People share with us how much their angel means to them and how their angels are great additions to their families (and classrooms!) In honor and appreciation of your kind words, we created the Angel Scavenger Hunt for you. The fall season is a perfect time to get outside with your angel and go on a scavenger hunt.

You can find the scavenger hunt and a bunch of other activities on the Kids page of our website. I've also included the hunt here too.

What else did you find on your scavenger hunt? An angel shaped cloud, leaf, or rock? Let us know! Tag us with your pictures of being in the great outdoors. 

Remember when you come inside, get a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Yum!

#scavengerhunt #angelfinds #fall #season #outside #angels #meaningful #whereisyourangel #elf #angelonthemantle #shelf #classrooms #pictures
​#warmdrink #angelbooksforkids

Yay, today is Wingsday! We were fluttering about around here wondering what we could do to make your Wingsday a little more special. Wanna know what we came up with? Since the holidays are on our heels and everyone knows life is better with an angel, we came up with offering you all a special.

For a limited time, we are offering free shipping on orders UNDER $50. That way you don't have to buy a lot of merchandise to get free shipping. You can buy one book or you can buy the 2 book - 1 angel set and get free shipping on them.

Usually the only time there is free shipping is when we are at a market or community event near you. Now, from the convenience of your home you can start your angel's mission and send it on it's way for FREE. Enter "freeship". Simple as that!

#freeshipping #angelbooks #booksforkids #angel #startmission #elf #angelonthemantle #special #wingsday

Do your kids ever bug you to buy a video game or download an app that ALL the kids in school are playing? As a parent, we need to be vigilant about what our kids are playing, watching, and doing and for how long they are playing, watching, and doing these things. And to add one more to the list- we need to be aware of who they are doing these things with.

Noted psychologist, Dr. James Dobson, whose books on child rearing have impacted how my husband and I raise our kids ("Bringing Up Boys" is a favorite) recently discussed an alarming international survey.

He cautions parents about how much time their kids are on any form of media. This major international study shows a direct correlation between a child's exposure to violent content and his or her aggressive, often violent behavior exhibited later in life.

We all want the best for our kids and sometimes that means saying "no" despite their constant requests. Be firm, be fair, be loving. They may not appreciate it in the right now but it is better for them, and you, in the long run.

To hear the results of this survey (and find other tips on parenting and marriage) on Dr. Dobson's website go to this link:

www.drjamesdobson.org/media/parenting-and-marriage-videos/kids-watching-violence

#drjamesdobson #parenting #sayingno #videos #violence #raisingkids #angelbooksforkids #angelwatchingoverme #angels #peaceloveangels #buyerbeware

For some getting a flu shot is as routine as visiting the dentist. For others they swear the flu shot gave them the flu and they avoid it at all costs. Dr. Deepa Sukumar, our "resident pediatrician," weighs in on the flu shot and kids. 

(Consult a pediatrician from the comfort of your home 24/7. www.gracemdconnect.com)

Flu shot - need to know facts

• The injectable form of the flu vaccine is recommended to all children 6 months or older. Flu shot (not the spray) has provided consistent protection against most strains of flu.
• The flu vaccine your child will receive during this season is against the viruses research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The flu vaccine cannot prevent flu that is caused by a viral strain that is not covered by the vaccine.
• The vaccine is also known to reduce the risk of hospitalizations and flu-related death in children.
• CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October because your child needs at least 2 weeks for the antibodies against influenza virus to be developed. 
• Children 6 months to 8 years need 2 doses of flu shots if it is their first time getting the vaccine. Everyone else needs only one dose per season.
• Children with asthma, seizure disorders, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes or blood disorders have relatively high risk of flu-related complications and will need the flu shot.
• The flu shot is also recommended in pregnant women, and it helps protect the newborn since the antibodies are transferred to the baby in the womb. They can receive the vaccine anytime during pregnancy.
• Children who have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu shot before or, are allergic to the components of the flu shot, should not receive the vaccine. Also if your child has ever had GBS (Guillain Barre - Syndrome), he/she cannot get the flu shot.
• If your child is allergic to eggs, you must talk to your pediatrician and get his/her recommendation regarding receiving the flu vaccine.
• Finally, there is no live virus in the flu shot. So your child cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

(CDC.gov is a good site to get more info regarding the flu vaccine.)
#flushot #pediatrician #kids #healthy #fluvaccine #angels #booksforkids #angelbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #elf #shelf #stayhealthy #divine

Last week we were out in the community sharing all things angels. Kids enjoy the angels, the stories, and the activities. Some of the kids even colored pictures for me. (So sweet!) I told one boy his coloring page was going to be on my fridge. See some of the fun below.

#kidsandangels #angelfun #angelbooks #angelactivities #angelstories #community #kids #coloringpages #fridge #angelwatchingoverme

Isn't apple season great?!? Especially if they are covered in caramel. Yum! In case you happen to have some apples in your kitchen we have a healthy Angel Apple Treat for you to try. Although there is no caramel on this one it is still yummy. One of our sweet angel fans shared it with us and we want to share it with you and your family.

It is just three ingredients: apple slices, pretzel sticks, and a blueberry.

Take two apple slices and use them as your angel wings. (Just like the angel's wings in the Where Is Your Angel?™ series of books.)
Take one pretzel stick and use it as the body.
Take two pretzel sticks and use them as the arms.
Take two pretzel sticks and use them as the legs.
Place the blueberry in the middle of the apple slices for the angel's head.
Viola! You have just made your Angel Apple Treat!

A sweet shout out to Levi for sharing his creation with us! It's simple and prefect!

How about you? Do you or your budding chefs have some angel treat ideas to share? Send them our way and we will pass them along.

#yummy #angelappletreat #apples #easy #harvest #angels #sweettreat #share #fun #angelfan #angelsmakeitbetter #peaceloveangels #angelbooks
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Don't know about you, but I'm guessing you like free stuff as much as me. Well, there was a decision made without yours or my input that is effecting how much free stuff we get every month. In response, we had to start a petition (or better spelled "petishun") on change.org.

It seems certain bovines (or they are probably chickens) at ChickfilA headquarters think an App is better than a hugely successful much loved Cow Calendar. We strongly disagree and we have drafted a petishun stating same.

We strongly encourage all of you who love free to sign our petishun to keep the calendarz coming. To read, sign, and comment go to the link:

https://www.change.org/p/carol-williams-cfacorp-com-saye-it-aint-sew-cow-calenderz-kant-go-2-pastshure

#savethecalendar #cowcalendarz #muststay #freeeverymonth #savethacows #angels #peaceloveangels #bringemback

The angels are coming to The Villages today from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Temple Shalom. The Sisterhood at the Temple is having their sought after Market today. The address is 13563 County Road 101. Oxford, FL. Come out and see us we have great show specials today and you can enter to win! 

#angels #kidsangelbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #iloveangels #peaceloveangels #market

I'd like to give a shout out to something that is usually left out of the conversation but has such a big impact. Let's give a shout out to giving things up. Yes, I said it. Instead of getting and keeping, let's give some things up.

Let's give up being irritated at the same thing that happens all the time. So the light is ALWAYS red when you are there and it is the LONGEST light ever! Take that time to pause and reflect on your surroundings. A pedestrian walking, the a/c or heat that works in your car that keeps you comfortable, the beautiful sky, the melodious song playing on the radio, the colors, the landscape. Take this time to breath in a moment where all you can do is stop. Give up being irritated at the light (or the kids yelling in the car.)

One night we were at church and my oldest got injured. They were doing a skit with ropes or twine or something and boys will be boys...my child had visible injuries on his face and back. The kids' director was apologetic. I tongue in cheek said, if it's too quiet in our house I tell the kids, "Will someone please hurt someone? It just doesn't feel like home unless there's some fighting going on." Accidents happen. People fight. It's not all daffodils and rose petals.

Give up gasping that kids hurt each other and parents roll with it. Give up trying to be perfect and demanding your kids be perfect (or pretty gosh darn close to it.) Fathers at the ball field yelling at their kids playing a game are taking things too seriously. Give it up. The kids are learning many things playing a team sport. Don't ruin it by adding stress to it. Give it up.

So many things we can give up so that we can have more. It's an oxymoron. I love oxymorons and the ironies of life. When we give up irritations, false expectations (that set us or others up for failure), and unreasonable demands, we get peace. We get to see things we missed because our eyes were on getting not giving up.

Today think about what you can give up. You will feel lighter. The burden won't be so heavy. Your steps will have more intention. It will feel so good. Today I'm giving up trying to get my point across. I will listen more and consider other's point of view before trying to come up with an answer. I might even get crazy and say to someone - or my husband, "You are right." (gasp!!)

So let's give it up for giving  it up! 

#giveitup #gasp #irritations #moment #soright #quiet #shoutout #angels
#angelbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #elf