Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Happy Independence Day...well almost!   Have you heard of Color Street Nails ??   I hadn't either but I am so happy to share with you my thoughts.   A couple years ago I did the Jamberry nails and to be honest they took me forever and with the heat needed it made it an unbearable process in my opinions.    This is NOT the same as Color Street Nails!   The application is super easy and doesn't require any heat!   WINNING!!!  I purchased the fun festive one for 4th of July and I believe it was $13.  With that, I was able to do mine and my daughter's nails and toes!!!!  YES, ALL OF IT for only $13! I have had my nails on for a couple days now and have gardened (not wearing gloves and picking weeds so I was dirty) and worked hard and no chipping!   I am excited to look for other choices and make another order!   Go order here:    COLOR STREET ...

Tractors, Tractors, Tractors Oh MY!  We were able to see about 500 different tractors come to my small town in Iowa.  It is a 3-day parade event with the tractors.  Our church Riverside and nonprofit Royal Tea were sponsors of the event.  We made drinks and baked goods for the farmers and families.  It was a great day and fun to see the different ages of tractors!   There were even some female drivers too!  It was good fun! 

A time of changes, exciting opportunities and daunting newness, moving to a new house and neighborhood brings with it both feelings of fear and anticipation. However, as with most things, life changes can cause excess stress, and that is what might happen during moving day. It may be difficult to keep track of what to bring, what to leave behind and donate and what to leave in storage. With a few things to consider and planning, you can make this exciting and daunting life event as hassle-free as possible: Pack early One of the ways stress can manifest is through lack of preparation and feelings of lack of control. Don’t leave things last minute to prevent this and plan well in advance. Make a list of all the things you want to take with you to the new house, label boxes where things should go, and if you plan weeks early, you can gradually fill these boxes with the things on your list. Check your calendar; are you free on moving day? If not, make sure you book the day off. Alternati...

Anyone else have a secret berry bush and the neighbors don't care if you eat it?  I have great neighbors who let me eat their berries.   These are so tasty!  YUM YUM 

About Splash Brands: Since 2011, Splash Brands creates outstanding products. We never take shortcuts. We supply the ideas, oversee the product design, manage production, retail and wholesale. Since we are in charge, we don't need to make compromises.  We are a small company, with a very international focus. Our products are sold worldwide and aside from our main office in Germany, we also have an office and a warehouse in Satellite Beach, USA. Thanks, Splash Brands for sending me the Memovase to review.  I was not paid for this review and all opinions expressed are 100% my own.  You can purchase your own memovase on Amazon for $19.90.  My Review: Let's be honest, we all know I love flowers!  I grow several different types around my house so the picture below is just a few flowers from my home.                                        ...

Book Description Based on the New York Times bestselling The Circle Maker and Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker Devotions for Kids encourages kids ages 8 and up to pray circles around their biggest dreams. Boys and girls will learn the story of Honi the Circle Maker, who drew a circle in the sand and didn’t budge from it until God answered a seemingly impossible prayer. Kids are encouraged to be brave and bold in their prayers and dreams just like Honi, and to see how God answers prayers in big and small ways. Featuring 100 inspiring messages and a beautifully designed interior, this devotional makes a perfect gift for young readers. My Review: I was super excited about this review.  A couple years ago I read Mark Batterson's adult book and then also did the video series with our ladies group.   Hearing his testimonies was awesome and encouraging.   Since it was a couple years ago it was time to get in the habit of making my daily c...

Summer is the perfect time for a vacation, yet the planning can be stressful when trying to find something suitable for the whole family. Choosing whether to stay on home soil or travel to far-flung destinations is one of the first things to think about, and your budget and interests often determine this. Traveling with children usually takes more planning, as finding a destination that caters to children of a certain age is essential for getting the right balance of activities and entertainment for adults and children alike. Preparation is key for vacation planning, and researching everything before you go will help you have a hassle-free trip at an affordable price. If you’re looking to plan a family vacation, check out these tips to get it right for everyone.  Deciding the destination Where you go on vacation is undoubtedly an important aspect of your trip, as somewhere that is just suitable for lazing by the pool will probably drive the kids insane, but ...

Here are a few highlights from day 1:

This lovely group of girls and boys went to camp this week!   6 girls and 3 boys are going to grow closer to God and closer to each other and I am blessed to be a part of it.  

Your local community consists of all the people who live in your area, and if everyone gets involved life can be so much more  rewarding ;  and your hometown will be a much better place to live. Humans are social creatures living in a complex society that revolves around people coming together, helping each other, and creating a vibrant local culture that enhances the lives of every member. If you haven’t gotten involved in yo u r community yet, or you’ve moved to a new area, there will be plenty of ways in which you can join in. Why it’s important to get involved Without people contributing their time and expertise to community activities, far less would be achieved, and the local amenities and events would cease to be.  So  it’s important that as many people step up as possible, to ensure that what makes your town somewhere special to live is continued into the future. Apart from the satisfaction of contributing your services for the greater good, you’ll also meet ...

Everyone knows the importance of looking and feeling good , and it  has benefits far beyond simple appearances.  Whil e  physically looking healthy might boost your self-esteem, it comes down to more than that. When you take care of your mind, body ,   and   spirit ,  you will feel more content and happier and therefore approach life with greater positivity.  It  can affect all areas of your life,  so if you are feeling stuck in a rut  in terms of  your career or you are still looking for the love of your life but having no luck then do not despair.  Instead ,  divert your  attention  to looking after your body and mind, and notice the positive changes that ripple throughout your life. Spending time on the things you enjoy, regularly exercising, eating healthily, and taking care of your body will pay off with greater fitness and an improved quality of life, so don’t delay, follow these top tips on how to look goo...

It is the best news in the world when we find out we are going to starting a new family with the person we love. Welcoming a new life into this world, nurturing , and raising them is one of the biggest privileges we can have in life. Nonetheless, it can be a stressful time as we try and second guess every little thing we might need  in order to  help us bring this child up.  This short guide will give you some pointers  about the essentials you will need to get starting in you and your partners ’  preparation for the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Choosing your child’s care During the first few months with your new baby, you will be nurturing  them  wholly by yourselves, but it is never too early to start looking quality childcare for when you and partner return full time to work. Start by going online and  seeking advice on what to look for in a nursery  as this will provide you with the answers you need to make an informed choice. For example,...