goodbye 2011

My last post for 2011! Some of the things I'm thankful for this past year - good health, my shop, friends, family, and good chocolate!

To start the new year off, I'll be posting a giveaway next week. A preview - see below!

Until then have a happy and blessed new year. Stay safe!

Review - Journey to Christmas DVD

Journey to Christmas is a 2 disk DVD series that follows five diverse people as they experience the Holy Land for the first time. This a real-life pilgrimage that is presented in a reality show format. The series follows five travelers (3 women, 2 men) as they are guided on the pilgrimage by a local Bible scholar, Nizar Shaheen. In addition, there is on-air commentary from Bible experts Hugh Ross, Paul Maier, Craig Evans, Claire Pfann, and Stephen Pfann.

This DVD series was very interesting to me, especially hearing about the travelers' different faiths (or no faith) and why they are searching for answers to their questions about the Nativity account. Even if you aren't a Christian, you'll learn about historical fact regarding the Nativity account that cannot be disputed, in addition to viewing the beautiful scenery of the Holy Land. I highly recommend this DVD series to others. Suitable for Advent, small groups, and church events.

Disclosure: I received this DVD set for free from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Weekly Wednesday Review - The Scroll

The Scroll is a novel written by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky. Dr. David Chambers is a leading biblical archaeologist, but due to certain circumstances has lost his faith and also his interest in archaeology. One day he receives a call from an old friend, Dr. Ben-Judah asking for his help on a dig regarding the Copper Scroll, a secret that could alter the course of history. As Dr. Chambers gets involved in the dig, his life and the lives of loved ones are at risk.

My thoughts: The first chapter was a little slow to me but it became more intriguing as I started the second chapter. I really enjoyed reading it and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced thriller with biblical references.

Disclosure: I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

30% off sale

Use coupon code DEC2011 and receive 30% off your purchase(s) today in the

shop.

merry and bright....

Wishing you and yours a beautiful Christmas Eve and a very merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-14

Zhu Zhu Babies

If you're still doing some last minute shopping for your kids, think about getting some ZHUZHU BABIES™. They're the perfect pint-sized present for any of your kids that love ZHU ZHU Pets!

ZhuZhu Babies™ are adorable miniature ZhuZhu™s that come in a variety of collectible characters. From penguins to ponies, ZhuZhu Babies add a touch of sweetness to the Zhu-niverse™. Each character has its own name, symbol, biography, and birthday.

Meet a few of the new ZHU ZHU BABIES:

Savvy the pony: with her bright pink coat and polished mane, Savvy is as known for her beauty as she is for her clever brains. Quick-witted and cunning, Savvy helps her pony pals get out of the stickiest of situations. Scout the mouse: quite the adventurer, Scout loves to pretend she is a pilot, swinging as high as she can on the playground. Like a true mouse, she loves cheese, which is why cheese is her symbol! Joey the seahorse: giddy and hyper, Joey is known for never being able to "swim still." He constantly darts across the ocean, challenging his friends to races. Moving so quickly often gives this seahorse bubble hiccups, which is why bubbles are his symbol!

So adorable - get one or all of them!

Friday Fun

CUPCAKES! (Photo google public domain)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Weekly Wednesday Review - An Amish Wedding

An Amish Wedding is comprised of three Amish novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Long. The first story is Perfect Secret written by Kelly Long. Rose Bender and Luke Lantz are engaged to be married, but one night Rose discovers that Luke is the thief that has been taking things from the community they live in. Will the discovery break them apart?

The second story is A Perfect Match by Kathleen Fuller. Naomi King is considered an old maid but is afraid to start dating again or trust guys again after her boyfriend broke up with her three years earlier. She is attracted to Zeke Lapp who has arrived from a neighboring state to attend his cousin's wedding. Will Zeke end up leaving town?

The third story is A Perfect Plan by Beth Wiseman. Priscilla and Chester Lapp are planning to be married, but things keep going wrong. Is this a sign from God for them to break up?

My thoughts: All the questions and drama in the stories come to a satisfactory conclusion. There are characters from each of the stories that overlap which ties the three books together, culminating in An Amish Wedding. I would recommend this book to others, especially lovers of Amish fiction.

The Christmas Singing - Promotion and Discount

It's no secret to readers of this blog that I'm a big fan of Amish fiction and one of my favorite writers, Cindy Woodsmall, has a great book called The Christmas Singing. Perfect title for this time of year! To read an excerpt from the first chapter, click here. And check out the video by clicking here.

Great news: To receive 30% off and free shipping on The Christmas Singing (and any other title), use promo code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout on WaterBrook Multnomah. The coupon code expires on December 20, 2011.

KinderCare Winter Camp

KinderCare Winter Camps

It's that time of the year again when kids will be on their school winter break. A great way to keep the kids busy and entertained while also still learning is to enroll them in KinderCare Winter Camp!

From December 19th - December 23rd and December 27th - December 30th, both preschool and school-age children can participate in KinderCare's Winter Camp. Children will explore the science of chemical reactions and learn about the magic of flight through educational and hands-on themed activities, including "Bubble Trouble," "Volcano Blast," "Helicopter Propellers," and "Balloon Rockets."

KinderCare's Winter Camp is specifically designed to offer a balance of fun and learning during winter break. The program helps to encourage and reinforce core learning activities such as language arts, math and science.

On a personal note, I enrolled my son in KinderCare this past summer to prepare him for kindergarten. Jason had a lot of fun in his class and was learning new things at the same time. He also made friends and two of them ended up being in his kindergarten class! What I liked about the KinderCare facility is that they do have an open door policy, and the facility is very secure (password security lock at the front door). All the staff we came into contact with was very nice and we even still see Jason's teacher once in a while when she drives the bus to the elementary school to pick up kids after school. We think KinderCare is great!

For more information and to find a KinderCare camp near you, visit KinderCare's website. You can also find science experiments to do at home by clicking here.

Craft Show Weekend

I mentioned earlier that I will be at the Holiday Hit List presented by the North Park Craft Mafia on Sunday (December 4) but I will also be at the Artisan's Alley Craft Fair in Coronado tomorrow. Check out their website - see the mirrors and bottle openers? They're mine!!

Stop by, say hi and let me know you found out about the shows through my blog or Facebook and get a free mirror or pinback button!