REVIEW: Jesus Calling Devotional Bible

One of my favourite devotionals is "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

Now her journaled prayers have been featured in a new devotional Bible in the New King James version.

You can purchase the Bible here and the devotional here.

From the Publisher:

The Jesus Calling Devotional Bible puts readers in touch with God and His answers for their life situations.  Missionary Sarah Young had been journaling her prayers for years when she began "listening" for what Jesus was saying to her within the words of Scripture. In this Bible, 260 scenarios pose life struggles to which Sarah Young gives answers from her Savior—words that Jesus has lovingly laid on her heart—words that have comforted and inspired Sarah and many others around the world.

Features include:

• 260 scenarios with devotions by Sarah Young
• Hundreds of inspiring scriptures highlighted throughout the text
• New King James Version® (NKJV) in paragraph format
• Index to devotions
• Two-color text
• Presentation page
• Ribbon marker

Now closed GIVEAWAY: "Creating With God: The Holy Confusing Blessedness of Pregnancy"

Winner has been notified. Thanks!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Creating with God by Sarah Jobe is a boldly truthful, sometimes funny, and deeply spiritual account of where babies come from and where babies take us. Jobe reads the Bible through the lens of her back-to-back pregnancies and finds that God shows up in pregnancy when we least expect it. Weaving together biblical reflections, her own story, and the stories of the moms around her, Jobe reveals the ways in which pregnancy is at the heart of God's work in the world. She invites her reads to see the image of Jesus in pregnant women, feel God abiding in the work of pregnancy, and to consider the ways that pregnancy can train us in the very practices we need to live a life of faith.

GIVEAWAY!

You could win a copy of Creating with God.

Open to Canadian and USA address only. 

Just leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite pregnancy book along with an email address (or way to contact you) if you win.

That's it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link or otherwise share it for this giveaway, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes December 1 at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

REVIEW: Cardboard Playhouse

We recently received one of Cascade's Children's Cardboard Playhouses to review.

It came in a long, flat packing box and once we got started setting it up, it came together very quickly. It's lightweight, easily pulled apart and gracious, did the tinies have fun drawing and decorating on it.

Almost every toy we own was piled inside and the imagination fun began.

If you've been daunted -like I am - by the prices of other playhouses, this is an eco-friendly option for considerably less.

Purchase here.

Contest Closed // GIVEAWAY: "Theo: Teaching Children God's Word"

Winner has been chosen. Thanks!

From the Publisher:

Theo Presents is centered around the adventures and teachings of the main character, Theo, a student of Godʼs Word. Theo lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains many guests, including two mice, Belfry and Luther.

The animation series of Theo guides children and adults through a careful study of systematic theology. Theo discusses doctrines about sin, Godʼs character, the Bible, salvation and godly living with easy-to-understand illustrations that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith.

GIVEAWAY
I have one copy of "Theo: Teaching Children God's Word"to giveaway.

Open to Canadian and USA address only. 

Just leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite kids' movie along with an email address (or a way to contact you) if you win.

That's it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link or otherwise share it for this giveaway, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes 1 December at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY: A clean home (You know you want this one)

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

The winner is Jenn

Jenn said...

I don't mind vacuuming…..so satisfying so quickly…never for long though.

:(

October 26, 2011 6:02 PM 

Thanks everyone for entering!

******

 


The nice thing about cleaning is the immediate result. You can step back at the end and say, well, look at that! It wasn't clean before and now it is. I actually accomplished something today.


I prefer to either make my own cleaning products or use natural ones. One that I have grown to quite like is Green Works. 

Green Works surfactants are made from renewable resources (think corn and coconut)—meeting the sustainability criteria of the NPA Standard. Green Works surfactants—which are ingredients that help make a product foam up and remove dirt—are derived from corn, coconut and other renewable resources. They work just as well as a conventional petroleum-based surfactant but have the added eco-friendly bonus of being a renewable resource.

Green Works solvents come from corn. The ethanol solvent used in Green Works products comes from a popular summer vegetable: corn. This natural solvent helps both in cleaning and to help bind together the cleaner.

The fantastic fragrance in Green Works products are thanks to essential oils—remember “natural” and “sustainable” are both criteria for the NPA Standard. Essential oils, such as lemon and lavender, are a renewable resource and also perform double duty by helping both to clean and give Green Works products a fresh, natural scent.

Green Works buffers are all naturally derived, too—and have never been suspected to risk human health or the environment, meeting the “safe” criteria of the NPA Standard. Green Works buffers, which help keep the PH of a product stable to optimal cleaning, are all derived naturally. Some that are commonly used in Green Works products include boric acid (a weak acid that is found in most fruits and plants) and potassium carbonate (a water-soluble white salt).

Last but not least, Green Works products have not been tested on animals during the formula development process, meeting the responsible criteria of the NPA Standard. 

All Green Works natural cleansers are made from ingredients derived from coconuts and lemon oil.  

The products are biodegradable, non‐allergenic, packaged in bottles that can be recycled and not  

tested on animals. The line includes the following natural cleaning products for use in the home,  

kitchen and bathroom:  

Available across in Canada in grocery, drug and mass retailers. 

GIVEAWAY!

You could win a free 3-hour home cleaning session from a household cleaning professional using Green Works products. 

I know. BRILLIANT.

Open to Canadian address only. 

Just leave a comment on this post telling me the household chore that you don't mind doing along with an email address or way to contact you if you win.

That's it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link or otherwise share it for this giveaway, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes 31 October at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

Free movies at Cineplex October 22

SAVE THE DATE FOR FREE MOVIES! October 22nd is Community Day at Cineplex. Join us on the morning of Saturday, October 22nd at all Cineplex Entertainment theatres for Community Day in support of Starlight Children's Foundation. Doors open at 8:30AM with a great selection of FREE movies beginning at 9:00AM. Plus, enjoy a regular popcorn, regular fountain drink and selected candy for only 2 DOLLARS each with 100% of the proceeds donated to Starlight Children's Foundation! For more information, please visit: 

About Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada:

For more than 20 years Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries. Through a broad array of in-patient, out-patient and online resources, Starlight works hard to support seriously ill children and their families from diagnosis through the entire course of medical treatment and beyond. Whether it’s a trip to the zoo, a toy-filled playroom or an exciting sporting event, Starlight’s mission is to bring fun, joy and giggles right where they are needed the most!

GIVEAWAY: Roll Play to Live Animal Party - 4 tickets plus more!

Would you like to tickets to the Roll Play Live Animal Party concert tour? It's featuring live music  from Canadian Children's Music Group of the Year, Splash n' Boots!

Based on the TV series, the Roll Play Live Animal Party will inspire kids to sing and dance along to their favourite music from Roll Play, including musical hits written by well-known Canadian artists such as Broken Social Scene, The Guess Who and Kardinal Offishall. As well, fan favourites like Alice the Elephant, Felix the Frog, Dolly the Dolphin, Frank the Crab, Lola the Mermaid, DJ Robot, Jippy Dog, Furry the Flying Squirrel and a jungle of others will join in the fun.

They are about to embark on an 11-city cross-Canada tour with Treehouse LIVE entitled "Roll Play Live Animal Party" (based on Treehouse TV's award-winning show "Roll Play") from October 12 -- November 13.

Tickets are on sale now at www.rollplaylive.ca.

In addition, they have just released their highly-anticipated second full-length DVD "Act 2" available at www.splashnboots.com

GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the tour and help you get moving, I am giving away 4 tickets to one of the Roll Play Live Animal Party Shows as well as a Roll Play DVD and CD and Splash'N Boots' new DVD, "ACT 2". 

Open to Canadian mailing addresses. You are responsible for getting yourself to the concert closest to you, parking and all of that stuff. 

Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your music your kids like to listen to these days. 

That's it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link or otherwise share it for this giveaway, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes 12 October at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

REVIEW: Magic Washing Balls

I switched our cleaning supplies in our house to a natural methods - like vinegar, baking soda and Borax -  a few years ago. I have a tendency towards psoriasis and when I come in contact with bleach, my skin goes crazy. So I've used "free" detergents for laundry for years now.

So I was interested to try out the MagicEra Washing Ball. Well, interested and a bit skeptical. But I used it on a few loads of the tinies' laundry and it did work very well - every thing came out clean and soft.

The Magic Washing Ball is considered environmentally friendly as well as budget friendly - in fact, according to the company, comparing to other chemical detergents, washing balls can save up to 90% of laundry budget; these washing balls are good up to 1000 loads. (If the laundry is somewhat heavy, the balls can be used with one spoon of baking soda.) 


You can pick them up for $29.99 at London Drugs and a few other retailers.

If you're interested in more information about it, here is the website.


Disclosure: I was not compensated for my review. I was sent the product for free to review but my opinions are my own.

CLOSED //GIVEAWAY: Healthy Families BC and a $250 Gift Card to Lululemon

Contest is now closed. Thanks everyone for entering!
The winner is:

Glogirl said...

We enjoy walking outside and enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of summer!

August 19, 2011 5:26 PM 

****

A day at the spray park with my older tinies and one of my little nieces.

Given how long it took for summer to arrive here in the Lower Mainland, we have jumped in, cannon ball style straight into the deep end of summer fun. Every day, we are outside and when its time to go in for bedtime, my inner voice is echoing the tinies moans of "awwwww, Mum? Already?" and then once they're sleeping, I'm on our back deck, exhausted, counting new freckles. 


We spend our days swimming usually. My five year old learned how to swim this summer and the sight of her in her goggles - well, it just makes me shout with laughter. 

My nearly-three-year-old is absolutely fearless in the water and flings himself in, belly flop, coming up sputtering and laughing. And Evelynn is usually along for the ride. 


This has been my favourite summer so far because the tinies are really able to run and play and swim. The pool is the best baby sitter I ever met in my life because they jump in with their life jackets on and swim until they are wrinkled and even then, they'd stay in forever if I let them. 


And then there is the summer garden suppers! I despise cooking in the heat and so we end up eating a lot of garden suppers, sandwiches of cucumbers and tomato with a bit of cream cheese, carrots, grilled corn on the cob. We have been making blueberry and peach crisps lately as well and oh, gracious, summer just shows off on those days.


There is a new resource called Healthy Families BC  that the province of BC has launched to help families eat healthy and live well. This online community which is hosted on the Healthy Families website, blog, Twitter (@healthyfamilybc) and Facebook Page looks to help BC citizens make the informed and positive lifestyle choices. Healthy Families BC offers everything from healthy recipes to dietitians blogging.

GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate Healthy Families BC and help you get moving, I have a $250 Lululemon gift card to give away!

Open to Canadian mailing addresses. 

Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your family does to keep active during the summer. 

That's it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link or otherwise share it for this giveaway, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes 26 August at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY: "The Help" Movie Prize Pack

CONTEST CLOSED! Thanks to everyone for participating!


Winner is:

Elizabeth said...

I read The Help twice last year and bought it to read again-loved it! I hope the movie is half as good.

August 4, 2011 7:38 PM 


******
One of my favourite books this past year was "The Help." I know it's not every one's cup of tea but I truly loved it. I missed the characters when it was over, felt sad when it slid down the return chute at the library  and then promptly bought it just to read it over again.


I'm headed to the advance screening tonight with my sister. The movie opens on August 10th.

If you do go to see the movie next week, you can tweet your thoughts using the hashtag: #TheHelpMovie #Canada

-Watch THE HELP trailer: http://youtu.be/KJiBqBB413c

-Watch THE HELP behind the scenes featurette: http://youtu.be/he9IB5g4yxw

-Watch THE HELP Mary J Blige featurette:  http://youtu.be/J5fGmnT_d84

GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release, I have a movie prize pack to give away. 

The prize pack includes:

·         THE HELP hand held novelty fan

·         THE HELP nail file

·         THE HELP bookmark

Open to Canadian and USA mailing addresses. Just leave a comment on this post telling me the last movie you saw (and liked). Thats it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link for this giveaway out, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes 15 August at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

Organically Grown

When Evelynn was born, the kind folks at Organically Grown sent us a baby gift of an organic onesie for her.

Here it is:

People, I am in love.

It's incredibly soft and fits like a dream. Is that set not absolutely adorable? I want one for every age as she grows out of them. *sigh*

The company itself is very inspiring, the kind of place that you want to support. (Here's their About Us page.) They have great items for everyone in your family - and yes, I am covering this in particular for Joe. It's also more affordable than most other organic clothiers I've seen.

If you've got a baby to buy for - or a kid - or a blogger - give them a holler.

Hidden Valley Ranch

Brian has a patch at our community garden for growing vegetables. He enjoys the work quite a lot and it's been a lot of fun for the tinies as well as a great learning experience. I quite like to make sure that the tinies are eating vegetables, especially after our Whole Food Challenge, so this was a great way to do it.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but kids love to dip. So we always are making dips of some sort for the raw veggies like buzzing up hummus in the food processor. I was sent a large box of Ranch dressing from Hidden Valley Ranch and it was a BIG HIT here, especially with Joe. Joe adores "dipping" and now calls the Hidden Valley Ranch "the Vegetable Dip." We gave away a few of the bottles to friends and family and everyone was absolutely thrilled.

And then I found their website which has a ton of recipes available.

If you have lots of veggies around or are wanting to get your own tinies to try them, you could always give this a go. It works for our crew.

*No money was exchanged for this review. I was sent the products for review but all opinions are my own.

Treehouse: Natural, non-toxic and gentle bath time products

I was recently sent some samples for Nature Clean's new line of natural, non-toxic and gentle bath time products for children called Treehouse. And yes, they feature the characters from Treehouse like the Backyardigans and Franklin as well as Max and Ruby.

We've all been thrilled with them. Nature Clean is a Canadian company and this line is thankfully sulphate, paraben and phthalates-free.

We tried out the 2-in-1 Shampoo in Berry Blast. Annie in particular loved this one as she's learning how to wash her own hair and so it was a great experience for her.

Toothpaste for kids (100% natural) - this one was fluoride free and uses natural fruit flavouring. I like it because it does give the tinies something fun like Franklin on the outside while everything on the inside is natural.

Natural Wipes - These are alcohol and chlorine free. They are safe and gentle for Evelynn and Joseph - much better than any of the other ones I've tried to be honest. I'll be buying them from now on.

If you spot them at your local shops, give them a try!


*No money was exchanged for this review. I was sent the products for free but all opinions are my own.

GIVEAWAY: "Jesus, My Father, The CIA and Me" (Updated with winner!)

Giveaway now closed! 

Winner is 

Norse, Jesica, and Boden said...

Wow, how lame am I that I can't think of a memoir I've read. Maybe this book will be my first! Here's hoping.

July 14, 2011 7:59 PM 

Thanks everyone!

******

Reviewing: Jesus, My Father, The CIA and Me: A Memoir ... of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron.

Publishers Summary:
An entertaining, touching memoir of life with an alcoholic father who secretly works for 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 for the CIA. The story of this world-rocking discovery is the stepping-off point into a fascinating exploration of one mans alternately heartbreaking and humorous journey to faith and spiritual growth. Born into a family of privilege and power, Ians 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.


My Review:
Excellent, excellent book. I like to read memoirs quite a bit but this is one of my favourites so far. It's funny, sad and universal in its longings. The book is beautiful but last three or four chapters in particular tell such a gorgeous, God-breathed story of redemption that it takes it from being a good book to being a great book. I liked Ian and his voice is crisp and funny, self-deprecating and full of pathos without being sappy. He writes without a lot of sentimentality but with tremendous feeling - a hard line to walk. 


And the writing - the writing is fantastic. Even the most mundane things are infused with a different view: for instance, he describes feeling suffocated as "having a dry-cleaner bag over his mouth" and it just locks into your mind and you get it. He does that throughout the book. He's relatable and yet a fresh writer. And the story is beautiful and sad.


Verdict:
Highly recommend.

Read an excerpt here.

GIVEAWAY!
I have one copy to giveaway!

Open to Canadian and USA mailing addresses. Just leave a comment on this post telling me the last memoir you read (and liked). Thats it! If you want to Tweet it or Facebook the link for this giveaway out, that's great - just leave another comment telling me that you did so and you'll get another entry.

Contest closes July 20 at midnight. I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY: Toys R Us and Air Miles Prize Pack

CONTEST NOW CLOSED: Thanks for entering
Winner is Comment #5: Hippie Housewife.

You guys are going looooove this one.

Toys R Us and Babies R Us are celebrating a new partnership with the Air Miles Reward program here in British Columbia (and in Alberta!).

Now you can earn Air Miles Reward Miles while shopping for your kids (and their friends' birthday party gifts - not that I'm bitter....).

You will now receive 1 Air Mile Reward Mile for every $20 spent at Babies R Us or Toys R Us in B.C. and Alberta. Bonus offers will come up now and again, of course.

GIVEAWAY
One lucky winner will receive a head start on their summer shopping – AIR MILES and Toys”R”Us are offering Emerging Mummy Reviews readers the chance to win one $100 Toys R Us gift card and 250 bonus AIR MILES Reward Miles.


To enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post. That's it, nothing fancy. Please include an email address so that I can easily contact you if you are a winner.

Contest closes on June 13, 2011 at midnight. I'll draw the winner using Random.org. Only for Canadian addresses.

Thanks, Toys R Us, Babies R Us and Air Miles!

Winners

I drew these winners using Random.org.

The winner of "Half the Church" is: commenter #15

redandhoney said...

looks VERY interesting... i'd love to read this one!

May 9, 2011 1:41 PM 

The winner of Lime Daisy pads is: commenter #6

Mooney Family said...

Whoa, wish I'd had these when my two were still breast-feeding. They sound great. My sister-in-law just had her second and is trying to stay away from disposables, so they would be fantastic for her.

May 8, 2011 9:06 PM 

Winners if you haven't received an email from me, go ahead and send me an email at sarah (at) emergingmummy (dot) com with your shipping address.

Thanks everyone! More giveaways coming up soon so stick around.

NEWS: Summer Social Camp

For more information, click here or visit www.summersocial.ca

GIVEAWAY: "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" Movie Passes

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

This giveaway will include one double pass to the advanced promo screening of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer good for Saturday June 4 at 10 am at Silver City Metropolis theatre in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Based on the best-selling books by Megan McDonald

Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty) is about to begin what she believes will be the best summer ever.  But that was before she found out that her mom (Janet Varney) and dad (Kristoffer Winters) were heading to California and her Aunt Awful (Heather Graham) was coming to stay. Not to mention, her two best friends—Rocky (Garrett Ryan) and Amy (Taylar Hender)—were going splitsville on her, for the whole entire summer!  Will she be stuck entertaining her little brother Stink (Parris Mosteller)?  Stink, who has Bigfoot on the brain?  Just when summer is starting to look Bor-ing with a capital B!, Judy, with a little help from Aunt Opal, comes up with the most thrill-a-delic plan ever.  She challenges her friends to a thrill-point race for the most mega-rare, NOT bummer summer ever. Can her pal Frank “Eats Paste” Pearl (Preston Bailey) help save summer?  The race is on!  All she has to do is…learn to walk a tightrope, surf a monster wave, ride the scream monster—no hands, natch—at the local theme park, make it all the way through an Evil Creature Double Feature and survive…a poop picnic!  Add in a few thrills and chills, a treasure hunt for Judy’s teacher Mr. Todd (Jaleel White), a midnight stakeout in the backyard, a runaway ice-cream truck and a chase scene with a dash of Bigfoot.  What have you got?  The Judy Moodiest summer ever!"
 


Opens nationwide June 10, 2011.

GIVEAWAY

This giveaway will include one double pass to the advanced promo screening of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer good for Saturday June 4 at 10 am at Silver City Metropolis theatre in Burnaby, British Columbia.

To enter to win, just leave a comment on this post. That's it! I'll draw a winner using Random.org.

Contest closes 1 June 2011. 

Shipping: Online.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for posting this giveaway.