February 10, 2015
Happy (early) Valentine’s Day #WW w/linky
Wishing you a very Happy (early) Valentine’s Day!
Here is some of what we have been up to:
Lots of crafts!
What special activities or outings do you have planned for this weekend?
Make sure you link up below so that I can visit you!
February 9, 2015
The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer
The Dandelion Field is a story of strength, overcoming obstacles and finding faith.
About The Dandelion Field
After Raine’s Dad walks out on them, Ginevieve Lightly never lives in one place too long – a rambling lifestyle that defines her daughter’s youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine that they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future – a future that is compromised when Raine reveals she is pregnant.
Dan has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devotes himself to fighting fires, rescuing the helpless and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend’s son. This was always an easy job until Cody said “The baby is mine.”
Knowing gossip of the pregnancy will erupt sooner or later because of the small town nature, Gin’s reflex is to run. But with each passing day Gin finds herself rooted to this small town unable to leave and she falls more and more in love with Dan. Dan works hard to show her not all men are the same and not all men will run when the smoke starts.
As Gin and Dan do their best to guide the two young teenagers they discover that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations.
My Thoughts
I fell in love with this book as it resonated strongly with me. I was a young Mother who also went through some of the same things Raine was forced to go through in her pregnancy. Those initial reactions Raine faced of anger, feeling the need to hide and facing negativity from others is difficult to overcome. When she turns to those she needs the most, Gin would do anything for her daughter. Gin sees an opportunity to protect her daughter from the terrible things that happened to herself when she was pregnant as a teen with Raine.
Raine’s pregnancy is only one small part of this story. Through Raine’s pregnancy we are introduced to Gin’s past and the hurt she has had to overcome when her boyfriend left her and family abandoned her. Gin finds it hard to believe in others and to trust. It was incredible to be able to watch her character grow and trust again all because of Dan. Dan also benefits from his relationship with Gin as he finds himself, forgives himself for his past and moves into the future.
A fantastic story of forgiveness, healing and moving forward. It does not disappoint! You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. You can purchase your own copy here.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Kathryn Springer is a USA Today best-selling author. She grew up in Wisconsin where her parents published a weekly newspaper. It is the time she spent with her parents writing and reading that gave her a deep passion for both areas. Kathryn has written nineteen books and close to two million copies sold.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 9, 2015
DIY Moisturizing Facial Scrub
I love winter – the snow, the variety of outdoor activities and just the natural beauty of the season. The only thing I don’t love is the how dry my skin becomes in the winter. It is a constant battle to keep my skin moisturized and looking healthy.
My eczema forces me to be extra careful with the products that I put on my face. There is nothing worse than using a new scrub and instantly my cheeks turn red and look raw. This moisturizing facial scrub uses products that you can easily find in your pantry including my favourite item – coconut oil!
You will need:
- 3 tbsp of coconut oil.
- 3 1/2 tsp of baking soda
Directions
- Measure out the 3 tbsp of coconut oil.
- Melt the coconut oil into its liquid form if not already in this state.
- Add 3 1/2 tsp of baking soda into the coconut oil and mix thoroughly.
- Pour mixture into a small mason jar and secure tightly.
You only need a small amount each time to cover your face. Rub the facial scrub into your skin in gentle, circular motions.
I like to leave the facial scrub on for at least three to five minutes to allow it to absorb and achieve maximum results.
Remove the facial scrub with a warm cloth. You will need to use a cloth to remove the facial scrub because of the coconut oil.
Do you have a favourite homemade facial scrub? Maybe a special ingredient that you like to use? I loved using the baking soda as it wasn’t as harsh on my skin as sugar and other ingredients can be.
February 6, 2015
I Love Toopy and Binoo Valentine’s Day DVD Giveaway
Toopy, Toopy, Binoo, Binoo
Toopy and Binoo!
Hands up if those lyrics are played almost non stop in your home?!
Although almost seven years separate our children both of our boys have always loved Toopy and Binoo. So much so that when we brought our puppy home eight years ago she was lovingly named Toopy!
Toopy and Binoo are the adorable stars in this series. You just can’t help fall in love with these two, who love each other with all their hearts and are always up for fun and adventure. Toopy is the witty and engaging mouse while Binoo, his best friend in the whole entire world, is the silent cat. When Toopy has lost something or when he can’t figure something out it is always Binoo who helps him find his way.
I Love Toopy has a total of fifteen heartwarming episodes for a total running time of seventy-five minutes.
The episodes include:
- Duckling (The Best Of)
- Baby Toopy
- Worm Circus
- The Big Race
- Gone Fishin
- Space House
- Little Red Binoo
- Jungle Toopy
- Super Toopy
- Magic Mirror
- Toopy Goes bananas (our personal favourite!)
- Camp Out
- Storm in a Bottle
- Space House
- Bubbles
The second DVD, I Love Binoo also comes with fifteen episodes and a running time of seventy five minutes.
The episodes included are:
- Pet Palace
- Binoo’s Birthday
- Sparkle Binoo
- Toopy’s Surprise
- Binoo’s Letter
- Magic Whoosher
- Superball
- Funny Bunny
- The Castle
- The Big Blue
- The Lost Bear
- Where’s Binoo?
- Invisible World
- Egghead
- Toopy’s Present
Although we thought we had seen all the Toopy and Binoo episodes that were out there we were pleasantly surprised to find new ones on these DVDs! Our youngest son brought his DVDs to daycare so that all of his friends could watch their favourite show together! It was so sweet!
kaboom! Entertainment is giving one of my readers the chance to win their copies of I Love Toopy and I Love Binoo! Canadian residents can enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received a copy of each DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 6, 2015
Almost Perfect by Diane Daniels Manning
Dogs are loving, nurturing and healing animals. They sense our pain and are there to help us through the worst moments of our lives. Almost Perfect by Diane Manning follows the relationship of a young boy and an older woman with her aging dog.
About Almost Perfect
Seventy year old, Bess Rutledge, has fantasized about winning the Westminster Dog Show all her life. She has now come to the decision that she is just too old to follow her dream. By chance, she meets Benny her neighbour one night. Benny is an angry, fourteen year old with mild autism and ADHD. Benny has his own dream: to impress his self-absorbed mother. He becomes convinced that the only way to do so is by winning Westminster with McCreery, Bess’ aging champion standard poodle. Trying to get Bess on board with his plan is not going to be an easy accomplishment.
My Thoughts
When I first read the excerpt of this book I knew it was going to be one that just melted my heart, made me cry and bring me back up again. Diane Manning delivered on this and more!
The relationship between a dog and it’s owner is special. There is an unconditional love and bond that forms that lasts a lifetime. I still miss my Pepper with all my heart – the way she would jump and bark by just hearing our voices even over the phone! A dog can also be very therapeutic and help a child learn responsibility.
When we meet Benny you can tell this is exactly what he needs. He is hurting inside and is angry at the world. He has a Mother, that no matter how hard he tries does not want to be part of his life. She is so absorbed in her own life and her needs that she places a great burden on Benny. He shows this burden through his actions and anger at others. I wanted to cry and reach out to him as my heart broke for the pain he felt. From the way Diane writes you can tell she has had experience with children with social and emotional challenges. I was not surprised at all by her education and work experience! It shows through strongly in her work.
Almost Perfect is a well written, emotional journey that will reach to the heart of every parent and dog lover. You will not be disappointed with this read! You can purchase your own copy on Amazon, Audible and Barnes and Nobles.
Rating: 5/5
About Diane Manning
Diane Daniels Manning is the co-founder and director of The New School in the Heights, a therapeutic school in Houston, Texas which helps children dealing with social-emotional challenges find success in school and life. She has a Ph.D. in Education and a post-doctoral M.P.H from Harvard and is a practicing child psychoanalyst certified by the American Psychoanalytic Association. She was formerly the Director of the Reading and Learning disabilities Clinic at Tufts University, Lecturer and Research Associate in the Department of Behavioural Sciences at Harvard and Chair of the Department of Education at Tulane University. She learned the inner workings of dog show kennels by writing an oral history of a lifetime President of the Poodle Club of America.
You can connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and her website.
The Giveaway!
Bonus Info: Westminster Dog Show!
This year the 139th Westminster Dog Show will be running from February 16-17. Make sure to check out their website.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
