Tara's view of the world

Wordless Wednesday- my growing wall of Art by Owen

2009-11-11T14:41:00.000-06:00

Glade Holiday Collection GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-11T09:44:00.004-06:00

I was sent some delightful candles from Glade to try out and I love them! I was sent 3 different kinds of candles in two different scents from the Glade Holiday Collection.

The first scent was Bayberry Spice which Glade says smells like "Bayberry, ginger and a hint of cinnamon". To be perfectly honest I am not sure what a Bayberry smells like but these candles smell fabulous.

I love the decorative glass candle holders too. They have very pretty festive designs and the best part is that the Glade label is made to be peeled off!
The second scent was Apple Cinnamon which is just a classic Christmas smell for me. I love it. The candles burn very nicely and last a long time too. I really love the decorative stars on the Apple Cinnamon candle.
The labels on the tin candle holders are completely removable as well which means ANY of these candles would make lovely Christmas gifts- or perfect hostess gifts.
Candles from the Glade Holiday Collection are a wonderful way to add holiday cheer to your home (when used safely of course). These candles come in Bayberry Spice, Apple Cinnamon, Homemade Gingerbread, Hollyberry Wreath, Peppermint Crush, and French Vanilla.

Thanks so much to Glade for sending me free samples to try and for sponsoring this giveaway. I was under no obligation to blog about these candles or say anything nice about them if I did- I just honestly like them!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN GLADE CANDLES?

2 winners will each win the Glade Holiday Scented Oil Candle tin in Apple Cinnamon and the Glade Holiday candle 4 oz. jar in Bayberry Spice!

~Leave me a comment here telling me you would like to win! That's it!

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Subscribe to this blog via email (there is a handy link to do that on my left hand sidebar)

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social networking site of your choosing

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble this site or giveaway

This giveaway is open to readers in the USA only (sorry fellow Canadians!). I will choose a winner on November 25 th, 2009.

Winners will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

CFBA- A Prisoner of Versaille

2009-11-11T08:20:00.001-06:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Prisoner of Versaille
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)
by
Golden Keyes Parsons

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic Bible teaching, combined with her vivid personal examples, moving from tears one moment, to laughter the next, all the while communicating the message that God is faithful--keep trusting Him. She has a passion to communicate the Word of God in such a manner that will lead to godly living.

Golden, and her husband, Blaine, have just retired as pastors at Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Her testimony and myriad of life experiences lend a touch of authenticity to her teaching. She loves to speak for women's conferences, seminars, luncheons, retreats and Mother/Daughter events.

If deep Bible teaching that brings the Scriptures alive is what you want, Golden is the speaker you need.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Madeleine's faith puts her at odds with an intimidating rival: King Louis XIV.

Having fled their homeland of France because of the persecution by Louis XIV, the Clavell family seeks refuge in Switzerland. However, the king is not about to let the recently widowed Madeleine, his childhood sweetheart, escape that easily. He sends musketeers to kidnap her and her oldest son, Philippe, holding them captive in his opulent palace. King Louis is suspicious that Philippe could be his son, and he's enraged by the growing affection of one of his courtiers for Madeleine.

Will Madeleine escape the king with her life or lose everything that she's fought so hard to keep?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Prisoner of Versaille , go HERE

Olivia and her teeth

2009-11-10T20:05:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we took Olivia to the dentist. We THOUGHT we were going to get her two front teeth pulled. But as it turns out they are going to do that NEXT trip. This time they fixed four teeth in the back.
It is an excessively long drive to the Dentist. 9 hours in one day is just ridiculous. But we did get to eat lunch at Swiss Chalet which was nice. But seriously that is one heck of a long drive. I am glad we only have to do it once more. Not so happy that poor Olivia will have to get her teeth pulled the day before her 3rd birthday. NO FAIR.
She was SO good at the dentist. She sat still and took the nitrous oxide and it obviously worked well because when they gave her two shots for freezing she didn't even flinch. She cried a couple times because she wanted to be done though- an hour is a long time for a little girl! She even fell asleep at one point which made me happy because if she was in pain she wouldn't be able to sleep.
Unfortunately she is not fully recovered from stupid H1N1 (neither am I actually) and she had another fever last night and again today. But she is mostly doing just fine. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever feel well again!! This has gone on far too long!

Blurb GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-10T11:24:00.006-06:00

One of my all time favourite gift choices is a personalized photo book from Blurb. I have talked about Blurb before on this blog because I just love them so much!

What is Blurb?

Blurb is a people-powered book publishing platform that enables anyone to produce a bookstore quality book. Blurb’s BookSmart software is free to download and works on a Mac or PC. Within BookSmart, there are a wide variety of professionally designed layouts and other customizable options like backgrounds, borders, colors, etc to select from. You can import photos (from Flickr, iPhoto, Picasa, Photobucket, SmugMug or your computer), text, or even your blog (via Blurb’s blog “slurper”). Order one copy or many. Your book will arrive in 5-10 days.

Prices start at $12.95 for a 7x7 softcover book, $19.95 for a 10x8” softcover book, and $54.95 for a hardcover book with dust jacket. Blurb also features hardcover ImageWrap as a cover option. ImageWrap prints your cover image directly onto the front and back of the book for a durable, matte finish that feels like a high-end art book.

Blurb now offers flat rate shipping! Pay $6.99 ($7.99 Canadian) for up to 5 books (any size, any weight) to be delivered via ground shipping.

You can also make your book available in Blurb’s Bookstore so that family and friends can order it directly from Blurb.

If you’re lacking time or creative mojo, check out BlurbNation, a marketplace where you can find professional designers who will design your book for you.

I made my own Blurb book and I LOVE it! You can see it here...

Tara's view of...

http://tarasviewoft...

By Tara Robertson

Book Preview

A Blurb book would be the perfect gift for ANY family member- especially those grandparents or long distance relatives!

The folks at Blurb are offering a $36.95 bookmaking gift code to TWO of my lucky readers! (I am under no obligation to say anything nice about Blurb in return for these codes- I just really like them!)

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A $36.95 GIFT CODE FOR BLURB?

~Leave me a comment here telling me you would like to win! That's it!

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Subscribe to this blog via email (there is a handy link to do that on my left hand sidebar)

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social networking site of your choosing

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble this site or giveaway

This giveaway is open to readers worldwide. I will choose a winner on November 23 rd, 2009.

Winners will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

CFBA- Fit to Be Tied

2009-11-09T22:46:00.000-06:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fit to Be Tied
Zondervan (November 1, 2009)
by
Robin Lee Hatcher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy, because he has never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.”

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fit to Be Tied , go HERE.

Watch the book video Trailer:

aden + anais GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-09T17:08:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned before that I LOVE aden + anais (you can find proof of that in previous reviews for them HERE, HERE and HERE) so I was excited when they sent me another great product to try!
This time we were sent this adorable Sleeping Bag...

Muslin Sleeping Bags
aden + anais extra warm and cozy sleeping bags are made from the same 100% cotton muslin used for swaddling newborn babies. With a single layer of waffled cotton, these quilted sleeping bags provide a layer of cushiony warmth produced from only the most natural of fibers allowing babies and toddlers to feel warm and toasty without overheating.

I love the muslin fabric. It really is amazing. The best part is that it gets softer and softer with each wash.

As most of you know H1N1 hit our house hard over the past couple weeks and when Olivia was really sick she slept in this lovely sleeping bag. It kept her warm without overheating which is a miracle considering how obnoxious H1N1 is. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a picture of her using it because I was too scared the flash would wake her up!

I have been VERY pleased with all of the aden + anais products we have tried and know that they would make AMAZING Christmas gifts for the little ones in your life! Their wonderful swaddling muslin wraps or lovely hooded towel sets would make the perfect gift for those new parents- practical and adorable.

And just because they are so great aden + anais is offering up one of their brand new Burpy Bibs to one of my lucky readers!

Facts at a Glance: aden + anais Burpy Bib

● Four soft layers of breathable muslin, keeping baby and mom dry and comfortable
● Cinched oval shape fits perfectly on mom’s shoulder
● Simple snap converts to full-coverage, breathable, washable bib for older babies
● Coordinates with aden + anais’ award-winning product line
● Available in boutiques nationwide and Target stores beginning in August 2009
● Priced from $8.99 to $19.99 depending on styles and packaging

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN AN ADEN + ANAIS BURPY BIB?

~Leave me a comment here telling me if you would prefer a girl or boy or unisex Burby Bib if you win.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Subscribe to this blog via email (there is a handy link to do that on my left hand sidebar)

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social networking site of your choosing

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble this site or giveaway

~ become a fan of aden + anais on facebook

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on November 24 th, 2009.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

Tropical Traditions GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-09T04:39:00.001-06:00

A couple months ago I reviewed Organic Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions and loved it so when I was given the opportunity to do another review for them I was happy to do so! This time I was sent some unbelievably yummy Organic dried Coconut Flakes to try.

Tropical Traditions 100% natural Shredded Coconut, Coconut Flakes, and Coconut Chips are made from organic dried coconuts in the Philippines that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. Unlike most dried coconut on the market, our dried coconut products are not treated with sulfites to keep them white. They are a great addition to recipes and baking, or just for snacks! Note: The Shredded Coconut is a very small cut, suitable for baking, such as making macaroons. The Coconut Flakes are a larger shredded coconut cut, perfect for garnishing or toppings, such as the top of a coconut cream pie. The Coconut Chips are a much larger cut that can be used as a snack food. You can mix them with nuts and dried fruit, for example.

I must admit that I love coconut pretty much any way you serve it and so as soon as this arrived in the mail I grabbed a handful and started munching away! Oh it was so good!! The coconut tasted delicious, not stale at all. Olivia liked it a lot too.

We have used it in several different ways in the past couple weeks- in baking and as a garnish- and it tasted wonderful every time. You can find some amazing recipes here...

Is there someone in your life who loves to bake? Someone who is trying to get healthy? Why not give them some delicious Organic Dried Coconut as a unique Christmas gift? This could be the perfect gift for those hard to buy for family members. Tropical Traditions also has an amazing array of other gift-options- everything from natural soaps and massage oils to organic teas. Check out Tropical Traditions today!

Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review of sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN TROPICAL TRADITIONS ORGANIC DRIED COCONUT?

~ head on over to Tropical Traditions and sign up for their e-mail newsletter HERE then come back and tell me that you did! (this step must be followed to win, by the request of the sponsor)

For more entries you can also:

~ Subscribe to this blog via email (there is a handy link to do that on my left hand sidebar)

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social networking site of your choosing

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble this site or giveaway

~ follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter HERE.

This giveaway is open to Canada & the USA and will end on November 23, 2009! Winner will be chosen via random.org. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win!

Don't forget to enter my other giveaways too:

Win Bed Bouquet HERE.

5 Minutes for Mom

2009-11-08T19:12:00.001-06:00

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a ton of great giveaways for Christmas this year that you should really check out!

because Christmas is Coming...

2009-11-08T13:42:00.012-06:00

Over the next 2 weeks I will be hosting fun giveaways because Christmas is coming! We are all feeling the financial crunch this year so what could be better than snagging a few free gifts for the loved ones on your list?

There will be giveaways from aden + anais, Blurb, Eden Fantasys, Tropical Traditions, Hockey Guys, Glade, GlowBaby, BusyBodyBook, Bright Star Kids, the Ultimate Cloth, a whole bunch of books and more! Be sure to come back and check it out :)

*edited to add*
A couple of you have asked for the code to the button so you can post it on your blog- thanks! Tragically I can't figure out how to post just the code on here!! So you will have to right click on the picture and save it to your computer and post it linking it to this page... this is what happens when a person who is baffled by codes tries to use them! Sorry!

*edited AGAIN*

ok, so Emily ROCKS and totally figured everything out for me! Here is the code if you want to add it...

<a href="http://www.tarasviewoftheworld.com/" target="_blank"></a>

Weekly Winners- The Fort

2009-11-07T21:48:00.004-06:00

I haven't taken very many pictures this week... mostly I just tried to keep my children and myself from hacking out a lung and stuff like that. Who has time for pictures when H1N1 is beating you to a pulp?
Most of the week was cold and dreary and snow-covered anyway.

My kitty was cold

and I was too

But thankfully the sun came out today and my sons are doing SO much better so they were able to play outside this afternoon. They built this amazing fort around our picnic table with the kids from next door...

When I called it a fort I was chastised though because apparently it is a tank.
Which I guess would explain the weaponry.

The neighbour kids have rather real-looking toy guns that my sons want to play with every chance they get because I don't let them have that sort of thing. The guns we have in our house are all brightly coloured and say "nerf" somewhere on them. And of course the neighbour kids can't wait to play with our guns. The grass is always greener people.
You can find more Weekly Winners over at SarcasticMom.com.

The Secret of Pirate Island

2009-11-06T14:28:00.000-06:00

I was recently sent a copy of Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island to review with my kids. We love it!

Synopsis

Ahoy, matey! Your favorite Playmobil toys have come to life for the very first time, in an all-new swashbuckling adventure and you’re invited to join them! You’ll have a treasure chest full of fun with seven-year-old Jack and his big sister Amelia as they stow away on a pirate ship headed for the mysterious Pirate Island — a place filled with treasure and curious creatures. Can Jack and Amelia stay one step ahead of a bunch of wacky skeletons and get to the treasure before the pirates do?

In my personal opinion this is a brilliant DVD. It was easy enough to use that my boys (ages 6 and 7) had no problems. They were able to follow the directions with no adult intervention at all.
The animation is bright and colourful and even held my 2 year old daughter's attention. The DVD is very family friendly and I didn't find any objectionable material.
I LOVE the interactive style of this DVD. The boys loved being able to choose their own adventure and have watched the DVD at least a dozen times since it arrived. I also appreciated Captain Gruff's favourite movie ( the non-interactive movie ) that my daughter could watch on her own. The Pirate sing-a-long was another fun feature that we all enjoyed.
I took this picture of my son Aiden while he was playing the Secret of Pirate Island DVD. I think his expression says it all :)
I would definitely recommend this DVD- it would make a perfect Christmas gift for the little adventurer in your life!

I'm out

2009-11-05T20:43:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone.

I'm taking a sick day today because I can barely get off the couch.

Hopefully my body will kick this H1N1 soon and I'll be back to my charming, witty self tomorrow.

My boys managed to go to school today and they did great- I am so happy they are feeling better!

Olivia is sick though. I'd appreciate prayers for her from the praying types out there- she has her first major dental appointment on Monday and needs to be healthy for it.

Ok, I'm going back to the couch. It is amazing how much energy it took just to write this lame post.

How are you all feeling these days?

Wordless Wednesday- H1N1 Day 8

2009-11-04T13:01:00.001-06:00

the dental saga continues

2009-11-03T18:09:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we took Olivia to a different dentist to see about her teeth. This is the dentist that the dental financial assistance people want us to see. So we drove the 4.5 hours there and after getting completely lost finally managed to arrive at our appointment... late... but we got there. The dentist was nice enough but I must admit it was a waaayyyy different experience than the last dentist. It FELT like we were charity cases, like they didn't have to put as much effort in because they won't make much money of us.

I could be wrong. Maybe she was just shy and really tired or something. But basically she took a look at Olivia's teeth, forced her to get some x-rays (while I had to stand in the hallway watching her cry) and then said barely anything to me. I know the x-ray thing is normal and she wasn't trying to make Olivia cry... but it IS hard to watch.

Then she stood up and said "well, we will pull out her two front teeth in one appointment and then fix the rest in a separate appointment. We will use nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) because she's almost 3 and should be ok. Someone from the program will call you about an appointment. Bye." and then she walked away.

At the other dentist he told us he thought he could save her teeth and that it would be cruel to do all that work on her while she was awake so he would put her to sleep for 2 hours and then it will be all done. He sat with us for awhile and answered our questions. He talked about anaesthesia options. He talked about all the safety precautions they take and all that they do for children. He told us what would happen exactly on that day. He was very thorough and Olivia never cried once.

I admit that the one dentist stands to make a heck of a lot more money off us than the other... but the fact remains that one said he could save her teeth (90% sure) and the other isn't even going to try. Plus I have heard several horror stories about nitrous oxide lately that freak me right out.

The thing is we may have no option. I have to talk to the financial aid people and see what they have to say. But the fact remains if we can't afford to get it done we have to go with the cheap one... whether we like it or not.

But I am not making any decisions yet. Especially since my mind is hazy in it's H1N1 cloud.

And plus God could totally work the whole thing out no problem. Like he did for Aiden's teeth! We had a $400+ bill for Aiden's teeth that we couldn't afford and dear friends of ours sent us money to pay for it. Just like that. Amazing.

Olivia did really well all day yesterday but started to cough more and more toward evening and she is certainly not her perky self today. That picture is her right now, fast asleep on the couch behind me.

The boys came with us yesterday since they are still on H1N1 quarantine. Our kids travel amazingly well and there was basically no difference for them between watching movies at home all day or watching movies in the vehicle all day. They were great. Owen had one coughing fit that resulted in him throwing up but other than that it was uneventful.
And I just read this information off of the CDC website:

CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

which means that if all goes well the boys can return to school tomorrow! Owen REALLY wants to go back- he misses his best buddy Hunter :) Aiden is less sure of going back but I think it is mostly because he just really likes being home.
5 days out of school, 7 days at home... that is a long time. So I am praying that they keep getting better and better and can return to normal life.

That way I can lay on the couch in my H1N1 - induced stupor in peace.

Olivia + Butter + Carpet = crying mommy

2009-11-02T08:44:00.004-06:00

First of all let me just say how very thankful I am that our landlord installed incredibly easy to clean carpets in our house.

Why?

You know how when kids are sick they are extra clingy? Aiden and Owen were extra clingy yesterday and while Doug was at church last night I ended up laying on the floor on a blanket with Aiden on one side and Owen on the other.

Olivia was with us too and we were all watching TV. She has taken to playing near my desk sometimes- she has a little area where she stashes her toys etc.. So I didn't think anything of her going to "her spot" and playing.

Eventually I realize things are quiet. A little TOO quiet. And then my daughter comes tromping up to where I am with the boys and I look at her feet. She is wearing pretty pink shoes (not abnormal) covered with butter (definitely abnormal).

SO I say "no no no no no no no no" in that voice filled with horror that only a mother who KNOWS she is going to have a huge mess to clean up has.

I remove the buttered shoes from my daughter and start to investigate.

And this is what I found...

And entire pound of butter spread out on the carpet.
It was truly gross and I promptly burst into tears. Please keep in mind I am sick too and not exactly the most emotionally stable person around.
And what did Olivia do? Sat down and started to EAT some of the butter OFF THE FLOOR!!

Now THAT I just could not handle.

Luckily Doug walked in at just that moment and whisked all three children upstairs to bathe while I tried to figure out how to scrub the carpets clean.

Sobbing.

I had this conversation with my mother on the phone:

Me: "how do you get BUTTER out of the carpet??"

Mom: "oh no... what happened?"

Me: "OLIVIA happened"

Mom: "oh honey"

Me: "she spread a whole pound of butter all over the carpet"

Mom: "on your area rug?"

Me: "noooooooo"

Mom: "oh no she didn't"

Me: "oh yes she did. she is a monster"

Mom: "ok honey, just get really hot water and lots of soap....." etc. explaining to me how to clean the carpet.

Which brings me back to how thankful I am that we have very easy to clean carpets and I have a mother who knows how to clean weird things. It looks like nothing happened at all. Perfect.

That's a relief.

2 year olds. Sheesh.

CFBA- A Slow Burn

2009-11-02T08:13:00.000-06:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Slow Burn
Zondervan (October 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Watch the video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

Weekly Winners- the day before the snow

2009-11-01T13:44:00.002-06:00

We had quite the wind and rain storm the other day and it pretty much wiped out all the leaves on the tree in our front yard. Later that night it snowed and snowed and snowed. I took these pictures before the snow.

You can find more Weekly Winners at SarcasticMom.com.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T21:23:00.002-06:00

It snowed here so we had to figure out costumes that could fit over snowsuits. The boys had superhero costumes but they have now been relegated to indoor play since they are not snow-suit friendly! Luckily we had these super cool Storm Trooper costumes made of rather stretchy fabric...

The boys were annoyed that they didn't have the proper weaponry to go with them but such is life. Olivia couldn't wear her princess costume at all and ended up wearing a tinkerbell nightgown over top of her snowsuit. Hence the ultra happy smiles in the above picture ;)

Since the boys are sick we didn't really do much trick or treating. We went to Grandma's house and then to a friend's house and a few other houses but were done in about 45 minutes.
Just enough time to fill their candy bags and then the boys were asking to go home. Olivia didn't even make it that long... she ended up in the van with Grandma!
Even with the snow it wasn't that cold out. And thanks to the meds the boys are on they were able to mostly enjoy the evening.
The definitely were not their energetic selves though. Aiden even fell asleep in the van on 5 minute drive home. Poor kid.
Our town actually has a very cool system. Trick-or-Treating is only allowed between the hours of 6 and 8 pm. That's it. And during that time the police are all over patrolling and even the ambulances drive around town. It keeps everything very family friendly and safe. I LOVE the time limit. Perfect.
All in all it was a relatively good evening... considering the week we have had!

oh what a day

2009-10-30T20:00:00.003-06:00

Well today was quite the day if I do say so myself.

Aiden had a rough night last night with his asthma so I took him in to the ER this morning to get some stronger asthma meds. The waiting room was full of fellow H1N1 victims and we were all handed masks to wear at the entrance to the hospital. It was interesting to me that I could still tell what mood people were in just by looking at their eyes... you can tell when people smiling without having to see the actual smile.

Ya. I had a lot of time to think. Almost 4 hours.

Poor Aiden fell asleep for about an hour and a half of it and we spent a good 45 mins of it in the actual treatment room... but it was still a long time to wait. I took comfort in knowing that we certainly weren't the only ones waiting. There were about 8 other people that were there when we got there and got called in mere minutes before we did.

Anyway, we got the meds finally and happily went on our way.

Hopefully tonight will go much better for all of us!

The kids have actually done pretty well being stuck at home. This afternoon all three of them coloured together briefly...
Owen loves to colour and is so very cute about it. He has had a remarkably good attitude about the whole thing... except when he is fighting with his brother of course.

Seriously, who's idea was it to make one player only Wii games??? It drives me crazy. Constant fighting over who is getting the longer turn etc. etc. etc.. Seriously game-makers... how hard could it possibly be to make the game 2 players???

Anyway, Owen drew this lovely picture... which is apparently of me dressing up as a witch for Halloween...I've never actually dressed up as a witch for Halloween and this year I was planning on dressing up as an exhausted mommy... I already have the bags under my eyes to match after all.

Olivia was slightly less happy today. She got a fever mid-afternoon and woke up extremely cranky from a too-short nap.

I tried to give her some tylenol for her fever and this is what she said...

Can you hear it?

nnnnnoooooooooooooo I don't want it nooooooooooooo

She was most irritated with me. And the rest of the world for existing.

Aiden did a remarkable job of ignoring her. And Doug looked a little TOO happy to be getting to leave the house to pick up Aiden's prescriptions...

But I figure he deserved to escape since he cleaned our house while I was wasting away in the ER this morning!

And now it is 9:30 pm and all three kids are asleep. Bliss I tell you.

And to top it all off? I got a really lovely email from my dear friend Amanda that just brightened up my day completely!

But wow do I ever need to sleep... so off I go. I'm hoping for 4 hours in a row. :)

10 Ways to Make Your Work from Home Experience Successful

2009-10-30T06:18:00.000-06:00

Guest Post by:
By Lesley Spencer Pyle, MSc.
http://hiremymom.com/

Whether you are dealing with a customer over the phone or via e-mail, it should always be done with the utmost professionalism. You want your current and potential customers to feel confident in your abilities. This should include stepping into a quiet area to make a call to a client or getting a company dedicated phone number so you can answer the call with a company greeting. E-mails should always be spelled checked before hitting the send button.

Schedule your day and create goals to ensure you are completing all the tasks that need to be done as well as making a set number of marketing contacts each day. This will help you remain focused and productive, despite any distractions that might be taking place in your home.

Create a business plan to help keep you on track. It is a lengthy and miserable process for some, but once completed, it is so advantageous to the success of your business. Even if no one else ever sees it, a business plan creates a tool for you to make sure you have thought through the entire process running a successful business.

Determine your strengths and weaknesses and what responsibilities take up the majority if your time – either in the workplace or your household. These are the functions that should be considered for outsourcing. It will help you find a balance, but more importantly, focus on your strengths which will help thrust your business forward.

Participate in local and online networking groups to help build resources and a support group. There are several online groups such as: www.cwahm.com, www.hbwm.com and www.wahm.com.

Get yourself up to speed with new technologies. Whether it is taking a class online or at a local community college or having someone come in to train you, you will keep up with your competitors by being technologically literate.

Set parameters with your family so they know that when you are working, this is your work time. This may be challenging with little ones, but should get easier as you continue to emphasize the importance of “work time”. Be sure to hire help when needed. Your business needs your full attention as do your children. Don’t try to do both at once.

Set a limit so you are not overwhelmed by taking on too much at one time. Be comfortable with letting people know that you are not available to watch their kids, do volunteer work, etc. It is OK to say that your schedule is really booked right now, but maybe in the near future they can call on you when things have settled down.

Create emergency back-up plans. This would include back-up daycare, what to do if your computer system goes down, or if a huge project comes in, who can you rely on for assistance. This prevents you from scrambling at the last minute.

Make time for yourself. Points 1 – 9 will not make any difference if you are not looking out for yourself. You need to be healthy and happy to be there for your family and your business. Prioritize time for you, your faith, your family, your friends and your home in addition to your business.

Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president of the HBWM.com, Inc. Network which includes Home-Based Working Moms (www.HBWM.com) and HireMyMom.com (www.HireMyMom.com). Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Parenting, Dr. Laura’s Perspectives, Family PC and many others. She has 4 children ages 2 to 14 years and has been working from home since the first baby was born!

hello from the land of H1N1

2009-10-29T17:47:00.004-06:00

Well we are nearing the end of day 2 of our quarantine... and it hasn't been too bad yet. I mean, yes, it sucks. But it is nothing compared to things we have experienced in the past with the boys asthma. I have the boys taking massive amounts of asthma meds to keep that under control. Olivia and I seem to be getting worse but Doug apparently is feeling pretty good. We are hoping he manages to avoid the worst of H1N1.

The boys have had bouts of cabin fever but for the most part haven't minded being stuck at home just watching TV. Which, in and of itself, proves just how sick they are. Although I'm not sure how they will be doing by day 5 of the quarantine... never mind day 7. (recommended length)

In other news I got a call today from the financial assistance group that might be able to help us pay for Olivia's dental bills. The thing is they only work with one dentist in our area.... and it is NOT the dentist we have already seen. SO they would like us to meet with this other dentist on Monday. 4.5 hours away. Which means we have to drive 9 hours roundtrip on Monday in hopes that this new dentist will like us enough to take us on as her charity case :) I asked them if we should stay home because of the whole flu thing and they said no... the dentist only does clinics for folks like us (aka broke people) 4 times per year and so if we don't do it on Monday then we pretty much don't do it all.

The trip will be worth it though if they can help us pay the $2200 bill!!

Infant Nutrition

2009-10-28T15:18:00.004-06:00

When my babies were newborns (and even before they were born) I spent a ton of time researching everything from how they were developing to what I should be feeding them. I was recently introduced to a website that I wish had existed a few years ago- The Visual MD. Part of this site is an Infant Nutrition site that helps moms with that crucial "what to feed the baby" question.

Here is a brief description of the website...

Developed as a resource for Moms, the website brings together information from leading health centers and researchers across the country to explain how nutrition is crucial to infant development. How can you make sure that your newborn gets the nutrients she needs to ensure healthy growth through her first birthday? How do you keep her stomach from getting upset? What should you, as an expectant Mom, eat to ensure that you stay healthy as your infant grows? What vitamins do you need if you’re breastfeeding to ensure that you’re passing along the right nutrients to your infant?

Showcasing new data and 3-D images, the site lets you explore and learn the latest research findings through video, pictures, and graphics, in depth questions like why infant eyesight depends on getting enough DHA and what key nutrients contribute to the healthy growth of your child’s brain.

The site is sponsored by Enfamil and I was a little worried it would be one giant advertisement for their formula... but I was pleasantly surprised. There is a lot of pro-breastfeeding information and the advertising is kept to a minimum.

The best part of the site is the 3-D videos and pictures. WOW. They are amazing. My youngest is almost 3 and I learned a lot! I would definitely encourage you to take a look if for no other reason than they are cool to watch :)

If you are pregnant or a new mom than www.InfantNutritionCenter.com might be a site you would really enjoy!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mead Johnson. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Listerine and Reach Oral Care Challenge

2009-10-28T14:07:00.007-06:00

I was recently invited to participate in the Listerine Oral Care Challenge and since we have had our fair share of unpleasant visits to the Dentist lately I thought it would be a VERY good idea!

We were sent a box of supplies for the challenge and a handy dandy chart to keep track of our progress.
Since Aiden has had 3 cavities (THREE!!) in the past 6 months I figured he would be my main helper for this challenge, but we all participated as a family.

Step one is using Listerine Agent Cool Blue.

LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUE® is a pre-brush tinting rinse. Used before brushing, it tints teeth blue so kids pay attention when cleaning their teeth; giving kids a sense of accomplishment that they are doing a good job and reinforcing the positive behavior.

Both of my boys love Agent Cool Blue. They especially love spitting it all over my sink. I have had trouble in the past getting my boys to use anything remotely minty so the Bubble Blast flavour was definitely a hit.
I think one of my favourite features of Cool Blue is the way you can measure the dose right in the bottle. You simply squeeze the bottle a little bit and it basically measures the right amount for you! Easy. Love it.

Aiden loves the way it turns his tongue blue :)

Step two was to actually brush the teeth. My boys are getting pretty good at brushing their own teeth but I still need to supervise. We all love the Reach Wonder Grip toothbrushes- the boys loved the colours and Olivia loved the "squiggly neck".

Step three is flossing the teeth.

All 3 of Aiden's cavities were flossing cavities according to our dentist.

I admit it.

We suck at flossing the kids teeth.

It has always been such a huge struggle to do it that I basically gave up. But I decided to give it another go for the Oral Challenge.

We were sent these great Reach Access Flosser's that made the job much easier. Aiden was able to floss his own teeth and Owen was able to with just a little help.

Aiden thought it was cool that it would stay in his mouth hands-free...

The final step is to use Listerine Smart Rinse.

LISTERINE^® SMART RINSE™ is an anticavity mouthwash for kids ages six and older that helps clean and protect teeth beyond brushing alone. The MAGNETIC CLEANING ACTION™ attracts particles—showing kids what brushing may have missed.

The hardest part of this step was getting the boys to rinse for a full minute like the directions say. We are thinking of getting some sort of timer for the bathroom to help with this step. Aiden and Owen both liked the Berry Shield flavour of Smart Rinse.
I must admit that we were not able to see much "proof" in the sink. That might be because my boys aren't very good at properly rinsing.

I was also sent some Listerine Total Care for us grown-ups to use. I really like it but I must admit I wish it had that super cool measure feature like the Cool Blue!

Overall I think these are great products and obviously using them regularly can only help with our family's dental health... which we clearly need! If you are looking for some creative, fun ways to help your kids brush than I would encourage you to give these products a try.

If you head over to Listerine.com you can grab yourself a coupon too.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Conversations I've had this morning

2009-10-28T12:13:00.004-06:00

As I mentioned in my last post my kids are sick. I called the Doctor yesterday morning just to make sure I didn't need to take them in or anything because all the propaganda says to call. The nurse (for our family Doctor) asked me a ton of questions and then the conversation finished.

So the nurse calls me this morning and asks me how the boys are doing. This, in and of itself, is unusual. I update her and then I have this conversation:

Nurse: I talked to the doctor and we think you should take them in to the ER so we called ahead and let them know you are coming.

Me: why do I need to take them in?

Nurse: because they have asthma we really feel they should be checked out

Me: ok (long internal sigh and feeling of resignation) and off we went.

Eventually (after about an hour wait... which is not a bad wait at all for our ER) we saw the Doctor and he asked me the regular questions and about their asthma and meds etc. SO as I always do with doctors I pull out my handy dandy list of medications that the boys are on and started rattling them off.

The doctor stops and looks at me and we have this conversation:

Doctor: You've done this before haven't you.

Me: yes. yes I have. The nurse seemed more worried about them than I am. They are breathing well right now and that is basically the only thing that ever really worries me.

Doctor :Yes, making sure their asthma is under control is what we have to watch for with this flu so it is good that you brought them in. But you definitely have it well under control. Well done.

Then this wonderful doctor turns to my sons and says "look at your mom boys... she looks tired. I am betting she has been up with you guys a LOT the past few nights. You guys need to go home and rest LOTS. In fact maybe you should take a nap this afternoon too so your mom can take a rest too."

And then the Doctor starts explaining what colour their pee needs to be to get well again. That cracked the boys right up.

Doctor: well done mom, keep doing what you are doing and keep them hydrated, you can go home now

Me: so just to clarify- I don't need to bring them, or anyone else in our family, back unless they are having difficulty breathing, if their asthma is out of control or if they are dehydrated... right?

Doctor: yes. you are doing just fine on your own.

Me: (with relief) thank-you very much (and we left)

My husband and I had a laugh about it on our way home because honestly? They very rarely tell us anything we don't already know. I guess that is the joy/curse of being parent of asthmatics.

So the kids have fevers and Doug and I are not feeling to hot either but it is all good because we can all breath just fine! And that REALLY is the main point :)