Growing with Grace:Sierra Jones Collection, Volume 1

The Sierra Jensen Collection, Volume 1 represents 3 books in the 12 books series. These 3 books follow Sierra's story as she grows through some of what the author portrays as the growing pains of a Christian based teenage girl. Sierra is introduced to us as a mission traveler, adventurous, even returning from a trip abroad to a new adventure - her family has moved in with her aging grandmother who is facing a life change of her own: the onset of dementia or early Alzheimer (not clear on which). Sierra's friends seem to be doing what teenager's should on cue, and it bothers her that she is not. She wants to have a boyfriend, the intimacy of a personal relationship, and to make friends at her new school as easily as the one's she has left behind. We are with her as she faces new challenges, like being alone with her grandmother when she gets a call that she needs surgery while Sierra's parent's are away; and realizing the truth of her friends' personal relationships. I was worried about taking on this reading, and it did take me a while to sort it all out. I like the concept of following Sierra through so much growth, but worried about her focus on having a boyfriend so much. I also wondered why her friends and her were not focused on anything together that was more interactive and time consuming. Overall, the concepts of teenage angst, problem solving and Sierra's maturity over time are definitely present. I wouldn't mind my teenage daughter reading the series, but I am not sure if it will be one of her favorites. I am going to encourage her to read the previous series, first. This was very cutesy, calm reading.

Don't Clog The Blog

Are you a beginning blogger or, like me, just wanting to improve your existing blog? You need Sadie Lankford's Don't Clog The Blog: Dos and Don'ts of Blogging.

This succinct e-book is packed full of the basics of blogging, and it also takes some of the mystery away from this wonderful social medium. Each section gives easy to read and apply list-style advice based on well wrought experience.

This book will save time, frustration, and hair pulling, blood curdling screams when no one else is home. Buy this ebook now for only $3.99. If you blog, you need it!

Lankford has been blogging for more than 10 years, and runs sadielankford.com specializing in social media, blogging, and work from home tips. 
  
You can buy the book now for only $3.99 on Lankford's blog. Also, be sure to check out Sadie on Facebook and Twitter.

I received the ebook, Don't Clog the Blog by Sadie Lankford, free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Neglect, Abandonment & Shame

Despicable Me. I have neglected what's elemental. I love this blog but I have been so busy writing and working on other projects that I haven't given it the time deserved. I am going to do something about that in the next few weeks. Yep, you are right! Guest bloggers! I am asking a couple of my blogger friends to share what is elemental to them, and then we're going to share it right here! I am psyched about it. I hope it is inspiring, thought provoking and comment evoking.

Oh, and if you want to share what's elemental email me at buffisan (at) gmail dot com. No spam, just real life stuff. If it's verifiable blog worthy stuff, it will be right here in black and white.

What is elemental? Those are the issues, components, pieces of you, items, that make up the parts of your life, your world even - that are necessary. They are very necessary to complete the idiom that is you.

For me, an elemental component of my world is hot water cornbread. It seems like such a little thing, but if my mother or grandmother or even my granddad were not making hot water cornbread at certain elemental times in my life whole experiences would be shaped differently.

Now, when I make vegetable soup on a cold day like today with snow drifting in and my kids lying around watching their fave videos, I am pulling out the ingredients to hot water cornbread. Each piece is not just a piece - it is full of the history of my family and the men and women before them who made this simple concoction. It's Elemental.

Wanna try it?
2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 cup boiling water
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
Oil for frying
Batter should be really thick.
Let the oil get hot and drop small pancake size batter balls in; brown on both sides and serve (with or without butter). Great with bean or vegetable soup or any meal.

So, I am looking forward to sharing with you and I hope you want to share with others!

Damn Fine Words

I just ran across a blog called Men with Pens, where a competition is being hosted to get into a class titled The Damn Fine Words writing course. I want into this class. I've been sharing my writing since I was about 11 years old. I wrote my first short story and turned it in for an advanced English class. I was surprised at the affect it had on the teacher, and I wanted to recreate that phenomena over and over again. I wanted people to be affected by words that I wrote.

When I was 5 my babysitter taught me to read, and the power that gave me made etched the importance of words into my psyche. I was forever impacted by the power of a turned phrase.  Being the 7th child of 7, writing became a way to express myself - to take those things inside of my mind out and put them on paper. I was often found sitting in a quiet place with a book, pen and paper creating my own world with words.

I am always looking for ways to better my writing skills, and the chance to take this course at Damn Fine Words would definitely impact my life, both personally and professionally. New and updated skill sets plus confidence will allow me to take better control of my blog and propel it to the next stage. But more importantly, these skills well help me in the book writing process, as I am working on both a 31 day devotional and a novel.The Damn Fine Words writing course will give me so much more of what I need to be better at what I do. 

We see all kinds of extreme couponing in our world today. If you are like me, you just want to save your family some money and get good deals simultaneously. You may not have time to drive to the next township for a couponing class, or read Couponing for Dummies 101.  is for you.

I’ve wanted to learn the art of couponing, and was excited when I got the opportunity to review this course from stay a stay at home mom. Anxious to begin, I settled down in a comfy chair and unpacked my training package.

My course came with a 35 page manual, 14 video lessons, and an accompanying coupon link. Okay, at first the very idea was daunting. 14 video lessons? A workbook? I just wanted to save a bunch of money and get stuff free. But, I decided, if you want to learn, you need to listen. So, I began at the beginning – Lesson 1: Couponing Basics.

I was hooked at “never buy another toothbrush”. The videos last just long enough to equip you with crucial information, resources and determination. The author is realistic and encouraging every step of the way, and the best part is the ease with which you can listen again to what’s most relevant for your couponing success. In just one sitting, I was able to listen to all of the 14 videos and use my accompanying coupon link and workbook with ease.

There were so many good and easy pieces of information that just need to be put together for success. This course is great for anyone who wants to get into couponing, or even just improve their basic couponing skills. All you need is a little bit of time, and this link!

Note: I received this item free for review. I was not compensated in any other way, and the thoughts expressed here are strictly my own.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.