25 Days of Christmas - Day 13

>> Monday, December 13, 2010

Well as you can tell we missed a few days of our activities. Just about every one of us is sick so I just decided to take the weekend of and we all just rested or in the case of Bean, got out of the house of sickness.  I'm still not feeling all that great (probably worse than I did feel this weekend in fact) but decided if I didn't get back at the activities Christmas would be here and we wouldn't be done.

Merry Christmas from Sweden, where the merry season begins on the evening of December 13th.


On St. Lucia Day the eldest daughter of the family assumes the role of the Italian saint Santa Lucia. Wearing a dress of white and a lighted wreath in her hair, she serves sweet rolls and drinks to her family, singing carols all the while.

So for tonight's activity we made cinnamon rolls in honor of St. Lucia Day.

Bub getting the butter on the dough
Bean sprinkling on the brown sugar
Little E sprinkling on the cinnamon
Finished Cinnamon Rolls
If you'd like to know my recipe for cinnamon rolls (I make the dough in the bread machine), you can find that here.


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30 Day New Proactiv Challenge and Giveaway

I'm sure you've all seen the commercials for Proactiv at some time in your life.  I know I've seen them so many times, and I've always wondered does it really work? In my teen years I had such a horrible time with breakouts (who didn't right?) Even now as I'm approaching my 40's, I still struggle with breakouts. I wonder if anything will ever keep my skin clear and still manage the dry skin I get during the winter.  I've seen the celebrities on the commercials talking about how Proactiv worked so great for them, yet I'm always skeptical of commercials. Unless I have a friend that has actually tired it and says they love whatever product, I never hold much stock into what I see on tv. So when I was offered the chance participate in the 30-day New Proactiv Challenge, as a blog tour from Mom Central; I jumped at it! And so I begin my 30 day challenge and I will be that friend who will tell you if Proactiv really lives up to all the claims. :)

The Proactiv products I will be using consists of a 3 Step System, that clears and helps prevent acne blemishes and is designed for twice daily use.
Step 1 Renewing Cleanser:
  • New, exclusive micro-crystal pharmaceutical-grade benzoyl peroxide
  • Smaller, finer particles quickly penetrate pores, attack and heal blemishes fast
  • Tiny, round exfoliating beads gently remove dirt, excess oil and dead skin cells
Step 2 Revitalizing Toner:
  • Refreshing alcohol-free toner refines and purifies pores
  • Glycolic acid exfoliates dead skin cells to help keep pores unplugged
  • Botanical-rich formula soothes and hydrates acne-prone skin
Step 3 Repairing Treatment:
  • Feather-light, invisible medicated lotion kills acne-causing bacteria
  • Features pharmaceutical-grade benzoyl peroxide as an antimicrobial
  • Ultra-fine micro-crystal pharmaceutical-grade benzoyl peroxide penetrates pores fast while being gentle on the skin




There is also a team of Proactiv trained Skin Care Advisors, that provide round-the-clock guidance and education to ensure that you get the best possible treatment!

And now for the Giveaway!

Five {5} Canadian readers are going to win a full size bottle of Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer (ARV $33).

Mandatory Entry: Tell me if you’ve tried the New Proactiv yet, and if you have, what are your thoughts? And, if you haven’t tried Proactiv yet, why would you like to try it?

Extra Entries (remember the mandatory entry is the only required entry):
  • Follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect - leave your GFC Name (1 entry)
  • Subscribe to Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense via email (1 entry)
  • Follow Me @Luvschweetheart and @Proactiv on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway; leave the URL where you did. (you may tweet once per day for an extra entry) You can use this tweet: FIVE winners: full size @Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer {$33 value} from @Luvschweetheart http://bit.ly/ggzVY1 #NewProactiv {Canada only}  (1 entry per day)
  • "Like" Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense on Facebook - Leave your first name & last initial (1 entry)
  • Add my button to your blog and leave a link to where you did. (1 entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway linking back to Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense and Proactiv; leave the URL where you did (5 entries)
Leave a comment for each entry. You must leave your email in your comments so that I can contact you.

This giveaway is open to Canada only! Giveaway will end Dec 17, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST. The winners will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. You must contact me within 48 hours. If you fail to claim your prize, a new winner will be chosen by random.org and emailed. You may enter the Proactiv Giveaway on other blogs, but you are only eligible to win once.

**I am participating in the New Proactiv Canada program hosted by Mom Central on behalf of Guthy-Renker. I received a 30-day trial kit and a gift card a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.**


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25 Days of Christmas - Day 9

>> Thursday, December 9, 2010

Holiday Rice Krispy Squares
Seems like a lot of our nights the activity gets changed. Oh well, that's life.  I guess it's good to have some back-ups in your pocket if you are going to try to do this with your family. :)  I've been dealing with Little E being sick for nearly 3 weeks now, that includes multiple night time wakings; and now I am starting to get a cold or something.  So I really wasn't up to making latkes and figuring out how we were going to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah (we'll try again next year).  Instead we made some holiday rice krispy squares.  It took 2 batches to get them right, but I think the kids had fun.

Melting the butter & marshmallows
Adding in the rice krispies
Stirring it all up!


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25 Days of Christmas - Day 8

>> Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Tonight were were going to make some Christmas candy but some friends of ours called and wanted to do Christmas with us before they go to visit their family for the holidays.  I love visits with good friends so I was more than happy to put off our candy plans for some time with them.  Tonight for day 8 of our 25 days of Christmas, I present Christmas with friends. :)

let the unwrapping commence!
Happily scored a new psp game!
See what I got mom
I'm ready for snow now!
Thank you L & P for a fun evening with great friends.  We hope that you have a safe trip and enjoy the time with your family. Can't wait to see you when you get home! Merry Christmas!


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25 Days of Christmas - Day 7 {Dinner & a Movie}

>> Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Tonight's activity for day 7 of our 25 days of Christmas was dinner and a movie.  We have done this a couple times this year and it's always a lot of fun, so I was really looking forward to planning to do this during the holidays. I chose the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" for tonights movie.


The kids and I spent a little time this afternoon making the decorations to go along with our themed dinner. And Bub was kind enough to de-decorate his tree and let us use it for our "Grinch tree". We also used some little red hearts (“But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”), red curly ribbon and tinsel (“The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel!”)

They would feast on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast beast
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!



    The Feast:
    • Who Hash {Hashbrown potatoes baked in the oven}
    • Who Roast Beast {Roast beef}
    • Grinchy Green Beans {Green Beans with scallions & sliced mushrooms}
    • Who Pudding {Chocolate pudding with whipped cream & chocolate shavings}


    Movie Food:

    • Cindy Lou Who Brew {Root Beer}
    • Popcorn
    • Bananas {“You’re a bad banana with a... greasy black peel.”}


    And that was our family fun for tonight! The kids really enjoyed it and Little E kept saying "I love Christmas". <3 This is why I do this.


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    25 Days of Christmas - Day 6

    >> Monday, December 6, 2010

    Today started off with finding out what Sinterklaas left in the kids shoes overnight.  I think he was supposed to come while we were still awake, but I'm sure with the weather there was a delay. ;) (We've never done this before so honestly I'm not 100% sure how Sinterklaas works. If you know please let me know in the comments.)

    Visit from Sinterklaas
    This evening for the 6th day of our 25 Days of Christmas we were going to bake Speculaas Cookies in celebration of the Feast of St. Nicolas. However after a busy and stressful afternoon I was completely exhausted. So change of plans included some hot chocolate with a showing of the original Frosty the Snowman.
    I love nights like this <3
    My little loves enjoying a quiet evening together :)
    Hope you are having fun celebrating the 25 days of Christmas in your house. What have you been doing so far? Or do you have different traditions? I'd love to hear what you do.


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    25 Days of Christmas - Day 5

    >> Sunday, December 5, 2010

    My 3 favorite ornaments from my childhood. They used to belong to my grandmother.
    For the 5th day of our 25 days of Christmas we put up and decorated our Christmas tree. This day is a huge deal to the kids. It's an all afternoon, into the evening event.

    We start off the fun with a little smörgåsbord lunch
    Followed with A Charlie Brown Christmas & a few other Holiday programs while I work on the lights.
    Then daddy and I put up the tree. I get the lights and beads on just right (or good enough as the case may be)
    And then the part the kids have been waiting for all afternoon - the decorations!! Finally :)
    She might wanna lay off the eggnog a bit, eh? ;)
    Little E really enjoyed examining each and every ornament before hanging them on the tree
    Had to be fast to get a picture tonight! 
    Having fun decorating our tree so pretty :)
    They did a beautiful job! 
    Merry Christmas!
    Hope you had a fun weekend with your family too. What did you do this weekend to celebrate the holidays?


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    25 Days of Christmas - Day 4

    >> Saturday, December 4, 2010


    Tonight for the 4th day of our 25 days of Christmas we were going to decorate the tree for our activity but both big kids are still gone. They asked us not to decorate the tree without them, so I had to come up with another replacement activity.  Tonight I decided on a hand print and foot print reindeer. Evan loved this! He had so much fun making his very own Rudolph.

    Inking up his little foot. (the ink wasn't quite as washable as I thought:/) 
    Very carefully stepping on the paper
    One little foot print <3
    Sure seems happy to be getting dirty hands ;)
    Adding the antlers
    Almost finished now
    Time for the eyes
    The MOST famous reindeer of all! 
    What did you do with your kids today to celebrate the holidays?


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    25 Days of Christmas - Day 3

    >> Friday, December 3, 2010


    Initally for tonight's 25 Days of Christmas activity we were going to go to Bean's school for the Christmas Family Dance.  When I put that on the calendar I wasn't anticipating that Little E would still be battling this cough. It dawned on me last night that the last place I should take him is a crowded gym that's overheated & where he will want to run. That will only lead to one thing - major coughing fit.  So this morning I set out to figure out a replacement activity. I wanted something easy because both of the big kids have plans for tonight as well. We ended up making red and green Kool-Aid Playdough.

    Little E stirring it up good.
    (I wanted to get more pictures of the kids helping make it, but it was difficult without another adult around)
    I was happy Bub was still excited about making playdough :)
    Little E really, really enjoyed the playdough. He was very excited.
    Bean figuring out which cutter to try next
     If you would like to try making your own Kool-Aid Playdough here is the recipe for you.

    Ingredients:
    • 2 cups of flour
    • 1/2 cup salt
    • 1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid
    • 3 TBS oil
    • 1 cup of boiling water

    Directions:
    1. Mix the dry ingredients
    2. Add boiling water & oil
    3. Mix throughly
    4. Knead the flour and other ingredients until very well mixed
    5. Add more flour if necessary for texture to create a soft dough
    6. Start playing!
    We also added some glitter to our playdough for a little extra holiday sparkle. :)


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    Update on My Journey

    >> Thursday, December 2, 2010


    Well it's been weeks since I've posted. Not for lack of wanting to though. I've had this post in my head for a couple of days now and have decided it's time to share what has been going on in my life these last weeks.

    About 6-8 weeks ago my husband and I decided we were going to add to our family. When we first started talking about this my mind went right to my weight release journey and how was this going to work. At first I was like great, I am going to really eat healthy, take my vitamins, drink my water....and then my inner critic had to pipe up and...

    read the whole post here


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