FANTASTIC BOOK!

This book is seriously awesome! It has some fantastic ideas about 'Training' your kids to do the things that they need to in order to be successful, independant adults, instead of leeches. It isn't that the ideas are new, it is just that it puts everything you want to teach your kids into an plan of action that you can adapt for you. Not only does it cover household things, but teaching your kids about saving and spending and investing and all of that stuff. I am about half way through it and have loved it. Oh and for those of you with little ones, her plan starts with 3 year olds and goes right on through until you kick them out or your house to fend for themselves!

You can find it at your local Deseret Book or have your sister send it to you from hers (Thanks Marilee). I believe Merrilee Boyack is a 'TIME OUT for Women' speaker. Let me know what you think if you read it!!!

A few good things

I thought I'd share a couple of my newest favorite things:

1. I got this book while in Utah this summer:

It has FHE lessons based on the Book of Mormon. We are using it for our scripture study too. It breaks down each verse in the BoM individually and has questions to ask about the verses. My 5 year old does great with it! I highly recommend. Available at Deseret Book

2. The best book I've read in ages. These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. This is the first book in a series of 3 (so far) about a pioneer homesteader in the late 1800s. Very clean but a little violent with Indian wars and such. Seriously, a great read.

3. Febreze Pumpkin Harvest and Fall Spray smells so so good and is perfect to freshen up your house if you don't have time to burn a candle. I found mine at Target!

4. Burt's Bees baby products. I got a big gift basket full of these products after I had my baby and I LOVE them. My favorites are the buttermilk lotion and diaper cream. They smell divine and are very mild.

THE HOST

I just finished reading THE HOST! I would definitely recommend reading it. I found it really interesting. It was not as gripping as Twilight, but really good still. I find Stephanie Meyer has a way of making you really feel what the characters are experiencing and this book was no different. I would love to know what you all think, so let me/us know if you have read it!

Follow the River

Okay ladies, to begin I must say that I was told about this book from Marilee.  In fact, she was so adamant that I read it, she actually bought it for me.

It is called Follow the River by James Alexander Thom and it is phenomenal!  It is so riveting and compelling and I literally could not put it down once I got into it.  I'm not going to lie though...it is not light reading.  It is tense, heart-pounding, emotional, nauseating reading.  There are some very graphic, violent parts and one part in particular in the very beginning that will literally make you sick but if you press on you will be amazed at the power of the human spirit, and inspired to become a better person yourself.  It will even remind you that miracles do happen.  

If you need a little distraction from the Cullen family, or something to pass the time until August, check this book out.

Thanks Mar, it really was fascinating and inspiring!

Go to this link to read more about it:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Follow-the-River/James-Alexander-Thom/e/9780345338549/?itm=1

 

Official Press Release!!!!!!!!

Stephenie Meyer is pleased to announce that "Breaking Dawn" will be released on August 2, 2008- we are so excited we can hardly stand to wait until August. Here's what Stephenine Meyer has to say on her website @

www.stepheniemeyer.com/breakingdawn.html

Until then, I guess we'll have to read the series again!!!

Love Anyone!

My sister-in-law gave Steve and I some great books for Christmas. I have only read one already and I loved it so I thought I would share. It is - "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. There are 'quizzes' in the back to find out what language you and your spouse speak. Then he talks about each of the languages and some other stuff. It is really great and practical and a fun, fast book to read. She also gave us "The Five Love Languages of Children" I just started reading it and haven't gotten very far, it is the same principle applied to your kids. They have a little quiz for them in the back too. My kids took them and they were totally what I thought they would be. Happy Reading to All!

I'm In the Mood For Christmas!!

Whatever you do, don't read this book without a box of tissue!!! I loved this book-many of you have probably already read it! The book is called "Christmas Jars", and Jason Wright is the author of this modern day " It's A Wonderful Life" story. It will give you that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling, and the inspiration to find your own way to give this Christmas! I love a good cry- and this one definately did not disappoint! Merry Christmas everyone!

It Works and is SOOOOO Yummy!!

Oh my gosh has it ever been a long time since I last posted on here! Time sure does fly!
Anyway, a few weeks ago I saw Jessica Seinfeld on Oprah talking about her book "Deceptively Delicious". I thought it was such a great idea so I ran out and bought a copy of it! With the craziness of my life I didn't use it even once until this week and let me tell you how great it is! The other night I made Meatloaf (for the record I'm not a meatloaf fan) with mashed potatoes and it was SOOOO good. The Meatloaf had pureed carrots in it and the potatoes had pureed cauliflour. My kids chowed and had no idea I had snuck Vegi's into their meal. My older two do pretty well with eating fruit and vegis but my younger two, especially me five year old, are BRUTAL!! It was so great to see them eating everything I served them and say how good it was.
Tonight I made Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs with pureed pinapple and sweet potates in them. Once again the kids had NO IDEA there was healthy stuff in their food and it tasted fabulous!
So if you have children who give you a hard time with eating the healthy stuff, try this, you'll love it!

PS-there is another book out there that is VERY similar to Jessica's book. Apparently hers was published first and they even tried to get Oprah to do a show about it. Of course because the author wasn't a celebrity, Oprah said no... anyway, you can imagine the issues about that! Anyway, either book is great and helps kids eat healthier!

Recommended Read!

Alright Ladies I just finished the book I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis. It was really good. It is a good size book and not a super fast read, but really interesting. Basically it is about the lady in the picture Mona Lisa. It is a historical Fiction book you could say. Here is a little excerpt for you all. "My name is Lisa di Antonio Gheradini, though to acquaintances, I am known simply as Madonna Lisa. My story begins not with my birth but a murder, committed the year before I was born."

So, I would love you guys to read it and tell me what you think. Just as a side note there are a couple more adult parts, but nothing to risque. Happy Reading.

Has anyone read.....

Okay, so my friend gave me a book called I, Mona Lisa and I'm about half way through it. So far it has been good and very interesting. I am wondering if any of you wonderful women have read it and what you thought if you did! Let me know. I'll let you know if it was worth the read when I am all finished.