Secret Santa Claus Club- REVIEW

I hope your holiday season is going swimmingly and you're totally on the ball with all of your to-dos! I know some parents struggle on what to do when you have a child whho maybe is on the verge of not believing in Santa Claus or are straight away asking you questions. Some parents just don't know what to say, but today's book is a great resource!

Secret Santa Claus Club - Jeff Janke

Why do we spend so much time and effort creating a fairytale world for our children, just to take it away from them? Author Jeff Janke faced that dilemma three years ago when his daughter started questioning her belief in Santa Claus. Like most parents, he had two problems to solve--how to gently teach his child the true meaning of Christmas, and how to prevent her from spoiling the fairytale for other children. Out of this problem, Secret Santa Claus Club was born.

Secret Santa Claus Club is a beautifully illustrated story about a little girl thinking back on the magic of each Christmas. She remembers meeting Santa at the mall and seeing her first bike under the tree on Christmas morning. As time goes on, she starts to wonder if it's all real. When she decides she's ready to know the truth--her parents help guide her to the true meaning of the holiday.

Secret Santa Claus Club was written to be a tool for parents during these challenging moments. Combined with love, patience, and compassion, SSCC will help transition the reader from believing to becoming. At the end of the story, your child will be invited to join Secret Santa Claus Club. They'll understand the importance of keeping the secret, creating the magic for believers, and helping other members of the club.

My youngest children, 8 and 7, still believe in Santa but my older two, 18 and 15, don't. I remember fielding the questions about Santa and being so nervous I was going to say the wrong thing and ruin all of their best Christmas memories. Luckily for me it was right around the time my 8 year old was being born so I could use the "now it's your turn to be a Santa" and I included them in with gift giving for others. My 15 year old is currently in charge of our Elf on the Shelf and he gets really into it, last year making an elaborate sleigh out of popsicle sticks. But even still, every year they still get Santa gifts. 

I love that this book takes that same idea, that once you're old enough, you too can become a Santa. IT talks about the meaning of Christmas and the idea that a lot of thought goes into special gifts for someone and how we're Santa all year long. It encourages the loving, giving spirit towards others and talks about being a Santa Claus is a real responsibility. 

Overall this book is really well done. Beautiful illustrations, carefully thought out story that explains Santa in a gentle, loving way. There might be still be questions but this is an excellent starting point without worrying that you're going to hurt their heart. 

Thank you so much Jeff Janke for having me on this tour and giving us a wonderful story! 

You can enter below for your chance to win a copy of Secret Santa Claus Club and some swag!

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Christmas traditions: Bentleyville

It's December, it's full on Christmas season, I am in full mom, make-Christmas-special-and-memorable-for-everyone mode, so the first stop? Bentleyville, of course! 

If you've never been to Bentleyville, it's a huge outdoor light display in Duluth, Minnesota and it is totally free and kids 10 and under get a free hat after their visit with Santa. It's kind of amazing, and you can find it on TikTok (Bentleyville USA), it's all over social media, and you'll find it featured on all kinds of shows. We go every year and it's always a gamble on when we go, we try to go on a warm night because it is right next to Lake Superior so when its cold, it is COLD. Oftentimes if its a warmish night, we will drop everything and go then because I'd rather miss something than stand in the Santa line for an hour and dance with hypothermia. 

The little girls love the giant tree, but it is so hard to get a really good picture of it. 

This was the first year we didn't have all four kids with us, Olivia was out doing her own thing and it really hit me that pretty soon we'll be down to three kids at home, then two, then one, then none. It is so weird to have this process start. As a parent it seems like a far away destination but Matt and I are approaching it and it is the strangest feeling. 

My favorite (and the little girls', too) are the arched walk ways. There are a couple of them you walk through and I just love them. 

We went to Brainerd, Minnesota this year and went to Paul Bunyan Land, so Pep told me I had to take a picture of Paul Bunyan and Babe!

Lucy insisted on wearing her Minnie ears, which predictably, became an issue so Matt got to wear them through the last half of the walk. 

Even though Jackson and I were able to go shopping before leaving but Pep and Lu were fading fast since it was past their bedtime, so by the time we got home they were totally out. 

We can cross Bentleyville off our list, next up is baking cookies. I'm not trying to bake with the kids because nothing will send me over the edge than baking with my kids, so that's going to be a solo project. I also want to try to do a few more things but our weekends are already filling up and I always feel like we don't have enough time, you know? 

I am super excited for Christmas though, I feel super organized and like I have a good grip on things. I have our Christmas cards done, I just have to print our letter and put them in the envelopes and I'm good to go. I'm even getting started on my wrapping, so I feel like I've got a good handle on things right now. Here's hoping I can keep it up, right??

'Tis the damn season

Halloween is done, Thanksgiving is done, and it is officially the damn Christmas season. I am going to fully enjoy this month, that's all there is to it. I feel like I haven't really loved the last few years of the holidays and I think it is stress and being broke. I mean, I still have stress and I am still broke, but I feel  so much more organized this year. I wish I could share with you the gift tracking system I came up with this year but alas.... I'm not trying to spoil anyone's gifts. Obviously. 

I can share that we are fully decorated! All of our trees are up this year, we have the kid artwork tree in our front porch, the red/white/green tree in the dining room, our big tree, and then the tree in my office. Which, honestly, I think I might keep it up. All year. Is that crazy? It kind of feels crazy but I also kind of love it. 

Isn't she a beaut? It's just so cozy and happy when its really the only lights on in here, and it's just happy. 

Also, can I brag on my son? If you know Jackson, you know that he really got into crocheting last year but he's really gotten good at it. He keeps trying new projects and after some encouragement (and harrassment), he finally made me a Yip Yip Alien. Honestly, if you don't know who the Yip Yip Aliens were, I don't know that we can even be friends, because there were the hit of Sesame Street in the 80s and I don't care what anyone says. #yipyips4life But isn't it the freaking cutest?! 

Let's talk about our family's new ornaments! If you're new here, every year we have new ornaments join our hod podge big tree in our living room and they have to be related to something to that year. 

We actually had quite a few this year, so that was fun. First one was the gondola from Lutsen Mountain, where Matt and I went to this fall to see the fall colors. It was a fun date for us, definitely a highlight of the year for me. 

OK, this one technically isn't a memory of the year, but it's an acrylic cutout of Lake Superior, which is basically our backyard. It's just super pretty that it only seemed right we have it on our tree. 

This summer we took a quick summer trip with our friends to Brainerd, MN and we went to Paul Bunyan Land, which was a fun weekend away. 

Way back in March, Olivia and I went on a fantastic trip so I picked up ornaments on all of our major stops, so here was Ellis Island, 

the Empire State Building, 

Mount Vernon (George Washington's house), 

the Statue of Liberty, 

and just the monuments in Washington, D.C. I will have to find new ones because I'm going on the same trip with Jackson this spring, but I'm excited for it. 

Olivia went to a Van Gogh art experience this year and she got me an ornament for my birthday, and it's so pretty. 

Oh yes, and we didn't get to go into the 9/11 Memorial (sadly, I really wanted to go through it and see all of the things and learn more), but we did get to see the exterior and the memorial fountain. 

Earlier in the year Olivia went to Boston to compete for Harvard Model U.N. and she brought home an ornament. 

Isn't it so fun? Each of the kids has their own box that has the ornament they pick out themselves each year, which can be anything they choose. We always have a good time picking them out but even more fun unpacking them each year and trying to remember why they picked it. Someday though, they will grow up and move away but they'll have an entire box of special ornaments to take with them to their homes. I will be sad to not see these year after year though, I can't lie. 

Also, has anyone had experience with a cat who had pink eye? What about a cat who has pink eye in both eyes? I have had cats almost my entire life and never once have I had one with pink eye, but our newest cat, Pickles, has somehow gotten pink eye in both eyes. He's a hot damn mess and I feel like him having pink eye is the most logical way to end the year for us. It just seems pretty on brand for the Strands. 

Christmas was grand(ish).

I know a lot of people were disappointed that Christmas was going to look a little different but I was pretty OK with it. I feel like I was pretty burned out by the time we got to Christmas that I didn't really have it in me to be "on" for others, you know? Despite that, we did have a nice little holiday.  

I did try to bake this year. I was only mildly successful. I would say at least half of the batches of cookie dough I made were totally wrong. I don't know if you know this but egg is kind of a big deal in cookies. Go figure. 

I even let Penelope and Lucy help me with some. If you know me at all, and know what a complete control freak I am, you know that is a pretty big deal. 

My friend Lauren sent the kids the cutest things and I cannot even tell you how many times I have read these books to the kids! Penelope got What Will It Be, Penelope and Lucy got Lucy & Company. If you are looking for some cute stories, definitely check this out. 

On Christmas Eve we were going to go to Matt's parents' house, which was nice, it was a little bit of tradition. On our way there, Penelope decided to pull out two of her teeth out. You know, like you do. Sigh. So not only did Santa come, the Tooth Fairy did as well. 

I got one nice photo of the kids in front of our tree with their nicer clothes on. I made Pep and Lu put their "fancy clothes" on because I spent $10 each on the dress/cardigan that we were going to use for the Christmas concert at their school that never ended up happening. 

The Christmas Eve tradition here is that we get the kids new pajamas and then I do the cute photo in front of the tree. Penelope clearly was over it, but this is a photo for the scrapbook, for sure. 

I only managed to get one photo of Matt and I over the course of two days, but at least it is a really good one. This was right before we going to get presents out and play Santa. 

I barely slept at all that night and I literally sat on the couch from 2:30 a.m. until people started getting up around 6:30 a.m. It was so nice to see everyone's face first thing. (Also, see the little kitty? His name is George, he's one of our two new kitties and I'll do a post on them soon, but isn't he ADORABLE?!)

The house was a disaster. I ended up wrapping up every single thing so it seemed like everyone had a whole ton of presents, and that was really fun but you know, it was a huge mess. Also, I am so paranoid that I am going to rip these handmade stockings so every year I end up laying them on the ottoman or in front of the tree so it always seems more cluttered to me and it makes my eye twitch. 

Lucy was SO HAPPY that she finally got this doll! She would look at it at Target every time we would go, she circled it a bunch of times in some catalog that came in the mail, and she know wants the matching outfit so they can be twins. 

Me trying play Santa and clean up at the same time because my anxiety was starting to get a little out of control at this point.

I also got a few things, a couple of books and gardening things mostly. I will say Lauren got me a personalized embosser for my books! I am so excited and I already started embossing my books!

A couple of stinking cuties. Of course, Penelope was super proud of missing two teeth and really wanted me to get a photo of it. 

I ended up having to take a nap because I was tired but I was also just overstimulated from everything. Five hours later and I got it together to finish making dinner. 

It was a nice little dinner, nothing fancy. Of course, Penelope was being Penelope so.. she's a nut. I have yet to learn how to do a timer on my phone so I can also get into photos but you know... maybe that can be a goal for 2021. 

We took all of our Christmas stuff down the next day and I feel so much better having things put away and cleaned up. It was nice. It wasn't nearly as bad as people lamented it would be. I felt like it was a really good end to the year, we got to celebrate together and really enjoy each other. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

How was your Christmas? What did Santa bring you?

Book Review: The Billionaire's Christmas

I don't know if you've noticed but I am in full Christmas mode and quite frankly, I don't know why I've never done this sooner. Why have I waited until after Thanksgiving my whole life?! Insanity. At this point my entire house is decked out, I have a nine foot inflatable unicorn in my yard (seriously) and I am slowly giving Matt the hints that the other lawn decor needs to go out. If I could go Clark Griswold on this house, I would. Matt says we cannot, under any circumstances, staple lights to the roof. Which is ridiculous. So let's read Christmas books for grownups.

The Billionaire's Christmas - J.S. Scott

Called an eccentric beast by the citizens of Amesport, Maine, handsome, sensual billionaire Grady Sinclair stays isolated in his mansion on a private peninsula. The arrangement suits Grady just fine—until an unassuming woman rings his doorbell, awaking his long dormant passion with her fearlessness. All he wants is to make the fiery blonde his forever. But will he have to become the monster everyone thinks he is to get his Christmas wish?

Emily Ashworth is desperate. The Youth Center has been robbed of all its money, and as the director, she has to find a way to give the town’s needy children the Christmas they deserve. With nowhere else to turn, she ventures to the mansion of a mysterious billionaire to ask for help. Warned to expect a beast, Emily is shocked to find Grady Sinclair a handsome and very sensual man. With steamy kisses under the mistletoe and seductive whispers while hanging the wreath, Emily finds there’s more to Grady than meets the eye. Is this misunderstood billionaire just a lonely soul who needs the gift of love for Christmas?

You want this one because it's only 100 pages or so, and if you're a slow reader novellas are where its at. That's what you should be looking for, I promise you won't be disappointed. I think if you've been around here long enough you'll know I'm a big fan of the Sinclair Series by J.S. Scott and I think after this only have two left to read, which makes me sad but also hopeful because I can't wait to find more by her. This little novella was actually the start of the entire series and I didn't read it first because I am a dork and wanted to wait until Christmas. You can read this entire series out of order and it's totally fine. Actually, Grady and Emily are hardly featured at all in any of the other books (so far, but I don't see them making an appearance in the next two either) so don't feel like you're going to be confused or be missing information/ruining future books, etc. It's fine.

The way the first chapter is set up it made me think that maybe Grady was autistic or had a far bigger disability than stuttering. Seriously. Honestly, that was a bit of meh moment for me but for the most part- I liked Grady. I'll be honest and tell you the first half of this book is pretty cornball because the impracticality of a woman in charge of a community Christmas party where the funds have been stolen finds herself on the doorstep of the town's wealthy recluse in a last ditch effort to ask for money is a BIT MUCH. I mean, that's the story. He demands sex (seriously) she's aghast (obviously) and the whole rest of the story is ridiculous and hokey and god help me, I loved it. It couldn't be any more cheese. It just couldn't. Even Hallmark doesn't serve this kind of cheese. HALLMARK, you guys.

Here's what I loved, though. Emily is a pretty normal person. She sees Grady's flaws and she's OK with that. She doesn't want him to change, she wants him to see things in a different way and experience the good, to not associate everything with bad memories and know that's its OK to make new, better memories.

Overall, I'm going to give this 4 stars. It would have been 5 if it had be just a bit less cheesy/ That and there's a part where a bad guy makes his entrance and his dialogue is so very bad that I have to take a star off for that alone, so I've rounded 3.5 up to 4. But if you are in the mood for a Christmas romance, don't discount this one because it's quick and fun and a really good start to the series.

   

I'm curious to know what are some of  your favorite Christmas romances? I could always use a couple more. ;) 

This post contains affiliate links. Happy reading! 

Sara's 2019 WISH LIST

I cannot even tell you how hard it is to put a wish list together because I'm at a weird point in life where I like presents but I also feel weird getting them. Does that make sense? I mean, when in doubt, PRESENT. Always. Obviously. But I also really struggle with what the heck do I even want? So this is the culmination of an entire year of thinking.

WISH LIST

1. Handheld Fan: I know this sounds dumb, but these things are awesome. I get so unbelievably warm out of nowhere in the summer and having a fan I could pull out of my purse would be amazing.

2. A New Mop: You know you're old when the idea of a new mop is exciting! But our current mop is the worst and sometimes the steam mop just doesn't do it, you know?

3. No Tie Shoes: I have become a huge fan of sneakers I don't have to tie and are squishy.

4. New bedding: We actually only own one comforter so when ours is dirty it's an entire day affair to get it washed and there have been times we've been up to almost midnight waiting for this thing to dry. Someday I'm going to have a washer and dryer that handle huge comforters but until then... it's a process. So having another one so we aren't exhausted waiting for the thing to dry would be nice. 

 

5. Socks. I really like socks. I can't help it. 

  

6. Scrapbook Goodies: If you know me at all you know my favorite scrapbook supply company is Doodlebug Designs, so anything by them is my go-to supply.

  

  

7. Books. You guess had to know that books would OBVIOUSLY be on my list!

    

  

  

  

8. Sweeper Thingie: Again, pulling into Loserville, because I hate to sweep. Hate it. I would vacuum all day every day but I hate to sweep. Unfortunately, I have to sweep every day at least twice and even still... I feel like it just isn't enough.

9. Gift Cards: I know people hate to give gift cards, but I really love them. I mean, do you really want to go buy me bras and underwear? I mean, no. I love my friends but I'm not trying to buy you underwear. I have a dog who likes to eat underwear and so I need some. Gift cards to Victoria Secret, Lane Bryant, Target, Kohl's, Maurices, Old Navy, etc are awesome because I can buy the things that fit me when I feel emotionally ready to enter a dressing room. You know what I'm talking about.
10. iPad: This is a total pipe dream gift but still. You never know.

11. Fitbit: I just want to know my heart rate and how many steps I'm doing. I don't want anything fancy because I won't be able to figure out how to use it, I'm a simple gal.

12. Gift Cards, part two: Matt and I would like to go on dates but honestly, if it isn't a childcare issue it's a cost issue. We like to go out to dinner and a movie, so gift cards to restaurants are cool. Or ones the whole family could use because all six of us doing stuff together is pretty expensive.

Honestly, that's a lot. I really like anything I end up getting. It's really nice to get something because someone saw it and thought of me. I always really appreciate that. It's always nice to be thought of.

What is on YOUR wish list this year? What is on your kids or grand kid's list? I'm still trying to get ideas for Olivia and Jackson because their lists weren't super helpful for me this year.