Join Me This Year In #GivingTuesday

*sponsored post. I received compensation for this post, and a donation has been made in my name to a person in need as well. see disclosure.

Shopping, battling the crowds, and picking up gifts for great prices are all part of the season that is in full swing this week with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. I want to share with you a wonderful day that follows this huge shopping weekend ~ Giving Tuesday! 

Even though we are all purchasing gifts to give to our loved ones, we usually will receive a gift in return too. Giving Tuesday is all about giving simply for the joy of giving without any expectation of receiving something yourself. There are so many wonderful ways to go about giving forward to someone who truly needs it this time of year, and Give Forward wants to remind you of ways to make that happen this Tuesday. 

Merry Christmas Giveaway Hop Featuring Halo SleepSacks

Who is ready to enter some wonderful giveaways to kick off the Christmas Season?! Coupons and Lesson Plans has joined with some amazing bloggers in this fun giveaway event organized by Planet Weidknecht and LeahSay's Views to offer everyone some great Holiday Giveaways this year! 

~Enter for your chance to WIN a MicroFleece Halo SleepSack!! Then be sure to "Hop" around to the other fun giveaways linked below!

How To Keep Baby Warm Without A Blanket ~ Halo SleepSack Review

*I received the product below for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

As the weather turns cooler all of us Moms want to make sure our babies are warm and comfortable while they sleep. We know that using a blanket in the bassinet or crib just isn't recommended, and Back Is Best for baby while sleeping. That's why I have been using a Halo SleepSack with our little guy.

Fun Delivered Every Month ~ Austin Lloyd #HolidayGiftGuide

*I received the product below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. see disclosure. 

While on the hunt for a unique gift idea for Baby's First Christmas, I found the cutest option especially for someone to give that lives away from the newest member to join the family- Austin Lloyd! 

Austin Lloyd, monthly subscription boxes for baby and toddlers, delivers fun for your little one in a box every month. Each box will contain 4-5 toys and books that are bpa and phthalate free, and products that are not typically sold in chain stores. They also will not ever contain items that require batteries to enjoy.You are able to choose an age range for your box for baby or toddler between the ages of 0 months- 3 years. This way you know the products included in your Austin Lloyd package will be age appropriate for your child to learn and play. They make it very easy to gift a box through the sign up process too. 

Austin Lloyd's November Fairy Tales and Make Believe Box

Holiday Traditions That Keep Families Close ~ #ChosenByKids

*sponsored post. see disclosure.

As the holidays draw nearer with every passing day, my thoughts go back to when I was young. Some of my most treasured memories are celebrating with family. One tradition my family has continued since I was little is getting together with my Dad's side of the family at my Grandparents home on Christmas Eve to trade gifts and visit.

One of my favorite pictures of our two oldest kids on Christmas Eve from a few years ago.

Back more years than I care to admit, this was just my Grandparents, my parents, my Dad's four siblings and spouses, then of course us cousins. Well, as you can imagine, this has grown into quite a huge get together with now two more generations included. There are eleven of us grandchildren, over twenty great-grandchildren, and now one precious great- great granddaughter. It's a packed house to say the least, and we would not have it any other way! We love that we are all close, and are staying that way by making sure we see each other every year for a fun night.

Since we are keeping this holiday tradition alive for our children in such a large family, we have to be creative with gift giving. Buying presents for everyone is not something we can do on a budget. That means we have all agreed to trade names for the younger generations, and everyone buys for as many kiddos as they are bringing. There are still plenty of gifts and toys under the tree, and we all get to enjoy those eyes light up when a little one unwraps their toys. I just love how keeping this tradition alive has kept our family close during the holidays and throughout the year. This year I am looking forward to our little guy's first Christmas with the entire family!

With toys to buy for both our traditional Christmas Eve holiday celebration, and for my own kiddos, I will be stopping by the Toyland Event held at my local Walmart on December 6th. I can't wait to share with you all the details after the event, and one of the cool toys I picked up for the present exchange at my family's Christmas Eve party. Make sure to check the list of participating stores and event dates to stop by and join in the fun at the Walmart Toyland Event in your area.

What is a Holiday Tradition your family observes to keep everyone close? I would just love to hear about it! ~ Amanda 

Looking For an Absorbent Pocket Cloth Diaper? ~ Thirsties Modern Cloth Diapers Review

*I received the products below for reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. see disclosure. 

One Size Pockets? Hemp Inserts? If you would have asked me what these terms referred to a year ago, I seriously crack up when I think about what my sarcastic response would have been! {Which I will leave to your imagination} Now fast forward to present day, I understand that one size pockets are a versatile cloth diaper that you can "stuff" with absorbent cloth inserts, and adjust to fit babies of varying sizes. Hemp Inserts are a all natural fiber cloth diaper insert, not what I envisioned the first time I heard that term, and Thirsties Modern Cloth Diapers has offered me both to share with you my opinions in this review.

Thirsties is located right here in the USA, and their products are manufactured in Colorado. Some of their products are even made by Moms who work from home. They are also dedicated to being a socially responsible business by using more than 90% USA sourced fabrics and materials, and recycling 100% of their scrap fabric. Good for you Thirsties!!! 

NCircle Entertainment Holiday DVD Prize Pack Giveaway~ Holiday HOHOHO Hop

*I received the products below in order to facilitate this event and overviews. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

Welcome to the Holiday HOHOHO Hop

featuring a Holiday DVD Prize Pack Giveaway!

Are you making a List and Checking it Twice?!!! Now is your chance to seek out some awesome prizes for those on your Christmas list, but you better hurry, the hop ends on December 5! Make sure to stop by The Review Wire for the Grand Prize, an Erin Condren Life Planner. You can use this planner as a nutrition/exercise log, newborn sleep & peep record, work meetings & appointments, academic & social planner, keepsake journal or as a scrapbook...the possibilities are endless!

Here on Coupons and Lesson Plans, you can enter for your chance to WIN a set of 4 Brand New Holiday DVDs in a Prize Pack sponsored by NCircle Entertainment just in time to enjoy this year. 

A Fashionable Gift Idea With A Little Zip - Zipz Shoes #HolidayGiftGuide

*I received the products below in order to facilitate this review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

I have always loved receiving shoes as a gift, and know I am not the only shoe lover out there!!! This holiday season I just have to share with you a brand of shoes that that would make a great gift idea- Zipz Shoes!

First a little about Zipz Shoes' beginnings. One of my favorite things about Zipz is it was created by Jerry Stefani and his family. The idea actually originated at a family BBQ in California! The family collaborated and eventually, after some creative thinking and a few prototypes, agreed on zippers as a way to make the shoe that could change covers. Now we have this awesome truly interchangeable shoe system Zipz!!!

How do Zipz work? First you choose a Zipz Soul or the base of the shoe from the styles available. Then select your favorite Shoe Cover, and that's it! Now you have a trendy piece of footwear to show off, and compliment your personal style. 

Duracell Batteries & $100 Toys R Us Gift Card ~ Giveaway

Welcome to the 
TRU Holiday Gift Pack Giveaway! 

From Housewife on a Mission and sponsored by P&G!

One thing we all need to be sure we have for all those little smiling faces on the Holidays is the batteries their new gifts require! We made the mistake one year when our daughter was young of forgetting them, and boy did we learn our lesson! Who would like a chance to WIN some Duracell batteries and a Toys R Us Gift Card to Finish up that holiday shopping?! 

NCircle Entertainment DVD Preschool Prize Pack ~ Winning For Thanksgiving Giveaway Hop

*I received the products below for reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. See disclosure.

Winning For Thanksgiving Giveaway Hop Hosted by MamaNYC 

Join Coupons and Lesson Plans and some other amazing bloggers as we give all our readers the chance to start Winning For Thanksgiving in this fun Giveaway Hop. Just Hop around and Enter for your chance to Win all different sorts of prizes through the list below. Good Luck to Everyone! 

When my kids were younger I remember thinking their minds just seemed to soak up so much information, and I am so THANKFUL to offer you this perfect holiday gift idea for the youngsters on your list this year! Five educational and entertaining DVDs from NCircle Entertainment!

Thirsties Cloth Diaper Giveaway ~ #FluffMas

Welcome to the FluffMas Giveaway Hop 
Featuring a Thirsties Cloth Diaper Giveaway

As I am typing my giveaway post this evening, it is snowing outside my window! What perfect timing to get in the Holiday spirit, and for a fun FluffMas Giveaway! Thirsties, a family owned company, has graciously sponsored this cloth diaper giveaway event here on Coupons and Lesson Plans! You have the chance to Win their One Pocket Cloth Diaper and two Hemp Inserts! 

It's My Biz From Fashion Angels ~ Totally Tween Holiday Gift Guide

I received the product below for reviewing purposes, but was required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

Do you have a Tween that loves to dream and create? Our girl is eleven, talks constantly about when she is grown up. Dreaming of where she will go to college, her dream home, and what career she hopes to pursue. I want my daughter to just stay young, and enjoy her childhood. At the same time, I need to be diligent about preparing her for the future too. This year I wanted to pick up a gift for my daughter to fulfill her need to look to the future, but also have fun! That's where Fashion Angels, a leading lifestyle brand for tween girls, came in sending me their innovative product, It's My Biz, to look over.

It's My Biz are trendy kits for tween girls that explains how to have a head for business, and offers them the start up products they need to get creative all while having fun. It's My Biz kits contain tools and supplies they need to become a young entrepreneur or a She-E-O, as they word it. There are currently five different It's My Biz products to choose from.

Give Game Night a Flip With Squashed ~ Holiday Gift Guide

We love to play games in our home, and when I come across a game that sounds like fun for our whole family, we have to try it. Well, thanks to PlaSmart, I was sent the unique board game to review, Squashed. We have never played a game like this one before, and we are having a blast! I am beyond excited to share with all of you this wonderful Gift Idea For The Kids!

Squashed is a 3D board game, and the object of the game is to be the last pawn standing. {Easier said than done, but more on that below.} It has been the recipient of 2 awards in 2014 both the 2014 Family Fun Top 15 and 2014 Game of the Year in the Kid's Games Category from Creative Child Magazine.

Design Your Own Adidas ZX FLUX Shoes

**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Does having your own unique design for adidas shoes sound good to you? I wanted to share with everyone this cool new app where you can Design your own adidas ZX FLUX Shoes using a photo!

There's this really cool new app for Android and iPhone smartphone devices that adidas launched, called the#miZXFLUX app. The app allows you to easily apply your personal photographic image to one of adidas Originals most covetable silhouettes, the ZX FLUX. With the app, you can take a photograph, edit and rotate the photo, and apply it to your very own custom ZX FLUX shoes. Such a awesome way to make a statement that’s all your own. 

Christmas Tree Giveaway from King of Christmas ~ 2 Winners

*sponsored post. see disclosure.

It will not be long before we pull out those treasured ornaments, and decorations for the holidays that are sneaking up quickly. For me it just doesn't feel like Christmas until we have our tree put up with a few presents underneath for that warm feeling to take over. This year is so special with it being our newest additions first Christmas, and I cannot wait! 

If you are looking for a sensational 7 foot artificial Christmas tree for your home this year, take a peek at what King of Christmas has to offer! They carry a wide variety of Christmas trees. They have traditional, gorgeous white, and even frosted in powdered snow Christmas trees that will fit not just your space, but within your budget too. You can choose from pre-lit or unlit trees, with a wonderful selection of sizes ranging from 5 ft - to the Giant Sized at 15 ft! 

Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Welcome to Coupons and Lesson Plans'

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Adorable Holiday #Fashions From Tea Collection Have Arrived

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. see disclosure.

We love celebrating the holidays, and every year since my children's very first Christmas, we get them a special outfit for the fun family get togethers. 

This year I have fallen in love with a few pieces from Tea Collection’s New Holiday Styles for Boys!  This sweater is just adorable, and since it is available in sizes 3 months- 12, it would work for either of our little men! 

Cooking It Up With A WestBend 5Qt. Versatility Cooker ~ Review

*I received the product below for reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. see disclosure.

I don't know what it is about fall that has me reaching for the slow cooker, but I do this every year. Our family menu transitions to dishes like stews with dumplings, appetizers, and other recipes made in a slow cooker a few times a week. I really like to take items to holiday dinners and get together's in our slow cooker too, but I didn't have a travel case. Keeping that lid on the slow cooker while traveling was such a hassle in a vehicle filled with rowdy kiddos, as you can imagine. BrylaneHome has shown me the perfect solution by opening my eyes to a wonderful kitchen must have - the WestBend 5 Qt. Versatility Cooker.