Disclosure: I received product samples; opinions shared are mine.

As I age, my eyes become more sensitive to sunlight. It’s rather ironic, since my eyes actually need more artificial light in order to see a book page or computer screen. Sunlight, however, seems to irritate my eyes. Sunglasses have become an essential part of my accessory wardrobe in recent years! Sometimes sunglasses still don’t shield my eyes enough; the light peeps in and around my frames. That’s why Solar Shields was such a hit with me. These are designed to fit over prescription glasses, if needed, but can also be worn alone.

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Welcome to the SPOOKtacular Giveaway!

Since Halloween is only a few shorts weeks away, we decided that a Hop would you get ready! The Spooktacular giveaway hop will run from October 1 through October 15. You have just enough time to hop on down the list and enter all the SPOOKtacular Giveaways for your GHOULS and GOBLINS! Each blogger is giving away prizes valued $15 or more.  I was given these coupons for free meals at Church’s Chicken, but unfortunately we don’t have one near us.  My loss is your gain, winner!  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received some of these items to review. The post contains affiliate and referral links. Opinions shared are mine.

It can be hard to convince kids that personal hygiene is important.  After all, brushing teeth and washing armpits takes away from outside play time.  This month, I found a few items that made it easier to get my kids to a presentable state.  Would any of these make it easier to keep kids clean at your house?

1. Sponge Animals by Spongelle

I’ve found that instructions need to be spelled out for shower time.  Unfortunately, they seem to think that soap is an option.   Many times I’ve had to squirt body wash on the child’s washcloth while they move around in the tub, trying to avoid the suds. [Read more…]

Craving some salty with the sweetness of Halloween?  Have I got a TREAT for you!  Just like me, the lucky winner of this giveaway will receive a prize pack from our generous sponsor, Krystal.  That amazing box will include:
16 oz. Blossom Sauce bottle
Vidalia® Sweet Onion Petals
Krystal’s Vidalia® Sweet Onion Rings recipes
(4) #1 Krystal Combo meal cards
(4) “FREE Vidalia®-Q Krystal with any purchase” coupon

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Upon first glance, this trunk might look like a disaster.  Backpacks, band instruments, and bags strewn about don’t exactly equal a life-changing experience.  There’s more than meets the eye here, though!  The beauty of this scene is that I came home with a trunk full of groceries that

a)  I didn’t shop for, and

b)  I didn’t have to load into my car.

You read that right.   These days, I have a professional grocery shopper.  The best news is that YOU CAN, TOO, if you live in Northeast Tennessee!!  How much would you pay to get 2 hours of your life back each week?  I did, and only paid $4.99.  Great deal, right?  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received these books to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

A change of seasons is a good time to change the books on the shelf, too. My kids recently started picking up faith-based books on their own, so I decided to keep a good assortment throughout the house.  These are some books that we’ve enjoyed in September.  Hopefully, you’ll find something to read with your kids in this list!

This “I Can Read” book has a deep message. My son, who is in 1st grade, is developing his reading skills. The Good Samaritan was the perfect level for him. The illustrations provided enough support that he could understand the story, and the vocabulary was challenging yet not too difficult. I appreciated the fact that the book has an actual plot. Sometimes I find that short story books like this are lacking in depth, which make them uninteresting to readers who look for meaning in a story. Looking more carefully, I saw that the book is written in the Action Bible style. My kids love the Action Bible, so this made perfect sense! [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book to review. Post and giveaway form contain affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Max Lucado did it again! Glory Days is the next title in his library of uplifting reads.  Find Glory Days and more at Family Christian bookstores – online and in store!

This title is perfect for those who find themselves in a Christian wilderness. Wandering the desert for 40 years might not be a geographical location, but a spiritual wasteland.  Lucado’s affinity for alliteration shines bright in Glory Days.  It spoke to my busy-mom heart in such a way that I wanted to read it a second time.  One of the biggest aha moments I had while reading was the research finding that 11% of Christians believe they are in their own Glory Days.  That means the other 89% might not feel emboldened to share the news of Jesus Christ with others, because they’re so deep in their own lives.  I want to find myself in the 11%, within the group of people who see the Promised Land and make it over the border.  What about you?  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received compensation for my work on this campaign. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

With my birthday candles filling up my cake, it seems that my medicine cabinet is filling up, too.  More than once, I’ve driven to work and realized that I forgot to take my morning medicine.  Keeping a “stash” of my essentials in the glove compartment makes me nervous.  What if the kids get into the medications?  Will the pills be effective if they get too hot?  Then I started a system on my paper calendar, marking it morning and night after taking my doses.  That system lasted about a week, until I got tired of doing it, and started missing doses again.  I love apps that help me save time and money, which is exactly what Medisafe does.  This free app keeps track of even the most complicated medication schedules. With a simple notification,  you can put the calendar and sharpie away! [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Marie Callender’s, the iconic dessert brand. Opinions shared are mine.

When I taught Social Studies, we made salt dough “clay tablets” each year.  Students could write any message on these tablets, using the cuneiform alphabet.  Every year, there was at least one student who wrote the message, “I LOVE Pie!” on the tablet.  It really could be a national motto, couldn’t it?  Marie Callender’s is a national brand that is known for fabulous desserts. They are searching for the new Pie Queen or Pie King. Will it be you? Click here to get more details!  [Read more…]