I Love To See Her On Stage

After a disastrous summer theater program for kids on the autism spectrum summer before last, this mama is happy and proud to see my girl on stage. The only difference: the PEOPLE. Detoxing from the bad experience and "experts" took a long time and she didn't consider any theater programs for a solid year. "Lemonade Mouth" in a small dance studio last summer allowed her to dip a toe into the water again. December's musical was performed in a theater on a stage and not in a dance studio. She conquered a lot of nerves & anxiety, pain (sounds, lights, crowds), illness (strep throat, again, and that brings another set of challenges), and that past negative experience. I am one proud mom.

FashionABLE Jewelry Review and Giveaway

FlyBy Promotions introduced me to FashionABLE Jewelry, a company with a mission to give women around the world who have come from difficult circumstances an income and a livelihood. FashionABLE Jewelry let me design a piece of jewelry - I chose a necklace - and has a piece of jewelry for one of my readers to design, too. Comment on my post to enter. I will choose a winner at noon, Tuesday, December 15th, 2015.

FashionABLE has just launched customizABLE —  a brand new feature for their company, to allow their customers to be involved on a deeper level by becoming a designer!  From their Ring Bar to creating your own unique necklace -- you get to be the designer, adding your own personal touch.  All materials are ethically sourced and then hand-made in Nashville, Tennessee to your specifications.  The jewelry is beautiful, with statement pieces as well as custom stamping options. 

I often am challenged to make choices and I did take some time to decide which piece of jewelry I wanted and once I settled upon a necklace, which style and how I wanted mine to look. If you want to get ideas from what others have made, head over to Pinterest. I especially like the words you can have stamped into a piece but could not summarize my emotions to express myself in just a word or two.

The ordering process was user friendly. I chose a necklace style, a chain color, a bead color, a pendant. The process was fun for an individual (me) who is creatively challenged.

I am happy with my three layer rosary style with silver chain with pearl beads and a turquoise colored Howlite pendant. The beads and chain are dainty and delicate in appearance, very feminine and pretty. I can wear it with jeans in a casual setting or dress it up for a night out and both of my teenage girls like it, too, so it spans a wide age range. The value of the combination I chose is $88. Note: My Howlite pendant is not as colorful as the photograph on the website. (The homeschooler in me had to look up Howlite. Wikipedia tells me that Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide (Ca₂B₅SiO₉(OH)₅), is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits.)

At FashionABLE, we believe our role is to INVEST IN A WOMAN.  When a woman is empowered with work to do, whether in the home or in an office, she not only experiences the joy and satisfaction of developing a skill, she also creates in those around her.  FashionABLE’s role in this story is working with women, both locally and globally who have overcome challenges ranging from prostitution to addiction to a lack of opportunity.  Every one of us understands what it means to overcome, and we are all ABLE to find purpose in the work we do. 

Check out FashionABLE on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

 

Adore Chris Tomlin Christmas Songs of Worship CD Review & Giveaway

Christmas music is my favorite music. I make no secret of the fact that I am a fan of the radio station in Michigan that begins playing Christmas music, November 1st. When I was given the opportunity to review Adore, I said "Yes, please!"

This CD is filled with gentle, worshipful songs from beginning to end. Sometimes, I want to hear some rockin' Christmas songs and sometimes I want to focus on worship and this is the CD to play when I want to focus on worship. The CD features all sacred songs, some classics, some new. I find that Adore is excellent for setting the mood for intentional worship (even in the car), great background music for a daily Bible reading, or during a chaotic time, for refocusing my mind on the important stuff.

Songs:

1. He Shall Reign Forevermore

2. Adore

3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)

4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle 

5. Hymn Of Joy 

6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty 

7. What Child Is This? featuring Sons & Daughters 

8. It's Christmas

9. A King Like This

10. Bethlehem

11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters

The music transports me to the sanctuary of my home church where I grew up. Candlelight Christmas Eve services were beautiful and moving and really set the focus for the holiday. I miss that. I ache for it. I have a child on the autism spectrum who does not do well in the sanctuary of a church. Too loud, too crowded, too sensory overload. Christmas Eve services are out for us as a family because of that. I miss going to a Christmas Eve service and I still grieve that dream. However, as I listen again and again to Adore, I know that I can play this on Christmas Eve and have a service at home. Adore is beautiful.

Click on the photo to go to the Chris Tomlin official web site. Chris Tomlin's music is on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, YouTube (where you can see and hear some of the album), and while I prefer an actual CD, buyers may download from iTunes as well.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

I have a copy to give away to U.S. and Canadian readers. Just comment for an entry. I will choose a winner, Friday, December 5th, 2015.