"Space Babies" 2014 Kia Sorento Big Game Ad #spacebabies

As parents, it can be tough to answer those big life questions that our children ask.  I've tackled them with my teenager and feel a bit more prepared for little miss' questions as she grows.   

The age old question "Where do babies come from?" can be a bit uncomfortable.  How much do you share and when?  How much is too much?  Do they REALLY come from the cabbage patch?

This video ad from Kia is definitely a creative way to tackle that question.  I couldn't help but chuckle!

What do you think?  Will this kid be asking again?  How will/did  you tackle this question as a parent?

"Space Babies" 2014 Kia Sorento Big Game Ad

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Kia Motors

Disclosure:  No compensation was received for this post.  Info. shared from SocialChorus.

Thrift Store Finds {Nearly Wordless Wednesday}

This entire outfit was only $.50 at the thrift store!

Jeans:  Old Navy
Top:    Children's Place
Hair accessory and doll not included

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also share your W/W post in the linky below.

Gifts for Your Sweetheart & Your Sweet Tooth

We always look forward to birthdays at our house.  They are a chance to celebrate milestones with family and friends.  And another excuse to eat delicious treats.  Because really, what would a birthday be without a yummy indulgement?

My hubby is celebrating a birthday this month and sometimes he can be tough to buy for.  He's not hard to please; he's exactly the opposite.  He will tell me he doesn't need anything and I am left hunting for birthday gift ideas.

Shari's berries was right up my alley.  They have a great selection of delicious treats to choose from for every occasion, from cookies and cupcakes to dipped strawberries.  Neither my hubby nor I have ordered anything from this company, but we had heard great things about them and I was excited to pick out something to surprise my sweetheart!

{I will warn you now that you will end up hungry and possibly drooling after reading this post.} 

 I chose this combination of 4 Caramel Pretzels and a Full Dozen Hand-Dipped Medley Berries.  Milk Chocolate, White chocolate, dark chocolate, caramel....this one has it all.   It combines my hubby's love for fruit, pretzels, and chocolate.  I figured I couldn't go wrong.

The ordering process is easy peasy.    You can choose the date you want your order shipped, which is a good thing, because you want to be home to get this box off your porch as soon as possible to refrigerate.  You will have to pay a bit extra in shipping if you want a morning delivery (I opted not to).

The box arrived in mid-afternoon on my doorstep.  I'm glad I was paying attention because I didn't hear a knock at the door.

There was some padding in the top of the box and an ice pack.  The instructions on the outside of the box are pretty humorous.  I most definitely would have listened if this had been for me.  But instead, I opened it up, took some photos, and put it in the fridge like a good wife.

 The box included a gift card, an ingredient list, and some discounts toward my next order.  I was a little disappointed that the pretzels arrived with half of them broken, but it wasn't a big enough deal for me to complain.  The strawberries were absolutely perfect: no melting, no broken chocolate coating.  

These hand-dipped strawberries were very fresh and juicy.  The chocolate was just right; not too rich and the right amount covering the berry.  My hubby devoured about half of them when they arrived.  (I helped him out by trying one and it was nummy!) He finished the box the next day.  I would suggest planning on eating them the day they arrive while they are at their freshest.  A couple of the berries weren't as fresh the day after.  

{Don't they look delicious?} 

Hubby said the pretzels were quite good.  Because they are dipped in chocolate and caramel, the insides are not super crisp.  But he likes a softer pretzel so he was happy.  I am not a big pretzel eater, but I tried a bite.  I definitely liked the chocolate and caramel together, especially the white chocolate. 

This gift was a huge hit and satisfied my hubby's (and my) sweet tooth.  We have definitely become Shari's Berries fans through this experience!  While these are expensive for a family on a budget (roughly $65 including shipping), they are certainly a delicious treat for special occasions, especially Valentine's Day gifts.  And you can find coupon codes on their site.

Right now, you can save 20% off your order of $39 or more through 2/12/13. Find out how at this link:
Sharri's Berries Discounts


Disclosure:  I received the above items for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.  For more info. see my Disclosure Policy.

Big Girl Booster {Wordless Wednesday}

Guess who's sitting at the table like a big girl?

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also share your post in the linky below.  Have a great week!

Make Valentine's Day Special With Shutterfly

I have lots of fond memories of Valentine's Day throughout my years of teaching; the class parties, the yummy treats, but most especially the sweet Valentines cards I received from my students.  Each student had their own Valentine mailbox and sometimes I would have my own.  They loved walking to each table and distributing their cards to classmates.  Whenever they came to my desk, they seemed so proud to bring me their card or gift and watch me open it.  

I have had my share of buying Valentines cards over the years as well when my son was in preschool and elementary school.  He loved picking out super heroes or Star Wars cards and those little heart shaped candies to hand out.   I haven't had the opportunity to do this yet with my daughter, but I am very much looking forward to it!

Shutterfly makes Valentines cards for your kids even more special with personalized photo cards.  Imagine the smiles on your little ones' faces when they see their photo on a Valentine to give to their friends!  These are sweet sentiments that make great keepsakes for those school memory books.  Their new classroom collection has 9 cute designs to choose from.  

Or you can select from over 50 new Valentine's Day card styles in a variety of sizes from 5x7 to 6x8 to give to loved ones that are suitable for framing.  

Shutterfly also offers some great photo gift options for Valentine's Day.  Here are my faves:

Desktop Plaque:  Who needs a frame?  Make a mini masterpiece in a range of designs!

Photo Cubes: Turn your favorite pictures into a decorative photo cube.

 

Photo Water Bottles:  Keep hydrated with a personalized BPA-free water bottle.

Make Valentine's Day special this year with Shutterfly.   They have so many great ideas to share the love with family and friends and capture the spirit of the holiday!

Stay connected with Shutterfly's social channels for all the latest new designs:

                                             Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shutterfly

·        Twitter: http://twitter.com/Shutterfly

·        Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shutterfly/

·        Instagram: http://instagram.com/shutterfly

·        Google +: https://plus.google.com/+shutterfly

·        Blog:  http://blog.shutterfly.com/

Giveaway:  Thanks to Shutterfly, one reader will win 50 4x5 sized Stationary Cards (classroom) and a 5.5x5.5  Desktop Plaque!

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be 18 or older to enter.  Open to US residents only. If you do not fully complete the entries, your entries will not count. 

This giveaway is not in any way associated with, administered or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 2/1/13 at 12:01 AM EST.  US Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **24 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.


Disclosure:  Shutterfly provided me with stationary cards and a desktop plaque for participating in this Valentine's Day promotion and is providing the giveaway prize for one of my readers.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.  For more info see my Dislcosure policy.

Emmy Rossum's Sentimental Journey Releases Jan. 29th

I remember the first time I saw the movie Phantom of the Opera.  I absolutely adored the music, but especially Emmy Rossum's beautiful voice.   She is incredibly talented and I could listen to her sing for days.  

Her latest release, Sentimental Journey, is coming out Jan. 29th.  (Isn't that cover gorgeous?)  

Each track on the album represents a month in the year and takes you through the American songbook with classics by some of the most beloved artists of the last century.

Sentimental Journey Track Listing:

1. “Sentimental Journey” (Les Brown, Ben Homer, Arthur Green)
2. “The Object Of My Affection” (Pinky Tomlin)
3. “I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover “(Mort Dixon, Harry M. Woods)
4. “These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)” (Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey)
5. “(I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time” (Albert Von Tilzer, Neville Fleeson)
6. “Summer Wind” (Heinz Meier, Johnny Mercer)
7. “Many Tears Ago” (Winfield Scott)
8. “All I Do Is Dream Of You” (Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed)
9. “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” (Jimmy Cox)
10. “Autumn Leaves” (Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert)
11. “Things” (Bobby Darin)
12. “Pretty Paper” (Willie Nelson)

I have to admit that I only recognized a couple of these songs.  It isn't my usual style of music choice, but I like to mix things up too.  My hubby and I played it during dinner the other night and it really set a fun tone to the dinner table.   My two year old was dancing around to the swingier tunes and she had a blast!   (She definitely has an opinion about what she likes and doesn't like; I think she's become an Emmy fan)

My favorite songs were "Sentimental Journey", "These Foolish Things" and "Pretty Paper."   Emmy Rossum is so expressive with her voice and really draws you in!  And the lyrics from these classic songs are beautifully timeless.

I am a huge fan of period movies and shows like Downton Abbey because of the historical elements, gorgeous costumes, and beautiful settings.  If you're a fan of these too, you may love "These Foolish Things" as much as I do:





"Each song needed to either lyrically or emotionally reflect the corresponding month," Emmy explained. "Some songs were obvious fits, like Summer Wind for June, and Pretty Paper for December. Others songs were less literal fits. I chose Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out) for September because, to me, the plaintive melody and lyric emotionally reflect the cold weather creeping in and the sense of melancholy we can get in the fall months." 



If you're an Emmy fan, you won't want to miss these upcoming Tv and Movie appearances:

• Emmy will performing a track from Sentimental Journey on Access Hollywood Live on January 25th

• Emmy will also be appearing as a guest on Conan on January 28th, Chelsea Lately on January 29th, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on February 6th.

• She also stars alongside Emma Thompson and Viola Davis in the upcoming feature film Beautiful Creatures, which hits theaters on February 13th.  

Follow Emmy on Twitter @emmyrossum and hashtag  #SentimentalJourney 
 

You can preorder Sentimental Journey now on iTunes and Amazon just in time for Valentine's Day gift giving!

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

McDonald's McCafe Coupons {Giveaway}

It's cold and flu season, and inevitably the "ick" has hit our house.  Sore throats, congestion, and lingering coughing can make one quite miserable.  Our only relief has been humidifiers, vapo-rub, decongestant, and soothing hot drinks.

I received some McCafe coupons in the mail this week and would love to share these with my readers who might also need some relief or just a nice pick-me-up this winter.

These expire Feb. 1st so this will be a quick giveaway.  (If you're entering, you'll have to be ready to respond to my email quickly within 24 hrs so I can mail these out to you in time for you to use before they expire)

Giveaway:

Four of my readers will receive 2 sets of coupons (1 for yourself and 1 to give to a friend) for a Small McCafe Peppermint Mocha or Peppermint Hot Chocolate and a small McCafe French Vanilla Latte. (that's a total of 4 coupons per winner)

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be 18 or older to enter.  Open to US residents only. If you do not fully complete the entries, your entries will not count.  Please leave your email so I can contact you.

This giveaway is not in any way associated with, administered or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 1/20/13 at 12:01 AM EST.  US Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **24 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for lost or undelivered prizes.


Disclosure:  The giveaway coupons were provided by McDonald's Family Arches for myself and to share with my readers.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.  For more info see my Dislcosure policy.

P is for Pudding Paint {Sensory Toddler Craft}

I'm not the most crafty mom or the most creative.  I like to look at Pinterest for ideas I can "borrow" but sometimes they can be complicated.  Lots of creativity, lots of different steps, lots of different supplies, and lots of prep.

If you're a not-so-crafty-keep-it-simple kinda Mom like me, then maybe this post is for you.

I wanted a simple sensory craft for little miss that I could prepare in a snap.  Now that she's a little older, I was hoping that she'd go for something a bit messy but lots of fun:   

DIY Finger Paint

I had some chocolate pudding in the cupboard, milk in the fridge, and new finger paint paper thanks to Grandma's Christmas gift. 

Simply follow directions on the box; add your ingredients and mix.  Easy peasy. 

Just a head's up: you may have to chase your toddler after you hand them the whisk.  Little miss had too much fun with it and it took a few minutes to wrangle her so she'd sit and actually use it to mix the pudding.

(I had to get out my hand mixer afterwards to get the pudding to the consistency I wanted; whisking took quite a while and it was still too liquidy.  The mixer helped thicken a little.)

We don't have an art smock yet, so I used a hand towel that I clipped in the back.  I also had her wear a black shirt that I didn't mind getting dirty.  The Attic baby doesn't like her sleeves pushed up so I anticipated doing some laundry.

At first, she used only one hand and carefully dipped her fingers into the bowl to paint.  But once I showed her she could use both hands, she really got into it.  I was surprised that she didn't mind getting messy, since in the past when trying activities like this sensory activity with whipped cream, she was not happy and didn't like the feel of it.

I was also surprised that she didn't try to put her hands in her mouth.   I don't want to teach her to eat paint anyway, but I would rather her lick a little pudding than actual paint until she understands.

Her big brother announced that the finished product looked like Poo Art.  Gotta love it!

You can even make clean-up time fun with your toddler by giving them a wet paper towel and letting them help clean the table and the spots on the floor.  My toddler loves cleaning up and I'm milking that while I can!

Do you have a simple sensory activity that you do with your toddler?  I'd love some more ideas!

Our First Globetrotters Game {Wordless Wednesday}

We had a blast at our very first Harlem Globetrotters game ("You Write The Rules" Tour) at The First Mariner Arena in Baltimore!  Unfortunately, my camera battery died a little while into the game.  Note to self:  make sure to fully charge camera battery before fun events.  I still managed to get some fun shots!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also share your post in the linky below.

Nuby is Looking For Fresh Faces!

Nuby is hosting some great contests this month on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram that I thought I would share with you.   You could win a some great prizes, including having your baby in a Nuby ad!


Nuby Scavenger Hunt:

You could win an entire Nuby Bath Set!

Nuby Love Instagram Contest:

Nuby Fresh Face Baby Photo Contest:

Your baby could be in a Nuby Ad!

Head over to Nuby's Facebook page for more details:
 http://www.facebook.com/nubyusa



Want to know more about Nuby?  Find out about the latest products, great info., and giveaways from other Nuby Mommy bloggers too.

Connect with them:




Disclosure:  I am writing this post as part of the NUBY Mommy Blogger Program.  I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of this program I may receive items to sample or review.  For more info, see my disclosure policy.

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska Hop

Starting last week, the wonderful book Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss was released. You can purchase it at either of these retailers: Amazon.com~Barnes and Noble~Christianbook.com

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests—her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town’s colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA’s pressures. In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children’s governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover—as Ellie did—that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

Want to know more? Check out my review of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

This week each blogger (listed in the linky below) is giving you a chance to win the book (and a few have even more prizes).   After you are done entering my giveaway, you can hop on to the next blog. 

Giveaway:

Thanks to Tricia and Ocieanna, two of my readers will win a copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska!

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be 18 or older to enter.  Open to US and Canada. If you do not fully complete the entries, your entries will not count.  

This giveaway is not in any way associated with, administered or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 1/15/13 at 12:01 AM EST.  US & Canada Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery. 

Disclosure:  I am part of the Tricia Goyer 2013 Fiction Launch Team. No compensation was received for this post.   Thank you to the authors for providing the giveaway prizes!  For more info, see my disclosure policy.

Bloggers Wanted: Mom Powered Media Birthday Celebration

It's a MPM Birthday Celebration Event

Hosted by Mom Powered Media

Prizes: iPad 2 with Wi-Fi 16GB in Black

Event dates: 2/4 - 3/4

 

Mom Powered Media is celebrating a birthday with this awesome giveaway!  If you're a blogger and want to be a part of this event, please tell them Shelly from The Attic Girl referred you. 

This is a free event to join!   You'll get one free link for joining.  It's a great way to support other bloggers and gain new fans.

Free Blog Event! Sign-up here, BLOGGERS WANTED

What a Difference a Year Makes! {Wordless Wednesday}

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also link up your W/W post below.

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss

About the Book:

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests—her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town’s colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA’s pressures.

In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children’s governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover—as Ellie did—that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

About the Authors: 



















TRICIA GOYER is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels. She and her husband have four children and live in Arkansas. 

     Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer
     Twitter  @triciagoyer

OCIEANNA FLEISS is a published author and editor. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. This is the authors’ third book together.

     Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocieanna-Fleiss/205697752806581
       Twitter  @ocieanna



Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Pinterest board:

http://pinterest.com/triciagoyer/love-finds-you-in-glacier-bay-alaska/


My Review/Thoughts:

I have only read one other book in the Love Finds You series which was also written by these authors:  Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana.   I enjoyed this installment in the series even more than the previous book!

The Alaskan setting, especially the town of Gustavus, is practically a character itself.  It's a small town where everybody knows everyone and are all up in each other's business,but with the best of intentions.  They support each other, cheer for each other, maybe even gossip a little about each other, but it's definitely an interesting and scenic little town.  This gorgeous setting and all of the photos I have seen from the authors' research trip have me dreaming about taking a trip to Alaska some day.

The central characters are carefully crafted.  Ginny is a complex character that reminds me of those girls you know in high school; the pretty, talented ones people admire.  I couldn't relate to her style with the heels, long flowing locks, and beautiful singing voice.  But I could relate to her past hurts that she carries around with her and her longing to have a strong family unit of her own.  

Brett is the kind of guy that every girl dreams about; handsome, supportive, and a "man's man".  He's who Ginny runs to when she feels like she's losing her sense of self.  And his grandmother reminds me of my own grams; wise, frail in body but strong in spirit, and full of stories.  I loved Ethel and how she embraced Ginny without hesitation.  It made me miss my grams very much.

There is another love story contained within the letters that Ginny reads dating back to when the town was first being settled.  While I found this story interesting and the premise behind it meaningful (I am a history buff), I also found myself a bit distracted by all of the details in the letters.  However, this is just a personal style preference that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the unfolding story.

I highly recommend you check out the research behind this book and the authors' pinterest boards.  It will give you another perspective and help you visualize the beauty of the setting.

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska is a touching story of love, healing, and hope that is definitely a must-read!

Where to Purchase:

ChristianBook.com
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
BooksAMillion.com

Check back for a giveaway of the book on Jan. 8th!

Disclosure:  I am part of the Tricia Goyer 2013 Fiction Launch Team. I received a copy of the book for review purposes.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.  For more info, see my disclosure policy.