Saturday, September 29, 2012

Imagination Movers Rock-O-Matic CD/DVD Review

I received the Imagination Movers Rock-O-Matic CD/DVD combo to review for free. I had heard of the Imagination Movers though my kids, but really never heard their music until now. I loved the CD and thought the music was great! I especially love the songs, Rain Rain, Blast Off, Dear Old Dad, and Buckle me In. The Buckle Me In song is especially great because it teaches the importance of buckling up in a vehicle so you stay safe. Animal Dancing is also fun and a great one to play for a zoo trip or animal themed party. Blast Off is great for a space themed party too. The only song I didn't care for was Watermelon Meow Meow. Most of their songs are upbeat and great to dance and move to. The DVD was great for the younger set of kids with its goofy antics, silly jokes and high energy performances. I have never seen their show on Playhouse Disney, but this was cute and I have to admit made me chuckle a little.

Imagination Movers started in 2003 in New Orleans where 4 friends Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott Smitty Smith started writing kids songs and brainstorming ideas for a children's television show after their own children were put to bed at night. Two years later, they were known throughout their musical city, attracting and audience with both parents and kids alike. They have catchy eclectic pop songs about things kids and parents can relate to. They had created a sensation and lines to the Movers shows stretched down blocks. Not even the Imagination Movers could have fully imagined the band's current break-through success. Recently completing production on the third season of their hit music-and-comedy series for Playhouse Disney, the Movers have sold more than 200,000 CDs and DVDs to date.

CD Track Listings
01. Dance Kung Fu
02. Everybody Sing
03. Blast Off
04. Rock-O-Matic
05. Remember When
06. Firetruck
07. Dear Old Dad
08. Fast As a Cat
09. Rain Rain
10. Good Morning Sunshine
11. Little Red Wagon
12. Watermelon Meow Meow
13. Animal Dancing
14. Hey Rock
15. Buckle Me In
16. Superstar
17. Gimme Strength
18. Thank You

DVD Includes
1. Opening Credits
2. Introduction
3. Everybody Sing
4. Catnip and Catnap
5. Great Moments in Creativity 1
6. Blast Off
7. Yuck Yuck 1
8. Great Moments in Creativity 2
9. Remember When
10. Great Moments in Creativity 3
11. Dance Kung Fu
12. Yuck Yuck 2
13. Little Red Wagon
14. Yuck Yuck 3
15. Animal Dancing
16. Great Moments in Creativity 4
17. Yuck Yuck 4
18. Thank You

FALL 2012 TOUR DATES: 
THURS 10.4 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
FRI 10.5 – Henderson, NV – Henderson Pavillion
SAT 10.6 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
SUN 10.7 – Los Angeles, CA – Club Nokia
MON 10.8 – Visalia, CA – Visalia Fox Theatre
THURS 10.11 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
FRI 10.12 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum
SAT 10.13 – Tulsa, OK – Mabee Center
SUN 10.14 – St. Louis, MO – Fox Theater
THURS 10.18 – Indianapolis, IN – Clowes Memorial Hall
FRI 10.19 – Detroit, MI – Music Hall
SAT 10.20 – Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre
SUN 10.21 – Merrillville, IN – Star Plaza Theatre
FRI 10.26 - Moncton, NB – Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Centre
SAT 10.27 – Charlottetown, PEI – Confederation Centre of the Arts
SUN 10.28 – Halifax, NS – Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
MON 10.29 – Fredericton, NB – The Playhouse Fredericton
TUES 10.30 – Saint John, NB – Imperial Theatre
THURS 11.01 – Brockville, ON – Brockville Arts Centre
FRI 11.02 – Belleville, ON – The Empire Theatre
SAT 11.03 – Sudbury, ON – Fraser Auditorium at Laurentian University
SUN 11.04 – London, ON – Centennial Hall
MON 11/05 – Peterborough, ON – Showplace Performance Centre
WED 11.07 – North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre
THURS 11.08 – Orillia, ON – Orillia Opera House
FRI 11.09 – Chatham, ON – Chatham Capitol Theatre
SAT 11.10 – Brantford, ON – Sanderson Centre

BUY IT
Purchase Imagination Movers Rock-O-Matic CD/DVD combo on Amazon.com for $9.99.

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I was sent a free product for review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Letting Go of Supermom by Daisy "Dr.Mommy" Sutherland FWCT Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Publisher: Siloam (August 7, 2012)

***Special thanks to Althea Thompson for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Dr. Daisy Sutherland is the founder and CEO of Dr. Mommy, LLC. She is a doctor of chiropractic by profession, wife, and mom to five children, whom she has homeschooled for the past twelve years. She hosts a weekly Blog Talk Radio show called Family Talk and is the featured parenting expert on Mom Talk Radio, a nationally syndicated radio show that airs on more than fifty stations, reaches 50,000 moms, and has been recognized in The Oprah Magazine, Women’s Day, USA Today, and Parenting. Women all over the country have benefitted from “Dr. Mommy’s” health, parenting, and career management tips and godly advice. She is the voice and advocate for every mom and says she is blessed to be able to help so many.


Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This guide will include time-management and organization tips, how-tos for handling stress, nutrition and general wellness advice, parenting and relationship tools, and ways to stay spiritually refreshed and highly productive without losing it! Dr. Mommy will also share her best tips and tricks from her personal experience of being a homeschooling, CEO mom.



Product Details:
List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Siloam (August 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616384638
ISBN-13: 978-1616384630



AND NOW...A SAMPLE (Click on pages to see them better):


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Dark Shadows Blu-Ray DVD Giveaway and Blog App

I am excited to be able to share with you the app for the Dark Shadows movie that stars Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green. I am a fan of Johnny Depp and I love the roles he plays especially in Pirates of the Caribbean. My husband is a Michelle Pfeiffer fan and loves the movie Ladyhawke. So, I believe that we are going to enjoy Dark Shadows as well.

The Plot: An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. It is a horror comedy and rated PG-13

Click on the widget app to view the movie trailer and also have a bit of fun...

Are You Creepy Enough Quiz! Do your friends refer to you as a Child of the Night or do you shiver at the thought of a creepy crawly? Take the Are You Creepy Enough quiz to find out.

Barnabas’ Terror Trivia! Are you a Barnabas buff? Take the 3 truths and a lie trivia all about Barnabas Collins and you can unlock clips and downloads from Dark Shadows.

Dark Shadows Horror-Scope! Whether you are a Virgo Vampire or a Transylvanian Taurus, you can get your custom hauntified Horror-Scope.

Get Social! Tweet with the #DarkShadows hashtag to get your audience excited for this blockbuster hit.


BUY IT
You can order this Combo pack from Amazon.com for $35.99 or $22.99 for Prime members.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of Dark Shadows Combo pack.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Dark Shadows blog app I am getting a free Blu-Ray DVD for my readers as a giveaway. Thanks to PartnersHub for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this blog app and giveaway.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Vampire Dog DVD Review

Vampire Dog is a family friendly film about a twelve year old boy and his new dog named Fang that he has been bequeathed to care for. As you can probably guess from the title the dog turns out to be no ordinary dog and has some very peculiar powers, habits and phobias because of the oddities of being a 600-year-old canine from Transylvania.

I don't want to ruin the whole story for you so I am going to be a bit vague at the plot. I did notice some inconsistencies in the script and film, but still I thought that the movie was cute and great for younger kids especially. My kids seemed to enjoy how the story unfolded and turned out. This is live action with CG animation. This wholesome "tail" about friendship, teamwork and courage is just in time for Halloween.

BUY IT
Vampire Dog DVD SRP $14.99.
Purchase Vampire Dog on Amazon.com for $12.99.
Print a coupon & Get $2.00 off Vampire Dog DVD

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Entertainment One for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Green Toys Salad Set Review

Green Toys make eco-friendly toys and tableware that are made from recycled plastic milk containers. This plastic is high-density polyethylene (or HDPE) and considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around. Their products have no Phthalates, BPA, PVC, melamine or external coatings with lead paint. Green Toys are made in the USA in California where they have very strict toy safety and environmental laws. They are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. This packaging is easy to open without having wrap rage.

They have play vehicles, outdoor toys, kitchen play, building toys, and tableware. I received a Green Toys Salad Set free to review on my blog for my Holiday Gift Guide. The Green Toys Salad Set includes a serving bowl, salad plate, 2 serving utensils, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 sets of cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fold-your-own oil & vinegar and salt & pepper (total of 16 pieces).

When I received it I was surprised that the salt & pepper, olive oil & vinegar were made of a flat sheet of cardboard and had to be put together with their tabs to form a 3dimentional toy. I thought that these were a bit difficult to put together and they had no instructions with them to help with construction. I guess I didn't see in their description that they were "fold-your-own". These are also not too practical for children to play with as they are easily crushed because they are hallow inside. Also if your child puts things in their mouths these will soon be goners. I do not see them lasting for very long. They are very cute though when folded into their shapes and my daughters seemed to still like them even though it frustrated them a little when one came apart or crushed under their little grips.


The serving bowl, salad plate, 2 serving utensils, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 sets of cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, onions and mushrooms were high grade plastic and very durable. These meet FDA food contact standards and are also dishwasher safe. These are interchangeable and compatible with the other kitchen sets from Green Toys. These are also stackable as they each have a fit together design.

My girls love to pretend they are cooking in their play kitchen. They constantly bring me pretend dishes they have created to "try out and taste". They loved this set. I love how the toy teaches good eating habits. So many play food sets these days have foods in them that aren't that healthy. I think teaching good habits when children are young is best. This salad is the epitome of "green". If you want your kids to eat their greens and also think green get the Green Toys Salad Set!

Bowl: 7-1/4" diameter at top, 3" at base, 2-3/4" H
Utensils: 7" L
Plate: 6-1/8" diameter
Pieces: approximately 3" W

Suggested for ages 2 years and up.

Closing thoughts: I still believe the Green Toys Salad Set is worth the purchase price even with the cardboard pieces. The pros of this toy definitely outweigh the cons. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

"Like" Green Toys on Facebook HERE. Follow Green Toys on Twitter HERE.

BUY IT
You can buy the Green Toys Salad Set on the Green Toys Website for $19.99.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Green Toys for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Where Love Grows by Jerry S. Eicher FWCT Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

Visit the author's website.



SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:


In Jerry Eicher’s conclusion to his popular Fields of Home trilogy, readers will be delighted to attend the wedding of Teresa, the young Englisha girl who has come home with Susan Hostetler to learn the ways of the Amish---and in fact to become Amish herself.



Product Details:
List Price: $12.99

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736939458
ISBN-13: 978-0736939454



AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Susan Hostetler made her way to the barn to hitch the horse for the drive to the small farmstead where James and Teresa would live after their wedding next week. Susan smiled as she thought of Deacon Ray’s struggle to get used to the idea that his son James was marrying an Englisha girl. Nee, it had not been easy for him. Of course, Teresa was Amish now. In the months since she had arrived with Susan, Teresa had turned into a model of submission and humility. Deacon Ray shouldn’t complain even if Teresa’s baby, Samuel, had been born out of wedlock before she came to the community. Yah, in an unwed state, but wasn’t changing one’s life for the better a commendable thing to do? Of course it was.

And Teresa was now properly baptized. She knew how to cook, wash clothes, and sew with the best of the women. She even had her own quilt completed and stashed in the cedar chest upstairs awaiting the day she and James would marry. She would spread the quilt on their bed and be able to say with complete honesty that she had done much of the work. There had been help from Mamm, five of Susan’s eight sisters who lived nearby, and Susan herself. Between the work on the quilt, helping Teresa adapt to her new life, and now the plans for the upcoming wedding, the months had sped by.

Summer was waning, and it wouldn’t be long until snow would be covering the Amish farms spread among these rolling hills of southern Indiana. But now was not the time to think of snow. The rest of summer lay ahead, followed by fall, and perhaps a glorious display of Indian summer. How appropriate that would be for all of them. And Teresa deserved a wonderful stretch of gut weather, both before and following her wedding day. It would be fitting after the hard road she’d traveled after arriving in the Amish community.

Mamm hadn’t seemed worried back then by the attempt to match Yost Byler and Teresa. But Susan had been ready to panic before Yost finally decided, with Susan’s daett’s help, that marrying Teresa wasn’t a gut idea. Such a marriage would have been a disaster for Teresa and probably also for Yost. Yah, he needed a wife who had been born Amish to cook and clean for him. The gut news floating around the community was that Yost may have finally found an older widow as a potential frau.

Only a few days remained until Teresa’s wedding to James. It would take place here on the Hostetler home place, just like Daett had provided for all Susan’s sisters. How could things be more awesome than that?

Perhaps the icing on the cake was the love that was now beginning to stir afresh in Susan’s heart for her old flame, Thomas Stoll. Who could have imagined such a thing? Yah, she had loved Thomas since their school days, but that love came to a halt the day she caught Thomas kissing Eunice outside a hymn singing one Sunday night. Thomas had claimed he’d just had a “weak moment.”

After escaping into the Englisha world for a time, Susan was back now. And despite all the fuss, she and Thomas were getting together again. Of course, it hadn’t hurt that Teresa had encouraged her to restore the relationship after Thomas’s repeated apologies and continued attention. Mamm and Daett also gave their encouragement at every opportunity. But it was Teresa’s opinion that had carried the real weight. How strange that an Englisha girl should have such sway in her life. But that was how things had turned out. Teresa was now the friend closest to Susan’s heart.

Since Susan had returned from her flirtation with the Englisha world in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Thomas was the picture of repentance. Had he wanted to, he could be married to Eunice by now—or to just about any other young woman in the community. But Thomas hadn’t pursued anyone but Susan in the months since her return. The result was that Susan felt some trust returning in her heart for him. Perhaps someday soon her heart would be fully restored.

In the meantime, there was no need to rush into setting a wedding date, even with Thomas’s pleadings that they do. Yah, he loved Susan and wanted to marry her, but he also wanted to begin the work of taking over the farm from Susan’s daett. In fact, he wanted it very badly. Thomas had no background in farming since his daett was a cabinetmaker, but he was anxious to learn.

Mamm and Daett were older now and tired. They both yearned for the comfort of the dawdy haus, which would be built as soon as the matter between Thomas and Susan was settled by marriage. Until then, Daett had hired young Steve Mast to help with the farm. He’d started in the spring and was a hard worker—no doubt due to his being raised on an Amish farm over in Daviess County. During the days he worked Daett’s farm, Steve took his supper and lodging at Susan’s sister’s place. Ada and her husband, Reuben, lived just down the road a piece.

Steve was a rare find, Daett said. A real answer to their prayers. Not many Amish men were available for hiring out once they became of age at twenty-one. Either they were married, were planning to get married, or had work on their own family places.

Steve didn’t have work on his daett’s place, neither did he have a girlfriend or a prospect that anyone knew of. He was the second boy in a family of ten—six of them being boys. He wasn’t that handsome or forward about himself, a good quality for an Amish man.

Susan stopped just short of the barn and looked up at the swaying branches of the old oak where she’d once had a swing and had climbed to its highest limbs. She sighed to think she was too old for that now. But at least she was here. She was home, hopefully to stay.

It was here she had played in the front yard with her cousins and older sisters during many a summer. Here she had watched Daett harness the horses in the first light of dawn. Here she had watched him take the teams to the fields, where his tall form moved in and out of view all day. Here her heart had taken deep enough root that she was pulled back after her time in Asbury Park. Susan sighed again. Was this why she was giving in to Thomas? Was this why she was allowing him to bring her home on Sunday nights again? Was she accepting his attentions although still feeling a little uncertain about their future?

No, it was more than that. It was high time she made up her mind and settled down with a husband. Steve couldn’t work for Daett forever. And Daett was getting up in years. He and Mamm deserved to move into a dawdy haus and not work so hard. Was that how her love for Thomas would grow? Her desire to stay here in her childhood home, Thomas’s desire to farm, and Mamm and Daett’s desire to settle in a dawdy haus?

It was possible, Susan supposed. Hadn’t Mamm said love could grow anywhere? Anywhere it was allowed to, that is. Then Susan would allow it for everyone’s sake. If love came slowly for her, then so be it. She and Thomas would have a lifetime for her love to grow stronger. That it was beginning small and uncertain for her would be her secret.

As Susan reached to open the barn door, a man cleared his throat behind her. Susan jumped and whirled around.

“Umm…I have the horse ready,” Steve said. “He’s tied up in the first stall.”

Susan relaxed. “You didn’t have to do that, Steve. I would have done it.”

A hint of a smile crossed Steve’s face. “It was no trouble. Happy to do it.” He looked up at the clear sky. “It’s sure a beautiful morning.”

“Yah, it is,” Susan answered. “Well, thanks for getting Toby ready. I wasn’t expecting that. I know you’re busy with the usual chores Daett gives you.”

“Your daett is a gut man and a gut farmer.” Steve tugged the hat rim down over his eyes more. “He’s done a gut job keeping things up on the farm, even with his age.” With that, he turned to go.

Without thinking, Susan asked, “Do you have any secrets, Steve?”

He stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Me? Secrets? I’m a pretty ordinary fellow. No secrets.”

“Really? I thought everyone had secrets.”

“Not me. I’m pretty much what you see. No secrets and no roots. I’m kind of like the dandelions in the field. I grow where Da Hah blows me.”

“So why don’t you have a girl?”

His eyes twinkled. “Maybe I haven’t found the perfect one yet.”

“Is that why you moved to a new community? To…”

“Scout the land?” He finished her sentence. “Perhaps. Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Nee,” Susan said. “And I don’t know why I even asked something like that. Maybe it’s that type of morning.”

He smiled. “I’m afraid you’ll have to look someplace other than myself for secrets. And no offense taken.”

“Thank you,” she said. “What do you think of Teresa and James?”

He raised his eyebrows. “They seem like a nice enough couple. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason,” she said. “I suppose you heard about all the ruckus before they got together.”

Steve shrugged. “I don’t pay much attention to rumors. They look like they’re in love with each other. That should be gut enough for anyone.”

“I want nothing more from life,” she said, “than to settle down to a boring sameness, day after day, night after night, living in peace and love. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “I’m not much into boring. I’m surprised you are. I heard you’d been with the Englisha for a while. That’s not something a person does who’s looking for boring.”

“So now you’re paying attention to rumors?”

Steve laughed. “I didn’t really hear that much. People seem to think highly of you. And I’m sure your mamm and daett will be happy if you plan to stay. And Thomas, of course.”

“What do you think of him?”

“Thomas?” He paused for a moment. “You want me to comment on your boyfriend?”

“Yah, I’m asking you. Coming from another community, you might have an unbiased perspective.”

“What if I don’t like him? Can I continue working here?”

She laughed. “I’m not going to chase you off.”

“Well…”

“Come on now. Tell me the truth.”

Steve tilted his head sideways. “Thomas comes from a good family, as far as I can tell. Of course, I don’t know what secrets lie in his past. Maybe he ran off to the Englisha world for a while too. You know, something wild like that.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke the last line.

“So you think that’s a character flaw? You keep bringing it up.”

“Depends on why a person did it, I guess.”

“Let’s just say I had my reasons.”

“Fair enough,” he said.

They stood silent for a moment.

Susan finally said, “Well, I better get busy or Teresa will wonder what’s happened to me.”

“And I better get busy in the fields before your daett thinks I’ve gone lazy on him.” He turned and left.

Susan went into the barn thinking about the exchange. Steve hadn’t given away much about his past. Not that it was any of her business. But a person just couldn’t help wondering. Had some girl dumped him? He’d probably had his heart broken, and the wound was healing slowly and out of sight of the people who knew him.

She’d done much the same thing by moving to Asbury Park. True, it had been time spent among the Englisha. But Da Hah had brought good things out of the experience. That time of her life was nothing to be ashamed of.

Susan untied Toby and led him outside. Lifting the shafts of the buggy, she swung him underneath and fastened the tugs. Holding the bridle, Susan looked toward the house and waited. There was still no sign of Teresa.

Thoughts of last Sunday night buzzed through Susan’s head. Thomas hadn’t tried to kiss her yet. In a way she wished he would. It might hurry things along. But apparently Thomas wasn’t willing to rush things until she agreed to a wedding date. To his credit, he seemed to ignore the fact that Eunice still made eyes at him almost every Sunday night at the hymn singings. Mamm was right though. Susan needed to trust Thomas and believe he wouldn’t fall again just because Eunice batted her eyes at him. After all, Thomas claimed Eunice acted that way toward all the boys, which was partly true. To his credit, Thomas really didn’t want Eunice. He was choosing her—Susan. That was worth something, wasn’t it? Surely his persistence would arouse some of the old feelings she used to have for him.

And now here came Teresa, running across the yard, her face glowing with happiness. At least somebody had things figured out in this world.

Monday, September 17, 2012

$25 off eShakti

The best thing about eShakti is that you get the chance to customize your order or pick straight off the rack for ready-to-wear clothing. They have a fabulous selection of dresses, tops, skirts and jackets for women. They are available in sizes from 0 to 36W. You can also specify custom sizes too. Depending upon the piece of clothing you can also pick to customize it with a number of sleeve types, hem lengths and neck lines. The first time you custom a piece of clothing through eShakti it is free! They also have 25%-40% off clothing sales going on now.

I bought the above embroidered collar blouse from eShakti and made it custom with my size specifications and added three quarter length sleeves to it. I love just about anything embroidered and I love the floral pattern on this top too.

Right now through December 31st you can get $25 off of your first order at eShakti with the code: CRYSTALABEL If you have been putting off buying yourself some new clothing don't wait any more! This is a phenomenal deal that won't last long.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The above code is a referral code. My eShakti account will be credited $20 each time a valid sales transaction takes place for the first five people who shops using the code above. Each additional people beyond the first 5 who shops with my code earns me $15. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this information.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes Review

I love the quote from William Arthur Ward that reads, “A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.” This is so true. I am trying to prepare my new to me house to become a home so that we might be able to share our love and dreams there as a family. I also love the LDS scripture in D&C 109:8 that says, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;...”. These things are very important to me in organizing my home. Right now I am working on the learning and the order in abundance. The rest I need to work on more steadfastly.

I homeschool so learning in my home is happening round the clock. However when people are sick the learning and everything else seems to come to a sudden halt. Being sick or having a sick child can disrupt everything because of the care involved. This is why keeping a clean orderly house is so important to me. Even though my home isn't as spotless as I would like it to be because of busy schedules and messy children I still try my best to make it that way.

I love the New Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes because they have a botanical active ingredient called thymol, a component of thyme oil. Thymol is an antiseptic and is antibacterial. These wipes kill and sanitize over 99.9%* of household, classroom, or workplace germs and cold & flu viruses. They are also easy and convenient to use.  I received free for this review one container of  Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes in Breeze scent and one container of Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes in Lemongrass scent. The Breeze scented one was a bit overpowering for me and made me want to sneeze, but I really liked the Lemongrass scented one a lot. They both have easy to open flip top lids that make it simple to get the wipes out and they are rolled up inside so another pops up when one is pulled out. These can be safely used around kids, pets and food. They don't require rinsing after cleaning surfaces that come in contact with food, paws and little hands. These are great for the cleaning of all hard non porous surfaces where bacteria or unpleasant odors are a concern, including: desks, tables, countertops, food preparation surfaces, floors, appliances, cribs, children's toys, toilet seats, garbage cans and pet habitats.
*Kills over 99.9% of household germs: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Enterobacter aerogenes, Influenza A virus, Rhinovirus type 37, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1. Sanitizes hard non-porous non-food contact surfaces of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes in the presence of light or moderate soil load with a 30-second contact time.
BUY IT
Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes are available now at most Wal-mart stores and other retailers in both Breeze and Lemongrass scent. The suggested retail price is $2.99 for 35 wipes and $4.99 for 75 wipes. You can also get a coupon for $1 off of 2 on the Scotch Brite website.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Scotch Brite for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Elizabeth Mitchell Blue Clouds Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite folk children's music artists is Elizabeth Mitchell. Her newest album called Blue Clouds is precious. There are acoustic guitars, harmoniums, banjos, pianos, fiddles, glockenspiels and gentle drums and bass creating a deep ambiance together with her voice. Like honey her voice is lovely and sweet. She also has her beautiful daughter and others on this CD singing along with her. This CD has included them in the title as "You Are My Flower" which is also the name of her first album. There are a few songs from her other albums on this CD, but I love this one as much as all her others. I love the simplicity and darling childlike manner of all her albums.

My daughters love to dance and twirl to Hop Up, My Ladies. Many times my 4 year old daughter Teela has said, "this is my favorite song, Mommy" to practically all the songs on this CD. I love to sing along with Elizabeth on this CD. I think it would be a great honor to be a guest singer on one of her Albums. Arm in Arm is a cute song about an octopus family inspired by a book by Remy Charlip of which the illustrations to this album are also from. Kooks is one of my favorites by David Bowie. I Wish You Well is such a wonderful heartfelt song by Bill Withers. Summer is Icumen In is a beautiful traditional medieval round that is written and sung in Middle English. Rollin’ Baby was written by their own Aunt Anna and perfectly tells the story of a little baby's perspective in a large city. Little Bird is one of my favorites because it reminds me of last fall when my kids and I made these peanut butter and birdseed pine cones to hang in our large cherry tree and we would watch all the birds fly over to nibble on them. Circle of the Sun is about their daughter's cousin Destry, who died tragically at the young age of 4, in remembrance of her. May This Be Love is a gorgeous guitar and vocal piece. It was originally written by none other than Jimi Hendrix and the guitar work by Daniel Littleton (Elizabeth's Husband) is inspired by Joni Mitchell and her lovely dulcimer music! It sounds like a waterfall. I love San Toki (Mountain Bunny) and Yuki (Snow) because they are bilingual and teach children both the Korean or Japanese and English equivalent of the song. Blue Sky is a sweet soft melodic song by the Allman Brothers. Blue Clouds is the perfect song to close this album of the same name and it was written as a lullaby by Daniel for their daughter Storey when she was only 3. There are many other great songs on this album too, sixteen songs in total.

Track List:
01. Hop Up, My Ladies
02. Froggie Went A-Courtin’
03. Arm in Arm
04. San Toki (Mountain Bunny)
05. Kook
06. I Wish You Well
07. Summer is Icumen In
08. Rollin’ Baby
09. The Little Bird
10. Circle of the Sun
11. Moon Don’t Go
12. Everyone
13. May This Be Love
14. Yuki
15. Blue Sky
16. Blue Clouds


Elizabeth Mitchell will be in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, November, 4th! Maybe if I am lucky I will get to go with my family to see her perform at The Village Ballroom there. You can see listings of all her shows HERE.

BUY IT
You can preorder this album from You Are My Flower for $14. It will be released October 23rd.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of Blue Clouds by Elizabeth Mitchell.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers! 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Smithsonian Folkways for sending me product for free to review and letting me giveaway one. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

365 Things Every New Mom Should Know by Linda Danis FWCT Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Harvest House Publishers (April 2012)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Linda Danis has a degree in marketing and spent five years in hotel management before staying at home to run a hotel of a different sort—guests ages 3, 6, 9, and 11. Linda has written Sunday school curricula, started a co–op preschool, and leads a Moms in Touch prayer ministry at her children’s school. She lives with her husband, Dave, and children in California.


SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:


This daily guide to the first year of a baby s life combines prayerful, playful, and practical information to energize new moms. Features weekly devotionals and daily activities that foster a baby s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth.

Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Language: English
ISBN-10:0736923829
ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-2382-8


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


My child, you hold the whole of my heart in your small hands.
Author Unknown
Week 1
Day 1
After all these long months, your precious little baby has finally arrived. The child you have longed for is here to hold, to look at, and to touch. Your baby will look up at you and recognize your familiar voices. You are the ones he has been longing to meet—his mommy and daddy! Get to know your sweet little baby—hold him, rock him, smell his skin, gaze at him, marvel at his tiny fists, caress him. Treasure this awesome miracle!
Day 2
On the day you bring your baby home for the first time, have everyone in your family place their hands on her and pray for her. This will be a precious moment for your family to share together as you welcome her into your family and give thanks to God for this wonderful gift!
Day 3
If you have older children who want to hold their new sibling, use a nursing “donut pillow” to help them support your baby’s head. Have your child sit all the way back on the couch. Place the semicircle nursing pillow around his waist. Set your baby on the pillow with his bottom wedged in between your older child’s tummy and the pillow. Rest your baby’s head on your older child’s arm that is resting on the pillow. Even if your child lets go of the baby, his head will still be secure on the pillow. Of course, you should always be sitting right next to your new baby, monitoring his safety. This also works for young visitors, but I would suggest waiting a week or two before letting a nonfamily-member child hold your baby.
Day 4
Despite what all the books may say, most women experience some soreness (or a lot of soreness!) in the first weeks of nursing. Try using your Lamaze breathing when your baby latches onto your breast. If your nipples are cracked or blistered, blot them dry with a cotton diaper after you have finished nursing. Saliva has enzymes that can irritate sore nipples. After you have dried the saliva off, express a little milk and rub it on your nipples. Let them air dry. Also, do not look down at your baby the entire time you nurse. This position can strain your neck and cause tension headaches. If you can persevere through the first two weeks of nursing, things will get better.
Day 5
Sometimes as a new parent it’s hard to tell whether or not you should call your pediatrician. If you are reluctant to call your doctor in the middle of the night, you can usually call the nursery at the hospital where you gave birth. The nurses are awake and can advise you as to whether you should call your doctor right away or if it can wait until the morning. Do not wait if your baby has a fever higher than 99.9 degrees rectally (this is the most accurate way to take your baby’s temperature). Call your doctor immediately.
Day 6
Drink water every time you nurse to stay hydrated and to maintain your milk supply. Always keep a water bottle close at hand. It is a good idea to set up a “nursing station” wherever you will be nursing the most. Have everything you need right at hand—a water bottle, a burp cloth, a nursing pillow, a book or magazine to read, and nursing pads.
Day 7
When your baby startles while lying on her back (the Moro reflex), gently but firmly hold her hands together close to her chest to calm her and make her feel more secure. Say, “It’s okay, sweetheart. Mommy will help you.” This reflex will disappear by four months.

Reflections on the Week
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.
Jeremiah 1:5
An Incredible Love
You have had your baby only one short week and yet you can hardly remember what life was like without him. You prepared for months for his arrival—read books, set up the nursery, went to prenatal classes—yet nothing could prepare you for the overwhelming love you feel for this child. There are no words quite powerful enough to describe the emotions you feel.
Then the impossible happened; each day you grew to love him more. The sheer magnitude of love takes your breath away. Can there be anything more wonderful than when he gazes into your eyes, when you feel his small body curled up in your arms, when you feel his warm breath on your cheek, when his little fingers wrap tightly around yours? Your heart is ready to burst with this new miracle in your life.
It doesn’t matter if this is your first or fifth child, the profound love you feel for your new baby never changes. I remember during my second pregnancy, I secretly worried that I might not love this new baby as much as my first. How could I ever love another child as much as I loved her? But the moment I held my new baby, I knew immediately I had worried for nothing. There was no difference in my love. It was as amazingly wonderful and intense as the love I had for my first. It happened again when my third and fourth children were born. We don’t have to divide our love between our children. Our love actually multiplies, giving us even more love to share. It is one of the ways God’s love works in motherhood. We just have more and more love to give away!

Dear God, thank You for this precious little baby. He is everything I prayed for. Everything about him is perfect. Words can hardly describe how much I love him. Because of him, I have a better idea now of how much You, my heavenly Father, love me. Please help me adjust to all the changes I will face as a new mother. Amen.


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust Review and Giveaway

With our recent acquisition of a property with 5 and a half acres, two houses, a large barn, a lean-to, and a shed we have been busy. Not only are we still homeschooling our children and doing all the parenting duties one has when becoming a parent, but we are also fixing up the new property and structures so we can move in. The structures on the gorgeous land were all built in the 1920's so they definitely need a lot of TLC. I will get into this more in the upcoming weeks with more posts and some pictures.

With our busy schedules we have had little time to do home cooked meals. Thankfully I received a kit from MyBlogSpark with a:
  • VIP coupon for New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain
  • $10 gift card (for your favorite ingredients)
  • Baking sheet
  • Oven mitt
  • Pizza cutter

This kit was just the thing I needed to make a healthy home cooked meal for my family and still have time to get everything else done that I needed to do. The Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust is super convenient and takes only minutes to make. As an added bonus the Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust has 16 grams of whole grain per serving. It was the perfect way to be creative in the kitchen and create a culinary masterpiece on the canvas of dough. The pizza possibilities are fully customizable with endless choices of toppings.

We did tomato sauce and mozzarella topped with spinach, fresh basil leaves, green pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, ground turkey and bacon. The crust turned out so delicious we ate it all up. I am definitely buying this again!

The canister is much like other Pillsbury dough products in how you just pop it open. The dough then unrolls easily onto a rectangular baking sheet. You can then flatten it out more to a thinner crust or leave it for a thicker crust. Follow the step by step instructions on the canister and voilà: fresh, hot and delicious pizza cooked at home in your own kitchen.

Connect with Pillsbury:

BUY IT
Download a printable coupon for $1.25 off one package of New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain: http://bit.ly/PCwWG today! Find it in your local grocery refrigerated section along with other Pillsbury dough products. I found it in my local Safeway store.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust Kit
  • VIP coupon for New Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain
  • $10 gift card (for your favorite ingredients)
  • Baking sheet
  • Oven mitt
  • Pizza cutter

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers! 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Free Children's Art Kit from Kelly Kit


Kelly Kits encourage art play using a wide variety of creative tools materials beyond what coloring books can offer. The Original Kelly Kit comes complete with one set of five unique activities that cover the five art disciplines: painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, collage. Each kit contains all of the tools materials needed for the activities, the user just needs access to a kitchen! To increase functionality for homeschooling parents, each activity includes an instruction card with an enrichment idea to adapt the art activity to a school lesson. Kelly Kits are designed to encourage creative teaching!

Get a FREE Children's Art Kelly Kit Delivered to Your Door! A $9.99 Value http://www.kellykits.com/free-kit-2/ Promo Code: USFG99

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Kelly Kits I am getting a free Kelly Kit. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.