Three Favorites Thursday--Teacher Gifts

   In honor of  the start of  a new school year coming up (some of you have started, but we still have over a week of summer left here).  I thought this week's three Pinterest favorites should be teacher gifts.  These are cute and inexpensive ways to say "thank you" to teachers.  You could adapt these for other people in your life that you want to say thank you to also.

Source: junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: crystalandcomp.com via Jen on Pinterest

WINNER of The Grace Card

And the winner is Kelly who said   "I want to see this movie! Our fav family movie currently is Soul Surfer. Also I liked grace card on Facebook. Kelly Boyette"

Kelly, e-mail me your address and I will make sure the DVD gets right out to you!  

The Grace Card--Movie Review and Giveaway

    ********* This giveaway is now closed*********

     As a teenager the rule in our house was that if a movie had more than 3 swear words in it, it got turned off.  It is important to be careful what kids watch, but I think it is just as important as an adult to be careful what I listen to and watch.   I find it harder and harder to find movies that don't use bad language and are clean in content.
That is why I was so excited when I got the opportunity to review the movie THE GRACE CARD

     Do you remember the movie Fireproof?  This movie is made by a different company, Graceworks Pictures in conjunction with Calvary Pictures, but inspired by and modeled after Sherwood Pictures (Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Flywheel).  The website says, "this faith-based film brings together Church and Hollywood."  I love that.

    This movie begins with a scene showing Mac McDonald's young son die. The main part of the story is set years later.  Mac is still filled with anger, grief, and bitterness and his family is falling apart because of it.  The anger and bitterness also come out in his job as a police officer hurting his chances for promotion and making others not want to work with him.   Mac is given a new patrol partner, Sgt. Sam Wright.   Things get interesting as we see just how different Mac and Sam are.  Sam, also a preacher, is trying to teach his congregation how to love the unlovable, but learns just how hard that is when dealing with his new partner.

I won't ruin the whole storyline, but I will tell you that the movie has a wonderful theme of forgiveness and giving and receiving grace.

I really liked this movie. I like that being a Christian was portrayed in a respectful way.  I get tired of the movies that make Christians look like crazy lunatics.  I also think this is a family a movie that you could watch with your teenage children.  It has real issues that people deal with on a daily basis even if they have never dealt with the specific events in the movie.  If I had to say one thing I didn't like it would be that I thought the ending came to an end too neatly, too quickly.  The resolution came a bit too easily for me.  Even so I would definitely recommend this movie without hesitation.

 This movie is rated PG-13 for violence (there wasn't much violence) and thematic elements. 

This movie is now out on DVD.

Want to learn more about THE GRACE CARD?

You can watch the trailer at either of these links

Check out the website: http://www.thegracecardmovie.com/ 

 or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thegracecard

Want to WIN THE GRACE CARD?

One reader will win a DVD of this movie. 

To enter:

 Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite family friendly movie.

Extra Entries:  1: Become a follower of my blog (see top left sidebar).  Leave me a separate comment telling me you are a follower.

2.  "Like" THE GRACE CARD on Facebook.  Leave me a separate comment telling me you did so.

This giveaway will end at 10:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.  Winner will be announced on blog and will have 48 hours to e-mail me their address.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one of more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Bead Challenge #1

My Sister-In-Law, S. is into many of the same craft things that I am.  She is the one that got me into beading/jewelry making.  She recently received some beads as a gift that she had no idea what to do with.  She split them up and sent me some beads with a challenge to make jewelry with them.  I started with the easy ones--they look like pearls. :)  The other ones are wooden beads and I have NO idea what to make with them. (Let me know if you see any cute ideas with wooden beads!)

The inspiration for this necklace started with the pendant.  I noticed this silver pendant everytime I went into the jewelry section at Joann's.  Finally I had a really good coupon and decided I had to buy it before it was gone.

I used silver seed beads in between the pearl-like beads to keep the silver throughout the necklace.
The clasp I used it my favorite kind--so easy to get the necklace on and off by yourself and not get your hair caught in it.

Here is what it looks like on.

Here are parties I am linking to:

Spunky Junky

Sew Much Ado

Tatertots and Jello

House of Hepworths

Someone in CA loves me

Now that summer is coming to a close I hope to be able to get my Silhouette out and crank out a few projects that I have in mind.  I know I already shared pictures of the shirt that was my first Silhouette project, (Click to see original post) but I can't resist showing a picture of my "model" wearing it.  Now I just need to make one for big sister.

Three Favorites Thursday--Recipes to try

This week's edition of Three Favorites Thursday is all about food!  Here are 3 recipe ideas I have pinned on Pinterest to try out.  Click the picture to go to Pinterest or click next to "source" under the picture to go to the original website where the recipe was found.


Coconut Chicken with Apricot Sauce.  Looks like it would be a great sweet and slightly salty combination.  Anything with Coconut is high on my list to try.

Source: penniesonaplatter.com via Jen on Pinterest

I actually bought the ingredients for this, but haven't tried it out yet.

Source: cookiesandcups.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

This one I am not sure about, but again it has the sweet and salty combo.  I will have to try and see. :)

Source: confessionsofacookbookqueen.com via Jen on Pinterest

WINNER of Robert Pierre CD

And the winner is.....

Danae who said:
"Ooh, this is fun! I love Keith & Kristyn Getty--favorite to listen to and also sing in church!"

I sent you an e-mail.  Just e-mail me back in the next 48 hours with your address and I will get your CD to you! :)

Three Favorites Thursday

I don't know about anyone else, but I have been addicted to Pinterest lately.  I love all the cool ideas I can find on there!  I thought I would share a few of my recent favorites.

Can make by sewing 5 pillow cases together.  Put pillows in to use.  You can store with or without pillows.

Source: gltc.co.uk via Jen on Pinterest

Source: nicolemacaluso.wordpress.com via Jen on Pinterest

Cute idea for a laundry room!

Source: ramblingasusual.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

ROBERT PIERRE REVIEW AND CD GIVEAWAY

***********THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED*****************

Do any of you remember when I reviewed a few songs I had heard by Robert Pierre?  (If not, check out this post.)  Well, his new CD "I'm All In" just came out and I get to review it AND I have a copy to give away!!

First of all, I have to say that I love the title "I'm All In."  Robert says, "The Bible talks about how the eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro throughout the earth, searching for someone whose heart is wholly His, somone he can strongly support.  This CD is me saying, 'I'm all in.'"  I love seeing youth on fire for God and I love how the songs encourage that.  The songs are described as "a collection of songs that enthusiastically and energetically worship God while wrestling with what it means to be a Christian in a world full of difficulty and joy, anxiety and excitement."  Don't fear if you aren't "young" though--even though the artist is only 18, this CD is for all ages.

The song "Maker of the Stars" begins with these lyrics:  "You know my every thought*You know my every move*You know the motive behind all that I do*You know my deepest fear*You know when I shed a tear*And when I'm hurting You're always there*You are the maker of the stars*The light in the dark*Your Word will never fade*And You, You've known me from the start*You see inside my heart*You love me anyway*The heavens scream of the works*That are all of Your hand*From the mountain tops of every land*You spoke and life came to be*You opened my eyes to see*And when I call you You, You answer me"

I have to say that I like this new CD even better than I liked the older songs I heard (and I really liked those)  The music is still energetic, but a little more mellow and worshipful. 

I received the CD just before heading on a road trip with a bunch of high schoolers so I popped it in while we were driving.  Half of the kids were sleeping, but the ones that heard it liked it!  Now that I am back home the CD has been put on my ipod and I am playing it right now!

Want to buy this CD?

Check it out on Amazon
You can also listen to clips from the songs and buy in itunes.

Want to win this CD?

Here's how:

Simply leave a comment.  I would love to know your favorite Christian music artist/band.

 

For an extra entry:

Follow my blog through Google Connect (see top right hand corner of my blog).  Leave a separate comment for this.  If you are already a follower let me know.

This giveaway will end Sunday, August 7 at 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  I will e-mail and announce the winner on my blog.  The winner must e-mail me their address within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure of Material connection:  I received the CD mentioned above for free in the hopes that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Ruffle Fabric Dress

I have seen many projects lately using ruffle fabric.  I decided to buy some and give it a try.  I was thinking a skirt or pillow when I bought it, but I changed my mind when I held it up and decided to try a shirt/dress.  I actually made this a few months back, but haven't had the time to take pictures and share it.

Here is the fabric.  It was a little too thin for my comfort so I added thin stretchy knit of the same color that I had lying around as a lining.

I used a tank top that I liked as a pattern for this and just added the length I wanted.  I have to say the ruffle fabric was a bit of a pain to cut.  If anyone has any tips on cutting it, let me know!

After I cut the fabric I sewed the lining to the ruffle fabric before sewing the back side and front side together.

The dress reaches about mid thigh and I wear leggings with it.

I love that I made this and I love that it cost way less than buying it would have!


Linked up at these parties:
I {heart} Naptime
Spunky Junky