Cheryl's Items of Interest

Crocheted Lapghan for my Grandma

2011-07-24T14:54:00.004-05:00

I found this wonderful and easy Crocheted Wheelchair Lapghan pattern on Kathy's Crochet Cabin blogspot. I followed her pattern and made this one for my Grandma.

It's made in all double crochet stiches--my favorite!

Kathy's pattern uses ~~an "I"~~ a size "J" hook and starts with a chain of 104.

Her pattern is 41 rows but I made mine a little bit wider at 53 rows.

The finished size of my Lapghan (including the border) is 32"x35".

I just used what yarn I had and that I liked. I made it out of soft yarn for Grandma.

The pink was "I Love This Yarn". The yellow was some thriftstore yarn called "TLC Essentials". I'm not sure what the green was as it didnt have a label on it anymore, but it was very soft--more than likely it was some leftover "I Love This Yarn". The varigated didnt have a label anymore either but I think it was Red Heart. And the white border was "I Love This Yarn".

I guess I should have just said it was made mostly out of soft yarn called "I Love This Yarn." LOL :)

I crocheted 17 rows of pink, 20 rows of yellow, 8 rows of green, 8 rows of varigated for a total of 53 rows, and then the white border.

I didnt start with a full skein of yarn with any of the colors so if I had to guess how much yarn I used, here is my best guess:

Pink, 4 oz
Yellow, 5 oz
Green, 2-3 oz
Varigated, 2-3 oz
White, 3 oz

So, a generous guess of total amount of yarn that I used would be 18 oz.

If you'd like Kathy's Wheelchair Lapghan pattern, please visit Kathy's Crochet Cabin and scroll down the right side and look for her "MY PATTERNS" then look for "WHEELCHAIR LAPGHAN".
Thank you so much Kathy for the lovely pattern! It was fast and easy to make. :)

Cotton Crochet Dish Rags out of Sweaters

2011-07-10T19:19:00.000-05:00

These I've made out of Crochet Cotton but below I'll show you the one's I made out of an old cotton sweater.

Assorted Dish Rags made out of Crochet Cotton

Pink Dish Rag made out of Crochet Cotton

Varigated Dish Rag made out of Crochet Cotton

My latest love is to unravel cotton sweaters and crochet something new, and in this case - Dish Rags. I haven't bought dish rags from the store for years. I crochet my own. It's just a simple double crochet stitch. I suppose I can give you the pattern at the end of this post. I like to make these because they're fast, I don't have to keep track of rows or stitches, and I can sit in the front room with the rest of the family and crochet while we all watch TV.

I like to make dish rags out of sweaters made out of cotton. I think these make even better dish rags than dish rags make of of 100% crochet cotton such as Peaches and Cream. And you can make a LOT of dish rags out of one sweater, too! Find a sweater that is knitted. Rip the seams and unravel. There are lots of other sites where you can find more indepth instuctions about selecting a good sweater to unravel.

Okay, I've completely unraveled one sleeve and I'm ready to crochet. Yeah! :)

I've made one dish rag out of sleeve and still have plenty of more yarn to make another one.

Another dish rag I've made out of the same sleeve.

I've unraveled the whole sweater and made lots of dish rags and given lots away, too.

I'm getting down to the nitty-gritty last of my sweater yarn. I tried to find another sweater at the thrift store but havent had much luck. I'll probably have to wait until Fall when they put their sweaters back out again. When they put their sweaters back out to sell, this time I'll know exactly what I'm looking for and I'll buy a few to last me the whole year.

FREE DISH RAG PATTERN

I like to use a "G" hook.

I chain about 25 to 28 chains (I dont remember exactly, and it doesnt matter really).

Then dc in the 3rd ch from hook and dc in each ch to the end of the row, ch 3, turn.

Dc in each dc across. Keep doing this until you've got a square piece of cloth.

Now dc evenly all the way around, crocheting 3 dc in each corner.

Then sc in bl (back loops only) all the way around, crocheting 3 sc in each corner. Tie off and weave in loose ends.

CROCHET RAG RUG MADE OUT OF OLD SWEATER

The next pic below was a different sweater (obviously) but I wanted to show it to you. This sweater was made out of a thicker cotton. This rug is made out of that whole sweater. I made it to be a rug, but I've found that I've since been using it as a cushion cover on my recliner. It's good for either. I like it very much. It was just a simple double crochet. If I remember correctly it's roughly 70 stitches across and 45 rows, and then I just took some black Red Heart yarn and single crocheted all around it with 3 stitches in each corner. I think I used an "I" sized hook.

What's your favorite thing to crochet?
Your favorite yarn?
Your favorite hook size/brand?

Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me by Ian Cron

2011-07-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

Who can resist the intriging title and that cute little boy on the cover of this book? Not me! He's even waving at me. What a doll! :)

Cron’s prose reminds me of old black and white family TV shows where it has a voice narrator telling you what the boy is thinking.

At Cron’s first Catholic Holy Communion he describes it as: “It’s the liturgical equivalent of becoming a “made man” in the Mafia.” I’m thinking, “Wow! A religious ceremony where you associate it to being inducted into the mob? Really?”

How does Cron really know for sure that his dad worked for the CIA? His dad’s work was a big secret, and no one knew who all those men in suits were at his dad’s funeral. Maybe his dad actually was a member of the mob, and maybe as a boy Cron invented the CIA job story for his dad so he would have something to tell his friends when they asked what his dad did for a living. The CIA sounds better than the Mafia. Right?

Basically, all Cron wanted to hear his father say before he died was a simple, “I’m sorry, Son, and I love you.”, but unfortunately Cron’s father never gave him that. All he said was, “Nothing’s perfect, Son.” Okay, so later in the chapters when Cron says he heard a voice say “Forgive me, Son”, was that actually God’s voice whispering in his ear telling him what he needed to hear from his own father many years earlier? Because we all know that God doesn’t need OUR forgiveness.

I think Cron is an excellent writer and story teller. He’s very good at interweaving stories. I thought it was a good read, and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Craker

2011-06-21T17:49:00.001-05:00

I downloaded the Kindle edition. It was easy to download right away to my Kindle, so I could start reading it almost immediately. I don’t know why there isn’t a cover page on the Kindle edition just like the book, but there’s not. I found a couple of typos, too.

Putting that aside I did like the book. It was a short, easy read. I wasn’t sure if I was turning the pages so fast because it was on a Kindle or because it was just that good. It was alright. The stories, I think, are the best part because— hey let’s face it—some of the secrets she describes everyone already knows, but not everyone practices: live below your means, pay on time, don’t use credit cards, and pay yourself first.

I would have liked to have seen a special Amish recipe or two.

I think over-all the book was okay, but if I was going to lay down some hard-earned bucks for it, I’d want a bit more meat and potatoes.

HERE'S THE SECRET I WANT TO KNOW!
I was shocked to learn that one Amish man paid $400,000 down on a $1,000,000 dollar house. I did the math and found that to be on average he saved $20,000 a year—that’s $1,667/month, or $385/week, or $9.62/hr. Now THAT’s the “secret” I’d like to uncover! Because I’m thinking, in order to SAVE $20,000/yr then he had to be EARNING about $40,000/yr—surely!

Now rewrite the book, Lorilee Craker, and tell us about THAT secret!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Reggie by Reggie Dabbs

2011-05-23T18:48:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh! I absolutely loved Reggie’s book! His story is such an inspiration! After reading it I wanted him to come to my kids’ school to speak! Reggie’s story and book are so inspiring! I love how he tells the bible stories like they are current hit movies at a theater. He absolutely understands what he’s talking about and he knows how to tell these stories that make them so current and real to anyone. I can absolutely understand why kids naturally listen to him and love and adore him. He is just so passionate about finding you where you are and telling you how much God loves you and cares for you.

I think someone of any age would enjoy reading this book, and it may even get you to open your Bible to read for yourself the stories he talks about in the book. At the end of each chapter there are ten questions that can be used for an individual or a group study. I would definitely buy this book and recommend it to anyone--young or old--who needs some inspiration and to know that they matter in this life and they can make a difference in other lives as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

2011-04-11T23:04:00.000-05:00

The Final Summit is a sequel to the Traveler’s Gift. David Ponder is a common man who applied the Seven Decisions in his life that he discovered in the Traveler’s Gift and it brought him much personal and professional success. Now 28 years later he is asked to head up a summit to discover in two words what is the most important principle that will save mankind. Even if you haven’t read the Traveler’s Gift this book will make sense, but if you have read the Traveler’s Gift you really want to read this!

I have yet to be disappointed with a book written by Andy Andrews. He makes history so interesting! He takes true things or obscure stories that no one has heard about that he finds through research, discovery, and his own lessons learned in life and builds wonderful stories that teach life lessons and principles for success.

The Final Summit takes lessons from history and great leaders in the past and applies those ideas and principles in today’s world. This story itself is fantastic, but the principle in this book will change everything for the person who is searching or looking for answers about family situations or financial situations in their personal life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: A Power Based Life by Mike Flynt

2011-03-09T18:37:00.002-06:00

I loved Mike Flynt’s book titled The Power Based Life! This book is power-packed to the max with extreme wisdom and inspiration! Basically, he says if you’re good at something, that’s your niche; Make yourself even better at it. Focus on that and be the best you can be at it.

Even Mike’s dad was an extraordinary man who was filled with mercy and compassion—even in war. Mike tells a story he learned about his dad who fought as a young man during World War II. He told about a decision his dad made when he was ordered to shoot a prisoner who surrendered. His dad had mercy and compassion toward him. Does that remind you of anything?

Mike has a great “Been There, Done That” attitude and tells us basically what he has learned in life. He shares great stuff with us in this book! His stories are encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting. Here’s a wonderful concept: He says, “You have to want it more”, but he says more importantly, “You have to want it longer.” What does that remind you of? Keep your eye on the prize. This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone! I give it Five Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris

2011-02-28T17:11:00.000-06:00

I got my March 2011 (and my April 2011) issue of Woman's Day magazine today in the mail and on page 20 of the March issue it has a snippet about a new book titled Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris. I checked my library to see if they have it: They do, but it's in the cataloging department right now. Then I Googled it to see if I could read the first few pages online.

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Well the first thing I found was a blog that was giving away a free copy of the book from the author. I'm jumping up and down with my hand up in the air: I want it! I want it! Do you see me? Please pick me! I want it! :) Alyce is the blogger who is giving away a copy of the book from the author. Alyce's blog can be found at http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/02/giveaway-letters-from-home-by-kristina.html. Her entry deadline is 11:59 PM (Pacific) on Sunday, March 6th, and she will draw a winner on Monday, March 7th. Go to her blog and do what she says to get your name in her drawing. Good luck!

The plot sounds really good. It's based on love letters the author's grandfather, Morgan, wrote to her grandmother during WWII. It says the story opens with Morgan meeting reserved Liz and her two roommates, Julia and Betty. After Morgan goes overseas and begins writing to Betty, Liz--who cant get him off her mind--ghostwrites Betty's responses with her blessing. They soon worry about how Morgan will react when he learns the truth about the letters.

I cant wait to read this book to find out!

The snippet about the book also says to flip to the end for '40's-era recipes and cook them as you read to truely transport you to the women's world. I like to cook, too, so I would love to be a winner of this book!

Find out more about Kristina McMorris and her book Letters From Home at http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/home.php?pg=books.

Crocheted Rainbow Bag

2011-01-26T21:52:00.001-06:00

Here's my latest crochet project, a huge Rainbow Stripped Bag! I got the pattern from Lucy's Attic24 blog, but I lined my bag with a floral fabric.

Here are pictures so you can see how it looked as I made it.

I love this bag, and I've gotten lots of compliments on it. I think it will be my new roomy bag to keep my current crochet projects in and ready to go! :)

Here's a link to Lucy's blog:
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html.

Book Review: Living in the Zone by Kyle Rote Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew

2010-10-24T21:46:00.000-05:00

I loved this book—and I’m a woman! This book is written by and for men—in particular sports orientated men—but most importantly—married men! However, women may find it interesting too!

Here’s a line I thought was interesting:

“Often what you see in your wife as a weakness are really her strengths that have been taken to an extreme.”

Oh, and this one gave me a chuckle:

“It’s easy to find fault in your wives…and if the food tastes terrible, doesn’t she expect total honesty out of you?

Your answer will reveal how long you have been married!”

I might add to this—And your answer may indicate how long you STAY married, too!

I don’t think men have enough spiritual, leadership, and relationship books like this one and I greatly encourage more books like this to be written! Please hurry! I think this book is excellent! We all have a story to tell. Telling a story and listening to a story is the best way to teach, learn and relate with others.

These stories are not second-hand from a counselor and then the counselor’s comments; these stories are first-hand from the “players” point of view. I think this book has a good ratio of stories and bible thoughts and supporting verses, but it’s not overwhelming. The 40-Day reading plan is very manageable: There are only 5-6 pages per day. As you can already tell—I give this book a very high rating and I would definitely recommend it to any man to read individually or as a men’s bible study group! Thank you!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Your Money God’s Way By Amie Streater

2010-10-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

Amie’s 7 Money Myths are basically personality types and how each one views money, spends money, as well as saves money—or not. If you’re looking for a detailed, step-by-step how to get out of debt plan, this book is really not it. However, this book does take a close look at how most people get into debt in the first place—basically, reckless spending. This book is more of a “change your stinking thinking about money” type book. I did enjoy reading the countless entertaining stories of how people have gotten themselves deeply into debt—including hers. Now, don’t take that the wrong way; maybe I should rephrase that. I think Amie has counseled a lot of people and has a lot of interesting stories to tell. More importantly though Amie provides Christian based principles about how to deal with money and debt. At the end of the book Amie provides a short chapter of some tables and solid recommended budgeting strategies to get out of debt. I’ve read so many books though that I’ve read it before, so what really made this book enjoyable for me is her writing style.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

2010-08-24T22:57:00.003-05:00

This book is about Ron Hall, his wife Deborah, and Denver Moore. The story tells about Deborah who feels a calling to help the homeless and she commissions her husband to help as well. Ron is reluctant at first but becomes a willing participant after a while, and he continues her ministry after she dies. Denver is such an inspiration to me! Denver has lived a life of oppression and yet has such a spirit-filled heart. He is full of empathy, forgiveness, and understanding. His thoughts, words, and actions touched my heart and brought me to tears many times. One such instance was where Ron asked Denver if they can be friends and Denver has to think on it a while. Denver finally agrees but he doesn’t take the duty of friendship lightly. I’d like to quote a portion out of the book where he compares friendship to the fishing analogy of “Catch and Release”.

"Catch and release?" I nodded solemnly, suddenly nervous and curious at the same time.

“That really bothers me”, Denver went on. “I just can’t figure it out. ‘Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take it and show it off to everybody that’ll look. Then we eat what we catch…in other words, we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water.”

He paused again, and the silence between us stretched a full minute. Then “Did you hear what I said?”

I nodded, afraid to speak, afraid to offend.

Denver looked away, searching the blue autumn sky, then locked onto me again with that drill-bit stare. “So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”

The world seemed to halt in midstride and fall silent around us like one of those freeze-frame scenes on TV. I could hear my heart pounding and imagined Denver could see it popping my breast pocket up and down. I returned Denver’s gaze with what I hoped was a receptive expression and hung on.

Suddenly his eyes gentled and he spoke more softly than before: “But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”

This brought me to tears! There are so many places in this book where love, forgiveness, mending, and trust are described. Many times throughout the book I was brought to tears. This is a wonderful story of tremendous compassion and love, and it will touch your heart. I would definitely buy this book as well as recommend it to others!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Crocheted Rag Bag Pink

2010-07-10T13:36:00.002-05:00

Crocheted Rag Bag Pink

My finished bag measures 12" wide x 9" tall x 3" deep.

Here are some of the sheets and curtains I bought at Goodwill and found in my linen closet to cut into strips to crochet. I found the Locker Hook Needle at Hobby Lobby for a little over $4.00. I want to use it sometime to work on a Locker Hook Crochet project.

Here's the first piece of material I cut into 1" strips. I used sissors to cut.

Now I have two balls ready.

I started crocheting. I used a size N crochet hook and I made 5 sc (single crochet) wide and 20 rows. Then I just sc around and around.

I went and bought a rotary cutter (because I couldn't find my old one), and I cut up a pink sheet and made several rows of that color. Now I'm ready to change colors again.

I made it about as tall as I wanted now measured off for my handles.

Now here again is my finished product. I didn't line it yet. I don't know if I will or not. I think I might make some more bags and experiment with different colors, hook sizes, and strip widths. I like it, but it's a little heavy though and the stitches are really tight and makes the bag stiff. For a practical purse for myself, I think I'd like it a little bigger and not so stiff....probably a different color too...although I DO like pink. :) I want to look at a color wheel and see what colors might look good together. I'm thinking maybe: (1) Black, Red, White; (2) Red, White, Blue; (3) Black, White, Pink; (4) Race Flag colors--Green, Yellow, Red, Black, Blue, White; (5) Purple and ???....

Book Review: Love on a Dime by Carolyn James Slaughter

2010-06-29T16:42:00.002-05:00

Overall, I enjoyed the novel Love on a Dime by Carolyn James Slaughter. Although it was well written and a very easy read, I don’t think it had a lot of meat to the story, and the ending to the plot was predictable. The force that keeps the reader turning pages is to find out how the true author named, Fannie Cole, is finally revealed, and also how Lilly and Jack finally reunite.

However, that being said, I do think Carolyn did a good job with her first novel. I also liked the cover picture with the beautiful young girl. I thought it was appropriate with the time period of the story. I even liked the cleverness of her own pen name—Cara Lynn James. The plot may have been predictable, but there were a couple of surprises towards the end that were revealed through Jack’s detective work. It got to be a little humorous that Jack showed up EVERY place Lilly went. I wanted Jack to reveal to Lilly what he overheard to make him run away years ago without ever telling her why—unfortunately that didn’t happen. It’s kind of ironic that Lilly herself overheard Jack in a conversation on the phone and she wrongfully thought he was talking about her.

In addition, I did like the Reading Group Guide at the end of the story. Carolyn provided a list of ten thought provoking questions which could be used to think about what you read or to use as a study guide in a reading group.

Typos found:

(1) Page 94: “Vanessa Westbrook strolled into the library as her daughter departed in a swirl of lace and jasmine scent [that was] most becoming.”

(2) Page 106: “Actually it wasn’t, but I wish you wouldn’t gossip about me with my brother. It’s true I’m out ~~every~~ nearly every night, but that’s primarily to please George and Irene—and Mama.” (The extra "every" should be removed...or possibly the author meant to say "late".)

(3) There were one or two more typos, but now I can’t find where I marked them.

I love to read! I read every word, and I'm fairly good at catching those typos that were missed during editing! :)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review and Giveaway: The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

2010-05-15T14:11:00.006-05:00

I absolutely LOVED this book! I thought it was very interesting that Andy actually found a tin can buried under the roots of a tree that he was digging up in his back yard. Inside the can he found what looked like buttons from a military uniform, a ring, a badge, and three pictures. One picture was of a man, woman, and a baby in a wagon. Another picture was of uniformed men on a boat with Adolf Hitler! Andy’s takes us along on his quest to figure out who the family was in the picture and how these items came to be buried in his back yard.

Andy Andrews is an excellent writer and did a wonderful job of researching, talking with the few now old-timers who had firsthand knowledge of what happened in the Gulf of Mexico in 1942-43, and re-telling this amazing story! It's a true story of love, mystery, action, suspense, and forgiveness. What I find very intriguing is that through his research he uncovers a closely guarded secret in history that all American's should know but very few do.

This book has it all—history, mystery, action, adventure, love, sorrow, and forgiveness! I think anyone would love this book!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Free Book Giveaway! ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I received a free copy of this book to give away on my blog. If you would like to win it, help spread the word (you can earn one entry in the drawing for each of the following):

(1) Follow my blog (publically),

(2) Tweet (include @CAMoore97 in the tweet),

(3) Blog about it (include my blog address),

(4) Post this blog to your Facebook wall.

All entries: Leave me a comment telling me that you want to be included in the giveaway and where your link is posted. If your email address is not visible or public in your profile, please leave it in your comment in a format like this: iwanttowin at aol dot com. If I can't reach you, you can't win!

Eligibility: US and Canada Only

Mailing: I will ship via the lowest cost method. Example: US winners will be shipped via Media Mail, and Canada winners will be shipped via First-Class Mail® International Large Envelope.

End date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at 11:59 PM CST

Notification: I will post the winner on this blog AND send an email to the email address used to enter. The winner will then have 48 hours to reply with their mailing information; otherwise, a new winner will be picked. The subject line in the email I send to you will be: "You WON Free Book on DatabaseDesigns4U blog!"

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Book Review: Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O’Neal

2010-03-29T19:39:00.003-05:00

This book is a brief summary of Lucille O’Neal’s life. She is the mother of the infamous NBA basketball superstar, Shaquille O’Neal. She is very honest about her life and her feelings, but I felt there were a lot of things she left unsaid. She tells about her parent’s divorce when she was only three and how her father took her and her two siblings to live with him at his parent's home in New Jersey. She talks about her grandparent's strict Christian upbringing and her desire for a little space and freedom.

Lucille became an unwed mother at the age of eighteen in 1972. She met and married Phillip Harrison two years later. He raised Shaquille as his own and they had three more children together. My heart broke along with hers when she retold an incident of Phil verbally berating her one day. Phil did a head count when he came home from work and the youngest was missing. She had snuck out the door while Lucille was trying to prepare dinner. She was found a short time later, but unfortunately, I believe that instance was the beginning of the end of their 28 year marriage.

In all, I enjoyed this book. It was a fast, easy read and it held my attention. It was written in dialog as if you were sitting next to Lucille listening to her telling her story personally. It was interesting enough that I wanted to know more. I wanted to hear some “words of wisdom” spoken to her by her grandparents. I wanted some actual dialog between her and her children, husband, and parents. I think Lucille will write a second book because I feel she has so much more to share!

As a side note: I found a typo on page 137.

It reads: "For those of who you haven’t experienced this, there’s nothing more numbing than your first child leaving home for college.”

It should read: " For those of you who haven’t experienced this, there’s nothing more numbing than your first child leaving home for college."

I like to proof-read, I read every word, and I could use a little side income! *wink, wink*

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I got a FREE sample of Olay Total Effects Body Wash!

2010-03-24T17:41:00.002-05:00

I got a FREE sample of Olay Total Effects Body Wash! It smells really good! I like it but think it's a little expensive, so I will probably only buy it with a discount coupon or wait for a good sale! Get your free sample, too, at The Frugal Girls--Hurry!

I got a FREE bottle of Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo!

2010-03-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received my FREE 12.6 ounce sample of Pantene Pro-V Smooth Vitality Shampoo in the mail! This is a $5.99 retail value! Plus, they sent me 3 coupons for $2 off any size bottle!

I found this amazing free offer from "The Frugal Girls" on Facebook. Everyday they list different links for free stuff.

A big thank you goes out to Frugal Girls and Pantene! :)

Book Review: Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont

2010-03-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont is a light review of the book of Proverbs. Patsy is a Women of Faith author and speaker who has a heart for the Lord. Through humor and truth God has given her the amazing ability to reach out to millions of women.

The intended audience for this book is busy women, and she builds each chapter around a relevant verse in Proverbs. If you don’t have much time to read, but you’d like something light and entertaining that can be read quickly, then this book is for you! In that way, I think it fulfills its objective very well.

The book is small so it can be carried easily in a woman’s handbag or tote. The chapters are short, and the stories are relevant and entertaining--as is Patsy’s writing style that we’ve come to know and love.

At the end of each chapter are questions and supporting Bible verses. For a further in-depth study of the Proverbs, this book could easily be used either as a small group study or a personal devotion. I enjoyed Patsy’s stories and sense of humor, and I could relate so well with many of the stories!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Lessons I Learned in the Dark by Jennifer Rothschild

2010-02-27T13:09:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I bought Jennifer Rothschild's book titled Lessons I Learned in the Dark. Jennifer is an amazing woman, and I have tremendous respect for her! I saw a video where she talks about all the amazing technology there is now for the blind that helps them read documents and emails. I think that is really cool! :) If you'd like to know more about her, read Jennifer's Bio.

Testing Testing 1-2-3 Testing

2010-02-22T21:38:00.000-06:00

This is a test to see if my Social Networking buttons show up below my post.

Kaleidoscope - Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light By Patsy Clairmont

2010-02-18T06:54:00.001-06:00

I just requested to review Patsy Clairmont's new book titled Kaleidoscope from BookSneeze.

This is a quirky, straight-to-the point look at the Proverbs. In Kaleidoscope of Proverbs, Patsy Clairmont pieces together some powerful messages from God and reveals new facets of beauty, inspiration, and instruction. Written for busy women, Patsy offers brief, powerful chapters that address the key aspects of their lives, hearts, and relationships.

I can't wait to receive it! I just read the first page online and laughed, so I'm sure I'm going to LOVE this book!

What to Say When You Talk to Yourself: Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild

2010-02-15T22:18:00.003-06:00

Q & A with Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Self Talk, Soul Talk

This is posted by permission of Jennifer Rothschild.

What is soul talk?

Over the years, I have gradually learned what to say when I talk to myself, and that has truly made all the difference in my life. After years of struggling beneath the weight of my own slander and lies, I have learned to speak truth into my soul. It’s what I call soul talk.

How does soul talk work?

Everybody practices self talk, but few of us actually take time to think about the things we say to ourselves. The process is so natural we don’t even notice it. Amazingly, much of our self talk is false. The words we say shape the way we think about ourselves. They influence our emotions, our thoughts, and our decisions. They resurface in our conversations with other people. They can spur us on to live meaningful, productive lives, or they can drag us down to lethargy and despair. Soul talk is about replacing the lies you may have been telling yourself with the truth.

What kinds of struggles with self talk have you had personally?

My steady flow of disapproving thoughts and self talk once formed a constant stream. I badgered, nagged, devalued, and said cutting words to myself. At times, all those dark, negative put-downs have felt like a raging river, tossing me mercilessly until I thought I might drown in my own self-condemnation.

What was the physical setback that you faced in your teens?

At the age of 15, I became legally blind due to a disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Even though I received that difficulty with grace and resolve, the extra challenges of the disability and the knowledge that blindness was inevitable brought even more opportunities for me to struggle with negative thoughts and destructive self talk. For me, blindness is a circumstance that opens the door to a host of other bewildering issues. One of the biggest daily realities I face is the stress of not being able to drive, read, or enjoy independence.

What is the paradox of emotions?

If you try to think with your feelings, you’ll fall into all manner of false conclusions. Emotions are supposed to serve and strengthen us. Left to themselves, however, they enslave and deplete us. We need a thought closet well stocked with timeless truth, or we will clothe ourselves with the feelings of the moment.

How important is physical well-being including exercise and healthy eating?

Living a healthy lifestyle is so important to our mental well-being. Never discount the impact of physical wellness on our souls’ wellness. Feelings of despair might really be our bodies’ signal that we need to meet some basic needs. Your body needs adequate rest, healthy food, and moderate exercise.

How important is mental well-being? How can we stimulate this?

Brains like to be challenged. Your mind needs to have something to do, or it will create something to do—something that might not be so constructive. If you don’t fully strengthen your brain, it will wiggle and jiggle itself just to alleviate the dullness and find a channel for all its energy. Spend a few minutes each day reading something that interests and challenges you. Pick up a journal and record your thoughts and questions. Join a book club or audit a class from your local university. Feed your curiosity and you’ll stimulate an enjoyable, insatiable hunger.

How important is our spiritual well-being?

Hopelessness, fear and depression often grow out of unsatisfied longings. C.S. Lewis said, “If I can find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” We can try to fill the longing with relationships, religion, volunteerism, or just being good. But the deep ache from the bottom of our souls can only be satisfied in a relationship with God.

Is it healthy to remember the past? What memories should we revisit?

The real power of any moment is fully realized when it is remembered. The experience might have been painful or pleasant, but its intensity and meaning grow when we remember and reflect upon it. Remembering is essential to the health of our souls. So we must tell our souls to look back often. Memories store great anthologies of stories that tell us who we are. They become intimate reminders of our personal histories. However, tell your soul to look back only at what is profitable. Profitable memories are those that add to your soul wellness rather than subtract from it.

How destructive can fear become in our lives? What’s the alternative?

We can’t ever side with fear, because fear is never on our side. And we can’t let fear and despair shake and intimidate us. Fear betrays; hope never does. Fear and despair make us quiver; hope makes us unshakable. Rather than giving into fear and despair, we tell our souls to hope. Hope will always be on your side, cheering you on and defending you. Hope anchors us because it provides spiritual grounding. Hope brings stability to every part of our being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. We speak the language of hope when we tell our souls to look up.

How can we cope with our busy lifestyles? Where can we find time to rest?

Life is busy. The demands are great, and we seem to have no time for rest. So much of our self-talk is directed at revving ourselves up. Excessive revving up, however, only leads to petering out. Daily we must tell ourselves to chill out. Rest isn’t only for our tired bodies. Weary souls need it too—our wills, our minds, and our emotions. The choice to rest is ours.

How can we press on despite fear and failure?

Steady, small actions will slowly reduce the big feeling that is paralyzing you. Just because you have failed at something does not mean you are a failure. If you quit, the world will be lacking what you alone bring to it. If you continue to feed your feelings of failure and defeat, those dark emotions will grow, creeping across your soul like long winter shadows. But if you begin to starve those feelings, they will slowly die.

How can we become less selfish and “others centered”?

It’s our nature to lift ourselves up, to be egocentric. Looking back at my life, I can say for sure that the most miserable times of my life have been when I was the most self-centered, self-aware and self-promoting. When we tell our souls to get the spotlight off our own preoccupations and onto the needs of others, we reopen the potential for joy in our lives. Only selfless, other-centered people are truly happy. They have learned the all-important key. When we lift others up, we grow stronger, healthier and happier.

Book Review: Where is God? by Dr. John Townsend

2010-02-14T19:47:00.004-06:00

This book is written for anyone experiencing difficulty in their life and wondering why God allowed it to happen. Townsend explains that everyone goes through trials some time in their life, and it’s okay and only natural to ask this question.

He tells us that God didn’t design life to be as difficult as it is, and he offers three reasons why bad things happen and describes different ways of dealing with each situation. He tells us that God loves us and wants a relationship with us but gives us freedom not to choose to love him back: “We are not free to love unless we are free NOT to love.”

I enjoyed John’s insights about suffering and faith drawn from his years of counseling experience as well as Biblical references. He tries to show us that God hurts when we hurt and whether we realize it or not, God is working for good in our life. God wants us to seek Him when we are troubled and He will comfort us. Comfort may be in the form of speaking gently to us, bringing someone into our life to help comfort us, or speaking to us through the Bible.

As a sidenote: I found a typo on page 175.

It reads: "It didn't take long to connect the dots that father was not an word that evoked feelings of expecting good from God."

It should read: "It didn't take long to connect the dots that father was not a word that evoked feelings of expecting good from God."

Hey, I like to proof-read, and I could use a little side income!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Sneeze

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-12T10:45:00.005-06:00

My son, you are SO sweet! We just got the huge box of Valentine's chocolate candy that you sent! Thank you, Sweetie! We Love You! :) Lots of love from your little brother and sister. They think the world of you, Son, and of course, I do too! :)