Monday, December 31, 2018

Christmas Parties, Christmas Movies, and Christmas Day ~ My December Highlights

December was a fun, yet very fast month.


~The month started off with going to a book signing at the library.



~On December 2 we got snow!! It was fun playing out in it!! :D
We got snow a few other times this month but that day was the best snow day.


~I went to two Christmas parties. One was a work party that was super fun and the other was a party at a friends house.

~Then I hosted two Christmas parties. One for friends and one for my book club.
We also had our company/family Christmas party.

~I participated in Faith's 12 Days of Christmas blog party.

~The first full weekend I played my violin in an orchestra at a Christmas concert for the 5th year. It was lots of fun.

~I filmed 5 videos!

~Christmas!! My favorite holiday came and went. I love Christmas. :) It was a great day!

~The day after Christmas I had a girls night with some of my friends.

~I had fun watching Hallmark Christmas movies including the new When Calls the Heart Christmas!

~I read some fun books and I participated in a readathon the last few days of the month and that was great.

~Today we went to a New Years Eve party in the afternoon. The rest of the day was spent with pizza and games at home, and of course, staying up until midnight to ring in the New Year.


How was your Christmas?



Sunday, December 30, 2018

2018 Bookish Recap Tag // Book Video

2018 is almost over. I can't believe it.
I'm doing a fun tag that Faith created a couple years ago. Sorry about my excessive blinking in the video... I'm not sure what was up with that. ;)
What was your favorite book from 2018? How many books did you read this year?


Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas! ~ 2018

Merry Christmas!
I hope that everyone has an amazing Christmas Day! Lets remember though that Jesus is the true reason for the season! Christmas is a fun holiday but it's also an important one. It's the day we celebrate Christ's coming to earth to be born in a manger so that He could later die on the cross for our sins so that we can one day live with Jesus in heaven for eternity.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. —John 3:16 NASB

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 NASB

 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” — Luke 2:8-14 NASB



Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas, My Favorite Time of Year

I can't believe that Christmas is tomorrow! I'm very excited and thankfully I got all of my Christmas gifts bought and/or made. :)

This Christmas season has been so fun! =)

On December 2, we put up our Christmas tree. It's the earliest we've ever put it up and I was so excited!

December 7, 8, and 9, my brother and I played our violins in a community Christmas orchestra.

I went to a couple Christmas parties and hosted two as well. :)

I got my room all decorated for Christmas!



I read some fun Christmas books. Hopefully I can squeeze some more in between now and New Years. ;)

I watched some fun Christmas movies as well.

We got snow on December 2! It was so much fun. I went out and played in it and built a snowman as well. :)


Happy Christmas Eve everyone!!


Sunday, December 23, 2018

Another Christmas Tag!

I know, you may be thinking, “Another Christmas tag?” Well, yeah, who doesn’t love to talk about Christmas!
Brooklyne over at Showers of Blessing tagged me for this one. Some of the questions are the same from the last tag I did, but most are new. ;)



1. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
We Need A Little Christmas. I did that song in a lip-sync contest just a few days ago and won. :)

2. Favorite Christmas tradition?
Our family/company Christmas party! We did it just this past Friday and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

3. Favorite Christmas Movie? 
I just watched a really good movie last night called Christmas Bells Are Ringing. It was really, really good!


4. What is your favorite holiday sweet? 
I have lot. One being rocky road fudge!

5. Favorite holiday drink?
Water in a fun holiday mug? ;) I don’t really know.

6. Candy Canes or Chocolate?
Candy Canes are so good and I only usually have them this time of year, but chocolate is good too.  ;)

7. Sugar Cookies or Brownies?
Definitely sugar cookies!!!

8. Do you like to buy or make Christmas gifts?
I like doing both. It depends on what I want to give and it depends on the person.

9. Does your family decorate for Christmas? 
Yes, we do! I love decorating!

10. What do you do on Christmas Eve?
In the past we’ve done our own Christmas Eve service. This year though we are going to an afternoon Christmas Eve service at our church then coming home and decorating gingerbread houses as a family!

11. What do you do on Christmas Day? 
We have a lovely day as a family reading the Christmas story, opening presents, and just spending quality time as a family. I love Christmas and I love my family! ❤️

12. What is your favorite Christmas Bible verse? 
Luke 2: 8-14


Wow, it’s already the Eve of Christmas Eve!!
Did you check out Faith's post for the day? :D You don't want to miss it! :)

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Favorite Christmas Movies - Part 2 // Video

How is your weekend going so far?
I had an amazing day yesterday with my book club Christmas party and our family/company Christmas party!!!!
Here's part 2 of my favorite Christmas movies. Enjoy!
Have you seen any of these?

Remember to head on over to Faith's blog to see her fun post and to get the links to the other blogger's posts!

Only 3 days until Christmas! :D


Friday, December 21, 2018

Favorite Christmas Books! // Book Video

It's December 21st! Only 4 more days until Christmas!
Today will be a busy, but fun day for me. I have my book club Christmas party then a family Christmas party!! :D
I love reading Christmas books SO much! I'm sharing some of my favorites in my newest video!

So, do you like Christmas books? What's your favorite?


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Sugar Cookie Recipe!

Today I am sharing my most favorite Christmas cookie recipe.



Sugar Cookies!!

2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat butter and shortening for 30 seconds; add sugar and beat till fluffy. add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating till well combined. Cover and chill at least 3 hours. Working with 1/2 of the dough at the time, on a lightly floured surface roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on an non-greased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375* oven for 8 minutes or till done. 

This recipe is taken from a Betty Crocker cookbook. These cookies are my absolute favorite Christmas cookie ever! My family and I make them pretty much every year. We also make them other times of the year, but in different shapes. ;)
The recipe doesn’t usually make that many cookies, so we usually double (or triple) it.
Also these cookies are really good with a cream cheese frosting, and sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles!!!


Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie?


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The Christmas Tag

I can't believe that the party is halfway over!

I saw this Christmas tag over at Victoria's Book Nook and thought it looked fun so I decided I would go ahead and do it!



1 // What is your favorite Christmas movie?
I actually just posted a video about some of my top favorite Christmas movies!

2// Have you ever had a White Christmas?
Yes, I have! Most of our Christmases are white. Hopefully this year will be too!


3// Where do you usually spend the holidays?
at home because there's no place like home for the holidays! ;)


4// What is your favorite Christmas song?
I love We Need a Little Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, What Child is This?, and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.


5// Do you open any Christmas gift's on Christmas Eve?
No. We used to when I was younger. A lot of times us kids would open up a gift and it was a pair of pajamas. So we'd wear those to bed and on Christmas morning as we opened presents.


6// Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes, I can! ;) Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. I play the violin and when I was younger, each year I'd play my violin at the Festival of Trees with a group of other violinists and we would always play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the words just got stuck in my head. ;)


7// What Christmas Tradition are you looking most forward to this year?
I'm very excited about our family/company Christmas party that I mentioned in yesterdays post. It is always SO MUCH FUN!!!


8// Is your tree fake or real?
It is fake. It's a super old tree, but it still actually looks nice after all these years. 


9// What is your all-time favorite holiday food/sweet treat?
Sugar cookies! Those are my most favorite cookies ever. I also love mint M&M's, I can only find them at Christmastime.


10// Do you like giving or receiving gifts more?
I love giving gifts!! It's definitely my love language. 
I do like receiving gifts too, but buying stuff for people is so fun!


11// What is the best gift you've ever received?
About 8 years ago I got a collectable miniature dollhouse and I just love it.


12// What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
I would love to go up to a cabin in the snowy mountains. A Christmas town would be so cool as well.


13// Are you a pro present wrapper or do you fail miserably?
I don't fail miserably, but I wouldn't call myself a pro. ;)


14// Most memorable holiday moment?
I'm not sure really! I have so many special Christmas memories! 


15// Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them?
I tend to make a list of things I'd like to accomplish, and I usually stick with most of them. 


16// What makes the Holiday feel special to you?
Snow!! ❄️ 


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Christmas Traditions/Memories

Christmas is in exactly one week!!! That's so crazy!!!



Today I am going Christmas shopping with my mom once I get off work. Hopefully I can get gifts for the rest of the special people on my list.

Today I will be sharing some of my favorite Christmas traditions/memories.

~On Christmas morning my younger sibling and I used to always be so excited to get up early. My parents said that we couldn't get them up until 7:00, but we could get up at 6:00 if we wanted to. So my sister and two younger brothers would get up at 6:00 and hang out in my and my sister's room. As we got older and my sister and I got separate rooms she stopped getting up early with us. Now it's just my brothers and I who get up at 6:00 and hang out in my room. Although I usually have to go wake them up. ;)
Once everyone is up we read the Christmas story. Then we open up stocking and have breakfast which is usually homemade cinnamon rolls. After breakfast we open presents.
For dinner we have an early dinner of prime rib. In the evening we'll hang out as a family and sometimes we'll play a game and/or watch a movie.

~My dad is self employed so each year we have a work company Christmas party. It's just us, but it's something I always look forward to. Having a family party is a blast. We tend to have pizza for dinner. My parents put together a basket with a movie, game, and snacks. We watch the movie with our pizza. Then we play the game and eat snacks and we have a gift exchange too.

~My younger brothers and I always love to sleep in the living room by the Christmas tree at least a few times during December.

~Christmas baking. We do Christmas baking more some years then others, but it's always fun,...and delicious!


Don't forget to check out Faith's blog today!



Monday, December 17, 2018

Five Fun Christmas Party Ideas

Welcome to day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas party!



Do you like hosting Christmas parties? I sure do! In fact I'm hosting one on Wednesday. If you love hosting parties as well, or even are looking for a fun idea to do with your family then you came to the right place! In todays post I'm going to be sharing five different Christmas party ideas.

1. A Christmas song lip-sync contest. Have your friends/family each pick a Christmas song that they know well. Play the music and have them lip-sync the words. If everyone doesn't want to participate then have them judge. Whoever does the best job lip-syncing their song wins. You can provide a fun, yet inexpensive gift for the winner like a Christmas coffee mug or some candy.

2. The plastic wrap game. Pick out a fun, small prize and put it in a little envelope and wrap it in plastic wrap. Take some candy and other small odds and ends and keep wrapping them in plastic wrap. Make sure to tear off the plastic wrap every so often and then keep wrapping. At the end you will end up with a big ball of plastic wrap with little odds and ends and candy all wrapped up in it. Put some oven mitts on and try to unwrap it before the person next to you gets doubles on the dice.

3. Gingerbread house building. You can either make this a contest or just decorate the house.

4. Watch a holiday movie! Everyone loves a good Christmas movie! Pop some popcorn and make some treats, sit back and enjoy a movie!

5. Musical gift exchange. Buy some fun inexpensive gifts and wrap it up in wrapping paper. Then wrap it again, again, and again! Wrap each present a few times.
Once everyone arrives have everyone sit in a circle give out a few gifts and start some festive music. Once the music starts everyone starts passing the gifts around. When the music stops whoever has a present in their hands unwrap one layer of wrapping paper and the music starts again. If someone unwraps the final piece of paper then they get to keep the little gift.


Have you ever played any of these games before?



Sunday, December 16, 2018

Endless Christmas // Book Review

9 days left until Christmas!! Have you got all your Christmas shopping done? I haven't yet.... Hopefully on Tuesday though!

Today I will be sharing a book review.

About the Book:
Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their only grandson, Micah, asks his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him -- in front of the whole Binder family. But things go terribly wrong when she says no. Now Katie is stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But, sometimes too much is just enough. Especially, when it's Christmas.
Will Katie let herself love and be loved before it is too late?


This is the first book I've ever read by this author. It was really enjoyable. I honestly wasn't sure if it would be a book I'd like or not, but it was on sale on CBD so I decided to pick it up. A friend of mine and I decided to read this book together which made it fun, but I also really enjoyed the story! It was so sweet. Micah is such a great guy and I enjoyed reading about Katie and his relationship. The whole Binder family was so fun, although I couldn't keep track of everyone. ;) I enjoyed this book quite a bit and it's probably one I'd read again sometime.

I give this book 8.5 R's out of 10



You won't want to miss Faith's post for today, so don't forget to hop on over to her blog if you haven't already!


Saturday, December 15, 2018

Favorite Christmas Movies - Part 1 // Video

Welcome to day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas blog party! Are you having as much fun with this party as I am?
I love a great Christmas movie. In this video I share some of my favorites! :)


What's one of your favorite Christmas movies?
Don't forget to check out Faith's blog to see her fun post and to find all of the links to the other bloggers posting today!



Friday, December 14, 2018

Christmastime is Here ~ 12 Days of Christmas and a Book Review

Christmas is only 12 days away!!!! It's really sneaking up!
Today is also the very fabulous, fantastic, fun 12 Days of Christmas blog party hosted by my dear friend, Faith over at Stories by Firefly! This is the 4th year Faith has put on this party and also the 4th year I've participated.


I'll be doing a fun, Christmas related post each day through Christmas Day. Faith will too. You should totally check out her blog each day as well. Not only will she have a fun post going up each day, she'll also be linking to the other participants posts. These next two weeks will be very fun!
For my first post I will be doing a book review.


************************************************************


From the Back Cover: Christmas is coming, but this year feels different for Alyssa Sing. Not only is she in Florida instead of the snowy Northeast, but Alyssa misses having good friends like she did in her knitting club at her old school. Things seem to look up at the Palm Meadows Holiday Festival when Alyssa meets Rachel, Elle, and Becca, who all show an interest in Alyssa's homemade scarves. But trouble arises when Alyssa finds out her new friends used to be friends with each other...but aren't anymore. While Alyssa is glad to have Dasher, a mysterious cat that appears in her backyard, to confide in as she navigates her new school, she can't help but wonder: Will Florida ever feel like home?


This is a fun, sweet book. I recently read this book to see if it would be okay to give to my book club girls, ranging in ages from 9-13, and yes, it passed the test! It was a fun book about a girl and her family moving to Florida and the main girl Alyssa getting used to a new state that has no snow, and settling into school and making new friends. Alyssa really enjoys spending time with her new friends, but she soon realizes that her new friends used to be friends with each other but aren’t anymore. So Alyssa sets out to try and mend those friendships. Even with that part of the story there really wasn’t all of that drama that some books have. It’s an appropriate book that is great for younger reader and one that older readers may find enjoyable as well. 

I give this book 8 R's out of 10



Are you as excited about The 12 Days of Christmas link-up as I am?

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The Baby Name Challenge Tag

Victoria, over at Victoria’s Book Nook tagged me for the Baby Name Challenge Tag.  







1 // What are your favorite boy and girl name from the top 100 of the year?
Girl:  Elizabeth
Boy: William

2 // What are your least favorite boy and girl name from the top 100 of the year? 
Girl: Penelope
Boy: Oliver

3 // If you had twins, what would you name them?
Girls: Ashleigh and April

4 // If you could change your name to anything, what would you change it to?
Well I do like my name, but if I had to change it I would go with my middle name: Ashleigh

5 // If you had four children, any gender, all with the same letter, what would their names be?
Ashleigh
April
Autumn
Andrew

6 // What is your favorite animal inspired name?
Umm…none?

7 // What is your favorite color inspired name?
Girl:Violet
Boy: I have no idea. ;)

8 // What are your top three favorite boy names?
William, Samuel, Eli

9 // What are your top three favorite girl names?
Ashleigh, April, and Elizabeth. I also like Laura though.

10 // What is your favorite month inspired name?
Girl: April  — No surprise there!
Boy: August...? — I’m not actually a big fan of this name but it seems to be one of the only month names for a boy.

11 // Choose a name from a movie.
Girl: Caroline (Little House on the Prairie)
Boy: Lee (When Calls the Heart)


12 // Choose a name that is already in your family.
Girl: Samantha— I have a cousin with this name
Boy: Andrew — One of my cousin’s husband has this name

13 // Choose a name from a book.
Girl: Natalie (Child of Mine)
Boy: Troy (Circle C Adventures)


That tag was a bit hard because I'm not that good at coming up with names.


Monday, December 10, 2018

Friday, December 7, 2018

Behold Blog Tour

Today is the release day for my good friend, Faith's, newest book! It's a collection of Christmas short stories. The fun thing is that today is Pearl Harbor Day and a few of these short stories take place during World War II.





About the Book:
A collection of short stories honoring the birth of the Savior
From two siblings caught up in the harrowing days of World War II to separated foster children in the US...
From a memorable road trip across the Southeast to the reunion of a war-torn family...
You’ll be swept into the Christmas spirit with the endearing stories tucked inside these pages. The storylines range from family to romance to the bond of community, with settings scattered across America and beyond.
Behold the beauty of the Savior’s birth with this gathering of stories that warm the soul and bless the heart.



My Review:
Behold is a wonderful Christmas book with four short stories in it. Each story was amazing and felt so Christmasy. Not only that, each story had the true meaning of Christmas in it.
The last story is about Charity and Ryder from Dandelion Dust. So if you’ve read that particular book, this last story will be especially fun! If you haven’t read Dandelion Dust then you should definitely give it a try!
A lovely Christmas book that I'll definitely be reading many more times!

You can buy it on Amazon!

You can also add it on Goodreads!



Author Bio
Saved by God’s grace, Faith Potts is a teenage writer and homeschool graduate, living with her family and beloved yellow labs in the North Carolina mountains. When she’s not weaving stories, consuming large amounts of coffee, reading stacks of books, or studying American Sign Language, she can be found laughing harder than is healthy, daydreaming, and—of course—blowing dandelions.



There's also a giveaway that you won't want to miss!!
First place:​​ paperback copy of Behold
Second place: ​​ebook copy of Behold

Go here to enter!



Sunday, December 2, 2018

Thanksgiving, A Trip to the Zoo, and the Hallmark Store ~ My November Highlights

November was another great month!!!



~I started off the month with a girls night with two friends of mine! We watched some fun movies and had lovely chats.

~My mom, sister, and I went shopping the first Saturday of the month. We bought some fun Christmas decorations, along with stuff to put in the Operation Christmas Child boxes. We also went to the Hallmark store!! I got a fun shirt and a bracelet

~My uncle came to visit for a few days. It was a lot of fun seeing him again! My uncle, grandparents, and and my mom and siblings came to get lunch at the deli that I work at. It was fun seeing them all. (My uncle is a good tipper too! ;))

~A friend and I went to this book sale thing. It wasn't actually a sale though because all of the books were free. We both got some stuff, but it was crazy! Tons of people!

~I started watching Hallmark Christmas movies!!!!!

~On November 19, my mom, and my two younger brothers went into town. I got the day off work and I had a ton of fun!!!
We got lunch at Chick-Fil-A, went to the library, and went to the zoo!! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

 Going down the slide at the zoo

 
Picking up speed

 Falling off the slide.  We don't have a picture of this, but after falling off the slide I kind of went flying and landed on my stomach. ;)

 Having fun on the animals...and sliding right off it....(yes, I did fall all the way off. ;))


My brothers and I


~Thanksgiving was a fun day. A simple dinner, a family game of Clue with hot chocolate, and dessert and some friends house.


~Unfortunately I only posted one book video. Be on the lookout for all the Christmas ones that will be coming!!

~Our town had a parade and tree lighting the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The place that I work at participated in the lighted parade. It was a lot of fun. My co-workers and I rode in an old truck decorated with Christmas lights. We waved to people as we drove by and threw candy as well.
The tree lighting was my first one, and lets just say it wasn't a Hallmark moment. There was hardly any lights on the tree...

~I stayed over at some friends house, while their parents were out of town, and helped watch the younger siblings. After we put the younger ones to bed, my two friends and I stayed up a little later and watched movies together.


How was your Thanksgiving? What was one of your favorite memories from November?


Thursday, November 29, 2018

The Christmas Duet Blog Tour

Today I am here participating in a blog tour for two different Christmas books!



Authors Rebekah  Morris  and  Faith  Blum  have  teamed  up  for  a  fun  Christmas  Duet  Blog  Tour!  Why  Christmas  Duet?  Because  both  books  have  titles  that  have  to  do  with  a  Christmas  song!  Be  sure  to  check  out  all  of  the  blog  posts  as  well  as  the  giveaway.



His  Law  is  Love by Rebekah Morris
Will  hate  and  fear  drown  the  song  of  Christmas  love?Amelia  is  eagerly  anticipating  her  first  Christmas  in  the  west,  but  she  soon  finds  that  her  brother-in-law's  worry  and  her  sister's  exhaustion  reach  far  deeper  than  the  cares  of  a  ranch  and  a  family.  A  rash  of  fires  and  cattle  thefts  is  plaguing  the  area,  and  the  three  young  orphans  they've  sheltered  are  under  suspicion  from  their  prejudiced  neighbors. As  hostilities  mount,  Amelia  seizes  every  opportunity  to  help  and  encourage,  but  how  much  can  one  girl  do?  Will  Reverend  Brown  win  the  community  over  to  the  true  spirit  of  love?  And  will  help  arrive  before  everything  they  hold  dear  is  destroyed?
Find on Amazon



Author  Bio:
Rebekah  A.  Morris  is  a  homeschool  graduate,  an  enthusiastic  freelance  author  and  a  passionate  writing  teacher.  Her  books  include,  among  others,  Home  Fires  of  the  Great  War,  The  Unexpected  Request,  Gift  from  the  Storm,  the  Christmas  Collection series,  and  her  best  selling  Triple  Creek  Ranch series.  Some  of  her  favorite  pastimes,  when  she  isn’t  writing,  include  reading,  playing  with  her  seven  nieces  and  nephews,  and  coming  up  with  dramatic and  original  things  to  do.  (Sometimes  with  the  nieces  and  nephews!)  The  Show-Me  state  is  where  she  calls  home.


My review for His Law is Love:
His Law is Love is a great book! I loved that it is also a Christmas book. Rebekah Morris is a great writer and I've enjoyed all of the books I've read by her. This book was no exception!
I enjoyed that the setting of the book took place in the west. The story was intriguing and I enjoyed seeing how everything would play out.





O  Come  All  Ye  Faithful and other short stories by Faith Blum 
O Come All Ye Faithful:
Edwin  wanted  to  be  home,  but  instead  he  crouched  in  a  trench.  The  English  on  one  side  of  No  Man’s  Land  and  Germans  on  the  other.  What  a  way  to  spend  Christmas.  Could  anything  make  it  better?
Peace  on  Earth:
Emmie  and  Elana  are  estranged  sisters,  torn  apart  by  an  old  boyfriend  five  years  earlier.  Will  they  survive  a  night  in  the  samehotel  room  after  a  blizzard  forces  them  together  or  will  peace  on  earth  go  out  the  window?
Silent  Night:
Christmas  decorating  had  never  gone  this  wrong.  Jenna  had  just  started  when  a  crazy,  gun-waving  woman,  walks  right  in  the  front  door  and  ties  her  up  in  her  own  Christmas  lights.  Will  Jenna  even  see  her  family  this  Christmas?
The  Gift  Goes  On:
Four  friends  and  a  year  to  reflect  on.  The  year  had  been  good  for  Carlotta,  but  Priscilla,  Remus,  and  Newton  all  had  at  least  one  trial  through  the  year.  A  mysterious  giver  the  previous  year  had  helped  them  all  out,  though.  What  would  this  year’s  gifts  bring?
O  Christmas  Tree:
Gareth  loves  Christmas.  But  more  than  that,  he  loves  Christmas  tree  hunting.  As  the  family  prepares  for  their  annual  trip,  Gareth  can  barely  contain  his  excitement.  But  what  are  all  the  spray  bottles  for?
Find on Amazon


Author Bio:
Faith  Blum  is  a  small-town  Wisconsin  girl.  She’s  lived  in,  or  outside  of,  small  towns  her  whole  life.  The  thought  of  living  in  a  city  with  more  than  60,000  people  in  it  scares  her,  especially  after  some  interesting  adventures  driving  through  big  cities  like  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.Faith  currently  resides  in  the  middle  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin  with  her  husband  and  their  cat,  Smokey.  She  is  blessed  to  be  able  to  have  writing  as  her  full-time  career  with  household  work  and  cooking  to  do  on  the  side.  She  loves  to  paint  walls  as  long  as  she  doesn’t  have  to  do  hallways  or  ceilings.When  not  writing,  you  can  find  her  cooking  food  from  scratch  due  to  food  allergies  (fun),  doing  dishes  (meh),  knitting,  crocheting,  sewing,  reading,  or  spending  time  with  her  husband  (yay!).  She  is  also  a  Community  Assistant  for  the  Young Writers Workshop loves  her  work  there.  She  loves  to  hear  from  her  readers,  so  feel  free  to  contact  her  on  her  website.  





Giveaway
Just  like  Rebekah  and  Faith  teamed  up  for  this  tour,  they  have  also  teamed  up  on  the  giveaway!
Grand  Prize:  Paperback  of  each  (US  only)
1st  Prize:  eBook  of  each  (International  and  US)
2nd  Prize:  eBook  of  choice  (International  and  US)

Go here to enter!


Tour Schedule


November 26
Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post
Cover Lover Book Review – Book Spotlights

November 27
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight
Kaylee's Kind Of Writes – Two Book Reviews
Jaye L. Knight – Excerpts

November 28
Lit Aflame – Book Review and Excerpt
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Book Review of His Law is Love
Jenny Berlin – Excerpts

November 29
Frances Hoelsema's Blog – Two Book Spotlights
Rebekah Ashleigh – Review of His Law is Love and Book Spotlights
Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review and Spotlight
Salsa And Tea – Author Interviews

November 30
Purely by Faith Reviews – Two Book Reviews
Once Upon An Ordinary – Author Interview and Book Spotlights
In the Bookcase - Excerpts

December 1
Books, Life, and Christ – Two Book Reviews
Maidens for Modesty – Two Book Reviews
Chosen Vessels – Two Book Reviews
Harvest Lane Cottage – Two Book Reviews
Jessica Greyson – Book Spotlights
Twin Thoughts – Book Spotlights
Heart of the Rose – Two Book Reviews
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight and Review

December 3
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway winner



Friday, November 23, 2018

The First Love // Book Review

From the Back Cover:

Jah, that was undeniably a difficult time, one that opened my eyes in countless ways. And my heart, most of all. It was a season of sorrow and searching, of questions and answers.
It was the summer of my first love.

It's the summer of 1951, and Maggie Esh is in need of some hope. Sweet-spirited and uncommonly pretty despite struggling with illness, she is used to being treated kindly by the young men of her Old Order Amish church district. Yet Maggie wishes she were more like other courting-age girls so she could live a normal, healthy life. When tent revival meetings come to the area, the words of the preacher cause her to reconsider what she knows about faith. Can she learn to trust God even when hope seems a distant dream?


Wow! The First Love is an amazing book! I really enjoy Beverly Lewis’ writing style, stories, and characters. This book in particular was so amazing. It was very encouraging for me and made me want to deepen my relationship with God. Maggie was such a lovely character. I related to her in some ways. She really wanted to get better from her illness, but even when she felt bad or was in pain she always was loving and thanked God for things. Her relationship with God, her personality, and her outlook on life was very encouraging to me and I found it to be contagious! This book really spoke to me and it even made me tear up.
This is a book I most definitely recommend!!

I give this book 9.5 R's out of 10

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Books I Read in September and October // Book Video

I got around to filming my video for the books I read in the last two months. September was kind of a sad reading month so that's why I didn't make one then. I think I only read 2 books... ;)


What was one of your favorite books that you read last month?




Sunday, November 4, 2018

Blogiversary, Fall Fun, and Covered Wagons ~ My October Highlights

I'm finally here, a few days late, with my monthly wrap-up post. I have a hard time believing that it's already November!



~I had my 3rd blogiversay and celebrated with a Q&A!

~I posted 2 videos!
--The Book or the Movie?
--3rd Blogiversay Q&A

~I was finally able to change my earrings! I had bought some fun earring and received fun ones for my birthday so I couldn't wait to get to wear them all! Unfortunately I was only able to wear one pair before my one ear started having problems and it was bleeding. So now I have to wait a few more weeks... :'(

~My mom and I went to a ladies luncheon at our church.

~Our town puts on a little historical reenactment. My favorite part is the Oregon Trail section. I got to climb into the covered wagon!!


~The book club in October was fun like usual.
The book we discussed was A Horse for Kate and we made bandana bags.

~Our church had a trunk-or-treat/harvest party that we went to. We did a trunk and even though there were lots of kids we have a ton of leftover candy. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing... ;)
There was also a hayride!! I love hayrides and haven't been on one in a few years so I rode on it for a few rounds. :)

~My brother's flag football team played their last game. They played well this season and had a fun time.

~I went to a dance. There's a group around here that does English Country dancing and it's usually pretty fun.

~My brother had his first book signing and he got an article in the newspaper about his book!!!!

~I baked cookies then enjoyed an evening of tea, cookies, and reading.



How was October for you?
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is in a few weeks?!



Friday, October 19, 2018

3 Years of Blogging!!

Wow! I've been now blogging for three years! I remember starting my blog and being so excited. I've had a lot of fun with it and I can't wait to keep doing it. :)

I had lots of fun answering the questions for the Q&A! Thank you SO much to everyone for submitting questions.

Now, onto the Q&A! :D


Thank you again for submitting questions and celebrating with me!



Saturday, October 13, 2018

The Book or the Movie? // Book Video

I love to read, but I also love a good movie! Which do I usually prefer though, the book or the movie adaption....?





What's one of your favorite book-movie adaptions?



Friday, October 5, 2018

Book Recommendations

I'm excited be doing some more book recommendations! For those of you who are wondering where the book videos are, they're coming! I have lots planned, I just need to do them! Life has been a bit crazy lately! I'm excited to get to working on them though! :D
Rebekah Morris over at Read Another Page is hosting a very fun bookish blog party. There are lots of book recommendations to find and you can enter to win a prize!
I almost did a post about some great contemporary books, but as I was writing up the post I realized that every book on the list were ones I've talked about lots of times. So I decided to recommend books that I have barley ever, if at all, talked about!



Love Finds You in Sunset Beach Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn
Sierra came to Sunset Beach for relaxation—not for world-class surfing and certainly not for romance! When a wealthy friend offers Sierra Jensen a vacation at an oceanfront beach house, she envisions a quiet retreat where she can plan her next move. Instead, she arrives at the start of the noisy surfing competitions and is surprised to learn that her friend had an ulterior motive—namely, introducing Sierra to Jordan Bryce, the tenant staying below them. Jordan is a photographer whose lens and attention are focused on the surfers, and he is not willing to let anyone get in his way of landing the next cover shot for Surf Days magazine. Sierra and Jordan came to Sunset Beach looking for different things. But as the surf pounds the North Shore, will they discover something better than either of them had imagined?

This book is great! I really loved reading more about Sierra Jensen (Christy Miller's friend) from the Sierra Jensen series. I so enjoyed reading about her love story. It was great!




Royal Fire by Jonathan Hangstefer
Cedric Northchest and his friends Berne, Everett, and Winnefred have rather ordinary lives. Nothing remotely exciting ever happens to them until one day an elf named Ex-Tron shows up in their little town. Ex-Tron tells them that he needs their help finding the Guardian of Fire. Ex-Tron takes them to a once beautiful world called Arsought. Now the nights crawl with evil and each passing day grows darker. The Guardian of Fire protects a magical weapon called Royal Fire. Cedric and his friends must find the Guardian and learn how to use Royal Fire before the dark reign of Horcus is complete.

Fantasy isn't the genre I prefer, but this one is very well written and it just came out this summer!




The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves--or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement--and secrets that have been held too long. 

This was the first book by Suzanne Woods Fisher that I read and I really enjoyed it. I've read many of the authors books since then and have enjoyed most of those as well. It's been awhile since I read this one, but I remember enjoying it.



Violet Travilla series 
Book one begins in 1877, when creative, independent fourteen-year-old Violet learns that growing up brings new problems, feelings, and questions. As the entire Travilla family faces a tragic loss, Violet discovers that true faith defeats even hidden doubts.

I've only read this particular A Life of Faith series once. I need to remedy that soon though! This series, like all the other A Life of Faith books (Millie, Elsie, Laylie, and Kathleen), is great. I didn't like the first three as much as the rest of the series, but they were still good. I read those first three then once I got to book four I flew through the series! This is definitely a must read series!




Love Needs No Words by Faith Potts
Home from college for the summer, Shay Williams has many plans. Crossing paths with her childhood crush was not on the list. Yet when Daniel Rogers, a young mute man, reappears in her life, the friendship that once blossomed between them is rekindled. 
Daniel is mesmerized by this sweet girl who has a heart for deaf and mute children. But is it wrong of him to want to know her better, considering his inability? The last thing he wants to become is another charity case.
Follow these two young people through a summer of discovery as they learn valuable truths about friendship and love – a love that speaks not from the lips but from the heart. 

A lovely short story, Love Needs No Words is a very sweet book that I will be re-reading many times!




Abram's Daughters by Beverly Lewis
Abram's Daughters is the powerful saga of four sisters, their family and community, whose way of life and faith in God are as enduring as their signature horse and buggy. Or so it seems...Book One, The Covenant, unveils the layers of deeply rooted Amish tradition as seen through the eyes of Leah and Sadie Ebersol, the two oldest, courting-age sisters. The Amish community of Gobbler's Knob holds everything Leah Ebersol has ever desired until a pact with her sister Sadie, lured by the outside world, leaves Leah clinging to God's promises.

This is a five book series. It's great! I thought the first half of book 1 was a bit slow going, but it definitely picked up the pace and I enjoyed it a lot along with the other books. This is definitely a series you need to read in order. It's a bit complicated and you will truly get lost if you don't start at the beginning. The series covers a lot of years so don't be surprised! I was a bit at first, but it really made the series more realistic.



Christy series adapted by the book by Catherine Marshall
The Christy Series by Catherine Marshall (adapted by C. Archer)
Christy Huddleston's dream was to teach the poor mountain children. But she never imagined that the treacherous journey into the heart of the Smoky Mountains would bring danger into the lives of one mountain family.
Join Christy as she crosses the bridge from the familiar world of parties and pretty things into the strange, new world of Cutter Gap. There she meets the country doctor, Neil MacNeill, who needs her help to save a man's life. And the handsome young minister, David Grantland, rescues Christy when her own life is in danger, and helps her face the challenges of teaching, and loving, the proud mountain people.

This is a 12 book series adapted from the book Christy. It is geared toward younger readers, but I found them to be enjoyable. The TV show Christy is also quite fun. :)



Love Finds You in Calico, California by Elizabeth Ludwig
A young seamstress weaves her own story in a world run by men. After hearing news of a silver strike in Calico, California, Abigail Watts packs up her needles and thread and follows her beloved father out West. But when she's suddenly left alone in the rough mining town, Abigail finds herself pressed into a marriage of convenience with the local livery owner, Nathan Hawk. Determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her father's death in the mines, Abigail agrees to stay in Calico. But when the truth sets her free, she must decide whether to leave the town - and Nathan - for good.

I didn't read this book that long ago, but for some reason I don't remember a ton about it. Maybe because I read it so fast! ;) I enjoyed it though. There was a bit of a mystery to the story, which I liked. 

Is there a book like that you hardly ever mention due to all of your other favorites? ;)
Just a few more day left to submit questions for my blogiversay Q&A



Sunday, September 30, 2018

Earrings, Good Movies, and My Birthday!!! ~ My September Highlights!

September was a fun month! :D



~I got my ears pierced!! I was so nervous and almost didn't do it, but my mom convinced me to. I love having my ears pierced and I'm so glad I did it. I thought it would really hurt, but it barley did.



~After I got my ears pierced my mom and I went to the movie theatre and saw God Bless the Broken Road. It was really good!

~I won a contest in our small town's paper and won 4 movie tickets for the local theatre. I used one of the tickets and went to see Christopher Robin with my mom and older brother. It was really cute, a little sad, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

~I participated in two readathons this month. The first one I did with my friend, Faith, and got lots of reading done! The second one I did was one hosted by Faith and I participated with her and some other girls. I hardly read at all that time though.

~Fall officially came! I found this fun pillow the other day and just had to get it.



~My brother is playing flag football again! His team won their first game of the season a couple weeks ago. In that game they made 7 touchdowns and my brother, James, made 4 of them!!!

~I had a girls night with some friends. We watched a Hallmark movie, played games, and watched Full House.

~I don't look my age at all. Most people guess me to be about in the 13 to 15 age range. Well, this calls for lots of interesting stories about what people say to me at work. I'm constantly getting asked how old I am and why I'm not in school. I work at a little deli here in town and one day I was taking this couple their lunch. The lady looks at me and says, "Shouldn't you be in school?" I smile and say, "I'm actually almost 22." Both the husband and wife are shocked. Then one of them says, "You don't look a day over 12!" Then the husband says, "Well I guess we'll take your word for it and not call the truant officer." I didn't quite know what to say... ;)

~I only got around to posting one video, but I have lots of others planned so you will hopefully see those soon!

~I watched two fun Hallmark movies with a friend of mine!!

~My mom, sister, two of my brothers, and I went to the mall one afternoon. I bought some earrings and some clothes. One dress I bought was originally $72 but I got it for $11!! Talk about a good deal! :D

~My birthday!! My birthday is in September and I had a great day. Pizza for dinner and brownies for dessert! We played two of my favorite games as a family: Scattergories and Telestrations!
I received lots of fun gifts. I got a new purse, earrings, The First Love by Beverly Lewis, some shirts, and lots of other lovely gifts!


~Two days before my birthday I had a party with some friends. We played Imaginiff and ate cupcakes.


Movies! I watched some good movies this month!
All of My Heart: The Wedding
Truly, Madly, Sweetly
Chesapeake Shores (only 1 episode left until the season finale!)
Moonlight in Vermont
God Bless the Broken Road
Christopher Robin


What was one of the best things you've done in September?
Have you seen any of these movies?
Do people think you're older or younger than your actual age? ;D