Category Archives: Gifts

For Her, For Him, Gifts, Reviews, Valentine's Day

Most Uniquely Awesome Valentine’s Gifts Ever! @theApollobox

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When I came across The Apollo Box’s website, time paused for me a moment and I got lost.  Somehow, when I came back it had been a couple of hours!  They have some of the most awesome and unique products!  Some of which I had seen other forms of, others that I had never heard of at all.  Regardless of who you are shopping for or what the occasion, you can find it with them!  You’ll even find some amazingly cool decor for just about any room design!  I have got a ‘Gotta Have’ List of decor for more than one room in my house, solely full of Apollo products!

Another cool thing about Apollo?  They partner with individuals to bring YOUR creation to their customers!  How awesome is that!?!  You all know by now that I LOVE small businesses and I am loving that The Apollo Box seems to share that sentiment!

I’ve put together some photos of their fabulous Valentine’s Gift Boxes to give you a little taste, soon I will add my personal review to this post as well.  Of course, you could always just pick your favorite products and build a more personalized gift, but as one who loves surprises, I’d say get a box and random surprises!  I’d love for you to check them out and let me know what product you were most in awe of!  Bonus kudos if you have a great reason that you love it!

Currently, if you order an Apollo Box, you receive an Augmented Reality Valentine’s Card for FREE!!!!

Unique & Awesome Gifts: Apollo Gift Box for Her: Beauty


 Gift Box For Her: Beauty

($50 to purchase, includes everything listed below)

Swarovski Lollipops ($22 ARV)

Super adorable and I love the touch of the accent ‘jewel’ on the end of the lollipops!  If the showmanship is in the details, then they have got it top notch!

Bath Bomb ($15.99 ARV)

Smells absolutely fabulous!  I haven’t tried it in the bath yet, but I know it’s going to be wonderful!

Jelly Lipstick ($22 ARV)

Let me just say, I love this Lipstick!  The color changes slightly with the temperature and it has a great staying power!  Not to mention, the flower and gold flakes in side are gorgeous!

Valentine AR card ($15.50 ARV)

Pictured on the end, I just love this card!  Pictured on the end, the top image is what it looks like at a glance, the bottom is underneath a light!  Not only is that really cool, it’s also just the sentiment my husband has been saying for years!  Yeah, sometimes he’s a sweetie!

Gifts for Her Beauty Box

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I did receive this product for free in exchange for my honest opinion.  All opinions are ALWAYS my own.
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Originally posted 2017-01-27 07:49:24.

For Her, For the Zookeepers, Gifts, Jewelry, Just for You, Reviews

A Touch Of Dazzle: Perfect for Everyone!

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I remember personalized jewelry being so much harder to come by when I was a kid.  Someone having a piece with their children or grandchildren’s birthstones was not as easy to come by as it is today.  Even though it is more readily accessible, the love for it has not changed.  I absolutely love that it is now easier to get for gifts though!

mom-necklace-touch-of-dazzle

Touch of Dazzle has so many wonderful and gorgeous pieces in their collection.  I absolutely love that they come with birth stones for all months!  That makes it super easy to give anyone one as a gift!  I already had an Oragami Owl necklace that was bought for me a couple of years ago and I have to admit, the price difference is huge but the quality seems to show no difference.  In fact, I actually like the gems in this collection better than the other!  My only complaint is that I can’t wear more than one at a time.  Life can be so very hard!

Whether you are looking for a gift for someone else or to treat yourself, definitely check out Touch of Dazzle!  You won’t regret it!  Although I did receive this product for free in exchange for a review, my opinions are honest and original.  I’d love to hear your thoughts!auntie-necklace-touch-of-dazzleAuntie Necklace

I absolutely LOVE the Auntie necklace.  I have so many babies that call me Auntie and so many wonderful people I am fortunate enough to call my sisters!  This necklace is perfect!!!  Be sure and check out the many fabulous designs they have!

Website * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest

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Originally posted 2016-12-15 10:48:37.

Gifts, Products, Reviews

5 Great Lessons Using Optical Illusions Sponsored by Let the Little Children Come

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Let the Little Children Come

We all know how much children love candy! Wouldn’t it be amazing if parents could propel their children’s love for God to be even greater than their love for candy?! Let the Little Children Come has very similar ideas in the matter. Today I received an adorable little package that got me thinking more than I would have on my own. It was a paper pumpkin that you punch out and fold up to create the free standing pumpkin, each side of the pumpkin has a child friendly lesson inside of it. So that each one has to be read before it gets folded to create the pumpkin; little sayings such as “God loves you very much and he wants to be with you not just here on earth, but forever in heaven as well!”

The package also included a really neat optical illusion booklet complete with a view finder, you slide the view finder across the image and the images move and/or change. It was centered on the verse John 3:16, each image portraying something relative to the verse.

How fun! Not only are the kids learning a verse and learning wonderful messages about the love that God has for each of us but they are also learning how to look at things from different perspective and that some things aren’t always as they appear to be, which is in itself a very valuable lesson for children to learn early on.

Living in a world where optical illusions are everywhere, 6 our brains are practically hardwired to misinterpret them as reality. Optical illusions use color, images, and lights to deceive or mislead our brains. It occurs so often in the world that we hardly notice it happening at all. The information that is gathered by our eyes and then relayed to our brain creates a perception that in reality does not match the true image.  This fun piece of science can be used to teach some very valuable lessons!

5 Great Lessons Using Optical Illusions

  1. Teaching children early on how to decipher their own perceptions into what is true reality will help them also learn how to build stronger problem solving and judgment skills.
  2. Learning how to differentiate between reality and misconceptions will create a stronger defense against temptations that so often pull people from the path God has created for them.
  3. Teaching kids not to take things at face value and that “things aren’t always what they seem” will teach them that temptation comes in many forms.
  4. Optical Illusions can be utilized to practice more conscious caution.
  5. Since their mind is automatically forming a perception based on the information that it is receiving when viewing the illusions, we can use that to teach how Satan fools and deceives us.

Check them out!

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Originally posted 2016-11-21 17:22:57.

For the Zookeepers, Gifts, Health and Hygiene, Just for You, Reviews

Spa Me By Warmables

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warThe Spa-Me by Website is absolutely awesome!  It is perfect for anyone who needs to relax, feel a little better or even just treat themselves!  We have used ours for so many things!  Helping to relax a sick baby, soothing headaches, and even helping rid ourselves of muscle cramps!  You can also put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on it before heating so that you can inhale those relaxing smells as you allow yourself to rejuvenate! Also, we have found use for it with our furbabies as well!  Since you can wash it, it’s great for everyone!  I had the privilege of reviewing the  Spa Me Hot or Cold pack in exchange for this review and have loved it! I will never sell out my opinions, so know that the thoughts on my site, here and otherwise, are always my own!

WarmablesWe all know that our four legged babies deserve only the best of pampering available and here enters the cutest of all contestants: “Warmable”! Perfect for cooling and warming your pet and the occasional sore muscles or belly ache that comes with being “man’s best friend”! Just pop  the “Warmables” pad into the microwave for a few seconds to provide a nice soothing warmth for your beloved pet on those heartbreaking hard days. Feeling the heat? (and wanting relief) Cool your baby down quick and easy! Simply use the “Warmables” after letting it chill in the freezer.  When your done, wash it and it’s yours again!  No need to have multiple products (though I do recommend having some extras!)warmable

We all have those days where a heating pad or cooling pack could do us some major benefits, and now our lovies can have the equal to human pleasure!  Not only is it beneficial but the sweet little puppy printed fabric melts my heart. Seriously “Warmables” are super H.O.T.  Hot!  I love that Warmables are made in the USA and that their price includes shipping!  I wish more companies would do it that way!

In addition to the Spa Me, Warmables has many other fabulous products! Like lunch kits, eye masks, foot warmers, and even hot/cold packs for expectant moms!  Whether for yourself or as a gift, Warmables has just the right products to help ourselves out without harming the environment!

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Originally posted 2016-11-16 13:25:40.

For Him

5 Easy Ways to Avoid Dings On Your Car, A Quick and Easy Fix Sponsored By #ChipEx

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full-chipex-paint-kitTo many of us, our vehicle is an extension of ourselves.  Our personality, tastes and lifestyle plays a huge part in which type of vehicle we choose to drive.  The Chief absolutely loves classic Toyota Camrys.  I’m not real certain why, other than he says it’s a tank (and it really does seem to be) and it’s incredibly safe.  He actually spent a few years searching for just the right one and when he found it, he was super disappointed to realize that it was in Virginia.  We live in Arkansas, so that’s very far away!  But, as I’m sure you know, I love him very much so I packed 2 of my Monkeys and we took off on a road trip.  It was a great drive and a fabulous road trip!  We had so much fun, even got to try out Skinny Pop Popcorn on the way!   We got it home to him with no issues, it was fabulous and he was elated.

Fast forward a few years, life has taken it’s toll and it now has a paint chip taken out thanks to some lovely person dinging the door.  I don’t know why, but for whatever reason that car seems to have a big red flashing light telling every other car to attack it.  LOL.  But again, it’s a tank, so it doesn’t dent easily.  As a matter of fact, after being rear ended on 5 separate occasions, it still has no dents!  It does have that paint chip though, and a nice sized blue scuff from a door hitting it.  So when Chipex approached me about their paint chip repair service, I LEAPED at the chance!  A DIY that could get rid of my husbands paint chip, why yes, thank you!

full-chipex-paint-kitIn order to obtain the correct color, you have to match your paint.  For Chief’s car, I looked up the paint color from the manufacturer.  Unfortunately, I forgot that it had been repainted, so the color is slightly off.  On the bright side, it’s white so You really can’t tell unless you either know or look closely.  The directions for the product were simple and easy to follow and I was completely finished within 20 minutes.

Aside from having to wash your car before you apply it, everything was in the kit.  The directions were very clear and simple to follow.  As you can see from the picture, it did very well to help with the chip.  However, it was not very helpful on the skid mark on the door.  I do believe if I get a paint brush that I can do a better job and plan to do so in the future.  Overall, I really liked ChipEx.  It was a simple way to fix small chips in the paint without having to either just live with it or go and get a new paint job.   chipex

In addition, they also sent me Screen Wash.  While I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out yet, I am looking forward to doing so!  I’m hoping it helps this fall!  It says that it’s professional grade and given the quality of the paint, I do not doubt that claim.

5 Easy Ways to Help Prevent Dings on Your Vehicle

  1. Teach the Monkeys!  When I was a kid, we were taught not to touch cars, to be careful with things around the car and to take very good care of it.  Teaching the kiddos to respect vehicles (and of course all property) will not only start them on the right track, but it could be what inspires them NOT to throw a ball towards the vehicle!
  2. Parking far Away.  While it can be a pain to walk further, remember that people are less likely to park beside you and ding your car if you park further back in the parking lot.  When I was a child my parents had a show car, they always parked as far away from anyone else as possible when they went to stores.  We had to walk, but it was good exercise!  These days, it seems like we are seeking out ways to walk more since everything is so sedentary, so you’ll get an added bonus with this one!
  3. Look and guesstimate how far the door on the car beside you will open.  If it’s close enough to hit easily, you may want to park elsewhere.
  4. Glance in for car seats in the car next to you.  We need space to put the little ones in cars so we often have to extend the door in order to get them secured.  If there is a car seat, make sure they have more than enough room to leave the door open while strapping the little ones in without hitting your car.  If not, you probably should move to another space.
  5. Look at the height of the vehicle you are parking next to, if it is another vehicle similar in height to yours and if your car has protective rubber door moldings those moldings may protect your car’s doors, but SUV’s and truck doors are taller and may cause dents higher than your moldings can protect, move to another spot.

 ChipEx has generously offered to give one lucky winner a ChipEx Bundle!  It would make an awesome Christmas gift for that car lover in your life!
Win a Chipex Bundle #17

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Originally posted 2016-10-20 13:29:23.

For Her, For Him, For Your Home, Gifts, Just for You, Reviews

Keeping Cool When It’s Chilly with Faucet Face

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hydration-importance-with-faucet-face7 Reasons Water is Even More Important when It’s Cool out!

I don’t know about you, but as the weather cools down my desire to drink water slows down as well.  Though I know I need to drink it, that doesn’t seem to make much difference to my ever so tempting juices, teas and coffee.

  1. dehydration can accelerate hypothermia, frostbite or fatigue
  2. In cold weather, your body has to work harder to humidify the air you breathe and to warm it up, meaning that you need to drink more water
  3. people lose between one to two quarts of water a day via evaporation from the lungs.
  4. the elderly have proportionately less water in their bodies than the young, so staying well-watered is a big priority
  5. Sweat evaporates more quickly in cold, dry air so often we may not even realize we are sweating, therefore not think of the fact that we are needing more water!
  6. Even mild dehydration can cause tiredness, headaches, lack of concentration, reduced mental performance and dry skin!
  7. TheInstitute of Medicine (IOM) recommends men get roughly three liters of total beverage intake every day, and women get 2.2 liters, while others say there’s no need to force water consumption if you’re not thirsty.

How do I know if I’m dehydrated?

Symptoms of dehydration include the following:

  • Little or no urine, or urine that is darker than usual
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness or fatigue
  • Extreme thirst
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness or lightheaded feeling
  • No tears when crying

Don’t wait until you notice symptoms of dehydration to take action. Actively prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of water.

faucet-faceNow, I don’t know about you but I have a water bottle that I just love (now I have a few) and for some reason that makes keeping myself hydrated a little easier.  I’m assuming it’s because I love it that I will keep it by me.  Not real certain the psychology behind that but I don’t want to break it down and lose the ‘magic’ of my water bottle getting me to consume more water.  It also helps by keeping me from buying sodas while I’m out because I always have it by my side.

As I mentioned before, I now have some new favorite water bottles.  Faucet Face has some adorably cute, great to drink out of bottles!  I’m extremely loyal to my current water bottles so I’ll admit that I procrastinated on trying them out.  Once I finally did I was hooked.  Now I’m having to fight myself not to have a couple full of water in all my favorite places to chill around the house!  Honestly, my only complaint would be that they are smaller than my normal 32 oz water bottle, the ones I have only hold 14.4 oz.

You can see from the picture that they have some adorable designs, but this is only a piece of them.  There are even more on the site!  Plus, you can order custom designs and I think that is even more awesome!  I’m definitely going to be ordering some custom bottles as gifts for Christmas and birthdays this year!

Aside from my love of small businesses, there is one other thing that I am loving about the company.  The following is taken directly from their website:

Through its 1 for 100 program, Faucet Face donates 2.5% of ALL sales of hose water, tap is terrific and hummingbird feeder glass water bottles, PLUS, a complete filter for each sale of 5 or more individual bottles to the clean drinking water charity Third Millennium Awakening (TMA).

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Originally posted 2016-10-08 06:29:33.

Accessories, Baby, Baby Stuff, Food, For Your Home, Reviews

Yummi Pouch Multi-use Storage Bag

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
There is nothing quite like that moment when you realize the milk or snack or water has leaked into your car, diaper bag, or is just all over that poor little one when you are out and about and unable to run home.  If it’s a hot day, it doesn’t take long for clothes and car alike to develop a smell second only to what you nearly stepped in this morning.

Yummi Pouch Brights reusable food pouches combine style and convenience in an Eco-friendly reusable drink container you can fill with homemade smoothies and blended snacks. Easy to fill and clean through the top zipper opening and enjoyed by drinking from the side spout, Yummi Pouch reusable food pouches are ideal for kids taking healthy snacks on the go. Includes set of 4 assorted patterns.

I absolutely love having these!  Since they are made of cloth, I don’t have to worry about whether or not the boxy shape of the tupperware I normally use is going to take up too much room and I frequently use it for those lovely soiled linens that happen when you are out.  If you are a cloth diaper momma (or auntie, or grandma, or whatever), you could also use them as a wet bag if you preferred.  They are machine washable, so it would be no problem to toss it in with the laundry once you get home, hang it to dry and you will be good to go!  Plus, with four patterns you could manage to always have at least one ready to go.

I’m crazy about being prepared, so keeping an extra on hand in the car is a must-do when I’m on the go.  I swear if I could I’d take with me probably half a bus of just in case items.  I’m that chick that has 3 bags on a trip, except only one of them is actually clothes.  The rest is stuff I might need in any scenario.  haha.  Lord help me if I ever decide to fly!

You can get yours through Amazon by clicking on the picture above or you can see what else they have on their website.

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Originally posted 2016-09-30 21:01:42.

Accessories, All About the Kiddos!, Gifts, Monkey Stuff, Products, Reviews, School and Office, Teen

#Watchitude: 10 Ways Time Management Can Lead Children to Success

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10 Ways Time Management Can Lead Children to Success & a Review by My Crafty Zoo

Time management is a very important skill to have.  Being successful in life is quite difficult for those who are always late or miss appointments.  I’m pleased to introduce you to Watchitude so we can get those Monkeys on the road to success!

Watchitude is a company that sells slap watches with a twist.  They are designed by, well, anyone!  Since the designs can be submitted by anyone, there are some really special one of a kind bands!  They have a huge variety of different designs that I honestly haven’t seen anywhere else.  You can get watches with some really cool designs such as animals, sports, foods (I have a love hate feeling for the pepperoni pizza watch), nature, and so much more.  I had the privilege of getting the #145 Lightening watch, which was designed by Chris S from Texas!   The slap watch band is plastic and, of course, slaps right in place.  For those of us (especially the kiddos) who hate getting ready in the morning, that certainly helps with the getting ready time!  The watch face is printed rather large, making it easy for kids to learn to tell time and for everyone to tell the time with a quick glance!  They are the perfect gift for any kid!

Want Your Design on Watchitude?WatchitudeArm

Yes, you read that right!  You can get your design made by going to Watchitude and uploading your photos.  You can upload one for the watch band and another for the watch face.  Then you share your design and get votes via your special link.  Designs with the most votes will be put into production and if yours is one of them, you’ll get your design for free with your name on the back for design credit!  How cool is that!?!10 Ways Time Management Can Lead Children to Success Featuring Watchitude

  1. It prepares them for the future. When school starts, they’ll need to be up on time and in class on time.  When they get older, they’ll need to be on time for work and meetings for the rest of their lives.  Good habits start early.
  2. It can help with patience, which cuts down on whining and other bad behaviors. We’ve all experienced the ‘is it time for *insert whatever here* yet?’ times and those moments where we tell them that we’ll be doing something in ten minutes.  Problem is, until we teach them they have no concept of ten minutes so they keep asking.  So, as a great solution, we can get a clock and show them that when the minute hand hits here then it will be time.  Just make sure that when that time hits, you are on it so they’ll get it quickly!
  3. It helps them learn their numbers faster as they become familiar with the numbers in a functional way while learning to tell time.
  4. They are able to more easily able to learn skip counting when the time comes as they’ve already been doing it!
  5. According to parents.com, children start being taught problems with elapsed time by third grade. Why not help them have a strong grasp on the concept long before the challenge starts!
  6. Many of the self-help books and articles on how to be successful emphasize the importance of time, being on time, time management, etc. Perhaps learning to tell time and be good about being on time early will help our babies succeed!
  7. They’ll learn that everything has a place and a time. It ensures they know what is expected of them and they learn how to manage their time properly. A dear friend, who contributed this benefit, pointed out that her children have a schedule and they are able to make decisions regarding activities, responsibilities, etc that are reasonable to their schedule.  Having watched her children and their interactions, I have to give her props because even her 7 year old was reasonable with these types of things!
  8. Studies show that routine and schedules gives children a sense of security and structure. This leads to confidence which will reflect in all areas of their life.
  9. Children on set schedules tend to be less grumpy as they know what is expected of them and what they need to do so there is no attitude (most of the time, haha)
  10. Having a schedule helps make it known that no one person’s life is more important so they learn to be more selflessness by thinking and considering other’s schedules and commitments when they want to do something.

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Originally posted 2016-08-16 00:27:04.

For the Zookeepers, Games, Gifts, Reviews

Havin’ a Blast with #Tryology and #Personalogy

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Personalogy Game NightYou all know by now, any excuse for me to have a gathering is game on (ha, pun intended).  So when Tryazon gave me the opportunity to try out a new game and host a game night, I jumped on it.  Even with the insanity of some of my busy, flaky friends which honestly mostly was my own last minute flakiness, we managed to have a blast.  The game made it super easy!

For an uncounted amount of hours, 6 adults were enthralled with this hilarious game, Personalogy.  Thought provoking questions quickly bring out all of the sarcasm and humor in even the quietest of persons as they just can’t resist.  We laughed so hard it hurt at the various responses to the questions and the friendly debates it sparks.

So here’s the skinny, every deck has 120 cards with playful, thought provoking questions that will keep you laughing and joking.  There is a Party Edition (which is what we played) and a Family Fun Game made for families.  Whether you are having a party, a group game night, or just to use to spark some super conversations on road trips it makes the time fly by!  Points are optional but my super competitive hubby had to have them, so we played with them.  (I’ll go ahead and brag that I won, haha)  Anyway, you need to check it out.  You won’t be sorry!

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Originally posted 2016-06-07 10:50:00.

Gifts, Holidays, Music, Products

#MercyMe Christmas CD: It’s Christmas!

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mercymeMercy Me It’s Christmas​ CD will be available in Pizza Ranch locations beginning November 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.  It has 4 exclusive songs that can only be found on the CD version being sold by Pizza Ranch.  Each CD will be sold for $5 plus tax.  Pizza Ranch will give away the CD with a $25 gift card purchase as well as sell the full album at each of its 200 locations throughout the Midwest and Great Plains states.  “We are so excited to debut our new Christmas album, MercyMe, It’s Christmas, with Pizza Ranch” said Bart Millard with MercyMe. “Pizza Ranch is a fantastic restaurant with a great mission to glorify God. It’s the perfect gift to give this Christmas season and the perfect CD to get you in the Christmas spirit.”

My Thoughts

Everyone loves Christmas music, right?  The only problem is that over playing thing they do around the Holidays.  So, before you get played out check out Mercy Me in their CD done for Pizza Ranch.  With great voices singing all these wonderful songs, you’ll definitely want to add this CD to your Christmas music collection!!!

PizzaRanchAbout Pizza Ranch:
Cultivating its mission “To give every guest a legendary experience” since its inception in 1981, Pizza Ranch connects with its communities in a way that provides bridges for friends, family and colleagues to come together. Today, Pizza Ranch is based in Orange City, Iowa and owns, operates and franchises over 190 locations in 13 states. Consistent growth has been a Pizza Ranch staple, as the brand has become a beacon of community involvement and exceptional food. The Pizza Ranch buffet features legendary pizzas, salads and desserts, and is delivered with an unmatched service quality.  “We are extremely blessed to have a very close connection with our guests,” said Adrie Groeneweg, co-founder and president of Pizza Ranch. “This project extends the brand’s essence to a new dimension beyond our four walls and into their lives. It’s a new kind of way for us to relate to our loyal fans.”

SOCIAL • CORNER

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Be Sure & Check Out These too:

Christmas Tracts & Ten Must Do Christmas Crafts

Christmas Love Letters from God 

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Originally posted 2015-11-17 23:04:24.