Sweet Southern Hearts - Book Review

One of my favorite things to do is read. I am a bit obsessed with it. I stay up way too late reading but I enjoy it so much! I was so thrilled to get a #Wintervention box of books from BookSparks to review as part of their Winter Reading Challenge. 

I decided to read Sweet Southern Hearts by Susan Schild first. It is the third book in the Willow Hill Series which follows the story of Linny Avery. I had not read the first two books so I wasn't sure what to expect or if I'd be able to follow along. I had no issues at all and easily fell into the story.

This book begins with Linny on her honeymoon with her 3rd husband Jack. Her happily ever after quickly brings all sorts of unexpected events. Jack's ex-wife can't seem to get her life sorted out and their son Neal comes to live with Linny and Jack. Linny also goes on an RV adventure with her mom and friends and they get into all sorts of shenanigans. I think that was my favorite part in the book. The ladies were such characters. I don't want to spoil any more of the book so I'll just say it was an enjoyable read. I liked that it showed the different relationships between siblings, spouses, children, and friends. 

My box also had two other books so I will be reviewing those on here in the next couple weeks. Happy Reading! 

My #Wintervention box!

* I received this book for free from BookSparks to review as part of their Winter Reading Challenge. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own. 

Emerald Brand Bath & Facial Tissue via Shoplet

Emerald Brand offers environmentally friendly disposable products for your home and office. Some of their products include bath & facial tissue, cups & lids, cutlery, plates, and garbage bags. 

Emerald Tree-Free Facial Tissue is BPA free, chlorine free, USDA biopreferred, compostable, and biodegradable. The tissues are made from bagasse, bamboo, and eucalyptus. 

I found the facial tissue to be strong but a lot rougher compared to what I normally use. It held up well to a good nose blowing but after a few uses my skin could definitely feel the difference. I think I'd have a raw nose after a day or so of constant use during a cold. 

The Emerald Tree-Free Bath Tissue is chlorine free, BPA free, USDA certified biopreferred, and renewable. It is also made from bagasse, bamoboo, and eucalyptus. 

The bath tissue is safe for septic systems.

I actually found the bath tissue to be a bit softer than the facial tissue. It is thinner though. I am used to a much thicker bath tissue. It is a large roll but I feel like I need almost double my normal amount. 

I do like the idea that these two products are environmentally friendly but I'm not sure I'd trade in my regular products for them for our home. I could see these being at places where people are coming and going frequently. 

Shoplet is the #1 e-tailer of business and office supplies. They also carry cleaning supplies, medical supplies, and office furniture. 

You can find Shoplet by visiting them on their social media sites I've listed below. Be sure to check them out!


Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/Shoplet

Twitter @Shoplet  https://twitter.com/shoplet

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/shoplet/

Blog  http://blog.shoplet.com/

Youtube  https://www.youtube.com/user/Shoplet

Instagram  https://instagram.com/shoplet/

* I received a sample of the bath and facial tissue for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own. 

At-a-Glance Vienna Weekly/Monthly Appointment Book

I love the colors in this At-a-Glance Vienna Weekly/Monthly Appointment Book from Shoplet! Purple is one of my favorites. I can't believe 2017 will be here within a month! I've already started filling in our appointments, field trip outings, and other stuff in this planner.

It is 8 1/2" x 11" and has plenty of room to write down everything you need all in one book and stay organized. It's printed on high-quality, recycled paper containing post-consumer recycled material.

I really like that it lists so many holidays in it. Many calendars and planners these days omit a lot of them. This book also includes day light savings time, full moons, many Canadian and Mexican holidays, and also several religious holidays of all faiths.

At-a-Glance offers several types of calendars, planners, and appointment books. Be sure to take a look to find the right style for your home or office.

Shoplet is the #1 e-tailer of business and office supplies. They also carry cleaning supplies, medical supplies, and office furniture.

You can find Shoplet by visiting them on their social media sites I've listed below. Be sure to check them out!


Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/Shoplet

Twitter @Shoplet  https://twitter.com/shoplet

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/shoplet/

Blog  http://blog.shoplet.com/

Youtube  https://www.youtube.com/user/Shoplet

Instagram  https://instagram.com/shoplet/


* I received this planner for free to review. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.

Thinkfun Brick By Brick

We are huge fans of Thinkfun games. They are fun, educational, and great for the whole family. Brick By Brick is a creative building game. It comes with 5 puzzle pieces and 60 challenge cards. 

Challenge 7 

I figured it out! 

The solution is on the back in case you need help.

Brick By Brick is a single player game. The suggested age range is 8 to adult. It also comes with a Game-Go Bag so you can take it anywhere. 

Game-Go Bag

We're having fun working our way through the challenges. Games like this are great because you can just sit them out and when you have a moment just try a challenge or two. 

Thinkfun has lots of games so be sure to visit their site to learn more about them. You can find Brick By Brick on Amazon.

* I received this game for free for this review. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.

Nourishing Meals - Book Review

Nourishing Meals gives you 365 recipes that will have your whole family eating healthier in no time. They are all whole foods based and Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Soy-Free dishes. This book is huge with over 500 pages. It will take me some time to get through it all. I've skimmed through it a few times and am slowly working my way from the beginning. I've already marked a few recipes though.

I really like the fact that so many of the recipes are for a larger family. That makes me happy! I know it's not a big deal to double a recipe but it's nice when you don't have to. I do wish the pictures were right next to the recipes though. This book has them all together in a section in the middle of the book. Not really that big of a deal since this book is pretty awesome otherwise.

We don't have any food allergies in our family thank goodness but I am trying to get us more into whole foods eating most of the time. We're a work in progress.This book really has it all and I feel like it's doable. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking to eat healthier.

Nourishing Meals  facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/nourishingmeals

Nourishing Meals on Twitter - https://twitter.com/nourishingmeals



* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.

Bristle Dartboard

We've been having a great time with this GameRoomGo Bristle Dartboard Set. The dartboard is made with quality bristle and classic look. It is very sturdy and actually weighs a bit over 9 lbs.

6 darts included, 3 USA & 3 England

It's been really nice the last several days so the boys have actually been taking it outside to play. We don't leave it outside though. Once it gets too cold we will hang it up in the house or garage. The darts stick easily into the board. Nothing has split or cracked. It's really a fun game for the whole family.

You can find this Bristle Dartboard on Amazon. It'd make for a great Christmas gift for someone - even yourself. :)

* I received this item free for this review. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.

Shape Logic by ThinkFun

We love games from ThinkFun! They make so many fun games that really give your brain a good workout.

Shape Logic is a single player game for ages 8 to adult. It has 20 puzzle pieces, 10 blue & 10 green. They are made of a hard plastic material. It comes with 50 challenge cards with solutions. These are held together with a little ring so they stay in order. It also includes a Game-Go Bag so you can keep everything together and take it anywhere easily.

Puzzle pieces. The green looks a bit yellow in this photo.They do look green in real life.

The goal of the game is to combine the blue and green pieces to create two identical shapes. Each of the 50 challenge cards shows you which pieces to use. There are five levels in the challenge cards which range from beginner to genius. 

Challenge card

Solution card

We've really enjoyed single play and also working together figuring these challenges out. Some in the family can quickly figure certain ones out while others take a bit longer. That is what is so great about this style of game though. You can do it at your own pace or if you have two working together they see things differently so it works out. We are still working our way through the challenges so will enjoy getting the cobwebs out of our brains. Well, mostly my brain.   :)

Shape Logic comes with a Game-Go Bag so you can take it anywhere.

You can find Shape Logic on Amazon. Be sure to check out the ThinkFun website too for all their other fun games.

* I received this game for free for this review. No other compensation was received. Opinions are my own.