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Tuesday Tales – Personalized Kids Book w/Giveaway

Posted on November 1, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a little girl, I remember a Chanukah gift that I received. It was nothing flashy, it did not require batteries, but it was extremely special to me. What was it? It was a book that someone bought me that had me as a main character in the book. It also had other fun details about me and was amazing. I often wondered how this book was made. I do believe that book is still at my parent’s house because I adored it so much.

I have often wanted to get a personalized book for the boys, but never knew where to order one. Thanks to Family Review Network, I connected with Just Kids Gifts to review and giveaway one of their books. Not only do they have personalized books for children, they also offer children’s personalized music CD’s, photo DVD’s, and music DVD’s.

When the book arrived, I asked JSL to come onto the couch to read it with me. When we started, it just looked like a typical book to him. Here is the cover of the hard cover book:

Since he is into trains, he jumped onto the couch and even big brother, NHL, came over to listen. When I read the front page of the book, the boys attention was even more intense. This is what they heard:

Once JSL stopped jumping up and down, and singing that this book was just for him we continued to read The Train With No Name. This is the summary of the book from Just Kids Books:

The little track tester isn’t important enough to have either a name or an engineer…That is, until your child steps in and helps the little track tester to save the circus train. This educational book helps teach about compassion, helping others and most of all, they’ll learn that you don’t have to be big to be important!

As a parent (and educator), I really liked that the book taught a lesson. By using JSL’s name it held his attention and made him think about what the author was trying to get. At four some of it may have gone over his head, but NHL (8) completely understood the point. With older children, not only will they love seeing their name in the book, along with friends, there is more to talk about afterward.

I know that if we have a holiday, birthday, or other gift for a child – we will be checking out other possibilities from Just Kids Gifts (they are also on Facebook). Thanks to their quick service, and great customer support I highly recommend them and will be purchasing more in the near future. I also love to support a business that is run by parents (to an 18 month old) and located in NY. We may have to get NHL his own book since he was so jealous of the one JSL received.

Giveaway:

Thanks to Just Kids Gifts, one lucky reader will have a chance to win their own personalized book.

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – What personalized book would you select for the child on your holiday gift list and why?

The following Bonus Entries may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comments for each that you complete below to make sure you get the right number of entries.

1 Bonus Entry – Follow TheAngelForever on Twitter
1 Bonus Entry – Follow Just Kids Gifts on Twitter
1 Bonus Entry – Tweet the following about the giveaway (May be done three times a day, but at least an hour between each Tweet): Enter to #win a @JustKidsGifts personalized kids book from @TheAngelForever http://bit.ly/uNOcGq #Giveaway
2 Bonus Entries – Stop by The Angel Forever on Facebook to say hello and leave me a comment on a status message. Let me know you have done so here.
1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
1 Bonus Entry – Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway posts from the months of October/November. Leave a comment here to let me know which one. This Bonus entry may be done twice per day.
3 Bonus Entries – Add my blog button to your website and/or add me to your blogroll. Be sure to leave a link with the location.
1 Bonus Entry – Head over to TechyDad’s blog and say hello to him. Let me know where you posted a comment. May be done once a day.

To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today November 1, 2011 and ends at 10:59 EST on November 14, 2011. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only.

Disclosure: This post was written for Family Review Network & Just Kids Gifts who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are 100% mine. Just Kids Gifts is also providing the giveaway item to one reader.

Categories:
books gift ideas giveaway jsl looking back nhl photos Product review Tuesday Tales Web business

Happy Halloween From Some Characters

Posted on October 31, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

What characters will be in your world today? Do you have any special plans for today? More about our costumes coming Wednesday!

Wishing all of the ghosts, goblins, zombies, pirates, and other characters a safe, happy, and fun Halloween!

Categories:
fun holidays jsl nhl photos

Snowtober 2011

Posted on October 30, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Snow in October is not unheard of in the northeast. Of course, IF we get snow it is not usually able to be measured. On Thursday, we were lucky enough to get just under two inches of snow. Thanks to some warmer (40 degree-ish) weather, it melted quickly on Friday.

As I write this, we are bracing to see just how much snow we get during what they are calling the great Snowtober storm. Originally, we were told the storm would begin here at about noon on Saturday, but the reality was that it started at about 4:00 and looked like this:

Prior to that, it had been very dry and the sky was even really blue early in the day. Then, at about 5:00, it started to really stick on the ground. Here is another photo of outside in the front of our house.

Of course, snow in October worries a lot of us because we remember another winter weather event that happened not too long ago. On October 4, 1987 we had a bad ice/snow storm. The trees were still covered in leaves. Old trees fell and pulled down lots and lots of power lines. I was in elementary school and there were no classes for a week. During that time, we lived with my grandparents because our house had no power and they did. It was an adventure that I will never forget and hope not to live with my boys.

So excuse me if I am not around much Sunday and beyond. Depending on how much snow we get, I may not be able to get online.

So how is the weather by you? If you live in the line of the storm please let me know how you are making our by you.

I know we are lucky compared to some areas. This just makes me wonder – what is the rest of the “winter” season going to toss our way. Clearly Mother Nature gave us a major trick before Halloween.

Categories:
looking back milestone photos weather weekend winter

Snow Season Begins

Posted on October 29, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL.

When we drove to get NHL at school on Thursday, I told you that it was snowing. I do not think that you believed me since it was small, pellet-like flakes with the rainy mist. I knew it was snowing and had no doubt you would soon believe me.

After we tried to get NHL’s percussion set in school, we stood outside and big white snow flakes started to fly around. You were in heaven. You ran around screaming “Mommy you was not lying to me – it really is snowin’!”

Of course, I told you I would never lie about snow. That was what we call sarcasm, something that you will probably be very good at dishing out one day soon enough.

By the time we got home and settled in, the ground was getting coated.

Friday morning on the way to school, you tossed on your rain boots and insisted on parading in the snow before it melted away. The bad news, it is pretty much gone. The good news (at least as far as you are concerned), tomorrow morning you may wake up to 5-9 inches of fresh new white snow to play in. I know you are excited, but I am not ready for the winter to be here so early.

Love,

Mommy

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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday jsl kid talk photos weather winter

The Importance of Pixie Dust Moments

Posted on October 28, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There are days when everything just seems to blur together. Life as an adult can be overwhelming at best at times. There are so many things going on with everyone in the house. Add in other drama and it can make you wonder when the ride is going to stop for you to get off. These are the moments where I feel like I am the White Rabbit, constantly late for a very important date or something else in life.

Of course, there are also the times that I remember how much we have and are lucky not to have to deal with. When I get like this, I have my family, friends, and others in my world to toss a little Pixie Dust my way.

They remind me that it is okay to vent, whine, and groan – however, I have to keep on moving and remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some days, this may be harder to remember than others, but it has to be done. Something that helps me is to look back at our magical moments from trip to Walt Disney World. Recalling the laughter, smiles, fun times, and everything else makes these not so pleasant items vanish for at least a short time to let me wish upon a star.

So my question to you this week:

What do your “Pixie Dust Moments” looks like and how do they help you to push through.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.