Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Any commission I might earn helps to supply giveaway prizes like this one.

January rolled around again, so you might be feeling compelled to make some resolutions.  This year, it seems all of my friends are making green resolutions.  This can mean a variety of things — from packing a lunch daily, to skipping fast food. One of my friends said that her husband uses the same spoon all day.  I’m not sure if I would do that, but I have a few tips that might help you stick to your green resolutions this year!

Even if you just chose one thing to change, you could make a huge impact on the environment!

1.  Choose a resolution you can actually live with.  If you can commit to an entire year, great!  If you’re only going to be able to do something for a short period of time, though, it’s okay.  You can also try making a resolution that will only be enforced for part of the year.   [Read more…]

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

Remember when Y2K was the big scare? There may or may not have been some water bottles and flashlights stockpiled in my attic. Then we had the whole Mayan calendar debacle of 2012. Hydro has the same end-of-the-world feel except this time we’re playing around on the moon after a nuclear war devastates Earth in 2016. With a male/female counterpart that feels almost familiar at this point, we get to explore the realism of a dual world in shambles.  Overall, I’d give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It’s always fun to find a new YA book to love. Hydro will appeal to readers who like fast-paced, thrilling science fiction novels with potential for an addictive series.
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Disclosure: This self-sponsored giveaway contains affiliate links. Opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Hot pink makes me happy.

When I moved classrooms this year, I decided to decorate my new room in hot pink.  There are hot pink chevrons, pom-poms, and crates for student journals.  We even have hot pink pencil sharpeners!  When I saw this hot pink backpack purse from Maggie Bags, it had to be mine. It will be my fun bag for spring travel. Anytime I carry my green Cicily Tote it gets loads of compliments.  Everyone is surprised that seatbelts can make such an eco-friendly, fashion-forward handbag!  Maggie Bags are durable and the colors are vibrant.  They’re just what you need to liven up a dreary winter day.  Plus, they’re made in Tennessee!

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Disclosure: I received this book to review. The post contains affiliate links; opinions shared here are 100% mine.

My husband and I were married in 1998. That seems like so long ago!! How the time flies. We didn’t start out with romance. We were friends first, then God planted that love seed in our hearts. It’s so amazing to me how the Lord works that kind of magic! My husband is the kindest, most gentle man I know. When I read Masterpiece Marriage, the main character Zenus reminded me a bit of my hubs.

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Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my link, I may receive a small commission. Opinions shared here are 100% mine.

I hope you got everything you wanted for Christmas.  In the real world, though, that’s not the way it always works.  Even if you leave a very detailed, itemized list for your Santa, adding him to your pinterest board or whatnot, it might not have worked out for you.  Don’t despair!  One lucky reader is going to receive a $25 Amazon egift card!   [Read more…]

Disclosure:   I received these books to review. This post contains affiliate links. Opinions shared are 100% mine.

It’s cold.  Really cold.

Yeah, the calendar says it’s supposed to be cold because it’s January, but I wasn’t expecting THIS.  Temperatures of 4 degrees are not fair when it’s not a day when we can all stay at home in our fleece jammies.  December tricked me into thinking this might be a mild winter.  It might be time to order a Farmer’s Almanac.    Since we haven’t been able to play outside much in the past couple of weeks, I’ve really finished a lot of books!  Wondering what to read this weekend? Here are some stand-outs that you might want to reserve at your library.

The Promise by Beth Wiseman caught my eye because of the dramatic cover and captivating summary on the back cover.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: This post and giveaway form contain affiliate links. I received this book to review; opinions shared are 100% mine.

It’s been a glorious Christmas break.  Two weeks off gave me lots of time to read.  This is pretty much what I looked like during the vacation….

Checkmate by Steven James was top on my list to finish over break.  My husband and I are watching the X-Files on Netflix (all 202 episodes!!!  YAY!) and we’ve also watched Alias, 24, and Fringe.  Government agency shows are exciting and mysterious. We love to watch them!  So Checkmate was a no-brainer; I knew I’d enjoy it.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. 

During my 6th grade year, our school established its first computer lab.  I vividly remember learning to type and, in our fun time, playing Oregon Trail on the white one-piece computers.  When I became a teacher, I realized just how progressive that must have been for my school system.  In my 17 years of teaching in the middle school classroom, the face of technology has dramatically changed.   When I walked into my first classroom, it was exciting to have a board on which I could use chalk AND dry-erase markers.  It required massive elbow grease to clean so I rarely used anything other than chalk.  I also regularly used an overhead projector in my math classes, evidenced by the perpetual rainbow of dry erase marker ink on my wrist.  These days the modern classroom uses multi-media such as SmartBoards, projectors, digital cameras, iPads, and more.  The goal is the same; we all want to reach students to help them grow to become lifelong learners.  Best Buy is my go-to shop for all things entertainment and technology at home. Doesn’t it make sense that Best Buy would have the best options for tech in the classroom, too?

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