holidays | The Angel Forever

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Holiday Cards and More from Tiny Prints

Posted on October 7, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The leaves outside are almost finished turning colors here in New York State and I am already thinking about the holidays. Why? While Christmas is always on December 25, Chanukah is the earliest I can recall. We will be lighting our menorah during Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgivukkah is actually something people are talking about this year and making fun recipes to work on. Thanks to a wonderful sponsored campaign from Tiny Prints, I will be able to work on my 2013 holiday cards and personalized photo gifts before things get too hectic. These are just a few of my most recent purchases from Tiny Prints.

While I will probably stick to sending out New Years cards to family and friends, I love being able to have choices. With Tiny Prints holiday card selection, I can make some for Chanukah, Christmas, or New year 2014 wishes. I literally could and probably will spend hours looking for just the right cards. This year, you can also add trim options that include square, rounded, bracket, ticket, and scallop. Contemporary, Classic, Vintage, Full bleed photos, All That Glitters, Bold Expressions, Simply Chic, Woodland Wonder, and The New Tradition are some of the new design styles included this year. In addition to this, Tiny Prints offers matching address labels and envelope lines.

Some of my favorites designs this year are the Dreidel Frame, Best Hopes, Fun Cut Outs, and Wondrous Season.

Of course, I can also shop for personalized gifts found on the Tiny Prints website. My photo mug, pictured at the top, is a wonderful size and gorgeous. I adore how it shows a magical adventure to Walt Disney World with my family. In addition to this, I adore the custom notebook that I made and think that would be perfect for a special teacher. I know I will be spending more time checking out gifts for family and friends because I can trust the quality of Tiny Prints from previous experience.

Giveaway Time:

Thanks to this Holiday campaign with Tiny Prints, one reader (US or Canada) will receive $50.00 off your total order at Tiny Prints (plus free shipping). Imagine the fun you will have when ordering some new items for the holiday season, whether it is cards to send out to family and friends, or some personalized gift items.

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – Head over to the Tiny Prints Holiday Cards page and comment below on your favorite card.

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

1 Bonus Entry – Visit Tiny Prints Holiday Cards and pin your favorite card to Pinterest. Tag #TinyPrintsCheer and leave a link to your pin in the comments below.

Please follow the rules above within the comment section. For additional ways to win Tiny Prints items, be sure to check out the #TinyPrintsCheer Pinning Party™ taking place on October 8 at 2:00 PM ET. My giveaway begins October 6, 2013 and ends October 21, 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.

Additional Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign where I will be receiving credit for a future order at Tiny Prints. As noted, we have already purchased several Tiny Prints products before, and the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Categories:
gift ideas giveaway holidays sponsored post

Tuesday Tales – The Vanishing Gourds: A Sukkot Mystery

Posted on September 10, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Each year, after Rosh Hashanah, many Jewish families begin to prepare for Sukkot. This is a fun holidays where some build a sukkah in their yard and eat meals and sleep under the stars. In the past our boys have helped to decorate the sukkah at our synagogue while at nursery school and Hebrew School. Looking back we have a lot of wonderful memories with our children celebrating Sukkot together.

Thanks to the PJ Library, we were introduced to new book about Sukkot. The Vanishing Gourds: A Sukkot Mystery by Susan Axe-Bronk arrived for JSL to read during the holiday season. I have to admit, that I may have been more excited to sit down and read it together. Once I started to read, JSL was hooked. He wanted to know more about Sara and the way her family celebrates Sukkot.

When you begin the story, you are introduced to Sara. We watch as she and her family prepare for Sukkot. She helps her father to build the sukkah, she bakes items to eat in the sukkah, and she decorates the sukkah. Sara goes with her mother to a farm to get some gourds to hang in their sukkah. The beautiful illustrations by Marta Monelli make the book even more festive. The crisp autumn feel is present as we see Sara, the gourds, and sukkah happenings. Then something starts to happen to the gourds in the sukkah and we follow along as Sara solves the mystery.

JSL really enjoyed the story and wanted to know more about gourds. For some reason, he does not recall seeing them at the farms that we have gone to in the past. I do believe we may have to get some for fall decorations this year. We talked about memories of decorating the sukkah when he was in nursery school and how he would often eat lunch in it when the weather was nice. At the end of the book, JSL was happy with the ending and seemed to want to hear more about Sara and her family.

I also enjoyed the story. I liked that it was different than other Sukkot stories that we have read in the past. The cute mystery gives children the chance to think, predict, and wonder about the cause of the gourds being smashed. In addition to this, I liked how forgiving Sara was throughout the story. She had great coping strategies and looked ahead to the following year when she would celebrate Sukkot again. For families reading the book together, PJ Library also has a Reading Guide available. This includes an explanation of Sukkot, the sukkah, and includes questions that would work nicely as discussion starters. JSL and I will likely read the book again before Sukkot and chat about some of the items included.

Do you have any special Sukkot books that you like to read with your family? As always, please share what you have read recently. 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: My son received this book as a members of the PJ Library. Membership in our area is free and we are never expected to review/write about this, I simply wanted to share a new book with others. All opinions are my own.

Categories:
books holidays Tuesday Tales

Shana Tova 5774

Posted on September 5, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As I sit and write this, my family is getting ready for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It officially begins at sundown on Wednesday evening. The days are spent reflecting on the year gone by and wishing everyone a Sweet New Year. There will be honey cake, apples and honey, and other traditional items served.

As I get ready for our dinner together on Wednesday night, I wanted to include a fun new music video from Six13, a Jewish A Cappella group in New York City. They share part of their song via a YouTube video and it seemed perfect for today.

To all of those that celebrate, I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and sweet start to 5774.

Categories:
holidays

Independence Day Wishes for 2013

Posted on July 4, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

We often forget about the meaning of July 4 and what it really means to those of us living in the United States. As we spend time with family on this special day, be sure to take time to remember those that fought for the freedoms that we have, along with all of the men and women still in the armed forces today keeping us safe.

Today is also about family, making memories, and enjoying time with those you love. Be sure to live in the moment and enjoy.

Categories:
holidays

Dads and Disney Memories

Posted on June 12, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Father’s Day is this weekend and so many of my memories of Walt Disney World include the fathers in my life. Magical moments going on Space Mountain with my father and seeing him experiencing the wonder with my boys for two trips. In addition to this, I have watched TechyDad bond with the boys in Orlando. Here are few of my favorite memories from my last trip with Nana, Papa, TechyDad, and the kids.