Melissa & Doug "Terrific Twenty List" and Giveaway

Yes~ it *IS* that time of year~ time to be thinking ahead, and picking up some fun things for the children in your life (Or for Toys For Tots, or some other such good cause). 

If you are not familiar with Melissa & Doug, they have been providers of quality children's gifts and toys since 1988 (and I have been purchasing their products pretty much from the start~ first as a nanny, and then as a mother :).
Many of the toys are "heirloom" wooden toys. My kids have all loved "cutting" the wooden bread and fruit and veggies, and my youngest, more recently has enjoyed "cooking" cupcakes and sugar cookies. They have expanded the line beyond wood to other Terrific Gifts like the tea set and cuddly lion you see pictured to the left. 

To help you with your shopping, Melissa & Doug has just published their list of the "Terrific Twenty"~ some great gifts to consider! To celebrate they are having a “20 Days of Terrific Twenty” Giveaway on their Facebook page! Every day (starting November 6)  they'll be giving away one item from their Terrific Twenty list to at least one of their Facebook fans! So go visit Melissa & Doug on facebook to enter to win a gift every day (Until my birthday! Imagine that! :D)  from the Terrific Twenty list. 
 
In addition to Melissa and Doug's Facebook giveaway, they are offering me the opportunity to give away one item from the Terrific  Twenty list here on my blog! I have chosen to give away the "My Own Mailbox" pretend play set, as it follows the great Melissa & Doug tradition of open-ended, re-useable pretend play. This is also the toy my 15 year old thought I should give away~ seeing that the children in our neighborhood have over the years (Starting with her) been obsessed with playing post-office, and sending each other mail~ she thought it would have been fun to have this, as opposed to a shoe box!

From the website:
Everyone likes getting letters! Sending and receiving "mail" is even more fun with this toy mailbox, complete with a bright red flag. The sturdy wooden box comes with letter and number stickers so kids can decorate it with their name, address or a special message. The hinged door opens to make room for two postcards and a ruled letter and envelope, all reusable with the wipe-clean crayons that come with the set. Need even more inspiration? Drawing activities and play ideas are included to keep this letter box filled with creative correspondence and lots of fun!

My Own Mailbox Classic Toy

Item # : 4089

Price: $19.99

Dimensions: 7.87" x 7" x 4" Assembled
Recommended Ages: 4+ years


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

Disclaimer: I received an item of my choice for free as a thank you for getting the word out for Melissa & Doug. 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."

Your Kingdom Come (Album Review and giveaway)

THIS IS YOUR KINGDOM COME NOW - featuring Casey Corum & Friends

Live from the Sugar Land Vineyard

(released Tuesday, 10/2)

As one of the worship leaders at our church, I am always interested to hear new music, and since we don't have satellite radio, and live in New England (where there are almost NO Christian Music Radio Stations~ certainly none that we can tune into regularly...), I was very pleased to be given the chance to review a new Praise and Worship album from Vineyard Worship. 

Here's what Vineyard has to say about the album: 

This dynamic new album features veteran worship leader and songwriter Casey Corum and a cast of friends recorded before a full house over two nights at Corum's home church. Listeners will also be introduced to the powerful voices of Torri Baker (Vineyard Church - Columbus, Ohio) and Crispin Schroeder (Northshore Vineyard - Covington, Louisiana), as well as a 17-voice gospel choir. Threads of R&B, gospel, and modern rock are woven together to create a fresh sound while, at the same time, being deeply rooted in the hallmark Vineyard worship value of intimacy with God. 

There are 12 songs on this album (Any one of the links below will bring you to a page where you can listen to a much longer sample of each song than you will find on Amazon or iTunes ~) Here are my brief thoughts on each one~

LOVE HAS RESCUED ME This is a funky R&B/Gospel tune with a good groove~ We liked this song.

HEAVEN COME DOWN (THIS IS YOUR KINGDOM COME NOW) Pretty straightforward ~ Social Justice (a bit of a "for the least of these", let your Kingdom come) sort of song. I appreciate the topic, but the translation fell a bit short for me ~ The feel of this song reminded me of a group from the 90's ~ PFR~  made me a little nostalgic, so I enjoyed the music a little more than I might otherwise have.
WHERE THE MERCY FALLS Contemplating this song, while thinking about our camping trip this summer, and some of our activities~ considering the POWER of God's Mercy falling on us.... very cool word picture in my head with this song.
PEACE For some reason this song seems to be more the antithesis of "peace" to me... I couldn't actually listen to this song all the way through (just too much repetition~ not peaceful for me)
HOW I LOVE YOUR WAYS ~ Very slow song~ Sometimes I lose the lyrics if it is too slow-moving... Good concept, but too much of the same.
KINDNESS Another slower song, that sounds very similar to my ears to many of the songs on this album.
WHO IS LIKE OUR GOD? A song with a bit of groove~ listing of many of God's  attributes~ That's a cool thing, and a good reminder.
WHAT JOY IS FOUND This seems to be a bit of a "stream of consciousness" sort of song~ starts with one concept (Although not nearly as upbeat as I might expect for a joy song.... seems to have a little more of a lament feel ) and then moves on without much thought to another concept~
FORM US This could be a good song if it didn't go on for so long~

MY GREAT REDEEMER Pleasant anthem-ish song
PSALM 92 I like the chorus to this song.....  
WE ARE CLEAN I felt this song was far too repetitious 

Your Kingdom Come would work best as "Background" for quiet times in our household. However, I don't know if I could actually listen to the entire album at once. As you can tell from my comments above, I found many of the songs to be very .... um ... homogenous in nature.... ? Too many songs that sound too much alike. 

I found that the majority of the songs just went on for far too long. I am not a fan of the amount of repetition I found on this album. The songs on average ran 6.5 minutes each, and many of them were over the 7 minute mark. That's actually a really long time for a single song (most radio songs are 3-5 minutes, with 5 minutes being extremely long). So while there were songs I really did like, I would be less likely to choose to listen to them on this album because of the length and amount of repetition.

In general, I tend to prefer more complicated and artful lyrics with a greater variety of musical style~ while still maintaining a worshipful presence. I also tend to want to listen to more lively music (part and parcel of being a mom of three active children~ who stays up late~ and could use more motivation to move, etc... ) rather than extremely mellow music. What could be considered intimate worship, would put me to sleep. 

I'm sure that there are those with different musical tastes, who are in another place in their lives (maybe NEED some of that soothing mellowness to rub off) and would love to win a copy of this CD, so check out my rafflecopter form below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you are interested in hearing more from Vineyard music, you can find them on

Facebook,  Twitter, and their YouTube Channel 

Blessings~

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

King Alfred's English~ A History of the Language We Speak And Why WeShould Be Glad We Do

Have you ever thought that maybe English has gotten the sort end of the stick? The mongrel of languages, difficult to learn, hard to understand the rules, and difficult to spell? Are you interested in the history of words? Are you disappointed when your dictionary doesn't include the etymology of the words? Well, have I got a book for you!
Enter  King Alfred's English: A History of the Language We Speak And Why We Should Be Glad We Do, published by The Shorter Word Press. The back of the book tells us that it was designed for students Grades 7-12 and Curious Adults, and I'll tell you that I fit right into that "Curious Adults" designation. What a fascinating read!
There are so many little facts and bits of information included in this book (for instance, I now understand why a Contemporary Christian Band would choose to call themselves Caedmon's Call), that I found myself sticky-noting pages with snippets that I wanted to remember.

Something interesting to note~ King Alfred’s English is the only book that covers the history of our language for students below the college level.

 A couple of things that are emphasized throughout the book:

• Any language that is being spoken (A Living Language) is going to change and move along with the culture that speaks it. Consider that each year new words are added to the dictionary. Some recent additions to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary are "tweet," "boomerang child," and "helicopter parent."
• Living Languages always simplify over time~ This is interesting, as I would have assumed that English became more complicated over time. The grammar itself is simpler (We now use  simply "you" when previously we had to choose between "thee," "thou," "ye," or "you"~ better, no?), but "the rules have become more numerous and exact." 

There is also a staggering amount of words in the English Language. The book gives this comparison:
French Dictionary: 100,000 word entries
Russian: 130,000
German: 185,000
Oxford English Dictionary: 615,000 word entries.
Wow! That's kind of crazy, but somewhat expected when England was such a melting pot of languages....

For the purposes of this review, I simply enjoyed reading (And sharing snippets with others) the book myself. A perfectly good and pleasant purpose for this book. However, please recall that the book was intended for students in 7th-12 grade as well as adults.  King Alfred's English is a "light course" in four subject areas: History, English Literature, Linguistics, and The English Bible, so is a great option for at least 1/2 semester credit for your high school student (I have yet to figure out keeping track of credits... YIKES! Time to get a handle on it, with a rising 10th grader!).

TheShorterWord.com maintains a student page with resources for each chapter including links to images, articles, videos, primary sources, and literature related to each chapter– and a teacher page with worksheets for each chapter and 3 tests covering the information in the whole book, as well as answers for each one.

This is another one of those marvelous review items for which I have nothing negative to say~ it's all good in my book! :) I shouldn't forget to mention that this is written from a distinctly Christian worldview and the Bible features in the spread as well as the life of the English language.

You can download and read the first chapter of the book. I warn you though, once you do, you will probably be hooked! :)

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty
Company: The Shorter Word
Product: King Alfred's English: A History of the Language We Speak And Why We Should Be Glad We Do,
Price: List price is $16.95, but The Shorter Word has mentioned that it can be found for less at the following sites:
Grace & Truth Books ( $14.50)
CBD ( $14.89),
Rainbow Resource Center has it for $14.95
The Kindleprice is $5.95

As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you as you choose where to best spend your homeschool budget. Be sure to click on the banner below to read more reviews.

Blessings~

Disclaimer: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Review Crew Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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 Forgiven Duke

;) Having been left on a cliffhanger when I finished "The Guardian Duke," I was very pleased to be asked to review a pre-release copy of the second book in the series, "The Forgiven Duke" by Jamie Curie.  I am also pleased that I am able to offer a giveaway for a pre-release copy to one of my readers.

While the first book was something of a sweet, slightly innocent adventure, the second installment brings more danger and duty to the story. Here is a quick snippet from the publisher about the book:

8th day of Christmas Give-away

Well, I meant to get this giveaway up earlier (like Black Friday Weekend), but as many things go....
So, since our family celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas, I thought it would be fitting to hold this give-away in the middle of our celebration.

I would like to offer up for one blessed reader 2 items:

• a copy of Chris Tomlin's Christmas Worship Music CD, Glory In The Highest*
• a children's book~ An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon, beautifully illustrated  by Pamela Patrick

One Silent Night~ FFH ~ Review and Giveaway

Now that Thanksgiving is over, and Advent has begun, it is time to prepare for Christmas. One of my very favorite things is to listen to Christmas music for the rest of November, and all of December~ so I was delighted to be offered the chance to review a new Christmas Album just released by the group FFH, One Silent Night.

One of the reasons that I enjoy these music reviews is that it gives me the chance to hear new (Or at any rate new to me) artists. Apparently I've been living under a rock, when it comes to these folks! Here's a little bit "about" FFH if you've been under that same rock with me....

Pop vocal group FFH has released thirteen projects, sold more than two million albums, and garnered 24 radio hits, including seven No. 1 singles and ten Top 5 radio singles. In addition to multiple Dove Award nominations, FFH has been recognized at the Inspirational Life Awards as well as the Billboard Music Video Awards. The group has performed more than 1000 dates since 2000 and continues to be a favorite on the tour circuit. FFH is also known for its work with the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Kurt Warner’s “First Things First Foundation,” and for its contributions to national ad campaigns for Coca Cola and IBM.

I can't say anything about their other albums, but I can say that I like this one. I think that they succeeded in their quest to produce "something that’s not trendy but more of a classic style. For us Christmas is about remembering… slowing down to see what is important. And being reminded of the glorious impossible that was the birth of Christ. We hope this album reflects that desire and inspires others to do the same.”

The more I read ABOUT FFH, and their more recent history, the more I like them and am impressed with them. They had a fairly successful career, with 200-ish concerts / year (in spite of my not hearing of FFH~ you may be getting the correct impression that I missed a lot in the decade+ since my children were born~ added to the fact that I live in New England, where CCM is difficult to find on the airwaves), and when  Jeromy and Jennifer were led to leave all that behind to minister in relative anonymity in South Africa for 6 months, they didn't hesitate.  I am so blessed when I hear stories like theirs~ where they actually have listened to God's direction, instead of their own earthly desires, and are so REAL Again, I am impressed! (Check that link out up there... you'll be blessed, too!)

What? You wanted to know more about the album? Well, OK, since that's really what I started out telling you.... ;)
The music is kind of country-jazzy~ it breathes~ I like that! :)

The Grace Effect (Book Review and Giveaway)*

I just read an inspiring and eye-opening book The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief by Christian Apologist Larry Alex Taunton. This is a story that opens and closes with conversations between Mr. Taunton, and renowned atheist Christopher Hitchins. The body of the story revolves around the adoption of a Ukranian orphan named Sasha by the Taunton family. 

About The Grace Effect:

"Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.”

What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues?  Not much, according to the secular Left.  The world, they say, would be a better place without it.  

Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace.  

Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace.  We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.

And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.”  Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.

"Survivor" for kids? (And a fun giveaway)

MomSelect and  Time Island recently asked me to check out the new website for kids, Time Island. They also sent me a fun package with bracelets, tattoos, a bandana and a backpack, all with a "survivor" "Time Island" theme. (Keep reading for your chance to win a similar package).

Initial Hut

What exactly IS Time Island?

• A "Community" oriented game, where kids create a player who is trying to "survive" on Time Island. 
• They need to be cared for (Food, Hygiene, Clean hut~ important concepts! ;) )
• They can "improve" their living situation by playing games and earning currency to purchase items for their huts. 
• The children can invite others to be a part of their "Tribe", where they can play games together and chat. This is an introduction  to "Social Media" in a safer environment. Rules are in place to protect your child, and you can opt to keep their social activity set to "Limited chat" option

Here's a little video that will give you more information.
As with many BETA programs, there are limitations to playing on Time Island. There are games that are difficult to figure out exactly "how" to play. There are games that seem "Required" but frustrating, as one can't go far enough to "Earn" the object needed, due to this being the Beta version.

However, there are some neat aspects: Graphics are nice, tribe option is interesting, and there are some unique games. Once some of the "Bugs" are figured out, this should be a fun option for computer-time play.

If you are interested in checking it out, please use our link (the mom/child team who drives the most traffic to Time Island will receive a gift).

Now~ on to the giveaway~
The fine folks at Time Island and MomSelect are going to send the winner of my giveaway a fun package similar to ours (pictured at the top of this post)

The details~ Update~ I am extending the entry period to August 22, 11:59 EST, as I had a question for the sponsor (International entries allowed, or not). I will keep it open until I hear back.
Giveaway ends on August 19, 11:59pm EST

Mandatory entry:

• Tell me how you heard about this giveaway

Optional entries~

• Follow my blog via GFC (Left sidebar)
• Visit the Time Island website and leave me a comment telling something you learned there. 
• Tweet about this giveaway~ including the following information: Visit @acornsofgold to enter #giveaway (Ends 8/19) for a #timeisland #funpack http://acornsnuggetsofgold.blogspot.com/ and leave me a comment with the link to your tweet (Can be done once daily)
• "like" the Time Island Facebook fan page and write a comment on their wall(leave me a comment here with a link to your FB comment)
• "like" my Facebook Fan Page  and leave me a comment here.
• Join me via Blog Frog (Right sidebar)

Alright that sounds about right~ 
Thank you once again to Momselect and Time Island for the fun package, and the introduction to the Time Island website. All viewpoints in this review are my own.

Blessings~

Summer Soundtrack? Robert Pierre~ "I'm All In" (Review and Giveaway)

Do you have "Summer Soundtrack"? My husband and I have had certain summers (And winters or holidays) where there is one particular album that will get frequent repeat play in our home. When we hear songs from that album years later it will bring back specific memories of that other time and place.

We don't have a Summer Soundtrack yet this year, but there is potential. Robert Pierre's new album, I'm All In, released today. We've been listening to it for a bit in order to bring you this review. Here are some of our thoughts:

Overall, the album achieves a polished sound and feel that reminds me a bit of Michael W. Smith. This is not surprising as they share a producer, Matt Bronleewe, who has also produced Steven Curtis Chapman and Jars of Clay (Sidenote: I have been interested for years in the fact that sometimes I identify a certain "Sound" with a certain producer, and can tell when a given artist switches to someone new). 


Some songs have a certain hip-hop-ish drive including the title track~ I'm All In, and Who R U. Another, Maker of the Stars, reminded me of another favorite band from a number of years ago, 4-Him. Through the similarities (All good connotations), Robert Pierre is developing his own sound and flavor. The songs are well written and worshipful(I especially enjoyed Be Lifted Up). The over-arching theme is to be "All In", totally committed to God. I get a picture in my head of someone who joyfully leaps into the deep end of the lake, instead of hesitantly and uncertainly testing the water, toe to ankle, to knee to hip and so on. 

The flavor of this album is one of overflowing joy and confidence in the one who gave His all for us. I am pleased that there is good solid music that wholeheartedly proclaims the Good News in a fashion that engages my children and their friends, and encourages them to give their all for Him. Robert Pierre's music has been enjoyed by my whole family.

So... if you're looking for some new music, and want to support a rising talent, you can listen to some of Robert's music on his website and facebook page and see what you think. This young man has already released 2 previous albums and leads Sunday morning worship at his church in Florida, which is fairly remarkable at his tender age. 

Now for one of my favorite things to do... I also am blessed to be able to offer a giveaway for Robert's album "I'm All In". Here are the details~ 

Giveaway ends this Friday, July 29, 11:59 EST
Mandatory entry~  Leave a comment listing one thing that inspires you, gives you joy, and lifts you up (Be sure I have a way to contact you if you win).


Extra entries~

• Leave me a comment telling me where you read about this giveaway
• Follow my blog via GFC and leave a comment
• Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your twitter handle
• Share about this giveaway on Facebook (Leave me the link) 
• Share about this giveaway on Twitter (Leave me the link)
• Like Robert Pierre on Facebook and leave a comment (I've enjoyed reading his enthusiastic posts on his facebook page. :)

Blessings~

 

 

 

 

 

 “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.”

TOS Digital Subscription Giveaway (Ended)

Hi, Friends!

Did you miss the Old Schoolhouse's 1776 sale this week?  Well, have I got a great giveaway to offer you! The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is allowing me to give away a free one year Digital subscription to the magazine to one of my blog readers (Local or otherwise). If you'd like to get an idea of what the Digital version of the magazine looks like,  check out the Summer 2010 issue on the Old Schoolhouse Magazine's front page~ just click on the "Free Sample" computer screen.


Now, in addition to the digital subscription,  there are some other digital goodies for you. I don't know if you had subscribed to the "Teacher's Toolbox" newsletter before, but it is now a magazine subscriber "perk", and it has been revamped entirely. I have been very impressed with the things being offered there!

May had a "Camping" flair, and June was all about geography. My favorite download was Prayerography, which  offers a full year study of the nations of the world and practical ways to lift up those nations in prayer. What a great idea! There are new recipes for each day, a clickable link to a history item each day, and printables to go along with the month's "Theme". You will also gain access to subscriber only, FREE access to flip through every DIGITAL TOS back issue ever created! (First thing I'd do is look up all the Ruth Beechick articles~ LOVE her sensibility!)

So, now you know~ your subscription to TOS Magazine will include not only your print or digital copy(Which I always find to be a good read), but a number of free ebooks and unit studies, recipes and more each and every month! :)


July's theme is Grammar, with a free e-book ~ Gram Slam Grammar Games, among other grammer printables.

Details: 

Giveaway closes on July 13th, 2011 at 11:59pm. I will choose a comment via random.org.

This is for NEW subscriptions only, sorry~ not as an add-on to current subscriptions

• To enter simply leave me a comment telling me one thing you are doing in July and August to keep your children's brains engaged. Note~ if I can't easily find your email, please include it in your comment~ local folks~ I need your emails as well, as I don't necessarily know your online "handles".... (You can include your email in your comment). Thanks!

For optional entries you can

1. Follow my blog via GFC and leave a comment (Leave a comment if you already follow)
2. Follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment with your twitter handle
3. Visit TOS's Homeschool Dollar Store and tell me the name of one item that you think looks interesting~ there are e-books, unit studies, lapbooks, MP3's and more~ just click the banner below and then come back here to leave your comment. :)

Blessings~

Tropical Traditions Giveaway~ :)

Quick note~ 
If my previous post peaked your interest, you may want to go enter my friend Michelle's giveaway for the Coconut Cream Concentrate~ It ends on July 4th.  The fudge and lemon candy that she made with it look so yummy! Bonus~ she didn't have to heat up her kitchen! Of course I'm hoping that either you or I win this one! :D Check it out~

Blessings~

The Gift of Love/The Crossmaker (See the Light) DVD's

I love it when something strikes a chord with my kids! I especially love it when what strikes a chord with them includes creating something beautiful for themselves or for others. Creating beauty makes this world a better place, don't you think?

I received 2 DVD's from Propeller and See the Light~ The "See the Light" Christmas Story and Easter Story DVD's and art lessons($14.99 each). I am graciously allowed to run a giveaway on my blog for this set, just in time for Easter! :) (It's going to be a quick one~ ending Tuesday, April 19th @ 11:59 pm)

Following are our thought on these two DVD's~ I have two very different impressions for separate parts of the DVD, so please don't stop reading with the first paragraph

THE EASTER STORY("The Crossmaker") and THE CHRISTMAS STORY ("See the Light"):
The stories are taken pretty much straight from the Bible. Having seen a chalk artist draw in real life, I have to admit that we were all a little disappointed in the presentation on the video. However, I would say that it was interesting if you have no comparison to seeing something similar done in person.  Given that there is much more than just the story presentation on these DVDs, that point didn't bother me too much.


"The Gift of Love" pans back and forth from pre-drawn chalk illustrations to video of chalk artist Gloria Kohlmann drawing a larger piece. Again~ if one hasn't seen a chalk artist working in person, one likely won't be disappointed~ but if one has, expectations may not be met with this bit.



"The Crossmaker" was a little "intense" for children, from my perspective. To give you an idea of where *I* am coming from, I am someone who has not seen, nor do  I plan to see "The Passion of the Christ" as THAT is too intense for ME... (No one wants me getting sick or having my blood pressure drop and fainting, which would be a likely scenario... I know myself too well). So, while I appreciate the adherance to scripture, the addition of audio/visual media to the story could be a little "much" for some folks. I am sure that there are also those that wouldn't be bothered more than they should be by the story of the Passion. Just wanted those who have the same tolerance level to be aware.

However, the "stories" only take up 10-15 minutes on each DVD. There are many other resources on the DVD's which make them attractive in our eyes.

THE BONUS FEATURES on each DVD include:

• "Artful Worship": Gloria Kohlmann draws a large chalk picture scene with background worship music provided by "Breathing Room"
• "The Plan of Salvation" with chalk drawn and water-color illustrations as children are walked through, well....  the plan of salvation, narrated by a number of children as well as a "Grandfatherly"narrator
• "The Artist In Action" features commentary by the artist as she draws the main scene for each video.

To me, though, the "meat" of the DVD is in the ART LESSONS.
We previewed each one before we attempted them. Once we actually began, with most of the tools in hand (the See the Light program makes extensive use of "extreme" Crayola's ....), it was very helpful to have the remote handy to pause the DVD as everyone completed each section of the lesson.

I appreciate that Scripture is not only in the Christmas and Easter stories, but woven throughout each of the LESSONS as well.

The first lesson on both DVD's is an "Illumination" lesson (the words chosen were"Rejoice" for  "The Gift of Love" and "Glory" for "The Crossmaker"). My kids were fairly happy with how their first attempts turned out, but once I purchased the colored pencils that "pop", I made them try again. With a few grumbles and complaints they did as asked. Funny thing is... once they finished the lesson, they continued "illuminating"~ other words like Hosanna~ and I'll admit, I joined in with "Easter", and my son illuminated "Creation". He also illuminated his best friend's name, and brought it to his house right away. Did I mention I appreciate things that build enthusiasm for creating beauty? :)

Regular light

With Black Light(Using the Ilamp App on my itouch)

THE CROSSMAKER
Chalk Art Lesson: "He Is Not Here" (I used this lesson as my "Easter Illumination" inspiration)
Watercolor Lesson:"Three Crosses on a Hill" Lesson



SEE THE LIGHT
Colored Pencil Lesson: "Away in a Manger"
Chalk Art Lesson: "Portrait of Mary

All in all, if you have a budding artist, or wish to encourage creativity, these DVD's could be a good starting point. (note: keep an eye out for my TOS Review  for the "See the Light" Art Class DVD's later this week)

Now, on to the Giveaway~ GIVEAWAY now CLOSED
Because I hope that the winner can receive their DVD's before Easter, I am running this giveaway for only 2 days~ I will close entries at 11:59 pm, tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 19.


Entry methods~ Please leave only one comment for each method you use~ :)

1. Follow me in GFC (Please comment if you already follow)
2. "Like" See the Light's Facebook page
3. "Like" my Acorns Facebook Page
4. Leave a "Thoughtful" comment on any of my other posts, and come back here to tell me where you commented
5. Write a Blog post about this Giveaway/review
6. Post on Facebook about this giveaway/review
7. Tweet this giveaway using hashtags #giveaway, #easter
8. Editing to add one more ~ Leave a comment telling me how you heard about this giveaway(I'm interested in where my entries come from!) :)

Alrighty then, I think that should about do it! Looking forward to your comments and entries. :)
Blessings~

 “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.”

Do you have a Boysterous Boy? (Review and Giveaway)

Well, I can answer that question with a resounding "Yes!"

Littlest is really getting in on the action now.  He is all boy and all boysterous! :D He is also all about role-playing with his big brother's Lego and Playmobil people, but quite honestly, they worry me a bit... he's still a  little "mouthy".  That's one reason we were excited to be chosen by MamaBuzz to review a product that is just right for him.

This fun package arrived from Manhattan Toy earlier this week~ the new Boysterous™Boys~ soft, pose-able action figures. They have magnetic feet and hands to help them "use" their accessories. I can think of all sorts of fun applications for that feature! :)  Boysterous™Boys are mostly intended for ages 3-8.... perfect! :D Here is what was in our box:

Shreddin' "Sean" the snowboarder (With metal snowboard) ($18.00)

Soccer Boy, Goalie "Gavin" with a soccer ball ($18.00)

and the fabulous "Extreme Sports Zone"($30.00)

When I was exploring Boysterous™  Boys before receiving my package, I didn't have a handle on their dimensions. What a nice surprise that they were about 2x the size I expected! (You can see their actual size in the bottom photos of this post, with Littlest, and you can check out this Manhattan Toy video)


While the Boysterous™  Boys are fun to play with on their own, the Extreme Sport Zone is a nifty accessory. It  can be unzipped and configured in a few ways~ as a playing field, a half-pipe, or a "hill", and when your little one is done playing, it can be zipped up and used to store the Boys and their Toys. (Big thumbs up from mom... I love toys that come with a ready-made "place".... so much easier to encourage putting them away.)  It even has a handle to make it a convenient "Traveling" toy. 

Here, you can see the playing field set up, with Sean joining Gavin on the field:

And close-ups of each of them

Here is one of Littlest's favorite set-ups~ the "Slope" for the snowboard. I am very impressed with how well the magnetic feet help "Sean" to remain standing on his board~ most excellent! He's ready to go shred the slopes!

I have to mention here that these action figures might be happy to play with just about anyone~ Eldest got in on the action with "Sean" and his snowboard. She brought out some old (still magnetic) Littlest Pet Shop animals~ they were happy to go for a ride with "Sean" on his board! :)


It's nice to have a boy to serve as audience or judge for the snowboard competitions!(See how supportive "Gavin" is as "Sean" gets ready to go)


My camera ran out of battery(need to get to the store!), or I would have taken more pictures, as Littlest also enjoys using the Sport's Park flipped inside out as a half-pipe ~ and Middlest joins in with his finger skateboards~ ;)
I think that these are very well made figures, ready for all sorts of action with those bendable, poseable bodies, and hands and feet that are able to actually "hold" their toys with magnetic force. All the while they are soft and "tote-able"~ perfect to become a "friend".  I also appreciate that they come in a variety of realistic skin tones~ No better way to stay "color-blind". :)

Littlest has already expressed a desire to have Half-pipe Pete and Slapshot Sam to add to his collection, in part because he looks up to the kids in the neighborhood who ride skateboards (including Middlest) and play hockey. That tells me that Boysterous™Boys "Connect" with him~ They are "Real" ~ I like that! We try to avoid the "Branded" super-hero and/or grotesque action figures that are so often found on many store shelves, so this is a nice alternative for our family.

Oh, and just for the record, the snowboarder has remained "Sean" in our home (due, perhaps to familiarity with Shawn White?), but "Gavin" has been renamed "Scotty"(?). However, throughout this blog post the names were NOT changed to protect the easily confused....(me?) ;)

Boysterous™ action figures are available now in a Specialty Store near you and online at www.manhattantoy.com.

If you would like to have the opportunity to WIN a Boysterous™ Action Figure (Company's choice), please enter my give-away~ 

Details:

Entries will be open from April 8-25. Open to US residents(and potentially Canadians~ I will update when I have confirmation on this). Please make sure that I have a way to contact you~ Winner must reply to me with their shipping information by April 28.

Entry Methods:

• Go visit Manhattan Toys and leave a comment telling me which Boysterous™Boy you like the best, and who you would give it to if you win.

For additional entries

1. Follow me in GFC and leave a comment (indicate if you already follow)
2. "Like" the Manhattan Toy Facebook Page   and leave a comment here (You can tell them I sent you)
3. Follow Manhattan Toy on Twitter and leave a comment here
4. Leave a comment telling me where you heard about this giveaway
5. Post about my giveaway on facebook (leave me a link in the comments)
6. Tweet about this giveaway(include Hashtags #manhattantoy and #giveaway), and leave a comment~
7. Enter any of my other open giveaways (Will be changing throughout this timeframe, so check back!) and leave a comment here.
8. Leave a "Thoughtful" comment on any of my other posts~ and then comment here~

Alrighty, then, I think that about wraps it up! I'm looking forward to announcing the winner, so please... go enter! :D  I think one of these Boysterous™ boys would make a very nice present for one of your favorite preschoolers. 

Blessings~

This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by: Manhattan Toy for this review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

Rebecca St. James CD "I Will Praise You" (Giveaway Closed)

 

My kids are big fans of Rebecca St. James. We have previously owned only one of her CD's, her sophomore release "Rebecca St. James" from 1994,  and it is a regularly played favorite in our home. My Eldest was particularly excited that we were to have the opportunity to review this newest album, released today, April 5 ~ "I Will Praise You".  This is Rebecca St. James' first studio release since 2005, and we are happy to hear her back in the music scene!(She's been busy acting and writing books)

Keep reading for my review, and find out how you can enter to win a copy of the album for your very own! :)

Although we have only had the the album for a few days there are already songs that we are humming (Catchy hooks! Good songwriting!)  and planning to incorporate into our worship services. The entire album "Fixes our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" in an upbeat fashion.

There are songs that are "Driving" ~ They exude a sort of "overcoming" feel (Without *quite* becoming a wall of sound) that I have found to be very encouraging when dealing with various challenging situations. Very much a "pump you up" attitude, but not "Self-oriented" ~ the focus is very much on Faith in God and His help! (I Will Praise You, You Never Let Go)

Others exude an ethereal quality that points one to the Glory of Eternity (You Hold Me Now, In a Moment) and the Peace that Passes Understanding (You Make Everything Beautiful).

Many of the songs have scripture running through them (You Never Let Go, In A Moment, When the Stars Burn Down, You Still Amaze Me come specifically to mind), and there are nods to grand Christian standards (You Still Amaze Me, You Make Everything Beautiful). There are those that encapsulate the Good News of the Gospel (The Kindness of Our God, You Still Amaze Me). Others are straightforward Praise and Worship of God (Shine Your Glory Down, In a Moment, Almighty God, When the Stars Fall Down {Blessing and Honor}).

Rebecca St. James' music "Breathes" with dynamics, and transports one to a place of beauty and worship of the  Only One Almighty God.

1. You can listen to Rebecca St. James explain some things about  the song "Shine Your Glory Down" below. This strikes a strong chord in me as we have chosen the name "City on a Hill Academy" for our homeschool. She manifests OUR desire to be lights in this world~ what a great role model for our daughters (And sons, too! ;) )

If you would like a taste of what "I Will Praise You" has to offer, you can hear the first three tracks of the album  at Rebecca's "Listening Party".

Giveaway now Closed~ Thank you for looking!~
You can visit these blogs to enter to win through April 20
4/18
Guiding Light Homeschool 
Our Village is a Little Different  

4/20
Canadian Ladybug Reviews


If you don't want to wait to see if you won, you can purchase the entire album (Downloads) on iTunes right now, for only $7.99~  or your own CD from Amazon I Will Praise You . Then you can give away the copy you win to someone who could use a little "light" and "glory" to shine in their lives!  (Just a thought... ;D) (This would also be a nice item to tuck into an Easter basket! :D )

Blessings~

 “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.”

Yoplait Light Winner

Sorry that I was late on the draw for this~ while I had planned to be home the day the drawing ended, we had to make up our "rained-out-last-week" ski field trip yesterday, so I was gone ALL day! (We didn't even end up with the overcast skies that were forecast, so my poor kiddos came home with sunburned faces... :(  but the weather was amazingly lovely!)

OK, so now that you have heard my excuse.... on to the winner~ I used random.org to draw from my entries~

And  Raven In A Blue Room  won with the comment I tweeted your giveaway.

Congratulations, Raven In A Blue Room. I am sending you an email. I need to hear from you by Monday, noon, EST with your contact information, so that Yoplait and My BlogSpark can send your package out to you!


Blessings~

Lighten Up with Yoplait Light Giveaway

Have I mentioned lately that I like yogurt? A lot? That my kids know that yogurt is one thing they can count on having for breakfast every day? That "Yogurt Flavor wars" have broken out a few times ("That's MY yogurt" "No it isn't, it's MINE" "Uh-UH! You had that flavor yesterday, I get it today...)? Thankfully those "Wars" have been nipped in the bud a little by making sure that there are many of only a few flavors available at any given time.... (Thankfully there has been a little "maturing" going on as well.... ;)

Well... those are all true statements, and in my opinion, yogurt should be an essential part of anyone's daily diet. There is just so much good stuff in there, including calcium and beneficial bacterias to help maintain intestinal health. My physician recommended that everyone in our family eat yogurt daily to help build up immune systems and help with allergies.  

See this fun little package that came in the mail?

MyBlogSpark and Yoplait teamed up to send me this nifty gym bag, reflective wrist wallet, pedometer, and some coupons to try "Yoplait Light", the yogurt featured in the Yoplait  Two Week Tune-up.
Whether it’s for a class reunion, a birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, Yoplait Light’s Two Week Tune Up could help you lose five pounds in two weeks by:

• Replacing your breakfast and lunch with a Yoplait Light yogurt, a whole grain,
  and a fruit
• Eating a diet rich in lean protein and non-fat dairy, including a sensible dinner, beverages, and snacks
• Walking 30-40 minutes daily

Please visit Yoplait.com for study and full diet details. 


Given my current eating habits, this diet would actually be an increase in my daily intake(We tend to be a two meal a day family most of the time), but I'm going to give it a go, and see what happens! :)


So, here's the great thing~ I have a win-win situation for everyone today~
Anyone can visit http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/1684/ to download a printable coupon** for $0.75 off the purchase of four (4) Yoplait Light yogurts today! 
**This coupon offer for Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in Louisiana, Nevada and North Dakota.
 

In addition, MyBlogSpark and Yoplait would like to send a nifty little package just like mine~ gym bag, reflective wrist wallet, pedometer, and a coupon* to try "Yoplait Light" to the winner of my giveaway.

*This coupon offer for Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

 

I know you want the details, so here we go

Giveaway ends on Friday, March 18 at 12 noon EST

Mandatory Entry~ Follow my blog in GFC
Optional additional entries~
1. If you'd like to give Yoplait a whirl,  Like Yoplait on facebook and sign up to get a free cup of Yoplait Original (Which has 50% of the RDV of Calcium in every cup). 
2. Visit  Yoplait.com and tell me which 3 Yoplait Light flavors you would most like to try
3. If you were to try the 2-week Tune-up, what event would you be "Tuning up" for? 
4. Leave a comment telling me where you heard about this giveaway
5. Post on Facebook about this giveaway (leave a link to your post)
6. Tweet about this Giveaway using the hashtag #myblogspark and the handle @YoplaitYogurt
7. Write a blog post linking back to this giveaway (Leave a link to your post) 
adding one more option~ I just started a facebook fan page for my blog, and I'd love if you would 
8. "like" my facebook page

Alrighty, then~ That's it for the moment~ I'm going to check in later with a note on which flavors *I* decided to try when I get back from the store~

Blessings~

 
For other fun giveaways, visit some of my favorite Giveaway sites:
Contesting Monday, Money Saving Mom, Eighty MPH Mom, and Five Minutes for Mom

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service from Yoplait, via MyBlogSpark The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

Glee Gum Drawing winner~

So, today hasn't gone exactly as planned~ Here's the bad news~

• I may have a little boyo with the flu... he's run a fever today and actually taken a nap or two, which is generally NOT a good sign
• And our sump-pump has been going off every-so-often~ ummmm... the temps are below freezing outside, so it's not snow-melt.... Got a phone call tonight from DH while I was doing the chauffeur bit for Eldest & her dance practice~ time for a new water heater.... :p 

However, there are also the little things in life that bring us joy. One of them is being able to pull a name out of a hat, virtually speaking, and put someone on the receiving end of something fun! I finally got to head over to random.org, and draw the number of the winning comment for the Glee Gum candy making kit.

The good news for the day~

Interesting to me, and proving that random.org really is random, and that no place on the number line is any better than any other, comment # 2 by McMama "I would be interested in the chocolate making kit. (although they all look neat!!) February 9, 2011 3:20 PM" was the number picked. 

Lesson learned~ Never be afraid to be the first to enter a give-away! :D

Congratulations, McMama~ I'll be sending you an email,

Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Crew Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."