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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

Posted by html404 on January 17, 2013
in Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Safety, Travel

Aside from my extreme excitement of being offered the opportunity to do a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport review – a brand new car – for a week (less than 5000 miles were on it when it arrived at our home), I love these things about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:

Love the push button start

Fast key entry system

Love the sporty look and color – Laguna Blue

Love the tilting feature of the headlights

Love the smooth ride

Better gas mileage than most SUVs

4WD/AWD came in handy when we had lots of ice

The interior light was located at the front between the two visors and not in the middle of the ceiling so I didn’t have to stretch back my arm, which I have to do when I drive my mother-in-law’s car

Panoramic sunroof!

My husband loved:

Nice, bright headlights, cool dial to adjust headlights (they moved down)

Running lights on the sunroof was a neat feature, didn’t offer much lighting just a cool affect

Satellite radio – I avoided it but my husband liked being able to listen to CNBC and buisness news in real time listen to the programs

Nice stereo system! Hidden CD Player…see video above

Heated front seats! I liked the back heat especially

This little car had a decent amount of trunk space considering its size. I was pleasantly surprised and was even able to transport 4 bags of horse feed, as well as 5 bags of chicken feed. Not all in one trip, though I probably could have, it just happened on two different shopping excursions.

Funny story about my first day driving the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport….I’ve been driving since I was basically 16 and know all about a gear shift, right? Well, the first time I drove the Mistubishi Outlander Sport I drove in second gear! In the picture above you’ll see how the gear shift is jagged rather than straight. It messed with my head royally. lol! I wasn’t even looking at the dashboard to see the P, D, R, N, 1 or 2. My daughter and I were wondering why on earth the car was so loud. Yes, I was completely oblivious that first day. I finally clued into the fact that I had the gear shift in second gear and laughed. Gave my husband a laugh too. Certainly a blonde moment.

Additional Specs for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Comes in six fancy colors: Quick Silver, Mercury Gray, White Pearl, Laguna Blue (my favorite), Rally Red and Labrador Black.
26 MPG average fuel economy. 24 MPG city. 29 MPG highway. $1350 savings in fuel costs over 5 years, compared to the average new vehicle. Or $270/year.
Has a 7/10 Fuel Economy & Greenhouse Gas Rating. Only a 5/10 Smog Rating.
It has an 4 star government safety rating.
It has a 60/40 split fold down back seat, with a very easy to push button.

A nice two cup console in front and back seats.

Rear camera for backing up, which my nine year old son loved making faces in and asking me if I could see him!

Large sunroof with running lights, very cool at night.
Heated sideview mirrors, which I completely missed using.
Handsfree link system with USB port, which I didn’t use this time around.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror, which is another feature I completely neglected to use!
Anti-theft alarm system, which actually went off on my son once!
Active Stability control

Plus a whole slew of options and features that will be listed here:
www.mitsubishicars.com

I loved driving this little car. That’s the thing, it is little for our family as it only seats five. We’d need two of them to seat all of us!

Editor’s note: I originally called this vehicle a hybrid. It is not. Chock it up to another blonde moment on my part.

I was loaned the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport car for a week with the agreement to feature of it on my blog, this post is done to fulfill that agreement. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Choices of the Heart

Posted by html404 on January 14, 2013
in Books, Reviews

Getting sick of my book reviews yet? Don’t worry I won’t be reading much more since spring is around the corner.

Choices of the Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes is the third book in The Midwives series. It appears to be about the second generation of Book One. Once again this is an author I am familiar with and have read the other two books in the series. See my review of Book One here and Book Two here.

In Choices of the Heart, Esther Cherrett, a midwife, a healer, runs from her past when personal scandal forces her to abandon all that she loves for the sake of her loved ones. The scandal not only separates her from her family but wreaks havoc with her self-belief and her relationship with God. You’ve heard the saying that hard times either draw you closer or put a distance between you and God. Well, it’s a matter of choices, thus part of the reason for the title of the book Choices of the Heart.

I loved how more details of Esther’s healing gift were shared in this book, if you remember in Book One I complained there were not enough midwifery details. Remember I was a former midwifery student….some day….maybe.

Esther possessed a lot of strength to leave everything that was familiar to her and to start anew in a foreign place without all the necessities she was use to with her privileged upbringing.

What I didn’t like about the book is the blame put on Esther, by herself and others. Perhaps it was a reflection on the time in which the book was set but still it didn’t set well with me. Inside I was screaming, “Don’t blame her/yourself!” You know how we all can belittle ourselves into almost nothing over silly mistakes or misjudgments? That’s exactly what happened to Esther.

The romance part wasn’t as predictable yet it was. It was a typical love triangle in which Esther had to choose. I was guessing for quite a while as to who she was going to choose and Esther was tempted again to run from her troubles.

The family feud aspect of the book had me guessing too. I was rather surprised at the culprit’s identity and results of the feud.

I really liked Choices of the Heart and give it two thumbs up.

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Pink Taffy Designs – Trendy Baby Apparel

Posted by 278Wife on January 13, 2013
in Baby Products, Clothing, Kids Stuff, Reviews

If you are anything like me, you are always trying to find the latest styles that look great and are comfortable for your children. Look no further. Pink Taffy Designs has some of the most adorable, trendiest styles of baby clothing you can only hope to find in high end boutiques. From newborn to kids sizes, from tops and leggings to shoes and accessories, Pink Taffy Designs carries it all. The high quality of the apparel is far beyond what you find in the usual baby stores. Gotta love trendy baby apparel!

Check out this eye-stopping tutu set, which is part of their Baby LOVE Collection. It is available in 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months with the option of a baby tee or baby creeper. I love that the entire outfit is machine washable and unbelievably soft! The silky tutu skirt has an adjustable waist with two layers of tulle giving it just the right amount of poof. The tulle material is ultra soft, not scratchy like some lines of clothing. The matching baby creeper has a rosette heart with splashes of sparkle. The whole set is absolutely adorable!

Pink Taffy Designs only stocks items that “wow” them from creative and trendy designers. Their items are one of a kind and the gift registry makes it easy for anyone to pick out the items they love. These outfits would be great for milestone birthdays, holidays, photo sessions, or everyday. Pink Taffy Designs is “the” place to shop for your child!

http://www.pinktaffydesigns

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Posted by html404 on January 12, 2013
in Books, Reviews

The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series. I have now read them all! It is about the youngest daughter of Amos Lapp whose name is Mary Kate. Mary Kate has grown up a lot since the last book by about 5-7 years if I remember without looking it up. She is now nineteen. She is just as curious, klutzy, hilariously funny with the vivid imagination of a dreamer….she could be part my daughter! lol!

Mary Kate is learning to be content with where she’s at in life. She’s forced to take on a teaching job when she absolutely hated school when she attended, but that proves to be a good character building experience that leads to a more mature Mary Kate.

Unlike most Amish young women, Mary Kate was prone to getting into all kinds of scrapes from running into people with her red scooter to falsely accusing innocent people of murder and robbery!

In the first couple of pages of the book Mary Kate is convinced her purpose in life is to solve the death (or murder as she called it) of a local sheep farmer, but it leads her into all kinds of unwanted trouble.

I loved reading her journey to womanhood, contentment and yes, even love.

Many of you should know by now one of my favorite authors is Suzanne Woods Fisher. It’s not just because she writes about the Amish, but because she entertains me with her characters antics, life and behavior. Her books are more than just romance novels, they are more about life and relationships. And yes her books are about the life and character of the Amish but as a Christian every time I read one of her books I cannot help but think the community the Amish exhibit should be a template, if you will, for what Christian churches everywhere should be like.

The Lesson gets two thumbs up from me!

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

iPad Giveaway

Suzanne is giving away 2 iPads!

Contest dates: Jan 3-20, 2013

Two winners will receive:

• A brand new iPad

• A $15 gift certificate to iTunes

Enter Today – 1/3 – 1/20!

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Zen Swaddle Giveaway

Posted by html404 on January 11, 2013
in Baby Products, Giveaways, Reviews

Most moms of infants have some knowledge or experience with swaddling a baby. With my firstborn, the nurses in the hospital swaddled him in a receiving blanket. They did it so securely and fast, like second nature, and made it look so easy to do. When I arrived home I tried my hardest to swaddle him in a blanket, but I could never do it tight enough to make him feel secure. I tried using a swaddle I received from my baby shower, but he never liked it because it would not allow him to have his arms out.

The Zen Swaddle solves both of these problems and does even more than I could have every imagined. First of all, it is ultra soft and machine washable (very important for busy moms). Next, it is weighted with poly-beads in specific areas to make your baby feel as though you are still holding her. The construction of the wrap helps the baby sleep through the startle reflex, common among most infants. The Zen Swaddle was designed in a way to fit newborns all the way up to 14 pounds. My favorite feature of this product is that it offers an arms-out option, perfect for babies like mine that want the security while being able to move their arms.

The Zen Swaddle comes with very clear step by step instructions to show exactly how to swaddle your baby. It can be found at select retailers as well as online and is available in three new prints: Dots, Wheels and Pods:

http://nestedbean.com/products

I can’t wait to use this on my new little one in April!

This video will give you an overview of how the Zen Swaddle works:

Zen Swaddle Giveaway

You can enter to win your own Zen Swaddle below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sparkling Clean With Cascade Complete Pacs #CascadeComplete

Posted by html404 on January 9, 2013
in Cleaning, Reviews

Over the weekend I blogged about January is Organization Month. In that post I shared my cleaning and my organizing wish list for certain rooms of our home, but neglected to mention my kitchen cupboards and hutches, which almost need a weekly or at least a monthly going through to stay on top of the clutter. Mostly because the children put dishes away.

I’ve been blessed to have a dishwasher most of my adult life. Spoiled, I know! I generally know what dishwasher detergent works and what doesn’t. You know those brands that leave a residue or leave food on your dishes? It’s sad to admit but since using one particular brand and the children being in charge of loading the dishwasher I have come to accept dirty residue as a part of my drinking pleasure. Ewwww! You say? Yeah, so does my husband. I just got tired of having to clean a glass before I got a drink so I started to skip that step.

However, I definitely have my favorite dishwasher soap brand(s). Cascade being one of them and no I’m not just saying that for the sake of this post. I have yet to find a good organic, eco-friendly brand that works just as well, unfortunately. Then recently I was able to try Cascade Complete Pacs. They are a little rectangle pacs of dishwasher soap detergent you pop into the dishwasher with no mess, spills or harmful odors emitting from it as it does with dishwasher powder. This was the first time we’ve ever tried a dishwasher soap pac, that I can remember anyways.

Cascade Complete Pacs

provide an immaculate clean without wasting precious time and water pre-rinsing 24-hour stuck-on food messes. Over time, Cascade Complete Pacs fight hard water film two-times better, wash after wash, than the next leading premium pac.

I was excited to try these little pacs. They worked so well that we bought the largest container we could find! Yes indeed these little pacs had our glasses sparkling and our dishes cleaner than they had been in months and it was a change we wanted to continue seeing after running the dishwasher…..We’d been using another brand’s eco-friendly dishwashing soap, which obviously was not doing it’s job, and we can stop blaming it on the children’s method of loading the dishwasher too!

Need I say more? We really like the Cascade Complete Pacs.

“This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Cascade blogging program, and I received free product from P&G for participating. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.”

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Vanished by Irene Hannon

Posted by html404 on January 6, 2013
in Books, Reviews

Vanished by Irene Hannon is a book I have been waiting to read. It is the first book in the Private Justice Series. I have read her other books and my book palate was craving some mystery and intrigue.

Vanished is about an investigative reporter, Moira Harrison, who accidentally (literally) stumbles upon a major story. Due to the circumstances surrounding the accident she hires a private investigator firm made up of three PIs, Cal, Connor and Dev, to look into the few sketchy details her memory could recall after her car accident.

The intrigue only gets better as the more they delve into their investigation the more it becomes apparent someone isn’t keen on them uncovering more information.

I loved Moira’s character. She’s tenacious, never gives up and desired to do the right thing no matter what the cost.

While I got the mystery and intrigue I wanted, I was a tad bit disappointed with the predictable romance side and how quickly the “bad” guy was revealed. I like to be kept guessing ’til the end.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The controversial topic of euthanasia is a tough call. Murder is murder and convincing someone or yourself that it’s ok, a blessing even, to put someone out of their misery – is actually a lie. It’s sad but true.

The medical profession has taken an oath (and here) to uphold life and do no harm, yet so many do. Think abortion. Think euthanasia.

I enjoyed the private investigation aspect of the book. Loved the PI’s desire for justice. Imagine a world where justice was more important than money, power or position?!

Included in this book was a little teaser section for Irene’s second book in the Private Justice Series and I can’t wait to read what happens to Dev, as well as learn about his story.

“Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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The Rhyme Bible Storybook Review

Posted by Professor on January 5, 2013
in Books, Education, Kids Stuff, Reviews

Reading time at home will be even more fun with the arrival of Linda Sattgast’s freshly updated version of The Rhyme Bible Storybook!

Twelve years since the first edition captured parents’ hearts, Sattgast teams with artist Laurence Cleyet-Merle to illuminate key passages from the Bible, making the most important lessons easy to understand.

Sattgast’s rhyming text helps beginning readers remember each Bible story and comprehend their basic lessons. For instance, the story of David and Goliath becomes a read-aloud lyrical song similar to a nursery rhyme. In addition, the story of Jonah and the big fish detailed in the book is a delightful bedtime story.

With Cleyet-Merle’s vivid illustrations, readers will experience 35 classic bible stories as they have never before been presented ~ with adorable pictured and Sattgast’s rhyming text.

For any parent who wants to teach the Word of God, THE RHYMING BIBLE STORYBOOK is the perfect choice for engaging little ones. Together, Sattgast and Cleyet-Merle breathe new life into the traditional storybook Bible, making this new edition a keepsake for all ages.

Our Review:

I absolutely LOVE this book…perhaps it is because I LOVE songs and rhyming…but it is amazing! This book really hits home with our family because it is an easy way to learn classic bible stories in an easy and fun way! My children LOVE the verse and the illustrations. I cannot say enough about the author and illustrators who have brought the bible stories to life in this text! WONDERFUL!

I liked this book so much that I brought it to my Sunday school class…of 6^th graders… yes I said it 6^th graders. Now, do not get me wrong I am not saying that I taught out of a rhyming book to older children… BUT since we are studying the Old Testament… I used it as a teaching tool! I chose a few stories that we had studied and read the rhyming version aloud to the students. Then I asked my students to take their favorite story we have studied and try to make up their own rhyming version of a story or part of a story. The older kids were very engaged in this activity! We had so much fun! I Loved being able to use this bible with my little ones at home and as a teaching tool in the classroom! Hats off to Zondervan and their talented authors!

This book is available through Zondervan. You can find more information about this and other Zondervan products at: http://zondervan.com/

You can purchase the book here: http://zondervan.com/9780310726029

The book is also available through Amazon and other retailers.

Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Rhyme-Bible-Storybook-Linda-Sattgast/dp/0310726026/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357382333&sr=8-2&keywords=the+rhyme+storybook+bible

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Divine Mama Bars

Posted by 278Wife on January 4, 2013
in All Natural Products, Food and Treats, Gift Ideas, Pregnancy and Birth, Products for Mom, Reviews

Divine Mama Bars are great tasting bars designed for breastfeeding moms to maintain an abundant milk supply. They are 100% all-natural, are created with milk-producing ingredients, and have no artificial sweeteners or processed starches.

Divine Mama bars come in two different flavors, Datey Apricot Cashew and Macnut Chocolate Chip. The Macnut Chocolate Chip was a little sweeter tasting, which is why it was my favorite! The bars contain fresh ingredients such as macademia nuts, flax seeds, almonds, cashews, and apricots, which are recommended for increasing milk supply. They are a great snack choice for any mom breastfeeding, and would make an excellent gift for a new mom!

Check out their website for more information:

www.divine-mama.com

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Baby Gourmet…mmm good!

Posted by 278Wife on January 3, 2013
in All Natural Products, Baby Products, Food and Treats, Organic, Reviews, Travel

Baby Gourmet is a healthy, organic, and nutritious food for your baby. They come in three different stages. Stage 1 is for babies 6 months and older, stage 2 is for babies 7 months and older, and stage 3 is for babies 8 months and older. All of their foods are organic, contain no thickeners or fillers, contain no added sugar or salt, and are kosher. Each stage of foods has three different flavors to choose from, for a total of nine different products.

My favorite feature of this product is their packaging. It’s in a resealable pouch that can be served warm or cold. It does not require any spoon, just squeeze and feed! It is so convenient to throw in my diaper bag when I know I’m going to be out, and I have a meal already prepared and ready. I can’t wait to bring them with when we go for long car rides. Rather than pulling over to feed my baby, or trying to feed her with a spoon in the car, I can just feed her the pouch while we are on the move.

I cannot say enough positive things about this product. They taste fantastic (Tropical Banana Bliss was the favorite in our house), are extremely convenient, and are a healthy choice for babies and even toddlers on the go. Here’s their website for more information and to find out where you can buy them:

www.babygourmet.com