Category Archives: Holiday

Home Is Where The Heart Is, Especially At Christmas! #BoscovsHolidayHomeTour

This is a sponsored post and I will be compensated as part of the Blog Meets Brand Network. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

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The holidays are upon us, I love Christmas, especially seeing it through my children’s eyes. I look forward to decorating our home inside and out every year. This year will be different, a few weeks ago a leak in our kitchen wreaked havoc on our lives that will change the way we celebrate this season. Our entire kitchen and basement has to be demoed and all of our belongings are being packed up and put in storage.

It will be a long process. We live in a rural location so there are no hotels nearby. The insurance company paid for a travel trailer to be put on site for us to live while our house is being repaired. This means that we will not be able to decorate the way we usually do. I want to make the holiday season special for my kids but most of my decorations have been packed and brought to a location to be cleaned. Anyway, we are making the best of things and that is why when I was approached with the opportunity to work with Boscov’s on their holiday home tour, it was a big blessing.

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Recently, we all headed off to Boscov’s and rode the escalator straight up to the Holiday Shop. My kids’ eyes were as wide as my husband’s and mine. There were so many beautifully decorated trees and displays.

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A member of the helpful staffed named Linda told me she decorated all the trees and many of the displays.  There were indoor decorations, outdoor decorations, ornaments, village houses and so much more. The first thing that caught our eye was the Santa in Sleigh with Reindeer outdoor display.

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I laughed because it was the same one from the movie Christmas Vacation. My husband said it was a great idea since we can still decorate the outside of our home. We also picked up a vintage looking outdoor lighted Snowman with Pipe.

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I found some cute little cardinal and bluebird shelf sitters and a “Have Faith” block sculpture with a cardinal that coordinated. Cardinals are very special for me so I knew these were going home with me.

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Then I found 2 Annalee dolls I loved, a mouse ornament and a mouse standing figure.

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Next, I picked up a tablecloth and headed off to find a ceramic tree that is reminiscent of the vintage kind I remember as a kid. I had to decide between green and white and went with the white.The pictures don’t do it justice. I also picked up a beautiful Lenox silver-plated Christmas tree ornament and a train for our village.

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They had so many nice ornaments, we picked out several that we really liked for our tree.

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Soon we were ready to go and load our purchases in the car.

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Here is a video of my Boscov’s haul:

The tree makes a cute little display with the other ornaments in the travel trailer.

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I did get to at least try my tablecloth on my kitchen table before they took it away. I love the vintage look of this tablecloth.

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The train is so detailed and will look awesome when we add a few of our village houses. Our village will be smaller this year but it will still be festive.

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The outdoor decorations are very nice and with the new fallen snow they look just fabulous.

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The kids really love everything and I guess this all goes to show us that home is where the heart is, especially at Christmas!

 


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Filed under Christmas, Family, Holiday, Home, Shopping

Share “Where Jesus Slept” With Your Child #Giveaway #FlyBy #WhereJesusSlept

If you are looking for a great read aloud book that teaches children the true meaning of Christmas, Where Jesus Slept is a new favorite of ours.

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This book is written in a rhyming, repetitive way that is similar to the style of  This is the House that Jack Built. The story starts with the hay and continues on until the baby Jesus who slept on it appears.

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The illustrations are beautiful and the story about the first Christmas is one that fills our hearts with what Christmas is all about. I love sharing this book at bedtime at least one night a week with my children in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

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It provides a springboard for discussion you can taper to the age of the children you are reading to. It seems every time we read it, there are new questions they have. With all the commercialism of the holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ, this book keep us centered on what really matters!

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About the author:
Norma Lewis is the author of ten books. She lives in Grand Haven, MI, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty.
Illustrated by Katy Hudson.

Would you like a chance to win your own Where Jesus Slept Book? If so, enter the giveaway below!

Giveaway:

Where Jesus Slept Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to US residents.

 

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Holiday, Spiritual

How To Decorate Your Home For The Holidays & Save Money #GrouponCoupons

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

The holidays are coming upon us fast. If you are like me, you might be thinking about getting your home ready for the holidays. I was recently browsing Home Decorators. I love decorating for the Christmas season and  I admit, I  squealed with delight when I saw the Martha Stewart Mouse Ornaments. Could they be any more adorable? I can’t see how, they are just precious!

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As I continued to browse the site I landed upon the Martha Stewart Living™ House Advent Calendar Ornaments. I was floored because they are the same types of houses I remember as a child. My favorite thing was decorating a village under the tree with them. These houses look exactly like the ones from my childhood except they have numbers on the front. They are a unique advent calendar, you hang one house each day on the tree from December 1st thru December 23rd.  I just love the idea and want to start this new tradition with my family.

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They have such nice holiday decor, I want everything! I especially like this Chalkboard Joy Sign.

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Check it out for yourself, they have so many great items. They even have a huge selection of artificial trees that look so real! Everything coordinates so beautifully, it is easy to create a home that reflects the splendor of the season.

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Another store I like shopping at is Overstock.com. I have found super deals there. Now that it is getting colder, I like to use flannel sheets. I found their selection of flannel sheets to be amazing. The only hard part is choosing from the many styles!

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Who doesn’t like curling up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and watching Christmas movies? When I saw these Eddie Bauer pillows, I knew they would be perfect for my family room.

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As much as I like shopping for new home decor, I love saving money on new home decor! Home Decorators and Overstock are having huge sales now but what makes it even better are Groupon Coupons! Do you use Groupon Coupons? If you don’t, check them out, you will be glad you did!

 


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Filed under Coupon, Holiday, Home & Garden

Make Every Day Your Best Day Ever! #HolidayGiftGuide #Giveaway

One of my pet peeves is when people say they are “busy” because busy people can go around all day being busy and not get anything done. Have you seen those people? They spend the day rushing around, huffing and puffing, pounding on their computer keyboard, starting multiple tasks, complaining all the way but at the end of the day, they have accomplished next to nothing. Being busy is not good, you want to be productive!

I have found that time management is essential to getting things done. I actually teach a course for Mastering Time Management for bloggers and another for business professionals. Having a positive mindset is one thing I know helps me to manage everything I need to get accomplished each day. Whatever words you follow “I am” with, can set the tone for the moment, the day, your life. So instead of saying, “I am stressed, I am behind, I am overwhelmed” say, “I am going to accomplish great things today, I am blessed, I am healthy, I am productive.” You will be surprised how your thoughts can change the way you feel, the way you work and ultimately change your life!

Another big thing is to write it down and make it happen. It is easy to become distracted, especially if you are an adult with ADD. So keep a list every day. There are apps for this but I like a paper list because I feel it is more tangible. I actually write it down and I get to cross it off when it’s done which is a great feeling.

Our attitude sets our day, we cannot control all the situations that happen but we can control how we respond. Part of that is setting the tone for each day. Make every day your best day ever!

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When I was contacted by a representative from Best Day Ever and then sent their Metallic Best Day Ever Mug, Official Listmaker Notepad and a Letterpress Journal, I was thrilled! This is a great way to have my coffee, write my to-do list and review my thoughts, dreams, ideas and inspiration for the day. Please take a look at my unboxing video of these great items below:

 

Best Day Ever is about meeting you where you are, designing your best life and encouraging you along the way with classes, podcasts, blogs, books, challenges and more. It is about arming you with the tools to make every day better than the last. Check out the Best Day Ever Website to learn more.

Oh, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Best Day Ever Gift Set for yourself. Gift Set includes what you see in my video; Best Day Ever Metallic Mug, Official Listmaker Notepad and the Letterpress Journal.

 

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Giveaway:

Best Day Ever is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Best Day Ever Gift Set! Thank you to Best Day Ever for the review gift set and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Best Day Ever Gift Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Christmas, Giveaway, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Life, Review

The Perfect Gift For Your LEGO Brick Lovers!

Do your kids love LEGO Building Kits as much as my kids do? If they do, they are probably something they are asking for all the time. Can you imagine their delight getting a box of their favorite building bricks and figures delivered right to your door? There is a new subscription box company for LEGO and Brick fanatics named Brick Loot! Subscribers receive a monthly box that is packed with unique, custom and never before-seen items that work with LEGO bricks and custom building. Every month when your child opens the box they will find 4-8 items hand-picked by Brick specialists who search the world for the newest, coolest products for kids to collect.

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Brick Loot was founded by a 9-year-old and these boxes are for ages 6-99. If you are 100, I guess you are out of luck.  If you would like to try this great subscription service I have good news. Mommy Ramblings’ readers can save 10% off Brick Loot by using the code “usfamily” at checkout.

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I would love to hear your thoughts. We think it is great and with the holidays coming up, it would be a great gift idea. What do you think?

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Filed under hobby, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, kids, Toys, USFG

Who is the Best Mom Ever? #Giveaway

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. Who is the best Mom Ever? Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s your mom or maybe it’s your daughter, niece or best friend.  If you are looking to show someone they are the Best Mom Ever, Got Me Tipsy can help. Got Me Tipsy has practical, beautiful, glass mugs that say just that. Isn’t that a great gift for celebrating Mom any day? I think so. What a great reminder to have as moms start their full days every morning. It is a positive affirmation for them and just starts the day off right like the coffee inside it.

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I love my mug, I always have loved glass mugs and this mug is such great quality. It is heavy-duty and the words on the front really perk me up. It holds 13 ounces of my favorite beverage. The mug is easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Got Me Tipsy has a lot of other great sayings on glass mugs like this for all kinds of gifts or for yourself. You can also find this and their other products right on Amazon. Click the link at the end of the post to shop.

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See my product review video below:

Got Me Tipsy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Best Mom Ever Glass Mug just like mine. Thank you to Got Me Tipsy for the review mug and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Best Mom Ever Glass Mug From Got Me Tipsy Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Family, Gift, Gifts, Giveaway, Holiday, Kitchen, Mother's Day, Review

Great Easter Basket Treat For The Whole Family-#Giveaway

Are you looking for something that won’t cause cavities and sugar highs for your kid’s Easter basket? If so, you might want to take a look at Capture The Flag, a fun-filled space adventure that arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand March 1, 2016!

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CAPTURE THE FLAG is approved by the Dove Foundation for family audiences, the film weaves a fantastical tale of a boy, his father and grandfather who come together to protect the legacy of the original moon landing.  With reimagined animated scenes of the famed Apollo 11 mission, CAPTURE THE FLAG offer fans of all ages an entertaining take on NASA and space exploration.

Space travel runs in Mike Goldwing’s family: both his father and grandfather were astronauts. But the plucky 12-year-old’s estranged grandfather, Frank, has lived a life isolated from his family after missing out on the chance to make history as a member of the Apollo 11 crew.  However, when Mike discovers that an eccentric billionaire plans to fly to the moon, claim its vast, valuable mineral resources, and destroy the American flag planted by the Apollo 11 astronauts, the countdown to a spectacular adventure begins!  Mike, teamed with his grandfather, best friends Amy and Marty, and a clever chameleon, blasts off on an incredible moon-bound mission, determined to thwart the billionaire’s evil plan, capture the flag, and reunite his divided family.

An ideal gift for Easter, the CAPTURE THE FLAG DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description, with English, French and Spanish subtitles.

 

 

CAPTURE THE FLAG

Street Date:                     March 1, 2016

SRP:                                   $29.99 U.S.

Runtime:                           97 minutes

U.S. Rating:                      PG for action, language and some thematic elements

Canadian Rating:            G

 

 Enter To Win

Paramount Home Media Distribution is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Capture The Flag DVD. Thank you to Paramount Home Media Distribution  for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Capture The Flag DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Attractions, Entertainment, Faith, Family, Family Fun, Giveaway, Holiday, Movies

The Legend of the Easter Robin #Giveaway #EasterRobin #FlyBy

Surprisingly up until last week the weather in Upstate New York has been mild. January 31st was like a spring day and we missed the snowstorms that dumped a few feet of the white stuff to areas less than 60 minutes from us. In fact, we have no snow on the ground at all. We did experience bone chilling cold temperatures of  -6 degrees Fahrenheit last weekend. It has warmed up, but nowhere near the early spring like temperatures we were having a few weeks ago.

Christmas day was so warm we had dandelions blooming but ironically, Mother Nature wants to give us a taste of winter before spring rolls in. It looks like the next 10 days will only bring us highs in the 30’s and 40’s along with some snow showers.  Oh well, it can’t last that long, at least I hope it won’t. I am eager to see the first Robin Red Breast of spring. Speaking of spring, I have a great book to share with you. The Legend of the Easter Robin is a great book that is perfect to share with your own child or any special child in your life to captivate and teach them about compassion and faith.

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In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. “Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?” “We’ll have to leave that one to the Creator,” Gran said. Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother’s house! Tressa is thrilled―and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins’ nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear―a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin. Brought to life with colorful, tender illustrations, The Legend of the Easter Robin makes a perfect Easter Gift!

Giveaway

 

Would you like to enter our giveaway to win a copy? I thought you would, just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget.  Please read our rules below. Good Luck!!!

The Legend of the Easter Robin Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

 

 

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Filed under Books, Education, Faith, Family, Gift, Giveaway, Holiday

Sweet Gift For Kids This Valentine’s Day That’s Not Bad For Their Teeth!

Would you like to get your kids a sweet gift this Valentine’s Day that won’t hurt their teeth. How about one that won’t have them bouncing off the ceiling from a sugar high? Well, I have a great suggestion. The new Sweet Scented Pillow Pets are an awesome choice that will thrill your kids with their softness, adorable looks and sweet, yummy smell.

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There are 3 New Sweet Pets available:

GummiPup

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GummiPup’s fruity scent of the favorite colorful gummy candy is enhanced with a fun, playful pattern of gummy bears dotting the colorful and soft belly.  This pup is a treat for all of the senses!

Pupcake

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Pupcake has a scent just like fresh baked cupcakes hot from the oven.

 

CookiePup

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CookiePup  smells like a yummy delicious chocolate chip cookie! Yummy puppy!

We recently had the chance to see for ourselves just what these sweet, cuddly cuties are like. CookiePup arrived at our house and was instantly showered with cuddles. He smells so good and of course, just as all the pillow pets, is cuddly soft and the perfect place for my little guy to rest his head. He could not wait to test him out. We love pillow pets in this house and my boys have several that have remained favorite sleepy time buddies. This sweet pup is so cute and so yummy smelling! He fits right in like he has always been one of our Pillow Pet family members.

If you are looking for a sweet gift that will be around long after Valentine’s Day, take a look at the Sweet Scented Pets. They are adorably delicious folding plush with subtle scent patches that remind you of childhood favorite treats!  Huggable and definitely lovable, these stuffed animals are perfect as a gift, room décor, travel buddy or overnight friend. Perfect for playtime, sleep time, or anytime, Sweet Scented Pillow Pets are surface washable and feature subtle, long-lasting scent patches

Giveaway-Enter For A Chance To Win CookiePup:

Pillow Pets is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a CookiePup Sweet Scented Pet . Thank you to Pillow Pets for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Pillow Pets, Sweet Scented Pet Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Giveaway, Holiday, Review

Here’s A Unique & Special Valentine’s Day Gift

Looking for a unique and special gift for Valentine’s Day?

How about something you won’t find in any store? One where you don’t have to guess about size or color? A gift that won’t have you wondering if they already have one? Sound good? I thought so, it is a completely customized magazine cover called YourCover that will show the ones you love how special they are!

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Where can you get one?

I was just getting to that, you are excited! It is easy to create a YourCover, all you need is a special photo. With YourCover’s online tool it is easy to create that perfect, one-of-a-kind cover in 3 easy steps.

Step 1-Choose a Template from a selection of over 80 designs

Step 2-Upload Your Photo (you can add an optional 2nd photo if you choose)

Step 3-Personalize The Headline

 

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How Soon Can You Get It?

You are not a last-minute shopper are you? Did you forget about Valentine’s Day? No Worries, YourCover can be delivered instantly as a photo file download you can print at home. If you are one of the planner types buying your gift with time to spare, YourCover can print and frame your special cover (prints are $19.95 and frames range from $10 – $40).

YourCover  is a unique gift for birthdays, holidays and milestone events – Sweet 16, New Baby, Wedding, 1st Birthday, Anniversary, Sports, Dance, Music, Hunting, Fishing, & more.

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Want to save a little?

I know you do, who doesn’t? Mommy Ramblings’ Readers can  Save 20% Off  your entire purchase using the code USFGVD20 at YourCover.com.

Let me know if you do take advantage of this offer and how that special YourCover came out.

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Filed under Holiday, Sale, Shopping