Thank you Hachette Book Group for partnering with me on this blog post & for the great giveaway!

My son and his fiancée are raising her to enjoy everything…not just dolls and dresses. I was a tomboy…still am, and love it. Enjoying construction vehicles, camping and offroad are just part of who I am, and I’m glad that I’ll be able to share that with my granddaughter, too. This world is pretty divided still on children playing with certain toys, reading certain books, etc. I want her to be able to enjoy anything, and find the things that mean the most to her. What’s wrong with playing in the mud with a pink dress on, right?

Reading the Wreck the Halls book was so much fun. The author Melinda Rathjen wrote such a fun story and really focused on what is important during the holidays…spending time together and being there for each other. I loved the illustrations by Gareth Williams. The artwork was adorable, and really helped you get into the story. This is definitely a book that I will keep with my holiday décor to enjoy this year, and for years to come. Is there a book that you love reading with your family during the holidays? Leave a comment and let me know.

Get the perfect #Christmas #book for your #children - Wreck the Halls by Melinda Rathjen. #TowTruck #Vehicles #Holiday Enter to #win a copy at
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About Wreck the Halls Book:

Decking the halls turns into a chaotic disaster in this humorous board book about an overeager tow truck who desperately wants to help its friends decorate.
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Tow truck can’t wait to help its friends get into the Christmas spirit. But as tow truck excitedly decorates, wraps, and decks the halls, things turn into a bit of a wreck. Packed with puns and festive cheer, this silly tale will delight little readers. Likewise, parents will appreciate the book’s message that Christmas spirit doesn’t come from pretty decorations or shiny presents, but from the heart.

Product Details:

Publisher ‏ : ‎ WorthyKids (October 4, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Board book ‏ : ‎ 20 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 154600226X / ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1546002260
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 – 5 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool – Kindergarten
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.75 x 6.95 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #109,885 in Books / #417 in Children’s Cars & Trucks Books / #873 in Children’s Christmas Books / #2,475 in Children’s Humor

Enter to Win a Copy of Wreck the Halls:

Melinda Lee Rathjen grew up in southern Illinois, reading past her bedtime whenever she could get away with it. As an editor at WorthyKids, she still spends a lot of time reading, though stealth and flashlights are rarely necessary. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with two very opinionated cats.

Connect With Hachette Book Group:

Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have an affiliation with these said companies, but have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.  Some information from Worthy Kids website.

The post Wreck the Halls Book Review appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Thank you #USFG for partnering with me on this Pleasant Holidays blog post & the chance to win a great giveaway!

Save $100 on family-friendly Hawaii vacations with Pleasant Holidays – USFG’s new travel partner!

I am so excited! I just learned that US Family Guide has partnered with Pleasant Holidays, a leading provider of package vacations. They’re based in the U.S. and have great deals on family vacations worldwide – Hawaii, contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, Tahiti, Fiji and more. They can also book complete cruise vacations with airfare, onboard accommodations, and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays for vacations where everyone can relax and enjoy.

Pleasant Holidays is new to US Family Guide, but has been partnering with hotels and resorts for more than 55 years to get great offers you cannot book anywhere else. When you’re planning to explore close to home or farther afield, make them your one-stop-shop for everything you need: flights, accommodations, car rentals, ground transfers, exciting activities and tours, and travel protection coverage to protect your travel investment (because if parenthood has taught us one thing, it’s to expect the unexpected). And unlike some other online travel providers, they have in-destination customer assistance should you need it.

They’ve currently got a great deal on Hawaii vacations that saves you $100 per booking. Select from 26 hotels and resorts on the four most popular islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and island of Hawaii. Explore the exciting sights of Oahu, including world-famous Waikiki Beach and historic Pearl Harbor. Watch the sun rise from the slopes of a dormant volcano on Maui. Snorkel, hike, kayak, surf, experience Polynesian culture and more. This deal is valid on new vacations booked by 10/30/16 for select travel through 6/30/17 that include round-trip airfare from the continental United States and a stay of five nights or longer at a participating hotel or resort. The $100 savings is per booking and taken at time of booking – no waiting!

For more information or reservations visit www.PleasantHolidays.com, call 1-800-837-5154 or contact your travel agent.

Be sure to keep an eye on my blog page. I’ll be sharing more great deals for memorable family vacations from Pleasant Holidays soon!

Save $100 on Hawaii vacations with #PleasantHolidays Visit @PleasantHoliday for details.
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About Pleasant Holidays:

Founded in 1959, Pleasant Holidays is one of the largest tour operators in the U.S., offering vacation packages, flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, travel protection and related travel services to the world’s most popular destinations including Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Australia , New Zealand, Central America, Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, Canada, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Bora Bora and French Polynesia.

The Company’s portfolio of travel brands includes Pleasant Holidays, Journese, Air By Pleasant and Pleasant Activities. The Pleasant Holidays headquarters are in Westlake Village, California.  This is near Los Angeles with regional offices in San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii with a dedicated team of over 400 employees.

Pleasant Holidays is a subsidiary of the Automobile Club of Southern California, an insurance, financial services, roadside assistance and travel company serving over 14 million AAA Members across 21 states.

Connect With Them:

Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was purchased by me with monetary means, points, or coupons. No portion of the product/service was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post Save $100 on Hawaii Vacations with Pleasant Holidays appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

Let’s Blog It Forward With Wayfair
#BlogItForward #Wayfair #TigerStrypesBlog

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One of the ways that I give back in my local community is by visiting a Senior Center.  I’ve volunteered at our local Senior Center for over 10 years now.  There are a lot of residents who don’t have family in the area, or even some that I’ve known that just have nobody that comes to visit.  It’s been such a blessing to go into that building, and see the smiles on my friend’s faces. I go every Tuesday morning for only about an hour or so, and it has helped me to create friendships that will last forever. Not only with the residents, but their families, as well. I started volunteering, and helping out with taking one of the great residents out for a walk around the building. Something we take so lightly can be seen as super important to some. I am able to help ones that don’t have the opportunity to leave their apartments on their own, to take a few minutes to go out and enjoy the beautiful mountain air, and see the glorious sites of the place that we call home.

I also started going over to another lady’s house, and just stopping in to say “HI”. We became really good friends, and it was such a blessing to spend some time with such an amazing woman. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but I still see her amazing son around town, and it always brings a smile to my face remembering her.  Some of the stories that marvelous woman told me were some I wish that I myself could relive one day.

Another woman that I visit is a local Pastor’s mother, and she is such a blessing to talk to. We used to sit for a really long time before lunch, and put together a puzzle in the corner of one of the main rooms. Now that she’s in her mid 90’s, she is not able to see as well, and is losing her sense of hearing, so we don’t really get to sit and put those pieces together much any more. Just being able to go to her door and say hello, asking her if she needs anything and hear her great saying of “Do you know how much I love you…a bushel and and a peck, and a hug around the neck!” brings joy to my day. I so love that amazing lady!!

Being able to just take a few minutes out of my week, I think can really make such a big difference in someone else’s life. Things we take for granted, we will one day regret – having not taken that extra time to just sit, and enjoy each other’s company. Take a minute out of your day to make that phone call to a special someone, ask a neighbor if there is something that they need help with…or if you know someone who is elderly and alone, send them a card just saying “HI”, or just stop in with some cookies, or another treat that they love. In the end, it will definitely mean so much!!

More About #BlogItForward:

For the month of December, Wayfair is challenging bloggers to spread holiday cheer by doing a good deed. They told us that deeds could include any act of kindness, no matter how big or small. It’s up to us on how we want to give back!

Are you one who would like to #BlogItForward? Grab a badge, write a post on your blog explaining how you gave back, and challenge two of your blogging friends to participate!

For every blog that includes the badge, Wayfair will donate $50 to Habitat for Humanity.

The Blog it Forward challenge will end December 31st, though we encourage everyone to keep spreading acts of kindness beyond that!

About Wayfair:

Wayfair offers a zillion things home. With one of the world’s largest online selections of furniture, home furnishings, décor and goods, including more than seven million products from over 7,000 suppliers, Wayfair helps people find the perfect product at the right price. Our extensive selection and superior customer service coupled with the convenience of online shopping, make it easier than ever before to find exactly what you want for your home at a price you can afford.

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 Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have an affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The info/review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post Let’s Blog It Forward With Wayfair appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.

*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

I recently received these “Old Factory” candles from the “Old Factory” brand, that are sold on Amazon under “Red Rover Naturals”.  I had never heard of this company before, but I’m a sucker for new candles, so the order was easy to place!  I love how their products all come in sets of (3) and would be absolutely perfect for a hostess gift or Christmas gift for a friend.  Here’s what mine looked like:

I loved the packaging and would be so happy to buy these as gifts for a friend….or get them…hint….hint….

They are each about 2 oz., and only about 2″ wide, but perfect for any area.  I also loved how they burned – very evenly and all of them smelled great.  I have had so many candles that are called “pumpkin” in the past and they smell like some cheap perfume, you know what I’m talking about, right?

I had all of this Fall Harvest candle set burning at once in the kitchen, and my husband said it smelled like Maple Syrup.  After that, he wanted pancakes for dinner…oh brother!! ha/ha  The flames on the candles stayed constant, and when you blew them out, the wax dried back in place very well.  I also had accidentally spilled one of the candles wax over the edge, and it was very easy to clean up…and left no stain, at all.

Overall, I am really happy with these “Old Factory” candles, and would definitely recommend the product and the company!

About the Product

FALL HARVEST themed gift set contains 3 different 2 ounce candles. Includes Pumpkin Spice, Cranberry, and Autumn Leaves.  Made in the USA with natural soy wax and self-trimming cotton candle wicks.  Each gift pack comes with 3 fragrance-themed candles. Each of which burns clean for over 20 hours. The subtle jar design makes it the perfect complement for any decor, and any room of the house – kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, family room, great room, basement.  Buy one for yourself, and another for a loved one – just because.  Every purchase is 100% Guranteed. If you are not comlpetely thrilled with the fragrance or appearance of these candles. We insist you send them back (at our expense) and we’ll give you a full refund. No hassles. No headaches. That’s our promise to you.

Old Factory candles are hand-poured in the USA with natural soy wax, self-trimming cotton candle wicks, and premium fragrance oils. The Old Factory Candle Gift Sets each contain 3 different scented candles. Each candle burns clean and even for 20 hours. The subtle jar design makes it the perfect complement for any decor, and any room of the house – kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, family room, great room, and basement. Each gift set is themed around a group of related fragrances. So everyone is sure to find something perfect for every occasion, every room in the house, and all the special someones in your life. Old Factory Candle Gift Sets are sold exclusively on Amazon.

These candle gift sets each contain 3 different scented candles. Each candle burns clean and even for 20 hours. Hand-poured in the USA with natural soy wax, self-trimming wicks, and premium fragrance oils. Each gift set is themed around a group of related fragrances. So everyone is sure to find something perfect for every occasion, every room in the house, and all the special someones in your life.

Here’s some more of what they offer (some of which, I DO NOT approve of, but most, I’m sure, are great products) :

Win Some For Yourself:

About Red Rover Naturals Brand:

Red Rover Naturals is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service.  Products are sold exclusively on Amazon.

I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience, I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

The post “Old Factory Candles” Are The Perfect Gift! appeared first on TigerStrypes Blog.