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Garden of Good Manners

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When I saw this craft kit, a recent incident immediately came to mind. We were at a baseball tournament and one of the other parents had brought along candy for the kids. When he offered some to my kids, I said okay and like I normally do, I said “Make sure you say thank you.” to my kids. His son, who was standing next to me, said “I don’t want to. He’s my dad, I don’t have to say that to my dad.” I was shocked, to say the least. Saying “please” and “thank you” are habits I have been instilling into my children since they were first able to talk - and I STARTED by making sure they said it at home, to us.

The Garden of Good Manners isn’t really a book - but it’s sold at Amazon.com so I decided it qualified, lol. It is an adorable mini bulletin board set that lets children build their own beautiful garden of manners by earning flowers, bugs and banners for things like thank you, please, I’m sorry and other common courtesies.

Here is a review of how this worked for one mom:

I have found that when it comes to teaching my children manners the best way to do it is by showing manners myself when they do something for me. In time they started to pick up what I was trying to get across and started using their own manners. Then when they reached about 5 or 6 they forgot them again. It didn’t seem to be as much fun as it was when they thought they were mimicking me or pleasing me.

I found this cute little craft item and decided to get it to see if it helped. Believe it or not it did. Once it was put together and placed where they could see it every day they began to use their manners again with very little prompting from me.

They enjoyed building their manner garden too. They got a kick out of putting the flowers and bugs in their garden. The flowers held the manners and came in bright fascinating colors that my children just loved. The bugs were an extra that gave them more fun in their creation.

Now we have a manners garden. They use their manners most of the time and even have a tendency to remind each other when manners are forgotten. May I, thank you, please, excuse me and even I’m sorry are now a permanent part of their vocabulary. I’m so proud of them and they are excited to see that with the use of manners their garden will continue to grow and prosper.

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Teen Review: The Twilight Series

My name is Tiffanie and I am 13 yrs old from Ohio and I have read the Twilight Series in a month and that?s what I am writing about.

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

Twilight is the first book in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. I like Twilight because it is a teen love story, but it is not just an ordinary love story it has human interaction with vampires (it is so awesome). It?s about a teenage girl who falls in love with a teenage boy who’s a vampire. I also like it because it describes (in detail) all the vampires in the Cullen family (which are the main vampires until later on in the book) and it describes the humans to.

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

New Moon is the second book in the series. I like New Moon to because it also has the human and vampire interaction. The part that caught me off guard about this book was when the vampire (Edward Cullen) leaves is girlfriend Bella (who is a human). I also like this book because it not only has vampires and humans but it has also adds werewolves into the mix of characters. The werewolves do not show up until the night that the Edward leaves his girlfriend Bella. Then Bella (the human) finds Edward (the vampire) with the help of his sister Alice because he went to Italy to get killed because he thought Bella was dead (she jumped off a cliff).

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

Eclipse is the third book in the series. I like Eclipse because Bella and Edward are back together. I also like it because shortly after they are back together Edward asked Bella to marry him, but there was a catch (you will have to read the books to find that out). The end of the book is the best because the Cullen’s and the werewolves team up to attack and destroy the newborn vampires (because the newborn vampires were killing the humans and were going to go after Bella for revenge) and their leader Victoria (who is mentioned in the first two books also).

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)

Breaking Dawn is the last book in Bella’s point of view. It is certainly not the last of the series though. I have not yet read Breaking Dawn because it just recently came out but I have heard about it and read articles about it. Twilight is in the process of being made into a movie right now and is coming out December 12th of this year. Stephenie Meyer is writing another book called Midnight Sun this book is in Edward?s point of view. She also has another book called the Host. If you would like to learn more about the Twilight Series check out the websites below I always use them to find out what is going on in Twilight. The first website talks about the Host which I mentioned earlier.

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

http://www.thetwilightsaga.com/

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Book Reviews By Teens

You may have noticed a fair bit of post on youth topics this month. August 12 is International Youth Day, and we are celebrating by concentrating a little on youth, and hosting a Youth Theme Blog Carnival as well! While preparing for this theme, I thought it would be great to get some book club ideas from actual teens and so I had some moms from my networks to send me reviews from their teens. If you have a teen in the house, here are a few new book ideas for them from other teens.

Eragon, Eldest & Brisingr
The Inheritance Cycle
By Christopher Paolini

The reason I first started reading Eragon was because it had dragons and I liked the movie. The book was OK, then it got better and I started reading it more often. When I finished reading it I started reading the next book. The Eldest was even better! Now I am anxiously waiting for the third book, Brisingr, to come out. (The Inheritance Cycle Books are available from Amazon starting at $7.99)

Dustin Middleton ~ age 13

Caught In The Act
By Peter Moore

When I go into a library, I usually just pick out a book, but when my friends told me about Caught in the Act, I thought “maybe I should check this book out”. I read the book in like 3 hours because I couldn’t stop reading, it was that good! I liked this book because it was about teens my age who are in the drama club, just as I am. The main girl in the story is really a psycho, but the main guy does not know this. It’s a drama within or part drama, part suspense story. (Caught In The Act is available from Amazon for $14)

Cody Lundin, age 15, Sophomore (Provided by Amy of Shopping With Amy)

Inkspell
By Cornelia Funke

A book that will get you dreaming of magic lands, this book is just as impressive as the first book in the Inkheart trilogy. It has twists and turns of the good and bad, and meeting new characters along the way. The Inkworld, which is where it takes place, is medieval-like with villages, castles, and princes and the incredible entertainers. The world is beautiful, though it is equally horrible, with Meggie and the rest trying to prevent Inkworld from ending unhappily. One can only hope this spellbinding story will end happily ever after. I highly recommend this book! (Inkspell is available from Amazon for $9.99)

Fallon Salomon - age 14 (Provided by Karen Clark)

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Chicken Soup For Teens

Obviously, the Chicken Soup series are not new in any stretch. There are dozens of versions available for all ages, walks and even many professionals. I wanted to take a moment to showcase the newest selection of Chicken Soup books for teens which look absolutely fabulous!

Christian Teens Talk: This copy provides inspiration and stories from Christian teens dealing with many of the issues that today’s Christian teens face: self-destructive behavior, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, divorce and much more.

Teens Talk Growing Up: This is the most recent release and it only became available last week! It covers stories from teens on growing up, learning about life and meeting challenges as a teen.

Teens Talk Tough Times: This one looks powerful! It won’t be available until Aug. 26th but you can pre-order. So many teens are facing deep issues right now. The truth is that most of us never even dreamed about the types of issues our children will face on a daily bases in today’s society. Drugs, sex, voilence and depression are on a constant rise and teens are looking for inspiration and comfort as they deal with these issues.

Teens Talk Relationships: This last one won’t be available until the end of September, but it will cover topics on relationships with family, friends and love.

If you remember being a teen - you will remember feeling like your parent’s could never understand the issues you face. The sad truth is that is more true today then ever before. I think these books, which share stories and truths for todays teens who have really been there and dealt with it, have the power to reach teens in a unique way. They are also very cheap (around $10/copy), making them a great investment for your teen!

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PINK on Happiness

I received my first issue of PINK Magazine in the mail this week and I LOVED it! For those who don’t know, PINK is a magazine for working women, and it was full of great articles and profiles of some of North America’s top career women. There were many articles that really stood out – including a great article for those who would aspire to be published authors. But the one that I enjoyed the most was an article on happiness – not laughter and joy, but a true inner-peace no matter what.

Of course, as a Christian, I know that only God can really give true peace, but the article included a section with 10 Steps to a Happier Life, a worksheet to help you focus in on the happy things in life. I loved the worksheet, because it worked from a Christian perspective. As a quick recap, here are the 10 steps:

1. Count Your Blessings – name three things that went well today.
2. Consider What You Have – list three things that went well tonight.
3. Express Thanks – Write a letter to someone who made an impact on your life.
4. Play to your strengths – List your top three strengths.
5. Make Love Count – Set aside time for your husband or partner.
6. Look on the bright side – Write a story about your “best future self” and imagine what you could achieve in the future.
7. Find meaning in your work – List three reasons you feel passionate about your work, or how your work contributes to the greater good.
8. Do a good deed – Random kindness for those you care about and strangers.
9. Make positive connections – Smile at someone you see while you are out
10. Do what you love – List three things you enjoy and then make time for them.

I think that list, and this article – like many of the articles in PINK, is relevant to all mothers: stay-at-home-moms, work-at-home-moms, and working moms alike. I’m going to print out that list, with spaces for writing, and fill it out at least once a week. It’s a great way to refocus and spend some time concentrating on the positive.

You can subscribe to PINK in our bookstore for only $19.95/year - I highly recommend it!

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How to Set Up A Family Budget . . . And Stick to It

I’m one of those people who LOVE to budget. I know, weird. But I love figuring out the numbers, setting out a plan, etc. Of course, that’s where the fun ends. No matter how hard you try, it seems impossible to stick to it right? There are plenty of resources out there to help you plan a budget, but it’s hard to find on that really works for you. Setting up a family budget is one thing. Setting up a family budget you can stick to is another. Creating the right budget can make the difference between success and failure.

So how do you set a budget that works? That’s the question this new in-depth, step by step guide: How To Set Up A Family Budget … And Stick to It endeavors to answer. And guess what - it shows you how to do it without giving up the things you love to do or buy. You learn how to use your money wisely so you can afford the things you want without racking up a large pile of debt. How to Set Up A Family Budget . . . And Stick to It is full of practical advice and tips to get you set up on a budget you can live with, work with and succeed at.

The eBook also came with a great report with 101 practical tips on how to decrease your debt and increase your credit.

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Book Shopping

I picked up eight new books this week that I am really looking forward to reading and I thought I would share:)

Celebrate Home: Great Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms - I picked up this book because it looks like it has some amazing ideas in it so you can look forward to hearing more about it on the book club in the future.

Kindred Hearts - Kindred Hearts is a book about nurturing the bond between Mother & Daughter with ideas for activities, etc. I choose this one because I am a mother of two girls, and Alyssa’s Mom - Daughter Connection has really motivated me to keep learning how to grow that bond.

How To Behave So Your Children Will, Too - It just sounds like a good book doesn’t it? It’s another one that I think will make some great Book Club posts in the near future.

Weekends Away Without Leaving Home - This book looks AMAZING! It has 15 different locations (Paris, Mexico, Africa, etc) with ideas on how you can turn a weekend at home into an exotic themed “getaway.” I think the idea is amazing, and I can’t wait to try some with my children.

The God Chasers - One of the testimonials on the back cover said “I must warn you, this is a dangerous book. If you are comfortable and complacent and want to stay that way, don’t even open its pages.” I love a challenge, lol. I can’t wait to start this one!

Never Alone - This is a 1 year, daily devotional book for couples and it’s something Dave and I keep saying we will do but never get around to so now we can:)

When Couples Pray Together - This is one of the areas that Dave and I struggle with, actually praying together. It’s something I believe is important but it’s a very hard thing to start.

Why do I feel so down when my faith should life me up? - Honestly, I picked this one up because the cover caught my attention so we’ll see if the inside lives up to the cover:)

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Songbird by Lisa Samson

I thought I would take a break from the learning books and enjoy a good fiction novel. I picked the book “Songbird” from Lisa Samson because, well, it was on sale, lol. I hadn’t heard of the book before so I started out with no expectations and I was  blown away!

The book is a heart-touching tale of a young girl abandoned by her mother at the age of 11. She grows and faces seemingly od odds, and leans on her face through-out it all. The down-to-earth face she shows is motivating and challenged me to really think about how I view my own trials.

One particular part of the book really stuck with me:

“I just wanted to sing and sing and sing and sing about Jesus. Because He was all I had really, right then in my life. All I Had. I tell you this. He’s really all anybody has, and I count it a blessing I learned that so young. Because then everything else, all the people, places, things - the nouns of this world, and even the adjectives that describe them: big, nice, yummy, loving, breezy and all - are just filling in the pie!”

How true is that? God is the crust. He is what holds us all together. Without God - it’s like filling without a crust. It tastes good at first but in the end it’s just messy and makes your stomach hurt, lol.

You can pick up your own copy of Songbird in the Moms In A Blog Book Store.

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Are You Ready For A Start-Up?

Birthing The Elephant Part 5
Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4

Chapter Four: Take The Leap

In Chapter Four, we learned a little more about start-ups, and how to decide if you are ready to start your own business, what assets you have that you may not have thought of, and advice from real women who have been there.

The one thing I took away from the chapter the most is that eventually you just have to leap. There are signs that show that you are ready, and you should have a plan, do your research, etc - but in the end, you will have to leap eventually.

“Jump- and the Net Will Appear…. At some point, however, you’re going to have to move beyond training, thinking, and talking - and actually take the leap! You can always use more money, more marketing savvy, more support, more courage. You’re going to have to learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable…. “

Ronnie Fliss, owner of Fat Murray’s Doggy Treats said:

The smartest move I ever made was just getting out there….  To really do it, you have to take charge, go out, and make it happen.

You can pick up your own copy of Birthing An Elephant for $10 in the Moms In A Blog Book Store.

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Brains for Bucks

Birthing The Elephant Part 4
Click here for Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3

Chapter Three: Substituting Brains for Bucks

In Chapter Three, we started looking at one of the scarier aspects of starting and running a new business - money. There was so much insight and invaluable advice in this chapter that it was VERY hard to pick a nugget to share, but I thought I would start with the basics. You can pick up your own copy for $10, and it is worth EVERY penny!

At the beginning of the chapter, they looked at the different stages of we go through when learning how to view money as we grow our businesses.

Stage One: Money as an Emotional Scorecard

…money is closely tied to self-esteem and seen as an indicator of success and self-worth.

Stage one is where most of us start off. It’s how we’re trained to view money. The better you do, the more you make. Great job performance is reward with raises and bonuses. How much we make indicated how well we have done in the workplace. It’s only natural that when you try and shift from a workplace to starting a business, that you would at first gauge your success by the amount of money you have. The problem with this is that no one has money when they are starting a business - and as your start up money is slowly eaten up, it can eat at your self-esteem and emotional well being as well.

Stage Two: Money As The Enemy

Though you once envisioned the money you’d be making in your new venture as your ticket to a more rewarding lifestyle, it’s become the enemy - a barrier to your business goals.

In stage one, money controls you. It controls how you see yourself, how you run your business, how you feel, etc. Business start ups ALWAYS have financial hiccups to deal with, and inevitably, you begin to see money as the enemy that is keeping you from success, rather then a tool you can use to succeed. In the book, they say the key to surviving this stage is to realize that money is NOT the cause of all your problems, nor is it the solution. It helps, but as some of the real start examples in this chapter show - having TO MUCH money can be just as dangerous to business as having not enough. Having less forces you to be more creative which can have long term benefits in other areas of business as welln.

Stage Three: Money As Protection

Appreciating the protective nature of money is a major step towards thinking about it rationally rather then purely emotionally. … As you learn to manage cash flow more effectively, the balance subtly shifts - money is no longer your enemy, but your friend. You also see it’s role more clearly…

At this point, you are starting to take control. You are beginning to see money with a less emotional view, and are learning to treat money as a tool.

Stage Four: Money As A Tool

Money is no longer emotionally charged for you:… You view it objectively as fuel for moving your business in the direction you want it to go, not as a measure of your personal or professional success.

Have you ever heard a successful business person say “It’s not about the money” and though, ‘Yeah right!”? Well, the truth is, for many of them it isn’t. Money is just a tool, one of the many tools they have at their disposal to use to reach the goals they have success. Because they don’t have an emotional connection to money, they are able to make much clearer decisions and take all things into consideration. This stage isn’t about NOT CARING about the money. You will always need to budget, plan and watch finances no matter how successful you become - but it’s no longer an emotional process.

The authors call this process “Giving Up The Paycheck Mentality”

Separating money from your emotions and seeing it as an instrument is critical to successfully making the mental shift from employee to entrepreneur.

So where do you sit in those four stages? Answering that question honestly helps you to determine what you need to move forward. For me, I am probably in stage two - where I need to learn to detach myself from money and see it more as a tool, rather then an enemy.

You can pick up your own copy of Birthing An Elephant for $10 in the Moms In A Blog Book Store.

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