Mommy Has to Work

Christian’s Hope by Ervin R. Stutzman

November 4, 2016 By Anne

Christian’s Hope is not your average Amish story. It is set in the 1700’s. This book is also based on true events. I usually do not read historical books, but was pleasantly surprised with this book. I look forward to reading the first two books in this series.

Captured as a child during the French and Indian War, Christian has spent much of his life among Native Americans, who cared for him and taught him their ways. Now that Christian is home, his father wants him to settle back into their predictable Amish life of farming, and Christian’s budding friendship with Orpha Rupp beckons him to stay as well.

Yet Christian feels restless, and he misses his adoptive Native American family—who raised him as their own son. When faced with a life-altering decision, will Christian choose the Amish identity that his father desires for him? Or will he depart from his family and faith community yet again?

Christian’s Hope tells the story of the younger brother of Joseph and son of Jacob, whom readers have come to love in the first two books in the Return to Northkill series. Based on actual events and written by a descendant of the Hochstetler family, Christian’s Hope brings the sweeping epic of the Return to Northkill series to a soul-stirring end.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Ervin R. Stutzman is author of “Jacob’s Choice,” “Joseph’s Dilemma,” “Tobias of the Amish,” and “Emma, A Widow Among the Amish.” Born into an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, Stutzman based the Return to Northkill series on the life of his ancestor, Jacob Hochstetler. He has been featured on TLC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Getting Around On Vacation: The Pros and Cons of Different Transport Methods

November 3, 2016 By Anne

After a long journey getting to your destination, once you’ve arrived it’s time to explore! Getting around while you’re away depends on the place you’re visiting, your budget and your situation. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each.

Bus

Buses are an excellent way to get around, particularly in busy cities. Since most places will have designated bus lanes, it can actually be a lot quicker to travel in this way than any other method. Plus buses are cheap and accessible. On the downside, while they can be the quickest way to get around in busy cities for making other kinds of trips they can take a long time. The numerous stops and slow speeds mean you can be sat on them for a while. Some buses can also be old and not the most pleasant to sit on. Luckily there are more luxurious buses around these days. Companies like Shofur, for example, provide premium buses for an affordable price.

Car Hire

Car hire can give you the freedom to go wherever you want while you’re away. There’s no waiting for public transport, and you can go directly to the place that you want to visit with no messing around. If you’re travelling with babies or kids which need a lot of stuff, it’s easier to load this into the car than lugging it all on public transport. On the downside, some people might find it daunting to drive in a country which used the opposite side of the road which they were taught. Plus the driving experience is likely to be a lot different from the place you grew up which can throw people off. It can also be annoying having to mess around with documents and things to get the car, and it’s a headache if anything goes wrong with it in your possession. Plus in big cities or certain places, it’s so busy you’re not able to realistically get around by car.

Taxi

Taxis give you the freedom of essentially travelling by car, but with none of the hassle of car hire. Perfect if you don’t have a license or the inclination to drive abroad, or you’re staying in relatively close proximity to the places you want to visit. Unfortunately, taxis can be extremely expensive, especially for longer journeys. There’s the chance of a dishonest driver taking advantage when they know you don’t know the area. Plus you have to watch out for unlicensed cab drivers in some areas.

Royalty free image from Pexels.com

On Foot

Travelling on foot allows you to really experience the journey. The sights, sounds and smells will always be far more intense when you’re out in the world rather than sat in a vehicle. You can explore and are likely to discover and see everything in far more detail. However, on foot, you can only cover so much distance so this is the best option when you don’t need to get too far, or if you only need to cover a small area.

Bicycle

If you’re looking to explore a park or a set area, there will often be bike rentals available to take advantage of. This gives you the ability to cover a much larger area with less effort, but you still get to see and experience everything in detail like being on foot. The downside is that this won’t be available everywhere and so it’s only going to be possible for some places. Plus if you’re travelling with children or are carrying a lot of items with you then it’s not going to be the best option.

Anne

PINE BROS. Softish Throat Relief Drops Review

November 3, 2016 By Heather Little

Last weekend, I woke up with a terrible sore throat. Like a lot of busy moms, I rarely go to the doctor when I’m sick, but this time it was bad enough that I seriously considered going. Fortunately, I had just received some packages of Pine Bros. Softish Throat Relief drops to review, so I decided to give them a try!

HISTORY OF PINE BROS.

Pine Bros. was started in 1870 by Herman Pine. If you don’t know the name, it’s probably because Pine Bros. popularity peaked in the 1970s, after having been sold to the Life Savers Company in the 1930s.

After the 1970s, Pine Bros. was sold by Life Savers and acquired and resold to a number of other companies.Just recently Pine Bros. was acquired by the owners of Airborne. Much time was taken to find the original packaging and use the original recipe. This product is also now made entirely in the United States.

Pine Bros. drops are different than other sore throat drops – they are a “softish” consistency, somewhat like a gummy bear. I will admit that the texture did take some getting used to, and although it’s tempting to chew the drops, the directions suggest you just let them dissolve in your mouth. The unique natural formula of plant glycerin and gum acacia coats and soothes your throat without numbing it. After 2 drops I did get relief from my sore throat, and fortunately, my sore throat resolved on its own within a day or so. The drops definitely helped relieve the discomfort.

Pine Bros. Throat Relief Drops come in a variety of flavors including Licorice, Lemon Lime, Wild Cherry, and Natural Honey. They are recommended for adults and children 3 and over. Pine Bros. drops are made in America and have been since 1870.

As the weather turns cooler, hopefully you and your family will stay well, but if you’re like me and get hit with the sore throat bug, I recommend giving Pine Bros Throat Relief drops a try.

Sugar Free Cherry can be found at Harris Teeter, Harmon and ShopRite and Vitamin C Orange can be found at Kinny Drug. But both can be found on our website at www.pinebros.com

Check out all the Pine Bros. products and find money saving coupons at http://pinebrothers.com/.

*I received product in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Heather Little

My name is Heather Little and my husband and I have two sweet girls and one crazy dog. We moved to Florida 6 years ago and have loved every minute of it! I enjoy crafting, good food, shopping, and of course travel!

Barbie makes her graphic novel debut in two new series from Papercutz!

November 1, 2016 By Marijean

PAPERCUTZ DEBUTS BARBIE GRAPHIC NOVELS WITH TWO NEW SERIES

Volume One of

Barbie is available now

Volume One of Barbie Puppies will be released on November 29

http://papercutz.com/kids-comics-graphic-novels/barbie

Barbie, the world’s #1 fashion doll, is making her debut in two new series from Papercutz this fall. With two new original graphic novel series, Barbie and Barbie Puppies, fans of Mattel’s classic doll can now experience all of the adventures of Barbie and her friends like never before!

Barbie Graphic Novel Vol. 1, “Fashion Superstar,” which is available now, finds Barbie diving into the high-stakes world of fashion. As Barbie pursues her dream, she meets a diverse bunch of all-new friends that can help her… and some others that may actually try to end her fashion career before it even starts!

The second of the new Barbie graphic novels is “Puppy Party” from the Barbie Puppies series, which will be released on November 29. Based on the popular Barbie Puppies DVD films “The Great Puppy Adventure” and “A Puppy Chase,” “Puppy Party” tells the story of Barbie and her sisters entering their pups – Honey, Rookie, Taffy and DJ – in a dog show in the city. But when the puppies get lost, the adventure begins!

These new graphic novels featuring the life and adventures of Barbie are just what young readers have been waiting for. While the Barbie franchise has taken many other forms in music, movies and more, this is the first time in over 25 years that this globally-recognized figure will be the subject of a graphic novel. These fun stories let Barbie fans enjoy her adventures in one of the fastest growing mediums in kids’ media and they’re sure to be a perennial favorite in libraries, schools and homes across America.

A third graphic novel series, Barbie Starlight, is slated for release later this year.

About Papercutz

Papercutz is celebrating ten innovative audience-expanding years of publishing great graphic novels for all ages. Papercutz graphic novels for kids, tweens, and teens include a wide range of genres from humor, action adventure, mystery, and horror to favorite licensed characters. It is proud to be the only publisher exclusively dedicated to children’s graphic novels, working every day to introduce young readers to the imaginative wonders waiting to be discovered in comics. To find out more visit http://www.papercutz.com.

About Mattel

The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq: MAT) is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel’s portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, Fisher-Price® brands and MEGA® Brands, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2015, Mattel was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere Magazine, and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel’s companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.