Doodle Roll {Review & GIVEAWAY!} *CLOSED*

My kids love to color and do crafts so I am always on the lookout for things I think they will love.  I try to stick with ones that don't make a big mess though, because, while I love their creations, I don't love cleaning up messes they make.  One product that I recently received for review has been perfect for their creativity without creating a mess, the Doodle Roll.  The Doodle Roll is a portable craft kit that contains a roll of paper and crayons. 

The Doodle Roll is so easy to use, my kids started playing with theirs right away.  They can pull out as much paper as they would like to use and can doodle away!

The crayons have their own separate place that the kids can easily open on their own.  There is also a cutting edge to tear off their pictures when they are finished but it is all made of plastic and very safe.  My kids have been having so much fun creating pictures, banners, cards, and much more.   

The Doodle Roll comes in two sizes, 4 and 6 inch and either is great for slipping into your purse or car to take along to an appointment, out for dinner, or any other place you would like to keep your kids occupied and quiet.  I think it would also make a great stocking stuffer, gift, or party favor.  If you would like more ideas for the Doodle Roll or find out where to purchase your own, be sure to visit the Doodle Roll site.  You can also find them on Facebook or Twitter.

Doodle Roll has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win their own Doodle Rolls!  To be entered, leave a comment letting me know your favorite craft to do with your kids (or grandkids, friends, etc).  Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win!  This giveaway will end on Nov. 25, 2011 at noon.  I will draw a winner using random.org and winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email.  This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. 

This is a MamaBuzz review.  The product was provided by Doodle Roll for free in exchange for this review.

Cleaning A Gas Stove

I love cooking with my gas stove.  I grew up with it and when I had to use electric when we first got married, I had a hard time getting used to it.  I was very happy to have it once again in our current home. One thing I hate though is trying to clean the metal grates and pans.  With as much cooking as I do, it is inevitable that things will get spilled or splattered on them.  And then when it gets cooked on, it sure doesn't want to come off.  I am a little embarrassed to show you this picture, but this is what my stove looked like a couple days ago. 

 Some of that is fresh and would scrub off, but most of that is pretty well stuck on.  I have spent hours (literally) and tried every cleaner I could think of the try get them clean, all with no success.  Until today, that is!  I came across a very handy tip last week, gave it a try, and now my stove looks like this:

Amazing!  And hardly any scrubbing was involved!  Want to know this amazing trick so your stove can sparkle too? :)  Ammonia is the answer.  With little kids in the house, I don't normally keep ammonia around, but I ran out to get some just for this.  All you have to do is put the grate in a gallon zip lock bag along with 1/4 cup ammonia, seal it up, and let it sit overnight.  (I recommend putting it out in the garage or on your deck.) The fumes from the ammonia will do all the work for you and in the morning, all you have to do is wipe it off!  A couple of the most stubborn spots took a little elbow grease, but for the most part, it all came off so easy!  Now you too can have a sparkling clean stove!

God Gave Us You {Review}

As you may remember, my kids love books.  I think most kids do.  Whether they will sit and listen for just a short time, or longer amounts of time, I think they all love snuggling up and listening to the voice of someone they love.  Something that makes reading time even more special is having a good book that hopefully they will remember for a long time.  God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren is one of those great books.   A young polar bear cub asks her mama "Where did I come from?" Mama bear explains that Papa bear and her were alone and wanted a baby, so God gave them the bear cub.  Then she goes on tell how they waited and prepared while the cub grew in her tummy.  Each page is filled with beautiful illustrations and the story is very sweet and age appropriate.  All of my kids loved this book and thought is was a great story.  We have already read it quite a few times in the short amount of time we've had it!  My favorite part of the copy we received for review is that it is a board book, so hopefully it will stand up to the wear and tear my kids put on books and last us for a long time.

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

The Fruits of Our Labor

I think that it is finally time to put my canners away and start enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Top to bottom, left to right: Zucchini pickles, sweet relish, zucchini salsa, pears, apple pie filling, cherries, potatoes, beans, carrots, applesauce, jams/jellies, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.  Along with the berries, corn, pork, and beef that are stuffed into the freezer, I think we are set for the winter!

This year, Sweetie was a good helper and I had fun teaching her some of the basics of canning.  She calls herself the canning princess.

This year I also discovered these great reusable lids from Tattler and am hoping to switch over to them for all my canning next year.

What did you get preserved this summer to enjoy in the coming winter?

Waiting For Morning {Review}

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors.  I have read almost every one of her books.  I read her book Waiting For Morning a couple years ago, but when I had the chance to read it again for review, I took it.  It was just as good the second time! Hannah Ryan unexpectedly loses her husband and daughter to a drunk driver, and her other daughter survives the accident with injuries. Hannah becomes so obsessed with making sure that the driver gets his punishment that she forgets about God and neglects her surviving daughter. Hannah must learn how to forgive and trust in God again.  I love how Karen Kingsbury uses a crisis to show how God can bring someone to a place of forgiveness and peace.

As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her—a husband other women admire, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a car pulls into Hannah’s driveway, bringing two police officers...and devastating news that shatters her life forever.
In the days that follow, Hannah struggles with unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage—feelings that fuse into one chilling purpose for living: revenge against Brian Wesley, the drunk driver who has caused all her pain.
In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She’s determined not to forgive Wesley or the God who allowed this tragedy to happen. Can two caring people help Hannah rediscover her faith...before bitterness destroys her?

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I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.

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