Dec. 22, 2009 - More Snow Pics and a Merry Christmas to all of YOU!!!
I think we are going to have that White Christmas I have dreamed of for years. Well, at least a slushy Christmas. LOL! We got at least 13 inches of snow and there is still plenty on the ground. It is supposed to warm up a bit today and will probably melt a bit away.
Here is the children's first full size snowman EVER! His name is "bicycle man" and he has sun dried tomatoes for eyes! How much more southern could he get. LOL!
The slide off the back deck.
Me in my Pillsbury dough boy coat. I finally know what I want for Christmas! Snow boots and more gloves. Notice~I have a sock on one hand.
I want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas....I hope you have a day filled with love, joy and peace.
Blessings,
Dawn
Dec. 22, 2009 - Tightwad Tuesday ~ How To Make Different Sugars To Save In Baking
(I will show pics of making the coloured sugar later in the morning)
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How To Make Different Types Of Sugar To Save In Baking
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I love to bake and all in my family can testify to that. One event I really like to do during the winter break is to make gingerbread boys and girls. I try to look for ways to make them ( and other goodies too ) for less.
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Three ways to save money in your baking are to make your own...
-brown sugar
-coloured sugar
-and powdered/ icing sugar
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Now, I have to admit if you are not careful you can spend a lot of money on candy to decorate them. I have bought in the past a coloured sugar set and that is very expensive. You get 4 or 5 little tubes of different coloured sugar. It costs us between $3-$5 dollars. You pay a lot for what you get. I started to research for a tightwad way to make coloured sugar and found a VERY ecconomical way to make it for pennies !
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How To Make Coloured Sugar:
You get a small jar with a lid that will hold a cup of granulated sugar.
Pour 1 cup of sugar into the jar and drop 3-5 drops of food colouring.
Put the lid on the jar and shake REALLY good will colour is well mixed. If you want the colour darker add more food colouring. You can decorate so many goodies with this !
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Two other sugars you can make yourself and it costs a lot less and save yourself money.
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How To Make Brown Sugar:
You measure the amount of sugar you want. For every cup of sugar you add 1-2 Tablespoons of molasses and mix really well. I really like to mix mine with my Kitchen Aide and use the flat paddle. Or you could also use a hand mixer to blend the sugars together.
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How To Make Powdered/Icing Sugar:
Measure 1 cup of granulated sugar and pour into a blender and blend till sugar is a powder form and use as recipe calls. If you want you can add 1 teaspoon of cornstartch for each cup sugar. Empty blender and keep doing this the amount of powedered/icing sugar is desired. I have heard that the blender is the best choice. It is hard to attain the powdered consistency in a food processor.
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Now to join in the fun of Tightwad Tuesday....
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Link your TWT post click on MckLinky and give exact the URL of your post. (each Tuesday that you join in on the fun)
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example of a URL ...
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/693425/
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Now go ahead link and read and comment on all these other's wonderful TWT's.
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Lets save our pennies, nickles, dimes, and dollars together !
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"There are only a few big ways to save money but there are many small ways ....that all adds up."
Dec. 21, 2009 - The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#58~ 12/21/09
Outside my window...grey, "wanting-to-snow" skies; another 1/2" of snow on the ground. It's beginning to look alot like CHRISTmas.
I am thinking...that I can't believe CHRISTmas is almost here. I'm hoping the strains my mom has put on our family won't 'show' so much when we all get together.
I am thankful for...my wonderful husband who takes such good care of us, even when we have so little.
From the kitchen...lazagna & salad.
I am wearing...burgandy leggings & sweat shirt - it's COLD!
I am remembering…wonderful CHRISTmases past.
I am going…to take DD#2 to work.
I am reading..."Lies Women Believe"
I am hoping...for the peace of God to settle over my mom & brother so that they will stop causing so much strife.
On my mind…the passing of time.
I am creating...a peaceful home. Great memories for our little family.
I am hearing...the radio, DD#2 getting ready for work.
Noticing that…my attitude effects the attitudes of my whole family. If I greet them every mornig w/a smile, it goes a long way.
Pondering these words…"In as much as it depends on you, live in peace w/all men."
Around the house...CHRISTmas baking!
One of my favorite things...CHRISTmas baking! lol
A Scripture thought..."And Mary pondered all these things in her heart." ~Luke 2
A few plans for the rest of the week...last minute CHRISTmas 'doings', baking, DD#1 will be home for OUR family's little CHRISTmas doings on CHRISTmas Eve day, DH & I will be singing the special music at our CHRISTmas Eve service (!), CHRISTmas w/our extended families; tonight will the Alumni game w/the Miami Valley Saints - our awesome homeschool basketball team!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Enjoy other Daybooks at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
Dec. 21, 2009 - Today's Daybook for Dec 21
I am thinking...of all that I have to do this week, it's such a build up to Christmas day!
I am thankful for...my husband who made sandwich roll-ups for our homeschool Christmas party tomorrow, while I napped!
From the learning rooms...We are on a break right now, but in January we will start up with a lapbook on the 2010 Winter Olympics and we'll be studying the Canadian fur trade.
From the kitchen...today we made a delightful gingerbread house, covered with candy by 5 pairs of hands, Hubby made a 'cookie train'!
Mondays dinner: Cabbage roll casserole, from the freezer,
I am wearing...red pyjama pants and a burgundy turtleneck sweater, I am half way ready for bed!
I am creating...a few last minute homemade gifts with the kids this week,
I am going...to bed soon! And for tomorrow, as I already mentioned, it's our homeschool Christmas party & craft day,
I am reading...the book of Isaiah, trudging my way through Bleak House by Dickens and when I can fit it in; Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld,
I am hoping...I get everything done this week! Without much stress!
I am hearing...the jingle of the bell on the cat's collar, other than that the house is quiet,
Around the house...things are still, wee ones are dreaming, but Monday morning will bring a host of 'to do's',
One of my favorite things...peace & quiet,
A few plans for the rest of the week: last minute Christmas shopping, last minute crafts, clean the house, groceries for Christmas day, wrapping gifts, visiting family, enjoying the season,
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
One of my favourite ornaments!
Dec. 20, 2009 - Weekly Wrapup
From the Heart:
Plans best laid still can go to the wayside if you are blonde and seem to get blonder as you get greyer. I had planned on getting four days of school done this week. Instead we got two done: Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we had 8 appointments scheduled back to back for the kids to have well-child checks and dental checks, then I was going to the eye doctor. On Tuesday, the dental office called and said my insurance wouldn't cover it unless I rescheduled for next week. I went to do the other appointments and drove an hour into town to find out I was a day early for the well-child checks. Not funny. We did a bunch of errands and I got my eye exam done. We still didn't get home until close to 5:30. Then we had to turn around and do it again on Thursday so we could do the well-child checks. Blah! Friday our week was blown anyway, so I decided to go ahead and use it for house cleaning and preparing for the staff Christmas party. Life happens. Next week we probably won't get more than two days in either...
Dh and I sitting with some of our coworkers/friends at the staff Christmas party on Friday night.
In the School Room:
Since school was five days ago, I really can't remember too much off the top of my tired head about what happened in the two days...sorry. It is in my schedule, but I'm too delirious to get off of this chair and look it up.
Our fearless leaders dressed up silly to host the evening. She does not appreciate this picture, but since I copied it from my friends' page on Facebook, I guess it is already out there!
One thing we learned about this week was Hanukkah. We didn't plan to make a menorah ahead of time, so unfortunately we didn't have one. We found a lot of books to read about the holiday, and I found it to be really meaningful. I especially liked reading the Messianic significance of it from Robin Sampson's book, A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays.
Our good friends, Jessie and Yvonne at the Christmas party. Below their son Micah in a dragon costume after we shared a meal together on Wednesday evening.
On the Mission Field:
Still praying a lot for vision and calling as to what to do next. From there we will work on raising our support to meet our needs and do as He calls us to do.
In the Literary Scene:
Now I'm reading the fourth and final book of the Galway Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene. These books are great for cold winter nights, but dangerous to pick up during the day when I have children to take care of and who need my attention!
Feeding on His Faithfulness,
Carol
If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then sign the Mr. Linky below. I'd love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. At the latest it will be on Sunday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before. Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did! It is a great way to meet new people.
Dec. 19, 2009 - Thursday Talkin' About Teenagers ~ Decemer 19 ,2009
Spend time with them; enjoy them; listen to them; and love them.
They are the most incredible people, these emerging adults,
and they can become the best friends you'll ever have."
~Diana Waring, Reaping the Harvest. The Bounty of Abundant-Life Homeschooling~
Dec. 18, 2009 - Mead Johnson, Maker of Enfamil, Loses Multi-Million Dollar False Advertising Case Against Store-Bran
This is a sponsored guest post written by a Press Release on behalf of PBM Products. Post powered by Sponzai.
GORDONSVILLE, VA., December 2 , 2009—PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula. Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns against PBM’s competing store-brand of infant formulas, suggesting they do not provide the same nutrition as Mead Johnson’s brands. PBM’s store-brand infant formulas cost up to 50 percent less than Enfamil® LIPIL®. The $13.5 million in damages awarded by the jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of the largest damages awards ever for a false advertising case.
“This decision by a jury of the people confirms that Mead Johnson’s ads have been false in suggesting that there is a nutritional difference between our store-brand formula products and their products, when in fact the only major difference is price,” said PBM CEO Paul B. Manning. “Despite Mead Johnson’s scare tactics, parents are assured that PBM’s formula products are as high quality and nutritious as Mead Johnson’s.”
U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer issued his written rulings yesterday following the November 10th jury verdict. Judge Spencer’s written rulings permanently enjoined Mead Johnson from making any false statements concerning PBM's infant formula, including the claims Mead Johnson previously made in Enfamil advertising that "It may be tempting to try a less expensive store brand, but only Enfamil LIPIL is clinically proven to improve brain and eye development," and "there are plenty of other ways to save on baby expenses without cutting back on nutrition." The Court also ordered Mead Johnson to retrieve from the public domain all advertising or promotional materials containing these or any other false claims about PBM's store brand infant formula.
The details of the decision and the complaint are posted online in full at:
· http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/Order_Laches.pdf
· http://www.pbmproducts.com/docs/PBM_Complaint_MJ_III_LIPIL.pdf
The nutritional supplements under examination in the case are two fats, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), which Mead Johnson calls “LIPIL®” solely for marketing purposes and touts as promoting infant brain and eye development. PBM’s claim focused on Mead Johnson’s direct mailing to more than 1.6 million parents of an alarming blurry picture of a child’s cartoon duck next to a clear picture of the same image which suggested that anything other than the Enfamil LIPIL® blend of ingredients is inferior and will result in poor eye and brain development. Other parts of the false advertising campaign consist of statements that only Enfamil LIPIL has been proven to confer visual and mental benefits on infants, and store-brand formulas are a “cut-back in nutrition” compared to Enfamil.
PBM successfully argued that these advertisements were false and misleading especially since PBM store- brand infant formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil. PBM infant formulas are formulated to contain DHA and ARA, and are sourced from the same supplier in amounts which equal or exceed the DHA and ARA in Mead Johnson’s Enfamil LIPIL®.
This decision marks the third time PBM Products has sued Mead Johnson for false advertising claims. On the prior occasions Mead Johnson admitted that it made false claims about PBM’s products. It is also the first false advertising case to focus on the issue of DHA and ARA nutritional ingredients in formula, which were introduced into the market in 2003 and have become a staple in recent years by many brands as key components for infant development.
“This jury verdict should send a significant and clear message to Mead Johnson about the way it conducts marketing and advertising for its brands,” said Manning. “This lawsuit also demonstrates our complete commitment to defending our products and the valuable brands of our retail partners.”
“As a parent and supporter of children’s medical research, I take a personal responsibility in assuring our customers that the products we produce are healthy and nutritionally equivalent to brand names like Enfamil® LIPIL®. It is important, especially now, for parents to know that there are lower priced yet highly nutritious store-brand formulas that will provide the same benefit to their children as any national brand name formula product,” Manning added.
The U.S. infant formula market is estimated at $3.4 billion and the global market is estimated at $7.9 billion.
All of PBM’s formulas, and for that matter all of U.S. infant formulas, are subject to the exacting standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pursuant to the Infant Formula Act of 1980. This legislation vested FDA with the authority to ensure that all infant formula products sold in the United States provide the necessary levels of identified nutrients required for the growth of healthy babies. For more information, visit this FDA link.
PBM Products was represented by the law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. Partners from the firm’s advertising practice, Harold P. Weinberger and Jonathan M. Wagner in New York, led the team.
About PBM
PBM is privately owned and based in Gordonsville, VA. PBM companies specialize in manufacturing, distributing, and marketing consumer food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products. For more information, visit www.pbmproducts.com.
Enfamil® LIPIL® are registered trademarks of Mead Johnson & Co.
Dec. 18, 2009 - Now, this is more like it!!
WooHoo! My northern blood is doing the happy dance! It is snowing like crazy outside. About an hour ago, we measured 9 inches of snow in our backyard! This is AMAZING for our area!
The weather man says we may get up to 12 inches! There is also snow forcasted for most of next week, including Christmas Eve. Dare I wish for a White Christmas?!?!? I think, if the snow keeps up for much longer, it will be more snow than I have seen in 10 years, which is when we moved to this area.
The kids rushed through their schoolwork and chores this morning so that they could get outside right after lunch. I would like to say that they had a great time in the snow. However, there were many tears out of Goldilocks. She cried and cried about how cold the snow was, that the snow touched her and about how she didn't have the sled she wanted, and on and on. After about 10 minutes of melting down, she got used to the idea and started having fun. There was enough snow to sled for real and make two tiny snowmen. At the time we went out, there was about 2 inches.
The girls had loads of fun making snowmen.
Everyone loved sledding! I even got in a few runs.
Of Course, Tom Sawyer had to eat just a little bit of snow!
They finished off their time with a good old snowball fight, which caused more tears! Sigh...
We went out one more time when Daddy got home. By that time, it was about 6 inches. The sledding wasn't as good, but the snowball fights were great, with no tears this time.
The one downside to this storm is the effect it is having on our Southern Grand Magnolia tree. It is dropping lots of branches because of the weight of the snow. It is considered one of the historic trees in our city because of its height and girth, and I am afraid we may need to get an arborist to take care of it when all is said and done. Several of the branches hit the minivan, but it seems okay.
Blessings,
Dawn
Dec. 18, 2009 - The Grammies Diaries Blog giveaway
Another great giveaway. You have to do this if you like pictures
Just go here to Grammies blog for a chance to win photoshop.
You won't be sorry!
Dec. 18, 2009 - McMama Giveaway
Rush over for this giveaway. McMama is having an awesome giveaway for anyone that likes pictures.
Go here to her blog.
I think you will like it.
