Wizard of Oz "We're Not in Kansas Anymore"

Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz?! The movie has been around forever and most everyone has memories of seeing it in the theater, or at home on TV or DVD. Now we get a chance to see an amazing play based on the movie!

The Wizard of Oz "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" is a wonderful production. It is being shown at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL.  I had the pleasure of being at the show this past Saturday.  This was my first time being at this Theatre. The Theatre itself is well set up. It has a comfortable, home town feel to it. Because they also hold movies and other productions, there is a concession area set up and you can bring your popcorn or other treats in with you. I saw how excited the kids were for this! Something about a show and a treat makes for wonderful memories.

The story begins with Dorothy wondering what life would be like "Over the Rainbow".  When the twister comes and she is sent over the rainbow, this is where the real magic begins. The basic story is the same, with some modern twists to it which make it a thrill to watch.  There are some great comedic moments that you don't want to miss!

I was amazed with how talented the actors were. Many of the principal characters were younger age but appeared professional. The all had highly talented voices along with acting skills at par with those of older ages. I for one look forward to future shows with them! The kids as the munchkins were so cute and fun to watch!

The sets of the show fit perfectly into the storyline, very colorful and inviting. The costumes also were really good. I loved the great imaginations in the costuming adding a unique design.
The lighting and sound were very professional and helped pull it all together.

This show runs until May 26th. Ticket prices and show times can be found on the website listed above.
If you are in the area and can find the time to see this show...DO IT! You will not be disappointed!
I'd go see it again if I could:)


Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. This is my honest opinion and my views may differ from others.

The Christian Parenting Handbook Review and Giveaway!

      I was very thankful to receive the opportunity to review and help promote the new book "The Christian Parenting Handbook". Over the years I have read many parenting books. What I love about this book is how different the approach is and the real life practical advice.
      The initial layout of the book is a unique and intriguing way to pull someone's attention. Each chapter has a title specific to a question and helping you search for the answers. It make you feel as if you must read it.
      I really love that this book leaves the general approach of the behavior and appearance of parenting as a formula, the do it "this way" and all will be fine. What we learn in this book is that  each child is a unique and individual person, and the same canned parenting isn't going to work for every child. Much to a parent's dismay, not even every child in the same family will need the same parenting. We are shown that parenting ideas are based on God's Word not just tradition. This book does a wonderful job of reinforcing this belief.

      This book gives specific ways to form your  own plan and philosophy of parenting. Each chapter helps with the "how" part of parenting, not just the "do this". There are Bible verses throughout the book which are specific reminders of how God sees our parenting responsibility and privileges. We see encouragement throughout which is very important on the hard parenting days! We are challenged throughout the book to not only grow as parents, but also as Christians. There are some wonderful examples and situations that any parent can relate to in some way.
      Each example of an idea teaches us the internal motivation for parenting and the child's behavior. We find that our heart has great effects on our learning and the goal of parenting is not the short term obedience but the heart of the child. When we reach the overall heart attitude, we can find the solution to last a lifetime.
      As parents we want our children to learn responsibility, and this book clearly teaches that. This book is high on my list of favorite parenting books. I wish it had been around when my son was younger. I picked out things while reading that I would have done differently. I'm thankful though that in this book we learn it's never too late. There is something to learn and apply to any age.
      This would be a terrific gift for new parents who are looking to start this journey with a very Biblical approach.
   

Check out the trailer for the book!

Buy a print copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook between April 29 and May 5 and get a package of free resources valued at more than $400.00.  There are 8 video, audio and electronic items contained in the Bonus Parenting Package. In addition, you can get The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide (This is a workbook with audio clips that will help you apply the material in The Christian Parenting Handbook.) for free if you purchase 5 copies or more of the book. You can make your purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM (Books A Million), CBD or Parable.

To  claim your premium, simply forward your purchase confirmation to Gift@biblicalparenting.org and we will send you your special product code for the $400.00 package. If you purchased 5 or more copies of the book, we'll send you the PDF version of the Companion Guide along with the audio segments.

Disclosure: I received an ebook copy of "The Christian Parenting Handbook" in order to do this honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from others.

 you can enter here: http://www.biblicalparenting.org/aboutus2.asp

My "top 5" and thoughts

The other day, I had the house to myself which is a rare thing. That means one thing...I get to watch girly movies! Living with my husband and teenage son who like the action stuff, this is a rare treat.
I came across a Hallmark movie called Crush on You.  The main story to me was an updated version of the older movie You've Got Mail.  So the basic storyline about talking to someone over email, not having any idea you actually know this person and  (spoiler) finally meeting said person and realizing you already know them, is the same. But what really interested me and made my mind start thinking is some of the conversation. I began to wonder how getting to know someone through questions and honest discussion affects the future relationship.
One thing that had me intrigued was listing "5 things". Whether it's a list of your 5 favorite movies, vacation locations etc, or even basics of  5 favorite meals. How often in our busy lives do we take the time to really continue to know our spouse, our children, and our friends?
I know in our home sometimes our daily schedules cause us to have more of a "surface" level day and we focus more on what has to get done instead of how we really are and where we are at.

So, for fun I thought I would share with you some of my "5 Things" and welcome you to share back! We may not all really know each other in life outside blogging, but we all have to stick together right?
Hope you enjoy my randomness today!

5 favorite vacation spots:

1. Disneyworld (ok, now we live 4 miles from it so it's not really vacation anymore!)

2. Myrtle Beach S.C. --this is where we would go almost every year when I was growing up. I love the
                                    beach, the relaxing with a book in the sand and watching the waves. Of course  
                                    riding the waves also:)

3. Arizona-- the thrill of going on my own to visit my aunt, uncle and cousin was awesome. So many
                    fun adventures and excitement

4. Cocoa Beach FL--our first year in FL (2011) was our first year away from any family at Christmas
                                  time. We hadn't really made good friends yet, and didn't want to stay home
                                   feeling sad so we took a day trip Christmas Day to Cocoa Beach. It was so
                                  much fun to be in shorts and flip flops in Dec. Of course we took pictures to
                                  let everyone back in TN know about it while it was snowing there..lol.
                                  It gave us great memories of a fun family day. We decided a Christmas Day mini
                                  trip should be a new tradition.
 5. Ireland--ok so I've never been here! BUT...some of the books I've read have been set in Ireland and
                   I could picture myself there as I was reading. It made me interested in what it would really
                    look like and be like. This is on my to do list:)


I would love to hear some of your favorite vacation spots! Leave a comment and let me know!

$100 Old Navy Gift Card Giveaway!

WIN $100 Old Navy Gift Card Giveaway!

Hello my devoted giveaway fans!

Here's a special delight for moms this Mother's Day who would like the chance to win an e-gift card to Old Navy!

Giveaway is brought to you by couponchief.com and organized by Love2EncourageYou blog.

Giveaway Time!

Prize: One winner will receive a $100 e-gift card to Old Navy!

Date: April 25th - May 8th at 12:01am

Location: Open Worldwide

Age: Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Void where prohibited.

Follow CouponChief on Facebook and Twitter.

Special thanks to the following blogs for their added support: My Journey to Living Well and Inside My Head.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. Once you finish the mandatory entry, you will unlock additional optional entries that you can use to enter to help increase your chances of winning. Good luck to each of you in the giveaway! Remember, you can stop back daily for some of the entries, so be sure to come back again tomorrow. Happy Mother's Day!

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored giveaway. Lost Island of Book Reviews did not receive any compensation for this review listing except links on the rafflecopter.

Christian Parenting Giveaway with over $200 in resources!

I have the great pleasure to be apart of a launch of a new Christian Parenting Handbook.
Their goal is to get on the New York Times Bestsellers List. What an exciting opportunity to get Biblical parenting information into hands of people everywhere!
To help celebrate this launch, National Center for Biblical Parenting is allowing me to offer this wonderful giveaway!  Five readers of Lost Island of Book Reviews will have a chance to win one of these following wonderful resources. 

1. One print copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook. ($16.95 value) 

1.  The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Book as a PDF ($22.96 value)

1. One free Biblical Parenting University Online Parenting Course ($100.00 value)

1. A set of 5 Parenting Shifts books covering children 0-12 ($75.00 value)

1. The Honor Media Package ($59.00 value)

DO NOT buy this book yet! Next week I will have my full review up of the book (which is amazing!) and I will let you know how and when to buy the book and how to receive a $400 bonus package with resources not part of the giveaway!

We also will have a HUGE giveaway next week with major prizes!! 

This is a great company and would love to help bless them and others by getting the word out about this new book. So, enter now for a chance to win! Don't forget to come back next week for lots of activity!

This giveaway is open to Residents of the U.S. only.  Void where prohibited. Must be at least 18 years of age.    

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Disclosure: Lost Island of Book Reviews received an ebook copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook in order to do the review and offer the giveaway

Believe Tek giveaway!

BelieveTek Wireless Keyboard: Product Review and Giveaway! Review by Rebecca at Love2EncourageYou blog

Here's an exciting giveaway from Love2EncourageYou blog and a fantastic faith-based company called BelieveTek! These pictures are just a few of the many designs they have to offer. The BelieveTek print process is state of the art and is not a sticker or a wrap. It is actually imprinted right on the keyboard for a completely breath-taking image that is clear and easy to read and seems to pop out at you when you see it - just like it appears in these pictures. The colors are vibrant and beautiful. This tech product can be a silent way to share your faith to any who enter your home or workplace and view the easy to read message imprinted on the wireless keyboard itself. You can pick one up for your home or office and pair it with the BelieveTek wireless mouse they have for sale as well! They make a really great pair - you'll feel completely spoiled once you try this combo! BelieveTek products are printed and packaged in the USA! Here is a peek at some more of the new products or categories they'll have new designs releasing in soon for 2013: New iphone 4, 5 and Samsung Galaxy 3 cases New iPod Case Headphones Flash drives Kindle Fire HD Cases iPad Mini Cases Bluetooth wireless speaker Bluetooth keypad for iPad Earbuds Don't forget to Follow BelieveTek on Facebook! How would you love to win one of this fabulous technology toys for yourself, your spouse, your high school or college grad, or even for your mom – just in time for Mother’s Day?! Come enter through the Rafflecopter form below and you just might be our future winner!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

This giveaway was brought to you by BelieveTek and Love2EncourageYou

Prize: One winner will receive a BelieveTek wireless keyboard of their choice shipped to their home within the lower 48 states of the USA. Retail value is $54.99.
Location: resident of the lower 48 states in USA
Date: 4/21 - 5/6
Age: 18 years or older to enter (void where prohibited by law) Please allow the giveaway form to load completely then enter the mandatory entry. This will unlock additional optional entries for you to enter to help increase your chances of winning.

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Disclosure: Love2EncourageYou and Lost Island of Book Reviews are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. I was not compensated for this post except for a free link on the giveaway form.

ALTRIENT GIVEAWAY

 

Altrient C and Altrient ME

Giveaway!

    

Altrient C and Altrient ME are a unique product line and would appeal to those interested in keeping their body energized, and desire a boost to their immune system. You just have to give it a try yourself and see if it’s right for you. With that in mind, here is the most awesome part about being an Altrient customer – They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Follow Altrient on Facebook or Twitter and keep up on all their healthy tips and any new products coming out.   

GIVEAWAY TIME!

This giveaway is brought to you by the generous sponsors at Altrient and Rebecca at Love2EncourageYou blog.

Prize: One winner will receive a one (1) month supply of Altrient C and Altrient ME!  

Location: Must be a resident of the lower 48 states in the USA

Age: Must be 18 years of age or older to enter  

Date: runs until May 6 at 12:01am.

Please allow the Rafflecopter giveaway form to load completely then enter the mandatory entries. Once these are completed it will unlock additional optional entries you can do to increase your chances of winning. Good luck to each of you!

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What a great way to stay healthy in a busy lifestyle!

Disclosure: Lost Island of Book Reviews was not compensated for this post except for receiving a free link on the giveaway form. Love2EncourageYou and Lost Island of Book Reviews are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Magic School Bus Series

As a homeschool mom, I have always worked at finding curriculum which makes learning fun. When my son, who is now in high school, was in elementary school, he loved to watch the Magic School Bus videos. Every time we would go to the library our bag would undoubtedly end up with mostly the Magic School Bus videos and books.

When he was in first grade we were searching for a science program which would lend itself to his learning style. He enjoyed being able to be hands on and doing activities. What we found is that there was actually a science program through scholastic.com which allowed us to use Magic School Bus stories along with activity books, and extras which came in the package. One of his favorites was the book called Baked in a Cake where the kids were put into a cake at the bakery to see how Chemistry works in baking. The kit actually came not only with the book, but also activity book and muffin tins and recipes for baking at home. This actually spun into a love of cooking which lasted many years. At age 15 he still loves to bake pies(and is really good at it!).

Magic School Bus series is a collection of so many different scientific areas. It offers books on everything from chemistry to space, environment, human body and much more.

In our current homeschool co-op, I am teaching the elementary science class and I get to teach the Magic School Bus stories every week. You never really outgrow these and i've had so much fun re-reading the stories and re-watching the videos. The series has so much detail and great information. Kids learn in a way that gets them interested without it coming across as "school learning". I love it when they get excited about what we are going to study and beg for experiments and more for each subject! One week we read the book on volcanos, and then went outside and I helped the kids make their own volcano erupt. They had so much fun and wanted to do it over and over...which we did:).
This week is friction and force..and relating it to baseball....how could this not be fun?!

As Miss Frizzle says "Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy!"  What a great quote for kids. What kid wouldn't love to hear mom say that?! By doing this exact thing, you put all the ideas of  perfection out of your mind, and focus on the real learning, and enjoying it

check out the theme song preview of the videos!





Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this review. My opinions are honest and personal. They may differ from others.
you can find the books and videos at scholastic.com or www.amazon.com

This is Our Time DVD giveaway!

This is Our Time Giveaway Hosted by Pea of Sweetness

The movie tells the interwoven stories of Luke (T.J. Dalrymple) and Alé (Erin Bethea), who marry right after school and move to India to serve as missionaries for Embrace A Village, a ministry that cares for those afflicted with leprosy and their families; aspiring financier Catherine (Kate Cobb), who joins a prestigious financial institution determined to make an impact on corporate America; Ryder (Matthew Florida), who lands an impressive job in social media and can’t wait to use the powerful medium for a greater good; and Ethan (Shawn-Caulin Young,) seemingly the odd man out, who struggles to find his God-given-purpose and feels sidelined by God. “What they all come to learn is that it never really was their time,” Arnold said. “It always was, always is, God’s time.”

Check out the full This is Our Time review on Pea of Sweetness.

For More: Visit the Pure Flix Website, Connect with Pure Flix on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and YouTube

About the Giveaway: This giveaway begins on 4/15 and ends on 4/29 at 11:00pm (times are CST) and is open Worldwide ages 18+. Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.

The Prize: One lucky winner will receive the This is Our Time DVD!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may be different than yours. Lost Island of Book Reviews is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Restoration Series by Terri Blackstock

      One of my favorite thing about reading is finding new series, authors and subjects in which to engross myself in. When I read a book, I tend to find myself a part of the story. I see the story in pictures and find myself imagining what it would be like to live in the story. I actually retain the scene so if I re-read a book, I see it the same way! Maybe I'm just a little strange or too involved in a story but I my son has inherited the same love of reading and becoming involved with the book:)

       I have read a few of Terri Blackstock's books in the past, but recently have started reading them non-stop. The Restoration Series is wonderful! There are 4 books in the series. 

       The whole series revolves around the idea of what might happen if we lost all electricity. How would our lives change? How would we react? Our culture has become so hooked on technology that the idea of not having it is sometimes terrifying. We don't know how we would continue life as we know it. The series begins with all the electronics losing their power. There's no air or electricity in homes, but even more confusing is the fact that cars fail to run, watches won't keep time. Nothing that needs electric power works. We see how differently people react to the situation. 

        The first book, Last Light, focuses mainly on the Branning family and the  beginning of the loss. People are reacting to the initial struggle...getting home, not being able to call people or find people, and realizing how easy life had been compared to after the catastrophe. We realize by living the story, how much we rely on electronics, and how hard it can be to adapt when things are taken away, not by choice.

        In the second book, Night Light, we learn how the longer the people deal with change, and the permanence of it, how people begin to react in survival mode. We learn through circumstances that occur, how little people are trusting in God, and are focusing more on the negatives...what was lost, instead of trusting in God and in family.

       In book three, True Light, in the light of recent murders people are on edge. As the neighborhood begins to try and start it's own government and start to provide some sort of normalcy in spite of circumstances. People are really starting to get frustrated which leads to some poor choices and consequences for choices. 

       In book four, Dawn's Light, the families have really learned to trust God, have accepted life as it is, and have adapted to the idea the lights may never come on. When they find out the power will soon be fixed, how will they deal with everything. As the Branning family comes to grips with a tragedy that comes on the family, will they be able to trust the God they've learned to rely on? Can God really bring good out of something bad? 

      While these books all follow the lost of electronics, I think a bigger story lies behind it. What are we focusing our lives on? What are our priorities? I think Terri Blackstock gives us a great and very exciting look into a "what if" situation. There is no way to read these books and come out the same. They are filled with excitement, drama, tragedy and love. Most important are the life lessons and helps teach us to trust in God no matter what the circumstances are.

       You do not want to miss out on these great books. I stayed up too late many nights because I just couldn't put down the book I was on.  

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I used library books to do the review. My opinions are honest and are completely mine.

The link to the first book on amazon.com is Last Light

Touch of Foam

Ask anybody, and everyone will agree that washing hands is an important thing! Now, if you could wash your hands and get 99.9% of germs off that's even better! I was excited about being a part of this campaign for bzzagent.com. With our busy schedule, and the fact that I babysit and find myself washing hands all day long, this was perfect for me!
I put out my Lysol Touch of Foam in the kitchen because that's where we spend a lot of time and where you want to be germ free. My initial thought was that the vanilla smell was soft and fragrant. I liked the fact that it has a thicker feel to it. I feel like it would also be good for kids learning to wash their own hands because the pump tends to be a little more difficult to get the soap out, therefore limiting the amount that comes out. No more runny mess! I have to say, I love foam cleaning products!
After a few days of using it, my husband started to complain about the smell. He felt his hands seemed a little slimy and the scent was no longer fragrant in a good way. I noticed it also. I think I would try a different smell to see if it was the same or if it was just a smell that wasn't a favorite. They offer 3 different scents which to choose from.
I understand the feeling of being slimy, but to me I felt also the smoothness and moisturizing which I enjoy. I tend to have dry hands when I wash them a lot, but I have noticed that isn't occuring nearly as much since we've been using the  Lysol Touch of Foam.
Although I can honestly say we are not 100% sure it will become our primary soap choice, I do anticipate we will try another of the scents because we have always been fans of Lysol products in the past and would like to give it a second try.

Disclosure: I received a full size bottle of Lysol Touch of Foam for the review as a part of being a bzzagent.
My review is my honest opinion and may differ from others.

PB Crave Giveaway!

Welcome to the PB Crave Choco Choco Variety Pack Giveaway

Hosted by Miss Frugal Mommy and Sponsored by PB Crave

One person is going to win a PB Crave Choco Choco Variety Pack (RV $20.97)

To learn more about this delicious all natural peanut butter, read Miss Frugal Mommy's Review!

Enter to win in the rafflecopter below, all entries will be verified, Good Luck!

 

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Disclosure: Miss Frugal Mommy and Lost Island of Book Reviews are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Miss Frugal Mommy received a product for free in exchange for her honest review. I was not compensated for this post. This giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.