This is a stream-of-consciousness list of random things that we can be happy about.
Some of the things listed are wonderful little everyday things or special once-in-a-lifetime things. Some of them really touched my heart, and made me think, "Yes! I should be grateful and happy about that little thing." Other things made me think, "Huh? Why would anyone be happy about that?"

Things I liked in the list:
"a party with a pinata"
"a baby in a floppy white hat"
"figuring out port and starboard"
"baby corncobs"
"being able to say, I made it myself"
"sun burning off the morning fog"
"people who just by their presence warm your heart"
"having your hair braided"
"white Christmas lights"

Things I didn't like in the list:
"handling money" (Gross! Cash has so many germs on it, you might as well be touching a toilet.)
"sipping a Coke" (You might as well pour poison into your body with a tablespoon of sugar.)
"the brake pedal you wish existed on the passenger side of the car when you're riding with a lunatic" (This just gives me anxiety.)
"Sunday morning at Home Depot" (Why aren't you in church on Sunday morning? If you don't attend church, why aren't you at home sleeping in and relaxing?)
"PTA potluck dinners" (Social anxiety central, and food that people cooked in their questionably clean kitchens. For all you know, they sneezed on that macaroni casserole.)
"foot powder" (I just... I don't know.)
"bus terminals" (They always smell like urine. Why is this on the list?)

It's a mixture, I guess. Good things, weird things, things you never noticed before, things that don't apply to you, things that resound with a perfect YES in your life, things that are dumb, things that are so clever and witty.

Warning: A lot of these things are food items. A LOT. You will definitely get hungry reading this book. Be prepared with some hefty snacks.

This isn't really a book you sit down and read. It's a book you flip through and scan a page, find a thing that resonates with you today, and maybe say a little prayer of thanks to God that these happy little things are in our lives, beautifying and blessing our existence every day.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

I've always felt a sympathetic connection with Anne, Miss Lavender, and Paul Irving, because I always have imaginary friends, my own "rock people" to play with and talk to when I get lonely. That's the real beauty of Montgomery's writing, the people are so vivid and true to character, you feel as though you know them.
I like this second book in the series especially for Anne's adventures in teaching! Being a teacher myself with many tales of horror from the classroom, I love reading and re-reading the stories and little tidbits of school life. Each student is so different and special, and Anne learns what all first-time teachers (hopefully) learn, that the students teach the teacher more than we could ever teach them.
Davy and Dora remind me of some twins that I used to substitute-teach. So mischievous and prim! Twins often go by opposites.
I just adore these books more and more each time I read them!

That stinking Merrin Meredith is back, threatening the Castle with the power of the Darke. Only Septimus, his dragon Spitfyre, and Princess Jenna can stop Merrin from covering the entire city in Darkeness.

I loved this book! The plot is full of action and magic and twists. I adore the characters, and I love how they grow and learn throughout the series. This book was particularly emotional for the Heap family as prodigal son, Simon, strives to win back his family’s love and trust.

My only trouble was the vast number of side characters. They are all quirky and sweet and interesting and memorable, but there are just SO MANY of them. I could barely keep track of who was who. I can follow about 20 main characters and then I start losing track.

I just adore this series! The intertwined plots are so complex and imaginative. Really good story telling in the writing style that puts the reader right into the middle of the action and tugs at your heart strings.

This book gives fun and engaging activities for toddlers that require very little set-up, materials, or preparation. In the first pages, there are lists of specific motor skills, language skills, and emotional intelligence that you can look for in your toddler based on their age. There are labels for different skills that are used in each activity.

The activities include things like matching games, pretending to be animals, recognizing shapes and letters, hopscotch, dance parties, and simple construction projects with materials like paper, cardboard, and rubber bands.

My favorite activities are the ones that focus on using your imagination to play, pretending to be a doctor, mermaid, teacher, or taxi driver. Another favorite are activities that use music, like musical chairs, musical dress-up, and musical matching games.

Each of these activities are simple, yet brilliant in the way they engage the attention of young children and teach them important skills at this crucial age. These would be perfect to do when your toddler has so much energy and nothing to keep them occupied.

The pages are illustrated with adorable drawings of toddlers dancing, playing, dressing up, building with blocks, and matching patterns. The cartoon drawings have bright primary colors that catch your eye and make learning look like so much fun!

There are also lists with advice and tips like, "10 Ways to Entertain Your Toddler While Grocery Shopping", and how to keep your toddler happy in the car. There is also a section of activities for safe outdoor exploration with an adult to supervise and play along with pretend telescopes, or go on a nature hunt, or help to water the plants.

Each of these ideas are so imaginative and interesting! I can't wait to do some of these with my nieces!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

The first section in this book focuses on general information about essential oils, their uses, history, and how they are made. There is also information on other self-care practices that can lower stress and soothe anxiety to be done in conjunction with aromatherapy and essential oils. These include meditation, massage, reflexology, and setting up a calm space with pillows, candles, and soft music.

Then there is a section with more details about the 10 most common essential oils used in this book. This gives more specific information about the benefits of each oil, the applications and uses, and precautions for allergies or skin sensitivities. The oils include Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Coriander, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, and Neroli.

The next sections give recipes for aromatherapy blends, bath salts, body scrubs, linen sprays, face masks, perfumes, hair conditioners, massage oil, and even a sewing craft for a lavender eye pillow. Each recipe comes with a helpful hint or tip that gives some good ideas for substitutions if you don't have all the ingredients.

There are many self-care rituals to practice for the most soothing experience. There are instructions for breathing meditations, and even a yoga mat spray for enhancing your yoga practice. There is a meditation for bedtime and another for walking, and journal prompts to help reduce stress.
There is an entire chapter devoted to self-massage, with massage oils for upset stomach, headache, and back tension, and many others. There are recipes for aromas to calm your nerves, help you focus, calm nightmares in children, lower blood pressure, release angry feelings, and get rid of nausea.

I am so impressed with how knowledgeable and reliable this author is. Just reading through the book made me feel calm, and each recipe and meditation sounds so lovely and soothing.

The book design is graceful with soft pastel colors and pretty drawings of the flowers and plants of the essential oils.

The instructions for recipes are easy to follow and simple to put together without needing a ton of extra materials or ingredients. The meditations are calming and really help to harness the breath and release tension in the body.

I definitely suffer from high levels of anxiety, and I rely on things like mediation and aromatherapy to help me control my stress. I keep a lavender roll-on in my purse at all times. This book is perfect for beginners who know nothing about essential oils or aromatherapy, or for people like me who already rely on essential oils but want to step up their game and learn some new recipes and relaxation techniques!

I especially want to try the recipe for the "Take a Chill Pillow Spray". I might give this one to my nieces too, since it's perfect for children.

I love this book from start to finish!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Myrtle is the daughter of a Court Prosecutor, and follows her father's cases with alacrity. She loves to read the Police reports and studies toxicology. When her next-door neighbor is murdered, Myrtle is sure she knows how to solve the case, but how is a Proper Young Lady supposed to adhere to the Rules of Etiquette AND have the freedom to run around town solving crimes? Only with the help of her redoubtable governess, Miss Judson.

One of the things that made me fall in love with this book is the incredible character development. I love how the main characters change their minds, discover new information, grow in their personalities and abilities, and suddenly realize that their relationships with other characters can be different.

I was fully invested in the character growth and the story from the very first page. The writing drew me in, and emotionally hooked me into the lives of the characters. I was massively curious about every clue. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and the next! I wanted to see how all the disparate clues could possibly come together to a rational conclusion. I was so pleased with the complexity of the mystery, and yet it all made sense in the end with everything explained and every loose end wrapped neatly in a bow.

Myrtle herself is a fantastic main heroine. She is energetic and emotional and incredibly intelligent. I absolutely adore her strong relationships with her father and with Miss Judson. They remind me of the Bible verse that says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." These three main characters, Myrtle, her father, and Miss Judson, all have moments of conflict in their relationships when they each want different things and they disagree and argue. But in the end, those conflicts strengthen and invigorate their love for each other as they learn from one another. Utterly brilliant writing!

One of the greatest things in this book is the way that my opinions of the secondary characters changed throughout the story. In the beginning there were two secondary characters, one of which I hated, and the other who I loved. Gradually and slowly through the book, I began to begrudgingly like the character I had previously hated, and I began to suspect and despise the character I had previously loved. It's all done so realistically and gradually as the plot thickens and the characters react to each new clue.
At first I thought, "Oooh, I hate that character! They are just the worst!" In the next scene, I thought, "Well, so they did one good thing, but I still hate them!" Then, "Okay, so maybe they are not ALL bad, but they are still annoying." Then, "Okay, so maybe they are a good character, but I still don't like them all that much." And finally at the end, "Oh, I love this character! Aren't they great? They are just the best ever!"

I have seldom seen such natural and dynamic character changes as the true nature and personalities of the characters are revealed. Brilliant writing!

Another nice feature of this book is the gorgeous cover art, which gives little clues to the contents of the book with lilies, a key, and a cat on the roof. All these things feature strongly in the plot, and I love how the artwork incorporates them.

The designs at the beginning of each chapter are also special, with pretend quotes from a non-existent book, entitled "Principles of Detection" by the fictional H.M. Hardcastle.

I wish I could give this book 10 stars, and I look forward with extreme eagerness for the next books in the series!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book on prayer gives clear examples from history, hundreds of Scripture references, and inspiring ideas about prayer and how God draws close to us.
The topics include why we need to pray, how great and marvelous prayer truly is, what prayer is and is not, and how to truly encounter God and approach His throne. There are also chapters about traditional ideas of prayer, rules for how to pray, how to prepare our heart for prayer, the elements of confession and adoration that go into a prayer, and an analysis of The Lord's Prayer.

I especially loved the chapters about meditation, with advice on how to meditate on God's Word and incorporate quiet meditation into your prayers along with petitions, thanksgiving, and confession.

There are a lot of quotes from old sources such as Martin Luther and St. Augustine that talk about traditional ideas on prayer. I appreciated how the author takes those ideas and the history behind them, and brings them into the modern age, expounding on the same ideas and bringing it all back around to Scripture.

I love the deep writing style that analyzes and scrutinizes every aspect of prayer, but also speaks to the heart. I was truly inspired and learned some new ideas. The writing is easy to understand, but deals with some majestic and cosmic spiritual themes.

Young Bruce Wayne is weeks away from getting his driver's license, and decides to repair his father's classic car, and maybe give it some upgrades, and maybe start calling it the Batmobile. Bruce is tracking a car theft ring, and hoping they will lead to clues about his parents' murders. He is isolated and alone, but as he searches junkyards for replacement parts and tracks the car thefts, he befriends two teens that he is certain he can trust... until he can't.

I loved this graphic novel! Batman has never been my favorite superhero- too dark for me- but I really enjoyed reading about a young Bruce who is just forming his identity as a hero and learning from his early mistakes. Bruce is charming and just so cool. He takes too many risks and has a lot of anger inside though. It was great to see his character growing and developing as he dealt with some of those issues.

I especially loved the scenes with the butler, Alfred. He is so serene and calm. His relationship with Bruce is full of conflict, but eventually Bruce works through his fears, his anxiety, and his rebellion, and the two have a renewed relationship of trust and family love.

I loved the illustrations, and the use of bright and dark colors in the artwork to enhance the mood of each scene. Each character has a distinct look, and I appreciated how expressive their faces are. The art tells the story just as much as the text does. I also appreciate how clear the action scenes are. You can tell very clearly exactly what movements people are making as they chase, fight, and punch each other.

The story line is emotional, mysterious, and full of clues and adventure! I liked the way themes of forgiveness, inner peace, identity, and friendship are incorporated with each relationship and decision that the characters make.

A very cool introduction to Batman's origin story, and I hope there are many more books in this series! This graphic novel is perfect for middle grade and YA readers!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book begins with an explanation of what essential oils are, how they are manufactured, and safety precautions for their use. There are lists of basic equipment, types of applications, blends and dilutions that can be used.

The next sections detail types of carrier oils and essential oils with all their properties, uses, and precautions. There are even suggested substitutes for each oil in case you don't have it.

The last section is divided into recipes and blends for physical and mental health, for the home and family, and for personal care. The recipes include soaps, salves, compresses, throat gargle, deodorant, lip balm, facial cleanser, moisturizer.
Their uses include relief from pain, stress, cough, congestion, nausea, eczema, headache, insomnia, and dozens more.

Each recipe has clear instructions with tips and hints for getting the best results from the essential oils. All the information appears reliable and safe. The author seems very knowledgeable, and I trust their writing.

I can't wait to try out some of these helpful essential oil recipes! The fragrance blends sound wonderful, and very practical for health and well-being.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book includes activity sections on Reading and Writing Skills, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
Beginning with a review of the alphabet, this book moves into spelling words, rhyming, counting syllables, compound words, identifying timelines in science, math problems, reading maps, and reading comprehension. With word scramble games, crosswords, and coloring puzzles, this book is sure to engage the attention of young children.

There is a chart at the beginning where the child can track their progress through all the activities, and color in the star when they have finished each page. There is even a Certificate of Completion at the back of the book!

The colorful illustrations make this book special. The games, hidden puzzles, connect the dots, word searches, matching games, and secret code messages really make learning fun! Each game has an interesting hook that gets the reader involved in the story of the word problem or puzzle.

This is a wonderful workbook to get beginning readers ages 6-7 excited about learning!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.