Summer Entertaining Will Be Here Before You Know It

I've been considering what furniture to purchase for our deck this year. We have a patio table and six chairs, but what I would really like is something sturdy that doesn't take up a lot of room, we can add for company. Our house tends to be the one the kids hang out at. I cook on the grill most nights during the summer, and when the in-laws and my son and his wife come over, I can't fit everyone at our current table. The problem is I don't have a lot of room. Our deck is 14' x 20' with atrium doors on either side. Smack dab in the middle of the doors is where the house juts out 2 1/2 feet for our living room gas fireplace. I don't want to block access to the doors, so it requires creative furniture arranging.

In addition to being a discount pool supply retailer, PoolGear Plus® carries a wonderful selection of outdoor furniture. I found this Patio Bar Set, including a rectangular table (74" long X 24" wide X 36" high) and 4 barstools that are 26" high. Durable and lightweight, the pieces snap together for easy assembly. I like that it's maintenance free--no cushions to tuck away or wash. It also looks like it will stand up to the wear and tear from the girls and their friends. Some of the little ones are only five years old, so I'm glad the table is too high.

The tabletop comes in Gray, Redwood, Taupe, and Portobello to match any decor. With the cedar stain on our deck, I think I'll go for Taupe or Gray to contrast against the darker stain. It would also match well with the cushions from our patio table.

Will you be updating any patio furniture this year? Do you enjoy outdoor entertaining during the summer?


This post is sponsored by PoolGear Plus, the fastest-growing catalog and internet company in the U.S.

You've Got Mail Mondays

I was a popular girl with the postman this week. He stuffed my mailbox full of great things, and when it wouldn't all fit he left it on my front porch.

In the world of books, I received:

Jekyll Says...Good Deeds Cats Do, That You Should Too! by D.C. Blackbird. It's rhyming book that encourages good habits and behavior. This is a book for a February VBT. I enjoyed reading it.

Surprisingly, I also received a copy of Girl Meets Boy: Because There are Two Sides to Every Story edited by Kelly Milner Halls. I am participating in this tour for Chronicle Books. I wasn't scheduled to review it, so I'll offer it as a giveaway.

Mr. Postman was also kind enough to deliver a Highlights HIDDEN PICTURES PLAYGROUND® book order form. These are new for 2012 and include their most popular feature. According to the website, there are 4 books, which you can buy as a set. The offer I received, allowed me to preview the first book risk free, and then accept new books as they are sent.

The girls were thrilled to see the new Justice catalog arrive. The Lil Diva and Lil Princess love their clothes. There's definitely some cute stuff in this one. I liked this floral crochet tiered bandeau top they featured on the back cover. Thankfully they included two 40% off gift cards in the catalog. I can't afford to clothe two girls on what they regularly charge.

The new Seventh Avenue® catalog arrived. I've never bought anything from them, but they have some beautiful items for your home. Have any of you used them in the past? What was your experience like?

The Men's Land's End catalog made it here on Saturday. I'm willing to spend more on clothes for my hubby and me since we don't change sizes all that often. I bargain shop with them as much as I can. I've found winter hats for the girls for as little as $3.

I haven't received one of these in a while, but Saturday also brought along a Laura David Consumer Research Center survey. I'll probably fill it out. Who wouldn't want a chance to win $10,000.

Anything exciting in your mailbox this week?

Amazon $10 Gift Card Giveaway at The Book Connection

BLOG TITLE:  The Book Connection

GIVEAWAY ITEM:  $10 Amazon Gift Card

GIVEAWAY RESTRICTIONS: None

GIVEAWAY DATES: January 23 - 31, 2012

GIVEAWAY LINK: http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2012/01/amazon-10-gift-card-giveaway.html 

Bumpy Landings by Don Carey Giveaway at Linda Weaver Clarke's Blog

Blog Title: Linda Weaver Clarke's A Family Friendly Blog


Title of book: Bumpy Landings

Author of book: Don Carey

Genre: Sweet Romance

Open to: International

Giveaway Dates: January 23 - 30, 2012

Giveaway Link: http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com

Book Bonanza Giveaway Coming in February!

Thanks to The Jolly Blogger, I learned about the Book Bonanza Giveaway 2012 being run by Hobbies on a Budget. Books, Products and More! signed up to participate. This giveaway runs from February 1st - 29th. There will be prizes for U.S. residents and worldwide prizes too!

You can find all the details--and a sign up form if you're interested in offering a prize--by visiting http://hobbiesonabudget.com/2012/01/04/book-bonanza-giveaway-2011/ Even if you don't sign up, I hope you'll spread the word.

Good luck to all who enter.

Book Review: The InnKeeper by John Piper

Preacher and poet John Piper has created a touching story that connects Christ's birth and Resurrection in a new and meaningful way. Two weeks before His Crucifixion, Jesus visits the innkeeper who provided room for Mary and Joseph on the night of His birth. He learns of the life this man, Jacob, has lived since that miraculous night.

The Innkeeper nearly brought me to tears as I read it. What a moving story of God's grace and love. The artwork provided by internationally recognized artist, Glenn Harrington, is stunning. He captures the world in which Jesus and Jacob live, and draws the reader in through his inspired illustrations.

This is a beautiful book for any Christian home. A perfect gift or a wonderful book to display in a special area of your home, no one who reads it will be left untouched.


Title: The Innkeeper
Author:  John Piper
Publisher: Crossway Books; Reprint edition (September 14, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1433530252
ISBN-13: 978-1433530258
SRP:  $19.99 (Hardcover)

I received a free copy of this book through Amazon's Vine Program in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Stepping Toward Self-Sufficiency

Some days, I'm fed up. I look at my grocery bill and think--there must be a better way. For years now, I've wanted to put in a vegetable garden and grow fruit trees to make our family less dependent upon others. One day, I picked up green beans from the store and they looked unnaturally green. Not only that, I've gotten spoiled with fresh eggs and honey from our pastor's farm. The turkey he sold us for Thanksgiving was 27 pounds!

While, I doubt I'll ever be raising chickens and turkeys like our pastor does, I want 2012 to be the year our family begins stepping toward self-sufficiency. Not only will it be good for us, it will be good for our environment too.

I hope those of you who have already been where I am are willing to share some advice. Where did you start? What project did you tackle first? Are there products to help us move toward going green and being more self-sufficient that won't cost an arm and a leg? I'll be writing up occasional posts to track our progress.

Thanks in advance for your help.