Giveaway Time! Meet "Natalie"

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Andi!

I'm ready to bribe you all to leave me comments again. : )

It's time for another Zonderkidz giveaway.

• Do you have beginning readers in your house who are ready to try a chapter book?


• Any fans of Junie B. Jones?


• Want to win a set of three books that would be "just right" for these readers?

Let me tell you about the Natalie books.

I have to admit, when I began reading the first book of the series, I thought Hmmm seems a little TOO much like Junie B. and maybe not quite as funny. Not sure if I'm a fan.

By the time I finished, I was a fan. Here's why:

• My girls loved Natalie as much as Junie B. and laughed their way through the whole book
• Nat 24 as she calls herself, has a conscience and remorse that Junie seems to be lacking
• I loved the message of God's forgiveness in the book
• Perfect reading level for my beginning readers

My girls can't wait to get their hands on the next two books in the series:

Are your kids or grandkids at this reading level?
Do you know kids at church or have friends with kids who would enjoy these books?

Need something to give at the next birthday party?

I can help! : ) I just happen to have copies of the first three books I'd like to give away.

Here's how to win:

Do one of these or all of these, it's up to you.

You can leave a separate comment for each of these. Each comment is a separate entry and another chance to win:

1. Tell me in your comment that you would like to win. Make sure you leave me an email address if you don't have a blog I can find you at.

2. Visit Zonderkidz and tell me what you like.

3. If you are a follower of my blog or become one before I draw the winner on Friday, you can have an extra entry.

4. Spread the news on Twitter or Facebook with a link back to this contest. Let me know you did in a comment.

5. Become one of my followers on Twitter (@EverydayBecky) Or you can do it from the sidebar on my blog.

Told you I was bribing you all! Shameless, I know! Hee Hee

6. Blog about the giveaway and invite your readers to enter.

Any questions? Let me know! Hope you enjoy Nat 24 as much as Oldest and Littlest Princess do!

Sorry, my budget will only allow me to ship to the Continental United States.

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No Cost Projects

I've got a creativity bug that could be really dangerous to our budget right now, so I've been on the lookout for ways to satisfy my creative yearnings at no cost.

I've wanted to make Littlest Princess a fabric covered bulletin board for awhile so when I spotted an old bulletin board in my friend, Jessica's, trash pile, I begged her for it.

(At least I think she was planning on throwing it away. If not, the begging worked. Ha Ha! Thanks Jess!)

I brought it home and looked through my sewing scraps. I had some batting from a pillow I made awhile ago and leftover fabric to match the "It's Not Perfect, But Who Cares" valance I made. The problem was I didn't have enough fabric to cover the whole thing.

I remembered this Nesting Place blog post, so I ripped up an old sundress that didn't fit the girls anymore and VOILA I suddenly had enough fabric.

Here's proof that I'm cured of perfectionism:

I just put the batting across the bulletin board and hot glued it down in a few places. Then I stretched the fabric across and stapled it in the back with a staple gun.

That's it.

Didn't cost me a thing.

Got to be creative.

Littlest Princess is happy.

Moral of the Story: Check through your friends' trash. You never know what treasures they may be throwing away. Hee Hee.

Just kidding...kind of... : )

I'll tell you about my next freebie decorating project when I finish.

Inspire me with your own freebie projects in the comments section, please. : )

Please remember to pray for Noelle while she is in surgery today.

Love,

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I Want to Give You One of These!

"Dance me, Daddy. Dance me around. Don't let my feet ever touch down. There's nothing better than being your girl, If I am your princess, then you are king of the world."















In this home of princesses and one King Charming, there could not be a more appropriate book for us to own than Dance Me Daddy, by Cindy Morgan. My girls love this book! In fact, that can't wait to read it with Daddy again tonight.

Based on the Point of Grace song, King of the World, it is a book about daddies and daughters.

It begins with a little girl dancing on her daddy's toes and ends with her dancing in his arms on her wedding day.

As I read the book, I thought about how fast we will be there. Before I know it, I'll be watching my little princesses dancing with King Charming at their own weddings. I'm so thankful that my girls are growing up with a loving daddy. He has no idea how much I treasure the way he loves our kids.

With Father's Day on the horizon, if you are anything like me you are desperate for good ideas. Wouldn't it be sweet to have your daughter read this to her daddy? Followed by their own dancing session in the living room?

Here's your chance! Zonderkidz (The Children's Book division of Zondervan Publishing) sent me this book to review and to giveaway to one lucky reader. : ) Just in time for the big day.
Don't you love giveaways? : )

Entering is easy! Just leave me a comment telling me about your plans for Father's Day- big plans? Little plans? No plans? I need some inspiration! : )

On Wednesday, June 10, I'll use Random.org to choose a winner to receive a copy of Dance Me, Daddy that includes a CD with the author reading the story aloud, as well as the song "King of the World" by Point of Grace. I'm sorry, I won't be able to mail outside of the Continental U.S. unless you want to pay for the shipping to wherever else in the world you are. : )

Want more chances to win? You can leave me an additional comment, giving you one extra entry, if you do any of these things before Wednesday:
(4 entries max. per person)

1. If you are a Follower of my blog or become one before the drawing on Wednesday. (See sidebar)
2. Write a post inviting your blog readers to enter this drawing.
3. Browse the Zonderkidz website and let me know what looks interesting to you. (Sorry the link wasn't working earlier. It should now) : )

Even if you don't have daughters, it could be special coming from you to your own daddy

ZonderKidz has been very generous and sent me quite a few titles of children's books to share with you over the next few weeks. Keep watching my blog for your chance to win more great books for your kids.

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Chance to Win a Great Prize

What a bad blogger I've been lately! I'm sorry. I've just been so uninspired lately.

Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me. I am feeling a lot better and the blues are lifting. I still really need our inversion to go away and our sun to shine again SOON!!! The weather girl said maybe tomorrow!

Madeline Grace, one of my favorite three-year-olds in the whole world, mailed me a picture of the sunset that she colored. She knew it was my favorite color and sent it to cheer me up. Boy did it! Thanks Madeline!

In other news- : )

I wanted to tell you all about a giveaway one of my blogging friends is hosting this week. Dani at icrafty.com just wrote her 100th post and to celebrate she is giving away a $30 giftcard to either WalMart or Old Navy. All you have to do is leave a comment and say hi to be entered in the drawing. Tell her Becky sent you. : )

Leave me a comment, too, just so I know you're all still there even though I've been such a bad blogger. : )

I'll be back soon!

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An Apology, A Thank You, A Carnival, and A Juggler : )

Wow...I'm sorry I've been neglecting my blog so much. I've been having fun with the book club on my Fitness Blog and forgot to keep up over here. I'm thankful you are patient readers. : ) I'll try to do better. And I do promise more pictures. : )

As a side note...Did you know the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival started today? Oh man! It is going to be tough to stay off my computer this week. That thing is absolutely addicting! I wanted to be organized enough to do my own giveaway, but alas organization left me when I gave birth in August. : ) There is still time...maybe I can pull it together before the carnival ends. I hope you enjoy entering the contests. I'd love to hear if any of you are winners.

I also wanted to thank those of you who are following my blog. (See sidebar to learn how to become a Follower) It means a lot to me. I'm so grateful for all of you who read. When I started our adoption blog in January of 2007, I didn't really understand what blogging was. I didn't know how much fun I'd have with it and the wonderful people I'd meet.

I'll be back soon to update you on Prince Charming and the Princesses and life here in the castle. In the mean time, here's the latest devotion I wrote for church:

The Apprentice Juggler:

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. - 1 Corinthians 12:18

My mom read the book Tales of the Kingdom as a bedtime story to my brother and me when I was young, and it quickly became a family favorite. Staring at the pictures, I often wished I could be in the story myself. I've read it over again several times as an adult, getting something new out of it every time. (Sorry Mom, you can't have it back)

Written as a fairy tale, each chapter expresses a different Biblical truth and ends with a moral for the story. One of my favorite chapters is called "The Apprentice Juggler."

The Apprentice Juggler wants nothing more than to join the troupe and perform on a regular basis at the Great Celebration. Unfortunately, he has a terrible secret he is afraid the Juggling Master will find out about. His inner count is different than the other jugglers, and he is terrified he will mess up the next performance. Doing everything in his power to hide the fact his rhythm is off, he works hard to suppress the count he hears inside of his head.

Eventually, he cannot suppress it any longer and during the performance he lets himself follow his own rhythm. He ends up delighting the audience as a clown and learns a clown is "the best juggler of all." It is a rare talent to be both a juggler and a clown and the Juggling Master is thrilled.

When asked why he never revealed his different rhythm, he answers, "I-I thought I would lose my place in the troupe." To which the Juggling Master replies, "Lose your place? Find your proper place, rather. Didn't you know that in the Great Celebration, all who desire a place, find a place?"

Have you ever felt like the Apprentice Juggler; afraid you have nothing to offer in the Kingdom of God because you aren't like the other people you see serving? I have. And I was convinced I didn't measure up. I was also convinced serving meant doing something I didn't like to do.

But here I am, writing a blog, something I love to do and happens to be a hobby of mine. God gave me the opportunity to do something I love for Him.

Do you march to the beat of a different drum? Great! No one has the unique talents God has instilled in you. No one can tell your story. God has created so much diversity and we do not need cookie-cutter Christians in the Body of Christ. Listen to your own inner rhythm and offer it up to God. He wrote your rhythm, and He will use it!

Personal Application:

Make a list of your dreams, passions, talents, gifts, etc. and talk to God about them during your prayer time this week. Trust Him with those things. Praise God for your uniqueness. Ask Him to use you for His Kingdom.

Do you feel unqualified? I've heard this quote said two different ways, and I love it both ways:

God doesn't call the equipped, He equips those He calls.

AND

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls.

More of God's Word:

1. Read 1 Corinthians 12

2. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:17

Lord,

Thank you for making me, me. Help me to stop comparing myself to others and to enjoy the way you made me. Help me to trust You with my unique gifts, talents, passions, and dreams. Show me how they can be used for You. May I glorify You with my life.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen

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Works for Me Wednesday- Kids Chores

My girls are computer junkies. (I'm sure it is genetic- comes from King Charming) ; )

They adore anything that has to do with computers, so they fell in love with this online system for managing kids chores.

The best part about this system is it's price: FREE. Parents create an online chore chart and kids check them off as they complete them. Parents grade how well the chores were done, and kids earn handipoints to spend on their online pet. It can also be used to earn rewards/allowance that families set up.


This is actually our second attempt at using Handipoints. Here are some tips that will help you learn from the mistakes that I made:


1. Keep it VERY simple. The first time I tried to use Handipoints I had a morning, afternoon, evening, and weekly checklist. It was just too much. Start out with a simple list so it is easy or this system won't last. You can always add more later. It is only as complicated as you make it and believe me, I made it COMPLICATED last time.


2. It works best for kids who can read so they can do their charts independently. (Our girls just turned 5 an 6). My youngest is a beginning reader, so her big sister will have to help her read the tough words.


For right now, I'm just doing our summer morning routine. They have to have this checked off before they can go out and play with friends.

Enjoy! You can stop by Rocks in My Dryer for more WFMW tips.


If you're visiting from WFMW~ Welcome!
Here's my other WFMW posts
Lately I've been blogging about my little brother, Moon Boots, and Underoos. : )
You can learn about me here. Please come back and visit again soon.

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School's Out...Now What?

Works for Me Wednesday has a theme this week. It's the

"Mom, I'm Bored!" Edition

These were Shannon's instructions:

Post your ideas for clever ways to keep the kids
occupied during the summer months. And if your ideas are cheap and simple, I'll love you that much more...

Here's our free/cheap and simple summer entertainment plans:

Free Movies!!!!

Regal Cinemas is offering their Free Family Film Festival again this year. Throughout the summer they will be showing FREE G and PG rated movies every Tuesday and Wednesday morning at 10 A.M.

I'm 6 months pregnant and due in August, so free, air conditioned fun sounds great to me!

Our Local Library:

I can't believe all of the great activities our local library is hosting this summer. I know all libraries are different, but I recommend checking out what your library offers.

Ours has a summer reading program called "Catch the Reading Bug" and they've planned a weekly activity for every Thursday afternoon around the insect theme. We signed up this afternoon.

They also offer weekly classes for all ages (e.g. Kitchen Science, Art, Video Gaming Groups, Summer Fun Club, etc.) And again, everything is FREE and you just show up when you want to participate. There isn't any registration required or required attendance. We could go once a day and be fully entertained.

Nature Journals:

After listening to this Focus on the Family broadcast and watching my girls enjoy the visit from our little duck family, I have been inspired to give my kids more opportunities to enjoy nature.

We went to the dollar store today and they each picked out a journal with blank pages and a new box of colored pencils. I didn't want this to feel like a homework assignment, so I just gave them the blank journals and said, "Go explore and look for bugs, plants, birds, animals, flowers, or anything you see in nature that you like. Then draw what you see and we'll see at the end of the summer all of the great things you discover."

We got home from the dollar store this afternoon and they started right away. I was surprised by how enthusiastic they are about this project. I'm excited to see how they fill the pages.

It's funny. When I read through the summer rec program here, I was bummed by how expensive it all was. As I looked for what we could do for free, I've found more than we'll probably have time to do. There's the upcoming minor league baseball game that is $1 admission on Family night, the Christian bookstore's story and craft hour, the parks and rec van at the parks on Monday mornings.....the opportunities have filled my calendar.

I want our summer to be free (not just financially). I can remember times in my own childhood when I was over scheduled. I decided I'm just not up to a strict summer schedule. I plan on lazy days of sitting in the wading pool, eating our Popsicles, and then having all of these opportunities available when we want them. If we are happy eating our Otter Pops in the backyard and running through the sprinkler, I don't want to stop because we HAVE to be someplace.

And if the girls get bored, there's always Webkinz on the computer. THAT topic I will save for another post on another day. (Has the Webkinz craziness hit your home yet?)

Happy Summer Everyone!

Love,

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Giveaway Ends Tonight

My giveaway will be ending at 8:00 (PST) tonight. There is still a little time to enter if you didn't get a chance. I will post the winner tomorrow morning. Thank you for the great name ideas!

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You Could Win My Latest Sewing Project

This giveaway will be ending at 8:00 (PST) tonight. (Sunday, April 27) There is still a little time to enter if you didn't get a chance. I will post the winner tomorrow morning. Thank you for the great name ideas!
There is a big blog carnival going on at bloggygiveaways.com and my latest sewing project is going to be my entry in the fun.

The nesting instinct has hit full force, so in preparation for our new baby, out came my sewing machine. : )

I had so many difficulties with nursing the first two times I attempted it. I'm praying that I will be successful this time. I'm on the lookout for anything that will make it easier for me. My sister-in-law had a nursing cover that I thought was ingenious. Using hers for inspiration, I figured out how to make one for myself.


Here's why I like it:

1. It's made out of lightweight fabric, so the baby won't get hot.

2. It's hands-free. The straps connect behind your neck with d-rings and can be adjusted for size. It won't fall off in public! : )



3. There is boning sewn into the top seam that allows you full view of the baby.

4. There is even a built-in burp rag corner to wipe up dribbles. : )

I had so much fun sewing this, I made one for my good friend Marisa for her birthday.

Here's how you can win one for yourself or for an expectant mom you know. I'm hoping to make a few of these to sell, but I need a good name for them. There are some versions of nursing covers similar to this on the market like Hooter Hider and Modest Mommy. Can you help me come up with a name for my little enterprise? Just leave a comment with a fun name suggestion for my nursing covers, and I'll draw a winner from the comments left.

The winner will receive a nursing cover free, including shipping if its within the Continental United States. I'll draw a winner over the weekend of April 26-27. I'll announce the winner on this site on Monday, April 28. The winner will be notified on your blog or by email. The winner can tell me a little about the personality of the mom it will be used for, and I'll choose a fabric that I think will match that mom. (e.g. classic, feminine, bold, trendy, baby boy, baby girl, etc.)

You don't have to be a blogger to win, you just need to leave me a valid email address when you comment so I can easily contact the winner.

If you found my blog through the bloggy giveaway, welcome! You can learn more about me here. I hope you'll come back and visit again.

Remember to stop by Bloggy Giveaways for a list of all of the bloggers who have fun things to give away this week.

Have Fun!

(Edit Note: 4/23/08: I received a comment today that made me realize I needed to edit this post. I would never want to give the impression that I came up with an original design that has never been done before. There are lots of this type of nursing cover on the market made by different companies with different brand names. They sell for between $35 - $45, so I was excited to be able to sew them for less. I guess you could think of this as a generic version of the others I have seen, and I just wanted to offer them to other moms who are on a budget like we are.)

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Blog for a Free CD

I just signed up to receive a free CD by visiting here. Matt Maher is a new artist for me, but I'm always up for free. If you have a blog, you can go to this website and sign up for your own free CD. The only catch is linking to his site from your blog. Thanks for the tip, Daiquiri.

Warning: Daiquiri just had her blog redesigned. You'll end up with blog envy if you click on the above link. : )

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