Barney Clean Up DVD *Giveaway*

Who says being tidy can’t be fun? Let preschool favorite Barney show that cleaning up is enjoyable when everybody works together in Barney: Clean Up, Clean Up, arriving on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand March 6, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. This release is accompanied by 19 fun songs including everyone’s favorite “Clean Up, Clean Up” song and an all-new game, ”Clean Up Time,” found only on DVD! Barney and his friends prove that kids can have a great time being cleaning machines! Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television and online and through live events, home entertainment, toys and publishing. The Emmy award-winning series, Barney & Friends is one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS and Sprout.

About The DVD:

Barney shows how to make cleaning fun; from painting the caboose, to washing windows, to putting away toys! See Riff learn new tricks when his litterbot leaves him in a heap of a mess. All the friends help BJ out of a big spill, and they work together to host a fancy tea party. Everything’s better with friends, and when teamwork helps with clean-work, the world sparkles and shines!

Callan adores Barney - against his mother's better judgement! They even sing the clean-up song at his preschool when it is time to clean-up the toys. So he digs that a ton! This hour long DVD will keep your kiddos occupied...maybe while you do a little cleaning up of your own! *wink*

One reader will win a copy of this DVD. Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.

2. "Like" Barney on Facebook.

3. Follow Barney on Twitter.

4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends March 10th. Good luck!

I received a complimentary copy of this DVD from Andrea Blain PR, Lionsgate, and HIT Entertainment. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Redesigning On A Budget

Remodeling a living room has several benefits. It can change the atmosphere of a home and make it more welcoming. Often people choose to remodel the living room, because this is the room company will see the most. There are several ways to remodel a living room. Here are some ways to do it on a budget.

Area Rug ($40 - $300)

People often tackle the floor when they remodel the living room. After all, it is the biggest surface in the room. Instead of replacing carpet with hardwood flooring, which can be expensive, keep the floor carpeted. To reduce costs even further, do not replace the carpet. Rather, simply place an area rug over it. Area rugs vary widely in price, but usually an attractive one can be found for a couple hundred dollars. If you are on an extremely tight budget, shop clearance sales for one under $100.

Clean ($50)

Cleaning the living room is not exactly remodeling it, but it can have profound effects. Deep clean everything in the room. Vacuum under the couch cushions, dust the tops of picture frames and clean the lamps. Renting a carpet steamer will make the carpets look much better, without the cost of replacing them.

Redecorate (Free)

When redecorating the living room, remember this adage: “Less is more.” The décor of a room can be drastically changed, without purchasing anything new. Group the decorations in a living room into several sets. Then, rotate these sets throughout the year. This will continually renew the living room’s décor, and the elegance of simplicity will help each decoration shine.

Book Shelf (free - $200)

Having a bookshelf in the living room adds a level of sophistication. Even if the books on it are never read, guests will presume that you read. When decorating the bookshelf, divide each into short sections. In each section, place books, a photograph or a decoration. No section should have the same thing that is directly above, below or beside it. Also, books can be laid horizontally or aligned vertically. Thus, there should be empty space and the books will weave through decorations and photos. 

Furniture (Free - $1,000s)

Replacing the furniture in a living room can easily break a budget. For cheap furniture, shop garage sales, estate sales and second-hand stores. Also, ask friends if they have any unwanted items. However, the furniture does not need to be replaced in a living room to revitalize it. Simply rearranging the couch, chairs, coffee table and television can give the room a new look.

Lamps ($20 - $400)

When shopping for furniture, lamps offer a great value. They are practical, yet decorative. A quality lamp can be bought for only a few dollars, or people can invest hundreds in a truly unique ornament. Best of all, there are lamps to fit any décor.

Entertainment Center ($100 - $1,000)

If you have money to invest in furniture, consider a better entertainment center. Televisions are ugly and all the cords needed for the DVD player, gaming systems, speakers and other electronics are unsightly. A good entertainment center will conceal all of this behind doors, so they do not detract from the living room’s atmosphere.

All of these ideas can help give the living room a new look, but they do not all need to be used. Naturally, fully remodeling a living room will have the most impact. Yet, just cleaning can make a significant difference. Any of these will be a great start to remodeling the living room in your home.

Author Bio: James Zachary writes for Design 55, a UK-based, online, contemporary furniture shop that carries TV tables and other living room furniture.

The Old Queen And The Maui Maiden

The Old Queen And The Maui Maiden by Michael A. Herr

About The Book:

In this 5th book of the Kohala Coast Mystery series, Teri Pono travels from the Big Island to Maui to fulfill the request of a long-dead Queen. On Maui she works to put a mummified Maui Maiden to rest again. To do so she must out-maneuver several villains who see the Maui Maiden only as a means to a fortune. Teri faces death in the dark waters of Maui. Additionally, back on the Big Island, Teri's mother seems to be spiraling farther down into the dark pit of Alzheimer's Disease. Teri and her sisters seek to understand what is happening to their mother, and also seek help in dealing with her problems. Koakane, Teri's lua (Hawaiian fighting) instructor and Teri turn to each other after they have both lost their spouses.

My Thoughts:

This is the 2nd book of the series I have read, so I am out of order. But I read the first in the series (see my review here). I like that these books are mysterious with old lore and traditions. But yet, Teri is in the current world as well, dealing with her family, especially her mother. There are a lot of characters in this book, but it does not make it confusing. It only adds to the stories. A good thriller to curl up with!

About The Author:

Michael A. Herr is a retired educator, 34.5 years in service to the California schools, who has visited the islands for some 50 years. His wife was born and raised in Kaimuki on Oahu and together they have one son and two grandchildren. Mr. Herr collects weird and mysterious items including replicas of Hawaiian weapons. His office is a mess and he wouldn't have it any other way. He hopes you enjoy reading his books. He can be contacted at m.herr@sbcglobal.net. His website is www.michaelherr.com. Mr. Herr is also on Facebook and loves to collect new friends. Aloha.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Trust Leads to Romance

What stirs the embers of romance deep inside you?

• Loving Words

• Touch

• A Night Out?

Maybe you haven’t thought about romance lately because of busyness, fatigue, disillusionment, or hopelessness. I’ve been there too. But romance with the man you love may not be as elusive as you might think.

Though we all desire romance - every woman longs to be noticed, pursued, and adored - few of us realize that…our words and actions may serve as stumbling blocks rather than invitations for the man in our life to woo us romantically. If this is true, then we’re sabotaging the very romance we desire. Reminds me of the saying, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

Do you like what you’re experiencing in regard to romance? If not, ask yourself if you’re more likely to trust OR control your husband. You’ve seen the controlling type. Most women on TV sitcoms struggle with control. They walk all over the men they’re with and it bothers us. It’s easy to detect control in others, but are you guilty of similar actions?

Let’s look deeper and find out.

1. Do you correct your husband?

2. Do you instruct your husband?

3. Do you improve your husband?

Do you correct your husband’s pronunciation or perhaps the telling of a story when you know he’s got the facts mixed up? When you correct your husband you’re telling him he did something wrong. In this position you’ve become his mother. And that’s a romance killer if there ever was one.

Do you instruct your husband when he drives, performs tasks, or helps out with the kids? When you instruct your husband, you’re sending the message, “You don’t know how to do this.” In this position you become the teacher who highlighted his ineptitude. Exposed, he’ll either shrink or strike back, rather than pursue.

Do you improve your husband? In the past, I’ve tried to improve Tom’s appearance whenever possible. Once, when dressing for dinner at an elegant restaurant on vacation, I wore a vintage cashmere jacket with pearls and heels while Tom wore an improbable, wrinkled ensemble worthy of an episode of What Not to Wear. Yet, I didn’t say a word! (Some of you may be appreciating the restraint that required!) If I’d shared my fashion-improvement advice with him, I would have sent the romance-spoiling message, “You could have done better.” In what areas do you try to improve your husband? When we correct, instruct, and improve, we justify our actions by saying we’re just trying to help when, in reality, the measures we employ have more to do with fear - the fear that we won’t get what we want or we’ll get it too late. Whenever our actions are borne of fear, the results we experience will be disappointing at best!

Give your fears to God and trust your husband with new words and actions…...Inviting him to romance.

Sandy Ralya is the founder and director of Beautiful Womanhood, a marriage mentoring ministry based near Grand Rapids, Mich. Her marriage testimony was the focus of a popular three-day interview on FamilyLife Today, TV's Walking by Faith, and Time Out for Women. Sandy is a sought-after speaker, presenting Beautiful Womanhood seminars to hundreds of women each year at MOPS groups, women's retreats, and church leadership conferences across the country and in Canada. Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980, and have a growing number of grandchildren. www.beautifulwomanhood.com

ShoeScandal Deal

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Heart Echoes

Heart Echoes by Sally John

About The Book:

In the aftermath of a massive Los Angeles earthquake, the perfect existence Teal Morgan-Adams has built begins to crumble. Teal’s daughter, Maiya, is determined to learn the identity of her biological father, despite the loving devotion of her stepdad, River Adams. But that’s a secret Teal hoped would remain buried forever. She has never shared the truth with anyone . . . not her family, not River, not even Maiya’s father. As Maiya’s rebellion escalates, Teal receives tragic news from her sister and decides to take Maiya home to Cedar Pointe, Oregon, a place she’s avoided most of her adult life. But will her already-strained marriage survive the distance and the secrets she’ll be forced to face there? And can Teal erase the lies that echo in her heart?

My Thoughts: 

This book is.....for lack of a better word - Amazing! After the first chapter, I was hooked. The story moves a long great, and the characters are so real and current. The author tells the story so well that you can visualize exactly the places and the situations. I was enraptured until the very end! Excellent book!

About The Author:

When the going gets tough - or weird or wonderful - the daydreamer gets going on a new story. Sally John has been tweaking life's moments into fiction since she read her first Trixie Belden mystery as a child. Now an author of more than fifteen novels, Sally writes stories that reflect contemporary life. Her passion is to create a family, turn their world inside out, and then portray how their relationships change with each other and with God. Her goal is to offer hope to readers in their own relational and faith journeys. Sally grew up in Moline, Illinois, graduated from Illinois State University, married Tim in 1973, and taught in middle schools. She is a mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award, she also teaches writing workshops. Her books include the Side Roads series, the Safe Harbor series (coauthored with Gary Smalley), The Other Way Home series, The Beach House series, and In a Heartbeat series. Many of her stories are set in her favorite places of San Diego, Chicago, and small-town Illinois. She and her husband currently live in southern California. Visit her Web site at www.sally-john.com.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vintage Couture *Giveaway*

Vintage Couture's mission is to create specialty brands of high end clothing across a multitude of diversified market segments with the goal of making each brand a globally recognized fashion industry leader in quality and design. They strive to offer their customers the highest standards of customer service and unique products that mirror their lifestyle. They are empowered to be a socially responsible company committed to giving back and enriching the world through community involvement.

We recieved a pair J Collection Blue Jeans with Black Stitch for Callan. J for boy, all boy all the time. Sure to be dad approved. Funky blue denim distressed jean in a straight leg. Cool black leather frayed pockets in back with fleur-de-lis buttons. Adjustable tabs hidden in waistband. These are so cool and cute! Callan looks great in them. I love it! Vintage Couture also sells clothing for both boys and girls, and women too!

One lucky reader will win an item from Vintage Couture. Here's how:

1. Follow this blog via GFC, the newsletter, or Networked Blogs.

2. "Like" Vintage Couture on Facebook.

3. Follow Vintage Couture on Twitter.

4. Promote this giveaway.

Giveaway ends March 9th. Good luck!

I received a product from Vintage Couture in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.