Fracture Point - a Mommy Time Book Review

Disclosure: Jeff Altabef sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Today I am going to share an adult book with you. I fell in love with Jeff Altabef's books with his and his daughter's Chosen Series. I jumped at the chance to read his newest book Fracture Point. 

The Cover Story -- Mommy Time Review

Disclosure: Kregel Publications sent me a copy of this book free of charge for this review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.  As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

Today I am sharing with you a book in my favorite genre--mystery!! Mary Higgins Clark has been my favorite author for a very long time, but Deb Richardson-Moore is challenging that with The Cover Story. This book was released yesterday!

First Words of Jesus -- Mommy Time Review

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review free of charge from Worthy Publishing. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review.  The links are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

 As we enter the busy holiday season, have you taken time to consider the Greatest Gift of all? We often hear this time of year that Jesus is the Greatest Gift, but what does that gift mean to you? Stu Epperson, Jr. helps explain and explore this in his new book, First Words of Jesus.

Chapter Books for Various Ages: Beginning Readers through Adults

Disclosure: I was sent these products free of charge. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation. As always I am providing links to the book for your convenience.

Today I am sharing five chapter books with you and each is for different level/aged readers. We will work from youngest to oldest. The first book is the fourth in a series Hazel fell in love with. It is The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. We shared/reviewed the other versions: First, Second, and Third. I began reading this series to Hazel and the newest book she read to me!! Now Hazel loves to bring these books with us when we visit my parents. If she gets bored she pulls them out and reads them to herself. They are fairly easy reads and have pictures throughout the chapters. The suggested grade levels is kindergarten to third. 

Bringing God and the Bible into Your Life for All Ages

 Disclosure: Kregel Publications sent me copies of these books free of charge for this review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.  As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

Do you want to bring God and the Bible into your life more or perhaps into your child's life? Today I am sharing some books and a printable game for kids to do just this. Going by age we will start with the book for the younger child, The Bible and Me: Stories with a Message to Live By retold by Lois Rock and illustrated by Alida Massari.  

Color Me Fearless -- Relaxing Friday Adult Coloring Book Review

Be sure to check out my on-line Thirty-One Review & Party!! Get all your summer organizing essentials!!

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review free of charge from Quarto Books USA. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

Have you seen all the various adult coloring books out there? There are so many and it is hard to know which ones you will like. I have been getting quite a few to review and thought I would start a Relaxing Friday Adult Coloring Book Review Series to get through them and to share them with you so you can make some choices. To start I am featuring Color Me Fearless: Nearly 100 Coloring Templates to Boost Strength and Courage by Lacy Mucklow and illustrated by Angela Porter. 

Darkroom -- a Mommy Time Review

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review free of charge. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

Today I am participating in The Dangerous Darkroom Tour with Mary Maddox and Novel Publicity. My review is below but I have to admit this book is right up my alley. I love to read suspense mysteries and this one fit the bid.

At Home in the Father's House -- First Look Book Review

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review free of charge from Worthy Publishing. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

Today I get to share with you a look at the new book, At Home in the Father's House by John Sheasby with Ken Gire. This book shares John Sheasby experience as a pastor discovering his own distortions of God and the Bible. He also shares the discoveries he made to correct those distortions and finds ways to relate it to everyone's life. 

Revelation -- a YA/Mommy Time Review

Disclosure: Novel Publicity sent me a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation. As always I am providing links to the book for your convenience.

Today I am sharing with you the third and final book in the Legacy Series by Ellery A. Kane. The final book is called Revelation and all the familiar characters of the series are back. I previously shared the first two books: Legacy and Prophecy.

The Time Chamber -- New Year Resolution Review #4

Disclosure: Penguin Random House Books gave me a copy of this book free of charge for this review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.  As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

On Monday I started a new series for this week: New Year Resolutions Review. My first goal for 2016 is to work with Hazel more regularly on her Spanish. My second goal was to find joy in my every day life. My third goal is to grow closer to Jesus. My fourth goal (and these are in no particular order) is to find time to relax. The product I am choosing to review today to help with my relaxation is an adult coloring book called The Time Chamber by Daria Song. Now this book is the second book and the first is The Time Garden, the first adult coloring book I reviewed. 

Prophecy -- Young Adult Book Review

Disclosure: Novel Publicity sent me a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation. As always I am providing links to the book for your convenience.

A few weeks ago I shared a review of Legacy by Ellery A. Kane which is the first book in this amazing series. In the second book of the Legacy Series, Prophecy by Ellery A. Kane, time has moved on and the government has disbanded the Guardian Force and reopened San Francisco. They have even reopened Standford University (the only college allowed open). 

Prophecy gives more of the background of details that lead up to the evacuation of San Francisco and the start up of the Guardian Force. It also tells us what life is like for Lex and Quin and their friends and family after the need to fight the Guardian Force is over. Quin's father has been released from prison. However he is then arrested for the murder of his new wife. With his past murder behind him, it is hard for Lex to be positive of his innocence. This brings a wedge between Lex and Quin. Will their relationship last? Then their nemesis, Augustus Porter is back and doing his conning and double crossing again. This time however he is out for blood--Lex's.  The characters are well developed and there are new ones as well as many of the old ones from Legacy.

Like the first book, I was not able to put this book down. In fact I had trouble falling asleep some nights after reading before bed because my mind was whirling with what was happening in the story. It is an intense and action filled story. There are surprises around every page and it even ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. Personally I cannot wait to read the third and final book in the series, but alas I have to wait until it is available. 

This series is a fun-filled adventure for any young adult or adult reader. I highly recommend it!!

Legacy -- YA Book Review -- Mommy Time

Disclosure: Novel Publicity sent me a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation. As always I am providing links to the book for your convenience.

The year is 2041. A teenage girl is crossing the Golden Gate Bridge alone to enter the evacuated and dangerous San Francisco. Her mother is sending her with important information for the Resistance, but it may get her killed. This is how this amazing book starts. Legacy by Ellery A. Kane is a page turner. 

The Time Garden -- Adult Coloring Book Review -- Mommy Time

Disclosure: Penguin Random House Books gave me a copy of this book free of charge for this review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.  As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

Have you discovered the adult coloring books? It seems like everyone is getting into it. Even Starbucks has their new fall cups in adult coloring book style.

 And yes, I let Hazel use our gel pens to begin to color in a cup after I washed it out.

I found some gel pens on clearance for 30 cents each and bought them for Hazel. Then I started working part time and bought some various packs of gel pens for myself at work. Hazel immediately asked to share all the gel pens. I think we are a bit obsessed with them. 

Quilting with a Modern Slant Book Review

Disclosure: Storey Publishing gave me a copy of this book free of charge to review. All opinions in my review are my own and I did not receive any other compensation. As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation.

Now if you have been reading Crafty Moms Share for a bit of time you know I am a quilter. I tend to be a traditional quilter--using more traditional patterns. My mother has been experimenting with more modern patterns lately and it has intrigued me.  When I saw Quilting with a Modern Slant by Rachel May I decided I wanted to check it out and really see what modern quilting is really about. 

 

SOUFEEL Bracelet Review - Mommy Time

Disclosure: I was sent this bracelet and charms to review free of charge from SOUFEEL. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

Every once in awhile I get asked to review an adult item. Some I decide not to do and others I think you might like and do. This is one of those items. I was asked by SOUFEEL to pick a starter bracelet and some charms to review costing around $100. I let Hazel help pick the charms. She is hoping to get the bracelet when she is older. 

Hazel trying it on

Wooden Watch Review and Giveaway!!

Disclosure: I was sent this watch to review free of charge from JORD Watch. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. As in all my reviews I am providing links for your ease, but receive no compensation. JORD Watch is also providing me a watch to giveaway to one of you!!

 I am so excited to review this product and offer one as a prize!! Why? Because it is something I have been searching for almost my whole life. I know you are now thinking I am a bit crazy. After all it is a watch and you can find watches everywhere. However I have extremely sensitive skin and possibly an allergy to nickel. With this issue every watch I have owned has given me a watch if I wore them regularly. And I should add I have owned/tried many watches. I grew up in the 80's so I always wore a Swatch, but every couple of weeks I would have to put nail polish on the battery cover so it would not give me a rash. I wasn't so sure about always having nail polish next to my skin and stopped wearing them. I had a nice gold watch my grandparents gave me for my high school graduation, but I could only wear it for one day or it would give me the rash. I even found watches with ribbon bands, but where the ribbon connected still gave me the rash. (Did I mention the button on jeans gives me a rash?) So in college or so I stopped wearing watches and had finally just given up on them. Then JORD Watch contacted me asking if I would like to review on of their wood watches. When I saw that they were almost completely wooden, I jumped at the chance.

Chair Cushions

Happy Family Times is still open. Feel free to come share how your family spent some together time this week or get inspired by others' stories!

I guest posted over at Happy Whimsical Hearts today. Please stop by and visit!! It is her Happy Lil Hearts Are Baking Link Party so you can share how you and your child baked (or cooked) this week!

There are a few more days left to get an invitation to shop at Hullabalu from me. If you are interested go register here!!!

Today I got some Mommy time. I caught up on those things that needed to be done but I never get to. You know the list--schedule my mammogram, deal with healthcare receipts, etc. Now I have some down time and am going to relax and then visit all the great entries shared this past week in Sharing Saturday and at Happy Family Times. So I am going to share with you a Mommy Craft today.

Our cheap table w/ 2 of its 6 chairs

We have a cheap white patio set. I bought it when I was single just to have a table outside for one of the apartments I lived in and had access to a yard. It was cheap and is not the prettiest thing. The chairs are fairly comfortable, but not perfect. Every summer I talk to Steve about buying a new one. We look at the prices and decide not to spend the money even at the clearance sales. So I decided to jazz up ours. Awhile ago outdoor canvas went on sale at Joann's. It was the cheapest I had seen it so I bought some. (It is on sale again this week 50% off--I got it cheaper, but don't remember how much now.)  Anyway, my goal was to make some cushions for the ugly white chairs. Since we were having our friends over for the Fourth of July, I figured it was incentive to get them done. On Sunday I went to Joann's to buy some foam (also 50% off this week). I bought 1/2 inch thick foam. It won't provide much cushion but a bit. Then I started on making a pattern.

Bottom View

I took a piece of paper (well actually a couple taped together) to get the basic shape of the seat. I taped it to the chair and cut around the seat part. Then I took this paper and put it on freezer paper and added a half inch to each side. This was my top pattern. For the bottom I wanted two pieces so I could remove the foam and wash them if they get dirty. So I traced the pattern of the top on both ends and added more so I could hem it. In my first one I also added an inch strip to be the sides. I discovered this was not a necessary step and skipped it after the first one. I cut out the pieces and finished the edges that needed to be hemmed and hemmed them. Then I pinned the top to the two bottom pieces making sure they overlapped and I serged (you could zig zag your edges and sew the seams on a regular machine) all the way around. I turned it back out and used the first paper to cut the foam and inserted it. Now it is completely removable and washable. I think it jazzed the chairs up a bit and I have some more fabric so I may work on covering the backs of the chairs a bit too.

I was able to sew all six of them very quickly and it was very easy!!

This is where I share...