Freebie Friday: Kids Summer Reading Programs and more

My son is doing well with his summer reading (although sometimes it is still a fight to get in the 20 minutes for the day).  His school promised if they got enough reading from all of the kids that they would have a bounce house for them when they got back to school.  He was so excited when he brought back the special calendar to fill it out.  I have had to come up with other goals to try to help him. 

The first every summer is to do the summer reading program at the library.  He reads the 15 books and then he gets his name on the wall and a coupon book. 

We have already used the coupon book to get a free flash light, marigold seeds, pencil, strange plastic bug (not pictured because my son hid it on the window), ear buds, zipper pouch, book and box of ice cream sandwiches.  There are so many other coupons in the book and I hope that we get to use a lot of them.  Sadly, the summer usually runs out before we get to use them all but we always get a good haul!

We love to do lots of stuff over the summer and free is always good.  We have done three of the AC Moore programs where we get to make different crafts for free.  The first was my favorite because it was on the summer bucket list to make a tie dyed t-shirt. He picked the bullseye pattern and the other two kids that I brought used the twist pattern.  They put the rubber bands on the shirts, dipped them in water and then used squirt bottles over a plastic bin and colored the shirt.  We let it set for 24 hours and rinsed it out and this is what it looked like after.  It was pretty fun and now he gets to wear the t-shirt all the time as a reminder of our fun summer project.

Then we went back to make the bucket.  It isn't exactly functional like I was hoping because they just gave him stickers because the picture online looked like it was painted but my son and his friend had a blast making them.  They were slow when we got there so the nice ladies pulled out extra stickers so they could spell their name on the side.  We are not going to be bringing this to the beach because I think that the stickers will collect lots of sand and I think that it is a better bucket to hold things on his dresser where it is now.

We went back another week to do the decorate your own cupcake.  They had cupcakes from the local grocery store already made and they put it on the paper towel for the kids and they had tubes of frosting in a few crazy colors and small sparkly gel frosting in green and yellow.  My son had trouble getting the frosting out of the tube because no matter how many times you tell them that they have to squeeze from the end down, they think you can squeeze at the end and it works the same but it just doesn't.  It is the toothpaste fight all over again!  He loved to decorate with those colored candy balls (which were like small jawbreakers) and yellow sugar to top off his beautiful creation. He still had a blast decorating this cupcake and even more fun eating it out front of the store since I wasn't sure it was going to make it home in the heat without melting. 

All of these projects are easy ones that you can do at home but we really enjoyed going out and getting to do it with some friends and adding some reading really makes the summer go by quickly.  I hope that you enjoy your summer and get a bunch of neat things just for enjoying your summer all year long with the memories!!

Where Azaleas Bloom Book Review

I was so excited to get to the next book in the Sweet Magnolias series and I realized when I picked it up that it was the last in the pile and I needed to get the next one from the library.  I quickly went on the computer and got it reserved.  I sadly realized that we are almost at the end of the series. Where Azaleas Bloom (A Sweet Magnolia Novel) by Sherryl Woods is the 10th book in the series so I have obviously been reading fast and furious to make it through the whole series so quickly.

Single mom Lynn Morrow is determined to put food on the table for her son and daughter. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband has failed to meet his obligations time and again—but it turns out that Ed is struggling with his own problems.  Enter contractor Mitch Franklin, an unlikely knight in shining armor. A widower with two grieving sons, Mitch once admired Lynn from afar since he was 13 years old. Now he sees in her not only the sweet girl who got away, but a woman desperately in need of support. While rushing to the rescue of Lynn and her children comes naturally to Mitch, he's also wise enough to encourage Lynn to find her own way…hopefully straight into his arms.

It was a great start to learn all about two new characters that were already so closely connected to the community and people that we already know.  I immediately felt all the emotions that Lynn was going through and totally related.  It was amazing that she pulled it together and did the best thing for his kids because I know that it is hard for many people to do that.  I understand that she was proud and didn't want charity from anyone but she worked really hard to make the best life for her family while making the best new life for them.  I hope that you pick it up at your local library or bookstore so add it to your reading list soon!

Catching Fireflies Book Review

I was getting to the end of my pile of summer reading when I picked up Catching Fireflies (A Sweet Magnolia Novel) by Sherryl Woods.  I was so excited to read the next book in the series and find out who we get to learn more about!!  It went really quickly and I had trouble putting it down.

When bullying threatens to destroy a teen's life, painful memories resurface for dedicated high school teacher Laura Reed and pediatrician J. C. Fullerton. With the support of the Sweet Magnolias, they bring the town together to ensure that a promising student's future isn't ruined. And to establish once and for all that bullying has no place in Serenity, South Carolina.  Both J.C.'s and Laura's passion for the cause is deeply personal, and their growing feelings for each other are just as strong. But with so many secret hurts to overcome, can these two vulnerable lovers find the strength to believe in happily ever after?

Loved this one!  It had such a great message with dealing with bullying in all forms and how the town pulls together to fight back to bullying and not sink to the bullies level.  It was hard to see it from the kids perspective to see how hard the day to day life is when someone is getting bullied in person and on the internet but I think that it is a valuable lesson for all parents.  We need to watch out for the way kids act and any changes in the behavior for red flags.  It really opened my eyes to how things are different in the age of the computer then they were when I was younger.  I hope that you pick this up at your local library and bookstore.  It is a great summer read and I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Midnight Promises Book Review

I was really behind in writing all my reviews and I was still reading at a crazy speed.  I needed to slow down and write some reviews.  Luckily, I got to spend some time over the weekend to do exactly that.  I wrote two reviews one day and saved two for the next day and I was caught up.  That also meant that I had the week scheduled with all my posts.  I have been so behind on doing anything for the blog because things are still so up in the air.  I am hoping that I will be able to settle down and figure out where things are but until all of the boxes are unpacked, I don't know if that is going to be possible.  Luckily, I have my reading to distract me.  I started on Midnight Promises (A Sweet Magnolia Novel) by Sherryl Woods right after finishing the last book in the series.

When Elliott Cruz first courted struggling single mom Karen Ames, it it was a romance worthy of any Sweet Magnolia fantasy. The sexy personal trainer made it his mission to restore Karen's strength—physical and emotional—and to charm her children.  Now, a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear them them apart. Elliott's desire to finance the business opportunity of a lifetime with their hard-earned "baby money" stirs Karen's deep-rooted financial insecurities. It's the discovery that their brother-in-law is cheating on Elliott's sister—and thinks it's justified—that puts their irreconcilable differences into perspective. Will their own loving fidelity be a bond so strong they can triumph against all odds?

It was a great book with lots of things going on at once.  There was the drama with Elliott and Karen trying to find the best compromises in their marriage after they were both used to living their own lives.  There was even more drama with Adelia, Elliott's sister, when her husband has cheated and disrespected her for the last time.  There are so many things going on that it is hard to say what my favorite part of the book was but I can tell you that I loved it.  It was a great escape from all the unpacking and moving that is still going on here which was perfect for me.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did when you pick it up at your local library or bookstore!

Menu Plan Monday 7/27

Monday- Chicken Nuggets Wraps with homemade fries
Tuesday- Olive Oil Pasta with garlic bread
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Sandwiches and snacks in the car/Pete's Steak Shop
Friday- Grotto's Pizza/Greene Turtle Restaurant
Saturday-???/Italian Restaurant (can't remember name)
Sunday- Restaurants, Restaurants and more restaurants.

Last week went pretty well as planned except that on Monday my husband was at the other house fixing things before home inspection so I breaded and oven fried the chicken instead of grilling.  I got to have lots of great meals with the plans except instead of getting take out egg rolls on the way home from work, my husband came home early and took my little man to the pool and came home with pizza which is nearly the same price and everyone is happy and there is nothing to cook or clean!!  It was a wonderful vacation for me to stay home and relax.  They bought two pizzas so we had lots of leftovers so we got to have a yummy leftover Saturday!

This week is super busy with vacation coming up but I am hoping to plan another easy week that we will all enjoy!  Hope you have a great week too!!!!!

Honeysuckle Summer Book Review

I was excited to get the next few books in the series at the library.  I grabbed a few at one library and picked up another book at another library and I was ready to start reading as soon as I was finished with the rest on the series in my pile (which I knew would go quickly).  Honeysuckle Summer (Sweet Magnolias) by Sherryl Woods was the next in the pile and a great look at another newer character.

Her devastating marriage behind her, Raylene Hammond is truly thankful for her best friends, the Sweet Magnolias. They've taken her in, shielding her from the world. Then she meets sheriff's deputy Carter Rollins, and suddenly Raylene's haven no longer feels quite so safe.  Carter understands why Raylene is trapped inside. He's even taken to bringing the outside world to her. But with two kid sisters to raise, just how much time can he devote to this woman who's stolen his heart?  Raylene knows Carter is a man worth loving, but she may never be strong enough to accept what he's offering. How long can she ask him to wait? Maybe they'll never have more than this one sweet summer.

This book was dealing with very big issues including domestic abuse and panic disorder.  It was interesting to learn all of the different things that Raylene was going through by not being able to leave the house and how she learns to deal with it. I was amazed at the physical reaction the character had to something that regular people do every day and even more amazed on how she worked to overcome her fears.  Even with the serious topic, there was a lot of family, friends and fun to go along with this great book.  I enjoyed it and I hope that you will too.  Pick it up the next time you are at your local library or bookstore.

Sweet Tea at Sunrise Book Review

I just loved the title of the sixth book in the Sweet Magnolia series, Sweet Tea at Sunrise (Sweet Magnolias) by Sherryl Woods.  I love tea and loved the cover so I was looking forward to reading this next installment of the great series.  Plus, I have been really enjoying the series so I couldn't wait to find out who this book was about.

Emotionally wounded single mom Sarah Price has come home to Serenity, South Carolina, for a fresh start. With support from her two best friends—the newest generation of the Sweet Magnolias—she can face any crisis.  But sometimes a woman needs more than even treasured friends can provide. Sexy Travis McDonald may be exactly what Sarah's battered self-confidence requires. The newcomer is intent on getting Sarah to work at his fledgling radio station…and maybe into his bed, as well.  Sarah has learned not to trust sweet words. She'll measure the man by his actions. Is Travis the one to heal her heart? Or will he break it again?

Loved following these characters through the book and getting to know them more.  There was a lot of changing and growing for all of the different people which I loved to see.  Sarah was dealing with whether she was going to make her marriage work or get divorced.  It was interesting to see how she was dealing with the process and making decisions that were good for her and her kids.  It all worked out for the best.  Stay tuned for coming books to see how it worked out for her ex-husband.  I enjoyed this book a lot and can't wait to start on the next book in the series.  I hope that you pick up this book and others at your local library or bookstore.