A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup 2014, Day 5: Frozen Cake by Kelli's Kitchen

This year for A Very Pinteresting Christmas I asked two of my bloggy friends to guest post. These two friends I met through the Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I admire their original creations so much. Their blogs are simply amazing. When my blog grows up, I want it to be just like theirs.

Today's featured blogger is Kelli from Kelli's Kitchen. Kelli learned to can fruits and vegetables from her grandmother at age 8. I love that story. She also loves to repurpose things. You can follow Kelli on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. 

Okay, so the story behind today's project. Kelli made this fantabulous Halloween Doll Cake. I wanted it for my 40th birthday party, that I didn't get. A girl can dream, right? LOL. Anyway, when she asked me if I had any ideas what she could make for this project, I told her FROZEN. I had no idea what she would come up with. I never dreamed in a million years she would come up with this...

(photos used with permission by +Kelli Davidson at Kelli's Kitchen)

Of course you have to go to her blog to get the full instructions on how she made it. I haven’t seen anything like this. She is giving little girls across the world both princesses in one cake. The girls will be the highlight and talk of parties to come. Great imagination and creativity. I love it and am so excited to feature it as part of A Very Pinteresting Christmas! Pin it and spread the love to Frozen and cake lovers everywhere.

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Link-up and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button below and link-up your ideas!

I do have a few rules:

• You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it. (A Pinterest inspired/worthy food, craft or DIY project)
• Keep it family friendly, I reserve the rights to delete any links that are not appropriate
• By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project! Of course I am going to link it back to you.
• I would love if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Instagram or any other social media site about the link-up. Help me spread the word please.
• Comment. Comment love means so much to others and builds those blogging relationships. Visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment. Thanks!

"A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of link-ups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 1-19 here at The 4-Crow's Blog. I hope you will join in on the fun, and be sure you are following my boards on Pinterest for all my ideas and fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/e5780129-7636-4411-8b32-902f1e20ecb9_zpsef69cd7c.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup 2014, Day 4: Pepsi Pork Roast

I have never made it a secret, I LOVE my Crock Pot. All 4 seasons. Soccer, Baseball, Football and now BASKETBALL. It seems like I am always on the go and always needing to find food to feed this family of mine. Anyone else have this problem? One thing I am going to share more of this year during A Very Pinteresting Christmas is recipes. My own go to recipes that I haven't shared. Today's is my Pepsi Pork Roast. 

Seriously y'all. This is good stuff. My man is wild about his Pepsi and wild about his meat and potatoes. Not so much the carrots, but I plan on keeping his eyes healthy so he can see me for another 50 years. Honestly you can use any sweetened soft drink in this and can also substitute beef. 

(print here)

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Link-up and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button below and link-up your ideas!

I do have a few rules:

• You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it. (A Pinterest inspired/worthy food, craft or DIY project)
• Keep it family friendly, I reserve the rights to delete any links that are not appropriate
• By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project! Of course I am going to link it back to you.
• I would love if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Instagram or any other social media site about the link-up. Help me spread the word please.
• Comment. Comment love means so much to others and builds those blogging relationships. Visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment. Thanks!

 "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of link-ups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 1-19 here at The 4-Crow's Blog. I hope you will join in on the fun, and be sure you are following my boards on Pinterest for all my ideas and fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/e5780129-7636-4411-8b32-902f1e20ecb9_zpsef69cd7c.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Our 2014 Visit with the Jolly Old Soul at Bass Pro

Thanksgiving Eve tradition finds us at the Bass Pro Shop to see Santa and visit the North Pole Village. I did not bribe. I did not pout. I do have a picture of my almost 14 year old and my 7 year old with Santa this year.

 This is the shot the elves from Bass Pro Shop took and gave us for free.

This is the picture I took. It seems Santa and B are quite the buddies. They  talked basketball for about 5 minutes. Little sis was not happy. Neither was the line of parents and children behind us. Oh well. 

And then of course she finally got to talk with the jolly old soul. 

Susie's Hope DVD Review & Giveaway

Imagine a love for animals. Imagine being attacked by an animal who just wanted love. Imagine continuing to love and fight for those same animals after that attack. This is exactly the story of pit bull attack survivor Donna Lawrence and Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy found beaten, burned and left for dead. A story of healing, a story of survival, a story of HOPE for all dogs in the same situation.

Take a look at the following trailer.



About the movie:
Based on the true story that successfully passed Susie’s Law in North Carolina, which seeks stricter punishment for animal abusers, Susie’s Hope brings to life the inspirational relationship between pit bull attack survivor Donna Lawrence and Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy found beaten, burned and left for dead. Recognizing reflect and abuse were to blame for the tragic attack that nearly claimed her life 10 months earlier, Donna resumes the battered animal and accepts her as family. Together, they learn to heal, love and forgive as they lead a historic effort to seek justice and protection, not only for Susie, but all animals. Starring Emmanuelle Vaguer (40 Days and 40 Nights), Burgess Jenkins (Remember The Titans) and Andrea Powell (Ender’s Game, The Twilight: Breaking Dawn Saga: Part 2), Susie’s Hope is an incredible story of love, loss and redemption.

About Susie:
Susie was found nearly dead in Greenfield Park in Greensboro, North Carolina on August 20, 2009. Just a puppy, Susie had licked the face of her owner’s newborn baby. Her owner became violent—she was beaten so severely her jaw was broken. That wasn’t enough, though. She was then set on fire and left for dead. Incredibly and against all odds Susie survived. Donna Lawrence adopted her two months later. Susie is now a trained therapy dog and event won the American Humane Association’s American Hero Dog this year!

One of my readers is going to receive their very own copy of this DVD. This story is so, so powerful and emotional. It makes you want to join the cause for animal rights immediately. If you don't want to wait to win, I found that it is available on Amazon Prime. 

This movie is Dove Family Approved for ages 12+

Run-time is 105 minutes

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to U.S. and Canada.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Lumo Project- The Gospel of John #JohnonNetflix

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.-

John 1:1

The Lumo Project is a new movie series about the four Gospels in the Bible- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I had the opportunity over Thanksgiving break to watch The Gospel of John via private weblink courtesy of FlyPropeller. Y'all, I couldn't put this movie down. I was able to pick from three different versions: NIV Version, King James Version, or Spanish. I chose the NIV. I truly felt like I was in the movie with John as he walked and talked about the life my Lord and Savior. I have never been one for narration films, but truly I didn't even know it was being narrated. 

The Gospel of John was released on Netflix on Monday, December 1st. The rest of the series will be coming soon, and you won't want to miss it.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

"The Gospel of John takes the story of Jesus from John’s gospel with its own unique characteristics. For John, Jesus is the Word of God made human. John is clear that that when encounter Jesus, we encounter God. The gospel writer points to the miracles (the ‘Signs’) and teachings as evidence of Jesus’ special relationship as the divine Son of God.

This full-length feature film about the life of Jesus takes the actual Gospel text as its script, word for word, unedited. Five years in the making, this epic production has been critically acclaimed by leading religious scholars as a unique and highly authentic telling of the Jesus story. Narrated by leading British actor David Harewood (‘Homeland’, ‘Blood Diamond’, ‘Merchant of Venice’) it is based on the latest theological, historical and archaeological research. With specially constructed sets and the extraordinarily authentic villages and countryside of rural Morocco, it immerses the viewer in the world of first century Palestine."

The Gospel of John has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible. One of my favorite parts is when Jesus comes down and asks John to baptize him. No, our Lord didn't have to be baptized but he did it. He led by example. What an awesome story. What an awesome Savior we have. 

Be watching for the other for Gospels as they release. "FOUR GOSPELS. FOUR FILMS. ONE JESUS STORY. FOR EVERYONE.A ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels.

The Lumo Project is a ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels: redefining the standard of visual Biblical media. The Lumo Project presents four films – one for each Gospel account – that will revolutionise the way we all experience the story of Jesus and the world of First Century Palestine in which he lived."

For more information visit the following links! 

Official Website: http://www.lumoproject.com
https://twitter.com/TheLumoProject
http://instagram.com/thelumoproject
https://www.facebook.com/thelumoproject

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this movie for review.

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup 2014, Day 3: Hand, Foot, and Fingerprint Christmas Tree Canvas

Some of you may or may not know, but part of my WAHM duties right now include two little people. An almost two year old (December 6th) and a 16 month old.

They made their parents a couple of  Christmas crafts. Here is the first one. A Hand, Foot, and Fingerprint Christmas Tree Canvas. Inspired by this pin. We just used washable finger paints. The great thing about these, is if the babies get too creative, they wash right off the canvas.

Here are the final results. 

Evan's hands make up the branches, his foot the trunk, and his finger the ornaments. 

Miss Liz didn't care for the paint that much. Obviously I need to paint more with these babies. I like her tree though. Simple and pretty. 

Do you know how hard it is to take pictures while painting? And yes, there was some paint test tasting during this project. 

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Link-up and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button below and link-up your ideas!

I do have a few rules:

• You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it. (A Pinterest inspired/worthy food, craft or DIY project)
• Keep it family friendly, I reserve the rights to delete any links that are not appropriate
• By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project! Of course I am going to link it back to you.
• I would love if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Instagram or any other social media site about the link-up. Help me spread the word please.
• Comment. Comment love means so much to others and builds those blogging relationships. Visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment. Thanks!

"A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of link-ups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 1-19 here at The 4-Crow's Blog. I hope you will join in on the fun, and be sure you are following my boards on Pinterest for all my ideas and fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/e5780129-7636-4411-8b32-902f1e20ecb9_zpsef69cd7c.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup 2014, Day 2: Christmas Countdown Chalkboard Plate

People ask me all the time, what I do with the projects I make. Like any crafter I know, I give most of them away. I rarely keep one for myself. Today's craft is no exception. I sent it home with my Mother in-law. It now adorns her cabinet top and is keeping track of how many days until Christmas. It was inspired by this Etsy pin.

How easy was that? Made with things I had in my house except for the $1.99 Charger Plate. EASY gift if you ask me. 

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Link-up and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button below and link-up your ideas!

I do have a few rules:

• You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it. (A Pinterest inspired/worthy food, craft or DIY project)
• Keep it family friendly, I reserve the rights to delete any links that are not appropriate
• By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project! Of course I am going to link it back to you.
• I would love if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Instagram or any other social media site about the link-up. Help me spread the word please.
• Comment. Comment love means so much to others and builds those blogging relationships. Visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment. Thanks!

"A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of link-ups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 1-19 here at The 4-Crow's Blog. I hope you will join in on the fun, and be sure you are following my boards on Pinterest for all my ideas and fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/e5780129-7636-4411-8b32-902f1e20ecb9_zpsef69cd7c.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup 2014, Day 1: The Button

Welcome to the A Very Pinteresting Christmas with The 4-Crow's Blog! This is my third year to host this fun Pinterest inspired/Pinterest worthy link- up. I hope you will join in on the fun as we celebrate with food, fun, friends, crafts, lots of ideas, and even a IRL party!

Are you ready to get to the Pinteresting stuff? 

All good GREAT link-ups must have a great button to grab with a grab box, right? 

I designed mine in PicMonkey. (oops, I didn't screen print my original so I made a dummy for illustration purposes)

1. They now have a blank canvas to work with. Go to Design, then choose your shape/size. I chose the square. 

2. Then I chose texture. I chose boards, of course. I love chalkboards. As if you didn't know. 

3. Then add text. I used the fonts Eraser Dust, Pencil Pete, and my own  Handy George (you get to use your own with the Premium edition of PicMonkey.)

4. Then I went to Themes. There you can add some fun artwork. My themes are in Santa Land. 

5. Once completed. Save. 

6. To make a button, you will need a image URL. I use Photobucket to get the URL's for my buttons. I also resize my images there to 200x200 since I am using two different sizes of this image throughout my posts. Be sure to grab the correct URL for the resized image. 

7. Now I am going to introduce you to a new found secret. I am not an html queen. I can copy/paste into html, but for some reason Blogger is not liking any of my old codes. I found a new site that generates the box and image for me. "Grab My Button" Code Generator is my blog's hero! Go try it. You enter your site name, your site address, your image URL, and then the html is generated for you. EASY!

8. So once you have copied your html from "Grab My Button", go into your blog's layout, add a gadget, choose html.

9. Then you paste the generated html into the box, give it a title and save! It's done!  

I would love to see some of your button creativity! 

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Link-up and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button below and link-up your ideas!

I do have a few rules:

• You can link up pretty much anything as long as you "created" it. (A Pinterest inspired/worthy food, craft or DIY project)
• Keep it family friendly, I reserve the rights to delete any links that are not appropriate
• By linking up you are giving me permission to feature or show off your project! Of course I am going to link it back to you.
• I would love if you linked back to my site and mentioned on your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Instagram or any other social media site about the link-up. Help me spread the word please.
• Comment. Comment love means so much to others and builds those blogging relationships. Visit 2-3 other links and leave them a nice, meaningful comment. Thanks!

"A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of link-ups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 1-19 here at The 4-Crow's Blog. I hope you will join in on the fun, and be sure you are following my boards on Pinterest for all my ideas and fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/e5780129-7636-4411-8b32-902f1e20ecb9_zpsef69cd7c.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

*This post includes affiliate links.

Elf on the Shelf 2014 Link-Up with The 4-Crow's Blog: The Arrival

It's #ElfReturnWeek, has your elf  returned yet? Our doorbell rang last night not long after we turned our Christmas lights on outside the house. Maybe that was their signal to come. They brought with them a Reindeer Pet that Miss K named Frost, Elf on the Shelf PJ's and a letter from Santa!

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Won't you please grab the button below, link up, and play along once a week until December 26th? You can share seven pictures, a few, or just one of your favorite Elf moments/memories of the week. All you have to do is grab the button and put your blog link in the linkup form that I will provide each week. I look forward to seeing all of the Elf games and fun you are having!

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2014 will be posted the following Friday's, hope you join in!

November 29

December 5

December 12

December 19

December 26

<div align="center">
<a href="http://the4crows.com" title="The4CrowsBlog"><img src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/ElfonaShelf2012button_zps358699c2.jpg" alt="The4CrowsBlog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Small Talk Book Review & Giveaway

“Sometimes God uses the smallest voices to teach the greatest truths…”

Watch this book trailer:

WOW!

I can personally attest to the above statement. I am in my third year of serving in our church's elementary ministry. I have moved up with my daughter every year since she was in Kindergarten. I love this group of kids. This year I finally found my sweet spot as a Station Leader. After our entire groups worship time, I get the opportunity to come back and recap the lesson. One particular lesson was on words and how they hurt. I asked the 50+ kids for hurtful words. One boy, in church shouted out B***H. Yes, that is a very very hurtful word. I had to not say anything and just continue on with my lesson. Afterward, I spoke with his grandmother. This boy, sweet little 2nd grade boy, had just been taken away from his mother. His life had been in turmoil. He didn't need reprimand from me. He needed LOVE. Does God reprimand me when I let a bad word slip? Nope. He loves me. Thank you Lord for using that small voice to teach me that truth.

"Every day, one of Amy Julia Becker’s children says something that prompts her to think about life in a new way. “Mom, does Santa love me?” William asks, after his mother explains the meaning of Christmas…In a chat with her dad about the children who died in the Sandy Hook shootings, Penny asks, “Did they go to heaven?” …”You was a jerk, Mommy?” asks Marilee one morning in the car.

These conversations deepen Amy Julia’s relationships with her children, but they also refine her understanding of what she believes and what God is doing in her own life.

In Small Talk, Amy Julia draws from the wisdom and curiosity of those young voices to reflect on beauty and kindness, tragedy and disability, prayer and miracles. As she moves through the basic questions her kids posed when they were very young to the more intellectual questions of later childhood, she invites us to learn from our own day-to-day conversations with the children in our lives.

This eloquent parenting memoir is about the big questions little hearts ask, the thoughts their words provoke, and the laughter and soul-searching their honesty brings—to adult and child alike.

One of my favorite stories in the book is one of when Amy was babysitting and her reflection upon Psalm 23 when David says "He MAKES me lay down..." Note my dots. Just like Amy says God doesn't stop with us there. He leads me, He restores me, and He guides me. But before any of that happens I have to rest and let God be God. Wow, again. 

Amy Julia Becker writes about faith, family, and disability for Parents.com, the New York Times Motherlode blog, TheAtlantic.com, The Huffington Post parents page, Christianity Today, The Christian century, and numerous other publications. Her first book, A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, was named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of 2011 by Publishers Weekly. Amy Julia lives in western Connecticut with her husband and three children.

Official Website: http://www.zondervan.com/small-talk

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFiRKM19JZY
Amy’s Website: http://amyjuliabecker.com

Follow her on Twitter here!
Check out her Facebook page here!

One of my blessed readers is going to receive their very own copy of this must read book. Who wants it? Just enter on the easy Rafflecopter entry form below.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway