Greenwood and Archer -Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Greenwood and Archer Lift Every Voice; New Edition edition (September 20, 2012) by Marlene Banks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marlene Banks has worked 30+ years combined in nursing and the business arena. Her goal as a writer is to create inspiring, gripping and realistic stories with an emphasis on African American literature. She believes her gift and desire to write is from God and desires to use it to fulfill His purposes. Marlene lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Greenwood and Archer: After the Riot continues the stories of Billy Ray Matthias and Benny Freeman and the residents of the Greenwood District after the historical Tulsa Race Riots of 1921. Though a sequel to Son of a Preacherman, Greenwood and Archer can be read as a stand alone book.

The White Glove Society has all but destroyed the Greenwood District, home to the affluent blacks in Tulsa. Now those who have survived are trying to recover what is left including Billy Ray Matthias and Benny Freeman. Billy Ray and Benny are engaged but Benny is hesitant to set a date. Jordan Franks, Benny's ex-fiancee shows up in Tulsa and Benny is confronted with the memories and emotions of the crippling break up she experienced with Jordan. She must decide whether she will stand and face her past or allow it to drive her back into the dark place she'd grown used to before meeting Billy Ray. Billy Ray's attempts to keep Benny from running away are challenged by his own struggles as he wrestles with God's call on his life to preach.

DP Dooley, plagued by a past that prompted him to turn from God and become a government agent, is in a turmoil as he wars against enemies seen and unseen. Internally, he fights against the darkness of his soul as the anger and resentment he has harbored against God for most of his life wears him down. Externally, he continues to fight against the threats of the bigoted White Gloves Society, which is growing and trying to increase its racist activities.

The once hard-edged racial views of Chief Tobias Parnell have noticeably dulled and he no longer enjoys the favor of the White Glove Society. Teaming up with Dooley, Chief Parnell fights against illegal racketeering, bootlegging and racial crimes. A new brotherhood forms in Tulsa, the interdenominational Christian clergyman (ICCA). Braving the social struggles of Tulsa, five clergymen attempt to and bring together God's people, regardless of race, economic status, gender, ethnicity and even doctrine. Their goal, along with the people of Greenwood is to see a new Tulsa rise from the ashes.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Greenwood and Archer, go HERE.

My thoughts:  I enjoyed this book.  I have never read about much that happened down in Tulsa as I'm from northwest MO my entire life.  I enjoyed learning about their history.  I will say I wish that I had read the first book first because there were times that I really wanted to know more about what was being talked about in the book, but sadly I didn't know because I didn't read the first book first.


I received a copy of this for free to read as part of the CFBA. However, all opinions in this post are mine and not influenced by others. I was not compensated in anyway for this review other than a copy of the book

Mudshrimps Cloth Diaper Review

Recently we got to try out a cloth diaper cover or pocket diaper from Mudshrimps.  We used ours as a cover, but you can also use it as a pocket diaper.  I like using them as covers more because you can just change out the prefold or liner and not have to do as much laundry unless they soil the cover as well.

Mudshrimps diapers are made by a work at home mom who started in 2010.  These diapers have a great quality and craftsmanship.  We had no issues with leaks.  Fit was great.  I love that they have rise snaps so that you can use them with multiple size children.  Right now we only have the two in diapers(both 2 year olds) but this would easily fit a larger child or a smaller child.  I would say probably from around 10 pounds up to 35 pounds.

Zyera loves this cover.  If I let her pick this is the one she always chooses.  She gets upset if its already dirty and she can't wear it again.  I'd say these are definite kid pleasers!

You can find Mudshrimps on:

Facebook

Website

Blog

Even better news is that I have a $10 gift certificate to give away as part of my Holiday Gift Guide to Mudshrimps for one lucky winner!!  You can find the Giveaway HERE!

Enjoy Life Foods Chewy Bars Review

I have loved doing reviews with Enjoy Life Foods.  They have some great gluten free/dairy free/soy free, etc options for us in our house to snack on.  Being pregnant I like to keep snack bar type things in my purse for when I'm out and about so I'm not tempted to buy something that isn't gluten free or that costs too much when I feel my blood sugar going down.  These fit the bill nicely!

Oven baked gluten free Chewy Bars by Enjoy Life come in four different flavors; Caramel Apple, Very Berry, Cocoa Loco, and Sunbutter Crunch.  Being a chocoholic the Cocoa Loco was my favorite.  Next, the Caramel Apple, followed by Very Berry, and Sunbutter Crunch.  I liked them all though so it was hard to decide on favorites!

The sunbutter  crunch is a great bar made with sunflower butter.  I am a peanut butter fan(thankfully no peanut allergies here)  and have been feeling cautious about trying out other peanut butter type replacements.  But after eating the sunbutter crunch bar I think I would love sunflower butter.  Very yummy and my kids thought they were peanut butter bars!

My computer went nuts and put this in sideways.  These were my favorite.  Just the right amount of chocolate.  They are not hard and crunchy like some, but rather a nice chewy bar that fills you up and helps you still count calories and maintain a healthy diet without ditching the chocolate.

I really like anything that is caramel and apples together.  I love caramel.  Caramel and chocolate is the only thing better than caramel and apples.  Anyway!  This is a great bar.  You can taste both the caramel and apple and neither is over powering or dominating the whole bar.

The very berry was very good!  The berry flavors are subtle.  Not overpowering or hit you the minute you bite into the bar.  I was surprised at the way they tasted.  They taste like real berries not the highly processed berry flavored substitutes that so many companies use these days.

You can check out my other reviews with Enjoy Life:

No nuts trail mix

Crunchy Cookies

Chocolate Granola and Baking Chips

Plentils a new breed of chips

And don't forget to check out the Enjoy Life pages and make sure to like them on facebook so you can get their new updates for products:

Twitter
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My Keurig Vue House Party #keurigvue #houseparty

I was ecstatic when I learned that I was going to be able to host a Keurig Vue House Party!  I have wanted to try out a Keurig for some time now, and to get to try out the newest version before you can even find it in stores!  I was bouncing off the walls!  Seriously I was that excited!

I still can't find the Vue cups in stores!  I love this thing and can't wait until they come up with more teas and coffees for it like they have for the regular Keurig.  I made some goodies to have with our party and guests came and went!

super exciting box!

can't contain my excitement

must open NOW

came with a sample box

The sleepytime tea was the best!

Party box time!

coupons for others

an apron!

napkins

cups

love the tumbler

yum yum mints

cookies were not opened in my house(not gluten free) but I did send them home with some guests

Cappucino was good.

Love the italian roast

I'm not a huge sweet tea fan but my friend loved it!

really good bodied coffee

the hazelnut smelled so divine, I almost didn't want to taste it

Tried this and realized I really don't like iced coffee

waiting for the party goers to get here

perfect for kids

brews so easily

enjoying some hot cocoa

and more enjoyment

princess

He had to have a lid on his cup

good to the last drop!

November Conscious Box Review

Have I mentioned that I love the Conscious Box subscriptions?  I would review them every month if given the chance!  I did get the chance with the November box.  See below for a peak of what was inside.  It never ceases to amaze me what all they can pack into the box!

pretty box to brighten the cold days

These were SO good!

We don't eat soy in our house, so these we did not try at all.

Have  I mentioned I love tea!

I am still working on a way to use these.
I think I'll use them on Christmas morning on the piano top.

smells so good

dark chocolate banana, yum!

such a cute little mini Larabar.
and it was my favorite flavor!

this was so good too

This is the only type of sucker we allow in our house.
This flavor is the pomegranate pucker.

Natural cough syrup.  Haven't used it yet, but love the idea.

Vita rocks!  Don't you remember those rock pops.  Brings back memories!






I was provided with this box in exchange for this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in anyway.  I was not compensated for this post in anyway other than the items pictured above!

I'm Having a Love Affair(and not with my husband)!

I know what you're thinking, but please keep reading!  I really am  a good and loving wife!

I'm having an affair and not with my husband. . . . . .I'm having an affair with my Comfort U pillow!  I seriously love this thing!  It is so comfortable and helps me sleep pain free.

Comfort U has its headquarters in Denver, CO and has been selling these great pillows online since 2000, so for several years now.  Comfort U body pillows have been said to relieve pain associated with fibromyalgia, pregnancy, arthritis, chronic back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and much more!

Here's a brief piece from their website that I found helpful when deciding if this would be the right product for me,

"The average person tosses between 80 and 100 times per night! Each time you toss and turn, your sleep is interrupted. It's no wonder you wake up tired and irritable, with muscle pain, headaches and morning stiffness. By surrounding yourself in a cocoon of comfort, the Comfort-U helps eliminate pressure to many areas of the body, reducing the need for you to move around during the night. Since the Comfort-U is so incredibly pliable, you can position it in a number of ways to help your body stay in better alignment. Plus, the Comfort-U pillow is totally hypoallergenic and machine washable."

I started using my new pillow before I found out I was pregnant.  Even then it helped with back pain and to get me a full night sleep(well as full as it could be with a little one still nursing at times during the night).  I love the fact that I didn't have to use my bulky regular pillow between my legs anymore and that I could snuggle where ever I wanted without moving the pillow.

My husband though doesn't love the pillow so much because it is large and it does take up quite a bit of the bed.  I use it more when he is gone and when he is here I use a different pillow and go back to using a regular pillow between my legs to keep my hips in alignment.

That being said there is a Civil War Reenactment coming up where he will be gone.  Oh how I'm going to love resuming my affair!!

Just an FYI tidbit for anyone who might still be breastfeeding a child.  I would not recommend you breastfeed while using this pillow if you have a small infant.  I did use it laying in bed cuddling with my little one who just turned 2 as she nursed and it works okay for that.  The way it has the child pulling into you might cause a smaller baby to not be able to breathe.

Care is super easy as well.  It is machine washable, but so far I have not had to wash it.  I have washed the cover a few times and can see where having an extra cover would come in handy.  I also like to take and put some essential oils or spray on it to help me sleep at night.  If you make sachets those can go inside the cover on the underside as well and make it an even pleasanter sleeping experience.

I must confess as I took these pictures that I did have to lay down and have a sweet snuggle with my pillow. Unfortunately, the kids discovered me missing and my bed was soon full of 8 kids, 2 dogs, me and my pillow.  A queen size bed just isn't that roomy!

Pssst stay tuned as this is part of my Holiday Gift Guide and will include a giveaway!!

I was provided with this pillow for free in exchange for this review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are solely my own and have not been influenced in anyway.  I was not compensated in any other way except for the product pictured above for this post.