pumpkin carving

Halloween is right around the corner and my 5 year old has been begging to carve his pumpkin. So that's going to be today's project when he gets home from school. We'll probably just do the traditional triangle eyes and nose, something very easy and basic (which is all I can do)so I am in awe of these carved pumpkins I've seen. These talented carvers have elevated scooping and carving pumpkins to an art form:


Gizmo pumpkin seen on Vaccares.com

Statue of Liberty Pumpkin seen on Pumpkin Cutter


Halloween phrases - bhg.com

Friday Fun - make your own sushi rolls

Here's a fun way to make sushi and no clean up involved either - enjoy!

Y3.com - 9500+ Free Games

Y3.com - 9500+ Free Games

apple time

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? We drove out east to Julian which has become an annual tradition for us. We waited in a long line to get an apple pie, spent a little time at the Oktoberfest celebration, then went apple picking. Here's some pictures from the trip:

Under an apple tree

Apples falling off the tree

Close up view of the apples on the ground - I think they get made into cider

The apples that we picked

Book Review - Which None Can Shut

Which None Can Shut: Remarkable True Stories of God's Miraculous Work in the Muslim World is written by "Reema Goode". (I believe Reema is a pen name to protect her identity). Reema and her husband get involved in mission work and move with their 2 children to an Arab country (not named for their protection) where they encounter hostility and suspicion when they first arrive. But as time goes by, Reema finds herself in situations where she is able to witness, even in homes of influential community leaders. Some of the people she meets challenge her faith but she is able to lead some to accept Christ. This is a firsthand account of what life is like in the Islamic world and is a fascinating read. The book certainly lives up to its title and Reema provides several true stories of God's miraculous work. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Disclosure: I received this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review - Sunrise On The Battery

Sunrise On The Battery is a novel written by Beth Webb Hart. The story is about Mary Lynn Scoville and her husband Jackson, who are climbing the social ladder in Charleston, South Carolina. To be accepted in the highest social circle is something Mary Lynn has always dreamed about, because Mary Lynn and Jackson both came from humble beginnings in a small town. Mary Lynn was also illegitimate, which caused the other girls to ridicule her on a daily basis.

Mary Lynn and Jackson have three daughters. Jackson schedules most of the girls' after school activities such as music lessons and studying so they can be cultured and accepted into a top notch university. On a trip to Europe, Jackson starts to read the bible, but in order to prove that it is wrong. He eventually realizes that everything in the bible is true and becomes a believer. He then makes drastic changes to his lifestyle and becomes overzealous in trying to share the Word of God with everyone, to the point of making the family social pariahs. Mary Lynn needs to decide whether to share in Jackson's new faith and ministry, or leave him and start over with a wealthy man that has always been in love with her.

My thoughts: This book had an interesting storyline and the characters (the family) seemed real. I liked the interaction between Jackson and Pastor Roy, especially the part where Pastor Roy recommends certain books and verses for Jackson to read such as C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. I would recommend this book to everyone 14 and older, and look forward to reading more books from Beth Webb Hart.

Disclosure: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

birthday and free shipping!

Today's my birthday so how about a little FREE shipping to celebrate?! Make a purchase from the Little Pink Plum shop, enter code FREESHIP1 in the coupon code at checkout & you won't pay for shipping. -Offer good anywhere in the U.S.