General Mills cereal

I don't like having to feed my kids cold cereal for breakfast but let's face it - more often then not there is just no way around it in a very busy household.

Finding cold cereals that are not packed full of marshmellows and artificial coloring is hard enough, but I recently did something that is making it even harder. I've joined the Organic Consumers Association in boycotting Kellogg's. Why?

Organic Consumers Association and allies warned Kellogg's, if they used sugar from genetically engineered sugar beets in their foods, they would face a consumer boycott. Kellogg's responded, claiming that, even though they don't use genetically engineered ingredients in Europe, in the U.S., "consumer concerns about the usage of biotech ingredients in food production are low."

Now with even less choices, I was pleasantly suprised to hear that General Mills has made a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. They are also increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

General Mills, via My Blog Spark, recently sent me some coupons for free boxes of their cereals - one of which I managed to drop in the store somewhere between the cereal aisle and the checkout counter. Oh well, some other family will get to try their cereal.

Anyway, although I do believe that cold cereal is not the best option by far, I have to be honest and say we eat a lot of it. The kids' favorite? Lucky Charms, of course. My favorite for a bit more nutritious option? Honey Nut Cheerios. Both of these General Mills cereals were gone within days at my house!

You can print a $1 off one of four varieties of General Mills cereals here.

Book review: Cowgirl at Heart

Cowgirl at Heart

Barbour Books (February 1, 2010)

by

Christine Lynxwiler

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling author Christine Lynxwiler lives with her husband and two precious daughters in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Christine has been writing toward publication since 1997. She sold her first story in 2001 to Barbour Publishing. Since then she's written and sold fourteen Christian romance novels and novellas including the four novels that were included in the best-selling book Arkansas, which has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide. Her novel, Forever Christmas, ranked number 12 on the Christian Bookseller's Association Bestseller List in January, 2009.

A four-time winner of the prestigious American Christian Romance Writers/American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award, Christine recently signed a new six-book contract with Barbour Publishing bringing her total of contracted books to twenty. Besides, Along Came a Cowboy, her latest novels include Promise Me Always and Forever Christmas. She also writes mysteries with two of her sisters, Sandy Gaskin and Jan Reynolds. Their book, Alibis in Arkansas, is currently available nationwide, as well as in many bookstores. The first book in Christine's new McCord Sisters series, The Reluctant Cowgirl released in April, 2009 and was a TOP PICK in Romantic Times Magazine.

When Christine isn't at her computer, you'll often find her, with her husband, co-coaching their daughters' softball team, kayaking down beautiful Spring River with her family, or getting together with friends from church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Elyse McCord always plays it safe─a fact she blames on being the biological daughter of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Even in the security of her adoptive family the McCords, the timid dog whisperer keeps her guard up with strangers. But when she discovers a dog being horribly mistreated, shy Elyse transforms into a mighty warrior and charges into a perilous situation, not only risking her life but also her heart

Reporter Andrew Stone has been fearless since the day his wife was shot and killed three years ago. He has one mission─use hid Texas Ranger upbringing to find her murderer and clear his own name of any involvement. When he sees a beautiful brunette in the hands of a pistol-welding maniac, he’s forced to abandon his covert surveillance and go to the rescue. The danger surrounding Andrew doesn’t scare him at all, but the awakening of his dormant heart terrifies him.

When painful pasts collide, the explosion is deafening. Can Andrew and Elyse pick up the pieces and go forward together? Or will they forever live with haunting memories, unable to forgive, unable to love?


Note: If you are expecting a western book about cowgirls, you will be disspointed. This novel has more to do with dogs than horses. But if you like a mystery/romance and if you enjoy dogs and close-knit families, this may be right up your alley!

If you would like to read the first chapter of Cowgirl at Heart , go HERE.

Cookie decorating

I forgot to post these, but the kids had fun decorating cookies for Valentine's Day. Alli decorated the big cookie below.

Field trip fun!

Recently, our church's homeschool association went to the Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh. We drove two and half hours one way to get to our state capital, but the museums there are great and admission is free.

I love it when kids get so interested in learning!

My babies!

These sea gulls look very realistic!

New additions.... again

I never know exactly how this happens... but we have two new members of the family. One of my brothers called a couple of weeks ago with a sad story. Some woman he knew was taking her dog to the pound because he just wasn't working out anymore.

My husband, brother and I, being the bleeding hearts that we are, picked the dog up. I have to say, Hubby and I were a bit intimidated. The dog is a pitt bull, and he is pretty massive. We have no experience with pitts, but my brother has had one for years that he loves to death.


Anyway, we picked him up and he soon captured our hearts. For such a big, "vicious" dog, he really just acts like an overgrown puppy. He has a wonderful temperament and loves kids. We tried to put him outside with our Lab mix, Gracie. But he kept wanting to dominate the poor girl and wouldn't leave her alone. She wasn't having any of that and I felt bad for her. So we took him to some friends who have pit bulls to see if they would take him, but they said they already had too many dogs. We didn't know what to do. Our friends gave us a solution.

They came over the next morning and helped us put up an electric cattle fence away from Gracie. The big boy's name is Bishop and we and we are working on his behavior. He is very sweet, but very hyper and drives the other dogs nuts with his overzealous behavior. We bring him inside every day for an hour or two on a leash so we can train him to be around the other dogs (although we will probably never leave him around them unsupervised). Bishop also spends a lot of time with Hubby in the basement, where he chews on 2x4's while Hubby does his own wood working. Bishop is doing great, and learning fast.

Okay, on to another story. My brother's pitt bull recently had puppies. Now here's the thing. Whenever we have a friend who has puppies, we stay away. Because we know they are so hard to resist. So my brother's puppies were six weeks old, and very cute, of course. We had to see them because we went to his house to meet him to see about saving Bishop. Well.... Hubby fell in love with one of the puppies in particular. And... he wore me down. Did I mention I'm not even a big fan of puppies? I prefer older dogs who are already out of the chewing and peeing in the house stage.


But.... we have a new puppy, who his now about 8 weeks old. We named him Logan and took him to the vet for his first shots. He's pretty hyper too, but very cute. And to be so young he is doing quite well on his potty training.

And so now, a family who was always nervous around pitt bulls and had never had one - has two. And we are in love!

Book review: The Pastor's Wife

The Pastor's Wife Abingdon Press (February 2010)by

Jennifer AlLee

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer AlLee was born in Hollywood, California and for the first 10 years of her life lived over a mortuary one block from Hollywood and Vine. An avid reader and writer, she completed her first novel in high school. That manuscript is now safely tucked away, never again to see the light of day. Her first inspirational romance, The Love of His Brother, was released in November 2007 by Five Star Publisher.

Besides being a writer, she is a wife and mom. Living in Las Vegas, Nevada, her husband and teenage son have learned how to enjoy the fabulous buffets there without severely impacting their waistlines. God is good!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Maura Sullivan never intended to set foot in Granger, Ohio, again. But when circumstances force her to return, she must face all the disappointments she tried so hard to leave behind: a husband who ignored her, a congregation she couldn't please, and a God who took away everything she ever loved.

Nick Shepherd thought he had put the past behind him, until the day his estranged wife walked back into town. Intending only to help Maura through her crisis of faith, Nick finds his feelings for her never died. Now, he must admit the mistakes he made, how he hurt his wife, and find a way to give and receive forgiveness.

As God works in both of their lives, Nick and Maura start to believe they can repair their broken relationship and reunite as man and wife. But Maura has one more secret to tell Nick before they can move forward. It's what ultimately drove her to leave him three years earlier, and the one thing that can destroy the fragile trust they've built.



If you would like to read the first Chapter of The Pastor's Wife , go HERE

Book review: Walking on Broken Glass

Walking on Broken Glass

Abingdon Press (February 2010)

by

Christa Allan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.




ABOUT THE BOOK

Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.

When her best friend Molly gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.

Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new srength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.

But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE

Book review: Beguiled

Beguiled
(Bethany House March 1, 2007)
by
Deeanne GistandJ. Mark Bertrand





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her... Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.



Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?



If you'd like to read the first chapter of , go HERE





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