August Fields

friday favorites

friday favorites!  these are items that i really like in no particular order.  to catch up with my other friday favorite randomness check them out here
first up:   Caldrea Lavender Pine Countertop Cleaner.  delicious!  i’ve been cleaning like a mad woman lately to keep up with realtors coming through our house.  this spray leaves a yummy fragrance and sparkly shine in my kitchen.  (my countertops are granite)

this next item is amazing!  this was a gift to one of the boys but hank has loved it the most.  
the Twilight Sea Turtle by Cloud B  
you press a button and stars light up the ceiling!  it truly is very calming and has even helped keep hank in his bed at night….  it stays on for 45 minutes then shuts off by itself.  there is a plain turtle too that would be just as cute 🙂  
and finally, i have to share that i really like charlotte russe
yup, the teeny bop store in your local mall?  yes, that’s the one.  these two tops are my most recent purchases.  the purple one definitely has an anthro look for way less.  the cardigan i have in cream and wear it open over a dress and other shirts.  the ruffles are cute!
ahhh…and the earrings.  trendy and not expensive.  i know i will be able to pick up a fun pair for date night and not have to worry about breaking the bank.  
thanks Charlotte for keeping me in style.

Friday Favorites

it’s friday! here are a few of my favorite things…..

1. philosophy flavored lip shine in ALL flavors! this one is yummy for fall 🙂

2. fiestaware! i collect fiestware in white, cream (which is light yellow) and turquoise. i really like the small bowls. perfect for personal side dishes, or small snacks.

3. jonathan park adventure cd’s. it’s true. the whole family loves these adventures!! 🙂

Children’s Book Review: The Wisdom of Solomon by Wanda E. Brunstetter

This is a picture of Boone reading The Wisdom of Solomon to little Dubs! 🙂 This can be purchased HERE or HERE online or at your local Christian bookstore.

There is also a fun interactive website: www.solomonlappandfriends.com

The following is my review of this delightful book…

The Wisdom of Solomon; A Solomon Lapp and Friends Amish Storybook by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Illustrated by Phil A. Smouse


Ten Stars!! From the smaller size to the hardback cover to the gorgeous illustations on EVERY page and finally to the stories, this is a favorite in our house already.

The book is broken down into 12 stories. One story is entitled “Lazy Bones”. It begins with Proverbs 19:15, ‘Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.’ Wanda Brunstetter does an amazing job of capturing the deep meaning of why one should NOT be lazy and conveys it in an exciting, delightful story that my children all enjoyed!

My oldest (8) thouroghly enjoyed the stories. There are enough words on the page to seem ‘difficult’ enough for her…yet the fact that there are colorful illustrations on every page lured my next oldest (6) right in! She is in that ‘in between’ stage of still loving picture books but beginning to challenge herself with chapter books. And obviously, as you can see in the picture above, my oldest son (4) honestly was captured by the stories and the pictures..he has read through it twice and asks for it often!

Oh …a bonus is a Glossary of Amish Words and Phrases in the back of the book 🙂

I SO appreciate and am SO thankful that there are authors willing to write appropriate, honest, Biblical works for our little ones. We are all looking forward to more stories of Solomon Lapp and his family!

If you have read this or will be soon I’d love to hear from you! 🙂

library list

Today’s library picks! …please print and take this list to your local library 🙂
(looking at the pile above these are listed from top to bottom)
1. Rufus M. by Eleanor Estes
2. Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes
3. The Middle Moffat by Eleanor Estes
4. Mary Poppins; In The Park by P.L. Travers
5. Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers
6. Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L Travers
7. The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
8. Boxcar Children; #43 The Mystery On Stage
9. Plays Children Love edited by Coleman A. Jennings and Aurand Harris
10. Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson
11. Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee by Paul Galdone
12. The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
13. Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban
14. A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban
15. Egg Thoughts and Other Frances Songs by Russell Hoban
16. Farmer Palmer’s Wagon Ride by William Steig
17. The Amazing Bone by William Steig
18. Potch & Polly by William Steig
19. A Busy Year by Leo Lionni
20. An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni
21. Swimmy by Leo Lionni
22. Mr. McMouse by Leo Lionni
We are especially excited for #9, Plays Children Love……My oldest (8) was looking for play scripts to act out…..they have been rehearsing ‘Winnie the Pooh’ (one of the scripts included in this book) since we came home from the library!

Cozy Coupe

Hank loves his Cozy Coupe. My sister found it at a garage sale for $5.00! We don’t have a lot of room for “extras” in our garage with 5 children…..but I have no regrets making room for this! It must be the fact that it has a roof and an door that opens that makes it so appealing to little ones. Here he is in ‘Nana’s’ Cozy Coupe…like the custom steering wheel? 🙂 🙂