Raise Money For Haiti with Speroway

I have recently read about Speroway on a few other blogs and was curious to figure out what they are all about.  Speroway is an international non-profit organization that provides aid around the world.  They accomplish this by providing food, medicine, dental care, education, and other basic needs.

Formerly known as Feed The Children - Canada they have a new facebook page, blog and website to help promote this new name and show the world all they have achieved.  

How can you help? 

You can enter the giveaway they are hosting, share the giveaway with your friends, and also encourage people to donate!  

This contest is a "SHARE & WIN" - you can enter once and recieve extra ballots by sharing with others after you enter through facebook, twitter, and email.

The Grand Prize Gift Basket includes:

1 – iPad HD 2012 (16GB)

$500 WaySpa Gift Card

Cineplex Night Out Gift Pack for 4

2 “Big Kaboodle” combo packs from Mabel’s Labels

 

*DONATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY, BUT ARE WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED!*

Contest Period: April 26, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time and ends on June 22, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. EST. 

ENTER HERE

The Cool Haiku Ceiling Fan

This post brought to you by Haiku Fans. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I love having a ceiling fan in my room, especially now that summer days are coming.  The only thing that I hate is that they all look exactly the same, there is no middle ground in terms of style.  They are either really traditional or too modern and space age looking.

I found the Haiku ceiling fan while checking out the HGTV green home.  I thought it looked amazing in the styling but upon further reading I see that it is very energy efficient as well.  The construction makes for a silent fan that won't wobble (no more freaking out that the shaking spinning blades above your head might fall on you in your sleep!) but it is also 80% more efficient than the fans most people have in their homes.

 

Our house doesn't not have air conditioning because I am to cheap to install it when you only need it for 2 months out of the year.  I am going to put the fan in my bedroom, not only will is look great, but its way less expensive than air conditioning and will make those measly 2 months a happy 2 months for me.

 

What do you think?  Too unique looking?  What do you look for in a light?

Natural Cleaning Recipes–DIY

SO I am pretty convinced that vinegar, dish soap and /or lemon juice can clean the entire world.  Throw in some essential oils for added smells and other benefits and you are good to go.  I am slowly learning this as I am very sensitive to the chemicals that make the scent in most cleaning products.  Here is the 'recipes' I use the most often.  Let me know if you have any others you have used!

1.  Vinegar & Lemons to clean your garbage disposal via Turnstyle Vogue

2.  Cleaning vomit out of your carpet (gross, but necessary info) via How To Clean Things

3.  Homemade Shout stain remover via One Good Thing By Jillee

4.  Make your own Dry Shampoo via Hookable Designs

5.  Yoga Mat Cleaner via Oh She Glows

6.  HD Laundry Soap via Yellow Brick Home

7.  Pet Shampoo via Mother Nature Network

8.  All purpose cleaner via Mini Manor Blog

Mrs. Garcia's Class Visits the Hospital - By Kristy Taylor - Book Review

Mrs. Garcia's Class Visits the Hospital is the first book written by author and former elementary teacher, Kristy Taylor. The book is an exciting career day adventure with a diverse group of characters where the students in Mrs. Garcia's class visit the local hospital for their class field trip. While touring the hospital with Mrs. Garcia and Dr. Johnson as their guides, the students learn about over twenty different healthcare careers, and they have lots of fun along the way! 

Not only does this book teach about different careers it also helps to explain what goes on in a hospital.  This book would be wonderful for a child who has to spend some time in a hospital to not be scared of all the new unknown things.  When my sons were born premature, I spent over 2 months in the hospital visiting them every day and you get familiar with the who and whats of a hospital.  It makes it less scary and easier to cope.  This was a well written book for a child.

Book Review - Arranged by Catherine Mckenzie

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, close friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share her life with, however, she just can’t seem to get it right. When her latest relationship implodes, and her best friend announces she’s engaged, Anne impulsively calls what she thinks is a dating service—only to discover that it’s actually an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. Anne initially rejects the idea, but the more she learns about the service, the more she thinks: Why not?After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world; maybe it could work for her.
A few months later, Anne is traveling to a Mexican resort, where, over the course of a weekend, she meets and then marries Jack. And initially, everything seems to be working out. . . .
Book Tour is HERE

Girls Weekend Craft Day - a getaway you wouldn't believe

Is it weird that I want to fly to a state I have never before desired to see to spend a weekend with a complete stranger (and group of more strangers) to get together and make crafts?  If I could see me at this age when I was 16 I would have died of shock at the sight of this 28-year-old me.

But Really?  Check out this weekend.  It includes a shuttle from the airport, all the supplies for the crafts, sonic happy hour, and vintage shopping.  Hello Heaven.  I didn't know you existed in Kansas.

Check out all the other girls weekends of the past at Craft Day Weekend.  I am on the waiting list, so if you sign up and get picked, I better be your plus one!

(PS this post isn't sponsored by anyone, I just love it that much and hope to go one day).

The Mormonizing of America - By Stephen Mansfield - Book Review

With Mitt Romney running for president I was curious to know what this book was presenting to the world. A heads up, I am a Mormon.

Stephen Mansfield, the acclaimed New York Times best-selling author, has highlighted the growing popularity of Mormonism—a belief system with cultic roots—and the implications of its critical rise. Mormons are moving into the spotlight in pop culture, politics, sports, and entertainment via presidential candidates like Romney and Huntsman, media personality Glenn Beck, mega-bestselling Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, and The Book of Mormon, the hottest show on Broadway. Mormonism was once a renegade cult at war with the U.S. Army in the 1800s, but it has now emerged as not only the fastest-growing religion, but as a high-impact mainstream cultural influence. 

My Thoughts:


The introduction was cute and funny, almost like an LDS member poking fun at himself. I laughed and had to share with my friend a few of the funny quirks.  One thing to note is that there are a few outdated ideas such as the prompting to have 13 children being common. It's way more common to have 2 or 3 these days although there are a few who have 5.  The church doesn't really get involved and would definitely counsel (if asked) for a family to not have more than they can provide for.  


I found this book to be a basic introduction to the beliefs of the church. The author claims to neither deny or defend and for the most part this was true, but it tended to have an overtone of the authors opinion of doubt.  Especially towards the history of the church's founding as well as the life of Joseph Smith.  I would say this book is about 80% true and the remaining 20% wasn't well researched and is the authors assumption based on his own observations.  Girls ARE allowed to go on missions, in fact many of them do.  As a researcher who has spent time in Salt Lake meeting with church officials, surely he would have seen hundreds of them, as well as elderly couples serving missions as well.  This is just one incorrect observation that he mistakingly published as fact.


Overall, I would summarize the authors opionion that the church itself, MEH, but the resulting people are hard working, loyal, and successful, which is why we hear about so many of them in the public eye.


In Summary:  Not really worth the read.  Browse the first 10 pages in the book store and you get the best parts.