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Friday, September 21, 2018

Animal Shaped Memo Clip Holder Note Pad Dispenser Organizer Review

I am always writing little notes and reminders for myself, as well as for my family. These little notes help me tremendously to stay on schedule. They also serve as reminders to take out the trash or refill a prescription, or other mundane chores I would rather forget. I rely heavily on them everyday. Sometimes I even write myself a little reminder about an upcoming holiday so I can remember when offices and stores are closed. That helps me avoid being annoyed if I try to reach someone on business only to get an answering machine. Needless to say, my laptop is often decorated with colorful post-its.

Until recently, I didn't have a great place to leave a note for a family member, or for something that was unrelated to my computer work. Seemed like my little notes ended up on the floor or covered by other "stuff" rendering them useless.

That was all before I bought my rabbit memo clip holder!

My Rabbit Memo Clip & Note Pad Holder

To say I love animals, would be an understatement. I have rabbits, mice, squirrels, bears and even a giraffe included in my home decor surroundings.   They are beautifully displayed on pillows, afghans, magnets, and more. Plus, I have cookie jars and teapots in the shape of animals. Not to mention my beloved plush animals that decorate my craft room and our bedroom.

One day I was browsing Amazon, searching for shaped post-its when I spied a rabbit shaped clip holder. Yes, I had to have that memo clip holder!

Now, my pretty blue rabbit chomps down on my daily reminders, receipts, or even my outgoing mail. She keeps those slips of paper and envelopes front and center on my kitchen counter. Therefore, the notes are no longer "lost" under other things or blowing to the floor unnoticed. My blue rabbit has become my most useful home office helper.

She also features a cut out space that is the perfect size for a pad of post-its. She came with a blue note pad, but once they were all gone, I replaced them with a pad of post-its. She can hold a post-it as well as any slip of paper. I simply use post-its more often, but someone else might well prefer the less expensive note pad replacements.

In addition to the blue rabbit style that I selected, there is also a dinosaur, a giraffe, a donkey, a elephant and a hippo available. I have to sit on my hands to keep from buying them all. I think they are all adorable, but I really only have a place for one and I have a special affinity for rabbits. Sadly, the rabbit is no longer available. However, you might prefer the other animal shaped memo holder(s) shown below.

Monkey Business Morris The Donkey: Desktop Memo Holder |Cute Desk Accessories & Office Supplies | Funny Desk Decor & Office Accessories |Desk Supplies: Holders & Dispensers | Sticky Note Holder, WhiteCheck Price rockcloud Natural Lapis Lazuli Crystal Owl Table Card Holder Heart Shaped Cute Animals Resin Table Number Holder for Wedding Home Office DecorationCheck Price Dinosaur Note Holder - Memo Dispenser Organizer, Funny Desk Accessories & Office Supplies, Pen and Note Storage (Green)Check Price

Thursday, September 20, 2018

The Ragged Edge of Night - Book Review

What Others Are Saying About This Book

Nazi Germany. 1942. A priest in search of redemption. A widow seeking provision for her fatherless children. A people desperate for relief—relief from oppression, from evil, from hopelessness. Olivia Hawker's new historical novel, The Ragged Edge of Night, is a revelation. To immerse ourselves into Anton and Elisabeth's war-torn lives is to see glimmers of unimaginable beauty beneath the desolation of loss, shame, failure, and fear.

As the story begins, Anton is still reeling from the abrupt end of his mission as a Franciscan friar. To be wrongly stripped of his life's calling has been painful, but even worse, he cannot forgive himself for being powerless to save the children who were in the church's care. When the Nazis loaded up Anton's students, he was overcome by an overwhelming sense of having committed the unforgivable sin. Though there was nothing Anton could have done to save the children's lives, the guilt is crushing.

While Anton wrestles with his demons, Elisabeth, a young mother of three who is still grieving over the unexpected death of her beloved husband, is in the midst of considering the hardest decision of her life: whether to remarry in order to provide for her family. Elisabeth feels great shame as she struggles to reconcile the feeling of being unfaithful to her first husband. If there was another option, she would gladly choose it. Alas, the harsh realities of wartime force Elisabeth to publish the following personal ad:

Good churchgoing woman, widowed, mother of three. In need of a humble, patient man, willing to be a father to my children. Interest in legitimate marriage only. I have no money, so those who think to profit need not reply.

In coming across Elisabeth's plea for help, Anton is immediately struck with a new sense of purpose. Though his first choice would be to eventually return to his Franciscan order, and while Anton remains true to his sacred vows, he feels that supporting Elisabeth and her children is the right thing to do. This opportunity has the potential to fulfill Anton's deep need to be useful, to find forgiveness, and to protect those who need it most (addressing his need for redemption due to the loss of the children snatched up by the Nazis who shut down Anton's school and religious order).

The soul of this book is revealed in the simplest, and yet loveliest of ways, as two faithful individuals remain true to their vows, their principles, their hearts, and all that defines a life worth living, and for which they are willing to die. When Anton's involvement in the resistance movement against Hitler brings danger into his new family's life, relationships will be tested, and the true nature of love will be revealed.

Based on the real life experience of one of the author's family members, The Ragged Edge of Night is a timely story that is sure to inspire every reader who is concerned about the extreme tensions that are being felt in today's world. This is a moment in history when every single one of us can take heart as we consider the difference an ordinary person like Anton can make in the lives of those who are hurting. I was deeply moved by this book and highly recommend it.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Halloween Costumes: Important Tips for Everyone's Safety

Kids everywhere are already discussing what they will dress up as for their favorite holiday, Halloween!

Let's review some important safety tips so our children/ grandchildren can continue to enjoy this holiday.

Even though the end of September is quickly coming, adults and kids alike are getting into the Halloween spirit. Everywhere you look there are dozens and dozens of costumes just trying to get your child's attention. At the end of October every neighborhood will have dozens of Superheroes, Doctors and Nurses, Witches and Werewolves prowling about.

These are my grandchildren, Miss BoPeep and her Sheep!

The excitement of all the Treats has most youngsters just chomping at the bit to get out on Halloween night.

Let's just take a minute to review some important safety tips to keep our children/grandchildren safe during their escapades.

1. Never ever let your children go out alone and unsupervised.

-team up with some neighborhood parents and share the role as supervisors. There are always some big kids that will take advantage or prey on younger children that are alone. Instead of having fun, they are robbed of their candy and may even suffer some physical injury.

2. Make sure their costumes allow them to walk without tripping, climb stairs without "face planting" on the next step and just see where they are going.

3. If they have chosen to be a witch, zombie, ax murderer or some other very dark creature, make sure that somewhere on their costume there is reflective tape or better yet, a bright flashlight that will illuminate them in the dark.

4. Rather than masks, try using makeup to augment their costume. If you slather them with cream before makeup application, it will be much easier to come off later. Makeup does not hinder their ability to see what's around them. Masks tend to slip, dip and drop and the children are more interested in keeping that mask in place, than looking at where they are going.

5. Keep the children off the roads. One accident is one too many. Check your route, and see that you do one side of the road and then cross to the other side. Cars and kids running amok are not a good combination.

6. Don't allow any treats to be consumed until they have been checked over. With food allergies and treats being tampered with, eating on the run is never a good idea.

7. Have fun and take some pictures along the way! They will make some great memories in the future.

If you are looking for a great flashlight for your children to use on Halloween night, I would suggest this one:

I like this flashlight because it can be used at Halloween, but it can be used at other times of the year too.
It is an Amazon Choice and has three light settings. It's a regular flashlight with a powerful beam, it's a reading light with a softer and wider light surface and (here's the reason I really like it) it has a powerful red flashing emergency light too! That would add just another facet to any Halloween costume out there.

We have three of these in our apartment and they really work well when there is a black out! So after Halloween, keep these flashlights in and around your home, so that if the power ever goes out, you are prepared.

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Ant-Man Costume Reviewed

Most Likely A Popular Halloween Costume This Year

Will these ants help Ant-Man? Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

I have a feeling that the Ant-man costume will be one that many children will want for Halloween this year. At least I will be surprised if I don't have a least a few show up at my door to trick or treat!

Our dear Cynthia reviewed the Ant-Man movie for us back in July. My husband and I just watched it this weekend. If you haven't seen it, you really do not know what you are missing. I wasn't so sure that I could get into the whole concept of a Super Hero being an ant. Ants are not even close to being on my favorite list. After reading her review, I decided that it might be a movie that I could enjoy and I knew my husband would like it because it is from Marvel. I have to tell you, this was probably my most favorite of the Super Hero movies from Marvel. It was action packed but it was also very funny! The ants (as much as I don't like 'em) were pretty incredible!

A little factoid: There about 1 million ants for every human in the world. (That is a lot of freakin' ants!)

Anyway, back to the costume. I do think the children who have seen the movie will want to be the Ant-Man for Halloween. He really is a pretty cool and easy to relate to. Above all things he is a very loving Dad.

So, the costume is relatively inexpensive as costumes go and it comes with everything a child would need to be his or her new favorite hero. There is a jumpsuit with attached boot tops, a belt and a mask. I was glad that it is just a mask because if it was an over the head helmet, I think some children would struggle with wearing it. As it is, they can have fun wearing it for Halloween and they can also play with it after they have gone from door to door.

Do you know a child who would enjoy dressing up as a Marvel Super Hero?

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Monday, September 17, 2018

Reviewing Forgotten Ellis Island

Forgotten Ellis Island.

I recently reviewed an interesting book that was set on Ellis Island in 1911. While reading that book I realized how little I knew about the early days of Ellis Island. Immediately after finishing the book, I looked for more factual information about immigration via Ellis Island in the early days. I found Forgotten Ellis Island based on multiple recommendations. And I'm here to recommend this documentary to you.

In the novel, A Fall of Marigolds, I learned about Nurse Clara and what her job entailed on Ellis Island. That brief visit piqued my interest. I wanted to know more about the doctors, nurses, and healthcare provided in those early days. In the days before antibiotics. While some immigrants arrived with diphtheria, cholera, trachoma, and other severe physical ailments.

Forgotten Ellis Island is a PBS documentary that shows us the inside of the abandoned medical buildings of Ellis Island. Did you know there are 3 islands that are a part of Ellis Island? I had not known that prior to reading this book and watching this documentary. In the documentary, we learn about the medical center being used as the first defense, and attempt, to stopping contagious diseases from spreading through the country. We hear about the treatments used - before medical knowledge grew and provided better treatments for diseases. Specifically for trachoma.

I enjoyed seeing the photos of the nurses, touring the inside of the buildings, and seeing the fashions during that time period. If you are interested in this time period, in "the great wave" of immigration, or in early medical care, A Fall of Marigolds and Forgotten Ellis Island is a wonderful combination that brings this time period alive.

There are many ways to view this video; television, streaming apps, or purchasing the DVD. I want to mention that I watched it for free via Amazon Prime. Also, I watched it on my Insignia Roku television. With all of these free and nearly-free shows and movies, I'm LOVING this tv!

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