Some Olive Garden for me...and a $100 gift card for one of you!

Do you have a favorite restaurant that you will go out of your way for? We do. And that restaurant is Olive Garden. I have a long love affair with this place. We've driven for hours to get to one, and every time there is construction in our area we pray that it IS one.
We just love it. What's not to love about never ending, awesome bread and salad? It's family friendly, and the food is always good!
Needless to say, when I was offered the chance to do a review for Olive Garden, I jumped at the chance and then said a little prayer over my application. I was ecstatic to be chosen for the review and even more ecstatic when I realized that we would be able to do the review with FAMILY on my wedding anniversary!
What a fun way to celebrate, surrounded by family and enjoying a meal out at a favorite restaurant.
I'll just say that our overall experience was very good. The waitress and waiter were very helpful and kind. They were patient with the kids' wants and needs and didn't make us feel bad for being a large party, as some places tend to do. We ended up being six adults and five kids.
That being said, I have two small things I would love for Olive Garden to change. One was that I called very early in the day to make a reservation you know, because FIVE small children were involved and was told that reservations were only allowed A DAY in advance! I have never, ever, heard of any restaurant having such a policy and immediately dreaded a long wait with little, HUNGRY kids. Thankfully, we ended up with about a 20 minute wait for our table, which to me, is still way longer than we would have had to wait had I been able to make a reservation.
The second tiny thing would be to PLEASE add (return to?) the kids' standard of "chicken tenders and fries." We don't eat out all the time so being able to have FRIES is a big deal to my kids; fries are not available at Olive Garden. My kids eat healthy most of the time, so not being able to get my kids a favorite "eat out" treat would deter me from choosing this as a family destination. Please add fries to the kids menu.
All that being said, we all enjoyed our meals. Some of us took home leftovers to enjoy again later, and many of us also took home desserts. The breadsticks and salad were as delicious as I have come to expect of them. We had a really fun anniversary celebration and left with full, happy tummies!
We were a little bummed not to be there for their new special which starts on January 23rd - a 3 Course Italian Dinner for $12.95! The 1st course is soup or salad, the 2nd course is one of 5 new entrees, and the 3rd course is one of 5 Dolcini desserts. Yum! And sounds like more food than you can eat in one sitting my favorite!
But maybe you can try it? Want to win a $100 Olive Garden gift card? Just leave a comment on THIS post telling me who you will treat to dinner?! The sweepstakes runs from 1/23/12 - 3/18/12, and here are the official rules.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.
Want to see all the delicious options available with Olive Gardens 3 Course Italian Dinner? Just visit Olivegarden.com/specials or check out Olivegarden.com to explore the full menu and find a restaurant near you.
Also, visit the Olive Garden page on BlogHer.com to check out the other blogger reviews and more chances to win!

custom order sunday.

Hello friends!
A happy, happy Sunday to you!
Here's a little taste of what I've been working on.

This is my newest hoop design.  Simple and sweet and made with little (or big) girls in mind.  I just love it and the sweet message it delivers.  You can buy one here.

And if you've ever wondered "Could Crystal really make a hoho for me out of what I have?".
Let this example put that to rest.  I was sent this obviously, very loved and treasured lovey. 
And though it took a bit of thinking and planning...

I think the resulting hohos turned out very cute. :) I was able to reinforce the stronger areas of the blanket and make it sturdy enough to make hoho parts.  Now the original owners children will have a little bit of their mom to be with them always.  Don't you LOVE them?  I do. :) 

In some cases, I only use what you send me...in others I add to it...either way, it is always a HUGE honor for me to be entrusted with something so meaningful to someone and to create something for them to love all over again.  Keepsake hohos are my FAVORITE hoho's to make.  You can order one for yourself right here.   

And, I don't know why I never thought of this, but I added a little bow to the girl ones. :) Eeek! I love them and I hope their new owners will, too.

And my poor little hoho got into it with the pavement and lost. Thankfully nothing was broken, teeth or otherwise and in the end he was more irritated than anything. 

Don't worry...it hasn't subdued his sass or spunk.  :)

Happy Sunday to you!!

my problem with homeschooling.

This post will be largely vulnerable for me.  So please take that into account when you comment or email me, OK?  I mean no harm to anyone, am judging no ones choices and am telling all that I have to tell from MY experiences.  OK?

So, if you have been around here for long, you will recall that I have an ongoing issue with the whole to home school or not home school bit.  I have prayed over it and read about it and researched it and done everything I could to work it out.  It was tough.  I was confused for some time.  I was not convinced that homeschooling was for us, but I couldn't let it go.  I began to wonder if God was indeed calling me to home school, which would make for some serious changes in our lives, which, if that was what God wanted me to do, then I would do it.  I know he equips the called to His purposes and that he would do the same for me.  At the same time, homeschooling was not sitting well with me.  Not in what I would expect the normal unsettling feelings would be but more of a "there is something more to this" kind of feeling.  So I kept praying.  And reading.  And researching.  And God kept revealing.

And as I walked through it all, I came to realize that my decision (I say mine, because it was MY issue) on whether or not to send Moses to public school or not, had very little to do with sending Moses to public school or not.  Yes, you may need to read that again. 

You see, God has been working on my hidden issues and hurts.  Ways that are hindering me, and my parenting, and my marriage and my being a friend.  Ways that the enemy LOVES to use because we can't see them.  Because we don't know they are there.  Hurts that are so deep and hidden that they are mysterious even to their owners.  However, much like a torrent wind blowing through the yard, just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there and doesn't mean it can't do harm. 

I have a fierce calling to protect my kids.  I would even venture to say that it is even more so than your average mom.  I'm not saying I am more loving or better or more concerned than your average mom, I just have a past that tries to force up walls when it comes to protecting my kids.  I have no naturally healthy example of appropriate ways to protect my kids...so my defense is all walls up.  I remove those walls one at a time as I learn appropriate and good ways to let them venture out on their own.  If I have ever left you alone with one of my kids...just let me say, that is the highest honor that I could ever, ever, EVER bestow on anyone.  If I have left my kids in your care (and there aren't many of you) it's because I trust you fully to put yourself second when it comes to my kids well being, to look out for their innocence and guard it will all you have.  A pretty high calling for a babysitter, no? 

I guess I should say HAD no healthy example.  God is changing that by being my wonderful and perfect Father. 

I know that things happened to me, physically, spiritually, mentally and sexually that would not have happened had I been protected in the right ways.  My childhood could have been extended...my innocence could have lingered longer.  Some things you just know.  

One of my top parenting goals is to protect my kids from 90% of what I was exposed to as a child.  Their innocence and childhoods are some of my most precious treasures. 

I mean to protect them from things.  And I don't mean normal childhood things.  Those things I can deal with with relative ease.  I am not overly concerned with broken arms or bouts of vomit or attitudes.  Those things I expect and can deal with because they are normal.

I am talking out of the norm, things kids should never have to deal with.  Childhood stealing things.  Things that could be prevented with a little due diligence things.  Innocence stealing things.  Joy stealing things.  Spirit crushing and soul disparaging things.  Years of therapy and counseling things.  Things that only the healing salve of Jesus can heal things.

Things that I was dipped, rolled and breaded in as a child.  Things that I sought healing for (from the wrong source) and was called a liar for speaking of.   

And that is where Jesus met me with this particular journey.  I was called out by the one who knows me best.  I heard him clear as day explain to me "Your issue is not to home school or not, it's about protecting your kids in a way that you were never protected". 

Touche'.  A glorious and wonderful revealing moment.  I was finally released from the "to or not to home school" question.  My issue WAS how can I protect my kids if I send them into the big scary world...doesn't that mean I don't love them...or want to care for them...or want to protect them?  Doesn't that mean I'm not doing my job as a parent seeking to do my VERY best at my very favorite occupation?  No, no, no.  All I was really saying is "God, you didn't protect me, how can I trust you to protect them?".   

God used a blazingly bright issue to light up an issue in the dark.

And often times, as it goes, acknowledging an issue makes it easier to deal with.  And dismember.  When you know what you are working with you can seek the truths that apply to that situation.  And God is always good to give them to you if you ask.   

God has been building columns for me.  The kind on a crisp, clean and white piece of paper.   In one column are ways He is equipping me as a parent.  The tools and words and scripture He is showing me.  In another column are ways those tools are manifesting themselves in my kids.  Ways that show me that they are secure and feel loved and ARE PROTECTED.  In one more column are the people he is placing in my life at just the right moments to tell me that my kids are awesome and that we are doing a good job...the teachers and friends and family who know my kids and I best.

He has shown me that I am a different kind of parent.  And that my kids will benefit greatly from that.  I am NOT my past.  My kids will not have the same damaging childhood.  They will maintain innocence and childhood joy for just as long as I can grip it.

Homeschooling is not an issue.  Does Kindergarten still scare me?  YES!  But in a normal person kind of way.  God has been good to clear out the cobwebs and shed light where it is needed.

I am "good" as a parent, fully equipped now?  No way. I will be learning how to parent until I die, but where I am at now, is a good good place.  The perfect platform for learning and growing.

And just in case you need some boosts in your journey, I thought I would share some of my favorite "parenting books" with you...

The first is not shown but it's my Bible.  I use an app in my iPhone called YouVersion.  You can choose a plan that suits you.  I use the Bible in a year version and it takes about 15 minutes a day to read.  Skip reading anything else before you skip this.  I can't emphasis how much of a difference in makes in my life.  Each time through the Bible is like a new book for me.     

This is my current repertoire.  I get up an hour before the boys do to drink my coffee and read.  It's time well spent and it sets my day up right.  I love sleep but giving up some of it reaps major benefits for everyone in my family. 
"How to talk so Kids will listen" is cute in that it was written by two older ladies in the early 80s but the lessons are timeless and have already done wonders in communicating with my sensitive child.
The other two are AMAZING as well. 

This book I bought when I was needing a book that just confirmed that my boys are NORMAL.  I did not want a religiously slanted book.  I did not want theories or ideas.  I wanted scientific confirmation that when my four year old acts like a wild banshee that it is normal and even expected.  I run to this book if I am ever worried whether some behavior is normal or not.  I HIGHLY recommend this book.

And this book...has saved lives in my house.  It did miraculous wonders for my boys.  And to this day they are great sleepers and bed time is a non issue.  Bedtime is EASY and SMOOTH and SHORT.  People who have witnessed my boys going to bed are usually impressed because it just happens.  No drama or screaming or long drawn out mess.  They go to bed.  The end.  And the foundation for their great sleep is THIS book.  Buy this book. :)

So that is my two cents.  My disclaimer is this:  this is all about my issues and journey.  Homeschooling is and can be awesome.  Public school is and can be awesome.  It's all about finding our own distinct paths in this world and helping our kids do the same.  Just thought I would share a slice of my journey in the hopes that maybe someone out there needs a little of the same revelation that I did.      

Inspiration to Fitness-Num 3

My participation in BlogHer's Inspiration to Fitness program has been a little better this week than last... but more than half of it was spent sick, which continued to be no fun at all.  I ended the week mostly back to normal which has been a great pace for life AND exercise. :)


However, like I have said before, this has not stopped me.  It has not stopped me from seeking out ways to exercise when I could.  I've done pretty well for a sick girl.  It has not stopped me from eating a little better when the opportunity presented itself.  It hasn't really dampened my drive for thorough and permanent changes throughout my life.  Even the simple hikes that we have gotten to go out on as a family has etched further my drive for success.  And if I have learned something about myself over the last couple of years...it's that slow changes tends to equal permanent changes for me.  Drastic changes leave me feeling like a failure because inevitably, I fail, because they are so drastic.






For the first time in a long time,  I feel like things are falling into order.  This past year was a cleansing of my soul that has allowed me a much cleaner place to work with.  A year ago, I could not have done this.  A year ago I was still stuck in the cobwebs of life and its mess.

May a make a suggestion to you?  Or share a thought that has occurred to me?  A lot of times, I feel that people jump into a new exercise routine and fail.  Not because their efforts weren't valiant or worthy but that while taking care of the body with exercise and good diet they neglected matters of the heart and by heart I mean an emotional or spiritual issue that needs to be addressed.  If you don't address those issues, then failure is bound to be your destiny...sooner or later.

For me, there have been times where I have tried a new something or other...was off to a great start and because I was neglecting the problem of the heart (and soul) I wasn't getting anywhere.  I'm not saying you shouldn't jump in and go for it...just don't forget to look at the whole picture.

So that is my thought for the day. :) I encourage you to keep at it, no matter what.  I am.  And I encourage you, that if you are seeking out changes in one area of your life, that you take a good long look at everything around you, too. :)

How are you doing? Holding steady to any of your new years resolutions?  Alysa has some really great tips for keeping resolutions...I encourage you to check them out, too!

Don't forget to enter the my giveaway for the Perfect Portion Scale!!

Best Buy Review- Num 3-Perfect Portion Scale

If you asked me to make an educated guess as to one of the top contributors to poor heath, my guess would be portion control. Not many seem to have it. I don't, in general, think that food is the enemy. I do, however, think that portion control is a critical element to eating well and being healthy.
I also think that because of the way that food is presented to us in restaurants, often times we are misled as to what proper portion size is. I can't remember the last time I went to a sit-down restaurant and was able to eat all of the food given to me. In my mind, that means it isn't the proper portion size.
We seem to put a priority on value over health as a society. We want A LOT for our money. Sometimes getting a lot, however, may cost us more in the end than we want to pay.
I have never used a food scale like the Perfect Portions - Food Scale with Nutritional Calculator before. I have weighed out ingredients on an old-fashioned scale once or twice. I have also googled nutritional content of a food item here or there. This little scale Best Buy sent me was handy in that you could do both at the same time.
It is really fascinating to see, for a change, what a proper portion looks like. This scale is easy enough to use; you look up the code that corresponds to the food you're eating, punch in its code and instantly you have all sorts of information at your hands -- calories, fat content, sugar, carbs, protein and more.
I had no problems getting it to work as it should. I would have liked to see the ability to search on the device for my item instead of having to look it up in a separate booklet. Having to keep track of another little paper something is my only complaint about this scale.

While I can't see myself using this forever and a day, I do think this will be a good tool to learn what certain sizes should look like and becoming familiar with the nutritional content of them. I think it will also make a good tool to teach my kids the same things.
Would you like a chance to instantly adjust your food's nutritional facts to your portion size with this food scale and nutritional calculator in one? Best Buy and BlogHer are giving me one to give to one of you!
To be entered for a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what YOU think the biggest contributor to poor heath is.
Rules: No duplicate comments. You can enter to win up to two (2) times, using any combination of the following methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d)For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
The sweepstakes runs from 1/18 - 1/24. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.
Also be sure to visit the Inspiration to Fitness page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' reviews and find more chances to win! You can also click on the Best Buy image at the top of my blog to view a calendar of all the Inspiration to Fitness content. Good luck!

Have you taken the fitness pledge?

Best Buy does not sponsor, endorse, approve, or have any responsibility for this promotion.

i heart narwhals.

Little known fact about me?
I am in love with and obsessed with Narwhals. 
Who needs Unicorns when something like this REALLY exists? 
I will take one of each of the following please. :)
Print by House of Tender Beasts.

I could totally rock this t-shirt.  Yes, I could.  In a large. 
Because Etsy shirts are meant for teeny women. 
T-shirt by GnomEnterprises.

Look how fat and cute he is?!  Yes, please.  
Pendant by Metal Smitten. 

Be still my heart.  My wall needs this.  
Print by Black Apple.

Ummmm...a Narwhal cardigan?  Has there ever been an article of clothing more meant for me? 
Cardigan by Marty May.

My favorite thing about Narwhals is telling people about them.  And then trying to convince them that they are actually real things.  They are.  Google them. 

Happy Tuesday!