YoSoo Back Posture Corrector

My daughter has been wearing the back posture corrector and it has drastically improved her posture. It's not uncomfortable - it's just a gentle reminder to sit up nice and straight with her shoulders in the proper position. She's 9 and has a bit of trouble adjusting it herself, but I am quite happy to do it for her. I also tried it on myself and wore it for a few hours. It's quite comfortable and not terribly difficult to put on and adjust by one's self.

https://www.amazon.com/MEDIUM-Figure-Clavicle-Corrector-Brace/dp/B01LYV40CI/ref=sr_1_15_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&sr=1-15&keywords=Posture+Corrector


#BackPostureCorrector

Skin2Spirit Lipstick Review - 5 Stars!

I'm kind of particular when it comes to lipstick. I like the feeling of a creamy lipstick that is easy to apply and it's irritating when you have to apply a chapstick first to get that silky smooth application feeling. This particular lipstick goes on creamy smooth and the color lasts quite a long time. I'm an avid coffee drinker so lots of lipsticks will eventually end up on my cup instead of my lips. This one doesn't transfer very easily - there's still a bit on the cup, but the color on my lips still looks fabulous. There's no perfumey smell or odd flavor - and I'm happy with the ingredients list. Impressive product. I would purchase again.
#Skin2SpiritLipstick

https://www.amazon.com/Botanical-Lipstick-BERRY-RED-Moisturizing/dp/B01MDJFNSL?keywords=natural+lipstick+lip+stick+organic+color+lips+moisturizing

Crystal J. Casavant-Otto Resume

CRYSTAL J. CASAVANT-OTTO
9906 Hershau Rd * Reedsville, WI 54230 * 920-645-7529 * CrystalJOtto@gmail.com


Creative Professional

I have strong written communication skills and was published in the Feb. 2012 edition of Collector Magazine and have recently been published several times each month on the daily blog of WOW! Women on Writing as well as my own blog (bringonlemons.blogspot).

I am enjoying raising our family and working alongside my husband on our small family farm in rural Wisconsin. I enjoy the creativity that comes with juggling the duties of motherhood, volunteer opportunities, and business ownership.

Key Skills
Office Management
Teambuilding &Supervision
Staff Development &Training
Policies &Procedures Manuals Report & Document Preparation
Spreadsheet & Database Creation
Compliance & Complaint Resolution
Creative Writing / Blogging Meeting & Event Planning
Community Involvement
Time Management
Work/Family Balance

Experience

Mark & Crystal Otto Dairy, Reedsville, WI - current
Owner
Responsible for payroll, employee records, calf care, morale, and whatever else needs to be done on a daily basis.


Dram of Things Publishing, Downers Grove, IL - current
Publicist
Responsible for promotion of books and poetry. Dream of Things publishes memoirs, essay collections, and other creative nonfiction that aligns with our objective of publishing "distinctive voices, meaningful books."


WOW! Women on Writing, CA - current
Blog Tour Manager
Responsible for promotion of books and authors. Promoting the communication between authors, editors, agents, publishers, and readers.


DairyGirl Network - current
Press Corp Teammate

Responsible for documenting, promoting, and writing about all things related to the organization and events in the dairy industry. The Dairy Girl Network supports all women in dairy by enhancing lives and creating opportunities.


Americollect, Inc. Manitowoc, WI 2002 to 2012
Director of Operations, 2011 to 2012
Collection Manager, 2008 to 2011
Team Leader, 2005 to 2008
Customer Service, 2003 to 2005
Collector, 2002 to 2005
Repeatedly promoted during 10-year tenure with Americollect, with most recent advancement to Director of Call Center Operations
Results:
Developed many of the processes that resulted in Americollect’s growth and success, including but not limited to: Customer Service Department, Team Leader growth and development, Compliance program, SAS70/SOCII security completion, and assisting the sales/marketing team with proposals and face to face presentations.
Decreased expenses and increased revenue by implementing automated programs as well as programs to encourage teammates to use time as wisely as possible.
Saved thousands of dollars through quick conflict resolution and forward thinking compliance measures.
Recent leadership article published in the international “Collector” magazine

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Two Rivers, WI 1992 to Present
Church Organist and Musician
Organist, Pianist, and vocalist for special programs, regular worship services, as well as weddings and funerals.
Directing Council Secretary
I am responsible for taking notes at council meetings and voters meetings and pride myself on typing during the meetings and emailing a detailed summary within moments of the meeting’s conclusion.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Manitowoc, WI 1999 to 2002
Office Manager & Associate Financial Representative
Achieved State Insurance License(s) and assisted Financial Professionals with life insurance sales and necessary paperwork.

Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. 1997 to 1999
Marketing Manager
Worked closely with the operations department to expand the Kingston, PA based company into the Midwest. Marketed products to new customers through my own outside sales position as well as through developing the internal customer service department. Wrote training manuals and implemented a companywide training program for internal and external sales and marketing departments. Enjoyed cold-calling as well as maintaining and building relationships with existing clients (primarily body shops, auto repair businesses, and auto dealerships).

Pietroske, Inc. Manitowoc WI 1995 to 1997
Service Representative
Worked at Pietroske, Inc. assisting in the service department with answering phones, typing work orders, transporting customers, organizing the rental vehicles, and some fill-in coverage as the general cashier. Enjoyed being the liaison between customers and mechanics and learning more about the behind the scenes working of a medium sized auto dealership.


Fleet Farm Manitowoc, WI & Plymouth WI 1993 to 1996
Cashier & Customer Service Representative
Worked at Fleet Farm during High School and College in the housewares department, as a general cashier, and in the full service gas station at the Plymouth location. Enjoyed the fast passed work environment and opportunity to interact with a wide variety of customers.


Education
Association of Collection Professions (ACA International)
Credit & Collection Compliance Officer (CCCO) Awarded 03/29/2011
Annual Meeting and Training 2010
Spring Forum and Expo 2011
Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) Awarded 01/26/2004

Attended Lakeland College 1996-1998 with a focus on Accounting and Marketing, achieved Dean’s list standing, but did not pursue a degree at that time.

Studied at the Manitowoc Conservatory of Music 1986-1993 for additional organ and musical training.

Studied at Concordia University – LCMS organ and liturgical workshops.

References available upon request

Recent Publications/Achievements
WOW! Women on Writing blog http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Personal blog http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

http://www.insidearm.com/daily/debt-collection-news/debt-collection/americollect-inc-announces-socii-audit-completion/

Future 15 Award Recipient 2010 - https://issuu.com/gannettwisconsin/docs/future_15_010711

Review of Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

Looking for a great book to read this fall? Look no further than Fractured by Catherine McKenzie!



Official Summary:

Welcome, neighbor!

Julie Prentice and her family move across the country to the idyllic Mount Adams district of Cincinnati, hoping to evade the stalker who’s been terrorizing them ever since the publication of her bestselling novel, The Murder Game. Since Julie doesn’t know anyone in her new town, when she meets her neighbor John Dunbar, their instant connection brings measured hope for a new beginning. But she never imagines that a simple, benign conversation with him could set her life spinning so far off course.

We know where you live…

After a series of misunderstandings, Julie and her family become the target of increasingly unsettling harassment. Has Julie’s stalker found her, or are her neighbors out to get her, too? As tension in the neighborhood rises, new friends turn into enemies, and the results are deadly.


About the Author:

Catherine McKenzie

A graduate of McGill University in History and Law, Catherine practices law in Montreal, where she
was born and raised. An avid skier and runner, Catherine's novels, SPIN, ARRANGED, FORGOTTEN, HIDDEN and SMOKE, are all international bestsellers and have been translated into numerous languages. HIDDEN was also a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Digital Bookworld bestseller for five weeks. SMOKE was named a Best Book of October by Goodreads, one of the Top 100 Books of 2015 by Amazon, and was a #1 Amazon bestseller.

Her sixth novel, FRACTURED, will be published on October 4, 2016. Her first novel writing as Julie Apple (the protagonist of FRACTURED), THE MURDER GAME, will be published on November 1, 2016.

She is at work on her eighth novel.

And if you want to know how she has time to do all that, the answer is: robots.

Visit her online at www.catherinemckenzie.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/catherinemckenzieauthor, and on Twitter and Instagram at @cemckenzie1.



Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

I always enjoy Catherine McKenzie's writing and have read most if not all of her books. This book was a little hard to follow at times, but I found once I got the characters straight in my own mind I was in a much better position. Much of the story is told from John's perspective and he was the character I felt most kindred to. McKenzie did a great job keeping the reader in suspense until the very end. I made some guesses about what I thought happened and to whom by whom etc....but it was never one of those where you felt you could stop reading at the middle of the book because you had already solved the case. Fractured is a real page turner that I would recommend to a friend.


About today's reviewer:

Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 3, and Delphine 1), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.


You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Unicorn Cake Pop Recipe

Hey! Be yourself...unless you can be a unicorn, then definitely be a unicorn!

This is a great recipe for all my fellow #UnicornMom friends or anyone looking for a fun and colorful treat!

Start by making a double batch of white cake batter (or buy 2 boxes of Betty Crocker and make according to the package). If you want my recipe, here it is (but no judgment if you want to just grab a box off the grocery store shelf):

Preheat Oven to 350 and get your cupcake pans lined and ready to rock and roll!

This is a double batch - so mix the following ingredients:

2C white sugar
1C (that's 2 sticks) butter
4 eggs
Lots of Vanilla (minimum 3T)
3C breadflour or all purpose
2T baking soda
1/4C milk (buttermilk or kefir work great too)


One everything is ready to go, separate the batter into at least 4 bowls. You're going to add food coloring to make them rainbow colors. In my example photos you'll see I stuck with 4 colors (red, yellow, blue, and green) but feel free to do whatever trips your trigger!

Add a few drops of food coloring and stir. Keep adding color and stirring until desired color is achieved.

Start filling cupcakes and bake until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool.

Scoop colored cupcakes out into individual bowls again. You can use a spoon and just break them all up until they're crumbly. Add approximately 1C frosting to each bowl and stir again. This is the point my children will ask "is that playdough" so that should give you an idea of the consistency you are looking for. You're going to be rolling these into balls, so adjust your frosting to cake ratio until it's just right and ball-able.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Make a small ball of whatever color you want to start with and place the balls on the cookie sheet. They don't need a ton of space, but you'll want to leave a little room. As soon as the sheet is full, give each ball a little push to turn them into a disc instead of a ball. Now add the next color doing the same thing. Continue until you've used all the colors you desired.

Pick up each individual pile of colored discs and roll them into a ball. Once all balls are made, then place the cookie sheet in a freezer if you want to make balls without sticks (aka truffles). If you are adding sticks, you'll need to quick melt about 1C of chocolate chips. I just put them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir between cooking - make sure they aren't lumpy. You may need to add a wee bit of coconut oil if you can't get it smooth. Dip each stick into the chocolate then stab each ball with a stick. Once all balls have been stabbed you can put them in the freezer (minimum 10 minutes).

Now that your rainbow balls are frozen (stabbed or unstabbed), you'll need to melt down lots of chocolate. 2 bags of chips for every 24 balls depending if you have small balls or big balls. Everyone likes sweet balls, so have some extra chocolate on hand so you don't run out!

Pull your balls out of the freezer and dip them in chocolate and add sprinkles then re-freeze on the cookie sheet for an hour or so (minimum). You can pull them out an hour or so before serving and let them thaw at room temperature, or store them in the fridge and pull them out for immediate serving.

Each bite will reveal a rainbow of sweet deliciousness! Call it Unicorn Poop. Call it a rainbow. Call it whatever you wish, but call all your friends and invite them over to enjoy the yummy balls!

Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp Teammate with the Dairy Girl Network, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 3, and Delphine 1), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Self Inflating Sleeping Pad Review

I was impressed with how small this gets, and how easy and lightweight it is to carry. When in use though, it's very comfortable. It's as comfortable as some bulky sleeping options yet small enough to pack with your other camping gear. We also found it works great around the house if the kiddos want to use it as a nap mat. Instead of fighting over the couches, the kids can just use the mat on the hardwood floor and it transforms the space into a comfy bed.

https://survivalhax.com/products/self-inflating-sleeping-pad

#SurvivalHax

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffle Recipe (also can be made into cake pops)

Truffles - Ready to Eat! 

If you're anything like me, you love pumpkin spice anything from September all the way until just
before Christmas. Truth be told I love it year round, but it's much easier to find it during fall here in Wisconsin. Last night, the children and I made a delicious pumpkin cream cheese recipe that is seriously amazing. I want to share it with you and since not all of you live close enough to drop in for a taste and a cup of coffee, I'll give you all the information you need to make them at home.

add frosting to cake

The first thing you do is make a pumpkin spice cake and then you demolish it. My 8 year old son (Andre) had a little trouble destroying a lovely and delicious cake, but it is what it is.


Pumpkin Spice Cake Ingredients and Instructions:


Preheat oven to 350F
Grease a 9x13" glass baking dish

mixing frosting & cake

Combine the following: 4 eggs, 1 1/2C brown sugar, 1 C vegetable oil, 1 can pumpkin puree, 2 C bread flour, 2t baking
powder, 1t salt, 1 t baking soda, 3t ground cinnamon

Pour the cake mix into the greased baking dish and bake until toothpick comes out clean (I got busy doing a bunch of stuff around the house - I think it was probably ready after 19-21 minutes or so, but I truly didn't keep track.

Allow the cake to cool and while it's cooling, make the following:

ready to make balls

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients: 1package cream cheese, 1 stick of butter, 3C powdered sugar, a wee bit of milk if needed (all of your ingredients should be room temperature).

Combine frosting ingredients and mix into a frosting

Now you're ready to turn the cake and frosting into mush...

Cut up the cake and put it in a mixing bowl. Using your stand mixer, turn the cake into a bowl of crumbs. Add frosting and continue mixing. Mixture will be somewhat sticky and if you roll a bit into a ball, it will stay.

ready for freezing then dipping

Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet and begin making balls with the cake mixture.

Freeze the balls for 10 ish minutes while you melt chocolate chips that will be used for dipping the truffles. I sometimes add a few drops of olive oil or a spoonfull of peanut butter to help melt down the chips. today, we used espresso flavored chips, white chocolate chips, and pumpkin flavored chips

Take your balls out of the freezer and dip them in chocolate (add nuts or cinnamon for decoration as well - add these right after dipping so they'll stick before the chocolate hardens)

Once dipped, place balls back in freezer for several hours to set. Once set, you can keep them in the fridge and take out just prior to serving.

Super easy to use a different flavor cake or add a stick to turn them into cake pops instead of truffles.

ENJOY!!!

About me: Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 9, Andre 8, Breccan 2, and Delphine 1), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230
Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at:http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/. I'd love it if you'd follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, Youtube, or somewhere! Let's keep in touch!

"My Name is Wonder" book review by Penny Harrison

Thank you to WOW! Women on Writing,Penny Harrison, Ronald Chapman, and Artotems for today's post!

Having loved the last book I read by this talented writer, I was excited to start this new novel and I was not disappointed. The story found in these pages is one of adventure and wonderment as the reader follows the trek of Wonder, a wise-beyond-his-year’s goat, as he discovers who he was meant to be. Not content with his simple life on the farm, this brave young kid lives up to his title and wonders if there is more for him to see. Along the way we meet Wonder’s supportive family, wise mentor, the cackling crow that becomes his guide, and more – both friends and foes alike. In Ronald’s writing, as I have grown to appreciate, we are transported to the fields, brooks, and mountains through wildly vivid imagery. As you travel with Wonder, you can almost hear the water rushing over the rocks in the stream and hear the call of the crow overhead. It is an escape in to the wilderness that one is not soon to forget. To learn if Wonder finds what he was searching for, and maybe find some truth about your own journey as well, you will need to get this enchanting tale.

Paperback: 202 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Spirituality
Publisher: Terra Nova Books (September 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1938288785
ISBN-13: 978-1938288784

My Name is Wonder is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

About the Author:


Ronald Chapman is owner of an international speaking and consulting company, Magnetic North LLC. In addition to international accreditation as a speaker and national awards for radio commentary, he is the author of two novels, My Name is Wonder (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016) and A Killer's Grace (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016 and 2012), two works of non-fiction, Seeing True: Ninety Contemplations in Ninety Days (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2008) and What a Wonderful World: Seeing Through New Eyes (Page Free Publishing, 2004) and the producer of three audio sets, Seeing True: The Way of Spirit (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2016, 2005), Breathing, Releasing and Breaking Through: Practices for Seeing True (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2015), and Seeing True – The Way of Success in Leadership (Magnetic North Audio, 2005). Ron provides a wide array of social media content at www.SeeingTrue.com, content for people in substance abuse recovery at www.ProgressiveRecovery.org, and other content from his master site, www.RonaldChapman.com. He holds a Masters in Social Welfare from The University at Albany (New York.) Prior to his relocation to Atlanta, Georgia in 2008, he was a long-time resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ronald can also be found online at:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1338592.Ronald_Chapman

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/seeingtrue/



----------Upcoming Blog Tour Dates


Wednesday, October 12th @ Book Santa Fe with Tange Dudt
Avid reader Tange Dudt reviews ‘My Name is Wonder”
http://www.booksantafe.info/blog

Get Involved! If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.



Today's Reviewer Penny Harrison's Bio: Penny Harrison is a mother of a vivacious 15 year old daughter, a wife of 16 wonderful years,
and equal opportunity crafter with a very busy schedule. In addition to her “day job”, she is also an independent consultant for a craft company and has a small craft business. She lives in a small town in Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan and enjoys her summers, “cooler near the lake”.

"My Name is Wonder" book review by Alison Taylor

Thank you to WOW! Women on Writing, Alison Taylor, Ronald Chapman, and Artotems for today's post!

At face value, My Name is Wonder: A Tale of Adventure by Ronald Chapman, was not the type of book I expected to enjoy. After all, the main characters are a goat and a crow. What could this book possibly mean to me? Surprisingly, I was really challenged to examine my own life while reading this profound spiritual fable. I am convinced that this novel was meant to land on my path.

This is a coming of age tale of Wonder, the billy goat, as he learns to live the concepts of mindfulness and heartfulness. After a distressing experience with a bully, Wonder is introduced to the first of many mentors, the wise goat, Oren. This teacher begins to give Wonder greater purpose by showing him how to live in the present. These lessons include naming his emotions, letting emotions go, breathing, being still, and listening to his inner voice.

Wonder takes these skills with him on two distinct adventures with his sidekick, Mac Craack crow. This comedic mentor watches over Wonder guiding him back to the tenets of mindfulness along their journey together. Wonder meets a host of characters that contribute to his ability to define himself based on experiences and connections felt with the heart. He is also able to get through some traumatic times of transition, fear, and loss using a series of mantras, including “only way out is through” and “into the Light”.

My take away from this novel is to remember that life is not always what we dream it will be. Disappointment and pain are bound to happen. If we practice living in the present moment, our inner voice will be amplified. It is this voice that will guide us through the tough times when they do come. Wonder wants to be free to explore, yet ends up in captivity. Rather than letting this ruin his life, he stays true to himself and embraces the fact that there is something to be gained from all of life’s experiences.

“What you are is what is left when that which is not you is cast aside.”

Paperback: 202 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Spirituality
Publisher: Terra Nova Books (September 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1938288785
ISBN-13: 978-1938288784

My Name is Wonder is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

About the Author:


Ronald Chapman is owner of an international speaking and consulting company, Magnetic North LLC. In addition to international accreditation as a speaker and national awards for radio commentary, he is the author of two novels, My Name is Wonder (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016) and A Killer's Grace (Terra Nova Publishing, 2016 and 2012), two works of non-fiction, Seeing True: Ninety Contemplations in Ninety Days (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2008) and What a Wonderful World: Seeing Through New Eyes (Page Free Publishing, 2004) and the producer of three audio sets, Seeing True: The Way of Spirit (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2016, 2005), Breathing, Releasing and Breaking Through: Practices for Seeing True (Ozark Mountain Publishing, 2015), and Seeing True – The Way of Success in Leadership (Magnetic North Audio, 2005). Ron provides a wide array of social media content at www.SeeingTrue.com, content for people in substance abuse recovery at www.ProgressiveRecovery.org, and other content from his master site, www.RonaldChapman.com. He holds a Masters in Social Welfare from The University at Albany (New York.) Prior to his relocation to Atlanta, Georgia in 2008, he was a long-time resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ronald can also be found online at:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1338592.Ronald_Chapman

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/seeingtrue/




----------Upcoming Blog Tour Dates


Tuesday, October 11th @ Bring on Lemons with Penny Harrison
Wisconsin business woman and mompreneur Penny Harrison shares her thoughts and feelings after reading My Name is Wonder by Ronald Chapman - don't miss this insightful blog stop.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com

Get Involved! If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.



About today's reviewer:

Alison Taylor is an educator, a mother, a wife, a friend, and oh so much more. She lives along the Branch River in beautiful rural Wisconsin with her husband and four children. Alison's favorite authors include Nickolas Butler and Glennon Doyle Melton.

Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap

Ingredients (small or large batch)

Small Batch:
12-ounces of Water - distilled is best (we use the water from our reverse osmosis)
2 Tablespoons Liquid Castille Soap
½ tsp liquid oil (fractionated coconut oil is perfect)
Essential oils of choice for scent (optional) **10-12 drops should be about right

Large Batch:
1 gallon of water
1 1/4 C castille soap
2 T liquid oil
essential oils ***50-60 drops should be about right, but sniff often to check for desired smelliness




Instructions

Start by adding your water to your container (if you add the soap first, you'll have bubbles so don't do that). Then measure in your other ingredients and stir gently to mix. Use just like regular foaming soap. Enjoy!

Product Review: Ultra Absorbent Cotton Hand Towel Everyday Kitchen Basic Machine Washable 24" Round.

These towels are darling & because of the design, there's a lot of towel to use. No more problems with a soaking wet towel half way through baking or canning. Very absorbent, generously sized, and super cute - what's not to love? This is a great design.
I received this product at a reduced rate in exchange for my honest review.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWADXAC?th=1
#kitchentowel

Guest Post by Mari L. McCarthy & Spotlight on "Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Life

Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live
Mari L. McCarthy

About the Book:
Journaling Power teaches you how to put the ultimate self-healing tool right at your fingertips--journaling. Through Mari L. McCarthy's moving personal story, you'll discover how pen-to-paper journaling leads to self-growth and life-changing transformation. You'll also learn that numerous medical studies prove journaling literally unleashes a healing agent that empowers your life in ways you've never imagined.

About the Author:
Mari L. McCarthy is The Journaling Power Guide and founder of CreateWriteNow.com. Her blog (http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog) provides journaling for personal transformation and healthy living ideas, information and inspiration for keeping a daily pen-to-page Journaling for the Health of It™ Practice. You can also download the FREE e-book, How to use Your Journal to Cure Writer's Block Now (http://www.createwritenow.com/download-free-writers-block-tips). More life-changing e-books (http://www.createwritenow.com/journaling-ebooks) can be found in Mari's Personal Transformation Journaling Library and in CreateWriteNow’s store (http://store.createwritenow.com/).




Thank you to WOW! Women on Writing for sharing this delightful and insightful book with me and thank you Mari L. McCarthy for the guest post you are about to read!


Morning Pages: Your Best Daily De-Cluttering Routine
by Mari L. McCarthy

My ‘journaling journey’ started back in 1998 when life had thrown me a curve ball and I’d had to close my business down. I’d been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a few years earlier and the illness had floored me-literally.
Endless doctors’ appointments and prescription drugs weren’t helping at all and I was at an all-time low.

Then someone introduced me to Morning Pages, a daily discipline of stream-of-consciousness writing created by Julia Cameron. The idea is simple but powerful: begin every morning by writing about anything you want, but don’t stop scribbling until you’ve filled three pages.

I was astonished at the power of this daily pen-to-paper exercise and its healing effect on my body. Not only was I able to reverse many of my debilitating MS symptoms and regain lost function in my right side, I was able to live without drugs.

Even more amazing than the physical gains were the emotional and spiritual transformations that took place. I had discovered a way of making my unconscious thoughts and feelings conscious. I had found a doorway into my soul!

Through daily journaling I met my authentic self and discovered what really mattered to me. I began to listen to my body, which I’d previously treated like a machine, and I learned to give it the care and attention it needed.

I took a new creative path and rediscovered my old love of writing. I took a completely different
direction with my career and launched my online journaling community, createwritenow.com. I also learned to sing and eventually became a recording artist!

Of course, this metamorphosis didn’t happen overnight. It took place day by day as I emptied my soul of toxic thoughts. Without this junk inside my head I accessed new areas of creativity.

I now have a better understanding of what happens when we journal, and here’s my analysis:

In our daily lives we all experience hyper-critical thoughts that drag us down. We worry about the performance review at work, the messy house, the spouse who is sick, the mountain of bills that must be paid… and so on. We are also affected at a deep, unconscious level by past hurts and traumas.

We have unresolved issues that simmer away just below the surface of our conscious mind and distract and upset us. We have regrets about past mistakes and wrong beliefs about ourselves. All this “stuff” in our heads creates a blockage of fear and stress that interferes with our wellbeing and creativity.

As we do our daily Morning Pages, we move garbage out of our heads and onto the page, where it loses its power over us. It’s a daily spring cleaning routine for our mind, body and soul. It helps us to organize and file away the fragments of our experience compassionately so that we can go out and seize every day.

Journaling Power Prompt:
How Do I Create More Space in My Life For Me?

5 Star Review Manhattan Toy MiO Wooden Building Woodland Playset

Please enjoy this 5 star from: Manhattan Toy 213810 MiO Woodland + Fox + Skunk Modular Wooden Building Set Playset (Toy)
Hours of fun and creative play will be had with this classic wooden toy by Manhattan Toy Co. All 4 kids love this. It's hard to find an engaging toy for a nine year old and a toddler. These simply sturdy toys appeal to all ages.

I received this product at a reduced rate in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-213810-Woodland-Building/dp/B01B135DXI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468851002&sr=8-1&keywords=manhattan+toy+wooden+building+block+playset

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5 Star This review from: Organic Jersey Cotton Fitted Crib Sheets 2 pack

This review is from: Organic Jersey Cotton Fitted Crib Sheets 2 pack (Baby Product)

I won't be able to go back to using traditional sheets. The feel of these organic jersey cotton sheets is absolutely magnificent. There is no comparison between traditional sheets and this set from North Star. They're attractive, wash easily without wrinkling or pilling, and they dry quickly. Having this 2 sheet set means you really won't need any other sheets any more. One of these should always be clean and ready to go. Baby is going to love how soft this feels against their skin, and once baby has outgrown the crib, you can use these in a toddler bed. They are generously sized to fit any crib sized mattress and the elastic keeps them in place well.

I received this product at a reduced rate in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWHA1ZE

#MyLittleNorthStar