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The Whole Thing Together – Ann Brashares {Book Review}

June 7, 2017 by Dana

The Whole Thing Together

Ann Brashares

I’m a HUGE fan of Ann Brashares. From day one when I read the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Book One. Then through the entire series which I read before it was ultra popular and turned into a movie.

I’ve read other books of hers as well. So when I saw The Whole Thing Together, I knew it was a must-read for me! Another great novel for my Ann Brashares collection.

The Whole Thing Together shares the story of Sasha and Ray and their somewhat odd family. Sasha and Ray grew up in the same house but never at the same time. They were almost the same age, save for a few weeks. They had different parents but they shared the most amazing sisters.

Throughout life, Sasha and Ray shared everything. The same bed. The same shoes at some points. The same toys. The same bathroom. The same books. But not once through their entire life had they ever met. They’d barely even seen each other except in pictures or the occasional far away glance from the car pulling from the drive of the house their families shared.

Though this was a wonderful book, it was an odd story line to follow and a bit hard to keep up with even for a pro-reader like me. There were some fun perks, like when Ray and Sasha shared a job: their two halves making a whole for working over the Summer.

The best thing about the book is the wonderful relationship they had with their families and especially their siblings! Kids from mixed up homes need great stories like this to show them what a “normal” family should be even in it’s oddness.

You can find The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares online at Amazon in Kindle, Softcover and Hardcover format.

G is for the Good Things {Blogging through the Alphabet}

June 17, 2014 by Dana

So I have fallen off the Blogging through the Alphabet wagon for the past few weeks but I will be completing those posts later on. For now, we are on to the letter G.

G is for Good Things in Life

Lately, there is so much negativity in the world and not nearly enough appreciation for the Good things that we are blessed with in this life. In the news daily, there is constant death, stealing, bullying, and more. Concentrating on these are sure to drag us all down and creep into to destroy happiness in our lives. Many people come to dwell upon these negatives, losing thankfulness for the great things happening around them.

I, personally, share a lot of these things through my Facebook page and then see them shared forward by others. A few weeks ago, this negativity really hit me straight in the heart. I realized that this is not what I want to known as: The Negative Facebook Poster. I, instead, wish to bring light and love to others through our lives, shining like a bright star.

Over the past few days, I have actively chosen NOT to be on Facebook and to share mostly positive things (I’ve been doing that for a few weeks now). Sure the negative and local news still sneaks through (I often share for some of my local friends who would miss out on the news if not for those posts and have actually asked for me to share them) but I am making an active effort to be choosier about those posts.

A friend tagged me in a post the other day to share positive things, and I felt it was lead to me after realizing I needed to do these things already. I want to be more appreciative and I know that sharing these small things I’m thankful for will help me realize just how lucky I am to be blessed to live and love in this life.

So hear are 5 things I’m currently thankful for aka my Good Things in Life:

1. Always and forever, foremost I am thankful for my children: Winston, Mimi, Laycie and Jackson. They are such blessings for us.

2. I’m thankful for my Husband. For the love he gives to use and how hard he works to provide a home and life for these kids.

3. I’m thankful for my Momma. I couldn’t raise three kids with Epilepsy and Involuntary Breath Holding Spells without my Momma. She is there when I just can’t do anymore. She loves and cares and helps every single day and I’m so thankful to be blessed with a Momma that loves me and my children so much.

4. I’m thankful for Prayers. Without them, we’d be lost. So many times a simple prayer has gotten me through, even when my faith was small and frail, these prayers have carried me through. For that I’m thankful.

5. I’m thankful for Life, for everyday when I wake up and share the day with my children, family and friends. So many times, I just go through the process of the day but there is never a day when I don’t see the “Life” we are given as a blessing and there’s never a day that I’m not thankful for another day with my babies. I know that this can be taken at any moment and I try to live it fully and to enjoy every moment I have. I try to teach my children to do the same and never take a minute for granted.

These are only a few of the many things I am thankful for. What are you thankful for today? What are some things you can do to be more appreciative of your day to day life? Share with me in the comments below!

Saving Money at Home {Thoughts From Me}

October 10, 2013 by Dana

Let’s face it, times are tight. There isn’t a lot of money to be spent for anyone. Most families are having to cut corners just to make ends me and ours is one of them.

A few years back, I began to make our own laundry detergent. I found a recipe online and gave it a shot. I figured what did I have to lose? Guess what! It works great and I am still using that same detergent recipe. I prefer liquid to dry.

After the detergent, I began using sponges in watered down fabric softener in the dryer instead of dryer sheets. I get microfiber sponges and these have held up well for over a year now. I squeeze out the dryer liquid or leave a little more if it’s something like towels I’m drying, toss it into the washer and let it do it’s job. It works great!

I use vinegar and baking soda in my sink drains to keep them clean and fresh. This also helps dislodge any clogs that may be building. The smell goes away quickly, leaving a smooth flowing sink in the process.

I also use vinegar and baking soda with lots of water in my carpet cleaner. The two help to clean and condition my carpet, taking out the pet urine scent along with it. Nothing else has worked as well to kill that doggie pee odor as this combination has.

I use vinegar to kill weeds outside of our house. This keeps us from having to use the heavy duty chemicals and keeps the weeds from taking over. It’s a safe alternative for our pets and kids.

Vinegar also goes into my washer to soften clothing and towels. It helps to get the musty scent out of damp materials. It makes a great additive to the wash.

What are some things you do around the home to save money? Share your ideas in the comments below.