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This blog is coming from the mind of one mama who loves to read and review different products. I will also find contests for you to enter. This blog is separate from my family blog. Enjoy and please feel free to add your comments :)

Friday, July 29, 2011

Lesson Pathways Homeschooling K-5 Curriculum

Have you ever wanted to homeschool? Are you looking for a cheap way to do it? Do you have little ones grade K-5. If you answered yes to these questions then Lesson Pathways is the right choice for you!

Most of you know that I am a mom of 4 little ones. Last year I decided to start homeschooling my daughter who is now 8. Yes I just started because to tell you the truth I thought homeschooling was going to be expensive and I didn't do my research before I put her in public school. No I am not saying that public school is bad. I had my daughter in public school for kindergarten and first grade. I have always wanted to homeschool I just didn't know how to jump right in.

After attending a conference for homeschooling last year I decided to dive right in. If you think too much about it you will never get around to it. The easiest thing is to just do it. So after the conference I decided to Google for free homeschool curriculum. That lead me to find Lesson Pathways.

Can you say awesome! FREE! Yes free! All you have to do is go sign up and then you have all of your curriculum laid out for you. You click the homeschool signup button under getting started. You can also sign up with your Facebook account.

After you sign up you can browse pathways, manage your students, or customize your planner. I have found it easier to just click on pathways and then go down the list of subjects. When you click a subject it then lists the grades below. Click the grade you want and it brings up at list for 36 weeks of schooling. Click week one and then you will be brought to another page that will allow you to get links to teach from, print from, play games and even watch videos on the subject. Pathways also gives you crafts and project to do with the subjects.

We are now on our second year of using this curriculum. I have loved using Lesson Pathways. It is a great curriculum. There is also a comment section where moms will leave comments if they like a link or think it could be too much info for your child. Also moms find links that go along with the subjects too. That is a very helpful part of this curriculum. You don't have that listed right in front of you when using a book. Also have no fear if your link doesn't work email them and they will fix any dead link almost right away. I noticed that lots of moms would comment about a link being dead but I felt it would get done quicker if I sent an email. It did and it was done within a day or two.

So if you are looking for a curriculum for K-5, I think this one is a great choice. Free is always good right?

So what are some of your favorite links or websites for homeschooling? I am always looking for more ideas.

*Note this review is my own. I wasn't ask to review the site I just fell in love with it and thought I should share.

Book Review: Lonestar Homecoming


The book Lonestar Homecoming by Colleen Coble is about a woman named Gracie who is about to marry her fiancĂ© when the FBI shows up at her door. Needless to say she has to run with her daughter from her fiancĂ© Cid. All she has on her is $5 and she is wearing a wedding dress. Within the first 5 pages of this book I was hooked! I don’t want to spoil it by writing too much. She does have a man named Michael come to her rescue who becomes her “knight in shining armor” as I like to call it.

There are not many books that are romance and action novels. Well not many out there that I have found and couldn’t put down. It was hard for me to stop reading. I hated to put this book down. Truly one of the best books I have read in a long time. If you are like me and you are not into the mushy romances this one is great for you. It has just enough romance and a lot of action. It makes your heart race.


This is the 3rd book of a series but you can read it without reading the other 2. I did and still it made sense. Some series you can’t read out of order but this one I believe you can.


This book can be found on Amazon here.

*I received this book for free for review purposes from Book Sneeze, the Thomas Nelson Company. I was not compensated for my opinion of this book.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Book Review: Happily Ever Laughter

Happily Ever After is a collection of stories from real-life couples compiled together by: Ken Davis. This book will have you laughing out loud at the funny things that happen to the couples throughout their lives. It is just the simple things that can bring a funny moment. Such as in the first chapter of the book. The opening of the book has this short little story...A husband who didn't know how to do housework decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to his wife, "Hey, what setting do I use on the washing machine?" She answered, "Well, it depends. What does it say on your shirt?"He yelled back, "Denver Broncos!"

I know I have had similar experiences with my husband. Throughout the whole book I find myself relating to each story and laughing so hard. I bet if you are married you can find at least one story that is similar to a story from your own life experience. This book will help you understand that sometimes the uncomfortable and difficult things can still bring joy into your life.
I would recommend this book to any married couple or couple that is going to get married. It is a wonderful read.

This book can be found on Amazon here

I want to thank Tnydale for this complimentary book.
*Note I was not paid to review this book. This is my opinion of the book.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Book Review: The Medium Next Door


I recently had the chance to read and review the book "The Medium Next Door. Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer" by Maureen Hancock. This book takes you through the journey of how Maureen became a Medium and also how she has helped others with her amazing abilities.

First let's get to know Maureen Hancock a little...

Spirit medium Maureen Hancock discovered her psychic abilities to communicate with the dead when she was just five years old. Descended from a long line of legendary Irish mystics, she was no stranger to the spiritual realm, but she kept the otherworldly messages to herself throughout her childhood, eventually suppressing them almost completely.

Maureen wouldn't open herself up to the spirits again until she was in a near fatal car crash. Soon after she began to hear hundreds of voices who were helping her solve cases and expose fraud in her job as a litigation paralegal at Logan Airport. Accepting her gift but keeping it under wraps she married and had children. It was not until tragedy struck on 9/11 and Maureen was bombarded with messages from the spirits that she realized she had to put her ability to its best use. She left her job at the Airport and opened the holistic healing center Pathways to Healing and launched the cancer foundation Manifest a Miracle.

Today, known as the "Medium Mom ,"as well as "Comedian Medium" Maureen strives to balance raising her children, speaking with the deceased , assisting the dying, searching for missing children, and teaching about life after death.

So Maureen Hancock is the Medium Next Door. I must say I was a little skeptical on if she could really be a "Ghost- Whisperer" or not. I do believe after we die we all still live as a spirit and I believe there is a heaven. I just wasn't sure if I could believe there was someone who really could talk to the loved ones we have lost.

Maureen shares so many stories about those who have passed and who have come to her. I laugh when I read about how someone comes through and pretty much drives her crazy until she gets to the person that she is supposed to relay a message to. This book is not only filled with wonderful moments that touch your heart but also funny moments that will have you laugh out loud. Maureen has a great sense of humor. I think you would have to have one to able to listen to all these spirits who are trying to get through.

Throughout the whole book I got chills as she told the stories of each spirit that came through and then how she even got families to write what their experience was. This made me see how real she was. Maureen is an amazing woman that I am glad I got to read about. I am now a believer in what she does.

If you are someone who is having a hard time dealing with a death of a loved one then you should read this book. It gives you more of an understanding of the after life. I believe it can give you comfort knowing that your loved ones are ok. You will one day be together again.

To read more about Maureen and what she does check out her website here.

Also you can check out Maureen's show Psychic in Suburbia July 30th ET/PT on the Style Network.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Maureen's book it can be found at Amazon.com here and Barnes and Noble here.

*Please note that I did not get compensated to write this review but the book was given to me for review purposes.


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Free Burger From Ruby Tuesday



Ruby Tuesday is giving away a free burger to the first 200,000 people who sign up on their Facebook page. The coupon requires you to purchase two beverages that are non-alcoholic. Also one coupon per check. Hurry on over to Facebook here and sign up to get a coupon emailed to you.

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