The Boxcar Children Movie Review & Giveaway

I have an amazing movie to share with you, The Boxcar Children!  This has been a book in our homeschool library for years so my kids, especially the older ones, are familiar with the story.  If you are not familiar with the story, four children whose parents recently passed away find themselves alone and on the road.  They fear that their grandfather is cruel and wouldn't want them because he has never visited them when their parents were alive.  They find an abandoned boxcar tucked away in the woods and work hard to make it their home.  The children are polite, creative, thoughtful and it is wonderful to see how much they care for each other.  I love the reconciliation in the story with the children's grandfather.  This movie is full of teachable moments and a great addition to our movie library!  My kids adore it and ask to watch it often.

The kids and their friends at the park.

The kids were playing with their friends at the park.  They began to pick up glass all around the park and clean it in a small puddle of water they found.  When I asked them what they were doing they told me that they were making the glass beautiful like the Boxcar children did with their dishes.  My kids were able to see something beautiful from something most people would just pass by and in the end we were able to help clean up our local park and make it safer, a win-win!

Read more about this film and cast below.  Order your own copy here and be sure the enter the giveaway!

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!

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your very own DVD of The Boxcar Children.  Just enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  Disclosure:  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 my own copy of The Boxcar Children 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.  US/Canada only please.

Odyssey Adventure Club iPad Mini Giveaway!

Where did summer go, seriously?  The end of summer is in sight, and OAC is giving away an iPad Mini back-to-school bundle!  It might seem like summer just began for your kids, so if they need some added motivation to get their homework done, remind them they can jump on the Odyssey Adventure Club after their papers are written and their math problems are solved.

As members, your kids can also listen to Album 58 before the album is released to the public! Sign up today for just $5!

Here's what part one is about (which you can listen to for free HERE):

It’s a time of surprises as Wooton becomes the celebrity guest at Comic-Connellsville and Whit finds himself in conflict over the upcoming “Let’s Get Together Festival” in Odyssey. Plus, hear an interview with writer-director Paul McCusker about the entire 14-part series.

Album 58 was inspired by Focus on the Family’s The Family Project, a 12-session small group experience that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines that information with inspiring stories and practical tools to help 21st-century families thrive.  Plus, here's a sneak peek of a new episode called "The Lone Lawman"!

 
Jason, Whit, Red and the gang rustle up herds of fun while performing a new Kids’ Radio show set in the Old West. “The Lone Lawman” features a confused boy getting mixed up with a shifty band of bank robbers.  Can a hero on horseback set things right? See just how wild the West can get in this action-packed send-up of old-time radio dramas.

NOW . . . on to the iPad Mini back-to-school bundle. One grand prize winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 27th. All winners will be announced August 28th on the widget on this page.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit this page again on the 28th to see if you won! (You'll see the winner's name in the widget.)

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Litfuse and Adventures in Odyssey for choosing me to be an Odyssey Club Blogger allowing me unlimited access to Adventures in Odyssey.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Christmas Story Book Review

It is not uncommon for people to think about Christmas in July but what about August?  Honestly, Christmas is something that I think about pretty regularly throughout the year and I love that my kids enjoy Christmas books no matter the month.  I have a Christmas book to tell you about today, The Christmas Story by Anita Ganeri.  I really love the watercolor illustrations, they are beautiful (kudos to Rachael Phillips). 

 I love this page with the angels.

 D looking over the pictures.

 E listening to the story.

This story is geared for children ages 3-5 but I think the age range is even broader than that.  It is a fairly thin book and short story.  Each page is accompanied by a rich watercolor illustration.  My children love looking at the illustrations while I read them the story.  The book opens with the angel telling Mary what is to come and ends with Mary, Joseph and Jesus leaving Egypt and heading home to Nazareth.  This is a great addition to our Christmas story collection.  This book also has a few extras in the back: a recipe for Christmas Biscuits (cookies), the music and words to "Away in a Manger", and a blurb about Christmas in general and angels.

Read more about this book and author below.

About this book
The birth of Jesus is recounted in The Christmas Story, a richly illustrated book with bonus activities geared for children ages 3-5.  Children will follow Mary and Joseph as they receive blessings from angels, travel to Bethlehem for the birth, are visited by wise men, escape from a cruel leader who wishes them harm and finally return safely to Nazareth.  Simple words make the story perfect for reading aloud.  The book also includes additional information about the Christmas holiday, the words and music to "Away in a Manger" and a recipe for cookies.

About the author and illustrator
Anita Ganeri is the author of more than300 books for children, including Alive, The Body Box, DK First Encyclopedia, Eruption and I Wonder Why the Sea is Salty.  Rachael Phillips is an author and illustrator of children's books.

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing me with my own copy of The Christmas Story to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Dolphin Tale 2 Gavin DeGraw Featurette

I have a fun featurette to share with you!  It is the Dolphin Tale 2 Gavin DeGraw Featurette.  Check it out below and enjoy!  My family is so excited about this upcoming movie.



Disclosure:  As part of the Dolphin Tale 2 Blogger Crew I am able to share fun opportunities and information about the film with you.  Stay tuned for more soon!

Chick-fil-A Color Crafters Blog App

Chick-fil-A just launched a nation-wide Color Crafters Blog App.  This app has fun downloadable family activities in conjunction with their Color Crafters Kid's Meal prizes!  Ready to get creative?  Enjoy the app below!


Disclosure: As a member of the Chick-fil-A Mom panel I am one of the first to share this blog app with you.  Thanks Chick-fil-A!

5 Ways to Reuse or Upcycle Boogie Wipes Canisters

Most of you know that I am a Saline Ambassador for Boogie Wipes.  I actually belong to a team of great ambassadors known as Moms Who Boogie.  I often have Boogie Wipes containers around the house.  I started thinking, how can I re-purpose these?  Here are 5 ideas we came up with (I am sure there are tons more).  Please, please share your ideas/thoughts/pictures in the comments.  I would love to hear them.

For all the examples I started with an empty Boogie Wipes container, removed the label and went from there.

 Empty Boogie Wipes Container

 Remove the label, super easy to do.

Canister without the label.

1.  Small Trash Can:  This trash can works great in a car or at home when doing crafts.  It is a great size for kids.  It was my daughter's idea to create the handles for easy transport.

Insert plastic bag and decorate.  A wanted to decorate this trash can with her stickers.

 Finished Trash Can

You can make it portable as well.

In use, view from above

 Here is a collage of the entire process.

2.  School Supply Holder:  Whether you need help organizing your pens, pencils, markers or rulers, these canisters work great for all.

 Storing Markers

 Holding Pencils

 Storing Pens

Ruler Holder

I realize that not every family owns 10 rulers.  You would be surprised but they come in handy in homeschooling.  Basically these canisters are great for holding various office and school supplies and they could be used in your home, office or classroom.

3.  Straw Holder/Organizer:  These canisters also work well for holding straws (minus the lid).

And it can hold a lot of straws, more than I have right now.

4.  Water Cup for paintbrushes:  My kids love to paint!  I have never liked the idea of using our drinking cups for painting and then drinking.  A Boogie Wipes canister can be cut and used as a water cup for paintbrushes - woohoo!

Cut the canister to make a cup.

Painting set up

 B creating a picture.

5.  Change or Savings Jar:  This summer we went to Great Wolf Lodge and ever since we got home our kids have been talking about going back!  They started their own Great Wolf Lodge fund.  A Boogie Wipes canister is great for holding change or a specific fund.

 We decorated the change jar with felt using a hot glue gun.

The kids made a label.

I cannot believe how much they have already saved!  There are lots of quarters under those bills.  They still have a ways to go though.


A and B with their finished jar.

What do you think?  Please share your thoughts and ideas!

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash Review & Giveaway

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash

Remember my review on Dial Coconut Water Body here?  This time I was able to sample Dial's new Coconut Water Body Wash with Refreshing Mango through the Purex Insiders program!

I have been using this wash for several weeks now, as you can see from the photo above, and I really like it.  I was a fan of Dial's previous Coconut Body wash and I am even more of a fan of this one.  I really like the addition of mango, especially in the scent.  As with the previous wash it 1) works great 2) leaves me clean and fresh and 3) is easy to use.  Moisturizing, hydrating and I am sure that you will #GetNoticed.  Thanks Dial for another great body wash!

 Coupons

Ready for a giveaway?  Three readers will win a free product coupon to try Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash for themselves (coupons expire 9/30/14 and maximum value $4.49).  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash through the Purex Insiders program in exchange for a product review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  As part of this campaign I am eligible to receive prizes.