Monday, November 4, 2013

Christmas Traditions - The Sparkle Box (review and giveaway)

Every year at Christmas time we celebrate in many ways. Some are traditions we have done for many years, and others are just spur of the moment decisions that are made.





The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas - written by Jill Hardie

"Sam is so excited about Christmas! He's thinking about what to put on his Christmas list, anticipating holiday parties and puzzling over one very mysterious gift – a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Written by Jill Hardie and brought to life by the rich illustrations of Christine Kornacki, The Sparkle Box is a heartfelt Christmas story that celebrates the beauty and excitement of the Christmas season, while gently bringing the true meaning of Christmas into focus through a story that features a powerful Christmas tradition. Children and adults of all ages will be captivated by The Sparkle Box and forever changed when they discover the Sparkle Box is a gift that honors Jesus on his birthday. Readers moved to adopt this faith-centered Christmas tradition in their homes can put a Sparkle Box, included with the book, under their own Christmas tree. "

After receiving the book I was excited to read it with my boys.  Mr. K is a little young to understand, but Mr. J is at the perfect age. He is 6, and I am really trying to instill giving and kindness into him.  He always helps to pick out food for the food bank box when we are at the grocery store - and this is just another way to remind him that kindness needs to be a part of our daily lives.
I am really looking forward to reading out all the "gifts" we have given over the coming weeks. I am going to encourage Mr. J to come up with some ideas on his own as well as what we already do as a family.

What kind of traditions do you have? I would love to hear about them - leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday tradition, and fill in the rafflecopter form below for your chance to WIN your own copy of "The Sparkle Box".

This Giveaway has ended **Tales of Mommyhood received the above product in exchange for this post and giveaway. All opinions belong to ToM and your opinion/experience may vary - you can read  our disclosure policy **
Looking for more giveaways to enter? Check out Tales of Mommyhood's giveaway linky

48 comments:

  1. on Christmas Eve we always have kale mixed in with mashed potatoes & cream with German sausages and a salted (cured) and slightly smoked cut of pork. All my children have continued this tradition that has been passed down from their grandmother.

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  2. Every Christmas eve we spend with as many family members as possible. We have a buffet of awesome treats, watch Christmas movies, sing carols and then we all go for a drive to look at Christmas lights.

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  3. My favorite tradition is my whole family getting together for a traditional Quebec Christmas meal on Christmas eve!

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  4. We attend Church Christmas eve then watch a Christmas film together :)!

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  5. On Christmas Eve, we go to church where the kids take part in the play. And, then we drive around to look at our neighbour's lights. Later the kids open one gift each, which is always new pjs to wear.

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  6. Oh! I meant to add that I would love this book - a great book to share with children.

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  7. Getting together for dinner with family. It doesn't happen often enough, so to do it on the holidays is really special.

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  8. we decorate our tree together and let the kids open a gift Christmas eve

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  9. We love Christmas books at our place, this would such a lovely addition to our reading. I even read Christmas themed novels myself. I love the season and how it brings out the best in people.

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  10. Every Christmas Eve we have a big family dinner complete with turkey and all the fixings. We wait for Santa to arrive and open presents at midnight. We used to go to midnight mass. Christmas carols and watching Christmas classics on TV are also part of our traditions.

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  11. We go on a Christmas light drive every year, the last sunday before Christmas! We get our tim hortons and drive for awhile

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  12. My favourite tradition is cutting down our own tree

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  13. I have alot of Traditions that make Christmas, 'Christmas' for me. A few of them are; When I was a child my Mom had us pick an age from a tree in the mall and we'd pick a toy for a child in need, I love being able continue that with my daughter. When me and my hubby were dating years ago, he used to drive all over the city to show me all the different Christmas lights (one of my favorite things). After 15 years we still head out one night and take them in. We also introduced the Elf on the Shelf last year and fell in love with our Elf and all her tricks!

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  14. We are just starting our family and our traditions. We go to church. Look at the lights in our neighbourhood. And we disconnect from all tech stuff and just enjoy family time.

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  15. We wrap up little presents to put in each others stockings every Christmas and then watch each adult empty their stocking one by one.
    angela mitchell

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  16. Baking Finnish Gingerbread cookies (and my kids eat a LOT of the dough)

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  17. On Chrismas morning, we always have the same breakfast casserole with toast and orange juice :)

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  18. For Christmas, I look forward to the big family reunion. Our family spread out from Canada, Scotland and England.

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  19. Getting together with family was our tradition.

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  20. Christmas Eve the kids get to open one present which is usually nice warm cozy pajamas, (this mow includes the grandchild too). Just love the warm excitement of Christmas!

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  21. We started it last year as a new family, but our yearly Christmas tradition is to make Jesus a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Him!

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  22. I love the book of life savers when I was young and now that I have kids it has been their thing as well.

    SueSueper

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  23. we have a bath get in our new pjs and get to open one gift on christmas eve

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  24. We go visit family after Christmas Mass.

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  25. cutting down our christmas tree together@

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  26. Reading T'Was the Night Before Christmas, watching Christmas specials/movies, decorating the tree, and making cookies.

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  27. My favorite Christmas tradition is every year all the kids get together to decorate Gingerbread houses right before Christmas Eve.

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  28. My favourite tradition is putting up the Christmas tree together. We have snacks and make an evening out of it.

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  29. Decorating the Christmas tree together, singing Christmas carols and making a glazed ham with pineapples and cherries

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  30. I am entering your giveaway.
    It would be great to win a copy of
    The Sparkle Box:A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas - written by Jill Hardie.
    In response to your requirement to
    tell you my favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) tradition.
    My favorite Christmas traditions are going to midnight mass on christmas eve
    and watching the movie "It's A Wonderful Life".
    Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!

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  31. My favourite Christmas tradition is opening one gift Christmas Eve.

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  32. When my daughters were born, each year at Christmas I bought them a new ornament. They then had a box of ornaments to start their own tree when they got married. I am now doing the same for my grandkids.

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  33. When the snow starts to fall, we head south to Mexico for Christmas. That's my favourite memory since 2001!

    Thanks for posting this to my weekly giveaway linky (http://www.journeysofthezoo.com/2013/11/weekly-giveaway-linky-november12.html).

    Besos, Sarah
    Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo

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  34. Every Christmas Eve, we have family and friends over to our home for a fondue. It is always a wonderful time and we make many everlasting memories. This year, we will have a new baby to celebrate! Thanks for the great giveaway opportunity. Keep up the terrific blogging.

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  35. Going to Christmas Eve service with family and spending time together after
    mcnuttj(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Chinese Food on Xmas Eve!!
    chaotic_dar@yahoo.ca

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  37. time with the family
    good luck to all
    aka midgeknows

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  38. My favorite Christmas's were when my Mother and Father were still here with us. It;s been 18 years now since they both have passed. But I know they are still with us and know what is going on in Spirit.

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  39. My fav one would be when the kids come over for a singalong!

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  40. Christmas eve we have apps for dinner and watch Christmas movies (marie cat)

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  41. We always have a big family Christmas breakfast

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  42. Beautiful idea! A family tradition I really enjoyed growing up was going to my grandparents after midnight mass every year. (Yes, we stayed up very late on Christmas Eve!)

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  43. My favourite Christmas tradition is going to Midnight Mass

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  44. Get together the night before christmas and unwrap a gift :)

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  45. We have a special Christmas box for both girls to open on Christmas Eve with new pajama's hot cocoa and marshmellows with a new special cup to put it in, Christmas books, movie, snacks and arts and crafts to do before bed for Santa to see. Then right before bed we take our antique key tied to a red ribbon and place it on the outside of the door for Santa to get in and they bring their tiny pouches of "magic dust" and sprinkle it around so that the reindeer can clearly see where we are from way up in the sky. And we place our Christmas Spider on the tree after we read that story as well. Oh and milk and cookies for Santa with a thank you note.

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  46. Favourite is when we decorate the tree as a family.

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  47. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to spend time with friends and family and then to come home, light a fire and get wasted!

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