Thanks Y'all Giveaway

I am overwhelmed by all the emails I've received in support of my entry for Mamavation! You have all been so supportive and wonderful! I don't know how to thank you!

I want to do something special for you guys! So, I am giving away one of my fun, mystery goodie boxes. Yes, i said mystery. I've done two giveaways like this and y'all have really liked them. It is a mystery, so no I will not tell you everything that's in the box! All you have to do is Twitter in support of me. I know lots of you are doing this already and I so appreciate it!

So, here is the deal. Follow me on Twitter, then Tweet some support my way, like the tweet at the top of my blog, come back here and leave me a link to it. So, your comment to enter should look include a link like this:

tweet http://twitter.com/drala625/status/2697135227

You can enter, Tweet, up to ten times a day. Just leave a comment & link for each Tweet. You can enter from now until 11:59 PM CST on July 21st. I'll announce the winner on July 22. Good luck!

The box will be full of a dozen of my favorite things. Y'all have loved these giveaways before, so I'm hoping this will be a hit again! I will tell you this much, there will be at least one gift certificate for one of my fave Etsy shops!

Thanks again for all your support! Please feel free to keep commenting on my vlog post here and/or to email me. Your kind words mean the world to me!

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The PR Blackout

I have been seeing lots of buzz on blogs and Twitter about the proposed PR Black Out. Just thought I'd put my two cents in on the subject.

I love PR people! In my mind they bring lots of good things to the blogging world. I do not think that they force bloggers into doing anything. We are adults after all. What are they going to, spank us and take away our birthdays?

I will say that I am guilty of letting reviews and/or giveaways take over my blog at times. Sometimes life gets busy and I will only manage to blog the things I feel obligated to post. That's awful I know, but I am being honest. I try really hard not to let it happen, as I did not start this blogging adventure to be a product tester. For the most part, I avoid straight up review/giveaway blogs. But, there are times that I just don't have anything interesting going on to talk about or any tips to share. I am not blessed with the ability to think of good blog content 24/7. What can I say? I'm human. Maybe it is blogger burnout, but I feel the only person to blame for it is myself.

As for these bloggers getting overwhelmed by PR pitches and such, I just do not understand. You can tell PR reps no. You can just delete those press releases and such. You are not obligated to do anything they are asking you to do. If you are stressing out, just stop or cut back on what you are doing.

I love to review and do giveaways myself, but have no problem saying no to pitches that do not appeal to me. My main issue with PR is getting pitches from folks who have obviously not read my blog. Or getting a really enthusiastic email about a product you'd love to try, then they never respond to your email reply. I also think some folks need to work on the way they pitch things. But, these are minor irritations and just things that need some improvement. Blacking out all PR would not solve these issues.

But, everyone has to do what feels right for them. I don't think there is a right or wrong here. All the bashing is quite sad to me. I like to think of the mom blogsphere as a tight group, but I guess I was wrong. I think it's a shame that the posting of one's opinion can escalate into this mudslinging, cat fighting, high schoolish behavior.

Where do you stand on this one?

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Frugal Family Fun ~ MYO Finger Paint

Image via Wikipedia

Do you have artistic kids? I sure do! They love to build, create, and express themselves. This simple recipe keeps us in finger paint any time inspiration strikes my little Picassos.

1 cup Water
1 cup Flour
1 cup dish soap or hand soap - obviously the lighter the color the better

Mix these three ingredients together until smooth. Separate the mixture into smaller containers, depending on how many colors you are making. Then just mix in food coloring until desired color is reached. Small sour cream containers or other small plastic tubs with lids are perfect for storing the paint, pretty much anything with a tight fitting lid will work. Store in the refrigerator when not in use.

Often times you can buy newsprint end rolls from the local newspaper for very little. You can get quite a lot of paper for a little of nothing. These endrolls are wonderful for your little one's art projects!

I hope you have fun with these paints. Spending time with the kids and getting a little messy is something we should all make time to do more often.

For more family fun, click the graphic below to check out Homemaker Barbi's Family Friday!

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CFBA Book Tour ~ Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Pirate Hunter
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
Tom Morrisey


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section.

He has launched, edited or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.

His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of six novels, including Wind River and In High Places. In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK

High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom.... Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he's as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold...The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men's quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pirate Hunter, go HERE

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Who Made You A Princess Giveaway

Did you read my post about Who Made You A Princess earlier in the week? It was a great read that any tween or teen girl would enjoy. Three of my readers will win a copy of this great book.

To Enter:

~Follow my blog.

~Follow me on Twitter ~ 5 entries, leave 5 separate comments

~Subscribe to my blog.

~Put my button on your blog

If you already do any or all of these things, simply leave me the appropriate comments. Contest runs from today until 8:00CST on July 22. Winner will be announced and contacted via email on July 23rd. Be sure I have a way to contact you! Good luck!

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UPrinting Sticker Giveaway Winner

Here are your random numbers:

8

Timestamp: 2009-07-15 19:22:07 UTC

So, the winner is:

Carmen7351, July 10, 2009 1:36 PM

I would love to win free stickers to put in my books so as not to lose them; also would add them to birthday and anniversary cards. I love your design.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Congratulations!

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A Must Read for Parents

Develop Spiritual Champions for Jesus Christ with New Practical Guide for Growing Children of Faith With her newest release, Awana author and staff member Linda Massey Weddle equips parents to build a foundation of faith for their children

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—Parents long to help their children reach their full potential. They schedule regular medical exams, get them involved in planned activities, help them with their homework, and invest for their college education. Yet while they may plan for their success, they can overlook a vital part of their personal development: Nurturing and encouraging a solid, lasting foundation of faith. Though we often assume that children are growing spiritually through church youth groups and programs, it’s essential that parents take an active, encouraging, and purposeful role in developing their values and morals.

Linda Massey Weddle, the U.S. program senior designer for Awana and established author of children’s books and curriculums, has created How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph (David C Cook, June 2009) as a resource for parents who are longing to help their children find spiritual success. Based on Raising a Modern-Day Joseph, this unique guidebook encourages parents to develop a practical, personalized plan for instilling faith-based values and beliefs in their children that will last a lifetime.

How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph: A Practical Guide for Growing Great Kids is modeled after Joseph of the Old Testament, who maintained his faith in spite of challenging circumstances. It features insights for growing kids spiritually and plotting out critical milestones from the toddler years through adolescence, while also allowing for the uniqueness of each child.

An ideal target for how parents want their kids to develop spiritually and morally, Joseph of Genesis offers parents a Biblical standard for building children of character. Using his story, How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph will help them do just that. They’ll discover how to instill five Master Life Threads for each stage of life, from preschool through high school. The practical guide helps children:

o Acquire wisdom from the Bible
o Understand God’s grace
o Gain a sense of destiny and purpose
o Develop a life-perspective based on God’s perfect plan

The result: Children and teenagers who know, love, and serve the Lord. How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph is a sure investment in the spiritual development of our youngest generation.

Author Bio
Linda Massey Weddle is a gifted teacher, speaker, and prolific writer. A children’s author and regular contributor to publications including Women’s Day and Christian Parenting Today, she has published twelve books and more than 2,500 articles, stories, devotionals, and radio scripts. Linda also develops Bible-based curriculum for young people and has been involved in children’s and youth ministry for the past forty years. She has two grown children and six grandchildren and resides in suburban Chicago.

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Why do I want to be the Mamavation Mom?

Have you heard about the Mamavation Mom? Mamavation is a social experiment and campaign on Twitter, promoting weight loss. One lucky mom will be chosen and granted the opportunity to change her life, and that of her family. She will have a team of experts and a cheering squad to help change her from unfit to a more healthy, active lifestyle. This is the kind of opportunity I've dreamed of all my life! This is a chance to make huge, life altering changes!

So, why do I want to be the Mamavation Mom? I've always been obese. Looking back over my childhood photos, I realize the last time I was at a healthy weight was in first grade. When Dan and I married, I was a size 18W. I have gained 100 pounds in the years since then. Now, I am 4'11, so that's a lot of weight on a very short frame.

I once wanted to lose weight to be thin and pretty. Now, my goal is to be healthy. I cannot walk around the block without feeling like I am going to die. I have back, knee, and hip pain quite often. I cannot run and play with my children. I am really feeling the effects of my unhealthy lifestyle.

This unhealthy lifestyle is harming my whole family. Tristen is over weight. Dan is rapidly gaining weight. Ashley wants to eat nothing but junk most of the time. None of us are as active as we should be. I do not want to raise my children to be obese. I've been this way all my life and do not wish it on anyone. Something has got to change.

I know I did not get into this lifestyle overnight, so it naturally will not change in the blink of an eye. But, with the proper guidance, I feel I could turn this around for all of us. I also know that there are more moms and families out there who are unhealthy and needing to lose weight. At one point in the video below I say something along the lines of "this is what real women look like". That line was not implying that real women are obese, but that obesity is the reality for a lot of women & moms out there. Really struggling with weight issues is a reality for many women. I would love to be the Mamavation Mom and be able to inspire others. If they saw someone as unfit and unhealthy as me succeed in changing my life, I feel that they would see it is possible for them as well! I want to touch the lives of others and give them hope. Hope is a very powerful thing.

So, here is my vlog about why I want to be chosen the Mamavatioon mom. I tell you how much I weigh, something that took a lot of courage to do. But, this is my life and I must be honest about it. I am very unhealthy and I very much want to change that! So, please watch and let me know what you think. If what I say touches you at all, I ask for your support. The more buzz I create about this contest & me, the better my chances are. So, if you'd like to Twitter about me and #mamavation, blog about it, tell everyone you know, it would be greatly appreciated.

I cannot wait to here what y'all think.

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Woo Hoo!!!

I have to send a huge congratulations to my gal pal Lynette. She has lost 59 1/2 inches and over twenty pounds over the past few months! How amazing is that? I am super proud of her and all the hard work she has been putting in. You go girl! Pop over here to read her story and give her a vote if you like what you read. She inspires me and I bet you'll think the same after you read what she has to say!

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When The Good News Gets Even Better

Witness the Gospels Through the Eyes of a First-Century Hebrew

New Bible study from David C Cook gives readers a fresh new way to experience the Good News

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—How is it possible to make the Good News of the Gospel better? How can truth be enhanced? Can Jesus Christ be improved upon? In his new Bible study, author Neb Hayden emphatically answers, “Impossible! The Gospel gets even better only when it’s more clearly understood. The Good News gets even better only when we read the Gospels as they were communicated and in the way they were meant to be seen.”

That’s why in his new study, When the Good News Gets Even Better: Rediscovering the Gospels through First-Century Jewish Eyes (David C Cook, June 2009), Hayden gives students of the New Testament the opportunity to walk through the Gospel narratives in Hebrew sandals. This unique Bible study allows readers to see these letters just as their original audience did and provides vital insights into the Jewish culture, customs, and perspectives, giving a fresh and thoroughly relevant context to the life of Christ.

“The Gospels are the foundation of our faith because our faith is built on a Person,” explains Hayden. “He was a Jew, living in a Jewish world, and communicating with Jewish people. This study offers readers the chance to walk the dusty roads with Him, to be there as a participant rather than simply as an observer.”

Using a three-month format, When the Good News Gets Even Better combines all four Gospels into one comprehensive and chronological narrative, allowing readers to focus on the overall themes and truths as they occurred. Among many other subjects, Hayden examines the births and childhoods of Jesus and John the Baptist, Jesus’ public ministry, the training of the twelve disciples, and Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. Features also include days sectioned into key points of Jesus’ ministry, suggestions for when to skim or thoroughly read a selection, and interactive questions for individual study and group discussion.

“The Gospels are just the beginning of God’s continuing pursuit of intimacy with mankind,” says Hayden. “These biographies of Jesus are our stories too. Every move Jesus made and every word He spoke has direct implications for our lives in the twenty-first century. I pray that readers will be permanently transformed as they become first-hand witnesses to the Gospels’ miraculous events and times explored in this guide.”

Author Bio

Neb Hayden is director of International Student Development at The King’s College in New York City. A former quarterback for “Bear Bryant” at Alabama, Neb has been involved his adult life with the fellowship in Washington, D.C., which works behind the scenes to nurture and encourage the leadership in over 180 nations. The group also works behind the scenes of the National Prayer Breakfast. Neb speaks and teaches extensively at seminars, conferences, and retreats. He and his wife, Susan, live in New York City and are the parents of three grown sons and two daughters-in-law.

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