Online Food Stamps Petition #HealthyFood4All

Sign the petition at ThriveAction.org!

My family has been on food stamps before because of rough times. We lived off of food stamps when we were in Florida. We had moved from Winchester Bay Oregon after getting our car repossessed and evicted from where we were renting because we had been told promises that were not kept by our landlord and the bad economy didn't help either. My husband's sister was getting married in Florida and having a extravagant Disney Wedding there. Even though I had just had a baby, my daughter Tatiana, the month before, we decided that we were going to sell my husband Brian's CNC router and use the money to drop everything to be there for his sister's wedding. We gave and sold everything away that we could in the short time frame we had and stored the rest in our friend's garage, planning to come back for it once we got the chance to do so.

We had three kids at the time all under the age of four. We all hopped on a plane to Orlando and once we got there got a rental van and found a hotel with free internet access and small kitchenettes inside the rooms so we could cook something if we wanted to. Brian took back the rental van and purchased two bicycles and a bike trailer that fit our two oldest children + groceries in it (I would ride with baby Tatiana in a baby carrier on my back also). We also purchased a family season pass to Sea World so that while we were looking for work and a better place to live the four of us wouldn't just be cooped up in the one room hotel room driving each other nuts. Then we all went to the wedding and it was very nice to see Brian's family again. This was just the starting of our adventure there.

If ever there was a place that was really accommodating to the homeless, Florida was it! We were set up on WIC, food stamps, free health care, and a non-denominational church handout program that came out to our hotel and set up tables of hand-me-down clothing and food once a week. I got a small job clipping ads out of the newspaper for a tire company so that we could get a little money for other essentials we needed that food stamps and WIC didn't cover. Orlando also had a fairly nice public transit system which came in super handy too, especially once we found out our daughter, Tatiana, had a brain tumor and needed multiple doctor visits that were all across town. Even though it was trying at times we were very blessed and the experience helped our family grow and become more close knit.

Unlike WIC, food stamps has fairly lax regulations about what food items you can redeem with them. You can purchase unhealthy foods and drinks if you like. "Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream are food items and are therefore eligible items." My family would often choose these items because they were cheaper than the more healthy alternative and did not use up our food stamp money as fast. If we had been given a more reasonable opportunity that had healthier food and drink choices back then to redeem with our food stamps, we would have taken it.

More and more people have access to smart phones and technology that also allows them to use the internet even at or below the poverty line. 74% of people who live at or below the poverty line have internet access, while only 30% have access to a car. This was certainly true for us at the time we had food stamps in Florida. Also, currently food stamps can only be used in brick and mortar stores. This means that the options to use food stamps, especially for the nearly 23.5 million people who live in food deserts, areas in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food, are limited. These people might also live hours from the nearest SNAP approved grocery store! If food stamps could be redeemed online—with the same rules that apply when buying in brick and mortar stores—more people would be able to purchase healthier foods. They could also save time and be able to get food and drink shipped directly to their door! This would be a huge convenience for someone who is disabled and/or without money for gas or transportation.

Now you have the chance to help Americans become healthier. Right now, Thrive Market offers a way to purchase nonGMO and organic food for a 25-50% discount online. Part of Thrive Market's vision is to make healthy, wholesome foods accessible to everyone. By signing Thrive Market's petition at ThriveAction.org for the USDA to make food stamps redeemable online you will help improve food stamp usage and make healthier food more accessible to those Americans who need it the most!

SOCIAL • CORNER
● Facebook.com/ThriveMkt
● Twitter.com/ThriveMkt
● Instagram.com/ThriveMkt
● Pinterest.com/ThriveMarket
● Youtube.com/c/ThriveMarketCo

@Bookieboo (of Mamavation) and @THRIVEmkt is hosting a #HealthyFood4All Twitter party with @ActivistMommy, and @HoneysLife on Tuesday, July 19th at 6pm PST/9pm EST. You can RSVP and Enter Giveaways HERE!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post to let my readers know about this petition. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog. Please also see my similar post on Planting a Fruit/Nut Orchard and Edible Garden with Food Stamps (SNAP EBT).

My Preparedness Calling

Brian and I have a new shared calling in our church. We have been wanting to do this ever since we were first married, but I guess the Lord had different plans for us then. We have been given the preparedness calling of the church. We can have an open curriculum. My husband and I are gearing up for teaching classes, disseminating helpful information, and planning ways to get our ward members more involved in the community to get people more prepared in case of any emergency that comes our way.

My church, The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints (LDS/Mormon Church), have been very vocal about how being prepared is so very important. We as members of the LDS church have been counseled to have a year's supply of food supply and life's necessities for every family member, just in case. On May 21st of this year, before we were called to this calling, there was a Preparedness Fair at our church. I attended, but didn't demo anything because I wanted to see what would be offered and be a student instead. We were taught about Canning Beans & Potatoes, Smoking Meats, Food Storage, Preserving/Sprouting Foods; Water Filtering, Storing, & Alternative Sources; Ham Radio, Alternative Heating Sources, Sanitation, Fires & Alternative Ways to Start Them, Alternative Methods and Sources for Cooking, Sources and Storage for Fuel. They also had displays for a 72-Hour and Basic First Aid Kit. I hoped that we would have had more come from the community, non-members and members alike, but we still had a good turnout. I brought home a packet of information and some notes I wrote. These were helpful demonstrations for the novice beginner and even I learned some things while I was there.

Our background: 
Brian and I are both Master Gardeners. We have been to Soil School taught by Oregon State University (OSU) and other mini courses taught by the local extension service. I have also taken a course in Permaculture, sustainable landscape design also taught by OSU. I am currently in study about wilderness foraging, organic gardening, cool season gardening, gardening year round, companion crops, herbal/natural medicine, etc. I have been volunteering at the Rainier Oregon Community Garden, Hope Gardens, to give food back to those that are in need of it. Brian is learning about aquaponics, a system where you raise fish or other aquaculture (aquatic animals) and the waste produced by them supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically (in water) that in turn purify the water. We are placing a aquaponics system at our farm. We are also preparing our farm to be more self-sufficient as well so we can showcase ways of doing so. I will be posting more about preparedness and updates on our farm as well. In the meantime, please see my post on Planting a Fruit/Nut Orchard and Edible Garden with Food Stamps (SNAP EBT).

Some other helpful links:

• Provident Living - Self-Reliance and Welfare Resources
• Prepared LDS Family - A blog on Practical Food Storage and Preparedness Ideas (not just for LDS/Mormon)
• Emergency Preparedness - LDS page about how you can prepare both spiritually and temporally for an emergency.
• 32 Preparedness Quotes from LDS Church Leaders - from the Purpose Driven Motherhood blog
• Emergency Preparedness Family Home Evening Lesson - from LDS Daily
• If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear - October 2005 Talk by Gordon B. Hinkley
• LDS Preparedness Manual - a collection of information from different authors compiled by Another Voice of Warning

Wordless Wednesday Happy Veteran's Day Flashback!

My husband, Brian, in his Navy Uniform. He was stationed on a Naval Nuclear Sub. before I met him.

Brian with his cousin Corey and his sister's husband, Dave, in the background.

Wordless Wednesday Model T

We see this Model T strolling up and down Rainier Oregon occasionally. My husband and I got a picture with it at the local park.

Brian's Health - A Personal Note

My husband, Brian, and I.

To whom reads this, let me explain. This is a letter that I have just written up for MetLife, an insurance company that provides long term disability benefits. This letter is about my husband who has been in and out of work since March of 2011 when his symptoms started and has been out of work completely since March 30^th, 2013. MetLife denied our claim for long term disability benefits and this is part of the appeal. This is fairly personal information, but I feel the need to share it with you all.

The past 2 years have been very difficult for Brian, my husband. Since I am his wife I see him every day on a regular basis and because of this I have a better understanding of what he is going through than the physicians that have only seen him a handful of times for short durations. While I am not a medically qualified professional to make a formal diagnosis or recommend treatment for him I have noticed many things that are outlined here.

I have noticed a significant deterioration of cognitive ability. Before this time he was extremely motivated and physically got a lot done. Now he struggles with even small tasks. Things on his to do list seem to take him more than quadruple the amount of time to get done these days. I have noticed that when he gets up from sitting or reclining his awareness or consciousness seems to be reduced. He has a diminished capacity of thinking straight, moving correctly, and remembering stuff while standing. Sometimes when the condition is really bad he ambles around like he is drunk. He also has trouble maintaining equilibrium and homeostasis while bending over or changing position suddenly. This also makes him dizzy, lightheaded, and have trouble cognitively. It is very hard for him to function well this way and he gets very frustrated because he can't think as well as he should be able to or as well as he used to. It is also very hard for me to see him like this. Some days are better than others and we have not figured out why this is.

We have been searching for answers to many questions as to why this is happening and what it might be. Brian has researched extensively to try to find an underlying cause and possible cure. He has encountered many overlapping conditions that his symptoms seem to point to. Most recently this research has lead him to get a referral for OHSU Rheumatology. They requested labs to be taken before they saw him and in the process 2 of the 4 lab results came back with abnormal findings which may be suggestive of a possible root cause. One was a low Vitamin D level and the other was a low level of a certain protein. OHSU Rheumatology is currently reviewing these results and will be getting back to us with a scheduled appointment for Brian and possibly more tests.

In 2011 he was prescribed a drug called Adderall to improve his ability to focus which helped with his brain fog. Unfortunately it also had a very unpleasant adverse effect of aggravating Tourettes and it didn't completely get rid of the light-headedness. Before taking this drug Brian's Tourettes were unnoticeable and now even the littlest things set him off with uncontrollable vocalizations. For example: he sometimes yells really loud or says moo or toaster, etc. Even though he got off the drug, after noticing the Tourettes getting worse, the Tourettes haven't gotten any better. He describes it as having an unwanted, heightened Spidey sense. Different things set him off, some examples are: irritating smells, somebody getting hurt or having the possibility of getting hurt, or any human sound in a high register.

On March 30^th, 2013 Brian had an accident at home while trying to put a fence post in. He blacked out. The next thing he knew was that the heavy fence post pounder had dropped on his head and his head was bleeding. It was at that point that Brian decided that he couldn't go back to work at his job at the time as a plant equipment operator for Beaver Plant and PGE. He realized then and there that working around charged electrical equipment, on high scaffolding and ladders, and rotating machinery could become very dangerous and possibly life threatening if he blacked out again. He didn't want his or other lives put in jeopardy because of his condition.

My 4 children and I have been having a hard time adjusting and seeing Brian go through this. It has been difficult on all of us and very life changing. The Tourettes are a bit of a nuisance. We have had to shorten, postpone, or cancel many family outings and work around how well he feels at the time. There are times when he has felt like he needed to sit the events out because he just didn't feel like he could walk around without feeling the ill effects of light-headedness and brain fog. We all would really love to find some answers and get to the bottom of all this so that we can hopefully get back to some kind of normalcy. Since Brian became out of work we had to move out of the house we were previously in and into the one we are in currently because we did not have enough money to pay for it. We have been struggling everyday to make ends meet and meet the needs of our family of 6. This has not been very easy for any of us.

Would you please re-review the case file as well as any additional information we have provided to you. We hope the previous denial was simply due to an oversight. We look forward to having Brian's long term disability reinstated. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to provide answers to your questions and additional details to the best of my knowledge. Thank you.

Crystal Abel

ReCollected Pieces Personalized Photo Jewelry Review and Giveaway

Personalized Photo Jewelry from ReCollected Pieces

We received these necklaces free from ReCollected Pieces to facilitate this review and the opportunity to giveaway one personalized pendant ($20 value) to one reader.

ReCollected Pieces is local to me, located out of Portland Oregon. Tabitha is the owner and she makes personalized photo jewelry pieces. These gorgeous pieces are the perfect gift for any special occasion. They are also ideal for Mother's Day!

These are the photos I picked for Tabitha to use.

I received two pendant necklaces, both done in large square 24K gold plated pewter. The first necklace is in memory of my beautiful daughter, Tatiana, whom passed away in 2010. It hangs on a gold-plated ball chain with a fixed stamped "T" gold heart, rose gold drop and pink Swarovski crystal embellishment. I love this necklace of my daughter, Tatiana! She will always be close to my heart and this necklace is a perfect way to communicate this. The second necklace has a photo of my husband, Brian, and I. It also hangs on a gold-plated ball chain with two jade round bead accents that move freely up and down the chain.

I loved how the necklaces were packaged in brightly colored tissue paper and hung on a card inside when they arrived. I was not expecting the embellishments at all. They were a very happy surprise and really made the pieces even more exceptional. Both necklaces turned out very lovely. I will certainly treasure my necklaces from Recollected Pieces forever.

ReCollected Pieces wrapped up in pretty tissue paper.

Tabitha, of ReCollected Pieces, was very nice and friendly to work with. She had a few hiccups with my order. The heart pendants that she was offering just didn't work out with her resin technique, so she took them off her list. To compensate for the inconvenience, she made me two pendant necklaces instead of just one. Because the heart was no longer a choice she made me square shaped pendants. As you can probably see, Tabitha really puts her heart and soul into these pieces to make them all very special and unique to the wearer.

My gorgeous Personalized Photo Pendant Necklaces from ReCollected Pieces.

Give yourself or your loved one a truly memorable piece of jewelry this upcoming Mother's Day. Jewelry pieces start at $20. Normal production time usually takes about one week to complete then mail and can be shipped worldwide. They can be personalized with any digital photograph or art (minimum quality 300dpi). The image is cropped to fit the shape of the pendant you choose. There are different shapes, sizes, materials, and embellishments/accents that you can pick from easily from their list on their Facebook page in their photo section. Besides single sided pendants you can even pick a double sided pendant, a pendant that hangs from another pendant, a photo bracelet with multiple images, or even photo ornaments. Tabitha at ReCollected Pieces will work with you to make a truly one of a kind piece for you or your loved one.

Follow ReCollected Pieces:
Website: http://www.recollectedpieces.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recollectedpieces
Newsletter: https://www.facebook.com/recollectedpieces/app_100265896690345

WIN IT
Prize: One personalized photo pendant ($20 value) from ReCollected Pieces. The winner can choose any pendant they would like (circle, square, oval, rectangle - gold or silver).

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received products for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to giveaway one personalized pendant ($20 value) to one reader. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review and giveaway.

Snuggly Toes Review

Snuggly Toes are feet warmers made from all natural alpaca fibers that are first spun into yarn, knit into a "blanket," then felted into fabric. Each "blanket" is felted 3 times to make Snuggly Toes very durable. Just slide them into a boot, shoe or slipper and the alpaca fibers make a soft cushion under your feet, wick away moisture and keep the bottom of your feet nice and toasty warm. Alpaca fibers are naturally warmer than wool. Snuggly Toes are made in the USA at Springtime Farms right here in Oregon. They are also machine washable on cold and should be air dried. They are also free of dyes, pesticides and bleach.

My husband was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) last year. What that basically means is that his autonomic nervous system doesn't function properly and because of this he has problems standing for long periods of time and has to sit/lay down or he: has an abnormally large increase in heart rate (called tachycardia) and a decrease in cerebral blood flow which causes dizziness and trouble thinking. It is very hard for him to maintain homeostasis when changing position. He also gets extremely cold extremities because of the POTS so I decided my husband could benefit more from these than I, so I got a pair of size men's 12 for him to try out. His boots that he inserted them into are a size 13 wide and they fit wonderfully.

He told me that the Snuggly Toes kept the bottoms of his feet snug and toasty warm. He loved how perfect they fit in his boots and that they were comfortable to walk on. He said it was like walking on a thermal cloud. We did notice that some of the alpaca fiber got stuck to the bottom of his socks when ever he pulled his feet out of his boots but that was to be expected. We are very happy with Snuggly Toes and how well they worked.

Snuggly Toes are wonderful for people that generally have cold feet or need some extra thermal protection from brisk autumn air to cold winters. They are perfect to use in your boots or shoes out in the freezing snow or rain. They are also fabulous for use with a pair of slippers inside the home. Great for snow boots, hiking boots, wellies, tennis shoes, slippers, Crocs, etc. No more Jack Frost nipping at your toes :)

BUY IT
For $39.95 you can purchase a pair for women or men. For $14.95 you can get them in kids sizes. You can also find other products for purchase on the Snuggly Toes website like alpaca: pet beds, yarn, roving, fawn fiber, bedding, hats, magnets, and wreath and bird nest materials.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Pony Feathers - My Shameless Plug For My Husband

My husband owns a business called Pony Feathers. He has a CNC (computer controlled) router (ShopBot) with which he can make you beautiful custom woodworking: signs, doors, boats, cabinetry, furniture, etc. His specialty are signs and plaques, but in the past he has made other things like: doors, a medallion for a wood floor, a partitioned bowl all cut in one piece, fireplace mantel, a rocking chair, burl mirrors and tables, trivets, custom fencing, etc. He loves thinking outside the box and working with his clients to make something truly special and unique for them.

Here are some pictures of some signs he has done. Most of these signs are located in and around Reedsport, Oregon because we lived there for a while. If you have visited Reedsport you probably would have seen at least one of these signs. From left to right and top to bottom: Thai sign in Winchester Bay (we made both top and bottom portions), Rainier Days in the Park sign for our local Chevron gas station, Portland General Electric Beaver Generating Station plaque made for a retiring friend at his work (the top lettering is raised, the metal is inset and the bottom lettering is carved out), Rowan's Apothecary & Cafe sign (again the leaf pattern and larger words are raised and the smaller words at the bottom are inset), Kidz Place sign (a transitional sign for a children's consignment and resale shop in Rainier Oregon. The bear and the block letters are raised and the letters at the bottom are inset. Then it was painted by hand), Beartown Carvings sign (made for a good friend of ours, Brad Sharp, that is a chainsaw carver for his shop), Pepa and Preston's House sign (a simple sign in different fonts), Mr. Beans sign (except for the letters this sign is cut out of a single piece of plywood. This was a fun one for him to design and watch his machine cut!), lighthouse sign made by my husband and I for the L.U.H. Home Health Hospice in Reedsport Oregon, large Hahn Memorial Park sign in Reedsport Oregon (did in conjunction with our friend Brad Sharp: Brian did the lettering and Brad did the faces on it), Jim Barrone Memorial Fields sign in Reedsport Oregon (also did in partnership with our friend Brad Sharp: Brian did the lettering and Brad did the faces on it), Flag and Blanket  People sign (we made in trade for some dolphin/whale blankets).

Here are some pictures of other woodworking projects he has done. From left to right and top to bottom: trivet with the tiles set into a piece of wood and the design of the tiles continuing into the wood as a carved design, a Myrtle wood saddle for the a Radio Flyer rocking horse (this is unfinished), the saddle again now on the horse and finished, a burl mirror, a dolphin carved out of a gorgeous piece of Myrtle wood, an eagle engraved into a beautiful piece of Burly Maple, our son's derby cars for Boy Scouts: a serpent and an alligator, a rocking chair, a burl, a church door in Reedsport Oregon for the local Episcopal Church, and part of a dolphin fence gate. Unfortunately we do not have pictures of some of the things he has made, among them are: the fireplace mantel, partitioned bowl and the medallion for a wood floor.

Right now we only have a Facebook page for our business and would love some more likes. Please if you like what you see here give us some Facebook love. Thank you!

Oregon Zoo ZooLights - Our Experience

This is the first year we braved the cold rainy weather to go to the Oregon Zoo for their annual ZooLights. We went Friday, December 7th. When we arrived it was already dark and we were greeted by this amazing purple and green lit tree in the parking lot. My kids were excited as we exited the van. We quickly got our tickets and shuffled through the gate. I took some pictures of the zoo lights sign as we entered. Then we saw some spectacular light displays, some that seemed to be moving across the landscapes and others that blinked into different poses and positions.

Other firsts for us were riding the Thrill Ride simulator and the zoo train. For the Thrill Ride we got to pick out our movie simulation and we all agreed upon the Prehistoric Underwater one. We waited our turn under a covered area behind the ticket booth and I took some more pictures. We were handed 3D glasses and entered the simulator ride. The glasses were too big for my youngest daughter and so I held her in my lap so she could see the screen while holding her glasses on her face. My boys especially loved the simulator and would love to do another ride again someday. The simulator is hydraulically operated and it twists and turns to the movie so you feel like you are in a submarine.

We parked our stroller under a nice covered area just for that purpose. It was so nice of the zoo to provide these covered places so that the strollers and wagons wouldn't get soaked while we were riding the train. While we waited in line Teela hugged a person in a tiger suit. The steam train was all decked out in lights too and it's steam rose like an iridescent blue cloud from the smoke stack. The zoo train was very pleasant and even though the metal seats were cold we enjoyed seeing all the zoo lights all along the train ride. It was definitely a unique view of the lights and some of the lights that we saw can only be viewed from the train.

I was in awe at just how many lights there actually were and we didn't even seen all of them. We stopped and saw some hula hoopers that were also lit up for the event do their performance. I took a few more pictures and the kids were getting cold and hungry. We decided to go even though I would have loved to stay longer to see more and we totally missed the concert lawn lights which I heard from others were spectacular. I also heard that we missed out on some free fudge from the gift shop because we didn't bring an old string of Christmas lights. Maybe we can see more and get some fudge next year if they are still honoring the promotion. At some point we would also love to see the new baby elephant that was born recently too.

We had a lot of fun and we are glad we could go this year. We loved seeing all the magnificent lights and sights while we were there. We can't wait to go back next year to experience more.

2012 Oregon Zoo Lights Facts
What: "More than a million LED lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes."
Admission: ZooLights admission is included in memberships at the Plus level and higher. Train and Thrill Ride simulator is extra, but can be purchased at a discount through member packages. If you buy one of the packages with the train at the admission counter instead of getting them after you enter you can skip the hassle of multiple lines for the train. You can also take advantage of some nice specials the zoo is offering for ZooLights. 
Dates: November 23rd-December 31st, There will be no ZooLights Dec. 24 or Dec. 25.
Times: Sunday-Thursday hours: ZooLights gates are open from 5-8 p.m. Guests may stay on grounds until 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday hours: ZooLights gates are open from 5-8:30 p.m. Guests may stay on grounds until 9:30 p.m. Train will begin running around 5:15 p.m.
Preparation: Bundle up and check the weather forecast and temperature before going so you know how to dress. You might want to pack extra warm clothing just in case, especially if you are planning on staying long. The food stations and restaurants at the zoo do cost extra so you might want to pack food and drink for the trip. Take a stroller or wagon for small children and extra baggage. Come a little early to get a good parking spot.

Oregon ZooLights Link Up:


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Since I am in the Cascadia Connect group of bloggers I became aware of this event and was given free tickets for my family to go as well as free tickets for the zoo train and simulator ride. Thanks to the zoo and others involved for this opportunity. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this promotion.

Polar Express with Mount Hood Railroad - Our Experience

On Wednesday, November 21 my children dawned their PJs and we headed out for the evening to go on our scenic journey towards Hood River, Oregon to go on the Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad. We stopped along the way and a magnificent rainbow arched across the sky. We took highway 14 on the Washington side and I was sure glad we did because the scenic drive was so gorgeous. It was raining a lot though so I didn't get my camera out for most of it. We fist saw Cape Horn and it is pictured above. We also saw some absolutely breathtaking waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge. We couldn't tell which ones we were seeing from the highway, but some of the waterfalls include: Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Horsetail Falls and Multnomah Falls. Even from the distance we were, they were all spectacular. We caught a glimpse of  Beacon Rock as we drove. It was large and it looked like it was cut out from the surrounding landscape. We also passed the Bonneville Dam which I also would have loved to see up close. Then we passed the Bridge of the Gods. The wind blown trees along the highway were one-sided because of the high amount of wind that goes through the valley, hence the name of the nearby river, Wind River. There is also a stretch of highway 14 that goes through a total of 5 tunnels that I counted located between Stevenson and White Salmon in the lovely valley of Skamania. Then we went over Spring Creek and I wish we could have stopped to go see the fish hatchery that was there.

We finally arrived at the toll bridge to Hood River, Oregon and went across. We arrived at the Mount Hood Railroad and got the tickets at the call desk. While we waited for the train to arrive we looked at the many items in the gift shop and display cabinets. Then it was time to board. As we were boarding we were greeted by the train chefs :) The last picture of the chef is our train car. Brian wanted me to take a picture of the train wheels because they looked neat.

We seated ourselves and put our coats and bags in the upper rack. We had coach seats and I guess they are more traditional like the seating you see in the Polar Express movie. The train car was decorated with nice Christmas garlands, lights, bows, and ornaments. It felt very festive.

As soon as all the passengers had boarded the conductor greeted each family and punched the Polar Express golden tickets we were given. He was punching them close to Delbin's head so he got some clippings in his hair.

Then we were underway on our ride to the North Pole. Shortly after we were moving we were served cookies on a napkin and hot chocolate in Styrofoam cups. I was expecting mugs and plates, but I guess this was coach, so not as fancy. I wish we had gotten carbohydrate information for Delbin (he has type 1 diabetes) ahead of time because it took forever for the servers to track any down. They do not have the nutritional information on their website and for those of us with diet restrictions this would be very helpful. They also almost forgot about giving us any refreshments after a while passed and we had to remind them. Unfortunately they didn't have any straws and I was ill equipped as well with no sippy cup for Zari. The cups were easily spilled in the hands of my toddler, so I tried to manage by letting her have a couple of sips here and there, but this was very tedious. At least the hot chocolate was not scalding.

As we got closer to our destination the Polar Express story was read to us. The reader stopped to show the pictures to us at every page turn which was nice. He also tried to put as much feeling into the reading as he could muster. I am sure reading the story over and over gets a little old after a while.

We were interrupted many times while on the train by a loud "bum", Hobo Jo, (one of the characters of the movie) that said crazy things and tweaked the kids' noses as he passed. He interacted well with the kids and was pretty funny to watch.

We finally got to the North Pole and were directed to look out the far window. The inside lights were fairly bright and since it was so dark outside by contrast we couldn't see much except for the Christmas lights and dancing shadows of the elves. I would have loved to see Santa's reindeer better that were looking at us from below. We never got off the train to actually see Santa's workshop and the North Pole like I thought we were going to do originally. I was also thinking that the display would be better seen in the dark and that was why I picked the 4:30pm departure time, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. They really need to have the outside display more lit up next year!

Then after we waited a bit Santa's elves and the jolly man himself joined us on board the train for a picture and gave my kids each a large bell like the one given in the movie. The Santa definitely looked the part with his real beard. The elves were dressed merrily, although my husband said that I would have made a better elf because of how short I am in comparison. Santa was definitely the best part of the whole train ride.

The trip was fairly short. It basically consisted of the ride to the North Pole and a reverse leg back on what I believed to be the same track. On the return leg of the trip we sang Christmas carols. Most of the passengers were trying to remember the words and it felt a bit awkward to be singing in front of strangers, but at least we were trying to make it heart felt.

Even with everything not going as I had hoped we enjoyed our first time on the Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad. My children will treasure the bells that they received and remember this time we had as a family together. It was a nice retreat from everyday life.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:
For my participation in the US Family Guide Polar Express Promotion I received 4 FREE coach seats valid weekdays in November and chose to buy 2 more for my girls to go also.

Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this opportunity and Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad for hosting it. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this review.

Salvador Kitti The Kiss Cosmetic Bag Review

Salvador Kitti is an Etsy store where you can find neat gifts and accessories for the animal lover in all of us. You can find Key Cases, Change Purses, Wristlets, Cosmetic Bags, Paw Pouch, Kitten Purse, Purfect Tote, Cross Body Handbags, Vegan Leather Handbags, Messenger Bags, Backpacks and Book Bags, Watches, Holiday Ornaments and Apparel. They feature the original artwork of Amy Pugh-Campos on them. She does artwork of pets and animals that are wild, exotic and/or endangered. The store was named after Amy's cat, Salvador, who was born in her art studio and loved to paint as much as she did.

I chose the cosmetic bag in The Kiss, where two dolphins are kissing, to review for free because I love dolphins! I love how intelligent they are and how they glide through the water with ease. My husband and I met in a dolphin discussion forum online and we had dolphin alter egos on there (mine Finamoon and his Afalina)...so dolphins kissing is a great metaphor for him and I. Brian even made me a snow sculpture out of snow in Ohio to symbolize our love.

This cosmetic bag is great for makeup or a pencil case for kids. You can also put a few toiletries in it for travel. It is made of water resistant microfiber to keep your things inside protected. The image of the dolphin on this bag is taken from an oil painting and is vibrant, deep blues. It is complete with a heart zipper pull and two pockets to hold things on the inside.

BUY IT
You can buy Salvador Kitti products on Etsy. I love their holiday ornaments too! These are so perfect for this time of year to hang on the Christmas tree! The smaller gifts and accessories are great for stocking stuffers and larger ones for wrapping to put under your tree. Take a look at their great selection of animals, you'll be sure to find one for your animal lover or you can get them a gift certificate so they can choose.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Oregon Zoo and Radio Disney's Madagascar 3 DVD Release Party Recap

It was my youngest daughter, Zari's birthday on Friday October 19th and we wanted it to be extra special. We had already celebrated it with her Babu and Papa (my parents) on Friday the 12th and then on Saturday the 13th we went to the screening of Secret of the Wings a new Tinker Bell movie. Then we were offered the chance to hang out at the Oregon Zoo for free to experience Oregon Zoo and Radio Disney's Madagascar 3 DVD Debut Release Party we all did the Afro Circus dance. It seemed like another perfect opportunity to celebrate Zari's 2nd birthday, especially since the zoo event was the day after her actual birthday.

The weather in Oregon this time of year is well, rainy. But since it is rainy a lot in Oregon it usually doesn't stop us from having fun. We packed for the weather, made some lunches and headed out for the zoo. Our drive to the zoo was very pleasant and we were greeted happily by some sunshine peeking through the clouds when we arrived. We got our tickets and made our way to the elephants where we were told that Radio Disney would be.

When we got there we saw that Radio Disney had three covered booths. One booth had their music speakers and bins of things to win, the other had swag bags that you could take and load with stuff from the table and another had coloring activities, crafts and a photo op where you could put your head through a hole in Melman's face. Also the zoo had placed their covered booth in the same square for getting your face painted.

We met my long time friend, Erin, and her family there. Erin has been my friend since about 1997. We met online and role played back and forth with each other. She lived in Maine at that time and I in Utah. It is really neat that we would end up both in Oregon.

Erin brought her family to the event and we all hung out at the beginning of the zoo day. Radio Disney provided us with a lot of fun activities, games, and prizes. My kids colored pictures, made zoo masks, danced with the music, played some hoops with inflatable balls and got rainbow colored wigs like Marty wore in the Madagascar 3 movie. My son Jaedan got his face painted like a tiger and both of my boys won Madagascar 3 t-shirts to take home with them.

After that we headed over to Pacific Shores in Steller Cove and it is a good thing we all did because it started pouring rain and then hailing. We all hung out and ate our lunches watching the sea lions swim. We waited for the rain to let up a bit and then Erin and her family parted ways with us.

Next we went to the Great Northwest because that is the area we missed last time we were at the zoo. At Black Bear Ridge we saw Black Bears and Bobcats. Then we went though Eagle Canyon and saw the magnificent Bald Eagles and different kinds of salmon. After that we went to Cascade Stream and saw beavers, river otters, waterfowl, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Then we went to Cougar Crossing and saw the cougars. They were going up and down a long log in their habitat. When we came out we saw goats and chickens on the Trillium creek Family Farm.

Then we headed back towards Pacific Shores to see the penguins and polar bears. One of the Polar bears yawned right when I took a picture and then he rolled over and I got a great shot of his gigantic paws. We also saw a leopard as we were heading out of the zoo and got pictures of the kids on the mountain goat sculpture.

As we left in our car and got home I got some more cute pictures of the kids. We had so much fun at this event!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Since I am in the Cascadia Connect group of bloggers I became aware of this event and was given free tickets to go. Thanks to the zoo and others involved for this opportunity. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this promotion.

Canterbury Renaissance Faire

We went to the Canterbury Renaissance Faire on July 21, 2012. It is held in Silverton, Oregon on July 14th-15th, 21st-22nd, 2012. This was their 4th annual faire. Silverton is by Salem, Oregon and about 2 hours from where I live in Rainier, Oregon. It is only an hour from Portland, Oregon. The Canterbury Renaissance Faire is wonderful because it is nestled in shady trees so it doesn't get too hot while your looking at other peoples' wares. We spent our day from 2pm til 5pm there.

I was wearing my pair of Elf Ear Wraps, my braided hair wreath and a semi renaissance looking shirt. I was looking for a cape or cloak, but never really ran across any while I was there this year. I was also looking for a lace up corset bustier. None really caught my fancy.

While we were there my youngest daughter, Zari, picked up a wooden sword. She looked so darling in her butterfly dress holding a sword we had to buy it for her. She is apparently growing into her name (Zari meaning princess goddess and her middle name Katana meaning slender or samurai sword). See the bottom left picture of her...that is her fighting face, LOL!

In Faerie Glen a juggler taught the boys some new tricks and my oldest son posed with his bow and some very odd arrows ;) Fairy Princess Lolly also read a story to my girls.

We went around the corner and who do I happen to see? Foxgloves PDX! I knew I was missing an element to my costume. I should have been wearing my Maroon Gold Knit Foxgloves. Ami posed with us and Teela tried on some maroon velvet/silver butterfly ones that I had fallen in love with on her website and out of generosity she just gave them to us! I love the picture my husband took of Teela getting the gloves on. Teela adored them and later wanted to pose with part of my son, Jaedan's knight costume that he brought.

We bought the boys an exquisite custom hand-beaded dragon from Secret Dragon Collectibles. My boys selected the only one left with glow-in-the-dark beads. The one they picked had blue iris, bright green and glow-in-the-dark beads. They told my boys that the dragons wings could be changed for different colors so they chose blue, apple green and red ones to go with the colors of the beads. They also got to pick out a treasure that the dragon would hold. They picked out a large red plastic gem stone and the lady sewed it in the dragon's claws. She then attached a thread from the top so we could hang him. Each dragon comes with a name card with information and insurance in case something needed fixing. They make them very customized so each is very unique and made just for the individual. She also makes beaded mermaids, fairies, pixies, butterflies and dragonflies. All were very beautiful!

Then we went to see the joust, but because it was not very shaded by trees it was very hot there and the horses were kicking up dust so I got a few pictures and then we decided it was time to head home to rescue our dog from being home alone. We had a great time while we were at the Canterbury Renaissance Faire and will definitely be back next year.

Oregon Zoo - Sunset at the Zoo Event #sunsetzoo

My family of 6 got to go to the Oregon Zoo for free on July 11th as part of their Sunset at the Zoo promotion for some of us local bloggers. We have been many times to the Oregon Zoo before but never really in the evening hours so this was somewhat new to us.

The zoo is very family, handicapped and breastfeeding friendly. They have all sorts of activities and fun things that are geared towards kids. My kids love all the extracurricular activities they can do while they are there. We love to use the zookeys and bring them every time we go to the zoo. They unlock 16 stations around the zoo that say information about the animals there. All buildings and indoor facilities are handicapped and stroller accessible. My husband had a bad side effect with an antibiotic and he needed to stay off his feet and so it was a good thing we had a powered wheelchair at home to bring with us to the zoo. They also have designated outdoor nursing areas located on the zoo map so that you can enjoy your little one in peace and privacy. I am so glad these are available because it makes breastfeeding Zari easier.

Since it is summer time it can get really hot, but while we were at the zoo during the evening hours it was very pleasant because the temperature had dropped by then. Also, we got to see more of the critters called crepuscular animals that are active primarily during twilight (dawn and dusk). I am so happy we got to go because we had so much fun!

Plus members and above can attend Sunset at the Zoo concert series for free and also experience a whole lot of fun activities while there. The fun will be happening 4 Wednesday evenings (July 11 and 25, Aug. 8 and 22) from 5 pm-8 pm. Besides concerts, each night will feature live bird shows onstage, storytelling, face-painting, crafts and games for kids, as well as self-guided night hikes, animal talks and a bat-house building station.

We arrived at the Oregon Zoo and first went through Steller Cove in Pacific Shores. We saw the Steller Sea Lions, sea otters, kelp forest and tide pool while we were there. When we exited Steller Cove we heard sweet music from Boka Marimba, a local African-style 10 piece band that is comprised of marimbas, gourd shakers, thumb piano, and drums. While passing we had to stop and dance to the upbeat music. Then we went to see the penguins and Polar Bears, but the penguins were no where to be found. The Polar Bears were lounging around and taking naps.

Next we went to the Fragile Forest where we saw chimpanzees, mandrills, orangutans and other primates. We also saw some very large fish in the Amazon Flooded Forest that is also a part of the Fragile Forest. As we were coming out we saw that they had a live bird show going, on the stage by the concert lawn, so we stayed a bit to watch that. While there we saw a Red-Tailed Hawk, ibis and a Bald Eagle fly overhead.

Then we headed towards Asia where we saw Sun Bears, warthogs and Asian Elephants. The elephant that is pictured above is the one that loves to paint :) The zoo keeper also told us that they sometimes love to sway their long trunks to the music.

After the elephants we backtracked a bit because we craved some Elephant Ears, a crispy cinnamon-sugar flat fried bread confection, and stopped to see Laura Veirs playing on stage. During the Summer Concert there was an area up front where the kids could dance and get wiggles out. My blogger friend at Sweet Deals 4 Moms called it a toddler "mosh pit", LOL!

We also saw Chef/Chez Tse put on a cooking show and she was great! My kids stood front and center and she interacted with them back and forth. I loved her tips on how to "use the claw" hand position while using knives so you don't get cut and how she stacked and rolled fresh herb leaves before dicing them to make ribbons, a technique called chiffonade, to top the delicious Red and Yellow Pepper Pasta Salad she invited us to try. Here is the recipe courtesy of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. Click on it to make it larger.

Then we headed to Africa where we saw a mermaid??, rhinos, hippos, zebras, gerenuk, pygmy goats, giraffe, etc. in the Savanna. We also saw Colobus Monkeys and fruit bats, etc. in the rainforest. We then went to the African Goat Kraal and the kids pet the goats in the petting zoo. During this section I was babywearing Zari and loving her snuggles.

By that time it was getting late and we needed to get home and rescue our dog from being home all this time. Unfortunately we didn't get to go see the Predators of the Serengeti and the large cats and we also didn't get to see the whole of the Great Northwest. But we did see quite a lot while we were there. As we were driving home I also saw one of my blogger friends, Beeb of Super Coupon Girl and Contest Corner as she was leaving the zoo and said hi out the window of my van. I live in Rainier, Oregon so the car ride home from Portland is a bit long, but Mother Nature made it all worthwhile with a spectacular sunset to end a perfect evening at the Oregon Zoo "Sunset at the Zoo".

You can check out the Sunset at the Zoo too if you are in the Portland area during an event. The events are happening these other upcoming Wednesdays too: July 25, August 8 and August 22. Click on the links for more information about each days happenings.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Since I am in the Cascadia Connect group of bloggers I became aware of this event and was given free tickets to go. Thanks to the zoo and others involved for this opportunity. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this promotion.

2011 Year in Recap and New Year's Resolutions

So as 2011 ends and 2012 begins I would like to share with you some of our family's highlights for 2011 and then make a few New Year's resolutions.

My son Jaedan started 2011 with a bang and joined his older brother in Cub Scouts. He made his first derby car and entered it in the pine wood derby race with style. Both Delbin and Jaedan had fun at day camp with the rest of the scout troops in the area and Delbin advanced to Boy Scouts.

I received a new sewing machine from my husband and a new to me sewing table with all the bells and whistles free from a church friend that needed more space in their home. We made new curtains for my living room and dining room with it and took down the old blinds that were looking fairly damaged from kids and pets. I also made a skirt for myself and some other things with it. I plan on sewing a whole lot more. I also got some new knitting looms and some yarn to learn knitting on.

When the weather turned good my husband and some church friends helped us put new shingles on the roof of our home and put a new skylight in above our kitchen. It took a few days to finish because of rain and we had to put tarps over our home to cover it so the roof wouldn't get damage in between fixes. With our cars, boat and trucks out front in various states of repair and a pile of shingles and old roofing on the side of our place we kinda looked very ghetto. I bet our neighbors were really glad when that project was done.

We received word from some really good friends of ours that have a farm at the edge of Rainier that the owner of a mini pony had abandoned it and wasn't making payments for it to be boarded there anymore. So since we love horses and ponies we took up the payments for it and have been feeding it and caring for him ever since. His name is Gizmo and he is a registered mini pony stallion. He has warmed up to us nicely and now that winter is here has fluffed all out like a pony puff ball, LOL! Have you seen the animated movie Despicable Me? Remember the clip where Agnes gets the unicorn toy from the carnival and says, "It's so fluffy!"...well that is what I feel like saying about our mini pony :)

My sister, Jennifer, returned from her LDS mission in Hawaii and came to visit us in May. We celebrated multiple birthdays and her return at the zoo. It was Zari's first time and when we went back to the zoo in October to celebrate Zari's first birthday Zari was even more thrilled to be there. She loved the elephants and the primates the best.

My husband, Brian's mom came to visit us and we went to Ape Caves. For about a month previous to that visit Brian was feeling not quite himself and had to take off work because he was feeling dizzy, light headed, and brain fog every time he stood up and it was getting worse. While we were at Ape Caves he had to sit down a lot and take it easy. He was finally diagnosed with what is known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS after a whole lot of persuasion from him to his regular doctor and a visit by an actual Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO). He is being treated now, is feeling better and has been back to work for a while now.

Brian has been tremendously busy with all his various projects. He has been doing a lot of house remodeling like the roof project, vehicle repair and renovation, and trying to get our business, Pony Feathers, up and running...all of this while working at the power plant and dealing with his health.

Our dog, Prince has been having fun chasing a green laser across the floor that my husband got to point at celestial bodies in the night sky for use with our homeschool astronomy lessons. He is also very spoiled with lots of hugs, petting and love from all of us. Zari's favorite word is dog and she says it every time Prince is scratching on the door to go out or in, barking, trying to nibble on Zari's food when we are not looking or she sees him or any other dog.

Teela has been loving her play food and small play kitchen. She is quite the little imaginative cook. I have been trying to have her help out in the real kitchen with food preparation and she is a wonderful helper. She also loves her dolls and rocking horses.

Zari has been growing a lot! She is walking, running, saying some words like mom, dad, dog, Delbin, Jaedan, baby, etc. She has 8 teeth all in front and some molars coming in. She loves books and enjoys music a lot. She loves giving big hugs and kisses. She absolutely adores her sister Teela and loves playing with her.

Delbin my oldest son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It has been an interesting ride so far with this and we are still trying to figure out how to manage the carbohydrates he eats in foods. We still haven't gotten quite away from prepackaged food and drink yet for him because it is easier just looking at a label for what the carbs are. For now it is really hard for me to figure out carbs for a casserole or other mixed dish I normally make for dinner but maybe we will someday get the hang of it.

We had a really great Christmas. We received unexpected gifts from Secret Santa and the Rainier Gift Giving Program this year. We had a real Christmas tree donated to us, got gifts for the kids from giving souls off the Rainier Giving Program (sorta like the angel tree) and received an unexpected knock on our door and two bright red sleds with a large bag of peanut M&Ms left at our doorstep. My oldest has been asking for a sled every winter. Our neighbors sang carols at our door too like they do every year even though they were super busy with the giving program and even though it didn't snow for Christmas it was still wonderful!

My sister, Melody welcomed her new baby girl into the world at close to the end of December. This will be her first child. She along with her husband will learn so much parenting skills and gain so much experience and knowledge by doing. I know I have.

So, my New Years resolution is to have a healthier happier home. What ever I can do to achieve this I will try my best to accomplish. I wish to make healthier meals for my family including Delbin. We bought passes to the local YMCA so that we can go swim and workout so I want to do that more, gain some more upper body strength, and maybe tighten my abs :) I would love to spend more time with my family doing things we all love to do and I am trying to live a better more eco-friendly lifestyle. All in all our 2011 was pretty good. How was yours and what are your New Year's resolutions??

Holiday Gift Guide 2011 CrazyDog Tshirts Periodic Element of Bacon Shirt Review

CrazyDog Tshirts has some great Tshirt Designs that have crazy sayings, humorous quotes and clever designs. I picked out one for my husband that I thought fit his personality well. The t-shirt is called the Periodic Element of Bacon Shirt and it reads Ba with smaller Bacon underneath and an atomic number of 121. I thought that this was awesome because of my husband's love of bacon, science, and his initials just happen to be B.A. :) He absolutely loved his gift from me. You can find this shirt in the Funny T-shirts section of the CrazyDog Tshirts website. The t-shirt is made from 100% cotton and feels soft to the touch.

These t-shirts would be great stocking stuffers or gifts to go under the Christmas tree this year. CrazyDog Tshirts has so many different ones to choose from. I am sure someone on your shopping list would be very happy with a great t-shirt from them.

BUY IT:
The Periodic Element of Bacon Shirt I received free for this review you can buy for $14.99 on the CrazyDog Tshirts website. You can also find other t-shirts from 6.99-$26.00.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to CrazyDog Tshirts for sending me a t-shirt for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.