New Holiday Music ~ #Adore :Christmas Songs of Worship From Chris Tomlin

I love the holiday season and everything that goes with it! The festive decorations, putting up the Christmas tree, wrapping gifts, and the holiday music all play a huge part in making the season special to me. 

*I received product in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. 

This year Chris Tomlin has given us an album filled with new Christmas music to enjoy during the holidays. "Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship" is the new Christmas release from this American contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter who has sold nearly 30 million records. 

American Girl DIY Scarf Kits For Tweens From Fashion Angels #tweengiftidea #HolidayGiftGuide

Do you have a crafty tween who also loves American Girl on your holiday list this year? Our daughter definitely falls into both of those categories. I am so excited to share a few fun gift ideas for tweens that give them a chance to make their own scarves, and a new accessory for their American Girl doll on my 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. 

New Bamboo Pajamas For Baby This Holiday From Silkberry Baby ~ #HolidayGiftGuide

Every year for the Holidays we have a tradition of giving our kids new pajamas on Christmas Eve. They look forward to opening this first gift, and we have a fun family evening together snuggled up in their new pajamas usually watching a holiday movie or listening to music by the fireplace. This year I am happy to share with all of you some adorable and super soft pajamas that will make a great gift for your baby or toddler as part of my 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.

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

Silkberry Baby offers eco-friendly clothing for baby and toddlers. They carry both 100% organic cotton clothing and a signature bamboo collection that are just beyond adorable. With everything to dress your little ones from dresses, hoodies, and onesies to even crocheted hats and sleepwear. Silkberry Baby has even won an award for their organic cotton footed sleepers with it's innovative front zipper that slides up instead of down to make diaper changes a breeze.

Stuff The Stockings This Year With Books From National Geographic Kids #HGG #MakeSomeoneHappy

While we may still have leaves to rake and a turkey dinner to plan, the holiday gift giving and stocking stuffing season is just around the corner.  This year to kick off the 2015 Holiday Gift Guide on Coupons and Lesson Plans, I have partnered with The Mommy Island, The Kids Did It, and some other amazing bloggers to bring you the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop! 

Every year our kids know that there will be at least one book in their stocking or under the tree on Christmas morning. I am so thankful that they love and look forward to opening that gift to see what great read they will be adding to their collection. This year National Geographic Kids has graciously sponsored this fun Holiday Gift Guide event, and is offering SIX beautiful books filled with vibrant pictures - Five big books for the kiddos and one special book of poetry which would make a wonderful teacher's gift!

6 Turkey Crafts To Make For Thanksgiving

I don't know about you, but Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! Maybe it is because I love fall so much, or because there are so many fond memories of being with family on Thanksgiving. I just love spending the day with family, and enjoy catching up with everyone. Of course, there is turkey and all of the other yummy foods to consider too! This year, I am going to get my kids as excited for Thanksgiving as I am! We are going to start the fun by making all kinds of Turkey Crafts this November! I have hope that when the big day rolls around my kids will say "gobble, gobble," happily!

Diaper Changes With Memory Foam Comfort ~ Ah Goo Baby The Plush Pad Review

Our small three bedroom home is super crowded now that we have three children, and we decided to opt out on purchasing a changing table when our son was born last year. Still I wanted to have a comfortable way to be able to change our son. Luckily I found a memory foam changing pad that is perfect since it saves space and is beyond soft! 

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

Montessori Learning with Kids Academy's Preschool Education Center App #freeprintables

This blog has partnered with Mom Buzz Media to announce this exciting information! Sponsored post. see disclosure.

Kids Academy Releases Preschool Education Center for iOS and Android!

Keeping my kids learning and having fun at the same time is my main goal in our homeschool. I love using apps with my kids to review, and they have so much fun without realizing they are actually playing an educational app. Kids Academy – the team behind some of the top educational apps for kids with over 10 million downloads worldwide just released the long-awaited version of their flagship app – Preschool Education Center. As the name suggests, Preschool Education Center is an all-in-one educational app for kids and toddlers. The app covers all aspects of early childhood education from the alphabet and reading to writing, building vocabulary and developing math skills. Based on the proven Montessori method the app offers a number of fun games that help master essential learning skills through play.

We are loving this app! It is a fun resource with so many different subject areas covered through all the entertaining games. I am especially impressed with how easy it is for younger children to navigate. The Montessori Method plays a huge role in how I educate our kids, and this app has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool.

 

Fall In Love With Giveaways Hop featuring The Well Planned Day Family Homeschool Planner

Welcome to the 

"Fall In Love with Giveaways" 

Giveaway Hop!

This fun event is hosted by Heather from Mommy's Favorite Things and Michelle from Mama's Baby Cupcakes. Since this hop has an open theme anything family friendly is up for grabs! Each blog has a minimum prize package of $25 per winner & after visiting my giveaway for a chance to win The Well Planned Day 2015-2016 Homeschool Family Planner, make sure you use the linky below to see what other fun giveaways are a part of this years Fall In Love With Giveaways Hop!

9 DIY Mason Jar Gift Ideas

Mason Jars just maybe one the greatest things ever invented! From canning foods to using them to make homemade gifts, there are so many ways to use Mason Jars! I found some really neat ideas for DIY Mason Jar Gifts that I can't wait to share with you! From gifts for adults to gifts for kids, there is something on this list for everyone! 

Organize Your Homeschool With The Well Planned Day ~ Review

Lesson plans are a huge part of my life, and the reason I am Coupons and Lesson Plans! I am sort of a planning freak! Still I have been trying to juggle keeping our lessons organized and my home running smoothly. Really it comes down to the simple fact that life in a homeschooling family isn't just lessons; we have field trips, groups/ meetings, lessons outside the home, sports, and much more going on too. The standard lesson plan format, that educators use in private or public school settings, just doesn't work for us. Looking for a better way to organize our homeschool and our family life was my goal this year, and this Back To School season, I have found the planner that will do just that! 

10 Decadent Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

I am so excited about the approach of fall! Crisp air, colorful leaves and best of all... pumpkin flavored everything! No wonder it is my absolute favorite season. I can't wait to start baking some amazing pumpkin goodies for my family who, thankfully, all love pumpkin as much as I do. Found 10 Decadent Pumpkin Dessert Recipes that I can't wait to try, and I bet you are going to love a few of these too!

1- Pumpkin Pie Scones 
2- Spiced Pumpkin Cake Truffles 
3- Creamy Pumpkin Ice Cream 
4- Pumpkin Apple Chimchangas 
5- Pumpkin Cream Pie Trifle  
6- White Chocolate Pumpkin Cups 
7- Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars 
8- Crock Pot Pumpkin Cake 
9- Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes

10- Pumpkin Pie Latte Mousse 

~Which of these mouth watering pumpkin dessert recipes do you anticipate trying first? I am leaning towards the Easy Cheesecake Bars as a special treat for my husband, or maybe the White Chocolate Pumpkin Cups. It's hard to decide.... they all sound delicious right?!!! 

Warrior Huntress Costume Review ~ Halloween 2015

This year was the very first time my daughter had trouble deciding what to be for Halloween. She has always enjoyed dressing up, but now that she is nearly a teen her style is changing from that of a little girl. As a Mom, I was worried about finding something that both of us would agree on since she is already an inch taller than I am but still only twelve. When we started looking at costumes in adult sizes the selections were not what I would consider age appropriate for my tween. My daughter had quite a few stipulations on what she was looking for too, and to be honest I didn't know if there was a costume out there that would be what she was hoping to find.

After just a few minutes of searching online we found the Warrior Huntress costume at Costume SuperCenter, and it is perfect! The Warrior Huntress costume includes the dress with attached cuffs. and a belt with a satchel.  The main part of the dress is 100% polyester, and trimming and emblem on the bodice have a faux leather look and feel. This sleek costume is the right style for our girl since she is not into anything low cut. The dress goes all the way up to her neck line. With the long sleeves she will stay warm in the chilly October air we usually have here in the Midwest on Halloween. Note- To complete her look we added the black leggings and boots that we already had. Both of these were not included with the costume.

Personally I really love the look of the Warrior Huntress costume since it reminds me of one of my favorite movies, but my daughter has no idea how closely it resembles the main character's look since she hasn't ever seen them. Our daughter is super excited for Halloween 2015, so she can sport her new costume. This Mommy right here is so happy my girl loves the look, and that we found an excellent choice that is modest for girl her age. When a tween and their Mom actually agree on a clothing choice even if it is a costume... it's worth a happy dance right?! =)

If you are on the hunt for a unique or classic costume this Halloween make sure to check out all the fun costume New Arrivals! 

I would love to hear what your kids will be dressing up as this Halloween! Make sure to leave me a comment below. 

Then Vs Now Safety ~ Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month

All of us parents take the safety of our children very seriously. A few months ago, I had a conversation with my Mom about safe sleeping for babies. She told me that when I was born the doctors TOLD her to lay me on my stomach to sleep at the hospital, so that is what she did back then. We all know now that "Back Is Best" when putting a little one to sleep, but back then they weren't aware of this. 

9 DIY Fall Decor Projects

I love to decorate for fall! This year instead of spending hours in the stores looking for just the right decorations, I am going to DIY a few projects to give my house a fantastic fall look! I found 9 DIY Fall Decor Projects that I can't wait to try and share with you! 

Is There An affordable All-In-One Cloth Diaper? ~ Nicki's Diapers Bamboo All-In-One #ClothDiaper Review

My husband was on the fence when I first brought up the idea of cloth diapering our third baby while pregnant. I won him over with the money we would save, and then started researching what would work for us. While I had a variety of cloth diaper styles to begin with the one type my husband really preferred to use were all-in-ones. Those can be pricey, and I hadn't added many to our stash. I am so excited to share with you an All-In-One cloth diaper that is not only affordable, but available in so many adorable prints too!
I received the product below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

 Nicki's Diapers ~ Bamboo AIO One Size
Woven Night Print

Nicki's Diapers caught my eye recently, and after just a few minutes on their website, I was smacking my head that I hadn't noticed their brand sooner. These diapers are not rebranded and are made exclusively for Nicki's Diapers. They offer a Bamboo All-In-One cloth diaper in both one size and newborn. This AIO fits most little ones from 8-35+ lbs. {They also carry pockets, covers, prefolds and other accessories each at a great price for a family's budget.} 

Captive In Theaters on September 18th #FollowYourPurpose

*I received product in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. sponsored post.

She was a struggling addict trying to get her life together for her daughter, and he was a desperate man on the run after committing murder. Their lives collide, and suddenly they were looking for what gives their life a purpose. Captive, formerly published as Unlikely Angel by Ashley Smith, is a book giving us the untold story of the 2005 Atlanta hostage hero from her point of view, and Captive, a motion picture based on this book, will be in theaters on September 18th! 

Honestly, I only have vague memories of this hostage event from 2005, so I dove into the book, Captive with an open mind. I was not able to put it down, and read nearly the entire book in one night. Her life before this experience was tragic and really sad to say the least. She spirals down a dark and selfish path caught up in addiction after the death of her young husband. Then she seems to wake up with a need to survive at all costs for her daughter during this hostage experience. While reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren both her and her captor really begin trying to look for their life's purpose. Now that I have finished reading Captive, I am so excited that they are releasing the movie based on this story soon, and cannot wait to see Captive in theaters this September. (Can we say date night?!) 

The Biggest Story: How The Snake Crusher Brings Us Back To The Garden Review

Most all of us know the story of the Garden of Eden from the Bible, and have heard about the great flood, plagues of Egypt, and the miracle birth of Jesus. Still trying to understand, especially for children, the overall message of these stories, and God's plan is lost in the details. I received a book geared towards children, The Biggest Story: How The Snake Crusher Brings Us Back To The Garden, that shows how everything is linked and really does explain the biggest story.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

The Biggest Story written by Kevin DeYoung- a best-selling author, senior pastor, and father of six -takes the stories of the Bible, and turns them into a fun journey connecting the dots from the garden of Eden all the way through the death of Christ then to the new heaven and new earth. Below is a few sentences pulled from the first chapter.

Ah Goo Baby Plush Pad Giveaway #Ready2POP

Welcome to the Ready to POP!

 [a Labor Day inspired Giveaway Hop] 

Hosted by Viva Veltoro and Lindsey Blogs!

This year Coupons and Lesson Plans has joined with a great group of bloggers to celebrate Labor Day in a totally fun way – by offering fabulous giveaways for Mamas and Babies who have done some of the hardest labor out there! Each blogger in this Hop has a fabulous Mama or Baby prize for you to enter to win – so be sure to hop around to them all after you’ve entered to win the amazing Grand Prize worth over $690! This Ready to POP! giveaway is sponsored by Ah Goo Baby! You can enter for your chance to Win a Plush Pad! (ARV $35)

I will receive product in exchange for promoting this giveaway. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

The Vampire Diaries and The Originals New Seasons Released This September

*I received product in exchange for promoting. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

A few years ago, my sister told me about a show that she thought I would like The Vampire Diaries. After catching a few episodes I was hooked. Then the spin off show began, and I have been a fan of The Originals since the very first episode! So excited to share with all of you this fun giveaway for either The Vampire Diaries The Complete Sixth Season or The Originals The Complete Second Season!!! (CHOSEN AT RANDOM By Sponsor)

Doozers Pod Squad Now On DVD ~ NCircle Entertainiment

*I received this product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. see disclosure.

How many of you remember Fraggle Rock? Well now the characters from that hit show are back! Created by the Jim Henson Company, Doozers focuses on a team of best friends- Spike Molly Bolt, Daisy Wheel and Flex- who live in Doozer Creek, a fantastical, modern and eco-friendly community.  Dubbed the “Pod Squad,” these four pals embark on some fun adventures that encourage preschoolers to play, design and think outside the box.  {Doozers is now available on DVD for purchase at Target and all other retail outlets beginning in September.}

Doozers- Meet The Pod Squad! DVD

Join the Pod Squad over at their home Doozer Creek where these cute green friends embark on a few fabulous adventures. The Pod Squad: Molly Bolt, Flex, Spike, and Daisy Wheel love to design create and innovate. They are a squad of doers, and put their ideas into action!