Free 11 x 8.5 landscape hardcover photo book plus shipping as Mixbook.

HURRY!!! **HOT** Free 11×8.5″ landscape hardcover photo book plus shipping at Mixbook through 6/30

Mixbook is  doing a giveaway promo of their most popular photo book!  One free 11×8.5″ landscape hardcover photo book plus shipping will be given away per customer until 11:59PM PST on June 30th, 2011.

How to get your FREE Photo Book?

1.  CLICK this link:  Get a Free Photo Book plus Shipping at Mixbook

2.  Use Code: FREEBK at checkout to Get Your Free Photo Book plus Shipping at Mixbook

3.  Tell all your friends!!!

Expires: June 30th at 11:59pm PST

HURRY!!!

Simplicity

If ever there was a young lady who overly complicated her life, I would be the one. At a young age I decided my life would be anything but boring so I began adding all kinds of things, problems, people, situations (you get the picture) into my life to keep things "interesting". As you can imagine, years later, I realized what that self-made promise got me; lots of complication and very little boring. When I stopped to think about it, it wasn't what I was truly looking for. Unnecessary complexity never is. However, eventually I decided through trial and error that there really is beauty in simplicity-and I wanted to get to the core of it. I sincerely wanted to taste the sweetness of the simple life.

 
How can you find beauty in simplicity when your life isn't simple? The next question I would ask is, "what is simple"? Albert Einstein made it plain through his studies that everything is relative, so what is it then?
Ironically, simplicity is a word full of meaning. However, we're going to narrow it down to these three definitions: having clarity, plainness as a way of life, and possessing sincerity.

Sincerity

Sincerity does not overcomplicate. If you sincerely desire to raise a family, keep home, love your husband and nurture a marriage- then you truly desire to do it. Sincerity goes against the norm and does not use false pride or flashy show to live life. Sincere change in a woman

comes because she does things because she loves to, because she desires to for whatever reason she believes in. This definition does not say we are busy because we are sincere. It is merely saying that sincerity is the crucial beginning step to any change and the ingredient to keep it that way.
If life is too busy or complicated for you now take an inventory of your life and go inside to find the desire to slow down or cut down on the extras. What does that change entail? You decide. That change in your life could means cutting out the extra running around or getting rid of excess clothing to cut down on the laundry loads. Only you can look at your life and sincerely decide what needs to go to begin anew.

Plainness as a way of Life

I love newness, pretty things and am a very spontaneous person. (No, this isn't turning into a personal ad.) { smile } Because of this, I always thought plain was boring. As I've been living a more plain way of life, I've come to see that it is anything but boring. Simplicity is deep and meaningful, rich and organic. Simplicity is appreciation for the beauty of the earth, for the belongings we have, and for life itself. As we slow down and get back to the basics, to our roots, and to our core we discover more that is within ourselves and embrace the larger picture of life.

Clarity

When we get rid of the extra unnecessary things that clutter and complicate life we can see more clearly. When we're constantly cleaning the house because we have too many belongings sometimes it's hard to see past the clutter. When we're running around all day and barely make it home to throw a meal in the microwave and then collapse from exhaustion on the couch, how can we see past the tired eyes?

Clarity comes when we get rid of complexity. Clarity comes when we invite it in and slow our lives down to simple, loving tasks and less to-do's. It is true that there will be things we don't want to do but have to. How does this look in your life? What will you cross of your list and breathe a sigh of relief from?
From the simple bouquet of fresh flowers on the table to the homemade rolls baking in the oven, it's the simple things that make life so meaningful. Take time to stop and see the beauty of simplicity.

Free Bottle of Old Orchard Juice

Who doesn’t love FREE! This is for a FULL size bottle of Old Orchard Juice! To get yours, just join the Old Orchard Fan Club, then click on the verification link email. Take THIS survey, then cash in your points for the FREE coupon for Old Orchard!  My favorite is the cranberry pomegranate.

No More Rack, Great Deals!!!!!

No More Rack is a Daily Deals Site and they are offering a FREE $10 Credit for new sign-ups! No More Rack features deeply discounted products for 1 day only, though the best deals sell out in minutes! The deals go live at 9am PST every week day. Go here to snag your FREE $10 Credit.

To make it even sweeter, they just started a *HoT* promotion where you can EASILY earn yourself some FREE electronics! Everything from Kitchen appliances, Espresso machines, Canon cameras, and TV's.

The brands include:

• Apple Macs and Ipads
• Canon
• Sony
• Krups
• Cusinart
• Kodak
• LG
• Hamilton Beach
• Disney
• Panasonic
• AND MORE!

To earn these prizes, sign-up here or log-in and get your referral link. Share it with your friends and if you get enough friends to join, you can snag a FREE prize. To earn these prizes, your friends simply need to join NoMoreRack.com, no purchase is necessary!

Free Kind Bars

FREE $$ Kind Bar HERE! You can send yourself the invite and you’ll get the link in your email to get a FREE Kind Bar! You will have to use 2 different email addresses.

Supporting The Troops

For the eighth straight year, Jim Kerschner of KUBC in Montrose, Colorado is locking himself in the studio to raise money for supplies for our troops. The goal for Operation Sweet Tooth is to raise $50,000 in cash and supplies such as:

CANDY – ELK JERKY – POPCORN – PRETZELS – APPLESAUCE – PUDDING MIX – JELLO – BUG SPRAY – FOOT POWDER- COOLING-BANDANAS – DEET WET WIPES – BASEBALLS – BASEBALL GLOVES – VOLLEYBALLS – FOOTBALLS …ETC. LOTIONS, FOOT POWDERS, SHAMPOOS, SOCKS, BIBLES, MAGAZINES, NUTS, KOOL AID, JELLY BEANS, and many other items upon request.

I want to encourage my readers   to help out the effort by visiting theOperation Sweet Tooth website, or call 970-249-5800. Donations can also be mailed to Operation Sweet Tooth, 106 Rose Lane, Montrose, CO 81401.

Here is a video of Jim Kerschner explains a bit about Operation sweet Tooth 

Food Processor

I want a food processor!  I have been looking at them online for awhile and have finally decided to go for it.  Below are the ones I am looking at, I haven't decided yet so if you have one or have an opinion please let me
 know.












I love all the different things that you do with them and a couple of the ones that I was looking at will also make Ice cream and frozen Yogurt.

FREE $2 MP3 Credit on Amazon.com

Right now when you enter CLOUDMP3 You can get a Free $2 MP3 Credit on Amazon.com! That should let you buy 1-2 songs for FREE!  Here are some of my favorite songs right now.

Proverbs 31:13

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

This verse got me to wondering about the seeking and the willingly. Do I seek ways to provide for my family and do I work for my family willingly. I looked up both of those words in my concordance and found the normal definition for seeketh but for willingly I found;

1) delight, pleasure

A) delight

B) desire, longing

C) the good pleasure

D) that in which one takes delight

Do I not only work with my hands making a home for my family but do I delight in it? Is it my pleasure to do it. I love the idea of taking delight in seeking things that I can make or use for my family. It reminded me that no matter what am doing I should be delighting in it, whether it's cleaning, laundry, mopping, cooking, knitting or ironing if my hands are involved then I should have pleasure in doing it for my family.  

A Prince or a Knight?

Like every little girl, I wanted to be like Cinderella.


Well, I didn't want all those chores, and the crazy woman on my case, and the lousy wardrobe or the nasty sisters.


But I wanted the good stuff, like the ball,the mice that helped me, and the fancy dress, and the prince.


Ah, the prince. What girl didn't want to end up with him? He was dashing, and handsome, and obviously the point of the whole story was that he was such a catch that every woman wanted him.

But what did he really do? I mean, carrying a shoe around in your pocket and knocking on doors didn't exactly take any heroics. A shoe salesman could have accomplished the same thing, for goodness sake.

Why do we keep allowing our daughters to grow up believing the same old stories? Why aren't there any stories where Cinderella kicks the prince to the curb and marries a knight? Now there's an ending I could get behind. That would change things up a bit, in a good way.


I could get behind a story like that because I didn't marry a prince. I decided I didn't need that to have a happy ending. I married somebody who is much more like a knight. I'm so happy that I did!

What is the difference between a prince and a knight? Let me tell you how I see it. Storybooks show it differently, of course. But these are my thoughts:


A prince soaks in the royal bathtub while he awaits news that the knight has killed the dragon.

A knight kills the freaking dragon.

A prince feels elevated from birth. He is born into his title. But he waits for more.

A knight earns his title, and it is enough to know that he is worthy of it. He wants no more.

A prince has long shapely nails and he doesn't like to get dirt under them.

A knight has broken them long ago, holding swords, burying the dead, and working long hours.

A prince feels pretty brave, if he has an army in front of him, protecting him.

A knight has the courage of a warrior, and the heart of the fallen.

A prince doesn't really want to die...isn't there anyone else that can do it? 

A knight knows that death is part of the job. He is prepared to die to do his job well. He fears it not.

A prince does not want to get his shoes dirty, because his page worked so hard to polish them.

A knight leaves bloody footprints from his wounds, as he staggers back to go another round with the enemy.

A prince enjoys it when his subjects bow before him, showing that they honor him.

A knight needs no bowing, he is honored to do the job set before him.

and

A prince is royal

while

A knight is loyal...


A prince gets down on one knee, while a knight might just throw you over it!

(I have to admit, I debated adding that one, but those that know me well will get a chuckle out of it.)




Quite different types of men. Important distinctions, don't you think?


I am so thankful for my knight.

Decorating the Dining Room

Anyone that has been in my house knows I love color.  I was looking today for some ideas for my kitchen and dining room and found this picture 

I just fell in love!  I love the richness of the wood table, I adore the green chairs and the curtains with just a hint of blue, well don't even get me started.  The chandelier is also amazing,  I can just imagine myself setting at this table with a cup of coffee and my Bible first thing in the morning.  Or my husband and I having a glass of Ice tea and catching up our days.  Don't you just love when you go into someone's house and you instantly feel comfortable.  I know I do.

Our dining room has a large wood table with some wooden chairs but I am wanting to do something different with them I don't know what yet and am formulating some ideas.  I was thinking maybe some chair covers or maybe just new chairs all together.  I'm not sure but I do know that I am going to have to get some new window treatments.  The dining room and kitchen both have odd windows so I'll probably have to have someone make them for me.  I have been looking at some fabric but nothing has jumped out yet, though I have thrown this one out of the running yet   or this one   and then there's this one   See maybe my problem is to many choices.  Then once I get the new window treatments I can figure everything out.  Once I get it done I will post some pictures.

Proverbs 31:12

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

So this verse seemed straight forward but as I was praying and meditating on it I wondered what word was used for evil, so being me I went and looked it up

bad, evil
A) bad, disagreeable, malignant
B) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
C) evil, displeasing
D) bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
E) bad (of value)
F) worse than, worst (comparison)
G) sad, unhappy
H) evil (hurtful)
I) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
J) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
2) deeds, actions

I found it interesting that the word used could have so many meaning the ones that stuck out to me the most were disagreeable, unpleasant and unkind. At times I can be all of those things and yet it says she will do him good not evil all the days of her life, not just when things are going right or she's in a good mood. But no matter what.

Then I though well if evil has all these different definitions what about good:

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

A) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

B) pleasant (to the higher nature)

C) good, excellent (of its kind)

D) good, rich, valuable in estimation

E) good, appropriate, becoming

F) better (comparative)

G) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

H) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

I) good, kind, benign

J) good, right (ethical)

Pleasant, agreeable, appropriate, becoming, glad, kind and benign were the words that spoke to me the most. When JD and I talk about what kind of wife I want to be or what kind of mother I want to be I have used all of these words. Do you remember the book Pollyanna and how she played the "glad" game? I am wondering how different the atmosphere in my home would be if I did the same thing? So for the next week I am trying it, no matter what happens I will find something to be glad about. I think sometimes we underestimate the power of the words used in these verses it's not about not doing evil to your husband in our modern day meaning of the word but it's about so much more. So ladies will you work with me for the next week on making sure we display behaviors that have more to do with the meaning of good rather then the meaning of evil?

Bump It's for $1.00

Sorry, this post is a little late for a daily deal. But, I just saw it and thought it rocked!  In fact I ordered 2 sets for myself.

Right now, you can score Bumpits for only $1.00!  And, the shipping is free.  I know you guys have all seen the commercials for these things and they sell for a lot more than that.

*Deal expires in 4 hours.

Proverbs 31:11

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

So as I was reading and praying over this verse I found it interesting that the last phrase says shall have no need of spoil. It didn't say that he wouldn't spoil but that he would have no need of it. This got me to wondering what the words or phrase means in the original language.

So I went on a quest and was surprised to find that it meant

1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty

A) prey

B) booty, spoil, plunder (of war)

C) plunder (private)

D) gain (meaning dubious)

So this led to more thoughts and prayers  in trying to figure out why this wording was used and what it meant. This is where I ended up. His heart safely rests in her, he trusts her with everything, he relies on her prudence and her skill and knows that she will not disappoint him.

He has no need of spoil he does not lack profit or gain, especially those obtained by risk of war. She spends wisely and is thrifty so he does not have to extra risks to provide for the family. The more I meditated on this verse the more I was convicted. I began to think of all the ways I spend money and am I spending wisely? Do I demand or expect things from my husband that are not necessary and cause him to take risks in business that are un-necessary? I found that I am doing fairly well in this area especially as I am working hard on cutting expenses and only asking for those things that that are needed for the family.

Grandma's Influence

So I was talking with some friends today about reading and how much we enjoy it.  It was also interesting to me to find that most of us were given a love of reading from our Grandmas.  I will never forget the first book my Granny bought for me it was Wind In The Willows.  I fell in love with the adventures of Frog and Toad and we would read a chapter every time I went to her house.  I couldn't wait to see what crazy thing Frog was going to do next.


From there my love of reading blossomed.  I read for days when I first found the Anne of Green Gables Series and The Little House on the Prairie .  From there my love of reading has moved to many different things.  At any time you will find books like The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy , The Shunning  and Hearts In Atlantis  on my Kindle.


I have soared through mountains and to the bottom of the ocean.  I have lived in ancient Rome and helped to settle a colony on a distant planet.  I have laughed, cried and gotten angry all without leaving my chair.  I am so thankful for a Grandmother who showed me the world through books.

Free Kindle Books

So After my previous post listing some free cook books I found.  I thought I might just list some more.  This is a number of different kinds of books .  Please remember that prices can change quickly so please check and make sure they are still free before you download.


Make Perfect Coffee A How To Guide
Stay Organized and Get Things Done  
Clutter Free Home Living 
Gods And Kings (Chronicles of kings book 1)  This is one of my favorite series of Christian Fiction.
More Then Ordinary Enjoying Life With With God
Surrender The Heart
Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking 
365 Luncheon Dishes 
The Community Cookbook
52 Sunday Dinners 
50 Salads 
The Whitehouse Cookbook (1887)
The Cooks Oracle; A House Keepers Manual 
24 Little French Dinners 
Mrs's Wilson Cookbook
The Golden Age Cookbook
The Complete Home
Hilda Snow White Revisited 
The Arrival 
Broken Wings 
Anvil Of Tears
The Scars
Veiled Eyes
A Hint Of Rapture
50 Soups
Chasing Eden 
Aqua Knights 
I love reading and hope that you enjoy finding free books.

Free Kindle Cookbooks

I don't know about you but I love to try new recipes.  I recently found some cookbooks on Kindle that are free right now.  I will post the links below please check the prices before you download to make sure they are still free.


Taste Of Romania 
Hungarian Cookbook
A Taste Of Haiti
Aprovecho A Mexican-American Cookbook
Brazil A Culinary Journey

The Kerala Kitchen: Recipes and Recollections from the Syrian Christians of South India 

Southern Cooking

Circle Of Friends Cookbook- 25 Dips and spreads.

Eating For A Healthy Heart

A Cookbook By Ted

Easy Granola Recipe

If you are a busy mom like me, you are looking for a quick, healthy breakfast that tastes delicious. This granola totally fits the bill. It is so simple to throw together in the evening and lasts for about a week in an airtight container. And it's so much cheaper than buying prepared granola.  Now my boys were not so sure about this but once they tried it they fell in love. 

Another thing I really liked about this this granola is that it is totally customizable unlike the boxed version. Don't like almonds? Replace them with pecans or walnuts. Use raisins, dried banana chips or dried apricots as the fruit. You can add exactly what you want to make your perfect granola.

I personally love this granola with Vanilla Yogurt and strawberry slices.. Healthy, simple, tasty. Just what we need to fuel up for a busy day.

Granola

3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3 tablespoons (packed) brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup assorted dried fruit

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Stir honey and oil in saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; toss. Spread on prepared sheet. Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes. Place sheet on rack. Stir granola; cool. Mix in fruit.