Who Will Remember from Lindsey Leanne on Vimeo.
Kudos to Lindsey Jones and her film crew for producing this amazing video based on the essay, Ghost of Christmas Past. I really like the way they updated the theme and made it more relevant. Great cinematograhy and staging. Congratulations!
Big Taste In the Small Kitchen
Having recently downsized my life, and moved to smaller quarters, In the Small Kitchen was a fresh perspective on cooking. Written by two ladies who have been friends since 7th grade, their delightful and eclectic stories are sprinkled through out along with mouthwatering photos of their delectable dishes. Together, Cara Eisenpress and Phoebe Lapine brighten what could be considered a mundane daily chore. I think there's at least one recipe for everyone in this book, from Vegan to Carnivore. I found one in every chapter. The recipe for "noodles with bgsk peanut sauce" and "soy-honey baked tofu" were wonderful.
Along with social rules of engagement, tenets of byob and a year's worth of occasion for which to cook or have dinner parties, you will be well equipped to make delicious meals. This book is great for the off-campus college bound student, your new graduate, newly weds or anyone who has a small kitchen. The recipes are easy to follow but the reults are pleasantly exotic. The ingredients are easy to find just about anywhere (they are based in New York).
The Dumpster
As I started reading The Dumpster by author Becky Due, I couldn’t imagine how I was going to get through it. I am not a fan of Romance Novels and thought this was going to be one long painful read. I also prefer actual books to electronic readers and was not looking forward to the prospect of reading an electronic version.
The main character, Nicole, is just a little bit quirky, obssessive and slightly insecure. I liked that she wasn’t a blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty queen with everything going her way. When her new love interest furnished her with a cheap DVD player bailed on her by DVD, the story got a little more interesting. It certainly was a twist on getting dumped.
The dumpster really hooked me too, what it brought, what it took, what Nicole found there and what Nicole threw into it. I found myself laughing out loud and thinking about the characters. What was going to happen next? Before I knew it, I was halfway through the book. It seemed more of a romantic comedy than a romance novel. Once I stopped resisting, I got pulled into the story and really enjoyed it. I would recommend this light hearted book as a fast summer beach read.
Australian Author Joanna Penn’s Debut Thriller Novel Pentecost Delivers.
Dr. Morgan Sierra is surprised by a late-night meeting with research assistant, Matthew Fry. Fry intends to take her back to the Before their meeting properly adjourns, Sierra and Fry become the target of Thanatos, a group who wants her stone. They’re willing to take it be whatever force necessary. Because of her training in the Israeli Defense Force, she is not faint hearted, but a pistol-packing femme fatale who trusts few individuals. She and Fry blast their way out and escape.
Intuitively, Morgan fears for her twin sister's safety, knowing that she too carried one of the stones. When Morgan discovers her sister and baby niece are missing, Morgan finds herself embroiled in a search for the other stones to save their lives.
Although the story is set in modern times, it takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the Mediterranean Region. While the story leans on Church history, Penn keeps the reader turning the pages.
I enjoyed this Pentecost immensely and think it reads like watching a movie. I can’t wait to see if Penn continues the adventures of Morgan Sierra. In the days ahead, look forward to reading more from this author.
Do You Know Abby?
Because not everything we do is scripted,
we are free to choose and make decisions
that have lasting repercussions in our lives
and the lives of others....
When the Director of Planned Parenthood quit her job, even given the national climate of the job market, it shouldn't have made national news. But it was the reason that she left that caused her to switch teams. And that choice made Abby Johnson a hero for the pro-life movement and an enemy of Planned Parenthood.
Every woman in America knows someone who's had an abortion. They are our sisters, mothers, daughters friends. They're our girlfriends, our wives, aunts and cousins It is not limited to race, religion or social standing. It is a heart-rending decision not easily made, that affects all of us for the rest of our lives.
The documentary of Abby Johnson had me spell bound to the end. The statements from her parents, really affected me.
At 23, I found myself in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy. By then, Roe v Wade was a decade old and women had a right to choose. Although I chose to carry to term and relinquish the child for adoption, it was not very popular among women who thought I was a slave to convention. Through the telling of my story over the years, I met many women along the way who regretted their decisions and were pained by them years, even decades afterward.
If you want to know the truth, you want to see this documentary about Abby's life, how she arrived in Planned Parenthood and became a champion for women.You'll hear what she discovered in a clinic that caused her radical decision to quit and change sides.
If you have daughters, nieces or sisters, tell then about this upcoming free webcast. The Unite for LIFE webcast is free, featuring Abby Johnson and will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.
If you want to be in a drawing to win a voucher for a free copy, comment below and I will draw two names. The message is so important, I will throw my copy into the drawing.
No matter where you land on this topic, I do not judge you or your choice. I believe that to make such an enormous decision, one needs to be informed of all the facts. The choice is still yours to make.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free through Tyndale publishers. 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
we are free to choose and make decisions
that have lasting repercussions in our lives
and the lives of others....
When the Director of Planned Parenthood quit her job, even given the national climate of the job market, it shouldn't have made national news. But it was the reason that she left that caused her to switch teams. And that choice made Abby Johnson a hero for the pro-life movement and an enemy of Planned Parenthood.
Every woman in America knows someone who's had an abortion. They are our sisters, mothers, daughters friends. They're our girlfriends, our wives, aunts and cousins It is not limited to race, religion or social standing. It is a heart-rending decision not easily made, that affects all of us for the rest of our lives.
The documentary of Abby Johnson had me spell bound to the end. The statements from her parents, really affected me.
At 23, I found myself in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy. By then, Roe v Wade was a decade old and women had a right to choose. Although I chose to carry to term and relinquish the child for adoption, it was not very popular among women who thought I was a slave to convention. Through the telling of my story over the years, I met many women along the way who regretted their decisions and were pained by them years, even decades afterward.
If you want to know the truth, you want to see this documentary about Abby's life, how she arrived in Planned Parenthood and became a champion for women.You'll hear what she discovered in a clinic that caused her radical decision to quit and change sides.
If you have daughters, nieces or sisters, tell then about this upcoming free webcast. The Unite for LIFE webcast is free, featuring Abby Johnson and will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.
If you want to be in a drawing to win a voucher for a free copy, comment below and I will draw two names. The message is so important, I will throw my copy into the drawing.
No matter where you land on this topic, I do not judge you or your choice. I believe that to make such an enormous decision, one needs to be informed of all the facts. The choice is still yours to make.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free through Tyndale publishers. 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
What Questions Would You Ask Max?
How great would it be to sit down with Max Lucado and ask the tough questions about life, and get his take? Initially, I thought the book would be for people new in their faith walk, or new Christians who hadn’t gotten around to translating the Bible into practical steps for daily living. But Max has a real understanding of what the word of God says and how it should be played out in our daily life. I bet a guy who’s been in ministry and written over 50 books would have a lot to say on just about any topic you throw at him:
~ “I really dread going home for the holidays…”
~ “I’d like to slow down and simplify my life…”
~ “Are the commandments in the Bible archaic?”
I found Max’s biblically based explanations easy to understand and accessible. (Notice, I didn’t say easy.) You don’t have to sit down and read through all the chapters to get nuggets of truth. You can choose from one of the 7 and read as much or as little as you like. The questions were an attention-grabbing mix from simple to complex, and his answers were thoughtful, inspired and sometimes even lighthearted. (Life isn’t all evil and darkness.)
He answers over 150 questions in this book, categorized by subject. Need Hope? Been Hurt? Need Help? He’s got answers for you. He maintains a positive spin, and it neither harsh nor condemning, which kept me reading. This book isn’t asking just the simple question, but also the hard-hitting ones:
~ “How do I forgive my son-in-law now that he’s broken my daughter’s heart?”
~ “What’s the big deal about pornography?”
~ “Does God hate homosexuals?” (Answer 100 was one of the longest in the book.)
Chances are, there’s at least one question in here you have asked aloud. I was surprised to find that I wasn’t the only one asking the question, and Max gave me new lines to think along. A fresh perspective. So if you’ve got questions, you might take a look at Max on Life.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze a 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
Can Your Teen Start a Micro Business?
Your Teen Can Own a Micro Business
How to Launch It in Ten Simple Steps
“I want to walk dogs; what do I need to do to get started?” asked a teen boy. I had inspired him to think about starting a micro business and he was ready to get going!
I encourage teenagers to start very small businesses—micro businesses. A micro business is a one-person business that can be started easily, usually without any up-front cash, using what a teenager already owns. Micro businesses are usually home-based and very flexible so a busy student can keep up with homework, sports and a social life.
Teenagers can use their skills to develop businesses such as teaching guitar lessons, doing web design or caring for children. Other teenagers have started micro businesses by offering services such as house cleaning, pet care, and lawn mowing. One easy-to-start micro business is tutoring. Some students tutor math, Spanish or computer programs such as Photoshop.
After your teenager has an idea, he or she can launch a micro business in a short amount of time with very little start up money. Share these starting steps with your teen:
Conduct a mini market survey. Start by asking a few potential customers if they need your service and what price they are willing to pay.
Decide on a price. From the mini-market survey, you should be able to set a fair price. You may get your first customers by undercharging the competition. One teenager charged half what other piano teachers charged and quickly had eight students.
Volunteer a few jobs to practice your business skills and build a reputation. Use recommendations from these jobs in your future advertising. Sarah took senior pictures as a favor for a friend and received three other jobs from referrals.
Launch your first advertising campaign. Try to use free advertising such as emails, Facebook posts and handing out fliers to friends and neighbors.
Work your plan on a small scale. Start with one customer at first. Learn a lot from that experience and grow slowly.
Evaluate, adjust and change. As you grow in experience, you may be able to charge more. You will probably need to create a payment policy. Sarah discovered that she needed to be paid up front and have a cancellation policy when she scheduled photo shoots.
Pick a name and register it. Usually, you can use your own name, such as Cathy Smith's Babysitting Service, without needing a name registration. If you do want a business name, learn what your state or local government requires. This website is a good place to start: http://www.business.gov/register/business-name/dba.html
Open a checking account. Accountants usually recommend a separate business checking account to keep from mixing personal and business expenses. A teenager can usually get by with one checking account, if you keep good records. Usually a parent must agree to be a co-signer on a checking account for minors.
Read up on taxes. You’ll need to file your own tax return, may owe federal or state income tax, and may be subject to self-employment tax also. Self-employment tax is Social Security and Medicare taxes for self-employed people.
Learn about customer service, marketing and record keeping. Become a student of business and seek to be continually learning more. Read books, take a business class, find a mentor and ask a lot of questions.
Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners through her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com
How to Launch It in Ten Simple Steps
“I want to walk dogs; what do I need to do to get started?” asked a teen boy. I had inspired him to think about starting a micro business and he was ready to get going!
I encourage teenagers to start very small businesses—micro businesses. A micro business is a one-person business that can be started easily, usually without any up-front cash, using what a teenager already owns. Micro businesses are usually home-based and very flexible so a busy student can keep up with homework, sports and a social life.
Teenagers can use their skills to develop businesses such as teaching guitar lessons, doing web design or caring for children. Other teenagers have started micro businesses by offering services such as house cleaning, pet care, and lawn mowing. One easy-to-start micro business is tutoring. Some students tutor math, Spanish or computer programs such as Photoshop.
After your teenager has an idea, he or she can launch a micro business in a short amount of time with very little start up money. Share these starting steps with your teen:
Conduct a mini market survey. Start by asking a few potential customers if they need your service and what price they are willing to pay.
Decide on a price. From the mini-market survey, you should be able to set a fair price. You may get your first customers by undercharging the competition. One teenager charged half what other piano teachers charged and quickly had eight students.
Volunteer a few jobs to practice your business skills and build a reputation. Use recommendations from these jobs in your future advertising. Sarah took senior pictures as a favor for a friend and received three other jobs from referrals.
Launch your first advertising campaign. Try to use free advertising such as emails, Facebook posts and handing out fliers to friends and neighbors.
Work your plan on a small scale. Start with one customer at first. Learn a lot from that experience and grow slowly.
Evaluate, adjust and change. As you grow in experience, you may be able to charge more. You will probably need to create a payment policy. Sarah discovered that she needed to be paid up front and have a cancellation policy when she scheduled photo shoots.
Pick a name and register it. Usually, you can use your own name, such as Cathy Smith's Babysitting Service, without needing a name registration. If you do want a business name, learn what your state or local government requires. This website is a good place to start: http://www.business.gov/register/business-name/dba.html
Open a checking account. Accountants usually recommend a separate business checking account to keep from mixing personal and business expenses. A teenager can usually get by with one checking account, if you keep good records. Usually a parent must agree to be a co-signer on a checking account for minors.
Read up on taxes. You’ll need to file your own tax return, may owe federal or state income tax, and may be subject to self-employment tax also. Self-employment tax is Social Security and Medicare taxes for self-employed people.
Learn about customer service, marketing and record keeping. Become a student of business and seek to be continually learning more. Read books, take a business class, find a mentor and ask a lot of questions.
Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners through her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com
Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory
Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory
by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers
The world is a messy place these days. The stress of getting through a “normal” day seems to escalate. Traffic jams, calamities, disasters, people losing their livelihood and homes, crime, war... The worries seem to multiply and the world seems an increasingly dangerous place to live.
Are you really living? Or just surviving? At the end of a typical day, you might feel like you haven't any power left. Even though most Christians understand that Satan seeks to destroy our lives and souls, it seems not quite as many know how to fight this centuries old battle.
Wouldn't it be nice to rise above the turmoil of the day and enjoy some measure of real peace? How would you like to take a deep breath and be refreshed? Where can you plug into a major power source to be re-energized?
My husband and I began reading Ruth Myers book, Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory in morning over breakfast before leaving for work. The verses feel like a cup of hot tea with a friend, warming and comforting. They began positively affecting me from the beginning of chapter one: “Father in heaven, I lift up my heart to You... “
Instead of magnifying the problems, the daily prayers and praises of this devotional point to the answer: Almighty God. I read each prayer, weighing it in my heart, reminded that God is in control and far more worthy of my attention. He is ever present, waiting for me to call upon Him.
Since we began reading the book, I sleep better at night, feel closer to God and don't worry as much. When I begin feeling anxious, I go back to reread the devotion for that day. As I draw near to end of the book, I feel as though I have put on the armor of God, equipped to live in spiritual victory.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah 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
For Women: The Me Project & Grand Prize Giveaway
Author Bio: Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.comBook Summary
(San Jose, CA) Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.
As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.
This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.
Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place.
—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International http://www.mops.org/
~~
Three Super-Simple Kick Start Living Your Dreams –
in the next 15 minutes by Kathi Lipp
Is there a dream that God has given you, but you are waiting until the kids are grown and you have money in the bank before you get started? You may not be able to enroll in a month long pastry making class or take a week off of work to get started on your novel, but today you can take three little baby steps to making your dream a day-to-day reality. 1.Go Public with It
It’s a little scary to tell the world what you want to do when you grow up but this is one little step could get you closer to living your dream than almost any other. Plus it takes very little time and you don’t have
to raid your kid’s college fund to make it happen.
When you gather up all your courage and tell your best friend, “I want to learn how to paint,” suddenly she remembers an old art book she has laying around she would love to give you, or her friend from church who teaches art classes. The people you know and love want to be a resource. Give them the privilege of being a part of making your dream happen.
2. Join an Online Group
This is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to start exploring your passion. Find out who else is talking about restoring antiques and listen to their conversation. Start by Googling your interest along with the term “online groups.”
You will be amazed with the number of people who want to talk about the proper way to care for 1950’s
lunchboxes as much as you do.
3. Don’t be Afraid to Pray
I remember the first time I put an offer in on a house I wanted it more than I had wanted almost anything else in my life. While I knew that I had dozens of other people praying on my behalf, I was too scared to pray.
I didn’t want God to tell me no. I was afraid to pray until my co-worker Kim asked me (in a loving, kind way), why I didn’t believe that God wanted His best for me. Don’t be afraid to pray. As with anything amazing in my life, the path is never what I expected, but it has always been obvious that God’s hand has been on it the whole way.
Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket
Three 2.5-oz. bags of Starbucks coffee
(Sumatra, House Blend, and French Roast)
Tazo black tea
Starbucks marshmallow cocoa
Almond roca
Almond roca buttercrunch toffee cookies
White chocolate and raspberry cookies
2 Starbucks mugs
Keepsake black bamboo basket
$62 value
Just comment here before March 4th to make sure you have a chance to win. The drawing will be held on March 7th and the winner will be announced here on March 8th. The more you comment the more chances you have to win!
10 Steps to Your Teen's Micro Business
Your Teen Can Own a Micro Business -- How to Launch It in Ten Simple Steps
“I want to walk dogs; what do I need to do to get started?” asked a teen boy. I had inspired him to think about starting a micro business and he was ready to get going!
I encourage teenagers to start very small businesses—micro businesses. A micro business is a one-person business that can be started easily, usually without any up-front cash, using what a teenager already owns. Micro businesses are usually home-based and very flexible so a busy student can keep up with homework, sports and a social life.Teenagers can use their skills to develop businesses such as teaching guitar lessons, doing web design or caring for children. Other teenagers have started micro businesses by offering services such as house cleaning, pet care, and lawn mowing. One easy-to-start micro business is tutoring. Some students tutor math, Spanish or computer programs such as Photoshop.
After your teenager has an idea, he or she can launch a micro business in a short amount of time with very little start up money. Share these starting steps with your teen:
Conduct a mini market survey. Start by asking a few potential customers if they need your service and what price they are willing to pay.
Decide on a price. From the mini-market survey, you should be able to set a fair price. You may get your first customers by undercharging the competition. One teenager charged half what other piano teachers charged and quickly had eight students. Volunteer a few jobs to practice your business skills and build a reputation. Use recommendations from these jobs in your future advertising. Sarah took senior pictures as a favor for a friend and received three other jobs from referrals.
Launch your first advertising campaign. Try to use free advertising such as emails, Facebook posts and handing out fliers to friends and neighbors.
Work your plan on a small scale. Start with one customer at first. Learn a lot from that experience and grow slowly.
Evaluate, adjust and change. As you grow in experience, you may be able to charge more. You will probably need to create a payment policy. Sarah discovered that she needed to be paid up front and have a cancellation policy when she scheduled photo shoots.
Pick a name and register it. Usually, you can use your own name, such as Cathy Smith's Babysitting Service,
without needing a name registration. If you do want a business name, learn what your state or local government requires. This website is a good place to start: http://www.business.gov/register/business-name/dba.html Open a checking account. Accountants usually recommend a separate business checking account to keep from mixing personal and business expenses. A teenager can usually get by with one checking account, if you keep good records. Usually a parent must agree to be a co-signer on a checking account for minors.
Read up on taxes. You’ll need to file your own tax return, may owe federal or state income tax, and may be subject to self-employment tax also. Self-employment tax is Social Security and Medicare taxes for self-employed people.
Learn about customer service, marketing and record keeping. Become a student of business and seek to be continually learning more. Read books, take a business class, find a mentor and ask a lot of questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners through her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com
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