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

You just can’t go wrong with Judith Miller’s books. The Brickmaker’s Bride is a great example of how Christian authors can take a tired topic and revive it with beautiful words and spunky women. The story reminds me of how lucky I am to live in an era where speaking my mind doesn’t land me in house arrest.  In The Brickmaker’s Bride, there are subtle references to faith that will revive your spirit as well.  For example, I love the part where Ewan explained why the burning bush symbol is important to him. [Read more…]

So I have this little dilemma and need your help.

There aren’t very many stray animals in our neighborhood.  Most pets that do wander from home have a collar and can easily be reunited with their families.   For a few months, we’ve had a little orange visitor on our doorstep. It all started on a sunny afternoon when my husband sent the kids up for a can of tuna.  Knowing that he must have found a cat to feed, I sent one down.  The kids have been asking for a cat for years, but hubby and I keep saying no because we don’t want to deal with (a) a litter box or (b) the cat hair.  So what was going on? Sure enough, they were feeding a stray cat.  The poor thing was emaciated and obviously very hungry.  After eating his fill, the cat didn’t reappear for a while.  Then one rainy night he (she?) took shelter on our porch.

Of course, we fed the cat again.  And again. And again.

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Somehow we’ve killed yet another dishwasher.  When we bought this one a few years ago, we didn’t purchase the extended warranty.  Lesson learned; it didn’t last more than 3 or 4 years.  This is our third dishwasher in the 11 years that we’ve lived in this house. The first one quit working within a couple of months of living here.  We purchased 2 new ones, including the one pictured above.  I’m not particularly hard on the washers.  We do one load a day…sometimes two if we have company over for dinner. We don’t wash the dishes before putting them in because we specifically buy models that are supposed to have a food pulverizer (we have a garbage disposal).  It would seem that we’re buying disposable dishwashers, though, because we’ve gone through so many! So when this one started making REALLY loud jackhammer noises, my husband declared that it was time to buy another dishwasher.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: I received a product sample.  The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

YES I DID.  I found a company that offers FREE cell phone service.

How does free cell phone service sound?  I’ll tell you!! [Read more…]

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

Let’s say you wanted to read a historical fiction book. You want one that’s full of action, suspense, and maybe a little romance. You’d like to gnaw on that book for a while, so as to get your money’s worth.  The book you’re looking for would be Keepers of the Covenant.
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Disclosure: I received this book to review. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Put it in a Mason jar and I’m sure to love it. Put a Mason jar on the cover and I’m bound to read it. CALL IT The Mason Jar and there’s no doubt – it’ll be a favorite.

Jars have long been a staple in my life. Coins, trinkets, and fireflies all made happy homes in the jars of my childhood. As a newlywed, my husband and I invested in a few jars to use as glasses. Even now, I use Mason jars to decorate and organize (if you could call it that) my home. So when The Mason Jar came across my inbox?

Click.

Submit.

Cross my fingers.
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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Global Influence. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Since receiving some startling test results a few weeks ago, I’ve been making a real attempt at better health.  For one thing, the soda drinking had to stop.  I’m also taking steps to give myself some downtime every evening.  Things have been crazy at the Savings in Seconds household, but the crisp fall mornings and newfound energy have really helped me to rejuvenate!  Living better is already making me feel like a new woman.   Here’s my strategy for getting ready each morning. First, I start the morning with a glass of ice water.  I drink it while going through my beauty routine.  Throughout a busy day at school, it’s hard to find time to get in sips of water while teaching.  I’ve found that drinking a full glass of water in the morning helps me to start the day off right. I feel refreshed and hydrated. It also wakes me up!  My skin is thankful, too.  Hydrated and happy, my skin looks fresh and younger when I get a full intake of water throughout the day.  Also, I use products that give me results with little effort.  I like Suave because it’s easy on my budget yet fits my needs.  The Walmart Suave Hub is a great resource for all things beauty.  With beauty tips, promotions, and more, this is a site you’ll want to bookmark.

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

For years, teaching 6th grade has been my excuse for reading Young Adult fiction.  The truth is that I really like this genre.   In the past it might have been a category of books written specifically for children/teens but things are a’changing in the world.  Now, this gritty genre is all about tough living, questioning the status quo, and standing up for what’s right.  Considering that many young adult novels are now successful movies, it’s easy to surmise that the general public enjoys this genre as well.  In the Christian literary world, dystopian fiction is sometimes hard to find.  There are a few books I’ve enjoyed (Aquifer, Anomaly) and now I can add Thunder to the list.

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

My husband and I have different tastes in books. He prefers non-fiction while I enjoy “mind candy.”  Theological studies? Right up his alley.  Usually those books would put me to sleep.  Abraham by Charles Swindoll, though, is a different story.   [Read more…]