Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Want to make a teacher smile? Tell her that April Fool’s Day falls on a Saturday this year.
Need another tip? Give your teacher something green for St. Patrick’s Day so that she won’t get pinched. March is just around the corner and there are few days on the school calendar that make a teacher cringe as when it’s St. Patty’s Day. Yeah, some teachers might get into the whole shamrock event but most educators dread the ensuing pinching that is bound to commence on March 17. Never fear! This year you can just buy a St. Patrick’s Day shirt and carry on. [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received product for this review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Playing dress-up always seemed like a game for girls to me.  It’s not really limited to age, since most women I know still like to get all glammed up for a night on the town.  But I never really considered dress up as a game that boys would enjoy.  That is, until my son came along.  He definitely likes to get into character.  From basic costumes like a hard-hat to pretend he’s a construction worker, to a lab coat that a doctor would wear, he loves to assume a different character and role play with his sister.  We keep Halloween costumes in a special dresser drawer so that he can pull them out anytime.  He often dresses like Spiderman to play around the house or as a Leading Character in Nintendo Video Game (Luigi).  It’s a creative way to make the cold winter days a bit more fun.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by JenJenHouse. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Prom is one of my favorite times of the year.  When our local high school has prom, we always see the neighbors’ kids dressed up in their beautiful formals, taking pictures outside their houses.  We love seeing the limos drive down the road as they cart their passengers to a fabulous dinner out followed by a night of dancing.  Finding the perfect dress is a mission that has become a rite-of-passage for seniors.  Online shops like JenJenHouse can open an exciting new world of beautiful gowns from which to choose the perfect prom dress.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links; I received compensation. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Inspired by a cool blog post about organization, I’ve decided it’s time to clean out the junk drawer.  Again.  We actually have FIVE junk drawers in our kitchen alone.  Shameful, isn’t it?  The fact that we’re storing so many unused items in these high-traffic spots means seriously wasted kitchen real estate.  In the meantime, I don’t have enough places to put true necessities like my pan lids, clean towels, and other daily use items.  I’ve been complaining that we have a lack of storage space in my kitchen, but the true problem is that the space we do have is filled with junk.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mabel’s Labels and contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Watching hockey on the Winter Olympics has been a surprising pastime for us this year.  With our 5 days of being snowed in, plus the general apathy for any clothing besides pajamas, our family is just grateful to have something entertaining on TV.  We love the figure skating, snowboarding events, and all that.  But what’s perhaps most surprising for us is how much we enjoy watching the hockey games!   [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Build Direct. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Recently I shared my family’s American Dream vision with you. We’ve been living in our 3rd house for over a decade now, having brought home both our babies to this house and made a million memories. For about a year now, my husband and I have been discussing what we want to do for the next phase of our lives. After all, it’s not that far off. In 9 years I’ll be eligible for retirement from the school system; yet I’ll be only 52 years old. Leaving the classroom will likely feel like leaving life! It’s important for us to have a sense of purpose outside of our roles as parents and educators. Our plan is to purchase a pretty property on which to spend our later years.  The house where we currently live was purchased with the intention to be in the city school district; living here forever wasn’t really a priority.  Once the kids are out of the house, we’d like to have a little mini-farm where I can garden and savor the sunshine on my face. We’d like to live closer to my husband’s job at that point. My husband has been actively seeking out land that will suit our needs, concerned with where we’ll live, while I’m thinking more about what we’ll live in. We’re currently leaning toward the idea of building a home that suits our needs. [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Remember those finale parties we all threw in the early years of Survivor Island?  I could easily see those same parties being thrown in honor of Wildwood Creek.  The show is reality TV at its best; it’s really something I would watch and love!  Wildwood Creek was a frontier camp during the early Civil War period.   Part of the spooky charm of Wildwood Creek is the history behind its characters. The book oscillates between two main characters — Bonnie Rose, an original resident of Wildwood Creek, and her modern day counterpart Allie.  The two women seem to have a connection right from the start.  When Allie becomes an unexpected cast member on the televised reenactment of Wildwood Creek, she is caught off guard in more ways than one.  Her steamy hot neighbor, the mystery flowers, and the secrets that seem to be kept by even the trees just make everything seem almost authentically creepy.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

You might remember my previous review about the Smitten series; it’s clear that I’m smitten with Smitten.  When Smitten Book Club was offered as a book to review, I think I fairly squealed with glee.  Returning to this quaint, romantic little town was like watching a favorite movie again.  The 4 novellas fit together since the main characters are all friends in this small Vermont town.   In this book, Smitten has its own share of heartache when one of their firefighters is killed in action.  The town comes together to help the widow and child that were left behind.  The book club meetings offer a chance for a small group of friends to meet on a weekly basis to come up with ways to help the family and tend to some drama of their own.  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book; the opinions shared here are 100% mine.
Upon first glance, The Sinners’ Garden may seem like a dark and sullen type of book.  It does seem to have that type of aura in the beginning.  Serious situations such as domestic abuse and extreme poverty lurk within the first few pages of The Sinners’ Garden.  The characters in this book were realistic and tangible — I could almost name people who reminded me of each one.   My heart clutched as I read their sad experiences, making me want to fix things for them.  But there is a Redeemer and he does all things in His time.  The great takeaway from Sinners’ Garden is that God can create that miracle out of a flower that has already wilted.  Do your soul a favor and enjoy The Sinners’ Garden.  Just be prepared for a change of heart!!    [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine. The post contains affiliate links.

When I was pregnant for the first time, it used to bother me that my baby seemed most active at night.  It concerned me that she wasn’t moving during the day.  The doctor alleviated my fears by explaining that I just noticed the baby’s movements at night because that’s when my own body was calm and at rest.  That made total sense to me, and I learned to really cherish those moments in the quiet comfort of my bed.  After reading Seeing the Voice of God, I realized that God might speak to me during the day but I’m likely too busy to pay attention to what He is saying.  So again, it makes perfect sense that He would utilize the quiet hours of the night to say what He needs to say to my heart.  Can dreams truly reveal the voice of God?  Author Laura Harris Smith makes a strong argument for that case. [Read more…]