A Few Things I Want to Share

Oh hi, I know, I know......... I am sorry that I haven't posted in a while. It was because my family and I went away for an amazing family conference (where we got to meet the Duggar family) and then I stayed longer for the youth conference afterwards. It was soo cool and I made many wonderful memories with dear people who I love.
Anyway, here I am, safe and well and writing to all on a hot and sweltering day in New Zealand.

What you are about to read are some of  my favourite online resources, blogs and other cool things,
Keep reading!

Christian Resources
The Bible Project - Link to website
TBP is such a cool non-profit organisation. It's hard to explain exactly what they do so please just head over to the link and see it for yourself! They also have a Youtube channel.
I love what they do sooooooooo much!

Youversion Bible app - Link to website
This is an app so you should have it on your phone or tablet. Basically, it's a digital bible but also a lot more. I have a printed Bible that I use but when I want to check a verse in another version (NKJV for example) I can. There are devotionals on there and you can create verse images too.

Blue Letter Bible - Link
This is a great help for studying the B-I-B-L-E. You can type in a word like......'fish' and all the verses with 'fish' in them will be right in front of you. That's only the tip of the iceberg though as BLB has so much to offer.


Blogs
Pick Up Limes - Here
I found this lady on Youtube and she has a blog too. I think her recipes look great and these cookies are amazing and I 'll share more about them sometime soon.

Liezel Jayne - Here
This girl also knows her food. I have tried a couple of her recipes too and they were nice. Check her out. Both of these ladies make healthy food too.

Food
Smoothie bowls - I started having these for breakfast about a month ago and they are amazing.
Example:

Recipe link

Overnight oats - Another breakfast I have begun to love. You soak oats, chia seeds, milk/water, and flavourings (cinnamon, fruit, dried fruit, peanut butter, sweetener) overnight and enjoy in the morning.

Teaccino - It's a caffeine-free coffee made from chicory and other plant ingredients. It tastes very much like coffee and I quite like it, though it will be better enjoyed in colder weather.


Music
JJ Heller - Ahhhhh! JJ Heller will I am sure, stay on my list of top fave singers for a long time to come!
Sample:

Check out more here.


I do hope that satisfied Y'all!

Always Watching Book Review

As soon as I finished reading this book, I knew I needed to review it on here.
So let's get into talking about this cool book shall we?

First of, I read this as an ebook and I wasn't sure that I would like this series. I was greatly and pleasantly surprised though, because as I am about to explain there were a lot of things I really liked about it.

Back Cover Synopsis

from Goodreads

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When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son. But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap.

Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closet to him--including Olivia. But in her mind, even more dangerous than the threats to her life is the hold her handsome client has on her heart.

Wade. Wade is such a great person. I even liked him more than Olivia. Wade does such a great job as a widowed father. I loved how much he loved his daughter, Amy.

Elite Guardians is not only an agency but a family. I really liked how they 're all friends and tease each other.

The suspense was perfect. Gripping, page turning, edge of your seat suspense. It was also great that the suspense was not limited to just one main part but spread evenly throughout the whole book.

Hayley. I can't wait to read the book all about her. She's Irish!

Overcoming your fears. There are a few characters on this novel who overcome their fears. 

The romance wasn't too over powering to the rest of the plot.

I loved all of it! Really, there wasn't really anything that made me think "Oh, I don't like that". Except the stalker of course! Ugh.

Add Always Watching to your Goodreads

Buy Always Watching

Authors Website

I would not recommend this book for the faint of heart because there are mention of blood, weapons, and some gruesomeness. I didn't bother me so much but just so you know!

Ages 14+

If you want a full content review, check out Lindsey's review on the BFCG blog here.

A Disscusion about Thomas Barrow

I have been hesitant to write about this topic but I have many thoughts in the matter and had to share them with someone.
First, I will introduce Thomas Barrow to those of you who are less acquainted with him.

A pretty classic pose for Thomas

Thomas Barrow starts as a footman and works his way up to being butler at Downton Abbey. It seems he enjoys making people unhappy and in constantly getting into people's business. He smokes far too much for his own good. One other important fact about him, is that he is gay. It is this fact that prompted me to write this post.

So now you know a bit about him I will say that he doesn't stay all mean and heartless. In the last few seasons of the show, we do see some change in his behaviour towards others. He becomes kinder, more sensitive to others feelings, and more helpful.

I do not agree at all with his affections towards other men. I find it very gross and disturbing. However because of this downfall I do not think we should just dismiss him as a horrible person and stop at that.
Thomas is a person who has problems and could if he put his mind to it stop doing it. I thought it would have been good if there was a woman who maybe was in love with him and maybe it would help him. You know what I mean?
If someone 'showed' Thomas what a real relationship was like, I feel that would have made a difference.

Towards the end we see him very disturbed, so much so he nearly kills himself. I think he his confused and needs people to care for him.
I love the scenes with Thomas and George, I think they are so cute.

I did feel quite sorry for him in the end. Because of his meanness, there were very few people who liked him or trusted him and so he had few friends. But as they were somewhat kind to him despite the way he had treated them,he showed a change of heart.

I always like to look for the good in people and there is good in Thomas Barrow. Normally everyone has some good in them. Sometimes it just stays hidden.

So I suppose my conclusion is that I don't hate gays like Thomas Barrow (even though he's not a real person), I just hate what they believe and do.
As Christians we are commanded to love everyone, not with the exception of gay people.

The Benefits of Water + 14 Tips for Drinking More Water

Recently I really started drinking water a lot more. And I feel like I need to share some things to helps others realise how great it is.
*takes a sip of water*
I'm sure you've been told before many times to drink water. And maybe you do, but I know that I used to go for a whole day without any water. Terrible, right?
So I hope this puts a new perspective on drinking water.

The Benefits of drinking Water / Reasons why you should drink it
There are many, many great things about what what does for your body.
These are just a few:

1. Increases your energy It really does!
2. Helps weight loss(if you need to)
3. Flushes out the bad stuff aka toxins Think about it. Water goes right through you, taking toxins out with it.
4. Great for your skin
5. Boosts the immune system
6. Natural headache remedy and prevention The reason I sometimes get a headache is because I'm dehydrated, soooooo......
7. Perform better
8. Be less grumpy

Now here are some tips:
This video here has some great tips that helped me.

Also here are 4 of my own tips:

1. Add fruit to your water,
Cucumber & Lemon is really nice. But you could also add raspberry, strawberry, mint, citrus, kiwifruit, or lime. Any fruits will work really. Have fun experimenting with different combos to find what you like best.
2. Drink water in the form of herbal tea as well.
3. Get water into you by eating water rich food. Watermelon and cucumber are obvious ones.
4. Get a bottle that is fun and pretty

And those are all my tips! Hope they help you to get into drinking water daily!

6 Things I think that Young Women should put into Practice

Via Pinterest

As young women I believe we should be learning certain skills to equip us in later years from an early age.
In this post I will be covering those things!


1. Hospitality
If you're like me this is something you sort of learnt through your mother. I remember many times when I was younger we had visitors over and my mother would prepare food and drinks and be kind and polite. Me and my siblings were often told to ask a guest if they wanted a drink or bring food out.
Hospitality is of course more than giving people food. Welcoming people into your home with a smile on your face and love in your heart, that is also hospitality.

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

2. Cooking
Everyone needs to learn this to be honest. I thought I would include it anyway just because it is a great skill. Not just to be able to cook but do it well.
I myself am not very keen on cooking but I do want to learn to because it's a good skill to have up my sleeve and I don't think anyone should live on takeaways.

Proverbs 31:15 ....she provides food for her family.....

3. Compassion and Serving Others
First I will specify what compassion means. "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering".
Some people are born with this others not as much but I think it is a very important thing to do.
Having compassion on others will most likely lead us to serving others. We will try to help them and ease their pain. This is something I would very much like to teach myself.

Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

4. Being wise with money
Save money, give money to less fortunate, be wise in what we spend it on.
This one is pretty self explanatory!

Proverbs 31:16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Obviously this is just an example. You don't necessarily have to plant a vineyard!

5. To be an example to other younger women/girls
This one is very important because younger girls need more godly women to look up to and aspire to these days.
A lot of girls want to be like famous movies stars and singers. Some of the greatest examples for women are in the Bible. Ruth, Mary, Esther, and many more.
So please think of when you were younger and in their shoes, didn't you feel confused about who to follow and imitate? Show these girls what a true woman is.

Proverbs 31:26 She speaks with wisdom, and instruction is on her tongue.

6. Choose modesty (if you haven't already!)
This is simple. Think about what guidelines you want to set for yourself because it really depends on your own convictions.
So for me, I don't like wearing skirts or shorts that go above my knees or necklines that show my underwear.
What are you comfortable with? Consider guys in your clothing choices too.

Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity....

Book quotes I love

Photo via StockSnap

Hey, hello everyone!
Lately when I read a book I look out for cool quotes that I can write down in my notebook.
I pick quotes that are descriptive/poetic, beautiful, fun, inspirational or say wise things.
I always find it hard writing these intros so let's get on with it shall we!

"It's ironic that some plants thrive in soil that has been displaced. 
Due to the devastation around us, these flowers bloom more profusely, yet I find their tenacity and beauty uplifting."
- Shadow and Light, War Girls, Theresa Breslin

"Her freckles looked as if someone had blown cinnamon across her nose and high cheekbones."
- An Amish Match, Jo Ann Brown

"Sweet scents came in through the windows: almond scents, honey scents, rose scents; all mingled into an ineffable bouquet of youth and the quest of youth."
- The Alabaster Box, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman and Florence Morse Kingsley

"There, behind the eye of the camera, I was truly at peace."
- Picture Perfect, Janice Thompson

"Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully."
- Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis

"I'm just an ordinary girl. An ordinary girl serving an extraordinary God."
- Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis

"We fought back with our music; it was the only weapon we had."
- The Mozart Question, Michael Morpurgo

"Why does this war have to destroy anything and everything that's fine and beautiful?"
- War Horse, Michael Morpurgo

"She was so beautiful when she smiled, but now was not the time to tell her so."
- The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, Melanie Dickerson

"Life is full of what ifs. You can't let it hold you back. If you do, you're not really living at all. . . just kind of going through the motions with no meaning."
- Soul Surfer, Bethany Hamilton

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."
- The Help, Kathryn Stockett

These are all from books that I have read. I hope you liked them!

Which is your favourite?
Do you say 'two thousand and eighteen' or '20-18' ? Just curious.

My Top Ten Books of 2017

I suppose it's time to round up my top favourite books of the year into one bundle!
This year I read quite a lot and I am quite proud of myself but I hope to read even more next year. These are very roughly in order but I liked them all.
So without further ado, here are my top ten books of  2017......which is ended so fast!

10. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

By Melanie Dickerson

For my first book by this author, I really liked it. I read it relatively quickly and I was happy with the ending too. The characters were great. There is excitement as you hope that Odette won't get caught poaching, I was on edge when that was happening! I could definitely see the elements of Robin Hood but as I don't know the story of the Swan Princess that well I didn't pick up on those parts much.
The reason why I liked this book was the adventure side to it and that fact that it was quite different to anything I have read before.
I am looking forward to picking up the next book in this medieval fairy tale series.
Link to my short Goodreads Review here.

9. The Icing on the Cake

 by Janice Thompson

Oh how I loved this book! I am such a sweet tooth ands all the mentions of cake got me hungry. I actually asked for an Italian Cream Cake for my birthday because I heard about it in this book. I talked about it in my Birthday post this year.

Anyway I really liked this book and the way it tied up to the first book, Picture Perfect.

Scarlett is an adorable character who has a passion for baking and I think she is awesome. Armando is cool and caring and a part of the big, lovable Rossi family. That family is so close and I love that part of it. I love all of it really! Link to my review

8. The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

This is a whopping big book and it took me quite a while to read! However I loved it all the same.

Minnie and Celia are my favourite characters. I coundn't wait till I got to a chapter with them in it.

I saw the movie first and was drawn to it after that. I think the movie is great too.

The African American topics interest me a lot. So I like stories like this one and A United Kingdom and Loving (Both movies based on true stories).

Goodreads review

7. The Forgotten Recipe

by Amy Clipston

A sweet read! This book is what got me into Amy Clipston's books. I loved it. I am going through the series and can't wait to own the complete set.
I didn't like many Amish books before I read this. Amy's writing really appealed to me and this story is so lovely.


6. Blackout 
by Lynette Eason

For my first book by this author, it gave me a great impression on Lynette's writing. Also, considering it was a very short book, it was really cool.
It was creepy, intriguing and full of suspense.


5. The Shoe Box
by Francine Rivers

I think I'll start reading this every Christmas because it's so so good.
I liked it so much, and I really don't have many words for it!
All I can say is that you should read it, it's short and sweet and may make you cry.


4. Thin Ice
by Irene Hannon

Ooooooooo my goodness! Thin Ice was my first suspense novel and I loved it.
 It was a page-turner especially at the end when I couldn't put it down.
I can't wait to finish this series. So far I think Thin Ice is my favourite.


3. An Amish Match
by Jo Ann Brown

Link to my review of the book on this blog


2. Summer Promise
by Robin Jones Gunn

Aaaaaaahhh!
I have finally dived into Christy's world last month and I really enjoyed Summer Promise and A Whisper and a Wish.
It's a great summery read and I loved the parts with faith content.


1. An Eagle in the Snow 
by Michael Morpurgo

This has to be one of my favourite Michael Morpurgo books.
He is on of my top fave authors and this book just reminded me of that.
I wasn't expecting this to turn out to be a favourite of the year but well, it did!
I hope you pick it up it enjoy it too.

And there you have it, my top ten books of 2017!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!