Wordless Wednesday Mother's Day from My Daughters

My daughters with Marigolds for me. Teela made a paper bouquet of flowers and Zari made me a card with a portrait of me.

NOVICA Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day Sales

Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

NOVICA helps change the lives of artisans in developing nations, while offering us extraordinary handmade gifts, jewelry, apparel, and home decor. There are so many talented artists and artisans around the world. NOVICA provides these unique, hard-to-find items on their internet website at great prices. These services are all fair trade, meaning that they don't charge the artists and artisans any listing fees and the artists and artisans remain fully independent. They are free to raise their prices, lower their prices, or remove their items from their website whenever they please. This website is great to buy something from for your special someone for Mother's Day, just remember since these items are coming all the way from the country they are made in, the shipping might take longer than expected. 

Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and NOVICA is having some awesome sales during this time.

Here are the sales...

• Mother's Day Gifts are on sale now at NOVICA! Save 10% Off Unique Gifts for Mom. Valid 4-23-18 through 5-13-18 11:59 PM PT. 
• Until Sunday, enjoy 10% OFF Mexican treasures during their Cinco de Mayo sale! Valid 5-3-18 through 5-6-18 11:59 PM PT.
• Two birthstones are on sale for the month of May: Agate and Emerald - save 10% on these birthstone jewelry! Valid 5-1-18 through 5-31-18 11:59 PM PT.

Daily Deals

Save up to 50% Off with NOVICA Daily Deals! Below are the upcoming deals for the next week...

Aqua Rose, Artisan Crafted Silk and Wool Blend Shawl
Save up to 25%
Deal Price: $37.99
Deal Date: Friday, May 4

Peach Blossoms, Pearl and quartz earrings
Save up to 18%
Deal Price: $14.99
Deal Date: Saturday, May 5

Glowing Bronze, Handcrafted Solid Rope Hammock (Double)
Save up to 27%
Deal Price: $52.99
Deal Date: Sunday, May 6

Moonlit Sparkle, Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet India Fair Trade Jewelry
Save up to 24%
Deal Price: $62.99
Deal Date: Monday, May 7

Conical Nature, 1 Quart Serving Bowl in Natural Wood Handmade in Thailand
Save up to 23%
Deal Price: $39.99
Deal Date: Tuesday, May 8

Moonlit Stars, Floral Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings
Save up to 23%
Deal Price: $27.99
Deal Date: Wednesday, May 9

Innocent Colors, Two Handwoven Striped Cotton Wrap Scarves from Thailand
Save up to 21%
Deal Price: $22.99
Deal Date: Thursday, May 10

Save up to 50% Off with NOVICA Daily Deals!


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to NOVICA for sending me this information. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Mama's Jewelry Mother's Day Special Offer!

USFamilyGuide provided me with this promotional information and offer to share with my readers. I am getting something for free in return for posting this information.

Moms work hard 365 days out of the year, so why give them another predictable gift this Mother's Day? With the exquisite collection of mothers rings from Mama's Jewelry, you're bound to make this the most unforgettable Mother's Day yet! Each time she looks down at her ring, puts on her earrings or is asked about her necklace, she'll remember just how much she's loved.

Mama's Jewelry has been designing rings and pendants for moms for 30 years, and they have no intention of slowing down! Their company is committed to creating exceptional mothers pendants, rings and earrings at affordable prices.

A key benefit to shopping with them is their fast turnaround times. As soon as they receive your order, their CAD technicians and certified jewelers get to work designing and building your custom item. All of their processes follow strict quality control measures. Everything that comes from them has their seal of approval. If they wouldn't give it to their loved ones, they won't send it to you!

Most orders for mothers rings and pendants are able to be sent out within 3 to 5 days, reaching you about a week later. If you're shopping at the last minute, Mama's Jewelry will take care of you and ensure that you get a custom made item that looks like it took months to make!

Mother's Day Special Offer - Save $10 Off already low prices. (minimum purchase $59) Use Code: MAMAS10 Visit: https://mamasjewelry.com/

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about Mama's Jewelry I am getting a FREE $69 store credit with FREE Shipping. Thanks to USFamilyGuide and Mama's Jewelry for providing me this promotion information and free credit. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting about this promotion.

God Loves Mommy and Me Book Review and Giveaway

I received this book free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

God Loves Mommy and Me is an adorable board book that uses fun rhyme and sweet illustrations to give a wonderful message of love and worth to its readers. This delightful book shows illustrations of a mommy bunny and her little bunny sharing the day's adventures together. It is a warmhearted tale about the tenderness of a mother's affection toward their child and how God loves them too.

What We Thought:
This lovely family-friendly bedtime story is a great book to snuggle up with your little ones with. We love the illustrations by Laura Watkins. They are just darling with fluffy, cuddly looking bunnies and a duckling that is little bunny's friend. The mommy and little rabbit go through the book picking flowers, kissing owies, splashing in the rain, swinging on a tire swing, hugging, walking in nature hand in hand, praying, and tucking in bed, etc. The relationship of the mother with the little bunny is beautiful. This book has a wonderful message and the author, Bonnie Rickner Jensen, weaves this message of Mother's and God's love for us throughout the book. Each moment shown is something that children can relate to and are great to share together with Parents and caretakers.
 

Zari loves the book, God Loves Mommy and Me!

I recommend this board book for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. My youngest daughter, Zari, who is in kindergarten loves this book! It is the perfect size for little hands to hold and the sturdy pages are less vulnerable to tearing. She is learning to read and it has the perfect amount of words on each page for her. She also loves looking at the cute illustrations as well.

This book celebrates the loving bond of a mother with her precious child and the God who loves them all. It is a great reminder of the God's love for everyone. We cherish this book and its message of family. It would be a perfect gift for Easter or Mother's Day.

BUY IT


WIN IT
Prize: God Loves Mommy and Me Book
Host: HarperCollins Children's Publishing and FrontGate Media.
Who Can Enter: Open to US Residents 18 years or older.
Selection Process: 10 winners will be selected on 5/8/2017 and notified by email.
Where to Enter: Go to this link http://www.blessedfreebies.com/god-lovesmommyme.html and fill out the form to enter.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Trudeau Mother's and Father's Day Gifts Review

I received these products free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Mother's Day and Father's Day is coming up and Trudeau has some fabulous products that I love and they are great gifts for mothers and fathers of all sorts. I have picked some of my three favorites from their innovative kitchen tools, gadgets and other houseware products that would be perfect to wrap up for mom or dad on their special day. Their products are perfect to gift to those that love cooking, baking, and entertaining guests as well.

Trudeau Silicone Tea Infuser With Lid. Comes in Red, Orange, and Yellow randomly picked colors.

Silicone Tea Infuser With Lid: This cheerful Silicone Tea Infuser from Trudeau is in the shape of a cute strawberry. The inside of the "berry" infuser basket holds the loose leaf tea. After filling and sealing, drop the "berry" infuser into the hot water hooking the leaf and stem over the side of the cup. Place the included silicone lid over the top of the cup to let the tea steep and keep it hot while brewing. You can also use the lid as a saucer to rest the infuser after the tea has finished steeping and to catch drips. The flexible stem and leaf doubles as a handle so you can lift the tea out of the cup after infusing is completed. It is heat resistant to 428°F/220°C. It is microwave and dishwasher safe. Comes in three randomly chosen colors: orange, yellow, and red. I received the orange one and even though I was hoping for the red one because it looks more like a strawberry it is the perfect infuser for my individual cups of loose leaf tea. The orange one reminds my girls of a oddly shaped pumpkin. I love how portable this is and that it can go with me traveling. Just be sure to use high quality loose leaf tea in this infuser because if you use more powdery stuff it will leave tea bits in your water because the holes are a bit big. It is wonderful to use this with my loose leaf tea to wind down after a long day. Great for a tea enthusiast! 5-year warranty. MSRP $6.99

Trudeau Herb and Garden Snips, Great for Rosemary!

Herb and Garden Snips: These herb scissors are wonderful for cutting twine, trimming flowers, herbs, vegetables and stripping the leaves/needles from herbs with tough stems. These have both a stainless steel scissor with micro-serrated blades and an herb stripper integrated in. These kitchen and garden shears are ergonomic with green soft grip handles made of polypropylene for a nice fit in the hand. Blades can be taken apart for effortless cleaning and never need sharpening. These are also dishwasher safe. I love using these both in and out of the kitchen. They are an essential implement for an herb garden, making floral arrangements, or a recipe that incorporates the savory flavors of herbs. I love using the Herb and Garden Snips in my herb garden to cut sprigs of herbs. They are very sharp and I have found that the herb stripper is fabulous for rosemary as well as thyme. 5-year warranty. MSRP $12.99

Trudeau Strawberry Huller at work.

Strawberry Huller: In one swift motion you can eliminate the bitter core and stem of the strawberry to enhance the natural sweet flavors of this yummy spring fruit. The easy, innovative design effectively removes the unwanted parts. Just insert from the base of the strawberry and press upwards through the center towards the stem, popping it out the top. This wonderful kitchen tool is indispensable in my kitchen when I have harvested my strawberries out of my garden and works splendidly for when I am making jam, freezing them, or using them to make yummy recipes. The strawberries really do taste better and this gadget is an easier and safer alternative to using a knife for hulling and coring. Made of BPA free silicone and stainless steel that is built to last. The red bulb comes off for easy cleaning. 5-year warranty. MSRP $8.99

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BUY IT
You can purchase the Strawberry Huller and other items from Trudeau.  Or you can help me out this season by purchasing on Amazon with my affiliate links. Thanks...



DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix 12 pk Review

My family had the privilege of trying the The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix 12 pk for this review to use in conjunction with our own homeschool curriculum. This is a Schoolhouse Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

In 1992 The Pencil Grip was invented by an educational therapist by the name of Dr. Lois Provda. The Pencil Grip, Inc. bloomed from there and now has hundreds of ingenious products for home, school, and office. There are so many neat products to choose from.

Kwik Stix 12 pk is a product from The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix are solid tempera paint sticks that can be used without paint smocks, water, brushes, and drop cloths. These are simple to use, are mess free, and have no smell. You use them how you would a glue stick and they are about the same size too. Just uncap, twist up, and paint with it. Once you are done using that particular color twist down and recap. The paint dries in 90 seconds and the colors are bright, bold, and vivid. The Kwik Stix12 pk comes with a rainbow of classic colors including: white, yellow, orange, red, pink, light green, dark green, light blue, indigo/dark blue, violet/purple, brown, and black. The paint's texture and consistency is a cross between lipstick, oil pastels, and crayons.  These work great on paper, poster board, cardboard, wood, canvas, and more! Besides classic colors these also come in 6 packs of neons and metalix. These are non-toxic and safe for little artists.

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:

Teela holding the pencil correctly with The Pencil Grip.

The Kwik Stix 12 pk we received came with a few extras from The Pencil Grip, Inc. We also received an indigo/dark blue sample Kwik Stix and a Single Pencil Grip on a promotional pen with The Pencil Grip, Inc. on it. I hope the Single Pencil Grip will help my 8 year old, Teela. She has had an awful pencil grip from day one and I have tried to get her to stop holding the pencil with a fist when she writes. This looks like it will definitely do the trick and hopefully get her in the habit of holding the pencil correctly. You can also use this for a number of other writing, drawing, and painting implements as shown in the picture above.

Kwik Stix Masterpieces

The best part of the Kwik Stix 12 pk for this mama was the no mess kids art factor! I also did not have to get out any extra equipment for coverage and no water is needed. This means no drips or spills. I wished we had used these for Teela's 8th birthday because we had so many paint drips and a spilled water cup all over the table which almost made for a disastrous soggy mess and ruined artwork. I would have used these in a heartbeat if I would have known how much easier these were to handle and clean up after.

Zari's Mother's Day Card for me, painted with Kwik Stix.

Teela's Happy Birthday card to me, painted with Kwik Stix.

Teela and her 5 year old sister loved the Kwik Stix 12 pk! The sticks were very easy for little hands to operate. I also noticed that since the paint dried quickly there was also very little color bleeding into the next. You can not get very detailed with these because of the blunt end, but the paint makes great layers and would be awesome to use for a Monet art study. Teela and Zari had fun making pictures with the Kwik Stix and they decorated cards for me for Mother's Day and my Birthday which is May 10th. I even did a picture of a llama...really, how could I resist?! These are a wonderful addition to our kids art supplies!

My llama picture, painted with Kwik Stix.

BUY IT
The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix 12 pk is $11.99 on their website. You can also go to Amazon.com to see and purchase more of their products.

Follow Them on Social Media:
Website -  http://www.thepencilgrip.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/KwikStixPaint/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ThePencilGrip @ThePencilGrip
Suggested Hashtags:  #hsreviews #KwikStix, #temperapaint, #kidsartsupplies

Read other homeschool curriculum reviews for The Pencil Grip, Inc. Kwik Stix 12 pk...

Belli Skincare Celebrate Mom Event Giveaway

Belli Skincare is having a huge giveaway that is running from April 22nd - May 3rd! The grand price package is valued over $700.  Enter Now!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this information and image for this post. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I am receiving a complimentary skin care product for posting. 

Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an Amish Mother Book Review

I love reading books about the Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites, and Plain People. I used to live in Ohio and we would go to Lehman's Hardware store in Kidron often. Lehman's sells non-electric alternatives and a whole slew of really neat products that I loved perusing every time I was there. I was captivated by the Plain People that lived there. I would see them shopping at Lehman's with their families too, on the road with their horse drawn buggies or trying to make a living selling their wares on the side of the road. I always fantasized about how simple and perfect it might be to live like them. They seemed so much apart from my own life in the city.

Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an Amish Mother by Marianne Jantzi is a collection of journal entries from her own Amish family. The book is the 4th part of a series called Plainspoken by Herald Press. This series gives readers an inside scoop of the life of a Plain Person with actual accounts from the Anabaptists themselves. Each book includes "A Day in the Life of the Author" and the author's answers to FAQs about the Amish.

While reading Simple Pleasures I couldn't help but notice how similar the author's challenges and parenting struggles were with mine. She struck a chord with me. I had been fed, for the most part, only half truths about the Amish. In the media their lives were portrayed as somewhat idealistic. Marianne Jantzi opened my eyes to a more revealing and honest account of how the life of an Amish mother really is. Her book is an authentic and true-life tale from slices of her life. She is very open on what she feels and she tells her story how it actually is.

I was glad though that in the first few pages (Author's Note) of Simple Pleasures Marianne introduces everyone in her family and how the book was going to be laid out, so for me there were no surprises, but I do wish that each entry had a date so I wasn't guessing at that. The book is laid out in 8 parts that are categorized by a main theme. Each part has chapters under it that goes into even more precise themes. Each chapter has snippets of  Marianne's life that are separated by three dots. These are not in sequence of how they happened in her life, but rather by the themes.

My favorite parts to read were Winter Blows Cold and Garden of Plenty. When I lived in the city I really hadn't noticed how much I took for granted, but living in the country shows me how thankful I am for the very food on our table and the fact I helped grow some of it! In Thankful Hearts on page 49 I love how she writes about the fall season. "Once again, late autumn speaks-urging us, warning us. Time is running out. Frosty days are just around the corner. Gather those apples, cabbages, pumpkins, and squash. Fill the woodshed. Stuff the cracks. Hurry, hurry through the golden autumn days." It was also so nice to read about Marianne's garden in Five Rows of Peas (chapter 29). I love gardening and now that I am a certified Master Gardener I expect to be doing a lot more of it. I also love the "instructions for planting a garden" she included in this chapter. Such great advice! I've also never heard of "Kiddie Packets" (page 189) and will have to try these out with my youngsters if I can find which seed company offers them. I thought her seed apron was a fantastic idea and although it sounded fairly simple to make I still wish I was better at sewing to make myself one.

I love that at the end of the book the Jantzi's include their favorite family recipes. I will have to try Sister Kathryn's Salsa this harvest season when I have enough tomatoes, peppers, and onions from my garden collected. My kids will love the easy treat recipes that are also included too because they love to make goodies to eat.

About the book (from the publisher):

Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an Amish Mother (MennoMedia, March 2016)

Young Amish homemaker Marianne Jantzi invites readers into her family's life on the snowy plains of Ontario.

The mother of four young children and wife of a storekeeper, Jantzi writes about her daily routines and heartfelt faith with equal measures of wit and warmth. Sewing, cleaning, cooking, gardening, and helping to manage the store take up most hours in her day, but Jantzi finds time to pen columns for the Connection, a magazine beloved by Amish and Mennonite readers across the United States and Canada. Never sugarcoating the frustrations of motherhood, Jantzi tells it like it is, broken washing machine and bickering children and all. But through her busy days, Jantzi finds strength in simple pleasures of family, fellowship with her Amish community, and quiet time with God.

About the author (from the publisher):

Marianne Jantzi is an Amish writer and homemaker in Ontario, Canada. Formerly a teacher in an Amish school, Jantzi now educates and inspires through her "Northern Reflections" column for The Connection, a magazine directed mainly to Amish and plain communities across the U.S. and Canada. She and her husband have four young children and run a shoe store among the Milverton Amish settlement of Ontario.

BUY IT
This would be a wonderful gift for Mother's Day. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1p0SQvJ

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Everyday MOMents: Discovering Christ in the Details of Motherhood Book Review #MyEverydayMOMents

I received Everyday MOMents by Jessica Poe for free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Every mother has felt exhausted, overwhelmed, discouraged, unimportant, and unappreciated at some point in their mothering career. As mothers, some days feel like they are mundane and repetitious. Sometimes we end up feeling like train wrecks at the end of the day. It is hard to feel close to Christ when we get so lost in going about our daily responsibilities that we lose sight of our spiritual importance. Believe me, I have been there!

I am a mother of 4 children currently. I had a daughter, Tatiana, who was disabled and medically fragile. She was our little miracle child and we were lucky to have her as long as we did (for 6 years) because she was only given a year. She was so happy all the time, but in and out of the hospital so much. While she was alive she reminded me everyday that Heavenly Father had tremendously blessed my family and when she passed away I felt my heart was being ripped apart. I had two to three other children while she was alive and even though days were difficult and demanding I still made it through it all. I know now that I couldn't have done it at all without my faith in Christ and my daughter's smile. Throughout all of my family's many trials, tribulations, and everyday moments we try to stay strong and "Hold to the Rod"*. Together we have made it through a lot and I know that even though there might be rough times ahead, together, with our faith in Christ, we can move mountains. He has always been there for me through thick and thin, guiding me by the Holy Spirit and she was the one that reminded me to think of Him always. She was my spiritual eyes, ever so innocent and in tune. I miss this connection that I had with Christ. As my children grow older I feel the need to have more guidance from the Holy Spirit than ever before.

In the book Everyday MOMents the author, Jessica Poe, sets out to help "any mothering hearts who seek to come closer to Christ" by discovering Christ in the details of motherhood. Everyday MOMents is an inspiring and uplifting book that shows us that even in the monotonous days we can become closer to Christ by gaining a spiritual perspective for all things no matter how small or large. We should always look for Christ in everything so that we think of Him always and feel His enlightened presence beside us. In this we will gain a better understanding of our sacred duties as mothers and be more receptive to the Spirit so that we can act on the messages He sends us, feeling ever closer to Christ.

Get your free study guide by clicking HERE.

I am glad I came across Everyday MOMents. I love that Jessica Poe has given us her own life lessons to ponder in this book. After each chapter there are things to reflect upon and apply to our own lives. It has reminded me that my duties as a mother are important, worthwhile, and filled with Christ. Chapter 6 is all about Tuning Out to Tune In. I have become more aware recently of my tech habits and how much I am physically and mentally attached to my computer. I have been trying to work on having a family day where we all tune out technology to tune in each other. This is HUGE for my family because we seem to have gotten out of having Family Home Evening now that my oldest is a teen and I feel we need to become more connected with each other again. Besides this little gem, Jessica has so many other great stories, suggestions, insights, and inspirations in this book that will help you and your family gain a more Christlike existence.

BUY IT
I would recommend this book to all mothers or soon to be mothers. It would be a great gift for someone on Mother's Day.



*See the story of Lehi's Dream.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

My Mother's Day and Birthday Gifts

This year my Birthday and Mother's Day fell on the same day, May 10th. My Mother's Day gifts consisted of blueberry pancakes and french toast made by my oldest son in the morning, a beautiful handmade card and newly planted Marigold from Teela, and 6 garden beds full of new soil, herbs, tomatoes, vegetables, and strawberry plants from my husband. We had to majorly upscale the garden this year because we found last year that two beds don't really feed a family of 6 very well. We are also planning on putting in 6 more if we get around to it. The orchard we planted last year is in the background along with some chopped wood we are going to sell. Isn't it pretty!

We have raised bed gardens! Yay!

The card Teela handmade was absolutely adorable. The front had a heart glued on and on the inside she drew a forest scene with trees, nests of baby birds, mama and daddy birds, bees buzzing around a hive, butterflies, a sun, ladybug, bunnies, a deer, squirrel, and flowers. On the back she drew a heart filled with smaller hearts and three people holding it at the bottom, one person swinging off of it, and another climbing a ladder that goes to the top where you can apparently slide down a rainbow on the other side. Very clever :)

My Marigold plant and Mother's Day & Birthday Card from Teela.

My husband also took me to Burgerville in Kelso Washington so that I could participate in their annual free Mother's Day Strawberry Treat. They had a sundae and a shortcake you could pick from. I got the sundae this year. Yummy!

My Free Mother's Day Burgerville Strawberry Sundae. Yummy!

After I got my sundae and brought it home we ate my favorite Extreme Veggie artichoke pizza from our local Hometown Pizza and sang some My Little Karaoke with my family. I am really thankful for my family and grateful for everything they do for me.

How was your Mother's Day??

ReCollected Pieces Personalized Photo Jewelry Review and Giveaway

Personalized Photo Jewelry from ReCollected Pieces

We received these necklaces free from ReCollected Pieces to facilitate this review and the opportunity to giveaway one personalized pendant ($20 value) to one reader.

ReCollected Pieces is local to me, located out of Portland Oregon. Tabitha is the owner and she makes personalized photo jewelry pieces. These gorgeous pieces are the perfect gift for any special occasion. They are also ideal for Mother's Day!

These are the photos I picked for Tabitha to use.

I received two pendant necklaces, both done in large square 24K gold plated pewter. The first necklace is in memory of my beautiful daughter, Tatiana, whom passed away in 2010. It hangs on a gold-plated ball chain with a fixed stamped "T" gold heart, rose gold drop and pink Swarovski crystal embellishment. I love this necklace of my daughter, Tatiana! She will always be close to my heart and this necklace is a perfect way to communicate this. The second necklace has a photo of my husband, Brian, and I. It also hangs on a gold-plated ball chain with two jade round bead accents that move freely up and down the chain.

I loved how the necklaces were packaged in brightly colored tissue paper and hung on a card inside when they arrived. I was not expecting the embellishments at all. They were a very happy surprise and really made the pieces even more exceptional. Both necklaces turned out very lovely. I will certainly treasure my necklaces from Recollected Pieces forever.

ReCollected Pieces wrapped up in pretty tissue paper.

Tabitha, of ReCollected Pieces, was very nice and friendly to work with. She had a few hiccups with my order. The heart pendants that she was offering just didn't work out with her resin technique, so she took them off her list. To compensate for the inconvenience, she made me two pendant necklaces instead of just one. Because the heart was no longer a choice she made me square shaped pendants. As you can probably see, Tabitha really puts her heart and soul into these pieces to make them all very special and unique to the wearer.

My gorgeous Personalized Photo Pendant Necklaces from ReCollected Pieces.

Give yourself or your loved one a truly memorable piece of jewelry this upcoming Mother's Day. Jewelry pieces start at $20. Normal production time usually takes about one week to complete then mail and can be shipped worldwide. They can be personalized with any digital photograph or art (minimum quality 300dpi). The image is cropped to fit the shape of the pendant you choose. There are different shapes, sizes, materials, and embellishments/accents that you can pick from easily from their list on their Facebook page in their photo section. Besides single sided pendants you can even pick a double sided pendant, a pendant that hangs from another pendant, a photo bracelet with multiple images, or even photo ornaments. Tabitha at ReCollected Pieces will work with you to make a truly one of a kind piece for you or your loved one.

Follow ReCollected Pieces:
Website: http://www.recollectedpieces.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recollectedpieces
Newsletter: https://www.facebook.com/recollectedpieces/app_100265896690345

WIN IT
Prize: One personalized photo pendant ($20 value) from ReCollected Pieces. The winner can choose any pendant they would like (circle, square, oval, rectangle - gold or silver).

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received products for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to giveaway one personalized pendant ($20 value) to one reader. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review and giveaway.

My Birthday and Mother's Day: Visit to Tillamook Oregon

I decided to celebrate my birthday and Mother's Day with my family and my parents in Tillamook Oregon. My birthday was on May 10th and Mother's Day was May 12th, so we decided to go May 11th to celebrate.

My parents live in Sweet Home Oregon and we live in Rainier Oregon, so for both of us it was about a 3 hour drive give or take a little bit. My family were coming from different ways to Tillamook than my parents and so we planned on meeting at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for lunch. On their way to Tillamook...guess what...my dad got lost (He is notorious for doing so and I think a Magellan GPS might be a great present for him for Father's Day! We have one and love it!).

While we were waiting for my parents to arrive we went and to see the Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge along the Oregon Coast. We hiked up a trail to see the Octopus Tree first. The hike was really nice and not too much for Teela and Zari. When we got to the Octopus Tree someone offered to take a whole family shot in front of it. We all loved the scenery and spectacular views over the cape.

We then went inside to tour the Cape Meares Lighthouse. It has a delightful little gift shop inside the bottom floor and then you take some spiral stairs up to the beacon tower lantern house. We learned from the guide that this lighthouse had some vandalism in 2010 and back in 1963 while it was vacant for a number of years to the gorgeous Fresnel (pronounced "Fraynel") lens and the building itself. It is very unfortunate that people would want to harm such a wonderful historic building and I am very happy we got to see it.

After the tour we hiked up a different trail to the parking lot and we saw the Three Arch Rocks out in the distance. The Three Arch Rocks Refuge is home to Oregon's largest seabird nesting colony. We saw a number of wildlife including a Millipede the girls stopped to look at.

Finally we met up with my parents at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and by that time my tummy was growling of hunger. My parents had brought sandwiches, chips, juice, fresh fruit & veggies and deviled eggs in a cooler. We sat around a tree on park benches and ate a very nice picnic.

Then we went inside the factory to explore. They have a lot of neat things to look at and some fun stuff to pose with. While we were downstairs briefly, before we headed upstairs, my kids posed in the plywood cow and farmer cutout with their heads poking through. Teela is a very cute moo, don't you think?

Upstairs we could watch the process of packaging cheese through a viewing window and we could also see the large cheese vats that they mixed the cheese into in another viewing area. Upstairs they also had some interactive video consoles that played the history of the factory and Tillamook city. They also had some antique cheese making equipment behind glass in cabinets that you could see.

Back downstairs again we sampled some various cheeses and then headed on over to the ice cream parlor to have some delicious authentic Tillamook creamery ice cream in waffle cones. I had black cherry and it was so yummy! The kids all had mint chocolate chip and the others had different flavors. Teela and Zari had to have a bowl under theirs because it melted quickly and was dripping...I got them a couple of spoons to help them along. Then my boys goofed off in the Loaf Love Tour Bus for silly pictures.

After lunch and dessert we decided to go see the Munson Creek Falls. We were really enjoying the weather. It had held out for us and didn't rain at all while we were in Tillamook for our day trip. Unfortunately by the time we arrived Zari had fallen asleep in the van in her car seat. My husband, Brian, decided he would stay behind until she awoke because he was feeling the ill effects of all this walking in conjunction with his Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and needed to sit for a while anyway. The rest of us walked up the trail to the Munson Creek Falls and were enjoying all the lush green around us. There was this awesome gigantic tree that had large roots nearby and I got some neat pictures of it as well as the waterfalls and creek. When we got back to where we parked we noticed that Brian had taken Zari to the creek to look at rocks because she had awoke. The kids also had fun racing leaves down the water in the creek.

Next we headed to the beach to round out the day. We saw kelp, seaweed, driftwood and sea shells that had washed up onto the sand. My boys took off their shoes and immediately waded out into the ocean waves. My girls played in the sand together with their sand toys: sifting, shoveling, scooping, packing, dumping, mixing, raking and molding. What fun! Jaedan couldn't help but love it when Delbin wanted him to bury his bottom half in the sand. My mom also got out some special treats when every one was washed up, some chocolate dipped and covered strawberries! Yummy! Brian had found some neat treasures while beach combing: an agate, some whole sand dollars, mussel shells, a piece of coral (I am going to string onto a necklace) and a crab shell.

We brushed the sand off the kids as best we could, said our goodbyes to my parents and my mom gave us a cake she made for Jaedan's birthday party (his birthday is May 15th and we are celebrating with his friends on the 25th) we could freeze when we got home and a yellow butterfly shirt (that reminded me of Fluttershy, an MLP) for my birthday.

We had wanted to do other things too, but ran out of time. My husband was eying the helicopter rides and the paragliding. Maybe next time we are in the area we can do these.

We then climbed into the van for the ride home to our dog, Prince, who was being dog sat by our neighbor while we were away. We had Subway sandwiches on our way home and when we got home we climbed into bed exhausted, but happy. Our day as a family together turned out really well. I had a really nice birthday and Mother's Day outing.

How was your Mother's Day??

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: No compensation was received for this post. This post is a personal post written by me.

G.H. Cretors Popped Corn Review

I received a variety sample pack free to facilitate this review.

If you have a mother in your household that loves popcorn consider getting her GH Cretors popped corn for Mother's Day. GH Cretors is all-natural and gourmet popped corn. Each batch is popped the good old fashioned way, by hand in copper kettles! They come in these flavors: Chicago Mix, Caramel, Caramel Nut Crunch, Cheddar Cheese, and Kettle corn. A 5ct variety sample pack containing one of each flavor is under $20, available at ghcretors.com.

GH Cretors has been around for a while..."It all began in 1885 when Great Grandpa Cretors invented the popcorn machine and our family began perfecting the art of popping corn. His modern machine appeared at the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893, and for five generations we’ve been following in his corn-popping footsteps, taste-testing recipes around our kitchen table."

Variety Sample pack includes:

• 6.5oz bag of Chicago Mix
• 6.5oz bag of Just the Cheese Corn
• 7oz bag of Kettle Corn
• 8oz bag of Just the Caramel Corn
• 8oz bag of Caramel Nut Crunch

All Natural…Naturally!

• They use Brown Rice Syrup (not corn syrup)
• No artificial flavors or colors
• No gluten ingredients
• Made with fresh creamery butter
• They use natural sweeteners
• They use locally grown Non-GMO popcorn
• Certified Kosher

These were all very good and since they were all natural and GMO free I didn't at all regret giving them to my family to snack on. All were large and fluffy popped kettle corn that has a great crunch at first and then melts in your mouth. These are great to have on movie night with the family, on the go, or anytime for a healthy snack food alternative.

My favorite was the Caramel Nut Crunch. This had yummy whole roasted almonds and cashews added to the sweet crunch of the caramel corn. I love both of those nuts so much better than peanuts and the caramel corn was so creamy and buttery. My next favorite was the caramel corn and then the Chicago Mix which was something I had never had before. The Chicago Mix is caramel corn and cheddar corn put in one bag together. The mix was very interesting, but also very addicting. My family devoured the kettle corn and its wonderful both sweet and salty taste. The cheese corn was my daughter, Teela's favorite. She loved the rich cheddar cheese taste in every mouthful. My kids couldn't keep their hands out of the bags when they were opened and brought out to munch on. The bags of GH Cretors popped corn disappeared very quickly and after they were gone my whole family craved more.

BUY IT
A 5ct variety sample pack containing one of each flavor is under $20, available at ghcretors.com. They also have 12 packs of a certain flavor for under $40.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Novica $40 GC Mother's Day Giveaway

I received a free $40 GC to get something for myself for posting this provided information and the opportunity to also give another away. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else.

Mother's Day is coming very soon and Novica is wonderful for Mother's Day gifts! They have gorgeous one of a kind, handmade keepsake gifts and their artisans put so much thought and attention into everything. I love the selection of great gifts for all occasions they have. Novica is a Fair Trade company and they have so much to offer. They have wonderful Handmade Mother's Day Gifts, Mother's Day Earrings, Mother's Day Necklaces, Mother's Day Vases, Mother's Day Handbags, Mother's Day Paintings, etc.

They have a new Mother's Day Gift Finder to help you with your selection. Why not pick out a fabulous Novica Mother's Day gift for the special mom in your life and don't forget to enter the giveaway below.

WIN IT
Prize: 1 winner will win a $40 GC for using at Novica.com that will expire on 6/25/2013.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received a $40 GC for free to get something for myself for posting this provided information and the opportunity to give another away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this post.

Best of Warner Bros 100 Film Mother's Day Giveaway & Blog App

I have the opportunity to give away the Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP) below for posting this information. All information was provided by Warner Brothers and PartnersHub.

We think that most can agree... Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves! Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

Announcing the Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP) and The Mother’s Day Movie Night Blog App!



Blog App:

• Guess-the-Scene Game! How well do you know the silver screen’s most famous love stories and sing-a-longs? Play the Guess-the-Scene game to test your knowledge on the world’s greatest films! The quicker you pick, the more points you score. Ready? Action! 
• Words in Film! Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling! 
• Movie Night Conversation Starters! Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories... this Mother’s Day make it a point to connect with your family and give them a chance to learn something about mom they never knew! 
• Get Social! Tweet with the #BestofWB hashtag and get excited for the release of The Best of WB 100 Film Collection.

My Perfect Mother’s Day - This funny Fill-in-the-Blank sheet is all about your DREAM Mothers Day! Click the image above to download your own. Fill it out, and hang it on the fridge so that the whole family can see :)

Good morning, it’s your dream Mother’s Day! Anything can happen!

Waking up after sleeping in, I’m greeted with a breakfast of ________________ (food).

I’m spending the morning relaxing while watching my all-time favorite musical ___________ (movie title). I remember watching it for the first time when I was ________ years old.

Of course, I can’t watch this movie without my favorite movie snack ___________ !

For lunch, my friends and I are taken to dine at ________________ (restaurant). Bouquets of _________ (flower) greet us on arrival.

On our way home, our car unexpectedly hits a time warp and we’re teleported back to the set of my favorite romance film!

I find myself playing the role of my favorite character ___________________ (character).

Suddenly, I’m hollywood’s next big star! I’m strutting down every red carpet and being invited to all the exclusive premieres... I’m even dating the cutest movie star __________ and our celebrity couple name is _________________.

Suddenly I wake up and find myself safely back in my bed. Looks like I must have dozed off and started dreaming!

WIN IT
Prize: Win the Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP): 100 movies including all 22 of Warner Bros. Library’s Best Picture™ winners on 55 discs presented in book style premium packaging. Plus two all-new documentaries: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot and The Warner Bros. Lot Tour. With hours of commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more on select films. Also includes a limited edition 27” x 40” poster, plus a postcard series of Warner Bros. movie posters designed by legendary Bill Gold. MORE INFO: http://bit.ly/Vugkdd

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Best of Warner Bros 100 Film Mother's Day blog app I am getting a Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP) free for my readers as a giveaway. Thanks to PartnersHub and Warner Bros. for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this blog app and giveaway.

Wahl Flex Therapy Mini Wand Rechargeable Massager Review and Wahl Facebook Giveaway

Being a mother is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. It is also one of the most rewarding roles a woman can do with her life. As mothers we work hard to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of motherhood so that our offspring can learn and grow to be caring individuals. Usually mothers don't have any time to spend to themselves. They instead give of there time unselfishly to those they love.

Every mother wishes for a wonderful Mother's Day. You can make her day extra special by getting her a Wahl Massager. I love mine! I received a Wahl Flex Therapy Mini Wand Rechargeable Massager for free to test and review. I am so glad I did. It is nice to get to relax at the end of a long day and be massaged. This little ergonomically shaped hand-held massager is just the ticket!

This wand massager is compact, but powerful. After being charged with its charger while sitting in its charge storage stand it can be used for over 2 hours. It has 7 massage attachments (knuckle joint, muscle kneading, general body, scalp stimulator, facial vitalizer, deep muscle stimulator, and a spot applicator). These attachments are easily removed and exchanged with each other. The instructions that come with the massager are very helpful in telling massage techniques for different areas of the body. It soothes, relieves and relaxes tension, stress, aches and pain. It also improves blood circulation and has a flexible neck to conform to areas that are normally hard to target. This massager also comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

Enter Wahl's Giveaway on Facebook. From April 26 to May 13 you can like Wahl Home on Facebook  and can nominate a mom to win a mom relief package from Wahl. It doesn't matter if it’s your mom, grandmother, wife, daughter, a friend or yourself.

• To enter the Mom Relief Initiative, simply post a comment explaining why the mom on your list deserves relief. Every mom has a story and every story matters.
• Entries will be judged on their uniqueness and sincerity and the winners will be selected once the contest wraps up on May 13. Stories MUST be submitted before then in order to be considered

BUY IT:
You can purchase this massager for $34.99 (or less).

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Wahl and MamaBuzz for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Smart Mom Malachite and Green Teething Bling Review and Gift Set Rafflecopter Giveaway

Earth Day and Mother's Day are just around the corner and I believe that Smart Mom Teething Bling are wonderful gifts for moms with little ones still teething. I also believe that the jewelry are also great for girls after that teething point too, not just moms. My almost 4 year old daughter also loves to wear my Teething Bling and I let her because I know it is safe. I also know that it is safe for my one year old daughter Zari to chew on and tug on. The pendants have a clasp that when tugged on will pop open without harm to the jewelry or the person wearing it and both the pendants and bangles are made of plastic that is food-safe, non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, latex, lead, and PVC free. They are also dishwasher-friendly.

I was sent the Malachite and Green Teething Bling Gift Set to review for my Spring Gift Guide and this set is absolutely gorgeous! The Malachite and Green Teething Bling Gift Set comes with the Malachite Pendant, the Peridot Bangle, and the Yellow Green Bangle. You can definitely get your GREEN on for Earth Day with this set! I love how the above picture turned out of my daughter Zari and I. My 9 year old son, Jaedan, took it while we lounged in the sun and the shade of my Magnolia tree. I thought it was a gorgeous spot because the white Magnolia petals were falling all around the tree, but the ground was a bit damp still from the morning dew and so I placed my husband's camouflage poncho liner beneath us to sit upon.

BUY IT:
All of the Smart Mom Jewelry would be a wonderful gift this Spring for a mom to a small one or a mother to be. Teething/Teen Bling Pendants cost $15.99-$23.99, Bangles cost $12.99 individually. You can even design your own gift set of either 3 bangles ($28.75) of your choice or one pendant and two bangles ($34.00) of your choice.

WIN IT:
Prize: Win a Gift Set of winners choice.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Smart Mom, LLC for sending me product for free to review and one to give away for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Smart Mom Teething Bling Bangles 50% off This Weekend!!

Smart Mom Teething Bling Bangles 50% off This Weekend!! Such a great gift for Mother's Day that is coming up! They are $6.50 each right now! I will be getting the hot pink one and the vanilla bean scented one for Easter and Mother's Day!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I love this website and their products and wanted to share this sale with my readers because I took part in it and thought they would want to also. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. No monetary/product exchange took place.