PUREX CRYSTALS AROMATHERAPY REVIEW

I am a Purex Insider, so I got the great opportunity to try out the new Purex Crystals Aromatherapy.  Here are some facts about this new product:

*This is offered in 3 great scents: Energy, Well Being, and Serenity

*You can express your mood with each unique aroma

*The scents are blended with essential oils

*Long-lasting scent infusion (my favorite part)

I have three boys playing basketball right now, so I have tons of smelly sweaty athletic clothing, basketball uniforms, and socks that smell like no other!  So I have been using the Energy Purex Crystals in these loads of laundry.  I love how they smell afterwards.  I love that the scent lasts.  And I love that Purex makes such great products.

What to win a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals Aromatherapy?!?  Leave a comment telling me what your smelliest laundry is and I will pick a winner!  Contest ends November 20th so I can get the coupon to you quickly!

LetterPress Blocks by Dayspring

We have just completed a sermon series at my church on Grace.  I loved it so much.  I've learned more about grace the last 5 weeks than I have ever known my whole Christian life!  One of my favorite stories involved the master who went out and got workers all throughout the day.  Some in the early morning, some a few hours later, some after lunch, and even a few workers in the late hours of the workday.  At the end of the day, the master paid every worker the same wages.  Those who worked all day were ticked off to say the least. Those who worked two hours were so thankful to their master for the grace he showed them. When there is more grace, there is more peace.  And this is the prayer I have added to my life:

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.  

II Corinthians 1:2

You can build your own Letterpress Blocks phrase with Dayspring.  They also have pre-made words you can choose from.  These would look great on any gallery wall in your home!

A Robertson Family Christmas Review

If you've ever watched the Robertson family on their hit television show Duck Commander, you know they are all about Faith, Family, and Ducks.  They are also a lot of fun!  I have watched many an episode and thought to myself Wow!  I would really like to go hang out with them.  They seem like they are always having a great time.  And they are always eating really good food!  

In this new book written by Miss Kay Robertson (with Travis Thrasher), one lucky boy, Hunter, gets to do just that.  After winning a contest he knew nothing about, this teenage boy gets to go spend the week of Christmas with Willie and Korie Robertson and all their kids.  This Chicago city boy gets to meet the West Monroe country boys.  He is really not excited about the week, but the Robertson clan does not disappoint.  Hunting trips, cooking lessons, Christmas traditions, and just plain fun are all a part of the Hunter's week!

Another big part of spending time with the Robertsons is learning all about their faith and how they live it out in their daily lives.  A big part of this wisdom comes from Phil Robertson.  Although resistant at first, Hunter becomes open to this at the end of the week.  It is a blessing to see how much influence this family had on this teenager's life.  

This is a quick read, and I will add it to my basket of Christmas books for sure.  I am a part of the Tyndale Blog Network, and they sent me a book to giveaway to one reader.  To enter, please leave a comment with your favorite Christmas tradition.  I will choose a winner on November 13th and send a copy of the book to them.  I'm excited to share this book with one of you!

STOP Teaching Our Kids To Kill REVIEW

As a mom of three boys (ages 9 {twins} and 13), I am very aware of the violence that our kids are bombarded with every day.  I also have a husband who served in the United States Army for several years.  That being said, I tend to agree with what this book is saying, and my husband has the total opposite viewpoint. This is where we agree to disagree.  

I highly recommend looking at the website by the Killology Research Group.  It is very informative.  I found this quote about the book.  "Their book is a much-needed call to action for every parent, teacher, and citizen to help our children and stop the wave of killing and violence gripping America's youth. And, most important, it is a blueprint for us all on how that can be achieved."  So parents, teachers, mentors, and kids can all learn something very important from this book.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  Opinions are mine.*

Noah by Mark Ludy

My oldest son is named Noah, so I am naturally drawn to books about the Bible character Noah.  Since the release of the major motion picture, we have re-read the story of Noah in the Bible with our kids.  And now we have an excellent resource to put pictures to the Bible story as we read.

  This is the first of Mark Ludy's books that I have had the opportunity to peruse.  He is most definitely a talented artist.  His pictures are beautiful and the detail is amazing!  The colors are vivid and eye-catching.  He puts a story into pictures beautifully.  My boys enjoyed the animals the most!

I am glad I was given the opportunity to review this book from Plough Publishing House.

Spellbinders Celebr'ations by Richard Garay Review

In our family, we have lots of August birthdays, so I was very excited to get the opportunity to make these cute projects.  Who doesn't love an adorable homemade card and a cute bag filled with candy?!?  I know I always enjoy receiving gifts or cards that someone took the time to make.  And making cards and gifts can help save money too.  They last card I bought cost close to $4!! So making a card can be the frugal thing to do.

These two projects are form the new Spellbinders Celebra'tions Collection. They believe that every day is the perfect day to celebrate, and I totally agree!  This collection includes paper, stamps, dies, & accessories to create one-of-a-kind gifts, cards, scrapbook pages, & more!!  For more inspiring projects you can visit Spellbinders Celebrations yourself!



I am a member of Purex Insiders.  I was able to review this product through this program.  The opinions are mine.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: The Inside Story

I first heard about the author Cynthia Tobias from a MOMSnext mentor, and I was very excited to read her newest book about middle schoolers.  I have 3 boys, one in 8th grade and two in 4th grade.  So I am knee deep in middle school and will be there for a while.  We are dealing with friends, girlfriends, popularity, sports, teachers, bullying, and discipline on a daily basis.  What I love about this book is the authors talked to actual middle schoolers and they included lots of quotes from the interviews.

"My friend's parents are cool because they don't freak out over little things that she does wrong;  they save the freaking out for big stuff, like bad grades."

"I didn't tell my parents when this kid kept kicking me and stealing my stuff, because what could they do?"

"If I don't think a teacher likes me, I have a hard time in that class.  It's important for me to have my teacher know who I am and to care about me."

This would be a great book for a moms book club or to read with a fellow middle school mom!  I would also recommend this book to any middle school teacher who wants to learn more about his or her students.  It is very insightful into the minds of middle school kids.

*I received a copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my review.  The opinions are mine.*

COPPERTONE CLEARLYSHEER SUNSCREEN

My boys used to be big fans of spray-on sunscreen until this summer.  Now they will not let me use spray-on, only lotion.  So when I got the chance to try out the new Coppertone CLEARLYSHEER Sunscreen I was very excited (and so were my three boys!).  My favorite things about this sunscreen are:

*It absorbs very quickly and does not feel greasy!

*It does not clog pores, which means less break-outs! (a big bonus for my thirteen year old son)

*It is also a moisturizer leaving skin feel softer!

I love how easy it is to apply to our skin, and I love that it really works!  This sunscreen will definitely be in our swim bag all summer.

*I was provided a sample of COPPERTONE CLEARLYSHEER SUNSCREEN by BzzAgent.  The opinions are mine.*

U-NEEKS Review

God made you U-NEEK!

I have three boys who are very different.  To say they are unique might be a bit of an understatement!  I have one teenager and twins who are nine.  You might think the twins would be a little alike, but you would be wrong.  They are definitely unique.  When I got the chance to review DaySpring's U-NEEK Collection I was very excited to share these with my twins.

I chose a Wally - "Big Ole" Plush Pillow for each of the twins.  They were very excited to get them!  One boy took his to church camp this week, and one boy chose to leave his on his bed for the week.  They also got to jump on the trampoline with the boys and all the neighbor kids.  I don't know what it is about stuffed animals on the trampoline, but my boys love doing just that.  

So what does being U-NEEK mean?  The U-NEEK brand is based on the scripture verse Psalm 139:14 ~ "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." ~

I have tried to instill in my boys that everyone is different.  We all look different, act different, have different feelings, like different things, and each excel at different activities.  One of my boys is a very fast runner.  One of them is really good at basketball.  One of them got zero behavior marks all school year.  I could go on and on about the differences in my boys.  I am just thankful to be able to share with them that God made each of them U-NEEK.  I also remind them that everyone at school is different and our differences don't make us weird or strange, just U-NEEK!

SO...where can you check out the new line of U-NEEK products?  Walmart and Hobby Lobby will have them in stores June 15-July 14 so you can check them out for your U-NEEK kids!

*I was provided U-NEEK items by DaySpring.  The picture and opinions are mine.*

Just 18 Summers

My oldest son just turned 13 this week!  Yes, I'm now the mom of a teenage boy...yikes.  My twins turn 9 this month.  Then school gets out next month, and we will have 8 weeks of summer (due to the balanced schedule we follow).  Then we'll start a new year, and it will go just as fast (or faster) as this year.  The book Just 18 Summers is a great reminder that times goes quickly for all of us.  Our lives are constantly changing, our kids are constantly growing, and we have to embrace every moment we get with our family.

This book follow 4 families in different seasons of life: a widowed father with a school-aged girl, a young couple about to have their first child, a middle aged couple with kids, and another couple whose kids are flying the coop.  The families interact with each other in various parts of the storyline.  One thing this book really made me think about was how many summers I have left with my boys.  Which when I start thinking about this, I get a little bit sappy!  

"As with everything in life, there are no guarantees.  You do what you can while you have them.  In the blink of an eye, time has passed and you missed half the things you intended to do."  *my favorite quote from the book*

For more information, I would highly recommend going to the  Just 18 Summers  website.  One of their missions is to help make the daily journey easier for parents.  And their website is full of ideas and stories designed specifically for parents.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  All opinions are mine.*

Whatever You Grow Up to Be *Book Review*

If you are looking for an excellent bedtime book for little boys, look no further!  I have been a Karen Kingsbury fan for years.  And this new book just adds to my admiration for her.  What I love about this book is that it starts when the little boy is a newborn and goes through all the stages of life...toddler, tween, teen, and adult.  As a mom of 3 boys, I can totally relate to the pictures and stories in these pages.  

Each page has a meaningful scripture reference designed to go with the season of life.  The entire book is based on Jeremiah 29:11 ~For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.~  This is a verse that I have shared with my boys since day one, and I loved sharing this book with them!

*I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions are mine.*

PUREX CRYSTALS fresh mountain breeze review

TIME'S UP!  WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED!  THANKS FOR ENTERING.

I am so excited to share the new Purex Crystals Fresh Mountain Breeze with you all.  Two people will receive a coupon in the mail for a free 28oz bottle of this wonderful smelling product.

So what do I love about Purex crystals?  Well, here is my list.

1.  They really do smell good!  If you've ever smeleed fresh mountain air, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  If not, just open this bottle up, close your eyes, and pretend you're in the mountains!

2.  It's so easy.  Just pour these Purex crystals into your load of laundry.  No liquid to measure and spill!  No water to add to the liquid.  I don't even measure...I just eyeball it.

3.  The smell lasts!  Really it does!  I love it for towels and basketball uniforms especially.  There is nothing worse than a stinky towel or uniform!  And with Purex crystals you eliminate the stink.

So if you want to win a coupon, just leave a comment on this post by midnight on February 13th.  I will pick 2 winners and them mail them each a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Crystals Fresh Mountain Breeze {a $6.00 value}.  Thanks for participating and good luck!!

My Time With Grandma Bible Storybook *Review*

This would be the perfect book to give to grandma to keep at her house.  Then during sleepovers or days spent at Grandma's house, the kids could get this book down, snuggle on Grandma's lap, and listen to her read.  I have very fond memories of reading books with my grandmother, and this book will keep the family tradition alive.  Or maybe even start a brand new tradition!  

Each beautifully illustrated page includes a Bible story and the scripture verses that correspond with the story.  Then there is a Love Note from Grandma and a Love Note from God at the end.  I love the adorable pictures of a Grandma bear with her grandchildren cubs.  There are fifteen stories in all.  I will be adding this to my list of baby shower gifts.  I plan on giving it to the grandmas-to-be so they can start spending time reading with their grandkids from the very beginning!

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my review.  The opinions are mine.*

HANDS FREE MAMA *Review*

A Guide to putting down the phone, burning the to-do list, and letting go of perfection to grasp what really matters!

It's not often that I get to meet awesome authors in the great state of Indiana.  So when a gal from our MOMSnext group invited us to drive to the big city {Indianapolis!} to meet Rachel Macy Stafford, I jumped on board.  I had already received her book to review from Booksneeze, so now I have an official autographed copy.

*Sidenote...I went to a very small high school.  My graduating class had 25 people in it, and 1992 was a big class.  Some classes had 12-15 kids in them.  So when I see someone from my high school it's kind of a big deal.  And guess what?!?  While waiting in line to meet the Hands Free Mama author, I talked to not one, but two girls from the great Colonial Christian School.  Now onto the book review.

As a mom who is bombarded with technology, it is so easy to get sucked into the tornado.  With a push of a button I can check my children's grades, see how they are behaving is school today, see how much $ they have in their lunch account, I can check the weather radar, I can see if school is delayed, I can look at stranger's pictures, I can spend hours on Instagram and Pinterest, I can read a book, I can check on my Dragon City {it's awesome, by the way}, I can ignore a Candy Crush invite {again!}, I can check local gas prices, and the list goes on and on and on.

What I love and appreciate about this book, is it makes me think.  A lot.  About the time I waste doing all the above things.  About the junk that I let myself worry about.  About the people I compare myself and my kids to.  About the places I want to go/be/do.  I love that she encourages moms to not only put down their {fill-in-the-blank} and make themselves accountable to someone else.  No more distractions.  Figure out what is most important right now.  And be passionate about what your heart is telling you to do.

Life is so short, and we are never guaranteed a tomorrow.  I know I will not wish I'd spent more time on my phone.  I do know I will regret wasting lots of time on unimportant things/people I don't even know/and the list could go on and on.  So I am up to the challenge of becoming a Hands Free Mama!!!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.  All opinions and stories are mine.