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ASHLEY ASPIRES

Oh My, Planner! (Review + a coupon code!)

Okay, here's a little something that you may not know about me. I LOVE planners. Like, a lot. I love to look through them and see how everything is set up, and how I would set up my days with them.

Last year, I bought my planner at Wal-Mart. It was $10. And pretty much a waste of the money I spent on it. I rarely use it, and it's so plain that I don't even like to look at it.

It's just boring. And ugly.

So when Mom started looking into getting a 2014 calendar from Erin Condren, I decided that I might just have to splurge and buy one, too. Until she showed me the price tag. It was like tag-shock. I couldn't believe how much they were - even though I knew they were good planners. I wasn't about to spend that kind-of money on something to just plan my life out with.

Well, then Mom introduced me to Plum Paper Designs.  Hellooooo, awesome-looking planners. Mom and I both purchased one a few days later, after perusing the different patterns, styles, etc.

I chose the regular planner - in the anchor-style.

 

This is what mine looks like - with the great personalization and awesome colors! I absolutely love the cover - both front and back.

The inside is very similar to Mom's Erin Condren Planner from last year - but I think it's set up even better!

There are laminated tabs for each month, so they're easy to find. I like all the different colors in the tabs, too. It makes it fun - and not so boring. 

Every month starts out with a "cover photo" like the one above. You could write notes here, but there's also lined pages for each month on the page after this one - picture is below.

Then, there's the monthly spread - with the whole month all together.

Of course, there's the boxes for each day, but along the left-hand side, there are three sections that are for birthdays, events and notes. 

  

Then each week is broken up separately by day. Each column is for a different day of the week. The different boxes are for morning, afternoon, evening, and checklist. I really like that there's a spot for each part of the day (I don't much like the ones that are set up by hours), and a checklist section. I think that it's very efficient. 

Excuse my foot . . .  didn't realize it was in my picture!

Behind all the calendars,  there is a full page called "My Contacts", which holds 14 different people's name, phone number, email and address. 

There is also a page for the Special Dates/Holidays in 2013, 2014, AND 2015. 

 

In the very back  there is a pocket to hold extra goodies that you want to keep safe in your calendar. I love the wording "for keeps". 

So, now that you've seen all about the planners, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Do I suggest this planner to you? 

And the answer is: HECK YES. The planner that I got was $30 (as opposed to $50), and I believe whole-heartedly that it was worth every penny that I spent on it. The cover is beautiful, the whole thing is spiral bound, it's a great size, and it has everything that I was looking for in a planner, without the hefty price tag. 

I recommend this planner to anyone that is looking for a life planner! Also, be sure to head over to my Mom's blog as well, as she has reviewed the Family Planner for all of you!

One last thing - head over to Plum Paper Designs and pick out your planner. Right now. Dooooo ittttt!  

ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A COUPON CODE FOR YOU!

You can get 10% off your order by using the coupon code HEIDI10 at checkout!

Stealing the Preacher Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape--which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Karen Witemeyer is a bestselling historical romance author who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She holds a master's degree in psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. Stealing the Preacher is her fifth novel. Karen lives with her husband and three children in Abilene, Texas. Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

MY THOUGHTS:

 About a year ago, I read a book called  Short Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer. I loved it. When I ordered this book for review, I had no idea that it was by the same author - or that it was linked to Short Straw Bride. I started it right away and it hooked me from the very beginning! 

I loved how easy Karen's book are to read - she is a great storyteller, and the plot has all sorts of twists and turns that are unexpected. 

Stealing the Preacher is a great Christian romance that gets you hooked from the very first page. The characters are easy to relate to, and the wit that Karen uses in her books is so great. As a wannabe author, I always am impressed by people who can use wit in their stories like it's as easy as pie. 

I suggest this book to anyone who is in the mood for a Christian romance. It is NOT a sequel to Short Straw Bride, so you don't need to read it before you read this one. But I do suggest getting that one, too!

How Do We Know God is Really There?

Are you looking for a book to read with your kids? I've found a good one! As a part of the Mosaics Review team, I was given the opportunity to review the book How Do We Know God is Really There by Melissa Cain Travis.

This book is about a young boy and his father who enjoy looking at the planets and stars in the solar system.

The little boy asks his dad how we know that God is really out there? Maybe the universe just came into existence without anyone's help.

His father explains to him in a really cool way how God is really out there, and made the universe.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I think it's a great way to help your kids understand that God really is out there, even if we don't always realize it.

The illustrations aren't my style - they are more cartoon-y than anything else, but that's really the only thing that I didn't really like about the book.

How Do We Know God is Really There is selling for $16 on the Apologia website! I think this would make a great gift for a child in your life! Or even a gift for your family! 

I think that it's kind-of expensive, to be honest. But the book IS hardback, and will hold up nicely. I just don't like to spend that kind-of money on a children's book. But with that said, I DO think that this is a great book, and if you don't mind spending the money, it's worth it!

So go...buy it! Read it for yourself!

Did you ever wish you could take your Bible underwater?

...or to the beach? Or on a camping trip? But were afraid that it would get wet and then it'd be ruined for good?

Well! Don't worry about that anymore, because I have JUST the thing for you! And it's called The Waterproof Bible!

I got the Waterproof Bible to review thanks to the Mosaics Review Team, and was THRILLED with it when it came in the mail!

I received The New Testament/Psalms and Proverbs Bible in the New Living Translation! It's pink, too, which is a bonus for me! I think it's super duper cute, and it's very light and easy to carry around.

And guess what? It works! I put the WHOLE Bible into some water in my sink, and it's completely fine! It dried off really quickly, and the pages and cover look exactly like they did before I ever got it wet!

Completely under water!

Under water

Right after coming out of the water.

Tiny little drops of water that dried off quickly!

These Bibles rock! I love it! I can't wait to take it with me on my vacations to the beach and know that I can bring it with me to the sand and not worry about it getting wet and ruined! This is definitely a great buy!

The Bible that I received was just the New Testament, as well as Psalms and Proverbs in the New Living Translation. The full Bible in also available (I actually saw one of the FULL Bibles at my local homeschool convention and it looked awesome).
The other translations available are ESV, KJV, NIV, and NKJV.
Find out all the different versions that you can buy here.

The prices for these Bibles vary from $24.95 (New Testament/Psalms and Proverbs) to $44.95 (full Bible).

Now comes the REAL question. Do I think that it's worth the money to buy this Bible?

YES! I think that everyone should have one of these! They are practical and so much fun! Your kids - and maybe even YOU - will love to put them under water and see all the cool stuff that you can do with them!

Now, go to the website and buy this for yourself. And your kids. And your parents. And your aunts and uncles and friends. Everyone needs one of these Bibles.

I think that I may just have to go and buy myself a full Bible so that I have it! :) There are so many to choose from, how can I pick?