Author: Cindy

All I Want For Christmas Is… #1

Posted on by Cindy

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Danya from A Tapestry of Words started this fun little feature on her blog called All I Want For Christmas Is… and basically what you do is share your wishlist of books. I thought that this would be something fun to do perhaps on a weekly bases until Christmas. Can you believe we are in December and Christmas is in a few short weeks?

I am no where near being started so over the next week or so I will be shopping, shopping and more shopping for gifts for my family. The only gifts I have done are for my two secret Santa’s I am taking part in this year.  Are you ready?

Today my wishlist book is:

I had read the little sampler I got from BEA and I have to say Adriana’s newest book sounds amazing

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

Posted on by Cindy
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Stocking Stuffer Ideas @cindysloveofbooks

If your a parent like me you probably wonder what to put in a stocking for Christmas especially for kids right? I know every year I am in the same boat of just not knowing what to put into one so I tend to shop early and pick up cute little things as I see then and I also hit the dollar store often to see what new things that have.

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Today I am going to show you what was in my son’s stocking from last Christmas (2014). I can’t show you this years because then he will know what he is getting and it will spoil the fun.

I think this year we will need to upgrade his stocking because as he is getting older (12) its getting harder to fit it all in.

This Montreal Canadiens stocking has been his favorite for the past few years and he always wants to use it so we will see if we can find a bigger version of this.

Here is what was in this jammed packed stocking:

  • The Simpson’s comic book (I love including a magazine in our stockings each year)
  • a pack of Pixi Stixs
  • assorted Kinder chocolates
  • a new tooth brush and toothpaste (we all get new ones)
  • Kool aide drink
  • Lindt chocolate bar (we all get one of these each year)
  • a note pad and pen (he loves doodling and making notes)
  • BBW Shower Gel in Endless Weekend
  • Lego (anything in poly bags)
  • Lego mini figures pouches
  • minecraft little figures (another thing he loves)
  • Ice Breaker candy
  • loom bands (he will take his own and make some every once in awhile)
  • lollipops
  • stickers

This is just some of the things that he always gets but as he gets older I am sure it will change. I hope this little list helps you and gives you a few ideas. Please let me know in the comments below some of the things you put in for kids stockings.

Advent Calendars 2015

Posted on by Cindy

Its really hard to believe that tomorrow will be December, where did the year go?

Since tomorrow is December 1st I thought I would share with you all the advent calendars we are using this year.

Before I get into what physical calendars we are using this year I thought I would share with you one that on I saw on the Book Riot facebook page and its A Literary Advent Calendar and behind each day you could find a holiday poem, essay or short story and its all online. To go to A Literary Advent Calendar all you have to do is click here.

The first one is going to be one I spoke about in a earlier post today and its the Christmas Book Advent Calendar.

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The second one is my favorite 24 Days of Tea by David’s Tea. I really love the idea behind the box this year as the whole kit can be reused again for next year. I love the drawers and the little gold colored tins.

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The third one is for Michael of course and its the Lego advent calendar. He is really exited to start opening this up. He loves lego. Once our basement is complete I will have to show you a picture of his lego table. Its massive.

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The fourth one is the Starbucks one. I picked this up at Costco a few months ago and this one seems like there is a lot of different items in it. Unlike the one you actually buy in a Starbucks from what I heard.

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Finally the last one is the Lindt one. Can you tell which one is Michael’s? This will be the perfect after school one to open. Who doesn’t love a little piece of chocolate after a long day at school.

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Do you do advent calendars? If so what are your favorites?

Give Away/ Santa’s Bag Sweepstakes

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Today I am very happy to share with my readers an awesome give away. Put Me In The Story is an amazing company that offers beautiful personalized books that are reasonably priced at $29.99 US

Put Me In The Story, the #1 personalized books site in the U.S., has hundreds of personalized books and gifts for newborns, kids, and even grown-ups! With a diverse selection of personalized story books, activity books, adult coloring books, adorable plush and more, Put Me In The Story is a fantastic spot to find personalized gifts that become beloved keepsakes.

As a huge thank you to their customers, Put Me In The Story is hosting SANTA’S BAG SWEEPSTAKES, just in time for Christmas! Now through December 8, enter each day for a chance to win the grand prize in Santa’s bag of goodies.

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Santa’s Bag Grand Prize Includes:

· One $750 Visa Gift Card for your holiday shopping!

· ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas (NEW personalized book)

· Our Little Deer

· Santa is Coming to My House

Enter once a day for a chance to win and receive a 30% off coupon code for entering here:

http://books.putmeinthestory.com/santas-bag-sweepstakes/

Official Rules: http://www.putmeinthestory.com/santas-bag-sweepstakes-official-rules.html

Open to US & Canada only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Sweepstakes ends 12/8/2015 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be contacted on or around 12/9/2015.

Christmas Book Advent Calendar 2015

Posted on by Cindy
photo courtsey of Pinterest.
photo courtsey of Pinterest.

For the past few years I have been seeing the Christmas Book Advent Calendar and I have always wanted to do this. Not quite sure why I haven’t since we love books and getting books.

Hopefully I will be able to make this a new tradition and honestly its never to late to start a new holiday tradition right?

The Christmas Book Advent Calendar: What is it you ask?

Basically the idea behind this is you take 24  Christmas themed books (you can do picture books, chapter books etc but mostly picture books) and you wrap them up and label them 1 through 24.

So every day you get to open one Christmas book and read it with your child. Its a great way to spend quality time with them especially with the hustle and bustle of the holiday.

Over since Michael was a baby I always managed to get a new picture book for Christmas for him so we have quite the collection happening so I am excited to dig those out so we can read them together and there will be a few new ones bought this year to reach our goal of 24 books.

Would this be something you would do?

Check back tomorrow to see what our first book is.

If We Were Having Tea….#4

Posted on by Cindy

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If we were having tea… I would tell you that this was one busy week and I am happy to see it finally end. It was too many things and too much running around.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that this was a crazy hockey weekend again. Michael had off ice training on Tuesday night, a game Wednesday night against our sister team and we lost 3-1 (its too bad that they felt as though they had to be so aggressive) , Friday night we had a team practice, Saturday we had another game against another city and we won 3-2 , and then this afternoon we have another game against another city and I will tell you how that game was next week.

If we were having tea… I would tell you it was parent teacher interviews at Michael’s high school and I am curious to see and speak to his teachers and hear what they had to say and they all raved about how great of a student he is and wishes they had a class full of him.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I am digging into my Christmas books to start reading. I don’t have a lot but a few to get me into the spirit hopefully. I am finishing up one now and

If we were having tea... I would tell you that I am contemplating going to Toronto in January for the Ontario Library Association conference. The train ticket isn’t that bad but the hotel rate is killing me and its getting harder and harder to find a place near the convention center. I am shocked at the rates because its only Toronto in the winter time.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that I have bought all my baking supplies for my Christmas baking which will begin next week. I have quite a few things I want to make and I will share that on my blog in December with a weekly recipe post.

If we were having tea… I would tell you that it was great seeing you again this week and that I can’t wait until next week.