Purex Power Shot #Review and #Giveaway

Have you seen the innovative new product from Purex? I'm so excited to be a Purex Insider so I got the chance to try the Purex Power Shot.

Do you wonder if you are using the right amount of laundry detergent when you do your laundry? I am never sure if I'm using too much or too little. I know the line is in the cap to pour the liquid, but sometimes it's hard for me to see the line depending on the time of day that I'm doing laundry.

I'm so happy to be trying Purex Power Shot. You turn the bottle upside down and the bottle measures out the exact amount you need. Less waste and no more guessing if you have enough or not.

How would you like to try Purex Sure Shot? 

Enter below for your chance to win. 
Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I was provided Purex Power Shot in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The 5 Love Languages for Men - Review and #Giveaway #5LL4MEN

I'm honored to have a guest co-writer for today's review. My husband, Sean, is reading The 5 Love Languages for Men and agreed to give some insight and commentary into this review. I'm so very blessed to have a helpmate like him. Just think, you could win a copy of this book--see the entry form below. It's a book worth trying to win!

Sean & I were introduced to the book, The 5 Love Languages, 20+ years ago when we were first married. It revolutionized our marriage and we tell people it saved us from a divorce before there was ever any trouble. Turns out, I'm an Acts of Service kind of girl...Sean's a Words of Affirmation sort of guy. So I was spending all day showing how much I loved him, when he just wanted to hear something affirming like, "Thank you. I appreciate your help." He was complimenting me and thanking me, when I just wanted him to load the dishwasher. Once we learned to 'speak' each other's Love Language, our marriage was refreshed because we both felt loved in the way that means the most to us.

And now some thoughts from Sean:
The book is well organized and will really resonate with men. Not only do you learn what your wife's love language is, you will then be given instructions on how to speak that language to her, and speak it fluently. I really like the updated stories in this edition and the pictures are fantastic. It really drives the point home in a visual way. The tips given are practical, realistic and easy to do . Even if you've read The 5 Love Languages before, it is worth your time to get this new edition. You and your wife (and your marriage) will not regret it.

From the publisher:

At the heart of every man is a desire to master what matters. Getting a compliment at work or on the court is nice, but nothing beats hearing your spouse say, “You make me feel loved.” If you haven’t heard that in a while or feel like you are not bringing your A-game into your relationship, this books is for you. The 5 Love Languages has sold 10 MILLION COPIES because it is simple, practical, and effective. In this edition, Gary Chapman speaks straight to men about the rewards of speaking their wife’s love language. You’ll learn each language, how to identify your wife’s, and how to speak it clearly. Packed with helpful illustrations and creative pointers, these pages will rouse your inner champion and empower you to master the art of love.

Giveaway Time!

Enter below to win a copy of The 5 Love Languages for Men book. Open to the US and Canada. Best wishes!

Entry-Form

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge

Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter weekend. It is meant to be a season of greater reflection and many churches include fasting and prayer as a part of Lent. You give up something and reflect on God instead. It is also meant to mimic the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert and was tempted; and during that time, Jesus fully relied on God.

40 Bags in 40 Days

Many people give up something during Lent. They give up TV or chocolate or caffeine. Some give up trips to Starbucks. There are lots of options, but this year, a group of friends and I have gone in together to have a 40 bags in 40 days challenge. We are working to remove 40 bags of 'stuff' from our homes during Lent. We did not put sizes onto the bags--that's up to you. We were discussing how often we no longer own our stuff--our stuff owns us. What better way to start bringing back some control than by making a purposeful effort to decrease the stuff we have hanging around. 

We are tracking with a very scientific method...tally marks on a whiteboard. I thought it was such a wonderful idea that I wanted to invite all of you to join with us. Who wants to try the 40 bags in 40 days challenge? Join in and let me know in the comments how it is going for you. I'll be posting some updates as we go, but I'm excited to work on decreasing the 'stuff' in my own home. 

British Soccer Camp and #Free #Gifts -- Nationwide Camps

Disclosure: My daughter will receive a week of camp in exchange for this promotional post and my review after camp. 

Are your kids into soccer? My boys did soccer and Andrew went all the way into middle school. He ended up moving away from soccer when he got into all of his indoor percussion groups. But our Rebekah really seems to love soccer. She's the 'runt' of her team but is a scrapper! I think having two older brothers makes her a little more feisty than people expect. Her coach gave her the nickname "Small but Mighty."

She's not ready for select soccer--and might not ever be--but we like to find soccer camps for her to improve her skills, get exercise, and make friends. That's why I'm excited to learn about British Soccer Camp. They have camps all over the country and even our mid-sized city has seven camps. 

From the promoter:

British Soccer Camp is the most popular camp in North America - 150,000 campers! With an innovative curriculum that develops skills, speed and confidence in players ages 3-18, British Soccer Camps provide boys and girls with the rare opportunity to receive high-level soccer coaching from a team of international expert's right in the heart of their own community. In addition to teaching new skills and improving game performance, each British Soccer Camp provides lessons in character development, cultural education and is the most fun your child can have learning the sport they love!

Enroll your child in a British Soccer Camp today and receive a Free British Soccer Jersey - Sign up during Early Registration and we will immediately ship you a great looking British Soccer Jersey! PLUS - enter code FMG15 and we will include a bonus Challenger water bottle.

When things don't feel right - #SensoryBlogHop

Welcome to this month's Sensory Bloggers Blog Hop. It's that day I focus on something from the archives of our family's journey with autism and sensory issues. This month, I am here to talk about when things just don't feel right...and I don't mean feelings. Let's talk clothes. If you have a sensory child (with or without autism), you know what I mean.

The tag is poking me--scratching me--hurting me. There have been times when a tag in a shirt (God bless the tagless shirt makers) appears to be causing more pain and suffering than it would be if we broke an arm. You'd think the kid was being tortured to death...because of a measly little tag.

If tags weren't bad enough, think about how jeans feel to a kid who doesn't like stiff or anything that would rub in funny places on your skin. It took us a REALLY long time to desensitize Nathan to jeans. They couldn't be new. I had to get a 'worn out' (or well worn) pair for him because then it moved more like clothes are 'supposed' to move. Underwear can be another really big issue. Thankfully, in our home, it wasn't a big deal. But I have one friend who just told me her daughter would only wear new underwear fresh from the package and insisted on changing each time she used the restroom. This friend would stay up ironing washed underwear to get it to appear new and put back into a package. It took some time to break that particular habit.

Back in the days when we didn't know Nathan had autism or sensory issues, we had a lot of questions. Why won't this kid wear these socks (seam felt funny or hurt)? Why won't he wear anything that isn't athletic/swishy pants? Come on--can't you just put on the coat? (No, because if it's too thick it rubs funny on his arms and he can't stand the change in sensation.) Fast forward to today--he wears almost anything...well, at least for short times. He mainly wears athletic pants and jeans--even new ones...but he prefers I wash them first. He will tolerate shirts with tags, but prefers tagless tshirts. But, please don't cut the tag unless you can do it well...he doesn't like how the remnants poke him in the neck where you cut it out. You have to get really good with scissors to cut a tag. Good luck.

How about you? Can you relate to any of the clothing feel issues?

LushDecor.com Gift Card Giveaway

 
Hosted By Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways and More, Queen of Savings, Elitemama's Blog and The Consumer Adviser.
And
Sponsored By LushDecor.com

How would you describe your decorating style? Do you prefer inexpensive...or if money was no object, would you get the most lush and beautiful things you could find? Lush Decor is here to show all of us that you can have pretty things without paying the extreme (not-pretty) price. With a wide range of options, you can have the style you want at a price you can afford. 

Lush Decor is all about inspired living. The founder and CEO Jenny Zhu created the company with a her desire to offer affordable and stylish furnishings for the everyday person who wanted a beautifully decorated home. Lush Decor offers a wide range of designs and styles to create your own look. Lush Decor is designed for life as they want you to enjoy their products today, tomorrow and for years to come. Lush Decor is helping to define the future of home textiles. Tammie's Reviews is waiting to receive the curtains she ordered for her review which will be coming very soon to http://tpankuch.com/

Onto The Sweepstakes Rules~

• One reader will win a $200 LushDecor.com Gift Card.
• This is open to the U.S. only
• This Sweepstakes will end on 2/20/2014 at 7 p.m.
• All entries will be verified
• Winner will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond or another will be chosen. pankuch1605@hotmail.com is the email it will come from.
• Must be 18+ to enter
• Void where prohibited by law
• Full terms and conditions are the entry form below

Enter below and Good Luck to you!

Entry-Form

Disclosure- Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts was not compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this giveaway or to have me promote your product, Please email Tammie at info@tpankuch.com.

RoadMap Genesis - Review and #Giveaway

Disclosure: I was allowed to preview this movie in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was given.

If I say Genesis--you say _____. How would you fill in that sentence. I would have said Creation...but then as I think about this question, there's Moses, Noah, 10 Commandments, plus Creation plus even more. This question is the starting point of the documentary movie RoadMap Genesis. The interviews are incredible. It shows how each person interviewed applies the book of Genesis to their own life. I was absolutely stopped in my tracks by filmmaker Nolan Lebovitz's statement that everything about how to live, life and morality is wrapped up in Genesis. The more I thought on that, the more I agreed. 

There is so much that happens in the book of Genesis and Nolan Lebovitz isn't shy about going after the tough questions. Creation vs. Evolution - not excluded. Morality issues and sin, you'll learn about it here. Noah and the flood, he's talked about, too. There is so much in this short movie. I can't wait to get my own copy because I think every time you see it you will find a new nugget to take away. 
See the trailer here:


From the producer: 

Roadmap Genesis is a film documentary that makes the case that the Book of Genesis is a roadmap containing guideposts on how to live a productive, fruitful, and fulfilling life that will help our society lift itself out of its current decline and return it to prosperity, promise, and accomplishment.

When Filmmaker Nolan Lebovitz found himself at a crossroads in his life, he knew he had to choose between continuing to make the Hollywood suspense thrillers that were his livelihood and trying to make the world a better place for his new young family. After much struggle, he found his answer in the Book of Genesis.

He decided to combine his love of the Book of Genesis with his passion for filmmaking and set out to travel the United States, interviewing clergy and public figures in order to build an undeniable argument about the continued importance of the Book of Genesis as guiding force in our Judeo-Christian country.
Roadmap Genesis invites Americans of all faiths to engage in a dialogue about the relevance of the Bible in the modern age. Through interviews ranging from Gov. Mike Huckabee of Fox News Channel to Rabbi David Wolpe, from Alan Dershowitz to the Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Francis George, from Erick Stakelbeck of the Christian Broadcasting Network to Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, and many, many more, Nolan explores the rules that God has set forth to help us maintain a successful and working society.

Now for the giveaway!

Please enter using the Giveaway Tools link below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Performs at Holland Center Feb 20

I don't know about you, but I fell in love with Ladysmith Black Mambazo back in high school when we were working in choir on a capella songs for competition. They had it going on then and they still do today. Since then, they have gained popularity (and a place in pop culture with their Lion King appearance). And with their concert coming to Omaha on February 20, I learned a little more about the group that fascinates and inspires me. 

Full ticket information below, but if you are interested in seeing Ladysmith Black Mambazo live, tickets are available at Ticket Omaha for their show on February 20 at 8:00 p.m.

Here is a video of Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing at YouTube headquarters. 

Check out this information from their press release. I've always been impressed by the group, but this goes beyond amazing for one group to accomplish so much.

The South African a cappella vocal group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, has been performing worldwide for more than 50 years. A young farmer, Joseph Shabalala, formed the group in the early 1960s. The name comes from his hometown, Ladysmith; Black being a reference to the oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo, the Zulu word for chopping axe, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them. The group sings from a traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in the mines of South Africa.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s discography includes more than 50 recordings; 15 albums have earned Grammy Award® nominations, and several have won – including their first worldwide release, Shaka Zulu, which won a Grammy® in 1988. Their 2014 release, Always With Us, is a tribute to the group and Shabalala family matriarch, Nellie Shabalala, Joseph Shabalala's wife who passed away in 2002. The collection of songs are recordings Nellie made with her church choir; Ladysmith Black Mambazo added their voices to the recordings.

The group has collaborated with many artists, starting first with Paul Simon on his Graceland album in 1986. Others they’ve worked with include Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris and Melissa Etheridge. They’re included on film soundtracks for Disney’s The Lion King, Part II, Coming To America, A Dry White Season, Cry The Beloved Country and Invictus. The film documentary, On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, the Story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award. They have appeared on Broadway and have been nominated for Tony Awards®.

The title the group holds most dear is that of "South Africa's Cultural Ambassadors to the World. This honor was bestowed upon the group by the late Nelsen Mandela and they dedicate themselves to sing for peace around the world. 

Performance information:
Friday, February 20, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.
Holland Performing Arts Center
1200 Douglas Street - Omaha
Tickets start at $20 and available at Ticket Omaha

Hope to see you there! (And a word to the wise, the group meets fans and signs autographs after the show!)