Candy Cane Hand Cream & Candy Cane Lip Balm from Good Earth Beauty Exclusives - All Natural & Vegan [Review & Giveaway]

HAND CREAM CANDY CANE (New) (find it here)

Good Earth Beauty Exclusives
Hand Creams $14.00

It's that time of year again! Break out the red and white stripped peppermints or candy cane mint. Minty candy canes. Melt-in-your-mouth mints. Just lots of goodies chock full of the deliciously refreshing mint.

And now the good folks at Good Earth Beauty Exclusives has created joyful, refreshing Candy Cane Mint Hand Cream and Candy Cane Mint Lip Balm. Let's take a look... ...

And while it captures the essence of zinging mint, this hand cream is not overpowering. It is, however, a fantastic and hard working hand cream that has a silkiness and feel of elegance on your hands.

As with other Good Earth Beauty Exclusives Hand Creams, I highly recommend.

Remember, it is #natural and #vegan and rich in wonderful oils and butters that tenderly care for hard working hands.

Why  not tell your hands you love them by lavishing them with this lovely hand cream?

Product information (from Good Earth Beauty): 

Our lavish, modern hand cream repairs dry skin and cuticles, leaving behind the perfectly elegant scent of candy cane. To heal cracked skin, you only need a small drop of this cream, which has aloe, macadamia-seed and olive oils, and shea butter. It's deceptively thin for such a hydrating formula, and it leaves hands soft and supple for the entire day. Perfect for holiday gifts or stocking stuffers.

Free of: parabens, pesticides, petroleum, propylene glycol, phthalates, sulfates, artificial colors.

Made in small batchesin the USA by Good Earth Beauty -  4 oz Tube Price: $14.00

Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Sunflower Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Mango Butter, Organic, Evening Primrose Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Rose Hip Oil, Chamomile, Grapeseed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Radish Root Ferment (Natural Preservative), Proprietary Blend Of Natural Fragrance Oils.

Candy Cane Mint Lip Balm - Natural & Vegan (find it here)

As the song goes.... "Baby It's Cold Outside" and you lips just simply don't like that. So beware and be warned that you need to take care of your lips during wintry weather. So.. what better way to do it than with a delicious minty lip balm.

Good Earth Beauty Exclusives
Lip Balms $6.25 each

You color your lips. But what else do you do for your lips besides color them? Sometimes our lipstick provides softening oils that help care for them. But often not enough for overcoming the harshness of weather extremes.

That takes a powerful yet natural and gentle product. Good Earth Beauty Exclusives line of lip balms are just that. These Lip Balms have the potential to soften, soothe, beautify our lips and protect them from the harshness that shifts in weather throw our way.

The Candy Cane Mint Lip Balm has just a hint mint that helps you conjure images of sweetness and delights.

I highly recommend and I encourage you to get one for yourself and several for stocking stuffers and party favors. (Hint: there are lots of fragrances in these lip balms that all those sweet little girls - big girls, too - will simply love to have several of.)

Product information: Vegan - natural -  soothing and moisturizing - helps heal chapped lips. Seasonal scent Great for summer.  Slather over your lips for the cool feeling of eating a fresh strawberry. Sweet flavor. Made by Good Earth Beauty Price $6.25

Ingredients: Meadowfoam oil, olive oil, avocado butter, candellia wax, vitamin E, natural flavor oil

Don't wait to see if you win it! Go ahead & shop for it on GOOD EARTH BEAUTY where your USA order SHIPS FREE. And to sweeten the shopping trip, take 10% off using VERA10 discount code.

GIVEAWAY
1 Full Size Candy Cane Mint Hand Cream
1 Candy Cane Mint Lip Balm

Begins December 2

Ends December 18 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given after I have personally used it. Winner's prize is provided and shipped by publicist or GoodEarthBeauty.com directly to the winner.

Wintry reads for the kiddies from Candlewick Press: "The Shortest Day" & "The Snow Leopard" [Review & Giveaway]

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Carson Ellis (Candlewick Press 32 pages – Ages 4-8)

#1 New Release in Children's Non-religious Holiday Books

My thoughts:  This is quite an interesting book for children with engaging pictures that lend mystery and awe to the mythical giant legend tends to have wander Earth shortening the days and bringing the dark and the peoples methods of coping with their fears of the loss of light and the increase of darkness.

This legend or myth is most prevalent in the far north where the days become almost completely lost to the dark.

The joy they feel as the light begins to return is captured in the text and illustrations.

This is a good presentation of the ways peoples have dealt with their feelings as the days wax and wane with the passing of the seasons.

About the book: In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper’s beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis’s strikingly resonant illustrations.

As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!

Snow Leopard: Ghost of the Mountains by Justin Anderson and illustrated by Patrick Benson (Candlewick Press 32 pages – Ages 5-8)

My thoughts: The illustrations beautifully capture the soft starkness of the mountain ranges covered in snow as the Snow Leopard roams and preys blending so thoroughly that he is considered a "ghost."

 The Snow Leopard's story of life in the Himalayas is beautifully told with gentle respect for this large cat who has strength, agility, thick-warm fur, and cunning abilities that enable it to live at heights of 18,000' conserving its energy.

The salient facts tucked away as asides separate from the storyline are so interesting. It would be such a treat to be able to see (and touch, but impossible, of course) one of these fantastic creatures.

I highly recommend this book for libraries everywhere.

About the book: Look! A line of paw prints in the snow. Follow the tracks to see the rare and utterly majestic snow leopard and visit her secret world.

The people who live among the high peaks of the Himalayas tell stories of a mysterious animal called the gray ghost. To see one, you’d have to be very lucky indeed. Join a zoologist in the Himalayan mountains as he searches for the elusive creature. With her pale gold and silver-gray coat painted with black rosettes, she blends so well into the boulders, it’s no wonder she’s thought of as a ghost of the mountains. But the fortunate few who spot her are rewarded with a sight they will never forget. Written by an expert with firsthand experience, beautifully illustrated, and interwoven with fascinating facts, this vicarious look at a breathtaking animal includes an end note suggesting resources to explore.

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners Each 2 Books
Begins November 27 

Ends December 20  at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA and CANADA addresses.
NO P.O. Boxes. Canadian winners must provide phone number.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given. Giveaway copies are provided by and sent directly to the winners by the publisher or publicist.

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason

My thoughts: I have had such fun and enjoyment reading this set of four novellas. Usually, I prefer full length novels, but do have a fondness for the shorter, less involved reads that novellas present to the reader. These were not joyful, happy, luvy-duvy stories. They were tense, action stories and all were set in the fictional quaint, small town Tanner Hollow in North Carolina.

The characters throughout the four novellas were connected just as you might expect them to be in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, (and their business) and there is a lot of kinship going on. The author, Lynette Eason, did a good joy of interweaving, yet not being repetitive, the livelihoods and connections that the people had with each other.

As I was reading, I found it easy to feel the tension and empathize with the heroines as they were involved with people and events that placed them in peril. I also found it handsomely fun giving me warm-fuzzy feeling when we had heroes of various types step in and rescue or solve problems for those in dire need.

I thoroughly enjoyed these light, but intense, and short reads. They filled a need in my life right now when I need interesting, short diversionary reads.

About the book:

Four novellas from bestselling author Lynette Eason take you to the town of Tanner Hollow and the men and women who keep it safe, trusting each other with their lives—and sometimes their hearts. Four nail-biting novellas in one!

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help--but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Beloved Christmas songs with Clear Sound Music Chip Technology board books for children

Just in time for the holidays: wonderful new Christmas titles from Smart Kidz, freshly redesigned with improved sound quality! A delightful addition to a family’s celebrations this season.

These beloved children's books now use ClearSound XL Sound Chip Technology, so you get crystal-clear music – along with darling illustrations  in the sing-along books. Books have a small on/off switch on the back and they offer free replacement batteries.

O Little Town of Bethlehem 

My thoughts: Cute illustrations tell the story and the colors jump out at you from dark backgrounds. Appropriate and visually engaging. The book tells in rhyme about the birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds, the three wise men.The star that shown brightly.

The push button for music activation is a "star" with a radiant light. The last page of the book gives the first verse of the beloved Carol with the light of the star shinning down upon the beloved Christ Child.

I highly recommend this as a sturdy, engaging, book and the sound is great!

About the book: This adorable book celebrates the birth of Jesus through the joy of a beloved Christmas carol. As you listen to the carol, you can read the ancient story of the first visitors who traveled to Bethlehem to worship the Christ Child. Inspired by this traditional carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" features new rhyming verses that give meaning to the wonderful traditions of Christmas and a caroling choir that sings the song. The combination of the children's choir, rhyming verses, and charming illustrations will captivate and delight young children. Find it at Barnes & Noble

Jingle Bells

My thoughts:  Jingle Bells is simply a long loved wintry song that we usually sing at Christmas time. It has absolutely nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas, but it is a lot of fun.

Kiddies can see everyone engaged in a romp over the fields of snow riding a bright sleigh pulled by frisky horses.

This is a fun book and the music is lively and clear sounding and cheerful singing. The push button doesn't light up on this one but has a bell design to it.

Cute book and lots of fun.

About the book: Composed by James Pierpoint in 1857, is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. During the winter in pre-automobile days, a horse-drawn sleigh was the typical way to get around town. To avoid collisions at blind intersections, it was common to adorn horses' harnesses with straps that had bells attached. Inspired by this popular Christmas song, Jingle Bells will engage children's imaginations as they take a magical sleigh ride in the snow at Christmastime. Also, Jingle Bells features new verses that give meaning to the wonderful traditions of Christmas and a caroling choir that sings the favorite song. Find it at Barnes & Noble.

Two other titles in this line of Clear Sound musical board books are: "Silent Night" and "Joy To the World." All are available at your favorite book seller.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Heart & Home for Christmas Celebrating Joy in Your Living Space by Victoria Duerstock

My thoughts:  Again, the Heart & Home book is simply beautiful and just packed with lovely decorating scenes that will help you envision how you can take what you have, or get something to add to what you already have and create a loving, lovely and relaxing home that is welcoming to friends and family.

Victoria Duerstock has created a book that is a true devotional and combined it with her decorating skills and suggestions and tips. You won't feel intimidated by this professional decorator. True, we can't all have homes filled with the lovely furniture and accouterments that are shown, but the tips and sweet presentation help us to realize that it is the loving atmosphere we create that counts and brings the Heart to the Home.

Each daily devotional has a topic and related Scripture. Much of the focus is on the nativity and the age old stories we all know and love. But we are drawn to thoughts about our "Mighty God" (page.55) where the statement, "There is nothing in my life that God's Might cannot conquer" fills one's heart and soul with joy and comfort at this magnificent promise.

And then later in the book we are encouraged to "Bear Each Other's Burdens" and the tip for this page is not about decorating, it is about bearing other's burdens - a widow who needs some help, a person who needs a meal, someone who needs your company and a meal. Encourage! (page 179)

And Ms. Duerstock also addresses being mindful of "The Joy Snatchers." Oh there are so many Joy Snatchers. Let God's love pervade your being and chase the Joy Snatchers.

This makes a lovely book for your own home to place on a table in your living room or on a bedside table in a guest bedroom. It is also a lovely gift for a lady to whom you wish to be a bearer of God's Light and His Joy. May you reap bountifully from your own ownership and the sharing and gifting of these God directed thoughts with others.

About the book: As a writer, teacher, and speaker with a busy work and family life, Victoria Duerstock understands that all the tasks of the holiday season can make it easy to forget the true joy that Christmas can bring.

In Heart & Home for Christmas, Duerstock brings her mission to inspire hope for God's purpose, and her 20 years of experience in the furniture and design industry together, connecting Scripture with design elements and easy decorating tips in a way that reflects the true spirit of Christmas. The devotions and holiday decorating tips will encourage spiritual growth and inspiration to have both a captivating heart and home at Christmas.

About the author: Victoria Duerstock is a writer, blogger, teacher, and speaker. Her mission is to inspire hope and ignite bigger dreams for God’s purpose in each of our stories. She has a master’s degree in music, but ended up working in the furniture industry for more than twenty years and loves to make connections between our home environments and our spiritual lives. Victoria writes at Encouraging Women Today, Everything’s Gravy, Creative Corner, and Serious Writer Academy and also has contributed to devotionals for Worthy. She lives in Nesbit, Mississippi, with her husband, and they have three children.

Learn more about Victoria at: www.victoriaduerstock.com

Follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/VDuerstock

Twitter,  https://twitter.com/vduerstock

Instagram www.instagram.com/vduerstock

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

North America: A Fold-Out Graphic History by NYT Best Selling Author Sarah Albee (What on Earth Books) [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  What a terrific book! This ingenious timeline style book covers a mass amount of history it is simply mind boggling. Most of us at some time in our lives have read, studied, or created a timeline of sorts. The author and artist of North America: A Fold-Out Graphic History have done an extensive and creative work.

Based on archaeological discoveries, the author has created a timeline that really goes back to early man and how they lived on the North American continent. Assumptions are made about life in North America. Actual known history that is documented would only cover a small percentage of the space this timeline covers when examined along with the original habitats, or native peoples and the history given as they developed and migrated.

While this vast historical span is great information to study, that which covers the last 1,000 years or so would be better comprehended. Perhaps separate books. 

The pages should be spread out for better comprehension of the flow of events and achievements portrayed by archaeological finds. The bites of information are interesting but are quite jumbled onto the pages. For some, this might be a deterrent. For others, not a problem. 

Illustrations are simplified and coloration is somewhat rustic rather than colorful.

I found the book and information interesting and look forward to sharing it with my grand children.

About the book: Featuring a unique fold out format that can be read as a book or unfolded onto the floor, North America emphasizes the diversity of the continent’s population and helps readers explore the rich and often surprising history of the peoples of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean — a story never before included in one book.

North American history unfolds in this graphic timeline that places the United States, Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean histories in the context of their continent, including:

• From healers in the Aleutian islands in 10,000 BCE to the first to cultivate corn in 3,000 BCE in Mexico, to Canadian scientists studying butterfly migration in 1975
• From the Aztecs of the city of Tenochtitlan to the Mississippians who built Cahokia to the Inuit of the arctic and the Taino of the Caribbean.
• The Spanish, French, English, and other Europeans who invaded in the 1500s, the enslaved Africans forcibly brought to our shores, and millions more, from all around the world.

This is the story of creation and destruction, migration, exploration, conquest, wars, alliances, trade, governments, railroads, mutinies, panning for gold, invention, and art. It includes terrible injustices and amazing movements toward equality and freedom, and so much more. Created in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, the graphic novel style illustrations by William Exley coupled with Albee’s signature pithy, accessible text results in an engrossing, visually stunning reference book for both home and classroom use.

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 19

Ends December 20 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provide and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Personal Note: While I do not agree with all information and premises in the books I review, I personally believe a broad understanding of today's thinking is important for me and our children should be exposed to various information even that which is contrary to our own faith, beliefs, or knowledge for a broad education.

Holiday candles bring fragrant joy to your seasonal celebrations [Review & Giveaway]

The fact is that candles make great hostess or birthday gifts or simply a gift to yourself. They smell yummy when just spending a night at home alone or having guests over.

The soft glow of a candle brings heart-warming feelings to a room benefiting all within. When you add to that a scent that invokes memories of beloved flavors, the ambiance grows exponentially.

And then when you know that the soft glow of a lovely smelling candle is made with ingredients that won't harm you and your loved ones, your heart nearly bursts with joy and pride.

Softly glowing flame ignites feelings of peace, hope, joy withing one's heart.

These soy candles are simply made of natural ingredients and the ambiance of flavors is from pure essential oils that tantalize the memory and your senses.

And there are so many delectable flavors from which you may choose. I have some favorites. What would yours be?

Opening the box to find 4 delightful candles!

Let's look at the real perks of these candles.....

• Soy
• Cotton wicks
• All natural
• No perfumes - delightful aromas are from pure essential oils from plants
• Glass recyclable jars

ALL NATURAL SOY CANDLE

Good Earth Beauty Exclusives' all natural, soy based, slow burning candle will help you relax and enjoy the moment.  Soy based with natural fragrance and essential oils. Choose from a variety of scents.  Glass jar - 4 Ounces - Burn Time 20 Hours

These make perfect gifts to take to your hostess for celebrations of birthdays & events. Or simply to bring a warm glow to your own home.

Free of:  parabens, pesticides, petroleum, propylene glycol, phthalates, sulfates, artificial colors. Made in small batches in the US by Good Earth Beauty 

Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Sunflower Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Tamanu Oil, Organic Borage Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Organic, Evening Primrose Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Rose Hip Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Wildcrafted Arnica Montana, Chamomile, Grapeseed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Radish Root Ferment (Natural Preservative),  proprietary blend of natural fragrance oils

You'll want to order yours now so you don't miss out on these seasonal candles as well as those that are in demand year round.

DISCOUNT CODE: VERA10 

gives you a 10% discount on your entire purchase.
This is a special "Chat With Vera" code but feel free to share. 

And as always.... SHIPS FREE IN USA

Shop: GoodEarthBeauty.com

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners - 1 Candle Each

Begins November 18

Ends December 14 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.
If you have won a GEB giveaway here on Chat With Vera in the past 30 days, you are ineligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary products to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by GoodEarthBeauty.com or its publicist.