The Christmas Story Book Review

It is not uncommon for people to think about Christmas in July but what about August?  Honestly, Christmas is something that I think about pretty regularly throughout the year and I love that my kids enjoy Christmas books no matter the month.  I have a Christmas book to tell you about today, The Christmas Story by Anita Ganeri.  I really love the watercolor illustrations, they are beautiful (kudos to Rachael Phillips). 

 I love this page with the angels.

 D looking over the pictures.

 E listening to the story.

This story is geared for children ages 3-5 but I think the age range is even broader than that.  It is a fairly thin book and short story.  Each page is accompanied by a rich watercolor illustration.  My children love looking at the illustrations while I read them the story.  The book opens with the angel telling Mary what is to come and ends with Mary, Joseph and Jesus leaving Egypt and heading home to Nazareth.  This is a great addition to our Christmas story collection.  This book also has a few extras in the back: a recipe for Christmas Biscuits (cookies), the music and words to "Away in a Manger", and a blurb about Christmas in general and angels.

Read more about this book and author below.

About this book
The birth of Jesus is recounted in The Christmas Story, a richly illustrated book with bonus activities geared for children ages 3-5.  Children will follow Mary and Joseph as they receive blessings from angels, travel to Bethlehem for the birth, are visited by wise men, escape from a cruel leader who wishes them harm and finally return safely to Nazareth.  Simple words make the story perfect for reading aloud.  The book also includes additional information about the Christmas holiday, the words and music to "Away in a Manger" and a recipe for cookies.

About the author and illustrator
Anita Ganeri is the author of more than300 books for children, including Alive, The Body Box, DK First Encyclopedia, Eruption and I Wonder Why the Sea is Salty.  Rachael Phillips is an author and illustrator of children's books.

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing me with my own copy of The Christmas Story to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Dolphin Tale 2 Gavin DeGraw Featurette

I have a fun featurette to share with you!  It is the Dolphin Tale 2 Gavin DeGraw Featurette.  Check it out below and enjoy!  My family is so excited about this upcoming movie.



Disclosure:  As part of the Dolphin Tale 2 Blogger Crew I am able to share fun opportunities and information about the film with you.  Stay tuned for more soon!

Chick-fil-A Color Crafters Blog App

Chick-fil-A just launched a nation-wide Color Crafters Blog App.  This app has fun downloadable family activities in conjunction with their Color Crafters Kid's Meal prizes!  Ready to get creative?  Enjoy the app below!


Disclosure: As a member of the Chick-fil-A Mom panel I am one of the first to share this blog app with you.  Thanks Chick-fil-A!

5 Ways to Reuse or Upcycle Boogie Wipes Canisters

Most of you know that I am a Saline Ambassador for Boogie Wipes.  I actually belong to a team of great ambassadors known as Moms Who Boogie.  I often have Boogie Wipes containers around the house.  I started thinking, how can I re-purpose these?  Here are 5 ideas we came up with (I am sure there are tons more).  Please, please share your ideas/thoughts/pictures in the comments.  I would love to hear them.

For all the examples I started with an empty Boogie Wipes container, removed the label and went from there.

 Empty Boogie Wipes Container

 Remove the label, super easy to do.

Canister without the label.

1.  Small Trash Can:  This trash can works great in a car or at home when doing crafts.  It is a great size for kids.  It was my daughter's idea to create the handles for easy transport.

Insert plastic bag and decorate.  A wanted to decorate this trash can with her stickers.

 Finished Trash Can

You can make it portable as well.

In use, view from above

 Here is a collage of the entire process.

2.  School Supply Holder:  Whether you need help organizing your pens, pencils, markers or rulers, these canisters work great for all.

 Storing Markers

 Holding Pencils

 Storing Pens

Ruler Holder

I realize that not every family owns 10 rulers.  You would be surprised but they come in handy in homeschooling.  Basically these canisters are great for holding various office and school supplies and they could be used in your home, office or classroom.

3.  Straw Holder/Organizer:  These canisters also work well for holding straws (minus the lid).

And it can hold a lot of straws, more than I have right now.

4.  Water Cup for paintbrushes:  My kids love to paint!  I have never liked the idea of using our drinking cups for painting and then drinking.  A Boogie Wipes canister can be cut and used as a water cup for paintbrushes - woohoo!

Cut the canister to make a cup.

Painting set up

 B creating a picture.

5.  Change or Savings Jar:  This summer we went to Great Wolf Lodge and ever since we got home our kids have been talking about going back!  They started their own Great Wolf Lodge fund.  A Boogie Wipes canister is great for holding change or a specific fund.

 We decorated the change jar with felt using a hot glue gun.

The kids made a label.

I cannot believe how much they have already saved!  There are lots of quarters under those bills.  They still have a ways to go though.


A and B with their finished jar.

What do you think?  Please share your thoughts and ideas!

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash Review & Giveaway

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash

Remember my review on Dial Coconut Water Body here?  This time I was able to sample Dial's new Coconut Water Body Wash with Refreshing Mango through the Purex Insiders program!

I have been using this wash for several weeks now, as you can see from the photo above, and I really like it.  I was a fan of Dial's previous Coconut Body wash and I am even more of a fan of this one.  I really like the addition of mango, especially in the scent.  As with the previous wash it 1) works great 2) leaves me clean and fresh and 3) is easy to use.  Moisturizing, hydrating and I am sure that you will #GetNoticed.  Thanks Dial for another great body wash!

 Coupons

Ready for a giveaway?  Three readers will win a free product coupon to try Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash for themselves (coupons expire 9/30/14 and maximum value $4.49).  Just enter the giveaway below and good luck!

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Disclosure:  The Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash through the Purex Insiders program in exchange for a product review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  As part of this campaign I am eligible to receive prizes.

Enough 10 Things We Should Be Telling Our Teenage Girls Book Review & Giveaway

I just finished reading Enough 10 Things We Should Be Telling Teenage Girls by Kate Conner.  I know I don't have any teenagers just yet but it won't be long.  In just a few short years A will be 13 and eventually I will have multiple teenagers at the same time, most of them girls!

I love the the messages - You are beautiful.  You are valuable.  You are enough.  I think these statements are so profound and if my daughters could grasp these truths as a teenager it would serve them well.

I have wondered about our children and the rise of social media.  Currently our children do not have facebook accounts and the like but that will not be true forever.  I like that Kate brought this up in her book.  Not only is there the issue of safety but also the fact that our words are swords.  They can be used powerfully for good, or evil.  I hope and pray that my kids learn this early.  There are still some adults that haven't fully grasped this.

One of the most profound statements that I learned from the movie Fireproof was the advice that you cannot follow your heart as it can lead you astray.  It was spot on!  I love that Kate discusses this in her book.  Better yet follow your passions, dreams, intuition, God's word - that is where you want to be.

Did I agree with everything?  No, but I love Kate's heart and her way of communication.  I am as white as they come and tanning beds were never appealing to me and maybe I am the only one on the planet but I do not watch The Bachelor.  However, I could appreciate and understand Kate's use of these examples.  Thank you Kate for stepping up and helping us teach our girls that they are loved, valued and treasured.

Read more about this book below and enter to win your own copy!

About Enough: 10 Things You Should Be Telling Teenage Girls
In a book based on her post, Kate Conner calls us to action in Enough.  We all have teenage girls in our lives who we love, whether it's a sister, friend, or daughter.  Kate has identified 10 things these girls need to hear today from someone who loves her.  Peppered with wit and laced with grace, Kate's list tackles relevant issues like Facebook, emotions, drama, tanning beds, modesty, and flirtation.  Woven into each chapter is a powerful message of worth that transcends age, and will touch the souls of women, young and old alike: You are beautiful.  You are valuable.  You are enough.  A former youth-worker, wife to a college minister, and a young mom in her twenties, Conner stands squarely in generational gap, the perfect place from which to bridge it.  Conner offers herself as a translator, helping you to speak your teenager's language and quipping you with a fresh perspective from which to engage your teenage girl - one that may enable her to truly hear your heart (and your wisdom) for the first time since puberty.  Check out the official website for this book here.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your own copy of this book.  Just enter below and good luck.

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive my own copy of Enough in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Edible Ice Cream Bowls

 Edible white chocolate ice cream bowl

The kids and I made edible ice cream bowls yesterday for dessert.  We used white chocolate wafers.  It was super simple.  I melted the wafers in the microwave for a few minutes.  Then I transfered the chocolate liquid to a cooler bowl.  I took small balloons (already inflated and tied) and dipped them in the liquid. 

 

 Dipped balloons

You want to cover the bottoms to create a bowl.  Place the balloons on wax paper to set and chill in the freezer for five minutes.  Remove from the freezer, pop the balloons and peel the balloon remnants from the chocolate bowl.  Load your bowl with ice cream and enjoy!

 

 I love that they were all a bit different.

E enjoying hers.

 Almost gone!