Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for ONE (1) FREE Quaker Breakfast Flats, any variety (7 oz.) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.


Kroger and Kroger Affiliates are also running an instant win game, Pick n' Flip Game, for a chance to win a free product coupon. You could win one of 38,000 prizes. Click here for more details.

Simply Anna Review

Lord Phillip Hamilton escapes London to run a plantation in Jamaica after a painful disappointment.  Hamilton's world becomes disrupted when a mysterious girl named Anna washes up shore in Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore.

Like most of Moore's work, Simply Anna is not the typical regency romance set in London society. I enjoyed learning about the characters and the side stories (and this story has colorful Pirates). Simply Anna is adventurous, entertaining and captivating. I loved the minor characters as much as the main characters. Moore understands how to tell a story and use words in such a way that the reader can visualize the details. Check it out at your local library or buy it for your collection through Amazon.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links.

#FREE Donut

Check your Fred Meyer Account under Coupons and there maybe a coupon to load for a FREE Donut! Click here.

Shabby Apple Memorial Day Sale

Shabby Apple is offering a memorial day sale exclusive.  Until June 1st, you can save an additional  25% off SITEWIDE! Use the code "MEMORIAL25".  Shabby Apple offers modest dresses, skirts, tops, and swimsuits in various styles and designs. Here are some styles great for Memorial Day picnics and celebrations:









Please note that this post contains affiliate links.

Scripture Flannel Board and People

Learning the scriptures can be hard for little ones. I like to use visual aids to help my children learn the scriptures. With the help of a friend, I made a flannel board by taking a white canvas hot gluing flannel to it. I also made made flannel board people utilizing scripture figures from the lds.org site. The flannel board people take a little bit of time to do, but it's cheaper than buying a whole set. Here's how I made my flannel board people:


1. To find some of the scripture figures I found on lds.org, click here. Even if you're not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this source is great for New Testament and Old Testament scripture figures.

2. After I downloaded the images, I clipped the picture in Adobe and placed in paint. I don't have refined photo editing software so I used the basic paint program. Using paint I removed any excess from the page that I didn't want (titles, duplicate scripture figures, story, etc) and then flipped the picture so that it was a mirror image. You want any text to be backwards. I then save that item as a jpg.

3. Next, I placed the images in word until I got a full page worth of images.

4. After I have a full page worth of images, I printed the page onto transfer paper. You can buy transfer paper at craft stores or you can buy it here.

5. Cut out the images from the transfer paper to reduce any white space.

6. Arrange the cut-outs on white felt (image facing felt) and iron on to the flannel. The iron must be set on the highest temperature and all water removed. You must also press the iron firmly on to the back of the transfer paper and go over it a couple of times.

7. After you've ironed the transfer paper images onto the felt. Gently, remove the transfer paper.

8. Cut images out of felt.

This may seem fairly labor intensive, but it is worth it and the more you do it the easier it becomes.

The Problem with The "Clearance" Find

Many shoppers like to peruse the "clearance section" at a store looking for bargains and deals. The problem with perusing clearance section involves intention. If your intention is to find a specific item that you need at a reasonable price then poking around at the clearance section may be warranted. If you're poking around clearance items looking for deals, then your intentions may not be warranted. The problem with looking for deals is that you may be wasting money. If it's an item you don't really need it may create extra clutter in your home, sit on a shelf gathering dust or sit in your closet rarely worn. Even if the item is only such-and-such price it's money wasted if it's something that you won't really use or want. If you are continually buying great deals on things you don't need, how much does that add up to over time? Clearance sections should be looked through with care. Items shouldn't be bought based off of price alone. When you're looking at an item to purchase, ask yourself the following questions:

• If this item wasn't this price, would I want it? This is a key question to ask and more often than not you will find yourself putting an item back.
• Will I use this item? Things in your home should be either useful, bring you joy or belong to someone else in the household.
• Do I like/love this item?

If you ask yourself the above questions and the answers are "no", put the item back and walk away. Sometimes you will ask yourself those questions and then rack your brain for someone else that might want that item because you just can't walk away from such a great deal. This is a dangerous frame of mind - you're only looking for a excuse to buy something that someone else may not want and if you're continually doing this you're continually spending more money than you ought. Good deals happen all the time. If it's not something that you need or even want, put it back and let someone find it who will love that item. Beware of the "Clearance" find.

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for ONE (1) FREE Mist TWST Lemon Lime Soda 2 Liter, any variety (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

Kroger and Kroger Affiliates are also running an instant win game, Pick n' Flip Game, for a chance to win a free product coupon. You could win one of 38,000 prizes. Click here for more details.

Review of Lady Emma's Campaign

During her season in London, Lady Emma avoids forming an attachment with anyone other than Captain Sidney Fletcher in Jennifer Moore's Lady Emma's Campaign. When Captain Fletcher becomes captured, Lady Emma stows away on her brother's ship to rescue her love. She quickly learns that war is far different from anything she has ever experienced.

Lady Emma reminds me at first as the typical sheltered regency heroine. Her circumstances and choices throughout the book help her to become a stronger, resilient and more likeable heroine. I love that Moore allows the reader to see the character develop and change. I also love that most of the settings in this book take place in Spain (also a little different than most regency romances). Moore paints a vivid war front scene through her descriptions and imagination. Lady Emma's Campaign is a fun read and I encourage those of you that like clean, adventurous regency romances to check it out at your local library or buy it for your collection through Amazon.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links.

How I Earn Gift Cards

Earning gift cards online can help alleviate some of your expenses and can become an extra way to provide for your household. Here are some of my methods:

• Online Surveys: I take surveys while I am watching TV or a movie (usually after the kids are in bed) through Harris Polls, SurveyU, ERewards and Tellwut. Each survey you take earns you points that you can put towards gift cards or other rewards. SurveyU is by far my favorite.
• Crowdtap: Crowdtap has surveys, samples, discussions on various brands. I've been a member of Crowdtap for a few years and I like it. I earn a $5 amazon gift card at least once a week.
• Blog Giveaways: Blog giveaways are a great way to earn/win gift cards. I like to enter low to moderate entry blog giveaways. The odds are more favorable. I share blog giveaways that I've entered for my readers in case they want to enter them too (check out my link here). Usually a company will sponsor a blogger to post about their product and sometimes sponsor a giveaway to their readers. Sometimes the giveaway will offer additional entries if you tweet about a giveaway or share it on social media, I always go back and enter those additional entries for the duration of the giveaway.
• Facebook Giveaways: Sometimes a brand or company will offer a giveaway on a facebook post. I used to think that they were unwinnable and too high, but I've been entering them a lot this year and so far have gotten a $250 Ebay Gift Card, Boden Shirt, and a $25 Winco Gift Card.

What are some ways you earn gift cards?

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for ONE (1) FREE Curate™ Single Bar, any variety (1.59 oz) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

Kroger and Kroger Affiliates are also running an instant win game, Pick n' Flip Game, for a chance to win a free product coupon. You could win one of 38,000 prizes. Click here for more details.

Quick and Easy Alphabet Flash Cards

To make learning letters easier, I created alphabet flash cards on foam rectangles and placed a letter felt sticker on it. The letters are soft and my son can feel the shape of the letters for a more sensory learning experience. These flash cards are inexpensive and easy to make. I like to hide the flash cards for my son and when he finds one he tells me the letter and what sound it makes. Sometimes, I make short words with the letters for him to sound out. We store the flash cards in a gallon size bag. What do you like to use to make alphabet learning more fun?

Note of Appreciation

I usually shop at Target for diapers and wipes and from time to time a sales clerk will go out of their way to help me. I make a mental note of their name on their badge or ask them what their name is. When I go home I draft a note and send it to Target. If a customer writes a note of appreciation it's a way of giving back to the clerk. The clerk looks good in front of his boss and the boss will realize what an asset they are to the store. Sales clerks are often overlooked and I am sure there are lots of other people we can take the tine to thank like the postman, hairdresser, gas station attendant, doctor and more. Sending out thank you notes also help me to notice more the little things that people do and more appreciative. I encourage you to look for the little things that people do and send out a note of thanks.

Becoming Lady Lockwood Review

Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore tells the story of recently widowed Amelia Becket who was married via proxy. Amelia is excited about her new found freedom to manage more easily her sugar plantation in a man's world, avoid matchmakers and chaperones. Sir William Drake arrives in Jamaica by orders from Amelia's father to take Amelia to England. Drake wants to disprove her marriage to his brother and prove she's a fraud. Amelia finds an adventure of a lifetime overseas with storms and battles. Amelia and Drake fall in love over their adventures, but will their circumstances allow for it?
 
Jennifer Moore's Becoming Lady Lockwood is not the typical regency romance. I loved that she was able to tell a clean romance with many adventures and a few twists. I found this story captivating, entertaining and I loved the character Amelia Becket. The character, Amelia is not the typical regency heroine and doesn't swoon at obstacles or hard work. The true regency era might have shun Amelia's spirit, but she's a great heroine for today's audiences. I encourage you to check out Becoming Lady Lockwood at your public library or buy it on Amazon.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links.

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for 1 FREE Lindt Lindor Stick, Milk Chocolate or Caramel (1.3 oz. (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

Hask Bamboo Oil Strengthening Collection Review

What girl or guy doesn’t want strong, healthy hair? Hask created a Bamboo Oil Strengthening Collection that fortifies hair, improves flexibility and prevents damage by using  biotin, collagen and silicon-rich bamboo oil. The Hask Bamboo Oil Strengthening Collection includes: Bamboo Oil Strengthening Shampoo, Bamboo Oil Strengthening Conditioner, Bamboo Oil Strengthening Shine Treatment and Bamboo Oil Strengthening Deep Conditioner. Each product is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, drying alcohol, and artificial colors.

Hask sent me their full Bamboo Oil Collection to review. I have used to for a few days now and my hair already feels softer and stronger. I love the feeling of healthy hair! To find out more about the Hask Bamboo Oil Strengthening Collection, click here.


Please note this is a sponsored post through Brand Backer. All opinions are my own.

National Public Gardens Day with the Idaho Botanical Gardens

The Idaho Botanical Gardens celebrates National Public Gardens Day on Friday May 6th from 9:00 am to 7 pm with FREE admission. This event is family friendly and a great way to enjoy nature. If you plan on attending, remember to wear good walking shoes, water to drink, a camera, and sunscreen. There will also be plants to purchase in the greenhouse. To find out more, click here.

The Idaho Botanical Gardens are located at:

2355 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, Idaho

Things to Do in Boise for May

Are you looking for things to do in Boise? Here's a listing of some of the events happening in Boise
(area) for May:

• May 5, 2016 - National Prayer Day at the Idaho State Capitol from 12 to 1:30 pm. Lt. Governor Little will read the Idaho State Prayer Proclamation. FREE event.
• May 6, 2016 - Dig into Idaho Geology at the Idaho Museum for Mining and Geology from 12 to 9 pm. Come to the FREE open house event and receive a free mineral, take a hillside geo-hike, or museum tour. Click here for more details. 
• May 6, 2016 - National Public Garden Day at the Idaho Botanical Gardens from 9 am to 7 pm. Enjoy the Botanical Gardens for FREE. Be sure to bring water to drink, wear good walking shoes and sunscreen. This is a fun and enjoyable event! Click here for more information.
• May 6, 2016 - Puppet Show at the Boise Public Main Library from 10:30 to 11 am for children 6 and under. FREE. Click here for more details.
• May 7, 2016 - Puppet Show at the Boise Public Main Library from 2 to 2:30 pm for children 6 and under. FREE. Click here for more details.
• May 7, 2016 - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure starting at 9 am at Albertson Headquarters. To find out more information, click here. 
• May 14, 2016 - East Jr. High Hornet Run (5K) starts at East Jr. High at 9:30 am. To sign up, click here.
• May 14, 2016 - Grand Opening of Boise Hare Krishna Temple at 5 pm. FREE event with vegetarian food, dances, balloons, face painting and more. To find out more, click here.
• May 14, 2016 - Sheep in the Foothills at the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center at 10 am. This is a FREE event to learn about Sheep herding and view a demo. To learn more, click here.
• May 21, 2016 - Famous Idaho Potato Marathon beginning at 7 am. To find out more information, click here.
• May 21, 2016 - Opera Idaho Children's Chorus from 11 am to 1 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. To find out more, click here.
• May 28, 2016 - Blacklight Bubble Party 5k starting at 8:30 pm at Julia Davis Park. To find out more and to sign up, click here.
• May 28, 2016 - Bubble Run starting at 8 am at the Expo Idaho. To find out more, click here.

Do you have a family friendly event? Contact me via the contact page to have it posted!