The Black Friend - a book review

From the perspective of the friend everyone should have, Frederick Joseph offers an essential read for white people who want to be better about race—and people of color who long to see their experiences validated.

“We don’t see color.” “I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!” “What hood are you from?” For Frederick Joseph, life in a mostly white high school as a smart and increasingly popular transfer student was full of wince-worthy moments that he often simply let go. As he grew older, however, he saw these as missed opportunities not only to stand up for himself, but to spread awareness to the white friends and acquaintances who didn’t see the negative impact they were having and who would change if they knew how.

Speaking directly to the reader, The Black Friend calls up race-related anecdotes from the author’s past, weaving in his thoughts on why they were hurtful and how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter includes the voice of at least one artist or activist, including Tarell Alvin McCraney, screenwriter of Moonlight; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give; and eleven others. Touching on everything from cultural appropriation to power dynamics, “reverse racism” to white privilege, microaggressions to the tragic results of overt racism, this book serves as conversation starter, tool kit, and invaluable window into the life of a former “token Black kid” who now presents himself as the friend many of us need. Back matter includes an encyclopedia of racism, providing details on relevant historical events, terminology, and more.

About the author: Frederick Joseph is an award-winning marketing professional, media representation advocate, and writer who was recently selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He’s also the winner of the 2018 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, given by Comic-Con International: San Diego, and was selected for the 2018 Root 100 List of Most Influential African Americans. He lives in New York City.

My Thoughts: I highly recommend this book for every single white person out there. Whether you think you know a lot about equality and oppression, or whether you think you might be a racist. Even those people that have people of color in their life still have more they can learn. As a white mom of black and brown children I know I still have so much to learn, but I am taking the steps to educate myself and learn how I can stand up for my kids and prepare them for the future. As a mom of a black boy, I am terrified about what he is going to be up against during his lifetime, which is why it’s so important that we change things now!!!

HIS ONLY SON - Movie Review & GIVEAWAY!!!

Moms, this is a movie you won’t want to miss! There are few things more powerful

than a mother's love for her son. Take your family to see this film, and be inspired

by Isaac and Sarah's relationship in His Only Son, coming to theaters March 31.

For the first time in a feature film, the controversial account of Abraham and Isaac will be brought to life, one that everyone can draw inspiration from.

His Only Son recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament—when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah. While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised—the son he must now lay upon the altar.

Buy tickets today to see HIS ONLY SON in theaters March 31st!

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WIN IT: $10 Amazon giftcard

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with how to reach you (email or @ig handle etc)

#HisOnlySonMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Second Time Around

Who doesn't love a second chance?

When empty nester Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother's run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon, it seems the only sensible thing to do is to sell it. But when her former secret crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the property in order to complete his plans to redevelop the funky town's business district into a soulless, cookie-cutter outdoor mall, Mallory digs in her heels and decides to renovate the property herself.

With a lot of hard work and a little bit of help, Mallory makes incredible progress turning the store into an eclectic home décor shop called Romancing the Home--all while trying to ignore the depressing and decrepit apartment she's living in on the second floor. When the shop catches the eye of a popular renovation TV show producer, Mallory is thrilled--until it becomes clear that her apartment is to be part of the segment as well.

She's tempted to abandon her dreams and the town under a cloud of shame. But perhaps there's more to Grayson than meets the eye. Can he swallow his pride, change his plans, and help Mallory romance her own home--and possibly her life?

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My thoughts: 

Cute, quaint and enjoyable, even if its somewhat predictable. Melody Carlson’s books always have a comforting feel, like coming back home after being gone awhile. I liked how Mallory kept her cool despite life’s setbacks and reminded the reader to leave it in gods hands without preaching at the reader. It was a subtle Christian undertone but not overly so. Id suggest her books. They are quick and easy reads. Great for a flight, beach trip or just some time to yourself!

Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this book. #SecondTimeAround #NetGalley

Daughter of Eden - book review

About the book:

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on One whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to one like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Until everything changes. With one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future--the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the one home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden 

My thoughts:

The beginning of this book was all fairytales and rainbows and butterflies and everything is amazing and “my husbands amazing” “my wife is a blessing” etc. As the book goes along Adam and Eve have more human emotions and interactions, but honestly, it was just a bunch of popping out babies and their stories, and I didn’t get more than halfway through the book. I normally love her stories, but this one just did not grab my attention

New Year's Resolutions - How to keep them!

How many of us start out the new year with ambitious goals, yet lack the plan to make these goals come for fruition. As a mom of four, my goal is often to eat healthier, get more sleep, take more time for myself, or exercise more, but how to do that with a part time job and four active kids? I think success happens when goals are broken down, and then plans are made!

Let's say my plan is to get more exercise. With three kids in school, one at home, and 2 that I nanny at home going to the gym is rare. I need something feasible I can do from home. Yes I could do YouTube workout videos, which I do from time to time. I could pop in a DVD or stream a class, which I haven't really tried before, but it's doable. Or something that I recently learned about is a seated at home exercise option called Cubii. It's small and it allows me to do some cardio while sitting and doing what I normally do like streaming Netflix, folding laundry or planning my meals for the week. Great, right? It would also be great desk exercise equipment if you work at an office or away from home. So goal made, and I have a plan to reach that goal.

Let's say my plan is to eat healthier. There are food delivery services or meal delivery services that cater to certain dietary restrictions. We have tried them in the past and LOVED them. These meal services not only provided the recipes, but also all the ingredients needed to make the meal. They allowed us to select the serving size too. We could get a meal for 2 or 4 people or even larger I believe.  For others who don't enjoy cooking, perhaps they prep meals on the weekend and have ready to go healthy meals all week long. One day of agony in the kitchen, for a full week of easy healthy meals ready to go. It could look different for everyone. So goal made, and plan made to make this happen.

Let's say I want to take more time for myself. Perhaps this means putting the kids to bed 15 minutes earlier, or waking them up 15 minutes later in the morning. For some it may mean allowing the kids to watch an extra show so mommy can drink her tea or coffee while it's still hot (rare in my household, unless my husband gets me this much wanted gift). For those of you with childcare options, maybe hiring a sitter once a week so you and a friend can go out and unload all the weights you carry as a parent or as an adult. No one said adulting is easy, right? Sometimes you just need a mental break. For some it may mean putting on a good reality show and just zoning out to someone else's drama. Make a plan so the goal can be achieved.

Many thanks to Responsival for sponsoring this post!

GIVEAWAY: $10 Amazon Giftcard!

 About THE GARDEN

“The Garden” is a Christ-centered children’s cartoon series aimed at teaching your kids the Gospel in a way they can understand. It features LENNY THE LION and LUCY THE LAMB—two best friends who work inside a magical garden where ANYTHING can grow! Each story revolves around them having to accomplish their goals by learning a Bible story or an original song. “The Garden” will take your kids right along on these adventures, too!

The Garden is created by BUTCH HARTMAN, the creator of the iconic Nickelodeon animated shows: THE FAIRLY ODD-PARENTS, DANNY PHANTOM, TUFF PUPPY, and BUNSEN IS A

BEAST!

This is a funny video that had my kids mesmerized! The bright colors are so appealing and the humor appeals to younger kids without it being potty humor. It was a delight and would highly recommend it for younger kids!

Buy the Christmas episode here:

https://www.gardencartoon.com/shop

GIVEAWAY: $10 Amazon Giftcard

Leave a comment down below with a way to contact you (Ig handle or email) Simple!

#TheGardenMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

CSB Explorer Bible GIVEAWAY!

 

The CSB Explorer Bible for Kids helps kids place God’s word in the middle of God’s world. Engaging features, easy-to-read 8.5pt text, and full-color design connect with kids’ natural curiosity and help them experience the wonder and truth of the Bible. From the two tables of content — one in order and one sorted alphabetically — to the topical concordance and index of Bible stories, each detail is designed to give kids the tools to find their way around God’s Word.

Engaging full-color designs and clear language will welcome kids of all ages into exploring and understanding the Bible for themselves. With fun facts, timelines, photography, and more, they’ll see the Bible as real, exciting, and life-changing truth.

My 6 year old loves his new Explorer Bible, and while he can't read it all yet, it has certainly captivated his attention and he WANTS to read it!

WIN IT: Win a copy of the CSB Explorer Bible

HOW TO ENTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Gift Guide: Unboxing Benefit's 2022 Advent Calendar

Here is our first Advent Unboxing for the 2022 Holiday season:

Benefit 2022 Advent Calendar

BOOK REVIEW: The Bookshop of Secrets

A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family's legacy…and her future.

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…

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I thought the plot was interesting from the very start. A girl with a scarred past who wants to fade into the background and not set down roots for fear of being hurt again, comes to a new town where she needs the help of others to accomplish her goals before she can pick up and leave again. The author hinted at a treasure, and a treasure hunt. So much of the book had me turning the pages to read more. While the romance was predictable, I didn't see how all the characters were connected until the very end. The author did a great job of weaving a story and family trees so we didn't see every twist and turn coming, only a few little ones perhaps. I did call who the "bad guy" was about mid way through the book, but I will save that for you to find out when you read the book. I love books and reading so I also enjoyed all the famous book references and the fact that they made being a "book nerd' sound like something you want to be, which I think it is! I really enjoyed it and read it in only a handful of days!

#TheBookshopofSecrets #NetGalley

GIVEAWAY: $10 Amazon Giftcard And Movie Review - Paul's Promise

About PAUL'S PROMISE

Set in the peak of the 1960s Civil Rights movement, "Paul's Promise" is the inspiring true story of Paul Holderfield, former racist firefighter-turned-pastor who started one of the first integrated churches in the American South. It's one man's journey to hope and healing during a troubled time in our Nation's history that resulted in one man's decision to serve God and stand up to injustice - a story that continues to make a huge impact on the community to this day.

BUY TICKETS to see Paul's Promise in theaters starting October 21st

I always love learning about family friendly movies. Even movies I watched as a kid, looking back, were not always family friendly. It's great when we can all agree on a movie to watch on movie night and it's something the kids AND adults will both enjoy!

GIVEAWAY: Win a $10 Amazon Giftcard

HOW TO ENTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

#PaulsPromiseMIN

Holiday Shopping Season is COMING!!!

Hey everyone,

Fall is here, so holiday shopping is just around the corner and we are gearing up for our annual holiday gift guide series to begin. We have some great things coming your way like Advent Calendar unboxing, previews of holiday lego sets, beauty gift sets, home decor and more!!!

Stay tuned!!!

Book Review: Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

 Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?

REVIEW:

If you enjoyed the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers you would LOVE this book! I can't imagine being a young girl who witnessed her entire family die to keep her safe, and to no avail. Heart Breaking! On the flip side is a man who comes from a dark background and will stop at nothing to NOT repeat history. It was incredibly written and I honestly could NOT put it down. I think I read it in 2 or 3 days, which says a lot considering I nanny 2 little kids and have 4 kids of my own. It's safe to say that anything else this author writes I plan to read! 5 stars!!!