Welcome to the Fantastic Father giveaway hop.  It’s crazy to think that it’s already that time of year again!  This event is hosted by The Review Wire.  Each participating blogger is offering a prize package valued at $25 or more.  Don’t forget to visit The Review Wire for The Grand Prize and enter for your chance to win a Casio Pro Trek Watch PRG270B (RV $200)! Thanks to Casio for sponsoring the Grand Prize!  My husband is in need of a new watch; I’m sure many other dads would love to receive one for Father’s Day!  [Read more…]

Disclosure:  I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

I’ve had some sneaky ways of getting my books read over the years.  Normally I keep a book in the bathroom for those moments I can hide in there and get a few pages in.  We have a small walk-in closet in the master bathroom where I’ve stashed a book or two, creeping out to read in the wee hours of the morning when my hubby is asleep.  I’ve also kept a book in the kitchen for years, sneaking in a chapter while stirring a pot or waiting for water to boil.  Reading is such a big part of my life and always has been!  When a movie comes out and has a companion novel, I usually try to read the book first if possible.  My biggest reason for this is that I love to imagine the scene and characters before seeing them in movie form. Once I see the movie, my own vision dissipates into the air.  For example, when I read Twilight, I had a picture in my mind of how Edward and Bella looked. Like most people, the movie versions did not even compare, but I lost my own mind’s eye picture.  [Read more…]

Disclosure  **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 

All done!!

When my kids were babies, we taught them the Baby Signs.  This was hands-down (no pun intended) one of the best things we ever did for our kids. They were finally able to express themselves, which reduced frustration on both sides.  So now that school is out for the summer, I want to do my big ALL DONE sign.  Yippee!!   

[Read more…]

Disclosure: This is a Fashionista Event and a promotional item was provided to me by HomeZada. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic.

At our house, time is measured in B. C. standards.  That is, Before Children.  We moved into this house just before my daughter was born 10 years ago.  In that time, we’ve changed things around quite a bit.  We replaced all the carpet with hardwood and tile, installed an in-ground pool, and replaced the roof.  There are new appliances throughout the house, from the hot water heater to the dishwasher to the fridge.  The little things tend to fall by the wayside simply because we’re too busy to keep up with it.  For example, a few days ago some sauce spilled in the oven and caused a major smoke eruption in the kitchen.  The smoke alarm in the back bedroom went off, but none of the others alerted us to the problem.  That caused some major concern. What if this had been a real emergency?  How long had it been since we changed the batteries in the smoke alarms?  Although it seemed like I just replaced them, I quickly realized that it had been months years since I changed the batteries.  Yes, I know the whole rule about changing at Daylight Savings Time and all that.  It’s just that the day comes and goes without any major incident and the project slips my mind. Before Children it was fairly simple to keep up with things.  Now that our lives are consumed with the daily comings and goings of afterschool lessons, weekend playdates, and homework nights, those little things get by without a second glance until it’s too late.  That’s why HomeZada has a special new place in my heart.  HomeZada makes it easy to keep up with the home to-do list.  You can easily set up a home inventory, reminders about household maintenance, or store photos of your home.  It’s as easy as the click of the mouse!

[Read more…]

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.  I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine. 

Raise your hand if a vacation is not in your summer plans.  (Raises hand.)

We might go on a day trip, perhaps even a weekend beach trip, but a weeklong family vacay is not in the works this summer.  It’s not as big of a deal anymore because the kids really enjoy being at the house.  This year, though, I’d like to make our home a refuge for the family.  What do you think? With a little luck and a few new pieces of decor, it should be pretty simple to bring vacation to your home instead of the other way around!   [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received these products for review; the post contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Springtime brings a season of renewal for the soul.  I enjoy the brisk chill in the air that will soon be replaced by steamy summer mornings.  The green leaves that fill my vision as I drive home from work is a much prettier sight than the dead-looking branches that abound in winter.  This week I’ve relished in some books that help bring a sense of redemption and newness to life.  It’s also a great time for a new snack favorite!

[Read more…]

Disclosure: I received this book to review.  The post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase through the link, I will receive a small commission.  I use the Amazon commissions to provide you with giveaways like this one. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

This week in celebration of Mother’s Day, I’ve been reading books with strong female characters, whether fictional or actual.  The first book I tackled was Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany by Delores Kimball.  This is a very short read at only 120 pages.  It could be used as a quick book study for a ladies’ group or maybe a Sunday School class.  I’ve always related more to Martha, the exasperated hostess who was scolded by Jesus for worrying about the kitchen instead of worship.  That’s more like my personality, so Mary’s open commitment and disregard for other people’s views seemed a bit of an enigma to me.
[Read more…]

Disclosure: I received the book to review.  This post contains affiliate links; I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link.   The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Forgiveness.

It’s a sweet treat with a bitter taste. How can that be? I’m not sure that I’ve yet mastered the art. There are times that I hold a grudge, one that would rival the Hatfield and the McCoys.     In the book The Gondola Maker, young Luca learns a terrible lesson when he makes a mistake that he can never take back.

[Read more…]

Disclosure: I received products to sample. Also, the post contains affiliate links which means I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link.  I use the commission to offer giveaways like this one!  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.  [Read more…]