Frugal Creativity

Friday's Fave Five - and Farewell For Now

2016-08-05T12:17:00.001-04:00

I know, I know: it's been well over a month since I said I would be back. I have been thinking and praying about whether to continue blogging. I'd tentatively decided to stop, and I feel as though the Lord has confirmed that decision more than once. Just this morning I read a quote from Max Lucado about decisions that feel right and fill us with peace. This one does.

I'm not saying that I'll never post here again, but for now I have to take a step back to make time to follow where God is leading me. I truly appreciate all of you, especially those among you who have been so faithful and patient with me.

In Clout, Jenni Catron gives an idea that I really like:

...I created a "what's good" list every morning. It was usually no more than three to five things that were good in my life at that point, such as a project that I completed at work, a friendship that was thriving, and an opportunity that I was pursuing. This exercise allowed me to focus on what was happening in my life and where God was using my gifts and influence for good.

The idea is that, instead of reciting a stale list of blessings, the same every time (family, church family, home, and so on), we focus on the gifts in what's happening right now. It's a perfect fit with Friday's Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. So after all of that, here's my list:

Our Vacation Bible School took place this week, and I helped in the kitchen a few days. It was so exciting to hear 100+ children listening to the Gospel and shouting, "Follow Him!" Less importantly, we tried a new format for snack time, in which one team of campers assembled snacks for all of the campers. The kids loved it!
Yesterday marked five years since my last day of radiation therapy. Praise God we've seen no sign that the cancer has recurred! I'll be on tamoxifen for another week or two, and then it's just follow-up visits with the survivorship doctor.
At VBS earlier this week, I saw a woman I hadn't seen in more than a year. As we were catching up, she said, "It's so good to see you smiling!" I thank the Lord, again, that my depression is under control. She's not the first person who has said that, and I continue to be amazed at the difference that's dramatic enough for friends to comment.
Our church has a weekly email that's similar to what I'd write in a blog post, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to contribute to it. I love that I can write when I feel inspired and not feel pressured to do it all the time. I'm thankful for my pastor who encourages me--in many ways, but specifically--to write.
God has opened another door for me to help women grow in faith, which I believe is what He is calling me to do right now. I don't remember how the conversation started, but a friend and I were talking about discipleship for women. Within days she discovered another sister in Christ who shares that passion. The three of us met and talked about ways to do this, then decided to pray about it until the fall season kicks off in mid-September. It's an exciting opportunity, and these two women are wonderful to work alongside. I am praying for wisdom to do this in a way that glorifies the Lord!

So that's it. My indefinite sabbatical is not because things are bad, but because life is good! I have new and ongoing opportunities to serve the Lord, and I need to "lay down what's good and find what's best" (Jonny Diaz, "Breathe").

Thanks for being here, whether you've been here since the start in April 2009 or today is your first visit!

Taking a Break

2016-03-31T10:54:00.000-04:00

In spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I have not dropped off the face of the earth.

My intention since last fall has been to wrap up my blog commitments, then take a break from blogging. It's not depression and it's not a recurrence of cancer (almost five years cancer-free!). I believe the Lord has been leading me to step back from a few things I've been doing and reprioritize. It's just that I started doing that without saying anything!

I don't know where He will lead me, but I'm praying about it. My One Word for 2016 is Wisdom, and that theme has been right in my face since January!

My plan is to come back in three months (or less) and let you know what's happening. If you're so inclined, please pray that God's leading will be clear to me--not just about blogging, but about all of my life. Thanks, and I hope to see you soon!

Patriots, Redcoats & Spies (Book Review)

2016-03-10T11:10:00.001-05:00

Several years ago our homeschool group had a guest speaker: author Robert J. Skead. He spoke to the kids about writing, autographed some books, and really encouraged reading as well as writing. Both students and parents were blessed by his visit.

Recently I found out that he--with his father, Robert A. Skead--has written a couple of new books, which are historical fiction for kids. The books are set during the American Revolution, on the East Coast. I had the opportunity to read and review them, at no cost to me.

First in the series is Patriots, Redcoats & Spies. The main characters are 14-year-old twins, John and Ambrose Clark, who are drawn into delivering a secret message to General George Washington when their father is shot. As you might expect, travel from Connecticut to New Jersey--for two young teens, in 1777, with hostility between patriots and Brits, patriots and loyalists--is filled with challenges and obstacles. Not the least of these obstacles is being followed by the man who shot their father. The reader gets to accompany the twins on their adventures (but without being chased and shot at!).

The second book I read was a sequel, Submarines, Secrets & a Daring Rescue. In this story John and Ambrose, now 15 years old, are tasked with helping to transport gunpowder to the patriots. Like the first, this mission requires overcoming many challenges. They have to man one of the first submarines (you may have heard of the Turtle) and to attempt a prison break to rescue their older brother.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books! A few highlights for me:

The plots are fast-paced, perfect for kids who like action.
The stories are based on fact, but obviously include some creative elements. I love that the author includes an appendix that separates the facts from the creative changes.
Other appendices offer discussion questions, short biographies of several historical figures who appear in the book, a glossary, and the text of the historical letters described.
The writing style isn't simplified: the authors use strong verbs and well-chosen descriptive words. Every so often you'll encounter a higher-level word for which a younger child might need a definition. (My personal belief is that this is one way that reading helps kids increase vocabulary. Here it's present but not so concentrated that it's a distraction.)
Both books are free of anything offensive, unless you place occasional references to Providence and God in that category or if, you know, you would have sided with the Brits during the war.

I highly recommend both Patriots, Redcoats & Spies and Submarines, Secrets & a Daring Rescue. It's hard for me to say, but I'd think they'd be best as read-alouds for kids from age four or five, independent reading for upper elementary and middle school. I wouldn't give an upper age limit though, because I am ... old enough to have an 18-year-old son ... and I enjoyed the books very much.

For more information on author Robert Skead, click on his name to go to his website. For more information on the books, and to read samples, click on the titles above or the images below.

Disclosure: All Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. If you click through and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

My One Word for 2016: Wisdom

2016-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

"I need wisdom."

Wisdom? I'd asked a sister in Christ, who was terminally ill, how I could pray for her, and that was her reply.

"I need wisdom."

She didn't ask me to pray for supernatural healing, for relief from pain, for endurance, for a lessening of medication side effects. She asked me to pray for wisdom.

That was a few years ago--she has since gone home to the Lord--but it still sticks in my mind.

Lately I've been finding myself praying for wisdom, too. Seems as though I need it in so many areas of my life. That's why I'm choosing Wisdom as my One Word for 2016.

A lot of times I need wisdom to keep from putting my foot in my mouth! As I've been feeling better and become more confident, I've started to speak up more. Now I need to seek wisdom to know when to speak and when to Just. Keep. Quiet.

I need wisdom to know how to handle various situations with an 18-year-old son. Having an adult child is a whole new ball game.

I need wisdom to have the right words to speak the truth in love, especially in delicate situations.

So I'm depending on God's promise in the words of James 1:5-7 (emphasis added):

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

I believe! As I have been asking the Lord--often several times a day--for wisdom, He has been faithful to give it. So my focus for this year is to keep praying with the faith that He will provide all that I need.

Do you have One Word--or a theme--for 2016?

photo credit: Wisdom (62/365) via photopin

Walkers Shortbread - The New "Gingerbread" House! (Review and #Giveaway)

2016-01-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

What do you think of, when you think of Scotland? Cookies might not be my first thought: I'd think of whisky, but we don't purchase or consume that. But Walkers Shortbread? I'll take that any day!

I received an assortment of Walkers Shortbread, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I'd had it before, but I didn't know about all of these shapes! For me, Walkers Shortbread is the gold standard of shortbread: buttery, tender, and just sweet enough.

So, first, a little about the Walkers company and its products:

The company was started in 1898 as a village bakery in the Scottish Highlands. It's still family-owned.
According to Wikipedia (but I can't confirm this), Walkers is Scotland's biggest exporter of food.
Walkers Shortbread is baked with the same recipe that founder Joseph Walker used, with only four ingredients. And though the factory employs modern equipment, the shortbread is still baked in small batches to ensure quality. They're still baked in two small villages, one of which is the original location, and if you go to Scotland, you can visit the original store.
All products contain absolutely no artificial flavoring or coloring and no preservatives.
The products are non-GMO, vegetarian, and kosher, and the butter contains no antibiotics or bovine growth hormones. The dairy cows are even free range and grass fed.

That's the history and the quality measures, so what's new at Walkers? Let me tell you about something really fun.

Walkers has a partnership with the hit Starz show, "Outlander." (If you're a fan of the show, be sure to click through that link for all kinds of cool stuff.) We don't have the Starz channel, so I haven't seen the show, but I've learned that at least the first season is set in the Scottish Highlands. It was a natural for Walkers and "Outlander" to have a tie-in.

What they did is find a baker to create an "Outlander" castle with shortbread. Think of a gingerbread house, but made with shortbread instead. Check out the time lapse video:

This is the finished castle:

Interested in how to make a shortbread castle? It doesn't have to be as complex as the one above! (The full-size image is huge. Click on the image, then enlarge to make the text large enough to read. You might need to right-click to open it in a new tab, then click the image to enlarge it.)

Now you have the chance to win the Walkers Shortbread "Outlander" Assortment box! Just use the Rafflecopter widget to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MARY's secret ingredients Winter Box (Review and #Giveaway) @msifoodiesbox

2016-01-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

Yay! Another surprise box from MARY's secret ingredients! I received this box at no cost to me--and when you get to the end of this post, you'll have a chance to win one of your own!

I've written about the summer and fall boxes from MSI. (Click through the links in the previous sentence to read the reviews.) For now, here is the description of MARY's secret ingredients:

MARY's secret ingredients is a limited edition culinary surprise subscription box containing unique, gourmet products you've probably never heard of, along with a small kitchen tool, delivered right to your door. Every season, a limited number of curated boxes are filled with lovely surprises to inspire your cooking. Mary creates custom recipes using each product and emails them to you. We are in partnership with Feed The Children to end global hunger.

This is the Winter Box that I received ...

... and these are my own unboxing/sampling pics:

Inside the box

Cover of the booklet with product information

According to The Little Book of Ingredients, this Winter Herb Blend is a delicious mix of white peppercorns, thyme, oregano, savory, tarragon, sage, and a few other spices. It can be used on chicken or veggies. It's from RawSpiceBar, a subscription service which I've reviewed in the past. I haven't tried this blend yet.

From Just Cook Foods comes this Herbed Coffee Rub. The cute little tin (it's 3.2 ounces, not really that small) holds a blend of brown sugar, coffee, kosher salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, chipotle, thyme, sage, and molasses. The mixture is light brown, and the aroma that stands out to me is cumin. The label says it's good on pork, beef, and lamb. I'm thinking I'll try it first on pork!

Laiki is a rice cracker with only three ingredients: rice, oil, and salt. They're naturally gluten-free, vegan, and allergen friendly. Each package contains about 16 pieces (about one square inch each) and 100 calories. My initial sensory response started at light-textured, then went to salty, crunchy, and finally oily. I wasn't a fan when I first tasted them, but when I tried them again, I liked them more. I can see these crackers being good for someone who's watching calories but looking for a snack that's crispy and slightly salty (80 mg per serving). What I don't love is that the oil is (sustainably farmed) palm oil, which gives each serving 4.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of which is saturated.

This Pistachio Rawbar from Nutraw Snacks was gone so quickly that I didn't even get to take notes on what my family thought of it! I do remember that it was quite sweet (presumably from the dates), and that I liked it more than my husband and son did. According to the booklet, it's the first and only 100% raw pistachio bar, and it's made with just five organic raw ingredients: pistachios, dates, almonds, coconut oil, and cardamom. Similar to the rice crackers, it contains an oil that adds 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of which is saturated.

Okay, serious fun and yumminess here. Michel et Augustin (two kooky cookies) at the Banana Farm make these Cookie Squares--"actually, rectangles ;)" as the package says. The dark chocolate variety is a good crisp shortbread cookie filled with a fudgy dark chocolate center. We liked the texture, though we found no noticeable salt grains from the "pinch of sea salt." My husband thought that the chocolate flavor overpowered the cookie, while my son preferred this one and said he would purchase it.

The cookie with milk chocolate was also crisp, more of a graham cookie than a shortbread. The filling is fudgy with a mild caramel flavor blended in. In this one I could taste the little bit of sea salt. This cookie was not what I'd expected, but I really like it!

Finally we come to the Rose of the Dolomites candies from Loacker. These rose-shaped chocolates are filled with a light creamy hazelnut-studded filling. We very much liked the filling, especially in combination with the thin, light, crisp wafer on the bottom. Both white and dark chocolates are high quality. The only drawback was that the dark chocolate kind of overpowered the subtler flavor of the filling. We liked both flavors, but the combination was out of balance.

So no kitchen gadgets in the Winter Box, but six fun and delicious new food items! Opening this surprise box is always a blast, and I get no complaints from my family when I ask them to try new foods and give their input!

So you remember I said that you'll have a chance to win a MARY's secret ingredients surprise box of your own, right? It won't be the same box I received, because then it wouldn't be a surprise. Instead, one reader will get the Spring Box, which begins shipping on March 26.

About MARY's secret ingredients:

This spring, MARY's secret ingredients is offering a great surprise collection of unique gourmet food products and kitchen tools you've never heard of that will inspire you to cook delicious meals. Need help with the recipes? Mary's special recipes using each product from the box are emailed to you after delivery.

Entering is super-easy. Click through this link and fill out a very short form for MARY's secret ingredients. They're taking entries through Friday January 15. After that I'll draw a winner and MARY's will contact that lucky person to get shipping details. Can it get easier than that?

Have fun and good luck!

Quiet, but Still Here

2015-12-22T08:20:00.000-05:00

image credit

Usually when I'm quiet on the blog, it's because I'm struggling with medical issues. This time, however, it's exactly the opposite.

Everything is great!

After at least ten years of constant pain, I am nearly pain-free! A long and winding road led me to a physical therapist who is amazingly good at what she does.

She released years' worth of tension in my neck and shoulders and she taught me exercises to strengthen my upper back. She did something called craniosacral therapy; the online description sounds kind of New Age-y, but I can't deny its effectiveness.

So the past couple of months have been hectic, since I've been going to appointments. But I'm also seeing great improvement with respect to my depression. I hadn't realized that chronic pain could be so debilitating.

Anyway, I've been away from the blog because my schedule has been busy, but also because I've been feeling better. You see, for years I was unable to do a lot of things that I wanted to do. Now that I can, I am! Not all of those things are fun--I've been trying to catch up on housecleaning--but it's wonderful to be able to do them.

We hosted Thanksgiving for the first time in years.

I've learned to bake a mean apple crumb pie.

I've been cleaning house and actually having fun with my new vacuum cleaner.

I've been making greeting cards to keep on hand for whatever occasions arise.

So for the few of you who are still here, I didn't want you to think I'd vanished. Thanks for sticking around!

I'll be back online, but in case it's not in the next week or so ... Have a beautiful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

Passage at Delphi (Book Review)

2015-11-10T08:37:00.000-05:00

Passage at Delphi, by A.K. Patch, is historical fiction written with a different spin. I had the opportunity to read it, at no cost to me, for review purposes.

As always, I'll first give you the official synopsis. This is from Amazon, and it's somewhat different from the back cover material:

The lives of history and ancient language professors, Lauren and Zack Fletcher, have been upended in ways neither could imagine in this epic adventure tale that takes readers from sunny San Diego to the stunning vistas of ancient and modern day Greece. The Fletchers carry on their academic lives with relative ease but they are splintered by their contention over career goals and starting a family. Now, unbeknownst to them, they’ve been drafted to take part in events that will span millennia and decide the course of mankind’s future. Lauren and Zack have been propelled into an ancient Greek war, forcing them to confront a past that is both familiar and terrifying. To return home, they must overcome warfare on a massive scale, set aside their recent marital discord, and find within themselves the wisdom to navigate treacherous routes of survival. Dreams will be dashed and others realized as Lauren and Zack negotiate a dangerous dance of cultural wonder, calculated risk, and unintended consequences.

Chapter 1 is set in present-day Delphi, Greece, and it sets up what is to happen. (I was glad that the author included maps of the region, because I didn't know the relative locations in which the story takes place!) Chapter 2, set in present-day San Diego, California, introduces us to Zack and Lauren. By Chapter 8, through a series of events, the couple is transported to ancient (480 B.C.) Delphi. That's the setting for much of the storyline.

The copyright page describes the book this way:

This is a work of fiction based on actual persons in historical context. Other names, characters, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

Most of the historical fiction I've read doesn't include real persons interacting with fictional characters. Most also doesn't include time travel, and Passage at Delphi uses time travel both backward and forward.

It's a secular book, and it contains some some profanity, rough language, and uses of the name of God in vain. The occurrences aren't frequent, maybe once every five or ten pages. You can decide whether that's acceptable for you or not.

Thoughts and observations:

This was one of those "Just one more chapter before I turn out the light" books for me. (And then, because some of the chapters are very short, "Okay, one more!")
I didn't know the history, but narration and dialogue filled that in. I didn't love the way the main characters seemed to explain ancient history to each other. They both knew it, so wouldn't have had to spell it out; however, it serves to inform the reader.
While Greek mythology isn't the main part of the book, the god Apollo is a central character in the story.
The major theme is foreshadowed in the preface with a reference to a virtue carved into the forecourt of Apollo's temple at Delphi: "Know Thyself." Zack and Lauren encounter many situations that force them to be tested, to uncover their core beliefs, and to make choices about what really matters.
The ending begs for a sequel. No surprise, since this is Book I of the author's Apollo Series.

Links for more information:

Website of author A.K. Patch (read the first three chapters, the author's bio, his blog, and more)
Follow author Allan Patch on Twitter
Like author A.K. Patch on Facebook
Order Passage at Delphi on Amazon.com (my affiliate link*)

* If you click through my Amazon affiliate link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

Seeing in the Dark (Book Review)

2015-10-24T12:08:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. All opinions in this post are my own.

Thanks to the Tyndale Blog Network, I had the opportunity to read Seeing in the Dark: finding God's light in the most unexpected places, written by Nancy Ortberg.

Here's the description from the back cover:

Christians are supposed to be "the light of the world." Yet we seem to spend most of our time stumbling in the dark. We want answers carved in stone, and instead we get uncertainty. We want a clearly marked path and a panoramic view of the future, and God gives us only fleeting glimpses of what lies ahead―and just enough light to take the next step.

So what do we do?

We do what thousands of Christ followers have done before us. We take the next step.

In her much anticipated follow-up to Looking for God, Nancy Ortberg takes readers on a journey that began thousands of years ago. From an ancient cave in Turkey to the California coast, Nancy highlights the often unexpected, sometimes imperceptible, yet always extraordinary means God uses to light our way through even the most painful and challenging moments in life.

With personal experiences and historical examples, the author tells of people who have been in the dark: unable to see what lies ahead and, often, doubting that God is paying attention to what's happening. With wisdom learned and with scripture, she offers hope. Here's a passage from Chapter 7:

I--we--sit at the feet of those who have lived in the darkness. Most of them, too, had periods of resistance, or at least wishing it weren't that way. But they stayed. And the way they emerged on the other side of the darkness contained so much light that we are torn between needing to look at them and needing to look away. Noble, stirring, courageous, lovely--the way a soul should look, but we forget it can and what it takes.

"My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). On the cross Jesus despaired over where the light had gone. The light he was so familiar with. The light that was in him, the light that was him.

But three days later came his resurrection. A light that the world had never before seen, the strongest light that will ever be....

I see the chapters as writings that could stand alone, rather than as a single cohesive unit. That's neither good or bad, just a subjective observation.

I'd rate Seeing in the Dark as solidly okay. (It's very uncomfortable for me not to be positive, but I have to be honest.) I've read quite a few books on the topic of getting through difficult times and the perceived absence of God, so maybe my reaction is different from what yours would be. Perhaps because I've read so many other books on this, I didn't find much new content here. The stories and examples are, of course, new to me, but the assurances are not.

Links for more information:

Another disclosure: Amazon.com links in this post are my affiliate links. If you click through and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

Mary's secret ingredients Fall Box @MSIfoodiesbox (Review)

2015-10-13T08:15:00.000-04:00

Back in July I wrote about the summer box from Mary's secret ingredients. It was so much fun!

Now I have the opportunity to review the fall box (at no cost to me), and I'm eager to share it with you.

In case you missed the first review, I'm copying the description of the seasonal boxes from Mary's secret ingredients. As of this writing, the prices are unchanged.

Have you heard of Mary's secret ingredients (MSI)? The website describes the service this way:

MARY’s secret ingredients is a limited edition culinary surprise box containing unique gourmet, artisanal products along with handy kitchen tools. Every season, a limited number of themed boxes filled with lovely surprises to inspire your cooking are delivered right to your door. Mary shares mouthwatering recipes using each box’s ingredients on the LOVE – the secret ingredient blog.

So four times a year, the team at Mary's secret ingredients assembles a collection of natural, gourmet foods as well as small kitchen tools. On the company website you can see the contents of previous boxes, but each season the boxes are entirely different. As I'm writing this, each box sells for $25.95, or you can get a one-year subscription for $103.80. (Those prices include shipping in the continental US.)

Now that you know the idea, I'll share with you the fun of unboxing the surprises! This is what you see when you open the shipping box. Looks prettier than most of the packages I gift-wrap! :) I didn't peek at the insert papers, because I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

The first item we (my son and I) uncovered was this picture:

This 5x7 print is on cardstock, so it's suitable for use as a postcard, or it could be framed as wall art. The original pastel drawing was done by Mary, and it shows some of the produce from her own garden.

Next up, this two-pack of jellies adorned with a small stirring spoon.

Jenkins Jellies specializes in "pepper jellies with a REAL KICK!" Their jellies are made in small batches with fresh ingredients. no preservatives, and no artificial ingredients. The jar on the left is Hell Fire Pepper Jelly, the company's original and best selling jelly. It's made with seven fresh hot and sweet peppers, and it's described as "sweet-n-savory." The jar on the right is Guava Brava Pepper Jelly, which combines Hell Fire with the flavor of guava.

I had to try these so I could tell you about them. For each I tasted it straight from the jar and I put a little, maybe half a teaspoon, on a tortilla chip. (I didn't have any saltines or other mild-flavored crackers.)

Hell Fire is definitely hot. It has a little sweetness up front and a lot of heat in the middle and on the back side. (Does that make sense?) Even a few minutes after eating it, I could still feel the heat. On the tortilla chip it was really, really good! The flavors combine well (sweet, hot, AND salty!) and I'd just add a little bit of something creamy to offset the heat. Maybe top some plain cream cheese with the jelly, or serve it with sour cream. I wouldn't premix either of those, because it wouldn't look nearly as pretty. This jelly could easily become an addiction.

Guava Brava does, as advertised, have more sweetness up front, and the heat wasn't as powerful. It was good on the tortilla chip, but not quite as tasty as Hell Fire. I think I'd rather have this on a plain cracker, maybe with a thin slice of cheese.

Sarah's Sea Salt is made by Coastal Goods, a small, family-run company that specializes in seasonings. Sarah is one of the founders so I would imagine that Sarah's Sea Salt (Tuscan Salt) is named for her. It's described as "a medium grain Mediterranean Sea Salt blended with a classic mix of dried Italian herbs, tomato flecks, lemon peel, and rosemary oil." When I opened the jar, I got the aroma of rosemary and maybe thyme. (I don't use thyme, so I'm not certain.)

I would have expected Sarah's Sea Salt to be mostly salt with some other flavors. However, it looks like this ...

... so I think it contains much more of the herbs than salt. The texture blend makes it look appealing, and I'm thinking it might look and taste good with olive oil on crusty bread.

The fourth item was Ultragrain All-Purpose Flour. Unlike regular AP flour, this contains 30% Ultragrain whole wheat flour. According to the product information, you can substitute it cup-for-cup in recipes without sacrificing taste.

I haven't tried this. At first I wasn't sure how it differed from white whole wheat flour. This is my understanding of the difference: Both Ultragrain and white whole wheat flour are made from white wheat, rather than red. Ultragrain also sells a 100% Ultragrain Whole White Wheat Flour. The AP blend that I received combines 30% Ultragrain with 70% traditional white flour. That would make it softer (lower in gluten), so it's better for baking foods that you want to be tender: cakes, muffins, pancakes, and so on. (Flours with more gluten are better for crusty, chewy breads, so I'd use the 100% Whole White Wheat flour for that.) The blend lets you add whole grain and fiber without compromising taste or texture.

And finally, we have a set of POURfect Ultimate Measuring Spoons with Leveler Tool.

We all have measuring spoons, so what's the difference? For one thing, these "are the only Made in USA, 100% accurate spoons that snap off one at a time, have markings in English, Metric, and Braille, and are comfortable to hold." For another, the set includes some sizes that aren't common, such as 1-1/2 teaspoons and 1/3 teaspoon (especially handy when dividing a recipe)--and spoons to measure a dash, a pinch, a smidgen, and a drop (along with their equivalents in English, Metric, and Braille). These are pretty neat, particularly for a new cook who might not know the difference between a dash and a pinch. I can't imagine trying to measure a liquid--say, vanilla--into the "drop" spoon, but I think the others could be useful. Oh, and they come in several different colors! Mine look white in the photo, but they're light blue.

I like that the spoons easily snap on and off the ring; that makes them easier to use and to wash. I don't see an indication that these are dishwasher safe. The handles are too wide to fit into the flatware slots of my dishwasher, but (shhhh) sometimes I just rinse measuring spoons, anyway.

Winter boxes, which will contain a completely different set of products, start shipping on December 5. I think this would make a great Christmas gift!

For more information on Mary's secret ingredients and the individual products I've described, visit the MSI website. (Click on Marketplace/Partners to read about the products.) You can also connect with Mary's secret ingredients on YouTube, on Twitter, on Pinterest, and on Facebook.

Mielbio Organic Italian Honey (Review)

2015-10-06T12:33:00.000-04:00

So you know that, not long ago, I told you about Dolcedi, the new sweetener from Rigoni di Asiago. While I was looking at the company website, I noticed some organic Italian honeys, available in quite a few flavors. I had the opportunity to try them, at no cost to me.

I chose three flavors of Mielbio Organic Italian Honey, all creamy. These are slightly more spreadable than the honey I'm used to, though it still flows.

The Rigoni di Asiago website says this about all of the Mielbio varieties:

Rigoni di Asiago honey is collected from selected Italian beehives. A natural food par excellence, honey requires careful processing to maintain its toning, vitalizing and soothing properties. Defined as “raw” honey because it is cold-processed (patented by Rigoni di Asiago) it is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and organic acids as well as natural antibacterial and antibiotic properties. Regular in-house inspections and independent certification authorities check the honey to guarantee the entire line from collection to the jar.

I'll start with my least favorite, which was Lime Honey. The label on my jar indicates that it's a Limited Edition, but the image on the Rigoni di Asiago website doesn't. The lime flavor--which I usually like--just didn't work for me. The sharp aftertaste reminded me of cough syrup. But keep reading: the other two flavors are far better!

My "medium favorite" (far above Lime and close to my favorite) was Orange Blossom Raw and Creamy Honey. Of the three, this has the most subtle citrus flavor. I tasted it straight from the jar and on my (sesame seed) bagel. I'd describe the flavor as having more depth than typical honey. The mild orange note--plus another that I can't identify--makes it more interesting than most other honeys.

And my favorite is the one pictured above: Mandarin Honey. This is produced by 26 bee colonies from pollen from Mandarin fruit, which we usually call Clementines. (I never knew that Mandarin fruit and Clementines are the same thing!) The orange flavor is more pronounced than in the Orange Blossom honey, but it's a more complex flavor than you'd get directly from the fruit. And it's not at all like orange-flavored candies: I'm a fan of orange jelly beans, but this is a completely different (more grown-up) taste!

I stirred a spoonful of this into my coffee (with milk) one morning ... then the next morning ... and the next. The orange flavor combined with the coffee was something special, and somehow the honey cut the bitterness of the coffee in a way that sugar doesn't. I also tried it straight from the jar and on my bagel, which were both very good. But the result of the coffee experiment was more surprising, in the best way possible.

Mielbio Mandarin Honey is definitely a Limited Edition flavor (you can read its whole bio), and it's available only at Whole Foods Market.

For more information, see the Mielbo Organic Italian Honey website.

You Can Do Anything Better Than Me (Five Minute Friday)

2015-09-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

I didn't think I'd have time to write for Five Minute Friday this week, which is amusing because it's just five minutes, right? But when I saw that the prompt is doubt, I knew I had to go for it.

START

Do you know about the four temperaments?

I am undoubtedly classified as melancholic. The short description is this: "Melancholic people are emotionally sensitive, perfectionistic introverts."

That pretty much says it. Both "emotionally sensitive" and "perfectionistic" play into self-doubt. Last week, during an icebreaker exercise, group members were asked to list three things we're really good at. Any idea how hard that is for someone with a melancholic temperament?

Well, I like to bake, but I know people who are better than I am. I like to write, but I know a lot of people who are better than I am.

The leader of the activity changed the question to "List three things you like to do," and that I can answer.

But I am often doubting myself. I second-guess my decisions and I question my abilities. "Is it good enough?" is often in my mind, and it's hard to say Yes, it's good enough!

I forget which show it's from, but I know a show tune that goes, "Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you." I don't think anyone with a melancholic temperament has ever said that!

STOP

If you feel like taking the Four Temperaments test and you're willing to share your result in the comments, I'd love to hear it! Have a blessed weekend!

photo credit: via photopin (license)

Hope is Always a Reason to Celebrate

2015-09-18T14:20:00.001-04:00

Five Minute Friday! This hasn't been the best week. However, since the prompt for this five-minute free write is celebrate, I'm going to focus on our reasons to celebrate!

START

This week we have two reasons to celebrate.

First, I saw the breast surgeon and got a good report. I don't need to see her again for a full year. I'm about four years post-diagnosis, and every milestone is a reason to celebrate!

Second, I talked with another of my doctors this morning. I have had pain in my jaw--all day, every day--for ... I don't know, but it's been more than five years. Doctors have tried things, dentists have tried things, and the oral surgeon sees nothing wrong with the structure of my jaw.

Anyway, this doctor I talked with today has a new idea. She recommended a doctor (who, of course, is not in-network with our insurance) who she thinks can help. Just the possibility gives me hope, and hope is always a reason to celebrate!

Not even at the end of my five minutes, but anything else I would write would just be babbling. So I'll

STOP here.

The Man Who Closed the Asylums (Book Review)

2015-09-15T08:03:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. All opinions in this post are my own.

The Man Who Closed the Asylums: Franco Basaglia and the Revolution in Mental Health Care, written by John Foot, is dramatically different from any book I've ever reviewed. I don't quite know what to say about it. First, though, the publisher's blurb:

When the wind of the 1960s blew through the world of psychiatry

In 1961, when Franco Basaglia arrived outside the grim walls of the Gorizia asylum, on the Italian border with Yugoslavia, it was a place of horror, a Bedlam for the mentally sick and excluded, redolent of Basaglia’s own wartime experience inside a fascist gaol. Patients were frequently restrained for long periods, and therapy was largely a matter of electric and insulin shocks. The corridors stank, and for many of the interned the doors were locked for life. This was a concentration camp, not a hospital.

Basaglia, the new Director, was expected to practise all the skills of oppression in which he had been schooled, but he would have none of this. The place had to be closed down by opening it up from the inside, bringing freedom and democracy to the patients, the nurses and the psychiatrists working in that “total institution.”

Inspired by the writings of authors such as Primo Levi, R.D. Laing, Erving Goffman, Michel Foucault and Frantz Fanon, and the practices of experimental therapeutic communities in the UK, Basaglia’s seminal work as a psychiatrist and campaigner in Gorizia, Parma and Trieste fed into and substantially contributed to the national and international movement of 1968. In 1978 a law was passed (the “Basaglia law”) which sanctioned the closure of the entire Italian asylum system.

The first comprehensive study of this revolutionary approach to mental health care, The Man Who Closed the Asylums is a gripping account of one of the most influential movements in twentieth-century psychiatry, which helped to transform the way we see mental illness. Basaglia’s work saved countless people from a miserable existence, and his legacy persists, as an object lesson in the struggle against the brutality and ignorance that the establishment peddles to the public as common sense.

The Man Who Closed the Asylums took me a long time to read. It's nearly 400 pages long and quite detailed. At first I was fascinated with the story; after a while I was overwhelmed with the length and level of detail. I'm not at all saying that it's a bad book--I think the research and the writing are very good--but that it's probably suited for a small audience.

I expected to read more about the conditions within the asylums and how those were addressed directly before the institutions were closed. Instead, this book is more about interactions among mental health professionals and politicians. A lot of doctors and politicians: after a while I couldn't keep track of their names, much less who were allies, who disagreed with whom, and who supported which solution.

The research is meticulous and impeccable. References are provided in footnotes. I'm inclined to think that this book is the most deeply researched and detailed account of Franco Basaglia and the movement to close the mental asylums in Italy. So I can't make a clear-cut recommendation: I think it's an excellent book, but it's not for everyone.

(This Amazon.com link is an affiliate link. If you click through and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!)

Same, Not the Same

2015-09-11T11:29:00.000-04:00

Not us

Five Minute Friday! Let's get right to it:

START

When my sister and I were little, people thought we were twins. That didn't last, but if you saw us both, you'd definitely know that we're sisters.

We haven't always had a good relationship. I remember times when we were kids and had terrible fights. Some of them we can laugh about now, and some, we just don't talk about.

At the time, I think she was generally more forgiving than I was. Even when we were mutually mad about something, she'd help me when I needed it. She let it go when I accidentally damaged one of her art projects (after it had been graded).

Things didn't get better when we were in high school, but after we moved away from home, we got to be friends. We'd exchange letters that were more than fluff. We spent time together when we didn't have to.

In some ways we're the same. We were both stay-at-home moms when we had babies. We've both married good men. We think alike on many things.

But in other ways we're completely different. If we met for the first time today, I'm not sure whether we'd be friends. First, our paths probably wouldn't cross. But if they did, I think we'd find that we had little in common on the surface. If we didn't take time to get to know each other, I'd be missing out on a treasure. I'm thankful that we were born sisters, so she has always been in my life.

STOP

And this time I am not going to take a few extra minutes to wrap it up!

Click through this link for more Five Minute Friday, and have a fabulous weekend!

photo credit: _B118537.JPG via photopin (license)

Rise: Bold Strategies to Transform Your Church (Book Review)

2015-09-10T14:18:00.001-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to review (at no cost to me) Rise: Bold Strategies to Transform Your Church by Cally Parkinson with Nancy Scammacca Lewis. As always, first I'll share the publisher's synopsis of the book:

Every church has a next step for spiritual growth.

Is your congregation engaged in an on-fire relationship with Jesus and His work in the world? For ten years, REVEAL research has been the gold standard for measuring spiritual vitality based on its unprecedented database of 500,000 congregants attending 1,800 diverse churches across America. Now in Rise, REVEAL researchers offer new comprehensive data—and encouragement from churches in the trenches—to help church leaders gain clear and practical insights about strategic pathways that will enable spiritual growth.

A must-read for pastors, lay leaders, and anyone wanting to help their church cultivate tangible spiritual growth, Rise offers research-based evidence that shows all churches fall into one of eight “archetypes.” Rise will help leaders:

Identify which archetype fits their church.
Create spiritual-growth strategies based on real-life case studies.
Implement sound strategies with insights on what works best for churches in the same archetype.
God calls the church to vibrant relationship and kingdom work. If you desire to see your church answer His call with renewed passion, join with thousands of other churches and Rise.

A year or two ago, our church participated in the REVEAL survey. So when I saw Rise available for review, I was interested in reading what REVEAL researchers have learned from the collective data gleaned from ten years of analyzing survey responses.

Rise opens with a chapter about what the survey data has uncovered. Using two main categories--people and their place on the spiritual continuum, and the church and how it helps people advance on that continuum--the researchers identified eight church styles, or archetypes.

I like the Spiritual Continuum, which has four stages from Exploring Christ to Christ-Centered. Even more, I like the defined catalysts that move people from one stage to the next.

Factors about the church overall include its scores for the five Best Practices, which are actions (e.g., Create Ownership) that help advance spiritual growth. No doubt, these concrete steps will help church leaders create a plan to help their congregants advance through the continuum.

Most of the book--Chapters 2 through 8--covers the church archetypes, from the Troubled Church to the Vibrant Church. Each chapter describes an archetype, but besides simply listing its weaknesses, the authors highlight its hope--the likely remedy for those weaknesses. Each chapter also contains a case study of a particular church: how the leadership addressed the areas that needed growth and how the church has changed since its initial REVEAL survey.

The final chapter summarizes and gives specifics for the Best Practices. For example, Create Ownership can take the form of Small Group Build-up, "Living It" Campaigns, and/or Lay Leaders with Big Jobs. The authors continue on to describe each strategy and suggest which ones are best suited to move each archetype forward.

The Appendix provides the research methodology and data in a more technical format.

I like Rise, and I could see the churches we've attended in some of the archetype descriptions. While the book could be interesting for congregants, I think it would be most valuable for church leaders whose congregations have not yet taken the REVEAL survey. For churches whose congregants would not be willing to participate in the survey, Rise could give leadership an idea of how to progress into a stronger church.

Click to read the first chapter of Rise.

Note: This Amazon link is my affiliate link. If you click through and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

Disclosure: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network program.

Just Say YES (Five Minute Friday)

2015-09-04T10:03:00.001-04:00

It's Five Minute Friday! This week, I have to admit that the Friday part of that is most appealing, but I'm also glad it's FMF.

Not my preparation, but it's similar

START

I was going to tell you a story about a time recently when the Lord led me to say Yes to something that's way, way outside my comfort zone. But I've alluded to that before, so I decided to go with something that happened more recently. It's not nearly as spiritual!

My husband was celebrating a major birthday. Now, for my birthday, I want to go out for dinner. He wants to have a special dinner at home. No sloppy joes or macaroni and cheese this day. I had a few ideas that were indulgent, and I decided to say Yes to those.

He wanted steak. Okay. I wanted to do more, though, because it's such a special occasion. We've been looking around for fresh scallops, and we just found a seafood market where everything is perfectly fresh. The scallops aren't soaked in preservatives, they're fresh off the boat (right here in New Jersey), and they cost the same as the slimy ones at the grocery store.

I also decided to make an appetizer that he probably hasn't had since our wedding: sausage-stuffed mushrooms. I do not like mushrooms, and the smell turns my stomach, but I did it anyway. Just my luck, the mushrooms have to be baked twice (before assembly and after). Ugh.

So on his birthday, I baked a chocolate cake. My son and I went to the seafood market, where we got the most beautiful scallops I'd ever seen. Large, pure white, and caught that morning.

STOP

I'm out of time already! The dinner turned out great. My husband was very, very happy to have his sausage-stuffed mushrooms, steak, scallops, and chocolate cake. (Lest you think we have an abundance of money, let me tell you that this was a one-time thing!) It was a ton of work, but his happiness made it more than worthwhile!

photo credit: JOH_4930 via photopin (license)

Mary's Secret Ingredients #Giveaway

2015-09-02T08:19:00.000-04:00

You may remember that in July I wrote about the summer box from Mary's secret ingredients. That was fun! And now YOU have the opportunity to win the fall mystery box!

It's very easy, but it's a little different from our usual giveaway format. Mary's secret ingredients is accepting the entries until September 14. After that I'll draw a winner at random. Mary's will be in touch with the winner to get shipping information, etc.

This giveaway is over. Congratulations to Corinne T.! Enjoy your surprise box, Corinne!

Keep reading for more information about the product, or hop over to enter here.

In case you don't remember what Mary's secret ingredients is, click through this summer box link or just keep reading.

The box pictured here is the one I received, but you'll get a completely different assortment of products.

MARY’s secret ingredients is a limited edition culinary surprise box containing unique gourmet, artisanal products along with handy kitchen tools. Every season, a limited number of themed boxes filled with lovely surprises to inspire your cooking are delivered right to your door.

So four times a year, the team at Mary's secret ingredients assembles a collection of natural, gourmet foods as well as small kitchen tools. On the company website you can see the contents of previous boxes, but each season the boxes are entirely different.

If you're stumped about how to use the products, help is easy to find. A booklet about the products is enclosed in the box. Recipes are available on the Mary's secret ingredients blog. And more recipes will be emailed to you after the box is shipped.

Like it? Love it? Here's where you can enter the giveaway!

NEW Dolcedi Sweetener (Review)

2015-09-01T08:15:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to be able to tell you about this brand new product. I mean really, really brand new--as in, today is its launch day in the United States. I received a sample, at no cost to me, so I could try it out and tell you about it.

Dolcedi (pronounced dohl-che-DEE) is a new kind of sweetener from Rigoni di Asiago. You might remember that I once told you about two of their other products: Nocciolata--the all-natural organic hazelnut and cocoa spread--and Fiordifrutta fruit spreads.

These are my favorite unique things about Dolcedi:

Made from 100% organic apples
25% lower in calories than table sugar
Very soluble in hot or cold drinks
Low glycemic index

I love, love, love sugar, but the sugar buzz (blood sugar spike) and the ensuing blood sugar crash aren't good things for me. Glycemic index (GI), which measures how quickly the body breaks down carbohydrates, is generally linked to the rate at which blood sugar increases. (I am not a nutritionist. I just like to read.) So the lower GI of Dolcedi, as compared to table sugar, means that the carbs are broken down more slowly, which reduces that spike in blood sugar. (Again, I am not a nutritionist.) I try to look for foods with lower GI for this reason.

Dolcedi is syrupy: it looks similar to light corn syrup but isn't as thick. When I tasted a little bit of it straight from the bottle, I noticed a very slight apple flavor. Mixed with anything, though, the flavor is purely sweet.

So I tried adding it to my morning coffee. As far as I could tell, it dissolved instantly. I'm thinking it will be great for iced coffee ... no more leaving the sugar crystals at the bottom of the glass! And the taste is just like sugar.

Unlike some other sweeteners, Dolcedi is supposed to be good for baking. I had to check that out. (See what lengths I'll go to give you a thorough review?) I didn't want to use up my sample to make a whole cake, so I made a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough mug cake.

That's a pretty good recipe, but more to the point, it was better when I used Dolcedi than when I used sugar. I think the added moisture from Dolcedi kept the cake from getting tough.

I didn't find anything that I didn't like about Dolcedi. If you'd like more information, see these links:

Dolcedi product page (USA website)
Dolcedi product page (UK website, with more detail)
Rigoni di Asiago (USA) on Facebook
Rigoni di Asiago USA on Twitter

Isolation: Don't Go There (Five Minute Friday) #fmfparty

2015-08-28T09:13:00.001-04:00

Isolation is not a pretty place to be.

Especially when you're in the dark.

Yet depression often forces us into exactly that place.

The irony is that we want to be alone, to crawl into a corner and hide from the world. At the same time, what's best for us is just the opposite.

When depression strikes, I find it hard to think clearly. My instinct is to pull up the covers and stay in bed all day. Why wallowing in the bad feelings, letting them steal my day, sounds appealing, I don't know. Well, yes, I kind of do. That's the depression talking: Be alone with me.

Wallowing in misery is the absolute worst thing to do, though. I need to get out among people, or at least reach out by phone. I need someone to remind me of the promises of God. I need someone not to appease me by saying, "It'll be okay," but to remind me that God is still in control, no matter what's happening and where I am.

I can't do it alone. I need God--His strength, His wisdom, His unfailing love. And when I can't see Him, I need good friends to remind me that He is always, always with me.

I wrote this in five minutes in response to the prompt ALONE in Five Minute Friday. Click through the link below to see more FMF.

photo credit: step 2: contemplation via photopin (license)

What Keeps You Up at Night? (Book Review) #UpAtNight

2015-08-25T14:48:00.000-04:00

So what does keep you up at night? What is your worst fear? What is that fear keeping you from doing?

I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I wasn't required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own.

New from Pete Wilson, author of Plan B, is What Keeps You Up at Night? How to Find Peace While Chasing Your Dreams.

Here's the synopsis from the publisher (W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson):

It's easy to feel paralyzed by uncertainty. We want our questions answered, our decisions affirmed, and our plans applauded. But life doesn't come with an instruction manual and rarely follows a straight path. How would your life change if you learned to lean into uncertainty instead of waiting on the sidelines for just the right moment or opportunity?

The paradox of faith is that you can't activate it until you act on it. Trust compels us to move forward. If you don't, then you'll be left with a laundry list of unrealized expectations. You were meant to experience a life of abundance and blessing, not frustration and failure.

Clarity only comes when we look back. So if you wait until you have clarity, you'll never find it. Instead, you must move forward even when you feel scared to death. That is when you'll be able to turn the fears that keep you up at night into fuel for your journey.

If you want to experience a breakthrough in your life, then you must find a new cadence that will provide the strength you need to move forward in spite of your doubts, questions, and fears. The rhythm of faith is not hinged upon our circumstances but our willingness to surrender.

In his most insightful work since the debut bestseller, Plan B, Pete Wilson provides a plan for living that will lead you to a place of peace that you've only dreamed about and a life filled with meaning, significance, and satisfaction.

I think we've all been there. We're afraid to take the next step because we can't see the path ahead. It can be hard to trust in and wait on God when He isn't showing us how the story ends, or even where it goes from here. (I always think, "I'm okay with whatever You want, God, but I just want to know how it turns out!") It's human nature to fear the obstacles that we see. This is the situation that Pete Wilson addresses in his new book.

He reassures readers that we're not alone in experiencing these emotions, then he gives practical strategies for coping and moving forward. I found a lot of truth in it.

I want to share a couple of passages with you. It's hard to choose just a few. It's even harder to isolate a paragraph or so, because every paragraph builds on the previous one. But here are three that I especially like. The first two are from the introduction.

Fear can inflict some ugly consequences on our lives. It is perhaps the world's most pernicious thief. It steals our joy in the present and robs us of our hope for the future. It causes us to obsess over ourselves and our limitations instead of seeing all the possibilities that are available. It keeps me from connecting with other people and prevents me from allowing myself to be vulnerable or trusting. It erodes my faith and confidence, preventing me from daring to do what God has called me to do in this world. It deceives me into crawling inside a box in an attempt to be safe when I was really created to take glorious risks in the wide-open air.
When I am struggling with the gap between my expectations and my present reality, I have to remind myself that fear is a visual impairment. Most of us forget this, especially when we are in the grip of uncertainty, anxiety, or discouragement. Our vision gets skewed by our circumstances, and we start to see things inaccurately. Often, we see things that don't even exist!

The third is from the chapter on learning to wait.

Now, believe me, I understand that those of you reading these words who are in the midst of waiting for a miracle or waiting for a dream to be realized or waiting to be delivered from a dark, scary place probably feel helpless. You feel as if you're doing nothing, but you're actually doing something very important. In fact, this waiting--this attending to God--may be the most important spiritual work you could possibly do. While you are waiting faithfully on God, you are also allowing your hope to grow up. And if you can't be still and wait and hope--even when you have no reason to hope--you can't become the person God created when He thought you into existence.

Spiritual transformation doesn't take place when we get what we want. It takes place while we're waiting.

I like the conversational tone of Pastor Pete's writing, and I appreciate his honesty. He's quick to tell readers that he's familiar with fear, too. He's not speaking about what he's learned from books, but what he's learned from his own experiences and the experiences of people he knows.

Here are links for more information:

What Keeps You Up at Night? website (includes signup for daily email encouragement and more)
What Keeps You Up at Night? on Amazon.com (my affiliate link*)
Plan B on Amazon.com (my affiliate link*) (Pastor Pete's first book, which I also recommend)
WithoutWax.tv (author Pete Wilson's site and blog)
Author Pete Wilson on Twitter
Author Pete Wilson on Facebook
Author Pete Wilson on Instagram

About the Author

Pete Wilson is the founding and senior pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Pete desires to see churches become radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside of God's family. Pete and his wife, Brandi, have three boys.

*If you click through my Amazon.com affiliate link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting this blog!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Finding a New Me (Five Minute Friday)

2015-08-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

I know it's been like, forever, since I've blogged anything except book and product reviews. It must seem as though the blog has been on auto-pilot, and if you're still here, THANK YOU!

It's a new season in my life, and it fits well into the Five Minute Friday theme for today: FIND. So here we go:

It's a new season, a time of major transition, for my family and me. With my son's high school graduation, we've reached the end of our homeschooling journey. As he starts college, I'm realizing that I need to find my identity again. I've been a homeschooling mom for 13 years ... now what?

Part of the transition has been cleaning out our school room. We have years and years worth of books and papers and records and supplies. It's overflowed into storage cabinets in another room, too. Going through all of this has been a challenge (so much stuff!) but it's also been nostalgic. When I see his first grade history book, I remember the fun we had with it. It's hard to part with those things, but it's necessary.

Another part of the transition is cleaning up. Housecleaning hasn't been my highest priority in these years, and our home looks lived-in--because it is! I've kept up with the basics, but the deep-cleaning tasks have been neglected. I'm trying to catch up with those.

I'm out of time already! Can you believe it?! Let me give you the short version of what I was going to write, okay?

As this is going on, I'm having to redefine my life. Maybe refocus is a better word. But God always provides and, as one door is closing, others are opening. I've "stumbled upon" opportunities in ministry: some short-term, some long-term. (I've written about one of these already.) Homeschooling has been wonderful (usually) and very rewarding (usually), but this is rewarding in a completely different way.

I'll have to write more another day!

Click this image for more Five Minute Friday. If you'd like to participate but don't have a blog, you're welcome to write your five minutes in the comments at Kate's blog.

The More You Do, The Better You Feel (Book Review)

2015-08-18T09:36:00.000-04:00

I know I've blogged about perfectionism, but I don't think I've written about its cousin, procrastination. I don't procrastinate about everything, but as I tell friends, housecleaning is not my spiritual gift.

Don't get me wrong: it's only certain tasks that I avoid. Our kitchen and bathrooms are clean, the hard floors are swept, and the laundry is done. Vacuuming is a whole other story.

This is part of the reason I accepted a copy (at no cost to me) of The More You Do, The Better You Feel: How to Overcome Procrastination and Live a Happier Life by David Parker. The other part is the author's premise that habitual procrastination leads to depression and anxiety. I've tried just about everything else in the battle against those, and I decided that this approach was definitely worth a try.

First, let me give you the text from the back cover:

Are You A Human Ostrich?

Do you stick your head in the sand at the thought of dealing with a task that seems boring, complicated, or unpleasant? Do you pay your bills late because the last time you balanced your checkbook was more than six months ago? While working on a task do you keep thinking you should be dealing with a different task?
Is your living space messy and your life unorganized?
Do you clean up only when family or friends will be visiting--only to let your place fall back into untidiness after they've gone?
After you've cleaned for visitors, do you tell yourself "it doesn't count!" because you weren't doing it for yourself?
Have you stopped having visitors over because you're ashamed of your mess?
Do you worry you'll feel embarrassed if the landlord, a plumber, or a repairperson needed to visit your place?
Do you constantly compare yourself to people who seem to "have it together?"
Does your habitual procrastination leave you feeling depressed and anxious?
Do you know the 25 characteristics and behaviors of the human ostrich?
Are you concerned that your child or someone you care deeply about is becoming a habitual procrastinator?
The Solution To Your Habitual Procrastination Is Here!
Learn the golden rules of overcoming procrastination.
Stop falling victim to the downward cycle of procrastination and depression.
Stop feeling overwhelmed and immobilized with fear by learning how to effectively cope with your tasks and responsibilities.
Become a "do"-er by learning easy to use and highly effective new tool - The J.O.T. Method™.

Much of this book is based on the author's own experiences. For example, near the beginning of the book he tells about reviewing his journal.

It became clear to me that I was on to something: there was a definite relationship between my problem with procrastination and the depression that I suffered from. Oddly enough, while procrastination is usually seen as a symptom of depression, I observed that procrastination was causing my depression. As I began thinking about this relationship, I realized that I needed to look a bit more closely at procrastination itself.

I could definitely relate to this next passage. When I put off the vacuuming, it's usually because I feel as though it's going to take an hour--though I know that it really takes ten or fifteen minutes. When I look at a messy room, I'm overwhelmed with the thought of cleaning the entire room.

In the past, my mind filled with gross distortions that usually involved how much time and energy my tasks would take to accomplish. These distortions were comparable to large and seemingly unmovable mental boulders that I'd placed in my path. How could I get past that first boulder? It seemed impossible!

By gathering information from other habitual procrastinators, Parker gives a broader description of the problem and its symptoms. Then he presents the method that worked for him and that I think will work for quite a few of us.

The J.O.T. Method (J.O.T. stands for Just One Task) starts at the very, very starting point. Its baby steps allow even the worst procrastinator to get started on "recovery." I think that getting started in itself brings a sense of accomplishment and hope, and those encourage us to continue.

I didn't start the J.O.T. Method at its most basic, but based on a few days' trial, I found that it worked. I also noted the time next to each item, so I could see just how I was spending my time. (We do the same sort of thing for financial expenses, so we can see where the money is going.) That helped me to see how much time I "wasted" in front of the computer--not checking and answering email or blogging, but playing games in excess. It also helped me to see that some things interrupted my to-do list and delayed my progress, but were actually more important than anything on my list. For example, I'd never taken into account the little things that sometimes take half the day: making important phone calls, writing cards to friends in hospitals, and so on. I'd also never taken into account the non-work things that are the most important: spending time with my son, for example, isn't on my to-do list, but it's a tremendously valuable use of my time.

I thought that The More You Do, The Better You Feel got a bit wordy at times. But you can skim or skip the first five chapters if you're not interested in the psychology, then jump directly to Chapter 6, which begins the "Into Action" section.

The end of the book includes a chapter about how to help a procrastinating student. I think this would be very useful for parents who are frustrated with a child's habitual procrastination!

For more information, see the website for The More You Do, The Better You Feel. You'll find information about procrastination, an author bio, a book preview, a link to purchase an autographed copy of the book, and more.

The following Amazon link is my affiliate link. If you click through it and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! Note that books purchased through Amazon will not be autographed.

G.H. Cretors Popped Corn (Review)

2015-08-11T09:20:00.000-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to sample (at no cost to me) several varieties of yummy popcorn from G.H. Cretors. I'd never heard of the company before. I must have just missed it! The different flavors of popcorn are sold in a few supermarkets near here (stores where I don't shop) and Target stores (where I rarely have time to browse).

First, a little background. G.H. Cretors has been in business since 1885 and started with the invention of the popcorn machine. The products are still all-natural (no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives), non-GMO, naturally gluten-free, and kosher (dairy). The caramel corn is made with brown rice syrup instead of refined sugars. It has a low glycemic index (which doesn't spike blood sugar) and adds minerals.

The flavors of popcorn from G.H. Cretors fall into two categories. Since I mentioned the caramel corn, I'll start there.

Chicago Mix is new for me. I'm guessing it's a Chicago thing, and they've tried to keep it to themselves! It's a blend of cheese popcorn and caramel popcorn. As someone who likes the combination of sweet and salty, I nearly fell in love with this mix! I had fun trying just sweet, just salty, and both together. My family seemed to like it, too: after I tasted it I left the bag on the kitchen table, and it was empty before I knew it!

You can also buy Just the Cheese Corn and Just the Caramel Corn. I liked both of these. The cheese corn has a better flavor than the brand I've been buying at the supermarket. The caramel corn, though, was just fabulous. The caramel coating is light, buttery, and crisp. Just. So. Good. My husband found these too salty and too sweet, respectively--but again, the bags were empty in no time.

If you're looking for something less indulgent, look to the Organic Simply Salted and Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil flavors. These are both really good! They remind me of popcorn that I'd make at home--except that their kernels are extraordinarily fluffy and their corn doesn't have unpopped kernels! Both are made with organic popcorn, organic oil, and sea salt. The difference is that Simply Salted is cooked with sunflower oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil is cooked with--you guessed it--EVOO. I appreciated that this isn't overly salty; too much salt is a pet peeve for me and my family. The nutrition profiles of the two Organic flavors are similar (calories, fat, sodium, and dietary fiber). Simply Salted reminded me of air-popped corn, though it's not tough, as air-popped can be. I preferred the EVOO. It's not a strong oil flavor, but it gives a good taste, and the relatively low salt content made it just right.

Links for more information:

Find a store near you that carries G.H. Cretors popcorn
See individual product descriptions and order online
Purchase G.H. Cretors popcorn on Amazon (affiliate link *)
For all other information, visit G.H. Cretors online!

* If you click through my affiliate link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Uncommon (DVD Review)

2015-08-04T09:09:00.000-04:00

"It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren." – Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Coming soon to DVD is the film "Uncommon," starring Ben Davies ("Courageous") and Erik Estrada ("CHiPs"). I received a screening copy, at no cost to me, for review purposes.

Here's the synopsis, from the "Uncommon" film website:

What do we really know about religious liberties in public schools? Can students pray? Can they have a Bible study? Can they mention God or even wear a Christian themed t-shirt? The prayer in public school debate has caused a firestorm in the past, but with this film Liberty Counsel hopes to set the record straight.

Those who seek to indoctrinate our kids with the message that God is irrelevant and truth is subjective have had a monopoly for too long in our schools because the Supreme Court fabricated the idea that there is a wall of separation between church and state.

When the students of Rosewood High School lose their theater, music, and dance departments due to budget cuts, they create their own. Struggling to find the right script, music, and choreography, the students get advice from an uncommon source: the Bible! Each student becomes uniquely influenced as they discover that God takes them personally. Equipped with unique talents, they bond together to prepare the perfect production by exploring the diversity of parables taught in the Bible.

Fighting overwhelming challenges, the teens defend their privilege to worship, meet, and perform.

Will months of constant bullying by the establishment defeat the production and dismantle their faith?

Armed with expert legal counsel and unexpected help from Christian music’s finest, these teens realize what it means to be…UNCOMMON!

Ben Davies portrays Aaron, the student who--though he's not part of the performing arts department--leads the charge to protect the right of the students to produce their show. Erik Estrada plays school janitor, Marc Garcia, who's the only staff member willing to supervise the students as they prepare. They're opposed by an outspoken atheist teacher and others, including the school principal, who is mostly concerned with obeying the law as she understands it.

My husband and I watched "Uncommon" together. We both appreciated the messages of the film. The overarching themes are religious freedom and free speech, but it also addresses the importance of standing firm for what you believe and the truth that not everything is what it seems.

In a few places the acting is spotty, but I found that forgivable because I liked everything else about the movie! I recommend it for teens, parents, and anyone else who's interested in the freedoms ensured us by the U.S. Constitution.

For more information, watch the trailer below, see the "Uncommon" site, or visit "Uncommon" on Facebook.