~Review~ Jesus Sees Us Doll & Book

~I received this for my honest review, all opinions are 100% my own.

I have young boys and so there are not many dolls that for him to play with that aren't pink. I don't mind at all, but when I saw the Jesus Sees Us Doll and thought here was a doll my sons could play with and everyone would be happy with. Upon opening the Jesus Sees Us Doll & Book my two year old Nikolas grabbed him right up and started kissing him. He then grabbed the Jesus Sees Us Book and sat kissing his Jesus doll and reading for hours. I would say it was a hit!

At two years old he doesn't really understand Jesus yet. He see's us pray at dinner and hear's my husband and the older kids pray the rosary and he sits in church with us. But as he is just two so far he hasn't made a connection. So this is a great teaching tool for him. He loves books and this book has wonderful pictures in it. It teaches lessons and ask questions and then tells you the verse.

The doll itself is soft bodied with a hard head. My older kids knew right away it was mean't to be Jesus. My son Nikolas has been carrying it everywhere and sleeping with it. I know he will love this doll a long time.

Right now they are offering the doll and book for only $24.99. You can buy through the website HERE or directly on Amazon.

~Review~ The Surviving Momhood Subscription Box

I have become friends with this mommy..We met at a online party of all things! She is the nicest person and when I found out she ran her own subscription box for moms, I thought I have to try that! What a wonderful idea! So I ordered a box for December..

The theme for the December Surviving Momhood box was "Baby, it's Cold Outside". When you order she asks you all sort of questions to give you a more personalized box. So each box will be slightly different. This is mine.

Each box starts with a note explaining the box and this one included Hot Chocolate Spoon recipes. Yummy...

You'll have to forgive me I opened this for Christmas but didn't take photo's till later..you try getting photo's with a 2 year old in the mix. Of course that ended up happening anyway as you shall see...

Each Surviving Momhood box comes with something fun for your kids...In ours was these adorable fox ear muffs, and for mom fluffy white one's. Can't you just see yourself skating on a frozen pond with a cup of hot cocoa? Nikolas LOVES his ear muffs, they go everywhere with us now. He calls them his hat...he also steals mine but amazingly they are still white. This was one of my favorite item's in the box. You can never go wrong with fur and a good neutral color.

There was also an ornament for the little one's. Nikolas was thrilled because it had Mickey Mouse on it. He is currently in love with Mickey. I was thrilled because he has no idea it's filled with candy! He went straight to the Christmas tree with it.

Next was a Thomas Kinkade Mug filled with yummy goodies. I'm always up for a larger than normal coffee/tea mug and English Breakfast tea is my favorite tea. A little milk and sugar. It also comes with a Sugar Cookie and some candies. I'm not normally a huge fan of Thomas Kinkade, but this fit right now. I'm missing my grandma Jeanie and dementia is setting in. She hardly remembers me, and this reminds me of her. It made me cry. She only drinks tea, and loves Thomas Kinkade. So this part of the box really mean't something to me. Isn't it funny how that happens? God speaks in mysterious ways, doesn't he?

The box was filled with accessories. A pair or warm gloves, and a hat and scarf. I was a little sad nothing matched..but I love the pink and the fur. I'm giving the hat to Emily (she's 16) because I can't stand purple. I dunno why but I have a huge aversion to all things purple and anything with butterflies or dolphins... They make me cringe. It's too bad because I love the hat, just not the color! It's soft and fuzzy. The scarf is soft also, kind of silky!

This next item was my favorite part of the box. I can see my color choices play out here with the pink and green. It's a handmade coffee cup sleeve. Not only is it cute but I LOVE supporting small business.. I think you guys know that! This was made by Stitched by Katie on etsy. She has a few other cute things, keychains and hair items. I really love the paisley on this and the colors of course! Yes I know it's weird that I love green so much!

Lastly the box has some yummy goodies in it. Some Cider Spices, Lindor Truffles and Caramel Hot Cocoa. For whatever reason I don't like anything but hard cider so I let my mom take the cider spices. She was thrilled. Yes I've heard it before how un-American of you, hey guess what I don't like apple pie either. I do love baseball though. That has to count for something, right? I LOVE the caramel hot cocoa. I love caramel. Yummy!

The value of the Surviving Momhood box is very good. I didn't look up every item but just the Thomas Kinkade mug, the ornament and coffee cup sleeve cover the cost of the box. Each box is $30, or $65 for 3 months. You can also get a 6, 9 or 12 month plan for a really good discount. She also offers a fun Surviving Kidhood box just for the kids! My kids are begging for one. There is also a Survivng Momhood with my Faith, and a Luxury box called "It's All in the Bag".

I'm sure she'd love to hear from you, and if you have any questions she's usually around on her Surviving Momhood page on facebook. Let her know I sent you!

~I was not given anything for this review. I payed out of my own pocket for this box. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

What are you Thankful for this Christmas?

As the year is almost over and a new year is about to begin, it makes me think of how many wonderful people are in my life. I feel drawn to talk about them today. I hope you'll tell me who you are thankful for as well. For the holiday season to me is truly about friends and family, all the loved one's in our lives.

Last year was a very bad year for my family. As some of you know we were homeless... and it was hard, and heart breaking. With 8 children, and at the time 4 always with us, you wonder what to do. You don't wish this for your family. You don't plan or ask for it to happen. By Christmas time last year we were living in a hotel and had been for 4 months. I was blessed to make some wonderful new friends while we were there. Those friends left us food when we were gone, they bought presents for our children, paid for our place and were supportive. Bless all the people who also lived and worked at that hotel. I will never forget them.

Now to my stepfather...who in all things is my father... I don't think of or call him my step dad. He is my dad. He is no longer married to my mother, but he took my son's to Boy Scouts and Basketball, volunteered as my stepson's Boy Scout coach, provided us with rides when our car broke down. When things got very bad and I was sent to the hospital (I don't think I mentioned I was also pregnant) he took the kids to his house. He took them to school, gave my husband rides back and forth to work, took them to Boy Scouts, went shopping for me. He drove me around to find a house, and took me to Mass. He's been there for me since I was a teenager, I can never repay him just love him...God Bless him. I can not tell you how important this man is to me.

I have some very Awesome friends...I really do...but I have one that is super special. I won't share her photo...she may never forgive me. But here is to Connie! My best friend since the 4th grade. She's been there through thick and thin and was very much there for me during this last year. There was a month we would of been on the street if it hadn't been for her. I love you and your precious little one. And to the others who are always around to listen and give advice. I love you all, Meranda, Nancy, Lauren, Jamie and Tre.

My husband's family...who many times made it so we could stay off the street...No questions, nothing just love and help. I can't ever thank them enough. They kept my babies warm. I barely even know them...but they still gave from the goodness of their hearts. When we showed up for a Christmas party they had gifts for all of my children, not just his. And you know there is a lot of kids. Not just one thing either, numerous gifts. My kids felt so special and loved. God bless them all. I hope to get to know them better and repay them for all the kindness they have shown me.

My mom...who dealt with phone call after phone call after phone call of me freaking out. Whenever I needed someone to just listen, she was there. We are with her now when we had no place else it seemed to go, and I am so grateful. Now we are finally about to go on our own again, but I don't know how it would of happened without her.

For my children... They are my gifts from god, all of them! Emily, Jimmy, Mickey, Enrique, Thomas, Anabel, Nikolas and Teddy. And also to my adopted children..Tiffany and Isabel along with their siblings Kenny, Robert and Sarah...who I am blessed to have known since they were little and love them as much as my own kids.

And lastly my husband...I couldn't of made it without him. He worked three part time, barely paying jobs to keep us afloat, while I was stuck on bed rest and in the hospital. He was supportive, took care of all the kids, dealt with my mood's and pain...and crying and anger and everything else. God couldn't have given me anyone better. He is my gift...

Kiss your loved one's this holiday season, they won't be around forever. Be grateful for WHO you have, not what you have! Merry Christmas!

~DIY~ Primitive Rustic Nativity

I love to make things...and I've been wanting to make a more Primitive Nativity scene for years. I've done some one with glitter, and have some store bought ones but none of those really fit my home. This one does!

Today I am going to show you how to make your own Primitive Nativity!

What you will need
Pot or Jar
Paint Brush- good size
Glue gun
Jar of Instant Coffee (any kind)
Needle & String (not thin sewing thread)
Osnaberg (or similar beige fabric that tears easy)
Batting (I used a piece from an old ripped up quilt)
Three Old Clothespins or Round Dowels cut to size, two tall one short
Small Wood Strip Cut to size (Thin is best, about 1 1/2" to 2" wide)
Two Acorn Caps
Bunch of Twigs
Knife or something to cut twigs

Optional Items
Small bottle of brown craft paint
Cheesecloth

First things first cut the batting to fit around the clothespins. You don't want a huge amount of overlap. Next tear slightly smaller strips of Osnaburg to go around the batting. You will also need a small rectangular piece of osnaburg to go over the baby Jesus' head and another for the padding in the manger.

Wrap the batting around your clothespin and sew closed.

Next wrap the osnaburg around your clothespin. No need to sew this cloth. Next you will wrap the string around. Do NOT cut this off of your roll of string as you never know how much you will need. If you want to make Joesph like I did you will also need to do it up and around the back side. See the photo if you need help. I learned fast that the best way to get the V shape was to NOT go all the way to the top of the batting, go up and across then around the back then back down and across.

When you are ready to tie it off cut your string leaving quite a bit extra and use the needle to run it under the rest of the thread twice and then knot.

On the baby Jesus the only difference is before you put the osnaberg wrap you will do the cap. Fold it over the sides and back then sew it around attaching it to the batting like so and knot. The repeat the osnaberg and string. If you want added texture you can wrap some cheesecloth around before the string.

Next you will need to make your coffee dye. I made mine dark by adding some of the brown paint, but you don't have to. Add about 4 scoops of the instant coffee to your pot or jar and then add water until it's the color you like. Test on another piece of fabric if your not sure of the color. If you do add paint, don't over add. You can always add more if needed. If you mess up and get it too dark rinse off your fabric with cold water and start again.

Put your Mother Mary, Joesph and Baby Jesus and the manger blanket in the coffee dye and let soak for a few minutes. Then pull out to dry. I recommend a baking tray, putting the heads on the edge so any excess dye flows away while drying. I usually lay mine by our wood burning stove for faster drying. You can also do it in the oven, but keep a good eye on it or it will end up black and you'll start a fire. The oven will also make it have darker streaks across it. Some people LOVE that but I am not one of them.

While your Holy Family are drying you will begin your manger for the Baby Jesus. Turn on your glue gun. You'll need to cut your twigs, Mine were around 2 1/2 to 3" long. Make sure the four twigs for the cross part of the stand are identical in size and width. Take your glue gun and glue the cross pieces together. I tied them for extra support with string. I wrapped it around a few times and tied it off. Do both sides.

Next put the initial center twig down, using the biggest one you have on the bottom, going down in size as you go up the manger. Glue on both ends as you go.

Your finished manger should look similar to this.

Once your manger glue is totally dry which it should be quickly, take the paintbrush and brush some coffee dye onto the string wrapped around your manager till it's dark enough for you. Let sit to dry.

Once Mother Mary, Baby Jesus and Joesph are dry they should look similar to this and this is what you should have left to work with.

You will need to glue the hats on the clothespins and then glue them to the wood bases. All you need to do is use your glue gun to glue the middle and back of their heads and attach the acorn caps and then around the bottom of the fabric wrapped around them. Then just sit on the stands. It will be dry almost as soon as you do it. Lastly put Baby Jesus and the manger blanket in the manger and voila You are DONE!

This idea is 100% of my own design. If you need any help please feel free to leave me a comment or contact me on facebook!