#Free Blogger Opportunity: Home For The Holidays #Giveaway Sign Ups end 10/29 #HFTH1114

Bloggers needed to help promote this latest giveaway.

Dates are still being determined. Hopefully October 30th – November 30th (Cyber Monday)

Sign ups will end October 29th if the above date is correct.

Sponsors that have confirmed:

The Gathering of Friends cookbooks

http://www.all-ett.com/ Identify Safe Wallets

D Stulls Creations – Etsy Shop

http://stretchmoneyholder.com/

Faucet Face

Colortime Crafts and Markers

PC SpeedBoost

Colors and More Colors – Etsy Shop

Zim’s Advanced

Smile Brillant

http://www.bodyglovesurge.com/

VinylDezignz – Etsy Shop

JollyAwesomePetTags.com

Woodie Specs

Several more just waiting on confirmation.

Planning on 1 winner, but if prizes add up enough or we get offered more than 1 of anything will change.

Also willing to trade prizes for co-host spots!

Also if you know of companies that want to be involved please contact las930 at charter dot net.

I would love to thank all of the bloggers from the Sweetest Day Giveaway! We had over 105,000 entries.

So Awesome!

I have had a lot of help from more experienced bloggers out there.  I have learn that there are a lot of rules I did not know when I started all this.  The below link has a great article to learn more about the rules for giveaways:

http://www.myfabfitforties.com/2014/09/giveaway-entry-changes-upcoming-tos.html

The site/person signing up the most bloggers get a free co-host spot, must sign up a minimum of 3 to win, free promoters DO count! If already paid will return money day contest starts.

You will get 2 FREE Links (Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram Only)for posting the Bloggers opp, if you do not want to post you can send $3 to the below paypal address for the 2 links.
Co-Host spots are available for $7 for 4 links ( of your choice, excluding G+) plus the 2 FREE non Co-Host links, so a total of 6 links. Also if a extra like or follow page is available you will receive them as well depending upon the number of Co-Hosts that join. All co-hosts receive at minimum of 1 secret word, likes or follow, etc pages. Co-Host payment must be made via PayPal only, with the word “Home” placed in the PayPal comment section. Please submit your payment to the email address shown below.

las930@charter.net

It is my understanding that if a giveaway is live before the 11/5 deadline, we can continue the way it is. I will be giving you an alternate space so I can change facebook links, if this is not true.

You must agree to promote this giveaway a minimum of 4 times a week on Twitter, and another Social Media site of your choice. You must also agree to post this giveaway on the time and date shown below. This giveaway will be valid in the Continental United States only. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

I would like to use #HFTH1114 for tweets.  Also if you include my handle @las930 I try at least 3 times a day to retweet your tweets.  Probably in the middle of the night, but whenever I can I will retweet.

Please make sure that you enter the correct links on the sign-up form.

Make sure that they are working and no issues. Also please make sure

that you sign-up only once.

Thanks and any questions please email me las930 at charter dot net

Go here to sign up!!!

 

I'm so excited for this Home for the Holidays Giveaway!!! It sounds like so much fun. If you do sign up, then please don't forget to mention that the Howling Horn referred you! Thanks.

Manic Drive CD Review & Giveaway (#manicdrive)

About the band

Manic Drive has been widely known as a Canadian band who always delivers a great show, but over the past few years and project releases, they have added to their extensive touring of Canadian and US markets multiple Billboard Top 10 & 20 singles on CHR & Christian Rock Radio. Manic Drive is clearly very intentional about reaching their generation and inspiring them to pursue a deeper walk with Christ and to get involved in changing the world they are inheriting. And they are uniquely equipped to do so. The band members, all in their early-mid twenties, have made sacrifices to pursue God’s call on their lives. Their life experience, spiritual maturity and ministry have opened doors to speak into the lives of their own generation and that is perhaps the most defining characteristic of this group of guys.

Check out this video to hear their song VIP:

Want more information

Official Website- http://www.manicdrive.com/

YouTube Channel- http://www.youtube.com/manicdrive

Official Twitter-  http://www.twitter.com/manicdrive

Official FB- http://www.facebook.com/manicdrive

My thoughts

My husband grew up in a house where he was exposed to all sorts of music. He can recognize songs really quickly and tell what band and artist who performed it. Sadly, I don't have that talent. I didn't have the luxury of growing up in a house that appreciated different forms of music. Any music that my parents didn't like was called "jungle music". And on car rides, I would be forced to listen to same The Lettermen CD over and over for the entire trip. My parents wouldn't budge on listening to "current music" because it was "jungle music".

I have never heard of Manic Drive before. I was intrigued by this Christian band so I decided to give their music a try. I have to admit that I was surprised by their music. It was catchy, upbeat, and easy to listen to. My little boy even liked listening to the music and wanted to dance to the music. So I ended up dancing to several songs with my kiddo. I feel that it was easy to relate to the lyrics of the music, and the music helped me have an upbeat attitude for the rest of the day. I find it refreshing to be able to listen to catchy lyrics that aren't filled with negative messages or inappropriate language. I loved that their songs had  beautiful themes and messages! I definitely would listen to more music by Manic Drive.

Giveaway
 *open to anyone 18 and older who lives in the USA or Canada
*winner has 48 hours to respond to winning email before a new winner is picked

Entry-Form

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

The Monsterator Review

I'm so excited for Halloween and so is Monkey! I couldn't resist doing a Halloween review for this way fun children's book.

About the book

• The book is about Master Edgar Dreadbury, a boy who finds Halloween a little boring. Edgar simply can't find a costume that is scary. He decides to go to a different costume store called the Monster Shop. In the shop, he discovers a machine called the Monsterator. He dropped a coin in the slot and stepped inside. The machine monsterated Edgar! Delighted with his ghoulish looks, Edgar decided to have some Halloween fun. Eventually, he went back to the shop to be un-monsterated. However, to his horror, the shop was gone! Edgar thought about his predicatment, and realized that being a monster wasn't so bad at all. He grew to appreciate his new looks especially around Halloween.

  About the author

  Tragically, Keith Graves was monsterated as a child growing up in New Orleans. He was never the same afterward. Legend has it that the hideous author now lurks in the dark forests outside Austin, Texas, along with his beastly wife and toothy twin cubs.
  

  My thoughts

  I love Halloween and so naturally my kiddos do too. Monkey loves to dress up in costumes, and he loves to help me decorate the house. The crazy thing is that he likes monsters! He wanted to hang up some skeleton window covers in his bedroom because he likes to growl at them.
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• When Monkey saw Monsterator, he was SO excited. He quickly grabbed the book and headed towards the couch. He had to "read" it first before we read it together. This goes to show how the book easily captivated his attention. 
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• The illustrations are done extremely well. There is a good balance between the grays and blacks to make the book spooky and enough color to make the book entertaining. The rhyming helped the story to flow and to allow the reader to travel to the Monsterator world. 
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• Monkey's favorite part of the book was at the very end. The final pages are cut into flaps so you can "monsterate" Edgar and the author. The flaps allow your child to get creative and imagine what the monsterator can do.My Halloween book collection is slowly growing, and I definitely recommend adding this book to your collection!

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Library Learning

Sometimes a really great way to teach new things to your children can be done using very simple methods. One such simple method is the library. The small city I live in has a library and it is only a few minutes drive away from my house or about a 15 minute walk with my kiddos. I love how close the library is because when the weather cooperates, I get to walk with my kiddos to the library.

I started taking Monkey to the library at the beginning of summer. I just let him wonder around and pick whatever book he wanted to check out. We usually ended up with a wide variety, but Monkey enjoyed having "new" books.

The last few trips to the library, Monkey has wanted to get books about construction vehicles. The last month, Monkey and I have bee reading tons of books about construction books and what each vehicle does. Monkey can now spot and name all the construction vehicles he sees, and so can I! One book he really enjoys reading is about how an old road is torn up and replaced with a new one. This book, Road Closed,  is actually designed for much older kids. Despite paraphrasing some of the longer pages, I still end up reading most of the paragraphs Monkey absolutely loves Road Closed. He now explains the process of how a road is torn up and built whenever we encounter cracked roads and sidewalks.

This just goes to show how much a child can learn from reading books and going to the library. Here are some tips to make library learning fun and effective:

1. Let your child pick out the books they want to read
2. Don't be afraid to let your child take home an "advanced book" - you will be surprised what they can learn from the book.
3. Get some books about a topic that your child is obsessed with
4. Apply what your child is learning from the books to real life (example: discuss how construction vehicles help society out, identify shapes and colors when you go shopping, etc.)

I know a lot of us are blessed to live close to libraries. However, I understand that not everyone has access to a library. And the question is what can I do? Well, here are some suggestions that I even want to do!

1. Create a "library" at home. If you have a lot of books in your house, then create a a place in your house that can be a library. This can be a box, a tote, or even a small bookcase. Take some of your books and put them in the now designated "library" container. Make a pretend library card for your children and then allow them to come to the library and check out some books. This is a great way to cycle through all the books on your shelves!
2. Create a "library" with your neighbors, friends, and family. Find people who live close by to you that will be willing to "check out" their books to your children. This will allow your children to get new books and get the experience of a library. You can also create a library card so the experience is more real.

Please share your thoughts and experience about library learning because I would love to hear them!

Pistachio Chewy Bite Popcorn Ball By Spork Foods

Halloween means lots of sweets. In celebration of the upcoming holiday, Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg of Spork Foods have created a delicious Pistachio Chewy Bite Popcorn Ball recipe that is easy to make and perfect for Halloween! The recipe is nutritious, gluten free, vegan, and something you will want to make all year long.

image was provided by Spork Foods

About the Chefs

L.A.-based sisters and celebrity chefs, Heather Goldberg and Jenny Engel of Spork Foods are vegan chefs that own a Los Angeles-based gourmet cooking school. The culinary duo are also cookbook authors and work with some of Hollywood’s elite including Emily and Zooey Deschanel, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, Kristin Bauer van Straten and Alicia Silverstone.

Pistachio Chewy Bite Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

5 cups popped popcorn

1/4 cup non-hydrogenated buttery spread (Earth Balance)

2 cups vegan marshmallows (Dandie’s brand)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 bag Setton Farms Pistachio Chewy Bites, 6 pieces, roughly chopped

Directions:

In a 4-6 quart heavy pot, add buttery spread, marshmallows, cinnamon and sea salt. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off heat and add vanilla extract and Pistachio Chewy Bites. Stir well, mixing until uniform.

Use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to portion out the mixture into 10 balls and place on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet.   

Enjoy when cooled.

These look so good! I hope you enjoy them! I know I will be making some soon with my kiddos!

You've Been Booed!

I grew up in a family that just loves Halloween, and so I love Halloween as an adult. I don't love Halloween as much as my sister; however, I would be hard pressed to find someone who loves Halloween as much as she does.

Growing up, I hated waiting until the end of the month to do Halloween activities. It seemed that most parties and activities were during the last week of October, and all I could think was why. So my family started doing a fun activity at the beginning of October to get ready for Halloween. We started doing "chain letter" Halloween door treats.

We simply made some form of baked goods and left them on a neighbor's porch with a paper saying "You've Been Booed" or "You've Been Treated Instead Of Tricked" and instructions on how to continue the fun. Don't worry, we didn't put any curses on the paper. It was just for fun so if someone didn't want to continue passing on "You've Been Booed", then that was their choice.


Because I now have kids, I really wanted to start this tradition back up. Click here to get the document with the Halloween chain letter. Feel free to make your own and please let me know how much your family and neighbors enjoyed this activity!

I hope you have a Happy Halloween!