Avoiding Bathtime Battles

Thankfully, for the most part, these days are behind me, but every once in a while the Lil'Princess and the Lil' Diva decide to try to whine out of taking a bath or shower. And I remember in the early days where fear reigned and they got tired much easier, getting the girls into the tub at night was no easy task.

"Ways to Avoid Bathtime Battles" provides tips on how you can make bathtime easier on everyone. I'm a big proponent of getting the temperature right and making bathtime more fun. One of the reasons we stopped putting both girls in the tub together was because the Lil' Princess likes her water much cooler than the Lil' Diva. Having colored roll-on bath soaps, bathtub paints, cups and toys around helped encourage the girls to jump on in.

Hope you find these tips helpful.

Wordless Wednesday

Easy Ways Busy Moms Like You Can Take Care of Yourself

Sometimes the hardest thing for busy moms like me to remember is that in order to take care of our families, we need to take care of ourselves, too. Proper diet, exercise, and stress management are keys to staying healthy.

"Easy Ways for Busy Moms to Take Care of Themselves" discusses ways you can help your child recognize Mom has needs too, offers stress management tips, and encourages moms to involve their children in activities they enjoy.

You've Got Mail Monday

Hard to believe another week has passed. It was a busy one. The girls had homework, cheer practice, soccer practice, soccer games, cheering at football games, and this season's first dance lesson. Not sure how much more we can pack in, but I know the Lil 'Princess is scheduled to start second year violin next Monday. The Lil' Diva seems to be taking it easy this fall, deciding to dedicate herself to getting good grades and hopefully making the honor roll.

The mail wasn't too bad this week. My latest issue of Shape magazine arrived. I'm guessing that this is the new name for Health magazine. I still haven't found time to read an issue, so I'm not sure. I only know I haven't subscribed for anything else.

The Lil' Diva made some online purchases with gift cards she received for her birthday. Some of them, like her Battleship DVD and her metal safe bank, have already arrived. She's waiting on a new phone and a new iPod case.

That's it for this week's edition of You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a great week.

Inspiring Parenting Stories

One of the reasons I feel blogs have become so popular is because of our need to share a little bit of ourselves with the world; seeking understanding for our joys and sorrows from others. When I first began blogging in 2006, I wanted to share my journey as an aspiring author. I soon discovered, however, that I wanted to share more about me and my family. I am more than just a writer. I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, and aunt. I am an avid reader, a gardener, a sporadic crafter. I'm a Christmas and Halloween freak. I'm a Christian. I love history. I enjoy volunteering and life-long learning.

That my roles as wife and mother are my main focus probably isn't a surprise. I have to squeeze in everything else. Perhaps that's why I relate to parenting stories more than anything else I can find on the Internet. In the article, "25 Blogs Featuring the Most Inspiring Parenting Stories," you'll find a wide range of topics from the loss of a spouse to single parent stories, from moving stories about adoption to parenting special needs children, and more. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did.

CFBA: Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingUnforeseeable Bethany House Publishers (September 1, 2013)
byNancy Mehl



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband Norman and their dog, Watson. She’s authored thirteen books and is currently at work on her newest series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

She and her husband attend Believer’s Tabernacle in Wichita.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Mystery, Romance, and Suspense Seamlessly Combined in a Mennonite Small-Town Setting

Callie Hoffman knows she has a good life in Kingdom, Kansas. She's thrilled to be engaged to Levi Housler, the new pastor of Kingdom Mennonite Church, and she spends her days working with her friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Lizzie Housler, at Cora's Cafe.

However, Callie's idyllic life is interrupted when a body is discovered on the road outside Kingdom and the deceased turns out to be a victim of a serial killer. As Washington County's new sheriff begins questioning Kingdom residents, Callie and the rest of the town are appalled at the prospect of a killer among them. The very reason Kingdom exists is to protect the people from the temptations and dangers of the outside world, but all the town founders' attempts to plan ahead couldn't prevent a threat like this.

Unsettled at this unforeseen danger, Callie is concerned when it appears Levi knows more than he's telling. Desperate to find answers for herself, Callie never expected that she'd have to face some of her own past's skeletons.

As Callie and the residents of Kingdom fear this danger for which they never planned, they must learn anew that only God knows the future and their trust must always lie in Him.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Unforeseeable, go
HERE.

Product Review: Scott Naturals® Paper Towels

I received a free roll (unsolicited) of Scott Naturals® paper towels. According to the company's website, this hybrid towel contains a blend of 60% recycled fibers that keeps them absorbent. The instructions that came with the package asked me to secretly swap out our regular brand of paper towel and replace it with Scott Naturals.

That was easy enough to do because I'm fairly certain no one else pays attention to what I put on there in the first place. Our family used the roll until it ran out and then I put back the regular brand. As I feared, no one else knew but me.

The claim for this brand is that they "help you take a green step without sacrificing quality." For the most part, I agree, but there was one issue with this product that ensures it won't be my preferred brand. The towel is a slightly smaller size than my usual brand, but that isn't a big deal. I use washable towels for large messes anyway. The problem for me was that I couldn't get the paper towels to tear using only one hand. As a busy mom, I'm constantly juggling a million different things at once. It's not unusual for my left hand to be busy while my right hand is reaching for a paper towel. No matter how many times I tried, it required both my hands to rip off the Scott Naturals paper towel from the roll or me leaning on arm on the roll and pulling with the other hand to get a towel free. I found it frustrating. Maybe it's silly, but I don't want to grab for one paper towel or half a paper towel (they come in Choose Your Size) and end up unraveling half the roll simply because I only have one hand free.

Other than that, I can say they worked just as well as my regular brand. If these were on sale at the grocery store in the future I might try them again, but I'm not looking to switch right now.


I received a single roll of Scott Naturals paper towels from the manufacturer. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.