When we went to the MOSES conference a couple of weeks ago, this was the view out our hotel window.
And this week’s linky….be sure to leave some comment luv too and I will return the luv, thanks!
Wordless Wednesday: Mississippi River & Linky
Beware of Entrecard
Ok, some of you seasoned bloggers will probably think me naive for using Entrecard, but I did use them for over a year. Not that I noticed any traffic increase, but I kept my end of the bargain in keeping their button on my side bar – here and at my professional website. However, last night while my daughter was working on a little project for me she came across the Entrecard button on my professional site and let’s just say the image on it was not appropriate for a business site. I was appalled and sickened not only that my daughter was the one to find it, but that it was even on my website!? Needless to say, I wanted to warn all new bloggers (and old) not to use Entrecard if you are at all family-friendly. Why take that risk? If I had known, I would never have signed up. Plain and simple.
Entrecard heard from me this morning and I have now deleted both banners from off my sites. I will not be using them again, I don’t care how many point thingys I have accumulated. It is just not worth it.
Lesson learned: Nothing is ever really free, it comes with a price. In this instance it was my reputation. 🙁 It still sickens me to think about it. What WERE they thinking? And just how many potential clients came across it? And how long was the filth even rotating on the ad? Did I miss something when I read through their terms and conditions? Beating myself up just a little…..
Bloggers beware of Entrecard.
Movie Review ~ MOST (A Short Film)
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
Most is a short film (only 33 minutes long) ~ although this move is in Czech there are subtitles that are easily read. I personally watch many foreign films so the subtitles did not make a big difference to me… but just thought I would mention it if you are not too keen on subtitles! The movie tells the story of sacrificial love in a wonderful modern parable! You can learn more about the movie and even catch a glimpse of the trailer at http://www.providentfilms.org/most/
The DVD also includes a study guide for those wishing to take the lesson further. Along with the study guide there are bonus features on the disc including extended ending and more!
End note: I love movies that boast family friendly viewing, although this movie is not rated and has a wonderful theme, some of the scenes may be disturbing to young viewers. I did watch this movie by myself and decided not to let my children watch it, as they are all less than 7 years old. But again, this is an individual choice.
Organic Toothpaste: An Alternative to Chemicals
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post. While we appreciate our guest writer’s submissions, this does not constitute endorsement or agreement to the opinions expressed in the articles featured.
by Sally
Brush your teeth! Mothers are constantly reminder their children to do this. Since the beginning of childhood, the emphasis on good dental hygiene is drilled into most kid’s minds, with the threat that if they do not follow this daily hygienic duty, their teeth will rot, fall out and they will be left toothless. Of course, no one wants that! Therefore, we obey and most people brush regularly, obtain dental insurance and get regular check-ups with the good intentions that they are preventing tooth decay, gum disease and providing a healthy service to their bodies. Moreover, most people never give thought to the fact that some toothpastes contains dangerous, harmful ingredients. After all, this is a product that must go into the mouth so it has to be safe, in all regards. Unfortunately, this is
not the case. Many popular brands of toothpaste contain ingredients that are harmful and carcinogenic.
Potentially Harmful Ingredients in Name Brand Toothpaste
Sodium Fluoride
When examining the ingredients on popular toothpaste labels, many only give one active ingredient, Sodium Fluoride, as an anti-cavity. This ingredient is classified as a toxin when ingested or inhaled in high doses. It is often used in cleaning products, psychiatric medications, anesthetics and in Sarin Nerve Gas. It was regularly added to the water in concentration camps during World War II to help keep the prisoners more compliant. It is also added to our public drinking water supply. Although it does work to help prevent cavities, it also can cause collagen to breakdown in muscles, skin, bones, kidneys and lungs and in lethal doses can affect the circulatory system and the heart.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This ingredient is used in low doses for toothpaste and in larger doses for cleaning products, degreasers and soaps. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been shown to be associated with the development of mouth ulcers. Because of the harshness of this ingredient, it can damage oral tissue lining inside the mouth.
Hydrated Silica
This ingredient is added to many popular brands of toothpaste as a whitener. This ingredient works as an abrasive on the surface of teeth, which can harm the enamel causing a severe wearing down of this protective surface. Those who have receding gums, gum disease, sensitivity and tooth decay should avoid using toothpastes with this additive.
So, what is a person to do? After all, we cannot just stop brushing our teeth, unless we have some good dental insurance and don’t mind the sound of a drill. The best solution to this problem that many people have found is to switch to an organic toothpaste. Organic toothpastes contain safe, natural ingredients such as herbs and essential oils to fight bacteria, protect gums and freshen breath. There are a wide variety of these products to choose from today, which do not contain any harmful ingredients. Many
popular brands include Tom’s and Kiss My Face. Both of these can be purchased at Whole Foods Markets or Amazon. Using these products can provide the necessary tooth and gum hygiene to keep teeth and gums healthy, without the risks of causing harm to the body.
Sally is a dental hygienist and health expert who spends her free time traveling to local elementary schools teaching youngsters how to care for their teeth. After exploring dental insurance options as a new college graduate and as a single mom, she became passionate about preventative care in order to save money. After all, in this economy, it’s better to save now rather than pay later!
Children’s Book Review ~ The Thump in the Night
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
This book is an imaginative story about Freddie the Frog who lives on Treble Clef Island! The book has an accompanying CD, which has tracks for each of the pages in the book! In the book Freddie lives on the island with his parents and throughout the course of the story is searching for the “thump” he hears… In the book Freddie is not only introduced to different animals that inhabit his natural habitat but also to music by way of songs and music staff, notes and clefs! This is truly an interesting way to combine music, illustrations, and a story line! But do not take my word for it, check out the book and the authors website and get a sneak peak of the book here http://www.freddiethefrogbooks.com/thumpbook.html. This is only the first book in the series of Freddie books and the website http://www.freddiethefrogbooks.com offers more products and resources for children and adults!
Giveaway Linky….Late
Ok, we forgot to include our giveaway linky in our post on Friday, so here is our Faith and Family Reviews Friday Giveaway Linky…late. Please leave a comment with your link and we will do the same for you, thanks!
Springtime Means Mudtime
Springtime means mudtime here in our area of the country. Our children have been eager to get outside and play, but since the snow is melting and temperatures are creeping up our yard is a mud pit. Take a look at the area beneath our swingset:
I tend to discourage the children from going outside, take them for a walk or stress the importance of staying on the driveway to play….just to avoid a mass of mud being tracked into the house.
What tips do have for avoiding the mud this spring?
Movie Review Monday: DreamWorks – MEGAMIND
Last week, I purchased Megamind at our local supermarket. The only reason I bought it was because I printed a $5.00 coupon off the web and it was on sale. I was a little skeptical, but thought I’d give it a try. I wasn’t sure if my daughter would enjoy looking at a blue bad alien guy with a big head. I was wrong about that and the whole story. I can hear it now, Oh Mom! Anyway, my family and I finally sat down to watch Megamind on Friday night. It had moments where it was a little slow, but surprisingly I enjoyed it. Especially the soundtrack! It has original music by Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balf. Other favorites were Bad to the Bone, Crazy Train, and A Little Less Conversation (the remix). I’m ready to buy it on i-Tunes, I enjoyed it so much. I’m not always the biggest Will Ferrel fan, he’s kind of like Jim Carey. He can either be great or REALLY annoying. Picking Will Ferrell was a great choice for the Megamind character, he has so many “voices” that he can change into. I was laughing because the character that Jonah Hill (Hal / Tighten) did the voice of (to me) almost looked like him. Mostly, if your is into a family friendly movie night this is a good current movie. Most of the ratings I’ve read are giving it 7 out of 10 or 3 stars. Here’s the story direct from the MEGAMIND website: (www.megamind.com)
Megamind is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known… and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way — Each attempt, a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as “Metro Man,” until the day Megamind actually defeats him in the throes of one of his botched evil plans. Suddenly, the fate of Metro City is threatened when a new villain arrives and chaos runs rampant, leaving everyone to wonder: Can the world’s biggest “mind” actually be the one to save the day?
I’ll let you watch the movie to see if Megamind he saves the day! And…..get’s the girl?????
Children’s Book Review ~ My Name is Not Isabella
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
I absolutely love children’s books…good children’s books! This is one of my favorites! This is a cute book… it encourages children to imagine and dream big, while inviting history into the story! I love that the story integrates famous women in history into the story…it allows children to imagine while learning about famous historical women! Some of the women highlighted are Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Annie Oakley, and many more! The book is also full of wonderful illustrations to accompany the lovely story! Again, this was a wonderful book and I recommend it for any family!
Getting the Best Deals from the Brands We Love
Over the years I have come to love certain brands. These are my favorite brands that I have come to know and trust, usually because of the quality of their products. The thing is some of these brands a expensive. So here are a few of my tips on getting the best deal from the brands we love:
1.) Shop clearance. This is a no brainer for most frugal moms, but those who are just learning to penny pinch may not automatically think clearance when they have been use to an income that allowed them to purchase their favorite brands regardless of price.
2.) Take advantage of end-of-season sales. I have been known to shop for next winter now or for Christmas gifts right after Christmas for next year’s gifts.
3.) Join mailing lists. We receive $10 off a $10 purchase post cards from some companies. Or $5.00 or a percentage off. Each promo is different for individual stores.
4.) Sign up for store emails. Places like JoAnn’s will take email coupons and coupons from their mail flyer. E-newsletters also alert you to current sales or special offers.
5.) Watch for sales and use coupons too. If you are a couponer, using your coupons on sale items will give you an even greater discount at the grocery store.
6.) Buy used. In the day and age of families only having one or two children, thrift stores and garage sales are excellent places to buy brand name items. This is especially true for clothing, but small appliances and kitchen items may be found this way too.
Shopping Online
7.) Wait for free shipping offers. Companies like Land’s End offer free shipping several times a year, so wait to make your purchases until that offer is in your inbox.
8.) Join a rewards/buyers group. These groups are free and allow you to earn points (or in some cases cash) so you can use your points/cash to buy other things. They may even offer a referral code so when your friends sign up you can earn too. Examples: Zulily and Gilt for online clothing stores.
9.) Promo codes. As Brande mentioned in our Thrifty Thursday post, doing a google search for promo codes for the brands you love is another way to save money. Often e-newsletters will also include promo codes for online shopping – another benefit to signing up for e-lists.
10.) Buy used. In the day and age of families only having one or two children, thrift stores and garage sales are excellent places to buy brand name items. This is especially true for clothing, but small appliances and kitchen items may be found this way too.
We do not have to pay full price for brands we love. With a little bit of creativity and self discipline we can buy the brands we love and trust by using the tips above.
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms Kroger CartBuster blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”
