Vision Forum Spring Sale and Coupon Code

Vision Forum is having a stellar Spring Savings Sale. (40-70% off 400+ items, through April 2nd!)

I have watched a few of the Homestead Blessings dvds, and I absolutely love them! These are currently 50% off, making them $8.50 each. I really want to see the Homestead Blessings Art of Sewing dvd. It includes fun projects that I would love to complete with my eight-year old daughter.

Large Family Logistics has been on my "to read list" for a while now. At $10.80, it is a fantastic deal (more than 50% off), on this textbook of sorts, on managing a large family.

You can also order the Tea with Michelle Duggar for free by using the coupon code FREETEA. I heard this message on cd, and it was a huge blessing to me.

Check out the variety of sale items here.

I am a Vision Forum affiliate. I wholeheartedly endorse these items because they have been a blessing to me and my family.

Superkids Vitamins Review and Giveaway

I started researching multi-vitamins when I was expecting my second child, my son. I had been taking the prenatal vitamin prescribed by my doctor, but I switched to a more natural vitamin when I learned what was in the prescribed prenatal. (aluminum, etc.) I only use food-based vitamins for my family and I.

One superior multivitamin that we love and recommend are Beeyoutiful's SuperKids Multi-Vitamin. Beeyoutiful sent me two bottles of SuperKids for my little ones to try in the flavors they offer- orange and multiberry. My little ones love the taste of SuperKids, and often remind me that it is "time for vitamins" if I forget.

Here is a little more about the benefits of SuperKids vitamins, from the Beeyoutiful website:

The SuperKids formula is similar to Beeyoutiful's other "Super" products but without the iron.* And there's no synthetic dyes or sugar to hype up your kids. Derived from real foods, every bottle of SuperKids multivitamins for kids is chock-full of antioxidants like vitamins C and E, bioflavanoids, lycopene, and other carotenes that wage war against the free radicals assaulting your child's body every time they eat processed food or breathe polluted air. These goodies will absorb and be better used by your child's body because SuperKids contains aloe vera, the superfood known for smoothing out digestion. It works magic in the colon for happier and more regular trips to the bathroom. Aloe also makes the intestines "slippery" so nasty stomach bugs can't take hold as easily.
Your child's bones will have an easier time enduring bike wrecks and falls thanks to the manganese, zinc, selenium, and other colloidal minerals. Plus, the Vitamin D in SuperKids enhances absorption of calcium -- especially important during the "fast bone growth years" ages 4 to 12.
Sweetened with xylitol, a natural substance actually good for your child's teeth, SuperKids comes in two great flavors: orange and multi-berry. Both taste so good, your kids will look forward to their teaspoonful of vitamin "dessert" after breakfast and supper.**

Beeyoutiful also sent me Liquid D3.
It can be challenging to get enough vitamin D, especially if we aren't in the sun much. I highly recommend having Liquid D3 on hand especially during the winter or rainy days.Our body cannot produce Vitamin D on it's own,so supplementation can be critical. Beeyoutiful's Liquid D3 is very easy to take, as it tastes like water.

Here are a few reasons we all need adequate stores of Vitamin D (from Beeyoutiful's website):


Vitamin D does wonders in the body. Most know that it plays a key role in regulating calcium in the body, promoting absorption which helps bone mineralization to occur. This is key in caring for osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia, and osteopenia. Vitamin D doesn't stop there, however. When the body is getting enough D to go around, it is used liberally by many cells that are able to make calcitriol and use its cancer-fighting properties! Some of the most exciting research today is finding that D3 deficiency is common in cancer patients, and that D3 may help work against cancer.
Interestingly, cancer is not the only thing that has turned up the common link of a vitamin D deficiency. Blood sugar problems, low back pain, high blood pressure, type I and type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, kidney stones, psoriasis, depression, seasonal affective disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and auto-immune diseases have all been linked with low levels of vitamin D, suggesting that this pro-hormone is a quiet, unsung worker of vast-reaching good in the body!
Last, but certainly not least, vitamin D3 is an immense contributor to controlling the immune system and helping to stave off "bugs" of all sorts. Flus, colds, other viral and bacterial upsets -- these seemingly little attacks on your health can be some of the most draining, often going through the entire family and leaving everyone worn out. Help minimize the down-time with a "bottle of sunshine".

Win it! 
Beeyoutiful is giving away one Superkids multivitamin (orange or MultiBerry) and one Liquid D3 to one blog reader of Lily of the Valley. To enter, leave a comment letting me what product you are most interested in on the Beeyoutiful website.


Additional optional entries: (Leave a separate comment for each of these entries.)
1. Become a facebook fan of  Beeyoutiful. Tell them Lily of the Valley sent you.
2. Become a facebook fan of Lily of the Valley.
3. Follow Lily of the Valley on Google Friend Connect.
4. Blog about this or Share on Facebook.

Contest ends April 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm EST.

Thank you to Beeyoutiful for supplying the Superkids vitamins and Liquid D3 for the review and giveaway.

Menu Plan March 28- April 1

Here are two yummy things we recently tried:

               
                                                              
Cinnamon Swirl Bread

 

Veggie and Cheese Bagel Sandwich  This week, we are going to try a lot of bean and vegetable dishes, in order to save money and to eat healthier.  Monday- Mexican Black Bean Burgers and Homemade French Fries Tuesday- Salad, Gourmet Bean Soup, 1 Hour Dinner Rolls
Wednesday- Bean Burritos 
Thursday- Salad, Homemade Baked Beans, Brown Rice
Friday- Pesto Pasta with Vegetables
What new dishes are you trying this week? For more menu plans, visit Laura.

March Happenings

My eldest turned eight years old!
 

                                                      
           My baby turned one!

I turned the big "30"! Gasp!
We hosted a delightful party celebrating all the March birthdays in our family. I feel so blessed by this very full life that the Lord has blessed me with.

I am reading this. I have never read anything so life-changing, before, apart from the Bible.


"Joy is a flame that glimmers only in the palm of the open and humble hand. In an open and humble palm, released and surrendered to receive, light dances, flickers happy. The moment the hand is clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is snuffed out."
                                                                                                        -Ann Voskamp

Oh, that I would be so much more like Him.

Many blessings, friends!

The Winner of Herbal Nurturing is....

Congratulations, Tannis! I will be e-mailing you shortly. Thank you again to Michele at Frugal Granola for hosting this giveaway. You still have until March 18th at 11:59 pm to get 25% off Herbal Nurturing with coupon code LILY25. Blessings!

Making Herbal Tea in a French Press

My husband recently bought us a French press, which we use to make herbal teas, Teeccino, and coffee. I have been so impressed by the quality cups of tea or coffee, which the French press makes. We love it so much that we use it a couple of times, daily, and our coffeemaker has found a new home on a storage shelf. Making an herbal tea is very easy in the French press.

1. Measure herbs and put in the bottom of French press.

2. Pour water that was heated on the stovetop into the French Press. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.

3. After steeping herbs, stir with a non-metal spoon, and push plunger down.

4. Pour tea into tea cup, add cream/milk, and honey/brown sugar. Enjoy!
There are few simple joys more delightful than sipping a cup of tea and reading a favorite book. My current read is Organized Simplicity and my tea of choice is Kashmiri Chai.

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy.

Herbal Nurturing Giveaway

I have enjoyed Michele Augur's blog, Frugal Granola, for a long time. Frugal Granola is an inspiration for any Christian, natural-living home maker. Michele is the author of two e-books, Herbal Nurturing and A Natural Noel.  Michele graciously sent me a copy of her e-book, Herbal Nurturing, for review purposes. I love learning about natural remedies that I can make in the comfort of my own home, to aid in my family's health. I was so impressed by the variety of herbal remedies and information, contained within the 44 pages of Herbal Nurturing. The following is the table of contents from Herbal Nurturing:

There are so many recipes included, which would make lovely natural gifts, such as: Scrapes Soother, Aches and Pains Massage Oil, and Mama's Passion Bath Salts . There are so many remedies included, which I would love to add to my herbal "medicine cabinet" including: Immune-Booster Syrup, Pink Eye Relief, Child or Adult Headache Relief, and Sinus Steam. Herbal Nurturing contains additional ideas for learning more with your little ones, as well as urgent care options.

Herbal Nurturing is a fantastic deal at only $8.95, delivered to your e-mail address! If you enter coupon code LILY25 , you can receive 25% off this e-book, through 3/18 at 11:59 pm.

Win it!
Michele is graciously giving away one copy  of  Herbal Nurturing to one Lily of the Valley reader.

To Enter Giveaway:
Mandatory Entry- Check out the table of contents and leave me a comment letting me know what herbal remedy you are most interested in making.

Additional Optional Entries: (leave a separate comment per entry)
1. Follow Lily of the Valley via Google Connect Friend. If you already follow, simply leave a comment.
2. Become a facebook fan of Frugal Granola and Lily of the Valley.
3. Share about this giveaway via facebook, twitter, or your blog. (you get a separate entry for each of these three)

This giveaway ends March 15, 2011 at 12 noon, EST.

I received a complimentary review copy of Herbal Nurturing. Thank you to Michele for the review copy and the giveaway copy. This review contains my honest opinions about this resource.

Learning Goal: Homemade Yogurt

I completed my February learning goal of making yogurt, a few days ago. I found the crockpot yogurt recipe to be very easy , and it was not labor-intensive on my part, at all. I mainly had to let the milk heat up and then let it sit for a few hours. My cost was $1.50 for the half gallon of milk, and .30 cents plain yogurt for the starter, so the total was $1.80. I don't know exactly how much it made, but it has lasted us a few days and we have plenty left. Normally, my little ones could eat a large tub of yogurt in one afternoon, so this has been wonderful. This yogurt is a bit runnier than I am used to, which I have heard is normal for homemade yogurt. I usually add a little raw honey and blueberries, and whip it up in my Vita Mix for a delicious drinkable yogurt for my little ones.
I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to be a homemaker. There is so much within this realm to learn!

March's Learning Goal: Apple Butter
My other Learning Goals can be found here.


What are you learning this month?