Duck Sitting Is An Interesting Job!

My kids and I take all kinds of odd job over the past few years. Usually it is pet sitting (we have watched birds, hamsters, and dogs) or even yard sitting where we water plants. This time we are watering a yard and plants along with taking care of a Koi pond and geese and find it very interesting.

Beside the fact that the gardens are beautiful; come on look at that Tea House there are the fish and the geese which are so cool.

The kids love looking at the koi while I tend to the geese cage.

And while snapping away, I spottted this lovely door which I hadn't even noticed the past five visits because I am so focused on all the tasks (more on that later).

Fun Fall Reading For Kids - The Scarecrow's Wedding

From the superstar team of Donaldson and Scheffler, a barnyard wedding for the ages!

"Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay
Were scarecrows. (They scared lots of crows every day.)
Harry loved Betty, and Betty loved Harry,
So Harry said, 'Betty, my beauty, let's marry!
Let's have a wedding, the best wedding yet,
A wedding that no one will ever forget.'"

And so begin the plans for the best wedding the barnyard has ever seen! The scarecrow couple sets off for a hunt round the farm for everything they need for the festivities -- a big white dress, rings, wedding bells (or, at least, cow bells)... But when Harry's search for flowers takes him far, far away, villainous scarecrow rival Reginald Rake sees his chance to ruin this beautiful day... Hurry back, Harry!

A rollicking read-aloud adventure from the beloved team behind Stick Man, Superworm, and Room om the Broom.

About the Authors or Illustrators

Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is the bestselling author of The Fish Who Cried Wolf, The Room on the Broom, the Gruffalo, and more.

The 411 by Maria and Goddess:

We have been fans of Julia and Axel since The Room on A Broom! This team creates books that are not only fun to read but fun on the eyes.

Betty and Harry are planning their wedding. They make a list of things they need and receive help from many friends such as bees, cows, toads crabs, geese and even a spider and going to help stitch the wedding dress.  While Harry heads out to get water for the flowers the farmer creates another scarecrow to take his place. Betty is worried about her Harry and the new scarecrow Reginald tries to impress her with his fast driving and dancing. Betty is disinterested. Where is Harry? Fortunately Harry does return saving his future bride and everyone lives happily ever after.

What we love most:

The art work is colorful and fun.

Betty tells Reginald that smoking is bad for him when he lights a cigar.

The sweet story of love that is unwavered by a flashy new savvy scarecrow who has nothing nice to say.

A positive message about helping, loyalty and how one should never smoke!

Why kids will like it:

All the details of the animals. Each piece of artwork has animals hopping, flying, smiling or playing. There is so much to point to and look at.

Disclaimer: We received a complimentary copy for our honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Take A Detailed Tour Through Some Of The Locations Of Your Favorite Horror Movie With Travelogue Horror #tonyurban

 Check out Travelogue of Horror by Tony Urban. Join Tony on every horror buff’s dream road trip across the country hunting down the exact locations where his favorite movies were filmed.

 Here is a travelogue for those whose idea of a perfect vacation doesn’t involve amusement parks and tourist traps, a guidebook for fans of horror and the macabre. Ride along with the author to ghoulish destinations, such as where fright flicks like Friday the 13th and Jaws were filmed, Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home, UFO crash sites, and macabre graves, to name a few. See the sites in over 70 vivid color photos. Fifteen states were visited from Maine to Georgia in search of iconic filming locations from movies such as The Exorcist, Silence of the Lambs, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Evil Dead. Along the way, monsters were hunted, vampire graves tracked down, a strange mix of paranormal and odd locations across the Eastern US were visited, and Stephen King was met. Hitch a ride, but remember that you never know what you might find–or what might find you!

Size: 11″ x 8 1/2″ | 90 color photos | 128 pp
ISBN13: 9780764345982 | Binding: hard cover

The 411:

The Travelogue of Horror is such a cool book! I love horror movies and I love trivia. My favorite part of Blu-ray is the behind the scenes or the making of sections and this book is just that! 

Join author Tony Urban (is that your real name Tony) as he takes you to the locations of some of the most famous horror movies. From Friday the 13th Jason Lives to Swamp Thing. He also heads to some of most highly profiled haunted locales as well as areas of gruesome murders rounding out with two of my personal favorite folks (the guys of Taps and author Stephen King). Tony stalks Bangor Maine and gives you his impression of King's hometown and describes his experience while waiting for the Man, The Legend!

Travelogue of Horror is filled with entertaining trivia, photos, descriptions and visitor information.  This is the perfect book for any fan of the genre or anyone who is interested in reading about a man's journey.

I personally love the layout of the book and all the tidbits of Tony's personal feelings about his research. We can only hope that Tony continues his journey through the macabre and gets the respect he deserves with media access, directorial details so he doesn't have to guess on whether he is at the right place and his own travel show. I know I would definitely watch!

Our Summer With Minature Horses

This Summer we were fortunate enough to hang with some long time friends. We have known them since Goddess was 1 or 2.

I met Lisa at Mom and Tots along with her little guy Hunter. She has three kids but Hunter is the same age as Goddess so I didn't know her oldest who was already in school by the time I met Lisa and her adorable daughter wasn't around yet. Since Hunter and Goddess are the same grade we see them often. We have never hung out outside of mom and tots or a quick hi at the park or school but since Goddess and Hunter were in the same Summer school reading class this was the Summer to hang and I honesty miss Lisa and her family. We did a lot of new, fun things and Summer wouldn't have been the same without them. Since school started haven't even had a chance to talk.

Lisa and her family have miniature horses and since we have never seen them she invited us over after a day of hiking.

Hunter is going to one day have his own show, I'm, sure. He is barefoot here as he was the whole day. We hiked and he did the whole hike barefoot.

Handsome was very upset over the electronic fence.

Goddess and one of the horses.

Is it my imagination or is this horse giving me the stink eye?

They were so very sweet

Handsome didn't have a favorite!

So cute!

Hunter is getting ready to brush the horses and Goddess isn't fair behind. I think that chicken wants in on it too!

Good times

This was such a great experience for my kids and it made me think of my younger years when my best friend Peggy had a horse. I was a little older than Goddess but it was some of the best times of my childhood.

It's A Beautiful Day

The mind is a funny thing. I will always find the beauty in life. Broken hurt, feeling sick, disappointed, angry, frustrated or whatever, I can always see something positive! It is a gift! I'm sure that doesn't come easy to everyone but if you choose to only see the negative you will only see it, if you open your eyes and allow yourself to see the positive it is there. It may be as a simple as an unexpected phone call or a hug from a friend, it can even be a great cup of coffee, or the sunlight on your face. It is different things for different people and no one can tell you what is the thing that is positive to you. That is for you only you to know, feel and accept! So accept what is, appreciate what's there, acknowledge the past, and allow yourself to be the beautiful person you are. The person God created and wants you to be.

Beauty is all around you!

Sky Watch Friday

Kindness Costs You Nothing!

I am often surprised by how some people can be so cruel, unkind, lack sympathy and empathy or are just plain mean. Being kind costs nothing and is good for your soul. Those who don't know how to do it naturally bewilder me. BE KIND! Create Happiness!

Take Care Of Your Gut and Your Gut Will Take Care Of You

Many of my readers know that I had some severe intestinal issues four years ago that landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks and two surgeries later I am still very careful with my digestive system as well as my family and friends.

Taking care of the plumbing has become something I think about daily. Did I eat enough natural fiber? Was my diet balanced today? Will I have any digestive problems later? It is something I am quite serious about. I hope to be around for a long time and taking care of my digestive tract is important to me. I don't want to pop a pill every day so over the past few years I have researched different methods to aid my digestive tract.

1. Eat lots of fiber! I eat more greens than anyone I know. They are delicious and good for you.

2. Drink loads of water! It is my absolute favorite drink and I drink about 10 glasses a day.

3. Get adequate sleep! It never happens but I do try to go to bed earlier if I stay later the night before.

4. Limit my intake of meat and when I do eat it, I drink plenty of water while eating and eat tiny bites. I gave up my beloved lunch meats. Too many additives and they have given me way too many problems.

5. Probiotics! Probiotics! Probiotics. I take them, the kids take them and I can't say enough about them.  I get them in my yogurt and also take TruBiotics when necessary.

6. Use a digestive aid when necessary. I prefer low potency homeopathic medicine and have taken so many over the years but I am dying to try the Digestion Aid Drops from Puraforce Remedies which  are coming to the states very soon!  My Aussie girlfriend Lyn has told me about this company back when my Goddess was a baby and suffering from colic. She swore by this company and said their baby colic drops were the best. I was unable to get them but I am so excited that they are making their way to the states over the next year.

7. Be happy. The brain and the gut are truly connected and I can tell you I wear all my stress in my belly. If I am unhappy so is my belly.

Flowers In The Attic Continue With CHRISTOPHER’S DIARY: SECRETS OF FOXWORTH - I Can't Wait For Part 2!

The 411:

My sisters and I loved the Dollanganger series which began with Flowers In The Attic. Christopher's Diary is based on a teenager named Kristin finding the diary which was kept by Christopher of his experience in the attic.  Kristin's father is a property inspector and when they visit the house she finds the diary. Her father is apprehensive about her reading it. Kristin's deceased mother has a blood tie to the family and dad is worried that the diary of the doomed children will be too much for her.

As Kristin become more and more absorbed in the story she feels a connection to the children of the manor and the Kane who has her heart fluttering.

The best part was knowing the story and now knowing what was going on in Christopher's mind as he and his siblings were dropped off and spent time in the attic.

The ending was awesome and I can't wait for part 2. Let's read the diary in the attic indeed!

Chicken Soup For The Soul Reboot Your Life - GIVEAWAY

We all fall into ruts at times, with our jobs, our relationships, our fitness, and other aspects of our daily lives. Time to do something about that. These 101 inspiring personal stories of change will motivate and encourage you to find your own new path to happiness. With its powerful stories of taking chances, positive life and attitude changes, and finding new paths to happiness, you will be inspired to find the courage to reboot your own life!

There are so many inspiring, thought provoking stories in this edition. It was almost like it was written for where I am right now in my life.

The stories that most sit with me are the ones of people starting over after a divorce, death or medical scare. There are so many strong people in this world and I love reading about how they came out stronger on the other side.

Purchase here

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary book as a member of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Insiders Group. No monetary compensation was offered.

HomeSpa Aromatherapy Shower Sprays - GIVEAWAY

We are loving our HomeSpa Aromatherapy Shower Sprays that comes in four different scents: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tangerine, and Pink Grapefruit. 

When you go into the shower you simply choose the HomeSpa you want depending on your mood  or just whatever scent makes you smile, squirt it about 3 or 4 pumps into the stream of the shower and wah-la be transported to a happy place!
 
HomeSpa is a 100% natural shower spray developed using the highest quality of ingredients to stimulate the aromatherapy treatments found in Spas around the world. Using a unique blend of natural, therapeutic, essential oils, HomeSpa was created to ease stress and clear one¹s mind. Comes in a slender, attractive bottle that can be displayed in the shower or easily tucked inside a bathroom cabinet

I have used them literally with every shower. They come in a modern spray bottle with brightly colored labels. 

Choosing the one I want in the shower with me is easy, if I am taking a night time shower, I use the Lavender so that I can calm my mind and get ready for the quiet of the night. Or if I need to clear my mind the eucalyptus would be my pick. The Tangerine and Pink Grapefruit are so fresh and fruity that they are perfect for the morning. 

These sprays are so pleasant I have used them everywhere actually. I have used them to freshen my car, my sofa, my room before bed. I LOVE THEM!

Enter to win your very own set or order them now at  HomeSpa. 
 

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

I Can't Wait To Read The Latest Chicken Soup For The Soul Book - Everyone I Know Could Use A Reboot!

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

 You can reboot your life

Chicken Soup for the Soul shares stories about how you can find a new path to happiness
 

COS COB, Conn. – Claire Cook was sitting with a group of parents at her daughter’s swim practice when she realized she needed to change her life. “I was in serious danger of living out my days without ever once going for it. Without even trying to achieve my lifelong dream of writing a novel.” So Claire started writing a book in her minivan, on a lined pad, while her daughter swam. Claire published her first novel at age 45, followed by the bestseller Must Love Dogs. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the movie based on her book! Now she’s a bestselling author of twelve books. “Not many days go by that I don’t … remind myself that this is the career I almost didn’t have,” she writes in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life. “Anything can happen. It is never, ever too late.”

Are you stuck in a rut? Looking for purpose and meaning in your life? Ready for a new job, a new hobby or new relationships? You’ll feel empowered to take chances, follow your dreams and reboot your own life as you read the 101 inspiring stories by people, just like you, who did just that in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot YourLife (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC; Amy Newmark and Claire Cook; Sept. 16, 2014, 978-1611599404, $14.95).
 

You will be inspired to pursue your true passion as you read stories like the one from ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes. He didn’t like where his life was headed and literally ran out of his 30th birthday party and didn’t stop for 30 miles. Shortly after that pivotal moment, Dean quit his corporate job and his partying lifestyle. He wanted to make his living by running. And he did. “Now, some two decades later,” Dean writes. “I’ve realized more happiness and greater fulfillment than I ever dreamed imaginable.”

Within these pages, you’ll find the tools and the advice you need to solve your problems, use positive thinking, find your purpose, follow your dreams and start over. The 101 role models in this collection of revealing personal stories will help you change your life, and become the person you are meant to be.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL
Chicken Soup for the Soul publishes the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable books in the last quarter-century. With over 100 million books sold to date in the U.S. and Canada alone, more than 250 titles, and translations into more than 40 languages, “chicken soup for the soul” is one of the world's best-known phrases. Today, 21 years after it first began sharing happiness, inspiration and wellness through its books, Chicken Soup for the Soul continues to delight readers and fans with new titles, but has also evolved beyond the bookstore, providing wholesome and balanced pet food, a line of delicious, nutritious food that makes it easier to bring people together around the table for healthy meals, movies, television, licensed gifts, and digital offerings, all of which are inspired by stories. Chicken Soup for the Soul is “changing the world one story at a time.^®” For more information visit www.chickensoup.com.
 

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Have You Seen Legends Of Oz Dorothy's Return Yet?

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return

Kids of all ages will love this musical, animated journey back to the magical world of Oz that features a legendary cast, including Lea Michele from TV’s “Glee,” Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Jim Belushi, Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammar and more. A devious new villain, the Jester, rules over Oz and Dorothy must return from Kansas to rescue her old friends: the Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. Set to irresistible new songs from Academy Award^®-nominated singer/songwriter Bryan Adams and featuring a host of delightful new characters, this animated return to Oz is sure to be a family-favorite filled with fun and laughs for generations to come! 

The 411 by Maria

I thought the colorful animation was amazing. This is the perfect movie to introduce your younger kids to your favorite childhood movie. I remember the first time I tried to get Handsome and Goddess to watch The Wizard of Oz when they were 3 or 4 and it was all lost on them. They just weren't into it. Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return is funny, colorful, witty and musical. 

The movie opens with a dark Emerald City.  Oz has been taken over by a mean Jester who is the brother of the Wicked Witch. He isn't as mean but does have the assistance of those flying monkeys.The Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion (just lion because he is no longer a coward) decide they need Dorothy return to help them.  Scarecrow has created an invention called the Rainbow Mover and try to get a message to Dorothy. 

Meanwhile Dorothy is waking up in her bed. She heads outside and finds her aunt and uncle assessing the damage from the tornado.  The damage is beyond repair and the town is being forced to give up their homes to a government appraiser who is condemning every house.

Another storm comes and Dorothy and Toto are swept up into a rainbow where she receives messages from her friends. 

Back at the Emerald City, the Jester has captured Glinda along with many other of Oz's people and is making them into marionettes.

Dorothy must rescue her friends and help defeat the Jester. 

Pros:
Wonderful computer animation 
Available in 3D (I have not seen it yet but can't wait to check it out)
Our favorite characters from the original movie are back
There are a slew of new, helpful characters
New songs to love
Lea Michele as Dorothy
Adorable Toto
Good messages about helping others, being yourself and standing up for yourself

Cons:
Not enough Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion

Perfect movie for the whole family.  I am unsure as to why the movie didn't do better, it was funny and entertaining. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy for my honest opinion.

My Art Gallery Is The Perfect Way To Display Kids Artwork

Goddess LOVES drawing, coloring and creating and we have used everything from a binder with inserts to a portfolio to keep all her art work in but space is a real big problem. My refrigerator always looks messy and eventually the papers fall off in a flutter as we open and close the fridge door so when we heard about My Art Gallery we were very interested. 

As you can see from the moment she opened the shipping box, she was excited. 

She draws A LOT! I mean there is nothing she would rather do and we have some true masterpieces in her portfolio so we were really excited to see how we could easily change out the pictures while still keeping things tidy and organized.

My Art Gallery is definitely something I would recommend. Whether it is a gift for you or for a grandparent (I think my Grandparents would love this as a way to display all the art work Goddess sends their way).

Disclaimer: 

This review was brought to you by AdvertiseWithBloggers.com and My Art Gallery For Kids. We received a complimentary product for our honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.