Home Maid Simple

Tag: holidays

  • 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

  • Interview with Author Jason D Morrow: The Marenon Chronicles {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    Interview with Author Jason D Morrow: The Marenon Chronicles {2012 Holiday Gift Guide}

    The Marenon Chronicles by Jason D Morrow, have got to be the best self published books I’ve ever read!  I have had the immense pleasure this past year to read and review each book in the trilogy as they’ve come out. You can read those reviews at the following links

    When I started thinking of Christmas and a good gift for those teens I know, I didn’t have to think very hard. The Marenon Chronicles are a perfect fantasy novel, one I would easily compare to Lord of the Rings in storyline, to give to a book loving teen.  I asked Jason if he wouldn’t mind answering some questions so we could get to know him a little better – he of course was willing. With that, here is Jason!


    What is your favorite book?
    My favorite book is the Hobbit, so you can imagine my excitement about the new movie coming out this month.
    Who is your favorite author?
    Ted Dekker is one of the best writers out there today. His action keeps the story flowing and his plot always keeps you guessing. I try to pick up one of his books any chance I get.
    If your books were made into a movie, who would you cast?
    That’s a good question. Often times when I write, I sort of have blank faces to the characters, and when I re-read them in editing, my mind fills in the gaps. For the character of Kaden Osric, there is no doubt in my mind that I would cast Liam Neeson if I had the choice. The characters Dink and Emma were written with myself and my wife in mind. I figured that if it ever did become a movie some day, we could try to contract ourselves in for those minor roles.  
    What are your favorite holiday traditions?
    At Christmas time, my mom makes these delicious sausage balls. We can all be gathered together at spending time with each other, but it’s just not the holidays unless those sausage balls are fresh out of the oven. 
    Connect with Jason
    Buy Them
    plus right now you can get Book 1 The Deliverer on Kindle for Free!

    WIN IT
    Jason is giving away Book 1: The Deliverer in my 2012 Holiday Gift Giveaway. Enter HERE
  • 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.  
    Photobucket
    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

    Photobucket

     

    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
     

  • The Best of One Kings Lane Sales

    One of my favorite Home Decor places to browse online is One Kings Lane.  Periodically they have a really good sale on something I want, like when I bought cute blue organizing boxes for Prince L’s room. Or the more recent purchase for Mark’s Christmas present (yeah my husband reads my blog, so I can’t tell you what it is).  

    I am especially excited about the sales they have going on this weekend!  It’s the Best of One King’s Lane, with a new sale starting each day, and lasting for 4 days.
    Yesterday kicked off with a Holiday Ornaments and Decor Sale, featuring items like these glass angel ornaments!
    Glass Angel Ornaments, Asst. of 2
    Today get deals on Bedding, Upholstery, and Home Accents.
    Get your guest rooms ready for the holidays with some Flannel Sheet Sets
    Flannel Gingham Sheet Set, Blue
    Sunday’s Sales include
    While Monday’s Sales will bring you
    Also, when you sign up you’ll get a $15 credit off purchases of $30 or more.
  • Author Kimball Fisher’s Top 10 Christmas Books {Blog Tour}

    Author Kimball Fisher’s Top 10 Christmas Books {Blog Tour}

    Thanks for stopping by Home Maid Simple in the Finding the Baby Jesus blog tour!
    I had the opportunity to ask the Author for a Top Ten List.
    Since the theme is obviously Christmas, I wanted to know Mr Fisher’s Top Ten Christmas Book List.
    Here it is!
     
    1 – A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens). Best Christmas book ever. Tiny Tim, Scrooge, and the Spirits of Christmas.
    2 – The Night Before Christmas (Clement Clarke Moore). Of course! Not even mice were stirring.
    3 – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss). From a modern genius of both word and illustration.
    4 – Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Robert L. May). For the kids. Old ones, too.
    5 – The Little Match Girl (Hans Christian Anderson). Look for the volume illustrated by Rachel Isadora.
    6 – Nutcracker (E.T.A. Hoffman). The story that inspired Tchaikovsky’s ballet.
    7 – The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg). Haunting words and illustrations. Modern classic.
    8 – Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury. Charming stories from the author of Little Women.
    9 – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Barbara Robinson). A personal favorite and one of the inspirations for FINDING THE BABY JESUS. My wife and I loved this story, which although shorter than many, was always too long to read out loud in a single evening. I wrote FINDING to be read in a single sitting (even with most wiggly children).
    10 – The Christmas Box (Richard Paul Evans). A fairly recent feel-good story.
     
    Thank you so much Mr Fisher for sharing your favorite Christmas stories with us, and giving us one more to add to our list!

    Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher

    After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards.

    When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.

    Purchase

    Author Kimball Fisher

    Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.

    He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.

    Links
    Book Blast

    Tour Giveaway:
    $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
    Ends 12/26/12

    Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.