Free Printable Recipe Card!

My newest blog advertiser, SweetPapermint, wants to give all of my readers this free printable recipe card!

For a better quality download, click on this link or send me an email and I can it to you via email!

It's Christmas time and if you're looking for a unique card this year, make sure you stop by and visit her Etsy store. She has some beautiful cards for sale!! You can save 20% right now by using code "thriftynifty".

Harry Potter DVD Winner!

The winner of the new Harry Potter DVD is Alex Fisher! Congratulations! I'm forwarding your address on and you should have this DVD in about 2 weeks! I hope you enjoy it!

Rain Tees Winner!

Congratulations to Jessica Schwartz! You are the winner of this giveaway! You should be receiving your tee soon! Enjoy!!

Timmy Time: Go Kart Timmy DVD Review and Giveaway

Join Timmy And His Preschool Pals For Fast Action Fun With
Trains, Go Karts, Sports And More In An All-New DVD From
The Award-Winning Creators Of Wallace And Gromit^™
And Shaun The Sheep^™

TIMMY TIME^™: GO KART TIMMY

Available On DVD November 22, 2011

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

It’s go time for loveable lamb Timmy and all his barnyard buddies in Timmy Time™: Go Kart Timmy, featuring five fun adventures all about being preschoolers on the move, coming to DVD November 22, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. From the Oscar^©-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time features a winning combination of slapstick humor and classic silent comedy that will delight preschoolers again and again. Join the gang as they test out a new go-kart, trip out on a new tricycle, rally for Sports Day, huddle up for soccer and more in these hilarious new episodes.

DVD SYNOPSIS:

Hold on tight for more fast-action fun with your pal Timmy and his preschool classmates! Enjoy the ride as Timmy speeds off in a brand new go-kart and runs into a big, smelly problem. Then it’s off to the races at the nursery’s Sports Day, helping Otus with soccer and learning that winning isn’t everything. Surprises and laughter shift into high gear in these five delightful adventures the whole family will love!

• “Go Kart Timmy” - There’s a brand new pedal go-kart in the playground, and all the animals are desperate to have a go – especially Timmy! But his eagerness behind the wheel soon leads him into trouble and he reverses into a very smelly compost heap! After cleaning the go-kart, Timmy starts to understand the importance of waiting his turn.
• “Timmy On Wheels” - Timmy is having fun on the tricycle, but Ruffy does not have much luck learning how to ride it. Timmy can’t be bothered to take the time to teach him, but when he has difficulties riding a scooter himself, he soon learns that he should help others rather than ride away...
• “Timmy Wants To Win” - Everyone is getting involved in Sports Day at the nursery, and Timmy is determined to win! But after missing out on first place race after race, his dreams of winning begin to falter. When he helps Yabba up after a tumble, however, Timmy is deemed the true winner of the day!
• “Timmy Plays Ball” - The class is learning how to play soccer, but Timmy keeps hogging the ball! Ruffy and Paxton soon get bored, leaving Timmy to play with a not-very-athletic Otus. But after teaching Otus how to pass the ball, Timmy wins himself a new soccer partner.
• “Timmy’s Train” - Timmy and his classmates are playing trains, but both he and Mittens want to be the leader! By trying to outdo each other with increasingly impressive train costumes, they attempt to win over their pals, but soon realize that it’s no good being the best-looking train if there aren’t any passengers left to play with you!

DVD BONUS FEATURES

• Bonus episode: Shaun the Sheep™ “Big Top Timmy”
• “Timmy’s Tune” music video

What We Thought:

Well, you know how much we love Shaun the Sheep, so I'm sure you can guess how much we love Timmy Time! Timmy Time is geared towards younger, preschool age kids, so of course it's perfect for our house!

This Timmy Time DVD has 5 different episodes. I love to watch the episodes of Timmy and all of his nursery school friends. The animals are so cute and they really teach kids great lessons. This DVD will help teach your kids how to be a good friend, among other good lessons. If you are a Shaun the Sheep fan (and even if you aren't!), you must check out Timmy Time! PS--make sure you check out the bonus features on this DVD too!! You get a bonus episode of Shaun the Sheep plus a super cute music video!

This DVD has a suggested retail price of $14.98 and would make a great stocking stuffer! One of my fans will win their own copy of this DVD! Just fill out this easy entry form!

*I was not paid for this review. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items. Please note, this giveaway is not open to anyone who has won this DVD from another blog giveaway.*

Shaun the Sheep Season 2 Boxed Set

My daughter has been asking to watch this DVD every day since the day we got it--I'm talking about Shaun the Sheep Season 2!

Shaun the Sheep™: Season Two Gift Set

Arrived On DVD November 15, 2011

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

He’s ba-a-a-ack! Get ready for a whole new collection of woolly antics with Shaun the Sheep™ and his barnyard buddies in Shaun the Sheep: Season Two Gift Set, available on DVD November 15, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Featuring 40 fantastic episodes – including five on DVD for the first time ever – all your favorite characters return for more wool-raising adventures around the barnyard. Combining slapstick and classic silent comedy, Shaun the Sheep never fails to make you laugh! So flock to add this delightful collection to your home library today!

Five minute shorts of the series currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel. Fans can only find full-length episodes on the DVDs. 

DVD SYNOPSIS

The complete second season of Shaun the Sheep has arrived with 40 hilarious episodes of woolly shenanigans! The Oscar^®-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit™ strike again with the mischievous barnyard antics of Shaun, Bitzer, Shirley, Timmy and those naughty Pigs next door. From fancy wheels and outrageous deals to foxy crimes and Christmas time, there’s something for everyone in this fun-filled collectible gift set of must-have treats the whole family will love!

DVD BONUS FEATURES

• Behind The Scenes Gallery
• “Whack-A-Pig” Game
• “Sheep-Shearing” Game
• “Meet The Animals” video
• “Sing-Along With Shaun” Video
• “Building-A-Pig” Video
• “The Mini Making Of Shaun” Video
• Timmy Time Sneak Peek: “Timmy’s Tune”

We honestly just LOVE Shaun the Sheep here! From the very first Shaun the Sheep DVD we ever got we have been hooked--our whole family! The shows are clever, funny, and entertaining. It think its the only show so far the Maggie has actually laughed aloud about. She has also clapped at certain parts of these DVDs. We are LOVING this Boxed set! If you haven't tried Shaun the Sheep yet, make your whole family happy and add this set to your holiday shopping list! Everyone we've shared Shaun the Sheep with has loved it! This Box set has a suggested retail price of $29.98 and you can find it at most of your favorite retailers!

*This is not a paid posting. I received the above product for free in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to give a positive review.*

The Swiss Colony Snowman Truffles Review and Giveaway

Most of you know that I'm pregnant, so of course, when I'm contacted by a company to review a food item, especially a DESSERT food item, I can't help but jump at the chance to review it! The Swiss Colony contacted me about reviewing one of their new holiday items and I was very eager to give their Snowman Truffles a try!

The Snowman Truffles arrived in a festive, red holiday box. Although I thought about being selfish and keeping them all for myself, I decided to bring them along for our Thanksgiving celebration at my inlaws' house.  These truffles look cute and taste SO good! The inside of the snowmen contain a fluffy chocolate that is just delicious!  As I'm sure you can guess by now, the truffles did not last for long at all. I'm ready for more!

If you've got a relative or friend who you'd like to send a yummy Christmas gift too, I'd definitely suggest these truffles! I think they'd love them! You can purchase a box of these truffles (a total of 12 snowmen) from The Swiss Colony for $24.95.  It's a little pricey, but certainly delicious!

One of my fans will win their own box of Snowman Truffles! You can choose to send them to yourself or send them to someone you love this holiday season! If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!



*I received this item free of charge from The Swiss Colony. No monetary compensation was received or offered, nor was I under any obligation to write about this product. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts. I am not offering any sales or taking orders for this item. I will not receive any compensation in connection with any sales of this item. Thanks to the company for the complimentary giveaway item.*

Cyber Monday Melissa and Doug Giveaways!

Cyber Monday is Giveaway Monday on Melissa & Doug's Facebook Fan Page!

“LIKE” them on Facebook to be eligible to win! Answer the active giveaway’s question, to enter that giveaway. At least one random entrant will be chosen to win each giveaway.

JOIN THEM BEGINNING at 8am EST for the FIRST GIVEAWAY…THEIR TRAIN TABLE!

They’ll be giving away terrific educational toys from 8am EST, right up until midnight!

Check out Melissa & Doug's Terrific Twenty Holiday Toys to see some of the great prizes they’ll be giving away!

Giveaway event ends midnight EST 11/28/11.

Shaklee Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate Review and Giveaway

Shaklee is the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S. They've been making people healthier for over 50 years, and they've made it part of their job to make the planet healthier along the way. They were doing it back when green was just a color and biodegradable was barely a word. In fact, as early as 1960, they made one of the first biodegradable household cleaners ever.  The were also the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset our CO₂ emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment.

Dr. Shaklee was actually the first person to invent the vitamin. Their products are used in space by the astronauts, the Olympians and they have also been featured in several magazines and TV shows including Rachel Ray and Oprah. Shaklee produces everything from cleaning supplies, to beauty supplies, to weight management kits and supplements for everyone in your family. They set themselves apart by making products that are natural, safe, and proven effective.

I was sent some of Shaklee's Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate to try out in my home.  This little bottle costs $12.15 (or just $10.35 if you are a member) and, when added to water, makes 48 gallons of cleaner! That is a LOT of cleaning!! I think this one little bottle is going to last me for probably the whole year! I've been using the cleaning concentrate to mop my floors each week. You only need to add 1 TBSP. for each gallon of water.  

I didn't feel like this cleaner had any scent to it--which is just fine with me! If you are particular about having your house have a "clean smell" then you might want to squeeze a little lemon into the mop bucket. This cleaner has cleaned my floors really well. You can also purchase a spray bottle, fill it with water, and add a small amount of the cleaning concentrate to use all around your house. You can clean just about any washable surface with this cleaner when you mix it with some water! I've tried it on my sinks, floors, counters, bathtubs, windows, and I'm sure a couple of other places!

I've been very impressed with this cleaner and LOVE the fact that its natural and safe! I try so hard to stay away from chemicals in my cleaning supplies now!

If you'd like to try some of this Basic H2 Cleaner, or one of the MANY other products that Shaklee sells, let me introduce you to my independent distributor, Latoya Scott. You can shop directly through her by clicking this link. Latoya is also a blogger and you can check out her blog by clicking here.  She blogged about what brought her to Shaklee and why she decided to give it a try. You might be interested in reading her story as well!

Oh, also, you can save 15% off your first order from Shaklee if you click here! If you are like me, you're probably interested in cost comparisons to other cleaners. If you click here, you can see just that!

Lastly, FIVE of my readers have the opportunity to receive a free sample of the Basic H2 cleaner! If you'd like a chance to receive a sample of this product, please fill out the easy entry form below.

Big Bully CD Winner!

Congratulations to Missy H! You are the winner of this CD and will be receiving a copy of it very soon! I hope you enjoy it!

$100 Array Gift Card Review and Giveaway

I know you've got them on your Christmas list. I'm talking about the people who either won't tell you what they want for Christmas or they have EVERYTHING and you have no idea what to get them. Either way, I've got the perfect solution for you!

It's called Array Gift. You can find them online at www.arraygift.com and you can also find Array Gift Cards for sale at many retailers this year.  So, now that I've told you where you can find them, you probably want to know what's so great about them, right? Well, when you give (or get!) an Array Gift card, the person receiving this gift card is able to go onto Array's website and search through their database of over 500 retailers to get the gift card for the store they want. Now you don't have to debate about which store to buy a gift card to--buying this gift card is like buying a gift card to 500 stores.

I know that you might also be thinking that you can purchase a Visa gift card which will do just about the same thing, but with an Array Gift there are NO FEES! There are also no expiration dates!

Array Gift Card sent me a $100 Instant Array Gift Certificate so I could try out their service. I decided on a Lowes Gift Card and a Walmart Gift Card. It was really hard to decide what gift cards to order though because they have SO many great stores to choose from: Old Navy, ITunes, Target, Amazon, Gap...the list goes on and on! It was so quick and easy to place my order. I was done in less than 5 minutes and I'll have my gift cards in 3-5 business days. It's awesome! I would be SO happy to receive an Array Gift card this year for Christmas and I've added it to my Christmas list!

I know after hearing all about the Array Gift Card program that you want to try it out. Believe it or not, one of my readers will win a $100 Gift Card from Array Gift Card! That's right, basically one of you will win $100 to spend at your favorite store!! If you'd like to win this card, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

FluffyRumps Winner!

Congratulations to Vanessa Betcher! You've won this giveaway! I've sent you an email for you to claim this prize since you'll need to specify what you'd like! Check your SPAM folder if you don't see it in your regular email!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times Review and Giveaway

Book Description:

Life has always been filled with trials, including illness, job loss, grief, addictions, and much more. God never promised that our earthly lives would be without difficulties, but He assured us that He will always be with us to share our burdens. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times is filled with stories that show God's presence during a time of trouble. Readers will find encouragement, solace, and strength in these personal stories and prayers.

What I Thought:

I was so excited to see that Mary Beth Chapman wrote the forward for this book! She is the wife of singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman (one of my all-time favorites!!) and they had a daughter who was killed a few years ago when one of their sons accidentally hit her with the family SUV! It was so tragic! I am not sure how I, as a parent, would be able to deal with something like that. I am excited to see that through the tragedy, this family has been able to move forward and continue to trust God with their lives. Mary Beth Chapman led into a book full of 101 short stories of people just like you and I who have overcome tragedy and hard times in their lives.  Each story has a Bible verse to start it off and a prayer to conclude it.

If you or someone you know is going through a struggling time right now, I would highly recommend reading this uplifting book!

This book is only $9.35 right now on Amazon.com.  Three of my readers will also WIN a copy of this book! If you'd like to win a copy, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Leigh Nash's Hymns and Sacred Songs CD Review and Giveaway

Ever heard of Leigh Nash? I didn't think I had until I learned that she is the lead singer of Sixpense None the Richer. If that name doesn't ring a bell, what about the song, "Kiss Me" or "There She Goes?" If you still don't know who I'm talking about, search those songs on YouTube or Itunes! They are great!!

Leigh Nash, perhaps best known as the dynamic, angelic-voiced lead singer of platinum-selling pop group Sixpence None the Richer, now offers her favorite, newly recorded Hymns & Sacred Songs Nov. 15 from Kingsway with EMI CMG Distribution in the US. The first of three new albums from Nash on Kingsway, these songs are a combination of fresh, newly written hymns alongside songs that have reverberated across generations, giving a voice to the faithful around the world. The timeless lyrics of hymns by Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby and other writers of old, have been given fresh life with Nash singing and writing newly inspired melodies.

"I am so very thankful for the opportunity to sing these words and even get to infuse some of them with new melodies,” says Leigh Nash. “It is a gift above any I can presently think of, to sing to my God! The musicians, producer and engineers are all so gifted and the songs so rich in word and melody that my feet were dancing and my heart was constantly lifted throughout the recording of this record! I pray you will have the same symptoms!

“I was really excited by the idea of making a record of hymns,” continues Nash. “I grew up loving singing in the congregation at my church, always wishing to have the courage to sing solos in the church choir. I finally got my solos in the form of this record!”

“The songs were basically chosen because of their lyrics,” says Nash. “These words are so poetic and beautiful, the perfect inspiration to write new melodies.”

The full Hymns & Sacred Songs track listing follows:

• Savior Like A Shepherd (Blessed Jesus)
• Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
• Isaiah 55
• Oh Heart Bereaved and Lonely
• The Power of the Cross
• Give Myself To You
• Come Ye Thankful People Come
• Blessed Redeemer
• Out of My Bondage
• Song of Moses
• Praise The Lord Who Reigns Above
• Be Still My Soul

Leigh Nash has been performing since her high school days growing up in New Braunfels, TX. It was there that she met guitarist Matt Slocum and Sixpence came to fruition. Following four album releases, multiple Dove Awards, a GRAMMY nomination and the great success of their hit singles “Kiss Me,” “There She Goes” and “Breathe Your Name,” the band took a hiatus in 2004. Leigh took this time to release a solo record entitled Blue on Blue and a Christmas album Wishing For This, both in 2006, as well as collaborated with members of Delerium for the album, Fauxliage (2007). In 2008, Nash and Slocum reunited as Sixpence None the Richer to record Dawn of Grace, a holiday album fans had long requested. Last year, Leigh lent her voice on projects by Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Matthew West and others.

More information on Leigh Nash can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leigh-Bingham-Nash/252060974808213, http://www.myspace.com/leighnash and www.kingswayworship.com.

What I Thought of This CD:

I love hymns and am always interested in hearing new hymn CDs.  Leigh Nash has a beautiful voice and I've loved listening to this music! I think that her music has a folk sound with a little bit of bluegrass added in at times.  It is soothing and really enjoyable. My favorite songs on this CD are " Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and "Blessed Redeemer" although there aren't any songs on this CD that I don't like/skip! If you enjoy listening to Christian music, I'd highly recommend her!  You can hear samples of the music on this CD on Amazon.

Win It!

Yep, one of my readers will win their own copy of this CD! Just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Oregon Chai Fun!

Hold onto your teacups – I have two exciting announcements! Oregon Chai recently launched a Steeped in Adventure sweepstakes – giving one lucky Facebook fan the chance to win the trip of a lifetime! Sign up for your chance to win $10,000 to plan your dream trip here: http://goo.gl/kltPO.

In addition, Oregon Chai is hosting a Cyber Monday Twitter Party on Monday, November 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time. Stop by for Cyber Monday fun with giveaways galore including NEW Oregon Chai tea bags: Original™,Energíaand Dreamscape. Plus, we’ll be giving away classy, custom Oregon Chai mugs AND a grand prize Kindle Wi-Fi. No RSVP necessary. Simply follow @OregonChai and use hashtag #OregonChai to join the fun.

I don't make it to Twitter parites very often, but I always try to get to the Oregon Chai ones--they are always lots of fun! Hope to see you there! If you'll be there, leave you're Twitter handle below so I can watch for you!!

*This post is sponsored by Oregon Chai.*

BabyTone Workout DVD Review and Giveaway

New Years is coming, and that means New Year's Resolutions! Do you make them? I do--sometimes. I know that a large percentage of people make it their New Year's resolution to get healthy and that's why I'm excited to tell you about the BabyTone Workout DVD from America's Trainer to the Moms, Dustin Maher.

Babytone DVDs are for those moms who have babies from 2 months to about 20 months. There are 8 short 10 minute workouts that you can do with your baby. These workouts solve the problem of not having enough time, and also not wanting to leave you baby alone while you workout. These workouts will bring a smile to your face and will provide extra bonding with your baby. There are 2 DVDs as well as an interview with Alecia who is the star of the DVD. She will share her secrets to how she was able to get back into shape so quickly after having her baby.  Dustin Maher will also coach you through different stroller exercises and workouts.

Most of you know that I'm pregnant (and in my second trimester now too!). I love that these DVD's feature workouts that are short. I don't want to do anything too strenuous since I'm pregnant, but a 10 minute workout session is not only healthy for me and the baby growing inside of me but I'm easily able to add it to my busy daily schedule! The workouts in this DVD are designed for you to do them WITH your baby which I think is a great idea. I however did not do them wearing or holding Maggie since, as I said, I do take my exercising a little easier while pregnant. I feel great doing these exercises!



If you're looking for a fun, easy way to get back into shape and drop the baby weight, make sure you check out this DVD! You AND your baby will love it!

You can purchase this DVD directly from Dustin's website by clicking here. Dustin has also offered a free copy of this DVD for one of  my readers! If you'd like to enter to win, just fill out this easy entry form! Good luck!!

Is It Just Me???

Do you ever feel like you can never get done everything you want or need to get done each day? I feel like this ALL the time! It feels like some days I stress and stress because "a", "b", and "c"  all the way down to Z!)  need to get done, and yet I only have time for one of them. Then I feel so overwhelmed! If this is you too, I wanted to tell you something I've been doing lately that has really started to make me feel better.

Rather than beat my self up on a daily basis, now each day I pick one thing that needs done. By one thing I don't mean the daily tasks like vacuuming or doing the dishes, but one of those other must-do jobs that you don't do daily or even weekly. The task I choose is usually depending on if it's a day I'm home or away because some of course do take longer than others. Today I decided to clean my refrigerator out. I know, my frig looks pretty bare now! I need to go to the store plus I threw out a bunch of old stuff. You should have seen it BEFORE I started to clean it! It was full!! My daughter even decided to chip in and "help" and she did a pretty good job!

Now my refrigerator looks sparkling clean. I still have a house full of other tasks that need to be done at some point, but it feels refreshing and good to have THAT done. Some days I get two things done and today I threw in giving my kitchen counters a deep down cleaning as well. I'm determined to clean through my whole house this way and I'm really feeling good about it. So far I've gotten my master bathroom closet organized, maternity clothes hung/pre-pregnancy clothes boxed away, pantry organized and clean, and a few other odd jobs.

I want to encourage you to try this out if you feel like me. It has put a smile on my face every time I've opened my refrigerator today! If you decide to do it, share it with me! I'd love to hear what you are doing. If you have tips on how you keep your house clean without causing yourself stress, I'd love to hear those too!

Hillsong's New Christmas CD: Born is the King

Hillsong just came out with a new Christmas CD, Born is the King! I LOVE Hillsong's music, and you all should know by now how much I love Christmas so I couldn't WAIT to listen to it! This is a shorter CD with just 8 total songs, but you can download the whole album from Amazon.com for just $5.99!

Songs on this CD include:

• The Westward Procession
• Joy to the World
• Born is the King (It's Christmas Time)
• Emmanuel
• We Three Kings
• O Come Let Us Adore Him
• O Holy Night
• Silent Night

I can't say enough great things about this CD! Hillsong picked out almost all of my favorite Christmas songs to put on this album. We Three Kings is sung beautifully! O Come Let Us Adore Him is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs and Hillsong knows how to sing it RIGHT! There isn't one song on this album that I skip over.  I received a free review copy of Born is the King, but I can honestly tell you that after listening to it, I'd drop $6 in a second to buy this album! We are going to be listening to it all season long!

The City Harmonic- I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home) CD Review and Giveaway

Have you heard of the music group The City Harmonic yet? I honestly hadn't until a few days ago. I was sent The City Harmonic's newest CD: I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home).

About The City Harmonic and I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home):

2011 Breakout Artist of the Year The City Harmonic barreled its way from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada onto the music scene with Introducing The City Harmonic, an EP featuring “Manifesto,” which soared to No. 5 on iTunes and captivated over a million viewers on YouTube. Top that with becoming the best selling new artist on Billboard’s Top Current Digital Sales Chart (over 80K downloads), and it’s enough, among life’s crazy distractions, to get your attention.
But this band—vocalist/songwriter and pianist Elias Dummer, bassist Eric Fusilier, guitarist Aaron Powell and drummer Josh Vanderlaan— isn’t content to feed the machine or build a fan base so much as to build upon a dream. And not a dream as in a fairy tale. But THE Dream. These four guys grapple with the tension of this world, crafting it into anthems of longing, hope, and love—songs of light for ‘seeing through a glass darkly.’ The City Harmonic makes music that makes you reconsider what you really believe... about yourself, your world and your God.
 

Launching Oct 18th, The City Harmonic’s Kingsway release, I HAVE A DREAM (IT FEELS LIKE HOME), is one of the most anticipated full-length imports in decades. Co-produced by the band with Jared Fox, I HAVE A DREAM (IT FEELS LIKE HOME) is a journey of imagination, cinematic in composition, and, as is signature for the band, a definitive reflection of The City Harmonic’s organic, communal aesthetic. Intelligent, deeply spiritual and intrinsically ‘real life,’ it reveals the poetic art of The City Harmonic, a band bent on living today for the world to come. 
The title track and first single, which was written even before the songs on the EP, has always been the lynchpin on which the full-length record would hinge. “The dream, like Martin Luther King’s, is that there is another way,” Elias explains, “that it can be what we say it is, the eventual truth that we will awaken, just as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz awakened from her dream, to find ourselves home at last.”
Like a roadmap with only one route, to sum up the journey of faith and mystery that is I HAVE A DREAM (IT FEELS LIKE HOME) would seemingly deprive the listener of the essence of the experience. But from the opening notes, a deliberate quest unfolds.

Setting the stage for the project as a whole, with ties to John 17, the piano-pounding “Yours” flies in the face of our consumer-driven society, an anthem of surrender that points toward the tension of living in this world as a Christian, while “Spark” introduces the theme of light, hinting at its transforming power:
Could a spark of Your love light the whole Church on fire?
When we care for our neighbour more than we care for style?

“Being a Christian now is more difficult than it was 200 years ago,” Elias says of the thematic trail. “We face tragedy at every turn because of the way our media and culture operates. The stories of this world have let us down. Politics have let us down. We try to cope with it by becoming apathetic or by hiding in the Christian bubble—some altered version of the American dream where living for Christ leads to personal comfort— even misguided Christian stories can let us down and this is the tension of the world we live in. Christianity isn’t a tool to escape suffering, it’s a lens by which we understand it and the means by which we live through it. Our culture is built on the notion that our spirituality can be compartmentalized but, simply put, the Christian story isn’t. We can go from mountaintop to valley in the span of a day, and in the midst of that valley Christ calls us to love our neighbors, our enemies, just as if we were with them on the mountaintop. Apathy may be a natural result of today’s broken world, but the Christian story is that Christ is redeeming his creation and we have a role to play as the body of Christ.”

Inspired by the story of Transfiguration in Matthew 17 and by Martin Luther King’s iconic speech, “Mountaintop” asserts the notion that as ambassadors here, citizens of a Kingdom to come, we are meant to live and love among the ruins. “Jesus talks about countercultural ways of living among the least of these,” Elias continues. “It’s not glamorous. It’s hard work. If we boil it all down to what exists in church, ultimately, we make being a churchgoer a poor substitute for being Jesus in our communities or even engaging our communities at all.”

“Some of the most powerful moments where I recognize God’s presence in a real way have been completely outside the church worship context,” adds Eric. ”We’ve had to grow up out of the default cultural Christian mindset of worship, instead responding to wherever you sense God, which truthfully is everywhere.”
I HAVE A DREAM builds from “Mountaintop” with “Fell Apart,” “Be Still O My Soul” and “Wake Me Up,” pointing to the reality of God in our dark nights of the soul; the light of his presence when we ache for ‘something real in a world of fake.’

Layer by layer, I HAVE A DREAM (IT FEELS LIKE HOME) builds toward the title track, a soaring, melodic anthem that sings the hope of heaven imprinted on our hearts before the foundation of the world. From the romantic interlude “Le Reve,” meaning ‘the dream,’ each song intertwines with another, painting an irresistible picture of grace at work through us. The City Harmonic’s interpretation of I Corinthians 13, “Love” forms a bridge into “Holy (Wedding Day),” a beautiful ballad about the ultimate redemption, the glorious day to come when faith becomes sight. All that remains, besides the bonus version of “Manifesto,” is the heartfelt “Benediction,” which just might be the perfect farewell for any communal act of worship.
Live like you mean it
Sing like you’re living for God

Whether in full-on pop explosion or in ethereal ballad, the songs of The City Harmonic connect to that missing piece in all of us and give us cause and permission to sing out. Which frankly is part of the band’s DNA.

That much will never change for The City Harmonic, the curiously captivating sing-along nature of the music they make. It was, and is always, birthed with community expression in mind.

 What I Thought: 

I'm honestly surprised I hadn't heard of them before this! This band is great! I love their voices, their message, their tempo, their lyrics--I love it all! I've really been enjoying listening to this CD! It is music that my husband and I both can listen to and enjoy. I love being able to introduce my readers to new, awesome Christian music!! If you love to listen to Christian music like I do, I'd highly recommend them! If you become a fan of their Facebook page right now, you can get a free download of the title track, It Feels Like Home.

You can buy this CD at Amazon.com and one of my lucky readers will WIN a free copy of this CD! If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Incredibum Winner!

Congratulations to Kelsie Harris! You should be receiving a new diaper in the mail soon!

Coupon Gurus Skincare Giveaway!

I LOVE coupons! I use them all the time! I never buy anything online without first checking for a coupon code. I feel like if I don't, I'm most likely throwing money away! Because I know all of you like to save money, I wanted to tell you about a new site I just came across, its CouponGurus.com. CouponGurus is a website dedicated to savings consumers money online by providing coupon codes from over 1,500 online stores. Visit http://www.coupon-gurus.com to get the best online deals, including exclusive coupon codes and promotions.

I know you all love giveaways too, and they've got a great one going on right now! They are currently doing a giveaway of 2 Juara Skincare Best Sellers Discovery Kits. Valued at $42 each, these kits are an excellent introduction to the Juara Skincare brand, which features products that are 100% vegetarian, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, and there is no animal testing. Another great thing about this giveaway is that if you share it with a friend, and they win, you will automatically win too! If you want to read more about this prize pack, click here!

The giveaway is not happening on my blog--it's available on CouponGurus' Facebook page. If you'd like to enter go here:  https://www.facebook.com/CouponGurus. Good luck! These would make some great Christmas presents! Let me know if you win!!

*Holiday Gift Guide --The Art of Knitting/Crochet 4 Kids Starter Kits Review and Giveaway*

A few weeks ago I mentioned on my Facebook page that I really wanted to learn to knit and crochet. Because of my blogging, I've been exposed to all these ladies who make adorable items and I want to be able to make them too! I've wanted to learn to knit and crochet for a while now and just haven't taken or had the time.

Well, I received an email from http://www.tricoastonline.com/ about their starter kits for teaching kids how to knit and crochet. Maggie is of course not old enough to learn yet, but I was excited at the chance to maybe finally learn myself and eagerly said "yes!" I figured, if they make it easy enough for a child to understand, then hopefully I can do it too (yes, I have watched videos on Youtube before trying to figure it out and always gave up).

Well, two neat starter kits arrived at my door (along with some adult needles they were nice enough to include) and I got to work right away learning how to knit. I started knitting first because everyone said it was harder. I watched the DVD and, can you believe it, I'm actually knitting!! Now, I DID have to rewind the DVD a few times to get the tricky parts down, but now that I'm doing it it seems SO easy! The project included in this kit is a ball that you knit. I must admit, I'm not finished it yet. Mainly because I have been working so hard on typing up all of these Holiday Gift Guide reviews/giveaways. That has kept me pretty busy! BUT, I'm so excited to take it easier over the holidays and finish up knitting this ball. I love to sit and knit while my husband and I watch movies at night (one of our favorite things to do!). It's fun to keep my hands busy and still be able to watch!

You'll notice in this picture that my yarn is a MESS! No, this will not happen if you follow the directions. It will however happen if you take a shower and let your daughter play in your bedroom while you are taking said shower. Lesson learned--knitting projects go up HIGH!

Now that I've conquered the knitting, I've moved onto crocheting. I must admit I haven't spent as much time on that yet. I got so into the knitting that I didn't want to stop and start something else, but I knew I needed to a little bit for this review. I don't know why I ever found them so hard. Crocheting is pretty easy as well and I've been able to pick it up thanks to these DVDs. I'm slowly moving along on my crochet bandanna project!

These DVDs are both great and they WORK! They were able to teach me what I needed to do and I was knitting and crocheting in under a half an hour each! I am really enjoying my new craft!! Although I am an adult, I think these DVDs would easily teach a child how to knit/crochet as well! They would make great gifts for anyone on your list who likes to be crafty!

If you are an experience knitter/crocheter, check out there large selection of videos and downloads of more advanced projects!

The nice people at TriCoast Online would like to giveaway a starter kit to one of you this holiday season. You get to pick which kit you'd like--knit or crochet! If you'd like a chance to win one of these for yourself or your child, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

*Holiday Gift Guide -- Costume Squad Review and Giveaway*

One of our favorite Christmas movies is  National Lampoons Christmas Vacation--it's a classic and if you've never seen it, watch it this year when it comes on tv (I'm sure it will be on!). Well, when my husband saw the Wally World t-shirt from Costume Squad (Wally World is from National Lampoon Vacation movie) in their funny t-shirts section he had to have it.

Wally World t shirt. Paying tribute to the famous Wally World in National Lampoons Vacation movie. The Wally World shirt we offer is screened on our super soft tees. Wait until you try on this awesome shirt!

It's been a t-shirt that he loves to wear and gets lots of great reactions to. T-shirts make great stocking stuffers and Christmas presents for just about anyone on your list! Costume Squad would like to give on of my readers a $15 Gift Certificate (sent via email!) to use toward purchasing the shirt(s) you want this holiday season! If you'd like to enter to win, just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!



P.S. Costume Squad is also a great place to find cool Halloween Costumes!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the compliementary review and giveaway items.*

*Holiday Gift Guide -- Tollytots Review and Giveaway*

Tollytots is, well, a little girl's dream come true! Tollytots is a company that specializes in little girl's dolls and their accessories. Tollytots works with Fisher Price, Disney, and Graco to bring you lots of awesome toys--I'm sure you've probably seen some of their toys when you are out shopping and didn't even realize it!

Tollytots sent Maggie a couple of goodies to try out. She got a Snow White Disney Basic Toddler Doll, a Fisher Price Little Mommy Bubble Wagon, and a Fisher Price Little Mommy Ride'n Drive Shopping Cart.

Maggie has been playing with all of these toys and really loving them. Let me tell you a little bit about each one:

The Snow White doll is 15 inches long and has "real hair"  that Maggie loves to play with. She also came with removable shoes (which, I'm sorry to say or bad dog discovered and has now left our doll with one chewed-up shoe!). Despite the dog incident, Maggie still loves that she can take her shoes off and on.  The doll is just great and Maggie loves to play with it! She likes putting her new doll in her new shopping cart and pushing her all over the house!

And speaking of the Little Mommy Ride'n Drive Shopping Cart--it is SO much fun! Maggie wanted to rip into the box immediately when she saw it! There are 2 places for her dolls--underneath and on top. She takes the shopping cart over to her kitchen set and "goes shopping" and fills her basket up with all kinds of goodies. I know she just loves that she can go shopping "just like mommy" does. The shopping cart comes with 10 food items.

Last, but not least, the Fisher Price Little Mommy Bubble Wagon! The Bubble Wagon has a little seat for Maggie to put one of her dolls on. Then, as she pulls her doll along, bubble comes out the back. Maggie loves bubbles, so I knew she was going to get pretty excited about this, and I was right! For those of you who have or purchase a Bubble Wagon I do want to give you this one tip. The bubble feature is not powered by batteries, it's powered by your movement. If you are going to use the Bubble Wagon inside, pull it on carpet, not flat floors like wood or linoleum. I couldn't get the bubbles to work on our kitchen floor but they work great on the carpet or outside in the grass. Another great thing about this Bubble Wagon is that is comes with stickers so your child can decorate the wagon themselves! Maggie and I had a lot of fun putting the stickers on her wagon! (Yep, that's her good morning crazy hair--she runs to play with this wagon first thing!)

You can purchase these toys at a number or locations this holiday season (Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Kmart, etc) and all of them would make great presents! Try using this Kmart promotional code for current deals.

One of my readers has the chance to WIN the Fisher Price Little Mommy Bubble Wagon! Just fill out this easy entry form below. Good luck!

*Holiday Gift Guide--Cool Pencil Case Review and Giveaway*

When I was going to school, we just had the typical, boring, zippered pencil case. The biggest choice you had to make was what color you wanted. Not all that exciting! Well, it's doesn't have to be like that for your kids anymore! Now there's this company called "CoolPencilCase.com" who specializes in making pencil cases and the things that go inside of them FUN for your kids!

About Cool Pencil Case

Cool Pencil Case is a small, family-operated company based in the United States. The company offers fun school supplies to motivate students through ownership of fun, creative, and unique merchandise. It consists of wife and husband team Bill and Larina, along with their teenage son. Bill works full-time as a sales manager in the education industry, while Larina oversees the business from their home office. Their son mostly manages their social media sites because he speaks more to what the youth target market want to hear. The company has been very busy, especially with the back to school season. Products are manufactured overseas and shipped to their residence, which acts as home office and storage for their merchandise. The company only sells their products online and does not have a brick and mortar store.

The company strives to enforce the importance of family and scholastic values by creating stronger bonds with parent and child through rewards of academic achievement. By providing these fun and unique tools, students from every generation can manage and take pride of their schoolwork.

Their unique products consist of pencil cases, erasers, pencils and other desk supplies. They offer free shipping anywhere in the United States no matter the amount of your purchase. These gifts are great for back to school, holidays, birthdays or just a way to reward your child and make them excited to show off their school supplies.

They have pencil cases that look like shoes, animals, gum wrappers, milk cartons, cartoons, the list just goes on and on! They have a special Plush Animal Gift Set that they sent out for me to review. This is what my gift set looks like:

The gift set includes:

• plush animal pencil pouch
• animal eraser set
• birdy correction tape
• pinky monkey mechanical pencil
• animal pen
• colored crystal pocket crayon

There are a lot of options to choose from for each of the items in the gift set and you get to be the person who chooses how you'd like to personalize it.  I chose to get the Tiger pencil case for Maggie because she loves cats of every kind. She wanted to see the pencil case the minute she saw it! She is still a little young for some of the items that were included in the gift set (not that she doesn't like to use pens, but mama tries to keep them away from her!), but she's loving the animal erasers and uses her pencil case to store her prized crayons!

This is a really cute way to get your kids excited about their school supplies. They won't leave their pencil case at home anymore because they will want to show this off! You can purchase one of these gift sets (or any of the great pencil cases they sell) by clicking here.

One of my fans is going to win their own Plush Animal Gift Set! Just fill out this easy entry form:

*Holiday Gift Guide -- Daddy Plays: Acoustic Rock Lullabies*

Are you a Beetles fan? Or maybe you love Zepplin like my husband. If you like classic rock music, you will love this new lullabies CD from Daddy Plays: Acoustic Rock Lullabies! My husband and I have been using it at night for OUR lullaby CD (shh, don't tell my daughter--we don't want to have to share it!).

This CD contains 12 classics, including my favorite, "Blackbird!" You'll also find lullaby renditions of The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel and other masters of the acoustic guitar.  It is soothing, relaxing and just a joy to listen to. It's great for bedtime, but also just great for some beautiful, calming background music. This is a lullaby CD that you can enjoy listening to while you rock your baby to bed at night. We certainly love it!

Daddy Plays makes excellent CDs! We now own 3 of them and I'm being 100% truthful when I tell you that they are our FAVORITE lullaby CDs, by far! I can't say enough good things about all of the Daddy Plays CDs and I think you'd love all of his CDs!

You can buy this CD for $14.99 by clicking here, believe me--you really want to!! You also have a chance to WIN this CD by filling out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Holiday Gift Guide -- Nacho Mama Tees Review and Giveaway

My husband has loved Dinosaurs basically all his life. One of his favorite movies is Jurassic Park so when he saw the Mr. DNA shirt from Nacho Mama Tees he had to have it!

Looking for some quick fun facts about dinosaurs? Mr. DNA is here to help! Our colorful anthropomorphic friend is just a DNA helix with arms, legs, and a face but knows everything you need to know about the wonderful Jurassic Park. Mr. DNA has all your answers! 

You can find the Mr. DNA shirt in their Movie T shirts section, but they also have other fun sections like Chuck Noris T shirts (another of my husband's favorites) or Zombie T shirts.

My husband has been loving wearing this new tee! It's comfy, fits just right, and fun. If you're looking for a great stocking stuffer this year, check out Nacho Mama Tees!

Nacho Mama Tees would like to give one of my readers a $15 Gift Certificate (delivered via email!) so you can buy whatever shirt(s) you'd like this holiday season! If you'd like to enter to win, just use the easy entry form below. Good luck!