Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
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In When You Need to Move a Mountain, Linda Evans Shepherd outlines key steps to being an effective prayer warrior. Prayer does not come “naturally” to everyone, including myself. I appreciate how this book methodically addresses intercessory prayer. First, Shepherd explains what intercessory prayer is. Next, she provides examples of how intercessory prayer works, both from the Bible and her own life. Some may write-off some of her examples of answered prayer as mere coincidences. However, those who have witnessed God answering prayers will recognize the power of God at work.
Shepherd also addresses the issue of when God does not answer our prayers, or when they are not answered in the ways we request. Ultimately, there are some answers we will not receive here on earth, but this should not stop us from petitioning God through prayer. When You Need to Move a Mountain has several practical chapters, including Prayers for Our Families, Prayers for Others, Prayers for Provision, Prayers for Healing, and Prayers for Communities, Churches, Pastors, and Nations. These chapters serve as an excellent reminder of some of the many topics that we can lift up in prayer. This book is an excellent resource for those who are looking for guidance regarding intercessory prayer.
Disclosure: This review was written in collaboration with Jord watches. All opinions are my own.
Even though a lot of people rely on their smart devices to tell the time these days, I am still a big fan of the traditional wristwatch. I like how watches are a functional accessory and can convey an individual’s style.
Jord Watches
Jord (pronounced Yode), a company based in St. Louis, sent me the Olive & Aegean Blue watch from their Cassia collection. When I first opened the box, the quality of the workmanship was immediately apparent. This watch definitely makes an impression! The combination of the warm olive wood and metal band with the large blue domed crystal face is so beautiful! The Jord team designed the Cassia with “Scandinavian street style” in mind, which is so appealing to me.
Just glancing at this Cassia watch reminds me of the beach. Last week I spent the afternoon in Newport with D and the kids. Doesn’t the sapphire crystal seem to blend right in with the blue skies and sea? I love how this watch is dressy enough to elevate an outfit, but not too formal to be worn everyday. Jord has a wide variety of styles for both men and women, so take a look!
More Reasons to Choose a Jord Watch
Jord watches make a wonderful gift! Most watch backplates and their presentation boxes can be engraved with a special sentiment.
The watches may be sized for the recipient.
Every watch comes with a one year warranty and options for return & exchange.
Jord offers free worldwide standard shipping.
Jord Watch Giveaway
For your chance to win a $100 gift code toward the purchase of any Jord watch, enter my giveaway here: www.jordwatches.com/g/limbylim
As a bonus, all entrants will receive a 10% off gift code, so enter today!
Our second and last stop in the Bahamas was at Royal Caribbean’s own private island, Coco Cay. Thankfully, the kids and I were feeling better, but still not 100%.
We ate breakfast early and debarked before most of our fellow passengers. We wanted to avoid the crowds and the heat that was to come later in the afternoon. It was nice because our ship was the only one docked that day.
As you might expect, our experience walking off the ship was vastly different from our experience at Nassau. No one was trying to sell us anything, and the grounds were well-kept and beautiful.
n did not spend much time in this hammock, but you could if you wanted to!
The umbrellas and chair were set up, free to use, and ready to be used by guests.
The lagoon was pretty, but the kids preferred the pool.
This was the beach that led out to the ocean. D and the kids did some faux snorkeling with regular goggles.
I waded in at one point, but spent most of my time on a beach chair under an umbrella!
A free lunch buffet was set up on the island. My appetite was still not great, but I did have some of a Cubano sandwich. There were also hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, taco bar, etc.
The mango was refreshing, and there was also a soft serve ice cream machine.
Back to the pool!
We returned to our cabin in the afternoon. This picture shows our crazy sleeping arrangement. See the two bunk beds on the top? That’s where k and n slept. It was cozy, to say the least!
Here is a peak of the multi-story dining room. I could not believe it was already our last dinner!
Shrimp Cocktail
Wedge Salad
Celebration Cake
Too sweet, even for n!
The nightly entertainment on the ship did not sound too exciting to us (ice-skating clowns?) so we skipped out. Plus, our dining time made it difficult for us to even make the shows. However, the wait staff put on a little dance number on the last night that was pretty entertaining (Gangnam Style!)
It really was too bad that we were not able to fully enjoy our cruise due to illness. However, we made the most of a bad situation and for D, it was the best part of our whole vacation! We’ll need to look into a cruise to Mexico next!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WalmartSTEAM #CollectiveBias
It is hard to believe, but our summer vacation is already about halfway over! That means it is time to start thinking about shopping for school supplies.
Walmart STEAM Day of Play
Hover over the picture to start your back to school shopping!
On Saturday, July 27, a select number of Walmart stores across the country (2,000 to be exact) will be hosting in-store STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) activities. Use the Walmart event locator to find a participating store near you!
Walmart’s STEAM Day of Play events will feature hands-on activities that parents and their kids can do together, such as making tie-dye shirts, slime, and cereal necklaces. Sounds like so much fun, right?
STEAM Activity: Easy Rock Candy Tutorial
I think it’s great how Walmart is promoting STEAM activities that can be done at home with everyday materials. Here is an easy tutorial for making rock candy.
Combine 2 cups of water and 6 cups of sugar into a microwave-safe bowl. Put the mixture in the microwave and heat for two minutes. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Microwave for one more minute, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour the hot mixture into jars and let the mixture cool. (We had enough sugar solution for three mason jars). We also experimented by adding flavored drink mix into two of the jars.
Dip skewers into the sugar solution, and then dip them in a plate of dry sugar. Set the skewers aside and let them dry.
Use a clothespin to hold the non-sugary end of the skewer and dip the sugared end into the jar with the sugar solution. Balance the clothespin on the edge of the jar so that the skewer does not touch the bottom of the jar.
Set the jar in a cool place and watch the sugar crystals grow every day for a week. (The last picture is of our results after only one day!)
Remember To Visit Walmart on July 27!
Walmart is the perfect store to find all of the supplies my family needs in one place, both for school and home. Back to school time is a busy time for families, so it is important to stock up on the essentials now.Be sure to find a Walmart STEAM Play Day event near you and make it a combined play date/stock-up day for the whole family!
Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation, right? After spending five hot days with so much walking at Walt Disney World, a three night cruise to the Bahamas was just what we needed. Unfortunately, k, n and I all came down with something, so we were not able to fully enjoy it. I will spare you the details, but at least D was healthy and we did have a good time at the end.
Port: Port Canaveral
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Cruise Ship: Mariner of the Seas
Ports of Call: Nassau, Coco Cay
Due to not feeling well, I hardly took any pictures the first couple of days. 🙁 This is all we have from our first day on board. It was nice to have a ocean view, although it does not compare to having a balcony!
On Saturday morning ate breakfast at the Windjammer Cafe (buffet-style). Food just does not taste as good when you are not feeling well. We thought the selection was pretty good, though.
We debarked from the ship early, before 9:00? at Nassau. We were not up for much sightseeing, so we decided to walk to the closest beach, which is called Junkanoo Beach. On our way there, we were bombarded by locals offering us taxi rides, tours, carriage rides and hair braiding. The kids found this a little off-putting, but we explained how they are just trying to make a living. The walk to the beach was not the most pedestrian-friendly, especially in flip-flops. It was quite humid, and I was still feeling weak, so I requested that we make a stop at McDonald’s so that I could get a Sprite. The A/C was so nice and much-needed. We ended up with some Bahamaian coins for change. That ended up being our only souvenir!
I know there are nicer beaches on Nassau, but Junkanoo would have to do. D was impressed by the white, soft sand. We knew we were not going to be able to stay long, so we did not rent beach chairs and an umbrella.
We headed back to the ship and rested. The kids and D also went swimming in the pool and tried out the water slides.
Saturday night was the first time we were able to make it to the Dining Room. It was Formal Night, and we were ill-prepared. Some people really went all out, which I would not expect on a three night cruise. We found out that we were supposed to be at a table for 8 or 10. I was not up for small talk with strangers, so we requested a table of 4, and they were able to accommodate our request.
When we told our waiter about the kids’ nut allergies, n’s Caesar salad came without croutons. Doh! I guess we should not fault them for being overly-cautious.
For some reason, I neglected to take pictures of our main courses. I guess I will need to see if D has any pics on his phone.
Jumping to dessert, this was the tres leches cake.
k was happy with her creme brulee.
My beignets were eh.
n’s chocolate cake was a winner!
At the end of dinner, the waitstaff did a little parade around the dining room and n joined in the napkin swinging!
Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
When Canvas Factory reached out to see if I would like to partner with them again for a review and giveaway, I did not hesitate to say yes! I had a great experience ordering from them last time, and my experience this time was no different.
The Canvas Factory website is very user-friendly. It literally takes a few minutes to create a personalized canvas with a photo of your choice. The most difficult part is choosing which photo to use!
We took tons of photos with Disney’s Memory Maker during our Walt Disney World vacation last month, so I had a lot to choose from.
I ended up ordering a 16″ x 20″ canvas of k and n standing in front of Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom. After I placed my order, the canvas promptly arrived in a carefully-wrapped package on my doorstep. I love how it turned out! The picture is nice and clear and the quality of the workmanship is high.
I hung the new canvas next to another Canvas Factory canvas I had previously ordered of our family at Disneyland. I really like how the pictures complement each other. I am also impressed with how well the older canvas has held up over time in comparison to the new one I just received. There are no signs of fading and it is still nicely stretched over the wood frame.
If you have a lot of pictures sitting in your phone or on your computer, I would encourage you to make some of them into prints. Displaying photos in your home allows special memories to be enjoyed everyday. Canvas Factory offers a lot of different types of printing options, so be sure to check out their website! (If you are in Canada, visit them online here.)
One of my readers will also win a code for a free custom 16″ x 20″ canvas, so enter today!
Disclosure: I was provided with samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Both of our kids have been scouts since the first year they were eligible. k started as a Daisy in Girl Scouts and is now a Cadette and n started as a Tiger and is now an AOL. Therefore, they were both excited to have the opportunity to check out SCOUTbox, a monthly subscription box for scouts, curated by scouts!
SCOUTbox sent us two of their previous boxes to review.
The first one was called “Tame the Wild”, which contained:
First Aid Kit-Right Response
Water Purification Drops-PURINIZE
Trail Markers-VSSL
Edible Plant Guide-National Book Network
White Fandana-SCOUTbox
I was most excited about the Right Response First Aid Kit. With the recent earthquakes in Southern California, there has been a lot of renewed talk about the importance of being prepared in an emergency. It is a good idea to have an emergency kit in different places in your home as well as in your car(s). This kit is nice and lightweight for hiking and traveling. This particular brand can be sold by scouts as a fundraiser, which sounds like a great idea to me.
The second SCOUTbox was called “Communication”. It included:
Self Reliance Outfitters-All Weather Notebook
Nite Ize-Inka Key Chain Pen
Waterford Press-“Signaling for Rescue” Waterproof Folding Guide
UCO AIR Headlamp
I like how the notebook and pen are fun and useful. The notebook is waterproof, and contains helpful information such as knots, tarp-configuration and animal tracks. The pen can write upside down, in extreme temperatures, and at any altitude!
n really liked the headlamp. We own other headlamps, but this one is nicely padded to make it comfortable. It is rechargeable, its brightness can be adjusted, and it can change to red night vision mode for signaling and communicating. We will be sure to bring this on our next camping trip!
I was impressed with the variety of items that we received in each SCOUTbox. Each one contained products that would appeal to both kids and adults. SCOUTbox offers monthly subscription of varying lengths, as well as a unique selection of products designed for camping, hiking, etc. SCOUTbox would make a thoughtful and useful gift for any scout, as well as anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors!
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a SCOUTbox!
We spent our final day at Walt Disney World at Animal Kingdom. This park did not exist when I visited as a child, so it was the first time for all of us.
Our FastPass schedule was as follows:
9:40-10:40: Avatar Flight of Passage
11:10-12:10: Kilimanjaro Safaris
12:30-1:30: Expedition Everest
I had heard about the crazy crowds due to the popularity of the Pandora rides, so we made sure to arrive early at the park. I guess a lot of other people had the same idea!
At rope drop, we headed straight for Na’vi River Journey, since we did not have a FastPass for that ride. (You cannot pre-reserve a FastPass for both Avatar rides). We followed the herd, but it turned out that about 95% of the visitors were headed straight for the Flight of Passage ride. If you are going to Na’vi River Journey, just stay to the left so you do not get trampled! Na’vi River Journey had amazing detail and really felt like we were in the middle of Pandora. We had the kids watch Avatar before we left just so they would have some context. (I had forgotten about some inappropriate parts. It is PG-13, after all!)
Next we went on the Klimanjaro Safari ride, before our FastPass time. We needed to kill some time before our Flight of Passage FastPass.
My phone pictures are not the best, but it was quite amazing for us to ride so close to the animals!
Then it was time to use our Avatar Flight of Passage FastPass. We had high expectations for this ride, and it lived up to the hype! It really felt like we were flying through Pandora.
Even though it was not in my original plan, we went on Kali River Rapids. I put my poncho on, but we did not end up getting too wet. On our raft, another father and son did get pretty soaked, so beware.
We ate lunch at the counter-service Yak & Yeti restaurant.
We ordered the Sesame Chicken, Teriyaki Beef and Chicken Salad and a side order of Chicken Fried Rice. It was a little better than the Chinese food at Epcot since the dishes included vegetables.
After lunch we rode Expedition Everest, which is a really fun roller coaster. We ended up riding it three times that day!
It started heating up in the afternoon and we really felt it while trying to walk through the Maharaja Jungle Trek. We took refuge in the Tree of Life to see It’s Tough to Be a Bug. We had been planning to skip this one since we have seen it at California Adventure, but we needed the AC!
Those clouds are deceiving. It was really hot that day!
We wanted to watch the Up! A Great Bird Adventure show, but we had to watch a modified version since they were experiencing technical difficulties.
We were able to relax in an indoor setting by watching Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo The Musical, both of which were excellent.
Stick with the Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom. For some reason, it just was not the same at Animal Kingdom.
For dinner, we ate at Flame Tree Barbecue. We ordered Ribs, Chicken Salad, Onion Rings, and a Chicken Dinner.
This ended up being our favorite meal at the parks! It is nice that the eating area is covered, since it was raining. At least the rain brought cooler temperatures, which was a relief.
After dinner we visited the Dinosaur Land, which did not really seem to fit in with the rest of the park. I would not be surprised if they eventually end up replacing this land with something else.
We rode Triceratop Spin and the Dinosaur ride. The Dinosaur ride may be frightening for younger kids (just look at the kids in the front row!) We also rode Expedition Everest one last time!
We found seats at the amphitheater to watch the Rivers of Light show. I liked this one because it was scaled for the amphitheater, unlike at Epcot. Also, I did not have anything to compare it to, like Fantasmic. It was a wonderful way to end our stay!
Disclosure: I received a sample box in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
I am a huge fan of succulents. They are an easy way to add a dash of fresh and modern decor to your living space. Having plants in your home can improve indoor air quality, improve your mood, and reduce stress. I also appreciate succulents because they are low-maintenance. (I have a tendency to kill houseplants.)
Succulents Box is a website dedicated to providing organically grown succulents directly to your doorstep. Succulents Box recently sent me one of their boxes with four different succulents. Each succulent was individually wrapped to minimize damage and soil spillage. I was impressed with how healthy the succulents looked.
I re-planted a couple of the succulents in glass jars that I had saved. So easy, and environmentally-friendly, too!
Love how these succulents look like miniature flowers!
Each box comes with a postcard with care instructions. In the summer, the succulents only need to be watered once every 1 or 2 weeks. In the winter, they only need to be watered once a month!
I added the other succulents I received to my ever-growing collection. They fit right in and I like how they provide contrasting colors and textures.
Succulents Box has an amazing selection of over 200 varieties of succulents, both rare and popular. Keep them in mind when looking to add succulents to your home. Their subscription boxes would also make a great gift idea!
Enter below for your chance to win a 4-pack of succulents from Succulents Box! Please note that by entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to be added to the Succulents Box e-mail list.
When we first started planning our trip to Walt Disney World, I actually debated whether we should even visit the Magic Kingdom while we were there. After all, we live near Disneyland, so I was not sure it would be worth it. In the end, we decided to go, and I am glad that we did. It just would not have seem like our trip to Disney World was “complete” if we had skipped it. Plus, D had to be able to check off Magic Kingdom on his Theme Park Excel spreadsheet. No, I am not kidding.
It’s funny how first entering Main Street and seeing the castle made me feel “at home”. My first job was at Disneyland, so these familiar sights always bring back a lot of memories for me.
Our scheduled FastPasses for that day were:
9:30-10:30: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
10:50-11:50: Peter Pan’s Flight
12:50-1:50: Big Thunder Mountain
Our Morning
We arrived before the park opened and rope dropped Space Mountain. This is one of my all-time favorite roller coasters.
We always make D go with strangers if there is a three-person situation-ha!
Love that we were able to capture our memories of this ride on video and a picture with Disney’s Memory Maker!
Next we went on It’s A Small World and Peter Pan’s Flight. I cannot even remember the last time I went on Peter Pan’s Flight. Because the line is always so long, we usually skip it at Disneyland. It was nice to have a FastPass this time!
Lunch At Be Our Guest
The only time we made restaurant reservations during our trip was for Be Our Guest. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies, and I must say the ambiance was amazing. It really felt like we were in the Beast’s castle!
We had tried ordering online the night before, but the system was down when we arrived, so we had to place our order again.
They gave us an electronic tracking rose and our order was brought to our table.
Since the lighting was dim, it was difficult to take appetizing photos. We ordered:
Braised Chicken (Coq Au Vin Braised Chicken in Red Wine with Bacon, Mushrooms, Roasted Asparagus, Blistered Heirloom Tomatoes, and Braised Leeks served with Mashed Potatoes)
French Onion Soup
French Dip Sandwich (Served on a Baguette with Au Jus and Pommes Frites)
The braised chicken was a recent menu change. When I was doing my online research, they still had a similar pork dish on the menu which people seemed to enjoy. The chicken was a little disappointing in that there was not much of it considering the price. The French onion soup was over-the-top cheesy, but manageable since we all shared it. The kids liked dipping the French Dip sandwich in the Au Jus. One bonus was that D figured out that fountain drinks were included in the lunch price. (I am not sure how I did not realize this after all my research–ha!) Overall I would say this restaurant is more about the experience than the food.
Our Afternoon and Evening
After lunch we rode Big Thunder Mountain, always a favorite. Next we saw The Hall of Presidents show, and yes President Trump was included. We relaxed at the Tiki Room and had to have a Dole Pineapple Whip Float, of course.
Out of the three (yes three!) parks where we had Dole Whip, the Magic Kingdom was the best.
The Disney photographers put our acting skills to the test!
Guess none of us were prepared for this picture on Pirates of the Caribbean.
I miss the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (aka “PeopleMover”) at Disneyland. I remember it used to be one of my favorite rides, for some strange reason. It was fun to introduce this ride to the kids. We even rode it twice, since the line never seems to be too long.
The People Mover moves a little faster than you would expect!
D and I were wondering if the cast members that work the Speedway are paid more than cast members at other rides. They have to deal with the noise, the exhaust, and heat, not to mention that they also have to wear steel-toed shoes-ugh!
n says he really wants to drive. This will have to do for now.
Next we watched Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress show. This was a surprise hit with our kids. Maybe it was the catchy song, “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow…”
Trio Platter (a combination of Fried Shrimp, Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets and Battered Fish served with Hushpuppies and a choice of Green Beans & Carrots or French Fries)
Lobster Roll (Chilled Lobster with a touch of Mayonnaise on a New England Style Bun, served with House-made Potato Chips)
Grilled Salmon (Grilled Salmon served with Vegetable Rice and Green Beans and Carrots)
This was a nice meal, and we were able to eat inside, so that was a plus.
We went to Monster’s Inc., Laugh Floor and were glad not to be one of the featured audience members!
We also went on Buzz LightYear’s Space Ranger Spin since we were able to grab a FastPass.
Post-dinner Starbucks treat: Dragonfruit Acai Refresher and Vanilla Creme Frapuccino.
Love how these “Magic Shots” turned out!
D and the kids decided to go on the Tea Cups since the app showed there was a short wait time. While they were waiting, it started to downpour!
We ended up seeking shelter in the nearby Winnie the Pooh ride. (A lot of other people had the same idea).
Tip: It is a good idea to wear shoes that do not require socks since it rains so much in the summer. Walking around in wet socks is the worst!
The ponchos we had been carrying in our backpacks every day actually came in handy!
Because of the rain, we decided to head back to the hotel instead of sticking around for the fireworks show. I was a little disappointed, but we definitely had a magical and “full” day.
