Orkin Pest Control Blog App & Home Education Kit GIVEAWAY! (9/11)

*Disclosure: The following was provided for me to share with my readers in promotion of Orkin. I was not compensated in any way.

Is your home at risk?

The best way to protect your home is education. How much do you know about household pests? They don’t have a place in your home, but pests do have a place in the world. From science and forensics to art and culture, pests play an important role.

Take the Pest Test Quiz to find out how well you know about our tiny neighbors!

Orkin are EXPERTS in bug science and developing customized solutions for keeping your home pest-free!

PEST CONTROL DOWN TO A SCIENCE.

GIVEAWAY!

Congratulations to comment #1, Cheryl! :-)

One of my readers will win the following Orkin Home Education Kit :

• 2 Orkin Factoids 11x17 Posters
- Poster #1 - The Pollinators
- Poster #2 - The Recyclers
• 1 Orkin bug-finding flashlight
• 20 Rubber Toy Creepy Crawly Bugs

 

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me your results from the "The Pest Test" quiz in the Blog App. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

Extra Entries:
(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)
*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.
*Follow me through Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on twitter.
*Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment
*Follow me on Pinterest

*Pin an image from this post to one of your boards

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Wednesday, September 11th, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.



"Alone Yet Not Alone" Book Review and GIVEAWAY (9/11)

 *Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of "Alone Yet Not Alone" in return for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way.

About Alone Yet Not Alone (novelization):

Settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania, deep within America's new frontier, the Leininger family celebrates the blessings of a beautiful homestead and bountiful harvest. That is, until tragedy strikes with the beginning of the French and Indian War and the devastating raid known as the Penn's Creek Massacre.
 

The lives of this simple, God-fearing family are forever altered when Barbara and Regina, two young sisters, are carried away by the Delaware tribe. Driven by their faith in God and the powerful bonds of family, Barbara and Regina hold firmly to the belief that they are never alone, even in their darkest hour, and that they will be reunited again.
 

Rich in historical details, Alone Yet Not Alone is an inspirational, true story of a family caught in the cross fire of the French and Indian War.

 

About The Author:

Tracy Leininger Craven loves history and retelling real-life stories in her historical fiction books. She also loves spending her free time in the great outdoors with her husband David and their four children.

 

My Review:

Even though this book was recommended for ages 8 and up, I still read it to my 6 and 7 year olds.  I'll admit there were times that the mood of the book was quite intense and I wasn't sure how the kids would handle it, but they absolutely LOVED it!  They never wanted me to stop reading.  I didn't even want to stop reading...but bedtime got in the way. ;-)

Not only was the book a page-turner, but being a true story, it was also full of history and, even more importantly, showed a strong faith through struggles that we could never even imagine.  I was proud to be able to read this book to the kids and give them a glimpse into the past and let them see how God can do anything if we believe.

I strongly urge you to get this book to read with your kids.  You'll be glad you did!
 

Buy it!:

"Alone Yet Not Alone" can be purchased through Zondervan for $9.99

Written by: Tracy Leininger Craven

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Paperback: 148 pages

Recommended for ages 8+
 

Also be sure to see the movie Sept 27th in select theaters!! (Check here for a location near you!)





Awarded 5 Doves from the Dove Foundation!

Starring: Kelly Greyson, Natalie Racoosin, Clay Walker, Jenn Gotzon, Joanie Stewart, Ozzie Torres, Tony Wade.

Stay Connected: 

Bring Alone Yet Not Alone to Your City: http://seatzy.com/main/moviedetail/alone-yet-not-alone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aloneyetnotalone

Movie Twitter: https://twitter.com/AYNAthemovie

Movie Website: http://www.aloneyetnotalone.com

 

GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to comment #21, Dolly Madison!!

One of my readers is going to win their own copy of "Alone Yet Not Alone"!

To enter to win, please leave a comment below. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

Extra Entries:
(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)
*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.
*Follow me through Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on twitter.
*Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment
*Follow me on Pinterest

*Pin an image from this post to one of your boards

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Wednesday, September 11th, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.

The Ultimate Life Blog App and Prize Pack GIVEAWAY! (9/8)

*Disclosure: I was provided with the following materials to share with my readers in promotion of The Ultimate Life. I was not compensated in any way.

Are you living THE ULTIMATE LIFE? Between the pressure of running a foundation started by his late grandfather, being sued by his greedy extended family, and seeing his beloved Alexia leave on an extended mission trip to Haiti, Jason Stevens' world is unraveling. But when Jason discovers a journal that his grandfather began as a Depression-era lad, his writings transport Jason on an incredible rags-to-riches ride. With everything he loves hanging in the balance, Jason hopes he can discover THE ULTIMATE LIFE. Opening in theaters September 6, THE ULTIMATE LIFE (the sequel to The Ultimate Gift) reminds us some things are worth more than money! With The Ultimate Life Blog App, take the quiz to find out if YOU are Living Life to the Fullest! Read six great ways to start living the ultimate life NOW, as written by Jim Stovall, author of The Ultimate Life book. And watch the official trailer for this inspiring movie!

GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to comment #18, Jessamine Dungo!

One reader will win the following Prize Pack:
• DVD of The Ultimate Gift
• The Ultimate Gift book by Jim Stovall
• The Ultimate Gift charm bracelet
• The Ultimate Life leather-bound journal

 

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me your results from the "Do You Live Life to the Fullest?" quiz in the Blog App. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

Extra Entries:
(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)
*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.
*Follow me through Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on twitter.
*Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment
*Follow me on Pinterest

*Pin an image from this post to one of your boards

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Sunday, September 8th, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.



Anti-Bullying Film Blog App and Autographed "Standing Up" DVD GIVEAWAY (9/1)

*Disclosure: I was provided the following materials to share with my readers in promotion of Arc Entertainment’s Standing Up.  I was not compensated in any way.

Get ready to stand up for what’s right!

Did you know that more than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied? (Source: Pacer.org)

Click below for a printer friendly download of the Anti-Bullying Pledge:

Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time and directed by the acclaimed D.J. Caruso, Standing Up follows two kids who get bullied by a vicious summer camp prank. Left together on an island, their adventure begins once they decide not to be victims and instead they Stand Up!

Standing Up is an adorable and heart-warming gem of a movie with an important anti-bullying message that’s suitable for the whole family! Get the DVD August 20!

What can be done to help the bullied “stand up” for themselves?

One of the best things we can do to understand the problem and discuss solutions is to be inspired. The movie “Standing Up” is THAT inspiration.

Check out the Standing Up Blog App to take the Do You Stand Up to Bullies? QUIZ, unlock tips to BEAT THE BULLY, and sign the ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE!

And don’t forget to watch this amazing movie on DVD, released August 20.

The stunning soundtrack to Standing Up from Varese Sarabande Records is available to purchase on 9/3 on iTunes and 9/24 in stores.


GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to comment #23, Jessamine Dungo!

One of my readers is going to win a signed copy of the DVD "Standing Up"!

 

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me your results from the "Do You Stand Up to Bullies?" quiz in the Blog App. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

Extra Entries:
(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)
*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.
*Follow me through Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on twitter.
*Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment
*Follow me on Pinterest

*Pin an image from this post to one of your boards

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Sunday, September 1st, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.

Wordless Wednesday: Water Play in the COLD!

The kids and I went to my family reunion a couple weeks ago while Rich was gone.  The temperatures were unseasonably cool...in the mid to upper 60's for the highs.  Morgan and Blake ended up being the only kids there and would have done anything to stay entertained...so even though we went in sweaters and fleeces, why not play in the water!?

 

Teeth were chattering and blankets and a heater were brought out to warm them up afterwards, but they had a blast!

 

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Go Graham Go and the WW HQ.

Please be sure to enter my Current Giveaways. You can find the links in the sidebar!

Zucchini Brownies

I came across this recipe on allrecipes.com and oh my are they amazing!  I always think of zucchini baked goods as being more 'cakey', but these are actually a little more on the fudgy side.  I actually made these twice in two days and Blake asked for them for his birthday cake!  :-)

 

Zucchini Brownies:
*1/2 cup vegetable oil
*1-1/2 cups white sugar
*2 teaspoons vanilla extract
*2 cups all-purpose flour
*1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
*1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
*1 teaspoon salt
*2 cups shredded zucchini
*1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I left these out.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended.  Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture.  Fold in the zucchini and walnuts.  (At this point my dough looked more like crumbles than dough, but I just dumped it into the pan and pushed it into place.)  Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched

Frosting:
6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Melt together the cocoa an margarine and set aside to cool.

2. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners sugar, milk and vanilla.  Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.  (I only put in enough milk to make it the consistency I wanted or added more sugar...it's up to you!)

I linked up at Delicious Dish Tuesday and What's Cooking Wednesday:

A Birthday Away

Rich went away to California/Nevada, with his parents and grandma, for five days a couple weeks ago to do something special....welcome his brother from Afghanistan!  I think it was probably the most memorable birthday he'll have in a while...especially since his brother came home ON his birthday!

 

While he was away, the kids and I wanted to show him he were thinking of him...

 ...and make sure he didn't forget what we looked like ;-)

 We're not used to Rich being away on his birthday, but we tried to make it special from our end too.  So, besides texting him the last couple pictures, we had a Chocolate Eclair Cake, pizza, a banner and gifts waiting for him when he came home.  The kids gifts were so cute!  They made him games and activities for him to do with them.  One was a treasure hunt and they had a blast spending some much missed time with Daddy :-)

Movie Mania!

A couple weekends ago, Rich was away on a trip, so the kids kept me company a couple of the nights and the three of us watched movies and slept in the living room.  The kids had worked hard for their 'movie nights' too!  They had to meet a certain number of awards on the IXL program that they use through the school's website to keep up with what they've learned through the summer.

 

They were more than ready!

 

And we even had some special treats to go with our movies :-)

 

This next movie was only four days after our 'movie nights', so I had the kids earn two awards on IXL between the two of them.  (I had originally asked they get two each, but they didn't have a lot of time on the computer with other things we had going on.)  We went to a local theater's summer movie program where they give you the movie ticket, and a kids box (with popcorn, drink and fruit snacks) for $4 each.  Morgan REALLY wanted to see Happy Feet Two!

 Happily waiting to see the movie.

 Since we were out and about for the movie we made a whole day of it and we stopped at Barnes & Noble to get the kids' free books from doing their Summer Reading Program.

Then, Morgan still had a lot of money left on her Toys R Us gift card she won, so they REALLY wanted Rise of the Guardians after the movie night, and they each got a box of Legos...

...that they spent the rest of the day playing with!



 

 We're working hard at racking up the fun memories this summer!  Less than a month left until school starts!

Tea and Tiaras...Times Two!

  

Cinderella Tea Party

 Morgan had the opportunity to go to a Cinderella Tea Party where the 'real' (as Morgan says it) Cinderella sang to all the little girls.  Of course they had cupcakes and punch too!

Cinderella had the most beautiful princess singing voice.  She could have been any of the princesses, she sang their songs so well!

Morgan even had the opportunity to dance with Cinderella and then have her picture taken with her.  I'm pretty sure she felt quite special :-)

The Library's Prince and Princess Tea
The library always has fun activities to do, especially during their Summer Reading Program.  This tea party, Blake could even attend!

Looking cute as usual! :-)

Coloring fun.

Pin the Kiss on the frog!  CUTE!

Cupcakes AND Cookies and pink lemonade!

These tea parties were only a few days apart and both were very fun in their own ways! :-)

Wordless Wednesday: First Time Fishing

My dad took Rich and Blake fishing this past Saturday.  It was Blake's first fishing experience and he was ready!

Rich got this picture of Blake as he was fishing on Lake Huron.  They didn't catch anything, but I'm pretty sure he had a blast anyway!

My mom, Morgan and I weren't too far from them enjoying the town's Fine Arts Fair.  When we were done looking around we went down to the water and saw them come in.  I haven't fished out on the boat with my dad in a long time, but I think I want to go next time...seeing them made me nostalgic ;-)

 

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Go Graham Go and the WW HQ.

Please be sure to enter my Current Giveaways. You can find the links in the sidebar! :-

Blueberry Picking 2013 & Recipes!

She looks like she likes them! :-)  (She won't eat them, but she'll pick them.)

This guy really likes them!

This one doesn't look so good.



All our blueberries...about 9 pounds.  Apparently is was really bright. ;-)

 

 These are some of the recipes we've enjoyed with our blueberries:

 Blueberry Zucchini Bread

 Blueberry Boy Bait

Homemade Bo-Berry Biscuits from Go Graham Go.

Bear Grylls' "Get Out Alive!" Blog App and GIVEAWAY! #GetOutAlive (8/28)

*Disclosure: I was provided the following information to share with my readers in promotion of NBCUniversal’s Get Out Alive. I was not compensated for this post in any way.
Would YOU Get Out Alive?

Renowned British explorer and survivalist Bear Grylls is back with the ultimate survival competition, Get Out Alive! Airing Mondays 9/8c on NBC!

In #GetOutAlive, 10 teams of 2 compete to survive in the beautiful New Zealand wilderness with Bear Grylls as their guide. The teams are faced with various survival tasks as they battle the terrain, mountains, gorges, glaciers, rainforests, rivers and rapids. Each week, one team is eliminated, and the last remaining duo will win $500,000!

And most importantly, don’t forget to watch the unmissable #GetOutAlive SEASON FINALE on August 26!

GIVEAWAY:

Congratulations to comment #8, Sanda Davis!

One of my readers is going to win an official Bear Grylls Survival Bracelet from Gerber!

About the Survival Bracelet:
Taking advantage of Gerber's decades of experience and Bear Grylls' adventure knowledge, this survival bracelet's design provides 12 feet of high-strength paracord to help you work your way out of a difficult situation. Weighing less than an ounce, it has an easy, one-hand size adjustment and an integrated whistle

To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling me your results from the "Would You Get Out Alive?" quiz in the Blog App. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you're the winner!

Extra Entries:
(1 extra entry per method. Leave a comment for each.)
*Subscribe to my blog in the upper left hand corner.
*Follow me through Google Friend Connect
*Follow me on twitter.
*Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment
*Follow me on Pinterest

*Pin an image from this post to one of your boards

*Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post.

Open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise I will have to choose a new winner.