Canvas Print Giveaway!

Here is a great opportunity to enter to win a FREE 8x10 Canvas Print!

What a wonderful way to capture memories!

 The giveaway runs from Aug 22nd to Sept 5th.
This giveaway is open to those in North America. check out my full review of the product a Liven it up with Easy Canvas Prints




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Birthday Times Newspaper

What a great way to honor someone on their birthday with a special and unique gift! In The Birthday Times, they are able to provide some fun memories of the day of a loved one's birth.  

I really was excited to be able to review this. My son turned 16 last week, and I chose his name for my complimentary copy. I wanted him to have something different for this significant birthday and this was the perfect thing. He had fun looking over the page and seeing what was going on around the world on the day of his birth.  

Here are some of his comments: "It was a lot of fun to read the facts and to see what I knew", "The article about the president visiting was hilarious!" The only thing he wasn't sure about was the picture of beer. He's only 16 and we don't drink either, so he thought maybe for kids birthdays there should be an alternative picture in place of beer.  

Overall I really enjoyed the newspaper. On the front page, there are 8 articles about a variety of topics. There are some black and white pictures to go along with some of them, making it resemble a newspaper in a realistic way. I think it would add even more if people had options of some things that were in the newspaper, or if they could add a picture of the actual person. 

Don't miss out on this fun way to celebrate someones birthday and be the "talked about" gift!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Fabulous Me by Ayelet Nathaniel

What a great book! We follow this child through her choices of what she loves to do and see.

Where does she like to go, and what does she like to do? 

Ride along on her adventures, and come up with where you would choose to go.

I love how she finds the best memories and places are those where she is with her family.

The time spent with her family, slowing down and taking the time to enjoy it. 

I love that feeling, and need that reminder sometimes!

I highly recommend this book. Illustrations along with story make for a wonderful book.

You can find the book at amazon at 

Fabulous Me

Disclosure: I received an ebook copy of this in order to do my review. No other compensation was received. My reviews are always honest and are my own opinions.

My "top 5" and thoughts

The other day, I had the house to myself which is a rare thing. That means one thing...I get to watch girly movies! Living with my husband and teenage son who like the action stuff, this is a rare treat.
I came across a Hallmark movie called Crush on You.  The main story to me was an updated version of the older movie You've Got Mail.  So the basic storyline about talking to someone over email, not having any idea you actually know this person and  (spoiler) finally meeting said person and realizing you already know them, is the same. But what really interested me and made my mind start thinking is some of the conversation. I began to wonder how getting to know someone through questions and honest discussion affects the future relationship.
One thing that had me intrigued was listing "5 things". Whether it's a list of your 5 favorite movies, vacation locations etc, or even basics of  5 favorite meals. How often in our busy lives do we take the time to really continue to know our spouse, our children, and our friends?
I know in our home sometimes our daily schedules cause us to have more of a "surface" level day and we focus more on what has to get done instead of how we really are and where we are at.

So, for fun I thought I would share with you some of my "5 Things" and welcome you to share back! We may not all really know each other in life outside blogging, but we all have to stick together right?
Hope you enjoy my randomness today!

5 favorite vacation spots:

1. Disneyworld (ok, now we live 4 miles from it so it's not really vacation anymore!)

2. Myrtle Beach S.C. --this is where we would go almost every year when I was growing up. I love the
                                    beach, the relaxing with a book in the sand and watching the waves. Of course  
                                    riding the waves also:)

3. Arizona-- the thrill of going on my own to visit my aunt, uncle and cousin was awesome. So many
                    fun adventures and excitement

4. Cocoa Beach FL--our first year in FL (2011) was our first year away from any family at Christmas
                                  time. We hadn't really made good friends yet, and didn't want to stay home
                                   feeling sad so we took a day trip Christmas Day to Cocoa Beach. It was so
                                  much fun to be in shorts and flip flops in Dec. Of course we took pictures to
                                  let everyone back in TN know about it while it was snowing there..lol.
                                  It gave us great memories of a fun family day. We decided a Christmas Day mini
                                  trip should be a new tradition.
 5. Ireland--ok so I've never been here! BUT...some of the books I've read have been set in Ireland and
                   I could picture myself there as I was reading. It made me interested in what it would really
                    look like and be like. This is on my to do list:)


I would love to hear some of your favorite vacation spots! Leave a comment and let me know!