CSN Review...A little bit of fun for the pooch!

Some of you know, I LOVE CSN Stores! When they asked me to do a review a couple of weeks ago, I decided to check out the pet store, I didn't realize this, but they sell agility equipment! I was so excited, my daughter does agility with our golden retriever as a 4H project, and he is very good at it. Buddy is a bit obsessed with tunnels, he loves them...which caused his downfall at competition! We decided to buy him a tunnel, thinking maybe he'd get over wanting to be in it all the time!

See How Happy He Is?

The box came....I opened it, it came neatly bundled...it's one of those great items that fold up into a circle for easy storage! Well, Buddy knew right away what it was and he went CRAZY. As soon as it was opened he ran into the tunnel out the other end and then laid himself down right inside of it and wouldn't come out! Needless to say, it was a hit!

The tunnel seems really well built and made to last, it has ties so it won't roll across the ground and a special carrying case for when it's not in use.  I think that the tunnel is well worth what it costs.

**I received this product for review purposes, and the compensation did not in any way alter my opinion.  Thanks CSN Stores!

Book Review: Masquerade, by Nancy Moser

Masquerade, by Nancy Moser

It is 1886 and Charlotte Gleason is about to get herself into a bit of trouble!  As you begin to read this story you learn quickly that Charlotte is one girl that is full of spunk with a desire for 'real life'.

About to be sent to America to meet the man she is expected to marry, Charlotte cannot imagine leaving her long-time friend and maid behind, as events unfold, it is the two of them that leave on the ship for America and Charlotte becomes a bit dismayed when she see's how easily her friend Dora slips into the roll of a society lady.

Would you want to marry a man you have never met?  Even if he is very wealthy?  Charlotte sure doesn't, so she switches rolls with Dora and the fun begins, or does it?  Charlotte is thrown into a world she doesn't know how to live in, struggling to survive she begins to wonder if she made a mistake.  In the meantime, Dora is living a life of luxury, but at the cost of missing out on true love.

After many twists and turns the girls meet again, but I'm not going to tell you what happens!  This was a fun book...I loved the spunk and personality of the characters and I recommend this book.

**Thanks to Bethany House for provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Stocking Stuffer week is coming soon!

Do you participate in Secret Santa gift exchanges, or need stuffer stuffer or small gift ideas?  During the first week of November I will be hosting a different gift idea and a GIVEAWAY each day of the week!  I have some great gifts lined up, so be sure to put the date on your calendar, it's going to be fun!

Book Review: Love's First Bloom, by Delia Parr

Love's First Bloom, a novel by Delia Parr the author of Hearts Awakening a Romantic Times top pick!

Ruth Livingston has grown up without a mom, and one day finds a baby put into her arms and her father sends her away under an assumed name.  If that's not bad enough, her father is accused of murder, he is a Reverand, it is unthinkable that he could commit such a crime.

Ruth finds herself taken in by a loving couple, the problem is, they believe she is a former prostitute hiding away with her child!  Ruth quietly tends to her daily duties and keeps informed of her father's trial with the newspaper, and all is fine until an ornery man moves in next door.

As Ruth continues to hide she begins to fall in love with the young child, secrets emerge and things heat up when newspaper writers begin searching for her.  Finding peace in her garden, Ruth comes to love again while keeping her secrets hidden, what will happen when her secret is revealed, how strong really is love and can Ruth's love of God help her through?

This was a very good book with a bit of a different plot than the norm, which made it a fun read!  I recommend this book, it was a very good historical romance!  If you would like to purchase your own copy of this book you can click the link below!




**I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Bethany House publishers.

Book Review: Don't Look Back

Don't Look Back, by Lynette Eason is the 2nd book in the Women of Justice series.

Wow...this was a great book, it's not one if you're not into mysteries or killer thrillers though.  I was reading this book at night and I truly became afraid of every creak and moan in the house, I felt as though someone was stalking me and had to read a bit of a romance novel to clear my head!

Jamie has survived a horrible abduction, left for dead, she escapes and starts a life with a haunting past.  Even more haunting are the recent killings she has been investigating.  The recent findings have a familiar tough to them and the feeling of being watched puts Jamie on edge.  After years of therapy she has hoped to move on with her life, but can she?

Lurking in the shadows is her attacker and he will stop at nothing, as the investigative team tries to solve the mystery of who he is, the attacker becomes more taunting and Jamie begins to fear not only for herself but for those she loves as well.

I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting more from Lynette!


“Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”



**I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing.

Knitting/Crochet Book Reviews

I recently received two great knitting books for review: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting, by Becca Smith is a wonderful book that includes a full color insert as well as wonderful pictures to help you get started knitting.  I teach knitting classes and showed this to some of my students, they loved it!  This book takes you from the basic stitches, to making patterns and changing sizes, a very helpful tool for the new and old knitter wanting to learn new tricks!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi, by June Gilbank is a fun little book that helps you learn the ins and outs of amigurumi....what is amigurumi?  For starters it is pronounced: ah-mee-goo-roo-mee, and amigurumi is the art of knitting, or crocheting cute little toys!  Now, I can't think of a more fun way to use up all of those little balls of left over yarn than by knitting tiny little stuffed animals and this book shows you how.  It gives you tips on adding different types of eyes, making joints that can move and it has some of the cutest little patterns!

Both of these books would make great gifts for a new knitter as well as a knitter wanting to brush up or learn new skills!  The amigurimi book is mainly crochet, but does have a lot of tips that a knitter can use as well!





**I received these two complimentary books from Penguin Publishers for review

Birhtday Cakes Galore!

Last weekend we celebrated my two nephew's and my niece's birthdays, they live 4 hours away so it was a weekend ordeal and guess who made the cakes....that's right, ME. I must say, they turned out awesome, and the pictures don't do them justice.

My 10 yr old nephew's cake was white with raspberry filling

My 5 yr old nephew's cake was chocolate with cherry filling

My 2 year old niece....couldn't wait to get a taste of the lemon filled lemon cake!

There's always a bit of stress while transporting cakes out of state, and of course, this time did not go off without a hitch. Somewhere along the way, I'm not certain, but I'm thinking it's when my dear husband did a U-Turn at the end of our road, the octopus' head fell backward and slammed into the back of the cake box. That would be the reason I ALWAYS take extra icing with me on these trips!!!