A GIVEAWAY ~ WIN SOME OF MAE'S HANDCRAFTED NATURAL SOAP!!

Have you read about all the harmful ingredients in store-bought soap yet the thought of making your own is too intimidating? Would you like to wash with a gentle lather safe enough for a baby's skin? Then let me introduce you to Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soaps. These natural soaps made with real tallow will delight your senses! Mae lovingly makes all her soaps in small batches to ensure the highest quality. She uses the best of the best ingredients: real tallow is gentle on your skin while at the same time is used for the bar's hardness, which means it doesn't get mushy in the shower. Olive oil is added for further gentleness along with a touch of coconut oil for a fluffy lather. Only high quality soap scents or essential oils are used, and even then they are added with a light hand. Mae's bars give you an absolutely delicious scent you can enjoy in the shower, without becoming obtrusive during the day. Even her coloring agents are of a natural origin. These unique combinations make long-lasting, gentle bars that your whole family will love.

You Can Win Natural Handcrafted Soap!

Would you like to win some of Mae's Natural Handcrafted Soap for yourself? Well, here's your chance! Enter below and be one of SIX winners for a $25 credit that you can use to chose your favorite soaps from Mae's delicious selections.
a Rafflecopter giveaway This review and giveaway is on behalf of a dear friend and sister in Christ who unexpectedly lost her beloved husband in February of this year. He left Mae and a young son behind, reeling from their loss. Mae’s husband had been out of work for a year, living off of a small military pension. The family, understandably, had to cut back on expenses - one of which was their life insurance policies. His sudden death now leaves Mae and their son with very little income (less than a couple hundred dollars a month). Because of different personal situations, she is currently ineligible for benefits like Social Security. Mae homeschools their son, and thanks to The Home School Foundation, she will receive a grant to cover homeschooling supplies and curriculum. She is asking the Lord to provide for her son and herself through her small businesses, one of which is making soaps and other body products. As you can see, the situation is dire for this sweet widow and her son, but we know that God is able to do more than we could ever think, or ask (Eph. 3:20), and we hope that you will consider joining up with us to help our dear friend by supporting her business. We're asking you, dear readers, to seriously consider the call of James 1:27—to care for widows and orphans and consider Mae's Handcrafted Natural Soaps for your next soap purchase.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1: 27

Anyone who knows Mae is touched by her. She is an incredibly godly woman, who acts as a Titus 2 mentor to those who know her. She is loved so dearly and we want to do all we can to support her during this incredibly difficult time! Please pass this on by sharing this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.

 

If you'd like to give a donation, you can send via Paypal to RaymondBenevolentFund@gmail.com. Please remember to choose "Personal" giving so the Raymond family doesn't incur fees with your donation. If you need more details on how to do this, please contact sarahevan5@aol.com and she'd be happy to send you directions.

A big thank you to all the bloggers participating: Ann @ DuctTapeandDenim.com Anne @ Authentic Simplicity Tara @ Everyday Ramblings of My Life Jill @ Jill's Home Remedies Sara Elizabeth @ A Mama's Story Gail @ The Imperfect Housewife Renee @ I Am The Clay Del @ Devote & Seek Jill @ Blessed Beyond a Doubt Rebecca @ Rebecca's Ramblings Hilary @ Accidentally Green Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm Susan @ Learning and Yearning Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker Justyn @ Creative Christian Mama Chelsea Rebecca @ For Unmarried Christian Women Chelsea Rebecca @ Hearts for Home Paula @ Whole Intentions Amy @ A Heart Surrendered Blog Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation Dana @ Clan Chris Dean Kristen @ Smithspirations Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog Alicia @ Walking In Faith Stephani @ The Cheapskate Cook Amber @ Homemaker by Choice Marci @ Thankful Homemaker Katie Sullivan @ Brighton Park Blog Anjanette @ Raising the Barrs Pam @ Mom Does Reviews Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage Stacy @ Something Whimsical Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood Paula @ Beautiful Life of Joy Rachel @ Of Love and Beauty Reagan @ The Arsenal Kelly @ Generation Cedar Kelly @ Practical Savings Stacy Karen @ A Delightful Home Kristen @ Five in Tow Diana @ A Little Bit of Spain Elizabeth @ Yes They Are All Ours Jacque @ Deep Roots at Home Karrilee @ Abiding Love, Abounding Grace Karrilee@ Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee Shawnee @ The Apronista Adrienne @ Whole New Mom Janine @ True Aim Education Kathryn @ Singing Through the Rain Alicia @ Fun Reviews and Giveaways Deborah @ A Delightful Glow Stephanie @ The King's Bookworm Christy @ The Simple Homemaker June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Shadedlily @ With Them Joy @ Artful Homemaking

I Have a Surprise Coming...

...on Monday!!!

It's




A




GIVEAWAY!!!

 The giveaway is in collaboration with some other laides, and will be to help a friend who's husband passed away suddenly 2 months ago.

Stay tuned for Monday, and all the details!

SHERLOCK!!! :D

I don't know about you all, but I LOVE the BBC Sherlock TV series. I can't wait till season 3 & 4 (both of which were confirmed by Benedict Cumberbatch) come out.

Anyway, The Golden Road is having a giveaway... go check it out!! She has graciously extended the giveaway dates! :D

You can win an "I AM SHERLOCKED" t-shirt or the complete original soundtrack. :)

Really... go... now.... !!!

Happy V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E-S Day!!

To all of you out there, Happy Valentines Day! Here's my favorite Valentine's song for ya'll.

Yellow bag or heart earrings, which will you win?

My dear friend Nana is doing a giveaway over at her blog, By the Way. Here's a link to her blog. Hurry and enter, it goes till the 28th of January. Personally I love the bag especially in that yellow! :-)

::the 2 prizes::

Les Miserables: Justice, Redemption, Love and Hope

For a special day, I went to go see a movie... Les Miserables. It was fantastic, it was wrenching, it was pitiful... but there was hope, hope that things would get better. And there was the strong, beautiful message of salvation. I don't think I've cried over a story that much in a long time, if ever. The way the songs were sung, it pulled at you. It made you want to just help. But you can't... you just have to sit and let the story play out. :) This movie made me think of the quote from LoTR:

"some die that deserve life, and some live that deserve death."

Now... onto the review, opinions, etc. ;)

Les Miserables 

Prisoner 24601, known as Jean Valjean, is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert. His promise to a dying woman to adopt and care for her only child, a little girl, makes for life-changing experiences. Set in post-revolutionary France, the story reaches resolution against the background of the June Rebellion.  

Val Jean as a regular citizen

Val Jean as a convict

                                                                                                                                                         

Jean Val Jean... played by Hugh Jackman did an excellent job. From the first scene of the convicts straining to pull in the ship, and singing "Look Down", I could tell this was going to be good. Hugh Jackman was able to portray the guilt, grief, anger, and repentance of his character with style. He made me cry... especially at the end. If you have or are going to see this and don't cry at the end, then you might as well have a heart of stone. ;) It was different seeing Jackman singing, but he has a voice to boast of. He was a very good choice for the character of Val Jean all around.

Pulling in the ship.

Naturally we will next go to the antagonist of Val Jean... enter Javert. Russel Crowe plays this *ahem* aggravating person. I must say I really like Crowe as an actor. Only this was much different as Crowe was playing the despicable Javert and it was a singing part. His part may have been a little bit high for him in parts (I've heard some people complain on this), but his voice occasionally straining kind of mirrored him straining to catch Val Jean in a way. However annoying and despicable (and a bit sympathetic) this character may be he DID make me cry... the part with little Gavroche. *SOOOBBB!*

I only wish Val Jean could have found Fantine sooner. *sniff*

As probably almost everyone knows, Anne Hathaway plays Fantine. In the first scene she's in she is so beautiful in that cute pink dress... until the unthinkable. Wouldn't you agree? I must say, Miss Hathaway delivered "I Dreamed A Dream" in a way I have never seen before... she got the idea of crushed hope, shame, misery and everything across to the listener so clearly. She did such a beautiful job portraying poor pitiful sweet Fantine. I wish things would have been different for Fantine... and I hate what that manager did to her. UGH... how despicable! 

Good job to whoever the costume person was... this dress fits Hathaway's complexion so well. :)

I really like Cosette in this picture... except for her bonnet. Since it's obviously  not shading her face, what's the purpose? :)

Amanda Seyfried plays the older Cosette. She has such a beautiful soprano voice! I was pleasantly surprised. I think my favorite song she sings in is "A Heart Full of Love". Her and Marius' voices blend together so beautifully. Oh and of course when *ahem* happens in the end scene... well, I cried. When she's begging Val Jean to try. I only wish she would have been told of Val Jean's past. I think she loved him enough to where she would have forgiven him on the spot.

Isabelle Allen is the young Cosette. She is so adorably pitiful. Thank goodness for Val Jean finding her. I loved her in the "Castle on a Cloud" song. How Thenardier's do what they did, those... well, I'm not to them yet. ;) I hope to see Isabelle in more movies.

I'm so glad Val Jean got to be a father... his care of Cosette is so sweet. :)

Samantha Barks was said to not have enough emotion for the part of Eponine... well, she had enough to satisfy me. What she does for Marius, even though he doesn't love her back, is so sweet. And Samantha has this beautiful voice... she has amazing range. I really pity Eponine though. She deserved better than she got.

Little Gavroche (Daniel Huttlestone)was perhaps one of the most sorrowful little characters. Oh you just want to hug him, and care for him. Young Mr. Huttlestone promptly stole my heart... and then broke it, in the afore mentioned part with Javert. His way of singing was so pure and childlike... he did a wonderful job.

The future scene of the song "Empty Tables, Empty Chairs"

Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) was not my favorite character (I know that some of you will hate me for saying that). He was too fixated on revolution (however necessary it was)... to the point he told Marius to forget Cosette. He was kind of annoying. And I don't really like Aaron's voice. Although...

*dodges items being thrown in my general direction*

Hey! I said "although"! It means there's one thing I do like about him. It's his song "Red & Black", which is one of my top 5 favorite songs out of the whole movie. :)

Enjolras and Marius

I can't believe this guy's 31... he's such a babyface. :)

Okay, so while I didn't really like Enjolras, I do like Marius played by Eddie Redmayne. His singing voice is one of my favorites of the whole movie. His "Empty Tables, Empty Chairs"... that was once again... so sad and pitiful. He was perfect for romantic, dreamy, emotional Marius. :) Plus his and Cosette's voice blended splendidly... plus they looked good together. ;)

Despicable Thenardiers

The Thenardiers have been left for last... and with a reason. I don't like them. ;) Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen played this twisted couple. They are much needed comic relief, and Carter and Cohen do a fabulous job playing a couple of wackos... which isn't too surprising, given who the actors are. :)

I REALLY loved the story of redemption in this. Even though it's called Les Miserables, and yes, it's about people in miserable situations, it's really about how those people tried to make the best (if not change) the situation.

Justice, Redemption, Love, and Hope. That's a very apt description of the whole story.

Pros: The story of redemption is sublime. The love story is pure and sweet. This is a a moving, realistic  amazing bit of storytelling. Every bit as good as a Dicken's story. They don't really show much of anything when Fantine becomes a prostitute.

Negatives: Some language, esp on the part of the Thenardiers... which is reflecting their gruesome personalities.

So anyway... to sum up.

My rating: 4 3/4 stars
Ages: 16 on up is a safe idea
Would I watch it again/buy it? YES!! :D
And yes, I would recommend this movie. :)

How many of you have watched this, and what are your thoughts?

12 Things of Christmas & New Years

I realize I haven't posted in FOREVER, so sorry for that my friends. Although it was right before the busy holiday months of November and December... so I guess I have a legal excuse. :P

So in honor of Christmas and New Years, I bring you my 12 Things of Christmas (& New Years). Enjoy. :D

1. Christmas Lights. 

There is just something wonderful about lights shining in the darkness, snow or not. :)

2. Christmas Movies. 

Personally my favorite is It's a Wonderful Life. You just can't beat storytelling like that. :)

3. Peppermint Bark. 

Chocolate + Peppermint = What dreams are made of. :D 

4. Stores Decorated for the Holidays.

It gives the mall a whole new wonderful feeling. 

5. Gift Giving.

I love giving gifts. Seeing the looks on people's faces is the best part. :D

6. Going to Grandma's.

Grandma's is the most wonderful place to have Christmas.

7. Christmas Music.

Music, amazing Christmas music! There's nothing quite so jolly as belting out "Jingle Bells" in the shower. :D

8. White Christmas.
Snowy Christmases are the best, plus it's also the name of another favorite Christmas movie. :)

9. Frangos.
Delicious, melt in your mouth chocolate goodness. My personal favorite flavor is mint. I hope they have Frangos in heaven. :)

10. Family.
For me that's part of the charm of the season... getting together with family.

11. Jotham's Journey.
A fictional Christmas tale of a boy in Bible times who gets separated  from his family, and his journey to find them... and finds a wonderful miracle, in the form of a baby.

12. Baby Jesus.
The reason for the season.

So, dear readers, what are your favorite 12 Things of Christmas?

Cute Kitties

Creatively Cool Stuff

My dear friend, Nana, is giving away these beautiful products in a GIVEAWAY!! Go and enter all ye peoples!! :)

Long Time No Talk

 Hello folks... sorry I've been gone for a while!

But it IS summer, which is kind of self explanatory... Summer = Busy. :)

 I haven't stopped doing photography, though. No sir, not by a long shot. In fact, here are a few shots taken over the last couple weeks. {Click HERE to see more}

So, I promise a blog post when I have anything to say... and more pictures, cause I have plenty of material in that direction! :D

Hope ya'll are having a good summer! :)