Redeemed by DaySpring

When I signed up to to review one of DaySpring’s (in)spired deals for April, I didn’t plan on posting my review on the very last day of the month, a week later than requested by the powers that be.  I didn’t know that my foot would be rockin’ a cam boot or that my heart would be shattered by the re-homing of an adorable puppy.  In fact, I expected April to be a unusually warm and wonderful–the best it’s been in years. And in some ways, I was right.

See, this past Easter (April 8) was the first I spent at a church I could call my home in seven years!  Maybe that’s why the message of April’s (in)spired products–REDEEMED–resonated so deeply with me.  Redeemed means to be bought back from slavery or captivity, and that’s the story of my life.  I was bought at a great price by the blood of Jesus Christ, and even now, I spent foolish years wandering from the Truth I knew only to find myself wholly redeemed again.

When I slip on my Redeemed necklace, I’m part of the message I’m wearing.  Even though it’s costume jewelry, I love the necklace’s classy antiqued gold finish and pretty charms–a bird, the letter “R”, and a round patina which says “redeemed.”  Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NCV), this necklace is a reminder that I have been set free.  I am redeemed.

I also received the “Beautiful In Its Time” jewelry tabletop mirror, which is also part of the Redeemed collection.  While the mirror, which has a brass tone, could be used as a make-up mirror or a cute accent piece in a bedroom, my mirror has fits right in with my coffee table decor.  Inscribed on the mirror is a message I so desperately need to hear, especially right now: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) 

I feel anything but beautiful with a giant black boot on my right foot, a walker at my side, and having to be assisted in many tasks right now.  Then I remember that God’s time isn’t always in sync with my time, yet He patiently makes beauty even from my messes, even when I look like a mess.

Whether making cards or jewelry or decor, DaySpring’s well-made products always seem to resonate with my spirit–lightening my heart or the heart of others.  Check out April’s (in)spired deals for great gift ideas for Mother’s Day and more!

*To my dearest FTC, I selected and was provided with these prodcuts from DaySpring, free of charge for review. These opinions are my own and do not reflect those of Dayspring in any way.*

Cards Still Make a Difference & Giveaway!

{More info on these cards}

We have more excuses than ever not to send cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions: The price of stamps just increased.  Again.  Cards aren’t eco-friendly (even though they can be recycled and are often made out of recycled materials).  And, of course, there just isn’t enough time to buy a card, address it, and pop it in a mail box.  Besides, e-card are often free…and nothing says, “I love you, Mom” like canned music and a mouse jumping out of a birthday cake.

In our tech savvy society, do conventional cards really make a difference?  That was the question I sought to answer with my brand new DaySpring cards—the Hope & Encouragement by (in)courage’s Holly Gerth  My test subjects?  The ladies in the Monday night Bible study that I lead.

First, I needed a control card to ensure that each member of my Bible study received a card that is equal in value and appearance.  I chose “Thank You For What You Do” from Holley Gerth’s collection.  What better want to tell the ladies in my flock how much I care about each and every one of them and thank them for the support they offer me weekly, as their fearless shepherdess.  As I addressed each card, I asked God to help me write a pithy message to each lady.  Despite using the same card, I didn’t want to express exactly the same sentiment to the varying personalities present at Monday night Bible study. 

Second, I wanted to give my Bible study a chance to spread the blessing to others.  I went through all my DaySpring cards, picked out about 12 (admittedly, it’s hard to part with any of my beautiful cards, but I was on a woman on a mission!), and placed them on the table at Bible study telling the ladies to pick a card or two to send (or give) to someone else.

After receiving their personalized cards from me, the ladies were more than delighted to choose cards for their own use. I overheard comments like, “Wow, these are really nice cards!”  “Amy, did you buy all these cards for us?” “They sell DaySpring cards at the local Bible bookstore!”   Most of all, they were excited that cards geared towards Christian women were relevant, beautiful, and affordable!  Someone remarked that the cards were great for anyone—Christian or not! 

One lady asked us to help her find a card that would be appropriate to encourage a friend whose mother just died.  Another wanted to use her card to uplift a co-worker who is going through an incredibly rough time.  A few ladies picked out cards and didn’t disclose how they would be used…yet.  Since one member of our group was unable to attend our “card shower,” we decided to sign and send her a card to let her know that we love her and she was missed!  Naturally, the choice of card was a group decision!

{This card, featuring a crown and a bookmark, was my favorite.  Oh, how I need to remember these words!}

While my experiment was wholly unscientific, I can safely say that greeting cards are still relevant.  There’s something about the tactile sensation of opening a card, especially when unexpected, knowing that the sender thought of you!  I like to save my cards and read the messages again and again—a reminder that people do love me when I feel unloved and unlovely or celebrated when I feel defeated. Will a card change the world?  Probably not.  But it can make someone’s day, and I’m grateful that DaySpring cards gave me the opportunity to bless others, who in turn, will use DaySpring cards to bless even more.

Yes, friends, cards really do make a difference.  Get a book of forever stamps, make a list of people who could use a beautiful card, and head over to the DaySpring Online Store to nab a few cards of your own. And, ladies, check out (in)courage for uniquely feminine musings as well as the fabulous (in)spired deals to get cute cards like mine!

Win a $20 code to use at DaySpring’s Online Store!

And I’m going to make it even easier for you to bless others with DaySpring cards, simply enter my giveaway to win a $20 coupon code to DaySpring’s online store,which offers a bounty of cards as well as other inspirational products.  To enter, simply fill out THE FORM.  For an extra entry, leave a comment about how a card cheered up your day OR how you used a card to bless someone else.  The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM EST on January 31, so get entering.

*If you really want to win, then head on over to my friend’s blog, Shari’s Sentiments, for another chance to win a $20 gift code.  Imagine if you win both of our giveaways…$40 can bring a lot of cheer!

*To my dearest FTC, I selected and was provided with the Holley Gerth Hope & Encouragement Pack from DaySpring, free of charge for review. These opinions are my own and do not reflect those of Dayspring in any way.* (P.S. I totally copy/pasted this disclosure from Shari’s blog.)

Product Review:: I’m (In)Courage’d by Cards + {$35 Gift Code Giveaway Closed}

I used to think greeting cards were a scam.  How could an overpriced piece of paper with a picture on the front really make a difference?  While I always appreciated a nice card given to me by a loved one (especially when it contained cash), I questioned why I would spend money on a card that would most likely end up in the recycling bin.  Plus, back then, I was in college, so I usually didn’t have money for what I deemed non-essentials anyway.

During the spring semester of my junior year of college, I was hospitalized twice in the span of a month for 17 days (whole story).  It was the scariest time of my life.  At night, when all the visitors left and the halls of the hospital wing grew silent, I would read my cards over and over again.  Many of these cards were from friends at church so they contained Bible verses that encouraged me.  One morning, a nurse woke me up to find cards scattered all around my bed.  She smiled at the mass of paper as she gave me my morning pills.

“You’ve got a lot of caring friends,” she said as she piled the cards onto my bedside table.

I nodded as I swallowed my pill.  Of course, I received cards from people I didn’t even know, who wanted to reach out to tel me they were praying for me.  These cards were like little paper hugs from far and wide.  To this day, I treasure those cards.  Encouragement truly is a powerful thing.

Now I try to send cards all the time and whenever I find a cute card, I add it to my stockpile.  I’ve come to think of myself as sort of a card connoisseur.  I am one of *those* people who will clog up the card aisle until I find the “right” card.  But buying cards can be expensive, so I tried making my own cards, which proved to be more difficult than I imagined.

Therefore, I was thrilled to receive the Sassy & Sophisticated card pack from DaySpring to review.  Not only will these cards be a wonderful addition to my arsenal of paper encouragement, but DaySpring has convinced me that their product is one of the best (and more affordable) available.   My Sassy &  Sophisticated pack features cards that are geared towards women and includes four birthday cards, two encouragement cards, two “praying for you” cards, and two friendship cards (perfect for women’s Bible studies and and gal pals alike!)

Here’s a picture of my favorite card (and I don’t just like it because it features three of my favorite things—a tree, a girl writing, and the color green.)  It reads, “In hard times she had learned three things—she was stronger than she ever imagined, Jesus was closer than she ever realized, and she was loved more than she ever knew.”  On the inside the card simply says, “Praying for you,” and includes the verse Philemon 1:4 (NIV): “I remember you in my prayers.”  There is plenty of space for a personal message, but not so much that a long message is necessary if you’re a person of few words.

As I thought about who to send this card to, I realized I need this card, so I’m going to frame it and put it on my desk because I am stronger than I imagine.  Jesus is closer than I realize.  And I am loved more than I ever know

I am so impressed with DaySpring cards, that I signed up for their Heart Connection Club, which means every month I can receive a packet of 10 of DaySpring’s bestselling cards for only $12.99 (plus $3 shipping for U.S. orders).  It’s free to sign up, I can skip a month if I’m low on funds or have too many cards, and if I don’t like the set of cards offered, I can swap ‘em out for a set I prefer.  Right now, there’s a great offer to receive a FREE set of cards and along with a card organizer.

You might want to check out the cards and other the great deals awaiting you at  DaySpring’s Online Store or to get some ideas on how to spend that $35 gift card I’m giving away.

What?!?!  A giveaway!?

That’s right!  A GIVEAWAY!!!  All you have to do is fill out the form below to enter to win a $35 gift code to DaySpring’s Online Store. (The code will be sent via email to the confirmed winner.) This code must be used by July 31, 2011 and cannot be used to pay for shipping (but if you spend $50 or more, you get free shipping!) If DaySpring ships to you, then you can enter!

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM (EST) on July 1.  The winner will be notified by email and announced via Twitter, Facebook, and on this blog post once he or she is confirmed.

Congrats to our winner, Tammie!!!

 

*My Dearest FTC, I was provided with the Sassy & Sophisticated card pack from DaySpring  for review.  My opinions on this awesome product are my own.  In fact, no one even told me I had to use the word “awesome” in this disclaimer, but I did anyway.  Love, Amy*

Comments won’t get you any extra entries into this giveaway, but they sure do make me happy.  So, let’s hear it, how have you been encouraged by a greeting card?  How is encouragement a power thing?

Updated Review Policy and My Love Note to the FTC

Hear ye, hear ye!  I have updated parts of Backseat Writer’s Review Policy and added a bit of plain speak to my FTC Disclosure.  Read on, you know you want to…

REVIEW POLICY

Request for reviews/interview/marriage proposals can be sent to amy@backseatwriter.com.

Why, yes, I would love to review your album, book, movie, or product!  Due to time restraints, that book I’m eventually going to write, and my personal preferences, I may not be able to honor all requests for reviews, interviews, or Nigerians who want to wire me money.

Before you hit me up with your latest and greatest, please note that I will only accept music for review (and artist interviews) that is downloadable or send to me via snail mail.  Additionally, I will only accept books that are readable on Kindle or sent to me in hard copy format (again, in the mail).  My reasoning?  I need my music and reading material to be portable—to go with me where I need to go.  That’s how I live life and that’s how I review materials.  I cannot be chained to my computer listening to music or reading books.

Additionally, I retain the right to accept or reject all materials based on quality of content and whether or not I believe the materials fit in with the vision of Backseat Writer.  Usually I can tell whether or not something is a good fit by the press release and I will tell you so before you send materials, so feel free to send your queries to amy@backseatwriter.com.

I also added this to that terribly interesting FTC Disclosure or what I like to call “My Love Note to the FTC”…

I do not get paid to do reviews or interviews (though if anyone wants to hire me for freelance work, I’m listening.)  I do not accept money in exchange for posting press releases or endorsements.  All content is generated for the pure love and joy of writing!

Links included in posts are for informational purposes only and are never composed for the purpose of including advertising.

No record company, publisher, publicist, band, artist, hobbit, or gnome will ever influence the content, topics, or posts made in this Backseat Writer, though they may inspire a few!

Any time you want to review parts of my publications policies, you can click on the “About Backseat Writer” tab and read your little heart out.  It is slightly more interesting than watching paint peel.

Product Review:: Capturing Couture Camera Straps

How do you take pictures like this?  Easy.  You practice.  Seriously, there are photography tips galore to be found in book and on the internet (I highly recommend Digital Photography School).

But you know what makes taking great pictures a lot easier (and much more fun)?  A quality camera strap that is comfortable and fashionable, which is exactly what the fine folks at Capturing Couture have to offer in their full line of high quality camera straps for both women and men!

I have long disdained my Canon camera strap which broadcasts my brand and type of camera for all the world to see.  So when Capturing Couture offered to let me review one of their straps, I jumped for joy.  Literally.

Then began the long process of choosing which strap best suited my personality.  Was it the Alicia Strap from the Boho Collection, The Gramps from The Vintage Collection, or another fine piece from the other lovely collections.  In the end, I chose the Harmony 2” SLR Strap…and I salivated when it came in the mail. Functional and fashionable, I immediately attached the strap to my camera.  My creative juices flowed forth and I was off to capture the world.

For anyone who says a decorative camera strap doesn’t make a difference clearly never had one, at least not one from Capturing Couture, which is well-made and has extra padding around the neck area, so it also makes carrying  my camera so much more comfortable, which allows me to shoot better photographs for a longer period of time—with no uncomfortable neck pain or icky rash.

Ranging in price from $29-$35 for most straps, Capturing Couture creates affordable, quality straps for photographers.  Full of personality, these straps also make wonderful presents for the shutter bugs in your life.  I cannot more highly recommend this product.
Amy’s Grade: A+

*Hey, FTC!  While Capturing Couture did furnish me with a lovely strap for review, they didn’t pay me for my opinion.  Just though you’d like to know!*

Upcoming Review:: Lola Dog Harness from CSN Stores

You know what I love about CSN Stores?  The fact they have over 200+ online stores with adorable products for every area of your home—like bathroom vanities (I so need one of those!), sofa pillows, décor, kitchen accessories, and so much more!  Plus, there are toys for the kids and even items for the family pets.

Since both of my dogs have the exact same harness, I decided to give my shih tzu, Maddy, a little treat—a new harness from CSN Stores!  After she tries out the product, I’m going to help her write a review for Backseat Writer.  I’m sure she will make all the dogs in the neighborhood insanely jealous when she sports this little beauty—a Lola Dog Harness by Lola and Foxy.  How adorable is that?

So stay tuned for an incredibly cute review from Maddy the Shih Tzu on this designer harness!

Netbooks 101:: Shopping For a Netbook—What Kind Should I Buy? (Part 2)

Welcome to Part 2 of my series on buying a netbook!  Be sure to read the first part of Netbooks 101 “Let’s Get Technical–What is a Netbook?“  It’s full of technical stuff that may or may not be accurate.

OK, now that we’re done with the boring technical part, let’s talk actual machines.  When buying my netbook, I was stunned to discover that the choices go far beyond Acer.  Many manufacturers such as Dell and HP along with Asus, MSI Wind, Samsung and Toshiba have entered the game.  I’ve ever heard that Mac is about to enter the netbook arena.  Since surfing the web was only of secondary importance to me, I wanted to make sure the netbook I bought had a comfortable keyboard so I could write tantalizing articles on-the-go.

Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2864 10.1-Inch Red Netbook

My first instinct was to go with a Dell netbook (since my roomie and I already own a Dell desktop and laptop).  However, the first of my many trips to Best Buy or Staples or Office Deport (who knows where I went to try what anymore?  I darkened the door way of the shop, and I’m pretty sure I heard a collect grown of “Oh, geez, it’s *her* again!”)  But I did not like the keyboard on the Dell.  I did, however, fall in love with the chiclet keyboard on the Toshiba.

HP Mini 110-1037NR 10.1-Inch Pink Netbook

I was dead-set on the $400 Toshiba, until I discovered a highly trending HP Netbook whose unique, colorful design set my heart a’flutter.  Maybe I didn’t need a chiclet keyboard, after all, I have a calculator with chiclet keys.  I went to Staples to try out their HP and loved it, until I discovered that the On switch is on the bottom front of the computer!

Uh, what?  What sort of idiotic design is that?  I could just see me writing a highly important article (like this one) while sitting on my couch, accidentally tilting my beautiful netbook towards me, and switching the stupid thing off!  Then I would undoubtedly lose me work (because that is what happens when you actually *need* something.  The program only automatically saves something you don’t what anymore).  In frustration, I would want to launch my netbook across the room and if I did, I’d probably hit the Wii or our fish bowl causing heartache over the death of our beloved Wii and/or fish, General Tso.  I spared myself the grief, and relunctantly said farewell to the most beautifully decorated computer in all the world.

Toshiba Mini NB205 10.1-Inch Posh Pink Netbook

I was back to the Toshiba, which I was delighted to discover came in pink.  Then Sarah, the ever-wise Internet shopper, suggested I check out an Asus, which got outstanding reviews from computer experts.  OK, back to Best Buy—nice keyboard, slightly strange touch pad, and that oh-so-slick shiny shell was a fingerprint nightmare.  Still, the reviews were good and the price was better.  I guess you can’t really have it all—nice touchpad, chiclet keyboard, slick shell that doesn’t invite greasy fingerprints, and a high rating.  It was then we discovered the Samsung NC-10.  While it didn’t have a chiclet keyboard, it did meet the other criteria—good reviews being the most important.  The battery life was excellent and it came in pink!  I tried it out on yet another trip to Best Buy and loved the keyboard.  Oh, Samsung, you will be mine!

Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook

Along with the Samsung NC-10, I ordered a 2MB Crucial Memory Card (which I installed myself—thank you very much!), an external CD/DVD-R drive, and cute accessories to make my computer look stylish!

Next week in Netbooks 101, I will share how to best accessorize your netbook with tips on skins, color coordination, and other important things so you can look techy-stylish! (Yes, I will include pictures of my own stylized netbook!)

Review:: My Tasty Cuisinart Flavor Duo Ice Cream Maker!

A few weeks ago I told you CSN Stores agreed to send me a Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker to review.  Unfortunately, that was model was out of stock.  So instead the fine folks at CSN sent me something even better—the Cuisinart ICE-40 Flavor Duo, which makes ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbets.  Instead of having two quarts of the same flavor, I can make two different flavors of ice cream or ice cream and sorbet at the same time!

So far, I’ve tried vanilla ice cream, strawberry ice cream, peanut butter cup ice cream (my fave), mint chocolate chip (which I dyed green with food coloring), Snickers ice cream, and mango-strawberry sorbet.  Everything was DELICIOUS!

And the machine is so easy to use!  I thought getting an ice cream maker meant I would have to buy special mixes or hard-to-find ingredients.  So not the case!  Generally, I don’t keep the fridge stocked with heavy whipping cream, but other than that, everything I needed was already in my kitchen.  I simply followed the recipes included with the Cuisinart ICE-40 and voila–ice cream magic in 20 minutes!  Of course, the ice cream does need to be frozen for a couple hours so it can solidify.  Also, the metal mixing bowls must be pre-frozen for use.  Clean-up is easy and the ice cream is oh-so-tasty.

My favorite thing about having my own ice cream maker is thinking up new flavors and saving money at the grocery store.  I’m tired of paying more for ice cream and getting less for my money.  I highly recommend the Cuisinart ICE-40 Flavor Duo Ice Cream Maker to get you through the rest of this steamy August (and steamy summers to come!) Besides, wouldn’t homemade cinnamon ice cream taste delicious with pumpkin pie?  Ice cream makers are truly for all seasons—I mean, who doesn’t like ice cream?