LimByLim

Born To Wander: Book Review

September 19, 2018 No Comments

Disclosure: I received this book as a Moody Newsroom Blogger. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You might be familiar with the classic hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. There is a part of the song that states:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.

Born to Wander is a new book that takes a closer look at the times in our lives when we feel like we are wandering and have lost our sense of purpose. Or for some, maybe that sense of purpose was never there to begin with. The author, Michelle Van Loon, believes that all humans are born to wander. For some, hard times push them into what seems like an endless period of wandering. Van Loon looks to scripture to show that Christ is the answer for people who find themselves in the desert of life. The Bible is full of examples of people in exile who have been uprooted from their homes and are searching for a place to settle down. As believers, we can be secure in knowing that our ultimate home is with Jesus. No matter where we might roam, He will guide us “home” if we follow Him. This book shows how we can look to examples of God’s work in other peoples’ lives (both in the Bible and those around us) and to not lose hope when it feels like we are just aimlessly wandering through life.

Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Hot or Cold? Cold Brew Coffee Your Way With Java House

September 16, 2018 43 Comments

Disclosure: I was provided free samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Over the years both D and I have become avid coffee drinkers. We drink it hot or cold, pretty much year-round. I usually make batches of cold brew coffee in the summertime. I like the refreshing, smooth, less acidic flavor. It is easy to make, but it does take about twelve hours to steep. Therefore, I was excited to learn about the convenience of Java House Cold Brew Coffee.

Java House Cold Brew Coffee comes in pods, but these pods are unique because they contain liquid, not grounds. The ingredient list is simple: Filtered Water, 100% Arabica Coffee. That’s it! No preservatives or other weird additives.

The manufacturing process is also simple, but the result is a delicious cup of cold brew coffee. What is even better is that this cold brew coffee can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

We had the opportunity to try the following four varieties: Ethiopian (light roast), Sumatran (dark roast), Colombian (medium roast) and Decaf (medium roast).

Preparing the coffee cold could not be easier. Peel off the lid, pour it in a cup and add cold water (no coffee maker needed!). I could see this being handy for traveling.

I used our Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker to prepare the hot version. It was a little trickier because I did not failed to read the directions and did not realize that the liquid would come out as soon as I inserted the pod (although I guess that should be obvious!) As long as you have your mug ready as soon as the pod is inserted, there should not be any problems. Cold or hot, it was delicious both ways!

I cannot wait for the weather to become cooler. Reading with a cup of coffee and a little sweet snack on a chilly day is one of my favorite things to do!

Each 6-count box retails for $8.99 and can be found at javahouse.com, walmart.com, or your local Wal-Mart store. Java House is providing the opportunity for one of my readers to win a month’s supply of their cold brew coffee pods (1 box of each variety: Ethiopian, Colombian, Sumatran, and Decaf)!

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Book Review, Sponsored

Celebrate National Read A Book Day With National Geographic Kids

September 6, 2018 No Comments

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post myhonest opinions. Compensation for this post was
provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

Did you know that today is National Read A Book Day? I think reading a book should be done everyday, but it is nice that there is a day to celebrate its importance. National Geographic Kids publishes a wide array of educational books that make reading fun for kids.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Weird But True is a popular series published by National Geographic Kids. We had the chance to review the tenth edition. Just like the books before it, it is filled with interesting factoids such as “Research found that babies cry more in Britain, Canada and Italy than anywhere else in the world. They cry the least in Denmark, Germany and Japan.” Who knew?

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The National Geographic Kids Almanac is another series that my kids have really enjoyed over the years. It is filled with facts and photos about everything from animals to weather. Even though a new edition is published every year, they keep the content fresh and exciting for curious young minds.

Many people associate National Geographic Kids with non-fiction books, but we just discovered that they also have a selection of fiction books. The Nebula Secret is Book One of a new series called Explorer Academy. This book is about a 12-year-old named Cruz Coronado. Cruz and 23 other kids from around the world are enrolled at the Explorer Academy where there are in training to become world-class explorers. Cruz must figure out clues to a family mystery and figure out why someone would be out to get him.

My son was very excited to read this book. After he read the first chapter he said it was the best book he has ever read! However, as he read on, he said there were some scary parts so I advised him not to read it at night. Although this book is recommended for ages 8-12, I think it might be more appropriate for kids on the upper half of this spectrum. I do appreciate how the book is inspired by real National Geographic explorers. There are also secret symbols, codes, and puzzles hidden throughout the book, which add to the adventure.

To celebrate the launch of Explorer Academy, one lucky family will experience a spectacular ship-based expedition, just like the students at
Explorer Academy. The grand prize is a family trip for four to Alaska’s Inside Passage from National Geographic Expeditions. Enter the sweepstakes at exploreracademytrip.com.

Finally, 1,001 Ways to Be Creative is a fun book to spark the imagination. This book is for anyone who is looking for a source of “everyday inspiration”. Life as an adult can become monotonous unless we make a conscious effort to infuse creativity into it. Sometimes we think being creative is only for artists or those who have dedicated their lives to a craft. However, this books shows the reader that being creative can be as simple as changing the order of our meals for one day. (Personally, I am a big fan of breakfast for dinner!)

I hope that this list of books inspires you and your kids to read together and celebrate National Read A Book Day!

National Parks, Vacation

A Morning In Crater Lake National Park

September 5, 2018 No Comments

Originally, I had planned to take a boat tour around Crater Lake. I had made reservations months in advance AND had pre-paid Xanterra, the park operator. Because of our last minute change in plans due to the smoke, we decided to cancel. The boat tour requires a steep hike down the caldera and back up, and I did not think that was a good idea given the poor air quality. Luckily, we were able to use the phone in the Camp Store and Xanterra graciously refunded our money even though they usually require more advance notice! Instead, we returned to Rim Village to see if we could have a less-smoky/hazy view of Crater Lake.

Unfortunately, it really was not any better than the day before.

We were able to do the short Lady of the Woods hike near the Steel Visitor Center.

Someone likes having his picture taken!

A k-sized tree.

We did not encounter any other hikers. It was so peaceful. But, D and I did receive some mosquito bites.

Next stop: Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Book Review, Giveaways, Sponsored

Inspired Reading: The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible Review + Giveaway

September 4, 2018 9 Comments

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Wynbeek Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, is a book of Bible stories geared towards kids ages 4-8. What makes this book unique is that it focuses on God’s Spirit, the oft-neglected part of the Trinity. Kids often (understandably) do not have a clear understanding of God’s Spirit. This book shows that God’s Spirit is present from Creation to the present and highlights the role of God’s Spirit through various stories from the Bible.

This beautifully illustrated hardback book recently published by Zonderkidz contains over forty stories from both the Old Testament and the New Testament and is a substantial 312 pages. I think this book would be ideal for bedtime reading sessions and/or devotions. It would make a wonderful gift for any child in your life, and I have a giveaway for one my readers to win a copy of their own!

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Label It Or Lose It: Mabel’s Labels Review + Giveaway

August 30, 2018 34 Comments

Disclosure: Samples were provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With kids going back to school, now is the best time to make sure all of their personal belongings are labelled with their name. In 2002, four moms noticed a need for durable, waterproof labels and tags for their children’s belongings. They met this need by starting a company called Mabel’s Labels. I am always inspired by entrepreneurial stories where people see a need in everyday life and take action.

I had the opportunity to try out the Ultimate Back-To-School Combo for my kids. This ultra-handy pack includes:

40 Mini Custom Name Stickers: 1-1/2″ x 5/16″
70 Tag Mates™ Stick On Clothing Labels: 13/16″ x 3/8″
16 Custom Shoe Stickers (8 pairs): 1.3″
2 Personalized Mini Tags: 1-1/4″ x 3/4″

We were able to choose the name (of course), font, image, and color scheme. This was the fun part for my kids. Not surprisingly, my daughter chose the basketball design, and my son chose the soccer design. When we received our package in the mail, I was impressed with how high-quality the labels and tags are. I can tell that these labels have been designed to withstand heavy use. They are dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, laundry-safe and waterproof!

The tags are metal and are convenient to attach to a zipper, like here on my daughter’s backpack.

I am pleased to announce that Mabel’s Labels has generously offered to give away one School Label Pack ($42 value) to one of my readers. The choices include: Ultimate Back to School Combo, Little Kid School Combo, Middle School Label Pack, Designer Label Pack, Mr. Men School Label Pack, or Hello Kitty School Label Pack.

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National Parks, Vacation

Crater Lake Trolley

August 26, 2018 No Comments

We needed to leave Sacramento early in the morning because we had reservations for the Crater Lake Trolley tour at 3 p.m. Then, at one of our rest stops I realized that I had a message from the trolley company that asked if we could make the 2 p.m. tour instead because the smoke from the wildfires had been rolling in around 3 p.m. the past few days. As we drove through Northern California, the sky was an ominous gray from the other numerous wildfires. We kept our windows rolled up and made minimal stops. Thankfully, we were able to make the tour on time.

The tour is run in conjunction with the National Park Service. A knowledgeable ranger narrated the tour which made for an educational experience.

I was grateful that the tour company provided cushions for us to sit on since the wooden seats were pretty uncomfortable.

The trolley circled the entire lake in about two hours, with numerous stops. I find it amazing that this lake was created by a volcano that imploded on itself and filled with rain and melted snow.

If I had known that k was squinting like that in our only family picture, I would have asked the trolley drive to take another one! Oh well.

Although Crater Lake was pretty, I must admit that I was disappointed. I had seen so many jaw-dropping pictures beforehand, so my expectations were high. The haze from the smoke obscured the view and blocked the sun so the stunning blue color just was not there. I told D that we need to go there again to see its true beauty, but I doubt we would ever make the drive again. 🙁

We had reservations to camp for two nights at Mazama Campground near Crater Lake, but it did not seem like a good idea with the poor air quality. I was especially concerned for n, since he is small and has had asthma issues. I do not like having to do things on the fly, but I was able to cancel one night of our camping reservations, and nab a room in one of the cabins instead. I was not happy paying for $180 for one night in a very basic room, but it was worth it in order to decrease any health risks.

We decided to add another night of camping in Lassen National Park, our next stop. Since we no longer had access to a fire ring, we had to microwave our pre-bought hot dogs in the camp store microwave. What a sad dinner!

Vacation

Our First Airbnb Stay!

August 20, 2018 No Comments

For our last week of summer vacation, we took a road trip to visit Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. I took k and her friend to their middle school registration in the morning, and we hit the road right after. Our first stop was Sacramento. At first we had a reservation at a Marriott in downtown Sacramento with D’s points, but then I saw this Airbnb listing in my Facebook feed through our friend’s sister’s friend! We had never tried Airbnb, but thought it would be worth a try.

The duplex did not look like much from the outside, but you could tell that a lot of effort had been put into remodeling the interior. We were able to park right outside the front door, so that was nice. I downloaded the SmartLock app as instructed, and it was so cool. The lock looks like a regular lock, but when I opened the app on my phone, the door unlocked/locked like magic.

The owner definitely has an eye for style!

This was the bedroom D and I stayed in. The mattress was very comfortable!

This was the bedroom where the kids slept. It was nice to have separate rooms. D was able to wake up early to do his core exercises without disturbing the kids’ sleep.

Here’s the bathroom. For some reason I failed to take a picture of the kitchen! Overall, this was a positive Airbnb experience for us. I will definitely be keeping it in mind for future stays.

We went to a local grocery store and bought food for dinner, breakfast, and hot dogs for the next night’s camping dinner.

We left early the next morning since it was Oregon or bust!

k, n

Our Kids Sang In a Honda Commercial!

August 16, 2018 No Comments

A few years back, D had the opportunity to be in a Mazda commercial through work. A couple of months ago, our kids had the opportunity to record in a studio for a Honda commercial through our church.

Since it looks like the commercial will only be shown in Japan, here it is for your viewing pleasure. k asked, “If it is a Japanese commercial, why are we singing in English?” Ha–good question!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVgcipDDsec

Here is a behind the scenes video where you can catch some glimpses of k and n. I guess they are categorized as “Asian” instead of “American” in the demographics slide. I think the song ended up sounding pretty good for a group of non-professionals! Even though they were unsure about participating at first, it ended up being a fun experience for them.

Reviews, Sponsored

How to Keep Kids Hydrated When They Play Sports

August 6, 2018 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BODYARMOR. All opinions are my own.

My son really enjoys playing soccer. Even though fall is the official soccer season, we like to enroll him in various programs year-round to keep him conditioned. This summer, I signed him up for a week-long soccer camp that lasted from 9 a.m. – noon. We live in sunny Southern California, so I felt bad when the weather forecast was in the 90’s everyday.

Three hours of strenuous physical activity can take a serious toll on the body, especially young kids. The first day when I picked my son up at the end of camp he looked miserable. He told me that he had a headache, which is one of the symptoms of dehydration.

Here are some tips on how to keep kids hydrated when they play sports.

1. Make sure kids start hydrating two days before the anticipated strenuous physical activity.

2. Make sure kids drink the day of the physical activity, before it starts. My son said he drank a lot during the practice, but drinking before the practice is imperative.

3. Talk to the coaches to make sure that they are implementing several breaks throughout the practice so that kids have the opportunity to hydrate.

4. Water is always a good choice for hydration, but when strenuous or prolonged physical activity is involved, it is beneficial for kids to replace electrolytes that they lose through sweating. One way to replace electrolytes is through the consumption of sports drinks.

It seems that sports drinks have developed a bad reputation because many of the most popular brands contain a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients. I am excited that I discovered BODYARMOR LYTE, which is a sports drink that contains only 3 grams of sugar per serving, and contains no artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors. BODYARMOR LYTE also includes more potassium, vitamins and coconut water than other leading brands, which keeps the body feeling its best.

BODYARMOR LYTE comes in four flavors: Peach Mango, Cherry Berry, Orange Citrus, and Blueberry Pomegranate.

We had the opportunity to try BODYARMOR LYTE in the Peach Mango flavor.

My son really liked the taste, which is important so that kids actually want to hydrate themselves. The BODYARMOR LYTE also helped keep his energy level going throughout the entire camp day. I would recommend BODYARMOR LYTE for any parent looking for a sports drink with more natural ingredients for their kids.

Starting in 2018, BODYARMOR Sports Drink is now available at all Walgreens locations nationwide. Click HERE to receive $1.00 off on TWO (2) Bottles of BODYARMOR Sports Drink or BODYARMOR LYTE Sports Drink (16oz Only).

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