Barbara's Product Reviews & Giveaways
March 5, 2010
I Am Nujood - 3 winners
Sorry I didn't get this up yesterday,
The winners of this book are Bridget, Megan and Susanna - please email me your addresses and I will forward to the publisher.
Congratulations! And for anyone who wants to read this book, request it from your library or order from Amazon
.
March 5, 2010 ( 3:46 PM) |
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March 2, 2010
Basic Cake Decorating winner
Kristina has won the Kathy Brodock's Cake Decorating video. Kristina, please send me your address! This sounds like it would be a great mother/daughter bonding experience - to watch and make cakes together.
Sorry to those who didn't win this one - maybe next time?
And for all who now have a yearning to finally know how to make beautiful cakes, find out the details, or order at Basic Cake Decorating.
March 2, 2010 ( 8:48 AM) |
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February 26, 2010
I Am Nujood - Age 10 and Divorced
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Written very simply - at early teen level - this story of a Yemeni girl sold into an abusive marriage by her father was too riveting to put down. Nujood's story would not be unusual, except for the extraordinary fact that after three months she escaped and sought refuge through the court. With the help of a dedicated and compassionate attorney, she was granted a divorce and returned to live with her family.
Though written by a professional writer - Delphine Minoui - Nujood's simple childlike perspective shines through the narrative, which makes the story more poignant, as a little girl who should have been in school and playing with her friends is ripped into another more brutal world. But it is precisely her childlike determination that pulls her into the solution: "I want a divorce," the 10-year-old says to the first judge she encounters at the courthouse.
Nujood's story gained international attention when Glamor magazine honored her as one of their 2008 Women of the Year:
Women of the Year 2008
by Carla PowerAt first glance, you'd never guess that Nujood Mohammed Ali is Yemen's most famous divorcee. She is slight, with a shy smile and coffee-color eyes. Ask what makes her laugh and she says, "My divorce." What else? Tom and Jerry cartoons--she is, after all, just 10 years old, and loves playing jacks and dolls with her favorite sister, Haifa. Nevertheless, this year Nujood became Yemen's first child bride to legally end her marriage. "I wanted to protect myself," she says, "and other girls like me."
Yemen is full of child brides. Roughly half of Yemeni girls are married before 18, some as young as eight. Child marriage, common in South Asia, sub- Saharan Africa and Middle-Eastern countries such as Yemen, is dangerous for brides and their children. As Glamour interviews Nujood with the help of a translator, an 18-year-old neighbor, who was married at 13 and now has four children, sits listening. Her toddler cries, and she swats him away. "They married me very young," she explains. "I don't have time to be a gentle mother."
Read more at Glamor
Nujood still lives with her struggling family in a home fraught with problems and scars, surrounded by resentful neighbors. But Nujood - along with her sister - is back in school, determined to become a lawyer and advocate for girls like herself. Her love for her family - in spite of all she has been through - is a testimony to her character.
I recommend this book for you and your teens. I have found that the best way to understand other cultures is through reading first-person accounts (Some time ago, I spent several months on a reading journey through Africa, learning more than I ever did in school). Though Nujood's abuse and suffering is an unavoidable part of the story, it is not graphic.
Through our own government schools, our kids are being fed a diet of multiculturalism which - in a misguided effort to level the playing field with Christianity - tends to sugarcoat the reality that Islamic countries are brutal places, especially for women and children. A book like this - told from a child's point of view - cannot lie. Furthermore, this is a girl who is is a hero and role model for resisting evil.
Three Rivers Press is donating three books to be given away at MommyLife. Leave a comment for the drawing 9:00 am 3/4. [Update - leaving early for a doctor's appointment and errands - be back by 3]
February 26, 2010 ( 9:12 AM) |
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February 24, 2010
Wanna decorate cakes?
Here's an amazing way to learn at your own pace and for a fraction of the cost you'd pay taking a class.
Kathy Brodock has put together a DVD:
Find out the details, or order at Basic Cake Decorating.
But first, leave a comment - you might win one in the drawing 3/1/10!
February 24, 2010 (11:21 PM) |
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February 23, 2010
Raising Real Men - 3 winners!
This is the ahardest part for me as I wish I had copies for all.
But without further ado, the winners of Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys
are:
Terri White
Kendra Cutsinger
Heather ( with one boy and older sister)
Please email me your addresses!
February 23, 2010 ( 9:53 AM) |
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February 18, 2010
Raising Real Men - if you've got sons, you want this book!
I first heard of Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys
I really appreciated the book " Raising Real Men" by Hal and Melanie Young. They are homeschool parents to 6 boys and 2 girls.Just like the Youngs, I have been the recipient of many negative comments because I have 4-in-a-row boys. Gender roles seem to be blurred, and not everyone knows how to raise a boy into manhood. Instead of prescribing ritalin to make them more like girls, the Youngs have written a book that inspires parents to help their sons become the men that God has created them to be.
As a mom who never had any brothers, I felt very encouraged and inspired by this book. This is the best book I've ever read about raising boys!
As the mother of 4-in-a-row boys myself (Josh, Matt, Ben and Zach, now 26, 25, 23 and 22) - and having homeschooled them in the 90's, this was an issue I'd confronted - learning to let go of my prissy (formerly feminist) ways, appreciate my boys for the men-to-be that God had built into them and then do my best to encourage them in their journey to manhood.
Although I've written bits and pieces about this, I never wrote a book. So now I am very happy to have one to recommend.
While I have only had time so far to skim the copy Melanie sent me, I don't want to wait before passing on this resource to my readers, as the Youngs have graciously offered three copies to be given away to MommyLife readers.
Because my audience includes both Catholics and Evangelicals, I just want to mention that this is written from a strong biblical Evangelical perspective - which is reflected in the Amazon reviews
There was a reason for that old cliche. Because boys are different from girls and we need to accept them for who they are.
Here is an excerpt which indicates the reader-friendliness, authenticity and common sense throughout the book:
We probably made an error with our older sons when we thought it would be good to explain our decisions and directions as much as we did. Our hope was to gain their minds and wills, not just their compliance, Likely, most parents who've gone this route could tell you it tends to breed contempt, as if obedience isn't necessary until agreement is reached.Mom: "Son, get out of the street!"
Son: "Why?"Write your own ending.
Now we don't explain ourselves to our children every time or even most of the time, but it is still important that they learn why certain decisions have to happen. Our rule now is "Obey first, then ask me why, and I'll be glad to explain." That's when you find out who really wants to understand, and who is just stalling for time.
See what I mean? That's a fresh look and a lot of wisdom in 140 words.
If you've got sons, you want a copy of this book. Just leave a comment - three winners with be announced Tuesday 2/23 at 9:00 am.
February 18, 2010 (10:12 AM) |
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January 27, 2010
My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories - 3 winners!
Thanks to all of you who entered the drawing for this giveaway.
The winners are:
- Jennifer Dunlap
- Michelle Mom of 8
- Sue from Buffalo
Please send me your addresses and Thomas Nelson will ship to each of you.
The hardest part is not having books for everyone, but this is one book I recommend adding to your family library:
January 27, 2010 ( 7:41 AM) |
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January 21, 2010
Review/Giveaway: My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories is a Catholic family treasure!
Tripp and I reviewed this and read it to the kids and really are pleased to pass it on this resource, which Lisa Hendley, founder of CatholicMom.com, calls "a perfect faith formation tool for children and parents alike."
Since I know I have evangelical and Catholic readers, some may be wondering why Catholics would be looking for a Bible story book written especially for their families. Maybe this description will answer your questions:
This classically illustrated Bible Storybook with over 175 Bible stories (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition) is sure to be a family treasure for children and parents as they grow together in their faith in God and in the knowledge of Catholic tradition. To help children build a strong foundation of faith, Heide Hess Saxton has cross references to liturgical reading and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catholic prayers, quotes from saints, helpful introductions and other wonderful resources within the pages of the Bible Storybook. Helpful sections include:
- Going Deeper: related readings with fun and educational activities for the whole family
- Did You Know? Fun facts
- Special Words: teach the meaning of unusual and unfamiliar biblical terms
- Quote of the Day: shares wisdom with children from important people
As an evangelical for 20 years, I accumulated a lot of knowledge about the Bible, but as a relatively new Catholic parent I can't tell you how much this Bible Story Book means to me in terms of weaving together not only God's word, but the tradition of the church.
Thomas Nelson - known as one of the top evangelical book houses - is the publisher, which surprises me. The production values, the presentation, the art - all are top notch.
Thomas Nelson has graciously provided three copies for me to give away. To enter this drawing, please leave a comment with the ages of your children and/or grandchildren.
Will announce the winners next Wednesday morning!
January 21, 2010 ( 3:00 PM) |
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December 23, 2009
Great gift idea - free website/domain name
When the DotEasy people asked if I would post this lat-minute gift Idea, I said yes - because I think buying a domain name is a great gift idea. In fact, three years ago I bought two domain names for my daughter Maddy. She and her siblings thought I was nuts, as she was only thirteen. Today at 16, she is in a position to really use them. We will be developing them later this year.
So if you have a child who is a performer or artist - or on any career path that would make a website helpful, you might want to consider making a Christmas gift of his or her own domain name:
Best Christmas Gift IdeaStill not able to find the perfect gift to give to someone special? Still can't find something special enough that actually meets your budget?
Here's a great gift idea that won't even cost you a dollar and still would be something all your special someone's friends will envy.
Why not five a website as a gift? It's really unique - and unlike naming a star after someone, something truly useful and unique.
If you're worried it might be too difficult and technical, it's really not. All you need is a web host to make sure your website stay up online. While you can choose paid hosting, finding a reliable free web hosting provider for a personal site is a much smarter pick.
Doteasy free web hosting is one of the few free web hosts which is both free and reliable. No monthly fee and no setup fee - no worries about hidden charges.
On signing up for a free hosting account with Doteasy, you will be provided with a wide range of free web tools that will help you create your gift website. These web tools are great even for beginners since all are user friendly and easy to understand.
A great gift idea - and it's free!
To create a free account with Doteasy, click here.
But if you want your gift to be extra special, you could try their limited promo right now: Sign up any .com, .net or .org domain names for just $4.95 and get one year free cPanel web hosting service. The coupon code is 0910FWH.
A great deal!
To sign up, click here.
December 23, 2009 ( 1:56 PM) |
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December 20, 2009
Winner of Sony Pocket Reader
To select the winner, I printed out all the comments, cut them into separate entities, wadded each into a ball and had my nine-year-old Justin draw one out.
The winner is Bethany, who wrote:
One often quoted, but that I do love is:"For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world."from the poem by William Ross Wallace.
I hope and pray that this is true, and that the faithful mothers out there will raise truly wonderful people.
Bethany, you have won a Sony Pocket Reader. Please email me with your address and I will send it to you right away.
Than you to Sony for making this possible.
December 20, 2009 ( 9:27 PM) |
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December 14, 2009
Sony Reader Pocket Edition - giveaway!
What you're seeing is a widget - created by Words Move Me - which allowed me to collect and display some of my favorite literary passages, then to list the emotions each one elicited. Once created, you can click on the emotions to find more quotes others had labeled with that particular emotion.
For someone who loves to read this will stir your imagination - bringing to mind many great reading memories.
Words Move Me is a promotion for the Sony Reader Pocket Edition - and the good news is that Sony has provided two electronic readers to MommyLife - one for me to keep and one to give away.
To enter this giveaway, use the comment section here to share a literary passage that speaks of motherhood.. It doesn't have to use the word motherhood, but should be something which will stir the feelings of motherhood in all of us. It should not exceed 255 characters.
Leave your comments/passages before midnight Saturday December 19. To be eligible, you must submit a quote pertaining to motherhood from a book. I'll make a widget with our collected quotations and announce a winner Saturday.
Can't wait to see what you come up with!
December 14, 2009 (10:14 PM) |
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December 12, 2009
Special giveaway Monday!
Check back Monday for the first product giveaway on this new MommyLife page!
December 12, 2009 ( 7:32 PM) |
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