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Shutterfly Best Gift Ever and Giveaway

Posted on April 22, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Disclosure: I wrote this post for Shutterfly as part of a Global Influence campaign. I will be receiving a 16oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug and shipping as compensation for participating. Shutterfly is also supplying the same item for the winner of the giveaway below.

How do you tell someone all that they mean to you? This is something that many of us often take for granted. I have to admit that I am probably one of those people, especially with TechyDad.

TechyDad and I have been married for almost 12 year and all but two of them have included our boys. Not only does my husband go to work each and every day to provide for our family, he does so much more. He is a supportive husband who did not question my desire to leave the classroom to stay home with our boys. TechyDad is a fantastic father. He loves to play with the boys and expand their horizons in all of the items that he enjoys. Watching the boys all geek out together is priceless. In addition to this, my husband is also my webmaster and 99% of the time he is our cook (he enjoys it – go figure).

TechyDad loves to take photos. When we go out and about, he almost always has his camera in hand. Macro photos and now experimenting on his SLR camera mean we have lots of pictures. The funny thing, he does not have many updated photos of our family at work on his desk.

Over the years, we have purchased items from Shutterfly, including personalized gifts for our kids and other members of the extended family. I loved that they are meaningful and show a but more TLC when selecting the item. Right now, I would love to get TechyDad a mug for tea or a desk top plaque with new photos that he will cherish. Of course, I could also sit down with the boys and make him a new personalized photobook filled with memories (we have made Shutterfly books for the boys before).

With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduation season among us, we can look at the fun personalized gift options available via the Shutterfly Best Gift Ever page.

Giveaway Time:

Thanks to this Best Gift Ever campaign with Shutterfly, one reader (US or Canada) will be able to make their own personalized 16oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug plus shipping.

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – Head over to the Shutterfly Photo Gifts page and let me know in the comments what your favorite item is that you would like to give or receive.

The following Bonus Entry may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comment each time you complete this item.

1 Bonus Entry – Tweet the following about the giveaway (may be done twice a day): #Giveaway for a personalized 16oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug from @Shutterfly http://bit.ly/11Bj3hU #win #ShutterflyGifts

Please follow the rules above within the comment section. Giveaway begins April 22, 2013 ends April 28, 2013 at 10:59 EST. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 24 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected.

Open to US and Canadian residents only.

If you are on Twitter and would like more chances to win prizes from Shutterfly, join @ResourcefulMom on Monday, April 2^ndfor the Shutterfly Twitter Party. More information on Resourceful Mommy including the RSVP and prize information.

Additional Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign. As noted, we have already purchased several Shutterfly products before, and the opinion expressed is 100% my own.

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gift ideas giveaway sponsored post TechyDad

Jake and the Never Land Pirates Birthday Fun

Posted on June 11, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

What do you do when your child asks to have another birthday party with the same theme they have already done? If it is pirates in our house, I say:

I mean, it isn’t every day that you have the supporting characters from Jake and the Never Land Pirates as inspiration. Of course, this year we were lucky and they actually had party supplies. Bubbe and Grandpa found additional items near them and made the scene perfect for our little buccaneer.

JSL asked for one item to be a repeat from last year. He wanted the same pirate cupcakes that I made. I agreed to do this and brought my supplies to finish decorating before everyone arrived.

Once everyone was done eating, we pulled out some pirate crafts to keep the kids busy. First, they made pirate hats and then colored some Jack Sparrow-esque looking pirates.

While the kids played, it was time to set up the table for cupcakes, fruit, and other goodies. We had to make sure that the pirates were ready to guard the cupcakes before we called everyone over.

Then, it was time for the birthday pirate to open his presents. He got a lot of booty and really enjoyed everything from all of the family that came. I think you will see there was a mini pattern here.

Lots more to share, but we need to decompress after our pirate party fun. Right now, I am likely off battling the sneaky guy below.

Of course, Captain Hook stands no chance thanks to Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Scully now living with us. JSL will have a fantastic time using Bucky with his new friends to battle the sneaky pirate.

We have a good chance of doing well don’t you think?

It's Me

Categories:
arts and crafts birthday Disney family food glorious food fun gift ideas jsl photos play time yummy

Photo Gifts for Mother’s Day

Posted on April 15, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Mother’s Day is coming and TechyDad keeps asking me what I would like. To be honest, a nice quiet day with the boys is what I would really enjoy. Just doing something special that does not involve the circus like last year (we literally went to the circus). Of course, I know that we are trying to show the boys that we give some gifts to each other and they are not the only gift receivers. Two items that I have been thinking of were personalized cell phone case or a photo mug.

Thanks to a campaign from Global Influence, I now have a few new items that may be on my list. Shutterfly’s collection of photo gifts has really grown. Of course, they have a great selection of mugs that you can personalize like this tiled one below. They also have a nice selection of iPhone cases, but nothing that will work with my Droid Bionic. Perhaps they would be good options for Father’s Day for Papa.

What I was not expecting were fun new bags, different wall art options, fleece blankets, personalized puzzles, and many other items. The new items within the photo gift section of their website has grown a lot in recent months.

With all of the sales right now, these photo gifts would not only make great Mother’s Day presents, but also nice items to put away for Father’s Day, graduation presents, birthdays, and beyond. To keep up on all that Shutterfly has to offer be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

So, what are you asking your family to get you for Mother’s Day? I would love to know what you have in mind. I think I am going to go for a fun new mug with photos from our upcoming trip to Disney World!

It's Me

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a compensated Global Influence campaign. As someone who enjoys finding unique gifts for family and friends, I love the new selection of items that I will be able to pick from with my Shutterfly gift certificate. Global Influence Network

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gift ideas holidays me moments photos sponsored post TechyDad

Tuesday Tales – Isabella: Girl on the Go

Posted on February 21, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last year, I read a blog post about a book called My Name Is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream? It was not just any book. It was about inspiring children, especially girls, to dream big. The spunky little character within the story is Isabella. Author Jennifer Fosberry introduces us to this fun child who did not simply want to be herself, she wanted to be famous women in history. I fell in love with the New York Times bestselling book and was so excited to hear that Fosberry and illustrator Mike Litwin teamed up again for the new sourcebook about Isabella. The book is being released today.

In the first book, Isabella uses her imagination to showcase to her mother the amazing scientific women that she is pretending to become. She learns that the sky is the limit if she follows her dreams. In Isabella: Girl on the Go, we watch as Isabella sits in her backyard and talks to her father.

Once again, Isabella’s imagination takes her from her yard and propels her into the adventure of a lifetime. Each time her father asks her who she is, we are whisked off to a new city where we see a famous structure.

Thanks to Isabella, we are able to see that everything in the world is just a dream away. We learn about new careers like being an archeologist, artist, astronomer, and more while traveling to places like Paris, London, China, and beyond. The playful words from Fosberry allow readers to see where Isabella has gone in her imagination. They are paired perfectly with the gorgeous illustrations from Litwin.

The book really could be for multiple age levels. Younger children will marvel at Isabella’s silly imagination and talks with her father while in her own yard. Older children can use the tale as a starting point to do more research about the places and structures that Isabella sees within her vivid imagination. At the end of the book, there is even more information about the places and structures that we visit.

I know that I highly recommend this book and hope to use it for gifts in the future. More information about the book, a downloadable Isabella Girl on the Go Passport and activity kit, and book tour can be found on Sourcebooks website. I know I will be printing these out to try with my kids soon. They look like a fun addition to a book study in a classroom, or something to try at home on a snowy or rainy day.

What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sourcebooks in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for the two books mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the book through that link.

Categories:
books Educational gift ideas photos Product review Tuesday Tales

Tuesday Tales – Chanukah Bugs

Posted on December 20, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

A year ago, I wrote about a great book that my little guy received from his speech therapist called Snow Bugs. The book is written and masterfully illustrated by pop up author book extraordinaire David A. Carter. Carter has many other books that we have seen, but I have always wanted to view one in particular. Enter JSL’s speech therapist and her Chanukah gift that was left with his things last week.

Like Snow Bugs, this books is also a pop-up book that will delight all readers. Chanukah Bugs takes you on a fun journey to meet eight Chanukah bugs. Yes, there is a special Chanukah bug for each night of the Festival of Lights.

Each night of Chanukah, we are presented with a box to open on the page.

Then there is a flap, pull, or other item which will real something inside. On the first night, we meet The Shammash Bug.

Not only did my little guy love reading about the different Chanukah Bugs, but I did as well. Nana was also mesmerized when she looked inside. The details of the pop-ups make it a book that adults will really appreciate. Kids may even notice that the Storyteller Bug is actually reading a familiar book. Now to share two of my favorite bugs (hard to narrow it down).

I know that this book will be gifted for family and friends in the future, both children and young at heart.

Have you read any of David A Carter’s books? I would love to know. I would also like to hear about what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: As mentioned, the book was a gift to my son from his teacher. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included. Should someone purchase these from Amazon I will receive a small percentage of the sale. As always, all opinions are my own.