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Five Minute Journal Review & March Giveaway

by | Mar 6, 2017 | Lifestyle

It’s monthly giveaway time! Are you excited? I am!

I’ve got something very special for this month’s giveaway…

Five-Minute-Journal

Since the first of the year, I have been starting each morning and ending each evening with The Five Minute Journal. The Five Minute Journal is a gratitude journal that is pre-formated to make it extra easy to use consistently.

From The Five minute Journal Website:

“The Five Minute Journal was designed for those who have trouble sticking to a commitment and have started and stopped journals before. With a simple 5-minute guided format, you’ll create a daily empowering habit that actually sticks….With The Five Minute Journal, each day you’ll focus on the tiny steps towards making your dreams a reality. Start making every day a great day!”

Using The Five Minute Journal has really helped me to be intentional about starting and ending my day on a positive note. As a daily practice, writing in The Five Minute Journal means I am reminded to really focus on my blessings and be grateful for the many wonderful things in my life. God has been gracious to me, and taking the time each day to notice the wonderful gifts He has brought into my life has helped me to have a more thankful attitude.

The format of the journal is easy to use. There is one page per day, divided into two sections—one for the morning and one for the evening. The morning section includes an area to list 3 things you are grateful for, 3 things you would like to see happen that day, and space for an affirmation or daily prayer. The evening section provides a place to list 3 good things that happened that day and one way the day could have been better.

These journal prompts are designed to put us in a mindset of seeing the good things in life with appreciation. Life is a gift, and every day is a treasure. Our time here is precious and the people in our lives are wonderful blessings not to be taken for granted. A gratitude journal brings that truth to our minds on a constant, day-to-day basis.

The point of a gratitude journal is:

Celebrate daily life and choose to be joyful!

Although I do not necessarily agree with everything written in the beginning section of The Five Minute Journal, I believe it is an extremely useful tool and much of what the creators of the journal promote and suggest is incredibly helpful.

Because using The Five Minute Journal has been so beneficial to me, I wanted to share that experience with others. I’ve given several copies away to friends and family, and now I would like to give a copy to one of you as well.

So, this month’s giveaway is a copy of The Five Minute Journal. But, I also wanted to add a little something extra…

One of the things I am incredibly grateful for, and have often mentioned in my own Journal, is YOU! My dear readers, you have blessed my life so much, and I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.

In turn, I want to be a blessing to you as well. So, to show my appreciation, not only am I giving a copy of The Five Minute Journal, but I am adding a $25 Amazon gift card.

To win the Journal and gift card, just enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter widget below.

And, if you are not already doing so, I would encourage you to keep a gratitude journal of your own. It doesn’t have to be scripted like The Five Minute Journal. You could just use a simple notebook where you write a list of things you’re thankful for each day. It can be a powerful tool for bringing encouragement and thankfulness into your life. Try it!

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4 Teas Perfect for a Winter Afternoon

by | Feb 27, 2017 | Home & Family, Lifestyle

Though winter is wrapping up and spring is quickly approaching (and may have already hit where you live), around here we’re in for a least a few more weeks of chilly days and snow on the ground. Which calls for a good cup of tea on a regular basis.

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There’s nothing quite as comforting as a cup of tea and a good book. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a stormy afternoon. There’s just something about enjoying a hot cup of tea that helps me relax and regroup. It has a way of bringing balance and perspective. There is a sense of civility and gentility in tea time. There’s no denying it’s a lovely way to pause in the midst of a busy day.

And when you find a flavor of tea you really love, the experience is made even better.

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I love to try new flavors of tea. One entire drawer in my pantry is devoted to all the different types of tea I like. My daughters each have their own favorite varieties as well. (Apparently, our tea habit is a family affair.)

My favorite place to get tea is The Republic of Tea. Many of the teas they sell rank in my list of all time favorites.

I’d like to share my picks for 4 of the best teas for a late winter afternoon:

1. English Rose Tea

The English Rose Tea is part of the Republic of Tea’s special Downton Abbey themed series of teas. This tea is delicate, fruity, and utterly delicious. It has a sweetness all its own. I find I don’t need to add anything to this tea. It is perfect even without any sweetener or milk of any kind. Plus, there’s a picture of the Crawley sisters on the front of the tin. Ah, lovely! What more could you ask for in a tea?

2.  Almond Coconut Macaroon Tea

As the name implies, this tea tastes like a coconut macaroon (without the calories!). It is a red rooibos tea with a bit of sweetness from the coconut. There’s also a nice hint of almond flavor in this tea. It really is like drinking a cookie. So delicious!

3.  Caramel Vanilla Cuppa Cake Tea

I’m a lover of all things caramel, so this tea is right up my alley. It’s perfect with a nice splash of cream or milk added. The vanilla and caramel flavors of this black tea blend nicely and make for a smooth, dessert-like taste.

(Are you sensing a theme yet? Apparently I really like teas that taste like dessert….)

4.   Earl Greyer Black Tea

What true tea connoisseur doesn’t love a nice Earl Grey? And this is one of the best Earl Greys I’ve tried. This tea is a lovely blend of bergamot, orange, and quality black tea flavors. It is warm and inviting and absolutely perfect for afternoon tea time.

I highly recommend trying any of these teas for your own afternoon tea time. Go ahead. Take out the fine china tea cup, brew one of these teas, and sit down to relax and enjoy a quiet moment this afternoon.

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(Just as a side note: This post is in no way sponsored by Republic of Tea. I simply love their teas and wanted to share the love with you. So go check them out, and enjoy!)

Winter Lifestyle Favorites

by | Feb 13, 2017 | Beauty, Fashion, Home & Family, Lifestyle

Winter is quickly passing by (yay!) and spring will be here before we know it. While it’s still winter, I thought I’d share some of my favorite things from over the winter months. I’ve group each of the items into categories.

Fashion

Floppy wool hats

floppy wool hat

I’ve always been a hat person. Typically, I wear hats to church each Sunday. This winter, I’ve developed a love of floppy brimmed wool hats. I just can’t help myself. They’re so stylish and fun to wear. So, I’ve been wearing them…a lot! I have a lovely blush pink one with a lace band that I especially love to wear.

Books

Whatever the Cost by David and Jason Benham

book cover

My family and I had the privilege of hearing the Benham brothers speak last summer. It was inspiring and entertaining and challenging. I immediately bought their books. In Whatever the Cost, David and Jason Benham recount the events that took place surrounding the cancellation of their HGTV show. They explain the choices they made, the reasons for the stands they took, and their response to the media firestorm that resulted. They discuss the importance of being willing to stand up for what we believe in, no matter the cost. I’m really enjoying this powerful book.

Personal Care

Spongelle Bath gel infused sponge

bath sponge

These lovely little bath gel infused sponges are perfect for anyone who loves shower gel but hates to see any get wasted. When you get these sponges wet, they suds up nicely and smell wonderful. They’re perfectly designed to only use the amount of gel you actually need, so no wasting any precious suds.

Beauty

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm

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Cream blush is perfect for the winter months, when skin tends to be on the dry side. Lately, I’ve been using and loving the Clinique Chubby Stick Blush in the shade Amp’d Up Apple. It has the tiniest hint of shimmer to it, giving a lovely healthy glow to the cheeks. It is a very natural and dewy look. I can’t stop using this blush.

Health & fitness

Sunny Health & Fitness stationary bike

stationary exercise bike

I’ve been riding an exercise bike at least 5 times a week consistently for the past year and a half. A month or so ago, however, my bike decided to quit (one month after the warranty ended, of course) and I’ve been without one. I find I’m much more faithful to my workouts with the bike than without, so my husband bought me a new one. I actually like this one much better. It is chain driven and has the feel of a real bike. It’s designed for spinning, which I haven’t done yet, but I’m inspired to try. I’ve found a couple of spin class videos on Youtube I’m planning to try out sometime. In the meantime, though, I’m back to riding every morning and it’s making me very happy!

Berrywell

elderberry syrup

This stuff is like liquid gold in our house during cold and flu season. It’s made of elderberry syrup, along with a bunch of other immune boosting ingredients. It’s truly amazing stuff. My husband takes it faithfully and hardly ever gets sick. (I wish I could say I’ve been as consistent in taking it—or as healthy.) Plus, it’s 20% off right now. Get some for yourself and stay healthy this winter.

Home

Canvas Factory photo print

canvas photo print

If you saw the giveaway I hosted last week, you’ll know what a lovely job Canvas Factory did on the canvas photo print I ordered from them. Our family portrait for this year looks beautiful printed on a large canvas and hanging in our living room.

Those are just a few of the things I’ve been loving and using over this winter. Do you have any favorite items you’ve been loving lately? Please leave a comment and tell me what they are. I’d love to hear from you!

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Valentine’s Day Decor

by | Feb 8, 2017 | Home & Family, Lifestyle

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Valentine’s Day is one holiday that always seems to creep up on me and catch me by surprise. It seems like I’m never quite ready for it when it gets here. I hardly ever decorate for it. Maybe I’m just not a fan of the pink/red color combination. At any rate, this year I actually impressed myself by having the foresight to plan ahead and decorate for Valentine’s Day!

I like to keep things simple with all of my holiday decor, and this time was no exception. I also don’t want to break the bank making my house look pretty for a holiday, so I like to keep the decorations fairly cheap. All the little touches I did for Valentine’s Day decor this year came from the Dollar Tree (‘cause I’m classy like that). So, they fit both of these requirements.

Plus, my kids had a lot of fun getting involved in the decorating!

Fireplace Mantle

I love decorating my fireplace mantle anytime of year. It’s the focal point of our living room, plus we actually use the fireplace almost everyday in the fall and winter months, so it gets a lot of attention. It’s the perfect place to showcase some special decor touches.

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For this year’s Valentine’s decor, I placed three small pillar candles in a neat row. I wrapped two of the candles with pink burlap ribbon. The candle in the middle has some sticky-backed foam hearts stuck to the front. Placed on the mantle, the arrangement is simple but makes an eye catching statement.

Desk Display

My desk is a early twentieth century reproduction of a chippendale style piece. The top of the desk is a perfect place for a seasonal display. For Valentine’s Day, I placed a simple white bud vase filled with branches. On the branches, my kids helped me add some of the heart shaped foam stickers. It has a fun and whimsical look which I love. Added to that is a pillar candle in a burnished copper candle holder and a red pillar candle in a hurricane glass. Having this little arrangement on my desk makes me smile.

valentine-decor-desktop

Dining Table Centerpiece

The centerpiece I chose to use on my dining table is simple and easy to put together, but it makes an impact, which is what I was going for. I took a fairly large candy dish, added some conversation hearts, placed some pink burlap ribbon on the base of the dish along with some crystal candlesticks and voila, a simple but elegant tablescape.

valentine-decor-centerpiece

Front Door

On the front door, I took a simple grapevine wreath and added pink burlap ribbon and some of those fabulous sticky foam hearts. My children did most of the foam heart placement—I think it’s adorable!

valentine-decor-wreath

Simple things like these little touches add so much festiveness to our home. Each little bit of decor brings a smile to my face. Maybe you’ve been inspired to add a bit of Valentine’s Day decor to your own home. Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? Please let me know in the comments.

Canvas Factory Giveaway

by | Feb 6, 2017 | Home & Family, Lifestyle

It’s the first Monday of February and you know what that means…

It’s giveaway time!

This month, I’m so excited to be working with Canvas Factory. Canvas Factory has graciously offered one of my readers (YOU!) a free 16” X 20” canvas photo print. Isn’t that amazing?! They also offered one to me as well so I could show you just how great they are!

In choosing a photo to have printed, I wanted something that would look nice in a large size. I wanted something colorful, but that would go with the decor in our home. As I looked through my photos, I came across our family photo from this fall, and I knew it would be perfect.

Each year, we gather the family together to take a family portrait. With my good quality DSLR camera and a simple tripod, I arrange my husband and children, set the timer, and join the crew on the other side of the lens.

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I’m pleased with how well this year’s family photo came out. I knew it would look beautiful as a large sized canvas print. Printed on a 16” X 20” canvas, it’s even more gorgeous than I imagined. It makes an eye-catching display that brings life and color into my home’s decor.

The quality of this print is excellent. It is well made and the printing itself is very well done. I highly recommend using Canvas Factory for any canvas printing you may want to have done. The ordering process is super simple. Each step of creating the print is easy to follow.

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(close-up view of the quality of this print)

The sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can print on one of these canvases.

And now, on to the giveaway!

You can enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will close at midnight on Friday, February 10th.

A big thank you to Canvas Factory for sponsoring this giveaway!

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FREE Valentine’s Day Printables

by | Jan 30, 2017 | Home & Family, Lifestyle

With a background in graphic design, one of my little known hobbies is designing decorative printables. I find it fun and relaxing to create something pretty to hang on a wall or add to a notebook. It makes me happy to express my artistic side this way.

In honor of Valentine’s Day (which is coming up quickly!), I’ve designed some pretty printables I think you’re going to love. These are free printables for you to print out and enjoy. Use them any way you like. They’re my Valentine’s gift to you, all my friends here at Mud Boots & Pearls.

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