California Wine Club Giveaway (Ends 6/17)

Welcome to this awesome giveaway!  

It's the "Dads, Grads & Weddings California Wine Club Giveaway"!

Sponsored by: California Wine Club Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Hosted by: Baby Costcutters, Mom to Bed By 8, Powered by Mom and My Dairy Free Gluten Life

Do you need a gift idea for Dad? Or for the college graduate you know? Do you know someone getting married soon?  Or is there another special occasion where you need to bring a gift?

It's that time of year where we start to look for gifts for dads, college graduates, newlyweds, and for other special occasions. Wouldn't you like to give them a gift they can enjoy for as long as they want, that has variety, brings them something new each month, and is a high quality gift without the high prices?

A California Wine Club membership is perfect for both wine lovers and those who want to experience and learn more about wines. A membership to California Wine Club would be a unique and special gift that someone could enjoy for years to come. California Wine Club memberships also add touch of class to corporate parties as gifts and prizes (it's never too early to plan that company Christmas party)! Or treat yourself and start enjoying fine wines without the high price tag.  You can even share your wine at family gatherings, if you want! With new wines to try every month, and the ability to order favorite ones up to 50% off, you can't go wrong with a California Wine Club membership!

Reserve your Father's Day Gifts now and save - Reserve gifts now and get a 3 month gift for the prize of 2 months! GO HERE to find out more!

Isn't this prize awesome?  There aren't too many giveaways for wine, are there?  Make sure to take advantage of it!  

About the California Wine Club

Since 1990 The California Wine Club has introduced wine enthusiasts to California’s best artisan wineries. These small family-owned wineries handcraft wines in such limited amounts, they wines are rarely found outside the winery’s growing area. California Wine Club Guarantee: There is never any bulk, closeout or private label wine. Each wine club feature is hand-selected by the owners, Bruce & Pam and one that they proudly serve in their own home to family and friends. There are no wine of the month club membership fees, you can cancel anytime and every wine is 100% guaranteed.

What are the awesome prizes?  

TWENTY-FIVE Winners will each receive a THREE month membership to California Wine Club's Premier Club a $150 for each prize!

BONUS: The first month's shipment will include a Two Bottle wine tote, plus a $25 credit for future re-orders!

Open to residents of the continental United States only 21 years of age and older, event will end on June 17, 2013 @ 11:59pm EST. Enter on the rafflecopter below for your chance to win and GOOD LUCK!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: By entering this giveaway you agree to receive email communications from California Wine Club.  No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. My blog, The Philosopher's Wife is NOT responsible for product shipment/delivery or fulfillment. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

This event was organized byMomPoweredMedia please contact poweredbymomblog@gmail.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event! Remember to drink responsibly and do not drink and drive always have a designated driver when consuming alcohol. If you have any questions feel free to email Michelle at poweredbymomblog@gmail.com

Wordless Wednesday: Yet ANOTHER Vintage Poster

Source

Share your own family friendly Wordless Wednesday posts!  Don't forget that bloggers love comments! 

Happy Memorial Day

Source

Source

Source

Yes, I'm on a bit of a vintage kick at the moment! 

Wordless Wednesday: Vintage Dr. Pepper Signs

Source

Source

Source

Share your own family friendly Wordless Wednesday posts!  

Don't forget, all bloggers love comments and followers! 

Wordless Wednesday

Photo credit goes to the hubby for this cute little fish.

Share your own family friendly Wordless Wednesday post!  I love followers and comments, as do all bloggers.  (Just something to keep in mind.)

Teaching Time for Toddlers: Chore Charts

All Amazon links are my affiliate links. 

Chore charts.

There are two type of people in the world: those who like lists and those who don't.

Even though I don't use them often enough, I do like having lists and personal chore charts.  They present a clear goal and there is something satisfying about crossing off items as I go through the day.

Now that Catherine is getting older I think she's ready for a chore chart of sorts.  But where do I start?

A quick search on Pinterest brings up lots of results for making your own and printables.

There are also lots of pre-made options.  Melissa & Doug have a decent looking Magnetic Responsibility Chart.  Although the Board Dudes Magnetic Dry Erase Rewards Chore Chart would probably have more staying power--i.e. would work for older kids as well as toddlers.  I also really love these Chore Magnets.

Of course, just figuring out what type of chart I want to use is just the beginning.  The hard part is deciding what belongs on the chart!  Does simply getting dressed count as a chore that can be checked off?  I mean, sure, there are those days where that seems like a victory, but do I really want that to be considered a daily accomplishment to be lauded?

One of the aspects of the Montessori method that I really do like is the fact that they expect children to help in the home and do age appropriate chores.  (Rebecca has a great post called Chores With Children the Montessori Way.)  Michelle at Homeschool Your Boys has an awesome list of chores that you can expect your 2 and 3 year olds to do. (Here's a link to all of the age appropriate lists that she has.)

I think for now I am going to go a little "ghetto" and use Google Docs, I mean, Drive, a sleeve protector, and a dry erase marker . . . or stickers on a piece of paper.

Do you use chore charts for your toddlers?  What is on your charts?

Feel free to share your own toddler posts!  All I ask is that it is somehow toddler related.  I'd really love if you followed this blog somehow.  Be sure to check out some of the other linked up posts.  Oh, and don't forget, all bloggers LOVE comments! 

What I've Been Reading This Week

Here are some of the articles that I've read this week that I thought were particularly thought provoking, or worthy of mention.  

Even More Terrible Things Are Happening to the American Girl Brand Than You Thought
This just makes me sad.  I am a proud "Mama" to Samantha.  I loved all of the "original" stories.  It sounds like Mattel has sold out.  Sad.


Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Explains Why He Hates Fat Chicks
Wow.  This guy needs a reality check . . . or something like that.  I've never shopped at A&F, but I have picked up a few items from the thrift store here and there.

What A Week Of Groceries Looks Like Around the World
This is super fascinating! 

Have American Parents Got It All Backwards?
Interesting perspective.

A Nation of Wimps
This is along the same lines as the above, basically, is a parent's concern for their child actually doing more harm than good?  (To be perfectly honest, I skimmed some of this article due to length.)

Americans Warned: Home-Schoolers Stripped of Rights
I find it a little terrifying that the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated that homeschooling is not a "fundamental human right".  I also find it odd that Russia is the freest nation in which to homeschool.

Tests Say Most Store Honey Isn't Honey
Yet another article that makes me want to be a "crunchy health nut".  (You can read more about that in last Friday's post.)

Catholic, Gay, and Feeling Just Fine
This guy has seems to have a great handle on his Faith and provides a some much needed perspective.  

Homeschooler Uprising in America?
Of course there's an uprising!  As a K-12 homeschooled adult I find this to be a "Well, duh." article.  

It's Real, It's Legal, and It's Happening in America: Infant Infanticide
This article isn't anything new, but it is seriously heartbreaking.  Love this quote: "What could be more schizophrenic than deciding someone’s worth solely on the basis of subjective opinion?"

Pro-Life Without God
Yes! Love this: "most arguments against abortion do not require the existence of a god." 

Crocheted Amigurumi Giraffe

 Isn't this little guy cute?  I'm really happy how this Amigurumi Giraffe turned out!

I used some 100% cotton yarn from my stash instead of traditional giraffe colors.  I followed the pattern from (this is my affiliate link!) Easy Crochet Critters.  I really love this little booklet and highly recommend it.

The pattern is shockingly easy to follow, just make sure that you have something to use as a stitch marker.  I did not stuff the giraffe as firmly as I should have--so that is something to keep in mind for next time.  I also have yet to add eyes.  I just can't quite decide where to place them.  The model giraffe's eyes in the book seem too far apart, but putting them closer together doesn't seem right either.  I guess for now my poor little giraffe will just be blind.    

(If you like this project you might also want to check out the Amigurumi Elephant I made a while ago!) 

I love sharing my projects at various parties, including these. 

WIPS

This week I've been working on my bin of unfinished projects.  I finished off a couple of hats and an amigurumi giraffe.  (I made an elephant a while back, and I will share pictures of my finished giraffe very soon! UPDATE: Check out the giraffe here!)  I also have been making some Houndstooth Pot Holders.

On the queue for today is a silvery infinity scarf and an amigurumi bird.  The scarf is very similar to this one that I made previously.  I am using a super soft bamboo yarn.  I love that there is a thin strand of metallic thread running through the yarn.  It gives it a subtle sparkle.  The bird is from (this is my affiliate link) Easy Crochet Critters.  I am using some left-over off white Simply Soft yarn.

I will be sharing this post at the following:

Frontier Dreams with Nicole

Work In Progress with Tami

Yarn Along with Ginny

Wordless Wednesday

Just a little something I whipped together.

Share your own family friendly Wordless Wednesday posts! 

7 Quick Takes

Today is scary article linking day!

1. I am by no means "crunchy". I am also by no means a "health nut". But I have to say, the more I read and learn the more the more I find myself leaning towards those lifestyles.

2. I've never been big fan of Chicken McNuggets, but did you know that only half of the nugget is actually meat?  (Read more here.)  Or that Aunt Jemima Blueberry Pancakes actually have no blueberries! (See here.)

3.  Kraft recently was big proponent in getting previously banned (toxic) meat preservatives re-instated.  (Here's that story.)

4. As my daily entries in My Fitness Pal so cruelly show me, just one can of my beloved Dr. Pepper puts me well over my recommended sugar consumption for the day.  (And don't even get me started on how terrible diet pop is for you!)

5.  This article, which gives me concerns about Johnson & Johnson has been floating around Facebook the past couple of days.

6.  Oh, and don't forget that Monsanto's BT Corn is a registered pesticide!  I hadn't heard a whole lot about Monsanto until after I saw this post on Facebook.  

7.  Good grief, even the "safe" and "green" light bulbs are a threat! (Here's that story.)

Visit Jen for more Quick Takes.

WIPS

All Amazon links are my affiliate links.  

Works In Progress

I finally finished my Chevron Afghan!  Here's a teaser picture, but once the sun is out and the porch railing is dry I will put together a full post with some full sized pictures.  I'm really happy with it.

Since I wasn't able to dig up any more of the Big Lots charm packs I decided to make the ones that I do have into a doll quilt.  Catherine is pretty excited about it, which just absolutely melts my heart.  (I know that she'll love it for about five minutes and then move onto the next greatest thing, but for now I love to hear her asking, "Is this for me?  Is it for MY dolly?")

I am using it as a practice run for using the free motion presser foot.  I've never used one before and it certainly takes some getting used to!  I do have a question though, for any one experienced using one of these, I'm having a really difficult time getting the stitch to look right on the back side (bottom), what do I need to do?  I've played with the tension quite a bit, but that hasn't seemed to make it better.

Now that I've finished the Chevron Afghan it's time to tackle my bucket of half or mostly finished crochet projects.

I will be sharing this post at the following:

Frontier Dreams with Nicole

Work In Progress with Tami

Yarn Along with Ginny

PS: I've set myself a blogging goal to have 5,000 Facebook "likes" before July!  Click here if you'd like to help me achieve this goal.  Thanks so much.  

Wordless Wednesday

Share your own (family friendly) Wordless Wednesday post!