LaLa Horse Subscription Box for Horse-Loving Girls! April 2020

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to LaLa Horse for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Do you have a horse-loving daughter or granddaughter?  Check out LaLa Horse, the monthly subscription box for horse-lovers!

 LaLa Horse creates a box full of fun, inspiring, educational gifts and products for kids who love horses. For just $39.95 monthly, your horse-lover will receive a box that includes various horse-themed items. Items vary each month and could include jewelry, socks, books, puzzles, bags, pillow cases, wall art, keychains, and more!  LaLa Horse also has a monthly subscription option that's just $12.95/month...The Equine Fashionista Surprise!  With this subscription, your horse-loving young lady will receive a special package each month containing one or two sweet horse-themed items, such as a bracelet, necklace, ring, keyring, earrings, and more.

Check out the items in our April 2020 LaLa Horse box:

Stained Glass Horses Coloring Book

Puffy Pony Hand Towel

Tinker Horse from Safari Toys

Little Miss Equestrian Shirt

Thoroughbred in Pasture Bookmark

Glitter Glam Charm Bracelet

Horse Shoe, Cowgirl Hat and Horses-n-Hearts Wristbands

Horsey Sticker Pack

Horse Breeds Savings Bank

Softy the Unicorn Friend

 Plus, LaLa Horse is offering a new online course for free!  Check it out at udemy.com/course/horses-101-colors-breeds-disciplines

A really enjoyed her LaLa Horse box!  The figurines are great for collectors or kiddos who like to play with horses.  She was a huge fan of the stained glass coloring book, the bracelet and the bank. All around, we think LaLa Horse would make an excellent subscription box for young horse lovers!

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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.

Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box April 2020

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the April box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the April box was Love Letter:

  The scripture card this month featured 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

 The special gift for April was awesome!  

This Love J.O.Y. Set is full of goodies to create gifts of inspiration and support.

This box also included two copies of the Father's Love Letter, one to keep and one to use as your encouragement kit to pass along to a friend:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless.  What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Click to buy Loved + Blessed

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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.

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Earth Day Roundup!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press in celebration of Earth Day:

Hike
By Pete Oswald


Ages 4-8

In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they’re going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history. In detail-rich panels and textured panoramas, Pete Oswald perfectly paces this nearly wordless adventure, allowing readers to pause for subtle wonders and marvel at the views. A touching tribute to the bond between father and child, with resonant themes for Earth Day, Hike is a breath of fresh air.


Kaia and the Bees
By Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Angela Dominguez


Ages 4-8

Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that’s why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia — unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia’s small courageous steps — and her tiny insect neighbors — with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world.


Alba and the Ocean Cleanup
By Lara Hawthorne


Ages 3-7

Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to brightly colored coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. There is trash everywhere! When, on her birthday hunt, something unthinkable happens, it seems like the plastic may have changed her ocean home forever. Is it too late?


Creature Features
By Nathasha Durley


Ages 3-7

Vibrantly illustrated by new talent Natasha Durley, this is an animal book with a difference. Each page is bursting with unusual creatures united by a common characteristic. From enormous ears to humongous horns, from elephants to earwigs, this eclectic collection celebrates the diversity and the commonality of the animal kingdom. And with something to look for on every page, it's guaranteed to fascinate young animal lovers.



My Green Day: 10 Green Things I Can Do Today
By Melanie Walsh


Ages 3-7

Did you remember to put your eggshell in the compost bin after breakfast? Help hang the laundry out to dry? Bring your own cloth bags for shopping? Put on a sweater instead of asking to turn on the heat? Discover ten ways that every child can make the day greener and help the environment. With bold, bright pictures and a simple explanation to back up every activity, this is the perfect picture book for teaching very young children the importance of looking after the world around them.


The Nest That Wren Built
By Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter


Ages 4-8

In the rhyming style of “The House That Jack Built,” this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into building a nest is at once tender and true to life. Papa and Mama Wren gather treasures of the forest, from soft moss for a lining to snakeskin for warding off predators. Randi Sonenshine’s lilting stanzas, woven with accurate and unexpected details about Carolina wrens, and Anne Hunter’s gentle, inviting illustrations reveal the mysterious lives of these birds and impart an appreciation for the wonder of the life cycles around us. Back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.


Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree
By Mary Murphy


Ages 3-7

Trees have leaves that turn sunshine into food. Amazing! Birds build nests, sing songs, hatch eggs, and fly. Dogs are our friends and can move their ears to tell us how they feel, while fish live in water, flashing like jewels. As for people, every person on Earth is different, each with their own thoughts and feelings. With a simple narrative and joyful, welcoming illustrations celebrating a world full of remarkable creatures, Mary Murphy reminds little ones that we are all unique, and that we are the only ones who know how to be us.


Seeds
By Carme Lemniscates


Ages 2-5

Some seeds are whisked away by the wind, while others are carried by creatures to their destinations. Once seeds find their spot, they go through breathtaking transformations, multiplying in number and size and thriving in even the most unseemly places. We humans plant seeds, too, and with care we can cultivate and nurture something wonderful, whether by sowing a seed in the earth or by choosing our own seeds of kindness to spread around. With gorgeous, welcoming illustrations, the creator of Trees and Birds presents another ode to the beauty around and within us.


The Stars Just Up the Street
By Sue Soltis and illustrated by Christine Davenier


Ages 4-8 

Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars — only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Sue Soltis’s tale of a young activist and Christine Davenier’s luminous illustrations will leave readers curious about the dark-sky movement — and the wonder that is waiting for them just up the street.


What’s That Noise?
By Naomi Howarth


Ages 3-7

Magnus the Arctic seal wakes up from a very deep sleep one morning, puzzled by a strange rumbling sound. What's that noise? Could it be the creaking of the trees? The whistling of the wind? The cracking of the ice? The roaring of the sea? Hare, Owl, and Polar Bear don’t have any idea, but Walrus has a good suggestion: it could be Magnus's rumbling tummy! After a yummy feast of plump, pink shrimp, the friends all settle down to sleep — but suddenly there’s another rumbling sound. What’s that noise? Readers curious about the creatures can learn more about them and their environment in an informative final spread.

These books are so fun, educational and inspirational for young readers and the future caregivers for our planet!  Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

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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.

Turn Any Room Into an Arcade with ProjeX!

DISCLOSURE* Thank you to ProjeX for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

The kiddos are really missing going to the arcade, but we recently got to try out ProjeX and it's totally helping to ease their quarantine pain! 

ProjeX is a battery operated projecting gaming system.  You point the console at a wall, choose from one of three game slides, pick your difficulty level and have a blast! 

You can play solo or two player games with three different targets: Bullseye, UFO or Duck.  Each is an increasingly trickier target to hit.  The blasters provide fairly accurate results with a laser-type target.  

   

ProjeX is interactive fun for the whole family!  Really...all ages will love this game!  All of us have been enjoying blasting moving targets that are projected right onto our wall.  

Projex is a great screen-free game that works best in a dark room, when you project on a light-colored wall with no artwork, wallpaper or painted patterns.

The portable, battery-operated projector can go wherever you go.  ProjeX works great on the outside wall of the house or garage door for outdoor play.

What a great way to make your quarantine more fun for the whole family!  ProjeX retails for $49.99 at Target and Walmart in the US and $69.99 at Toys R Us in Canada.

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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.

Candy-Free Easter Goodies for Creative Kiddos!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to PlayMonster for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Looking for some great Easter basket fillers that aren't candy?  We found some awesome goodies from PlayMonster that are sure to liven up your kiddos' baskets and spark their creativity while providing hours of sugar-free, screen-free fun!

Face Paintoos Magical Pack

Traditional Face painting can be messy and requires artistic skills, but not with Face Paintoos. Easy to apply and easy to clean, Face Paintoos will give your kids professional face paint in minutes, helping them to spend hours dressing up in costumes and role-playing. Who said you could only wear costumes on Halloween?  

Dress up and transform into fun animals with Face Paintoos to create all kinds of stories with your kids.

Fuzzikins

 These flocked (fuzzy!) animal characters are white, like blank canvases, so children can use the included washable markers to color and create their very own animal friends! 

Then, they can rinse them to remove the marker and redesign them once they’re dry! 

Stacktopus

Slip on the silly sea fingers to become a stacking octopus…a Stacktopus!™ Stacking these cups should be easy, but when you’re wearing octopus arms on your fingers, it becomes silly, competitive fun! Race to match your stack of cups to the card shown to win! 

It’s great fun for kids, but also for families—wearing the silly sea fingers levels the playing field for kids and adults! For 2 to 3 Players.

Your kiddos are sure to enjoy these fun kits and games!  Happy Easter from PlayMonster and ABCD Diaries!

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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.

Inspirational Book The Nuff by Veronica Waldrop #Giveaway

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Tailwind Publishing for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

A mother of two only had weeks to live. Veronica Waldrop knew what she had to do – write an enduring message for her daughters, ages two and five, so that they might know truth, hope, and strength well beyond their mom’s fight with breast cancer.  In support of International Women’s Day 2020 (March 8, 2020), Tailwind Publishing presents The Nuff, Waldrop’s heartwarming story written to inspire her daughters after she was gone and empower girls everywhere to be the bold and confident individuals they were born to be.

This children’s book about courage and self-discovery follows the adventures of the Nuff, a colorfully-illustrated unicorn with a broken horn that young readers will love. The Nuff reads books and rides bikes, dresses up and dances with a flower crown, and plays basketball and scuba dives. No matter what she does, the story reminds her that “when the world says you can’t and you should just give up....know you are brave and beautiful. You will always be a NUFF!”

Encouraging authenticity, resilience, and self-assurance, The Nuff shares a message with  girls that they are not defined by their achievements or challenges – they are already, and always, enough.

Groove Releases New Watchbands for FitBit Versa!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Groove for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

We love Groove rings and were super excited to hear that they have released the new FitBit compatible watchbands!

Groove makes it easy to add a bit of personal style and flair to your FitBit.  Check out my favorite new FitBit Watchbands from Groove:

Aspire Twilight Blossom

Solid Rose Pink

 Apire Winter Rose

These watchbands are super comfy and they breathe unlike many other silicone watchbands.  You don't have to worry about sweaty wrists thanks to the patented "grooves" on the inside of the band.  These bands are waterproof and dry quickly as well.  The bands are super flexible because it's made from premium medical grade Elastomer.  The colors and patterns offer great choices for everyone!  And, of course, every watchband comes with Groove's No BS Lifetime Guarantee. Cut it, stretch it, lose it, no problem.  They will replace it.  Pretty awesome if you ask me!

If you have a FitBit watch, check out Groove for some really awesome bands to help personalize your style!

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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.