The best cookware ever!

Curtis Stone Durapan Cookware

This cookware is amazing! I had the copper pans, the stainless steel pans, other nonstick pans, and they all sucked. Everything I cooked either stuck to the pan, or burned, and cleanup was terrible. I really don't mind cooking, but I hate cleaning the pots and pans after cooking.

I also had a ton of Pampered Chef stoneware, but they were so heavy, and things still got burned or stuck to the stoneware.

I decided to get rid of everything that I do not like, use, is too hard to clean, or to heavy to lift and just get cookware that is actually good.

Now, you may not know this, but I am a huge HSN fan. lol I watch all the time, and probably buy too many things, but I have been trying to buy things that simplify my life and make things easier.

I'm on a mission to get rid of everything in my home that is not necessary, and get my home organized. I will post about all of the things that I am doing, and the items that really make things easier.

Anyhow, I wanted to share a little bit about this cookware, because it is a life changer!!

Look at these videos! Literally no matter what I make in them, they just wipe clean. NOTHING STICKS! And the Durapan material the pans are made of are not like your normal non stick coating. I don't worry about these scraping off or being harmful. They are durable and you can tell that while you are cooking.

Now this is the true test. EGGS!! Oh, I hate making eggs because they stick and the skillets are hard to clean. Not anymore! I literally used my hand to wipe out the dried eggs!

Today I made chicken fajitas. Look at how the vegetables cooked and browned and did not stick or burn! That has never happened for me in any other pan. I know I've said a lot, and posted a lot of pictures, but I really, really love this cookware, and just wanted to share it with you all too!

I got this set on sale for $79.00 at HSN. It is normally $99.00. It will go on sale again at some point, or you can also make 3 payments on it straight from your bank account and not have to pay any interest. It is totally worth the price. I will never buy any other brand of cookware again. I am going to get the larger cookware set at some point as well, now that I have tried it out.

Selling Wrap/Wreathes to help friend get to MD Anderson!

I am selling my Maya Wrap to help out my good friend Amanda. She has stage 4 colon cancer, and has run out of options here in Oklahoma. 

She just go approved to go to MD Anderson, which will allow her to try clinical trials, and other sources of possible cures. 

She is also making wreaths to finance her way. Here is what she wrote on her cancer page:

A little background: Amanda found out that she had colon cancer when she was pregnant. They wanted her to abort the baby. She refused, and did some chemo while pregnant. Her baby is perfect! BUt she is at stage 4, and is fighting hard every day. She is one of the toughest people I've ever met. She has ran out of options here and is now eligible to go to MD Anderson, but needs help getting there. Hotel rooms, food, gas, etc... 

But here is what she wrote: "Alright, everyone!!! The great news is, today I was able to schedule my first consultation to go to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas for October 4th. They told me to prepare to be there for 3-5 business days. I can't thank my fellow cancer sister, Riley Anne, enough for offering to meet me there (8 hour drive for her)!!!!!!!

I'm facing challenges, though. The caseworker I was assigned to said they are unable to assist patients with lodging for their initial visit. I called the American Cancer Society and at this time, they have a hold on assisting anyone in the Houston area due to flooding. Hotel stay alone will cost about $400-500, and that's going the cheap route. Ryan will be missing out on overtime pay because he has to take off to be home to get our oldest off to school.

To help with the cost, I'm going to be making wreaths. I can do Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas wreaths. Please let me know if you might be interested. No obligation as a majority of materials will come from my craft stash. They will be $50 each or $55 shipped (huge discount on shipping as it runs about $15-payment must be received prior to shipping). As I make them, I'll post them. Thank you!!"

Friends have also set up a fundraiser page:

"Amanda Meyer has been down a long road and isn't done yet! She learned she had stage 4 colon cancer when she was pregnant with her first child. Since then, she has been through chemo, had several surgeries and became a foster mother! Now she has secured a very important appointment in Houston and needs help with the funds to get there. Her husband will have to stay behind with the children and will lose time at work. Could you spare even $5 to help her? Every little bit will help. Amanda is a fighter!"

So, if anyone may be in the market for a Maya wrap, I have the one in the pictures available to sell. It is $79.95 new. I probably didn't even use this three times. It has a  lightly padded shoulder and a zippered pocket. 

I would like to get $50 for her but make an offer if you would like it but can't do that much. I would like to help her out as much as I can and right , now, I just don't have much extra cash, so I figured I was going to sell this anyways, so I am hoping it sells fast so I can help fund her trip! 

And if you are interested in any wreaths, let me know and I  will put you in contact with her. She will custom make them however you want. 

And if you just want to help out, you can donate on her fundraiser page. 

Thank you guys! 

Toddler Nature Journals

One of my favorite memories with my older children was making nature journals. My niece has been staying with me, and I decided to let the kids make nature journals. 

The journal's I did with my older kids were more detailed, of course, but for a five, and two year old, I just decided to let them gather items, and tape them to a page. I then put the page in a page protector, and into a folder. 

They think it's super fun, and are always looking for anything they can bring home and put in their nature journals. 

As they get older, I will have them do extra things in their journals. They can draw a picture of the tree that they got a leaf from. They can write a paragraph about a tree, flower, anything they put in their book. They can take photographs. 

You can add anything, really, to a nature journal. My oldest son's has snake skins! UGH!! 

But this is an easy way to start toddlers, and young children, who don't have much of an attention span, on nature journals. 

I am super excited to announce that I am back on The Homeschool Review Crew team! I look forward to writing reviews, and getting back in touch with everyone!

Some of our wedding photos!

We got married almost a year ago. I can't believe it! It is almost our first anniversary. I am hoping that we can get the same room at the Bed and Breakfast that we spent our wedding night at!