It’s been awhile, I am sorry!  Life got in the way.  I would much rather spend the time with my girls, as they will remember my name in six months, whereas the companies that I review their products can’t remember my name from day to day.

We had a field trip to the Zoo about three hours away this week, and we had so much fun.  The girls were upset that Stingray Bay was closed they wanted to go back the next day just to see the Stingray’s.  I had to work though and it wasn’t possible.  Another time.  They are already planning  the trip.

We are preparing for the Thanksgiving Holiday.   Which in our house means being extra thankful.  We don’t get into all the hype of the holidays just want to focus on the goodness that God has blessed us with each year.  Lost teeth, good grades, health, being together!  You get the picture.

I have some good reviews for you and a contest for a Charm bracelet that actually survived my job.  I work at a newspaper and I’ve lost many a good piece of jewelry to harsh environment and busy days, but I am proud to say this Charm bracelet survived without a scratch.

I’ve got a cool game review coming up, and a nice warm blanket in time for those cool nights.

I am still trying to find some good holiday photo cards to review, which seems to be impossible.  A vaccum, a new set of pans for the new year and a nice fragrance.  Organizational tools for busy people.

I’ve been asked to find some good solid story books for children that attend headstart and find generous donors.  This is a challenge in this economy but I know I can count on my readers to lead me in the right direction.

So I wish you a good week and remember to be thankful as you prepare your dinner for your family, be thankful that you have a roof over your head, a family to share this special day, be thankful that you have food to eat, that you are warm and blessed.

M

 

I don’t know about you, but our household always seems to be in a frenzy.  We are rushing to get ready for school/work.  Rushing to get out the door and gobble our food.  Rushing to some scheduled activity.  Rushing to get home, rushing to bed, etc.  It seems like all we do is run, we never seem to trot.

So when I received an email from Ann Kroeker, I just knew I had to read this book and fast!  No really, I’ve read through it three times, (that’s why it took me so long to post this).  I know I’ve been promising it to you for quite sometime.  But I truly wanted to slow down my life as well as my children’s.

I love my kids, and I want to savor every moment I have with them.  I want to make memorable moments stand out, and have the time to enjoy all the things they enjoy doing.  Don’t you?

As Ann states on the back of her book:

Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families explores the jarring effects of our overcommitted culture and offers refreshing alternatives with a Christian perspective. Author Ann Kroeker relates her own story of how embracing a slower everyday pace has resulted in a richer, fuller, and more meaningful family and spiritual life. Practical ideas and insights will spark creativity and personal reflection. Plus, ponder real-life stories from parents reaping the riches of a simper, slower lifestyle. Not so Fast offers hope that families struggling with hurried hearts and frantic souls can discover the rejuvenating power of an unrushed life.

This book is a must read if you feel like your life is rush hour constantly.  If you see the look of bewilderment on each of your kids faces.  Then please, pick up a copy of this book and read it and then read it again.  Actually take the steps that Ann suggests.  Implement it in your life, you will see a difference, I know our household has.  There is still that urgency, but we must resist and slow down.

I don’t want to say too much and spoil it for you, so grab you copy today.

Here is Ann’s website:  www.annkroeker.com

Thanks

M

 

 

 

Well… I thought we made it through another hurricane season without any significant activity.  But, I was wrong.

Heard on the radio this morning that hurricane Ida is headed into the Gulf of Mexico.  They are forecasting it to hit Alabama and Mississippi, but who knows when it comes to hurricanes.

All my snowbird relatives have arrived and they are not looking forward to experiencing a hurricane/tropical storm.  Please keep us all in your prayers.

On another note, I am getting ready for Thanksgiving.  We are having 32 this year, and with me working this is a new experience.

I have some reviews in the working, but I haven’t had a chance to post this weekend.  So stay tuned.

M

 

Well, I thought Fall had arrived to Florida, but once again Mother Nature fooled us.  We got a real warm spell even for Florida.  The humidity was so bad.  You just felt drained opening the outside door.

But this morning I woke up to the Daylight Saving Time end and it was cooler, at least 10 degrees. And at this point we will take anything.

We’ve been going to the local Fall Festivals, me and the girls.  We just went to our third one, so we are overrun with candy.  Each festival we’ve attended we’ve won a cake or cupcakes at the cake walk.  This makes the girls night.  Plus helps me to add little surprises to their lunches.

My aunt and uncle arrived this week, and we are all so happy.  It gets lonely here in the Summer when all the snowbirds leave, especially when they are relatives.  But the girls are glad they are back.  They think they are like second grandparents since, my girls don’t have any grandma’s alive.

The second set of aunts and uncles will be arriving in the second week of November and then some long time family friends will also be here so we will have lots of people to visit.

The girls are doing well in school.  Both of the ones in Christian School made the honor roll.

I hope this finds all my readers well.

I have a book review coming up, a game accessory review, a charm bracelet review with a free give away!!! and last but not least a nice snuggly blanket to stay warm.

Stay tuned for more.

We are adding a new member of our family today.  A puppy.  My husband is so excited, it is for him.  So I am going to be looking at puppy supplies.

M

The Couponizer

As promised the famous review of The Couponizer!  You tell me who can’t in this economy use a way to keep your coupons organized.  I can, I can….

In the past I clipped tons of coupons only to put them in a plain white envelope to take with me shopping.  And once in the store I had trouble remembering which brands, sizes and items I had coupons for.  Then at the register it was the quick fumble to find all them and hope you were right.  I know where I shop if you didn’t get the item listed the machine will not take it.  How embarrassing.

Not anymore, I had, had enough!

I received The Couponizer in the mail.  I was excited, since it seemed all my time spent clipping coupons was wasted when I arrived at the store with only have of what I truly needed and the rest not matching the products I had bought.

The Couponizer includes:  The Couponizer with an elastic closure strap, customer loyalty card sleeves, shopping list, CoupTracker, scissors, CoupStacker and a carrying bag.  Everything you need to become a serious shopper with coupons.

I love the elastic closure strap as it keeps all my shopping supplies held tight and I am not losing the most important things, the coupons.

The Couponizer is spiral bound.  It is covered with a heavy duty plastic front and back cover.  In the front is an important tool, the shopping list.  I don’t know about you, but I am the queen of writing my lists on the backs of used envelopes.

Each page has a to do.  One is for coupons for this shopping trip, coupons to give the cashier at the checkout, then you have specialized sections.  For baby, baking, beverages, bread, breakfast, I think you get the idea.  Plus I don’t want to spoil your surprise when you order this awesome product.  You’ll definitely be amazed that such a powerful tool can come in a package small enough to fit in your purse.

So before I spoil all the surprise why not stop over at:

http://www.couponizer.com/

I love the website, there is even a place to sign up to receive $100.00 worth of printable coupons.

I would love to hear testimonials on this product if you have it and have tried it.

Thanks for allowing me to do a review of such a practical product which has yielded great results for our household.

M

It has finally cooled off in our Sunshine state.  No humidity.  They are calling for 41 degrees in the morning.

So I tried out a new Chili recipe that I found.  It was yummy, my girls ate two bowls.

I am getting ready to write a review on a great coupon organizer.  Who can’t use coupons and if you’re like me, you lose them faster than you spend them.  But not anymore, I found a new way to keep track of them.

I have one book review left to write, and a cool travel game to write about.

Review pickings are getting slim.  Still no vacuum to use and abuse.  I am looking at some cool toys for this Christmas season.

Stay tuned for more.

M

I just wanted to post a Happy Graduation post.  My husband graduated last night.  He received honors.  He got his GED.

I know this may not sound exciting to my readers, but… my dh promised my mother six years ago.  My mother died in 2006 and he wanted to do this for his mother in law.

So it is finally official.  I am so proud of him for sticking with it and achieving what he did.

Congratulations!

M

I stumbled on to this totally green product by accident.  The 100% Bamboo Lunch Bag caught my eye.  I wrote the manufacturer – New Wave Enviro and to my pleasant surprise they sent one right over for me to test drive.

Bamboo, I thought that seemed a strange material to make a lunch box out of.  But since my three rough little girls devour lunch boxes about every two months, I thought what the heck it can’t be any worse than the rest I’ve tried.

Actually this lunch box turned out to be one of the longest lasting lunch boxes my children have used.  We started using it in August and it is still going strong.  It has held up for over three months.  It still looks great and it doesn’t have an awful smell.  Living in the Sunshine State this is something we face everyday, mold, mildew.  Not with this baby.

It is durable.  The website site says strong as steel.  It must be to hold up under the daily pressure.  It is soft on the outside.  It makes me wonder just how they could make something strong as steel but soft as a feather.

Another plus for us concerned mother’s is that it is antibacterial and hypoallergenic.

Here is a link to the website that designed these awesome bags: http://www.newwaveenviro.com/100-bamboo-lunch-bag-p-107.html

Stop on over and check out these awesome products while feeling good about doing your part.

M

I was thrilled to receive this book in the mail from Zondervan.

As a Christian, I am always looking for method’s of Bible Study that work.  Needless, to say in the past I’ve tried many only too soon to realize that they were not for me.  They were more of a legalistic ritual used to check off my to do list.  I didn’t know anymore about God and His Word than before I started.

The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight is a breath of fresh air when it comes to Bible Study.  His method is for anyone from a beginner to a seasoned Bible scholar.  Scot’s writing style is easy to understand and very easy to implement without feeling as if you are following a set of instructions.

After reading The Blue Parakeet and practicing the method shared in the book, I have found God’s Word to be a fount of words that touch my heart and soul.  I actually for the first time in 10 years of reading God’s Word, hunger and thirst to search its pages.

I was amazed by the title, but you have to read the book to find out why Scot McKnight used the title The Blue Parakeet.  Which is part of the journey he takes you on each page.

The references and background are excellent researched.  They lead you on a search that hopefully will never end until we are with Jesus.  I love his writing style, I think I may read his other books.

So I can’t say enough about this book.  If you have struggled with the Bible and applying it to your life, this is just he book for you.

M

I just wanted to say Thank You to all my faithful readers and subscribers.

I can’t believe how the number has grown in such a short time.  I have been pressured by a few companies to join facebook and twitter, but all the testimonies I’ve heard from users of these is the spam, spam….. I don’t know about you but I don’t need anymore spam than I already receive.

I received a response finally… from one of the vacuum companies I contacted.  I am hoping they will accept the challenge that our house presents.  So I can give all you readers that requested I do a vacuum cleaner review.  I am so glad you’ve been patient with me and the companies.

I just finished the most awesome book on Bible Study.  It has a new way of presenting Bible study that is refreshing and easy to follow.  It is not a new method it is just a different way of approaching it, which really helped me get revitalized in my study.

I had a blast at the retreat and was able to make some awesome PR contacts.  I actually promoted my blog and the product reviews.  There was a real appreciation for what I do.  Everyone  has been hit by this decline in our economy and they are being frugal with their money.  I don’t blame them.  I am the same way.

Keep the product review requests coming, and I’ll try to stay up with ya.

M