21 Months

Someone asked me the other day how old Cory was... I was about to say 20 months when I realized that no, he would be 21 months the next day. How did that happen? Oh wait, it's the holidays and time's flying!

So here are some of the fun things he's done this month.

First off he's started putting two words together. The first time he did this we were having some sweet bread and he very distinctly said "more cake" and then "please". He's got his priorities in line!

Being at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Oregon this week there is a big set of stairs. He has learned to say up-stairs and down-stairs. And of course he's always wanting to know where Grandma and Grandpa are! He's a little shadow!

Favorite foods include "scaphetti" and "mash and cheese" or really anything that has "noo noo"s in it!

I've taught him he can hold up the plastic cups to his ears and "hear" the ocean. Now he does it randomly and says "osha".

He likes pencils... but he also likes to chew off the erasers! So, we just give him colored pencils. They don't write on walls and furniture as well anyway! However we do also have washable crayons and they really are quite washable.

Washable also makes them really soft... soft enough to create beards with!

So he loves to color or draw and can recognize most shapes and many numbers.

He loves to say "scoop" for the backhoes and tractors with buckets that we see in books. He also likes his "boose" (caboose) on the train. He learned this word from the train story/songs CD that we have.

Christmas is "Chrimpas" and some of his favorite characters are "shnowman" (which he says through his nose on the "sn" sound - or else it's "no-man"), reindeer, nutcracker (which he can say pretty well since he also loves crackers!), and Santa.

He's having a ton of fun "swimming" in Grandma and Grandpa's pool and will frequently go to the correct door and say "pool?" and "swimming?".

We're glad to be able to spend a whole week here so he and the grandparents can get some quality time!

On Christmas

Christmas started on Sunday for us - with a 70's style party at our life group! We had 2 fondue pots and 3 different types of fondue! With all of us standing around I really felt like we had gone back to the 70's! It was definitely yummy though! Homemade cheese fondue with french bread, marinated steak in hot oil fondue (it's way better than is sounds!), and dark chocolate fondue with all types of fruit. Quite the balanced meal!
We also watched a short Russian video - their version of Laurel and Hardy. You didn't have to read the sub-titles to see that the staged "robbery" was not going according to plan!

Tuesday night was Christmas with my family as we were supposed to be headed to Oregon yesterday...
The ham wasn't done until 7pm when dinner was set for 5. But none of us was complaining, we didn't want a repeat of last year!


So we did gifts first and Cory really enjoyed the first few presents and helping Grandma play Santa Claus. After that I think he was a bit overwhelmed. The hit present for him though was a set of Dr. Seuss board books from Kevin and Annika. One of them was Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. It's a book about monkey drumming... and we read it when we were in Arizona in October. He loved it then and when he saw it in the package he started saying "dum ditty" which is what the monkeys say when they are drumming.
We have already read it multiple times!


Christmas Eve we did absolutely nothing. Well, because I am a complete dork I asked for (and received) CD cases for Christmas and I spent the better portion of the afternoon organizing and putting all my CD's in these cases! (they had all been in their original cases stacked in various places around the house and taking up space!) I suppose that was a nice way to spend the day!

We shall see what the weather brings in the morning and if we leave or stay here one more day!


Here's my attempt at bokeh photography on a neighbor's outdoor Christmas tree... the lighting was better half an hour earlier, but we were on our way to pick up Grandma and I missed it. Oh well!

Merry Christmas all!

Book: The Paper Bag Christmas

Today I'd like to introduce you to a delightful Christmas story called The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne.

***

When Molar Alan and his older brother, Aaron, fill out their Christmas wish lists front and back, the Santa at the mall informs the boys they won't be getting anything they asked for. Instead, he says, they will receive everything they never wanted. This isn't your garden-variety Santa, he's Dr. Chris Ringle, a pediatric oncologist, and he enlists the brothers as Santa's elves at the children's ward for the holidays.
Each boy is charged with a very special assignment. Aaron will befriend Madhu, a fast-talking boy on an organ transplant list who, though not Christian, has an insatiable curiosity and wants to learn all about the holiday. Madhu is determined to be a wise man in the hospital pageant, despite the objections to his interpretation of the role.
Molar's task is considerable harder, as he attempts to help a lonely little girl named Katrina. Katrina's surgery has left her scarred and she has shut herself away from everyone. But it is through her that the true spirit of Christmas will touch the lives of all those around her in a way none of them would have ever foreseen.

***

This story was not at all what I expected, but it was a wonderful surprise. I would almost call it a short story since it took me just over an hour to read. It's set in the Portland, Oregon area so that was fun and familiar to me, but more than that it's based on a true experience the author had as a child.
It's the story of a Christmas with heart. Where it's not all about me, but about others. It's a story that will warm your heart!

If you have a chance I highly recommend you pick this up! It would make a lovely stocking stuffer or an annual read to get you in the Christmas mood!

Notice

Some of you may have noticed that my blog is taking up to 12 hours to update in your reader when I post something new. I'm not sure exactly why that is...

But I have switched back to my old feed and actually deleted this new one. So... I hope I'm not making your lives all difficult again! Here is the new(old) feed address:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/WelcomeToMarriedLife

I have also updated the "subscribe" link in the right sidebar.

If none of this applies to you... I'm sorry and have a Merry Christmas!

Cory's first snow!

So, I meant to take Cory out yesterday after his nap, but then I came down with a nasty headache. Instead today we went out for a few minutes (yes, it's only 15 degrees here so 10 minutes is plenty of time!)

We got about 6 inches of fresh snow on Wednesday and I just let Cory walk around and see what he wanted to do. He didn't like walking in the snow, he preferred to stay on the sidewalk and just smash the little snowballs that had piled up from shoveling. He's not real steady in his boots yet, they are too bulky for him.

Then he figured out that he could touch it, but since he only has cotton mittens it was sticking to his gloves and he didn't like that. So I showed him how to clap his hands and brush it off.

Finally he figured out that he could eat it... and after the first bite he said "yum, yum!" Way too cute of course!

No, I don't have any pictures, but I will get some later. I'm sure this is not the last snow we will have this winter!

Book: Where Do I Go?

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Where Do I Go?
Thomas Nelson (December 9, 2008)
by
Neta Jackson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. In addition to writing several books about Christian community, the Jacksons have coauthored numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

Dave and Neta live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years they were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. They are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

They're trying something new! Not just new for them, but something completely new in Christian fiction: “Parallel novels,” two stories taking place in the same time frame, same neighborhood, involving some of the same characters living through their own dramas and crises but interacting with and affecting one another … just the way it happens in real life.

It’s something that only a husband and wife writing team could pull off. While Neta has Where Do I Go?, her husband Dave has written Harry Bentley's Second Chance.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A story of seeking-and finding-God's will in unlikely places.

Gabrielle Fairbanks has nearly lost touch with the carefree, spirited young woman she was when she married her husband fifteen years ago. But when the couple moves to Chicago to accommodate Philip's business ambitions, Gabby finds the chance to make herself useful. It's there she meets the women of Manna House Women's Shelter; they need a Program Director-and she has a degree in social work. She's in her element, feeling God's call on her life at last, even though Philip doesn't like the changes he sees in her. But things get rough when Philip gives Gabby an ultimatum: quit her job at the shelter or risk divorce and losing custody of their sons. Gabby must take refuge, as in the song they sing at Sunday night worship: "Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to? . . . I go to the Rock I know that's able, I go to the Rock."

***

Well, I'd love to review this book... unfortunately it's hard to do that when you haven't even received it yet. So, read the first chapter and decide for yourself...

To read the Prologue and first Chapter of Where Do I Go?, go HERE

Snowy Weekend

It started snowing on Friday morning here... and I was scheduled to go to Seattle on Saturday. Which from here means driving over the mountains. Fun. I was checking the weather on every site I could think of, but I decided to go anyway.

The drive over wasn't too bad... if you consider driving 25mph in alternating slush and solid packed snow not too bad! I was thankful there weren't many people going my way because at one point I looked in my mirror and watched someone nose in to the guardrail (over a cliff) and then bounce off and do a 360 in the road. I was so glad they were behind me because there's no way I could have avoided them if they were in front of me.
Oh, and I also passed 30 tour busses (yes, I counted) headed for Leavenworth and the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. I was definitely glad I wasn't one of those drivers!

I made it over in plenty of time and was surpised to see that it was actually clear and sunny in Seattle. I was headed to the Michael W. Smith Christmas concert at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond. I went to help staff the Compassion International table.
The concert was nice. I got to stand in the back for part of it and there were TV's and speakers in the lobby so we didn't miss much. Unfortunately my biggest impression of the day was how commercialized the church was. It's a mega-church. Seriously, they have a shuttle bus system for their own parking lot!
Anyways, the tickets for the show were really expensive (read: I wouldn't have gone) and once inside the church there were about 10 different things going on. The kicker though was the Verizon Wireless booth in the lobby right outside the sanctuary. I guess that was part of the sponsor for the concert... but there was also a very permanent Lifeway bookstore there just next to the doors as well as food/coffee vendors. Reminded me a bit of that story about Jesus and the money-changers in the temple...

So, the concert went well, there were many children sponsored and I had fun talking to the other advocates about their trips to visit their sponsored children (I'm only a little jealous...).

Then I met my friends from college, Katrina and Andy, at the Olive Garden for dinner. Poor choice. First we had to wait half an hour just to be seated. Then we had a very indifferent waiter. Then... oh, this is the best part!
I ordered Chicken Carbonera. The picture showed it with something red but I didn't look too closely and it wasn't listed in the description. My dinner came. It had RED PEPPERS in it!!!
This is kind of an inside family joke, but I really really really don't like red peppers (or really any peppers) and my mother really really really likes them and puts them in just about everything she makes! So it was only fitting that my dinner should have red peppers in it. OY!
I was just going to pick them out and sort of eat it, but Katrina asked the waiter if they were listed on the menu and when he said they weren't she asked him to bring me a new dinner! Unfortunately I should have realized that bacon makes things greasy and really the whole thing was a bit more than I could eat. Drat. Strike three for Olive Garden.

And then I was quite happy to have Katrina ride with me to their house since I had never been there and it was dark and there were a lot of turns. They live down a really steep windy hill that scared me a bit since, hey, it's still snowing! But we made it and I got the grand tour. The house has a very um, interesting, layout. But it's nice and they are fixing it up and they have 4 bedrooms!

In the morning we went to church and oh, I was wishing I had brought my camera! It was sunny and all the trees were outlined in snow and it was just gorgeous! My camera probably wouldn't have done it justice though.
Then since we were close to Redmond Town Center we had to go shopping after church.

I got started late for home, but it was much better driving and it was so sooo beautiful with the snow and the sun shining on the mountains!

In all, a fun weekend, but it was good to get home to my boys!

A Train Ride

We are so blessed where we live. Add this day to the one back in October where we got to see the airplanes that Cory loves and he's been pretty spoiled this fall!

Cory and Daddy taking a ride on the small gauge train!

We were there 10 minutes before the rides were supposed to start and we still only got on the third train. People who were in line later were probably going to wait an hour or more to get on.

It was a beautiful day (a bit cold, but hey, it's December!) and the train is in the park down by the river.

Unfortunately they were having a bit of trouble with the trains this day. They had already had to switch out one engine and then the train that Cory and Brian were on derailed! Well, the engine and the first car came off the tracks a bit. It wasn't a huge deal! ;)

So then Mommy and Grandma walked over to catch up and since it was taking so long some of the other people got out. Then we got in to ride the rest of the way around!


After our ride and while the next group was loading the engineer let Cory sit in his seat. He was fascinated watching the engine and hearing it be so loud!



Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Book: Engaging Father Christmas

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Engaging Father Christmas
FaithWords (October 30, 2008)
by
Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawai’i.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin’s favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers’ Guild.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation.

But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost.

And yet...maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

***

Well, I did it again. This is a sequel and I haven't read the first one. It's not all bad... but it probably would have been nice to know a little bit more about the first book!
That being said I'm about halfway through this book and it's pretty typical Robin Jones Gunn. If you've ever read any of her books you know what I mean. Not super light, but not really deep either. They're fun reads with sometimes an unexpected plot twist. And this one is set at Christmas time!

If you would like to read the first chapter of Engaging Father Christmas, go HERE

Date with Mommy

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out why we were out Friday morning, but the first thing I can remember is Brian calling us at 11 and upon finding that we were out asking us to come visit him...

So we did!

This is Brian's classroom. It's an old science department room, hence the odd shape and weird shelving. There are also no windows. Boo.

(Door just right of the photo)

(opposite view)

Cory found the electric pencil sharpener... he thought it was fantastic and made lots of "noise".

After this we went and ordered my birthday cake at Baskin Robbins and Cory was looking at all the ice cream so we got a small cup. He sat on his own chair with his own spoon and we ate Rainbow Sherbet. He just looked so grown up sitting there, it was precious!

Then we went to the grand opening of the new Great Harvest Bread Company! If you don't know what this is... oy, you are missing out!

When we found out they were opening one here I realized that our bread budget was going to go through the roof! One loaf costs anywhere from $5.25 to $6.95, but is it ever worth it! They make their bread fresh every day and don't sell the day old stuff. Either the employees take it home or they donate it to local homeless shelters! They use only natural ingredients and their flavors are heavenly! Brian's favorite is Garlic Cheese, but I think I like the Garlic Rosemary better!

And, every time you go in you get a free slice of warm bread! Yum! Since we are a bread loving family it was fun to take Cory in there!

29 and holding

Yeah, that's right, I'll be 30 in another year...

but I seriously think this was the best birthday ever! That, or I'm just getting old... :)

First I drew the winners for my blog party.

And that took so long I almost didn't get dinner in the crock pot on time! (thanks to Scribbit for the fabulous BBQ Beef recipe that made the most amazingly yummy sandwiches!)

Then I took Cory for a little shopping. Was looking for some more pj's for him since he's almost outgrown his 2T ones. Bought some other necessities.

Picked out a free movie at Hollywood Video since it was my birthday! (you should try it!)

Also got new windshield wipers and picked up my ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.

Barely got home in time for my poor son to have his nap when my brother's girlfriend's brother (follow that?) came over for some help with his math.

By the time he left Cory was up again and I had just a few minutes online before I had to work on dinner some more!

Brian made me a card and had Cory color on part of it... when he wanted him to bring it out to me he took away the chalk... that made Cory cry so he came running out to me with this card in his hand, bawling! It was just too funny!

My parents, my brother, and his girlfriend all came for dinner. YUMMY!

And I got some cool presents... well, I think they're cool. Perhaps I will just prove my dorkiness!

Well, first Brian had gotten me some diamond earrings on Black Friday. Yay!

Then, my mom and dad got me an apple corer/peeler/slicer thing. I wanted one this summer when I was slicing fruit to be dried. This will be fantastic for next year... and for making lots of apple crisp! Oh, and money to buy a new scrapbook!

My brother got me some cool slippers from an outdoor store. They're down! I'm hoping the store has a bigger size though because they're just a bit snug. His girlfriend gave me some birthday money so I'll have to figure out something fun to get...

And not to be left out - my mother-in-law got me a sweater while we were shopping on Black Friday and my sister-in-law and her hubby sent me a book that looks really interesting.

Finally... we had Cookies and Cream ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins!

And then Cory went crazy and was being a complete ham and getting totally wound up for all the company!

After all the company left and Cory went to bed we watched my free movie, Juno. It was interesting.

Whew, no wonder I'm tired today!

Blog Party Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaways last week! They are now closed and I have drawn the winners!

Day 1 - magnet set from Daisy May Designs goes to Lisa (nussli)

Day 2 - custom jewelry design from HeatherBoyd goes to Erinls

Day 3 - sewing pattern from that*darn*kat goes to Danielle (yellyjohnson)

Day 4 - burp cloth set from the Polka Dot Papoose goes to Terra Jones

Day 5 - earrings from RuthKealoha goes to Karen and Co.


Ladies, you have 3 days to get back to me. I sent you all an email so please check your spam/junk folders!

Book: Quills and Promises

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Quills and Promises
Barbour Publishing, Inc (May 28, 2008)
by
Amber Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, and live in beautiful Colorado just east of the Front Range of the Rockies, but I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

Amber's very first book, Promises, Promises, released in February 2008. It's a historical fiction set in Delaware during the Colonial period and the Great Awakening. The other 2 books in the series are this current one, Quills And Promises (July 2008) and Deceptive Promises (December 2008). In 2009, they will be repackaged for a state set entitled Delaware Brides. She has also sold another series set in historical Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. The 3 books in that series will begin releasing in May 2009 and will be repackaged in 2010 as Michigan Brides.


ABOUT THE BOOK

-- Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison's integrity is questioned. --

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not until thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Innocence paired with wisdom beyond her years. With these traits, Elanna Hanssen unwittingly captures the attentions of Major Madison Scott. Her honest desire to understand the war fascinates him, and he resolves to get to know this perspicacious young lady better. When his military duty separates them, they begin a correspondence, cautiously baring their hearts to each other. Elanna has never known emotions like this before, but she is drawn to the integrity she sees in her major. Wh a local news reporter questions the major's credentials and activities, however, will she allow her heart or her head to rule? Can true love grow over such distance and around such obstacles?

***

I have to say, I didn't realize this was a sequel until a couple chapters in. But I had read the first one and you really don't need to to read this one.
Actually after about 3 chapters I wasn't sure I was going to finish it. The wording just seemed overly cheesy to me. I liked the first one much better.
But the historical account was interesting (I love history) and the rest of the book was better than the first couple of chapters.
Overall I would say this is a light read. The characters are not well developed as the story takes place over the course of 4 years and yet it's a short book. It makes it harder to understand why Elanna does the things she does at times.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Quills And Promises, go HERE.

20 Months!

Yes, I know, I'm dreadfully behind on this, what with Cory being 20 months and 10 days already! ;) You'll forgive me if I post cute pictures, right? right?

Mom, don't take pictures of me with my mouth full!

So, this month we discovered, actually Grandpa H. discovered during Thanksgiving, that if you're reading a familiar story to Cory and you stop before the last word on the page he will fill it in for you. It's really fun to do! (and of course we were all duly impressed!)

(look how big he is!!! I'm a little sad!)

In the mornings I usually get him his sippy cup of milk and bring him in bed with me for awhile. (in case you didn't know, I am NOT a morning person) He will usually make some mention of "school" because Daddy's not there. And then he will snuggle up on Daddy's "piw-wow" next to me!

(Cory thinks Mama's house coat is a giant "bibi"- blankie)

He has a little trouble with the "sp" sound so we have a book about "spots" and they are "fots". It takes a bit of getting used to if you're not sure what he's refering to! He also likes to "fin" around until he's dizzy!

One other word thing... he loves "flys" butterflies, dragonflies, etc. He used to call them all "fly", but now he can distinguish a bit and calls butterflies "buz-za". Not sure where it came from, but it's sure cute!

Helping push Great Grandma

Cory is a very good helper. He loves to do exactly whatever it is I'm doing. Earlier this month I was doing a ton of laundry and had various piles on the floor. One load of towels was clean so I was folding it on the couch while the washer filled for another load. Cory wanted to help load the washer so he took a clean towel off the couch and put it back in the washer for me! I didn't realize he could even reach that high!

Have I ever mentioned that Cory LOVES to read books? He will bring them to me, turn around, and say "up". And then when we're done he'll say "no-one" which means "another one" because he wants to go get one more, and one more, and one more!

Oh, and one more thing. I like to chase him around the house saying "I'm gonna get you" and then tickle him. Now, whenever he wants me to chase him he gets down on the ground - crawling - and says "getchou". So I chase him and then when I want him to "get me" he does this funny tickle thing with his fingers. It's tons of fun!

20 months going on 5 I think! And I'm already starting to buy 2 and 3T sizes!

Blog Party Guidelines

This is a sticky post for Blog Party week! Scroll down for new posts and giveaways!

Welcome to my new/old site! I hope you'll stay and look around... help me figure out if everything is working right... and enter the great giveaways we've got for this week!

Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to my feed! It's right over there -->

(those of you who have me linked on your site, would you be so kind as to update the link? Thanks! - oh, and the button code is updated, too! code on the left sidebar! although the old code will still get you here!)

To enter all giveaways: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!
Winners will be contacted by email and have 3 days to get back to me. Good luck and happy contesting!

Blog Party Day 5: RuthKealoha

Welcome to Day 5 of my blog party! Please be sure to update your feed reader (and if you haven't already, now's a great time to subscribe!) to my new URL: www.welcometomarriedlife.com


Today I'd like to introduce to you the gorgeous jewelry made by Ruth. I met Ruth at a holiday bazaar a couple of weeks ago so I got to see this fun stuff in person! She's a mom like me and is just getting started making jewelry. In fact, I'm going to her house tonight for a Christmas party and to see if I can find the perfect gift for a friend!

Of course you'd like to see what kind of jewelry she makes...


I really like dangly earrings if they are just so... and these are totally my style! A set of pearls or some funky oriental beads!

Then there are the awesome necklaces...

You have to click on this one to really see it. It's a heart shaped stone wrapped with wire. Many colors available.

I also like necklaces that look like they are floating like the one on the left. The one on the right caught my attention because of the dove. She says there are earrings available to match! I have a thing for doves... some of you might know why!

Ruth has graciously offered up a set of earrings for my giveaway. You can choose any set you like! And she's just recently updated her shop so there are tons to choose from! Please go visit, find the pair you'd like or your favorite item and come back here and tell me! That's it!


To enter: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!
Winners will be contacted by email and have 3 days to get back to me. Good luck and happy contesting!

Blog Party Day 4: Polka Dot Papoose

Welcome to Day 4 of my blog party! Please be sure to update your feed reader (and if you haven't already, now's a great time to subscribe!) to my new URL: www.welcometomarriedlife.com


Today I'd like to introduce to you the beautiful designs of Tara. She makes modern baby slings and burp cloths in the most gorgeous fabric combinations I have ever seen!

Like this one... I think it's my favorite!



Or this set of burp clothes. Don't you love the bright colors!



You can shop Tara's Etsy store or her website. She has a page of "instructions" that will help you if you've never used a sling before. You can also buy her designs at a number of other sites.

Here are a couple of slightly more muted designs that I also like. But I'm really a fan of the bold, shhh, don't tell, okay?





Tara has graciously offered one of her burp cloth sets to you. I know there are many of you out there either pregnant, with a new baby, or have a million friends with babies so this will come in handy! I'd enter myself if I could... ;)

So please visit her Etsy shop and come back with the name of your favorite fabric pattern combo!


To enter: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!
Winners will be contacted by email and have 3 days to get back to me. Good luck and happy contesting!

Blog Party Day 3: that*darn*kat

Welcome to Day 3 of my blog party! Please be sure to update your feed reader (and if you haven't already, now's a great time to subscribe!) to my new URL: www.welcometomarriedlife.com


Today I'm featuring my "in real life" friend, Katie, of that*darn*kat!

Katie is a former teacher (like me!) turned stay at home mom to three adorable kids. She is a seamstress extraordinaire as you'll soon see from her wares!

She makes a lot of her children's clothes plus purses, wallets, and probably anything else you could think of! So without further ado...

See that cute wallet on the left? I have one just like it only mine is in various black and white patterned fabric. It's perfect for a black and white purse that I have and everyone thinks it's so cool that it was custom made for me!

Of course I'd love to have a custom made purse like the one on the right... but until the one I'm using falls apart I think I'll have to wait!

For our giveaway Katie is offering one of her patterns. Don't be scared, they are great photo tutorials! You'll have your choice of two sizes of girls dresses, a pattern for underwear (how cool is that???), or the pattern for the bag shown above in black and white.

Please go visit her shop, come back and leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item is!


To enter: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!
Winners will be contacted by email and have 3 days to get back to me. Good luck and happy contesting!

Book: One Perfect Day

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Perfect Day
FaithWords (October 22, 2008)
by
Lauraine Snelling

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Today, Lauraine Snelling is a member of the more than Two Million Books In Print club, but when she first began, she was a mother of three teenagers with a simple dream to write “horse books for kids.”

All told, she has over 50 books published. She thinks. She’s not sure. She’d rather write them than count them. Lauraine’s work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German as well as produced as books on tape.

Awards have followed her dedication to “telling a good story”: the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.

Helping others reach their writing dream is the reason Lauraine teaches at writer’s conferences across the country. She mentors others through book doctoring and with her humorous and playful Writing Great Fiction tape set. Lauraine also produces material on query letters and other aspects of the writing process.

Her readers clamor for more books more often and Lauraine would like to comply, if only her ever-growing flower gardens didn’t call quite so loudly over the soothing rush of the water fountains in her back yard and if the hummingbirds weren’t quite so entertaining. Lauraine and husband Wayne have two grown sons and a cockatiel named Bidley, who loves to tease their Basset Hound named Chewy.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Two mothers end up more closely connected that they could dream...and yet they are strangers to one another.

The first has two children--twins, a boy and girl, who are seniors in high school. She wants their last Christmas as a family living in the same home to be perfect, but her husband is delayed returning from a business trip abroad. And then there's an accident--a fatal one involving a drunk driver.

Meanwhile, the other mother has a daughter who needs a new heart, and so the loss of one woman becomes the miracle the other has desperately prayed for. While one mother grieves, and pulls away from her family, the other finds that even miracles aren't always easy to receive.

***

This is not a cheerful book. It's good, but don't read it if you're not up for heavy and sad reading. Obviously it's dealing with death and illness, but it really focuses more on the mothers and how they deal with those things in their children.
A very well written book that I "enjoyed" if that's possible!

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Perfect Day, go HERE

Blog Party Day 2: HeatherBoyd

Welcome to Day 2 of my blog party! Please be sure to update your feed reader (and if you haven't already, now's a great time to subscribe!) to my new URL: www.welcometomarriedlife.com

Today I'm pleased to introduce you to the fabulous Etsy artisan named Heather Boyd. She's an art teacher from Montreal whose wares run the gamut from wire jewelry to children's craft projects to clothing and textile items. She also does custom designs so if you have something in particular you would like... let her know!

I personally adore these cat earrings...


That's how I found her shop, I was searching cats and art!

Here are some other examples of items she makes...





Heather has generously donated a custom creation just for you! A pair of earrings, brooch, necklace or bookmark based on your idea, design, or logo! So go take a look at her shop and her website (there are lots more ideas there) and then tell me what you'd like for her to create!


To enter: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!
Winners will be contacted by email and have 3 days to get back to me. Good luck and happy contesting!

Blog Party Day 1: Daisy May Designs

Welcome to Day 1 of my blog party! Please be sure to update your feed reader (and if you haven't already, now's a great time to subscribe!) to my new URL: www.welcometomarriedlife.com

Now I'd like to introduce you to Kristy!

Kristy is the owner of Daisy Mae Designs and boy does she have some fun stuff! It's very affordable, too!

Kristy lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and is a "consultant by day, crafter by night (and weekend)!" Her shop is named for her sweet, lazy beagle, Daisy Mae.

Here are some examples of the things she creates. Lots of magnets and funky pendants!





Hmmm, can you tell I like black and white? Don't worry, she has tons of beautiful colored items, too!

In honor of my blog relaunch party she has generously offered one of her magnet sets to you, my lovely readers! In return she would like a little market research...

Please go visit her Etsy shop and leave me a comment with your favorite item... or two! There are cool magnets as well as beautiful necklaces and some note cards.


To enter: You must either leave me a valid email address in your comment or have it on your profile so I can contact you. You want to know if you win, right?

• You may enter each contest by posting a comment about the item.
• You may enter a second time by posting my button on your blog. Please leave a second comment with the link to where it is posted.
• All Wii votes will be counted - you don't need to leave another comment for that.
  
• There may be other ways to enter so stay tuned!

All giveaways will end on December 8th at midnight Pacific time. The 9th is my birthday so I thought I'd have some fun picking winners then!