Happy New Year!! I can hardly believe it is 2012. So much I want to accomplish this year. Right up on the top of my list is getting in shape, losing weight, and getting a handle on this fibromyalgia. What a better way to start the new year than with a great giveaway to get you started on all your health goals. When I posted to facebook a few months back that I was going to do some giveaways on my blog Heather Dubay responded right away. I had no idea what I was in for. She is a coach with Beachbody, you know the ones that created the infamous P90X. She gave me Slim in 6, a fabulous fitness program, to try out and she is now my fitness coach. The best part is definitely having her as a coach. If you have been wanting to get in shape this is the way to do it. She is super encouraging and there for you all throughout your journey. She has been with me through the highs and through the lows of being diagnosed with fibro and having to figure out what that all meant. And now she is going to start texting me every morning so I’ll get my butt out of bed and start working out.

The fitness program she gave me is amazing! It includes three DVDS with three different workouts. The idea is to do the first for two weeks, the second for two weeks, and the third for two weeks. This gives you a 6 week transformation. It also includes an ab video and a stretching video. And wait there’s more…LOL It has a weight resistance band and a eating program. Beachbody does a great job of making all of their programs a complete fitness program. Not just exercising but also teaching you how to eat. I’m telling you this is where it is at!

I also signed up for her website and have a great way to track my workouts. Beachbody gives away cash to people just for tracking their workout in the supergym. And when you sign up for the Beachbody challenge and complete your fitness program they will send you a T-shirt! There is so much motivation it’s amazing. Plus Heather does extra little contests and challenges all the time. If you have been looking for a way to get in shape but can’t afford a gym membership or can’t leave the house much like me this is the way to go.

Now on to the giveaway. Heather is giving away the Slim in 6 Program she sent me. That is an amazing giveaway and a great way to start out the year. Plus you will get Heather as a coach and that is priceless. Just follow the guidelines before in the rafflecopter.

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My friend Rebekah Speakman sells chocolate…yes that’s right she’s a chocolatier.   I had no idea they even had such things and then a friend invited me to her Dove Chocolate Discoveries party.  I wasn’t sure I had heard right….a party….with chocolate….to taste!  I was there.  I was also pregnant at the time so it was a perfect match.    The party was so much fun.  We got to try all sorts of yummy goodies like chocolate fondue, chai tea mix, a smoothie, chocolate mousse, and some other things.  I was in heaven! I had told myself when I went that I wasn’t going to buy anything but I ended up buying a mousse pack and the chai tea.  I’m telling you this stuff is good. I love the Dove chocolate they sell in the stores and this is even better!  If you live in the area you totally need to have a party with Rebekah and try this stuff for yourself!   You will not be sorry you did, plus you’ll get all sorts of goodies for free, and who doesn’t love free chocolate, right?

When I told her about the giveaway series on my blog she was willing to be a part. She gave me White Chocolate Raspberry Daiquiri Mix and a sea salted caramel.  I was excited to try the daiquiri mix (minus the rum since I am nursing and all) since I wondered what chocolate would be like in a daiquiri but it was amazing!  Really yummy and I even shared with my 7 year old and he loved it! You just mix it with some ice and lemon lime soda in the blender, well and rum if you are making it that way. It tasted heavenly.  You could barely even taste the chocolate…just enough to know it was there and the raspberry was really yummy.

My favorite, however, was the sea salted caramel!  I popped that one into my mouth right away and it was so, so, so good! I love the salty, sweet taste of it.  A package of those would make a great Christmas gift for teachers, family, whoever you have to give gifts to this season.

Now that I’ve piqued your interest I’m sure you are asking what do we win this week.  Well, Rebekah is giving away 2 Daiquiri Mix Packets and 10% off your order!  Enter below.

You may have noticed last Monday that there wasn’t a giveaway. Yeah I totally flaked!  The week just got away from me. So I’m being smart this time and writing out the post Sunday night so it is all ready for Monday.  So without further ado I give you my review on Cakes with Jaz!

Cakes with Jaz is a local custom cake maker in my local area. Actually I think she may be the only custom cake decorator.  She is super sweet and makes yummy, beautiful, amazing things! I first heard about her through facebook and then decided to have her make my son’s first birthday cake.  When she came over to consult about what to do for the cake I really wasn’t sure what I wanted but then the idea came to me to have it made to look like his favorite blankie.  You see he has always loved tags…yes you heard me right tags.  He would curl up in the corner of his bed and hold the tags from the bumpers to fall asleep at night.  Well I took the bumpers out and he wouldn’t fall asleep without screaming.  So I took all the tags and sewed them on the edge of a small blankie and he now sleeps with it and LOVES it.

So I showed it to Jasmine and she was excited even talking about making real paper tags with edible paper and printing tag type stuff on them. Let me tell you she does amazing things!  Here is a picture of the yummy and beautiful cake. Oh and did I mention she threw in the small cake for free!

Zeke's 1st Birthday Cake

Close Up of the Edible Tags

The inspiration with the cake

Zeke so loves tags that we couldn’t get him to actually eat the cake but he sure loved those edible tags!  LOL

Zeke eating his tags

For this review Jasmine (yes that’s her name which makes sense since her business is Cakes with Jaz) brought me some of the leftovers from a local farmer’s market she does in town. So we got to try some yummy cupcakes!! She makes these super cute cupcake samplers in egg cartons. I just think they are adorable.  Here is a picture of the one we got.

Cupcake Sampler

Our sampler, and I say our because my hubby and kids had to get in on the tasting, included red velvet, german chocolate, maple bacon, and root beer float. The clear and away winner of the favorite cupcake flavor in our home went to Root Beer Float!  It truly tasted like you were eating a root beer float and it was so moist and yummy.

But our most favorite thing was the sugar cookies! I am a sucker for sugar cookies and Jasmine’s are the best!!  Plus they are beautiful!  Here is a photo of the fall ones we got.

And just in case you are wondering they make a wonderful breakfast for children. Not that I know from experience I’m just assuming they would.  LOL

So now that you have seen and drooled over all of this yummieness are you ready to win some? Just enter the giveaway below!  You have until next Monday.

And next week I will be reviewing Dove Chocolate Discoveries so stay tuned.

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 2:1-2- “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Observation
“May not sin” means not to stay in a continual pattern of the same sin.  Obviously we will sin because we just learned in the last chapter that if we say we have no sin we are a liar and the truth is not in us. But this is talking about habitual sin, which the Christian is not to engage in if he is truly in Christ.

When we do sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus. He is our mediator.  When we confess our sins, we can be forgiven because God looks at what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He can be our mediator because He is righteous.

Application
We need to watch our lives and look out for habitual sin.  By staying in the Word and examining ourselves and confessing daily we can ensure we do not live in a lifestyle of sin.  Praise God we do have an advocate and can be forgiven of our sins when we confess.

Prayer
This week I will not be sharing my prayer as I have taken Courtney’s, of good morning girls, challenge and will be confessing sin daily in my prayer.

I found Inspired to Action when I heard about the maximize your mornings challenge, which I promptly joined. So far I haven’t been doing that great but better than I was before I started the challenge. Anyway, she has some great posts and in her last post was this video and it was so super encouraging! Take the time to listen. It will make you feel renewed about being a mom. Enjoy!

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 1:4 “And we are writing these things so that your joy may be complete.:

Observation
Sharing about what he, John, had seen and heard made his joy complete.  He also wanted to promote joy which can only come from the Father.

Application
We need to share our joy with other’s to make it complete in our lives and theirs.

Prayer
Lord, help me to find my joy in You and to share it with others so it may be complete. In Jesus name, Amen

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowhsip with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ.”

Observation
John desires to procalim what he has seen and heard not just to bring people to salvation, but so they can be in fellowship with him. And not just with but with the Father.

Application
We need to proclaim the Word and draw others into fellowship. We need to draw others into fellowship. We need to draw them to personal communion with God. What am I drawing people to? What am I drawing my kids to? Is it fellowship with God?

Prayer
Lord, help me to be someone who draws others to fellowship with you. Help my spirit and attitude during the day draw my children to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Now since this was supposed to be Wednesday’s post and that is the link up day and I totally missed it, let’s just pretend I posted this on time and go ahead and do the link up.  :) So just go back in time with me and pretend it is in Wednesday.  LOL

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 1:2 – “the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and procalim to you the eternal life which was with the father and was made manifest to us –”  ESV

Observation
In the last part of this verse we once again see the truth that Jesus is fully God and fully man.

The words life and eternal life tell us about the quality of life we have when in fellowship with God, through Christ.  We saw it first demonstrated in christ and now lived out in the believer.  Thsi fellowship grows out of the relationship between the Son and the Father.

Application
We have been given life and eternal life from God through the work of Jesus.  Thsi is totally a work of the grace of God and nothing we do or did.  We need to live in such a way that shows our dependence on that grace and thankfullness for that grace.

Prayer
Lord, Thank you for your grace that has given me life, eternal life.  Help me never to take that for granted.  In Jesus name, Amen

I’m going to be sharing my Bible Study notes on 1 John on my blog. I’m using the SOAP method which is to write out the Scripture, write one to two Observations, make Application, and then write a Prayer. Some days I may not share if it is too personal. I hope this is encouraging to you. And if you want to join in just go to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

1 John 1:1 – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life –” ESV

Observations
Jesus has always existed. he is from the beginning. This means He is truly God, and John saw Him, heard Him, and felt Him, which means He was also fully man.

Since John had seen, heard, and felt Jesus, we can trust His authority. He was not just making it up. His message is not based on just emotion, it’s based on truth, The Truth.

Application
We need to base our beliefs on the Word of God, not on what we feel or experience.

Prayer
Lord, Help me to dive into your Word more and base my life and beliefs on your Word. Help me to reject emotionalism and mere experience. Guide me in the Truth. In Jesus name, Amen

Lately I’ve been getting back into reading blogs thanks to twitter. I know it’s an odd place to be motivated to read blogs but everyone posts about giveaways and I’ve found tons of great Christian blogs, challenges, and homeschooling moms. In the process of reading all these new blogs I realize that I really do want to get back into the habit of blogging. I’ve always thought I don’t have much different to say than what is already being said but you never know who you might touch through your blog.

I have two posts in my head I just need to take pictures of the projects so I can post about them. So look for more from thecraftyhome!