Please read this important information:


The summer picnic season is upon us, and one of the biggest weekends of the summer is almost here!  With the Fourth of July right around the corner, it's time to plan now for a safe and sober way home.

While many of us focus on fireworks safety each Fourth of July, we also need to keep our roads safe for the drive home after the festivities. 

Whether at a family picnic or viewing the local fireworks display, many of us will be on the road this Independence Day.  It's time to spread the word about the dangers of buzzed driving and to remind people that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.

We need your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this July Fourth by spreading the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

There are four steps you should take to protect your loved ones on the Fourth of July.   

1.) Designate a sober driver before you leave for your Fourth of July events. 

2.) Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi.

3.) Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

4.) Call 9-1-1 if you see an impaired driver on the road.

Even if you will not be drinking alcoholic beverages this Fourth of July, keep in mind that over the course of 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.  And there were a total of 491 motor vehicle traffic fatalities during the Fourth of July Holiday period (Thursday, July 3rd, 6 pm to Monday, July 7th, 5:59 am).  And for those who say they don't plan on over-indulging . . . a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash.

We are working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council as they continue their efforts with the "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving" PSA campaign. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had "only a few" drinks.  

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI: http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/sign.php#video    

 

Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

Disclosure:  I received no monetary compensation for this post. I felt it was important to pass the information along to my readers. I will be put into a pool for a drawing for a gift card but I would have posted it without the incentive.

Winners: Auromere Hair Care Samples and Desire Me

You know I love to announce winners! Tonight there will be 4!
First up the winner of the Auromere Hair Care samples plus some others.

The lucky comment is:

Here are your random numbers:

23

Timestamp: 2010-06-24 01:55:59 UTC

and the winner is:

Elena!
Hooray!

Thanks to Hachette Books I have three copies of Desire Me to give away.
The lucky comments are:

Here are your random numbers:

70
47
81

Timestamp: 2010-06-24 02:00:35 UTC

and the winners are:

Grand Pooba
Carrie Symes
Benita

Yippee!

I will send an email to all the winners and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose new winners.

Thanks to everyone who entered and a great big THANK YOU to Auromere and The Hachette Book Group for sponsoring the giveaways.

Remember, for those of you who did not win you can purchase Auromere pre-shampoo conditioner at Auromere.com
And Desire Me is available at Amazon.com

Yurtgress - The Little Things

Sometimes just seeing the little things get done is more satisfying than the big things.
Although I would REALLY, REALLY like to get the dishwasher out of the middle of the kitchen.
I am told (again) that it will happen this weekend so keep your fingers crossed for me.


He did install the towel racks in the bathroom. I found my beautiful double towel rack would not fit next to the tub on the right side where I wanted it so it had to go on the outside wall. Oh well, worse things could happen.

I still think it looks pretty spiffy.

Then came the towel ring for the hand towel by the vanity.  Of course the stud was 4,000 feet away from the vanity.
I exaggerate :0

But it couldn't go exactly where I wanted it.
I will show the vanity in another post as that is a post all to itself.

And most important in the bathroom - the toilet paper holder!

With the toilet being in its own little cut-out we had to get creative but I am happy with how it worked out.

He also put my magnetic knife doo-dad up in the kitchen.

I really like this thing. My knives won't have to hang out in a drawer and I will be able to grab them when I need them.