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Virtual Book Club: Educated, A Memoir by Tara Westover

We are four months into our online, Virtual Book Club, and I’m having a blast. Our newest selection is Educated, a Memoir by Tara Westover. The book is 352 pages.

Note: As an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Giveaway

Last month, I raffled off a copy of An American Marriage to one of our book club participants. This month, I will randomly choose a winner of this month’s book selection. Make sure to join the My Purse Strings Virtual Book Club Facebook Group to see how to enter.

Why I Selected Educated, A Memoir

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Splendid Spoon Review: Vegan Soups and Smoothies

I became a fan of Splendid Spoon years before I understood their philosophy. I regularly ordered their soups from Fresh Direct, an online grocery delivery service in New York. I began to substitute their soups, packed with nutrients, for my dinners a few times per week. However, Fresh Direct has a limited selection and I wondered where else I could buy them. I researched the company and learned all about their programs.

I’ve never embraced cleansing or trendy diets. I believe in clean eating and long-term lifestyle changes, as does Splendid Spoon.

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy for more information.

What is Splendid Spoon?

Splendid Spoon is a vegan, plant-based food company, located in Brooklyn, New York, that delivers nationwide. However, unlike other meal plans, you supplement with your own healthy dinners and snacks. This plan works for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers.

With your order of the Splendid Spoon 2.0 Program, you receive a six-day supply of smoothies and soups. One day, you “cleanse,” drinking and eating soups throughout the day. On another, you “wander” and take a day off. When you wander and cleanse is up to you. With a rotating menu, you can order as often as you want without repeating the same foods. There’s no cooking, other than heating the soups.

Splendid Spoon Program

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20 Gorgeous Rose Gold Gift Ideas

Gold is making a comeback. And, I can’t get enough. This coming from the girl who despised yellow gold in the 8o’s and 90’s. Rose gold has earned a special place in my heart.

I’m not the only one. From office supplies to electronics to iPhones to engagement rings, you can find rose gold gifts at any price point. Just remember, a pop of rose gold goes a long way. A step too far and you’re channeling Liberace.

Mother’s Day is almost here. Here are some great gifts for you or a mom in your life.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, I may receive a small commission.

The Ultimate Rose Gold Gift List

1. Tessa Stone Stud Earrings by Kendra Scott

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Virtual Book Club: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

I can’t believe it’s already time to announce the third book selection for our Virtual Book Club: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones.

The book is 320 pages.

Note: As an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

I first learned about this book prior to its release in February and immediately decided that it would make a great book club selection. Leave it to Oprah to steal my idea for her book club. Hmph!

Giveaway

Last month, I raffled off a copy of Moloka’i to one of our book club participants. This month, I will randomly choose a winner of this month’s book selection. Make sure to join the My Purse Strings Virtual Book Club Facebook Group to see how to enter.

Why I Selected An American Marriage

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Virtual Book Club: Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

I’m excited to announce our second My Purse Strings Virtual Book Club selection, the novel Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. (Note, there are several books with this title so make sure you get the right one). Last month, we read Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.

The book is 405 pages.

Note: As an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Giveaway

Last month, I gave away a copy of Small Great Things as part of a Twitter contest. This month, I will give away one copy of Moloka’i during our live discussion of Small Great Things on Facebook.

Why I Selected Moloka’i

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Valentine’s Day Gifts for Married Couples: Keeping it Real

Let me start off by saying I love my husband and we have a great marriage. But we don’t get overly romantic on Valentine’s Day. It seems that way with many of my married friends.

Plus, my anniversary, the holidays, my husband’s birthday and Valentine’s Day all occur within weeks of one another. My husband calls Valentine’s Day a Hallmark holiday, but we still exchange cards. Sometimes, I get flowers.

For my kids, on the other hand, it’s a week-long holiday, with parties, cards, treats, and gifts.

And, after 10 years of marriage, when we exchange gifts, these are the gifts I choose to give.

Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a small commission if you purchase through one of my links.

Keeping it Real on Valentine’s Day for “Old” Married Couples

1. Cards

I Love You With All My Butt (I would say heart, but my butt is bigger)

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Ten Books to Inspire Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem in Kids

When I was a kid, we didn’t hand out Valentines to everyone in our class (and they were not at all Pinterest worthy). In sports, we didn’t all receive trophies for participating. And, we didn’t have to feel guilty about not inviting the entire class to our birthday parties. Egos got bruised for sure.

Oh, how times have changed.

Despite our best efforts to protect our children’s feelings, there will come the day when your child will be excluded. There’s no way around it. Maybe it’s a party, an outing somewhere, or a friend leaves him off of a group text. Only now, social media makes the exclusions all the more apparent and has the power to crush their little souls like nothing else.

Sure, we encourage our kids to include others, to be empathetic, and to stand up for their friends and classmates. But we can’t always shield them from rejection, nor should we want to, as difficult as it may be to witness. Rather, we want them to come out the other side, stronger and more confident. (Note: I am not talking about bullying, an entirely different issue).

Sometimes, books say it better than we can, and at the very least, may open up talking points with our children.

Books that Inspire Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem:

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Virtual Book Club: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

For our first My Purse Strings Virtual Book Club selection, we will be reading Jodi Picoult’s SMALL GREAT THINGS.

The book is 481 pages.

Note: As an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Giveaway

I told you there will be prizes and surprises along the way. Follow me on Twitter where I will be giving away a copy of this book. To enter the Giveaway, click here.

Why I Selected SMALL GREAT THINGS

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Introducing the My Purse Strings Virtual Book Club

I was an English major, an English teacher, I read during my long commutes, I finished books on vacation. And then I had kids and it all stopped. My free time consisted of watching the news, Netflix binging and getting sucked into social media.

Joining a book club may have singlehandedly done more to improve my sanity than anything else since becoming a parent.

I can go and on about the benefits of book clubs. Instead, I want you to experience it for yourself. I invite you all to join our . . . [Read more…]

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Everything You Need to Know about the Peloton Tread

I wanted to attend 2018 CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas but couldn’t make it happen this year. Luckily, my in-laws are there, taking notes, sending pictures, and keeping me updated. Of course, I sent them straight to the Peloton Tread. So based on my informants and my own research, along with several telephone conversations with Peloton representatives at CES, here’s. . .

The Peloton Tread in a Nutshell:

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