August 22, 2018 · 10:42 am

“Homespun” Blog Book Tour- Amish & Mennonite Women in Their Own Words

I love learning about different cultures and religions. The most profound thing I have learned, is that when we really take the time to learn about others, we usually discover we are more alike than different. I think our world could benefit greatly if we all took the time to learn about others.

Given my feelings, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a new book edited by Lorilee Craker. The book, Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words,

 

Is there a better way to connect and get to know someone than over a cup of coffee or tea? That is exactly how it feels reading the stories of the Amish and Plain Mennonite women in this book. Editor Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God.

Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. tEach woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community.

This book is such a great read, one to savor while laying back and enjoying the end of summer. Homespun is such a comfortable read, it is so hard to put down. As I read the stories of the women on the pages, I found there was much more I had in common with them than not. The stories draw you in and make you laugh, cry and connect. You will love this book.

Learn more in my video below:

Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them.

About the editor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lorilee Craker is the author of thirteen books, including Money Secrets of the Amish; Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me; My Journey to Heaven with Marv Besteman; and the New York Times bestseller Through the Story with Lynne Spears. Connect with Lorilee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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August 20, 2018 · 10:45 am

3 Easy Ways To Repair Summer Sun Damaged Skin

After a summer of fun in the sun, your skin probably needs some TLC. If you are looking for ways to pamper your complexion and undo damage from spending too much time in the sun, you are not alone. Many are looking for ways to rejuvenate, deep clean and rehydrate their skin. The products below can help give you back the healthy, glowing skin you love.

Peels

Peels are one of the easiest ways to rid your skin of dead cells and sun damage. When shopping for a peel, look for ones that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic and lactic acids, and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid. Together these acids will help unclog your pores, reduce breakouts, exfoliate and brighten your skin.

The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel from philosophy is a good choice. This set contains 12 pre-saturated chemical peel pads to deliver advanced skin-brightening and anti-aging benefits. This peel conveniently delivers superior results in one easy step you can do at home.

Research showed that after just 2 uses, individuals saw a 96% improvement in skin smoothness with no irritation. After just 4 uses, there was a 96% improvement in brightening as well as an 81% decrease in fine lines and 90% enhanced clarity.

Masks

Masks are effective at helping to remove dark spots and clogged pores which go hand in hand with sun and sweat. You can use a brightening mask with vitamin C to kick your dull complexion to the curb while it fades facial discoloration.

GlamGlow, FlashMud Brightening Treatment is available at Sephora or Amazon, and is good for normal, oily, dry or combination skin. This multi-targeted, multi-sensorial brightening treatment for radiant, youthful-looking skin brings fast results. Use to lighten dark spots and correct uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture and banish dullness.

The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask is 100% Vegan beautifying mud-textured exfoliating mask that deeply cleanses and purifies the skin by cleaning out clogged pores and releasing impurities and toxins to reveal a healthy-looking youthful glow.

Boosters

Like their name implies, Boosters give your skin care routine an extra push. As the seasons change, most skin types can benefit from increased hydration and plumping. A booster that contains hyaluronic acid attracts moisture from the air and pulls it into the skin.

Paula’s Choice-BOOST C15 Super Booster with 15% Vitamins C & E and Ferulic Acid can give you visibly brighter skin thanks to the replenishing antioxidants and skin smooth peptides. This product works to provide exceptional results; improving the appearance of uneven skin tone, lessening environmental stress and brightening dull complexions.

Taking some time to pamper your skin is well worth it. Your skin says so much about you and if you are like me, you want it to look the best it can be. What are some of your go-to products or routines to repair summer sun damage?

 


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August 10, 2018 · 1:26 pm

Safety First: Find Out Who Has Your Number

In today’s world, you need to be extra careful with your phone. When you start receiving many calls from unknown phone numbers, it is natural to be concerned. This is even more of an issue when your children have their own phones. You want to make sure your kids are safe and not approached by strangers, even on the phone.

You may notice many different numbers calling or just one or two. If you have a pre owned phone, you might get calls from people who think you are someone else. This can make it difficult to know when to answer.

When you are teaching your kids to be safe on their phone, here are a few helpful tips for dealing with unknown phone numbers.

Don’t Answer

When an odd number shows up on the caller ID, it is often best to simply let the phone ring or decline the call.  Have your child show you the phone number on the caller ID so you can initiate a reverse phone lookup. When a child answers the phone, they may give out information they shouldn’t. Not answering means they won’t get confused by a strange caller and give out personal information.

Keep It Private

Kids often put down phone numbers on school forms and social media. You should talk to your child about not giving out their phone number, except to close friends and family. If your kids are asked to fill out any papers at their school or for sports, tell them to put down a parent’s number instead.

If you have teenagers that like to be on social media, make sure they do not put any of their contact information on their accounts. They should also keep all of their settings on private. Otherwise, strangers may be able to get their phone number off of their social media pages and call your child.

Keep the Phone Close

Kids often set things down and forget where they put them. Talk to your child about keeping their phone nearby, in their bag, or in their pocket. If the phone is out where it can be seen, someone may pick it up or see their personal information. Your child is likely to have pictures on their phone that could end up in the wrong hands. Be sure to use the reverse phone lookup anytime you want to know who is calling your child’s phone.

There are times when you just do not feel right about a phone number that shows up on your caller ID. You can easily find out who the caller is by checking with a reverse phone number service. Strange numbers can be especially concerning when the call is going to your child’s phone. Talk to your children about what to do if a strange number shows up. Make sure they save the number so you can find out what is going on. Safety is key when it comes to unknown numbers.

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.


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August 8, 2018 · 10:13 pm

Chrissy’s Knee High Socks

Several weeks ago I was sent a few pairs of socks from Chrissy’s Knee High Socks. As it is summer, I am not wearing knee socks, but I do like wearing socks in the fall and winter. I thought I was being sent knee socks, but the socks I received were extremely long, they went way past my knees, and looking at their site, it looks like I was sent thigh high socks.

Frankly, I would have preferred to select the kind and style of socks that I will actually wear. The socks are colorful and seem well made. They have socks for men and women on their site.

You can find socks for all kinds holidays as well. They even have custom socks you can order, like socks for your roller derby or sports team.

 

If you want to check them out, they are having a sale now. Let me know what you think.


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· 2:24 pm

4 Helpful House Cleaning Tips for Working Mothers

Having a clean home when you work can be a real struggle. Seventy percent of mothers with children under 18 participate in the labor force, with over 75 percent employed full-time. Whether you work full-time or part-time,  juggling your job, kids, cooking and cleaning is not easy. When you are off from work, it can still be difficult to find the time to clean your home thoroughly.

You can find some relief when you change the way you work to keep your home spotless. Here are a few tips that will help you make the most of the time you have to clean and organize your home.

1. Set A Timer

Cleaning shouldn’t consume your whole day. You can make your home look clean in just 20 minutes. You would be surprised at what you can accomplish in just 20 minutes if you don’t get distracted by phone calls, emails, visitors ,etc.

Start with the easiest task and set a timer. Using a timer will help you understand exactly how much time you have left and helps keep you from getting sidetracked.

2. Do Dishes After Every Meal

Cleaning the dishes after meals helps you stay on top of your kitchen. Don’t let dishes pile up, because it will become overwhelming, and cause you to procrastinate. Get into a routine which includes doing dishes after each meal. Stop throwing the dirty utensils in your sink and leaving them for later.

If you are having trouble getting your dishes under control, try the “One Cup Method.” Assign one plate, glass, other utensils to everyone and avoid using other utensils. Doing so will significantly cut down on the amount of dirty dishes, and make clean-up after each meal quick and easy.

Use a similar approach for taking out the trash. Every evening before going to bed, place your full trash bag by the front door. In the morning, grab it and place in your outdoor trash can or receptacle. If you do this, you won’t come home to foul odors or overflowing trash bins after working a long day.

3. Assign Tasks

You shouldn’t have to pick up after everyone. You are not the only person living in your home, and it doesn’t state anywhere, that you are the only person responsible for cleaning it. Make others contribute, especially when you can’t handle the load alone. Follow this plan:

Assign Laundry to Teens

Laundry can clutter your whole house, especially if everyone keeps throwing their dirty laundry wherever they want. Your teens are only a few years away from college where they will have to look after themselves. Prepare them for this change by making them do the laundry for the whole family.

Make Everyone Pick Up After Themselves

It may be harder to get very young children to clean up after themselves, but it is easier to implement with older children. Lead by example, you are teaching your children about personal responsibility when you make them clean up after themselves. You won’t need to remind them of their chores, if they take pride in keeping their house clean. Teaching your children the value of being responsible. will serve them well in life.

4. Find Pockets of Time Every Day

If you can’t afford a top-end NYC Maid Service, you need to find pockets of time in-between different tasks. Use your time wisely and knock off cleaning tasks. For example:

  • Unload the dishwasher while you wait for your kids to get ready for school
  • Do some laundry during a commercial break
  • Pre-treat the laundry items for your next load when waiting for the washing machine to finish
  • Clean the bathroom while taking a shower

Implementing these helpful tips can make keeping up with your home while working easier. Juggling a career, family and managing a home is stressful, that stress can make day-to-day life hard and chaotic. If you stick with the new routines, it won’t be long before you see big changes.

This is a collaborative guest post, the views and ideas expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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· 3:54 am

“Dog Days” Unleashed In Theaters Today & Dog Days Gift Pack Giveaway

Unleash the love! DOG DAYS hits theaters everywhere Wednesday, August 8th!

Dog Days is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals.

Check out the official trailer below:

Dog Days is  directed by Ken Marino, stars Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, Finn Wolfahard and more!

Giveaway:

Enter below for your chance to win a Dog Days Gift Pack. 

Dog Days Giveaway includes:

  • Collapsible Dog Bowl (color may vary)
  • Doggy Bag Dispenser (color may vary)
  • Dog Bandana (color may vary) 
  • Adopt Love T-Shirt (size & color may vary)
  • $50 Fandango Gift Card to take your family to see DOG DAYS in theaters

 

I am working with a PR company representing LD Entertainment and they are sponsoring this giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. As always my words and views are 100% my own.


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August 7, 2018 · 10:16 pm

“How To Be A Lion” Book Giveaway

I want to introduce you to a new picture book by the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Max the Brave comes an inspiring and adorable picture book about a pair of unlikely friends who face down a pack of bullies, Ed Vere. How To Be A Lion shows kids that you don’t have to roar to be heard.

Leonard is a lion who has a duck named Marianne, as his best friend. One day the lion bullies come around, and tell Leonard they understand he is different, he likes writing poetry and being gentle, but not chomping a duck is going too far.

Leonard and Marianne find a way to show the lion bullies that there is more than one way to be a lion. In the end, the words Marianne and Leonard put together, show the bullies that they should worry about being themselves and let Leonard be who he is. 

The story reinforces the importance of accepting people for who they are and to stop using stereotypes of the way they should act. It is an important lesson that is conveyed beautifully on the pages.

Ed Vere’s new book is part of trend in children’s literature – books meant to empower boys to think independently, engage with their emotions, and not conform to traditional gender roles.

In a recent interview about the topic, Vere said: “Too often strength and sensitivity are presented as mutually exclusive. We need to teach compassion, respect and empathy at an early, foundational age. If we can teach this to boys at around five, and demonstrate that being gentle, sensitive or emotionally engaged isn’t a weakness, but part of being a fully rounded grown up man, then we’re getting the message through to them before toxic attitudes have a chance to solidify.”

Ed’s book, HOW TO BE A LION, is being praised for successfully conveying this important message.

  • “Positive role models showing boys how to be a whole person are few and far between these days. This marvelous book triumphs in that essential job.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
  • “Vere’s fable makes a watertight—and charming—case for ignoring the pressures of conformity.” – Publishers Weekly
  • “Children will feel empowered after reading such a deliberate story of unyielding strength and self-awareness. Thoughtful and provocative words to live by.” – School Library Journal

Listen as I read the book in the video below:

Giveaway

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of How To Be A Lion! Thank you to Penguin Random House for  review book and this king of a giveaway. Open to U.S. Residents.

How To Be A Lion Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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August 6, 2018 · 3:39 pm

Baby Code! Board Book Set Giveaway

Do you know Baby Code? If not, you can learn with this set of four new adorable board books. The Baby Code! board books by Sandra Horning are illustrated by Melissa Crowton.

Perfect for the littlest hands, the BABY CODE! board books show the youngest readers that coding is all around them, and how they can take part in it. Making use of experiences common in a baby’s world, like holding a teddy bear or playing with an electric train, these charming board books full of bright, colorful illustrations are the perfect introduction to coding in many different forms.

The first book, BABY CODE! introduces coding in relation to everyday objects like a dog or phone, while BABY CODE! ART, BABY CODE! MUSIC, and BABY CODE! PLAY tie in the earliest experiences—like hearing a melody or playing on a swing. The sweet board books also feature real code, encouraging parents and children alike to be actively involved in technology from the very youngest

These books are so cute and fun to read to little ones. You don’t need to fear ripped pages from overzealous little hands, because the sturdy board book pages stand up to even not-so-gentle babies and toddlers. Great to take along in a diaper bag to entertain while eating out or traveling.

Giveaway:

Penguin Young Readers is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Baby Code! Set of Board Books! Thank you To Penguin Young Readers for the review set and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to U.S. Residents.

Baby Code! Board Book Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 2, 2018 · 12:03 pm

“The Girl With A Mind For Math:The Story of Raye Montague” Book Review & Giveaway

The message in The Girl With A Mind For Math:The Story of Raye Montague is, if there is something you want, you need to focus your mind on it. Your dream may seem out of reach, people may tell you that you can’t do it, but you need to keep going, and you will succeed,  like one bold engineer named Raye Montague.

This is a story of a woman who realized her dream when basically everything was against her. Being born a girl of color in the south where segregated schools were the norm, Raye was met with negativity at nearly every turn, when she talked about becoming an engineer who designs ships.

Raye was lucky to have the support of her family, they told her to keep going no matter what. Raye was resourceful, when the schools did not teach what she wanted to learn, she learned it on her own. She was a voracious reader, and even when she found out engineering was not offered to her in college. she took business instead.

Raye went to Washington, D.C. after graduating college with honors and landed a position as a typist for the Navy. There she not only did her job, but learned all she could from the ship designing engineers. At night she went to school to learn computers.

It all paid off even though Raye faced discrimination for being black and being a woman. She never let that stop her, and pushed through the barriers she needed to. A stroke of luck got her promoted when she got to show off all she knew. Learning computers helped her design a special system to design a ship for the president in just 18 hours.

This is a book about rising above all the odds. It is inspirational and educational. Great to read to your kids, grandkids or use in the classroom. The end of the book has pages about Raye’s real life, advice from her and a timeline of all she achieved. The book is written by Julia Finley Mosca and is illustrated by Daniel Rieley.

Giveaway:

Innovation Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of The Girl With A Mind For Math: The Story of Raye Montague! Thanks to Innovation Press for the review book and sponsoring this inspiring giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

The Girl With A Mind For Math: The Story of Raye Montague Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 1, 2018 · 1:30 pm

“The Boxcar Children-Surprise Island” Arriving on DVD & Giveaway

Do you remember The Boxcar Children Books? If you do, you might be surprised to learn that it’s the 75th anniversary of the beloved book series. To celebrate, a new animated feature The Boxcar Children – Surprise Island, will be released on Blu-ray and DVD August 7th.

The new film is based on one of the books from the beloved series by Gertrude Chandler Warner and is family-friendly for all ages, with a recommendation for children ages 3-13.

Small island. Big adventure! THE BOXCAR CHILDREN – SURPRISE ISLAND, the highly anticipated movie adaption of the popular children’s book of the same name.

The animated film stars Golden Globe®-winning actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing) as James Alden, Oscar®-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) as Dr. Moore, Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets) as the mysterious Joe, Joey King (Independence Day: Resurgence) as Jesse Alden, Carter Sand (Frozen) as Benny Alden, Gil Birmingham (Twilight) as Lonan Browning, Griffin Gluck (Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life) as Henry Alden, Stephen Stanton (Star Wars Rebels) as Capt. Daniel and Talitha Bateman (Love, Simon) as Violet.

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN – SURPRISE ISLAND follows the adventures of the orphaned Boxcar Children as they spend an entire summer living on their Grandfather’s small, nearly uninhabited island. There they meet Joe, who is friendly and helpful, and inexplicably living on their island. Does their new friend have a secret?

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN – SURPRISE ISLAND is fun for the whole family, and is Dove approved for all ages. It is directed by Dan Chuba and Mark Dippé, and is produced by Legacy Classics and co-produced by Shout! Factory, Albert Whitman & Company and Blueberry Pictures. THE BOXCAR CHILDREN – SURPRISE ISLAND is the first of three new animated features to be adapted from the “The Boxcar Children” book series, as part of a partnership between Shout! Kids and Legacy Classics.

“The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner is one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time. Having just marked its 75th anniversary, over 70 million books have sold world-wide. There are 150 books in the series, and over 1 million kids read the books in schools across North America every year.

Giveaway:

Shout! Factory is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Three lucky blog readers will each win The Box Children – Surprise Island on DVD! Thank you to Shout! Factory for the review film and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.

The Box Children – Surprise Island  DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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