Parenting Wild Things Winner

Thanks to all who came out to support the Parenting Wild Things book, and to Jessica for sharing her words of wisdom with the world!

The winner of the free copy is....

Shannan :)

Congratulations! Message me with the email address you'd like me to send it to, and I will get it to you right away.

Wanted to read it but didn't win? Don't fret, you can hop on over here and get yourself a copy for the cost of one of those big Frappucinos from Starbucks. (It goes down just as smoothly, and it won't hurt your waistline)

And stay tuned for another cool giveaway in the semi-near future ;-)



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Parenting Wild Things: Surviving the Rumpus

A few things you need to know about my friend Jessica of Bohemian Bowmans:

1. She is real. She writes with absolutely no pretense. Her words are always a refreshingly honest portrayal of the messy, the noisy, the joyful ups and downs that come with parenting four children. Her writing style is casual, friendly, and never leaves a doubt that what you are reading is 100% authentic.

2. She is funny. I have trouble relating to people who aren't at least a little bit funny. Jessica made me laugh from day one, and has a healthy appreciation for sarcasm. I knew we'd get along after that first night that I discovered her blog (and could not stop reading)

3. She is me, ten years ago. We're not the exact same mothers (because no two people ever are) but we both embarked on the same parenting and unschooling journey, armed with the same goal: to keep our wits about us as we strive for a closer, more peaceful, more harmonious relationship with our kids. She's at the same place I was when I was her age, which is exactly what makes her writings so refreshing and relatable - especially to new and/or younger parents. She's not just writing about it.... she's living it.

In her new ebook (which I read in its entirety instead of cleaning the kitchen :)), Parenting Wild Things, she combines her raw, honest, and at times self-deprecating humor into a beautiful little tome based on her own journey to more mindful, gentle, and grace-filled parenting. It gives real and practical advice that anyone can start implementing right now... not in a preachy way, but in a girlfriends sitting around chatting over a cup of coffee way.

It's filled with powerful analogies ("children are aliens, not criminals"), personal experience, and nuggets of wisdom. She's even included cute Wild Thing photos for those of us who need pictures in our books. It's a must-read for any parent, particularly those who are wanting to move from a traditional, authoritarian mindset to one of partnership and mutual respect.

You can pick up your copy here (it's only $5!) and you can also go join the fun on Facebook.

Want to win a free copy? You know the drill!

1. Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win.

2. Share the link to this post on Facebook.

3. Share the link to this post on Twitter.

4. Like the Parenting Wild Things Facebook page.

Leave a comment letting me know which of the above you have done. Winner will be drawn at random on Friday, July 29th.

Thanks to Jessica and all four of her Wild Things!



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Book Review: The Heart Mender, by Andy Andrews

The Heart Mender's inception was purely an accident. Author Andy Andrews stumbled upon a buried treasure next to his home on the Gulf Coast: an old, metal can containing Nazi artifacts from World War II. In his research and his quest to discover their origins, he ended up unearthing an amazing and touching story.

This book shares with us his discovery, then takes us back to 1942 to bring it all to life. Helen is a young American widow who lost her husband to World War II. Josef is a German sailor, wounded and left for dead on the beach. Still broken and grieving over the loss of her husband, and bitterly angry about the role the Nazis played in his death, she is at first tempted to leave the young sailor alone to die. She ultimately decides to come to his aid, and the story that follows is one of intrigue, heartbreak and forgiveness.

I'm not normally attracted to historical fiction, but this one won me over. I truly loved this book. The characters were so likable and relatable that they could have been friends of mine. The dialogue was crisp, real, and funny. The suspenseful pacing was excellent, revealing just enough at a time to make you keep reading, and it made it impossible to put the book down. The central theme of forgiveness was woven throughout the entire story, and it was illustrated in a powerful way. An added bonus? Some truly fascinating history about World War II that I'd never heard anywhere else.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, like to be inspired, or just love a really great story... read it.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review - Lies the Government Told You

Lies The Government Told You, by Andrew P. Napolitano

"If we fear our own government, if we accept its deceptions, its lies to us, if we take no action to redress them, our freedoms are doomed." - Andrew Napolitano

Part history lesson, part cautionary tale, "Lies the Government Told You," gives an honest and extremely unflinching look into the various ways we have been, and continue to be, lied to by the government. Using his vast knowledge and experience as a Superior Court Judge, Andrew Napolitano takes the reader through 17 specific lies, and shows us again and again how our freedoms are being assaulted by the very people we trust to protect them.

This book is an eye-opening must-read for anyone who is interested in learning the truth, no matter what your political affiliation. I was apprehensive to read it at first, as I didn't want to read a book that would disparage any one political party. My fear was unfounded. Democrat, Republican, and everything in between were all fair game for Napolitano and his no-holds-barred look at everyone from Lincoln to Obama. It in turns taught me and terrified me, but more than anything else it angered me.

It should be noted that this is not a light-hearted beach read. It is heavy on facts, court cases, and dates, so readers who tend to get bogged down with details may have difficulty with certain sections. Otherwise, it is an engaging and interesting book, one that should be read by every concerned American, particularly those that are not content with just sitting back and doing and believing as they are told.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”