Redheads and Rubber Ducks

Book Review: Jolt! by Phil Cooke

2011-10-04T14:20:00.000-04:00

I have a guest blogger reviewing Jolt! by Phil Cooke. This special guest is very near and dear to my heart–my very own husband, John! :-) A Jolt! of Change I live by the philosophy that self-help is no help at all. Perhaps that’s why I came at Phil Cooke’s new book Jolt! with some healthy skepticism. The jacket copy blasts out self-help standards such as “new direction” and “maximize

Book Review: The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh

2011-03-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

When I ordered The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh, I honestly thought that I would already know everything Walsh could possibly share about God's promises, but I also knew that I needed to be reminded...again. Everyone has those seasons of life where things aren't working out the way you think they should, and it seems like God has forgotten about you and any promises He might have

It's Me Again

2011-01-11T21:34:00.001-05:00

OK, don't shoot me. It's been a while since I've blogged. Life happens. Since my last post in July 2009, we've added another redhead to our family, and the two of them keep me quite busy! I have been enjoying every minute with them, though. And while our little family has been growing, I find that my values and desires are changing. I've been longing for a simpler way of life. I want to get

Perfect Butter Pecan Cookies

2009-07-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

I must admit that I was not a big fan of butter pecan anything—until I made these cookies. I thought I'd give them a shot and see what happened (figuring I could give them all away if they really didn't turn out well). The first time I made them I HAD to give them away to keep from eating the whole batch. They are ridiculously simple (unless your name is Kristen) and are really quick to make.

Book Review: The I Believe Bunny

2009-07-13T21:16:00.004-04:00

When I saw this book offered in the Thomas Nelson Blogging for Books program, I knew I had to request it for Kaelan, my 20-month-old daughter. She absolutely LOVES reading. The two phrases I hear all day are, "Momma, read it, please," and "Momma, hide." She will sit in her room and sort through her books, looking at the pictures and reading them to herself, or me. We seriously never make it

Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing

2009-07-13T20:22:00.002-04:00

Since entering pregnancy I have a) been terrible at continuing to blog regularly and b) been craving cinnamon rolls like crazy. I wasn't thrilled with the outcome of previous batches because of both form and taste. I like a cinnamon roll that is gooey and cinnamoney (yes, that's a word) on the inside and oozing with icing on the outside. These cinnamon rolls hit the spot and the maple icing

The Vanishing Sculptor: Book Review

2009-06-26T22:03:00.003-04:00

I must say, I haven't had much luck with my book choices (or the books others choose for me) lately, and I know I haven't been a great resource in helping you choose books to add to your reading list. For that, I'm extremely sorry. This will be the last book review for a while, so we only have one more bad book to share together...for now. But at least I'm honest, and I let you know

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes: Book Review

2009-06-08T21:30:00.002-04:00

So, lately with the book reviews, it's been kind of hit or miss. They've either been so bad I couldn't finish them or so good I couldn't put them down. Well, for me, Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes was middle of the road. I had no problem putting it down when I needed to go on to something else, but I did have enough motivation to actually finish the book. I know, I know. That doesn't tell you

Stealing Home and Saints in Limbo: Book Reviews

2009-06-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

When I looked at Stealing Home by Allison Pittman, I must say that I wasn't anxious to start it. I had just finished a book that I loved, and I was afraid of being disappointed by a dud. Not to mention the fact that it was about baseball (to some degree)--which I am not interested in at all. But since it was next on my list, I grudgingly picked it up and started in. I must say, by the end of

The Night Watchman: Book Review

2009-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

When I sit down to read a book, I want that book to draw me into the story from the first page. I don't want to have to suffer through a chapter or two before I really get hooked in the plot. It has been a while since I've read a book like this...a long while. That's why I was so excited to read The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir. From the first page I was hooked. I read the 300+ page book

Hero: Book Review

2009-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm really excited to offer a guest post by my amazing, talented husband, John UpChurch. Hero, by Fred and Jasen Stoeker, was more along the lines of a "guy's book" so I decided to turn this one over to him. If you're interested in seeing more of John's writing, head over to More Novel by the Week for writing tips and tricks from an editor or check out his website. Enjoy!!Salvation brought

Gotta Love Those Links: May 11th

2009-05-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've done a links blog, so I thought I'd share some inspiration from around the Internet. Just in case you're wondering where the recipes have gone, they will return. I'm expecting our second little blessing and cooking hasn't exactly been appealing to me. I'm hoping this phase passes quickly, and I can resume experimenting with the many recipes I have on my waiting

Mother's Day Book Review

2009-05-08T11:01:00.003-04:00

Three great books just came out in time for Mother's Day, making them the perfect gift for a mom you know...or yourself.Dear Mom--Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters

Jane Kirkpatrick Book Review

2009-04-30T10:59:00.003-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to review two of Jane Kirkpatrick's books, A Flickering Light and Aurora. I hadn't read any of her previous works, but I was intriguied by her use of word play and riveting detail that draws you into the lives of the characters and the story she is presenting. A Flickering Light is the story of fifteen year old Jessie Gaebele, a German girl who is struggling,

The Noticer: Book Review

2009-04-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Have you ever read a book--a fictional book--that really made you stop and think about your life and what you are accomplishing with it? I couldn't name one that had done that for me until I read The Noticer by New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews.The story is set in the small beach town of Orange Beach, Alabama and introduces an interesting character named Jones that graces the town

Book Review: Gardening Eden

2009-04-21T10:47:00.005-04:00

Over the last year, I've toyed with making our household more green and trying to cut out waste while making things healthier for our family. I've taken baby steps and changed quite a bit about the way that we live. Most of what I cook is from scratch, which eliminates excess packaging (and extra preservatives and other unwanted chemicals). I've switched to homemade cleaners, which are much

The Word of Promise: Next Generation New Testament

2009-04-09T20:15:00.003-04:00

Everyone loves free books, right? I know when there's no extra money lying around for "entertainment," one either has to get creative or head to the library. I found a program that went the former route, and I first told you about it here. Through the misfortune (or rather, someone's great fortune) of UPS, I ended up with two copies of the MP3 set I chose to review, and Thomas Nelson

The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name

2009-03-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Being a book review blogger definitely has its perks. There is a constant supply of free books in a variety of genres. The added blog traffic is a plus. But it also has its snags. When you get a book that doesn't tease you all the way until the end, it can be a drag to have to finish the book until you can get your next "fix."At the end of January, I contacted NavPress and was approved as a

Homemade Banana Pudding

2009-03-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

I think homemade banana pudding is a staple of southern desserts. It always seems to turn up at one of our family gatherings. My grandmother often makes a regular banana pudding for everyone and then one without bananas for my dad because he doesn't like them. Either way you choose to make this one, the homemade pudding will far surpass the Jell-o variety. It is quick and easy to make and

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

I have made this cheesecake knock-off a couple of different ways. This one was not my most successful, but you get to see a picture of what it kind of looks like and learn from my mistakes. The directions below take the cake in my opinion (after numerous trials and errors). You need:1 graham cracker crust1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk1 egg1 tsp.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

2009-03-10T14:20:00.000-04:00

This is an excellent recipe for an alternative to banana bread. It combines the classic flavors of peanut butter, banana, and chocolate to create a memorable dessert perfect for any gathering. As you can see from the picture above, there wasn't much left when I actually remembered to take a picture. I hope you and yours enjoy this as much as we did.You need:TOPPING1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/2

Chocolate Pudding

2009-03-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can make chocolate pudding from scratch? OK, call me sheltered, but it was only recently that I learned that all pudding does not come out of a Jell-0 box. I came across a recipe for homemade chocolate pudding that whetted my appetite and my curiosity. You need:1/3 cup cornstarch1/3 cup cocoa powder2/3 cups sugar or honey4 cups milk1 tsp vanillaWhisk the cornstarch and

Question of the Day: March 2nd

2009-03-02T14:29:00.004-05:00

So, I'm sitting here thinking about my blog and looking at the statistics over the last month. There are a lot of people coming to my blog to read what I have to say, but very few actually leave comments. I know exactly what that is like. I read quite a few blogs myself and it has to hit me just right before I leave a comment. However, I would LOVE the opportunity to learn a thing or two from

Fabulous Homemade Bread

2009-02-26T10:53:00.004-05:00

This recipe for homemade bread is fabulous! It is very easy to make (considering it IS homemade bread), has good texture and flavor and wasn't too crumbly at all. It will leave your house smelling DIVINE! I wonder if anyone makes an air freshener that smells like homemade bread. Well...they do freshly baked cookies! Why not bread? :-) Anyway...You need:2 envelopes of dry yeast2 cups warm

Gotta Love Those Links: February 19th

2009-02-19T00:00:00.005-05:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready for this week to be over and for the weekend to arrive. Maybe these sites will get your creative juices flowing for some fun this weekend. I know my to-do list is full!Apartment Therapy Unplugged: Home Office in a Closet: I thought this was a really neat idea for hiding the "mess" of a home office in a closet if you don't have room for an official