Choosing Beauty: A 30 Day Spiritual Makeover for Women (Book Review)

In my latest review for the The Catholic Company reviewer program, I read Choosing Beauty: A 30-Day Spiritual Makeover for Women by Gina Loehr.

I was really excited about this book, and liked the idea of it being broken into small sections, which is great for busy Moms.  I was thrilled when the book arrived, and I dove right in.

But, then, unfortunately, it just took me a long time to get through it.  For whatever reason, I just couldn't get into it.  Every so often, I thought I would stop reading it, but then I would get interested in a section, and thought that I was into it.  But, then I would again start to drag through it.  I'm just not sure why.  I think it seems like a fine book, it just wasn't for me, apparently.

Now, that being said, I think I might have enjoyed the book if I had been able to read it as part of a study group.  While the book is set up to be read individually, I think it would really be best as a study group book, even providing discussion questions throughout.  I would love to have been able to dialogue with other women while reading it.

So, grab some friends, grab Choosing Beauty, and make a spiritual journey together.

Many Little Links: September 20, 2009

Sorry for so many links this time around!  I tried to weed through some of the things I have saved over the last couple of weeks.  And, believe it or not, this is my weeded down list.

More Spinny Speller Fun -- Let's Explore

I have written about the Spinny Speller before, and we still love it.  I loved having these downloadable forms to put in Molly's WorkBoxes to work with her Spinny Speller.

Counting Chips for Division -- Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Love this very hands on approach to division!  We haven't started division yet, but I am already not looking forward to it.  I will definitely be explaining it like this.

Egg Rolls with Sweet and Sour Sauce and Cinnamon Rolls -- Home Ec 101

This post makes me believe that I could make egg rolls.  (Who knows if that's true or not.)  And the second really makes me think I could thrill my family and make cinnamon rolls.  They also make my stomach growl.

Growing Your Children's Passions in Your Homeschool -- Heather from Heart of the Matter Online

I love how she is encouraging children in their natural interests.  Perhaps I can encourage my kids some more, though I do fear that there is not a huge market for Pokemon Trainers.

Homeschooling is Like Making Pancakes -- Homeschool Creations

A great read for any homeschooling family, especially one that is searching for the one perfect way to homeschool.

Why Haven't I Switched to WordPress?  -- BlogCoach

Great read, especially for those who feel bad that they don't really want to move off of Blogger.

22 Tools You Should Keep in Your Car -- Mark and Angel Hack Life

I'm about 15 items short of this list.  Not so good, huh?

Awful Library Books

Not just one post to share from this blog.  My friend Stephanie posted about this, and I had to check it out.  I just love reading about all the awful library books out there.  What a hoot!

Yes, I do have a Diet. No, I am not Dieting.  -- VeganAsana

Great post about the idea of what a diet really is.  Also, I love the idea of thinking about what you can eat, not what you can't eat.

How to Be Childlike -- Zen Habits

If you read nothing else on this list, read this.  And then, take it to heart and try some of the tips.

Buying is not the solution -- Mnmlist.com

How many times in life do we think that the solution to a problem is buying something?  Probably more than you think.  Go check it out.

My Case Against Learning States and Capitals -- Five J's

Great things to think about in this post!  I really liked Joy's point about knowing important cities in states that aren't capitals as well.

7 Quick Takes: September 18th (Vol. 16)

~ 1 ~

The free piano that we totally refinished, built new parts for, and prayed that it would actually be able to be tuned has now been serviced by a piano tuner.

I was so nervous that after all of the hard work we had put into it that it wouldn't be able to be tuned at all.  Honestly, I asked her to just get it "as close to tuned as possible."  The tuner said she would tune it, and then we could just make an appointment for 4 - 6 weeks for her to tune it again.

Except, then she actually started to tune it and told me it was in much better shape than she thought it would be from what I had told her about it.  As a matter of fact, she ended up telling me that we can probably just have it tuned twice this year, and then move to yearly after that.  I was beyond thrilled!

~ 2 ~

 Eric and I watched the movie Maxed Out about a week ago.  It was both maddening and sickening.  It was also a very interesting to watch knowing the state of the economy now.

Anyone else watched it before?  What did you think?

~ 3 ~

I am really considering instituting a "family night" around our house.  I don't know what it would consist of or when it would be, but I just think it might be a really nice idea.

We tried to do a game night when the kids were very little (and Molly wasn't even around yet), but that was short lived.  Now that everyone is older, I think it might be really nice to start up again.  I know that every time we bring out some game or activity for the whole family to do together, the kids get so excited.  Probably a sign we need to do it more often, huh?

~ 4 ~

I got to go to a consignment sale this week, and paid $69.50 for 27 pieces of clothing  (well, some were two piece sets, but I'm counting those as one) and two toys.

Rock on!

~ 5 ~

 So, how is it that Christmas is only about three months away?

I have purchased the big gift for one of the kids and also been working on some handmade gifts.  (Plus, I may know the big gift for the other two kids, but am not sure about one of them.)  But, otherwise, I'm unprepared.  I really think I need to start buying some things every month now, so that I can just pay cash for everything.

You know, especially after watching Maxed Out.

~ 6 ~

How is it possible that I have been so busy but have so little to say?

I really had to think very hard about what to write for my 7 Quick Takes this week, yet I feel like I have been crazy busy.  I think that might indicate that I am living the same day over and over again.

Do you ever get so busy, but yet feel like you aren't really doing anything?

~ 7 ~

One thing that has actually been really wonderful lately is that I have had a couple of opportunities to get together with some of my gal pals.  There is just something about sitting in a restaurant for three hours just talking to friends.

While I think family night is going to be really important, I have to say that I think that I need to get together for girls' night out a little more often too. 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Photos by: heart cup -- Bob.Fornal, Christmas gift -- stephbond

Introducing Kids to Needlework Arts

Admittedly, it cracks me up to write that title for this post.  It makes me sound like I'm on some kind of solid ground on needlework. 

So, in the interest of being brutally honest, I am not an expert at all.  Not even a little bit.  In fact, it is only thanks to my Mom, some free time on vacation in January, and the Stitch-It Kit, that I am able to say that I can now do some embroidery and have now been able to sew on a button.

So, with all of that out of the way, I can share how I wanted to share this new hobby with my kids.

I bought a few plastic embroidery hoops, a yard of a loose burlap, some large children's plastic needles, and some very thin needle point yarn.  And, can I just tell you that my kids (well, at least the younger two) were going crazy wanting to get started on learning to, as they said, "stitch."  (As in, "Can we stitch now?" or "I really like stitching.")

I gave them a basic overview of how to hold things, how to make some stitches, and really just let them go at it.  I helped them when they asked, and occasionally gave a tip or two, but I basically just let them try it out.  I wanted them to be able to just explore what it felt like.

Apparently that worked out well, because they continue to ask to do it.  And, not only that, but when they were using lacing cards, they immediately said, "Hey -- this is stitching!"  And I could only smile.


This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.