A family lifestyle blog
I just cashed out for my second free book this month. Here’s how I did it — you can, too!
1. Join Tyndale Rewards using my referral link (gets you 25 points)
2. Complete the surveys on the landing page. The Bible cover survey is worth 40 points. It credited immediately for me.
3. The book Still House Pond (pictured below) costs 65 points, free shipping. There are others for 70 and 75 points, so if you do more surveys you would have enough. [Read more…]
At our old house, we had birds around all the time. It’s been sad to build our bird friend list up from scratch. Over the past few months, I’ve set out feeders and scattered seed, hoping to attract some flighty little guys. This week the weather took a drastic downturn, and I worried that the birds would struggle to find enough to eat. That’s when I remembered the homemade suet cakes I made at our old house. This easy recipe is so simple, you’ll want to make it on your snow day!
Disclosure: I received this book to review; post contains affiliate links. Opinions shared are mine.
The difficulty of being a woman in a man’s world, coupled with being caught up in a romance that had all kinds of strings attached, made life terribly hard for Louisa Unger. This might sound like a familiar story line, but throw in the time period (WWII) and it makes for a really unique read. I’ve reviewed WWII books in the past, but Time of Useful Consciousness stands out from the rest. If your Valentine loves to enjoy a book with a cup of tea, enter below!
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As a new mom, I had a lot to learn. Motherhood wasn’t the glittery dream that I imagined during all those months of preparation. My daughter considered me a human pacifier, so I was grateful when she finally decided to take a “paci” for good. Here are some of the pacifier tips that got me through those tough moments.
Celebrity news is rarely the topic of discussion at our school lunch table, but this week we reminisced about Alan Rickman’s diverse roles. I took the news of his death hard; he was one of my favorite actors. His impeccable use of tone and timing when delivering lines transformed mere characters into three dimensional people. Although he was brilliant in some of my favorite movies, including Sense and Sensibility, I can’t deny that he’ll always be the very picture of Severus Snape in my heart. The Harry Potter series is one that I’ve reread time and again, and watched the movies over and over, partly because of the fantastic Snape. I knew I was old yesterday when one of my students overheard me talking about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with another student; he asked me, “What’s that book about?” I nearly choked on my pumpkin juice. After I gushed about the story with more than a little bit of enthusiasm, the student said, “I’m taking that home to read this weekend!”
source: Twitter
When I had the chance to read Sam’s Top Secret Journal: Memorial Day by Dr. Sean Adelman, it was a pleasure. The books are thoroughly delightful on their own, but knowing that Sam has Down syndrome makes them even more special. One of my BFFs has a daughter with Down syndrome, and she’s a big ball of wonder. Her happiness is contagious, with those bright blue eyes and spirited play. If you saw little M playing with a group of children, you’d quickly realize that she’s not set apart. Instead, she’s completely one of the gang. Like M, Sam is high functioning and ready to take on the world. We all get to join her adventures through her journal! [Read more…]
When author Joel Ohman offered to send me a copy of his books Meritropolis and Meritorium for review, I immediately thought, based on the book summary, that these would be perfect for my middle grade students. As I learned more about the story, it became clear that this series is even more suited to the curriculum content. Deep questions about the impact of chemicals in our environment, or the need to defend those less fortunate, can stir up excellent class discussions. While the futuristic tale appears to be loosely based on ideas similar to that of Hunger Games or Maze Runner, the Meritropolis world is completely new to dystopian fiction. Meritorium presents the same hero characters from book 1, while in a completely different scenario. It’s exciting, adventurous, and totally spellbinding! [Read more…]
Both of my children have birthdays in April, so holiday-themed candies and supplies are plentiful during that time. Don’t fight the system! Instead of trying to separate the party from the sea of holiday-colored items, make the holiday part of your plans. If your child has a birthday in February, here are some affordable ideas to build a party around the Valentine’s Day products at DollarTree.
Disclosure: These books were on my bookshelf to review. Opinions shared are mine.
A busy week makes me want to retreat in the pages of a good book. Do you feel that way, too? Here are some books I read recently that had my wheels turning.
The Case for Hope by Lee Strobel has the deceptive look of a gift book. This padded hardcover almost looks like a Christmas story. Inside, though, there’s a theological discussion that can be profound if you let it touch your heart.
Strobel’s case for hope aligns with his concept of doubt. Rather than shushing the Christian who struggles with faith, Strobel allows for questions under an intellectual umbrella. The first focus in this regard was the argument that Jesus’ resurrection was REAL. By providing secular accounts as well as biblical evidence, Strobel’s interview was a valid presentation of the Christian belief. His points are presented in preachable acronyms, which makes it perfect for a pastor’s library. There were enough personal stories to make the book interesting, yet it wasn’t a memoir. There were a few times that I wished he told more about the end of each person’s story, but it probably wasn’t relevant to his point. The book is small enough to finish in an hour or two, but the ideas will stay with you for much longer. [Read more…]
Disclosure: I received this book to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.
Imagine Disney Land — or Disney World, if that’s your thing. Listen to the music, see the parades, and enjoy the rides in your mind. Now, turn that entire vision into Monsterland. That’s right, monsters. Zombies, vampires, werewolves…..even the token hunchback. This urban fantasy trespasses into the horror subgenre in a sinister way. Ready for a shiver?
