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Zoku Pocket Straw Review and Giveaway

I received 3 different Zoku products in exchange for my review. And I get to give away a very cool Zoku pocket straw!

I don’t know about you, but I am a bit frustrated with all the “no straw” things restaurants are trying to do. First off, it’s super inconsistent. And seems to vary by location. I never know if I’m going to be able to get a straw or not.

Secondly, I go a lot of places that I can’t take a straw. Like my local zoo. (I actually can’t take a disposable straw OR lid) This is incredibly inconvenient with kids. Especially with my 2 yr old. I mean, a straw is way easier to bring than a sippy cup. We pretty much loose half our drink every time because we have no lid and we have no straw. It’s so frustrating!

Needless to say, I was super, incredibly excited about trying out this Zoku stainless steel pocket straw. And I’m just loving the great features! The only thing I’m struggling with is prying it away from my 11yr old. She’s pretty sure I got this straw just for her and that it’s the best thing I’ve done for her so far this year.

  • It telescopes down and fits in the little straw carrying case (that gray thing) so I can easily tuck it in a bag or pocket. Or there’s a spot in the lid for a string if I need to tie it on to something.
  • It’s not disposable so even the zoo will let me bring it in – not that they’ll know that I have it, it’s so small!
  • The silicone mouthpiece makes it comfortable to use. I’m not a fan of stainless steel straws because they’re always too hot or too cold depending on what I’m drinking. The little mouthpieces fixes that.
  • The telescope feature also means that I can easily use it in a smaller cup without having a gigantic straw. I can just telescope it out a little less and it’s shorter. Perfect for smaller cups and little children.
  • It comes with a straw cleaner. Because, let’s face it, unless I’m drinking only water, I’m going to want to scrub out the inside of this thing. The cleaner also fits in the case with the straw, so I can easily carry this entire thing with me everywhere.

As much as my kids love this straw, I’m going to have to buy one for each of them so they’ll never be strawless. Maybe if I ask nicely Zoku can make them with different colored silicone mouthpieces so I can tell them apart!

The other 2 items Zoku sent are this stainless steel water bottle. I love the rope on top. These bottles are terrific for my kids because they’re easy to transport without spilling, but we’re constantly struggling with where to stuff them in a backpack so they don’t fall out. A little carabiner clipped to the lid and my son’s backpack strap and our problem is solved. This is a nice sturdy bottle, and I love the stainless steel because it will have to survive many drops.

And, last, but not least, the stackable containers. They all stack together to fit well in my cupboard. And they stack with each other well with all the lids on. They come in 4 different sizes and there’s even a freezer pack that clips inside one of the large lids – perfect for those days that I pack a salad!

I love that the lids clip on on 4 sides. They’re easy to clip down but large enough that it’s easy to grab them and open them when the time comes. They also have a nice seal on the inside edge so when the container is closed, it’s sealed. Perfect for packing lunches that I’m worried about spilling everywhere.

Now for the fun part! Enter below for your chance to win your very own pocket straw.

Win Zoku’s Stainless Steel Pocket Straw #6

Check out Zoku on social media

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HuePets – Review

Thanks to Tryazon for sending the HuePets party pack to share with my friends!

We combined our HuePets party with a birthday party and I gave away the Hue Pets swag as part of our party favors. All the kids loved the squishies and we parents had a great time discussing the new HuePets app and how difficult it often is to get our kids to eat their veggies!

Because of the number of kids, bananagrams wasn’t a huge hit, but it’s definitely a fun game that involves fruit! And we made sure we kept 1 cookbook for ourselves. My kids love to cook and I’m excited that they want to cook with more fruits and veggies!

The HuePets app is super easy to use. Just scan your food and it walks you through the rest. It’s a fun way to track what everyone is eating!

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Overcomer Movie – Fandango Tickets

SYNOPSIS

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth … until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey.

Filled with a powerful mix of faith, a twist of humor, and a ton of heart, the Kendrick Brothers return to theaters with OVERCOMER, their newest feature following FACING THE GIANTS, FIREPROOF, COURAGEOUS, and the #1 box- office hit, WAR ROOM. The inspiring family film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, Shari Rigby, Cameron Arnett, and introduces Aryn Wright-Thompson. Opening nationwide on August 23, OVERCOMER dares to leave you filled with hope, inspired to dream, and asks the question: what do you allow to define you?

ABOUT PROVIDENT FILMS

Provident Films, a division of Provident Music Group, a Sony company, develops, produces and markets faith-based films. A pioneer in the genre since 2006, Provident Films’ partnerships include Sherwood Pictures/Kendrick Brothers (WAR ROOM, COURAGEOUS, FIREPROOF and FACING THE GIANTS), The Erwin Brothers (WOODLAWN, MOMS’ NIGHT OUT and the $83 million box office surprise, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE), Kirk Cameron (CONNECT) and Graceworks Pictures (INDIVISIBLE released Oct. 26, 2018). For more information, go to www.providentfilms.org.

ABOUT KENDRICK BROTHERS PRODUCTIONS

Kendrick Brothers Productions is the company of brothers Alex, Stephen and Shannon Kendrick that exists to honor God and share the truth and love of Jesus Christ through movies, books, curriculum and speaking. By blending engaging stories with doctrinal integrity, the Kendricks seek to encourage and inspire audiences with resources that positively impact their lives and strengthen their faith, families, and personal relationships.

2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the release of FLYWHEEL, the Kendrick Brothers’ first feature film. Produced with a shockingly modest budget of only $20,000 and intended for Albany, Georgia residents where the brothers served on staff at Sherwood Baptist Church, FLYWHEEL went on to sell over a million copies in DVD format.

“We’re just amazed at what the Lord’s done with it,” says Alex Kendrick.

2018 also marks the production of the Kendricks’ 6th film, OVERCOMER. Between those two milestones, the Kendricks’ first film and the production of their latest film, the Kendrick Brothers’ body of work has been credited with creating a subcategory known as faith-based films.

With more than $150 million in box office receipts across five films plus millions more in DVD and on-demand sales worldwide, the Kendrick Brothers are recognized as leading the genre.

WHY IDENTITY?

“The movie OVERCOMER is about identity, an issue that everyone deals with. Everyone needs to answer the questions: ‘Who is God?’, and ‘Who am I?’, and the Scriptures deal with both of those things. When a person discovers who they are in Christ, it opens up an understanding of how they can live that out in a daily basis in what they do in their relationships with others,” said Stephen Kendrick.

“When we started the process with OVERCOMER, Alex began to unpack this idea of a cross-country runner who’s dealing with the issue of identity, and at the same time, I’d been studying Ephesians 1 and 2. We can see how the Lord was paralleling our paths to specifically make this movie.”

“Cross country is a very difficult sport. From the time you start, you do not stop or pause until you cross the finish line. And in many regards, that’s like our life; that’s our journey of faith,” said Alex Kendrick.

“As people are walking out of the theater, we hope that they begin to ask questions about where their identity is found, because too often we find it in our circumstances, in our titles, in what other people are saying about us, in our jobs, in our positions or awards. Those things can be taken away,” said Stephen Kendrick.

“I hope moviegoers will realize their salvation is about much more than just having a ticket to eternity. They were actually given a brand-new identity. Which means, they have access to spiritual blessings, they have an inheritance, they have all this stuff that’s available to them, this side of eternity. And when you realize that, that means the decisions you make, the relationships you have, the trajectory you choose, the ambitions that you hold, all of that stuff will reflect, and be indicative of your brand-new identity. That changes and transforms the way you live,” said Priscilla Shirer.

WHAT IS AN OVERCOMER?

“OVERCOMER in many regards, is a discovery of who we are in Christ, who gets to determine our identity and what we have to overcome to embrace the life God has for us,” said Alex Kendrick.

“Overcoming is about powering through and realizing that on the other side of it you are stronger and more courageous than when you started,” said Shari Rigby.

“Being an overcomer means you keep your head up and you know that you’re going to get through it; you figure out a way to get through it, you keep your faith strong, you get through it, and you just thank God,” said Aryn Wright-Thompson.

“Being an overcomer means there is pain, discomfort, inconvenience, life’s tough, and yet you have joy and peace and all the stuff that you can only have if there is an anchor in your soul,” said Priscilla Shirer.

Social Corner

Website

Facebook 

Twitter – @overcomermovie 

Instagram – @overcomermovie

Family Guide – some great talking points for discussing this movie as a family!

Enter Below to Win Tickets to the Overcomer Movie

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Now More Than Ever Disney Party

A big thank you to Disney and BSM Media for this awesome free Disney Party Box! This #NowMoreThanEver box was packed with so many awesome items!

There were a few different styles of boxes that went out. We received the Mickey Mouse box. We all LOVE Mickey Mouse. We had family and friends in town for the week of July 4th, so we popped open our box and had a week of partying!

One of the most popular items in our box was this Popped Passion Popcorn cake. We had a fun lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers and pulled out this fun cake for dessert. My littlest guy loved it so much he tried to claim all of it for himself.

The next day we used our Mickey themed plates, cups, and napkins for a picnic in the park. I would have used the tablecloth too but the kids snuck it out for a lemonade stand with their friends the day before. Mickey definitely made it around town this week!

A coupon for a free family sized Michael Angelos meal was included in our box. And this made for a great “after swimming” snack for all these kiddos. And we finished off our weekend with this fun Mickey piñata.

This was supposedly a box for my 6yr old (who’s a boy) but there were a lot of girl themed items.

This Mickey Pillow Pet was well loved. It has hearts on it so none of the boys wanted it. But the girls were all about it! It’s super cute, and makes a great addition to my daughter’s pillow collection – yes, she has a pillow collection.

And the matching Belle dress and doll are adorable! We gave these to one of our guests. She’s 3 and the dress fits her with a little room to grow and she’s super excited to have such a fun doll for her trip home.

The Mickey Mouse Masks were a very popular item. I spent days “stalking” the kids trying to get a picture of them wearing these, but they were having so much fun, I never managed to get someone standing still long enough to get a good picture – LOL.

We had so much fun sharing our Disney Fun with friends and family!

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Mack Brock, Covered

This is a sponsored post.

Mack Brock’s newest CD “Covered” is releasing soon! Check out his single “I Am Loved” on YouTube.

You can pre-order here and when you pre-order you get the single “I Am Loved”.

I’m super excited about this release! I was listening to some of his past music with the kids before writing this post and just can’t wait to listen to his new music!

Some of his new songs include titles like:

  1. I am Loved
  2. After Me
  3. Still in Control
  4. Covered
  5. King of Heaven

I just can’t decide which one I’m most looking forward to hearing! Let’s be honest. I love new music!

I especially love new music that I can listen to in the car with my kids. Because, let’s face it, I can only handle Looney Toons on repeat so many times…

I was actually just complaining to someone the other day that there hasn’t really been any new music anywhere recently that I’ve liked. I have to say, after re-listening to Mack Brock’s music I’m pretty excited about this new release! I’m looking forward to something new that I can enjoy with the whole family.

Don’t remember Mack Brock, or love him and want to hear more, check out his single “I Am Loved” on YouTube. And hopefully you’ll be as excited about “Covered” as I am!

You can pre-order here and when you pre-order you get the single “I Am Loved”.

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Suzy Snooze Smart Nightlight & Baby Monitor – Review and Giveaway

I received a Suzy Snooze Smart Nightlight (or Snoozy as my 5yr old calls it) for free to review. You can purchase this product on their Amazon Page.

Features:

  • Push Down Suzy’s top to turn on her light and music.
  • After 15 minutes the music stops and the nighlight stays on.
  • Soothe setting reactivates music if baby is restless.
  • Use the app to set a wakeup time and Suzy turns off at the appointed time.
  • Us the app to use Suzy as a baby monitor.
  • Twist Suzy’s top to make the nightlight brighter or dimmer.
  • Adjust the music volume via the app or with the buttons on the bottom of Suzy.

Suzy comes nicely packaged with an international usb adapter. So, you could even travel with your child’s nightlight and monitor! The chord is pretty long so you can easily plug in and place Suzy wherever you need it.

Pros:

  • Super Cute! Who can resist a sleeping nightlight?
  • Soft light. Even at the brightest setting, because it’s orange, it’s never too bright.
  • Can control via the app or the device
  • Soothing music
  • My kids think Suzy’s adorable!
  • Includes international adapter
  • Easy for the kids to turn on

Cons:

  • App uses lots of battery – It was a bit of a drain on my battery, I’m using an android so not sure about it on an iphone
  • Baby monitor has a lot of ambient “fuzz” on it – but hey, I use a nestcam for my baby monitor so I am used to “perfect” sound
  • I have to unplug it to restart every couple of days – I even installed the update, I’m hoping they work this out in future updates

In summary, I like my nestcam so unless I’m traveling and need a baby monitor I’m probably never going to use Suzy as a monitor. It’s pretty comparable to past baby monitors I’ve owned, I just don’t enjoy the ambient noise on them.

It’s great as a nightlight though. And my boys have claimed it as their own. I have one child who requires a nightlight and one child who doesn’t (and they share a room). The light on Suzy is just right and keeps both of them happy. And they think it’s super cute and fun to have their own “Snoozy” light.

I’ve tried to convince them that the light’s name is Suzy, but they think I’m saying Snoozy. And, honestly, hearing my kids call it Snoozy is so cute! I’m not going to change it.

Want to check it out for yourself – enter below for a chance to win a Suzy Snooze for your kiddos.

Win A Suzy Snooze Smart Nightlight, Sleep Soother & Baby Monitor #6

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30 Days to Understanding the Bible – Review and Giveaway

I received a copy of 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders for free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

Review

I like Devotions, to a point. But, what I really like is a good Bible Study. This 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders is a terrific guide to Studying the Bible!

This study goes through the structure of the Bible, the Geography of the Bible, and then walks through all the different eras or time spans in the Bible. And, then after you’ve thoroughly explored geography and time, it goes over 10 Biblical Doctrines such as the Holy Spirit, Angels, and Sin.

At the end of the book are 8 bonus chapters that cover things like comparing the 4 Gospels and different literary forms in the Bible.

I loved all the Geography and timelines! I enjoyed the Biblical Doctrines as well, but my favorite parts were definitely the Geography. It’s so helpful to have a better understanding of where and when events are happening!

I enjoyed this study on my own, but, if you’d rather do this as a group, there’s a 13 session teaching plan in this book. This would make an amazing group Bible study! And something I would love to go through again with a group. I think the Biblical Doctrine sections would be especially interesting in a group. You know, get some different perspectives and really dig into these together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It got me digging deeper and thinking more and understanding better. And, if you’re like me, and you love all the extra little details – like timelines – you’ll love this book as well!

Find out more!

Buy link: http://bit.ly/30DaystoUnderstandingtheBible

Promo video link: https://youtu.be/6J8xqfbsGBM

Official website: http://www.biblein30days.com/

Enter to win

I get to give away 1 copy of 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders. Enter below for your chance to win!
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NIV Adventure Bible Polar Exploration Edition – Review & Giveaway

I received this NIV Adventure Bible Polar Exploration Edition free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

With over 9 million copies sold, the Adventure Bible brand is beloved by Christian schools, churches, and families alike. Now, the #1 Bible for kids, including all of the trusted essentials loved by parents, is available in an exciting polar exploration theme!

Ready for a frosty Adventure? Embark on a fun, exciting trek through God’s Word with the NIV Adventure Bible, now in an all-new polar exploration theme! While on this arctic adventure, readers meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of facts about the Bible. And most importantly you’ll grow closer in your relationship with God.

Features of the NIV Adventure Bible, Polar Exploration Edition include:

• The same trusted Adventure Bible content in a frosty new theme

• Full-color images of polar animals, arctic outposts, and icy landscapes throughout make learning about the Bible even more engaging

• Life in Bible Times—Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days

• Words to Treasure—Highlights great verses to memorize

• Did You Know?—Interesting facts help you understand God’s Word and the life of faith

• People in Bible Times—Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible

• Live It!—Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life

• Twenty polar-themed pages focus on topics such as how to know you are a Christian, famous people of the Bible, highlights of the life of Jesus, and how to pray.

• Book introductions feature arctic art and important information about each book of the Bible

• Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words

• Color map section to help locate places in the Bible

• Complete text of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

• Thrilling new glacial cover on metallic paper

This bible is so cute and I love all the colorful pictures! My son claimed it immediately when it arrived and he’s loving all the awesome animal pictures. He requests that I read out of his Bible every night for devotions. I’m always happy when my kids are excited to read the Bible!

You can purchase your own copy here! And enter below for a chance to win a copy to keep or to gift!

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Ellie Claire Art Journal Review

I love lettering and I am thoroughly enjoying these 3 lovely art journals! Thanks to Ellie Claire Art for providing these 3 journals for me to review.

The covers are beautiful. The paper is nice and thick and easy to write on. And the ideas and inspirations in each book are perfect for getting me drawing. I love lettering and I love art but I’m often so busy with the kids and life that I fail to take time for myself to just sit and relax and enjoy life.

Having to review these, forced me to use them, and I’m so glad I did. I’m enjoying every minute, and it’s so relaxing to just take a little time for myself and do a little art.

There’s 3 books “Faith & Lettering”, “The Illustrated Word”, and “Illuminate Your Story”. I’m enjoying all 3 but “Faith & Lettering” is my favorite. I did Calligraphy is High School and I’m finding all the lettering practice to be so much fun. And I feel like as I’m practicing I’m getting inspiration for future projects!

Aren’t these so beautiful looking! They’re such a pretty addition to my bookshelf. And then I can pull one down whenever I have a few minutes and spend some time drawing. I haven’t pulled out my calligraphy pens yet but there’s definitely some letters and embellishments in these books that I’m wanting to do with my pens. They’ll be so beautiful! And this paper is thick enough I can use my nice inks directly in the books and not have to worry about them bleeding through.

I’m loving every minute of using these and I have several people in mind that I’m going to get these for for Christmas this year.

Want to purchase your own copies of these amazing Art Journals? You can purchase them on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

FAITH & LETTERING
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

THE ILLUSTRATED WORD
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

ILLUMINATE YOUR STORY
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

* This post does contain affiliate links.

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Mesh Produce Bags – Review and Giveaway

I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

I am finding these Mesh Bags by SGM to be super handy.

I cook a lot, and especially this time of year, I’m transporting lots of veggies. From picking up my CSA to all the veggies I’m purchasing for fall cooking.

Even if I don’t use them for vegetables, I can always use a couple more drawstring bags around my house. And mesh means they’re breathable and can be used for just about anything!

This package of 12 bags is an Amazon Prime item (so free shipping for Prime members) and at $1 a bag is a great deal. There’s 3 different bag sizes, and while I grabbed a couple for my veggies, my kids snagged a few for their toys.

The different colors are the different sizes, so I never have to guess which bag I have. The drawstring is secure and simple to use. These bags are washable (though I would recommend hang dry) and so versatile!

And, just for reviewing these, I get to share with you! So, enter below for your chance to win a package of these super handy mesh bags!

Win SGM Reusable Produce Bags #19