In 2001, we were in our second year of homeschooling and living in a new town. Papa Bear had gotten his first job as a police officer in his small Kentucky hometown and to say that money was tight is an understatement. I wanted to find a way to add some income while staying at home with our two boys. After a lot of researching online, I found Usborne Books At Home {now Usborne Books & More}. I had never heard of it before and, of course, there weren't any local consultants. {There were barely any people!} With Papa Bear's blessing, I signed up through a wonderful consultant from Texas. When I received my kit filled with those shiny, colorful books, I fell in love!

I continued as an educational consultant for about five years, supplementing our income and adding many educational books to our home library. Then I became pregnant with boy #4 and, as it goes with big life changes, my passion for it waned. We continued to use our history and science books regularly for homeschool and my younger sons still gravitate to our well-loved Usborne books almost daily.

Miles loves the touchy-feely books and finding the duck in the Farmyard Tales books. Levi's current favorites are Lift-the-Flap Sharks and See Inside the World of Dinosaurs. Being an 8 year-old boy, Isaac really likes the old Agent Arthur puzzle books and Gladiators from the Young Reading series. They have all loved the Flip-Flap Body Book, especially What Happens to Your Food? and How Are Babies Made? The latter has been very popular each time I was pregnant.

Although I started my new child ID and safety business, To Love and Protect, this year, I still have a place in my heart for Usborne Books. And when I saw that the New Consultant Mini-Kit is only $29 this month, I knew that it was the right time to sign up again. Sooo...

Visit my online Usborne Books & More Store!

And if you're interested in becoming a consultant, either to earn money or support your book habit, just send an email to raising5knights at gmail dot com or sign up online. How many well-respected businesses can you get started with for less than $30* that include display products, supplies, and a free 6-month personalized website? Usborne Books & More offers great incentives during the first 12 weeks and there are no monthly minimums to meet. If you like books and kids {and a product that sells itself}, then this may be the perfect opportunity for you too!

*New Consultant Mini-Kit is only $29 until 10 a.m. CST, February 29, 2012.

To Love and Protect ~ Giveaway winner!

Well, it seems that I'm just not cut out to be one of those bloggers that has hundreds of people wanting whatever I'm giving away...but I did manage to get a few people interested. And the winner is... 

The 7th comment belongs to Anonymous (aclillpop). 

Congratulations! 

aclillpop has won a Parking Pal of her choice, a Car Seat ID Kit, a Child ID Kit, and a set of Safe Shoes Child ID labels.

Thanks to all of you who entered!

To Love and Protect ~ Grand Opening & Giveaway

Contest has ended! Thanks!

Do over! I moved the contest over from my other blog due to lack of traffic and entries.

Helping you keep your promise

The time has finally come for the grand opening of my new business, To Love and Protect! We all want to do everything we can to protect our children. I have gathered some of the best child safety and identification products available and put them in one place for you. You can read more about it HERE. Now, on to the contest...

Win: 

• YOUR CHOICE of any one item (up to $12.99 value) from To Love and Protect. That's right! You pick your prize! Will it be the tag*a*long, Parking Pal, Child Safety ID Wristband, Medical Alert Wristband, or one of The Safe Side DVDs?

     AND

• One Car Seat ID Kit
• One Child ID Kit
• One set of Safe Shoes Child ID labels

Enter:

*Leave a comment for each entry, including your email address so I can contact you if you win. You must claim your prize within 48 hours or I'll pick another winner.

• Mandatory: Follow Raising Knights via Google Friend Connect and visit To Love and Protect to pick out which product you would like to win. Let me know what you choose in your comment. (1 entry)

Extra entries:

• "Like" Raising Knights on Facebook. (1 entry)
• "Like" To Love and Protect on Facebook. (1 entry)
• Post about this giveaway on your blog. Include the link in your comment. (3 entries)

There you have it...SIX ways to enter my giveaway! If you don't want to wait until the contest is over to get these fantastic products or you have more than one child and need more than you'll win, go to To Love and Protect to order.

Contest will end Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be chosen by using Random.org.

My New Business - A Sneak Peek

For a few months, I've been busy researching, planning, and working on a new business venture. As I get closer to being ready for the grand opening, I'd like to give you a sneak peek at what I've been doing and get some feedback. 

Would you please go to To Love and Protect, take a look around, and let me know what you think so far? Do you see anything that needs to be fixed (broken links, grammar, spelling, etc.)? What do you think of the homepage collage? Is it too busy? Keep in mind that it is still under construction. I have been ordering and adding inventory this week and there is plenty of content to be added. But after you have looked at something for so long, it's difficult to see it objectively. Your comments are greatly appreciated. 

Make sure you are following or a subscriber because once my store opens, you may see a giveaway or two here at Raising Knights. Oh, and at the blog for To Love and Protect. Thank you for your support!