Welcome to the book tour for Practicing the Presence of Jesus. I received a copy of this book to review. I wasn’t expecting Practicing the Presence of Jesus to be a book that would appeal to men. It has that serene devotional cover that looks like the place where one might hear the voice of Jesus. But meeting Jesus on the golf course? No way! So that is why I highly recommend this book for the golfer as well as anyone seeking a closer walk with the Lord.   The book emphasizes the importance of building that relationship with Jesus.  It’s comfortable and difficult at the same time.  This book would be an excellent gift. In fact, I think I might tuck my review copy in my husband’s Christmas stocking this year along with a note that he needs to hit the greens. I know that reading about the Master’s AND the Master in the same book will be a treat for him.

I wish I had known that agreeing to get a dog would be like having a third child. Our dog is small, cute, and loves to chew. She has gone through at least four dog beds in two years. She never met a chew treat that she couldn’t defeat in an hour or less. Oh, but did I mention that she has food allergies? Yes. Yes, she does. So we also have to be careful about her food and snacks so that she’s not up all night coughing and choking.

If you have a high-maintenance dog, or if you are a low-maintenance human and don’t like having to run to the pet store for your pet’s needs, let Chewy.com ship a box to you. They have a great variety of pet food and gear. Their prices were extremely comparable to our local pet store and in many cases they offered brands that our pet store doesn’t carry.  Chewy has the products I want and has competitive prices.  For me, it’s much easier to order from Chewy and know that the products that will be delivered right to my door.  For example, I ordered these antlers. My dog chewed on them for hours!  I put a bit of peanut butter on them to make them a little more appealing because they didn’t seem to be that exciting on their own.

She also liked these bully stick pretzels. I don’t buy rawhide chews for her but she did not have any trouble with these.  This will be a favorite that we’ll reorder often.

These treats were also a big hit.  I liked that it was easy to find what I wanted by clicking the search options on the left side of the page.   Each product was described on the page with product weight and reviews.  It made it so easy to find what I was looking for.

So check out Chewy.com and find what you need for your pet.  With their free shipping offers and quick delivery you might be looking forward to buying goodies for that extra furry child.

If you’re placing your first order with Chewy.com, enter code SAVI9556 at checkout and save 10% on your order! Plus they will donate $10 to Best Friends Animal Society.  You can also save 15% on your order but must sign up for a delivery schedule at checkout.  One thing I’d like to see on the website is a frequent-shopper program.  I tend to order more frequently when I know that my purchase is adding up to some rewards.  That would be icing on the cake!

Savings in Seconds is pleased to partner with Wholly Guacamole on this giveaway.  Wholly Guacamole provided me with coupons to purchase samples to review.  I tried several of their products and our VERY favorite is the Roasted Tomato salsa.  I have incorporated it into several of my family’s meals including tacos and soup.   It’s so easy to save time and money with Wholly Guac.  They offer high-value printable coupons right on their website and the products are ready to use.  Just open and serve!  When I’m using the salsa in a recipe it is usually when I prepare it in the crockpot.  I find that the flavors really have a WOW factor after slow-cooking all day.  It’s so nice to come home and have dinner ready.  Check out the online Wholly Guacamole recipes.    I put my own recipe below so you can try it if you want (note that it makes two meals in one!!)  One lucky winner will receive a cooler of Wholly Guacamole products.  The giveaway is open to US readers only; giveaway ends 10/29. Good luck!

My favorite way to use Roasted Tomato salsa from Wholly Guacamole…..

Taco soup with next-day soft tacos:

Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless……I use 5-6)
Wholly Guacamole salsa
1 can black beans, rinsed/drained
1 can whole kernel corn
1 onion, chopped
2 packets taco seasoning
4 cups water (more if you like your soup thin)

In a crockpot, put 5-6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. You can cut up the chicken breasts if you wish; I serve this as a meatless dish. When serving, top soup with sour cream and cheese. We eat the chicken the next day as soft tacos.

I’m big on book covers and completely expected Magnolia Gods to be about the beaus of sweet Southern belles or something.  I was really surprised by the thrill, adventure, and suspense it contained!   The story echoes with patriotism and devotion.  The main character, Mike, reminds me of a pilot-version of Jack Bauer.  He loves deeply and fiercely, willing to sacrifice anything for his family.  The relationships in the story are tied together in a beautiful way, not feeling awkward or forced.  The government conspiracy in the background just adds to the excitement.  The story is based in and around the Chesapeake, where I’ve never visited.  I loved reading about the geography and isolated places of the area. It’s also got romance without being too steamy.   The plot centers around historic letters that send a haunting message from the past.   This was a great read and one that I might have passed up if only looking at the cover.  If you are looking for a book that you’ll have a hard time putting down, consider Magnolia Gods. It’s small enough that it can be read in an afternoon or weekend.  That’s a lot of book packed into a few pages, let me tell you.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Magnolia Gods

Thomas Hollyday has a really unique website, visit it by clicking here.

Whew. Did you ever read a book that made you nauseous? Slopjar left me feeling a little bit breathless and a very heavy heart. The prelude of the book explains that these are the written words of a paranoid schizophrenic who committed a terrible crime. The woman writes the poems from her room in a mental institution. The book follows her strangled mind through the course of her emotions. There is considerable use of foul language in the poetry. It is used in context, though, and seemed somewhat appropriate for the situation. This is not really my preferred type of reading, but I value its literary merit.  Perfect for the Halloween season, Slopjar is dark poetry at its scariest.  I found myself having such conflicting emotions for the bearer of this poetry……without giving too much away, I want you to know that it’s very sad.    Deep thoughts abound in Slopjar . Author Ingrid Jennings went there and came back to tell the tale.

Author Ingrid Jennings holds a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Palm Beach Atlantic Christian University and a masters degree in reading education from Nova Southeastern University.  Ingrid enjoys reading, writing, bicycling, and spending time with friends and family at her home in South Florida.  Visit author Ingrid Jennings and find out what else she has going on!

Sick of brown-bagging the same tired sandwich for lunch every day?  Try some of the new breads that are on the shelf.   I’m not much of a bread person, but I have no less than four of these specialty breads in my pantry right now!!  They are AWESOME.   Around here they retail for $3.99 per loaf which is pretty pricey, but I figure that it’s less than a dollar for breakfast.   And most of the slices have 80 calories or less per slice, so it’s not going to break the diet bank either.   I am planning to check out the discount bakery to see if they have any of these varieties for cheaper.  I’ll let you know what I find out!

My very favorite is the Swirled Pumpkin.  Okay, this one is truly amazing.  It is just the perfect amount of sweetness.  I like mine lightly toasted with a thin spread of butter.  So delish in the morning with a cup of tea!!   This is great with turkey sandwiches, it just makes a basic sandwich taste like it came from a coffee shop.   If you’re doing a salad for lunch or supper, try toasting a slice or two to make some unbelievable croutons.  Mmmmmm…..

I also really like the Strawberry Banana swirl for PB & J sandwiches.  It’s got some little chunks in it though, so if you’re a texture person you might not be a fan.

Another one that I like that somehow I missed taking a picture of, is the Blueberry Crumble from Sara Lee.  It’s really thin and barely sweet.  Just perfect for the morning.

My daughter eats a sandwich almost daily for lunch.  I bought this swirl bread just because I thought it looked kind of neat.  She is getting tired of whole wheat every day, so I was hoping this would be a good compromise.  When I slice her sandwich in half, the swirl looks almost like half a heart.  She loved it!  Such an easy thing to do.    This is as close as I get to a bento lunch.

So if you’re looking for a way to make the same-old into something new, try a good bread.  Make it something special!

The opinions in this post are 100% mine.  I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Don’t wait until New Years to set goals for yourself. Get a head start with Achieve Anything In Just One Year by Jason Harvey. Written like a daily devotional book without the religious aspect, this book is meant to guide you into the confidence you need to achieve your dreams. Each day starts with a deep thought, something to make you anticipate your success for the day. Visualizing this success becomes a skill that you begin to master as you continue through the book. I like how the lessons build on each other so that I could look back to see how one idea or quote impacted me. One thing that would make this book even better would be a small area for reader reflections. Each Page has a small blank space at the bottom. This would be a great spot to write responses or even just to jot notes so that the reader can go back through the year and see the progress toward the goal.
Taking small steps toward improving your situation can help you make a better reality. Don’t hesitate to give this book a try. You can start reaching for your goals right away!

Welcome to the Travelin’ With Baby Giveaway Hop Event, hosted by So Easy Being Green and According to Jenny! This Event will run from October 10th – 24th with a Twitter Party Grand Finale on October 25th from 9-10 PM EST!   In this Hop, each blogger has a great prize worth at least $25,to make traveling with your baby easy and fun! Don’t miss out on the fabulous TWO Grand Prizes worth over $550 EACH – featuring the best, must-have Baby Travel Products – including a Britax Car Seat, QuickSmart Backpack Stroller, Beco Baby Carrier and MUCH more! [Read more…]

I have started to write the story of my life several times. I want my kids to have all my stories written down in case anything happens to me before I have time to tell them. The stories I have recorded are so….mundane. The same thing you would expect to hear in a documentary. What would my kids really need to know about me if I were gone? How would they learn the secrets of my heart?

If you find yourself wondering the same thing, check out Dear Deb.

When Deb announced that she was going to have a miracle, I thought she meant that she would beat the cancer.  In this book, God used Deb as a catalyst for an amazing transformation. Author Margaret Terry writes this amazing memoir of her life without meaning to, then the letters become so much more than that. Revealing deep inner secrets to a lady from church. Not where you would expect a miracle to take place, right? That’s God’s style. These letters are beautiful, funny, sad, and all of the above. They gave me a renewed sense of urgency to record those moments in my life that my kids need to know. Not things like who my second grade teacher was, but the way that her hair looked like a snail’s shell every single day. The way the wind felt on the day I knew that their dad was right for me. The way that I craved pineapple while pregnant with my daughter, and how I had to eat broccoli every day when I was expecting my son.  The way my heart does a little flip-flop when one of my kids reaches for my hand.  These little moments make us who we are, and Margaret Terry shares her moments in such a brilliant way. You got your miracle, Deb.

I’d pass this book on, but I have a feeling that I’ll be re-reading it.  It’s that good.  You can find it on Amazon and other retailers if you’re ready to snag a copy of your own!

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