The Never Open Desert Diner by James Anderson

GREAT READ

Ben Jones, is an independent truck driver along Highway 117. It is a very lonely highway that is well known to Ben as he travels it daily.  He loves his job and his customers who are very clever and interesting characters. I personally found the birthday incident one of my favorite parts of the book. He meets Claire who has taken refuge in a house in the area with her cello. From the moment he sees her he is taken with her. But she is running from something, and that will put them both in danger. I am not going to delve any deeper into the plot of this novel as I hate spoilers. 

This is James Andersons first novel and I found it very interesting. It was not one of those books that I just couldn't put down. But I enjoyed picking it up and reading whenever I had time. This book was written in a very straightforward easy to understand lingo that I loved. 

I will definitely add this book to my shelves. It is a book I will enjoy reading again. You can find a copy on Amazon. I received this novel complimentary for my honest and unbiased review and all opinions are my own.

CLIGANIC INSECT REPELLENT BAND

Just in time for Summer

I have been needing to review this product for a few weeks but we had not seen any mosquitos until yesterday. I sent my 6-year-old out to play and he came in with mosquitos bites. So I broke out the Cliganic Insect Repellent Bands. 

These are 100% Natural, Safe and Deet Free, made of a special blend of non-toxic natural essential plant oils: Geraniol Oil, Lemongrass Oil, and Citronella Oil. 

One size fits all, these are really stretchy and I was able to wear them as well as my child. 

These offer 250 hours of protection. When we were done playing outside I simply put them back in their foil pouches and sealed them back up.

These are not intended for children under the age of 3. Maybe because children that age like to put things in their mouth. 

These repellent bands are waterproof so you can wear them to parks, water parks, beaches, camping, hiking. Anywhere you think you might be attacked by those pesky insects. 

Cliganic offers you a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Risk Free. If you are not happy with the product they will replace it or refund your money. Win, win

This is my child and this is the way he dresses most always unless we are going somewhere. He only ever puts clothes on because I make him, haha. However, around the house he is fine. He was in the backyard and came to me because he was itchy and something kept biting him. So, I got the Cliganic Insect Repellent Bands out and placed one on him. These come in all different colors to appease the pickiest child or adult. 

Of course, he could not leave it alone because he is a boy and he has to pick at everything. But I managed to keep it on him for about 3 hours while he was outdoors. He had no more mosquito bites when he came in. 

With all of the mosquito born diseases out there, we need something to help protect our children. Yes, there are products on the market that can help us achieve that. But do you ever get tired of re-applying products on your child? Does your child have allergies? My child does so I have to be very cautious when it comes to these types of products. 

So in ending, I have to say that we love these and will be using them all Summer. 

With all the mosquito-borne diseases that are around today. I feel great about my child being protected.

These are Non-Toxic and Kid Safe. Wear them around your wrist or ankle. The scent associated with these smell like citronella. The scent is noticeable but not very strong. If you guys would like to check out the product, you can find them on Amazon.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

LITTLE MAN IS A FIRST GRADER

I just had to share this picture. My little man has graduated from kindergarten and I could not be prouder. We have come a long way and I love him so much. Isn't he just the sweetest thing and he has the most awesome personality on his good days. Yes, he has bad days like the rest of us but raising this baby has been totally worth it. After losing my son I swore I would never love another child. I did not want to experience the heartache again. But God put this little man in my life for a reason. Even though we have had some bad times. The good times make it all worth while.

Nini loves you little man and I will always be here for you. You are my life and my love. "Congratulations" and lets do it again next year.

MiYang Women's Backless Floral Spa Beach Dress Swimwear

This is the first time I have ever ordered a swimsuit online, ever. I saw this one and thought it was adorable and I had to have it. I needed a swimsuit that was cute as well as it had to cover my stomach. The blue peacock print is what attracted me to this suit, as well as the design. I do not think it matters what size you are if you own one of these suits. They are a great suit to add to your closet.

I am normally very cautious when I buy a swimsuit because honestly there are some out there that are just cheaply made and fall apart very easily. They also have a tendency to fade when used in chlorinated pools and while in the wash. I did not experience this with MiYang's suit at all. This suit is machine washable but I prefer to hand wash. I think we all know not to use a dryer when it comes to drying our suits. So I hung it out to dry. But not in the sun. Never dry your suit in the sun. That will fade most all fabrics. I experienced no fading after swimming in our community pool several times. Nor did it fade when I washed and dried it.

This suit is made very well. It is 82% Nylon, 18% Elasten, 80% Nylon and 20% Terylen. I am not sure why the material is listed as it is. I assume that it is talking about different parts of the suit.
The swimsuit feels like a second skin while it is on, yet it breathes. It is very comfortable and I have had numerous compliments on it while at the pool. The girls all want to know where I purchased this suit so I have given them the link. You will find that link at the bottom of my review here.

The chest area is padded so please be aware of that when you are choosing your size. However, there is a small place where you can take the padding out that I just noticed, ha. I seriously do not know how I missed that when I put it on. The straps are adjustable so that you can make it less revealing if you so desire.

Please note: These suits run a bit small so it is very important to know your size. This seller is awesome and if you message them they should be able to help you with that.

This suit is excellent for anyone who loves a fashionable, cute suit for the beach, pool or pool party. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. If you would like to purchase one for yourself or if you just want to check them out please follow the link below. Have an awesome day and a fantastic Summer.


MIYANG WOMEN'S BACKLESS FLORAL SPA BEACH DRESS SWIMWEAR

KUWAN LED DESK LAMP

KUWAN LED Desk Lamp

I have been needing a lamp for my desk and I was able to try this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When I first opened the package I was surprised at the size and the way it was packaged. My thought "Well, this is cool." The cord is very short so I was wondering how I would charge it with the USB port as my hard drive is on the floor. I moved the hard drive to the desk top and then discovered the plug, haha. You can charge the lamp with the USB port or in a wall outlet. It is very important to charge this product for at least 6 hours before use. I immediately plugged it in and let it charge.

I fell asleep that night so it actually received more than a 6 hour charge.

I have been using this lamp for the last several days and I love it. The wattage is 5 watts and emits enough light so that you can see effectively with a  cool brightness. I was amazed that this was 5 watts because it seems like more.  There is a slight indentation on the base of the lamp that allows you to turn it on and off. It does not take very much pressure to turn it off at all.

This lamp stands about 15 inches high when the neck is straight up. The neck is bendable so you can adjust it to fit your needs. This was a huge plus for me as I like to control the lighting at my desk.

In ending I have to say this lamp has been a great help to me and it works great. It is very lightweight and allows me to transfer it to where I need it without worrying about cords getting in the way.

Specifications: Mix power: 5w
Color: pure white
Style: modern and portable
Material: high quality ABS plastic
Light temperature: 5500-6500k
Battery Input: 3.7v/700 mAh
Brightness range: 2-200 LUX(30cm distance)
Power Source: built-in battery charges with USB charging cord(included)
Free adjustable: 360 degrees and up and down adjustment
Product Dimension: base approx 14X12.5cm head approx 12.5x 7.5cm high approx 43cm

Features:
Stepless Brightness Adjustment: the adjustment of the brightness is smooth, no preset brightness limit.
Long Lasting Battery: last 3+ hours in brightest and 12 hours in dimmer after charging full.
Eye Protection & Eco-friendly: with Non-toxic silicon material, it is suitable for kids, adults, and senior.
360 Degree Rotation: gooseneck adjustment, so you can bend the lamp to your particular need.

Package includes:
1x LED Table Lamp
1x USB Cord
1x User Manual(English)

"HOPE UNFOLDING" Becky Thompson

 I get it, Momma. I totally get it.
 Every day you wake up and try your very best. You love, give, and pour out your life for the ones who call you Momma. But no matter how much you offer, there are still days you feel as though you come up short. You worry, Am I loving these babies enough? Is this ever going to get easier? Why does it seem like I am the only one who cannot balance it all?

WOW, I have never connected with a book like I did this one. I did not want to put it down. I spent every second mesmerized with her experiences and her reflections.
I was raised in church for the first few years of my life. I do not remember a lot of those years as I was so young. But they instilled in me a belief in God and faith. I married very young and had babies very young. I was not prepared to have children. Kids should not have kids, period.

Now my babies are all grown up and I am raising my grandson. I have been in his life since the day he was born. My daughter lived with me off and on and then I got custody of him when he was three.
Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water and this book is exactly what I needed. It is so hard doing it a second time around. You do not want to make the mistakes you made when you were younger and raising babies. Sometimes you do not know who to turn to. Sometimes your friends can not be there for you. So who do you turn to? Who can you depend on to help lighten your load?

The author talks about her own experiences and explains through scripture how God loves us and how he wants us to turn it all over to him. To depend on him entirely. This books gives mothers hope that the hard times are only fleeting moments in our lives and that there are great things in store for us. At the end of each chapter there are questions a prayer and a statement. There are also a few lines so that you can write whatever you want down. I opted to save this part of the book for my second read. Yes, I am going to read it again.

This book is beautifully written and packaged. I loved hearing of her life experiences with her children and how she overcame the hardships. I think my favorite part of the entire book was the IHOP  experience. Can you imagine that happening to you? I do not think that has ever happened to me but I have a lot of other similar stories. Once I got started I did not want it to end. I did not want to put it down. But being a mother, you have to fold the page over to fix the little one some lunch. Or to fold the laundry. I was soon able to get back to the book after the chaos that is my life calmed down.

In ending, this book is a great inspiration to all mothers. Whether they are first time mommies or experienced. This book is also great for us grandmothers. I enjoyed this book so much and think it would make an excellent gift to anyone with children or grandchildren. Sometimes us grandparents need inspiration to.

I had forgotten how brave I was going to be. Or how firm I would be concerning what was best for my baby and my family, whatever society's judgmental opinions might be. But you know, right there in the middle of IHOP, society didn't seem like some distant hypothetical group. Society seemed like the folks in the next booth eating French toast and getting their coffee refilled.


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:

MODELING CLAY AND PLAYDOUGH RECIPES

AIR HARDENING MODELING CLAY

2 cups baking soda
1 cup cornstarch
1.5 cups cold water
(makes about 2 pounds - the recipe can be halved).

Baking soda and cornstarch make a smooth, pliable play clay that can be colored with everyday food coloring - or left white and painted once it hardens. When you have made your model, leave it to air dry - turning every 12 hours or so.

Place ingredients in a pan and stir until smooth. Set the pan over a medium heat and stir until boiling. Stir out any lumps and cook until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Turn out onto a plate and cover with a damp, well-wrung kitchen towel - let cool. Dust a work surface with cornstarch and knead until pliable.

BAKING CLAY

4 cups plain/all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 teaspoon powdered alum (optional)
1.5 cups water

Mix ingredients in a bowl.

This clay bakes best if the ornaments are not too thick - about 1/2 inch is best.

Bake your ornaments on an ungreased baking tray for 30 minutes then turn and bake them for another 90 minutes until they are hard and dry (keep an eye on them so they don't burn). You need a low oven temperature - about 250 degrees F or 120 degrees C. When they are cool you can smooth them with fine sandpaper before decorating and varnishing.

NO COOK PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

2 cups of plain/all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 cup cold water
1 tbsp oil (vegetable oil is fine - baby oil smells lovely).

Drop the ingredients into a plastic bag and seal. Let the children knead them together inside the bag - then tip it out for modeling fun.

HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH

2 cups plain all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 cups of water

Put all dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add water, oil and color. cook slowly and stir all the time. As it gets hot it will begin to thicken up. Knead on a floured surface.

Alternatively, microwave on high for up to 6 minutes. Remove frequently and stir. Knead on a floured surface.

TAKEN FROM http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/how-to-make-clay.html

SLIME

2 cups cornstarch

1 cup warm water

food coloring

Stir the cornstarch into the warm water, a little at a time until all of the starch has been added. The reason for using warm water instead of room temperature water is because this makes it easier to mix the slime without getting any clumps. You can add a little more starch if you want a thicker slime. Add a small amount of water if you want a runnier slime. Also, the consistency of the slime is affected by temperature. Warm slime will flow more readily than cool or refrigerated slime.

Add food coloring to achieve the desired color.