BESIDE STILL WATERS by TRICIA GOYER book review

A LITTLE BOUT THE BOOK

Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she's ever known.

When Marianna's family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find "home", she also encounters God in intimate ways.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK

Before this Tricia Goyer novel I had never read an Amish novel.  I must say I was quite intrigued by the book and felt terrible for Marianna and he problems with always wanting to feel adequate cause of the loss of her sisters on the night she was born.  I also felt pain for her when she had to get up and leave Indiana and Aaron to move with her parents to Montana to keep her younger siblings from her older borther, Levi.  Levi had chosen to leave the Amish lifestyle and was no longer a part of their community.  She does plead to stay but in the end she leaves her Amish community, her older brother, and her childhood love.

 Of course the book does not stop there and the Amish community in Montana is not like the one she is used to.  This community works closely with the English and do a lot of things different than Marianna is used to.  Of course to make things even more interesting there is another guy in Montana named Ben.  He seems perfect and does everything right but he has just one flaw - he is not Amish. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself finishing it in one sitting and am anxiously awaiting Book Two in the series so I can find out what happens next in the life of Marianna.  This is definitely a must read for any fan of a Amish literature or anyone looking for a good book period.  You can find out more about this book and Tricia Goyer's other works HERE.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Beside Still Waters Campaign and received a copy of the book and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID : RODRICK RULES dvd review

Description

Greg Heffley is about to discover that there is something worse than middle school – his own family! Based on the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice™ Award for Best Book Series, the original film cast returns in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, available on Blu-ray and DVD on June 21st. This flick takes sibling rivalry to entirely new levels as big brother and little brother wrestle through growing pains.

Just back from summer vacation, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon, National Treasure: Book of Secrets) and his friend Rowley (Robert Capron, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) enter the next grade as undersized weaklings in their school. A bully favorite, Greg tries not to get noticed by anyone except the pretty new girl, Holly Hills (Peyton List, 27 Dresses). And at home, Greg is still at war with his older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick, “Degrassi”), until their mom Susan (Rachael Harris, The Hangover) instigates a ‘Mom Bucks’ program so Greg and Rodrick can earn play money by doing chores and—gasp!—being nice to each other. Calamity ensues when their parents return from vacation and dad Frank (Steve Zahn, A Perfect Getaway) finds evidence that Rodrick secretly threw a houseparty with his band, Löded Diper. As they struggle with school and compete for ‘Mom Bucks,’ the brothers discover that avoiding trouble is easier if they unite—and their once-twisted partnership grows into a hilariously playful and sometimes mischievous friendship.

My Thoughts

I have unfortunately not seen the first movie in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series but after seeing Diary of a WImpy Kid: Rodrick Rules I am definitely checking it out.  I absolutely loved this movie and found it so funny as did my kids.  I also seen moments of my kids in the movie which is why I think I enjoyed it so much.  Still trying to figure out who would name their band "Loded Diper" though. This is a great choice for Family Movie Night that everyone will ask to watch again and again.  For me, it was one that I didn't mind watching again with the kids. A must have for your dvd collection.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES will be available on single-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD, and 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy and includes the crazy adventures Greg and his friends has over the summer with hilarious all-new “My Summer Vacation” shorts not seen in theaters. It is available in the U.S. and Canada.  You can purchase it at mass retailers that sell dvds and online at Amazon.com for $15.99.  

So don't waste any time and hurry and get your copy just in time for a Summer Family Movie Night.  

* I received the above product solely for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely honest and completely my own.

VACATION AND HOME REMODELING ... WHAT AN UPCOMING WEEK!

So recently you may have noticed my posts are a little less frequent.  Well, this week starts my vacation week with my kids and I am also tackling some home repairs and remodeling  We have already worked on the bathroom floor and now have beautiful hardwood floors in there.  I am so excited.  My fiancée did an amazing job for his first time.  I am so proud of it and him of course.  I would love to eventually do the whole house.  Maybe later...

Next I am planning on tackling my daughters room and trust me I am praying it goes quick and painless LOL.  You just have to see this room.  I am also working on my living room carpet and hoping that Spot Shot will help me work my magic and get it clean.  I am just anxiously waiting for my product to start so stay tuned for my review and also a giveaway from Spot Shot.  I am also currently fixing to start reviewing the PureAyre Pet product with my three indoor cats and see if it really gets my tough cats odors out.

So as you can see I have my hands full and on top of that I am planning a mini vacation for my family.  The first one ever so check back to see where we end up and to read all about.  Now would be the perfect time to sign up for my email subscription.  It is easy just enter your email in the box at the top of my page and you will not miss out on any of my hot reviews or giveaways..

GIVEAWAY WINNERS for WELCH'S COUPON AND THREE60 GEAR SHIRT

Sorry for the delay in getting the winners up and posted.  Been a crazy week that is still getting crazier.  First up we have the winner for the Welch's coupon.

And the winner is... deadmonkeys90

Next is for the Three60 Gear shirt.  And the winner is... kathy pease

Congratulations on winning two great prizes.  You will be receiving an email today, please respond back to it so I can get the company your information.  Remember 48 hours to answer or you forfeit.  Again congratulations!

FREE DOWNLOAD from FREAKY PETS - HURRY AND DOWNLOAD IT!

So I am a sucker for a song with a dance beat.  I can not help but move my hips to any song that has a great beat to it.  I have also passed these gene on to my daughters and sometimes my son. So I recently heard about a free download from Freaky Pets " I FEEL GOOD".

I am sure some of you are wondering what Freaky Pets are.  Well, here is a brief description of them...

Freaky Pets are guaranteed to make life interesting no matter what planet you live on! Freaky Pets is a new interactive product from Abandon Interactive Entertainment that combines a unique line of transformable plush creatures with a browser-based 3D virtual world for kids (and adults) of all ages.

I am going to get the pleasure of reviewing Freaky Pets soon but I wanted to share the free download with my readers now.  So go here to download " I FEEL GOOD" .  Just click on the seal that says Free Download. If you are one of the first 5000 you will get the complete album free after they hit 5000 downloads so hurry and download and share it with your friends. Also you can play the virtual game free too.

Also currently on the Freaky Pets Facebook page they are offering a giveaway where you can score your very own Freaky Pet.  So go here and enter to score a toy that your kids are sure to love.  Also keep an eye out for my review of the Freaky Pets toy coming soon.

* I was not compensated for this post.  The above opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

Dr SEARS ZONEFAST PROGRAM review and giveaway

Now as many of my readers know I have been looking for products and such to help me lose my weight that I recently put back on after becoming happily engaged.  Of you are like me I am a huge disbeliever that diet foods taste good.  I mean all my accounts with diet food is no taste or flavor and not appealing at all to me.  I recently heard about Dr. Sears' ZoneFast program and was intrigued by it and wanted to give it a shot.  Here is some info about it from the website.

See and feel the difference in just 2 weeks!

Weight loss has never been easier. You are eating the foods you like to eat and not feeling hungry between meals. That's the Zone promise. Each ZoneFast™ Weight-Loss Package contains a variety of popular breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack items along with our structured meal planner to help you get acquainted with preparing your Zone meals and put you on the fast track to losing weight.

Now I received a 2 week supply of the program and was so pleased by how much came with it.  Below is a list of all they send you in the 2 week supply..

You will receive two one-week shipments, back to back, with a wide selection of our newest and in-demand products.

Week 1 Shipment

BREAKFAST

1 Bagel - White
1 Bagel - Garlic
1 Bagel - Sesame
1 Roll - Hearty White
1 Package - Original Granola
2 Packages - Cinnamon Swirl Bread Slices (2 slices per package)

LUNCH

1 Bagel - White
2 Flatbread - White
1 Package - Original Granola
1 Package - Plain Bagel Chips
1 Package - White Bread Slices (2 slices per package)
1 Package - Multigrain Bread Slices (2 slices per package)

DINNER

3 Packages - Fusilli
2 Packages - Orzo
1 Pizza Crust - White
1 Package - Plain Croutons

SNACKS

1 Package - Plain Bagel Chips
2 Packages - Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 Package - M&M® Cookies
1 Package - Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies
1 Pretzel - Sesame
1 Package - Original Granola

Week 2 Shipment

BREAKFAST

1 Bagel - Multigrain
1 Bagel - Onion
1 Bagel - Sesame
1 Roll - Multigrain
1 Package - Original Granola
1 Package - Peanut Butter Granola
1 Package - Cinnamon Swirl Bread Slices (2 slices per package)

LUNCH

1 Roll - Sesame
1 Flatbread - Multigrain
1 Bagel - Garlic
1 Package - Herbed Croutons
2 Packages - White Bread Slices (2 slices per package)
1 Package - Multigrain Bread Slices (2 slices per package)

DINNER

2 Packages - Fusilli
3 Packages - Orzo
1 Pizza Crust - White
1 Pizza Crust - Multigrain

SNACKS

1 Package - Plain Bagel Chips
1 Package - Cinnamon Toast Bagel Chips
1 Package - Coconut Chocolate Cookies
1 Package - Heath Bar Cookies
1 Package - Peanut Butter Cookies
1 Package - Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies
1 Pretzel - Sesame

I was so impressed by the amount of food they send in the 2 week shipment.  Now it does not include everything you need for a meal.  It includes the pastas, breads, and snacks/desserts you would need to follow the diet.  You have to provide the other ingredients.  Now my favorite of the package was the orzo.  I loved making rice with it to compliment my dinner.  I also liked the cookies which I was afraid I would not.  They are still really sweet and satisfy that sweet tooth even though they are healthier than most cookies.  I used the garlic bagel to use a garlic bread for my healthy version of spaghetti.

Now this package costs $179 for two weeks and I know that seems like a lot but you get alot of food plus a 2 week supply of Zone Daily essentials ( combination of high-purity OmegaRx and Zone Polyphenols in a convenient daily package you can take with you wherever you go.) and your own personal Zone Coach to answer an questions you may have.  It is definitely worth it if you are seriously wanting to change how you eat.  You can also find healthy recipes online to help you use the foods right and lose the weight.  I recommend the Shredded BBQ pork sandwich (I left out the peppers).  

* I received the above mentioned product solely for review purposes.  My opinion is completely honest and completely my own.

Now I have some exciting news for my lucky readers.  3 of my lucky readers will each receive the same 2 week kit I did from ZoneFast.

GIVEAWAY ALERT

Mandatory entry is to tell me which product you are most interested in from the 2 week kit..

Additional entries

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Follow me on Facebook (2 entry)
• Follow me on Twitter (2 entry)
• Sign up for my email updates (2 entries)
• Tweet about this Giveaway    ( one entry per day)
• Vote for me on Picket Fence Blogs (just click the button on the right) (1 entry)
• Follow ZoneDiet on Twitter (1 entry)
• Like ZoneDiet on Facebook (1entry)

• Leave one comment per entry!!!! (This is important.  If the additional entries count as more than one email please comment the number of times you get credit for it so they count.) 

Please include your screen names and email address with each entry so I can verify the information and to contact you if you win.  This is very important since I have been having trouble getting response back from winners lately.

The giveaway starts today and will end @ Noon on July 6th. 

Good luck everyone!

PLACKERS PRODUCTS AND KIDS CLUB review

As a mom I am always looking for ways to improve my kids' well-being including their dental hygiene.  Now luckily for me only my youngest kid will give me a hard time sometimes bout brushing her teeth. My oldest daughter loves to brush her teeth and would every second if I let her. So my main concerns with brushing is getting them all to brush long enough and properly.

Now flossing is a little different for them.  My oldest does it frequently but my daughters don't and get fussy when I try to do.  This is a frustrating task in my house so I recently set out to find a way to help with it.  I came across a wonderful company called Plackers.

Since pioneering and patenting the first dental flosser more than 35 years ago, Plackers has helped brighten the smiles of millions, redefining the ease, comfort, and convenience of flossing.  So with that said I figured they knew what they were doing.  I started looking at all their products including flossers, dental brushes, kids' toothbrushes, and dental night protector just to name a few.  I didn't realize their were so many different kids of dental flossers before I visited the site.


Now I was lucky enough to receive an assortment of their wonderful products.  I received samples of the wonderful kids flossers (shown above), Flossers for braces, kids' toothbrushes, a wonderful kids shirt, and toiletries bags.  


First my kids loved the flossers and the nice hint of flavor.  Flossing is now a fun thing in our house thanks to Plackers Kid Flossers.  The problem I have now is getting to not floss every few minutes of the day.  I will be having to purchase more flossers soon.  


Next is the kids' toothbrushes.  They come in four styles - ABCs, 123s, Barnyard, and Toothbrush Talk.  My oldest daughter loved the Toothbrush Talk one and is constantly going around the house singing it.  Now a great thing bout these toothbrushes is they play music for as long as the kids are recommended to brush.  I like the ABCs and 123s to help improve my daughters memory of these.  They also really liked the Barnyard one and found it the most fun.

Plackers also recently started a wonderful Kids Club. 

If you visit the Kids Club online you can print coloring sheets and activity sheets and also play games like Plaque Attack (which my kids liked ).  I liked the games and activity sheets cause they were fun and informative for the kids.  So parents after you check out Plackers amazing products, you should let your kids play some games or print out some activity sheets just in time for the car trips for vacation.  


You can purchase the products online here at affordable prices so stock up on some just before school starts back.  Also check back soon cause I am currently working on a giveaway so you can receive your own Plackers products.


* I received the above mentioned products solely for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely honest and completely my own.

SORE THROAT in the SUMMER?! - CHLORASEPTIC PRODUCTS review

I am a mom of three children and nothing makes me prouder to cheer them on.  I am a true soccer and dance mom.  I am that mom that will yell as loud as I can to let my kids know that I am proud of them and love them.  I apologize to the parents who I yell over LOL.  With summer here,  I find myself yelling and cheering more like when my kids are practicing or playing.  With all this yelling comes a sore throat.  Yes, a sore throat in the summer cause I love my kids.


Recently Chloraseptic did a survey on sore throats and found that 28% of sore throats were caused by non-medical and activity based reasons like screaming and cheering.

To be honest I was surprised that the amount was so high.  I honestly figured it would be lower than that.  Chloraseptic has offered a few helpful tips to help deal with your sore throat...

• Use Chloraseptic® Lozenges or Chloraseptic® Sore Throat Spray to relieve sore throat pain
• Increase fluid intake to decrease throat irritation and stay hydrated
• Gargle with warm salt water
• Add honey to warm beverages or use OTC products that contain honey to soothe sore throat pain, especially for children ages 1 to 4, for whom medicines are contraindicated

Now I was fortunate to receive two products from Chloraseptic - their signature throat spray and their amazing sore throat lozenges.  Now I have always loved their spray but had never tried their lozenges until recently.  I tried them back when I had my war with my sinuses to help me sleep at night.  These lozenges were like a little piece of magic.  They helped ease my sore throat and reduce my cough.  I have since recommended them to my mom and family as a must have in the medicine cabinet.  If you have not tried them, you need to.  

Also I have been taking some lozenges along with me when I know I will be yelling or cheering and they are just as effective with this.  Of course I prefer to use my Chloraseptic spray for this usually and it does the job everytime.

So if you are one of those jump out of your seats and yell at every play kind of parent then you definitely need to add Chloraseptic to your must have list for summer.  Your throat will thank you!

Chloraseptic products are located at most mass retailers and at local drug stores and grocery stores for affordable prices.  Also right now you can get a $1 off coupon on their website which is good on any product.  So go print your coupon and then go grab some Chloraseptic before the big game or outdoor fun.

* I received the above mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely honest and completely my own.

BABIATORS sunglasses review

Summer is here and that sun is not hiding this year!  It is out and beaming down here in the South.  As a mom I am always trying to make sure my kids are safe in the bright hot sun.  One of the ways I do that is by making sure they have eye protection like sunglasses.  Unfortunately my youngest daughter seems to break her sunglasses as quickly as I buy them.  I recently heard about a new line of sunglasses that are durable and indestructible basically.  These wonderful sunglasses are called Babiators.

Now I received two pairs (one for each of my daughters).  At first I was skeptical about them not breaking.  I mean summer had barely started and my daughter had already broken two pairs of her sunglasses and one pair of my own.  So I put the glasses through the ringer and tested their durability and let me tell you they didn't break.  Now the lens did pop out but they do that so that they do not break. Yet as easy as they pop out they can be popped back in.  So far my daughters have not broke them and she has tried especially after she saw me testing them out.  I am extremely impressed with them.

Now the sunglasses come in two sizes - one size is for 1-3 year olds and one for 3 years and up.  Fit will vary depending on the size of the child's head.  The Babiators come in four colors including Black Ops Black, Blue Angels Blue, Princess Pink, and Rockstar Red.  Each pair is priced at $19.99 and well worth it if you think about how these sunglasses could last for years.  You can purchase Babiators online.  So hurry and purchase your kids a pair just n time for summer and vacations.  Also follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news.

* I received the above listed product strictly for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely honest ans completely my own.

THOMAS and FRIENDS : THE BIRTHDAY EXPRESS dvd review

All aboard for a birthday Celebration like no other.  

Everyone's favorite train is back in a new dvd - Thomas and Friends : The Birthday Express.

Product Description

            Unwrap your favorite episodes with this special Thomas & Friends collection. Birthdays always come with surprises when your engine friends are geared up for the celebration. Percy must safely deliver a beautifully wrapped present, while Thomas encounters a mystery as he takes Sir Topham Hatt to the party. Full steam ahead for birthday fun.

This dvd also features a wooden whistle sure to delight any future train conductor.  Now as soon as I realized I was going to be reviewing this dvd, I knew my nephew (a huge Thomas fan) would be so happy to review it.  He recently had a birthday so this was the perfect gift for him.  He immediately opened to get his whistle out.  He of course loved the dvd and has since watched it several times.  My sister has it memorized now and is threatening to hide it.  

This dvd is definitely a must have for the train lover in your life.  I recommend purchasing it for them.  It would make an awesome birthday gift since it is birthday themed.  Or a gift for any occasion,.  I recommend rushing out to get your copy now. You can find the dvd sold at most retailers that sell dvds and online at Amazon.com .  Also right now you can go to coupons.com and print a coupon for $2 off the dvd.  So what are you waiting for !  Print that coupon and go get your copy today!

* I received the above mentioned product strictly for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely my own and completely honest.

SWEET DREAMS dvd featuring all your kids favorites review

Dreams Come True with your Favorite Characters!

Put on your jammies and snuggle in for eight sleepytime adventures. Join Thomas as he lights up the tracks for an evening concert and see how Angelina discovers the importance of a good night's sleep during her sleepless sleepover. Then, watch as Barney shows you the magic of nighttime and Bob the Builder Lights up a football field for a nighttime game! Your favorite friends are waiting to cuddle up for a night of family fun.

Episodes:

• Thomas & Friends: "James in the Dark"

• Barney: "Day and Night"

• Bob the Builder: "Night Time Scratch"

• Angelina Ballerina: "Angelina's Sleepover"

• Timmy Time: "Sweet Dreams Timmy"

• Fireman Sam: "Twitching the Night Away"

• Kipper: "Sleepless Night"

• Roary The Racing Car: "Tunnel Vision"

I was super excited to get to review this movie since I am constantly looking for products to help with my daughters' bedtime routine.  This is a great collaboration of shows geared towards bedtime.  My daughters love it and they now associate it with bedtime (which I love). I personally love dvds that combine several shows, it helps keep my kids from getting bored quicker with it.  My daughters' favorite episode has to be Angelina Ballerina or Timmy Time, but they love them all.  This is the perfect dvd for any little kid and also great if you are looking for a wind down dvd for bedtime.

The Sweet Dreams dvd is currently available where most dvds are sold and is available online at Amazon.com for $ 11.99.

* i received the above product strictly for review purposes.  The above opinion is completely honest and completely my own.

CARS 2 PRIZE PACK giveaway

One of the much anticipated sequels is almost at theaters now.  I am talking bout Cars 2. I am so excited to see this movie with my kids and just can not wait for it to come out.  according to the previews it looks really funny.  Here is alittle information about it...

When star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy)

head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage!

I have some awesome news,  I am able to host a giveaway featuring an awesome Cars 2 prize pack.  I am so jealous of the winner of this prize pack which includes...

- CARS 2 t-shirt in youth sizes of S, M, L, XL

- CARS 2 set of 3 bumper tickets

- CARS 2 temporary tattoo sheet (2 per winner)

- CARS 2 puzzle

Mandatory entry is to tell me your favorite Cars character.

Additional entries

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Follow me on Facebook (2 entry)
• Follow me on Twitter (2 entry)
• Sign up for my email updates (2 entries)
• Tweet about this Giveaway    ( one entry per day)
• Vote for me on Picket Fence Blogs (just click the button on the right) (1 entry)

• Leave one comment per entry!!!! (This is important.  If the additional entries count as more than one email please comment the number of times you get credit for it so they count.) 

Please include your screen names and email address with each entry so I can verify the information and to contact you if you win.  This is very important since I have been having trouble getting response back from winners lately.

The giveaway starts today and will end @ Noon on July 6th. 

Good luck everyone!