Gift Giving

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our CVS Gift Card Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Patty

    for winning a

    CVS Gift Card!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy your next shopping trip to CVS!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.  The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.

  • Travel & Vacation: Little Gifts of Love (part 2)

    A package of candy buttons for each girl hanging up on the towel rack

    Two Cabbage Patch Kids Books

    I left two Cabbage Patch books standing up on our dresser for the kids to find.  The note says:

    Be good! 

    Have Fun!

    Obey Grandma!

    I love you so very much!

    Love,

    Mom

    Writing books for the kids

    On the computer desk I left two writing books so the girls could take the time to practice writing their letters neater.  The note read:

    Brina (or Karlie) – Work on your letters! Love you, Mommy

    Two surprise books waiting for the girls in the storage room

    In the storage room I left two books for the girls to read:

    Note reads:   Brina and Karlie, These books are to remind you that your Dad & I love you very much.  We look forward to seeing you soon. Love, Mom

    Heart and flower shaped marshmallows

    I left the girls a package of pink and white hearts and flower marshmallows.  They loved eating these delicious treats.

    A couple new books for the kids

    Note reads:  Brina Bee!  have fun and enjoy your time with Grandma! Look out for Karlie, Skipper, Shipwreck and OverBoard! – Mom  (Karlie had one as well but it fell off the book.)

    I Wonder Why Books little gifts for the girls

    Note reads:  Karlie & Brina, I saw these books and thought of you.  Hope you learn lots and do well in school!  Hugs and Kisses coming your way.  – Mom

    Left these books for the girls.  They love them and enjoy learning about various facts.  Books are one of the girls favorite goodies!

     

  • Travel & Vacation: Little Gifts of Love

     Our girls love horses!

    When I travel or am away from the girls for more than 24 hours I try to do something special for them.  Many times I write a note and put it on their car seat or pillow or a place I know they will see.  However, when I go on longer trips or happen to be away for several days I try to leave little gifts of love to remind them that I am thinking about them even while I am gone.

    I left this Horses! by Kathy Wilmore book for them to read while I was away on a trip earlier this year.  On the book was a bright orange flower sticky note that said:

    Brina and Karlie,  This is a book that both of you will enjoy about horses!  I love you and think about you everyday.  Looking forward to showing you pictures of our trip. Love , Mom

    I wrote the note following the circle shape of the flower so the girls thought it was fun to spin the note as they read it.  They love this book and pull it out often to look at.

    Ice cream cone bubble gum holder!

    Two little ice cream cone bubble gum holders were left hanging off the piano for the girls to find.  Another little gift of love and special treat for my sweet girls.

    Easy craft gift of love left for the girls – Pooh Paint with Water Book

    I found this Pooh Paint with book at Goodwill for 25 cents so I picked it up for the girls.  It was a great simple craft that didn’t make a huge mess for those watching the girls while we were away.  The yellow heart note reads:

    Brina and Karlie, Here’s a “fun” water painting book for you to enjoy while we are away! Love, Mom

    Each girl got a cool new cup with a note inside

    One of the little gifts of love I have done is get them a cute cup with a note inside for each girl.  This is a picture of one of the cups I gave them this year.  They both still use these cups.  The notes inside read:

    I LOVE YOU KARLIE KOOL KAT!!!

    I LOVE YOU BRINA BEE BEE!!!

    Little bucket full of goodies

    I hung one cute little bucket with a necklace, silly bands,  a popup balloon message and a note on each of the girls dressers.  The girls still have those buckets on top of their dressers full of items that mean something to them.  It was a lot of fun putting these together for girls.

    God gives us Courage book

    On Karlie’s pillow I pick a book called God Gives Us Courage.  In the note I wrote:

    Karlie, I know how you love books.  Here’s a new one for you.  Remember God is always with you and we are praying for you! Love, Mom

    Book – God Gives You Patience

    On Brina’s pillow I put a book called God Gives You Patience.  Her green heart sticky note said:

    Brina since you enjoy books here’s a new one for you!  Remember God love you and we are praying for you everyday! Love, Mom

  • Hug in the Mail

    Karlie sending a hug in the mail to Daddy!

    When Jake was away on a trip the girls wanted to send him a hug since they couldn’t hug him in person.  If you cannot read the card it says:

    Since we cannot be there to “hug” you in person we are sending you a “mail hug”. I love you Babycake! Spread out the hands in the card and that is the biggest hug the person who did it can give you. XOXO

    Laying down with her arms spread out as wide so she can give Daddy the biggest hug possible!  I traced her hands on the paper and cut a string of thread the length of her arms and taped it to the back of the hands after she decorated it.

    Karlie showing off her giant hug!

    Karlie’s Message – “I love you Daddy. You are the best. Good is fun. I love you.”

    Brina decorating her mail hug for Daddy!

    Brina showing off her hug that she is sending to Daddy!

    Sending my Handsome Man a hug in the mail!

  • Giveaway: CVS Gift Card

    I am thrilled to announce a new giveaway on Blessings Multiplied!   The winner of this giveaway will receive a $10 CVS Gift Card!  As a parent August is the month we are wrapping up our final days of summer break, gearing up for the new school year, and preparing ourselves for the first time we have to take our little ones to the doctor.  Thankfully as the kids get older they are getting healthier but it is always good to have a good stock of Kleenex’s, Vitamins, and other essentials items you can find in your local CVS.  Shop the deals and you can really make this gift card stretch.  Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best tip on keeping your kids and yourself healthy through the school year.

    All comments must be made by August 31st at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our “More Than Enough” Book Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Lynette

    for winning a

    “More Than Enough” by Dave Ramsey!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy your new book!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.

  • FREE RedLaser Smart Shopper App

    I am super excited to share with you the RedLaser Smart Shopper App!  I love it when I find a phone app that is free, useful, and will help me save time as well as money when I am shopping!  This application can be used on an iPhone, Android or Windows phones.  RedLaser allows you to easily scan or search for item information, details, ratings, and price comparisons so you know you are getting the most “bang for your buck”!

    This application has come in handy several time while traveling with the family over the summer break and as we start to prepare for another school year.  The app is free but you could save a lot in just one week while using it.  Plus you can check to see if the item you want is in stock at your local store prior to even leaving the house (therefore saving you once again gas and time)!  If you use up the last of the shampoo and want to make sure to pick some up while your out you can scan the shampoo, find the best price for it, and where to pick it up same goes for grocery items and any other household products you use regularly.  You can easily create and share shopping lists using this application.  When you pull up a product you can even see the ratings and reviews before you even purchase it.

    Some Features of RedLaser:

    • Scan and search for products using the bar code scanner.
    • Compare prices online and at local retailers, so you’ll know you’re getting the best deal.
    • Find out which stores stock what you’re looking for by searching
      for a product locally. No need to drive around town searching for what you need!
    • Browse product reviews and ratings.
    • Buy directly from your phone using PayPal mobile express checkout and you can pick up your item in a nearby store.
    • Create shopping lists (or wish lists!) and easily share them with friends and family via email, SMS, Twitter and Facebook.
    • Scan a food item to get allergen and ingredient information.

    You can get more information about RedLaser and how it can help save you money at the following locations:

    Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and RedLaser.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.   A special thanks to SheSpeaks and RedLaser for providing the information to review this awesome phone app!

  • Giveaway: “More Than Enough” by Dave Ramsey

     

    I am thrilled to announce a new giveaway on Blessings Multiplied!   The winner of this giveaway will receive the More Than Enough book by Dave Ramsey!  I have read and listened to several of Dave Ramsey’s books including this one in the giveaway.  This book discusses topics such as discipline, goal setting, accountability, patience, and generosity (both with your time and resources).  To read more about what this book is about check out my earlier post on it.   Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best tip money saving tip.

    All comments must be made by July 31st at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

  • Fresh & Healthy: Our Garden – Beans, Tomatoes, Peas, Zucchini, and Squash!

     

    Vegetables in our new beach bucket ready to be delivered to friends in Charleston!

    Items that were picked this week:

    • Purple Beans
    • Green Beans
    • Snow Peas
    • Red Cherry Tomatoes
    • Orange Cherry Tomatoes
    • Zucchini
    • Summer Squash

    We took some vegetables with us to Charleston last week to share with friends.  It was fun being able to bring fresh vegetables with us now that our garden is starting to take off and produce more.  What are you eating out of your garden this week?

  • Gift Giving: Kids Two Liter Surprise Gifts

    Kids Two Liter Surprise Gifts

    Are you looking for a unique birthday or fun gift for someone?  These gifts were a big hit with our family!  I had a blast brainstorming and coming up with these  fun gifts for my nieces and nephews.  I wanted something fun, unique, and easy to send in the mail.  I recycled 2 liter bottles, stuffed them with all kinds of fun items as well as colorful shredded paper and mailed them!  The kids absolutely LOVED them! 🙂

    I was super excited to hear that my nieces and nephews overjoyed at getting these in the mail!   I sent one 2 liter surprise gift to each family, so these four bottles were actually for 12 kids in all.  This is a great way to get something special for a group of kids because they all have fun opening and discovering all the goodies in the bottle.  Every bottle had a variety of items that all the kids would enjoy from candy to markers, erasers, glue sticks, paper clips, colored pencils, bouncy balls, stickers, and so much more!

    View of the back of the bottles, you can see a lot of the fun items inside the bottles

    I originally did these gifts for my nieces and nephews as their Christmas presents but since I have been asked by several people to duplicate these gifts I thought I would share them with you too.  If you need to send a gift for an upcoming birthday, graduation, Christmas, congratulations, baby, wedding or for any occasion these would be fun to put together and bring a smile to the person receiving it!   One lady in the post office wanted to know if I could put together one for each of  her grandkids! 🙂   As you can see from the pictures above I did four at one time but it would be very easy to do one at a time too.  The gift is unique, memorable, fun, and very affordable!

    After cleaning out the 2 liter bottle I filled it with colorful shredded paper and all kinds of fun items then stuck bows to the lid, taped the address on the outside, and mailed them.  They cost less postage then a box, were super fun to put together plus I got raving reviews from both those that seen them in transport and on the receiving end.    I even had a postal worker from another office contact me to comment on the awesome gifts!

    Once you get started and your creative juices get going the possibilities are endless with this two liter surprise gift.   Here’s how I did it:

    Empty and clean 2 liter bottle (I used clear and tinted bottles both worked well)

    Everything you put into the bottle must got through the top opening where the cap screws onto the 2 liter.  Put a little bit of colorful shredded paper in first to get some color and padding in the bottom of the 2 liter.

    Gather a bunch of items that you think will fit through the 2 liter opening at the top.  I like to have a lot of variety in my Two Liter Surprise Gift so here are some of the items that I put into mine.  I used what I had in my stockpile from shopping sales, clearance racks, and using coupons so the entire gift was very affordable.  Here are some of the items I used to get you started:

    • Twist Lollipops
    • Markers
    • Glue Sticks
    • Color Pencils
    • Erasers
    • Paper Clips
    • Post-it Notes
    • Crayons
    • Highlighters
    • Paint Brushes
    • Mechanical Pencils
    • Tattoos
    • Pencils
    • Stickers
    • Magnets
    • Balloons
    • Ink Pens
    • Binder Clips
    • Bouncy Balls
    • Small Toys
    • Small Notebooks
    • Decorative Bags
    • And MORE!

    Twist Lollipops were the surprise in the middle of the 2 liter bottle with all the other items and shredded paper packed in around them to protect them.  I was glad to hear they did really well in shipping!

    Filling the two liter bottle with surprises!  The lollipops are wrapped inside the blue (with candy canes) tissue paper and put in the middle of the two liter for extra protection.

    Packing the bottle full of goodies (another example).  You can “stuff” a lot of fun items into a 2 liter bottle

    I added the ribbon to the bottle and put a couple pieces of wrapping tape on it to help secure it to the lid.  This bottle is a green Mountain Dew bottle with blue shredded paper in it.

    Last step is to put on a label with your address and the recipents address and take it to the post office to mail out.  (The addresses in the photo have been distorted on purpose for the protection of the kids to whom the gifts were sent to).

    Every kid (who I am kidding every person, young & old) loves to get a special surprise in the mailbox.  You will put a smile on the face of a family member or friend even though miles may separate you with this great, fun, and affordable gift!