a fancy little giveaway

I'm proud to be a part of this awesome giveaway going on over at Fancy Little Things this week. If you haven't already, check it out and make sure to enter (there's lots of ways to win!).

Good luck!

>> SHOP <<

>> SHOP <<

>> SHOP <<

>> FAITH BOGDAN & SARAH YOUNG <<

Who Are All These Children and Why Are They Calling Me Mom?

Embracing the Joyful Mess of Motherhood

By Faith Bogdan

I've been waiting for this book to come to fruition for the last several years. Since Faith first came to speak at our MOPS group, and she had us all laughing, crying and praying together in under a half hour, I've wanted to read her book. This book was in the works then, but being a Mom who learned to fully "embrace the joyful mess of motherhood", she took some years off just to enjoy her girls. But here it is! And it is everything I knew it would be. I knew it HAD to be in our FLT May giveaway for Moms! This is for every Mom who "is tempted to daydream for a second about how much easier life would be with one or two fewer children", or "looked at a faith pink line in the window of a pregnancy test and said "Oops", or even those Moms "who always dreamed of being a mom and yet struggle through long days". In her authentic & humorous way, she takes us on her journey from "an embittered, detached mother living in survival mode" to "a mom madly in love with the children she didn't intend to have." And since it us busy Moms who needs this book most, Faith has written it in the little snippets that you can devour in those rare spare moments. You'll want several copies so you can hide them around the house - bathroom, laundry room, above the stove....:-).

Enjoy! - Danielle, FLT Blog Admin & Marriage Matter Author

REAL LIFE CALLS

DIY BOW GARLAND

BASKETBALL & LACE

LEARNING TO SAY "YES!"

NOT ALONE MOM

LISA LEONARD

RECLAIMED BIKE CRATE

FANCY LITTLE THINGS

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movie night + a prize pack for the whole family

I'm not going to lie, we have movie night here at least once a week. And mostly I just love it because we all sit on the couch together and rest. Sometimes after a long day (or week), I just want to sit down for a little bit, but with a two year old and a four year old, that rarely happens.

Unless someone, normally Ellie, asks for a movie night. Then all my dreams come true.

Movie nights at our house always include candy or a special treat that normally isn't allowed. Throw in a big bowl of popcorn and juice boxes (also something we don't normally allow) and they're a hit with everyone.

Recently we got to watch Max Lucado's I Will Tell The Truth and Be Careful What I Say a part of the Hermie and Friends line from Thomas Nelson Publishing. Not only did the girls (both of them! and that's hard to do, for real!) love the video, but I loved the messages they taught.

Telling the truth all the time and being kind with your words are things we're always working on at our house. Ellie has recently started telling lies to stay out of trouble and while we try to correct that, sometimes I think we're not making any progress when she does it again the next day. I know she's four and pushing boundaries/figuring things out/seeing how this whole lying thing works/etc. but I still hate that she's started lying.

So this video was a perfectly timed treat. And the best part is, Ellie keeps asking to watch it over and over again. She likes the singing and the worms (caterpillars, actually) and I like the lessons that are being reinforced. A win for everyone.

Want to win this video for your family? How about make a night of it with pizza, popcorn, and some Oreos? (Sorry, you're on your own for the juice boxes. Those things don't last five minutes in our house.)

Enter below and good luck!

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DISCLOSURE: I was gifted this movie for review, but all opinions expressed are my own.

five for friday + a giveaway

follow along on Instagram (or as the cool kids say, "Insta") @themarygraham

1. Wandering around our city with my husband this weekend. Thanks for the cheerful reminder, door.

2. A gym mirror selfie--and I'm showing some leg because it was 80 degrees out, fools!!

3. They were playing nice. And hell didn't freeze over so I wanted to get some proof.

4. & 5. Remember how I said it was 80 degrees?!? It was like that for a few days and it was so amazing. We live in Indiana, so I know it's just a tease and it's supposed to be freezing again this weekend, but we soaked up every minute of it while it was here.

How was your week? Did you get amazing weather too?

Let's start the weekend off right by winning some cash, shall we? Some other High Five for Friday girls and I have teamed up to sweeten our Friday posts by giving away some cold hard cash. Just a little thank you for coming here and reading---and maybe you'll find some new blogs too love, too. Want to get in on the action? Of course you do!

Classy Living / DC in Style / Happy Go Lucky / Heart Shaped Sweat / In Her Boots / Nest of Love / Simply Lulu / Trusty Chucks / With Love, Rachel

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Good luck and have a great weekend! (also, because I'm a beast, I'll be back with my third post of the day this afternoon. I read a book!)

Linking up with High Five for Friday with From My Grey Desk blog.

Mommy & Me Easter giveaway

Now that we have small children, it's becoming way too easy to focus on the worldly parts of holidays and lose the real reason we celebrate things like Easter and Christmas. One way we're keeping our kids focused on Easter this year is with two fun books that help keep our eyes on Jesus and what He did for us.

Our current favorite book is The Story of Easter. This sturdy board book was a hit with both girls from its colorful, fun artwork to the lyrical rhymes that helped tell the story of Jesus' last days as well as His burial and resurrection. I've struggled with how much you tell a four year old about the Easter story and this book does a good job of explaining it without being too much for a child. Because truly, it's a pretty graphic story.

The second book we've been reading a lot recently is An Easter Prayer by Amy Parker. This book walks the kids through being thankful to God for all that spring brings: new life, warmer weather, and Easter eggs, but the best thing is Jesus. It helps kids know that all the Easter festivities are good and fun, but to remember the true focus of the season.

Both books would make great additions to Easter baskets this Sunday!

Speaking of great additions to Easter baskets, how about throwing in a little something for Mama too? This giveaway includes The Story of Easter and an Easter coloring book for your little one while Mommy can enjoy a little downtime with some chocolate, nail polish (Sinful Colors in Easy Going), and a cute CGI Daughters clutch.

A runner-up winner will receive a copy of An Easter Prayer by Amy Parker. Good luck!

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giveaway: children's {love} books

There's nothing I love more than a good children's book.

Well, actually, that's probably not completely true, but right now, in this post, there is nothing I love more than a good children's book.

And the three I'm sharing with you today would make great Valentine's day gifts for your littles. And if you happen to be rockin' the Valentine's mailboxes like we are, these books would also make a good day-before Valentine's gift. Although, they wouldn't technically fit in the box. But that's beside the point, really.

When I found out I was pregnant for the first time, all the way back in 2008, my very first purchase was a pile of books for the baby. We didn't know the sex, but I knew that little babe would need books, lots and lots of books.

So I feel like now, almost five years later, I'm kind of kids' book expert. For no other fact than I read them and buy them frequently. So you should trust my opinion 100% when I tell you these books need to be on your shelf. And bonus-teacher points because they all teach your child something too.

I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

With an almost-four-year-old and an almost-two-year-old, we are constantly teaching our kids about love/showing love and this cute book about a bunny's conversation with her mom during bedtime is pretty sweet. It's a great example of how much a parent loves a child as well as being silly and captivating for little ones. I liked, as it neared the end, how the mommy bunny leads her daughter through prayer. Their conversation is a great way to show and practice praying with your child.

I Love You No Matter What by J. Rutland

This one was especially loved by my 23-month-old, Harper. Those animals were just too cute and she loves pointing them out as we read. This story parallels the story of the prodigal son and teaches kids that no mather what you do, your parents will still love you. Such an important lesson for kids of all ages, really. And I happen to know some middle school students that would benefit from reading this precious book also.

Heaven is For Real for Kids by Colton Burpo

I jumped at the chance to read this book to the girls. Having read, and loved the adult version, I couldn't wait to see how they made this book accessible for kids. Because there is definitely some big ideas and concepts in the novel.

This book didn't disappoint at all. The ideas it presents as well as the beautiful artwork were great conversation starters in our house. This one will definitely be read often. (Bonus! Go here to check out some free coloring pages that go with the book.)

And now the best part: three lucky readers will get one of these books just in time for Valentine's day! But reall, these books would make a great gift for any kid at any point in the year. Good luck!

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Look! Even Blue loves I Love You To God and Back! What a good doggie!

devotions for everyone! {a giveaway}

In keeping with my new year's resolutions, we've been doing a new devotional set as a family. In an effort to always have a devotional handy so there's really no excuse to not do it, I keep this one at work and Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young at home.

Jesus Calling is written from the point of view of Jesus as if He were speaking to you. It's very encouraging and draws you in from the first day. Our church is doing a series on knowing the heart of God and this devotion has been a great pairing for what I'm learning on Sundays (actually, we go to church on Saturday night, but that's splitting hairs...). To be a Christ follower, you have to know who you're following, and through this devotion, I can feel that happening. As someone who has a really hard time finding a devotional book that I actually like, I highly recommend you pick this one up if you're in the market for a new one. Definitely worth your time.

As I've been using Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, we've been using Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young to have conversations with our daughters. This devotional book is definitely geard toward older kids (upper elementary or middle school) but we've used the conversations and scriptures in Elliott's devotion time. She and Chris normally do it while I'm at school (and recently finished this one), but the conversations that have started from this book have been profound and beautiful. And, of course, Ellie loves sitting down to read with her daddy.

And finally, LullaBible: Baby's First Bible Stories & Songs by Stephen Elkins is part song book, part baby book with a CD of favorite Bible songs and hymns. And the great part about this CD is it's not something you dread listening to; it's calm and beautiful with 20 songs that you'll be happy to have playing in the background as you play with your kids. We keep it on repeat in the playroom and I'd like to say it's got a soothing effect on my children, but that might be a stretch. And as a mama who has two baby books with lots of blank pages, I love the "Moments to Remember" journaling sections that are quick and painless. Plus, a little better than the baby book ones if you ask me. This book would make a great baby shower gift for a first-time (or fourth-time!) mom. (Check out the inside here!)

And now the best part! I've got a copy of each of these books to giveaway--that means three books and three winners! Just enter below using Rafflecopter.

The fine print: I have been gifted copies of these books by the publisher to review on my blog. All thoughts and opinions are mine. Giveaway open to US residents only. Good luck!

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$200 ad space giveaway action.

From one of my lovely sponsors, Lisette of Northern Belle Diaries.

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Today is also my birthday, the last one before 30 (eek! OK, I am a little excited) and I thought I'd treat all my lovely readers to a fun giveaway!  These bloggers are all awesome and have been so generous with offering a little real estate on their blogs.

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back at ya, 2012 (+ survey + giveaway)

This year was big for Trusty Chucks--here's some numbers for you:

-I did my first (super-scary) outfit post on January 21st.

-My most viewed posts, hands down, are always outfit ones.  The five most popular ones I've done this year were Two Birds with One Stone, Pastels & Happy Clouds, The Black Maxi, Green Skinnies and the End of Teaching, and Pigeon Toed & Polka Dots.

-Pinterest went a little crazy for this post: pictures from this simple, yet cozy outfit have been repinned over 200 times.  That makes me giggle.  And then sweat a little.  But mostly giggle.

-The only non-outfit related post that got the same amount of traffic as the above posts is Come on Over, a tour of the inside of our house. (part two here.)

-The most commented post was Pigeon Toed & Polka Dots where I'm actually pretty grouchy.  Maybe that's why so many people chimed in.

-Carly at Texas Lovebirds and I started copycat linkup and have been having lots of fun with it.

-I did a series on money and it started some great conversations. 

-I got to attend The Influence Conference where I met some amazing people, learned about this blogging business, and got involved in some amazing new adventures.

I'm thankful that people continue to come here to read my words and know about our lives.  Sometimes I still find that funny: that people come back here.  That's very humbling.  Thank you.

For 2013: what would you like to see more of?  What questions do you have for me?  My brother is trying to convince me to do a vlog post, but I am pretty set against it--thoughts?  Would you mind taking a second and filling out this survey--you don't have to leave your name and it will only take a minute or two tops, I'd just like to know what you'd like to see more of, what you don't like to see (don't say my face...), what you'd like me to write about, and any ideas or suggestions you have.  I'm not going to pretend every topic I write about comes from my own ideas, I have some pretty awesome friends and readers that ask questions, suggest topics, or tell me stories that inspire my writing.  So if you wouldn't mind--tell me what you think! (And as a thank-you, I'll select one person to send a Thirty One bag [obviously, you'll have to leave your name if you want to win, but participation in the giveaway is optional].)

Take the survey here!
 

books you need to buy your kids for Christmas + giveaways

We're all on the same page about the importance of kids and reading, right?  Check this out if you're still not convinced:

(source)

I'm pretty sure I'll be using that sooner rather than later in my classroom.  It's a powerful lesson.

So with that in mind, who's getting their kids books for Christmas?  You are now, right? 

Good.

And being a professional book "recommender" (AKA: a teacher), I've got some I think your kids will like!

// Teens \\
Reluctant Reader:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or any other John Green novel, really.  He gets kids, believable characters, and real-life dialogue like few others do.  And he doesn't leave the heavy stuff to adults.  These books are real and powerful and I haven't met a kid (or adult, for that matter) that didn't love some John Green. (reviews for The Fault in Our Stars, An Abundance of Katherines, and Looking for Alaska here.)

Reader that would rather watch TV: 
Dirty Little Secretsby C.J. Omololu is a fictionalized version of what a high school girl goes through living with a horder mother.  This novel is very high interest and the ending will shock you. (see my review here.) 
Heist Societyby Ally Carter is like Ocean's Eleven but with teens, also a high interest novel that will take readers all over the world for a game that no one can afford to lose (review here). 
All the Lovely Bad Onesby Mary Downing Hahn is for kids that like to scare themselves silly.  If you have a kid that heads to the movies to be the first to see every scary movie that comes out, then this book or any other by Downing Hahn would be a hit. (review here.)

Lover of The Hunger Games:
Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie.  This series is probably geared toward girls (see reviews for Matched and Crossed).  The third and final book came out last month.  For boys, The Maze Runner trilogyby James Dashner is a good alternative.  (Both are good though, so you really can't go wrong.)

For Pre-teen Boys:
Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned is an interactive Bible in the style of the Wimpy Kid books.  Full of illustrations, funny comments, and insightful observations, this Bible will make boys want to spend time in the Word and look forward to adding their own two cents by way of drawings, notes, and coloring. (see sample pages here.)

Sucker for a love story:
If I Stayand Where She Wentby Gayle Forman are books written in prose about a girl who has to decided whether she awakes from the coma that came from a car accident that killed her whole family or go to meet them on the other side.  She watches from outside her body as her boyfriend and family members cope with this tragedy.  Readers sit on the edge of their seats the whole time and once she finally decides, you'll need the second book handy because you won't believe what happens next. (reviews for the first and second book here.)

Intrigued by science:
Heavens Bible is the full NIV text, but written at a third grade level so younger children can understand the stories.  With tons of color pictures and Bible-based science explanations, this book will satisfy kids that can't get enough of science class.

// Younger Readers \\
Most popular preschool read in our house:
Hooray for Fish!by Lucy Cousins.  I've talked about my children's love of this book before.  But I also feel like it's worth mentioning that it's fun to read for adults too.  I don't know how many times I dread reading a book one of my daughters picks out to read.  There's nothing worse than a bad children's book that your child wants read ten times a day.  This is not one of those books, guaranteed.

Lover of summer:
Leelah at the Lakeby Pamela Fettig is a perfect year-round read about a sweet little girl, her love for all things outdoors, and how special her summers at the lake are.  This would make a perfect gift for the little girl who would rather be outside than any other place.

Interactive:
The Scribble Bookby Herve Tullet is great for your little artist or any kid that's just really good at scribbling.  I ordered this for Ellie this summer and it became an instant favorite.  The creative things you can create by scribbling makes this a fun book for parents and kids alike.

// For All Ages \\
Starting a Christmas tradition:
One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham is a book we're using to start a new tradition at our house.  For preschoolers and younger elementary aged kids, this tells the Christmas story from creation to the resurrection.  With beautiful pictures and even more beautiful words, we're reading a few pages of this every night leading up to Christmas.  Definitely too long to read in one sitting, but I feel this book is going to become one of our favorite December traditions. 

Reading a series as a family:
The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon.  That's kind of a random suggestion, huh? Here's why I make it: when my sister and I were younger, my father would read to use every night.  He read to us from his copies of The Hardy Boys, books that he had read as a child.  I loved the mysteries, the boys (the Hardy boys might have been my first official book crushes), and the suspense.  You just never knew who the bad guy was!  Truly, you don't have to read this series to your kids, but I am suggesting you grab some books you loved as a kid and read them to your children.  Even if they're old enough to read and might initially scoff at this idea.  They'll soon be begging for storytime, talking about their favorite parts, making predictions, and looking forward to this time spent with you and a book.  It might be the best gift you give them this year.

Speaking of gifts, I've got some for you.  The publisher of One Wintry Night and Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories want the readers of Trusty Chucks to have some books to give as gifts or start their own family traditions.  Just leave a comment below telling me about your favorite childhood book or a special memory you have of reading with your kids.  Good luck!

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DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED & I HAVE BEEN GIFTED SOME BOOKS IN THIS POST BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MINE.

christmas focus + giveaway

Around Christmas last year, I found this on Pinterest. 

It started some conversations and they haven't stopped.  So this year, we've headed into the Christmas season with specific plans and intense focus.

I know that probably sounds a little extreme, but we are determined to make Christmas fun and enjoyable for our kids, but keep the focus on Christ and less on presents.  We still want presents to be a part of our holiday because, come on, it's Christmas and there has to be presents, but we want to be noticeably different as Christians because we're celebrating something more important than a time for presents.

We're focusing more on giving to others (through our church, through families at my school, through donations, etc.) and less on how many presents we can shove under our tree.  Normally, I start Christmas shopping in the summer, slowly putting away gifts when I come across a good deal or something I know someone will love.  It was good for our wallet and made the holidays seem a little less hectic because I felt ahead of the game.

But that process also made it easier to get more gifts for our kids.  Less intentional and more random. More toys than they needed.  Buying stuff to buy stuff.

So this year that has stopped.  I have one present bought as of today.  We are very careful when picking the gifts for our kids this year, making sure each one is special and important because it's only one of four.  It's made shopping different for the better. 

The way we've interpreted the above four-gift rule:
Want: one toy present
Wear: one new outfit
Read: one book or set of books
Need: shoes for Elliott and we're not sure about Harper's need yet.

Isn't that silly?  Harper doesn't even have a need---but in year's past we would have spent a couple hundred dollars giving her new stuff.  And she doesn't even need anything.  It's embarrassing, really.

We've also struggled with the Santa thing: I love the magical Santa idea and the fun that goes with that.  But we don't want to sacrifice the story of Jesus for fun with Santa.  Also, we're aware more than ever about making sure our kids know that things cost money, that Mommy and Daddy worked hard to pay for these gifts, and we need you to be thankful for that God-given ability.  So in the Graham house, Santa brings the stockings (candy, little toys, junk, etc.) and Mommy & Daddy buy the gifts.  I think that's a pretty fair deal. 

My parents and Chris' mom are on-board our four-gift rule also.  It's been encouraging to have our family's support in making these changes and refocusing our Christmas. 

I'm already anxious for Ellie to see the toy we got her---she's going to flip.  Although, she has also talked non-stop about a $250 doll house she saw in a toy catalog and thinks she's getting it.  So that might be a letdown.  What do you and your family do at Christmas?  How do you handle the Santa thing?  Every family is different and this is what works (hopefully) for us--what works for you?

Added bonus (for those of you that made it through this long post): We've been reading a lot about Christmas and one book that has been really helpful in setting the tone for our Christmas is Precious Moments: My Christmas Bible Storybook.  It's full of Bible stories, songs, and texts geared toward young kids that helps make the real Christmas story accessible and tangible.  Ellie especially loves it and since it's a board book, it's survived daily "reads" from a one year old also.  And because 'tis the season for giving, the book's publisher, Thomas Nelson, has offered to give one copy of the book to a lucky Trusty Chucks reader.  All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter giveaway below--good luck!
(sneak peak the book here.)

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DISCLOSURE: I WAS GIFTED THE ABOVE BOOK, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MINE.