6 Children's Books About Love

It’s the time of year for love and Candlewick Press’ new books are a great way to talk about love this Valentine’s Day.

Bear in Love by Daniel Pinkwater finds a lovable bear with a secret admirer. His admirer gives him presents that make bear cheerful but curious. In return, bear leaves gifts for his unknown friend, but always falls asleep before he gets to find out who it is. This book is cute and sweet and perfect for Valentine’s Day or, really, any time of year. $15.99

In Olive and the Big Secret by Tor Freeman, Olive is told a secret by her friend, Molly, that she just can’t keep to herself. As secrets usually do, this one finds its way back to Molly and Olive is in big trouble. This is a sweet little book that teaches children about doing the right thing even when it’s hard and what it means to be a loyal friend. $15.99

Leslie Patricelli is out with another adorable board book for babies and toddlers with Huggy Kissy. Baby loves his hugs and kisses and isn’t afraid to hug and kiss even his pets. As with all the Patricelli books, this one is brightly colored with vivid pictures, perfect for the tiniest future readers. $6.99

Love Waves by Rosemary Wells is a two story book about a child that has to be away from his mommy and daddy and they send shimmering love waves to him to let him know they are thinking of him still. This book is nicely illustrated in pastel colors with shimmering teal waves to demonstrate the love wafting through the air. The book is written in poetry so it’s very soothing. $8.99

A Kiss Like This is a fun book by Mary Murphy that shows different animals showing each other love in their own unique way. This book is really bright and fun and every page is full of love with the words and illustrations. $12.99

And finally, my personal favorite of the lot, Otter and Odder: A Love Story. This is a charming little love story about an otter finding love with a fish, which is, of course, its food source. This book is so sweet and I love that it wasn’t just a “happily ever after” but Otter and his fish love had to figure out a way together. Plus, this book is really interestingly illustrated by Chris Raschka with simple pictures that are catching without being overstated. This one will go in my library as one of my favorite children’s books. $14.00

All of these books can be found where books are sold such as Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. You can learn more about Candlewick Press on their website, www.candlewick.com.


Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

6 Sweet Valentine's Day Gift Ideas from Shari's Berries (Promo Codes)

Recently, I shared how we had surprised our 6 year old twins with some goodies from Shari's Berries on their birthday.  We thoroughly enjoyed the Gourmet Dipped Fancy Strawberries along with the fudgy Birthday Cake Pops.  Of course, these sweet treats were perfect for a birthday celebration, but Shari's Berries offers so much more.  Similarly to how they have gourmet items tailored specifically for birthdays, they also have quite a selection of Valentine's Day-themed treats.  Rather than giving the same boring old box of chocolates this year, why not choose something that shows that you put some thought into your gift?


6 alternatives to the boring box of chocolates for Valentine's Day . . .

1.  16 Count Cupcake Sampler - $54.96

2.  Full Dozen Gourmet Dipped Valentine's Day Strawberries - $39.98 (Reg. $54.98)

3.  Romantic Fortune Cookies - $29.99

4.  12 Handmade Valentine's Love Bug Cake Pops - $44.99

5.  6" Three Layer Chocolate Happy Valentine's Day Cake - $39.99

6.  Valentine's Sweets & Savories - $39.99

See something you like?  Well, before you order, be sure to check for available Shari's Berries coupon codes that can be applied to your order.  Our Shari's Berries items were beautifully boxed and came with a note card printed with a personal message to our children from my husband and myself.  Usually you need to place your order more than 2 days before the desired delivery date to pay for standard shipping, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Although I had previously received complimentary product samples from ProFlowers.com, all opinions expressed are my own.

Easy Craft: DIY "I Love You Because . . . " Dry Erase Board

This craft was inspired by Lianne's "Love" Message Board tutorial on the A Content Housewife blog.  I changed a few things to make this project a good fit for me, as you will probably change some things if you decide to do this super-easy craft.

I decided to do this craft in honor of Valentine's Day because our house is a busy, high-stress place.  We always remember to speak up when something needs to be done, when something is bothering us, and when something is wrong.  We do not always take the time to make sure we focus on the positive things about each member of our family.  That is why I decided to make one of these "I Love You Because" Memo Boards for my husband and each of our three children so that there is always a positive message to each of them prominently displayed on our living room wall.  These would also make a great gift for an anniversary, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even a birthday.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

12x12" or 12x10" glass front picture frame

1 sheet scrapbook paper

alphabet decals

dry erase marker

scissors

permanent markers (optional)

Step 1:  If you chose a picture frame smaller than 12x12", use scissors to trim the scrapbook paper to the correct size by using the insert that came with the frame as a guide.

Step 2:  Use the self-adhesive alphabet decals to write out the desired message, making sure to leave enough room underneath for you to write your message.

Step 3:  (Optional) You can add anything you would like to the paper, such as a drawing, using a permanent marker.  For example, I added the 3 dots after the word "because" with a marker because the decals I purchased did not come with enough periods for all four memo boards.

Step 4:  Insert your finished page into the frame.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Step 5:  Write your first message on the glass front of the picture frame using a dry erase marker.

Step 6:  Find a prominent place to display your message board(s) so that everyone can see why you love your family.

Ways to make this project your own . . . 

• Lianne used her computer printer to put the text on her paper.  ( I was too worried that I would make an error with positioning the text, so I went with decals instead.)
• Also like Lianne, you can use hot glue to add embellishments to the frame.
• If you have great penmanship or know calligraphy, then you could forego the decals and the printer and hand write "I love you because . . . " right on the paper.
• You could use fabric instead of scrapbook paper inside the frame and embroider "I love you because . . . " right on it.
• If doing this project with a child, you could use stickers or ask him or her to draw some original artwork to use as your background.

If you end up trying this easy craft, I would love to hear about how it turned out.  You can also share a photo of your creation on the 3G2S Facebook page.

20 Thoughtful and Romantic Gift Ideas to Surprise Your Spouse With

I recently read an article about how to be romantic all year round and how you should not wait until Valentine's Day to show your love for your spouse.  There were some great ideas in this article, many of which did not require a lot of time and money.  One idea that really inspired me is the one about a monthly gift.  I think picking up a little something for your spouse once a month just to say that you were thinking of him or her would be fun, romantic, and would add some anticipation to a marriage.  This should be a low pressure gift, perhaps something little that you saw while you were out that made you think of your spouse.

For those months that you do not just happen to see something you think your spouse would like, I enlisted my husband to help me make the lists below.  These are lists you can turn to if you need a back-up gift idea.


Monthly Gift Ideas for Your Husband . . . 

1.  A favorite cake, pie, or other dessert that needs to be specially ordered from a restaurant or bakery
2.  A 6-pack of one of his favorite beers that he rarely gets to have
3.  A movie he had mentioned once that he wanted to see a long time ago, but never did
4.  9-holes of golf
5.  A tie (if he has to wear them often)
6.  A clever novelty t-shirt
7.  The latest book by his favorite author
8.  The latest issues of a few of his favorite magazines that he does not subscribe to
9.  A video game he would like that you can play together
10. A container of munchies or treats to keep at work


Monthly Gift Ideas for Your Wife . . .

1.  A jar candle in a scent you think she'll love
2.  A charm to add to an existing charm bracelet or necklace
3.  A favorite cake, pie, or other dessert that needs to be specially ordered from a restaurant or bakery
4.  A mixed bouquet of flowers
5.  A movie she had mentioned once that she wanted to see a long time ago, but never did
6.  The latest book by her favorite author
7.  The latest issues of a few of her favorite magazines that she does not subscribe to
8.  A new scarf (if she likes to wear them)
9.  A pair or two of fun novelty socks that fit her personality
10. A few shades of nail polish or lipstick you would love to see on her


If you have any ideas about small thoughtful gifts to give to a spouse, I would love to hear them.  My husband and I are going to try this, so I will certainly need more ideas for the future.

Go here for more great ideas about how to show your love all year long.

Ruby Tuesday: An Early Valentine's Day Gift

Look what my husband surprised me with last week!  You see, I not-so-subtly hinted about how much I loved this Red Glass Heart Marcasite Necklace by putting it on my Valentine's Wish List on my homepage here on 3G2S and by blogging about it on A Blog of Goodies.  I'm not sure if my husband meant to give the necklace to me early, but I could not help but notice a package had arrived from Amazon.com addressed to him.  Being extremely curious, I asked him about it and the rest is history . . .

If you'd like to see more Ruby Tuesday photos, go visit Mary at Work of the Poet!

Giveaway & Review: Fun & Unique Valentine's Day Gifts from CafePress [CLOSED]

CaféPress is one of my favorite places to shop online. I’ve been ordering from them for years, so getting the chance to review two products was something I didn’t even have to think about. CaféPress is unique because you can order from any of their hundreds (maybe even thousands) of ready-made designs or you can design your own custom creations, which was what I did. I decided to make a shirt and messenger bag for my home daycare, Crunchy Care. I have been in need of new shirts for my assistant, Jenny, and myself for a while and I had been searching out organic cotton ones. I chose the ladies-style organic cotton t-shirt in an XL, which was supposed to be for me. Sadly, it didn’t fit me but fits Jenny perfectly. I would say that it’s sized more like a medium than an extra-large, so keep that in mind. I am really thrilled with the quality, durability, and printing quality of the shirt. It looks and feels amazing and I love the feel of the soft organic cotton. I can’t wait to order myself one that's a better fit.

I chose the messenger bag for several reasons. I’ve been in need of a good quality bag that closes completely but is roomy enough to hold all the things I need to bring along on field trips with my 7 daycare children. This bag is perfect for that. It holds my field trip folder, diapers and extra clothes for the little ones, snacks, cups and more inside without feeling too full or being too bulky. I also love that it’s yellow, the perfect color to match my Crunchy Care worm logo. I love that in public it advertises for my daycare and lets people know who it belongs to, if I misplace it. The bag itself is very thick and will last for a long time and the printing quality is exactly as I’ve come to expect from CaféPress.

CaféPress is the online destination for all sorts of Valentine’s Day gifts such as personalized teddy bears and funny Valentine’s gifts! If you are looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift for anyone in your life, look no further than CafePress.com. You are sure to find something amazing and you can be sure it’s quality will be high.

Thank you to CafePress for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon and for providing additional products for our contest prize.



What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive any CafePress product(s) of their choice (up to a $60 value).

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of Valentine's Day Gift ideas found on CafePress. Then leave a comment with the link to one item you would love to give or receive as a Valentine's Day gift. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 10 extra entries, sign up to receive special offers and promotions from Cafe Press by email (bottom right of homepage). Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5)  For 1 extra entry each, follow CafePress on Twitter and/or "Like" CafePress on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10)  Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Junior's Cheesecake from 1-800-FLOWERS

Did you know that September is "Pleasure Your Mate Month"? Just by coincidence, both my husband's and my birthday took place this month. 1-800-FLOWERS offers much more than fresh flowers. They offer romantic gifts that include indulgent gourmet goodies. Since my husband loves cheesecake, but the rest of the family does not share this passion, he rarely gets to enjoy this treat. For this reason, I thought that a Junior's Cheesecake would be the perfect thing to surprise him with on his birthday last week.

The Junior's Heart Shaped Chocolate Cheesecake was delivered by UPS right on my husband's birthday. The cake arrived packed with dried ice and was in perfect condition.

My husband found the cheesecake to be delicious. He is a little worried about finishing the whole cake all by himself, but I think he is willing to give it a whirl.

Important Dates for September:

National Singles Week (9/19 to 9/25)

Wife Appreciation Day (9/19)

Love Notes Day (9/24)

If you are a man who is always at a loss about what romantic gifts to purchase, visit 1800flowers.com to find some inspiration. You can also utilize their handy Guys Guide to Flowers to find the perfect flowers for any occasion.

Thank you to 1-800-FLOWERS for sending us a sample cake free of charge to base this review upon.

Giveaway & Review: Musical Hershey's Kiss Candy Dish [CLOSED]

Rockconcepts offers a variety of musical food and candy dishes that make cute and affordable gifts. The one that caught my eye is this licensed Hershey's Kiss Candy Dish. It plays the 1980s Hall & Oates hit "Kiss on My List".

What I thought about this musical candy dish:

1) I have to say that I think "Kiss on My List" is a perfect choice for a song to accompany this item. It goes with the tone of this gift, which I think is sweet and cute, romantic, but innocent.

2) I like that this is a licensed Hershey's product. It adds to the perceived value of the gift, which by the way retails for just $14.99 .

3) I am usually wary about giving gifts that make sound because you never know what someone may find to be annoying. Unlike the talking parrot that was gifted to my children, I do not find this candy dish to be annoying at all. It only plays 6 or 7 seconds of the song when the hinged lid is opened. After that the music stops even if the lid is left open.

4) This candy dish delighted all 3 of my children, even my oldest son. I don't think he realizes that this singing candy dish will alert me if he ever tries to sneak a piece of candy without permission.

The candy dish does not come filled with candy, so this gives you an opportunity to use your imagination. Wouldn't it be romantic to put an engagement ring or other jewelry in this dish hidden under some chocolate?

You can order all the Rockconcepts products right on Rockconcepts.com, where they are currently offering flat rate shipping of $7.50 no matter how many items are in your order.

Thank you to Rockconcepts, Inc for sending us a sample candy dish to base this review upon and for providing another candy dish for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive one Hershey's Kiss Singing Candy Dish. (Candy not included.)

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:
Visit Rockconcepts' homepage and hold your cursor over each product. Then leave a comment telling me which item would make the perfect gift for someone you know. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND Rockconcepts.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Sesame Street's "Elmo Loves You!" (DVD)

Right in time to help celebrate Valentine's Day and Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, Warner Home Video and Sesame Street Workshop re-released "Elmo Loves You!" on DVD. This Elmo's World DVD features Sesame Street favorites Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie, Rosita, and more.

This DVD also has two surprises. In addition to the usual Sesame Street gang, it also welcomes guest stars R.E.M., country music artist Trisha Yearwood, and recording artist, musician, and actor John Legend. This DVD also comes with a bonus music CD containing five all-time favorite Sesame Street songs. The top two on my list are "Rubber Duckie" and "'C' is for Cookie".

"Elmo Loves You!" starts off with a song sung by Elmo about what Elmo loves. In fact, this DVD is packed full of music. Many of the songs were geared towards toddlers and preschoolers, but I was extremely happy to see R.E.M. perform "Shiny Happy People" as was my 6yr old son. He was not familiar with R.E.M. prior to this, but he was very impressed by this rock band's sound.

If you are looking for an alternative to candy for Valentine's Day or Easter, the "Elmo Loves You!" DVD with the bonus music CD would be a great candidate for any infant, toddler, or preschooler. You should be able to find this DVD at most major retailers of children's movies, including Amazon.com .

Thank you to Warner Home Video and Sesame Street Workshop for providing us a copy of this DVD to base this review upon.

Review: Ed Hardy Lingerie

If you know a girl (yes, it could be the one in the mirror) who is not so much into lace or chiffon, then she might prefer some edgy Ed Hardy camisoles and panties over that traditional frilly babydoll for Valentine's Day. I have to admit, I am one of those girls. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that the selection of Yandy lingerie includes Ed Hardy Intimates.

Yandy.com carries Ed Hardy camisoles (with or without shelf bras) plus bikinis, boy shorts, and thong panties. I am a huge fan of the tamer Ed Hardy tattoo style designs. I opted for the "Eternal Love" boy short. It came in this cute little decorative tube with a warning on the side, which reads, "In case of emergency, break open & wear."

These boy shorts are 95% Cotton/5% Spandex. I did wash them in cold as directed, but even though the instructions suggest line drying, I took my chances with throwing them in the dryer on low heat. They came out fine, without any signs of shrinking or pilling. I do understand that the best part about these boy shorts are the vivid colors in the design and that the instructions suggest line drying to avoid fading. I, being a busy member of a household of 5, am willing to take that chance. I will still love my Ed Hardy boy shorts even if that happens. Only time will tell.

My husband, who thinks boxer briefs are sexy on women, thinks these boy shorts are cute! Do you think he'll remember these when it comes time to stuffing my stocking next Christmas?

For more Ed Hardy Intimates and all other types of lingerie, visit Yandy.com. For a limited time, you can receive Free Shipping on orders over $70.

Thank you to Yandy.com for providing a pair of Ed Hardy Boy Shorts for us to base this review upon.