Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 2-Watt Focus Flashlight Review & Giveaway

Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 2-Watt Focus Flashlights are rugged and high performance lights for the xtreme sportsman in everyone. Superior quality at an excellent value. Rayovac combined cutting edge technology, practicality, style, and value to create the amazing Sportsman Xtreme line of lights. Whatever the activity, Sportsman Xtreme is the perfect fit. Rayovac is a trusted brand of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a top manufacturer of consumer batteries in the United States and Latin America.

This new light is the brightest in the Sportsman Xtreme line at 100 lumens. This 2 watt flashlight efficiently uses power to achieve 6 hours of runtime. The EZ-focus feature makes it easy to adjust from a spot beam to a wide flood beam.

My husband loves this flashlight! Already a bonus since batteries were included. He hasn't let me use this, as he took it immediately and after testing it out he put it in his truck. (For Safe Keeping) He likes the size, as it's small and easy to handle. This Rayovac feels and fits nice in his hand. He said that it was bright and made solid. This flashlights aircraft grade aluminum body is water resistant and has a full lifetime warranty. It's easy to turn on and off and easily switches from a spot to a wide flood beam. He plans to use this flashlight alot. He said that it will be handy and great for work, hunting and camping.


This Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme Flashlight can be purchased at major retailers and on Amazon. It sells for under $30 which is a great price.

Or Win it!!! Two of my lucky readers can win the Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 2-Watt Focus Flashlight.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:Please visit Rayovac and tell me another product you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

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■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
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■Like Rayovac on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 13th at 11:59 pm Est. The winners will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure- I received this flashlight free of charge for the purpose of this review. This my husbands and my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Happy Memorial Day

In Memory of All the Men and Women that have Died for Our Country...


Memorial Day is a special Day!!
Thank You to All the Men and Women who serve our Country
You are Truely Special People and my Prayers and Thoughts are with You.

Today I will celebrate by attending a Parade and a Cemetary Service to Remember those Special People that have given their lives for our Country and our Freedom.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life ~Book Review & Giveaway~

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life
101 Stories about All the Ages and Stages of Our Canine Companions

By: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson and Jennifer Quasha
Foreword by: Wendy Diamond


It's a dog's life. This collection of 101 new stories focuses on all the memorable ages and stages of our lovable canines' lives. Starting in puppyhood and covering a range of middle and senior years to the twilight and end when our dear friends leave us, this book captures the entire experience of living through the natural life cycle with our dogs. All dog lovers will laugh, cry, and recognize themselves and their furry friends in these heartwarming and inspiring stories of puppy antics, teenage rebellion, adapting to an aging dog and, finally, having to say goodbye.


I love these Chicken Soup for the Soul Books!! They are so great to read, with all the inspirational stories. I love that you can sit down and read a few pages or the entire book depending on how much time you have. This book is great for dog lovers as it is a reminder of the joy and companionship our dogs provide. This shares the love, laughs and one of a kind stories about our furry friends. In this book you will find adventures with your exuberant puppies, living through your dog's amusing and challenging "teenage" years, enjoying the bittersweet senior years and recovering from loss. As I read this book, I laughed and cried. Late last summer we lost our beloved Magnum who wasn't just our dog but our friend and a member of our family. We had him for 9 1/2 years and as I read some of these stories they reminded me alot of him and the joy he brought to our lives. We now have a puppy and some of these stories are lessons for me. I think Dog lovers will really enjoy reading this book.

This book may be purchased through Amazon.

Stop by Chicken Soup for the Soul's website and check out all their great books. They make Great Gifts!!


OR Win it!! Three of my lucky readers can win this Chicken Soup for the Soul Book: My Dog's Life .

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:Please leave me a comment telling me your favorite kind of dog or your Dogs name.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
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■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like ChickenSoupforthesoul on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 12th at 11:59 pm Est. The winners will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure- I received this book for free to review as a member of the Chicken Soup for the Soul blogger network*

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat's Life ~Book Review & Giveaway~

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat's Life
101 Stories about All the Ages and Stages of Our Feline Family Members

By: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson and Jennifer Quasha
Foreword by: Wendy Diamond


From kittenhood through the twilight years, our feline companions continually bring joy, love, and laughter to the lives of their "staff." This collection of 101 new stories captures the experience of living through the natural life cycle with our cats — from the laugh-out-loud antics of kittens and tear-your-hair-out escapades of teenage cats to the more mature adult years and final stages of life. Stories cover each age and stage with all the fun, frustrations, special bonds and routines involved. The book also holds a special chapter about grieving and recovery when our feline friends leave us.

I love these Chicken Soup for the Soul Books!! They are so great to read, with all the inspirational stories. I love that you can sit down and read a few pages or the entire book depending on how much time you have. This book is great for cat lovers as it is a reminder of the joy and companionship our cats provide. This shares the love, laughs and one of a kind stories about our feline friends. In this book you will find adventures with your exuberant kitten, living through your cat's amusing and challenging "teenage" years and settling down with your senior cat.

This book may be purchased through Amazon.

Stop by Chicken Soup for the Soul's website and check out all their great books. They make Great Gifts!!


OR Win it!! Three of my lucky readers can win this Chicken Soup for the Soul Book: My Cat's Life .

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:Please leave me a comment telling me your favorite kind of Cat or your Cats name.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entries)
■Add @chickensoupsoul to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like ChickenSoupforthesoul on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 12th at 11:59 pm Est. The winners will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure- I received this book for free to review as a member of the Chicken Soup for the Soul blogger network*

Whiten Your Smile with Reach & Rembrandt ~Review & Giveaway~

You want whiter teeth? Check out these great products to help you out!!!


Start out with right toothbrush!! Reach Total Care & Whitening Toothbrush is just what you need!
It has Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) Micrawhitening bristles to not only clean but help to whiten and remove stains. The precision grip handle is designed to fit your hand, giving you a comfortable hold while brushing your teeth. I like the angled neck and tapered head that helps with those hard to reach places. The Tongue cleaner is great to help provide you with whole mouth clean.

Now that You have the right toothbrush... You will want to try Rembrandt Deeply White and Peroxide Toothpaste.

This will whiten your smile while restoring tooth enamel. Especially formulated with a rapid-release peroxide that starts working immediately on contact for visibly whiter teeth. I like the taste of this toothpaste. It's refreshing, fresh mint flavor leaves your mouth feeling clean and invigorated. Or you can get it in a Winter Mint flavor. On the Surface this toothpaste gently polishes away surface stains without scratching the enamel. Below the Surface it safely whitens to help remove deep stains where they start.
Note: This proprietary formula contains Active Dental Peroxide which releases oxygen for superior whitening. As a result, it is common for the tube to appear slightly inflated or release air when opened.

Finish your daily routine and Try the first Whitening mouthwash on the market that actively restores and strengthens tooth enamel while visibly whitening teeth. REMBRANDT DEEPLY WHITE + Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash is formulated with a rapid-release liquid peroxide that begins working on contact and has a fresh minty taste. I like this mouthwash. It not only helps to whiten your teeth but leaves your mouth feeling fresh.



Rembrandt Deeply White Toothpaste and Mouthwash can be can be found in major food, drug, and general merchandise stores across the country. They sell for $7.49 each. For more information and special offers, visit www.Rembrandt.com. (You can get coupons there)

Or Win it!!! Two of my lucky readers can win a Whiten Your Smile Prize Pack which will include the Reach Total Care & Whitening Toothbrush, Rembrandt Toothpaste and Mouthwash.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Reach and/or Rembrandt and please tell me which feature or item you like best or which product you want to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
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■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 10th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received these products mentioned above for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

NCSR Red Light Safety Campaign! Keep Your Family Safe!!

Keeping our families safe on the road is a very important task that we undertake as parents. We drive carefully, keep our cars in tip-top shape, and make sure everyone is buckled in safely on each and every trip. Unfortunately... we can’t control what other drivers on the road are doing. We must rely on the police and essential safety equipment, such as red light safety cameras, to help keep us safe.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that 113,000 people were injured and 676 were killed in crashes that involved red-light running in 2009 – two-thirds of the victims were pedestrians, bicyclists and occupants of vehicles hit by the red-light runners.

The study also showed that red-light safety cameras helped save more than 150 lives in 14 of the biggest U.S. cities from 2004 to 2008. Had the cameras been operating in all 99 U.S. cities with populations more than 200,000, more than 800 lives could have been saved.


Each time we enter an intersection, our families are at risk of becoming the victim of an accident – whether on foot or in a vehicle. Red light safety cameras help to change driver behavior and reduce the risk to our loved ones, however many people are unaware just how valuable these cameras are to those on the road.



The National Coalition for Safer Roads has created a powerful video, showing just how tragic the consequences of running a red light can be.






You can find the National Coalition for Safer Roads on their website, Twitter and Facebook pages, for more information about this important initiative.




Join the Coalition in spreading this important message! ... You may save the life of a loved one or spare a family the heartbreak of losing a life to a tragic intersection accident. Please Drive Safe!!!



*Disclosure: I'm participating in this campaign as a member of Global Influence to help spread the word!*

Three60Gear Review and Giveaway

Hey Sports Fans... Check this out!!!!

THREE60 Gear launches eye-popping gear for sports fans of all ages. Three60 Gear, a St. Louis-based apparel brand, features shirts with high-resolution full action photo images of popular sports figures that completely wrap around the shirt. This truly unique line features today’s top players from MLB and the NBA, with NHL coming soon.

The Three60Gear line captures the excitement of sports with all-star athletes in motion! One of a kind, high definition sports apparel. Their MLB-licensed photo shirts are unique! Since we are New York Yankees fans, my son was so excited to get his new shirt.




Front: ALDS Playoffs: New York Yankees Derek Jeter #2 in action, at bat vs Minnesota Twins. Game 1 Bronx, NY October 7, 2009.

Back: New York Yankees Derek Jeter #2 in action, attempting double play over Boston Red Sox Kevin Youkilis (20) Bronx, NY September 25, 2009



Each photo-real shirt includes a patch with its own serial number that details the date and location of each photo.


THREE60 Gear is available in youth and adult sizes. Each product has been created by hand, using vivid high quality action photos infused onto fabric through a unique process. What makes it unique is the dye sublimation process that is used to fuse the high-resolution photos onto the fabric. The image is first printed on a sheet of paper, then it's heat pressed, or sublimated, onto the blank white shirt. The white areas near seams, creases or folds are marks of the authentic handcrafted process. Comfort features include moisture-wicking fabric and an anti-microbial finish. A collectable patch is included with each shirt, making it a sought-after collectable item.

My son really likes his Derek Jeter T-shirt ! It is unique and sharp looking! The performance fabric includes wicking and is anti-microbial which helps to keep him cool. This handcrafted shirt fits nice and the quality is great. My son enjoys wearing this shirt and has gotten many compliments on it. I like that it washes nice too.

These vivid, crisp photo real shirts are a great collectible item!! (Hint- Father's Day is coming!) These shirts would make the perfect gift for any sports fan.

These shirts can be purchased at three60gear.com with adult sizes selling for $54.99. Right now you can take advantage of Free Shipping.

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win their choice of shirt from Three60Gear.com.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Three60gear.com and please tell me which shirt you want to win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
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■Add @Three60Gear to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■like Three60Gear on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 9th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received a shirt free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

Amber... is the Winner of Micki Sannar's Olive Oil Desserts Cookbook.

The Winner of the Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush is...Colleen

Congrats!!!

Thank You to all who enter and please enter my current giveaways for your chance to Win.

Scentsy Review and Giveaway

Scentsy flameless candles are the safest candles on the market! Why?... Because Scentsy candle warmers only warm the SCENT out of the candle, rather than burning the wax itself. After enjoying the amazing aroma for up to 80 hours, the now-unscented wax bar can simply be thrown away. With regular candles, the wax and wick disappear as you burn it. Have you ever thought about where all the chemicals in the wax and wick go? That's right... they go into the air, onto your walls, and into your LUNGS!

Scentsy candles are also safer than regular candles because the low-wattage candle warmer only heats the wax to just above body temperature. You can safely touch the candle warmer or even the wax itself without getting burned. Contrast that with the worries of regular candles where an open flame burns the wax at scalding temperatures.

Each Full Size Warmer comes with a Base and Warmer Dish along with a 25-watt bulb for use with the Scentsy Bar or Scentsy Bricks.


I received the Symphony Full Size Warmer and the You Go, Girl Scentsy Bar to review.
I love them!!! I love the safety of these. I can have a decorative holder and a great smelling house without the worries of a fire from leaving an unattened candle burning. I love that you can touch the candle warmer and the wax and not get burned, making this great to have with children and pets in the house. I plugged my warmer in and after about three hours, I stuck my hand in the wax and did not get burned! The quality of the warmers are really nice and I love the variety in the scents.

The Symphony Warmer presents a playful and lyrical adaptation of sheet music elements, rendered in a painterly fashion on a neutral cream and tan background showing faint brush strokes. This design is really nice and any music lover would love this full size warmer. The Full-Size Scentsy Warmers are available in a variety of styles and colors. Approximately 4.5” wide and 6” tall. They sell for $30.00 each.

Refresh your home with Scentsy’s authentic wickless candles. Simply break off portions of your favorite Scentsy Bars and add them to a warmer for long-lasting fragrance! Available in more than 80 scents.




You Go.Girl Scent is a lighthearted, girlish fragrance of apples, berries, muguet, and linden blossoms. (It smells Great!!!)

Highlights:
•Fragrance lasts up to 80 hours
•Incredibly safe - no wick, no flame, no fumes, no worries
•Scent is "warmed" out of the candle; the wax is not burned
•Can be used in any Scentsy candle warmer
The fragrance bar comes in a "clamshell" with 6 convenient break-apart sections, so you can divide the bar among multiple candle warmers or mix and match scents. Simply put 1-2 sections of the bar into the dish on your Scentsy candle warmer, turn it on, and enjoy the amazing scent. When you're ready to try a new scent, just pour the melted wax back into its original packaging and store it in a cool place so the wax can reform. You can re-melt the bar over and over again for total burn time of up to 80 hours. Each Fragrance bars weight is approximately 2.4 ounces. Scentsy Bars sell for $5.00 each.

Scentsy is all about healthy and safety. Their products are smoke-free, lead free and soot free. I know people who converted to Scentsy because it was a safe option for family and their pets. Not to mention... The Great Quality and Selection at Affordable prices too.

Scentsy products are unique in their simplicity! They have the wickless wax, decorative warmers; which of course are beautiful and there's a design to suit almost every decor, Scent Circles,Scent Paks,Room Sprays, Travel Tins and the Scentsy Buddies.

Take a Peek... Browse the New Spring/Summer 2011 Catalogue.


Win it!!! Thanks to Theo, One of my lucky readers will receive the Capri Warmer and a free scent bar.








MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Sign up for Theo's Newsletter here. Please leave me a comment telling me the name signed up under.


EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Please visit Theo's Scentsy site and leave me a comment telling me which product you like. (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
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■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Join Theo's Private Scentsy Group on facebook (2 extra entries)*She will be having monthly giveaways and other contests, that's why it's a private group and only interested people need to join.
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 6th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received Scentsy products for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

More about this sponsor:
Theo is a wife, a Mom, a business owner and a Montessori teacher.
She joined Scentsy in Nov.2009, without any intention of making it a business. She has always loved scented candles,however, she couldn't use them as much as she wanted to because of her young kids, and she also worried that she may forget to blow out a candle. When she found Scentsy, she thought,"what a great idea!". A safe alternative to burning candles.

Building her Scentsy business started in April, 2010. Today, Theo is an Independent Sales Director. Her team is constantly growing and spreads across U.S, Canada and most recently the U.K.

She believes the secret to her success is that she has the best team and the most awesome customers.

She also blogs about working from home here

My Family's Favorite Road Trip

I have Family that lives close to me and some family members are half way across the United States. So, this said we like to make road trips to visit them.



I Live in New York and my Sister and her family live in Wisconsin. It's about a 15 hour drive. We try to make the trip a couple times a year, if the drive wasn't so far we would go more often.
My Husband's Mother and Sisters and their families live in Flordia. So , we like to make that a early Spring road trip. That's about a 24 hour drive and we like to shorten up the trip by stopping in at my Father-in-laws house to break up the trip. He lives in North Carolina ,about half way on our way. Of course, when You go to Florida.. You got to go to Disney World! (one of my kids favorite places).



Traveling can be tough!! For us all... I like to pack drinks and snacks and the kids like to watch movies and their Nintendo Ds. We also like to listen to music and play travel games to shorten the trip.



Twizzlers® Candy, the perfect on-the-go treat, is helping to sweeten family travel this summer with the Twizzlers Landmark Summer™ promotion. The promotion gives consumers the chance to win a trip to a well-known United States destination plus daily, road trip-themed prizes throughout the summer.


According to family travel expert Emily Kaufman, “The Travel Mom,” families are starting to think past the backyard “staycation” and are rediscovering the freedom of the open road. Kaufman shares the following tips for a fun and safe family road trip:

■Create a boredom bag. Convert a hanging travel cosmetic case into a case full of fun and hang it from the seat back in front of the kids’ seats. Consider creating fun works of art with Twizzlers
Pull ‘n’ Peel Candy before snacking on them!
■Take your trip “online.” From GPS systems to phone applications, trips are no longer a navigation nightmare.
■Think through the snacks you pack. Avoid packing snacks that are easy to spill like juice boxes or snacks that melt. Try plastic bottles with sports tops and bring along Twizzlers Candy or Twizzlers Nibs Candy – they are easy to share and don’t melt, making them the perfect car ride treat.

*Disclosure: I wrote this post as I'm entering a contest for a Twizzlers Landmark Summer promotion prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.*

Prefense Hand Sanitizer Review & Giveaway

Prefense Hand Sanitizer is just what your family needs! For everyday protection, Prefense will safeguard you and your family against bacteria,viruses and fungi.

One Spray for your Prefense. It's a unique, alcohol-free hand sanitizer that provides you and your family proactive security from germs that can make you sick. Prefense is made of all-natural organic ingredients and has absolutely NO alcohol in it! It is non-toxic and safe for kids! (It will not hurt them if swallowed!)

Prefense offers protection from staph,strep,E.coli and more for up to 24 hours or 10 hand washings without reapplication. Because “one spray lasts all day” 1.5 oz Prefense Foaming Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers. What's not to love?

I have used other hand sanitizers before and they usually have a harsh alcohol smell to them and leaves your hands sticky. Prefense is a foaming hand sanitizer that you can count on to protect you from all those germs. It doesn't leave your hands sticky and I love the citrus smell! Prefense is silica based which means it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers. It actually smooths and softens your hands. You can totally see this when you apply it! (Another Reason to Love it!!)

Prefense 1.5 oz (120 sprays) is perfect to keep in your purse or backpack to take with you everywhere. It can be purchased here for $6.99. Or the 8 oz one sells for $16.99.

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win the big 8oz Prefense which offers 640 applications!

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please visit Prefense and leave me a comment telling me something you like about this.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @Prefense to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like Prefense on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 3rd at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received a 1.5 oz bottle of Prefense foaming hand sanitizer for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

Diana... is the Winner of the Baseball Book.

The Winner of the Smart Lab Toys Giveaway is...Deb

Donna.. is the Winner of the Scunci Bendi Clips and Julie wins Conair's You Style 2 in 1 Brush.

Congats!!!!

Thanks to all who entered and please check out all my current giveaways.

39DollarGlasses.com Review & Giveaway

With the Warmer Weather here... I don't want to be with out my sunglasses!!!

If you wear glasses and want a nice pair of prescription sunglasses, then you will want to check out 39DollarGlasses.Com.




39DollarGlasses.com is owned and operated by two eye doctors. This site is so easy to use. They have a large variety of eyeglasses and sunglasses to chose from and at great prices. You can look through their eyeglasses and sunglasses by categories like metal, plastic, semi frameless, rimless,progressive,etc. They even offer a great selection of children's glasses, which come standard with poly carbonate lenses with UV protection and scratch resistant coverings.

I received a great new pair of sunglasses from 39DollarGlasses.com. You can get great sunglasses with or without prescription lenses. They have many choices and the ordering process is pretty simple. I picked the Cayman style ones. You can get these as regular eyeglasses or sunglasses.(This is great for those that love their frames, they can have the same ones just with different colored lenses).

I loved the large selection, it made it easy to pick a pair I was interested in. Designing your glasses was pretty easy. The first step was choosing which frames you wanted. Then you selected the lense type and last you customized your lenses. After you designed your glasses it would show you what other frame colors were available and what lense colors would look like with the frames. Many styles came in at least 2 to 3 frame colors and most of the lenses had 7 or more lense tints to chose from. This was nice so you could see all your options and what they would look like.



I was very happy with my sunglasses. I really like how my sunglasses look and they fit just right!! I picked the Cayman ones because the style and size was what I was looking for although there are many to choose from. These are great quality and are durable. My sunglasses came in a nice hard shell case to store them in along with cleaning cloths and a mini screwdriver keychain for any necessary tightening. What I really like about the glasses from 39DollarGlasses.com are that they are American made!! The quality is so much nicer than those made in China. They also offer a 100% Worry Free Guarantee.

Good News!!!! 39DollarGlasses.com is offering all of my readers a Discount! Use code X4633 to get 10% off of your order! (code good until 2013)

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win a free pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses (up to $75.00)from 39DollarGlasses.com.
MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please visit 39DollarGlasses.com and leave a comment letting me know which ones you like the best.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @39dollrglasses to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like 39DollarGlasses on facebook (3 extra entries)
■Leave a comment on thier facebook page telling them which glasses you like (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on June 2nd at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received a free pair of sunglasses for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Silk for Milk 10 Day Challenge & Giveaway

Silk for Milk... That's the Challenge...
Take the 10 Day Challenge. Simply replace your milk with Silk and enjoy a boost of nutrition without giving up any of your favorite foods. It's a deliciously good-for-you change that's really easy.

Silk is made with your best health in mind. That's why it is completely cholesterol-free and lower in saturated fat than dairy milk. The Silk Family has 3 varieties and 17 choices.Silk has 13 delicious varieties under 100 calories.(Milk, not so much)



Silk Soy has as much calcium as typical dairy milk and has 11 different choices. My favorite is the Light Chocolate. It tastes great! My kids love it and really they didn't notice it wasn't dairy milk. It has only 90 calories and is an excellent calcium source. It's 100% lactose free and dairy free with a smooth chocolate flavor.

Want to try it? Click here and get a 75 cents of coupon.

Or Win it!! One of my lucky readers will win a coupon for a free half gallon of Silk and a Silk branded chicobag.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please visit Silk and leave me a comment telling me which one you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @Silk to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like Silk on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on May 31st at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received a coupon for a free 1/2 Gallon of Silk for the purpose of this review. I was only able to do a mini challenge as the Silk only lasted two days in my house. I guess my son really loved it! This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

1-2-3! Textured Products Review

1-2-3 Textured Projects offers professionally designed early childhood education curriculum products that are hands - on and include different textural materials, colors and craft ideas. Whether you are simply looking for fun and educational activities for kids or are trying to develop your library of preschool resources, you will find these packs and subscriptions are just the ticket!

This is Pucker the Fish...

Each kit comes with a cardstock-like cutout (ours was a blue fish) and a cardstock background (orange), included were 3 textured products to decorate each cutout.









These individual activity packs are perfect for a quick and easy craft project for the kids. They include 3 projects per pack, materials, directions, theme ideas and conversation starters. You will love being able to take these on the go or pull them out of the closet for hours of fun with your preschoolers. These cost $4.99 each, or you can buy the individual craft for $1.00 each.



This is our finished product.


These craft kits are great for kids. As my son is 9, he enjoyed making this but the sparkles got all over. These are great for younger ones too but they will need some supervision. I like that these kits come with everything you need expect for Glue.
They come in many different types like Zoo Animals, Holiday, Transportation, Pond Creatures and more. These are great crafts and activities for young ones to explore the textures and have fun while learning. These are priced great and would be a nice activity to do especially on those rainy days.



*Disclosure: This is a MamaBuzz review, I received a kit, free of charge, from 1-2-3! Textured Products, for the purposes of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Aerobie Sprint Ring Review and Giveaway

Great Exercise!!! Great Fun!!!!... Since 1984, Aerobie brand sport toys have been known to provide exciting performance while encouraging physical activity involving skill and exercise.

The Aerobie Sprint Ring provides a thrilling game of catch. It flies twice as far as conventional discs because of its patented high performace design. Its smaller size is its only distinction from the otherwise identical Aerobie Pro flying ring, which holds the Guinness World Record for the longest throw. Ideal for those who enjoy the incredible flying performance of Aerobie rings but have a smaller area for play, the Sprint ring is great for backyards, parks and playgrounds.

I love that it is made in the U.S.A. It is lightweight and compact, with only a 10 inch diameter size. The ring's soft rubber edge makes it comfortable to catch and fun for throwers of all skill levels. It is easy to throw and is so graceful in flight. Perfect for your backyard and easy to pack to take just about anywheres. I wouldn't recommend you play with near water because it will sink. (Lesson from my son, learned the hard way.) This is recommended for ages 7 and up, as both adults and kids will love it. Available in orange, magenta and yellow.

The Sprint ring retails for about $7.00, it can be purchased in all major US sporting-goods stores (and online, of course). You can find retailers here: http://aerobie.com/wheretobuy.htm.

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers will win the Aerobie Sprint Ring.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please visit Aerobie and leave me a comment telling me another product you like.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like Aerobie on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on May 27th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Lil' Teammates Review and Giveaway

LIL’ TEAMMATES are a hot new collectible toy!! Each 3" figure represents a player from one of your favorite NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and over 65 collegiate sports teams. My little sports fan loves these!!






Check these Out!!! Here's a Great Pitcher and Catcher!! Since it's baseball season right now... These Two are my son's favorites. (Guess You know he's a Yankees Fan!)




You can Register your Lil' Teammates and play games, take quizzes and more to earn points towards more free figures at www.lilteammates.com .
Series 1 contains over 200 individual figures alone. Start your collection today!

Products Series 1:
NFL and Collegiate Quarterbacks
NFL and Collegiate Running Backs
NBA and Collegiate Playmakers
MLB and Collegiate Pitchers
MLB Batters
NHL Slappers
NHL Goalies

Series 2:
Now available is The Ref and many more Coming Soon!!(June 2011)


What's great is that these figures can be a collectible sitting on your desk or bookcase and are durable enough that they can be played with. My son has enjoyed playing with his but while they are not getting played with, he enjoys displaying them on this bookcase. Here's his Collection:



Get them now!! These make great gift for your sports fans young and old. Each Lil' Teammate sells for $7.99 each and can be purchased at www.lilteammatesshop.com

Any of my readers that "Like" Lil' Teammates on facebook can get 25% off their first order at www.lilteammatesshop.com

Or Win It!!! Three of my lucky readers each can get 2 figures of your choice.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please visit the Lil' Teammates availablity list and leave me a comment telling me which figures you would like the best.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @LilTeammates to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like Lilteammates on facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on May 25th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series & Giveaway~Day 8~

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

Each Life is Unique by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1.3 (NIV)

Moms, God wants you to know that He has given you everything you need for life --- your unique life. He does not plan to give you what you might need to live the life of your best friend, or your neighbor, or even your favorite mother-model. No, God has called you to the life that He planned. I suspect that for most of us, it didn’t turn out to be the life we thought it might be… so long ago when we were young and dreaming of ‘growing up.’

On Mother’s Day I often recall my own dreams to one day be a mother. I grew up playing with dolls and looking to my own Mama as a model for that particular role in life. However, by the time I reached my thirties I was still not a mother! God did, however, have a plan. It just wasn’t what I imagined.

My own unique life would find me becoming a mother through the adoption of my first three children who were ages 9, 7 and 4; and then much later giving birth to our fourth child. Of course I was shocked when God revealed this to me, but I was ecstatic as well. It’s as though I could hear Him saying, “Well, you’re not getting any younger so I’m just going to just give you a jump start with three at one time!”

A huge blessing! A huge adjustment! A joy and a struggle. Change is often like that, isn’t it? We finally get what we want then we have to deal with it. May I just offer a bit of advice if you just got a great answer to prayer, but perhaps not in the way or form you imagined? Just receive it. Embrace it. And be willing to move forward into a new paradigm for your life. So what if you’re not like all the other mothers you know? So what if you’re not like your own mother? So what if your family unit is different? I guarantee God has a plan.

Not only did he want me to embrace my own story, but He called me as a mother to do perhaps one of the most important tasks of all --- to nurture my children to live their own unique lives. Not for me to try and squeeze them into what I hoped and dreamed they would be. Not for me to try and live my life through them. But to recognize how God made them, gifted them, and called them to their own special place.

All of my 4 kids are different from one another. Let’s take sports, for instance: I have one child who wins gold medals in international tennis competition, one who is a born equestrian, another who competes nationally in obstacle course shooting matches, and yet another who manages to dance onstage in 3 inch heels, do cartwheels and splits while singing at the same time. Now, honestly, I do none of these things. And yet they do.

I don’t remember placing my order with God for these things.  But I do remember when that tennis player turned 9 years old and I enrolled him in Special Olympics for the first time and how it changed his life… and ours. I remember getting a counselor job at an exclusive summer camp so that my daughter could take English riding classes. I remember being a Cub Scout leader (even though I knew nothing about boys) so that son could one day become an Eagle scout and pursue his love of the great outdoors. And yes, I remember enrolling my preschooler in dance lessons. Later when all the little girls were scared to go on stage for the recital, she exclaimed that she had endured a whole year of lessons just so she could go on stage.

Don’t compare yourself to someone else. And don’t live vicariously through your favorite reality show star. Live your own story. And Moms, raise your kids to embrace the unique life God has for them.
Remember, He has given us everything we need for life!

Lucinda Secrest McDowell, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, is the author of 10 books including “Role of a Lifetime,” “Amazed by Grace,” “Spa for the Soul” and the new Bible Study “Fit and Healthy Summer.” She is an international conference speaker and enjoys being a Pearl Girl from “Sunnyside” – her home in a New England village. Visit Cindy at www.EncouragingWords.net

Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series & Giveaway~Day 7~

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

What is a Grandmother? by Suzanne Woods Fisher

“A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.”
 Amish proverb

I arrived late in the night in Rhode Island, anxious to meet my two-day-old grandson, Blake, after a full day of flying. My daughter and son-in-law had just returned home from the hospital and felt like they had been in a train wreck. There was stuff everywhere.  Already, the needs of this little eight-pound bundle of joy were enormous: an all-terrain stroller, plenty of diapers, onesies, spit-up rags, an assortment of pacifiers to try out until he found the ideal one.

And he was perfect.

I know, I know. “Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is the blackest.” But this little dark eyed, dark haired boy really was perfect.

I spent the next seven days (and nights) getting to know this little guy. His schedule (he had none), his hunger cries (very similar to his every other cry). His pirate look--one eye open, one eye squeezed shut, as if he was still surprised by all that had taken place to him in a week’s time.

I felt surprised, too. How could my baby possibly have had a baby? How could I be a grandmother? I had just turned fifty-one. Shockingly young! How could a kid like me give up playing tennis three times a week to settle into knitting and crocheting and Friday night bingo? And shouldn’t I alter my appearance to fit this new label? Give up my jeans? Switch over to below knee-length calico dresses, thick black socks, practical shoes, gray hair pinned in a topknot. Think…Aunt Bee on Mayberry R.F.D.

As soon as people knew my daughter was expecting, I was bombarded with advice from my well meaning friends—even those who weren’t yet grandparents. “The best way to avoid getting on the nerves of your daughter and son-in-law is to not say anything. Ever.” Or “You’d better pick your nickname or you’ll be stuck with something hideous, like MooMoo Cow.” 

What should I be called? Granny? No…reminded me of The Beverly Hillbillies. Grandma? No…sounded like The Waltons. Grammy? No…it was already taken by the in-laws.

But no one really explained what it meant to be a grandmother. I didn’t know myself, not until I held baby Blake in my arms. In that moment, I realized that he was one of mine. He belongs to me. He will be on my mind and in my prayers, every day, for the rest of my life. There’s a bond between us that can’t be broken. He has altered my life forevermore.

I had become a grandmother. 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series & Giveaway~Day 6~

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

When Mother's Day is Difficult by Holley Gerth

I have a confession (anyone surprised?). I have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day.

On one hand, I love celebrating all the women who have made a difference in my life (thanks, Mom!).

On the other hand, a long journey of infertility has left my heart with some tender places.

On May 8th, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many, it’s a time of appreciation and joy. For others, it can be one of the most difficult days of the year. This is often true for women facing infertility, families who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, and many other painful situations.

At one point in my life it seemed as if I couldn’t take another step. In addition to infertility, I was facing several other losses. I felt as if I were in a dark cave. But then I sensed the Lord gently and lovingly speak to my heart, “You may be in a cave, but you still have a choice. You can sit in despair or you can diamond-mine your difficulties.” I decided I was not leaving that time in my life empty-handed. I was taking every hidden blessing I could find. Of course, I still had difficult days. But choosing hope made a difference.

As a reminder, I now wear two rings. The one on the fourth finger of my left hand represents my commitment to my husband. The one on the fourth finger of my right hand is a simple silver band inscribed with the word “hope” and it represents the commitment I have made to God and myself to hold onto hope no matter what happens.

The story of an inspiring woman named Terrie also reminds me to hold onto hope. She endured the loss of four pregnancies and waited seventeen years before adopting a little girl. She told me, “I think one of the most important parts of this journey is learning to trust God. I don’t mean the flippant kind of trust. It’s easy for people to say, ‘You just need to trust God.’ It’s much harder when you’re in the middle of all this pain. But he is trustworthy. Through it all, God has given us an amazing story. I wouldn’t have chosen this road, but he has been with us. I can look back and truly say every step was worth it.”

I don’t know how my journey will end and you probably don’t know how yours will either. I also don’t know how many of you will be silently grieving your losses as we sit in church together on May 8th. But I do know that God sees each one of us. He knows how many hairs are on our heads and how many cares our in our hearts. Whatever you’re going through this Mother’s Day, you’re not facing it alone. As King David, a man who experienced many losses in his life, expressed in Psalm 34:18 NIV, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May God surround you with love, fill you with hope, and give you strength for each moment—especially this Mother’s Day.

Excerpted from When Mother’s Day is Difficult.

Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer for DaySpring, a cofounder of the popular web site (in)courage, and licensed counselor. Holley loves chocolate, coffee, Jesus and connecting with the hearts of women through words. Her next book, a devotional titled God's Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman (Harvest House) will release this July. You can find Holley online through her blog Heart to Heart with Holley.

Olive Oil Desserts Cookbook Review & Giveaway

Giveaway now Closed! Congrats to Amber!
Olive Oil Desserts:Delicious and Healthy Heart Smart Baking
By Micki Sannar


About the Book:
Those yearning to create more healthy treats will learn how to bake without the fats and hydrogenated oils found in common dessert recipes with this lavishly illustrated cookbook. Designed specifically for baking with olive oil, the recipes eliminate key ingredients—butter, hydrogenated oils, margarine, and shortening—that are staples in many traditional desserts. In addition to household favorites such as toll cookies, brownies, and apple pie, the cookbook features instructions for making more than 60 mouth-watering treats, among them chocolate chip buttermilk cake, silky cheesecake with strawberries, lemon sugar cookies, pecan coconut bars, and apple cinnamon rolls. Hints such as using egg substitutes and other ingredients to further lower cholesterol intake, substituting lactose-free options for those suffering from milk sensitivities, and a guide to the many varieties of olive oil are also included.

About the Author and Chef:
Micki Sannar is a world renowned chef with a passion for nutrition and health. She has taught cooking classes overseas and been published in numerous publications. Over six years ago she was stunned to learn that she suffered from high cholesterol despite what she considered a healthy diet and active lifestyle. This realization led her to begin research on olive oil and its powerful heart healthy benefits. She was unable to find recipes that took advantage of olive oil's benefits while satisfying her sweet tooth. She began experimenting and creating her own satisfying desserts. Over six years later "Olive Oil Desserts" is her amazing compilation. By making small changes in her diet Micki has been successful at lowering her cholesterol 100 points. "Olive Oil Desserts" recently won a silver award from the Living Now Book Awards. Recipes from this book have also been requested from the Texas Department of Agriculture to be distributed state wide to promote local olive oil.

My Thougths:
With over 60 tasty recipes you can enjoy good health and dessert at the same time. Micki's heart healthy dessert recipes contain about 1/3 less fat and calories than a traditional dessert. This cookbook conatins tips on using olive oils in baking desserts and with some recipes in this, you can subsitute whole wheat pastry flour instead of white flour for alittle more nutrition. I usually use butter, margarine or shortening for baking, so I was so happy to find this cookbook while looking for healthier options rather than skipping dessert. I like the trick about adding butter extract to give some of these desserts that buttery taste. This cookbook has recipes for Cakes, Cookies & Bars, Muffins & Sweet Breads and Pies & Crisps. This cookbook is easy to follow and the pictures give you an idea of what your dessert should look like. The Substitutes and Ingredient Glossary are very helpful along with all the great tips. I was skeptical about the taste but all the recipes I have tried are delicious and I can't wait to try more of them. I would recommend this cookbook for great, healthier desserts.

For Sample Recipes, visit Olive Oil Desserts.

This book lists for $24.99; You can purchase it on Amazon for only $16.47.

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win Micki Sannar's Olive Oil Desserts Cookbook.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please leave me a comment telling me your favorite dessert.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on May 19th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received this cookbook free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush Review and Giveaway

Giveaway now Closed!! Congrats to Cindy!
Want to put a new spin on your hair styling routine? Smooth, frizz-free and voluminous hair is now easy to achieve with the new Infiniti Pro by Conair™ Spin Air Brush!


Shaped like a typical round hair brush you’d use to do a blow-out, the Spin Air brush combines two tools in one by blowing air through the rotating brush to volumize and add shine as you dry. Simply brush through wet or damp hair for instant drying power.

The tangle-free anti-static bristles allow you to customize your volume with or without the spin function. The powerful ceramic heat distributes heat evenly for less damage, and an ionic generator releases 100x more ions than typical tourmaline ceramic motors. With 100x more ions, your hair will have maximum conditioning and shine! Choose from 3 heat settings and 2 speeds, and the multi-directional rotation (right/left) makes it easy for both right and left-handed users.

My tween daughter loves this!!! She said it is so cool because you can style and dry your hair at the same time. Using this has really saved her time getting ready and has given her hair extra volume. It works great on wet or damp hair.
I tried out the Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush too, so I could give you my opinion and share my results with you. It is really easy to use. I like the multi-directional rotation which makes it good for both right and left handed people. I like the spin function that allows you to spin it or not, giving you just right amount of volume. I notice more shine and volume and my hair looks really good after I use this. I would recommend this.

The Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush is available nationwide at mass market and drug store retailers, as well as at www.conair-store.com for an average retail price of $59.99.

Win it!!! One of my lucky readers will win the Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush.


MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Conair and leave me a comment telling me what feature you like best about this or which item is your favorite.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

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This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on May 19th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series & Giveaway~Day 5~

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

A Mother's Day Wish by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Heads up: Margaret McSweeney deserves a medal, or at least a commendation for giving everyone a much deserved Mother’s Day rest. Okay, y’all can be seated. I’m glad you agree, but you’re supposed to be taking a load off, remember? Oh, and full disclosure—Margaret didn’t know I was going to say that so I hope she leaves it in, and no, I didn’t do it just because I’m ridiculously nostalgic about the theme of her community, although I am. As the Belle of All Things Southern, one who is southern to the bone, I have a thing about pearls.

When I was a teenager, add-a-pearl necklaces were all the rage. They may not be as wildly popular anymore as they were back in the day but I still say they’ll always be a classic concept: a gift of a single pearl on a dainty chain given with the intentions of adding other pearls on important holidays and special occasions. Today, I see add-a-pearls as a beautiful reminder of the accumulated wisdom we learn from our mamas.  Oh, sure, we snicker as young girls because not all of their advice strikes us as useful and some of it seems positively fossilized, but hopefully, over time and with the Father’s blessing, we gain enough perspective to see that these mama-isms—the important values and the silly little lagniappe— are all increasing in value with the years.  By the way, that’s my Mother’s Day wish for each of you, that we’d each take the time and the responsibility to thread these precious heirlooms into treasures worthy of bequeathing to the next generation. Mother’s Day...

May I be honest? I’m looking ahead to the annual celebration with somewhat mixed emotions. I’m not feeling very Mother of the Year. Instead of cooking dinner for my most deserving mama and enjoying her company, instead of reveling in the love of my husband, kids, and grands, (known as the Baby Czars of All Things Southern), I’ll be on the road, touring with my latest book “Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy.” I’ve got Mama’s gift bought, wrapped, and ready to be delivered by my beloved hubby, and my grown kids understand that I didn’t choose the release date, but the facts remain:  I won’t be there. (Shameless plugs time, anyone? My daughter blogs at Kitchen Belleicious and is raising funds to build an orphanage in Rwanda at Shelter a Child http://www.shelterachild.com/ and my daughter-in-law celebrates the daily details of getting to know the Holy One at Providence, http://providence-carey.blogspot.com). I won’t get to enjoy Mama tickling the ivory from the piano bench of Melbourne Baptist Church and I won’t be overdosing on baby sugah. Sigh.

But, then, I mentioned mixed emotions earlier, didn’t I? Well, before some sweet soul cues the violin music, perhaps I should lighten up and come clean on what Mr. Harvey would call “the rest of the story.”  It so happens that while the 8th of May will find me miles from home, it’ll also find me in Savannah, Georgia where I’ve secured myself a little reservation at that famous establishment belonging to Mrs. Paula Deen, the Queen of Southern Cooking. Indeed, y’all, I’ll be suffering for Jesus at The Lady and Sons. I know. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Regardless of where you spend it, I wish you each a Happy Mother’s Day. I’d love to think that everyone reading my words had a mother like mine, a woman of faith who taught me from childhood of the Risen Savior who saves souls and anchors lives. But, dear reader, if that’s not your past, I hope you know it can be your future. I pray you’ll be the one that begins such a legacy, and that you’ll be moved to start building that heritage today.

I’d love to see y’all on the road somewhere. Watch for me, and I’ll watch for you. I’ll be the one with an empty glass of sweet tea looking, always looking, for a refill.

Hugs,
Shellie

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, known as the Belle of All Things Southern is a radio host, columnist, author, speaker and founder of the All Things Southern online community, www.allthingssouthern.com. She loves meeting, greeting, laughing and learning with the whole wide world or as many who wander her way. Shellie once dreamed of writing great important things that changed the world, only once she started writing the world grinned and christened her a humorist. Shellie saw this as a problem at first, until she discovered that the laughter softens hearts, builds relationships, and invites her into people’s hurting hearts where she can share her own, which is exactly where she wanted to be all along. Look for Shellie’s latest book, Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy wherever fine books are sold.