Got Books?

Time for some book reviews.  To save time and space, I’m linking each title back to my other blog so that if one intrigues you and you want more detail, you can check it out there.  I love reading, and these have been some of my favorites in my long list of good reads.

First I’ll start with an oldie, but goodie:  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows.  Probably you’ve already read it, but if you haven’t, it’s a delightful read (Sorry, I’m sounding old-ladyish using words like delightful...but it really is.  Excuse me while I put on my BenGay )  There, all better.  I smell ‘delightful’ now—NOT!  But really, I can’t say enough about this book!  It’s a keeper.

Next we have Sotah by Naomi Ragen.  This book is set in modern day Meah Sherim in Jerusalem where an ultra-ultra orthodox sect of Jews live.  This story delves into the life of one girl and her inner desires and struggles.  I almost gave up on this book in the middle.  I got angry with the choices she was making—but do not fear—plow through to the end and finish it.  You won’t regret it.  This is one of my all-time favorites now.  It will surprise you.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a top seller for good reason.  This is a nonfiction book about the life of Louis Zamperini.  It’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  I can’t stop thinking about it.   Hillenbrand’s writing is incredible.  Usually nonfiction puts me to sleep—but this one is a page-turner.  It’s a very well done book about a well-lived life.

   

Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose is in the same time period as Unbroken (WWII), but from a woman’s perspective as a POW to the Japanese.  Her experiences and miracles will buoy you up and make you so grateful to God for all He does in our lives.  The evidence of His love is all around us—but like her title says, it's usually unseen.

The Bells by Richard Harvell was a hauntingly tragic love story set in 17^th Century Europe.  After I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days.  That, to me, is the magic of a well-written story with strong characters you fall in love with and become one with in their afflictions.

    

My last book I’ll praise is Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig.  This is the story that finishes Gone with the Wind...but it isn’t Gone with the Wind (Just to clarify, in case you’re confused).  This story delves into Rhett’s life from a boy on, and all the people who shape him.  He’s my favorite character in Gone with the Wind, so I ate this story up (burp!).  It crosses timelines with Gone with the Wind, but is its own fascinating story.  I highly recommend it.

That’s all I have today.  Hope you get some good ideas from these.  Feel free to share any books you LOVE in the comment section.  Last time I posted on books, I got the recommendation to read Evidence Not Seen, and loved it.  I’m always looking for new books to read.  Happy Reading!    

Top iPad Apps

I received an iPad for Christmas and needless to say that gift has quickly become the FAMILY iPad instead of MOMMY'S iPad!

But I don't mind sharing this new fun toy because I have learned that it can not only be very entertaining but it has been a great educational tool for my children!

*Tiffany, Heidi & Andrea playing around with our iPads

I thought I would share with you my top apps for the iPad today.

I will break it down by age groups too for ya!

Age: toddler

*Interactive Alphabet ABC Flash Cards - $2.99

This one was worth the $2.99 price because it is a fun way for the little ones to learn and become familiar with their abc's.  Each letter page has interactive things they can do just by touching the screen.

*Toddler 123/ABC - FREE

This one has fun songs they can listen to, exercises where they touch all the 1's or A's and then they have the page where they can trace the numbers or letters as well.

*Peekaboo Barn - FREE

A fun little barn that different farm animals play peekaboo in...they show the animal and have it say its sound.

Age: Pre-K

*Pocket Phonics - FREE

They get to practice writing the letters by tracing the screen.

*Meet the Vowels - FREE

Helps them recognize the vowels by choosing which one is correct.

*Little Speller - FREE

Helps them spell 3 letter words by showing the picture and then the word and they have to drag each letter into the correct place.

*Teach Me Kindergarten - $0.99

This one is great!  Each kid sets up their own profile and earns points for different levels.  They have math (addition & subtraction), spelling and Dolch sight words.

Age: School aged

*Toontastic - FREE

The kids get to create their own cartoon, choosing from different themes.  They become the narrator and character voices as well.  Lots of fun from this one!!

*Stack the States - $0.99

This one I went ahead and splurged by paying the $0.99 fee after downloading the lite version first and my boys loved it so much we decided to upgrade it.  They learn state facts while stacking their winning state questions and earning points.

*Flash to Pass Math Cards - FREE

A great little app that quizzes them on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  And there are a bunch of different levels for each one.  It times them so it is a fun one to keep 'em going.

*Learn to Draw is Fun - FREE

This shows them step by step how to draw certain pictures.  I am not going to lie, I need these step by step easy instructions for myself so I can make a train actually look like a train!!  Haha

Age: Adult

*Instagram - FREE

I love love love this app!  It is actually for iPhone but you can use it on the iPad too.  You snap your pictures and you get an instant list of fun filters to make your picture look great!  Then you can share with friends and stay up to date with theirs as well.  I just got my mother in law doing this and am excited for her to stay up to date with my kids!

*Cozi - FREE

A great family organizational app to keep everyone organized and all the different schedules, appointments and events up to date.  It syncs with your computer so that makes it very nice and convenient!

*Draw Something - FREE
Okay, so I am a bit addicted to this game right now thanks to my sister!!  It is funny that I like this game because I am a HORRIBLE artist!  My husband has always mocked me when I try and draw something for our kids and I draw a turtle and he looks over and laughs asking what in the world that is!!  This game is fun...you draw something and your friend has to guess what it is.  Then vice versa.  It's addicting...beware!!


So, what apps do you love?  Do share please!!

Link it up Wednesday #19

Another week has come and gone.  I love our linky parties because I love seeing the fun things you guys have created or made.  It always inspires me and many of the things linked up I have actually tried or made.  So thanks again for making each and every one of our parties so successful. 

Here is last weeks most viewed link:

Organized Food Storage by CONTROLLING CRAZINESS found here

And here are a few of our favorites:

Charissa:

Map Vignette by FOREVER DECORATING found here

Tiffany:

Spare T.P. Holder by A ROSIE SWEET HOME found here

Heidi:

Organized Kids Games by THE CREATIVE IMPERATIVE found here

Marcy:

A Year of Onsies by IT'S MY LIFE found here

Liesl:

Fried Banana Split by ONCE A MOM ALWAYS A COOK found here

Tenille:

Freezer Friendly Foods and Recipes by INSPIRED BY FAMILY MAGAZINE found here

Some St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

My post today is simply just a collection of some of my favorite St. Patrick's Day ideas I've seen this week on various sites.  I'm always looking for new ways to make a holiday fun for the kids.  If you have some cute/fun ideas for St. Patrick's Day, I'd love to see them, so feel free to leave the link in the comments section so we can all check it out and maybe even feature your idea in a future post!

If you haven't figured it out yet, I LOVE Jello, so this rainbow jello idea by Funky Polka Dot Giraffe (click Here) is a winner in my eyes! 

How cute are these paper shamrocks by Chicken Scratch (click Here)?  And they're easy enough that even I could make them! 

If you love your Subway Art, this one by Funky Polkadot Giraffe is super cute.  (click Here)

And Mom on Time Out's blog has a few super cute St. Patty's day themed printables that would be perfect for printing out and attaching to goodies or gifts!  (click Here)

Sugar cookies are perfect for ANY holiday - especially the yummy recipe Tenille posted a few weeks ago here.  I just posted this picture (from Skip to my Lou) to remind me to make some of them this time around since I slacked off at Valentine's Day (and Halloween and Christmas . . . ) 

I'm sure you've all seen this idea floating around the past few years from "It is What it Is" (click Here).  It is so cute though and every year I think I'm going to get around to making some!  Maybe this is the lucky year. 

Any excuse to mix mint & chocolate together works for me.  Check out these yummy mint brownies from Sweet and Lovely Crafts Here

I have no idea where'd I buy rock candy, but this is such a cute, original gift idea from Detail Oriented Diva that would be super cute to give to teachers and friends.  Click Here

I really wish I would decorate my mantel for every holiday like I used to.  Some people in this world are just amazing at it - like Landee See, Landee Do!  Click Here

This is such a fun idea to do with your little ones.  Plus, if you love colored mini marshmallows like I do, it's a great chance to sneak a few!  Click Here (from Lady Create-a-lot)

And this isn't St. Patrick's Day themed at all, but since I found this on Dr. Seuss's birthday, I included it anyway.  You know I have a fondness for hand and foot prints!  (Idea found Here at Meet the Dubiens)

Okay, so here is a handprint one that IS St. Patty's Day themed (from "the Mom Creative"  HERE).  Cute right? 

And whether or not I am successful at doing any of the cute projects above, I will at least continue the tradition of making a GREEN meal.  My mom always did that when I grew up and I loved it.  My kids get so excited about it too.  And you can make almost anything green so your imagination is the limit!  We've had green mashed potatoes, green gravy, green bread, green jello, green beans, green milk, green Kool-Aid, green pancakes, green eggs . . . well I think you get the idea.

Have fun celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year and remember to share any fun ideas/recipes/crafts you have done or seen as well! 

St. Patricks Day Printable

When did March sneak up on us?  I swear the older I get the faster time flies by.  Of course here in Utah the saying that "March comes in like a Lion" was very true.  After having what I would call an amazing winter (remember I am from Vegas so I like snowless winters) we finally got blasted with snow on March 1st. 

Anyways I am a little late at getting this made.  But you have a good 2 weeks to display this at your house.  This will probably be the only 'Green Day' decor I put out this year. 

As always these are free and we offer them in 2 sizes (11x14) and (8x10).  Just click the link below and download them and send them to your favorite printing place. 

Green 8x10               Green 11x14

Enjoy!!!

Pinterest Picks

Since we just got our mom into Pinterest, this post is dedicated to her!!

Enjoy Pinterest Mom!!

Here are some fun finds recently...

Dr. Seuss Mommy School pinned here

Love this corner book area!!  What a dream!  Pinned here

Great Easter Bunny lesson for teaching our kids the true meaning of Easter.  Pinned here

Oh my goodness...how cool would this be in a backyard?!?  I want one for this summer!!  Pinned here

Peanut butter, pretzels and chocolate...need I say more?!?!  Pinned here

Emergency Kit for your car that all fits inside a wipes container...what a great concept!  Pinned here

And lastly...something to hopefully make you laugh!!  Have a great weekend!!

Pinned here

An Ocean of Possibilities!

When I was a kid, there were certain books that I would check out over and over again from the library.   Even as I got into 5^thgrade, I'd slyly check out McElligot’s Pool by Dr. Seuss and try to hide it under a ‘big’ book so that no one would see it and laugh at me.

I LOVED this book!  The pictures in it were the greatest and sparked the fires of my imagination.  I loved the eskimo fish, the beautiful feathery fish, the swordfish, the hot puffer fish, the whale fish...and on and on.  To me, this story proved that anything was possible…if you just believed.   

That little boy sitting by the fishing hole was filled with faith that he could catch something big, even when the old man tried to discourage him.    

My favorite picture is near the end.  It shows the fishing hole connected to a tiny underground tunnel that goes miles under cities and towns until it reaches the ocean.   The little boy's line and hook have traveled all the way out there and ALL the fish in the ocean are surrounding it and pointing to it.

I think life is like that.

Sometimes our life might seem mundane and unassuming...kind of like the boy's fishing hole.  We might think we don't make a difference in the whole realm of things...or think our contributions in life are kind of insignificant compared to the ocean of possibilities we see in others.  And I'll let you in on a truth...ON OUR OWN, we are like that small piece of nothing fishing hole.

But if we make the connection with God...then He can bring a whole ocean of possibilities to us.   What that boy imagined is a reality with God.  I LOVE kids books.

Life is exciting with this image in mind.  When I believe in God and allow Him to direct my life, then unthinkable possibilities can come to me if I just take hold of my fishing rod and cast out in faith, believing that God will bring me so many fish I don't know what to do with them all—just like Peter.

If you haven't read McElligot's Pool by Dr. Seuss, borrow it from your library or buy your own copy to read over and over again.  The pictures are magical...and the story is priceless.   C. S. Lewis said,

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”

I think this book is timeless.   I was a little embarrassed to read it as an older elementary student...but now as an adult, I'm proud to shout:   I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!  I hope you do too!

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