For the Love of Pets: Inspiring Stories and Helpful Tips from PawCulture {#PawCulture #Sponsored}

This post is sponsored by PawCulture™ and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share PawCulture but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. PawCulture is not responsible for the content of this article.

Let's talk pets! 

I don't know about you, but it seems like every time I open my social media there is yet another feel good pet story. You know the ones I mean- service members coming home from long deployments to be greeted by their beloved pets, pet rescue stories, cute cats and dogs showing love to little ones- or each other. There are too many to count, and people seem to love them. Or at least, MOST people.

Me? I didn't really get it. I mean, sure, they were sweet enough stories I suppose, but why did people love them so much? I wasn't a pet person, so I didn't really get it. At all. Not until I had an inspiring pet story of my own. 

Meet Stella.

Stella came into our lives quite by surprise, showing up in the street in front of our house. Normally, I'd have paid her no mind...like I said, I wasn't a pet person. But something about this little kitten drew me in. While we don't live on a busy cul de sac, she was small and I worried that she might get hit by those few cars that would come through during the day. So, we brought her inside to get warm while my daughter and I got dressed and set out to find her owners. Door to door we went, knocking and asking if anyone was missing this beautiful cat. No one claimed her. She walked with us side by side, quite a natural fit. In fact, one neighbor commented to us that it seemed she'd found her home already. Still, we knew we couldn't keep her. We are renters and our lease didn't allow pets without a hefty deposit and more in rent every month, something that just wasn't in our budget. And so we searched...

After a while, we decided to take a break and head back home... just in time for a phone call from my oldest son's school asking me to pick him up. You see, my son is autistic and some days are harder for him than others. This was one of those days, he couldn't settle, couldn't focus and ultimately couldn't get anything done. Off to school we went, kitten in tow. Immediately upon picking her up, his whole demeanor changed. He was calm, he was happy, he was focused. He came home and didn't ask for electronics as he normally would, but instead snuggled up on the couch with her. All. Day. Long. His meltdowns that he'd been having all day had stopped, he even slept through the night, kitten on chest. I snapped the photo below on her first day with us, and the look of contentment speaks volumes. When the search for a rightful owner turned up empty, it seemed as though maybe she found us for a reason. It was an easy decision to go through the process to have Stella registered as an official Emotional Support Animal for him.

Now, I GET it. I get why people love these inspirational pet stories. I get that pets aren't just any ol' animal, but that they truly have a place in your heart and your home. I get that when you're a pet person, you like to read about other pets. For the people who love their pets, PawCulture™has those stories. Take for instance this fantastic story I found about how a service dog brought peace and calm to a veteran struggling with PTSD. My husband is a veteran as well, so this story resonated with me not only as a military wife, but as someone who had now firsthand seen how much a pet could make a difference. I loved reading stories like this one to show me that there are other amazing animals out there like Stella who are also making a huge impact in the health and wellness of their owners. 

But beyond that...did I mention I wasn't a pet person? I wasn't kidding! I truly did not know the first thing about having a cat in the home, and like a first time mom all over again, I found myself searching for all things cat. Health, foods, toys, pet tips... what had I gotten myself into!? For the new and the experienced, PawCulture offered tips for every pet owner. I cannot tell you how useful those have been for me. So many times I've found myself searching the house wondering where on earth Stella was now. Had the door been opened? Had she snuck out!? Was she gone forever? The article '7 Places Your Cat is Probably Hiding'...nailed it! What a sanity saver! Or how about all those times when she seemed to be looking at me, wanting SOMETHING, but I just couldn't quite figure out WHAT!? 'How to Understand Your Cat: Mastering the Art of Feline Communication' was a game changer! 

From the useful to the funny to the inspiring, PawCulture is a fantastic resource. Celebrate the unbreakable bond between pets and their people by visiting PawCulture for information, inspiration, entertainment, helpful tips and advice about loving your pet.

Learn more by visiting PawCulture at the links below:

Visit PawCulture.
Like on Facebook.
Follow on Twitter.
Follow on Instagram. 


Are you a pet lover? Which articles on PawCulture are you most interested in?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PawCulture. The opinions and text are all mine.

Bee Mine Popsicle Stick Bee {A Valentine's Day Kids Craft}

Can you believe it's already time to be thinking about Valentine's Day!? It seems as though the holidays were JUST here, and yet here we are with just a few weeks left until the day of LOVE! To celebrate, I'm sharing with you a fun craft that your little ones will love!

Bee Mine Popsicle Stick Bee

• Large Craft Stick
• Paint (Yellow and Black)
• Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Marker
• Googly Eyes
• Pipe Cleaner

1. First up, let's paint the Popsicle stick with yellow and black stripes. I've used an larger one as I found they worked better for this project, but you can make a smaller one work if needed, you just might have to skip the googly eyes. Allow to dry.
2. While your stick is drying, cut the wings. Using red construction paper, cut out two small hearts.
3. Attach the wings to the back of the stick, one on each side.
4. Add googly eyes (or paint eyes on, if preferred).
5. Now, make your antennae by cutting small pieces of pipe cleaner. You can keep these complete straight, twist them, or make fun little heart shapes as I did. Glue to the top of your bee.
6. Finish up by writing 'Bee Mine' on your bee's wings!
   

These little bees are super simple to make and most importantly, fun for the little ones too!

Are you ready for Valentine's Day? How are you making it more fun for the kids? 

That's So 90's Pop {A Coloring & Activity Book Review}

Being born in 87, I most definitely was a child of the 90s! And my favorite thing about the 90s? No, it wasn't the butterfly clips or my W.W.J.D bracelets? It wasn't even my Tomagotchi. (Though I certainly had all of the above!) No, it was the music. I loved, and still do love, 90s pop!

I mean, this was the time that brought us Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. This was the time of the Spice Girls. Like all girls my age, every girl had their favorite Spice Girl they dressed up as when they were together. I was Posh Spice. Those may have been three of the larger names to come out of the 90s, but they weren't the only ones. I couldn't get enough of B*Witched! C'est La Vie was my skating song as I skated around my dads garage. My first major crush- Aaron Carter! What a dream come true to have floor seats to see him in concert! And who could forget my absolute favorite- S Club 7. I was obsessed!

Naturally, when I saw that there was a coloring and activity book dedicated to 90s pop, I was ecstatic. Take a look:

Join Britney Spears in a maze searching for the necklace she once thought the old lady dropped into the ocean. Join Mandy Moore for a Candy-fuelled adventure in her green VW bug. Color in the scorching tattoos on Nick Lachey's rippling biceps. All this and so much more to be discovered within the pages of That's so '90s Pop, a fill-in activity book featuring a bevy of beloved musical pop stars from the late '90s/ early '00s.

Pop Stars Include:
·         The Spice Girls
·         Backstreet Boys
·         Britney Spears
·         N Sync
·         Christina Aguilera
·         98 Degrees
·         Mariah Carey
·         TLC
·         Mandy Moore
·         Enrique Iglesias
·         Destiny’s Child
·         Jessica Simpson
·         Macy Gray
·         Alanis Morisette
·         Aaron Carter
·         Usher
·         Lil’ Kim
·         Pink
·         Blink 182
·         Los Del Rio
·         and more!

It's no secret that I love adult coloring books, so a coloring book that combined the pop music of my childhood with my love of coloring? Amazing! Now, there are many artists featured that I was not a big fan of...at all... but I loved seeing some of my favorites and being reminded of the music I loved as a child. It might even inspire you to start rocking out to those 90s favorites. (No judgement here!)

The fun thing about this particular book is that it's not JUST coloring. With each artist featured, you get a fun coloring page plus an activity of some sort. Yet another way to bring our childhoods back to the present with those same kind of fun activities that we used to love doing as children- connect the dots, fun mazes, word searches, crosswords and more! This is such a fun dose of nostalgia for the 90s kid!

If you love coloring and long for the 90s (or at least want to jam out to it on occasion), this is one book that you must see. It is available to purchase now.

I'm Going To Give You a Bear Hug {Review and Giveaway + Kids Craft} #BearHugs #FlyBy

"Mommy, will you read me a story?"

Truly, are there any words as sweet as this simple question from a toddler? As both a bookworm and a mama who knows that reading means snuggle time, I certainly cannot think of any. There is just something magical and timeless about those sweet moments that I cannot get enough of.

Naturally, I'm always looking for sweet books that are fun for my little ones and full of love. Today, I'm excited to share with you a wonderful new book that does just that, I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug:

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.

Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is a sweet loving bedtime story book that is also sure to become a Valentine’s Day favorite for little ones who enjoy celebrating a day full of hugs and kisses from loved ones. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is available in hardcover for $16.99 in retail stores nationwide and online.

If you are looking for the sweetest way to end your day, this book is IT. Truly, this has become an instant favorite in my house, not just by the kids, but for me too. The message behind it is simple and sweet---all about showing love to your child. Like I said, I love a good snuggle and this book celebrates and encourages those moments. We've all heard the expression 'bear hug' but what about a cat hug? a dog hug? even a FISH hug? What do those kind of hugs do those look like? These rhymes give us a fun look at all these types of hug.

Now, as much as I love books and hearing my kids ask me to read to them, my daughter is a kid who-if the book gets too wordy- will just leave halfway through. This book flows so beautifully that it captivates her attention until the very end. It's also not a long read at all, which is great for those moments when they ask for 'just one more time'...and honestly, this is one book that you'll want to give an encore performance of!

I actually enjoyed this book so much, that I was inspired to take a craft we'd done in the past and give it a fun new twist to go along with the book:

Bear Hugs Kids Craft

• Construction Paper
• Glue
• Elastic
• Scissors

1. Create two bear paws using the construction paper. Cut circles for the base, then smaller shapes for the bear print. We used classic bear colors, but you can use whatever your child loves! 
2. Glue the paw prints onto your larger circle.
3. Cut a piece of elastic to desired length.
4. Glue a paw print to each side.

These are great for sending to loved ones who live too far to give bear hugs to in person...or just a fun way to bring the book to life as you read!

Ready to grab your own copy? I Want To Give You A Bear Hug is available to purchase now. You can also find out more at the links below:

Official Website - http://bit.ly/2eBPnU6
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Zonderkidz
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Zonderkidz

And one very lucky reader is going to win a copy for themselves. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery. 

Supporting Young Moms to Be with Love in a Box {A Review + Giveaway}

**I received the product mentioned in this post for review as part of the Frontgate Blogger Network. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Being a young mom isn't easy. At 19 years old, while most of my friends were still doing the college thing and not even thinking about marriage or families, I was already married and expecting my oldest child. I honestly had no one to turn to for advice or input or to tell me if what I was experiencing was normal because none of them had been there yet. Still, I had my husband at least and a supportive family (though they lived cross country). I cannot imagine going through it without their love and support.

Sadly, for many, that support truly is nonexistent. Young women find themselves single and pregnant, sometimes without a family to support them, and have no idea how they an do this on their own. They find themselves wondering if they can go through with it at all.

Now, I am not here to place judgement on anyone who finds themselves having to make such a decision, but I DO want to share with you a great resource that offers love and support to these women: Embrace Grace.

Embrace Grace, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed for the purpose of providing emotional, practical and spiritual support for single, young women and their families who find themselves in an unintended pregnancy. The primary goal of Embrace Grace is to empower churches across the nation to be a safe and non-judging place for the girls to run to when they find out they are pregnant, instead of the last place they are welcomed because of shame and guilt. 

One of the ways they offer this love and support is through a their Love in a Box initiative:

Love in a Box is a pro-love initiative launched to help save babies and help moms get plugged into local churches for spiritual, emotional and physical support through an Embrace Grace group.

Boxes are distributed to pregnancy centers nation-wide and given to young, single women with positive pregnancy tests. The box is full of gifts that will inspire hope and impart love to a mom that may be scared for her future. Each box consists of a Fearless Journal and pen, a Bump in Life book, a baby onesie, testimonial letters of girls that chose adoption and chose to parent, an invitation to join an Embrace Grace group and a Brave Girl letter that can be written by YOU!

You have the opportunity to speak into the life of a mom that could possibly be contemplating a life or death decision. You can encourage, uplift and inspire her to choose life and to get plugged into an Embrace Grace support group at a local church.

We want to help brave moms choose life and get plugged into a spiritual family so they can be saved, discipled, mentored and be a part of a community that loves them the way Jesus loves.

How absolutely beautiful is that? I don't just mean the contents of the box- though they surely are that- but the sentiment behind them. What a way to show that no matter what, they have someone who is loving them, loving their baby and wants the best for them.

I was given the chance to try out two of the great products from Love in a Box- the journal and the pro-love necklace. This journal is amazing. It's not your typical journal with completely blank pages, but offers prompts that remind young girls that they are loved, and give them the opportunity to reflect among the pages. The necklace is absolutely stunning. A very simple piece, but with a powerful message of love.

I am truly impressed with this wonderful initiative and am excited to share with you how you can help...

1. Start an Embrace Grace at their local church so young women with unplanned pregnancies have a support group. 
2. Partner with the national organization through prayer and support at www.EmbraceGrace.com 
3. Download and print our brave girl letter (http://egrace.co/brave) and mail to address below for us to place inside a Love in a Box. 

You can mail your Brave Girl letter to:

Embrace Grace, Inc.
Attn: Love in a Box
700 W. Bedford Euless Rd., Ste. G
Hurst, TX 76053

Embrace Grace is also giving 5 lucky people the chance to win the same journal and necklace that I received. Enter here.

Do you want to offer encouragement to young girls? How do you plan to partner with Embrace Grace?

DIY Floral Bible Band

I've been Bible journaling for over a year now, and it's safe to say that my journaling Bible (the one I journal in regularly at least) has grown quite a bit--- with the embellishments, the washi, the puffy stickers...it seems to have doubled in size! I thought it seemed like just about time to make myself a little something to help keep it all together---

DIY Floral Bible Band

• Fold Over Elastic
• Flowers
• Felt Circles (optional)
• Hot Glue

1. First, measure and cut your elastic to fit your Bible.
2. Using hot glue, glue the two ends together to form a band---make sure the elastic is not twisted. 
3. Now its time to glue on the flowers. You can find these at various craft stores, or online (where you find supplies for headbands). If you happen to already have felt circles, you can use those to have a larger surface glued, but you can do without if you prefer. Add one, or as many as you like! You can also add jewels or buttons, whatever you like. 
4. Wrap around your Bible.

If you're already familiar with headband making, this is basically the same thing--- just a different purpose! And not just for Bibles either. That happens to be what I'm using mine for, but they are also great for planners, journals...any book really! This particular band is more decorative, but stay tuned for more DIY Bible/Planner Bands that serve a little more function too!

Save on Valentine's Gifts for Girls with SmitCo

**Product received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Valentine's Day is coming up, and I don't know about you, but I love spoiling my little ones with fun gifts whenever possible! So today, I'm excited to introduce you to a company that I recently discovered: SmitCo-


Quality, affordable gifts for girls ages 2 to 12. SmitCo has several different diaries with lock and keys and diary sets for girls in Emoji and Diva themes, as well as several different nail art sets to provide hours of fun.

A huge hit is the brand new Mermaid themed scrapbook kit as well as 3 unique princess dress up sets.

SmitCo products also include rose gold, gold or rhodium plated jewelry and sets, as well as very popular stretch sets for little girls - all packed in cute gift boxes.

Find all the great products here:

http://amzn.to/2a3d3v8

My readers get to save!
Get 15% Off Entire Cart Of Gifts! Use coupon code 15OFFNEW Go to: http://amzn.to/2a3d3v8
http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=13140&dealid=3065 .@usfg

When You Need Connection {A Look Inside This Month's Illustrated Faith Devotional} #CravingConnection #IllustratedFaith #DaySpring #IF_cravingconnection

**I received this kit as part of Dayspring's Illustrated Faith Launch Team. Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

"How are you?"

Three simple words, yet such a loaded question. Each time I hear it, I find myself having an internal debate. 'Do I answer honestly? Do I share how I'm struggling? Do they really want to know, or are they just asking to be nice? What do I say?'

After what seems like a long pause, but in reality is surely only seconds I find myself saying what I'm certain they want to hear, "I'm fine, how are you?"

After all, it's just a nicety, right? It's just an extended form of 'Hello', not a question that they really want answered. No one wants to hear my problems. They don't want to know that I am barely holding it together and that I could break at any moment. They don't want to know of the daily panic attacks or the physical pain. They just want to say their hellos and go on about their day.



That's what I told myself at least. Until the day when I could not... the day that that 'How are you?' was just too much to hold in. I had to let it all out. As I sat in the back room at my church, tears streaming down my face, letting out everything that I had kept inside for so many months as my pastor's wife listened patiently, I felt as though suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. My struggles had not gone away, everything I was dealing with was still there but I now had someone to share it with.



Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 says, 'Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.' 

Oh, how I felt it on this day and on the days since. By not allowing others in, I was taking it all on my own and I was just not able to hold it all. I was missing that connection, I was missing that someone to help hold me up. I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of this. We all try to put our best foot forward, in fear that if others saw all of our dirty laundry, they might not like us. Yet it is that vulnerability that truly allows us to connect to each other on a real level. When we get real with each other, we form real relationships- the relationships talked about in the scripture above.

Still, sometimes we need help making-and keeping- those connections. A few weeks ago, I shared about the new book from (in)courage, Craving Connection, that offers just that (You can read that here). This month, Illustrated Faith and (in)courage have teamed up for this month's devotional kit of the same title. Take a look inside:

Find yourself among friends as you journey through this 14-day devotional with insightful Craving Connection authors, as they share stories that draw you to connect with God more deeply, connect with friends more purposefully, and connect with community more intentionally. 

1 plastic pouch

1 devotional booklet

1 clear stamp collection

1 roll of washi tape

1 sheet of cut-out paper pieces

2 cardstock sticker sheets

3 tip-ins

1 magnet

1 thank you card from Shanna

Every morning when I check my email, I am greeted with a message from (in)courage. What a way to wake up with these daily stories of faith and inspiration, so naturally I immediately fell in love with Craving Connection too. As I was reading through the book I found myself thinking, 'Wow, I really want to journal this!' So, when I heard this news, I was thrilled! For me, I knew it would be the perfect compliment as I read through the book. Still (while I highly recommend buying the book anyway), you don't HAVE to have it. This devotion stands on its own, in a more abridged version of what you will find inside the book. Each devotion is written by one of the amazing (in)courage writers, so if you're already a fan, you are certain to love it. Haven't yet experienced the (in)courage community? You can learn more here. 

But aside from the devotion itself, it's also a beautiful kit! Yellow happens to be one of my favorite colors, so I instantly fell in love with this stunning combination. With it's gorgeous floral and amazing blues and yellows, this is perhaps the most beautiful kit so far! 

The Craving Connect Illustrated Faith Devotional Kit is available to purchase today.


Don't forget to use the code 25FORYOU to receive 25% off and free shipping on every purchase. No minimum required. 

A Dog's Purpose {Fandango Gift Card Giveaway}

**Gift card received for consideration, all thoughts are 100% my own.

If I were to be completely honest, I'm not a dog person. At all. In fact, I'm actually very much afraid of dogs. So, what on earth would I be writing a post about a movie with a title like 'A Dog's Purpose'? It doesn't make much sense, does it?

I wouldn't have thought so either until very recently when we opened our hearts and our homes not to a dog, but to a cat. For a long time, I saw having a pet of any time as just another mouth to feed and someone else to clean up after. Well, I can't lie--- she certainly has been that too---especially the latter. Still, that is not all she has become to our family. She has a purpose!

Her purpose is my son. For years we have tried method after method to try and help my son with his hyperactivity and aggression. We have tried weighted vests, compression vests, big squeezes, spinning toys...the list goes on. But it was this sweet cat that finally did the trick. She seemed to know just what he needed and gave it to him. It was an immediate and evident love. It was being introduced to this new love, by pure coincidence or so it seems that I truly began to understand the purpose to pets.

So, I might still not be a dog person, but suddenly I'm finding myself appreciating such a story. Take a look:



Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A DOG’S PURPOSE, is a sweet and lovable family film that shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.  Told from the perspective of “everybody’s best friend” the film highlights the importance of familial bonds, and the unconditional love we have for our best friends.  The movie stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, and John Ortiz.


Sounds like a great story, right? But it's also helping to promote a wonderful cause too. They've partnered with non-profit Best Friends Animal Society to raise awareness of animal adoption--- because every dog deserves the chance to live their purpose!

You can find out more about this movie here.

A Dog's Purpose will be in theaters this Friday, January 27th! 

And to celebrate, one very lucky reader is going to win a $25 Fandango Gift Card! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery. 

Show God's Love with Valentine Gifts that Matter from Dayspring {#dayspring #liveyourfaith}

**Product received for review. Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

With Valentine's Day less than a month away, everyone is on the search for the perfect gift to remind their loved ones just how much they are loved. Oftentimes those gifts include either flowers or candy! Some people love these traditional gifts, but if I were to be honest, I'm not one of them. Don't get me wrong, I'd appreciate them if they were given, but they wouldn't be my first choice. Perhaps its the practical side of me, but spending tons of money or flowers or chocolates that are just going to be eaten or tossed in the garbage...? That doesn't much seem like a sign of everlasting love.

Personally, I want something that I can keep. Something that I can look back on daily to remember that I am loved- not just on Valentine's Day but all throughout the year. It doesn't have to be something costly, but I want a gift that lasts, a gift that matters.

For that, there is no greater place than Dayspring. They have introduced a variety of gifts this Valentine's Day that allow us not only to show how much we care about the people in our lives- our friends, our children and our significant others- but that also remind us of the greatest love of all- the love of Christ.


One of my personal favorite gift ideas is this beautiful Extraordinary Things Gift Set- featuring Extraordinary Things Canvas Pouch, Love Mercy Trinket Dish and Inspirational Oak Finish Clip Frame & Art Print Set.

"God does extraordinary things in the midst of ordinary days."

Oh, what a great message- a reminder that we don't have to live crazy lives to truly make an impact on the world around us. I love this. But it's only one of the many great messages we are reminded of throughout this set. The trinket dish reminds us to 'Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly'. And the clip frame features 25 different art prints to inspire us as we go through our days. This isn't a gift that looks pretty for a little bit and then goes in the trash, it's not a gift that is just going to be eaten and forgotten after Valentine's Day. It is gift that we can see day after day to remind us just how loved we truly are. That is a gift I would love to receive.

Want to see more great gifts that spread God's love? Checkout out all these great gift ideas available at Dayspring for EVERY person on your list.

Valentines for Him
Valentines for Her
Valentines for Kids
Valentines for Friends

Don't forget, you can use the code 25FORYOU to receive 25% off and free shipping on your purchase- no minimum purchase required! 



Who do you want to show love to this Valentine's Day? Take a look at the Valentine's Day selection at Dayspring, and let me know some of YOUR favorites.

Journaling Through Genesis: Part 1

Recently, I was taking a look back on my journaling Bible and I realized something... as I flipped through the pages of the New Testament, my pages were filled! Page after page with little room left for more journaling. The Old Testament however? Well, aside from Psalms and Proverbs, and some random journaling throughout, it was a lot more sparse. This year I decided I wanted to change and made it a goal to read through and journal the Old Testament.

And what better place to start than Genesis?

Today, I am sharing my progress in journaling through the first book of the Bible.

Genesis is one place in the Old Testament that I had done some journaling already on those age old stories like creation and Noah's Ark. These were in fact a few of the very first pages I had journaled.

More recently, I had also done a little journaling on the story of Abraham.




Finally here is a look at just a few of the pages I have done so far this month as I read through Genesis:

Have you done any journaling in Genesis? I'd love to see what you've been up to! Share with me on Facebook! 

A Look at My Journaling Corner

When I first started Bible journaling I started off pretty simply- I had my Bible, some colored pencils, Micron and gel pens. That was IT. Needless to say, it wasn't very hard to keep it all organized. 

And then I started venturing into other mediums. I'd added on washi, paints, stickers, die cuts. Well, you know those memes... 'That escalated quickly'? This would be an appropriate place for them! It didn't take long for journaling and craft supplies to take over! I'll be honest, sometimes it has become difficult to get any actual journaling done simply because I couldn't remember what all I had or where I wanted to start! I needed some organization. And apparently, I'm not alone! One of the common questions I see in other Bible journaling communities is, "How do you store it all?"

I recently made it a goal to get my little craft corner into a workable state, and today I wanted to share my system with all of you! 

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I don't have a large house with a room just for crafting (don't I wish), but we have an extra living room area that we use as part craft room/part play room. I just have this little corner here.



Washi is one of my obsessions, and as you can see, I have a LOT. Awhile back, a lady in one of my journaling groups came up with the suggestion of using a bottle rack to store/display them. I happened to have an unopened one in my storage as we'd never used bottles, so I decided to give it  try! It works very well, though some of these in the top center are not actually being held by anything.

Beside that, I have a Thirty-One caddy filled with stickers. In the back, I have alphabet stickers so I can find those more easily, while everything else is in the front.

And, just in case you were wondering, the block set in the back is from Mary & Martha and I have it spelling out 'Create'.

When I first started building up journaling supplies, I knew I was going to need a place to store it all, so I found this desk at Walmart for a great price. It has plenty of shelving for all my needs.

On the top shelf, I have (most of) my journaling Bibles. Below are my coloring books and a caddy that I use to store supplies like pencils, markers, scissors, etc. This caddy is actually from the Dollar Tree, so a really great and affordable storage option!

On top of my desk you'll find my Cameo (cutting machine), the Bible I'm currently working on and my 'I Color in My Bible' storage box. When I am journaling, Illustrated Faith supplies are the ones that I reach for most often so I like to keep these separate. The stickers, tip ins, die cuts, clear cuts, pens, etc are all in this storage box. (Washi, inks and stamps are with those particular supplies.)

This shelf was a gift from my mother in law a few years back. It works perfectly to hold paints (though I'm running a little low right now) and scripture cards! 

For everything else, I have these plastic drawers...they may not look fancy, but they do the job (and I already had them). The one on the left has all of my journaling supplies- paper clips, project life papers, stamps and ink, die cuts and misc. journals, etc. The shorter one on the right is just general craft supplies--- felt, pipecleaners, pom poms, etc... mostly things for kids' crafts! The bins on top hold random things like toilet paper rolls etc...or things that still need sorting!

And that's my crafting space! It's nothing fancy, but it works for me!

Do you have a craft room/corner? I'd love to see your creative organizing solutions. Feel free to share on Facebook!