Freebies: February 2-8

Slow week for the mailbox goodies.  I got 2 coupons for a Free Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion shampoo or conditioner :)

I also earned a $5 Amazon.com gift code for completing 5 reviews for Viewpoints.com

Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year

 

A Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year

by Diane Stortz

 

A book geared especially toward women and their needs for social iteractions and friendships, this guide begins with a little introduction and encouragement.  Built around the idea that a group of women should seek to accomplish this task of reading through the Bible in a year together, stories are shared that give the reader ideas of success and support.

 

Set apart into weeks, each week begins with a little background about the verses that will be read for the week.  Following that, there is a list of books, chapters and verses to be read, one for each day.  Checkpoints are listed for the reader to have some points to look for in their reading to keep things centered.  A journal portion of the page is left for the reader to answer questions about what they have read, allowing the reader to jot down verses or passages to remember, something that was learned or gained, and any questions.  This page then proves helpful for the weekly group meetings for discussion.

 

While inteneded for group use, this book is equally helpful for reading on ones own as well.  Simple and easy to follow, the guide breaks the Bible down into manageable portions that offer success.  I enjoyed the intro for each week, as it guides the reading rather than just offering a list of verses to read.  A book that will surely stay in my collection and one that I am recommending to all of my female friends.  A good place to condsider starting a small group.

 

I was provided a free copy of this book for review through Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. I was in no way compensated for this review nor was I required to write a positive review.

 

Barnes and Noble Review

Freebies: January 28- February 2

Some nice goodies in the mailbox this week...

Klout sent me a Vicks Behind Ear thermometer for FREE! ($30 value)

Coke sent me a coupon for a free 12 pack

And, in exchange for my participation in a moisturizer product trial I was paid $10 cash.

I also got a 2 pack sample of Celestial Seasons tea and a sample of Sweet Potato chips from Food Should Taste Good.

Freebies: January 21-26

My mailbox was filled with fun stuff this week...

 



 From Swaggable: Veggie Wash.  Generally a rinse with water person, this was new to me.  I tried it out on some celery as well as some apples and potatoes.  I can say that it did help clean the food.  I am not sure that I was sold into it enough to stop using my usual method, but I did enjoy the opportunity to try it out.

From Kout: $5 McDonald's gift card!

 Again from Swaggable: Dolphin Organics Lavendar Baby Wash.  The lavendar smell was too overpowering for me to use more than once.  I prefer my babies to not smell flowery, and with my sensitivity to smells, I could not use this product regularly.  I did like that the product was organic, however.  Just wish it smelled like a baby product instead of an elderly woman's perfume.

 Free sample of Beneful Tuscan Style Medley wet dog food and a coupon for my doggy :)

A free "I Know" bracelet from Kotex plus a $1 coupon.

Freebies: January 13-19

Look what came in the mail this week!...

Brookside Dark Chocolate Pomegranate from Klout
The verdict:  I am a fan of dark chocolate, so I loved these candies.  Just a hint of pomegranate, I think there could be more of this flavor involved, but overall they were delicious!

Insulated tote bag from Tidy Cats plus a $3 coupon

Pampers wipes container, wipes sample, diaper and Dreft coupon

Aveda samples and Progresso Soup

Pull-Ups House Party Pack
Contained 14 of each: One package for each child of 1 boy and 1 girl pull up, 3 party hats with favors per child, one color page, sticker sheet, progress chart, app download instructions and coupon booklet
It's been fun to get the mail this week!

Morning Star Farms BzzAgent Mission

Excited to try out a Morning Star Farms product. I am always interested in finding healthy meals for my family, and happy to have a chance to keep Meatless Monday going with a burger! Can't wait to try them.

Thanks to BzzAgent, I have been given the opportunity to try one product for free! I even got coupons to share with friends. I love BzzAgent!

Black Dog

Black Dog
By Reverend John R. Dolan

A topic that remains largely un-discussed and swept under the rug, anxiety and depression are very real problems for many people today. It is seldom that one can get a glimpse into what that world is truly like unless suffering from the illness themselves.

In an attempt to expose the topic with brutal honesty and give a glimpse into that dark world, Dolan's book Black Dog opens the door into a real, life long struggle through his personal story. Readers walk with the author through his life and encounter his struggles with what he coined the "Black Dog" (anxiety and depression). Along the way, the Black Dog lurks and surfaces at times, while laying low in others, and through it all, readers are given a fresh look into this heavy topic.

Hope is offered to readers as the see how help was found and the Black Dog was leashed for Dolan. In his soul baring honesty, Dolan offers readers a chance to discover hope if they are also facing the struggles of depression and anxiety. In addition, readers see how truly real and debilitating life can be, reasons why people fighting these illnesses might act the way they do, and find ways to help and relate.

As the wife of someone who currently has his own Black Dog, I found this book an eye opener as well as an encouragement. My husband also read the book on my recommendation and was encouraged as well as felt in company with Dolan and relieved that many of his personal emotions had been put into words by another. He said he felt as if someone had written from his mind the emotions, struggles, fears and many other feelings so wrapped up into dealing with depression and anxiety.

We are both glad to have read this book and grateful to the author for having shared in such a unique and honest way so as to help, educate and encourage others.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.combook review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”