Sep 30, 2014

QWIK WORD Winner's Choice Swag Giveaway ~ Hurry ends 10/14

Another fun and fantastic Giveaway that Susan searched the net to find just for YOU!

QwikWord Giveaway
Hosted by: Queen of Savings
Sponsor: QwikWord

Qwikword is the first social media platform that offers compelling visual stimuli and engages users with one-

American Heart Association Go Fresh Cookbook with Tips ~ #review

The more you cook at home, with a focus on fresh ingredients, the easier it is to achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Go Fresh. The American Heart Association offers more than 250 recipes in this cookbook, inspiring you to bring nutritious and wholesome ingredients into your kitchen. Enjoy full-flavored favorites—all made from scratch, made healthy, and made fresh—including:

INSPIRED words for Inspired KIDS ~ check out the latest and greatest from IAA

 It's the start of another fabulous school year at Inspired Arts and we challenge you to GET INSPIRED this year!
Wise words from Sarah Knupple- founder of IAA:
-INSPIRED- Why Inspired? Because all your children are INSPIRED kids.,,

. I -am

N- Needed to sustain our classes and efforts in arts' education!

S- Special, unique, gifted and talented!
P- a Performer and showcase talents on stage thru singing, acting, dancing, or set making!
I- Innovative as I think outside the box and promote left/right brain thinking!
R- Real and love the 'real life' experiences that we

Sep 28, 2014

Before Amen The power of a simple prayer



We all pray . . . some.

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.
But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?
Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.
We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.
And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?
In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.


Review by Sharon:
I found this book intriguing as well as spiritually helpful with my prayer life. Max Lucado takes you from how to pray, why pray, when to pray, through different reasons for prayer. When you are done with this book you will find that your prayer life if dull will be refreshed, if already at a good point will be made a lot stronger. I would recommend this book highly to anyone that wants a boost in their prayer life.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Sep 17, 2014

Appaloosa Summer by Tudor Robins ~ #review




Title Appaloosa Summer
Author : Tudor Robins
Publisher : Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: June 5 , 2014
Pages : 230
ISBN:  978-0993683701
Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary / Coming-Of Age / Romance / Horse-Themed
Format : Paperback and eBook

Sixteen-year-old Meg Traherne has never known loss. Until the beautiful, talented horse she trained herself, drops dead underneath her in the show ring. Jared Strickland has been living with loss ever

Hope After Suicide by Wendy Parmley ~ A Must Read ~ #review


  Hope after Suicide:  One Woman’s Journey from Darkness to Light
Wendy Parmley

We all have a story—hidden secrets buried in dark and rocky earth. Our task is to unearth—to release the pain and discover the good, discover the healing, discover the love. Uncovering the darkness makes space for the light.
After her mother took her own life, Wendy Parmley learned firsthand the heartache, despair, and loneliness that accompanies losing a loved one to suicide. At one point she even contemplated taking her own life as well. In this uplifting true narrative, you too can discover how to:
  • Forgive yourself and others
  • Open your heart
  • Seek help when you need it
  • Draw closer to the divine
Embrace the light and learn how to heal your soul and overcome loss as you read this touching and tender account of a woman opening her heart years after her mother’s suicide.

My Review :
I must say that this was a difficult book to review for me.  Although it is wonderful to read and has great insights and suggestions for those left behind after the suicide of a loved one, it is also emotional and heart-wrenching as it brings to the forefront those raw emotions that we all face after any loved ones' death.  After losing two friends and a family member this year, reading this book was a great help in seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" through my personal pain and anguish.  Although most of the recent deaths were not from suicide, this book was one that helped me get through some rough days as well as gave me insight into what others may be experiencing and how to reach out to them.
I highly emotional and recommended read. 

Purchase Hope After Suicide: One Woman’s Journey from Darkness to Light at:
Review on Goodreads

(Photo courtesy of Alyse Neibaur at Diamond Eye)

Wendy Parmley   suffered a disabling bike accident in September 2011.  Unable to return to her 20 year nursing career because of the continued effects of her injuries, Wendy began the slow and painful penning of her angel mother’s story and Wendy’s healing journey following her mom’s suicide death.  Wendy’s mom took her own life when just 31 years old, leaving behind her husband of thirteen years and their five young children.

Wendy has long advocated for suicide prevention and has participated on various professional and community based groups dedicated to that end.  She also recognizes the need to unashamedly support those who must continue to live in the painful aftermath of a loved one’s suicide and passionately lends her voice to that cause.

Prior to her bike accident, Wendy worked in nursing leadership for 14 years, earning her MBA degree from Brigham Young University in 2007.  Despite her continued limitations, Wendy is grateful to spend more time with the love of her life, her husband Mark.  She is ever grateful for his support and the support of their three married sons and their wives, their amazing daughter, and their beautiful two grandchildren who fill their life with sunshine.

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Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Sep 14, 2014

Buttons Cloth Diapers #Giveaway Event - ends 9/27


Welcome to the Buttons Cloth Diaper Giveaway!
Hosted by All About Parents

Buttons has soft, leak-proof, and durable diaper covers. The double-gussets around the legs keeps the mess in, so your little one can run, jump, climb, and sleep while your mind is at ease. Elastic at the back and tummy makes a custom fit. The durable snaps allow the covers to adjust to fit any

Gluten Free Made Easy - a great book for fun and easy Gluten Free recipes #review


Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes like Creamy Chicken Taquitos, Margherita Pizza, and even Fudge Chocolate Chip Cookies. Going against the grain has never been easier!

Review
I am very pleased with this book. The recipes were easy to follow. For example the:Cauliflower pizza crust and cheesy bread or the Thai-style cabbage and noodles. The ingredients were majority of the time those that could be found in peoples pantries/cabinets in the kitchen, but there were a few items that would have to be purchased as the grocery store or a specialty/health food store, but they were ones that would not be of great expense to anyone. My only problem with the book is that there were no nutritional values listed after each recipe. There were pictures with each recipe that gave you an idea on how the recipe would look when prepared..

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Sep 11, 2014

Stanfield Family Fundraiser - Cut-A-Thon at SHEAR PERFECTIOn in Morton

ATTENTION ALL LOCAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
JOIN the Cut-A-Thon to Help this local family

You've heard of a marathon to raise money, but what about a cut-a-thon?
 
Shear Perfection hair salon in Morton, has decided to do just that to raise money for the Stanfield family.

This is in memory of the beloved teacher and tennis coach, Joal Stanfield.

Stylists will be cutting hair for at least 6 hours on Saturday, September 20th.  
But owner Karen Meeks says she will work as late as it takes to get through what she hopes will be a long line of customers.

So join our community on Saturday Sept 20th to help this local family!


September 20th

Stanfield CUT-A-THON 

at SHEAR PERFECTION
316 S. MAIN St
 Morton,IL 61550


 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20th

9am - 3pm
SHEAR PERFECTION in Morton will be having a CUT-A-THON.
ALL cuts are free with a donation
ALL proceeds will go to the Stanfield family.
All donations welcome, haircut not necessary 

Baked Goods will also be available for donation