Automatic Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner

I have one little tiny box shower for 7 people and I was constantly fighting mildew and soap scum. It never really had a chance to dry out good between showers. I bought an Automatic Shower Cleaner with a coupon and hung it up. It seemed to slow the build-up and times between a good scrubbing, but doesn't completely eliminate the need to clean. When I use my last refill, I am going to try filling the bottle with a vinegar/water solution. The spray seems to get most of the shower, I'm not sure how well it would do with a larger space and a shower curtain. One thing to beware of is that you have 15 seconds to get the shower door closed before it sprays. With a shower curtain, you might get spray outside of the shower, but for box style it works great. I wish it could be hung higher. You could see a faint line above where the spray didn't get. The batteries lasted a long time.

It seems really loud when my husband would use it at 5am, but we didn't notice the noise at other times of the day. We also had problems at first with the kids wanting to peek through the door and watch it not realizing it sprays out.

I have bought one in the past and just received another through BzzAgent in exchange for my review.

Farraday Road and Swope's Ridge

I just finished two of the best suspense, murder mystery books I have read in a long time! Farraday Road and Swope's Ridge by Ace Collins. Both books combine a modern murder mystery with historic events like World War 2 and September 11th. I received these books to review awhile ago and didn't realize they were a set. I started Farraday Road while I was in the hospital waiting for Lincoln to recover from RSV. This is one of those books you can't put down, and I finished it at 2 in the morning. I loved the story in Farraday Road, but was frustrated with the ending. . . . until I realized I had a 2nd book! You will want to buy both books because I guarantee that once you finish Farraday Road, you'll want to keep going!

Swope's Ridge was just as engaging and well-written, and I ended up staying up late to finish that one as well. Another wonderful thing about these books is that they are completely clean and free of the junk often found in mystery novels!

These books as a set are fabulous and I think they would make a great movie someday, especially if you like ones like "National Treasure." Buy both and you won't be disappointed, buy one and you'll be wanting more.

Exposure

Exposure by Brandilyn Collins published by Zondervan

Summary: Someone is watching Kaycee Raye. But who will believe her? Everyone knows she's a little crazy. Kaycee's popular syndicated newspaper column pokes fun at her own paranoia and multiple fears. The police in her small town are well aware she makes money writing about her experiences. Worse yet, she has no proof of the threats. Pictures of a dead man mysteriously appear in her home-- then vanish before police arrive.

This murder mystery suspense novel had me confused at first. I had a hard time following the different story lines and almost set it aside. I'm so glad I didn't! The ending tied everything together perfectly. If you can keep track of multiple storylines, I'm sure you will enjoy this book. It's not one you can pick up and put down because you would lose track of what you know, but it also only 272 pages, so you can easily tackle it over a weekend.

I will be looking for more books by Brandilyn Collins for a fast, relaxing read.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Fit to be Tied

Fit to be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher

From the cover: It's 1916, and Idaho rancher Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. So when charged with transforming English aristocrat Sherwood Statham from playboy into cowboy, she's totally disconcerted. So is Statham, who's never encountered a woman succeeding in a 'man's world.' Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.

I enjoy a good romance story, but they can be hard to find. This Christian romance story is sweet, clean, and fun to read. It is nice to find a good romance story without all the trashy stuff in regular romances. This is a book I would pass on to my sister or daughter or friends. I especially enjoyed the historic descriptions of Boise, having grown up in Idaho. This is a nice, easy afternoon read.

I am looking forward to reading more of Robin Lee Hatcher's novels! Hopefully they are all nice and clean. (If you have read any of her's and would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment.)

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.

General Mills Movie Cash

Have you seen the cereal boxes with movie cash coupons on the front? They are on General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix, and Reese's Puffs. You only have to buy 2 boxes to get a free movie ticket-- and with the price of movies in my area, that's like getting the cereal free-- or better than free if you use coupons and sales to buy the cereal. (The movie cash is good for up to $12 and can be used on ANY movie, even ones that say no passes). I was sent some of the movie certificates from General Mills through myblogspark and they worked like a charm. It was basically like using a check made out to the movie theater. There are not names on them, so you can give them as gifts or use them for yourself. Mine didn't expire until Sept 2010! I plan on watching for these specially marked boxes of cereal-- and will post an update if I see them around here.

In addition, I get to give away one packet of 4 movie tickets. If you are interested, post a comment, here or on Facebook or email me: simplyfun123 @ gmail.com (remove the spaces) Tell me your favorite movie memory or the first movie you remember going to in the theatre. Mine is Harry and the Hendersons.

The winner will be selected on 12/15/09

Hope of Refuge

The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

Summary:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

This book is a sweet story that draws you in. I loved getting a glimpse into an Amish community. The author does a great job of tying together several subplots and creating real, engaging characters. This is a relaxing book, perfect for lazy summer days. I have a copy to give away, so please send me an email if you are interested.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. You can find places to purchase the book by visiting http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400073962

I love Crayola

I love Crayola products. They are the only crayons I buy because they are so much better than the other brands.

In addition to the basic crayons, markers, and colored pencils, Crayola has introduced some other fun products that I had not seen before. The MyBlogSpark, I was able to test some of them and I'm impressed. (One lucky winner can win a Crayola Creativity pack this week.) See details below.

The Crayola Creativity Pack includes the back-to-school list staples like 24-ct. Crayola Crayons, 10-ct, Crayola Markers and 12-ct. Colored Pencils and some of the new, innovative, affordable variations on these classics:

24-ct. Crayola Crayons, the quintessential back-to-school tool that kids love for their vibrant colors, and moms and teachers choose for superior quality and value

10-ct. Crayola Markers, with an array of consistent, true colors to complete any task

12-ct. Crayola Colored Pencils, which come pre-sharpened with thick, strong lead made to tackle touch projects and art activities

Crayola Pip-Squeaks Colored Pencils and Glitter Glue, which give children big color in a small size and are perfect for jazzing up art projects with bright, bold, shimmering colors

Crayola Window Crayons, to help let your little ones transform glass surfaces into instant decorations with bright colors that lay down smoothly, dry quickly, and wipe clean with a damp cloth

Tadoodles Washable Crayon Buddies, which are colorful little characters that hold a triangular-shaped crayon that twists up when the tip wears down - perfect for little hands!

Crayola Color Explosion Black Extreme Surprises, which comes complete with a stencil sheet and two Broad Tip Color Explosion clear ink markers that reveal a different surprise design as they´re colored on 18-page tablet

Crayola Color Switchers, which are dual-ended markers that allow kids to magically change the colors of their drawings with a swoosh of the "color switch" tip

My kids favorites are the Crayola window crayons and Crayola Color Switchers. They have had some much fun leaving messages on the windows and mirrors and making changes to their pictures. Adam has enjoyed the crayon buddies (and really, all of his older siblings did as well). He has shown more interest in coloring and is so proud of his creations.

I love Crayola and back-to-school time. I loved getting a new, fresh box of crayons at the start of the school year. And while the 24 pack is great, you really need the 64 pack with the built in sharpener or the 120 mega-pack with every possible color.

To enter the drawing, please leave your name and tell me what your favorite Crayola product is and why you like it or email me. I will draw a winner on Wednesday.

There is also a twitter event, use #gno, sponsored by momitforward.com on Tues, Aug 24th that will be giving away free items.

Molly's Money-Saving Digest for July

Molly's Money-Saving Digest this month features how to save money on clothing, landscaping, and decorating. There were several ideas dealing with thrift stores and sewing, and hints on how to build a classic wardrobe on a budget. My favorite section was "Parenting that Pays." It focused on gratitude and teaching that trait to our children. I think that is especially important when money is tight and our initial response may be to complain or focus on the problems instead of the blessings. Molly's digests are a great resource for families new to the frugal lifestyle. It is helpful to glean ideas from other frugal moms and to know you are not the only one pinching pennies.

I've also found that when I regularly read something about saving and taking care of finances, it keeps my focus on that aspect of my life and helps me avoid impulse purchases. I think of it like scripture reading. When I keep the Lord in my life everyday, my spiritual body is nourished and spiritual things are at the front of my mind. While finances are not as essential in the eternal perspective, they are important temporally and keeping my priorities straight is a blessing to my family.

Molly's digest can be purchased as a e-book through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Stealing Home by Allison Pittman

Stealing Home gets a thumbs up from me for being a sweet, well written romance story without all the shady scenes found in many romance novels! I enjoyed reading this story and would be completely comfortable sharing it with my 16 year old sister or having someone pick it up off the table to read a few pages.

It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol. That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm. Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

I have 2 copies to share, so if you would like to read it, email me or post a comment and I will choose 2 lucky readers. Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you comment. Drawing will be 2 weeks from today. I'm noticing a 2 theme, so please share your 2 favorite summertime books as well!

Saints in Limbo by River Jordan

Saints in Limbo is an easy, gently moving novel for summer. Written with descriptive language and imagery, it's a relaxing book to read on lazy days.

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida. When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be released from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

I have one copy to giveaway. Please post a comment or email me if you are interested. The winner will be selected 2 weeks from today.