I am shouting from the rooftops with a clarion call for everyone to see the Sound of Freedom movie produced by Angel Studios (The Chosen, His Only Son). This captivating movie chronicles the incredible true story of Tim Ballard, a special agent for the Department of Homeland Security in the Internet Crime Against Children Taskforce, working to track down pedophiles. Until the one day when Ballard realizes children are being kidnapped and sold as sex slaves for these pedophilic acts. The film emotionally hit me hard, and it was profoundly moving that we need to find a way to help stop sex trafficking. Parents, aunts, uncles, and godparents, you have to bring your older children, friends, small groups, churches, and more to see this movie which premieres in theaters on July 4th. Whether you have children or not, everyone must see this movie. Due to the nature of this film’s content, it contains some adult language and themes and is rated PG-13.
Together, we can propel a movement to save millions of children worldwide. Child sex trafficking needs to be stopped.
You can find showtimes HERE. Angel Studios reports that many theaters and showtimes are selling out quickly, so new theaters are being added daily to accommodate the demand.
Angel Studios’ goal is to have at least two million moviegoers during the July 4th week, symbolic of the two million children trafficked yearly. Please know that if the ticket’s price keeps you from going to the theater, Angel Studios has set up an opportunity where you can claim a free ticket. If you would like to Pay It Forward, you can also purchase tickets for someone else. Click HERE to claim your free ticket or to purchase a ticket for someone else. Help spread the word about the phenomenal campaign with the hashtag #2MillionFor2Million
Angel Studios CEO Neal Harmon and Jim Caviezel, who portrays Ballard in the movie, recently hosted a Q&A session at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. You can watch the replay of that live stream below.
Giveaway Details One Elegant winner will receive two (2) tickets to see the movie.
To enter the giveaway, please share how you will pay it forward to help save the children in the comment section.
Please add a second comment if you Pay It Forward and pay for someone else to receive no-cost tickets. You will get a second entry into the giveaway.
The giveaway runs until July 4th at 11:59 pm. The winner will be announced on July 5th.
Please Note: This giveaway is limited to United States residents only. Our team will contact the winner on July 5th, and they will have 24 hours to confirm their email address. We will then submit your email address will be given to our marketing company, who will contact you about receiving your tickets.
Disclaimer:
Many thanks to Angel Studios, who allowed our team to view the film, write this review and offer this giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own.
A lot of people have a mixed relationship when it comes to cooking. For some people, it appears to be something very relaxing and even a calming experience. But for others, it can seem very chaotic such as food burning, smoke billowing, splatters of oil, and the list can go on and on. A lot of TV shows and movies tend to portray cooking as something fully chaotic and stressful, but then when you watch a cooking tutorial such as those on YouTube, it seems fairly relaxing, right? Are you wanting to know how you can make cooking that easy on yourself?
Well, the good news is that it can be pretty easy; the main goal for achieving all of this is actually just being prepared. So, whether you’re cooking from scratch or using cooking hacks, here are some different ways to make your cooking routine go a lot easier.
Start Off By Creating a Meal Plan
Some people hate to be constrained by a meal plan, but it can be a real lifesaver. It reduces the stress of having to decide what to cook each evening and will help you to know what you should be taking out of the freezer or putting in the slow cooker each morning. Once you have a meal plan, make an accurate grocery list and stick to it. This will save you money, time and will reduce food waste. So, why do a meal plan? Well, it’s all about knowing and planning what you’re going to make each day, as the end goal for it all is to just make it easier on yourself when it comes to cooking. Plus, meal planning is a great way to cut down on food waste and save time. It also helps you plan healthy meals that are consistent with your nutritional goals.
Always Plan Out Meals Ahead of Time
This goes hand in hand with meal planning. Imagine coming home from a long day and not having to stand in front of the refrigerator at 3 pm wondering what to make for dinner. Instead, you can get everything ready the night before. You don’t need to rummage through the pantry or fridge because you’re going to know exactly what you’re going to eat for the day. Even when it comes to snacks, it’s basically the same thing for that too.
Make a Mie en Place
That’s French for “gather,” and this is something a lot of French chefs and even cooking influencers do. Mise en place is a restaurant concept that helps chefs work quickly and efficiently. It involves preparing and organizing ingredients before starting to cook. This includes washing and cutting vegetables, assembling any dry or wet ingredients, and getting pans and cooking tools ready. It also involves identifying missing ingredients or equipment that might require special preparation.
This way, any missing items can be addressed before they become a problem and a recipe is delayed. It can also help prevent the frustration that can happen when you realize that your knife is missing a blade or that you need another frying pan while something else is already on the stove. Try implementing mise en place at home by pre-chopping your veggies, measuring out ingredients, and setting out a set of appropriately sized bowls. It’s a great way to streamline the kitchen and get dinner on the table faster. If you watch a lot of cooking shows, including those on YouTube, you’re often going to see these there too.
Embrace Leftovers For a lot of cooks, they’ll just make a large batch of food and then convert at least half of the leftovers into something else, such as creating chili and then using the other half for something like chili dogs, for instance. Using leftovers is one of the best ways to make cooking dinner instantly easier for yourself. This is because you’ll have a starting point for a whole new meal and avoid throwing food away.
You can do this by repurposing your leftovers into a brand-new dish, such as fried rice, soup, tacos, or casseroles. You can also use leftover meat or vegetables to add a different flavor to a salad. To avoid losing track of leftovers, try to store them in clear storage containers so that you can see what is inside of them. This will help you avoid wasting food and can save time on grocery shopping as well. You can also use a slow cooker to create meals that don’t need much attention.
It’s All in the Appliances Sometimes it’s more about how you cook that can make things easier. Whether you’re wondering about how to make air fryer salmon or how to slow-cook meat in a Crockpot, overall appliances are meant to make cooking easier on you, so it’s something that should be embraced. Just one thing to note is that you should avoid the microwave as it doesn’t bring out flavors in the food all too well.
Today is my mother’s heavenly birthday. She is forever in my heart, and I thank the Lord for having her in my life. I know that my mother and my grandmother inspired my fashion and stylish creativity. My mother did not take many pictures. I do not have any photos taken with her; so I cherish the images I have attained. I am not sure why she didn’t like taking pictures, but we all have those quirks about us. I still have the French provincial couch that she is sitting on, the end table in the view, the lamp, and a few other treasures.
My mother in the 1960s in our home on 13th Street
My mother instilled My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, faith, strength, wisdom, compassion, and integrity in me. These values are goals that make me a lifelong learner striving to grow each and everyday.
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers and Father Figures!
Happy Heavenly Father’s Day to my Daddy!
I love you, Daddy, and you inspire my life, and you are in my heart each day.
Fun Fact: In this picture the photographer asked my Daddy to put a penny in my shoe for luck at my wedding. Have you heard of that story? It was new to both of us.
JT and Daddy
Memories: My Daddy, my hubby and I, and my mother in love at our wedding at St. James the Greater Catholic Church.
I went to church with my hubby this Father’s Day and thanked my Lord for my Daddy. Hall of Fame St. Louis Rams football player Isaac Bruce was the guest speaker at church. You can watch the entire service with Bruce’s message here.
I honor my Daddy because he loved me and took care of me. This man of God would give me tea every night, and after he went to be with the Lord, my hubby took on the tradition. I am humbled and blessed.
Finding the perfect birthday gift for a child can be a daunting experience. There’s the chance they may not like it. Or the parents may not be happy with what you buy.
See What’s Currently Trending You can always play it safe and see what’s trending right now. Toy fads come and go. But some toys stay popular. And others are even becoming collective because they are so in demand. For example, LOL Surprise toys are highly prized by kids between 4 and 11 years old. You can check what’s trending with a simple Google search. Or you can check individual retailers who usually have a “What’s Hot” section on their online sales websites.
Ask the Child’s Parents Of course, the easiest way to find a gift for a kid is to ask the parents. However, there are some risks with this. The parents may not want to put you on the spot because they don’t know how much you are willing to spend. Conversely, they may ask for something expensive that you aren’t willing to spend. Either way, however, you will get major kudos from the parents, and the kid will love you. But this can also help you get something the parents will approve of.
A Book is the Perfect Birthday Gift for a Child Kids love toys. Of course, they do. But most kids also love reading, especially if it’s a child’s book focused on something they are interested in. For instance, if your nephew can’t get enough of Jurassic Park, then a big book of dinosaurs would make you the best aunt or uncle in the world. Then, of course, some children are above average reading age. Classics such as Roald Dahl’s books, Narnia books, and others are a safe bet.
Consider Sharing Toys There are many types of toys. And not all are made for the individual and are best enjoyed by others. Board games are a perfect example. Today, video game versions such as for Nintendo Switch might be more appropriate. Then there are things like puzzles, sports games, and activity books. These are great gifts for kids with siblings, friends, and cousins who visit often. It also means they will learn to share and develop better social skills while having fun.
Make Sure a Gift is Age Appropriate Toys are labeled with ages for a reason. Some toys are not appropriate for certain age ranges and may be dangerous. For example, an action figure for 8-year-olds isn’t the best thing for a toddler because of choking hazards. You also don’t want to get a toy too young for a child, either. And then, of course, there are age-rated products. You know, the ones. Many kids have gotten a copy of Grand Theft Auto V, even though it’s for 18+.
Summary It can be tricky to find the perfect birthday gift for a child. But you can always try trending toys, a book of something they like, and try to make sure the gift is an appropriate age level too.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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