Father of Lights: Review & Giveaway

*** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Congratulations to tarter95!

I have a new movie to tell you about, Father of Lights.  David and I watched this a few nights ago and we both really enjoyed it.  This film took a real honest approach, asking some simple questions and documenting their experiences with God.  I appreciated that they told the story without lots of razzle-dazzle effects or dramatic emphasis; what you get is a candid presentation of the supernatural.  The opening sequence of abstract images was over the top for my taste, but it has nothing to do with the actual documentary.

I found it encouraging to get to see some of their experiences in places like India, San Francisco and Israel.  Of course, Wilson is preaching to the choir here; I have been overseas in the developing world myself, and I know God to be a loving father who gives good gifts to His children.  It would be interesting to watch this film with someone who has a different worldview.

About Father of Lights

FATHER OF LIGHTS chronicles the journey of filmmaker Darren Wilson and his team as they fearlessly travel the globe, far from the daily existence of the typical evangelical believer in the West. By thoughtfully documenting the stories of extraordinary believers and candidly filming miracles, visions and other supernatural occurrences, Wilson engages viewers in modern day examples of the true nature and character of God.  

Wilson gives honest access to his own spiritual questions as he tackles the religious misconceptions he has struggled with throughout his life.  “I went into making this film by asking the simple question: who is God? I wanted to know His character, His personality, and who He truly is. To answer this question, we had to peel back the many layers of religious garbage that has been passed onto him through generations. That He is angry. Vengeful. Wrathful. And in general, that He doesn’t like you very much. The truth, as you will see vibrantly in this film, is that He is the most loving, compassionate, and wonderful Father you can imagine.”

About Wanderlust Productions

Wanderlust Productions is a video production company focusing on creating content for various media that highlights, informs, and is designed to spiritually stretch our audience.  Created by Darren Wilson, Professor at Judson University, Wanderlust’s focus is on telling stories that inspire and agitate, that are unwavering in their honesty yet are emotionally compelling.  While our content will always be Christian in nature, we are not afraid to explore themes, concepts, or areas that may be considered “risky” by the Christian establishment.  Wanderlust prides itself on its willingness to put the story above the message.  That being said, the message will never waver.

Would you like to watch this movie for yourself?  Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win it!

Now, onto the giveaway!  One of you will win your own DVD of Father of Lights!

Mandatory Entry:  Follow me on google friend and let me know, that's it!  Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win! 

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry.  As you can see, there are lots of extra entry opportunities so don't be shy!

1.  Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)

2.  Follow my facebook page (2 extra entries)

3.  Follow Father of Lights on facebook (2 extra entries)
4.  Follow me on Pinterest (2 extra entries)
5.  Check out the video here and let me know what you think (2 extra entries)
6.  Follow Darren Wilson on twitter here (2 extra)
7.  Follow me on twitter here (2 extras)

Giveaway will end on November 14th at Midnight.  Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner.  Open to US residents only.

Disclosure:  I received my own Father of Lights DVD to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  Thanks so much to the sponsor for providing this giveaway.

Etsy Spotlight: Buddha Bellies & Giveaway

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Congratulations to Lindsey West!

 

Remember my review on Buddha Bellies?  Well, I am here to spotlight them again.  And this time there is a giveaway!  I love how much this etsy shop has grown.  If you are looking for monthly onesie stickers, pregnancy stickers or other baby shower gifts this is the shop for you.  Onesie stickers make the perfect go-to baby shower gift or expecting mom gift for the new mom wanting to document all those special baby milestones.

Here is a collage of E from 1-9 months!

And E 10 months - 1 year!

I love the large selection and variety of stickers styles available.  And I am excited to report that my documenting journey with E will continue with our next set of stickers 13 months - 24 months!

Check out these Boy Chevron tie stickers - so cute!

 Or what about these milestone stickers!

Not only does Buddha Bellies have a large selection of onesie stickers for your baby boy or baby girl, they also offer Big Brother and Big Sister stickers for older siblings.

 These are so fun!  Not only for older siblings to wear but they could also make for some super cute pregnancy announcements!

 Love these fun big sibling stickers!

 E's Big Sister


E's Bigger Sister


And her Biggest Sister

 And I cannot forget her Big Brother

Now, onto the giveaway.  What about a set of stickers, winner's choice!  Of course, you might have a little trouble choosing which ones :).

Mandatory Entry:  Follow me on google friend and let me know.  That's it!  Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

1.  Follow my facebook page (2 extra entries)
2.  Follow Buddha Bellies facebook page here (2 extra entries)
3.  Add Buddha Bellies to your favorite etsy shops (2 entries)
4.  Follow me on twitter (2 extra entries)
5.  Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)
6.  Follow me on Pinterest (2 extra entries)
7.  Comment on any other blog post and let me know (2 entries)

Giveaway will end on November 12th at Midnight.  Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner.  Giveaway is open to US residents only, ages 18 years old and above. 

Disclosure:  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  Thanks so much to Buddha Bellies for sponsoring this giveaway!

Nuby Tub Time Turtle

Do your kids like baths?  Mine adore them, especially the littlest ones.  Not only are baths are great way to get clean but also to have fun.  And the Nuby Tub Time Turtle helps do just that!

 Our turtle in the package

 E couldn't wait to hold it.

 

Say cheese!

 E loves the waterfall that the turtle makes through the bottom, simply lift it out of the water.

 

We used it to get her hair wet.  She loves that :).

 This turtle floats on top of the water so it is always within easy reach.

 Not wanting to come out.  I think she has a new friend!

D wanted to play too.

Tub Time Turtle is available for purchase at Nuby, Amazon, and other retailers found here!

And remember that you can connect with Nuby on facebook, twitter, and pinterest as well.  I even have my own Nuby Mom Pinterest board found here.

Disclosure:  I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of this program I may receive items to sample or review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Hidden Valley Ranch Campaign

Bzz Bzz Bzz - no that is not a bee!  Yes, I am at it again.  I love being a Bzz Agent and participating in campaigns, this time the Hidden Valley Ranch Campaign!  I received a free bottle of Ranch dressing and a dressing package.

 My Bzz kit!

 Making my Ranch pack uses 3 ingredients - pack, milk, and mayo

 Right after mixing, this dressing will thicken up after chilling!

 My veggie tray: tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, celery and radishes

 I took this to our last small group and I didn't come home with a single thing, everything was devoured :)!

Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this dressing.  It has a nice and creamy texture - I personally liked that it wasn't runny!  And the taste is delicious.  I am a fan of ranch dressing and Hidden Valley did not let me down.  I like that the packet only needed 2 other ingredients to make.  I am looking forward to using more packets in the future for more recipes.  Next time I would like to try using the pack on a chicken...

Go here and answer a few questions and you will receive a $5 amazon gift code.  Hurry, limited quantities available!

Disclosure:  I received the above products for free with my Bzz Kit for participating in the Hidden Valley Ranch Campaign.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Melissa and Doug Personalization

Have you heard that Melissa & Doug products can now be personalized for only $1.99/item?  Available only at MelissaAndDoug.com, these unique gifts provide that extra “personal touch” on select products spanning from plush, to classic wooden toys, to costumes, and more.  Now, you can truly make your mark with one-of-a-kind gifts for the special children in your life.  Order your personalized gifts now!

I love this easel!

Right now, Melissa & Doug is having a flash giveaway in which one person will win a free personalize easel with companion set!  Enter here and good luck.

Our New Pumpkin Display

 

I was on another mission from smiley360, this time the Bic Mark-It Permanent Markers!

 Our Kit: Bic Mark-It Markers, Pumpkins, Glitter, Washable Glue, and a Glue Brush - all ready for fun!

These markers are awesome.  I love the variety of colors and the way that they write smoothly!

 A finished pumpkin

 I had fun making this face - hehe.  I used the markers to make the mouth and the eyelashes.

 A did awesome on her glitter.

 Say Cheese

 Glitter fun :)

 Our pumpkin display!  What do you think?

In short, we had a ton of fun with this mission and I would highly recommend these markers!  To find out more about this mission go here!  Or to find out more about smiley360 and join go here.

You can 'Like' BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers on Facebook and follow them on Pinterest.  For information and creative tips click here!

Disclosure: For the following mission I received a 36 pack of Bic Mark-It markers along with a craft pumpkin kit from smiley360.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Etsy Spotlight: TheShopatPoohCorner & Giveaway

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Congratulations to Tara H!

 

 

I have a new Etsy shop to tell you about, The Shop At Pooh Corner!  Francesca has vintage items, stamps and numerous paper goods including die cuts, confetti, and gift tags.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

With Thanksgiving right around the corner wouldn't the above set of place cards be great?  This set includes 2 turkeys, 2 pumpkins, 2 acorns, and 2 maple leafs.  Fun indeed!

Dinosaur T-Rex Confetti

Another item that caught my eye was the above dinosaur party confetti.  This set includes 100 red, 100 orange, 60 dark green and 22 lime green hand-punched T-rex dinos - a fun addition for any dinosaur party!  C would love this.

 What about these fun No Peeking Christmas tags?

Keep reading for a chance to make these yours!

Now, onto the giveaway.  Francesca has generously offered to give away 10 of the above tags to one of you!  The gift tags resemble Christmas presents and they are stamped with "No Peeking!" and tied with a red bow.  These are perfect for your friends and family members who might try to sneak a peek at their Christmas gifts.

Mandatory Entry:  Follow me on google friend and let me know.  That's it!  Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

1.  Follow my facebook page (2 extra entries)
2.  Follow Francesca's blog here (2 extra entries)
3.  Follow Francesca's facebook page here (2 extra entries)
4.  Add TheShopatPoohCorner to your favorite etsy shops (2 entries)
5.  Follow me on twitter (2 extra entries)
6.  Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)
7.  Follow me on Pinterest (2 extra entries)
8.  Comment on any other blog post and let me know (2 entries)

Giveaway will end on November 5th at Midnight.  Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only, ages 18 years old and above. 

Disclosure:  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  Thanks so much to The Shop at Pooh Corner for sponsoring this giveaway!

Farm Rich: Review & Giveaway

*** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Congratulations to Annemarie!

 

Have you heard of Farm Rich?  They make snacks and appetizers including mozzarella cheese sticks, mozarella bites, mini pizza slices, queso cheese bites, stuffed pretzel bites, philly cheese steaks and turkey meatballs!  I really like that Farm Rich provides moms with wholesome, easy-to-prepare snacks in a huge variety of options - there really is something for everyone!

My family tried both the philly cheese steaks and the turkey meatballs.

 The philly cheese steaks bag.

 Straight out of the package, still frozen...

 After cooking in the oven...golden and delicious, ~ 15 minutes later.

I really enjoyed these.  In fact, I am still enjoying them.  They are tasty.  They are not as big as a traditional philly cheesesteak sandwich but that is part of the point - smaller portioned philly cheese steaks which I find to be quite filling.  They are made with a mixture of savory steak, grilled onions and creamy, white American cheese.  A and B also have been enjoying them with me!

 The turkey meatballs bag.

 I cooked the meatballs and left some plain and put some into our pasta sauce.

 turkey meatballs in sauce

 My dinner...

Again, I thought that these turkey meatballs were quite tasty!  They were also quite filling!  I like that they contain 50% less fat than the Italian beef and pork meatballs.  I am planning on using the rest of the package to serve as an appetizer.  I also have a crock pot meatball recipe that I have been wanting to try and I think these would be perfect.  Are you interested in trying some of these Farm Rich products for yourself?  Then, keep reading...

Now, onto the giveaway.  One of you will win two free product coupons ($6.99 value each)!  This way, you will be able to try Farm Rich for yourself.

Mandatory Entry:  Follow me on google friend and let me know, that's it!  Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry.  As you can see, there are lots of extra entry opportunities so don't be shy!

1.  Follow my facebook page (2 extra entries)
2.  Like Farm Rich on facebook (2 entries)
3.  Follow me on twitter (2 extra entries)
4.  Follow Farm Rich on twitter (2 extra entries)
5.  Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)
6.  Follow me on Pinterest (2 extra entries)

Giveaway will end on November 4th at Midnight.  Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner.  Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above. 

Disclosure:  I received the above products to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% mine.  Thanks so much to Farm Rich for sponsoring this giveaway.

Thankful

Today is my birthday.  I am 35 years old today.  And I must admit, that I am so thankful. 

 My super yummy cake!

I am thankful for my amazing husband of 11 years - David you rock!  I am thankful for my precious children - A, B, C, D & E y'all are truly treasures.  I am thankful for friends and family, my church, my home, my neighbors, and so much more...

This is a day to celebrate my life!  I would like to share a story with you that to me is an awesome reminder of how precious life is and how the goodness of God is evident, even through difficult experiences.

I have been thinking a lot lately about when C was born.  Right at the beginning of my pregnancy I had an odd jaw pain.  It went away almost as quickly as it had come.  Right after giving birth to him in May of 2007 it came back.

With C (1 day old)

It was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt (and that is saying a lot having had five babies naturally!).  The pain was accompanied by a bump/growth on my jaw.  The pain would come and go but the intensity was always unbearable.  I went to see the dentist and the ENT - both of which were not able to give me any answers.  I finally hat a CAT scan and it was determined that I should probably have my lymph node removed.  Nobody knew anything but a few doctors threw out the c word, cancer.  I wouldn't know the true cause until much later.  I remember being scared and asking God to let me live to see my son grow.  I am not the bargaining type really - I just poured my heart out to Him.  Let me be able to nurse him for the first year of his life, please let me get to know him some and then of course, I was also thinking about A, B and my amazing hubby!

 B, C and A getting ready for a walk

I had my appointment scheduled and David, myself and several dear friends were praying and helping.  I went into the appointment a little apprehensive and I kept asking God for peace, whatever the outcome.  I went in to see this new doctor, he asked me why I had come and advised me not to do anything!  What??  The doctor was telling me not to do this procedure.  I immediately felt peace and knew that this was the right thing to do.  After several weeks, my pain went away as did the bump.  Over a year later a bump returned on the outside of my gums - in essentially the same location.  Fortunately for me, there was no pain associated with the new occurrence.  Why do I bring all this up!  Well, because it was on my birthday in 2008 - almost 1 1/2 years later that we figured out what happened.  My nerve died in one of my molars - no one ever caught it.  The bump in my gums was an abscess that needed to be addressed.  I ended up having a root canal (with a specialist) that seemed like a breeze - they didn't have to deaden the nerve because my nerve had already died on it's own.

 An awesome birthday in 2008 with many unknowns answered!

I remember this and I am so thankful.  I wish everyone had caught it sooner but I remember being scared and in that place of unknown.  Thank you Lord for giving me that year with C and then some - I didn't know then that D and E were to follow!  And thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me.  To Him be the glory!