Sisterhood Magazine Review and Giveaway

I reviewed Sisterhood Magazine. I received the November/December 2013: Faith in the Wait issue

The magazine is written from a Christian perspective, geared towards young girls.

What I liked about the magazine:

• The calendar for November and December, which provides an activity for your teen to do each day. Smile at the wind. Compliment your mom or dad. Hug a parent. Clean your room. Go to church. Read your bible. 
• Page 10 has a description of various charities, looking for volunteers, such as Habitat for Humanity and Compassion International. 
• Page 12 has an article, written by Jennifer Metzger about "learning to praise God no matter what."
• Page 20 has an article on deception and discernment, written by Lauren Stycyznski. 
• Page 41 has an article called "Seasons greetings from Satan, my year in review." The article was very powerful. "Satan" discussed how he is responsible for manipulation, deception, abortion, destruction, death, and how he removing Christ from Christmas. 
• Page 44 has an article called "Postcards from Peru". Kids, who went to Peru, for mission work submitted in their post cards to the magazine. 
• Page 57 has recipes. I loved the mini cranberry sticky buns. 

The magazine is available in print, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Kindle Fire. The magazine arrives bi-monthly. You can save $2 off print subscriptions using code SAVE2. The code expires at midnight.

Giveaway:

Entry-Form

Social Media:

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Pinterest

12 pearls of Christmas Day 3

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!



Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.



We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items from the contributors! Enter now below. The winner will be announced on January 2, 2014, at the Pearl Girls blog.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

The Magic of a Christmas Moment
by: Sarah E. Ladd

Ah, it’s Christmas! Just the mention of the word makes me think of twinkling trees, steaming wassail, glistening snowflakes, and happy childhood memories.




One Christmas Eve, when my sister and I were quite small, my parents were trying to get us to go to sleep. Of course, we were far too excited to think about sleep! We double checked our stockings and strained our ears to see if we could hear reindeer hooves prancing on the roof. I can still remember my mom saying, “Santa can’t come until you are asleep!”



And then—it happened!



We looked out of our kitchen window, and what should we see? Through our neighbor’s window, we saw HIM . . . Santa Claus . . . doing the dishes! Santa was only one house away! My sister and I could not believe our eyes. Within a flash, we were in our beds, blankets pulled up to our chins, eyes pressed tight in hopes we would fall asleep so Santa could stop by our house!



Of course, it took several years for us to realize that “Santa” was our neighbor hosting a Christmas party, but even after all these years I can still remember the excited thrill of that moment. Even to this day the memory brings a smile to my face, and every Christmas, someone always says, “Hey, remember the year we saw Santa doing dishes?”



As Christmas approaches, it is easy to get caught up on the busyness of the season. Shopping, cooking, traveling—it can be a hectic time of year, with crazy schedules and hurried timelines. But in the bustle of the season, do not forget to keep your eyes open for the magic in the simplest moments, especially if you have young children or grandchildren. Those special memories are gifts that last a lifetime, and just like that Christmas many years ago, it would have been very easy not to take a moment to look out the window. Keep your heart and your eyes open . . . you never know what magic you will find in Christmas moments.

***

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. The Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Her second novel, The Headmistress of Rosemere, releases December 2013. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever. Learn more at her website or follow her on Facebook. Also, be sure to stop by for your chance to win 8 Christian Fiction novels by some of your favorite authors! Follow this link to enter the Christian Fiction Christmas Giveaway.

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Python Printable Christmas Games and Activities Product Review (Tomoson)

Photo taken from Python's website

I reviewed Python Printable Christmas Games and Activities for Tomoson.

The packet contains over 60 games and activities for when relatives and friends visit during the holidays. You can print off the games and activities as needed. The files are printed off individually versus a big zip file.

Some of the activities include:

1. Coloring pages
2. Crossword puzzles
3. Trivia
4. Mad Libs
5. Spot the differences

Some of the activities I liked included:

1. What's your line, a fun office game: The game involves role play. Each player is given a card, which has a product or service to sell. The players have one minute to sell their product, while the others guess the mysterious product. Similar to taboo, I think, each card has words, which the player can not say. Some of the products included bladder control products and a dead ghost communicator. Great way to think on your feet and stir your imagination and creativity. 
2. Office Mad Libs: This game is similar to regular mad libs, but incorporates people, who work at your job. Some of the fill-in-the-blanks include job benefits, type of paperwork, and type of office supplies. 
3. Camel Race Bible Trivia: Bible trivia/board game. 
4. Christmas Hide and Seek Game: Hide your loved ones gifts and have them seek for them. Part hide and seek, part scavenger hunt. Also, part exercise. See how much work your kid will put in for a Wii U :-)
5. Christmas Morning Left-right game:  A gift exchange game. Maybe you are doing a white elephant game. The game is part story and part exchange. One person reads the story. When he or she says left or right, highlighted in the story, the gifts are passed left to right. Whoever is left with the gift at the end, is the winners. 
6. The Great Gift Grab: Another gift exchange game. The host provides 6 small gifts. The game has similarities to that show with Wayne Brady. Can't think of the name of the show. The host has a list of things to look for. If you have that item on you--maybe you are wearing a particular color, you can go grab a gift. You also can steal gifts. 
7. No-el weird phobias game: This is a matching game. Print off copies for everyone. You match the Christmas phobias scientific name to the generic name. What is a Macrophobia? What is the fear of being on the road to visit your in-laws? What is the fear of Santa's beard? What is a Frigophobia?

Other things I liked was the letter from Santa and the thank you notes for gifts. There is also a twist on spin the bottle. Now my favorite game of all the printables: The  Clean-up Christmas Scavenger Hunt. Anytime I can get a kid to clean, I am happy. Kids draw a card or two or three and clean, based on the clues. If they solve the clues (and clean), they get a small gift. 

The packet costs 19.95.

Social Media:

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

iCaughtSanta.com Product Review (Tomoson)

I reviewed iCaughtSanta.com through Tomoson. The website was developed by Catch A Character. From now until December 10, 2013, you can upload your photos (as many as you want) and then customize the images with Santa or Rudolph. I found old pics of my sons and great-niece and made a few pics.



The code is #SANTASHARE.

The process is simple.

Go to create a photo at the top of the page.

Upload a pic of you, your kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews, husband, co-workers, pets, etc.

Enter your first name and e-mail address. Click upload

Once the pic uploads, you can customize the picture with different borders. You also can use from 20 Santa's/Rudolph's to add to the photos.

Next, you can rotate and flip your photos and the Santas/Rudolphs. You also can change the brightness of Santa.

Once you have customized your picture, click on process image.

Click yes to approve the picture.

You will see a billing screen. The first option should already be checked.

Scroll down to the Gift Card/Redemption Code box. Type in #SANTASHARE. Check Apply Code. The amount should change from 9.99 to 0.00

Type in your first name, last name, and email

Agree to the terms and conditions

Name the photo for the gallery

Enter any friends, you want to email a copy of your photo to.

Check out.


You will arrive at a screen, which has a copy of the photo and a download photo button. Hit download photo.

Repeat with additional photos.



You also can enter the Catch A Character Giveaway to win an iPad Air and 10 other prizes. Some of the prizes include gift cards from Amazon, Visa, and Starbucks.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Morgan's Wonderland

I took the kiddies to Morgan's Wonderland yesterday. Morgan's Wonderland is the world's first park for special needs kids. We got there via Megabus . I planned the trip for months, with some set backs. Anyway, I tried to move the trip but I waited too late to cancel the reservation (read the cancellation policy), but I could change the return trip. Had to borrow some money but I left and came back the same day. The trip took over 3 hours, in addition to an hour on public transportation (10 and 502). Once, we got to the park, it was amazing. People of all disabilitie and disorders in one place. From Autism to Aspergers to Dwarfism to deformed bodies to down syndrome. Every ride was equipped for wheelchairs, even the train around the park.

Highlights:

1. Megabus may have been high (as far as the baby paying full price) but the trip was a straight shot. No stops.
2. The lake around the park is beautiful
3. The food is cheap and good.
4. Sale on t-shirts. I need a few of them
5. Peace and quiet for the most part
6. Kids are free for life
7. GPS bands.
8. Wonderful Staff and volunteers
9. The playground. Lots of slides and swings and sway thingies.
10. Free hot chocolate and cookies.
11. Bus hardly had any passengers on the first level. kids slept most of the ride.
12. outlets on Megabus at every seat.
13. Met a man named Tim. Tim is schizo with other mental disorders. His wife had spina bifida (sp?). His daughter had spina bifida. His son was autistic, in addition to other mental disorders.

Low lights:

1. 2 busses to and from the park (other than megabus). No issue with the busses, just dealing with Brad on the bus.
2. Meltdown on the Wonderland Express. We walked to the WE. Brad got on the train. Conductor said ALL AbOARD. Brad jumped off train, grabbed stroller out of holding, pushed stroller into train. laid on the ground.
3. On the way back, Brad said he stunk. No bathrooms on the VIA. Hour bus ride to catch both busses back to the mega bus. Brad stood up and pulled down his pants on the bus, multiple times.
4. Met an elderly atheist on the VIA on the way back to megabus. Also part conspiracy theorist. He explained why he dont sing Christmas songs. Yeah, apparently the Roman empire was behind the creation of the diapered baby, aka the son. Mary is God and The roman emperor was "the father". To get through the son, you have to go through Mary. Easter has nothing to do with the resurrection, but the sale of eggs and some pagan holiday called ea star or esther or something. and we are bowing down to devils. He also explained his version of the JFK assassination. Some people was actually listening to him passionately, while I was hoping he will get off before I would.