The Lower Lights {giveaway} CLOSED

Have you heard of The Lower Lights?

If you haven't then you're missing out.

They are a group of over 20 muscians and artists (including Mindy Gledhill 

and Brooke White) who came together to sing traditional hymns in a new way.

They put out their first album in 2010, then a Christmas album last year, and now

they have a brand new album!

I was so thrilled to receive a "sneak peak" album from Sarah Wiley last week.

You won't want to miss out on this edition!

It includes beautiful folk and bluegrass renditions of traditional hymns 

as well as some classic country songs

(Hank Williams' "I Saw the Light" and "Calling You" 

and the Louvin Brothers's classic "The Christian Life")

and more! 

I had this album playing in my bedroom and my 2 yr old, Liv, came in 

and started dancing on the bed! 

I love that I can listen to these songs on any day of the week and not just Sunday.

I love that I can dance and have fun with my daughter while listening

or just sit quietly and let the music fill and uplift me.

Music can speak to me in a way that words alone can't.

That's why I love The Lower Lights, and that's why 

you'd be doing yourself a favor to check them out too! 

You can purchase either the digital (download only) version, or 

the physical CD (which also comes with the digital download). 

If you purchase either version from here you'll receive 6 bonus tracks too!

**GiVeAwAy** is now CLOSED

The Lower Lights have graciously offered to give this new album to one of you for free!

If you'd like that person to be you (and trust me, you do), leave a comment!
Go ahead and leave another comment on my personal blog for an extra entry!

Winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, July 9th (1 week from today)

The Lower Lights // I Saw The Light from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

The Lower Lights provided me with a copy of their new album for purposes of providing a review. 

I am not paid for sales of this album and the opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

Imagination Library

Have you heard of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? If not, you NEED to check it out! I heard about it from a friend last year and signed up. The purpose of the program is to foster a love of reading in preschool aged children. They send one free book every month to children ages 0 to 5 years. I don't know if its available everywhere, but you can sign up and find out if they do it in your area. Once you sign up, be patient because it takes a few months to get your first book. The first book for every child is The Little Engine That Could. After that, its a surprise! We got our first books in January, and the kids love that the books are sent just for them!

Ain't no party like a HOUSE PARTY!!

Who DOESN'T love FREE stuff? I know I DO!! 

Have you ever heard of  HOUSE PARTY? no?...well then, let me just tell you a little bit about it....

House party is a marketing company that chooses people (based on a questionnaire you fill out) to receive  FREE stuff... in return for hosting a house party with their product "PARTY PACK" they send you (AKA - loads of free samples for you and your guests...you get full sized samples and coupons to share)  really...it's TOTALLY FREE- all they want you to do is share their samples with your friends and introduce them to that product. So people will actually WANT to come to your party since they have nothing to lose (or buy) only to gain (free stuff!)

In November I was chosen to host a Shutterfly party where me and my guests received 25 free holiday cards (the ones you got from us for Christmas:) a photo calendar ($20 value), and a $10 plum district gift card, along with some coupon codes for discounts on shutterfly.com. Pretty sweet deal. My friend was chosen to host the Wii Zumba house party for the same month, (guests got $10 off coupons for the wii zumba 2 , coupons for discounts on their clothing line and Zumba bracelets..the hostess received that and the game with all the accessories that go with it) My friend and I decided to combine the 2 parties and had a Zumbathon while people previewed Shutterfly card samples they sent me to display- it was easy peasy and  really fun!!

This month I was chosen to host the BENEFIT COSMETICS house party (happening this friday!)

My guests will receive $10 off coupons towards Benefit cosmetics at Sephora AND the following items:

1. Full sized Badgal lash mascara ($19 value)

2. individual samples of PoreFessional balm- minimizes pores, worn under makeup or alone  ( I get full size- $29 value)

3. Hello Flawless foundation sample in their shade. I was sent 9 full sized shades to have the guests sample and try and they get to take home a personal sample sized vials of their shade. ($34 value - full-size)

As the hostess I get the same stuff mentioned above as the guests do only I get the full size versions AND all of these full sized items below

Benetint- lip and cheek stain ($29 value)

Hervana- good Karma face powder -customizable blush ($28 value)

Big beautiful eyes- eye contouring kit ($32 value)

Speed Brow- quick set brow gel ($16 value)

And a full-sized make up bag ($24 value)

That's over $200 worth of free makeup for just having some friends over and introducing them to this product! Awesome right?!  Want to know how you can sign up to host a  house party? 

 K-
1. Go to www.houseparty.com and register (there is no cost to join, everything is free:)
2. find parties that you would like to host. (choose from food, entertainment, house hold products, etc..)
3. once you find a party you want to host, hit apply now
4. fill out the questionnaire
5. If you are selected you will be notified by email.
6. after opening the email you have 30 minutes to send an evite (through their website link in your email) to    10 of your friends.
7. Get your party pack!
8. plan your party, keep it simple!
9. Host your party by the deadline they set
10. Enjoy your free stuff!!

I love you because...

When I saw this on Pinterest I knew I had to have it! 

I needed a simple version like this for our bedroom with the hope that it wouldn't look too cheesy,

so I just made my own and bought a frame on clearance at Micheal's:

We've had this hanging on our bedroom wall for a month now and it has been so much fun!

We write on it secretly, when no one is looking :)

I have found myself looking forward to seeing what my husband writes about me, and when I notice that it has changed it is such a fun little pick me up during the day. It has helped me look for the good and wonderful things about my husband rather than focusing on the negative.

I'm thinking I want to have one in each of my kid's room too.
What a fun way to let each person know you've thought about them and you notice how special they are!

As mentioned, I originally saw this on Pinterest which led me to Kiki Creates. Check out her cute ideas! There are a lot of different ways you could do this to make it work for your family like putting it on your refrigerator, in the playroom, inside closets (in case boys think its too cheesy, but you know they would secretly love it).

You can visit her etsy shop for more colorful versions.

If you're looking for a more simple design, you can print my plain version here!
{Go 'File' to 'Print' or just click the printer icon in the upper left corner}
It will fit in an 8x8 square frame. Simply place the paper behind the glass and use dry erase or window markers to write.