Bluewater Holiday Appys

A large portion of Christmas is about spending time together with friends and family.

And eating good food!

I am a big fan of eating appetizers, especially potluck style where everyone brings their own favorites.  You can get so much variety and it's also a good time to try out new recipes to see what everyone enjoys.

If you are looking for some new ideas, Bluewater has some great recipes on their website.  I have previously reviewed their products, and my family continues to buy their products since we all enjoy it.






Maybe you could try out the Popcorn Shrimp in Puff Pastry.

It looks delicious, and anything with cream cheese is always a hit.










Or you could try the Shrimp Quesadilla.

Mmm!














Or if you want something on the healthier side, this Grill Salmon and Cucumber Salad looks super yummy.

Christmas at Harringtons

Christmas at Harringtons

by:  Melody Carlson

Sometimes the best gift is a second chance

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?

Reading Christmas at Harrington's, a story full of redemption and true holiday spirit, will be your newest Christmas tradition.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for aRomantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

My Review:  I thought this was a cute heartwarming Christmas story.  Some of the story was predictable, as would be expected from a Christmas story, however there were a few unexpected plot-lines as well.   The main character was very likable, and despite some challenges in her personal life she manages to stay upbeat and positive.  I really appreciated the new tradition created as she became "Mrs Claus".  It was a fun twist on a regular custom.  Overall I enjoyed reading this book.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group*** 

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

by:  Nancy Guthrie

How many Christmas mornings have you found your family gathered around the tree with presents beautifully wrapped and a scrumptious feast on the table, but with hearts that have not been prepared to truly take in the wonder of God become human? Not this year.


Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room, a family Advent devotional from Bible teacher and mom Nancy Guthrie, is designed to bring your family together during a season that is oftentimes too much about programs and presents, and simply not enough about Jesus. Along with devotions for every day in December, this resource includes explanations of some hard-to-understand aspects of popular Christmas carols, and discussion questions to draw in your elementary through high school-aged kids, transforming this time together from a dry lecture into a treasured family experience.


My Review:  I love the idea of doing a family devotional together every day, especially in preparing for the Christmas season.  Each devotional is brief, yet includes some great points to discuss in order to understand it more clearly.  Our kids have been engaged in the discussion,although I did find that they are too young for all aspects in this book, as it is geared for families with elementary through high-school aged kids.  We are looking forward to continuing on in this book throughout the month of December.

***I received a copy of this book from the Tyndale Media Centre in exchange for my opinions.  I was not required to post a positive review***

Brief Update

Hi everyone.  I know I rarely update my blog with anything personal lately but life is just BUSY!

So busy in fact that I haven't even had as much time to devote to my schoolwork.  My original goal was to finish these 3 Athabasca University classes by Christmas.  Even if I work non-stop between now and then I don't think that is a feasible goal anymore.

I was losing sleep over the stress of it all, and I was also turning into super-grouchy mom.  That is not fun for anyone.

So I made a tough decision to continue working on these classes over the next semester, as I technically have until the end of March to complete them.  This means more flexibility and less stress for me.

I have also registered for 1 course at the U of R that begins in January.  It is the last pre-requisite that I need in order to actually apply for the Social Work program.  They only take applications until the middle of January, so I also need to begin working on filling it out.

I would appreciate your prayers about this application, as I need to draw from my own personal work and volunteer experiences to answer the detailed questions about why I want to become a Social Worker.  I don't think I'm great with words but I want to ensure that I do this correctly, and I believe that this is where God wants me.

Share A Smile

I love to smile!

In fact, sometimes I think I smile too much, even when I don't really feel like it.  It's a work in progress to be honest with people when I am not at my best.

However, most days I truly enjoy smiling.  It is such a good way to relieve the stress of your day, or to tell someone how much they mean to me.

Some of my favorite things that make me smile?

Chocolate.
Coffee.
A foot rub.
Practicing the piano.
My silly kids.
Going on a date with my husband.

What are things that make you smile?

Snack Pack has a Share A Smile campaign going on right now through Facebook.  It's simple to "like" their page and begin sharing smiles with your friends.  Each time you accept or share a smile, Snack Pack will donate $1 to Food Banks Canada.  Their goal is $20,000 so please help them reach that goal!

You can also register for a weekly contest to win some great prizes!  The more you Share A Smile, the more entries you will have.  Good benefits for smiling!

 Disclosure - I am participating in the Snack Pack program by Mom Central on behalf of Conagra Foods Canada. I received a gift card as a 

thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Don't Look Back

Don't Look Back
by:  Lynette Eason


One man lives to see her dead--the other is fighting to keep her alive.


Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she has made a life for herself--though one that is haunted by memories of her terrifying past. She finally lets herself believe that she can have a close relationship with a man, when signs start appearing that point to one frightening fact--her attacker is back and ready to finish the job he started all those years ago.

Can she escape his grasp a second time? And will she ever be able to let down her guard enough to find true love?

Filled with heart-stopping suspense, gritty realism, and a touch of romance, Don't Look Back pulls you into its twists and turns to hold you there until the very last page.



Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.


My Review:  This was an exciting fast-paced story.  I appreciated the exciting storyline and the fact that it wasn't extremely predictable like many stories are.  I have also read and reviewed the first book in the "Women of Justice" series and I look forward to more books to come by Lynette Eason.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group*** 

Quaker Journey To Wellness

Over the past few years I have really tried to be more conscious of the foods that my family consumes.  I have introduced more whole grains; whether it be with pasta, rice or bread.

I've also stopped purchasing bread in the stores and now I know exactly what goes into our loaves, especially since we go through so much of it.  It's also a great way to cut down on the grocery bills.  

Actually when I'm baking bread, muffins, pancakes, waffles or biscuits,  I use mostly whole wheat flour, and I also try to add a little ground flax into the recipes as well.  I have made these changes gradually over time, but no one has ever noticed the difference in the texture or flavor.

I feel confident knowing that we are eating well, in addition to keeping lots of fresh fruits and veggies available also.

Are there still ways that I would like to improve my family's overall health?  Sure.

I am trying to set a good example of balancing my lifestyle with exercise but I still feel like I fail at this sometimes.  I have been getting back into a workout routine and it feels good to keep my body active.


Quaker understands that many families are striving to obtain wellness in their own homes.  They have enlisted the help of Lynn from Walking With Scissors to journal about her family's lifestyle improvements.

Each week there are prizes to be won, simply by participating in one of three ways on the Quaker Journey website.  There is also a Facebook page where you can join in the fun.  Check it out!

Disclosure - I am participating in the Quaker Journey to Wellness program by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Co. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.