A Mom's Prayers

A mom's prayers to her child is a very special thing. Everyone in the world wishes their moms would pray for them too. A mere prayer is common, unless it is prayed by someone you love.

What's more special than praying for your son? That's what this book is all about. Each prayer is characterized under a special topic. Each child is delicate, but boys especially need a mother's guidance to grow up in the right way.

This book called: A Mother's Prayers to her Son reminds me of an article I read recently about a son who had been murdered at age 20. This mother wishes that she could have seen her son one last time. For all those people out there, please remember to prayer for your son just as this mother has prayed for her son.

To My Son,
I hope you know how much I love you so.
I might embarrass you from time to time
By giving lots of love and needless kisses,
But you need to know Mom loves you so.
Before you were born I didn't know
Just how much I would love you so,
But when I looked into your eyes for the first time,
I felt my heart grow and grow.
A Mother's love is hard to explain,
Not everyone will feel the same.
Now that you are getting older I felt the need to tell you
Just how much I love you so,
Time may pass day after day or year after year,
But the love I have for you grows
nearer and dearer to my heart each day and year.
To My Son, I hope you know just how much I love you so.

Remember that Christmas is around the corner, so please pray for those around you that you love!

Andi Under Pressure

When I got this book, I was excited. This is the second book in the series and I enjoy the main character named Andi. I think she is a believable character for both boys and girls because Andi is not all girly girly. She is what our generation would call a tomboy and her best friend is a boy. 

When I started reading the first chapter, I was a little lost. It seemed to jump in the middle of camp and in my mind, I was scrambling to remember who was who in the book. For all those families who have children, try to read the first book first. I'm drawing a blank as to the title of the first book, but I think it's called: Andi Unexpected or something along those lines. You can Google it if you want. Here is a real synopsis to what the book is really about:

Twelve-year-old Andora ‘Andi’ Boggs and her new best friend Colin Carter couldn’t be more excited to attend the prestigious science camp at the local university in Killdeer, Ohio. Unfortunately, Discovery Camp’s curriculum appears to include much more than just chemistry and biology. From day one, the university is plagued by a series of pranks—missing markers, loose crickets, and stolen scales. Campus security blames the mysterious janitor Polk, but even though Andi agrees he’s acting suspicious, she can’t believe the gentle old man would do anything illegal. Then one prank goes too far and their chemistry professor is injured by an explosion in the lab, upping the stakes of the investigation. Andi and Colin must unravel the secrets behind the chemistry department and Polk’s dark past before danger closes the camp for good.

I liked that the book really gives characters a real feel. Children from ages 7-11 will like that they know how the characters feel and if you have a vivid reader at home, they can probably imagine themselves in the plot of the book. That's how I felt when I read the book. 

Crocheting for Grandbabies

Even though I'm not a grandma and not even close to being one, I really liked this book. This book had very cute designs and shows you how to make each little animal hat out of yarn. What I liked as I leafed through this book was that it even showed you how to start crocheting the hat and it teaches you what technique you need in order to make that design.

Even though I cannot make heads or tails with crocheting, I will still commend the effort the author did in writing this book. I just liked leafing through the pages and looking at all the cute things I could make, if I ever learned how to crochet.

Sized from newborn to 12 years old, the 19 projects in this book are designed to grow with kids and become their go-to favorite hats. All the hats and booties are both beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, using machine-washable acrylic yarn and time-tested knitting techniques for quick baby shower and children's gifts.

Even if you're new to knitting, Gramma Nancy's Animal Hats (and Booties, Too!) provides encouraging words of advice and plenty of clever shortcuts. With Gramma Nancy's tried-and-true patterns, you'll find just the inspiration you need for your own knit-with-love creations.

Knit up the cutest little animal hats and booties, including a pair of elephants, a cheeky monkey, and an adorable bunny hat with matching paws. These fun and fabulous animal hats will delight new parents, and they're a snap to knit.

Parenting with Grace Devotional

I don't know about you, but it seems that parents need more grace with their children more than ever. I have seen some super tantrums and some kids do not ever grow out of them, even when they get to college (my roommate). I would really like to meet some of those parents.

But in this generation, kids are in their entitlement attitudes, which some are brought up by their parents, but others are being influenced by the society who believe in materialism. When the iphone 6 came out, the mall was in chaos and havoc because of a new piece of technology. When the new kids movie comes out, everyone rushes to see it or gets the new video console.

Every child I have ever observed this year thinks that because they are important in their family, they are entitled to some rights. For example, a student introduced himself as the cafeteria worker's grandson. Apparently, he thought it was a big deal and that I should take a note of it. He uses that excuse a lot to get out of doing homework or classwork. I fixed that problem really quickly (recess detention).

But even a midst all these problems, parents still need a huge dose of grace because more and more parents are going to work. There are more working parents than stay at home mom and children are swept to the side for an added income to the family.

This devotional will come in handy for parents with school-aged children. The Once-A-Day Nurturing Great Kids Devotional helps you to bring God into your parenting by providing 365 daily devotionals written specifically for parents who are seeking to build a stronger relationship with their kids and put God first in their family. These devotionals will inspire you as a parent to embrace the role that God has given you, while also equipping you with the tools you need to be a strong Christian role model for your children.

Starting with a Square

I was excited to receive this book in the mail because I would finally learn how to knit granny squares. I have always wanted to learn. What I expected to find and what I actually received were two different things. I received a book that had lots of different designs and how to "make" the design using a foreign set of numbers/terminology I had not learned before.

Maybe because this book is for seasoned knitters? Anyways, the illustrations were pretty and I wish I could make anyone of these squares they pictured.

For those of whom are seasoned knitters, here is a synopsis of what the book entails: 

150 original block patterns, from simple textures to embossed pictorials, intricate lace to cables, colorwork, double knit, and more, all with Nicky’s signature wit, verve, and style.
More than ten exclusive project designs that will make you say “I can’t believe that is made out of blocks!”
Detailed guidance for creating exciting pieces out of block knitting, without using increases or decreases.
Exclusive cut-and-paste project design pages. Simply cut out the printed blocks and arrange them to help create your own masterpieces.

Blocks are quick to knit, portable pieces perfect for group and charity projects, and now not limited to just afghans! Knitting Block by Block gives you the tools to unlock a world of creative possibilities and confidently build your own design “blockbusters,” one block at a time.  

Testing Food

Many people think that cooking is a mystery, but if you break it down, cooking is only a mixture of ingredients, made hot by heating in different ways. Maybe that is the mystery. What if I put the wrong amount or what if I put a wrong ingredient into the mixture?

I was talking to a friend and he told me that on Thanksgiving, he is responsible for eating. I think that's true for most family members. Eating is a very important responsibility, but I think cooking is a huge responsibility too. If the food isn't good, then the eating is hard. If the food is good, then the plates will be empty.

Either way, making food is a skill all in itself. That's why I requested this book. As a college student, ramen noodles is a staple in the menu. Everything stems from ramen noodles, pizza, or mac & cheese. This book takes 125 common foods and elevates it to a higher standard. No more are we eating ramen noodles. We are instead eating an Asian salad with ramen noodles.

See the difference? The author, Tyler Florence takes a common thing and makes it uncommon. The pictures and illustrations are in color, so you don't have to guess what the result would look like. Also, there are step by step directions along with a few pictures so you know what each step is supposed to look like when it is finished.

Have you ever wondered which cheese, exactly, will make the stretchiest, cheesiest mac and cheese? Or if you can make Hollandaise sauce without fear, a double boiler, or even a whisk? Or if, instead of having to choose between onion rings or French fries, you can make onion rings crusted with French fries? Tyler Florence has. These are the kinds of questions he obsesses over when he thinks about how to make cooking both easier and more exciting.

For years, while shuttling between his restaurants and TV shoots, Tyler's kept a notebook of ideas to push his own recipes out of their comfort zone. Now, for the first time in his career, he’s established a culinary lab where he can dive deep into the hows, whys, and why-nots of his cooking. He brings you Inside the Test Kitchen to see his experiments, the wins and the fails, and of course, the delicious, foolproof, and surprising recipes that come out of it.

Go from tricks to make basics brilliant—like saucing Double-Creamed Spinach with pureed spinach, or using boiling-hot brine to make a Super-Crisp Roast Chicken— to simpler ways to make the classics, like a nearly no-stir Time Saver Risotto and a Three-Minute Hollandaise, to pure reinvention, like Fronion Rings and almost-instant Modern Burger Buns.

Through these 120 recipes, Tyler invites you to question culinary sacred cows, push your skills to the next level, and make food more delicious than they would have thought possible.

Just Sayin'

If you read my previous blog post, I talked about a 90 day devotional for boys. Well, guess what? They have a version for girls and it's for girly girls. The girls that talk about nails, hair and makeup, this book is for them.

I can see my cousin who is in 6th grade doodle all over this book. She loves drawing and being artistic, so this book will probably fit her. This book is just like it's male counterpart: "Dare U to Open this Book". It's filled with fun devotionals aimed at girls in their preteen ages. The cover is also pink and all the devotional topics have something do with life from a girl's perspective.

Just Sayin’ isn’t your typical 90-day devo for girls. It’s an all-out open space for you to explore and learn more about yourself and your faith. Prompts get your mind thinking, ideas flowing, and help turn your thoughts and emotions into dynamic doodles and more!

Each of the short, single-page devos were designed for girls just like you, with relevant topic, quotes, Scripture, plus doodles, journal prompts, lists, puzzles, quizzes, fill-in-the-blank prayers, and unique activities that explore Bible truths and ways to apply them—everyday. Just Sayin’ challenges girls to follow Jesus every day. Best. Idea. Ever.