Author: cvegnad

June 25, 2018

Take an Adventure This Summer with My Gnome on the Roam

Summer break for children is set to begin in just over two weeks. As parents we may be busy trying to figure out how to fill the weeks. It could be with summer camp, day trips and even daily activities. While fun is always at the heart of what we do, education is so important! We want to keep their minds just as active during the summer months being creative, writing and reading.

What is Gnome on the Roam?

Gustav, the Gnome, is an inquisitive gnome who longs to explore the world outside of his own yard. In order to do so, he needs the help and love of your child to make this happen!

Your Gnome arrives at your home in their own special suitcase ready for your child to take them on an adventure. Your Gnome brings with them a special journal for your child to record their adventures in, Gnome on the Roam book and a very special pen to write with.

When your Gnome arrives you can take some time to decorate him/her to give the Gnome a personal touch and connect each other. We also downloaded the app on the Apple Store to get new ideas, create online journals, upload photos and more. You can also visit the website to get more ideas (resource list), colouring book and the adventurers guide.

I loved that the kit encourages families to explore their world around them and to expand their knowledge when they get home. It doesn’t have to be big adventures, all that matters is that you get away from the television, video games, electronics and get moving and writing. I am a firm believer of always pushing yourself to learn more (I am a forever student always taking another course!) and I want my children to learn the importance of writing, reading and hands on education.

My Gnome on the Roam gives your family the ability to take charge to their own adventures, learn more about each others creativity and personalities and learn new things. Bonus – it keeps everyone busy and interested with new activities throughout the whole summer. While a special activity for your child – it is an activity that the whole family can come together with.

You can connect with Gnome on the Roam on their website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can purchase your own Gnome on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 25, 2018

The Pumpkin Patch Spotlight Tour

In The Pumpkin Patch, how can one small-minded, angry person destroy the lives of so many people in her path, connecting them all together in a game of destruction and heartbreak?

About The Pumpkin Patch

How can one small-minded, angry person destroy the lives of so many people in her path, connecting them all together in a game of destruction and heartbreak? It is possible, but what pushes a person to enjoy inflicting pain to such an extent, leaving a trail of hate, anger, and defeat behind her, which only seems to make her stronger and more satisfied. Ms. Terri Plotski, owner of the Authors’ Book Agency, is that person, who, unknowingly, with a single thread of hate, has connected the lives of a small group of people, bringing them together with one single common denominator. Anger. The anger from this small group of people is building, but it has nowhere to go, or does it? Ms. Terri Plotski, owner of Authors’ Book Agency, has gone missing.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series.

Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH.

Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 18, 2018

Through A Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up Spotlight

The journey right now is dark and painful, but if you will travel with me using God’s word as our guide, it will eventually lead to a place of hope and restoration. Learn more in Through a Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Break Up.

About Through A Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After A Break Up

Dear Broken Heart:

You must be hurting deeply. Perhaps you’re also feeling overwhelmed and completely alone in this place of emptiness and grief. I’ve been where you are and my heart aches with yours. I want you to know there is someone who sees and someone who cares. His name is Jesus. The journey right now is dark and painful, but if you will travel with me using God’s word as our guide, it will eventually lead to a place of hope and restoration. A destination where God’s love ushers you into wholeness. Where His healing hand won’t just repair your shattered soul, but will establish you in the truth that you are deeply loved and understood. In contrast to your current sorrow, this may seem too good to be true. I get that, I’ve been there. At this point, I’m only asking you to trust that He is able. I invite you to spend these next six weeks at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to enter into your wounded heart through this very place of brokenness. Will you give Him permission to transform you in a way that far exceeds your own expectations?

~ Colleen Meissner Married for the first time at 42. Colleen knows firsthand the pain of heartbreak, being single longer than expected, and the battle against fear and insecurity. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and has spent over 10 years sharing her own experience and knowledge as a coach and mentor. She now has a vision to share the wisdom she’s been given with you.

You can purchase a copy of Through a Broken Heart on Amazon.

About the Author

I earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in 2010 and have been mentoring women for over a decade. The most common area of counsel I provide is to single women not ashamed to admit they want to be married and have someone to share their life with. These women often without realizing it, are battling soul wounds (emotional and heart wounds) from their past that are preventing them from fulfilling this deeply held desire of marriage and family.

I consider there to be no greater privilege than to have women trust me with their deepest struggles and fears and to travel along side of them on their journey from a place of being held in bondage by lies (“I am fat, ugly, a loser, unlovable…”) to a place of freedom and victory. I know this journey well, I have traveled it; it is hard and it is long, and you cannot do it alone. There are seemingly impossible hills to climb, valleys to crawl out of and side-roads leading to nowhere. Perhaps more than a mentor, I am a tour-guide, leading you as you navigate your way to healing and overcoming those things that have kept you from embracing the fullness of life that the Lord came to give you (John 10:10).

Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 14, 2018

Spin, Crack and Splash with Watermelon Smash by Yulu Toys

The hot, hazy days of summer have finally arrived after what felt like endless days of rain and cooler weather. We are ready to play outside more but sometimes the same regular activities can get boring.

Watermelon Smash combines soaking water fun with a bit of roulette making it the perfect game for parties, get together and any warm, summer day. The object of the game? Fill the watermelon with water or seeds, spin the wheel, ‘crack’ the watermelon on your head and hope you are not its victim!

The Watermelon separates in two allowing you to place a rectangular piece inside which pushes/cracks the watermelon apart during the game. You can either fill the watermelon with water or use the packaged “seeds” that come with the game.

Once the game is set up, players take turns spinning the wheel and completing the instruction they landed on. My favourite one to land on? Getting to crack the watermelon on someone else’s head! Once the watermelon cracks and either the water or seeds are spilled on the person, that person is out. The game continues until there is only one person left and they are the winner!

We LOVED this game! There was excitement and nervousness as you took a chance each time cracking the watermelon on your head, hoping that you were not going to be the one who gets soaked. I love the unique concept and hands on aspect of the game, you can bring this game with you anywhere easily. It can be adapted for both indoor and outdoor play using either water or the plastic seeds that come with the game. The game itself is easy to assemble with a simple push of the rectangular piece into one end of the watermelon and then closing the watermelon on the other side. It was a game that every member of our family enjoyed playing together as while it had a hint of competitiveness to it (you don’t want to be the one that cracks it open), it is based on chance so there were no unhappy tears at the end of the game just laughter.

Find more about the Watermelon Smash game on the Yulu website. You can purchase this game in stores at Indigo and Mastermind toys. Make sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest toys and games.

Disclosure: We received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 12, 2018

Deliverers (Mud, Rocks and Trees Book Six) Review

Three Seals. Three Deliverers. One last chance. Will anyone escape Tzoladia alive?

About Deliverers

“Our pride rules the empire now.”

A new era has begun in Tzoladia! But lions are not the only things prowling the streets. The brash young ruler has inherited an empire full of divisions, intrigue, assassins, and disease. Have the last days arrived? Where are The Deliverers?

Brina matches wits with the ruthless and brutal Bladar. Amanki fights the faceless and deadly blue sickness. Moshoi battles the restless and all-consuming desires of his own heart. Three Seals. Three Deliverers. One last chance. Will anyone escape Tzoladia alive?

My Thoughts

This exciting series comes to a close in this amazing finale. The whole way through this series we were never sure what was going to happen, will the three deliverers ever meet? Will there be a new rise to power? Was the prophecy interpreted wrong?

This novel was one of change and understanding. Our characters have survived through the impossible on this mission, they have been faced with death, betrayal and even an almost break with their faith and mission. So many times they were tried with unbelievable circumstances that made them questions their own beliefs in God, the world, people and their place in protecting the seals and the future of their people. Each one emerges through this journey in this novel in a different way. Amanki finds peace with his faith and his place to guide others. He does not want the glory and power, he wants to help others find peace and acceptance in the face of pain. Brina (my personal favourite character) has grown so much through her trials and has become a strong young woman who is fearless and confident in her choices and faith. It is Moshoi that struggles the most with the need and desire for gold and pleasure. This was shocking to me! He always seemed like the quiet, obedient young man but when faced with so much fortune it was difficult for him to continue on his path. The death of an important person to him in this book, further sends him spiralling out of control. It is hard to tell whether he will be able to reel himself in, in order to complete his mission or if he has even remembered his mission!

This was the perfect ending for this book and not what I was expecting from book five. It was powerful, moving and hopeful for the future. The ending gives hope for all people in this incredible land and a future full of promise and acceptance of diversity. I loved every moment of book six – this is a definite must read series!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.