Uncle Miltons' Fireworks Light Show In My Room - Toy Giveaway!

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Uncle Milton's Fireworks Light Show In My Room

Full Review by Rebecca @ Love2EncourageYou:

Uncle Milton Toys has an eclectic mix of toys, some of which are educational based. A few of the brands they carry are Ant Farm, National Geographic, and Star Wars. This product is the Fireworks Light Show in My Room.

Well, I'm sure the expression on my daughter's face is enough to capture your attention, but if that's not enough, let me just encourage you to read this review of a super fun kid's toy by Uncle Miltons! I was blessed with the opportunity to review this super fun children's toy called the Uncle Milton's Fireworks Light Show in My Room. The kids couldn't wait to get it out of the package! They were SOOO excited to play with it! You see, living here in Florida near Disney - we are spoiled and get to see fireworks year round whenever we want, but for those of you who only get to see them once a year around the Fourth of July, this toy can be even MORE fun! Although, I'm not sure much will top the hysterical laughter, giggles, oohs, and ahhhs that my children kept sharing as we proceeded to test and review this incredibly cool product! So I guess it really doesn't matter where you are from - this Fireworks Light Show in Your Room toy is just so much fun!!!


The allure of this toy does not grow old as some toys might. The Fireworks toy allows you to first pump the bottom handle and hear the launch sound of the firework going up in the air, then you pull the trigger and aim it at a wall or ceiling and watch as the colors burst into a firework show before your eyes and you hear the sounds of the fireworks explosion. It's very realistic sound effects actually - which living here near the land of fireworks by all the theme parks in FL - I found to be very impressive! I cannot share with you enough how cute it has been to watch all my kids enjoy this Fireworks toy - from my 15 year old who insisted on bringing it with him to show his friends in youth band on Halloween at the Trunk or Treat event, to my five year old telling us she worked at Disney and was helping to design the next fireworks show, to my little 21 month old who quickly learned to manipulate the toy all by himself and would climb under tables (to find a dark place) in order to play with it and would sit there clapping and cheering for himself each time he got it to go off. Lol.

The Fireworks Show in My Room toy by Uncle Milton's gets five stars from our family! Lots of cute ways to play with it! There are eight different patterned fireworks to project. This product retails for $34.99. This would be a unique gift under the tree this year and sure to entertain a wide range of ages with family and friends.  Enjoy!

GIVEAWAY TIME:




This giveaway is brought to you by Uncle Milton Toys and Naomi at Pixie Dusted Homeschool. Co-Host: Rebecca at Love2EncourageYou.

PRIZE: Uncle Milton Toys has offered a Fireworks in My Room to ONE lucky winner. 

How would you like to win this for your child?

If you would like to enter for the chance to win, please read the rules below and enter via the Rafflecopter widget.


Rules: Giveaway ends at 12:01 am EST on December 5, 2012.

LOCATION: Open to U.S. citizens. U.S. shipping only.

AGE: 18 years old and older.

No purchase is necessary to win. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries collected. The winner will be chosen by Random.org via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted by email. Please make sure to use a valid email address. Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ do not endorse this or sponsor this giveaway. Nor are Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ affiliated with this giveaway in any way. Additional rules here.


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Disclosure: Love2EncourageYou received a Fireworks Show in My Room toy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from your own. Pixie Dusted Homeschool and Love2EncourageYou are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook.

Many blessings,
Rebecca


*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

Now That's Romantic: Intimate Themed Dinners for Romantic Special Occasions - Book Review and Giveaway

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Now That's Romantic! Intimate Themed Dinners for Romantic Special Occasions by author Kim Moore
Full Review by Rebecca @ Love2EncourageYou

 I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting author, Kim Moore and her husband. They are such as sweet couple and full of great ideas. After having a few nice chats with Kim, I learned that her book, Now That's Romantic, was a labor of love that was carefully constructed to help couples enhance their marriages and spark more fun and romantic times together.


The book comes with all the adventure and imagination your heart could ever wish for to inspire the perfect creative mood for a lovely themed dinner and special evening with the one you love. There are six complete roomscapes which are included in this stunning, hardcover book with full color illustrations. Each reader will get something different out of this delightful gift! Now That's Romantic comes with everything presented in a very organized fashion from beautiful pictures of the exciting roomscape ideas, handy check lists, music suggestions and creative ideas on what to wear to add to the fun experience.

Marriage enrichment, creative spark, romantic endeavors, surprising your spouse/partner, ...all this and more come to mind when browsing through this book.


 With the holidays just around the corner, I would like to attempt to try this Santa Baby roomscape as a surprise for my husband. (Don't tell him! Lol) He always jokes with me that the Christmas tree should be in our bedroom because it always makes me feel more romantic. If you take a peek at the pics above, you will see a whole lot of fun wrapped up into a playful and romantic dinner atmosphere. There's really not too much time or effort needed to put together these amazing roomscape ideas either! Kim Moore makes it all so clear and easy to read in her book that anyone could try to pull this off for their spouse. You can too!

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of "Now That's Romantic" and trying to surprise your husband or wife this holiday season with a memory making themed dinner. It looks like so much fun!


The Caribbean Cabana will be my next fun roomscape to try! I can't wait! Which one is your favorite? Go here to take a peek at the list of exciting roomscapes that come in Now That's Romantic. Leave a comment below sharing with us which one you're most looking forward to trying!

Per the Now That's Romantic website: "Each roomscape comes complete with a Things You’ll Need list, Let’s Put It Together instructions, Sounds & Scents suggestions and What to Wear clothing ideas for both men and women. There’s also a Time Line to pull it all together so nothing falls through the cracks."

• Cover Price: $29.95
• 8½ x 11 Hard Cover
• Color illustrations
• 120 pages

Go here to buy a copy today! (Just click on the Buy Now button from Paypal in the center of the page.)

You can follow Kim Moore and her ideas from Now That's Romantic on Facebook! You can also keep up with her tweets on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!
PRIZE: One winner will receive an autographed hardcover copy of Kim Moore's book: Now That's Romantic! $29.95 value


DATE: Giveaway starts on 11/21/2012 and ends on 12/12/2012 at 12am.


LOCATION: Must be a resident of the US lower 48 states only.


AGE:  18+years of age or older to enter.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. You must complete the mandatory entries first then they will unlock the rest of the additional optional entries you can do to earn more chances to win. Good luck to each of you!


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Disclosure: Love2EncourageYou received a copy of the book Now That's Romantic in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from your own. Love2EncourageYou is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook.

Many blessings,
Rebecca

*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

Forever You Children's Book Giveaway

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 Blessings to each of you today and we praise the Lord together for the gift of children. Each and every day I thank God for my little ones, and all the little ones I get to teach in Preschool nursery, or Awana Cubbies each week. If you love children and want to help them develop their tender hearts, then here is a special storybook you may be interested in learning more about.

Full Review by Donna at Donna's Deals and More:

I am very excited to share with you about a Children's book titled "Forever You, A Book About Your Soul and Body" written by Nicole Lataif. This book is just precious and would make a perfect Christmas gift for a boy or girl ages 4-8! I just love how she takes the subject of a soul and breaks it down for a child.



"Did you know that you have a soul? Did you know that there's more to YOU than anyone can see? Your soul is in all you are and do - soul and body, forever you!"

Nicole beautifully and simply takes a complicated subject and makes it easily digestible for kids. This is such a sweet book! Some of the principles in the book are:

• When we care for oour bodies, we also care for our souls
• We build character through our actions
• The choices we make matter
• Our highest purpose is fulfilled by loving God and others

You can purchase the book HEREThe book includes whimsical illustrations that capture a child’s attention and help children to understand the text. This hardcover book is a great length and size to use as a teaching tool during the day or reading at bedtime!

About the author, Nicole Lataif :

Nicole Lataif is the Founder and Editor of KidsFaithGarden.com and Author of Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body.

Over the past eight years, Nicole has been involved in faith-based initiatives. She served as the project lead for Boston’s Papal Pilgrimage to attend Holy Mass with Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, edited and taught a high school chastity curriculum, organized conferences, founded two young adult Christian groups, and taught Sunday school at parishes in Florida and Massachusetts.

Since graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Rhetorical Studies, Nicole has gained extensive training in writing for children. She has been active in various children’s writing circles, including membership in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Nicole will be a speaker at the January 2013 SCBWI Miami conference and currently leads a children’s picture book writing group in Boston, MA.

Nicole has also worked in marketing, event planning, media relations, public speaking and volunteered and worked with various organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Symphony of the Americas.

She currently lives in Boston near her wonderful family.

GIVEAWAY TIME!
PRIZE: Nicole has been generous enough to give away a signed copy of her book to one of our readers! Just enter the rafflecopter below!

AGE: Must be 18 or older to enter.

LOCATION:  USA residents only

 DATE: Giveaway runs from December 7 at 6pm Eastern to Friday, December 14 at 11:59pm Eastern.

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Love2EncourageYou is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook.


Many blessings,
Rebecca

*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

You Can Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus This Christmas!

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Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus This Christmas

Greetings my friends.

It's been awhile since I've had a free moment to simply share my heart with you. There are so many things I wish I could express in an eloquent fashion to help you see things the way God presses upon my heart to see them. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the world could be seen with His eyes and perspective on life and its circumstances?
I know many of you today are hurting...deeply, with challenges you think are just too hard to bear alone. I'm here to remind you ...you are never alone.You don't need to feel that way - you have a friend in Christ who never abandons you, so you will never truly be alone. When we hold Christ in our hearts and He is Lord of our lives, we can read and be encouraged by the truths of God's Word each and every day. On those days when life brings battles we cannot imagine we could go through by ourselves, He is there holding our hand, gently comforting us through His Words in the Bible, and through the support of Christian friends from the body of believers - who know to lend the support and love of Christ to ALL PEOPLE - simply by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Do you know someone going through a tough time right now? 

Maybe you are not the one going through a trial right now, but you know many friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers who are in that exact situation. Pray with me today about asking God to show us how we can do our part to be His hands and feet this Christmas and share His love with all those within our reach.

• Do you have friends with a child or parent in the hospital? Have you sent them a card, visited them and their family at the hospital, or at their home to bring a blessing of a listening ear, someone to pray with, or a gift of cookies or home cooked meal to help them during this difficult time? 
• Is there someone you know who's serving time in a local prison? A friendly visit with some words of encouragement from the Bible and from you - a friend, could make a huge impact on their perspective while in that lonely environment.
• What about getting a Christmas plant or flowers to brighten your elderly neighbor's holiday, and sit with them awhile to give them a bright spot in their week?
• Maybe there is someone you know with health issues who cannot clean their house or mow their lawn? Offer to help do some laundry, wash their dishes, sweep or mop their floors or mow their lawns or rake leaves - to be a blessing worth more than words can say.
• Have the children make some Christmas cards and get a bag of candy canes or some  carnations and visit a floor or two in a nursing home to pass out a card and a flower or candy cane to each of the residents.
• Is the family next store having financial difficulties? Could you do a sneak "blessing" and drop a few gifts at their door on Christmas day to surprise their children? 

This list could go on and on ...I'm sure you get the idea.  God loves each and every one of us - no matter who we are or where we are. He asks us to be His hands and feet and reach out to the people of this world and share His message of Christ's love. We can all try to touch the lives of those within our own circles, but can we all give it our best to go beyond our comfort zone and touch the hearts and lives of others within our reach that we don't normally get the chance to share with? God will help you know who you are able to be a blessing to. Best of luck as you reach out and share the reason for the season with all those around you this year!

Many blessings,
Rebecca

Visit our Giveaways/Linkys page to enter some great giveaways for the holidays! You could be our next winner!

*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

BelieveTek New iPad or iPad 2 Cover Product Review and Giveaway!

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Price: $34.99

• Fits iPad 2 and New Ipad.
• Durable full color graphics.
• Sleek, durable protection.
• Cases provide access to all controls.
PRINTED IN THE USA!

 Full Review of BelieveTek's New iPad or iPad 2 Cover by Rebecca @ Love2EncourageYou
I love to support my country, and this product printed in the USA from BelieveTek.com is a fabulous way to share your love and support of this country and share your faith in God with anyone around you.

Can it be any easier? The BelieveTek cover available for your New iPad or iPad 2 is very smooth and simple to attach to your device. This New iPad or iPad 2 cover by BelieveTek will actually allow you to have the smart cover on your iPad2 or New iPad case as well. It allows space for that to fit. There are appropriate holes cut out in all the right places to allow access to all controls with the BelieveTek cover attached.

The American flag image looks great on this cover design I received for review! What a fabulous way to show your love for God and country!


I asked a friend to test this product out for me as well with their New iPad and it fits terrific! It even has the same ease of attachment. They thought it was awesome and wanted to keep it! Lol! This "One Nation Under God" design for the New iPad cover or iPad 2 cover is available for purchase HERE along with other great design options for only $34.99.

I'll give Five Stars for this fun and protective cover for the New iPad or iPad 2 from BelieveTek. You can check out more of their great faith-based products and tech accessories on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook to receive updates on the latest products and new designs.

Per company website: "Believetek is dedicated to spreading encouragement and inspiration through faith-based technology products and accessories for the home, workplace, and on the go!"

It's also comforting to know that ALL BelieveTek products are printed and packaged in the USA!

I'm very fond of several of their designs - it's so hard to choose! :) There are many helpful products that all of us probably use daily that you could pick out on BelieveTek's website. I especially enjoy the wireless keyboard and mouse!

Need a last minute gift for the holidays that will not only have FREE SHIPPING, but is also something you know was printed and packaged in the USA? Why not check out all the cool tech products and accessories designed for sharing your faith at BelieveTek.com? They make incredible gifts!

I am shopping for a new phone this Christmas and haven't decided yet whether to get the Samsung Galaxy 3 or the iPhone 5. As soon as I make my choice, I'm looking forward to getting this "Love Reigns" cover design from BelieveTek! It's available in both phone options (as well as being available for the iPhone 4/4S) and all of BelieveTek's phone covers are at a new low price of just $19.99 each with free shipping!

The wonderful people at BelieveTek have offered to do a giveaway of their New iPad Cover or iPad 2 Cover for one of my lucky readers to win! Check out the details below! 

GIVEAWAY TIME!
PRIZE: One winner will receive either a New iPad cover or a New iPad 2 cover in the design of their choice from the options available at BelieveTek.com at the time of winning. Retail value $34.99!

DATE: December 18 - January 3!

LOCATION: USA

AGE:  18 years of age or older to enter

 Just enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. You must finish the first two entries to unlock all the additional "optional" entries. Remember, the more you enter, the higher your chances of winning. There are options you can come back and do daily to gain more unique entries in the giveaway too. Best of luck to everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Love2EncourageYou received a free product in exchange for a review. My opinions are my own and may differ from your own. I only share info that I feel will be helpful to my readers.

*So thankful all went well with our Hope for Humanity charity event for sharing a new toy and bag of food with the needy children and their families in our local area. Special thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers for helping to make it all possible!

Many blessings,
Rebecca

*Some links in this post or on this website may contain affiliate links.

Contest: Moonbeam Children's Book Awards

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Now is the time to enter your award-worthy children's books into the 7th annual Moonbeam Children's Book Awards honoring the year's best children's books, authors, and illustrators. The program accepts entries released since November 1, 2011 and is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children's books written in English or Spanish, appropriate for the North American market. These awards bring an opportunity for recognition to deserving authors and publishers who have a hard time breaking through to win library association awards like the Newbery and Caldecott. Entry fee is $75.

Shopping Savings: Jockey at Kohl's

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Instead of guessing at what the guy in your life wants, give him what he needs – new T-shirts and underwear.

Jockey recently launched a brand new line of men’s slim fit underwear and T-shirts featuring stay dry fabric. The underwear and T-shirts are available in 100% cotton and cotton-stretch fabrics along with unique stay dry fabric that helps pull moisture away from the skin so he stays dry and his clothes stay looking good.
Now to the good stuff: Through December 31, 2012, Jockey Slim Fit styles are 25% OFF at all Kohl’s department stores – no coupon needed to save.
To keep up with Jockey’s special offers, “Like” Jockey on Facebook and follow @jockey and @IWearJockey on Twitter.

Money Makers: Current Survey Panels Recruiting

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Here are some current survey panels recruiting that I have had success with in the past.

Join Opinion Outpost and start sharing your opinion.
Join the National Consumer Panel today to make your consumer voice heard and earn great rewards!
Join the Ipsos I-Say Panel & you will be entered into a draw for $5000.
Become a member of the Harris Poll Online. You will earn Harris Poll Online Rewards where you can redeem points for your opinions. Earn rewards that include a variety of merchandise and gift certificates.
InspiredOpinions members earn Opinion Reward Points for being active members of our online market research community.
GlobalTestMarket is a unique online community where consumers from around the world participate in online paid surveys. Canadians sign up here. Brits sign up here. USA residents sign up here.Aussies sign up here.
Join NPD and you can win cash or prizes for giving your opinions. (Canadians sign up here).

Fun Freetime: Jack and Jill/Planet DIY

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Roll up your sleeves, Jack and Jill magazine is going DIY. The award-winning U.S. Kids title, written for children ages 7-12, will be regularly featured on PlanItDIY.com in conjunction with the website’s recent relaunch. Maintained by the North American Retail Hardware Association, PlanItDIY.com is a consumer resource for how-to home improvement videos and step-by-step project guides. Jack and Jill will be featuring kid-friendly projects that families can complete together on the website.
 “PlanItDIY.com is rapidly becoming the go-to source for consumers to find how-to information and inspiration for their projects around the home,” said Dan Tratensek, Vice President with the North American Retail Hardware Association. “Because the site is brought to you by the same local hardware store home center and lumber dealers they go to everyday for the best service and advice, they know it's a source they can trust. Now with the addition of fun projects for kids from Jack and Jill the site will be better than ever."  PlanItDIY.com provides visitors with a truly unique resource for connecting directly to a community of fellow DIYers. Some of the first Jack and Jill projects to be published on PlanItDIY.com are “World in a Bottle,” a terrarium that teaches children about the fragility and importance of our planet’s ecosystem and a duct tape handbag and wallet. Future projects include a homemade compost bin, homegrown catnip, and a bird feeder.  For more information about Jack and Jill please visit JackAndJillMag.org or PlanItDIY.com.  About U.S. Kids magazines: Turtle, Humpty Dumpty, and Jack and Jill, are published by the nonprofit Saturday Evening Post Society, based in Indianapolis. U.S. Kids magazines encourage children to strive for excellence and are designed to promote academics, personal fitness, creativity, and artistic expression among all children in a format that is entertaining, engaging, and educational.  

Thrifty Thinking: Getting Honest About Money (Guest Post)

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5Money Secrets: InspiringNew Ways to Think About Your Money
One of the main reasons you and Iare working together is that you’re tired of being driven by fears and desires.Throughout this lesson, I’ve pointed out that identifying finance as a strictlyintellectual endeavor has not served your needs. My goal is to lead you towardliving your one best financial life.Although what money alone can do islimited, its power to create happiness or cause suffering is immense. Thefollowing 5 Money Secrets provide a powerful way to guide your decision makingso that you can take genuine control of your financial life.
1. Your life will be filled withtough choices.2. Your entire life is determinedby how you make decisions.3. Your biases will affect everydecision you make.4. You will be distracted by thingsthat really don’t matter.5. You must have a good process to make good decisions.Money Secret 1: Your life will be filled with tough choices.YouWant It AllPart of consumer culture is thatfrom early on, we’re taught to think big. Every American can dream of owning anicer car. We drool over bigger TVs. We vow to take more vacations. We fantasizeabout fancier shoes and jewelry. With a combination of envy and disdain, weread stories of the super rich with their mega mansions and private jets. Sometimesit’s a blessing; other times, it’s a curse. In either case, we humans have alimitless ability to dream bigger and to always elevate our aspirations. Thisis true whether you’re a schoolteacher struggling to make ends meet or you’re abillionaire, like Bill Gates, debating how to improve the lives of as manyimpoverished people as possible—and, for the moreself-interested super rich, how biga yacht they can afford! At some point, however, you must acknowledge thereality of your circumstances. Usually, you can’t have it all. Soyou have to make choices.Neglecting to make tradeoffs canlead to credit card debt, a persistent inferiority complex, and constantfinancial pressure. To reach your fullest potential requires you to identifythe intersection between two elements:• Your currentdreams and goals• Your finiteresources
Money Secret 2 Your entire life isdetermined by how you make decisions:
BigDecisions Can Be Both Scary and ExhilaratingMajor decisions can keep you up at night.They sometimes nervously walk the line between big payouts and failures of mythicmagnitude. Consider some of the most significant ones you’ve made in your life.I’ll list a few possibilities: • Who will be myprom date?• How will I tellmy parents about the car wreck?• What collegewill I attend?• Should I takethe job?• Should I quitand start a new career?• Should I launchmy own business?• Will I getmarried?• Will I havekids?• Do I want adivorce?• What’s the bestcancer treatment?• How will I livethe rest of my life?• What do I donow?These supersized decisions arestressful because we don’t have control over their outcomes. Despite this lackof control, however, we manage to spend an exorbitant amount of time runningthrough countless what-if scenarios.
Money Secret 3 Your biases willaffect every decision you make:
Everyone perceives his or herfinancial situation in a particular way. We each have our own perspective thatis shaped by our personal history and upbringing. I have already discussed thefact that money helps you do the following three things:1. Avoid pain—by protecting youand helping you to take care of what you’re afraid might cause pain in thefuture2. Feel good—by getting youthe things that provide you with happiness and satisfaction3. Take care of theones you love—by meeting your obligations to family, community, and society at largeWe all want money to take care ofthese things for us. But because of who we are and the life we have led, one ofthe three is usually more important to us than the other two. And when it comesto important or stressful financial decisions, we generally have a primaryfocus.I call this primary focus your Money Mind. There are only three Money Minds.They are as follows:1. Fear (The Protector)2. Happiness (The PleasureSeeker)3. Commitment (The Giver)Whenfaced with important financial decisions, you will revert to your dominantMoneyMind, which will always affect the way you make decisions.
Money Secret 4 You will be distracted by things that really don’tmatter:
 Your Two Worlds: External and InternalWith so much competing for your attentionevery day, determining where to direct your resources is a daunting task. Nodoubt, there are limitless ways to spend your time and energy. Unfortunately,you have a limited amount of both. In this regard, time is fair: Whether you’rethe president of the United States or a newborn infant, your daily dose of 24hours is the same. Therefore, to reach your goals, you must determine whereyou’ll direct your focus right now and what you’ll postpone until later. Inthis lesson, I’ll first describe what is competing for your time and resourceswhen it comes to your financial life. From there, you can determine how toseparate essential tasks from nonessential ones. Each of us lives in twofinancial worlds: external and internal. Our external world includes taxes,inflation, the country’s economy, the stock market, and more. All of these willaffect us, but we cannot control them. Meanwhile, our internal world consistsof our job, salary, spouse, and family—in other words, things we can directlyimpact.
Controlthe ControllableImagine that you’ve planned to loseone pound per week over the next ten weeks. You’ve made it to week three, andyou’ve proudly stuck to your plan. As a result, you’re three pounds lighter.Two activities havecaused your weight loss: You’vewalked three miles a day, and you’ve cut your total caloric intake.It’s now Monday of week four. Atthe start of your daily walk, you trip and sprain your ankle. The doctor saysthat you cannot bear weight on it for two weeks. Suddenly, an accident, whichwas out of your control, has presented you with two realities:
1. You can’t change what happened.2. You can only change how youreact to new information.
Money Secret 5 You must have a good process to make good decisions.1. Complete InformationThis means you have a comprehensiveunderstanding of all the issues related to a particular decision you need tomake. Complete information includes a decision’s possible ramifications,consequences, and long-term costs. You also need an accurate assessment of theresources you have available to pay for your decision.2. Objective AnalysisIn order to move forward in a waythat will help you avoid hazardous obstacles, you must remove all personalbiases that could cloud your judgment. This is why I had you complete the MoneyMind exercise. Now you must have a methodology to assess the costs, benefits,and tradeoffs required to move ahead with your decision objectively.3. Deliberate ActionSimply put, this will answer thequestion, “As far as going forward with my proposed decision is concerned, isit yes or no, or both yes and no?” Once you’ve come to a conclusion, you mustfollow a clearly defined and well-organized series of action steps in order torealize the best possible outcome. The most systematic way to do this is tohave a disciplined process that walks you through all the important steps you needto take.
Joe John Duran is CEOand founding partner of United Capital, which consistently ranks as one of thenation’s fastest growing wealth counseling firms. He’s fueled by his passion tochange the industry and improve lives by empowering people to make better, moreinformed financial decisions. From CNBC to CNN, Joe frequently providescommentary on TV. He has been profiled in numerous publications, including the NewYork Times and Smart Money.
Please check us outon:  www.mymoneycode.com

Consumer Critique: Lightning-Fast German

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I previously wrote a review for Lightning-Fast Spanish for Kids and Families and found it to be a great way to incorporate language learning - even for a language I don't speak. Now I had a chance to try Lightning-Fast German for Kids and Families and found that this installment has the same trademarks as the Spanish (and I would assume, other languages as well). It's designed to use everyday situations - eating, getting dressed, etc - to expose your kids to foreign languages, even if you don't speak it. And odds are, you'll learn some along the way!

Any foreign language experience is good for kids. It helps stretch the brain, introduce other cultures, and provide a foundation for later foreign languages (even in different languages than the one first learned). This can be a great goal for the coming year - or any time, really!

As someone who speaks German almost fluently, I found this book to be a solid introduction. The words chosen are all accurate. My only complaint is with pronunciation - I don't think the book adequately explains the German "ch" sound, or ö, both of which are admittedly difficult to explain in print. However, someone who pronounced everything in the book exactly the way it's typed phonetically would still be understood by a native German speaker.

I plan on giving this to a friend who has family in Germany but whose wife doesn't speak German (nor does he speak a great deal either), for them to be able to incorporate at least some basic German in daily life with their kids, so when they visit Germany the kids have at least a few words and phrases they can draw from.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review.

PSA: Learn Not to Burn

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NationalFire Protection Association (NFPA) recently updated itsaward-winning Learn Not to Burn (LNTB)preschool program, which teaches young children about fire safety. Updatesto LNTB feature revised teacher lesson plans and parent/caregiver home linkactivities. Formore than 40 years, LNTB has introduced the basics of fire safety to children,with a focus on positive, empowering messages. Those core elements will remainthe same.
“Becausechildren ages five and under are among those at greatest risk to fire, it’s criticalto teach them how to identify risks and protect themselves,” said Gamache. “Kidsare also wonderful ambassadors of information and do a great job of bringinghome the fire safety messages they’ve learned, which can make a significantimpact on entire households.”
Primarilytaught in schools, LNTB’s program lessons are most appropriate for four- andfive-year-olds, but can be used for kindergarten children, too. Releasedone at a time, the updated LNTB lesson plansand songs will be free to download on NFPA’s website. For more informationabout LNTB and other public safety initiatives, visit www.nfpa.org/education.
Aboutthe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)NFPAis a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. Themission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is toreduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life byproviding and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, andeducation. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize thepossibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standardscan be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

Contest: Vans Custom Culture

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The Vans Custom Culture competition inspires high school students across the U.S. to embrace their creativity. In light of decreased educational funding, Vans created this phenomenally-cool project to help ignite creativity and raise funds and awareness for the importance of ART in high schools all over the US. Since 2010, Vans has hosted a nationwide event called Custom Culture where high school students ‘design their own VANS’- the project has opened the doors to thousands of students across the US to compete and create masterpieces of art from a pair of traditional Vans shoes.  The winner is awarded $50,000 toward their high school art program!
Registration is slated to kick-off in Minnesota January 2, 2013 - February 11, 2013. How it works is highschool art programs can register for the 2013 competition on the Vans CustomCulture website (or at facebook.com/vanscustomculture). After registration, each school willbe tasked with customizing four favorite Vans styles: the Old Skool, 106Vulcanized, Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On.  Students are charged with designingeach pair of shoes to fit within one of three themes representing the Vanslifestyle, including action sports, art and music and then also a fourth “localflavor” theme reflecting regionalinspiration. Afteran internal Vans team narrows down the selection, the public will have theopportunity to vote through the Vans Custom Culture website from April 22 toMay 13, 2013. The top five schools will be invited to New York City to showcasetheir designs for the crowd and celebrity judges at a special event in June2013, where the grand prize winner will be announced.
InMarch 2013, the designs created by 2012 Vans Custom Culture winners Rio RanchoHigh School (Rio Ranch, NM) will go on sale at Vans and Journeys stores as wellas the Vans online shop.  Rio Ranchoclaimed the $50,000 prize last year as well as Journeys’ “Local Attitude” awardwhen their designs were recognized amongst the nearly 900 participants.

Freebies from Chuck E. Cheese!

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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for a mouse;The Chuck E. Cheese’s stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that gift cards for fun and games soon would be there;  The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of tokens and tickets danced in their heads;And mama with her blog, and I in my job,Had just settled down for a cheese pizza and a Cobb.  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.Away to the computer I flew in a flash,Opened the Web and found a…  Brand new Chuck E. Cheese’s website!!Mama and I jumped with joy for now we can plan a party to excite!When, what to my wondering eyes should appear? But an entire list of stores nearest us to compare.  With a party planning tab and online games to please the masses,We thought to take an adventure with our favorite mouse, thank goodness for no computer crashes!Thirty tickets and a piece of hot pizza later,We gathered the children to share our favorite memory maker.  In true holiday spirit, Chuck E. Cheese’s is excited to share its brand new website with you. It features upgraded tabs so parents can plan a visit, discover store locations, play online games and share memories. Parents and kids can take an adventure with Chuck E. by scrolling through the Chuck E. Cheese’s experience on the homepage for 30 FREE TICKETS  

Sweepstakes: Snapware (Facebook)

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Hate the day after clutter from hosting parties? Get organized with Snapware and Emeril. They’ve teamed up to share organizing and entertaining tips to alleviate party hosts stress. This might be a great addition for a holiday clean up blog post.  Chef Emeril and Snapware want Americans to get ahead of the game and prep for National Organization Month (January) with solutions from Emeril® by Snapware®. A winning combination of chef-tested food storage containers are available starting today on HSN.com.  To celebrate the collaboration, Snapware launched a Facebook sweepstakes for fans to win a chance at skipping hosting duties for a once in a lifetime trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.  One lucky winner will receive airfare, accommodations, game tickets AND dinner at Emeril’s restaurant in New Orleans. Entering is easy and encouraged daily: simply “like” theSnapware Facebook page and enter online today thru January 13^th, 2013.  Fans will also have access to Lagasse’s big game recipes and entertaining tips on the Snapware Facebook page. 

Shopping Savings: Roundy's Daily Deals!

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Roundy's Supermarkets will be running new Daily Deals starting next Wednesday, 12/19. And, they're letting me send you the deals even earlier this time, which is great! All Roundy's stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota (Pick 'n Save, Copps, Metro Market, Rainbow Foods) will feature special pricing on specific products Wednesday through Saturday, December 19-22. This time around I'm torn between the Red Potatoes and Butterball Turkey, which just means my family will know in advance that Thanksgiving dinner is making a repeat appearance. Here is a preview of the deals:

• 12/19 - Tostitos Tortilla Chips $1.99
• 12/20 - Roundy's Red Potatoes 5lb bag $1
• 12/21 - 73% Lean Ground Beef $1.98/lb
• 12/22 - Butterball Frozen Hen or Tom Turkey 88¢

Please note that all Wisconsin stores require your Roundy's Rewards Card to receive the promotional pricing, and Minnesota stores do not. Please check your local stores and Sunday's paper for details. Let me know if you have any questions!

Parenting Pointers: Garage Organization

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If you're like most people, you don't really think about your garage much. It's a place to park your cars and hide all the random junk that goes outside. Some people turn their garages into masterpieces, putting everything in its place, giving it a spiffy paint job, and making it look like a nice, sharp, well-organized space. Others have so much stuff in their garages (or it's so poorly organized) that the cars don't even fit. Most of us are somewhere in between.

It is helpful to have your garage well-organized (although having a great paint job isn't necessary but does look cool). This can save you time looking for things you know you have, and it can save you money by preventing you from buying things you already have or by minimizing the amount of toys and things that get broken from improper storage or getting other things dropped on them or tipped over into them.

One important piece of garage organization is the organization system itself. Sites like gladiator garageworks sell a wide variety of garage organization products, including cabinets, flooring specifically designed for use in the garage, ceiling storage implements, wall storage, a refrigerated designed for garage, and lighting. It's a good idea to use products designed for use in the garage, because garages are often subjected to extreme temperatures (even attached garages have more fluctuation than the house), more moisture, and other debris and liquids such as engine fluids if there's a leak or carpentry debris.

If you have a lot of time, the best way to organize your garage is often to empty it and start from scratch. Take everything out, and as you do, make sure to inspect for anything not currently in working condition. Make piles: broken and not able to be repaired, broken but fixable, no longer needed, and things that will go back in the garage. Toss anything you can't repair (or list on a free site like Craigslist; someone else may know how to fix it). Things you don't need, like tools that were for a one-time project or toys your kids have outgrown, can be donated or you can try to sell them on Craigslist or in a garage sale. Set aside one small area for items that need repair, and then work with the rest of the garage.

Keep items that are in the same category together, and use baskets or bins to collect small items that would roll around otherwise. Maximize use of space by hanging hooks and brackets from the ceiling or using rafters for rarely-used items. Place the largest and hardest-to-store items first, and then fit smaller things around them. If you have little kids, it can be helpful to use pictures to show them where to put their toys back when they're done.

If you don't have a lot of time, then work on one section at a time, following the same process. Now is also a good time to clean out the inside of your car, too - take out any garbage, give it a quick vacuum, etc.

Shopping Savings: Free Shipping Day

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Free Shipping Day is Monday, Dec. 17. With over 1,500 stores signed up and more being added over the weekend, the one-day online shopping event is expected to break records.
Luke Knowles, creator of Free Shipping Day, credits the event's first-ever Monday occurrence as a big reason for its high-earning potential. "All past events have been scheduled on a Friday, typically one of the slower days for online shopping," says Knowles. "We broke records in 2010 and 2011 with this handicap, so I'm excited to see what this year will bring." Free Shipping Day's 2010 was the third-heaviest online shopping event in history. In 2011, the event generated over $1 billion in online sales and surpassed Black Friday's online earnings for the second year in a row.
Shoppers are attracted to the late-season deals and promise of delivery by Christmas Eve. In fact, a recent Rasmussen Reports survey shows only 15 percent of shoppers have completed their holiday shopping, with 59 percent admitting they haven't yet started. "Free Shipping Day is the procrastinator's holiday," continues Knowles. "It's meant to give last-minute shoppers an opportunity to save money on gifts and still receive them in time for Christmas. I think that's why it's so popular; it speaks to a lot of people." 
Offers will go live on FreeShippingDay.com at midnight EST on Dec. 17.

Parenting Pointers: Music Lessons

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Did you know that music lessons as kids can help adult hearing? Even a year or two of music lessons as a kid helped adults pick up sound waves, which aids in hearing in noisy environments. So if your kids show any interest in music at all (or even if they don't), consider giving them at least some formal musical training. As a private lesson teacher, married to a music major, I supported this already - but now there's yet another scientific reason why it can benefit kids.

Mealtime Magic: Unique Chicken Coatings

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Do your kids like chicken fingers, but you get bored of the same coating all the time? Try something other than cornflakes. After coating with flour and dipping in egg, roll in these combos before baking (400 degrees for 20 minutes) and pair with suggested sauces.

Bread crumbs-crumbled bacon-cheddar cheese --> sour cream or ranch dressing
Coconut --> fruit salsa or marmalade
Tortilla chips --> salsa

Healthy Habits: Safe and Secure New Year's Eve (Guest Post)

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This New Years Eve keeping your plans inorder can be a hassle.Tons of questions comes up in what events you shouldpartake in to feel safe. guardNOW private security guard services has ways tomake sure your New Years Eve plans go accordingly.
Having a party? Hire a Security Guard! guardNOW offers 24hrs a day 7days weekcoverage to all kinds of events.
Why do I need to hire a guard?• Unwanted Guests• An ID Check, you never want to be caught with underageattendees• Unruly Guest (if you’re serving alcohol)• Help escort guest to cars or help call a taxi  You don’t want to bring in yournew year with unfortunate mishaps when all you needed was that second pair ofeyes making sure things are staying in order. New Years Eve is the perfect day forhome invaders; everyone is somewhere else for this holiday. Ways to keep yourhome secure:• Get To know your neighbors (if they are home let them knowyou will be out)• Avoid telling Social Media your whereabouts (as scary as itsounds you never know what your “friends” have in mind)• Make sure everything is secure i.e. windows, doors, doggydoors and fences• Finally as your leaving check your street to make sure noone is in their car watching you leave  Hiring a babysitter and letting themwatch your kids at your own house is also a way to keep your home secure forNew Years Eve, if you make your baby sitter aware of more than just thechildren you will have a great night. Here are ways to keep your baby sitter upto a proficient speed.• Let them know to NEVER let anyone in the house, theirfriends, your friends, a neighbor NOONE• If a window, garage door, back sliding glass door is open,never let it out of eye site. Once that open place gets out of eye sight it isopen to anyone.• Always have a phone in arms reach; you can never call fornothing. Any sign of weird noises or knocking at the door it is best to contactthe parents, security around the area or the police.• Trust and know your own babysitter and keep all valuableitems locked away. Nothing should be in eyesight for viewing from in or outsidethe home  What if I’m staying at home? Ishould be safe there! Staying in is the best way to avoid incidents happeningat parties or events and from your home being broken into. But why notcelebrate bringing in another year with loved ones and friends?! Payingattention to details of keeping your home a safe place will relieve you ofworrying about what’s going on when you’re gone. You never knowwhat your night has planned for you but at least you followed tips on how toavoid a disappointing ending. Enjoy your New Years Eve worry free. HappyHolidays From guardNOW!
Read more here. 

Soul Sustenance: Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God

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Margaret Feinberg has a new book and 7-session DVDBible study called Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God (releasing Christmas Day)—a personal invitation foryou to toss back the covers, climb out of bed, and drink in the fullness of life. To learn more,watch the Wonderstruck Video.
I recently received the insider’s scoop about Margaret’s new book. Here are somehighlights from the interview: 

Where did the inspiration for the Wonderstruck book and Bible study come from?
Have you ever had one of those seasons where everything goes wrong, and when you think itcan’t get worse, it somehow finds a way? Most people who have worked in ministry haveexperienced those seasons—some may be in one right now. My husband, Leif, and I had just gone through one of the roughest years of our lives. In theaftermath, as we processed the pain and loss, I had an unexplainable desire in my heart. I beganpraying for the wonder of God. In essence, I said, “God reveal yourself, your whole self to me. Iwant to know you as Wonderful. I want to know you as I’ve never known you before and seeyou in places I’ve never recognized you before.” God did not disappoint.

What do you mean by “the wonder of God”?
Sometimes talking or writing about wonder feels like tying kite strings to clouds. It’s ethereal,and you can never quite get a grip on it. But if you look in the dictionary, the two maindefinitions of wonder are: “being filled with admiration, amazement, or awe” and “to think orspeculate curiously.”
Those definitions come together beautifully in our relationship with God. That’s why I define thewonder of God as those moments of spiritual awakening that create a desire to know God more.

Why are you calling people to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK?
In other words, the wonder of God isn’t about an emotional experience or having some cool
story to tell your friends, but the wonder of God makes us want more of God—to go deeper and
further than we’ve ever been before.
 If you look in the Gospels, what you’ll discover is that those who encountered Jesus wereconstantly left in wild amazement. They were awestruck by the teachings of Christ, the healingsof Christ, the mind-bending miracles of Christ. Within the Gospel of Luke we see words like“awe” and “wonder” and “marvel” at every turn. If this is the natural response to encounteringChrist, how much more should it be for you and I—who are invited to live in relationship withChrist as sons and daughters of our God Most High? We even created a free PDF that looks atsome of these Scriptures. For a free copy, email us at wonderstruck@margaretfeinberg.com andwe’ll send you one.   Follow Margaret’s snarky, funny, and inspirational posts on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog. You can learn more about this great book by visitingwww.margaretfeinberg.com/wonderstruck where she’s offering some crazy promos right nowwith up to $300 of free stuff. I’ve seen the book for as low as $7.57 ($14.99 retail) on Barnes &Noble for all you savvy shoppers.