The IE Mommy

That first garden can’t start growing without the perfect starting point: a healthy seed. Author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Seed Saving and Starting Sheri Ann Richerson walks readers through the important techniques from harvesting, cleaning, and drying to properly labeling and storing seeds. The book reveals:

•       The secrets of seed saving that explain why store bought seeds aren’t always the best option
•       Tips for starting a new garden without blowing a budget
•       Disease and pest control

The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Seed Saving and Starting answers any and all questions gardeners may have regarding the seeds to plant. According to Richerson, a bountiful garden flourishes with the use of proper tools, healthy soil, pest control and sowing.

My Thoughts

As a mom of three kids I find it important to provide them the healthiest food possible. With food prices higher than ever it’s difficult to budget enough for the regular food, let alone the prices found on the organic aisle. Recently my husband and I started talking about starting a garden and growing our own produce. But with no experience or understanding of what it would take, it remained just a pipe dream. You can only imagine my excitement when I received a copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Seed Saving and Storing to review. Finally I had a place to not only get started but to keep my garden continuing for years to come.

The book is broken down into six parts covering the basics of getting started, harvesting and storing seeds, germinating and sowing, building your seed collection, and a great seed directory. I found every piece of information both invaluable and encouraging. My husband and I are ready to start and maintain our own organic garden and we feel that we have the knowledge to do it thanks to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Seed Saving and Storing.

Jo~
Review Crew

The butterfly symbolizes hope and transformation. Embrace changes in your environment and body, just as each butterfly does. Give this WINGS OF HOPE clay butterfly to friends and loved ones to provide hope during transitional periods in their lives. Each butterfly comes boxed.

In 2007, Calypso Studios started their beautiful bracelets and then introduced comfort clay crosses, butterflies and ladybugs, totes, necklaces and headbands.  Their jewelry is fun and very affordable and unlike any other jewelry you have ever seen. Two years ago I won a beautiful Wrap bracelet and it is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I then had the pleasure of winning a comfort cross in an auction for my husband and finally I received a beautiful Cross Wrap Bracelet to review.

While traditionally  I am not a super big fan of gold jewelry there was something about this piece of jewelry that caught my eye. I am not sure if it is the simple design that brought or the green and brown threaded design that reminds me of being young.

This beautiful piece of jewelry is wonderful for me, because of my job I can’t wear my cross necklace because of the danger of it being torn off of me. The crocheted inspirational bracelet has a simple closure that if tugged on it will simply come off without any danger to me. So, because of Calypso Studios I can wear my cross close to my heart still. If you are on a budget Calypso Studios is great for you, because you can get beautiful simple pieces that will definitely have that special meaning.

Michele
Review Crew

We all go through times when we feel insignificant or times when we feel certain that we have experienced a degree of failure from which there is no return. This is not a reality we experience alone, but is one that a man after God’s heart experienced as well.

In “A Heart Like His,” Beth Moore looks at this bond of mutual love and admiration between a man who was not unlike any of us and the one true God who is all good and all powerful. The book is an exploration of David’s incredible life, drawing spiritual insights from a man who boldly fulfilled his divine destiny not merely by what he did, but who he loved and served.

Bringing lessons from David’s life to bear on your own, this picture of a man who loved and followed God will help you to serve with a heart focused on Him no matter the circumstance.

About the Author:
Beth Moore is a best-selling writer, teacher and founder of Living Proof Ministries. Her numerous books and Bible studies, including “Breaking Free” (B&H Books), “Believing God” (LifeWay Christian Resources), “The Patriarchs” (LifeWay Christian Resources) and most recently, “James: Mercy Triumphs” (LifeWay Christian Resources) have been read by women in Beth Moore Bible study groups all over the world. Her Living Proof Live conferences have reached women in all 50 states in the United States.

My Thoughts

In March I started a Bible plan and began reading the book of Samuel at the beginning of the month. When I had the opportunity to read a Heart Like His by Beth Moore I was excited. The life of David was such a beautiful example on how we should live each day. His heart was pure and David was thankful to the Lord even when his life was in turmoil.
Each chapter starts with a Psalm and ties it to the part of David’s life that it relates to. This book helps get a better understanding on how David went from tending to the sheep to being a King. It chronologically goes through David’s life and the ups and downs that he faces all while still having a heart for the Lord.

This book really came at a time in my life when I needed it. I often forget to really be thankful when things are going good. It seems as though we are always leaning on the Lord only when there is turmoil in our lives, when we should constantly be thanking the Lord for everything. This book shouted it out to me in many ways.

We are never alone and we should love God just as he loves us. 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 points out some real truths that we must never forget.

He is my strength when I am weak.
He is my rock when I am slipping.
He is my deliverer when I am trapped.
He is my fortress when I am crumbling.
He is my refuge when I am pursued.
He is my shield when I am exposed.
He is my Lord when life spins out of control.

This book helped me remember that it is what is in our hearts, not what is on the outside and a Heart Like His shows us how to look in our hearts just as David did.

Michele
Review Crew

My Thoughts

Helping others is more than rewarding, but it can also be hard on some.  Strength for the Moment: Inspiration for Caregivers shows us the raw emotions that go along with being a caregiver. Before each inspiring story there is an introduction from the author, an inspirational verse, the caregivers story and a short prayer.

When I read Marian’s story about depression it really seemed to touch my soul.  “When a family is shaken to its core, cracks sometimes develop more quickly than they can be repaired.” This really stuck out for me. The many cracks that have developed in our family are still not repaired and the darkness is often hard to get out of.  While my family did not suffer a death, it faced a sadness of loss of a loved one to the prison system.  Several members of our family fell into the darkness of depression and it was so very sad, but the power of prayer brought us all out of it.  Just as Marian found strength in the Lord so did my family.

Each story in this beautiful contemplated book has powerful words sure to reach out to each person that opens it. Caregivers often do not know how special they are and what their dedication means to another. Caregivers may not be rewarded monetarily but rewards are endless in the peace of knowing that you cared for another person out the strength through the Lord.

Michele
Review Crew