#Win A $200 GC From Carved Creations #Giveaway

Carved Creations is currently offering 50% off jewelry while supplies last! You can't miss out on that deal! and just for my readers, you can get an extra $5 off your order from Carved Creations through December 31st, 2015 using code: WIRE15 at checkout! And one lucky winner will win a $200 GC! 

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Important Life Lessons Kids Can Learn from Fictional Characters

 

When our kids curl up on the couch with a good book, they are doing more than improving their reading skills and getting immersed in a great story. In many cases, they are learning valuable life lessons from the fictional characters that grace the pages. Here are a few examples of storybook heroes your kids can learn from:

Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: Your Brain is the Best Piece of Technology

If your kids love reading the same "Nancy Drew" and "The Hardy Boys" books that you did when you were younger, they may notice the lack of technology that they take for granted. The original stories were set back in the 1930s and the revised versions took place in the 1960s and 1970s, long before smartphones, tablets and social media were all the rage. By reading these classic books and cheering Nancy, Frank and Joe on as they escape danger, solve complex mysteries and capture the bad guys, your kids will learn that it’s possible to do all sorts of wonderful things without an electronic device tethered to their hands. After all, Nancy never tweeted out an SOS to anybody and Frank and Joe never used Google to look anything up; they persevered by using their wits.

Matilda: Friendship and Kindness Trump All

This classic tale by Roald Dahl is about an incredibly smart little girl who is surrounded by some of the most crass and obnoxious adults on the planet, including one of the nastiest teachers imaginable. Despite her frequent encounters and challenges from these horrifying adults, Matilda does not lose sight of who she is and what she wants to do in life. As your kids read about the challenges Matilda faces, they will also learn that friendship, kindness and perseverance win out every time. If your kids love reading the book and you live near New York City, surprise them with tickets to see "Matilda the Musical" on Broadway. This way your kids can enjoy an afternoon watching the characters come to life on stage.

Scooby Doo: People Are not Always Who They Seem

Since 1969, Scooby Doo and the gang have solved dozens of mysteries both on TV, in movies and in countless children’s books. While the stories are endlessly entertaining with the lovable Great Dane, his teenage pals and the assortment of cool-looking ghouls and monsters, they are also providing some good life lessons for kids. Among these is that you should never make assumptions about other people. That kindly librarian may end up to be the nasty villain who goes around in a phantom suit, or the creepy-looking hotel owner may be the nicest person in town. Another important life lesson that Scooby and the gang teach kids is to be wary of strangers — the characters are never quite sure until the final minutes who the bad guy really is, which offers a good reminder to kids that they should be careful about who they trust until they truly get to know them.

The World Almanac 2016 #2015HolidayGiftGuide

What were the most memorable milestones of 2015? Which moments caused the biggest uproar for fans at the Women’s World Cup? How did U.S. immigration policy evolve to where it stands today? While 2015 may be coming to a close, the events will endure in The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2016, available in print today, December 1st and as an eBook for all platforms on December 9th. This latest edition of America’s best-selling reference book contains thousands of facts that are unavailable publicly elsewhere, and will quickly become your go-to source for the upcoming year. New features include “U.S. Immigration: A Statistical Feature,” covering the historical background, statistics, and legal issues surrounding immigration; “World Almanac Editors’ Picks: Most Memorable Super Bowls,” in which the editors revisit the most unforgettable “big games;” as well as brand-new employment statistics and a 2016 election guide.

 Highlights from The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2016 include:

World Almanac Editors’ Picks: Most Memorable Super Bowls: On the eve of Super Bowl 50, the editors of The World Almanac choose the most memorable “big games.”

U.S. Immigration: A Statistical Feature: The World Almanac covers the historical background, statistics, and legal issues surrounding immigration, giving factual context to one of the hot-button topics of the upcoming election cycle.

2016 Election Guide: With a historic number of contenders for the presidential nominations, The World Almanac provides information that every primary- and general-election voter will need to make an informed decision, including information on state primaries, campaign fundraising, and the issues voters care about most in 2016.

New Employment Statistics: Five years after the peak of the great recession, The World Almanac takes a look at current and historic data on employment and unemployment, industries generating job growth, and the training and educational paths that lead to careers.

The Year in Review: The World Almanac takes a look back at 2015 while providing all the information you’ll need in 2016.

2015 - Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac list the top stories that held their attention in 2015.

2015 - Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the first College Football Playoff, the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the 2015 World Series, and much more.

2015 - Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2015, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports.

2015 - Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac editors highlight some of the strangest news stories of the year.

2015 - Time Capsule: The World Almanac lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2015, from news and sports to pop culture.

The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world.

 
 

The Black Velvet Coat #FRC2015

I am in my Sophomore Year at BookSparks University and participating in this year’s Fall Reading Challenge - #FRC2015. Right now, I am reading The Black Velvet Coat by Jill G. Hall. Course Title: Exploratory Studies. Department: Women’s Fiction.

 

About The Book:

Twenty-eight-year-old struggling San Francisco artist Anne McFarland is determined to get a one-woman show, even though no one, including herself, believes she can do it. But when she buys a coat at a thrift shop with a key in its pocket, strange, even magical, occurrences begin to unfold, and she is inspired to create her best work ever. Fifty years earlier, it’s 1963, and the coat’s original owner, young heiress Sylvia Van Dam, is headed toward a disastrous marriage with a scoundrel. In a split-second reaction she does the unimaginable, which propels her on a trip of self-discovery to nature-filled Northern Arizona. When Anne and Sylvia’s lives intersect, they are both forced to face their fears - and, in the process, realize their true potential.

About The Author:

Jill G. Hall facilitates creativity groups for artists of all types and curates exhibitions at Inspirations Gallery, NTC at Liberty Station. Her poems have been published in A Year in Ink, Wild Women, Wild Voices, City Works Press, Serving House Journal, and The Avocet. She resides in San Diego with her husband, Jerry, and beagle-bassett, Lucy.

Buy this book at The Black Velvet Coat on Amazon.

 
 

The #2015HolidayGiftGuide And #2016NewYearNewProducts

 Are you enjoying the 2015 Holiday Gift Guide? So many great products, right? And Christmas is coming faster than you think. With all the great products out there, I wanted to keep it going beyond the holidays. So stay tuned and look forward to our 2016 New Year, New Products Guide! Coming January 1st, 2016!

#2015HolidayGiftGuide With Crabtree & Evelyn

This holiday season, Crabtree & Evelyn is opening the doors to their festive workshops of wonder where finest botanical ingredients are magically transformed into richly indulgent creams and meticulously embellished keepsake boxes. From vibrant musical tins filled with nourishing hand creams to shimmering boxes filled with luxurious fragrance, everything in Crabtree & Evelyn’s 2015 holiday range has a magical story to tell. All products are in-stores now and online.

We received some great gifts! Avocado, Olive & Basil Bath & Body Gift - A truly luxurious duo infused with with deep-hydrating plant extracts and botanical oils. Conditioning basil, rejuvenating olives and creamy avocado combine to cleanse, soothe and soften. Skin will drink it in. It is a magical blend and revitalizing gift.

Citron, Honey & Coriander Hand Therapy Ornament Tin - Two-of-a-kind Citron, Honey & Coriander Hand Therapy creams intensely moisturize skin so it's instantly softer and smoother - like magic. Beautifully packaged in a bright ornament tin to complement your Christmas tree year after year, this is a gift filled with indulgence and joy.

Limited Edition Hand Therapy Tin - Capture the magic of the season with three limited-edition Ultra-moisturising Hand Therapy scents made exclusively for the holidays. Nestled in a fun holiday tin and formulated with macadamia nut oil, shea butter, myrrh extract and moisture-locking ceramides, pampering hands has never felt so joyous.

Check it all out at Crabtree & Evelyn on Facebook, as well as Crabtree & Evelyn on Twitter.

 
 

PCS Edventures #2015HolidayGiftGuide

Kids these days have seem to have taken a keen interest in science and engineering. PCS Edventures, a leader in the online education system specializing in STEM education, recently unveiled this year’s EiQ Series, a line of kits designed to help engineering enthusiasts of all ages become better builders. This year’s models include both the EiQ and the RiQ, an easy to build-and-program robot kit with building components, sensors, and a micro-controller. These kits are perfect for any after-school or home setting as a supplement to STEM or engineering education. With exciting builds and advanced manipulatives, students create, engineer, and explore STEM topics on their own, further enhancing their comprehension of important STEM skills. These hands-on experiences are an ideal introduction to science concepts such as mechanical engineering, structural engineering, physics, gear ratios, and much more!

Callan got the EiQ Kit. The EiQ set comes complete with more than 400 manipulatives, an instruction manual with 48 builds, a high-grade storage bin, and a sorting tray. Construction opportunities include a model helicopter, a carousel ride, a sewing machine, a race car, and other exciting builds! 

Check it all out at PCS Edventures on Facebook, as well as PCS Edventures on Twitter.