Make Your Home a Haven Fall 2010: Week #2

October 10 - Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Remind your family to avoid seething anger, tattling, criticism or back talk. As the wife/mother, work on gentleness this week.

 Every day I put on my favorite radio station which is Christian.  I sing to the songs and listen to the stories that are shared and I am always touched.  I also have a few CD's that have instrumental music that are soothing to hear.  When I have a hard day, I just put on that music and breathe.  I have felt such a difference in my attitude this past week while putting on a candle and praying for peace.  This week I will add being gentle in interactions toward my son and husband and others that I come in contact with.

Are you engaged, have time management, have a pleasant demeanor, content and praying?  These were given to us last  week by Courtney in her post.  Proverbs 14:1 "A wise woman builds her house..."

Song Sunday: Theme from Dying Young by Kenny G

OK, so this is not a "Christian" song, but I just finished watching Dying Young (old movie from the 90's) and I love this theme song. It's so sweet, soothing, yet sad, just like the movie. I used to have this CD, but it was stolen. I could listen to this all day! Enjoy!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter Review and Giveaway!!

I recently chose to review Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter and I'm so glad I did!

Here is some info from Tropical Traditions:

*Made from organic peanuts and organic coconut

*The peanuts are 100% organic Valencia peanuts that free from aflatoxins. 

*The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat that contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. 

*Together, these premium organic roasted peanuts and the premium organic dried coconut are ground together to make a delicious and nutritious spread! 

I was so thrilled to see that this peanut butter has only 2 ingredients that are organic.  I love peanut butter and I love coconut, but I was surprised at the sweet subtle taste this spread made.  I decided to try a few recipes  to test out this product.

Coconut Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa

4 - 5 servings
Preparation Time: 3 minutes

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup sugar/honey, more or less to taste*
• Dash of salt
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Coconut Peanut Butter

Combine dry ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk in water over medium heat. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk in Coconut Peanut Butter.

Add milk and whisk and heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Serve topping with whipped cream.

*If using honey, use less then you would for sugar. Brown sugar may be used.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy
This recipe came from the Tropical Traditions free recipes website.

I liked this new twist on hot cocoa!

Heavenly Homemakers Granola

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
1/2 cup peanut butter or sunbutter (I used Coconut Peanut Butter)
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil (or another oil of your choice)
1 cup oats
1 cup total of any combination of:  sesame seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips
In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.

Remove from heat and add one cup of oats.  Choose your favorite combination of coconut flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and mini chocolate chips, to equal a total of ONE CUP.  (I just got out my one cup measuring cup and poured in the ingredients until the cup was full.)  Pour in and stir well.
Stir well, then spread mixture into a 8×8 or 9×4 pan.

Chill for two hours, then cut into bars.

Wrap in plastic wrap for a quick grab and go snack!

I also put some coconut peanut butter in my son's oatmeal and he said, "MMMMMM!"  Well, that about says it all!

Buy it: A 16 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter is $9.99 and a 26 oz. jar is $15.45. 

When you place your order please use my ID # to get your FREE book: 6015262 in the "Referred by a Friend".  (Thank you!) You can also obtain your own complimentary copy of Virgin Coconut Oil book through the Referral program if you are ordering for the first time.  Please click: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm for more info. The book will be automatically be added to your order.  I encourage you to look through the website for some great products.  I have already tried the Lavender Natural Deodorant (aluminum free), the Organic Shredded Coconut and the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.  Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get updated information on products and sales.

If you need any help in placing your order please click here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Win it:

One reader will receive this 16 oz. jar of  Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter.  Open to US.  Giveaway ends Wednesday, October 20.

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.  Thanks!

1. Mandatory: Be a follower on my blog (2 entries)

2. Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me another product you would like to try. (required)

3. Put my button on your blog and provide the link. 

4. Subscribe to my blog by email.

5."Like" The Knowlton Nest on Facebook (link on my blog). 

6. Follow on Networked Blogs (link on my blog) 

7. Follow me on Twitter (@shondaet)

8. "Like" Tropical Traditions on Facebook

9. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter

10. Sign up for the Tropical Traditions Newsletter.

11. Make a purchase at Tropical Traditions using my referral code: 6015262

12. Post about this giveaway on another site (your blog, facebook, twitter, etc) (1 entry for every site) 

Entry for Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter

Pink Digital Photo Keychain Review

Product Description

Main features:

* 1.5 inch 128x128 LCD display;
* 4.8 MB internal memory which can store about 72 pictures;
* Auto / manual picture slide show, slide time adjustable.
* Manual switch between picture and time display
* Time display including date, week, hours, minutes and seconds.
* Time manual adjustable or sync with computer via software.
* Picture format: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF;
* Picture size automatically cut by software.
* Input / output picture via photo View software which contains in the attached CD
* Built-in rechargeable battery
* Charged / data downloaded via 5 pins USB cable
* Dimension: 5.5x4.1x1.2cm
* Weight: 85g

Package contents:

* 1 x Photo Frame with key ring;
* 1 x USB cable

I was given this digital photo keychain from Tomoson for a review.  It was really cute and small, but big enough to see pictures.  What I really liked was that I could download any pictures that I wanted to put on this keychain.  That way I can see my cute little baby at all different ages as well as putting pictures of my husband and I that I really like.  It will be fun to show these off to friends and family who ask about my little guy.  What I found that was hard was figuring out how to download pictures.  The directions were really small and you have to be somewhat a computer tech to figure it out.  Thankfully, I play around enough on the computer that I didn't need help, but if you are not familiar with downloading, then this might be difficult for you.  Overall, I thought this was a cute keychain and it would be a fun gift to give to grandparents who want pictures to show off or for yourself to do the same.

*This product was provided to me free of charge for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Make Your Home a Haven Fall 2010: Week #1

October 4 - Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. Do what makes sense for your family. I will be placing mine in the kitchen - the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

I have a candle that I bought awhile back that I'm going to light and I also have some Scentsy melts to use as well because a candle is not only about the lighted candle, but the scent that goes with it!  So whether I see a lighted candle or smell my Scentsy I will pray for my family.  That will help me build my house like the wise woman in Proverbs 14:1.  Jump on over to Woman Living Well and read her descriptions of what your home should be like.  I was very challenged to be more engaged, practice better time management, have a pleasant demeanor, be content and PRAY for my home (husband and son).  I feel so privileged to be the woman in my home and I will pray that God will give me the strength to build my house for His glory!

Song Sunday: Great Are You Lord- my new FAV song!!!

Praying For your Husband Day 30 & 31

Day 30

Pray that your husband will serve God and other with pure motives.  Pray that he will obey from his heart and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3: 23-24)

Day 31

Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life.  Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44, 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Today was the last day of posting the prayers for your husband.  I hope you were able to bless your husband with these prayers everyday.

Here is a pdf file of the whole list in case you missed it.  I printed it off and carry this list in my Bible.

Praying For Your Husband