Back to School Shopping

So School has started and let me tell you shopping for 3 kids is killer on the wallet!

We went to Payless while their store was BOGO and it still cost us $75.00...

middle girls choice..the toes light up and they look so cute!

little guy picked these Cars shoes and they also light up...so cute when he runs!

oldest girl picked these..She is a size Women's 8 already!! Love these and I might have to get a pair myself!



I did some shopping for myself at CVS and bought the Revlon "Gray Suede" which is a very neutral color

Next we have to shop for some Fall clothes for oldest as she doesn't have to wear a uniform like the little ones.

So what Fav. brands of Nail Polish do you buy? Any great Fall colors out there?

Treasuring Emma~ A Book Review

Emma has put everyone else first in her life. Now at nearly 25, has she missed her chance at marriage?

Emma was Adam's first love but circumstances made them both choose different paths in life. Emma's heart breaks all over again when Adam returns to the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio, years later.

For the past ten years, Emma has been a care-giver. First for her mother who unsuccessfully battled breast cancer, and now for her grandmother who gets more frail with each passing year. Emma has always put the needs of others above her own. With more time on her hands, she determines to focus on herself and her dream of opening a rescue shelter for stray animals in the community.

With Adam's return come feelings Emma's long buried. They're older and life hasn't turned out the way they thought it would. Adam's feelings for Emma are stronger than ever, but will he be able to convince her to put the past aside and give their love a chance?

I really enjoyed once again immersing myself in the Amish world if but for a little bit. This story was a joy to follow but it left me wondering what happened to a couple of the characters in here. I do hope that there is another book coming out that explains some of the questions I have. 

BookSneeze sent me this book to read and review and all opinions are my own.

Dog Days of Summer or Don't Give Your Camera to a Bored 12 YR Old and a Video

My bored daughter took my camera for a few days and this is what I found when I downloaded the pics!

Here is a short video of Crystal playing with Coffee last Sat. night...

Hope your staying Cool in your area! July sure has flown by for us!

Amazing Grace~Celtic Hymns&Blessings

I was asked to review a CD, a first for me.

It arrived in the mail and we popped in on, the sweet, calm, harmony filled our living room and the kids rested on the couch while we listened to it.

I enjoyed the well known "Amazing Grace" and could listen to it over and over again. We enjoyed not only the singing but the instruments were amazing, love the bag pipes.

do you play music during the day? What kind do you enjoy while cleaning house?

Do You Read Books From Bloggers? Summer Book Give-Away

J

Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn's world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.
Gideon had left town in the middle of night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changed since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an independent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.
He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there's a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

Many months ago I received this book from a Give-away and it's from our very own Bloggy (is this a word?) friend Lori Wilde!

While here in FL it's steamy outside and melt-the-skin-off-you Hot...I have stayed inside and enjoyed some great reads. This is a great escapism story that takes you out of the doldrums of Summer.

I'm passing this book on to One other Blogger for a little Summer escape!

Just leave a comment to be entered and In your comments Please leave me 1 Book you have read and enjoyed this Summer!

Winner will be announced Monday...Good Luck!

Money Secrets of the Amish~ Book Review

Discover the money-saving and wealth-building secrets of America's thriftiest people, the Amish.

Author and journalist Lorilee Craker was just like the rest of us, feeling the pinch from the financial fallout of 2008. As a freelancer, her income was going the way of the dodo-family dollars seemed like an extinct myth, the bank account some archeological evidence of past prosperity.

Then, inspired by a news segment covering the Amish and how they emerged from the economic crisis unscathed, she realized it was time to learn a thing or two about their time-tested approach to personal finances. While the middle-class was wringing its hands over the family budget and the wealthy were weeping over their slashed portfolios, the Amish were content as always, spared from the cares of the world and worldliness. They not only had financial health to support their lives, they exuded a wholeness that eludes so many when the financial bottom drops out.

In Money Secrets of the Amish, readers go on an "Amish money makeover," learning the choices, secrets, and disciplines that safeguarded the contentment and the coffers of America's favorite plain folk by spending less, saving more, and getting happier doing it.

• Pub. Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
• Format: Paperback , 240pp
• Sales Rank: 75,401

• ISBN-13: 9781595553416
• ISBN: 159555341X

I read this book fairly fast due to having read and researched all this before and to me the book had nothing new to learn in it. It was a good read to brush up on saving and excited to carry on with what I'm already doing knowing that we are on the right track. I do wish that I was brave enough to try the "Barter" system but have not heard that much about it so I'm not sure how other people would react to being asked about trading.

If you are new to Coupons and Saving money than this is a good book to read and many of her ideas will be new to you!

I was given a copy of this book to read and review for BookSneeze, Opinions are my own.

Quilty Wall WOW

This is how it was the first month we moved in....

AH, That's Better!

What do you think?

Americana Living Room Setup Today

I re-arranged the living room, I like this much better. 

I love Americana and my fav. piece is the Americana Wreath over the couch.

Still fighting this Sinus cold and hope you enjoy the pictures today.

A Give-away from BNOTP

Hurry over to BNOTP for a great Give-away, You could win a great Tassel!

A Finish...For Now...

I have a horrible Sinus infection and have no energy, I can barely keep up with these 3 kids today. 

Before I got sick we finished hanging pics and these look very nice on the stairs, the plan for these are to be all in matching black frames.

Before

After

I really like how nice it looks!

Enjoy your week!