Disclosure: I received this book to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Is 2016 shaping up to be your financial bang or bust?  The family budget can be a tough ship to sail.  In particular, spring seems to be a pricey time of year for many families. Between all the graduations and weddings, baby showers and birthdays, you may find yourself stretching those dollars a little more.  Tuck in summer vacation planning, and it’s likely that you’ll hear those pennies start to squeak.  No matter the income level, or a lack of budget prowess, The Budget Kit can be a great resource for any household. This workbook-style toolkit is easy to use, and simple to understand.   [Read more…]

Disclosure: The post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the link, I may earn a small commission (even though it costs you nothing extra). That’s how I pay for self-sponsored giveaways like this one, so thank you!

The first baby is such a time of excitement!  Create an Amazon Baby Registry so that you can keep an organized list of the items you need — and receive — for the little one. You’ll get a 10% completion discount, plus get 90-day free returns on baby store purchases. I wasn’t sure what I needed at first, but I sure found out soon enough!  Being able to order my diaper sash straight from Amazon was such a blessing. Getting 20% off diaper subscriptioins? Even better! Baby mama, let me tell you the secret – get that gear delivered to your door!
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Disclosure: I received this book to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Before I launch into a review of The Feathered Bone, the characters in this book deserve a moment of silence.

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Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

A few days ago, we had dinner with couple we hadn’t seen in a long time. They’ve been married for 3 years or so, and still delight in telling people the story of how they met.  As their eyes sparkled, they shared how their first “date” ended up being at a church service.  The husband commented that he’d only been attending that church for a short time, and that he felt that God led him there.  The wife, my friend, was invited there by an acquaintance of her parents.  Little did they know that the first meeting would lead to such a wonderful future!

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Disclosure: I received product samples. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Tiny makeup is my favorite!  I love the fact that there’s no commitment — just try it and buy it.  When this little duo arrived from MAKE Beauty, it went right into my cosmetic bag.
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Disclosure: I received this book to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Just look at that book cover!  Everything about the Northern Light cover screams “ROMANCE” — from the lacy, billowy gown to the wisps of falling hair to the watercolor sunset.  So gorgeous!  And you haven’t seen anything yet.  Get in your Scarlett O’Hara mode now, because this post-Civil War era novel is going to rock your socks.  [Read more…]

I was invited to celebrate the release of SUMMERLOST, but we were out of town when the special day arrived.  I didn’t want you to miss out, though.  Here’s the news on this very special book, which was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Spring 2016!

Letter from Ally:

Dear Readers,

I think most of us have had our hearts broken. Sometimes we can see it coming, and sometimes it comes down with the unexpected force of a sudden gale of wind or a rising of waters that we thought were still and safe. Loss is universal to human experience, but the way we each feel and recover is one of the most personal things we do.

In Summerlost, Cedar is dealing with the loss of her father and younger brother. And my intent was to show how hard their deaths are for her. But this is also a book about the healing power of friendship. Most of us have been broken-hearted; I hope that most of us have also discovered the miracle of friendships that were just what we needed. Cedar and Leo’s friendship is based on someone I met when I was twelve. Like Leo, my friend was fun and liked to enlist me in crazy adventures (although we never gave a secret guided tour of our town the way they do in Summerlost). And, like Leo, he thought I was wonderful and of worth at a time when I needed it most.

SUMMERLOST is my attempt to pay tribute both to the pain we feel and the friendships that save us. Thank you so much for supporting this book, and for your willingness to give Cedar’s story a try. I hope it makes you think of a wonderful friend of your own, whether that is someone you met in the pages of a favorite book or outside, in the world where it is often hard and beautiful to live.

Best wishes and happy reading always,

Ally Condie

I’m ready to read, what about you?

Disclosure: I received these books to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

We recently visited a new salon to have my daughter’s hair cut. While I waited, I pulled out a novel to read. The stylist asked me what the book was about.  She commented that she has never heard of an Amish romance novel.   If you’re a newbie to this genre, too, consider grabbing An Amish Year to see if you’ll like the setting. It’s the perfect answer to the question, “What to read this weekend?”

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