Give This Christmas Away {Unique Gift Idea + Giveaway!}

Every year, I try to do at least one thing to help brighten someone's Christmas. There are so many people out there who are suffering from lack of food, clothing, or shelter--and sometimes, I just get overwhelmed with the amount of people in need.

However, God doesn't call us to meet the need of every person out there. He only calls us to help as much as we can with the resources we have.

This Christmas, if you are also looking for a way to give, you now have the perfect opportunity. Because not only do you have the chance to help provide therapy equipment and toys for a special needs toddler--but by doing so, you can buy a unique, personalized Christmas gift for whoever you wish.

The name of the little girl you can help is Aubrey, and she is my very sweet 1-year-old cousin.

Aubrey at 4 months old

Aubrey was born August 29, 2012 with an undiagnosed neuromuscular disorder. After being born prematurely, she had to stay in the NICU for 4 months before being released. The doctors were unsure if she would be strong enough to sustain life.

Aubrey with her big sister at 4 days old

Because Aubrey has such a difficult time breathing, she has to be on ventilator support 24/7. Her muscles are unable to work like other kids, which makes it difficult to for her to make any kind of movement, or even to communicate.

Click here for the full story on Aubrey's journey (make sure your volume is turned up).

Since Aubrey is now 1-year-old and is getting older and smarter, her needs are becoming much greater.

Because of that, a Senior Executive Director for Thirty-One Gifts has opened an online shop to raise money for Aubrey this Christmas. 

Starting today through December 6th, all proceeds purchased from this Thirty-One catalog (containing purses, totes, wallets, stationary,  bags, etc.) will go towards the Shop for Aubrey Fund. This fund will help purchase an iPad arm (for special needs), as well as an indoor adaptive/therapeutic swing for Aubrey.

Again, this is a perfect opportunity to not only buy a personalized gift for a loved one, but to also give to a very precious special needs toddler.

Aubrey at 1 year, with her big sisters

Everyone who purchases an item from the Thirty-One catalog will receive 10 extra entries in a giveaway for a free signed copy of PURPLE MOON, as well as a PURPLE MOON coffee mug! (Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post.)

Click here to begin shopping. Once you order, make sure you see the words "Order Submitted" at the top of the page to confirm that it went through.

Aubrey is seriously the most precious little 1-year-old. She is just like any other toddler her age in the way that she loves attention, affection, and "playing" with her therapy toys. You can tell this by the way the corners of her mouth lifts when she's happy, or the way her eyes start tearing when she's sad.

Aubrey's muscles may be weak, but her heart and mind are very strong. She would be absolutely thrilled to receive new toys this Christmas, and new therapy equipment to strengthen her muscles.

If you are purchasing from the catalog, be sure to RSVP on the Facebook page by clicking here.

If you are unable to purchase from the catalog, you can still enter the giveaway below (US only):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"...I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me."
~Matthew 25:40

 (I am out of town and will be unable to post until next week. Happy Thanksgiving!)

Gift Ideas for Teens & Tweens: Clean Music & Books

Inexpensive Christmas gifts for teens and tweens are not always easy to find. And if you haven't realized it yet, teens can be pretty picky about what they are interested in. 

However, every teen loves good entertainment. So why not create a gift basket with a selection of clean entertainment that your teen will love?

New, Clean Reads for Teens & Tweens

Purple Moon

Ages: 12 - 25+

Genre: YA contemporary

 Order the paperback version: $9.95

Order the Kindle version: $1.00 (sale)

Mark "to read" on Goodreads

Autographed copy: $13.95 (free S&H)

2 Autographed copies: $10.00 each

(free S&H)

Selena's life isn't turning out to be the fairy tale she imagined as a kid. 

That hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. This summer might finally hold the chance of a new beginning for Selena ... but having to live with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab wasn't how Selena was planning on spending her summer. She soon begins to wonder why she committed to give up her "bad habits" for this.

Things don't seem too bad, though. Especially when Selena gains the attention of the cute neighbor next door. But when her best friend back home in Brooklyn desperately needs her, a secret that's been hidden from Selena for years is revealed, and when she becomes a target for one of her cousin's nasty pranks, she finds herself having to face the scars from her past and the memories that come along with them. Will she follow her mom's example in running away, or trust that God still has a fairy tale life written just for her?

(For holiday specials & giveaways for this book, be sure to see the end of this post.) 

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet

Ages: 12 - 17+

Genre: YA contemporary

Order the paperback version: $10.79

Order the Kindle version: $0.99

Mark "to read" on Goodreads

Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed.

In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town.

But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.


Dead Man's Hand

Ages: 9 - 15

Genre: YA supernatural mystery

Order the paperback version: $7.19

Order the Kindle version: $4.27

Mark "to read" on Goodreads

It's All Just a Show...Right? Just Hollywood theatrics? "This is an authentic old west ghost town, son. Around these parts the dead don't stay dead."

Nick Caden's vacation at Deadwood Canyon Ghost Town takes a deadly turn toward trouble when the fourteen-year-old finds himself trapped in a livery stable with the infamous outlaw Jesse James. The shooter whirls, aims and... vanishes. Great theatrics, Nick thinks, except now he's alone in the hayloft with the bullet-riddled body of Billy the Kid. And by the time the sheriff arrives, the body disappears.

Soon Nick is caught in a deadly chase---from an abandoned gold mine, through forbidden buffalo hunting grounds, and across Rattlesnake Gulch. Around every turn he finds another suspect. Will Nick solve the murder? Will his parents have him committed? Or will the town's infatuation with Hollywood theatrics conceal the real truth about souls, spirits and the destiny that awaits those who die.



New, Christian Albums for Teens & Tweens

Anthem Lights

Order at Christian Book: $8.99

Buy on iTunes: $9.99

Genre:

Contemporary pop

Britt Nicole: Gold



Order at Christian Book: $7.99
Buy on iTunes: $7.99
Genre:
Contemporary pop
Pop rock
R&B
Electroaucoustic


Group1Crew: Fearless

Order at Christian Book: $10.99
Buy on iTunes: $9.99
Genre:
Hip Hop
Dance-pop
R&B
Pop rock

GIVEAWAYS:

• If you take a picture of your copy of PURPLE MOON (print or ebook), send me the picture and I will be happy to post it on my blog's sidebar! Not only that, but everyone who sends me their picture between now and December 15th will be entered into a raffle to receive an autographed copy of PURPLE MOON. (Perfect chance to win a Christmas gift for your friend!) If you do not have a copy, feel free to pick one up on Amazon. =)
• If you convince your youth group, small group, or book club to read PURPLE MOON, let me know and I will enter your name into a raffle. If you win, you will receive: An autographed copy of my next book + I will name a minor character after you + I will mention you in my next book's acknowledgements. One new winner will be chosen every two months. (The first winner will be chosen January 15th.)
• If you refer two people to buy my book (meaning they actually bought a copy), I will send you an autographed copy + a PURPLE MOON sleeping mask. (Again, perfect for a holiday gift!)

HOLIDAY SPECIAL:

• I am happy to announce that I am currently holding a holiday special for PURPLE MOON! For a limited time only, you can order:
  *1 autographed copy for $13.95 (regular price) with free shipping and handling. Or
  *2 autographed copies, $10 each, with free shipping handling.
  I will also throw in a PURPLE MOON sleeping mask and bookmark. Let me know if this is something you are interested in by emailing me at tessaehall (at) gmail (dot) com.