Happy Homemaker Monday - 10/28/2013

It's been a couple months since I've gotten to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday and I am so glad to be back, I can't even begin to tell you how glad! Well, I could, but then I'd just bore you. haha
Things have been completely insane around here and finally things are starting to slow down enough to where I can get back to regular blogging. I am so glad!
So firstly I'll start with joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday. If you want to join in head on over to her blog and link up! :)

photo is from Sandra @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

~::As I look outside my window::~
Sunny but cold outside. All the leaves are falling off the branches faster than I'm used to, but there are plenty of birds and squirrels coming to eat the food put out for them. The grass is still mostly green with a few brown and yellow patches here and there. All the frost from this morning has melted away. Here's a look at our weather this week:

~::Right now I am::~
Sitting on the couch while my youngest takes his nap. I've been doing laundry all morning and the normal day to day chores. Gilmore Girls is playing on the TV.



~::Thinking and pondering::~
About how busy this week is going to be. Tonight there's a Halloween school carnival at my oldest son's school, tomorrow is karate practice, Wednesday I'm babysitting, Thursday is errand day, karate practice, and Halloween (trick or treating), and luckily nothing is going on for Friday just yet. Hopefully it stays that way. Also thinking how nice it would be to have hubby home. He has been working non-stop all the time lately and it's been hard to handle as we are barely seeing him. It's been a big adjustment and one we all are not taking to well. It's been very stressful.



~::On my bedside table::~
The Hanging Tree by: Michael Phillip Cash
Stillwell Manor by: Michael Phillip Cash
going to the library this week so I'm sure this list will grow. I also just finished about five books, so I'll get some reviews up for those :)



~::On my TV tonight::~
Gilmore Girls
Bones
The Voice



~::Playing on the radio::~
The radio is off at the moment



~::On the menu for this week::~
Monday- porkchops, steamed baby carrots, rice
Tuesday- chicken casserole, biscuits
Wednesday- pizza pasta casserole, garlic bread
Thursday- (shopping day) something out as we won't have a lot of time
Friday-
Saturday-
Sunday-


~::On my to do list::~
Washing and ironing Lucas's Gi
Change bed linens
Cleaning windows and shelves
Mopping kitchen and bathroom floors
Vacuuming living room, and bedrooms
Give Gizmo a bath
Organize kitchen cabinets
Organize living room shelf (sadly it's become our dumping ground and all things are getting put there when we come inside as it's right in front of the door. I'm going to clear it off today, and set it back to rights)
normal day to day chores


~::What I am sewing, knitting, or creating::~
Not much of a chance to do anything lately. I've been lucky to find time to read or even sit for more than fifteen minutes lately. LOL
I am hoping to start on some crafts soon, especially since my local Walmart finally started carrying fabrics! I'm very excited about that fact.


~::My simple pleasure::~
Hot cup of freshly brewed tea and any kind of chocolate. :)


~::Lesson learned this past week::~
You can't always do what pleases others. You have to put yourself and family first. When times get hard people will give you all kinds of advice, some good and some bad. If they truly care about you they have good intentions. Trust God and trust your heart to do what is best for you and your family. You can't please everyone. Everything worth having is worth fighting for at some point or another in life. Life isn't life without some struggles here and there, but God holds our hand every step of the way, and you are NEVER alone in anything, even when it feels like it.


~::Looking around the house::~
Some dishes in the sink I need to get done, living room needs a little picking up from the kids coloring in here before school this morning, Levi is napping, Gizmo is laying on my feet, and I'm about to make BLT's for lunch.


~::From the camera::~
Nothing this week. Sorry :(



~::On my prayer list::~

• Our family as we go through some financial struggles.
• Me and hubby, we have had some tough times the last few months. It has been extremely difficult as we have had to get used to some changes that have not been easy on any of us.
• Family and friends for good health. It seems like everyone around us is getting sick, and I know how rough that can be. We were all sick for about two weeks and actually spent my son's whole fall break being sick! It took a huge toll on us, but I am thankful we are all back to normal now. Praying for everyone else's good health.
• Family and friends who are going through some personal struggles.

~::Bible verse/Devotional::~
John 5:30
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Raising Boys by Design

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 17, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0307731685

ISBN-13: 978-0307731685

::Description::
A book about how to help your son become the man God created him to be. Find out what is really going on inside your son's brain and build a HERO who values Honor, Enterprise, Responsibility, and Originality. In this book you will learn how to strengthen your sons character, and overall well being. Find out what your son needs from you and develop healthy thoughts and emotions that fit with his brain chemistry. Questions at the end of each chapter will give you personal insights into your son, and the book overall a deeper understanding of raising and understanding your son.



::My Thoughts::
As a mother to two young boys I am always interested in parenting books, especially when focused on boys obviously.
This book was very interesting to me because it explains how boys develop, think, and differ from girls. Boys think differently, develop different, and while both girls and boys may go through some of the same struggles in life those struggles are approached differently. This book explains in depth how to talk to your son about self-discipline, technology, sexuality, education, emotions, and how to be a HERO:

 Honor: adhering to truth, values and principles beyond self
Enterprise: working at important things whether they seem small or large
Responsibility: carrying important things and people throughout life
Originality: being a dreamer, a thinker, an explorer in the world

 

While I did feel there weren't enough personal stories from the authors to relate to I still took a lot away from this book. There are a lot of things I can tell will come in handy later on, and even stuff that I can apply to my sons at their ages now 2 & 5.

It never hurts to absorb all you can as a parent when it comes to parenting. I love how this book addresses various topics in depth with questions at the end of the chapters for parents to ask themselves about their son. One of the main problems I see that parents face when their children get older is their children tend to stray. I hope and pray that does not happen with my sons. I think a lot of it has to do with lack of communication, nurturing, and understanding. Even if you are the best parent in the world teen years are very hard to come by. We all went through them, and as good as some of my times were I don't think I would go back. So it's important for parents to always stay involved and to know how their children are feeling. Because boys and girls while equal are not the same at all. They are different in their own God given rights not just in the way they look, but their behaviors, emotions, actions, thoughts, etc.

I love how the book talks about what a boy needs to learn from both his mother and father, and how to create a Biblical journey from your son.

This book is a mix of both scientific and biblical examples and advice. I enjoyed it even though it did feel a little dry at times. I can see myself re-reading this book many times over the years, however, because in these times we are in it is very important to nurture our children and set out a good path for them.

I would recommend this book for a parent with a son of any age.

 

 

This book is available in:   Paperback   Kindle   Nook   ...and more!

 

 

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

K5 Learning - an onling reading and math program! Bloggers wanted!

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

K5 Learning Review Opportunity

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students.  I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program.  If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their  open invitation to write an online learning review of their program. - See more at: http://www.k5learning.com/review-k5#sthash.Jd5REho4.dpuf

Tapbooty: Earn Free Cash & Gift Cards

Tapbooty: Earn Free Cash & Gift Cards: I tried Tapbooty through Smiley360! Have fun, earn free cash & gift cards! #TapbootyMission Get 250 free coins: http://bit.ly/1esixii

 Tapbooty is an app where you can play games and turn your booty coins earned into real-world rewards. I personally did not like this app. The games and app froze up constantly and then it got to where it wouldn't even log me in saying repeatedly that I angered the Booty Cat. After contacting Tapbooty Support and getting the run around with no help multiple times before finally never hearing from them again I gladly erased this app from my phone. The only pleasing thing about the app was the Booty Cat was quite adorable and amusing. I got to try Tapbooty as a Smiley360 member in exchange for my unbiased review/opinions, all of which expressed are solely my own. If you want to try Tapbooty feel free to give it a try, and who knows, maybe you will have better luck than I did? And if not at least you got to see a very amusing cat character shake it down. :)

Enter to win a Goosebumps Hollywood Vacation...

From now until October 31st if you buy TruMoo Milk (half gallon or larger) of a specially marked bottle of Halloween Edition TruMoo you will find a code on your cap. Go on over to TruMoo's Facebook Page for a chance to win a FREE Goosebumps Hollywood Vacation which will include:

an all-expenses-paid vacation to Los Angeles, CA with private tours full of haunted Hollywood magic

The grand prize includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Fox Studios and a visit to Old Town Pasadena for a frightening special effects experience

and...
You will automatically get a printable coupon for $2 off any Goosebumps DVD of your choice! All kids love Goosebumps after all. :)

I'm proud to be a BzzAgent so I can be in the know about opportunities like this and share them with all of you, and hope you try for it. How great would it be to win an all-expenses-paid vacation to Los Angeles, CA!

The Quarryman's Bride ~ Review

Series: Land of Shining Water

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764206206

ISBN-13: 978-0764206207

::Description::
Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were engaged to be married. However, a horrible disaster that took the lives of Emmalyne's young sisters put a stop to that immediately. An age old tradition of the Knox family states that the youngest daughter will not marry but instead take care of her parents in their old age. As Emmalyne's heart sinks she cannot bear to let her parents down and takes on the selfless act of giving up her one true love and future to honor her family's tradition.
The Knox family moves away taking with them all of Emmalyne's hopes and dreams but leaving behind her heart. After eleven years circumstances bring the Knox family side by side working with the MacLachlan family and Emmalyne's and Tavin's paths cross again. The only question to remain is will true love conquer all?


::My Thoughts::
I LOVED this book. This was right up my alley and I enjoyed every minute of it. True love at it's best. I felt the author did a fantastic job on the whole novel. Even explaining day to day duties will take you inside the feelings of Emmalyne and other characters in the novel. In the 1800s, before, and likely after family traditions were often put above all else. Very few dared to go against age old traditions and instead accepted them as their lot in life good or bad. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen with Emmalyne and Tavin throughout the novel. Honestly I couldn't read a page fast enough to find out what would happen next. The other characters in the novel such as Fenella, Emmalyne's mother, etc., were also just as interesting. There are a few surprise character's included but it helped boost the story and make it all much more intriguing. This book is filled with happiness, sadness, devastation, intrigue, and love at both it's worst and finest. I can't wait to read the other novels in the series. I felt the entire novel was completely believable and I didn't have trouble following any of it. I definitely recommend this book to all you historical Christian romance readers or just historical romance readers in general! I was right back in the 1800s with this novel and couldn't wait to see how things would turn out.


This book is available in   Print   Kindle   Nook   Audible   ...and more! Make sure to check for other forms! :)


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