Crafty Christmas Giveaway

Welcome to our crazy Christmas Giveaway being hosted by Grandma Bonnie's Closet and Life with Tootsabella and the Rose. There are three featured prizes for this giveaway. There will be three winners one prize each. The prizes will be drawn in the following order.

1. Three Cook Books From Viva Editions: 

The Lazy Gourmet, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook, & Fix it Make it Grow it Bake it

2. Tidy Tots Potty Chair Liners 

3. A Child's Book: The Adventures of Jimmy and Charlie written by Rodney Mack

You can find the reviews in the links below.

 The Adventures of Jimmy and Charlie written by Rodney Mack

Tidy Tots Potty Chair Liners 

The Lazy Gourmet, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook, & Fix it Make it Grow it Bake it

Please follow the instructions on the Raffelcopter form. There are three mandatory entries. Please use the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway. If you do not use the raffelcopter to enter your comments will not count toward the giveaway. The more entry options you complete the greater your chance of winning. If you need any help with this giveaway please contact me. The giveaway begins on 12/12/2011 and ends on 12/19/2011

TidyTots potty chair liners

I recently received TidyTots potty chair liners to review. I have an 18 month old that is showing me every day that she is ready to use the potty. I have a travel potty but you can use any potty chair for the TidyTots liners. I usually use small waste can bags for mine. They are just very thin generic bags that I had picked up. They are quite oversized as you can tell from the pictures and sometimes they leak if you don't handle them the right way. There are a lot more cons of the generic bag. Let's talk about the TidyTots potty chair liners. When I got the bags, I wasn't sure they were going to fit onto my wide travel potty that has no bowl. I eagerly opened the package and fit the bag right onto the top and snapped the lid on, to hold it in place. It holds in very snug and does not slip out (which I was very happy with). The bags are so nice and very thick. They remind me of those expensive thick trash bags but shrunken down to baby doll size. These bags will not leak especially when you have the really thick absorbent pad in there. The pad has lots of absorbent layers that hold a lot of liquid. It definitely gets 2-3 uses. I love the bags because they have a pull tie string (like a trash bag) so clean up is a breeze. It's great when you are traveling because the tie is simple and there is no chance of a spill. With my generic bags, there is not tie, so I have to be really careful with the cleanup in the car while traveling. We all know that's hard when you are in a car with two little ones bouncing around at a rest stop. I would opt for TidyTots all the way to avoid any nasty accidents with those generic bags. Here are some pictures to compare the nice TidyTots bags to the thin generic bags. These potty chair liners can be used for any type of potty chair. Go to tidytots.com to order.

 TidyTots liners

Generic bags

I received TidyTots potty chair liners to review.

My honest opinion has been expressed in this post. Life with Tootsabella and the Rose has not received monetary compensation for this post. 

The lazy Gourmet cookbook and two more reviews by Viva Editions

Last week I received three books in the mail by Viva Editions to review. They are The Lazy Gourmet, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook, and Fix it Make it Grow it Bake it. All three books are really great.
The first book is The Lazy Gourmet, a cookbook about great meals that you can make easy by Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin.  The first part talks about basics in your pantry and how they compare. Next is a chapter for tips (which are really great tips by the way). There are some things in there that I never thought to think about. For example, how to heat your oil, get the most zestiness from your citrus, and all the differences between your pots and pans. I love it!  The chapters that follow are for the food. First is starters and snacks. Then you have your salads, soups, sandwiches, main dishes, sides, extras, and finally your desserts. There are also some measurement conversion charts in the back. There is a dessert recipe in the end of the book called Bananas Bread Pudding Foster. I haven't made it yet but plan to next week after we go grocery shopping. I am really exited to make it and can't wait to taste it. Overall, this book is really great. It's not just a cookbook, it's an awesome tool.
Next is The Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Lara Starr with Lynette Shirk.  This book shows how to cleverly create inexpensive wonderful meals using ingredients and leftovers. It has a chapter for breakfasts, brunches, lunch, snacks, and dinners made for less $. Chapter 6 talks about inexpensive party food. This kind of stuff always comes in handy because when I have a party, it adds up fast. Chapter 7 is my ultimate favorite. It talks about clever kids meals. We all know once kids turn that age (mine is 4), they don't eat. I wonder how she survives. Now I don't have to worry. I love this chapter. Example, they have a great chicken nugget recipe, amazing mac and cheese recipe, a really cool colorful popcorn recipe, edible play dough, and finger paint. OMG I love it! In the next chapter, they have midnight snack ideas! Oh the list goes on. The last chapter has great gift ides like hot chocolate on a spoon! The tips throughout the book are great also. Remember people, all these things made inexpensive and easy!
Fix it Make it Grow it Bake it by Billee Sharp is a great book about living an easy simple life by using less and creating more. This a great book because it focuses on learning how to become more aware of what you have and what do to with it and if you don't have much, rethink and budget your lives. Be thrifty like shop online and use coupons. There is a lot of free stuff online. There is a really great page for money saving tips too. There is a really great section in the book for the body. It talks about using oils to help common problems like athlete's foot, headache, and heartburn. It talks about getting things for free like free entertainment and schooling online. I love the eco cleaning tips in the book. We all know as we have children in the house, cleaning is hard to keep away from the little ones. That's a good reason for using eco friendly cleaning. I don't want my babies or the world breathing in harmful fumes. It also has great fix it tips like what to do when your cell phone gets wet. The section on growing your own food and composting is very interesting.  Next in the book is a cooking part. They talk about making your own soups and canning. I really like the fact that in chapter 7 they talk about holiday foods. I love it because they break it up into different foods for the seasons and holidays. Again, in this book the tips are great. This book is a great life changing book for anyone who wants to take simple steps to living a better life. If you would like to learn more about these books and others form Viva Editions, go here.

I received hard copies of  The Lazy Gourmet by Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Lara Starr with Lynette Shirk, and Fix it Make it Grow it Bake it by Billee Sharp to review from www.vivaeditions.com.

My honest opinion has been expressed in this post. Life with Tootsabella and the Rose has not received monetary compensation for this post. 

The Adventures of Jimmy and Charlie book review

I recently received a book to review. The Adventures of Jimmy and Charlie written by Rodney Mack is a true story children's book about two little cat's adventures on a Midwest farm. My daughter's had a great time with this book. They love cats so this book caught their attention. The two cats get dropped off on the farm and then almost get lost by accidently hitching a ride to the store on the car. Next they explore their new home on the farm checking out the wonderful animals. One cat even gets stuck in the tree because he was afraid of the deer that were passing by. Then there was an ice storm that has a sad part then turns out to a beautiful ending showing how God works in awesome ways. My daughter really loved the pictures of the animals in the back of the book too. Overall, it is a great book to read to the little ones who are exploring and learning about God. It has great teaching examples on their level and is a great conversation starter.

I received a hard copy of  The Adventures of Jimmy and Charlie by Rodney Mack to review.

My honest opinion has been expressed in this post. Life with Tootsabella and the Rose has not received monetary compensation for this post. 

Summer Bay Resort near Disney World

If you plan on staying on Disney property, stay off site the first night. Why pay the big bucks when you are arriving later and cannot take full advantage of the benefits.

Staying at a Disney property can be pricey. I have looked into staying on property and for our family it doesn't work even with the dining plan and discounts they give. I will share my experiences and future plans with you. The first time I ever went to Disney World was with my family when I was a child. We stayed in hotels throughout the week. We got free breakfast and a pool. We were kids so we were happy with whatever. The downside is that it didn't have a shuttle service.

The next two times we went, my husband, daughter, and I stayed in a Villa at Summer Bay resort in Clermont. It  offers complimentary transportation and tons of activities including water sports on their own lake. Visit Summer Bay Resort to learn more. We got an incredible discount because we were part of the Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) We payed a total of 379.00 for 7 nights before taxes. I absolutely loved the villa. It was clean and spacious with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It had a full kitchen and had great views. I felt very safe there with a gated entrance to the resort. I loved all the activities and the other amenities that came along with it. We even went to shades of green at Disney to score some deep discounted tickets for the husband.

Unique Christmas Gifts Giveaway

Welcome to Our Unique Christmas Gifts Giveaway! Hosted by Grandma Bonnie's Closet, Life with Tootsabella and the Rose and Grandma Bonnie's Wee Classroom. There are three featured prizes for this giveaway. There will be three winners one prize each. The prizes will be drawn in the following order.

One Plush, Mr. Broccoli

One  Maya & Filippo Educational Coloring Book

One Set of Author Francine Trevens Fantasy Stories

Please check out the reviews on the links below.

Mr. Broccoli 

Maya & Filippo Educational Coloring Book

Pixie Tales & Gremlins, Genies and Trolls Oh My!

Please follow the instructions on the Raffelcopter form. There are three mandatory entries. Please use the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway. If you do not use the raffelcopter to enter your comments will not count toward the giveaway. The more entry options you complete the greater your chance of winning. If you needs any help with this giveaway please contact me. 

A Crafty Christmas Giveaway

Welcome to A Crafty Christmas hosted by Grandma Bonnie's Closet, Life with Tootsabella and the Rose and Grandma Bonnie's Wee Classroom. There are three featured prizes for this giveaway. There will be three winners one prize each. The prizes will be drawn in the following order.

One handcrafted Christmas Pendant

One Abstract Painting

One Kid Puzzle

Please check out the reviews on the links below.

One of a Kind Original Art Work the, "Golden Flower "

Kid Puzzles

Snowman Peppermint Necklace

Please follow the instructions on the Raffelcopter form. There are three mandatory entries. Please use the rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway. If you do not use the raffelcopter to enter your comments will not count toward the giveaway. The more entry options you complete the greater your chance of winning. If you needs any help with this giveaway please contact me. 

Fun facts about Disney

• Talk about keeping quiet. Disney employees are expressly prohibited from dating other Disney employees – hence Don’t Date Disney. A former employee of Disneyland let the cat out of the bag on that policy years ago when he tattled to “LA Magazine” about his time as Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, someone took a photo of him and his then girlfriend, an Ariel, and showed it to the higher ups, who were displeased. However, it was going to the premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” doing an interview in costume, giving his full name, and the interview being posted online that got his Ears taken away. At the same time, park employees are discouraged from trying to “excite” members of the opposite sex and to ignore any flirtation from guests. Tough luck, Jack, no lasses or goatee for you!

http://www.toptenz.net/10-disney-facts-oddities.php

• Included in that rigid control of their trademarks is the vaunted Disney Vault. Disney started theatrically re-releasing movies seven years after they were originally released after “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” Since then, the home movie craze hit and with the advent of DVDs, the Vault is only reopened once every 10 years. Supposedly this is a ploy to get new generations of children interested in the movies. Or like any business, it could just be a way to make more money.

Read more: http://www.toptenz.net/10-disney-facts-oddities.php#ixzz1ewEoRJLW

• Located entirely within its own improvement district – the Reedy Creek Improvement District of Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Walt Disney World with its main attractions and resorts is twice the size of Manhattan. Every day, the guests of the resorts use an amount of linens that would take a normal person 40 years to clean. Supposedly the landscaping crew puts over a half a million miles on the mowers covering the 47 miles of WDW throughout the year. In the last seven years, a water saving effort has taken place at the theme parks, which has meant a savings of about 2.5 billion gallons of water. Who said it was a “small, small world?”

Read more: http://www.toptenz.net/10-disney-facts-oddities.php#ixzz1ewF7NjVH

• Walt Disney World® Resort encompasses 30,500 acres, making it approximately the same size as San Francisco.
• When Disney’s Magic Kingdom® Park first opened its doors on October 1, 1971, adult admission cost $3.50.

• Built in 1917, Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel in Fantasyland was once located at Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey.

• The replica of the Liberty Bell that can be found in the center of Liberty Square was built from the same authentic cast as the original in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Approximately 46 million people visit Walt Disney World – including Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Downtown Disney Area – annually.

http://www.orlando-florida.net/press-releases/50-things-you-dont-know-about-disney-world.htm

Freebies at Disney

free cookie

Nestle sponsors the Junior Chef Program where kids learn to follow a recipe and bake real Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookies. When they're fully baked, they get to sample the cookies they made. They also get to keep their chef’s hat!

The program is available for children aged 3-10. They must sign-up for this in advance and book a time.
Location: In Future World’s “The Land” on the lower level near “Living with the Land.”

Need a free pop.

“Club Cool” is sponsored by Coca Cola and features samples of beverages they sell around the world. It’s self-served and you can drink as much as you want.
Location: In Future World past the Epcot Character Spot.

Visit Downtown Disney.
It costs nothing to visit Downtown Disney. There are lots of fun shops to stroll through and plenty of people watching opportunities. Don't miss the snoozing man made from lego or the fabtastc magnets at Magnetron Magnetz. Stop in the Art of Disney store - They run a trivia quiz every day and give out prizes if you get them all right!

Watch the Magic Kingdom Fireworks
From the beach of the Grand Floridian or Polynesian. You can park at the resorts for a short time for free. Tell the guard you are visiting the hotel coffee shop.

Take a free tour of Wilderness Lodge
Check with guest services for times and details.

Watch the Electrical Water Pageant
It takes place each night on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake - times vary. A long line of barges are transformed into a magical light show. It is short - just a few minutes long but is one of the overlooked treasures of Walt Disney World. It can be seen from the beaches of the Grand Floridian and Polynesian and the Fort Wilderness Marina and Beach

Nature Trails at Fort Wilderness
There are many miles of trails at Fort Wilderness, through pine and cypress woods. All free.

Visit The Boardwalk
Best in the evening. Just stroll and take in the atmosphere. There's usually lots of "street entertainment"

Visit the The petting farm at Fort Wilderness.
The petting farm is open 7 am to dusk a. There is free day parking at Ft. Wilderness.

Take the free garden tour at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort.
Call guest services for times

Take the free lobby tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Take a boat ride.
From Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney. Take a stroll round Downtown Disney and catch the boat back to your car at Dixie Landings.


For $14.00, your child can get their first haircut at The Harmony Barbershop near Main Street USA. Disney will make it memorable by giving them mouse ears that say “My 1st Haircut” and other fun stuff.
The barbers here are professional stylists and showmen who have lots of tricks to make little ones feel comfortable and enjoy their special treatment.
The shop is located between the Car Barn and the Emporium – just before Main Street. There are lots of cool antiques like a working Western Electric phone box.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week
Costs of Services:
Adult Cut: $17
Child Cut: $14 (12 and under)
Beard & Mustache Trim: $10
Colored Gel: $5

Fun Facts!
Did you know that at the Norway pavilion in Epcot, each day the first guest on the Maelstrom ride receives a free Viking hat that says "Viking of the Day"?

did you know that the tiles in the Morocco pavilion at Epcot World Showcase were created by Moroccan artisans brought in from Morocco by Disney? This may not seem too remarkable in and of itself. But take a look at each of the mosaics on the walls. You will notice that each mosaic has at least one cracked/flawed tile in it. This is because these mosaics, created by Moroccan artisans who worshipped Allah, believed that only Allah can create something that is "perfect". So every mosaic was purposely flawed by the artists in respect to their beliefs.

At 580 acres, the Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom park is five times the size of the Magic Kingdom, making it the largest Disney Theme Park in the world.

Mission Space requires more computers than a NASA space shuttle

Pirates of the Caribbean did not open until 1973, 2 years after MK opened..originally Imagineers thought Pirates would not be popular in Florida due to its proximity to the Caribbean, but Guests demanded it, and it quickly became the most popular ride at the park

The Cinderella Castle Suite used to be a Reservation Call Center

Other meanings for the acronynm Epcot: Experimental Polyester Costumes of Tomorrow, Every Person Comes out Tired, and Every Paycheck Comes on Thursday  

3 Months and 1 week till Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been thinking about our February Disney trip every day since my family and I planned it last year. Now the holidays are right around the corner and before I know it, it will be time to make my lists and pack. Once a week until our trip, I will be posting pictures of my past trips and tips about Disney World. My family from both sides, with my husband, two kids, and I will be going together. We are going to be renting a spectacular 7 bedroom home with a pool on one of the closest resorts to Disney World. I cannot wait to share these amazing experiences with my family as they journey on this next adventure with us. We had the best time of our lives the last few times we went, so here are some of our memories to share. 

These are a few of my favorite pictures from past trips to Disney World. I have so many favorite pictures to share with you all. Over the next 14 weeks, I will be posting pictures and advice on Disney World. The schedule is as follows...
week 1 and 2- My favorite pics of Disney World and some good advice
week 3- places to stay
week 4- places to eat on and off property
week 5 and 6- Magic Kingdom
week 7 and 8- Epcot
week 9 and 10- Hollywood Studios
week 11 and 12- Animal Kingdom
week 13- Favorite pics of Disney and some good advice
week 14- packing and more favorite pics of Disney and more good advice