Where Treetops Glisten: Book Review!

The Christmas season is upon us and unrelenting but if you're anything like me, you're Buddy the elf. The Christmas season sets you in a mood of absolute joy. From decorations and music to the movies and family there's so much to look forward to this time of year and I celebrate as soon as I can. Once the weather is chilly, it's automatically Christmas season to me!

"I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite" - Buddy, (Elf 2003)

Alongside the fun commercial aspect of this time of year, is the REAL reason Christmas should be celebrated. The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The best Christmas present of all! 

During Christmas, to keep myself in the festivities of it all, I love a good Christmas themed novel with a strong family and faith foundation. Christmas, 2014, I'm recommending Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II. This is a wonderfully written historical romance set during the difficult time period this country faced during World War II. Please see below my review!

"Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II is a book of 3 novellas, each beautifully written by a different author, Sarah Sundin, Cara Putman, and Tricia Goyer. They told the stories of the Turner family during the Christmas season during the early 1940s during World War II.

Each story was perfectly woven and well blended with one another. It was an all around heartfelt read, focusing on family, Christian faith, sorrow, and joy. All elements we face and can truly relate to during the Christmas season. If you enjoy a historic fiction book, alongside a deep yearning for the Christmas spirit, and a little romance, then this is the truly book for you.

Each novella played it's part in displaying the real trials families faced during this time and the relentless hope that one  longed for and the timeless magic the Christmas season can bring. I loved that the book surrounded the Turner family and each novella highlighting this time period perfectly.

It was a pleasure to read!

Thank you to Blogging For Books for a complimentary copy for my honest review."

I recommend you to cozy up with a copy of this book today! Below is a link of the book on Amazon.com.

Where Treetops Glisten

Cheers to the beginning of this magical season!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Blogging For Books for my honest review. 

Gifts for the Step-Father on Father's Day!

Although our Papi currently has no biological children of his own, he is very much a Father everyday! He deserves much praise on Father's Day. Below I've listed things to get a step-father and to recognize him on Father's Day. 

Homemade father's day gifts are usually the most sentimental and cheapest! Here are some sentimental ideas for the step-dad:

Create a homemade booklet. The front could read, (insert what the children call him.) is the best step-dad because... Each page inside could be dedicated to a separate great quality accompanied by drawings and a lot of color. 

Cook him his favorite dinner and bake his favorite dessert. A man likes to eat right? Why not give him the exact meal his stomach desires. He will not only appreciate the thought and gesture, but he will appreciate the time and effort as well. 

My boys say the funniest things. A great way to get some laughs out of your husband would be to comprise a set of questions and have the kids answer. What is he good at? What is something he is bad at? What superhero does he remind you of? He smells like? Where does he want to travel? The possibilities are endless! (The laughs will be, too.)

A clean home. Our Papi, being the neat freak his is, would love nothing more than to have a clean home. Sparkling. Shining. No sign of the messy clan in sight. Smelling of fresh laundry and bleach. After church, and time at my parents, this is something he would love to relax in. Not making any promises, this serves only as a suggestion to this list. ha!

If money isn't an issue, purchase him gifts that will mean something and that he'll truly value. Not just ties, cuff-links, tools, or any other typical Father's Day gifts. Does he have a favorite sports team? Purchase him tickets to a game. Does he have any particular hobbies? Buy him something that correlates with that interest. Since the weather has been warm has he been itching for the beach? Drive him to the beach for the day. What are his go-to treats and snacks? Papi loves Snickers. Maybe we'll throw a couple in a gift bag for him this year!

There are so many cute ideas for more complicated crafts and personalized gifts you can find online. There are infinite ideas. Most importantly, we need to recognize our husbands for their efforts and all they do in our children's lives. There's nothing like a dad. 

Happy Early Father's Day!

7 Way to Get Inspired to Write

As an artist, (yes, writers are most certainly artists), there are times when we feel.. less than inspired. Perhaps, it's the sink full of dishes. Or, the crying children. Maybe, it's the day to put the bills in the mail. Sometimes life can just drag us down to the point where it's hard inspire what we write and furthermore, harder to get ourselves to write. 

It's tough. I admit. Coming up with blog posts. Sometimes the will power just isn't there to get it done. My blog posts are all family and faith related; however, my realization of lack of inspiration actually inspired me to write this post! Writing is honestly one of my favorite things to do, but how does one overcome those days where writing another post is the last thing one would want to do? What about that novel you've been working on? What can you do to keep it going? What can you do to finally finish it? 

Picture Credit

Below are someways to simply be inspired:

1. Read: Reading can give me the same escape writing does. I can find myself lost in a book and lose hours reading and meeting new characters. Reading can inspire me as well. It sparks my own creativeness and inspire me to begin writing again. Plus to be a writer, it is essential you are  reader as well. Stuck? Hop into a book!

2. Blog: If you're working on writing a book, whether it's your first or your fifty-first, blogging is a sure way to help get those creative muscles working. If your blog is different than the novel you're working on, writing for your blog is an excellent source of practicing. What do I mean by that? Writing is a talent. Just as playing the violin or running track would be. It's important we practice. Blogging is a great way to practice and to find inspiration.

3. Be alone: Spending time alone is one of the greatest ways to spark inspiration. It leaves you alone with your thoughts. Prayer and meditation helps. However, don't just sit alone on your couch at home in attempts to conjure up some ideas. Get outside. Walk around your neighborhood. Look at the beauty of nature, the birds in the sky, and the animals scurrying in your path. Go to a nearby cafe and eavesdrop. Listen to people talk, to the way they interact with one another. Sit at a local park and just people watch. Pay attention to their outfits, their gestures, their activities, and whom they are with. All ways wonderful ways to get inspired. 

4. Spend time together: Spending good quality time with those you love is always a sure way to help enhance your writing or simply inspire you. Listening to your husband tell a funny story about his work day can inspire you to take a comical turn in a work in progress you've sitting on your laptop. Watching your children play or talk about their day at school can inspire you to write a blog on family time, or use those experiences to enhance a story. 

5. Sleep: Give that overworked brain a rest. Sometimes it's as simple as that. People are often inspired by a dream. Who knows what great message will be sent to you during that nap?

6. Happiness: Personally, eating tacos with my husband and children is one of my absolute favorite things to do. It makes me truly happy. Going to church. Reading a great book. Watching a TV show that both my husband and I enjoy. Rubbing Chubby's belly. These things bring true joy to my life. They inspire me to write and they inspire my writing. Little pieces of your joy are always going to be sprinkled into what you write. That's the beauty of being a writer. We're raw. Open. We leave much of us on the paper. Let happiness be an inspiration. 

7. Do something different: What's something you've never done before? Drive in movie theater? Rollerblading in the park? Running a local marathon? Being adventurous can really get those creative juices flowing. Allow experience and life to inspire you to not only write but also inspire what story you tell. 

Writing is a beautiful gift and art. It's up to us to continue sharing it. Inspiration lies everywhere, we must pay attention.

What are some things you do to stay inspired? Comment below!

Wordless Wednesday

Papi and I's Summer 2014 Bucket List

I was adamant about creating and following through on my 30 x 30 list: 30 things I hoped to achieve before I turned 30 years old! I griped Papi for days to complete his. My griping has only landed him 4 items and they were most likely all my ideas. (Mine is still a few short - I'm letting time inspire me!)

Some things I've been able to cross off my list half way to 30 are:

1. Receive my Bachelor's degree.

2. Traveling outside the county again.

3. Purchasing a home.

A few things I still hope to achieve:

1. Teach the boys something unique.

2. Knit something amazing! (Actually, completing a knitting project I've started would be more realistic.)

3. Complete and publish a novel.

After periodically skimming over my list, I thought about what great fun it would be to great a bucket list as a couple! Below is Papi and I's FUN summertime bucket list!

1. Get a trip in to the beach.- We go every year, usually just for the day with the kiddies. I'm not a beach person, yes we exist, so one day is all I can possibly muster.

2. Have movie marathon day in bed. - Yes, I mean the entire day in bed with all of our favorite movies. With the AC on and snacks surrounding us.Sounds like absolute heaven.

3. Play 1 on 1 basketball game at our local park.

4. See a movie at a drive-in theater. Neither one of us has been to one before. It's great trying new things together as a couple.

5. Celebrate our 2nd year anniversary somewhere new and different.

Creating a short seasonal bucket list is a great way to keep your marriage fresh and fun which is so important! 

Papi and I at a recent Phillies game enjoying the beautiful weather spring brings. Sports events are always a great way to spend time together in the summer!  (I wasn't as amused as my sports guy - It was late on a work night, can you blame me?) 

What are some FUN things you and your husband are looking to accomplish this summer?

Wordless Wednesday

Messy Musings: A Letter to my Mother

Dear Mommy,

I am so proud to be your daughter. I am so thankful to be your daughter. You are a strong, intelligent, and beautiful woman. I attribute much of who I am, to you. You have supported me throughout my life in more ways than one. You've taught me how to be a lady, a mother, and wife merely by me looking at you. You are a woman of class. And sass. Ha! You are a woman of honor and great strength! A breast cancer survivor!!! You are a fellow "Messy Momma." Although everything isn't always dusted, everyone is taken care of. Everyone is happy. You are a fellow dreamer but you're also thankfully very literal. You're my go-to for advice. You will always be the first person I can in times panic. (Choking kids, bursted pipe,etc.) You've all the answers. Sometimes not what I want to hear but always what I need to hear. You've sacrificed so much for me and my sisters. I hope we are all making you proud!!

Cheers to you Mommy!! Thank you for everything. I love you to the end of time!!

Love,
Squinky

Happy Early Mother's Day to all  from Messy Momma!!!

God bless xX