Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson

I totally expected to love this book, so I was disappointed that I didn't get lost in the storyline immediately.  I almost gave up on the story, but I'm glad I kept going because I really enjoyed the second half of the book.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to get hooked (honestly, it could be that i have a short attention span with a new baby in the house!), but once the pace of the story picked up, I didn't want to put the book down.  A little bit of mystery, a little bit of adventure, suspense, and falling in love = a great combination for a novel.  You will easily feel the struggles that the main character wrestles with - fear, love, faith, friendship, betrayal, defeat, loyalty, and feeling overwhelmed.  You will also find your spirits buoyed as she chooses to trust in God's provision and care during dire circumstances.  I would recommend this book to any female reader age 14+.  Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Teaching Girls to Fix Their Hair

My daughter and I have been talking a lot about hair care and styling hair lightly, so this book, "Best hair book ever!" was perfect to read when it came in the mail. It is so cute, and so well done. The articles on hair care are simple, practical, and very helpful. The hairstyles are quite diverse in time and talent required. I love that it's a very balanced look at taking care of your hair, instead of getting caught up in fashion pressure. I'm thrilled to put this kind of tool and my daughters hands. I would recommend this book to any girl age 9 to 16. I received this book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Diaper Changing Stations

It's been 9 years since we had a newborn in the house, and there are so many things I don't remember!  One thing I don't remember is having multiple diaper changing stations in the house.  It's definitely something I appreciate now, as our family stays constantly on the move with the older children (9, 10 and 13).  We have one changing station in the nursery, one in our bedroom, and one downstairs.  Each changing station is simple - diapers, wipes and a toy to keep him busy during diaper changes.  But having multiple stations saves steps during the day, and therefore helps with my sanity!  I'd love to hear your tips for keeping life simple with a large family!