Adults

Simple Money, Rich Life

~ Megan

“Easy to read” and “finance book” are not two phrases that I have ever used in the same sentence, until now! Simple Money, Rich Life is the easiest to understand finance book I have read. It isn’t just a “How-to” but an in depth study of your finances. Bob Lotich really helps you to understand money.

I was excited to receive this book because I knew my husband was looking to quit his job this October. I thought the timing was great to learn more about how to make my money work for me and gain some basic knowledge of investing. Fast forward to a few months later, we are in June and my husband put in his two weeks notice. At that time, he was hoping to do some things from home. This book allowed me to find unique ways to control my finances. (It also inspired me to start selling my unused items on Facebook again!) It also gave me lots of talking points. The biggest one being how to write out your fears and think through the ways to prevent or repair those particular fears.

Fast forward to today, and my husband has actually taken a teaching job and out situation looks completely different. But I am still working through many of the concepts from this book.

Here are a few particular things that stood out to me:

-It’s ok if you are finding ways to provide for your family that might feel below your abilities. You may have a master’s degree but find yourself selling your kid’s unused toys on Facebook to bring in a little extra cash while you choose to stay home with him.

-Understanding your Assets Under Management really gives you some perspective on what you really have. When I think “money” I don’t think of the value of all of the items I own. I think of the cash in my bank account. It gave me peace to realize that I actually have more than I realized! And at any moment, those things could be sold if necessary.

–Anyone can be good with money when you learn how to attend to your money. Back in May I began to merely track our spending. I literally kept every receipt and wrote it in a notebook under a specific category. We have done this before, but it has been a while. I found it interesting because my husband and I were quick to underestimate how much we were spending on things like groceries. We kept saying about $400… NOT!!! It wasn’t until I started paying attention that I noticed it was much, much more! This really helped us to refocus our spending.

-And of course, for the nearly 2 months my husband was working on some goals at home, we did not want to spend any unnecessary money. Tracking held us accountable. I was less likely to buy something if I knew I had to write it down! (There are apps for this sort of thing but I prefer paper! There is something to literally writing your spending down.)

I also really loved that Bob’s wife, Linda, tossed in her thoughts, opinions, and experiences as well. Overall, this book is a great read. I feel like it may be one I return to often as a refresher! I highly encourage everyone to grab a copy no matter your current financial situation. You WILL learn something from this book!

You can learn more about Bob and Linda Lotich at there website www.seedtime.com

My new found love!

~ Megan

Over the past several weeks, I have really begun to have an interest in cultivating a morning time with my little man. Like most of us, I set out to find a podcast to listen to and discovered Pam Barnhill’s Your Morning Basket podcast. I, of course, begin to binge listen. In episode 20, she introduces Bonnie Ward Simon, founder or Maestro Classics. I was enthralled by what Bonnie was doing. Setting children’s books to classical music? Sign me up! (Did I mention my son is pretty musical and I have also been wanting to find ways to introduce him to that too? Match made in heaven!)

I went to Maestro Classic’s website* a few weeks back to find that Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel was not only one of their books, but also on sale! Double YES! I purchased it and while I waited for it to come it, I moseyed on over to the public library catalog and put Big Machines and Mike Mulligan on hold. By the time the CD arrived, we had been reading these books for several days. My little guy was so in love with the CD the first time he listened. Every day after that, when I picked him up he’d ask if I could play the CD. WIN!

Currently, they are having an Easter sale and I have my eye on a few things. If you haven’t yet, you should definitely check out their website. As well as Pam’s podcast!

*Affiliate link

First Quarter Reading Update

~ Megan

Wow! It’s already April 1st! I can’t believe it. I decided to take a few moments to figure out where I am in my reading goals for 2021. I realized that I did not publish a post about my goals so if you do not follow me on instragram, here is my reading plan for 2021:

10 Biographies- I decided that I really enjoy reading biographies and I would like to know more about certain people from history.

5 General Nonfiction- Any other type of nonfiction not considered a biography.

10 Fiction- because I cannot NOT read fiction!!

So, where am I as of 4/1/2021?

I have completed 1 biography. I read a YA biography on Benedict Arnold that read like a novel! It was very good. I am currently working on a biography on Mary Todd Lincoln. I’ve actually been reading on this book for nearly a year. It is very scholarly and at times I can only read a few pages in one sitting.

I have read 1 nonfiction book written by a 12 year old! It was over Dred Scott v. Sanford. I have a huge stack of books that fit this category and hope to dive into more of them over the summer.

And no surprise here, but I have completed 10 fiction books! And the stack keeps growing. I had no fears about meeting this particular goal but I hadn’t anticipated meeting it so quickly! Audibles and the Libby app have really assisted me in getting more fiction reading down these last few months. You can read my thoughts about Lovely War, Amora, and Shadows of the White City now. More reviews on my fiction reads coming each Monday.

Lovely War

~ Megan

I stumbled upon this book in the library where I work. It was on the bottom shelf, but the pink cover caught my eye. I immediately checked it out to myself and put it on my desk… where it sat untouched for a few days. I realized there was no way that I would be able to read 464 pages, so I used an audible credit and bought the audio book. I am so glad I did! Jayne Entwhistle is a favorite narrator. She, along with the other narrators, knocked this book out of the park!

Hazel’s sole focus in life is to attend a music conservatory. James’ focus is to come back from WWI. Aubrey’s desire to to make a name for himself in the world of jazz. Colette has no where else to be. As these four unsuspecting mortals go through their day-to-day activities, they never suspect that the gods and goddesses have a hand in those very activities.

This story is told from the perspective of Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, and Hades. Each recounting their part in the love stories that unfold. Aphrodite, sitting in a hotel room in 1942, recounts a particular love-story she holds so dear. That love story begins in 1918.

This novel is detailed and the story so beautifully woven that I have a hard time not giving too many details away. Suffice it to say I was eager to find a student to check this book out! If you love a wonderfully written, slightly sad love story, then this book is for you!

Awesomeness:

-Hazel and Colette’s friendship is one to be admired.

-The writing style is delightful. The story is mostly told by Aphrodite but the males gods will speak throughout the novel as well. I have a whole new outlook on Hades.

-The historical notes section of the book is very detailed. For the audiobook, it was about 25 minutes and was read by the author. The research Julie did was outstanding!

Cautions:

-This is WWI and the race relations in the US are rough. There is a lot of negative attitudes and behaviors towards to African-American service men.

-This is a book set during two world wars. As you can imagine, the suffering and death rate is great. But nothing is written to an extreme or with excess graphics.

The Seabirds Trilogy

~ Megan

Imagine: it’s early summer. 1939. Your mother is dying from tuberculosis. You are packed up and sent to Maine to live with an eccentric aunt while your parents sail off to Switzerland as a last ditch effort to heal your mom.

This is exactly where Agatha finds herself. What she imagines will be a drab summer of fretting over her parents and learning to paint birds, turns into a grand adventure that will set her course for the duration of World War II.

The Seabirds Trilogy follows Agatha (dubbed Piper by her aunt), her aunt Edie, Horatio, Peter, and her three German-Jewish cousins. Ultimately what starts out as a combination honeymoon and attempt to meet up with her parents (Book 1) leads to her three cousins in Palestine each fighting, in their own way, for a homeland (Book 2). And ultimately, culminates in Australia on the Western Front! (Book 3).

Glasner has created a trilogy that both entices and educates. Full of historic references, these books take you on an adventure from Europe to Palestine to Hawaii to Australia. The characters are rich and real and quite frankly, tougher than nails.

Be prepared to be transported back to, what is quite possibly, the darkest time in the world’s history. As you get lost in the story, you will escape from the Nazi’s, smuggle Jewish children out of Europe, go undercover, learn to fly planes, go on secret missions, and escape a Japanese POW camp.

Book 1: Voyage of the Sandpiper

Awesomeness:

*Historical accuracy! All of her historical references are noted so you can look into them deeper.

Cautions:

*This book is set in WWII and while Glasner does not get graphic at all, concentration camps are mentioned, characters die, anti-Semitic comments are made, and there is some undercover work necessary to save lives.

Book 2: Flight of the Seahawks (My favorite!)

Awesomeness:

*Strong female characters

*Lots of historical information regarding a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

*Uniquely written

Cautions:

*Mostly takes place in Egypt and Palestine during WWII.

*Characters get involved in the fighting.

*Relationships between Arabs and Jews

Book 3: Song of the Storm Petrel

Awesomeness:

*Continued historical references

*Characters come to know Jesus

*Families are reunited

Cautions:

*Japanese treatment of POWs

*The dropping of the Atomic bomb

Note: the author reached out for me to review her books. I received the books for free but was otherwise uncompensated. The above thoughts are my own.

My 2019 Reading Goals: a review

~ Megan

I started 2019 with the goal to read 3 books a month: 1 from my TBR pile, my book club read, and the book for my LM Montgomery Read Along Challenge. I also decided to keep a reading journal for the year to help me keep up with my thoughts on the books I was reading and give me a place to jot down favorite quotes.

I started the year off with a bang completing 4 books for the month of January! February and March were pretty good too. The area I tended to lag in was the LM Montgomery read along, partly because my local library didn’t have the books I needed and partly because my little guy was becoming more mobile and my reading time was being cut short.

The area I consistently succeeded in was my book club book. I was, after all, leading the book club so I needed to be prepared. The books also fit my current life status: mother, wife, and homemaker. Thus, these books held my interest longer and were easily applied to my daily life.

As the year went on, reading became much harder. I was so tired that reading before bed was difficult. I tried reading aloud to little man and that helped some. I also returned to work. If you were to look in my reading journal you would find a direct correlation between J’s mobility, my returning to work, and my decrease in reading. My book club fell apart after I returned to work so consequently I wasn’t pushing to finish those books. In fact, I’m pretty sure I didn’t finish October’s book nor did I open November’s.

The area I was most successful in was not buying any new books in 2019. Ironically! My TBR pile did decrease by several books and I am thrilled about that. I also reread two books in order to complete a series I had read out of order. In October, I was gifted a 3 month subscription to audibles, so I listened to 2 books not originally on any list or in any pile.

I have dealt with a little disappointment in the way my reading year turned out but I have come to two conclusions because of this year: any amount of reading is awesome and read what you really love. I believe it’s good to read books in different genres, but when you find one you really love, it’s ok to read as much in that genre as possible! The last several books I read were Civil War Historical Fiction. I enjoyed every minute of those books and that is what really matters. Not how many books I read, but the fact that I truly enjoyed the time given to those books.

I haven’t set any reading goals for 2020. I did, however, get on Goodreads. So we shall see if that helps me out any. I will continue to keep my reading journal but am not planning to create any specific monthly goal like I did for 2019.

Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker

~ Megan

You know, when you find your genre, you can’t help but read everything in it!! I was gifted 3 months of audibles for my birthday. Let me tell you, the pressure to use my credit well was intense. Who wants to waste a credit on a poorly written (and poorly read) book? (Side note: you can return audbile books!) Anyway, I took to instagram to try and find the best book for my credit. And let me tell you… I DID!!

Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker is a superbly written and extremely well researched novel. Throughout the entire thing, I kept wondering and hoping that the main character was real… and she was! (Which I learned in the author’s note section.)

As a former history teacher, I don’t want some fluffy novel that just happens to be set in an historic time period. I want the history woven with the story. Jennifer Chiaverini did just that. She included historic details and her character’s insights into those details. You can tell she put a lot of time and effort into her research and the creation of her novel. Personally, I think the tell-tell sign of a great novel is when the content inspires you to read more about the topic. I am looking forward to reading the memoir written by the dress making, Elizabeth Keckley.

Awesomeness:

  1. This novel is well-researched. The accuracy of the history is it’s best selling point!
  2. The characters are extremely well-developed.

Cautions:

  1. It is a Civil War novel and as such the issues of slavery will be addresses. In some cases, slave experiences are recounted. Nothing very distasteful, but real nonetheless.
  2. The difficulties faced by runaway slaves and freedmen in the north are mentioned. Nothing extreme, but if a younger audience is reading, you will need to be prepared to discuss contraband camps and the fugitive slave law.

Heaven Shining Through

~ Megan

I am super excited to present to you Joe Siccardi’s debut novella:  Heaven Shining Through. This novella was sent to me by the author for a read and review. To learn more about Mr. Siccardi and his upcoming work, visit his website.

Heaven Shining Through is a 64 page novella that centers around Samantha’s reflections on her life. Visiting her ailing mother, whom she never really got along with, Samantha is sent into a reverie of her past. She walks the reader through her teenage years and into her current life situation. Through her reflections, Samantha comes to realize that life really is unpredictable and perhaps her mother loved her more than she had ever realized.

Awesomeness: 

*As my hubby says, I’m a sucker for vocabulary. This book has excellent vocabulary. I circled 59 words that I would turn into a vocabulary lesson(s).

*The ending is a happy one in which broken relationships are healed.

*It is a short read and could easily be finished in an  hour depending on the strength of the reader.

Cautions:

*The word whore is used at one point.

*The S word is also used.

*Fondling is discussed and the main couple do experience a moment of intimacy out of wedlock.

*Several characters die. One from cancer- that could be a trigger for anyone having had that personally affect them.

*At one point, Samantha compares the Bible Church she is attending to her Catholic experience. There are not derogatory remarks against the Catholic faith, she is just merely reflecting on the differences.

Lesson Plan Ideas:

*Use context clues to define unknown words.

*Write an alternative ending to the story.

*Create a character map of Samantha. What is she feeling? Thinking? Doing?

The Mission of Motherhood

~ Megan

I think I have made it my mission to read all of Sally Clarkson’s books. Many people might assume that when one woman rights over 20 books, mostly centered on home and family, they’d become repetitive, but this isn’t so for her.

I began reading The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child’s Heart for Eternity because Sally was doing a summer series on her podcast over it. I am so glad I decided to read the book and not just listen to her podcasts. It was so insightful. I underlined and stared so much stuff! 

As someone who is, quite literally, preparing to take on the role of mom any day now, I found this book to be very encouraging and inspiring. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on being a servant mother and a teaching mother.

One of the many things I like about Sally is that she never assumes to have all the answers. She also doesn’t pretend that her life has been perfect and her family without fault. She is writing and speaking from a place of experience and I think we’d all do well to listen to what she has to say and apply what we can to our current stages of life.

If you are unfamiliar with Sally Clarkson, I suggest you check out her website sallyclarkson.com and her podcast At Home with Sally. You WON’T be sorry!

 

PS. I  just really love what this woman’s ministry is all about! Check out my post on her book The Life Giving Home as well.

6 Ways I am saving money on books

~ Megan

While reading isn’t necessarily the most expensive hobby one can have, it can add up. Below are 6 ways that I have started saving money on books. And who doesn’t like saving money??

The Overdrive App

I know I have mentioned this before, but the Overdrive App is attached to my local library. All I had to do was select my library, put in my card number and create an account. Et voila! I can check out ebooks and audio books FOR FREE!

My Reader Rewards

I was introduced to My Reader Rewards Club by Crystal Payne at moneysavingmom.com. It is a loyalty program for Tyndale Publishing and NavPress- Christian publishers. When you sign up, you’re given several tasks you can complete in order to earn points. You can then redeem those points for books. I currently have 170 points and I was able to get them all the same day I signed up. I am hoping to get enough points to add another Sally Clarkson book to my library. I have only seen a limited number of books I can redeem; I am hoping that they are only showing me books I am qualified to purchase with my points at this time. If you’d like to check it out, click my affiliate link. I will get 10 points for you signing up and you receive 25 points! Technically, these books are FREE too!

Bookbub

I was introduced to Bookbub by my dad. I am really not a huge fan of reading books on my devices, but considering I am able to get so many for FREE, it is worth it. You just need to download the app on your device and create an account. You can choose from the genres you enjoy and every day you’ll get your daily deals. On average, I receive 1 free book a week. Sometimes nearly every day. I don’t always download it, but it’s cool that I have the option. Out of the 31 books I have downloaded from bookbub over the past 2 years, I have only paid for 2! The other books are generally .99 cents to 3.99.

Audibles

Audible Membership is a monthly subscription through Amazon. It’s a little under $15/ month, which is a little less than the price of an average book. With your membership you receive 1 credit/ month. With this credit you can “purchase” and audio book. Once you have the book, it’s yours forever. If you just did this, it’d be worth it seeing as many times the audio version is more expensive than the book itself. The Audible Membership also allows you to purchase audio books at a cheaper rate. I did the FREE TRIAL and received 2 credits. When I went to cancel my subscription, I was given 3 different offers to stay on. I decided that I would do the 3 month subscription for half the price. Once my 3 months were up, I cancelled. (Note: the options given to you when canceling may be different now.) If you’ve never done audibles, the free trial is worth it!

***Currently (As of July 10, 2018), NEW PRIME MEMBERS can get a 3 month subscription for $4.95/ month. I am actually a new prime member and I am considering this offer. PRIME DAY is JULY 16, 2018!! So… you could sign up for a FREE 30 DAY TRIAL for Prime and then snag this deal. Although, I’m not sure what would happen if you cancel your prime membership after 30 days.

Prime Reading

Since I am on the subject, If you’re a prime member you can read many ebooks for FREE!! Several books come with narration too. (Read: free audio!) I haven’t yet checked any out, but I know when I am ready I plan to check out Born Survivors: Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage, Defiance, and Hope by Wendy Holden.

The Public Library

I can’t forget  the cheapest and best option of all: The Public Library! Take the kids and make a day out of it!

I hope you find these suggestions helpful!

Happy Book Buying!!!

PS- One final thought: Make sure your local Half Price Books has your address because they do send out coupons! In fact, I just received a weeks worth last week. I’m holding out until my 50% off coupon is good to go grab a book I’ve had my eye on!

*This post contains affiliate links.*