Clean Eating is the gist of The Gracious Pantry.  It is created under the same principles as the Candida Diet:  Eat simple foods that are easy to digest.  By doing this, the energy previously used on digesting refined sugars and high-fat foods is free to move to places in your body that need healing (allergies/sinuses, painful joints, stomach issues).  The numbers of people I know with any of those problems is growing every day.   Stating the obvious, you would certainly lose weight by limiting or eliminating sugars and high fats.

After reading The Gracious Pantry, I am highly motivated to hop back on the wagon.  Tiffany has created a website that is a fabulous resource not only for great  “Clean” recipes, but also for how to get started from Step One.  She offers a list of items to have in order to stock your pantry with clean foods and she also clarifies exactly what needs to be eliminated and how to substitute for those ingredients in your recipes.  (What an amazing help!)  The list of recipes is long and are great to get you started.  She also blogs on favorite brands, which I have found to be extremely helpful when at the grocery store.  Knowing “legal” brands sure makes the grocery trip shorter rather than having to read every package you purchase.  On top of the great recipes she posts, she also has a store that points you in the right direction for tools and recipe books she uses in her kitchen.

Everyone has their own reason for wanting to start eating clean.  It could be like me…because I have to in order to keep my health, or for someone who wants to lose weight or just be take care of your body and be healthy.  I really like Tiffany’s advice in that you have to choose your own boundaries.  If you need a treat, will you allow yourself a treat once a week? once a month?  However often you choose, you need to set your own rules and stick to them.  This is not a diet, but a lifestyle change.  I can speak from experience that when you make up your mind to cut out processed foods and refined sugars, etc, your body will have never felt better.  Your energy will return, your body will heal and you will feel like a million bucks. 

Check out The Gracious Pantry and I would even encourage you to get her feed.  It will be great encouragement to receive good and healthy recipes to motivate you to eat clean and take care of your body!

This Little Prayer of Mine teaches children that little prayers are OK, too!  And that God hears their prayers, even when we are scared.  Anthony did a wonderful job of speaking to a child’s heart.  And that does a parent’s heart good!  This is a perfect gift for any little one in your life…put it in their Easter Basket, a baby gift, or even just a surprise to have a new book!  If my boys love it as much as they do, I am certain the kiddos in your life will, too!  The book releases on February 16th.  However, if you click the links, you can reserve your copy to be shipped as soon as it drops.  Be the first!

Do any of us really know or care about the science behind the lotion we use on our bodies?  Not me.  All I care about is if it really works.  The science sounded good, but did it work?

Since they sent me a sample, I have kept it in my car…my usual lotion application location.  Weird, I know.  I love it.  They claim it takes a few days to build up the proper barrier with repeated use.  Not only did I love the mild and unoffensive smell, I loved the feel.  Even my five-year-old son loved to put it on.  The true test was the fact that having a newborn in the house and changing multiple diapers a day, my hands were washed and scrubbed often and always with a squirt of anti-bacterial lotion, as well.  Skin MD Natural really helped to keep my hands supple and avoid the added dryness caused by the colder season and extra washings.

I was very pleased with Skin MD Natural and will certainly complete what little bit is left in my sample bottle.  Check them out.  I think you will really like it!

When you visit The Library, you can find online books, books to download and print, and audio books to download to your own portable device.  Your child can also access the Book of the Month club for reading on-line and/or have a hardcover book mailed to you for the cost of shipping & handling.

A visit to The Store allows you the opportunity to dress your animal friend in various accessories, including t-shirts and pants, with or without custom embroidery!

The Post Office allows you to see up-to-date status of your book that will be mailed to you and allow you to send letters directly to My Storytime Friends. 

The Newstand is exactly that.  The place to go for the latest in news and special offers.

Gary Beary is a very cute and cuddly little bear that will tug at the heartstrings of your child.  The storybook we received with our box from Storytime Friends was a very cute story with good value training and moral lessons.  The on-line availability of the store and library keep the fun alive with the kids as they keep their animal in fashion and keep up with a new book every month.  Storytime Friends offers a fun new way to make reading fun and it offers a safe place for kids to go on the Internet to play and learn. 

To find the nearest location where you can purchase a Storytime Friend, go to their website and enter your zip code. Enjoy!

Cute Christmas sweater for the boys…

Smocked Santas for the girls…

And if I didn’t have 3 boys…

Orient Expressed clothes are precious, no matter what your choice of styles for your kiddos.  Not only can you buy from them on-line or find them in a store, but they have home shows, as well.  Go check them out for very cute holiday and non-holiday choices for your perfect angels!

I first took a bite of the “Pistachio and Rose Petal” chocolate bar and it melted in my mouth. Not only was it a beautiful piece of chocolate with pistachio’s and rose petals on the surface of the chocolate, but it tasted amazing. Then, I opened “The” box. “The” box was titled “Sugar and Spice.” I would have given it a name with “sinful” in the title. Since white chocolate is my favorite, let’s start with the…

Candy Cane White Chocolate Truffle…and I quote from the site, “Velvety white chocolate ganache infused with bits of peppermint candies in a pure white chocolate shell.”  Need I say more?  Then…

Gingerbread Milk Chocolate Truffle…Oh my!

And the Eggnog Dark Chocolate Truffle.  The minute that truffle passed my lips, I completely forgot that I didn’t like dark chocolate.  Eggnog?  What an unbelievably mouth-watering combination. 

I couldn’t get enough of these little pops of total indulgence.  In those few moments that I savored the chocolate rush in my mouth, I completely forgot that my boys were yelling for me upstairs and the baby was crying for his bottle.  Life altering, I tell you.  (Husbands, take note!  The perfect gift for your wife, “Just Because.”  You will win big points!)

Sucre has many other choices of all kinds of chocolates for the chocolate-lover in you.  The best part is that you can order on-line and taste what I tasted without ever leaving your home.  Stocking stuffers, Valentine’s Day, birthday, and best of all, “Just Because.”  You have got to get your hands on these divinely inspired little lovelies.  Whatever the occasion, you can’t miss out!

Sucre has offered a special discount for Penelope’s Pitstop readers.  When you place an order over $70, you will receive $10 off.  Coupon code: SUCRE.  A portion of every dollar spent goes to the Louisiana SPCA.

Thank you to Cynthia, one of the owners of Spa Lux in Tulsa (91^stand Memorial by Panera), who gave me a tour of their beautiful facility before I got my relaxing massage.  When you walk in to Spa Lux you are immediately in a peaceful, quiet and luxurious environment.  It is no wonder that Spa Lux was featured in Travel and Leisure magazine lately as one of the “Top 25 American Hotspots.”  They offer 7 different types of massage, 9 body polishes and masks, 10 facial treatments, waxing, mani’s and pedi’s, and hydro therapy with led lights.  They also have marble steam rooms, a cedar sauna, and individual lockers for your belongings.

They have a great relaxation room large enough for a good size spa party, too!  Come on girls, you can reserve the whole spa for your friends or family and they will even cater the food for you. It is a great idea for a shower or girls night out.  Drop by and visit or check out their website www.spalux.organd make your reservation for some relaxation.  Be sure and let them know that you read about them on Penelope’s Pitstop!

Spa Lux sounds pretty amazing!  If I lived in Tulsa, I would be knocking down their door wanting a massage for this tired old body…give them a try if you haven’t already!

I was also excited to receive Snow White because I now have 3 boys.  When we went to Disney World in February, the boys didn’t know any of the princesses! I was in shock.  Of course, they would rather be watching Toy Story and Lion King as opposed to the famous princess stories. I made it my mission to educate them on the classic Disney princesses and this was part of my plan.

Because I am no authority on Blu-Ray players, I will post the hi-lights here of all the advantages of purchasing the Blu-Ray Snow White (assuming you have a Blu-Ray player):

• Up to 6x better quality than DVD
• 7.1 Surround Sound
• Immersive activity with games and special features
• Kid proof-more scratch resistant (hallelujah!)
• Plays both Blu-ray and DVD discs
• Blu-ray also plays on Sony Playstation 3 players

That is exactly what I was going to say…

My eyes move directly to the 4th bullet point, “Kid proof-More scratch resistant.”  Praise the Lord!  It’s about time!  I can’t tell you how many DVD’s we have damaged because my kids insist upon carrying them, loading them, touching them.  This alone could sell a Blu-Ray disc to me!

Not only is the viewing quality exceptional, including the Surround Sound, but the Blu-Ray Combo Pack includes Games, a sneak peek in to Backstage Disney, and Bonus Features  like Karaoke!  You are sure to be impressed with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this time around.  To purchase your own, click here.  And if you have boys…don’t make the mistake of missing the classic Disney Princess education like I did.  

Everyone should know who Snow White is!

Today, The Pineapple Cove Baby has offered to give away one of their beautiful Toddler Changing Pads to a lucky Penelope’s Pitstop reader!  The Toddler Changing Pad being given away is  in Blue Antique Quilt, which is a very soft and subtle fabric.  The inside is made of a cushy and easy-clean fabric that is waterproof and a cinch to wipe clean.  Once the pad is unfolded, the bottom section has a clever zippered plastic pocket to store your diaper and wipes.  When the job is complete, it easily folds up into a concise, velcroed “tote” with a durable handle and you are on your way!  This is such a wonderful alternative to the bulky diaper bag when you just need to grab a diaper and go.

If you want this darling changing pad for yourself or a fabulous baby gift, just leave a comment below and let me know how you would use it!  Winners will be chosen using Random.org.  Feel free to submit your comments until midnight on August 24th.  Winner will be announced on August 25th.  Good Luck!!

I love the simplicity of Nelle & Lizzy’s jewelry.  You can personalize each piece of jewelry with each of your children’s names.  The stamp is simple and subtle, which adds to the beauty of the piece.  The perk to their “stamping” technique vs engraving is that the stamp makes a deeper indention and a bolder look.  The stamping and the simple font used just make me want one of every piece they make!  Nelle & Lizzy originated with their rings…single, double, and triple, all joined together or for stacking seperately.  Having such great success with their adorable rings, they have since added bracelets and necklaces to their line.  I can assure you, bracelet, ring or necklace girl that you are, you will want one of each! 

They were so kind to send me a sample ring to wear to truly appreciate the comfort and style of the ring.  I don’t usually wear more than my wedding ring and would be the best ring “tester” there is, as I wouldn’t normally choose a ring, let alone a triple ring.  I absolutely loved it!  I was amazed at how comfortable the triple ring was to wear and oh! the compliments I received while wearing it!  I loved looking down at my hand throughout the day and seeing the names stamped on the ring…to remind me of my children, remind me to say a quick prayer for them wherever they were.  I just loved it.  Of course, you can get any combination of ring and even get multiple rings to stack if you prefer not to have the rings joined.

The necklaces and bracelets are just as wonderful with each child’s name being stamped on a charm.  The beauty of the charms is that multiple shapes are available in different styles…heart, oval, circle, cross…and they look the cutest when they are all different.  I actually think I might be leaning toward a charm necklace for myself…I just can’t decide.

Should you choose to give a piece of Nelle & Lizzy jewelry for a gift, you will definitely not be disappointed.  When I received their ring, it was wrapped in the cutest little brown box with their monogrammed ribbon.  The box was filled with lavender and my ring was buried within.  What a darling presentation it was.   Even if it’s not a gift to anyone but yourself, you will certainly think it was as cute as I did!  Actually, I am going to order my necklace and when it arrives, let my hubs know how thoughtful he was to order such a great gift for a new Momma (of three!)     Please go check them out…the best part is, Nelle & Lizzy have offered Penelope’s Pitstop readers a 10% discount through August 23, 2009.  When you make your purchase, just use the code:  PenPit09.  Don’t delay!  Place your order while you can still get a discount!  And…let me know how you like them.