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Pajama Pouch Review and Giveaway

I know that in my house bedtime can be a challenging time of the day. It's the time when we ask our little ones to start unwinding from the excitement of their day and get ready for bed. For us, as adults, bedtime often comes naturally and easily, but for the little ones in our lives, it can be tough. For this reason, we work hard to build routines and stick to them every night, as children have a harder time predicting what is to come next and routines help to alleviate confusion and anxiety.  And a big part of every bedtime routine is changing into our pajamas.  This physical task helps our bodies and minds to transition from day to night.

In my family's situation, it is not always easy to motivate our son (3 years old) to change into his pajamas, as he is acutely aware that bedtime is not far after.  So, when I was offered the opportunity to try out and review the Pajama Pouch, I was thrilled!  Like I said earlier, bedtime can be challenging and I am willing to try anything that will help to make it less so.

Here is some information from their website about the product:

  • Pajama Pouch™ is a fun and functional addition to your child's bedroom!
  • Use the Pajama Pouch™ to hold pajamas in a cute pouch that looks like a pillow on their bed during the day. At night, Pajama Pouch™ serves as a convenient way for children to find their pajamas when getting ready for bed.
  • The tooth fairy pocket is a great place to hold any baby teeth for the Tooth Fairy!
  • The Pajama Pouch™ is over-sized at 18" high and 15" wide.

Our review:
Our Cooper!
As soon as we received Cooper (Pajama Pouch), I took it out of the package and immediately opened up the back and stuffed it with Nicholas' pajamas.  I noticed that it would easily hold 3 or more sets of his pajamas, which is great, since we usually dress him down in our family room and have to run upstairs to get pajamas.
Stuffed with Nicholas' PJs
After stuffing it, I closed it up and showed it to him. He really liked it!  He immediately asked me about it and I showed him that it held his pajamas and that after his bath that night he could pick his pajamas out of the back and put them on.  He was excited by the idea of this and even allowed the Pajama Pouch to sit next to him on the couch while he watched a DVD.  For everyone that doesn't know my son, that's a HUGE compliment for a "toy"!  Nicholas is a pretty picky kid when it comes to stuffed animals, so I was really happy that he was carrying it around and giving it hugs.  When it was time for bath, he happily carried it upstairs by the handle and then it hung on the door handle to the linen closet outside the bathroom until he was done.
Carrying Cooper by his handle
Getting his PJs out
Once finished, he immediately grabbed it and carried it back downstairs.  Once downstairs, he couldn't wait to open it up and pull out a pair of pajamas and put them on. For the rest of the night, he loved looking at it and snuggling it. Since that first night, we have really found that the Pajama Pouch not only helps with getting Nicholas to comply with "PJ Time", but it also helps us to stay organized. I can't tell you how many nights we "convince" him to put on his PJs, only to realize that we forgot to bring them down from his bedroom and that we will have to convince him a second time once we retrieve some.  The Pajama Pal has alleviated this issue, since when I am folding clean clothes in the family room, I now just stuff the back of it with 3-4 PJs and we are good to go until the next load of the kids' clothes.
Overall, we feel that Cooper is a convenient, helpful, very lovable friend for any little one's bedtime routine and know that he will be around in our house for many years to come! My final thought is "Finally a "stuffed animal" that earns his keep around here!"

Don't miss out, through 12/20, all Pajama Pouches are Buy 1 Get 1 Free!  Pajama Pouches would make great gifts for all of the little ones in your life! A gift the parents would love too!

The Pajama Pouch company was nice to enough to offer multiple pouches as prizes for all of our readers!  Be sure to enter below for multiple chances to win your very own Cooper:

Be sure to check out all of the my open giveaways here!
*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

Apple Beary Bowtique Winner

The winner of the Apple Beary Bowtique giveaway is Lauren Price Simms.  Please check your e-mail to confirm your shipping address and headband choice. Thanks for entering!

Pretty Little Princess Winner

The winner of the Pretty Little Princess giveaway is Amanda Salley.  Please check your e-mail to confirm your shipping address and you'll receive your prize soon!

Little Love Buns: New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #clothdiapers

Well, this has been a really fun event to participate in and I hope you, my fans, have truly enjoyed the fun giveaways provided by such wonderful companies!  The "clean up" giveaway is sponsored by a company, Little Love Buns, that makes products specifically for just that, cleaning up (dirty diapers). Their detergent is made with only the best for your babies and diapers in mind, as it's eco-friendly, hard water friendly, and they have a huge variety of yummy sounding scents!

A nice message about this company from their website:
My name is Dallas and I am the owner of Little Love Buns LLC. I am a proud wife and mother of 3. I started cloth diapering after the birth of my twins. I loved the cute and affordable cloth diapers, and my kids seemed to like them as well! However, I had a hard time finding a detergent that I just loved. I used several of the well known brands, but never found one that took care of all our diaper issues. The smell, stains, build up and irritation are just a few battles I've fought. After tons of research, I decided that I wanted to make a detergent that I would love and that would take care of the issues I was having. So after months of trying different recipes and having other cloth diapering parents try my product, I finally came up with what I thought was the prefect recipe.

One of my children has very sensitive skin and eczema so I wanted to come up with a detergent, wipe solution and soap that would help and not hurt her skin. I found ingredients that blended well together and worked wonders for her. I also found that after using the soap on my hands they stopped being so dry from washing them so often. I pride myself in making almost every product that I sell. I am proud of my product and truly hope that you love them as well!

Enter below to win this great product:
1 Regular Size Bag of Detergent ($9.50 ARV)

Open to US & Canada

 Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

Nic and Elli: New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #cloth diapers

This giveaway is sponsored by a company that not only owned and run by a mom, but is also adorably named after her children, Nic and Elli.  Nic and Elli features cloth diapers for all of your needs and in lots of very cute and lovable prints and fabrics.  They also feature lots of other handmade items such as cloth diapering accessories, bibs, pee-pee tee-pees, custom bedding, security blankets and snack bags.  As a mom, I just love buying from a company that I know is owned and run by a mom who I can tell puts love into so many of her products.

Here is some information from the Nic and Elli website:
Welcome to my little store named after my inspiration, my children Nic and Elli. I am a full time WAHM Mom to 2 creative children and run a family daycare. I love to be outside in my garden, have a passion for cooking and baking with the kids and in my spare time or when I need to unwind I sew.

Our business began with needing to create a bib that covered my messy children, was difficult to pull off and did not pull out my daughter’s hair. Since then we have looked at different baby products and changed them to be more productive. The things we sew have been pre washed, hand cut and sewn with care and love here in beautiful British Columbia Canada which makes each one unique in its own way.

Everything we sell is covered by a money back satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with your purchase just return you’re new, unused, unwashed purchase within 1 month for a full refund minus shipping & handling. Shop with confidence with a quality experience every time!

One lucky reader will win this wonderful prize:
($40 ARV)
3 Solid Color One-Size Cloth Diapers
1 Wet Bag
Open to US & Canada

 Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)
Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

Spray Pal: New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #clothdiapers

The biggest question for all people when you talk about cloth diapering is "How do you get rid of the poop?!"  As all those familiar with cloth diapering know, the answer is to own a diaper sprayer.  But, then there is the question "How do I stop the sprayer from spraying icky water all over my beautiful bathroom?"  And the answer to that is Spray Pal.  The spray pal is the perfect companion for your diaper sprayer that will not only keep your bathroom clean, but your hands too!

Below is some information about how this product came about:

My husband Dave and I (Jen) are both elementary school teachers. We started using cloth diapers with our daughter when she was 3 months old, and she just turned 1 in September! We couldn't believe how easy cloth diapering was...until she started eating solids. Then the only issue became the sprayer. My husband is a very handy man, so he decided to create this device to help us keep our bathroom clean when we sprayed our diapers.. After many prototypes, a patent attorney, and many trips to our local plastic shop, the latest model of the Spray Pal was born.

Want to see it in action?
I recommend watching this video located on their website.

Enter below to win this great prize:
1 Spray Pal (ARV $21.95)
Open to US & Canada
Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)
Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls: New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #clothdiapers

Now that you know about a great new product for washing those cloth diapers (i.e. yesterday's giveaway post), it's time to reveal a wonderful product for drying those cloth diapers and all of your laundry, LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls! LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are economical, reusable, chemical/toxin free and....they will cut drying time by 10-25%!  I don't know a mom who isn't always looking for ways to reduce the time laundry takes!

Below is some information from their site:

What the heck is a wool dryer ball?

A wool dryer ball is a felted ball of wool that you use in your clothes dryer to help separate your clothes.  Having several in your dryer creates a constant motion that allows for more air to circulate around your wet laundry so your clothes will dry faster. The more dryer balls you use, the less time it takes to dry a load and you can reduce your dry time by 10 –25%.  Wool dryer balls are absolutely ideal for any and all laundry, both personal and business, and are an essential asset to help reduce dry time, conserve energy and save you money.

Facts about LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls

All LooHoo wool dryer balls are made individually by hand using 100% local, lanolin-rich wool.  They are a safe, durable, high-quality wool dryer ball crafted right here in midcoast Maine.  Each one is approximately the size of a tennis ball, ~9 inches in circumference and weighs ~ 2oz.
Wool is used because of its incredible properties including the ability to:
- help reduce static – wool fibers can absorb static cling
- naturally soften clothes – friction of the balls against the fabric
 - makes clothes fresher and smell cleaner – since wool has the ability to absorb toxins and odors
As for the lifespan of LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls, the photo to the right is a good example. The top aqua one has been used continuously for over 18 months, the one on the bottom is brand new. After months of constant use, they show some signs of wear and will still last a long time.  I have been using a mixture of colorful and natural LooHoo wool dryer balls in my dryer with EVERY load for almost 3 years, and I have never had any colors run.

Enter below for your chance to win this great prize:
1- Starter Pack (includes 3 dryer balls) (ARV $26.85)

Open to US & Canada
Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

Rockin' Green: New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #clothdiapers

In the world of cloth diapering, there is one really important process, cleaning the diapers!  As any mom who uses cloth diapers knows, there are a lot of "rules" when it comes to getting the diapers clean and fresh!  Over the years, one of the most highly regarded laundry products for getting the job done is Rockin' Green laundry detergent! Rockin' Green offers a wonderful eco-friendly cleaning products in a variety of natural scents and water types.  I just love the feature on their website that allows you to view a map of the water types in your area and then match it to their cleaning products!  As someone with hard water, I know how frustrating it is to have soap that just won't clean!  Rockin' Green truly has the answer to this cleaning problem and many more!

Below is some information from their site:
Rockin’ Green is an award-winning manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products designed to make cleaning easier and greener. Most well-known for their clean-rinsing laundry detergent formulated for use on all fabrics and especially useful on cloth diapers, Rockin’ Green produces detergents for hard, soft and normal water conditions (known as Hard, Soft and Classic Rock varieties).
Rockin’ Green also carries Funk Rock, a first-of-its kind natural ammonia bouncer, and Melody, an odor-neutralizer and air freshener home spray. With the exception of Funk Rock, all products come in seven natural scents, such as Mighty Mighty Marshmallow, Earth Wind & Orchids, Rage Against the Raspberry, and Bare Naked Babies (unscented).
Rockin’ Green was founded in 2009 by Kim Webb, an avid cloth diapering mom who desired a better way to clean cloth diapers and treat her kid’s sensitive skin. More information can be found at

 Enter below to win this great prize:
1 Full Size Laundry Detergent (ARV $14.95)

Open to US & Canada

Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

TenderTushies - New Year, New Fluff Giveaway #clothdiapers

Every mom who uses cloth diapers is looking for easy to use, affordable diapers in super fun prints!  I think that the answer to this is Tender Tushies diapers!  Tender Tushies has a range of styles, materials and cloth diapering essentials that are sure to fit any cloth diapering budget or need. Just checkout out their selection! I couldn't believe they have such cute diapers as low as $8.00/each!

Below are some details from their site:
A Little Bit About Us….
We are a Maple Ridge, BC based company that strives to provide cloth diapers for every budget!
After months of trying many different types of diapers and getting parents feedback, we have chosen these diapers as our favorites.
Our goal at Tender Tushies is to provide you with all the important facts and stats to choose how you cover your little ones “tushie”.

Cloth diapers aren’t what they use to be!

Many people think using and cleaning cloth diapers is hard, well think again.

Cloth diapers are environmentally friendly.

  • Did you know the average baby will need 7,349 diapers through till potty training. Disposable diapers are the largest make up of house hold garbage and the average baby creates 2.5 tons of garbage that go into our landfills.
  • Did you know that over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feed stocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for 1 child for 1 year!
  • Disposable diapers contain trace amounts of Dioxin which is an extremely toxic chemical that is a by-produt of the paper bleaching process.
  • Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate. This is a chemical that is used to make diapers “super absorbent”, and you can sometimes find its gel like substance against a baby’s skin when wet.

It will cost you an average of $2,700 to use disposable diapers until your child is 2 1/2 but a good cloth diapering package can cost you as little as $300. Consider if you use these cloth diapers for more than one baby you will be doubling your savings!

Cloth diapers are not pins and plastic pants anymore. They are usually made from a waterproof material (PUL) and have an insert that is made of microfiber, bamboo or hemp. When you are changing your little one, you just take off the cloth diaper and put it in a dry pail until your ready to do laundry. There is no bleaching, no messy wet pails, no picking out poop! If the diaper is soiled and the poop doesn’t shake off right away, just give it a rinse and throw it in your bucket!

Make sure you enter below to win this fun prize:
$10 Tender Tushies Store Credit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to: Worldwide

Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

Bundles & Buzz: New Year, New Fluff Stash Giveaway #clothdiapers

I just love surprises!  Especially those that are mom and baby/kid related! If you or someone you know loves them as much as I do, then you have to check out Bundles & Buzz!

Here is a little bit about them:
What are The Bundles?

The Bundles are surprise packages of mom/baby products, supplied by companies who are looking to increase their sales, introduce a new product, clear out discontinued products or boost brand awareness. Our customers purchase these Bundles for $30-$35, which includes free shipping (there is a $3 surcharge for US orders).
Our current variety includes: Mama, Toddler, Baby, Family and Cloth (diapering) Bundles.

How often do you release Bundles?

At this time we release Bundles approximately every week depending on availability of products.

What's in the Bundles?

The content of the Bundles will be a surprise until the customer receives their package. That’s what makes it so exciting! We occasionally make hints on our Facebook page, but because Bundles often vary, no customer will know exactly what they will be getting.

Enter below for multiple opportunities to win this fabulous "sur"prize!
  • A Bundles and Buzz Cloth Bundle valued at $60
*A sample of what the Cloth Bundle may contain

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 Open to US & Canada

Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

New Year, New Fluff Stash Giveaway: Glow Bug Cloth Diapers #clothdiapers

As a mom to little ones, I just love items that are affordable and will last as they grow!  The Glow Bug Cloth Diapers fit both these categories and they are really cute!

This company was founded and is owned by two moms who were frustrated in their search for affordable, good quality cloth diapers.  So they decided that if they couldn't find what they needed, then they needed to create them!

Here are a few highlights from their website:
Glow Bugs are unique and different than other cloth diapers for many reasons:
  • Our diapers are sold in packages of 12 in stylish Girl’s prints, Boy’s prints and vibrant Spectrum colours
  • Each package of 12 comes with 18 microfiber snap-in inserts
  • Lined with NEW SlimDry™ fabric for the trimmest fit
  • Each set of diapers are packaged in a free wet bag!!!
  • Our packages are affordable at only $150 for 12 diapers, 18 inserts and a free coordinating wet bag!

Enter below for multiple chances to win this prize:
One Cloth Diaper (ARV $12.50)
Choice of Boy, Girl, or Gender Neutral print

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to US & Canada

Giveaway ends December 23, 2012 at 12:01 am est (Rafflecopter time)

Be sure to check out all of my current giveaways

Special Thanks to We're Parents!? for organizing this great giveaway!

Apple Beary Bowtique Review & Giveaway

As a mom of a little girl, I just love hair bows and headbands!  Big, little, every day or special occasion, I can't get enough! I was recently offered the opportunity to review Apple Beary Bowtique and after a glance at their beautiful headbands, I was in love! Each headband was truly breathtaking in it's very own way.  From the lovely hand-rolled rosettes in a variety of shades and hues, to the delicate yet bold accessories, you can easily see how these headbands are unique and made with love.

Here is a quick synopsis provided on their page:

"Welcome to Apple Beary Bowtique where every bow is unique.
Beautiful and unique bow suitable from newborn, toddler and girl.
Great for photo prop and great addition to your loved one's wardrobe."

My review:
Fall Falliage Headband
Angeline at Apple Beary Bowtique, offered me a choice of any headband in their Handmade Rolled Rosette Headband album on their page.  I knew that I had my daughter's 1 year photos were scheduled in a little over a week, and I wanted something that would fit perfectly with the outfit I had planned.  I can honestly say I spent a good bit of time pouring over the photos of their headbands, each one with it's beautiful silk rosettes and detailed accessories.  Finally, I decided on the Fall Falliage Headband. Since my daughter's main outfit would be pink, I wanted something that had this shade, but also complimentary colored rosettes. After finalizing my decision, I just told Angeline my daughter's age and she made the headband to size.  When the headband arrived I couldn't wait to open the package and it was absolutely gorgeous! The rosettes were so shiny, delicate looking and perfectly balanced with the rhinestone accessory and feather.
A.M. in her headband. Photo courtesy of Erin Stefanik Photography
I wanted to immediately put in on my little girl's head, but she was busy eating dinner and I was not going to let it get covered in sweet potatoes!  So, I patiently waited until her photo session the next day.  And I think it was well worth it! It fit perfectly! I have come across so many too tight or poorly made headbands, but the headband portion was so soft, yet stretchy enough that I know I will be able to use it in the future!  And most importantly...she loved it!  Since our photo shoot, every time she sees the headband she signals at it and "asks" for it in her 1 year old way!  I just can't resist and I know she loves it!  She loves taking it off to look at it and then putting it back on and strutting all around the house in it!  We might have a little diva on our hands!

Overall, the headband was even better than expected and I wish I had come across these sooner!  It is well-made, comfortable, eye appealing, and I can't wait to pair it with so many different outfits!

Are you ready for the most exciting part?!  Angeline at Apple Beary Bowtique has been kind enough to offer a giveaway prize of the winner's choice of one of the headbands from her Handmade Rolled Rosette Headband album! That's right, one of my lucky blog reader's will win their very own beautiful handmade headband!  After you enter, I highly recommend you visit the Apple Beary Bowtique Facebook page and browse their selection of bows and headbands.  There are a number of them that would be perfect for the holidays and all year-round!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to visit all of my current giveaways!

*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*


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Our reviews aren't poetic, they just happen to rhyme.
Browse our reviews.
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If Hurt Locker was your cup of tea,
Lebanon should be a must-see,
Intense action takes place,
All within confined space,
Claustrophobes may need room to breathe.

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Going The Distance (2010)

Everyone knows Justin loves Drew, They're so cute it's hard not to spew, Despite a thin plot, I still laughed...

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Why did my kids walk away from God?

I’ve been asked by confused parents why their kids end up away from God.  They went to church most of their lives, they went to youth group, they got baptized, they helped on the worship team.  And then just went completely sideways.

What went wrong?  We trained them up in the “way they should go”, they went to ministry school.  What happened?

My first response is to shrug my shoulders and say I have no idea, why would I know?  I’ve barely made it myself. 🙂

But I felt like God showed me a process a few years ago.

The kids at some point go through a process like this.

When they were young God is a God of their parents.  God is their parents God.  God is “their God.”

The parents try and raise up their kids in God, and most kids to some extent will enter into God becoming “our God” the God of the family.  The God of the Bible that they can read about.  The God of the Church that they can go to.  The God of “our God”.

The parents are happy because all of this has their kids staying out of trouble, doing better than the other kids and making good choices.

Then one day the kids goes sideways.  The parents are embarrassed, confused, and don’t know what happened.

Well, the last step can be shown, but not taught.  It doesn’t happen because they memorized scripture, or go to church, not because they were baptized or went to youth group.

Parents can’t even do anything to “make” this happen.

The kids have to end up in a place that moves them from “their God”, to “our God”, to “My God.”  They have to experience God in a way that God moves from “their God” to “My God”.

Sometimes all people know for most of their lives is “our God”  the god of us, the god of groups, church, prayer meetings, and the Bible.  But that is not what changes us.

When the Israelites left Egypt God was “our God” to all of them, but only a few made the transition from “our God” to “My God”.  God became “My God” for Joshua behind the walls of the tabernacle.

We make Him “My God” in the secret.  David made Him “My God” worshiping in the fields.  Moses made Him “My God” alone in the wilderness.  We make God ours in our rooms on a Friday night.  In the every day moments of life, we make Him “My God.”

So what do you do?  The only thing you can do.  Make Him yours.


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Friday, February 16, 2007

Down the Rabbit Hole...

First of all, I'd like to apologize for my lack of updates yesterday. While I realize that for the class, we only need to have a four-per-week average, I like to hold myself up to higher standards. For you see, this blog is not just for the is for all. Yesterday, however, I was just doing one thing after another, going from place to place, and all of a sudden..."Midnight? The day, she's over?"

I had nightmares of people checking The Lobotomist's Dream and withering away at the lack of new content. However, I'm sure the actual response was more akin to, "Thank God, ol' rubbergums finally shut up for once" (I'm assuming you all use the term rubbergums).

Actually, I had a pretty fun experience yesterday, amidst a lot of Resident Assistant work. A little while back (February 12th, to be exact), I was gallivanting across the Intertubes when I stumbled on this little page. I find interest in the oddest things, and I ended up listening to that sound clip over and over for what had to be 2 hours. No foolin'. I was writing the notes on my Valentine's day cards at the time, and when I got to my card (that is, the card I was giving myself [that is, the card that seals my fate as a loser]), I decided to write the line down. I later regretted thanked myself not putting that down on everyone's card. Nothing says "I love you" like telling someone you killed their brother.

Anyhoo, this got my appetite whetted. I hadn't seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? since I was young, and I doubt I fully appreciated it then. In fact, the last time I've even seen a clip of it was when my Dad and I were in Universal Studios, Florida, doing an exercise in voice-overs. That was the summer of aught-two, which seems like such a long time ago. So, I decided to put it on my Netflix queue.

A little aside about Netflix: I love Netflix. Since the beginning of Spetember, I have gotten 157 movies from Netflix. In case you're interested, there are 169 days betwixt September 1st and February 16th. That's an average of .92 movies a day, and that average is only increasing, seeing as I get a whopping 8 movies at a time. Not to say they're all movies, mind you. One reason my collection is so bulky is because I get a lot of TV series. So far, I've gotten the following:
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Batman: The Animated Series
Fullmetal Alchemist
Arrested Development
Mystery Science Theater 3000

And more are on the way!

"Andrew, how do you have time to watch all these movies while keeping up with your schoolwork?"

Well, um...I'm very vigilant?

Now, where was I? Oh, yes, the movie! So, I just received Who Framed Roger Rabbit? from Netflix, and I decided to watch it as my dinner entertainment last night. I was expecting to have few laughs. After listening to the greatest sound in history, the movie started. I must say, I was expecting myself to enjoy it, but not to the extent that I did. Seriously, I thought it was great. I was always a fan of the old Tex Avery-style of cartoons, and it only took a little nudge to remind me why. It also goes to show that film noir, a genre in which I like to say "all the men are jerks and all the women are prostitutes," doesn't necessarily have to take itself seriously all the time.

What really surprised me was the rating. I would not say for a second that the film is a kid's film. I guess kids could enjoy it (although a few scenes could conceivably give them nightmares). But so much of the film's bulk would go over their heads. If anything, I would say it's a humor-loving adult's film. Violence, innuendo, jokes about living in the 1940s...and yet, the movie got a PG rating, which surprised me. Then I realized something: it was the 80s. Movie ratings made no sense in the 80s.

(Which brings me to a small aside: with all these political activists who say that movies are sending bad messages to kids, look at the 80s. Back then, a PG movie would show a man getting bit in half by a shark and someone else cussing up a storm. I'd say our current system is actually pretty strict when you compare it to a few decades ago.)

So, yeah, after the movie was finished, I watched the extras, and found it amazing that every single piece of animation was hand-painted. No computers. All paint. That floored me.

I'll make something completely clear: I am not a fan of CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) cartoons. While I admit that I like many of the Pixar movies, I am not a fan of the format in general. First of all, it limits what animators are able to do. Yes, limits. Despite giving animators the nigh-unlimited resources of a computer, CGI constrains what can be achieved.

Let's look at cartoons during the second golden age of Disney. Look at the style of characters in The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Most of the humans look - surprise! - like humans! However, this doesn't tend to work well in CGI movies. Hence, the animators tend to either gravitate towards humans that look like cupie dolls (or ugly clay figurines), or towards movies that focus on animals. And because of that, we have Madagascar, Over the Hedge, The Wild, Open Season, and a boatload of other worthless drivel that all blend together after a while. Seriously, click on the links to see their posters. They're all the same! How stupid do they think kids are? (Or maybe the question should be, how stupid are kids these days?)

Second, is it just me, or does having 3-D characters count as an excuse for not having textures. If you look at a movie like The Incredibles, everything looks...smooth. Everyone's face, all the scenery, it's all so smooth. Compare it with the carefully-painted backgrounds of the classic-style animations. Why does the third dimension carry such a hefty price?

Finally, while CGI may have been painfully expensive and difficult back in the day, it is now relatively cheap and simple. That's why everyone's using it. Instead of painting frame after frame after frame, all the current animator has to do is make a skin for the character, and the rest can be used using a computer "skeleton."

As I've mentioned before, I'm not the biggest anime fan. However, I do have a certain respect for it, if only for the fact that it is the last great haven of traditional animation in modern culture, especially in theater. In the five Academy Awards since the Best Animated Feature category was added (13 years late, I might add), only one traditional medium picture has won. (Incidentally, the selection of movies for that category every year suck!) That movie was Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (a very good movie, by the way). He was nominated once again last year, and even though I didn't see the movie, I was rooting for it, simply out of principle.

Now, when you look at Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (see, I haven't forgotten what my topic was), you can see that it looks more real, more lifelike than both CGI movies, and subsequent live-action/animated mixed, such as the green screen-aided Space Jam and its ilk. That is a triumph in animation, methinks. And it is yet another reason why I pine for the good ol' days.

Wow, this post was all over the place. A sort of penance for my absence yesterday. Anyhoo, in conclusion, if you've never seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, do so. And if you have, do so again.


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windsor from not so afar

From outside Windsor castle. The queen is not in as its the English flag flying. She’s avoiding US

Jane on Drugs

Jane posing for the cameras. Oh my public!

whos a lucky queen

The mote, now not used so much for defence but as a place of reflection. Needs weeding in my opinion, c’mon liz.

Jane and the great courtyard

Behind Jane is the ceremonial parade ground palace court. Only gaurded by a single Beefeater.

Hmmmm arrow loop holes

A real castle with real thick walls and arrow loops. No body was shot while we were there!

Jane loves a collonade

Jane loves a cloister, just loves them.

battle won artefact (not worn)

Boom. Whatch out below. A cannon removed from a spanish galleon after losing to the royal fleet.

climb this ya bastard and ill hot oil ya

If the archers, and cannons dont get you on your seige the walls and steepness of the approach may demoralise even the hardest conquestador!

so castle like 1

Is that the face of MAry in the wall… no its a grusome or gargoyly probably named Norman?

so castle like 2

So legoland like, not that I have been there or will be allowed to go!!

great builders in England!

They build them strong and true in the town of Windsor . Look at the door, its almost sideways.

 us on the road to Eaton

On the Bridge over the Thames separating Windsor and Eaton. Yes its us

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Monday, June 15, 2015

The Nature In Us Newsletter - 6/15/15

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  The Nature In Us Newsletter - 6/15/15
  by Donna L. Watkins

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand." — Psalm 139:17

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Hello Dear Friends!

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Juvenile Carolina Wren on Deck
View More Photos of Wrens
Birds - We've got more new baby birds, but I'm still enjoying the little wrens the most.  So precious and sweet and innocent.  They seem to want to grow up fast compared to the finches that want to be beak-fed by the parents seemingly forever.

I've seen Pileated Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadee and Rufous-sided Towhees.  Last year was the first juvenile towhees I had seen here on our property, although we've had the Rufous-sided Towhee pretty much since we arrived here in 2000. I also hear a lot of baby cries from nesting areas.  When they get almost ready to fledge they get real excited when the parents return to the nest with food and you can hear that excitement.  I don't bother the area where I hear these sounds since humans can create plenty of trouble.

It's a lot of work for the parents to feed their growing young and they don't need  humans interfering.  Leave them alone and enjoy them when you see them fledge.  Fledging is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight, although still dependent on parents for feeding and instruction.

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Two Young Pileated Woodpeckers
Looking Out Nest Hole

More Pileated Woodpecker Photos
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Juvenile Rufous-Sided Towhee
View More Towhee Photos
House Finch - The House Finch was introduced to our eastern area from the western side of the United States.  Unlike some introductions, it received a warmer reception due to the red coloring on head and breast and the long, twittering song that is so cheerful.  It can now be heard in most places on the continent. We enjoy having a lot of them here at Bluebird Cove.

You may be familiar with the House Finch Eye Disease that has been in bird news for years.  I won't share photos of ones we've taken to The Wildlife Center to be relieved of their plight.  They can only euthanize the bird since even if they cleared the condition in a bird, it will still be infectious to other birds.  We used to see some that were infected every year, but it's been two years now that I haven't seen any at all so I thought the situation was getting better, but the most recent news about this disease is quite shocking and disappointing.

Researching this subject, I found much more discouraging news.  "More than half the bird species we tested have been exposed to the bacteria responsible for House Finch eye disease," says André Dhondt at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  A paper recently published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE shows that a bacterial parasite previously thought to infect only a few species of feeder birds is actually infecting a surprisingly wide range of species, though most do not show signs of illness.

Species testing positive for exposure to the bacteria include feeder favorites such as Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and American Goldfinches. But exposure was also detected in forest species, such as the Wood Thrush.

"That was another surprise," says Dhondt. "How on earth do Wood Thrushes get infected with mycoplasma? They're not a feeder bird at all.  "The organism could mutate into a form that is much more virulent among other bird species and create a new epidemic," noted Dhondt, who added that "while we know that many species of songbirds are exposed to Mycoplasma gallisepticum, we still do not know whether the bacteria in other species of songbirds are identical to that living in House Finches in the same area."  Read the whole story in Science Daily.

Greater Sage-Grouse - A bird we never see here in the eastern United States is the Greater Sage-Grouse.  For most of the year the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are inconspicuous, browsing on sagebrush and other plants at ground level. This western United States bird is most known for its mating season.  Read more about this bird.  From March to May, males gather in groups, called leks, to compete for females. They perform elaborate strutting displays by ruffling feathers and making a distinctive noise produced by air sacks in the chest. Females gather to evaluate the males and choose which ones to mate with. View the PBS video on this "nature event."

Tidbit - This intrigued me to know whether or not it was true, so I searched to verify the info and found it was fact.

Here's the links:  For the Nose and For the Ears

Spiritual News - Thanks to my friend, Marilee in Minnesota, for sending me an article about mass conversions amongst Muslims, Buddhists and Hindu cultures besides Jews also.  Jesus has been appearing to these people in their dreams.  There's even a website that allows them to share their testimonies and stories of conversion.  Here's a segment from the article:

"An ISIS fighter who says he "enjoyed killing Christians" has told missionaries that he has been having dreams of a man in white. The man told him, "You are killing my people." Before the fighter murdered one Christian, the believer said, "I know you will kill me, but I give to you my Bible." He killed the Christian, then took his Bible and began to read it. Jesus appeared to him again, calling him to become a Christian. Now the man is asking missionaries how he can become a follower of Christ and be discipled. God is miraculously at work around the world."   Read the whole story ...

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Mama Love Deer with Fawn Nursing in Front of Porch
View All Photos On This Special Day - Begin Here
Critters - Deer and Fawn - I noticed that Mama Love Deer was pregnant back in May and then one day she arrived with the baby.  She was right out from the walkway to our front door and cleaning the baby.  The little one was quite patient but after awhile it was wanting to nurse.  View Video on Fawn Bath Time.

Reminds me of myself many times.  God is wanting to clean me up and I've got different ideas on my mind.  He sees a way to bring me more abundant living and I have my own trail map of "want to do" that will never provide the joy, prosperity or peace that my Creator Father has planned for me.

So many times in life I've set off on the trail praising the Lord for an idea and expecting Him to follow me.  We never get too old to make mistakes. Romans 12:1 gives us a wisdom choice:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Does that mean God wants to make us His slaves?  Of course not.  He made our hearts and minds and knows what will really bring us all the blessings we could ever imagine.  The way the world operates has nothing to offer compared to what the Kingdom within us holds in store.

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Baby Fawn Looking For The Mama Love Deer Milk Bottle
View All Photos On This Special Day - Begin Here
I've been writing about this crippled deer since 2012.  When she brought a young fawn behind her last year, we changed her name to Mama Love Deer.  It was a name given in faith since she didn't seem to love that fawn in any way.  She was always ahead of it and would walk away when it tried to nurse.

At one point the fawn was drinking from our small pond and slipped in.  It's a concrete pond with sloped sides so it got back out, but Mama's response only 15 feet away was to look up and then go back to eating some wild blueberries.  They kept coming around and the fawn did okay.  Renaming Mama in faith has paid off.  She's been very attentive to this one, like night and day.

It's wonderful to be able to see things like this but then it is also sad to see the down side of things like her right front leg having the knee joint not bending forward but bending outward to her side.  She's held up to the other female deer.  At times some have been friendly, but mostly they have chased her away.  She now comes at a time apart from others so she has less running to do.  It's sweet to know that she considers our yard a safe place.

Grizzly Bear - My friend, Charlene, in Northern California, has a lovely tract of land that's been passed down in the family.  They call it The Homestead.  She's got a lot of family and it's always amazing to me how often they all gather at the place.  They work to keep it nice for them and the wildlife and have built a variety of things to increase all the fun they have when they get together there.  Not long ago they put up a webcam to see what was coming around at night.

Grizzly Bear and Cub
They specifically wanted to see bear .... and it was too long before they did.  But this recent photo that they got is just so precious!  That wee tiny little cub alongside of the mom.  What a portrayal of the wild lives being aided by their stewardship of this land.  They've had a wide variety of wild animals at night and I'm blessed to get to share in the photos .... and now I'm sharing this one with you.

When we do the seemingly unimportant things in the Kingdom ... such as maintaining a piece of land ... it becomes a big thing to the animals that God created to live on this earth with us.  What a blessing Charlene and her family are.  We shall not know all of the "God things" we've done while on Earth.  When we get to heaven we may be shocked to find that much of what we thought was "good" was not really "God."  Many times we like to do things where we will receive our rewards on earth.  It's human nature.  Serving behind the scenes where nobody knows about it is a test of our pride.  I don't always fare too well on that "look at."

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Landscape Photo in Yellowstone National Park
View Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park Album
Travel - Yellowstone National Park - It's summer and families are planning vacations across the United States and around the world.  So many beautiful places to see and experience.  It makes it difficult to imagine how amazing Heaven will be when this is just a little drop of God's creativity.

While we were at a Nature's Sunshine Convention in Utah years back, we planned a follow-up a trip to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.  We flew our son in from Oklahoma and had the experience as a family.  Pictures definitely don't do justice, but if you can't make it there in person .... enjoy the views and animals from my travel gallery.

Yellowstone is a wonderland of magical things. It's America's first national park.  Old Faithful geyser is well known and the majority of the world's geysers are preserved at Yellowstone. They're actually the  reason the park was established in 1872. A mountain wild land of extremes is how it feels.  It's home to herds of bison, moose and elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and so much more.  This park is the core of one of the last, nearly intact, natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.  Its lands cover three states:  ID, WY and MT.

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Elk Bull Finished Rubbing Antlers and
Wondering If I Had Any Thing To Rub Against

Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National  Park is known for its amazing landscape views.  Mountains, valleys rivers, lakes, and amazing skies and cloud formations are home to forests and wildflower meadows and a long list of wildlife.

The park also has a rich cultural history with old homesteads and cattle ranches.  You can walk on a trail  that American Indians might have used in the 1820s.  It will be a breathtaking experience and an unforgettable vacation if you get here.  View Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park Album.

Family - Battle For Our Children's Minds - (From Every generation has the same decision to make: Will I serve the God of the Bible or a false god?  How long does it take to lose a culture, from a Christian perspective?  Actually, it takes only one generation.  The devil knows this, and of course God warns us about it. Adolf Hitler understood this when he said, “He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future!”Over and over again in Scripture, God instructs His people to make sure they train up the next generation (Prov. 22:6).

Many fathers today are not carrying out their God-given, God-commanded role to be the spiritual head of their house and to take the responsibility for training their children in spiritual matters. In England, two-thirds of young people now say they don’t believe in God—in a culture where most people once went to church.  In America, a major poll indicated that two-thirds of young people will leave the church once they live on their own.

The public schools have been teaching their own brand of apologetics: how to defend the idea of evolution and history over millions of years, thus causing multitudes of U.S. students from Christian homes to doubt the history in Genesis. Doubts about Genesis place young people on a slippery slide of unbelief that eventually destroys their confidence in the rest of Scripture. Their trust in the soul-saving gospel itself, which is grounded on the Bible’s historical claims, is undermined.

Even when parents pull their kids out of public school, the anti-God message is so prevalent in the media, museums, and colleges—and even among friends, neighbors, and workmates—that young people are woefully unprepared to understand and defend their beliefs.

What a sad state of affairs?  But there is always hope.  Read the rest of the article and helpful ideas.

Donna at Norfolk Botanical Garden
Until next time ... meditate on this verse.  Need help understanding what meditation is?  Watch the June 2nd broadcast (2nd link on the series) on this series ... or watch the whole series.

Zephaniah 3:17 - "For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

P.S. Anything in here that might help somebody you know?

Here's a link to the online version of this newsletter. Click on it and on the left sidebar there will be an option to share in various ways.

If you simply want to copy and paste the link into an email, here it is:

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written by Donna

Copyright and Reprint Information - All photos remain the property of Donna L. Watkins, but may be used with proper credit and link back to the website, Articles written by Donna L. Watkins may also be reprinted with proper credit and link back to the website,

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Hughes Earns UNL Scholarship

Nate Hughes of Geneva (center) is the 2009-2010 recipient of the $500 Keith and Doris Olsen upper classman scholarship, which is awarded to a junior or senior studying an agriculture-related field at UNL. Nate, a senior, is majoring in diversified agriculture.

He and other students who received Farm Bureau-related scholarships were honored at a luncheon in Lincoln April 7. Keith Olsen (R), president of Nebraska Farm Bureau and Dr. Steve Waller (L), dean of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources presented the scholarship plaque to Hughes.


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The Needle and I
Quilt Shop and Sewing Centre

Machine Maintenance

We accept most
brands of sewing machines and sergers for servicing.

Servicing is done offsite.

Machines are picked up Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Expect min.1 week minimum turn around.

Sewing Machines $99.99
Embroidery Machines $149.99
Serger Service $109.99
Cover Stitch Sergers $119.99
Bernina 7 or 8 series $169.00

Estimates $60 (Paid in advance, if estimate approved it goes to repair cost)
No pick ups or drop offs by tech on Tuesdays after long weekends


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If you are considering replacing or changing your computer (desktop/laptop) with a new and a more technologically advanced one, think twice before you throw the older computer into a trash bin! With the rising environmental threat from e-waste, recycling of computers and other electronic appliances is the need of the hour.

In the absence of proper recycling methods, computer parts may end up in landfills or in “dirty recycling” plants where the labor is exposed to hazardous conditions. Since computers contain chemically toxic materials, you must take the proper steps to recycle your computer.

recycle your computer

Step 1: Contact your Computer Manufacturer

In many cases, the manufacturer of your computer may be willing to take your machine back. If you have bought the computer recently enough, they may not even charge you for recycling.

Since the product was manufactured by this very company, not only will it be compatible with other peripherals that the company uses, but will also cut down the need of having to purchase brand new items, which in fact, might be in a working condition in your computer, and can be put to use.

This process is a win-win situation for all, as you get a few bucks for your old trash, the company’s manufacturing cost decreases, and ultimately, the nature is saved, as the reusing has been induced in the process.

Step 2: Look for Donations/Charity

What is better than donating your old computer to someone who really needs it! Environmentally and socially, it is best if your computer can be reused. There are several organizations that accept laptop/desktop donations in each city/state. Although the price may vary from one place to another, but well, you are saving Mother Nature, isn’t that the best price?

Step 3: Recycle through the Best Services Available

Due to the strict government guidelines for the proper recycling of computers and other electronic goods, it is very necessary to legalize your activity, so make sure to check it out that your recycling agency falls in compliance with each, before giving out your computer.

Do your bit for the environment by recycling your computer using the proper methods. The aforesaid methods are not only safe for the environment but will give you a peace of mind that you have done something nature friendly to your old companion. We wish you a hassle-free experience with recycling of computers!

Photo Credit By: computersoftaos.com

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