Ring the Bell DVD Review and Giveaway (5/13)

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned below for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

Sunday night my family and I were able to preview another new Christian family film which we all enjoyed watching.

 

About Ring the Bell:

"Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family."

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Cocky, and sure of success, Mr. Decker drops into Middletown determined to sign their local baseball star for a Pro team only to find that that same player respectfully but firmly refuses to be signed!

This guy is definitely full of himself! At one point he tells someone, "I'm Rob Decker, I can do anything!" To him, money is everything, and he thinks he can get whatever he wants with enough of it - that is until he lands in a tiny little town with a car in need of repair. Here he is forced to slow down (with no car you have to slow down!), and here he encounters a completely different lifestyle and mindset than anything he's known before.  A strong faith in God is the center of this little community.

There are some really good messages in this movie, and the gospel is clearly presented. Although you don't get to know the characters as well as we wished we could, it is still a well done movie that is appropriate for the whole family, and we appreciated the strong Christian message. There are also some definitely humorous people and scenes that add character to this film! :)

  

Website:  http://ringthebellthemovie.com

                        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RingTheBellTheMovie

Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.

This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production.

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Ring the Bell is available for purchase

or you can enter on the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a copy for yourself!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is Our Time DVD Review and Giveaway

Our family had the opportunity to preview a brand new Christian film last night. This is Our Time is the story of five friends newly graduated from college and their desire to go out and do something big for God.

About This Is Our Time
The movie tells the interwoven stories of Luke (T.J. Dalrymple) and Alé (Erin Bethea), who marry right after school and move to India to serve as missionaries for Embrace A Village, a ministry that cares for those afflicted with leprosy and their families; aspiring financier Catherine (Kate Cobb), who joins a prestigious financial institution determined to make an impact on corporate America; Ryder (Matthew Florida), who lands an impressive job in social media and can’t wait to use the powerful medium for a greater good; and Ethan (Shawn-Caulin Young,) seemingly the odd man out, who struggles to find his God-given-purpose and feels sidelined by God.
“What they all come to learn is that it never really was their time,” Arnold said. “It always was, always is, God’s time.”

        Website: http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4565
        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsOurTimeMovie
        Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmjQe2onm6s

This is definitely an emotional movie, and it has a good message. Sometimes it's so easy to look around and see others doing big "important" things for the Lord, and to feel like because you aren't doing those BIG things, that you aren't worth as much. But the message in this movie is clear - we shouldn't be focusing so much on what God wants us to DO but rather on what He wants us to BE.

Throughout our lives we will all face good times and bad. There will be sorrows, disappointments, and yes, times of waiting. We may not always understand, but God has a special plan for each one of His children, and He sees how all of these pieces fit together. If we will faithfully serve Him right where He has placed us, we bring Him honor even if it's just washing dishes or making sandwiches. :)

Purchase this movie here

or win a copy of this DVD for yourself by entering on the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

25 FREE Photo Prints from Walgreens

Today only, you can get 25 FREE 4x6 prints from Walgreens. Use the code PICTURES25 at checkout and make sure to choose in store pick up to receive your photos completely free!!

Party Reminder

Just a quick note to remind you that the Lilla Rose party (which includes FREE shipping) ends tomorrow night! Hurry on over to place your order and be entered in the drawing for all the hostess rewards! :)

Welcome Spring Lilla Rose Mystery Hostess Party

It's officially SPRING! Our daffodils have been blooming for a couple of weeks, the birds are singing, and we've enjoyed several warmer days with the windows open! Don't you just love this time of year when everything is fresh and new?

Lilla Rose wants to celebrate the official start of Spring by offering FREE Shipping today (3/20) through Saturday (3/23) on all orders of $20 or more! Now is a great time to order that flexi clip you've been wanting, or to pick up a pair of bobby pins, or a beautiful new headband.

Free shipping isn't the only special offer this week though! My friend Hannah and I have teamed up to bring you a fun Lilla Rose PARTY too! This is an online party and will run from the 20th - 23rd. But a party needs a hostess, right? And maybe even a door prize?

We have a very special hostess for this party, and we'd love to introduce her to you only we don't know who she is yet. :) We are going to have a drawing, and one of you lovely ladies will be chosen as the hostess for this party! That means that one of you will receive all of the hostess rewards for this party. All you have to do to be entered into the drawing is to place an order of any size through this link, and you will automatically be entered into the drawing!


The hostess will receive half price AND free items of her choice from Lilla Rose. Depending on how many people order during this party, she will eligible for 1-6 half price items and between $30 - $150 worth of free products!! Just think of all the beautiful flexi clips and other accessories you could get! Hurry on over and place your order today!

And just to add a little extra fun to the party, we are also adding a door prize! Any guests of this party who place an order of any size will be automatically entered to win a flexi clip of your choice!

For extra entries into the door prize drawing, share this Lilla Rose party with your friends and / or relatives via Facebook, Twitter, blog post, e-mail, word of mouth, or any other way you can think of. Just leave a comment on this post saying how you promoted the party and leave a link if applicable, and you will receive a second entry into the door prize giveaway. You can receive one entry for every different way you share the giveaway, so be creative! :)

We also have one other special offer to give you for these next four days. Hannah and I are running our own special during this party and would love to offer any new customers* a Buy-3-Get-1-Free deal. Anyone who purchased 3 or more flexi clips during this party will receive a voucher for a completely FREE flexi clip of their choice (up to $16 value)! This promo is only good during the four days of the party though, so don't delay!

*Only new customers or those who have never received a Have-One-On-Us voucher before are eligible for this promotion.

A Feathered Visitor

Last week my sister happened to look out the window and saw a red, black, and white fluff ball on our porch railing. She excitedly called to me and asked what kind of a bird it was. Upon looking, I discovered that we had a Red Headed Woodpecker in our yard!

We love feeding and watching the birds at our house, and it's always exciting when one shows up that we don't normally see. We regularly have Downy Woodpeckers, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, and Sapsuckers at our feeders, but this is the first time we'd EVER had a Red Headed Woodpecker. In fact, the only time I've ever even seen one is a few glimpses when hiking in the woods.

I tried to get a picture of this beautiful little bird, but the first time I tried it was really cold out, and I only managed to get a far away fuzzy shot or two before I gave up and came inside.

Our woodpecker friend may not have liked the camera, but this little lady seemed happy to pose for me. :)

The next day was a little warmer, and I tried again while I waited for the rest of my family to finish getting ready for church. Our fiesty little woodpecker is rather camera shy though, and didn't cooperate very well. He stayed away from the feeder completely at first and then he came down just long enough to swoosh by and chase off any other birds who happened to be on the feeder.

He was not happy about me being out there, and scolded me good from his branch on one of the trees. Finally however, he did decide to come to the feeder for a couple of brief visits, and I managed to get a few pictures. None of them are very clear, but at least I got a few to show he was really here. :)

It has now been just over a week since our feathered visitor showed up, and we've seen him out there every day. It's warmer today, so maybe I'll go try again to capture a good shot of this red, white, and black woodpecker.

New Valentines Day Flexi Clip!

The brand new February Flexi of the Month has just been released this morning, and it's already selling out quickly! My sister and I both LOVE this beautiful new flexi clip, and it's just perfect for Valentine's Day!

And here are many other heart themed items from Lilla Rose. Order now for Valentine's Day!

Grandma's Ginger Cookies

Nearly every Saturday morning finds me in the kitchen making food to take to our carry in dinner after church on Sunday, and yesterday was no exception.

After cooking up the chicken and rice casserole and filling the crock pot ready for heating up today, I turned to the dessert. I decided to take advantage of the fact that it is still winter (despite the fact that the temperature was in the 60's yesterday) and make a recipe I typically only make in the Fall and Winter months - Grandma's Ginger Cookies.

The original recipe for these cookies has been passed down from generation to generation from my Great-Great Grandma. If you love ginger cookies, you'll want to try this recipe. These special cookies are packed with flavor and are crisp on the outside while being oh so soft in the middle!

I have changed the recipe slightly to make it a little healthier, but the taste is just as wonderful.

Grandma's Ginger Cookies

1/2 cup palm shortening

1/2 cup coconut oil (or additional shortening)

1 cup molasses

1 cup cane juice crystals (or sugar)

1 egg

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

1 tablespoon ginger

1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Mix shortening, oil, molasses, sugar, and egg. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake on 350 for 8-10 minutes.

(Do not over bake unless you like your cookies completely crisp rather than soft inside.)

 

Note: The palm shortening and coconut oil I used in this recipe are from Tropical Traditions. I highly recommend their quality products and right now they even have a FREE Shipping coupon! Just use the code 28113 at checkout to receive free shipping on your order. Plus if you order through one of my referral links on this page, you'll also receive a FREE copy of their Coconut Oil book which is excellent! And thanks in advance for allowing me to refer you to Tropical Traditions!

I'm linked up at: Heavenly Treats Sunday

Lilla Rose Mystery Hostess Party & New Items!

It's party time! 

Who doesn't love a party - especially with a fun added twist of a little mystery! :)

Lilla Rose has just released 3 brand new flexi clips plus bringing back 3 very popular styles. AND they've also added a very pretty set of new bobby pins and a new style of O-ring!

These beautiful heart bobby pins would be perfect for Valentines day either for yourself or as a gift to a special lady in your life. And the musical flexi clip would make a wonderful gift for the music lover in your family or for a special music teacher.

To celebrate these new items, we are going to have a really fun party!! This party isn't an ordinary party because this one has a MYSTERY HOSTESS!

Everyone who places an order through the party link today or tomorrow will be entered into the drawing, and ONE person will be randomly chosen to receive ALL of the hostess rewards for this party! That could mean up to $150 worth of FREE Lilla Rose products!!

Everyone who orders through the party link TODAY will receive discounted shipping prices of $2.95 per order, PLUS the 15% off all new items! The shipping rate will stay the same for orders placed tomorrow (Saturday), but the discount is only good through midnight today.

Would you like even more entries into the hostess drawing? Spread the word to your friends and family about this fun party, and e-mail me at simplyfeminineflexis at gmail dot com with the e-mail addresses of those you invited. You will receive one extra entry for spreading the word plus an extra entry for every person you refer who places an order through the party link!

Come on over and join in the fun! Remember, the sale price is only good through midnight tonight (January 18), so HURRY!

FREE E-Book: Pirates of Rocky Crag Bay

After several months of being too busy to do any blogging, I'm finally back at it again! :)

I'm really excited today to share with you a FREE book download opportunity! My sister has made her third published book Pirates of Rocky Crag Bayavailable as a free Kindle download for the next three days. If you're looking for a good read aloud book for your family, or a wholesome, enjoyable book for your children, you'll want to be sure to get your FREE copy!

Young Ned Jones is enthralled by pirate stories and when an opportunity arises for him to join a group of real pirates, he sets off with high anticipation. Follow along with Ned as he lives his dream. This story along with eleven others will interest young and old alike with a mixture of humor, tenderness and suspense. Will Nana?s spring house cleaning cause a neighbor to call the police? What surprise is Uncle Scott bringing, and who is stealing the flags from the police memorial?

Remember, you only have 3 days to download your FREE copy, so don't delay! And after you've downloaded and read this book, my sister would be THRILLED to have you leave a review on Amazon, or a comment on her blog. She's a new author and greatly appreciates your feedback.

If you like Rebekah's writing in this book, don't forget to check out her first two books Home Fires of the Great War and The Unexpected Request. And tell your friends too! :)

Lilla Rose Sale!!

Lilla Rose is having a SALE! 

Everything is 10% off with selected items being 15% off. There are some beautiful flexi clips that are perfect for Autumn, or take advantage of the sale and stock up for Christmas gifts!

This sale is good through 11:59 pm Sunday, October 21.

Go here to shop.

99 Cent Photo Book with FREE Shipping from ArtsCow!

 

ArtsCow is having a Mega Photo Book sale!! From now until September 30th, you can get a 20 page 6"x6" or 7"x5" photo book for just 99 cents! That includes the shipping!! You can also earn ArtsCow dollars by sharing this deal with your friends and family. These books make great gifts or keepsakes for special events!

Here's how it works:
1. Buy photo book for $0.99 and checkout using your friend’s code: Z099BOOKM9NFU
2. Share your own code to your friends (you'll receive your code as soon as you order).
3. Your friend makes a purchase using your code, you receive $1 cash dollar. You can make up to $100 cash dollar in rewards!

Only one 99 cent book is allowed per household. Just enter the code at checkout to receive your discount ($11.99 savings). This offer expires on September 30th or when 20,000 books have been purchased.

If you're new to ArtsCow, sign up for a free account and receive 1800 free prints credits & 6 photo books! I've ordered many photo books from ArtsCow and have been very pleased with the quality.

Note: This post contains my referral link.

Labor Day Sales and Specials!

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, I wanted to share a few sales and specials with you!

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Joyfully Sewn Designs is having another coupon sale!

Save 15% on any order of $25 - $49.99 with the coupon code LABORDAY15.

Save 20% on orders of $50 or more with the coupon code LABORDAY20.

Coupons are good for in stock items only. Orders under $25 may use the 10% coupon found on the home page. Coupons are good through midnight on September 3, 2012.

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Tropical Traditions is once again offering a FREE Shipping coupon!

Use the code 31299 at checkout to receive free shipping on orders of $16 or more*. They have some wonderful products including several varieties and qualities of coconut oil, organic raw honey, grass fed beef, skin care products, and more!

This code is good through midnight September 3, 2012. *Some restrictions apply.

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Lilla Rose is offering FREE Shipping on any party order of $20 or more through TODAY ONLY!

Go here to place your order. You will also receive a FREE flexi clip with the purchase of 3 or more flexi clips ordered through the party link. Now would be a great time to stock up on gifts!

FREE Lilla Rose Flexi Clip!

Would you like a FREE Lilla Rose Flexi Clip?

I have two opportunities for you to earn a FREE flexi clip of your choice (up to $16 value).  You only have a few days to take advantage of these opportunities though, so hurry!

1. Enter to win a $16 voucher for any Lilla Rose product of your choice. Ends in 6 days.

2. Sign up to host an online Lilla Rose Party, and receive a $16 voucher for any Lilla Rose product of your choice once your party ends*. This opportunity is only available for the next 3 days.


Would you like to make a Lilla Rose purchase and receive FREE shipping, but can't host a party for yourself right now? Order through this party and save! Now is a great time to stock up on gifts!


*Offer only good for new customers.

Apple Muffins with Coconut Oil (plus coupon)

These apple muffins are some of my family's favorite muffins, and I hope you will enjoy them too! They are really moist, and freeze great.

Apple Raisin Muffins

3/4 cup coconut oil (or other oil)

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup unbleached white flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups diced apples

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 12 muffin cups.

In a large bowl, beat oil and sugar with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; beat 1 minute. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture; stir just to combine. Stir in apples, raisins, and walnuts.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups; bake 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.

Remove muffin tin to wire rack. Cool 5 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cooling on rack. Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container.

These muffins freeze well. Makes 12 muffins.

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Tropical Traditions has their Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil on sale right now on a Buy-1-Get-1-FREE deal. Plus through Monday (8/20) you can also take advantage of a special 10% off coupon! Just us the code 21282 at checkout to receive your discount!

FREE Shipping on Lilla Rose Party Orders!

I'm excited to announce that Lilla Rose is offering FREE Shipping on any party order of $20 or more during the entire month of August!! Free shipping offers are a great time to stock up on the wonderful Lilla Rose flexi clips, headbands, You-Pins, and other beautiful products. Think ahead for Christmas or Birthday gifts and purchase now while you can get free shipping!

Have you tried out the Lilla Rose flexi clips yet? Do you have one or two flexi clips but are wishing for other sizes and styles of these beautiful hair clips but can't afford more at the moment? Do you know of friends who are considering purchasing a flexi clip for themselves, but just haven't done it yet? If you answered yes to any of those questions, than maybe you'd like to host a Lilla Rose party!

Not only are parties a great way to introduce Lilla Rose and their signature flexi clips to your friends and family, but they are also a way for you to earn FREE and half priced Lilla Rose products! And with FREE shipping on orders of $20 or more, August would be the perfect month to host a party!

You may be wondering how in the world you could possibly host a Lilla Rose party if you don't live anywhere close to me. No, I can't come and actually do a party for you in person, but Lilla Rose has a solution to that problem - online parties! :) In fact the very first party I ever did with Lilla Rose was an online party, and it was a great success! Each hostess with receive a unique link to her own party and any orders placed through that link will be counted toward your party total.

You can share your special party link with friends, family, co-workers, on your blog or Facebook, and invite them all to try the Lilla Rose flexi clips, hair sticks, or other items for themselves. And don't forget about the free shipping offer!

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, or if you have any questions, please drop me an e-mail. I'd love to work with you on a special summer party and help you earn FREE Lilla Rose products!

Would you like to take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING offer but can't host a party yourself right now? Leave me your e-mail address in a comment (I won't publish it), or e-mail me, and I'll send you the link to another hostess' party for you to order from.