#TheHobbit : The Battle of the Five Armies Blu-Ray #Giveaway

*I received information and assets via Warner Home Video and PartnersHub for purposes of this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  My daughter has been a huge Hobbit fan since the very first movie came out.  After much insistence from her, I finally watched too and I am hooked!  I mean who doesn't love Bilbo? 

If by chance you are not familiar with the Hobbit, why now is the time to get to know about it.  Thanks to Warner Home Video and PartnersHub I get to give one lucky Check it Out! with Dawn reader their very own copy of the last installment to The Hobbit series.  

The third in the trilogy of films that are adapted from the very popular masterpiece, The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien has just been released on Blu-Ray.  The Hobbit:  The Battle of the Five Armies.  From Academy Award winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, this is the epic conclusion.  Join along in the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves as they prepare to deal with an unwittingly unleashed deadly force.

There are some super great special features on the newly released Blu-Ray combo pack that include:

• New Zealand:  Home of the Middle-Earth Part 3
• Recruiting the Five Armies
• Completing Middle-Earth:  A Six-Part Saga
• Completing Middle-Earth:  A Seventeen-Year Journey
• The Last Goodbye:  Behind the Scenes
• Music Video
• Trailers

Own it on Blu-Ray now!  Be sure and check out The Hobbit Facebook page HERE too.

Check out this video of the making of The Hobbit:  The Battle of the Five Armies.

  

Now check out the cool graphic below and hover your mouse over the map to uncover the secrets.  Be sure and take the quiz to see how brave you are! Are you brave like Bilbo?

And now for the Giveaway!!  Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win.

*Each household is only eligible to win 1 Blu-Ray The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies via blog reviews and giveaways.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.  Giveaway is open to US residents only.  No P.O. Boxes.  

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#TBCCrafters Craft Hop - Upcycled Popcorn Tin into a Memory Can

Check it Out!  Since my husband passed away I have found and been given different things that I know I want to keep in one place.  From poems to letters to objects, these are all things that I want to keep not only so that I can reflect on them but for our children.  There will come a day that they will be leaving our home and I want to be able to share these things with them.  As they have been piling up over the last few months, I realized I needed to come up with a way to store them.  But I needed a way that would allow the children and I to access them but also protect them.   

I have a few of these popcorn tins that were given to the kids at the holidays and since they have a lid and plenty of space inside, I realized one would be the perfect solution.  I just needed to upcycle it. 

My supplies for this project included:

• Popcorn Tin
• Black Spray Paint
• Knob or drawer pull for the lid
• Gemstones
• Word Stickers by Jolee's Boutique
• Wide ribbon
• Lace
• Ruler
• Hot Glue

To get started I spray painted my tin with the black spray paint.  It took a few coats to get it to cover completely.  Remember to do this step outside so there is plenty of ventilation. 

I then wrapped my ribbon around the center and glued it in place.  

I chose the words "treasured" and "memories" from my sheet of word stickers and added them on top of the ribbon strip.  I spent a little time pressing and rubbing them so that they would stick well and added a few gemstones to the end swirls for accent. 

My can was looking a little plain so I decided to add some more of the gemstones to the base.  In order to keep them evenly spaced I used my ruler as a guide for the spacing.

My lid was already black so I didn't need to do anything to it except add a knob to the top.  I didn't have a knob or drawer pull so I created one with a few wooden pieces glued together and painted white.  After finding the center of the lid, I glued the knob on and added a gemstone to the center top of it.  Then I glued some lace to the rim of the lid to finish it off.

This memory can now sits next to our memorial table and the kids and I can add to it and look through it whenever we want.  

Product Review: Pruning Shears #pruningshears

*I received this product for purposes of testing. All photos and opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  I have a pretty large yard and being a widow I now have to take care of it all by myself!  Yikes!  Having the proper tools is very important in being able to do the jobs that I have to do to maintain not only the grass and flowers but the trees and shrubs. From rakes and shovels to pruning shears, there are a ton of tools that will make these jobs easier.  

I recently received a pair of pruning shears for review and I had a ton of things to use them on!

One of the first things I had to prune was my fig tree.  I am so looking forwards to a new crop of figs this year.  My mom really loves them and they are so expensive in the store. These pruning shears made the chore so easy.  These shears are sharp and they have a very comfortable grip that allows for prolonged use.  They have a simple and easy to use locking mechanism that keeps the blades closed when not in use.
Made from all steel and solidly constructed, these shears have no weak aluminum parts and come with a no hassle 180 day unconditional guarantee. 
You can get more information on this product and purchase them on Amazon HERE. 

@Dial Sugar Cane Husk Scrub Hand Soap Review & #Giveaway #PurexInsiders

*I received the product in this post compliments of The Dial Brand for purposes of review.  All photos and opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  I have a fabulous new product to share with you all today!  Thanks to Purex and the Purex Insiders I get to introduce you to the newest member of the Dial Boutique Collection Hand Soap line, new Sugar Cane Husk Scrub! 

With an amazing scent inspired by freshly cut sugar cane, this premium formula contains gentle micro scrubbers that clean deeply while moisturizing and smoothing skin.

I have always loved soaps with micro-scrubber beads because they do a wonderful job of getting dirty hands cleaner.  This new Sugar Cane Husk Scrub is a great family soap and is tough enough to get everyone's hands clean yet gentle enough to leave them soft and refreshed.  I absolutely love the smell!  So fresh!  And I really like the bottle design.  It's tall and sturdy, perfect for the bathroom or the kitchen.
You can get more information on this and all the other amazing Dial products at www.dialsoap.com.  And if you are interested in a chance to win a coupon good for a free bottle of Dial Sugar Cane Husk Hand Soap just enter via the Rafflecopter form below. There will be 2 winners!
Giveaway is open to residents of US only.  Must be 18 to win. 

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Product Review: Jesus Sees Us Doll & Picture Book #JesusSeesUs

*I received the product in this post for purposes of review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  In my opinion, one of the most important jobs we have as parents is to make sure our children know Jesus Christ.  And I really think starting young is the best way.  However there are not really a lot of toys geared towards introducing Faith and Jesus to children.  I find that disheartening and sad.  But recently I was introduced to and offered the opportunity to share a fabulous product that offers parents an engaging and fun way to introduce Jesus and their Faith to children ages 2 - 6.  The Jesus Sees Us Doll and Picture Book.

I have seen through my own children that when they are young, they respond to the comfort of tangible items.  Blankets and dolls are typically favorites, so why not give your child a Jesus doll?  What an amazing way to foster the love of Christ!  

The Jesus Sees Us doll is soft bodied with a hard molded head.  He has a loving and warm face and his arms are open and welcoming.  He looks exactly the same as he does in the accompanying picture book.  But this is not just a picture book, it's also a lesson book.   Full of wonderfully illustrated Biblical stories with scripture references and correlating lessons, this book allows children to relate and engage in new ways. The combination of lessons and the doll is a fabulous tool to have to help young children develop and keep a personal relationship with Jesus.

This product was created by two Mothers of pre-school aged children and would make an excellent Easter gift.  The perfect time of year to bring the wonders and promises of Jesus to your families life.

You can get more information on this product at www.JesusSeesUs.com and is available for purchase on the site or at Amazon HERE for the reduced price of $24.99!  You can also follow them on Facebook.  

#TBCCrafters Craft Hop - Beach Themed Wine Glass Candle Holder

Check it Out!  Last week I posted my DIY Sea Shell Candle craft and showed you how to make your own candles with sea shells and tea light candles.  This week I am going to show you how I created a beach themed candle holder that is perfect for displaying those Sea Shell Candles. 
This idea was born from the desire to display some of the wonderful treasures that my husband and I found on our last trip to the beach together.  Most of these treasures were collected by my husband.  We were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, our last trip together, and I just have a need to want to see them on a daily basis.  A memoir of sorts.
It all started with a wine glass.

My supplies for this craft include:

• 1 Stemmed Wine Glass
• 1 Small glass plate
• 1 Pringles Can Lid
• Twine
• Mod Podge
• E-6000 Adhesive
• Sea Shells & other beach treasures
• Sand
• Charms & Beads

The wine glass was picked up from the Dollar Tree and the little plate is one of a set that is now incomplete after our house fire 3 years ago. 

The first thing I did was wrap twine around the top of the wine glass stem leaving tails. I used the E-6000 to adhere it in place. 

I wanted to have a layer of sand on the base of the wine glass so that it would be a bed for my sea shell candle.  I applied a liberal coat of the mod-podge and then dipped the base into my bucket of sand.  I then allowed it to dry.

I needed a base to keep my treasures inside the glass from moving around and to trap the sand inside so I used a Pringles can lid.  I trimmed the edges off leaving a flat piece of plastic that was the exact size of the glass rim.  Using hot glue I arranged my treasures on the base and secured them adding some sand into the cracks to cover any hot glue that was showing.  To add my sand to the glass I tilted it on it's side and poured in enough just to cover the base and around the treasures. Using the E-6000 I glued the base to the rim of the glass while holding it upside down.  I allowed it plenty of time to dry before flipping it back over and shaking it a little to spread it out.

I could have left it just like that but I wanted to add some more of the treasures around the outside of the glass.  This is where the plate comes in.  I placed the glass in the center of the plate and added some more sand and treasures around the plate.

I added some shells to the ends of the twine along with some beads and a charm.  I also added a raffia bow. I then added a little spanish moss to the top and placed my candle on top of that.

I love how it turned out and I am now gonna make a pair!  I like being able to touch the sand on the outside and move the shells around.  And I really love the memories I get from looking at it!

Product Review: AYL Premium Silicone Heat Resistant Gloves #AYLSiliconeGlove

*I received this product for purposes of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  I spend a lot of time cooking.  With three homeschooled kids that means at least three meals a day.  I only have three pot holders to help with hot pans and dishes and although I love a handy pot holder, they tend to get dirty and grimy really quickly. I have also noticed that if you get them wet, they don't work and you will end up burning yourself.  So, when I received a pair of AYL Premium Silicone Grill Gloves to review I was a little excited!    

AYL Silicone Grill Gloves are heat resistant for temps up to 425 degrees fahrenheit and are made so that one size fits all.  These FDA approved and BPA free, pure food grade silicone gloves are 100% waterproof.  

AYL Silicone gloves are perfect for the kitchen as well as the grill.  They are great for use when smoking foods as well.  They would also be very handy while camping.

 I found these gloves to be easier to use than pot holders.  They fit over the entire hand and also cover the wrist which keeps them safer.  I love that I can grab hold of trays, pans and even a hot baked potato without worry of burning myself.  And the silicone is very great for gripping. These gloves are lightweight and flexible as well.   And one of my favorite things is that they can be thrown right in the dishwasher to clean.  
I can't wait to use these this summer with my grill.  They are going to make it so much easier.  
You can get more information on this product and get yourself a pair HERE.   These would make a great gift.

The Winners of the Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash Giveaway are....

Check it Out!  The winners of the Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash giveaway have been drawn!   The two winners are...

*Madonna Fridley Dolin

*KJ Skibb

Congratulations to the winners and many thanks to all who entered!  

*The winners have been notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

Check out my Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage Recipes #HillshireSausage #spon

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between my site and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing me w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Check it Out! In the three months that Delmar has been gone, I have found that I am serving kids themed meals more often than not.  I don't mean kids meals from a fast food restaurant, but chicken fingers, pizza, tacos and burgers from the kitchen.  I am getting in a rut and I am so ready to break free and get some variety in our dinner menu! So it was perfect timing when I got chosen for a Hillshire Farm Campaign!
I grew up in the north and smoked sausage was something we had frequently.  I have served it to my family in the past and they like it but I have always just served it pretty plainly.  Well with this campaign came the challenge to come up with some new ways to use Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage!
When coming up with new ideas on meals the main thing I have to remember is making sure they are still kid friendly.  After all I am feeding 3 kids and I am outnumbered! But I also want something that is flavorful and healthy.  Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage is a much cleaner and easier option to working with chicken and it is a quick and easy solution for weeknight dinner.
Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage is crafted to be better by experts that have perfected the pre-seasoning of their smoked sausage over the last 75 years.  I received two coupons good for free Hillshire Farm products and I purchased the Beef Smoked Sausage.  It is available in Turkey as well though.  
The first thing I wanted to make for the kids is some easy Smoked Sausage Crescent Rolls.  These are not only kid friendly and easy to make, they are yummy!  

Three simple ingredients make up this recipe.  Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage, Shredded Cheese and Crescent Rolls.

This fun recipe is great for any meal or even just a snack.  And they are great for parties too!

The first thing to do is to prepare the crescent rolls and to cut the sausage into pieces that will fit onto your crescent triangle.  I layered cheese and then the sausage and rolled them up as I normally would.  I like to keep the sausage inside the bread but you could cut the pieces bigger if desired.

The kids and I really love these. They go really fast around here! 
Now I also challenged my mom to make a dish using the Hillshire Farm Sausage and of course she created one of her favorite recipes.  A classic yet, slightly personalized dish, Sausage and Sauerkraut!  

I love when my mom cooks!  I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but she is a fantastic cook and loves to experiment and try new things.  For this dish she also used the Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage.  Here is the recipe:

• 1 package Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage
• 1 can of Sauerkraut
• 1 Tsp Sesame Seed Oil
• 1 Tsp. Cumin
• Parsley

Mix all ingredients together in sauce pan on medium heat for 15 min.  Serve on top of mashed potatoes and garnish with parsley. 

I am not a huge fan of sauerkraut and before she started using this recipe I would typically just pick out the sausage and eat it, but there is something about this recipe that makes me love the sauerkraut too!  

You can get more info on all the Hillshire Farm products and get recipes, offers and more HERE.  

#TBCCrafters Craft Hop - DIY Sea Shell Candles

Check it Out! I am a beach bum at heart and I love all things beachy!  Sand, sun, sea shells...love it all! 

I have been thinking about redoing my living room in a beach theme.  The paint is the perfect blue!  Unfortunately I have to start small and it will take baby steps to get it done but I will eventually get it exactly the way I want.

I love candles as well and was thinking about how cute it would be if I had some sea shell candles.  I have seen them in stores before, but never wanted to pay what was being asked.  Well since I have some really beautiful sea shells already, I realized, I could just make my own!  And it turned out to be really easy!

My supplies were super simple.  Sea Shells and tea light candles.  

Remove the wick from the center of the tea light and place it in the center of the sea shell. I knew I had to melt the wax and wasn't sure exactly how I was gonna do that, but while I was making myself a cup of coffee, it hit me!  My coffee maker has a warming plate on it! So I simply replaced the candle back into the tea light and placed it on my warming plate.  It only took a few minutes and the wax was melted.  It doesn't get too hot so I was able to pick it up and pour the wax into the sea shell covering the wick base.  

You could use colored candles as well for a more colorful sea shell effect. These would be perfect for a beach themed wedding or party too!

@Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash Review & #Giveaway @Purex

*The Dial brand provided me with a sample of this product in exchange for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  It is always exciting to get one of my Purex Insider campaign kits delivered!  I just love seeing the FedEx truck pull up with one of those fabulous boxes.  My latest kit contains a brand new Dial product.  Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash.  
This new body wash is formulated with Micro Oil technology that gives a luxurious, clean rinsing lather that will leave your skin feeling clean and soft.   

New Dial Miracle Oil body wash is infused with Marula Oil and has an amazing soft scent.  It leaves the skin so smooth and smelling oh so wonderful!  This restoring body wash makes a rich lather that gets the body very clean and gives healthy soft skin.  I really like this stuff!
You can get more info on this product at www.dialsoap.com and at be sure and check them out on Facebook.com/Dial.

Want a chance to win a coupon good for a free Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash?  Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below.  There will be 2 winners!  Giveaway open to US residents only, must be 18 to win.

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Product Review: Premium Delicates Laundry Bags, Set of 4 #laundry

*I received the product in this post for purposes of review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Check it Out!  I know some people like to do laundry, but it honestly is not one of my favorite chores.  It might be because I have to lug clothes up and down 2 sets of steps though!  I don't actually mind the sorting and actual loading, it's the folding and lugging that get me.  I have a problem with missing socks though.  They disappear forever or either show up a few loads later separate from their mates.  And I also hate washing my delicates.  You know bras and such.  They tend to get wrapped around the center agitator which can leave them stretched and slightly mangled.   
So I have learned that laundry bags are a necessity.  Finding quality laundry bags can be a challenge though.  Some of the ones I have used in the past were small, which doesn't allow for many items to be put inside.  The zippers would rust and are noisy in the dryer and they just aren't durable. And then there are the bags that just have strings and those are just not reliable at all.  Well I recently received  a set of 4 Luxury Wash Bags via InsideSmarts to try out and I am one happy camper with them!

The first thing that impressed me about these laundry bags is the different sizes. You get 2 medium and 2 large bags that are made of premium grade mesh.  They are solid and strong.  The second thing that impressed me is having a black bag for dark colored items.  Many of our socks and bras are dark so this has really been the most used bag in my laundry routine.  

Each zippered mesh bag has a rustproof zipper that you can slip under the smart zipper guard to protect not only the bag but your machines and ensure a quiet wash.  This also prevents snags on your other clothing.
I really like the design and the quality of these bags. They have made my laundry chore a lot easier and it allows my clothes to last a lot longer.  
You can head over HERE to Amazon to get more information on this product and to get yourself a set.  

The Winner of the ErgoGrip Comfort Grip Giveaway is....

Check it Out!  The winner of the ErgoGrip Comfort Grip Giveaway has been drawn!  Thank you to all who entered.  The winner is...

*Jamie Tomkins

Congratulations!

The winner has been notified via email and has 48 hours to respond or forfeit prize and another winner will be drawn.