My Current Giveaways


Keep watching--more coming soon!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas 2015


God Bless You and Yours on Christmas and throughout the New Year. 

Friday, December 19, 2014

Must be Dressed to Be Our Guest #BATBsurprise




Immediately following our #BATBsurprise reveal, Rebekah started plotting to go see Belle. It goes without saying that her wardrobe for this evening will be the yellow ball gown. In discussing this vs. her Belle's Christmas dress, she came to the conclusion that the yellow gown was the only real choice. 

"Oh, no!" Rebekah suddenly exclaimed. "Mom, you have to go online and find a pair of long yellow gloves to go with my Belle dress." At this, I'll tell you the dad and the teenaged brother both rolled their eyes. But, the princess in my home knows the right buttons to push and while I told her the classic cop out 'we'll see,' I started hunting online. 

And check out what I found. 

I surprised Rebekah with them at dinner, so all evening she wandered around dancing in her dress up dresses with gloves. 

And here is a preview of our big night (tonight) where we will be guests of Belle. 



TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
Beauty and the Beast Broadway Production will be at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16 St.
Performances: Friday, December 19 - 8:00 p.m.
          Saturday, December 20 - 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
          Sunday, December 21 - 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Omaha

Monday, December 15, 2014

Target and Cartwheel give you Purex Savings


Purex and Target had teamed up during back to school season with an offer for a discount. Well, good news for fans of savings everywhere. They are back, with a new savings offer, just in time for the holidays. 

About the Savings Deal
It's the season of giving, and your Purex knows that my family and friends will love this fantastic coupon offerNow through the December 27th, get 25% off any Purex detergent at Target stores with a #Cartwheel coupon!

Use this link to download a coupon and be one step closer to awesome savings

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Big Reveal #BATBsurprise - Broadway Omaha

Disclosure: I was provided tickets to the show in exchange for posting my reveal. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 



Before I tell you what the #BATBsurprise is all about, I have to back up and give you a little history lesson to lead up to this event.

When my parents had their 50th Anniversary, we went as a big extended family to DisneyWorld. My parents, my whole family and my sister's family. We spent an amazing fun-filled week at all the parks. While we were there, each child got to do something really special. It wasn't really planned out like this, but sometimes life sends good things your way and where better to have special events than at the Happiest Place on Earth?!?


Andrew got to go with his uncle to DisneyQuest where they ate way too much junk food and spent the night making more and more complex roller-coasters where you then ride a simulator to experience your coaster. I think the goal became to see who could get who sick first...but any way you slice it, they had a blast. Then Nathan got accepted into Jedi Training school and fought Darth Vader on stage--totally awesome to watch. And little Miss Rebekah hadn't had anything yet. Costume note - her suitcase was filled with more princess dresses than clothes - she had a princess dress for every day of our visit. At Disney Studios, she was wearing her Belle yellow ball gown because we were going to go see Beauty and the Beast live on stage. A delightful operator at one of the rides made a call and found out that Belle had invited Rebekah to be her guest at the show. We had reserved seating in the front for the family. Belle even waved at Rebekah. Wow - what an honor. The highlight of Disney for Rebekah.


Fast forward to the present day. I got a message from Omaha Performing Arts letting me know that there was a chance our family would be invited to blog about and see Beauty and the Beast (the Broadway touring production). I sort of giggled to myself that Belle remembered us. Then it looked like it wouldn't happen and I let it go. Then, I got the magical email. It's true, Belle wants US to see her again. This time, we get to see the whole show, not just the shortened version from the parks. I was asked to video tape Rebekah's reaction when we told her.





Here's the video of the big reveal:





TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
Beauty and the Beast Broadway Production will be at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16 St.
Performances: Friday, December 19 - 8:00 p.m.
          Saturday, December 20 - 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
          Sunday, December 21 - 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Omaha








Thursday, December 04, 2014

Lumo Project #JohnOnNetflix Review

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to preview this movie in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.



I had the opportunity to preview an incredible movie of the Gospel of John. I would call this a ground-breaking movie. I've seen other Biblical films, but none have grabbed me quite as much as this one. It was what I consider to be the best portrayal of the Bible and the time period. 

With my theatrical background, I have to say that the sets and scenes were so realistic I couldn't figure how they cut modern roads out of Jerusalem. And the use of light to highlight Jesus in different points was really inspiring. But my favorite part was the children. It's the way I truly picture Jesus with the children--almost a Pied Piper. He interacts with the adults, but keeps patting the children and then turns to embrace and laugh with them. 

Be sure to check out the Lumo Project and take time to watch The Gospel of John.  

About the film:
FOUR GOSPELS. FOUR FILMS. ONE JESUS STORY. FOR EVERYONE.
A ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels.
The Lumo Project is a ground breaking, multi-language biblical film resource transforming the way we discover, study and engage with the life of Jesus through the four New Testament Gospels: redefining the standard of visual Biblical media. The Lumo Project presents four films – one for each Gospel account – that will revolutionise the way we all experience the story of Jesus and the world of First Century Palestine in which he lived.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
The Gospel of John takes the story of Jesus from John’s gospel with its own unique characteristics. For John, Jesus is the Word of God made human. John is clear that that when encounter Jesus, we encounter God.  The gospel writer points to the miracles (the ‘Signs’) and teachings as evidence of Jesus’ special relationship as the divine Son of God.This full-length feature film about the life of Jesus takes the actual Gospel text as its script, word for word, unedited. Five years in the making, this epic production has been critically acclaimed by leading religious scholars as a unique and highly authentic telling of the Jesus story. Narrated by leading British actor David Harewood (‘Homeland’, ‘Blood Diamond’, ‘Merchant of Venice’) it is based on the latest theological, historical and archaeological research. With specially constructed sets and the extraordinarily authentic villages and countryside of rural Morocco, it immerses the viewer in the world of first century Palestine. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Please be sure to check out the social media links and give a follow:
Official Website: http://www.lumoproject.com

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Small Talk by Amy Julia Becker - Book #Giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.




What a sweet book. That's the best word I can come up with...well, maybe I should say it's a precious and sweet book. It's refreshing to read a book that is not a how to manual or that is designed to point out my shortcomings. Amy Julia Becker shares questions and answers that come up in 'small talk' conversations. And she has a child with Down Syndrome and I have a child with autism. While our struggles are different, they are also very much the same. I felt very connected to her and some of her struggles.  It's a beautiful read of the ups and downs of parenting and the little questions kids ask that have so much deeper meaning. I found the book to be refreshing and poignant...and very precious and sweet. 
From the Publisher: Every day, one of Amy Julie Becker’s children says something that prompts her to think about life in a new way. “Mom, does Santa love me?” William asks, after his mother explains the meaning of Christmas…In a chat with her dad about the children who died in the Sandy Hook shootings, Penny asks, “Did they go to heaven?” …”You was a jerk, Mommy?” asks Marilee one morning in the car.These conversations deepen Amy Julia’s relationships with her children, but they also refine her understanding of what she believes and what God is doing in her own life.In Small Talk, Amy Julia draws from the wisdom and curiosity of those young voices to reflect on beauty and kindness, tragedy and disability, prayer and miracles. As she moves through the basic questions her kids posed when they were very young to the more intellectual questions of later childhood, she invites us to learn from our own day-to-day conversations with the children in our lives.This eloquent parenting memoir is about the big questions little hearts ask, the thoughts their words provoke, and the laughter and soul-searching their honesty brings—to adult and child alike.
Be sure to check out the official Small Talk Website for more information.

About the author:

Amy Julia Becker writes about faith, family, and disability for Parents.com, the New York Times Motherlode blog, TheAtlantic.com, The Huffington Post parents page, Christianity Today, The Christian century, and numerous other publications. Her first book, A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, was named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of 2011 by Publishers Weekly. Amy Julia lives in western Connecticut with her husband and three children.



Be sure to check out the book trailer:




Would you like to win a copy of the book Small Talk? 

Please enter below using the Giveaway Tools form. Good luck!



Contest rules:
Limit one winner per person or household
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway
**If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win again.
Winner must live in the US or Canada
Entries will be verified
Giveaway ends on 12/9 at 11:59 pm

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

SportsChocolate.com 1 lb Chocolate Stadium #Giveaway

SportsChocolate   



Do you love chocolate? I know I do. I would eat some with every meal if I could get away with it. And I love decorative chocolates. I've had some different varieties and shapes--but never a sporting themed chocolate. I'm excited to be a part of this giveaway and hope you find some fun chocolates to try, too. Keep reading to find out how you can enter to win one for yourself...or to share with a friend.


SportsChocolates.com™, a division of Better World Brands has created the #1 Fan Chocolate Collection™ and Gaming Chocolates Collection™. Both include our custom chocolate stadiums and arenas and replica chocolate gaming pieces. Made from 100% Premium milk chocolate, many include complimentary chocolate accessories like foil wrapped sports balls and casino chips. Packaging choices include beautiful imprinted tins, glass jars and wood canisters, finished with hand tied ribbon and bows. All products are manufactured in the USA [except the wood canisters] under the strict guidance of our Chocolatier – Monsieur Petit. Each is shipped from our New Jersey production facility directly to the recipient with your personal message card.


On To The Sweepstakes~
  • One reader will win a SportsChocolate.com 1 lb Chocolate Stadium $45.00
  • This is open to the U.S. Only
  • This will end 12/16
  • All entries will be verified
  • Winner will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond or another will be chosen. pankuch1605@hotmail.com is the email it will come from.
  • Must be 18+ yrs of age to enter
  • Void where prohibited by law.
  • Full terms and conditions are on the entry tool below


Enter Below and Good Luck to You~

Disclosure- Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts was not compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this giveaway or to have me promote your product, Please email Tammie at info@tpankuch.com.
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