Disclosure: This post contains my Amazon affiliate link. If you purchase through it, that helps my site and makes giveaways possible. Thanks!

My sister gave me a really great book on my birthday this year. As the title would suggest, Death Comes to Pemberley is in the Pride and Prejudice style. The setting is at Darcy’s magnificent estate approximately six years after the double wedding of Darcy to Elizabeth, and Bingley to Jane. Most of the Pride and Prejudice sequels that I have read are quite disappointing. Normally each summer I read Pride and Prejudice again just to cleanse my reading palate. Death Comes to Pemberley is such a refreshing read, though. It is quite in line with the original. With just enough reference of the original but with a completely unique story, I was only disappointed when the story ended. [Read more…]

When my husband and I teach Sunday School, we find that many of our students (3rd and 4th graders) don’t bring their own Bibles to class.  While we don’t mind passing out the Bibles that are kept in the classroom, it makes me wonder why the children don’t bring their own Bibles to class.   I know many of them have their own because the church provided them with one.  My own daughter left hers at home many weeks because she just forgot to get it.  When Tyndale House Publishers offered to send me a Glipit Bible, I was interested to see what would be so special about it.  After all, if my daughter’s pink and green Bible isn’t enticing, I didn’t know what would be.

Okay.  Here’s the Glipit.   Savor your first impression.

[Read more…]

Disclosure:  I will receive a product sample in exchange for this post.  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

When I bought plates for our dining room, I got the ones I liked.  Of course, that’s how we all do it, right?  It’s little wonder that my kids aren’t thrilled about setting the table.   Having plates that are customized, personalized, and just plain fun is affordable with Makit plates.   I’ve just been given the opportunity to review the Make A Plate Art Project and I’m looking excited about sharing it with you. If you want to follow along, my readers save 30% on their Prepaid Art Plate Kit (that’s a savings of over $5!) – USE PROMO CODE: USFAMILY when you place your order .  Make A Plate kits allow children to let their creativity soar in crafting a lasting gift for Mom, Dad, Grandparent or a fun keepsake for the classroom.  I’d love to hear your ideas about making fun plates with your kids! Here’s how I plan to use our Makit plates to make my life a little easier.   [Read more…]

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase through them, it benefits Savings in Seconds.  Thank you!  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

School has been in session for three full days.  My students are yawning throughout the day, giving away the fact that they’ve been sleeping in each summer day until at least noon.  My feet hurt at the end of the day, proving that I’ve been off them for far too many relaxing days.  Today it rained cats and dogs, making me a bit worried.  Out of all the umbrellas I’ve purchased over the years, I can only find one.  It broke in May during a huge thunderstorm when a windgust turned the umbrella inside-out.  I haven’t purchased a new one.   If it rains during the summer we just stay inside.  That’s how boring and laidback we are at the Savings in Seconds house!  Anyway, the point of mentioning the rain is to share that I don’t have any time to even run to the store to buy a new umbrella. [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase through them, it makes more giveaways possible on Savings in Seconds. Thank you!  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Cute, cute, cute.  These backpacks just make me smile!!  When my son was born, I lamented the fact that little boys’ clothes were just not as frou-frou as girls’ stuff.  While I still hold to that belief, there are some boys’ items that are even CUTER.  After all, nothing says “cute boy” to me like that funny monkey backpack up there.  My son is in the 4 year old class at his daycare now and he thinks he is super big stuff.  Toting around a backpack would make him feel even more important.   During the month of August, Layla Grayce is featuring the essentials for back to school. Browse adorable backpacks, lunch boxes and more!    [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post contains my referral links.  The opinions shared here are 100% crazy mine.

My laziness caught up with me this weekend.  Normally I’m all aflutter when it comes to back-to-school shopping.   This summer I didn’t want to do anything except lay on a raft and float around the pool.  When it was time to head back to inservice, I decided that we would just wait until tax-free weekend to shop for my kids’ new shoes (necessary since they only wore flip-flops all summer) and a few new outfits.  After all, saving almost 10% on our purchases would be great, right?   [Read more…]

This sponsored post is brought to you by Bookboard.  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

My kids are completely and totally into online games.  They love to “unlock” the more challenging levels of a game.  Each time they get to a new level, it’s a big celebration.  Bookboard has tapped into that motivational technique and channeled it into an incentive to read.  As kids’ interests change and reading levels improve, Bookboard adjusts its program to fit your child’s individual needs.  As a parent, I found Bookboard to be an effective way to get my reluctant reader to sit down and enjoy books.  As a teacher, I loved the way that Bookboard integrates technology with the concepts of print that students need to learn.  Add all those together, tie it with a big free trial and you’ve got a great app that can meet the needs of all the primary readers in your family. [Read more…]

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jel Sert. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are few snacks from my childhood that bring back the summertime memories more than Fla-Vor-Ice.  I’m sure my parents stocked it in the freezer because it was affordable.  After all, how many other delicious treats can be purchased for pennies apiece?  On hot summer days the best thing to bring sweet relief from the heat was a red Fla-Vor-Ice tube.  If the littler kids were enjoying one with us, mom would cut the tube in half so we could share.  Everyone had their own way of eating this frozen concoction. My brother liked to bite huge chunks off the end and savor each one.  I liked to let mine melt a bit so I could drink it from the tube.  

Now that I’m a mom, I keep my own supply of Fla-Vor-Ice pops in my freezer. [Read more…]

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jel Sert. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer days means long days at the pool, hanging out at Dollywood, running at the playground, and lazy days with friends.  What do all of these have in common?  The blasted heat of the midday sun that makes it feel like we’re in the ninth circle of Dante’s Inferno.    Putting a splash of flavor in our iced water with Wyler’s Light makes that summer heat seem almost bearable.  My kids think they’re getting a special treat instead of plain old water, and I don’t have to battle them about not drinking lots of sugar.  Wyler’s Light has only five calories and comes in a huge variety of tasty flavors that are both kid-friendly and perfect for adults. [Read more…]