Wordless Wednesday - Reading

We just got our Jesus Storybook Bible that I've been meaning to order forever, so we had to sit down this morning and read some of the stories!

So far, we love it!

(Thanks to my little sister Polka Dot, for the photo! I get to hang out with her for the next week and a half while most of the rest of the family is in Poland! Yay!)

T. Ashley Candle Co. Tart Warmer Review & Giveaway - 7/13

* This giveaway is now CLOSED *

I'd heard of "tart warmer" before, but I'd never seen or used one until the T. Ashley Candle Company sent me their White Tart Warmer to review, along with a set of Mango Papaya scented soy melts.

Electric tart warmers are ideal for homes with small children.

There is no open flame and the warmer heats the soy melts at a low temperature, spreading the fragrance throughout your home!

Simply plug it in, turn on the switch and place one or two, (or all, depending on how big your warmer is!) of the soy melt squares into the bowl of the warmer.

The website says one package (of 6 squares,) will last 10-20 hours.

I had already used mine for a total of about 10 hours when I accidentally left it on for more than 48 hours this week!

(Note: The website says most of their warmers have a little indication light to help you notice that they are on, but mine did not. This would definitely be helpful.)

I was concerned that I ruined it by leaving it on with nothing in there that long...but when I went to check it...there is still some left!!

I couldn't believe it! Suffice to say...these last a LONG time. 

At $3.95 a pack, these soy melts are much more cost effective for bringing a pleasant aroma into your home than most candle options!

Some candle fragrances have been known to give me headaches and I was pleased to find that although these soy melts give off a powerful (and pleasing!) aroma in the tart warmer, I have suffered no headaches!

Besides the Mango Papaya that I reviewed, you may also choose from Key Lime Pie, Lucious Cheesecake, Pink Sugar, Cherry Lemonade, and more!

The T.Ashley Candle Co. has several beautiful tart warmer options to choose from!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Shawnee from the T.Ashley Candle Co. is giving away another of the Round White tart warmers and a package of soy melts in one of the fragrances listed above to one lucky Mama Chocolate reader!

You must use the form below to enter!

Please feel free to comment to remind yourself that you entered!

(if you've forgotten, email me and I'll check for you)

jccchocolate@gmail.com

Remember, however, that comments will not be counted as entries, except for daily tweets or Facebook postings.

Current Entries as of 

Friday, July 1st, 3:20pm PST: 26

Giveaway will close July 13th, Wednesday, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. I will choose the winner via Random.org, and the winner will be announced here on the blog and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, after which a new winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping the prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks for the prize to arrive from the sponsor.

*T.Ashley Candle Co. sent me the products for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received and opinions expressed were not influenced in any way.

Links You'll Want

T. Ashley Candle Co. Website

T. Ashley Candle Co. on Facebook
T. Ashley Candle Co. on Twitter

Mama Chocolate on Facebook

Mama Chocolate on Twitter

SAMPLE Tweet:

#Win a tart warmer & soy melts from @TAshleyCandles1 at @ChoresChocolate! http://ow.ly/5snej #candles #soymelts #tartwarmer #giveaway 7/13

 

Happy Anniversary to US!

Today, John and I celebrate 4 amazing years as husband and wife!

I can't believe how much YOUNGER we already look in our wedding photos...

...but I can't wait to be celebrating our 50th (...60th...70th?) anniversary and be marveling at what "young things" we once were. ;-)

I love you, darling!

Wordless Wednesday - My Steal

I was pretty excited when I got this Graco Cleo stroller "thrown-in" with another Craigslist deal for only $25!
(It's $219 on Amazon!)

It had only been used once, and still had the crisp manual sitting in the basket part!

It's got some pretty snazzy features, but mostly I'm just glad to be rid of the stroller that was falling to pieces and looking older than me.

After I brought it home and used it a few times I went and looked at the reviews on Amazon. There are a few issues with this stroller, including the unfolding process (5 steps!) and this lady has it right-on.

I because of it's oddities, I would be really disappointed if I'd spent over 200 bucks on it, but for $25...I'm happy and it came just in time for our church's camp last week!

(...if you're drooling over Victoria's blanket, find out where to get it.)

Sew is Your Baby! Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway - 7/6

* This giveaway is now CLOSED *

I have the privilege of yet again introducing you to a new cloth diapering company!

Besides affordable pocket diapers, Sew is Your Baby also provides minky wetbags, flannel cloth wipes, adorable baby pants especially designed for those "fluffy bottoms," and MORE!

I love the Kaledidoscope Flowers baby wipes!

($5.95 for a set of 6!)

Sew is Your Baby also carries an amazing variety of BabyLegs for great prices!

These Blue Argyle ones are only $6.95 right now!

Michelle at Sew is Your Baby sent me the Pink Butterflies & Roses minky diaper to review ($14.00, including one insert.)

I'm going to be honest here...my absolute favorite feature of this diaper is the PRINT.

I have long been frustrated with the lack of pretty diapers out there! There are so many cutesy ones, which is all well and good, (and I love 'em too!) but seriously, people. 

I have girls, I'm a girl, and sometimes, I want a diaper we can call "beautiful"...something that works with their outfits when I "dress-up" my girlies.

I suppose you wanna know how it performs, though, huh? A soft and pretty diaper isn't much use if it doesn't hold in the not-so-pretty part...

You're in luck, 'cause this diaper delivers!

It fits both my girls, (7 months and 27 months,) and held it all in!

(there is a newborn crossover snap for teeny babies, also. This diaper is designed to fit 6.5lbs - 33lbs)

For Katie, (27 months,) I needed to add an extra insert, (the diaper comes with one, and you can purchase extras for $2/each.) I think this would be the case for most toddlers, so be aware of this when ordering!

For Victoria, (7 months,) one insert was entirely sufficient, even for overnight. 

I do need to mention that I still have not managed to get her to test a #2 in there for me, (sorry if T.M.I.) 

We started solid foods recently, so her bowel movements are less frequent, and without fail she finally does it in the diaper after this diaper is used...

I do not have any doubts that it would contain it just fine. 

The back pocket opening has great elastic, and it fits comfortably, but snuggly all around, so no blow-outs here!

Buy Your Own:

Pick your favorites from the printed minky diapers, the solid minky diapers and the non-minky diapers at Sew is Your Baby!

Win Your Own!

Sew is Your Baby is giving away another diaper of the winner's choice to one lucky Mama Chocolate reader!

You must use the form below to enter!

Please feel free to comment to remind yourself that you entered!

(if you've forgotten, email me and I'll check for you)

jccchocolate@gmail.com

Remember, however, that comments will not be counted as entries, except for daily tweets or Facebook postings.

Current Entries as of 

Wednesday, July 6th, 11:59pm PST: 901

Giveaway will close July 6th, Wednesday, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. I will choose the winner via Random.org, and the winner will be announced here on the blog and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, after which a new winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping the prize. Please allow 4-6 weeks for the prize to arrive from the sponsor.

*Sew is Your Baby sent me a diaper for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received and opinions expressed were not influenced in any way.

Links You'll Want

Sew is Your Baby Website

Sew is Your Baby on Facebook
Sew is Your Baby on Twitter
Sew is Your Baby Blog

Mama Chocolate on Facebook

Mama Chocolate on Twitter

SAMPLE Tweet:

#Win a @SewisYourBaby one-size pocket #clothdiaper at @ChoresChocolate now! http://ow.ly/5oeiM #gogreen #green #giveaway #clothdiapers 7/6

WINNERS! Happy Heinys, HT Dish Liquid, & $25 Kiki's Maternity GC

We have the some more winners!

The Happy Heinys giveaway from Chic Cheeks ended with 799 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #691.

Entry # 691 is...Heather at the Tree Huggin' Momma!

Heather is going to be giving away a $50 cloth diaper package at her blog soon, when she reaches 1000 GFC followers! 

Please help her reach her goal and enter to win!

**************

The Household Traditions Dish Liquid giveaway ended with 224 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #59.

Entry # 59 is...Zoe K!

**************

The $25 Kiki's Maternity Fashions Gift Card giveaway ended with 271 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #44.

Entry #44 is...Tenea Cannon!

(Sponsored by Tomoson.com)

Congratulations to the winners! (More winners to be announced soon!)

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be chosen!

If you didn't win, wipe your tears and enter my other current giveaways!

Watch for exciting new giveaways coming soon!

Current Giveaways

Planet Wise Reusable Bag Set - 6/21 Enter here!
$20 Victorian Rose Soap Co. Gift Card - 6/27 Enter here!

Bye-Bye Diapers Potty Training Event

Little Looster - Booster for the Loo! - 6/24 Enter here!

WINNERS! Super Skivvies & Envibum

We have the some more winners from the Bye-Bye Diapers giveaways here on Mama Chocolate!

The Super Skivvies giveaway ended with 571 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #396 and #144.

Entry # 396 is...Nikole H. and entry #144 is Tattin' Kat!

**************

The Envibum giveaway ended with a whoppin' 1243 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #880.

Entry # 880 is...Brittany Higg!

Congratulations to the winners! (More winners to be announced soon!)

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be chosen!

If you didn't win, wipe your tears and enter my other current giveaways!

Watch for exciting new giveaways coming soon!

Current Giveaways

$25 Kiki's Maternity Fashions Gift Card - 6/20 Enter here!

Planet Wise Reusable Bag Set - 6/21 Enter here!
$20 Victorian Rose Soap Co. Gift Card - 6/27 Enter here!

Bye-Bye Diapers Potty Training Event

Little Looster - Booster for the Loo! - 6/24 Enter here!

Baked Beans - Fun with Food Friday

 
Welcome to this week's Fun with Food Friday! (ALERT: Read to the bottom for extra bonus entries opportunity!)
Michelle at The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Second Time Mom is still taking a little break as she just graduated college and is enjoying well-deserved celebrations!
Please check my archives for more delicious recipes!
Melissa H. kindly responded to my pleading on Facebook for somebody to please send me a baked bean recipe, (and got 10 extra entries into the dish liquid giveaway for her troubles!)
Incidentally, this recipe comes from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook, which I just won in a giveaway from Exodus Books! Yay for me! ;-) I had this book on my birthday wish-list, and now I can already cross it off!

BAKED BEANS (this recipe serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

• 4 cups small white beans
• Warm filtered water
• 2 TBSP lemon juice
• 2 medium onions
• 2 TBSP butter
• 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 3 TBSP naturally fermented soy sauce (I didn't have this, so I just used regular)
• 3 TBSP vinegar
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup molasses
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 TSP salt
• Pinch of red chile flakes

Directions:

Cover beans with warm water.  Stir in lemon juice and leave in a warm place for 24 hours.  In a flameproof casserole, sauté onion in butter and oil.  Drain beans, rinse and add to casserole, with enough water to cover them.  Bring to a boil and skim.  Add remaining ingredients, cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 6 hours.  Serve! 

* * * * * * * * 

I had to do things a little differently, since I was planning on taking this to my brother and sister-in-law's house after church for lunch, and needed to have it prepared and cooked ahead of time.

I probably should have cooked it all as directed and then just warmed them when we got to their house, but I didn't think that far ahead, so I went with using the crockpot instead. The beans ended up a little crunchy, so I want to try it again properly.

(So they weren't exactly baked beans. More like crockpotted beans. That sounded iffy though, so I still called 'em baked beans.) 

* * * * * * * * 

I soaked the beans...not for the full 24 hours, but since I was going to be cooking them for almost 24 hours, I figured they'd be alright with a little less soaking time...I think they could have used the full 24 hours, and I'm sure there is some health/digestive benefit to soaking them longer first.

Instead of boiling the beans first, (I didn't want to make another pot dirty...I'm lazy, I know,) I just rinsed the beans and put them into the crockpot with more water. I should have at least poured boiling water on them, but it was late, and I wasn't feeling quite that clever. I believe this is why they turned out a little crunchy!

I didn't have any onions left in the freezer, (ack!) so I actually had to get some out and chop them up! At least I have my handy-dandy chopper thing-a-ma-jigger to help me out.
.
Even though it didn't say to, I added the garlic in with the onions when I was sauteing them.

Sorry, Sally Fallon, I didn't have any naturally fermented soy sauce, (??) so I used what I had!

This was super quick and easy to throw together! If you had your onions pre-chopped and sauteed in your freezer, (like I usually do!) this recipe would take almost no time at all!

These were the first baked (crockpotted) beans I've ever made, (shocking!) and I was pretty pleased with my success! The flavor was great, and left-over they'll be great, (when they'd had a chance to cook more!)
We'll definitely be making these again...and maybe next time I won't be such a rebel and actually follow the directions...

**********************We'll be doing this again next Friday, and we need your recipes!

To encourage ya'll to produce your tasty gems, I'm offering 10 extra entries into any ONE giveaway of your choice for each recipe you submit, (you can send me as many as you like!)


Just send the recipe(s) to mamachocolateblog@gmail.com and add the 10 entries into the appropriate box on the giveaway entry form.

If you have a blog post about a favorite recipe, I'd love it if you'd comment with a link to it!