always just commonly

Now & Forever  by Mary Connealy is the second book of the "Wild at Heart" series.  Book one is Tried and True , about the youngest of the Wilde sisters, Kylie.   Now & Forever  is about the short hair, middle sister, Shannon Wilde and her adventures leading to love. Now and forever. What does that mean? Let's get back to this later.  This novel started off with a bang! I mean, who would've thought that's how Shannon and Matthew Tucker gets thrown together, literally? Over the cliff and into the Slaughter River. What a name?! Adventure follows them as you join them on this journey through the danger of rapids and darkness.  The only they have is the two of them. What can and will they do to get them out of this situation. Truly, the first chapters of the novel had me on edge.  I won't spoil the fun for you, so I'll stop here.  It is through this adventure and reliance on each other that starts their journey together, not the other w...

Yes, you read it right. The title of this blog post is How to ENJOY reading your BIBLE , and consequently, it is also the title of the book this review post is about.   How to enjoy reading your Bible  by Keith Ferrin is one of those books I see and think, "another to-do book that will collect dust after the one read."   However, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.  First, let's give a little synopsis of what How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible  is.  I guess it's what the title says it is.  Well, I typically don't put the book's description on my reviews, but I will make an exception for this one. Keith Ferrin has been talking to churches for years about enjoying God's Word. Here he shares the most helpful ideas and habits you can start using today. You will find ten proven tips that are equally practical whether you are a longtime Bible student or simply exploring what this life-changing book is all about. Aimed at deepening your rela...

Does this blog post title tell you all?  Yes, this book is a great  start for your Little One.  What book is this, you ask?  It is The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book  by Dr. Lisa Barrangou, PhD .  Isn't this one of the prettiest books you've seen? Since I already started on how pretty it is, let's get that part over with.  This book is a sturdy hardcover cookbook with gorgeous photography (by Erin Scott), easy to read typography and pretty colors when needed.  Pages are good quality, probably between 32 - 48 lbs in weight (standard copy paper is 20 lbs, while printed color glossy brochures are typically 28 lbs).  Layout for charts and graphs are also easy to read.  Next, about the author, Dr. Lisa Barrangou, well, you can read more about her on her website .  However, I want to point out her background as a food scientist for three different Fortune 500 food companies assures us, as readers that she knows what she's t...

Proven Strategies That Really Work for Teaching Gifted and Advanced Learners   is a good workbook for TEACHERS to use, not only with advance learners, but I also feel some strategies will be great with standard students. With standard students, some strategies and worksheets will be great to improve or help them advance.  Not all students can accelerate beyond their potential, but one of the more important jobs/goals of a teacher is to be able to spot and assess each students' potential in whatever subject area, be it common subjects as math and reading, versus life applications as comprehension.  This book is a great tool for teachers to assess and implement strategies to help each student. I would not rely solely on this book, but it can act as a guide to help students accelerate at their pace. This specific book is for Grades 3-8, which I find a vast range. I give it 4 stars because I like the synopsis and the strategy targets. I also think this is a great book f...

Amish Promises by Leslie Gould centers around two families, one "Englisch" (non-Amish) and one Amish who happens to be new neighbors in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  As you can imagine, life between two families with different ways of life can and will get interesting.  How much do you know about the Amish way of life, and how much do you know about their ways in flourishing and co-habitation with modern civilization?  Well, lets explore it together with Amish Promises. First, let's start with what we can see.  I love this cover.  Fall is my favorite season of the year with its beautiful array of warm colors.  This cover clearly shows two different people with two different ways of life walking side by side along a beautiful scenic path.  Their expressions and their body language gives us meaning to understanding and hopefully, leads to 'promises' as the cover so says. Next, the synopsis.  Joel and Shani Becks are new neighbors to ...

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and mother figures out there.  Your dedication and love are felt. For my Mom, a bouquet of Birds of Paradise. THANK YOU for your love, care and teaching me how to be a good person.  Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

I've been craving my Mom's famous radish cake. I don't know if you know, radish cake is a Lunar New Year classic, along with the "year cake". This year, I was unable to spend the Lunar New Year with my family, and therefore did not get the chance to have some of my Mom's famous cakes, along with her even more famous "Buddha's Delight". So, I've decided to make it, following my Mom's recipe. What do you think? Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.