Balanced Challenge Day Two: Make working from home work

Question: What can you do or change to make working from home actually work for you? Creating an office space? Cleaning up that office space? Looking into finding a babysitter for a few hours a day? Take the first steps in making the change, then take a photo of your progress and post it on your blog.

This was an easy one for me- the hardest thing about providing daycare for two infants is that I never find time to get my dishes done. I've been hand washing them for four years now. The pile would often get out of control and several hours of my free time were spent catching up. It got to the point where I hated making dinner because it meant I would have more pots and pans to wash. We even lived off paper plates for several months during the summer!

My husband is the sweetest, most thoughtful guy, and loves to surprise me. Often when we go on dates he won't tell me what the plan is, just for the element of surprise. Well, this Christmas he asked my sister to invite me over for the day so he and our bishop from church (who is a general contractor) could install the dishwasher he ordered. When I came home, he asked me if I knew where the popcorn popper was (to get me to look in the cupboards that the dishwasher replaced). I was so shocked. A dishwasher?! We had tossed the idea around for a couple years, but I would always fall back on how much money we were saving by hand washing. Let me tell you, it has been worth every penny! My stress level has dramatically decreased, I can clean up after a meal and have sparkling dishes while I "chillax" and read a book with my daughter or watch a tv show with my husband. I no longer have that mountain of dirty dishes hanging over my head so I can focus my best efforts at caring for my munchkins.

This post is part of the Balanced challenge with Tricia Goyer—and you can join, too!

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Review: Stranded by Dani Pettrey

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn't lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby's position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.
 
Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He's surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

My Review

This is the third book in the Alaskan Courage series and continues providing a strong plot and plenty of suspense. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, however I highly recommend reading them in order from a romance standpoint, since the relationship of the main characters of books two and three begin in the previous book as a subplot. Darcy and Gage don't really expect to see each other again, but are thrown together in a high adventure undercover investigation. The pacing slowed for me while Darcy was trying unsuccessfully to figure out the reason for the disappearances. The progress in her case wasn't consistent- it seemed like she did a lot of floundering for clues and questioned anyone and everyone, but suspected nobody. Once Gage's family and friends (whom you get to know in the first two books) got more involved in aiding her investigation, things started moving along swiftly. 

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review) 

Alaskan Courage Series

Book One - 5 stars!

Book Two - 5 stars!

Balanced Challenge Day One: Family Priorities

I'm currently reading Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom by Tricia Goyer and will be participating in the blog tour when I review the book. In the meantime, I'm taking part in her Balanced eleven-day challenge! 

Family Priorities (Chapter One)
Determine what your priorities as a family are. Ask yourself a few questions: What do we want to achieve as a family? What will matter five years from now—ten years from now? What will mold our children into God-serving adults? What will bring peace—not stress—to our home?

In ten years our oldest daughter will be seventeen! It's hard to comprehend that fact. Of course the first thing I think is that I want to be in our own house by then :) I know we'd love to adopt another couple of children in that time. My husband will be continuing with his teaching career, perhaps moving into administration. I imagine that as we add more children to our family I'll phase out the infant daycare, but I'm sure I'll still be photographing families on the side.

Our spiritual goals for our family are based on consistent family dinners and weekly family home evening lessons together, as well as daily scripture study and involvement in our church, especially through service. These are the years that are so dynamic and exciting, and making sure the most important things are top priority will help provide a solid foundation for our children and shape our family.

This post is part of the Balanced challenge with Tricia Goyer—and you can join, too!

Download the e-book at Amazon for only $2.99 

Get Balanced!

Review: Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom – an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one there with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggert is working the scene undercover as well. And although their true identities are a secret, it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the spark that flares between them.

But neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they come to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets – and no one on the ranch is safe.

But neither are their hearts – the longer Miranda and Jeremy spends working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers – and their lives – depend on solving this case. Love will have to wait.

My Review

This was a fun book to read! It is hilarious how Miranda and Jeremy suspect each other as accomplices to the criminal and eventually discover each other's undercover status. There are many subtle details incorporated into the story that enhance the setting rather than detract from the action. I admit that I don't like trying to predict the outcome to the mysteries I read since I like being surprised, but there really aren't many hints given about the identity of the Phantom throughout the novel, so I enjoyed the ending and the reveal.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)