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.

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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

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A Mother's Day Giveaway from Magazines.com

Happy Mother Month! I love May! I get to be celebrated. It's my wedding anniversary- #8! School will be out for the Summer. The flowers are blooming. If you live in Oklahoma, you might be setting a record cold snap on May 2, with freezing temperatures and possible SNOW!!! Oh and sarcastically speaking, I love the sinus infections that this month brings. I am miserable right now.

Anyhow, back to the Mother Month! One of my readers is going to be blessed with a Mother's Day gift! Something that they get to choose for themselves from Magazines.com.

Magazines.com is giving one of my readers a $10* code to select a magazine of their choice for free*. How cool is that. I chose Parenting School Years and since they are featuring Mother's Day Special Deals now through May 13, was able to double it and get Redbook!

Magazines.com offers people a fun, easy way to discover new reads and helps them track their magazine subscriptions. You can shop the great magazine subscription deals at Magazines.com for Mother’s Day 2013! You’ll find incredible savings on Mom’s favorite cooking, celebrity, crafting magazine subscriptions and more. Don’t forget about all the moms in your life—your aunt, sister and your grandmother! Give her a gift that keeps on giving!

What Mother is going to be blessed this Mother's Day 2013?

All you have to do is answer this mandatory question on the easy Rafflecopter form, visit Magazines.com and tell me what magazine you will get with your $10*! Bonus entries are available and encouraged!

Happy Mother's Day!!

* NY, NJ, and TN winners will have to pay sales tax when you sign up for a subscription, everywhere else is tax free

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Blogger of the Month and Today's Post

For the month of May I have been chosen to be Blogger of the Month at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. Me. Yes Me!!! They like me, they really do like ME.  They told me so. Thank you so much to these lovely ladies/bloggers for having me as their BOM. I’m truly flattered and honored- in fact I wasted absolutely no time at all getting my posts to them, heaven forbid they change their mind on me. I'll be posting over there quite a bit this month. I'll place excerpts of my posts here at The 4-Crow's, but if you want to read the full post you must visit the Oklahoma Women Bloggers and Gather, Grow and Connect with them to read!

Here is a taste of today's post:

"Think about it, who is your Moma, Mama, Momma, Madre, Mother in Law? You know the woman your children or future children will call Nana, Grandma, Granny, Mamaw or whatever other name of endearment is chosen. Those two or more special ladies in your life that not only birthed you, but also your significant other. That raised you, your spouse and now may or may not play a significant role in your life and your own children’s life. If they do, like in mine, you are truly blessed."

To read the rest of the story you must head on over to Oklahoma Women Bloggers, I promise it's a must read. With a picture of PIE!!