Boys Christmas Guide

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All week long here at The Arrowood Zoo we are talking about  Christmas! Join us for a different topic each day! 

I have 3 boys in my home that range from 5 to 15 and this is a list of items that they love, some of what they are getting or already have that I believe would make a wonderful choice for your special boy for that wonderful Christmas day.

Nano RC Quadcopter:


 Magformers 30 piece set:




Remote Control Bulldozer:




I Survived Reading Series:



Solar Robot Kit:


Monopoly Star Wars:


K'nex Battle Bow:



Snap Circuits Lights:




Lego Classics:


Laugh Out Loud Jokes:



 
Time Kids Book of WHY?:




Tool Kit:


I hope you enjoy my picks for your special little guys! 

Merry Christmas & Join us all week for our 5 days of Christmas!

 

Caramel Apple Cake { RECIPE }

Alright just so we understand each other - I love apples during the fall while others love pumpkin. 

Yes I am an apple lover.

Let me take you to my world with this delicious recipe.

Your going to need:
2 cups & 2 tbsp flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup buttermilk (if no buttermilk get regular milk and but a tbsp of vinegar in it and let it set for a few minutes)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups apples
6 tbsp milk
3 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/8 cup caramel sauce
 
In a large bowl mix flour, sugar and cinnamon and set to the side.

In a sauce pan combine butter, water and shortening and boil.

Now add flour mixture then buttermilk, baking soda and then eggs.

Stir well and then add vanilla and apples.

Stir together well.

Pour into a 15x13 pan.

Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Now lets mix the frosting!

Mix 
1/2 cup melted butter
6 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 & 1/2 cup powered sugar
1/8 cup caramel sauce

Once the cake is semi cooled you can pour the frosting over top and enjoy!

My daughter has made this cake without my help several times so please try it! 

We enjoy it too often! 

It is a family favorite.

My Favorite Black Friday Specials

Here ya go!

Shop but shop with savings!

Which by the way is the only way to shop!

My Favorite Black Friday deals:

Educents - Extra 10% AND free shipping!

Bright Ideas Press - 20% off and that even includes the newest product they added for MOH 4!

NotebookingPages.com - I am a lifetime membership holder and I can tell ya saving $25 is awesome!

Simply Pure Soy Candles - 10% any order over $8.50 and a free gift!

 ENJOY THE SALES TODAY!

Our Thankful Tree 2015

Every year for the last 5 or 6 years we have had some version of a "Thankful Tree". Last year we actually skipped the actual version and did a journal instead so this year I was eager to return to the beautiful eye candy of a Thankful Tree.

Something about writing your blessings down makes me happy. I love seeing my children search their heart to write what they are thankful for and hanging it for everyone to see.

This year we went with a very basic version and I bought tags at AC Moore for us to write on.

If you have never done a Thankful Tree you should try to start one next year. It is a wonderful tradition!

Here are somethings we are thankful for:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Reading/Spelling Polar Bear Pack Freebie

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My family loves All About Learning Press. We have used it for many, many years and this year we are using All About Reading Level 2 with our smallest son.

I always look forward to seeing all the wonderful freebies that All About Learning Press offers and the newest freebie is just adorable! 

Go here and check it out! 

Your receiving a $10 value FREE.

The Polar Bear Pack is a 30 page packet of polar-bear themed reading and spelling activities.

ENJOY YOUR FREEBIE!


 

Trim Healthy Mama GGMS Recipe

I get tired of drinking water sometimes. I do not do juice, soda or coffee and sometimes feel limited.

I've posted a few times about Trim Healthy Mama (THM) and what it is helping my family with.

Today I want to share my favorite drink recipe with ya.

It is super easy and super good for ya!

In the THM cookbook there is a recipe for Good Girl Moonshine, I have took that and altered to make it mine!

Makes 32 ounces and I mix in a canning jar: 

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp lemon extract
1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp cherry extract
3 doonks Pure Stevia
Fill jar with ice
Then fill jar with water
SHAKE

Now your ready to enjoy your sweet, tasty Good Girl Moonshine!!!

It is my favorite variation yet. I have tired strawberry, orange, peppermint and even just drunk it plain but this is my go to every day.

Easy and very healthy for you.

Give it a try and no special ingredients! 

You can read about our first 7 weeks on this healthier lifestyle here and I highly suggest the cookbook and plan book too. The cookbook is my favorite new book.

Wordless Wednesday Week 14