Things I Learned From Spending The Day In The Car With My Crazy Children

The kids and I arrived safely in Chicago. We are all in one piece, the van sustained no permanent damage, and my sanity is still intact. All in all, I'd say it was a mighty successful drive, wouldn't you?

The past few times we've made this trip, I've been struck by the fact that 5 hours is a truly short amount of time. It seems endless, but in the great big scheme of things, it's nothing. I also learned a few other things along the way.

1. The ability to control one's bladder is directly proportional to the desire to "hurry-up-and-get-there-already." Constant reminders of what awaits you at the end of the drive work wonders.
2. 2 suckers equal at least one hour of guaranteed quiet. Let me do the math for you: the time it takes to eat 1 sucker = 5 minutes x2 = 10 minutes. Being told "if you sit quietly for 15 minutes, you can have a sucker" = 15 minutes. Carelessly forgetting when 15 minutes is up because the quiet is just so nice = 10 minutes. Total quiet time before the sucker = 25 minutes x2 = 50 minutes. There ya' go!
3. Toll booth attendants have very little appreciation for kids' music cds.
4. Minivans are much bigger inside than they appear to be. This is most obvious when the driver is trying to listen to a child in the back row of seats. Huh??
5. Counting is still the greatest way to pass time. It could be counting red cars, motorcycles, semi-trucks or clouds. It really doesn't matter. If there is something that recurrs often enough to be counted, count it and watch the time fly by.

I'm really not complaining at all. I couldn't have asked for a better trip or easier drive. It all worked out perfectly!

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Weekend Linkage - The Short But Sweet Edition

Well, I spent the day ironing and packing enough clothes to last 7 weeks, not 7 days. But at least I know we'll be prepared no matter what the weather brings while we are at my parents' house. We don't leave until Sunday but I wanted to finish most of the work today so that we can all go out and do something fun tomorrow.

Needless to say, I'm a little spent tonight and hoping to go to bed a bit earlier than usual. So that's why this is a short but sweet linkage list. I hope you enjoy these links as much as I did!

• Are you ready for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo? It begins on Monday, June 1. The list of speakers for this year is fantastic! And I was so excited to see that there are kids classes being presented this year as well. I remember hearing all the buzz about the expo last year. The thing I'm excited about with this is that all of the recordings are available after the expo is over too. Since we'll be out of town next week, that works perfectly for me!
• Sarah spent 2 weeks on an inner-city missions trip. Her post, Things I Learned While Camping In The Hood, was touching and eye-opening. Definitely recommended reading.

Okay, this is going to be a bit shorter than I had planned. I just realized why I meant to start this post on Monday and leave it in drafts, adding links to it throughout the week. After sitting here for an hour, sorting through notes on my desk and different bookmarked posts, I've given up. I know there were 3 more posts that I specifically wanted to share, but I guess they'll just have to wait for another time.

Sue asked if I'll have internet access while in Chicago. The answer to that is yes. I plan to blog daily, but we'll see how that goes. So don't hold me to anything, okay?

And since my post is so lacking, if you've read a good post (or written one yourself) this week that you'd like to share, leave it in the comments so we can all go take a look.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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CFBA Review - Rose House

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Rose House
WaterBrook Press (May 5, 2009)
by
Tina Ann Forkner
My Thoughts:
This story was so beautiful. I really enjoyed following along with the main character as her pain evolved into healing and growth. I thought the parallel with the Rose House were well done. And the descriptive writing style of Tina Ann Forkner makes the reader feel a part of the landscape and the story. Such a joy to read!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog and stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors. She is the author of Ruby Among Us, her debut novel, and Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Rose House, go HERE

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Let The Mushiness Commence

I realize this post might come as a surprise to some of my readers. It might require some back story information. I'll be sharing that soon.

On May 29th, 2004, Eric and I became husband and wife. I was almost 6 months pregnant with Alex. Isabelle was 4 years old.

We were extremely, nauseatingly in love. (Still are too!) We had been together for 9 months when we got married. For both of us, it was our second marriage. We knew what we wanted and what we had found in each other. We didn't feel like we were rushing anything.

Our life together began simply, which was exactly what we wanted. We were married at a state park, on the banks of a lake. It was chilly, but we didn't notice or didn't care, I'm not sure which. After the ceremony, we grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and had a marvelous picnic with all of our guests.

We both wore sandals.

After saying our vows, we both kissed Isabelle at the same time before kissing each other.

What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it's easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it's in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. ~From The Alchemist

Eric chose those words to be read at our wedding. They still give me chills.

These past 5 years have been incredible. They've been a time of growth, love and certainly many, many finer things! Over the past 5 years we have:

• We have both grown by leaps and bounds in our faith. It has been a journey we've taken together. Together we have made the Lord the center of our lives and our family. And we have been strengthened and blessed continually. We have felt God's hand in our lives and seen His power and love on a daily basis.
• We have doubled the size of our family. We went from 3 to 6 within 3 years. At times we wondered how we would do it. (See above for that answer.)
  
• We both left our jobs at the same Title Insurance company to live out our dreams. For me, that meant being a stay-at-home mom and for Eric that meant starting his own business. We learned to support each other's dreams and ambitions.
  
• We put our house on the market. I'm pretty sure we'll actually experience the buying a new house phase of that step within the next 5 years, if the housing market ever picks back up.
• We learned together to let go of our pasts and focus on our future.
  
• We experienced financial difficulties. And we learned a lot about ourselves and our faith in the process. Our strength as a couple was cemented into a firm foundation. We realized we could handle anything together.

I can not wait to see what the next 5 years hold, and all the years after that. We still have lots to learn and lots to work on together. It's a good thing we are so hooked on each other!

Stop by Amy's Finer Things for more Finer Things Friday, Hooked On Houses for more Hooked On... and What Works For Us for Photo Story Friday.

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Saving Mega Dollars with Megabus

On Sunday, the kids and I are heading to Chicago to spend the week with my family. We'll be busy with trips to the zoo, museums, movies and lots of cousin playtime. While we are gone, Eric will be home by his lonesome, working hard and trying to keep from going crazy with all the quiet.

That following Saturday, we are having a big birthday party for Olivia's 4th birthday. Since Olivia, Alex and Isabelle all have summer birthdays, we tend to rotate who has a party with my family every year. So this year it's Olivia's turn.

Eric really didn't want to miss her party. We talked about it and decided it would be nice for him to be there. I also admitted that it would be nice for us all to drive home together. It seemed extravagant, but could we find a way to make it work?

Absolutely, and frugally too!

Our solution? Megabus. Have you heard of this service? They're not all over the country right now, but they do service many cities.

Eric reserved a ticket on the Megabus, from Ann Arbor to Chicago for just $15. Seriously - $15! He couldn't even drive half the way to Chicago for that price. And if he had reserved earlier, he could have gotten a ticket for just $5.

Megabus states that their fares start at just $1 and the price goes up as seats fill up. What a frugal travel option!

Here are a few of the routes Megabus offers and the cost for a round trip ticket:

• Boston to New York - $20
• Cinncinati to Indianapolis - $24
• Chicago to Minneapolis - $30

If you have any travel plans coming up and you don't mind riding the bus, Megabus is definitely worth looking into.

**Please note: I was not paid for this review and I am in no way affiliated with Megabus. I just thought this was a fantastic program and I had to share with all my fellow frugal friends.

Stop by Life As Mom for more Frugal Friday and Cents To Get Debt Free for Finding Freedom Friday.

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One Of Those Days

Today was one of those days. I felt like I was watching the clock inch slowly closer to bedtime from shortly before serving breakfast. And boy, was that clock moving slooooowly.

It really was just an ordinary day. The kids were just being, well, kids. But I on the other hand was not at all being just mama. I was Grumpy, with a capital G, and on edge all day long. I'm not sure why. There definitely wasn't one specific thing that set me off. Like I said, it was just one of those days.

It was a busy day. I am trying to pack for our trip to visit my family, but the motivation to get started on the project was lacking. I just wasn't in my groove so everything felt off, took too long, or was too loud. How is it possible that the ordinary noises of my children playing, which so seamlessly blend in to the background of my life, can seem way too loud on some days?

So there you have it. That was my day. The kids have been in bed for a few hours now and I'm still battling this feeling. But, tomorrow is another day and I have faith that it will be good and productive and fun. I think I'll be smart and prep breakfast tonight so that I can start the day with some positive momentum. I am all for positive momentum!

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CFBA Review - Jillian Dare

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Jillian Dare: A Novel
Revell (May 1, 2009)
by
Melanie M. Jeschke
My Thoughts:
I loved this book! Honestly, I was a little unsure how I would feel about it when I read that it was inspired by Jane Eyre, but I think Melanie Jeschke did a fantastic job. The similarities between the two books are enough to keep the reader wondering if things will turn out the same, while the differences are enough that Jillian Dare can stand on its own as a fantastic story. Truly a great read. And the added bonus - I now can't wait to go back and read Jane Eyre again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Morey Jeschke (pronounced jes-key), a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an Honors degree in English Literature and a minor in European and English History.

A free-lance travel writer, Melanie contributed the Oxford chapter to the Rick Steves’ England 2006 guidebook. She is a member of the Capital Christian Writers and Christian Fiction Writers as well as three book clubs, and taught high-school English before home-schooling most of her nine children. Melanie lectures on Lewis and Tolkien, Oxford, and writing, and gives inspirational talks to all manner of groups, including university classes, women’s clubs, young professionals, teens, and school children.

A fourth generation pastor’s wife (her father Dr. Earl Morey is a retired Presbyterian minister), Melanie resides in the Greater Washington, D.C. area with her children and husband Bill Jeschke, a soccer coach and the Senior Pastor of The King’s Chapel, an non-denominational Christian church in Fairfax, Virginia.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Jillian Dare leaves her Shenandoah Valley foster home behind and strikes out on her own as a nanny at a large country estate in northern Virginia. She is delighted with the beauty of her new home, the affection of her young charge Cadence Remington, and the opportunity for frequent travel to the Remington castle in England.

She is less certain about her feelings for her handsome but moody employer, Ethan. In spite of herself, Jillian realizes she is falling for her boss. But how can a humble girl ever hope to win a wealthy man of the world? And what dark secrets from the past is he hiding? This contemporary story, inspired by the well-loved classic Jane Eyre, will capture readers' hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jillian Dare: A Novel, go HERE

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The Thumb and the Belly Button ~ Nothing Comforts Better

Stop by 5 Minutes For Mom for more Wordless Wednesday.

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Organizational Rebellion

On Saturday, Eric and I spent a large chunk of the day completing most of our spring cleaning. As I was putting things away in their proper places, I realized that many of the proper places around our house probably would be considered a little odd to some people.

Our storage and organization habits are certainly a little creative. There are two reasons for this:

1. We live in a small house. A small house necessitates creativity. Sometimes we keep things where we keep them because, quite simply, it's the only place they'll fit. We are fortunate to have an attic, but we lack a basement and a garage. So we do what we can and what we must. Our stroller is stored in our minivan because it fits there and doesn't take up any room in the house. When we go for a walk, I just take it out from its proper place. The kids school materials are stored in a display cabinet and on top of my bedroom dresser. Our coat closet houses the 3 youngest's hanging clothes, shoes, toys, bike helmets, board games and every one's hats, scarves and gloves. It may be full to bursting, but it works.
2. I like doing whatever I can to make my job easier. The kids pajamas are stored in a drawer in my dresser so that I can just grab them at bedtime, instead of pulling our their under-the-bed drawers. And the kids socks are stored in a shoe box on top of the dryer. They're less likely to get lost in the shuffle of clothes and they're easier to grab when we head out the door. Our washing machine doubles as our hamper. Dirty clothes go straight into the machine. When it's full, I run it.
   

I'm sure a stranger would have a hard time finding anything in our house and I'll surely never win an award for my exceptional organizing skills. But that's okay. I've always been a bit of a rebel, and rebelling against conventional organization definitely works for me.

Any other organizing rebels out there?

Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.

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Our Summer Has Officially Begun

Every Memorial Day weekend for the past few years, Eric and I have talked about going to the parade. For reasons that escape me know, we've never gone. But this year we finally tackled that and spent our morning at the parade.
We all had a fantastic time. The kids stood and clapped, cheered and waved for almost an hour. It was incredible to watch their fascination.Being at the parade was such a touching experience and it brought out so many feelings of thankfulness.Seeing the faces of veterans as they marched with pride in the parade made me wish I could thank them all personally. I can't even fathom what some of these men and women have lived through and how unselfishly they've given of themselves. Poignant! Notice the dates? If you can't see them, click on the picture to enlarge. He is still marching on!We were treated to a series of fly overs that were so awesome!

When the last of the parade passed us by, we headed down to the park to have a picnic. I had packed some simple things for us - cheese and crackers, apples and molasses cookies. We enjoyed a quiet picnic on the banks of the Huron River. Our souls were nourished...our bellies were filled...we reveled in a day of family, freedom and food. It was everything we hoped it could be, and a remarkable start of our summer. Oh, so many things to be thankful for!Stop by Heavenly Homemakers for more Gratituesday, 5 Minutes for Mom for more Tackle-It Tuesday and The Lazy Organizer for more Talk About Tuesday.

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Menu Plan Monday 5/25

This is going to be an exciting week around our house. It will be a little busy, but a good busy. My husband has Monday off and a lighter workload on Tuesday, so it feels like we are just entering our weekend around here.

Friday is our anniversary. We'll be celebrating that on Saturday night when Eric and I go out for dinner alone. My in-laws will be watching the kids for us. During the day we'll probably take the kids to the park where we were married. That's becoming a fun tradition we all enjoy.

Throughout the week, I'll be packing clothes for the kids and myself. Next Sunday (or maybe Monday, we're still not 100% sure), I'll be packing the kids in the car for the drive to my parents' house. We'll be there all the following week, doing lots of fun things with my family. The kids have been counting down the days until they see their grandparents and cousins.

I'm also going to try making a few extra meals for Eric to have while we are gone. He is going to join us at the end of week so that we can have a birthday party for Olivia. Then, we'll all drive home together on Sunday.

Now, onto the menu plan for this week.

Breakfast

• M - Waffles, smoothies
• T - Blueberry scones w/ lemon curd
• W - Banana oatmeal
• Th - Chocolate chip pancakes
• F - Breakfast tacos
• S - French toast and sausage
• Su - Morning glory muffins

Lunch

• M - Picnic lunch at the park, after enjoying our local parade
• T - Hummus, pita chips, carrots & celery
• W - Tuna pasta salad, strawberries
• Th - PB&J, yogurt, bananas
• F - Cheese slices, crackers, apple slices, orange wedges
• S - Roll-up sandwiches, blueberries, cottage cheese
• Su - TBD - probably something big before we hit the road

Dinner

• M - Turkey dogs, cantaloupe, watermelon, corn on the cob
• T - Stuffed chicken breasts, pesto potato salad, green beans
• W - Ground beef chalupas (with homemade chalupa shells - a new experiment!), refried black beans
• Th - Bangers & mash, creamed spinach
• F -Toasted sesame & garlic chicken stir fry with soba noodles and veggies
• S - Anniversary dinner out; tuna casserole for the kids
• Su - TBD, depends on if we're home or at my parents. I'll probably have a ranch chicken & bacon pasta salad in the fridge for Eric to eat

Stop by Org Junkie for hundreds more menu plans.

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Wading Through The Murky Waters of Household Energy

Do you dread looking at your electric or gas bill every month seeing numbers that are larger and larger each time you see it? Do you wish there was something you could do about this dreaded monthly bill? Well, there is and it is easy to remedy. You just have to check your home to make sure that it is the most energy and cost efficient that it can possibly be.

It might be shocking to you that most people do not even know that because of lack of efficiency they are loosing 25 % or more of the energy used in their home.

Energy usage is one of those things that I tend to be lax on. It's not because I like throwing away money, but more like I don't have a clear understanding of all energy related things. There seem to be so many conflicting ideas and I never really know what's best. I've heard it uses less energy to leave lights on as opposed to turning them on and off...things like that.

So for anyone who feels my pain and confusion, maybe these tips will be helpful. I've been reading through How To Make Your Home Energy and Cost Efficient and I'm looking forward to getting a system in place around our house to make our energy consumption truly the best it can be.

Did you know that there are some common every day things that you can do to save energy and money around your home. Doing it yourself can save you both time and money that you might invest in someone else’s promises to save you money. I don’t know about you, but I trust myself more than someone else’s empty promise any day. All it takes is a few calculations, some common sense and you can be on the road to savings and increasing your home’s use of energy.

Some of these steps include:

1. Calculating your energy cost. Do you know how much fuel your home is taking to run and how much that cost you? You need to know this before you can determine if you can lower those costs.
2. What will it cost you to save. What things must you put into practice in order to save on your energy monthly? This is where you have to determine the balance.
3. Determine your largest needs. Some practices will save you far greater in the future than others. You must first determine your area of largest need and go from there.
4. Developing new habits. Many of us have habits that cost us energy every day. We must realize those bad habits and begin putting new habits in place in order to save energy, time and money.

These are only a few of the ways that you can begin to save money on your energy bill and have a more cost efficient home. There are many more ways to save and you will love how easy those savings come to you.

About the Author:
Cara Mirabella is a WAHM with one toddler from New Jersey. She owns and manages TheHouseholdHelper.com - a site dedicated to saving your time, money and sanity when managing your household. She has written several articles, reports and e-books including How To Make Your Home Energy & Cost Efficient.

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Weekend Linkage - The HUGE Edition

This weekend's linkage post is going to be overflowing with links. Yes, there have been all kinds of fabulous things I've read this week (that always seems to be the case), but this list is huge because I recently participated in a Blog Link-A-Thon over at MomDot. So now I'm sharing all of those links with you.

But first, here a few posts that really grabbed my attention this week.

• I loved this post on Grocery Stewardship from Amy. I followed her link over to Faith and Family Life, then followed a link on that post to a link of 3 pictures from the book Hungry Planet. The pictures depict what 3 families ate over the course of a week and how much they spent on that food. I was riveted! In fact, I kept those pictures open in a tab last night and I kept going back to look at it. Hop over here and take a look. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
• I am always so blown away with Joy's self-made homeschooling lesson plans and life lessons. Her post, Life Skills for Kids: Understanding Idioms, was no exception.
• My friend Sonshine and I have such similar methods when it comes to grocery shopping, meal planning, and budgeting. As I read through her post, Living on a Grocery Budget Lessons, I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement at every single thing she wrote.
• Do you and your family wanna-laffa-lotta this summer? Then be sure to follow the Camp Wannalaffalotta series hosted by Life As Mom all summer long. She'll be sharing crafts, snacks, books, field trips, and other kid-friendly activities each Monday.
• Without adding any editorial thoughts of my own, I highly recommend reading JessieLeigh's post, Ditch The Sippy Cup.

And now for the Blog Link-A-Thon list of links:

1. Lori@Not Always Charming

2. Fairy Blog Mother

3. Crazy Adventures in Parenting

4. Engineer a Debt Free Life

5. Sweet ‘n’ Sassy Girls

6. Good Golly Miss Blondie

7. SavvySuzie

8. For The Love of Baby!

9. Tammy@lovemy2dogs

10. Blessings Abound

11. Coupons, Deals and More

12. Hairstyles For Girls

13. Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy

14. A latte in the morning

15. KiddiesCorner Deals

16. 3 Kids and Us | Mom Blog

17. The Ohana Mama

18. Coupon Queens of Laurel Run

19. Today’s Journey

20. Eve @ Confessions of a Housewife

21. My Charmed Life

22. Laurie@DoubleBugs

23. Lisa @ Final Score boys3 girls2

24. New Sue Review

25. Suzanne Calling

26. Just For Me…and You

27. Time Slides By

28. Babes and Kids

29. Declutter a Little Each Day

30. Grocery Savings for Real Families

31. Life Starring Ellie and Eve

32. So Cute Crafts

33. Brea’s Mommy

34. Are Muffins Just Ugly Cupcakes

35. It’s A Beauty Filled Life

36. The crazy suburban mom

37. Donna’s World

38. Momma’s Gone Over the Wall

39. Mommy’s Quiet Time

40. Joyce (Saving My Cents)

41. My Trendy Tykes

42. The Not-So-Blog

43. Confessions From HouseholdSix

44. SiPPyCuPSand FiNGerPriNTS

45. Jennifer@CouponMommie

46. Shasta @ Crackers&Chaos

47. Giftfully Simple

48. Just For Fun

49. Digital Mommy

50. Me And Craig

51. Parenting Princesses

52. Shan@Last Shreds Of Sanity

53. Inside My Head

54. Petit

55. My Love Lucy

56. FreckleBox personalized gift

57. Baby Lulu Dress

58. Blog 4 Mom

59. 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

60. Jolly Mom

61. My Life My Journey

62. Maman And Gourmand

63. Jess - Life @ 30

64. The POSHpreneur

65. A Blog of Goodies

66. Christy aka The Write Gal

67. LookWhatMomFound

68. Peanut Butter & Smelly’s Dad

69. Lucy

70. Angry Julie Monday

71. The Mogul Mom Blog

72. Angela

73. Deal-ectible Mommies

74. Christy’s Creations

75. Lisa

76. Courtney@Booksnboys

77. Wannabe Supermom

78. Thre Craft Momma

79. Internet Toddler

80. Jennifer@Life is a Sandcastle

81. Kristen of La Dolce Vita

82. Cranberry Fries

83. Toni @ The Mud Bug

84. The Mom Buzz

85. Tricia @Nightowl Mama

86. Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls

87. Mommy Cracked

88. EclecticBird

89. Mama Mentor

90. Moomettesgram’s Musings

91. Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews

92. Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes

93. Diaries of a Domestic Goddess

94. Go Graham Go!

95. NerdFamily Things

96. NerdFamily Blog

97. Making Money Keeping Money

98. NerdFamily Food

99. Flying Giggles & Lollipops

100. Gena @ Morris Bunch

101. Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy

102. A Kindred Spirit’s Thoughts

103. Two Of A Kind, Working On A Full House

104. D-Lo’s Lounge

105. Free Sample Freak

106. What Mommies Need

107. Mom of 2 Boys, Wife of 1

108. icefairy’s Treasure Chest

109. Cheaper Than Therapy

110. Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways

111. Lily Bean Designs

112. Dirty Diaper Laundry

113. Dance Momma

114. JamericanSpice

115. Mombalance

116. A Pocket Full Of Buttons

117. Ordinary and Awesome

118. Reviews and Giveaways

119. Subjective Beauty

120. Tales From A Shopaholic Mommy

121. Mommiemayhem

122. IE Mommy

123. Nikki @ Blasian Baby Notes

124. Amber Woodward

125. Grammy Janet’s Place

126. Outnumbered 3 to 1

127. ShimmerMeBlue

128. Dev’s Favorite Giveaways

129. Joyful Money Saving

130. 1stopmom

131. A Modern Mama

132. PourSomeSugarOnMe

133. Fancast

134. Lollipop Baby

135. Lola & Ben

136. idoby2celebrants

137. Sue Jackson

138. Cackleberry Kids

139. Gifts By The Stars

140. Jemma

141. Handmade Kids

142. Ollie Rose

143. Babasfarmlife

144. Banquet Manager

145. Monkey’s Momma

146. This Mom Can Shop

147. EcoLabel Fundraising

148. Divine Chaos

149. baby kakes ink alphabet onesie

150. tee from recycle me

151. Elizabeth @ Suzy Q Homemaker

152. marla mandell bread (5/17)

153. ozone socks 5/15

154. Belly Bumps to Baby Hugs

155. Hip T

156. ThenComes Baby

157. Homemade Gourmet

158. Fresh Pure and Simple

159. MomDot Mom Blogs

160. MomDot Mom Reviews

161. Bloggers Give Charity

162. Organic Baby Resource

163. Potamus Prefers

164. The Army Wife

165. Through Hazel Eyes

166. Frugal Rhode Island Mama

167. Just Jingle

168. And Twins make 5!

169. Frugal Plus

170. Christie

171. What Happened To My House?

172. Miracles on Mama Street

173. Heck Of A Bunch

174. Blog Designs by Susan

175. mommy23monkeys

176. Hanna

177. Got Kids Need Valium

178. Womb At The INNSANE

179. Katie & Kimble Blog

180. Kim @ Adventures SAHM

181. The Frugalicious Mommy

182. Penny Pinching Diva

183. Another day. Another thought or two

184. Beauty4Moms

185. Nikki @evilflu.com

186. Little Miss Julia

187. Mrs Zeee

188. Cheryl

189. Frazzle Dazzle SuperMom

190. Florida Mealtime Savers

191. Inspiration Station

192. Mommy’s Kitchen

193. Saving with MamaNordy

194. Saving SAHM Sanity

195. A Little Piece Of Perfect

196. Nodin’s Nest

197. Lil Miss Eco

198. Laryn Strickland

199. HeatherMama

200. The Gerber Babies Blog

201. WhateverSuccess

202. Women Who Win

203. Kat @ The Burb Blog

204. Happy Healthy Families

205. Sweeps4Bloggers

206. dramaqueensmum

207. The Mom Trap

208. Multitasking Mama

209. Mama Michies Musings

210. Little People Wealth

211. Belly Beyond

212. Kim Kihega

213. Mom Fuse

214. Juanita

215. Adopt a Do

216. On the Refriderator Door

217. Christine

218. Little Diva

219. My Household Junk

220. I’m Here….Really

221. Brittany@The Greer 5

222. mary

223. Nicole @ Nicole’s Nickels

224. Lori Newman

225. Kris @ NSQSA

226. Debb

227. Shawn Ann’s World

228. Peke Moe -NZ made baby sleep sacks

229. A Simple Kinda LIfe

230. Sweet Serendipity

231. Bouncing Off The Walls

232. Jane Loedding

233. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

234. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

235. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

236. Musings from Me

237. Veronnica

238. The Adventures of Miss V

239. Mudd Kids

240. Mom Most Traveled family travel

241. Relishing the Dirt

242. Good, True and Beautiful

243. Deb @ Frugal Living and Having Fun

244. The Last Blog on Earth

245. A Wrestling Addicted Mommy

246. Rae

247. kimert@diaries of a coach’s wife

248. Dore’s Diaries

249. Blog by Donna

250. Lisette

251. Pillaging With Buffie

252. Mom of Faith

253. GODSOWN

254. flutterbyechronicles

255. shelley

256. Life In A House Of Blue

257. kristen

258. Alex the Fey Thriller Series

259. MamaCheaps!

260. Donalacasa

261. A Jewish Journey

262. Anissa @ Our Chaotic Life

263. BethinNC

264. Stuttering Shell

265. Don’t Blink

266. Life is Sweet

267. Lisa

268. Sue@Stay At Home Mom

269. m.e (cathie)

270. Run DMT

271. Princess Ratbag

272. Michelle G

273. CF Mama @ Nathan’s Fight

274. Moody Mama Says

275. Laurie Ann

276. Cooking During Stolen Moments

277. A Simple Walk

278. Vanessa

279. middleagedmom

280. Ramblings Of A Wannabe Writer

281. Oh My Baby

282. Fordcast Sunny

283. Lisa Miller

284. Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy

285. Bibs & Cribs {very cute stuff}

286. My Lil’ Budget Book

287. Misadventures in Baby Raising

288. My Mommy Said

289. Milk & Honey Mommy

290. Milk and Honey Mommy

291. Amy O’Neal

292. Parenting Children

293. A Girl And Her Life

294. MarieLynn Boutique Blog

295. Born Fabulous Boutique Blog

296. The Pitter Patter Boutique

297. Stephanie Deese

298. Brea’s Baby Boutique Blog

299. digiscrapping.net - Heather Manning

300. Kids Activities Blog

301. Two Little Whales Cloth Diapers & More

302. 3 boys & a dog

303. Karen ~Georgia Angel

304. JenniferB @ my not so hurried life

305. Shannon Blogs Here

306. A Virtuous Woman

307. Secrets of a Southern Kitchen

308. Dreamer

309. Lollipop Book Club

310. Mommie Daze Virtual Baby Shower

311. Heck Of A Bunch

312. MomSaves4U

313. Barely Domestic Mama

314. Emilie @ Baby Loving Mama

315. Professional Family Manager

316. Kathleen

317. Coaching The Family

318. Frugal Creativity

319. Easy Being Green

320. Dandelion Bubbles

321. Shelly aka The Attic Girl

322. Foxtoybox-Discovery Toys

323. Ashley @ Beauty4Moms

324. Colleen - Mommy Always Wins

325. Playground for Parents

326. World of Discovery

327. Kati @ Country Girl City Life

329. A Little Bit Nutty

330. Mahayla’s Mommy

331. Mommy Goggles

332. The Shopping Mama

333. If I Could Escape . . .

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Letters To Dad

As I've mentioned before, Eric was very busy - working both days and nights - the last two weeks. This meant he didn't get to spend very much time with the kids at all. Now, these kids are all huge fans of their dad and their favorite thing in the world is spending time with him. So they were missing him big time.

There were two days over that time period when the youngest three came to me to help them write letters to their Dada. They dictated what they wanted to say and I wrote it down on their papers for them. Then we folded them up together and they put their letters on Eric's pillow.

Eric has been carrying these letters with him since he received. However, I asked him to leave one home for me so that I could share it. This is one of Alex's letters -

Dear Dada,

I'm having fun today and I love you so much! I just love you my best friend dada. If you want to come outside with me and drive my truck, you can be my best friend. Because dada, you can play hot wheels with me anytime and fly the airhogs helicopter whenever you want.

Love,
Alex

Doesn't the love just pour out of every line in that letter? I know that Eric is going to cherish these forever. I am hooked on being a transcriptionist for my children so that they, even the 2 year old, can share their feelings with their dad when work keeps him away from the house for a few days.

These little love letters from the kids to their Dada are such a finer thing!

Stop by Amy's Finer Things for more Finer Things Friday and Hooked On Houses for more Hooked On...

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Not Budgeting Enough Can Be Costly

Throughout the course of our frugal living, we have had our share of flops - meals that no one would eat, sewing projects that ended up being a waste of time and materials, expenses that could have been avoided with better organization, and on and on. Would you expect any less from the woman who spent $17 on 6 chocolate-covered pretzel rods?

But there is one flop that always sticks out in my mind. It was a huge learning experience for me and something that I struggled against changing, because I knew I could make it work if I just tried harder. That flop was under-budgeting.

See, I used to make the mistake of thinking I was only frugal if I spent next to nothing all the time. I believed my success in frugality was directly tied to how much less I spent month after month. So I budgeted that way, constantly shaving dollars off here and there throughout our budget.

However, I wasn't being realistic and that ended up costing us a lot more money each month. I felt a false pride in spending only $200 per month on groceries. And I turned a blind eye on all those little trips to the grocery store to just pick up one or two items because we were out of food. We were probably spending over $400 a month on groceries, but my budget of $200 was set in stone, so obviously I was winning at this frugal thing.

Eventually, Eric pointed out to me that these little trips were really adding up. I realized he was right, but I fought against changing my budget. After all, wouldn't that knock me off this frugal pedestal I was on? I redoubled my efforts and worked every angle possible in an attempt to keep our budget at $200.

Then one day, I just gave up. I don't remember what the specific incidence was that set me off, but I know it was something big. My eyes finally opened and I realized my claimed budget was a joke. And because I was so stuck in that pattern of disbelief, we were actually spending way more every month than necessary.

So Eric and I discussed the situation and agreed that upping our budget really made sense. I upped it $100 and started really relying on menu planning and monthly grocery shopping, just because that was worked best for me staying on task. Being realistic and dropping my pride taught me a huge lesson.

My dad used to have a list of quotes hanging in his office. One of them that has stayed with me throughout my life is - "Proper preparation prevents poor performance." I relate this to my frugality by thinking "proper preparation prevents poor pockets." Now that my budget is properly prepared, our wallets have seen the benefit.

Stop by Life As Mom for more Frugal Friday and Cents To Get Debt Free for more Finding Freedom Friday.

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Blog Tour Review ~ Nothing But Trouble

Susan May Warren quickly became my favorite author last year. Her books are fun, uplifting, and just fantastic reading. Nothing But Trouble definitely fits that description! I had such a fun time reading this book. PJ Sugar is a great character and I'm looking forward to reading all of the future books in this series.

I mentioned a few months ago how I enjoyed the Stephanie Plum series. PJ Sugar reminds me of Stephanie Plum, but her Christian faith is at the core of all her actions. Such a marvelous combination!

About the book:

PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

• After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.
• The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.
• Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her hometown, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder--who also happens to be PJ's former flame--is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend's husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Read the first chapter

About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

A note from Susan May Warren:

Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes?

Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for the best, is always discovering that she is just a little different than everyone else. PJ is us.

And that’s good news. Because God loves PJ. He loves her messiness, and her impulsiveness, her heart bent toward others, the hope that fuels her actions. And He has a plan for PJ – one that includes her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

Yep, I need to hear that – need to hear that I don’t have to be perfect for God to love me, use me, sing over me. Need to hear that although I don’t fit in, well, I’m not supposed to…in fact, I’m supposed to be a little…alien.

I wrote PJ for everyone who feels just a little messy, just a little like they can’t quite get it right. And who needs to hear that God loves them. Period. Full stop. Hallelujah.

Where did the idea for PJ Sugar come from?

Every author dreams of a moment where someone says something, or they see something on the news, or in a newspaper and it springs out at them, nearly shouting – STORY IDEA! This happened to me a number of years ago while talking to friends about their daycare situation, and how one of the parents ended up being a murder suspect! Scary! But an interesting idea. About that time, I was a mom who wore many hats – homeschooling mom, writing teacher, speaker, children’s church leader, -- and it occurred to me that a mother really has to be a sort of PI. Not only taking on different roles, but sleuthing out daily household mysteries like, who ate the last of the peanut butter (and put it back in the cupboard?) and whose socks are laying in the middle of the floor, and finally…(in our house), who let the dog (and her muddy feet!) in the house! PJ is the alter-ego in every mom, that super-hero inside of us that allows us to have esp (I know you’re not really done with your homework!), or have “eyes in the back of our head,” (stop poking your sister!) or even figure out how to whip together an award-winning science project the night before the fair. PJ just applies all those skills to bad guys and figuring out the truth.

PJ Sugar is also a woman who wants to be all things to all people. She wants to be her nephew’s champion and her sister’s best friend, and her mother’s favorite daughter, and Boone’s special girl, and the hero of her hometown. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Maybe…because God wants her to be His girl, and satisfied in who He made her to be. And that is a journey for all of us PJ Sugars.

Follow along the blog tour to read what others thought of Nothing But Trouble.

Now, would you like to win a copy of Susan May Warren's soon-to-be-released Christmas Novella The Great Christmas Bowl or a great SUGAR Personal Spa Basket? Head over here for all the contest details and information on how to enter.

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Summer Dreaming - My Top 13

I have been excited for summer's arrival for a few months now. Summer around our house is always such a fun time. I'm sure we're not the only ones.

Here are 13 things that I'm looking forward to this summer.

1. Corn on the cob, strawberries, watermelon and so many other summer-only foods.
2. Spending countless hours going for walks and playing with the kids in the backyard.
3. Eating outside. For some reason, I love eating outside and I have since I was a little girl. There's just something special about it. Our kids love it too, as long as the bees stay away.
4. Weekly trips to the Farmer's Market. I am so excited that our town is starting a Farmer's Market this summer! The past few summers I've spent a ridiculous amount of time whining about the fact that we did not have a Farmer's Market close by. Not anymore. Every Thursday afternoon, starting next week, the kids and I will be hitting that Farmer's Market. I'm already planning on setting aside a portion of our monthly grocery budget to use there every week.
5. Blogging on the patio. It will stay light out until about 10 o'clock for quite a few weeks. I'm so excited to spend a few nights a week sitting outside and blogging.
6. The drive-in. Drive-ins are few and far between nowadays. We are fortunate to have one about 45 minutes away though. Eric and I have already decided that all the kids are old enough now that we can make a trip or two to the drive-in with them this summer.
7. Slurpees. We have a 7-11 a few blocks away from us. It's an easy walk and during the summer, we like to take the kids on a walk to 7-11 every once and awhile. We pick up small slurpees for each of us. It's a great little treat that always feels like such an extravagance.
8. Trips to the park. This is the first summer in a long time that all of the kids are old enough to make a trip to the park fun for all of us.
   
9. Summer festivals. Anybody that has been reading my blog since this time last year knows I love summer festivals. To me, walking around the craft and art booths, listening to local musicians, being outside, and enjoying the downtown area of some cities around us is the perfect day.
10. Outdoor date nights. Late last summer, Eric came up with a fabulous idea of having our date night outside. We lit a fire in our small fire pit, talked, and watched some Hulu on the laptop. It was wonderful! Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate enough for us to do it more than once. But now that we know what a great night this makes, we will be doing it often!
11. Going to BlogHer. I am really looking forward to rooming with Toni again (although I'm sad that Joy won't be joining us). I'm also looking forward to meeting tons of other bloggers that I consider friends. Oh, and the sessions...I'm sure there'll be lots to learn.
12. Isabelle will be going to sleep-away camp for the first time this summer. I am so excited for her. I went to sleep-away camp four times when I was growing up and those weeks were always such a great experience.
13. Outings of all kinds. We always do a lot more during the summer than we do during the winter. Visiting state parks, going to the zoo, visiting my family,water parks...so many things to do! Now we just have to get it all planned out so that we can fit everything in.

Stop by Happy To Be At Home for more Thursday 13 fun.

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CFBA Review - Ulterior Motive

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ulterior Motive
Bethany House (March 1, 2009)
by
Mark Andrew Olsen
My Thoughts:
I loved this book! It was action packed right from the start and the story was fantastic. I thought the elements of faith were really well-done. This is a book I'll be recommending to my husband and I'm looking forward to the discussions I know we'll have as a result.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. Two of his last books were the supernatural thriller The Watchers, and The Warriors.

The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a Professional Writing graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When an al-Qaeda email is intercepted, threatening an attack on America, it leads to the capture of the group's leader. Yet even under fierce interrogation, the terrorist clings to his jihadist beliefs and refuses to divulge any information. Desperate, the Army resorts to extreme measures--a controversial protocol designed to break a subject's resistance. But the attempt must be masked as an offer of clemency and rely on an outside party, someone who is unaware of the protocol's aims.

They find that someone in Greg Cahill, a disgraced soldier who now serves in a prison ministry. Lured by the chance to restore his reputation, Greg befriends a man the entire country despises. And the result proves combustible, the two men having to flee for their lives. With both in need of redemption, they set out to prevent a major catastrophe...

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ulterior Motive, go HERE

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