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Finding Courage in Friendship

 In The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari, written by Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark, best friends Padraig the dragon and Roger the turtle to camp outside at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow aka the backyard.  And what starts out as a fun adventure on the safari roasting marshmallows and eating baked bugs quickly turns frightening under the blanket of night. For these two young friends the darkness and sounds of the night heighten the boys imaginations as squirrels, elephants and other safari animals are transformed into ferocious beasts.  Padraig who is obviously the more scared of the two tries his best to hide his fear from his best friend.

However, Roger senses Padraig’s uneasiness and works hard to be a source of comfort to him and encourage him to not give up on their adventure.  The boys nestle up in their tent prepared to call it a night until a loud cry for help draws them out on a true adventure.  Armed with a flashlight they set out to help whomever or whatever is need.  They put aside their fear and find courage in their friendship to vier out into the darkness and unknown to help another.

This is a great story to help teach children the true meaning of being a friend.  Paul and Denmark do a beautiful job of writing a story that is not only easy to read but easy for children to understand.  And thanks to Vincent Nguyen they have lovely illustrations to accompany this wonderful tale.  Also, the reading guide at the end makes this a great book to use in a church library and teach children about how God is always with us even during our time of fear.

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari
Authors: Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrator: Vincent Nguyen
Release Date:  January 2011
Pages: 40
Genre: Children’s, Fiction

*Please stop by and rate my book review here.  I was not compensated for this review. However, I did receive this book free of charge.  All opinions expressed above are my own.*

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Making It Happen

I have to admit that as a stay at home mom, I have been overwhelmed by guilt.  Guilt of what you ask?  Well, of not being able to pull my weight financially in my household.  I’ve never really had to be financially dependent upon anyone before and so this is all new to me.  To be honest, I hate it and am not adjusting to it at all.

So, I’ve been wallowing in self pity these last few months and stressing over the looming arrival of my second when I learned that my blogger friend Tara from The Young Mommy Life had finally released her ebook, Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating A Career You Crave.   I was beyond excited to see someone that I’ve become good friends with creating success for themselves.  I decided to show my support and purchase the book.  After all, I was hoping that I would stumble across something-anything-that would help to get me motivated.  Not to mention, I have been totally obsessed with my Kindle app on my Droid.

Let me tell you all that from the introduction to the end this book was FANTASTIC!!!  And no I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend.  If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know that I don’t over crowd with meaningless reviews of products and services I don’t feel passionate about.  I believe in keeping it real.

Speaking of which, Tara keeps it 100 too in her book.  If you’re looking for a hold your hand, sugarcoated, bubble gum type guide then you might not want to read this.  However, I suggest that you do because since finishing Make It Happen, I have been refocusing on how to make success happen in my own career.  I’ve realized that I have completely slacked off on my side hustle and put my pursuit of being a successful writer on hold.

And for what?  Well, of course I use the excuse that motherhood takes up all my time.  Thankfully, Tara breaks it down that motherhood is not an excuse for not going after the career you desire but it really should be your main motivation. And you know what she’s right!!

I’ve been in a single mom position before and it wasn’t fun.  I need to start chasing after my dreams and investing as much time in my side hustles to turn them into a brand as I do just wasting time doing other stuff.  I have all these ideas floating around in my head, but what good are they serving me if I’m not putting them into practice?

What really amazed me reading Tara’s book was when she said that she and her husband were able to save up $12,000!!!  I mean I’ve been able to save a few thousand but nothing anywhere near that amount and we’re both the same age and are about to have the same number of children.  I mean the similarities between the two of us is just crazy.

I can promise you that if you purchase this book you will learn something.  If you’ve been in a funk as a stay at home mom or working mom who hates her job then this is the book for you.  It’s full of great resources and great advice that you can actually use and apply to your day to day life.  This is just book one of her Make It Happen series and I’m already looking forward to book 2!!

And for those of you who are still a little hesitant about getting the book, stay tuned to my blog and watch as I actually use the tips, suggestions and advice from Tara’s book.  I want to prove to you that this is not just a get rich quick scheme of writing a self help guide but that she is truly compassionate about sharing the tricks of the trade that helped her get where she is.  She overcame a lot of obstacles and stereotypes that we young moms face and I thank her for sharing her story.

I’m looking forward to being able to be like Chris Brown and say ” Look at me now!!”  Go get the book if you haven’t already and let it inspire and motivate you. Also, don’t forget to check out her blog for even more tips and keep it real conversation on motherhood, relationships, finances, etc.

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Making It Happen

I have to admit that as a stay at home mom, I have been overwhelmed by guilt.  Guilt of what you ask?  Well, of not being able to pull my weight financially in my household.  I’ve never really had to be financially dependent upon anyone before and so this is all new to me.  To be honest, I hate it and am not adjusting to it at all.

So, I’ve been wallowing in self pity these last few months and stressing over the looming arrival of my second when I learned that my blogger friend Tara from The Young Mommy Life had finally released her ebook, Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating A Career You Crave.   I was beyond excited to see someone that I’ve become good friends with creating success for themselves.  I decided to show my support and purchase the book.  After all, I was hoping that I would stumble across something-anything-that would help to get me motivated.  Not to mention, I have been totally obsessed with my Kindle app on my Droid.

Let me tell you all that from the introduction to the end this book was FANTASTIC!!!  And no I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend.  If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know that I don’t over crowd with meaningless reviews of products and services I don’t feel passionate about.  I believe in keeping it real.

Speaking of which, Tara keeps it 100 too in her book.  If you’re looking for a hold your hand, sugarcoated, bubble gum type guide then you might not want to read this.  However, I suggest that you do because since finishing Make It Happen, I have been refocusing on how to make success happen in my own career.  I’ve realized that I have completely slacked off on my side hustle and put my pursuit of being a successful writer on hold.

And for what?  Well, of course I use the excuse that motherhood takes up all my time.  Thankfully, Tara breaks it down that motherhood is not an excuse for not going after the career you desire but it really should be your main motivation. And you know what she’s right!!

I’ve been in a single mom position before and it wasn’t fun.  I need to start chasing after my dreams and investing as much time in my side hustles to turn them into a brand as I do just wasting time doing other stuff.  I have all these ideas floating around in my head, but what good are they serving me if I’m not putting them into practice?

What really amazed me reading Tara’s book was when she said that she and her husband were able to save up $12,000!!!  I mean I’ve been able to save a few thousand but nothing anywhere near that amount and we’re both the same age and are about to have the same number of children.  I mean the similarities between the two of us is just crazy.

I can promise you that if you purchase this book you will learn something.  If you’ve been in a funk as a stay at home mom or working mom who hates her job then this is the book for you.  It’s full of great resources and great advice that you can actually use and apply to your day to day life.  This is just book one of her Make It Happen series and I’m already looking forward to book 2!!

And for those of you who are still a little hesitant about getting the book, stay tuned to my blog and watch as I actually use the tips, suggestions and advice from Tara’s book.  I want to prove to you that this is not just a get rich quick scheme of writing a self help guide but that she is truly compassionate about sharing the tricks of the trade that helped her get where she is.  She overcame a lot of obstacles and stereotypes that we young moms face and I thank her for sharing her story.

I’m looking forward to being able to be like Chris Brown and say ” Look at me now!!”  Go get the book if you haven’t already and let it inspire and motivate you. Also, don’t forget to check out her blog for even more tips and keep it real conversation on motherhood, relationships, finances, etc.

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Finding Courage in Friendship

 In The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari, written by Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark, best friends Padraig the dragon and Roger the turtle to camp outside at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow aka the backyard.  And what starts out as a fun adventure on the safari roasting marshmallows and eating baked bugs quickly turns frightening under the blanket of night. For these two young friends the darkness and sounds of the night heighten the boys imaginations as squirrels, elephants and other safari animals are transformed into ferocious beasts.  Padraig who is obviously the more scared of the two tries his best to hide his fear from his best friend.

However, Roger senses Padraig’s uneasiness and works hard to be a source of comfort to him and encourage him to not give up on their adventure.  The boys nestle up in their tent prepared to call it a night until a loud cry for help draws them out on a true adventure.  Armed with a flashlight they set out to help whomever or whatever is need.  They put aside their fear and find courage in their friendship to vier out into the darkness and unknown to help another.

This is a great story to help teach children the true meaning of being a friend.  Paul and Denmark do a beautiful job of writing a story that is not only easy to read but easy for children to understand.  And thanks to Vincent Nguyen they have lovely illustrations to accompany this wonderful tale.  Also, the reading guide at the end makes this a great book to use in a church library and teach children about how God is always with us even during our time of fear.

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari
Authors: Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrator: Vincent Nguyen
Release Date:  January 2011
Pages: 40
Genre: Children’s, Fiction

*Please stop by and rate my book review here.  I was not compensated for this review. However, I did receive this book free of charge.  All opinions expressed above are my own.*

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Mind Your Own

“Too many of us are in economic trouble because we haven’t been taught the correct way to think about home ownership and mortgage debt.”

In Mind Your Own Mortgage, author Robert J. Bernabe strives to show readers how to avoid allowing their American Dream become a disastrous nightmare.  With his take-no-prisoners approach, Bernabe clearly lays out a path for homeowners to take.  He reminds homeowners that “the American consumer is free to choose, and the choices we make carry consequences.”  Bernabe makes it clear that despite the recent downward spiral the housing market took, at the end of day the government and banks aren’t solely to blame.  Some homeowners got in over their heads and bought into the refinancing tricks, while others just didn’t take the time to shop around for better deals.
Broken up into four parts- Get a Grip on It, Shop for It, Manage It and Finish It- Mind Your Own Mortgage is filled with real life examples.  In each section, Bernabe introduces readers to individuals and couples who are faced with difficult choices regarding their choosing, managing and paying off their mortgages.  He walks us through the choices they make, the mistakes of those choices and how they can fix it.  He also provides insider tips as well as tables and charts to help readers better get an understanding of how to the principles and practices outlined in his book.
Honestly, whether you’re looking to become a homeowner, car owner or boat owner, this is a must read book.  Also, if you’re like millions of Americans and have gotten in over your head on a mortgage or any large debt, this book Bernabe’s tips for how to get a handle on that debt will definitely have you on the road to recovery and rebuilding your credit!  Maybe, you’ve already taken out a mortgage and are managing it fine but are thinking about refinancing.  No worries, he has that covered too.
Pick up a copy of Mind Your Own Mortgage and let Bernabe translate all the corporate jargon into plain English that the average person can comprehend.  Don’t go into homeownership blind or put yourself in the position to have your dream lifestyle turned into a horrible nightmare ever again!
Disclaimer:  I was gifted a copy of Mind Your Own Mortgage for this receive.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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Mind Your Own

“Too many of us are in economic trouble because we haven’t been taught the correct way to think about home ownership and mortgage debt.”

In Mind Your Own Mortgage, author Robert J. Bernabe strives to show readers how to avoid allowing their American Dream become a disastrous nightmare.  With his take-no-prisoners approach, Bernabe clearly lays out a path for homeowners to take.  He reminds homeowners that “the American consumer is free to choose, and the choices we make carry consequences.”  Bernabe makes it clear that despite the recent downward spiral the housing market took, at the end of day the government and banks aren’t solely to blame.  Some homeowners got in over their heads and bought into the refinancing tricks, while others just didn’t take the time to shop around for better deals.
Broken up into four parts- Get a Grip on It, Shop for It, Manage It and Finish It- Mind Your Own Mortgage is filled with real life examples.  In each section, Bernabe introduces readers to individuals and couples who are faced with difficult choices regarding their choosing, managing and paying off their mortgages.  He walks us through the choices they make, the mistakes of those choices and how they can fix it.  He also provides insider tips as well as tables and charts to help readers better get an understanding of how to the principles and practices outlined in his book.
Honestly, whether you’re looking to become a homeowner, car owner or boat owner, this is a must read book.  Also, if you’re like millions of Americans and have gotten in over your head on a mortgage or any large debt, this book Bernabe’s tips for how to get a handle on that debt will definitely have you on the road to recovery and rebuilding your credit!  Maybe, you’ve already taken out a mortgage and are managing it fine but are thinking about refinancing.  No worries, he has that covered too.
Pick up a copy of Mind Your Own Mortgage and let Bernabe translate all the corporate jargon into plain English that the average person can comprehend.  Don’t go into homeownership blind or put yourself in the position to have your dream lifestyle turned into a horrible nightmare ever again!
Disclaimer:  I was gifted a copy of Mind Your Own Mortgage for this receive.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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The MoneySmart Family System

In today’s tough economic times it is important not only for us as parents to know how to effectively manage money, but our children also.  Why?  “The flow of cash from you to your children may be a trickle or it may be a torrent.  The control of the spigot and the power of the flow should be determined by you, but in many cases, unfortunately, the child controls the tap.”  And letting our children dictate how much money we spend and what we spend it on can and will lead our families into financial ruin!
In their latest book, The MoneySmart Family System, Steve and Annette Economides share they managed to raise not one but five financially responsible and independent children.  Oh, and they saved 77% of what the USDA said it would cost to raise children.  Which proves that while raising a family is expensive, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.  The Economides provide readers with worksheets, personal examples and rules that we can implement with our children to help them manage and invest their money well.
Since, this is a family system, they also provide tips and tools for parents too.  As parents and even grandparents, we often feel the need to over compensate or give children better than what we had materialistically.  However, this concept only succeeds in creating an entitlement complex that lasts well into their adulthood.  And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be one of those parents whose children are riding around in a Lexus or BMW because Mommy and Daddy are paying for it.  I want them to be able to drive nice cars because they can afford it without my help and without putting themselves in a financial bind.  Thanks to this book we are well on our way to becoming wiser earners, savers and spenders/investors not just as individuals but as a family!
Does your family have a money management system in place?



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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The MoneySmart Family System

In today’s tough economic times it is important not only for us as parents to know how to effectively manage money, but our children also.  Why?  “The flow of cash from you to your children may be a trickle or it may be a torrent.  The control of the spigot and the power of the flow should be determined by you, but in many cases, unfortunately, the child controls the tap.”  And letting our children dictate how much money we spend and what we spend it on can and will lead our families into financial ruin!
In their latest book, The MoneySmart Family System, Steve and Annette Economides share they managed to raise not one but five financially responsible and independent children.  Oh, and they saved 77% of what the USDA said it would cost to raise children.  Which proves that while raising a family is expensive, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.  The Economides provide readers with worksheets, personal examples and rules that we can implement with our children to help them manage and invest their money well.
Since, this is a family system, they also provide tips and tools for parents too.  As parents and even grandparents, we often feel the need to over compensate or give children better than what we had materialistically.  However, this concept only succeeds in creating an entitlement complex that lasts well into their adulthood.  And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be one of those parents whose children are riding around in a Lexus or BMW because Mommy and Daddy are paying for it.  I want them to be able to drive nice cars because they can afford it without my help and without putting themselves in a financial bind.  Thanks to this book we are well on our way to becoming wiser earners, savers and spenders/investors not just as individuals but as a family!
Does your family have a money management system in place?



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted on Leave a comment

Finding Courage in Friendship

 In The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari, written by Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark, best friends Padraig the dragon and Roger the turtle to camp outside at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow aka the backyard.  And what starts out as a fun adventure on the safari roasting marshmallows and eating baked bugs quickly turns frightening under the blanket of night. For these two young friends the darkness and sounds of the night heighten the boys imaginations as squirrels, elephants and other safari animals are transformed into ferocious beasts.  Padraig who is obviously the more scared of the two tries his best to hide his fear from his best friend.

However, Roger senses Padraig’s uneasiness and works hard to be a source of comfort to him and encourage him to not give up on their adventure.  The boys nestle up in their tent prepared to call it a night until a loud cry for help draws them out on a true adventure.  Armed with a flashlight they set out to help whomever or whatever is need.  They put aside their fear and find courage in their friendship to vier out into the darkness and unknown to help another.

This is a great story to help teach children the true meaning of being a friend.  Paul and Denmark do a beautiful job of writing a story that is not only easy to read but easy for children to understand.  And thanks to Vincent Nguyen they have lovely illustrations to accompany this wonderful tale.  Also, the reading guide at the end makes this a great book to use in a church library and teach children about how God is always with us even during our time of fear.

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari
Authors: Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrator: Vincent Nguyen
Release Date:  January 2011
Pages: 40
Genre: Children’s, Fiction

*Please stop by and rate my book review here.  I was not compensated for this review. However, I did receive this book free of charge.  All opinions expressed above are my own.*

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Making It Happen

I have to admit that as a stay at home mom, I have been overwhelmed by guilt.  Guilt of what you ask?  Well, of not being able to pull my weight financially in my household.  I’ve never really had to be financially dependent upon anyone before and so this is all new to me.  To be honest, I hate it and am not adjusting to it at all.

So, I’ve been wallowing in self pity these last few months and stressing over the looming arrival of my second when I learned that my blogger friend Tara from The Young Mommy Life had finally released her ebook, Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating A Career You Crave.   I was beyond excited to see someone that I’ve become good friends with creating success for themselves.  I decided to show my support and purchase the book.  After all, I was hoping that I would stumble across something-anything-that would help to get me motivated.  Not to mention, I have been totally obsessed with my Kindle app on my Droid.

Let me tell you all that from the introduction to the end this book was FANTASTIC!!!  And no I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend.  If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know that I don’t over crowd with meaningless reviews of products and services I don’t feel passionate about.  I believe in keeping it real.

Speaking of which, Tara keeps it 100 too in her book.  If you’re looking for a hold your hand, sugarcoated, bubble gum type guide then you might not want to read this.  However, I suggest that you do because since finishing Make It Happen, I have been refocusing on how to make success happen in my own career.  I’ve realized that I have completely slacked off on my side hustle and put my pursuit of being a successful writer on hold.

And for what?  Well, of course I use the excuse that motherhood takes up all my time.  Thankfully, Tara breaks it down that motherhood is not an excuse for not going after the career you desire but it really should be your main motivation. And you know what she’s right!!

I’ve been in a single mom position before and it wasn’t fun.  I need to start chasing after my dreams and investing as much time in my side hustles to turn them into a brand as I do just wasting time doing other stuff.  I have all these ideas floating around in my head, but what good are they serving me if I’m not putting them into practice?

What really amazed me reading Tara’s book was when she said that she and her husband were able to save up $12,000!!!  I mean I’ve been able to save a few thousand but nothing anywhere near that amount and we’re both the same age and are about to have the same number of children.  I mean the similarities between the two of us is just crazy.

I can promise you that if you purchase this book you will learn something.  If you’ve been in a funk as a stay at home mom or working mom who hates her job then this is the book for you.  It’s full of great resources and great advice that you can actually use and apply to your day to day life.  This is just book one of her Make It Happen series and I’m already looking forward to book 2!!

And for those of you who are still a little hesitant about getting the book, stay tuned to my blog and watch as I actually use the tips, suggestions and advice from Tara’s book.  I want to prove to you that this is not just a get rich quick scheme of writing a self help guide but that she is truly compassionate about sharing the tricks of the trade that helped her get where she is.  She overcame a lot of obstacles and stereotypes that we young moms face and I thank her for sharing her story.

I’m looking forward to being able to be like Chris Brown and say ” Look at me now!!”  Go get the book if you haven’t already and let it inspire and motivate you. Also, don’t forget to check out her blog for even more tips and keep it real conversation on motherhood, relationships, finances, etc.