Christmas Party with Oriental Trading

Every year my family always has a Christmas party together.  This year we chose some Oriental Trading items to make our party a bit more festive!  

No party is complete with out a table full of food & drinks.  These are just of few of the items from Oriental Trading that I will be decorating my table with.    

Christmas Red  will  definitely be the dominating colors on my table!  The Plastic Tablecloth will make clean-up so easy!  We won't be eating dinner, but we will have a bunch of snacks...these Round Red Plates will be perfect!  And... don't you just love the little Candy Cane Desert Plates... they will add a little POP to the table.  

I'm already dreaming of a White Christmas and sitting around the fire drinking my  Coffee or Cocoa out of these Insulated Paper Coffee Cups! And for those that want a cold drink I'll have Red Paper Cups available for them!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way!  Don't you just love to hear the sound of bells!  Decorating this Christmas tree with  red and green Jingle Bell Necklaces is definitely putting me in the Christmas spirit!   It will be fun for everyone to wear and jingle all evening to celebrate the holiday cheer.

The Spirit of Christmas will continue to flow with this bowl of bracelets.  The Thin Brand Silicon Bracelets have 3 different designs...  bells, Christmas lights, or MERRY CHRISTMAS!  The Happy Birthday, Jesus!!! Bracelets... after all Jesus is the Reason for the season!!!

My hands will be protected with this cute Santa potholder while doing my Christmas baking.  It will be sure to add some holiday cheer when I hang it in my kitchen in a place visible to everyone.

Disclosure:  Oriental Trading has provided me with the products.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Shelter by Celine Clair

Synopsis:

As a big storm approaches, two strangers arrive in the forest. All the animal families, safe in their homes, are worried, unsure of their motives. So, they all turn them away when they ask for shelter, and the strangers are left to fend for themselves. But then the fox family is suddenly forced out into the storm, and they must ask these outsiders for help. Will they find it in their hearts to give it?

In my first-grade classroom my students love to be read to… especially those with animals in them. As the story progresses the pictures themselves give you the feeling that the storm is drawing near!   I can almost visualize the expressions they will have as I read it to them!  The rejection that the bears must feel when no one will let them in… how cold they must be in the midst of this terrible storm… the gratitude they have for the fox’s gift… the fear the fox family has when their home is in danger… 

Discussing generosity and kindness towards others is something that we all need to be reminded of sometimes.  What a huge difference in can make in our lives!

Disclosure:   I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are my own.

Me, Me, Me by Annika Dunklee

This cute book is about three young girls that are best friends.  Their school is going to have a talent show and Annie suggest that they enter as an all-girl singing group.  This seemed like a wonderful idea to Lillemor & Lilianne until they realized that they were going to have no say about the song they sang, the name of their group, or even what they wore!  They quickly realized that the talent show was really going to be all about Annie!  The group breaks ups and Annie decided to do a solo performance.  The other two girls decide to do a duet. 

All the girls quickly find out that things are not the same without the who group. 

This book is so typical of what children go through when they won’t work together as a team.  Will the girls reconcile before the talent show?  an

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Disclosure:  I received this complimentary e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed above are my own.  :-)

Blind Spot (Book #3 - Chesapeake Valor Series)

Book Description: 

FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.  

My Thoughts:

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this the 3^rd book in the Chesapeake Valor series.  This book was worth the wait!   It seems like forever since I read the last book, but it didn’t take me long to recall the events from the previous book and I found myself totally sucked into this book.  Two days later (I had to sleep, eat & work!) I was finished.   😊  

This Christian/Inspirational Fiction book allows the characters to show through their words and actions their faith in God.  It is just a part of their life and the author does an excellent job of showing that without overdoing it!  As the reader, you know they are Christians, but it is not overpowering!

If you like a book full of action and suspense, then you might want to give this series a chance!   One of the characters, Declan was highlighted more in this book than the others and I was so happy about that!  He has always been one of my favorite characters in the books and I was glad this book brought out more of his character and deep beliefs in the storyline.  The ending of the book was quite a surprise!  I love a good cliff-hanger and I was not disappointed by this one!!!! 

I would recommend that if you have not read Cold Shot and Still Life that you do so before you read this book. There is a lot of history between all the characters in this book and it will help you connect the pieces together easier.

Disclosure:  I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are my own.