Space Warriors Movie Giveaway!

Who is ready for another family-fun giveaway?!  How about a copy of Space Warriors (Blu-ray + DVD + VUDU Digital Copy) (Walmart Exclusive)!?

Walden Family Theater is proud to announce the Space Warriors Blog App & a chance to Win a Family Trip to Space Camp! Watch Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31st at 8/7C for your chance to win a trip for the whole family to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp! Keep an eye out for the secret keyword for a chance to go on location where Space Warriors was filmed and train like a real astronaut!




About Space Warriors:
Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

Starring: Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart. 

Space Warriors is the second film in the Walden Family Theater original lineup featuring great family entertainment, airing Friday nights exclusively on Hallmark Channel. Walden Family Theater is creating films for the whole family to enjoy together, so make sure to mark your calendars and gather around the television to watch all the great upcoming films!

Past films include: "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, "Holes", "Nim's Island", "Charlotte's Web", and "Return to Nim's Island."



Why you will love the Space Warriors Blog App:
• Win a Family Trip to SPACE CAMP! - Tune in to Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31st at 8/7c for the secret keyword to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp!
• How Spacey Are You? QUIZ – Are you a Space Warrior? Do you use the stars to navigate your journeys instead of the map function on your smartphone? Take this quiz to find out whether you're destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you're happiest living here on this planet. 
• Prepare for Blast-off! Space Warriors Viewing Guide – Mark your calendars for May 31st and check off the boxes as you watch Space Warriors for the most spectacular, spaciest experience! 

Enter to win by using my easy Rafflecopter widget (if you don't see it - click the link below).

Pillsbury Not-So-Secret Club Signup!

Have you joined the Pillsbury Not-So-Secret Club?  Click the link to sign up for the FREE newsletter & become a member of Pillsbury’s Not-So-Secret-Club! You’ll get coupon savings up to $250 per year, exclusive club member offers, their best recipes, & more!   

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

How to remember how lucky you are..

This poem has always touched my heart.  I first saw it years ago when my mom published a family cookbook, and this was included in it. I'm especially reminded of its poignancy this week, this Mother's Day, after seeing the three women and the little girl rescued from their living hell in the middle of a neighborhood in Cleveland, OH.   What a wonderful weekend for these four, and their families! But there are others like them, with different circumstances, but living in that same hell on earth.  Don't forget them in your prayers!!

A Prayer for the Children ~ by Ina J. Hughes 

We pray for the children

who put chocolate fingers everywhere,

who like to be tickled,

who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,

who sneak Popsicles before supper,

who erase holes in math workbooks,

who can never find their shoes.

And we pray for those

who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,

who’ve never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,

who never had crayons to count,

who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead,

who never go to the circus,

who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children

who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,

who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,

who give hugs in a hurry and forget their lunch money,

who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off-key,

who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,

who slurp their soup.

And we pray for those

who never get dessert,

who watch their parents watch them die,

who have no safe blanket to drag behind,

who can’t find any bread to steal,

who don’t have any rooms to clean up,

whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,

whose monsters are real.

We pray for children

who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,

who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,

who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed,

who never rinse out the tub,

who get visits from the tooth fairy,

who don’t like to be kissed in front of the school,

who squirm in church and scream in the phone,

whose tears we sometimes laugh at and

whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those

whose nightmares come in the daytime,

who will eat anything,

who aren’t spoiled by anybody,

who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,

who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children who want to be carried,

and for those who must.

For those we never give up on,

and for those who never get a chance.

For those we smother with our love,

and for those who will grab the hand of

anybody kind enough to offer.

Doesn't that just get you?  Right now - go hug your babies - little or grown. Tell them you love them forever!  Count your blessings.  Life isn't perfect for any of us.  I'm going through a lot of junk right now, but making sure to always look for the silver lining.  It's there. We may have to dig a bit, but we can find it if we try.  So please remember how lucky you are, then say a prayer for those children who aren't so lucky, and their mamas, too.

xoxoxo

CLOSED ~ Giveaway! Chick-fil-A Fresh Made Salads & Wrap!

Forget about yesterday, today is #FreshMade! Each day we have a choice, a choice to do the same old routine or do something unique and different.  What have you wanted to do for a long time? 2013 is almost halfway over and it’s time to do something new. It’s time to grow, it’s time to make your dreams a reality!

Chick-fil-A is helping you make today #FreshMade by creating new menu options that you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap, all under 430 calories made with premium ingredients! So head to Chick-fil-A & take your taste buds to greener pastures!!

Their three new made-from-scratch salads are:

** The Cobb Salad with sliced chicken nuggets, roasted corn, crumbled bacon & avocado lime dressing

** The Asian Salad with sliced chicken nuggets, mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds & wonton strips, honey sesame dressing

** The Grilled Market Salad with sliced grilled chicken, crumbled bleu cheese, berries and a zesty apple cider vinegarette.

They each have under 430 calories, plus each has two servings of veggies. The Grilled Market Salad also has a serving of fruit! I can't wait to try the Cobb Salad - it looks amazing to me! There is also a new premium chicken wrap available, with a full serving of veggies!   Chick-fil-A is making it easy to get those fruits & veggies in each day!

Check out the video below for more info on these yummy salads! Then head over to the #FreshMade Blog App!  Look at the fun activities you can try!

•    Are You A “Starter”? Quiz - Some of us wake up with pep in our step, ready to conquer the world. Others might need a little kick in the behind to inject something new into their lives! Find out if you’re already raring to to go or need a little help getting the good time rolling! 

•    #FreshMade Activities - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling. 

•    See How We Start Fresh - Behind-the-scenes - Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Chick-fil-A salads are #FreshMade just for you!

 


Chick-fil-A wants to give one reader two coupons for the new premium salads. Click the link below if you don't see the Rafflecopter widget - it's super easy to enter! Good luck!

Georgia Renaissance Festival - 2013

Well, I really wanted to share the pictures I took at the Festival in this review, but I am having issues with my camera!  I wanted to get this up asap so that those interested will still have time to visit before the Festival ends in early June!  So here it is, with a couple pictures from the Festival's site & FB page.  If I am able to retrieve the photos from my camera, I will update this with them later....

The Georgia Renaissance Festival is open Saturdays & Sundays (plus Memorial Day!) now through June 2, 2013.  Hours are 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.   Click here for directions!  Ticket information is here. Parking is FREE! Wear your walking shoes - the Festival grounds are situated on 32 acres!

Next weekend is Mother's Day & Sweet Treat Weekend:
On Mother’s Day, Moms can shop, feast and be honored on her special day!  On Sunday, the first 100 Moms through the gate will receive complimentary flowers!  Also check out the Royal Cupcake Wars Competition! 

May 18 & 19 is Arrrgh!! It's Pirates Weekend!
Scalawags and swashbucklers abound for a Pirate Hijinks Adventure!
For our Knights and Ladies on Bikes, show your motorcycle license at the box office and get $4.00 off adult tickets! (limit 2 purchases per license)

We went on opening day this year, and traffic was pretty heavy on the road leading to the Festival.  We were happy that there was no wait at the ticket area - we got inside the Festival grounds very quickly!  There is so much to see - it really feels like you have stepped back in time!   We saw knights, maidens, jesters, royalty and many other characters from the past.  It was really cool for David to see all these folks!  There were cool men on stilts that he just loved watching!  Once inside we walked back a bit and found a little stand that was offering free archery lessons. David loved giving that a try!   A little farther back he decided to try the Jacob's Ladder challenge.  We saw two tiny tots win money, but David didn't make it all the way up!  

There are games EVERYWHERE! Some of the things my son & husband tried:  Knife throwing, Star throwing,  Vegetable Justice (throw tomatoes at a heckler!), and the Test of Strength! They had a blast! David also did a few rides: the Corkscrew Slide, the Maze, and Junior Jousting! The rides & games cost between $1 and $5. There are ATM's on site, in case you need more cash!

David also enjoyed the kids area.  It has face painting, crafts, a fun playground, and juggling classes! There is also a petting zoo!

Some of the unique food items found at the Festival included fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mac n cheese on a stick, Scotch eggs, and conch fritters, root beer floats, and apple dumpling sundaes!  We got smoothies and frozen lemonade to keep us cooled off.

Did you know that there are 150 shows EVERY day at the Festival?! I had no idea! Our favorite show this year was Adam Crack - Fire Whip Show.  Holding 7 Guinness World Records, including the most bullwhips cracks in one minute (253!)  and the fastest whip (10 targets in 4.53 seconds!) - you will be amazed at Adam & his whip!!

We always plan to see the Joust but have never been in that area at show time.  One day, we will see it!  We also liked Barely Balanced and also the Mud Show! There is so much to choose from entertainment-wise!  Here is the schedule for the shows at the Festival....

We also enjoyed the lively music of The Rogues, who were special guests that weekend.

The shops at the Renaissance Festival are awesome.  You can buy so much great stuff there.  We came home with herbs, tea, flavored honey sticks, a wooden dagger and shield for David, and pocket knives for both my husband and David.  If we'd had the money, I would have spent so much more! :)

Here is a listing of all of the shops at the Renaissance Festival.  There are also Artisan Demonstrations!

We enjoyed a wonderful, busy day at the Festival.   We can't wait til next year!   Please make plans to visit this gem of a Festival;  we are so lucky to have it come here to Atlanta!!   To keep up with all the promotions and fun of the festival, like them on Facebook!

Disclaimer: The Georgia Renaissance Festival provided me with two passes to the Festival so I could attend the Festival and review it here on the blog.  No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are my own! 


       

Giveaway ~ Warner Bros Mother's Day Movie Night Giveaway!

Happy May, y'all! Today I am excited to share another great contest! It's a Warner Bros. Mother's Day Movie Night Giveaway!

 I think that most of us can agree... Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving Mom the movie night she deserves! Celebrate Sunday, May 12th in the best way possible by spending quality time with your family and watch one of YOUR favorite classic films! Watching a classic flick together tells the story of a different time and place, and is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

Check out the cool interactive app below for some fun!

 *Guess-the-Scene Game! - How well do you know the silver screen’s most famous love stories and sing-a-longs? Play the Guess-the-Scene game to test your knowledge on the world’s greatest films! The quicker you pick, the more points you score. Ready? Action!

 *Words in Film! - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling!

 *Movie Night Conversation Starters! - Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories... this Mother’s Day make it a point to connect with your family and give them a chance to learn something about mom they never knew! Here are some conversation starters to get you started.




Check out the Mother's Day Fill In the Blank Sheets:

So on to my giveaway. Warner Bros. would like to give one lucky reader one of their classic movies on Blu-ray: (Prize will be chosen randomly from the titles below!) - A Star is Born (1976) (Blu-ray) - Cabaret (1972) (Blu-ray) Won't it be nice to be able to sit back, relax and watch a great classic movie with your family this summer?! Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below - you may need to click link if you don't see the widget! Lots of easy entries.