A neat contest over at SSDR

The author (Matt Toone) of Great Games is offering a contest. Up for grabs is 1 of 3 copies of the book. To enter you have to write a paragraph "about a time where you played games with your family or friends and it created a fun memory, strengthened relationships, or simply brought your family closer together."

Go here (at SSDR) to learn how to enter. Thanks for your support of the Divas and a really cool book! You can read my review of Great Games here.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Promoting My Review Cooperative

Hey all! I just wanted to post a quick plug for things going on over at Simply Sensational Divas Review. If you wanna read my thoughts on some of the books and products I've reviewed you can click here. Some of those items include: books by C. L. Talmadge, and Sally Shields. I've reviewed children's books. I've reviewed music and I've talked about companies that support breast cancer research.

We also have a couple of giveaways going on over there. Both are ending December 15th. Los Lobos Goes Disney and IBW-Books. Sign up for our RSS over there too, because coming soon I will be posting a chance to win one of 5 copies of Jonny Diaz' new album.

I hope you'll come by Simply Sensational Divas Review and enter our giveaways. I hope you'll stay and look around for a bit.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Oh my the busy-ness of fall!

My blogs (SSDR and this one) have been neglected! I have most of September in One Year to an Organized Life to read and discuss. I have my 101/1001 to update. I have another book review coming for here as well. I have to discuss my monthly focus for September and decide on one for October. Over at SSDR I have a number of Breast Cancer Awareness posts to take care of as well as working on some other reviews for there.

We are working into a new normal in our house. With regular scheduled activities regularly happening things are falling into place. And with DH gone for most of the day every day we are changing the routine here at home too. Trying to find what's going to work for us to get everything done - activities, homeschooling, groceries, chores, visits with friends.

One of my focuses here this month is going to be planning the birthday party for the end of the month. I'm still planning on going with the Dr. Seuss theme and have some ideas brewing. I'll share them as I get to them! We have three birthday girls; I want to make each feel special so even though it's a group party there needs to be some individualization as well.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Two Years!

I have been blogging for two years! I can't believe it!

I started over at homeschoolblogger.com when I decided I needed a way to log our homeschooling. A lot of the posts there are hidden and for my eyes only because they are just notes about what we did each day (they are boring). I have 242 blog posts at that blog. Feel free to go visit; I think I've come a long way in the last two years.

I started at blogger.com in August of 2008. I just recently bought my own domain; I have around 500 posts here! I am really loving my blog. I hope you love reading it.

I won a blog makeover and love what Miss Jocelyn did. Miss Jocelyn donates half of all profits to Gleaning The Harvest. Gleaning the Harvest helps single moms, widows and the father-less.

Why do I blog? It takes time and as a homeschooling mom of 5 little ones I don't always have a lot of time. And maybe my time could be better spent elsewhere. My blog has become an outlet for me though. It is a journal of sorts; it's just my thoughts with a few of the thoughts of my family too. :) I have become a little more open and honest; blogging from the heart. There are just somethings that are easier to work through "on paper". I used to journal in notebooks but have moved to my blog; it's easier in today's world. I blog to let our extended family and far away friends know what's going on with our life. It is through my blog that they get to see pictures and hear what the kids are doing now.

In the coming year, you will see more changes as I grow and develop in my writing and other computer and publishing skills. You will continue to see posts on marriage and relationships. I will keep writing about books and housekeeping. I will tell all about our renovations and yard changes and our gardening. You will hear about our homeschooling too. Some new stuff you can expect are a few reviews and maybe even a giveaway or two. I don't want to focus on these things on Just Our Thoughts, because I do reviews here. (More on that in a minute.)

I started J a blog, too. He doesn't write there often (or rather, he doesn't have me write there for him very often), but it is a place for us to be a little bit vocal on things that just make us frustrated, angry or shake our heads. It's political at times. It's not as censored as this one is. You are welcome to read and follow us at The Rantings of an Average Joe. So far we've talked about employment insurance, racism, personal property, and political correctness. And I know J has a couple posts currently brewing.

There is another place in the blogging world that I make my mark, so to speak. Late last year (2008) I joined 6 other women in a review venture; Simply Sensational Divas Review is home to Christy, Christi, Stephanie, Kim, Tammy, Cathy and me! Please stop by for a visit. We've been having an official launch party for the whole month of August; our giveaways are about to end and we will be announcing the winners at a Twitter party on the evening of August 31st! You don't wanna miss it!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Books and Coffee

My life has been crazy lately and yet not really. I don't really understand it, actually. It seems as if I have no time for anything. I'm not blogging like I usually do, but that might not be a bad thing; for a while there I was blogging A LOT!

So settle in with your coffee (or other beverage of choice) and have a visit. You can read about our dates this week here.

I haven't had time to read this week. I've been busy preparing for Simply Sensational Divas Review Launch Party. At this point we have about 20 giveaways and 10 or more products / books being reviewed throughout the month of August. I am only doing part of the work required to get this party off the ground and I am feeling a little overwhelmed, but so very excited. Please stop by and check us out, enter some giveaways and share some linky love.

This coming week is pretty empty so far. I mean, it never takes long to fill up, but there is nothing written on the calendar so far. That's a good thing. I need to catch up on some housework and some sleep. I don't wanna get what DH has. He's so sick. And up until today, he's been doing the laundry for me. I need to get back on that. Next week is the start of a new month so Flylady starts in Zone 1 again. Zone 1 is the entrance and porch area. It needs my attention, badly! Oh, and I need to start the new month of Regina Leed's One Year to an Organized Life. I need to find a focus for the month and post about that as well as recap last month. (Did I have a focus last month? I don't feel like I focused on ANYTHING last month!!)

You'd think that by now, we'd have a good routine going. J's been off work now for 7 months. Well, I guess we do have a good routine going, but it is very very different than (or seems different than) most people's routine. Maybe I just need to get comfortable in this routine. Doing that means to me that DH will then get a job and I'll have to get used to and comfortable with a new routine again! We go to bed so late (between 12 and 2 AM) and we get up so late (between 8 and 11 AM). It seems the day is shot before it gets going, but we do make the best of our long evenings (sun is still shining at 10 PM) when we are feeling well by doing gardening in the cool of the evening.

Baby R turned 9 months old this week!!! I just figured out that she is just 2 days older than Stellan. When I realized that, I was all the more thankful for this roly-poly cherub who knows a joke and gives a joke already. She's my sweet cuddly tubby-tubby baby. See:

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

A Book Giveaway at SSDR

The Divas are hosting a giveaway! Here's the book at Amazon that they are giving away. While you're there, why not grab the info to enter the writing/art contest posted there as well.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

LIVE CONTEST!!!!

There is a live contest going on over at SSDR! Check it out. Win a Shi Shi Baby Blanket!!!

UPDATE: We have a winner! Click on the SSDR link above and read the comments! Boy, was that fun!!!

Book It On Friday

These books, given to the children by my parents, have made up the bulk of our reading this week!

One book for every letter of the alphabet (except x, y, z are all in one) that tells a little story about a little person collecting items in a box that start with the corresponding letter. My 3 yo loves these books and wants them read over and over and over again. She especially likes to read about the letters that are in her name.

A similar set, the numbers 1-10, are equally a hit with all the children. They love to read the one that corresponds to their age. Each book includes actions that the children can do - clapping, stomping, jumping, etc. Again, my 3 year old is the biggest fan of these books.

What does Mrs. Claus Do?

This is a cute rhyming book answering the question of what takes up Mrs. Claus' time while Santa is away.

Watch for reviews of this book coming in early December at Sensational Divas Review.

I've been reading Oh Baby! 7 Ways A Baby Will Change Your Life The First Year. You can check out a review of this book here.

The First Batch of Books

Another quick post to let you know that I got a batch of twelve children's books to review over at Simply Sensational Divas Review. Keep an eye out there for reviews by me. What great Christmas presents these books are going to be!!!

Simply Sensational Divas Review - a new venture!

We've done it! A group of my online friends and I have started a book review blog! Come check us out at Simply Sensational Divas Review. You can also find a link on my sidebar. These are a great group of ladies and we are so excited to share our opinions and review with you to help you buy or borrow valuable books and other media for your families! Look for a wide variety of materials! Sign up for our feed so you won't miss a review. Leave comments so we know you were there!