Celebrate National Hugging Day With a Huggy Buddha!

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

In celebration of National Hugging Day on January 21, Huggy Buddha made its debut in time for a day filled with warm embraces.

As an ancient symbol of good luck and well wishes for a happy life, Huggy Buddha is all about hugs, happiness and more. So what better way to celebrate National Hugging Day, than with hugs and a Huggy Buddha?

This little guy is cute and cuddly and super soft.  It is made by Gund, so you know it is a quality plushie:)  Whether you want to keep him around for good luck or as a softie to snuggle, Huggy Buddha has got you covered.  Not to mention, Huggy Buddha comes in three huggable sizes making him a great gift for all ages.  Get your hug on with Huggy Buddha!

 Click to shop Huggy Buddha

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.

Book Review: Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

As a Bethany House Book Reviewer, I recently received a copy of Beyond the Silence for review.

Synopsis:

The Shadows Over This Olive Grove Hide More Than Just the Truth

Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother's dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. Murky rumors swirl around Woodward Colton, her new employer, but the gossip doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know.

Still, something dark did happen in the family's past. Lillian's seven-year-old charge hasn't spoken in over a year. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he'll one day feel safe enough to share what scared him. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. When the housekeeper is brutally attacked, the town once again suspects the worst. Will discovering the truth help Lillian clear the name of the man she has come to love--or will it endanger her even more?

My thoughts:

Beyond the Silence is a really well-rounded book that features a little bit of everything:  mystery and intrigue, heartbreak and romance, danger and excitement, you get the picture, and an underlying theme of Christian faith and perseverance throughout.  The overall story is at times heartwarming and heart wrenching and it was a joy to read.  The authors do a lovely job of keeping the story line interesting and holding the reader's attention with exciting plot twits throughout.  Beyond the Silence is a great book to curl up with this January!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for this review. 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.

Chewy.com January Pick: Nutro Crunchy Real Peanut Butter Dog Treats

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

Chewy.com is your one-stop shop for all things cat and dog!  One of the fantastic products you can find at Chewy.com is from Nutro:

Nutro Crunchy Real Peanut Butter Dog Treats

NUTRO Crunchy Treats With Real Peanut Butter are great rewards for your best friend. They have included real peanut butter and healthy ingredients. These treats contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They make the perfect natural dog treat for your deserving dog.

These little peanut butter bites have gone over really well with our pup Jessie.  She LOVES treats and peanut butter is one of her favorite flavors.  These treats are the perfect size for training treats or to fit in the puzzle type dog toys we previously reviewed thanks to Chewy.com.  I love knowing Jessie is enjoying a treat made from real, healthy ingredients. 

These treats are currently on sale at Chewy.com for just $6.99, making them a really affordable treat for your pup!

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.

Chewy.com January Pick: Outward Hound Kibble Drop Puzzle Dog Toy

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

Chewy.com is your one-stop shop for all things cat and dog!  One of the fantastic products you can find at Chewy.com is from Outward Hound:

Outward Hound Kibble Drop Puzzle Dog Toy, Red & Teal

The Kibble Drop is a treat-seeking puzzle for your smarty pup! When treats are dropped into the top of the toy, they fall randomly into one of the four treat chambers covered by flaps. Your dog must determine which chamber the treat has fallen into and which flap to lift in order to retrieve the treat. Scent holes on the chambers assist in your pup's search for the reward! Every dog's a winner with the Kibble Drop! Bring out the genius in your dog with this interactive, treat-seeking puzzle and exercise toy.

Our pup, Jessie, is super treat-motivated, so this was the perfect toy for her!  Within minutes of showing her how the Kibble Drop toy worked, she was a pro at finding the treats.  She gets super excited every time one of us brings out this toy and it does a great job of holding her interest.  She really loves it!

This fun toy is currently on sale at Chewy.com for just $7.99, making it a really affordable playtime toy for your pup!

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.

My Favorite Gluten-Free Cake EVER from Inspired by Happiness!

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

Over the last year, we have gotten to try quite a few gluten-free goodies, but of all that we've tried the desserts we received from Inspired by Happiness definitely take the cake:)

Baked goods and desserts from Inspired by HappinessTM are made with premium ingredients for delicious flavors, amazing textures and moistness that you won’t believe is gluten-free.  All Inspired by Happiness products are made with premium, high-quality ingredients, with all natural flavors and no artificial colors. Plus they contain no artificial trans fat.

We got to try 3 different layer cakes:

Dreamin' of Chocolate Dark & White Chocolate Layer Cake

This outstanding cake was designed for dedicated chocolate lovers in mind. 

With two generous layers of the finest Belgian white chocolate mousse between layers of dark chocolate sponge cake, this chocolate ganache-topped decadent cake is moist and rich in taste - you won’t believe it’s gluten-free!

Cravin' for Cookies & Cream Layered Cake

Reminiscent of an old-time favorite, this creation delights with melt-in-your-mouth sponge cake, cubes of cookies and silky vanilla cream mousse. 

Smothered with a dark chocolate ganache and white chocolate drizzle, this cake is so good - you won’t believe it’s gluten-free!

Dreamin' of Strawberries White Chocolate Shortcake

This spectacular-looking layered cake begins with perfect succulent strawberries transformed into our most excellent strawberry fruit filling. 

Between three scrumptious layers of light and moist shortcake, we added strawberries and the finest Belgian white chocolate mousse before topping it with real whipped cream. Finished with white chocolatey drizzle, be prepared to taste perfection - you won’t believe it’s gluten-free!

These cakes were absolutely the best gluten-free desserts we've ever tried!  They were moist and flavorful and just as beautiful as they were delicious!  Seriously, when they say you won't believe it's gluten-free, they mean it.  The Dreamin' of Strawberries was the whole crews favorite with the Cravin' of Cookies and Cream a close second, but we really enjoyed them all.  Whether you are restricted to a gluten-free diet or not, I can't recommend these cakes enough!  Sure to satisfy any sweet tooth and big enough to share:)

Click to shop Inspired by Happiness

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.

Jurassic Quest Coming to Victoria This Weekend, Jan 15-17!!

For the FIRST TIME EVER in South Texas!

Victoria Community Center

January 15-17

Fri. 3pm-8pm Sat. 9am-8pm & Sun 9am-7pm

The Largest Exhibition of Lifesize, Moving, Museum-Quality Dinosaurs in North America!

Jurassic Quest brings you a Dinosaur Adventure for the whole family. The main dinosaur exhibit features ultra-realistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs; Over 50 life-size dinosaurs in all. Visitors can interact with these huge creatures, learn about them and even ride a few. It features realistic scenes, enormous dinosaurs, cute baby dinosaurs and lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. There are huge T-Rex and Triceratops fossil digs where young paleontologists can uncover long hidden dinosaurs bones, the “Dino Bounce” area with several, towering, dinosaur theme inflatable mazes, face painting, Dino crafts and much more!

We are passionate about creating outstanding guest experiences. Our exhibitions have opened to great success around the country and have delighted audiences in convention centers, fairgrounds and other venues. Thanks to our team of experts and our collaborations with our paleontological partners, we’ve been able to build an exceptional product and a solid reputation.

Activities Available Include:

DINO SCIENCE STATIONS

DINO CRAFTS

FACE PAINTING

DINO BOUNCE

BUNGEE PULL

EXHIBIT TOUR

DINO BABIES

WALKING DINOS

DINO RIDES

FOSSIL DIG

and More!

Tickets:

Kids under 2 are FREE

Kids (2-12) VIP Ticket $22

Kids (2-12) Regular Ticket $13

Adults (13-64) Regular Ticket $18

Discounts for Seniors and Military

Find More Information and Get Your Tickets:

http://jurassicquest.com/victoria.html

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook: Eat Up and Slim Down with More Than 350 Healthy Recipes!

I love cookbooks and I love feeding my family healthy meals that taste good, so I was super excited to get the chance to check out the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook!

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook: Eat Up and Slim Down with More Than 350 Healthy Recipes

About the book:

"In their debut cookbook, the Trim Healthy Mama’s share hundreds of delicious, healthy recipes to help readers successfully slim down while eating well.  This companion cookbook to the bestselling Trim Healthy Mama Plan is just what readers have been waiting for. It features simple, mouthwatering, recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner—including slow cooker and one-pot meals, hearty soups and salads, omelets and waffles, pizzas, breads and more.  No Trim Healthy Mama should be deprived, so there are also favorite snacks, delectable desserts, and the smoothies, sippers and teas fans love. With  pantry-stocking advice, time-saving tips, and information on how to cook for the entire family, the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook offers a delicious and nutritious way to make trim and healthy meals with less stress—so you have more time with your loved ones."

What I thought:

This book contains over 350 recipes making it a valuable for resource for those looking to make tasty meals and who are willing to use less common, nutrient-packed ingredients to do so.  It's not just recipes though.  The authors explain in great detail their tried and true method, the Trim Healthy Mama plan, which has created a large, and very supportive, online community.  They tell you all about the ingredients they use, why they choose them and how they work to keep your body healthy.  The recipes are easy-to-follow for the most part and while there isn't a picture for every recipe, there are lots of color pictures throughout.  A lot of the recipes are just variations of common dishes that really improve the nutritional value of the dish without compromising flavor.  We've tried about 6 and haven't been disappointed yet.  We live in a small town with only one grocery store and haven't been able to find some of the ingredients the THM authors recommend locally, but they are easy enough to find and order online.

I'm excited to dive deeper into this cookbook, as I'm sure we'll find several keepers for our regular meal plan:)

Connect with the Trim Healthy Mama community with the links below:

Facebook

Twitter

More Info

Author Bio

Disclosure:  I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. 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.