Disclosure: I received complimentary Busch Gardens tickets.  Post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase through these links, it helps to pay for giveaways like this one. Opinions shared are mine.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to rent out an entire amusement park, having it all to yourself for the day?  Now I know what that feels like!

At several points in our spring break trip to Williamsburg, VA, the universe seemed to conspire against us. Both kids got the flu. We had to change hotel rooms three times.  The weather imploded on itself by the end of our trip.  It was a sopping wet day when we headed to Busch Gardens.  My husband was ready to bail, but the kids and I gathered up our ponchos and insisted on going.  We are so glad we did!   [Read more…]

Disclosure:  By some amazing stroke of luck, Pilot sent me these pens for review.  You can imagine my thrill!  Opinions shared are mine.

School supplies have always made my heart skip a beat. Some of you know exactly what I mean!  You’ll be happy to know that Pilot acknowledges this obsession with their amazing pens, and they’ve partnered with Target to create the G2 Overachievers Club.  So then, Pilot sent me these G2 pens.  People, I was happier than a bird with a french fry.  The thing is, my kids are just as enamored by pens as I am (maybe more….dare I say it?)  Naturally, those pens were whisked right out of my grasp. [Read more…]

Finding a new author is like making a grand discovery on a  hike.  A beautiful flower, a waterfall, a perfectly flat rock to skip across the lake….. Miranda Beverly-Whittemore is such a gem.  I received her novel June to review, and found it to be the type that cries out to be a movie.  The characters can’t be contained in these pages! (Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.  If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission.) [Read more…]

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Memorial Day is almost here.  This year is the first time I’ll be putting memorial arrangements out for a veteran.  My father and grandfather both passed away last year, and they were military veterans. I will take time to remember their service during the holiday.  If you’re gearing up to put out patriotic decor, consider using it again for Independence Day.  I always love getting a 2-for-1 deal, don’t you?  The DollarTree has lots of Memorial Day decorations that are both affordable and adorable.  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book for review; opinions shared are mine.

“Finding oneself at the mercy of a crazed gunman isn’t all fun and games.”  ~Nora Bradford, True to You by Becky Wade

What an eyebrow-raising first line!

Just as you’d expect from a line like that, True to You‘s main character Nora was spunky and sarcastic. I usually find Becky Wade’s characters to be a little too sweet for my taste, so right away I was Nora’s fan.  [Read more…]

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

My mom had spine surgery two years ago and needed 6 months to fully recover.  Just before she had the procedure, she cut her hair VERY short.  We’re not talking about a cute pixie cut.  She basically had it shaved.  I couldn’t believe it — my mom always had such pride in her hair.  She said she wanted it to be fuss-free while she recovered.  Since I live 300 miles away from her, I couldn’t be there to help her care for herself (tears….)  I wish I’d known about model model lace front wigs at that time.  A beautiful wig would have been such a blessing for her, and affordable peace of mind for me.

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Disclosure: I received this book from Tyndale. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

I’m not sure why this book cover feels so scary to me…..maybe it’s the covered eyes, or the context of the title.  While I don’t know much about polygamy, it has been the subject of many TV shows and news stories in the past few years.  The Polygamist’s Daughter was available from Tyndale’s blog network, so I requested it for review.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book from Tyndale. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

My husband and I love watching shows about government agencies.  The FBI, CIA, and all of it….so fascinating.  Of course, I prefer the fictional stories like X-Files or Alias.  My husband would rather watch documentaries.  Both of us loved the book I received from Tyndale for review — Deep Under Cover by Jack Barsky!  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received sample products; opinions shared are mine.  Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a few pennies. Thank you!

When it comes to inspiration, my kids are at the top of my list.  They inspire me to be a better person, not just a better mom.   Protecting them is a top priority!  Though they don’t value it right now, I know their hearing is a precious gift.  It’s so critical that their little ears are kept safe and sound.  Thanks to SNUG Play+ headphones and Safe n Sound defenders, that precious sense of hearing will be preserved even throughout the loud-music days.  [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received a prize pack just like the one the giveaway winner will receive! Opinions shared are mine.

STEAM is one of the biggest buzzwords in education right now.  You might also see variations of this idea, such as STEM or STREAM.  This ideology  incorporates high-interest learning tasks with technology skills such as coding or investigating science concepts.  During the summer months, it can be a challenge to keep kids engaged in these activities.  Apps like Nancy Drew Codes & Clues are a good solution to the summer learning loss problem.

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