Book Review - If I Knew Then What I Know Now

About the Book 
Making mistakes because you do not know any better is one thing, but to make them over and over is another. If this sounds familiar, you may require a needed course correction. If you are still wandering in the wilderness and cannot find your way out of the thick fog of Mistake City, maybe it is time to learn from the mistakes of others. It just may be time to take advantage of the wisdom from those who have "been there and done that".

About the Author
Ruby Hillsman has been a registered nurse for over 30 years and a retail business owner for more than 22 years. Married to her minister husband of 20 years, they now reside in Huntingdon, TN.

My Take on the Book
I was a bit torn on this book, as the book provides some great resources for the reader, and the stories that are shared make the ideas presented that much more tangible. That being said though, I will state that the book was not the strongest written book in regards to the style and how well the book finishes thoughts within chapters. There were many times when I wanted to have more in the chapters and thought that the author could have gone deeper. The personal approach to the book does allow the reader though to better understand the author's experience, and trough this deepen their own understanding of themselves as well.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Fischer & Wieser Father’s Day Gifts Turn Dad into a Gourmet Chef

They get rid of the boogeymen at night, give piggyback rides at will, and are notorious for not asking for directions. Now, just in time for Father’s Day, dads across America can also be gourmet chefs with Fischer & Wieser’s line of savory sauces. By trading in the ketchup and mustard in favor of fresh, exciting flavors, dads will be able to show off their culinary expertise instead of the usual tie or sweater vest. The following Fischer & Wieser sauces are gluten-free, preservative-free and ready to use right out of the jar!

The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce® is a smoky, sweet combination of luscious red raspberries and hot chipotle peppers. Perfect as a marinade for steak, chicken, or beef, this sauce is sure to keep guests talking. Use The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce® as a dip for chicken and vegetable skewers, or mix with olive oil for a delectable salad dressing that compliments any smoky grilling item perfectly.

Texas Pit BBQ Sauce gives a kick to the original smoky BBQ sauce, and is perfect for pouring generously over ribs, chicken or burgers. Fischer and Wieser perfected a sauce that pays homage to classic smokehouses, while introducing a unique chile--the Pasilla de Oaxaca--that is medium-hot and is known for its rich flavor.

Sweet and Savory Onion Glaze is another one of Fischer and Wieser’s sweet heat combinations, mixing onions and just the right amount of jalapeno pepper to create a versatile glaze for grilled meats and seafood. This trifecta of flavors is only a glimpse into the world of Fischer and Wieser, which has over 100 preservative-free, gluten-free, flavor-packed products to choose from; each one guaranteed to make a BBQ or a regular week-night meal a culinary adventure. Spice up Father’s Day this year with Fischer and Wieser, and give a deserving father a present that everyone in the family can enjoy!


My Take on the Sauce
Do you like to grill? If you have followed me in the past, you know that I do and I do enjoy trying new sauces and ways to make flavor explode from the meat that I am cooking. Recently I was provided with the opportunity to try the sauces listed above and recently I tried out the Fischer and Wieser’s Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce.


When I heard about this sauce I was a bit intrigued. I say this because I love things that spicen up any dish and I also like items that are “hot” in flavor as well.


The company also speaks about the fact that they aim to provide their customers with unique foods that are hand crafted for each customer. I liked this message as I am all about the idea of customer first companies, and this company definitely seems to work in this regard.


Overall this sauce was amazing and was something that I would highly recommend to all!




All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Car Thief

About the Book 
Described as “one of the best coming of age novels of the Twentieth Century,” Theodore Weesner’s modern American classic is now re-launched for a new generation of readers to discover.

It’s 1959. Sixteen year-old Alex Housman has just stolen his fourteenth car and frankly doesn’t know why. His divorced, working class father grinds out the night shift at the local Chevy Plant in Detroit, looking forward to the flask in his glove compartment, and the open bottles of booze in his Flint, Michigan home. Abandoned and alone, father and son struggle to express a deep love for each other, even as Alex fills his day juggling cheap thrills and a crushing depression. And then there’s Irene Shaeffer, the pretty girl in school whose admiration Alex needs like a drug in order to get by. Broke and fighting to survive, Alex and his father face the realities of estrangement, incarceration, and even violence as their lives unfold toward the climactic episode that a New York Times reviewer called “one of the most profoundly powerful in American fiction.”

In this rich, beautifully crafted story, Weesner accomplishes a rare feat: He’s written a transcendent piece of literature in deceptively simple language, painting a powerful portrait of a father and a son, otherwise invisible among the mundane, everyday details of life in blue collar America. A true and enduring American classic.


About the Author
Theodore Weesner, born in Flint, Michigan, is aptly described as a “Writers’ Writer” by the larger literary community. His short works have been published in the New Yorker, Esquire, Saturday Evening Post, Atlantic Monthly and Best American Short Stories. His novels, including The True Detective, Winning the City and Harbor Light, have been published to great critical acclaim in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s, The Boston Globe, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Magazine and The Los Angeles Times to name a few.

Weesner is currently writing his memoir, two new novels, and an adaptation of his widely praised novel—retitled Winning the City Redux—also to be published by Astor + Blue Editions. He lives and works in Portsmouth, NH.

My Take on the Book
The author does a great job at developing a storyline that is compelling and a world that is so vivid that you get drawn in and lost in the story itself (or at least I did). I loved the connection to Michigan as I have been to some of the areas that the story describes and I always love reading stories that bring me to places that I know like this. The book was a good coming of age story that makes you reflect on your own childhood, and for me, knowing how good that I had it!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Stillpower

About the Book 
For years, athletes, coaches, parents, and organizations have searched for the secrets to optimum mental performance. However, in spite of a myriad of tools and techniques, success and contentment continue to be as elusive as ever, until now. Kramer's Stillpower offers a revolutionary explanation for this predicament and provides a basic, yet dynamic, approach for the future. In an accessible style, Kramer reveals the innate principles behind consistent achievement and highlights the misalignment between the experiences of all performers and the strategies of the coaches, psychologists, and experts who are hoping to help them. Virtually all of us -- athletes and non-athletes alike -- are looking outside of ourselves, trying to unlock the keys to happiness, freedom, and excellence with ease. Garret Kramer encourages us to look within to finally find the answers.

My Take on the Book
As a parent of a daughter who seems to excel at every sport that she puts her mind to, and I was amazed to find that the ideas presented in this book made so much sense. I found myself agreeing with so many of his ideas and it was because of these ideas that I kept wanting to read and read and it took me so little time to complete! Not being an athlete in school, I am always looking for ways to support my child in her pursuits and Mr. Kramer has given me so much to think about and to act on and I for one have to say thanks for this and for so much more.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - On My Honor: Real Life Lessons from America's First Girl Scout

About the Book 
In 1911, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low was widowed and completely unsure of what to do with her life when a chance meeting changed her course forever. Determined and inspired by a belief that young girls and women should be taught to rely not on their husbands and fathers but on themselves, Daisy founded the Girl Scouts of the USA the next year.

One hundred years later, Daisy's life lessons still motivate and encourage thousands of young girls and women across the country through the Girl Scout organization. Shannon Henry Kleiber gives Daisy's classic, timeless advice a modern focus that is sure to inspire women of all generations. learn from Daisy's words of wisdom and strive to:

• Know Yourself and Be Yourself
• Love Living Things
• Give to Others
• Be a Sister
• Challenge Yourself

"Have you ever stopped to think that your most constant companion throughout life will be yourself? You will always have this body, this mind, and this spirit that you call 'I,'" — How Girls Can Help Their Country (1916)

About the Author
Former Girl Scout and current Troop Leader, Shannon Henry Kleiber, is the mother of two daughters who have thrived over recent years through their membership in the Girl Scouts of America and its positive encouragement for young girls to grow into well-rounded women. While researching the woman behind the organization, Kleiber soon discovered how Daisy Gordon Low’s self- motivation and infectious personality have positively influenced millions of young girls and grown women who at one point or another have called themselves a Girl Scout.

My Take on the Book
As a co-leader of a girl scout troop I have to say that this book provided me with a ton of additional insight into the woman behind the overall organization. On top of this though the author brought forth some very humorous anecdotes about her own experiences as a Girl Scout leader. I could relate on some of the same experiences (at least some of them) and I have some others that I would have added if I had written the book myself. What I liked most was the fact that the book was so well researched and it brings the reader so much closer to the organization as well as to the history behind it and how all of this fits together into the lessons that the Girl Scout organization stands for.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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New Father's Day Gift Set from Nudo

This Father’s Day, celebrate Dad over a delicious homemade Italian feast made with the new Aglio, Olio, Pepperoncino Gift Set from Nudo (www.nudo-italia.com), the company best known for its Adopt-An-Olive-Tree Program. This special Father’s Day gift set includes everything you or your father will need to prepare the classic Italian dish, spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino (spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chili peppers).

The conveniently packaged set with artisanal Italian products is perfect for foodie Fathers who are happiest spending time in the kitchen. Or, let Dad sit back, relax and enjoy a classic Italian meal cooked especially for him.

Nudo’s Aglio, Olio, Pepperoncino Gift Set ($22.00) includes:

• One 250ml tin of Nudo's olive oil, stone ground with fresh Italian garlic
• One 500g box of organic spaghetti
• One 50g box of dried Calabrian chillies
• One beautifully designed, reusable Nudo spaghetti tin
• One recipe card for spaghetti aglio, olio e pepperoncino, a classic Italian dish 

And for the Dad who already has everything, Nudo’s Adopt-An-Olive-Tree program is the perfect solution. Instead of just buying olive oil, adopt an olive tree and Dad will receive:

• A personalized adoption certificate and information booklet that describes the tree, 
• Four 500ml tins of first cold press extra virgin olive oil from the tree in the spring (mid-April),
• Three 250ml tins ofinfused extra virgin olive oil in the fall. 

My Take on the Product
Getting gifts are unique in this gifts sent does both! From someone who enjoys cooking I can say that the items that you can't in this set will allow you to make some amazing dishes after Father's Day. The garlic alone looks good enough to eat or cook with. If you don't want to do that you can even use it as a dip for bread or other items. I will say that the chilies are a bit spicy, but if you like spice you will love these chilies. I highly encourage this case set for anyone looking for a unique gift for a father on Father's Day.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Aurora World Announces Crinkle Friends “Brights”!

About the Product 
Aurora World Inc.is pleased to announce a new product named Crinkle Friends “Brights”! Geared towards parent(s) and toddler(s), these new designs use bright, vivid colors and feature enough squeaks, crinkles and rattles to keep children happy and busy for hours. • Aurora has recently added Hedgehog (“10.5), Toucan (8.5”), Alligator (13”) and Crab (10.5) to its popular Crinkle Friends line, which already includes frog, pig and cow.

• Crinkle Friends are suitable for ages six months and up
• Suggested Retail Price is $17
• Aurora is on Facebook at  facebook.com/auroraworld 
• Aurora is on YouTube at youtube.com/auroraworld1
• Aurora’s Crinkle Friends can be purchased at retail or online at the official Aurora shop:http://shop.auroragift.com 

My Take on the Product 
This colorful, fun and engaging toy is one that any infant will enjoy! Not only do you get full-color in amazing detail, you also get the opportunity to engage the senses of sight and sound. The crinkling of the toy is one that the young child will definitely be drawn to. At the same time, the toy engages the child in creative play and storytelling with the toy that their family has. This is a great. I would highly recommend to one and all that have infants, you will not be disappointed.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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