AtmosFlare™3D Drawing Pen Review #AtmosFlare #Sponsored

'Tis the two weeks of Christmas Break and boredom has officially set in- and we shave less than a week to go until school is back in session. What will I do with the 5  days remaining to keep my sanity in tact besides eat? What will these kids of mine do besides eat, play video games, watch TV, and drive me insane?

Thanks to AtmosFlare™ 3D DRAWING PEN by RedwoodVentures LTD, LLC., who is paying us to test out their latest product before it hits the shelves in January, I can add another activity to our break. Yippee!!

Take a look at the flower pot that Miss K made using the AtmosFlare™ 3D DRAWING PEN.

You may recall last month, I was paid to play with their I DO 3D product. See our review of it here. Honestly, we like the AtomoFlare 3D Pen, so much better. It's more precise and cures while being used versus drawing and then curing. And, being able to draw and sculpt in mid-air is amazing!! Take a look at the following video.


AtmosFlare 3D from Redwood Ventures LTD on Vimeo.

Since we are in testing mode, our pen came in a brown box with the following items:
Pen (1)
Ink Cartridges (2, blue and red)
Ink Tips (4)
Cap (1)

Miss K loves making craft videos-I think she is contemplating becoming a YouTube sensation, so I let her make one of the AtmosFlare™3D Drawing Pen for this post, keep in mind she and I are still not experts on 3D pen art, but we are having fun trying and learning.




AtmosFlare™ Pro Tips:

• Start squeezing before you turn on the light. It helps to keep the nozzle free from initial buildup.
• Ink your base/attachment point first then turn on the light. Otherwise the ink may not stick or simply pull right off. 
• Shining the pen on a bright surface will cure what is already inside the nozzle. The reflection of the light cures the inside of the nozzle and can block it. 
• When the nozzle is clogged, remove the nozzle then clean/clear the nozzle with a paperclip. If you leave the nozzle attached to the resin bladder when cleaning the obstruction will just get squeezed back in to the nozzle.
•  Try to store the pen upright while in frequent use so the ink stays a the tip. Otherwise you will have to shake the pen or squeeze through the air pockets which might distort your line. 
• Your battery will last about 4 hours. When it’s time to change your battery, the lighted “M” emblem will alert you by flashing three times.
• You might see moisture vapor near the tip of your pen as you draw. This is a harmless, odorless result of the 3D ink curing as excess moisture evaporates.

Safety:

1. Avoid looking directly at the spotlight, and don't point the spotlight at your eyes or the eyes of anyone else.
2. Place cap on drawing tip after use. AtmosFlare™ works best if used and stored at room temperature, (between 60 and 80 degrees fahrenheit, 15 to 27 degrees celsius.)
3. For the best results, draw directly on the supplied plastic sheet and accessory shapes. This keeps your drawing surface clean and neat. (We were not supplied these sheets, but instead improvised with parchment paper and our supplies from the IDO3D review)
4. Wash hands well with soap and water after use.
5. Do not place ink in mouth or ingest. In case any ink enters your eyes, wash with plenty amount of water. If you experience any unexpected allergic reaction, consult a doctor.
6. Product performs best if used within 12 months after manufacturing (manufacture date is printed on pen).
7. Our system does not use heat to assist in the curing process, but heat is generated for about 5 seconds during the curing process. Do not apply ink to skin under direct light or sunlight as it may cause skin irritation or burns. If ink is applied to skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
8. Adult supervision is required. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of 3D ink.
9. Keep pen/ink away from pets.
10. Results vary depending on level of skill. 
11. For information regarding allergic concerns, please call our Customer Service 1(855) 876-8124

Troubleshooting

• If material cured in pen tip. Remove pen tip and unclog the cured material. 
• Replace new battery when curing time is up to 1 minutes. 

To Clean

• Wash with soap and warm water. 
•  Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer to help remove sticky residue from hands.

Be sure to follow AtmosFlare™ at the following links and be one of the first to own this amazing 3D drawing pen.

https://www.facebook.com/AtmosFlare-904118429666590/

https://twitter.com/AtmosFlare

https://www.instagram.com/atmosflare/

I will say, be sure to save ALL pieces to this pen. We made the mistake of throwing away the original tops to the ink- big mistake. If the ink inside the tip wasn't hardened, it kind of poured out a little. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by AtmosFlare™. All content is my honest opinion. I will be compensated monetarily for this post.

Oh What Fun it is/was to Drive...#ToyotaOKC #LetsGoPlaces #Giveaway #Sponsored

Oh what FUN it was to drive a 2015 Toyota Sienna for a week. I totally cried watching it leave my driveway this morning. This past week I was provided a 2015 Toyota Sienna LTD to drive and a gift card. Everything in this post is my own opinion, and I am TOTALLY responsible if you go out and buy yourself one for Christmas or if YOU WIN 1 of 3 Visa Gift Cards at the bottom of this post courtesy of Toyota!!

Leather interior. Oh the sweet sweet smell of leather and not a basketball sweat cloth interior. Yes, I speak from experience.

The room. Can you see that sliding track for the second row seating? My 6'2" son sat back there and up front without touching his sister or the dashboard. 

The room in that second row is amazing. I fit THREE car seats very comfortably back there. So for growing families, grandparents, or someone like me who just loves babies in car seats...I love this car. In the 2015 Toyota Sienna, safety comes first. With an advanced airbag system and LATCH anchors for your child seats, you can be confident that the most precious cargo is protected.

Space. Sweet space. Do you see all of those groceries? My husband thinks I spent $ just to see if I could fill up all the room in this Sienna. Of course he is wrong. I have Christmas presents, two kids home for two weeks, and even him home for a week. Maybe I should have filled this minivan to capacity. I really like the sunken storage, my bottles of pop don't roll around!

Ha! These two were very impressed with the dual HD DVD system. I was impressed because I could give them the wireless headphones and tune into Country Christmas on SiriusXM radio and even some 90's on 9- oh the memories. 

The 2015 Toyota Sienna has Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Sorry, no pictures available for this, you are just going to have to trust me on this awesome driving feature. No texting or picture taking while driving!! The navigation was so so easy to use. We attended a Nutcracker wrap-up party for my daughter on Saturday. Even though I knew where we were going.

Did I mention how much I love the hands free calling? I did. I think everyone on my favorites list received at least 3 phones calls from me. The Entune multimedia, and in-steering wheel controls make the 2015 Toyota Sienna comfortable and convenient.

Here is the full list of Toyota Sienna Limited Features from the Toyota website:

Entune™ Premium JBL® Audio with Navigation and App Suite which includes the Entune™ Multimedia Bundle (7” high-resolution touch-screen with split-screen display, ten JBL® speakers including subwoofer), Driver Easy Speak, Entune® App Suite, HD Radio™, AM/FM Cache Radio, Gracenote® Album Cover Art, HD Predictive Traffic and Doppler Weather Overlay, Dual Power Moonroof, 18” Alloy Wheels, Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors with Puddle Lights and Reverse Tilt-Down and Memory Features, Premium Leatherette-Trimmed Power 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd Row™, Heated Steering Wheel, LED Daytime Running Lights, Premium Leather-Trimmed Front Seats, Removable Premium Leather-Trimmed Second-Row Lounge Seat Captain's Chairs, Metallic Front Grille with SuperChrome Surround, and Seating for Seven.

MSRP starts at $41,650 for the new 2015 Toyota Sienna Limited.

I really, really, really hated handing over the keys to this Salsa Red Pearl beauty this morning...but I will really LOVE if one of you are blessed with a gift card from Toyota! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IDO3D Pen and Ink Up to 25 Projects Print System Product Review

"MOMA.....I'm so BORED!!!"
"I've already played with the 1.1K toys we have, we are out of paint, and I need more bands."

Sound familiar? Thanks to IDO3D by RedwoodVentures LTD, LLC., who is paying me to play with my daughter (WIN! WIN!), I am not going to hear these phrases as much with upcoming snow days and looooong school vacations.

Lately, it seems a lot of Miss K's creations have been 3D. Some of my favorites are her snowman, penquin, tiger and alligators. If you follow me on IG you have seen a few of these. When IDO3D offered to let me try out their kit with my kids, I said YES! Especially when it boasted to make up to 25 projects. Score!!


This IDO3D kit includes:
(5) 3D drawing pens, colors vary but we received two red (the tube appears slightly orange), two green and one yellow.
(1) 3D Guide Book
(1) spotlight for curing the ink
(1) plastic sheet for drawing
(2) accessory shapes
*NOT included are 3 AAA batteries

Check out my little artist. If it involves experimenting, she is all about it.

Tips for using:

• Make sure your IDO3D spotlight has fresh batteries. Uses AAA(Note: The light may appear to be working, when the batteries are in fact weak.)
• The spotlight should be held as close to your project as possible (about .5 inches). You can also cure your pieces from the bottom of the plastic tracing sheet by holding your light directly under your artwork. This is helpful for thicker lines and larger areas of ink. The tip of the pen can be adjusted to create thick or thinner lines. (Just like a glue tip)
• Trace small sections of your project pieces and then quickly hit it with the light. You do not need it to fully cure; a couple of seconds will prevent the ink from spreading and allow you to achieve finer detail. Repeat this process until you are finished with your project piece.
• We have found that alcohol based hand sanitizers help to easily remove any sticky residue left behind by the ink.
• You can place your plastic tracing sheet in the sun to cure any unwanted ink. (You can also place your art in a window sill and use to sun to help finish curing your projects.)

You can purchase your very own IDO3D Pen and Ink Up to 25 Projects Print System at this link. Here is her final 1st time project. I think she is in the Christmas mood. 

Miss K and I had so much fun bonding and creating. She thought it would even be fun to answer a few questions about her newest craft making tool, and really thought it was cool when she saw IDO3D advertising on the TV! Too bad we had to leave for her brother's basketball game or we probably would have made it a goal to get all 25 projects made in one night!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by IDO3D. All content is my honest opinion. I will be compensated monetarily for this post.

The Elf on the Shelf®: A Birthday Tradition NEW Products

As you know, last year Santa granted special permission for the scout elves to visit their families to celebrate their birthdays. If you remember, Malia Peppermint Pattie paid our nest a visit first on my 39th birthday. You can read all about that visit here.  The Elf on the Shelf®: A Birthday Tradition became a BIG hit with my family. Especially our littlest Crow. She's only 7!

Now, the creators are so excited to announce the following new birthday products:

The Elf on the Shelf®: Birthday Countdown and Game
& The Elf on the Shelf®: Birthday Chair Decoration Kit

The Birthday Countdown and Game includes TWO ways to celebrate birthdays North Pole-style! Each kit includes a display-ready felt wall hanging with a delightful, 28-pocket Advent-style calendar for counting down to the big day! Simply place the cupcake in the pocket that represents how many days are left until the birthday arrives, and each morning the child can move the cupcake ahead, one-by-one until the big day. When the birthday arrives, simply flip the board over to play the Birthday Game – a North Pole favorite! Children will wear a blindfold and take turns trying to place special birthday candles on the giant cupcake.

In the book, The Elf on the Shelf®: A Birthday Tradition, scout elves love to decorate special chairs for birthday girls and boys – and their creativity is limited only by their imagination (and the supplies they have to work with). The Elf on the Shelf® Birthday Chair Decoration Kit gives scout elves an extra hand when a birthday comes around! Each kit includes everything a scout elf needs to design a birthday seat that will delight any birthday girl or boy on their big day. The chair can be customized with the child’s name and age, if desired.

Our birthdays begin in the Fall, so I have to put these things away until then, but I did pull out the countdown and game and let my little Miss see it. The workmanship is of great quality and detail. The colors very bright and cheery. Exactly what I would expect from the North Pole.

She is so excited to add this to her/our birthday traditions. Just wait until she sees the chair decorated! I am saving that one for a Scout Surprise other than my own creativity. Thank you The Elf on the Shelf® for coming up with products and ideas to help make life easier as we make more memories with our scout elf. 

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to The Elf on the Shelf® for providing the products in exchange for this review and post. Opinions are 100% my own and not influence by any monetary compensation.

I'm Having a Party...A Very Younique Party. #3DFiberlashMascara

I like makeup. I wear makeup. Okay, not as much as I did pre-WAHM. Maybe, only 5 out of 7 days. I also used to spend a little more money on my cosmetics than I do now. Motherhood kind of does that to a girl, or at least that is my case. The five basic needs of life have kicked in: FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHES, SCHOOL and SPORTS.

My friends have been showing off their new eyelashes on Facebook. Some are actually salon paid eyelash extensions, and others are from Younique. Younique's 3D Fiberlash Mascara is simply put- AMAZEBALLS.

Check it out.

Now I am going to admit. When I first heard about this stuff a few months back, $29 for mascara was a big FORGET IT!!! But after using all week, I am in love. The tubes last a couple of months with regular use.

Take a look at this video I put together.



Younique has a full line of cosmetics including their #1 best seller, the 3D mascara. I just opened up a Virtual Party and would love for you to join me to get your hands on this product. It is going on now through May 24, 2014. Be sure to like my friend Mary Kay's Facebook page!



Disclosure: Younique by Mary Kay provided me with the product to review and write an honest post. No other compensation was received.

Halo Heaven: My New Favorite Site for Dress Up, Accessories & Craftiness

The 4-Crow's blog uses affiliate links, please see the Disclosures Policy page for more details.

Last Friday the mail lady brought a box to our door. A box for me to play with and Miss K to wear. A box from my new favorite site- Halo Heaven. Halo Heaven is a place to get all of your party and dress-up accessories at wholesale prices without buying the wholesale bulk. 

They sent Miss K a pettiskirt, fairy wings, a tiara, a wand, a set of bows and a ribbon halo. Talk about a box of treats. We had so much fun playing dress up and taking pictures. She is preparing for her annual ballet recital this week so we had a great excuse to get into costume, hair and makeup. I love these moments. It was hard not to share all 40 or so pictures in this post, she just radiated cuteness and beauty. 

Halo Heaven is running a CRAZY sale right now. I mean CRAZY. Use code CRAZY50 to get 50% off your order. (Sale does exclude items in the custom embroidery dept, halos, wands, gift cards and log furniture.) Also, there is free shipping on orders over $30 in the continental U.S. 

I absolutely adore their blog. They have such creative ideas. Right up my alley. And ALL of the supplies are carried on their site. What about making a tutu Easter basket out of one of their tutus? Click on this link to see what I am talking about. 

Whether you have a boy, girl or just a hankering to get crafty, you can get all of the style and accessories from one place, my new favorite place: Halo Heaven. 

Raise Your Hand if You Need The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener

Raise your hand if you are happy school is out for the summer. Raise your hand if you read my post about The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener on May 23.

You did? I am ecstatic!!! Now you will be too...

One of my readers is getting their very own pencil sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies.

Raise your hand if you want it. I promise you it will be your next best friend. 

My kids are searching for pencils everywhere to sharpen. There will never be a dull pencil in my nest again!

There are only TWO requirements to enter. Bonus entries are available. Entries are collected on the easy Rafflecopter form below. Open to U.S. addresses only.

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Etched...Upon My Heart...by Jill Kelly: Review & Giveaway

 "If something were to happen to you- if today was it- what would you want your children to remember and never forget?" That's a tough one isn't it?

That is the first sentence of the introduction to the above book. It had me in  thought provoking tears. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately as a mother. Jill Kelly writes, "God will break our hearts, but He will hold the pieces. He will cradle us and redeem every tear we cry." Throughout the book she touches on love, forgiveness, suffering, giving, prayer, death, and messages to her children. These are actually some of the titles of the chapters.

One of my latest reads, and soon to be one yours is Etched...Upon My Heart: What We Learn and Why We Never Forget by New York Times best-selling author, Jill Kelly. It releases today, January 22, 2013. Wife of NFL legend Jim Kelly,  Jill shares deeply personal experiences as a mother trying to make every moment count, against the backdrop of trying circumstances.

"Written to encourage parents who want to instill faith in their children, Kelly shares episodes of her life—some happy, some sad—imparting lessons she hopes will help others pass on the gift of God’s love. Jill writes, “There are precious memories waiting to be unearthed in the moments already etched upon your life. I hope that in sharing some of mine, you’ll be willing and brave enough to open up and share yours.”

Kelly’s touching emotional prose, written with remarkable honesty and tenderness, takes readers into the most private moments of her family’s life and deals realistically with the challenges she’s faced, such as a terminally ill son, an unfaithful husband, and the natural tension from raising Christian kids in a secular society. "Etched...Upon My Heart is an extension of my soul; the heartbeat of what I have learned thus far in my journey as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and child of God,” writes Kelly."

Website: http://www.jillk.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Kelly-AuthorSpeaker/322884036164
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hjkforever

About the Author: 

Jill Kelly is the wife of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. In September 1997, months after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe Leukodustrophy, Jim and Jill founded the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. As chairman of the board of Hunter’s Hope, Jill helps children suffering from Leukodystrophy, and their families by raising awareness and research funds to fight this devastating disease. She and Jim live in Buffalo, NY, with their two daughters and three dogs. Hunter’s Hope Foundation can be found online at www.HuntersHope.org. Jill is also the author of Without A Word. 

Who wants their very own copy of this book? One of my readers will be blessed with a copy of this book. Just fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below. Bonus entries are available!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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Posey Lane- My New Favorite Personalized Online Boutique

There comes a time in every little girl's life when she outgrows her favorite hooded ladybug "Laney" towel that she has owned since before she could walk. That time is now for my little ladybug princess, just shy of her 6th birthday. I knew it was going to happen, but she still wants her own "personal" towel to use. I blame the Disney Channel and all of those girly commercials for making her grow up too soon. 

Posey Lane is an internet boutique store that specializes in personalized gifts and embroidery. When contacted to do a review I immediately went to their kids shower wraps. 

I chose the Black & Hot Pink Mint Bath Towel Wrap for Miss K in the Tween-size, it is 21 inches in length and fit busts 26 to 32 inches. I wanted her to be sure to be able to use it for a few growing years. I hate when my kids outgrow embroidered items. I ordered on Friday and had it by Wednesday! A five day turnaround!! When I opened the package, I was immediately impressed with the quality of the wrap. It is SO soft with its minky fabric, and I asked to be surprised on the font style- simply beautiful!!

Don't you love it as much as Miss K does? What do you think? I think I'm off to order my very own now with Mrs. Crow on it, maybe even matching...

About Posy Lane from the site:

"After many years of retail experience, Posy Lane, Inc. was founded by Kerrie Barton in 2007, with the support of her long-suffering husband Nathen. The store-front was located in downtown McKinney, Texas in the historic square. Customers quickly came to rely on Posy Lane to supply them with unique gifts and invitations for every occasion, as well as printing and embroidery services.

After nearly two years of offering exceptional products and service, the couple prepared for the birth of their first child. So, Posy Lane Inc. closed its brick-and-mortar doors in May 2009 to focus exclusively on the internet portion of the business, allowing them the opportunity to work from home and take care of their newborn son. Attention to detail and customer service has paid off. We have our own North Dallas warehouse and workspace, and a staff of two full time and three part time employees. Whether you are a loyal customer we met at the store in McKinney, a repeat on-line customer, or a new customer, we are committed to providing you with the finest products, biggest selection and best services in the timeliest manner possible."

Be sure to join them on Facebook for their latest news and coupons!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Father of Lights Review & Giveaway

I am not one to usually sit down and watch documentaries. 

I did sit down and watch Father of Lights, the third and final film in the Finger of God/Furious Love Trilogy, My conclusion is this, if you ever watch one documentary in your life, and not just because it is a Christian one, this is the one to watch. If you have ever wanted to get a glimpse of what actually happens when the darkness fades and the lights are turned on for people around the world when God's love is revealed this is it.

 Here are a  few things that really stand out to me in this film:

1. God is the Father, not the Godfather.

2. Our God is a god of love, not punishment.

3. God's love is about relationships, not religion.

The encounters throughout this film really made me think. It includes witch doctors, violent gang members, Hindu holy men, and everyday people who give up everything for the calling of Christ's work. It made me think more about my love for everyone doing God's work in different ways, whether it be radically holding a sign and using a bullhorn to people on a street corner to the gang leader who gave his life to Christ who has his car speakers blowing a Christian beat, but still wears his Corona hat in his hood. We have to find our niche to witness and to love on people the way Christ loves on us.

Our God truly is far better than anyone can imagine.

I am very happy to announce that one of my readers is going to be blessed with their very own copy of this documentary to add to their video collection or pass on after they have viewed.

All you have to do is answer one mandatory question on the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Additional entries can be earned.

About Father of Lights
FATHER OF LIGHTS chronicles the journey of filmmaker Darren Wilson and his team as they fearlessly travel the globe, far from the daily existence of the typical evangelical believer in the West. By thoughtfully documenting the stories of extraordinary believers and candidly filming miracles, visions and other supernatural occurrences, Wilson engages viewers in modern day examples of the true nature and character of God.

Wilson gives honest access to his own spiritual questions as he tackles the religious misconceptions he has struggled with throughout his life. “I went into making this film by asking the simple question: who is God? I wanted to know His character, His personality, and who He truly is. To answer this question, we had to peel back the many layers of religious garbage that has been passed onto him through generations. That He is angry. Vengeful. Wrathful. And in general, that He doesn’t like you very much. The truth, as you will see vibrantly in this film, is that He is the most loving, compassionate, and wonderful Father you can imagine.”

About Wanderlust Productions
Wanderlust Productions is a video production company focusing on creating content for various media that highlights, informs, and is designed to spiritually stretch our audience. Created by Darren Wilson, Professor at Judson University, Wanderlust’s focus is on telling stories that inspire and agitate, that are unwavering in their honesty yet are emotionally compelling. While our content will always be Christian in nature, we are not afraid to explore themes, concepts, or areas that may be considered “risky” by the Christian establishment. Wanderlust prides itself on its willingness to put the story above the message. That being said, the message will never waver.

Website: http://fatheroflights.wpfilm.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fatheroflights
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wanderdarren/
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/wanderlustproduction

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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School Paper Overload? There's an App for That!

It's been six years since I've had a kindergartner. Frankly, I had forgotten the paper load of 123's, ABC's, and all the colors and art that go along with them. If I remember correctly about the time they start getting the A's and B's in 3rd grade, is when the load drops off. 

This is how my daughter decorates my refrigerator when she comes home from school.

Does yours bare a striking resemblance? 

This is two days worth of papers that I have confiscated from her backpack before she got into the decorating mode, thankfully ballet interrupted.

Now don't get me wrong. I am extremely sentimental with my children's work. I even have a few pieces of my son's framed. I just don't have space to keep everything. But, I also don't want to lose those memories either. My own Moma kept my work, but unfortunately it was lost in a home fire when I was in fifth grade. Some memories are to be cherished. Easily cherished. With the click of my camera on my phone, I can now save, share and eventually even publish these memories in a photobook, gift or other keepsake.

The app is called ArtKive, and is available on iTunes.

I set both of my kids up in the app, tackling the present first and will move on to the other box soon. As you can see by the picture you can change grades. Score- all ready for the next few years!

Here is Kaybie's artkive so far...

I love this picture. It was color by sight words- I, the, my, a, and go.

What is awesome about this app is you can set up a share circle. That way grandparents or whoever you include can be emailed directly all the beautiful artwork.

This is a win, win app! What are you waiting for? Download it while it's still FREE!!!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and am not affiliated with ArtKive in any way- at this time! I just wanted to pass on to my readers a Mommy find, that I find extremely useful!

'Hear Me' by Kyle Sherman, releases 10/9- Review & #Giveaway

I am a testament to the crazy of God's work. I have told only a handful of how God closed a window in my family's life and opened a great door of service into HIS. The night before I ended my part time job this past August, I was getting my hair cut. I made a comment to my friend/hairdresser that I didn't feel led to serve/teach kids at my church because I was with children at my job. The next afternoon, God closed the window of my part time job. That evening, another friend from church called me asking if my husband and I would serve as small group leaders in the kindergarten area the following Sunday, which began the new church year.

Happy church year to us. 

I became a Kindergarten Small Group Leader and my husband became a Synergy Back Door Security Guard!

I don't know what God's plan is for my family, it's all in His time. All I know is that I must obey and continue to follow his path. The story behind the album that I am reviewing is much like my own, it's so easy to do my own thing, but obviously in the situation above, God has a bigger plan.

The title track Hear Me, has to be my favorite, you can listen to it here. This album releases next Tuesday, October 9th. One of my readers is going to be blessed with their very own copy!

Easy entry on the Rafflecopter form.

Album Bio
"Fort Worth-based singer-songwriter Kyle Sherman recently signed on as the flagship artist to brand new label RayLynn Records, an opportunity that presented itself during a time period when a record deal wasn't even on his radar.

"It's crazy how God works," Kyle says. 'Five years ago, I pushed pretty hard to do my own thing as a singer-songwriter, but every well I approached would dry up. It clearly wasn't the right time." So Kyle continued on a path of leading worship, taking a full-time role as worship leader at Lifechurch.TV's Fort Worth campus under the leadership of renowned pastor/author Craig Groeschel.

Just 3-years later Kyle made it back to Nashville, pouring his heart into a microphone at Sony studio with veteran producer and country singer-songwriter Mark Collie making his first album. God is faithful. 'Hear Me', the result of those sessions, is an eclectic and authentic mix of rootsy, southern soul."

Website: http://www.kyleshermanmusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyleshermanmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KyleShermanTX
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RayLynnRecords


"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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Bible Teaching: My Top Tips with #ChildrensBibleApp Review & Giveaway

Let me preface this post by telling you I am not a perfect Christian mother. The ultimate goal of a Christian is to be Christlike, not to be Christ. I admit, I struggle at times. I firmly believe that if I wasn't trying to do the things a Christian mother is supposed to do then temptations, obstacles and trials would never be thrown my way.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

What are my best tips for teaching the Bible to my children in our home and everyday life?
(Note: These are not in any specific order)

1. Songs: From the time they were born I started singing to my children all the songs I was taught in Sunday School, VBS and church camp. All the "kid" songs, but songs that even as adults, if we can remember that childlike faith of singing such songs as "I'm in the Lord's Army" and "Deep and Wide" we remember that our "God is so big, so strong and so might that there is nothing our God can not do!" When we are in the car on trips, or just around town we surround ourselves with the word through His music.

2: Bible Verses: I post verses around my home for them to learn and gain strength by daily. When they learn a verse or verses, I make a HUGE deal out if it. I may even video and post on FB or my blog. I do brag on my kids, but I do so for encouragement for their daily walk with Christ and so that others may see Jesus in their child actions.

3: Church: Weekly church attendance where they have the opportunity to worship with others their own age and mature in their walk with Christ. Christian interaction is essential to spiritual growth and going to church just emphasizes what I teach at home.

4: Books: We love Christian books. Of course the number one book in our home is the Bible. But, I am honest, breaking out the King James Version and reading it straight to my kids isn't going to cut it. I look for a variety of Bible teaching books that bring the word into my home and make the teachings and principles of the Bible relatable to my kids.

5. Prayer: In the book of Matthew, Jesus told us how to pray. I began praying with my kids from the moment I knew I was pregnant with them. I began with basic nighttime prayers, dinner prayers, etc and they have advanced to deeper more personal prayers as they have gotten older. This past Sunday my daughter even got up in front of her group of kindergarten and first grade classes and said the Lord's Prayer on stage- #MyMommyMoment (bragging)

There are so many resources available to help parents teach the Bible to their kids. I recently was made aware of an iPad app called The Children's Bible. This app contains 84 books and is beautifully illustrated. The one feature that I am intriqued with is that the books can be made into movies where the child can hear his own mother, father or loved one reading the story to him. There are three complete books in this app and three sample books, with the option to purchase more. I encourage you to download this free app and use it as another resource to sharing God's word to your children. Be sure to leave a review on iTunes!

Here is the actual app description from itunes with a few screen shots. 

The Children's Bibles contains 84 books, different well-known children’s Bible stories. They are all beautifully illustrated, in a classic naturalistic and colorful style, with sound effects and music. They are also made into movies, and you can record your own audio for reading so the child will hear the father, mother or grandparent reading the story.  These stories have already been sold, in printed form, in over 8 million copies in more than 110 languages and countries. (See the list in the App.) It is still reprinting 300,000 to 600,000 each year.
Check out the 3 free complete books and 3 free sample books. These are all stories from the Bible for different age groups from +0 to teenagers and even adults. They are faithful to the BIBLE, but shortened in some books.
Please have a look, and download this free App and look at the free books and samples.

Features:
•Read (you can read the stories yourself)
•Read to Me (listen to the story, while watching the pages turn)
•My Audio (record your own voice and play along with the story)
•Play movie (watch an animated video)

As a bonus with this post, one of my readers is going to receive a set of three best selling books from Scandinavia Publishing House. How cool is that? All you have to do is enter on the easy Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post.

1. Handy Bible

2. Comic Book Bible
3. Small Famous People of the Bible 

Disclosure of Material Connection: "I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. I was also compensated for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

* Please note a reader can only win once even if they enter on multiple blogs.

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