If you have a child in your life and you want to help that child learn to read, I understand if you don’t know where to start. Michelle Valene understands, too. She published What Children Need to Learn to READ to give parents that little manual they’ve always wanted…at least, for teaching reading. Complete with developmental checklists, simple activities, fun songs and poems, and a cd of rhymes and songs, this book is a great resource for parents and teachers alike.   Check out Learners Lane for more information.  You are probably doing a lot of these activities and might not realize the impact they have on your child’s developing literacy skills.  This book makes reading fun and exciting for kids. They don’t even know that they are learning!

It’s empowering to know that I am my child’s best resource for learning to read. Honestly, it’s kind of intimidating too. The good news is, there’s really nothing you can do to mess it up-except to do nothing. People are always asking my husband and me what we did to get our daughter reading at an early age. We truly didn’t do anything except read to her, read with her, and read around her. A lot. That’s just the way we roll. I have been known to read the car manual when bored in the car. I just read anything and everything. We bought hundreds of books at yard sales and took her to the library and bookstores. She saw our love for those places and found it in herself to love reading, too. As an infant, she watched us turn pages of picture books and listened to the cadence of voice as she heard the story. Later, she recognized pictures and associated them with experiences. She memorized books before she read. She sang along to the sing-along cd’s that came with books. Her preschool teachers labeled the items and furniture around her classroom. We didn’t realize it at the time, but all of these steps helped her to be a strong reader, ready to comprehend difficult text and to decode challenging words. Now that her younger brother is here, he has even more opportunity to read because she loves reading with him.

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At the Feet of Jesus by Joanna Weaver is a guide to becoming closer to God.  Knowing Him and being known by Him is what this book is about.  It includes a one-year Bible reading guide.  I liked that part very much—-the focus of each day’s devotional was one verse, then a related verse is given as independent reading.  Better yet, there is a question to prompt you to reflect on what you have read.   There are also short assignments, such as letter-writing or little “quiz” questions.   Some of the devotions are anecdotal, some are explanations of the Scripture, and some are just encouraging.  Overall this devotional would make a great gift and a good personal devotional.

To me, the title was a bit misleading.  It suggests that these are devotions to help nurture a Mary heart.  I don’t really see that as a focus of the book; however, I can see that over the course of the year my heart can be healed by the prayer and dedication of spending time in God’s Word.  I found myself not having time to do the additional reading each day and just doing the devotion part.  I like that this book gives you the option rather than needing two separate books.  There are some very powerful messages in this book that I take away with me each day.  And that is worth every moment.

I participated in the book tour for At the Feet of Jesus.

Meet Joanna:

Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Joanna’s greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor’s wife.

Find out more about Joanna at http://www.joannaweaverbooks.com/.

When I have a sore throat, sucking on a cough drop just adds to my misery.  Strong flavors like menthol taste like kerosene to me (not that I’ve ever tasted kerosene, but you know what I mean.)   Typically I end up spitting out a lozenge and end up feeling worse than I did to start with.  I had the opportunity to try Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops and was a little skeptical.  Would I be able to tolerate the taste?   They’ve been making these since 1870?  Since I kind of like the word “softish” I thought it was worth a try.  I received two flavors:  Natural Honey and Wild Cherry.  I’m not a fan of cherry-flavored foods so I gave all of those to my husband.  I was really impressed with the value-size package….32 drops of this size would last a long time!   The drops are not individually wrapped, so that’s something to consider.  I really liked the natural honey variety.  The honey was not too strong so the sweetness wasn’t overpowering.  The drop was true to its name; the softish part means that it’s a bit waxy, kind of like a firm gummy brick.  The consistency of the drop made it easy to suck without straining my throat muscles.   I don’t think the drop would do anything for a stuffy nose or sinus pain, as some drops do, but for a sore throat this would do just fine.  I liked that the ingredients were basic and that the drops are made in the USA; this is a product that I’d feel safe giving to my children. And at only 5 calories each, these might just be my new snack!! 🙂  They are also gluten-free which is an issue for many parents.

It’s interesting that the Pine Bros. company was recently acquired by the creator of Airborne.  I have used Airborne for years.  Knowing that she is behind this product makes it even more trustworthy to me.

You can visit Pine Bros. on Facebook and Twitter for giveaways.  Don’t forget to take a look at their website, too!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I didn’t get the play-on-words when I read the title of the book but once I saw the cover it was my aha! moment.  You might think that It’s A Love Game is your typical romance.  In some ways, it is. There’s the obvious chemistry between several of the players that just kept me guessing the whole time.  Then you have the romance factor complete with “bronzed thighs” and all.  Woven into the story, though, is this constant race to the top that is intriguing to witness.  I love the game of tennis and was so interested in the mindset of the players both on and off their games.  It was also eye-opening to realize that the players are thrown together in social settings, too, so it makes sense that they might have romantic notions about each other.  Just like celebrities, they are forced to survive with paparazzi and the media constantly getting lens time.  This aspect was clearly magnified in It’s A Love Game yet in a completely understandable way.  I overlooked the superfluous love scenes because of this.   I’m sure if you take the time to read it, you’ll find that Lizzie and Jack keep you plenty entertained.

Author A. G. Starling had me from the moment she mentioned Jane Austen. Gotta love a fellow Austen reader!  She is a professor in Monterey, CA and is an avid sports fan.

Now that cooler weather is settling in, it’s time to double-check your child’s belongings.  Make sure that you switch out the “emergency” clothes in the car to clothes that are suitable for cooler weather.  More than once, I’ve had to stop at a store on the way home to purchase a new top or pants for my child because I didn’t have updated clothes in the car.  It’s not just me, either, I’ve known other moms who rely only on that system.  You can save so much money by being prepared!  Also, label or write your child’s name in jackets, coats, gloves, etc. that will be heading to school.   I use a Sharpie Retractable Pen that I keep in the car for these tasks.  Since it’s retractable, I know that it won’t dry out because I’ve lost the cap while scribbling something down on during the last 30 seconds of drop-off.  It also comes in handy when I need to write a quick note to the teacher or send in a lunch check (it doesn’t bleed through the paper.)

Dropping temperatures are also a good reminder that it’s time to change out the dressers/closets.   I’m less tolerant of storing away clothes now that I’m certain we’ve had our last baby…..so I’ve been doling out all of our gently-loved clothing to friends and family.  Whatever you decide to do with yours, be sure to keep a box or tub in the closet to help you organize as you go.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Kids have so many obstacles to face as they grow up.  As parents and mentors, it’s our job to help them balance it all. My daughter is eight years old and from the questions she’s been asking, she’s starting to work out her perspective on worldly things.  When I received these books to review, I breathed a sigh of relief to have a Christian resource for these intense topics. I teach sixth graders and see the struggles they encounter with hot button issues like social issues, dating, and peer pressure.  And I’ll be honest, there is often a lot more going on than I’m aware of.  When the kids start talking, you might find yourself with your jaw on the floor as they describe things they heard, saw, or participated in.   As a parent, it’s tempting to duck your head in the sand when your child asks a difficult and maybe embarrassing question.  But keep in mind — if YOU don’t talk about these issues with your child, someone will.  Don’t you want your child to know where you stand on hot-button issues like sexuality, drugs, and dating?     Consider this the parenting guide you’ve been looking for.  The Hot Buttons Series helps parents to navigate these waters with teens, giving parents a heads-up about what their kids are facing and guides parents through the difficult conversations that these topics require.    I’m really glad I had the opportunity to read these books before my children really need them.  This way, I can be better prepared when those topics come up in conversation.  Even though these books discuss the topics from a Christian parent standpoint, I wouldn’t hesitate to read these if I wasn’t a Christian.  The issues your teen will face are going to be the same despite religious beliefs.  I’d love to see more topics added such as academic success (addressing study skills, finding a career path, and topics such as cheating) and health (weight issues, exercise, eating disorders.)

This is a must-have series for parents.

I participated in the blog tour for The Hot Buttons Series.

Voots, of course!

Made from 11 real fruits and vegetables, Voots Veggie-Fruit Tarts are a children’s supplement that contain the Vitamin C antioxidant power of THREE full servings of fruits and veggies! We tried Voots this week and I don’t know who likes them more, me or the kids. The chewable tablets taste kind of like sweettart candies. They come in a handy dispenser that fits right on my countertop.  It would also be perfectly stored away in my pantry. Two Voots tablets are in each pack. I liked that they aren’t too thick, so they are easy for my three year old to chew and swallow. My kids don’t always eat the fruit and veggies servings they need each day. While Voots won’t replace healthy eating habits, I feel like my kids have a little more to fight with when a germ tries to get them down. And that bit of peace of mind is worth a lot.   My daughter looks forward to her Voots pack each day at lunch (it’s perfect to pack with a lunch!) and I know that she’ll eat them, when she might just toss out the apple or orange that’s packed.  Of course I am not claiming any medical miracles with Voots.  My kids like Voots and I think it’s a great solution for my family when we’re trying to fit in all the vitamins they need for the day.

I received a great prize pack from Voots and they have offered the same pack to one lucky reader.  Watch for the giveaway to be posted soon!

Here’s an offer that I always jump on right away.  Who doesn’t love adorable labels for the holidays?   Click my affiliate link to go right to the offer.

My kids love junk food. My son is a sweets eater while my daughter prefers salty chips. Everything in moderation is okay with me, but we try to limit these kinds of foods. I keep plenty of fresh fruit and veggies out for them to munch on but the junk food craving lurks in the backs of their little minds. The first chance they get, they are ready to chow down on an empty calorie snack.  I can’t say that I’m the best example either, since I can consume my fair share of junk food.  Then came Jolene. In Jolene — Adventures of a Junk Food Queen, the junk food queen meets her match in a mixed-up fairy tale full of Broccoli Bears, Wise Wolves, and other crazy characters. The language is so colorful and fun that it’s hard to put this book down. The end of the book also has some fun smoothie recipes to try. I would recommend having these around so that you can serve them up after reading the book.  Suggest having a junk food ban day at your house. After reading Junk Food Jolene’s story, my kids were willing to give it a try!

Reading this book provides a great opportunity for getting your kids to part with their Halloween candy.  Enter to win your own copy in this giveaway!