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0 In 2022/ Book Review/ Product Recommendations/ Review

Life is Too Short for Boring Books – Here’s my Top Ten Books of 2022

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If you know me, you know I love a good book. I don’t just read any book though; life’s too short for bad books. Before I begin a new book, I visit Goodreads and do a little research. A book needs a rating of 4 (out of 5) or better for me to begin.

Because my criteria is high, I’ve read some OUTSTANDING books this year. It was hard to choose just TEN for my TOP TEN of ’22. But here they are.

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The Top Ten Books I Read in 2022:

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1. I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet by Shauna Niequist

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From left to right: Colleen, Kathryn, Shauna, Erin and Abbi

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Review: Though I’ve only met/chatted with Shauna a couple of times – our lives have followed a similar course. We were born the same year and grew up going to the same beach. We both have dads who love to sail on Lake Michigan. We got married the same year, have two sons the same age, and lived in the same part of the country for most of our lives! Maybe this is why Shauna is one of my favorite authors. I own every one of her books. I wasn’t sure I’d like this one as much as some of her others. However, I loved every single page of her newest book.

Shauna and her family moved to NYC around the same time our family moved to Minnesota. Each chapter of this book is a story from her life, and what she’s learning in that story. I deeply resonated with her insights on transitions, starting over, and finding joy. I cried, I laughed, I stopped to think, pray, and express gratitude.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

  • Get outside and be on the lookout for beauty, especially in nature, read books for comfort. Fresh air helps everything. The world is still good, still beautiful, still interesting and worth savoring. God is still good, still faithful, still kind.
  • Keep walking, keep loving, keep writing, keep praying. Keep learning, keep forgiving, keep apologizing, keep moving forward. Keep inviting, keep listening, keep opening my arms to all of life.
  • It doesn’t help to pretend everything is okay. Tell the truth. Allow yourself to be supported by friends and family.
  • I’m learning home isn’t singular. You don’t lose one, instead, your world and your heart expand with each new home and new set of experiences. The old ones stay and the new ones make your heart and your world bigger.

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This was my favorite book of the year, and I will go back to it again and again.

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2. Take Back Your Life by Levi Lusko

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take back your life

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Review: This is a 40-day devotional that is PACKED with goodness. It would be an EXCELLENT book to start your year.

Here are a couple of great quotes from the book: 

  • Thoughts are like trains, they take you somewhere. Instead of stopping a thought, REPLACE it. You have to actively FEED the POSITIVE and STARVE the negative.
  • You will FEEL how you speak and FIND what you seek.
  • Public victory comes from private discipline.
  • God loves the people in your life so much that He put YOU in their lives. He gave you a means to communicate with them so they could be better off because they encountered YOU!

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3. Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

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everything sad is untrue

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Review: Part of why I wanted to read this book was because I loved the title. For an Enneagram 7 (the Enthusiast), the idea of “everything sad” being “untrue” just made me smile.

The book tells the story of a family moving from Iran to Oklahoma – written from the perspective of a middle school boy. Because I read it while I had two sons in middle school, I really connected with the author’s perspective and story. It made me laugh, cry, think, and learn. I was filled with joy by the kindness shown by some, and shocked by the cruelty expressed by others.

The book will give a reader an amazing, up-close perspective on what it looks and feels like to be a refugee in America. This book was outstanding, and I recommend it to anyone 14 or older.

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4. Power of Place by Daniel Grothe

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Review: This was the first book I read in 2022, and it was a FANTASTIC way to start the year. If you haven’t read it – I recommend it be your first book of 2023 (with Take Back Your Life)! The author is someone I admire and respect. He’s a great teacher and a fantastic writer. I loved his first book, Chasing Wisdom, and this second book is just as good. 

The Power of Place is about the value of putting down roots and investing in the place you call ‘home.’

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5. Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan

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Review: This book shares the beautiful relationship that developed between CS Lewis and Ms. Davidson. They were pen pals, later met and became great friends, and eventually married. I already loved CS Lewis, but this story makes me love him even more. The author did a fabulous job of re-creating their love story. I recommend the audiobook because the narration brings the story to life. It’s free on the Hoopla app.

Here are two quotes from the book that I loved:

God does not love us because we are lovable but because He is Love.

CS Lewis

Sometimes we want to stay and goof off in a mud pit when God has an entire seashore for us to play in. 

CS Lewis 

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6. Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary

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Review: This narrative unfolds the captivating journey of a young woman transitioning from Islam to Christianity. Her compelling tale resonated deeply with me, serving as a poignant reminder of the unparalleled freedom we enjoy in America and within our Christian faith, especially when contrasted with the experiences of individuals in other countries and adherents of different religions. Exploring our shared faith from a fresh perspective was truly enlightening. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to overlook the profound goodness of God when it has been a constant presence throughout one’s life.

I recommend this book to anyone on a spiritual quest or those 16 and above who identify with the Christian faith.

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7. Fostered by Tori Hope Peterson

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Review: This memoir delves into the life of a young woman who spent many years in and out of the foster care system. Candidly recounting her experiences, she unveils both the uplifting and challenging aspects of her journey. She is now actively engaged in bringing positive change to the broken system. If you’re interested in hearing a first hand perspective of the foster care system, or hold a genuine concern for the well-being of foster children, this book offers a compelling and insightful exploration.

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8. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

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Review: I read this book with George, and we both decided that Alan Gratz is a fantastic writer! He pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you are part of the adventure. This is fiction, but gives you insight into what it must have felt like to be in the Twin Towers on 911. Great for any reader age 12 and up who may want to know more about what happened on September 11, 2001.

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9. Home of the brave by Katherine Applegate

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I read this with Clark, and we both loved it. It’s a short book that can be read in one setting. The author writes brilliantly and expresses such beautiful and deep emotion in very few words.

It’s the story of a young boy coming to live with his aunt in Minnesota to escape his war-torn country of Sudan. We felt the wonder, optimism, fear, sadness, and hope through the eyes of the main character (Kek). This would make a great read-aloud for parents and kids ages 8 and up.

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10. The Choice by Edith Eger 

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Review: An outstanding book written by a survivor of Auschwitz. She writes about her escape “physically” from prison, and how she later learned to escape the prison of the mind. She is the female version of Victor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning). There are parts of this book that are really hard to read, but it’s also a book filled with hope and redemption.

The sign above the entrance to the author’s prison camp in Aushwitz says: Arbeit Macht Frei, meaning: Work Will Set You Free. Dr. Eger writes:

Work has set me free. Not the work the Nazis meant, but the inner work. Of learning to survive and thrive, of learning to forgive myself, of helping others do the same. When I do this work, I am no longer a prisoner. I am free.

Dr. Eger

Here are a few gold nuggets I pulled from the book:

  1. You can live in the prison of the past, or you can let the past be a springboard that helps you reach the life you want now.
  2. Get the feelings out. Expression is the opposite of depression. You can’t heal what you don’t feel.
  3. You can’t feel love and fear at the same time.
  4. It’s easier to hold someone or something else responsible for your pain than to take responsibility for ending your own victimhood.
  5. Our painful experiences aren’t a liability, they are a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and strength.

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You can’t change what happened, you can’t change what you did or what was done to you. You can choose how you live right now. You can choose to be free.

Dr. Edith Eger

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Here’s a video to watch/listen to my reviews:

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2022 Honorable Mentions:

What Happened to you? by Dr. Bruce Perry

Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer

Daniel Boone by Janet Benge – if you want a great biography pick up any book by Janet Benge. Her books make my list every year.

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Click here to check out my favorite books of 2023 and FOUR to read in 2024!!

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Here’s my favorite books over the years.

Click here for the BEST of 2021

Click for the best of 2020

Click here for the best of 2019

Click here for 2018

Click here to follow me on Goodreads.

Thanks for reading and please consider subscribing!

All books are affiliate links.

0 In 2021/ Book Review/ Product Recommendations/ Review

3 Great Books I read in June: Reviews and Recommendations

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Here are 3 great books I read in June:

Get Your Life Back by John Eldridge

Rating: 10/10

Review: Listening to this wonderful book was like going to therapy. The author’s voice and his encouragement were calming and helpful. He shared useful tips for healing from hurts, remembering the good, and enjoying life. The author shares how to re-orient yourself away from the noise, and toward a place of peace, calm and joy.

One thing he recommends is the one minute PAUSE. Here’s a summary:

  • Close your eyes,
  • Breathe deeply in and out,
  • As you exhale – release the stress,
  • As you inhale – receive God’s love and peace.

Click here to check out the FREE One Minute pause app!

This is a must read for anyone feeling burned out and needing some space for your soul.

Here are two beautiful reminders from the book:

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Love Centered Parenting by Crystal Paine

Rating: 9/10

Review: I follow this author on MoneySavingMom.com, and when I saw her book was available for free on my Hoopla app, I decided to download it. It’s easy to listen to, and gives tons of practical advice and encouragement to parents. She shares the story of one of her teens becoming suicidal, and how they got there, and what she’s learned from this experience. I think this book is a great one for any parent with kids ages 5-15.

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Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Rating: 9/10

Review: Ted encouraged me to read this book and I really enjoyed it! If you find yourself stretched too thin (MOTHERHOOD!), overworked or busy but not productive, this would be a great book for you!

This quote sums up the book fairly well:

“When we don’t purposefully and deliberately choose where to focus our energies and time, other people—our bosses, our colleagues, our clients, and even our families—will choose for us, and before long we’ll have lost sight of everything that is meaningful and important.”

Greg McKeown
This quote made me smile and is one of the reasons I value having FUN with my kids:

“It’s hard to be successful at anything without having some fun while doing it.

Greg McKeown
I love this about the importance of playing:

“As we get older, PLAY seems like a waste of time. It seems unnecessary and childish. However, play has the power to significantly improve everything from personal health to relationships to eduction to organization to ability. Play leads to brain plasticity, adaptability, and creativity. Nothing fires up the brain like play. The value of play can’t be overstated.”

Want some PLAY ideas? Click here!

Thanks for reading this post and for subscribing! Hope you get lost in a good book soon…

3 In 2020/ Family/ Food/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Review/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

A Perfect Weekend in Duluth

It was Ted’s Birthday weekend and we wanted to get out of the Twin Cities and do something fun. A visit to Duluth had been on our Minnesota Bucket List for two years – so we booked a place to stay and invited some friends to join us for the weekend up north. (Bonus, our friends used to LIVE THERE – so they knew all the best spots to visit!!)

We arrived in Duluth on Friday around noon and started the weekend in Canal Park. We walked through a few of the quaint shops and got to the end to see the massive lift bridge. Every 30 minutes, the bridge lifts to let boats come into the Harbour from Lake Superior. You can click here to find the ship schedule.


We ate lunch at Grandma’s Restaurant because:

  1. People recommended it and
  2. It’s next to the lift bridge
Notes on Grandma's Restaurant: I didn't love the indoor 'vibe' of this restaurant, but getting a seat by a window or on the upstairs patio makes it nice! The food was pretty good, but not amazing. The reason to go here - LOCATION! I'd only go back if I had an outdoor table that overlooks the bridge. 
Lunch at Grandma’s Restaurant

After lunch we ordered ice cream to share from an old caboose that is now an ice cream shop.

Then we walked to the lighthouse at the end of the loooong pier. My boys were amazed that Superior is really a lake and not an ocean.

We walked back to our hotel to check in, then watched the trucks and tractors working behind the hotel – setting huge boulders in place and creating a large walkway along the lake. Each semi could only hold three boulders. After we watched them work for awhile, we drove to Park Point Beach, which is about an eight minute drive from Canal Park. The drive takes you across the lift bridge – which was fun, and the drive to the beach is nice because you get to enjoy viewing a wide range of homes along the lakefront.

When we arrived at Park Point Beach, we stood to observe the powerful lake and unique beach – full of soft sand and huge, heavy logs that had washed onto the shore. The lake is always VERY cold and since it was late in the day, we weren’t planning to swim. However, the chilly air, the cold water, and lack of swimsuits, did not stop the kids. They were playing in the waves within minutes of our arrival.


After time at Park Point, we went back to the hotel to dry off and change, then walked to dinner at Canal Street Brewery. The restaurant has a great vibe, and huge windows overlooking the lake. Ted ordered a salmon salad and I had a grilled chicken sandwich with brie and asparagus. The boys ate burgers. We all enjoyed our meals and would definitely go back.

After dinner, we let the kids swim in the hotel pool, then we enjoyed s’mores on the hotel’s back patio.

We’d been watching the weather for several days preceding our trip, and the forecast showed rain and lightning all weekend. Clark asked if we could pray and ask God for nice weather so that we could explore outdoors. Thankfully, Friday was nice! It was warm during the day and just a little chilly at night. After getting into bed Friday night, it rained and thundered all night – but the storms were over by morning! Saturday’s weather was perfect for exploring.

We started the day with breakfast in the hotel, then drove about 45 minutes north along Lake Superior to Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Gooseberry Falls was SPECTACULAR!

It was one of the most amazing ‘playgrounds’ we’ve ever explored. There are so many trails to hike, but we spent hours just playing in the water. 

Gooseberry Falls Tips:

  • Wear water shoes! (See recommendations below) The falls are wet and rocky and you’ll want to get in the water and explore. Click here to see a great pair I found for my husband for only $15.
  • Wear comfy clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
  • There are two large parking lots – if one is full, there is one just beside it. Both were nearly full when we left, but it didn’t feel overly crowded because the State Park is SO large!
  • If you are bringing children, I recommend following the trail to the LOWER FALLS. We started at the UPPER falls and found it was DANGEROUS for young, curious children. Our kids wanted to get really close to the edge of the falls, and could have easily fallen over. There is nothing to stop them. In fact, the day we were there, two children fell over the falls and had to be life flighted out. At the time of this post, all I know is that they are injured, but still alive.
  • Pack some snacks and a water bottle – All the hiking and water play will make you hungry!
  • 20-30 minutes before you leave, call to make a reservation at the world famous Betty’s Pies. We tried to eat there, but there was too long of a wait. They told us we could call in advance to save our place in line.


We happened to see a sign that said Grand Superior Grille as we were leaving the falls, and stopped here for lunch. The restaurant has sweeping views of the lake, and a well-priced menu. We practically had the place to ourselves and couldn’t believe more people weren’t there. The food and environment were fantastic. George said this was his favorite restaurant we went to all weekend because of the nice environment and good food.

Behind the restaurant is a phenomenal rocky coast.

Skipping rocks


Next, we drove to Brighton Beach but only stayed for a few minutes because it was way too packed. As an alternative, we went to Lester Park. It’s not a beach, but has trails to hike, a playground, and the best part – a beautiful creek to play in. The kids absolutely loved it and could have stayed and played in the creek for HOURS!

Lester Park Tips:

  • For a calm place to play, use the creek to the left of the playground.
  • The first creek you see (close to the parking lot) is usually filled with teenagers. Walking a little farther in, is a much better place for kids to explore.

We talked them into leaving by promising ice cream. I was hoping to go to the historic Portland’s Malt Shop, but we drove by and saw a super long line, so we went back to our hotel and walked to Dairy Queen. While we ate our ice cream, we walked back to the Lift Bridge. The boys enjoyed chasing pigeons and sea gulls, and climbing on the rocks along the coast. 

For dinner we ordered pizzas and salads from Vitta Pizza.

Notes on Vitta: Their food is fantastic! I shared an amazing salad with Ted and a couple different pizzas (both SO good). The kids loved the pizza too! I sat inside the restaurant while waiting for our food, and wouldn't recommend eating inside.  It's crowded and the seats are uncomfortable. However, the food is perfect for take out.  (Rating 5/5)

While the dads took the kids swimming, my friend Mary and I got to enjoy a little quiet time to catch our breath and chat. After dinner, the mamas took the kiddos to bed, and Ted went out with Mary’s husband to rent electric scooters and enjoy some guy time.

The weather was amazing ALL day and I’m so thankful! We got to pack in SO much fun!

Sunday morning we went to a quaint coffee shop called Perk Place. I had the most delicious latte called ‘Honey Bear.’ It’s made with a little cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. We drove around the Congdon area to see some of the historic, ornate mansions. We also drove through the downtown area and saw the famous Duluth Trading Company.

Did you know that Duluth once had most millionaires per capita than any other US city? People gained their wealth from the Iron Mining and logging industry.

Our next stop was the GORGEOUS Enger Park. This park has:

  • A Japanese Garden with a large bell you can ring,
  • Many paths to explore and rocks to climb
  • An incredible view of Duluth, the harbor, lift bridge and Lake Superior
  • A tower with nearly 100 steps and about 5 levels. There are 360 degree views on each level

After exploring the park, we headed home with happy hearts. It was an incredible weekend, full of fun adventures with good friends.

I’m thrilled that I finally got to see Duluth. There is so much history and beauty in that city – hills and large rocks, cool buildings and restaurants, falls and creeks, and of course, Lake Superior. 

Here are a few things we missed this trip, but hope to see and do during our next visit:

Where to go:

Where to Eat:

Did I miss something? Leave a comment and let me know your Duluth favorites!

I had a hard time finding water shoes in a store before we left, but I found these cool ones online for a great price!

Click here to read my Minnesota Bucket List!

Click here to read: 20 gifts that Minnesota Gave the World!

Click here to read 15 fun facts about Minnesota!

1 In Food/ Free stuff/ Motherhood/ Product Recommendations/ Raising boys/ Review

Bonding through cooking & eating together

I’ve been ordering from Hello Fresh for several years.  I’ve tried other subscription meal services, but keep coming back to this one. I usually order 1 box every 4-8 weeks.

You can choose from an assortment of meals each week. There’s a vegetarian option, seafood, pork, chicken and/or steak.

The 3 that I chose for this week were:

  • Chimichurri Steak with a Sweet Potato, Poblano, and Tomato Jumble
  • Balsamic Fig Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Mixed Greens
  • Shrimp Pasta with a Kick with Garlic Herb Butter and Zucchini
Here’s how it works:

Hello Fresh sends me a box of colorful recipe cards and perfectly portioned ingredients, allowing me to prepare a balanced, delicious meal for my family without having to spend the time planning and shopping as much as I normally would.

 

I love that someone else takes care of all the parts of dinner that I don’t enjoy – especially the DECIDING what to eat! With Hello Fresh, we make and try things we would have never made or tried before.

Here are some reasons why we like Hello Fresh:

#1 :

We get to cook together – spending time side-by-side!

The recipe guide has pictures and instructions that are step-by-step and easy enough for a child to follow. My sons feel great about being able to prepare a delicious meal for the entire family.

#2:

It’s an ADVENTURE!  

A cooking adventure of trying and preparing something new and discussing what we like about each meal, and what we want to cook again. We discover foods and recipes we would have never tried if it weren’t for Hello Fresh.

#3:

We all sit down to eat together!!

This is my favorite part of ordering from Hello Fresh. It’s a well-balanced meal that really encourages sitting down and eating together. Hot dogs and chicken nuggets don’t do that – I warm those up and hand them out.

Cooking these delicious Hello Fresh meals has us sitting down and enjoying a meal TOGETHER!!

Many of us know that everyone benefits when we sit down and eat meals as a family. 

5 Scientifically-Proven Benefits to

Eating Together as a Family:

  1. Family dinners mean better family relationships
  2. Eating together fosters happy, well-adjusted kids
  3. Eating together helps kids do better in school
  4. Eating together reduces stress
  5. Eating together provides better nutrition
Here’s the rundown about how we felt about each meal:

Chimichurri steak – My boys LOVE steak so this was a hit. I didn’t put the chimichurri sauce on their steak, but I loved it on mine. We all enjoyed the sweet potato medley too!

Balsamic Fig Chicken – Chicken is something we eat on a regular basis, so trying this new recipe was fun and it tasted great!

Shrimp Pasta with a Kick was DE-LICOUS!  Clark and I loved the meal, just as shown in the picture – pasta mixed with shrimp and zucchini. The other boys liked all their items separate, not touching. Ted, not much of a pasta eater – just ate the shrimp and zucchini. 

 

My version – not as pretty as the picture, but definitely tasty!

I order from Hello Fresh to add some variety. To save money, I order the smallest meal size and just add my own ingredients to make enough for 6. 

If you’d like to try Hello Fresh, I have a $40 discount for you. 

Click here for a $40 discount off your first order!

You do have to log on to Hello Fresh about once every 6-8 weeks to choose your meals or hit “skip.” If you don’t love it, just cancel! It’s easy!

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

Would you like some ideas about what to talk about with your kids? Here’s a game we play at dinner called: Would You Rather?

Click here to read My Struggle with Housekeeping!

Here’s my unpacking of a Hello Fresh box:

6 In Minnesota/ Review/ Things to do in Minnesota

Minnesota Must-Haves

My last post included some suggestions to keep you smilin’ all winter. Here are the things to buy to keep you warm all winter!

1. Hand and foot warmers

If you are going to be outside for more than 30 minutes, hand and foot warmers are amazing! You stick them in your gloves or boots and they keep you warm for hours.

2. Waterproof Boots made specifically for polar temps

I’ve had Croc snow boots for 5 years and they’ve been great…until I moved to Minnesota. The bitter cold soaked right in. I knew I needed to upgrade. I asked around and people recommend Sorel, Land’s End, or Columbia boots. I tried on 6 different types of Sorels, and they are WARM, but not comfortable on my feet. I purchased the Columbia boots pictured above because they are super warm AND comfortable.

3. Cozy cabin and/or Smart Wool socks

Good socks are vitally imporant! My two favorites are Cozy Cabin and Smart wool – both are soft and warm.

4. Moisture wicking Base Layer/Long underwear

Layers help keep me warm in frigid temps.

5. A fur-lined trapper hat

This hat was a game changer for me. Keeping my head warm makes winter bearable. The Yukon Tracks Alaskan Taslan Fur Hat is what my boys wear. Size Large fits me (pictured above) and my older boys. Size medium fits my 4 and 7 year old sons. They are less than $30 and worth every penny.

I can’t tell you how important it is to keep your head warm. It makes all the difference.

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6. A high quality coat

I’ve had this North Face coat for more than 5 years and I absolutely love it. I probably wear it nine months out of every year – and even a few nights in the summer. It’s super light-weight, soft and warm.

One of the best things about the coat is how I received it…

I got this coat on my HUSBAND’S BIRTHDAY…as a gift FROM him to ME! Ted knows about much I don’t like to be cold and wanted me to have a really good, really warm coat. He decided that instead of receiving any gifts for himself one year, he would get me this coat. Isn’t that amazing?

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7. Scarf/face mask

Beards are a must have for men in the winter, but since that’s not an option for me, I like this neck/face wrap! 

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8. Vitamin D multi-vitamin

The days are short and the nights are long…so you may benefit from a Vitamin D boost during the winter!

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9. Indoor games

I LOVE that my boys are old enough to play real games. I can still do simple games with Luke (like memory). But Paul, Clark and George can play so many more. We like Guess Who, Uno, Skipbo, Pie Face (Luke plays this one too), Rummikub, Monopoly, and Chess.

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10. Outdoor gear

Ice skates, sled, snowshoes – You’ve got to have some items to ENJOY the winter. It might be as simple as purchasing a $5 sled the next time your at the grocery store, or perhaps you invest in ice skates, skis or snowshoes. I found used skates for my boys on the Facebook marketplace and Play It Again Sports. I’d love to own some snow shoes — especially now that the snow is 2-3 feet high.

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11. Warm Gloves

You basically need every square inch of your skin covered if you are going to thrive in a Minnesota winter. It’s not easy, or cheap, but it’s worth it! Be sure to have WATER Proof gloves, bonus if they’re rated for 20 below!

Because winter is starting to wind down, now is the time to look for winter gear for next year! Everything you need should be on sale right now!

What do YOU consider a Minnesota Must have? Leave a comment!

If you are interested in reading about how I learned to NOT HATE WINTER, CLICK HERE!

Some of my suggestions are affiliate links.

1 In Raising boys/ Review

10 Best Gifts for Boys ages 10 and under

 


1. Racing Motorcycles

We’ve had this toy for about 8 years and it still gets used on a regular basis. No batteries are required, and it brings joy to boys and girls of all ages. You ‘rev up’ or crank the motorcycles, push a button and they race. My boys like to choose a color and see which will win. This toy works on carpet, hardwood and tile floors. It’s small enough to take with you to the park or to their grandparent’s house.

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2. Nerf Gun and extra bullets

Do boys ever outgrow nerf guns? All the men in my house love them. I recommend including extra bullets and protective eye gear.

A larger gun with extra bullets, click here.

Protective face mask, click here.

Protective eyewear:

Exta bullets:

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3. Rocket Balloons

This is an entertaining toy for all ages. The set comes with 100 long balloons and a pumper. You or your kids can blow up the balloons and watch them fly around the room and do tricks. Great for cold days when you are stuck inside. Again, NO batteries required and the balloons can be re-used once or twice.

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4. New Running Shoes or a Sports Jersey

Do your kids go through shoes as fast as mine? And if they don’t need shoes this Christmas, you can’t go wrong with a jersey from their favorite team!

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5. Megablocks for littles (1-5) or Legos for bigs (6-12)

A classic toy!

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6. Play-doh

A fun activity for all ages.

My nine-year-old builds bunkers for his army guys, while my 6-year-old creates letters to spell his name. This is an ideal activity to pull out if you are trying to get your boys to LISTEN to a chapter book. Otherwise, they will be wrestling on the floor and only hear every fifth word.

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7. RC Car

My boys, young and old, love their remote control cars.

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8. A ball – soccer/Kickball/football

You can never go wrong with ANY type of ball for a boy.

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9. Plasma Car

This bike gets used more than any other in our home. Great for ages 1-12.

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10. Ride on Car

Great for ages 2-8. I avoided ride on toys for so long because I want my kids to RUN and burn energy. However, we were given one, and my boys have loved it, and so do all their friends.


For additional Christmas gift ideas, click here!

For the best INEXPENSIVE stocking stuffer ideas, click here!

For an amazing Christmas on a budget, click here!

The links above are Affiliate links. If you choose to purchase an item I’ve recommended, I will earn a small commision at no extra cost to you.

0 In Making money/ Motherhood/ Moving/ Peek into our Week/ Review/ Things to do in Colorado

Six Tips for a Successful Garage Sale  

1. Gather stuff to sell!

  • Keep a bin/box in each level (or closet) of your house. Add items in the bin the minute you want to get rid of it.
  • Go through your storage area(s) – what haven’t you used that you can get rid of?
  • Go through your drawers and closets – what haven’t you worn that you can sell?
  • Go through bookshelves in your house – pull out any books you or your kids no longer read.
  • You can also ask friends to help by giving you stuff they want to get rid of, allowing you to sell those items.

 

2. Gather supplies!

  • Ask neighbors if you can borrow card tables.
  • Get change – lots of ones, fives and quarters
  • Buy price stickers and signs (Dollar Tree!)
  • Buy a fanny pack or some sort of wallet you can keep ATTACHED to you.
  • Buy lemonade, water bottles, pop and snacks for shoppers – my kids love to sell these and do really well with it.

 

3. Advertise!

  • Put an ad in garagesalefinder.com
  • Put an ad on craigslist
  • If it’s a neighborhood sale, let the coordinator know that you are participating so they include your house on the map.

 

4. Price your items!

  • PLEASE sell your items CHEAP! Remember, you want to GET RID OF EVERYTHING! It doesn’t matter if you paid $60 for those boots, list them for $5.

 

How to price clothes to SELL :

Take a piece of printer paper, and write/type:

  • Buy 1 item, pay $2
  • Buy 3 items, pay $5
  • Buy 10 items, pay $10

Leave several of these “pricing sheets” around your clothes!

This forces people to look through your stuff and BUY MORE so they can SAVE more – which means you will SELL MORE and MAKE MORE MONEY!

How to Price Books:

  • One book 25cents, 10 books for $1!

My kids have their own little table and love to sell drinks and snacks to hungry, thirsty, or just plain KIND customers!

How to price Snacks and drinks:

  •  50cents each

Optional last day – mark everything down by 50%. I LOVE it when I go to a sale and the owner says “Everything’s half price!” I always find stuff to buy!

Optional last hour – everything is 25 cents!!!

 

5: Prepare!

I leave cars parked outside my garage a few nights before the sale so I can start setting up.

The night before or morning of the sale, I go place “GARAGE SALE” signs out – pointing people the way to my house.

The Crazy Garage Sale Lady!

Morning of sale –  prepare your “FANNY PACK” that you WEAR ALL DAY!

  • lots of ones/fives/quarters
  • extra price stickers
  • a sharpie
  • your phone

Set most of your stuff out on your driveway so people who are driving by can SEE IT! The more they can see at first glance, the more they will want to stop and shop.

Start early – I was outside working at 6am for any early birds that wanted to stop by. The sale started at 8.

 

6. Negotiate and SELL!

If people ask if you will take $5 for an item you are selling for $10…always works with them. Remember – YOU WANT TO SELL EVERYTHING! You DON’T want to pack it up and donate it. And please, DO NOT bring it back inside your house!

 

Extra tips:

  • My neighborhood has a ONE DAY sale. I did this last year, and the day was fairly busy, but it’s hard to justify doing all this work for a ONE DAY SALE. This year I decided to open on Thursday, Friday and SATURDAY!
  • I didn’t do a LOT of pricing until the night before and morning of the sale. I DID have the price sheets written out that I mentioned earlier.
  • The morning of the sale (starting at 6 AM), I priced items as I set them on tables or placed them along my driveway.
  • OfferUp – Are you familiar with this app? I love it. It’s free to use and you can sell your stuff in three easy steps. Take a pic, describe your item, price it. I had several items from my garage sale listed on the app. When someone sent me a message about something they wanted, I told them I was having a garage sale, gave them my address and asked them to come by. Every person that came to pick up their item, bought even MORE items from my sale!

Thursday I had customers start arriving at 8 AM and slowed down by noon. I closed about 12:30 so I could do some things with my boys.

On Friday, customers starting arriving at 8 AM and slowed down by noon again. I closed at 12:30.

On Saturday, customers started arriving by 7 AM. This was my busiest day because the entire neighborhood had a sale. But again, it slowed way down after noon so I just started pricing everything WAY down. If someone picked something up, I’d say – “Take it for a quarter!”

Overall, it was a fairly successful sale. I made over $200 and the boys made almost $75 in snack and drink sales!!! Clark is always the rockstar salesperson. He stays and sells from the beginning til the very end.

With a few things that didn’t sell – I did three things.

1 – Packed a box for goodwill.

2 – Packed a box for a friend that could use some boy clothes.

3 – Packed the rest and gave to a friend who is having a sale NEXT weekend to raise money for a trip she wants to take!

 

Are there any tips YOU would suggest for a successful sale? Leave me a comment!

 

 

5 In Colorado Springs/ Family/ Making money/ Motherhood/ My Journey/ Product Recommendations/ Review

Stitch Fix vs Sister Fix Disclaimer: Sister is HORRIFIED

Two of my friends were wearing the cutest outfits recently and I asked where they shopped. “Stitch Fix!” They both responded.

I decided to check this thing out.

I have four boys and shopping for clothes is not an easy or enjoyable thing for me – Stitch Fix is what I needed. No shopping required!

I got my first box of clothes and it felt like Christmas. I posted about it here.

A few months later I asked my sister if she would shop for me. I wanted to know how a “sister fix” would compare to a “stitch fix.” My sister enjoys shopping, knows my style, and I like that she knows how to find a bargain. She agreed to do it.

Below are my “Sister Fix” outfits that cost about the same as a box from Stitch Fix.

SISTER FIX PROS:

  • Sister buys things on sale – I get more for my money.
  • She knows my style.
  • She shopped, took pictures of outfits and mailed everything to me.
  • I loved nearly everything she purchased. I couple of items did not fit or didn’t look as good on me as they did on the hanger.

STITCH FIX PROS:

  • They ask lots of questions to understand your style.
  • They mail everything to you.
  • I spend NO time shopping or returning items.
  • I can try things on right in my own home and pair them with things I already own.
  • The box is fun to receive – it’s like Christmas morning.
  • They include a picture/style card of exactly how to wear each item.
  • They include an envelope to ship anything you want back at no additional cost.
  • If you refer people, you earn money towards free clothes!
  • $15 dollar credit towards your first FIX: http://stitchfix.com/referral/14898853 if you use that code to save yourself money and try Stitch Fix, I’ll earn money too!

SISTER FIX CONS:

  • Sister spent a lot of time picking out clothes for me – not convenient for her.
  • She took pictures, boxed and shipped everything – more of her time.
  • I had to go and return everything I didn’t like – my time doing stuff I don’t enjoy.
  • She sent me pictures of how to ‘style’ the items she sent, but I accidentally deleted it before the clothes arrived. (She resent them later!)

STITCH FIX CONS:

  • Items can be pricier than what I’d normally spend. I’m a TJ Maxx, Target and thrift store shopper!
  • I’ve heard it takes 2-3 shipments before they really start to understand what you want and like.
  • I only kept 1 item from my first “fix” – because I didn’t love the other items, and they were more than what I wanted to spend

Have you tried Stitch Fix yet? If you’d like to try it, click here for $15 off your first fix! 

Below is the video of me trying everything on.

DISCLAIMER: My sister was partially horrified and partially cracking up when she watched this video below. She does not want her name attached to it! 

She said I did NOT follow her advice in how to WeAR/Style the items she sent! We LAUGHED together about this – we are so different. She is a perfectionist when it comes to STYLE, and I did not LAYER and STYLE the items correctly. Sorry Sis! I need you to come and “style” me … I guess sending me clothes is not the answer – you actually need to come to Colorado and show me HOW to wear my clothes!

Anyway … the pictures above show the styling, the video shows the individual pieces and the fit!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! What should I keep? What should I never wear again!

 

2 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Food/ Free stuff/ Review/ Things to do in Colorado

7 reasons to LOVE Modern Market

We LOVE Modern Market and here are seven reasons why!

1 – Sunday and Monday you can buy one adult meal, and get one kid’s meal free!

Their kid’s meals are awesome – my boys love their grilled chicken and vegetables. (How can I say no to that?)

2 – With the Modern Market app I have on my phone, I earn points towards free food at every visit!
https://www.thelevelup.com/c/HWGVEF0MBC

3 – If you save your receipt and present it at your next visit (within seven days), you will get 10% off your order!

4 – The food is delicious and HEALTHY (farm to table)!

5 – $2 glasses of wine

6 – Free meal for your birthday!

7 – The more you spend, the bigger your bonuses get!

Visit Modern Market soon – but first download this app$3 off your first order just for signing up! And the rewards keep adding up after that!
https://www.thelevelup.com/c/HWGVEF0MBC

SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss future posts on how to save a little $!

Do you have a Modern Market near you? What do you like to order?

 

0 In Review

Starting a blog – how to do it yourself!

Have you been thinking about starting a blog?

It’s something I considered for years but stopped because I thought:

  • What am I going to write about?
  • Does there need to be ONE more voice out there?
  • Does anyone really care what I have to say?

Finally, I just decided to put a LAUNCH DATE on the calendar (September 1, 2017) and go for it.

Something that inspired me to move forward was that Crystal Payne of MoneyMakingMom.com offered an inexpensive on-line course that held my hand as I walked through the process of how to create a blog!

If you are interested in learning how to start your own blog but aren’t super tech-y (like ME!), the courses I’d recommend are:

5 days to a successful Blog Launch 

and

 Blog Start Up 101

If you want to take just one class – go with BLOG START UP 101 – it has the most information and will be extremely valuable in teaching you how to launch your blog!

I’m currently taking a 3rd online class called WordPress 101! I’ve had so much fun learning how to do new things that I thought I’d never be able to do.

I hope these courses benefit you like they have me! Let me know if you already have a blog or when you start one – leave me a comment so I can check it out!