Webinar Today with Mark Victor Hansen

Today is the day! A webinar with co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Go Rich Kids!
If your an entrepreneur or you want to help your children achieve all their dreams, don't miss out on this webinar. You will be able to ask questions to Mark. This is for parents, or any person wanting to start their own business! Head on over here to watch and ask away! Go here and ask your questions!

http://jeffrivera.com/mark-victor-hansens-the-entrepreneur-in-you-event/

Exciting News including a Webinar!

I have some very exciting news for everyone! Mark Victor Hansen, the Co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, will be doing a live webinar and your all invited! It will take place tomorrow::

Thursday, Feb. 28th (11am PT/ 2pm ET) & (2pm PT / 5pm ET)

To ask Mr. Hansen a question Live during the times stated above, you can Tweet 

@GoRichKids

https://twitter.com/gorichkids

If you are a parent or someone who is interested in entrepreneurship you don't want to miss out on this webinar. If you want to start your own business, or encourage your kids on the path to entrepreneurship this is a Don't Miss event!
I will be updating more tomorrow with the Google Hangout link so you can watch it live, but until then stay tuned and have your questions ready! It's going to be very exciting! You can also visit this page, tomorrow (02/28/2013), to watch and ask questions in the comments section.

Stay tuned for more updates, I will also be tweeting and posting on facebook about this event. :) Enjoy!

Customized Easter Baskets from Personal Creations ~Review

Easter has always been special in our house. We mainly celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and give extra thanks as He died on the cross for our sins. And of course there is also the tradition of the Easter Bunny.
Now usually we get the boys little buckets or regular baskets and fill them up with some goodies and a stuffed animal, etc.
However, one thing I've noticed is every year the Easter Baskets in the stores are same old, same old. There isn't anything really unique about them aside from the various faces, designs, colors, etc. The boys do still get excited of course to see that the Easter Bunny left them baskets, but this year we were trying to think of something that could make it extra special for them.
I was so pleased to have the chance to review Easter Baskets from Personal Creations. The opportunity came at the best of times.
They have quite an amazing selection of Easter baskets with everything from simple, quirky, cute, boyish, girly, etc. The spin is that these are customized which makes them about as unique as you can get!
The prices are very reasonable considering they are made with your child's name specially printed on them.

Here is a quick look at some of the baskets you can choose from::

I ended up choosing the below style for the boys. I couldn't pass up that they come with a cute little stuffed bunny, grass, and the customized lining is removable so you can use it again and again. Plus the baskets are hand-woven and of a neutral color so they can get enjoyment from them even after Easter is over.

Easter Basket with Plush

We chose 3 of the green polka dot baskets. I got one for each of my sons, and one for my nephew also.
The  plush bunny is very soft, and the basket very durable. The basket is hand-woven and of average size, and because the handle is movable you can fit larger items in with ease. The basket is by no means small, but nor is it large. It's of about medium size, and perfect for kids in my personal opinion. The customized cotton liner is removable and ties onto the sides of the basket to keep in place. The name stitching is very well done, but it looks like black stitching in the photo when in reality it is purple. It still looks very nice and didn't stand out of place so it wasn't a huge disappointment. It added more color to it certainly which befits Easter well. There were no loose threads on the lettering, nothing crooked, etc. These baskets are very pleasing to the eye, and enjoyable to children. Delivery was fast and came within a week of my order. The whole order was packaged with care.

The baskets came in a box filled with peanuts, and were individually wrapped in plastic.

And the price is a very good price considering you are getting a customized removable liner, plush bunny, basket, and grass.
One downfall was there wasn't very much grass to fit in the basket, but because we have small children we don't use the grass anyway. Still I will say there was enough to pad down the bottom of the basket so if you are one who likes to use grass it shouldn't be a deal breaker.
I am definitely a permanent customer of Personal Creations, as I am so very pleased with these Easter Baskets. They have so many other items to offer on their website from gifts, to items for the home, and so forth. Items are inexpensive considering you are getting customized items, and these Easter baskets are sure to make your kids feel extra special on Easter Day as they find these treasures waiting on them bearing their names.


Click HERE for some great coupons



Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

Happy Homemaker Monday 02/18/2013

::The Weather::
A bit of a chilly breeze, but it is beautiful outside. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, spring isn't too far off. Sunshine always makes me in a much brighter mood. :)



::Right now I am::
Sitting at the kitchen table writing this post. I have chicken grilling for grilled chicken sandwiches for our lunch. Since there is no school today the kids are playing with their new doodle pads and watching Spongebob. They are being so good to each other today, I really can't complain. :)



::Thinking::

• About how glad I am there is no school today. I got a bit behind on my chores over the weekend when hubby was off so a lot does need done today, but it was a really nice weekend. Even though the boys were sick for the majority of it we loved the family time and mainly watched movies, did puzzles, crafts, played games, and once they were feeling better yesterday did a little shopping.
• This week my glasses and sunglasses should be in, I am so excited about them. I finally got around to ordering a pair of prescription sunglasses, so no more annoying headaches due to driving in the sun. Bad news is my eyesight has gotten worse so I can no longer see well enough wearing regular sunglasses.
• About all the books sitting on my shelf (and Kindle) waiting to be read. Thursday I'm making a trip to a small bookstore in our town and I just can't wait. I love my kindle, but there's nothing like the feel and smell of an actual book. Turning the pages, the weight in your hands, etc. I may seem weird, but oh well. I love books so I'm okay with any repercussions that come with that. Which is why I could spend hours browsing the shelves at the library. :) So many good books out there, and just so little time...
• I got my haircut yesterday. It's shoulder length, and I have bangs finally. I haven't had bangs in forever, but my head feels so much lighter! My hair also looks so much more healthy, I hadn't had my hair cut in a little over a year. Plus this morning I could actually style it without being in the bathroom for hours and that is the best part ever. It's just so much more manageable. I even splurged the extra two dollars to get it shampooed. It just feels so good to be pampered a bit, even if it may seem trivial to some.

::On my reading pile::
Last week was crazy, and while I got to start on The Tudor's Daughter by Julie Klassen, I haven't gotten very far on it. I am loving it already though, and it grabbed my attention immediately. I can't wait to make some more head-way with it.

::On my TV::
Bones
7th Heaven
Cartoons
Disney Movies
The Help
Bunheads
Love It or List It
Seinfeld



::Favorite blog post this week (mine or other)::
When I get the chance I like to join a blog hop on Saturdays hosted by Because I'm The Mommy and (not) Just Another Mom of Twins.
It's called Songs That Make Us Sing Saturdays and you can share songs that you love, make you want to dance, etc. It's really a lot of fun, and this one is one of my favorites. It really fits my mood this week as well. I just can't wait for spring (as I keep saying over and over, hopefully it's not annoying just yet. LOL)

http://www.bcimthemommy.com/2013/02/songs-that-make-us-sing-pocketful-of.html

::Something fun to share::
If your a pinterest addict like me, and you also love to crochet here are some easy to do crocheted bookmarks. If you are interested in Pinterest but need an invite feel free to leave me a comment with your email address, and I'd love to see you on there. It's full of so many interesting things, but beware: It's highly addicting.

http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=crocheted+bookmarks

::On the menu for this week::
Monday- Broccoli, parmesan, and shrimp pasta & garlic bread
Tuesday- chicken pot pie (recipe from one of my cookbooks)
Wednesday- glazed ham, mashed potatoes, baby carrots
Thursday- shopping day
Friday-
Saturday-
Sunday-



::On my to-do list::

• Clean windows
• Dusting
• Sweeping
• Mopping
• Vacuuming
• Give Gizmo a bath
• Make grocery list out
• Laundry (wash, dry, iron, fold, put away)
• Clean the kids room (it looks like a bomb went off in there)
• The normal day to day cleaning, dishes, cooking, etc

::What I am sewing, creating, knitting, or crocheting::

This week I am crocheting some bookmarks for me and the kids. It's going to be a busy week so this is going to be a simple craft.

::Homemaking tips::

Since spring is coming up (I can't wait) and I'm sure lots of you (me included) will be making large pitchers of lemonade, iced tea, and other fruity concoctions. Instead of putting lots of small ice cubes in your pitcher that will quickly melt, use big ice cubes. You can make them using muffin pans, and even drop in some lemon slices, orange slices, strawberries, etc. It's visually appealing, adds a bit of extra flavor, and keeps your pitcher cold.

::On my prayer list::

• My kiddos who have been battling a horrible cold due to our crazy weather changes.
• A couple of my very dear friends that have been battling some health issues.
• Everyone out there who is going through a tough time right now, prayers go out to everyone and all circumstances.
• My mom who has some upcoming dental work to be done. Her tooth broke off and she has to have the rest that is still under her gums surgically removed.

::Bible verse/devotional::

Psalm 119:10-11

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

If you want to participate in Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday head on over to her blog (Diary of a Stay at Home Mom), read her awesome post, and then add your Happy Homemaker Link to her Mister Linky at the bottom of the post. There are so many others that join in and it's so interesting seeing what everyone is up to this week, read their homemaking tips, etc. 

Goodbye To Yesterday ~Book Review

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (February 5, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616260858
• ISBN-13: 978-1616260859

::Description::
As a young married couple Luke and Meredith start off happily enough. But when Luke loses his job it causes them both to argue. Living off their savings and unsure of their financial future they become more withdrawn from one another. Their relationship starts to hurt even though their love for one another is deep. The stress of their situation becomes palpable despite their faith. When Luke is offered to take over his uncle's business he is eager to jump in and start learning the trade, but Meredith is overcome with negative feelings. Not only does she not want to be separated from Luke she suspects she may be pregnant. Afraid to tell Luke of her situation while in their financial hole she tries to think of other reasons why he should not make the long journey. What if he doesn't learn the trade well, and they lose their investment? With Luke having to get a bus in the middle of winter, what if the weather is too bad? But despite all her negative feelings and worries Meredith tries her best to tamp them down. She wants to support her husband, and just the thought of getting back to work has already improved Luke's moods. He is just trying to provide as he was raised to do, and if Meredith keeps him from his newest dream would he ever forgive her? Are her bad feelings just an emotional obstacle at the thought of being apart from Luke or are they a forewarning of something terrible to come?


::My Thoughts::
I do greatly enjoy Amish fiction. Particularly Amish Romance. However I felt a bit whip-lashed reading this book. It seemed to skip around quite often abruptly changing from one character's viewpoint to another, or one place to another. I also felt that certain parts of the book spent more time explaining trivial events. It isn't a big deal breaker though as I still found myself swept up in the story. I really connected with Meredith's character, she is definitely an admirable woman. You can see right away that she is a strong Amish woman with such devoted love for her husband. She is caring and does her best as a wife. She does seem to burden a lot of troubles that she shouldn't deal with alone, but she does it purely out of care. Despite all her reservations about Luke leaving she puts all her trust and faith in God not wanting to squelch her husband's opportunity.
This book definitely is not without intrigue which kept me riveted, as well. The characters are all very interesting in their own way, and the circumstances surrounding Luke leaving Meredith to travel to his uncles business leaves you wondering what will happen next.
Everything about this book is modern and believable. I found myself swept up in Luke and Meredith's world picturing everything perfectly.
As it is only part 1 of 6 this book a very short read and I for one cannot wait to read part 2. The author does a fantastic job of leaving you wanting for more at the end, and I can't wait to delve into the rest of the story. I was so frustrated by the ending, but in a good way. The cliffhanger was so intriguing and mysterious that I can't stop imagining all the scenarios that could possibly happen. I can tell already that this book will have my imagination working in overdrive, which is a sure sign of a good story.


::A short video::

This book is available in   Paperback   Kindle   Nook   Audio, CD, Audiobook   Audible



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bible Stories that end with a Hug ~Book Review

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (December 20, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414375433
• ISBN-13: 978-1414375434

This is an excellent study book for young children! There are bright colorful illustrations to capture your child's attention with real scripture made short and sweet from the Bible.
Whether your child is only one year old or 7 years old I think this is a book that would fit those age groups (and between) very well. The stories include scripture from the bible, lessons on applying each story to your child's life, and special Hug Time after each story.
It's really the perfect book for parents and children to enjoy together while learning different verses, and connecting at the end of each story.
Each story only takes about 5 minutes to read which makes it very easy for young children to stay focused, and they come away connecting with you while learning something new.
All in all I think this is a very unique book, and the perfect starter for very young children to learn more about God. As the most typical bible stories are covered (In The Beginning, God Made People, The Coat of Many Colors, Baby in a Basket, etc), this is an excellent starter book.
The pages are glossy and smooth, it is a hardcover with the front cover having some extra softness.
It has answers to questions your child may ask you about each story which is also a very nice touch, and the verses are very easy to remember for each story. The questions are something that your child may or may not ask, but is nice to read regardless as they can learn new information. There is definitely something to take away from each story, and it is just an easy read for parents and children to enjoy as a family.
I would definitely recommend it for anyone introducing a young child to the bible, to teach them bible verses, and the importance of the meaning behind each story.
At ages 47 months and 5 years old this book has become a nightly ritual to read right before bed, and I am so very thankful for the opportunity to review it.


If you want to purchase this book CLICK HERE
Take a peek inside the pages of this book on Amazon-CLICK HERE



Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 02/11/2013

::The Weather::
Today we are expected to get into the 40's, and it's supposed to be cloudy. I can't complain though because it's much better than being in single digits or below.


::Right now I am::
Sitting at the kitchen table sipping on some warm lemon tea. Everyone is still asleep, and while I did not want to pull myself out of bed this morning, I relish this quiet time. Whether you have kids or not I think it's good to grant yourself a little quiet time a little each day. Helps me for sure to reflect on my to do's for the day, maybe get some reading time in, etc.
Once I finish this post I'm going to start breakfast, once it starts cooking everyone will slowly start coming in. :)


::Thinking::

• That I can't believe February is just flying by! Wasn't it just December?
• I need to do some shopping for my son's school this week. I'm sending him with some snacks for the class in addition to his Valentine's cards. I'll be getting creative this year as you can now only bring store-bought items to school with an ingredient label, and they don't want cupcakes brought in. I'm thinking some iced animal cookies, goldfish, juice boxes, fruit, etc. I guess I'll figure more out when I get to the store. 
• Thinking about how excited I will be when Josh is off all weekend. 
• We don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day. It just gets too hectic to find a sitter, and never goes as planned. We tell each other how much we love each other every day, and to be honest Valentine's Day is really no different from any of those days. Instead we plan something together as a family. We make Valentine cupcakes all together, watch movies, eat popcorn, and I usually make some sort of special dinner. That way we can all enjoy it as a family, there's no gift pressure, and we can all just relax.
• Also about how excited I am that I can finally get some new glasses picked out today. Phew, I have had my pair for 2 years but they are showing some major wear.  Hubby has never had to have glasses, but he's thinking he may need some reading glasses now. We'll find out later.

::On my reading pile::
Starting The Tudor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

::On my TV::
Bunheads
Lizard Lick Towing (with the hubby)
Love It or List It
Mysteries at the Mueseum (I recommend this show to all who love anything historical, it's amazing)
Seinfeld
Nashville (on Wednesday and I can't wait)



::Favorite Blog Post This Week (mine or other)::

Favorite Family Recipes Cookbook Giveaway

Five Little Chefs

::Something fun to share::
I found this on pinterest, and it really is a brilliant idea.

::On the menu for this week::

Monday- Veggie Burgers, Baked Potatoes

Tuesday- Pot Roast

Wednesday- BBQ Pork chops, fried potatoes with chives, baby carrots

Thursday- marinated steaks, salad, corn on the cob (strawberry shortcake for dessert)

Friday- 3 cheese chicken penne, garlic bread

Saturday- chicken fajitas, white rice

Sunday- fish fillets, broccoli, macaroni and cheese

::On my to do list::

• Clean all windows
• Dusting
• Sweeping
• Vacuuming
• Getting crayon off the wall in the kids room *sighs*
• Return some items to the library (getting more of course)
• Eye exam later for me and hubby
• Organizing files on my laptop
• Going through books on my kindle I've read, storing them on the cloud thus making more room on my kindle for more great books.
• Laundry (wash, iron, fold, put away)

::What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting, or creating::

This week we are just focusing on Valentine's crafts.

::Homemaking Tips::

Packing your husband and children's lunches will save you tons of money, and the food is much better. It's a double win! My son will not eat school lunch and much prefers what I make him. And hubby prefers me to make his lunch as well which I do gladly.

::On my prayer list::

• Both of my parents
• Some friends who are going through a very rough time right now.

::Bible verse/devotional::

If you want to participate in Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday head on over to her blog (Diary of a Stay at Home Mom), read her awesome post, and then add your Happy Homemaker Link to her Mister Linky at the bottom of the post. There are so many others that join in and it's so interesting seeing what everyone is up to this week, read their homemaking tips, etc. 

Songs That Make Us Sing Saturday ~ 02/08/2013

I'm glad to be back for the Songs That Make Us Sing Saturdays blog hop hosted by::

Because I'm The Mommy

(not) Just Another Mom of Twins

If you would like to join in the fun visit the above links and check out their Saturday Songs and link up! :)

Today I'm going to share one of my favorites. I heard it on the radio the other day, and it always makes me sing.

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe ~Book Review

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400204666
ISBN-13: 978-1400204663

:::Book Description:::

"I just can't be a mother today."

These words have been whispered to God in quiet desperation by mothers who love their children to the depths of their soul, but who are struggling with how hard motherhood is.

Motherhood turns you inside out. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by how tired you feel; the days go on and on, and you want to be a "good" mom, but you feel like a failure so much of the time. What happened to all your ideals? When did you end up feeling so...lost?

Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have been to the edge and back. Desperate is the story of one young mother’s trials and one experienced mentor’s priceless exhortations. Desperate is not a book about despair, nor is it a rule-laden mothering manual. It is a bouquet from a friend who has been there, reminding us that we are not alone. Sarah Mae’s unvarnished account of her own struggles mothering three feisty young children is a lesson in learning patience, loving idiosyncrasies, accepting help, and—most of all—leaning on God.

Each chapter includes a brief Bible study with journal exercises to help you find your own quiet center, and get you back into the fray soul-filled and refreshed. Written with candor, empathy, and faith, Desperate is like coffee with a trusted girlfriend; one who knows how hard being a mother can be, and how to navigate the often turbulent road.

:::My Thoughts:::

This is a really good tool for all mother's to have. I can't even say how glad I am that I not only got the opportunity to review it, but read it. It is sunshine for the mother's soul. To know that you are not alone in the way you can feel. Let's face it, motherhood is not exactly what any of us pictured. Don't get me wrong motherhood is wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for the world. My children are my everything, and I love being their mommy. They are my little blessings and I count myself grateful for them everyday. But the fact of the matter is that motherhood is not as easy as I thought it would be. I devoured parenting and baby books while I was pregnant. While they are chock full of good information they don't quite prepare you for all the hardships, late nights, tantrums, etc. Everyone usually tells you that labor can hurt, that you will be tired once you have the baby, but they don't delve into the details of staying up all night long with no sleep, toddlers that throw tantrums in the middle of the grocery store, how it's so easy to get swept up and lose friendships because you find yourself with much less time to devote to anyone else, that it's okay if you can't do every little thing you expected to be able to handle all at once, etc. Nobody quite prepares you for that. This book holds nothing back, however, and gives personal accounts from the authors. Advice that is so truthful it's refreshing to hear.

Another great feature of this book is that it points out how important it is to bond with all mothers young and old alike. No matter our ages we are not alone. I luckily have had my mother along my journey to help guide me in questions about my children, and within the last couple of years I was able to reconnect with some old friends that are also mothers as well. It is just so important to have a mentor that can remind you that you are not alone, and just be there for you. We were never meant to mother alone, families were created by God with us in mind. We must keep God rooted in our lives as well as our children's lives. We can't be wonder woman as much as we want to. There's only so much we can do and handle on our own. We can sometimes set such high goals for ourselves that when we don't always reach them it can bring us down.  But when we put it in God's hands, and confide in other mother's we can find kinship and a peace unlike we have known. This is one encouraging book, and I recommend it to mother's of all ages. Even if your children are grown and out of the house it can show you how you can help mentor a younger mother. It's truly a book for mothers of all ages with scriptures, reflections, journal exercises, QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapter, and questions for yourself that will be sure to enlighten you.

Here is a video on the book:

This book is available in the following forms (among others):   Paperback   Kindle   Nook   a DVD companion study (coming soon, you can pre-order now)



 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Happy Homemaker Monday 02/04/2013

I know I'm joining Happy Homemaker Monday a bit late in the day. It's been a bit of a Manic Monday, but better late than never right? LOL

CREDIT: Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

::The Weather::
It's 30 degrees and a bit chilly. Snow is on the ground, but the roads are thankfully clear. We are expecting more snow later today, and our lows will get to around 20. I am just thankful we won't be in the single digits tonight.


::Right now I am::
Writing this blog post while my kids watch after school cartoons on the couch beside me. I just picked up my oldest from school and made them an after school snack so they are enjoying that. Gizmo is dragging around his squeaky stuffed toy and barking at it. :)


::Thinking::
About what is to come this week. We've had some more issues with our ceiling leaking in our bedroom, and now the boys ceiling is doing the same. This week will be filled with management and maintenance coming in, taking pictures, and doing work. They are talking about cutting out some parts of the ceiling and re-insulating. I am not looking forward to it because all the furniture has to be moved out of the bedrooms which means a disaster of a house. Doesn't really mix very well with two kids running around that are going to be upset they have no room to play.


::On my reading pile::
Nothing really at the moment. Just finished a couple books for review and now thinking about what I would like to read next. I'm thinking something in a series so I'll be browsing around this week at the library. Until then probably just reading some novella's on the kindle.


::On my TV::
Bones tonight at 8pm
Bunheads tonight at 9pm
Lizard Lick Towing at 10pm with hubby
Seinfeld re-runs
News


::Favorite Blog Post This Week (mine or other)::
10 Ways Kids' Meals are like a (Bad) Restaurant
http://www.momsnewstage.com


::Something fun to share::

Tjeby, 4,000-Year-Old Mummy, Gets CT Scan

Using modern technology, a Virginia museum is working to unwrap the story behind one of the earliest surviving Egyptian mummies. They will be able to tell cause of death, habits, reconstruct the face, etc. 

::On the menu for this week::

Monday- Supreme Pizza casserole

Tuesday- Beef & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

Wednesday- Salisbury Steaks, baked potatoes, brocolli

Thursday- Take out day

Friday- Vegetable Soup

Saturday- dinner at my moms

Sunday- shopping day

::On my to do list::

Organize my bookshelf, it has become a crazy mess over the week

Vacuum floors

Mop kitchen and bathroom

Making some sweet treats for the household to enjoy

Dishes

Cooking

::What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting, or creating::

Me and hubby tackled one of our storage closets yesterday and I found tons of old baby onesies that no longer fit my youngest. They WILL however fit Gizmo. I plan on cutting the bottoms off (where they snap), and transform them into shirts for my pup. He actually loves wearing stuff and he has a couple doggy sweaters, but these are going to be too cute. One is a Superman onesie so I can't wait to see how it looks as a doggy shirt. 

Going to be going to Walmart later on in the week and checking out yarn colors for place-mats  I have decided I'm going to be making various kinds/styles of place-mats over the next few weeks.

::Homemaking Tips::

Sometimes making your own home products such as laundry detergent, household cleaners, etc can save you tons of money. I don't always make our laundry detergent as much as I'd like, but I often make day to day household cleaners. They usually work much better or just as good as store bought cleaners, and at least you know what's in the ingredients!

And I just want to add another great idea that Sandra mentioned on her Happy Homemaker Post: Put all your cookbooks to use!
I will 100% agree with this. Yesterday while cleaning out our storage closet I came across 2 of my most beloved cookbooks that I thought were lost, and I am so excited about it. Hubby must've thought I was crazy but when I opened the box and there they were I shrieked delightedly like a kiddie in a toy store! LOL I will be planning the next couple week's meal plans from them! 

::On my prayer list::

• Both of my parents who have been dealing with some health issues.
• Me and hubby on patience. We have been trying so hard to just give it all to God and stop stressing, but it's been a hectic couple of weeks with another one on the way. We have had people in and out of our apartment since we moved in fixing stuff, and while I'm so very grateful that they are fixing things that go wrong it is hard to have patience. (Mainly I'm referring to the ceilings and their constant leaking) Especially when it seems as if the ceilings are just not being fixed right. But they are trying so we are trying to have patience. It will just be nice when it's all done, and we don't have to be moving furniture around every week so people can come in and work.
• Just everyone out there that may be struggling or going through a hard time in some way. Even if I don't know them they are still in my prayers.

::Bible verse/devotional::

I Peter 5:6-7
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. "

With all that said I will wish you all a good week, and if you want to participate in Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday head on over to her blog (Diary of a Stay at Home Mom), read her awesome post, and then add your Happy Homemaker Link to her Mister Linky at the bottom of the post. There are so many others that join in and it's so interesting seeing what everyone is up to this week, read their homemaking tips, etc.