Thursday, December 31, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Kindle Freebies - Day 7!

Day 7 available of the 12 Days of Christmas Freebies on Kindle from Knowledge Box Central!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Kindle Freebies - Day 6!

Day 6 available of the 12 Days of Christmas Freebies on Kindle from KBC!


It is also the last day to download the freebie for Days 1 & 2.



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

New Share the Memories Freebies!


New Share the Memories Freebies this week!

Click on images to be taken to downloads.

Available free until January 3, 2016!



USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

to get $10 off My Memories Suite Software! (in the US and Canada)

Happy Scrapping!

12 Days of Christmas Kindle Freebies - Days 4 & 5!

DAYS 4 & 5 of Knowledge Box Central's 12 Days of Christmas Freebies on Kindle are available here!




Collect all 12 booklets to make a complete mini-lapbook!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Monday, December 28, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Kindle Freebies!

Collect all 12 mini-booklets of the Christmas Nativity Mini-Lapbook on Kindle during the 12 Days of Christmas! We regret to say that Amazon Kindle did not get the freebie information processed in time for Day 4 today. Days 4 and 5 should both be available free tomorrow. In the meantime, Days 1, 2, and 3 are still available free, if you have not yet collected them.



Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Freebies - Day 3!

During the 12 Days of Christmas (December 25-January 5), download the 12 booklets of our new Christmas Nativity Mini-Lapbook!  You may learn a few things you didn't know about the Nativity Story while making a keepsake to treasure with your children.  
Pull it out every Christmas to marvel over the story and its characters again!  
Quiz your friends and family with the trivia inside for a fun Christmas game!

A new booklet will be available for free download each day, and each freebie will be available for five days.





Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Freebies!

We hope you had a very Merry Christmas yesterday!  Perhaps you are still celebrating with family and friends.  During the 12 Days of Christmas (December 25-January 5), download the 12 booklets of our new Christmas Nativity Mini-Lapbook on Kindle!  You may learn a few things you didn't know about the Nativity Story while making a keepsake to treasure with your children.  
Pull it out every Christmas to marvel over the story and its characters again!  
Quiz your friends and family with the trivia inside for a fun Christmas game!

A new booklet will be available for free download each day, and each freebie will be available for five days.




Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

New Share the Memories Freebies!

Two new Freebies from Share the Memories!




Available FREE until: 
December 27

Merry Christmas!!!

A Science Freebie and A Frozen Giveaway!

I wanted to take just a minute today to share two great resources.

First is a FREE downloadable science magazine for middle schoolers.  I just found this website, and it has loads of downloadable material.  I can't wait to get started!
The Natural Inquirer is a middle school science education journal! Scientists report their research in journals, which enable scientists to share information with one another. This journal, The Natural Inquirer, was created so that scientists can share their research with middle school students. Each article tells you about scientific research conducted by scientists in the USDA Forest Service.All of the research in this journal is concerned with nature, trees, wildlife, insects, outdoor activities and water. First students will "meet the scientists" who conduct the research. Then students read special information about science, and then about the environment. Students will also read about a specific research project, written in a way that scientists write when publishing their research in journals. Students become scientists when they do the Discovery FACTivity, learning vocabulary words that help in understanding articles. At the end of each section of Natural Inquirerarticles, students will find a few questions to help think about the research. These questions are not a test! They are intended to help students think more about research & can be used for class discussions.

Next is a chance to win a free Frozen Lapbook from Teacher's Notebook.  Ten lucky winners will win!
Would you like to win a FREE Lapbook that is based on the movie, FROZEN? Disney’s FROZEN has taken the world by storm. Take advantage of the opportunity by using this lapbook as a teaching tool. FROZEN is filled with life lessons and moral values that can be taught while children have fun working through and putting together this amazing hands-on lapbook! Designed for grades K-8. You must be a registered member of Teacher's Notebook
to enter to win.


Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

No Subtle Hints!!

Cartoon from Facebook, by Todd Wilson, The Family Man
A public service announcement, edited and reprinted from October 2010:

Yes, it is that time of year again.  If you have any hope of getting something besides nail polish remover from the drugstore for Christmas, you've started dropping the hints!

You know the game.  You are almost out of your favorite (rather expensive) perfume.  So you say - in plain hearing of your husband, during the commercial of a football game - "Darn!  I'm almost out of my favorite perfume!"  You will comment on the shortage several times between now and Christmas.  "Oh, honey, sorry I don't have any perfume on tonight.  I completely ran out!  But I guess I won't buy myself any this close to Christmas.  We have gifts to get for other people."  And so it goes, until Christmas Eve.  Christmas morning, your husband hands you a nice little package with a big cat-that-swallowed-the-canary grin on his face.  You tear it open, ready to put on your new perfume, and it is - a purse-size tool kit for you to keep in your car.  Or nail polish remover.  Or a new drill.  "Oh, sorry, honey," he says.  "You don't think you'll use the drill much?  Well, I can keep it out at my workbench for you!"

You probably wanted something besides perfume for Christmas, but if you're married, you've probably played the game.  And you had the same thought:  "I practically hit him over the head with a 2 x 4, and he didn't get it at all!"

So if you are married, or engaged, or think you may ever get married or have any kind of a relationship with a man in the future, let me share a lesson with you that I learned from my good friend Pam in the earlier days of my marriage.  "Oh, I'm so excited!"  she exclaimed.  "Marvin is taking me on a real date tonight!  We are going to dinner at my favorite restaurant, and he made the reservations and arranged for the babysitter and everything!  I wonder what made him think of being so sweet?"  After a pause, she continued.  "Oh, it was probably when I said, 'Marvin, I need you to take me on a real date this week.  I need you to make the reservations at my favorite restaurant and arrange for the babysitter.  I need you to treat me like I'm special!'"  Marvin took the hint!

Yes, ladies, we often have to completely spell it out for them.  It's not because they are slow, or stupid, or they don't care.  It's just because men and women are different.  You know that.  You've heard it a million times before.  My husband will not remember anything I tell him during a football game.  When I think I am heavily hinting that I want a particular thing, he thinks I am mentioning something I saw in the store in passing.  Like, "Honey, I bought milk today, and I thought maybe I should get some chicken because the freezer is running low."  And he says, "Oh, OK."  My husband is actually wonderful about picking nice gifts, but alas, he cannot read my mind.

So I pledged that although I love perfect surprises, I will not expect my husband to read my mind.  I will not get upset when he buys a perfectly good birthday gift but forgets to get me a card, even though he knows I scrapbook and I love birthday cards to put in my scrapbooks.  I will not get upset when he goes shopping Christmas week or the night before my birthday because he forgot earlier.  And I will not leave "subtle hints."  When I want something, I will leave great big, screaming-billboard, colossal hints.  Several years ago I wanted a die-cutter for Christmas.  It was on sale at a local store.  So I cut out the coupon, cut out the ad, and put them on my husband's desk, saying, "If you are looking for a nice Christmas gift, here's one at this store.  Here is a coupon for it, and it is on sale until Friday."  Imagine my surprise when I unwrapped the die-cutter Christmas morning!

It was a surprise.  You see, I still wasn't sure he would pick up on my hint.  I might have been too subtle.

So girls, do your hubbies a favor this Christmas.  Don't make them play a guessing game.  If you'd like a little surprise, make a list of about 5 different things that you want, and he can pick one.  Make it easy for him.  You'll be happier, and he'll love you for not putting the stress of staying out of the doghouse on him.

Merry Christmas!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Life-Saver Men Craft

Looking for some fun gift ideas for your kids to make and give to their friends?  One of the most popular crafts I've had on my blog was the life-saver men tree ornaments.  It's been five years since I posted it, so here it is again:




1) To make each set of arms and legs, wind about 20 lengths of red or green yarn length-wise around a six-inch ruler.  
2) Slide the yarn off the ruler, tie shorter pieces of yarn around each bunch near each end, and cut the ends so that all of the yarn ends are loose.  
3) Cut one long piece of yarn for each life-saver man and tie one end of it around the middle of the leg piece, forming two legs.
4) Thread the long piece of yarn on a long needle and push it through the center of the life-saver candy roll.  We used the large life-saver candy rolls, so we actually had to tie the yarn around a crochet hook or knitting needle to get it all the way through.
5) Tie the long piece of yarn around the middle of the arm piece, forming two arms.
6) Thread the long piece of yarn on a long needle again and push it through the center of the styrofoam ball for the head.  For this one, we used a plastic kiddie-needle for plastic canvas.  It was long enough to go all the way through and had enough of a point to go through the styrofoam.
7) Keep the long piece of yarn on the needle and push it through the center of a small shape cut from cardstock or felt for the hat.
8) Tie a loop for hanging in the top of the long piece of yarn.
9) Use markers to draw a happy face on your life-saver man!


Happy Crafting and Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 7, 2015

Kindle Freebies

A few minutes ago I posted some digital scrapbook freebies.  Here are some Kindle freebies, for those who prefer reading over scrapbooking!



Happy Reading and Merry Christmas!

Share the Memories Freebies!

I just love Christmas freebies!

Here are two new freebies from My Memories.  Click on the images to be taken to the downloads:



USE THIS CODE: STMMMS79285

to get $10 off the NEW My Memories Suite 7 Software! (in the US and Canada)

Merry Christmas and Happy Scrapping!

Pearl Harbor Attack

Seventy-four years ago today, the unthinkable happened.  The U.S. was bombed on her own soil by the Japanese.  This changed the world for that generation in a way that my generation could not understand until it happened to us on 9/11/2001.

The next day, December 8, 1941, the United States entered World War II.  

Also on December 8, 1941, my dad was born.  My grandmother always claimed that the stress of that news and the country entering the war caused her to go into labor early.  My daughter, born shortly after 9/11, shares that distinction with her granddad.  

See the Actual Telegram That First Spread the Word About Pearl Harbor

Click on image to see the article.


We teach our children our history in the hopes we will not repeat it, and so that if we do, they may draw strength and wisdom from the way their ancestors handled situations; 
or sometimes, to learn not to do what their ancestors did.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Christmas Photo 2015

The annual Christmas card photo got a little out of hand this year. . .


Merry Christmas!!!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Flyby Review: Chris Tomlin Adore CD


I was so excited to add Chris Tomlin's new Christmas album to my Christmas music collection!  This all live album contains a mix of traditional Christmas classics and original Christmas songs.  It is unique in that it is all arranged as worship music.  This song list is great to listen to on your own or as part of a worship service.  

As I've been running my errands the last few days, I've noticed that more and more radio stations and stores are playing only secular Christmas songs for the public.  While I couldn't get through December without a good rendition of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," I also really miss the religious songs as I prepare for the season.  There really is no reason to have Christmas at all if Jesus is not the focus.  (A big shout-out to our local Wal-mart, which has been playing a mix of religious and secular favorites in the Christmas section, and which proclaims "Merry Christmas" on many ads and decorations!)  Through our music, our actions and traditions (we DO have a "Sparkle Box"; we did NOT go shopping on Black Friday), our talk, and activities such as The Christmas Experience (more about that in a future post), we are trying to live the true meaning of the Season of Christmas for ourselves and our children.  This is why an album like this is so important.  Everything we do during Christmas should be Worship.  This album turns every song into a worship anthem as only Chris Tomlin can.

This new Christmas album released on October 23, 2015.  It features classic Christmas songs with a mix of original Christmas songs.  There are special guest performances from Lauren Daigle, All Sons & Daughters, Crowder, and more on this album.  
Songs:1. He Shall Reign Forevermore
2. Adore
3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)
4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle 5. Hymn Of Joy
6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty 7. What Child Is This? featuring Sons & Daughters 8. It's Christmas
9. A King Like This
10. Bethlehem
11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters 

Chris Tomlin is an American contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter who has sold nearly 30 million records.  Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", "Our God", and "Whom Shall I Fear".  His 2013 album Burning Lights debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, only the fourth Christian album ever to open at No.1.  Throughout his career, Chris has been nominated for 32 Dove Awards (6 of them collaborative efforts) and he has won 19 of them.  

SOCIAL • CORNER 






ITUNES  - Link to purchase digital download of the album.


Would you like to win a copy of this CD?  Tell me your favorite Christmas tradition, here or on my Facebook page!

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Merry Christmas!!!


Cyber Monday Deals on Kindle!


And stock up on some holiday favorites!


Only 99 cents!


$1.99!


$4.99!


$4.99

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

New Share the Memories Freebies!


New Freebies!






Created by: 

Over the Fence Designs
And
Albums to Remember


Available FREE until: 
November 29

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Amazing Plants by Design SALE

Amazing Plants by Design: Buy the printed children's book for ONLY $9.99 
& get the digital version of the corresponding lapbook FOR FREE!


Happy Reading!