5 Ways to Use Target’s Dollar Spot Items

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I am a sucker for Target’s Dollar Spot. I am downright giddy if I happen to catch it when they are clearancing out items. I’ve picked up little board books for 25 cents when that happened! Since I love a good little round up, today I am sharing 5 ways to use Target’s Dollar Spot.

Oh, and the last giveaway for this week is tagging along on the bottom of the post…Target fans, you will not be disappointed.

If you have discovered the Dollar Spot already, you know how awesome it is. If you have never stopped in this little treasure trove, it is the little section when you walk in to a Target store. There are a variety of items (that change often), all priced at either $1 or $3. It is Ah-mazing.

But what can you do with all those wonderful goodies? I am so glad you asked.

5 Ways to Use Items from Target's Dollar Spot - Vicki-Arnold.com

5 Ways to Use Target’s Dollar Spot

Really, the options are endless simply because the items you find in the Dollar Spot are so varied. I am going to cover the few ways I have used these items today and you can probably look forward to seeing more ways showcased in the future.

  • Operation Christmas Child – This is a great spot to pick up items for your shoeboxes. Lots of little toys, stickers, socks, coloring books, and other items.
  • Homeschool organization – I have found gorgeous file folders, notebooks, baskets/buckets, and little containers in the Dollar Spot.
  • Planners – Up until this year, I used a month-at-a-glance calendar from the Dollar Spot for my blog planning. It worked and it was cheap. In addition to this handy calendar, there are loads of little papers, sticky notes, and stickers that you can use to decorate/add functionality to your planner. More on how I do this coming soon.
  • Journaling – For Christmas last year, I found some really awesome small journals for my kids. There were both lined papers and unlined papers, perfect for written or doodle journals.
  • Stocking stuffers – Similar to OCC, I have picked up many stocking stuffers from the dollar spot.

If you have any creative ways to use Target’s Dollar Spot items, share them in the comments! I’d love to hear them!

$450 Target Gift Card Giveaway

Target Gift Card Giveaway with Pretty Providence!
Hey everybody! Get excited, because today we are helping our friends at Pretty Providence celebrate their 3rd blog birthday with an amazing $450 Target Gift Card Giveaway! Who doesn’t love Target.. am I right? I personally could spend way too much time and money there if I let myself! Such a guilty pleasure, that store! Well one lucky winner will feel no guilt over their major shopping spree, can I get a woot woot?!

We have some of our seriously amazing blog friends helping us bring this giveaway to you today, and it wouldn’t be possible without them, so how about some quick introductions?!instagram giveaway logos

Pretty Providence || Mandy’s Recipe Box || Housewife Eclectic || The Things I Love Most || Simply Vicki ||Redefined Mom || Brunch with Joy || Feel Great in 8 || One Creative Mommy || My Mommy Style || Meg O. On the Go || Moms Without Answers || Meet Penny || My Life as Maya || Crazily Normal || Hawthorne and Main || A Cup Full of Sass || Snapshots and My Thoughts

Okay, now let’s get down to the goods! All you have to do to enter is follow the prompts on the rafflecopter below, and this one is so easy ! I mean, who doesn’t love some great new friends to follow on Instagram?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everybody! We hope YOU win ;)! Be sure to check back at Pretty Providence because they have tons of birthday posts and 5 live giveaways up to celebrate their blog birthday this week!

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These Are a Few of My Favorite Lilla Rose Things + Another Giveaway

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You may be noticing a theme this week. I haven’t done a good giveaway series since the 12 Days of Christmas in July two years ago now. So when the opportunity to give you all the chance to win some BIG prizes, I jumped on it. I love the blessings that giveaways can be.

Today I am sharing a few of my favorite Lilla Rose items and then there is a big giveaway for $125 in cash via PayPal!

My Favorite Lilla Rose Things

The main product of Lilla Rose is the flexi clip. This unique clip is so flexible and once you master the slight learning curve, it holds all day long. The size I wear most often is the mini because I wear my hair half up a lot.

These are a Few of My Favorite Lilla Rose Things | Vicki-Arnold.com

But Lilla Rose isn’t just about the awesome flexi clip. I recently ordered a hair band (head band) and a set of bobby pins to try. I love them both. The hair band actually stays put, unlike others that I have tried. They usually pop off my head if I happen to move it, which I do often.

The bobby pins are gorgeous! I will admit, I had a hard time spending several dollars on a pair of bobby pins. However, these aren’t tiny like the Goody bobby pins you find in the hair care section of your grocery store. They are over 2 inches long and hold firmly in my hair. I currently have one pair, but intend to buy more.

Enough chit chat, here is a short list of my favorite Lilla Rose things at the moment. I will go left to right, starting with the top row in the graphic.

Be sure to check out all the loveliness that is Lilla Rose. In addition to the flexis, bobbies, and hair bands, they also have hair sticks, you-pins, badge clips, and more.

$125 PayPal Cash Giveaway!

Paypal Cash Giveaway with Pretty Providence! Hey everybody! Get excited, because today we are helping our friends at Pretty Providence celebrate their 3rd blog birthday with an amazing $125 Paypal Cash Giveaway! A little extra cash never hurt anybody, am I right? Whether you need some cash because times are tight or you are gonna splurge on something fun, this giveaway is for you!

We have some of our seriously amazing blog friends helping us bring this giveaway to you today, and it wouldn’t be possible without them, so how about some quick introductions?!birthday-giveaway-twitter-logosMeet Penny || Tips From a Typical Mom || Pretty Providence || Simply Vicki || Moms Without Answers

Okay, now let’s get down to the goods! All you have to do to enter is follow the prompts on the rafflecopter below, and this one is so easy ! I mean, who doesn’t love some great new friends to follow on twitter?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everybody! We hope YOU win ;)! Be sure to check back at Pretty Providence because they have tons of birthday posts and 5 live giveaways up to celebrate their blog birthday this week!

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What I’m Reading & A Giveaway!

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I never got around to posting my 2015 to read list. Heck, I didn’t even get around to writing it this year. So today I thought I would share what I’m reading so you could check it out and maybe get some inspiration for your reading list.

Oh, and I’m participating in a rather large Amazon gift card giveaway, so you will want to check that out at the bottom of this post.

What I'm Reading

What I’m Reading

That’s it. I could give you the long list of books that are in my “reading” stack, but these are the two titles I’m actually reading right now. Life is busy and I find reading takes a back seat in a busy season. My bibliophile heart mourns this actually. It is something I long to remedy.

I’d love to hear what you are reading right now though! I may add it to my already ridiculously long list.

Now, it’s giveaway time!

$500 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

I am so happy to be partnering with some other bloggers to bring you a $500 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Amazon Gift Card GiveawayGet excited, because today we are helping our friends at Pretty Providence celebrate their 3rd blog birthday with an amazing $500 Amazon gift card giveaway! Which is basically like winning $500 cash, only better, because they will deliver the goods strait to your door and when it’s in gift card form you feel no guilt spending it…am I right?!?

We have some of our seriously amazing blog friends helping us bring this giveaway to you today, and it wouldn’t be possible without them, so how about some quick introductions?!birthday-giveaway-pinterest-logos

Pretty Providence ||Tips From a Typical Mom || Mandy’s Recipe Box || Cupcake Diaries || Housewife Eclectic || Simply Vicki || My Natural Family || A Thrifty Mom || Redefined Mom || Tastes Better From Scratch || The Mama’s Girls || Brunch with Joy || Feel Great in 8 || Saving Cent by Cent || My Daylights || My Mommy Style || Meg O. On the Go || Moms Without Answers || The Wells Collection || My Life as Maya || The Things I Love

Okay, now let’s get down to the goods! All you have to do to enter is follow the prompts on the rafflecopter below, and this one is so easy ! I mean, who doesn’t love some great new blogs to follow on Pinterest?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everybody! We hope YOU win ;)! Be sure to check back at Pretty Providence because they have a new birthday themed post and a new giveaway going live every day this week!

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Ultimate Guide to Gardening Fun With Kids

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If you have been around the blog for a while, you may have noticed that come spring time I love to talk gardening. Today I am bringing you what I am calling the Ultimate Guide to Gardening Fun With Kids. Oh, and a great giveaway at the bottom.

You’ll notice a couple things about this ultimate guide. One, it’s not overly complicated. Two, it’s not overly lengthy.

Why? Because I believe the more you complicate a matter, the less likely it is to actually be accomplished. So let’s just get to it!

Ultimate Guide to Gardening With Kids at Vicki-Arnold.com

Ultimate Guide to Gardening Fun With Kids

Just to reiterate, I like to keep things simple. So I broke this down into general tips, specific tips, crafts and activities if you are not ready for actual gardening yet, and finally, some resources for teens and adults because learning isn’t just for kids.

General Tips to Get Started

  • Don’t overthink it and don’t let it intimidate you if you have never gardened before.
  • Start small. Pick a small patch of ground or try a few containers. It is much better on your psyche to do small well than to flop because you went too big. Trust me.
  • Gather supplies. Get your containers and dirt, or some tools and compost for your ground plot, your plants and/or seeds, and start working your soil.
  • Choose some easy plants to get started.
  • Don’t forget to check your plants daily. You want to check to see if they are getting enough sun, if they need water, if there are pests that need handled, and if there are any weeds that need dealt with.

Here is another post from a fellow Kid Blogger Network blogger that has her 5 Tips for Gardening With Kids. And another KBN blogger has a review of a super cute gardening tote and tool set.

Specific Ideas for Gardening with Kids

Garden Themed Crafts & Activities

If you have a while before you can do your chosen gardening activity, warm your kids up to the idea with some garden themed crafts and activities.

Gardening Resources for Teens & Adults

Ultimate Guide to Gardening With Kids at Vicki-Arnold.com

Kid Blogger Network Giveaway

Win one of THREE $500 cash prizes directly in your paypal account! This giveaway is open internationally. You must be 18+ years old to enter. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please see detailed terms and conditions below the giveaway for more info.

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Kid Blogger Network Spring Activities

The Kid Blogger Network is full of blogs dedicated to kids. We have a very wide range of what that means, too. There are blogs with activities for kids, blogs about parenting kids, blogs about teaching kids (homeschool and in a classroom setting), and more. Check out all their spring round up posts for this event below!

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31 Days Celebration Giveaway!

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$50 Gift Card Giveaway to Celebrate 31 Days of Homemaking & Homeschooling With a Happy Heart

I am so excited. I set a pretty lofty goal in September. I wanted to re-focus things here on the blog and the 31 Days Writing Challenge seemed like a great way to jump start that. When I set that goal, it seemed huge. It still feels huge to me.

In June through September, I averaged something like 2 posts each month. So to set a goal of writing 31 posts in 31 days was a HUGE jump in writing. But I did it!

I started the month with 12 of the 31 posts written and scheduled. The other 19 were written in October. You can see them all at a glance on the first post where I explain a bit more on the why behind it all. For now, let’s celebrate!

I would like to give away a $50 gift card to the store or restaurant of the winner’s choice. The only catch is, I have to be able to buy it on Amazon so I can send it easily. You can see all the available gift certificates, just scroll down to Shop Other Brands if you don’t want an Amazon card.

It is easy to enter, just fill in whatever entries you want on the Giveaway Tools widget below. Giveaway ends November 7, 2014, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

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The World of Christopher Robin – Poetry Book Giveaway

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The World of Christopher Robin - a National Poetry Month giveaway!

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I decided to give away a copy of a lovely book I came across. You can also check out my post 12 Books for Kids to Celebrate National Poetry Month for some ideas of books to look for at your library. Now on to the giveaway!

I am giving away a copy of The World of Christopher Robin: The Complete Poems of When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne. This hardback contains illustrations from Ernest H. Shepard.

Enter to win the book in the Giveaway Tools widget below. Open to US residents only due to shipping costs. Giveaway closes April 30, 2014 at 11:59 EST.

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Beezus and Ramona Book Study Review

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Beezus and Ramona Printable Book Study from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom (a Review) from Vicki-Arnold.com

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom was created by a homeschooling mom for other homeschool moms and families. Jill prolifically creates educational printables of all kinds. You can find free printables on her blog, but the real treasure is her member’s only website.

On the Enchanted Homeschooling Mom Member’s Only website, you will find over 300 printables. Yes, THREE HUNDRED. You can find printables for all four seasons, language arts, art, math, science, history, and more. She even offers curriculum, History Rocks and Weather Detectives are just two.

She offers these for the very low price of $15 for a lifetime membership. You get all the printables she’s ever created and any new ones she creates. You can’t beat the price.

About Beezus and Ramona Book Study

Jill gave me a lifetime membership in exchange for a review of a book study I was interested in. My favorite childhood author is Beverly Cleary and nothing has been more fun than introducing my kids to the effervescent Ramona Quimby.

I downloaded the Beezus and Ramona book study and set my 5th grader to work. The study is 63 pages long and includes creative writing, plot analysis, vocabulary, and more. The study is divided into chapters (like the book…) and includes a bookmark for your reader.

My Review of Beezus and Ramona Book Study

I like it! I like that it is thorough, but not overwhelming in depth. I like that Jill did the work for me in creating the study.

I think it is a good resource for helping my daughter analyze what she’s reading and I found it helpful to see what she took away from the story. The mix of writing pages with some drawing activities was nice for my artsy girl.

I like how the study walks them through creating their own story, helping them to plan things out and put it all together.

As I mentioned before, the pricing can’t be beat. There are other book studies and printables that we will probably use. And the weather detective curriculum sounds like fun.

The only possible negative I have to report was that it was a little difficult to find the Beezus and Ramona book study on the site because I was not sure which category it would fall under. I went for unit study/activity pack instinctively, but it was under language arts. Yeah, that’s pretty picky of me, but it’s the only negative I could come up with. 😉

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom Membership Giveaway

Jill has generously offered a free membership to one of my blessed readers! Just follow the instructions in the Giveaway Tools widget below and get yourself entered to win this great homeschool resource. Giveaway ends March 19, 2014 at 11:59 EST.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews

Splurge on a Romantic Dinner…at Home + Valentine’s Giveaway

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Splurge on a Romantic Dinner...at Home (plus a Valentine's Day Giveaway) from Vicki-Arnold.com

Splurge on a Romantic Dinner…at Home

When most people talk about Valentine’s day, the usual plans include a romantic dinner out. When you have children you have to find childcare for, this can quickly get expensive. My husband had the brilliant idea for one anniversary to put our kids down early for bed (they were all toddlers/preschoolers at the time) and we had a romantic dinner, just the two of us.

We picked one of our favorites that we do not get to do very often – steak. We grilled ribeyes and sauteed some mushrooms. I’m pretty sure there was another veggie, but I can’t remember. The steak and mushrooms are the standout in this memory.

We have also done things like make copycat recipes of our favorite restaurant meals. You can find recipes online for things like cheddar biscuits, shrimp linguine, and a particular pasta dish that had bacon, asparagus, and a spicy sauce.

A few ideas on how to make it work:

  • One parent can tackle the bath and bed time routine while the other cooks dinner.
  • Cook dinner together and then put the kids down right before you eat.
  • If it is too much work to get a full meal together before it is too late, try doing a special dessert.
  • If cooking is out of the question, you or your spouse could pick up a take home meal from your favorite restaurant to enjoy at home, you’ll still save on the tip and baby-sitter costs.

When you consider that a meal in a restaurant can run upwards of $50 (plus gas to get there and baby-sitter costs), you will probably find that you can create a killer meal at home and enjoy it in the intimate atmosphere of just the two of you.



More Valentine’s Ideas

Are you ready for some other Valentine ideas? I hope so! You will want to check out:

Surprise Your Valentine Giveaway!

Now time for the Surprise Your Valentine Giveaway! We want to say “Thank You!” to Applebee’s for sponsoring one of our giveaways, with a $50 gift card, perfect for a Valentine dinner or a family dinner. You will want to check out their new kid’s menu, even if you leave the kids home! You can stay up with what’s new in the neighborhood by following them on Facebook and Twitter!

Also included in this Surprise Your Valentine Giveaway is a $200 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter this giveaway, you must be 18 years old and living in the United States. Winner will be notified by email, on February 4th and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner will be chosen.

Ready to enter?

 

 


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