What's blooming at Hallmark for Mother's Day? #HallmarkPressPause ( +Giveaway , Open to Canada) 5/6

 Expressions!

A meaningful word, rich and crisp in content and when spoken at the right time, can melt someone's heart. Here's more that can happen with an expression :

Win someone's heart. Make someone's day. Add some flavor to a relationship and make it even more special. 

No matter what you want  to express, Hallmark has got you covered.

Hallmark is all about "expressing" your heart. Instead of giving  just some flowers, with Hallmark you can "delight" that someone with a flower that will keep reminding them everyday of how much you value them. This flower will always stay fresh and not wither. At the touch of a button, the bud blooms into a beautiful flower that reveals the message inside.

This new product line from Hallmark is the "Blooming Expressions" .

 I received the yellow flower with the message " You deserve a beautiful day". 

It retails for $14.95 and is available in more colors and messages.

Personally, I think it is a sweet gift. The only downside is that I have to keep it far, far away from my little brat so that the petals don't get plucked away. And while I was looking for the button to see how the flower works, he had already figured it out and showed me how the flower can open and close! 

While I adore  " blooming expressions" , I seem to be lured  into Hallmark's stationery every time I browsed for this. Yep, did not know that Hallmark carried stationery. I have this unquenchable craze for stationery. The more colorful and cuter the stationery, the more I will use it. Stationery can do wonders in my mind and just sends me into an organizing spree.  

When I received this little bundle from Hallmark, I thought it will be the perfect time to mention that Hallmark does carry some lovely, much needed stationery. It looks great on my table and very useful for a mom like me. "Reminders" that are needed for my family, will look and sound much nicer on pretty paper like this :)

 Next time you are at Hallmark, check them out!

Thanks to Hallmark, we have a sweet giveaway for Mother's Day! One lucky Canadian reader will have the chance to win a Blooming Expressions !

Mother's Day Coupon for Savvy Cents Wallet

Use code : mothersday and get $5 off your purchase at Savvy Cents!

To know what we think about this wallet, please read our review here.  It is a wonderful Mother's Day Gift.

 

A Pearl-icious gift for Mother's Day from Pure Pearls! ( + Giveaway, US/CAN) 5/6

Every mom deserves to be appreciated. What better way than to say it with "pearls"? 

Pearls are precious, exquisite and beautiful from any way you look at it - just like a mom. My mom is not a big fan of jewellery and she keeps it very simple yet classy. Pearl jewellery will be something that my mom will love to wear and will gladly accept as a gift.

Pearl jewellery knows no age when it comes to who will wear it. Earrings, necklace, bracelets - I love anything pearl. I want to introduce to you a brand that has not just has a great selection of pearl jewellery but at competitive prices! 

Isn't that every woman's dream - to have a LOT of GREAT jewellery at the BEST price?!

PurePearls.com - an online, pearl shopper's paradise! They have absolutely beautiful pearl jewellery - your eyes will never get enough of it..try browsing!

I had the precious opportunity to review their pearl earrings.

They are not only stunning but great in quality. I chose the freshwater pearl earrings from their Freshwater Pearls collection. You have the choice to choose between 14K yellow or white gold for the post. I chose the white gold and I love the combination of white pearls and the white gold post.

Starting at $42, PurePearls.com offers a great price which makes it more affordable.These are great to wear everyday or just even with a formal dress. That's what makes pearls so special - you can  wear it all the time. Now I am thinking of buying pearl jewellery worth $100 every year - not a bad splurge for a year! 

I liked that they come in a nice, little box and an appraisal certificate.

Every Pure Pearls Purchase Includes

In Stock : FREE Delivery Included

90 Day Easy Returns

Savings of up to 80% off Average Retail Pricing

100% Safe & Secure Shopping

Appraisal Certificate Prepared by Certified Pearl Expert

Signature Little Black Gift Box

Pearl Care Card with instructions on how to keep your pearls beautiful for a lifetime!

This pearl earring costs $225 but you can buy it for $50 at PurePearls.com! 

Isn't that a handsome deal for a pair of earrings with fine quality ?

PurePearls.com has beautiful pendants, necklaces, bracelets and all of great quality and prices!

White South Sea Pearl and Diamond Glimmer Pendant, Sizes 10.0-14.0mm

Black Freshwater Pearl Bracelet, 6.0-7.0mm

White Freshwater Graduated Pearl Tin Cup Necklace, 6.0-9.5mm

PurePearls.com is a great place to buy your mom a Mother's Day gift that will be treasured! The pearl earrings are an affordable Mother's Day Gift and as a mom myself, I will say that it will be one of the best gifts ever!

Thanks to PurePearls.com, one lucky reader will have the chance to win a pair of Freshwater Pearl Earrings, 7.0-8.0mm. Winner's choice of color!

What did I choose from Wholesale Halloween Costumes?

It was a tough choice to make with so many cute costumes! 

An aspiring little fireman who wishes he was Lightning McQueen for a moment and quickly decides he is better off being a cop. Oh and that really cool garbage truck has struck a chord with my little one's brain. He wishes he could stand behind on the garbage truck like those big guys and hang on, going house to house. 

How can I choose that ONE costume for my boy that will make him feel great, look authentic and not compromise of quality by putting it to use  for a long time for pretend plays? 

That's when I stumbled on Wholesale Halloween Costumes.

We have a Junior Firefighter Costume and he wears it to the farmer''s market. The number of  compliments he has received is just countless. He absolutely LOVES it and wears it often. I will attest for the quality of the material and how comfortable it is.

Having a mommy who reviews a ton of stuff,  got him an intro with the mail man. My son thinks that the UPS man is such a kind hearted man to give him all the toys! He really, really likes the UPS delivery man.So I knew what to get him from Wholesale Halloween Costumes!

 It is the most comfortable outfit ! It is a 2 piece costume and made of very soft cotton. The cap is so original that it makes him not only feel like a UPS delivery man but looks just like one! Purpose served!

Wholesale Halloween Costumes has a wide variety of choices.  They have tons of cute toddler costumes. There will be one that will suit your child - be it Disney or an old classical look.

We like to encourage pretend plays and so look for interesting costumes all through the year. If you are like us, check them out at Wholesale Halloween Costumes.

   Wholesale Halloween Costume’s Twitter

 Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

 

A favor from you...pretty please?

 We have had some wonderful giveaways sponsored by 2mi.ca .The most recent one being this beautiful Espresso set.

Seems like we all followed the wrong Twitter handle! My bad...2mi.ca hasn't had any of us following them on Twitter and they definitely want to keep us posted on what''s brewing for the season. 

We won't be getting the latest scoop from 2mi.ca about their new products, sale and other hot deals if we do not catch 2mi.ca on Twitter!

So, let's find them on Twitter and give them a shout...they will pleased to hear from you lovely readers!

You can follow 2mi.ca on Twitter.

 

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Jake and the Never Land Pirates on DVD!

Review and giveaway coming soon!

In anticipation of the April 3rd DVD & Digital Copy release of JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES: PETER PAN RETURNS from Disney!

 

What Easter means to me...

I was walking by the river with my camera around my neck. There was a brown bush that caught my eye. A closer look revealed these tiny red flowers that were blooming. In my heart, I felt a new found, greater appreciation and admiration for this bush. It bore the brunt of the cold winter and kept its beauty covered inside, until the right time. 

It was a SIGN of LIFE.

Easter reminds me of all the pain God bore on the cross, only to release life, love and joy in abundance for me. It is such a powerful and personal message to everyone. 

When I feel that I am almost crumpled, God pours out His healing love.

When I feel lonely, He reminds me of His presence.

When I am overwhelmed and confused, He fills me with His peace.

When I think that this is the end, He shows me the way ahead.

When I am broken in my heart, He reminds me that He was broken for me and strengthens me through His brokenness.

God comes through EVERY time because His love is UNCONDITIONAL.

 Though I thank God everyday for giving His life for me on the cross, Easter is a special day to REMEMBER & CELEBRATE that Jesus not only died, but He rose again! He is a risen Saviour without whom, I am nothing. I am humbled every time to know what  a wonderful God I love and trust.

I asked my 3 yr old " What is the story of Easter?" He put it simply yet beautifully " ..That God loves us". 

Yes, it is that simple. God LOVES us! Remember that God LOVES you and you CAN trust Him !

To me, Easter is a SIGN of LIFE!  

What does Easter mean to you?

My prayer:

Father, may those who read this , be filled with the love that you demonstrated on the Cross and the power of your resurrection. May they be filled with LIFE and let Easter remind them of your unconditional love, no matter what their circumstance is. Touch them with your love. Embrace them and their loved ones with your presence. In your Wonderful name, Amen!

A Tyndale Review : My First Hands-On Bible

• My First Hands-On Bible is the preschooler version of the popular Hands-On Bible, which has sold over a half million copies. Jesus taught with hands-on lessons and illustrations; My First Hands-On Bible uses the same experience-based learning to communicate God’s Word in an active, understandable way. 

• My First Hands-On Bible is a fun and simple yet meaningful way to engage preschool, pre-K, and K children (ages 3-6) with the Bible while helping them build a solid faith foundation. 

• Each lesson focuses on a specific Bible point through a variety of activities in order to reinforce and help young children remember the stories and lessons. Using common household items, you can help your children have a “hands-on” learning experience while engaging them in 85 key stories from the Bible.  

•  My First Hands-On Bible doesn’t just retell the Bible stories; it also includes actual Scripture from the easy-to-understand and easy-to-read Holy Bible, New Living Translation. In addition to the stories and activities, there are fun illustrations, prayers, and a special Jesus Connection feature.

We have been using this Bible for several months now and I will say that it is one of THE best. While reading, it is beneficial if we use creative connections to the passage that is being read. It definitely helps children see the passage from different perspectives. But there are days when I am tired and my creativity runs dry after a long day. I feel guilty of just reading the book to my son for the sake of it. 

But when we use this Bible, I do not have to wear a thinking hat on what to say to connect the scripture to reality. It is because there are little suggestions on every page on what we can do. For eg. when we read Jonah's story, the suggestion says " act like you are on a rocking ship". So I just sit and act like I am on a ship on stormy seas. And my son looks in awe of the dramatic enactment that mommy just did! It definitely adds life and animation to our reading time. This is the best thing I like about the Bible, as a parent.

My little boy loves Cuddles the sheep who can be found at the end of each read. Pockets the kangaroo says a little, simple prayer that is related to the chapter that was read. 

This Bible helps preschoolers learn about Bible stories in a lively and interactive way. There is not a dull moment, when you pull out this Bible for reading time! 

You can buy this My First Hands-On Bible from Amazon.com for $11.55

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

Get cracking with Hallmark's Squawkin'-Egg Droppin' Hen ! A must have for Easter!

 Gone are the days when Hallmark was known just for cards. They are expanding their product line and some of the hottest products of the season can be found only at Hallmark.

Soon it will be Easter and apart from food and celebrations, you can surprise a little someone with a gift that will get them laughing over and over again! My son has never had a hen as a toy or a stuffed animal. So the moment he saw Mama Hen, he held it so gently and warmly.

Here's from Hallmark to you..

 It comes with battery, so you can enjoy it right away. Seriously, this Mama Hen is one heck of a hilarious singer, dancer and lays the most colorful eggs! She is a pale yellow with colorful dots and dons a perfectly tied scarf to give her the mature, protective mama look. 

My son enjoys it thoroughly and dances with the hen. All you do is drop the eggs in the little hole underneath the scarf and switch it on by pressing gently on her soft wings.

 This is a great source of fun for this season and while we wait for summer to visit the farm, we will enjoy this hen at home! Totally adorable. My boy who plays it rough, was all warm and cuddly with his hen!

You can buy this Squawkin'-Egg Droppin' Hen from Hallmark for $30.95 or $15.95 with purchase of three cards.

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

Winners!

Ascenta Nutrasea Kids - Brenda Penton 

Berenstain Bears - Jennifer Barata 

Espresso Set -  Elle 

Princess Books - Andrea Yake 

SHARP Air Purifier - Angela Marriott 

Turbo Tax -  Karin Dollery , Jeannette Laframboise 

Congratulations and thank you for all your enthusiastic participation!

We will have some giveaways for Mother's Day and you can look forward to an awesome Back to School event. 

Have a wonderful week!