Milestone for Me - Giveaway for You x 2

**Can't choose a winner until I hit 100 followers so this contest will remain open.**

******SPECIAL NOTE: For those of you entering the contests, make sure you enter on both blogs. They are SEPARATE contests so you are eligible to win 2 prizes per blog and one on my company website.**********

It's true. I am on the verge of a very important milestone here at "Relax and Enjoy all your Serene Moments". I am dangerously close to hitting the 100 follower mark. I am very excited to think that so many people have taken an interest in me and what I have to share about "Serene Moments" in life. To make this even sweeter, my "Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!" blog is about to roll over 100 as well. How neat is that?

I want to "Thank You" by doing a giveaway. Not just any giveaway. I am sharing with you My Products. What better way to RELAX than to burn a candle?



For those of you who are not familiar with me and my company:

Hello, and Welcome to SERENE MOMENTS!

Serene Moments is a line of all natural Candles, Bath and Body, and, recently added, Mineral Makeup.

The Candles are made with vegetable and soy waxes which makes them safe for the environment and nearly 100% Soot-Free. The candle will burn to the bottom, leaving only the metal ring from the wick. Each jar candle will burn up to 120 hours and each votive has a burn time up to 18 hours (each depends on your home conditions). An amazing feature of these candles is that, if spilled, they can be cleaned up with Soap and Water!

I also offer candle PIES and CINNAMON BUNS.



I offer an array of scents, approximately 100 and counting, and a new scent is added each month.

The Bath and Body products are all natural as well. We offer a Hand and Foot Lotion, Foaming Hand Wash and, the best bath product of all, the Cleansing Bar. The Cleansing Bar is so pure and natural that it is perfect for your Body and your HAIR. It is perfect for all skin types, has natural moisturizers and key ingredients to repair collagen and restore elasticity to your skin. It is perfect for those who endure dry, scaley skin and will help those suffering from eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and other skin conditions.



The Mineral Makeup is, of course, made up of all natural ingredients. It is a top of the line makeup, such as those that you see on television, however; it is much cheaper.

Each of my products can be viewed at my website: SERENE MOMENTS and can be purchased online or directly through me, which will eliminate your shipping and handling fees.

Make sure you visit this post with the Discontinued Scents. This are limited quantities, but huge discounts.

Again, I am so proud of my new friends I have found here. I wish I could give all of you something for being there for me and hanging out, but the shipping costs would kill me!

The Plan:

I am looking for the 100th follower. Once I reach that, I am going to pick someone to win a Box of Votive Candles. I will give everyone time to sign up but a winner will not be chosen until I hit 100. I need 12 followers to reach that goal so I will give it until August 2nd at 11:59 CST.




Main Entry:

To be eligible, just tell me your favorite candle scent.

2nd Entry:

Go to SERENE MOMENTS and enter the weekly candle drawing. You will be entered there, PLUS I will draw another winner from those entries. Just click on the jar candle that says "Free Drawing".
**Don't panic when you see the boxes at the bottom of the entry form, if they do not fit your needs, just ignore them.**

Don't forget, this contest is also going on at my "Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!" blog, so you can win another prize there, however you can only enter the weekly candle drawing once. I will only accept one entry for it in regards to this giveaway. (I do encourage you to enter the website drawing weekly to win. We draw each Monday.)

Through the Eyes of a Friend

I dedicate this post to you, My Follower. I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful people following me.

Right this moment, I am going to create something for you.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A FRIEND

You see me as I am, my friend,
The truest side of me.
Never stopping for one single time,
To question who you see.

You stand by me through battles,
From outside and from in.
You see me through them every one,
Until each one I win.

I never had considered,
Such a route that I would take.
What friends would come before me,
The bonds that I would make.

This new age way of meeting,
An adventure to behold,
Its become the way of the future,
At least, that's what I'm told.

So for each of you who gather here,
For the friends who see me through.
I thank you all for seeing me,
The same as I see you.

And, if some day our paths shall cross,
As paths they sometimes do.
See me through the eyes of a friend,
The same as I see you.

Lagean M. Ellis


Thank you and, please, Come Again!

Cody's Mud Pies

I can remember like it was yesterday......Cody loved to play in the mud. It was his favorite "toy".

Right after Cody's Dad and I divorced, my mother would babysit for me while I worked. Of course, he had my mother rapped around his little bitty fingers. Well, he still does. So, Cody would make my mother "build" him a mud puddle in her back yard. He would then still her pots and pans and commence to making mud pies. Now, you know, no mud pie is complete until its been taste tested. Cody never hesitated to try out his creations, but that wasn't quite enough. No....Grandma has to try them to. Best part, he could tell if you were pretending to eat it. So, Grandma ate mud pies.




Graphics aren't good but I think you get the point. When Cody was little, he had white hair with "Shirley Temple" ringlets all over his pretty little head. It has turned a light brown as he has gotten older.

He is my baby, even at 19 and he always will be.

Soon, I'm going to put together a little "journey" of photos of him for you to see and me to brag about. He was always, well, still is, the worst about getting his picture taken. He hates it. He would throw away all the order forms for his school pictures so I have NONE since elementary. I do have photos that his Dad would force him to take and a few snapshots, so I'll come up with something.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cleaning House - GOD's Way

Received this e-mail and thought I would share it with you. It says a lot.

Last week I threw out WORRYING, it was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.

I threw out a book on MY PAST
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with NEW GOALS, started reading it today.

I threw out HATE and BAD MEMORIES,
(Remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
WOW, you should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND, I hadn't talked to in a while.
His name is GOD the Father, and I really like His style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH and LOVE,
Yes... I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT- it's called PEACE. Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble, there just isn't any space.

It's good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.

BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!

May the Lord open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it all.
May the Lord bless you exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ever
hope for.

Take 60 seconds & Bless someone else!

Keep the Faith!!!

Pea Ridge National Military Park - Arkansas

Back before Ollie had to leave for his job in Nebraska, we had taken a trip to his daughter, Allison's, house in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Upon leaving, we decided to take the "scenic route" home.

We made a stop in a small town called Pea Ridge, Arkansas, which is the site of the Pea Ridge National Military Park. Here are a couple of pictures:

The Cannons:



View from atop Pea Ridge:



Now, for some of the official Pea Ridge National Military Park information. There is a lot more information available about this battle. It is considered to be the battle that saved Missouri for the Union.



Close to 23,000 soldiers fought at Pea Ridge on March 7 and 8, 1862. Many of the soldiers were from small towns and had never traveled more than twenty miles away from home before they joined the Army. They were farmers, merchants, teachers, mechanics, lawyers and countless other occupations before they enlisted.

At this early stage of the war, every man was a volunteer. Many joined for patriotic reasons, to preserve the embattled Union or to fight the "Second American Revolution", while others sought to escape the boredom of life in a small town. Some went with their heads filled with dreams of glory, while others simply did not want to be thought of as cowards. No one thought that this was to be a long or bloody war. They were wrong.

Throughout the years that have passed, the park has come into possession of diaries, letters and notes from the soldiers who fought here.

Pea Ridge was the only major Civil War battle in which Indian troops participated. Almost 1,000 Cherokee made up two Confederate regiments. Cherokee Stand Watie as their Colonel. The Indian Brigade joined McCulloch’s division.



Pea Ridge was a decisive victory for the Federal Army, even though the Federal forces at Pea Ridge were outnumbered and outgunned by the Confederates, and had been surprised by Van Dorn's bold moves. The Battle of Pea Ridge was one of the few times during the Civil War that a Federal Army would be at such a disadvantage.

The victory came down to one important factor - leadership. The outcome of the battle rested squarely upon the shoulders of Samuel Ryan Curtis. Curtis led his army capably and skillfully. His division and brigade commanders fought aggressively, took the initiative when it was required, and served their chief well. Thoughout the campaign, Curtis allowed his commanders enough flexibility to adapt to changing situations while still retaining control.

Each time that the Confederates appeared to gain the upper hand, a different leader stepped forward and made a bold counter move - Osterhaus & Davis at Leetown, Carr at the Elkhorn Tavern, Sigel on Welfley's knoll, Dodge on the Bentonville Detour and on the morning of the 7th.

Pea Ridge would be the proving ground for some of the Federal Army's most successful leaders. Curtis and Asboth would command military districts during the war. Sigel would command an Army. Osterhaus, Davis and Dodge would each command a Corps. Carr would command a cavalry Division. And then there was Sheridan. He would rise to be General-in-Chief of the United States Army, only the 4th man (after Washington, Grant & Sherman) in United States history to wear the four stars of a full General.

Lone Wolf Media - Cowgirl Art Giveaway

***This Giveaway is CLOSED.***

Giveaway has been extended until July 19th, 11:59 CST. Thanks!



Once again, I have come across a fabulous business that I want to share with you. Lone Wolf Media Cowgirl Art which is run by Winston Starling of Weatherford, Texas.



Winston carries a wonderful array of cowgirl art products which he designed. His product line includes coffee mugs, apparel, mousepads and commissioned work.

Message from Winston:

"Ever since I was very young, I have always been drawing something. Seeing pictures in books, or watching a movie would cause me to grab a pencil and paper and start scribbling out my own version of what I had seen. Encouraged by my parents,
especially my Mom, I continued to explore the world of art. Although I have never had any formal art training, I have devoured quite a few art, drawing, and anatomy books. Now, at age twenty-six, and after much experimentation and practice, I have finally settled into what I think is a unique illustrative style. My major inspirations have been the works of Norman Rockwell, popular art of the twentieth century, and vintage advertising art of the early to mid-twentieth century. So, from my home studio in my native state of Texas, I want to thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy my work!"



How to contact Winston:

You can find Winston on MySpace or on twitter: @lonewolfmedia. You can also find his work at Zazzle.com/lonewolfmedia

Winston has graciously offered two of his custom designed coffee mugs for my followers to win. There is a catch. One is here and the other is located at my Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! blog. So, once you get done here, head on over and try your luck at the other one as well.

This blogs mug design:



How to Win:

This contest is open to all residents of the U.S. and Canada. Entries must include a link back to you or an e-mail address where you can be contacted if you win. Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.

This contest will run until July 12th at midnight CST.

Main Entry: Head over to Winston's MySpace page and tell me which item is your favorite. This entry must be completed to qualify for the giveaway.

Extra Entries:

(1) Follow my blog.

(2) Follow @lonewolfmedia on twitter.

(3) Follow me on twitter: @SereneMoments and tweet about this giveaway. Include @SereneMoments so I can find it.

Thanks and Good Luck to you all!

Children's Books For You

I am a lover of children and enjoy spending time with them. I am also really big on education. When I find a way to combine the two, I get excited. Nothing is more important than our children and it is our responsibility to see to it that they have the best life possible and all the opportunities to make them grow, learn and become "productive" adults.

I met Kristie, with Usborne Books, and she introduced me to their program that can make all this happen.



Usborne Books has a huge selection of educational children's book and activities to help their young minds grow.



Here's the plan:

From now until July 31st, I am going to have an e-show, in which I will give you the opportunity to purchase books for your children from Usborne Books. Since I don't have small children, all books that I receive from the sales at this e-show, will be donated to children with cancer or other diseases through my friends at Spirit Jump.







If you are interested in an extra income, Usborne Books has four (4) opportunities available:

(1) Online book shows: Hosting an online book show is very easy. All you have to do is promote your show via email, twitter, on your facebook page if you have one, and even by word of mouth to your family and friends. The more you let know about it, the more books you can earn.

(2) Become an affiliate: You are provided a logo and link to put on your sites. You will receive 15% on all orders placed on your affiliate link. No cost to you at all. Just need your name and mailing address for where to send check if you have orders. Very simple.

(3) Sign up just for the Usborne Website and supplies: For $25.00 you can have your own Usborne website (and receive catalogs and order forms and flyers). This is a simple low cost way to start. You get your own website so you get full commision and bonuses.

(4) Sign up for the monthly starter kit: This month you can get a supply of books, your website and catalogs, order forms and flyers for just 49.00. It's a great way to start your own Usborne Books business.

UBAM MISSION STATEMENT:
"The future of our world depends on the education of our
children. UBAM delivers educational excellence one book
at a time. We provide economic opportunity while fostering
strong family values. We touch the lives of children for a lifetime."

Baby Half Off Inventory Reduction Sale

I know I don't have to tell you, but when you blog, you meet so many wonderful, inspiring people. That's how I feel about Rachel. She's such a kind soul.

Rachel has the blog "Baby Half Off":

"Baby Half Off started when our first baby arrived. I was drawn towards designer brand clothes, trendy diaper bags, and top-of-the-line items, but I thought I couldn’t afford those high quality products on a daily basis. Instead I went to second-hand shops hoping to find what I wanted. Then a vendor friend sold me a pair of adorable and fun shoes for my infant at wholesale price. I was thrilled! And now I am excited to pass along the savings to you!

Baby Half Off is all about great brands you want at great prices you’ll love. We work hard to build good relationships with vendors, bringing you the best names in the children industry at 50% off or more. That's our promise. It’s a deal, a bargain, a steal.

At Baby Half Off, we are constantly searching for great buys for moms and dads who love precious brands for their little ones. No more paying full price—it’s our mission."

Baby Half Off expanded a short time back by adding a website, www.babyhalfoff.com
There they chose to offer two incredible products at deep discounts until they sold out.

Unfortunately, with a small child in the home, Rachel felt as if she was neglecting parenthood. She has decided to "revamp" the website by offering great deals on sponsor chosen items, every day.

In the meantime, Rachel is doing an inventory reduction SALE with HUGE savings on some great items:

For the KIDS:



For MOM:



There are way too many items to show and they are ALL 50% or more off the original pricing.

So, take advantage of Rachel's decision and stock up on these items today. I assure you that the children's items will be selling quickly. I'm getting mine.