Happy New Year! Giveaway Time!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and your visions of sugar plums are now turning to visions of goals and fresh beginnings.  I know mine sure are!

Last year, I skipped making goals and I don't think that was a wise choice for me.  I am much more intentional when I have a list of goals and habits to work towards so my planner is being filled with a few bullet points even as I type this.  After a 2015 self evaluation, there are several areas that I really want to put my focus back on again and one of those areas is better housekeeping!

I have used the Motivated Moms planner for years and love the simplicity of it so much yet it also helps me stay on top of the chores I want to get done when I am diligent about looking over the chores for the day. 

I really have a hard time choosing if I want the app or the ebook sometimes because I am a paper planner at heart yet I really love the simplicity of the app as well! See my posts here on how we have used it in the past.

Motivated Moms has graciously offered to give one of my readers there very own ebook or app add on! If you do choose the app add on, you will already need to have the actual app or purchase it. The giveaway is for the current 2016 calendar of chores for the app. This giveaway will end on January 2, 2016 so hurry to enter. Then you will have plenty of time to add Motivated Moms to your New Year's goals as well!  Enter the giveaway below.

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If you don't want to wait, there is currently a New Year's sale going on now too until January 4, 2016. Let's get these houses in order for 2016 - baby steps all the way!

Facebook Giveaway and Thank You! - Now Closed

Click the image above to enter!

Would love for you to join me on Facebook for a fun giveaway to celebrate reaching our first milestone of 500 likes!

It will go live at 12:00am 11/10/15 EST and end at 12:00am 11/17/15. Winner will be picked by rafflecopter and notified by email and Facebook.

Reformation Day Giveaway

October 31 commemorates what has become known as "Reformation Day." Martin Luther’s nailing of his ninety-five theses to a church door on October 31, 1517 in Wittenburg, Germany, provoked a debate that resulted in what we now call the Protestant Reformation. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Martin Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone. 

Author Danika Cooley has written Luther's story for young people in her new book, When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther.  We are currently reading this book aloud as a family to celebrate this momentous occasion.  It is so powerful to reminisce and connect with this time period. I am so excited to share with you more about this book as we finish it up and even more excited to offer you the wonderful opportunity to win lots of great prizes as we celebrate Reformation Day!

 

To celebrate Reformation Day and the release of When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther, I've joined together with a team of blogger friends to host this wonderful giveaway, valued at over $500! One person will win ALL of the following: $100 Amazon Gift Card Fire 7-inch Tablet, WiFi 8GB ($49.99)  When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther (hardcover $16.99) From WiseDecor.com, a $50 Gift Certificate From Nuremberg Tourist Board, a Playmobil Martin Luther figure ($9.99) From Thinking Kids Press, a curriculum bundle from When Lightning Struck! author, Danika Cooley:

• Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journal: The Reformation Age (digital $20)
• Bible Road Trip Year Three Curriculum and all 3 Notebooking Journals (digital $80)

From Fortress Press, a book bundle by author, Tim Dowley:

1. Christian Music: A Global History  ($35)
2. Introduction to the History of Christianity: Second Edition ($55) 
3. The Student Bible Atlas: Revised Edition  ($12.99) 
4. Atlas of the European Reformations ($24)

From Home School Adventure Co.:

1. Philosophy Adventure: Pre-Socratics (digital $39.95)
2. Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal (digital $18.95)

To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  Void where prohibited by law. Must be at least 18 years of age. This giveaway is in no away associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. No purchase necessary for entry. Odds are determined by the number of entries. Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn. Entry into this giveaway will subscribe you to the Thinking Kids Press email list. 

Giveaway at Chestnut Grove Academy

Today, I'm sharing with you a guest post announcing a fantastic giveaway going on at Chestnut Grove Academy.  Scroll down to the bottom of this post for your chance to win lots of great prizes!

Encouragement For Homeschool Moms Giveaway!

I have a wonderful giveaway for my blog readers today!  As a part of the launch team for Experiencing History Through Music, I have been given the opportunity to give away a wonderful downloadable set including e-book and 4 workshop recordings with encouragement straight from Diana Waring's heart to yours.  Find out more about Encouragement For Homeschool Moms.

If you need some refreshment or maybe even a reminder why you are doing what you are doing - enter below!

I will only run this giveaway for a week and all you have to do is be a follower of us in some form whether it be facebook, youtube, twitter, follower here, or pinterest - just let me know which one and thanks for being here!

Giveaway will begin at 12:00am 7/13/14 and end at 12:00 7/20/14.


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Diana and Friends Experience History Through Music Giveaway -- $700+ Value!!

Coming up soon, I will be sharing more with you on a new history curriculum - Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring. great new history product that should be releasing the end of the month.  Not only is it history but history through music.  My daughter has been reading The Little House books and it's so cool to actually hear what some of Pa's songs would have sounded like!

To celebrate the release of Experience History Through Music, I am joining members of the Diana Waring Launch Team for an amazing giveaway. Friends of Diana have joined in and as you can see, someone's homeschool is going to be greatly blessed!  Here's what you could win! 

From Diana Waring Presents

Experience History Through Music - set of 3 books with CDs ($50/set) Diana Waring Presents is about to bring back into print the BEST folk music you have ever heard, combined with the fascinating stories they represent in American history!   The Experience Music Through Historyseries includes: America - Heart of a New Nation, Westward Ho! - Heart of the Old West  and Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The musicians are amazing, every instrument is real, lots of great vocalists, and more toe-tapping music than you can imagine! The books tell the stories behind the songs.  Together, they bring American history to life through it's music!!With fascinating history books and toe-tapping folk music CDs, American history has NEVER been this fun!

 

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms Collection ($25) Every mom needs that word of encouragement from someone who has been there, who has grownup children and can speak with assurance about the journey. Homeschool moms have an extra portion of the journey to navigate, and often wish for an extra voice that will offer direction but without nagging or prodding. Diana Waring has that voice.  

From A Journey Through Learning

$50 Gift Certificate $50 to spend in the A Journey Through Learning store, applicable toward any digital download purchase.  

 

From Homeschool Legacy

Westward Ho! Part I ($19.95) Load up your wagon! Discover the extraordinary times of adventurous frontiersmen and brave pioneers as you travel cross-country along the Erie Canal,  Oregon Trail, and even “remember the Alamo” in Westward Ho Part I. Westward Ho! Part II ($19.95) Continue the exciting saga begun in Westward Ho! Part I as you journey with the forty-niners, ride the rails of the Transcontinental Railroad, experience life on the prairie, and discover the exciting era of cowboys and cattle drives in Westward Ho! Part II. 

From Knowledge Quest Maps

Map Trek: Atlas and Outline Maps of World History ($55) Map Trek is a historical atlas plus outline maps that allow you to teach geography alongside history. This is a resource that any homeschool parent can use with brilliant success, even if you don't remember a thing from your history or geography classes in public school.  

 From Home School Adventure Co. 

Philosophy Adventure™ Digital Download ($39.95) Philosophy Adventure™ is designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas.  

 From Heidi St. John (The Busy Mom and Real Life Press)

Firmly Planted Family Devotional Digital Volume 3 ($39) The Firmly Planted Family Series is divided into ten-week studies and is your key to making sense of the Bible—even if you’re learning right along with your children. Each lesson provides a core idea, a simple narrative, memory verses and discussion questions for children of all ages. And the companion student workbook is filled with age-appropriate, full-color, reproducible activities for children of any age!  

From Raising Real Men

Free Registration to Boyhood Boot Camp or Boot Camp 9-12 LIVE webinar series (winner's choice) plus Mom & Dad Special Raising Real Men (Book for Mom to read in the bathroom + AudioBook for Dad to listen to on the commute) ($62-69)

 

Free Registration for Marriage Retreat Online plus His & Hers Special of My Beloved and My Friend: How To Be Married To Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses (book + audiobook), ($65)

 From Institute for Excellence in Writing

$50 Gift Certificate $50 to spend in the IEW store, applicable toward any purchase.  

From The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

SchoolhouseTeachers.com ($139) A one year membership to the curriculum arm of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Nearly 100 classes for Pre-K to High School, taught by expert teachers, and lots of extras including the Schoolhouse Planners, Schoolhouse Expos, monthly free ebook downloads and more. 

 

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 2014 Print Book ($15) Be encouraged, enlightened, and educated with the all new 2014 Annual Print Book published by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.You’ll get a year’s worth of homeschool support in almost 300 pages in this full color one-of-a-kind print magazine for homeschoolers, by homeschoolers. This is a magazine you’ll refer to again and again.  

From Writing with Sharon Watson

The Power in Your Hands ($53.96) With The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, they’ll learn what they need to know for high school and will be prepared for college writing.

Writing Fiction [in High School] ($35) Are you raising the next C. S. Lewis or Jane Austen? Help your student develop their fiction-writing talents. Writing Fiction [In High School]: Bringing Your Stories to Life will help.


To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older only. Other Terms and Conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter. 

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Winners of the coupon for Purex Crystals Are...

And the winners are.....

I have notified both of you by email!  

Thanks to everyone who entered and look out for more soon!

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Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh Review and Giveaway

In stores now, you can find the wonderful smelling Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh laundry enhancer. 

Make your towels, blankets, and clothes smell fresh for weeks! It smells so fresh that I keep smelling our blankets over and over!  It has been almost a week since I washed them and the smell is still so fresh and clean.  Those blankets are also more soft and fluffy.  The laundry crystals do not reduce the absorbency of towels and it is safe for use in all loads including children's sleepwear and athletic wear.  Can you say bye bye smelly stinky soccer socks?  Woohoo!

Here's your chance to win a coupon for your very own free bottle of Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh.  The coupon expiration date is 09/01/2014.  This giveaway will close on 04/06/14 and I will choose 2 winners from the entries below.

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*Disclaimer:  The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh in exchange for a product review.  However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

2 FREE Spots to The Old Schoolhouse Expo - Quick Giveaway!

Giveaway Ends - 02/26/14 @ 7:00am EST or when the 2 comments are posted whichever comes first!

Okay, here's a fun giveaway!  As a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I have been given the opportunity to give away 2 seats to The Old Schoolhouse Expo!  Just look at the fabulous speakers!!

As you can see, the expo is this Thursday so act fast!  The 1st two of my readers to leave a comment with first name, last name, and email will get to join me at the expo!!  As simple as that - where's my easy button? :)

Winners of the Free Dial coupon are....

Congratulations!  I have sent you an email!!  Thanks again to all who subscribed and entered!

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Winners of the FREE Purex Coupon!

Congratulations!  I have emailed the winners!  Thanks to all for subscribing and entering!  I hope to have more giveaways coming soon!

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Giveaway - Coupon for FREE Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash

Winter is so ROUGH on my skin!  I normally have very dry skin to begin with but these cold temperatures we've been having around here have my skin extremely dry so I can't wait to give the new Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash a try! Once I've tried it out for a while, I'll report back and let you know my thoughts.

The new body wash is infused with lotion and gives your skin a daily boost of vitamins.  I'm trying the Kiwi Vitamin Boost with Vitamin Complex Amazing B.

Vitamin fact:  Vitamin B is a natural humectant that helps draw in moisture and keep your skin hydrated.

The Dial brand has provided me with 2 coupons for a FREE bottle of 11.75oz or larger Vitamin Boost Body Wash to giveaway.  This time, I'm going to give them away to my Youtube Channel Subscribers. So, be sure to subscribe if you haven't already for your chance to win!  Giveaway begins at 12:00am 02/06/14 and ends at 12:00am 02/12/14.

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*Disclaimer:  The Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own!

Purex - Bright Washes Bright Wishes

Laundry is fun!  Wait, don't leave!!  Ok, so maybe it's not fun to all.  It's really not fun to me either.  It's mundane and never ending but there is the blessing of actually having laundry to do!  So, perspective can be a great thing!

To make laundry even better, Purex will pay $.05 per bottle to Make-A-Wish for the first 4 million bottles of 75oz+ liquid detergent sold from February 1st - February 28th, 2014 and will increase the payment amount to $.10 for every bottle above 4 million, with a minimum guarantee of $200,000 and a maximum of $300,000.    

Purex brand will also pay $.08 per bottle to Make-A-Wish for the first 620,000 bottles of Classic and Ultra Lines in Mountain Breeze and Sweet Lavendar fabric softeners sold from February 1st-February 28th, 2014 and will increase the payment to $.10 for every bottle above 620,000, with a minimum guarantee of $50,000 up to a maximum of $100,000.

So, now laundry can include giving!  How awesome and fun (see told ya :)!  If you are not familiar with Make-A-Wish, they grant wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions.  We have several families in our area who have received Make-A-Wish wishes.  It is such a uplifting and strengthening time for families to be able to share in the joy of of a child they've watched be so sick and brave.

I have more great news!  Thanks for reading this far.  I will be giving away 2 coupons here on my blog to 2 subscribers!  The coupon entitles you to a free bottle of Purex Mountain Breeze detergent!  Just fill out the rafflecopter details below for your chance to win!  Contest starts at midnight on 2/1/14 and ends at midnight on 2/8/14!

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You can learn more about the Purex Bright Wishes, Bright Washes campaign here.

*Disclaimer:  Purex Laundry Detergent provided me with Purex coupons in exchange for sharing the Purex Make-A-Wish campaign.  However, all opinions expressed here are my own!

More Than "Mere" Education Giveaway - several prize opportunities!

I am so excited that we are reviewing the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal. I've been wanting to ready Mere Christianity for a while with my 10th grader and this is such a great way to connect further with one another as we read. You too have the opportunity to win your own copy plus lots of other goodies in the More Than "Mere" Education Giveaway!

The Home School Adventure Co. Launch Team is excited to help celebrate the release of the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal with a special giveaway filled with books that will compliment your classical studies, as well as a couple of special surprises.  

The best news is that there will be two winners, each receiving a very valuable prize package!  

We would like to thank the following friends for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Institute for Excellence in Writing
Nancy Pearcey
Trivium Pursuit
Bright Ideas Press
Raising Real Men

Here are the prize packages you could win! 

Prize Package #1

Our first prize package contains all of the print resources from Home School Adventure Co., as well as wonderful books, curriculum, and even a marriage retreat. This prize package, sponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Nancy Pearcey, and Trivium Pursuit, has a value of $500!

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal $28.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Complete Set $89.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV $28.95
The Wise Woman with Literaray Analysis Journal Questions $28.95

IEW Teaching Writing/Student Writing Value Pack (Winner's Choice of Levels A, B, or C) $249

The Soul of Science $11.99
Total Truth $25.00
Saving Leonardo $26.99

Teaching the Trivium Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style $20.40
The Fallacy Detective $22
The Thinking Toolbox $22

Prize Package #2

Our second prize package is filled with all of the resources offered at Home School Adventure Co. in their downloadable editions, as well as a set of all 3 volumes of The Mystery of History by Linda Hobar. This prize package, sponsored by Bright Ideas Press and Raising Real Men, has a value of $300! 

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal Download $18.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Digital Download $39.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV Download $14.95
The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions Download $14.95

The Mystery of History, Volume I $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume II $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume III $59.95

My Beloved and My Friend book and Marriage Retreat Online $45
Pollyanna Audio Book Download $18

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older please.


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2013 Is Coming And Cleaning Never Ends! (giveaway)

As a homeschool mom of 3 busy children, house cleaning is sometimes left in the dust - literally! On any given day, if you show up uninvited, you will find some things out of place.  Our home is lived in and I'm really okay with that.  I do like knowing that cleaning is being accomplished though.  I feel like it is a part of my job as a stay at home mom but also feel that everyone in the family must do their part to make our household run smoothly.

Since February of this year, we have been using the Motivated Moms planner consistently and I love it!  I downloaded the e-book version first and loved it so much I purchased the ipod app as well.  Chores are broken down for you on a daily basis.  You don't need to keep track of what needs to be done when.  The planner does it for you!  You can complete the chores normally within an hour especially if you delegate like I do!  I just write the child's name beside the chore I'd like for them to do that day.  We usually complete the daily chores before school and the chores listed by day are completed in the afternoon.  You can see here where I simply added who I wanted to do what.  Simple and fast!  Chores are often hard to get done but this makes it work much easier for us.

E-book versions

The Motivated Moms printable chore list is an e-book that you download and save to your computer. You can then either print the full year out at once, print a week at a time or just view it on your computer. I printed mine during my school planning sessions every 12 weeks.  If you love to check off boxes then this is a great tool.

I love the e-book version because I am a hand written paper planner gal. 

App Versions

As I mentioned earlier, I was such a fan of the e-book version that I decided to add the ipod version to our repertoire as well to help motivate the kids.  They love clicking on their done chore and watching it disappear (it actually drops to the bottom but it feels so freeing :).  I might - just might - try using the ipod app exclusively this year since it allows you to assign chores to people as well.  Each person is color coded - love!  I can add in my own tasks for them to do. I can save on ink costs and time because it's all right there just waiting.  I think I can, I think I can.  :)  Seriously, if you are looking for customization, I think the app version would be the best choice.

With the app you get 15 months of programmed tasks (over 10,000 of them) spanning from October 2012 to December 2013. In addition, you can add unlimited custom tasks and assign tasks to people and rooms.

Key features:

• All tasks in the average home are planned out for you throughout the year
• Ability to add unlimited custom tasks
• Check off chores as they are done and they drop to the bottom of the list out of your way
• No major cleaning days or Spring Cleaning week, do just a little all year around
• Daily items and those that come up less frequently are scheduled for you
• No need to remember when you last changed the a/c filter or dusted the living room – just do the tasks as they come up; the app keeps track for you.
• Tasks can be assigned to people and rooms and sorted accordingly

You can move items to other days if there is a conflict. The application also gives you the ability to “hide” items that don’t apply. Don’t have a pet? Just hide the “Feed Pets” chore, then “unhide” it later if you get a pet part of the way through the year.

Want to be reminded to read your Bible each day? Motivated Moms will help you read through the Bible in a year. Don’t need the bible reading plan? There is a setting to turn off the scheduled Bible readings so you won’t see them in your list.

My thoughts

You know what I think I love the most about this planner?  The simplicity.  It doesn't have pretty borders or fancy pages.  It simply has what needs to be done.  It also has lots of different versions available suiting the needs of every household: half pages, full pages, daily Bible readings, no daily Bible readings, print version, and apps.  Want to give it a try for yourself?  Try out the lite app versions for for free for ipod/iphone/ipad or android or the 2012 - 3 month e-book planners for $2.

Discount Code For ebook version

For 2013, the app versions are available for $7.99ea.  The e-book versions are available for $8ea.  If you use the code GRACE and purchase your planner by 1/4/13 you will receive $1 off the e-book version. 

Giveaway Details

Susan at Motivated Moms has also been so generous to my readers and is giving away one of the 2013 Motivated Moms planners.  Just follow the steps below for your chance to win - your choice of e-book version or ipod/iphone/ipad app!  Giveaway ends 12/31/12 at midnight EST.

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**Disclaimer:  I was given a free 2013 ipod app of Motivated Moms in exchange for my review.  I purchased my own planners for 2012! I am also an affiliate with the company since I love them so much!  

The Winner Of The Art of Argument is...

I've sent you an email Crystal - congratulations!!



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Hearts At Home Curriculum

I am trying to win a $50 gift certificate for the curriculum store www.heartsathomestore.com by referring the most new subscribers! If you've never been there before, you should check them out!


All you have to do is go to www.homeschoolgiveaways.com and subscribe to their Giveaway Blast. Be sure to input my email address smjlangley@gmail.com as the referral source so I get credit. You will get notified of all of their giveaways once you subscribe.

After you sign up, you can also enter to win by referring others! You can even copy and paste this text, just replace my email address with your own.

Oh, the best part....Hearts at Home will start their HUGE sale for 30% off thousands of popular products on 1-9-12 so your gift certificate will go far!  Savings for the New Year and new curriculum - woohoo!