Pampers Spring Into Color Sweepstakes and Reader Giveaway

Disclaimer-  I have received the same prize that my reader will receive in exchange for sharing this information with you.
 
Have you entered the Pampers Spring Into Color Sweepstakes yet?  Each week, the sweepstakes will take Pampers facebook fans through nature's changing color wheel spectrum, celebrating babies' growth and the ways in which they color our world beautiful in so many ways, each and every day. From cameras, to educational toys to high-tech jogging strollers and a pallet of artist tools for your little ones to paint the world remarkable, there are four colorful-themed prize packets that will rotate with the "Spring Into Color" color wheel over the course of the 30 day sweeps, offering you and your family fun items to enhance your time together.  And, all entrants are automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card!   The contest will run through Tuesday, May 28th.

I have also been given the opportunity to give one of my readers 2 coupons for free Pampers products: 1 pack of Pampers diapers and 1 pack of Pampers wipes.  Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Book Review: Relative Evil by Milena Armstrong

Disclaimer- I did receive a gift in exchange for this review, but as always, my thoughts are my own. Also, there are affiliate links within this post. I receive a small amount of any purchases you might make, at no additional cost to you.

About Relative Evil

(Taken from back cover of book)

“Piercing black eyes surrounded by a pool of pink, meandering strands of crimson glaring at me with so much hate.  I didn’t understand how anyone could feel that way for another person.”

Relative Evil is based on the true events that occurred in the life of the author.  A naïve young girl raised to believe family could never really hurt one another, but to then be tragically brought to the realization that evil exists and will stop at nothing to destroy those in his way to get what he’s after. Her trust in a strong family bond and the goodness of people is shattered.  Forced to grow up quickly and take matters into her own hands in order to break the spell her parents were under and keep her family safe.

My thoughts on Relative Evil

This is a rather quick, fast-paced read and, aside from a few editorial mistakes, it is well written.  The author does a great job of drawing the reader in and developing the scenes to make you feel as though you are right there.  For those of you who follow my book reviews, this book is much darker than the books I typically review, but I would still recommend it to any adult who enjoys biographical stories, stories of good overcoming evil or stories with severely dysfunctional family members. 

About Milena Armstrong

Milena was born in Rochester, New York, and still resides there with her husband and children.

I do have to share that I used to live down the street from Milena and I attended the same high school as she and her husband did.  It is neat to personally know a published author 

Lactose Intolerance and Lactaid (giveaway)

***Disclaimer***
This is part of a sponsored campaign I am participating in.  I have received free product and will receive payment for my participation.

I recently was given the opportunity to attend a webinar with Melissa d'Arabian and Michelle Harrington, RD (registered dietician) to learn more about lactose intolerance and Lactaid.  I found the session to be very informative and am excited to share some of what I learned with you.

What is lactose?

Lactose is the sugar and main carbohydrate found in milk and dairy products.  In order for the body to absorb lactose, it must be broken down into the two simple sugars that it is composed of, glucose and galactose.  Lactase is the enzyme produced by the body to break down lactose.  

What is lactose intolerance?

The amount of lactase that your body produces, determines how much lactose you can tolerate.  The more lactase your body makes, the less dairy products will upset your system.  There are varying degrees of lactose intolerance and it can be progressive, meaning it can get worse as you age.  It is also important to note that lactose intolerance is very different from a lactose allergy, which could cause life-threatening symptoms.  

Diet tips for those who are lactose intolerant

Here are some basic tips for those who are, or care for someone who is, lactose intolerant.

• Do not consume products that contain lactose on an empty stomach. Lactose will be easier to digest if it is eaten with other foods.
• Yogurt is less likely to bother someone who is lactose intolerant.  The live and active enzymes in yogurt help to digest the lactose, making it easier on the body.  Greek yogurt has twice as much protein and fewer carbs, meaning less lactose, making it even easier to digest than regular yogurt.  If you can tolerate yogurt, it is a great way to get calcium and nutrients in your diet.
• Butter, although a dairy product, is low in lactose, so it can usually be consumed without a problem.
• Harder cheeses, particularly those that are aged, have less lactose.  The less moisture in the cheese, the lower the lactose content.  Some good cheeses to start with would be Aged Cheddar, Gruyere, Pecorino and Swiss cheeses.  If you have cut cheese from your diet completely, you can try adding these cheeses back in a little at a time, depending on how much you can tolerate.
• You can also try the wonderful products made by Lactaid

About Lactaid

Lactaid products can help people that have a lactose sensitivity to enjoy dairy products once again, without the stomach discomfort that traditional dairy items may give them.  Lactaid products include milks, cottage cheese, ice creams, egg nog.  They are made from 100% real dairy, but contain lactase, the enzyme your body needs to break down the lactose. The lactase does help break down the milk sugar, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste than traditional milk products, but the creaminess is the same.

Lactaid milk is available in fat-free, 1%, 2%, whole and chocolate.  The chocolate milk is made with 1% milk and does not contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  That part is important to me because it is difficult to find pre-made chocolate milk that is free of HFCS.  Lactaid ice cream is available in five flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Strawberries and Cream, and Butter Pecan.  All of the flavors, except Cookies and Cream are gluten-free.  They are all also free of HFCS.  The nutrition facts for Lactaid products can be found on their website.

Cooking with Lactaid

Due to Lactaid's slightly sweeter taste, you may be able to slightly reduce the sugar you add when using it in a recipe.  Otherwise, you would simply substitute Lactaid milk in place of the regular milk in a recipe, cup for cup.  If you are substituting it in place of cream, you would want to add a teaspoon of corn starch to make up for the thinner consistency, as you would do if you were subbing regular milk for cream. 

Lactaid Giveaway 

One of my readers will be chosen to receive a coupon for a free Lactaid product, so you can check it out for yourself.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Overwhelmed

This has been a crazy few weeks for me and I need to re-set.  I have a tendency of accepting lots of responsibilities at once and then feeling overwhelmed and freezing, accomplishing nothing.  I have great intentions when I accept the responsibility, but then life starts to happen and all of a sudden, I find myself with a ton of obligations and no time.  I have found myself there yet again, and am making a concerted effort to dig myself out.  Over the next few days to weeks, I am going to be knocking out a bunch of reviews and a few giveaways and then I am going to be reducing the number of reviews that I accept.  I am also going to be cutting back on accepting responsibilities outside of my blogging life as well, so that I can re-focus myself on the things that matter most to me.  I have not been creating a whole lot of original content and I want to get back to doing that.  My family will continue to be at the top of my priority list, but even a bit more so. 

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with the responsibilities you have taken on?  how do you deal with it when that happens?

Scripture Sunday: Trying to Be Like Jesus (guest post by my daughter)

 My 12 year old daughter wrote (with very little help from me) and gave her first talk at church this week.  I asked her permission to post it her and she was excited for me to do so.  I have altered it just a little bit to remove a name, but otherwise it is exactly what she shared.

(I do not know where this photo is from, as I found it in my photo file on my laptop.  I would be happy to credit the artist, so if you know who it is, please let me know.)

 

Trying to Be Like Jesus

"On Easter Sunday, my uncle and grandparents came over to visit.  I received a phone call while they were there and was asked if I would give a talk.  I was not thinking what I had gotten myself into.  Just in case it is not obvious, I have stage fright.  Anyway, after I was asked me to speak, I mistakenly shared with my uncle what my talk was about.  I am going to be speaking about How to Be Like Jesus.  My uncle’s suggestions were to buy a purple robe and a long wig, ride in on a donkey, oh yea, and be an only child.  Coming from a house of 5 kids, I thought, well, it’s kind of late for that.  Plus, I am certain that he was not looking for ways that we can physically be like Jesus.  

When I think of how I can be like Jesus, I think of the Primary Song, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”  I am going to read you the lyrics to the song, since it basically summarizes my talk for me. The song starts by saying, “I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.”  This basically says that we should make sure that everything we say and all of our actions are things that are not hurtful to others.  The song continues, “At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,”  As we know, even Jesus was tempted, but he still chose to do the things Heavenly Father wanted him to do.  We have the Holy Spirit to help guide us when we are tempted.  We just need to make sure that we are listening for it.  The chorus then says, “Love one another as Jesus loves you.  Try to show kindness in all that you do.  Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought.  For these are the things Jesus taught.”   This tells us, just like the scripture in John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,”  that we must love everyone in the same way that Jesus loved us.  That means loving them with no expectations of getting something in return.  It also means not judging others.  Jesus did not say, “I don’t want to die for their sins.  It is their own fault that they do not have eternal life.”  No, instead, he hung on the cross and died for all of our sins.  The chorus also says to “be gentle and loving in deed and in thought.”  This means that we need to think good things about others as well.  My mom once was struggling with having bad feelings towards someone.  She finally decided that she was going to do one nice deed for that person every time she had a bad thought about them.  She was really upset with this person, so she really didn’t want to give any extra service to them.  She ended up putting together a gift basket for the person with one thing for each negative thought she’d had.  She also threw in a few extras for the thoughts that would come.  As she was putting together the gift basket, she began to feel love for this person again and eventually stopped having negative thoughts about them on a regular basis.  

There is another verse to the song, but I am going to leave that for another time.  To be like Jesus, we need to strive to always do good and think well of others, to serve everyone, regardless of how we may feel about them, and to do our best to overcome any temptations we may face.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Although she was nervous, Chloe did a great job writing and delivering her talk and I could not be any prouder of her.

Book Review and Giveaway Info: Stress Test

About Stress Test

They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans-they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can't walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt's career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he's a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth-and the faith to keep going-will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

My thoughts on Stress Test

This book combines all the areas I have been interested in through my life.  When I was younger, I was very interested in law and criminal justice.  As a young married, I became very interested in medicine and nutrition.  I have taken college-level courses in all of these subjects and still get excited when I read about them.   When you add in a bit of romance and the fact that this is from a Christian publisher, ensuring it is spiritually friendly, it is a book I greatly enjoyed.   It is a fast paced book which is difficult to put down and not one you will want to read while you are eating (some of the medical scenes can be a bit descriptive) or trying to unwind for the night.

I recommend Stress Test to anyone who enjoys crime novels, medical novels, and/or legal dramas.

About Richard Mabry

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Learn more about Richard at: http://www.rmabry.com

About the giveaway 

Richard Mabry is celebrating the release of Stress Test with a Nook HD Giveaway! Enter today.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Nook HD
• A $15 gift certificate to BarnesandNoble.com

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 27th. Winner will be announced on 4/29/13 at Richard's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

 

Disclaimer

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Product review: Nuby Bath Time Clock and Thermometer

Disclaimer- I received the above product in exchange for my honest review.

About the Nuby Bath Time Clock and Thermometer

This easy-to-read Bath Time Clock and Thermometer by Nuby™ makes finding a safe water temperature for your child easy! Also available as a duck.

Available at BuyBabyDirect.com

My thoughts on Nuby Bath Time and Thermometer 

I love the whimsical look of both the turtle and the duck versions of this product.  They are very cute and Sam loved interacting with it.  I like that it has a thermometer that will check the water for you and flash red if the water is too hot and green if it is too cold.  The timer ensures that baby is not in the water for too long, and can count up or down.  I like that it can double for the older kids and adults to ensure they keep their own baths and showers to a reasonable time limit.  I do need to note that you will want to keep the packaging when you first buy it, as the instructions are on the back and you will want them, especially if your thermometer arrives showing the temperature in Fahrenheit and you use Celsius, or vice-versa.   The toy is also safe for the baby to play with it once they are in the tub.

I recommend this for anyone who regularly bathes a baby or young child.