Deals of the Day!

Hello! I hope you're enjoying your Wednesday, whether you're still shoveling out of the East Coast snowstorm, like us, or enjoying time by your pool. The sun is shining here today and the snow is gorgeous in the sunshine. 

Here are some fantastic deals I'm happy to share with you today . . . 

Pocket Cowl Neck Tunic Dress - Small - XL - save 71%!

Two Toned Boot Cuffs - save 65%

Beautiful Winter Collection Earrings - 12 Styles - save 69%!

Everyday Tee Dress: All New Styles! - save 38%

"Indio" Long Statement Necklace - save 79%!

Plaid Rain Boot - 2 Colors - save 61%!

Natural Agate Pendant Necklace - 8 Colors - save 70%!

I just wanted to thank those of you who participated in the #StrongLikeYou campaign! The goal was met and now many of us have wonderful pieces of jewelry that remind us of the beautiful women artisans of Uganda who work with Musana International. Here is a photo of mine and the wonderful Fina who made it! 

And just for fun, I took a couple of photos of my new sweater today. It's been awhile since I've taken any outfit photos.

Sweater - Old Navy

Jeans - Old Navy

Earrings - old

Bracelet - Musana via jane.com

Shoes - Payless

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. This simply means that if you choose to make a purchase through these links, there is no additional cost to you, and I make a small commission. Many thanks!

The Plans I Have For You {Review and Giveaway!}

Ava (age 10) and I have recently had the opportunity to review this new devotion for children, The Plans I Have For You by Amy Parker, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. 

About The Plans I Have For You Devotional: 

The devotional is an illustrated 90-day devotional written by bestselling children's book author Amy Parker and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, teaching and inspiring kids to dream about their future, to focus on faith, love, and joy, and recognize that God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us.  

Hardcover; 160 pages

Age Range: 8-12 years

About The Plans I Have For You Journal:

The journal prompts creative thinking and exploration of the talents and personalities that make us special, and then helps explore how God may use our unique traits to spread love and joy and make the world a better place. 

Stationery; 208 pages 

Age Range: 11-14 years 

About author Amy Parker:

Amy Parker has sold more than thirty books for children, teens, and adults.  She has also collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son.  Two of these collaborations are recipients of Christian retailing's Best Awards, and she has also won three Mom's Choice Awards.  But Amy's greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan. 

About illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton:

Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter. Her passion for children's books began when she came across The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats as a child in the 1960s.  Growing up in a musical family who love to sing, Vanessa's illustrations are as fun and whimsical as a beautiful melody.  Vanessa currently makes her nest in Charlotte, NC with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes. 

Our thoughts:

Ava has been reading this sweet devotional every day. I write it on her school work assignment page so she doesn't forget. She has been very happy to read the daily, usually one but sometimes two or three page, encouragements. She is a follower of Jesus and likes to read Scripture and devotionals to help her grow in her relationship with Him.  

There are six sections or 'sectors' as Amy calls them. Here are the sector titles:
* I've Got Big Plans For YOU!
* I've Given YOU A Purpose
* I Don't Do Things Small
* There's Nothing YOU Can't Do
* Find That ONE Thing
* What I Created YOU To Do

Each of the 90-day devotions is brief, full of truth and colourful. I love how this book is full of colour! Vanessa's illustrations are whimsical, warm and appealing. I am certainly looking up her other work.

The devotional is recommended for ages 8-12, and the journal is recommended for ages 11-14. Ava will be 11 soon, but we decided to save the journal for the summer. She will be able to take more time to think about the proposed thoughts and suggestions on each page and write her thoughts accordingly. I'm sure she will enjoy it, as well.

We recommend both of these books and have the pleasure of giving a set away! See below.

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SOCIAL • CORNER 

The Plans I Have For You Devotional Official Website 

The Plans I Have For You Journal Official Website 

ZonderKidz Facebook

ZonderKidz Twitter

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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.  Or 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 USA and Canada, age 18 or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings and love. xo

Family Recipes - Mom's Minestrone Soup

One of my favourite things to do is to make a scrumptious dinner for my sweet family. And when it's one of my Mom's recipes, it's even more special. This is Mom's Minestrone Soup. I need to ask her where this recipe came from, as I'm 99.8% certain that we have no Italian heritage. You wouldn't know it, by how much we enjoy Italian foods, though. And this is one of our faves.

Mom's original recipe called for dried kidney beans. I don't think I've ever made it with dried beans, but feel free to do so. The above photo is incomplete, as I had forgotten to get out the garlic. And another ingredient that's missing is fresh spinach, because I had forgotten that I used the spinach in another dish a few nights ago. Whoops.

It starts with chopping some yummy veggies - celery, carrots and garlic. Sauté the trio in a little butter and olive oil for 3 or 4 minutes, then add in 3 cans of kidney beans, that have been drained, rinsed and half of them crushed. Mix in a large can of crushed tomatoes, some dried basil, dried parsley, 3 bay leaves, 2 boxes of chicken broth (or water), salt and pepper. Let that simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Add in the macaroni pasta and cook for 15 more minutes. 

Fresh Parmesan cheese is the perfect topping to this delicious and filling soup. Serve with garlic bread or bread sticks, like I did last night or just add a green salad. Either way, it's the perfect meal for a chilly January night.

Mom's Minestrone Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 carrots, sliced
4 celery stalks with leaves, sliced
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cans kidney beans, drained, rinsed and half of the beans crushed
1 large can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried parsley
3 bay leaves
2 boxes of chicken broth (or the equivalent of water)
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
1 to 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
2 cups macaroni pasta
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Chop celery, carrots and garlic. Sauté the trio in a little butter and olive oil for 3 or 4 minutes, add in kidney beans. Stir in crushed tomatoes, dried basil, dried parsley, bay leaves, chicken broth (or water), salt and pepper. Let that simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Add in the macaroni pasta and cook for 15 more minutes. Add spinach in last 5 minutes of cooking.

Add Parmesan cheese as a garnish. Enjoy!

This recipe serves 8. It can easily be vegetarian by switching the chicken broth to vegetable broth or water. And it's a frugal recipe, too!

Blessings and love. xo

Deals of the Day!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're week is going great. I have some fun fashion deals to share, as well as some super cute Valentine's Day deals. 

White Plum's Print Leggings | 25 Styles!

Luxe Ruffle Dress Tunic!

Favorite Floppy Hat | New Colors

Valentine's Day Bodysuits and Toddler Tees

S- XL | Solid Palazzo Pants | 6 Colors

Valentines Day Bookmarks

Happy Valentine's Day Stacking Blocks

Blessings and love! xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. This simply means that if you choose to make a purchase through these links, there is no additional cost to you, and I make a small commission. Many thanks!

Musana Intl Homemade Jewelry #stronglikeyou

Hi my friend,

I didn't want you to miss out on this wonderful opportunity to support beautiful women and their families in Uganda!

Musana employs artisans in Uganda to create handmade, high-quality, and absolutely beautiful jewelry. But what I love even more than the product is the mission of Musana, which is this: to empower women and provide opportunities for their children, creating a generation of change. Fantastic, right? To support their mission, they provide their artisans with a steady salary, classes, subsidized schooling for their children, and subsidized health care. Each day they show how much they care about their employees, and I'm so inspired by that. That’s why 100% of all profits of this sale will be going back to Musana! WOW!!!

These bracelets regularly sell for $26.00 but are on sale for $10.50 each. They will go quickly, so don't hesitate to get yours now! #stronglikeyou

Buy here

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you.

Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising - Giveaway

Hi Guys,

I have a fun giveaway to share with you today! Many of you already know of Passion and Six Step's Records, and this is their latest recording, Salvation's Tide Is Rising. Check out the specs below and then enter to win a copy of the CD in the Rafflecopter below.

About Salvation's Tide Is Rising:

This brand new Passion album contains new studio recordings from best-selling artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman, and Kristian Stanfill.  It features new songs written specifically for Passion 2016.  Release Date is January 29, 2016.  

Track List:

1.  Salvation's Tide is Rising - Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill

2.  My Victory - Passion featuring Crowder

3.  Remember - Passion featuring Brett Younker and Melodie Malone

4.  God and God Alone - Passion featuring Chris Tomlin

5.  Simple Pursuit - Passion featuring Melodie Malone

6.  I Turn to Christ - Passion featuring Matt Redman

7.  Your Grace Amazes Me - Passion featuring Christy Nockels

8.  All We Sinners - Passion featuring Crowder

9.  Surrender - Passion featuring Jimi Cravity

10. Good Good Father - Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill 

About Passion albums:

Since the first release in 1998, Passion albums have sold over 1.3 million units while introducing the church to worship songs like "Our God", "Holy Is The Lord", "How Great Is Our God", and "God Of This City".  Passion is coming off its best charting radio success in 5 years with the single "Even So Come", which went Top 5. 

About The Passion Movement:

The Passion Movement and the messages of founder Louis Giglio have marked the lives of millions of people around the globe, calling people everywhere to live for the glory of God.  From its inception, the movement of Passion has birthed new anthems of worship, influencing countless churches and helping to define the current worship climate and establish artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and others.  Louie Giglio is the pastor and founder of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA. 

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SOCIAL • CORNER

iTunes
Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon Prime Video - Free Trial

Hi Friends,

Are you a Prime Member? Have you checked out all the fantastic aspects of membership? It's not just about the Free 2-Day Shipping, although that is a GREAT reason to join. Prime Video is another benefit and there are thousands of movies and television shows from which to choose.

This comes in handy at our house, especially for those times when the big kids are watching something and the younger ones want to watch something else or vice versa. The younger ones can hop on to amazon.com and check out the family friendly choices and they always find something to suite their preferences. Along the same lines, sometimes my boys do not want to watch whatever "girly" movie may be showing in the living room, so they take the laptop and find something more suitable to their preferences. It works great for our family!

Check it out! 

Start Your Prime Video 30-Day Free Trial Now!

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you!

Taking Care of Me . . . Fighting Fit

Good morning! I shared over the weekend that I have a plan to take better care of myself in 2016 {and beyond}. One of the ways I am committed to a better me is to get back in to exercising on a regular basis. 

Today I am happy to share my new program and to offer you a chance to get in on it {- with a coupon code}! I started Fighting Fit this morning and am SO excited! Like I mentioned last week, I really haven't taken very good care of myself in the last couple of years. I used to get out to walk or take the kids hiking more often, but that has fallen by the wayside somewhere. So in taking care of myself this year, exercise has to be on the agenda. It felt SO good to get back to it this morning. 

Meet fellow Virginian, Seo Kelleher of Fighting Fit! Seo has a passion to see others empowered through fitness. She is the owner of CO2Fit and the creator of the Fighting Fit Workout Videos.

Check out a preview here . . . 


This is a workout just about anyone can do. Whether you are already working out or, like me, are starting fresh, these workouts are perfect. Seo has used her kickboxing skills to design these workouts, but if you've never done kickboxing before, no fear! You can do this. She explains each set clearly and of course with demonstration. This workout is for all shapes, sizes and skill levels. There are two other ladies in the videos with Seo. One demonstrates a slower pace and the other a quicker pace. It's easy to pick which one you most relate to and follow her. Or, you can switch it up and go back and forth. 

I started out at a slow pace this morning, and since I'm just getting back into it, will likely maintain that slower pace for this week. I'll evaluate how I'm feeling next Monday and hopefully can pick up the pace a little more. That's another beautiful thing about this program, there is freedom to slow down, increase speed or even just take a break and shake it off. My goal is to workout 4 or 5 mornings per week. I already feel better just knowing I have this fabulous resource and can get my body stronger and in better shape. My ultimate goal: to be as *badass* as Natasha Romanov! Ha!

These videos are in digital download form, so just download them on your laptop, and you're set. You can workout in the privacy of your bedroom, living room or office. There are three 15 minute workouts included. You can choose one or mix and match two or all three. 

Buy Fighting Fit today and get started! And a huge thanks to Seo for giving my readers 15% off with coupon code: SR15 !

Cheers to happy and healthier lives this year! 

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my referral links. Thank you!

Taking Care of Me . . .

Hi Friend,

Happy 2016! Isn't it always thrilling to start something fresh and new?! I love getting my new calendar for dreaming and planning and praying about the adventures ahead. All those stark white squares just waiting to be filled up with coloured ink and pencil. I'm ready to write in my new Polestar Family Calendar (my fave for the past eight years!), and one of the categories I am including this year is care for myself.

Over the past six months or so, Bob and I have been talking about how much we have not taken care of ourselves over the years. It's a tough confession to make. It stinks. We had really taken on this poverty mentality as Christians, and especially in ministry. We didn't even realize it for many years. Or I guess we thought that was how we were suppose to think as ministers and missionaries. Serve, serve, serve. Deny yourself. Keep giving. It was wrong, and we have confessed, repented and are breaking free from that twisted mentality. Thank You, Jesus.

One of the ways I have personally not taken care of myself is in the realm of exercise. Especially since we had to move out of our previous house so suddenly and moved into this one, I have let exercise and self-care fly right out the window. This year, I'm committed to taking it back. I'll be sharing Monday about how I plan to get in shape. It's a fantastic program. I love the simplicity and look forward to sharing it with you!

I'll also be coming back with updates on what I am doing, not only physically, but mentally, spiritually and emotionally to take care of me. And if you have realized you need a little more self-care in your own life, I hope you'll join me on this journey in 2016. I know that if I take care of myself in a more healthy and wholesome way, I will be a better person - wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend and neighbour. 

I cannot wait!

Blessings and love. xo