The ABCD Diaries

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box May 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 15 May 2020 14:14:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the May box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the May box was Light:

The scripture card this month featured Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

The special gifts for May were awesome! First, a journal for keeping all of your encouraging thoughts:

Plenty of room for lots of light!

There was also a lovely note card to pass on a little light to a friend:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless. What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Mother's Day Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 14:40:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press that are available just in time for Mother's Day:

Mama Baby
By Chris Raschka

Ages 3-7

Mama and Baby clap and play hide-and-seek and pat-a-cake. Mama and Baby . . . Mama? Where did Mama go? In a series of spreads, simple, bold illustrations show a mother on one side and a baby on the other, interacting in universally familiar ways — until Mama dips out briefly, then returns to her crying child to offer comfort again. With his usual flair, the redoubtable Chris Raschka offers a reassuring moment that will resonate with mamas and babies everywhere.

Welcome to Your World
By Smriti Prasadam-halls and illustrated by Jaime Kim

Ages 2-5

With lyrical language and stunning illustrations, Welcome to Your World takes readers from ice-capped mountains to the depths of the sea. Tender scenes between animals and their babies encourage families to join in the loving bond that connects them to one another and to the wonders of our planet. This beautiful book is ideal for sharing with new babies, new parents, and children just venturing out in the world, as best-selling author Smriti Prasadam-Halls and acclaimed illustrator Jaime Kim provide both a celebration of nature and a gentle reminder to protect it.

Baby Clown
By Kara LaReau and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

When Frieda and Boffo Clown have a baby, everyone in the circus is over the moon. But there is just one problem: Baby Clown won’t stop crying! Frieda and Boffo try everything: putting on their silliest faces, driving him around in their tiny car. They even try taking off his red nose and big shoes. But that just makes Baby Clown cry more. Can Frieda and Boffo turn his little clown frown upside down in time for the sold-out show? Kara LaReau deftly juggles wit and warmth in this hilarious nod to parental persistence, while Matthew Cordell’s big-top-bright illustrations bring Baby Clown and his circus family to humorously frazzled life. Older siblings, in particular, will step right up to this applause-worthy picture book, joining Baby Clown in many a heartfelt “WAAAAH!”

Don’t Worry, Little Crab
By Chris Haughton

Ages 2-5

Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they’re going for a dip in the big ocean. “This is going to be so great,” says Little Crab, splish-splashing and squelch-squelching along, all the way to the very edge. Then comes a first glance down at the waves. WHOOSH! Maybe it’s better if they don’t go in? With vivid colors, bold shapes, and his trademark visual humor, Chris Haughton shows that sometimes a gentle “don’t worry, I’m here” can keep tentative little crabs sidestepping ahead — and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.

These books are so fun for young readers! These stories of a parent's love are great for Mother's (or Father's) Day. Get your kiddos reading with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Biography Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:39:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Take a look at some of our favorite biographical picture books from Candlewick Press this spring:

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin
By Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Matt Tavares

Ages 5-9

Young Benjamin Franklin wants to be a sailor, but his father won’t hear of it. The other trades he tries — candle maker, joiner, boot closer, turner — bore him through and through. Curious and inventive, Ben prefers to read, swim, fly his kite, and fly his kite while swimming. But each time he fails to find a profession, he takes some important bit of knowledge with him. That tendency is exactly what leads him to become the astonishingly versatile genius we remember today. Inspired by The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Michael J. Rosen’s wry tale captures Ben’s spirit in evocative yet playful language, while illustrations by Matt Tavares follow Ben from the workbench to the water in vivid detail. A love story to the value of variety, A Ben of All Trades sheds light on an unconventional path to greatness and humanizes a towering figure in American history.

Darwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution
By Christiane Dorion and illustrated by Harry Tennant

Ages 10 and up

Everyone knows Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist who proposed a theory of evolution. But not everyone knows the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, Darwin’s friend and rival who simultaneously discovered the process of natural selection. This sumptuously illustrated book tells Wallace’s story, from his humble beginnings to his adventures in the Amazon rain forest and Malay Archipelago, and demonstrates the great contribution he made to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time.

BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom
By Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Michele Wood

Ages 10 and up

Henry Brown wrote that long before he came to be known as Box, he “entered the world a slave.” He was put to work as a child and passed down from one generation to the next — as property. When he was an adult, his wife and children were sold away from him out of spite. Henry Brown watched as his family left bound in chains, headed to the deeper South. What more could be taken from him? But then hope — and help — came in the form of the Underground Railroad. Escape!

In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown’s story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry’s own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.

The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan
By Amy Alznauer and illustrated by Daniel Miyares

Ages 5-9

In 1887 in India, a boy named Ramanujan is born with a passion for numbers. He sees numbers in the squares of light pricking his thatched roof and in the beasts dancing on the temple tower. He writes mathematics with his finger in the sand, across the pages of his notebooks, and with chalk on the temple floor. “What is small?” he wonders. “What is big?” Head in the clouds, Ramanujan struggles in school — but his mother knows that her son and his ideas have a purpose. As he grows up, Ramanujan reinvents much of modern mathematics, but where in the world could he find someone to understand what he has conceived?

These books are so fun for young readers! They are a great way to introduce awesome historical figures or build upon the knowledge students may already have about these inspiring people. Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

LaLa Horse Subscription Box for Horse-Loving Girls! April 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 17:41:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to LaLa Horse for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Do you have a horse-loving daughter or granddaughter? Check out LaLa Horse, the monthly subscription box for horse-lovers!

LaLa Horse creates a box full of fun, inspiring, educational gifts and products for kids who love horses. For just $39.95 monthly, your horse-lover will receive a box that includes various horse-themed items. Items vary each month and could include jewelry, socks, books, puzzles, bags, pillow cases, wall art, keychains, and more! LaLa Horse also has a monthly subscription option that's just $12.95/month...The Equine Fashionista Surprise! With this subscription, your horse-loving young lady will receive a special package each month containing one or two sweet horse-themed items, such as a bracelet, necklace, ring, keyring, earrings, and more.

Check out the items in our April 2020 LaLa Horse box:

Stained Glass Horses Coloring Book

Puffy Pony Hand Towel

Tinker Horse from Safari Toys

Little Miss Equestrian Shirt

Thoroughbred in Pasture Bookmark

Glitter Glam Charm Bracelet

Horse Shoe, Cowgirl Hat and Horses-n-Hearts Wristbands

Horsey Sticker Pack

Horse Breeds Savings Bank

Softy the Unicorn Friend

Plus, LaLa Horse is offering a new online course for free! Check it out at udemy.com/course/horses-101-colors-breeds-disciplines

A really enjoyed her LaLa Horse box! The figurines are great for collectors or kiddos who like to play with horses. She was a huge fan of the stained glass coloring book, the bracelet and the bank. All around, we think LaLa Horse would make an excellent subscription box for young horse lovers!

Explore LaLa Horse

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Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box April 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 16:49:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the April box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the April box was Love Letter:

The scripture card this month featured 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

The special gift for April was awesome!

This Love J.O.Y. Set is full of goodies to create gifts of inspiration and support.

This box also included two copies of the Father's Love Letter, one to keep and one to use as your encouragement kit to pass along to a friend:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless. What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Face Paintoos Magical Pack

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Earth Day Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 15:44:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press in celebration of Earth Day:

Hike
By Pete Oswald

Ages 4-8

In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they’re going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history. In detail-rich panels and textured panoramas, Pete Oswald perfectly paces this nearly wordless adventure, allowing readers to pause for subtle wonders and marvel at the views. A touching tribute to the bond between father and child, with resonant themes for Earth Day, Hike is a breath of fresh air.

Kaia and the Bees
By Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Ages 4-8

Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that’s why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia — unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia’s small courageous steps — and her tiny insect neighbors — with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world.

Alba and the Ocean Cleanup
By Lara Hawthorne

Ages 3-7

Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to brightly colored coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. There is trash everywhere! When, on her birthday hunt, something unthinkable happens, it seems like the plastic may have changed her ocean home forever. Is it too late?

Creature Features
By Nathasha Durley

Ages 3-7

Vibrantly illustrated by new talent Natasha Durley, this is an animal book with a difference. Each page is bursting with unusual creatures united by a common characteristic. From enormous ears to humongous horns, from elephants to earwigs, this eclectic collection celebrates the diversity and the commonality of the animal kingdom. And with something to look for on every page, it's guaranteed to fascinate young animal lovers.

My Green Day: 10 Green Things I Can Do Today
By Melanie Walsh

Ages 3-7

Did you remember to put your eggshell in the compost bin after breakfast? Help hang the laundry out to dry? Bring your own cloth bags for shopping? Put on a sweater instead of asking to turn on the heat? Discover ten ways that every child can make the day greener and help the environment. With bold, bright pictures and a simple explanation to back up every activity, this is the perfect picture book for teaching very young children the importance of looking after the world around them.

The Nest That Wren Built
By Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter

Ages 4-8

In the rhyming style of “The House That Jack Built,” this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into building a nest is at once tender and true to life. Papa and Mama Wren gather treasures of the forest, from soft moss for a lining to snakeskin for warding off predators. Randi Sonenshine’s lilting stanzas, woven with accurate and unexpected details about Carolina wrens, and Anne Hunter’s gentle, inviting illustrations reveal the mysterious lives of these birds and impart an appreciation for the wonder of the life cycles around us. Back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.

Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree
By Mary Murphy

Ages 3-7

Trees have leaves that turn sunshine into food. Amazing! Birds build nests, sing songs, hatch eggs, and fly. Dogs are our friends and can move their ears to tell us how they feel, while fish live in water, flashing like jewels. As for people, every person on Earth is different, each with their own thoughts and feelings. With a simple narrative and joyful, welcoming illustrations celebrating a world full of remarkable creatures, Mary Murphy reminds little ones that we are all unique, and that we are the only ones who know how to be us.

Seeds
By Carme Lemniscates

Ages 2-5

Some seeds are whisked away by the wind, while others are carried by creatures to their destinations. Once seeds find their spot, they go through breathtaking transformations, multiplying in number and size and thriving in even the most unseemly places. We humans plant seeds, too, and with care we can cultivate and nurture something wonderful, whether by sowing a seed in the earth or by choosing our own seeds of kindness to spread around. With gorgeous, welcoming illustrations, the creator of Trees and Birds presents another ode to the beauty around and within us.

The Stars Just Up the Street
By Sue Soltis and illustrated by Christine Davenier

Ages 4-8

Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars — only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Sue Soltis’s tale of a young activist and Christine Davenier’s luminous illustrations will leave readers curious about the dark-sky movement — and the wonder that is waiting for them just up the street.

What’s That Noise?
By Naomi Howarth

Ages 3-7

Magnus the Arctic seal wakes up from a very deep sleep one morning, puzzled by a strange rumbling sound. What's that noise? Could it be the creaking of the trees? The whistling of the wind? The cracking of the ice? The roaring of the sea? Hare, Owl, and Polar Bear don’t have any idea, but Walrus has a good suggestion: it could be Magnus's rumbling tummy! After a yummy feast of plump, pink shrimp, the friends all settle down to sleep — but suddenly there’s another rumbling sound. What’s that noise? Readers curious about the creatures can learn more about them and their environment in an informative final spread.

These books are so fun, educational and inspirational for young readers and the future caregivers for our planet! Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

Turn Any Room Into an Arcade with ProjeX!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 01:59:00 +0000

DISCLOSURE* Thank you to ProjeX for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

The kiddos are really missing going to the arcade, but we recently got to try out ProjeX and it's totally helping to ease their quarantine pain!

ProjeX is a battery operated projecting gaming system. You point the console at a wall, choose from one of three game slides, pick your difficulty level and have a blast!

You can play solo or two player games with three different targets: Bullseye, UFO or Duck. Each is an increasingly trickier target to hit. The blasters provide fairly accurate results with a laser-type target.

ProjeX is interactive fun for the whole family! Really...all ages will love this game! All of us have been enjoying blasting moving targets that are projected right onto our wall.

Projex is a great screen-free game that works best in a dark room, when you project on a light-colored wall with no artwork, wallpaper or painted patterns.

The portable, battery-operated projector can go wherever you go. ProjeX works great on the outside wall of the house or garage door for outdoor play.

What a great way to make your quarantine more fun for the whole family! ProjeX retails for $49.99 at Target and Walmart in the US and $69.99 at Toys R Us in Canada.

Explore ProjeX

Candy-Free Easter Goodies for Creative Kiddos!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:27:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to PlayMonster for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Looking for some great Easter basket fillers that aren't candy? We found some awesome goodies from PlayMonster that are sure to liven up your kiddos' baskets and spark their creativity while providing hours of sugar-free, screen-free fun!

Traditional Face painting can be messy and requires artistic skills, but not with Face Paintoos. Easy to apply and easy to clean, Face Paintoos will give your kids professional face paint in minutes, helping them to spend hours dressing up in costumes and role-playing. Who said you could only wear costumes on Halloween?

Dress up and transform into fun animals with Face Paintoos to create all kinds of stories with your kids.

Fuzzikins

These flocked (fuzzy!) animal characters are white, like blank canvases, so children can use the included washable markers to color and create their very own animal friends!

Then, they can rinse them to remove the marker and redesign them once they’re dry!

Stacktopus

Slip on the silly sea fingers to become a stacking octopus…a Stacktopus!™ Stacking these cups should be easy, but when you’re wearing octopus arms on your fingers, it becomes silly, competitive fun! Race to match your stack of cups to the card shown to win!

It’s great fun for kids, but also for families—wearing the silly sea fingers levels the playing field for kids and adults! For 2 to 3 Players.

Your kiddos are sure to enjoy these fun kits and games! Happy Easter from PlayMonster and ABCD Diaries!

Explore PlayMonster

Inspirational Book The Nuff by Veronica Waldrop #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 20:51:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Tailwind Publishing for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

A mother of two only had weeks to live. Veronica Waldrop knew what she had to do – write an enduring message for her daughters, ages two and five, so that they might know truth, hope, and strength well beyond their mom’s fight with breast cancer. In support of International Women’s Day 2020 (March 8, 2020), Tailwind Publishing presents The Nuff, Waldrop’s heartwarming story written to inspire her daughters after she was gone and empower girls everywhere to be the bold and confident individuals they were born to be.

This children’s book about courage and self-discovery follows the adventures of the Nuff, a colorfully-illustrated unicorn with a broken horn that young readers will love. The Nuff reads books and rides bikes, dresses up and dances with a flower crown, and plays basketball and scuba dives. No matter what she does, the story reminds her that “when the world says you can’t and you should just give up....know you are brave and beautiful. You will always be a NUFF!”

Encouraging authenticity, resilience, and self-assurance, The Nuff shares a message with girls that they are not defined by their achievements or challenges – they are already, and always, enough.

This is an amazing and inspiring book for girls and women of all ages. To add to the awesomeness, a portion of the proceeds from each book will go towards the donation of The Nuff copies to early education programs and non-profit organizations already focused on the advancement of young girls.

Explore The Nuff

Enter to win two copies of The Nuff, one for your family and one for your school library.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Groove Releases New Watchbands for FitBit Versa!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 16:16:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Groove for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We love Groove rings and were super excited to hear that they have released the new FitBit compatible watchbands!

Groove makes it easy to add a bit of personal style and flair to your FitBit. Check out my favorite new FitBit Watchbands from Groove:

Aspire Twilight Blossom

Solid Rose Pink

Apire Winter Rose

These watchbands are super comfy and they breathe unlike many other silicone watchbands. You don't have to worry about sweaty wrists thanks to the patented "grooves" on the inside of the band. These bands are waterproof and dry quickly as well. The bands are super flexible because it's made from premium medical grade Elastomer. The colors and patterns offer great choices for everyone! And, of course, every watchband comes with Groove's No BS Lifetime Guarantee. Cut it, stretch it, lose it, no problem. They will replace it. Pretty awesome if you ask me!

If you have a FitBit watch, check out Groove for some really awesome bands to help personalize your style!

Explore Groove

Cate & Chloe - Ariel Tempest Halo Stud Earrings

LaLa Horse Subscription Box for Horse-Loving Girls! March 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 21:25:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to LaLa Horse for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Do you have a horse-loving daughter or granddaughter? Check out LaLa Horse, the monthly subscription box for horse-lovers!

Check out the items in our March LaLa Horse box:

You Can Draw Horses Book

Pinkie Pie Slide Bracelet

Double-Sided Luggage Tag

Clydesdale Mare Model

Pretty Pony Double-Sided Canvas Pencil Bag

Gray Stallion Double-Sided Necklace

Arabian Horses Poster

Happy Horse Sticker and Magnet Pack

Plus, LaLa Horse is offering a new online course for free! Check it out at udemy.com/course/horses-101-colors-breeds-disciplines

A really enjoyed her LaLa Horse box! The figurines are great for collectors or kiddos who like to play with horses. She was a huge fan of the stickers and the beautiful pencil bag! I loved the addition of the educational You Can Draw Horses book:)

All around, we think LaLa Horse would make an excellent subscription box for young horse lovers!

Explore LaLa Horse

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Daily Goodie Box...It's More Than Just Free Samples! March 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:05:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Daily Goodie Box for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

I just found one of the easiest ways to get great free samples...Daily Goodie Box!

It couldn't be much easier. You sign up and the folks at Daily Goodie Box will send you a box of free goodies. All they ask is that you let them know what you think of the products. Shipping is free and no credit card required. After your first box, you are more likely to be chosen for another box if you have reviewed your goodies.

Have a look at a typical Daily Goodie Box:

Looks awesome right? Check out the products we received:

These gorgeous earrings are sure to become a staple accessory!

Tiger Balm Active - Muscle Spray

Perfect for post-workout aches and pains!

Prince Of Peace - Ginger Chews with Lychee

A delicious treat, both chewy and spicy!

Blister Balm - External Analgesic Ointment

Sure to come in handy during cold sore season!

Prince & Spring - Stellar Seltzer Water

A refreshing beverage that makes a great mixer too!

Prince & Spring - Fruit & Nut Bars

A tasty, chewy fruit and nut bar!

Teami Blends - Alive Tea Blend

The perfect pick-me-up in a cup of tea!

Real Chemistry - Environmental Rescue Mask

A lovely and invigorating mask!

Daily Goodie Box is more than just free samples though. You get money-making opportunities thanks to surveys and review opportunities too! Daily Goodie Box has a very user-friendly portal to help you keep track of all of these great opportunities as well as chances to win Bonus Goodie Boxes along with your regular Daily Goodie Box! This is a really fun and easy way to try out free products for very minimal effort on your part:) Check it out and if it sounds interesting to you, get signed up...easy peasy!

Explore Daily Goodie Box

Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box March 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:24:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the March 2020 box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the March box was Never Alone:

The scripture card this month featured Psalm 68:5-6

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,

he leads out the prisoners with singing;

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

The special gifts for March were awesome! A beautiful necklace:

As well as a gorgeous handkerchief:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless. What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Kilner Fermentation Jars Are Perfect for Countertop Fermentation Projects!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:20:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Kilner for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We love making as much as possible fresh in our own kitchen so we were pretty excited when Kilner offered to send us a set of fermentation jars:

These fermentation jars make it easy to create delicious healthy fermented foods at home saving us money and keeping our taste buds (and our guts) happy😊

The Kilner® Set of 2 1 Litre Fermentation Jars provides the easy way to create smaller batches of your own delicious fermented foods packed with vitamins, minerals and probiotic cultures.

The jars have a silicone valve in the lid that releases the gas that builds up inside the jar during the fermentation process. However, the atmospheric air will not enter the jar so you don't have to worry about the food molding.

These jars are perfect for creating live cultures of sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles and much more and it couldn't be easier! Creating your own fermented foods is straight forward, just add your favorite vegetables, water and salt and place on the counter.

We decided to make our first fermentation project sauerkraut. We prepped our cabbage, topped it with a salt and water brine and sealed the jar.

After a week, we started tasting it everyday until it reached our desired taste preference and by day 10, we were happy with the flavor. It was delicious and so easy!

If you are looking to start fermenting your own healthy foods at home, this is the perfect starter kit!

Explore Kilner

Helliemae's Caramels are Pure Bites of Bliss!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:37:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Hellimae's for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Looking for a tasty treat to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out the decadent and rich caramels from Helliemae's!

Helliemae's whip up fresh batches of truly indulgent caramel bites and other caramel products as well. They have a several great flavors to choose from. We got to try the original Sea Salt Caramels as well as the Whiskey Love Bombs.

These bite-size nuggets of pure bliss melt in your mouth! They are the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Helliemae's makes all of their caramels in small batches with the best ingredients: cane sugar, butter, cream, fruit and spices. Then, they cut and wrap the caramels on equipment built in France in the 1950s, using compostable cellophane.

The result is smooth, creamy caramels that are a treat for your tastebuds! The Whiskey Love Bombs are a bit darker and smokier...perfect for whiskey lovers with a sweet tooth! Made with Colorado whiskey, Louisiana open-kettle cane syrup, and Kentucky bourbon barrel-smoked sea salt, these Love Bombs were a hit with B, our resident whiskey lover.

Helliemae's caramels make great gifts and are a delicious way to treat yourself! Check them out for their best selling flavors and new flavors that are added seasonally!

Explore Helliemae's

#WelcomeSpring 2020 Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:12:00 +0000

Spring is nearly here and we've gathered some of our favorite products to welcome the warmer weather. We will be putting the whole list here for easy reference. As we find these awesome goodies, we'll be adding them to this post along with pictures and a link to our review of the product. This listing will be updated daily, so check back often to learn about great products for Spring 2020!

Have a product you'd like featured in our roundup? Contact me at christinbanda (at) yahoo (dot) com

Helliemae's Salt Caramels

Review link

Kilner Fermentation Jars

Review link

Groove Watchbands for Fitbit Versa

Review Link coming soon!

Drosselmeyer Kitchen Tools

Review link coming soon!

Mamia Women's Seamless Sports Bra

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Spring Roundup!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 20:46:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press this spring:

One Mean Ant

By Arthur Yorinks and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

Ages 3-7

Was there ever an ant as mean as this mean ant? Not likely. This ant is so mean that leaves fall off trees when he walks by. This ant is so mean that grapes shrivel when he looks at them. But when this mean ant finds himself lost in the desert and meets a fly that defies explanation . . . well, nothing is the same again. With this first in a planned trilogy, celebrated picture book creators Arthur Yorinks and Sergio Ruzzier team up for a hilariously slapstick tale that will make a raucous read-aloud for any storytime.

The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe!

By Christina Soontornvat and illustrated by Colin Jack

Ages 3-7

It’s not even lunchtime, and already the ten Blunder children have messed up the laundry, the bathtub, and taking care of the animals. They are driving their mother up the wall. So she sends them out to play with just two rules: keep track of one another and make sure everyone is home by sunset. As the day draws to an end, each Blunder tries counting the others — forward and backward, in English and Spanish, and even by twos and three — but comes up with only nine. Uh-oh! Will their mother forgive the biggest blunder of all? Inspired by a common folktale, Christina Soontornvat shares a humorous story about ten kids who just can’t get things right, while Colin Jack’s adorable artwork lets readers in on the joke that each child is forgetting to count him- or herself.

Dandelion’s Dream

by Yoko Tanaka

Ages 3-7

In a meadow filled with dandelion buds just about to flower, one dandelion blooms into a real lion. Roots and leaves unfurl into four tiny paws and a long tail with a fluffy yellow tuft. What a great, wide world there is to explore when you have paws instead of roots: there are fast trains to ride, regal ships to sail, and cities with lights as bright as Dandelion’s field in full bloom. But will a real lion ever be content to go back to being a rooted dandelion? Yoko Tanaka’s exquisite illustrations take us on an adventure where even the smallest seeds contain cosmic dreams.

Dot Unplugged

Ages 4-6

It’s pouring rain, and the power’s gone out at Dot’s house. Should they take it as a challenge to honor the National Day of Unplugging? Playing outside is out of the question, and so is using the many devices Dot is accustomed to. But what might the basement hold? Dot, her friend Hal, Mom, Dad, and Scratch find lots of exciting stuff, including an old spinner game. It turns out it’s super fun to watch Dad do charades, Mom speed-sculpt from clay, Hal tweet-sing a song, and Dot hunt for something surprising. Their improvised game keeps them so entertained, they just might decide to stay unplugged a bit longer!

These books are so fun for young readers! Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

24|7 Frenzy Sports Bras are Super Comfy! #giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:22:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to 24|Frenzy for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

What better time to refresh your underwear wardrobe than springtime? 24|7 Frenzy is your one-stop shop for bras, panties, tanks, socks and more! They have an awesome lineup of multi-packs in cute styles and trendy colors that make it easy to freshen up your umentionables drawer. I got to review a set of sports bras from 24|7...check them out:

This six pack of sports bras feature smooth cups and offer modest coverage that creates a seamless silhouette and provides support while being super duper comfy!

The straps and bands are soft and comfortable. These bras are one size fits most and offer enough stretch and support to back up this claim. They fit me (36C) perfectly.

They are great for lounging in, sleeping in and wearing during low impact workouts.

The strappy back is super cute and doesn't tangle thanks to the smoothness of the fabric.

These bras are thin and lightweight and perfect for every day wear. They are seamless and come with removable pads, which means no lumps or bumps.

If you are looking to revamp your underwear wardrobe this spring, check out 24|7 Frenzy for some really comfortable and affordable basics!

Explore 24|7 Frenzy

Five lucky readers will win a $25 gift code for 24|7 Frenzy just for visiting their Facebook page! We encourage you to follow them for great deals, sale alerts and more giveaways! Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spice Things Up with the DIY Artisan Hot Sauce Kit from Grow and Make

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 02:39:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Grow and Make for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We love getting creative in the kitchen and crafting our own foods from scratch. Grow and Make offers tons of great kits to help spark our creativity! Check out our latest favorite kit...the DIY Hot Sauce Making Kit:

It really couldn't be much easier to create homemade masterpieces! Grow and Make kits include all of materials you need to complete your project.

For food kits, all items are freshly packed and clearly labeled.

Kits also include a detailed guide giving you clear instructions, tips, recipes and more.

Grow and Make's DELUXE DIY HOT SAUCE MAKING KIT teaches you how to make 6 spicy sauces at home with dried chipotle, arbol, and guajillo peppers.

The guide shows how these peppers (arbol, chipotle, and guajillo) rank on the scoville scale, and give instructions on how to blend ingredients like curry and ancho to achieve your favorite flavor.

Choose recipes like classic Louisiana hot sauce or smoky chipotle hot sauce, or experiment with different spices to create your own! Fully customizable for different heat and taste preferences. Just use the easy-to-follow instructions!

The kit includes bottles and sanitizing powder to make sure you produce the freshest, longest lasting sauces possible.

We decided to try the Louisiana Hot Sauce first since it's my personal favorite. We found the instructions super easy to follow (it took just minutes from start to finish!) and the end result was delicious!

We can't wait to whip up our next batch of homemade hot sauce with our Grow and Make DIY Hot Sauce Making Kit! If you love to create your own from scratch food and beauty products, check out Grow and Make!

Explore Grow and Make

Organize Your Home with Meori Storage Solutions! #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:36:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Meori for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Trying to get organized? Check out some of our new favorite organization tools from Meori!

Meori offers some really great products that help to organize any space in your home, office, car and more! Their storage solutions are durable, useful and stylish. Here are a few of our favorites:

Foldable Tool/ Hobby Box

Uniquely-shaped and beautifully-designed organizer for art, sewing and knitting supplies, tools and more.

This tote lets you organize and transport your tools and supplies with this uniquely shaped, exceedingly practical folding design.

It features two roomy compartments, well-thought-out pockets and strong magnetic closures.

This organizer is light yet durable and ideal for art, sewing, and knitting supplies or any kind of tools and anywhere else in the home where you need smart and stylish organization.

The Hobby Box can hold up to 65 lbs and measures 14.4 x 14.4 x 8.9 inches open.

Outdoor Box

The Outdoor Box is perfect for use in the garage or on a porch or patio. It is water-repellent and tough.

This box is durable and weather resistant which makes it perfect for use on boats, in cars and trucks.

The Outdoor Box is made from high-grade, tear-proof, ripstop, water-repellent, dirt-resistant polyester. It folds and unfolds easily.

It measures 19 3/4"L x 12 3/4"W x 10 3/4"D and holds up to 65 lbs.

Large Essential Tote in Cactus

This great foldable and reusable tote and grocery bag is perfect for everyday use.

The Essential Tote features a folding bottom and reinforced shoulder straps for easy use and comfortable carrying. Roomy for anyone on-the-go, it's great for groceries or days at the beach, park or game.

When not needed, the tote can be folded flat and easily stored. Elastic band keeps it rolled up. This tote measures 18.1 x 19.7 x 6.7 open.

I adore the cactus print! This is my new go-to shopping tote!

If you are looking for a great way to organize your stuff, check out Meori for some really wonderful, durable and cute products! No matter what you need to contain, Meori has got you covered!

Explore Meori

Enter below to win your very own Large Essential Tote in the Cactus print!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Daily Goodie Box...It's More Than Just Free Samples! February 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 20:16:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Daily Goodie Box for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

I just found one of the easiest ways to get great free samples...Daily Goodie Box!

Have a look at a typical Daily Goodie Box:

Looks awesome right? Check out the products we received:

Coco Luxe - Hydration

I love this simple coconut water! A great way to stay hydrated!!

Flathau’s Fine Foods - Cheese Straws

You had me at CHEESE!

Eco Lips - MONGO KISS™ Lip Balm

These balms keep my lips moisturized even during the cold, windy winter months!

Nature Nate's - Raw Unfiltered Honey

Nature Nate's honey is the bees knees!

Natralia - Anti-Itch Soothing Cream

Perfect for soothing rough, itchy winter skin!

Skinny Crisps - Gourmet Crackers

A lovely, chocolatey, crunchy snack!

Pure LYFT - All Natural Caffeine Powder

The perfect pick-me-up!

Explore Daily Goodie Box

Keep Butter Soft and Fresh with a Butter Bell Crock!

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:18:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Butter Bell for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

Check out one of my new favorite kitchen tools...the Butter Bell Crock!

The Butter Bell Crock makes it easy to keep your butter soft, spreadable and fresh, plus it's a gorgeous addition to your kitchen!

You simply fill your bell with softened butter, put a little water in the base and close it up.

The water creates a seal around the surface of the butter which keeps your butter safe from bacteria, germs, dust and other particles that float around in the air.

This dish is made from durable bone china and comes in several styles and colors to match your kitchen. The crock holds a stick of butter (half a cup) and keeps it spreadably soft for easy use. It is dishwasher safe and free of lead and cadmium.

If you need softened butter for spreading on a fairly often basis, the Butter Bell Crock will prove to be an extremely useful kitchen tool!

Explore Butter Bell

Ooey Gooey Game Night Fun with Meltdown! #MeltdownMoment

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 17:23:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to PlayMonster for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

PlayMonster is challenging families to play this ooey-gooey game of fun and NOT to have a total #MeltdownMoment!

Atop the tower you’ll place the squishy goop—roll it, smash it, just place it however you want, then set the balancing platform on top of that! Take turns stacking cool, slippery cubes on top…but be careful…between the goop and slippery platform, it’s always shifting!

Pile it on until there’s a… MELTDOWN! If there’s a MELTDOWN you have to take the fallen cubes, and that’s dangerous because the goal is to get RID of your cubes!

Meltdown is like a gooey version of those block tower games, except that you are adding cubes and the base is constantly and unpredictably moving. Each game is different and so much fun! It's pretty fast-paced and a great addition to our Family Game Night lineup!

Explore PlayMonster

Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box February 2020

noreply@blogger.com (ABCD Diaries) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 23:49:00 +0000

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the February 2020 box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the February box was Yielding:

The scripture card this month featured Jeremiah 17:7-8

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not [a]fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

The special gifts for February were awesome! A book of 3-minute devotions and a sweet carrying case!

This box also included an encouragement kit to pass along to a friend:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless. What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!