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When The Cypress Whispers by Yvette Manessis Corporon

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When the Cypress Whispers

This review was done by my daughter B and contains affiliate links to support our family.

When the Cypress Whispers is about the daughter of Greek immigrants, Daphne. She was brought up to believe in the American dream. After a tragic event leaving her basically at rock bottom, she puts her all into opening a Greek restaurant. She returns to Erikousa, a magical Greek island she grew up visiting and to her Yia-Yia (grandmother).

When the Cypress Whispers is a good book. I would read it again. I figured out almost everything before the end, but I’m used to that now since I read a lot. I wasn’t even trying.

This book made me cry. The characters were good and well rounded. I loved the setting and the use of the Greek language. I wrote down four pages (small pages), eight front and back, from it.

There was a “oogie” part (Theresa here, I think she’s referring to a kissing or intimate scene), I wasn’t sure if it would become anything else so I skipped it.

Greece felt real, it was like I was there and it was amazing.

I loved the myth stories from ancient times, I’m big on that anyways. I loved learning about Greek mythology. I loved Daphne’s connection with her Yia-Yia (grandmother).

I didn’t think the end would happen quite like it did, but I was glad and liked the ending.


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Alcott Adventures Inflatable Pool for Pets & Giveaway #DogsLoveAdventure

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The weather is s-l-o-w-l-y warming up here in the Chicagoland area. It’s actually suppose to be 60 degrees today! Yesterday we were outside as a family hanging out, doing a bit of yard work but mostly just enjoying watching the animals and being together. So much for productivity in the work department, eh? We were all on one of the hay racks and I saw Padfoot just sitting in the backyard watching us. That’s when I suggested that he really should be with us while we were outside. B voiced her concerns over Padfoot getting her goats but I assured her he’d stay by us. How did I know that? I didn’t for sure but felt pretty confident he’d be content to play, be petted and hang out with us. And I was right. He chased the ball for the children. He took a run with B and generally sniffed around marking his territory.

FFR Padfoot Alcott inflatable pool

Padfoot is half Newfoundland, a breed of dog bred for water rescue in icy water, so he has triple layer of skin to protect him from the cold. This means in the summer time he really minds the heat. He needs lots of water, shade and to be cooled off, if he’ll let us. He’s not a fan of the water hose unless it is to drink from it. We’ve never taken him swimming, though we want to, so I thought reviewing an inflatable pool for pets would be a wonderful relief to Padfoot during the hot summer months. I also purchased the cooling bandana as well, just to try it out and try to keep “pup” cool this summer.

I was very thankful the weather was suppose to be warm today because I had been putting off messing with water hoses and cold water during freezing temperatures, especially since we’ve been sick with this horrible chest cold for the past two weeks.

Alcott Adventures Inflatable Pool Review

Alcott Adventures Logo

Padfoot actually barked at me when I was finishing blowing up the pool and then was shy about getting into the pool. We had to coax him into it with treats. I don’t think it’s hot enough to warrant him being interested even with his Newfie blood.

I had to blow the pool up by hand (mouth really) because we don’t have a pump and I doubt any store does at this time either. I wasn’t about to waste a beautiful day hunting for a pool pump. The valves had to dry before they stayed shut. Other than those challenges the pool will be a keeper for Padfoot this summer. If he doesn’t use it, the geese will, if he doesn’t burst it before then.

About Alcott Adventures:

  • Alcott offers dogs and their owners a complete line of gear and accessories to turn everyday walks into extraordinary adventures.
  • Alcott reinvented sizes for dogs to make it easy on their humans. Generally speaking, if you buy a medium collar, you’ll also use a medium in all the other Alcott products.

What’s interesting about Alcott’s websites is you can shop Alcott online in two ways: either by category or by adventure. The Alcott store locator is available at: http://alcottadventures.com/apps/store-locator


Alcott Adventures $25 Gift Code Giveaway

Do you have a pet you’d like to gift with an item from Alcott? Enter our $25 gift code giveaway below. Giveaway ends 4/6!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Week #16 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

I knew once I missed on Saturday Top Five Laughs, it would be hard to get back to getting them done, but we are getting back on the bandwagon and joining Mel over at The Mommyhood Chronicles for week #16 (for us) in the Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week. Granted most of them are about the animals!

5. Our goats got out of their stall this morning. They have been working on this for three weeks and finally succeeded! They wreaked havoc in the barn and made more of a mess than our cow or horse has ever done! That was a few weeks ago and they’ve had a lots more escapades! Thankfully due to their trust in B and O the goats are fairly easy to catch….most of the time.

4. We went to see a heifer (young female cow who has not calved) yesterday and while we were visiting with her and her owners she sniffed around a pile of manure then proceeded to do her business on top of that! I looked at her owner and said, “You trained her well.”

3. Jr. took a red marker and put these red lines on his feet and said he was Iron Man. (He’s very into super heros.)

2. Jr. one evening this week had a pen and paper. First he said, “Mommy, me love you sooo much.” Then he said, “Dear Mommy, Dear Daddy, Me love you soo much!” Heart throbs!

1. We were all outside today since it was warmer (in the 40’s) and sunny. So we all gathered around one of the hay racks our hay guy left in the field. We were just sitting there shooting the breeze, petting the cats and dog. I was giving the dog some lovins and B was next to me with one of the kittens. Padfoot wasn’t doing anything but enjoying my petting him and Freckles wigged out and scratched Padfoot on the nose! Padfoot yelped, then offended barked but backed away and came to my other side for love. Previous to this, Badger, our black and white kitten, had royally hissed at Padfoot for simply looking at him! Guess Padfoot probably deserved it for all the times he has tormented them, but still he was being a good dog today.


What has made you laugh this week?


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Wellness for Pets #checkyourbag #naturaldogfood

This is a paid post.

Did you know….

  • Pet ownership in the U.S. has more than tripled from the 1970s, when approximately 67 million households had pets, to 2012, when there were 164 million owned pets.
  • According to a Packaged Facts survey, 83% of pet owners consider their pet to be a member of the family.

We love our dog. Padfoot always seems to have a “smile” for us. You know what I mean. Some dogs just genuinely seem to be happy all the time, that’s Padfoot. He truly does offer us unconditional love and is very eager to please us, especially now that he’s a bit older…he’s turned two last month!

We enjoy taking him for walks, playing with him and he loves to spend time with us. We also love rewarding him with dog treats. As you know, we feed Padfoot pretty much a natural diet. What about you, do you feed your dog a healthy, natural diet?

Wellness for Pets

Did you know that a diet formulated with wholesome, natural ingredients could help your dog live a longer, healthier life, but that most dog foods aren’t made up of natural ingredients?

Why are natural dog food diets so important anyway? “Natural products go far beyond just basic nutrition,” says Dr. Al Townshend, staff Veterinarian at Wellness® Pet Food. “Natural diets are designed to provide the very best nutrition and can have significant benefits.”

In fact, according to Dr. Townshend, “natural diets offer ingredients with some important health benefits such as probiotics, those good bacteria that are essential for a healthy immune system and digestive tract; glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health; omega-3 fatty acids or fish oils for heart and kidney health; and added digestive supplements to enhance digestibility to get the very best benefits from quality proteins and fats.”

Wellness Natural Pet Food for Dogs and Cats

As a leader in natural pet food, Wellness uses natural, high-quality proteins and fats in their dog food recipes. They also include fruits and vegetables for natural vitamins, minerals and other benefits, especially antioxidants that occur in blueberries, cranberries and some vegetables, which help make their dog food products some of the healthiest options in the marketplace.

Wellness recipes do not include added artificial colors, flavors or ingredients, and they’ve even created a helpful “Check Your Bag” website that you can use to compare their natural dog food to those from some competitors who claim to be natural.

Some of the biggest benefits to Wellness® Complete Health® Recipes include:

  • Live Active Probiotics – Added after the cooking process to promote a healthy intestinal tract and overall digestive health at guaranteed levels

  • Omega 3 & 6 Mix – Offering guaranteed levels of essential fatty acids for cellular function and healthy skin

  • Essential Vitamins & Minerals – Designed for cellular health, immunity and disease resistance

  • Fruit & Veggie Antioxidants – A proactive step in improving your pet’s nutrition

  • Rigorous Safety Testing – A Quality Assurance program that maintains strict standards for food safety

  • Excellent Nutritional Standards – Every batch of dry food is tested throughout the entire manufacturing process, from its basic ingredients to the finished products

While Wellness might not be as widely-known as some of the more mainstream brands of dog food, their devotion to quality and natural, high-quality ingredients makes their food safe, wholesome and beneficial to pets’ health and wellbeing.

To pick up a bag of some of this high-quality, natural dog food, you can order it online or stop by one of the retail locations listed in the Wellness Store Locator.

But be sure that you also connect with their Naturally Well Pet Community, a free online program that provides exclusive savings offers, fun contests and helpful tips about keeping your pets happy and healthy.

And consider following their Facebook page and Twitter feed, where you can join in on the fun with a huge group of fellow animal lovers who share heartfelt, funny stories, entertaining photos and videos of their pets.

If you’re at home as you read this, it’s a good bet that your dog is sitting right next to you, watching your every move. Take a quick moment to tell them about the importance of eating a natural diet, then watch the look on their face… we promise they’ll still love you!

You can visit Wellness Pet Food for a store near you.

Check out this No Artifical Preservatives video….very cute dog is featured! Video – 15NoArtificialPreservatives


What do you feed your dog?


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Kohl’s Spring Fashion #SpringAtKohls

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Kohl’s. I received a gift card as a thank you for participating.

It’s finally spring and we are all excited for the warmer weather and the lighter clothing, right? I desperately need to update my wardrobe! Kohl’s Spring Fashion Hangout provides great tips on what trends to be in the “know” about right now. From the color pink to dresses and roll-cuffed denim they share it all! I’m a huge fan of pink and find myself wearing pink nail polish and lipstick so I am completely ready for this year’s spring fashion! This season it will be easy to take Kohl’s’ advice and wear pink since I am already a fan of the color! It has been a while since I bought clothing so I am excited to go shopping at Kohl’s for some new spring fashion wear, particularly a fit and flare dress or skirt!

Printed Maxi Dress #SpringAtKohl's

Watch the Kohl’s Spring Fashion Hangout and tell me what trends will you be wearing this season?


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DIY Goat Stall from Wood Pallets

You all know we are on this farming journey. Well, it is not yet a profitable venture, so we try to conserve, save and reuse. Someone suggested a DIY goat stall from wood pallets. Usually wood pallets are easy enough to find and many times are even free. Gotta love free stuff! There’s a subdivision not far from us on a busy road, which we pass all the time. One house has had a pile of wood pallets there for what seems like years. My husband decided to drop buy and ask if he could have some….just a few days before the goats were due to arrive home! To our delight the man said yes and gave them to us for free! I don’t remember how many pallets my husband and son brought home but they’ve built two stalls so far and have a couple more yet to build. These photos are not the greatest since our barn is so dark but it gives you and idea of how hubby did it. It was our oldest son’s idea to have the goat stall gate swing two ways to save on building another gate.

DIY Goat Stall Gate with Wood Pallets

We just found another source for free wood pallets and we are hoping they still have some left! With the warmer weather coming this weekend (we hope!) it would be nice to get a little pasture fenced off for the goats, another stall done for the sheep and ?????


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Introducing a New Contributing Writer!

You may have noticed a new name on yesterday’s movie review of God’s Not Dead . Rosemarie Pagano. She is our newest contributing writer! Rosemarie is not another reviewer, as her posts will be focused on encouragement, faith and any other topics that appeal to her. She is volunteering her help in exchange for a writing platform.

FFR B and Rosemarie 020214
B and Rosemarie the day we brought our goats home!

Rosemarie is a family friend whom we met nearly a year ago through our farm’s vegetable CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture). She lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband, who is originally from Italy, and two dogs. Rosemarie and her husband both enjoy cooking.

Rosemarie is a freelance writer working on her first novel. She is an avid reader and has a servant’s heart! She has blessed us with not only her friendship but her service from bringing a meal during haying season, special Italian breakfast rolls (hot chocolate and fruit too) on Christmas day or to helping us bring B’s goats home.

We are blessed to know Rosemarie and now privileged to have her use her gift of writing here at Faith and Family Reviews! Please make her feel welcome!


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God’s Not Dead – Movie Monday

“God’s Not Dead” 2014

Director: Harold Cronk

A Drama, Produced by Pure Flix, a Christian film studio.

Rated: PG 1hr 53min

Or go to www.GodsNotDeadtheMovie.com to view the trailer.

I have pretty much given up going to the movies, not interested in the selection of films offered, so I was intrigued by the little known, small budget film, “God’s Not Dead” which
opened March 21, 2014. It grossed $ 9.2 million, the first weekend, and as I watched the trailer, I immediately made plans to see this movie aimed towards Evangelical Christians.

Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper), a pre-law student, signs up for a philosophy class with an aggressive professor. Professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo) is an atheist who demands that everyone declare and write on a sheet of paper that ‘God is dead.’ Josh, a Christian, refuses which causes the professor to challenge him to prove God’s existence. He is given the
opportunity to present his defense, in front of the class, and if he is unable to do this, he will fail the class. There are several story threads, woven through the movie, that capture the struggles, heartbreak and challenges that believers and those questioning their faith face.

One intriguing character is an elderly woman who is visited by her absentee son (Dean Cain). He is a successful businessman annoyed and impatient with her dependence and deteriorating state of dementia. He angrily questions her faith and she, in a moment of clarity, tells him about the consequences of sin. There are a few surprising twists and special appearances by Newsboys and “Duck Dynasty’s” Willie and Korie Robertson.

I recommend this movie because it encourages Evangelical Christians to stand up for their faith. It also invites those questioning their faith to ask questions about God. I am sick and
tired of offensive language and the blatant attempts of the media to shock and offend with their disrespectful comments. In this movie, the name of our Precious Savior Jesus Christ was spoken with reverence and praise. It has been a really long time since I’ve heard that in a movie. Also, another important concept, about this movie, was that it was based on actual court cases where students, like Josh Wheaton, defended their faith in an academic setting. The ending credits list the students and universities.

The responses to this film are, as expected, strongly divided. I think this quote by Paul Levinson, media critic and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York sums up the movie very well. He states, “The success of ‘God’s Not Dead’ shows at least three things: Big budgets are not necessary to make popular movies, there is a significant part of the population that cherishes faith-based movies, and students like narratives about arrogant professors who get their due.”


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Fresh Express Salad Swap Party #momsmeet #saladswap

We were provided coupons in exchange for our hosting a Fresh Express salad swap party for Moms Meet. All opinions and thoughts are our own.

You all know we are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, including our eating habits. Our whole family enjoys salad. That’s why we were interested in this Fresh Express salad swap.
For the first time in two years, we’ve been battling a serious cold for the past month or so. But we also have mold in our rental home too so it is hard to discern what exactly is causing our illness at this point. Due to our illness, we rescheduled our Fresh Express Swap party a couple of times and finally opted to send our guests their coupons for them to try the Fresh Express Swap app themselves and send us their feedback and photos. The overall opinion was unanimous. Everyone enjoyed their Fresh Express salads!

Fresh Express Facts

•Fresh Express salads are thoroughly washed, rinsed, and gently dried, then sealed in patented “Keep-Crisp®” breathable bags to keep their just-picked freshness, without
preservatives.
• Fresh Express has a wide variety of products, including refreshing mixes and ready-to-eat kits. They also have a special USDA-Certified Organic line.
• Fresh Express salad mixes can vary in price, depending on the retailer, but typically cost between $2-$4 per bag.

The organic line did not seem to be easy to find in the stores we visited, which may just depend on the individual store’s buying/selling habits.


About the FREE Fresh Express Salad Swap App

 

The free Fresh Express Salad Swap App includes a variety of recipes and salad swaps, a progress tracker, motivation and inspiration, even additional Fresh Express coupons.

You can also participate in the 30 Day Salad Swap challenge and have a chance to earn more salad coupons. For every two salads you buy, you earn a coupon, which will be emailed to you. So if your new year’s resolution to lose weight or eat healthy has fallen by the wayside, this challenge could reboot your goal, plus give you great recipe ideas of how to swap out your favorite high calorie meals for a healthier alternative.

Here are a few screen shots to show you a little inside look at the app:

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 1

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 2

I wanted to know what would be a swap for blueberry pancakes (my favorite!) and this is the salad that came up:

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 3

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 4

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 5

Here’s what Magen thought of the app:

“Just tried the app … Wow! So cool! I am actually going to the store to try one of the swaps now. Going to try the lemon tilapia with Kale! I like that it has a calorie tracker and that you can put in what you are craving and it actually gives you an EASY option to trade with which are yummy!”

Download the Salad Swap app at 30daysaladsswap.com
 


Fresh Express Salad Swap Party

I opted to do a sandwich version of this Salad swap – Grown up Ham and Cheese but with my own twist.

Fresh Express Salad Swap App Recipe Ham and Spinach

I used wheat bread, Fresh Express Baby Spinach, deli ham, colby cheese, raw honey and mustard. I made it like a grilled cheese sandwich in a frying pan but instead of butter I used coconut oil, which heated up waayyy too fast…and they say coconut oil does not burn? Yes it does. This was my first time trying to substitute coconut oil with butter. I think next time I’ll have everything ready before I turn on the burner! I’ll blame it on being in a hurry and my head being clogged from this cold.

Fresh Express Salad Swap Grown Up Ham and Cheese_

Rosemarie shared:

“If you’re craving a favorite comfort food search Fresh Express Recipes for a delicious Salad Swap. I love Middle Eastern cuisine and falafel are one of my favorites. I was eager to try the Roasted Chickpea and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette. It had the zesty flavors. I love and the firm and crunchy Fresh Express Leafy Green Romaine held up great under the roasted chickpeas. This Salad Swap was a healthy alternative that I would make again.”

Fresh Express Salad Swap Rosemarie

Magen and her family opted to do the Bacon Caesar salad kit:

Fresh Express Salad Swap Magen Collage

Here’s what they had to say about the salad, “We loved Fresh Express Salad. My daughter had a friend over and they could not wait to tear into the bag for lunch. They even started eating it before I could serve it at the table. Fresh express salad was very tasty and we LOVED their “kit” option!”

Here is what Jamie said:

“I enjoyed a lovely cheeseburger salad.”

Fresh Express Salad Swap Collage

There is a Fresh Express salad coupon available online for YOU at greenmomsmeet.com/freshexpress and you can learn more about Fresh Express by visiting their social media sites:

FreshExpress.com (click on their store locator for stores carrying Fresh Express)

Facebook.com/FreshExpressSalads

Pinterest.com/FreshExpress


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MommysClub All In Bundle Review

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As I mentioned last week in our MommysClub giveaway post, we have been reviewing the MommysClub All In Bundle.

Products in the MommysClub All In Bundle

None of the products smell chemically. They barely have any scent. I love that they are organic and or all natural, toxic-free and hypoallergenic.

MommysClub All In Bundle

Total Body Health with Multivitamin
– To be honest this is weird tasting but I’m not one to shy away from weird tasting health products. Now bad tasting products, I usually won’t buy again. Weird I can get use to. I think only my oldest and I have been taking it.


Total Body Health for Children with Multivitamin
– Only our youngest son likes to drink this. The rest not so much. I’d describe it as liquifying crushed up multivitamins. This would be great for those who cannot swallow pill form vitamins.

Children’s Multivitamin – All the children loved these chewable multivitamins!

Pre-Natal Plus – This is the same as the other liquid vitamins above but for expectant or nursing mamas. I did taste it. The flavor kind of reminded me of another health drink we’ve taken.

Daily Cleansing Foam – I’ve barely used this but it is a no-rinse hand washing solution that hypoallergenic with moisturizer for post-diaper clean up, cuts and burns. This would be nice to keep in the car.

Baby Shampoo – I haven’t even had a chance to fully review this product. I kind of forgot about it amidst all the other products. It smells great though!

Rash & Remedy Skin Relief – Haven’t had any use for this yet. Though Jr. does seem to have some spots I could try it on now that I think about it. It is for rashes and common skin problems.

Perfect Touch Sanitizer – Since we’ve been sick, I’ve been using this sanitizer on taps, door knobs etc. Yep, sick for the first time in two years and we’ve been double slammed in the last month. :(

I cannot honestly say how any of these products work long term because we have only been using them a short time. I can just give you our general thoughts about our initial usage.

 


About MommysClub

MommysClub is a network marketing company so becoming a member may enable you to earn an income from sharing their products with others. As a part of the giveaway and upcoming review, I became a member so this post includes my unique link.

You can learn more about MommysClub via their social media pages:

https://www.facebook.com/themommysclub

https://twitter.com/themommysclub

http://www.pinterest.com/themommysclub/

https://vimeo.com/user21859339


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