This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. I was compensated by Gerber and AWB for my time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  You can read more here.

Snack time has always been huge is our home. My children grew up having a mid-morning snack, an after nap snack and a bedtime snack. It was difficult trying to always find healthy alternatives for the kids to eat in place of cookies and chips. We could get by with at least one fruit and veggie snack a day, but soon they were yelling for other things.

I never wanted to take snack time away, but I wasn’t doing my children any good by giving them high doses of sugary junk food either. What would happen is that they would fill up on junk and not want to eat their dinner. I was always looking for ways to incorporate new  healthy snacks  in.

Now my children are no longer little, and don’t need me telling them what to end for snacks anymore, but now I have grandchildren and friends with toddlers that I still want to make sure are receiving enough vitamins and nutrients from their daily food. That is why when I heard about Lil Beanies by Gerber, I knew I needed to let not only my grandkids try them, but my friend Kasey’s children as well. I know as an adult I love crispy veggie snacks that make me think I am eating chips or other junk, but in reality, it is a healthy snack alternative. And I assumed it is no different for children. There is just something about having a crunchy snack that makes you feel better.

Lil Beanies by Gerber, is an incredible baked snack that can be found at your local Wal-Mart Store. I was so surprised at the low price of under $2 a canister for such a nutritious snack as Lil Beanies. Being made with navy beans and rice flour, your toddler will be getting an excellent source of protein and fiber per serving. So you no longer have to worry about an empty snack filler, because of the nutritional value Lil Beanies supply.

Do you worry that your little one isn’t getting enough protein? With just one serving of Lil Beanies, your little one will be consuming two grams! That is amazing, and what is better is that they just think they are a crispy snack. And fiber was always an issue with our children. With just one serving of Lil Beanies, your kids will be getting one gram of fiber. Perfect for their diet.

And with such amazing flavor, your kiddo’s will be begging for more!

Lil Beanies is perfect for ages 18 months to 48 months, and because they are larger, they are easy for little hands to grab and handle without them dropping all over the floor. But what I love the most is that they are not messy at all! No sticky fingers after eating Lil Beanies! And all ages can enjoy them as snacks. Add them to your grade school age child’s lunch for extra nutrients, or as adults, we can replace cheese flavored crackers with Lil Beanies for a much healthier snack.

You will have your children, just like Max in this Video,  begging for more!

Lil Beanies can go anywhere you go. They are perfect for movie time treats, playdates at the park, road trips and vacations and even preschool and Sunday school classrooms. And with two amazing and tasty flavors, Original (Sea Salt) and White Cheddar and Broccoli, you can switch it up for two entirely different tastes.

So make sure to stop by your local Wal-Mart and pick up a canister of Lil Beanies for your little one to enjoy! I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Need more Assurance???  Watch this Video of Lane telling us just how good Lil Beanies are!!

The post Introducing Lil Beanies by Gerber appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

I still remember when my local McDonald’s was built.  It was the 80’s, a time of childhood innocence and never ending memories of sleepovers, rolling down hills in the grass, swimming in the lake, spending hours outside on the swing set, and staring at the stars forever at night.

For my small town, getting a McDonald’s was like Disneyland.  My husband remembers Ronald McDonald at the opening performing magic shows, buying the Ronald and Friends boxes of cookies and collecting every Happy Meal toy as possible.  In fact, my husband still may have one or two of his, (or a whole box full).  And the highlight of our Christmas Parade wasn’t Santa, but Ronald McDonald!

My husband just happens to keep his box of Happy Meal toys in the house, individually bagged in groups with the dates!  The picture above is the McDonald’s Food from 1987.  And what is really neat about the food toys, is that they turn into transformers, as shown in the picture below.

McDonald’s bring back so many sweet childhood memories for me and my husband, that when we started a family we knew McDonald’s had to be a part of that.  So the tradition continued of Happy Meals and Ice Cream Cones.  It was a sad, sad day for us when our children were no longer little enough for Happy Meals, but had graduated up to big meals and when begging for ice cream cones, became begging for frappe’s.

But as always, McDonald’s is able to accommodate all of our needs, especially now with the new Chef Crafted Sandwiches.  My family was thrilled to have new choices of such deluxe sandwiches on the menu.  You can choose from Maple Bacon Dijon (everything is better with bacon, right?), Pico Guacamole, (for when you are craving a little Hispanic Culture), and Buffalo Bacon, (wings flavor in a sandwich, um yes!)

*These are options geared in my McDonald’s area.  Of course they may vary by location.

But what I found so fascinating about the new sandwiches, is that you have options when ordering.  I didn’t realize that my decision wasn’t over when I decided on which sandwich style to try.  First, I got to choose whether I wanted Beef, Grilled or Crispy Chicken.  Next I had bun options!  My choices were Artisan Roll and Sesame Seed Bun.  I couldn’t decide, they all sounded so good. And then last I choose the flavor.  My husband was in AWE!  He was so excited about the options.  Needless to say, they didn’t disappoint!

He chose the Pico Guacamole Burger with the Artisan Bun.  It smelled delish, and he said it tasted even better!  One thing he did mention though, is that the guatamole was a tad spicy and with chapped lips it burned a little!  Of course he loves spicy so no harm done!  He also commented about the amazing flavor that the sandwich had.

And as you can tell, he enjoyed it very much!

There is no need any longer to try to decide where to go eat a nice lunch or dinner when you can get the same great tasting sandwich, which a value price at McDonald’s.  My children can get their frappe’s to go with their sandwiches, and I can leave knowing that not only did I spend a fraction of what I would have at some places, but my family found a way to carry on our McDonald’s tradition as we enter the next phase of our life.  And I can tell this is going to be a big hit with my family!

Would you like to win a year’s worth of McDonald’s Sandwiches?  Enter here.  And just for entering the contest, you will receive a coupon for a free fry and drink!

Here’s to making memories last a lifetime!  Enjoy!

The post Chef Crafted Sandwiches….Just when you thought McDonald’s couldn’t get any better. appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

It is insane how fast our children grow up. It seems like just last week I was showcasing my daughter’s finger painting masterpieces on the fridge, and now she is an independent 14 year old and as I look at her I see her as the masterpiece.

But Art and Craft time is still one of the few past times that we still enjoy having together. I cherish this time because I know that even this time will become less and less frequent over the next few years. I am trying to hold on to it as long as possible.

Because of that I have to be flexible and take time to enjoy not only projects I like, but find projects that interest her as well. When I come across the IDO3D Art Kit, I thought that looks like a really cool project for us to do together. Something fun and creative but not stressful to the point where we both the leave the project frustrated at each other.

I ordered the IDO3D Art Kit on Amazon and received my package within 2 days. Perfect opportunity for us to do during our Thanksgiving Holiday downtime.
First thing we did was open the package, remove all the contents and each read over the instructions so we both had a clear idea of how the projects worked. Everything you need is included in the kit, 5 drawing paint pens, 5 pen tips, a plastic tracing mat,tracing book and drying flashlight. You will need 3 Triple A batteries for the drying flashlight.

After that came the fun part deciding which craft to create. My daughter chose the Hipster Glasses. Perfect choice for her.
If you’ve never worked with a 3D creation it can certainly be difficult to grasp the concept of how to create art to 3 dimensional. The guide sheet was perfect and showed us exactly how to “draw” with the paint pens.
Once you’ve “drawn” your creation with the painting pens you need to use the included flashlight to dry your paint. It doesn’t take long to dry if you have traced the designs with a thin coat of the paint. But my daughter chose to trace the glasses with a thin coat then fill in the frames of the glasses with a thicker coat to make the project sturdier. Let the paint on your creation completely dry before you peel it up or it will still be sticky.

This kit is for ages 8 and up. Since my daughter is 14, she really didn’t have any trouble creating the designs, but younger children will probably need to be assisted squeezing the paint tubes and maybe even holding the flashlight over the design.

Please have realistic expectations and understand that this is a toy and that your projects are not going to look like 3D professional creations, but it is still a fun project to do

.
Overall I give IDO3D Art Kit a Thumbs Up!

The post Making Memories with IDO3D Art Kit & Review appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

I can remember when my kiddos were little and they had so many toys all over the house.  I used to hate having to step over the blocks, balls, puzzles, musical toys and more just to get to the couch in the living room or to the dining room table.

And as they got a few years older, it was I want this toy, I want that toy.  They were never satisfied with what they had, they always wanted something new and different.  Every few months we would have to go through their toys and either donate or sell several of them just to have spare room.

Now that I get to get my grandbabies so much I love to have toys around again.  But I do not want my house overflowing the way it was when my kids were small.  Just a few small toys would be ideal.  But I also don’t want to have to continue buying the next age appropriote toys.  That can get expensive fast.

That’s when I decided to look into Sparkbox Toys.

For a monthly fee, you receive a box of toys shipped directly to your home…and when you’re done, you simply return them with free shipping.

You can choose a new box to arrive every 4 weeks or 8 weeks.  Every 8 weeks work well for us since my grandkids are only with us about 2 days a week.  Since they are not playing with them daily, they do not tire of them as soon.

Sparkbox Toys say, “As a parent, your role is to observe, enhance and augment your child’s playtime experiences! The more you know about yourself, your child’s development and the underlying concepts of play, the more you will be able to enhance your child’s cognitive, emotional, linguistic and physical growth during the developmental years”.

1. Work with Sparkbox Toys to select the right toys and use them at the right time
2. Be an active and engaged play partner that guides and encourages
3. Always leave room for your child’s own method of play to support individual growth
4. Offer a diverse group of play partners, varying in age and abilities, so your child can experience a full range of social interaction: patience, empathy, compassion and support

Finding the right toys for the right stage of a child’s development is not easy.  But good news .. Sparkbox Toys did this, so you don’t have to. Here is how SPARKBOX chooses their toys.

Here is a little more info from Sparkbox Toys:

Play Value:

They look for toys that teach compelling skills, encourage a child’s involvement, and inspire future learning in manifold ways. The toys withstand the test of time by providing new discoveries and adventures with the natural progression of your child’s development. In addition, the original “Play Time Ideas” for each toy adds even more stimulating, engaging fun for the whole family.

Quality:

Sparkbox Toys chose brands with a reputation for creating high quality, award winning toys delivering on the promise of providing true learning value & quality. Sparkbox Toys brand partners adhere to our mission of using safe & sustainable materials, manufacturing & assembling responsibly.

Variety:

They create the curriculum to ensure a cross-set of different types of toys in each box. Every detail from learning benefits, to age suitability, to material is carefully thought through.

Design:

Toys whose design intentions mirror our own: to educate, to inspire and to engage are chosen. Great toy designs are accessible, emotionally resonant and inherently creative.

Safety:

All toys Sparkbox has selected are tested by the manufacturer and by an independent laboratory. They meet the U.S. consumer product safety commission standards and the U.S. government standards of safety requirements.

Sparkbox Toys believes that all children should have the opportunity to grow through toys. If you’d like to help your old toys find a good home, please send them Sparkbox’s way. They are working on a partnership with Second Chance Toys – a philanthropy that donates toys to underprivileged children. You can send the toys to their office or email them at [email protected] to learn more!

You can also find Sparkbox Toys on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!

The post What is Sparkbox Toys? appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

I had the great pleasure to review “Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker: A Devotional Guide for Your Homemaking Journey”, by Kristen @ Smithspirations.  I hope you will enjoy this great post as Kristen describes her book in detail.  And don’t forget to enter the Giveaway!

As homemakers, we can easily get overwhelmed, discouraged, or a little weary with our never ending to do lists. I know that there have been many days when I’ve made it till bedtime, but feel so utterly drained that I wonder how I’ll survive the next day.

It’s normal to get tired with a job that you never leave and that never ends. But we don’t have to stay discouraged or weary. There is hope in the Lord!

I want to share a new resource with you today that’s just been released, and it’s perfect for every Christian homemaker who could use a little boost of strength from time to time. It’s called Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker: A Devotional Guide for Your Homemaking Journey.  

In this 100+ page digital resource, author Kristen Smith of Smithspirations offers insight, hope, and encouragement with beautiful printable Scripture cards and journal pages, as well as devotional sections that cover many areas of homemaking.

Homemakers fulfill many roles, and that’s why Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker offers thirteen sections of encouragement, each featuring one major area of homemaking. You’ll find sections for

• General Homemaking
• Caring for Yourself
• Health & Wellness
• Food & Cooking
• Pregnancy & Babies
• Motherhood & Parenting
• Marriage
• The Homemaker’s Faith
• Faith for Children
• Homeschooling
• Finances
• Working from Home
• Special Events

For thirteen areas of homemaking, you’ll find

• 4 decorative printable Scripture cards
• 1 printable journal page
• 1 devotional guide featuring reflections and questions to consider

This practical resource can be used in a number of ways, making it really flexible and useful to the mom who may only have a few moments to herself daily. Numerous ideas are suggested in the introduction, but you may come up with your own way to use Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker printable Scripture cards!

Celebrate the Launch of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker with a Huge Giveaway!

Because we’re so excited about the release of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker, we’ve gathered together an incredible giveaway set that is going to knock someone’s socks right off! These products are perfect for busy homemakers and are sure to bless you in your home!

Even better, there are two prize packages, so you’re odds of winning are even greater! Both packages are worth well over $100, making these really incredible sets.

Prize Package 1:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• A 15 mL bottle of Citrus Fresh essential oil blend from Young Living distributor Sara Elizabeth
• A 15 mL bottle of lavender essential oil from Simply Aroma distributor Rachel Ramey
• A travel-size Norwex Envirocloth from consultant Rachel Ramey
• A Mialisia Silver Dream necklace from Mialisia designer Pam Maynard
• Write Through the Bible: Psalms 1, 23, and 121 paperback by Luke & Trisha Gilkerson
• A Bath & Beauty Gift Set from Southern Vines Soap Co.
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Prize Package 2:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• 15 mL bottles of lavender, peppermint, and On Guard essential oils from doTERRA distributor Stephanie Calderone
• A $50 Tupperware surprise pack from Tupperware consultant Olivia Douglass
• An inspirational handmade necklace featuring your choice of background design and wording from That’s Sew Taylor.
• Secrets of the Apple Tree and mini flashlight from Usborne Books Consultant Jacqueline Forrer
• A bath & body gift set from Mountain Creek Gifts
• A 3 Pack of Virtuous Lips natural lip balm
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below! This giveaway lasts until the January 31 at midnight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post “Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker” Launch and Giveaway! appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

This post is sponsored by Godly Glimpses.  All opinions are 100% my own.  You can read more of my Disclosure Policy here.

One more holiday season has come and gone.  I’m not for sure if that makes me happy or sad!  I think it’s more of a bittersweet feeling.  I love the reason of the season, but I dislike the commercial aspect and the busyness that comes along with it.  Somewhere along the way I find myself asking, “How many Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties am I going to be invited to?”, and “How many Dirty Santa Gift Exchange am I going to play?”.   But just like every other human being, I too find myself caught up in buying and non-stop going from one holiday event to the next.

I always make a goal for the New Year to slow down, stress less and budget our finances better than the previous year.  I do really well on the slowing down part, well at least for the first part of the year, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get our family budget managed.  I really would like my hubby to be involved and help, but he can’t seem to follow all my nonsense I have scribbled everywhere, or when I say, wait to pay _______, because I forgot about so and so’s birthday that I need to purchase a gift for and then it throws our budget all off, I start stressing, he starts stressing and we are back to following no budget at all.

So when I was contacted by Jennifer from Godly Glimpses to try out her new “Family Budget Planner“, that she created, I was so excited! I was impressed how well it was laid out and broken down, that I knew even my hubby could follow it.

What is “Our Family Budget Planner” from Godly Glimpses, you ask?

Well I am so glad you did.

“Our Family Budget Planner”, is a downloadable yearly planner to organize not just your budget but your life.

Jennifer states that the “Our Family Budget Planner”, is a colorful, easy to use, planner with 40 pages to help you get organized!  It is undated, which means you will never have to purchase another planner. You can use it from year to year!”

Some of the pages you will find in this planner include:
Full color cover sheet and divider pages for each section (with an optional cover page)
Spine labels for a 3 ring binder
Bill Payment Checklist and Schedule
Printable monthly calendar pages (you can use this however you wish, but I like to use them to write in when each bill is due each month or for birthday reminders, etc)
Monthly Pages that will hold your bills for each month (just slide in a page protector and insert your bills in the month they are due)
Gifts to buy
Giving Plan
Important Documents (tax information and important receipts)
……and more!

There will be no more forgetting about the birthday gift to budget for, or that bill coming up in a few months, or even usernames and passwords. Yes, there is a section for those as well!

Geez, sometimes I think if my hubby ask for the password to one of our online accounts, just one more time, I will need to pray for a lot of extra patience!

I also love all the categories so you can truly divide your budget accordingly.

Such as Bill Schedule and Calendars.  I think this is one of our biggest issues.  I know when bills are due and should be paid, but my hubby don’t have the foggest (That’s Arkansas slang by the way) clue.  And if if I have to constantly remind him every month, I might as well just pay them myself, which is what usually happens!

And I love the calenders that are included so we can schedule bills for several months in advance and write in paydays.

But  I would have to say that the Budget at a Glance is my favorite.  Just this month I accidently scheduled to large bills for the same week because I didn’t have a planner system.  I believe that this Budget Planner will help that mistake not to happen again.

And come on ladies and busy moms, we all know where those receipts end up, either at the bottom of our purse or diaper bag!  Know you have a place just for them.

You can click here to purchase your own Family Budget Planner for $3.99.

Order by January 31st and use coupon code: $2OFFG&G for $2.00 which makes your total of $1.99!!!!!

What a great way to start the New Year Right!

And you can visit Jennifer here to learn more about her other great planners!

The post Saving my Sanity this New Year with “Our Family Budget Planner” from Godly Glimpses! appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

One reason I love homeschooling so much, is for the flexibility that we have.

I love to be able to take trips and go to fun educational sites and activities during times when it is less busy and crowded. My husby has been with the company he works for, for 21 years. And because of that amount of time, he has several weeks of vacation he can take each year, which makes it perfect for us to schedule around busy times like Spring Break and Summer Break.

I don’t know about where you live, but here in Arkansas, summers are hot, hot and humid! I’m not talking about a little heat! I’m talking about your house can’t stay cool even with the AC running full blast, and if you walk outside, you automatically look like you just hosed yourself off because you are so wet with sweat! So summers are not a very good time for vacations and trips for us.

I had decided because of all those reasons, it would be better for us to year round homeschool. That way we can have breaks during times when places are less crowded, and when it’s not so hot outside and miserable.  We school 6 weeks on, 3 weeks off.  We continue this year round except we take 6 weeks off during the summer for church camp, 4th of July and a little free time with friends.

I know I have talked about our great online program before, but Time4Learning is truly a wonderful curriculum for our schedule.   (If you missed my last post about Time4Learning, you can catch up here.)  Time4Learning, offers a “dormant account” option which allows families to take a break from the program and return where they left off, with all records kept intact.  The dormant period will begin and end on the dates you specify.  I can set my children’s accounts as dormant and when we return over our 3 weeks off, the account picks up directly where we left off and we don’t loss those weeks of curriculum that we have paid for.  It is a perfect solution for our year round schooling.

Time4Learning is a very organized and self sufficient program that meets all of our needs.  If your family is ready for a curriculum change,  I suggest looking into all that Time4Learning offers.

What is your homeschooling year look like?

The post Holidays with Time4Learning appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Here we are at Week 6 of “Manic Monday” Holiday Spree Giveaway!

2 more weeks left til Cyber Monday Giveaway, which is very exciting, but that also means we only have 5 more Monday’s til Christmas!

I wanted to make it super easy for my readers to find some great products for gifts without having to spend a day fighting crowds at the mall.  Read more here . And don’t forget about the Amazing Holiday Giveaway of each of the amazing products I will be featuring, totaling a value of over $200.

For the 6th week of Manic Monday, I reviewed the company Color by Amber.

Color By Amber features beautiful eco-friendly jewelry made with 40% recycled material by women artisan communities around the world.  Make sure if you haven’t already, check them out!

For Week 6 of “Manic Monday Holiday Spree”, I am featuring the company “Le-Vel“.

Premium Level: Premium Lifestyle

Le-Vel was created and envisioned with a greater purpose, a premium plan. This plan is not to create a product, or a product line, but to build a global brand, a new icon. A brand that encompasses ultra premium products: premium product lines. The new brand, for the better lifestyle, premium-seeking consumers.

The largest and most successful companies in the world are extremely good at one thing. They build brands, not products. They are so good at this one focus, they can literally put their logo on anything and it is passionately accepted worldwide. As the Le-Vel vision is birthed with THRIVE, it will continue on with all of Le-Vel brands and future premium products. Le-Vel will be a global giant; the logo will be on many different products, wherever you go, Le-Vel logo will go with you. The quality, passion and efficacy with one product line, will flawlessly continue on to all product lines, because the true focus, the passion will always remain at its inception, The Brand: Le-Vel.

To build the Premium Lifestyle Company, Le-Vel knew they had to look further than just a product, but had to envision a larger purpose, a deeper reason for what they were doing. Le-Vel had to create the one and only Premium Lifestyle Brand.

I had the privilege of reviewing Le-Vel’s “Thrive”.

The THRIVE Experience is an 8 week premium lifestyle plan, to help individuals experience and reach peak physical and mental levels. You’re going to live, look, and feel Ultra Premium like never before! Results from the THRIVE Experience are high impact, and can slightly differ for everyone – depending on which areas of your lifestyle need the most help – and depending on your 8 week goal.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, get in the best shape of your life, or simply be the best you can be, we know the THRIVE 8 Week Experience will get you THRIVIN’ in all areas of your life!

Individuals on the Experience will enjoy premium support and benefits in the areas of:

> Weight Management

> Cognitive Performance

> Digestive & Immune Support

> Joint Support

> Lean Muscle Support

> Inflammation Support

> Anti-Aging & Antioxidant Support

Now I don’t know about you, but I fit into several of those topics.  I realized that instead of taking medicine for my immune system (which is poor), to weight loss supplements and not to mention pills  for inflammation, I could be taking Thrive and have it all taken care of.  Not only does it helps with aches and pains, but gives you energy to live again.

Click here to watch many more great raves about “Thrive”.

If you are using the “Thrive” Patch:

• Make sure that you apply the Thrive DFT Patch to a clean dry area of skin, you do not want anything getting in between the patch and your skin so that the patch will adhere properly.

• It is important that you only apply the DFT patch to your bicep (either inside or outside), on your shoulder, or on the top of your buttocks.

Men can apply it to their chest.

If you apply the patch anywhere else, you will not be getting maximum delivery and will lose some of the benefits of the product.

Thrive DFT Instructions:

• Each day, rotate where you are putting the patch, for example you should put it on your right bicep today, left bicep tomorrow, the next day on the top of your buttocks , ect.

• Ensure that you leave the DFT patch on for the full 24 hours, you can have it on in the shower as well as while you are sleeping. Do not worry about the patch affecting your sleep as the patch is caffeine free, actually you should see improved sleep patterns after using the patch for several days.

• Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water to flush toxins out of your system so they do not interfere with the effects of the DFT patch.

• Exercise each day, there is not set limit but try for at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity a day to get your heart rate up and burn off excess calories.

• Be consistent with wearing the DFT patch, as with most things, it takes time to build up in your system.

The main goal of the patch is to elevate your metabolism and turn your body into a fat burning machine.

You should give the patch at least 2 weeks to stabilize and elevate your metabolism rate, but it cannot work if you are not wearing it.

• Thrive DFT is a great stand-alone product but it was designed to work in conjunction with the Thrive capsules and the Thrive Premium Drink Mix.

The consultant I am highlighting this week is Deidre Hefley.

Deidre is a new mother of a soon-to-be 6 month old and has been married to my husband for almost a year and a half.

In July, Deidre  started her Thrive Experience.

She was so excited about the company and becoming a promoter that she skipped the customer part all together.
As soon as her products arrived, Deidre couldn’t wait to start them the next day.

Deidre wanted to share her own testimonial for this review.

Here is what she experienced her first week on Thrive.

Day 1- Well, I feel like I have more energy but it’s probably all in my head
Day 3- Hmmm, I didn’t take a nap with my daughter today.
Day 5- Wow! The house is clean and laundry is DONE!
Day 7- I have to tell everybody about this amazing product!!

Now that you have heard all about Le-Vel, are you ready to learn how to become a promotor?

With LV Rewards, consultants earn 20% on all customer sales, and that is just the first of many! Click here to read all about the many rewards and incentives available!

Now if those benefits don;t sound amazing, I don’t know what does!

If you are ready to take that next step to sign up as a Le-Vel Promotor, click the picture below!

Le-Vel would be the  PERFECT Christmas gift for yourself to start the new year off .

Don’t forget to click the link below to have a chance to win the Manic Monday Holiday Spree Giveaway!

Giveaway begins 10/06/14 @ 6pm and ends 12/01/14 @ 6pm. One entrant/email per household. One winner will be chosen randomly from Giveaway Tools . Void where prohibited. The winner has 72 hours to respond to the congratulatory email. If the winner does not respond, Giveaway will be voided. If you have any questions, please email Miranda at graceandgravywithasideoflife (at) gmail (dot) com.

The post Manic Monday “Countdown to Christmas” Week 7 Le-Vel Review and Giveaway appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Week 6 of “Manic Monday” Holiday Spree Giveaway has arrived!

2 more weeks left til Cyber Monday Giveaway, which is very exciting, but that also means we only have 6 more Monday’s til Christmas!

I wanted to make it super easy for my readers to find some great products for gifts without having to spend a day fighting crowds at the mall.  Read more here . And don’t forget about the Amazing Holiday Giveaway of each of the amazing products I will be featuring, totaling a value of over $200.

For the 5th week of Manic Monday, I reviewed the company Avon.

Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with $10 billion in annual revenue. As one of the world’s largest direct sellers, Avon is sold through more than 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon products are available in over 100 countries, and the product line includes color cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and fashion and home products.  I might be slightly addicted!

For Week 6 of “Manic Monday Holiday Spree”, I am featuring the company “ColorbyAmber“.

Color By Amber features beautiful eco-friendly jewelry made with 40% recycled material by women artisan communities around the world.

The Beauty of Ecoresin

At Color by Amber, our jewelry has 40% recycled content, so you’ll feel 100% good about wearing it. It’s such a fun, easy way to help nurture the planet and look great at the same time.
1% for the Planet

Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is a platform of credibility and engagement for environmentally conscious brands that are truly committed to making a positive impact with their business. This growing global movement of over 1,200 member companies in 45 countries donate one percent of annual sales to environmental organizations worldwide.
Zero Landfill

You’ll be happy to know that your piece of Color by Amber is made in an award-winning, eco-friendly facility. We send nothing to the landfill. Zero. Nada. Any materials we don’t use, we find other environmentally friendly ways to use them, keeping our planet as beautiful as our jewelry.

Our facility is completely carbon neutral. Conservation, increased efficiency, renewable energy, and verifiable offsets have allowed us to drastically reduce our contribution to global warming.

People-Friendly Products

We do extensive human-factor testing and commit substantial resources to improve and create new products that enhance the quality of human life. We use only non-toxic materials that do not contain BPA or other harmful chemicals. Ultimately, we create our products with concern for end-of-use: reusability, recyclability and safety.

We Love Red White and Blue.

While we work with artisans around the world, all of our products are made here in the USA.

I was honored to review such amazing works of art!  The two pieces I chose are the Dark Floral cuff and the Dark Floral Large Hoops.  Florals are so trending right now so I wanted to review a fun and flirty piece.

What I love most about these two pieces is that they are casual enough with jeans and a hip top, but can be dressed up with  fun holiday attire.

You have to check out all the amazing pieces they offer!

The Consultant  I am Spotlighting this week is Mary Yaroscavitch.

Mary is a Premiere stylist for Color by Amber.  Mary is a  single mother to 2 wonderful girls, a tomboy and the youngest is the girly girl

Mary has a passion for fair trade products and loves to be able to support great causes and be able to see the difference it makes daily.
When she first sawn the video’s for ColorbyAmber Artisans in Nepal and NDEM, she had tears in her eyes to see how much of a difference ColorbyAmber makes daily.

Mary lives in Ontario, Canada and she loves to talk and chat.  She says sometimes she just can not shut it off LOL.

Mary loves to have Online Parties for hostesses through ColorbyAmber.  Signing up to host a party is super easy and super fun.  I have one scheduled for November 14th and I am so excited I can hardly wait.  I am already debating what to pick out!!  For more online party info, click the picture below.

Do you want your Shot at Style? Do you want to celebrate life’s every occasion. It’s your time to Get Glamourous! Color By Amber is the Newest Sales company. Earn 25%-30% commission. Earn credits towards trips, supplies and Jewelry. Color By Amber is FRESH , FUN AND EXCITING! Mary is  looking to add some Fabulous Women of amazing Fashion Stylists!  She would love to connect with you @ [email protected] or by clicking the link below!

ColorbyAmber has the PERFECT Christmas gifts for all your favorite girls on your list.

Connect with Mary on Facebook Here!

Don’t forget to click the link below to have a chance to win the Manic Monday Holiday Spree Giveaway!

Giveaway begins 10/06/14 @ 6pm and ends 12/01/14 @ 6pm. One entrant/email per household. One winner will be chosen randomly from Giveaway Tools . Void where prohibited. The winner has 72 hours to respond to the congratulatory email. If the winner does not respond, Giveaway will be voided. If you have any questions, please email Miranda at graceandgravywithasideoflife (at) gmail (dot) com.

The post Manic Monday “Countdown to Christmas” Week 6 ColorbyAmber Review and Giveaway appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Week 5 of “Manic Monday” Holiday Spree Giveaway is here!

Halloween is in the past, Thanksgiving is very close, and Christmas is sneaking upon us!

3 more weeks left til Cyber Monday Giveaway, which is very exciting, but that also means we only have 7 more Monday’s til Christmas!

I wanted to make it super easy for my readers to find some great products for gifts without having to spend a day fighting crowds at the mall.  Read more here . And don’t forget about the Amazing Holiday Giveaway of each of the amazing products I will be featuring, totaling a value of over $200.

For the 4th week of Manic Monday, I reviewed the company Jamberry.

Jamberry states, “Gone are the days of nails that chip and flake after only a few days! Gone are the days of the single colored manicure. Gone are the mani/pedis that take all afternoon and most of your cash too! Jamberry nail wraps arm you with style and confidence while demanding very little of your time or money”.

If you’ve already been wearing Jamberry Nails, you know they are addictively fun!

For Week 5 of “Manic Monday Holiday Spree”, I am featuring the company “Avon“.

Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with $10 billion in annual revenue. As one of the world’s largest direct sellers, Avon is sold through more than 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon products are available in over 100 countries, and the product line includes color cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and fashion and home products.

I have to admit, I am an Avon girl!  I assume I was hooked from all the years, as a child, watching my mom order and use Avon products.

So I was beyond excited to get to review not 1, not 2, but 5 AMAZING Avon products that are perfect for the Holidays!

The first product I reviewed is the ANEW Vitale gel cleanser.

Anew Vitale cleanses and invigorate fatigued-looking skin. Non-drying gel cleanser, with ProEnergy Complex, is formulated to effectively remove make-up, excess oil and surface impurities. It helps refine skin’s texture for a visibly smoother and softer appearance, and helps promote a clear, even-looking complexion. Skin looks more energized and feels refreshed and full of vitality.

To Use: Every AM and PM, massage gently over wet face. Rinse off and pat dry. Gentle enough to use around eyes. 4.2 fl. oz.

I LOVE THIS!  It made my face feel so fresh and renewed.  It was light and soft on my skin, but cleansed so well.  My face felt clean all day long.  I love that it’s a gel and has no rough microbeads or scrubs in it.  Great product even for sensitive skin, like mine.  Anew Vitale, is my new favorite face cleanser.

The next product I am reviewing is Avon’s LUCK!

Luck is a Sparkling citrus and luscious berries wrapped in creamy white florals, velvety rose petals and warm sandalwood.

An extravagant fragrance that lasts all day.

Trio includes:

Eau de Parfum Spray
1.7 fl. oz. A $30 value.

Shower Gel
6.7 fl. oz. A $12 value.

Body Lotion
6.7 fl. oz. a $12 value.

Can you believe this new Holiday Collection is only $30!  WoW!

What a great gift idea or just a little something for yourself (:

What I like the most about Luck is that the scent is not overpowering.  It’s a sweet, subtle scent that lasts but does not leave others around you needing fresh air.  The lotion left my skin soft and smooth and the shower gel leaves just enough scent that all you need to a couple follow up squirts of the perfume and you are ready to go.

And isn’t this bottle so elegant and classy? I adore it!  But it is still a perfect scent for your casual days of jeans and sweaters.  Grab that deal before it’s gone!

My last item to review is the Square Double Drop Earrings for pierced ears.

I love how they can in a beautiful gold box ready to wrap and give to that special someone for the holidays.

They are a perfect combination of Sparkle and Elegance.  Will look  amazing with that perfect little cocktail dress for a Holiday Party and casual enough for Christmas dinner with family.  Dress them up or play them down.

The Consultant  I am Spotlighting this week is Barb Koehn.

Barb’s family moved to Arkansas in late 2007.

She moved to a great town with a population of 506. No one in this small town knew her, and she only knew one family there.  Her sister was an AVON representative at the time, and Barb joined her team to help her achieve her personal AVON goals. She was very skeptical because no one knew her, and she didn’t know anyone.

How was Barb going to start a business that way?

Thankfully, AVON has a great reputation and had laid the ground work for her.  Barb started with her neighbors first, then the local businesses.  She asked one store owner to could leave her brochures on their counter for the public to take. She also worked several hours on social media promoting her Avon business.  In 2010, Barb started the leadership team only because her neighbor wanted to join. Then, Barb started mentioning the opportunity to her friends to see if they also wanted to become representatives. Before she knew it, Barb’s  team consisted of over 100 representatives.

It was great to see the earnings start to roll in from her team. In 2012, Barb was nominated to join AVONs Team Leader Program and trained a successful team who quickly became her 2nd family. She has achieved several wonderful opportunities that AVON has offered.  Barb has made Presidents Club each year that she has been a representative, which allows her to increase her earnings from her own personal sales.

Barb is  always looking for new customers and new team members. Feel free to contact Barb if you would like more information about starting your very own AVON business, or would simply like to receive a FREE brochure!

AVON has now given  customers the opportunity to order online and have direct shipment to their homes. You can shop online at www.youravon.com/bkoehn or contact Barb at 479-280-4426.

Don’t forget to follow Barb on Facebook, or email at [email protected].

And if you would more info and how  to become a part of Barb’s Amazing Team, click the logo below.

Avon has the PERFECT Christmas gift for everyone on your list, and with amazing “free” shipping on all orders over $35.00, you won’t find a better deal!

Don’t forget to click the link below to have a chance to win the Manic Monday Holiday Spree Giveaway!

Giveaway begins 10/06/14 @ 6pm and ends 12/01/14 @ 6pm. One entrant/email per household. One winner will be chosen randomly from Giveaway Tools . Void where prohibited. The winner has 72 hours to respond to the congratulatory email. If the winner does not respond, Giveaway will be voided. If you have any questions, please email Miranda at graceandgravywithasideoflife (at) gmail (dot) com.

The post Manic Monday “Countdown to Christmas” Week 5 Avon Review and Giveaway appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.