Tuesday, October 5, 2010

UPSIDE: Review & Giveaway

Have you ever been journeying down a path in your life that you were certain you had completely figured out, only to find out that nothing was at all what it once seemed?  I know I have... many, many times.  Without a new perspective to see my situation, I would remain stuck, wishing things were better.  

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to view an inspiring film that challenges my perspective and beliefs during those times when life throws twists and turns in my path.  The film is called Upside, and it was released to Christian retailers today by Provident Films, the company who brought to us "Fireproof" and "Facing the Giants."  This coming of age story about faith and romance is an encouraging reminder that when life gets you down, there's always an upside. 

I loved that this movie was entertaining, motivational, and well-crafted. It held my attention from the very beginning and kept my interest to the last frame.  This is a God-honoring film that I plan to recommend to other families and church groups for a long time to come.

Check out the movie overview and trailer below:

UPSIDE:  It's all how you look at it...
High school senior Solomon White seemingly has everything going for him: great athlete, good-looking girlfriend, nice car, scholarship offers, bright future.

But things aren't always as they appear.

When a devastating head injury flips his vision—and his world—upside down, Soli is left not knowing what normal looks like anymore. His challenges grow deeper when he starts falling for Wren, a believer who's been blind since birth.

When you're facing life's twists and turns, it's important to know what you believe. This fresh story of faith, romance, and coming of age is an inspiring reminder that when life gets you down, there's always an UPSIDE.


Would you like to win a FREE DVD of "Upside?"  Here's how to enter my giveaway:

Simply leave me a comment after reading this post and tell me why you'd like to see this movie.

Want an extra entry?  Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.  Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

*Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. 

*Subscribe to my feed via email or reader. 

*Go to the Facebook page and like Upside. 

*Announce this giveaway on your Facebook page. 
 
*Blog about this giveaway.  It doesn’t have to be a separate post.  Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways. 

Comments will close on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 11:59 PM CST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit).  US residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated.  Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.





Monday, October 4, 2010

A Walk Down Halloween Memory Lane

It's that time of year again where all of us mothers begin the hunt for perfect costumes for our little ones.  Someone said to me just the other day, "Well, you know that Halloween costumes are really all about the pictures..."  And after I took the time to dig through all bazillion of our photo files to reminisce over the past few Octobers, I can say that my friend was right.  I'm so thankful for these sweet, priceless snapshots in time!

My Lil' Bumblebee's first Halloween- 9 months old

My sweet (DIY) Candy Corn at 21 months old

Little Cinderella- 2.5 years old

Brother Monkey's first Halloween- 10 months old
Keep watch for pictures of this year's costumes to show up here in a a few weeks.  Big Sister is very excited about her costume choice and Little Brother gets to be victim to another of his parents DIY costume ideas.  Fall fun times for all! ; )

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Make TV more child-friendly with Charter On Demand.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter
All opinions are 100% mine.

As I've mentioned to you all before, my children enjoy watching television.  Yes, we allow them supervised time on most days to enjoy a few family-friendly shows while I run around the house getting a few things done.  It can honestly be a sanity-saver at times, too, if the weather is unfriendly for multiple days in a row or if one of my little ones are ill.  One guideline that do we have for television viewing is that they are very rarely allowed to watch cable shows in real time.  The commercial images and messages that are broadcast during show breaks aren't what we want our little ones' eyes, ears, and minds to soak in...

For that very reason, I have become a huge fan of on-demand services, such as offered by Charter TV.  Many people assume that these services are exclusively "Pay Per View," which merely benefit movie watchers who don't have the time or energy to stop by a rental store.  But I'm here to tell you, Charter's On Demand menu offers so much more, which is why this service is one of the most popular features of Charter TV in digital.  Besides just movies, there are literally thousands of shows and programs to uncover, including many that are FREE.  Shows of various interests and specialties, such as cooking, workout videos, concerts, and kids shows, are available at any time your schedule allows.

My children get a big kick out of solving mysteries with Blue, Steve and other characters from Nick Jr's Blue's Clues, which is one of the many kid's shows available with Charter On Demand.  I'm glad that with services, such as Charter's On Demand, I can offer my kids enjoyable shows without having to worry about advertisements/commercials interfering with their limited TV time.

Click on over to Charter's On Demand home page to check out their services and shows available in your area.  You will ‘Like’ their Facebook page as well.

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Visit my sponsor: Charter On Demand goes WAY beyond movies

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

"Bringing Up Bobby"- Review plus Giveaway!

As the weather gets cooler and daylight hours get shorter this time of year, many families begin to look for more ways to spend time together indoors.  One activity that so many people enjoy is a family movie night, complete with popcorn, hot chocolate, and cozy blankets.

Even though we are all bombarded with literally hundreds of movies to choose from, there are very few films that offer our families both a positive, faith-building message along with quality screen work. Fortunately, better Christian films are on the rise and there are several to look out for this upcoming week.

I was recently given the opportunity by Provident Films, which specializes in faith-based movies for families and children, to view a new Christian comedy by Glowing Nose Productions called "Bringing Up Bobby."

"Bringing Up Bobby" is a different kind of comedy about being kind of different.  The siblings of the Wyler family (the movie's main characters) are quirky, the comedy style is goofy, yet the message of faith is solid and strong.  The antics of the Wyler family remind us all that when life gets messy, you can still laugh... and look to God for His direction.

This DVD is clean, witty, and appropriate for any age.  The plot offers various situations that are relevant to teenagers, parents, and anybody who at times feels a bit "different" from everyone else around them.  If you desire to create a movie-viewing experience for your family that is both entertaining and eternally significant, then I encourage you to visit your favorite Christian retailer on Tuesday, October 5, to pick up a copy.

And by the way, don't forget the popcorn!
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To read a full synopsis of "Bringing Up Bobby" click here.

To view the movie's trailer click here.

"Bringing Up Bobby" can also be found on Facebook here and Twitter here.

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Now for the fun part!  One of my readers will win a FREE DVD of "Bringing Up Bobby."  Here's how to enter the contest:

Simply leave me a comment after reading this post and tell me with whom you would enjoy watching this movie.

Want an extra entry?  Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.  Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

*Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.  Be sure to leave a comment below with a link to your "tweet."

*Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.  Leave a comment letting me know that you've become a follower.

*Announce this giveaway on your Facebook page.  Leave me a comment with a link to your announcement.

*Blog about this giveaway.  It doesn’t have to be a separate post.  Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.  And as always, be sure to leave a comment with the link to your post.

Comments will close on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 11:59 PM CST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit).  US residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated.  Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.

Friday, October 1, 2010

"Frame-It Friday"- An Early Winter Edition

So, who do you think is more excited about the arrival of fall and its cooler weather?

Me...............

or this little fashionista?


The outdoor temperature when this picture was snapped was a frigid 79 degrees.

Who argues with a three year old and wins?

Not this mama...
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