Busy Julie

JustKidCostumes.com

2011-09-23T06:08:00.035-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner! Would you like to get more creative than cutting some holes out of a white sheet and calling your child a ghost? Here's the perfect website for you - and a coupon code too!

JustKidCostumes.com offers the largest selection of children's costumes online at great prices. With over 3,000 costumes and accessories to choose from including superheroes and Disney Princesses, you can shop with your children for a variety of great costumes without the fear of seeing costumes that may be inappropriate for youngsters, like sexy kittens and bloody ghouls.

One of the fun features on JustKidCostumes.com is their Dress-Up Room app. Just upload your child's photo to the app and see what they would look like dressed up in their favorite costume. You can even easily share their photos with your friends on Facebook!

JustKidCostumes.com is even offering a special 10% off coupon code to make shopping with them even better. The coupon code is BLOGGER10.

For all of the latest news on JustKidCostumes.com you can follow them on Facebook.

Worldwide Day of Play - September 24, 2011

2011-09-22T10:21:00.001-04:00

Have you heard of the Worldwide Day of Play? It's the centerpiece of Nickelodeon's The Big Help, a program to empower kids and families to make healthy lifestyle choices every day. On September 24, 2011, kids and families are encouraged to participate in the Worldwide Day of Play to turn off the TV and play outside.

My husband and I had very different experiences playing outside when we were growing up. My daughters are having a different experience as well.

As a kid, my husband played outside all day, rode his bike everywhere, and basically stayed out from the time the sun came up to the time the sun went down. He lived in a cul-de-sac and had lots of kids in the neighborhood to play with. One of his neighbors didn’t have children, but they let all the neighborhood kids swim in their pool all summer long. My husband has fond memories of his days in the sunshine and his nights of catching fireflies with his neighborhood pals.

On the other hand, I lived in the country as a kid and there were no kids around to play with. Our closest neighbors were an elderly couple. They had a beautiful fig tree in their front yard and I loved to visit them. Their grandchildren were older and didn’t visit often, so I became their surrogate granddaughter. They were very, very sweet to me. But most of my time was spent indoors. I was an Atari pro and I remember every 80s video from the start of MTV. Yes, I am giving my age away!

Now with my daughters, their outdoor experience is unique from either my husband or me. We have a fenced in backyard and a swing set. The kids can play outside while I watch them from the kitchen window, but I don’t leave them unattended very long. I also do not let the girls ride bikes throughout the neighborhood, only in our cul-de-sac. Sometimes I wonder if I would do things differently if I had sons instead of daughters. I don’t know, but my main priority is keeping my daughters safe.

Times are very different from back when my husband had free reign of his neighborhood. It’s easy to long for times-gone-by, but I am happy my daughters don’t know any different and enjoy spending time together in our backyard.

They also love to play with our dog outside, and he’s pretty good at letting us know if there are any problems in the backyard, namely squirrels, chipmunks and woodpeckers! LOL!

The main thing we do as a family is get in the car and head to a state park that's about 5 minutes from our home. It has an absolutely wonderful walking path. We walk around the lake with the dog and get in some exercise. The kids love to watch the ducks and feed them bread; that is, when we remember to bring it! There’s also a great playground at the park and we try to give the kids some time to play. All five of us come home tired!

Physical activity can improve health, self-esteem and the well being of children. Clorox 2 is a proud sponsor of Nickelodeon's 8th Annual Worldwide Day of Play. Check out the Clorox2 Play 2Day Pledge hub, http://clorox2play2day.com, and take the pledge to play outside!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Child Passenger Safety Week and National Seat Check Saturday

2011-09-22T05:39:00.001-04:00

Did you know that each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in motor vehicle crashes. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13.

The reason? Most parents and caregivers don’t understand how car seats work and are not familiar with the milestones a child must reach before he or she can be safely transitioned to the next car seat type or seat belt. The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration is aiming to increase awareness during Child Passenger Safety Week (September 18-24) by educating parents and caregivers about this issue and motivate those who think they are securing their child properly to seek help, even if they’re sure their child is correctly restrained.

Child Passenger Safety Week concludes with National Seat Check Saturday on September 24, where community events nationwide will have Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available to provide hands-on car seat inspections and advice — for free! Go here to find car seat inspection station near you!

Hellmann's Chicken Challenge

2011-09-21T06:25:00.000-04:00

Hellmann's is on a mission to help break you out of your dinner menu monotony!

To help you spice-up your dinner routine, Hellmann's and Best Foods® mayonnaise are launching the first-ever Chicken Challenge, a series of head-to-head chicken dish challenges that will help moms diversify their weekly recipe repertoire. Each week on Hellmanns.com, two chicken dish "challenger" recipes from Chipotle Lime Crusted Chicken to Baked Buffalo Chicken will go up against one of the most popular recipes on Hellmanns.com, Parmesan Crusted Chicken. Try one of the featured Hellmann's chicken recipes each week and cast your vote for your favorite.

On Hellmanns.com, you can also enter into a weekly sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four $250 grocery gift cards.** And if Hellmann's receives more than 10,000 entries, the value of the grocery gift cards will double to $500!**

I tried the Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe and it's quick, easy and delicious! It's kid-friendly and husband-friendly! Just whip up some mashed potatoes and some steamed broccoli and you've got a great weeknight meal. Perfect for a busy day! Try it out and see how your family likes it!

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Hellmann's prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own.

SPOOKY BUDDIES on Blu-ray & DVD 9/20!

2011-09-20T06:28:00.009-04:00

The Buddies are Back in a Spooktacular Adventure!

SPOOKY BUDDIES premieres on Blu-ray, DVD & Movie Download from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on September 20th!

For a goulish good time, catch Rosebud, B-Dawg, Buddah, Budderball, and Mudbud in their all-new Halloween-themed movie!

SPOOKY BUDDIES continues the overwhelmingly popular franchise that features the adorable talking puppies, with action, laughs, and fast-paced adventure.

My kids have seen the commercials for this movie and they really want to see it! It looks funny!

You can even have a SPOOKY BUDDIES party with some of these fun activities. My kids and I will just have to try the dog biscuit recipe!

Pick up a copy of SPOOKY BUDDIES today!

Book Review - Grace for the Good Girl

2011-09-08T21:47:00.029-04:00

ABOUT THE BOOK

Emily Freeman Invites Women to Stop Trying to Impress God and Rest In Him

She’ll always volunteer to teach Sunday School. If a family needs a casserole, she’s on the list to bring one. She’s seen as dependable, organized, and capable. And she likes it that way. But deep inside she struggles. Is her quiet time long enough? Why does it feel like everyone else in her women’s Bible Study is getting more out of it than she is? What more could God want from her?

In Grace for the Good Girl (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1984-5, $13.99, September, 272 pages), Emily Freeman invites women to let go of the try-hard life and realize that Christ gives us freedom to receive from God rather than constantly trying to achieve for him. As “good girls,” we focus on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives and our unshakable good moods. When we fail to measure up to our own impossible standards, we hide behind our good girl masks, determined to keep our weakness a secret.

“We may have learned to hold our tongue, to raise our hands in worship, to be kind when we feel unkind. We may have learned to act right,” Freeman writes. “But the unseen mind is an unruly battlefield. Even though I know that my spirit has now been united with God’s Spirit and my true identity is found there, my soul still has muscle memory.”

With an open hand and a whimsical style, Freeman uncovers the truth about the hiding, encouraging women to move from hiding behind girl-made masks and do-good performances to a life hidden with Christ.

Chapter by chapter, Grace for the Good Girl helps readers:

Learn how to stop hiding behind performance and reputation
Let go of the try-hard life
Rest in God’s grace instead of trying to impress Him

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Freeman is a writer who loves to read and a speaker who would rather listen. She writes for DaySpring (a division of Hallmark) and has also traveled as a writer with Compassion International to raise awareness for the needs of children in poverty around the world. She received degrees from both Columbia International University and The University of North Carolina Greensboro. She is married to John, a student ministries pastor, and together they live in North Carolina with their three children. Emily extends a daily invitation on her blog for women to create space for their souls to breathe. Come join the community of grace dwellers at www.ChattingAtTheSky.com.

BUSYJULIE'S REVIEW

I enjoyed Emily's book. Her writing style is comfortable and easy. This book is a really good read for someone (that would be....ME) who struggles with perfectionism and a performance-based mindset. I wake up in the morning with a list of "tasks" to be accomplished for the day, then all day long I beat myself up for not doing them quickly enough or well enough, and at the end of the day I feel defeated by the things I did not get done. I am not just talking about chores. If I don't pray enough or if I talk to my kids too sharply, I feel worthless. I am the girl who feels guilty for feeling guilty. This book reminded me that these things are irrelevant and that my identity is in Christ, not in my performance. I am "safe, even in failure." For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). It's all about HIM, not about me! Praise God!

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Summer Movies!

2011-07-16T23:03:00.004-04:00

Do you like to go to the movies? Our family loves it. There are a couple of movies coming out soon that I want to take the kids to see, and a few I want to see all by myself! That's right, I love to go to the movies by myself. No one's talking to you or asking questions about the plot. It's just my time to get completely engrossed in the movie. I can't ever watch a movie at home. I get too distracted with house chores like laundry and dishes, not to mention my kids and husband talking to me. Or I fall asleep! I can't ever make it through a whole movie at home.

Here are some movies we are looking forward to seeing this summer:

WINNIE THE POOH

THE SMURFS

THE HELP

(This will be one I see on my own. It was an excellent book. Hope the movie will do it justice!)

What do you want to see this summer?

New Coupons!

2011-01-28T11:03:00.001-05:00

Coupons.com has some great new coupons this week!

Print them off before they are gone!

$5.00 OFF $25 at Family Dollar Stores

$1.50 OFF 1 Box Of Peace Cereal

$1.50 OFF 1 Nestle Fun Size Valentine Exchange Pack

$1.00 OFF 1 Bottle of Any A.1.Steak Sauce

$1.00 OFF 1 Package Oscar Mayer Carving Meat

$0.75 OFF 1 Shake 'N Bake Product

$0.75 OFF 1 Package of Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Rolls

$0.75 OFF 1 Any Bob Evans Frozen Sandwich

$0.50 OFF 1 Any Bob Evans Refrigerated Side

$0.50 OFF 1 Any Bob Evans Sausage

$0.50 OFF any 2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls

Buy One Get One FREE Nestle Purified Water

$7.00 OFF any 1 Florastor Probiotic

$3.00 OFF 1 Schick Quattro for Women Trimstyle

$2.00 OFF any 1 Nature's Bounty Your Life Vitamins

$1.00 OFF any one PediaCare Product

Buy One Get One FREE Cesar Bistro Dog Food

Buy One Get One FREE ProPlan Select Can Food

$10.00 OFF Purina BREEZE Litter System

$3.00 OFF ProPlan Select Cat Food (3.5lbs or larger)

$3.00 OFF ProPlan Select Dog Food (albs or larger)

$2.00 OFF 12 cans of Purina Mighty Dog

$1.00 OFF 1 Purina Beneful Brand Snackin Slices

$1.00 OFF 1 3lb Or Larger Bag Purina Cat Chow Cat Food

$1.00 OFF 1 5lb Or Larger Bag Purina Fit & Trim Dog Food

$10.00 OFF The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary Collection On Blu-ray

Travel Alaska

2011-01-26T10:17:00.000-05:00

Request your free official state of Alaska vacation planner here!

New Samples at FreeFlys

2011-01-26T07:58:00.006-05:00

Free sample of Cover Girl NatureLuxe foundation.

Free sample of John Frieda Shampoo & Conditioner.

Free sample of MAGGI Chicken Flavored Pasta Soup.

Free sample of Powerbar gel blasts.

Free Beech-Nut Stage 4 Toddler Welcome Kit.

Free sample of Cinnabon Cream of Wheat.

Free sample of GoodNites Underwear.

Free Sinus Rinse from NeilMed.

Free Dog or Cat toy from ThePaws.com.

Free sample of EAS Myoplex Bar or Shake.

GOTTA LOVE A FREEBIE!!! ENJOY!!!

Book Review - The Search

2011-01-21T07:17:00.011-05:00

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher has written extensively about the Amish, releasing both fiction and non-fiction books that have won the hearts of reviewers in both in and out of the Amish community. Now comes The Search, Fisher’s latest fiction novel in the Lancaster County Secrets series.

Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision. She couldn't have known that her choice would impact so many. Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm—and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes readers through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Fans both old and new will find themselves immersed in this heartwarming—and surprising—tale of young love, forgiveness, and coming to grips with the past."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

"Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. 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."

BUSYJULIE'S REVIEW:

I am a big fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher and she really does a great job (again!) with The Search. This is the third book in the Lancanster County Secrets series. I read the first book, The Choice, but did not read the second book, The Waiting. Don't worry if you have not read the first two books. The Search is a good read all on its own. You will enjoy this story!

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate my review. I received no monetary compensation for this review. These are my honest opinions.

Dockers - Free Shipping!

2011-01-18T14:21:00.000-05:00

Shop Online with Dockers for exclusive savings and free shipping!

Free Diabetes Guide

2011-01-18T11:39:00.001-05:00

Have you or someone you love been recently diagnosed with diabetes?
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My Starbucks Rewards

2011-01-13T14:05:00.000-05:00

Did you receive a Starbucks giftcard for Christmas? Make sure you register your card at My Starbucks Card. After you register, you can earn rewards when use your Starbucks Card. All registered Starbucks Card holders get a free handcrafted birthday beverage of their choice. Sweet!

Zulily

2011-01-13T13:30:00.001-05:00

Checked out this new site! Zulily is a a fabulous new online store offering daily sales events on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids. Zulily carries the best brands at the lowest prices. Members enjoy savings of up to 70% off retail prices. Zulily loves to find deals on favorite styles, and they love introducing members to exciting new brands, too.

Zulily is not a traditional online store. Instead, they feature new items every day. Zulily finds great buys from lots of brands and works with them to ship you the goods. Zulily events last 72 hours...then they're gone! New brands move in and get their three days on the site.

Each weekday, they offer at least five limited-time shopping events. Membership is free. Enjoy!

Pepboys Coupons

2011-01-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

Need anything from Pepboys? Go here for fantastic savings!

Christmas is almost here!

2010-12-21T12:41:00.001-05:00

The holidays are upon us! Take a quick break from the gift wrapping, cookie baking, and decorating for a Christmas chuckle from Green Giant.

TANGLED - THE MOVIE - IN THEATERS 11/24/2010

2010-11-06T22:56:00.002-04:00

My daughters are really excited to see this movie when it comes it. Sounds like it will be a cute one!

Walt Disney Pictures presents “Tangled,” one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told. When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. In theaters this holiday season in Disney Digital 3D™, “Tangled” is a story of adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.

Product Review - SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins

2010-10-21T23:01:00.054-04:00

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

The founders of SmartyPants vitamins say the following about their product:

"SmartyPants was founded by parents looking to solve the oft-discussed problem of picky eaters. We created a new all-in-one pediatrician-approved multivitamin with DHA omega-3's, choline and 100% of the daily required dose of vitamin D for those of us who, despite our best efforts, might find it challenging to make sure our kids are eating enough organic fruits, veggies and fish every day to get the nutrients they need. Until now, parents have had to buy three separate vitamins to get comparable nutritional value found in SmartyPants multivitamins - a chore that is cost prohibitive and inconvenient. We don't think vitamins are a silver bullet or a substitute for eating right by any means, but they are a helpful tool as almost all parents find it challenging some times to make sure their kids are getting all the things they need from their diet.

ABOUT THE VITAMINS

Kids love the taste and texture of SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins. Our vitamins share the following attributes:

Sweetened with a touch of organic cane sugar (NO high fructose corn syrup), our vitamins contain brain-healthy DHA Omega 3's yet taste delicious and contain only 5g of organic cane sugar per serving. That's 80% less sugar than a glass of unsweetened apple juice.
Pediatrician Approved! Dr. Robert Kramer, Chairman of Pediatrics (Ret.), Baylor University Medical Center says "Good nutrition is key to a child's healthy brain development. As a pediatrician, I know how hard it is to get children to eat a well-balanced diet, especially for hard to get nutrients like Omega 3 DHA and vitamin D that are key to healthy development. SmartyPants helps parents ensure their children are getting all the nutrients they need."
Handpicked ingredients that are natural and eco-friendly. The DHA omega 3's are sourced from small fish that are free of heavy metals like mercury, high concentrations of which are found in tuna and other sources typically used for omega 3 oils and are eco-friendly for the same reason.
Matching grants for children in need is a core part of the brand.

GIVING

SmartyPants' program 'Get Health, Give Health' makes a matching one for one nutrient grant for every bottle sold through a partnership with Vitamin Angels, a 5 star non-profit that provided micronutrients to over 10 million children last year. This program gives nutrients to malnourished children for every bottle sold and teaches children the positive cause and effects of giving. SmartyPants' goal is to help 1 million children in need over the next 5 years.

BUSYJULIE'S REVIEW

My kids are healthy but are on the smaller side of the growth chart. So, I make sure they take their vitamins daily so they will have all the important nutrients they need in their diet. These gummy vitamins were a hit in my house. My daughters liked them and thought they were pretty tasty. I even tried them and found them to be less gritty and more candy-like than other gummy vitamins, yet not overly sweet. My daughters enjoyed the temporary tattoos that were shipped in the package along with the vitamins. What a fun surprise! I like the philosophises of this company and their giving program and partnership with Vitamin Angels. As a mom, I like to support products and services that I feel give back to the greater good of society and help other moms and children in the world. If you feel the same way, SmartyPants is a wonderful company to support.

If you are interested in trying these vitamins, you can get a great deal! SmartyPants is offering BusyJulie readers a 35% discount. Just enter the code SPbusyjulieblog at checkout.

Book Review - Choosing to SEE

2010-09-12T07:41:00.052-04:00

ABOUT THE BOOK - CHOOSING TO SEE

Sharing her personal story for the first time, Mary Beth Chapman, wife of award-winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman, has written the book Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1991-3, $21.99, Revell). The book, which will hit shelves this September, was co-authored by Ellen Vaughn, a New York Times bestselling author and inspirational speaker.

In Choosing to SEE, Chapman bares her heart and soul as she shares honestly about her personal journey - from her childhood, to challenges of married life, to the sudden and tragic loss of a daughter. Choosing to SEE follows her lifelong wrestling match with God, questioning why the life she had planned so carefully doesn't seem to match to the plan that God has mapped out for her. The book also explores Mary Beth Chapman's relationship with God in the face of the unexpected, and in the pain of such a brutal loss. Throughout the pages, Chapman tackles these questions with grace, grit, insight, and most of all, hope.

"I have cried so many tears mixed with the sadness of missing Maria and the joy of remembering her!" Chapman writes. "I think when those tears get all mixed up together and fall, it has to water the dry places of our hearts and begin to slowly heal us..."

ABOUT THE AUTHORS - MARY BETH CHAPMAN AND ELLEN VAUGHN

Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman have been married for 25 years and have six children: Emily (24), Caleb (20), Will Franklin (19), and Shaohannah Hope (10), Stevey Joy (7), and Maria Sue, who is now with Jesus. In 2001, the couple began an adoption ministry, Show Hope, which began as an assistance to families in the process of adoption, particularly by helping tear down the financial barrier that prevents many from bringing an adopted child into their home. To date, Show Hope is now an internationally recognized voice for orphan advocacy and has given over 2,300 financial grants, affecting the lives of children from 45 different countries, including the U.S. In addition to giving financial grants, Show Hope empowers families, churches and communities with adoption and orphan care resources and advocacy efforts. Mary Beth currently serves as the president of Show Hope. Along with her husband, she has also co-authored three books for their Shaoey and Dot children's series, and she continues to write a compelling blog found on her website. The family resides in middle Tennessee.

Mary Beth Chapman will be speaking at 12 upcoming Women of Faith conferences this year, as well as on the "A Night with the Chapmans" concert tour scheduled for this fall. She is represented by Creative Trust Literary Group located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ellen Vaughn is a New York Times bestselling author and inspirational speaker. Her recent books include It's All About Him, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times nonfiction list. In addition to her nonfiction work, Vaughn is an award-winning novelist. Vaughn and her husband Lee live in the Washington, DC area.

BUSYJULIE'S REVIEW

This book is Mary Beth Chapman's personal story of how she coped and is coping with the horribly tragic loss of her daughter, Maria. The start of the book is very jolting. Immediately, the reader is drawn in with "the call" Mary Beth received, that Maria was involved in an accident. But then, we hear Mary Beth's story of a high performing childhood, painful adolescence, newlywed and early marriage years, and the births and adoptions of her children. Mary Beth then describes in painful detail the dark times that followed Maria's death. She is real and does not sugarcoat anything. In the midst of all the pain, Mary Beth gives hope to the reader. Something good can come out of despair when you trust that the Lord will carry you through. Life is never perfect and bad things do happen to good people. But as the book says, "...even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE." (Check out the book for a beautiful explanation of the title!)

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review on my blog. These are my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Rock 'N Learn IPad Contest

2010-09-11T23:25:00.001-04:00

Rock ‘N Learn recently announced a contest on their website. To celebrate the launch of their iPad application, they’ll be giving away an iPad! The contest is easy to enter – all it takes is submitting your name and email address here. They’ll be announcing the winner on September 30. Hurry over and enter!!! Good luck!!!

Book Review - Amish Proverbs by Suzanne Woods Fisher

2010-08-19T21:37:00.002-04:00

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife and mom, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and an author of Christian books, both non-fiction and fiction.

Her relatives on my mother's side are Old Order German Baptist Brethren, also known as Dunkards. That's where her interest in Anabaptist traditions began. Suzanne's grandfather was born into a family of 13 children, started his career as a teacher in a one-room school house in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and ended it as one of the very first publishers of Christianity Today. "We called him "Deardad" even though he was a very stern fellow. Still, Deardad's life inspired me to write."

After college, Suzanne was a freelance writer for magazines and became a contributing editor to Christian Parenting Today. Her work has been featured in Today's Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Worldwide Challenge, among others. She took the plunge into books a few years ago and now she's hooked.

Suzanne is also the host of her own radio show, Amish Wisdom, every Thursday at 5:00 PM Eastern time.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 200 proverbs that uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living--but they're not just for the Amish. They're for anyone who seeks God's wisdom and truth for everyday circumstances.

Ranging from the simple to the profound, from the serious to the humorous, these sayings will stick with you through life's joys and sorrows. With beautiful full-color photos throughout, Amish Proverbs is the perfect gift for any occasion.

BUSYJULIE'S REVIEW:

You all know I am a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher from my review of her book The Choice. Amish Proverbs really impressed me as well. What a sweet book full of proverbs that will really make you stop and think!  Here are a few of my favorites:

Do more of less.
Learning is far more valuable than education.
The person who sows seeds of kindness will have a perpetual harvest.
A wife will make or break a household.
Don't believe everything you think!

Many teens are going off to college this fall, and I think this would be a great book to tuck in their luggage. Nothing like food for thought! Or, it might be a nice birthday gift for a sister or friend!

I have one copy of Amish Proverbs to giveaway!  Leave a comment and post one of your own family's 'proverbs' or traditions for a chance to win the copy of Amish Proverbs.

Here are the rules of the giveaway:

You must be a follower of BusyJulie to enter.

This contest is for US entrants only.

Giveaway ends at 11:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Winner will chosen at random and will be notified by email. You have 24 hours to reply. If I don't hear from your, I'll have to choose another winner!

Get extra entries by: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

Becoming a new follower of BusyJulie. If you are already a follower, leave a comment telling me so!

Following BusyJulie on Twitter.

Blogging about this giveaway will earn you 3 extra entries - Be sure to leave a link in your comments!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate my review, as well as a copy to give away. I received no monetary compensation for this review. These are my honest opinions.

Review - Waterpik Showerhead

2010-08-16T06:01:00.007-04:00

MomSelect recently gave me the opportunity to try a Waterpik shower head. Of course, I jumped at the chance! When I was growing up, my mom always made sure we had a Waterpik showerhead, but probably not for the reasons you think. She liked it because she could pull it down and use it to rinse bathroom cleaner off the walls of the shower! I distinctly remember the cumbersome, brown model we had. It was not attractive and it probably had 2 speeds of water flow, spray and stream. Well apparently Waterpik has come a long way!

The model I have tried is the Waterpik Easy Select shower head. Here is some information directly from Waterpik:

Designed for those with discriminating taste who want to experience the ultimate in shower style and performance. All EasySelect™ products feature an in-handle spray mode selector, which makes selecting sprays easier than ever. Designed with OptiFLOW®technology that increases water force up to 30% by optimizing water flow, so you feel refreshed and invigorated.

Key features:

5 " Round Shower Head

Advanced OptiFLOW Technology

Easy Clean Nozzles

Removable Flow Regulator

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Spray Modes:

Full Body Coverage

Circular Massage

Concentrated Center Powerspray

Misting

Water Saver

The website says, "The perfect shower changes the way you feel." I totally agree! This thing is heavenly! My favorite spray mode is Circular Massage. Aaahhhhh!!!! As if my showers didn't already take too long! The water raining down is spa-like and just has such relaxing qualities. If your muscles are sore, you can use the concentrated center powerspray to work those kinks right out. But the best non-advertised feature of the Waterpik? You can still pull it down to spray off the bathroom cleaner just like Mom did!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for a positive or negative review of this product. I did receive the sample as described above to facilitate my review.

2010 Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday: August 6-8

2010-08-06T12:24:00.001-04:00

The State of Tennessee's Annual Sales Tax Holiday is held every year on the first Friday in August and ends the following Sunday night. This year's tax-free holiday weekend begins at 12:01 a.m on Friday, August 6 and ends Sunday, August 8 at 11:59 p.m. What's tax free, you ask? Get a complete list here.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Back to School - Kroger and Boxtops!

2010-08-05T06:13:00.025-04:00

It's almost that time! Back to school! And while you´re shopping for back to school, be sure to stop at your local Kroger Family of Stores (which includes Kroger, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy) and take advantage of their "Add Up the Savings" Event. You can stock up on your favorite General Mills & Kimberly Clark brands at great sale prices.

From August 8 through August 21, when you buy 8 participating items from any Kroger Family store, you´ll receive $4 off of your purchase. What??! Yes, I'll take it!

Here are some brands participating: Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms.

In addition to these great savings, be sure to take advantage of the special Bonus Box Tops Offers and get a jump start on helping the participating school of your choice this year.

All you have to do, if you haven´t already, is register at www.RewardYourSchool.com. Once you register, you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up! You will also receive custom offers for Bonus Box Tops for purchasing participating products.

These great offers are:

Buy any 4 Box Tops products and get 10 Bonus Box Tops
Buy any 8 Box Tops products and get 25 Bonus Box Tops

The offers you select will then load onto your Kroger Shopper Card to be redeemed once you purchase the items. It´s so easy because there´s no clipping! Remember to scan your Kroger Shopper Card and the Bonus Box Tops will automatically go straight the participating school of your choice.

Guess what? Guess what?!! You can win a $25 Kroger gift card! Just leave a comment for me and tell me which eight participating items you plan to purchase to receive $4 off during the `Add up the Savings Event´ at the Kroger Family of Stores!

Here are the rules of the giveaway: