How to Prepare for University Finals

Many college freshmen are intimidated by taking finals at the end of their first semester. While this task may appear daunting, remember that many of your classmates and school’s upperclassmen have achieved this and haven’t flunked out of school. As long as you study and prepare accordingly, you should pass your NYU finals. For tips and suggestions, follow this guide.

Start Early

Many students like to resort to cramming when finals roll around. This solution is advantageous to few. It’s best to start early. Take careful notes throughout the semester and actively learn concepts that you know will be on the final later on. Review these teachings regularly so it sticks in your brain. If you learn better in a group setting, join or create a study group. As you listen to your classmates and try to teach them a few helpful concepts, you’ll surely learn more.

Study Helps

There are several learning tools you can use to help you understand what’s taught in class. Some students like to use highlighters as they read if they are visual learners because they feel information will stick out more in their minds. The same can be said for flashcards. If note memorization is required, by all means, use this tactic to reinforce certain terms and concepts. If you discover that there will be essays on the test, consider writing out potential questions and answers ahead of time.

Review Sessions

One great resource for preparing for finals is a review session. Your professor will run these or ask their TAs to hold them prior to the exam. If you’re lucky, your instructor will give you a study guide ahead of time. Fill this out to the best of your ability ahead of time and use the review session to verify if your answers are correct. If you cannot find an answer or are confused about something you learned (or didn’t learn), use this opportunity to ask the teacher or TA about it.

Treat Yourself

Finals can be a grueling time for many college students no matter how long they’ve been in school. Be sure you take care of yourself during this time. Get enough sleep, since this will help repair damaged brain cells and restore full mental capacity. Also eat good brain food. Of course, indulge in junk food if you feel the need and take frequent study breaks. Then you should be ready for your exam at NYU.

Charter Boats Are Not Just for Fishing

Living along the coast, everyone loves the beach. The sun and sand seem to breathe new life into even the most stressed out person. Sailing over the waves can make you feel like you have been whisked away to a new world. For years, anglers have been chartering boats to take them out to sea to fish. The rich and famous have been cruising around in their yachts sipping champagne. But, chartering a boat is not as cost prohibitive as you may think and it’s not only for fishing. Many companies have great packages with very affordable rates. You can click here to find out how much your ideal cruise might cost or keep reading about the different types of cruises offered by charter companies.

Fourth of July
Fourth of July is a summer tradition celebrated all over the country. Family and friends get together to gorge on delicious food and just hang out. Of course, there are the fireworks, too. Who doesn't love fireworks? But, you don’t always have to celebrate in the backyard or sit in a crowded park to watch the fireworks. Charter a boat to take you out to sea and experience the amazing show in the sky from a different angle. The reflection off the water doubles the magic as the sky lights up with the wonderful colors. Another plus that comes with chartering a cruise on the Fourth of July? Out at sea, there are no trees or buildings to block your view. 

Sunset Dinner
One of the tried and true first dates is dinner and a movie. Now, imagine your dinner aboard a private yacht cruising along the coast and your movie is the sun sinking slowly towards the horizon until it is replaced by the moon and stars. Sunset dinner cruises are not only wonderful for first dates, but they make a great place for proposals, too. 

Corporate Events
How about a corporate event cruising along the coast? The captain will take you and your employees out for several hours to enjoy the sight and sound of the ocean. You can even have bartender service to accompany your corporate lunch. Some boats can accompany up to 500 guests, perfect for any office party. Or, a great gift for the top sales performer this year. 

Corporate events, sunset cruises and Fourth of July cruises are just a few examples of the different and affordable ways that you can enjoy a day or night at sea. See it's not just about fishing. To learn more about chartering a boat such as how much it costs simply click here.

Driving Lessons

A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore

It's not very often that I get E to sit and read a book. OK, occasionally he'll read with me but generally he doesn't make it through a book and is OK if I finish it on my own. Recently I was reading A Heartbeat Away and he sat down to read a chapter to me (something I love). Anyway, once he started he couldn't stop and was not happy when I finished the book the next day without him. In fact, as I write this, he's waiting for the book so he can finish it on his own. That tells me this is an amazing story!
A Heartbeat Away takes place during the Civil War as Beth (a Union-loyal) is staying with her Grandmother to learn to be a nurse. There she is faced with a Confederate soldier who is left at her grandmother's doorstep greatly wounded. With a battle raging around her she must trust in her faith, and her new knowledge of nursing, to help her get through what may be the toughest days of her life.
This is an amazing read! Lots of adventure with some history and romance to add spice. You won't want to miss out on this one!

Acrobatics - The Professionals vs The Kerrs

So the boys and I have been watching a lot of TV lately. Ok, so not really a lot but for us it is lots since we don't usually watch any. We've watched everything from Dinosaur Train to NOVA and have seen some pretty interesting stuff. The best part of course is watching the kids immitate what they see. I can't help but laugh! So today we present the professionals vs the Kerrs. Leave a comment and let me know who you think is more fun to watch.

The professionals:

The Kerrs:

First Baseball Game

Pregnancy Flashbacks - My Top 3

After four pregnancies there are some things I certainly need in my tool kit. I've done a little bit of everything but through morning sickness, preterm labor, bed rest, preemies, NICU, and coming home there are a few things I can't live without. Here is a list of the top three items I feel are most important:

1. A good body pillow. This was an investment well worth making because it can be used as a body pillow during and after pregnancy plus double as a nursing pillow for those late night feedings.

2. Every new mother’s toolkit should include DulcoEase® Pink™, the #1 OB/GYN recommended ingredient* for going #2. It's perfect for all those uncomfortable times when you just need a little help. So if you are pregnant or breast feeding, ask your doctor if you should think Pink. Find savings on DulcoEase® Pink™ at www.MomsTalkDulcoEase.com! You'll also want to pick up a coupon HERE.

3. A spouse, or other emotional support person. Life is hard but especially during pregnancy and parenting it is important to have someone standing by your side. You may not need help now but at some point you'll be glad you have an extra set of hands and a shoulder to lean on.

*Among stool softener ingredients

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of DulcoEase® Pink™. The opinions and text are all mine.

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer - A Laugh You Won't Want To Miss + Giveaway

I just loved this read! Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer was a great laugh with a little romance. The story begins as Joanna decides her birthday wish is to have a new preacher in town for their little church. Little does she expect that her outlaw father will hold up a train and kidnap a preacher to make her dreams come true.
This book was a great laugh as you watch Joanna and her father struggle to find balance between Joanna's religion and her father's fear of it. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will love every minute you spend reading this adventure!

Karen Witemeyer is "kindling" the excitement for Stealing the Preacher (Bethany House) with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at her June 18th Facebook Author Chat Party!

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer 

But hurry, the giveaway ends at 4pm on June 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Stealing the Preacher" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 18th. Connect with Karen for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Karen will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Stealing the Preacher and join Karen on the evening of June 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

An Eye Anniversary and The Top Ten

Last week we celebrated a very special day at the Kerr house. It has officially been one year since C got his glasses! I can't believe the difference in my child. We went from having THREE emergency room visits in six months because of injury to NONE in a full year. Things that I didn't realize were a big deal, like his tripping in the kitchen and not walking on the sidewalk, have solved themselves because he no longer sees double. It is amazing! In the past year he also went from being behind with his gross motor skills and needing physical therapy to being way ahead and all of this happened because of a simple vision check.

I think many of us take our eye health for granted. I know E is that way because he does not come from a
family with eye troubles. I quickly learned the value of a good eye doctor when I received my glasses as a teenager. Being able to see changed my life for the better for sure and because I have many family members that wear glasses it was simply part of our check up routine to make sure our eyes were healthy.

Weather getting an annual eye exam is habit for you already or not, it is a super important thing for you to do for yourself and for your children. Our eye doctor likes to see kids for the first time between nine months and one year of age so that she can catch any problems early and get them corrected. That's my kind of prevention!

In fact, I am super excited to say that our neighbor city of Boise made the #1 in the nation on VSP Vision Care's Second Annual Eye Healthy Index list! The number one ranking means that Boise is the place where the most people took care of their eyes in 2012. In fact, Boise had the highest rate of eye exams compared to any other city on the index the last two years. Other cities included in the top ten were Sacramento,, Oklahoma City-Tulsa, Wichita, Columbus (OH), Des Moines, Birmingham, Denver, Raleigh, and Bay Area California. If you live in one of these areas hopefully you are a member of VSP and getting your eyes checked so you are part of the awesome population in these areas!
For those of you who are not members of VSP Global you should really check them out for all of your eye care needs! VSP Global includes VSP Vision Care, the largest non-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the US; Marchon Eyewear Inc.; Eyefinity; and VSP Optics Group. They also run many great programs including VSP Mobile Eyes and Sight for Students through the American red Cross and Prevent Blindness America. So far VSP has invested about $155 million in free eyecare and eyewear for more than 825,000 adults and children. This is amazing to me because good eye care can be very expensive and can make a world of difference in a person's life, especially the life of a child!

My challenge to you, if it's been a while since you had an eye exam then call and schedule one for yourself, and your children, today! It's fast and easy and you'll be thankful that you are checking on your eyesight. I know that I am!

As a bonus, make sure you enter to win a FREE pair of designer sunglasses below!

Entry-Form

Hands Up!

Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray

It seems like forever since I've had time to really sit down and write her on the blog. Things have been crazy with the stress of family problems and it seems like the just keep coming. The good news is that I'm getting better at dealing with them and am finally getting some help with my everyday jobs so that I can spend more time here, sharing with you. I am so excited about the changes that are coming to my home!

Like me, Roman is facing some family drama and big changes in Shelley Shepard Gray's Ray of Light. I could really relate to him as he headed of to vacation to take a break from the trials that he was facing at home by traveling to Florida. What he didn't expect from his week of vacation was Amanda. The beautiful widow who happened to be staying next door on her own vacation getaway.

I really loved this book as I could relate one hundred percent! Trails can be hard but many of the best things happen as we work to get through the rough patches in our lives. I really loved this book because it was a great reminder of that fact and was sent to me at a perfect time in my life. This book is a great pick me up or just a fun read. You'll love it no matter when you read!

The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney + $200 Date Night Giveaway

I just finished reading Deborah Raney's The Face of the Earth and was thrilled! This book will leave you on the edge of your seat as you pray for each of the characters. It's an amazing tale of love, hope, and starting again. Mitch, the main character begins the story by arriving home from work to find that his wife never made it home from her trip. The police search and find nothing so Mitch enlists the help of Jill's best friend, and his next door neighbor, to help him find his missing wife. Finding her is an adventure you won't want to miss!

Deborah is celebrating with a fun "Date Night" Giveaway (win a $200 Visa Cash Card!) and an Author Chat Party on Facebook! {5/30}
   One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one – your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
• The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 29th. Winner will be announced at the "The Face of the Earth" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 30th. Connect with Deborah for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deborah will also be sharing a sneak peek of her next book and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Face of the Earth and join Deborah on the evening of May 30th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 30th!

Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck with Kindle Giveaway

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

I just finished reading Hauck's book and loved every moment of it. I think every girl dreams of finding her prince charming and I loved reading about Susanna, the everyday girl who is saved by her royal prince. It's a story of true love, hard work, and tough decisions. You won't want to put it down as you follow these to amazing people through the journey of making big decisions!

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. 

The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer + Giveaway

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

There is something about finding the perfect match to partner with you through mortality that is magical. Everyone deserves to find that perfect match, I'm so glad that I found mine, and I love watching and reading about others finding theirs. This is exactly what happens in The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer.
When Lydia goes home to the Amish town of West Kootenai, Montana for her mother's funeral she goes with the intention to help her father get things put back together but something inside her seems to connect with something that was missing when she lived with the Amish in the past. As a change begins to take place Lydia is gifted a box that was left by her mother with stories of her childhood that change her life.
Lydia is an amazing character and Goyer introduces her in a way that made me fall in love. This is a fabulous book that you won't want to miss!


One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. 

Pull Ups for Exercise

Kerr Emergency Vacation

We have had an emergency at the Kerr house and we are currently offline. Have no fear, we are all safe and will be back but I am taking some time to spend with my family and help us all heal after a painful event.

I wish to apologize to any companies who are waiting for a review. I have a few scheduled and will get the rest done when I get back. Again, your items are safe and the review will go up. I will let you know when this has happened and will be including a free month of sidebar ads for any reviews that I am currently holding.

If you are interested in working with us please know that I will read your email and get back to you as soon as I can. 

Our hearts are hurting but we will recover and look forward to making Kerrific even better when we get back!

First Solids

Wonderfully Pink with Pink Blush

*Rant warning* Can I tell you how many sizes of clothes I have been through in the last five years? I mean honestly, I was going through my clothes over the last month as I cleaned out my closet for spring and I have every size in their from 0 to 12 and all of them are things I have worn over the last five years. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but my body has seen better days.

Ok, so now the good part. For me the good news is that since having baby F is that I am shrinking again. This does mean that I am still changing sizes and finding clothes that fit me for any amount of time and recently I received a great pink cardigan from Pink Blush Maternity that is a perfect fit no matter what size I'm wearing.

I absolutely love this sweater! It is the perfect sweater for our still cool Idaho mornings. I also love that I can wear it with jeans and a t-shirt or I can use it to dress up a dress at church.

If you're looking for great styles for maternity, and after, make sure you check out Pink Blush. They have some fun fashions and get new styles all of the time. The only trick is to buy quickly because their styles always sell out early, mostly because of their amazing prices. Make sure you go check out all the new spring styles before they are gone.

Crash!!!

Every Hill & Mountain by Deborah Heal + Giveaway

Visiting another century…not the summer vacation Abby had planned. Those who have read Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy, the first two books in the young adult time-travel trilogy, know that Abby Thomas, is a college student on a summer service project with 11-year-old Merri. And you know that the summer is not going the way Abby had expected—but in a good way. For one thing, she meets a very nice guy named John Roberts. And for another, she discovers a strange computer program called Beautiful House that lets her fast-forward and rewind life. Not her own, of course, but those of the people who lived in Merri’s old house. And the Old Dears’ old house, and…well, any old house. And now their computer program is starting to attract attention. Since the program worked so well for the Old Dears’ family tree project, Abby’s college roommate Kate hopes it will help her find out more about her ancestor Ned Greenfield. And Kate’s fiancé Ryan thinks the program has lucrative commercial potential. Abby and John reluctantly agree to help Kate, but only on the condition that she and Ryan promise to keep the program a secret, because if it fell into the wrong hands…well, no one wants Big Brother invading their privacy. The two couples take a trip to the tiny town of Equality, set in the hills of southern Illinois and the breath-taking Shawnee National Forest. According to Kate’s research, Ned Greenfield was born there at a place called Hickory Hill. The mayor, police chief, and townspeople are hospitable and helpful—until the topic of Hickory Hill comes up. They seem determined to keep them away, telling them, “There’s nothing there for you to see.” Eventually they find Hickory Hill on their own—both the mansion and the lonely hill it sits upon. Built in 1834, Hickory Hill stands sentinel over Half Moon Salt Mine where the original owner John Granger accumulated his blood-tainted fortune. Abby and her friends meet Miss Granger, Hickory Hill’s current eccentric owner, and they eventually get the chance to time-surf there. Their shocking discovery on the third floor concerning Kate’s ancestor Ned Greenfield is almost too much to bear. What they learn sends them racing to the opposite end of the state to find the missing link in Kate’s family tree. And there they are reminded that God is in the business of redemption—that one day he’ll make all things new.

I really loved Deborah Heal's first two books in this series and when she emailed me and asked me to review a third book I was thrilled. I love history and I think Deborah does a great job bringing the past too life in this series. I'm not generally big on time travel books but I think I like these so much because although they can see the past they don't interact with it so it ends up being much more realistic. If you love a good historical fiction with a little romance you will love these books!

Deborah Heal, the author of the Time and Again time travel mystery series, was born not far from the setting of her book Every Hill and Mountain and grew up “just down the road” from the setting of Time and Again. Today she lives with her husband in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about regional history. She has three grown children, three grandchildren, and two canine buddies Digger and Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). She loves to interact with her readers, who may learn more about the history behind the books at her website and her Facebook page.

Enter the Rafflecopter contest below for a chance to win a set of signed books--the whole trilogy! O

pen to U.S. addresses only. Winner will be announced. May 16, 2013.         a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Baby

Buddies

SHOES!

I had fun shopping this week. F went with me to Target and we did a pretty good job. I found some fun items and got some shoes that will be put to good use (darn men in my family walk really flat footed so they go through shoes faster then I can buy them).

Total Spent: $80.39

Total Saved: $247.83 (75.5%)

Rewards Earned: $20

Darkness Before Dawn by Ace Collins + Giveaway

In his latest novel, Darkness Before Dawn (Abingdon Press), Ace Collins leads readers on an emotionally charged ride from revenge to forgiveness.

There is nothing like a dramatic beginning for a good book. That is exactly what happens in Ace Collins' Darkenss Before Dawn. The story begins as is in the hospital hard at work as a nurse. While on her shift she receives news that her dreams are finally coming true, she's pregnant! Everything looks great until shortly after her shift ends when everything falls apart, beginning with a phone call telling her that her husband has been killed by a drunk driver.

This story is wonderful but is very emotionally charged. Don't plan on reading it when you have anything else to do because once you start you won't want to put it down! You'll just love Meg and following her struggle to make the best out of the worst situation. It's a novel you won't want to miss!

Ace is celebrating the release of Darkness Before Dawn with a Retribution v. Redemption 12-Day Giveaway!

Go {HERE} or click the button for all the details. Follow along for a new giveaway each day. (Moleskin journal, books, Starbucks gift cards and so much more!)

Puzzle Time

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund + Kindle Fire Giveaway

Old country, new country, or somewhere in between. It doesn't matter where Carl goes he's in trouble under his own name he is at risk of loosing his life. When he arrives in the new world Carl takes a new name and a new identity just before he meets Annalise, a newly widowed mother of one, who is waiting for her new groom to arrive. Annalise needs help and Carl needs something to do so they work together to make the most of their bad situations.
This is an incredible story of perseverance and faith. It's amazing what two people can accomplish and survive when they have each other. You'll want to be sure to read this one and find out what happens when the fire of challenge burns too close to home.

Jody Hedlund is celebrating the release of A Noble Groom by giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting a Facebook Author Chat Party {5/8}! 

One "noble" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced at the "A Noble Groom" Author Chat Party on May 8th. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of A Noble Groom and join Jody on the evening of May 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Angels Among Us and a Little Chicken Soup

I know I don't post very often on Sundays, right now it's the only day I can guarantee that E is home for the day so we like to spend the day as a family. Usually this consists of the kids taking naps and mom and dad curling up to watch a movie. It's one of my favorite times of the week. There's something special about those moments when everything is quite and all is good in the world. In all honesty, it's these moments that keep me sane. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, my businesses and the crazy world but it's those quite moments of healing that I feel best. It's amazing what happens with a little help from the perfect person can do, help from my angel if you will.
I am a strong believer that everyone needs an angel at some point. Sometimes our angels are mortal and sometimes it's a supernatural help that is looking out just for you. Without these messengers and helpers I know that my world would be very different. There would be many days that I wouldn't make it through and many more times that I would be at a loss on how to get through the next moment.
Recently I had the chance to read Chicken Soup's Angels Among Us collection. It's full of 101 inspiration stories that made me laugh, cry, and reflect. It's been amazing reading material and made me even more thankful for those moments of angel meddling that make even my roughest moments a little more bearable. This book brought me a great moment to reflect on the good and enjoy some peaceful quiet time. Life really is an incredible journey!

Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer + Giveaway

If you know me at all you know that my whole life revolves around children. Not only my kids but I also spend quite a bit of time cheering on other kids who need an extra cheerleader. Recently, I had the chance to cheer on sweet little Nicky in Kim Vogel Sawyer's Sweet Sanctuary.
This is an uplifting book about a young mother, Lydia, who is out to save the love of her life, her son Nicky. Although Lydia is a wonderful mother her father feels that Nicky needs a reliable father in his life and creates a crossing in Lydia and Dr. Hatcher's paths that comes just in time for Nicky's drug-addicted father to make a dreaded appearance in Nicky's life.
This is an incredible book full of love and sacrifice that you won't want to miss. Anyone with a heart for a child will love this sweet story!

To celebrate the release of  Sweet Sanctuary Kim Vogel Sawyer is giving away a Cupcake Club membership (monthly cupcake delivery!) from the amazing Magnolia Bakery in New York and hosting a Facebook Author Chat party {4/30}!

One "sweet" winner will receive:

• Cupcakes from NYC’s Magnolia Bakery delivered to your door every month. (Eat them all yourself or share!)
• Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer for you and four of your friends. (Start a book group — cupcakes and a "sweet" read!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Sweet Sanctuary" Author Chat Party on 4/30. Connect with Kim, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be fun giveaways - gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Sweet Sanctuary and join Kim on the evening of April 30th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Stress Test by Richard L Mabry, M.D. + Nook HD Giveaway

It's been a while since I did a review of a good mystery. I have a hard time finding mysteries that are good but don't have so much blood that it makes me sick. I just finished a great mystery by Richard Mabry called Stress Test that was a wonderful read and I'm so excited to share it with you!
This incredible, life and death book will keep you on your toes and turning pages through the very end. E can certainly verify that I've said "one more chapter" a few too many times this week as I read about the kindhearted doctor who has been accused of murder with no one to back his story of innocence. You'll be rooting for him every step of the way during this great read!

Richard Mabry is celebrating the release of Stress Test with a Nook HD Giveaway! Enter today.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Nook HD
• A $15 gift certificate to BarnesandNoble.com

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 27th. Winner will be announced on 4/29/13 at Richard's blog.

Flashback Friday - Floaties, Kick Scooters, Skip It, and More

Have you ever had one of those moments that you said, “they just don't make things like they used to”?

Lately, the boys' therapist and I have been working on finding them some new summer activities  It's going to be lots of fun but it seems like every time we come up with a new idea it's something that brings me one of the “blast from the past” moments that seem somewhat strange.

We've only had a few warm days so far but we're taking every chance to play outside that we can get. So far we've tried hula hoops and jump ropes that have been big hits with the older two. It's so much fun watching them play with the same type of toys that I remember enjoying.

For D we want to get a kick scooter to help strengthen his legs and work on his balance. I think I'll just have to get three so they can ride them together. Can you say “way too much fun”? I can only imagine what people will say when they see us all racing down the sidewalk. It will be awesome!

Besides kick scooters, the therapist is also searching for a skip it and I really want to get the boys floaties so we can spend some time swimming (one of my favorite activities). It's going to be a great blast from the past summer at our house and I can't wait to share the fun with the kids. There is something great about toys that last the generations and promote physical fitness and development in children. If only all toys worked this way!

I Did It All By Myself!

School's Out, It's Time to Clean + Giveaway

Don't get me wrong, I love learning and going to school. What I don't love is that my house gets neglected during the winter. Yes, we have a small break for Christmas but the holiday of itself makes a big enough mess that any cleaning that actually gets done is counteracted by the mess of a family at the holidays. Now that school is finally over I'm excited to be able to clean and air out the house. We started this last week and I still have a long list but we're slowly making progress.
This week our big jobs include conquering the kitchen and the bathrooms. These are probably the two areas I clean the most often but twice a year I go extra deep and  do things like organizing the cupboards, moving and cleaning under the fridge and stove, and other such jobs that I just don't have time for every week. It's a nasty job but I always feel so much better when it's done! I just love things being clean.
Because I love clean one of my go to brands is Clorox. I love knowing that when I use their products I am getting a good clean. I can't tell you how many times Clorox has saved us when we've had sick kids (or animals) and needed to disinfect everything, something that seems to happen all to often at our house. This year when I purchased my spring cleaning supplies I was excited to find Clorox's new spray every drop bottles. They are so simple and yet genius because they really do allow you to completely empty the bottle without having to do the whole dump method. I am so excited to have these in my house! It's just one more way that Clorox is going above and beyond and giving moms the chance to have the clean they want on the budget they can handle. You can save $1.50 on these new bottles by visiting their website and watching a short video. And make sure you enter below to win a set of coupons to stock your cleaning closet with FREE bottles of Clorox!

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Just Like Brothers

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell + Kindle Fire Giveaway

Romance and candy seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. It seems, however, that candy does not solve all of our romantic problems. In fact, in Siri Mitchell's Unrivaled, candy seems to create a few problems for a young couple. Lucy and Charlie meet as strangers on the street only to realize at a future date that their fathers are the owners of the rival candy companies in town. They are both honest people and their dislike for the tactics their fathers are using as they battle on the store shelves does not solve their problems. Can they work through their differences and allow the companies they will inherit to work together or will the candy be their undoing?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a great Sunday read for me. Both Lucy and Charlie were fun characters to get to know and I enjoyed watching them struggle with their love of candy and their love of each other. If you want a sweet read then this one is for you!

Celebrate Unrivaled with Siri Mitchell by entering to win a Kindle Fire and joining her on April 18th for a Facebook Author Chat Party!

 
One "swooning" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Vintage Candy Kit
• Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell (one for you and one for a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 17th. Winner will be announced at the "Unrivaled" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/18. Connect with Siri, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books, vintage candy kits, and more!

So grab your copy of Unrivaled and join Siri on the evening of the April 18th for a chance to connect with Siri and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

My Spring Wardrobe and Camisoles

Easter came and went which means it's time to change wardrobes for all us ladies. This week I have spent way too much time pulling my clothing boxes out of the basement and exchanging my dark skirts, slacks, and sweaters for shorts, camisoles, and t shirts. It doesn't seem like a huge project but it always ends up taking longer than I planned because this is one of the two chances I take each year to completely gut my closet and get it clean and organized. The end result is awesome but it sure does take a while to get there so here are my tips for helping your closet stay looking beautiful.

1. Keep it simple: whatever you do don't make your system overly complicated because as nice as things look organized by color the chances of it staying that way (at least for anyone who has kids or a job and no housekeeper) are slim so it's probably not worth your time.
2. Don't be afraid of shelves: Most closets don't have shelves of any sort but don't be afraid to buy or make some. Even the fabric hanging shelves can work in a pinch. These are great for things like undershirts, bags, and pants that can be difficult to hang up.
3. Buy only one kind of socks: I simplified my life a lot when I decided to only buy one kind of socks, half in black and half in white. I don't have to spend time matching socks anymore, I simply divide my drawer in half, one side for each color, and then grab two socks from one side each morning.
4. You don't need to keep everything: if your closet space is limited, like mine is, don't be afraid to donate the things you don't wear more than once a year. Instead invest in items that work with five or six outfits. You'll still leave the house feeling cute and new without the stress of an overcrowded closet.
5. Put clean laundry on your bed: the worst thing that can happen to your closet is to have clean laundry that doesn't get put away. My trick for this has been to put anything that is clean on my bed. This way I can't go to sleep until it's put where it belongs.

VW Stories

It seems like we all have some great car stories. Weather it's your own car, someone you were helping, or simply a great road trip there are some stories that just don't ever get old.

With three toddler boys in my house we really like cars (or at least I pretend like I do). This last summer the boys' Uncle A introduced us to a new piece of summer fun when he bought an old VW and started taking it to local car shows. We attended one when he brought it to our town and I have never seen the boys that happy to walk around and listen on a hot summer day.

Of course, they all had to pick their favorite. Generally they liked the ones with the bright paint jobs but there was one VW van that they had put a table in and had it all set for dinner. They thought that was pretty cool and asked Uncle A if that could be his next project for his car.

Right after the car show, we of course had to go rent Herbie (the old ones) for them to watch. It was a huge hit! We still don't own the movies but every time we go to the library to rent one that's what the boys ask for.

They also really like to pick out the “bugs” as we're driving around town. They've found some not quite authentic bugs but they get ever so excited when they see one. It keeps them entertained as we drive around town and I love knowing that they are paying attention to what is going on around them.

This summer hopefully we can take the boys to another car show or two. If not I'll take them to a dealer, like vw jetta chicago, so at least they can see all the cars even if they aren't old nifty ones.

I'm sure the boys will also spend some time with Uncle A fixing up his cars. C especially loves to go out and lay under the car with his uncle and get all dirty (yuck!). Thankfully they also like to help each other clean up when they're done.

A Family of Bears

Some Must Have Items and Savings

I ended up making two trips out because the first time I ran into a friend at the store and spent too long taking. Overall it was a good week. I got some things we were out of (like sandwich bags) and some fun things (games for the kids birthdays'). I shopped JC Penney and Target.

Total Spent: $125.65

Total Saved: $225.40 (64%)
Rewards Earned: $10.00

Refresh, Recharge & Rejuvenate with EdenFantasys - Adult

It's spring time and that means it's time to start with a new life. We've got baby chickens, spring cleaning, and much spending time in the sunshine going on at our house. For me there is nothing better then laying in the sun with a good book, even if I have to keep my sweatshirt on still to stay warm during April in Idaho.
To help me relax this year I placed a special order from EdenFantasys Bodycare Sale. They have everything I need, including body wash, lotion, lip balm, massage oil, and more, to help get my body and skin ready to enjoy the summer after a long winter of sitting around in the cold.
I love EdenFantasys because they have a great selection, awesome prices, and even better sales. It's always easy to find what I need and I can find lots of reviews on every product I look at so I can choose the item(s) that are best for me. It's a great place to shop and you won't be disappointed with any products you receive! Head on over and find some great products to help you enjoy refreshing, recharging, and rejuvenating your life this spring! Happy Shopping!

Hot Water and Cold Showers

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I've told you all about the plumbing troubles we've had since E and I got married. It seems like every time we turn around something new is leaking, today it was the fridge because the kids turned the freezer off and it thawed, and I have to deal with it. One of the things we did when we moved into our new house that I am super thankful for was pay for a Water Heater Instillation.

Yes, it's starting to warm up (finally) but these past few weeks having hot water has been incredibly important for my well being. Thanks to spring, my allergies have been in full bloom and there is simply nothing like a hot shower or bath, with some essential oils included of course, to help me feel better and sleep well so I'm prepared to deal with my terrors the next day.

During the summer hot water isn't such a big deal, we did go a summer without a hot water heater at our old house and lived, but during the rest of the year I just love knowing that at the end of the day I can enjoy the soothing heat of warm water.

As a mom of diapered kids, I also like knowing that when we have a multitude of poopy underwear and throw up (it's been one of those weeks) that I can simply throw my kids in the tub and shower them off with warm water. So often this is much easier than a towel bath or even wipes and I having the shower option available is a great blessing.

Last week C got in trouble (the poopy underwear thing) and got in the shower. He wasn't listening and I gave him a blast of ice cold water. It was amazing at how quickly his attitude toward me changed. I think my son now appreciates hot water almost as much as I do. Such fun punishments, if only I had a camera ready so that you could all see what his face looked like. It was too cute and I can't believe I missed it!

A Visit to Salt Lake

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

We don't travel as a family very often but every once in a while we like to take a little vacation. Thankfully we live close enough to a few cities that make great travel destinations, like Salt Lake and Boise. The main reason I love these particular cities is that they feature family that I love to go visit. They also have great shopping, like Closet Salt Lake, that we just don't have in my little town.

Visiting family can be lots of fun, especially for the holidays. With it being Easter weekend we would normally spend the time with family but this year, for the first time, it's going to be just is. That means we will be having lots of fun at the Kerr house doing things like coloring and hunting Easter eggs, eating, and, my favorite, taking Sunday naps.

As we've been preparing for Easter the boys' therapist has been doing some Easter themed activities, like a small Easter hunt and coloring Easter bunny pictures. I was kinda surprised that my boys didn't know about the Easter bunny (you can say bad mommy now) but when I told them that he is friends with Santa they got really excited!

I just love Easter and I am really excited to share this weekend with my family. I probably won't be online much because I will be enjoying time with them but the other reason that I love Easter is because that means that my birthday is just around the corner. My birthday also happens to land on finals week and that means E is really close to having an actual day off every we and my family is back to having a regular paycheck. I really can't wait for April, it's going to be a great month. So many fun things happen and I have a few surprises for all of you too. You'll want to be sure that you stick around to see some projects that I've been working on that are almost ready to show everyone. It's going to be an awesome spring!

What I Love About Tutoring

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Many of you know that I recently graduated with a degree in math. This has led to some fun opportunities, like tutoring Valencia, that have led me to bring in a little extra money for my family. For the most part I love tutoring. It gives me a chance to do what I love on my own schedule. I love that I can worry about my family first and then fit my income opportunities in after I've taken care of them.

My favorite people to tutor are kids. I love seeing the look of understanding in their eyes and I love planing activities to make learning fun! There are so many things you can do with math that most people would never think of and it makes teaching great.

The only person I really don't like to tutor is E. Someone somewhere along the way has told him that he's not good at math and it doesn't matter what I do he can't get past that. It's super frustrating and I wish I could give a piece of my mind to the person who did so. Teachers who tell kids they aren't good at something really aren't doing them a favor. I hope if you ever hear a teacher telling a student they can't do something that you will give them a piece of your mind. People can learn to do anything (I like to say that you can always teach an old dog new tricks if you take the time) and telling them otherwise is one of the worst things you can do.

In this time of trial in the schools please take the time to thank the good teachers. You know who I'm talking about, the teachers that make you and your child want to succeed. And while you're at it, take the time to stand against the bad teachers and get them out of our system so that our kids can continue to learn about learning. If you teach a child to learn they have all the skills they need to get through life. That's what I love about tutoring. It's not about teaching kids a subject, it's about teaching kids to learn. All true success stories start with learning to learn!