Today's Post...

Today I wrap up my Blogger of the Month status at Oklahoma Women Bloggers with a post about why blog. I am asked this question a lot, along with with how I have time. Here is a brief excerpt of the post. 

"Above all, I blog with the support of my husband, kids and family. They know how important it is to me to express my thoughts and tell my stories. I hope one day that my stories make a difference in their lives and that they enjoy the fact that I took the time to document all of the “Oh, Mom!” moments. #MyMommyMoments."

To read the rest you will have to read me here. I would also love for you to read my other posts this month at OkWB and let me know what you think.

Can I Ax the Axe?

Mom Fail

Who's Your Moma?

Bet on Your Baby: Win a 3 Coupon Pack for Luvs® Super Absorbent Jumbo Pack Diapers

*

Have you watched the show Bet on Your Baby Yet? We love it. Anything with Melissa Peterman in it, has to be good, right? The show airs on ABC Saturday nights 8/7c in partnership with Luvs®.

Every parent thinks they know their baby well, but are they willing to bet on it?

Bet on Your Baby is a new show where parents play fun games with their toddlers, and try to “bet” on what baby will do next! If they guess correctly, the family wins $5,000 in college tuition money, and the chance to play for $50,000!

All of these heartwarming and hilarious games are played in a toy-filled room called the Baby Dome. Do you think that you could predict what baby will do next?

Our favorite is when the babies have to carry water through obstacle courses, coached by their Daddy to fill containers at the other side of the course. Hilarious.

ABC is giving one of my readers a three-coupon pack for Luvs® Super Absorbent Jumbo Pack samples. Luvs® Super Absorbent diapers give your baby the protection they need at the low price you’re looking for complete with a money back guarantee. New Luvs® Super Absorbent Jumbo Packs have an everyday low price of $6.97 at Walmart! To win this giveaway all you have to do is visit the below widget and tell me if you survived the Baby Dome! Bonus entries are available.

*I did not receive compensation or product for this post. I am partnering with ABC & Partners Hub and giving away this prize to one of my readers because I love you!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Family Movie Night- Space Warriors, Widget & Blu-ray Combo Giveaway

Summer Family Home Movie Night #1 is scheduled.  Yours?  If you do not have plans for this Friday night, tune in to the Hallmark Channel, May 31, 2013 at 8/7c for Space Warriors.

*

Walden Family Theater is proud to announce the Space Warriors Blog App and a chance to Win a Family Trip to Space Camp!

About Space Warriors:

Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

Starring: Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart.

Space Warriors is the second film in the Walden Family Theater original lineup featuring great family entertainment, airing Friday nights exclusively on Hallmark Channel. Walden Family Theater is creating films for the whole family to enjoy together, so make sure to mark your calendars and gather around the television to watch all the great upcoming films!

Past films include: "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, "Holes", "Nim's Island", "Charlotte's Web", and "Return to Nim's Island."

Official Space Warriors Website: http://spacewarriorsmovie.com/
Official Space Warriors Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutxR0D4FxY

Now, who wants a chance to go to space camp? What about a owning a Blu-ray combo pack of the movie when it releases on June 11, 2013? For a chance to go to camp, you will have to watch the movie to listen for a SECRET keyword to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp! For the Blu-ray, Walden Family Theater and Partners Hub are giving one of my readers their very own copy of the movie. All you have to do is visit the below widget and then answer this required question on the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Additional entries can be earned as well. 

Take the How Spacey are You? Quiz. Are you a Space Warrior? Or should you just stay here on Earth?

*I was not compensated monetarily or by product for this post. Just an extra for my readers, because I love you!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Crow's Nest Summer To Do List

First day of summer vacation. I haven't heard THE words yet. You know the ones. Do I dare type them, heaven forbid I speak them aloud. I do have a wooden desk. I'll knock twice for each kid. 

I'M BORED!!!

So what's to do in my neck of the woods this summer to help keep the boredom at bay?

April 22-September 1 children 15 and under bowl two free games per day. Go to site to sign up and to find a bowling alley in your area.

I told you a few weeks ago in a post about this coupon that the Tulsa Zoo sent me for my readers to print. 

New exhibits. Even some albino alligators. Oh my. (just right click on the above coupon and save/print, expires June 30, 2013)

I'm pretty excited about this one. No, it's not free, but fifty cents for a movie if purchased in advanced or $1/movie. I think I can live with that. 

Here is the Broken Arrow Hillside Drive theater's lineup. 

June 3-5 Looney Tunes Back in Action

June 10-12 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

June 17-19 Horton Hears a Who

June 24-26 Smurfs

July 1-3 Ice Age: Continental Drift

July 8-10 Dolphin Tale

July 15-17 Happy Feet

July 22-24 Oceans

July 29-31 Rio

August 5-7 Chimpanzee

To see what is playing in your area, take a look at the following link.

I just added this one to our list last night. I forget about this place. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum in Norman, OK posted this on their Facebook page last night. "In recognition of the need to escape the trauma and chaos of the tragedy of the tornadoes that affected Oklahoma May 19 and 20 we're offering visitors free admission through the month of June."

We'll also be joining the Tulsa Library's summer reading program. The children's and the tween's. Going to the pool and maybe a trip or two to Big Splash, along with several road trips to see family for reunions and fun visits. Oh, and Mr. Braden even gets to visit our nation's capitol over the July 4th holiday. 

I don't think I have left much room to hear those two little words, what do you think? What's on your bucket list for the summer?

OKie Strong Tee Giveaway for Oklahoma- CLOSED

Note: For every entry received in this OKie Strong tee giveaway from Happy First, I will donate 10 cents to Oklahoma tornado relief efforts on behalf of The 4-Crow's, it's readers and friends. 

Monday night after the tornado destruction in Moore, OK everyone was connecting on Facebook.  I sent my friend Debbie, owner at Happy First, a message of a picture of Oklahoma, that I had doodled on my iPad and then sent it again with the words Okie Strong. It then gave Debbie the idea for the following drawing.

She put the Heart where Moore and the other towns that had been hit are located. Then she posted it on Facebook, just to show support for the victims. Then, the requests for the tees started. So we jumped into action and the above tees were born. All the profits from the tees will be going to the American Red Cross, Oklahoma Chapter, to help the victims of the tornadoes.

This is the first tee that Deb has made that men can wear. The tees are in both berry (pink) and steel blue. They are 100% combed and ringspun cotton, men’s sizing (fashion fit so flattering, not super boxy) XS-XXL. $25. There are also baseball caps available that can be embroidered with OKie Strong or OKie Strong Chick, profits also will be donated.

As an Oklahoma blogger, I feel its important that I do more to give back. This is my state. My neighbors. I am giving away one of these OKie Strong shirts to one of my readers. The entry is simple. In a Disqus comment-must be in Disqus, answer the following question. What size & color do you want? For each entry (one per person) I will donate ten cents. So if I get 100 entries, that means $10. I of course would love for you to make a purchase of one of these shirts and join us to further help Oklahoma tornado victims. 

Giveaway/donation period ends at midnight Okie time, May 25, 2013. U.S. only.

*There are NO affiliate links in this post

It Really is the Quietest Pencil Sharpener Ever!!

I have a lot of teacher friends. I like giving gifts to teachers. Why not? They are the ones who gave me a 17 year education and now educate, nurture and help develop my almost (one more day) 7th grader and 1st grader. I spend my "school" day with a teacher's baby. She told me about these fantastic, wonderful, QUIET, pencil sharpeners. I didn't believe her. A quiet sharpener is a teacher's dream, right my friends? Anything to avoid classroom interruptions. So, like any curious blogger/homeroom mom/PTA member, I set about on some teacher research during teacher appreciation week. I requested to do a review and was approved. The owner of Classroom Friendly Supplies, Troy Decoff,  is an elementary school teacher himself.  He first started selling these sharpeners after realizing that many fellow teachers were also completely fed up with the loud and inefficient pencil sharpeners that they had in their classrooms. Oh I remember those terrible, noisy, messy manual sharpeners, the only ones that truly work when sharpened. I HATE my electric one that we use at home. We have to jab the pencil so far in and it eats half the pencil before it gets sharp. I detest even more when my son tries to do homework in an ink pen. Anyway, Troy responded to my request and told me that I was exactly the type of person they were looking for to review the sharpener.

Guess what? It really is the quietest pencil sharpener ever. Troy sent me the Groovy Green one to try out. Guess what, I don't have to hold the pencil to sharpen it. The sharpener comes apart easily for cleaning, and I don't think I have ever seen a lovelier pencil point. Check out my Vine.
Teachers/PTA Members/Administrators/Schools/Homeschoolers/Parents/Businesses/anyone that needs a fantabulous pencil sharpener. Ages 5 and older can use. I highly recommend that you visit and purchase your quiet sharpener today at Classroom Friendly Supplies. Also, be sure to check them out on Facebook. 

SafetyTat Review & Giveaway- CLOSED

Two times this month, I have felt that moment of "parent panic". You know the panic where your child is in a public place and although I didn't take my eyes off of her, my eyes just couldn't find her. Once at our local Rooster Days festival here in Broken Arrow and then again along with five of her classmates at her Kindergarten field trip to the Tulsa Zoo. Thankfully my "parent panic" lasted as long as a blink of an eye, but what if truly one of those children had wandered off from my watch. Yes, these six year olds know their phone numbers, but in a moment of being scared and separated from their parent/leader the chances of them remembering is slim. What about younger children? What if that "just in case" happened?

SafetyTat  "The Tat That Brings Kids Back!"  The company specializes in temporary tattoos which display a parent/caregivers mobile phone number, helping the parent and child to quickly be reunited if separated. Founder Michele Welsh, Mom of three (twins + plus one) is proud to be called a "Mompreneur" and has personally designed, patented and marketed this line of super convenient child safety products. Michele created these products to make her life measurably less stressful, and coincidentally discovered a much needed new market segment.

The story of their company, products, press and customer testimonials are found here on their website.

SafetyTat can give a parent, teacher or care giver peace of mind when a child is off to birthday parties, school field trips, play dates and more!

Believe me when I tell you this,  my daughter's teacher will be getting these for her class on the first day of first grade. Once the SafetyTat is applied to the skin, which requires NO water, a parent/teacher writes their mobile number on it. The Quick Stick Write-On's that we have are peel and stick. They are made of super-durable material and can last for for up to a week. Removal is as easy as a band-aid, without the ouch!

I have teamed up with SafetyTat to give one of my readers their very own packet of the Quick Stick Write-On! Multi 3-pack tattoos. In addition, my readers will receive 10% off an order of $15 or more by using the code The4Crows. The coupon code is good now through June 5, 2013, so hurry and get your order in.

Entry for this giveaway is simple. Tell me in a blog comment about a "parent panic" moment you had, then let me know you did it on the easy Rafflecopter form. Additional entries are available. Open to U.S. and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Okie Strong for My Aching Heart

*

My heart aches.

It aches for the now total of 53 victims of two deadly tornadoes that have ripped through my state of Oklahoma in the past two days. Two twisters that killed, out of many that carved paths of destruction. The number of victims is expected to go up. 

It aches for the Mommies who can no longer old their baby boy or girl. I cannot even imagine. I cannot even bear to turn on the news. Especially with my own children so near. I can't even fathom.

It aches for the rescue workers, officials and clean up crews as they go through piles of rubble. Searching for just a glimpse of life. Of hope. 

It aches in fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what the next storm may bring. I typically do not express fear, for I know fear is not of the Lord. I admit though, these storms scare me and always have. I do take comfort in knowing that I have a heavenly home, and I will find solace in this verse:

Psalm 27:1 

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

(NKJV)

Be strong my fellow Oklahoman's. Strong in faith, hope and love. We always have been a state that prays together, a state that is OkieStrong.

*my friend Debbie Vinyard, owner of HappyFirst.com drew this Okie Strong picture. Feel free to post/share. 

Today's Post...

AXE is out to get me. Don't believe me? Go read me today at Oklahoma Women Bloggers where I just so happen to be their May blogger of the month. Yes, me! 
While you are there check out my other posts this month here and here. Leave me some comment love and let me know what you think.

Now if you will excuse me while I go sharpen my ax...I'm about to take out my 12 year old son's coveted supply of hygiene product.

Zit Cream is an American Girl Marker Miracle

Mother's Day morning. Getting ready for church. Of course McKenna and Kaybrie have to to wear matching dresses and have matching hairstyles. Before church. Why was this not planned the night before? That's when I discovered it. This.

Nooooo. How did that happen? Of course Kaybrie didn't know. And I could tell it wasn't done on purpose, but probably something had instead been laid upon her or beside her or grabbed her. Ugh! I tried makeup remover, fingernail polish remover, baby wipes, even a Clorox wipe. Nothing would remove it. A $105 doll, that we can't even afford to purchase by ourselves, we split the cost with grandparents or have the grandparents go in together for birthday presents. These dolls are special and are treated with magic fingers around our home. Obviously not magic enough this time or maybe a little too close to the MAGIC marker drawings or covered fingers this time. 
I just knew I couldn't wait and take the doll to the AG store and have them fix it, I don't want that to be our experience when we finally make it to Dallas or Kansas City to step foot into my daughter's dream store destination. So, I pulled my Real Housewife of the Internet and googled and came up with this site, which had this video. Their secret. zit cream. Yep the stuff with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. Name brand is Oxy. I buy the generic. We just so happen to have the Target brand in the house right now.
I shot this Vine of the process. Have you downloaded and used Vine yet? Everyone else's videos are the coolest. I'm still learning. 

Anyway, put the zit cream on the marker, then wrap in saran wrap so it doesn't dry out. Take the doll and place her outside in the sun for about 4 hours. Be sure to cover her hair. You don't want your doll to get dry hair do you?

  Seriously. The marker is GONE!!  Zit cream is an American Girl Marker Miracle.

Run Across Mongolia

Compassion. 

 I'm not a wealthy person or a superwoman. Right now, I do not have the means or calling to go into the foreign mission field, however I do have a blog and tremendous compassion. I CAN write to share my Savior and I can also use it to spread the word about other people's compassion. This will be my second post this year telling you of a mission trip. The first one my own brother's. You can read about that one here. 

Today I want to share about a family in my church that I have "known", but have really known since we began volunteering in August 2012 in the children's ministry at our church, theChurch.at, where I am a small group leader in Kindergarten, my husband in security, and my son a small group leader in third grade. 

Brian Hunter, will run 1500 miles across Mongolia to raise support for the orphans and abandoned children living in the dumps and orphanages in and around the capital city. His wife Lissa and two children will be there with him, riding/running along beside him. 

Watch the below video to find out the WHY behind his trek.

  AME2013 Video from Corey Lack on Vimeo.

You can make a difference in the lives of these children by purchasing a Hope 1500 Necklace. All proceeds go directly to these precious little ones. 

To purchase, simply click here www.acrossmongolia.com

They are also making these beautiful farm tables. Information on these can also be found at the above link.

Above all, please join me in prayer for this family now and in June/July as they go into Mongolia. Pray for Brian as he runs, pray for health, safety, strength, courage. Pray for obstacles they may come in contact with as they spread the good news of our Lord. Pray that that are received well and that they touch many, many lives. 

Amen.

Tulsa Zoo Summer is King Promotion

I was so excited this morning to get an email from the Tulsa Zoo. They wanted me to tell my Tulsa area friends/readers and those visiting Tulsa, about an exciting summer promotion that the Tulsa Zoo is offering for 2013. The zoo promotion, “Summer is King”, is a buy one get one free admission valid until June 30th! How cool is that! Just right click the coupon below and save/print!

Today's Post

"Mommy? What are those, my daughter asked as we drove to my childhood church Easter morning.

Those, being one of these….

One of the hundreds that we passed along the seven mile stretch of Dillard Road on our way to Rexroat Baptist Church in the southern Oklahoma town of Wilson."

For the rest of this story you will have to visit me today over at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am being featured there as May's Blogger of the Month you know. Pretty cool, right? Be sure to leave me some comment love here on my blog as well as over there!

Teacher's Appreciation Week May 6-10

Is it already that week again? The past two years I have shared with you my ideas and gifts for my children's teachers at The RHOK here and here. This year since I am no longer writing there and can't "hide" them as well, I simply can't share all of them in this post- surprises will definitely be ruined. I suppose I will just be posting them each day after school when I know the teacher has received them.

I will however post what my son will be giving to each of his seven teachers as a token of appreciation and what my daughter will be giving to her specials teachers.

Sometimes I think when a child reaches middle school those teachers are forgotten. Not to mention the specials teachers who are only seen an hour or so each week. These were super easy and inexpensive. You can get an 18 pack of assorted M&M's at Wal-Mart for $10.98, that averages .61 each. Then I found the printable, somewhere- I can't remember. Had it saved on my phone and just added the text with PicMonkey. I have lots of great ideas on my Pinterest boards, be sure to check them out for last minute ideas.

Well, I guess I better get off here and continue to prepare for next week. There are rolls to be made, salads to be prepared, and gifts to finish up...

What will your kid's teachers be receiving this week?



Update: I finally found where the printable came from. Check out this site for great ideas!

Can't- Wait Willow! Book Review & Giveaway

Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is, that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!

I learned a similar saying in college in my business management courses, in fact the saying was by none other than the author's uncle Zig Ziglar, "Sometimes you've got to say 'no' to the good, so you can say 'yes' to the best."

The author, Christy Ziglar,  is a financial planner, mother of twins and as I mentioned above, niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar. She is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. My 6 year old and I loved this book. The lesson of waiting for something great was applied back to this past weekend when the $20 her grandmother had given her for the weekend somehow had burned a hole in her pocket. It didn't go very far at the mall when she wanted a Build A Bear and a new shirt and wallet at Justice. 

Kaybrie reading Can't- Wait Willow!, the readers of this book are encouraged to share pictures on FB and Twitter!

One of my readers is going to get their very own copy of this book! Who wants it? All you have to do is answer the following question on the easy Rafflecopter entry form, bonus entries are available and are encouraged.

Who will you read this book with?

About Shine Bright Kids:
The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The principles that will be explored include: using good judgment, taking responsibility, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance. The first book in the series: Can't-Wait Willow!

About the Illustrator: Thanks to her first grade teacher, who recognized her superior skills in drawing a robin, Luanne Marten has been drawing, painting and sketching ever since. She is a great experimenter and has a fresh, whimsical approach to bring her characters to life.

The author's website has great resources to support the book, including a printable poster with 'Ways to Shine Bright,' as well as reward chart you can use at home with your children. 

Website: http://www.alwaysshinebright.com
The publisher site is: http://www.idealsbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdealsBooks

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/63779686

a Rafflecopter giveaway