Ten Little Eggs: A Celebration of Family Book Review #ComplimentaryProductReceived

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this book complimentary from Zondervan and HarperCollins Christian Publishing through the ZBlog Squad in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. Affiliate links are in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Ten Little Eggs: A Celebration of Family, illustrated by Jess Mikhail, is an adorable hardcover book about how families can come in all shapes and sizes and it's love that holds them together. This children's book has a mama bird asking, "What in the world will my little egg be?". Kids will love the fun illustrations and playful rhyming text. This book is written especially for children ages 4-8.

Zari reading Ten Little Eggs.

Our Thoughts:

Zari and I enjoyed reading this book a bunch. In this book the mama bird has 10 eggs in her nest that she is excitedly waiting for to hatch. As each egg hatches this book counts down. This is great for building counting skills for little ones. Each egg hatches a totally different, unique animal, but mama bird loves all of them for who they are. This super cute book is great for Easter since it is all about springtime and new birth. It is also a great book to read at bedtime because it ends with the mama snuggling for bed in the nest with all her babies. I recommend this book for adopted kids, foster kids, blended families, extended families, and every family in between.

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Artsy Olive Personalized Framed Art Print Review and Giveaway

I received this art free to facilitate this review.

Artsy Olive is a online shop where you can get custom, lovely art pieces for your home. These come in different sizes, prints, and you can choose different frames (black, white, oak) or none at all. They have a great selection of fun art and inspiring quotes to choose from as well. There is something for everyone and every room in the house.

Here is how it works:

1. choose a background
2. personalize
3. choose a frame
4. checkout

What I Thought:

We got to choose a customized 7.7" x 7.7" framed art print. The process of ordering was quick and easy after I selected what print I wanted. I selected the Rooster Kitchen print, personalized it with The Abels' Kitchen and the phrase "In This Kitchen Love is Homemade and Generously Shared", choose a black frame, and checked out. This was so simple and painless.

Even though I unwrapped it some I wanted to show the plastic and cardboard protecting it while it was shipped.

I received it in the mail super fast. The box was filled with packing peanuts that I really don't care for, but it came to me in good condition. It was wrapped in clear plastic and the corners were protected with cardboard pieces. It also came with hanging hardware as well.

Rooster Kitchen print framed in black and personalized for my home.

I love the art of the very colorful rooster. It matches my kitchen very well. I initially thought it might do well hung above my sink in my kitchen, but I think now I might want to find a better place to display it because there is no waterproof protection, like glass or clear plastic over the print and I do not want it ruined. The Rooster Kitchen print also comes in the 13.7" x 13.7" size.

Artsy Olive Rooster Kitchen print hung in my Kitchen.

Arsty Olive is a great company to get lovely and personalized art from. I recommend them highly. These would be wonderful gifts for the holidays!

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Get 15% off with code blog15 at Artsy Olive. This code is good Dec 1-30 for unlimited use.

WIN IT
Prize: A Framed Print from Artsy Olive.
Host: Arsty Olive and FrontGate Media.
Who Can Enter: Open to US Residents 18 years or older.
Selection Process: 5 winners will be selected on 12/31/2018 and notified by email.
Where to Enter: Go to this link https://www.blessedfreebies.com/artsyolivegiveaway.html and fill out the form to enter.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this 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.

Zaycon Fresh $.99/lb Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast! Lowest Price Ever For All!

Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.


Zaycon Fresh has Super Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts at the lowest price ever for everyone, not just new customers. At just $.99/lb for the fall delivery event this deal can't be beat!!! But hurry supplies are limited!

Click to SHOP NOW!

Existing customers? Yes! New Customers? Of course! Order yours now with promo code CHICKEN2018 at checkout. Promo code will expire as limited quantity is sold-out and may be without notice. Order yours now!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post to let my readers know about this great opportunity and deal. 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.

Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken Review

I received the Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Cave Tools is a great online store to find BBQ: tools & accessories, charcoal grills, recipe books, apparel, and gift ideas. They have a great selection of things from tool sets & grill baskets to grill racks & a portable charcoal grill. Find your barbecue and grilling needs at Cave Tools!

Beer Can Chicken Features:

• Works in the Oven or on The Barbecue.
• Handles The Largest Chickens - Wide stainless steel base will never tip over under a large bird.
• Includes 4 Vegetable Spikes for Grilling Potatoes and Corn on the Side.
• Stainless Steel Canister can be used for Beer, Wine, Cider, Sake, Soda, Orange Juice, Dressing, Marinade, and any other liquid & herb combination you can think up.
• Healthier Choice. Canister is 100% safe stainless steel unlike traditional aluminum cans which give off unhealthy chemicals when heated.
• No More Struggling To Remove the Can From the Chicken - Unique locking mechanism keeps canister in place while you remove the chicken. Unlike other locking mechanisms your can has a flat bottom so it doesn't tip over when you place it on the table.
• Extra Deep Drip Tray Never Overflows With Rendered Fat and Juices.
• Entire Grilling Set is 100% Dishwasher Safe for Easy Cleanup.
• Comes with Free BBQ Recipe Book Download: Covers Step-by-Step DIY Barbecue Sauces, Ribs, Chicken, Fish, Steak, Veggies, Kabobs & More to become a Grill Master for the Family!
• Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee.

Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken comes out tender and juicy.

Our Thoughts:
I used the Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken product with a 4.3 pound chicken and placed Root Beer in the stainless steel can it came with after locking it in place and then placed the lid with the holes on it. The chicken was already thawed and ready to go. After I took out the giblets and neck I rubbed some Spike seasoning and a special blend of herbs I made on the outside of the chicken and placed the chicken onto the can holding it by the wings as it was lowered onto the canister. I noticed that the chicken was very stable on the product. I also put potatoes which I had poked with a fork first onto the 4 skewers that went on each side. I used my oven to cook the bird because it has been raining here in Oregon. I took out all but one rack, placed it at the lowest setting in the oven, and preheated the oven to 375°. I baked the chicken in the oven for about an hour and a half. When I got it out with my oven mitts it was the perfect internal temperature and when I sliced the meat it was juicy and very tender.

I loved the Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken better than other beer can products I have seen or tried. I loved how the chicken was so easy to get on and off the can. Since it locked into place it didn't get stuck inside the chicken. Since the canister has more holes in the top than a regular can it steamed the chicken evenly from the inside out making it perfect. The tray caught all the drippings and didn't make a mess in my oven. I also gave the cooled off drippings to my dog over his dog food so to not waste it and he loved it. You could also make it into a good gravy for your baked potatoes. The rack that held the can and sat in the tray was well built and made the chicken very stable so it didn't fall over or wobble. The veggie spikes were a very handy addition so that I could cook potatoes, corn, or another veggie at the same time as the chicken. This was a bit more difficult to clean by hand because of the grease, but if I had a dish washer machine I could see that it would be a breeze.

The chicken was very moist and delicious. My family and guests said it was the best chicken they have ever had. The Root Beer didn't give it too much of a Root Beer flavor, but it sure did make it nice and juicy on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. I am excited to try other liquids in the canister...I might try Ginger Beer or OJ next time. Half a canister seems to do the trick. Once the weather here gets a little nicer I would like to try it on my grill outside. I am very happy with the Cave Tools Beer Can Chicken and highly recommend it!

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At Amazon or Cave Tools.



Cave Tools Coupon Code: Beer Can Chicken 15% Off: BEERCAN15

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this 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. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Foodie Friday Sweet Pepper & Tomato Crustless Quiche #FoodieFriday

I love living on a farm and owning chickens! One of the benefits of having my 8 hens is the free abundance of farm fresh eggs. We get many different colors and sizes. Sometimes we are blessed with an unusually large egg. I am not sure which one of our hens laid the one shown in the picture, but it turned out to have a double yolk inside!

I also love that I can teach my kids where our food actually comes from. Having it come straight from our own farm is a wonderful teaching and learning experience for them. I believe that this is extremely important for future generations because so many children now grow up thinking that food comes from the grocery store or supermarket. I love that I have this awesome opportunity with my children to teach them gardening, agriculture, home cooking/baking and other dying skills that need to be passed on.

Speaking of home cooking, my kids and I made two Sweet Pepper & Tomato Crustless Quiches the other day for dinner. I love a good quiche and crustless ones are so easy to whip together! My chickens' eggs also make them the best! Here is the recipe for this one...

Sweet Pepper & Tomato Crustless Quiche

Ingredients for one quiche:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 large sweet pepper; seeded, destemmed and diced (We used a green and red one because we made two quiches, but any color is fine.)
• 5 eggs
• 1 medium onion; peeled and diced
• 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• A handful of dried tomatoes (We had these in a bag from a summer of slicing, dehydrating, and freezing them. If you don't have homemade dried ones I suggest getting some sun dried ones from the store.)

Equipment needed:

• 1 - 9 inch round pie plate
• 1 whisk
• 1 - 12 inch skillet (I love my cast iron ones!)
• 1 spatula
• 1 mixing spoon
• 1 mixing bowl 
• 1 oven with stove top

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in the middle. 
2. Lightly butter the inside of the pie plate to make it nonstick and set it aside.
3. Saute the onion and sweet pepper in butter in the skillet over medium-high heat, stirring with the spatula occasionally, about 5 minutes.
4. Whisk together eggs and milk in the mixing bowl, then add the onion and sweet pepper mixture and most of the cheese, saving some out to go on top before baking. Fold this mixture together with the mixing spoon.
5. Pour this mixture into the pie plate, sprinkling the last of the cheese on top.
6. Take the handful of dried tomatoes and place them evenly on top.
7. Bake uncovered until top is golden and egg blend has set in center, about 35 minutes.
8. Cool slightly, about 10 minutes, before cutting into wedges.
9. Enjoy!
 

Fluffy Layers Dish Towels and Pot Holders with Farm Beauty Print Review

Fluffy Layers is a wonderful company that was developed by Tara Grier. She and her team at Fluffy Layers are the creators of The Egg Collecting Apron®, The Egg Gathering Apron® & The Harvest Apron®. They also have some other cute, fashionable products & new home and textile items for the farm lover in us all. I got to have a taste of some of their Farm Beauty products for the home. These are wonderful to brighten any kitchen with!

I received the Farm Beauty Dishtowel Set. This set comes with a pack of three dish towels. These measure 20" width x 30" long. These are fairly absorbent and great for drying dishes or just to embellish your kitchen with. You may use a warm iron on these to get out creases from folding.

Farm Beauty Dishtowel Set.

I also received the Farm Beauty Pot Holder Set. This set comes with a pack of two potholders. These measure 7x7" and have a hanging loop on each for easy storage. They are heat resistant and great for handling hot pans/dishes with. You can place your hand inside the pocket for a better grip.

 
I used an old rake head to make a pot holder and oven mitt hanger for my kitchen where I will display my Fluffy Layers Farm Beauty Pot Holder Set and the Oven Mitts to match them that I purchased separately. I love the farm animal design of the Farm Beauty print! This colorful design has flowers, horses, sheep, cows, pigs, ducks and chickens on it. They are both machine washable on warm, made of 100% cotton, and are imported. Do not use bleach. Lovely accessories to decorate the kitchen with and very functional too! Break out your inner farm fashionista!

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Hashtags: #fluffylayers #egggatheringapron #eggcollectingapron #harvestapron #farmbeauty

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You can purchase these and other Fluffy Layers products in their Fluffy Layers' Online Shop. Tara also has an online store for Fluffy Layers on Etsy, Zazzle, and Amazon! Etsy has products that are samples. Most of these are items that are not in their original packaging, have minor flaws, or that her models wore for photo shoots. Because these are seconds they are marked down. Zazzle has a whole different selection of Fluffy Layers products, including: travel mugs, leggings, door mats, blankets, shirts, pillows, ornaments, Christmas stockings, clutches, hoodies, and phone cases. Amazon sometimes has deals for sets and other items from the original store.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. As a Fluffy Layers Brand Ambassador I get occasional products to share with my readers 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. 

Sarah Rosedahl Books Review

Sarah Rosedahl is artist, author, and illustrator for Sloggers Rain Boots and Garden Shoes. She loves to draw and paint farm animals and birds. Living in Vermont on a small farm, she gets inspiration from wildlife and agriculture of Vermont's Lake Champlain Islands. She loves to paint in watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. This is one very talented lady!

Sarah is also the author and artist behind the coloring books: Difficult Chickens, Difficult Sheep & Friends, and Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z, as well as the Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z book. These have such fun illustrations! I have admired her work on the Sloggers and love this set of books! The color books have pages printed on one side to prevent bleed through to the next page. Now you can get the newly redesigned covers! The interior illustrations all remain the same as before. I love the whimsical nature of the pictures. I have greatly enjoyed the fun and lighthearted details of these coloring book and love to put color to the pages. The pages are pretty enough to frame as well.

Orpington begins to take color in Difficult Chickens Color Book.

Difficult Chickens is an intricate coloring book that is inspired by the Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z books and Zentangle designs. These decorative pages are home to 26 breeds of chickens that are alphabetically organized from A-Z and two chicks. Since I keep my own chickens I have started collecting fanciful chicken things. This is a lovely addition to my collection.

Llama in the Difficult Sheep & Friends Color Book.

For the lover of ruminants, camelids, bovids, and more, Difficult Sheep & Friends is a fun, elaborate coloring book that has great appeal for all ages. I especially love the whimsical interpretations of all these neat animals. This includes 26 sheep and fiber-producing animals that are friends of the fiber arts trade. I love all things yarn myself and I have two llamas! Sheep breeds include: Border Leicester, Cheviot, Icelandic, Lincoln, Merino, Oxford Down, Rough Fell, Rambouillet, Scottish Blackface, and Shetland. Friends include: Alpaca, Angora Rabbits, Angora Goat, Bison, Bactrian Camel, Cashmere Goat, Highland Cow, Horse, Llama, Muskox, Old English Sheepdog, Pygora Goat, Vicuna and Yak. Great for adult coloring enthusiasts everywhere.

Orpingon to color in the Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z Coloring Book.

  
Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z Coloring Book is a great addition to the set. It has 40 pages of chicken breeds, decorative chickens, friends and foes to color. These are mostly the outlines of the chickens and other critters. It shows a picture and specific breed or animal name on most pages. Although there are a few with designs on them, these are certainly not as intricate as the Difficult Chickens book. I love how you can either match the colors to the actual breed, design your own chicken or other animal with Zentangle art, or just color the animals how you want. The sky's the limit. Great for chicken lovers everywhere!

Zari found the Orpington in the Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z book.

Chickens! Illustrated Chicken Breeds A to Z is a great children's book. It has pretty colorful illustrations that are accompanied by the breed of the chicken and fun facts about them. Some of these fun water-colored illustrations are the same as the ones on the Sloggers Rain Boots and Garden Shoes. I was eggstatic to get this book and I love to look at the many different varieties. Some are even rare breeds! So pretty! My favorite has to be the Orpington because we have a Buff Orpington that we named Buffy and she is one of my daughter's favorite chickens out of our 11.

Zari with our Buff Orpington March 2016 when she was a chick.

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these books for free to facilitate this 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. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Fluffy Layers Farm Apron with Rooster and Hens Print & Chicken Party Scarf Review

Fluffy Layers is a wonderful company that was developed by Tara Grier. Fluffy Layers are the creators of The Egg Collecting Apron®, The Egg Gathering Apron® & The Harvest Apron®.  They also have some other really cute farm animal accessories that you can wear and they are coming out soon (launching Sept 25 2016) with a home collection I can not wait to share with you!

Gorgeous Fluffy Layers Farm Apron with Rooster and Hens Print.

Fluffy Layers Farm Apron with Rooster and Hens Print  is a gorgeous apron! I love the nice sturdy canvas type fabric of roosters, hens, and roses. It ties securely in back and I love that the neck strap is adjustable too. The red ruffle gives it a feminine touch that is reminiscent of cute vintage aprons.

Me in my adorable apron.

The Colorful Fluffy Layers Chicken Party Scarf. (eggs not included)

Fluffy Layers Chicken Party Scarf comes in white and blue. I received one in white. I love this brightly colored flowing scarf. Its fun and energetic chicken pattern puts a smile on my face. This lovely versatile scarf is approximately 71 X 35 inches and can be used as sarong, cover-up, scarf or wrap.I can wear it out anywhere or just around my farm. It is fabulous to liven up any outfit.

Love the bright colors of the Chicken Party Scarf!

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You can purchase Fluffy Layers Farm Apron with Rooster and Hens Print & Chicken Party Scarf in their Fluffy Layers' online shop.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. As a Fluffy Layers Brand Ambassador I get occasional products to share with my readers 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.

Fluffy Layers Egg Collecting Apron Review

Fluffy Layers is a wonderful company that was developed by Tara Grier. She and her team at Fluffy Layers are the creators of The Egg Collecting Apron®, The Egg Gathering Apron® & The Harvest Apron®. They also have some really "fun, fashionable products for the urban agriculture enthusiast!" I am one of their new Brand Ambassadors and I can not wait to share with you the adorable stuff they have!

My wonderful Fluffy Layers Egg Collecting Apron.

I received their Egg Collecting Apron. This is a wonderful half body apron that helps you gather 10 jumbo sized eggs from your chickens safely. I received one in a whimsical rooster and hen print. This apron is such a lovely alternative to the egg basket and keeps your hands completely free to do other things while collecting. I love collecting my hen's eggs in it. This is the perfect apron for anyone with chickens. It will work for duck, geese, and quail eggs too! It is made from 100% cotton canvas fabric that is durable and machine-washable. Measures 20" long and 19" wide with an 80" strap. Comes in classic canvas color too.

Me collecting eggs from my hen.

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You can also purchase Fluffy Layers Egg Collecting Apron in their Fluffy Layers' online shop.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. As a Fluffy Layers Brand Ambassador I get occasional products to share with my readers 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.

Barnyard Kids: A Family Guide For Raising Animals Book Review

I received this book free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Do you have kids? Are you also considering raising farm animals? Or do you already raise animals with kids? Well, the Barnyard Kids: A Family Guide For Raising Animals book by Dina Rudick might just be for you!

Horse lovers in training :)

We purchased our farm about 2 years ago and at the time we had only one farm animal, a mini pony named Gizmo. We still have Gizmo and now many other animals have joined our farm. In addition to him we also have 3 horses, 2 llamas, one goat, one chicken, bunnies, and ducks....and bees (I count them as farm critters).

Chia the goat likes to follow Delbin everywhere.

Before we became farmers we were pretty much city folk. We didn't have any animals except our doggie best friend, Prince, and the occasional cat before that. Having a farm had always been on our radar though and since we were given Gizmo we thought it was the right time to get back to our rural roots. Since getting a farm we have learned so much about how to care for the animals we have taken in (pretty much all our animals are rescues).

Jaedan with Truffle the Bunny

Barnyard Kids: A Family Guide For Raising Animals by Dina Rudick is a great book for teaching kids the basics of animal husbandry. It is a 160 page guide and resource on a menagerie of barnyard critters clearly organized into chapters by animal. It covers: chickens, pigs, sheep & goats, cows, horses, and rabbits. This book is packed with great facts and tips. Each chapter about the farm animals has sections about: What Makes Them Tick?, What Makes Them Sick?, Where Do They Live?, What Can They Give?, Q+A, and Daily Schedules and routines to care for the animals. Besides all the educational information about these animals this book has all kinds of beautiful photographs, pictures, illustrations, charts, and diagrams to help you visually.

This book is great for 4-H and an Agriculture course in Homeschool. I recommend this book to Parents, Caretakers, and Teachers everywhere that want to teach children to be self-sufficient, hard working, caring, happy, and healthy individuals.

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free to facilitate this 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. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Wordless Wednesday One Chicken All Alone

Unfortunately, predators are a fact of life when you live on a farm. We are thankful to God that one of our chickens survived.

Wordless Wednesday Chickens and Eggs!

Our new chickens (Rhode Island Reds)...they had a rough time at their previous location...their friends got snatched up by what we think was a bobcat. Hopefully we won't have the same issue with predators.

Top: Our first egg from our hens that they laid at our farm, Left: Our chicken eggs vs store bought, Right: Our first dozen...well sort of, LOL!

My chickens in their makeshift coop. More eggs, yay!

Zaycon Foods Chicken Breast Review

I had heard very good things about Zaycon Foods, but had never tried them out before. They have fresh: meats, produce, and sometimes even milk in bulk at rock bottom prices because they cut out the middle men. These are all natural, fresh, and better for you than the usual store bought.

USFamilyGuide gave me the opportunity to experience them for my first time and get 40 pounds of chicken for free. These were their 100% natural, additive-free, hormone-free, minimally processed, USDA inspected, boneless, skinless chicken breast for about $1.84/lb. These go straight from the farm to the refrigerated truck and then to you. They do not take the long journey that regular store bought chicken does.

I ordered the chicken early on July 29th just to be sure that I would get my order in. These events sell out fast! The ordering process was easy on their website and they sent us reminder emails about the event a few days before so that we wouldn't miss it.

Zaycon Foods refrigerated truck.

On the morning of October 11th my husband and I headed over to the Elks Lodge in Kelso Washington to pick up the chicken. We pulled into the parking lot and followed the signs to the refrigerated truck. We drove up and volunteers checked our information and loaded the box of chicken into our van. We didn't even have to get out or load the chicken ourselves. They even laid some plastic down before putting the box in just in case there was leakage.

The box of chicken in our van.

Zaycon Foods chicken being separated out into freezer bags.

When we got home we unloaded the box and pulled out huge bags of chicken breasts. These were giant boneless skinless chicken butterfly breast with rib meat and came from Wayne Farms. We were very happy with the size of them. We unpacked them and repacked them in freezer bags with about 3-4 of them separated out per bag. It was a cold slimy process, but well worth it because it was a lot of chicken. You could go in first and trim off the fat and separate the chicken breasts further if needed, but I was kind of feeling lazy.

We now have a freezer full of chicken and they are so yummy cooked up in all kinds of recipes!


To Get Started Click on this link https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf141740

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received 40 lbs FREE Chicken from Zaycon Foods through USFamilyGuide to facilitate this 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 posting this review. There is also affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Fajitas Meals Review

We received 3 Weight Watchers Smart Ones Fajitas Meals free to facilitate this review.

The Smart Ones Weight Watcher meals have the PointsPlus values right on the packaging so it is easy to know what to watch for. With the PointsPlus program you are encouraged to use those points wisely by maximizing your point allowance. By eating more foods rich in protein and fiber like whole grains and lean meats you will feel full faster and still have all the healthy benefits of a nutritious meal. You are also encouraged to eat more fruit and non starchy veggies. These are low in calories and high in nutrients.

The Principals of Weight Watchers: 

1. Portion control so you can eat the foods you love.
2. Don't skip breakfast! It will start your day out right and manage hunger.
3. Eat a variety of protein rich foods.
4. Whole grains, fruits, and non starchy veggies can help you stay full longer.
5. Choose smarter snack and dessert choices.
6. Have support and knowledge at your fingertips.

I received 3 different Weight Watchers Smart Ones Fajitas: Chicken, Steak and Portobello Mushroom. I wasn't sure how to prepare the Portobello Mushroom one because it had a blank box with a sticker on the side that said what it was and the ingredients, but not the other information. I looked at the other two boxes and they had the exact same preparation on them, so I figured I would also follow these instructions for the Portobello Mushroom ones. These are microwaved meals and the directions were very easy to follow. You even cook the tortillas for 25 seconds to get them warm and yummy to wrap the meat and veggies in. One of these is supposed to be a portion controlled meal. If I just ate one of these meals I would not feel full. I cooked all of them and shared them each with my husband so that I could taste them side by side and see which I liked the best. All of these I think need more tortillas with them because I ran out of tortillas and had to eat the rest with a fork. These were also all very drippy, bring napkins.

The Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chicken Fajitas were the best tasting in my opinion. I loved the grilled chicken flavor. These have grilled white meat chicken with seasoned peppers & onions and a side of rice and beans. Two tortillas are included. This one has 290 calories, 5g fat, 5g fiber, and 16g protein. It is a 7 PointsPlus value.

The Weight Watchers Smart Ones Portobello Mushroom Fajitas turned out too runny in my opinion and weren't cooked all the way through. The juices didn't get properly soaked up in the mix. I zapped them in the microwave for a minute longer and then the veggies, mushrooms rice and beans looked better. The mix was a little tasteless and could have used some extra spices. These have Portobello mushrooms, bell peppers. onions, black beans and corn served with rice and beans. Two tortillas are included. This one has 300 calories, 5g fat, 7g fiber, and 10g of protein. It is a 7 PointsPlus value.

The Weight Watchers Smart Ones Steak Fajitas were really yummy, but I would have liked more steak with the meal. These have beef steak with seasoned peppers & onions and a side of rice and beans. Two tortillas are included. This one has 300 calories, 7g fat, 5g fiber, and 16g of protein. It is a 8 PointsPlus value.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free 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.

Our Farm Home

Our Farm Home.

We recently purchased a farm property with 2 houses, a barn, a chicken coop/shed, and a lean-to. These were built in the 1920's and have a cute cottage look to them. There is also a tiny building that houses the well on the side of our property. They sit on 5 and a half acres and are nestled in between a gorgeous canopy of trees.

The pasture, large barn, mailbox, chicken coop/shed, well house, and wagon wheel gate.

My favorite structure on the property is the barn. It is a large barn that was used previously for cows and loose hay. I also love the gorgeous wagon wheel gate to the larger pasture and the large mailbox.

The many flora of the farm.

Along with the shade of many trees (walnut, apple, pear, cedar, pine, mock orange, lilac, magnolia, smoke, tulip popular, etc.) there are other flora as well. There are rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, columbine, clover, dandelion, lilacs, daffodils, peonies, violets, ferns, yucca, wildflowers, etc. There is also a lovely grape vine loaded with it green grape leaves right now. We made grape juice from the harvest last year as well as dried pears and apples from the fruit we picked. My daughters planted a petunia in the front flower bed and I have since planted a fuchsia there also. We are planning on growing more fruit trees and having a large edible garden too. We want to keep the property park like.

The mini pony, horses, wild deer, bunnies, and a frog Jaedan is holding.

We would love to own chickens, quail, a goat, and maybe a llama or alpaca someday very soon. We also keep two bunnies and some bees. Right now we rent pasture to three amazing horses. They are so sweet! The large spotted Appaloosa gelding is named Blueberry and he loves me. He comes up to me and nuzzles up against me. He was in my picture for my Renaissance Fair costume review. Then there is a gorgeous Cremello filly named Skittles that looks so much like a unicorn it is otherworldly. Last but not least is a Palomino mare named Dreamer. She is a bit shy, and loves to stand out in the rain. Our mini Shetland pony, Gizmo, is there as well, but since he is a stallion he is in his own separate paddock. We occasionally see other wildlife: deer, owls, bats, cranes, osprey, hawks, eagles, squirrels, birds, skunk, raccoon, lizards, snakes, frogs, etc.

Our plan is to become more sustainable and live in harmony with our surroundings. This is the first time we've owned a farm. We are learning as we go about being farm folk. I am planning on doing a lot more posts about our critters and farm life. Stay tuned and I'll try and keep you posted.

Chewy.com True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts Chicken Tenders Dog Treats and Beef Bully Stick Dog Chew Review

We received a 4-oz bag of the True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts Chicken Dog Treats and a 6 in. True Chews Beef Bully Stick Dog Chew from Chewy.com free to facilitate this review.

Chewy.com is a great place to find items for your dog or cat. They have a great selection of food and treats, bowls and feeders, health and wellness products, flea & tick products, toys, cleaning and potty training products, grooming products, leashes and collars; beds, crates and gear, litter, etc. They conveniently ship 200+ brands of pet food and other stuff direct to your doorstep, anytime of the day. They have competitive prices and offer free shipping on any order of $49 or more. They have 24/7 customer service, just call and ask your question(s). Through their referral program, customers receive a discount on their next order and Chewy.com donates $10 to Best Friends Animal Society.

True Chews are 100% natural dog chews and treats. They contain no fillers and are rawhide-free. All are made in the USA in Independence, Iowa.

The True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts Dog Treats are made with real chicken and contain no artificial flavors in addition to the above items. These are a great source of protein. Prince really loved the tender, chewy smoked jerky flavor. They have a yummy aroma that dogs love. They are a good size jerky treat and the bag has recommended daily treat chart for different sized dogs. They are easy to tear for treating convenience and come in a convenient re-sealable bag for locking freshness in. For Prince, since he is a large dog and is over 50 lbs, they recommended 4 treats daily. I only gave him 1 per day when he was behaving because I wanted them to last longer and he really loved them.

The True Chews Beef Bully Stick Dog Chews are slow-roasted to lock in natural smoke flavor and chewiness. If your pooch has problems with rawhide these are great alternative chews for your dog. These are also great for dental care because chewing will help scrape the tarter and plaque off the teeth and helps toughen gums so your dog will have a prettier, whiter smile too. Prince loved this chew stick and it kept him occupied and happy for hours.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free 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.