Yummy Goodness from Butter Braid ~ Guest Post Giveaway & Review

Check out this great Giveaway & Review from my friend over at Tales from A Southern Mom!

So, school has started or maybe going to start this next week and your kids do not want to get out of bed. I have the solution, Butter Braid! This is a fabulous pastry that you can take from your freezer the night before and put it in the pan, wait for it to rise and bake it the next morning. When your

family smells this baking they will be running out of their rooms to get their share!


Butter Braid was so wonderful and sent me:

• Strawberry & Cream Cheese


• Cinnamon


• Apple


• Double Chocolate


• Raspberry


• Blueberry & Cream Cheese

All of them are so good and when school time comes your kids are wide awake and ready to go. I know around here no matter what it is if they smell something baking they are all coming into the kitchen to see what is going on.


I like how you can have the Butter Braid in the freezer, and if you get wind someone is coming from dinner, you can take it out and let it thaw and be ready to bake after your dinner. What a treat!



 I was excited to learn that Butter Braid pastries fundraising has helped schools and other no profit groups raise over $165 million! That is huge, you can have your sweets and help a good cause!


The fact that these are hand braided in a small town in Iowa using only quality ingredients gives them a wonderful handmade appearance and taste nobody has to know this was sitting in your freezer, just waiting for you to bake it for them!



 This is one of those things that just fills a few purposes all at one time. They are convenient they taste great, they help schools and other raise money, can get people moving in the morning with their great home bakes smell, and they are such a high quality product.


You can check out all of their product at their website here and here are the instructions for handling and baking the Butter Braid Pastries.


Now for the best part Butter Braid is giving away a 6 pack to one lucky reader and they will get to try the wonderfulness of these great products!

 This giveaway is Hosted by Tales From A Southern Mom, 

Co-hosted by Deliciously Savvy and Michigan Saving and More, and sponsored by Butter Braid Pastries!


  

 Just enter below and good luck!


 

Entry-Form

SwageU Bluetooth Headphones #Giveaway

Check out this new fun Giveaway provided by my friend over at Tales From a Southern Mom!

I know I'm going to enter - will you?

SwageU Bluetooth Headphones Giveaway

Hosted by Tales From A Southern Mom

CoHosted by

Michigan Saving and More

Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews

Life in a House of Testosterone

Sponsored by Rokit Inc.

The Rokit Boost SwageU Headphones are incredible they deliver way beyond anything you could even imagine. The Rokit Boost SwageU headphones are affordable and perform above what the price tag demands which is an amazing thing. These headphones are awesome!



Read the review on the SwageU Headphones here. Enter to win your pair below. Good Luck all!


 

Entry-Form

Participating bloggers were not compensated and are not responsible for this giveaway.No purchase required to enter this giveaway and there is a limit of one entrant per household. Void where prohibited. All entries are optional. A new winner will be chosen if the original winner(s) has not responded within 48 hours of email notification. Tales From A Southern Mom is not responsible for shipment of the prize(s). Sponsor is responsible for all shipping this prize. This giveaway is not administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or other social media outlet. This is posted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Any questions, email julie.talesfromasouthernmom@gmail.com

The Rainbow Egg by Linda Hendricks, M.D. ~ #review

Hope is a chicken who happens upon an egg. Looking for a place to help raise it, a guardian red bird leads her to a chicken house full of chicken families. 



There she finds challenges and fear ultimately leading to the most precious gift she could ever hope for. 



The Rainbow Egg is a beautifully illustrated, delightful fresh look at adoption as a loving gift.



Review:

I believe that for young children, and even some older ones too, it is usually much easier to explain difficult things in life

to them through stories.  One such story is The Rainbow Egg.



Author Linda Hendricks, M.D.  uses the story of Hope, a chicken who likes to live in the woods rather than in the chicken house.  One day she lays a beautiful rainbow egg but has no nest to put it in.  She tries many ways to take the egg with her as she wanders the woods, but all it does is make her tired.  She goes to the chicken house and meets a chicken couple who can not lay an egg of their own.  As the story continues a wonderful and magical thing occurs.



The story is one that shows one part of adoption, yet leaves the reader (adult and child) with many questions.  Why did Hope choose to keep living in the woods instead of building a nest for her egg/chick?  Why couldn't she just build a nest in the woods? Why did the red bird sing and make the chickens cry, how was that important to the story or to adoption?  Do people give babies away if they don't have a house?  Why do the illustrations of the chickens look like "sickly stick birds" (according to my 7 yr old - they don't look like chickens - lol)  Other than the funny looking chickens, the illustrations are pretty good, the red bird and chicken house were well-drawn.

The story seems a bit too wordy to me and does not really explain adoption exactly but is more about not being prepared for a baby (egg/chick) so you give it away to someone who is prepared. I really didn't feel that it told a good story of what adoption really is.  Our family knows a few children who have been adopted and none of their stories are anything like this.  I personally would not read this book to young children to help explain what adoption is about.



Overall I would say I have mixed feelings about the story and would recommend you try a sample and see what you think.  This is just one reviewer's opinion and others may like it more or less than myself!



For more info on this book - check it out on Amazon:  The Rainbow Egg

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Check out the new Toy that has everyone excited! Kendama Review & Giveaway #kalebkendamaco

The Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy which consists of the “Ken” (handle) and the “Tama” (ball),  which is connected by a string.  The two extending sides of the kendama are concave cups, with one end smaller than the other. The larger cup is called the ōzara ("big cup") and the smaller cup is called the kozara ("small cup"). There is another, even smaller cup, called the chūzara  ("center cup") at the bottom of the ken. The Kendama tricks are done by variations of juggling the ball in the three cups spiking the ball with the Ken spike, and balancing both in new creative ways. Mastering the Kendama takes practice, focus, patience, and creativity.

So there you have it, readers! The Kendama is anything but a boring toss and catch game…and it goes to show

that sometimes the simplest games (sans lights, batteries, and sound effects) provide the most fun of all. Here’s to hundreds more years of good old fashioned fun with the Kendama.

Review:

All I can say is that the "beginner tricks" are more advanced that I can do - I thought I was doing great being able to "catch" the ball on one of the side cups - I got so excited.  Then, I watched the video on the Kaleb Kendama website and was in awe of the amount of fun tricks that the boys in the video could do.  I definitely am a novice compared to them but still find it fun - more fun even than Yo-Yo or Hacky Sack (yep, I'm showing my age!).



Now, for quality - the Kendama from Kaleb Kendama is solid wood with nice painted swirly surface - striking in style and color - I love the variety and selection of designs available.  After some use there are nicks and scratches in it but nothing that takes away from the look or use of it.  Overall I find it to be of good quality, string in strong and great for many, many hours of play and even better - it comes with a replacement string.  There is a video on the website that shows you how to replace the string step by step.



A fun new game that my 14 year old son, 10 year old daughter and 7 year old daughter all love to try to catch the ball on one of the three different size cups.  Now that we have seen the video of tricks, we are all trying to increase what we can do with our Kendamas and also see who can get a new trick first.



Kendamas are a great way to entertain kiddos, youth and even adults without electronics.  It also gets them up and moving and having fun alone or in a group.  I highly recommend this toy for kids of all ages ~ good for home or travel.  Personally I think it would make a great group activity too!

Now for the FUN - A Giveaway!

Kaleb Kendama has generously offered to provide the followers here on Mom Loves 2 Read with a Giveaway of 4 Kendamas!  4 separate winners will get to choose a Kendama from Kaleb Kendama website of their choice.  Winner must be 18 or older and have a valid US address.  All entries will be validated - winner will have 48 hours to reply and claim prize.

Entry-Form

**Any Bloggers willing to post this giveaway and promote may request the html in exchance for a free link on the giveawaytools form!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Believe: Kid's Edition ~ Think, Act, Be Like Jesus for ages 8 to 12 #review

They know the story of the Bible, but do they know what it means? 



Adapted from the ground-breaking new Believe campaign from bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee, the 
Believe: Kids’ Edition takes kids on a thematic tour through the Bible and shows them how to think, act, and be more like Jesus. 



As children ages 8-12 walk through the three big categories of Christian life—beliefs, practices, and virtues—they’ll begin a journey that will take them closer to the heart of Jesus and deeper

into the words of Scripture. They’ll learn what the Bible has to say about everything from the nature of God and the identity of Jesus, to prayer, worship, and the fruit of the Spirit. 



Foundational and faith-building, this book can be used by individuals or in conjunction with the all-church campaign.




Review:

The Believe: Kid's Edition is a great resource for children ages 8 and older to read along with their Bible.  It teaches more in-depth stories and scripture that helps them see the value of a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ.



My 10 year old daughter has been reading this as a devotional during her nightly scripture reading time.  Although it is not her top favorite, she does like it and says that it has discussion questions that make her think and ask me questions she would not have otherwise thought of on her own.  She does find that parts of it are a bit "too old" for her but overall we both agree that it is a resource that she will continue reading as she grows and matures.



I would personally recommend it for 10 and up as I feel that some of the discussions and questions are too hard for younger readers, but I also think it is a book that can be read bit by bit as the child (or adult) matures and grows in their faith and understanding!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Believe Storybook Think, Act, Be Like Jesus

Presented by bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee, the Believe Storybook shows children how they can think, act, and be more like Jesus. With 60 old and new testament stories from the Bible that showcase the themes, combined with captivating and dramatic illustrations by Steve Adams, children and adults alike will be inspired to become more like their savior and the person they were meant to be.

The Believe Storybook is part of the national church-wide program led by bestselling author Randy Frazee that shows

children how they can think, act, and be more like Jesus.

About the Authors

Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Oak Hills is one of the largest churches in America, where Randy teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max Lucado. An emerging leader and innovator in spiritual formation and biblical community, Randy is the architect of The Story church engagement campaign. He is the author of The Heart of The Story, The Connecting Church 2.0, The Christian Life Profile Assessment, and coauthored Real Simplicity with his wife Rozanne.

Review:

The Believe Storybook is not only a book of children's Bible stories, but explains more about the stories and why they are important to our lives.  It teaches children more about their personal faith and how to keep growing and knowing God.  Reading along with the child helps the adult see how to explain things to the child that may sometimes even be difficult for the adult to understand.



With wonderful colorful illustrations and explanations of each story, it is a wonderful and compelling book that is a must read for children of faith and their parents as well!  Great for parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles to read along with the child or for a child to read alone.



Highly recommended for ages 3/4 through 8.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

For Homeschool or just to Learn at a time convenient for you ~ Levels for Guitar online Guitar Lessons #Levelsforguitar

Do you have time to spend driving back and forth and paying an instructor just so you can learn how to play an instrument?  What about if you have children who also want to learn?  Or several family or friends?



I have found a way to make time in my day - right here at home to learn how to play my Guitar and can even have my kiddos use the lessons too!  And it is affordable, can be done in my own home and at my own pace, at a time that

works for me!



It is called Levels for Guitar.  The website has step by step instructions, videos and lessons for new beginners, level 2 beginners and intermediate players.  With an online metronome, online tuner and other great resources along with instructional videos, it is easy to learn at my own pace and at a time that is convenient for me.



I am impressed so far by the instructions and extras that the Levels for Guitar website has for a beginner player that does have some musical background.  I recommend this for homeschool families, adults wanting to learn and those with busy schedules or who don't have easy access to a teacher.

Or, if you are like me and already pay for weekly music lessons for the kiddos, I just can't add more lessons for myself - either finacially or time wise.  You can learn more about Levels for Guitar at www.levelsforguitar.com

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Don't Lose your cool with this Non-contact Infrared Digital Thermometer Review #IRThermometer

Take accurate temperature readings with this laser-sighted infrared gun-style thermometer. Reads in Celsius or Fahrenheit, there is a switch on the panel to choose between them. There's also a switch to turn on or off the laser sight and adjust the emissivity on different objects.

 ~ Max temperature function: it can take the highest temperature of the area tested by scanning and save the data at the bottom of the

screen.


~ EMS adjustable function: each article has its suitable emissivity, the adjustable emissivity function can make the test more accurate by adjust suitable emissivity for different articles.


~ Measures in Celsius or Fahrenheit (Range: -50°C to +380°C /-58 °F to +716°F). Auto Shut-off & Low Battery Indicator, take accurate temperature readings with this handheld gun.


Review:

How often do you wonder if your grill, bath water, light bulbs, car engine or other things are still hot

or at the correct temperature you need?  Do you like to put your bare hand on a potentially hot surface to check?  Or how about holding a thermometer near something still radiating heat?



With this Infrared Digital Thermometer it is easy and safe to check the temperature of nearly any item with little to no risk to our personal safety.



I tried it on my cooked food to see if the external temp was what it should be.  I tried it with my husband's grill to see if the thermostat was correct (he has some hot spots and some cool spots), and also tried it out on my kiddos to see what their body temperatures read (works pretty well - all are healthy and normal so far).



I was pretty impressed with the amount and variety of items I can use an infrared thermometer for.  I really wasn't sure what to do with it for this review until I started doing some research and playing around with it.  It is definitely something I will continue using frequently and keep on hand to keep myself and my family safe from burns.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Capture the Moment with inspired techniques to help make photos into amazing memories #review

This modern guide to photography pairs big, bold images with short, focused tips for translating everyday life into stunning works of art. Featuring contributions by the members of Clickin Moms, the photography industry’s largest social network of female photographers, this guide captures the beauty of family life—whether it’s a child’s

unfinished bowl of cereal or a sunlit trip to the lake. With tips progressing from elementary to advanced, this book is perfect for amateurs and professionals alike, covering equipment, composition, posing, low light, natural light, black and white, still life, and lifestyle photography. Assignments for experimenting with lighting and shooting locations round out the chapters, providing photographers with both the inspiration and skills they need to document those unforgettable, frame-worthy moments in time.

REVIEW:



With three children growing fast and changing often, it can be quite pricey to purchase school photos or take them to a "professional" photographer.  A couple years ago I purchased a nice Cannon camera (not top of the line but a nicer digital for home use) so I could start taking my own yearly and seasonal photos of my kids (and pet, outdoors, etc).  At first it was a learning experience to figure out the best lighting, positioning, background and foreground images, positioning and such . . .  and I thought I did a fairly good job for an amateur photographer.

But still, I wasn't satisfied.  I knew there was so much I needed to learn and figure out to really make a great photo.  So I kept trying, searching the internet and books and asking questions to find ways to improve my personal photography without spending a ton of money on props and gadgets.  So I started paying attention to the lighting in our yard at different times of day - what "accessories" and "props" I could find right in my own home or yard and I think I did pretty well . . .

 But again, there is still much to learn.  So finding the book Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson has been a wonderful addition to my photographic education.  It is well written and full of professional photographs that help a novice like me to see step by step how to improve my photography. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a bit more and visually see different techniques that can help improve their own photographs.





Capture the Moment can be purchased on Amazon.com

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Give Baby something Sweet to Cuddle and Keep Pacifiers Safe too . . . #ProEasyLivingPandaCuddlyPal

Cotton plush colorful Panda CuddlyPal pacifier holder is perfect for babies & toddlers up to 24 months as the pacifier can be changed to meet your baby's development needs. Detach to add your baby's favorite pacifier or to ensure easy cleaning & sterilizing.



Designed to keep the pacifier close to your baby without using cords or strings. Prevents the pacifier from being lost, dropped or forgotten.



Innovative design pacifier holder comes with a baby-safe velcro strap that

allows the pacifier to be detached from the plush toy for easy cleaning, sterilizing or replacement.



Soft cotton plush toy is perfectly safe as it meets CE standards & EU

safety, health & environmental requirements, European Toy Safety Directive & British Standards EN71.



Pacifier holder comes with a complimentary BPA free pacifier made of medical grade silicone - perfect for latex allergy sufferers. Product comes with full eco friendly care instructions.



Self-sealed, high quality package perfect for baby showers gifting. No cheap bags!





Review by Jenn:

What do I think about this product?  I think it is AWESOME! My 6 month old immediately started holding, and
playing with it. I Love that you can detach the paci and trade it out for a
different one if needed (my baby is kinda picky with pacifiers.) Her eyes
literally lit up whenever I gave it to her, and the plush toy is the perfect
size for a 6 month old.

ISN'T SHE A SWEETIE! 

Review by Susan:

The velcro holds the pacifiers safe and secure while giving baby a stuffed cuddly friend to hold on to and play with.  I love that it keeps the pacifier from being dropped and lost, and also keeps baby engaged and interested with this cute Panda Pal.



What a wonderful idea!  I wish I had thought of it!  No more strings or ribbons that can get tangled in baby's fingers or dropped and lost.  Now with this cute PANDA Cuddly Pal we always know where paci is!  And, it is very easy to change out to a different paci so the old one can be cleaned!



Even better is that these Cuddly Pals can hold teething toys as well as Pacifiers and as baby grows (even beyond age 24 mos), it can still be a great lovable cuddle toy to play with.



Another great feature is that there are more fun Cuddle Pals to choose from.  The adorable DEER and the Cuddly CATERPILLAR.  These would make super fun gifts for baby shower, baby/toddler birthdays, stocking stuffers and just because!

You can find these great gifts on Amazon.com and currently they are even on sale!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Infusion Bottle by #Ephistica ~ A stylish and sophisticated way to drink beverages on the go!

ABOUT ~ Infusion Bottle by Ephistica - Premium Fruit and Tea Water Infuser Tumbler made of Double Walled Glass and a No Leak Bamboo Lid.

- Why settle for a cheap plastic infuser when you can have the Sophistication and Elegance of glass and bamboo?

- Impress your friends with this infusion bottle: both dignified and innovative, Ephistica Water Infuser is the perfect choice for all your healthy infusions, hot or cold.

- Ephistica Water Infuser has a

resistant double glass wall which keeps your drinks FRESH and your teas WARM without burning your hand!

- The Infuser's simple design is chic and natural, the perfect container to show off your healthy drinks anywhere you go.

- Want to make sure your drinks are eco-friendly? Ephistica Water Infuser's glass body is less detrimental to the environment because it is long-lasting and can be recycled almost indefinitely. In addition, you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals leaching into your infusion as you might with plastic!

This product is also BPA free.

- Ephistica Water Infuser holds 350 ml (12 oz) so it ideal for transportation. You

can easily carry this tumbler with you on camping trips, to yoga classes, to the beach, work, or just use it at home!

- Ephistica is easy to use: the Basket Filter has handles so you won't burn yourself - it's easy to insert and remove. The basket's handle is hidden so you can easily close the No Leak Lid.

- The body is microwave and dishwasher resistant, perfect for an effortless clean up!

BE HEALTHIER

- Drink infused fruit juices, carry around your favorite natural tea

- holds 350 ml (12 oz) 

Review:

The Ephistica Infusion Bottle is much classier than I expected.  It looks much nicer than many of the plastic type drink containers on the market.  The double walled glass is thick and keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot without causing discomfort to the person holding it.  The stainless basket insert makes it easy to add fruits, veggies or other ingredients to a drink without drinking the seeds and floaty bits.  It strains well and stays in place.  The bamboo lid seals completely and there are no leaks.



My favorite drink while using this fun and stylish Infusion bottle is water with fresh strawberries and pineapple with a bit of Splenda or Drink mix added for sweetness.  My only complaint is that it only holds 12 oz of liquid/solids so I had to refill the water and sweetener frequently.

Another great feature to this unique bottle is that it is easy to clean.  The main glass chamber and basket are dishwasher safe so clean up is a breeze.  It can also be used for hot beverages like flavored teas or coffee so friends or family can use it when they visit! Overall I really love this Ephistica Infusion Bottle and plan to continue using it as long as it will last.



*This Infusion Bottle by Ephistica can be purchased on Amazon.com

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.