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Memorial Day Giveaway from Inspired Gifts

I absolutely LOVE photo books. It is a great way for those of us who don’t have a lot of time to make lasting albums filled with memories of family and friends. For our military families, photo books are great gifts for those who are deployed. I know when my husband was in Iraq I took pictures of the kids every day. I didn’t want him to miss a thing. If I had known how easy it is to make a photo book, I would have made him one for each month and sent it to him as a gift. Photo books can also be a great way to document your time at different duty stations and make a great retirement gift.

You can make a photo book on the Inspired Gifts website in less than an hour by uploading your photos and then arranging them in an album. The program will even arrange the photos for you if you are short on time. It is easy to upload your photos and they have a huge variety of photo gifts; hard cover books, themed books, greeting cards, day planners, journals and more. I am thinking this might be the best way to give my four youngest kids baby books!

In order to celebrate Memorial Day and Father’s Day, the folks at Inspired Gifts would like to give away an 8×8 photo book to one of my military readers. I am in the middle of creating one and I am loving it!

To enter:

The giveaway is open to military and their family members only.

Visit the Inspired Gifts website then comment on this post about your favorite item.

For additional entries follow Inspired Gifts on Twitter, Facebook, or their blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry.

This giveaway ends June 13, 2010.

Thanks to MommyPR & Inspired Gifts for Sponsoring this Review and Giveaway opportunity and supporting our troops!

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Free Admission for Military and Family to Over 600 Blue Star Museums

free military admission

This year, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, active duty military and their immediate family members will receive free admission to over 600 Blue Star Museums, located in all 50 states.

According to the Blue Star Museum website:

  • If you are active duty military personnel and/or an immediate family member – spouse or child – to gain free access, please show either a Geneva Conventions CAC ID or a DD Form 1173 ID card at the museum admissions desk.
  • Immediate family members under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an appropriate ID holder.
  • Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program, so check with the museum directly.

Free admission is available to the service member and up to five immediate family members. You can find out more information on the Blue Star Museum FAQ page as well as a list of participating museums.

This is an amazing opportunity for our military families. I thought this would be a great opportunity for all those families PCS’ing this summer to break up their travel with some free museum trips. It is also a great way to try out museums before you commit to purchasing a membership.

Thank you Blue Star Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting our military and their families!

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Purposeful Relationships

When my oldest child was a toddler I felt very alone. My husband took our only car to work each day and I was stuck at home with few friends and little support. These were the days of dial-up internet and 14k modems, so finding support on the web was not an option…

Read more of my article about purposeful relationships over on the BornFree Mom site.

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Some Things Money Can’t Buy

I was watching this video my friend Jen posted this morning and it reminded me that there are some things money can’t buy.  In today’s society many people work very hard for their next raise, promotion, or opportunity. Obviously supporting a family should be a priority, but what our kids need most from us is not our money, it is our time.

A good way to find out what your kids think your priorities are is to ask them what they think you like to do the most. How would they answer that question: would it be talking on the phone, watching television, cooking, crafting, taking pictures, spending time on the computer, or would it be spending time with your family?

With some hesitation I decided to ask my children this question on camera. I didn’t tell them the question ahead of time, I just called them in the room and told them to be honest. This is what they said:

My littlest one said I like cleaning up the most. I will admit I definitely love a clean home, but I don’t want that to be what my daughter thinks is most important to me. Obviously I have some work to do is this area.

Time with your children is FREE. It costs nothing to read a book, play a game, take a walk, tell a story, color a picture, make a blanket fort, or look for bugs. The best part is that even though it is free, there is an amazing return on your investment. Ask your kids what they think is most important to you.  It might be time to diversify your investment.

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Wounded Warrior Project

When my husband was injured we spent a lot of time at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The thing that made the biggest impression on me during the time I spent in the waiting rooms were all the young men and women I saw in wheel chairs, using crutches, or missing arms or legs. I remember sitting next to one family in the neurology waiting room and the young man had a scar that went all the way across his head. You could tell by watching him that he had severe difficulties communicating and it didn’t seem hopeful he would ever fully recover.

My heart broke for these young service members. I couldn’t imagine losing so much so young. I wish I had time to talk to every one of them, listen to their stories, and thank them for their sacrifice.

wounded warrior project

When Cracker Barrel contacted me and asked if I would spread the word about their partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project I was thrilled to help in this small way. If you aren’t familiar with the Wounded Warrior Project it is an organization that provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life. According to their website, the Wounded Warrior Project’s goals are:

  • To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women,
  • To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
  • To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

I visited the website and was immediately drawn to the Meet the Warriors section of the site. I couldn’t stop reading their stories and was amazed by their perseverance. Each one of them had a reason to fight, a reason to live, and were prepared to die. These warriors not only had a physical loss, they lost their military careers as well. The Wounded Warrior Project is a great resource for those who are leaving the military due to an injury.

Wynonna Judd has joined Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® in its support of Wounded Warrior Project with the release of Love Heals, a collection of Wynonna’s top singles and three other tracks not available until now. On May 24, 2010, a portion of the proceeds from each Wynonna CD and Wounded Warrior Project products found in Cracker Barrel Stores will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Plus, Cracker Barrel will double the donations of products sold between May 24 and 31, 2010.

I have a Wounded Warrior gift basket donated by Cracker Barrel to giveaway. (Full disclosure- they gave me one too) Because I want to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, I am asking you all to help spread the word. To enter to win this great gift basket, which includes a $25 Cracker Barrel Gift Card, you can leave a comment, Tweet about this giveaway, Facebook about this giveaway, or tell your friends. For each entry leave a separate comment. Giveaway ends May 24, 2010.

photo of Michael Buyas courtesy of Wounded Warrior Project.

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Mom Motivation

Does it seem like some most days are all work and no play? I know as moms we tend to serve others first and worry about ourselves last. It is just part of being a mom. However, it is easy to harbor resentment or grow bitter towards your husband or children on those exceptionally long and trying days.

One thing that helps me maintain a cheerful heart and attitude is to place inspirational quotes in places I frequent during the day. These little nuggets of wisdom or instruction help keep my heart in the right place and remind me of what is most important. I often read these words and am encourage to finish the day strong.

My favorite verse (when it comes to working around the house) sits right above my sink, a place where I spend a considerable amount of time during the day. 🙂

If you struggle with maintaining a cheerful attitude throughout the day I would encourage you to fill your home with verses or inspirational quotes to help remind you of what is most important in your life.

One thing that struck me when I visited Dave Ramsey’s studio was that the walls were filled with inspirational quotes from a variety of sources. Even reading them as I walked through the halls motivated me to be a better steward of our finances.

Words are powerful, so use them to encourage you throughout the day. Hang them on your walls, your bathroom mirror, or above your kitchen sink. Not only will it encourage you, it will make a positive impact on those around you as well.

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FuzziBunz Gift Pack Giveaway

The next giveaway is a FuzziBunz Gift Pack from Suburban Tree Hugger.

Before I get to the giveaway let me just say a little something about work at home moms. If you are going to buy something, and you have the option of purchasing it from a small mom owned company – do it! These moms are working hard to supplement their family’s income while they are at home with their kids. They are doing something they are passionate about, which I respect and want to support. So, if you are a cloth diaper user- check out Reesa’s selection. Her prices are competitive and you are helping out a fellow mom when you support these small business.

Reesa has donated an awesome FuzziBunz gift pack. If you aren’t familiar with FuzziBunz they are the cloth diapers I use for Cora. Here is a short description of FuzziBunz:

The FuzziBunz® ONE SIZE diaper is adjustable through adjustable elastic, NOT snap downs on the front of the diaper like most one size diapers on the market today. Similar to adjustable waistbands for children and maternity wear, the waist and legs have been made customizable through a button / elastic adjustment system. So instead of 3 length settings, you can set to 8+ very customizable sizes. Instead of NO waist settings, you have up to 4+. So you have a SUPER adjustable diaper without an excess of snaps. It may take a bit of “adjusting” to get to the right size, but when you find the right fit, you set it and forget it.

The giveaway includes a One Size diaper (choice of color), wetbag, and 10 cloth wipes.

To enter to win join the cloth diaper discussion in my BlogFrog Community.

Suburban Tree Hugger is an online retailer providing safe, planet friendly, and affordable products every family can use.  The store offers a wide variety of cloth diapers and accessories, stainless steel products, and BPA/PVC/Phthalate free toys.  The blog offers readers tips & deals for natural/organic products, monthly coupon match-ups for CAP co-op grocery stores across America, and a coupon database.  The owner, Reesa Woodman, runs Suburban Tree Hugger from her living room in Metro Atlanta.  She is a Christian, wife, and homeschooling Mom to three amazing children.

Don’t forget to visit my Mother’s Day Extravaganza partners to enter their great giveaways!

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Kelly Joy Boutique Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Amber. Please visit Kelly Joy Boutique for gorgeous handmade baby accessories.

From the moment I received the email about this giveaway I feel in love with these adorable handmade products!

Kelly Joy Boutique, founded by a mompreneur, is a shop where you can find handmade flair for girls of all ages. From various flower and hair bow styles to unique fabric pins, Kelly Joy Boutique specializes in custom boutique flair without the boutique price.

I am giving away a $15 worth of merchandise from Kelly Joy Boutique. To enter to win, head over to the Boutique and check out the adorable products. Then come back here and leave me a comment letting me know what you would choose if you won. My favorite, the large pink daisy… it’s my colors!

Giveaway endsMonday, May 10, 2010.

Don’t forget to visit my Mother’s Day Extravaganza partners to enter their great giveaways!

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Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Jamie is our winner!

Do your little girls love the Disney Fairies. Mine sure do! They have the dolls, the dress-up clothes, and now they have the Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow game to play online. I love to find safe, fun, and educational games for my kids and Disney delivers with their Pixie Hollow game.

When you log on you create your fairy. Here’s mine!

You can create your own fairy, decorate your fairy home, and even hold parties!

One fun area on the site is Dulcie’s Kitchen where kids play games and make delicious treats. The games start easy but get harder as you earn more points. Kids can interact with other users on the site, but the chat is limited and there are parental control settings for the entire site.

My girls really enjoy this site, but it is geared more towards my six-year old, as my four-year old needs a little help with the games.

I am giving away a fun Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow gift bag filled with cooking items (aprons, pot holders, cookie cutters, and more) as well as a membership to the site.

To enter leave a comment telling me your favorite Disney character. Mine is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Giveaway ends Monday, May 10, 2010.