I Survived the Rapture 2011... At least I think I did

I am trying to decide if I should schedule this to post after 6pm this evening or go ahead and post it now?! Perhaps I should not even write it. I mean Harold Camping is one "reputable dude" on this whole "end of the world" thing, right? Just because he "misread his own clues" back in 1994 should have no leverage on his reputation now, right? Surely he knows even more than God.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. ~Matthew 24:36,42-44

As a Christ follower I am most disturbed by all those that believe that this false prophecy is a Christian-led movement. Ummmm... no?! I do not know one person in my large circle of Christian friends that have jumped on this crazy bandwagon. If you know anything about the end time prophecies you know that after Jesus comes back to rapture all those who believe in Him there is a period where the Antichrist then rules the earth. Please do not generalize this as a belief all Christians have nor that this is any sort of Christian movement. I can assure you that our pastor has a sermon planned on Sunday with the intent of having a full sanctuary to preach to.

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. ~Revelation 11:12-13 

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. ~Revelation 13:5

Well, reading this, how can I, as a Christ follower, believe that {1} Harold camping could possibly know {for certain} both the day and the hour of Christ's return and {2} that he can predict the destruction of the world just 5 months later? The Bible clearly tells me there is a 42 month reign of the Antichrist, and even then the world is not destroyed yet... there is a 1000 year reign where Satan is thrown into the bottomless pit. Besides, although Camping has mentioned the opening of the 6th seal which would bring about a great earthquake, what about the blood red moon or all the stars falling to the earth?

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. ~Revelation 20:1-3 

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. ~Revelation 6:12-13

AAAAHHHH! I am so confused! {Not really because I believe The Bible rather than some 89 year old man who has proven himself wrong before}. Besides, I found it interesting that he claims all churches should be abandoned and people should simply study their Bible and listen to his talk radio show. Really? Plus, I read that Camping says that those who are not saved and taken in the rapture will simply lose consciousness {forever} rather than spending an eternity in hell. What? So, their bodies just lie in an eternal sleep forever? Seriously?

I am having trouble understanding how this guy has gained such a huge following. I am not able to speak from an agnostic or atheistic view because my beliefs are different than theirs, but come on now, really? You're going to lie in a Sleeping Beauty type state for the rest of eternity while we are partying in Heaven? I just don't know about all that! I do know that I serve a mighty God who has carried me through many things. I believe The Bible is God-breathed and that its word is more powerful than that of Harold Camping. And, if you disagree that is perfectly fine... for now. But, at least if I'm wrong nothing happens to my soul after death... just saying!

Ok... I had to... just for fun! : )

Buy a Great Pair of Glasses Without Breaking the Bank at GlassesUSA.com

Did you know that almost 75% of Americans utilize some sort of vision correction? Wow! Now, imagine all the possible places you can shop for eyeglasses. I for one am a researcher and tend to scour every website to the end of the internet and back, and then ask my family and friends, before spending any money.

I have discovered that you can often find more budget-friendly prices by ordering eyeglasses online. One such site with inexpensive styles for both men and women is GlassesUSA.com. They even have a great selection of affordable sunglasses, designer glasses, and, my personal favorite, vintage eyeglasses.

Now, I understand that when you walk into a brick and mortar store you can try on several pairs of glasses frames and decide which pair fits your look and style the best. Well, GlassesUSA.com has a fun, interactive virtual mirror that allows you to upload a picture of yourself and "try" on the eyeglasses! I was entertained for a while just trying to decide which pair looked the best! You can try on as many styles as you like without the pressure of a sales person. Then you just sit back and wait for your glasses to be delivered to your door. Easy and convenient!

In addition to sorting through and trying on the various frames, I also took notice of how affordable the glasses were. There were frames starting as low as $38 with the designer frames carrying a bit larger price tag... although still affordable. Moreover, just for being a loyal reader, you can save 10% on your next order of eyeglasses at GlassesUSA.com with the code: Mommy10.

Plus, for a limited time you can take advantage of the "Get Ready for Summer Sale":

• Buy any eyeglass frame and get a FREE upgrade to sunglasses with a tinted coating. No coupon code necessary- just select the "Color Tint" box when ordering for a $29.95 reduction in price.
• Take $25 off any order of glasses with Transitions lenses with the code: Trans25
• While supplies last

With this in mind, check out GlassesUSA.com and start saving on eyeglasses today!

**Disclosure: I received compensation via GlassesUSA.com for the sole purpose of this sponsored post. However, all opinions are my 100% my own.**

Carrabba’s Signature Pasta Meals and My Own Recipe

So I took the Carrabba’s Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook and found that I am "spaghetti!" If you now how much I LOVE spaghetti you would know that those results fit me to a tee! Italian food is my favorite type of cuisine other than Mexican {sticking to my heritage of course}. Thus, according to the results, being "spaghetti" means:

You’re genuine and well loved, like Carrabba’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. Your warm and comforting personality makes you everybody’s best friend. So go for our equally popular hand-prepared meatballs over perfectly cooked imported spaghetti.

Yay me! I am always genuine {quite possibly too much at times} and, well, I guess I am well loved. =) And, yes, I do try to be everyone's friend {although I still fail} simply because I believe in the Golden Rule and want my children to learn to like everyone for who they are as well.

You should try the Carrabba's Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook too and come back and share the results in the comments below! I would love to hear your results!

Argh... all this talk about pasta has me wanting some right now! How about I share my favorite pasta recipe {other than our plain ol' spaghetti with meat sauce which is a weekly dish} and you can share yours below as well! I would love to try new pasta dishes! Pasta is one thing that all 7 of us can agree on and love to eat {yes, even despite the carbs}! On to the recipe {which is actually SuperDad's signature dish:

Three Cheese Chicken Pasta 

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups {penne or other preferred} pasta, uncooked
• 1 pkg. fresh spinach leaves {ssshhhh... don't tell our kids that is what the green stuff is}
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed
• 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Cook pasta as directed and add spinach to the boiling water the last minute.
3. Cook and stir chicken in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 minutes. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer on low heat for 3 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in cream cheese.
4. Drain the pasta mixture and return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole or 8-inch square baking dish.
5. Bake for 20 minutes and then top with remaining cheeses. Bake until mozzarella is melted. 
6. Serve!

Our kids eat this pasta dish up without complaint! SuperDad and I found it as we were searching for new Italian dishes to share with my family as we were hosting Christmas dinner at our house one year. It was a hit and not a piece of pasta was left at the end of the meal. It is not some long, lost family legacy I recently discovered, just a great dish we found online, tried and enjoyed! I hope your family enjoys it as well!

I believe Carrabba's Tiramisú would be an excellent finish to the dish! Carrabba's takes pride in their made from scratch past a dishes and excellent customer service. Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola founded the first Carrabba’s Italian Grill in 1986 in Houston, Texas, and today, there are 232 Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations around the country. Their signature dishes have been passed down from generation to generation and we get to enjoy them just by visiting a local restaurant! Check out some of their Signature Pasta Meals and New Limited Time Offers below:

Signature Pasta Meals, featuring seven distinctive dishes served with choice of soup or fresh salad starting at $10. There’s no better place than Carrabba’s to enjoy a complete Italian meal – any day of the week.
CARRABBA’S PASTA: Carrabba’s makes every pasta dish by hand with the freshest ingredients. Pasta is cooked perfectly every time and signature sauces are made from scratch daily. Creative flavors and combinations of ingredients are part of Carrabba’s authentic family recipes as well as new creations.
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Now through July 2011.Featured Signature Pasta Meal:Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.
Other Limited Time Offers:Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.
Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.
Now Introducing:Peach Sangria – Carrabba’s new light and fruity Peach Sangria blends Copper Ridge White Zinfandel, Absolut Apeach vodka and Patrón Citrónge with a splash of citrus. Topped with a fresh lemon wedge and strawberry, it’s a taste of the Amalfi Coast in spring.

Wow... my mouth is watering after all that! I can't wait until our next opportunity to eat out arises and I get to pick the restaurant {we may be talking our next date night because it's easier to persuade SuperDad than it is all 5 kids}.In the meantime, make sure to check out Carrabba's on Facebook and take the Carrabba’s Pasta Personality quiz while you are there. You can even follow Carrabba's on Twitter!

**Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.**

Review: CoverGirl NatureLux Cosmetics

I am loving the reviews coming from BzzAgent! Recently I was given the opportunity to write about CoverGirl NatureLux cosmetics. I was sent a full size sample of the liquid silk foundation {Chamois} as well as a full size sample of the gloss balm. Being that I have never worn make-up myself, I handed it over to my oldest daughter to try and report back.

Now, she has never been a big fan of foundation, so she was a bit hesitant to put it on. After some time learning about the product she applied the foundation and experimented with how much and how to correctly apply it. Princess CJ found that it was very light, non-oily, and actually felt perfectly natural once applied. She liked the look of her skin and was quite pleased with the natural look the foundation gave her while concealing at the same time. Next, CJ tried the lip balm. She discovered that although it felt a bit heavy on her lips, it was a great lip stain and wore well on her.

Facts about the CoverGirl NatureLux line:

• 3 out of 4 professional make-up artists would recommend the NatureLuxe Collection to their clients
• 8 out of 10 professional MUAs agree NatureLuxe Silk Foundation provides a light, luxurious feel

Facts about the Silk Foundation:

• Provides a smooth, silky feel
• Contains refreshing cucumber water to help balance the creaminess on application
• Made with hints of jojoba and rosehip extracts
• available in 14 shades ranging from light to dark tones
• Oil-free, SPF 10 and dermatologically tested

Facts about the Gloss Balm:

• Combines the sheer color and shine of a gloss with the soft moisturization of a balm
• Available in 16 versatile, beautiful shades
• Formulated with SPF 15 for added protection

Follow CoverGirl on Facebook to keep up with their latest products!

**Disclaimer: As a Bzzagent I received a full size sample of both the COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Liquid Silk Foundation as well as a full size sample of the Gloss Balm. Opinion expressed here are strictly my own and are in NO way persuaded by the samples I received, Bzzagent, or COVERGIRL.**

Review: The Blog Bank

In the ebook, The Blog Bank, Stepfanie Cuevas shares her online experience with other bloggers on not only how to monetize your blog... but how to do so quickly and help pay the bills. I found the book to be very interesting and easy to read. I was able to work through each step with ease and follow along quite nicely. She begins by given the blogger a handful of tasks to make sure their blog is ready for monetizing and then jumps into the "paying the bills" parts. Although I already knew much of what was covered, I did find it relevant to many bloggers. Also, the book touched on several different areas of monetizing your blog and I felt like the information was well written and purposefully given.

The Blog Bank did an awesome job relaying the information for the audience it intended. I can not think of anything the author missed as far as monetizing your blog is concerned. I have read other books and website, as well as attended classes on the topic and this book was just as thorough, if not more, than most of those. I enjoyed the way each topic was given a level of difficulty, along with an idea of just how much time was needed to complete and what residual the blogger could see from the work. I could evaluate the time I was to spend on each task vs the money made and see where my payoffs were going to be in the end. Everything was well laid out and you, as a blogger, can really see how the plan will work to your benefit if you follow along. I recommend The Blog Bank to any blogger trying to find ways to put their blog to work for them!

**Disclaimer: I was chosen for this review by The Lady Bloggers and was provided a copy of the ebook to review free of charge. All opinions are 100% my own.**

Mega Swagbucks Day

WIN FREE PRIZES just by searching the web. SWAG BUCKS are digital dollars that you earn just for doing the things you're already doing. Register now to get started. It's completely Free and Swag Bucks can be traded in for rewards such as gift cards, electronics, apparel, household goods and much more!

This is truly my favorite way to quickly earn $5 Amazon cards. I have a nice stash going right now from just the last few months and can't wait to cash in for more! =)

Children's Claritin Review

Allergies have been kicking our booties around here {hence the reason I have been MIA since Friday}! I have been coughing and sneezing for over a week now. Everyone but Princess JF has been fighting some sort of allergy related issue for the past two weeks. And my 5 year old Princess JL has been home for the past 2 days with her eye swollen shut and a sore throat from allergies. So, imagine my excitement when asked to write a review on Children's Claritin with BzzAgent!

We decided to start with the Grape Chewables since my Princess isn't very fond of syrups. She had no hesitation is taking it, chewing it up, and continuing on her way! I was surprised! She typically only likes bubble gum flavored medicines. We began the Claritin on Tuesday after her eyes started to show a little pink. Wednesday morning she woke up with her eye completely swollen shut and oozing. After another dose of the Chewables she looked 50% better by the evening. She had also developed a sore throat, but I am happy to say that after her dose today she is doing much better! Oh, and yes, we did actually get her to take the syrup today, although it was quite a feat. I can not say it was the syrup itself rather than just a strong distaste for syrups in general {she is allergic to Penicillin and the antibiotics she typically has to take are not very tasty}.

You can find more information on Claritin's Facebook page or website... as well as print off valuable coupons!

**I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent.**

Review: Home-Ec 101

For those of you up North still experiencing snow, well down South here, “It’s Spring time in Texas, Y’all!” This past Monday we had tornadoes and 80 mph straight line winds all over North Texas. Poor SuperDad, who works for an insurance company {let’s just say I’m “in good hands”}, spent all of Monday fielding claim calls, and all day yesterday answering the question, “When is someone going to come out?” And, well, with the nice Spring weather it has also, once again, motivated me to get some Spring cleaning started. Now, I say started because our current schedule doesn’t allow me to actually finish anything! :/

Anyhow, imagine how thrilled I was to find out I had been chosen to review Heather Solos’ book Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living! I was actually able to find some time {during those priceless late night/early morning hours} to read the book from cover to cover… and so glad I did. It is truly chop full of great ideas, tips, and resources. Even after 5 kids and almost 17 years of marriage, I was able to learn things I had never heard before. The book was written in such a fun, easy to understand format and even included definitions as it went along. So, if I did not already know the difference between conduction and convection I could look on page 167 and learn all about it! This chef, turned blogger, truly knows her stuff and is sharing it all with us in her book!


My favorite part of the book, other than the amazing amount of knowledge gained, was her use of both sarcasm and raw humor! As you read along learning how to organize and clean your home, you find bits of humor sprinkled throughout the book and, hence, a smile on your face. For instance, when talking about the bed, Mrs. Solos adds, “A lazy person may want to save time by layering a week’s worth of pillowcases and removing one a day. Note: This does not work for underwear.” And it’s a book about cleaning! I never thought cleaning was such a fun topic to read about. Plus, the retro look of the book just makes it even better!

Letters of readers with interesting questions, recipes for both meals and cleaning solutions, measurement conversions and dangerous chemical combinations round out the long list of resources the book provides. Here are just a few things you can find in the book:

• Quick and easy cleaning tips broken down day by day to help you get on to bigger and better things
• Functional organizational tips that allow you to find those items you need efficiently
• Frugal laundry tips for removing stains, keeping your whites bright, and removing musky odors
• DIY home repair tips that put you in control of your home and your pocketbook
• Fast and healthy weekly meal plans with recipes to stop those last-minute take out trips
• Rules on how to keep a well-stocked pantry so you can make a meal even when you haven’t been to the store or you need a meal when disaster strikes
• Definitions for kitchen appliances, cooking terms, techniques and the basic needs for every kitchen

Want to read more? You can find the book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, plus you can follow Heather Solos on Twitter and Facebook. Home-ec101.com is also full of more information on both Heather and the book, Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living.

**Disclaimer: I was chosen for this review through the One2One Network and was provided a copy of the book to review free of charge. All opinions are 100% my own. There are also affiliate links in the post.**

Just... Grrrrr!

I remember when Princess JF was one of my best sleepers. Not anymore! She woke up at 5:45am today crying because she wanted me. So, I let her lay in bed with me since SuperDad's alarm was going to set to go off in 15 minutes anyways. After calming her down, and hearing the alarm, she and SuperDad went to go prepare for the day. {He is so great in that he has always got the girls ready for school while I sleep in with the baby since I am such a night owl with the older two. But back to the story at hand...} 15 minutes after they got up SuperDad came to get me and said he needed my help.

When I walked into our upstairs gameroom I noticed Princess JF sitting in the recliner with her arms crossed and face streaming with tears. I turned to look at my hubby and he tells me that she has told him that she isn't going to school any more and will be homeschooled from now on. She had told him over and over and when he asked if I had agreed to this {he knew I had not} she said she simply didn't care either way. Now, we have prayed and prayed about this one decision in particular because of how anxious she gets about school. But, I have been advised {on very good counsel I must add} and have read repeatedly that it will be best to keep her in public school. We do not want to hinder any progress and enable her fears by allowing her to stay home. So, although it hurts my heart to see her cry simply because she has to leave for school, I am bound and determined to see her overcome this fear!

It took lots of talking to finally get her to agree to get dressed, only to met with more refusal when it came time for her to put her shoes on, as well as downright defiance when we asked her to brush her teeth and hair! Grrrr! We need special prayers for wisdom, understanding, and patience! Yes, I am praying for patience because we are already being tested in the area... we now need to see the fruit of it in our spirit!

After it was all said and done, we were finally get her off to school without too many more tears. Then we started going round and round with the pharmacist over her prescription refill! Seriously?! Grrrr again! When we initially filled the prescription it was through the Children's hospital where she spent 5 days. Well, being a good 45 minutes away we thought it would be nice {and easy} to transfer the prescription closer to home. Well, we are now on day 3 of trying to get that done! Grrrr!

The hospital pharmacy is next to impossible to get in touch with. Between SuperDad and the local pharmacy they were FINALLY able to make contact and get the process started after almost a full 24 hours. Then, the new pharmacy called back to say they had received the transfer but there were no refills left?! Really? Because the bottle I am looking at says 2 refills before January 24, 2012! Grrrr!

Ok, found the refills. Now the pharmacist needs to know which of the 15 doctors we saw at the hospital actually PRESCRIBED the medicine in order to make sure he has all the information right and the insurance will pay for it? Seriously? Isn't there a doctor's name on the prescription? Yes, but he needs to TALK to someone? So, SuperDad has a call into the hospital waiting to hear back from someone on the floor that we stayed at almost 4 weeks ago to find out WHICH doctor actually prescribed the medicine and can call the local pharmacy! GRRRR!

We thought that by starting the process early we would be sure to get the medicine refilled on time... and before we ran out! Princess JF is not supposed to miss a dose or abruptly stop the medicine! This has been so frustrating and has left us in a "pickle" since there is not much we can do on our end but wait! And now we simply wait for her meds to be filled and pray that we learn plenty as well as get the support we need at the seminar on Saturday! Grrrrr one more time! Ok... better now! :)

"But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding"
~Job 32:8

UPDATE: Just as I published the post I got a text from SuperDad that the pharmacy has finally got what they needed and can now fill the prescription. Praise, Jesus! *SIGH!*

GiveBack.org

GiveBack is a charitable giving platform that empowers our members to earn, gather, and give money to the causes they care most about.

Whether you're looking to start your own foundation or wanting to earn money for an established charity, GiveBack.org can fulfill your needs. GiveBack is free with no cost to you or the charities you support. All of your charitable gifts {to charities registered with the IRS} can be easily managed through one account and you will receive one tax receipt at year end for all that you gave throughout the year. And, best of all, 100% of your donation goes directly to the charity of your choice!

Giving is easy when you are able to donate to the charity of your choice simply through shopping at over 400 various online retailers. Walmart, Target, Gap, and several more shops participate in the GiveBack program. Make a purchase through the site and up to 15% of your purchase will go directly to your charity. It's easy!

You can also make a donation directly by using your credit card. Or just participate in the program and get chances  to earn more for your charity. What are you waiting for? Go to GiveBack.org and sign up now... it's quick and easy and they will start you off with $5 in your account!

**As a member of One2One, I have not received compensation for this review but have entered a giveaway. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced by One2One or anyone else.**

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas

"Community," a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talking lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group that eventually learns more about themselves than their course work.

NBC will air this special stop motion animation episode Thursday, December 9th, in which the meaning of Christmas is lost and Abed's (Danny Pudi) intense fixation on Christmas concerns the group. Check your local listings and be sure to catch it tomorrow evening!

The animation quickly took me back to my childhood watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman." It was fun to watch and the whole show was very well done. I must say though, the show is for a more mature audience that those children shows of old. As a Christian myself, I took a bit of offense to Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) opening statement, whereas when greeted with "Merry Christmas" she declares, "I am a modern Christian and have learned to be sensitive to other cultures jealousies." I stand up for my faith and believe the Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of my Savior and the most important part of the word Christmas is "Christ." It also made me sad to think some people may feel like Troy (Donald Glover) in that "fake murdering people is going to be my new holiday tradition." But, I am open to other people's opinions, and this is just mine.

Abed began the show by saying, "I think we should commit to the format, starting with a song," and did a nice Christmas rendition of the theme song. It was the beginning of a terrificly, fun story line. As Abed begins his search for the true meaning of Christmas, the other misfits join him in his journey through a Winter Wonderland. When they arrive at their destination Abed appoints each character the "Christmas version" of themself. This was easily my favorite part of the show. Shirley's response to her character was classic, and Pierce was hilarious in true Chevy-Chase form. As they start their walk towards the North Pole, Abed warns them that the "journey through Winter Wonderland tends to test your commitment to Christmas... Wonka-style."

The group travels towards the North Pole and they begin to lose characters one by one... while Abed bids them good-bye with a quick song in true Willy Wonka style minus the Oompa Loompas! Once Abed finally reaches his destination, with only Pierce (Chevy Chase) at his side, he believes he has found the true meaning of Christmas... but discovers only what he states symbolizes the "lack of payoff."

Once Professor Duncan (John Oliver) proclaims, "This is what Christmas does to people. We put too much meaning into it and it lets us down," the rest of the cast rallies together and comes to Abed's defense. Abed is finally able to see what the true meaning of Christmas really is... watch the show and find out! :)

**As a member of One2One, I received an advance preview screening in order to accommodate this review. The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced by One2One or anyone else.**

Comments missing?

Not sure why... but my comments are missing! :'(

I am working on trying to fix it but feel bad because I know Friday is a fun, busy blog hop day and I can't find out who is following me so I can follow back. I am trying to stay on top of GFC instead. Thank you for your patience! I WILL follow back... I promise!

**UPDATE** Ok... they are back... for now... on some posts? Let's see how it goes from here on out!

Another one ... Blogvertise

OK ... I told you I was still on the lookout! I came across this new site for Bloggers and Advertisers alike. It, too, is another simple process. Blogsvertise Advertisers want to simply talk about their product or service on your blog. In exchange for your writings, Blogsvertise will compensate you via PayPal for each entry in which you mention the advertiser's product or service. Simple! All you need is a blog to get started! Once approved, you will be emailed about your writing assignments. Check out Blogsvertise with me and we'll see how it goes?!

Out of desperation ...

... spurs opportunity. I keep seeing all this websites promising you money for reading emails, completing offers, etc ... so, out of desperation, I started signing up for some of them. I opened a new email account specifically for this reason at mail.com and downloaded RoboForm to get started. I began researching various sites and TRIED to stay away from the scammers. So far, everything seems to be on the up and up with the companies I found to join. I did my research and am praying everything continues to go well!

Anyways ... you can see some of the buttons for these programs under the "earn extra cash" category to the right ... or you can read a bit more about them on another blog I started here: Pajama Money - make money from your pajamas! I was honestly excited this weekend to receive two payouts, one from Project Payday and one from SendEarnings. Thus, I am assured they really can work for you!!

Also, I wanted to thank my first "buy me a newspaper" donor!! So, thanks to "QtW" ... you know who you are! I was so delighted! (My husband got his first one within days ... so at least now I can brag too)! But, honestly, thank you! You have no idea how much that really meant to me!

OK ... I tried to not make this sound like an advertisement ... but I really wanted to let everyone know about what I've found! I'll, of course, keep looking and post more as I find them! Good luck to you in your quest for a better financial future!

"Sydney White"

Once upon a time, set deep in the woods of … Greek Row … a lonely brunette sat crying on a curb. Sydney White is a new fairy tale rendition of the ever popular, Snow White, with its own displaced “princess”, evil witch, seven “dorks,” and even the poisoned apple. This light-hearted romantic comedy is sure to win over the heart of every tween princess.

Sydney White (Amanda Bynes) is a strong willed tomboy raised by her plumber dad (John Schneider) after the death of her mother. As she prepares for college, she dreams of pledging the same sorority her late mother belonged to, Kappa Phi Nu. Upon arrival, Sydney obviously does not fit in with her brown hair and less than luxurious upbringing. As she continues through Rush she meets Tyler Prince (Matt Long) and quickly becomes hated by the evil Rachel Witchburn (Sara Paxton). She is soon “exiled” to the wet streets of Greek Row without a place to live, and befriends the seven “dorks” living in “The Vortex.” Each dork represents one of the seven dwarfs, such as Sneezy aka Lenny (Jack Carpenter) or Grumpy aka Gurkin (Danny Strong), and so on. Sydney and the seven dorks vow to take on the evil Witchburn by making a run for Student Council President, and endure the evil antics of her wrath. Witchurn becomes furious when she checks her “magic mirror” (her laptop) and learns that Sydney has just replaced her on the school’s Hot-or-Not list, making Sydney the “fairest in the land.” A poison apple even comes into play as Sydney’s Mac is destroyed by a computer virus. Prince Charming has to find the sleeping princess and help save the day!

Although the story line is predictable as it follows the traditional Snow White theme, the modern twist is well-received. The various groups of the college display stereotypical characters, yet it helps to portray the message of the movie. The correlations from the classical fairy tale to our modern world make for comical moments, such as the reference to Witchburn when the seven dorks pass by and proclaim, “Hi, Ho.”

Amanda Bynes is a tween sensation because of her humble, down to earth character. She presents herself as a real person rather than an untouchable matriarch. For tweens, having someone they can relate to is important. Kids have been able to watch Ms. Bynes progress through the years on shows such as The Amanda Show all the way up to her latest film, Hairspray. Nevertheless, the movie is set on a college campus, so be aware of its PG-13 rating due to “harsh” language at times, college hazing and party rituals, as well as some sexual innuendos.

Having three girls at home and being able to relate to Sydney White’s character, I found this movie quite enjoying. I also like to see movies with a positive message displayed so prominently throughout. Especially as it addresses issues faced during the troubling tweens and teens years, it’s important to remain yourself, stand up for what you believe, and simply accept others for who they are. The DVD hits stores shelves on January 22 or you can enter to win one of three copies on our Christian preteen site! We gave it 4.5 thumbs up (my toddlers couldn’t really vote on this one).

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything

My family and I were given advanced tickets to see The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything and then asked to write a movie review about it. Read on to find out more about this great family film!
Universal Studios and Big Idea Productions are coming to the big screen Friday, January 11, 2008 with their new animated VeggieTales adventure movie, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything. Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape set sail on a journey to find adventure, but accidentally stumble upon the true hero within themselves.

As three cabin boys working at a dinner theater, Elliot, Sedgewick and George are tired of their less than mundane existence exemplified by dishrags and refills. They decide to seek a better opportunity, but find themselves in the alley with a mysterious metal, blinking ball. A touch of a button on this “help seeker” sent out by the dainty Princess Eloise and they are transported to the 17th century on a great pirate adventure to save a royal family. Prince Alexander has been taken captive by the King's exciled brother, Roert the Terrible and Princess Eloise believes these heroes were sent to help her save her brother. The trio reluctantly agree to the quest where along the way they must find the hero within themselves to overcome their fears; Elliot’s long “list” of things, Sedgewick’s lack of motivation, and George’s downcast confidence.

The amazing ability to turn vegetables into an animated character a child can sit and watch for hours is truly astonishing. Even without limbs, each character is fully buoyant and zestful. Simply within the shape of the veggie, the twist of the lip or the elevation of the eyebrows, the audience was captivated by every move. Likewise, the Rock Monsters and other “scary” characters were given just the right amount of delicacy to remain a “kid-friendly monster” and, yet, still make for some anxious moments.

Known for their incredible collection of “Silly Songs,” VeggieTales has put together a powerful soundtrack to accompany the film. Headlined by “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” by Relient K, the film also introduces 5 new songs to the classic compilation. Dance away with “Spanish Gold,” “Jolly Joe’s” and “Rock Monster.” The Newsboys join in on “Yo Ho Hero” and you can jam out with TobyMac on “What We Gonna Do?”

From beginning to end, it was a great film for the whole family. Our kids aged 2 years to 12 all enjoyed the captivating crusade. Laughs rang out throughout the completely full theater and children delighted in dancing with the delectable veggies. The movie should appeal to people of all ages, children and adults alike. A great biblical truth is found within the lines of the film, and is apparent enough for even the young children to understand. My family and I gave it 6 thumbs up : ) We would highly recommend it to you and yours! Enjoy! Because, all in all,

you don’t have to be in the show; life has plenty of adventure on its own.

BTW ... you can even get free downloadable resources for using in your homeschool by clicking here! Cool stuff!!