The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari

In case you are not already familiar with them, Roger the turtle and Padraig the dragon are two imaginative young reptiles always on the lookout for fun and adventure.  The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is the latest book in the popular series by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark.  In it, we find the two friends on a over night adventure in the great outdoors. Determined to spend the entire night outside and with imaginations running wild, the friends look deep inside to find the courage needed to face the mysterious creatures that lurk at the base of the famed Mount Sillymanborrow.

My little guys were enthralled by the imagery evoked through the author's use of silly names, word play, and friendly banter.  They even decided to add on to the story with other adventures they imagined the two friends would have together.  It took them just a minute to realize that Roger and Padraig were not, in fact, on an African safari, rather on a fantastic adventure in their own backyard.  Once they did, I could see their wheels spinning and knew they were each planning some incredible backyard camping trip of their own for this summer!  My boys are (almost) 7, 5, and 3 and they all really enjoyed this book.  I think some of the imagery was lost on my 3 year old, but with very basic explanations, he understood that this was a make believe adventure being played out in the backyard.

I must add that I adore the illustrations in this book!  They are colorful and imaginative and play a large role in helping the reader determine the difference between fantasy and reality in this fun adventure.

You can purchase The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari for $11.99 from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  Be sure to stop by and check them out on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, for the purpose of this review.  The views expressed are my honest opinions based on the experience of me and my children.

How to Carve Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Ever wondered how to get a perfect looking platter of turkey for your Thanksgiving holiday table?  It's all in the carving!  Here are some handy tips, compliments of Saveur Magazine, to help you create the perfect presentation.

1.  Steadying the turkey with a carving fork, remove the leg at its joint with a sharp knife; separate the drumstick from the thigh. 

2. Slice the thigh into strips parallel to the bone; slice the drumstick while holding it upright. 

3.  Remove the wing at its joint (you may have to dig a little). 

 

4.  Make a long horizontal cut at the bottom of the breast (this will allow the breast meat to fall away easily when sliced). 

 

5.  Using an even, downward stroking motion, cut the breast into slices.

6.  Repeat with the turkey's other side; arrange slices neatly on a serving platter. 

 

Wishing you all a Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving!

* All images and instructions compliments of www.saveur.com

The Sweet Smell of Scentsy {Review}

I love the smell of a fabulous candle with a great throw (the area over which a candle casts its wonderful scent).  Particularly in the Fall and Winter when the fresh air of the outdoors is not really practical, I enjoy filling the house with warm, cozy scents that impart a relaxed, snuggly feeling through and through.  So, when presented with the opportunity to review a full size Scentsy Warmer and Scentsy Bar of my choice, I jumped at it!

I have admired Scentsy products from afar for some time now, but just never took the plunge.  Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of testing out their Tannenbaum Warmer, which is stunning.  Decorated with a festive Christmas tree nestled among a winter tree-scape of evergreens, this warmer is finished in a neutral color palette of deep sage and cream.  Unlike some other warmers I've seen, I love that the Tannenbaum adds to the decor of my home as well as the aroma.  Another difference between this warmer and others I've seen is that the Scentsy Full Size Warmers work off of electricity by way of a small light bulb, cord, and on/off switch.  A nice alternative to an open flame for mamas of curious little ones!  The base does, however, get warm with extended use, so it's still a good idea to keep it out of immediate reach of children.

As for scent, I selected the Christmas Cottage Scentsy Bar.  A true treat for the senses, this bar combines a cozy blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices for a warm, festive aroma.  As for throw, I would say this particular scent has a medium cast.  I currently have it on a shelf in my kitchen, which is open to the rest of the first floor.  I can easily pick up the smell of this yummy bar throughout the kitchen and into the dining area, but it does not permeate the whole first floor like some of my stronger scented traditional candles do.  That being said, Christmas Cottage is also not a knock you in the face kind of scent.  It's warm and cozy and not at all pungent, which I love.  Overall, I am very pleased with my selection.

Scentsy offers a variety of gorgeous warmers, including Full-Size Warmers, Mid-Size Warmers, and Plug-In Warmers.  All are designed with home decor in mind and include Holiday varieties, sports themes, and college affiliations.

Scentsy also offers a variety of scents, including Cranberry Spice, Central Park Pralines, Autumn Sunset, Citrus Sun Tea, and Hemingway (for men).  I love that they have scents that appeal to both men and women and varieties that span the spectrum of fruity to flirty to cozy to relaxing.  My Full-Size Warmer is large enough to hold an entire bar of yumminess, and when I want to try out a different scent, I just pour the warm wax back into its original container.  It will solidify back into bricks for use at a later time.  How's that for eco-friendly?!

You can get your own array of Scentsy products HERE just in time for the Holidays.  Perfect for gift giving, they carry a little something for everyone, from full-size products to those designed for when you're on the go.  Prices vary depending on which products you order, but warmers range from $15-$30 and Scentsy bars, to go with your warmer, generally run $5.  Join the Scentsy team during the month of November and receive a free set of Mini Testers to get your business off to a great start!  Just send Kimberlee an email at Escentialstars@yahoo.com, to let her know you heard about Scentsy from Jen at Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby!

* Disclaimer:  I was provided with a Full-Size Warmer and Scentsy Bar for the purpose of performing this review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review.  All opinions stated are my own and based on my honest experience with these products.

The Winners' Board

Congratulations to allthingsnew!

Your comment "I love, love, love, love, love the ladybug outfit, especially the tutu. That is the cutest thing EVER!" was selected by www.random.org as the winner in our giveaway from Personalized Letters & Accessories.

Thanks to all who took the time to visit with us and enter this wonderful giveaway.  It's always a privilege to host a fabulous up and coming mom-owned business!

Ho, Ho, Ho...Start Your Shopping Early With A CSN Stores Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.

Ready for another fabulous giveaway?  It comes as no surprise to my current followers that I am a huge fan of CSN Stores and their over 200 sub-stores filled with goodies galore!  I am particularly fond of their selection of children's toys and kitchen gadgets (wink, wink).  However, recently I was browsing their selection of bar furniture and came across some great pieces.

 I also decided to wander over to take a peek at their Dining Room Sets (as we are in desperate need of a new one) and found these gems.

Luckily for you, my friends over at CSN Stores have graciously offered a $65 gift certificate to one lucky Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby reader.  What better way to start checking off items on your Holiday List this year?

To Enter (mandatory):
Visit CSN stores and leave a comment on this post telling me an item that caught your eye. Please include your email or have it visible in your profile (mandatory entry).

For extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know for each. Make sure to leave your email address if not visible in your profile so I can let you know if you win:

1. Follow my blog with google friend connect (2 extra entries)
2. Follow me on Twitter and leave me your twitter id (2 extra entries)
3. Tweet about this giveaway mentioning @ElliaCNaturals and leave the link (once per day)
4. Like Ellia C. Naturals on Facebook (our all-natural bath & body shop) and leave your FB id (2 extra entries)
4. Blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar
5. Grab my button and place it on your blog

Giveaway ends October 31st. Open to U.S. and Canada. Winner selected by www.random.org. Winner will have 72 hrs. to respond to email notification or alternate winner will be selected.

No compensation or test product was received in exchange for hosting this giveaway (just the opportunity to pass this great prize along to one of you!). Company information provided by CSNstores.

Smelly Washer Review

Let me first say that I looooove my front loading washer and dryer, which is important since I do laundry on a daily basis for our humble family of 6! Unfortunately, no matter what I do, from time to time that yucky, mildew-esque, wet-dog kind of funk develops despite my best efforts to thoroughly dry it out at the end of the day.

Smelly Washer is an all natural product that is designed to clean your washer from the inside out. Formulated from citrus-based ingredients, Smelly Washer helps kill odor-causing bacteria and remove the residue that builds up on your washing machine over time (you know, the stuff responsible for that very unpleasant smell we discussed?). The best part is that it's super simple to use! Just add 1 cap of Smelly Washer into your detergent dispenser and turn the machine on for 2 minutes on the hot water setting. Then stop the washer and allow it to soak overnight. In the morning, complete your cycle and revel in the clean look and smell of your machine! After the initial treatment, you only need 1 tsp. of Smelly Washer in your machine each month to keep it squeaky clean, which means one bottle should last you a year or longer! Even better still, it works for both front and top loading machines.

I definitely noticed a difference in my washer after the first use. Not only was the stinky smell gone, but the little gunky build up around the rubber gasket in front vanished!

You can purchase your own Smelly Washer for only $16.99 HERE...not too shabby for over a year's worth of clean!

** Disclosure: I received a bottle of Smelly Washer for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. The views expressed in this post are solely my own and based on my own personal experience with this product.

It's Giveaway Time, Baby!

This giveaway is now closed.

And the timing couldn't be better! Now that fall is officially upon us, I know many of my fellow mamas out there have already turned their minds to Christmas and the ever looming Christmas list. I have my own rudimentary version tucked away neatly in my end table as we speak! Luckily for you, my friends over at CSN Stores have graciously offered a $45 gift certificate to one lucky Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby reader to help you on your way!

For those of you who are new to Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby (or have just been out of the webby loop for a while), CSN Stores is an amazing collection of over 200 stores with everything from Home Decor & Furniture to Baby & Kids to Pet Supplies! Check out some of my current crushes...

A sweet space for The Bean to create her masterpieces.I already have an adorable set of monogrammed aprons for Bean and her baby doll, but what about some sweet attire for the mama?

The perfect accessory for teaching my little sweetie the secrets behind Ellia C. Naturals amazing products!

I've given you a head start. Now it's time for you to head on over to CSN Stores and tell me what sweet little nugget you just can't do without

To Enter (mandatory):
Visit CSN stores and leave a comment on this post telling me an item that caught your eye. Please include your email or have it visible in your profile (mandatory entry).

For extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know for each. Make sure to leave your email address if not visible in your profile so I can let you know if you win:

1. Follow my blog with google friend connect (2 extra entries)
2. Follow me on Twitter and leave me your twitter id
3. Tweet about this giveaway mentioning @ElliaCNaturals and leave the link (once per day)
4. Like Ellia C. Naturals on Facebook (our all-natural bath & body shop) and leave your FB id
4. Blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar (2 extra entries)
5. Grab my button and place it on your blog (2 extra entries)

Giveaway ends October 13th. Open to U.S. and Canada. Winner selected by www.random.org. Winner will have 72 hrs. to respond to email notification or alternate winner will be selected.

No compensation or test product was received in exchange for hosting this giveaway (just the opportunity to pass this great prize along to one of you!). Company information provided by CSNstores.

Soapy Sweets for Fall & Winter

Be sure to stop by and check out our limited edition of Fall & Winter cold processed soaps. They're super yummy for your nose and decadent for your skin! Many of these blends are also available in our body wash, creamy milk bath, and body meringue.

Fun With "Blocks"

Improvisation at its finest! Playing with "Blocks :)

Bento, Baby!

Image by Japan It Up

Let me be the first to say that I do not have our household completely "green" by any stretch of the imagination. I still buy some of our snack foods packaged individually. I still keep non-organic cleaners with chemicals I would rather avoid locked away for those really tough jobs that my organic or homemade cleaners just don't seem to get. I still use throw away napkins when I'm certain my reusable ones won't make it back home (school lunch, field trips, family outings that last all day). That being said, I try to be conscientious of our environment and the waste we create in many, many ways.

Recently, I've been enamoured with the whole Japanese-inspired Bento style of packing lunches. In a very simplified nutshell, the idea is to pack food in such a way that it is pleasing to the eye, appetizing, and incredibly waste-reducing. Through some of my super sweet buddies on Twitter, I was introduced to another lunch, my new favorite go-to spot for great lunch ideas for my littles. Melissa has such creative ideas for making lunch and snack times yummy, fun, and eco-friendly!

I'm a firm believer in good nutrition throughout the day and feel better about the lunches and snacks my kiddos eat if I know exactly what ingredients are in them. Needless to say, we pack rather than buy when eating at school (and, truth be told, my kids prefer it that way). In an effort to cut down on waste (AKA: plastic baggies, etc..), I decided to pack today's lunch "Bento-style" (just for clarification, while Bento is a name brand for a certain style of meal packing box, it is also used generically to refer to the style of packing meals).

After I packed the basic box (which was a Lock-n-Lock box vs. a brand name Bento Box or Laptop Lunch Box), I put a folded napkin over the food and layered the yogurt tube and wheat crackers (in their reusable snack bag!) on top...double decker delights! I also tucked in a little chocolate square for dessert :) If this were a fully "green" lunch, the yogurt and applesauce would have been bought in bulk (vs. individually wrapped) and spooned into their own cup/container. However, my first grader's new lunch box from California Innovations (which I love!) stands upright rather than laying flat (not good for semi-liquid goodies).

I popped on the lid with its rubber gasket, added a sweet note, and got a big "awesome!" from my little guy :) I have my eye on some super cute mini alphabet steel cookie cutters that I'm planning to use to up the fun factor in lunches to come!

Gifts to Grow Galore!

As you can tell, I'm all about the Gifts to Grow codes. Having had one wee one or another in Pampers for the past 6 years, I've earned a number of nice freebies just for logging codes that come with the diapers I already purchase out of necessity. Here are a couple of big-uns for you fellow collectors :)

Enter the following codes in your Gifts to Grow account:

Sepfacebook2010 - 10 points
HangOn2Summer20 - 20 points

Dryel Starter Kit Review

Back before the wee ones came along, when it was just DH and me, I must admit that I had my fair share of dry clean only gear. Not intentionally, mind you, I just possess a fashion sense that always seems to draw me to items with the ominous dry clean only label. It's funny how a house full of little ones changes your perspective a bit! Not that my tastes in clothing have changed, but my sensibilities definitely have. It's really not practical or financially feasible to send out/take in mountains of clothing to the dry cleaners. For the most part, I am now strictly a wash and wear kind of gal as is my family (fortunately for me, even some talented higher end designers have jumped on the band wagon and helped me out with more fashionable machine washable options!).

However, despite me best efforts, there are still those must have items that need to be dry cleaned. That's why I was excited to give the Dryel Starter Kit a try, which contains everything I need to dry clean up to 8 garments using my own dryer. The kit comes with a reusable fabric protection bag (good for up to 50 loads), 2 ultra concentrated refill cloths (to be used in combination with the bags), and an On The Go Stain Pen. Dryel does not contain any phosphate, PERC, or Trichloroethylene and uses dryer activated technology.

Here's how it works: Place your dry clean only items in the fabric protection bag, throw in a refill cloth, zip the bag, and set your dryer for a 15 minute cycle. That's it! The bag is a very generous size and I found that I could do a favorite dry clean only quilt in it with no problem. For delicates and special care items, you can also steam clean them in the dryer using a 30 minute cycle.

You can purchase your own Dryel Starter Kit at stores like Target, Walgreens, and Walmart. Even better, if you wait a week or so, your local Walmart is set to offer the Dryel Starter Kit and refills free of charge via a mail in rebate! Check your local store for the deets.

Total Pillow Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to sweetone624...

Your comment (#42), "I follow on Twitter", was selected as the winner in our
Total Pillow Giveaway...woot, woot!

Thanks to all the fabulous peeps who decided to play along with us. Be sure to stop by and enter our giveaway for 50 Personalized Greeting Cards as well!

* Winner has been contacted via email. In the event that the prize is not claimed within 72 hrs., and alternate winner will be selected.

Grill Daddy Review & Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.

Spring through Fall, our grill always gets a workout. There's nothing finer than a juicy steak or turkey burger, baked potato (grill style!), and grilled corn on the cobb for this family of 6...except perhaps the occasional shish kabob or filet! You might say it's a bit of a compulsion (wink). The only downside to this innocent indulgence is the looming chore of cleaning the grill after the tummies have been filled. Fortunately, we now have some added ammunition to help with this task.

When I was first approached to review the Grill Daddy, I pictured your typical, run-of-the-mill grill brush. Boy, was I mistaken! I now see why it's called the Grill Daddy. This bad boy is huge! Both my husband and I thought at first that it was a bit too large, but our opinions were quickly turned around. Although it takes a little getting used to, the Grill Daddy is incredibly effective and works wonderfully on a variety of grill surfaces.

What makes this unique brush so effective? The power of steam. The Grill Daddy uses a combination of water based steam and firm, stainless steel bristles to get your grill squeaky clean. To use, simply fill the reservoir with water and you're good to go. As the steam comes out, it rinses away the mess left behind on your grill. As an added bonus, the steam also serves to clean the bristles of the brush itself, ensuring that you have a clean product to use each time! Because of the heat required to generate steam, this brush reportedly helps to both clean and sanitize by ridding your grill of both grease and bacteria. One of the nice features about the ominous size of this brush is the fact that it protects your arms and hands from burns by keeping you far enough from the hot surface...and did I mention, this gem can be used on porcelain, steel, and iron grills whether they are hot or cold!

You can purchase your very own Grill Daddy online for $19.95, and it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. As an added bonus, you’ll receive a color-coded meat thermometer, free of charge, with your order. You can also find the Grill Daddy at stores such as K-mart, Sears, and CVS.



Now for the Giveaway! I'm giving away a Grill Daddy to 1 lucky reader of Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby.

To Enter:
Just leave me a comment indicating who in your house would be most likely to use this bad boy of grill brushes...easy, peasy!

Extra Entries (please leave a separate comment for each):

1. Become a follower of Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Blog or let me know that you already are (and thank you!) - 2 extra entries
2. Become a fan of Ellia C. Naturals on Facebook - 2 extra entries
3. Follow me on Twitter - 2 extra entries
4. Tweet about this giveaway and link back to @ElliaCNaturals - 1 extra entry per day
5. Add our button to your blog (please provide your link)

The winner will be selected by random.org on June 3rd. Good luck :)

(Disclosure: I received a Grill Daddy, free of charge from Grill Daddy, for the purposes of this review. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and based on my own experience.)