giveaways & deals

Giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

February 17, 2012 By kimc

It’s been too long since our last giveaway, and this week we’re going to get started again with something a little different and fun for Life in a Shoe, but the off-grid lifestyle holds a strong appeal for many people. Michael Bunker’s non-fiction book on the subject, Surviving Off Off-Grid: Decolonizing the Industrial Mind, received very positive reviews.

Now he has a fictional offering in a similar vein: The Last Pilgrims, scheduled for release on Feb. 24.

About the Book

More than your typical post-apocalyptic fare, The Last Pilgrims could well be one of the most important and prescient novels of our time. Twenty years in the future is five-hundred years in the past. It is just two decades after the worldwide societal collapse and the Vallenses, an Amish-like “plain people” living and surviving in what was once Central Texas, are under attack by the King of Aztlan and his armies. The pacifistic Vallenses are defended by the shadowy Ghost Militia and their inspiring leader Phillip, a militant freeman who wages a guerilla war with Aztlan.

Jonathan Wall and the thriving agrarian community of Vallenses have prospered by living the simple and sustainable ways of the past. In a massively depopulated world, balkanization is a reality and monarchy is back. A corrupt kingdom arises, led by a king who cannot abide freemen on lands that he covets. Just as the Vallenses send off a plea to the benevolent King of the South States, a mysterious assassin misses his target: Jonathan Wall.

Phillip “the Ghost” is on a personal mission to save the Vallenses – even if it is against their will, while Jonathan’s own son David and his fearless teenage daughter Ruth are led to challenge their pacifistic upbringing and question whether or not the time has come for the Vallenses to fight for the land, the people, and the God they love.

The Last Pilgrims is a modern re-telling of the forgotten history of the Ancient Waldenses – simple farmers who lived in the valleys of the Alps for hundreds of years despite repeated attempts to annihilate them. Full of tragedy, adventure, humor, and love, The Last Pilgrims is a rare post-apocalyptic saga that takes history and casts it into the future, while examining that future in light of the errors of the present and the past.

Check out the YouTube trailer. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but let’s be honest: how many books have a trailer this cool?

This book is brand new, but reviews from previewers are already looking good. I really like the last part of this review, where the blogger describes The Four Things I Appreciated Most About The Last Pilgrims:

The period piece feel of the book. I am a sucker for period pieces, historical fiction, historical non-fiction, and any book that tells a good story with historical context weaved throughout. The Last Pilgrims actually takes place in the future, but because of the agrarian setting is feels like 500 years in the past.

Discusses a “collapse” without the paranoia. The story is set twenty years after the breakdown of the industrial society that we know today. Because of this it would be really easy for it to slip into the crazy conspiracy theory and paranoia-oriented post-apocalyptic fiction genre. Fortunately, Mr. Bunker writes the scenario in a very realistic, matter-of-fact way that focuses more on the sustainability of this new life than it does the paranoid zombie conspiracy theories.

Action as part of a good plot line. I almost never reach for an action-packed thriller first when I need a good read. Perhaps this is the reason I was a bit skeptical of the book. It’s not you, it’s me. But I was really pleased to find the action, battles, and suspense in The Last Pilgrims done tastefully and not at the cost of character development or a real, engaging plot line.

Humor balances the drama. Humor is used throughout the book, mostly via witty banter between the characters. This makes the storyline just feel more real, engaging, and light enough to balance out the very real and serious drama playing out.

From another review:

“Fantastic writing… excellent, well-crafted and imaginative…

It is rare that someone has such aptitude to interweave so many elements into their work, that it not only conveys a very important message, but it is also a true pleasure to read. Your well-developed characters, the really well considered plot, timing and flow of narrative have really helped in creating a true masterpiece. You really made me stop and think about a life that is possibly lurking not far in the future, when having almost instant access to people, places and material possessions would be impossible.

- Natasha

THE GIVEAWAY

Interested? You can enter to win your own paperback copy of this book! There are several ways to enter. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each one.

Leave a comment here.
Link to this giveaway on your blog, facebook, and/or twitter.
Link to The Last Pilgrims on your blog, facebook, and/or twitter.
Like The Last Pilgrims on Facebook.
Remember, if you have joined the mailing list for the Life in a Shoe newsletter, you are automatically entered in every giveaway!

I’ll take entries through Thursday and will announce a random winner on Friday, February 24 – the day the book will be released.

Filed Under: books and poetry, giveaways & deals 80 Comments

Homesteading giveaway with 6 prizes!

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

February 3, 2012 By kimc

We have 2 new sponsors in our sidebar – one is Living the Answer, which offers an online essay class that 2 of our children are loving. The other is Grandpa Jake’s Campfire Cooker.

Remember when we hosted a giveaway for that amazing handcrafted all-wood drying rack?

There’s a giveaway going on now for not just a Homestead Drying Rack, but 5 other homesteading-related prizes including the campfire cooker! Forgotten Way Farms has passed the drying rack business to another family, but they have some very fun and interesting new items, and the 2 families are celebrating by sponsoring a giveaway with over $300 in gifts!

Go the the Forgotten Way Farms blog to enter the giveaway. Here’s what is up for grabs over there:

Six Prizes – Six chances to win

Grandpa Jakes Campfire Cooker ($139.00 value)
One handcrafted Peddler drying rack (49.00)
Homesteading for Beginners vol. I- II-III ($45.00)
Plunger Washer ($29.00)
Erin’s Super Green Drink Mix 1 lb. ($25.00)
Erin’s Sick Tea ½ lb. ($17.00)

I don’t know about you, but I think Grandpa Jake’s Campfire Cooker looks like a lot of fun. I also think the Plunger Washer looks interesting, but I might have a revolt on my hands if the kids even suspected we were getting rid of the washing machine any time soon. Not that we are thinking of getting rid of the washer [glances furtively about]…

There are several ways to enter and the giveaway ends soon, so get going! What are you hoping to win?

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 7 Comments

Make money online

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

January 16, 2012 By kimc

While I stall and try to find time and brain cells for a real post, I just thought I’d toss this out for anyone who might find it useful. It’s a list of companies that pay you to fill out surveys. Some pay cash, others let you accumulate points toward free merchandise and gift cards, which can be very nearly as good as cash if they are for stores or items you really want.

All are affiliate links, so if you join one I expect a modest kickback. If you already do any of these, what do you think? I’m assuming that they do not provide a very good return on your time, but some are fun and they pay a lot more than nothing, which is what you usually get for killing time on the web.

Inbox Dollars – Very popular, I think because this company goes far beyond surveys and provides plenty of opportunities. In this case, I think you can actually hope for a reasonable return on your time if you choose your offers carefully.
Memo Link – earn cash & gift cards
My Survey - earn cash & gift cards
MyView – earn gift cards
Nielson – This one sounds fun – you get a free handheld scanner scan the products in your home! Give it to the kids and let ‘em rip, and you get paid for their “work”.
Surveys.com – earn points & rewards
Under One Roof – earn points
Vindale Research‘ - says you get rewarded. I *think* they pay cash.

Now, what should I *really* blog about? I have to confess I’m a little obsessed with guns right now since Perry let me choose a new one for my birthday/Christmas gift, and the choice required a lot of research. I haven’t blogged about it because I suspect many of you are either indifferent or uncomfortable with the subject. Am I wrong?

Filed Under: blogging & technology, giveaways & deals

Giveaway: Blu Track racetrack!

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

December 9, 2011 By kimc

A few weeks ago, Perry Boy decided he wanted to earn enough money to buy a racetrack. He may be only 5, but he had obviously put some thought into this. After a few minutes on Walmart.com and Amazon, he already knew the features he was looking for:

He wanted something…

cool, that his friends would love.
that more than one person could use at a time, so it would be easy to share.
that wouldn’t break easily – a big problem in our house.
that he could easily take to other places. This ruled out the ones that attach to the walls.
that didn’t take batteries, so he would never need to worry about running them down. He was adamant about this, and I was thrilled.

He didn’t find anything that fit his requirements, but he was unfazed. He immediately started earning money, begging for any paying job he could find. He made my bed daily, brought me my Super Mom vitamins, honed his flyswatting skills, cleaned chicken poop off the deck stairs, picked up trash in the yard. He was tireless and relentless.

After a week, he had $8 and was ready to make a decision. I warned him that he was going to need more money, but I wanted him to stay motivated so we got online to look some more.

That’s when we discovered the Blu Track. Perry was instantly transfixed, and spent hours poring over the possibilities. The info on Amazon was sketchy, but at BluTrack.com we found tons of photos submitted by actual owners.

For me it was a no-brainer, but I self-consciously held back and let him make the choice. We went over his list of features he was looking for and how each racetrack we had looked at lined up. He realized on his own that only the Blu Track fit the bill. He still wanted to be sure, though, and decided to think about it for a few days. I didn’t blame him. This one didn’t have the plastic dragon or flashy decals or gimmicks, but he was very impressed with what people did with it in the videos.

He loved the overall length, and the fact that it could be temporarily attached to doors, walls, and other high areas. He had visions of sending cars careening off the edge of the deck! He was sold when he saw the video of a track running over a grandfather’s head.

After a couple of days, he told me that he was very sure this was the track he wanted. BluTrack fit all of Perry’s requirements, and we were able to help him get it. He has taken it to a church retreat, to work with his dad, to church, to the big Thanksgiving family gathering. Everywhere, it was a hit. After more than a month, he’s still smitten.

Blu Tracks can be set up in endless variations, with loops and curves, jumps and valleys. Configurations take some tweaking and trials, but that’s part of the fun. Kids have to think about what they’re doing, why it didn’t work the first time, and how to improve the design. You should hear the triumphant whoops when the car makes a jump and lands right in a bucket of water!

Don’t tell, but we already ordered a 50′ track and some ramps to go with his 18′ track! He’s going to be one happy boy in a few weeks!

What do I like about it?

I love that unlike so many toys these days, the Blu Track required creativity. I hate toys that do all the entertaining while children sit and watch. The Blu Track slogan is, “We make the track… YOU make the fun!”
I love that it’s virtually indestructible.
I love that it has 2 tracks, so kids can race their cars at the same time.
No batteries. My boy has my heart on that matter.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

One winner will receive a free 18′ Professional Blu Track! This is great by itself – that’s what we have – but our winner will also receive ramps and stiffener bars to help do even more stunts!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry.

Tell why you want to win this giveaway.
Like Blu Track on Facebook.
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook.
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There’s a button below to make it easy.
Subscribe to Life in a Shoe. You can use the box at the top of the sidebar to subscribe by email if you prefer. If you’re already a subscriber, that counts too!
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 16, then choose a random winner!

This giveaway has ended. The winner, chosen by Random.org, was Christian.

Filed Under: fun, giveaways & deals, reviews 258 Comments

Giveaway: The Family Daughter (book)

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

December 2, 2011 By kimc

In her new book The Family Daughter: Becoming Pillars of Strength in Our Father’s House, homeschooler Sarah Bryant shares from her own struggles and triumphs, encouraging young ladies to become vital cornerstones in their father’s home, while preparing for godly womanhood. Sarah addresses topics ranging from honoring parents, to serving others, to investing in our walk with Christ, to being a light to the world. Each chapter includes encouragement and real-life examples of how girls can apply Biblical principles in their daily life.

Filled with encouragement and practical ideas, The Family Daughter will help Christian girls begin the journey of being their family’s pillar of strength and virtue. If you have a daughter at home, this book is sure to be a blessing to her – leave a comment to enter in our giveaway.

“In this utterly transparent book, Sarah Bryant speaks from her heart about the daily walk of the daughter at home… If you are a daughter at home, this book will encourage you to pursue the Lord’s work with new vision. Including testimonies from many other young women, The Family Daughter doesn’t paint an unrealistic picture of perfection but deals with the reality of our sin nature in the light of Christ’s promises to His people.” – Mrs. Jennie Chancey

Filled with encouragement and practical ideas, The Family Daughter will help Christian girls begin the journey of being their family’s pillar of strength and virtue. Read an excerpt from The Family Daughter.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

One winner will receive a free paperback copy of The Family Daughter!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry.

Subscribe to The King’s Blooming Rose Magazine
Follow KBR Ministries on Twitter
Like KBR Ministries on Facebook
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There’s a button below to make it easy.
Subscribe to Life in a Shoe. You can use the box at the top of the sidebar to subscribe by email if you prefer. If you’re already a subscriber, that counts too!
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 16, then choose a random winner!

This giveaway has ended. The winner, chosen by random.org, was Jessica C. She was automatically entered in the drawing because she is a subscriber to our mailing list.

Filed Under: books and poetry, giveaways & deals 81 Comments

Giveaway: Cansolidator cabinet organizer from Shelf Reliance

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 25, 2011 By kimc

This giveaway has ended. The winner was Emmy W.

I’ve posted in the past about my system for organizing the canned goods in my cabinets, but I have to admit that the more I try to store the less my system works. Did you hear the squeal all the way over at your house when my Cansolidator arrived by FedEx yesterday? I was so excited to get my cabinets organized in a way that will actually stay organized! No more digging to the back of the cabinet to see if we can find a lost and forgotten can of green chiles, tuna or sweetened condensed milk.

After pulling out one can each of our most commonly used canned goods – this showed us the sizes of the spaces we needed to create – we assembled the unit. It sounds hard when I say it that way, but I love this bit of a customer review from the website:

…If you can put legos together you can build this rack. If not give it to your 6 year old and have him build it for you…

I did make one or two mistakes along the way, but those were because I was having too much fun deciding what will go in each slot rather than reading the instructions. [Instructions? Who needs instructions?] Anyway, mistakes were easily fixed. The whole operation took about 4 minutes and no tools at all.

Emptying the cabinet and getting everything put back the way I wanted took a little longer. While we worked, we kept up our strength with yummy freeze-dried strawberries, bananas, and pineapples. I’ve never had such willing workers in all my life!

I wish I had taken before and after pics, but we were too excited to wait for the camera! As soon as I said the word, 3 kids dove headfirst into the cabinet scooping out all the canned goods they found in the depths. Do you know I had pumpkin pie filling, pickled beets, Wolf brand chili, and canned mackerel in my cabinet? Well, now you do. I just told you.

The Cansolidator Pantry Plus (and a ton of other items) are on sale this weekend in the Shelf Reliance Black Friday sale.

As you might have noticed from the flyer, Shelf Reliance sells a lot more than cabinet organizers. They specialize in reasonably priced storage foods to help your family be prepared for emergencies. They also offer a lot of other products related to the subject to help you plan for all your family’s needs should things change dramatically.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

One winner will receive a free Cansolidator Pantry Plus organizer!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry.

Look around the Thrive site and leave a comment on this post telling which product is your favorite. You must do this to enter the giveaway. If you place an order, let us know what you chose! To give credit to the consultant who is sponsoring this giveaway, please make sure Heather Horton’s name shows in the upper right. If not, click the X to reset the site, then enter again through Heather’s link. Thank you!
If you already own any Thrive products or have made other emergency preparations, leave another comment and tell us about it.
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook.
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There’s a button below to make it easy.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 9, then choose a random winner!

Don’t forget to enter Life in a Shoe’s other giveaways today!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 124 Comments

Giveaway: Flexi Clips from Lilla Rose

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 25, 2011 By kimc

This giveaway has ended. The winners are Vikki and Melissa.

Our next giveaway in the Life in a Shoe Black Friday event (see? I didn’t plan it, but I recognize what is happening) is for some lovely, beautiful, cute & comfy, super durable, can’t get enough – can you tell how much we love these? – Flexi Clips!

We have acquired a fair collection of Flexi’s so far but always look forward to adding more. They work in literally anyone’s hair, from baby fine to mega-thick, stick-straight to crazy-curly. They are so pretty, so unique, and so easy to use, and we’ve never yet managed to damage one. That’s saying a lot.

There’s also an unbelievable variety to choose from. I haven’t counted, but I think they must number in the hundreds!

We also had the opportunity to try out You-Pins by Lilla Rose, and they are a fresh, pretty alternative. They work particularly well in Lydia’s super-thick hip length hair, giving her a bun that stays put even when she is being…well, her crazy hyper self. There’s a reason that girl stays so slim, and the word sedentary is not part of it.

Guess what? Lilla Rose is celebrating the holidays with a Cyber Black Friday with Saturday thrown in! EVERYTHING on the website will be 15% off starting midnight on Thursday, November 24th running until midnight Saturday, November 26th. It doesn’t end there… A few select items will 25% off!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY – 2 winners!

Two winners will each receive a free Flexi Clip (value up to $15), plus a gift certificate for another, either to keep or to put in a loved one’s Christmas stocking. Tough choice, I know.

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry.

Look around the Lilla Rose site and leave a comment on this post telling which clip is your favorite. If you place an order, let us know what you chose!
If you already own a Flexi Clip, leave another comment telling how much you love it and why.
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook.
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There’s a button below to make it easy.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 9, then choose a random winner!

Don’t forget to enter Life in a Shoe’s other giveaways today!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 179 Comments

HUGE Vision Forum giveaway: $600 in gift certificates! (plus $3,000 more)

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 25, 2011 By kimc

This giveaway has ended. The winners in ascending order were ~in Not of~, LisaAnn, and Mary Minship, who won a $300 gift certificate for blogging about the giveaway.

I don’t get into the whole Black Friday thing, and maybe you don’t either. Maybe you’re at home instead of out fighting the crazy crowds. Maybe you’re here reading my blog. Here’s your reward:

Vision Forum is offering a $100, $200 and $300 gift certificates to 3 Life in a Shoe readers! Want to pump up your chance of winning? Enter giveaways for the same amazing gifts at 5 other blogs:

For those who aren’t familiar with Vision Forum, they offer a wide array of books, CDs, DVDs and toys for the Christian family. They just sent out their new 2012 catalog, so there’s a whole new spectrum of possibilities for your wish list. What has caught your eye so far? Here are some of our older favorites from Vision Forum, but I need to add some new recommendations.

I said that aloud and the suggestions came in from people reading over my shoulder.

First, they said this:

High-Impact Roman Short Sword

$32.00 (Save $3.00)

But I think they really meant this, because what fun is a single sword?

High-Impact Roman Short Sword Set (2 Training Swords)

$54.00 (Save 23%)

Does anyone thinks it’s strange that in a house full of girls, swords are at the top of the list? You might also be surprised to learn that we have some huge fans of airsoft guns too. I’m even considering joining their ranks, just so I won’t be the odd one out.

Airsoft Machine Gun (Single Shot)

$36.00 (Save 45%)

Taurus Airsoft Handgun

$40.00 (Save 20%)

Airsoft Machine Gun (Single Shot)

$54.00 (Save 17%)

Rubber Ammo Eight-Shooter

$13.00 (Save $2.00)

Rubber Ammo Sportsman Shotgun

$30.00 (Save $5.00)

Don’t worry. Weapons are not the only toys in our house. Some of the girls still like dolls. Exciting news: In browsing the site, I just noticed that dolls are back!

$75.00

$75.00

$75.00

$75.00

OK, unlike the impression you might have so far, VF is not only about toys. Christian books and media is where they really shine: family-friendly DVDs, audio messages about history, audiobooks, materials for homeschooling from a Christian perspective, and more!

Vision Forum also has some fun sales running right now! Hurry because they end soon!

Free shipping code: NOSHIPPING good on $25 or more
exp. 11/2

THE GIVEAWAY

Vision Forum has agreed to give away a $100 and $200 gift certificate to 2 happy winners, plus a $300 gift certificate exclusively to one random reader who blogs about this giveaway!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you are automatically entered once! Remember you must blog about this giveaway to qualify for the $300 gift certificate.

Leave a comment on this post telling what’s on your Vision Forum wishlist. You must do this.
Like Vision Forum on Facebook
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There is a button below the post to make it easy for you.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries plus an entry to win the $300 gift certificate, blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this post and the phrase, Christian books (must be linked to Vision Forum). Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 9, then choose a random winner!

Don’t forget to enter Life in a Shoe’s other giveaways today!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 660 Comments

Giveaway: Nursing Cover from Modest Mom

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 25, 2011 By kimc

This giveaway has ended. The winner was Karen E, a subscriber to our newsletter.

This week, we have several giveaways. I’ve always said I don’t care about Black Friday, but maybe that’s not entirely true. It seems I have a sort of Black Friday going on right here on my blog.

Our first giveaway this week is for a free nursing cover from The Modest Mom Shop.

Features:

Our wide selection of prints and colors means there is a perfect Modest Mom Nursing Cover for every you!

All nursing covers have adjustable Velcro neck straps.
All nursing covers feature our open-neck design, which allows you to maintain eye contact with your little one, keep an eye on baby during latch-on and throughout breastfeeding, and keep baby cool at the same time.
All nursing covers are made with 100% cotton fabric.
Cotton nursing covers make great blankets and lightweight covers for strollers and baby car seats.
The size of the Modest Mom Nursing Cover is approximately 25″ wide by 35″ long.

Customer review:

This is the most awesome nursing cover. I’ve been looking for something
like this since I had my first baby 14 years ago. Now baby #5 is nursing
in style and privacy. Can’t say enough good things about this cover. It
washes well – no shrinking, no wrinkles, bone maintains its shape, no
fading or pilling. Folds up nicely. LOVE this cover. Give “The Modest Mom”
some of your business if you need a cover or will be attending a baby
shower anytime soon! -Kristy

Scroll down for details on entering the giveaway but first, The Modest Mom is having her first ever Cyber Monday sale!

Every item in the store will be 10-30% off, plus you’ll earn free gifts when you order! Click the banner above for details.

Wondering what to buy? Here’s one idea for you…

Nantucket Denim Skirt review by 15yo Lydia

I choose this skirt because the only other dark-wash denim skirt I have is ankle length. Don’t get me wrong: I love long skirts, but sometimes they aren’t very convenient. I like sitting cross-legged a lot, but I can’t in very many of my skirts because they are either too narrow or too short.

This one is nice and wide. It’s wide enough to let me spin in circles and long enough that it comes down below my knees while I sit.

It’s also a good length to wear with my cowboy boots, which I wear all the time, and the brass buttons and pointed yoke are super cute!

It’s also very easy to dress up, it will look great with one of my favorite polka dot shirts and black heels next sunday!

This is one of my new favorite skirts, I have worn it 4 times since I got it on the 17th and I would have worn it more but I spilled something on it and it had to go through the washer… :/

THE GIVEAWAY

The Modest Mom to one random winner! Not currently nursing? This would make a beautiful gift for a mother you know!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you are automatically entered once!

Leave a comment on this post telling your favorite item from The Modest Mom shop or your favorite fabric choice for the nursing cover.
Like The Modest Mom on Facebook
Subscribe to The Modest Mom blog
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There is a button below the post to make it easy for you.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to both this post and to The Modest Mom. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, December 9, then choose a random winner!

Don’t forget to enter Life in a Shoe’s other giveaways today!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 98 Comments

HUGE Vision Forum giveaways!

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 23, 2011 By kimc

Shame on me. I’ve been holding out on you. I didn’t tell you yet about the HUGE Vision Forum giveaways currently running.

Would you believe there are currently a total of $2,400 in gift certificates being given away on 4 different blogs? HURRY!

Giveaway hosts are:

Tip #1: In addition to other gift certificates, each blog is giving away a $300 gift certificate exclusively for bloggers who blog about the giveaway, so be ready to post about one or more of the giveaways!

Tip #2: Watch for 2 more of these huge giveaways to pop up on the web very soon. I’ll bet you can guess where you’ll find one of them.

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 2 Comments

100 Free Christmas postcards and 9 other free personalized photo gifts

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 21, 2011 By kimc

OK, so they’re not totally free. Vistaprint would go broke if they covered the shipping on all the freebies they’re offering now, but even when you have to pay shipping these are GREAT deals!

Here’s what you can get:

FREE Holiday Postcards (Qty. 100)
Get your message across this holiday season with customizable postcards! Use them as holiday cards, invitations or announcements for home and business use. Mailing services available. Matching envelopes available at checkout. Create today and receive in as few as 3 days. Printing is free, shipping starts at $7.
FREE Business Cards (Qty. 250)
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FREE Photo Holiday Cards (Qty. 10)
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FREE Holiday Labels (Qty. 140)
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Serve up some fun with a 11-oz full color ceramic mug. Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your text. Have fun creating a gift to warm hearts this holiday season! Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $6.06.
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Choose from over a dozen designs and make holiday labeling a tad easier this year. Choose from red, black or blue ink. Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $5.67.
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Filed Under: birthdays/holidays, giveaways & deals Leave a Comment

Giveaway: New Creation skirt

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 18, 2011 By kimc

Were you wondering if there would be a giveaway this Friday? Don’t hold your breath, but there might be two giveaways this week!

The first is here, now. A free skirt of your choice from New Creation Apparel, home of the modest long skirt. In my recent plea for skirt-choosing advice, I chose French Country Blues.

There are tons of new fall choices now, and lots of clearance as well. The Liberty Stretch has a soft look and graceful lines.

Patched and Fringed is cute, pretty, and on sale – and available in my size.

See? This is fun. What will you choose if you win?

THE GIVEAWAY

has agreed to give a $50 gift certificate to one random winner!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you are automatically entered once!

Look around New Creation Apparel and leave a comment on this post telling which skirt you might choose if you win.
Like New Creation Apparel on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook.
Subscribe to Life in a Shoe.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter mailing list. No spam, we promise. We’ve only ever sent one newsletter (how was it?) Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, November 28, then choose a random winner!

This giveaway is closed. The winner, chosen by random.org, is subscriber #196 of our newsletter.

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 333 Comments

Mystery Box prayers

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

November 16, 2011 By kimc

This isn’t exactly a sales post, though it might sound like one. I wanted to share Product image today’s Deal Of The Day because it has special meaning to me.

Today’s deal is…

…the Vision Forum Mystery Box, a fantastic opportunity to obtain at least $100 worth of great family-building books, toys, movies, audio albums, or any combination of those items, all for one incredibly low price!

When you open your Mystery Box, you will discover an assortment of Vision Forum products that are sure to surprise and encourage your family. However, we can’t tell you what will be inside your specific box. We don’t know ourselves! The only thing we know about your particular order is that you will receive a combination of products worth at least $100 retail, all for just $30 — a massive 70% discount.

Here’s why the Mystery Box is special to me: the girls and I assembled most or all of these boxes. Knowing that a random selection of products won’t always be exactly what a customer is hoping for, I prayed while I worked that God would make the contents of each box particularly appropriate to the recipient.

If you decide to order one, I would love to hear how He answered this prayer.

Filed Under: giveaways & deals, Vision Forum 13 Comments

Giveaway: $50 gift certificate to The Modest Mom

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

October 28, 2011 By kimc

This giveaway has ended.

Caroline at The Modest Mom is one generous lady, and I’m happy to be the bearer of good news. This week you can win a $50 gift certificate good toward any purchase in her shop! You can also save 10% on any order until October 31 with the code Raisinghomemakers. Go ahead. Try it. You know you want to.

Caroline has been adding lots of new items to her shop recently. I’ve been loving my layering shell. My first impression was that the neckline was too high (is that possible?) but the more I wear it, the more I like not having to worry about what I’m showing when I lean down. Freedom!

This very flattering Denim Skirt has a subtle “rainbow” effect with the detailed stitching on the skirt. Perfect when you need a more dressy denim skirt, yet classic and simple enough for everyday wear!

I love the detailing on this Sailor Skirt and guess what: it has pockets! [kicks self for not requesting a sample]

My Lydia has her eye on the Nantucket Skirt. She loves the buttons, and thinks the shorter length would be perfect with boots.

I don’t generally wear maternity skirts, but I love that the panel in this long stretchy black maternity skirt can fold down for non-maternity wear. It looks so soft and comfy!

The Marrianne blouse is another recent addition, and it’s on sale now. If pink isn’t your thing, fear not. It comes in silver too.

THE GIVEAWAY

The Modest Mom has agreed to give a $50 gift certificate to one random winner!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you are automatically entered once!

Leave a comment on this post.
Like The Modest Mom on Facebook
Subscribe to The Modest Mom blog
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There is a button below the post to make it easy for you.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! No spam, we promise. We haven’t even sent a single newsletter yet. :) Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to both this post and to The Modest Mom. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, November 4, then choose a random winner!

The winner this time was Becky H, a member of our email list – remember list members are automatically entered in all giveaways!

Filed Under: giveaways & deals 357 Comments

Giveaway~ “It Is Your Life: The Moss Family” & “Children are a Blessing” (2 DVDs)

Current giveaway: The Last Pilgrims book: ends 2/23

October 21, 2011 By kimc

This week’s giveaway post was primarily written by the Moore family, who will be giving away 2 of their DVDs.

As a Christian homeschooling family of 12, our goal in life is to work together to serve the Lord and advance His Kingdom. In our modern culture, film is a very effective way to share the truth found in God’s Word. With that in mind, we’ve now completed two films with life-changing messages, with two more films coming soon. Enter the giveaway, then come on over to our site, www.moorefamilyfilms.com, and check out two more documentaries that are in the making. All four videos will make an excellent addition to your home video library, or a great Christmas gift! More than just entertainment – these crucial messages of families glorifying the Lord together will be sure to encourage and inspire your family to do the same!

We’re honored to offer two of these DVDs for giveaway to Life in a Shoe readers:

It Is Your Life: The Moss Family

In this first film of the It Is Your Life series, get a refreshing glimpse into the daily life of the Mosses, a Christian family training their children in the ways of the Lord. Learn about:

Why they educate their children at home
Why Beverly stays home to care for the family
How George leads his family in Bible reading and prayer
Why they trust God for children after 6 c-sections
How God brought them through a time of trial
How brothers and sisters can be best friends

Be encouraged and inspired as the Mosses work together, play together, and pray together. See for yourself how a Biblical vision of family life results in a strong family who loves each other and desires to glorify the Lord together. This is their life…

Read the recent review by Raising Olives

Children are a Blessing

We live in a day when most people, Christians included, eagerly apply for what God calls a curse – debt – but never give a second thought to preventing or even destroying what God calls a blessing – children.

If we are to live our lives according to the Word of God, we must ask ourselves, “What saith the Scripture?”

Join the Moore family in this timely documentary as they briefly expose the evil history of the birth control movement on the 50th anniversary of “the pill.” Listen as they transparently share their testimony of how God, in His grace and mercy, opened their eyes in spite of their own sinful beginning. Be encouraged as they casually answer questions often posed to large families. Then, experience the joy of Biblical family life as they anticipate, give birth to, and welcome their tenth child into their home. Most of all, be inspired to look to the Word of God for answers to everything in life, but specifically to see that Children are a Blessing.

THE GIVEAWAY

Moore Family Films has agreed to give a copy of both It Is Your Life: The Moss Family and Children are a Blessing to one random winner!

To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for each entry. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you are automatically entered once!

Leave a comment on this post.
Like Life in a Shoe on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook. There is a button below the post to make it easy for you.
Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter to be automatically entered in every giveaway. No need to leave a comment for this one! No spam, we promise. We haven’t even sent a single newsletter yet. :) Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to both this post and to Moore Family Films. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.