Plain Jane Laundry Soap (Green Resolutions Giveaway) WINNER!

The winner for the Plain Jane Laundry Soap giveaway is entry 660 - Rebecca!

Congratulations!

Be sure to enter my other giveaway - Mountain Rose Herbs & to come back tomorrow for the From Our Hearts to Yours Giveaway Event! :-)

Sisters of the Quilt ~ The Complete Trilogy :: Book Review

Sisters of the Quilt ~ The Complete Trilogy

by Cindy Woodsmall

Can Hannah find refuge, redemption, and a fresh beginning after her world is shattered? 
When the Heart Cries
Her life among her Amish community brutally interrupted, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp faces questions neither family, nor fiancé, nor even faith can easily answer. The first book in the Sisters of the Quilt series, When the Heart Cries will ignite a broader understanding of others’ beliefs and a God-given strength to deal with pain we all experience.

When the Morning Comes
Rejected by those she loves, Hannah Lapp leaves her Amish community and seeks refuge in the world outside, leaving her family and friends to wrestle with the painful truths that emerge in the wake of her disappearance. As she struggles to find her place in the confusing Englischer world, her community deals with the turbulent aftermath of her departure.
 
When the Soul Mends
Hoping to help her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community she fled in disgrace more than two years earlier. When hidden truths are revealed about her former fiancé, she must choose whether to return to the Plain life or to the Englischer man who adores her in this captivating conclusion to the Sisters of the Quilt series.
 
This three-in-one collection includes the entirety of the best-selling Sisters of the Quilt trilogy now at a new low price! 

My Review:

I was a little disappointed with this book with some of the content being adult only (in my opinion).  Though a captivating and great read I wouldn't want a daughter of mine to read this book until she was older or married (I only have a 17 mo boy right now...).  It might just be because of my upbringing and the sheltering that I had when I was at home.  Every family and parent has different ideas of what is age appropriate for their children and I'm sure that would play a big role on who/what ages could read and benefit from this book.  For me, this was a neat adult book - really enjoyable!

It was a wonderful story though, heartache, healing and forgiveness were shared in a way that touches you.  The story was very well thought out and researched, it doesn't seem much like a fiction book, with very real life happenings in it.

Through all the heartache and bitterness reaped on Hannah (main character) one of the best things I found about the book what her devotion to God.  Though she left the Amish she didn't leave all faith.  She still trusted in God and waited on Him to bring healing to herself, her family, and Amish community.  She doesn't return to the Amish faith but she does forgive those who wrongly accused her.  In the end she marries a Plain Mennonite man, the man that she's (secretly) loved since the beginning of the series.  A huge thing that comes across in this series is the fact that forgiveness is everything - many wrong accusations and misunderstandings become nothing with true forgiveness. 

** I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review all opinions are honestly my own. 

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Go visit Lessons From Ivy and read her review and enter her giveaway for The Good Wife's Guide eBook! :)

Menu Plan 1/30

MONDAY – Potato Cheese Soup
TUESDAY – Taco Soup
WEDNESDAY – Burritos (rice, beans, veggies)
THURSDAY – Lasagna
FRIDAY - Pizza
SATURDAY – Burritos
SUNDAY – Leftovers or with Family

For more Monday menus go to: www.orgjunkie.com

Soaked Baked Oatmeal {Recipe}

After finding this recipe for Baked Oatmeal a few weeks ago I've been making soaked baked oatmeal for breakfast - we love it!  I searched for several recipes, mixed them up a bunch, removed ingredients and found which combination we like best.

I really like how soaking the oats before preparation makes them easier to digest and helps your body better absorb the oatmeal’s nutrients.

This is a super easy recipe.  I often mix all the dry ingredients together in a little container when I begin soaking the oats and then in the morning just add everything together.  Many times my husband has added the ingredients in the morning and baked it for me.

Normally 1 8x8 pan of this oatmeal will feed the three of us twice.

Soaked Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats, not instant
1 cup full-fat plain yogurt with live, active cultures
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla 
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup whole milk
1 – 2 cups fresh, frozen or dried fruit (we often do raisins or apples)

Instructions:

Mix oats, yogurt and water in an ungreased 8 x 8 baking dish. Cover with a clean towel and let sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours. Don’t worry, your yogurt won’t spoil. The live cultures keep it from going bad.

When you are ready to prepare your oatmeal, mix remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add to oatmeal mixture and stir until incorporated.

Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Scoop servings into bowls and top, if desired with real maple syrup and milk.

Sometimes we don't put any fruit into the oatmeal and just add fresh cut apples or raisins to our bowls before eating.

Leftovers are great re-heated.

Linking with Comfy in the Kitchen, An Original Belle, The Purposed Heart, The Better Mom, Barn Hop,  Your Thriving Family & Mama Chocolate

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Ohh, Baby, Baby Giveaway Hop!

Ohh, Baby, Baby Giveaway Hop sponsored by The Shopping Duck is taking signups now. This blog hop event will take place from April 1, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Come join the fun!

This giveaway hop is for baby, maternity and related products. What new mother, or expecting mother wouldn’t love to win some great new prizes!

This should be fun! :)

Sponsor Spotlight :: Jenuinely Pure

I'm excited to share this product with you.  I was able to try out Jenuinely Pure's bar soaps and just love them!  You probably already know how much I love natural homemade soaps made with pure & natural ingredients.  Jenuinely Pure soaps are exactly that!

I tried both the vanilla bean and pink grapefruit scents & I love them both!  The scent isn't overly powerful but gentle & wonderful.  I've never been one to like strong scents and perfume-y smells, these soaps have just the perfect amount of scents!  My husband likes them too!

They lather really well and leave your hands feeling moisturized yet clean!  They don't leave your hands dried out and are made from pure ingredients.

Pink Grapefruit: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis (palm fruit),confectioner’s sugar, ground paprika, citrus paradise (grapefruit) essential oil

Vanilla Bean: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis(palm fruit), vanilla planifolia (vanilla bean) powder, natural vanilla oil

Jenuinely Pure makes much more than just bar soap.  They have Body Cream, Lip Balm, Facial Products, Home Cleaners, Baby Wash & other Baby Products, & lovely Gift Sets just to name a few. Check out their site to see everything they carry.

I love their commitment to pure products:

In our products, we promise to use...

• Only high-quality & pure ingredients
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 We keep our products simple. We believe God created everything we need for health and wellness in nature...there's no need for man-made stuff!

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BUY IT!
You can purchase Jenuinely Pure bar soaps (and any of their other products) directly from their website for $4.95 offered in Cinnamon Oatmeal, Pink Grapefruit, Orange Clove, or Vanilla Bean.  Now until January 31st use code ARESTFULPLACE to receive 15% off your order!

WIN IT!!
Want to try some Jenuinely Pure products?  Come back between February 1st & 14th to enter for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate during the From our Hearts to Yours valentines giveaway event!!