Get Into the Holiday Spirit with "Everything Christmas"

It doesn't really take much to get me and my family into the Christmas spirit.  Soon after the Halloween costumes are packed away each year, I quickly get the urge to pull out our festive decorations, music, and recipes.  So when I was offered the opportunity to review the new book, Everything Christmas, I gladly accepted, knowing simply from the title that it would be an enjoyable read.

Everything Christmas (by David Bordon and Thomas J. Winters) is filled from beginning to end with wonderful ideas, stories, and historical facts concerning just about anything to do with the Christmas season.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the craft ideas, decorating tips, quotes, Scripture verses, and classic holiday stories that this little reference book offers.  Spread throughout the chapters are lyrics to many favorite hymns and carols that are sung/played this time of year.  For those who enjoy celebrating the days of Advent, the book is divided into 25 readings for each day, beginning with December 1st.

On top of all that is included on the inside, this hardcover book is also lovely on the outside.  Everything Christmas would make an attractive seasonal book to leave lying on a coffee table for anyone to pick up and admire.  I definitely recommend buying a copy of this book for both your personal library and as a unique gift for a teacher, grandparent, hostess gift, neighbor, or simply anyone who loves all things about Christmas.

If you'd like to take a "sneak peek" into Everything Christmas, 

then click HERE to download the first chapter for free.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to provide a positive review, only an honest one. The viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Easy Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

My firstborn made it through her diaper days without even a hint of a diaper rash.  Then my son came along and made up for what we luckily avoided with her.  For the first 18 months or so of his life, he had some pretty rough battles with many rashes... most of them caused by illnesses and a sensitive digestive system.  If you have a little one like mine who has a tendency to develop diaper rash, consider the following tips on preventing and treating the outbreaks:

• Check your baby's diaper often and change it immediately when soiled.

• Believe it or not, wipes aren't necessary with every single wet (not soiled) diaper.  Urine is sterile and doesn't hurt the baby's skin when changed often.  Wiping excessively with commercial wipes can actually break down the skin and cause a rash.

• Skip those wipes that smell good.  These have added fragrance which can irritate baby's skin.  Use baby wipes which are fragrance-free and made for sensitive skin.

• Allow your baby's skin to dry before putting on a clean diaper.

• Pay close attention to foods the baby may be consuming during the day.  Highly acidic foods, especially, can cause painful rash in some children.

• When drying the baby's bottom after a bath, be sure to pat his/her bottom dry with the towel instead of rubbing.

• Use a barrier cream, such as Boudreaux's Butt Paste, to protect the skin from moisture... especially when an extended no-diaper-change situation occurs, such as overnight or during a long road trip.  Boudreaux's Butt Paste was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care.

• And, of course, the one and only TRUE way to prevent diaper rash once and for all:  POTTY TRAINING.  Fun times. :-)

To receive a free sample of BBP, visit their website by clicking the button below:

The Lord Is My Light & My Salvation

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? 

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, 

my adversaries and foes, 

it is they who stumble and fall. 

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; 

though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: 

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, 

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; 

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; 

he will lift me high upon a rock. 

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, 

and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;  

I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 

You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 

Hide not your face from me. 

Turn not your servant away in anger, 

O you who have been my help. 

Cast me not off; forsake me not,  

O God of my salvation! 

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 

Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; 

for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Psalm 27 (ESV)

Expensive Doesn't Mean Better

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

It just happens...  No matter how much time, energy and emotion we spend on planning things perfectly, sometimes life just doesn't work out the way we expect it to.  And if there was ever a season of life where this was more true, it would certainly be during parenthood.

My first head-on collision with this reality happened only a short time after my first child was born.  I was firmly convinced that I would choose nature's way and breastfeed my children.  What I never saw coming was that my body had its own plans that were in direct opposition to mine.  My body simply refused to follow my expectations and I had to make the difficult choice to nourish my newborn with infant formula.

Because I never gave formula-feeding a second thought at any point during my pregnancy, I never had the opportunity to really do my "homework" about the costs, brands, benefits, etc.  I just assumed, like many others, that only the most expensive name brand formulas were healthy and safe for my baby.  We cut corners in as many areas of our finances as possible that first year to purchase the supposedly better brand.  Oh, how I wish I knew then what I know now!

The following quote from Dr. Barbara Levine of Weill Cornell Medical College accurately describes my thoughts and feelings about name brand formulas at the time:

"Moms often experience feelings of guilt if they choose not to breastfeed, so they purchase expensive formula. But very few really know the truth about infant formula- A higher price does NOT equal better nutrition."

Nutritionally, there is no reason to buy the much more expensive formulas sold by the big pharmaceutical companies.  All infant formula marketing in the United States must meet the same nutrient guidelines and specifications set by the FDA, whether they are store brand or name brand.  Historically, store brand (also known as private-label) formulas cost less because they are not heavily marketed or advertised and are not given away to hospitals for free.  Those cost savings are then passed along to the consumer.  According to some estimates, as much as $600 can be saved by new parents annually by choosing the cheaper store brand formula.

The contributors of the new 10th Edition of the Consumer Reports Best Baby Products write that they see no need for parents to choose expensive national brand infant formulas over their much more reasonable store brand counterparts sold at retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, and Babies R Us.

Not only are many new parents dealing with financial uncertainty from difficult economic times, but consumer confidence is also quite vulnerable at this point from the recent recall of Similac formulas because of the possibility of the presence of a small common beetle in their products.

Even though the benefits of breastfeeding are indisputable, it's not always an option for every mother.  As parents we can now shop confidently for infant formulas to safely and healthfully nourish our children without being blindsided by all the hype, marketing and, most of all, the high price tag.

Decisions, Decisions!

It's that time of year again and the ever-important decision must be made soon.  Well, I guess in the grand scheme of life this decision isn't *that* important.  But right now, at this moment, it feels like a big decision to make.  And that decision is all about choosing THE perfect Christmas card for 2010!

If you're like my family at all, we love to both send and receive photo cards.  Just a few weeks back, we had a few family snapshots taken by a friend, so I'm now in the process of choosing which one(s) we'll use for our card.  Even though I'm still trying to choose a picture, I am glad our decision to use Shutterfly has already been made!

Have you seen all the many card designs that Shutterfly has in their 2010 Holiday Collection?  I have looked and looked and looked, and I just have to say-  their designs are BEAUTIFUL!  How will I EVER be able to choose one?!  Goodness, goodness...

Here are a few of my favorites-

"Ornaments All Aglow"

"With Glee"

"Ho Ho Ho"

"With Love Blue"

If you've never used Shutterfly before, the card designing process is quite simple.  Just choose a card design, use the photo uploader to insert your own picture into the design, choose your wording and other details, and VOILA!  Your card is then ready to be submitted, printed and delivered to your home.  Easy, right?!  Shutterfly also offers other cool products that would make for special Christmas gifts, such as photo books, calendars, and personalized stationary. 

The clock is ticking... hurry on over with me to Shutterfly before the Santa's sleigh bells start ringing! : )

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly!  Sign up here: http://bit.ly/sfly2010