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  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
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The Sparkle Box: Review and Giveaway!

10/30/2012

21 Comments

 
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This page may contain affiliate links.
Email subscribers will want to click back to the direct link of this post
in order to view the videos and enter my giveaway using the Rafflecopter entry form.



    Our lives are so busy.  Thoughts of Christmas arriving in about eight weeks has, during certain years of my life, made me anxious inside.

    Will the house be decorated enough, in a comfortable way?

    Will I have the Christmas cards and photos ready to send out at least a week before Christmas?

    Will the Christmas baking and holiday dinner be ready?


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    Reading this new book, The Sparkle Box, from Ideals Publications and Books, really places Christmas into perspective. 

    And not only Christmas, but every day of our lives. 

    Over the years, I've learned to minimize some of my expectations of the "trappings" of Christmas.  If the cards don't get mailed until after Christmas, that's okay.  I've reduced the amount of decorating I do around the house, and we do a lot less Christmas shopping than we used to do.

    The Sparkle Box arrived here at my home a couple of weeks ago, and it is a delightful, beautiful book that will touch the hearts of you and your children.  I love books that have deep, meaningful insight - especially children's books with their beautiful artwork.  If you would like to share a deeper meaning to the holiday of Christmas - Christ's birth - and loving others, I wholeheartedly recommend that you consider getting your own copy of The Sparkle Box to share with your family, especially if you have younger children (written for ages 4-8, although my girls and I loved it, too!)


    The Sparkle Box is not only a beautiful children's story, but it also comes with a Sparkle Box for your family to use!  This is such a meaningful and easy way to encourage your family to take a different view of Christmas! 


    At The Sparkle Box website, they have provided readers with beautiful PDF copies of Sparkle Box Chore Charts, directions on how to make a Sparkle Jar, and Sparkle Box gift ideas as well as a Sparkle Box coloring page and ideas on how to use the Sparkle Box book in your family.  Wonderful! 



    Take a peek:

THE SPARKLE BOX - Official Book Trailer from Ideals Books on Vimeo.


    Here is the touching story of a young boy who unknowingly participates in a powerful new Christmas tradition: honoring Jesus on His birthday by giving to others.

    Sam is so excited about Christmas! He's thinking about his Christmas list, looking forward to holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift: a sparkly box sitting on the mantel. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family's good deeds. Sam's mom explains that the things that they've been doing are, in fact, a gift for Jesus, for Jesus said that whatever we do for those in need, we do for Him.
 
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   Author Jill Hardie and her family began placing a gift for Jesus under their Christmas tree as a way of bringing more meaning to the holiday.  The first time they opened His gift, the commercialism of the season melted away, and they felt a profound joy and peace.  Jill hopes that The Sparkle Box will spark a new Christmas tradition, bringing light into thousands of lives. 


 
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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You won't want to miss my FREE "Trim Healthy Mama-inspired", low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!


I received one hardbound copy of The Sparkle Box in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was provided.

21 Comments
Beth link
10/30/2012 08:47:13 am

This book sounds lovely. I try every year to find a book or activity to remind us what Christmas is really about. I would like this year to read something at least three nights a week in December.

Reply
Gretta link
10/30/2012 08:57:11 am

I plan for us to do something together as a family for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

Reply
April Elstrom link
10/30/2012 08:58:28 am

I'd like to change our focus on getting the right gift for everyone, and what they'll think of the gift we give. We don't spend extravagantly at Christmas, and we try to keep it in balance in our home with our children. But I worry about what others will think when we give to those outside the home and probably give my kids entirely the wrong message. I'd also like to help my kids focus more on SERVING others than on the gifts.

Reply
Lynnae link
10/30/2012 09:11:40 am

Like April, I'd like to focus more on serving others this year.

This sounds like a great book!

Reply
briana
10/30/2012 11:38:38 am

I would like to read the account of Christ's birth on Christmas morning.

Reply
Kayla link
10/30/2012 10:17:50 pm

It seems that we are always traveling at Christmas time....this year we aren't...so I am hoping to start some quiet family traditions of our own

Reply
Stephanie
10/30/2012 10:29:08 pm

We are going to drastically cut back the amount of gifts our kids receive this year so we can focus more on the true meaning of Christmas....

Reply
apple blossom
10/30/2012 10:36:48 pm

the busyness of it all

Reply
Marc Daniel
10/30/2012 10:45:57 pm

Sounds great! I LOVE CHRISTmas.. i would love to win.. xx

Reply
Diana Gardner
10/30/2012 11:12:46 pm

I'd like this Christmas to reflect a change of heart for everyone in our family, so it would be a celebration of Jesus' birth and not about the food and gifts.

Reply
Sarah Bailey link
10/31/2012 01:25:07 am

I'd actually like to make it to a candle light Christmas Eve service. Usually with all the visiting to do we never get to make it.

Reply
Debbie
10/31/2012 02:13:42 am

I would like to give some handcrafted toys away this year.

Reply
Athena link
10/31/2012 05:09:31 am

I'd like to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas and less commercialism.

Reply
Debbie link
11/1/2012 05:49:02 am

I'm pretty happy with our current traditions. I've done a lot of simplifying over the past few years, so that we can just slow down and enjoy each other and the decorations and focus on the meaning of Christmas.

Reply
Jayne Gautreau link
11/3/2012 03:27:11 pm

This looks like something our boys would really enjoy, but also a great way to help the boys understand what Christmas is really about!

Reply
Mariah
11/3/2012 04:00:19 pm

I would really like to focus on doing more WITH our children, and less FOR them.

Reply
Mozi Esmes Mom link
11/3/2012 04:19:14 pm

We try to focus on Christ in the season - and we can always do MORE of that... :)

Reply
Sara @ Embracing Destiny link
11/3/2012 06:47:43 pm

I wish my parents didn't live several states away so that they could spend Christmas with us!

Reply
Jennifer link
11/5/2012 07:25:58 am

less focus on presents

Reply
Jalynn Patterson link
11/5/2012 10:14:00 am

No bickering amongst the children would be a nice place to start.

Reply
coley r
11/6/2012 05:01:59 am

i would love toi make it less about gifts and more about being together with Him

Reply



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    ​​Hi!  I'm Julieanne!
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