Creative Homemade Gifts for Teacher Appreciation Day Using Yoobi Craft Supplies!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

National Teacher Appreciation Day is around the corner, and nothing says "Thank You" quite like a gift from the heart. Yoobi's got just the gift with their DIY Teacher Appreciation Cards!

Yoobi is based on a bright yet simple idea, colorful and vibrant supplies for school, home or office that give back! For every Yoobi item purchased, a Yoobi item will be donated to a classroom in need, right here in the U.S.! It's that simple.

On average, teachers can spend up to $485 out of pocket each year. That adds up to over $1.6 billion in teacher spending annually, just to supply core items for their students to have the tools they need to learn and be creative. Help your child say an extra special thank you for all the hours they put in long after the closing bell rings with handmade cards using Yoobi products!

Yoobi has lots of great products you can use to create that perfect keepsake work of art, or you could make up a fun basket of Yoobi supplies as a gift to that dedicated teacher.

Take a look at some of our favorite Yoobi goodies:

The kiddos love stamps and these innovative stamp rollers offer up an easy, mess-free creative outlet.  They come in many themes, but the Flower design is perfect for Spring crafting.

We go through glue sticks like crazy, but have never seen a triangular version.  What a genius idea!  No roll-away glue with these babies!

These layer markers are so neat!  You can use them on top of one another (without them bleeding together) for a really cool effect.

Gel pens are always a hit and these offer vibrant colors and glitter options.

Frames always make great gifts and provide a blank canvas for your little artist to explore their creativity.

These nifty twister crayons comes in a hard carrying case making them perfect for both on-the-go use and a clutter-free craft-zone!

Teachers and students love reward stickers!  Yoobi's are bright and colorful and offer encouraging messages.

My kiddos were so excited to try out these Yoobi products, they made a string of cards and bookmarks for Teacher Appreciation Day and Mother's Day:

Don't forget all of those hardworking teachers this May!  Yoobi makes it easy to treat them right with fun products for the classroom or a handmade keepsake to show your appreciation.

Click to shop Yoobi!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review: Magnolia Duchess by Beth White

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

As part of the Revell Reads crew, I received a copy of Magnolia Duchess by Beth White:

About the book:

As the War of 1812 rages across the newly formed United States, another war rages in Fiona Lanier's heart--one that threatens to tear her family apart.

Fiona can scarcely take in the news of her brother's capture and imprisonment by the British Navy. It is almost as unbelievable as the half-drowned British sailor who is washed ashore on the beach of Navy Cove.

Charlie Kincaid claims to have no memory of his life before being discovered by Fiona, but in a world that seems saturated with treachery, she cannot be sure he is telling the truth.

As Charlie's memory returns in agonizing jags and crashes, he and Fiona discover that falling in love may be as inevitable as the tide. But when political allegiances collide, they'll each have to decide where their true loyalty lies.

About the author:

Beth White's day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she writes historical romance with a Southern drawl and is the author of The Pelican Bride and The Creole Princess. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers' Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net.

My thoughts:
White does a lovely job of creating a picturesque setting that accurately details the Gulf Coast.  I love the historical accuracy of this novel.  As a history buff, I am always intrigued to delve into specific time periods and this book doesn't disappoint.  I very much enjoyed the steady pace of this book and learning about the characters of this time period.  Not having read the first two books of this series, I can say Magnolia Duchess can stand alone as a great book for others who may have not read the previous books.  If you are a fan of historical romance with a touch of political adventure, you will likely enjoy this book.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Keep Your Pup's Teeth Clean with WHIMZEES Dental Chews!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

We are always on the look out for great dental treats for our pup Jessie, so we were excited to get the chance to try out WHIMZEES.

Made with all-natural ingredients, WHIMZEES vegetable-based texture help remove plaque and tartar as your pup chews.  These treats are gluten free and vegetarian.

WHIMZEES come in a variety of sizes and shapes that will appeal to any dog.

Jessie loves her alligator WHIMZEES!  These adorable dental chews clean her teeth and freshen her breath and she really seems to enjoy the taste:)

You can find WHIMZEES at Petco, PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, Pet Valu and independent pet retailers.

Click to learn more about WHIMZEES

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

MARY's Secret Ingredients Spring Box Has Arrived! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

MARY’s secret ingredients was created to help foodies learn more about new products to inspire their home cooking.  

MARY's secret ingredients is a limited edition culinary surprise subscription box containing unique, gourmet products you've probably never heard of, along with a small kitchen tool, delivered right to your door.

 Every season, a limited number of curated boxes are filled with lovely surprises to inspire your cooking. Mary creates custom recipes using each product and emails them to you.  We were lucky enough to get to review the Spring box.

 To add to the surprise, "secret" experience, contents of the boxes are not revealed online until after the boxes should have been received.  Here is a look at what we received in our secret ingredient box:

100 Cups A Day

For this spring box, Natalie has crafted a special edition tea cup. “The simplest vessel gifting the simplest need. Drink 100 cups of water from this cup and become aware of water in your life.”

  Sir Kensington’s Dijonnaise

Sir Kensington’s Dijonnaise is the perfect blend of mayonnaise and mustard.With slightly spicy notes of their propriety mustard mix, paired with smooth and tangy Classic Mayonnaise, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy with your favorite sandwich, or as a crust on seared fish.

Just Jan’s Tangerine Marmalade $8

Just Jan’s Tangerine Marmalade, is a unique twist on

traditional Orange Marmalade. Our Tangerine Marmalade is all natural and lower

in sugar, allowing the bright citrus flavor of tangerine to shine through.  Brighten up your morning toast, or try it in

your evening cocktail.Buy it here

 The Tea Spot $3

These premium sachets contain a soothing white tea blend to sharpen the mind and arouse the senses. Rosebuds are known to ease nervous tension and have a calming effect. The exotic floral scent of night–blooming jasmine is used as an anti-depressant in herbal medicine.

 Joseph Joseph Rocker Stainless Steel Garlic Crusher $12.99

By using downward pressure and a ‘rocking’ motion, this stylish, stainless steel tool crushes garlic cloves quickly and easily by forcing the pieces up through its mesh holes, leaving your hands free of garlic odor. Rocker™ 100 is easy to clean under running water but is also dishwasher safe.

SAVORY CREATIONS INTERNATIONAL Veggie Authentic Pho $3.39

Located in Northern California, Savory Creations International offers a full range of premium broth concentrates. Their clean label products contain no MSG, or HVP, and they’re naturally gluten free with zero trans fats.

The box also includes The Little Book of Ingredients that describes the products you receive.

I'm unsure of the exact value of the Spring box, but a subscription to MARY's starts at $34, making this subscription box a fairly good value for the fun variety of useful products you receive.  A subscription would be a great gift for the foodie in your life or a fun treat for yourself if you ARE the foodie in your life:)

In addition to promoting healthy eating, Mary is on a mission to eradicate hunger. 

MARY’s secret ingredients is a proud supporter of Feed The Children, the global initiative dedicated to providing aid to children and fighting the hunger epidemic.  So this subscription box gets you cooking with fun ingredients and helpful kitchen tools all while supporting a great cause!

Don't forget to call the number on the front of the box if you order the Spring edition.  MARY's is also doing a golden ticket giveaway for 10 lucky subscribers who will win a Joseph Joseph Elevate knife!

Click to buy MARY's Secret Ingredients

The code abcd25 will get you 25% off any purchase!

If you 'd like to enter a giveaway hosted by MARY's for a Summer box, go here: http://eepurl.com/bXRCWX

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review: The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

As part of the Bethany House review crew, I received a copy of The Inheritance

by: Michael Phillips:

About the book:

The death of clan patriarch Macgregor Tulloch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whales Reef into turmoil. Everyone assumed Tulloch's heir to be his much-loved grandnephew David. But when no will is discovered, David's calculating cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island's land. And Hardy knows a North Sea oil investor who will pay dearly for that control. 

While the competing claims are investigated, the courts have frozen the estate's assets, leaving many of the locals in dire financial straits. The future of the island--and its traditional way of life--hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, Loni Ford enjoys a rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, D.C. Yet, in spite of outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is, until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Michael Phillips' dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace.

About the author:

Michael Phillips is a bestselling author who has penned more than seventy books, both fiction and nonfiction. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly thirty more books. Over the past thirty years, his persistent efforts have helped reawaken interest in the writings of nineteenth century Scotsman George MacDonald. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland, but make their home near Sacramento, California.

My thoughts:

The Inheritance promises to be a story full of secrets and excitement, and while it eventually gets there, you have to be patient and willing to read through a lot of material to get there.  The way in which the author describes the setting is exceptionally beautiful and realistic and the book is full of historical information that adds to the depth of the story.  By the end, you are definitely left eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.  If you are a fan of historical Christian writing, you will likely enjoy this book.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Surprizamals Are Popping Up This Spring!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Flowers aren’t the only things popping open this spring!  

As the weather warms up, Surprizamals Stuffed Animals are coming out of hibernation just in time to hear the birds chirping and see the sun shining.

 

New from the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, these cute, plush collectibles are creating a buzz in the world of unboxing. They love to hide in colorful Surprizaballs, so every time you pop one open, it’s the ultimate adorable surprise!

With 12 to collect in series one, and over 60 to collect in series two launching in fall 2016, Surprizamals make the perfect collectible play pals!

My kiddos love bling bags and surprise toys, so Surprizamals we a huge hit.  These adorable little plushies are soft and cuddly...perfect for snuggling!

Each one comes with a cool activity sheet and a checklist so you can mark off each Surprizamal as you collect them. 

The kiddos can't wait to collect them all!

Click to shop Surprizamals!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Smart Art: Monthly Art Project Subscription for All Levels!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

We love learning about and creating all types of art, so we were excited to get to try out Smart Art.

Smart Art provides artists with diverse high quality materials that inspire and nourish creativity.  Every month you get to explore new mediums and travel through time with renowned artists and cultures, and master their crafts.

Smart Art provides detailed instructions, practical tips to employ, and easy to follow projects that support the enhancement of every artist, no matter the level.  Each month subscribers receive a new box featuring a different artist or culture that highlights their time period, full sized art supplies, a suggested project and a detailed pamphlet introducing a new art medium.

This month's project was Mosaics:

Let's check out the supplies:

4 ¼“ SQUARE COASTER MOLD 

Jennifer’s Mosaics reusable, high impact plastic coaster mold is great for making customized mosaic coasters. This mold allows you to easily release tile, stones, glass and more to create unique mosaic coasters over and over!

MOSAIC STONE CEMENT 2 LBS 

Fast drying and easy to mix, this cement dries within one hour to a smooth, white porcelain-like finish. Designed for indoor projects, it is stronger and smoother than grout. Perfect for projects using boxes, frames, coasters, clocks, and more.

GOLD VEINED MOSAIC TILE 1 LB Specially chosen and organized for color harmony and contrast, this assortment makes it easy to start your mosaic masterpiece! This 1 lb bag will provide you with more than enough tile to create multiple mosaic projects.

CLEAR CON-TACT PAPER 

This clear, self-adhesive contact paper will allow you to see your sketch as you arrange your mosaic tile pieces to create your coaster design. Easily peel away once the cement is dry to reveal your completed masterpiece!

QUALITA GOLD LONG HANDLE FLAT BRUSH SIZE 8 

Offering great resiliency through every stroke, each Qualita Gold brush is hand-made and fabricated using golden Taklon hair. Featuring a gold tone seamless ferrule, and an artfully decorated wood handle, this brush handles both heavy bodied and fluid colors, making it a practical and versatile brush for artists.

CEMENT AND TILE SEALER

1 oz Easy to apply and offering long-lasting protection, this cement and tile sealer dries clear and will protect your mosaic against scuffs, stains, dust, water, etc. Simply apply using a brush, directly onto your mosaic coaster and allow a minimum of four hours of drying time.

The kit also comes with an awesome pamphlet full of great information on the history of mosaic as an art form and techniques and helpful hints on how to create your own masterpiece.

We really enjoyed learning more about mosaics and creating coasters with this kit!  Smart Art is just $49.95/month with discounts when you purchase more than one month up front.

Unleash your inner artist with a Smart Art subscription!

Click to shop Smart Art!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Tastykake Limited Edition Spring Treats!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Spring is here and one of our favorite treat brands, Tastykake, has a new line up of limited edition flavors for the season:

Spring Limited Edition Mini Donuts

-Tastykake’s new Peach Cobbler Mini Donuts capture the mouthwatering taste of peach cobbler inside a peach flavored donut covered in a sweet cobbler crumble.

-Strawberry Mini Donuts transform strawberry flavor into a mini donut form featuring a strawberry flavored donut with traditional powdered sugar coating.

-Peach Cobbler Mini Donuts are available in 11.5 oz. bags and the Strawberry Mini Donuts are available in 10 oz. bags.  Tastykake Peach Cobbler Mini Donuts are also available in 3.4 oz. six-count single serve packages. Strawberry Mini Donuts are available in 3.0 six-count single serve packages. Both have an estimated retail price of $1.79.

-Both Mini Donut flavors have an estimated retail price of $2.99.

Spring Limited Edition Kandy Kakes

-Tastykake is bringing back it’s sweet Lemon and Strawberry Kandy Kakes just in time for spring.

-Lemon Kandy Kakes feature a white coated vanilla sponge cake with a lemon creme filling. 

-Strawberry Kandy Kakes are white coated vanilla sponge cakes with a strawberry creme filling.

-Both Kandy Kakes are available in 8 oz. six-count boxes and have an estimated retail price of $4.49.

Tastykake always comes up with creative recipes to make semi-homemade treats that are sure to be a hit.  Check out this one using the Limited Edition Lemon Kandy Kakes:

Lemon Kandy Kake Cheesecake Cups

Ingredients: 

Lemon Kandy Kakes

8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup confectionary sugar

1 cup whipping cream

1 jar of lemon curd

Whipped cream to top

Instructions:

Combine cream cheese, sugar and whipping cream into large mixing bowl for the “cheesecake” filling.

In a small jar, break up Lemon Kandy Kakes to form the bottom layer, or the “crust”. 

Layer on about two spoonfuls of the cheese mixture and one spoonful of the lemon curd.

Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

Click here for more recipes using Tastykake treats!

Tastykake products can be found at grocery stores and mass merchandisers nationwide.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Book Review: The Passover Surprise by Janet Ruth Heller

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

We recently had the chance to review The Passover Surprise by Janet Ruth Heller:

About The Passover Surprise

The story follows Lisa and her little brother Jon as they participate in a stamp collecting competition. But when their father determines which child will get the new large stamp album, he bases his decision on his preconceived idea that stamp collecting is a boy’s hobby, not a girl’s hobby. Lisa has to learn how to discuss her feelings with her father in a calm and honest way. Her mother, her teacher, and her friends provide guidance to Lisa as her talk with her father and Passover, approach.

The Passover Surprise combines a Civil Rights Era backdrop and experiences from Heller’s own Jewish upbringing to illustrate issues of the time like racism and sexism.

It also includes a Discussion Guide at the back for parents and teachers and a glossary of Hebrew terms used in the book, making it a great primer for readers not yet familiar with Jewish traditions.

Out thoughts:

This is a lovely little book!  It can be read together as a family, but is also easy enough to be read independently for readers who are just starting chapter books.  It touches on several historical events and themes, making it valuable from an educational standpoint, but is entertaining as well.  Kid's will really be able to relate with the author's childhood experiences.  There are plenty of references to Jewish traditions and a helpful glossary in the back that includes words children may not be familiar with.  Overall, we really enjoyed reading The Passover Surprise!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Loved + Blessed: An Encouraging Faith-Based Subscription Service April Edition

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

We recently had the chance to review the April box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved + Blessed is a Christian faith-based subscription box service that delivers a box of encouragement right to your door each month.

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the April box was Journey.

The scripture card featured Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This box featured several gifts including a silver charm, a luggage tag and a workbook for finding lessons in your journey:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!  

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless.  What an amazing cause!

At just $10 per month you can get your Loved + Blessed box or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Click to buy Loved+ Blessed

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.