Monday, March 5, 2012

Product Review and GIVEAWAY: I See Me Books

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!



I remember as a child, I had a book that had MY NAME in it along with some friends and family members.  I would read that book over and over and thought it was so neat that the story was told about me!  Because my name has a different spelling than the norm, I always had a hard time finding anything that was personalized with my name.  All my friends had key chains, buttons, cups, or necklaces with their names on them but I never got to have that.  I think that is why the personalized book was so special to me.  It had my name AND the proper spelling!

You can give your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew that same neat feeling by getting them a book from I SEE ME! Personalized Children's Books.  




I SEE ME! provides the highest quality, most personalized children's books available.  Their mission is to increase self esteem in children through personalized books that celebrate the uniqueness of each child.  The goal of their books is to show each child how absolutely unique and special he or she is, to teach the child how to spell his or her name, and to build vocabulary skills.  

I received a copy of their book GOD LOVES YOU! It is their March book of the month.  This book has won multiple awards including Mom's Choice Award and Creative Child Magazine Award, both in 2009.




This book is written by Jennifer Dewing and Illustrated by Maria Carluccio.  The cover is bright and all the pictures inside the book are wonderful.  Because I selected this book to give to our niece, Sarah on her 1st Communion, the inside cover states:


This book was created especially for 
Sarah 
on your First Holy Communion. 
From Uncle Pat and Aunt Stacie 2012

This book would be perfect for a new born baby gift, baptism, birthday, or even for the Easter Basket.  

I just love all the illustrations throughout the book.  The story tells how God created Sarah to be special and all the ways He loves her.  

This would make the perfect book to read to your child every night at bedtime.  What better thought to fall asleep to than knowing how much you are loved?!

The I See Me! website also offers several other personalized books to choose from including My Very Own Fairy Tale, My Very Own Pirate Tale, My Very Happy Birthday Book, The Super Incredible Big Sister/Brother, and My Very Own Name.  All the books retail for around $30.00.

Even though my niece may be on the older end for these books at age 8, I still think she will appreciate the words and seeing her name in the book.  But, I do think these books are more appropriate for toddler-preschool age children.  This is a wonderful book and no matter which of the books you choose from their site, I believe you will not be disappointed.  

The I See Me! books offer a 100% guarantee and are loved by celebrity moms, Brooke Shields and Courteney Cox Arquette.  I See Me! books even have their very own iPad app.  

For more information about the I See Me! books, click on the following to check out their
Please follow and/or like their pages.  By following them you will be offered exclusive deals from time to time. I See Me! books also offers a referral program.  By telling your friends about the books, you can get $5 I See Me! dollars for each friend you refer.  Your friend will even get $5 off their first order.  Check out the website HERE for more information about their referral program. 

Now, for the best part, one of you will WIN a GOD LOVES YOU book for someone in your life.  All you need to do is fill out the form below.  The giveaway is open through Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM.  I will choose a winner on Monday, March 19, 2012 buy using random.org.  I will notify the winner by email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond before I choose a new winner.  



I was supplied a free copy of the GOD LOVES YOU book from I See Me! books.  This review is my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review.  I only review items that either myself or my family would benefit from.  Thanks to I See Me! books for this review opportunity.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Scenes From Our Week - Week 22


We went to the sunny cloudy state of Florida this last week.  Even though the weather wasn't ideal, it was still WAY BETTER than Iowa and our family made the best of it.  We stayed in Pensacola Beach, Florida and also spent time in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The kids handled the looooong drive really well and didn't care a bit about the not-so-sunny weather.  Here are just a few of my favorites from the week:



We climbed all 177 steps up to the top of this still working lighthouse.


We toured the Naval Air Museum



I think we might have left a few shells behind......now what to do with them all????
IDEAS??????

Couldn't you just look at this every day of your life?  I know I could!



I plan to do a full post about our vacation as well as reviews of our hotel and restaurants.  Just let me get unpacked and caught up here a bit first! Stay tuned!

Scenes From Our Week - Week 21

We had a hectic week getting ready for our week-long trip to Florida!!!  I was busy getting the house picked up, getting everyone packed, doing laundry, and even did some subbing.  The boys had a concert on Saturday.  Both Patrick and Bennett made an Honor Band and we went to their concert.  Both of the boys play percussion and did an awesome job.  One of the perks of them playing percussion is that we can always see them and hear them!

Bennett on the snare drum


Bennett on the xylophone

Patrick on the bass drum

Patrick on the snare drum
As soon as the concert was done, we said good-bye to my parents who had come to the concert and loaded the kids up.  We headed south hoping to get a good 6 hours in on our drive to Florida.

And.....we are off to Florida!

Stay tuned to scenes from our week in Florida...................................................


Thought for the Day



We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
Buddha

Are your thoughts filled with joy? Is your first thought of the day one with joy or frustration, joy or disappointment, joy or grumbling?  Which do you think would be a better way to begin the day with? When you are filled with joy on the inside, it is naturally going to seep out of you and into others.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Thought for the Day

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."
Ronald Reagan


How many nights a week do you sit together as a family around the dinner table/breakfast table?  For us, the dinner table is a priority.  Some nights it just isn't going to work, but for the most part, I will hold off on dinner until later so that everyone can eat together.  Maybe for your family, dinner just isn't an option, but maybe breakfast works better.  Maybe you can only do it once a week.  But, whenever you can, take the time to sit together as a family at the table. No TV. No texting. No media. It will make a difference.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Thought for the Day



"To find out what one is fitted to do and to secure an opportunity to do it is key to happiness."
John Dewey


Are you doing what makes you truly happy?  I know that I was meant to be a MOM and nothing has made me happier and more fulfilled in my life.  But, there is still that nagging thought in the back of my mind, saying "Is there something else?"  What about when being a MOM isn't my main focus anymore?  Then what?  Do you ever get that feeling or have you found your "key to happiness"?



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Thought for the Day



"I will speak ill of no man and speak all the good I know of everybody." 
Benjamin Franklin


Won't you try this for today?  What if we all did this for one day? One week? One month?  One year?  Oh my, what a different world it would be.