I was asked recently, by one of my friends, why I haven't been on the internet much lately. She was worried because she had sent me some emails and I hadn't responded and she had noticed I hadn't updated my blog much. Well, the reason is, we are expecting baby number 3! And along with the shock of finding out we are pregnant again, came the ever dreaded MORNING SICKNESS!!! I have been struggling with morning sickness for a while now and finding it very difficult to do anything but the bare necessities. I do hope to have more ability to get more articles posted soon, but please forgive me if I'm still moving a little slowly.

I was so surprised the other day when I received an email asking me if I would like to review Betty Crocker’s new Gluten Free Dessert Mixes. I couldn’t believe that a company as big as Betty Crocker would be interested in what I had to say about their desserts, but I was terribly flattered and very excited to try the mixes out.

I have such a big pet peeve about Matthew being invited to parties where the host or hostess doesn’t provide Matthew with food he can eat. I was not brought up that way and I would never consider inviting a guest, especially a child, to a party were I did not have something that they could also enjoy. For Matthew’s birthday we invited another child that had even more dietary restrictions than Matthew, but I made sure we had food the child could eat and cupcakes he could enjoy. You would not believe how happy this child was. He came in the house and asked me if it was true that he could eat off the buffet and that he would be able to eat the birthday cake. He absolutely beamed as I showed him all the food he could enjoy. It made me feel good to know that all of Matthew’s guests could partake of his party food.

So when I saw that Betty Crocker had created dessert mixes I was thrilled because Betty Crocker is a well trusted household name, and can be found in any super market. Now people that normally wouldn’t know what to offer Matthew as a dessert at a party can easily stop by their grocery store, pop down the baking isle and grab a box of Betty Crocker cake mix. They can easily make gluten free (and casein free) cupcakes, cookies or brownies, and Matthew, and other kids like him, could be part of the party.

Betty Crocker offers chocolate and vanilla cake, chocolate chip cookies and brownie mixes. The back of the box only gives gluten free directions, that is, they tell you to use butter, but their website gives butter free directions, which in all reality simply tells you to substitute Crisco for the butter in equal parts. I would like to see them put this on the box to make it easier for those of us that are also casein free, but it is such a great start. And some people that are not GFCF savvy may not realize these can be made casein free without explicitly being told.

I decided to try the vanilla cake mix and make cupcakes for the boys. They absolutely loved them. I iced some in vanilla and some in chocolate icing, and the boys have been asking for both. So to make them happy I have been cutting them in half and letting them share. I can’t wait to try out the chocolate chip cookie mix because it is extremely hard to find a good home baked gluten free/casein free cookie. The vanilla cake mix has a nice texture and a good taste, now all Betty Crocker needs to do is give us GFCF icing too!

Want to win a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mix Prize pack for yourself? Simply head over to the website and take a look around. Leave me a comment telling me something you learned about the mixes and/or how you would use them. This is a mandatory entry and must be done for any extra entries to count. Remember to include your email address or have it visible on your blog.

Extra Entries: Do one, some or all of the following, but remember to leave a comment for each.

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This contest is open to US residents 18 years and older. This contest will end 11:59 PM EDT, August 3, 2009. I will use Random.org random number generator to choose the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen.

Summer is such a wonderful time of year. Everyone is outside, enjoying the sun and surf, dressing in less-than-bare attire and wearing their favorite sandals or flip-flops. But along with all the fun comes the dehydration associated with sunburn, saltwater, chlorine and even windburn. I know my skin has started to suffer, especially my feet. I’m always in my favorite flip-flops and wear them to do just about everything, but even with a pedicure and regular maintenance in the shower, my feet are still rough.

But never fear, I have found Butter by Keba which is a line of body care products that combine both moisture and fragrance. I received the Basil Hand Butter (a personal favorite of mine), La Vera Butter (which reminds me of summer itself), Lotus Nut Butter (which has a floral scent that actually reminds me of the Christmas holidays for some reason), Citruese Lotion (which of course has a crisp citrus scent), Green Tea Lotion (which smells of tea and roses), and the Nostaljialeek Lotion (which is a blend of Vanilla and chamomile, neroli and petitgrain).

I really enjoyed using the Basil Hand Butter on my hands in the evening once the boys are in bed and I can pamper myself a little. The butters are made from shea butter, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and sunflower oil, and then scented with one of Keba’s specially blended fragrances. I also started using the La Vera Butter on my dry feet. The scent is wonderful and lingers perfectly. If I was going out on a date with my hubby this would be the perfect scent to moisturize with after a shower and know that I would smell wonderful for the rest of the night. I wouldn’t need to add any chemical laden perfumes to the mix.

Something else really cool about Butter by Keba is how it all started. Makeba Lloyd created Butter by Keba after traveling to Egypt and becoming inspired by the wonderful smells she encountered in the open air markets there. Once home, Keba decided to study aromatherapy and natural perfume making which launched her into the body care business.

Want to win some Butter by Keba for yourself? Simply head over to Butter by Keba and come back and leave me a comment telling me how you would use your $20.00 gift certificate (SHIPPING IN NOT INCLUDED). Remember to leave your email address or have it visible on your blog. (This is a mandatory entry.)

Want extra chances to win? Simply do one, some or all of the following, making sure to leave a comment for each that you do.

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Add Matthew’s Puzzle to your blog roll or blog.

This contest is open to US residents 18 years and older. This contest will end July 23, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. Note that SHIPPING IS NOT INCLUDED With this GIFT. I will use Random.org random number generator to choose the winner. The winner has 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen.

The other day I received a shipment from Wee Essentials, an Etsy shop, dedicated to living a greener lifestyle. I got a few bags of soap bits, some cloth nursing pad and the soothing sinus relief balm. The soap bits are a very cool idea. They are exactly the right size to make a great soaking solution or one-use guest soaps. I like them for taking them in my purse and using them in restrooms that don’t happen to have soap in their soap dispensers. These soaps are made with shea butter and are naturally a high-glycerin soap which means they are very moisturizing, which is really important to moms that have to wash their hands all the time. I really prefer these to using that antibacterial gel that is very popular right now. The gel is full of chemicals and alcohol, and really helps to promote resistant strains of bacteria. A good hand washing does just as much disinfecting and doesn’t contribute to resistant bacteria.

These great little soap bits come in all sorts of lovely scents. I got to try honeyed almond, lavender chamomile, My Baby love and Cherry Vanilla. Oh so wonderful smelling, but not too strong. I gave some to my mom because she is addicted to those awful antibacterial gels. I was hoping this would encourage her to stop using them and instead use these great little soap bits.

I think one of the best items Wee Essentials offers is the Soothing Sinus Relief Balm. It is a Vicks-like eucalyptus and menthol scented balm that is applied directly to your nose. It helps to open clogged sinus but it also helps sooth raw and irritated noses. It comes in a lip balm size stick and is full of really hydrating and healing oils such as jojoba, almond and macadamia. Good for anyone with a bad cold.

Lastly I wanted to tell you about a green movement that I think many women don’t even think about and that is using Cloth Menstrual Pad. These pads replace you disposable pads and are very convenient. They are shaped like traditional disposable pad, they even have “wings”, but they are reusable. Simply soak the used pads (in the solution you made from your soap bits) and then wash. Once they are dry you can use them again. You need a few to get you through your cycle, but they are very economical and since they don’t end up in a landfill they are a much “greener” alternative to disposable pads.

Would you like to win a $20.00 gift certificate from Wee Essentials? Simply head over to the Wee Essentials shop and take a look around. Then come back to Matthew’s Puzzle and leave me a comment on how you would spend your $20.00. Make sure to leave your email address, or that it is visible on your blog. (This is a mandatory entry)

Want Extra Entries? Simply do one, some or all of the following, but make sure you leave me a comment for each that you do.

Subscribe to Matthew’s Puzzle’s RSS Feed

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Put the Matthew’s Puzzle button on your blog or blog roll.

This contest is open to US residents 18 years and older. This contest will end July 23, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. I will use Random.org random number generator to pick the winner. Only entries that are, or are accompanied by, the mandatory entry will be considered. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

The Winner of the Thistle Delight Soap is:

Carebear89 said... 86 @ July 7, 2009 5:45 PM

I love the Black Amethyst Handmade Soap.

Hi Friends and Family,
I'm going to ask you to do something very important today, but I'm going to give you an incentive to do it! Please watch the following YouTube Commercial from Autism Speaks and Autism Votes. They are asking that Insurance Discrimination against Autism be eradicated. That is, we want insurance companies to cover autism treatments so all children can get the medical treatments they need to recover from Autism. Without this treatment these children's futures are very uncertain and to be very blunt, they will cost the US taxpayer more and more as they grow older. Get these children the therapy and help they need now, and they have a significantly better chance of living an independent life! How important is that?!

Watch it Here!

"Our ad, entitled “Neighbors,” depicts the consequences of insurance company discrimination against individuals with autism and calls on the American public to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to end autism insurance discrimination in the upcoming health care reform legislation.

We need YOUR help to make this a reality! “Neighbors” will be broadcast on CNN, MSNBC and CNBC, reaching millions of informed and politically active Americans. Watch our TV Ad. Then, ensure your voice is heard by calling Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi today! " - from Autism Votes

Now here is what you need to do to get 10 extra chances to win any of my current Giveaways - and I'll even let you split them up among the contests. After you do the following you can come back here to Matthew's Puzzle and add up to 10 comments on any or all of my current giveaways. You only get 10 total to split as you wish. You will be required to Label each comment as AV1 through AV10. (Autism Votes 1 though 10). Now please go out and do this. We need as much help as we can get. And I will ask that you do either #1 or #2 as the mandatory entry, # 3 is just a nice extra, but I need you caling and emailing!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

1. CALL SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI & SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID AT THE PHONE NUMBERS BELOW!

Speaker Pelosi: (202) 225-0100
Majority Leader Reid: (202) 224-3542

If you aren't sure of what to say, just say this:

"Hi, My name is _______________. I am calling from (Your city, your state). I want you to know that health care reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. People with autism deserve coverage for the treatments and therapies that will help their medical condition. Thank you."

Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again.

2. CLICK TO SEND A MESSAGE TO MAJORITY LEADER REID AND SPEAKER PELOSI, URGE THEM TO WATCH THE AUTISM SPEAKS AD AND TO END AUTISM INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION! Make sure to add some personal information on why this is such an important issue for you and your family. Be sure to let them know that all children with autism from coast to coast deserve appropriate insurance coverage.

3. FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT ACROSS THE COUNTRY! Put this action alert on your Facebook page, Twitter it, forward to Yahoo groups and local support groups. Forward this email to at least 20 people that do NOT have a child with autism - neighbors, extended family, coworkers, old college and highschool friends - and ask them to make these two calls every day for your child.