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Friday, November 20, 2020

White Turkey Serving Platter for the Holidays Reviewed

One of the first gifts my husband's grandmother gave me, was a large white turkey platter. At the time, I had no idea what a treasure this one serving tray would become to our family. It is now a part of our holiday tradition.

Thirty-five years ago, my mother hosted Thanksgiving in her home and we all gathered at my grandmother's home for Christmas. Both women cooked a lot for the holidays, but my mother always cooked the turkey for both celebrations. Clearly, I didn't have a need for the large turkey platter when I first received it, but I still loved having it.

Over the years, responsibilities have shifted as needed. Mom & I prepare the holiday food together, but we moved the cooking to my home for convenience when my children were younger. The hosting house of the day of the actual meal varies and is determined by the number in attendance or convenience. I don't remember exactly when it happened, but baking the turkey became my primary responsibility when cooking for the holidays, and that large turkey platter became a necessity.

Since my Christmas china platters are not large enough for a turkey, I use the large white turkey platter at Christmas too. Because it is white, it is the perfect compliment for my Christmas china.

HIC Turkey Oversized Serving PlatterCheck Price

White Turkey Platter

There are several beautifully colored turkey platters, but I prefer my white turkey platter. It coordinates with almost any china and looks pretty in any room regardless of the table settings or wall colors.

The embossed (raised) fruit pattern around the edge adds a touch of elegance to Mr. Turkey and is perfect for the holiday season.

The porcelain platter on the right, which is similar to my platter, is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe, which makes using it a lot more pleasurable.

It is 17½" wide, large enough for a a whole turkey if desired. We usually slice our turkey before serving.

Friday, November 13, 2020

The Lady and the Mountain Man (The Mountain Series Book 1) Reviewed

This book took me by surprise!

Because of the title, I was concerned that "The Lady and the Mountain Man" would be too juvenile to hold my attention. However, since Misty M. Beller is a best selling author, and I liked the Montana setting, I thought I would at least start reading it. After all, I could set the book aside if it didn't appeal to me. As it turns out, the opening first few paragraphs caught my attention quickly and the story line kept me interested.

This book reminded me not to judge a book by it's title. There have been times when a title grabbed my attention, only for the book to be a disappointment. Even though I love the cover, this book's title didn't appeal to me, but I really enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it as a clean and wholesome romance for anyone.

The Lady and the Mountain Man
(The Mountain Series Book 1- 1874)

The Lady and the Mountain Man
(The Mountain Series Book 1)Before his death, Leah's father had entered into an arranged marriage contract with Simon Talbert on behalf of his only daughter. The wedding was to take place in only 6 days. As an only heir, Leah would become a very wealthy woman when she obtained the age of 23, in less than a year.

When Leah Townsend overhears her fiance admit to killing his first wife and prepared to do the same to her to gain her inheritance, she knows she must flee Richmond, Virginia. Unfortunately, she had no idea where she could go and be safe.

Leah's friend, companion and former governess, Emily, hatched what seemed like the perfect plan for Leah. She would go to St. Louis, Missouri, and stay with a family that Emily knew there. It seemed like an ideal plan until Leah happened to discover that she was followed to St. Louis by Simon's brother. She had to come up with a new plan, and fast!

Leah decided to answer a newspaper ad from a gentleman in Montana who was seeking a wife. It was a long way away, and something no one in Richmond would expect. Plus, she would not be easy to follow. She immediately sent a telegram to the wife-seeking man in Montana, secured passage on a boat, and left St. Louis.

Leah was not prepared for the wilds of Montana or the subsequent events that placed her in some very difficult circumstances causing her to depend solely on God's provision.

My Conclusion

"The Lady and the Mountain Man" was an easy read and one that I really enjoyed. I read it rather quickly and hated for it to end. Fortunately for me, when I checked the following morning, I found the Mountain series has 12 books. I immediately downloaded the 2nd book to my Kindle.

If you enjoy romantic historical Christian fiction too, I know you will enjoy this wonderful book.

The Mountain Series: Books 1 - 3: The Mountain Series Box SetCheck Price The Lady and the Mountain Promise (The Mountain series Book 4)Check Price The Lady and the Mountain Call (The Mountain series) (Volume 5)Check Price This Treacherous Journey (The Mountain series Book 6)Check Price This Wilderness Journey (The Mountain series Book 7)Check Price

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Friday, November 6, 2020

How to Lose Weight While Playing Video Games on the Kindle Fire

I have been shocked by how much weight I have lost while playing video games when exercising. Previously, I found exercising to be boring and I simply couldn't force myself to stick with it. That was before I discovered video games on my Kindle Fire!

How It All Began for Me ........

Several years ago, one of our fellow contributors, Susan Deppner, helped me select a new Kindle Fire. Susan had lots of experience with the various electronic readers and I trusted her to know exactly what I needed.

I loved my Kindle Paperwhite, but I wanted a Kindle with color pictures for cookbooks and children's books. We all know images are the first impression of either of those kinds of books and are often the determining factor in which ones we purchase. After all, I'm not likely to even try a recipe without seeing a photo that looks delicious.

I remember laughing when Susan said a Kindle Fire with 32 GB would be more than enough, unless I played a lot of video games. I laughed because, at the time, I didn't play video games. The only video games I had ever encountered required a specific console & controllers connected to the television.

Fast forward 4 years and you will find me playing video games on my Kindle Fire every day.

How Video Games Helped Me Lose Weight

It has been said many times that video game players pack on the pounds while playing video games. That is simply not true for me! I play my video games on my Kindle Fire while I exercise.

I've never liked exercising. Frankly, in the past, I considered it boring and most often a waste of time since I couldn't force myself to stick with something so mind-numbing. When my daughter shared how someone she knew had lost a lot of weight on an exercise bike, I thought that very impressive, but lamented that I could not exercise an hour per day.

Time and experience has proven me wrong on that opinion too.

Fast forward 32 weeks and I am happy to say that I have worked up to exercising an hour per day, 5 days a week, on my recumbent exercise bike. I don't find that exercise boring because I play my video games while pedaling. I have lost 30 lbs. in 32 weeks without giving up my favorite food!

Favorite Video Games I Play on My Kindle Fire

My first encounter with a video game on my Kindle Fire, was a hidden object game. I quickly advanced to Candy Crush. From there, I discovered lots of games I love to play! Perhaps an hour a day is not enough.

These are some of my favorite free game apps that I have downloaded to my Kindle Fire. If you are already an experienced gamer, I recommend starting at the bottom of the list to discover new games you might enjoy.

Simply talking to my husband or son, you would find out quickly that everyone has a different taste or preference in game choice. That is totally okay! There is something for everyone in the Amazon Game Apps that can be downloaded to the Kindle Fire.

For me, I have always chosen the free game apps. They all have options to purchase specialty items, tokens, gems or whatever the game requires to continue playing or advance faster. That is not necessary. Most of the time, I simply switch to a different game and play until my "lives" are restored on my current favored game.

Start Your Exercise With Video Games Routine Today!

ProForm 235 CSX Recumbent BikeCheck Price Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1Check Price Mystery Manor: hidden objectsCheck Price Cooking Diary®: Best Tasty Restaurant & Cafe GameCheck Price

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. You should consult your physician before starting this or any exercise program to determine what is best for your needs.

Friday, October 30, 2020

Fall Leaves Placemats & Tablerunners Reviewed

Like many of our Contributors, I love the fall and the beautiful colors of nature. The yellow, gold, orange, and red leaves falling all around are simply stunning.

With the fall, we welcome cooler weather which tends to keep us indoors more and looking out the windows at the beautiful landscape. That makes me want to bring some of the beautiful leaves inside, which I have certainly done in the past.

Several years ago, I was doing a bit of early Christmas shopping when I spotted the gorgeous fall leaves cutwork placemats. There were only two left, but that was fine for my kitchen table, which only seats two.

We removed our large kitchen table decades ago and replaced it with a couch & chair. Not only does that provide comfortable seating in the kitchen, but it forces us to use the dining room, which was previously only used for holidays.

The fall leaves cutwork placemats are perfect for my husband and myself at our smaller kitchen table. Plus, they provide really beautiful fall decor in the center of our kitchen.

Fall Leaves Placemats

Forest Blanket with Poly-Suede Cutwork - 16 inch placmats (Set of 4)Check PriceMy fall leaves placemats are made of a faux suede material. The cutwork design gives them a nostalgic look that appeals to us. Our table is wood, a gift from my grandmother's home. The wood table provides the perfect background for the fall leaves placemats.

When our daughter visited last fall, she commented on how pretty these placemats are on the table. Normally, we all have very different decor preferences. Apparently, these fall leaves placemats appeal to a variety of decor tastes.

The current fall leaves placemats that are available are slightly different from mine in colors. That is common with fabric due to different runs or fabric selection. It could also be due to a different manufacturer. Photography lighting can also affect an image. Regardless, they are still stunning!

If you stop by my article about my grandmother, you will see the table in it's original place in her home. That photo was taken on Christmas over 30 years ago.

Fall Leaves Tablerunner

Owenie Fall Leaves Table Runners,Thanksgiving Centerpieces for Tables, 13Inch x 34Inch Embroidered Maple Leaf table decor for Harvest, Autumn Farmhouse Decorations for Home Settings, Machine Washable.Check PriceOur kitchen opens up to our dining room where we have the large dining room table that seats 8-12 easily. Recently, I came across a fall leaves tablerunner that compliments my placemats. That ties the decor in the two rooms together nicely.

The tablerunner is not an exact match, but that is not really noticeable unless you place them side by side. That doesn't matter to us since they are used on different tables. Plus, there is something naturally eclectic about them not matching, just as hundreds of leaves don't match when blanketing the yard.

If you were going to use the table runners and the placemats on the same table, I would recommend buying the exact same pattern all at the same time.

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Friday, October 23, 2020

Forever By Your Side by Tracie Peterson Book Review

As soon as I saw this book available, I requested a copy. Tracie Peterson is one of my all-time favorite Christian fiction authors. I always love her books.

I didn't realize this was the third book in the series, Willamette Brides, but that was not a problem. I had already read the first two books, so I was familiar with the characters and the background story for the book.

A reader would probably enjoy this book without reading the first two in the series, but I'm not sure it would mean as much to them. Knowing the complete backstory, what brought us to this point in time on the Indian reservation, fills in what might otherwise be blanks in the book. I do recommend reading the first two books first, but you will definitely want to read the resolutions in "Forever By Your Side".

Synopsis of Forever By Your Side

Forever by Your Side
(Willamette Brides)Constance Browning is thrilled when she is hired to catalogue the history of the American Indians on the Oregon reservation, her own childhood home. Constance's parents are still missionaries there and she is excited to return after years away at school.

Tom Lowell, Connie's best friend, is the second half of the team hired to record the historical facts. Together, they travel from the East Coast to the Oregon reservation. Once there, they are welcomed to stay with Connie's parents instead of other government accommodations. This is an optimum arrangement for Connie & Tom since they also hope to find out who is supplying the Indians with whiskey and guns. It has been rumored that her parents are behind the shipments and are organizing an upraising.

Connie is certain her parents are not involved in anything that would put the Indians in danger. She knows their hearts and their mission to help the people they love. Unfortunately, her opinion doesn't matter when there is evidence that her father is part of the operation.

Since Connie knows some of the Indians, she & Tom plan to use their research as a cover for inquiring about a potential upraising. They are stunned by some old friends who now consider Connie's family the enemy.

Connie is equally surprised by the government agent, Clint Singleton, on the reservation who now expresses a romantic interest in her. She had a childhood crush on him years before and he had totally dismissed her then. She has to ask herself, is she still in love with Clint?

All the changes are confusing, but Connie is determined to prove her parents are innocent. With the evidence against her father, that won't be easy to do.

My Recommendation

As I stated in my introduction, while this could be a stand-alone book, I believe the entire series should be read in order. Connie's cousins, their marriages, and most especially one husband's murder, are important to understanding the entire Willamette Brides story plot and the resolutions in this book.

Personally, I was glad to finally know the true identity of Mr. Smith and the reasons behind his actions.

The previous books in the series, Secrets of My Heart and The Way of Love are wonderful books, full of love, mystery and an excellent story that carried through the series. I highly recommend the Willamette Brides series by Tracie Peterson, especially now that we have Forever By Your Side that provides the answers and resolutions.

Secrets of My Heart (Willamette Brides Book #1)Check Price The Way of Love
(Willamette Brides #2)Check Price Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3)Check Price

I received an advance copy of "Forever by Your Side" to review from NetGalley. I would like to express my appreciation to Netgalley, the author, Tracie Peterson, and the publisher, Bethany House, for this opportunity.

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Friday, October 16, 2020

Halloween Videos for Kids

Not all Halloween videos are scary. I have previously reviewed several Halloween videos for kids. These movies are fun and entertaining without being horrifying. After all, we don't want our children frightened or having nightmares.

When my own children were young, we enjoyed watching Halloween movies together. Actually, I still enjoy watching movies with them and sometimes we even watch the animated cartoon videos they loved during their childhood years.

When our daughter got married, we even had a special video night with her new husband just so she could introduce him to her most beloved childhood videos. That was a fun night for all of us!

Beloved Halloween Videos for Kids

Of course, everyone loves Charlie Brown in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. That would be the first video I would recommend for a Halloween family video night. No matter how old we get, or how old the video gets, it is still entertaining.

Because I love Winnie the Pooh, one of my favorite Halloween videos is Pooh's Heffalump Halloween. Until this video, I had never paid much attention to Heffalump. Now, I love that purple elephant! This is a very fun and entertaining Halloween video that the whole family can enjoy.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss has been popular for my entire life. Children of all ages love that cat in the red and white top hat. However, they may not realize he knows a lot about Halloween and a lot of other things. Not only is this video fun and entertaining, it is also educational. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about Halloween is only one of the many episodes in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That delightful series. This episode is available separately for Halloween viewing.

Lumpkin the Pumpkin is a lesser known Halloween video. It's a cute video about a young witch who has no desire to be scary or cruel. She teams up with Lumpkin, a pumpkin, to help teach safety tips on Halloween. It is a cute and entertaining way to make children more aware of the possible dangers when trick or treating.

You Can Read The Full Reviews Here:

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Movie Review Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie Review for Children The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween Movie Review Lumpkin the Pumpkin Video Movie Review

This year for Halloween, why not gather your whole family around to watch a fun and entertaining Halloween video, or perhaps several!

Here are a few more Halloween videos for kids that have not been previously reviewed, but would no doubt be quite entertaining & fun.

Curious George: Halloween Double FeatureCheck Price If You Give a Mouse a PumpkinCheck Price Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!Check Price Arthur and the Haunted Tree HouseCheck Price

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Friday, October 9, 2020

A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter Reviewed

A Defense of Honor has a very unique plot. That fact alone drew me to this book. Plus, I had never read a book by Kristi Ann Hunter and I love finding new authors (new to me).

Normally, I review books that I can highly recommend to anyone. A Defense of Honor delves into some very unpleasant realistic attitudes, especially during the time period of the book's setting of London in 1816. Therefore, I would only recommend this book to someone who doesn't mind examining the dirty underbelly of society, as well as their own hearts and minds.

As I read the book, I found myself questioning several things, which is most unusual when reading a Christian fiction.

Synopsis of A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book1)

Kit FitzGilbert is "The Governess". She is hated by London society, even though her true identity is concealed. Her self-appointed job is to ensure that illegitimate children are financially supported by their wealthy fathers. She and her friends also protect the mothers and allow them a way to re-enter society without the child or society being any the wiser.

A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book #1)Kit, Daphne & Jess provide a home for the children which is supported by the funds that Kit extracts from their fathers.

Haven Manor is a large secluded estate that is overseen by a local solicitor, Nash Banfield. The owner has no desire to live there, so Nash allows the women and children to live in the manor. This arrangement benefits all parties because the women take care of the upkeep of the manor, the children have a home away from public awareness or scorn, and the owner's property maintains it's value.

It all works quite well for twelve years. Then, Kit meets Graham, the Viscount Wharton, who is heir to the earldom of Grableton, at a ball she was not invited to attend. When they go their separate ways, he doesn't even know her full name, but he is haunted by the memory of the beautiful woman in the green gown.

When Graham accidentally finds Kit at Haven Manor while searching for a friend's sister, he is thrilled to once again have an opportunity to get to know her. However, even though he now knows where she lives, he has no idea who she really is. In fact, until recently, he had never even heard of The Governess.

Their relationship is tested multiple times as he discovers more about her, the children, and the household. It is highly unlikely that a friendship between the two can continue.

My Opinion the Book "A Defense of Honor"

Even though this is a Christian fiction, it challenged me. The reading was not difficult, but some of the judgemental attitudes of the characters were hard for me to embrace. I don't really understand being able to totally write-off someone you love and dismiss them completely from your life.

After reading certain chapters, I would stop and think about them. Question if I knew someone who had done anything like that. I wondered if the attitudes and actions were very "real-life". As I delved into my own memories, I found that I have known individuals who, in fact, walk away from family members and friends. They seemingly never look back, yet leave broken hearts and pain that can take years to overcome, if ever.

There was another point of opinion I found difficult. The main character, Kit, was judged harshly for the means she used to ensure illegitimate children were financially supported by their biological fathers. I'm not sure I see the great "sin" in her methods, even though I certainly see the danger.

Plus, the ending bothered me. I can't go into detail about that without ruining the book for you, but I would love to know how others feel about the plot's resolve. If you read the book, please come back and tell me what you thought.

A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book #1)Check Price A Return of Devotion (Haven Manor Book #2)Check Price A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor Book #3)Check Price

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Friday, October 2, 2020

Reviewing "MyPillow" Mattress Topper

I previously reviewed our MyPillow pillows, which we still love. Because the pillows were such a hit in our home, we also opted to buy the MyPillow mattress topper.

I wanted to wait a while to review the mattress topper. For me, it was as important, if not more important, than the pillows. Plus, it is a lot more expensive than pillows, therefore I wanted to make sure it was worthy of my recommendation. Now that we have been sleeping on the topper for 4 months, I believe I can give you a review based on experience, not just first impressions.

For me, a mattress topper is not just about making a bed more comfortable. It is about being able to sleep through the night without experiencing discomfort from being too soft or too hard. Both can result in pain. My days of sleeping on floors or on the ground, long ago passed.

Why I Need a Great Mattress Topper

I have mentioned in past articles that I was born with severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine). Because of the multiple curves in my spine, as well as having a pronounced raised hip on one side, I do experience pain, especially if I do not have good support when sleeping or sitting. My mattress matters a lot to me, as I think it does to everyone, whether they suffer with scoliosis or not. I'm not quick to embrace any kind of change. However, it was time for a new mattress on our bed.

When You Hear the Price of a New Mattress

My husband and I started shopping for a new mattress, only to discover many of the current mattresses are made of foam. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about that fact and started testing the mattresses with a great deal of apprehension. In spite of feeling like we were on display in the store, we tried several mattresses. There was only one that would suit my needs. When the salesman, unapologetically, quoted an astronomical price that exceeded $15,000, I walked. No, perhaps you could say I ran from the store. I was not about to spend that kind of money on a mattress that may or may not feel great for 8 hours each night, for years to come. I thought our mattress was looking a whole lot better and clearly had at least 15 more good years. In the car, my husband was saying he would do whatever I needed regardless of price. My mind was saying, $15,000 for a mattress? I paid less than that for my first automobile!

When we got home, I promptly went online and ordered a Memory Foam mattress topper. The Memory Foam Topper price in 2017 was $116.00, clearly significantly less than $15,000. I had to wait several days after we received it to put it on the bed. It smelled awful! It took a while for it to air out enough to be able to sleep on it, but I felt this was a good compromise.

The MyPillow Mattress Topper

After sleeping on our MyPillow pillows for a month, I decided to try the MyPillow Mattress Topper too. My Memory Foam mattress topper was now 3 years old. My husband described its condition as having to sleep in craters. Okay, so it had clear recesses. I guess it's "memory" of our body impressions was just a little too good, but I was still not in the mood to spend an automobile price on a new mattress and the Memory Foam mattresses were no longer available. So, we bought the MyPillow mattress topper.

MyPillow Three-inch Mattress Bed Topper (King)Check Price

The first week was a real adjustment for me. It was harder than the Memory Foam, but I was definitely sleeping through the night and waking up pain-free. After a month, all was still well and I no longer thought it was too firm. After 4 months, I can say, with certainty, that this mattress topper is the right choice.

Benefits of the MyPillow Mattress Topper

Available in 7 sizes
3" Thick (requires deep pocket sheets to cover existing mattress & topper together)
Includes a Removable Zippered Cover made of Phase Change Material (body temperature regulated) which is Machine Wash & Dry
4 Corner Straps that Holds Topper in Place
10 Year Warranty
Made in the U.S.A.

Upon receipt, it is necessary to let the mattress topper lay out for a day to regain it's full shape after being wrapped for shipping. The faint odor will also disappear quickly.

Three-inch Mattress Bed Topper - by MyPillow (King)Check Price Three-inch Mattress Bed Topper - by MyPillow (Full)Check Price Three-inch Mattress Bed Topper - by MyPillow (Twin)Check Price