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Bad Boys for Hire: Nick by Rachelle Ayala

December 9, 2016March 18, 2023 ellen 4 Comments Books

Looking for a steamy romance that features a paraplegic? Find out what I thought about Bad Boys for Hire. Bad Boys for Hire This Christmas, paraplegic Carol Cassidy is caught between the naughty and the nice: a hired Santa and a disabled firefighter. Posts may be sponsored. This post contains affiliate links, which means I […]

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My Biggest Ever Christmas Activity Book

December 7, 2016March 17, 2023 ellen 1 Comment Books
My Biggest Ever Christmas Activity Book

When it’s cold outside, it’s nice to light up the fire in the fireplace, grab some colored pencils and a hot cup of cocoa and color with your kids. My Biggest Ever Christmas Activity Book is filled with hours of holiday fun and is just perfect for a snowy day. My Biggest Ever Christmas Activity […]

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Scrappy the Dog by Ronald and Juanita Destra

December 6, 2016August 11, 2023 ellen 2 Comments Books
The story of Scrappy shows us how life can change quickly and unexpectedly. It teaches children that life can be sad and happy at different points, but that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It also touches on issues like bullying and peer-pressure.

There is just something so heartwarming about a dog story. They do, after all, say that dogs are man’s best friend. I’ve definitely found that to be true over my lifetime and that’s probably why I love dogs so much even today.  Scrappy the Dog by Ronald and Juanita Destra This children book tells the […]

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Celebrate Gifting with a FaithBox Book of the Month

December 6, 2016March 14, 2023 ellen Leave a comment Gifts
Celebrate Gifting with a FaithBox Book of the Month

Learn more about Faithbox Book of the Month. Find out how you can read Christian devotionals to become closer to God and His Word. Posts may be sponsored. This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. As […]

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth’s Last Stand

December 6, 2016March 13, 2023 ellen Movies

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic that is well loved by children of all ages. When you’re looking for DVDs to add to your collection, I wanted to let you know about a new TMNT available on DVD. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth’s Last Stand The crime-fighting Turtles are back and ready to fight […]

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Deluxe Beauty Salon Playset with Lighted Mirror

December 5, 2016March 11, 2023 ellen Leave a comment toys
Deluxe Beauty Salon Playset with Lighted Mirror

I remember when my daughter was younger. She used to spend hours playing with her favorite beauty salon playset. It’s always fun for little girls to emulate the behaviors of their parents. Since I generally wear makeup, allowing her to pretend to dress up was loads of fun for us both. Posts may be sponsored. […]

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The Snow Queen Illustrated by Charlotte Cooke

December 5, 2016March 10, 2023 ellen Leave a comment Books
The Snow Queen Illustrated by Charlotte Cooke

I’m not sure if I’ve ever read about Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen when I was little. I guess I’ve been hiding under a rock because it didn’t occur to me that Frozen was based off this story. This version is way different than Disney’s Frozen for sure, but I can see how they […]

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Tommy the Giraffe by Ronald Destra

December 5, 2016March 9, 2023 ellen Leave a comment Books
Tommy thinks of himself as the clumsiest giraffe in the world. Try as he may, he can't stay upright for too long before taking a tumble. The other animals call him terrible nicknames and that's what hurts him the most. He's too tall to run away and hide, so he must find another way to deal with the ridicule. When Tommy sees a storm coming in the distance, he warns the other animals and they all take shelter. He is surprised to discover that his helpfulness has earned him some new friends. He bravely begins to do more for others. Being useful inspires him to look beyond his awkward height and all the ways he is different. Not everyone in the Savanna is thankful, of course, some animals would love to eat him, but that doesn't stop Tommy from doing his best every day. One day, poachers are heading toward Tommy and his friends. This puts the community's safety in danger! Motivated by love, Tommy realizes he is able to safeguard the lives of others and, in turn, learns something about himself that is very surprising. Vividly illustrated, Tommy the Giraffe is a heartwarming story children of all ages will relate to. It teaches valuable lessons about grace, purpose and caring about others in spite of their actions, while emphasizing the importance of accepting and loving ourselves.

One of my kids’ favorite types of books, when they were little, was books about animals. It’s always so much fun to imagine animals living lives like we do and imagining them talking and dealing with some of the things we do. Animal stories can also be a great way for children to learn social […]

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Fluffy the Bird by Ronald & Juanita Destra

December 2, 2016March 21, 2023 ellen 2 Comments Books
Fluffy the bird sang the most beautiful music, everyone who had the pleasure of hearing him was delighted. He truly had a gift!Was this what Fluffy was meant to do? Did he have a purpose? Was his voice a way to make the world a brighter place?

Have you ever wondered what your purpose was in this world? If it’s a question that you’ve asked yourself, imagine how confusing it can be to a child to wonder the same thing. This new book helps address some of these questions in a fun way that kids can relate to. Fluffy the Bird by […]

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The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann

December 2, 2016March 6, 2023 ellen 6 Comments Books
The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann

I’m sure every parent has had the joy of having some kind of childhood memory of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s, The Nutcracker. I remember my childhood home being filled with Nutcracker soldiers of all sorts of sizes at Christmas time. I used to be afraid of them when I was very little. But, I grew to appreciate […]

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ellen

Welcome to In Our Spare Time, your go-to source for family-friendly fun. Discover honest reviews, entertaining articles, and fresh ideas for making the most of your free time with younger kids. From games, movies, and books to family activities and seasonal adventures, we help parents find simple ways to create memorable moments together.

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