I'm A Monster By My Crazies!

#WIN An American Bible Challenge Prize Packs - GIVEAWAY #BIBLECHALLENGE

The American Bible Challenge is back for a 3rd season Thursday May 22nd at 8pm/7C on Game Show Network! If you haven't seen it yet you really should check it out.

THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is a spirited game show that celebrates the Bible and its place in American culture. Bible enthusiasts from all across the country compete in a variety of challenges that put their knowledge of the Good Book to the test. The show’s prizing further reflects the celebration of faith, as teams earn money for the charity of their choice.

The American Bible Challenge returns for a two hour block May 22nd at 8/7c on Game Show Network. Don’t for get to tune in June 5th for the first episode of It Takes a Church premiering right after The American Bible Challenge.  

5 Things you didn’t know about The American Bible Challenge:

1. All the money won in every single episode is donated to charities

2. All of the questions come from the old and new testament

3. Your bible knowledge will be tested in physical challenges as well

4. The American Bible Challenge is the highest rated TV program in Game Show Network history

5. It is nominated for two daytime emmy awards: Outstanding Game Show, and Outstanding Game Show Host Jeff Foxworthy.

Please enter the giveaway form below

Entry-Form

Each household is only eligible to win One (1) The American Bible Challenge Prize Pack via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Goddess Sneaks Up On Handsome

Typical day in my house.

There Is Nothing More Frustrating Than Watching Your Child Suffer Through Allergies #allergyrelief

My kids have suffered with allergies for years. Handsome gets it all over his skin with big welts, sneezing and wheezing. Goddess gets it all over her skin with itchy eyes, sneezing, and watery nose. She is just miserable.

We will try anything to combat the kids allergies and at this point have. This product Kid's relief manufactured by Homeolab USA was delivered and we were super ready to try it out. I took it to the kids Brownie and Scout meetings to pass out to my friends whose kids suffer too. They were so happy to try it.

The Kids Relief line of homeopathic remedies is manufactured by Homeolab USA: Homeolab products include over 200 over the counter formulations (single remedies and combination remedies) developed from more than 1,500 different root substances. We also carry trace elements, essential oils and plant extracts. Homeolab’s homeopathic medicines are manufactured from only the finest of natural ingredients. Our commitment to quality and purity assure that you are getting the finest products available. All Homeolab products are manufactured in strict accordance with FDA and HPUS guidelines. For more information, please visit www.kidsrelief.com

Kids Relief Allergy Oral Solution will help relieve your child of allergy symptoms including congestion, sneezing, and itchy throat, eyes, ears and skin. The pharmaceutically formulated homeopathic formula makes it safe for kids of all ages – even infants – without worrying about the risk of overdose, harmful side effects, or drug interaction. Kids Relief Allergy solution is also incredibly easy to administer; simply take the recommended amount of the liquid formula with the included dropper three times a day and watch as your child’s allergies begin to disappear! Kids Relief’s solution also has a great tasting banana flavor that will make it easy for your kids to take every day. Kids Relief Allergy Oral Solution retails for $8.99 and can be purchased at CVS locations nationwide.

The parents I spoke to were most interested in the fact that the remedy was homeopathic and full of natural ingredients. 9 out of 10 parents told me that their kids LOVE it and it worked for them. They stated that their kids take it without a problem. One stated that she can never get her 3 year old to take medication. He takes it whenever she offers it. 

I wish it worked for my kids but it didn't. Not sure if it is because they tend to need mega doses of meds from the doctor (we do about three doctor visits a season for hives and swollen eyes) because it worked for everyone else.

One of my favorite things about Kids Relief is that creator Michele Boisvert is a Pharmacist who decided there wasn't enough homeopathic products out there and went about creating, manufacturing and marketing them. She is the first woman to open a pharmacy in Quebec. NICE!

You can get Kids Relief at CVS Worldwide!

Disclaimer: We received samples for our honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received.

Goddess Goes To A Harry Potter Party

Goddess was invited to a Harry Potter Party this month. I knew it was going to be great because the invitation was awesome. Even the envelope had a wax seal on it. Her and her friends each had to pull a Potter house name from a hat. Goddess pulled Gryffindor. Harry Potter was playing in the background and the kids headed outside to play a game of Quidditch. It was quite interesting with goals made out of Hula Hoops. They even had a to find the Golden Snitch (an Easter egg painted gold with feathers glued to it.

Goddess asked me to draw a Potter lightening strike on her head. She was the only one with one which I thought would make her feel weird but everyone actually liked it.

I love the ties that everyone was given and at the end the birthday girl's dad had a box of wands. All the kids stood in a line while he searched for the perfect wand for them.

Every time I saw her she was smiling. I loved being able to watch the kids play and taking some photo while making new mommy friends.

Here is the card Goddess made to go with the birthday gift.

Have You Ever Wanted To Write Your Memoir? Do It In 30 Days #GIVEAWAY

How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days
Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating and Publishing Your Personal Story
By Roberta Temes, PhD
Published by Reader's Digest
Paperback: 192 pages

Description

"You should write a book."
Everyone has a story to tell. If you've ever thought of sharing yours but don't know where to begin, How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days gives you the perfect framework. Step-by-step techniques, culled from writers' workshops taught by the author are presented in a series of fun writing exercises, including:

• crafting your three-sentence memoir
• identifying an incident that changed your life
• creating stirring scenes 

You'll figure out the major themes of your life, mine your memory for dramatic incidents, stitch your assignments (and diary entries, blog posts, and other writings) together into a compelling plot, and polish your prose into believable dialogue and exciting action. The book also includes quick "clear communication" lessons about spelling and grammar, plus information and advice about different publishing paths. Simply follow the daily directions and in just one month you will have a memoir ready to submit for publishing.

Whether you're a seasoned writer or a novice, dream of hitting the bestseller lists or just want to pass a little wisdom on to your grandkids, How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days is a fun, easy guide to writing the Next Great Memoir -- yours.

The 411 by Maria:

I have written numerous things over the years and none of them ever go anywhere. Ending them is difficult for me for some reason. Keeping my blog going has been my way to tell a story to my kids in the future. A way for them to learn about me, what I thought, what I liked, who I was. Losing a parent very young does that to you. I want to know mom but she died when I was 12 and I don't know anything about her. Creating a memoir is something that is dear to my heart for so many reasons and I think this book is perfect.

Author Roberta Temes easily breaks down a game plan and agenda for you to get started if this is something you have always wanted to do. Just follow the assignments and you can't go wrong.

Days 1 – 5 she suggests identifying major themes. What kind of book will this be. Challenges, life story, your past, whatever your major event focus will be. There are easy exercises to help you identify the themes.

Days 6 – 10 she includes exercises to help you identify and create the plot.

Days 11 – 15 you are writing about personalities.

Days 16 – 20 my favorite days you are focused on your experiences.

Days 21 – 25 includes exercises that analyze responses to events that took place in your life. This is the therapy part of writing.

Days 26 – 30 include exercises focusing on parting your story together.

On Day 16 you are asked to identify a something that may be too painful, humiliating or frightening. I have them all so I think this day would be especially hard but useful for me to live my best life.

Each chapter has wonderful tidbits of grammatical information that would be necessary for any writer. AND samples of writing that is based on that assignment. 


This is a great resource for anyone trying to write a memoir.  While I doubt I will accomplish a complete memoir in 30 days, it is a great motivational book that will help me get started.

Here is a video with a bunch of other products including this book. Oh and check out that face! Grrrr.





Author Bio
Roberta Temes, Ph.D. is an accomplished author, editor and writing instructor, as well as a seasoned psychotherapist and psychology faculty member. She lectures around the country at corporate meetings, medical conferences and health spas. Dr. Temes' newest book, How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days is available now on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. She is also the author of the award-winning Living with an Empty Chair and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hypnosis.
Temes lives in New Jersey and Florida, with her husband David Lyons, a university financial systems consultant. Temes is a mother and grandmother, too. For more information please visit http://drroberta.com.

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received.

Make Your Face The Perfect Canvas Prior To Your Makeup Application!

SKINDINAVIA’s The Makeup Primer Spray and The Makeup Primer Spray Oil-Control are applied as a micro-fine mists that energizes skin and preps your face as an oil-free canvas for long-lasting makeup wear.

This new lightweight, breathable, silicone-free and paraben-free makeup primer sprays are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and our proprietary temperature-control technology. Clinically-proven to soothe redness, prevent breakouts, control the appearance of oil, even out skin tone and reduce large pores over time!

I received a Skindinavia The Makeup Primer Spray to find out for myself what all the rave is about.
My niece is a huge fan of make up and I sent one to her and kept the other.


We feel that the primer spray is perfect for setting makeup as well as starting with a nice clean face. 

What she loved:

The product is light and breathable - When I am putting make up on the last thing I want is to feel my pores are getting clogged and I will end up with a face full of zits tomorrow. 

The spray goes on very light. A quick shake of the bottle, I spray and the fine mist settles over my face. I carried it in my makeup bag for two days only to take it out because it isn't needed. Once in the morning and my makeup is set for the day. I work very long hours and there is no need for reapplication.

What I loved: 

Personally I don't wear a whole lot of makeup like my niece who works in a professional office all day. I mostly wear sunblock, sometimes blush but always eye makeup. I also do a quick spray in the morning apply my sunblock and the rest of my makeup before heading out to the gym. I only have an  hour before work to work out and I feel this keeps my makeup from running off my eyes. I used to have to reapply my eye make or in the very least fix it because it ran but now I trust that I can literally walk right into work and there will be no raccoon eyes.


The best thing I use for my face besides my sunblock!

I show it a little bit in this video around the 4:20 mark. Check it out.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion.

Toys That Are Fun, Entertaining and Interactive! @unclemiltontoys

We love Uncle Milton Toys. 




All of these products can be seen on this video. Although I was showing off Puppy Stars Goddess ran out of the room to grab the other products. 

Oh yeah, that's a great face!

Personally I would love Torch In My Room for myself. It looks like a flickering torch that hangs from a wooden holder with a brass ring that I easily installed on Goddess' wall. We now use this as her night light. I turn it on after saying her prayers and it automatically goes off. 

At first turning the torch on was hard for me. It has gotten easier I guess because I now know how to do it but Goddess still can't get it. It's a simple twist of the torch but it is a light touch. No pun intended.

Puppy Stars which features adorable dogs which a child can decorate after applying them to the wall. This is the best part, they come right off. Almost like a window cling. Goddess likes to copy the photo on the box but you can put these up any way you want. 

After you put the clings up you add the FX Activator which mounts easily to the wall with included hardware but I used a 3M hook that I can remove anytime. LOVE THEM!

We believe that little ones under the age of 8 will love the Wild Wall products. They have many to choose from like:

Dolphin Voyage
Shark Encounter
Safari Adventure
Sofia the First
Amazing Web Attack (Spiderman) 
and more

Here is a photo of the torch hanging in Goddess room last night.

Come on! Isn't that cute??!!



I cannot stress enough how cool these products are. My kids and I truly look for them when we are out and about and we believe your kids will love them too!

Disclaimer:  I received these two products for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Oh What A Wonderful Life & Kind Words Really Help

My life has had so many twists and turns that I sometimes forget where it started. Grandpa molesting me, losing Mom when I was 12 to cancer and dad leaving a year later along with many many heartbreaks along the way have made life one crazy ride.

Life is complicated, scary, uncertain, devastating, interesting, exciting, beautiful and a blessing. Thankfully I have always felt that I maintain a positive outlook and find beauty and joy around me all the time.

This week while speaking with three different people at work I was reminded of how positive I can be even though I had forgotten.

Do you believe in divine intervention? I do and always have. When I am feeling my worst, something or someone will remind me how life is a blessing.

This week I heard:

"You are always the same. Sometimes I come in and I never know what personality or day someone is showing or having but you are always joyful and smiling."

"I can always count on you smiling."

"You love everyone and it shows. You are consistently in a good mood!"

It's true I always try to smile. I am always me so having a bad day and taking it out on someone who has nothing to do with my bad day blues is not sometimes I will ever do.

AND...I do love everyone. I really do.

It's true! I have many faces

 but usually, I am just smiling

 I hope you are having a great day.

The Park Babysitter Assister & My Allergy Sufferer

On Monday we had a playdate/babysitting gig so we headed to the park. With four kids it truly is the best place to be.

Whether they were sliding, swinging, skipping, singing or shouting, they all appeared to be having a good time.

Handsome hangs out with the little guy I am babysitting for. He is a sweetie and in Goddess class so they all get along for the most part.  It was nice to see these guys chatting on the swings instead of fighting over a video game.

While it wasn't a great day weatherwise, it was cool enough to keep the Mayflies away.

Goddess and her bestie have been together since they were 3 in preschool. So far they have had every class together. I think next year may be the year they are separated. I hope they both do OK.
 

I love how matchy matchy the girls are. They didn't plan wearing the same blue but it looks so cute. It's what besties do.

AND...to keep the S's going. Here is my allergy sufferer who has had a terrible few weeks. Calls from the school nurse, a raging rash, trips to the doctor and steroid meds have been on the list of things we have to do to combat her horrific allergy season.

Here was the start of one night. There were loads of tears because she was so itchy and her eyes were hurting.

You can see the beginning of the fun rash that sent us to the doctor's office. Here it is on her face but it was pretty much all over her.

At one point she was so miserable she couldn't even ask for drops but was able to draw a pic.

After some Benedryl and the ice pack she was finally laughing at my jokes.

AND eventually feel asleep on me. She had a nice soft boob cushion so really who could blame her?

She woke up the next day and I took one look at her and knew this meant a doctor visit.

We waited, and waited, and waited....

Thankfully we had The Webkinz Chihuahua to keep us company.

She is so itchy she is leaving deep scratches all over her neck and back.

 You can really only be enthusiastic at the doctor's office for so long.

I love this one even though it is blurry. She looks so little!

She has no rash thanks to the 3 days of steroids but the eyes are still the same.  Waiting for pharmacy to get doctor prescribed eye drops.

Four Home Upgrades That Increase Market Value

With the unpredictable housing market, many sellers find it exhausting trying to update their home in order to increase property value. But, experts agree that there are a few home upgrades that will increase a home’s sellable market value.

Here are the top four:

1. Curb Appeal

An important selling point, the curb appeal of a home should be eye catching and beautiful yet low maintenance. Both a dingy, overgrown yard and an elaborate yard can deter buyers, for both scenarios make a potential homebuyer instantly think about all the work the home needs in order to be maintained.

Simple fixes such as repainting the exterior, updating the outdoor home fixtures such as walkway lights, house numbers, and the mailbox are inexpensive ways to generate more income. These touch-ups revive the home, making it look and feel classy and new.

Additionally, creating an eco-friendly yard that is pretty yet low maintenance is an added selling point, for buyers will love a home that looks good without having to put in hours of effort or loads of money to upkeep it.

2. New Flooring

Stained carpet, unfinished hardwood, or cracked tile will detract from the home’s value. Flooring is a huge selling point with buyers, for it is not only present in every area of the home, but it also seems like a hassle to change. But, replacing the flooring or paying to have the floor refinished potentially can offer a homeowner a return investment of double.

3. The Kitchen

Most buyers are attracted to homes with fully updated kitchens. While other areas in the home that are outdated seem easy to fix, an outdated kitchen is overwhelming for most buyers. The thought of replacing old cabinets, countertops, or appliances seems like a lot of money and a lot of time, which makes buyers run in the other direction.

Investing in granite or quartz countertops, new cabinet hardware, and new appliances will enhance the kitchen, for it will look sleek and updated. Most buyers are willing to let other outdated areas of the home slide if the kitchen, which has become the most popular room of the house, is bright, seemingly spacious, and renovated.

Since buying brand new appliances can be expensive, home sellers should look into purchasing floor models, new discontinued models, or wholesale options.

4. The Bathroom

Undoubtedly, like the kitchen, the bathroom is another area that can make or break the home’s worth. Buyers want to see something new, modern, and clean. Bathroom projects, if there are no pre-existing problems in the walls, can be inexpensive. However, at times, when having to completely renovate the entire space, the initial investment can stretch a homeowner’s budget. However, bathrooms are one of the best return investments, thus spending the money or finding a temporary loan from a company like TitleMax.com to fund the project is usually worth it in the end.

Giving the home a fresh look will inspire homebuyers to make a valuable offer.

Image Source: www.homeenergyteam.com