Educational Insights Toys and Games #Giveaway!

My littles love their new Crazy Cereal game from Educational Insights!  It's essentially a showdown in a bowl for ages 4 and up. It would be especially great for little ones learning their colors, but it's a blast for older kids, too!

It’s a showdown in a bowl! Grab a spoon and watch as it magically changes color. Then, dig into the cereal-serving bowl and scoop up pieces of that color. Cross your fingers for a color flash free-for-all and collect two pieces at a time. During this all-play game, quickly collect the most cereal pieces to win! - See more at: https://www.educationalinsights.com/product/crazy+cereal--153-+electronic+game.do?from=Search&cx=0#sthash.gBnMPXiU.dpuf

They each grab a spoon and watch as it changes color, then dig into the cereal-serving bowl and scoop up pieces of that color.   The one with the most cereal at the end wins.

It's Crazy Mode, a color flash free-for-all where they collect extra pieces! They're laughing and having so so much fun!

Another awesome toy from Educational Insights!  When I saw Design and Drill Brightworks, I had to get it for my kiddos!  It's so much like the light bright we had as kids!  This one, though, comes with a drill that both puts the pieces in and takes them out. It's really cool!  Here, my kiddos just finished making a ship together.

It's not too late to get these goodies in time for Christmas!  2-day upgraded shipping is only $5 with the promo code 2DAY2015. Offer ends 12/17.  You can also find them at Game Days stores or at other stores in your local area.

Educational Insights has been making toys, games, and educational tools for the past 50 years! From brain-teasing, dice rolling games to ultra-imaginative, kid-powered dinosaur construction vehicle mashups, they’ve got a little something for everyone!

 GIVEAWAY
One of my readers will win these games from Educational Insights.  What else would your kiddo love to have from their website?
Ends at 11 pm, 12/23/15

You Can Find Educational Insights On

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Educational Insights for providing us with these games to review!

Time-of-the-Month Beauty Box for Only $16! So Worth It!

This is everything that came in my TOM Box.  It's definitely worth $16 each month.  Their shipping is always free.  Plus, it's so convenient b/c you don't have to rush to the store to grab pads or tampons... or send your hubby to do so. ;)  When you sign up, you give them your skin tone, jewelry style, and you choose what kind of feminine products you want.  This is one of those boxes I do actually subscribe to and I've loved each box!  If you ever do decide to cancel, it's a quick click of the button--no pressure to stay, no questions asked.  You can get your first TOM Box here.

A sneak peak of the December Tom Box.  Get a LORD & BERRY Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick, Color Club Nail Lacquer clear topcoat, Iris Colors Extra Shinny Lip Gloss, Expandable multi band bangle and Snow Cap Chocolates from Giambri's Quality Sweets. Double the Makeup and Jewelry and also Get Palladio Beauty Group Shadow and Liner Pencil in Silver Bells, Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up Face Rejuvenator, Chrislie.com Lash Defeye Mascara, and a pair of Silver CZ Dangle Earrings.

Bestie Bags, Adorable, Stylish Purses for Girls! #Giveaway #HolidayGiftGuide

Bestie Bags are so adorable, and there is one for every girl!  My 3 daughters all have very different styles and they all really love their purses, as you can see. 

Bestie Bags were actually created for the founders daughter who had ADHD with a touch of hypo-sensory preferences when she was younger. She was always fidgeting, couldn't keep still, and just had to keep touching things. Her mom created a bag with different textures and patterns so she could keep my hands busy and focus on things she couldn't pay attention to before. The bag was more than just a fashionable accessory. It made her feel confident and safe.

 Today, they've changed the bag into a whole new concept - the Bestie Bag. They've turned it into something to make every girl feel special and unique. They created 5 fun designs b/c no two girls are alike, and it's hard to find a product that speaks to everyone. 

They added a group of strong, independent girls - the Bestie Girls - to act as "spokespeople" for their bags, each one representing their own personality and favorite color. 

Bestie Bags would be such adorable gifts stuffed full of perhaps some special gift cards or makeup!

Which Bestie Bag would the special girl in your life like best? Fill out the form below by 12/22 to win your choice.

You Can Find Bestie Bags On

 Facebook 

Twitter

Instagram

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Bestie Bag for providing us with these purses to review!

A Cozy Winter Read! Free From Tyndale Rewards

I absolutely loved "You Don't Know Me" and it it currently free from Tyndale Rewards!  Susan May Warren is my favorite contemporary Christian writer and I'm excited to introduce you to her books! The perfect thing to cozy up with a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa.

About the Book
 To everyone who knows her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses her kids’ sporting events, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.

No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the sleepy town of Deep Haven, Deidre got a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker. Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to catch up with her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on bail and out for revenge, Annalise is forced to face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she finally find the grace to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?

Get it free from Tyndale Rewards!

Merry Christmas to our Pooch! #NaturalBalance Food & Treats at PetSmart

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network TM . I am being compensated to help spread the word the word about Natural Balance available at PetSmart, but The Traveling Sisterhood only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance and PetSmart are not responsible for the content of this article.

My very favorite place to shop for goodies for my Lucy is at PetSmart®! It's such a fun store with a wide variety of the best foods.  I feed her natural food and treats and was eager to try the Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diet® varieties.  It was Cyber Monday, their holiday sales were in full swing, and I was armed with some coupons from their Facebook page.

I was especially happy to see that Natural Balance offers specific food and even specific treats for small dogs....

...or fat dogs, green dogs or yellow dogs, dogs with hats or dogs in cars--not really the last few, but you get the drift.  Special goodies for each and every dog!  I like that Natural Balance offers premium quality food to address such a wide variety of needs for all the life stages of our fur babies.  You can find it not only at the store itself, but it's also available at Petsmart.com where they ship for free on orders over $49. Very convenient!

For Lucy's food, I chose to go with the Sweet Potato and Chicken Formula "Small Breed Bites" Dry Food and the Brown Rice and Lamb treats. I had wanted her to try the Potato and Duck but that was sold out at the moment.  All of the Natural Balance pet foods come with a Buy with Confidence guarantee-every production run is tested for quality and safety in their state of the art laboratoy in Burbank, CA. They also make a line of cat foods called WildPursuit that sound perfect for my mom's cats! I may need to pick some of that up for her.

At home, I set up Lucy's bed with her new goodies.  Before I decided to let her in the room, I stuffed the treats into the side of the bed so she would have to find them!  Check out the super cute video below--she was so excited about her new "presents"!

Looking for more.  She loves them!  Cute little treats for small dogs... I love that we can give her more than once at time--they're so nice and little bitty.  Sometimes, I even spread some organic peanut butter across the top which she really loves!  Oh, and Lucy wants me to add that Natural Balance also makes grain-free formulas for those friends of hers who may have that special kind of dietary need. ;)

"Old Fashioned" is a Charming Love Story! #DVDGiveaway

 I'm all for some good old-fashioned chivalry. I'll always remember the first time a guy held the door open for me.

And it wasn't just one guy, but 2. I was 18 and off on my own in the Air Force, I didn't know these guys, but as soon as they saw me walking up to the double doors of the dining hall, they each rushed to open one of the doors for me. I felt like a princess. It was nice and, also nice, most guys I went out with did open the door for me. So when I went on a date with a guy whose mama or papa apparently didn't teach him how to treat a lady, that stood out to me... and not in a good way! Old Fashioned, the movie, is about more than chivalry, though. It's not only about men honoring women, but about honoring God in your relationships. It was such a great movie! And while some Christian movies have the cheesiness factor, this one didn't.  The actors were wonderful, they had great chemistry, and the story was so genuine!

The movie OLD FASHIONED centers on Clay Walsh, a former frat boy who gives up his reckless carousing and now runs an antique shop in a small Midwestern college town. There, he has become notorious for his lofty and outdated theories on love and romance as well as for his devout belief in God. When Amber Hewson, a free-spirited young woman with a restless soul, drifts into the area and rents the apartment above his shop, she finds herself surprisingly drawn to his strong faith and noble ideas, which are new and intriguing to her. And Clay, though he tries to fight and deny it, simply cannot resist being attracted to her spontaneous and passionate embrace of life. Ultimately, Clay must step out from behind his relational theories and Amber must overcome her own fears and deep wounds as the two of them, together, attempt the impossible: an "old-fashioned" and God-honoring courtship in contemporary America. 

 Contrary to popular opinion, being "old fashioned" doesn't mean you're dull or unromantic.  In fact, a true old fashioned relationship can be more exciting and romantic than anything you've ever experienced!  So what does it mean to do things the old fashioned way?  Sure, it means opening doors, holding out chairs, and taking things slow.  But a true old fashioned romance goes much, much deeper than that.  Regardless of your past mistakes, where you've been, what you've done, or where you are now, you can find and create a love that will last a lifetime or teach your sons and daughters how to do that. This movie is a wonderful example of it.

FishFlix.com has these movies on sale for $7.50 through the end of the Christmas shopping season!  I've seen all of them and they're awesome movies.  They'd be great stocking stuffer or gift exchange ideas!  Or they'd be wonderful to put in a Family Movie Night Gift Basket with some popcorn, soda, and candy.

GIVEAWAY

One of my readers will win this DVD thanks to the awesome people at FishFlix.com!  It will make a perfect movie for a cozy winter evening or a wonderful gift for a friend.  Enter below by December 14th at 11 pm anyone's time.

You Can Find FishFlix.com On 
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest 
 

If you could have any movie on FishFlix.com, which would it be?

Special thanks to the wonderful people at FishFlix.com for providing us with this DVD to review and give away!

Give the Gift of Art #Giveaway: Gorgeous Prints from Saatchi Art! #HolidayGiftGuide

Art makes a unique, thoughtful, and lasting gift for recipients of all ages and interests. Whether you’re looking for a landscape painting for a gardening enthusiast, a pop art collage for a film buff, or an ink drawing for an animal lover, Saatchi Art sells thousands and thousands of original paintings, or you can choose from a near endless variety of artwork prints with either canvas or poster print options.

I chose to review Sandy Dooley's Summer Rain on canvas.  I love canvas prints and knew this one would be gorgeous in our new home. 

Monet is my artist of choice, and I chose Miss Dooley's print because her style reminds me of his.  I also love her use of color in this painting.

 Sandy Dooley, "Summer Rain." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

Fine Art is my favorite artistic style.  I like a wide variety of mediums including watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings, as well as pencil and charcoal drawings.  I also like a wide variety of subjects, though nature and landscapes are my favorite.  Here are some of my favorite pieces of art which are available on Saatchi:

Kristine Kvitka, "Turquoise Snow." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

Lia Afentouli, "Zebra." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

Henrietta Angel, "Summer Breeze." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

Yucel Basoglu, "Waves." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

Henriette Angel, "Monet's Pond." Courtesy Saatchi Art.

DISCOUNTS

Through the month of December, Saatchi Art is offering 10% off original artwork using the code GIVEART10. Expires 12/31/15.

GIVEAWAY

One of you will win your choice of Saatchi Art print worth up to $100!  Enter below by 12/16 at 11 pm anyone's time. I'll choose a winner soon after.

Which specific print or artistic style will you choose if you win? 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Saatchi Art for this review and giveaway opportunity.  All opinions are honest and my own. 

Encourage Kids to Build Their Own Stories (Literally!) With New Sets From Build & Imagine Toys! #HolidayGiftGuide

You may have seen our review in September for Build & Imagine's Day at the Beach. My kiddos were so excited to get a new set to add to their first one!  This one was even more cause for that excitement as the theme was their favorite--animals!  A Pet Portrait Studio to be precise because, after all, pets can't take selfies, right?

Each Build & Imagine set is made of colorfully illustrated magnetic panels kiddos join together any way they like.  They can be for boys and girls so brothers and sisters can definitely play with this together.  Though these are mainly promoted as girls STEAM toy, the sets are not too girly and some of them even come with boys to play with, too.

Each set comes with a couple of dress-up dolls and/or animals and more than 40 magnetic costumes and props like these ones. 

With the Pet Portrait Studio, 10 illustrated, double sided magnetic panels set the scenes for imaginative play. It comes with boy and girl wooden doll figures, two cats and two dog figures, and more than 40 magnetized accessories from an artist's smock to a bowl of dog food. The panels make a pretty sturdy play house for their toys and they love that they actually built it themselves and can change it around to suit their fancy.

There are so many ways to get creative and change the tiles around! You can make an outdoor beach scene, a beach store, a house, the options are endless... especially combined with more of the play sets.  Here is the Pet Play Set combined with the Beach Play Set to make a giant pet shop.

 Where to Get Them

You can find Build & Imagine play sets online and in stores such as Amazon.com, Kohl’s, Fat Brain Toys, and Zulily.  My favorite place to get them would definitely be Amazon!

 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Build & Imagine for providing us with this toy to review!

A Noble Masquerade and A Lady of Esteem: Free Jane Austen Era E-book!

A few months ago, I stumbled upon the free e-novella A Lady of Esteem. I'm a huge fan of e-novellas, as you can simply sit and enjoy a nice story in an hour or two. I am also a huge fan of regency everything: artwork like the portrait above of Mademoiselle Charlotte du Val d'ognes, movies, and books.  A Lady of Esteem totally captivated me! When I realized this was a prequel to the upcoming "A Noble Masquerade", I couldn't wait to read it! 

Kristi Ann Hunter is one of my new favorite authors, up there with Julie Klassen, who is simply amazing!  She weaves together a wonderful story, her characters are very likeable, and the plot is mysterious and oftentimes unpredictable.  In A Noble Masquerade, Miranda Hawthorne has always felt pressure to be perfect, something so many of us can relate to.  She struggles to keep her feelings deep inside and, in journal style, she writes letters to her brother's college friend whom she has never actually met, the Duke of Marshington. She doesn't mail them, of course, and she writes these letters throughout her teenage years, continuing through adulthood.  Well, the Duke of Marshington ends up staying at her home as a butler in disguise.  Miranda doesn't realize who he is, he ends up finding her letters and reading them, and she berates herself for beginning to have feelings for this butler who is decidedly below her station!  You'll have to read the book to find out how everything turns out but I'll tell you it's a gripping story with many twists and turns, faith is mixed with danger, and mystery entwines with love.  You may want to order the book from Amazon, or simple download the free e-book prequel which is just as page turning... can you call an e-book pageturning? ;)

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke--with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.  
 Set in nineteenth century England, this novel is full of interesting historical facts and perfect descriptions of all that 1812 held.

The Prequel: Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian's townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility, and instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants. By happenstance, she's introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed Marquis of Raebourne . They welcome her into their world, but just as she's beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect she may have caught Anthony's eye, she's blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who've become like family and the man who's shared his faith and captured her heart?  Download the free e-book on Amazon.

Special thanks to Bethany House for providing me with these books to review. 

All opinions are honest and my own.