What Are We Reading? - October 2020

Hey, y'all!  I know it has been a LONG time since my last post, but it was a nice, much needed break.  So, how are y'all?  How is your school year going so far?  We started our school year a little later than normal, but we are back in the swing of things, thankfully.

Well, here is what we are reading this month.  

Life Chat

Hey, y’all!  It has been a little while since I’ve posted a chatty post.  I really thought I would be doing a lot of writing this summer however our entire summer has been so full. We’ve had family come into town, church events, house repairs, and the most time consuming, yet, most exciting is that my older son started his own business. So, I have been busier than I expected this summer, therefore, causing me to neglect my blog.  I appreciate y’all for being so patient with me as I open up this new chapter of life, being the mom of an entrepreneur.   Just when I thought I had a good routine down it changed, again! -Insert my sigh here- LOL

Wordless Wednesday - Closing and Moving Day

I'm so glad you all are so patient with me.  Life has been extremely busy for the Cooks' family, but we are finally getting settled!  I haven't shared a Wordless Wednesday with you all in a while, but I have one for you this week, it is a day late, but here it is.

Wordless Wednesday - All White Gala

It was a blessing spending the evening with some amazing like-minded women

I want to send a big THANK YOU to Semetra Vanison for making this beautiful dress just for me!

You can find Semetra on Instagram if you are looking for a special design!

Smart Kidz Radio- Review

We take great caution in the music we allow our children to listen to so I was hesitant at first about the idea of reviewing Smart Kidz Radio from Smart Kidz Media.  However, my interest was peaked when I saw they offered original songs and stories that teach valuable life skills.  So because of that, I jumped in.    

No Longer Little: Parenting Tweens with Grace and Hope - Book Review

I have been a parent for 15 almost 16 years and I can still remember when I was pregnant with my first child all the warnings I got about the baby keeping you up at night, or the "terrible twos" and even the sassiness of girls, and roughness of boys.  I made it through those stages with flying colors all 4 of our children were great babies and toddlers.  I remember thinking "wheew" we made it.  However, what everyone forgot to warn me about were the tween and teen stages, so my husband and I walked right into them unprepared. You know what? Come to think of it maybe they did, but we just ignored it because we made it through the other stages clear of disaster.  As parents of 4 children, we pretty much thought we had this parenting thing down to a science.  I mean love them, discipline them, feed them, teach and train them, provide for them, nurture them, and most importantly share the Word of God with.  We thought it would only get easier the older they get. LOL  If I can be honest for a second, well I'm always honest, but it seem like the right thing to say in this sentence, ok back to what I was saying the tween years of 10-14 has been the most challenging for us in our home for both the child and us so I am glad I had some help from Great Waters Press with their newest title No Longer Little: Parenting Tweens with Grace and Hope.  I received this book in exchange for my honest review and I will start by saying it is amazing!!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Evenings

Hey y'all!  It's Wordless Wednesday time!  If you don't know what Wordless Wednesday is it is when you post on Wednesday with no words just pictures.

 This week's Wordless Wednesday is Summer Evenings

Wordless Wednesday - Kite Day Fun

This week's Wordless Wednesday is inspired by some fun at the park we had.  Join us for some kite flying fun!

Ten Years of Marriage

As I sit here in my room listening to the rain hit my window I'm reflecting back on what God joined together.   My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage!

Mom Tip Tuesday - Introduction

I just wanted to introduce my readers to a new ongoing series I will be starting here on my blog.  I know the majority of you are moms, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to start what I am calling, "Mom Tip Tuesday."

Routine - Five Minute Friday

It's that time of the week again.  Five Minute Friday also known as FMF.  This weeks word is 

ROUTINE.

Routine is something when I would think of it I would think of peace and order.  I mean if you have a good routine down everything should run smoothly, right?

Arts & Crafts Fun - A Zirrly Super Bead Jewelry Set Review

Arts & crafts, crafts & arts however you say it my kids are down for the part.  HAHA, that was funny!  Seriously though my kids love arts and crafts and their mama, that's me, is not a crafty person at all!  I mean I can make a few things here and there, but I am not an all-out arts & crafts type of person like they are, especially my youngest daughter.  I've been trying to do more arts &crafts so we were thrilled to try Super Beads from Zirrly.  We chose the Jewelry Set because she also loves jewelry.  I was like this is definitely going to be a hit.

PARENTING MADE PRACTICAL - Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think Review

Do you get tired of repeating yourself a million times to your kids?  How many times have you had to have a lecture with your kids about the same thing?  Have you ever repeated your self so much that you start feeling like you are the bad person?  Maybe you have fussed so much that you start to feel like maybe what you are fussing about is really not a big deal after all.  I know I am not alone in this.  I was just beginning to think it was part of parenting.  You know, one of those things you have to do until they get older and it finally sticks.  I was tired of nagging and fussing because I didn't want to be that mama.  The one that is always fussing about something.   Being apart of the Homeschool Review Crew has given me so many opportunities to review and be exposed to things that I would not have considered on my own.  Being able to review the Parenting Made Practical book Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think and the DVD with the same title was one of those opportunities.  I was happy because I already love to read and I'm tired of fussing and lecturing about the same thing every day.  It's not just tiring it's exhausting!

Baby Names A-Z

Our youngest child is 9-years-old and my husband and I are not planning to have any more children, but I am always thinking of cute baby names especially when I am having baby fever.  I remember when I was pregnant with all of my kids I would look through book after book trying to find names that my husband and I agreed on.  Guess what, none of my children names came from any of the books I read.  I like unique names and if it wasn't unique I wanted to a least spell it unique.  I thought it would be fun to come up with baby boy and girl names for every letter of the alphabet. You may or may not like any of the names I suggest but at least you can look through and share them with others.

Working Mom vs. Stay at Home Mom

 It breaks my heart to hear all the controversy about being a working mom or being a stay at home mom.  The hateful and unsolicited advice that comes from people makes my stomach turn.  I've heard so many strong opinions on both sides.  They say that if you work you don't love your kids as much as moms who stay home. If you are a stay home mom you're "lazy."  Some say they would never stay home and depend on a man and the one that tickles me the most is when people say it must be nice to just sit at home all day.  Then comes the advice "you know that's not a good idea what if your husband leaves you", or  "you know it's not that hard to just quit"  I could on and on for days with the comments.  Listen, coming from a mom that has been on both sides of the fence I've heard it all.  People can and will have something to say no matter which one you do.  I mean really is it that bad if a mom decides to work?  Is a mom who stays home and allow her husband to provide for the family worthless?   Is being a working mom better than being a stay at home mom?  We are going to talk about all of that and then some.  I would love to share my experience with being a working mom and being a stay at home mom with you and encourage you.

What are we reading in January - Homeschool Reading List

WHAT ARE WE READING IN JANUARY

Do you have a reading goal for 2018? How about your kids?  I have a personal goal to read 24 books this year. That's not including what I read with or to the kids.  I don't think it will be too hard to accomplish this goal being that I'm in a book club and we will read one book each month, so that will knock out twelve right there, plus I love to read.  I haven't set a goal for the kids or our homeschool because I don't want to put pressure on the kids or myself.  I want them to genuinely enjoy to read, so there is no pressure.  However, I thought it would be fun to share with my readers each month what we are reading in our homeschool and what I'm reading in my free time. Did I just say free time?  I don't get much of that, but I do like to set aside a few minutes a day to just enjoy the moment.
I read aloud to my children EVERY single day. Yes, I said every day.  I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't hard to do once you start doing it.  You should try it.  Start with a bedtime story each night then add more time throughout the day as you see fit.  Trust me before you know it they will be begging you to read to them.  My 14 year still enjoys reading together at night, we don't call it bedtime stories though, she's far too cool for that.   It's such a blessing to come together snuggle up, or not, and read a good book. I leave the kids hanging most of the time so they start predicting what they expect will happen next, they fuss at the characters if they make a bad decision, and the kids are always pleading for me to keep going when I stop.  It's a great bonding time and an excellent way to spark up conversations!  So let's jump into what we are reading.

Modest Teen Fashion - Cleo Madison Review

Is it just me or is it hard to find cute, modest clothes for teen girls?  I'm always on the hunt for clothes for my oldest daughter. She's 14, very tall, slender, and she's at that awkward stage where she's over the kiddie section clothes, teens section is way too skimpy, and the women's section is too "old ladyish".  We can never find jeans long enough for her long legs or shirts that aren't cut too low or rise too high. The struggle is real!  Please, tell me I'm not the only mama going through this. You do understand, right?

This post is sponsored by Cleo Madison