Thursday, November 23, 2017

ESV ILLUMINATED BIBLE Review


ESV ILLUMINATED BIBLE REVIEW

I was very excited to get the opportunity to review the Illuminated Bible. I have many friends that have used similar bibles in the past and I was very curious about them.

The ESV Illuminated Bible places the full ESV text alongside over 500 elegantly hand-lettered gold ink illustrations by renowned artist Dana Tanamachi. Printed on thick cream-colored paper, the Bible's single-column text setting and wide margins provide generous space for additional notes, prayers, and designs—inviting readers to creatively engage with and reflect on the beauty of God's Word.

• 9-point, Lexicon
• Black letter text
• 2-color printing
• 64 full-page, custom book opener illustrations
• 50 full-page verse illustrations
• 250+ hand-lettered margin verses
• 100+ other illustrations throughout
• Illustrated by Dana Tanamachi, whose work has been featured by Google, The Wall Street Journal, Random House, USPS, and Target
• Thick, cream-colored paper
• Wide margins
• Single-column, paragraph format
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Packaging: Permanent Slipcase
• Dana Tanamachi is an American lettering artist, graphic designer, and illustrator whose exquisite typographic murals ignited the worldwide chalk-lettering trend. She has been commissioned by clients such as Instagram, Target, Google, Time Magazine, Nike, and West Elm. Learn more at tanamachistudio.com.

This bible is absolutely beautiful. It comes in a beautiful box-like case that is similar to the cover with gold flowers and navy background. I was a little disappointed that it was hardbound. I'm not entirely sure what I expect the cover to be, I just didn't expected it to be hard bound.  I think a softer cover would be more easily transportable for daily use.

Each book has its own beautiful gold page announcing its title. That and the other gold touches with verses here through out the bible are a nice touch.



Overall, it is a gorgeous bible with lots of room to take notes, journal or draw and doodle as much as you'd like. I think it will be very good for sitting down and studying or meditating on God's Word. My only real criticism is it is fairly large and heavy and not a great size to transport and carry with you, even to church in my opinion. 

Get yours below.



IlluminatedBible.org



I was given a copy through flybypromotions.com in exchange for my honest review.




Thursday, October 5, 2017

Glory Song by Matt Redman CD Review




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Glory Song by Matt Redman CD Review


I am a homeschooling mom of five, so I thought it would be a great idea to play the CD during our homeschool day to keep our hearts lifted. Boy did it work! I love how the first song, All Glory, begins with the choir vocalizing and moves into the wonderfully upbeat Gospel Song.  Gospel Song has a wonderful melody and kept my foot tapping.

Greatest Hallelujah starts of sweetly with just a guitar and then it builds and brings in piano and other instruments. I can see myself singing this song a lot and it may be my favorite song on the entire album. Gracefully broken is a nice powerful song that is very moving. I like the addition of the female vocals too.

One Day(When we all get to heaven) is a piano driven classic hymn that took me back to singing at the small town country church I first attended as an adult. It was just like how we sang there and it was very nostalgic for me. The rest of the album continued with beautiful, heartfelt songs that were soothing and uplifting to listen to during our homeschool day.

Redemption ground particularly was very calming and lovely to listen to. I especially enjoyed Still I will sing. That no matter what, I will sing praises to God. I really enjoyed listening to this album and highly recommend it to anyone.

Check out some great videos about this album here:

Gracefully Broken Top Of The Tower Live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__haUJns_b8 Gracefully Broken (Lyric Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR0lxbIP4 Gracefully Broken (Song Story): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LeKJYkhIo8

About the album:
Matt Redman teamed up with several of his worship-artist friends for this album, first releasing the track “Gracefully Broken (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard).” Tasha Cobbs Leonard also released her own version of this song on the same day! The album also features Kierra Sheard, Guvna B, Madison Cunningham, and Kim Walker-Smith

Get your copy here: http://capcmg.me/GlorySong?IQid=flyby












I was given a copy of Matt Redman's Glory Song CD in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Every Day with God Veggie Tales Devotional Review



About the Book:
​Every Day with God is the latest 365-day devotional (one for boys and another for girls) from VeggieTales. The updated content and art offer the perfect opportunity for parent and child to share time together each day. Each entry includes a Bible verse, short devotion, Thought of the Day, and prayer. The content will help children learn more about God and develop a daily practice to keep Him close in their lives. The book is perfect for bedtime reading, family devotion time, or as a fresh way to start each day!

We really liked this book. I have a four year old boy and a three year old boy who adore everything VeggieTales so I was very excited to get the opportunity to review this book. We were not disappointed. I loved that we could use favorite characters along with bible verses to help them begin to learn the Bible and how to make studying it part of their daily lives. One a day wasn't even enough for them!! They wanted to keep reading, so we read several every time. We recommend this book for 4-7 year old kids. They'll love it!!

You can get your own copy of the Every Day with God devotional for boys here and the girls one here



#EveryDayWithGod
#FlyBy

Friday, May 20, 2016

DIY BABY WIPES

DIY Baby Wipes

I wanted to share my DIY baby wipes recipe. Originally found in the CHEMICAL FREE HOME 1 book but I adjusted it a little.

About 1 tbsp KidScents bath gel
4 drops gentle baby oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
1 1/2 cups water
1 roll of Brawny paper towels cut in half
Air tight container with lid large enough to fit half a paper towel roll.

Mix bath gel and essential oil in a mixing bowl and then add water. Cut one Brawny paper towel roll in half, setting one half aside. Place one half inside your airtight container and remove cardboard insert. Pour water mixture evenly over roll and cover with the lid. Set aside until water is absorbed throughout roll.

Note: I've gone back and unrolled the paper towels afterwards to make wipes look more folded like commercially sold wipes and I've left them in the roll shape and it's been fine either way.


Testimony: we've been using these wipes for several months now and have completely eliminated store bought wipes. They work great and soothe the skin. My boys(I have two in diapers) haven't had any of the rashes they would normally get from irritation due to staying in a diaper too long or the soap on the wipes. We love using these wipes!!

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The Restaurant Critic's Wife Book Review







     The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan is about Sam and Lila Soto who have just moved to Philadelphia for Sam to begin his dream job of working as a restaurant critic for a newspaper. Sam is very insistent on keeping his identity a secret so that no one in the restaurant industry will know it is him when he dines at their restaurants. As the story begins, Lila, a former crisis manager for Addison Hotels, is pregnant with their second child and knows almost no one in their new town.

     For the most part, I liked the book. I, however, didn't really care for either of the main characters. Sam is obsessive, self centered and selfish. Lila is insecure, selfish and self centered. They don't communicate with each other at all and act very immature and childish too. It was hard for me as a mother of five to read about a woman that is so insecure in her parenting but doesn't actually parent. I felt like she spent the entire book just distracting her kids so that she could do what she wanted. 

     I don't want to come down too hard on the book because there were several things I enjoyed. The different restaurants and menus was very interesting and fun. I liked how real the author was with a lot of parenting issues, with children throwing fits and fighting and dealing with other moms. But, unfortunately, the main character of Lila was very hard for me to read. She was very insecure and immature and selfish in my opinion. Overall, I liked the authors writing style and the way she described the scenes. I felt as if I was actually there. I just didn't care for Sam and Lila Soto.



I was given a free advanced copy of The Restaurant Critic's Wife from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Surprised by the Healer Book Review + GIVEAWAY!!

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From surprisedbythehealer.com :

"The Healer is inviting you…
God’s word declares that there is healing for your deepest pains, hope for your biggest disappointments, and victory over your addictions, past hurts, and past failures. His name is Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals, and He can redeem your broken story.
In these pages, you will meet nine courageous women who have agreed to tell their stories, to share with you how they moved from hopelessness and brokenness to hope and healing. Whether from sexual abuse, betrayal in marriage, or other harrowing experiences, the Healer invited them on a unique journey of redemption in the midst of deep pain. He is inviting you, too.
Linda Dillow and Dr. Juli Slattery, cofounders of Authentic Intimacy, have been writing and ministering to women in the church and clinical context for several decades. Their wisdom and experience overflow in this work to give you a trusted resource in journeying toward healing.
Includes a study guide for each chapter in the back of the book."



The stories featured in this book are incredible, heart breaking and awe-inspiring. Our God is amazing. These women have bravely shared their stories and how God has healed them. I think its time for a giveaway so a few of you can read this book for yourself!

I'm giving away TWO COPIES OF SURPRISED BY THE HEALER!!
for US residents only



Monday, January 25, 2016

FREE Surprised by the Healer Webinar TONIGHT!!! 9PM ET/6PM PT



Please don't forget to check out the FREE Surprised by the Healer Webinar tonight at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

The authors Dr Juli Slattery and Linda Dillow will be discussing their book, Surprised by the Healer. 

Do you have brokenness in your past? Do you feel like God can't forgive you for the things you've done? We all have things in our past we wish weren't there. But the good news of the gospel is there isn't anything too broken for God to heal. God’s word declares that there is healing for your deepest pains, hope for your biggest disappointments, and victory over your addictions, past hurts, and past failures. His name is Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals, and He can redeem. Learn more about how Jesus wants to heal your broken story during this webinar. 
Linda Dillow and Dr. Juli Slattery, cofounders of Authentic Intimacy, have been writing and ministering to women in the church and clinical context for several decades. Their wisdom and experience overflow in their new book, Surprised By the Healer, to give you a trusted resource in journeying toward healing.
Monday January 25th- 9pm EST / 8pm CT / 7pm MT / 6pm PT

Sunday, January 24, 2016

I'm on the Surprised by the Healer Launch Team!! #surprisedbythehealer





I am privileged and immensely blessed to be on the Surprised by the Healer Book Launch Team!! This is my second time on a launch team for Authentic Intimacy a ministry all about having true, authentic intimacy with our husbands and with our God.


As it states on surprisedbythehealer.com, 

"The Healer is inviting you…
God’s word declares that there is healing for your deepest pains, hope for your biggest disappointments, and victory over your addictions, past hurts, and past failures. His name is Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals, and He can redeem your broken story.
In these pages, you will meet nine courageous women who have agreed to tell their stories, to share with you how they moved from hopelessness and brokenness to hope and healing. Whether from sexual abuse, betrayal in marriage, or other harrowing experiences, the Healer invited them on a unique journey of redemption in the midst of deep pain. He is inviting you, too.
Linda Dillow and Dr. Juli Slattery, cofounders of Authentic Intimacy, have been writing and ministering to women in the church and clinical context for several decades. Their wisdom and experience overflow in this work to give you a trusted resource in journeying toward healing."

I am almost finished reading the book and will post a review and possibly a giveaway when I finish.



There will also be a FREE Surprised by the Healer Webinar on Monday January 25. Click on the picture above to register today!


Thursday, January 21, 2016

My Brother's Crown Review

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Goodreads description says,"From Christy award-winning authors Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould comes a brand-new sweeping family saga. Close-knit cousins are individually led on a redemptive journey as they follow the threads of their family's mysterious past and discover how it impacts the future.

Renee Talbot, a director in her family's 350-year-old paper company, is facing a huge problem: how to stay afloat in an increasingly paperless world. When her grandmother asks for her help in finding answers to some unsettling family-related questions, Renee's search for truth takes her to Europe, where she learns the story of Catherine Gillette, an ancestor who lived in seventeenth-century France. Headstrong and independent, young Catherine's brave actions saved the original paper company--and various members of the family--during a time when the French Huguenots were being persecuted by Louis XIV.

As Renee tries to save the company and her family's legacy, she draws courage and wisdom from an ancestor who stood strong and faithful when life was at its most perilous and God seemed to expect more from her than she ever thought she could deliver.
 "

I enjoyed this book from the start. The authors take us back and forth between Catherine Gilette in 17th century France and Renee Talbot in present day Virginia.  The characters are relatives as Renee is an descendant of Catherine. I enjoyed the use of historical facts interwoven throughout this book. Louis XIV's France was very interesting to read about, as well as the plight of the Huguenots. I hadn't heard of them before reading this book actually.

I felt Renee was a very real, strong character, a mature, modern and intelligent woman which greatly contrasted to the young, immature Catherine. Sometimes I found myself rolling my eyes at Catherine's impulsiveness. I had to remind myself that she was a very sheltered and, in a sense, spoiled young woman of her day. But that didn't deter me from enjoying the book and being eager to read the next installment of the series.

BELOW CONTAINS A FEW SPOILERS

My only real criticism was the fact that the major traumatic incident that surrounded Renee wasn't completely concluded in my opinion. She finally faced her fears and went back to look for evidence and you never found out what actually happened. I guess you could say that they kind of concluded it because they went back and everyone finally believed them and the police had a plan to investigate, but it still felt like a loose end to me. There is always the possibility that they will continue that in other books in the series since this is the first book in the series.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more about them in the following books.





I was given an advanced copy of My Brother's Crown by NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

The Swans of Fifth Avenue

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The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin is a work of historical fiction about Truman Capote and his New York society lady friends that he dubbed his "Swans." It spans several decades starting in the 1950s and incorporates many of his well-known works such as, "In Cold Blood" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's." His relationship with "swan" Babe Paley makes up the bulk of the story as well as her relationship with her husband.

I found this a fascinating and wonderful read. As I am usually a nonfiction reader, this book kept me reading until well into the late-night/early-morning hours. The point of view changes from each person in the story seamlessly and makes the story that much richer and full of detail. The timeline strays back and forth around Capote's "social death" after his publishing a thinly-veiled story about New York socialites.

The author was able to use real life events intertwined with her own fiction to make up a very interesting story of two people and those around them who are always seeking love and attention in a world based mainly on outward appearance. The characters are deep and complex and well written. I was very very pleasantly surprised by this book. I highly recommend reading it when it comes out later this month.

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of The Swans of Fifth Avenue given to me by NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Centralia Book Review




From the back cover of the book:
"Peter Ryan wakes up on a typical morning only to find his house empty, his wife and daughter nowhere to be found. His world is shattered after a phone call to a friend confirms the impossible: his wife and daughter died in a car accident he does not remember.
Haunted by faint memories and flashes of details, Peter becomes convinced that something isn't right and begins to question reality. When he discovers a note in his daughter's handwriting, strange memories surface that cause him to second guess nearly everything he once believed. Suddenly armed men show up at Peter's home, turning the mysterious puzzle of his past into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
On the run and unsure whom to trust, Peter has to discover what's read and what isn't....before he loses everything."

I wasn't sure what to expect when this book arrived. Then I read the back of the book and my interest was piqued. As I began reading, I was quickly drawn into the mystery of who Peter Ryan really is. Are his wife and daughter really dead? The author has done a fantastic job of keeping you guessing while slowly and subtly moving the plot along. There is never a dull moment and I found myself nodding off while reading the book because I just didn't want to stop reading it!! I highly recommend reading this book!!!

I was given a free copy of this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Strong and Kind Book Review



What Legacy Will You Pass Down To The Next Generation?
“After being a parent for twenty years, I have come to believe that the most important thing for parents to decide—more important than bottle or breastfeeding, more important than co-sleeping or sleep training, and even more important than whether to put your child in day care or become a stay-at-home parent—is what values are important to your family and how you will go about instilling those values in your children.”
In Strong and Kind Korie Robertson—with the help of her mom, Chrys Howard, and with insights and stories from her husband, Willie—introduces nine character traits that children need in order to lead a successful life. And though there are no perfect parents or perfect children, Korie shares principles—based on biblical wisdom and time-tested practices—that will help you parent your own one-of-a-kind child.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book. What a wonderfully written and lovely book to read. Korie takes us through the different character qualities or traits that your child needs to succeed. She suggests starting with the two that are most important to you. Strong and Kind are the two she feels are most important for her children.

She had lots of insightful advice for parenting and shared stories of her own childhood and parenting experiences to go along with the qualities. She takes the reader through each of the qualities and how they apply to us then she details how you can start implementing them in our own lives and teaching them to our children. Along the way, Willie tells his point of view of the character qualities as well as stories from his children and parenting experiences.

In conclusion, it was a wonderful read and I really enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend reading this for any parent, especially if you are a Duck Dynasty fan but not only if you are a fan. Korie is quite personable and real towards her own experiences and journey as a parent. If you're a parent or soon to be, go get this book!

I was given a free copy of Strong and Kind in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, November 13, 2015

7 Women and the secret of their greatness




"In his eagerly anticipated follow-up to the enormously successful Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas gives us seven captivating portraits of some of history's greatest women, each of whom changed the course of history by following God's call upon their lives-as women.
Each of the world-changing figures who stride across these pages-Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Maria Skobtsova, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, and Rosa Parks-is an exemplary model of true womanhood. Teenaged Joan of Arc followed God's call and liberated her country, dying a heroic martyr's death. Susanna Wesley had nineteen children and gave the world its most significant evangelist and its greatest hymn-writer, her sons John and Charles. Corrie ten Boom, arrested for hiding Dutch Jews from the Nazis, survived the horrors of a concentration camp to astonish the world by forgiving her tormentors. And Rosa Parks' deep sense of justice and unshakeable dignity and faith helped launch the twentieth-century's greatest social movement.
Writing in his trademark conversational and engaging style, Eric Metaxas reveals how the other extraordinary women in this book achieved their greatness, inspiring readers to lives shaped by the truth of the gospel."

I began reading this book and the introduction alone sucked me in. I quote from Eric Metaxas as to how he came about choosing the women to highlight in this book after getting a lot of suggestions as to whom to include: "What struck me as wrong about these suggestions was that they presumed women should somehow be compared to men. But it seemed wrong to view great women in that way. The great men in Seven Men were not measured against women, so why should the women in Seven Women be measured against men? I wondered what was behind this way of seeing things, that women should be defined against men? Or that men and women should even be compared to each other?"

The seven great women highlighted in this book were full of life and wisdom and femininity. They don't need to be compared to men nor do men need to be compared to them. They all individually had great stories that were shared and show how God used them to further His Kingdom. I recommend reading this book.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review from BookLookBloggers.com



Saturday, October 3, 2015

25 Questions Book Giveaway!!



It is time for the GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am giving away TWO, count 'em TWO copies of 25 Questions you're Afraid to Ask about LOVE, SEX and INTIMACY!!

I am beyond thrilled to be on the launch team for this book and I can't wait for all of you to get a chance to read it! Enter below for your chance to win!!




For more information on this book go to: 

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

I am on the 25 Questions book launch team! + GIVEAWAY COMING SOON!



I am so very excited to announce that I was one of the lucky ladies chosen to the on the #25QuestionsBook Launch Team.

Authentic Intimacy is a ministry that I have been following since it was founded by Dr. Juli Slattery and Linda Dillow. Their aim is to help women learn how to have a fulfilling, Christ-Centered, Biblical Sex Life.




The new book is a selection of 25 of the most frequently asked questions they receive. No longer will women be afraid to ask their questions about sex. I will be giving away two of the books on my blog. The giveaway will start tomorrow. Please keep an eye out for the giveaway post. I hope you win!





More questions about Authentic Intimacy's new book? Check out their website:  tinyurl.com/buy25bk

Monday, August 17, 2015

The Good, the Bad, and the Grace of God Book Review











 


"Jep Robertson, the youngest son of Duck Commander Phil Robertson, and his wife, Jessica, open up about their personal trials, their early years together, and the challenges that might have destroyed them both had the grace of God not intervened. Jep describes being molested as a child and his reluctance to tell anyone until only a few years ago, his downward spiral into drug and alcohol abuse, and the eventual intervention of his family. Jessica shares about the difficult failure of her first marriage while still a teenager and the hurt that came along with it, much of it from the church. Her insecurities spun out of control as she wondered whether she would ever be good enough or pretty enough. This book is their love story but, more importantly, their love story for God."


I really enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, Jep isn't as well known as his other brothers, so it was really nice to hear his story. The book shifted back and forth from his perspective to his wife's perspective. Their individual stories flowed well together and kept the reader consist throughout the book.


Jep begins with his early life following around his older brothers and spending lots of time with his paternal grandmother, Merritt. It was insightful to see the perspective of the one Robertson child who was born after Phil's conversion to Christianity. Jep openly discusses his trials, including addiction and health issues. His openness and willingness to be completely forthcoming with everything and use it to witness for God's amazing grace and love is really refreshing. I highly recommend reading this book!!


Monday, August 3, 2015

Currently

I realize that I haven't posted a blog in quite some time. My summer has been crazy busy! We homeschool and I swear that this summer has been busier than any homeschool year we've had thus far. My kids have had activities all over the place! We are finally in our last week of a camp, my daughter's third camp of the summer.


I am currently doing a lot of reading, especially since I recently joined goodreads. I wish I would have known about this website earlier. You can keep track of what you are reading, enter giveaways for books, find new books to read and keep track of them as well as lots of free ebooks to read! It's like Christmas for us book lovers!


So that's me, what have you been up to?

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

20% savings at Label Daddy

20% savings at Label Daddy

http://www.usfamily20.labeldaddy.com
 
Save 20% on Label Daddy labels! Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others.

These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. Our exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

Save 20% on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout. http://www.usfamily20.labeldaddy.com
 
http://www.usfamily20.labeldaddy.com

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Set-Apart Woman Book Review




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     In The Set-Apart Woman, women of all ages will be encouraged to stay grounded in Jesus amid the many distractions and temptations of their daily lives. Biblical truths will help readers understand what it means to live the consecrated life, set apart for God’s purposes. Readers will apply these truths to practical areas of struggle that women face on a daily basis, such as sinful attitudes and patterns and other hindrances to our souls.

When I first began reading this book, I felt the author was being really judgmental about other Christian's walk. But, my mind changed a little after she went on to explain her stance and ideas about how to truly be set-apart and follow God. I do have to say I don't agree with the extremes with which she takes her idea, but I do respect the heart that she has in these ideas. She felt genuine and sincere. There are many good tips and advice on how to work hard to put and keep Christ first in our lives. It wasn't my favorite book, but I am happy I read it.










I received this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Living Well Spending Less





From the publisher's website: "
Ruth Soukup knows what it is like to want what you can’t afford. And she knows the downward spiral of out-of-control spending and how it can consume your life, eat up your time, and destroy your relationships. When she finally hit bottom with her finances and her marriage was on the brink of divorce, she had to learn a totally different way to think about money...and discovered true happiness along the way.

In Living Well, Spending Less Ruth shares her secrets with warmth, total honesty, and practical help in every chapter. Following her wildly successful blog of the same name, Ruth gives her readers even more of what they love: lots of creative, helpful ideas and advice for families on a budget along with stories from her own journey to discovering what the good life is really all about.

With personal and creative challenges in each chapter, Living Well, Spending Less is perfect for small group study or discussion. As readers change the desires of their hearts and shift their priorities toward treasures that last, they will find a life rich in faith, family, friends, and creativity—and a budget that balances."

First of all, I really really enjoyed reading this book. Ruth does an amazing job of explaining these 12 secrets of the good life that she has implemented in her own life. The book is set up in two parts, Living Well and Spending Less. One of my favorite aspects of this book, is that she starts with your heart and mindset first. She talks about being content first. How important it is to be happy where you are. Yes change the things that need to change, but be happy where you are and with what you have.

She goes on to discuss using your time wisely and setting goals before going on to the more practical items of saving money at the grocery store, decluttering and cleaning routines. I enjoyed reading her personal stories and examples and encouraging words to help others make needed changes in their lives. I highly recommend reading this book. It is truly one of the best books of its kind that I have read in a long time.