Monday, November 30, 2009

Softsoap Nutri Serums Nourishing Body Wash Review

Softsoap Nutri Serums Nourishing Body Wash is the first cleansing body wash that has softening and nourishing powers of serum pearls. The serum is nutrient rich to help your skin feel soft and look healthy. The body wash with the green serum pearls contain Vitamin E for restoring and protecting against contaminants that can cause damage to skin because as you age, Vitamin E production slows which leads to the breakdown of collagen and elastin (they keep your skin tight). The body wash with the purple serum pearls contain Omegas 3 & 6, which are essential fatty acids that are known to help preserve skin’s protective layer and maintain moisture for a youthful, hydrated glow.

BUY IT:
Available at all major grocery, drug and mass retailers like Walmart and Target. Suggested retail price is $3.50 - $4.50 for a 15 fl. oz. bottle.

MY THOUGHTS:
I have had very good results with the Softsoap brand and so when I was introduced by BzzAgent to the Nutri Serums I was thrilled to be able to try them out. I took these body washes into the shower with me and first tried the one with restoring Vitamin E. It smelled very similar to the Softsoap I am used to, fresh and clean. It made my skin feel soft. The next time I showered with the one with moisture retaining Omegas 3 & 6. I liked the smell of it a little better because it was a bit flowery, but not overpowering. My skin also felt very soft and smooth with this body wash and didn't feel as dry when I use regular soaps. However, the serum pearls of each body wash didn't dissolve on my skin as well as I would have hoped and a lot of them were wasted down the drain. All in all I liked the body wash. It didn't dry out my skin and had a very pleasant smell. My favorite is the purple one with the floral scent.

DISCLAIMER: Because I am a member of BzzAgent I received word of a BzzCampaign for the Softsoap Nutri Serums Nourishing Body Wash. I received samples, coupons, and information from BzzAgent.com. All information about the products I received from the media kit, the products and the Softsoap Nutri Serums website. 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.

Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase FIRST Wild Card Tour 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:




Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas


David C. Cook; New edition (September 1, 2009)


***Special thanks to Audra Jennings of the The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***


MY THOUGHTS:

If you are Christian or even maybe another religion you have probably heard the story before and probably many, many times. The story of the Nativity is dear to our hearts but all too familiar to most. This beautiful book takes the story out of the Bible and breathes life into it with the recreation of feelings and thoughts of the people living the story. It helps us to visualize the events better. I loved reading this wonderful retelling.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





John Blase’s work includes Living the Questions and Living the Letters Bible-study series, the Worldviews reference book (TH1NK), Real Life Stuff for Couples, and The Message Children’s Bible. A former pastor, John currently edits by day and writes by night. He and his wife, Meredith, have three children and make their home in Colorado.


Visit the author's website.






Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764656
ISBN-13: 978-1434764652

AND NOW...an excerpt:




Three

Angelic Visitor


Luke 1.26–38


In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:


Good morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,

Beautiful inside and out!

God be with you.


She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.


He will be great,

be called ‘Son of the Highest.’

The Lord God will give him

the throne of his father David;

He will rule Jacob’s house forever—

no end, ever, to his kingdom.”


Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”


The angel answered,


The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

the power of the Highest hover over you;

Therefore, the child you bring to birth

will be called Holy, Son of God.


“And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”


And Mary said,


Yes, I see it all now:

I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.

Let it be with me

just as you say.


Then the angel left her.


Gabriel


The theologians have rendered us mindless God-slaves, wisps of cloudy wings, doing nothing but the bidding of the Mighty One. Theologians. There is so much they do not know.


I found her just as He said she would be found: sitting on her bedding, barefooted, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, chin resting on her knee-tops. I saw why she had gained the favor of the Mighty One. I liked this daughter-of-Eve-to-bethe-mother-of-God.


“But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”


I expected this. But unlike that old priest’s, hers was not the doubting of a skeptic but rather the wondering of a child.


“But how? I can’t see it.”


“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you. Mary, you have nothing to fear.” The Mighty One had expressly said, “Herald the news, Gabriel. Don’t report it.” I would have liked to elaborate further, but Mary would have to live out the details of my news in days to come. Truths unlived are not truths.


Then she paused and looked away. I have spoken to many of God’s children, and their eyes are always transfixed on me. They should be. I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God. But Mary’s gaze wandered for a moment. But what I initially took for a distracted mind was rather a devoted heart.


Her eyes returned to me. “Let it be with me.” Ah, the Mighty One had chosen well. Her words were not

resigned, but faith-full. The faith of a child. Of such is the Mighty One’s kingdom.


“Cousin Elizabeth? Really? Old Elizabeth? But how?”


I laughed.


“Nothing, you see, is impossible with God. Mary, you have nothing to fear. I have told you all you need to know for now. You are more ready than you realize, stronger than you know. God is with you. Now I must go.”


But I did not want to go. Faith is rare, at least true faith. Yes, the word is often used, but the reality is hard

to find. Yet here I found it, in an earthen vessel surrounded by an earthen room. I liked Mary.


I left her just as He said I would: barefooted, sitting on her bedding, knees pulled up to her chest, arms

wrapped tightly around them, chin resting on her kneetops. She looked older now. Human eyes would not

recognize this, but mine have seen much.


The Mighty One had revealed glimpses to me, what days ahead would hold for this glorious girl. Her cousin’s leaping womb. Joseph’s broad shoulders. The back of a borrowed burro. Herod’s jealous-red face. The cries of the innocent. The breath of stable animals. The agony of pushing the Mighty One out into this world.


I found myself praying for the favored one. Mary had so much to carry.



©2009 Cook Communications Ministries. Touching Wonder by John Blase. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Clorox Green Works Kids Clothing Swap and Review

I had the chance to do a Clorox Green Works® Kids Clothing Swap House Party ™ sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens on Saturday, October 03, 2009. I had fun putting the whole thing together and we all tried out and learned about the products. Most the guests were camera shy, so I only ended up taking a few pictures, but our party turned out great!


We exchanged gently worn kids' clothing items that were all washed previously in NEW Green Works ™ Natural Laundry Detergent. I love the fact that the Green Works natural laundry detergent is safe for my family and cleans my clothing well. It is made by a company I trust, Clorox. It leaves no residue behind on your clothing or your skin while wearing your clothing. It has no harsh chemical fumes that would make me nauseous. It is made with plant based, biodegradable cleaning ingredients which are also safe for the environment. Made with no phosphates or bleach. I love that this product is hypoallergenic and won't irritate the skin.

After the swap, I shared going green tips and each person that came got to take home green goodies.

In the kit I received:

* Green Works™ Laundry Detergent samples (See above for my review.)
* Green Works™ Cleaning Wipes samples (I loved these for cleaning. They have a wonderful lemon scent and are 99% natural, are compostable and biodegradable.)
* Sierra Club note cards (Cute note cards!)
* GE Reveal® CFL Bulb coupons (Reveal CFLs lasts up to 8 times as long as incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy! That is wonderful for my savings.)
* Burt's Bees® 25th Anniversary Lip Balm and Lotion samples (I love Burt's Bees products! This is definitely one of my faves! It has a wonderful peppermint smell and makes your lips tingle with refreshing soothing and cooling. It glides on smooth and feels great! It is made of beeswax to seal in moisture and has all natural ingredients. This is perfect to refresh dry or chapped lips. I highly recommend it!)
* Brita®FilterForGood® reusable Nalgene® bottles (I love these bottles! They are now BPA free so are a healthier choice than many options out there and saves on water bottles going to the landfill since they are reusable. They are great for taking on trips and backpacking.)
* Brita® coupons (I handed these out to my guests, but have not tried this filter out for myself.)

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to House Party ™ for providing me with this opportunity to host a Clorox Green Works® Kids Clothing Swap sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens. I received the above samples and coupons to hand out to hand out to guests and test and review myself. 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. House Party connects people through parties. You too can use the helpful tools to plan your party, create invites, join sponsored events, share pictures and video, and explore thousands of parties being held in homes around the country.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Wordless Wednesday What Did You Put In These Brownies?


If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Monday, November 23, 2009

My Sister Jennifer and her LDS Mission Call

I am so very proud of my younger sister, Jennifer! She chose to go on a LDS mission and guess where she got her call? She is serving in the Honolulu, Hawaii mission and will serve at the Laie Hawaii Temple in the visitor's center. She went into the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on October 21st, just got to Hawaii last Tuesday and is already leading people to Christ and baptism. It sounds like she loves it there by the sound of her letters to me...but who wouldn't! She also gets to wear a muumuu :) Take a look at the picture below. It is of her and her LDS missionary companion.

She is going to be gone until April 21, 2011 and probably be in Hawaii for the re-dedication of the Laie Hawaii Temple that is now being renovated. The Temple is beautiful there... just look at the picture. I would love to go to Hawaii to visit her. I have never been and my husband has and says he would love to see it all again.


Friday, November 20, 2009

The Mommy Cover Review


The Mommy Cover is a wonderful invention that is unique to any breastfeeding / nursing cover I have seen because it has a retractable reel system that attaches around your back so that it is more secure and won't flip up and embarrass you while your little one is moving around under it. It also has a rigid, but flexible neckline so that it makes a kind of half circle around the baby. You can peek in on your little one while they are nursing without disturbing them. Even with the rigid neck line it easily rolls or folds up to be put away after use. The soft silky neck strap is very comfortable and can be adjusted to the right cover height with the buckle. The tail of the neck strap can be tucked into the cover so that baby can play with it. I found this better than Teela playing with my hair. It is extremely fashionable and comes in all kinds of stylish patterns which are reversible and 100% cotton. At 35" wide by 21" long The Mommy Cover will help you keep modest when nursing in public. They are very easy to put on and stay on to keep you and baby covered. You can wear it two different ways too...under both arms or over just one shoulder. HERE are the instructions of how to wear it. Made in the USA.

I received a Camou Girly with the reverse in Hot Dot Pink and Black from Joia Products and Mommy PR for free to try out and review and I love it so much better than the receiving blanket I was using. Now instead of always having to constantly fix the cover because of a fidgety little one and be frustrated, I can relax and enjoy the time I have breastfeeding and bonding with my youngest.

I also love the Mommy Cover in Salsa Stripe with Posh Paisley Teal reverse. The pattern reminds me of a cabana on the beach.

DISCLAIMER: I received this product free from Joia Products and Mommy PR to try out and 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, November 18, 2009

Wordless Wednesday Dress Up with Mom's Funky Whale Socks


If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom by Jill Hart & Diana Ennen FIRST Wild Card Tour 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 authors are:




and the book:



So You Want To Be A Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian's Guide To Starting a Home-Based Business

Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (August 15, 2009)

***Special thanks to Jill Hart for sending me a review copy.***

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a very informative book with wonderful uplifting scriptures from the Bible throughout. I love that it goes through and helps you with deciding what type of buisiness to start to keeping your family and faith first. Even though I do not own a business myself and do not work-at-home at the moment I felt a lot of the information in the book is also very pertinent to owning a blog and reviewing for companies. It helps to be organized when doing a business or owning a blog and reviewing. It also helps to market to the right audience and build your social network. Besides this the book has a lot more information that is wonderful to have on hand at your fingertips. Having a blog and reviewing has taught me a bunch of different skills for owning a business and this book has helped me expand upon my knowledge. When I do decide to start my own business at home I feel that I will be prepared.

ABOUT THE AUTHORs:



Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of the upcoming book So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill, Sept. 2009). Jill welcomes work-at-home questions at http://AskJill.cwahm.com/.


Visit the author's website.



Diana Ennen is the President of Virtual Word Publishing. Diana has worked from home for over 25 years and is passionate about PR, Publicity and Marketing & helping others Start their Own Virtual Assistant Business. Follow Diana on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dianaennen/.


Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (August 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0834124661
ISBN-13: 978-0834124660

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:



Making the Choice to Stay Home


Today’s moms are passionate women who want both careers and families without having to give up precious time with their children. They’re searching for ways to have it all, and they’re finding that it’s possible to work from home and at the same time balance a family.


It may sound like a dream, but it’s not. It does start with a dream, though.


A few fortunate women fall into a job or business that allows them to work at home, but it isn’t that easy for most women. To find a way to stay at home while still contributing to their family financially is something that many women long for but few know how to achieve. We hope to make it easier for you.


Being Content at Home


You might have expected us to immediately launch into a chapter about how wonderful life can be if you work at home. However, with the authors having worked from home many years, we realized that you first need to be content in your home life to make it work. The focus of your mind is where true happiness lies. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).


Before beginning your search for a career that will allow you to work from home, it’s important to remember that God has put you where you are for a reason. It may be for a season of your life, or it could possibly be long-term. Either way, trust that God will provide what’s best for you, and that may look a little different than what you think is best.


Being a mom and working outside the home can be incredibly challenging. Coordinating schedules, running kids to and fro, and being so tired by evening that you don’t have the energy to enjoy your kids take their toll. However, being a work-at-home mom every day, all day, presents its own unique challenges. It can become monotonous, even tedious. The kids, the house, the responsibilities—the list goes on and on. In either case, it can feel downright impossible to have an attitude of gratitude. The road can be hard, but in the end, your life will be less stressful and more satisfying if you can overcome discontentment. Following are some ideas for building contentment.


Be Grateful


One of the hardest attitudes to achieve is that of gratefulness. It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives that happen each day. However, it’s important to be grateful for each and every blessing that God gives.


Make a list of things in your life that you’re grateful for. You can start your list with your family and the opportunity to work from home, and continue from there. Take the time to thank God for each of the things on your list. As you begin to develop a grateful attitude, you’ll begin to notice more and more things each day you can add to your list.


Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (1 Timothy 6:6-8).


Give Back


Changing your attitude is the first step to finding contentment. Reaching out and helping others is a proven way to change your attitude. When you extend help and graciousness to others, it can’t help but benefit you as well.


Find someone who needs a friend, and make a conscious effort to reach out to him or her every week or every month. Or find a ministry that you admire, and get involved. You’ll be surprised what investing something of yourself in others will do for your attitude. If you’re running a business from home, you may be able to bless others with a product they can’t afford or a special discount that will brighten their day. Maybe you can mentor someone. Be careful, though, that you don’t get so involved in helping others that you neglect your own business.


Choose to Accept Your Situation

A key component of contentment is acceptance. Acceptance doesn’t mean you don’t strive to better your life. It simply means that you make peace with where you are in life at this time.


There will always be more to attain—more money, more prestige. If you spend your life focused on what you don’t have or what you haven’t attained in life, you’ll be sad indeed. Celebrate each and every success, no matter how big or how small.


Examine your life and see all that is good in it. Each good thing is a gift from God. Accept that He is with you at this point in time. He’ll be with you in every success and every setback. Nothing you do will make Him love you more, and there’s nothing you can do that will make Him love you less.


We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).


Focus on Christ


This may sound like a cliché, but it’s easy to allow focus to move from the Lord to self. When moms work at home, the needs of family, business, and self can sometimes be all-consuming, leaving little time to meet spiritual needs. But focusing on your relationship with the Lord is what should come first. If your relationship with Christ is weak, all other relationships will be affected.


Here are practices that will help keep you focused on Him:


1. Read your Bible every day. Make the commitment to read at least one verse every day. The Book of Proverbs is a good place to start, or start with verses from the Gospel of John for a close look at the life of Christ. As you progress to reading more each day, consider purchasing a Bible that will guide you through reading the whole Bible in a year. There are also versions available that will lead you through the Bible in ninety days.


Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).


2. Cultivate an active prayer life. You can pray anytime and anywhere—when you’re driving, putting on your makeup, cooking, even as you drift off to sleep at night. Take advantage of these precious moments to spend them with your Heavenly Father.


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).


3. Meditate on the Word of God. When you find a verse or verses that have deep meaning for you, allow your mind to dwell on them, and let them soak into your spirit. A good starting point might be Romans 8:38-39—“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”


Make note of the verses you’ve chosen, and jot down thoughts or ideas that they bring to mind. Keep your mind focused on Him, and be in prayer that He will open your eyes to what He would have you learn from the verses.


4. Wait. Contentment will not be attained overnight. Feelings of discontentment will push their way in. When they do, look through your life to bring to mind the ways God has changed you, the things He’s done to bring you closer to an attitude of contentment. Contentment comes in His timing, so allow Him the time to work in your life.


Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him

(Psalm 37:7).


If the temptation to wallow in discontentment continues to present itself, find someone who will hold you accountable—someone you can trust to be kind but firm who will speak the truth to you lovingly.


When you’re feeling dissatisfied or frustrated, give your accountability partner a call, and be honest about your feelings. Every mom gets frustrated; you’re certainly not alone. When you find someone you can talk with honestly, it will be an excellent help in overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Accountability partners know each other on a very real and honest level and still accept and love each other. This allows both of you the opportunity to be supported as well as supportive.


Contentment may seem elusive, but with prayerful deliberation it can be achieved and will bring you more joy and peace than you can imagine. Start working toward an attitude of contentment today.


When your mind and heart are in a good place, it’s time to begin thinking about the choices that are available to you. Can you work from home? Should you work at home? And how in the world do you begin your search for success?


Setting Priorities in Business and at Home


Working from home, particularly if you’re running your own business, is a time-consuming endeavor—especially for moms. You’re responsible not only for the success of the business but for your family as well. You must be self-reliant, self-motivated, and self-disciplined in order to attain success in both areas.


When you work at home, it’s easy to let phone calls, e-mail, and paperwork keep you tied down and cause you to feel you don’t have time to take a break or choose to spend top-quality time with your family. Maybe you’ve noticed that you spend more time in front of your computer or on the phone than you expected to when you made the decision to work at home. Maybe you see your kids acting up and trying to get your attention. Maybe the work-at-home dream you envisioned isn’t happening.


You started out with noble intentions, but now the excitement of success in your business has caused you to lose sight of the primary reason you chose this path. It happens to many of us who work at home, so don’t worry. Help is on the way.


She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard (Proverbs 31:16).


Here are five tips for setting priorities in your life and business:


First, be honest. You probably didn’t start your work-at-home career to climb the corporate ladder. Spend some time in prayer, and ask the Lord to show you the things you need to change.


Take a few minutes to answer the following questions about how you’ve been handling the time commitment of owning a business.


• Are you spending too much time on the phone with clients?


• Do you think about business to the point that you’re distracted when you’re doing family activities?


• Is television getting more top-quality time with your children than you are?


• Do you snap at your children because of the stresses of your business?


Second, make a list. Sit down and write out a list of things you see that you would like to change. This can be a list of tasks you can do differently, such as limiting the time you spend on your business or ways you can reduce stress so you can deal kindly with your family.


Third, log your time. Buy a notebook or create a spreadsheet to log the time you spend on business. Make a column for each day across the top and a row of half-hour increments down the side. Time yourself every time you sit down at your desk by writing “in” in the box that corresponds to the time and day. Every time you leave your desk or complete a task, write “out” in the appropriate box.


At the end of the week, total up the hours you’ve spent each day on business tasks. Take special note of how much time you spend on e-mail and things that aren’t billable. Are you surprised, or is it about where you thought it would be? This can be a real eye-opener and show you in black and white if your priorities have gotten off track.


Fourth, take a break. If you’re in shock after examining your time log, it’s time to take a break. If you normally work during the weekend, make it a point to take this weekend off. Shut down your e-mail, turn off the ringer on your business phone, and shut the door to your office.


Plan ahead and schedule your time. Prioritize your workload, and have the work that will require the most effort and concentration scheduled for your peak time. Try not to get sidetracked; stay on task and focus on what you need to do. For example, you’ll be amazed by how much more you can accomplish by changing the way you handle e-mail. If you answer it only at scheduled times, you’ll find you have more time to do the tasks at hand.


Reevaluate the ways you’re spending your time. Try to plan when you can work on your business without losing time with your children. If your children are in school, make it a point to stop working when they get home. If your children are still small, try to plan your time accordingly. Perhaps a babysitter for several hours or days a week is necessary. Another possibility would be to have a grandparent or neighbor watch them once or twice a week to allow you time to work without interruptions.


Fifth, plan an activity. Now that you’re ready to make a change in your routine, why not plan an activity once a week? This can be an outing with your children or something simple, like setting aside time to make cookies together. You’ll notice that when you plan for these times, they actually happen.


If possible, find another work-at-home mom, and hold one another accountable to keep to your new schedules. Make a weekly play date for your children to spend time together. You and your friend can talk business if necessary, or you may decide to make it a “no business talk allowed” time.


Remember that the years you can work at home and have time with your children are a gift; your business is a gift also. How that will work for you and your family will take a little time to determine and will be different for each family. Take the time to find what works for you, and set your schedule accordingly. Reevaluate your priorities every few months to make sure that you’re making the best use of your time. The rewards will be well worth it. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him (Psalm 127:3).


So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom, by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen © 2009 by Jill Hart, Diana Ennen, and Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. Used by permission of Publisher. All rights reserved. Visit http://www.beaconhillbooks.com/to purchase this title.

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Jesus Book by Stephen Elkins Review

The Jesus Book has a CD with it that has 30 songs about Jesus. It is a wonderful book that tells the story of Jesus. It goes through and tells who Jesus is, what he did, what he taught, when it all happened, where it all happened, why it happened, and how it happened. This book has very beautiful illustrations by Claudine Gevry. It introduces kids to Jesus and teaches them about his love for us. The CD is wonderful! I love the songs on it and they are a great compilation of childrens' music about God's son. Both book and CD are great companions to each other. They both encourage a lifelong relationship with the Lord. The words are clear and easy to understand for kids. My boys enjoyed reading it to their sisters and They all enjoyed the music a lot! This is a wonderful book and CD to have! I am glad to have gotten it for my kids' collection.

Go HERE to see a flip book of the book.

I am a Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger and I thank them for providing me with this book to review.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's Cookbook Review and Giveaway

ABOUT COOKING WITH ALL THINGS TRADER JOE'S: Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's is a premium hardcover cookbook, with full-color photos for every recipe. Each recipe has unique ingredients from the Trader Joe's supermarket. You can try making some of these recipes by going HERE. By using fresh ingredients strategically coupled with Trader Joe’s prepped items, this cookbook has put together healthy, home-cooked gourmet meals with typical working times of around 10 minutes.

ABOUT DEANA GUNN AND WONA MINIATI:
They love good food, they love to cook, and they love Trader Joe’s. Time and time again, as they shopped the aisles at Trader Joe’s, they overheard people saying, “What do you do with quinoa? How do you use tapenade? What goes well with ricotta-stuffed chicken?” Before they knew it, we were writing a cookbook.

MY THOUGHTS:
Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's is a cookbook that I couldn't pass up. Deana and Wona sent me two autographed copies of their cookbook (one to review and one to giveaway to a reader). This cookbook has a great selection of wonderful recipes that are so healthy and very unique! I made the Black Bean Soup on page 76. It was very good and had a wonderful spicey kick with added salsa, garlic, and cumin. I also loved the added lime...it gave it an interesting flavor. I cooked it in my cast iron skillet because I get extra iron that way. It was a very simple recipe that I enjoyed a lot.

I used to shop at Trader Joe's a lot in Ohio when we lived there and I really wish there was one closer to me now. I love their wholesome foods. They have a variety of great selections for food including: gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian food, unusual frozen foods, imported foods, "alternative" food items, and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. The closest one to me now is 34 miles away and so unfortunately not as convenient.



BUY IT:
Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's is available on Amazon and at all Borders and Waldenbooks.

WIN IT:
Deana and Wona at Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's is giving one lucky reader a chance to win their very own Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's autographed cookbook.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's website and tell me what interesting fact you learned about Deana and Wona.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by email and let me know. (2 extra entries)

2. Become my fan on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra)

7. Follow me on twitter and retweet this: @finamoon: @cookingwithTJ WIN: Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's Cookbook http://bit.ly/3jwiRL(Daily Extras are Available)

8. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

9. Comment on one of my other posts and tell me which one. (2 extra entries per post)

10. Fan Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

11. Follow them on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday November 27, 2009 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only!!

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Deana and Wona for providing me with this opportunity and a free copy of their cookbook to review to spread the word. All information about the products I received from the media kit and the Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's website. 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.

Slice by Five For Fighting Giveaway Winner


The winner of the Five For Fighting autographed Slice CD is #1 ale_d_o_l! ale_d_o_l she said that she would be interested in listening to the Two Lights CD.

Congrats again to the winner! I will contact the winner by email. If you did not have your email posted please post it here so I can email you! Thanks to all those who participated and don't forget to enter in my contests/giveaways that are going on now! I will also be adding more posts and giveaways soon so stay tuned!

*All winners are chosen by my True Random Number Generator.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes

Attention Kmart Shoppers - I am proud to announce the Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes! Kmart is bringing back everyone's favorite Bluelight Specials!! Do you remember those surprise moments when a Kmart store worker would light up a mobile police light and offer a discount in a specific department of the store?
  • Special offers run every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, on everything from electronics, to jewelry, to items for your home - all at Kmart Bluelight Special prices!
  • There are over 40 great Bluelight Specials throughout the weekend in-store AND other great offers online at Kmart.com ONLY on Saturday and Sunday.
  • What items would you LOVE to see participate in Bluelight Specials today?!
Starting November 12th, you can enter for a chance to win a $50 Kmart gift card everyday from 11/12/2009 – 12/23/2009! In addition to daily winners, everyone following @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter (as of 12/23/2009) will be entered for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping spree!

HOW TO ENTER
For a chance to win Daily, First, and Grand prizes, follow these easy steps:
1) Follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter from your personal Twitter account
2) Issue a Tweet everyday using our hashtag: #KmartBLS

They’ll be choosing a winner everyday only from tweets within a 24hr period – so each day is a new opportunity to win a Daily Prize! The more often you tweet #KmartBLS, the better your chances are to win!

PRIZES
Daily winners will be chosen by random drawing and awarded a $50 gift card, everyday from 11/12 – 12/23. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

Grand and First prize winners will be chosen at random from eligible followers of the @KmartDealsnNews Twitter account at the end of the sweepstakes. One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Kmart gift card, and five (5) First Prize winners will receive a $100 Kmart gift card. Winners will be notified by direct message, and must be following @KmartDealsnNews.

RULES
There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN, must be legal resident of the 50 U.S. and DC, 18 or older. Sweepstakes ends 12/23/2009. Visit http://tr.im/KmartBLSRules for official Rules.

SHARE WITH YOUR TWITTER FOLLOWERS!
Click on the following links to help spread the word about the Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes to your friends and followers on Twitter!

Tweet #KmartBLS for a Chance to Win a $50 Kmart Gift Card Everyday from 11/12 - 12/23! For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls @KmartDealsnNews

Follow @KmartDealsnNews for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping Spree! #KmartBLS For more info: http://tr.im/kmartbls

A little preview for this weekend’s (11/15 – 11/16) Specials:

· Essential Home Complete Bed set $29.99 (reg. $49.99)

· All Trim-A-Home lights 50% off (reg $8.99-$29.99)

· 9 Piece Luggage Set $49.99 (reg $99.99)

· Juniors Leggings 50% off

For those of you that don't have twitter you can play this daily Kmart instant win game.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Nature Valley, Harry Connick Jr, LTDchix Tote, YCMT, MBS and Yoplait Winners


Sorry I am late in posting these winners. I have been super busy posting reviews and giveaways here and my daughter, Tatiana, has been sick again...

The winner of the Nature Valley "Snack Pack" is #9 Janet and Maya. Janet and Maya said she'd like to try the Nature Valley Chewy Granola Bars with Yogurt Coating - Vanilla. Sounds yummy! Her favorite element of nature is water.... She lives near Lake Michigan and she loves seeing the changes in the lake from day to day. She also loves waterfalls - any water feature - it's calming and soothing.

The winner of the Harry Connick, Jr. Your Songs CD is #16 Erin. She said that she'd be interested in his Broadway cd.

The winner of the LTDchix Reusable Tote Bag is #13 AStarrA! AStarrA said she likes the Shopping Mom Grocery Bag - Royal Blue.

The winner of the YCMT $50 DIY Halloween downloads is #4 Xenia! Xenia said she thinks all of the little crochet caps are adorable, particularly the Lil Grey Mouse Cap and the Lil Bunny Cap, She'd love to learn how to make those and give them as baby gifts. For Halloween her 3-year-old is dressing as a spider and is excited to go trick-or-treating! They also get to go to a little Halloween party at her preschool the day before, which should be fun.

The winner of the Monkey Business Sports FoamStrike SlingShot is #37 Amanda! Amanda said she thinks her sons would like the Bungee plane.

The winners of the Yoplait Less Sugar, More Fun prize packs are #7 EllyBean and #14 Amanda. EllyBean said They'd be interested in trying to banana-vanilla yogurt! She makes snack time fun for her daughter by trying to offer her fun looking snacks, whether it be pb crackers with raisins eyes or other fun ways of presentation! Amanda said she would like to try the Yoplait smoothies. To make yogurt even more fun to eat, she freezes either go-gurts or Trix yogurt to make popsicles.

Congrats again to all the winners! I will contact each winner by email. If you did not have your email posted please post it here so I can email you! Thanks to all those who participated and don't forget to enter in my contests/giveaways that are going on now! I will also be adding more posts and giveaways soon so stay tuned!

*All winners are chosen by my True Random Number Generator.

Wordless Wednesday Tatiana My Happy Girl


If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Slice by Five For Fighting Review and Giveaway

ABOUT FIVE FOR FIGHTING AND SLICE:
Five For Fighting is the band name under which singer/songwriter John Ondrasik records and performs. Five For Fighting’s breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy Nominated song “Superman”, from the Platinum certified “America Town”. When 9/11 happened, it became a song of healing for the nation. FFF performed the song at the post 9/11 fundraiser The Concert for New York which paid tribute to all the firefighters, police officers and paramedics affected by the events of 9/11.

In addition to his musical accomplishments John has made a personal commitment towards causes that are important to him. In February of 2007, Ondrasik launched a unique charity-driven web site, whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com. John has also been a dedicated supporter of US troops and has performed for US forces.

Now John delivers a new album, Slice, featuring the song "Chances", that was released October 13th.

Go see more on his YouTube site.

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Album Tracklisting:
1. Slice
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier
3. Tuesday
4. Chances
5. This Dance
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer
8. Hope
9. Story Of Your Life
10. Love Can't Change The Weather
11. Augie Nieto

MY THOUGHTS:
I love this CD. I have been a big fan of Five for Fighting since John's song Superman. John's voice is cool and clear and his ballads have great messages in them. I love the great background instrumentals with piano. My favorites are Chances and Story Of Your Life. Slice is a great CD with wonderful, well thought out lyrics. I really enjoy listening to it.

FFF Tour Dates:
John will be hitting the road in October with An Acoustic Evening with Five For Fighting. To find out about how to get tickets in a market near you, go to his site.

6-Nov Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
10-Nov San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall
11-Nov Los Angeles, CA Largo at the Coronet

BUY IT:
Go to Amazon.com to listen to clips of the album Slice and to purchase it for only $9.99!

WIN IT:
Michelle at One2One Network is is giving one lucky reader a chance to win their very own Five For Fighting. autographed Slice CD.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Five For Fighting website and tell me what other CD you would be interested in listening to.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by email and let me know. (2 extra entries)

2. Become my fan on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Five For Fighting in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra)

7. Follow me on twitter and retweet this: @finamoon WIN: Five For Fighting autographed Slice CD http://bit.ly/ATRzn
(Daily Extras are Available)

8. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

9. Comment on one of my other of my posts and tell me which one. (2 extra entries per post)

10. Fan Five For Fighting on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

11. Follow him on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday November 13, 2009 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only!!

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to One2One Network, the women's word of mouth marketing network, for providing me with this opportunity and a download of this CD in advance to review as part of a campaign to spread the word. All information about the products I received from the official press release, email from One2One Network, the Five For Fighting website, and the information from the download website. 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, November 4, 2009

Wordless Wednesday Double Shelled Egg


If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Give Up The Ghost by Brandi Carlile Review

ABOUT BRANDI CARLILE:
Born in the small town of Ravensdale, WA, Brandi Carlile grew up listening to the classic country music her parents loved (Patsy Cline remains Carlile's favorite singer). She made her first stage appearance at the age of 8 after she was taken to a local country radio show by her mother. At 17 she was inspired to learn to play guitar after seeing the Indigo Girls in concert at Lilith Fair and having developed a taste for rock & roll through Elton John's classic albums of the 1970s (Tumbleweed Connection is one of her favorites) she began hitting the clubs in Seattle, playing anywhere she could get a gig. While playing, she heard a band called the Fighting Machinists, featuring twin brothers Tim Hanseroth on guitar and Phil Hanseroth. Carlile became an instant fan and when the group broke up she persuaded the Hanseroth twins to form a group with her. In 2005 Carlile was signed to Columbia Records, releasing a self-titled album later that same year. Her last album, The Story, debuted on Billboard's Top 200, peaking at #2 on iTunes and was named one of VH1's "You Oughta Know" artists. Also many of her songs were featured on various episodes of "Grey's Anatomy". She's toured with Tori Amos, Dave Mathews Band, Sheryl Crow and many others.

Add her on Myspace. Fan her on Facebook.

ABOUT GIVE UP THE GHOST:
Give Up The Ghost was released by Columbia Records on October 6th. Brandi's dream was realized recording Give Up The Ghost. She got the opportunity to work with her idol, Elton John. “Brandi has an amazing voice,” he says. “She’s a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her.” The album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, birthplace of legendary recordings by The Doors and Led Zeppelin. The first single, “Dreams,” was written with her longtime bandmates, twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The CD includes special guest appearances by Sir Elton John, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

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Tracklisting
Looking Out
Dying Day
Pride And Joy
Dreams
That Year
Caroline
Before It Breaks
I Will
If There Was No You
Touching The Ground
Oh Dear

MY THOUGHTS:
I was given downloads of all her songs on the Give Up The Ghost album by One2One Network to review. Brandi was here in Portland, OR on Oct 22 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and I wish I could have gone to the concert...maybe next time she tours. Her CD, Give Up The Ghost, is fabulous! I am a big fan of the Indigo Girls and Brandi worked with Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls on this CD! My friend commented while I was listening to her music that Brandi reminds him of Radio Head. You can really hear the influence of Elton John in the song Caroline! Elton John is a great performer and artist! If you like Indie pop or folk rock you will LOVE her. Her voice is rich and strong. I love singing along with this CD! I could not pick just two songs as my favorite. My favorite songs on this CD are Looking Out, Dying Day, Caroline (about Brandi's niece) and Touching The Ground.

One of the radio stations I listen to out here in Oregon is Kink FM and they had her perform at their Live Performance Lounge. Here is her performing Dreams there...



BUY IT:
Buy this CD on Amazon.com for only $8.49! You can also go listen to samples of the songs there too.

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to One2One Network, the women's word of mouth marketing network, for providing me with this opportunity and a download of this CD in advance to review as part of a campaign to spread the word. All information about the products I received from the official press release, email from One2One Network, the Brandi Carlile website, and the information from the download website. 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.