Review: Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

Posted by Michele at 4:25 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here as Review: Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs on 3/20/13

***

I was contacted by the author of the children's book Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs and, although she didn't ask that I review the book, after downloading it and reading it just now (and then rereading it with Bobby), I wanted to pass along both a review and a special offer. Through today, you can download this book to your Kindle (or your phone with Kindle, if you are me) for free. That's right... a nearly $18 book for no charge. And, if you're like me, you'll decide that you need to own this book with its touching message and beautiful illustrations for the little ones in your life, and you'll go back and buy the print version. (It's the librarian in me... I actually need print books. Really.) I only wish we'd had this before I left for TN or Chicago, or before Peter went away on his business trip.

Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

written by: Susan Schaefer Bernardo

illustrated by: Courtenay Fletcher

Copyright: Inner Flower Child Book, 2012

Click here for the hardcover book
Click here for the digital version, available free through 3/20.

***

This touching tale is a back-and-forth between a child and a beloved adult who are unable to be together. As the child misses their dear one, they are lovingly reminded of all the walls that they can be connected even when they are apart.

"The sun will catch your kiss and use light speed, to forward it right on to me."
"Love is in each sttar twinkling in space and every frostly snowflake licking your face."
"Each grain of sand means I'm in reach..."

The book ends with the a final message of hugs and kisses, telling the precious child "I'll always love you, Little One."

While I think that this book would have been a wonderful read for before (and during) the times Peter and I have been away from the kids, I also think it can be used to explain when someone has passed away. From a librarian's point of view, it was always difficult to find books that worked well to explain how, while death separates us it doesn't mean we can't be together in other ways, for smaller children. I found 2 or 3 that I kept on hand that used common images (like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly for instance) to explain death and leaving, but it wasn't easy to find things that explained and comforted without placating or being too cutesy to really help. And, especially with picture books and the under 6 years old crowd, it's a careful balance.

This book hits that balance. If a parent, grandparent, or sibling dies, it can be hard to explain to a young child that, although this person they love is no longer physically with them, there is still a way to connect: hug a tree and feel your loved one hugging you back, look up at the moon and see the smile of your dear one returned, kisses sliding from heaven down the rainbow. Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs strikes a delicate balance between being a cutesy read and a heartwarming story that both comforts and gives a smile to the little one reading it. Bobby loved it and restarted it (twice) on my phone; I have a feeling that Maya, who often talks about Nicholas, Sophia, and Alexander living in heaven, will also enjoy it.

Long story short, I highly recommend this book, for kids under 6, who either are dealing with a separation of some reason (long term like divorce or short term like a business trip or deployment) or for the death of someone close to them.


This review, in similar form, was also posted on Amazon.com, in the product link. No goods (other than the free Kindle download available to everyone through 3/20) was exchanged for this review.

Review: Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Posted by Michele at 4:18 PM 0 comments

Back when we were pretty much gluten free/dairy free to see if that diet would help Bobby, we stocked up on a variety of different items and brands.  While we didnt care for the Purely Elizabeth pancake/waffle mix at all, and the oatmeal cookies were more of a success with people outside our household, I decided today to try the box of chocolate chip cookie mix.  Gluten free and vegan, I thought I'd compare it to my own recipe.  I love mine waaayyy more, but these cookies weren't bad.

I followed the directions (1/2c oil, 1/4c applesauce, 1tbsp vanilla) and baked them at 350 for 12 minutes.  After cooling for 1 minute, I put them on wax paper to cool.

Because I'm me, I snuck a bite before they were cool and, honestly, I think the just-hot-enough-but-not-mouth-burning cookie tasted better than the cooled one, which had more of an earthy taste and less of the sweet, cookie taste you think of when you think chocolate chip cookie. 

In general, they weren't overly sweet and with their ingredients (millet and almond and garbanzo bean flours, and chia seeds), they are treats you can feel good about eating.  But if I wanted a chocolate chip cookie, I'd probably cook up a batch of my own.  If I just wanted a lightly sweet cookie that had the texture of an oatmeal cookie but the hint of chocolate chip, I'd bake these up again.  They are definitely something to share with the GF, vegan crowd in my life.

B+

(I was not compensated for this review, nor did I recieve any free products of any sort in return for this review.)

Review: Whitmor 12-Bin Organizer

Posted by Michele at 2:07 PM 0 comments

Whenever you write a review the really, really endorses an item, it sounds like you were paid to do it.  And, if you were paid, it sounds contrived.  I wasn't paid for this review, nor did I get anything in return for reviewing this item.  I actually bought it earlier in the week and I just really dig it.  So I thought I'd share.

I live under the false illusion that I am organized.  Of course, for months, my idea of living room organization (as it relates to the kids toys) is this Sterlite bin that I kept under the train table.  The kiddos would randomly (and not even to play with anything) dump it in the floor.  It drove me nuts.  But, it was easy enough to just throw all the trains, cars, tracks, etc in it when someone was coming over.  In spite of the fact that it was unorganized and didnt look all togethern neat... But hey!  Trains and cars (that REALLY hurt when you step on them) weren't in the floor, so I'm organized. 

Honestly, it got to the point this week (probably because a fair amount of my time is spent loving the couch) that the sound of the metal and wood and plastic crashing to the floor, the kids standing on the bin just for fun, and the all around lack of 'neat' look took me down.  I just couldnt take it anymore.  So I pulled up my trusted buddy, Amazon, and looked for some sort of storage.  I wasn't sure what I'd get but I needed something... I wanted the living room to look more organized (I mean, it's the twins' living room too, so I didnt want to banish their living room toys to the playroom because I couldnt deal) and I just wanted something that looked (and was) more organized.  Enter the bin system.

I looked at a few and, because I'm anal, read all the reviews and I opted to get the Whitmor.  At an Amazon price of $55 (retail listed as $90), it was cheaper than all the other bin organizers and it had the best reviews (4 out of 5 stars).  I even opted, with my Prime, to overnight it for $4 because I.WAS.DONE.  I needed something and I was on the verge of meltdown central.  (I know, it sounds crazy to be this UP over something so pointless but hey... I am me... This is how I roll.)  I ordered it Monday afternoon, it arrived Tuesday afternoon and, after my run and while our neighborhood babysitter was still here with the kids, I unloaded the box, which consisted of 2 MDF side panels, 8 metal rods, 16 screws (17 actually), 4 large bins, and 8 small bins.

No kidding: in 15 minutes, it was assembled.  The poles lined up to predrilled holes and I screwed in the one side before laying the second side on top of the poles and screwing those in.  All while carrying on a conversation.  It was a breeze.  Then, we slipped the bins into place and voila!  Ready to go.  I organized the toys and decided to count down how long it would take for at least one of the bins to end up on the floor.

I'm still waiting.

For whatever reason, Bobby and Maya dig this.  Maybe it is the primary colors.  Maybe it is because they can now find their different types of trains and cars.  Who even knows.  They take toys out and play with them, but no throwing, no mess.  And, when they are done, they have started putting them back!  (When they havent, I have put them back, but even my stress about cleaning up has dropped- probably because I'm not cleaning up what seems like a billion small trains/cars!)  It looks wwwaaaayyyy better and it even inspired me to move their chairs up and put their train table behind them (instead of in front, where it worked almost like a psuedo-coffee table to the main living area.  Now, it's almost like our living room has been divided into "living room" and "play area", which is nice.

But the mess... Oh the mess... Or lack there of!  THANK YOU!

It is made out of MDF (which isnt great but lends to the fiscality of it) but the metal rods seem stable (not enough to have little monkeys climb on but to able to do the job they are fine).  The bins are a good, hard plastic, which I think would work well even if we didnt have the organizer anymore.

Did I mention it cleaned up the clutter? 

So... if you have little ones (or you do lots of crafts) and you want something that is easy to put together, wont break the bank, and is very functional (and may even inspire your little guy or gal to clean up after themselves), I highly recommend this.  I even gave it 5 stars on Amazon, so you know I like it!

Book Review: Bringing in Finn

Posted by Michele at 2:12 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here on September 29, 2012 as "Book Review: Bringing in Finn"

Last week, I was asked to review Bringing in Finn which, according to the press release, centered around "one woman’s hard-fought and often painful journey to motherhood", including "the tragedy and heartbreak of losing pregnancies; the process of opening her heart and mind to the idea of her 61-year-old mother carrying her child for her; and the profound bond that blossomed between mother and daughter as a result of their unique experience together."

When I first read the premise of the book, I debated on whether or not to review it. Although infertility, pregnancy loss, and parenting after loss are extremely relevant to me, as a practicing Catholic, Peter and I had nixed IVF (and therefore things like gestational hosts and surrogates) from our fertility treatment possibilities a decade ago. Was I really the right person to read a book that's premise rests on that? Could I do it without bias and without projecting my personal beliefs about the process itself onto the book? After meditating about it for a bit, I ultimately decided that I could; after all, I work with clients all the time who have made choices that I wouldn't personally make. And I'm really glad that I agreed; while my personal views remain the same, I highly recommend this book for those battling through the trenches of infertility, suffering the devastation of loss, and those who have struggled with connecting with their parents- especially with a mother/daughter connection- on a deeper level, as well as anyone pursuing surrogacy. Mrs. Connell writes with a voice that is passionate and real; it is not surprising that she is a successful life coach and workshop speaker. As I read through the book (which I began on Thursday evening and finished Friday afternoon because it captured me that much), I felt that I was sitting next to this stunningly attractive mother on my sofa and she was unabashedly (and with language that mirrors my own at times!) opening up the heart and soul of the 6+ years of infertility and loss that ultimately led to her 'bringing in' her son Finnean.

Part of the connection was that with her Irish looks, she looks a lot like one of my dear friends. The honesty in her language was another. Like me, she had a history of sexual abuse, and our infertility and loss stories were so achingly similar that it hurt. Even though our paths diverged, our outcomes are so close: we are both mothers who are parenting after a difficult war with infertility and the heartbreak that comes with the loss of beloved children. We are mothers who, like those in the ALI community, choose to break the silence that has plagued our grandmothers and even our mothers and share with others the walk that we've taken.

Bringing in Finn begins with something many of us are familiar with: aching arms. After trying alternative options for getting her womanly health and fertility on track after she learned about the ill-effects of hormonal birth control and stopped using contraception altogether, Sara Connell and her husband, Bill, seek out the help of a reproductive endocrinologist and ultimately proceed with caution into the world of in-vitro fertilization. When they conceive fraternal twin boys, they are overjoyed. But when Sara begins bleeding and an emergency cerclage fails, she wakes from the fog of general anesthesia to learn that her sweet sons were delivered stillborn by Cesarean and that she almost died herself. With depth and honesty, she delves into the shards of her broken heart to walk the reader through her grief journey. There is no self-pity; neither is their shame in the fact that this happened to her. Instead, she openly expresses her anger, sorrow, and frustration; you are there with her- in the blinding lights of the hospital, on the floor as she sobs, bravely at her side as she hands over items to be cremated with her sons, sitting with her as she gazes at the shrine she and her husband prepare at their home for their sons. Her words are raw; her feelings are valid and, for the reader who knows this path (or is just beginning it), they are validating.

As the book continues, we see the emotional and financial turmoil of continuing IVF. She shares the sadness of a chemical pregnancy, of not getting pregnant at all, and the miscarriage of a singleton in the first trimester. In her honesty, Sara touches on the desperation, fear, and hope that are swelling inside of her in her quest to mother a living child, while at the same time openly discussing the strained relationship with her parents that she has struggled with since childhood.

But loss changes you. And it changes those who love you.

Vowing to open herself to her family, Sara talks to her parents about her struggles to conceive and, in her losses, she comes to find someone in her corner that she never imagined: her mother, Kristine. Having always viewed their daughter a bit flippantly in light of her alternative healing choices and career path, Sara is shocked when her mother shows up at a seminar she is teaching. But there is a greater shock yet to come: after meditating on what her life in retirement should embody, Kristine drops the bomb. She believes that she- even after menopause and on the cusp of 60 years old- should carry Sara and Bill's baby.

The book could read like an awful reality show or try to inspire heartwarming fuzzy feelings like those happy-ever-after baby shows, but it doesn't. Instead, Sara is brutal in her feelings- the joys, the happiness, the envy and jealousy.
"I felt brittle that morning...I wanted to be the one sitting in the...chair. I wanted to feel the baby moving in my body...I was not unconditionally at a point where I felt grateful for my body's inability to carry our children, but our path had already revealed undeniable gifts. I was experiencing a physical intimacy with my mother that I had likely not had since I was inside her womb. The love I felt seemed to burn away what had caused us pain... I'd heard clients speak of experiencing such relational transcendence when they were with a parent as the parent died. Yet we were being given this experience while bringing in a life." (pg.253)

As the book closes in on Finn's birth, she openly talks about the desire that somehow the medical staff could transport the ready-to-be-born Finnean into her womb so that she, herself, could deliver him, both having that experience while at the same time, sparing her mother the pain of labor and, ultimately, a C-section. Sara doesn't sugarcoat the sadness of being unable to breastfeed (she did prepare and was able to nurse for a short time) or her feelings of brokenness. But in the places where the book could fall into self-loathing or create its own pity party, she uses her honesty to keep on point. In no way is her story happy-go-lucky, but in a way that, no doubt, has helped numerous clients, she maintains balance and integrity and finds not only motherhood in her loss and in the successful delivery of Finnean, but also a daughterhood that she thought was lost forever. Bringing in Finn is more than a story of infertility, loss, and surrogacy; it is the story of mothers and daughters, of heartache and triumph, of suffering and healing. She sums up her story beautifully in the Epilogue:
"Before you name [situations] as broken and bad, consider that there may be something profound and important- not just for you, but for a greater good- that could not come any other way... I liked the idea of being open to chosen-ness, contemplating how even the broken-seeming parts of my story were and could be a portal for good. Perhaps I had been chosen. Perhaps we all had been." (pg.313)


Book Information:
Bringing in Finn by Sara Connell
(c) 2012 by Seal Press
Available at Amazon.com and your local bookseller or library


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for reviewing the title.

Review: Le Crueset Bakeware

Posted by Michele at 9:45 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here on January 27, 2011 as "CSN Product Review: Le Crueset Bakeware"

January 20th: I searched through the variety of CSN stores and found my happy place: the kitchen store! I have an addiction to kitchen items and my heart belongs to Le Crueset, even though they are too pricey for me to afford. But, happy of happies, I found a great LC addition to my kitchen! And, it was a two for one special!

In my head, I have images of lasagna, peach cobbler, and au gratin potatoes! Immediately, I select that item as my review item. In a matter of seconds, my order is placed and I'm told, via the computer screen, that my order should arrive on or before January 24th. That's Monday! Excellent! I'm having Peter's aunt for dinner on Tuesday night, and this would be lovely make-it-and-serve-it dishes!

January 24th: Where are you, beautiful dishes?

January 25th: I checked the FedEx page. They state that my package was on the truck for delivery on the 22nd but they opted to deliver it the next business day instead! Which, would have been yesterday! As of 7:20am, it's ready to be delivered today... I sure hope so! I wanted to use it for dinner tonight!



And, yay, they arrived by dinner time. Due to my changed menu, however, I didnt get to cook in them, however, I used the smaller dish to serve and it was a beautiful addition to my tableware, but, alas, beauty is only skin deep.

Or is it? Last night, I decided to make stuffed portobello caps and tomatoes. The larger dish was the perfect size for 2 3-oz caps and the smaller dish worked well for me 2 medium tomatoes. First things first, the clean dishes were sprayed with cooking spray then the clean and slightly damp veggies were placed face down and popped in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. When I took them out to flip them over, I could see that the dish was starting to get veggie residue on it (perfect! let's get something nice and baked on!). The cooked again for 15 minutes and then I stuffed them and put them back in the oven for 10 minutes. At this point, the tomato dish was getting especially "baked" and I was imagining cleaning the dish later... Fun times. The timer went off, I plated the veggies and sprinkled them with feta, and then... didnt soak the dishes. There was some definite veggie stuff on them and then, where the stuffing had come out, it had baked into the dish. And I just left them on the stove. I didnt soak them, didnt try to flake off the nasty. Nada. I mean, I wanted to see just how these dishes performed!

After dinner, I opted to not clean the kitchen right away. We played, Peter and I chatted, and then, finally, I went in. The dishes were cold and the dirt was dried on. P-E-R-F-E-C-T! And, just to add insult to injury, I cleaned them last! With my sponge having already washed a few things, I didnt bother to add additional dish soap, so imagine my surprise when the junk wiped right off! (I was actually really surprised. I recently baked in a well known glass 9x13 pan and that thing still has burned on gunk that I, two washes later, still havent been able to get off, so I didnt have too many high expectations going into last night). I cleaned the two dishes in about as many minutes and they sparkled like they had just come out of the box.

So, 2 Le Crueset pans turned out to make 1 delicious dinner and then made for extremely easy clean up. I think I'm in love!! I might be begging for new kitchenware for my birthday and Christmas this year!

Review: Shabby Apple

Posted by Michele at 9:46 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here on October 3, 2010 as "Shabby Apple Dress Review"

Wow... It seems like these reviews/giveaways come in spurts! :)

Near the middle of September, I was contacted by Shabby Apple, a women's clothing boutique. They offer "affordable, hip attire perfect for work or a day to play", and asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of their dresses. Never one to say no, I agreed and selected one of the dresses from their online catalog. Unfortunately, I received an email after the order went through stating that the dress was out of stock. But, never fear, they had selected another frock for me to try.

Now, I have to admit... When I saw the one they chose, I was really nervous. I mean REALLY. It was totally something I never, ever would have even tried on, let alone wear sight-unseen.

Here is what I selected.

Here is what they selected for me.

And, it only goes to show what I know about fashion and dressing myself, because I LOVED IT! I opened the package and was a little concerned still, but once I put it on... But I'm jumping ahead of myself.

It arrived and, as I unpacked it to wash, I noticed a tag that noted that, by purchasing this item, I was helping to fund a microloan for a mother in India. She weaves bamboo and her loan: $87. Wow. If you know me in real life, you know that I am a big buyer of fair trade. The whole idea of microloans, especially to women in underdeveloped countries who, traditionally, have been unable to help financially support their families, really strikes a cord with me. So, even before I put the dress on, I was in a good mood.

As I stated previously, hand-washing is pretty much lost on me. I barely have time to hand-wash myself, let alone clothes! So, I glanced at the "hand wash only" tag and tossed that bad boy in wash on the uber gentle cycle. I asked Peter to hang dry it while I was getting the kids to bed last night, but when I looked for it this morning, I found it in the dryer... Oh well! Happens around here! I dried his bike pants the other day by accident... don't tell! Oh- wait- he reads my blog! Oops!

I took it from the dryer and it looked just as perfect as it had arrived, so I decided to try it on. I'd already decided to wear it out to dinner in the evening (did I mention we went on a date?) As I pulled it over my head, I thought "this is NOT going to work". I mean, there are stripes. Over my tata's. I dont want to bring attention to those! But then I stood in front of the mirror.

And I was really pleasantly surprised. My hair was dripping wet and I'd just gotten dried from the shower, but I thought I looked pretty darn nice! I quickly took the dress off (as to not ruin the surprise for Peter) and told him that I was wearing my new dress to dinner!

We dropped the kids at his parents for the evening and went to our favorite Italian place. And, if I do say so myself, I looked awfully nice.

I absolutely loved the dress. (I wore it again to church this morning and I still loved it). It was comfortable, but stylish. It looked dressy and casual- all at the same time. I loved the way it hugged my figure without showing my faults. It washed and wore very well, and fit true to size. My only complaint is that the black skirt picks up lint easily (but, let's be honest, what black item DOESN'T pick up lint). I'm not a lint-brush-handy sort of girl, so that can pose a bit of a problem (for example, I had a gray spot on the skirt this morning at church because I didnt lint brush before I left but that's my fault too...)

Overall, I not only loved the dress, but I think that the company's commitment to women in developing countries is admirable. I told Peter that, while I've never been a dress lover before, I'm thinking of investing in a few pieces! It's not too often that I find dresses that fit well, don't make me feel large, and give me a feeling of helping others.

Guess I'd better convince Peter to let me buy the three dresses in my "shopping cart" already! Highly recommended!

Review: Fashion to Figure

Posted by Michele at 9:47 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here on September 24, 2010 as "Review: Fashion to Figure"

I was contacted earlier in the month by Fashion to Figure, a clothing company for full-figured women. Although I'm not fashionista, I'm also not one to turn down cute clothes either! They were gracious enough to invite me to review one of their products, and sent out a Lined Dolman Sweater.

From the picture and information, I was thinking that this wasnt something I'd normally wear, but I'm game for new things, and I waited anxiously for it to arrive. After they confirmed the order, it arrived within a few days (I was actually surprised by the speed of shipping, considering they were giving it to me for free). I opened it and it looked very much like the picture you see. The outer fabric was very breezy and the undershirt was a form fitting tank. The bottom of the shirt had elastic, which gave me pause, because, in my head, I could see it riding up and me constantly tugging it down. The label said handwash only (which, let's be honest, with infants in house AINT GONNA HAPPEN) so, I tossed that bad boy in with my delicates on the gentle cycle and decided to see what happened! I inspected it post wash and it looked great- no issues. I hung it by the hang staps to dry. The next morning (I washed it around 9pm), it was still damp, so, even though it should be laid flat to dry, I tossed it in the dryer on the low heat setting and, 15 minutes later, it was perfect. And, still, no issues with the fabric. Score 1 for the shirt! I put it on and was pleasantly surprised. It didnt ride up and stayed where I put it- even when I was moving furniture! I spent the entire day visiting with my dad, moving furniture from my house, and later that evening, had a girls night- and the shirt looked great the entire time! The only negative I found was that, since I am curvy and have an hour glass figure, the shirt hid that. But, the flip side is that it hid my tummy- which is never a bad thing. It was comfortable and, even though you wouldnt think it, the fabric was very breathable. It dressed up a pair of jeans when I needed it to, but it was comfortable enough to be a workhorse. It didnt snag when I played with babies on the floor or lugged a china cabinet from my dining room to the POD in my backyard. Overall, I was extremely pleased and it's already washed (and hang drying) for my next adventure! Highly recommended!

(Please note: this item was received free of charge, a $22 value, along with free shipping, a $9.50 value, in exchange for a review on my blog.)

Review: Seasons of Solace

Posted by Michele at 9:43 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here on May 11, 2010 as "Seasons of Solace (review)"

I was contacted several weeks ago to review a book of grief poetry and photography. Days after agreeing, Seasons of Solace: a story of healing through photos and poems, by Janelle Shantz Hertzler arrived. Ms. Hertzler, a native of Canada, now lives in Pennsylvania with her young son, after losing her husband to a drunk driver while they served as missionaries in Thailand. The book itself is beautiful, and the cover art immediately drew me in. (Although, with two babies, it did take me a while to finish the entire 77 page book).

The photography is breathtaking. Focusing on nature scenes, Ms. Hertzler's technique makes the simplest image of a leaf or feather serene in both natural beauty and heartbreaking sorrow. Without looking back at the pages, in my mind's eye, I can see a photograph of a red leaf against river rocks. At first glance, it is a natural eavesdropping of a fallen leave against a riverbed. But, from a grief perspective, the blood red leaf lays alone against the dry, waterless stone. Soft on hard. Life dying on death.

Ms. Hertzler rediscovered her love of poetry in response to her grief, and as a tool for releasing her feelings. Although only a few of the poems in their entirety spoke to my heart, the majority of them had sections of them that brought tears to my eyes or made me think "Yes, I understand...". Poems like "Gap in Time" (I sit in an unseen gap in time./He's dead. I don't know it.../Emptiness between the wings of cherubim,/where God said, "I will be met."), and "Pearl Earrings" ("Dead inside,/I resolve to join the living.../Choosing to love and live/is no guarantee there/wont be more loss and death") have lines that caused my breath to catch in their brisk honesty , while her musings on picking up her husband's things in "Personal Effects" will speak to anyone who is left with only tangible reminders of a life lived and the ignorance of thoughtless words. But it is the simply titled "Your Stories" that brings the measure of loss to full impact. ("So many stories have gone/that only you knew.../You are so much more/than thesum of your stories./Yet that is all we have left,/so we will cherish them.").

Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5, and would recommend it for those who have lost older children or adults close to them (although, those who have lost pregnancies, infants, and young children will also find poignant moments that speak to the soul as well). Curl up with the book, a hot cup of herbal tea, and a window view on a stormy afternoon at dusk, and let yourself grieve and grow.

Interested in winning a copy for yourself? Leave a comment below, and I will randomly pick a winner via drawing names of readers out of a hat! The giveaway will end on Friday (May 14th).

For more information on the author, you can click here and to buy a copy of Seasons of Solace, you can find it here.

In full disclosure, while I was not compensated for reviewing this book, I did receive a copy at no cost (a $17.95 value).

Seasons of Solace
by Janelle Shantz Hertzler
Published by Synergy Books (c)2010
ISBN: 978-0984076048
$17.95 list price