Book of the Month: The Hundred Gifts by Jennifer Scott

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Jennifer Scott, the author of The Sister Season, The Accidental Book Club, and Second Chance Friends returned last week with her particular brand of women’s fiction, this time centered on a holiday theme with The Hundred Gifts (NAL Accent; October 27, 2015), again tackling deep and complicated issues of love, loss, family, and friendship.

With the holidays around the corner, empty-nester Bren Epperson realizes that for the first time in decades, she has no large family to cook for, no celebration to create.  To fill the void, she starts teaching a holiday cooking class, and it’s a huge success—until Virginia Mash, the old lady who lives in the upstairs apartment above the classroom, bursts into her class complaining about the interruption.  Rather than retaliate, Bren suggests that the class shower Virginia with kindness—and give her one hundred gifts.  Together, they embark on a plan to lift the old woman’s heart.  Along the way, amidst the knitting and the making and the baking, they discover that family extends far beyond blood, the best gifts can’t be bought, and that family celebrations can be reborn and new traditions established.

A touching story that arrives just in time for the end of the year, a time of reflection as we prepare for the new year ahead, The Hundred Gifts captures the true spirit of the holiday season.

What I thought:

I am in awe at Jennifer Scott's knack for writing stories that express truly human connections.  Her characters are like you and I and regular everyday folks with regular everyday issues.  The Hundred Gifts is both heartwarming and optimistically inspirational, while at the same time a bit sad.  Weird combination, I know, but it's true!  It's a book that encourages us to find the best in people, especially around the holiday season.  It reminds us that giving is always better than receiving and that outward appearances can be deceiving.  I loved, loved, loved this book!  It is a truly lovely holiday read:)

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Holiday Gift Idea: Krierah Dino Ladle + Giveaway! #HGG

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Check out this adorable gift idea for the aspiring chef on your Christmas list this year, the Dino Ladle from Krierah:

Dino Ladle Features:

-Sturdy- For all your soups, stews, chilies, and punch bowls

-Dishwasher Safe- Easy to wash



-High Quality, BPA-Free Nylon- heat resistant to 400° F / 204° C



-Large Capacity - Will serve healthy portions of 6 oz / 180ml per scoop



This is the cutest ladle I've ever seen!  The kiddos are in love with it:)  It is super sturdy and I love that it is dishwasher safe.  It has an extra long handle and the curved head allows it to rest on the rim of your pot which means you never lose it in the soup or stew.

What a fun gift or stocking stuffer this Dino Ladle would make this year!

Click to Buy the Dino Ladle

One lucky ABCD Diaries reader will win a Dino Ladle!  Enter below:

Holiday Gift Idea: Heroines of the Old Testament Grown Up Coloring Book #HGG

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Everybody loves to color, right?  Here is a fun gift idea that will provide hours of stress-relieving coloring fun:  Heroines of the Old Testament by Betsy Karounos.

Let your heart be encouraged and your creative passions engaged as you color the lives of ten remarkable women from the Old Testament in Heroines of the Old Testament.

Each unique section lets you reflect upon their Biblical stories through illustrations that are both symbolic and ornate. From Eve, the mother of mankind, enveloped in the flora of Eden, to the opulent world of Queen Esther's Persian Empire, these artistic designs enable endless hours of creative coloring enjoyment and peaceful contemplation. Inspire your soul by exploring the miraculous journeys of these heroines of faith and those of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, and Hannah.

Includes:

•   Geometric patterns

•   Portraits

•   Botanical designs

•   Narrative scenes

•   Artist tips, and more!

These detailed coloring pages are absolutely gorgeous!  This coloring book would make a fantastic gift this holiday season:)

Click to Buy

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Holiday Gift Idea: Tweens Will Love Bestie Bag + Giveaway! #HGG

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Another awesome gift for your little fashionista: Bestie Bag!

Bestie Bags were created for the founders young daughter who, has a child, showed signs of hypo-sensory preferences. Her daughter was fidgety and touching things helped her focus.  Mom came to the rescue and created a bag with different textures and patterns so she could keep her hands busy and focus on things that she couldn't pay attention to before. This bag made the young girl feel confident and safe.

Now that the daughter has grown into a young woman with a terrific sense of style, the mom and daughter teamed up to create the modern day Bestie Bag!  their purpose is to provide an accessory that makes every girl feel special and unique. Bestie Bags are represented by a group of strong, independent girls - the Bestie Girls - each one representing their own personality and favorite color.

There are five fun perspectives and Bestie Girls and Bestie Bag is building a community around them that will inspire girls to shine brightly while having fun. The Bestie Girls will seek to promote self-esteem and inner beauty so all girls can be confident in their best, unique selves.

A is loving her unique Bestie Bag featuring Claire, whom she really identified with.  They share a love of nature and animals and she loves making a creative fashion statement with her bag!

Young fashionistas and tweens are sure to love Bestie Bag this holiday season!

Click to shop BestieBag

One lucky ABCD Diaries reader will win a Bestie Bag!  Enter below:

Holiday Gift Idea: Fashionable Footwear from TinySoles + Giveaway! #HGG

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Footwear is always a huge hit with my little fashionista!  TinySoles has a great variety of high quality footwear in all of the latest styles.  Check out these Valerie Boots from Stride Rite:

These boots are simple and sleek with a side zipper for easy on/off.  They are "riding boots" so they are a little higher on the leg.  A says they are super comfy and she loves them!  They look great with jeans or skirts and tights.  They're a universal boot that can be worn year round and a staple for any little girl!  Stride Rite shoes are really well made and dependable, so you can trust that these shoes will last.

TinySoles is your go-to source for the best selection of stylish and age appropriate kids shoes and accessories. They offer amazing brands like  KEEN, See Kai Run, Robeez, pediped and Stonz and affordable prices which makes it easy to outfit all of your kiddos this holiday season!

Click to buy TinySoles 

One lucky ABCD Diaries reader will win a $50 gift certificate to TinySoles!  Enter below:

Holiday Gift Idea: Ozeri Green Earth Salad Spinner #HGG

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

I don't know about you, but I love receiving gifts I can use in the kitchen!  Ozeri has a great gift idea from the Green Earth line, a Swiss designed salad spinner:

Designed in Switzerland and boasting frictionless spin action, the effortless BPA-free Ozeri FRESHSPIN Salad Spinner delivers unparalleled performance and ease-of-use. 

The Ozeri FRESHSPIN Salad Spinner's features a large 4.2 qtr./4 L colander that accommodates all your greens and herbs. The 5.5 qtr./5.2 L bowl doubles as an elegant serving dish. 

Perhaps the easiest salad spinner ever made, the Ozeri Salad Spinner requires no more than 2 or 3 pumps to reach its max spin velocity without the disruptive noise common among other spinners. Simply push once on the large brake button to instantly halt the spinning and remove the colander. 

The colander and bowl can be used separately and are both dishwasher-safe. The Ozeri FRESHSPIN Salad Spinner's handle locks into place for quick storage.

This salad spinner is easy enough for even my kiddos to use!  They actually have a blast drying the lettuce and spinach now:)  With just a few pumps, our greens were a lot drier.  If you are tired of soggy salad, this spinner is a great investment.  I love that the colander can be removed and the bowl and colander can be used separately adding versatility and affordability to this product.  I'm also a fan of it's sleek, green design and ease of use.  Ozeri's Green Earth Salad Spinner would make a great gift for the amateur chef on your list!

Click to buy the Green Earth Salad Spinner from Ozeri

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

That's it.: Simple, Two Ingredient Snack Bars

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Looking for a simple snack bar?  It doesn't get much simpler than That's it.  

About Thats it.:

These two-ingredient bars speak to the purist in you who’s looking for clean and simple snacks that are healthy AND taste delicious. That’s it. fruit bars are made with literally two ingredients: fruit and fruit and that’s it!

What you see is what you get with these great tasting snack bars that are the perfect breakfast on the go, quick snack at the office, or healthy treat to pack in your children’s lunchboxes. They don’t contain any added sugar, corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors, purees, concentrates, or any type of preservative. Just 100% all-natural premium fruit that’s specifically designed for nutritious on the go snacking wherever life may take you.

What’s not to love about real fruit that doesn’t require any washing, peeling, or slicing to enjoy? With only 100-110 calories and 2-5g of fiber each, That’s it. fruit bars are the ideal guilt-free snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. They’re also fat free, kosher, vegan, gluten free, non-GMO, and raw. 

These bars start with an apple base and are paired with fruits like coconut, pear, banana, peach, cherry, blueberry, mango, pineapple and strawberry, so you are sure to find something for everyone in this simple lineup!

Find out more at That's It.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.