Are you looking for that perfect gift for the grandparents, you husband or wife? Maybe you have that great photo from your summer vacation you want to do something special with. If so you should check out CanvasOnSale because you can get a free 12 x 8 Canvas for FREE, that is right F-R-E-E! I am off to order mine now.
All you need to do is click on HERE and then upload your favorite picture, choose 12″ X 8″ and enter the voucher code from the website in the basket. Keep it for yourself or present it to your loved ones.
Once you have ordered your free canvas you can share this with your friends and family on the internet, so they can get a free canvas print too. Let me know if you order yours and what you think of this special offer.
Tis’ the season for hearty soups and stews and home-baked bread. I used to have issues baking bread, it just never came out right. Last year, I discovered that when I used a bread cloche I could make the most delicious artisan bread consistently. Baguettes were not a problem any more either and I was turning them out 3 at a time. They disappeared before they were even cool! So I was left with mastering baking the perfect bread loaf. I am happy to report I mastered that and no matter how many I make, they are perfect and delicious every time!
If you are looking for pointers, I can help. I will tell you that I do use bread flour, I add a little more sugar than my recipe calls for and make sure to use fresh, active dry yeast. The recipe I use is easy, it is actually the same recipe I use when I make my round bread in the Emile & Henry Bread Cloche. I do not change a thing, the only thing I do differently, is use the Emile & Henry Bread Loaf Baker.
This is the recipe I use:
3 cups of bread flour
1 cup of warm water (95 degrees F)
2 tsp of salt
2 tsp of granulated sugar
2 tsp of dried baker’s yeast
2 tbsp of milk
In a large bowl mix the bread flour, salt, sugar and dried yeast.
Pour in the warm water and knead for about 2-3 minutes.
Put the covered bowl in a warm place away from drafts to rise for 20 minutes. Uncover the dough and knead to remove the carbon dioxide, form the dough into a loaf. Grease the bread loaf pan with butter and flour and place the loaf of dough into the loaf dish. Cover with the top and let rise for another 45 minutes at room temperature.
Brush a little milk over the top at the end of the rise time and sprinkle with flour.
Bake in a preheated oven of 460 degrees F for 35 minutes and I remove it after a few minutes to a board.
Click on my video below to see me bake a loaf from start to finish.
We have a giveaway for this bread loaf baker and you can enter below. We will also be posting a giveaway for a Emile & Henry Butter Pot and Stewpot so make sure you follow us if you don’t want to miss it. We think Emile & Henry products make great gifts and we will be putting them on our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide.
Emile & Henry is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Emile & Henry Bread Loaf Baker . Thank you to Emile & Henry for my bread loaf baker and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Emile & Henry Bread Loaf Baker Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
If you love the look of a farmhouse sink and want one in your kitchen, you are not alone. The farmhouse sink with its apron front was designed for the comfort of women who spent long hours in front of them. By eliminating the countertop in front, women did not have to lean forward over sink. So, what is it about these sinks of yesteryear that appeals to us today? I think there are a number of reasons they are so popular. The size is larger since the apron front extends over the bottom cabinet. This makes them ideal to wash even large pots, pans, cookie sheets and more.
Besides looking beautiful that apron front means that any drips will not be falling on the cabinet but onto the floor eliminating the chance of water damage to your cabinets. Without having to reach over the countertop it is much more comfortable than a conventional sink. I think there is a certain romantic quality to a farmhouse sink that beckons us to simpler times and tugs at our heartstrings.
When you are considering a farmhouse sink there are some factors to consider. Material is a major one. Farmhouse sinks are available in white porcelain, cast iron enamel, Fireclay, stainless steel, copper and more.
For me the look of the white Fireclay along with the durability make it a strong contender. I do have a more modern stainless steel farmhouse sink in my laundry room but I still find myself longing for the true farmhouse look of the Fireclay. There are sink grills available which will help protect your sink. I love sink grills and would highly recommend them. If a Fireclay sink does chip, it can be repaired with a repair kit.
Fireclay sinks are heavy and some require that the sink cabinet is customized with extra support to handle the weight. You will also need to decide on a double or single bowl. For me it is a no-brainer. I want the full experience of the large sink and don’t want to split it into 2 bowls.
Since I grew up with a dishwasher and don’t hand wash anything that can go in the dishwasher, I just did not see why I would want 2 bowls. The things we hand wash are large and so I know a double bowl would not be able to handle them with the ease of a large single bowl.
Even after you have decided on a sink material and bowl size there are still other decisions like the design. This is the hardest for me. I have been working with Jake from Nantucket Sinks and he has helped me tremendously. I finally made my decision and I choose the Hyannis 30″ Fireclay Sink.
So that is one decision down for our kitchen and about 1,000,000 more to go! What do you think of my choice? If you have any questions please let me know.
Babies who are teething have a new best friend! Meet Sammy The Squid, his squeaks will have baby squealing with delight. The variety of textures and chewable parts will make Sammy a friend your baby will want around all the time.
This teething toy is part of the Brain Builders Collection from The People Toy Co. Sammy may seem a little pale but it is a good thing! There are no added colors for safety. The unique shape holds your baby’s attention, soothes sore gums and helps develop multiple senses.
Check out our video review of this teething toy below:
You can purchase this teether on Amazon. We like it so much we are adding it to Mommy Ramblings 2016 Holiday Gift Guide!
The People Toy Co. is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Sammy The Squid Teethng Toy! Thank you to The People Toy Co. for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Sammy The Squid Teether From The People Toy Co. Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Do you have a new baby or a new baby on your holiday list this year? If so, we are going to be featuring several toys from the People Toy Co. We will feature several toys from their Brain Builders Collection.
Check out the Feather Light Teething Rattle. It is very light, one end has soft surfaces for baby with a very soft rattle sound. It is not a sound that will startle baby at all.
The handle of the rattle is very narrow so that baby can hold it easily. It is a cute little butterfly on one end and the other end is a teether that is great as baby starts cutting teeth. The ridges and bumps on the teether help to soothe baby’s sore gums. You can purchase this rattle on Amazon.com.
Check out our video to see all the details.
Mommy Ramblings thinks this Feather Light Teether makes a great present for baby this holiday season so we are adding it to our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide.
Giveaway
People Toy Co. is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Feather Light Teething Rattle. Thank you for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
People Toy Co. Feather Light Teething Rattle Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
I am not a big gamer, I do engage in a few games I like when I am stuck in a waiting room or similar situation to pass the time. One game that I really like is Mahjong Journey. Mahjong Solitaire takes you on a magical journey in this adventure to help a young girl and her grandfather travel the globe in a quest to find her parents.
Match pairs of tiles in a quest to clear the board and as you do, you collect achievements. There are innovative game twists like Shuffle, which can be a lifesaver if you are stuck or use Firecracker to blow up multiple pairs of tiles. Get ready to visit the Forbidden City, Virupaksha Temple, the Taj Mahal and the famous Mount Fuji as you fulfill challenging quests and earn gold stars for completing levels as fast as you can!
Master over 655 immersive levels (with hundreds more coming in free updates)
Match 630 types of tiles in 15 different tile sets (with more coming in free updates)
Earn over 40 desirable achievements and utilize four groundbreaking power-ups
Enjoy gorgeous graphics, rich sounds and regular free updates with new levels, tile sets and more
Game Center Support
iPhone 6+ Support
Requirements: compatible with iPhone 4/4S and higher, iPod Touch 5th generation, iPad 2,3,4 iPad mini 6.0+ firmware
See the game in action by watching the video below:
As we head into the most traveled holiday of the year, this game may just help you deal with delays while traveling with more fun and fewer headaches.
Mahjong Journey® is Published by G5 Entertainment AB. Let me know what you think, and if you download this game for FREE! I would love to know how you like it.
This post is sponsored by G5 entertainment, my words and opinions are 100% my own as always.
I have heard good things about Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament for years and yet we have never been there. I think it is about time to change that. We are planning a trip there in the next few weeks. We will be going to the one in Lyndhurst, NJ.
The kids were really excited when we told them about it. We will be sharing all the fun with our readers through live posting while we are there and a full rundown on everything that happened when we get back.
I have been studying up on what happens during the performance to get myself ready for the action. Did you know the Knights perform with real metal weapons and wear authentic armor? They do, and during battle scenes, real titanium swords create sparks. I also learned that Medieval Times is the #1 breeder of pure Spanish horses in North America.
When jousting, the Knights charge at speeds of approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour and reach an impact velocity speed of about 30 to 40 miles per hour. This must all make people crave soup because 125,000 gallons of soup are served each year!
In case this is making you want to go, I have an exclusive offer for Mommy Ramblings’ readers. You can save on tickets with our exclusive discount code. Adults $36.95 and children (12 and under) $29.95 with the code MT3629 through 2/28/17. Click HEREto take advantage of the special offer.
Did you know that 50-60% of all Christian marriages end in divorce? In his book, The Blessings of Unity, Richard Case who with his wife Linda has been doing marriage retreats for over 14 years, found only a few of those marriages that have not moved to divorce are truly reflecting the wonder and glory of God. The remainder are living in mediocrity, ongoing conflict and certainly not enjoying the beauty of marriage.
Richard says that while we may be initially attracted to our spouse because of how different their personality is to ours, it is those differences that cause conflict. The husband tries to get his wife to be more like him while the wife does the same with her husband. These attempts to change the other person lead to significant conflict.
Richard and his wife Linda learned from their own marriage troubles that something was not right. They then learned the 2 keys to a successful marriage were :
Be abiding in the Vine and walking in the Spirit. (John 15: 1-15)
Learning the concept of unity–we are to live and only live through the principle of unity. This means working toward reaching agreement on all decisions, all issues and all things of our lives 100 percent of the time, all the time. (Psalm 133)
Next, there is a written exercise for husbands and wives to evaluate their marriage.
Chapter 2 is all about the opposite of unity-division and discord. This is a great chapter filled with concepts, scripture and personal examples from the author’s marriage.
Now you may be thinking, this is crazy, my spouse and I cannot agree on everything. I admit, I had the same thought. The author does not think that is possible either and says it is okay to disagree. In fact it is important for each of us to hold integrity with our true thoughts, beliefs and insights. The important thing is they don’t let it ruin their night or weekend, instead they get to unity by seeking God’s will.
There is also a chapter dedicated to handling disagreements and differences in opinion.
I think this is important and I think the whole concept can help us give up the fight to be right and seek peace and pray for God’s will instead. Who does not want more peace in their life?
Giveaway:
Enter our giveaway below for a chance to win your own copy of TheBlessings of Unity. In the meantime check out this free eBook, Unshakeable, from the All for Jesus Ministry.
The Blessings of Unity Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Open to US and Canadian residents. Good Luck!!!
If you are looking for a great read aloud book that teaches children the true meaning of Christmas, Where Jesus Slept is a new favorite of ours.
This book is written in a rhyming, repetitive way that is similar to the style of This is the House that Jack Built. The story starts with the hay and continues on until the baby Jesus who slept on it appears.
The illustrations are beautiful and the story about the first Christmas is one that fills our hearts with what Christmas is all about. I love sharing this book at bedtime at least one night a week with my children in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
It provides a springboard for discussion you can taper to the age of the children you are reading to. It seems every time we read it, there are new questions they have. With all the commercialism of the holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ, this book keep us centered on what really matters!
About the author: Norma Lewis is the author of ten books. She lives in Grand Haven, MI, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty.
Illustrated by Katy Hudson.
Would you like a chance to win your own Where Jesus Slept Book? If so, enter the giveaway below!
Giveaway:
Where Jesus Slept Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to US residents.
As a parent, I feel the true meaning of Christmas is lost among all the commercialism that surrounds us. Teaching children the true meaning of Christmas is very important but not always an easy thing to do. That is why I really like the new pop-up book celebrating the Nativity by Robert Sabuda. The Christmas Story is a visual feast, a holiday treasure to be shared with the whole family.
As you open each page, the age-old inspiring story of the birth of Jesus is lovingly brought to life by master pop-up artist, Robert Sabuda in six gorgeously imagined scenes.
The culmination of the story ends with a 3-D manger sheltering humans and beasts, guarded by an angel above. Glittering touches of gold and pearlescent foil add detail to the intricate cut out images that pop to life on each page. Start a new tradition with your family with this inspirational book that tells the story of what Christmas is all about!
Would you like a chance to win one of these great books for yourself? If so, enter out giveaway below.
Giveaway:
Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win The Christmas Story by Robert Sabuda. Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
The Christmas Story Pop-Up Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
