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Tag: 2012 gift guide

  • Il Volo: We Are Love. Music for the Holidays {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Il Volo: We Are Love. Music for the Holidays {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Music for the Holidays

    I love this time of year. Have I mentioned that? It is one of my most favorite seasons, because of the feeling of love and caring in the air. There is a special kind of feeling around the holidays, most describe as the “Christmas Spirit”.
    I start getting the feeling about the beginning of October and it lasts through to the New Year.  One way I like to indulge in the Christmas Spirit, is by listening to music. Not just your ordinary radio station music, but music with a meaning.  We all know the classic Christmas songs, and I think everyone can get into the spirit with these songs playing.  I like to add more classical music as well this time of year, and other vocalists. 

    Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

    Did anyone watch the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center this year? I love watching this program every year, but this year I only caught a little bit of it. It’s not just any Christmas Tree Lighting, there is live music and an overwhelming feeling of the Spirit of Christmas. You can’t help but feel joy watching this program.  Anyone know where I can find it online? One year I’d love to attend it in person!
    This year Il Volo, a new Italian teen sensation, performed at the Lighting. I just became acquainted with their music, and it makes me slightly more bummed that I missed them singing. They are a very talented trio of boys.

    Il Volo: We Are Love

    Il Volo just released their 2nd music CD, We Are Love, in November. I have been listening to it weekly as I try to keep the Spirit of Christmas in our home.  These boys really do have some amazing talent. It doesn’t matter that I don’t understand their Italian, I do understand the feeling of love and joy behind their music.  
    We Are Love includes Il Volo’s soaring version of the Aerosmith/ Diane Warren hit “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (“Questo Amore”) along with a new Warren song “I Bring You To My Senses”.  Il Volo also performs a cover version of the U2 Hit “Beautiful Day” and the title cut “We Are Love” both in English. The group’s members are Piero Barone (19), Gianluca Ginoble (17) and Ignazio Boschetto (18).

    Connect with the Group


    BUY IT
    Purchase your own copy of We Are Love on Amazon
    WIN IT
    3 readers will win a copy of We Are Love in the 2012 Holiday Gift Giveaway
    *I received a copy of We Are Love to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

  • Jack Franklin: Best Ties for Dad {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    The Necktie – it’s a classic gift we have all given our dad’s at some point in our lives. It’s useful, for some daily, and you can usually get a fun tie for cheap. The problem is, that’s exactly what they usually are – cheap.   If they’re not cheap, then you’ve probably paid more than anyone ever should for a piece of neckwear.  
    Inline image 2Jack Franklin ties are different.  These are fine quality ties, that the average wage earner can afford. Well made neck ties aren’t just for the rich you know!  I remember my dad always wearing ties, and now Mark, just to teach school.  They should look just as sharp, and feel just as well dressed as the men working Wall Street.
    I was pretty excited to offer this review, since it got to include Mark – something I don’t always get to do here on the blog.  I spent a good day browsing the ties at Jack Franklin, trying to find the perfect one for Mark. I thought the 70’s School Teacher tie was pretty nice, and fitting for a teacher, but I eventually decided on the Midnight Tie.
    Now since as a female, I don’t know that much about ties, I had to ask Mark for his opinion. According to Mark it is a nice thick tie that will hold a good knot.  Normally a $75 tie, the Midnight tie is only $24 at Jack Franklin.
    Here’s a little info you should know about the Jack Franklin Ties:
    • 100% quality silk
    • Woven with an Italian Weaver
    • Wool interlining
    • Hand Sewn
    They are so sure you’ll love these ties that they back every one with a No Questions Asked return policy!  If that isn’t confidence in product, nothing is.
    Now I may not know much about ties, but I do know a thing or two about sewing. A careful check over this tie, and I know it’s been well made. I am very pleased with our Jack Franklin tie – from the quality to the design, I know where I’ll be looking for future tie purchases.
    BUY IT
    Visit Jack Franklin online to purchase a fine Tie
    WIN IT
    3 of my readers will win a $50 Gift Card to Jack Franklin Ties.
    ALL of my readers who enter the 2012 Holiday Gift Giveaway will receive a 50% Off code to try out Jack Franklin Ties.
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  • Avon: Gifts for Women {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Avon: Gifts for Women {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Back around Halloween I got the chance to review and giveaway some Avon items. Prior to that I had never used anything from Avon. I’m excited to be bringing back more Avon for you!

    Kim started selling Avon this year, and I can tell she really enjoys what she does.  I wanted to get to know more about why Kim likes avon, so I asked her what her favorite product is.  Here’s her response:

    “My favorite product that Avon carries are the Glimmersticks Diamonds Eyeliners.  It’s hard to pick just one thing that I love, but eyeliner is one of those things I don’t like to leave the house without putting on first.  I love the Diamonds Glimmersticks because they have a slight glitter to them.  Just a little flashiness to them, which I love!  My favorite colors are the Brown Glow and then Black Ice.” 

    You can read my review of Avon’s Spider Earrings Here.

    WIN IT
     Kim is giving away my favorite item, Cucumber Melon Bath Set, in the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide.
    CONNECT
    BUY Some Avon

  • Keepsake Krochet {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Keepsake Krochet {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    I love finding hand made gifts to give family.  I wish I could be the one making them, but there are some talents I lack.  I mean, we can’t all do everything; what a boring world it would be if we could.
    So whenever I can I like to support crafters in their talent.

    I’ve tried crocheting, and I just can’t do it. Maybe one day I’ll find someone patient enough to teach me, but until then I enjoy browsing the amazing creations from people like Maggie Knorr of Keepsake Krochet.  She has some beautiful afghans, totes and jewelry – all crocheted.  I’m going to turn it over to Maggie now to tell you a little more about herself.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    My name is Maggie Knorr and I’ve been crocheting for about five years, but I’ve been familiar with it for most of my life.  My grandmother was constantly crocheting things and frequently it was things for me.  She made me three dresses as I grew up and also an afghan that I didn’t receive until I went to college.  She kept it in her cedar chest and let me look at it occasionally.  She did teach me the basics of crochet, but never how to read a pattern, so crocheting long pieces of something got kind of boring.  I never really showed any more interest.  Then, in 2005 I came across the prayer shawl ministry online and thought it was neat.  I decided to try to make a shawl.  I was following a pattern, but my one edge kept growing.  I went over to my grandmother’s to find out what I was doing wrong.  She told me I was picking up stitches.  I asked how to fix it, and she said, “Count.”  Well, a row was 109 stitches long and I wasn’t going to count that every row, so I put it aside again.  
    Four years later I came across something called Tunisian Crochet, and this is where you use a long crochet hook to cast on and cast off stitches to make a row — kind of like a mix of knitting and crochet.  I figured if all the stitches were on the hook it would be easier to count, so I gave it a try and picked it up just like that.  After about a year of making things in Tunisian Crochet I got brave enough to try traditional crochet again.  By this time my grandmother had passed away, so I went to a yarn shop and the lady helped me learn to read a pattern and I have just run with it since then.  I enjoy making throws and shawls because they don’t take a long time to make and it’s like giving someone a hug that they can use any time they want to.  Crocheting has become an important part of my life.  I feel I help enrich other’s lives by providing lovingly made quality items and gives me a connection to my grandmother even though she’s no longer with me.
     
    I also enjoy reading, writing, journaling, cross stitching and letterboxing.  I’m extremely proud of my son who is pursuing his black belt in karate and my hubby who is a staff sergeant in the WV National Guard.
    I could see many teen girls and moms wearing these beaded chokers. They would make a great stocking stuffer.  Plus they’re affordable for a hand crafted item.
    Beaded Choker, metal clasp
    Connect with Maggie on Facebook
    Win It!
    Enter to win our choice of tote from the 2012 Holiday Gift Giveaway
  • For Girls Like You Magazine {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    For Girls Like You Magazine {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    When I was a kid, my aunt purchased a magazine subscription for me as a Christmas present. I don’t remember now what the magazine was, but I do remember how cool I felt getting this magazine every month. My sister received a subscription to American Girl Magazine, and between our two magazines we had a lot of fun time bonding as sisters.
    I have avoided most magazines for my children. It seems all the ones I’ve found have very grown up material, and views against what I want my Princesses to learn. A few fun ones we have tried are LEGO magazine and National Geographic for Kids. Though those are great, they haven’t held my kids attention, or taught them anything about values and being a girl.
    I’ve just recently learned about the For Girls Like You magazine, and I knew I had to try them out!  Here’s what they have to say

    For Girls Like You Magazine is dedicated to exposing young girls to the things they love without the negative imagery and advertising that is often found in mainstream entertainment. Instead every article, interview, and photo we feature supports a Christ-centered value system.

    As a Christian family, this is what I’ve been looking for! A magazine that goes beyond gossip, and outward beauty. For Girls Like You focuses on the value we each have as girls, and re-enforces what I’m trying to teach at home.

    This is one gift I’m happy to share with my 6 year old. We’ve only had our copy for one day, and she’s hardly put them down.  
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    I love that they also have a For Girls Like You Journal. Although Princess V isn’t writing on her own yet, she is beginning to. We’ve decided to use her new journal to write down any new words she learns. Today, she sounded out and read the OPEN sign at the store. So as soon as we got home in her journal it went. 

    Connect

    Do you have a Daughter that would love this magazine?
    WIN IT

    For Girls Like You is giving away a copy in the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide.

  • BabbaBox from BabbaCo: Activity Box for Kids {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    BabbaBox from BabbaCo: Activity Box for Kids {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    I love gifts that engage parents and kids to enhance a childs learning. As a mom I know the importance of being the first teacher to my kids.  My very first blog was actually centered around this idea (3 Princesses and a Prince Academy).  I’ve tried a lot of different approaches to teaching my kids, but I tend to skip around a bunch, always coming up with new ideas, and never fully accomplishing what I wanted to.  It’s not really a bad thing, but sometimes it meant I was unprepared for a day, and so I’d skip getting down with them and learning.  We’d go through funks.

    I recently saw an ad for a BabbaBox on another blog. It looked like a lot of fun, so I decided I had to look into them a bit more.

    I tell you what, this is one gift I would love to get my kids!  BabbaCo is a monthly subscription for an activity box, geared towards kids ages 3-6.  Each BabbaBox has a new theme to the box, and is full of everything you need to craft, teach and play with your kids.

    Every Babbabox contains 4 components:

    Create – 2-3 projects that include every material needed to create.
    Explore – a theme based product to engage your child with the world and nature
    Storytell – books to stimulate your childs imagination
    Connect – interactive prepaid downloads approved by the Babbaco experts

    BabbaBox - Activity Box for Kids
    This holiday season give the gift of imagination and exploration. Kids will love getting a new box every month.  

    Check out my Holiday Gift Guide for more great gift ideas and then enter the 2012 Holiday Gift Giveaway.

  • Chase Danger Super Spy: Author Interview {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Chase Danger Super Spy: Author Interview {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Chase Danger Super Spy
    Mystery of the Special Sauce
     
     32 pages of story and illustrations tell the tale of a 6-year-old-super-spy fighting villains to rid the world of their diabolical plans. Included is a 20 minute read along theater CD which brings all the action to life with a narrator, full cast of voices, sound effects and original music. Totally action-packed and written to thrill young audiences with every page turn.
     
    
     
     
     
    Read my Review of Book 1 and Book 2
     
    I wanted to get to know Lisa and her family a little bit better, so I asked if they wouldn’t mind answering a few questions. Read on, because this is one fun family!
     
    What is your favorite Book?
    J.K Rowling is up there right now, as she probably is with a lot of people. Who didn’t love the Harry Potter series? The suspense leading into the 7th book was pretty intense. Chad has been reading the swashbuckler of Rafael Sabatini which are filled with adventure, “Scaramouche” and “Captain Blood” are a lot of fun. We both have enjoyed reading Ian Fleming recently, searching for inspiration for the Chase Danger books. Lloyd Alexander (The Black Cauldron) was a huge favorite as a kid, all his books are whimsical, magical and delightful. We all lean toward adventure and mystery
     
    If you’re book were turned into a movie, who would you cast?
    Since we’re dreaming, can we have anyone, dead or alive? Vincent Price would make a great Igor Fimple, and Marlon Brando could play anything he wanted. We’d need Tom Cruise or Johnny Depp, of course! Is Dakota Fanning too old to play Princess Ali Bali? Does she have a younger sibling in the right age range?  The kids parts would have to be fresh faces. If Antonio Banderas isn’t available to play Zalezgon, we’d settle for Desi Arnaz or even Joe Pesci would be brilliant. Robert Deniro would be a great Captain Looney, but he’d need a wig.
     
    What are your favorite Holiday Tradition?
    We love to create special holiday meals. Heart shaped pizzas on Valentine’s, green ravioli’s on St. Patrick’s, etc.
     
    Our Favorite, though, is what we call the “Christmas Eve Suite”. This meal includes wrapped “presents” (grilled veggies wrapped in fillo crust), a “wreath” made of spaghetti squash and sliced persimmons, “yule logs”, (manicotti filled with ricotta cheese, spinach and sliced grilled chicken) and topped with cherries, cranberries and assorted gum drop candies. If it sounds weird to you, well, we’d probably agree… but it’s wonderful in person. And it’s only once a year.
    Chase has already begun asking for it, but it’s no mystery that he’s only thinking of the gum drops
     
    Here in Los Angeles with no snow, we have outdoor malls where they shower fake “snow” from the rooftops. It’s become a recent tradition to visit the snow for an evening and do our shopping all at once.
     
    to get the most recent updates on Book 3!
     
    The Chase Danger Super Spy books would make a great gift for any young child this holiday season. With the Read Along Theater, your kids can take reading to another level! Although I think boys will really get into this new comic style series, my girls enjoy them just as much.
     
    Where to Buy
    
    You can purchase Printed Books with the CD at chasedanger.com
    or download the books instantly from iBookstore
     
     
    Win It!
    Enter my 2012 Holiday Giveaway to win Book 1, Chase Danger Super Spy: Mystery of the Special Sauce
     
    
    
  • Juppy Momentum: The New Baby Walker {2012 Holiday Gift guide}

    Juppy Momentum: The New Baby Walker {2012 Holiday Gift guide}


     

    Unlike traditional baby walkers The Juppy is a parent assisted baby walker which eliminates all of the dangers of walkers with wheels. The unique design eliminates the problems associated with similar products for example other parent assisted walkers do not have the crotch piece which is essential in keeping your baby from involuntarily lifting its arms. No more falling down stairs or reaching for dangerous objects because The Juppy requires your assistance at all times- The Juppy is easily transportable- It fits in your purse- It’s easy for grandparents to use- No assembly required- Suitable for boys and girls- One size fits all (baby weight not to exceed 35lbs). Made from 100% cotton that is machine washable.
     

     After experiencing NurseMaid’s elbow in two of my children as we attempted to help them walk, I was thrilled to see something safe and easy to use for walking assistance. You can read my full review HERE.
    Last month Juppy introduced the new Juppy Momentum.  Here is what they have to say about it:

     We were already the best, now we are even better. The Juppy Baby Walker is designed with safety and comfort in mind; safety and comfort for both you and your child. The Juppy builds confidence in your baby and teaches balance while allowing you to maintain your natural posture. You will never have to bend your lower back while teaching your baby to walk. The Juppy has easily adjustable straps that accommodate your height whether you are 4’11” or 6’11”. The Juppy comes standard with soft hand grips that are strategically placed to provide optimum benefit for your hands; a color matched state of the art zipper is located at the rear of The Juppy for the purpose of safety, easy access and exit. You will find two Velcro straps that overlap the back zipper which again shows our commitment to providing you the safest and most practical baby walker on the market. 

     

    You may be asking yourself  “Why would this be a good gift to give?”

    When my babies are first beginning to move around, I find expensive toys are just that – expensive. As a mom we get a lot of toys given to us that never get played with, or tossed to the side after a few days, or even broken.  At such a young age, something like the Juppy is a perfect gift to give the baby learning to walk. Mom will love getting something useful and safe to enjoy with the baby, and from my own experience, baby will enjoy it too.

     
    WIN IT
    I’m giving away a Juppy Momentum in your choice of color with a name embroidered on my 2012 Holiday Giveaway. Check it out to see all the other prizes you could win!

  • 2012 Holiday Gift Guide {Giveaway}

    2012 Holiday Gift Guide {Giveaway}

    Welcome to Home Maid Simple’s 2012 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway.
     
    Throughout the year I’ve been blessed to try out many different products, and read some amazing books. At this time of year, I want to give back to you, my readers.
    You can follow links to reviews and Features from my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, in the tab at the top of the page.  There will be new features each day this week.
     
    You can enter to win the following prizes in the Rafflecopter below.
    Please show my sponsors some love!
     
    For Baby
    *Winner chooses color and can have a name embroidered
     
    For Children
     
     
     
    For Girls Like You Magazine
    For Teens
    The Deliverer by Jason D. Morrow
    The Deliverer: Book One in the Marenon Chronicles
    currently free for the Kindle
    Choice of Tote from Keepsake Crochet
    Photobucket
     
    For Adults
     
    $50 gift card to Jack Franklin Ties
     Inline image 3
     
    Cucumber Melon scented bubble bath, body wash, lotion, and body spray

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    For the Family

    WipeOut3 for Xbox 360 Kinect

    Angry Birds Trilogy for Xbox 360

     

    1 Grand Prize Winner will receive 1 of each of the above prizes!
    2 Winners will receive a $50 gift card to Jack Franklin Neckties and an Il Volo CD
     
    Open to US residents only, 18+. All entries will be verified. This giveaway is in no way associated with facebook or twitter. Home Maid Simple is not responsible for delivery of the prizes (though I will work my best with the companies to see that the winners receives their prize).
     
    Enter using the Rafflecopter. If it’s not loading wait a bit or refresh the page