July 18, 2014
Slimfast Protein Shake Mix Bundle #Giveaway #US
Disclosure: Working Mommy Journal did not receive compensation for this giveaway and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
July 18, 2014
The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard #review
Ruby Jewell knows flowers in and out. In the twenty years she has worked as a florist she has stood behind the counter at the Flower Shoppe with her faithful dog, Clementine, resting at her feet. A customer can walk in and with just a glance or a few words, Ruby can throw together the perfect arrangement for any occasion.
Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a special occasion or heal hurts, her designs mark the moments and milestones of the lives of those in her town. It is as though she just knows what they want to say without them even knowing it.
Ruby’s own heart has gone ignored since the death of her sister. It takes an invitation from a man who has flown to the moon, the arrival of a unique young boy and the concern of a veterinarian to help reawaken her wounded heart. The healing power of her community helps put her together again as she does so many times for them
I completely fell in love with this novel and could not put it down. I think so many of us know the Ruby’s in our lives. You just want the best for Ruby. She gives so much of herself to others without every quite letting them into her life. Through out the novel we see Ruby grow and heal (I love when you can watch the main character grow right in front of your eyes!) and you cry and laugh along with her. An incredibly warm and lovely story that will have you unable to put the novel down.
Rating: 5/5
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 18, 2014
What a Hero Dares #review
A historical romance centered around desire and loyalty, What a Hero Dares by Kasey Michaels is the conclusion to the Redgrave’s series – four siblings united by their legacy of scandal and seduction.
The fearless solder, Maximilien Redgrave is punished and scorned for his father’s crimes even as he fights to protect England. His quest to restore his family’s reputation is a private battle that only he knows of. During one of his battles, he trusts the young Zoe Charbonneau whose betrayal destroyed his closest comrades and nearly unraveled his covert mission and forced him to learn a lesson he will never soon forget. When he discovers a smuggling ring he sets off to find the leader and is not prepared to find Zoe on his ship once again.
Believed to be a double agent for France and England, Zoe must clear her name in order to save her life. Convincing Max of her innocence seems impossible until inescapable desire tempts them both to trust and love each other again. As the smuggling ring danger moves closer they realize they may be out of time together.
A fantastic read that does not solely focus on the romance of Max and Zoe but also on their work as agents during the fighting between France and England. Kasey paints a great picture of their relationship and the mysterious life of Zoe. Zoe is a strong character at a time where women were not allowed to be. She suffered greatly but always manages to come out on top. She hides her deepest secrets close to her heart and slowly allows Max in. Full of adventure, mystery and romance!
Rating: 4/5
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 18, 2014
Squiggle Monsters #review
Looking for a fun way to keep the kids entertained in the car or even at the field watching a sibling play a sport? Or even just looking to have some fun while waiting for a meal or to beat the rainy day boredom?
Squiggle Monsters is a self contained activity kit for children that comes complete with activities, washable markers and a dry brush. The activity kit was perfect for our youngest to work on at his big brother’s soccer games. The size of the book is small enough that it can be held on his lap perfectly and he can use the dry brush to erase what he made and make another monster. It is the perfect activity to keep him entertained while his brother plays.
Using both his imagination and the spinning wheel he created his own little monsters and then gave them their own character traits to help bring them to life. A true lifesaver!
Squiggle Monsters was developed by Random Line to help encourage creativity through doodling – pretty awesome right? Who doesn’t love to doodle away – I know that I still find myself doodling away at work. You can check out their full line of products here.
How do you like to encourage creative play with your children?
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned products free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 17, 2014
Superhero Pool Party Time!
How many of you have a little superhero in training at home? We definitely do and thought what better way to celebrate a special birthday with a Superhero themed pool party!
The first important item to check off your list is those superhero loot bags (the best part right?!). Try to stay away from the small plastic toys that you can usually purchase from the Dollar Store – you would rather spend a small amount more to get a better item that a child will use for a longer time. I still headed to the Dollar Store and was able to pick up Spiderman frisbees, stickers, bouncing balls, water balls (to coincide with the pool theme). I also picked up some gummies from the Bulk Barn.
I purchased green pails that the children could re-use over again at the beach or in their backyard. They also hold all the loot perfectly as well.
Place the frisbee underneath the pail to help with the wrapping process. I tried every place I could think of but could not find the spider webs – you know the ones that come out at Halloween ever year?. This would have been perfect to wrap around the pail and frisbee.
For the special birthday superhero I wrapped his with ribbons and used an extra pail to give it some extra height.
Why not create an outside fun bucket with all your supplies for the party – think sparklers, pool balls, and glow sticks.This extra pail helps to keep you organized and gives the children a glimpse of all the fun to come.
Get creative with chalk since you are outside anyways. Put your child’s name, how old they are and even a special message for them. Let your creative juices flow – the sky is the limit!
Now here comes the fun part – decorating! I love this part the most and can spend hours decorating.
All those awesome superhero toys you have? Put them to good use as props on your table. I used Hulk Smash gloves to give an extra punch to the the table set up.
Display the treats loud and proud – what child doesn’t love seeing all the goodies to come? Spiderman takes front and centre on the cake. Cupcakes with lollipops and swirly candles give an extra little flair.
I hope your little superhero has a fantastic party! What are your favourite themed parties for children?
