I’m Trying To Read Your Blog, But…

Posted on by Mandy

I’m currently going through a crisis of bloggy proportions. I’ve mentioned in the past that I literally read hundreds of blogs, but all of that has almost come to a screeching halt because all of my feed readers are failing me. I’m trying to read your blog, but…..

It all began when Bloglines switched their format and broke my heart. I really, really tried to like the new look, but I never could get used to it, so I ditched it. I tried to love Google Reader. I even tried to just use the feed option in Internet Explorer. I finally settled on Feed Reader 3, a program I actually had to download to my computer. Apparently, I broke it. Which is a shame, because although it wasn’t very user friendly for adding in blogs to read, I loved how it sort of reminded me of Bloglines. I’m just so tired of having to transfer blog subscriptions to all these places because sometimes I have to do them one by one, which takes forever.

So, I’ve decided to severely limit my blog reading to my very, very favorites (which is hard, because there are so, so many) and subscribe to them by email. My only problem now? Not all of my favorite blogs offer a subscription by email. Arrrghhh!! I’m also a little concerned that this may become very overwhelming to keep up with. But, it would be so much faster of I didn’t have to even go hunt for my blogs. I could read them through email on my phone if I wanted to, since some days I don’t even sit down at my home computer.

So, I’m curious. How do YOU read your blogs? Feed reader? Email subscription? Visiting them one by one?

And if you’re reading this and you blog…offer an email subscription to yours!!

Review- Mega Bloks Blok Squad Fire Patrol Rescue

Posted on by Mandy

mega bloks

Still wondering what to get your little ones for Christmas?  I know for a fact if you have a 6 year old boy, he would LOVE the Mega Bloks Fire Patrol Rescue Set, for sure!  We received a set to review and I wish I had videotaped the excitement that went down at our home when I presented this set for him to put together.  Let me just say it involved loud screams of excitement and dancing around.  He had the set put together in no time and all I heard for the rest of the evening was him making fire truck siren sounds. 

blok squad

This particular Mega Bloks set is 190 pieces, which may sound like an awful lot, but if your little one is an expert builder, they should have no problems putting this together.  It comes with a detailed instruction book and a set of stickers to put on the structures when they are built.  Of course, my son refused to put the stickers on his.  He has this thing about them, so I didn’t argue with him.

mega blok blok squad

There are several sets in the Blok Squad series and we definitely plan to purchase a couple more for Christmas.  I was so impressed with the quality and my son was thrilled, to say the very least.  This is one product we really had a blast reviewing and if you are still thinking about Christmas gifts, be sure and add this to your list.  The little people in your life will thank you!

Ages: 5+

MSRP- $9.99

Shop: Target, Walmart, Toys ‘R Us, Amazon.com

We received this set to review thanks to Team Mom. All opinions are strictly my own.

Today I Was A Shoppin’ Mama

Posted on by Mandy

“Mama, I’m going to wake you up real early tomorrow”.

And so went forth the warning from E.B. that there would be no sleeping late this week during Thanksgiving break. Fortunately, he has only made good on that threat one morning so far, so crossing my fingers we can sleep in as much as possible this week!

I managed to tackle the cleaning on Saturday and finished up Sunday afternoon. I can report that Santa’s mission was accomplished this morning at Wal-Mart. It felt great to get that taken care of before the holiday madness really begins. I also purchased a new Christmas tree to put up on Friday. We always do an artificial tree and our old one was on its last limb (ok, so not literally….but those limbs were sagging) so it had to be replaced. I also had to purchase one a good bit smaller in girth that I would have normally liked (ahh, apartment living “perks”!), but it will do just fine.

I even managed to do the grocery shopping this evening. My plan is to not have to go anywhere near any store until after the weekend. I hope I can stick to this plan.

So today, I am feeling quite accomplished. It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have to work. LOL!

Thankful For Thanksgiving Break

Posted on by Mandy

At 3:15 P.M. yesterday, my Thanksgiving break officially began! I am so blessed to have a job where I can be off work with my son when he has holiday time off. (And summers, too!) We’ve been pretty lazy this morning so far, but I have managed to start a little laundry since we woke up at 7:30 A.M. On a Saturday. What is the deal with kids wanting to wake up super early on days when you can sleep in, anyway?

I have a ton of things planned to do with my week off, but I can tell you two things I will NOT be doing:

1) Standing in line to see Breaking Dawn. Now, don’t get me wrong. I read all of the Twilight books and I can’t wait to see Breaking Dawn, but I’m not super-obsessed with the series and will NOT put up with the pushing and shoving that has been going on in the local movie theater to see it. Besides, I always wait until it comes out on video. My husband goes and rents it for me and leaves me ALL TO MYSELF to watch it while he entertains the kid. God, I love that man!

2) I will also NOT be participating in any Black Friday shopping. I’m used to getting up early (think 4:30 A.M.) every morning for work, but there is not a deal in this world worth putting up with the wackadoos that Black Friday brings out. This isn’t to say that I might not take advantage of some of the great online deals, but that will be the extent of it.

So what WILL we do over the Thanksgiving break? Of course, I’m definitely looking forward to the fabulous Thanksgiving dinner and time with my family. We’ll also be putting up our Christmas tree the day after. I also have some smaller projects I’d like to complete…blogging stuff, closets to organize, etc. I hope I can fit it all in. It’s hard to get motivated because relaxing feels so good!

So what are your plans for the next week? I’d love to hear them!

Review- 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son

Posted on by Mandy

When I was pregnant, I used to daydream about the daughter I just knew we were going to have.  My husband was the only boy in his family of four sisters (needless to say, sharing the bathroom for them was a nightmare!) and I was convinced that someday I would be having a daughter to shop with, have “girl talk” with, and enroll in dancing lessons.

And then?  I gave birth to the most precious, perfect-for-me- little boy I have ever laid eyes on.  And then?  I totally freaked out after bringing him home and thinking to myself that I knew nothing about little boys and what made them tick.  Looking back, it’s laughable.  At the time, I was terrified of screwing up.  There would be so much ground to cover in raising him up to be a young man with all of the positive qualities I want him to have to be happy…character, integrity, and the list goes on and on.  When I started working in my aunt and uncle’s Christian bookstore a couple of years back, I saw a book on the shelf entitled 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter.  Browsing through it, I wished that someone would have written this for parents of young boys.  Thankfully, Vicki Courtney did not leave us moms of boys out and now 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son is available.

If you are raising a son, you need this book.  Here’s why:  The world is going to tell your son many, many things about how he should behave.  You know you’ve heard the saying, “boys will be boys”.  It seems like undesirable behavior is almost always excused or not made a big deal of for this very reason.  I don’t know about you, but I want better for my son.  I want my son to be self-disciplined enough to know what’s not a positive influence in his life and what is.  I want him to be able to make wise decisions and consider others.  But also?  I want him to enjoy being a boy.

Throughout the book, Courtney touched on subjects you will inevitably face when raising a son….from having THE TALK, friends and peer relationships, taking responsibility for self, and so much more.  You may have read many, many books on raising boys (as have I), but this book is so candid and down to earth that I gleaned much more from it.  And if you think this book is about emasculating your son, think again.  So many times I have picked up books on raising a boy that preach to the choir about their bad behavior, or how they “should” act that, quite frankly, sounded as if little boys should strive to be more like little girls. Those books were no help to me.

If you’re in the market for a great book on raising up men of character to be independent adults, this is it, hands down.