A.C.T.S. OF KINDNESS FREE E-BOOK & IMAGINATION STATION 3 BOOK GIVEAWAY

I wrote this post on behalf of Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale. I received Adventures in Odyssey Our Favorites in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in anyway.

 

 The Bible is full of wonderful verses about serving others.

 

Philippians 2:1-13

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

As a mom of 5 children ages 8 and under it is my ministry to teach my children the importance of serving others whether it be their siblings, parents, friends, strangers, etc. God has called us to serve others.

 

So what is serving? Serving is using our God given gifts and talents to help others. Adventures in Odyssey has come out with some wonderful tools to help you teach children about serving, this program is called A.C.T.S. 

 

 

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast! 

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org.  At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

 

One of the few ways we serve in our home is by making homeless bags. When we leave our home at least one time during our travels we see someone standing in a median holding a sign "homeless, will work for food", "need a job" or "I am hungry". God has really stressed upon my heart to do something about it. What He stressed up in my heart I didn't want to share with anyone but my children because the Bible says to keep helping others between Him and yourself BUT I am sharing because maybe someone else can benefit from this post or idea. I decided to get my kids involved. I picked up white lunch bags and had my kids coloring them. My 5 year old decided to write God (heart) you on them, even my 1 year old is coloring them. Inside I will print off scripture verses accompanied with crackers (or some type of packaged food) and a bottle of water. I will hand them to the less fortunate, as I do my children and I will pray for them.

Here’s how to simply get started with the A.C.T.S.! Challenge:

1. How are you are serving for a free download of the A.C.T.S.! theme song by VOTA!
2. Track what you do using a Clubhouse Path of Service poster. Or, You can pick up a serving sheet at displays in participating Christian bookstores, and return to collect Odyssey character stickers as you serve.
3. Download a free episode about serving: The Business of Busyness

 

 

Get your FREE e-book of Imagination Station #1, Voyage with the Vikings. Plus you can download and print a Summer of Service Kit.

 

 

Tyndale is generously giving one of my readers 3 Imagination Station Books (1 - 3)!

 

Enter to win by using the below Rafflecopter form to enter for a chance to win this awesome giveaway! Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Open to the US, ages 18+. 

 

 

BABY'S 1ST SMILES -- WORDLESS WEDNESDAY W/ LINKY

My sweet baby girl will be 2 months old tomorrow, it's hard to believe! She has just reached a new milestone. She smiles and squeals now! It is so precious! I love this stage!

 

 

Here are some pictures I took of her sporting her beautiful smile, she even has a dimple just like her 2 year old brother!

What's your Wordless Wednesday? Link up right here with Mama to 5 Blessings every week and share your Wordless Wednesday! PLEASE do not link up your giveaways on this linky, they will be removed immediately. You can add them every Saturday to my Super Saturday linky.

 

BRING THE OUTDOORS INTO YOUR HOME WITH AIR WICK NATIONAL PARKS COLLECTION

 

 

 

#sponsored “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Air Wick. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

As a busy mom to 5 kids let's face it I do not always have the time to clean daily. Along with the cleaning are the mounds of laundry that seem to pile up and in that pile are cloth diapers for my two year old and new baby. We have two diaper pails; one in the kids upstairs bathroom and one in our downstairs. Even though the diaper pails have lids which are always closed the bathrooms can still stink! So what is the solution? Air Wick!

 

 

Simply plug in the Scented Oils the warmer and into the wall outlet and my bathroom is transformed into a clean smelling bathroom --- No more stinky cloth diaper smells!

 

I have been a big fan of Air Wick products since I was a kid when my mother purchased them.  Now a wife and a mom to 5 kids I find their products refreshing and fragrant.  Air Wick has just come out with a whole new line of fragrances which have been inspired by our National Parks hence the name The Air Wick National Parks Collection which is available in scented oils, scented candles, reed diffusers and a freshmatic spray.
 

 

Air Wick National Park Limited Editions scented oils are available in warmers, nite light warmers and double fresh warmers.

 

Grand Canyon - Floral notes of delicate cactus blossoms.

Virgin Islands -  Tropical plumeria and sweet honeysuckle.

Gulf Islands -  Sun-drenched sweet notes of a tropical paradise.

American Samoa -  Sweet refreshing notes of native coconut and island palms.

Denali - Pure cotton grass and fresh spring air.

Hawai'i -  Exotic papaya and hibiscus flower.

 

 

Air Wick also offers an innovative product that offers a welcoming atmosphere in any home.  Made of natural rattan stems and are portable air fresheners The Air Wick Reed Diffusers are great for eliminating odors in small places!

 

 

Air Wick Scented Candles offer beautiful fragrances and create a wonderful ambiance in your home. These candles last up to 25 hours. Each candle contains rich essential oils and come in a 3 oz. frosted glass container.

 

 

The Air Wick Freshmatic is a great way to create a fresh and welcoming environment in your home, business or even in your car! Offered in the new National Parks Collection as well in these fragrances:  Grand Canyon, Virgin Islands, Gulf Islands, American Samoa, Denali and Hawai'i.

 

 

 I love this new collection of fragrances! I can smell them all the way upstairs when I use them downstairs! My kids have even commented how much they enjoy these National Park Collection fragrances and how often do children typically pay attention to things like this? My home smells like the great outdoors and is not over powered by knock off products! I particularly enjoy the Grand Canyon scent which reminds of my wedding. My husband and I got married in Las Vegas 11 years ago!

 

These products range from $2.99 to $5.99. Fantastic prices for bringing the great outdoor scents into your home!

 For more information and offers follow Air Wick on Facebook to stay up to date on offers and other product information!

 
 “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Air Wick. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Mama to 5 Blessings is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

LINK UP YOUR GIVEAWAYS AND ENTER TO WIN SOME TOO! (LINKY)

0

Host giveaways and/or love giveaways? It's that time again to link up your blog giveaways to the Super Saturday Link Up!  PLEASE this is a family friendly blog, please only link up "G rated" items. PLEASE ONLY ENTER GIVEAWAY'S, any others will be deleted.

  

Here are my current giveaways..........

$50.00 Walmart Gift Card
Ends 6/29

Qty 2 Soft Scrub Coupons for FREE Soft Scrub products (1 winner)
Ends 6/17

Springfield Collection 18" Doll
Ends 6/30 

 Kivelli Vintage Collection Bracelet For Girls
 Ends 7/1

  

Super Duper Publications Game of Your Choice!

Ends 6/19

 

 

Mr. Lids 11 Piece Food Storage Containers With Attached Lids

Ends 6/20

 

 

 _____________________________________

Looking for more places to link up your giveaways daily? Click on my Blog Giveaway Daily Link List on my side bar to the right or click HERE! If you have a giveaway linky please leave me a comment and I would be happy to add you to my list!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER! MAKES CREAMY CHICKEN MARSALA (RECIPE, REVIEW & GIVEAWAY)

#sponsored This is a sponsored post written by Mama to 5 Blessings on behalf of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

My husband recently taught me how to make one of my favorite meals, Chicken Marsala. Tender chicken breast with a creamy Marsala sauce topped with chunky mushrooms. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

 

I have enjoyed this meal out at restaurants before but there is a big difference in the creamy Marsala sauce. What is the difference? In our home we use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! which makes the sauce nice and creamy!

 

 

You have to try this for yourselves, here is how you can make this delicious meal:

 

Ingredients:

2 tsp of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

Boneless Chicken Breasts (we made 5)

1 bottle of Marsala Cooking Wine

1 package of clean and sliced mushrooms

Flour, salt and pepper

Olive Oil

 

 

First sprinkle your olive oil on a pan and heat the pan. While the pan is heating take your flour, salt and pepper and pour in a bowl or plate (enough to coat each chicken breast front and back, salt and pepper to your taste). Then place the chicken breasts in the hot pan and sear / brown on each side. While the chicken is searing pour your Marsala sauce in a pot and cook till it reduces in half. (this means it reduce in volume).

 

 

After the chicken is seared on both sides and the Marsala sauce is reduced then add the sauce to the chicken and cook until the Marsala sauce reduces again. Place a lid on top of the pan while cooking. Once the sauce is reduced then add your mushrooms and 2 tablespoons of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Continue to cook until the mushrooms are cooked.

 

 

Once everything is cooked we allow to sit a few minutes giving the sauce time to thicken. When everything is done the chicken is super tender and melts in your mouth.

 

 

 The key ingredient of this recipe is I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! It is a healthy alternative to making the Marsala sauce creamy without all the fat!  Made with 70% less saturated fat and 30% fewer calories than butter. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! soft spreads contain no cholesterol or hydrogenated oils, so there's 0g trans fat per serving.
 

For more delicious recipes using Unilever buttery spreads go to It's Good To Know.  Stay tuned for my YouTube Video on how to make Chicken Marsala step by step and my homemade chocolate cookie recipe using I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

 

So you want to try this recipe for yourself? I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Unilever is generously offering one of my readers a $50.00 gift card to Walmart, so you can purchase I Can't Believe It's Not Butter products!

 

SOFT SCRUB 4-IN-1 TOLIET CARE REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

 

 

I wrote this post on behalf of Soft Scrub Brand. I received Soft Scrub 4-In-1 Toilet Care products in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in anyway.

With seven of us now in our home, you can imagine the toilet smells even though I am constantly cleaning them! The main culprits are my boys, they are not always careful! Soft Scrub has come to my rescue and can come to your rescue as well too! How? With the 4-In-1 Toilet Care!

 Unlike other toilet bowl rim cleaners the Soft Scrub 4-IN-1 Toilet Care has the plastic cage which keeps the product in place and allows the water to activate the cleaner every time you flush. When I placed the 4-In-1 Toilet Care product in our toilet and flushed one time I could immediately smell a fresh scent and see the product at work!

 

 

 

 

How does it work?

Apply the Soft Scrub 4-In-1 Toilet Care to the rim of your toilet and enjoy the cleaning and freshening benefits for up to four weeks! Not only does it clean but it prevents any future build up and fights that grimy toilet scum.
 

 

The Soft Scrub 4-In-1 Toilet Care comes in two scents: Sapphire Waters and Alpine Fresh. This product costs less than $2.00 at Walmart which is a great deal for a product that does all the work for you!

 Enter to win 2 coupons for FREE Soft Scrub 4-In-1 Toilet Care products! (I winner will receive 2 coupons for any Soft Scrub products, expires 12/31/13)

 

Enter to win by using the below Rafflecopter form to enter for a chance to win this awesome giveaway! Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Open to the US, ages 18+. 

 

BABIES AT SLEEP - WORDLESS WEDNESDAY W/ LINKY

Here are a few pictures I took a few days ago of my 2 little ones fast asleep.

 

(2 years and 7 weeks)

What's your Wordless Wednesday? Link up right here with Mama to 5 Blessings every week and share your Wordless Wednesday! PLEASE do not link up your giveaways on this linky, they will be removed immediately. You can add them every Saturday to my Super Saturday linky.