My favorite things...

This is very fun.  Has each letter of the alphabet and how to draw a thing that starts with that letter actually using the letter in your drawing and with all the steps of how to draw it.  All the kids (ages 3-10) have really enjoyed it and will actually eat their dinner so they get the chance to do a page!

These books are awesome.  Funny pictures and great points about why our behavior is important.  Succinct so the kids don't lose interest.  I read it to them while they eat dinner and it seems to work since the words are coming from a book instead of a parent and seeing as it was actually PUBLISHED, it must be rules that actually do apply outside of our household and therefore might actually be worth following!  :)  

Consumer guide...a few of my favorite things.

I haven't been endorsed by any of these products...just had to say how much I like theses products and that they were worth every penny...

Dinner Games

http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/family-dinner-games.html

I bought these for the kids for Christmas and it has been wonderful!  The kids look forward to pulling a card each night, it works for all of our age groups 3-10 and is a great teambuilding exercise each night that helps foster positive feelings within our blended family.  There are morality questions (What would you do if you found a wallet on the sidewalk and no one was around) math questions, memory games, family history and geneaology games, charades, cute suggestions like a candelight dinner with classical music playing, and more.  Couldn't say enough about this and plan to buy other additions :)

Alba skin products

 http://www.albabotanica.com/collections/natural-even-advanced.html

I have been using their products for years and they are wonderful.  Alba Botanica is all natural, 100% vegetarian personal care products with NO parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.  Their cleansing milk is my personal favorite at the moment.  It gently cleanses without overdrying.  :)


Schwinn double jogging stroller

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-Double-Jogging-Stroller-Blue/10975538
After many different attempts at finding a great stroller, my cousin recommended this one and I bought it used for $100.  It was the BEST stroller.  Easy to push with one hand, really distributed the two kids weight so that it was not heavy to push, easily folds up small, and can push over sand with no difficulty.

Mountain Buggy Single Stroller

http://mountainbuggy.com/en/buggies/single/urban-jungle

I just got this stroller used for $100.  It has a really durable carrying case, comes with a great little pump for the wheels that slides into a carrying slot underneath, and handles really nicely as well as folding up to a very small size.

MAC Makeup Brushes

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/2221/19185/Make-It-Perfect-Brush-KitEssential/index.tmpl
I bought an earlier edition of these brushes 5 years ago and they seemed so expensive and extravagant but the lady told me they could be washed and would last longer than other brushes.  She wasn't kidding.  These brushes work better than any brushes I've ever had as far as the correct angle, holding the right amount of product, and as far as the bristles keeping their form after many washings.  Totally worth the money!