Monday, April 30, 2012

As One Devil to Another by Richard Platt Review and Giveaway!


Review: 
As one Devil to Another was a book that I never thought I would really enjoy! It is a book that reads as Correspondence and letters between two devils-- Uncle Slashreap and his student and nephew Scardagger. The perspective of reading letters from one devil to another was different I have to admit, but brilliant. I was cautious about the book and even wary, but then my fears were assuaged as it became more of a way to view the enemy's battle plans. I felt both challenged to not let certain tactics get me, but I also felt encouragement. It is not a frightening or horror kind of book at all. I found Richard Platt quite ingenious in the way he flips our matters of perspective and uses it to teach us indirectly of our faulty lines of thought. We inadvertently think one way and see the world through such narrow glasses that sometimes we forget why God has allowed events and things into our lives. We forget life is not about "us" being comfortable. We are in fact living our lives out for His glory and everything we come across here on earth is meant to prepare us for Eternity.

Platt seems to also discuss other matters relevant to us in today's world. Things such as grief, love, success and failure, artwork, television, etc. I rather enjoyed reading what a "devil's" perspective might be in reference to things like this.

The story line running throughout the book kept me reading. I am kept in suspense at how our enemy tries to take us down--and how they try to take the characters on in this book. I found myself reading in the wee small hours of the morning just to try to read as much as I could! It definitely kept my attention, and was something I wanted to tell others about. Richard Platt did a great job, and has opened my eyes to wanting to read more books by C.S. Lewis such as the ScrewTape Letters.


I quote from the book an example of insights I found refreshing:
The greatest problem humans have with petitionary prayer is one of perspective.  This involves both time frames and objectives.  They think mostly of today, or of the limited sphere of activity which they call their lives: the seventy or eighty years which to us and to the Adversary is indistinguishable from today.  The Adversary is thinking of eternity.  ....The Adversary is the Parent who knows what they need....


I would give this book 3.5 out of 5.  I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read.  


Now for a Giveaway!  Giveaway will end May 14, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway From the Back Cover:
As One Devil to Another is an astonishing debut work that C. S. Lewis’s biographer and foremost Lewis authority Walter Hooper calls “a stunning achievement, the finest example of the genre of diabolical correspondence to appear since this genre was popularized by C. S. Lewis.” Enter into this chilling and diabolical tale, one that reveals the very tricks and strategies of Hell.

Through a series of letters between devils created by Platt, senior devil Slashreap trains his young protégé, Scardagger, to win an individual soul away from Heaven and into their clutches. As the devils plot their way to triumph, they reveal the spiritual dangers and risks we face in today’s society. Their frighteningly accurate perspective on issues such as contemporary technology and sexual mores is interwoven with timeless matters such as the power of prayer, the purpose of suffering, and the promises held out by Heaven . . . and Hell.

Destined to become a modern classic, As One Devil to Another is a brilliantly written, deeply unsettling perspective on twenty-first-century society . . . a glimpse of ourselves through the eyes of those who have embraced their underworldly existence.


About the Author: Richard Platt has been in love with words and the music of language all his life, but he did not begin writing until his early forties. He is a contributor to literary quarterly Slightly Foxed and was a finalist for a 2012 San Diego Foundation Creative Catalyst Fellowship for his one-man play, Ripples From Walden Pond: An Evening with Henry David Thoreau. As One Devil to Another, his first novel, is dedicated in grateful homage to C. S. Lewis. Richard and his wife, Susan, live in California.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinions and review of the book. All opinions are mine and I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

CLASSIC ELITE QUICK KNITS Review


I quite loved the variety and selections of patterns included in this book.  As a medium-beginner knitter, I appreciate that the book incorporated various levels of patterns.  I have to admit that as far as Quick Knits go--knitting and finishing a project took me quite some time.  I tried out a Beginner's pattern and found that the directions can be a little confusing.  There were times in which a more clearer choice of words would have saved me a great deal of time!  I have found other quick knit books or last minute projects books easier and to be better suited for me than this Classic Elite Quick Knits book.

I would recommend this book for a more experienced Intermediate Knitter.  Though there are beginner's patterns, I still believe that it is better suited for a rather experienced knitter.  The pictures throughout the book are exquisite--and quite fun to browse!  I love that I can see what the finished product would look like.  So five stars for the quality and quantity of pictures!  This book contains 100 patterns which I think for a retail value of 24.95 is a steal. 

Overall, I enjoyed using this book and when I have more experience in knitting and understanding the language jargon--I can expect that this book would be more of a "Quick Knit" book for me!

I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars just because I felt that though the book was intended for all levels of skill would much rather be geared, again towards a more skilled knitter.
Value of book 5 out of 5 stars
Quality 4 out of 5 stars

Disclosure: Netgalley provided me a digital copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Cravings {The Devotional} Video!



Win a Minute-for-Mom gift pack from Carey Bailey! "When I became a mom I lost my God time," says Carey Bailey. "I couldn't figure out how to fit it in, since everything but that time was a priority. So I made note cards that I set around my house with scriptures written on them. Even when my arms were too full of babies, laundry, and diapers to pick up a Bible, I could easily read God's words of encouragement that I was starving for"

And Cravings--The Devotional was born. Celebrate with Carey by entering her Minute-for-Mom Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • $50 gift card to Erin Condren Shop (Your one-stop-shop for all things awesome!)
  • $50 gift card to Victoria's Secret® (For something pretty.)
  • $25 gift card to Bath & Body Works® (For a little spa treatment.)
  • 2 Sets of Cravings - The Devotional (For you and a friend.)
  • Scentsy Plug In and 2 Bars (A lovely scent for your space.)
Hurry, the giveaway ends on 5/12/12. The winner will be announced 5/14/12 on Carey’s blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Carey's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Cravings {The Devotional} Review and a Giveaway!

What is Cravings? Now in the world there are many cravings --such as something sweet and creamy, salty and crunchy, etc.  But what today I am excited to introduce to you Cravings {The Devotional} kind!  Carey Bailey was inspired by God one day to create something truly nifty for moms who are swept away by the swift tide of motherhood.  There are periods in my life that I neglect my time with God, and sitting down with God seem so hard to do!  I feel like a Martha so often but I desire and crave to be seated at the feet of Jesus like Mary.

 About the Author: Carey Bailey is a recovering perfectionist, wife, proud mama and Family Life director for her church in Surprise, Ariz. On the side she loves party planning, crafting, and pursuing her dream of writing. She has a degree in religion from Westminster College and writes at her blog at www.carebaileyonline.com.

My Experience:  In my life, Cravings {The Devotional} gives me a helpful bite of Scripture throughout the day--a sweet and sour Word from God if you will! A little bit of the sweetness that comes from the Bible as well as the sour tartness of a challenge too!  Each of the 40 cards come with a Bible verse or two and a little devotional to go along with it!  Personally I have found it nice to have a devotional geared to a mom who is "on the go" a lot.  I also find it refreshing to look up from my dish pit to see this little cupcake cheering me on with the Word and a little encouragement.



Amidst all my husband's miscellaneous gadgets and gizmos and my daughter's toys and other odds and ends, stands this delectable Craving.  It is sort of my piece among everyone's clutter.  I find that it is really nice claiming my own spot on top the window sill.


The cards are easy to read while I wash dishes and cook meals.  I have my Cravings in my Kitchen. The cards have a nice glaze on them that keeps them relatively waterproof.   I found that when my obnoxious and quite active cat jumped on the window sill the heavy cupcake which is actually quite stable was knocked from its place and right into my sink.  Lucky for him I was right there to wipe the cards down.  The cards did not suffer too much damage.  A few cards soaked in some water, but after pressing them and wiping them--I could not tell which ones got soaked!  But apart from my kitty knocking it down, I find that the cupcake holder is stable and nice and heavy.  I think that it would be great if I could get these cards laminated to really make them waterproof.  I would compare the finishing on them more like to playing cards--durable, good thickness to it, nice and slick.

Will this make a great gift?  Absolutely.  I would recommend this as a gift to those women and moms who are believers.  I feel that they would greatly benefit from Cravings {The Devotional}.  But I do have to say, I will not underestimate the power of God's Word and wisdom towards any person--His Word will not come back empty and void it will accomplish what it was made to accomplish!  But yes, this devotional was specific for Moms!  I know I have personally loved this devotional.  Not only has it helped me most every day, but it is nice having something womanly (utterly pink and obviously girly amidst all the other miscellaneous items that might be on someone's window sill!) and designed for moms in specific.  You can purchase Cravings {The Devotional} at the Dicksons Gift Shop.  

Also to read other reviews of Cravings {The Devotional} please feel free to check it out! Blog Tour Schedule




The Giveaway!

Enter Today - 4/23-5/12!

Win a Minute-for-Mom gift pack from Carey Bailey! "When I became a mom I lost my God time," says Carey Bailey. "I couldn't figure out how to fit it in, since everything but that time was a priority. So I made note cards that I set around my house with scriptures written on them. Even when my arms were too full of babies, laundry, and diapers to pick up a Bible, I could easily read God's words of encouragement that I was starving for"

And Cravings--The Devotional was born. Celebrate with Carey by entering her Minute-for-Mom Giveaway!

Carey Bailey Cravings Giveaway

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • $50 gift card to Erin Condren Shop (Your one-stop-shop for all things awesome!)
  • $50 gift card to Victoria's Secret® (For something pretty.)
  • $25 gift card to Bath & Body Works® (For a little spa treatment.)
  • 2 Sets of Cravings - The Devotional (For you and a friend.)
  • Scentsy Plug In and 2 Bars (A lovely scent for your space.)
Hurry, the giveaway ends on 5/12/12. The winner will be announced 5/14/12 on Carey’s blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Carey's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter
Disclosure: I have received the product free in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the product. I was not compensated in any other way.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Gorton's Seafood: Review and Giveaway {3 Winners!}


This is my first time trying out Gorton’s Seafood—so what our family tried out were their Original Batter Tenders.  Great big fish sticks they are in my opinion! This served us well especially on a day after church. I was not too keen of what to cook quick and fast that day, but I remembered we had Gorton’s Seafood in our freezer picked up a couple of days before.

Some things that I first noticed while shopping was the 
  • "Gorton's Goodness" 100% Real Fish, No Fillers
  • NO MSG
  • Natural Omega-3


Our Sunday Meal!

Quick as you can say “Fish and Chips! Fish and Chips! Fish and Chips!” I heated up the oven and within about 15-20 minutes later we were sitting down to some Fish and Chips! I absolutely loved it when my husband chipped in by making some “homemade” tartar sauce. This was a fun easy meal to make with the family, and the batter of the fish had a nice crunch to it.  I was surprised at the crunchiness and superb taste of the Fish because in the past other fish do not have that great crunch as Gorton's does. So our compliments and recommendation to Gorton’s Original Batter!


Good Meaty Texture:
 The texture of Gorton’s Original Fish Batter was quite nice. One can easily tell that it was real fish!  What is also great is that there are no fillers.  When you pulled it apart, one can see the meat “flake” off just as a real fish would do if one pulled it apart. I absolutely love that after pulling and cooling our Gorton’s Fish out of the oven that there was a definite crunch that I go to a restaurant for. I get great results without the use of a deep fat fryer!

Recipes and Food ideas for everyone, Gluten Free too!
We have yet to try out their Grilled Salmon, just bought some at the store, and am quite excited to try it for dinner or lunch with my husband! I will update without experience of Grilled Salmon. The cost to serve two people is not bad either it is under $6 for Gorton’s Gilled Salmon in our grocery store!  I appreciate the decent reasonable pricing as well as that they provide a great plethora of recipes and ideas for using their products.  Not to mention for anyone who has to worry about Gluten--Gorton's Seafood offers a selection of Gluten Free products. 

I will come back shopping for their other products such as Popcorn Shrimp, Grilled Tilapia, and Beer Battered Fish!  Not to mention browsing their Recipe Collection gave me some easy meal ideas for the future.  Check out their website for a full list of Gorton's products!

Main Website:  http://gortons.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gortonsseafood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/gortonsseafood

Two Ways to Win some Gorton's Seafood!
Gorton's has their Weekly Fisherman's Friday Giveaway till May 8th!
Gortons Giveaway

Now they have chosen to sponsor a Giveaway on my blog too! THREE WINNERS will be chosen to win TWO "FREE" Gorton's Product from my blog! They will be Free Coupons to any of their products!  I love these prizes....Giveaway is open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: I was provided two FREE Coupons in order to facilitate a review of Gorton's Seafood! Sponsor has provided giveaway prizes and I will mail them out. Opinions expressed in this post are mine and I have not been compensated in any other way. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Integrating Languages into Family time is Valuable and Fun: Lightning Fast Spanish Review


One aspect of being a mother is the fact that I am also her teacher! Growing up in a bilingual home was fun, but my knowledge and actual speaking of the my own language waned as I went into preschool and all the other children and teachers spoke one language, English. My Filipino tongue was lost to me as my family rarely spoke it at home to me!

Looking back, I kind of regret that I never grew fluent in my own native language, but now as I have my own family, I am endeavoring to teach and incorporate speaking different languages. I know the value of learning a different language. It is having the ability to relate with another person on a whole different level—because you are able to speak their language. Now, I am still working on my own Filipino roots, but thought that the Spanish and Filipino languages are quite similar and so I picked out Lightning Fast Spanish by Carolyn Woods.

Lightning Fast Spanish: 


My favorite part aboutLightning-Fast Spanish for Kids and Families: Learn Spanish, Speak Spanish, Teach Kids Spanish - Quick As A Flash, Even If You Don't Speak A Word Now!  is that it is grouped and organized together nicely. There are sections or rather as she has named them “Conversations” dedicated to colors, animals, a walk outside, where are we going, and such as that fit into ordinary everyday life! I love it because it is easy to focus on a particular subject and spend a day just constantly working on that “Conversation”! I find myself printing out parts of her book and sticking it in my pocket as I do not know Spanish very well and cannot remember what I have read!


I am starting to make color flash cards for my daughter and I—it will be a fun activity for us today, and already I have gotten her to say “Rojo” for Red! I am very encouraged at how in just two minutes she was able to pick up the word! It was so precious. She said “ro ro” and then “ro ho”! I am super excited and am very encouraged that a toddler can pick up words quick!

  • For Breakfast time (Conversation #2):
I simply applied Lightning Fast Spanish into our Breakfast time, by reading over the Concepts and Vocabulary introduced in this section and setting before our daughter food items we were going to learn the names of. I made flash “cheat” cards to place on the table in front of me. As a part of the Spanish Conversation we were going to have I picked out the phrase “?Que hay desayunar?” and “?Quieres?”. Meaning What are we having for breakfast and Would you like?


My handy "Cheat" Cards I made! 





It was quite fun and not overwhelming as a mom, and in a matter of time my daughter will know that there are two ways in which to express her want of a yellow banana---Amarillo Platano!

  • Fun Activities:
A fun game activiity that I play—as suggested in the book is something that I call Donde Esta….
meaning Where is the…? So I simply play Name the body parts! I find myself playing this game throughout the day with her. She can say “La Cabeza” meaning the head a little bit as it is a mouthful to say.

As my daughter gets older I would really love to be able to incorporate the Scavenger Hunt Game which is playing Donde Esta on a bigger scale and with things and items. Another game I cannot wait to play is Spanish Bingo! I personally am enjoying learning a new language and am taking advantage of my daughter’s young “learning to talk” age. As for my husband, he is not home quite as often to learn Spanish with us as he is working longer hours, but he sure approves of her speaking another language and is astounded at how little kids’ brains are geared! I do like this book and would recommend it if you want a fun way to incorporate a new language. The best ways to learn a new language is to use it, and this book really does help one learn and use it!

Carolyn Woods author of Lightning Fast Spanish:


I'm a busy mom of 4, and always looking for ways to do things better, faster, cheaper! I post reviews and blog about science fun, educational books, and family friendly activities ~Carol

Carol makes it extremely easy to incorporate a new language into every day life. She offers families a fun and non-overwhelming way to learn a new language. She has several other Lightning Fast Languages in this series such as Chinese, Japanese, French, German, and Italian. You can find her books on Amazon and are available on Kindle as well as a Paper back edition.





Disclosure:  I was provided a copy of Lightning Fast Spanish to facilitate this review.  All of my opinions are my own and from my experience.  I was not compensated in any other way to write this review and was not required to write a positive review. This post may contain affiliate links.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Green Works Reverse Graffiti



 Enter Here for a chance to win a trip to L.A. with Green Works to help transform the alley into a reverse graffiti art piece. Your art will be featured as the final installation in The Reverse Graffiti Gallery.

Like Green Works on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenworks

I really loved this video!  It displays the powerful performance of Green Cleaners!  I think it is amazing, and wish I could go to LA and try my hand at Art!  This would be both a tremendous and amazing trip to help clean up alleys while using "Green Cleaners" such as Green Works!

I just thought to share this amazing video!

Are you a Sewing Enthusiast?



Enter to Win some of this adorable fabric in a Fabricworm
2 yard giveaway!

Enter giveaway at SewCanShe.com!


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I Need Your Constructive Criticism

So, I have been really working and thinking about reworking my blog.  I really have been quite overwhelmed in juggling life right now, and just really wanted to know what you guys think about my blog.  I want to come down and be able to be more focused in what I do, and would love to hear some Constructive Criticism as well as Encouragements.  Any ideas or likes and dislikes about my website are welcomed.

Here are a few questions I have that always run through my mind:
  • Was it easy to navigate my page?
  • Did you find what you were looking for?
  • How did you feel upon landing on my page--stressed out, at ease, etc.
  • What can I incorporate into my site that you'll find useful?
It has come to my attention from a couple of websites such as Klout and Website Grader and Google Analytics--that I have much room for improvement so here I am "improving".

Would love to have some feedback from my readers and my audience. You can comment below and feel free to write a review :)  They are greatly appreciated!


Review http://sophieandmomma.blogspot.com on alexa.com

Fit Moms for Life Book Review and Giveaway!


Finally a Fitness Program Made for Someone like Me:
What I love about Dutin Maher's Fit Moms for Life program is that it is very realistic for me as a Real Mom.  One of those reasons is that he strives to make exercise short and sweet--after all Moms are Busy!  But in that time we do exercise he encourages us to challenge ourselves to work out intensely and to push ourselves.  Secondly, I really appreciate that he appeals to my mindset by educating me on the "WHYs" of Nutrition, Exercise, etc.  One of my favorite parts he talks about is exercise.  His program includes Cardio, Strength Training, and Core Training, and Flexibility Fitness Training.  As a young mom, I have no time to really do the research on what type of exercises to do or Fitness Training to include in my work outs--and I am very grateful that Maher goes into details of the importance of each.  For example, Strength training is ideal for the woman because it not only tones our body but it increases bone density.  I had not known that!  And time and time again I hear about women dealing with bone density loss.  So I am very grateful for the invaluable knowledge and facts inundated throughout this book. 

Dustin hits a lot of major points that can empower and motivate you to keep on going with one’s weight loss journey.  One of these aspects he talked about in his book was the topic of Mindsets and setting reasonable goals. I quite enjoyed setting goals and while talking with my husband over my weight loss goals we uncovered how I had been trying all my life to "please" others.  My mindset was all about exercising and getting fit in order to "please" others.  In reality I need to exercise for my own self--for my own bodily health  and fitness sake.  But what has been ingrained in my mind was that of a negative "I've got to look good for others or they always think this way about me...I want to change their thoughts about how they view me."  These are just a few unhealthy negative thoughts and mindsets that ran through my mind.  As a person we have got to do something for ourselves, and not worry about what others might think!  We got to do something because we choose to do it.  It is not selfish to think this way either! 

Dustin hits other key points that are important for us as moms to become  a"Fit Mom for Life" such as having a good positive environment, having daily affirmations and saying them aloud, as well as the importance of knowing what you are eating (keeping a food log to track your nutritional intake!).  

Thirdly, I really appreciate his approach to fitness.  It is intense but not obsessively so!  As a mom I get burnt out by watching all these crazy exercise enthusiast obsessive who seem to think about fitness 24/7!  Dustin is a really down to earth kind of guy who makes himself available via Facebook and though he is a fitness coach, he is a practical fitness enthusiast!  He's very personable and though he is busy and might not respond right away--he's there to encourage and to help.  I shot him a message via Facebook and got a response back!  

Real Moms, Real Stories, Real Pictures!
 Incorporated in the book are success stories of moms.  They are shown throughout the book, and you can read about their story and fitness journey.  I love that it is not hyped up, but simply real.  I found these success stories quite encouraging me and further helped me to continue on my weight loss journey because I felt like "I can be a success story one day!"  They were ordinary women like me who accomplished being a fit mom!

I joined up with other Mommy Bloggers in February of this year and these were my 21 Day Challenge Results with the Fit Moms for Life!

Here are my before and after measurements:
Arms:  14 inches----13inches
Hips:  41 inches--40 inches
Waist: 38 inches--36 inches
Abdomen: 43.5 inches--40 inches
Thighs: 23 inches--23 inches
Chest:  42 inches--39 inches
Calves: 14 inches--14 1/2 inches (haha gained calf muscle)
Height: 5' 2 inches--5'2 inches
Weight: 176.6 lbs--166-167 lbs!

**For more information and testimonials check out Dustin's websites: www.dustinmaherfitness.com and www.fitmomsforlife.com**


 Giveaway: 
One random winner will be chosen to win Dustin Maher's Fit Moms for Life Book. Giveaway will close May 4, 2012 12:01am EST. Must enter through Rafflecopter form. Giveaway open to US and CAN.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: This post is in conjuction with the 21 Day Mommy Blogger Weight Loss Challenge with Dustin Maher. I am doing the Fit Moms for Life Program. I have received the program for free and have not been paid to write this post. All opinions are mine. For more information on the program please learn more about it here: Fit Moms for Life

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Kids Eating Healthy your child can too--Copy-Kids DVD Review and Giveaway


Vegetables are one of our biggest obstacles right now. Our daughter is beginning to become quite picky especially when it comes to textures and certain foods.  But thanks to Copy-Kids, She rather liked chomping on the vegetables and copying the kids as they ate their veggies!   At first I observed her just sitting in her high chair watching the other kids eat, studying them and soaking in the situation.  When I set a bowl of vegetables in front of her, she grabbed the red bell pepper and started copying the children eating red bell peppers!


I believe that Copy-Kids DVD really aided us in jumping this hurdle when it comes to vegetables and fruits. She is starting to gravitate towards mimicking other children right now, and loves to follow what they do and say!  Copy-Kids DVD has hit the mark by applying this towards helping families get their kids to eating healthier.  The concept of "copy" is really quite simple but effective.  The concept paired with healthy eating habits and kids--ingenius!



Another thing I really liked that there was a positive atittude towards vegetables and fruits--which was rather refreshing!  Kids eating and enjoying their vegetables was just so amazing and thrilling to see and I know it got my daughter and I excited about eating vegetables and fruits again! 

After watching Copy-Kids, I was a bit pricked in my heart.  I have begun to rethink what I prepare for myself and my family.  I am aware now more than ever that I am an example to my daughter and family.  I still cringe at the thought of eating my brocolli, peas, and peppers!  I need a better attitude towards my vegetables.  After watching the Copy-Kids eat their veggies I am going to have to rethink my own eating habits.  I need to walk the walk and talk the talk and in matters of eating---I need to not only eat my veggies more visibly in front of my daughter but eat them with enthusiasm and enjoyment like Copy-Kids.


 Interested in seeing a little clip of their Copy-Kids?  You can view the sizzle reel here: http://copy-kids.com/  I think that this product is a very positive approach for encouraging kids towards eating healthier foods such as Vegetables and Fruits.  You can also visit them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CopyKids.

Ready for a Giveaway? 
I am really excited that they have partnered with Sophie and Momma's blog to sponsor a giveaway!  One reader will win a copy of the same Copy-Kids DVD that I received.  Giveaway is open worldwide.   Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received a Copy-Kids DVD in order to fasciliate this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed here are mine.  I was not paid to write this post. 

Have you heard of GREEN Wine?

what are green wines infographic wine.com
Presented By Wine.com, Purveyors of fine green Wine

I really appreciate this visual of what constitutes a wine as "green".  I think that a lot of things that are considered "green" are not as clearly defined! 

My favorite part of Green Wine is the fact that the crops are rotated instead of containing fungicides, pesticides, or synthetic materials.  I know that my husband always has a glass of wine everynight, so it would be neat to go searching for this new type of Green Wine out there. 

The second favorite part I like about going green in matters of win are the lighter bottles.  We recycle our empty bottles of wine and it would be nice to have a lighter load to carry down to our recycling!

My husband and I got into drinking wine when we took off to Leavenworth, WA where we got our first wine tasting experience.  It was amazing and fun!  But also overwhelming because of all the differfent types of wine out there.  Green Wine sounds like a great idea.  Cannot wait to taste the difference!

*Disclaimer: This post is a post written on behalf of a Blogsvertise offer. Paid Post.  Regardless, I really love wine, and thought this was a great idea to share with you all!

Mia Bella's Premium Scented Natural Wax Candles: Tahitian Spiced Vanilla



LaToria warned me that I would fall in love with their Candles. And yes both my husband and I love these Premium Scented Natural Wax Candles! I chose and received a Tahitian Spiced Vanilla Candle.


I picked this amazing aromatic candle from the Classic Collection of Mia Bella’s candles. The Candle came carefully boxed, and unlit it smelled amazing. Tahitian Spiced Vanilla is a smell that is very rich, intense, and wonderfully aromatic. I love that the smell from the candle unlit matches the scent after lighting! Our candle was simply a joy to have because of the scent throw.

The first time we lit our Mia Bella's Candle the aroma had wafted around to fill the radius of our dining area and parts of the living room in the first 15 minutes! After about a good 30-45 minutes I had noticed that the Tahitian spiced Vanilla scent had spread throughout the entirety of our home! I was quite well pleased with this candle mainly for the ability of the candle to do its job and make our ~1200 sq foot home smell and feel warm and cozy. I love to burn this candle because of the scent and its ability to keep our home smelling great.


Natural Wax up close

This 16oz candle has lasted us quite a while, and we are down to less than an inch left of the candle. We have noticed that as the candle was not quite as bright as it used to be. My husband says its just that there was extra wax from the sides that keeps the wick a little low in the wax. It is not too big a problem for us because I simply blew the candle out and took a tissue to soak up some extra wax to help it out. We have only done this once to this candle and it’s almost through!
  • Conclusion:
I have found Mia Bella’s candle to be far superior than any candle I have bought in regards to the way it can throw its aroma. The natural wax is decent quality too--far better quality than any store bought candle! Because of the two wicks in the candle it causes a more even burning of the natural wax I think. Overall, I love this candle because it serves us in the way we want--we want the aroma! I would most definitely purchase a Mia Bella Candle our home as soon as our Tahitian Spiced Vanilla burns out. If you have any questions on my experience, I would be happy to answer your questions!

  • Candle Sale Special
LaToria is offering free shipping on all Mother's Day Candle Orders. You will have to order off her personal website as her Mother's Day Special is not offered on the business website. She also has some new customer incentives listed on her page. LaToria was my friendly consultant. She was a pleasure and joy to work with. Very easy going person!





Candle of the Month is Lilac:


Disclaimer: I was provided a Mia Bella’s Candle and Bella Beauty Cosmetic products in order to fascilitate this review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. I received my Mia Bella’s products through LaToria, a Mia Bella’s Consultant.

Mia Bella Beauty Products Review

Review of Mia Bella Beauty Products:
  • Mineral Foundation

I found Mia Bella Mineral Foundation to give me a very nice even toned look. Mia Bella Mineral Foundation truly helps to conceal my uneven skin tone as well as taper down my oily parts of my face—forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. When it comes to make up, I want the applied make up to feel like it is not on my face. I do not wear make up too often because I hate feeling it. With Mia Bella Mineral Foundation, I found that the foundation was light enough that I forgot I was wearing a foundation. Up to this point I was using liquid foundation and a Kirkland’s pressed powder foundation—so in comparing what I had, I found that I do enjoy Mia Bella because it works, feels great on my skin, and is light enough that I do not “feel” like I am wearing make up.

  • Kabuki Brush 
 


 I love this brush.  It is very gentle on my skin and works well at applying my mineral foundation and powders onto my face!  One can tell that the bristles in the brush allow for the make up to easily buff the make up onto our face--after applying the make up on, there is hardly if any powder left in the Kabuki Brush. 
  • The Finishing Powder: Luminous
I have never used anything quite like Mia Bella Finishing Powder. The Finishing Powder differs from the Mineral Foundation in that of its finer more powdery texture than the Foundation. It is designed to fill in and finish off your look concealing the little imperfections in our skin tone and foundation. So it’s main purpose is to top off our look by concealing the finer more minor imperfections.
How to apply Mia Bella Beauty Cosmetics:
It’s as simple as “Swirl” “Tap” and “Buff”!
Carefully shake a small amount of loose mineral powder into the lid. Swirl your large kabuki brush in the lid until the mineral powder is in the tuck and tapers of the brush. Tap off any excess powder using the handle of the brush and side of the lid. Buff in a circular motion onto your face until desired amount of coverage is achieved.



  • Conclusion:
Overall, I was quite happy with the products I was sent for to review. The only thing I felt a bit helpless on was lack of a face to face consultant. I wish I could have seen LaToria and be able to sit and chat about cosmetics with her! I love buying cosmetics from consultants because purchases go to help their own family, and it is so much more fun than stopping by the grocery store!

Foundation/Cosmetic Tip:  I have learned, in order to keep your make up even and last longer make sure to apply make up on a clean and moisturized palette. I have found that a moisturized face gives me a more smoother palette (face) to work on!

Where to Learn more information and buy:  http://www.gourmetgoodies.scent-team.com/index.php
LaToria was my friendly consultant.  She was a pleasure and joy to work with.  Very easy going :)



Disclaimer: I was provided a Mia Bella’s Candle and Bella Beauty Cosmetic products in order to fascilitate this review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. I received my Mia Bella’s products through LaToria, a Mia Bella’s Consultant.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Pureclinica: Trixelin--Stretch Mark Reversal Intensive Concentrate



How to use Trixelin:
Simply pump out the amount of Trixelin you need.  This is an extremely intense, concentrated, potent formula deisgned to tackle the worst scarring so you really only need just enough to cover the area of skin your stretch marks or scars are located.

Apply Trixelin Stretch Mark Reversal Intensive Concentrate to your clean skin twice a day.  Simply massage the cream into our skin.  Not for use by pregnant women.
How Effective is this product:
For me I have older stretch marks, they are about two years since being made!  I am happy to say that with Trixelin I have experienced an amazing lightening of my stretch marks as well as a smoothing out of the area in which I applied the Trixelin cream to.  The sooner or newer your stretch marks are the better your results will be.  I can only imagine what my stretch marks would have done had I used this product after the birth of my daughter--I can imagine how I would have nice tummy skin by now! :)

I am very impressed by the types of peptides and patented peptides incorporated in this product.  I am very confident in the science and the research that had gone into creating this product.  As I learned more and more about the product and the ingredients in Trixelin, I was excited to read how peptides work together to rejuvenate and repair damaged skin as well as improve the overall healthiness of the skin.  Visit www.pureclinica.com for more information about their Stretch Mark Reversal Cream and other line of skin products.

How does it work? 
Trixelin Stretch Mark Reversal Concentrate is packed with the highest concentrations of clinically proven patented peptides.  Matrixyl 3000 (65% solution), Argireline (45% solution), and Darutoside (11% soution), Triple Weight Hyaluric Acid, Vitamin A, and Sieca Bean Extract rebuild the stretched skin through incrased collagen synthesis in the middle layer of the skin, and on the surface reduce hyper pigmentation responsible for the redness and uneven skin tone.  -from the website of Pureclinica



Disclaimer: I was provided the product for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. 

Friday, April 13, 2012

Beginning Potty Training: Take TWO!

Potty Training has been a bit rough on us.  I thought our daughter was ready a couple of months ago because she started telling me "diapey" when she had used her cloth diaper.  For some reason she stopped telling me.  So as quick as my efforts of potty training started, it ended.  Now I am starting up again,  for the most part because she is almost two, and I at least want her to know what should go on in the bathroom!

Needless to say after my daughter wakes up in the morning, and I know she uses the bathroom right after she wakes up in the morning so I stick her on the potty.  Here's the picture of our first day!  I was washing my face and then I heard it---she trickled! 


The second day went a bit harder.  Fifteen minutes of sitting on the toilet and  She cried and rather did not like being on the potty.  Third day, no success. I almost got her when she started making faces, but was too late in stripping her down to her diaper.  She had already done the deed.  Deed number 2 that is.  Tomorrow is the next day.  I will hopefully get to be more attentive!




Headline Shirts Review and Giveaway!


My husband wins.  It has always been a battle getting him to dress up nicely.  He will always pick up his Holey Armpit Shirt over any of the nicely hung shirts that are Whole.  He dismissed the thought of wearing dressy shirts a long time ago.  I have asked him why.  His answer is simply that he prefers shirts that are broken in and have that softness.  But his idea of broken into is that his shirt is so "soft" that its falling apart at the seams!

My dear husband is all about....COMFORT.

He does have STYLE though....just not my style. When we were going out on a date night I tried to persuade him to wear something that would please me--with a sly twinkle in his eye  he mischievously grinned at me and wore a funny shirt that thankfully was cleaned and bore no holes. It seems that he has a handful of shirts that say something funny or have a picture of something interesting on it--and he cycles through them on a weekly basis!

Review of Headline Shirt--Vader Piñata
So when I was given the opportunity to head over to Headline Shirts, I knew that this was right up my husband's alley!  Intriguing, Interesting, and Intelligently Funny shirts can be found when perusing their selection.  They carry some really unique shirts that I have never seen before.  I discovered that they draw  up ideas and brainstorm their own shirts!  Which is cool because one can see a mixture of American History, Current Events, Trends, and San Francisco humor instilled in the shirts.  Their VintageBlend shirts are hand sewn and made in San Francisco and are composed of a 60/40 Soft Cotton-polyester blend.

We ordered a size Large.  Ordering from their website was smooth, straightforward and uncomplicated.  Orders ship within 24 hours, and it nice to receive an email telling me that my order shipped along with a tracking number.  March 23 I ordered my shirt and on March 26 my shirt arrived!  Headline Shirts Service was great.

The new shirt fit him well and to his delight it was Comfy, fit his Style (funny-hilarious-attention getting-Star Wars), and above all Soft.  His Vader Pinata shirt did not have a starchy stiff feel that most new shirts have.  Rather this Headline Shirt was supple and a relaxed fit on him.  He wore it to today to give his Supervisor at work (also a Star Wars Fan) a bit of a laugh! 




Why we love it:  Who does not like the idea of Darth Vader attacking a Pinata with a Light Saber?  The graphics on the shirt is bright, and easily seen from afar.  First people may be drawn to see the Pinata and then smile as their eyes move towards the sight of Darth Vader!  It strikes a smile in most people who catch a glimpse at my husband's shirt.  The shirt itself washes nicely too.  We washed it and experienced no color fading or bleeding.  It hasn't shrunk to kids size after drying in the dryer.  The softness, quality, and overall fit of the shirt gets two thumbs up from us! 

Why all the Baboons?  Well did  you know that the monkey (baboon) runs the show?  Just kidding, Robert Baboon is the chief man behind the business and hence the baboons in the logo.  There are no words to describe about how Headline Shirts came to be and how they operate.  It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, and they have pictures you need to see!  Read more about Headline Shirts-- you want to check it out!  About Headline Shirts

**Sign up for their newsletter with link below and get a $5 coupon!**
**NEW KID HEADLINE TEES!**


Headline Shirts homepage: http://www.headlineshirts.net/
Headline Shirts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/headlineshirts
To sign-up for their newsletter and get a $5 coupon use this link: https://www.facebook.com/headlineshirts?sk=app_133697453315011
Headline on twitter: @headlineshirts


Giveaway: Headline shirts has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway on Sophie and Momma's Blog! One winner will be chosen at random to win a Headline Shirt. To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open Worldwide.  Giveaway will close May 02, 2012 12:01am EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Sponsor sent me a product in order to facilitate this review. I was not required to write a positive review, I was not compensated in any other way to write this review. All opinions are my mine and my family's. Sponsor is responsible for fulfilling giveaway prize.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Diaper Rash and Cloth Diapers: Angel Baby Bottom Balm Review & Giveaway


 Our Experience with Diaper Rash:   
As much as we all hate to admit it, cloth diaper-ers do have outbreaks of some nasty rashes!  For the most part, they occur because of the build up in diapers over time.  For our first year we hardly had a build up and rashes were a rarity.  Mainly because we were trying out some really neat detergents at the time, and we had our own washer and dryer to use.  Then we moved and we shared washer and dryer with another family.  Her diapers were not washed frequently and build up started to happen.

Sometime after I said, "We don't have any rashes when using our cloth diapers," to a prospective family who were thinking cloth, the inevitable happened.  She broke out with one of the worst rashes I have ever seen!  Little by little build up in the diapers occurred and a rash resulted.

Unsure about what salves and cloth diaper rash creams were safe for our cloth diapers, I switched to disposables for a bit.  It helped for a while.  The rash was persistent.  It also started getting a bit raw little by litt.e  I was worried that it was more than a rash.  I scoured the internet looking for ways to figure out if it was something more than a bad rash.  My husband in the meantime was bringing home different ointments and diaper rash creams.  We had switched to disposables fully because of fear of further ruining our cloth diapers.  I was also trying to figure out what was going on with our cloth diapers--stripping it and thoroughly rinsing them at the time.  It was through the internet I found Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics I had ordered Angel Baby Bottom once she started getting a rash,  and was just waiting for it to come in. Once it arrived For the next couple of days I applied Angel Baby Bottom Balm onto her  I witnessed the rash calming down, and her raw skin healed little by little.  It was such a relief for all of us!

Review of the Angel Baby Bottom Balm:
 Diaper rashes is not a fun matter, and it is very nice to have a salve such as Angel Baby Bottom Balm that works to also prevent diaper rashes.  All you really need is a light coat of the salve on your child's bum.  2oz has lasted us for about 2 months now?  That is with my daughter sticking her fingers in it and spreading a whole bunch of the salve all over her tummy and legs--thinking it was "lotion" as well as using it at least three times weekly.  There are weeks in which I remember to use it and weeks that I don't.
  •  Screw Top Lid.  The 2 oz container is easy to pack with a screw top lid.  No worries of the container popping open in my bag and making a mess.  I almost prefer this type of closure as I have a toddler who can easily open containers.  The Screw Top Lids is something she has yet to figure out.
  • I love a product that works.  This sure comes close to being a miracle!  I can tell with every diaper change if she has a bad rash, that the Balm is helping and healing.  Little by little the redness disappears, and I can see visual improvement.  For the little bit I do use on her, I am amazed at how mighty and powerful this Balm is.
  • Soothing.  In short our daughter because of this bad diaper rash had trouble sleeping at night.  She was irritable and no pain killer or anything helped.  When we started using Angel Baby Bottom Balm on her, I noticed her irritable levels calmed down and she was able to sleep better through the night.  She also was better at us changing her diapers.  I noticed that when she had the bad rash she did not want me to change her diaper--I know because she goes into a kicking episode.  As the Balm was rubbed onto her skin she seemed to calm down and become more cooperative with me.  Two thumbs up for its soothing nature!
  • Smell.  The aroma of the Balm is soothing in and of itself.  It is not "scented" by any means, but the scent it gives off is a result of all that goes into the balm.  The blend of organic herbs and natural oils create a scent that is both earthy and herbal.  I find it pleasant and almost relaxing of a scent.
  • Cloth Diaper Safe:  Something that I liked about it was that it was that it was cloth diaper safe.  I have been using this salve for about 2 months now, and we have not had a problem with our diapers showing signs of becoming less absorbent.  It is also composed of all natural ingredients that works to soothe and heal not only diaper rashes but also itchy and problematic skin and soothes thrush!
  • For more than just Bottoms:  For me, I do not have diaper rashes, but I do use this Balm periodically for my itchy skin (psoriasis).  I wanted to try it out one day, and found the Angel Baby Bottom Balm quite soothing.  It gave me a cooling sensation and the urge to scratch soon dissipated.  I am quite fond of using the Balm on myself as well as on my daughter.  I can only imagine how good this Balm must feel on her rashy red bottom.  I use this product quite frequently as a first aid item.  I simply apply a thin coat onto her scratches, daddy's boo boos, and my minor scrapes.  It's multipurpose use is well adapted into our household.  
  • The Balm itself is this light yellow color.  Get a little bit of the balm on your fingers and you notice it begins to melt away almost immediately from your body heat!  When I rub it onto my daughter I get a thin coat of it on her rashes and scrapes.  It does tend to be a little "shiny" at first, but as one rubs it in it gets absorbed into the skin and becomes a dull shine.  You feel it, but it is not a nasty oily feeling at all.  My skin feels moisturized after rubbing the Balm into my hands!  For my daughter I usually use what is pictured in the picture down below.  A little bit goes along way.   


Here is a round up of what their products are known for:
Earth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby SealsEarth Mama Angel Baby Seals 
Simple Organic Ingredients-- (No Beeswax, No Parabens, YES VEGAN)  
Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (organic shea) butter, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (organic tea tree), Lavandula angustifolia (organic lavender) flower oil, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula)flower extract, Hypericum perforatum (organic St. John’s wort) flower extract, Stellaria media (organic chickweed) extract, Plantago major (organic plantain) extract, Commiphora myrrha (myrrh)

A Company that cares.
I also enjoyed the fact that this company really cares for moms and provides not only baby items, but also products for the mother as well.  I have wished I could have heard about Earth Mama Angel Baby during my months of pregnancy.  The products they have for mothers really are meant for meeting their needs and providing comfort for them on so many levels.  They have everything to help Mamas from Pregnancy, Postpartum, Breastfeeding, and more.  Organic Morning Wellness Tea was one of their products that I could have benefited greatly from!

There is also a section of Earth Mama that offers information and comfort for those going through Baby Loss.  Earth Mama Angel Baby is a great place to find tools and information and products to meet Mamas with a variety of needs.  I know that I have found their blog quite helpful.

Where to Buy?
I enjoy using our Angel Baby Bottom Balm.  I am ready to make another purchase just to stock up on it!
You can purchase Earth Mama Angel Products from their website:  Earth Mama Angel Baby Website

Right now they are having a sale--30% one regularly priced item.  Discount is not applicable to bundles or already discounted items.  Use Code: PINIT at check out.

Be Social with Earth Mama:
Earth Mama’s Blog: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/blog
Mama’s Blog: http://www.mamasherbgarden.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthMamaAngelBaby
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HealingHeartsBabyLossComfort
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EarthMamaHQ
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/EarthMamaHQ/

 


Giveaway:  Thank you to Earth Mama Angel Baby for being a sponsor in the Fitted Diaper Event! One winner will be chosen at random to win this amazing Angel Baby Bottom Balm! To be eligible you must be 18+ to enter, Resident of US or CAN.  To Enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, but in no way does it affect my review of the product.  All opinions are my own, and I purchased this product on my own.  The sponsor is responsible for giveaway prize.  I was not obligated to write a positive review or even write a review.