Bookshelf Monday :: 30

What an interesting looking chair. I doesn't look very comfortable though, which is very high on my list of reading chairs. It must be cushy and be able to adjust to all my various positions of hanging legs over the edges to tucking both legs in. This chair looks like it'd be painful to do any of that even though it would be interesting to look at. Who else would have fun deciding which book you would be on which level and which slot? Anyone?

image courtesy of: Timorous Beasties

Book & DVD Review: Heaven is for Real DVD-Based Conversation Set

Title: Heaven is for Real DVD-Based Conversation Kit
Author: Todd Burpo
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Source: Received from Booksneeze

Description from Thomas Nelson:

The best-selling book about heaven that has changed the world is now a DVD-based conversation kit for churches and small groups. In addition to learning more about what the Bible teaches about heaven, groups will hear first-hand from the Burpo family about Colton's experience in heaven and the way it has changed their lives. Each video session features Todd, Sonja, and Colton, and is filmed interview-style with Natalie Tysdal, the Denver FOX/CW News reporter whose initial interview with the family has gone viral on the internet.

The Conversation Guide (ISBN 9781418550684) will take group members through key Bible passages about heaven, helping them understand more about who goes to heaven, when they go there, and what heaven is like.

Features include:

• 5 (10- to 18-minute) video sessions featuring Todd, Sonja, and Colton answering frequently asked questions about heaven and their experiences
• A special message of hope from Sonja to women who have experienced miscarriages
• Conversation Guide written for both believers and non-believers in accessible language to help group members discover what the Bible teaches about heaven

Review:

My husband and I really enjoyed reading Heaven is for Real last summer. We have since shared it with as many people as we can in hopes that more people will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When the opportunity to review the DVD-Based Conversation set came up through Booksneeze, we were so excited to do this study with our small group. However, we were very disappointed with the study.

We had high hopes going into this study, but it felt very disconnected. We had a hard time understanding the order of each of the videos. We couldn't figure out how it was organized.

The video segments were somewhat awkward to watch because the questions seemed very forced upon Colton and his answers sounded like he's rehearsed them over and over again, especially since his visit to Heaven was when he was three and he is now ten years old. The line of questioning was very uncomfortable to watch because it felt like the interviewer was asking leading questions and Colton struggled to answer the questions.

The best part of the study was listening to Todd Burpo speak. He made the stories real and I appreciated his honesty and vulnerability.

There was a lot of potential for a very enriching study to come from this book to bring up rich discussions, but it greatly disappointed. As a bible study group, most of us was hoping for a better DVD series. The book is such an amazing book and in this case, the DVD study did not live up to book.

Rating:

2 out of 5 stars

Blog Tour & Review: The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine

Title: The Money Saving Mom's Budget (audiobook)
Author: Crystal Paine
Publisher: Oasis Audio (February 2012)

Source: Received from publisher via LitFuse Publicity Group

Buy audiobook: here

About the Book:
Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels

With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” TIPS, plus WORKSHEETS, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:

• Achieve a complete financial makeover

• Set up a realistic budget

• Never pay retail

• Slash your grocery bill

• Organize your time & your home

• Use coupons wisely

• Pay with cash only

• Live simply

• Become debt free

• Choose contentment

• Make every dollar count

Review:
It is hard to admit, but several years ago, I found myself buried underneath consumer debt without any real plans on how to get out. I was very much into retail therapy, especially when my boyfriend at the time (who is now my amazing husband) was away for two years in the Peace Corps. It was my way of coping with loneliness. Unfortunately, it led to a lot of bad habits with the ways I spent money. It wasn't until we were engaged and talking about merging our money together that I had to come face-to-face with the consequences of my poor financial habits.

I think there are many young adults that start their adult lives without much teaching on financial planning. I did not stick to a budget until my husband and I came up with one. My parents were sporadic with giving my siblings and I allowances between money was tight, so I never really had a cash flow until I was in college and taking out loan after loan to pay for school. I was lured into the temptation of credit cards and never really found my out until my husband and I made a debt snowball repayment plan. I wish someone along the way had taught me how to manage my money wisely and how to be a faithful steward with what God has given me. I wish that I had spent my twenties saving more instead of spending every penny (and more) of what little I earned. I wish I had read/listened to something like "The Money Saving Mom's Budget" many years ago!

Luckily, my husband and I have taken a financial course at our church called The Rock Financial Life (actually a few times now) and I am happy to report that the basic principles of "give, save, live on the rest" are very much embedded and central to way we run our family financially. We have successfully paid off all our of consumer debt, are chipping away at our student loans and saving to buy a home. We praise God that we are trying out best to be good stewards from the very beginning of our marriage and that we are starting our financial life together as man and wife on the right foot.

"The Money Saving Mom's Budget" was a great reminder on all the principles that we've learned before. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking to be more financial saavy. Paine was easy to listen to and gave lots of different ideas for ways women could better manage their money. The worksheets would be helpful starting points for newbies. I especially liked the chapter on coupons because that is a new area that I have been wanting to get more into.

What I didn't like about the audiobook was that it felt like topics jumped around a lot. I have only listened to less than a dozen audiobooks in recent years and I think I would have liked this audiobook better as a printed book because I wanted to make sense of the various tips that she was giving out. I found myself wanting to take notes to remember all the little tips. This might just be because I am not a very good auditory learner. I also wish there were more Biblical references because the Bible says SO much about money. It would nice to tie some of the principles into

Overall, I hope that all women, especially moms, will take the time and effort to become more financially literate. Paine's audiobook is a great way to be a better steward of all that God has blessed you with.

Rating:

4 stars

About the Author:

Crystal Paine is a wife and homeschooling mom to three young children who has been writing on topics related to frugality for the last five years—and living a frugal, simple, and debt-free life since she was born. Her blog, MoneySavingMom.com, is one of the top personal finance blogs on the web averaging over four million pageviews per month. Crystal has contributed to articles in Woman's Day magazine and All You magazine, as well as being mentioned on National Public Radio and CNN.com, in USA Weekend, and Real Simple magazine and numerous other local newspapers and radio and television stations. www.moneysavingmom.com.

"What I love about the audio edition of The Money Saving Mom'®s Budget is that I can listen to it on the go - on my run, in the car, or while I'm folding laundry. AND ... I love that it comes with the downloadable workshets. I am able to work through those while listeing to Crystal speak. So helpful. Perfect for my busy schedule." --Anne, blogger (and reformed budget breaker!)

Check out her videos here.



Celebrate with Crystal by entering her iPad2 Giveaway (a GREAT tool to keep track of your budget!) and RSVPing to the Live Webcast Event on 4/5!



One savvy winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPad2
• The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Cyrstal Paine, audio edition

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/4/12. Winner will be announced at The Money Saving Mom's Live Webcast Event on 4/5. Crystal will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll share tips and advicde and her husband will be joining her to share how the prinicples Crystal outlines in her book have dramatically impacted their family life. She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of The Money Saving Mom®'s Budget and join Crystal and friends on the evening of April 5th for an evening of fun of learning, sharing and encouragement.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Want more info about the MSM?
Click here!

Please check out the other stops on the blog tour! Special thanks to Litfuse for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

Blog Tour & Review: By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

Title: By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (March 2012)

Source: Received from publisher via LitFuse Publicity Group

Buy book: here

About the Book:
Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change.

Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?

Video trailer:


Review:
I was obsessed with the movie Titanic when it came out over a decade ago. And when I say obsessed, I really mean OBSESSED. I saw the movie in the theater 3 times. I made a binder of photos I printed out from the Internet of Leonardo DiCaprio. I bought posters and plastered one of my walls of my childhood bedroom with Titanic photos. I bought and listened to on repeat, Celine Dion's album, over and over again. It was one of the first times that I was really into a love story as a teenager (other than Gone with the Wind) and I was truly obsessed with it! I am trying to convince my husband that he needs to watch Titanic again in 3D with me. (I'm still working on it...)

That being said, I was eager to read By the Light of the Silvery Moon because it takes place on the Titanic. Historical Christian fiction + Titanic?! I was sold! I knew going into it that I would have very high expectations going into this book. I am happy to say that it did NOT disappoint. It grabbed me from the first few pages and I couldn't put it down. It is a wonderfully written historical fiction novel with lots of romance embedded within the Biblical story of the prodigal son.

I really don't want to say too much because it would be so easy to spoil so many little treats Goyer leaves you to discover throughout the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed the love triangle between Amelia, Quentin and his brother, Damien. There were many unexpected twists that kept me guessing all the way to the very end. Goyer's extensive research is especially evident in the cameo appearances, especially by John Astor and Margaret Brown. Goyer's words captivated and enchanted me from the first page and kept me going back for more. I very highly recommend this book to all those who are looking for very satisfying, beautifully told story about the tragic sinking of the Titanic.

Rating:

4 stars

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired (http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired) and www.triciagoyer.com.

Win an Flip HD Camcorder during @TriciaGoyer's Unsinkable Titanic Giveaway and RSVP for 4/10 Titanic Party!

Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.

One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

• Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)
• Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}
• Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)
• And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon!

So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Please check out the other stops on the blog tour! Special thanks to Litfuse for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

Bookshelf Monday :: 29

This is one of the most unique reading nooks I've ever seen. I think it's very elegant and a great use of closet space - every side is filled with shelves from top to bottom. 

image courtesy of: El vuelo de las mantarrayas