Guest Post And A Giveaway!

Today, I am guest posting over at Dane And Be Glad.  I am so excited to announce that Leah has asked me to be a monthly contributor at her site. I am so honored to be able to share my journey and experiences in all things creative with you there.

Today I am sharing about "Art And Prophesy".  And Leah is having a give away for a couple of amazing resources for you.  Won't you stop on over, read my post and enter the giveaway!  Oh, and please leave a comment letting me know you stopped by!

Blessings!

It's Never Too Early For Christmas Cards

I love Christmas. I love getting Christmas cards in the mail.  I love that they are all unique.  I especially love the photo cards. They are not only a wonderful keepsakes from my precious family and friends, but I love to display these cards in my home year round as a visual reminder to remember to pray for these families.

I love to purchase cards at Shutterfly.  They have so many unique designs.  And you cannot beat the price or quality.  Here are a few of my favorites this year:

Did you know that Shutterfly is giving 50 free cards to bloggers?  Yes, it's true.  Click on over here to find out more!

One Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway - FINAL DAY!

Well, they say that all good things must come to an end.  This has been such a fun party, if I do say so myself.  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you better through your answers to my Questions of the Day.  I really hope you will all come back and browse through the comments.  There are some fun and uplifting answers there.

To answer yesterday's question myself on the story behind my blog name. I initially started blogging in March of 2009.  However, that blog never really got off the ground.  At first, I thought that God was calling me to be your typical mommy blogger, writing about the day-to-day joys and struggles with my children and giving advice to other moms because, well, after all, I've had four children and I know it all, right?  Wrong!  Initially, I chose the blog title "Moments for Moms", because all of you know that us moms only have moments to spare, right?  But I quickly realized that by not being home with my children all day (due to working full time) and the fact that I did not know how to take a great picture, that it would be almost impossible for me to keep my blog interesting if I were to blog about the typical mommy things. And besides, two of my kids were teens and most of the moms I followed still had kids in diapers. I quickly began to realize I was no expert at this "mommy blogging" thing.

So as I was going back and forth about what the focus of my blog should be, and deciding whether to use Word Press, Square Space or Type Pad, I began to search for blogs on blogger.  Blogger appealed to me because it was free.  I found some amazing and encouraging blogs.  These woman were all moms, from all walks of life, moms of infants, older children, teens and empty nesters.  What I found were moms who blogged about their children, but also about other things.  So I began to pray and ask the Lord to give me a new title for my blog.  As I prayed, I felt that He was calling my blog to be more of a devotional blog, to share inspiration from His Word and my journey in life.  Because I love coffee, I wanted to somehow incorporate that, but didn't really want a blog design with coffee cups, or the word coffee in the title.  I remembered a Bible Study that I had done a few years back entitled "Fresh Brewed Life".  That title hit me like a ton of bricks.  I wanted to own my domain name, but when I typed that into my domain name search, it was already taken, so I played around with the wording and finally came up with "My Freshly Brewed Life".  I love it because it really allows me to blog about anything and everything and I don't feel limited or that the title of my blog doesn't fit with what I am writing about. I believe it's a title that will stay with me for however long this journey takes me.

Whew, that was long!  So that's my blog story!

And now, for the Question of the Day (and the final question in my beloved blog party):

Q:

If time, money or circumstances were of no concern,
what is one thing you would love to do?

Well my lovely followers, this party is coming to a close.  Remember, all comments must be posted by 10:00pm TONIGHT in order to get in on the drawings.  I will be using Random.Org to pick the winners.  I will first draw the numbers of the prizes listed in my original post to pick the order in which they will be given away.  Then, I will use Random Number Generator to pick one winner for each day, for a total of 5 prizes.

I can't wait to reveal the winners, as well as my secret love gift for all of you, should you choose to receive it, on Saturday.

Until tomorrow!

One Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway - DAY FOUR

Hello my amazing friends!  I am getting so blessed by all of your lovely comments and learning so much about all of you.  I am having a little trouble keeping up in commenting back to you all through email, and it's so important to me that I do so, especially with my newest followers.  So just give me a little grace and I will be popping into your in box or onto your blog with some love and encouragement.  I never knew how time consuming a week long giveaway could be, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  You are all so amazing.  And after all, this week is supposed to be all about you!!

I wanted to feature a a couple more special ladies today.  So without further adieu:

Don't you just love my beautiful blog design?  I wish that I could say that I did it myself, but I am somewhat technically challenged, and have an extreme fear of anything "html", so I found a wonderfully talented and amazing blog designer to take on the challenge.  If you've never met Hannah, you will want to stop by her blogs.  Aspire is her personal blog, where she shares about her relationship with the Lord, posts lovely pictures of her beautiful siblings and everything in between.  She is wise beyond her young years and this older, more mature lady has learned so much from her insight.  She also has a design blog, Vivid Design Studio, and a photo blog which will blow you away!  Stop on over and say hello

I am not really sure if I met Rachel before Hannah, or Hannah before Rachel, but it doesn't really matter.  Rachel is the beautiful, encouraging, wise, determined, laundry loving (inserting a wink to Rachel here) mom of Hannah, as well as her other 6 children.  Rachel communicates God's heart with such pose and grace, and she is open and honest about her journey.  She has become such a sweet blogging friend and I truly hope that I get to meet both her and her precious Hannah one day.  You will want to make sure you stop over to Rachel's place and leave some bloggy love! Oh, she having a fabulous giveaway by the way!

And now for the Question of the Day.  This idea came to me from a recent blog post by my sweet friend Kate over at Dancing About Architecture.  She is another treasure I have found in this world of blogging.  She is always encouraging and positive and makes me smile.  And of course, I would love to meet her too!  Won't you stop on over to her place and say hello?

Q:

What is the story behind the name of your blog?

Just two more days ladies!  Looking forward to drawing the winners and revealing my secret prize on Saturday!

Love you all!

One Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway - DAY THREE

Woo Hoo!  I cannot tell you ladies how much fun I am having at my own party.  I wish I could keep it going another week or so, but then I'd have to run out and get more prizes.  Well, it's a good excuse to have another party soon, right?

Thank you all so much for responding to the question of the day yesterday.  I found out so much about your personality in just one word!  Some of you have inquired about how I would describe myself in just one word.  I've been thinking about it all day.  I did not realize how hard this would be...so hard that some of you just couldn't do it!  I would describe myself as:  LOVER!  I am a lover of my Jesus, the sole source of my strength, joy and peace; a lover of my family, the people who, next to God, that I would rather spend all of my time with; a lover of my girlfriends, those who walk beside me in this life and support and encourage me, and make me laugh; and a lover of, well COFFEE of course!  If you know me at all you will know that I absolutely cannot function without my coffee.  And, I don't make my own. I make horrible coffee. So I break the bank to get the good stuff! 

I wanted to share some of the things I've learned about blogging along the way:

• I've learned how important it is to just be myself.  This is hard sometimes.  I often compare myself to others and wonder if what I have to offer is worthy of reading.  But I have found that if I stay true to myself, and what God has called me to do, then I will be successful.  I have had the greatest success in finding friends like you along the path.
• I've learned that it really doesn't matter how many followers I have.  Neither does it matter how many comments I receive, or whether someone recently unsubscribed from my blog.  I do not write to gain followers.  I write to uplift and encourage women in their journey with the Lord.  That's really all that matters.  
• I've learned that I could probably add well over 1,000 blogs in my Google Reader.  There are so many fantastic blogs out there and yes, I read many.  I've learned that it's okay that I don't read them all every day.  I've learned that it's important though to leave comments as often as I can, to encourage other bloggers, and to build relationship with them.  I've learned that I cannot be offended if someone does not comment.  We all lead busy lives and we must lead one another with grace.
• I've learned that I will have uninspired days.  There are days when there is absolutely nothing happening in my life that anyone would want to read about.  It's okay that I don't post every day. Life happens and this is the way it is.

I've learned so much more, but now it's time for the Question of the Day:

Q:

What is one thing that you've learned through blogging that you
could pass on to others?

I am looking forward to tomorrow!

One Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway - DAY ONE

Hello to my fabulous followers! I am so very humbled, thankful and honored that you choose to take time to read my blog. When I first started blogging a year ago, I had no clue of the tremendous blessing that blogging would become in my life. I cannot imagine a day (well, I can, but just one) without each of you. You have taken the time to encourage, speak life, pray for me and my family, and just leave kind comments along the way. I wanted to do something to let you all to know how very much I appreciate you! I wanted to do a fabulous giveaway with lots of elaborate prizes, but I don't have that much knowledge about how to network and ask people who would be willing to donate said fabulous prizes. So, instead, I have picked up some things over the last few months that I thought you might like. They are not elaborate, but are heart felt. 

On Friday, I will be giving something very special away. More on that later! So, without further ado, here are the prizes being offered: 

 {1}...

 This is a beautiful wall hanging.  It says:
LIVE Simply

LOVE Generously

LAUGH Often

When I saw this, it made me smile!

{2}...

Here is the product description from Amazon.

{3}...

Is not this the cutest mug you've ever seen?

Together with this:

(This is a set of three 4x6 photo albums
Each holds 24 pictures.)

{4}...

This has got to be one of the most precious picture frames ever!
Don't you think?

{5}...

 A $10 gift card to the BUCKS, along with
another one of these:

So what do you think?  Not elaborate, but nice, huh?  And Friday, I will be giving away the best prize of all.  I am not going to tell you what it is until Saturday, when I reveal the winners of all of the prizes. But, I will tell you that EVERY person who leaves a comment during the week will win one!  I am so very excited about this!

To enter my Blog Anniversary Giveaway, all you have to do is:

{1}...
Follow my Blog.  This is MANDATORY.  I am after all celebrating my followers.  When you comment, let me know that you follow, and how you follow (Google Friend Connect, RSS, Email, etc.)
(Mandatory Entry)

{2}...
Comment on my post each day during the week.  I may have a question for you to answer.  For today (Monday), please tell me how you found my blog and what you love about it. (One Extra Entry)

{3}...
Place my "Giveaway Button" on the sidebar on your blog.
(One Extra Entry)

*The giveaway ends at Midnight (Pacific Time) on Friday, July 30th)

That's it.  Pretty easy, huh? The winners will be drawn using the Random Number Generator, and I will also have my daughter draw a particular prize for that person. If you do not want the prize that you win, I will happily give it to the next person. And just to be be fair, you can only win once.

I am excited to celebrate with all of you!

Coffee Lovers - Win A Fabulous Cappucino & Espresso Maker!

Hey friends, if you love coffee as much as I do, I am sure you would love a chance to win this fabulous cappuccino and espresso maker.  My lovely friend Hannah over at Aspire is hosting a giveaway for this awesome beauty.  Why don't you stop over and enter for your chance to win!  Also, if you've never visited Hannah's blog before, you will be truly blessed.  She is an amazing photographer and writer and extremely talented blog designer (yes, I am biased)!

Good luck (although I am secretly hoping that I win.  Shhhh...don't tell anyone)!

Custom Blog Design Winner!

Thank you to all of you who entered for a chance to win the custom blog design by Vivid Design Studio.  I've enjoyed visiting those of you who I didn't know before.  I am excited to announce that the winner is:

BETH @ I'm Heading Towards My Destiny!

 Beth said:

Beth please contact me via email (located in my Blogger profile) within 24 hours to accept your prize! I am so happy for you!  I can't wait to see your new blog design!

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Hannah for allowing me to host this amazing giveaway!  You are truly amazing!

Blog Design Giveaway Ends Tomorrow At Midnight!

Hello friends!  This is just a reminder that the Custom Blog Design Giveaway by Hannah of Vivid Design Studio ends TOMORROW (Wednesday, May 19th) at midnight, Pacific Time.  If you haven't entered yet and would love a chance to win a custom blog design valued at $65 you can enter here.  Don't tell yourself you aren't going to enter because you won't win.  You just might!  Matter of fact, just today Lynnette gave away a personalized two-minute blog theme song, to be composed by her very talented son Jared of SYMPHONiZE, and guess who won? 

ME!

(Still jumping up and down, screaming and explaining myself to my family!)

So go ahead and enter.  You know you want to and you just might win!

Win A Personalized Theme Song For Your Blog!

Have you ever thought about what your blog would sound like in music form?  Would you like to have a personalized theme song written for your blog, something that is original, unique to only you, and carries the unique flavor of your blog? If so, head on over to my friend Lynnette Kraft's blog for a chance to win a one-minute personalized theme song for your blog composed by her son, Jared Kraft.  Don't miss this amazing opportunity!

Blog Design Giveaway - Vivid Design Studio!

<a href="http://myfreshlybrewedlife.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-design-giveaway-vivid-design.html"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Blog Design Giveaway - My Freshly Brewed Life" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/BBGB.png" /></a>

I am so incredibly excited about this giveaway. Hannah at Vivid Design Studio has so graciously offered to give away a custom blog design, valued at $65, to one amazingly lucky one of you! I met Hannah through Abigail Kraft's blog. One day I was reading Abigail's blog and say a button for Hannah's Aspire blog. So like most of you (come on now admit it), I click buttons in other people's blogs hoping to find more great blogs to add to my already overflowing Google Reader.  As soon as I opened Aspire, I was so impressed by what I saw.  Her site was so clean, fresh and inviting.  I had been feeling for a while that I wanted to have my blog redesigned and as soon as I saw Hannah's I knew what I wanted.  Hannah is an amazingly talented young lady who loves the Lord with every ounce of her being.  She was a joy to work with.  I was privileged to have her not only design this blog, but also my "work in progress" art blog, Expressions of His Beauty.  I am so excited to have her design one of your blogs!

So, here is how to enter this fabulous giveaway.  The mandatory entry is, well mandatory.  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry that you do, and make sure to comment on this post. 

1. Mandatory Entry:  Follow My Freshly Brewed Life and
   leave me a comment letting me know that you do. (1 entry)
2. Follow Vivid Design Studio.  Leave Hannah a comment on her blog,
   and come back here and let me know that you've done so! (1 entry)
3. Put the giveaway button on your sidebar. (1 entry)
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog (1 entry)
5. Follow me on Twitter - Barbie2365 (1 entry)
6. Follow Hannah on Twitter - livingvivid (1 entry)
7. Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
8. Post about this giveaway on Facebook.  (1 entry)

The winner will be selected using the Random Number Generator.  This giveaway will close at midnight (Pacific time) on Wednesday, May 19th.  The winner will be announced on my blog on Thursday morning, May 20th.

What's In The Bible - WINNERS!!

I have two lucky winners for the What's In The Bible giveaway:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

     6

     2

Timestamp: 2010-04-02 06:39:20 UTC

#6 Karen said...

What a neat giveaway! I have heard the buzz on this and was interested in seeing this. I plan to look at that link you included. My oldest child is a teenager and I remember buying her one of the first Veggie Tales VHS tapes. As adults we got a kick out of watching those, too. I look forward to introducing these new DVDs to my younger crew. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

#2 JillAileenJones said...

We love Veggie Tales-I am so excited about this offer. Can't wait! I think we have been given or bought every VT DVD out there and now own them all and watch them daily just about. My two year old is just starting to get interested in watching them and has started singing the theme song-it is so cute. Thanks for the chance to win this DVD.

Congratulations ladies!  Please email me with your mailing address and I will get your certificates in the mail to you right away.  Remember, you may take the certificate to your local Christian store to exchange for the DVD. If you do not have a Christian store near you, you can mail the certificate directly to Thomas Nelson.

Enjoy your DVDs!

What's In The Bible Giveaway - Ends Tomorrow Night at 10:00pm

Just a reminder that the What's in the Bible Giveaway will end tomorrow night (Thursday, April 1st) at 10:00 pm.  Don't miss your chance to get one of these fabulous DVDs for free!  To find out more about What's in the Bible, visit the WITB website here.

Good luck!

What's In The Bible Blog Tour - Product Review & Giveaway!

I was so excited to be chosen to participate in the What's In The Bible Blog Tour on behalf of the Tyndale Blog Network.  As a mom whose children grew up watching Veggie Tales, I was so excited when I heard that the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, was launching a new product.  I just knew I was going to love it.  And I do!  What's In The Bible is a series of 13 DVDs that is designed to walk kids and families through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  *Two fortunate readers will each win one Award Certificate for a free copy of one of the first two DVDs in the series. Enter at the end of this post.

What's In The Bible uses music, song and puppetry to bring the Bible to life.  My children came and sat with me the second time I watched it and they did not want to leave.  They were completely captivated by the music, the humor and we all learned things -- I even learned some Hebrew!  These DVDs are very well done and I cannot think of a better way to introduce children to the Bible and keep them interested than through the use of these DVDs.  They would make a great resource in a Sunday School classroom as well.  Visit What's In the Bible for more information about this wonderful series of DVDs.

Now for the Giveaway!  Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with two "Product Award Certificates" to give away on my blog.  Two winners will receive one award certificate for either In the Beginning or Let My People Go which can be redeemed at their local Christian stores or, if they live outside the USA, sent directly to Tyndale.  To enter, leave a comment on this post by 10:00 pm Thursday (4/1).  I will be using the Random Number Generator to pick the winners!  Please be sure to include your email address if you do not have a blog.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the preview DVD free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”