Disclosure: I received a book to review. Opinions shared here are 100% mine.

High-interest picture books are great for beginning readers. My little guy is 5 years old and starting to be a pretty good reader. He loves books that have fun pictures and repetitive words. When we received Tipper Tells a Lie and Diggit Saves the Day, the only thing he noticed was the vehicles on the front! One lucky reader will receive both of these Building God’s Kingdom books from Thomas Nelson. [Read more…]

Disclosure:  I received samples; opinions shared are mine.  This post contains referral links.

I am all about the “buy something for myself” while I’m Christmas shopping.  I used to feel guilt about that syndrome.  It seemed so frivolous to buy myself something when the shopping trip was supposed to be for gift-buying.  The thing is that I tend to buy people things I want for myself as gifts.  So when I’m wrapping it, the whole time I’m wishing that someone would gift it to me!  Then I decided that someone CAN gift it to me….. ME!!!

This scarf with sleeves is adorable – I want it in every color!!  It is $23 shipped, just right for a girlfriend gift. I ordered beige but they also have red and black.

Another gift I ended up buying myself this year was a Birchbox subscription.   [Read more…]

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

I’m an equal opportunity reader. For the most part, I’m willing to give nearly any book a try. Like most avid readers, there are the favorites that are barely holding together their pages. The majority of my well-worn books are stories in which the characters became friends before they fell in love. Since that’s how my husband and I grew into a relationship, it’s a romantic plot that captures my heart. I suppose that’s why I liked It’s in His Kiss so well.

[Read more…]

Disclosure:  **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Big news: Time is running short!  Don’t look like you waited until the last minute – even if you did.

[Read more…]

Disclosure:  I received samples to review. Opinions shared here are 100% mine.

The first time I ever acknowledged a truly tacky Christmas sweater was when I first saw Bridget Jones’ Diary.   Colin Firth could wear a burlap sack and would be just as swoon-worthy (perhaps more so) but this reindeer sweater just takes the fruitcake.   It ranks right up there with Ralphie’s bunny pajamas in The Christmas Story.  Clearly, our culture has serious issues with obligatory wearing of gifted clothing.    What to do if you don’t have an Aunt Clara to gift you a tacky sweater? The easy solution is to buy one from Tipsy Elves!   You still have time to catch the midnight sleigh.  Orders placed today should be received by 12/20.  I can attest to the speedy shipping of the Tipsy Elves.  My order arrived before I could sing Jingle Bells.

[Read more…]

Disclosure: I am being compensated by Macaroni Grill for this post. The content and opinions are 100% mine.

Going out for lunch is a rare treat during the school year. I spend my daylight hours with over 100 sixth graders. While it’s a rewarding career and I love going to work each day, having some time with grown-ups would be a welcome change now and then. Teachers are notorious for multi-tasking. Getting lessons ready, grades recorded, and emails answered during one planning time takes some serious time-management skills. There are times when lunch just can’t be squeezed in. During a busy work day when it’s hard to find time to drink my hot tea, the thought of going out to lunch seems too daunting a task. Would it be possible to return to my classroom in time for the next round of students?  Then we have the whole issue of spending a small fortune on a lunch.  I’m so thrilled when there’s a restaurant that not only understands my need for speed, but also saves me some money at the same time!  Romano’s Kitchen Counter provides a speedy lunch (under 7 minutes!) plus a major deal.  Readers, you can get 2 lunches for just $10 when you use this printable coupon through January 31, 2015!      Click here to print your Romano’s Kitchen Counter coupon!

[Read more…]

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. 

It’s the Hinting Season and my husband has been laying it on thick.  He’s so sweet, though, because his hinting is really for me!!   We’ve gone through some painfully long photo sessions where I had to take and retake photos due to blurry images or poor lighting.  My husband insists that we purchase the Canon EOS Rebel T5i.  He’s been checking it out for weeks.  I’m pretty excited because we can now save $150 by getting this at Best Buy! This offer is valid from 12/7/14 through 12/20/14.

[Read more…]

Disclosure: I am participating in this feature as part of a promotional program with Cepia LLC and MomSelect. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Having a pet is a great part of childhood, but it is not something that everyone can enjoy.  Having a pet could become an allergy issue, an extra stress, or simply a financial burden for some families.  There’s a way to give your child some pet joy on Christmas morning without having to potty train — welcome to The Happy’s from Cepia!  [Read more…]