Fun in the Fall

I love the fall.  Hands down, it must be my favorite time of the year.  Of all the seasons I missed while living in the South—I missed the fall most of all.  There are just so many great family activities in the fall, it is impossible not to find a great way to spend time with the family. With every sip of locally produced apple cider I am reminded how glad I am to be home.  I especially love how fall festivities are very low key in preparation for the much more stressful holiday season. 

Book Review: 50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know

Let me tell you about working in an all girls school with young ladies who are required to wear short skirts....How does one politely inform a teenage girl that if she must wear her skirt two inches shorter than the dress code requirement, then she should bend at the knees and not at the waist?  How do you let young women know that lounging on the sofas in the library is not acceptable, even if there are no men around? Sigh.

Thanks to the an opportunity from book sneeze, I received a copy of  50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know: What to do, What to say, and How to Behave, by Kay West.  West does an excellent job of providing concrete etiquette lessons in real life situations explain what to do and what not to do--and most importantly for the teenage reader--a solid explanation of why. I think explaining the why for etiquette is the hardest part for me.  I know that a student won't listen to what I say, without explaining why good manners are important, but I find it so hard when the voice inside my head is screaming, "Seriously child, how do you not know this stuff?"

House Party: Spin Master It's All Fun and Games #QuelfLogoParty

This past weekend we had a blast with two new board games.  We received the opportunity to host a Spin Master House Party featuring Quelf and The Logo Game. 

Before we played, I figured the Logo Game would be our  favorite.  Essentially, it’s a trivia game for those who have a good sense of common consumable products and their marketing strategies.  I like it because its trivia where everyone has a similar footing. Do you know were Sara Lee cheesecake originated?  No—that’s okay, I didn’t either. Both of our families are hugely in to trivia so we all had a blast.  I was particularly impressed with my husband’s keen ability to identify photos of name brand cereals.

Granola Goodness

 

I know I shouldn’t snack, but I do.  I try to be good.  With little temptation at work, I’m usually  a little better at controlling my impulse to munch.  But when I get home, look out.  I walk in the door and hit the cupboard. I’ve notice my son is becoming a snacker too. He’s a constant mooch.  If anyone is eating, he needs to be eating too.  And I admit this is a bad habit for him to inherit. 

Recently we’ve had a chance to sample Nature’s Hand Granola.  I know what you’re thinking—granola is typically high in sugar and preservatives.  If it's not high in sugar, it's typically low in taste, so why bother. Not true with Nature’s Hand—just 6 grams per serving from brown sugar and honey.  I also like that all the ingredients are 100% natural.  There are no artificial preservatives, colors or flavor.  Full of whole grain oats and wheat, as well as sunflower seeds, Nature’s Hand Granola packs a lot of nutritious fiber in a small hand full.  

Review: Burt's Bee's Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin

I can always tell when fall is in the air.  As soon as we turn the heat on in our home, my skin instantly starts to dry out.  I hate to wash my face from that moment until the spring finally arrives.  My standard washing procedure in the past has left my face red and dry with that super tight feeling.
That's why I've loved the opportunity to try Burt's Bee's Natural Skin Solutions.  It's made specifically for sensative skin.  I've been using the facial cleanser and moisturizer for two weeks now and no dryness, redness or other irritation.  I love that it is 99.5% all natural--with no petrochemicals.  I also love how rich and creamy the cleanser feels--it leaves my skin feeling clean and super moisturized. The moisturizer is very light and doesn't leave a greasy feeling behind.  Both products contain cotton extract, which helps replenish the skin.  They are fragrance and hypo allergenic too.
At the low cost of $10 for the facial cleanser and $15 for the moisturizer, it's definitely a bargain compared to my cosmetic counter face cleaning alternative.
If you're interested in trying Burt's Bee's Sensitive Face Line, visit their website at www.burtsbees.com.


I am a BzzAgent. This product and promotional coupons were provided by BzzAgent in exchange for my fair and honest review.  No additional financial compensation was given.  The opinions expressed in this review are my own.