3/25/16

Giveaway! The Talking Shirt #giftcloset #giveaway

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
giveaway hop
Welcome to the 
Gift Closet Giveaway Hop

March 26 - April 10, 2016

Don't you hate scrambling for a last-minute gift? We have the solution for you! Welcome to the Gift Closet Giveaway Hop, an event sponsored by Savings in Seconds. Each participating blogger wants to help you save time, money, and a little sanity by stocking your gift closet! Just hop to all the participating blogs below for your chance to win great family-friendly prizes. Be sure to enter the Grand Prize giveaway, sponsored by Pfizer. Good luck!

I'm giving away
Winner's choice of any shirt, any size!
Value up to $34
inspirational family apparel
The Talking Shirt is a line of positive message t-shirts for men, women, and children. These quality t-shirts share uplifting messages of hope and kindness. This small business designs and prints their t-shirts right here in the USA!
positive childrens clothing
The Talking Shirt designs are perfect for everyday wear. Choose from short sleeves, long sleeves, and raglan tees. Your whole family will love these! I chose a men's shirt that says "Anything good you see in me is because of Jesus Christ."
christian tshirt
The Talking Shirt is super soft and an excellent quality product. It's the perfect gift for Mother's day, Father's day, graduation, birthdays, or any occasion. There is a great demand for clothing that is appropriate for all ages and The Talking Shirt certainly meets the need.
christian shirt
to shop for positive t-shirts for the entire family. 

Use this special discount code KEEPTALKING
to get a 20% discount off an online purchase!
inspirational christian clothing
Enter below to win your choice of any shirt, any size. Giveaway is open to US residents, ages 18 and up. Giveaway ends on April 10, 2016. Good luck!

Enter my other giveaways HERE.
Follow me on Facebook HERE.

3/24/16

Giveaway! "Little Butterfly" Children's Book

giveaway hop
Welcome to the Hoppy Easter
Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

Hosted by BookHounds
March 25 - April 2, 2016

After you enter to win my giveaway, hop around the blogger list below,
and enter to win prizes on each blog!

I'm giving away
"Little Butterfly" by Laura Logan
From Harper Collins
ARV $14.99
childrens book giveaway
Little Butterfly is a hardbound picture book with jacket. This is a story of a young girl, a simple act of kindness, and a magical, once-in-a-lifetime journey. In this wordless picture book, Laura Logan's sweet and surprising illustrations tell an extraordinary tale of compassion rewarded and the wonder of nature.

To enter, just fill in the giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US readers, ages 18 and up. Giveaway ends on 4/2/16. Good luck!

Enter my other giveaways HERE.
Follow me on Facebook HERE.

sofatutor - Award-Winning K-12 Learning Platform Just Released in America

#sponsored post
online educational platform
If you've been searching for a way to help your child learn new concepts or reinforce familiar concepts, sofatutor.com is a fabulous educational platform designed for students in grades K-12. By combining technology with storytelling, sofatutor presents concepts in a way that makes even the most challenging topics more easily understood. Already used by millions of students across Europe, sofatutor was recently unveiled here in America, at SXSWedu. They are seeking a base of excited, early adopters in the U.S. to help shape sofatutor’s impact in America, and you are invited to be a part of it!
online algebra help
I was provided an access code so I could log on and see how sofatutor.com works for myself. The website is extremely simple to navigate and in just seconds I was ready to start my first lesson in Algebra 1. It's been a few years since I've used algebra, so I started with Variables, the first lesson on the list. I watched the short video lesson, which included real-life examples, with audio and visual, in both words and equations, that illustrate what variables are and how they work.
educational video lessons
After the video finishes, sofatutor provides online, interactive practice problems for students to complete. The problems for the first lesson included choosing the correct terms to fill in the blanks of the definition and application of variables. At the bottom of the page was a button for me to check my answers. I got them all right the first time! I clicked next to go to another set of variable problems.
homework help online
Word problems always terrified me in school, but sofatutor takes all the fear out of word problems. With the video information fresh in my mind, I whizzed through the word problems and got them all correct. Next up were equations! The problems got progressively more challenging as I clicked through the practice pages, and although I didn't need to use it, there is a "hint" button available if students need help. Students can even access the Homework Chat and talk to certified teachers! Printable worksheets are also included on sofatutor.com to help students continue to practice the concepts and study for exams.
printable worksheets
I am so impressed with sofatutor! Having raised three kids of my own, I know how exasperating it can be trying to help a child understand a concept. In fact, I wish I would have had access to sofatutor when I was in school. The award-winning European platform includes 13,000 video lessons and 30,000 practice problems. Since it's just been introduced in the U.S., the current content includes only Algebra 1 and the entire American curriculum will be added over the next year or so, with the help of early adopters - students, parents, and teachers. Sofatutor is designed for grades K-12, so your child will be able to use it over their entire education.
online curriculum
The cost of sofatutor will be $199.00 once all of the curriculum is added, but for a limited time, my readers can get a full-access, lifetime subscription now for ONLY $9.99, a savings of $190.00. I encourage you not to wait! Even if your child is not currently using Algebra 1, as the full curriculum is added, your child will already have access to everything. I'm convinced that sofatutor is an excellent self-paced educational tool that will enable students to improve their academic achievement throughout their school years and into adulthood.

Don't miss this special introductory price!

CLICK HERE to get sofatutor now for your child for just $9.99, instead of $199.00.

3/23/16

Photojournal - Masada, King Herod's Mountaintop Fortress #travel #VisitIsrael

#sponsored travel
masada israel
Masada National Park is a beautiful mountaintop site overlooking the Dead Sea. There, King Herod built a huge fortress in 30 BC. Its many sprawling buildings across the mountaintop are simply awe-inspiring. Jewish rebels took Masada in 68 AD at the beginning of the Great Revolt against Rome. The Romans surrounded Masada in 72 AD and built army camps at the base of the mountain. When the Romans began their siege in 73 AD, the Jewish rebels killed their families and themselves rather than fall to the Romans. The "lots" the final ten men drew are in the museum. Masada can be ascended on foot by a snake-trail (for the very hearty traveler) or by cable car (which is how I got to the top).
masada national park
Looking up from the cable car station:
masada cable car
One of the Roman army camps at the base of Masada:
masada army camp
The snake trail for those who want to hike up Masada:
masada snake trail
Another Roman army camp:
masada roman army camp
Looking down at the cable car station, from about halfway up:
masada cable car station
Looking across the valley:
masada valley view
Looking out to the Dead Sea:
masada dead sea
Looking down from the top (400 meters above the Dead Sea):
masada king herods fortress
 Looking across the valley:
masada mountaintop fortress
Part of the Northern Palace:
masada northern palace
Buildings on the southern side:
masada southern buildings
More buildings on the southern side:
masada jewish rebels
A wall of the Northern Palace:
masada palace walls
The "waiting room" to get into the Northern Palace:
masada foyer northern palace
The wall inside the "waiting room" (the blue line on the wall indicates that anything below that was still standing, and anything above it was reconstructed by materials at the site).
masada fresco walls
Views from atop Masada:
dead sea israel

dead sea israel

dead sea from masada
Rock terraces, part of the Northern Palace:
northern palace rock terrace
View from the Northern Palace:
masada base camp
Another Roman army camp: (notice the slanted line at the bottom left of the photo - that was a "ramp" constructed by the Romans where the final siege began.)
masada roman army ramp
Me, standing under an original arched hallway in the Northern Palace:
northern palace arched hallway
The next few photos are some of the beautiful mosaic work at the site:
masada mosaic walls

mosaic tile floor

israel tile floor
I just cannot get enough of this gorgeous view!
israel valley dead sea

beautiful dead sea
Masada is a MUST-SEE site when you visit Israel. The story is fascinating and I took many more photos than what I've actually shared here. The views are simply stunning!

Learn more about visiting Masada National Park in Israel HERE.

Read more about my trip to Israel HERE.

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3/22/16

Weekly Giveaway Linky - Wednesday Wealth (March 23 - 29)

weekly giveaway linky


Magdala, Israel - Home of Mary Magdalene #travel #VisitIsrael

#sponsored travel
magdala israel synagogue
Located in the Galilee region, Migdal (Magdala) is the home of Mary Magdalene (Magdalene means "from Magdala"), one of Jesus' followers who was present at his crucifixion and resurrection. Magdala has quite an interesting story to tell. A few years ago, the land was simply a bare lot, purchased by a Catholic Father Juan Solana who intended to build a retreat center at the site.
mary magdalene home
As construction began on the new "guest house" (small hotel) foundation in 2009, workers were shocked to discover a First Century Synagogue where Jesus taught. Even more incredible, archaeologists found The Magdala Stone in the synagogue. This slanted stone was used as a table for reading from the Torah or from scrolls. It's humbling to imagine that Jesus used this stone.
magdala stone israel
The original stone is now in a Jerusalem museum, but the one at Magdala (below) is an exact replica. On it is one of the earliest known images of a menorah, which means the artist would have seen the seven-branched menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem. As archaeologists continued to dig at the site, an entire first century Jewish town was unearthed, including many homes and shops.
early image menorah
Below is a mosaic tile floor in the synagogue.
synagogue mosaic tile floor
The next photo is a brightly-painted fresco wall, just outside the synagogue.
magdala fresco wall
The photo below is of a shop that features a pool where fresh fish were sold. Since Magdala is near the Sea of Galilee, just south of Ginosar, fish would have been a food staple.
magdala excavated fish shop
The next photo is a large stone storage vessel found at Magdala.
excavated stone storage vessel
The next two photos are of some of the homes at Magdala.
magdala excavated homes

homes magdala israel
The next two photos show steps down into a mikveh, a bath used for ritual purification.
magdala mikveh purification bath

purification bath stone steps
The photo below is the breathtaking boat-shaped altar in the church recently built next to the excavated Magdala.
magdala church boat altar
The last photo is a large olive tree at Magdala.
olive tree magdala
You can read more about Magdala HERE.

See more of my travels to Israel HERE.

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