Spring is here. You know what that means! For many of us, the fresh smell of Spring air, the warm sunshine, gentle breeze, the budding leaves and flowers blooming put us in the mood to...CLEAN! Okay, maybe it's just me!

For me, the first hint of Spring makes me want to open up all my windows, let the fresh air into the house, and start changing our Winter bed linens into our light, crisp, fresh Spring linens!

Every year at this time of the year, Hubby braces himself for what surprises he'll come home to. Usually this means I've rearranged all the furniture in the house, put Winter things away and have gotten rid of things we don't need. I'm not sure if it annoys him that every Spring he has to memorize where I moved the furniture so he doesn't bump into the piano or the couch when he goes downstairs in the dark to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night!

This year, we're (okay, I'M) doing our Spring cleaning with the help of Green Works.  I was introduced to Green Works the other year by my friend, GadgetGirl. She uses Green Works in her classroom, as she is ever conscious of cleaners used around her students. Prior to  being introduced to Green Works, I used my Mother-in-Law's homemade cleaning recipes which entailed lots of white vinegar, baking soda, water, and lots of muscle power, time, and patience!  I also used other popular products for hard to clean stains. This said, I always had the environment and our safety in mind.  I am the first to admit that I worry about harsh chemicals.

Spring cleaning isn't just about getting rid of all our Winter items and rearranging the house though.  It's about *gasp* my most dreaded chore of all!  Deep cleaning our old farm house!  I think I'm going to cry just thinking about it!
Enter Green Works.

I use some of their products already and am a big fan! They've got a wide array of products, including their All-Purpose Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Multi-Surface Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner and Dish Soap.

I was sent a wonderful package of Green Works products. The package contained:

•  Green Works natural all-purpose cleaner
• Green Works natural bathroom cleaner
• Green Works natural glass and surface cleaner
• Green Works natural toilet bowl cleaner
• Green Works natural dishwashing cleaner (original)
• Green Works natural dishwashing cleaner (tangerine)
• Green Works natural biodegradable cleaning wipes

Oh, boy! I cannot tell you how excited I was to clean my bathroom! Let me tell you why Green Works products make me happy!

This is why I am excited about Green Works!

Green Works products are:

•      Made with plant- and mineral-based cleaning ingredients

•     Come from biodegradable ingredients that are naturally derived

•     Not tested on animals

•     Acknowledged by the EPA’s Design for the Environment program

•     Able to clean with extraordinary cleaning power and without the harsh chemical fumes and residues

These are all very important to me. 

With a farmer for a husband, a very busy and messy 3 year old daughter, and students living in our home several months of the year, I need something that cleans well, does the job the first time (there's nothing I hate more than having to clean and re-clean things!), I am very happy with the Green Works products.


To start off, I have to say that I love the Green Works toilet bowl cleaner.
On our farm, our water always stains our sinks and toilet. I'm constantly cleaning the sinks and toilet, but to no avail.  I manage to get them clean, but a day later, they're stained again.  It's enough to drive a Mama batty!

I actually didn't have any expectations when I tried to Green Works toilet cleaner.  I didn't think it would really remove the water stains.  I don't know why I had this misconception that if a product was natural, it wouldn't have that heavy duty cleaning power to get things super clean.

Voila! A super clean toilet! I'm so happy!

By the way, I'm going to spare you the before pic!  Let me tell you, never in a million years would I have ever thought I'd be sharing a photo of our toilet with everyone on the 'net!

Another Green Works product that is on my "Top 3" list is the tangerine dishwashing soap!
It cleans really well, cuts grease....and I love the smell of citrus!  Green Works, you had me at "tangerine"!

My absolute favourite Green Works product is by far the All-Purpose Cleaner.  It's gentle enough on the environment, safe to use around my 3 year old, yet it's got incredible cleaning power. I use it on everything.  Seriously! I do!
Photo of Little One last year when I was trying to do my Spring Cleaning. Yup! That's butt paste smeared all over my oven door and all over Little One! I almost died when I saw this! When Little One is quiet, it means she's up to something!

It cuts through grease, grime, and dirt! Hello! I live on a farm! Grease, grime, and dirt are part of my every day life! Do you feel sorry for me? Haha! I do! This means I have to clean EVERY day to stay on top of things! Life on a farm = a lot of cleaning...all the time!

I am very pleased with all the Green Works products I tried and will say that I believe this will be the brand I'll be using from now on.

I'd also like to let you  you about some fabulous Green Works deals at select retailers:
I know! Great deals, aren't they? So exciting! I love that I can clean my kitchen counter tops, stove, appliances, and basically everything...and feel good knowing Green Works is safe to use in my house with a 3 year old around.

I know, I know.  People always ask me if I blog about only the good things or if I only write positive blog reviews.  In all honesty, the opinions on this blog are all true and all honest.  I cannot think of anything I don't like about the Green Works products that I've tried.

I'll let you be the judge though!  Green Works is giving YOU the chance to try out their products! 
One very lucky Life on Manitoulin reader will receive a Green Works Gift Pack! The gift pack includes the Green Works all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, multi-surface cleaner,
glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, 2 dish liquids and cleaning wipes!

For as long as I can remember, Hallmark has been the place we've always gone to for cards for all those special occasions.  Hallmark always has the perfect words and the perfect cards for every holiday, milestone or event.  They not only have the perfect cards, but also special gifts for all occasions.

I remember even as a kid, I'd pick out a special Hallmark card for Mother's Day and Father's Day. While I was at the Hallmark store, I'd also pick up a Mother's Day gift for Mom that had a really sweet quote on it. Mom loves sentimental gifts.  I used to get Dad a "Best Dad" or "Father's Day" picture frame.  Can you imagine how many picture frames my parents have in their house?

As a member of the #HallmarkPressPause Panel, I was given a selection of Hallmark products.

One of the items that caught my interest right away was the Stationary Tower.
The Stationary Tower is a great gift for Mother's Day.  It comes with a decorative pen and is beautifully packaged for easy to give gifts.  They're not only fabulous for Mother's Day gifts, but also for other occasions...like just showing appreciation.  They make great teacher appreciation gifts too!
MSRP: $12.95

I tried to open my Hallmark package when Little One wasn't in the room, but she ended up finding the items anyway.  She immediately ran for the Interactive Storybook & Story Buddy.

Nugget - Interactive Storybook & Story Buddy is an adorable stuffed animal that responds to a variety of phrases in the book.  I was hoping to give Nugget to Little One for Easter.  Let's hope that she forgets that she saw him! He is so cute and cuddly. A guaranteed hit with any child!
MSRP: $29.99

Spring is also the time when everything comes to life.  How perfect is Bloomin' Expressions?!
Bloomin' Expressions will put a smile on that special loved one's face.  Express yourself by sharing  the happy, joyful feeling that comes with seeing a sunny yellow flower. When you press the button, the petals open to reveal the perfect words.  There are four designs available.
$19.95

Another item my 3 year old loves is the Squawkin' Egg Droppin' Hen!  I thought she'd be afraid of it, as she doesn't seem to like the element of surprise with some dancing and singing decorative holiday items.  This time, she was enthralled! She kept making that hen sing and lay eggs! Very amusing.
Squawkin' Egg Droppin' Hen coordinates with The Egg-cellent Mama Hen book. The singing, egg dropping hen is a cute addition for Spring and Easter!
MSRP: $30.95 ($15.95 with the purchase of 3 cards)

Gear Shaped Frames are ideal for getting Dad's motor running! They're fun to stack and move on a desk or bookcase.  They're great "manly men" gifts! I immediately thought these would be great for Little One to give to her Daddy for Father's Day, as they remind her of the gears she sees on the farm all the time. Our three year old immediately said, "Oh! GEARS!!! Like in Daddy's farm equipment!"
MSRP: $7.95 each (Limited Time Offer: Buy 1 card, get 2 Gear Shaped Frames for $12.00. Buy 2 cards and get 3 Gear Shaped Frames for $15.00)

Of course, we can't forget Hallmark cards, gift bags, and other stationary items!

Thank you to Hallmark for the wonderful items and for reminding us to take the time to pause and appreciate the everyday moments.
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Hallmark Canada has something special for YOU this season too!  We're having a giveaway on my blog!
Hallmark will give one lucky reader a Bloomin' Expressions flower! Fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter!

Stains are a part of my every day life, and they drive me absolutely crazy!  I live on a farm and I have a three year old child.  From Hubby's barn clothes, Little One's food and grass-stained outfits to furniture forever marked by the mess that little hands can create, I am constantly trying to remove stains.

It's frustrating.  It's aggravating.  It makes me want to cry.

I did something really silly last year and bought myself a beautiful comforter set with matching bed sheet, pillows, and the works!  Even though I live on a farm with a forever mud-stained husband and daughter, I long to have pretty things around me.

Oh, I neglected to tell you that my comforter set was white! Ha! I know. Married to a farmer and with a three year old...and I bought a white comforter set?!

Sure enough, my beautiful white comforter got stained.  Little One managed to find chocolate Easter eggs that we were supposed to hide on Easter!  I have absolutely no idea how she found the bag with all the Easter items!
I tried to remove the stains with a regular cleaner, but to no avail.  Then I tried OxiClean.  Yesterday, when I needed it the most, OxiClean Versatile Powder Stain Remover arrived at my door! I kid you not!  As I was trying to remove the stain, the delivery truck pulled up with my OxiClean parcel!
Voila! No more stain! I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive.  I am always a bit apprehensive when a company makes such incredible claims!  I was surprised at just how well the product did its job!
OxiClean Versatile Powder Stain Remover is an oxygen-based stain fighter that is chlorine-free, colour-safe, and designed for maximum strength stain removal for laundry AND around the house!  I had no idea that it could tackle stains on multiple surfaces like carpet, upholstery, grout stains, kitchen and bath surfaces or that it could also work on outdoor things like gutters, unfinished decks and patio furniture!

Thank you, OxiClean! You have no idea how happy you have made me.

Now, time to try to tackle all the other stains my three year old has left on our furniture!  I think OxiClean may have just saved my sanity.  Oh, it may have saved my husband's sanity as well.  I'm sure he's tired of hearing me say I slaved to get stains out and am frustrated that I just can't get them out!

Disclosure -  I was given a OxiClean Versatile Powder Stain Remover to facilitate this review.  All the opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

I grew up with a childhood as polar opposite as my husband's as possible.  As children, whenever my brothers and I wanted something, our parents would make us 'work' to earn it. This meant doing chores like tidying up our rooms, washing the car, or mowing the lawn.  Sometimes we'd have to get straight A's in class or do really well on a test in order for our parents to buy us that special item we wanted.

Though we had to work for what we wanted, we were pretty fortunate.  We got to go on yearly family vacations to New York, Florida, and Trinidad and Tobago.  Every Friday evening, we'd go out for dinner at a restaurant of our choosing. We certainly weren't lacking in anything.

My husband's life was quite different.  At 6 years old, he already had his own business.  He raised and sold rabbits. No, not your cute Easter bunny rabbits! He sold rabbits for eating.  I know. This makes me so sad! I remember we had four bunnies when I was a kid.  One day, Dad told me that he gave them to a farmer and that the bunnies would live a happy life on a big farm with lots of greenery and room for them to run around on.  To this day, I still want to believe that is what happened and that they weren't sold for meat.

Hubby's mom keeps telling me of how she made all of their clothing by hand.  She made all their bread, yogurt, and basically everything the family needed.  If ingredients weren't available from their farm or the local store, then they simply didn't need it.

Though I have been married to a farmer for six years now, I am still adjusting to life on the farm.  My mother-in-law has given me a few gems and I thank her for imparting such wisdom.

1. Don't know how many potatoes to cook for a meal? The standard rule is "One potato for each person, and one for the pot."
2. Those plastic tabs for the bread bags (if you buy bread from the store) are useful to use for scrubbing stuck on food on your dishes! They won't scratch like metal implements would either!
3. Water is precious.  Use it sparingly.
4. Hang laundry out to dry.
5. Grow your produce in the Spring and Summer, and in the Fall, prepare them (freeze, preserve, etc) for Winter use.
6. Always keep loaves of bread, garden vegetables, and applesauce in your freezer! They come in handy when you have impromptu visits from neighbours!
7. Be thankful for all the little blessings.  We may not have a lot, but we are rich in many other ways.
8. Always appreciate the sunsets and sunrises.

 Most people who see Little One eat are always shocked for two reasons:

1. She is an eating machine!  The kid is so tiny, but can eat more than some adults can.  Point in case, tonight she ate a grilled pork chop, a side of mashed potatoes, and a huge serving of roasted vegetables! Then she ate two kiwis and had two glasses of milk.  She is 3 years old and weighs 28.5 lbs.  With the way she eats, I am surprised she isn't heavier!
2. She absolutely loves greens!  There isn't a vegetable she doesn't like (so far as we can tell).  I don't know about kohlrabi, because I never serve it. That's one veg that Mama doesn't like!

I hope that her love of veggies isn't a passing trend.  I absolutely love that we can feed her anything and she'll eat it.  Well, with the exception of French Fries or overly sugary foods.  We've found that she just doesn't like those things.  Not complaining though! I keep waiting for the day that friends have warned me about.  Friends always tell me that one day, Little One will wake up and be picky, picky, picky and that all kids go through the phase where they don't want to eat anything their parents serve them.

While it may one day happen that she just refuses to eat her veggies, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that day never comes.  She inhales cucumber and eats broccoli like it's going out of fashion.  The funny thing is that we've never forced vegetables on her.  Hubby and I eat lots (and lots) of veggies, so they've always been included in all our meals.  We feed Little One everything we eat, so there's nothing unusual to her about veggies (or tofu, Quinoa, sushi, lentils, etc).

One thing I have found that I think may be one of the reasons Little One enjoys her veggies (other than to bright colours and the flavour) is that she is included in the growing process of her food.  Little One helps me plant our veggies from seed and watches them grow into plants.  It's an amazing process to witness and it's so much fun to share this with her.

She may not fully understand the scientific happenings, but she sees her peas and beans growing into plants with flowers and then eventually yielding something that is edible.  I let her help me pick our vegetables and wash them too.  

My Mom always tells me that when I was a kid, I didn't like to eat and that I used to fall asleep at the table because she wouldn't let me leave the table until I finished my supper.  She also told me stories of all those poor kids in China who had no food and that still never helped.  I'm wondering if every parent has uttered those stories to their kids in order to coerce them into eating?

In any case, I've got a little veggie monster who loves food. Surprisingly, even Avocado & Cucumber Ice Cream!

I know it sounds a little silly, but I've always wanted my kitchen to be fully stocked with all the items that a small cafe would have.  Since we entertain guests quite often at our farm, I want to be able to serve up some amazing coffees, teas, lattes, and other beverages.  Who doesn't love playing barista, right?!
Haven't you always wanted to try your hand at latte art? It's quite the skill and not simple to perfect!

My dream kitchen/wanna-be coffee house would include a huge variety of Torani syrups and several varieties of specialty coffees and teas!

BuyCoffeeCanada.com sent me a variety of amazing products to try.  The Torani Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup is the perfect way to inject some flavour to your drinks. All Torani syrups are 20% off on the BuyCoffeeCanada site! Instead of $14.95 for each 750 mL bottle, you can purchase a bottle for $11.95. The sugar-free Torani syrups come in so many delicious flavours like Torani Sugar-Free Almond Syrup, Torani Sugar-Free English Toffee Syrup, Torani Sugar-Free Coconut Syrup. Hazelnut, Irish Cream, Lime...and more!


 While perusing the BuyCoffeeCanada site, I found the Torani Recipes link! They've got recipes for everything from alcoholic beverages, refreshing drinks, and coffee based beverages! Oh, Torani! I am in love!

Another one of my favourites on the BuyCoffeeCanada.com site is the Chai!  David Rio Chai Tea is the perfect hot or cold treat.  I was able to sample the David Rio Green Tortoise Chai, David Rio Sugar-Free Orca Spice Chai, David Rio Sugar-Free Decaf Flamingo Vanilla Chai, and the David Rio Tiger Spice Chai.
It was difficult to choose a favourite flavour, as they were all delicious.  The David Rio Chai teas were perfect for an impromptu visit from a friend who doesn't drink coffee.  We jokingly call ourselves "Tea Grannies" because we love our tea! She had never tasted flavoured Chai beverages before, since I usually just make plain Chai.

Needless to say, the David Rio Chai was a hit.  The one my friend enjoyed the most is the Flamingo Vanilla.

BuyCoffeeCanada.com is selling David Rio Chai at 10% off on all sizes (12 pack, 14 oz, and 4 lbs).

With both Hubby and me being hot beverage lovers, I'm glad we now know about BuyCoffeeCanada!

BuyCoffeeCanada.com also sent over some Biscotti! What a treat!  Guess who quickly snatched up the Biscotti?  That's right.  Little One! Yes, she also had her pajamas on backward!
Disclosure - I was sent a variety of products from Buy Coffee Canada for review purposes.  All the opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

You've been there.  You've spent an afternoon shopping with the little one and have to lug back half a dozen bags that won't fit in that tiny compartment underneath the stroller.  It's a pain.  It's cumbersome, inconvenient, and Mommy only has two hands!

The Mommy Hook is your solution to this predicament.  The Mommy Hook is a stroller hanger and a must-have for every Mom! It's durable, lightweight, versatile, and fits pretty much all stroller handles and shopping cart handles.
The Mommy Hook even comes in a variety of attractive colours to choose from.  I love how the handle is comfortable enough for me to hold in one hand and attach a few bags to so I can carry everything in one hand...and hold my little one's hand with the other!

Trust me, it's saved me on several occasions!
 Little One and I were on our way to Grandma's farm with a few bags to carry over.  We came back with just one bag. The Mommy Hook can carry a lot of weight, because that bag sure was heavy!
 These photos were taken just two weeks ago.  I cannot believe how much snow we had! Now, we have NO snow! Unbelievable how much can change in such a short time! Now we've got grass...and a lot of mud!
I usually leave my Mommy Hook in my purse/bag, because you never know when you'll need it!  They'd make a great addition to a diaper cake or gift basket for an expectant mom too!

WHERE TO BUY

The Mommy Hook is available at

• Walmart
• Babies R Us
• Toys R Us
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Buy Buy Baby

Disclosure - I was given The Mommy Hook for review purposes.  All the opinions on this blog are honest and my own.

Yes, you read correctly.  I did say Avocado and Cucumber Ice Cream!  I know it sounds like an odd combination, but it's actually very delicious and refreshing!

I'm laughing right now, because friends who already think I cook "weird" food will not believe that we had avocado and cucumber ice cream for dessert tonight! 

The recipe came to me by total fluke.  I hosted a dinner party last week and we had left over cucumber and avocado that were left over on the serving platter.  Right after the guests left, I put the cucumber and avocado in a container and stuck them in the freezer.  I don't know why I did that.  I never freeze cucumber or avocado.  I usually use them in a salad or in another dish immediately after, so they don't go to waste.

I was cleaning out the freezer today and saw the container of frozen avocado and cucumber.  What to do with frozen avocado and cucumber? Make ice cream!

INGREDIENTS
2 avocados, sliced (frozen)
1/2 a cucumber, sliced and peeled (frozen)
1 to 2 cups milk

• In my blender, I added all ingredients and pureed them.  Because the avocado and cucumber were frozen, I didn't need to add any ice to make the ice cream in the blender.  If you're using fresh, then you'd have to use ice to make it thick.
• You can add sugar if you want to sweeten it.  Most people like their desserts on the sweet side. A natural sweetener would work well, like .  I didn't want to add sugar and found the ice cream tasted delicious and refreshing as it was.  If you want, I suppose instead of milk, you could also add coconut milk.
• You can serve as soon as you've made the ice cream or you can put it in a container and put it in the freezer for a while so it could firm up.

I know it sounds like a rather unusual treat, but have an open mind and give it a try.  You might be pleasantly surprised.  Not all ice cream flavours have to be overly saccharine, sugar laden, or of the chocolate, strawberry, or Rocky Road variety :)

My 3 year old daughter just loves this treat!  I'm glad, as it reminds me of desserts I've tried while abroad.  When you're traveling in hot countries, it's nice to have a cool, refreshing, light treat. Good news: Even my farmer husband loves it! I was quite surprised! He says it tastes like cantaloupe and didn't expect the flavour to be so tasty!


Message/Lesson/Moral of the story: TRY things first, before you pass judgment! You may find yourself pleasantly surprised!

There's something so special about the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren.  Little One is extremely attached to her Grampy.  It melts my heart to see just how much she loves him.  Her Grampy is her world.
 I sometimes think she prefers him over her own mother!  I'm not kidding!  She constantly asks if she could go over and spend the night.

It took me forever to let her have a sleepover at her grandparents' house.  Mostly it was because of attachment issues and separation anxiety...on my part!  Little One has absolutely no qualms about spending the night at her grandparents' and she definitely doesn't miss or look for us! To be honest, it makes me sad!  Other friends have kids who will NOT leave their sides.  I've got a kid who is fiercely independent and WANTS to go off on her own and spend the night at her grandparents' house. She's only three years old!

When I see my Dad and Little One together, I want to cry.  Their relationship is just so beautiful.  She is definitely a Grampy's girl!  I hope that years from now, their relationship is still as close.  She just loves him so very much.









Little One says, "Grampy is my best, best, best, BEST friend!"

As someone who loves to cook for my family and friends, I am constantly looking for new recipes to try out and add to my repertoire.  Over the past few years, I've collected a pretty impressive number of tasty recipes.

I've got so many recipes I love and I need to keep them handy.  For this reason, I really appreciate Cook'n Recipe Organizer.


Cook'n allows you to search the internet for the perfect recipe. Simply enter the ingredients you have on hand, and Cook'n will find a meal you can make with them!

Some of the Cook'n features that I am impressed with are:

• You can publish family cookbooks
• Analyze nutrition
• Scale recipes for the amount you want to serve
• Sync recipes to iPhone, iPad or Android
• Make menu plans and automatic grocery list

WIN IT!

If you love to cook or if you do the majority of the cooking in your household, you might want to try out the Cook'n Recipe Organizer.  Good news for you! Cook'n is giving one lucky reader of mine their very own Cook'n Recipe Organizer!

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter the giveaway!