A Glimpse of Beautiful

A Fantastic New Film: A Mile In His Shoes

2012-01-25T01:48:00.000-05:00

Only a miracle can help baseball coach Arthur 'Murph' Murphy (Dean Cain) and his losing minor league baseball team. As Murph sets out to recruit new talent for the team, he stumbles upon Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmer with an incredible pitcher's arm. However, Mickey's parents are reluctant in allowing him to join the team because he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. Murph convinces Mickey's parents that life in the minor league will benefit their unique son, but he doesn't realize just how much his new recruit will help the team's game and, more importantly, their spirit. Based on a true story, A Mile in His Shoes is an inspirational film that celebrates faith, determination and the power of friendship.

My review:
I've seen quite a few sports films lately, so my expectations for this film were not very high. Most films such as this are very predictable and not worth watching more than once. This film, however, although somewhat predictable, had a lot more to offer than the typical sports films. Both heartwarming and family-friendly, the storyline is inspirational and the characters likeable. The outstanding acting of the main characters is also a plus for this film. Dean Cain did an amazing job of portraying a compassionate baseball coach, and Luke Schroder was very believable in his role as a young man with Asperger's syndrome. I really enjoyed the hopeful storyline (which was, thankfully, free from objectionable content) and think this would be a great film to show the entire family on movie night.

For more information on this incredible film, check out the website and Facebook page!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

New Earring Creations :)

2012-01-16T23:16:00.000-05:00

I've had a lot of fun working on some new earring designs! Here are my latest creations. :) I'd love to hear your opinions on the earrings!

These purple earrings are created with beautiful mother of pearl shell nuggets.

These gorgeous textured beads have a shiny foil-like appearance and are my first pair of hot pink earrings.

And this is the second pair I made with the same style and type of beads in light purple.

All of these earrings are for sale and can be found on my Etsy Facebook page.

GIVEAWAY: Scunci Hair Clip (1/18)

2012-01-04T01:43:00.003-05:00

Giveaway Closed. Congrats to s8r8l33, comment #85 for winning!

Alrighty, folks, who wants to win this gorgeous hair clip?! It's a beautiful claw clip with so many more benefits than the typical clips that dig into your head, slide out of your hair, and can't be worn on dressy occasions. This is an awesome hair clip. And you can win one by simply entering below! ;)

Mandatory Entry:

Like A Glimpse Of Beautiful Etsy on Facebook AND like any status update on the Facebook page (this will ensure that you see our updates). Then leave a comment here telling me your Facebook name.

(If you don't have Facebook, then you can follow this blog via GFC as your mandatory entry.)

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me what your GFC name is
2. Like A Glimpse Of Beautiful on Facebook and like any status (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
3. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a gorgeous Scunci hair clip from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/zTOoZO Ends 1/18

5. Favorite my Etsy shop or add me to your Etsy circle. (1 entry each)
6. Like or Tweet any item here. You can do this on the individual item's page. (1 entry each)
7. Tell me which pair of earrings is your favorite from my Facebook earring photo album.
8. Read and comment on my review of the Scunci linziclip here (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)
9. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)

The winner will be chosen on January 18 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Beautiful New Hair Clip

2012-01-03T19:14:00.000-05:00

I love wearing claw hair clips, but my hair is so fine, they usually slip out after a short period of time. And they don't always look good with everything, especially if you're wearing something dressy. Another problem with these clips is that they often tend to dig into your head and hurt after you've had them in for a while. The new Scunci linziclip solves all of those problems!

I received the small (or "midi") jaw clip from Scunci, and the first thing I noticed is how beautiful it is! This takes claw clips to a new level and can be worn even with the dressiest of outfits. The beautiful diamond-like embellishments give it a classy appearance rather than having "butterfly wings" on top. When I used mine, I immediately noticed the quality feel of it. It doesn't feel like it will fall apart like many claw clips I've used. It is lightweight, but feels very durable. The back of the clip is nice and flat, so it won't be digging into your head; instead you can lean back on it without any problems.

Another big plus for me was the "extra grip" feature. I was a little skeptical about this feature, because most claw clips don't stay in my fine hair, but was impressed with how well it actually holds in my hair. It feels like it will stay put for quite a while.

I really like these hair clips, and they are also available in a large size (or "maxi") for beautiful updos! This Scunci clip would be perfect for any dressy occasion. If you like to wear claw clips, you will definitely want to get one (or more!) of these beautiful, quality lenziclips!

GIVEAWAY: Softlips Winter Flavors (Ends 1/11)

2011-12-28T02:11:00.006-05:00

Contest closed. Congrats to bonsticka, comment #194 for winning!

I had the opportunity to review one of my favorite little luxuries, and now one of you will get to win a set of Softlips winter flavors! Included in this set are four flavors: Winter Mint, Sugar Cookie, Sugar & Spice, and Sugar Plum Berry.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me what your GFC name is

2. Like A Glimpse Of Beautiful on Facebook and like any status (2 entries, leave 2 comments)

3. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.

4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win 4 Softlips Winter Flavors from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/skkhoY Ends 1/11

5. Favorite my Etsy shop or add me to your Etsy circle. (1 entry each)

6. Like or Tweet any item in my shop. You can do this on the individual item's page. (1 entry each)
7. Tell me which pair of earrings is your favorite from my Facebook earring photo album.

8. Read and comment on my review of the Softlips Winter Collection here (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

9. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)

The winner will be chosen on January 11 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

A Favorite Little Luxury

2011-12-27T15:39:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite little luxuries are the amazing tubes of Softlips! They come in so many wonderful flavors and are super soft on your lips. For the holiday/winter season, Softlips.com is offering a set of five winter flavors: mint with a hint of vanilla, sugar & spice, sugar plum berry, sugar cookie & winter mint. (You can also get some of these flavors at Walmart, Target, and Rite Aid.)

I received a beautiful set of four flavors (everything listed above minus the "mint with a hint of vanilla) in a pretty purple gift pouch. One of the things I love most about Softlips is that their flavors are the most realistic of nearly all lip products I've used. These really smell like cookies, sugar and spice, etc, and are so fun to use! So many lip products have cheap imitations of flavors that taste disgusting. These are amazing in every way, including the wonderful fragrance! The soothing luxury of Softlips is something I always try to always have on hand, and I definitely recommend you do the same. :)

Stay tuned to win the same set of Softlips that I received!!

Winner: Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Honey

2011-12-02T20:14:00.001-05:00

I just drew a winner for the Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Honey giveaway... and the winner is Elyce!! Congratulations!! I will be emailing you shortly with instructions on how to claim your prize. And stay tuned everyone, because I have more giveaways coming very soon! :)

The Unexpected Gift

2011-11-26T19:03:00.005-05:00

True story about something cool that happened today...

My mom, sister, and I were out running errands today. What should have been a few small errands turned into an all-day expedition. Every time we started heading home, we would end up turning around to pick something else up. We were getting upset with all the unexpected errands popping up, there were long to-do lists going undone at home, we were very hungry since we hadn't eaten for hours, and none of us had any extra cash that could be used for getting something to eat.

About 2 years ago I had won a $5 McDonald's gift card in a blog giveaway, but I had been saving it to be used to get a nice coffee at the perfect time. And what good would a $5 gift card do for three starving souls? The card was so old, I wasn't even sure it was any good. So as I sat in the car waiting for my mom to finish up an errand in a store across from McDonald's, I pulled out my cell phone and called the number on the card to see if it was still active. I punched in my gift card number, and waited to hear if $5 was still the balance... That's when I heard it, "Your card balance is $100." I was shocked to hear that, and my sister who was in the car with me asked, "Did she just say your balance is $100?!!!" My guess was that that must be what they say when your card is expired. :P So a little skeptical, we decided to head over to McDonald's and ask them to check the balance. It was $100 and the card was still good!!! The $5 McDonald's gift card I had won a few years before multiplied 20 times! :)

My mom had prayed earlier thanking God for working everything out since our day's plans had been rearranged and we were upset and hungry. And God provided us with enough money to buy as much food as we wanted with a large balance left on the gift card!! We were so surprised and blessed! We laughed and thanked God all the way home! :)

God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think! ~Ephesians 3:20

Linked to Spiritual Sundays

GIVEAWAY: Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Honey (12/1)

2011-11-17T20:34:00.003-05:00

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Elyce (comment #82) for winning!

Today I have the privilege of giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions' Canadian Raw Honey!! This stuff is amazing and is so delicious you're tempted to eat it by the spoonful. :)

Mandatory Entry:
Like A Glimpse Of Beautiful on Facebook AND like any status update on the Facebook page (this will ensure that you see our updates). Then leave a comment here telling me your Facebook name.

If you don't have Facebook, then you can follow via GFC as your mandatory entry.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me what your GFC name is
2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
3. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter
4. Like my Etsy page on Facebook (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a jar of Canadian Raw Honey from @TropTraditions and @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/uIV8TU Ends 12/1

6. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
7. Read and comment on my review of the Canadian Raw Honey (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)
8. Visit Free Coconut Recipes and tell me what your favorite recipe is.

The winner will be chosen on December 1 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Tropical Traditions' Amazing Honey

2011-11-17T19:43:00.000-05:00

I have always been highly impressed with Tropical Traditions' superior products. And the latest product I had the privilege of reviewing for them is their amazing organic Canadian raw honey!

But before I rave about the honey, I want to point out one thing that makes Tropical Traditions exceptional. When shipping glass products, such as my jar of honey, they pack it extremely well! With a cardboard buffer on all sides in addition to wrapping the jars in paper, I have never received a damaged product from Tropical Traditions.

One look (and taste!) of this great product and you will definitely notice the difference from most other honey. While most honey is processed to make it liquid, this honey is in a very pure natural crystal form. It's so delicious you are tempted to just eat it by the spoonful! :) Tropical Traditions goes to great lengths to ensure that you are getting the very best organic honey! In fact, this honey is never heated above it's naturally-occurring temperatures. With its amazing quality and superior taste, this is another winning product from Tropical Traditions and one I highly recommend!

Find out more about Tropical Traditions' organic Canadian honey here.

Two Winners Announced!

2011-10-17T15:46:00.002-04:00

The ending dates of two giveaways have come and gone, and I'm finally drawing winners! Here they are:

The winner of The Shunning DVD is:

Glogirl

And the winner of the CONAIR flat iron is:

Diana

Congrats to both of the winners! Please check your emails. :)

Sarcastics Anonymous

2011-09-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Sarcastics Anonymous for today's Friday Funnies video! :) Hope you enjoy it and have an awesome weekend!

GIVEAWAY: CONAIR Infiniti Pro Flat Iron (Ends 10/11)

2011-09-28T00:00:00.005-04:00

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to Diana (comment 233) for winning!

Today's giveaway is for a really cool product, the CONAIR Infiniti Pro Flat Iron!

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries (1 entry each unless otherwise indicated)
1. Like my fan page on Facebook.
2. Like my Etsy Facebook page. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
3. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a Conair Infiniti Pro Flat Iron from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/oZj0J3 Ends 10/11

5. Enter any of my other giveaways listed on the sidebar (2 entries each, leave 2 comments)
6. Like any item from my Etsy shop.
7. Tweet any item from my Etsy shop.
8. Read and comment on my review of the CONAIR flat iron. (2 entries)
9. Comment on this post. (2 entries)
10. Stumble any post on my blog (5 entries)

Have fun! :)

The winner will be chosen on October 11 using random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

New Cluster Earrings!

2011-09-27T21:35:00.000-04:00

Cluster earrings are one of my favorite types of earrings to create. These were really hard to photograph, but I finally got a photo that does them justice. And here they are: multicolored cluster earrings! :)

(These haven't been listed in my Etsy shop yet, but you can find the two below here.)

Here are two other colors of the cluster earrings. The purple translucent cluster earrings:

And the deep sea blue cluster earrings:

I'd love to hear your opinions! Which ones are your favorites?

Review: CONAIR Infiniti Pro Flat Iron

2011-09-27T19:59:00.001-04:00

Nothing’s more chic than shiny, sleek hair! The Infiniti Pro by Conair™ 1 inch Ceramic Flat Iron utilizes Tourmaline Ceramic technology that provides anti-frizz and anti-static results with less damage. This flat iron heats up in 15 seconds, and offers 30 heat settings with true ceramic heat, the highest reaching up to 455°F for even hard-to-straighten hair.

It has 3X smoother surface and high shine and smoothness! The straightener comes with a BONUS One ‘n Only® Argan Oil treatment .25 oz. that helps protect, revitalize, and nourish hair.

The Infiniti Pro by Conair 1 inch Ceramic Flat Iron is available nationwide at mass market and drug store retailers, as well as at www.conair.com for an average price of $39.99.

My Review:
I've always loved pin-straight hair, but I thought good quality hair irons cost a small fortune. I eventually settled for a cheap one and got what I paid for-- it took hours just to straighten my hair. Eventually I asked my hair stylist, and found out that a quality, name-brand hair iron can be found for a reasonable price.

One such quality hair iron is the new Conair Infiniti Pro ceramic flat iron. The first thing I loved about it was its stunning color. A beautiful deep purple, it has the look of a sleek styling tool. I love the fact that it is very lightweight and thin-- only one inch in width. It does an awesome job of straightening hair quickly and heats up in 15 seconds flat! I distinctly remember the days of waiting 20 minutes for my cheap flat iron to heat up...

This Conair hair iron retails for around $40, which is a great price as far as I'm concerned, especially since it works like a professional tool. This particular iron also comes with a tiny bonus bottle of argan oil for giving your hair an extra shine. I expect this little bottle to last me quite a while since it only takes a tiny bit for a beautiful shine.

The one problem I noticed is the fact that the on/off button presses way too easily. It's situated on the side of the iron right where your thumb would accidentally press it when holding the iron. This could be a potential fire hazard if the button is accidentally pressed, so I always unplug the iron as soon as I turn it off. One other thing worth mentioning is that the temperature settings are at intervals from 1 to 30. So it is necessary to read the instructions to see what temperature each interval represents. :)

I am very happy with this iron and was surprised at how well it worked even though it wasn't a super-expensive tool. It is a flat iron I would definitely recommend for someone who doesn't want to pay a fortune, but wants a beautiful, good-quality styling tool that works great!

I received a free product in exchange for this review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Carousel Horse Race

2011-09-23T01:53:00.001-04:00

Boy do I have an awesome video for you today! What was supposed to be an ordinary carousel ride turns into a horse race, thanks to a clever prank!! Check it out! :)

GIVEAWAY: The Shunning DVD (Ends 10/6)

2011-09-22T21:27:00.004-04:00

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to Glowgirl (comment 76) for winning!

It's time for another giveaway, and today one winner will receive a copy of The Shunning DVD. Read my review here.

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries (1 entry each unless otherwise indicated)
1. Like my fan page on Facebook.
2. Like my Etsy Facebook page. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
3. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a copy of The Shunning DVD from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/oG5gO6 Ends 10/6

5. Enter any of my other giveaways listed on the sidebar (2 entries each, leave 2 comments)
6. Like any item from my Etsy shop.
7. Tweet any item from my Etsy shop.
8. Read and comment on my review of The Shunning DVD. (2 entries)
9. Comment on this post. (2 entries)
10. Stumble any post on my blog (5 entries)

So there you have it, a bunch of random ways to get extra entries. :) Have fun!

The winner will be chosen on October 6 using random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Review: The Shunning DVD

2011-09-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

Based on the 1997 novel by New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis, The Shunning tells the story of Katie Lapp (Panabaker,) a young Amish woman who makes a discovery that throws her life into confusion. On the eve of Katie’s wedding to widower Bishop John (Jenkins,) a mysterious "Englisher" (Stringfield) arrives in Lancaster County and startling news comes from her anguished Old Order Amish father (Oberst) and mother. Nothing prepares Katie for the devastation their confession brings. Feeling betrayed, Katie watches as the only life she has ever known begins to unravel, leaving in its wake a furrow of pain…and a future of hope.

I was very excited to see this movie, especially because it was advertised as a Hallmark movie. I usually love the films produced by Michael Landon, Jr., and couldn't wait to watch this one. From the beginning, this film was very captivating, although the storyline was sad. The main character, Katie, goes through a lot of questions about her life in the Amish community, the strict rules she doesn't always want to follow, and her upcoming marriage to a man she isn't even sure she loves. I usually endure heartbreaking stories just because I love beautiful endings. But this film was quite disappointing! Just when you think the storyline is about to get better, the credits start rolling! The viewer is left to imagine what happens next and what road Katie decides to take. The only redeeming quality for this film would be if they made a sequel, because there are a ton of unanswered questions and not much of a beautiful ending. This film had a lot of potential, but definitely needs another one to tell the rest of Katie's story. If this is a stand-alone film, I probably won't watch it again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

New Pair of Pink Dangle Earrings :)

2011-09-20T16:54:00.000-04:00

I finally got another pair of earrings listed in my Etsy shop! This was a design based on another pair I wanted to expand on. And I'm pretty happy with the results. :) And here they are... Pink Cat's Eye Dangle Earrings!

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave your opinions in the comments below. :) And if you want to stay up to date with the latest, like my Etsy shop Facebook page!

GIVEAWAY: Blue Cluster Earrings and a Surprise! (Ends 9/30)

2011-09-15T14:39:00.009-04:00

~Giveaway is Closed. Congrats to Lori (comment 15) for winning!~

I'm extending this giveaway for one more day. Giveaway will now end on 9/30.

Today's giveaway features two prizes, both to the same winner! The two prizes are sponsored by my new Etsy shop (A Glimpse Of Beautiful) and a good friend's Etsy shop (Winter's Rain).

Here are the two prizes the winner will receive. A pair of Blue Cluster Earrings from my Etsy shop, A Glimpse Of Beautiful.

The second prize is any item of the winner's choice from Winter's Rain Etsy shop. Check out her shop to see what your choices are! Here's my personal favorite: her stunning tissue paper flowers! :)

So here's what you have to do to enter...

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your comment so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Visit Winter's Rain and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite item is!
2. Visit A Glimpse Of Beautiful and tell me what your favorite item is!
3. Like or Tweet an item from Winter's Rain's Etsy shop. (These options can be found on the right side of the item's page.) (1 entry each, please leave one comment each)
4. Like or Tweet an item from A Glimpse Of Beautiful. (1 entry each)
5. Add either of our shops (or both!) to your favorite Etsy shops or your Etsy circle. (1 entry each)
6. Like A Glimpse Of Beautiful's Etsy Facebook page. (1 entry)
7. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a pair of blue cluster earrings and an item of your choice here: http://bit.ly/mX7viU Ends 9/30 @ReneeLuvsBeauty

8. Enter any of my other giveaways on the sidebar (2 extra entries each)

Bonus: Stumble this post for 5 extra entries!

Thanks so much for entering! :)

The winner will be chosen on September 30 using random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

My New Etsy Shop!

2011-09-10T17:44:00.001-04:00

Do you see the new addition to my sidebar? It's a cool app for my new Etsy shop! I started an Etsy shop recently, (with the same name as this blog) and have had a blast making earrings! I plan to add some other creations besides earrings in the near future, and if you want to stay updated, feel free to like my Etsy shop Facebook page. :) I will be giving away a pair of earrings very soon, so stay tuned for that!

The Pink Swarovski Crystal Dangle Earrings are by far the most popular pair of any that I've made so far! The top two beads are Swarovski crystals, and the bottom bead has pretty rose swirls.

Another favorite are the Sea Breeze Cluster Earrings, created with a beautiful array of blue, green, and yellow beads.

The other favorite pair are the Teardrop Dangle Earrings created with sparkly Swarovski Crystal teardrop beads hanging from graduated chains.

Check out the other earrings in my shop, and remember that any of the earrings I make can be customized if you want something specific. :)

Tim Hawkins: Bad Candy

2011-09-08T20:20:00.001-04:00

I recently won a copy of Tim Hawkins DVD, "Insanitized" from a giveaway at Trailing After God. This is a hysterical DVD, and definitely worth getting a copy of your own! Included in this DVD is "70 minutes of stupidity from Tim" as well as a few hilarious music videos and a bonus feature from a guest comedian. My family absolutely loved it! Here is one of my favorite parts of the DVD:

Everlasting Joy

2011-09-07T01:34:00.003-04:00

So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:11

Photo Credit

Winner: Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter

2011-08-30T16:50:00.000-04:00

We have another winner! Congrats to Beth Elderton for winning the Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter! Please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! :)

Winner: I'm All In CD by Robert Pierre

2011-08-21T19:47:00.001-04:00

Thanks so much to all who entered to win the Robert Pierre CD!

The winner is Emma! Congratulations!! Please check your email :)

Be on the lookout for more great giveaways coming soon.

GIVEAWAY: The Grace Card DVD (Ends 9/3)

2011-08-20T17:34:00.004-04:00

Contest has ended. Congrats to Rescued By God (comment 26) for winning!

I'm super excited about today's giveaway! One winner will receive the amazing new film, The Grace Card! This is a must-see film, and it is one you will definitely want to add to your collection. So what are you waiting for? Get your entries in! :)

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries (1 entry each unless otherwise indicated)
1. Follow my brand new Etsy Facebook page! (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
2. Tell me what your favorite item is from my Etsy shop
3. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
4. Like my fan page on Facebook.
5. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
6. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win The Grace Card DVD from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/omVhhi Ends 9/3

7. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entry:
1. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
2. Read and comment on my review of The Grace Card. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)

The winner will be chosen on September 3 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

DVD Review: The Grace Card

2011-08-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Everything can change in an instant … and take a lifetime to unravel. When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God … and just about everyone else. Mac’s rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he’s partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force—who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.

Can they somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one? Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace. Offer THE GRACECARD … and never underestimate the power of God’s love.

When I first heard about The Grace Card, I wasn't extremely excited about watching it. I assumed it was another film tackling the topic of racism, and although that's a great topic, I've seen quite a few movies recently along those lines. My expectations weren't very high for this film, but I was absolutely blown away by how amazing it was.

The Grace Card is the first film by optometrist Dr. David Evans who was inspired by the excellent films produced by Sherwood Pictures. I am a huge fan of the Kendrick brothers and the amazing films they produce, and this one was definitely right up there with them. Had no one told me that this was a first film, I never would have guessed! The acting was phenomenal, especially since this was a very emotional story. Yet the actors, some of whom were first-timers were incredible. (The film also starred veteran actor Lou Gossett, Jr.) The acting was professional quality, and I was especially impressed to find out that the lead actor, Michael Joiner, is an award-winning comedian (as well as an actor) yet he pulled off the serious acting with ease. And to all the Sherwood Pictures fans out there, you will be delighted to see the return of "Wayne" from Fireproof!

The Grace Card was so much more than just a story about racism. This was clearly one of the topics of the film and was tackled beautifully, but there were so many other aspects of forgiveness, redemption, and healing wounds from the past. I absolutely loved this film and highly recommend it! You will need lots of tissues, as this film is a huge tear-jerker.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to watch The Grace Card. It made it to the top of my favorite movies, and I can't wait to see what's next for Graceworks. I can't say enough about The Grace Card, and if you haven't seen it, this film is definitely a must-see!

Special features include the opening scene from Courageous, the "Healing Begins" music video from Tenth Avenue North, and deleted scenes. You will also love "Wayne (Stephen Dervan) Returns" and the hilarity of Michael Joiner in the outtakes. :)

For more information, visit The Grace Card website and Facebook page!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

GIVEAWAY: Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter (8/29)

2011-08-13T16:01:00.004-04:00

Giveaway is closed. Congrats to Beth Elderton (comment #28) for winning!

It's time for another giveaway, and today someone is going to win a 16 oz. jar of Coconut Peanut Butter from Tropical Traditions!

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
2. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.

3. Like my fan page on Facebook.

4. Like my Etsy Facebook page.
5. Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.

6. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)

7. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a jar of Coconut Peanut Butter from @TropTraditions and @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/oYTKdR Ends 8/29

5. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:

1. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)

2. Check out my new Etsy shop and tell me what your favorite item is :) (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

3. Read and comment on my coconut peanut butter review here. (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)
4. Visit Free Coconut Recipes and tell me what your favorite recipe is!

The winner will be chosen on August 29 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Tropical Traditions' Coconut Peanut Butter

2011-08-13T15:55:00.001-04:00

I've really grown to love Tropical Traditions' wonderful, high-quality products, so when I had the chance to review another product, I chose the coconut peanut butter. I thought it was a very interesting product, and was especially wondering how peanut butter would taste with a coconut flavor.

You might wonder how a glass jar would fare during shipping, but Tropical Traditions has always impressed me with their outstanding care in shipping their products. The product was wrapped in paper and secured on all sides by a cardboard buffer. I have never received a damaged product from Tropical Traditions.

The peanut butter arrived on a very hot day. When I opened it, I was amazed at how easy it was to blend. It was super creamy. In fact, it was almost like a liquid. That's when I realized that it has to be stored somewhere cool to maintain a perfect consistency. Since it contains coconut, it also has the properties of coconut oil, which turns to a liquid when it's hot and to a solid when it's cold.

This is not a peanut butter to store in the fridge, either. I put mine in the fridge and it turned solid. So it is best to store it in a cool place, but not anywhere too cool.

I loved the taste of this coconut peanut butter. It had a slight coconut taste to it, and a nice creamy flavor. And I was especially impressed that there were no added ingredients. The product contains only coconut and peanuts! So if you want a really healthy peanut butter, this is the stuff to use! I definitely recommend Tropical Traditions' products, and suggest you give their coconut peanut butter a try.

Who Is Simon Miller? Premiers Tonight!

2011-08-06T09:26:00.000-04:00

When unassuming geoligist Simon Miller mysteriously disappears one night, the Miller family is thrown into a desperate search to find him. Simon's wife Meredith and their two kids, Sarah, 18 and Kevin, 15 frantically search Simon's office for information. When they find a stash of passports, all with Simon's picture but each with a different alias, they realize that their father has been keeping more than a few secrets. Who is Simon Miller? And what has he gotten himself - and his family - into? Not sure they can even trust the dad they thought they knew, the Millers embark on an international mission to get him back. It's a heart-pounding adventure that tests the limits to which families will fight for each other.

From the first few minutes of Who Is Simon Miller? I knew I was going to love this movie. A suspenseful action-packed movie about a dad who is secretly a spy, this latest edition of Family Movie Night is the best so far! Clean, family-friendly, and funny, I loved the fast-paced storyline, quick-witted son who cracks every code, and the fact that the family is authentic and believable.

Although I have really liked the Family Movie Nights so far, this movie was a huge hit! I was very impressed with it and can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can get a copy. Family Movie Night outdid themselves with Who Is Simon Miller? and I encourage you to watch it when it premiers today, August 6, 8/7c on NBC!

For more information check out the Family Movie Night website, Facebook page, or the YouTube page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Book Review: Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me by Ian Cron

2011-08-05T19:35:00.000-04:00

An entertaining, touching memoir of life with an alcoholic father who secretly works with the CIA, a dark pilgrimage through the valley of depression and addiction, and finding a faith to redeem and a strength to forgive.

At the age of sixteen, Ian Morgan Cron was told that his stockbroker father actually worked with the CIA. The story of this world-rocking discovery is the stepping-off point into a fascinating exploration of one man's alternately heartbreaking and humorous journey to faith and spiritual growth.

Born into a family of privilege and power, Ian's life is populated with colorful people and stories, including the account of an alcoholic father who takes his family on a wild roller-coaster ride through wealth and poverty and back again. Includes tales of a nearly blind English nanny who teaches him what love means, a famous New York radio personality who saves his life, a simple carpenter who leads him to faith in Jesus, and his own personal journey from addiction to twenty-three years of sobriety.

Believers and seekers alike will be moved by how Ian uncovers and honors what is sacred in his story, how he discovers God in the struggle to find redemption, and how the mysterious movement and presence of God is woven throughout the adventure of his life.

Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me was a fascinating book to read, although a sad one. Ian Cron takes the reader on the journey of his life, complete with all the twists and turns you would expect to find in a fiction novel, and not in a real-life story! Written with hilarious wit, the author keeps the reader glued to the pages and unable to put the book down. I loved his writing style, which was one of the most interesting and humorous I've ever read.

I really enjoyed reading this book, however I was a little disappointed with the ending. I would have loved to hear that the author's life was completely set free from the dysfunctions of his past, but instead got the message that he learned to live with some of the negative things that had happened to him. In addition, I hoped the ending would include a strong transforming relationship with Jesus through God's Word, but thought the summary was less than that. I do understand that these are the details of the author's life story, but would have loved to see more of a testimony of God's transforming power.

Overall, I thought this was an immensely interesting book, and that the author had a fantastic and hilarious writing style. If you want to read a real-life story as interesting as fiction, this is a book for you.

I received a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Tim Hawkins on Generic Brands

2011-08-05T01:52:00.002-04:00

This video is awesome! Tim Hawkins speaks on... generic brands. :) This video had me in tears I was laughing so hard. I haven't laughed so hard in weeks, maybe even months! A friend posted this on Facebook, and it is especially funny to me because my family has always bought a lot of generic brands, because they are often just as good, but the price is cheaper. (By the way, if you like Tim Hawkins, a friend is giving away a copy of his DVD here!) Enjoy!!

GIVEAWAY: I'm All In CD by Robert Pierre

2011-08-05T01:06:00.002-04:00

Giveaway Closed. Congrats to Emma (comment #30) for winning!

Who wants to win a brand new Robert Pierre album? Hot off the press, I'm All In is Robert's third studio release! You can win it right here.

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
2. Like my fan page on Facebook.
3. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win Robert Pierre's brand new CD: I'm All In from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/pK1BEM Ends 8/19

5. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
2. Check out my new Etsy shop and tell me what your favorite item is :) (3 extra entries, leave 3 comments)
3. Read and comment on my Robert Pierre album review here. (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

The winner will be chosen on August 19 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

CD Review: I'm All In by Robert Pierre

2011-08-02T19:11:00.000-04:00

Robert Pierre has just released his third studio album, I'm All In. An upbeat pop album, the title reflects Robert's life's motto of living fully committed to God. And amazingly, Robert (who recently graduated from high school) co-wrote all but one of the songs, and even wrote a few of them himself!

From a beautiful worship song to a song supporting the innocent lives of unborn babies to songs reminding us of God's promises, this album has songs for everyone! A collection of upbeat songs about living as someone who completely belongs to God, this album has a strong message of autentic Christianity. In fact, many of the lyrics are confessions straight out of Scripture and reminders to live as Christians who are dead to sin and trust the Lord with our lives.

If you're a fan of Robert Pierre, upbeat pop music, and solid Scriptural lyrics, this is an album for you!

And for your listening pleasure, I'm posting one of my favorite songs from the album, Sing For Joy, a beautiful hymn about singing to the Lord despite troubles surrounding us.

For more information, visit Robert Pierre's website and Facebook page. If you would like to buy the album, you can find it here on Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Kittens Riding a Roomba

2011-07-29T18:46:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday, everyone! If you haven't yet seen the adorable video of kittens riding a Roomba, you must! :) And as an added bonus, I'm including another hilarious video of another cat riding a Roomba. ;) Enjoy!

I love this one! It comes with a tail for additional cleaning. :)

DVD Review: Is The Bible Reliable?

2011-07-21T20:26:00.000-04:00

Guest Review by Christiana Szymanski from In Defence of The Christian Faith.

I was first introduced to The Truth Project's new series "True U" when I saw "The Toughest Test in College" documentary -- the first in the series. Needless to say, I was very impressed. This second installment -- Is The Bible Reliable? -- was no less disappointing. In classroom setting, Dr. Stephen Meyer confidently teaches students why we can trust that our Bible is reliable.

The synopsis of Is The Bible Reliable? is as follows:

Who is God, and how can we know Him? The Bible claims to be the direct revelation of our Creator. So if the biblical record is true, it is a primary means by which the God of the universe has revealed Himself to mankind. However, if it can be proved false, then the God of whom it speaks is simply one more pretender in the assembly of gods that man has created. In Is The Bible Reliable? Dr. Stephen Meyer challenges you to examine the historical and archaeological evidence to determine for yourself the veracity and accuracy of Scripture. Is the Bible true? You decide.

In this package, which includes two DVDs, you will learn the following:

Disc 1:
1) The Patriarchal Narratives and the Documentary Hypothesis
2) The Exodus: From Egypt to Canaan
3) The Israelite Conquest
4) The United Kingdom of David and Solomon
5) Historicity of the Old Testament: A Tale of Two Conquests

Disc 2:
6) The Babylonian Conquest of Judah
7) Canons of Historicity: The New Testament
8) Early Composition of Luke and Acts
9) External Corroboration
10) The Trial of Jesus

Also included is a discussion guide to be used in conjunction with the DVDs.

Includes:
- Questions to help facilitate group discussion
- Creative exercises to help participants gain a greater understanding of the subject matter
- Sidebars with background information to expand on the DVD content

Some of the highlights were the humorous cartoons in the discussion guide which help to support the subject matter. Also, before and after each lesson, I was delighted to see Dave Stotts from the Drive Through History series as he shares a few words on the Bible's importance in congruence with the topic at hand in each lesson! I was also fascinated by the section on archaeology which supports the Bible.

Overall, I really enjoyed Is The Bible Reliable? With a great teacher, excellent slide presentation graphics, and a discussion guide to ease following along, this series is sure to keep your interest as you learn about the reliability of the Bible. I highly recommend this series to everyone, and I think it does a good job of fulfilling its purpose: "You will be equipped to defend your faith and become a world changer in an increasingly hostile culture."

You Love Me Anyway

2011-07-09T11:23:00.001-04:00

Every once in a while I hear a song that really stands apart from the rest... and this is one of them! Sidewalk Prophets performs "You Love Me Anyway", a beautiful song with amazing lyrics (not to mention the excellent music video). I hope you enjoy it. :)

If you like this song, there is a stunning version here. (Unfortunately, I couldn't embed it, because it was disabled.)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

~ Romans 5:8 ~

Have a great weekend! :) And happy Spiritual Sunday!

Freedom Giveaway Hop (US & Canada) July 1-7

2011-06-30T21:13:00.008-04:00

~Giveaway now closed. Winners have been emailed. ~

Welcome to the Freedom Giveaway Hop! (July 1st - 7th) This is my first-ever giveaway hop, so I'm super excited! :)

Over 200 blogs are giving away book-related prizes, so after entering here, go check out some of the other giveaways listed at the bottom of this post!

Here's what I will be giving away (with each prize going to a different winner):

1. A brand new copy of Max on Life

2. Rescued by John Bevere (Christian novel)

3. Holy Bible: Mosaic NLT (The winner will receive a certificate to redeem at their local Christian bookstore.)

4. How I Forgave My Molester *AND* Trailing After God by Melinda Todd

Winners for all four prizes will be chosen at random. If you have any preferences, please let me know in your entries. I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best. :)

Mandatory Entry: Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and tell me what your GFC name is. (Please leave one comment.)

Extra Entries:
(Please leave one comment per entry.)
1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
2. Like my fan page on Facebook and tell me who you follow as.
3. Like Trailing After God on Facebook and tell me who you follow as.
4. Subscribe to my RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this DAILY for an additional entry.

Win one of five Christian books from @Reneeluvsbeauty in the Freedom Giveaway Hop here: http://bit.ly/k5JKpw (Ends: 7/7)

(Please make sure your email address is available so I can contact you if you're the winner. Winners will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected.)

Thanks so much for entering! Now go enter the other giveaways!! :)

And The Winner (of One Thousand Gifts) is....

2011-06-29T23:17:00.000-04:00

Drum roll, please! It's time to announce a winner. The giveaway was for a new copy of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

And the Winner is: Latanya!!

Congratulations!!! And check your emails. ;)

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

GIVEAWAY: Softlips Lip Product Collection (Ends 7/11)

2011-06-27T21:55:00.004-04:00

Have I got a cool giveaway for you folks today! The winner of this giveaway will receive a collection of awesome Softlips products! Check out the picture of all the products the winner will receive:

This was a real treasure to me, and I'm very excited to be able to give away all these amazing products! :)

Mandatory Entry:
Go to the Softlips website and tell me which product is your favorite.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and tell me what your GFC name is.
2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
3. Like my fan page on Facebook.
4. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win 6 Double Packs of Softlips from @Reneeluvsbeauty and @ilovesoftlips here: http://bit.ly/ki647t Ends 7/11

6. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Stumble any of my blog posts (on StumbleUpon.com) and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
2. Read and comment on my Softlips review here. (2 extra entries, 2 comments)
3. Read and comment on my review of Praying For Your Future Husband here. (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

The winner will be chosen on July 11 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

SoftLips Beautiful New Look!!

2011-06-27T20:44:00.000-04:00

Good lip products are a luxury I always try to have on hand. (You might say I'm addicted...) In fact, the last time I found some at a great sale price, I bought all of them! :) To me, Softlips has always been one of the top-of-the-line lip products-- more luxurious than the rest. Packaged in a pretty, slim tube, they are so easy to carry around with you. The product feels like silk when applied, and comes in a large variety of flavors.

My current favorite right now is the raspberry, which has an amazing scent. In fact, it's such a great smell that I find myself applying it multiple times a day. These lip products also come with the benefits of an SPF 20 sunscreen and really feel like you're using a high-quality product.

Softlips has just introduced a new product line "Softlips. So You." complete with vibrant new packaging. There are fun lip conditioning products for summer to fit your every mood! They look like so much fun, I'd like to try them all. There is shell pink, rose, coral charm, papaya, peppermint, and even cool mint made with beeswax! I love the vibrant packaging and the wide variety of products! If you want to get a hold of some of these amazing products for yourself, stay tuned, because I'll be giving some away soon!

You can find out more about these amazing products by visiting the Softlips website or Facebook page. You can also find them on Twitter and YouTube!

Praying For Your Future Husband

2011-06-25T20:52:00.001-04:00

When I heard about the book, Praying For Your Future Husband, I immediately assumed it was a book for teenagers who dream all day that Prince Charming will arrive. I wasn't very interested and promptly dismissed the idea of reading it. But when I saw one of the authors excitedly tweeting about the book on release day, I decided I would give it a try.

Praying For Your Future Husband is so much more than what you would gather from the title. I was captivated from the beginning to the very end of the book. Written by two authors with very different life stories, the narratives capture the reader. Robin Jones Gunn was a Christian girl doing her best to follow God's plan of remaining pure and waiting for God to bring her future husband along. Her story has some interesting twists and turns, as God brought her the husband He had for her. Tricia Goyer, on the other hand, was promiscuous, had an abortion, and was pregnant as a teenager. Even after seemingly ruining God's plan for her young life, she decided to give Him the pieces and see if He could bring her a Godly husband. Her story is fascinating and kept me glued to the book.

Throughout Praying For Your Future Husband, the two authors alternately share their stories. Between these interesting narratives are so many other treasures. Chapters on different topics of prayer (such as praying that God will protect your future husband and strengthen him) also include encouraging Scriptures, poems, and inspirational quotes. I especially loved the stories of other girls and women who prayed, trusted God, and God answered! Their testimonies of the different ways God brought their future husbands into their lives were such a treat to read.

Each chapter ends with a prayer for your future husband as well as one for you. There are also a list of thought-provoking questions at the end of the chapter, which help the reader to see the topic of praying for their future husbands from a Biblical perspective.

Contrary to my original opinion of this book, Praying For Your Future Husband is a book I highly recommend and would even consider a must-read for anyone waiting on God for their future husbands. In fact, although this book is geared toward girls and young women, I think even guys would find encouragement from its content. This book is special in that it includes stories from two ladies, one from a pure, Christian background, and another from a promiscuous background. Not only will it provide encouragement to Christian girls, but it will also be an inspiration to girls who think they have messed up God's plan, to see that He can bring beauty from ashes! An awesome, and much-needed resource for Christian singles, I loved this book and highly recommend it!

The Freedom Giveaway Hop - Coming Soon!

2011-06-24T01:38:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to announce the very first giveaway hop I will be participating in-- The Freedom Giveaway Hop, July 1st - 7th hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Simply Stacie! I've entered quite a few of the giveaways from similar hops, but this time I'll be giving away prizes! :) This giveaway hop is book-related, so there will be lots of opportunities to win books and book-related products!

So be sure to come back July 1st - 7th and enter! There are almost 200 blogs participating, so plan to enter some of those, too! :)

Diet Coke + Mentos = Beware!

2011-06-23T20:33:00.000-04:00

If you're trying that famous Diet Coke and Mentos experiment... beware! You'll see why in this hilarious video... ;)

Winner: 1 Gallon of Dish Liquid from Tropical Traditions

2011-06-16T21:59:00.001-04:00

The Tropical Traditions dish liquid giveaway ended a few days ago, and I'm just getting to draw a winner! So with no further ado, congratulations to the winner!! (I didn't hear from the first winner, so this is the second winner drawn.)

Dealsfan32

Thanks to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for more great giveaways coming soon!

GIVEAWAY: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (Ends 6/27)

2011-06-10T19:36:00.005-04:00

Giveaway Extended through June 27th.

Today I'm giving away a brand new copy of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I had quite a few opinions about this book, although it is a very popular Christian book. If you're interested in reading my thoughts about it, check out my review here.

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
2. Like my fan page on Facebook.
3. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a brand new copy of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/myIrAR Ends 6/27

5. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Stumble any of my blog posts and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
2. Read and comment on my review of One Thousand Gifts here. (2 extra entries, 2 comments)

The winner will be chosen on June 27 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

2011-06-10T18:22:00.001-04:00

I picked up this book because I heard it was a treasure- a book you'll keep on your bookshelf and read often. I was intrigued and very interested in reading it. When I got my copy, I thought One Thousand Gifts definitely had the look and feel of a book containing treasures. I was excited to see what lay inside it's pages.

One Thousand Gifts is largely a book about thanksgiving, or as the author puts it, "eucharisto." Choosing to look for the good gifts God gives every day, compiling them in a list of "One Thousand Gifts" and being thankful for them-- recognizing the little things as gifts from God!

The main concept of this book was great, and one that I think will be helpful to a lot of people. However, I had quite a few problems with this book. I was disappointed that nearly everything the author listed as one of her "gifts" was something that could be seen or touched on this earth. Rarely did I see thankfulness for God's many promises. If we are truly thankful to God, I believe we will be thankful for Spiritual blessings, God's many benefits, in addition to the physical things He blesses us with. I was disappointed that the author's thankfulness list rarely included Spiritual blessings or answers to prayer, both of which I consider integral, even more important than physical things when giving thanks to God.

As I began reading One Thousand Gifts, one of the first things I noticed was Ann's poetic style of writing. I've heard nothing but positive reviews, but personally, I found the writing style more annoying the further I got through the book. I had a very hard time getting through this book, especially because the writing wasn't like anything I've ever heard spoken. And I found the style to be irritating.

I also found a few theological faults with One Thousand Gifts. The first was the fact that the author seems to say that bad things that happen to us are gifts from God and we need to be thankful for them. The Bible clearly states that all good comes from God and bad comes from the enemy. "Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights," states the Bible. And we are required to give thanks "in" everything. God will certainly bring good out of the bad that happens to us, but we should not think that God brings bad to us.

The most disturbing chapter of the book, however, was when the author compares God's relationship with the church to a marriage relationship. Using sexual language to get the point across, the author took it so far, it was disturbing. I wasn't at all happy with this chapter, as it seemed that the author is coming from a sensual, rather than Biblical point of view.

From the time I started reading this book, I wanted to give it a good review, in fact, I have hardly even seen a negative review of it. But I can not recommend it. Although there are plenty of great points, and some really good advice, there are just as many negative aspects of One Thousand Gifts. I personally believe you can find much more benefit from studying what the Bible says about thanksgiving and beginning a thankfulness journal than by reading this book.

Since I know this book is very popular, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts if you've read it! Please let me know in the comments below.

I received this book free to review. All opinions are mine.

Family Movie Night's Newest Addition is Here

2011-06-10T14:18:00.000-04:00

Family Movie Night is back again with their newest release, Field of Vision. With their usual style of creating movies safe for the whole family, they add yet another film to their growing collection!

Here is the synopsis of Field of Vision:
Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School's star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student. Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what's more important: winning or doing what's right. As these events unfold, the camera also reveals more surprising footage to Tyler's kid sister Lucy. She learns that Cory has a secret past, unknown even to him. Now Lucy must convince her mom (Faith Ford, Murphy Brown) and family that the camera's revealing insight is not a product of her imagination as she enlists their help to find the answers Cory so desperately needs. It's a compelling and intriguing story that shows both the challenges and rewards of doing the right thing even when it's tough to do.

Once again, I was pleased with the latest Family Movie Night film. While nearly every film out there gives you some reason to use the remote (or worse, throw out the entire film), it's refreshing to see family-friendly movies that are safe for anyone to watch. Field of Vision was entertaining, heartwarming, and something the whole family can enjoy. It has good messages against bullying, and about teamwork and doing the right thing. There was some "magic" which was pretty ridiculous, since a mysterious camera shows the characters events they wouldn't have otherwise known about. I found these parts of the movie pretty unrealistic. But other than that, this is a film I would recommend, I was happy with the storyline, and pleased that Family Movie Night pulled off another film with a theme that was both intriguing and inspirational. (And on a side note, I was especially excited when I heard "Light Up The Sky" by The Afters-- one of the most awesome songs out there-- playing in the background!) Field of Vision premiers Saturday, June 11th 8/7c on NBC. Tune in and enjoy! :)

For more information, please see the Family Movie Night website,and to keep up with all the latest, like their Facebook page!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Friday Funnies: Starbucks Rap

2011-06-09T20:52:00.002-04:00

This Starbucks rap is pretty good! And it's hilarious how they can do it with a straight face. Check it out! :)

GIVEAWAY: 50 Custom Brochures from UPrinting.com (Ends 6/25)

2011-06-07T13:10:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty excited about the prize I have to give away today! If you have a business of any kind, you will probably be interested in free custom brochures!!

One winner will receive the prize listed below from UPrinting.com:

50 brochures
8.5" x 11", 100lb Paper Gloss,
With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, or Accordion Fold)
Outside and Inside printing
2 Business Days Turnaround, Free shipping (to residents of the US)

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post telling me what your GFC name is.

Please make sure your email is available in your (public) profile or in your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.
2. Like my fan page on Facebook.
3. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win 50 Custom Brochures from UPrinting and @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/kvP2xU Ends 6/25

5. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Enter my other current giveaway (1 extra entry)
2. Stumble any of my blog posts and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)

The winner will be chosen on June 25 using random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. The winner of this giveaway must be 18 or older. You are not eligible to win this giveaway if you have won the same print giveaway from UPrinting.com in the past six months. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada (sorry to my international readers).

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive brochure printing for hosting. For more information please visit UPrinting online printing services.

GIVEAWAY: Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid (1 Gallon) Ends 6/14 CLOSED

2011-06-01T00:04:00.006-04:00

Giveaway Closed- Congrats to Dealsfan32 for winning!

Today I'm giving away another great product from Tropical Traditions-- 1 gallon of their natural dish liquid! For my review of this amazing product without toxins, go here.

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

Please leave one comment for each entry. Be sure your email address is available for me to contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:

1. Subscribe to Tropical Traditions' Sales email newsletter.

2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is.

3. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.

4. Like my fan page on Facebook. (link on sidebar)

5. Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.

6. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)

7. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win 1 Gallon of Natural Dish Liquid from @troptraditions and @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/jpRz99 Ends 6/14

8. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:

1. Read and comment on my review of Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

2. Visit Tropical Traditions' Free Coconut Recipe website and tell me what your favorite recipe is!
3. Stumble any of my blog posts and tell me which one you Stumbled (5 extra entries, leave 5 comments)
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 extra entry)

The winner will be chosen on June 14 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada (sorry to my international readers).

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

A Dish Liquid Without Harsh Chemicals

2011-05-31T22:54:00.001-04:00

Tropical Traditions is rapidly becoming a favorite company of mine. The latest product I was privileged to test was their amazing dish liquid. Far from a typical soap, this product is coconut-based and "free from fragrances, phosphates, petroleum solvents, chlorine, dyes and other common triggers for respiratory or skin irritations." While reading a health book recently, I discovered that traditional dish soaps contain toxins. Washing dishes without wearing gloves will cause these toxins to seep into your skin, so a safe, good quality dish soap is an extremely valuable product!

Tropical Traditions dish liquid comes in a gallon container, ensuring that it will last quite a while! We transferred some of the soap into one of the name-brand dish soap containers for ease of dispensing. One difference I noticed about this soap is that it has a little less of a lather because some of the ingredients that cause a lather are often harsh chemicals.

Tropical Traditions dish liquid is an excellent product I highly recommend. It contains only top-quality, natural ingredients making it safe to use without fear of toxins. This is a product that is worth it's money and one I intend to keep using!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Friday Funnies: Facebook In Real Life

2011-05-27T02:23:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered what Facebook would look like in real life? Well, here's a video showing just that! If you're a Facebook ~~addict~~ user like me, you'll most likely find this hilarious! (Although there is one small part that's a little weird.) Enjoy, and have a very happy Friday!

Winner: Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic

2011-05-24T01:22:00.000-04:00

And we have another winner today! This time it's the winner for the amazing Life Without Limits book by Nick Vujicic!

The winner was Saradawson09! :) Congratulations!!!

Thank you all so much for entering, and stay tuned for more great giveaways coming soon!!

Winner: Unplanned DVD

2011-05-23T17:13:00.000-04:00

A winner has been drawn (using random.org) for the Unplanned DVD!!

And the winner is... Twingle Mommy!

Congratulations!! You will be receiving an email from me. :)

Fun Beauty Giveaways to Enter :)

2011-05-20T23:53:00.000-04:00

I love entering giveaways... and I especially love winning! :) I've won some neat stuff lately. I recently stumbled on some awesome beauty giveaways! Check them out:

Savvy Beauty's fabulous giveaway:

Sweet As Honey's cool giveaway:

Adrienne Adores' giveaway:

Gaby's Beauty Blog's giveaway:

Have fun entering! And be sure to get your name in my giveaways listed on the sidebar! :) More great giveaways to come, so stay tuned!

Hysterical Burger Comparison Chart

2011-05-20T01:19:00.001-04:00

Normally, funny pictures make me smile. This one, however, caused me to break into spontaneous laughter! Why, you ask? Because it is SO TRUE!! :) Enjoy this hysterical picture for today's Friday Funnies!!

Happy Friday Funnies! And remember this chart the next time you're tempted by those perfect food advertisements! ;)

Book Review: The Take Action Bible

2011-05-17T21:51:00.002-04:00

Put the Word of God into action. The Take Action Bible features real-life stories and full-color photos of people who are putting their faith into action. Actions range from raising money with a lemonade stand to relocating to the mission field. Read their inspiring stories, and follow their examples with 52 ideas for you to put God's Word into action.

Have you ever wondered how you can change the world? You don't necessarily have to do something huge, but if everyone did their part, we could all make a difference. The Take Action Bible, a NKJV UltraSlim Bible is an excellent resource that provides you with ideas on how to practically apply God's Word in your life. With 15 real-life stories and a list of 52 "Take Action Ideas" you are sure to find something you can do to help those around you.

My favorite part about this Bible is the clean, easy-to-read appearance of the pages. The font is small, but without extra columns and notes, it is so easy to read! This lightweight paperback Bible has a glossy cover with a picture representing the action steps listed inside. Evenly dispersed throughout its pages are inspirational stories of people who have done what they could to help those around them. After each story, questions provoke the reader to "take action" to help others. In addition, the end pages contain a collection of colorful maps.

I really enjoy reading The Take Action Bible. The glossy cover gives it a sleek appearance and the stories are thought-provoking. Its lightweight, clean appearance makes it a joy to read. It's a Bible I'm happy to have in my possession!

For more information about Thomas Nelson's God’s Word in Action campaign, visit www.SeeGod'sWordInAction.com.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions are mine.

Robert Pierre's Brand New EP!

2011-05-16T22:45:00.000-04:00

I've heard a few songs by new artist Robert Pierre, but I distinctly remember when I was sent a YouTube video of Robert Pierre's song "You Hold Me Now". I was so impressed, I couldn't stop repeating the song! :)

That song plus three more are what make up the Robert Pierre EP, available now! For a four-song EP, you certainly get a stellar mixture! "Jesus," "You Hold Me Now," "Breaking My Heart," and "Identity" are all upbeat, strong songs with amazing lyrics. Jesus is a song with simple, yet profound lyrics: "Any desperate day, one word I can pray, all I know to say, Jesus!" I especially love the bridge, which proclaims, "So even when I stumble and my world is torn apart, there is One who's holding my heart."

Track 2, "You Hold Me Now," is a truly phenomenal song. It's one of those songs that make it to your "all-time favorites" lists. Robert's excellent vocals along with strong music and extraordinary lyrics make this song a must-hear! The lyrics speak of a time when we see Jesus face to face, our fears are swept away, and we are held by Jesus. I love this song so much, I could post all the lyrics here for your enjoyment. But you'll just have to hear this song for yourself!

"Breaking My Heart" is a unique look at how Jesus "breaks our hearts" in a beautiful way by changing our desires from what we used to be: "Nothing's the same, now I can see; How tenderly; You're breaking my heart".

"Identity," the fourth track on this exceptional EP, has a super message! This song speaks of finding our identity in Jesus rather than going the way of the world-- a truly integral message for young people today (and everyone else, for that matter). "That's who I am, forgiven and set free; It doesn't matter what the world may think of me; I got nothing to hide, I know my identity".

This is an EP you won't want to miss. And you don't have to, because you get these four outstanding songs free by simply downloading the Robert Pierre EP here! :) Enjoy, and stay tuned because this summer Robert's full-length CD, I'm All In will be released!

Robert Pierre will be graduating from high school May 20th, so a great big congratulations goes out to him! If you want to congratulate him, go leave a message on his Facebook page here.

Check out this amazing video of Robert and some of his friends doing incredible basketball shots!

We Have A Winner: Fiesta Roses

2011-05-14T21:21:00.001-04:00

We have a winner for the Purple Fiesta Roses giveaway!!! The winner, chosen by random.org is....

Sodahoney!!

Congrats, you will be receiving an email with instructions on how to claim your prize! Thank you all for entering! :)

Slow Down and Be Still

2011-05-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

A stunning song of encouragement for your Sunday: Slow Down by Chasen! :)

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 46:10

Happy Spiritual Sundays, everyone!

Book Review: Hiding Behind A Mask (by Cheryl Bolton Van Winkle)

2011-05-13T20:24:00.001-04:00

Cheryl suffered from bipolar depression for over 40 years. She was on antidepressants for 17 years. Cheryl and her husband were pastors for 25 years and learned that many in the faith community failed to understand the depth of her pain. Ultimately, she learned that God wanted to do more than remove the depression, He wanted her whole.

Hiding Behind A Mask is Cheryl's captivating story of her journey from depression to freedom. She takes the reader from her childhood, through the dark hole of depression, and ultimately to her healing. This is a book you won't be able to put down. If you have depression or need to better understand someone who does, her story will enlighten and encourage you.

Cheryl shares how she felt in the pit of depression and gives the reader practical advice for helping those who are depressed. A pastor's wife of 25 years suffering from bipolar depression during that time, Cheryl shares how to effectively help Christians who may be battling this illness.

This easy-to-read book contains much more than Cheryl's journey through depression; it is her story of arriving on the other side of it and overcoming! Hiding Behind A Mask contains a wealth of excellent information that Cheryl learned from her years of going through mental illness. There are multiple chapters giving solid Biblical advice for soundness of mind, as well as natural and medical steps to take for fighting depression.

I was captivated by how authentic and raw Cheryl's story was. This book is a must-read for anyone struggling with depression or bipolar disorder. The story gives hope, and the simple, yet thorough chapters filled with advice for those suffering, give the reader something to act on. I highly recommend Hiding Behind A Mask by Cheryl Bolton Van Winkle.

For more information on how to get your own copy of this outstanding book, please visit Cheryl's website.

GIVEAWAY: Unplanned DVD by Abby Johnson (5/22) CLOSED

2011-05-07T01:37:00.007-04:00

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to Twingle Mommy for winning!

I'm extending the giveaway end date to 5/22 so everyone has a chance to enter. :) Good luck!

Today's giveaway is a DVD I thoroughly enjoyed watching... Unplanned. This is the testimony of a former Planned Parenthood clinic director, Abby Johnson. And today I'm giving away a certificate for a free copy of the DVD to one winner!

Mandatory Entry:
Read my review of Unplanned, comment on it, and come back here and tell me you did! :)

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me via Google Friend Connect
2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. (One entry, leave one comment)
3. Like my fan page on Facebook.
4. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a brand new DVD: Unplanned by Abby Johnson from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/lga5TH Ends 5/22

6. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Enter any of my current giveaways (see sidebar) for 2 extra entries each! (Please leave two comments each)

2. Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry each)

This giveaway ends on May 22 and is open to the US and Canada. Entries are accepted until I draw a winner on May 22 and close the comments, sometime after noon. :) Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Winner will be notified by email, so please make sure your email is available either in your comment or in your public profile. Thank you! :)

Unplanned by Abby Johnson

2011-05-07T01:17:00.000-04:00

Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in an actual abortion procedure for the first time, walked down the street to join the Coalition for Life. Unplanned is a heart-stopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue. Telling Abby’s story from both sides of the abortion clinic property line, this DVD is a must-see for anyone who cares about the life versus rights debate and helping women who face crisis pregnancies.

I have wanted to hear Abby Johnson's testimony ever since seeing her book for sale. While I didn't get the chance to read her book yet, I did have the privilege of watching her testimony on the DVD, Unplanned. With a format much like a documentary, I found Unplanned extremely fascinating. Abby's story captivated me, and I enjoyed following her life from her Christian upbringing, to her time as the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, to her conversion and joining the pro-life ranks. One of the most inspirational aspects of Abby's testimony is how genuine Christian love and persistent prayer were so instrumental in her coming back to God. It was beautiful to see how Christians acting in a Godly way caused Abby's life to be changed forever!

Unplanned is a DVD I highly recommend. It is one you will want to get your own copy of. It is a beautiful story and an inspiring testimony. There is also an additional short testimony in the extra features that was very inspirational! This is a DVD you won't want to miss!

The Unite for LIFE webcast is a free webcast featuring Abby Johnson that will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at www.uniteforlifewebcast.org. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD to review. All opinions are my own.

Cooking FAIL

2011-05-06T02:26:00.000-04:00

Today's Friday Funnies is a new-to-me video... Check out this hilarious cooking show, where everything that could possibly go wrong does! :) I found this on Facebook, so if you enjoy it, go like Flylady's page, where they post hilarious videos every Friday! (And there is a lot of other good stuff on her page, too!)

The Spirit of the Lord Gives Liberty

2011-05-04T00:40:00.001-04:00

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(2 Corinthians 3:17)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(Galatians 5:1)

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD..."

(Isaiah 61:1)

Have a happy and blessed Word Filled Wednesday!

God's Protection During Tornadoes

2011-04-30T23:13:00.003-04:00

This week was one filled with massive tornado outbreaks. We even had tornadoes here in New York, which is very rare. But with disasters like this come testimonies of God's faithfulness. I have two to share with you today. Both are evidence of the fact that even tornadoes have to move when one of God's children commands it to move in the name of Jesus.

First, here is an amazing video of a man rebuking a tornado on video... and you get to see it go back into the cloud, leaving the guy's house untouched! Check it out!

The second testimony is one I read on Terri Copeland Pearsons' website: A woman from Alabama heard a rumbling sound that she thought was a train. She sent her children into the basement, and went onto the balcony to see what the noise was. It was a tornado coming straight for her neighborhood! She immediately began to pray, plead the blood of Jesus, and speak to the tornado. She stayed there until the tornado changed it's course! Surrounding houses were struck by the tornado, but hers was untouched! She had no damage except for the debris in her yard!

(Go here to read the testimony.)

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Psalm 46:1-3

Linked to Spiritual Sundays

Friday Funnies: Stranded!

2011-04-29T00:56:00.000-04:00

Boy, do I have a hilarious video for you today! I take no credit for it, however, because I saw it on my friend Alice's blog. :) This video had me in stitches!! I love it! Enjoy :)

GIVEAWAY: Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic (Ends 5/23) CLOSED

2011-04-23T19:00:00.005-04:00

This giveaway is closed. The winner was Saradawson09.

Okay, have I got something special for you! I have been super excited about this giveaway, and I've been procrastinating at posting it because I wanted to prolong the excitement! LOL

Anyway, I am giving away a book which makes it into my top ten favorite books of all time:

One winner will receive a brand new copy of Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic!

Mandatory Entry:
Leave me a comment telling me which book (other than the Bible) is your favorite and why!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me via Google Friend Connect
2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. (One entry, leave one comment)
3. Like my fan page on Facebook.
4. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a brand new copy of Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/dPhaXU Ends 5/23

6. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Read and comment on my review of Life Without Limits (2 entries, leave 2 comments on this post)
2. Enter any of my other giveaways (2 entries each)
~~3. Enter to win a copy of Did The Resurrection Happen... Really? by Josh McDowell from Christiana's blog (3 extra entries)~~ CLOSED

This giveaway ends on May 23 and is open Internationally! (Because I love my International readers, and I'm shipping this prize out myself!!) Entries are accepted until I draw a winner on May 23, after noon sometime. :) Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Winner will be notified by email, so please make sure your email is available either in your comment or in your public profile. Thank you! :)

GIVEAWAY: A Dozen Purple Fiesta Roses (Ends 5/13) CLOSED

2011-04-23T00:18:00.006-04:00

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to the winner, Sodahoney! :)

Who wants to win a dozen purple Fiesta Roses complete with a purple vase delivered via overnight shipping (and valued at about $100 total)?!! I thought so! :)

So here's how to enter:

Mandatory entry:
Visit the Fiesta Roses website and leave a comment on this post telling me something you like! :) Also be sure that you are a Google Friend Connect follower of this blog.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. (One entry, leave one comment)

2. Like my fan page on Facebook.

3. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)

4. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win a Dozen Purple Fiesta Roses w/ Vase ($100 value) from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/eqJJol Ends 5/13

5. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:

1. Read my review of my beautiful purple Fiesta Roses and comment on it. (2 entries, leave 2 comment on this post)

2. Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post. (One bonus entry per day.)
3. Enter any of my other giveaways (2 extra entries each)

This giveaway ends on May 13 and is open to US/CAN. Entries are accepted until I draw a winner, after noon sometime. :) Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Winner will be notified by email, so please make sure your email is available either in your comment or in your public profile. Thank you! :)

My Beautiful Purple Fiesta Roses :)

2011-04-22T18:45:00.000-04:00

A few days before my birthday I received the most stunning roses EVER! If you've never heard of Fiesta Roses, they are some of the most amazing roses you will ever see! The best roses are hand-picked and dyed various colors using a unique process. Fiesta Roses sells blue dyed roses, stunning rainbow roses, and purple roses. I received the beautiful purple ones, and was absolutely thrilled with them!

My roses arrived via overnight shipping, and I received this beautiful box delivered to my door!

I was so excited about the beauty inside, but I was really busy and had somewhere to go, so I actually didn't open the box until a few hours later! By that time, I was getting a little concerned. I had visions of wilting roses inside! So I took the box out, put it on the table, and carefully began opening the colorful package!

Now, I already knew there were purple roses inside this box, but after sitting inside the box for a few extra hours, I expected them to look a little less than fresh! But when I opened the box, I was so shocked at how beautiful they were that I let out a gasp! They were by far the most beautiful roses I've ever seen!

The roses looked like they were just picked! I love how they came in an exquisite purple wrapping. I took about a million pictures before I dared unwrap them. If they weren't live roses, I probably would have left them in the pretty purple wrapping permanently, I loved it so much!

I was further impressed when I saw that the beautiful roses came with a pretty matching purple vase!

These roses lasted me about two weeks, and they added a gorgeous touch to the center of my table. I don't think I will be able to buy roses from anywhere else again!

If you want to really shock that someone special, I can't recommend Fiesta Roses highly enough. They are absolutely top-of-the-line and will be sure to make a lasting impression on the lucky recipient! :)

To find out more about these magnificent roses, visit their website!

~ I received a free product for the purpose of review. All opinions are completely mine. ~

He Delivered Me

2011-04-20T00:44:00.001-04:00

He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18:16-19

Word Filled Wednesday
Spiritual Sundays
Photo Credit: Vainsang

Book Review: Max On Life by Max Lucado

2011-04-18T23:58:00.001-04:00

A brand new book by an amazing author, Max on Life is the latest by Max Lucado. Written in a question and answer format, Max tackles the toughest and most common question he has been asked in his many years of ministry. Containing 172 questions on a variety of topics, Max answers with insight and his usual graceful way of writing. I really liked the fact that Max's answers were so full of wisdom but also short and to the point. The typical answers are about a page long, making this book an easy read. I thought many of Max's answers to hard questions were refreshingly simple and thoughtful. There is also a small section in the back of the book where Max shares some writing advice he has learned through the years.

I really enjoyed this book. I did disagree on a tiny bit of his theology, so I do recommend doing your own Bible studying as well, if you are looking for answers to life's tough questions. But everything considered, this was a beautifully refreshing read with a wealth of Max Lucado's pastoral wisdom packed into insightful answers to life's most pressing questions. I recommend it!

I received a copy of this book free for the purpose of review. All opinions are mine!

Peace In The Eye of a Tornado

2011-04-16T17:23:00.000-04:00

With all the crazy weather and tornadoes going on around the country lately, I found this story to be very encouraging! This guy lived through a tornado... literally! Thank God for His protection! And I pray that you all are safe from all the tornadoes going around!

Linked to Spiritual Sundays and Inspiring Story

Hilarious Kitties and Toilet Paper

2011-04-14T20:45:00.000-04:00

Apparently kitties have a fascination with toilet paper! For today's Friday Funnies, I have three hysterical videos for you with, yes, kitties and toilet paper!! I hope this makes you smile! Have a great Friday!

Quiet You With His Love

2011-04-13T02:05:00.003-04:00

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

Photo Credit

Word Filled Wednesday

TRUTH BE TOLD is Coming Soon!

2011-04-13T01:33:00.003-04:00

If you're a fan of family-friendly films, you will definitely want to mark your calendars for this one! Truth Be Told is premiering on FOX (8/7c) Saturday, April 16th!

Here is the synopsis:
When leading marriage counselor Annie Morgan (Candace Cameron Bure) is offered an opportunity to host a relationship talk show, she jumps at the chance. But fearful that being single might ruin her big break, she conspires with an old college friend and recent widower, Mark Crane (David James Elliott), to pose as a married couple with kids. Their story starts to unravel when Annie and Mark join her eccentric soon-to-be boss (Ronny Cox) for a weekend at his ranch in New Mexico. Comical misunderstandings mark the event as Annie struggles to keep up the ruse, finding herself emotionally invested and conflicted by her own conscience. Will she confess the truth about her marital status and her feelings for Mark... and will the truth set them free?

My thoughts:

I really liked this movie! It was very entertaining and really interesting. I would classify it as a family-friendly romantic comedy. The writers did a great job of making this a clean, intriguing film without much of the junk you would expect to find in many of the films out today. There were, however, a few parts of the movie that I wouldn't approve of, mainly some flirting and immodesty. Also, if you've seen the last Family Movie Night movie, A Walk In My Shoes, you will find some of the same cheesy humor in some parts.

So everything considered, I loved this movie and would definitely watch it again! It was a good family-friendly film that I would love to add to my collection. And if you would like to see this movie when it premieres, tune in to FOX (8/7c) on Saturday, April 16th!

For more information, you can check out the website here (where you can also see the trailer) and like their Facebook page!

And if you'd like to know more about Family Movie Night, presented by Wal-Mart and P&G, go here!

GIVEAWAY: Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD (Ends 4/18) CLOSED

2011-04-12T01:03:00.003-04:00

This giveaway is closed. The winner was Kendra (comment #9). Congrats, Kendra! And thank you to everyone who entered!

Today I have the opportunity to give away a copy of the DVD Magdalena: Through Her Eyes!!

But it's not just a DVD... here is what the prize package contains:

- Magdalena: Through Her Eyes DVD

- Reflections of Hope Bible Study

- "Women's Ministry Leader" event letter

- Special event marketing materials

You can find more info on all of this by going to the website!

But right now I'm going to tell you how you can win all of that above!

Mandatory Entry:

Watch the Trailer and tell me what you think! :)

Please leave one comment for each entry. Be sure your email address is available for me to contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me via Google Friend Connect

2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. If you want a follow-back, tweet me and ask! :)

3. Like my fan page on Facebook. (link on sidebar)

4. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)

5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win MAGDALENA: Through Her Eyes DVD package from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/gYl6ya Ends 4/18

6. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:

1. Read and comment on my review of the Magdalena DVD (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

2. Enter any of my other giveaways on the sidebar (2 extra entries each)

This giveaway ends on April 18 and is only open to the US. Entries are accepted until I draw a winner on that day, sometime after noon. :) Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Winner will be notified by email, so please make sure your email is available either in your comment or in your public profile. Thank you! :)

DVD Review: MAGDALENA: Through Her Eyes

2011-04-11T23:57:00.003-04:00

You have most-likely heard of the JESUS Film Project. Well, Campus Crusade for Christ, has recently taken the original footage of the JESUS film and made an entirely new production out of it! The film is called Magdalena, and focuses on the stories of four women whose lives Jesus changed, as seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene.

Through Her Eyes is the story of Jesus from a woman's perspective. As she followed Jesus, Mary Magdalene witnessed changed lives, miracles and His tenderness toward women. Her own life was radically transformed when Jesus healed her and gave her a new purpose for living.

This was a really good film! While the original JESUS film tells the story of the gospel starting from Luke chapter 1, Magdalena takes the story all the way back to Creation and the fall. I really enjoyed this aspect of the film. And while I was originally concerned that the makers of the film would take too much creative license, I was happy to see that although dialog is added, the film is very true to the Bible.

The film was created using the original JESUS film footage and adding new characters and locations. If you've seen the JESUS film many times as I have, you will probably be able to spot many of the times when the new footage was added. But still, the creators did an excellent job of re-creating locations and people that were very similar to the originals.

The musical score was another aspect of this film that I really liked! It was different than the original, and had more of a "feature film" feel to it. It added a lot, and improved upon the original footage. There was plenty of the original footage as well, so if you love the JESUS film, you will most likely love this one too.

This film is an excellent ministry tool for helping women to know how much Jesus cares for them. The DVD has 8 languages to choose from, which dramatically expands its potential reach! The languages include Chinese, Russian, and even Arabic! I'm especially excited to see how a film like this will affect women in oppressed countries who are treated like low-class citizens. I think this film has big potential to help anyone from women who need to know that Jesus loves them to women who are treated as outcasts in society. Campus Crusade for Christ produced another outstanding resource with this beautiful story of God's compassion for women all around the world.

To watch the trailer for this movie, go here.
For more information, see the Magdalena Today website!

And if you would like to host a showing of this film, check out this link!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.”

Booking It In 2011: March Update

2011-04-11T17:21:00.000-04:00

It's time for another update on my reading progress! I had planned to read one book a month, but I guess I surprised myself... I've read more than one book this past month!

So here is what I've read. I began the month by reading a novel by John Bevere called Rescued. I got this book solely because it was written by John Bevere, since I know how outstanding all his book are. The Spiritual message in this book was outstanding! However I would have thought twice about reading it had I known it was a suspense-thriller. Let's just say that I'm not into violence... If you like suspense-thrillers, this is well worth the read.

I also read Lazarus Awakening by Joanna Weaver. It took me a while to get into it, and I wasn't entirely convinced with the main premise of the book- comparing the short story of Lazarus in the Bible with the lives of Christians today. But there was so much excellent advice on Christian living, I decided that the book is well worth recommending. It is the type of book to take notes while reading, although there was some stuff in the book I thought needed more Scripture to back it up.

This month I also reviewed Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore, an excellent daily devotional. Each day's reading was written by a different missionary around the world, and feature testimonies, inspiration, and lessons missionaries have learned. It is a really good book and each devotional takes about a minute to read.

Another book I reviewed this month is in an entirely different category! Mastering the Art of Beading is an excellent book like an encyclopedia of beading and includes everything you will ever need to know about it, complete with tons of full-color pictures! :) It's a super book, and I had a lot of fun practicing what I learned!

So that is the list of books I read this month! If you want to read more about each book, click on the links above to read my complete reviews! The last two books weren't read in their entirety because they weren't meant to be read all at once! ;) And stay tuned because I will be giving away one of my absolute favorite books on this blog very soon!

What books did you read in March?

Friday Funnies: Cute Hilarious Kitties

2011-04-08T02:13:00.000-04:00

For today's Friday Funnies, I bring you an assortment of hilarious kitty pictures! :) Because you can always count on cute kitty pictures to cheer you up... Here are a few of my favorites!

Have a great Friday, everyone! :)

GIVEAWAY: Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Green Powder (Ends: 4/21) CLOSED

2011-04-07T17:37:00.007-04:00

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to Rebecca Mecomber for winning! :)

It's time for another giveaway! One lucky winner will receive Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Natural Greens powder in the berry flavor!

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

Please leave one comment for each entry. Be sure your email address is available for me to contact you if you're the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Subscribe to Tropical Traditions' Sales email newsletter.
2. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. If you want a follow-back, tweet me and ask! :)
3. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.
4. Like my fan page on Facebook. (link on sidebar)
5. Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook.
6. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
7. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win Antioxidant Natural Greens in Berry flavor from @troptraditions and @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/hr5Uwj Ends 4/21

8. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Read and comment on my review of Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Green Powder (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)
2. Visit Tropical Traditions' Free Coconut Recipe website and tell me what your favorite recipe is!
3. Enter any of my other giveaways for two extra entries each!

The winner will be chosen on April 21 using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. You must complete the mandatory entry to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada (sorry to my international readers).

Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Green Powder

2011-04-07T17:23:00.000-04:00

I'm a big fan of green drinks... you know those green powders that you mix with water to help you get the benefits of lots of greens in your diet? They usually taste like a load of grass, and your family watches with awe as you choke down that nasty-tasting stuff, grimacing with every swallow. I distinctly remember the time I thought I couldn't bear to swallow another gulp, and the only thing that helped me was to repeat to myself over and over, "It's chocolate, it's chocolate, it's chocolate!"

I put myself through such torture because I wanted to be healthy and knew green "superfood" powder was a big step in the right direction! Well, I got to try a product from Tropical Traditions that leaves other brands of green powder in the dust! This is the Antioxidant Natural Greens powder. We know we should be having generous portions of fruits and veggies every day, but it's often difficult in our modern society. This amazing powder, which contains 30 servings per container, supplies "a blend of vitamins, minerals, plant enzymes, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and essential Omega 3 fatty acids." It doesn't thicken when mixed with water, which is a big plus, however, you will want to continually stir the drink or some of it will settle to the bottom.

Contrary to most of the other brands of green powder, this one doesn't taste like grass. I got the berry flavor, which has a delicious sweet taste, and it does a great job of masking the green flavor. I was also very happy to see that it was sweetened with Stevia, an outstanding natural sweetener! And the fact that it is processed at low temperatures makes this excellent product worth so much more! Another plus is the fact that the container was filled to the very top with powder, and you know that isn't something you see everyday! Tropical Traditions' Antioxidant Natural Greens (in berry flavor!) is a product I highly recommend, especially if you want to get healthy and enjoy a good taste while doing so! :)

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

GIVEAWAY: I Will Praise You CD by Rebecca St. James (Ends 4/18) CLOSED

2011-04-04T22:57:00.012-04:00

The giveaway is closed. The winner was Amanda (comment #81). Congrats, Amanda! And thanks to all who entered!

Guess what? I have the privilege of giving away a copy of Rebecca St. James brand new CD, I Will Praise You! In fact, the release date is April 5, so it is hot off the press!

Here's what you have to do to enter:

Mandatory Entry: Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect. (One entry, please leave one comment)

Make sure your email is available so I can contact you if you're the winner. Also, you MUST complete the mandatory entry for any other entries to count.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me on Twitter and tell me what your Twitter handle is. (One extra entry, leave one comment)
2. Like my fan page on Facebook. (link on sidebar)
3. Like Rebecca St. James' Facebook page.
4. Follow this blog via RSS feed. (link on sidebar)
5. Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below. You can do this once a day for an additional entry each day.

Win Rebecca St. James NEW CD I Will Praise You from @Reneeluvsbeauty here: http://bit.ly/fm1ktu Ends 4/18

6. Blog about this giveaway (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)

Bonus Entries:
1. Read and comment on my I Will Praise You CD review (2 extra entries, leave 2 comments)
2. Leave a comment on any of my other non-giveaway posts! (1 extra entry each, be sure to come back here and leave a comment for every extra entry)
3. Enter any of my other giveaways (2 extra entries each)

This giveaway ends on April 18 and is only open to the US. Entries are accepted until I draw a winner on that day, sometime after noon. :) Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 72 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Winner will be notified by email, so please make sure your email is available either in your comment or in your public profile. Thank you! :)