Desperate Book Review

I recently had the opportunity to review a wonderful book by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae titled Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe.

I think all of us moms have been there. Dishes are piling up, laundry is overflowing, and the kids are fighting. You feel exhausted by it all. During these moments, we may feel alone. Surely other moms don’t have these feelings…. or do they?

In this book, Sally and Sarah let us know that we’re not alone in our feelings. Sarah Mae is a younger mom who is in the season of raising young kids. Sally Clarkson is a mentor who has been there and is now encouraging the younger moms.

If your kids are grown, this book is also for you. Moms who have been through the years of raising young children are encouraged to mentor moms who are in the trenches.

One of the things that I like about the book is the QR codes at the back of each chapter. The short videos featuring Sally and Sarah Mae make the book seem even more personal.

This book would be excellent to read and discuss with other moms. In fact, Sally and Sarah Mae encourage moms to start book clubs to read this book.

One of the things that I like about the book is the QR codes at the back of each chapter. The short videos featuring Sally and Sarah Mae make the book seem even more personal.

There are also questions at the end of each chapter to help you process what you’ve read and apply it to your life.

This book would be excellent to read and discuss with other moms. In fact, Sally and Sarah Mae encourage moms to start book clubs to read this book.

If you are a mom, you need to read this book!

For more information about this book, you can go to the Deperate Mom website: http://www.desperatemom.com

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson for review purposes.

Erin Condren Giveaway!

In my quest to become organized as I juggle 4 kids’ activities, I recently discovered Erin Condren. Erin Condren offers fun, colorful, personalized products. You can choose from planners, stationary, address labels, notepads, and invitations. You can even buy iPhone cases, iPad stickers, growth charts, and recipe boxes. Have a gift to buy for someone? No problem! They have gift cards. You can also give a gift card with chocolate.

Here’s the exciting part! ErinCondren.com has agreed to give one of my lucky readers $25 to their store. To enter my drawing, just use the rafflecopter form below.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NWE3YjczYWUxODA5NWZjODkwMDY4MGFjNzQ2MDU2OjQ=/

This giveaway is being linked up at Hip Homeschool Moms

One of my favorite healthy snacks

It’s that time of the year when we are bombarded with yummy, sweet treats. Most people also have more social obligations on their calendars, so maybe less time to cook healthy meals. If you are like me, you like to indulge, but not overindulge. So what’s a girl to do? Enter Larabars! Larabars satisfy the sweet tooth, while being healthy. Head to We Run Disney for a chance to win some Larabars!

National Breastfeeding Month Virtual 5k

National Breastfeeding Month Virtual 5k

To celebrate National Breastfeeding Month, I am holding a Virtual 5k right here on my blog. It is FREE to participate. However, if you feel inclined you can leave a comment letting me know that you’d like to donate.  By donating, you will be helping mamas and babies as I will donate all money raised to my local La Leche League group. You can run or walk 3.1 miles anytime between now and August 31st. You can run or walk with friends or by yourself.

I have rounded up some prizes. Road ID has generously donated FIVE $15 gift certificates. Rafflecopter will select the winners. To enter, just click on the words at the bottom of the page: a Rafflecopter giveaway.  Now go get those shoes laced up and get moving!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BabbaBox Review and Giveaway

My kids and I recently had the opportunity to review a BabbaBox. “What is a BabbaBox?” you may be asking. Simply put, a BabbaBox is a themed box filled with fun items allowing you to make memories with your children. A BabbaBox is delivered monthly to your door. Each BabbaBox allows you to create, explore, story tell, and connect.

I told my 3 year old daughter that we were expecting the BabbaBox. She could hardly wait to open it when it arrived. The theme of our box was Sun, Moon, and Stars. It was like opening a present! Everything was wrapped in tissue paper. Also in the box was a thoughtful gift for me.

What 3 year old doesn’t love getting to play with stickers? My daughter had fun putting the star stickers on special paper that makes a picture when placed in the sun.

I had my 7 year old son join us for some paper mache fun. It was messy and took a little time, but a fun memory was made.

A pair of binoculars to help you as you chart the phases of the moon were enclosed. Those were a big hit with my little ones.

Each BabbaBox also had a book that goes along with the chosen theme. The book we received was a delightful book, which both of my kids enjoyed. We read it for our bedtime book since it’s about stars.

Also included is a code for a free kid app that pertains to the theme. Kid apps can come in handy when you have to wait for very long or have to ride in a car.

One thing I like about BabbaBox is the fact that everything you need for a craft or activity is contained in that box. There is no need to go to the store once you get the box to get supplies. Scissors, glue, paper, and more were some of the supplies in our box. All of the directions were easy to follow.

I think a BabbaBox subscription would be a fun gift to give a little one in your life for a birthday or holiday. Kids love getting mail. Having fun doing crafts, reading books, and more with your little one is priceless.

Now for the fun part! One of my readers can have a chance at winning a BabbaBox of your own. Simply enter by clicking on the words ‘a Rafflecopter giveaway’ below and follow the directions. The giveaway will close at 12:01 am EST on August 6th. If you don’t want to wait to see if you win, you can get 20% off your first box with the code MJ20OFF. There is also a back to school coupon code which is good for 33% off of the first 3 months of membership: MJ33BTS.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bondi Band Review and Giveaway

This past spring, I started and finished the Couch to 5K program. In my journey in to running, I discovered I needed something to hold my hair out of my face and keep sweat out of my eyes. Enter Bondi Band!

Bondi Band sells wicking hats, sweat towels, armbands, wristbands, neck gators, and headbands. I was interested in trying out the headband. There are two types of headbands – the fashion headband and the wicking headband. Since I sweat alot, I chose the wicking headband. You can choose from solid colors or all kinds of fun sayings. You can even pay extra to design your own.

I chose a solid red headband. After trying it out several times, I am sold. It keeps my hair out of my eyes. It also works well to absorb my sweat. I would know about this since the low here is 75!

One of you lucky readers will win the Run heart headband! To enter, click on the words ‘a Rafflecopter giveaway’ below and follow the directions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids – Chapter 1

Rachael begins Chapter 1 by writing “In order to reach the hearts of your kids, you must first have a heart for the things of God.” (p. 31)  Wow, that’s simple, yet profound!

Rachael writes about how she starts questioning her kids’ character, but then realizes that it’s her character that needs changing.  Kids say and do what they see.  They imitate the positive and the negative.

How is God revealed to us?  How can we show this to our kids?  God reveals himself to us in nature, His Word, prayer, and worship.

• Nature: A sunset is an example of God revealed in nature.
• His Word: Stories of people in the Bible demonstrate how God guides those who turn to Him.
• Prayer: Praying should not be reserved for one moment during the day, but throughout the day.
• Worship: Praise God with all of our being.  We are made to do this.

Some quotes that I liked:

“As intentional parents we do not react, but we respond.  We do not panic; we pray.” p. 32

“In the meantime, our kids are to be witnesses of our transformation and start imitating Him through imitating us.” p. 35

“If we seek God in His Word, we will find Him, when we seek Him with all of our hearts.” p. 49

“Memorize His Word all you want, but without the heart change, without true worship, it’s empty.” p. 56

Rachael gives questions at the end of each chapter that she titles Heart Checkup.  These questions are meant to guide you in applying the concepts in your life.

One of the questions from this week was about whether or not I make quiet time a priority in my life and how I do this.  Just this week, I started studying the book of Ephesians with a Good Morning Girls group.  I’m choosing to have my quiet time early in the morning before I get distracted by the routine of the day.  The Hello Mornings Challenge through Inspired to Action started this week and has been a great help to me.  I never thought I’d be setting my alarm for 5:45 a.m.

To read what others have to say about Chapter 1, visit The Pelsers.com.

 

 

Cod liver oil review and giveaway

I recently had the chance to try Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil.  You ask, “Cod liver oil?  How can she consume cod liver oil?”  I’m here to tell you that it’s really not as awful as it may sound.  It’s also very good for you.  Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver Oil contains vitamins A and D, EPA, DHA, and Omega Fatty Acids.

Green Pastures is the only company in the world to make fermented cod liver oil.  Other companies heat the oil which causes it to lose certain nutrients in the process.  They offer several different flavors and types.  They also offer it in capsules, liquid, or gel.  They even offer a kid approved flavor.  An Emulsified Fermented Cod Liver Oil, a Fermented Cod Liver Oil, and a High Vitamin Butter/Fermented Cod Liver Oil blend are available, depending on your preference.

My 4 kids tried the Peppermint Emulsified Cod Liver Oil.  Out of the 4, only one liked it straight up.  Another suggestion was to mix with yogurt.  They weren’t too keen on that either.  The way that they did like it was with juice.  I chose to use Knudsen’s juice since it seemed to be the healthiest of juices.

I tried the Unflavored High Vitamin Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil combination.  According to the Green Pastures website: Dr. Weston A. Price discovered High Vitamin Butter Oil in the 1930’s. The pinnacle of his X-Factor discovery was the extreme synergistic effect between High Vitamin Butter Oil and traditional cod liver oil. “One without the other did not do his patients justice, but the two together worked like magic”.  I liked the taste.  If you don’t like fish or fishy tastes, I don’t think you’d like the unflavored.  I personally love fish, so perhaps that’s why I didn’t mind the unflavored.  In the past, I’ve tried the Cinnamon Tingle flavor.  The Cinnamon Tingle flavor masks the fish taste quite well for those of you who don’t like the fishy taste.

Green Pastures is giving THREE of you a chance to win a bottle of Cod Liver Oil, which is a $50 value!  You can choose between the Fermented Cod Liver Oil, Emulsified Fermented Cod Liver Oil, or the High Vitamin Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil blend.

To enter, go to the Green Pastures website, then come back and tell me what type and flavor you would choose if you win. (1 entry. This is a mandatory entry.)

For additional optional entries:

• subscribe to my blog (1 entry)
• share about this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter (1 entry)
• share about this giveaway on your blog (1 entry)

Make sure to leave seperate comments for each way that you enter.  This giveaway will end Wednesday, January 18th at 11:59 pm CST.  The winner will be chosen via random number generator.

These products were given to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

This post is being linked up at: Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Growing Home blog, and New Life on a Homestead.

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids – Introduction

I am excited to be reading the book How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids by Rachael Carman.  I am participating in a book club at The Pelsers.  To read what others have to say about the book or share your thoughts, check out the weekly link-up.  You can also find a facebook group where we’re discussing the book.

For this week, I read the Introduction.  I learned what H.E.A.R.T. stands for:

• Have a heart for the things of God
• Enrich your marriage
• Accept your kids
• Release them to God
• Teach them the truth

Rachael shares her journey which lead to homeschooling her children.  When her son was an infant, she met a neighbor who was homeschooling her children.  Rachael admits to wondering why anyone would want to do that.  She looked forward to the day that her son would be going to kindergarten.  After several days of her son being in kindergarten, her husband visits the classroom and realizes that this was not the place for his son to be learning.  They withdrew him from the public school and visited private schools.  Her husband was the one who suggested the idea of homeschooling.  Rachael agreed to it, but was only going to homeschool for a year as a temporary solution.  After attending a homeschool convention, Rachael and her husband felt God calling them to continue homeschooling.  She admits that she didn’t have a heart for her kids and needed to change that.  I’ll learn in the rest of the book how she developed a heart for her kids.

I like Rachael’s honesty.  She lays her feelings out about how she felt about the idea of homeschooling and about her kids.  Knowing that she changed her heart makes me interested in hearing how she did it.

As for my homeschooling journey, I grew up with my mom homeschooling my siblings, though I was never homeschooled.  We grew up without a television, so my siblings and I read lots of books, explored the outdoors, and loved playing with Legos, puzzles, and creating.  When my oldest son was old enough for kindergarten, I knew that I didn’t want to send him to school.  Having seen my mom teach my siblings and see that they were indeed well-adjusted teens and adults gave me the confidence to teach my own son.  We’ve been homeschooling for 7 years now.

Amanda asked what sacrifices we’ve made as moms or for our children.  To have me staying at home and teaching my children, we have made sacrifices.  I could have a cleaner house, more time to work on my own agenda, more money, but as they grow older, I am seeing the fruits of our sacrifices.  It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.

Come back next week for my thoughts on Chapter 1!

 

Favorite photo 2011

I had such fun looking through the many photos that I’ve taken over this past year.  I tried to pick just one favorite, but it was so hard.  I picked my favorite three photos of the year.

 Big brother holding baby brother

Big sister holding baby brother

 Christmas sibling shot

Share your favorite photo of 2011 at Sam’s Noggin.