Wow! Both National Book Lover's Day and National Women's Day are right around the corner on Sunday, August 9th, why not treat someone special with a great gift set that celebrates both? Especially as most people are social distancing and staying home more, I'm finding the best gifts are things that can provide enjoyment anywhere.

Book Scents Candles and Tall Poppy Writers have collaborated to bring us another great selection of 'Girls Night In' Limited Edition Book + Candle Themed Gift Boxes!

With the exception of the 'Girls Night In with Bloom' box (its contents are listed at the bottom), each gift package contains either a signed copy of the book or an accompanying signed bookplate (see the shop for details), a 10 ounce hand-poured candle exclusively created for and inspired by the book, a not from the author with a recipe to add to your reading experience, a 1.5 ounce sample of the BLOOM candle (a fundraising candle that supports Room to Read), and a couple of surprise items tucked in.

Shipping to U.S. locations is FREE! Boxes will ship to Canada for an additional $25 USD.

 'The Fifth of July' by Kelly Simmons

Book Description:
        The last word in families is lies...
A tense family portrait of secrets, lies, and inevitable change, The Fifth of July will ensnare any reader that is fond of beautiful beaches and family drama.

Candle Description:
        A cool blend of sea salt and citrus in beachy blue.

​'The Coincidence of Coconut Cake' by Amy E. Reichert

Book Description:
        A delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

Candle Description:
        A decadently sweet blend of coconut, whipped cream, and maple bacon.

​'Lemongrass Hope' by Amy Impellizzeri

Book Description:
        A time-bending, best-selling, and unconventional love story with an ending that has everyone gasping out loud .

Candle Description:
        A magical, mystical blend of lemongrass, sage, and marula oil in golden yellow.

​'Little Broken Things' by Nicole Baart

Book Description:
        The dramatic tale of an affluent suburban family whose carefully constructed facade starts to come apart with the unexpected arrival of an endangered young girl.

Candle Description:
        A sweet blend of honey, jasmine, vanilla and wet rose petals in pale peach.

'The Distance of Home' by Orly Konig

Book Description:
        A powerful and sparkling women's fiction novel of second chances, friendship, and healing.

Candle Description:
        The comforting scent of fall leaves and cedar barn doors in green.

'The Simplicity of Cider' by Amy E. Reichert

Book Description:
        A charming love story with a touch of magic and the taste of cider.

Candle Description:
        A scrumptious blend of apple cider, ginger, goji berries, cassia root in light green.

'The Secrets of Worry Dolls' by Amy Impellizzeri

Book Description:
        An award-winning tale of heartbreak and triumph, following the journey of a 9/11 widow and her estranged daughter.

Candle Description:
        A beautiful blend of white orchids, cashmere woods, vanilla and citron in a pale sage green.

'Where She Went' by Kelly Simmons

Book Description:
        A gripping story of a mother’s letting go — and the secrets that surface when the daughter keeping them is gone.

Candle Description:
        Dark caramel and bitter orange, burning with a secret in a sugary creamy pink color.

There's also a special 'Girls Night In with Bloom' Gift Box, of which a portion of the profits from your purchase will be donated to the Tall Poppy Writers' Room To Read Campaign. ​

The funds raised will be targeted toward Room To Read's innovative girls education programs. Just $300 can keep a girl in school for an entire year. Together with Book Scents Candles and Tall Poppy Writers, you can #ChangeTheir Story.

Box Details:
        - 2 Signed books from Tall Poppy Writers (books will vary)
        - 10 ounce hand-poured candle, Bloom, exclusively created for the Tall Poppy Writers

Candle Description:
        Sunlit poppies, peach blossom, warm sugar, and the crackle of a new book in poppy red.

     If you're looking for some fun summer activities for the kids that will still accommodate social distancing guidelines, I found a few fantastic ideas at Parents.com!

According to their article which is linked at the bottom of this post, a licensed clinical psychologist from Long Island, NY by the name of Jaclyn Shlisky, Psy.D, suggests choosing games and activities that will allow social distancing rules to still be protected.

When you head outside with them, enjoy one of the wonderful limited edition Summer Citronella Candles from Book Scents to help keep some of the pests away!

Just click the link on this page and use my rep code ( THEINKSLINGERBSC ) to save 10% off your order! 

• Claire's Apothecary is an herbaceous fragrance that will help you relax and unwind with its lovely blend of blackberry, sage, cedar and citronella. It's the perfect tonic to bring to your favorite outdoor reading spot!

 

• School's out but you won't mind some time with our Herbology Class fragrance. This bright fragrance of lemongrass and mint is blended with citronella will help you soak in the sun while you brush up on your favorite wizarding lessons!

 

• Party at the Pit - like Butch and Vishous - with a play on a whiskey sour with our orange, aged whiskey and tobacco scented citronella candle. Whether you're reading or hanging with your BFF, this candle will bring the party!

     Here are a few of my favorites from the article on Parents.com, for even more great ideas, follow the link I've left below!

Noodle Tag 

Players: 3 
Where to play: Outdoors 
Best ages: Grades K – 2 

How to play: Grab a few friends, more than three is ideal, and give everybody a pool noodle. When someone is "it" they have to tag their buddies by using the end of the noodle. Soft and bendy so nobody gets hurt, but also social-distanced approved so no one comes too close!


Hello Neighbor 
 
Players: 2 
Where to play: Outdoors 
Best ages: Grades K – 5

How to play: One mom in Westchester, New York said her kids play a game called "Hello Neighbor" where they hide an old set of keys and their opponent (the neighbor) needs to find the keys and return safely back to the front door. This is easy to play with two friends, or sets of siblings living next door to one another. (Spice it up by playing "hot and cold" with the hidden keys, which helps little ones practice the idea of opposites and refine their listening skills.)


Fence Freeze Dance 

Players: 3 
Where to play: Indoors or outdoors 
Best ages: Grades K – 2 

How to play: If your kid's best buds live next door, meet in adjoining backyards and start a game of freeze dance. It's silly enough that mom and dad may want to join in, but getting close isn't in the recipe since each child only needs the spot they're standing in. In this activity, everyone dances when the music plays and freezes as soon as the music stops—hold that position until the music starts back up again. If someone doesn't immediately freeze, order them to do something like 10 jumping jacks or five push-ups. (PE teachers will be proud.)


Driveway Chutes and Ladders 
 
Players: 2 
Where to play: Outdoors 
Best ages: Grades K – 5

How to play: Sketch out an oversized board game of Chutes and Ladders on your driveway using chalk—10 squares wide by 10 squares tall. The numbers of your grid should wrap around as you go from 1 to 100, then let your kids create the ladders wherever they think it'll be most fun. Add in some fun twists when you step on certain numbers, like stepping on number 10 means you do 10 jumping jacks or if you land on 95 you do five sit-ups. Use a spinner from a board game. Your kids will giggle through the game as they act as the pawns moving from spot to spot (kind of like a game of hop scotch).


Body Bingo 

Players: 8 – 12 
Where to play: Indoors or outdoors 
Best ages: Grades K – 8 

How to play: Perfect for a large group of friends the Body Bingo game is ideal for kids in grades 3 to 5 (math skills are required) but as young as Kindergarten level. Parents can print out a bingo board courtesy of the Asphalt Green Recess Enhancement Program (at asphaltgreen.org/REP). The goal is for players to complete the math problems and accompanying exercises across, down or diagonally to get Bingo. Tasks like: 5 multiplied by 3, you do that many squats or 22 plus 10 ankle circles. Your kids are staying physically fit and mentally, too!


Fence Art 

Best ages: Grades K – 5 
Players: 2 
Where to play: Outdoors 

How to play: Leave inspiring messages for neighbors and friends with fence art. Whether your child has one friend or many coming over, create individual art stations around a large outdoor table or sitting in a circle in your driveway. All you need is construction paper, markers, paint, and paper plates for designing "fence flowers". To make one: cut small slits into the parameter of a paper plate, color your plate like your favorite flowers, and then make a small hole in the middle of the plate. Place a piece of string through the center hole and tie your flower plate to your fence. Everyone driving will look twice when they see!