The Identical {Review & Giveaway!}



I recently had the opportunity to review another great family movie, The Identical. It is a story that begins in the 1930s during the depression with a life changing decision made by desperately poor parents to give away one of their newborn twin sons.  The son that remains with them grows up into a famous rock star.  The other is adopted by a preacher and his wife who were unable to have children The movie follows the life of Ryan Wade, a young man who loves singing but is trying to please his father by following in his footsteps to become a preacher.  He was unaware that he had a twin and other parents, but as the story progresses, begins to discover some of the secrets from his past.

 

I thought this was a great family-friendly movie that I can share with my kiddos some day.  I think mine are a little young to understand parts of it yet, but I would not be afraid to let them watch it.  With so many inappropriate movies out there it is nice to find some good ones.  I really enjoyed the story in this movie and thought the Elvis-style music was fun.  I was a little sad that it doesn't have a "happily ever after" type of ending, but I guess that makes it more real-life-like since life often doesn't have that perfect ending.   It also has a great message that you can choose to be content with the life God gives you instead of being bitter about it.  Hubby, who prefers action type movies, found it to be a little on the boring side, but I am glad this is one movie we can add to our family's collection.

 

 

The Identical, starring Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Seth Green, and Blake Rayne is a redemptive movie about a young man, the son of a preacher, who rejects his fathers desire for him to join the ministry and instead embarks on a career as a rock singer. As he struggles to pursue his dream and rise to stardom, he finds love, pain, success, failure and ultimately uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals who he really us. The Identical is a captivating story about a family restored and a life discovered that lifts your soul and warms your heart.

If you are interested in purchasing The Identical you can do so HERE where you will also find The Identity Series DVD free with your purchase!

And now for the GIVEAWAY! One of you will get to win your own copy of The Identical.  To enter, please just leave me a comment below with your favorite family movie.  Please make sure you also leave a way for me to contact you if you win!  I will pick a winner on January 10, 2015 at noon.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTCs 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

Blessings,

The Boxcar Children DVD {Review and GIVEAWAY!}

The Boxcar Children books are a great series that so many people have enjoyed.  I remember reading The Boxcar Children books as a kid and now my kids are enjoying reading them.  I think just about everyone has at least heard of them, if not read at least one of them. So when I was offered a chance to review the new DVD of The Boxcar Children, I was excited and knew that my kids would be too!

We all really enjoyed watching this one together.  It is really well done.  I usually don't care for watching cartoons, but since this one was of a great story, I didn't even mind too much.  I like that the children are great examples for my own kiddos, kind and well-mannered. This is one movie that I don't mind my kids watching over and over.  I highly recommend this DVD as a wholesome movie for your whole family!  I hope that they make more of these!

About the Film

Four orphaned and homeless siblings happen upon an abandoned boxcar, which with a little creativity and hard work, they gradually furnish with all the comforts of home. Fearful that they will be sent to live with the reputedly cruel grandfather they have never met, the children keep their new home a secret - until a serious illness forces them to reveal themselves in order to save young Violet.

About the Cast

Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Academy Award Nominee Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), J.K. Simmons (Spiderman), Zach Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Joey King (Fargo), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight series), and Jadon Sand (LEGO: The Movie), this is the very first full-length, animated feature adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner's best-selling classic!
If you would like to pre-order, you may do so HERE.

And now for the giveaway!  One of you will also be able to add this great movie to your collection!  To enter, please leave me a comment below letting me know your favorite book or series as a kid.  Please also leave a way for me to contact you in case you win!  This giveaway will end Sunday, August 24, 2014 at noon when I will choose a winner via random.org. Open to US and Canada only.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Blessings,

The Promise Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for The Promise DVD!  Here is the winner that random.org picked:

Congratulations Carla!  You will have 48 hours to get back to me or I will have to pick a new winner.




Blessings,

The Promise {Review and GIVEAWAY!}

We recently received a really great Christmas DVD called The Promise.  It is a musical about the first Christmas, Jesus' birth.  We loved watching this together as a family.  The kids liked that it is animated, but I really like that it is not a typical cartoon animation.  It is beautifully done!  We all enjoyed the songs, but it wasn't all singing and the story came through very nicely.  I think this would make a great gift for someone this Christmas season and highly recommend it!  Here is a trailer of it for you to enjoy:

The Promise: The Birth of the Messiah is an animated musical celebration of one of the most pivotal events in all human history, the birth of Jesus Christ.

This beautifully crafted musical is a faithful adaptation of the birth narrative from the Gospel of Luke in both story and song. The animated production leverages optical motion technology to blend traditional animation techniques with the performance talents of ballet dancers and dramatic stage actors. The result is a unique and worshipful story experience that will inspire audiences young and old for years to come.

And now for the giveaway! One of you lucky readers will receive your own copy of The Promise!  To be entered, please leave me a comment letting me know your favorite Christmas movie.  Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner!  This giveaway will end Monday, December 9 at 8 pm when I will pick a winner using random.org.

I received this DVD for free for review from FlyBy Promotions.

Blessings,

Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas Winner!

 Thanks to those of you who entered the Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas giveaway!  I wish you could all win so that your kiddos could enjoy it as much as mine do!  Here is the result from random.org:

Congratulations Regan D!  You have 48 hours to respond to me or I will have to pick a new winner.



Blessings,

Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas {Review and GIVEAWAY!}

Since having kids, I have come to realize how hard Christmas can be to keep the focus on Christ's birth and on others instead of on ourselves.  With all the decorating, parties, and gifts, Christmas can become a rather selfish time, especially if you are a young child.  So I was very excited when I was contacted about reviewing the new Veggie Tales DVD Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas.  My kids have always loved Veggie Tales and more recently have enjoyed watching the TV series Duck Dynasty.  Well, this new DVD brings both of them together and my kids couldn't have been more excited!

Here is a quick overview from the Veggie Tales website:

 Larry The Cucumber is a Christmas elf at the Spring Valley Mall who just wants to spread joy at the holidays. When he meets a little girl with a big heart whose only Christmas wish is to help a friend in need, "Merry Larry" sets off on adventure that will light up the holidays like never before and show the town of Spring Valley what Christmas is all about - "Christmas shines most bright and true when you give the love God gave to you!" Featuring Si Robertson as Silas the Okra!

My kids were not disappointed watching this one, they LOVED it! They couldn't help laughing every time Uncle Si's character was on! I really enjoyed this movie too.  I thought it did a very nice job of showing that Christmas is much more than making a list and getting gifts. It is a great way to start kids thinking on what they could do for others for Christmas (or anytime of year!) instead of being so focused on themselves.

Here is a trailer of the movie to give you a little taste of it:



To purchase Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas, you can head over to the Veggie Tales website  While you are there, you can also check out some behind the scenes with Si Robertson or download some really cute coloring pages for your kiddos!

And now for the giveaway!  One of you lucky readers will receive your own copy of Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas!  To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below with one way you try to keep the focus of Christmas on God's love for us and others.  Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner!  This giveaway will end in one week on Saturday, November 30 at 8:00pm PMT when I will draw a winner using random.org.

I received this DVD for free for review and all opinions are my own.

Blessings,

Linked up with:
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
The Better Mom
Teach Me Tuesdays
Titus 2sday
Women Living Well
A Delightful Home
Raising Arrows
The Modest Mom
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up {Review and Giveaway!}

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to think about this book, Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up, when I first received it.  It seemed a little...I don't know...cheesy?  But after reading it, it turns out to be a cute kids story.  The kids enjoyed reading it with me too.  They thought it was funny and loved the bright, colorful illustrations.  It has some great lessons about trusting and obeying God, even when we don't want to.  In the back there is a "Parent Connection" page that adds scriptures and questions to really help your kids understand and apply this to their lives.

From the publisher:

Oh sure, we'll all heard the story of Jonah and the Whale a hundred times. But have we heard it from the perspective of the whale who experienced that history-making event?

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! imagines how that great sea creature from the incident might tell his side of the story, helping kids ages 4 to 8 discover a creative way of learning about that guy who was supposed to go to Ninevah.

The "Parent Connection" feature will help moms and dads take the story further with scripture references and tips on how to talk with their children about what really happened. There's even a free online app to make this bright retelling even more animated and interactive.

 

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up by Troy Schmidt will be available May 1, 2013 from B & H Publishing Group.  For more info, check out their Facebook page also.

Now for the giveaway!  Flyby Promotions has generously offered a copy to one of my readers!  To be entered, just leave me a comment below telling my your favorite Bible story.  Please also leave a way for me to contact you if you win!  This giveaway will end on May 13, 2013 at noon and I will pick a winner using random.org.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Blessings,

Little Angels Prayers for Every Day {Review & Giveaway!}

As we train up our children to know their Savior, one of the things we want them to be able to do is talk daily with Him.  Unfortunately, praying has not come easy for some of our kids.  I think it is hard for them to understand that they are talking to God since they can't see him or they are unsure what to say, especially when praying out loud with others around them.  We have a few prayers that we have taught them to recite in order to help them as they start out.  I was very thankful to receive Roma Downey's Little Angels Prayers for Every Day as it is a whole book of short prayers to recite with my kiddos.
Here is a description of it:

Little Angels Prayers for Every Day features more than 50 simple rhyming prayers that cover a typical day and the typical worries of a young child. From waking in the morning to going to sleep at night, from thanking God for a meal to praying for His comfort when afraid, the prayers here will help little ones to see that any moment is a good moment to talk to God. Relevant Bible verses are scattered throughout the book as well! 

There are prayers for many different situations and it is helpful to read through some of them with my kids to give them more words to pray.  Even if they don't have the exact one from the book memorized, they can still remember most of it and it is helpful for them in starting out their prayer, making it easier to add things in their own words. My kids and I have enjoyed reading and using this book together.

FlyBy Promotions has graciously offered one of my readers a chance to win a copy of Little Angels Prayers for Every Day!  Please leave a comment telling me something about praying with your kids, maybe if it has been easy or hard, their favorite one to recite, your favorite time of day to pray together, etc.  Please also leave a way for me to contact you if you win! This giveaway will end Saturday, March 16 at noon when I pick a winner using random.org.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thanks FlyBy Promotions!

Blessings,

The Little House That Stood {Review and Giveaway!}

Since there is rarely anything good on TV, our kids usually end up watching a DVD when they are allowed some TV time.  Some of our favorites are the Veggie Tales ones.  And we have quite a few of them!  The kids love the Silly Songs with Larry and I even enjoy watching them for their humor.  We love that they use stories that parallel Bible stories and teach our kids some great lessons about God.  I was excited to hear that a new one is being released on Tuesday and was even more excited when I received a copy of it to review! Here is a trailer and description of The Little House That Stood.

When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come! 

We loved The Little House That Stood as much as we love the rest of Veggie Tales!  I highly recommend this DVD for your kiddos!  And if you would like a chance to win a copy, Flyby Promotions has graciously offered one to one of my readers!  All you need to do is leave a comment below letting me know your favorite Veggie Tales DVD or if you have never seen any, take a look around the Veggie Tales site and let me know another one that looks the most interesting to you. This giveaway will end Saturday, March 16th at noon when I will pick a winner using random.org.  Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thanks Flyby Promotions!

Blessings,

Abel's Field {Review & GIVEAWAY!}

Abel's Field is the kind of movie that we need more of.  It is a movie you can enjoy with your family and not worry about them hearing foul language or seeing inappropriate scenes.  I really enjoyed this film.  It is a great story about hope, forgiveness, and prayer.  The main character, Seth, is carrying the weight of the world as he tries to care for his two young sisters, work hard at his schoolwork and jobs, and put up with bullying.  And he is determined to do it all on his own.  As things slowly crumble around him, Seth learns about asking for help from others and from God, whom he has given up on after his mother died.  Abel, Seth's supervisor, is a key part of helping him, but Abel has a secret of his own that might turn Seth down the wrong path for good.
One thing that did seem a little unrealistic to me was that three children would be allowed to live on their own.  Even if Seth is 18 and refused help from anyone, someone (from church, school, etc.) would most likely step in and do something about that. Other than that, I thought it was a very well done movie full of heart, humor, tears, and even a little romance. Although I think this is a great family move, I did not allow my kids to watch it yet.  Buddy, 8, might be able to grasp some of the storyline, but I think this movie is more appropriate for teenagers and older.  If my kids did happen to watch it, I am glad that there is not anything in it that I need to be concerned about.  It is rated PG for thematic elements, brief violence, and a smoking image. 

Flyby Promotions generously gave me this copy for review, and even better, they are giving a copy to one of you!  Please leave a comment on this post with your favorite family movie to be entered.  I will pick a winner next Friday, Feb 1 at noon using random.org.  Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

Thank you Flyby Promotions for your generosity!

 About Abel's Field

Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle (Samuel Davis) faces enormous pressure as he strives to support his little sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying of the football team. But fighting back only finds him singled out for punishment and assigned to an after-school work detail under the supervision of the reserved groundskeeper, Abel (SOUL SURFER’S Kevin Sorbo). Much to his surprise, Seth discovers that Abel may be the only one who truly understands his struggles. As dark times lure Seth toward desperate measures, the reluctant Abel may be the one person who can point him back toward the light.

Website: http://www.abelsfield.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbelsField 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbelsField

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Blessings,

Linked up with:
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
The Better Mom
Teach Me Tuesdays
Titus 2sday
Women Living Well
A Delightful Home
Raising Arrows
The Modest Mom
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Doodle Roll {Review & GIVEAWAY!} *CLOSED*

My kids love to color and do crafts so I am always on the lookout for things I think they will love.  I try to stick with ones that don't make a big mess though, because, while I love their creations, I don't love cleaning up messes they make.  One product that I recently received for review has been perfect for their creativity without creating a mess, the Doodle Roll.  The Doodle Roll is a portable craft kit that contains a roll of paper and crayons. 

The Doodle Roll is so easy to use, my kids started playing with theirs right away.  They can pull out as much paper as they would like to use and can doodle away!

The crayons have their own separate place that the kids can easily open on their own.  There is also a cutting edge to tear off their pictures when they are finished but it is all made of plastic and very safe.  My kids have been having so much fun creating pictures, banners, cards, and much more.   

The Doodle Roll comes in two sizes, 4 and 6 inch and either is great for slipping into your purse or car to take along to an appointment, out for dinner, or any other place you would like to keep your kids occupied and quiet.  I think it would also make a great stocking stuffer, gift, or party favor.  If you would like more ideas for the Doodle Roll or find out where to purchase your own, be sure to visit the Doodle Roll site.  You can also find them on Facebook or Twitter.

Doodle Roll has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win their own Doodle Rolls!  To be entered, leave a comment letting me know your favorite craft to do with your kids (or grandkids, friends, etc).  Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win!  This giveaway will end on Nov. 25, 2011 at noon.  I will draw a winner using random.org and winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email.  This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. 

This is a MamaBuzz review.  The product was provided by Doodle Roll for free in exchange for this review.

Twin Sisters Productions Bible Stories {Review and GIVEAWAY!}

We have officially been on summer break for about a month now, but I have still been encouraging the kids to practice the skills they have learned by doing things they think are fun.  That way they don't always realize they are doing math, practicing reading, etc and it is much easier to get them to do it.  Twin Sisters Productions has a lot of great products that are perfect for this and recently they sent me their Bible Stories workbook and music cd for review.  The kids have loved listening to the songs, many of which are familiar, but also a few new ones they have enjoyed learning.  The workbook contains 14 mini Bible story books that each go along with a song, finger puppets, Bible story starters, some easy crafts, and some suggested Bible verses for the kids to memorize.  The kids have been having fun coloring the books and Buddy can easily read them to everyone. 

They have also loved the finger puppets and are constantly retelling their favorite Bible stories with them.  A large part of our curriculum during the school year has the kids retelling me stories after I read them to make sure they catch the main ideas of the story.  The kids don't really like doing this unless I give them an exciting way of doing it like acting out the story.  I think these puppets will come in handy next year to have them retell me Bible stories in a fun way.

This is the second product I've reviewed for Twin Sisters Productions and both times have been very pleased with the products.  They offer many educational music products on their site and I think my kids would have fun with a lot of them and not even realize they are learning at the same time!

Currently they are having an Old MacDonald Had a Farm video contest on their Facebook page.  This is a cute opportunity to share a video of your kids' creativity! Head over to their page to get all the details and also a promo code for a free download of Old MacDonald Had a Farm!

Twin Sisters has also graciously offered one of my readers a $10 gift certificate to their site!  To be entered please leave me a comment letting me know your kids' favorite Bible song.  Please leave a way for me to contact you if you win!

For extra entries you may do any of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment(s) for each entry!

1. Visit Twin Sisters Productions and tell me your favorite product (1 entry)

2. Like Twin Sisters on Facebook (1 entry)

3. Enter their Facebook video contest (5 entries, leave 5 separate comments!)

4 . Follow or subscribe to my blog (1 entry)

This giveaway will end on July 28 at noon and I will draw a winner using random.org.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be picked.

I received this product for free for review from Twin Sisters Productions. All opinions are mine. Thanks Twin Sisters!

More Butterflies! {A Lucky Horseshoe Review and Giveaway!} CLOSED

If you remember from last week, we've been fascinated with watching our butterflies for Sweetie's homeschool lessons.  Well, this week we were able add some more permanent butterflies to our house.  Last year when Sweetie moved into her new bedroom to make room for the baby, I painted her room a rather neutral green color.  Sweetie wanted it pink, but I really didn't want to have to repaint it if the boys ever needed to move into that room, so I told her we could find a cute stencil or something to add a nice girly touch to the room.  Well, baby came along and we just never got around to it.  When I received the chance to review one of the wall decals from A Lucky Horseshoe, I knew that would be a great time to give Sweetie the girly touch she wanted.  After looking around A Lucky Horseshoe, though, I knew it would be tough to pick just one thing for her room.  There are so many adorable decals that would look great in many different areas of our house! 

There are many different quotes that would fit in well around our family room

This quote would be great in our kitchen!

These safari animals would make great decoration for the school room

This one would be cute in the bathroom

And I know Buddy would LOVE these jets for his room!

We finally decided on the group of butterflies.  When the package arrived, I was even more excited to find out that A Lucky Horseshoe is a local business! I always think it's great to be able to support local businesses!  The pack of decals came with a very detailed instruction sheet for putting them up.  Following the clear instructions made it super easy to put the decals up and once I got the hang of it, they all went up pretty quickly.

They look so cute in Sweetie's room and she loves them!

A Lucky Horseshoe is owned by Rebecca, a 14 year old, who is trying to save up money for college.  She loves horses and doing horse shows so that is why she chose the name of her store.  She began her business in 2009 and loves the feeling of getting a gift when she receives an order.  I think it is great that Rebecca is already working hard for her future!  Her products can be found on her site or on Etsy.

Rebecca has also graciously offered one of my readers a $25 gift certificate to A Lucky Horseshoe!  To be entered, please take a look around A Lucky Horseshoe and let me know your favorite decal.  Please leave a way for me to contact you if you win. This giveaway will end on June 3, 2011 at noon and then I will pick a winner using random.org.  Open to US and Canada only.  If you have already won from another Mamabuzz review of A Lucky Horseshoe I will have to pick another winner.

This is a Mamabuzz review.  The butterfly decals where provided by A Lucky Horseshoe for this review.

SafetyTat {Review, Discount Code & Giveaway!} CLOSED!

A few weeks ago, Hubby was telling me about an idea he saw on a list of tips for taking kids to Disneyland about writing your contact info on your child's arm with a permanent marker in case they get lost. I thought that was a great idea! And then a couple days later, I received an email from Dawn from SafetyTat asking me if I would like to review their product.  After I looked into their product, I thought their tattoos sounded like an even better idea!  SafetyTat is "The tat that brings kids back!" and they specialize in temporary tattoos which display a parent/caregiver's mobile phone number, helping the parent and child to quickly be reunited if separated.

I received a sampling of their tattoos, including several customized ones with our cell number on, several write on ones, alcohol prep cloths to clean the skin prior to application, and a black marker for writing on the tattoos.  The customized ones are their Original SafetyTats and are applied with water, similar to regular temporary tattoos.  They last from 1-5 days and are easily removed with baby oil or rubbing alcohol. The write on ones are a quick stick waterless, water-proof skin applique that can last up to 2 weeks and is removed simply by peeling it off like a band aid.

SafetyTat also has a variety of other tattoos, such as allergy or medical condition alerts, Tat Kisses, and even a few in Spanish.  I especially like the TatBuilder, it's a great way to customize a tattoo just for your child!

What I like about them: I love how easy to use the SafetyTats are! They work exactly how the SafetyTat site says they should.  Having an easy way to make an outing with 4 kiddos safer is great.  My kids love the cute pictures on the tattoos, so it makes it fun for them too.  These are so much nicer than actually writing on my kids' skin since it can easily be removed.

What I didn't like: Well...there isn't much! I think these are pretty great!

Want to buy it?  Head over to SafetyTat and check out all the neat options they have available.  They have even offered my readers a discount of 10% off your order of $15 or more with the code MunchkinFarm, good until March 20, 2011.

Want to win it?  Two of you can win a pack of the Quick Stick Write-On! Multi designs!

Mandatory Entry: Please visit SafetyTat and leave me a comment letting me know your favorite product.

Extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each):
1. Follow or subscribe to my blog (see left column)
2. "Like" SafetyTat on Facebook
3. Tweet, Facebook, or Blog about this giveaway (leave me a link)

Please leave your email address in each comment so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway will end March 16, 2011 at noon, when I will use random.org to pick 2 winners.  The winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will have to pick a new winner. Open to US and Canadian residents.

I received theses tattoos from SafetyTat for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Paws & Tales: God Cares For You {Review & Giveaway!} CLOSED

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers, we had a movie night last week, complete with popcorn, comfy pillows and blankets, and the new Paws & Tales: God Cares For You DVD.  It is based on the Paws & Tales radio show, which the kids have listened to and enjoyed.  They also loved this movie!  It has two episodes on it.  The first is The Good Shepherd, in which C.J. and Ned get to take care of sheep and discover that it is not as easy as it seems it would be.  The second is A Good Foundation, in which they attempt to build a clubhouse and learn the importance of starting with a good foundation.  The kids have watched it several times and it is now one of their favorites! Ned is their favorite character. Hubby and I really like how they are learning good biblical concepts while they are watching and think that this DVD does a better job of fitting this in with the story than a lot of other biblically based movies do.  You can also pop the DVD into your computer and print off some coloring and activity sheets for the kids and some tip sheets with questions and Bible verses for discussion after the movie.  I really appreciate having the tip sheets to be able to see if the kids are grasping the important concepts of the movie.  The Paws & Tales site also has some fun games and activites that the kids enjoyed trying out.  We can't wait for the next movie night with another fun episode of Paws and Tales!



Tyndale was kind enough to include a giveaway for one of my readers as well!  The winner will recieve a certificate for Paws & Tales: God Cares for You which can be redeemed at your local Christian bookstore or be sent by mail to order it from Tyndale.  This giveaway will end at noon (or whenever I get around to it!) on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2011 and then I will randomly draw a winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or a new winner will be drawn.

To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment letting me know your kids' favorite biblically based movie or radio program.  Please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win!

For an extra entry, follow or subscribe to my blog (see the left column) and leave me a seperate comment letting me know.

For more information about Paws & Tales: God Cares for You, please visit Paws &Tales or Tyndale House Publishers.

I recieved this DVD free from Tyndale House Publishers to review.  All opinions are mine and I get to keep the movie.

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari {Review & Giveaway!} CLOSED

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark is a cute book about Roger the turtle and Padraig the Dragon as they go on a camp out at Mount Sillymanborrow.  They are excited about camping out all night, but as night comes, it brings some strange and scary noises.  They are determined to spend the whole night outside and discover that they can help each other get past their fears to accomplish this.

I thought this was a really cute book about friendship and helping each other be strong and courageous.  Buddy really enjoyed it too, but I think it was a little bit hard for the younger kids to understand.  There were a few unfamiliar words and phrases.  Even though there is nothing in the story about prayer or God helping them be strong and courageous, there is a short study guide in the back that includes verses and how we can encourage each other.  I also found The Dragon and the Turtle and Donita K. Paul websites that have more fun to expand on the story.

If you wish to purchase The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari for $11.99, you may do so here.

Waterbrook Multnomah sent me two copies of this book, so I have one to giveaway to one of you guys!

To enter, simply leave me a comment telling me what your favorite adventure (real or pretend play) was when you were young.  Please leave your email address also so I will have a way to contact you if you win. 

For an extra entry, follow or subscribe to my blog (see the left column) and leave me a seperate comment letting me know.

This giveaway will end Feb 9, 2011 at noon (or whenever I get around to it!), when I will randomly pick a winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or a new winner will be drawn. Open to US resident only.

This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for free for this review.

My True Nature - Review, Discount Code, & Giveaway! **CLOSED**

My kids love bath time. They especially love it when we add some bubble bath. When Kelly from My True Nature contacted me about reviewing her new bath products, I knew my kids would be all for it! I was also excited to try them because they are all natural and organic which means they are safe for my kids! Kelly sent us the Bubbly by Nature Bubble Bath and the Stinky by Nature Shampoo and Body Wash. After we received them, we immediately started using them. The bottles had adorable little cartoon characters on them that the kids loved to look at. The kids also loved the bubble bath! One thing I don't like about a lot of bubble baths is that they produce only small amounts of bubbles that don't always last that long. The Bubbly by Nature created huge amounts of bubbles that lasted for a long time! The Stinky by Nature did a great job of getting the kids clean, and the only small issue I had with it was that is was rather difficult to rinse out of their hair. When I asked Kelly about this, she said that it was due to the amount olive oil in the wash and already had plans to reduce it in the next round she manufactures to resolve this issue. Overall we had a great experience using the My True Nature products and can't wait to see what else the offer in the future!

My True Nature is in the process of launching the first of their products and hopes to add more soon. Here is a little bit more about My True Nature from their website:

The idea for My True Nature came after my first baby was born. Like many mothers, I wanted to create a safe home environment. But when I couldn’t find a line of soaps and shampoos that had 100% natural ingredients, performed as well as typical mainstream products, and were completely free of genetically modified organisms, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, triclosan or preservatives, I decided to start producing them myself. Before I knew it, I had a line of products that my friends and family loved. I started selling them by word of mouth, and the business has grown from there.

When I started using my products at home, I put cartoon labels on the bottles to make them laugh. I mean, who doesn't love to make their kids laugh? It is intoxicating. My kids loved them, and that’s when the idea for TubbyTown™, a make-believe bath-time wonderland, was born. TubbyTown™’s residents currently include Bobo the dragon, Milo the skunk, Clio the teddy bear and Ollie the octopus. Each has its own distinctive personality, and its own dedicated bath-time product. I know your little ones will look forward to playing with them each time they step into the tub just like mine do.

Currently My True Nature offers the bubble bath, shampoo & body wash, and gift bags for boys or girls. They also have a holiday version of the products and gift bags available, perfect for Christmas gifts for your favorite little ones! They will soon be launching their bath books and toys and also hooded bath towels, all built around the bath time characters and their personalities.

My True Nature only uses 100% natural ingredients so I know that using them on my kids is very safe. If you would like to read about the ingredients you can check them out on their site here. They also use recycled bottles and eco-friendly bags to package their products.

Kelly and her husband have lived in San Francisco for 12 years and have 2 children, Fletcher who is 5 and Adeline who is 3. Kelly is a big cook and that is how her interest in formulating her products started.
Want to purchase any of the My True Nature products? Head over to the site to check them out. Kelly has graciously offered my readers a 20% discount and free shipping when you use the code munchkin! (Code expires Oct 6, 2010)

Want to win a 4 oz combo package of the Bubbly by Nature and Stinky by Nature? Keep reading!
Please complete the mandatory entry first and then feel free to complete as many of the extra entries that you would like to. Leave your email address (non spam example: name at yahoo dot com) in each comment so that I can contact you if you win. I will verify all entries, so please be honest! The giveaway will end Oct 6, 2010 at noon and I will pick a winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to anyone (and yes even my friends are welcome to enter since the winner will be randomly drawn using random.org!).

Mandatory Entry: Leave me a comment telling me who you would like to win this for (your kids, grandkids, friends, etc).

Extra entries (be sure to leave a seperate comment for each extra entry that you do!)

- Follow my blog publicly

- Subscribe to my blog (box on the left) and make sure you check your email to verify it!

- Add my button to your blog (leave a link to where you added it)

- Head over to My True Nature and tell me something new you learned.

- Subscribe to the My True Nature newsletter here (on the left side)

- Publicly follow the My True Nature blog

- Tweet, facebook, or blog about this giveaway (you may do one, two, or all three for up to 3 entries and leave me a link to each one that you do)

- "Like" My True Nature on facebook (leave me a comment with your name)

That's a total of 11 possible ways to enter, so get started commenting today!

My True Nature sent me these products for free to review. I was not paid for this review and I get to keep the products. All opinions expressed are mine!

Suuthe by Mari Skin Repair Winner!

Thanks to all who entered my Suuthe by Mari giveaway! I used random.org to pick the winner and this is what it said:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

12
Timestamp: 2010-09-20 20:28:32 UTC

Comment #12 is:
Anonymous said...
I like suuthe by marie on FB. as Marie Palmer
cheydodge2@aol.com

Congratulations! I sent you an email and you have 48 hours to reply or I will have to pick a new winner.

Suuthe by Mari - Review and GIVEAWAY! **CLOSED**

In honor of my birthday and Labor Day I thought I would provide you guys with a great giveaway today! Keep reading to the end of the post to find out how to enter!

Since having kids, I have become much more aware of what is in the products we use in our home and on our bodies. I have really started reading ingredient labels and paying attention to what things are made from. I love finding products that are all natural with ingredient lists that I can understand because then I know if it safe for us or not. Recently I discovered a company called Suuthe by Mari that offers skin care products made with high quality natural and organic food grade ingredients and no addatives or fillers. That sounded great to me and when they offered to send me a couple of their products for review, I was excited to try them out!

Suuthe by Mari was started by Mari Carlin Dart when she was desperate to relieve her son's eczema and nothing else had worked. She came up with a salve that worked and when others began asking for her "magic salve," her business was born! Since then they have developed an entire line of natural skin repair products.

First they sent the flagship product of the business, the Skin Repair. We don't really have too many skin issues in our house, so I wasn't sure I would get a chance to use this for anything too quickly. The only issue we do have occassionally is that Sweetie gets very dry itchy skin in the crooks of her elbows. It usually last a couple days and I put lotion on it to try help it. Well, last week it decided to flair up so I put some of the Skin Repair on it and it was gone after one application! Sweetie said it was much nicer than the other stuff we've used because it didn't hurt when I put it on either! The Skin Repair can also be used for diaper rashes and since most of you know that we use cloth diapers, I had to ask if it was safe for cloth diapers. Well it is, so it is nice to have something around for if Lovebug gets a rash and I don't have to switch back to disposables until it clears up! There is a long list on their site of other skin issues that the Skin Repair is effective for.

They also sent me the Original Lip Balm. In the summer I get dry chapped lips from the sun so I tried this out right away and immediately noticed a difference. After a couple days of use, my lips were soft and smooth again! It is also effective for cold sores, which I get occassionally and I hope it helps me as well for those.

Both products have worked very well for us and I was also excited to read the ingredient labels and be able to understand what each ingredient is: Pure Emu Oil, Shea Butter, Organic Olive Oil, Bees Wax, Essential Oils: Lavender, Lemon, Chaomile Flower Extract-German Blue.

Other products that they sell include: Facial Skin Moisturizer, Natural Body Butter, Pure African Shea Butter, and Pure Emu Oil.

Interested in purchasing any of the Suuthe by Mari products? Head over to their site and check them out! Right now both sizes of the Skin Repair are on sale!

Interested in winning a tin of the Skin Repair? Keep reading! Suuthe by Mari has generously sent me a tin of the Skin Repair to offer as a giveaway to one of my lucky readers!

Please complete the mandaory entry first and then feel free to complete as many of the extra entries that you would like to. Leave your email address (non spam example: name at yahoo dot com) in each comment so that I can contact you if you win. I will verify all entries, so please be honest! The giveaway will end Sept 20, 2010 at noon and I will pick a winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to US residents (and yes even my friends are welcome to enter since the winner will be randomly drawn!).

Mandatory entry:
Leave me a comment and guess which milestone birthday I am celebrating today!

Extra entries (be sure to leave a seperate comment for each extra entry that you do!)

- Follow my blog publicly

- Subscribe to my blog (box on the left) and make sure you check your email to verify it!

- Add my button to your blog (leave a link to where you added it)

- Head over to Suuthe by Mari and tell me which other product you would be interested in trying.

- Subscribe to the Suuthe by Mari newsletter here (upper right corner).

- Leave a comment on the Suuthe by Mari blog (leave me a link to the post you comment on and the name you commented under).

- Follow Suuthe by Mari on twitter (leave me a comment with your twitter name)

- Tweet, facebook, or blog about this giveaway (you may do one, two, or all three for up to 3 entries and leave me a link to each one that you do)

- "Like" Suuthe by Mari on facebook (leave me a comment with your name)

That's a total of 12 possible ways to enter, so get started commenting today!

Suuthe by Mari sent me these products for free to review. I was not paid for this review and I get to keep the products. All opinions expressed are mine!

"This Little Prayer of Mine" Review and Giveaway! ***CLOSED***

As soon as we received this book in the mail, the kids wanted to sit down and read it! They thought it would be such a good book, and they were right. This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano is a great book to help kids learn about prayer. Each page brings up a situation in which children can relate to and it explains that they can pray about it and what they can pray for. Feeling afraid, lonely, and sad are just a few. It also goes on to remind children to thank God for all that he has given and to share with those less fortunate. The beautiful illustrations by Mark Elliot fit in very nicely. We have been working on a prayer lapbook in school recently and this book was a great addition to our subject and helped me reinforce the importance of prayer with the kids. I would recommend this book to anyone with kids, and I think it is great for a fairly broad age range as well.

Summary: Author Anthony DeStefano’s adult books, The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven, have sold a quarter-million copies. Illustrator Mark Elliott’s cherished artwork has appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.

Now, these acclaimed inspirational experts have come together to create This Little Prayer of Mine, a beautiful and alluring book designed to guide children into a very simple, real and expressive relationship with God.

Through engaging rhymes and alluring illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine shows children—and their parents and grandparents—that complete dependence on God is what brings peace and fulfillment. It invites children to know and believe that God is always just a simple prayer away and that He longs to respond to them with a resounding, “Yes!”

This Little Prayer of Mine appeals to readers from all different faiths. Easy-reader format allows children to read alone, or with someone older, and encourages them to openly express their fears, thanks, and needs directly to God.

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you may do so here.

If you are interested in WINNING a copy of this book, keep reading! I have a copy to give away to one of my readers and to be entered all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me who you would like to read this book to, your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, kids you babysit, etc. Please also make sure that you leave your email address in the comment so that I can contact you if you win. If you would like to receive an extra entry (leave a separate comment for it), become a follower of my blog (see box on the left) and tell me that you did or already are. You do not need to have a blog to enter this giveaway, just post your comment under anonymous. This giveaway will end April 21 at midnight and I will randomly pick a winner on April 22. If the winner doesn't respond to my email after 48 hours, I will pick a new winner. Giveaway open to US residents only.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.