The Legend of the 3 Trees: A Heart-Warming Easter DVD #Giveaway

God always has a plan and a purpose for everything. He does things in His own unique way and in His own time.

The Legend of the Three Trees is one of those books that it's always been so hard to read to my children!  It's a timeless retelling of the classic folktale of three distinct trees, each with its own hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The story and the truth of it choke me up every time.  Each tree dreamed of becoming great—perhaps a majestic treasure chest, or a magnificent sailing ship, or maybe the tallest tree in the forest.

But their dreams don’t seem to come true. Disappointed and dejected, the trees despair until they each interact with Jesus Christ—in His birth, ministry, and ultimate sacrifice. In these experiences they learn that God has a special purpose for each of them.  The story touches my heart so much because it's real.  Our dreams often don't seem to come true, either... but God uses even the disappointments to make something beautiful of our lives.  This is the kind of reminder I've been desperately needing lately--2014 has been the hardest year for me in a long time!  This DVD is definitely for more than just the kids.

I was also excited to hear about the DVD version of the story for another reason that might sound silly--now my kiddos can see the story animated.  I don't have to risk reading it and tearing up like a baby. ;)  The cartoon is very well done and will make such a wonderful Easter gift for someone!

eSalon is AMAZING! ♡

eSalon is definitely as close to you can get to a salon experience without going to the salon.  I've been coloring my hair myself since high school, and that was 16 years ago.  So, yep, I've tried a lot of different hair color products and brands.  eSalon is definitely my favorite!  I am so excited I've found it!  And that's mostly because it's so customized!  Of course, the Ash Copper Medium Brown turned out just like I wanted it to, and that makes me super happy!

My Ash Copper Medium Brown hair, thanks to eSalon

eSalon's philosophy is that one box does not fit all. Our hair is unique, and they believe our color formulation should be too.  When you first begin the search for a new hair color, you put in your skin color and natural hair color.  They give you the best options and help you find exactly what you want.  You can even submit a current photo to get even more personalized results.  

Once you've decided what color you'd like, they mix the product, date it, personalize it, and ship it to you in this classy packaging. You can see it comes with lots of stuff: 2 pairs of gloves, 2 sets of hair color, a brush (I loved brushing the hair color on--it made it much easier!), a packet of color enhancing conditioner, a packet of cleaner for afterwards, and a packet of anti-stain lotion to use around your hair line.

SAVE 50%!
eSalon is very affordable at the full price of $19.95, but they're giving new clients an awesome deal!   New clients get 50% off the 1st order!  Make sure you use this link or click any of the eSalon hyperlinks in this post or the promo won't work: http://www.esalon.com/50off_profile.

If you decide to try out eSalon, let me know!  

LuxePineapple: Designer Cosmetics #Giveaway!

Bringing you sweet deals every day on even sweeter luxurious beauty products!

I was so impressed when I began browsing LuxePineapple.  They sell the most high quality make-up, finally giving us the chance to splurge on the good stuff without actually splurging at all!  They advertise "Free Shipping. Sweet Deals." and it's totally true.

I decided to try Lancôme's "Benghal Collection Voyage" palette and a Clinique's "Great Looks" palette.  I liked them both but I absolutely loved the Benghal Collection Voyage.  The casing is lovely and it's the perfect purse-sized item to carry around in case I need to freshen up.  I love having so many complimentary colors and items in one place (this one includes blush, 4 powder eye shadows, and rose lip colour.   I wore the Lancome makeup in a play over the weekend and received so many compliments!

Welcome to the world of LuxePineapple, where you'll always get a sweet deal!

Mama and I. I'm wearing my LuxePineapple purchase.

At Luxe Pineapple, you can also find  Mac, Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, Dior, L’Occitane en Provence, Kiehls, Chanel, Lierac, Estee Lauder, Good Skin, Bare Minerals, MD Formulations, Elizabeth Arden, Clarins, Kevyn Aucoin, Smashbox, Biotherm, Erno Lazlo, Tarte, Philosophy and more.  Love!  I've book marked this beauty shop and am so excited to have found it!

LuxePineapple was started by a wife and mom who's also an entrepreneur and a budget-conscious beauty maven. Like many, I spend most of my days catering (happily) to the needs of others, balancing budgets, play dates, soccer, even laundry and a career.  LuxePineapple was founded to remind you to take a few minutes to celebrate yourself and to help your beauty dollars go further in doing so.  I like that.  After all, motherhood is beautiful.  Only in the last couple of years have I started grabbing 5 minutes here and there to put on makeup, and to begin to feel more beautiful on the outside.  As a homeschooling mama of 4, it can be hard to find the time and to budget for that.  That's why I like stores like this one.

Discount

Use the code SISTERHOOD for 20% off their already amazing prices!

 

Giveaway 

One of my readers will receive a $20 e-gift certificate to spend on your choice of cosmetics at Luxe Pineapple!  Enter to win by 11 pm anyone's time on April 8th.  I'll choose a winner the next day via Random.org.  Good luck! 

You Can Find Luxe Pineapple On

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Facebook

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Luxe Pineapple for providing me with this review and giveaway opportunity!

Moulin Roty Castle Shadows... Enchanting Nighttime Shadow Puppets!

The Theatre

Bedtime stories may never be the same thanks to Moulin Roty, the 40-year-old French toy company, that is "casting a light" on its Les Petit Merveilles line of Nighttime Shadow Puppets. Instead of reading from a storybook, we spent the evening making up fairy tales with our new Shadow Puppets.  They come in a variety of themes--Castles, Paris, Circus and Dinosaurs--to create magical tales for sweet dreams! Magicforest is a wonderful toy company and I can't wait to see more from them!

If you've ever made hand shadows on the wall or have seen shadows cast by a flashlight on a camping tent, then you already have an idea of how shadow puppets work. Each of these little sturdy works of art come together to entice storytelling. The Paris Shadows set shows the Eiffel Tower, airplane, moon, sleepwalker, and others. The 9-piece Castle Shadows include a dragon, a fairy, royalty, a witch, and more (this is the one we have). If dinos are more your style, the Dinosaur Shadows pack of 10 puppets feature a stegosaurus, brachiosaurus and more prehistoric shapes! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take unique pics with this one.  My camera just doesn't have what it takes to take decent photos in the dark. But trust me, these are so neat!

 

You Can Find Magicforest On

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Special thanks to the wonderful people at Moulin Roty for providing us with this review opportunity!

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes are Ah-mazing!

These are my favorite pancakes in the whole entire big huge wide world!  They are amazing!  And they're being published in a magazine (I'm getting paid for it--woohoo!) so thought it was a good time to reblog. ;)

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Combine the eggs, milk, honey and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in apple. 

2.Pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto a hot griddle coated with cooking spray. Turn when bubbles form on top; cook until second side is golden brown.

3. Serve warm. I topped mine with walnuts and Marzapan's apple dip.  Yeah, it was like dessert.  My hubby had his with syrup.  His loss.  hehe  Still, whatever you throw on top, these will make you wish for more.  

Makes about 10 to 12 regular-sized pancakes.

Of course, you don't have to use a Granny Smith apple but those have amazing flavor so if you use something else and don't get utter deliciousness, don't blame me. ;) 

Shirley J. Cookies: Delicious, Easy, and Perfect for Christmas! #Giveaway

Shirley J makes the most delicoius baking mixes!  I've tried all of their Gourmet Cookie Mixes and can say that they are so delicious.  The Gourmet Cookies come in Classic Sugar, New York Black and White, Oatmeal, and Soft Ginger.  They taste like they're made from scratch and I guess you could say they are, but they come already measured in the perfect combinations.  I've been serving Shirley J cookies this holiday season.  So far, my kiddos favorites are the Classic Sugar cookies (best sugar cookies ever ever ever!) and my favorites are the Oatmeal cookies, though I'm really fond of the Classic Sugar, too.  I added raisins and they were absolutely delicious.  Everyone who has tried our Shirley J cookies has loved them, too, and believe me, I've served them to lots of friends!  

We added Christmas sprinkles!

Shirley J also sells these really cool Mugging Sets which are, essentially, cake in a mug mixes.  You can get any flavor of Shirley J "Cake in a Mug" mix with a nice grey snowflake mug. Comes in a cute gift box.  Sounds like a wonderful Christmas present!  

You can find all of the Shirley J products at their store, where you can also find recipes and learn about their Try It Club--a free product every month comes with membership.  Sounds quite appealing!


GIVEAWAY
One of my readers will receive a set of Shirley J Gourmet Cookie Mixes--one mix of every flavor so that you can try them all!  Enter below by Dec. 7th at 11 pm anyone's time.   
 

You Can Find Shirley J On

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Special thanks to the wonderful people at Shirley J for providing us with this review and giveaway opportunity!

Safari Ltd: Discover the Frontiers of Your Imagination! Toy #Giveaway

My kiddos were so excited to receive some new animals in the mail from Safari Ltd today!
They chose to review the Glow-in-the-dark Salamander, the Gray Squirrel, the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Baby, and the Glow-in-the-dark Snow Dragon.  The toys are so unique and marvelously made!  They would, of course, make amazing stocking stuffers!  My kiddos love animals and are currently playing outside, creating natural habitats for their new critters.

Safari Ltd Glow-in-the-dark Salamander

What can I say?!  She's ALWAYS loved lizards and salamanders!

My kiddos also have some other very cool toys from Safari Ltd: a Sea Otter, Bearded Dragon and an Eastern Chipmunk.  All of the animals are very lifelike, as you can see in the photos below and above!  We've learned a lot just by playing with them, reading about their habitats and eating habits, and Googling photos of them. 

Along with the animal toys, Safari Ltd also sent us a pocket-sized full-color catalog.  My daughters were amazed at how many animals are available!  They're already deciding which ones they want to buy next with their "own money".  I'm pretty certain that if there's an animal you can think of, Safari Ltd. makes it.  Not only do they make replicas of actual animals, but they also make historical figures, mythical creatures, and extinct animals.  So amazing!

GIVEAWAY! 

Safari Ltd has offered to give one of my readers their choice of replica toy and if you're following them on at least one of their social media sites, you will get another surprise toy!  Enter below by Dec 2nd at 11pm anyone's time.   

Be sure and enter our many other Cyber Monday Giveaways! Low entries and lots of winners!

You Can Find Safari Ltd. On:

Facebook
Twitter

Pinterest
Google+ 
Youtube

So tell me... which Safari Ltd. toy do you want most for your kiddos?  Just type any animal in the searchbox and it's bound to pop right up!

Special thanks to the awesome people at Safari Ltd. for providing us with these toys to review!

 

Samson's Classroom Reading Program Fun

Samson's Classroom is a literacy focused software program designed for grades K-5 and my 2nd grade daughters love it!  There are three units: sight words, spelling, and reading comprehension. What I really like about it is that I can completely customize it to match our book curriculum.  I use my own spelling lists for the "spelling" section and then Samson's Classroom uses those words in the three different spelling games my children play to learn that weeks spelling list.  They're doing so much better on their spelling and they're having lots of fun with their practice!  

With a family account (which is what one of my reader's will win), each child gets their own log-in and password.  When you log on as the parent/teacher, you're able track their individual progress, change their usernames/passwords, and make spelling lists available to them.  I've tried a lot of on-line programs for my kiddos and this is by far the one that gives me the most control over what my kiddos are learning.  And it's the most affordable one, too!  You just pay a one-time fee and it's yours--none of that month to month billing that so many other programs stick you with.  One-time payments: definitely preferable!

My readers can enter the code TSH for $20 off at checkout until January 1st of the new year--that makes it just $10 for a single account or $20 for a family account (up to four students).  It's a truly amazing deal!  The code can be used on more than one purchase if any of you are interested in buying accounts as Christmas gifts.  Samson's Classroom would make a great gift for homeschooling children, or for friends, nieces, nephews, or any child in your life!  What better gift than the gift of education?! 

For more fun screenshots and to stay up to date, check out:

Samson's Classroom on Facebook

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Samson's Classroom for providing us with these products to review!

New Lottie Dolls, The Fashionable Answer for Smart Girls! #Giveaway

The Lottie dolls are really wonderful!  They're much different than Barbie dolls and look simply like little girls.  They even stand on their own two feet, which is something that can't be said for most fashion dolls.  Each Lottie doll has a unique personality so there's a Lottie doll to fit every girl.  My daughters and I reviewed Pirate Queen Lottie.  We love History and this seemed like a fun way to incorporate History class into play.  Pirate Queen Lottie pretending to be a real "pirate", Grace O'malley, an Irish lass who sailed the seas hundreds of years ago and was an incredible navigator. Grace met Queen Elizabeth of England, which is what my daughter is acting out in the picture below.

There are also a Butterfly Protector Lottie, who may inspire a love for nature, experiments and science; Kawaii Karate Lottie, to inspire a strong mind and a strong body; and Robot Girl Lottie, who is a whiz at the science fair. An interest in robotics could happen by playing with this adorable toy! There are lots of fun accessory sets, too.  We chose to review Lottie's pet, Pandora the Persian Cat (my daughters love cats so Lottie just had to have one!)  You can see all of the Lottie Dolls and Accessory Sets here.  

Grace O'Malley meeting the Queen of England

GIVEAWAY

One of my readers will win her choice of Lottie doll and additional outfit based upon availability.  Enter below by  Monday November 25th at 11 pm anyone's time.  Also be sure and check out all the other giveaways featured in our Christmas Gift Giveaway Extravaganza! 
 

You Can Find Lottie Dolls On

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Which Lottie Doll and Accessory Set will you choose if you win? 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Lottie and KidStuff PR for providing us with this review and giveaway opportunity!

A Waterproof Bible Giveaway! Because Bardin&Marsee Publishing is Amazing

Bardin&Marsee is this incredible company who publishes waterproof bibles!  And I mean it--our newest bible from them is really awesome.  All bibles are awesome, of course, but this one just takes the cake.  You can soak it in the sink, drench it, spill coffee on it, drop it in a lake, drop it in the toilet, you name it; the water will just drip right off.  Not that I tried dropping it in the toilet or anything.  Just saying.... some of use are clumsy.  ;)  I can read it outside and it doesn't matter if I happen to set it down and the sprinklers turn on.  Or I can set it in the garden and if it gets a bit muddy, it won't matter in the least.  It wipes off perfectly and looks like new.

Doesn't it look lovely with all that water flowing off?

Even the pages were drenched.

Good as new!

I was surprised that the waterproof bibles are so affordable.  They start out at $10 for the smaller ones (7" tall) and are $20 for most of the larger ones.  You can write and underline in them, there's no bleed-thru, and they're incredibly durable.  They come in different bible translations including NIV, KJV, ESV, NLT, and NKJV.  They also come in different colors and styles. 

This would be a really special (not to mention unique) gift for anyone in your life, most especially campers, hikers, military, and people who like to read in the bath or shower, or at the pool, or... well, you get it.  How can you go wrong with a bible that's waterproof inside and out?!  Awesome.

You Can Find Bardin&Marsee On

Facebook

Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

Enter below by June 20th at 11pm anyone's time.  I'll choose a winner the next day. 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Bardin and Marsee for providing me with this opportunity.