Last Minute Gift Idea! Tickets to The Piano Guys!

 

Looking for the perfect last minute gift idea? This one is so good, they won't even know you didn't start shopping until Christmas was very near. ;)  In fact, it's so thoughtful it might even end up being their favorite holiday gift, and they'll get to use it next year, so it's like getting something twice! I'm talking about tickets to see The Piano Guys in concert. They are on sale now, and we've got our seats reserved! That is something I am so thrilled to say!! I love to watch them play. Their enthusiasm and pure joy is contagious. It's nice when people love what they do. And their talent is undeniable. THIS is going to be a fun show and it will be the first time I've seen them live (woohoo!). 

The video I put up is my very favorite Christmas song that they do. There are others that are fantastic but this song was my introduction to The Piano Guys and the reason that I fell in love with them, so it will always be my very favorite. I hope you hit play and that you enjoy it too.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. I was hoping to get around to the blogs to say hello and happy, happy, but so much is going on this time of year...but I'm thinking of you though, and will stop in before the new year. I hope everyone enjoys their holiday time!! 

Lugz for Christmas EVERY YEAR!

Disclosure: I received a product or a discount code to use towards the purchase of one. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

It seems like so many families have those items they buy every single year for members of their friends/family circle, and so without even thinking about it they become a tradition of sorts. For us, it's the Lugz Boots. I have 3 grown children who love boots and this brand is second to none for style, function and customer service. As if that was not enough to fall in love with them, they also donate to charity. For every purchase made of their men's and women's Convoy styles between now and December 31st, Lugz will donate $1.80 to City Harvest (up to $10,000), an organization that helps feed those who are living in New York and are hungry. 

----- Tips on How to Spend Your Summer Vacation

This is a collaborative post. Please welcome today's contributor.

Image credit

Your summer vacation can be both a boon and a bane; thus, you have to find exciting things to do all through lest it becomes boring. It is a boon never to stay up all night burning the midnight oil writing endless and boring papers. At the same time, it is a bane since you are likely to be unsure of what to do with your extra time, and you may find yourself fretting often.

You no longer have to fret anymore since this blog will offer you the perfect solution to spend your summer holiday.  

American Underdog in Theaters Christmas Day! Flash Giveawy

Many thanks to Kingdom Story Company for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

Almost everyone knows who Kurt Warner is... but not everyone knows his story. Now there is a chance to see it live on the big screen: American Underdog will be in theaters everywhere, starting Christmas Day! 

This is a Florida Snowman: Unique Snow-mandarins Craft Idea from Halos

 Disclosure: I received a free product(s) or a discount code to use towards a purchase from @halosfun

Wonderful Halos mandarins – the sweet, seedless, easy-to-peel snack with added benefits of vitamin C for the winter months recommended a DIY Wonderful Halos Snowman-darin craft. and we decided to give it a try! After all, in Florida, the only snowmen we are going to see this year, are the ones we made with these delicious mandarins (I'm not sad about that!) and the best part is that after we were done, we got to eat them (I wasn't sad about that either). 😍

Ongoing Air Shipments! No Price Hikes and Receive for the Holidays!

Disclosure: I received sample products or a discount code to apply towards purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Ty Warner, owner of the largest manufacturer of soft toys in the world, has financed more than 150 air shipment flights since October, and the shipments continue. With typical cargo flight costing anywhere from $1.5 to $2 million dollars, business pages are full of articles about the exorbitant cost of shipping sparking price increases. That is not the case with Ty as they are proceeding without any price increases. See general collection here https://shop.ty.com/or Christmas collection here https://shop.ty.com/catalog/christmas

Consumers, retailers and even a jolly North Pole resident are discovering how one toymaker is taking extraordinary measures and airlifting to the U.S. for quick distribution. Boys and girls awaiting snuggly Beanie Babies or Beanie Boos will not be disappointed thanks to Ty.

The Waltons Homecoming! Great Stocking Stuffer Gift Idea!

Disclosure: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

Anyone remember the Waltons? That was one of my family's most favorite shows when I was growing up, and it was tied as the number one favorite for my mom (tied with Little House on the Prairie) so it holds a special place in my very nostalgic heart. If you have Waltons' lovers in your family too, this could make a great holiday gift surprise!

The Best Place to Buy Calendars: Great Gift Idea!

Disclosure: I have received free products or a discount code to apply towards a purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Once Thanksgiving passes, it hits me that the new year is almost here. It is also the time of year where I shop for my new wall calendars. I've heard some people say they don't use them anymore, but everyone I know still has them and uses them. For me, it's the pictures!! I love to get a wall calendar with pictures of Italy on it to hang in my kitchen each year. It didn't use to matter to me where I got the calendar from, but you know, once you find a place you love, it tends to become the only place you shop because there's no reason to look elsewhere when you've found exactly what you want and need. For me, it's Workman Publishing. For the last several years, I have gotten my calendar full of Italy pictures from them and I love it so much. It reminds me of places I have been and places I still want to go. Italy has more places in it than any other, that are resting firmly on my future 'to do' travel list. My #1 place that I still want to see is Venice!!

Holiday Gift Guide for Girls 6-12 (Top 10 Picks)

When thinking of what to get my oldest granddaughter for Christmas, my mind immediately goes to several areas she loves such as art, games, books, and CATS! Oh how she loves cats. So in comprising my holiday gift guide for children aged 6-12 (she is 8), these are my Top 10 gift idea suggestions. These are all products I know my granddaughter will use and enjoy.

1. Art. She loves art. She loves to create, and whether that means drawing, painting, or building, she's  all in for it. iHeartArt from Bright Stripes has some great sets available that are also very affordable. The metallic watercolors and gel pens above are two of my favorites because they have glitter! She is a BIG fan of glitter. What little girl wouldn't love to receive a huge set of pens that write in neon, shiny glitter and pastels?! And how very exciting to have your paint be metallic and saturated with sparkles. As a child that is magical (and admittedly, it's even cool to see/use when you are an adult). Creations are endless when you spark imagination with products like these.

For the Budding Artist Who Loves Sparkles! iHeartArt

 Disclosure: I received a complimentary product or a discount to apply towards the purchase of one.

A lot of us give craft items to the kiddos on our holiday shopping lists, and I am one of those moms/grandmas. Imagine the surprise this year, however, when my baby grand opens her gifts and finds that her paint and pens from Bright Stripes iHeartArt are infused with sparkles!! She loves sparkles, and that makes her a girl after my own heart because so do I. 

Limited Edition Steelbook Christmas Specials Collection

Disclosure: I received a free product or discount code to use towards a purchase. All opinions, however, are genuine.

When I was a kid, and maybe some of you remember, you had to find out which night these shows were on and make sure you were planted firmly in front of the TV so you didn't miss it! It came on one night, and one night only and if you missed it, you weren't going to get to see it for the whole season. Can you imagine a season without Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? No? Nor could I! Thankfully, I never missed one, and now at 51-years-old, I still enjoy them every bit as much as I did when I was a child. The difference now is that I can view them whenever I want because they are on DVD. Imagine my glee when I saw that Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has put out a limited edition steelbook 5-movie Blu-Ray DVD collection. Now this is a perfect addition to add to our home...and the home of every single person in my family who has a child young enough to enjoy it. ;)  Let's introduce a new generation to the joy of these Christmas Classics.

Teleflora is Giving Away Airline Tickets! Reunite with Family #LoveOutLoudContest

Disclosure: I received a gift code or discount to use towards a purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

God With Us: A Journey Home with BOOK GIVEAWAY

Disclosure: Many thanks to Shepherd Press for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

There are certain staples we give each year and books definitely fall into that category. Fostering the love of reading in our children is important. This year, I'll be gifting "God With Us: A Journey Home" by Jeremy Pierre.

Burga Phone Case Giveaway (Ends 12/25) @Burgaofficial

 Disclosure: this is not a sponsored post. I was not compensated to share the giveaway.

Welcome To The Burga Phone Case Giveaway!

This giveaway is part of our Holiday Gift Guide. Stop by to see all the great giveaways and products!

Not only gorgeous, but also super protective. The almost impossible to find intersection between durable and pretty. Our designer phone covers offer shockproof protection and heavy-duty coverage, yet they remain slim and do not bulk up your device.

Whose Lasagna is it Anyway?

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He likes his lasagna layered differently than I do. He likes to use cottage cheese with little dollops of it spread throughout each layer of noodles. I like to have Ricotta as one thin layer at the bottom. You would think that after six years of being divorced, the lasagna would have been made the way I like it. Old habits die hard, I guess, and I realized one day, with a hearty laugh, that I was still doing it his way. The bigger zinger, and definite catalyst for change, was the realization that I had never even considered buying Ricotta at the grocery store. Not just that time, but every time (since the day we were married, many years ago).

That got me thinking: what else was I doing his way? A short journey around the house showed I was doing a lot of things the way I was used to doing them because that’s the way he liked them. I still kept the air conditioner at 77-degrees, kept the radio off in the house, and I even still purchased Powerade over Gatorade, when in fact, I like Gatorade better. In fact, the only thing I’d really changed was that we had gotten a cat a few years back, and he was 100% against any pets. So…for six years we’ve been split, and for six years I’ve still been doing most things the same way.  

It’s not that I was against doing things his way when were married; I wasn’t. It’s just that somewhere along the way, I forgot that I like things my way too. So, okay… time for a mental reset. I told myself right then and there, that this was my new life, and part of the joy of living this new life is that I get to do things my way. Yes, being married can be a wonderful thing, and compromise is a given…but that’s not something I have to worry about anymore. This is my place, not his and my place. I can explore the things that give me peace and bring me joy, and that is exactly what I am now very intentionally doing.

In fact, at this very moment, I am lounging on the couch mid-day, with the teen’s music blasting (not my favorite music but he’s enjoying himself), our sweet cat is snuggled at my hip (on the couch, gasp) and the air conditioner is set to a very comfortable 75-degrees. When I’m finished, I’ll need to start a grocery list for next week. I’m thinking I’ll make a lasagna again…just so I can buy and use the Ricotta.

$50 Novica Gift Card Giveaway

Disclosure: affiliate links included. If anyone makes a purchase using my link, I get a very small, but appreciated commission. 

Novica is a company that supports artisans around the world. You may have heard of them before? If not, head on over to check out their great selections, many of which are handmade with love, care and talent. If you are a big supporter of artisans, consider perusing the site for holiday gift ideas. That's what I've been doing over here.

New Fragrance Release: Lottie Moss

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product or discount code to use towards purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I've been on a fragrance kick for the last couple of years. I built up a little much-loved collection, sold most of it after finding out my teen was allergic to strong perfume, and rebuilt with a softer, less bold collection (that I love just as much). I am a part of several fragrance groups with likeminded people who like to discuss and discover new scents as much as I do, and now I've found a company to partner with that offers a variety of brands, some I know and some I have yet to discover: Scent Beauty. 

-------------- Making The Most Of The Rest Of The Year

This is a collaborative post. Please welcome today's contributor. 

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The last year and a half have been very difficult and challenging so while we move into the holiday season it’s a great time to start looking to the future as we are enjoying the here and now. There are only a few months left of 2021 so it is important we look to make the most of it.

God's Not Dead: We the People. 3 Days Only!

 Disclosure: Many thanks to Pinnacle Peak for providing this product/information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by compensation. 

The next installment in the God's Not Dead movie series will be released in theaters October 4th and will be running for THREE DAYS ONLY! Featuring Christian singer Francesca Battistelli, who plays a mom fighting for the right to continue educating her children at home, it is a must-see for anyone, but will strike a particular chord with those who homeschool or are considering becoming a part of the homeschooling community. 

Love Don't Be Shy Extreme (Limited Edition) Eau de Parfum

Every once in awhile I am sharply reminded that not everyone around me loves fragrance, such as is the case today when I gushed to my sister-in-law about my new Kilian perfume. "Never heard of it," she said. "Never heard of what?" I asked, still not 'getting it' that she had never heard of the house of Kilian... and then I realized, and I laughed. I have become so immersed in this land of perfume that it seemed unfathomable for a moment that someone hadn't heard of Kilian. Hearing or reading the name mentioned nearly every single day in perfume chats, research, or online, the name has become a part of my everyday vocabulary (and with good reason). But I do realize I am floating around on a scent cloud these days. So, if you are one of those people who has not yet heard of Kilian, let me introduce you to one of the most elegant luxury perfume lines in the world: Kilian.

Nola Tote Diaper Bag Giveaway

 

This post was created in partnership with Kalencom. I was not financially compensated and did not receive a free or discounted product. I am participating to help promote the product with other bloggers and to be able to bring you the chance to win a giveaway.

Welcome To The Nola Tote Diaper Bag Giveaway!

Roar Like a Lion NEW BOOK Release (with giveaway)

Disclosure: I received a free product or a discount to purchase one. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

It's been awhile since I wrote about a good devotional so I'm here to talk about a really nice one I've found for children: Roar Like a Lion by Levi Lusko (with Tama Fortner) and illustrated by Catherine Pearson. We were fortunate enough to receive a copy prior to the release date, which is today, September 14th, so we've been using it for a little while now. It's been a huge blessing to our family, a way to encourage children to open up and talk about topics that might be heavy on their little minds and hearts, or a way to help them express happiness, and their internal joy (which children just naturally have an abundance of in their sweet little hearts).

New Release! Scooby Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog

Disclosure: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

Scooby and the crew have been around for as long as I can remember, and I've loved them through all of the changes. Now I'm excited to meet Courage the Cowardly Dog and am loving the play on words for his name. Imagine having Scooby Doo as your mentor to overcome fear?! This one's going to have some laughter as well as excitement in it, for sure, as these movies always do.

5 Things Cinderella Got Right

1. There are people in your life who will try to claim your glass slipper. Keep your eye open for the proverbial step-mothers and sisters out there, and make sure your shoe is such a unique fit that no matter how hard they try to fit into it, it ain't gonna happen.

New Zoo Sets from Playmobil

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product or a discount to purchase one. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Here's what we're doing this weekend!

5 Reasons You Should Go to Urban Air Adventure Park

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Do you wait all week long for the weekend to get here and then sit around the house doing nothing fun at all? You don't have to wait for a vacation to get out there and have a blast. Go get your fun on right now! One of our stops this weekend was Urban Air Adventure Park in Wellington, Florida. There are franchises of this indoor adventure park all over the country. Have you been there? Whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no' here are 5 reasons you should go (or go back!):

What To Look For In Travel Accommodation

 Disclosure: this is a collaborative post. Please welcome today's contributor.

When you are traveling anywhere, one of the most central aspects to the experience that you are going to want to focus on is the accommodation. As long as the accommodation is as good as possible, you are probably going to find that it will really help you to enjoy your experience so much more, so this is something that you are going to want to think about in some detail. In this post, we will take a look at what you should ideally look out for in travel accommodation, to ensure that you are having the best time on your trip.

Pic Source - CCO Licence

Earn Money Now! QuickRewards plus Amazon GC Giveaway

 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

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With back to school in full swing, for better or for worse, parents are spending a lot of money to get their children ready. That means a rather large number of parents are looking for ways to cut corners and/or find ways to make up for the extra spending. QuickRewards offers a great option. With surveys that pay from $.50 to $10, there is something for everyone. I do want to note though, that most surveys pay $.50 to $1.00 as is common. Some surveys, however, pay even if you do not qualify for the one you have selected.

These Sell Out Fast! Jabberin' Jack Halloween Pumpkin

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product or a discount code.  All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

It was really hard to get one of these last year because they sold out so fast, but this year... I got one!! Order early because if it's anything like it was in 2020 these are going to be sold out way before Halloween. Jabberin' Jack can be found in retail stores and online at Mindscope Products and/or Amazon.

This Pen is Out of this World!

 

This is a pen for adults, not children, and yet...

5 Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

Disclosure: I received a product sample or a discount to use towards purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

When your morning view looks like this, you know it's going to be a good day. A lot of you know I am a coffee girl through and through. It's been a favorite beverage of mine for quite a few years now. I was pretty late to the game though, on enjoying this fabulous rich roasted beauty of a drink. In fact, I didn't start drinking it until I already had kids in middle school! I remember distinctly how my appreciation of it started. The college I worked for was remodeling and we got taken out of our big, beautiful offices with a view and put into various trailers around the campus that we had to share with several other people. It was temporary, but a totally different experience for awhile, and two of the people in my area would bring in a box of coffee for everyone, every day. Let me tell you, it smelled so good (remember, it was a small space, so the whole 'office' smelled like coffee) that I ended up pouring a cup for myself, fell in love, and the rest is history. So, I knew that I loved coffee, especially an organic and succulent coffee like Nora's Naturals, but I didn't know it was good for you too (in moderation, of course)! Now I do!

Swamp Swamp Swamp Swamp Music

 

♫ "When the hound dog starts singin'

I ain't got them big ol' city blues" ♫

I really wouldn't want to be with the hound dogs chasing racoons... I'd hate to see the racoons getting hurt. I've always had a soft heart for animals (and I prefer the city over the country), but that song (Swamp Music) gets stuck in my head every time I see a swamp, and this one was absolutely gorgeous. It was also very safe to visit because I was doing so from a boardwalk at the Tallahassee Museum. The views I literally stumbled across were too good not to share.

Spice Sets Can Make Great Gifts

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

It's true that I don't like to eat meat. I've just never liked it. Give me some veggies or vegetarian dishes though, and I know a thing or two. It does seem like it's easy to get in a rut though, making the same favored dishes over and over again. That is especially true if you don't use meat as your protein. You have probably heard the old saying that nothing will be different if you don't make any changes, so I brought home this Taste of America set from Spice Lab. Something different, bound to lead to change.

Best Ways to Control Credit Card Debt

 

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Unless you are very, very lucky, credit is one of those things that you learn through trial by fire. What that means is when you reach the age to get a credit card, you get no training, no advice, and you're turned loose to spend as you will. Once you establish credit, other companies reach out to you with fancy deals enticing you to take out a credit card with them as well (earn 50,000 points if you spend $5,000 in 2 months, or something similar). Before you know it, you're in debt over your ears and starting to panic. There is no need to do so, just slow down (slow way down), start thinking clearly about how you want to live your life financially and take positive steps to work towards those goals. Even the biggest of goals is met by taking that first step. Once you start moving, goals are often met a lot faster than you could have even guessed. So what are the best ways to control credit card debt?

Whistler is a Great Vacation Idea (or Home!) for People Who Love Adventure

Photo Source: Cheakamus River

There are some places you visit that are so wonderful that you cannot help but consider what it would be like to live there. My sister-in-law says Whistler (Canada) is one of those destinations. You all know that I am a traveler at heart, so being super curious, I started doing a little reasearch of my own. Is this the kind of place she would actually enjoy if she moved there permanently? I started by looking at Whistler Homes for Sale,. There were quite a few affordable options, some of which were log cabin-style, which I always find appealing. There's just something about that rustic type of setting that makes me happy and Whistler, with its scenic backdrops, makes for a perfect setting to own one. So far, so good, my sister-in-law enjoys those things too.

Shark Week Sale: 10% Off All Fossilera Purchases

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own. Please note that products mentioned in this blog post may not be available. Please check website for current availability. 

To help celebrate Shark Week, Fossilera is still running their 10% off sale (no coded needed) now through Sunday, July 18th. 

They have reasonably priced shark teeth for the littles and super serious pieces for the collector, such as those seen above! What amazes me is the simplicity of these teeth and the variations between species. Am I the only one thinking the shark teeth look very similar to their fins? When I see these, I can see them cutting through the ocean (the sharks), owning their space in the water, and just having a grand old time.

As I mentioned before, my four children have alway enjoyed it when they have come across a shark tooth in the sand. My daughter hits the jackpot when she goes searching in Jupiter, Florida. Of course, she's grown now and doesn't spend a lot of time sifting sand for treasure anymore, but she does have two sweet little girls who will no doubt be doing it before you know it.

Have you ever come across a shark tooth on the beach? 

Check out the sale on Fossilera, and while you're there, be sure to browse through the other fossils they have available, as well as take a peek at the crystals. The same daughter I'm talking about in this post, just made a purchase on their website for a whole slew of crystals and rocks. When I took a peek, I was loving the Pyrite Cubes from Spain. Those are gorgeous! And of course, I am mesmerized by the huge selection of shark teeth that are available.

Would you Like 10% Off of Any Purchase at Fossilera?
Visit HERE to start shopping.

Happy Shark Week to You!

Updates:Gona's Reading Ranch is Here: It's Story Time!

 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

UPDATE: Book Giveaway Now Being Added to Original Post

This is a great book. Enter to win a hard copy today!

Entry-Form

HELP SUPPORT AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, CARLA OSBORNE 

BY SUBSCRIBING TO HER NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

THE KIDS WILL LOVE IT!

Everything used to be in writing, then it went to online reading, and now it seems to be going to videos. As an educator and a mom, I see the youth are certainly going  that way, and now award-winning Carla Crane Osborne has opted to take that route too! She has created Gona's Reading Ranch on YouTube, a safe place online where kids can join in to listen to, and follow along, as she reads various stories, including her own Under the Barnyard Light (available on Amazon). 

It's Shark Week: Fossilera is Having a Sale on Shark Teeth!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own. Please note that products mentioned in this blog post may not be available. Please check website for current availability. 

It's Shark Week and Fossilera is having a sale on shark teeth!

I think many of us have been in search of shark teeth or have seen them, either on a beach or for sale in a gift shop. Here we can find them in Jupiter, Florida where there just seems to be so many of them! It never gets old for the kids to find and collect them. They get super excited, even the older kids! We never know what kind of shark the teeth are from though, so I love Fossilera for being able to check and compare what we have to what they have. Of course, once there, we come across others that we want to own. Their selection is huge (and they have the best polished rocks and crystals too, but that's a post for a different day seriously though, go check those out too).

Lucky Scent Samples: A New Favorite Casamorati Lira

 

Lucky Scent sells samples and full-sized perfumes. I have ordered a full-sized scent from them before and posted about that purchase on Instagram because it was my all-time best find for a vanilla scent. I'll probably discuss that on the blog soon, because it's good enough to share (boy, is it good enough to share!). From that initial purchase, I knew they had fast delivery, quality packaging (important if your fragrances are coming via delivery) and reasonable prices, so it was a no-brainer to order from them again.

Mixbook and the New Family Pictures

Disclosure: I received a sample product or a discount code to make a purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

A few weeks ago my daughter and I decided to take her girls to the closest photo studio (not such an easy thing to find these days) and get some pictures made. Per usual, I went crazy and had a million things made (well not a million, but you know what I mean), including this Acryclic Photo Block from Mixbook. I've had photos put on metal, stone, etc., but never acrylic. It turned out really cute and I have it on display in my living room so I can see it whenever I am in there. The colors came out vibrant like the photos, and dusting it will be a breeze (unlike intricate photo frames). I also like that it's small enough to move around easiliy if I want to do so. 

Christmas in July: Fix Christmas Lights Fast!

 Disclosure: I received a sample product or a discount code to make a purchase. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

There are a couple of things I have put off during the holiday seasons that I wanted to get right this year, and what better time than July, you know, with the whole 'Christmas in July' thing going on. So, I made a promise to myself that I was going to do two things before the official holiday, so I wouldn't keep saying I would 'get to it' even though I knew I probably wouldn't. One, is I took out my bulb tree and bulb wreath, along with the ornaments that have fallen off, and I am putting them back in place. The second thing is I ordered the LED Keeper and the LightKeeper Pro. 

I'm so happy to have my decorations repaired (it's a sense of relief that I finally did them) and am delighted to have the light repair kits in my possession now as well. It's so difficult to find a broken light on a light strand that adorns the Chrsitmas Tree, and sad to say I am one of those people that will just throw the lights out, rather than spend a lot of time trying to figure out which bulb needs to be replaced so the strand will work again. What I didn't think of on the occassions where I have done that, is that those light strands end up in a landfill, along with a bazillion other strands from people who have done the same thing.

Ulta-Lit Tree Company mades these little gadgets that identify and fix the broken stents quickly. Over 6 million people have purchased them in the last 20 years, and saved enough light sets from landfills to fill six Statues of Liberty! Add me to the stats because I've got mine and this year I'll be ready to fix those pesky bulbs that blow. Even more important now since the lights on my new spinning tree (does anyone remember how excited I was to get a spinning tree, lol?) are already laced. I was worried last year what I would do if one blew, and I meant to pick these up. I didn't, and thankfully didn't need them, but I do now feel prepared, having them in the house.

I may pick up a Christmas ornament or two this month (there's one that depicts London that I have been wanting to get and I wanted to pick up a housewarming ornament for a friend who purchased her first home). So with those two purchases and these repair kits, I have officially become a part of the Christmas in July crowd this year.

Learn more about the LED Keeper and the LightKeeper Pro by clicking HERE. And if you're one of those people who hates to search the strands of lights to find the one bulb that blew out, pick up yours today. Come the holidays, and they'll be here before you know it, you'll be glad to have them on hand.

The Perfumed Court: Samples Galore, Lots of Guerlain Today

I went on a sample shopping spree that resulted in me buying 3 full-sized bottles of fragrance, two from the orders I am writing about below, and that makes me so happy! Most of you know I try now before I buy, so if I'm buying, it's something I know I really, really like and something that won't bother my teen's allergies. My sample purchases were made at The Perfumed Court (not sponsored, I am just sharing). They arrived quickly, came in secure but easy-to-open dab vials, and they had the names of the fragrances written directly on the glass, which ensures it won't come off and you can always see what is inside. That is fantastic because it's a real drag when a company puts a label on that comes off or wears off easily and you don't know what's inside; that is especially true if you have a lot of samples, like I do!

For those interested in what I bought and what they smelled like (to me), I have put my personal thoughts below. Fragrances are listed in order from best (at the top of the page), to least (at the bottom).

My Journey as an Influencer

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Someone asked me to write a post about my journey as a blogger. It's been awhile since I've written anything at all even similar to that, so I agreed. Though I am not an influencer anywhere near Christina Calph's level of fame and fortune, I still enjoy my little corner in the influencer world. Some of you will already know the answers to the Q & A session below because you've been here since the beginning (thank you!). To others some things may be new. For me, it's something fun to do today. :)

Mortgage Calculator: How much home can you afford?

 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

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If you're looking for a house, make sure you stay within the boundaries of what you can afford. It can be so tempting to look at houses 'just outside of your income zone' and convince yourself you'll be able to find a way to make it work. And that is all well and good, if you can, but what if you can't? Nothing ruins the exhiliration of owning a home faster than struggling to make the payments on it.

There are some things you can do to help.

1. Use a mortgage calculator. Be prepared before you even start to search. Plug in the numbers and see what you truly can afford. The best mortgage calculator will take into consideration not only things like your income and homeownership responsibilities (like taxes, insurance and potential HOA fees) but it will also consider things like your current debt-to-income ratio and how much money you are actually shelling out on expenses (like credit cards, student loans, etc.). A high quality mortgage calculator can also provide other information and facts you might not have considered when it comes to understanding where and how you are spending your money. When you have that clarity, you also have the ability to make changes that will help you be in a better position to buy.

Blogger is Stopping eMail Subscriptions starting July 1

I have been blogging since 2012 and subsequently, I have a LOT of e-mail subscribers (thank you, thank you, thank you!). Any blog post I write gets sent out in an e-mail once a day. It's a service that has been seamless and one that I really appreciated. Recently an e-mail was sent to tell me that Blogger is stopping its e-mail subscription service at the end of this month.

For those who are subscribers, I hope you will still come to visit without the e-mail reminders when that newsletter arrives. I have so many readers who have been so loyal and come to visit regularly. Is it because of the newletter? I suspect it is not, but I don't know. We shall see soon enough. 

If you are someone who relies on the e-mails to alert you of posts you might be interested in reading, I encourage you to just come on over and visit in the future, since those will no longer be going out. Thank you much, I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Comments for this post are turned off. 

Have a wonderful day!

My Favorite Gaming Website

Today, I'm visiting Plays.org trying to up the ante on my gaming skills, particularly checkers. Why? Because I have a teen who has a lock on all games that require any type of strategic thinking. He can see ten plays ahead, while I struggle with the here and now. We have one board game that no one in the entire family has beat him at (for years!), and we try regularly. One of his brothers did tie him on it, but that still doesn't count. It wasn't a win. Close, but no cigar!

This summer? I just want to win ONE game. Just one. So I'm picking Checkers to help me practice. At Plays.org, I don't have to create an account, I don't have to enter an e-mail, I just pull up the website, pick a game and start to play. This particular game can be played solo, against the computer. I click on the checker I want to move, and it gets highlighted. Then, I click on the spot where I want it to go and it moves. 

$20 Off and Free Shipping for your First Mixbook!

I just made a photo book and an acrylic print. At the end they gave me this code to share. If you were going to make a photo book, canvas print, etc., anyway, feel free to use it. If you do, I get a $20 credit and you get $20 off (and free shipping!) too. https://mixbook.extole.com/s/Rosey3 It looks like it is for first time customers only. Thanks!

Fragrance Samples from The Perfumed Court

Our latest fragrance order is from The Perfumed Court!

I have mentioned before that I love to order sample-sized scents so I can try before I buy. The price of perfume is not inexpensive, so it's important to me not to blind buy (ever ever ever again). I've been doing really good with that self-promise. And I've sold the fragrances I DID blind buy (when I first began this fragrance journey) for great prices, so I'm not beating myself up so much anymore about past mistakes because most of them I didn't like, and I did learn my lesson (I think). My latest two samples are from a company that is new to me, The Perfumed Court. The two samples I have are for men. I found that I like one for my oldest son, and the other for my second-oldest son. Both of my grown boys (what do you call them after they're grown??) have expressed an interest in niche fragrances, so these are good choices for them to try.

2020 Changed Housing Affordability

Are you looking to move? Buying and renting have both recently seen some pretty big changes. Will you be affected? In my county, the answer is an unequivocable, yes! This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

                                                                                                Source: Creative Commons

It has been a full year now since the coronavirus pandemic arrived and many changes have resulted including vast inequalities surfacing that have not gone unnoticed. One such area has been housing. For those people at the bottom of the income distribution, unemployment as well as infections have run rampant, while rental prices and/or home prices have skyrocketed, leaving them in quite the predicament.

According to the 2019 US Census Bureau Report, the median household income for those living in Palm Beach County, Florida was $63, 299, with per capita income being listed as $39, 933. In 2021, Palm Beach County’s median income has gone up to $66,623. Rents, even in West Palm Beach where it is so busy, have seemingly remained the same with a 0% jump for a 1-bedroom apartment, averaging in at around $1400 per month. Home sales in the same county, however, have seen a huge jump in price, continuing to rise with no end in sight, from the time the pandemic first began to present day mid-2021. Those statistics leave many struggling to pay rent that is too high for their income and little to no chance of being able to purchase a home.

Decorate in an Instant! $150 Wall Decal Giveaway

Win $150 To Spend On Wall Decals From EvgieNev!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. 

I am helping a blog friend to promote EvgieNev and bring you an awesome giveaway.

Now that summer is here - it's time to think about how you can redecorate a room! Or maybe you are expecting a baby and it's time to put together the perfect nursery!  EvgieNev helps make decorating a breeze with their wall decals that can help you change things up in an instant.

About EvgieNev

• Their decals always get great feedback from their customers. And their customers come back and buy again!
• It is easy to remove the wall decals and redecorate them anytime you get that itch to change it up. 
• You can find hundreds of animals, themes, landscapes, and more coming from books, historical facts, and well-recognized charters. If you can dream it, they probably have it.
• They are completely customizable! They have many themes and you can change out the colors to any color they have. 
• The removable Sticker is made using Top-Quality Matte Vinyl. Safe for your walls, bright, and colorful. 

 

Here are a few of my personal favorite wall decals from EvgieNev:

Teddy Bears LOVE Wall Decals Boys & Girls Room Decals

This wall decal is inspired by Valentine's Day and one of the most popular wall decals from EvgieNev. These bears look like Winnie-the-Pooh Teddy Bears. It features four cute teddy bears that are sitting on the tree and flying on a balloon with a color combination of pinks for baby girls and blues for baby boys. You can pick any other colors from our color chart.

New Release: 2021 Mini Hess Toy Truck Collection

 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Today is the day! Hess Truck's 2021 Mini Truck Line is released today, June 9th, just in time for summer fun! This set features highly detailed, small-scale versions of classic holiday Hess Toy Trucks from the past. The 2021 little legends are on sale exclusively at HessToyTruck.com 

Playmobil Celebrates the New Movie Release of Spirit Untamed!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received a complimentary product(s) or a discount code to purchase my own. 

One thing a grandaughter of mine really loves to do is go to the movies. Today, June 4th, DreamWorks' newest animated feature, Spirit Untamed is being released by Universal and you can bet we'll be seeing that one together. As some of you already know, she also LOVES Playmobil building sets, as has every single one of my children (and now my grandchildren) so I know for sure that she is going to be very excited to see that they have released 6 new sets that coincide with the movie we are going to see.

Microperfumes Shipment #3

MicroPerfumes is one of the companies I talk about where I buy sample vials of various designer and niche fragrances so I can try before I buy. Here is my latest shipment and my initial takes on the fragrances, for those who might be interested.

1. Bottega Veneta by Bottega Veneta. I didn't care for  it on initial spray (maybe because of the leather?) but it's growing on me. It's better as it starts to dry some. In fact, I think it's safe to say I do like this one in the mid-notes time frame where it has a slight lemony smell to me. I do not, however, love the dry down which is a little off-putting. That being said, I do keep intentionally smelling it. Maybe I will fall in love with it the next time I try to wear it. A leathery floral chypre, marries the olfactory language of the Venetian countryside—fresh meadows, mown hay, flowers, earth, and wood—with the gentle richness of leather in a creation crafted with the meticulousness of a master artisan.

Working From Home? Stay Productive With These Top Tips!

 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Please welcome today's contributor. 

Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash