MakaziVille

If you haven’t allowed your child to play MakaziVille, I highly recommend this online game.

What is MakaziVille?

Even though MakaziVille is a fictitious village, the issues presented are very real to the Tanzanian people of Africa. The game teaches children how the following factors work together to build and improve individual and community life: Bible translation, church growth, medical care, education, family relationships, growing in faith, business management and the village at large.

My kids have been enjoying it . . . as have I!

You will journey to Tanzania, learn facts about the country and Bible translation. We are in the process of building a village.

The game is interactive.  There are times where it requires your child to step away from the computer, and wait for the parent to check his or her email.  That email contains something special for you to read and discuss with your child. 

I was also surprised to find that I received updates in my inbox regarding what the boys were doing in MakaziVille and what videos they had watched.  I was also provided with discussion topics related to these videos.

I have come to trust MakaziVille enough that yesterday, I allowed them to play while I worked out. 

And when I was done working out, I knew what they had done in Makazi-land.

MakaziVille is a great resource to understand who the Vidunda people are and how Bible translations works. 

Consider sponsoring the translation of a Bible verse each month for the Vidunda people living in Tanzania.

45 Free Narnia DVDs

My bloggy buddy, Conny, has got an insane amount of The Chronicles of Narnia DVD’s. 

Approximately 45. 

And one of them could very soon end up in your DVD player. 

Just drop by her blog, The Life of an Ordinary Hausfrau, and mention that I sent you and that you would like to have one sent to you for free!

No strings attached!

Free . . . Yes, Free Fall Activities . . . . Please send me pictures

No strings attached.

Honestly.

I did this on Monday.

It's free.

Celebrate Fall. Blog about it with me. Have fun with your kids. Enjoy the weather.

No strings attached.

Download an Autumn Study Unit from The Old Schoolhouse Store.


Let me know what you think, what you do with your munchkins. But you don't have to. I just thought it would be a nice gesture. I am telling you about something free . . . you know.

Autumn Unit Study (Oh, click those three little words to download this 86 page book!)

But no strings attached. Pictures of your fun?

I just thought we were friends and all.

Organically Grown Baby Giveaway

Now that Mr. Smiley has turned one, everyone has been asking us when we are going to have a baby girl.

Hold the phone! I'm still nursing.

I'm just not ready . . .yet.

I got a taste of a little girl when my old high school friend stopped by with her precious new baby. Meet my Organically Grown Baby Apparel Giveaway models, Beth and Baby G. Hearing Baby G's sweet baby noises was like listening to a good song. Memories of being a first-time parent flooded the movie screen of my mind. Honestly, I don't know if I will be ready again (to have another baby, that is). I am being stretched currently with three. However, a little girl would be a precious addition to the family. We do have one more seat left in the van. She would have three big brothers to protect her. Mr. Smackdown and Mr. Me-Too regularly ask when we are going to have a baby girl. It would be an answer to prayer for them.

Let me get my baby weight off and then the Hottie Hubby and I can talk.

But if I had a little girl or even a little boy . . . I found an outfit for them to wear (and you can win one).
I am quite obsessed with either the "take home" outfit if our child was born in a hospital or the "first time out of the house" outfit if they were born at home. It is a magical, photo opportunity moment when you get to dress your newborn for the first time. In the past, I have scoured the stores for the perfect outfit, even though newly gifted clothing awaited this child at home. This prized outfit has to be my choice, my purchase, almost as if to say, "I am your mom. I am protecting you on the outside now."

With each child, I have grown even more diligent about protecting my newborn. Eliminating as many toxins, harmful procedures, and intrusions as possible has been my goal. It has always bothered me that many of the "take home" outfits that I almost purchased have a big label on them stating that they are flame retardant. (Like I was going to stick my newly born child near a fire.) If I wouldn't lather the flame retardant on my skin for fire protection, then why would I want it to brush up against my child's skin all day long? My babies are always close to me, where they should be. Not near a fire.

OK . . . so if I had a baby, I would purchase my newborn's first outfit from Organically Grown. Organically Grown is a company that just launched their line of baby apparel, from newborn to 9 months of age that is currently found at Sear's. Eliana Stern, a mom, from Organically Grown Baby states:

Our clothing line is made from 100% certified organic pesticide-free brushed terry and velour cotton. We proudly select the softest cottons, so our clothes feel luxurious and cuddly against your baby's gentle skin.

Organically Grown Baby believes in your right to affordable organic clothes, so our items retail from $12 to $38. In today's tough economy, you shouldn't have to compromise on high-quality, cozy, safe, organic babywear because of price.

Finally, I have found an outfit that I could put on my baby, and allow her to wear, without wondering what chemicals are being rubbed into her skin. I also don't have to spend a lot of money or search high and low to find such a great organic garment. I can either drive to Sear's or let my mouse click on Organically Grown Baby. Either way, this clothing line is worth my time and money. After washing the outfit Baby G modeled, I decided that I want an outfit like my imaginary babies! Talk about soft and luxurious!

Eliana shares the same passion that I do regarding the importance of incorporating organic products into our family life. But an organic lifestyle can be expensive, which is probably why our family doesn't have much in the way of organic clothing. Eliana shared with me,

I always associated "organic" with "expensive" and "extreme" until all of those studies came out about BPA and parabens, right around the time my daughter was born. The more I read about all of the harmful chemicals in our food, shampoos, lotions, and clothes, the more I realized how lucky we are to have the choice of organic. The single most important thing to wrap your baby in is love. Organic clothing is a wonderful way to express your love.

Are you ready to win an luxurious Organically Grown Baby product now sold at Sear's?
Contest ends July 9, 2009 @ 2:06 PM

Contest Rules:

1. Leave your name, email address, and blog url (if you have one) in the official entry form

2. For optional extra entries, visit the Organically Grown Baby Shop and tell me which outfit you like the best.

3. Come back here and comment in the official entry form.

4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries.

Open to US Only

extra entries:

1 Extra Entry if you visit Sear’s and pick another Organically Grown product that you like and share it with me.

1 Extra Entry if you link back to The Granola Mom 4 God on my blog. Grab the code on the left!

1 Extra Entry if you blog about this contest with a visible link back to this post

1 Extra Entry if you subscribe

1 Extra Entry if you become a fan of my blog

1 Extra Entry if you become a follower on Twitter

1 Extra Entry if you tweet about this contest

organic+baby+clothes giveaway free baby's+first+outfit organically+Grown+baby organically+grown+group newborn take+home+outfit

Another Giveaway! FREE, FREE, FREE

Wendy and I had been trying to get together for about 6 months. It finally happened last week and she came bearing gifts from Nature's Providence. Smackdown Hubby was a bit worried when he come home from work; he thought I had purchased the entire basket of products!

But I didn't get to keep them. In fact, I dropped the basket off at her house yesterday. She is giving them to you. I guess she likes you better. At least I still have my Vanilla Lavender Shea Souffle and a bottle of Mink Oil.

I am hereby announcing my 3rd giveaway, even though Wendy took my favorite Honey Almond Shea Souffle (perfect for baby bottoms, dry skin, chapped lips, cuts, and eczema) and Love Spoken Creamy Shea Lotion away from me. Not to mention that the Nature's Providence massage oil is relaxing and not overpowering. Anyway, I though that it was kind of rude for her to need her basket back--as if she has a business!

You would probably like me to shut up and talk about the Giveaway. Nope. One more story.

I once gave Wendy a gift that she probably wished I had never given. You see, our friendship began with cloth diapers. I gave her the worst gift to start her child's cloth diapering career. I made Wendy some RED cloth wipes. Did I mention they were red? Guess what color her new white diapers became? Pink. They had a boy.

Here is what Wendy has to say about herself and Nature's Providence:

Let's see.. about me.. well the easy part is why I love NP. I love how natural and good for my skin it is- -that no matter how often I wash my hands they don't get dried out, how incredibly clean my face feels after washing it, and how healthy and soft my hair feels. I love the scents and essential oils. And of course the soy candles- I've always loved strongly scented candles! I especially love that Nature's Providence is local, handcrafted, and made and sold by women who truly love Jesus. Which brings us to the part about me, a woman who truly loves Jesus, and my husband and two precious kiddos. My prayer is that I love and serve my husband and children in a way that is worship to God.

Please check out Wendy's Nature's Providence Facebook site.

OK . . . so do you want to know what you are playing for? (Can you tell that I am a Survivor fan?)

You will get these three great products FREE, yes FREE . . . even if it needs to be shipped to you somewhere within the United States! And you get to choose your scent! Let me tell you that you are in for a good smelling, good feeling treat! Let me recap:

Enter to win a Handcrafted Bar Soap, a Shea Souffle, and a Sugar Scrub from Nature's Providence.

How do you enter to win this GIVEAWAY?

1. You must be a follower of my blog. If you aren't, become one. I won't stalk you.

2. Go to Wendy's Facebook site or Nature's Providence and let me know what scents you would like in the soap, shea souffle, and scrub. Leave me a comment. (1 point)


Extra Points (entries). You may do them all or the ones that are easy for you.

3. Become a fan on Wendy's Facebook page. Leave a comment and let me know that you did this.(1 point)

4. Send Wendy a Wish List message via Facebook or wildflowerwendy@comcast.net with the following information: (3 points)

1) which products you'd like to receive as gifts
2) names and emails of husband, kids, and any potential gift givers
3) your birthday

5. Tell me something new (via a comment) that you learned from The Nature's Providence website. There is some GREAT educational information about Shea Butter, handcrafted soap, and soy candles. (1 point for each new factoid that you learned. Post each one as a new comment.)

6. Send an email to your friends and me (info@granolamom4god.com) with a link to my blog (http://www.granolamom4god.com/) telling them about this giveaway. (1 point per email address)

7. Guess what products are in the basket that Wendy loaned to me! (1 point)


8. Give a testimony of your experience with Nature's Providence products. (1 point)

Giveaway ends May 5, 2009!

20% off at Inspired by Finn

Well, the winner of my first giveaway is Tabitha, from Colorado. Even though my very first giveaway is over, don't be sad! Kate, the owner of Inspired by Finn, has generously offered to give my readers a 20% discount when you use the code "giveaway" at checkout. If anyone does purchase some Baltic Amber Necklaces, let us know what you think!

Let me tell you, Tabitha is one cool mom. I met Tabitha about 9 years ago, I believe, when my husband and I lived out in Colorado. Tabitha and I went to the same church, Joshua's Crossing, that believe it or not, met in a nightclub on Sunday nights! Tabitha was in charge of changing the nightclub into a place of worship and it was amazing how she accomplished that! Anyway, I'm excited that Tabitha won as this artsy-fartsy gal is acquiring an artsy-fartsy Baltic Amber Cognac Chip necklace!

Enjoy! Stay reading for future giveaways! Thanks so much to everyone who participated and helped to grow my readership!