Music Review-Makenzie Caine: Take This Town

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Make sure to get your FREE CARD from TREAT- see post below this one :)

A while ago, I was able to review a very sweet CD by the artist Makenzie Caine. Makenzie is an indie pop artist, and her CD, Take This Town appeals to both adults and children. The title track, Take This Town, is about leaving a small city to make it big. I really enjoyed it, and loved this track.  You can watch the video to the track here.

 The CD includes 7 tracks, 2 of which have a children's chorus singing along with her.
This is a great CD to listen and sing along to-with your children. There isn't much music out there that allows you to do that. This would be a great gift too. Her first track is one of my favorites as I mentioned above, but I also really like "Sweet Baby". Want to listen?  You can sample her album on her website here.

Makenzie's music is simple, sweet, soft, and her voice is really beautiful.  I hope you'll give McKenzie's album a listen!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A TREAT for my READERS! Only for 11/19 & 11/20!

The super nice people over at TREAT cards...are offering my readers a FREE Custom Card Monday November 19, and Tuesday November 20th only! {code and link at end of post}
Here are a few cards I loved:

Today you can create and send a totally personalized greeting card from Treat for FREE. Whether saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a best friend a holiday birthday, or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a just because card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress. So check someone off your list today and make them a card at TREAT.

This offer is only good for Readers of My Little Gems, today and tomorrow only.
Go to TREAT. Pick from 100's of cards. Personalize your card.
Use the Code : TREATBLOGR

Happy Holidays everyone!

Shabby Apple Dresses Review -Teacher's Pet Skirt

  ***Christmas CD give-a-way ends SUNDAY. Make sure to enter if you like acappella music***

Sometimes I like to share with you some of my favorite things. I always make sure that these things are really my favorites- in that I have tried them myself. This skirt is one of those things! I wore this skirt Sunday, and got a ton of compliments on it. It comes from Shabby Apple, an online boutique specializing in women's dresses and little girl's dresses too. They have very stylish items and you can find anything from a white dress, a black dress, a sophisticated dress for a party, or a flirty vintage dress.

What I really love about Shabby Apple, is their fit guide. It is very accurate, and they have little tips on what size to order, depending on how the item runs. They even have a "generous fit" which is really nice when you are ordering online and can't try the item on. I also really like their designs. They have so many choices, you are not going to find everyone wearing your new dress at church - if you know what I mean. (wink wink)

So check out Shabby Apple. You can find them on Facebook here.  And if you order in the next 30 days, and use the code "littlegemscrafts10off" you can save 10 %!

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!

Shrinky Dinks Monster Lab WINNERS!

Thank you to all who entered for the fun Shrinky Dinks Monster Lab Craft Kit for Kids!
The winners are: (using random.org)

BROOKE who said:
\


Fun! My kids would love this!


(the first winner never contacted me so I had to pick another..)

AND the second winner is:

LORNAB who said:

I'd love to re-live my childhood with my kiddos and shrinky dinks! How fun! Thanks so much for the opportunity!



K- the reason this is in such large print, is because quite often, the winners never contact me. YOU  are responsible to contact me within 48 hours. Either leave a comment w/ a way for me to contact you (I won't publish it) or email me - under contact tab above!  If I don't hear from you within 48 hours, I will pick new winners!
Thanks for entering and Happy Halloween!

DownEast Basics Blogger Night {one of my favorites}

I have been a fan of DownEast Basics since they were a little tiny unknown company in Utah Valley back in the 90's. They sold seconds from Pottery Barn and name brand clothing lines. I frequently purchased items from their tent sales. I still have furniture in my home I bought back then from DownEast.
Today DownEast Basics has 45 stores across the nation. I was very happy to find one had opened at my local mall in Tucson Arizona! YAY! I was even more thrilled to be invited to their blogger night a few days ago! Whoot! {Sure I'll go shopping at one of my favorite stores, no problem.}

If you have not heard of DownEast Basics, let me fill you in. DownEast specializes in basic layering pieces and fashion clothing for women, and also has a new line for little girls. They also specialize in modest clothing, which is hard to find these days! And their prices are excellent! Most items are in the $10-40 dollar range. They also always have some sort of special going on in their stores and online.

They even gave each of us a $25 dollar gift card that could be used anytime! I love a generous company!

DownEast Basics has a boutique style store and clothing, without the price tag. They also constantly have sales, and have some of the most up and coming fashion out there. Check out their fashion blog for great style tips and tricks! I am a big fan of their jewerly, layering tanks and tees, and their skirts! I own several of their skirts, and had to buy another that night as well. I also bought the cutest purse- I can't wait to show you!

It was also fun to see old friends I haven't seen for a little while. Here is my sweet friend Rainy- who works for DownEast Basics and her very nice boss- who I enjoyed talking with:

My go-to girl for fabric was there! Melanie who runs Above All Fabric, and it is always fun to see her- though this time I was buying clothing and not fabric-ha ha- Melanie is one of the nicest business gals I know.

(remember I just had a baby....)

My friend JoAnne was there too! She has a cute little blog- and also runs a preschool! I always have fun with this girl!

A few of the bloggers who were there- sadly, I did not get everyone's blog so I can't link you up with all these great gals-- but if you see yourself in this pic, please leave a comment w/ your blog so I can come say hi!

A big thanks to DownEast Basics for all the fun we had and shopping!

 Make sure you check it out in the Tucson Mall if you are local, or online if you aren't!

Have fun shopping!

Deseret Book CD Winner!

WINNER of the Deseret Book CD's (according to random.org) are as follows: (Please contact me in 48 hours or I will have to pick a new winner!- see contact link at top on far right for my email)


ArJay and Magdelyn said...



I am a lovely follower and I LOVE this giveaway. We are avid Disney music listeners around here so it would be nice to have some more options and I always love good church music. Heck if we don't win, I'll probably buy them myself, you'll just save me some money;)


Thanks to everyone that entered! These are both great CD's and I suggest picking them up yourself if you are looking for some great uplifting music!

Thanks for reading!oxoxo

WINNER of the Hilary Weeks Book/CD

Here is the winner of the Hilary Weeks book/CD.

The winner is- according to random dot org, #4 who is Ashley from SimplyDesigning.
Ashley said:
Oh how I would love this book and cd. I have two children, 4.5 and 1 years old and a husband who travels a lot for business. When it is a rough day, I just start singing "Bedtime and Naptime and Bedtime and Naptime..." Apparently I have sung it enough that my 4.5 year old daughter has caught on...sometimes she starts singing it with me! ha ha ha! Too cute! Would love the book, and yes, I am a follower!



So Ashley- please email me at littlegemscrafts {at} {gmail} dot {com} and thanks for reading!

Everyone else- this book/CD is totally worth buying for yourself- and probably for a gift also!
So make sure you check it out! I promise you will LOVE it!

Thanks for reading!

Give-a-way/Review: Hilary Weeks New Book &CD: Bedtime and Naptime...

***This give-a-way is now closed. ***
 A while ago, Deseret Book, asked me to review Hilary Week's new book and CD that is available today.
 {yipee!} I was so excited about this-for several reasons.
 First of all, I was Hilary Week's daughter's school choir director several years ago.  Hilary complimented me many times at the school choir concerts. If you know how amazing and talented, Hilary is, then you can imagine how incredible this made me feel! She is a very sincere and genuine person.

 I have always been a big fan of everything she does! And this book and CD is no exception. It is wonderful. I love love love this book and CD!
It highlights the joys and challenges of motherhood, in every sense. I laughed. I cried. I could relate so well to everything she said. This book made me realize the great work I am doing in my home- even though sometimes it feels like I am surrounded by piles of dirty laundry and dirty dishes and constantly changing  poopy diapers. (excuse me - my son is calling me, "mom, someone did a poopy!!" )

I feel so overwhelmed sometimes, and this book helped me to cope with that feeling by reminding me of the small and simple joys of motherhood. Hilary is humorous, caring, down to earth, and very easy to identify with. She reminds us what really matters. She is witty, clever, and delightful.

The book is full of thoughts, quotes, recipes, humor, and colorful photos.
She says things like, (and I am paraphrasing) "sometimes don't you just want to do something crazy like run through a wall and go to Target for 2 hours?"
She shares with us some of her favorite things, like bedtime and naptime, and naptime and bedtime. (hey - those are my favorite things too!!)

Her CD includes many fan favorites- including "To-Do List", "I Believe I Can Fly", and "Climb Every Mountain." It also includes a song that really helped me reflect on what is important, as a mother, and even made me cry- after laughing through all the other songs.
You can view Hilary performing a few of her songs here:




You can also read a great interview/review on this book.here.
I really feel like this is the perfect gift for every mother. I think it is my favorite thing at the moment. I love it!!

So would you like to win a copy of this book and CD?

Leave a comment telling me why you need this, and perhaps sharing with me one of your joys or challenges as a mother.
**This give-a-way is open to all readers with a U.S. mailing address, but I would really like it if you were a follower of my little gems☻-but you can still enter anyway!**
**Give-a-way is open until April 12th at midnight, P.S.T. I must be able to contact you if you win- so please make sure I can reach you- via blog comment, email, etc. **

Good Luck!! This is something I know you will love! (plus Mother's Day is coming up- this is a perfect gift!)

In the meantime, if you would like to purchase this product, it is available today here.

Fabulous CSN Stores

Several months ago, CSN stores contacted me about becoming a CSN Store Preferred Blogger. Remember the cute toy  give-a-way I had  with them around last December? They have the cutest toys- but they offer so much more than toys!
You can find anything at CSN stores-cookware, bedding,  cute shoes, things for baby, even a bathroom vanity  or an exercise bike!

Here are just a few of the little gems that I found from CSN stores:

Cute Diaper Bags

a Bathroom Vanity I would love in my house

And an exercise bike like this is just what I have been looking for

And I'm loving this duvet cover- and color combination

You can find anything at CSN Stores If you haven't checked them out - have a look!

As a preferred blogger for CSN stores, I'll be reviewing some of their great products! Stay tuned....