First Aid Kit, Recycle that wipes box!

For many years I have kept a first aid kit in my car. It is not fancy and I did not run out and purchase one with all the bells and whistles, I mean, who needs snake bite stuff when you are driving down the freeway? I keep my kit under the front seat of my car and I always know where to find it. My kit most likely should include more than what it has in it, but for the most part it has the most important things in it. I use an empty baby wipes box, it is a good way to recycle. It is also sturdy and has a good latch on it. Every so often I will restock and throw out the bad stuff. I can't even begin to tell you how helpful this has been. It is very well used! Nice for when you are at the playground and someone scrapes his/her knee!

Here is what I keep in my kit:

assorted size bandaids

gauze

an emergency blanket ( metallic foil one)

hand sanitizer

tampons

pads

antibiotic ointment

antidiahreal pills

benadryl

tweezers

(I took a cpr/first aid class and the instructor told us it was a good idea to keep some pads and tampons in our kits, they would be very useful if there was a large wound that needed to be kept covered and they absorb ALOT!)

The Antidiahreal pills have come in handy when someone in the car gets sick and we are on a road trip or on a long sunday drive. Benadryl is a no brainer for our family we all have some sort of allergy and it is just much better to have that on hand.

This is the photo of my kit not all there but most of it.

This is the kit I keep in my home. It has all the same basic stuff with a few minor differences. I do have antibiotic ointment in mine but it is not pictured. I also use a salve in my kit. It is Grampa's Salve and I know that you can find it online. I don't know where I purchased mine, but it was the best thing I ever bought. My kids use it for every thing from chapped lips to splinters and blisters, my husband uses it on cuts and scrapes. It has wonderful all natural pain relievers in it (Birch bark extract). Also in my kit is the bee and wasp sting ease, peroxide, and some other pain relievers. I keep the kit in the linen closet. I am going to make a small one for my kitchen drawer, I am always cutting myself, and need a bandaid. A pair of tweezers and some scissors were added this time. (not shown)
If full size bottles of peroxide or rubbing alcohol will not fit into your box you can get travel size bottles at the dollar store. Just remember to label them before putting them into your box.

I think this is such a great idea, that I am putting one together, and I am going to give it away! That's right this is my very first give away!!! To be entered you need to leave a comment telling me if there is anything else you think should be included in the Car First Aid Kit. If you are reading this on facebook you need to come to my blog and comment there!

www.holeykneesanddragonflies.blogspot.com

The last day to enter will be Sunday February 28th. I will post the winner on my blog Monday, March 1st. Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you!

This was the first time I have ever read a Jane Austen Novel. That being said, I consider myself a very good reader, quick too. But, I really struggled with this book! I know it was the language of the era. I just had the hardest time getting through it. The Style it is written in, was also a challenge. Come on Jane Austen, a 110 word run on sentence...Your killing me here. I loved the insights that the editors placed in the sidebar. It really helped me to understand the culture and the characters. If you are going to read Jane Austen for the first time I would recommend the insight edition. This book was provided to me through the Bethany House Publishers to review for free.

Homemade Vanilla????

Oh yes, There is nothing that compares, and you know that it is real and natural and nothing added except vodka and vanilla beans.

So here is the cool thing, Costco carries Vanilla Beans around Christmas and they are a really great deal! 10 vanilla beans for $11.49 you can't beat that! or so I thought... Until I was at Costco last week and they had their vanilla beans marked down to $6.49. WHAT!!!! That is insane and I have the best husband in the world, cuz he made me pick some up! And they had about 2 or three pallets left...

So how do you make the vanilla you ask? Just go down to your local state liquor store and pick up some of the cheapest vodka you can find. Mine was $3.49 a bottle. Then either pick up a decorative bottle at the dollar store, or you can just open the vodka and drop in the split vanilla beans. Replace the lid and put it in a dark cupboard for 6 weeks and VOILA! You have real vanilla! You might want to give it a good shake every week but other than that it will make itself. The photo above is after 1 week. I made this in January. We are now on week 4 I think...

book review

Recently I signed up to review books through Bethany house publishers. The first three books arrived last week and I have finished the first one.

The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

As Lord Bradley learns a terrible secret, he glimpses a figure on the grounds. Fearing a spy has overheard, he is stunned to discover the intruder is a woman with her throat badly injured. To keep Olivia from spreading his secret, he gives the girl a post, confining her to his estate. With mysteries of her own to hide, Olivia complies. But as their secrets catch up with them, will their hidden pasts ruin their hope of finding love?I really thought that I was going to have to suffer through another cheesy historical romance but as it turned out there was not a lot of romance! There was however a ton of intrigue and mystery. Just when I thought that I had it figured out there was always another twist.

The characters were realistic and I liked them. The details were rich and I really felt immersed in the story. The story of redemption is there in a way that is not preachy or pushy. I feel like all the elements of a good story are present in this book. The best kind of book is the one you can't put down. That is exactly what I found in this book. I KNOW you will enjoy it if you are a fan of historical fiction.

This book was sent to me by Bethany house publishers free of charge to review. That however would not stop me from writing a bad review if the book deserved it. Julie Klassen wrote a wonderful story and I am happy to give this book **** stars.

My Favorite January Photos

I decided I wanted to have a month in review on my blog but I will only be using photos that are my favorites or that evoke a strong emotion in myself. And they have to be photos that I take.

So here we go, January!

Homemade chicken noodle soup, including homemade noodles. I made this while the kids were skiing and we had it for dinner that night.

Homemade Vanilla

I make this with Vodka and Vanilla Beans. The first day it was clear, this is after 1 week, in a dark cupboard.
We went to the zoo, at the end I looked up and saw this nest. I really like birds and their nests.

This fellow was at the zoo. He was on the ground and I just couldn't resist the temptation to take his picture.
Ashton after we walked into the Madagascar exhibit. His glasses are all fogged up.This rooster had such vibrant colors. He was wandering around posing for pics.

Moss in the middle of winter here in Utah.... It was also at the zoo, near the playground. I love moss!!!
The kids skiing for the first time this year. They went to Alta Ski Resort, and had a blast!
Elyssa is in the background in her pink ski pants, coming down the mountain.


My honey, getting ready for worship at church. He was setting up, somewhat irritated that I was taking photos.Nick Sanborn and his brother came to lunch one Sunday afternoon to hang with the kids. These two were eating salad, and by salad I mean croutons with ranch dressing. They had seconds and thirds, but they really enjoyed themselves!

Here we are sledding. Justin has his hat turned backward so he can go faster, Ashton is laughing at his logic. My sweet, fiery, little girl, and her big teeth. When she was very little she used to tell us all the time that she wanted big teeth like her friend/babysitter ( C.H.) at church and she hoped one day they would be as big as daddy's. I tried so many times to tell her they really weren't that big to everyone else. But she loved the big, beautiful,white teeth. I think she is well on her way to her own set.