Flexi-Clip Winner!

The winner of my Flexi-Clip giveaway, courtesy of independent Lilla Rose consultant Emily Anne, is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations Dana!  I will email you to let you know, and forward your email address to Emily Anne.  Have fun picking your prize!

And, more good news for the rest of the participants in the contest - Emily has generously offered a 10% off coupon to everyone who participated - thanks Emily!  To use it you'll have to contact Emily via Facebook and arrange the order with her, citing coupon code TAMMY10 - happy shopping!  Coupon is valid for 30 days.

Book Review: All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti

About the book: A new life and a new identity can't protect Becca from a past that refuses to go away.

After spending years running from the shame her father put on her family, Jayne is determined not to let him steal her future in the same way he stole her childhood. Changing her name to Becca Morrow, she moves to California and settles into a new life and new job caring for ailing mother of handsome young businessman, Isaac Hughes.

But just as she's wondering if she and Isaac are headed for a relationship, Becca's patient passes away under unusual circumstances. Suddenly, her past catches up with her and the unnerving details of her heritage threaten to destroy all sense of home and all hope for love.

Even if she could clear her name, a phone call wraps a suffocating shroud around her heart. Her estranged father needs her help. But can Becca open her new life to the man who ruined her past?

My Thoughts: As far as I can recall, I've never read anything by Cynthia Ruchti before, but after reading this novel, I'll definitely be looking for more of her books.  This was just such a well-written story and I could not put it down - I was so swept away by the storyline and completely invested in the character's lives and how things would play out.

I particularly appreciated how sensitively the author handled the topic of dementia, and the importance given to the value of all human life.  She wrote in such a way that made the characters seem completely authentic as we watched them grapple with numerous issues including adoption, faith, healing, euthanasia, forgiveness, responsibility, and the struggle to find out what it is that makes us who we are.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.



Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy

Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip Review and Giveaway

An online friend of mine recently became an independant Lilla Rose consultant.  When she offered me two of the clips to do an online review and a giveaway, I jumped at the chance!

We have many different hair types in our family, so it was interesting to see how the flexi clip worked with our girls' hair.

She sent me both a medium and an extra-small flexi-clip (sizes range from mini to mega) - the sizes are engraved right onto the clips, which is convenient.

The same day the clips came in the mail, I tried the medium on Emma's hair in a tails up hairstyle - doesn't it look great?!  Emma's hair is thick, curly, and has a coarse texture - the flexi-clip worked great.

I wasn't so sure the clips would work in my hair.  I general don't wear clips because my hair is quite fine and slippery, so they just don't work - at least not to secure the hair (I do wear clips as accessories, but they're not what holds my hair in place).  Well, the Lilla Rose flexi-clip works! The clip has kept my hairstyles secure all day long - with no sliding or flopping.

I've worn the XS in a half up....

  

And also to hold a twist.....

I think I'm going to have to get myself a size S yet as well - the XS is just a little small for a full pony tail in my hair.  And this is such a quick and easy way to turn a regular old ponytail into something a little extra.

Olivia's hair is thicker and curlier than mine, but also quite slippery.  Flexi-clip works for her hair too!  Here is the XS in Olivia's hair....

Check out my friend Emily Anne's Facebook page or her website to check out all the amazing styles available.

I prefer simple designs in either silver, black, or white - but they have lots of colourful options for those of you who are more adventurous!

They have several other products including headbands, bobby pins, and more.  Check them out! (Click on the "Go Shopping" link to see specific products)

That leads me to the giveaway portion of this post!  Yes, Emily Ann has graciously allowed me to host a giveaway.  The giveaway is open to new Lilla Rose customers (so as not to steal clients from other consultants) who live anywhere in the US or Canada, and the winner will receive a product of their choice from Emily's site, up to a $16 value.

How to enter?

Normally, when I do my own giveaways, I simply have you comment on my page and that's it, because I want the winner to be one of my regular blog readers.  However, for this giveaway, the purpose is to spread the word about Emily's new business, so we're going to go that route....

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the contest.  You can get up to 3 entries....
1) One entry for commenting on this blog and sharing which one of the items on Emily's page is your favourite.  This is not written in stone - you can pick something else if you end up winning the giveaway. I just want to make sure you've taken a bit of time to browse her site.
2) One entry for liking Emily's Facebook page.
3) One entry for sharing this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram (only one of them, whichever is your social media outlet of choice) with a link back to this blog.

The contest will be open for 1 week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks for providing me my complimentary clips Emily!  Now to figure out what I'd like to get next....

Book Review: The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the book:  A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.
A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice---or redemption.

Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver's already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared's secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father's fortune. And Jared's in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family---even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.

The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn't theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven't dared voice: What happens next?

My Thoughts: I always enjoy books by Robin Lee Hatcher and this one was no exception.  I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the storyline.  I thought one or two things were a little too unrealistic (like an honourable man agreeing to have a single woman accompany him unchaperoned on a trip of any length - during that day and age).  There is one other thing I thought was unrealistic but it would involve a spoiler, so I'll leave that one out.  

Aside from those two picky details, I immensely enjoyed this book and would recommend this, and any other work by Hatcher, wholeheartedly.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.

Disney through the eyes of Sophia - Part 2

Here is Part 2 of our Disney trip, as recorded by Sophia in her journal.

For Part 1 click here.

Day 9 - Friday April 4 2014

Today we went to Denny's for breakfast. I had French toast with sausage and scrambled eggs. After Dad dropped me, mom, Emma, Olivia and Jacob off at Blizzard Beach while he dropped Grandma and Grandpa off at their cruise. At Blizzard Beach I went on the family raft first. We went on that twice and then went to the kid area. In the kid area I went on a tube slide, ice bergs that you jump on to, and other little water slides. In other places I went on the Double Dippers water slide. You race someone down a REALLY fun water slide. It has two big drops that put my stomach in knots. After that I went on another racing ride. You go on a mat on your stomach and race two other people down the slide. After that I went back to the kid area and went on everything again. We found a different slide on the kid area that's hidden in the back! It was really fun! It was a tunnel slide. Then Dad came to pick us up. We went to Mc Donald's for lunch. We got chicken burgers and Mc Flurries. We went back to the house for more swimming and then got ready for supper. We went to Chuys. It's a Mexican restaurant. I had a taco. After we went to the outlets. I got my friends presents from the Disney store. I got them Disney cups and Mickey earrings. There was like a party going on at the outlets so it was very buzzy. We didn't stay long because of that. We went straight to Payless after that because us girls needed shoes for the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique tomorrow. We found the shoes we needed and went to the house. Dad got donuts so we ate them and then went to bed.

Day 10 Saturday April 5 2014

Today we went to Magic Kingdom. We went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad three times, Winnie The Pooh twice, Peter Pan once, Under The Sea once, Pirates Of The Caribbean once and Jungle Cruise once. After we left Magic Kingdom we picked up subs from Subway and went back home. When we got home we ate right away. After lunch me, mom, Emma and Olivia went to Downtown Disney to get our hair done at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! Mom already got our dresses earlier in the year, they weren't princess ones, they were regular dresses. We had to wait a little bit before we got in so mom got us a drink. Me and Olivia had water and Emma got a smoothie, but we all shared. Then we got called in. The laddie that did my hair was from Philadelphia. Her name was ________. I felt like a real princess the whole time she was doing my hair. We got to pick nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick, a comb, a jewel to put on our face and a crown for us to use. I picked blue nail polish, red and blue eyeshadow, red lipstick, a purple comb, a star jewel and a blue crown. They put A LOT of gunk in our hair so it stays in for along time. After the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique we went back to the house to get ready for supper. We were going to one of Magic Kingdoms many resorts, called the Grand Floridian! It was super fancy! It was like a castle in there! It was a buffet so we got our food faster then other places. I had Root Beer to drink and had chicken fingers, Caesar salad and strawberry soup. I thought the strawberry soup would taste weird, but it was actually the best soup I've ever had (considering I am not a soup person). Cinderella, her stepmother and stepsisters were coming around talking to us, signing autographs and taking pictures with us. After we had supper we went to see the electric water parade. It was a very short show, which I say took about 5-10 minutes or so. After we went home, watched a show and then went to bed. It was also Olivia's last chance to see Beth again and exchange phone numbers and stuff. But they didn't get to. I feel bad for Olivia.

Day 11 Sunday April 6 2014

Today we went to Blizzard Beach. I know it's not the best idea going to a water park right after getting your hair done, but at Blizzard Beach you can only get your body wet. Anyway, we went on tube slides, the lazy river, the kid area and some racing water slides. I had so much fun! After Blizzard Beach we picked up from Mc Donald's, I got a chicken burger and fries. After lunch we went swimming and got ready for supper. We went to Chili's. Me, Emma and Olivia shared 3 meals. We got a cheese quesadillas, grilled cheese and cheese pizza. I had Coca cola to drink. After supper we went to the outlets. I got mom's birthday present (hair accessories), loom elastics, and me and Emma together got nail polish to help your nails. Dad got me two Under Armour t-shirts. After the outlets we picked up Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and went to Target.

Day 12 - Monday April 7 2014

Today Dad and Jacob went to pick up Grandma and Grandpa from their cruise. So they were gone while I was asleep. I made eggs for breakfast. After breakfast we got ready for swimming right away. Me, mom, Grandma, Emma, Olivia and Jacob beat the Keep It Up record of 78 hits. Me, Emma and Olivia started a loom bracelet company. We made a lot of bracelets. After swimming we got ready for supper and outlets. We went to Cracker Barrel. I had a cheeseburger with fries. At the outlets I got Emma lip balm and nail polish. I got Olivia different lip balm and different nail polish. After the outlets we went back to the house. We had night snack, watched a show and then went to bed.




Day 13 Tuesday April 8 2014

Today we went to Hollywood Studios! It's my 2nd favourite park because of Rock'n Roller Coaster and Tower Of Terror. We went on both Rock'n Roller Coaster and Tower Of Terror except for Jacob and Mom. Jacob was too short for Rock'n Roller Coaster and was too scared of Tower Of Terror, and someone had to watch Jacob so mom did. On Tower Of Terror there was a high school group of 18 kids right in front of us in the line that were pretty annoying. But then the loudest guy yelled, " Hay! Let the family go through." So then their whole group moved out of the way and was clapping and cheering us on. It was weird. We also went on The Great Movie Ride, I thought it was a little boring, but everyone else seemed to like it. We also went to see Indiana Jones. It was raining the whole time so they didn't do all the scenes. Which was a bummer, because they didn't do my favourite scene. Where they fight each other, chase people and a bunch of falling off tall buildings. After the Indiana Jones show we went home because of the raining. When we got home we made loom bracelets and watched Dukes Of Hazard. We went to Carabas for supper, I had pasta and some of mom's salad, because she didn't like it. What a surprise. After supper we went back to the house. We had Mc Flurries from Mc Donald's. We picked them up at lunch time, but we didn't want them then, so we decided to have them for night snack. After night snack we watched a show and went to bed.

Day 14 Wednesday April 9 2014

Today it's mom's birthday! We went to Epcot because that's were she wanted to go. We went on Soar'n, Test Track, Norway, The Mexican Fiesta and Spaceship Earth. After the rides we picked up from Subway and went to the house. After lunch we went swimming. After swimming we went to Long Horns. Mom got to pick where we went because it's her birthday and all. I had steak with fries and oranges. After supper we went back to the house. We watched shows and then went to bed.






Day 15 Thursday April 10 2014

Today we went to blizzard beach. Guess what?! I went on Summit Plummet for the first time! I'm very proud of myself. After me and Dad went on Summit Plummet, Dad took Olivia on Slush Gusher. After Slush Gusher we went on the family raft. We went on it twice. Then we went to get in line for the Down Hill Double Dippers. The line looked long but we decided to wait. Not even half way through the line and we decide not to go on it because it would take too long. So we went on the red slope tube rides. We went on those twice, and boy, there are a lot of stairs to walk up. After that we went on the lazy river and went back to the house. We picked up from Mc Donald's. After that we went swimming. Me, Grandpa, Olivia and Jacob went for a walk. We went on almost every street in the area. We went to a little park and played there a little. Then we went back. When we got back I had to take out my Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique hairdo. I was disappointed, I loved it so much, but it lasted a LONG time. 5 days! Then we got ready for supper, Buffalo Wild Wings! I had wings with Root Beer. After supper we went to the outlets one last time. I got two lip smackers and nail polish. After the outlets we went back to the house and straight to bed.

Day 16 Friday April 11 2014

It's our last day. Today we went to Magic Kingdom. We went on Peter Pan twice, Whinny The Pooh twice, Under The Sea twice, Pirates Of The Caribbean once, Splash Mountain once, Goofy's Barn Stormer once, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad once. It was a lot of fun, but sad because it's our last day. Every time we went on a ride I said, "We won't go on this again until next time." Which was sad. After Magic Kingdom we picked up from Chick-fil-a and went swimming for the last time. After swimming we got ready for supper. Cracker Barrel is where we went for the last supper. I had my usual there, a chicken burger. After supper we went to the house to pack up. While we were packing we saw a lizard in Emma's bed! It scared all of us! We still don't know how it got there because Emma's bed is upstairs. She didn't want to sleep in her bed so she slept in my bed. Olivia came to join us because she was scared a lizard was gonna go in her bed. Anyway, after packing we had night snack. We had chocolate covered strawberries Mr. Mark and Mrs. Holly dropped off, with some Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. After night snack we watched a show and then went to bed.

Traveling Saturday April 12 2014

I am writing now as we're flying back home. We're all sad. But it has to be over at some point, which I don't like. I do look forward to seeing my friends though. Anyway, guess what time we woke up this morning? 4:00 am! That's ridiculous! So we drove to the airport. I slept the whole way. Once we got to the airport they weighed our bags and we went right to security. After that we got breakfast. I had a breakfast sandwich. It tasted so good, I think it's the best breakfast I've ever had. Well, I was extremely hungry right before I had it, so it probably wasn't the best breakfast I've ever had. But it was really good. After breakfast we went to the bathroom and got on the plane. I can't write any more until later because I'm on the plane right now and I can't predict the future. It's later, and I'm not liking "later" very much, because we're not in Florida. Anyway, after the flight we went to Menards (which is in Grand Forks, which is where our plane landed), because Pizza Ranch didn't open yet. We just looked around Menards and then went to Pizza Ranch. I had a piece of Buffalo Chicken pizza and a piece of Hawaiian pizza. For dessert I had ice cream with a piece of dessert pizza. After lunch we went to Scheels. I didn't get any thing there, but I think Mom and Dad got some shirts. After that Grandma and Grandpa went home, and we went to the mall. I got two sleeping masks at Claire's. After that, we went to Paradiso for the last supper. I had a taco and fries with a slushy to drink. After that, we went home.



And there you have it - our trip through the eyes of Sophia!