King's Faith DVD Review & Giveaway

Disclosure:  I was provided with this movie to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  Thanks so much to FlyBy and the sponsor for providing this information and giveaway.

   

I have a new DVD movie to tell you about, King's Faith (released October 22, 2013).  This movie has some tough topics - prison, gangs, drugs, felonies, bitterness, grief and choice, forgiveness, redemption, faith, letting go and so much more.  I was so impressed by the foster parents in this movie, especially the gentleman.  Despite great loss, he was really living and walking a pure faith.  I appreciated the "realness" of his wife, who had a more difficult time accepting events of the past (in her own life and that of Brendan's life) and whose faith was ultimately challenged during the film similarly to Brendan's.  Unlike Brendan, you didn't see her have a defining moment though - one that she fought through her struggles.  It became obvious that she made a choice to surrender to the Lord and press on but I missed seeing that moment on screen.  I thought this movie was done well and well worth watching.  I liked the development and growth of many of the characters on screen.  I see this as an extremely teachable movie, especially with teens.

This film is rated PG-13 for violence, drug content and thematic events.  A friend of mine described it as a cross between the movies, "Fireproof" and "To Save a Life" and I think that is pretty accurate.  Please be aware of this especially when watching with children (my kids are too young).  Read more about this movie below and be sure and enter the giveaway to win your own copy!

About KING'S FAITH 

Eighteen foster homes. Nine arrests. One life-changing moment.  After Brendan King’s life spiraled to rock bottom, the teen found hope in a new relationship with Christ while serving time in a juvenile penitentiary. Recently released from prison, Brendan finds solace in the foster home of a couple struggling with suppressed grief.  As the city-bred teen enrolls at a suburban high school, he finds support from a group of believers. Yet the bonds of his old way of life—and the gang that wants to know where he hid their stash on a long-ago night—are strong. In his darkest moment, Brendan found faith. Now he must decide if it’s worth the price to hold on to it.  KING’S FAITH is produced by DiBella and Faith Street Film Partners LLC, a Rochester, NY-based collective of filmmakers, churches, investors, and supporters.   

“KING’S FAITH is a compelling story 

which features solid acting and a good storyline.”  

The Dove Foundation

“KING’S FAITH is a very redemptive, uplifting movie

extolling the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” 

MOVIEGUIDE®

KING’S FAITH stars Emmy Award winning actress Lynn Whitfield (The Women of Brewster Place, Madea’s Family Reunion), Crawford Wilson (Judging Amy, Zoey 101), Kayla Compton (Entourage), and James McDaniel (Malcolm X, NYPD Blue).

KING’S FAITH features the themes of courage, forgiveness and overcoming your past highlighted with the important message of youth in foster care. The film prompts audiences to consider many of the questions they struggle with today: How can I stand firm in my faith when life’s challenges put me to the test?   Where do I turn when I feel paralyzed by loss and grief?  Can I find true forgiveness from my wrong choices?

Ready for a giveaway?  Just enter the form below for your chance to win your own DVD of King's Faith.  Good luck!

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Find&Save For Black Friday Shopping

It is November and you know what that means, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and so is Black Friday!  Wanderful Media is the company behind Find&Save that is reinventing discovery shopping - whether you shop mobile, web or tablet they make it engaging, fun and social!

Find&Save helps shoppers plan and maximize their shopping experience.  I am a big time planner so this is a huge plus for me!  It arms shoppers with the tools you need to research local sales, products and retailers in your area as well as helping you find the deals that are important to you, map store locations (I hate getting lost) and create shopping lists (again, I am a planner and love lists).  You can also receive deal alerts.  Find&Save for iPhone is coming soon and is currently available across all tablet, mobile and web browsers as well as on iPad.  If you cannot tell already, Find&Save is a great destination for finding and browsing Black Friday sales.  Go here, select your state and city and start planning!  I personally enjoy viewing the Black Friday circulars whenever they are available.  At Find&Save you can get specific Black Friday circulars direct to your inbox - nice.  I also enjoyed viewing the hottest gift for 2013 as it gives me ideas for gifts.

Check out this survey - Night Owls vs Early Birds

Some years I have been an early bird but on the whole I fall into the Night Owl Category.  I like to have all or most of my shopping complete by Black Friday (63% of Night Owls complete more than half their shopping on Black Friday compared to 27% of Early Birds).  I generally leave the house before 5am and I almost always have a game plan!  What about you?  Which side do you fall on?  And don't forget to check out Find&Save and make your Black Friday shopping a whole lot easier.

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Sverve and Wanderful Media for selecting me to participate in this campaign.  Compensation was provided.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

StarKist Tuna Creations Sampling

I recently sampled StarKist Tuna Creations Ranch flavor through Crowdtap and I have to say that I enjoyed it.  The StarKist Tuna Creation pouches are convenient, easy to open and easy to use.

 

 Easy to open, you could eat it straight from the pouch

This particular flavor has select cuts of premium tuna seasoned with buttermilk, garlic and herbs and all the flavor of America's favorite salad dressing!  It can add a zesty flavor to your salads, sandwiches, crackers, pizza and so much more.

 

 StarKist Tuna Creations Ranch on Whole Wheat Tortilla and Crackers

I tried it on a whole wheat tortilla with a bit of relish (to make a face) and on some whole wheat crackers.  It was filling and flavorful.

With a bit of relish!

Nutritional Benefits include - 80 calories per pouch (not bad), low in fat, high in protein, and high in Omega 3's.  StarKist Tuna Creations are also available in 4 other flavors: Herb & Garlic Tuna, Hickory Smoked Tuna, Sweet & Spicy Tuna and Lemon Pepper Tuna.  So if you are looking for an easy way to make a meal I would definitely recommend the StarKist Tuna Creations pouches.  I look forward to trying the other flavors.

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Hitstory Kids App Review

Have you heard of Hitstory Kids?  Hitstory Kids is a new educational app geared for toddlers. 

The app is narrated by Peekaboo Peet, a friendly and fun hedgehog, who takes children on  a journey through history.  This app is free and available for both Iphone and Ipad.  I downloaded it onto my Ipad so the kids would have a bigger screen.

It can be found in the App Store, this is what it looks like.

Once downloaded

Hitstory Kids guides toddlers in a fun and interactive way on a journey through iconic episodes of American History.  They are magically introduced to characters, objects and symbols linked to historical facts. 

 

 Here is D watching and interacting with Columbus Sails

This particular app was quite fun because we just had Columbus Day a few weeks ago and David had given the kids a lesson on Columbus.  D was excited to see the three ships.  The main focus is on Columbus and his three ship sailing across the ocean to discover America.  The songs, graphics, and interactive opportunities (swiping, tapping, etc.) keep your toddler engaged.  In this app, toddlers enjoy finding Peet in vessels, carts, beneath the sand, playing with monkeys and other unexpected situations throughout the journey. 

 

 Here D found Peet in a barrel

This is the only toddler app geared just for history and was created by a group of passionate historians with the purpose to teach toddlers about American history, culture and the values and beliefs that were important in the making of American society.

Enjoying the adventure

I love the heart behind this app.  I think there is so much to learn from history and I appreciate that this app helps introduce history to younger ages in a fun and exciting way.  D has thoroughly enjoyed it.  I look forward to future versions of historical events from Hitstory Kids!  I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Pollen-8 and Hitstory Kids for selecting me to participate in this campaign.  Compensation was provided.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Fall Festivals and Fun

Halloween 2013

We had a few superheroes and princesses this year!  A was a Peacock Princess, B was Super Girl, C was Captain America, D was Wonder Woman and E was a Pink Princess.  Throughout the week we were able to attend a few Fall Festivals and we went to our first ever Trunk or Treat (no photos from that event though).  Our friends down the street were staying home so we dropped off some of our candy for them to hand out!

Scripture Candy!

 

The kids had a great time in the petting zoo.  There were 13 bunnies, goats, ducks, baby pigs (11 days old), chickens and lots of chicks. 

 C feeding a goat.

 D loved feeding the animals.

 E's favorite were the bunnies!

 A, B and C in the zoo

A and B were old enough to ride the go karts.  C really wanted to ride but he will have to wait another year.

 A going around the track.

 And B

The older girls and David also went rock climbing.  I was playing basketball with the other kids so this is the only photo I was able to take.  

 B in the middle of the wall

This festival had mechanical animals - horses, zebras, tigers in a few different sizes.  You bounce your body up and down which propels the animal forward.  The kids loved them!

 Here is C on a small tiger

And E on a zebra.

There was also a carnival swing.  These are the rides I loved as a kid but now make me nauseated just to watch them. C rode it first and then B joined him for a second go around.

C getting ready for the swings to take off.

 D playing the golf game.

We had a great week and I am so thankful for all the surrounding churches who had various events and festivals for families to come to and have fun.  They really did a great job and our family was truly blessed.  Here's to a great November :).