Check Out this Kroger Promotion and Maybe Even Get a Gift Card!

I recently got this info, and thought I'd share with you.  Keep reading to find out how you could get a $25 Kroger gift card!

First a little commercial break.  ;)

Attention Kroger shoppers! Grab a cart (or two!) and head to your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for the Kroger Buy 5 - Save $5 Event! From October 14th through October 24th purchase 5 participating General Mills products, and receive a coupon for $5 off your next shopping order* (coupon printed at checkout)!

• Look for some of your favorite participating General Mills products like Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Betty Crocker Cake and Brownie Mixes, Hamburger Helper, Totino’s Party Pizza, Yoplait** and many more!

 

• Promotion varies in different locations so please be sure to check your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores*** for specific deals and offers which include: Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy

Here are some links you might be interested in:

• Kroger Website: http://bit.ly/Kroger5
• Kroger Facebook: http://bit.ly/Kroger5FB
• Kroger Twitter: http://bit.ly/Kroger5TW
• General Mills Website: http://bit.ly/Kroger5GM

* Products must be purchased during one shopping visit. To view a list of participating products see your store for details. The $5 coupon offer off your next shopping trip offer expires 1 week from the print date, with the coupon prints ending October 24th. Any offers printed on October 24th will expire on October 31st.

**Yoplait items vary by state

***Excludes Food 4 Less

So, now I bet you wanna know how you might be the lucky one to get a $25 gift card!  Read on...

 Giveaway rules: Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough. LOL 

Leave a comment. Tell me what you'd like to buy at Kroger to get one entry.

 

Want more entries? Here are four more ways you can enter, for a total of five ways to enter! :)

 

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect or Linky Followers, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) You must, however, live in the U.S.A. Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to five entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, October 21, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, October 22, 2012 or sometime soon after.  (Soon being a relative term.  LOL)

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Yet another disclosure:  The gift card, information, and additional sample have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Happy Shopping!!!
 

Million Minute Challenge

Hey everyone,

This is just a quick post to let you know about a fun way to spend more quality time with your family.  It's called the Million Minute Family Challenge.   The idea is the brainstorm of the folks at a game company called Patch Products.  The company creates and sells games that you might be familiar with, such as Farkle and Buzz Word. 

To get involved just head on over to the website and sign up.  Then, every time your family or group plays a game, log on your total minutes played.  Create a personal goal for minutes played, while helping reach the goal of one million minutes played for all participants involved.  The challenge runs from September to the end of the year.

I should note that while I'm sure a big part of this site is to help promote games from Patch, you are never obligated to buy anything and you can log in minutes from any game you play.  (Well, I don't think video games count.)   The idea is to just get people to have some good old-fashioned fun. 

Anyway, I thought I'd let you know so you could play too!  I hope you'll check it out!

Happy game playing!!!

Review and Giveaway!!! TONITE on The Gameshow Network: The American Bible Challenge!!!

Arrrrrrgh!!!  I rarely watch TV, and I don't have cable.  However, I sure wish I did today!!!  I would love to be able to watch "The American Bible Challenge" with my family.  I was, however, able to watch just a very brief sneak peak of the show.  (My internet is lame.  We are obviosly knda low tech around here.) 

What I did see was quite impressive.  The show looks great!  It looks like any other modern game show.  If you read the info below, you'll see the show is put together by some real professionals who've help create many other popluar shows.  So exciting!  Check out the info and then keep reading to find out how you can win an American Bible Challenge T-shirt and a bible!  How cool is that?

About The American Bible Challenge

Comedian and author, Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charitable organization. The American Bible Challenge is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL’s Tom Forman (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) and Embassy Row’s Michael Davies ("The Newlywed Game," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") serving as Executive Producers on the project. Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers.

 

About Host: Jeff Foxworthy

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy® Award nominee and the best-selling author of 11 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature.

 

For More Info:

 

Website: http://gsntv.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/

Trailer: http://gsntv.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/videos/

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

Twitter: #TheAmericanBibleChallenge and @GSN

 

Now, on to the contest!!!  :)

 

Would you like to win  an American Bible Challenge T-Shirt AND a Zondervan Quest Bible?

Giveaway rules: Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough. LOL

Leave a comment here on this post.   Let me know if you watched, or will watch the show. 

 

Want more entries? Here are four more ways you can enter, for a total of five ways to enter! :)

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect or Linky Followers, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

 

You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to five entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

 

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, September 9, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, September 10, 2012 or sometime soon after.

  

 

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the 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."

The Making of a Man

Sunday we had a big birthday party for Dode Man.  It was his 13th birthday!  (I now have FIVE teens, yikes!)  Anyway, the 13th is special in our family.  That is when our boys are expected to start becoming men!  (And our girls women, of course.)

We rented a hall and invited our extended family and and anyone special in our Dode's life.   He had his best friend Luke and his family, his neighborhood buddy and his mom and sister, a few kids from church, and three from our co-op.  We also invited the children's pastor, the youth pastor, and the pastor who baptised him.  A couple of the older men from church he likes to talk to even came.  Of course there were aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Unfortunately three our of four of his grandparents weren't feeling well and couldn't make it, but they were there in spirit.  We even had food which we never have at parties!  LOL  (It's all I can do to get the cake frosted most of the time.)  We had mostaccolli, sloppy joes, Sane Man's favorite subs, pasta salad, potato salad, cheese and crackers and a veggie tray.  Oh, and cake! 

After we ate, my husband spoke for a few minutes about what he expected from Dode Man now that he was a young man.  He presented him with a compass engraved with the scripture Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  I think that was where he was supposed to present him with his first adult Bible, but he forgot!  (He got it later that evening at home!)  Anyway, the compass is to remind him of the path he should take in life. 

Then his Uncle John, who is also a pastor, came up and spoke for a few minutes and encouraged Dode in his walk with God.  He was followed by the children's pastor, the youth pastor, his brothers First Born and Renaissance man, and and one of the older men.  Then Sane Man called me up and we prayed for him.  Then we sang and had cake!

I thought I would share this because I think it's so important to encourage our young men to be men!  It seems like no one even expects kids these days to man up until they are in their late 20s, if then.  Dode couldn't wait to start reading his Bible this morning, and he's been on his best behavior for the last two days.  Will it last?  I doubt it.  I'm sure he'll slack off a little, but now he knows what we expect of him, and we know he is capable. 

Is there anything you do when your child starts to grow up?  I'd love to hear about it!

Happy parenting!

A Reflection on 21 Years of Parenting

My oldest son, First Born, just turned 21. Wow. I can't believe it's been that long! So today I am being nostalgic, looking back on his life, and thinking about all the little successes and failures along the way. I have been far from the perfect parent. I mean, just the fact that the poor kid lived with me through seven more pregnancies should earn him a medal!

We've never been great with schedules, and we've often stayed up way too late and slept in way too late.  (Babies with mixed up days and nights didn't help.)  Once I had more than a few kids, I often let them get their own breakfasts and lunches, though I did stay pretty consistent with dinner.   We were sick all the time, and often school had to take a back burner to wiping noses (and other body parts.) Most days the house was a wreck.   I did my fair share of crying, yelling, and seriously contemplating running off to a distant land never to be seen again.

Honestly, looking back I can't figure out now First Born came out to be such a great kid!  I do know that no matter what, I always let him know how much I loved him.  I think homeschooling helped, as he didn't have the negative peer influence many kids get in school.  We worked him hard, and that helped him be responsible.  (Though he's still learning in that area!)  Most importantly, we led him to Jesus.

The reason I share this with you is because some of you might be contemplating running off to a distant land too!  Or maybe you've just been crying and/or yelling a little more than usual today. Maybe you were up all night with a baby, or cleaning up puke, or wiping butts or noses, or your house is a mess.  Maybe it's noon and your kids are just getting up and getting a bowl of cold cereal. Maybe you feel like an epic failure and are sure you have failed as a mother.   Maybe all of the above. But don't give up hope!  Keep on keepin' on, and keep your eyes on Jesus.  There is hope.  I mean, you do fail as a mom.  We all do.  It's in the Bible. But so is the Hope that keeps us going.  Don't give up.  Soon your oldest will be 21 and you'll look back and realize it was all worth it, just like I do.

Happy Birthday, son!  I love you!!!

Happy parenting!

New Review!!! Raising Real Men!

Raising Real Men:  Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys

by Hal and Melanie Young

Retail Price: $15

I came across this book one day, I don't even remember how, but I just HAD to have a copy.  So I asked for a review copy and was fortunate to receive one.  (Initially they told me it was only for "big time" bloggers.  Well, I hardly qualify for that, but I also told them I have SIX boys, so they gave in!  LOL)

Anyway, the Young family is a lot like a certain other family I know with six boys, and two girls.  Namely mine!  (Actually I see myself as the mother of 14 because, in my mind, boys count double!  LOL  Well, mine do anyway.)  If you have even one boy, you know they can be a handful.  Sure, there are some quiet, studious, thoughtful boys, but they tend to be the exception, don't they? 

To be fair, two of mine are also fairly quiet, but they still like to do wild stuff like ollie off the porch.  This basically means you run out the front door, jump onto a skateboard, ride off the porch, land back on the board on the sidewalk, and keep on going.  (Before you freak out and call Social Services, this is my 18 year old doing this.  And, no, I did NOT know about it until I saw the picture!)

Well, anyway, raising boys is kinda LIKE doing an ollie off the porch.  You gotta start off running, take a leap, and then keep on going even after you've safely landed, only to do it all over again.  That's what it feels like anyway.  Some days I don't land on the board, some days I'm afraid to take that leap, and some days I can't even get up and running!  But somehow I still manage to keep on going.

This is one of those books I could have written myself.  I agree with just about everything in it.  The Youngs are very balanced people.  They don't seem to take one extreme side of any issue.  Take gun play, for example.  They don't outlaw it in their homes, yet they have made very specific rules about how the boys are to play.  Rules like "no shooting other people" teach them not only gun safety, but also the spiritual lesson about "avoiding the appearance of evil."

The Youngs also discuss many other areas of "controversy," such as homeschooling, courtship, and discipline.  But no matter what the topic, they keep in mind that boys are simply men who haven't grown up.  (I know a few of those in their 40s!)  There is a tendency in our culture to make boys into sort of a boy/girl hybrid.  They are told to sit all "nicey, nicey," and are drugged when they don't.  (Yes, some kids really do have ADHD, but many who don't, I truly believe, are drugged just to make life easier for their parents and teachers.  And to say the thought of drugging my own boys has not crossed my mind, would be a lie!)

The book is laid out so that the first half attempts to explain male behavior.  I say attempts only because, while they do an excellent job explaining all about boys and their ways, us women folk will never quite understand them completely.  I imagine there are times when Melanie is still left scratching her head at some of the things her boys do.  (And dare I say at some of the things Hal does?  LOL)  Okay, to be fair, I'm sure Hal and the boys sometimes scratch their heads at some of the things Melanie and the girls do! :)

The second half of the book basically gives instruction on how to raise these wild, untamed creatures of the male species.  From what they share about their older boys, they have done a fantastic job!  (Would YOU send your 17 year old off to China as a tour guide?  You'd have to be pretty confident in the young man's maturity level, would you not?)

I don't want to tell you too much and give the whole book away, but I do want to tell you about one piece of advice that I have taken to heart.  Let the YOUNGEST child who is able do the job.  The absolute biggest mistake we've made is to rely on our two oldest boys to do most of the work.  Once they were trained it was hard to let the third and fourth take over as it meant re-training.  Who wants to do that?  Well, YOU do if you have more than one or two, or you will find that the others tend to get lazy and even resentful when you DO ask them to do something.  That's how it is around here anyway.  So I have been really on the younger kids to pull their weight around here.  When a job is to be done I now consider the youngest first.  Absolutely great advice.

I really enjoyed the book.  The family reminds me so much of my own, except somehow they seem to have pulled it off so much better than we do!  If you have a boy, I would highly recommend this book.  I could write so much more, but right now I have to go ollie off the porch! 

****************************************************
Check out the Raising Real Men Facebook page here.

Find out how to get your own copy here.

Check out the Table of Contents. Sample Chapter: Racing to Win

ISBN: 978-0-9841443-0-3
256 pages. 6×9 trade paperback.

Parenting Adult Children

Adult children.  An oxymoron, if I ever heard one.  LOL  Two, soon to be three, of my kids are "adults," but what exactly does that mean?

Imagine your child's birthday is tomorrow, and it's 11:59 p.m.  At this minute in time he cannot open a checking account, get a credit card, vote, work certain jobs, undergo a medical procedure without your authorization (unless, of course, it's a abortion) or sign a contract.  If you refuse to feed, clothe, or shelter him, a social worker could come to your home and take him away.  But wait!  A minute has passed since I stared this paragraph.  Your child is now 18!  He is an adult!

So what does that mean?  Well, he can now legally do all those things I've mentioned above, and, if you so desire, you can kick him out of the house, and CPS can do nothing about it. :)  In the eyes of the law, your child now can now legally move out, get any job, get married, join the circus, or whatever he wants to do without your permission.  But can he get out of bed in the morning without you begging and screaming?  Can he manage his money?  His time?  Ah, those are the real questions, aren't they?

We all know that in this day and age most kids do not move out on their 18th birthday, get a job, a house, get married, and start a family all before their 19th birthday.  It might have been so in the past, but that is very rare now.  I realize there are some kids who go off to college, but they still technically aren't moved out of their parents' home.  They still have a room there, and a nice comfy bed that they return to during breaks and summers, and will most likely return to after they graduate for at least a little while.

So how do you parent these adult kids?  You can't just keep treating them like children, micro-managing their every move, or they will never grow up.  Still, you can't just kick them to the curb.  Society is just not set up to allow kids to become independent after high school.  Most jobs now require post-secondary education, and those that don't are hard to come by or simply don't pay enough.  Still, I wonder, even if it were possible, would my adult children be ready?

My oldest son is an amazing person is so many ways.  However, he can't seem to get himself up for work.  For the longest time I would set my alarm so I could wake him up.  I have given that up for the most part, but it kills me when I know he needs to get up but doesn't.  Sometimes I do end up waking him, but I do it less and less.  He seems to be doing better now that he knows he can't always count on me.  Still, it's not easy!

He also waits until the last minute to do anything.  When he has a school assignment with a due date, he reads it "do" date.  You know, if it's due on the 10th, that's when you do it. LOL  It drives me nuts.  Now, I know I am not the greatest at time management either, but yikes!  It's just so hard.

My two oldest kids have money management issues.  We try so hard to help them, but they just don't get it. Here we can't take a totally hands-off approach; they owe us money!

My third son is great with money (sometimes too great) and always gets himself up for work. (Thankfully, because he often works at 6:00 a.m.)  However, he still expects to be driven all over town whenever he wants to go somewhere, and finds it appalling that we want him to buy his own clothes and person toiletries. His famous line is, "I didn't ask to be born. You're the parents, you are supposed to take care of me." Okay, but for how long, son?  He'll be 18 in a couple months, and has more cash in the bank than we do.  I know other adult children who are living at home and who still have mommy and daddy buying everything for them because they don't have jobs.  Not gonna happen here.

It's the classic situation.  They want to be treated like adults.  We want them to act like adults.  They often act like children.  We often treat them like children.  I know most parents like to tell their kids that they'll be treated like adults when they act like adults, but maybe that's not the right strategy.  Perhaps treating them like adults, even when they act like children is better.  If they can't get out of bed, let them deal with the consequences.  If they run out of money, let them find a way to get somewhere when they don't have gas money.  When they refuse to buy their own deodorant, let them stink!  LOL

I certainly don't know all the answers.  It's very difficult to find a balance.  I would love to hear any advice from parents who have been there, or from adults whose parents actually did it right!  I still have five more kids, so maybe there's still hope that we can't figure this all out before the last one moves out.  If he moves out.  First he'll have to get out of bed.  ;)

Happy Parenting!

Pushing 50 Update: 03/22/2012

Psst... before you read, would you please take the poll in my sidebar?  Thanks!


If you read my last post "Pushing 50 is the Only Exercise I Get," then you know I am on a one year mission to get into shape before that dreaded birthday arrives.  I don't wanna be Fat and Frumpy 50, but rather Fit and Fabulous 50.  It's been a week, and I'm not there yet, can you believe it?  LOL  Nope, I have a long road ahead of me.  I've found myself wondering if a year is even enough time.  I need a LOT of work.



It didn't start out too well.  Actually I didn't start out to well.  Literally.  The very next day after I posted my ambitions to get it together, I came down with a nasty bug.  So much for exercising, organizing, and eating right. The bug had me down pretty much all weekend.  I really didn't even think about my new goals until yesterday.  I did get a hold of my hairstylist niece, and I'm hoping to get my hair cut Monday.  If I do, I'll probably get around to coloring it some time next week. 



I don't think I've taken any of my supplements all week.  Maybe once.  Not yet today.  I am going to have to add that to my "things to do" before I allow myself on facebook list.  


My laptop is broken, so I haven't researched any natural cures for asthma.  I'll get to it...


I did get an under the bed shoe organizer for like $3.75, and organized all my shoes!  Woohoo!  I have a tiny room and nowhere to put them but under my bed.  It's always been a challenge to crawl under it and find two to match.  Now I can!  I also cleaned out a box of papers that had taken on a life of its own.  It is now my "stationary" box, which is what it was supposed to be all along.  


I can't say I've done anything really fun with the kids.  Too much sickness around here.  (I wasn't the only one with a bug.)  Perhaps today I'll get outside with them for a bit. 


Yesterday I really did try to keep my food portions small.  I promise.  :)


I still haven't missed a day of Bible reading.  


Now for the big news.  I WENT TO THE GYM TODAY!!!  Yes, my dear friend Barb came and picked me up at 9:00 a.m., and off we went.  I only did 15 minutes on the treadmill, which was enough to make me feel light-headed and my legs feel wobbly.  But I did it.  I did it. I did it. I did it!!!

Pushing 50 is the only Exercise I Get!

Ugh! I will be 50 in less than a year, and the truth is, I'm falling apart.  I mean, personality wise I still pretty much act like a goofy teenager.  I mean, a rather mature goofy teenager, but on the inside I don't feel like I've aged hardly at all.  But on the outside....

I mean my hair is thinning and graying, my chin is starting to sag, I'm getting those little puppet lines at the corners of my mouth, and, well, you get the idea.  I'm just a tad overweight (ha!) and totally out of shape.  I can't walk up the stairs without getting out of breath.  I can't walk down the stairs without my knees hurting. Other various joints and muscles seem to take turns aching. I get indigestion all the time, and half the time I can't even swallow my food because it gets stuck in my throat!  My asthma isn't getting any better, and I sometimes get chest pains.  My blood pressure, which has always been very low, is suddenly getting high.  In other words, like I said, I'm falling apart.

TMI?  Or can you relate?  If you said the latter, would you like to join me and help motivate me to change my wicked ways so that I gain at least regain whatever health I've had in the past?  (I've never been a really healthy person.  Allergies and asthma have always kept me from feeling great, but I sure haven't always felt this bad.)  I've looked up all my ailments and found the same old thing just about every time.  I need to eat less and exercise more.  Now there are a few other things I can do to help the outside.  I can cut and color my hair; I can wear more flattering clothes.  I plan to do anything and everything (okay, not surgery) to help me look and feel my best. 

I do have to say that I have a handle on the most important things.  I do manage to pray and read my Bible every day.  I made a rule for myself that I am not allowed on facebook until I've done my Bible reading.  I'm using a Bible in a Year program and I haven't missed a day!  I am also making a conscious effort to spend more fun time with the kids.  A couple weeks ago we played Apples to Apples,  and a few days ago we all danced like crazy people in the living room.  I noticed that all we ever seem to do is clean and do school.  When we do something together, we usually just watch a movie, but that seems so lame.  I don't want to sit around and watch other people pretend to live life, I want to live life with my family for real!

So here are my immediate goals:

- Get a hair cut and color it

- Take my supplements regularly.  (Co-Q 10, D3, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc)

- Actually exercise.  I am going to start with a whopping 10 minutes 2x a week.  Lame, but it   doesn't scare me!

-Stop eating "second dinners"

-Really, really try to cut back on sugar and white flour

-Keep track of my blood pressure

-Research natural treatment for asthma (I hate it that I am constantly using my inhaler.)

-Do something fun with the kids at least once a week

-Organize one area of my house at least once a week (While this is not directly about me, I am totally affected by a messy house. I feel so much stress about it. When I walk into a clean room, I actually feel a physical sensation of relief.)


-Continue to pray and read my Bible daily

-Keep up with this series!  I always start things and don't finish.  I even won a Perfect Procrastinators Award, but never mentioned it or put the button on my blog because I kept putting it off!  LOL

Anyway, if I actually DO this, I plan to be a fit and healthy 50 year old in less than a year!!!  :)

Review of a The Woodcarver and a Chance to Score a Complimentary Copy!

Ever watch Cheers? Cliff Clavin is always spouting out random, useless trivia.  Wouldn't it be cool to have seen him share about the most important thing ever?  By that I'm talking about following Jesus.  Well, John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin, does just that in this great new movie, The Woodcarver.  


My family and I recently watched this movie as I got a complimentary copy from propeller so I could write up this review.  Keep reading to find out how you, too, can win a complimentary copy of this movie.  

About the Movie:

Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest (John Ratzenberger), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church's beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life.

My Thoughts:

We all loved this movie.  I especially loved John Ratzenberger's portrayal of Ernest, the woodcarver.  I think he had the most well-developed character in the whole film.  I wish he lived in my neighborhood.  I could think of a few of my own kids who'd I'd like him to befriend!  LOL  What I loved about the movie is that it is a good story, with a great message, but it doesn't come across as preachy.  Some Christian movies just seem so contrived.  (Though I have to say, they are getting better.)  I think having a well known face, and voice, makes it more marketable to a wider audience.  (So here's some Cliff Clavin-like trivia for you:  John Ratzenberger voices a character in every Pixar film ever made!)

I didn't find myself as endeared to the rest of the characters as I did to Earnest, but I could understand where they were coming from.  Today's society has really messed up family life!  We could make life a lot simpler if we all just learned to ask ourselves this simple question, What would Jesus do? As three people, all pretty much absorbed in their won selfish desires learn to ask this question, life takes a turn for the better.  Even Earnest learns a few things.  I highly recommend this movie!

Now for the giveaway rules.   Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough.  LOL  

Leave a comment.  Tell me your favorite Christian movie to get one entry.  

Want more entries?  Here are five more ways you can enter, for a total of six ways to enter! :)

Take my poll in the sidebar, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST letting me know you did. (If you've already taken the poll, just let me know in a comment, and I will still count it as an additional entry.)

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect or Linky Followers, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to six entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, April 1, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, April 2, 2012 or sometime soon after.

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Happy movie watching!!!

Check out Miami Vineyard Live and Maybe Even Get a Complimentary Copy!

The good folks at propeller have sent me a complimentary Miami Vineyard Live CD so I could check it out and let you know my thoughts.  Before I do, check out the info below to see what the company has to say.  Then keep on reading because propeller has an extra complimentary copy that they will send one of my lucky readers.  Or should I say blessed readers.  :)

About Miami Vineyard LIVE:

What happens when a group of 20+ musicians and 10+ songwriters steeped deep in their own musical traditions of Black Gospel, Latin, Caribbean, and Anglo come together to create a new tradition and sound? What happens when the fusion of Black, Anglo, Latino, Caribbean, and Cuban voices unite together to worship in one voice? Among the 2000 people that attend the Miami Vineyard Community Church, there are over a hundred singers, instrumentalists and songwriters that make up its eclectic worship ministry. For one night, these musicians joined together in worship and invited the church to document the sound that is uniquely MIAMI VINEYARD LIVE.

This distinctive bi-lingual liturgy is filled with many flavors, from Latino claves to gospel two-step to funk and soul to delay-laden rock guitars of modern worship, yet they all work together seamlessly to create a new sound and voice that is authentic and refreshing. From anthems of praise and proclamation to songs of intimacy and adoration, there is a common thread running deep throughout this recording and that is true worship of the Living God as an expression of His Kingdom breaking in on the streets and beaches of Miami, FL.

My thoughts:

Okay, time to play "True Confessions."  I didn't really think much of this CD the first time I played it.  While I love all kinds of music, there is pretty much one style of worship music I tend to listen too.  Call me old and stuck in my ways, but that's the truth.  I did enjoy "How Great is Our God," because it is a song I'm familiar with. and the Vineyard version isn't all that different than the versions I am used to.  However, my kids are not at all old and stuck in their ways, and they started playing the CD over and over.

A funny thing happened!  Suddenly, as I heard the songs played repeatedly, I got to know them.  I found myself singing along.  (My apologies to my family.)  Then, the other day, when the kids put in on to make cleaning a bit more fun, they started to dance around the living room.  I found myself dancing too!  Now the CD has totally grown on me, and I find it a wonderful way to worship God and even have some fun at the same time!  I recommend that you check it out!

Website: http://www.vineyardmusic.com/vm/miami-live

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/miamivineyardLIVE

Purchase: http://www.vineyardresources.com/equip/content/miami-vineyard-live-cd

Video: http://vimeo.com/28995392

Now for the giveaway rules.   Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough.  LOL  

Leave a comment.  Tell me who your favorite worship artist is to get one entry.  

Want more entries?  Here are five more ways you can enter, for a total of six ways to enter! :)

Take my poll in the sidebar, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST letting me know you did. (If you've already taken the poll, just let me know in a comment, and I will still count it as an additional entry.)

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect or Linky Followers, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to six entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, April 1, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, April 2, 2012 or sometime soon after.

Good luck!

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Happy worshipping!!!  

A New Opportunity! VocabularySpellingCity.com!

Pssst!  Would you please take my poll in the sidebar? ;)

Hello everyone!  :)

I've been given a premium membership to VocabularySpellingCity.com for a candid, personal, online review.

VocabularySpellingCity.com helps students study word lists using 25 different learning activities such as MatchIt Sentences, HangMan, and Word-O-Rama. Parents can create their own spelling lists, find published lists already available on the site, or use any of dozens of free teaching resources on topics such as analogies and compound words.

To be honest, we've been so completely busy around here that I haven't had a ton of time to really learn the site.  It has loads of activities and things to click around and do.  In my old age, I find that it's even harder for me to take the time to figure things out.  My very simple, ADD brain can only take so much!  These days I am often heard telling my kids to figure things out for me.  :)  So, that's what I did here.  I'd sign the kids in and let them do whatever they wanted to, which they were perfectly happy to do.  Of course, they gravitated to the games.  They especially liked playing the HangCat game which is a not-so morbid version of hangman.  Actually, it's not morbid at all!  LOL

Like I said, I didn't have a ton of time to figure it all out.  (Eight of use share one laptop.)  I didn't end up creating any of my own spelling lists, but I did use some of the ones already there.  The neat thing is that you can plug any list into any of the games.  My youngest two, Bear, 10, and Baber, 8, found it great fun.  I'm sure if I really took the time to figure it all out I could create an organized curriculum using the site.  As it is now, I find it just a great supplement.  My youngest, at 8, is really just "clicking" when it comes to reading, and I don't want to push any official spelling work on him right now, so this is a great way to weave a little spelling in painlessly.   I really hope that maybe by next year, when he has regular spelling lists, I will have had the time to really figure out how to maneuver the site so I can use it more intelligently.  Until then, I am content to have kids begging me to do schoolwork, even if it's only because they think they're just playing games.  :)

Happy Spelling!  :)

Awesome Deals at Kroger! Plus win a $25 Gift Card!

Kroger is getting ready to have some really great deals, so I decided to pass the info along to you.  And what's better than getting something at a really good price?  Getting something free!  Would you like to win a $25 Kroger card?  Find out how at the bottom of this post. 

Here's the info I was sent from Kroger:

Get ready for the Cart Buster Savings Event exclusively at Kroger and the Kroger Co. Family of Stores. You´ll see Big Savings Storewide on some of your favorite brands! And look out for some special offers and coupons only available at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores, and only available for this event!

Beginning the week of February 26th, 2012, shop the Kroger Co. Family of Stores biggest-ever promotion and find the hottest prices around on more than 35 brands, across more than 60 categories from General Mills, P & G, Pepsi, Nestle, Kraft and Kroger Banner Brands. During the Cart Buster Savings Event, you´ll find great savings in almost every department at the Kroger Family of Stores, which includes:   Kroger, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillon´s, Smith´s Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets, and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.

Check your local store to confirm the exact dates for your Cart Buster Savings Event.

Here are just a handful of the great brands participating in the event:

Cheerios

Lucky Charms

Pillsbury

Betty Crocker

Hamburger Helper

Yoplait

Progresso

Totino´s

Green Giant

Cascadian Farm Tide

Charmin

Bounty

Pampers

Pantene

Crest

Iams

Febreze

Old Spice

Bounce Pepsi

Ruffles

Quaker

Tostito´s

Rice A Roni

Tropicana

Stacy´s

Sobe

Mountain Dew

Gatorade

Looking for even more ways to save time and money? Visit CartBuster.com beginning 2/26/12 to find money-savings digital coupons, shopping lists and more. And starting 2/29/12 you can participate in the "Deal of the Day"! How does the Deal of the Day work?

•During seven days of the Cart Buster Savings Event, 2/29/12 - 3/6/12, there will be a super hot, exclusive offer good on one participating Cart Buster item. Each offer will be exclusive and available for one-day only - but the offer will be good for the duration of the entire event.


•You´ll see savings of up to and over 50% with the Deal of the Day offers - maybe even some freebies - and that´s on top of the already-low, low prices that Cart Buster has to offer!

•Look for seven days of "Deal of the Day offers" beginning 2/29/12. The Last Deal of the Day offer will be up on 3/6/12. But don´t fret - the Cart Buster event will continue even after the Deal of the Day ends. Check your local store for the exact end date for the Cart Buster Savings Event.

Check out the widget in my sidebar!!! 

Now for the $25 Kroger giveaway rules.   Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough.  LOL  

Leave a comment.  Tell me what you'd buy at Kroger with the $25 gift card.  

Want more entries?  Here are five more ways you can enter, for a total of six ways to enter! :)

Take my poll in the sidebar, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST letting me know you did. (If you've already taken the poll, just let me know in a comment, and I will still count it as an additional entry.)

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect,and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. . (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to six entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, March 4, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, March 5, 2012 or sometime soon after.

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills/Nestle/Proctor & Gamble/Pepsi/Kraft through MyBlogSpark.

New Review and Contest!!! Cooper and Me and the Military

I recently received the latest Cooper and Me book, Cooper and Me and the Military.  This is the third book I have read in the series.  You can read my original review of Cooper and Me here, or my review of Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure here.   

So far I have enjoyed these books, and so have my children.  They have been thrilled to read them and keep asking which one they are getting next!  I love that the books are actually written and illustrated by a child, Alexa Peters, who was only 11 years old when the first book was written in 2010.  My only concern about this book is that it is about two children whose mother and father both serve in the military.  I just found it sad that the children had to live with their grandparents while both parents were deployed.  It does allow children to see what a sacrifice must be made to keep our country safe. 

The story is all about a dog named Trooper who is friends with Cooper.  Trooper is adopted by Gracie and Joe and their parents, who are serving in the military.  According to the publisher, each Cooper and Me story teaches an important Life Lesson and features interactive materials at the back of the book to drive the message home.  Included are activities that help children name and process their own feelings about what they've read.  In this book, the children learn that their parents love them, even though they are far from home.  

You can learn more about this book and the Cooper and Me series by clicking on these links:

Website: http://www.cooperandme.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooper-and-Me-Inc/214695101924101

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cooper_and_me

Now for the contest rules!  Please read them CAREFULLY as I don't seem to be explaining them well enough.  LOL  

Leave a comment.  Tell me who you'd like to honor for serving in the military.  Want more entries?  Here are five more ways you can enter, for a total of six ways to enter! :)

Take my poll in the sidebar, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST letting me know you did. (If you've already taken the poll, just let me know in a comment, and I will still count it as an additional entry.)

Follow me on facebook, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me on Twitter, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Follow me with Google Friend Connect,and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. (If you already follow, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner, and leave AN ADDITIONAL comment HERE ON THIS POST. . (See sidebar. If you already subscribe, just leave an additional comment HERE ON THIS POST to let me know.)

The rules: You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in The Crazy House. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win, or I'll have to draw another winner. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to six entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, March 4, 2012. The winner will be chosen on Monday, March 5, 2012 or sometime soon after.

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”