My Mom Spark Reviews

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Mind Stir Media – Self-Publishing Options for Every Author

Are you a writer who dreams of publishing your own book? Self-publishing is one option to help you get your start on your journey to your dream. Writers of all genres, styles, and messages are finding success with self publishing systems like Mind Stir Media.

Mind Stir Media offers premium mentoring packages for new authors as well as self-publishing packages. President of Mind Stir Media, J. J. Herbert, has helped produce hundreds of books for authors nationwide. Called “The Self-Publishing Guru” he can help you get your book idea designed, edited, and published with their self-publishing packages.

The goal of Mind Stir Media is to make it easy as possible for you to publish and sell your book.

Are you a writer seeking to publish a book?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Mind Stir Media. All opinions are 100% mine.

Rhyme Time for the Foolish & Coolish – Modern Twist for Bedtime

My favorite time of the day is bedtime. Partly because I know I will get some quiet time to unwind from my day, but also because I love spending time snuggled up reading a book with my kids before the fall to sleep. These minutes are some of my most precious mommy time during the day. We are always exploring new books and revisiting classic favorites.

Rhyme Time for the Foolish & Coolish is a fun new twist on classic rhyming books. These sing-songy stories give an updated feel that the kids love. Themes of diversity, equality and inclusion, creativity through self-expression, technology and environmentalism are presented in a fun, cool, kid-friendly style.

Even the illustrations are colorful, vibrant, and modern visuals that fit great with these reimagined and relatable 21st century themes. You will find girls pursuing STEM, boys enjoying art, and reflect the use of today’s technology and video games that the kids will recognize.

Rhyme Time books are written to inspire any kid’s imagination. They are available on Etsy or grab the ebook version on Amazon by searching for the author Devon Clasen.

Do you read with your kids every night?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by garbiedog. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Path: How to Become Your Best Self

How many times have you lost sight of your true self? Life changing events – like becoming a parent – can cause our views of who we are and what we want to change. Finding and rediscovering that purpose and path in life can take time. This is why I’m always intrigued with ways to tap into finding and keeping on a path that is self-fulfilling.

In author Felix Ruiz’s self-help book The Path: How to Become Your Best Self, he addresses ways that people who are struggling in life can become the person they truly want to be. He calls this finding your “best self”. The become is designed to help you become the version of the person you can be proud of. Felix even shares how he used his techniques to motivate himself to write this book and put his advice into practice.

The Path: How to Become Your Best Self is 32 pages and available on Amazon so you can grab the e-book and read it on your next vacation.

What types of motivational books do you like to read to keep yourself focused?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Felix Ruiz All opinions are 100% mine.

The Trotters of Tweeville: Harraf Namrattle

The best kid’s books are the ones that are centered around a life lesson. Even better are when those life lessons are gentle reminders to us - the parents. The book The Trotters of Tweeville: Harraf Namrattle by Shirim Zarga-Lederman is that gentle reminder of a life lesson that even I need to hear every once in a while.

As book #2 in the Trotters of Tweeville series, this book is about a girl named Harraf Namrattle. Harraf has a problem with saying things that are sometime hurtful or are better left unsaid. So, when Harraf sets out on her adventure, she quickly learns what it means to think before you speak and how her words can be hurtful to her friends.

With an elementary age student and a pre-K student, these types of lessons are great our family night reading. The Kindle version is a fun and interactive way for me to keep both kids’ attention while we read a fun story with colorful characters.

Download your copy of The Trotters of Tweeville: Harraf Namrattle on Amazon and read it with your kids. You and your kids will appreciate the lesson in the story.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by szarled. All opinions are 100% mine.

Anti-Aging Secrets of Hollywood

I love finding new ways to take care of myself. As I get older, anti-aging is a topic that is top of mind. Hollywood actors and actresses seem to have some great tips on how they maintain their agelessness. I’m always impressed with how easy and affordable some of their tips are.

In the book, Anti-Aging Secrets of Hollywood, author Sandy DeRose shares her passion for healthy living and experience working alongside well-known anti-aging MD. Sandy share 42 secrets that classic Hollywood beauties use to maintain their youthful looks. From Marilyn Monroe to Jennifer Lopez, Sandy’s book highlights holistic tips for creating your own at home facial from Catherine Zeta Jones. She even includes resources for Hollywood’s star’s favorite anti-aging products.

I can’t wait to try Cameron Diaz’s kitchen recipe for a moisturizing mask and Queen Latifah’s super simple tip for exfoliating your skin. As a culture who values our youth, I’m okay using natural ways to hold onto a younger look as my kids cause more wrinkles and stress. These tips are at least a relaxing way to make sure I am taking care of myself.

Anti-Aging Secrets of Hollywood is available online for only $19.95!

What is your best beauty routine tip for maintaining healthier younger skin?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Anti-aging@home. All opinions are 100% mine.

Home School: Why Bother?

Schooling is an important decision for mothers & fathers. Where the kids go to school- whether public, private, or at home - is really based on your beliefs in what is best for your child. As a former teacher, I feel parents know what is best for their child’s needs, learning styles, and value system. There are pros and cons to all of the systems, but it is up to us as the child’s parent to make the right decision.

Leslie Dahl wrote a book called “HOME SCHOOL: Why Bother?: How to Maximize the Home School Advantage”. In her book, Leslie covers how parents can take a pro-active, holistic approach to home schooling your children. Using her framework, parents can establish a ‘home school’ lifestyle that ensures your values and child’s needs are properly met by the loving attention of a parent.

Home schooling is a big picture approach to parenting and educating your children. Dedicated parents with willingness, time and resources can truly use this book to establish the right structure to produce distinctive results in your children’s education, development, and growth.

If you are interested in exploring home school as an option for your children, download “Home School: Why Bother?” from Amazon.

What are your thoughts on home schooling? Do you do it? Why or why not?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Gregg Phillips. All opinions are 100% mine.

Include Everyone: My Kind of Family

There is no better lesson for a child to learn than the lesson of inclusion and kindness. Some of the most memorable, yet honest moments, are when a child is trying to understand why people look different or act different. Have you ever caught yourself hushing your child from the all-embarrassing and way-too-loud commentary about another person in public?

As parents, we’ve probably experienced (or you will soon). But, rather than cringing at our child’s honest and quizzical view of the world, we should embrace it and teach our kids that humans come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and with a variety of abilities.

In the book, Include Everyone: My Kind of Family, author Shannon D. Rhodes offers a refreshing approach of inclusion and kindness. The first unique element of this book is the way it allows the readers to shape their story experience by using their own name for the caregiver (Mom, Dad, Grandma, you decide based on your family dynamic). Then, she highlights the diversity that we see in our lives – ethnicity, disabilities, and lifestyle differences – through a creative and thoughtful story of a young child’s loving and compassionate eyes.

I read this book with my 7 year old who really grasped how the story’s message is to gather everyone together, despite their differences, and find a kind way to engage and interact without any stigmas and for the good of the community.

My Kind of Family is about helping children better understand their emotions, develop self-esteem, and learn good values. The illustrations are beautiful and the main characters are colorless allowing you to color in their skin and hair to match your family’s dynamic. At the end, Shannon provides discussion questions to take the lesson beyond the book and focus on bullying prevention, plus a Pinky Promise for parents and children to share.

I highly recommend this book for parents of elementary age children. The message is exactly what we should be teaching their young minds to embrace differences and look beyond the surface for a deeper more compassionate approach to life.

Buy the Book Include Everyone: My Kind of Family for only $9.99.

How do you talk with your child about diversity?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Shannon D. Rhodes. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Lion and The Mouse

Finding children’s books with good messages is important for me. Both of my kids love to read books and this new children’s book by author Thomas-Bo Huusmann is a great short story to share with your kids.

In The Lion and The Mouse the message is all about finding friendship in unlikely places. You should never judge another person (or animal) based on how they look because you will never know when they come to your rescue.

I downloaded this book right before a family vacation out of the country. Since I couldn’t get wifi, my kids only had a choice of 3 e-books on my tablet. Each night they wanted to hear The Lion and The Mouse. My 3 year old was thrilled with the illustrations and it prompted discussions about friendship that even adults can learn from.

As book 1 in a series on Aesop fables, this is a great book for your kids to read. Download The Lion and The Mouse from Amazon. It’s a great story your kids are sure to enjoy.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Thomas-Bo Huusmann. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Childhood Ear Infection Epidemic

My oldest suffered from chronic ear infections starting at the age of 14 months. They were horrible! One of her first infections got so bad so quickly that we spent New Year’s 2009 at the Duke ER because it had escalated into pneumonia. Over the course of 6 months, we went through every antibiotic known to man before I demanded our pediatrician to refer us to an ear, nose, and throat doctor for some tubes.

During that 6 months period of constant antibiotics, I searched high and low for better ways – healthier ways – to treat her ear infections. I never found any solutions that seemed appropriate for a toddler. So, now, 6 years later, I am excited to share Wendi Combes’ book The Childhood Ear Infection Epidemic (available on Amazon).

Wendi is a registered nurse and has over 20 years of experience in the health industry. Through her experience she has written this short book from a layman’s point of view and should not replace the expert medical advice of a certified doctor. But, this book looks at 8 treatment strategies parents can use to help prevent, sooth, or cure an ear infection.

Since 5 out of 6 kids will have an ear infection before the age of 3, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this book is worth a download to know a little more about your kids’ ear anatomy, causes for infections, and ways to naturally cure an infection.

Wendi has an easy to understand writing style that share the facts we need to know in helping to keep our kids healthy.

Have your kids’ suffered from ear infections? How do you deal with them?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Wendi Combes. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's All About Millimeters: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact in Your Business and Your Life #BookReview

It's All About Millimeters: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact in Your Business and Your Life

With the New Year approaching, it’s a great time to reflect on the past year. More importantly, it’s a time to focus on the future. As a mom with a business, I like to find business minded books that inspire greatness in both my business life and my personal life.

It's All About Millimeters: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact in Your Business and Your Life by Dr. Donna Galante, is one of the books I am glad I got a chance to read for the New Year. Dr. Galante takes a practical approach to focusing on these small changes you can make in your business. She covers everything from hiring to creating systems and processes. It really is a complete approach to changing your business in a big way.

I’m glad I got a chance to read this book before the New Year, but I see myself referring back to it as we get into our plans for 2015. If you run your own business, this book is a great read and full of great ideas and helpful tips.

You can order It's All About Millimeters: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact in Your Business and Your Life on Amazon for only $14.95 (Prime eligible).

What do you hope to accomplish in your business next year?

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by drgalante. All opinions are 100% mine.

Peggy Pencil Meets Five Angels #BookReview

Peggy Pencil Meets Five Angels:A Fable For Our Times

My oldest loves to read. She reads anything she can get her hands on. So, when a book with a positive message comes our way, we get excited. Peggy Pencil is a cute story with a great big message that kids need to hear. Even though the message is a little to ‘heavy’ for my seven year old, she still loved reading about the cartoon pencil who ascends into heaven feeling ‘used up’ and ‘unworthy’.

Through a tour of heaven by five angels, Peggy Pencil discovers a great and powerful message we all need to hear from time to time. This is a modern day fable you will want to share again and again with your children or at church school about a pencil who empowers everyday writers to reach their dreams.

Peggy Pencil Meets Five Angels is available on Amazon for only $2.99 (Kindle edition)

Author Joe “Silly” Sottile has been a writer and a teacher for a long time. Joe believes that "Attitude is everything." So, if you look for the good life, you will find it. You just need the right mindset. Reading, writing, and appreciating poetry can enhance your love of life. Just read POETRY CAN SAVE THE PLANET, and you will appreciate being alive a little more. Follow Joe on Facebook and Twitter.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by jsottile. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Christmas Poopy – Santa’s Favorite Potty Training Book #Review

The Christmas Poopy – Santa’s Favorite Potty Training Book

Potty training is not my favorite mommy activity. So, I welcome any help or encouragement that is designed to help move the process along. With my oldest, books worked really well to describe and encourage the process.

Even though my kids are fully potty trained, I still love to share any tool that can facilitate your journey potty training your little ones. The Christmas Poopy – Santa’s Favorite Potty Training Book by author Joshua Rapp Iverson came my way this holiday season. I couldn’t help but share this festive and humorous potty training tool.

Inspired by the author’s oldest son’s holiday announcement, The Christmas Poopy is written to allow both boys and girls enjoy this story in the “true spirit of the Christmas poopy.”

This book is available on Amazon in paperback for only $10.28. For more Christmas Potty fun, follow the fun on Facebook.

So, have you used books to encourage your kids to use the potty? Share your favorite titles.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by imediasalesteam. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Elf Bully – Encouraging Reading & Comprehension #BookReview

The Elf Bully – Encouraging Reading & Comprehension

This time of year, the kids and I immerse ourselves in all sorts of Christmas stories. There are many variations, but we love them all. Author Katrina Hardin recently shared her book The Elf Bully: The Prequel (The Elfing Truth About Why You Don’t Get What You Want for Christmas) with me.

My children love all the stories of elves and their magic at Christmas time. So, I thought Katrina’s book would fit perfect in our early December reading materials…and I was right. The Elf Bully has a unique spin on many of the traditional Christmas elements we all grew up with – Santa, Elves , the North Pole, and gift giving magic.

In The Elf Bully, Katrina creates a fun and whimsical approach to why children don’t get what they want for Christmas and how the Elf Bully came into existence. In a poetic cadence (similar to The Night Before Christmas), this book has a positive and motivating message to encourage kids to keep reading.

Katrina Hardin clearly has a passion for encouraging young readers and improving their comprehension. She even created a fun reading comprehension game on her Christmas-themed website where by reading a story and answering a few comprehension questions, kids can rescue Santa from the snow globe. My 1^st grader – who loves to read and play comprehension games – really enjoyed the game.

So, The Elf Bully is a new Christmas classic to add to your kids’ reading rotation during the holiday season. This book is available on Amazon for your e-reader for only $2.99. I’d recommend it.

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by Katrina Hardin. All opinions are 100% mine.

Horse Art: Kathy Shell #BookReview

Horse Art: Kathy Shell (Shepparton Studio Book 1) by Ryn Shell, Kathy Shell, and Gray Nomad

Horse lovers will enjoy Horse Art: Kathy Shell. It is the first book in the Kathy Shell Art Studio series. Horse Art is more than just a coffee table book. This book is part memoir of internationally acclaimed author Kathy Shell. It contains tips for artist, both for ‘how to’ create art and the business of art.

In this first book, Kathy Shell shares an eclectic collection of horse paintings. From her popular collection of Clydesdales paintings to Welsh ponies, Horse Art gives the readers interesting insights to what inspires her art and the history of her Australian heritage.

As a collaboration between Ryn Shell (author), Kathy Shell (artist) and Gray Nomad (non-fiction author), this book is an interesting mix that will draw you in, keep you inspired, and make curious for more works by Kathy Shell. Albeit, it's a short read since it is half pictures, but for horse lovers and those who appreciate Western art, this is a great book.

Book Details – Buy on Amazon:

Ryn Shell (Author), Kathy Shell (Author), Gray Nomad (Author)

ASIN: B00GX08QHK

Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Art > Painting

For more works by these authors:

Novels: http://www.amazon.com/author/rynshell

Art: http://www.amazon.com/author/kathyshell

Non-Fiction: http://www.amazon.com/author/graynomad

Until Next Time,

Katie

This post is sponsored by KathrynShell. All opinions are 100% mine.

A My Mom Spark Business Book Review - Conquering the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy

I was once told I was a "learner of things". If you look at my background and experience, this is true. I've spent my entire life learning how to do new things, then teaching those things to others who share my same curiosity. From teach art when I was in high school to being a high school French teacher...and now, I teach Google AdWords to ecommerce retailers. Learning (and teaching) is a big part of my life.

For moms in business, learning should be a big part of your life too. One of my recent healthy habits has focused on fostering a healthy mind. We've added more trips to the public library, so my kiddos can catch this learning bug, too. Their excitement to explore the shelves of books is contagious!

On one recent trip, I was inspired to explore the audio books section. When I think of learning I often forget great books are recorded in an audio version. This is great for me - a mom who is constantly on the go, in my car, or trying to multi-task. Finding time to sit down with a book can be hard. Audio books seem to be the perfect fit for my lifestyle right now.

The book I grabbed for our road trip was Conquering the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy by Clate Mask and Scott Martineau. These two successful businessmen are the founders of Infusionsoft - a marketing automation system for entrepreneurs and enterprise businesses.

This book highlights Clate's and Scott's journey from creating their business from scratch, battling the balance of home and work life, and the ultimate joy of watching their business grow. However, this is not just a book about two guys' success story.

They've created an interesting and compelling story that is the basis for key elements entrepreneurs need to have in order to enjoy the time, money, and freedom that attracted us to entrepreneurship. It is their story that inspired their six strategies for 'conquering the chaos' and growing their successful small business.

Their 6 key strategies were broken down into two main types - Mindset Strategies & System Strategies.

In Mindset Strategies, Clate and Scott discuss the three elements that are required for any entrepreneur to have the right mindset for their business. They discuss how these integral strategies are the fuel that keep you motivated through the tough times and the inspiration that brings about new ideas for growth and prosperity.
In System Strategies, the Infusionsoft duo share three elements that make any successful business of the 21st century successful. Their systems are duplicatible yet applicable across all subsets of businesses today. Yet, they aren't pitching their product (one solution for their automation strategy).

Conquering the Chaos was an enjoyable book that I'd recommend to any mom, dad, or business person looking for a digestible action plan to emerge from the chaos and start living the entrepreneurial life we all dream of.

Are you a "learner of things" in your business? What business books keep you inspired for moving closer to your dreams?

Until Next Time,

Katie

Note: This post is 100% my opinion. None of the links included in this post are affiliate links (I will not get paid if you buy the book from the link). I was not paid to write this review. Pure inspirations for one entrepreneur to another. Enjoy!

Book Review: Faux Paw by Julia Dweck

As parents we want to encourage our children to dream big, think outside the box, and be themselves. In Julia Dweck's latest children's ebook, Faux Paw, Waldon Bear's mom does just that. She encourages him to embrace his dreams and live them out loud despite his teacher and friends. And when it looks like Waldon's dreams to be a bear are about to run out, Waldon's mom shows up to support her little man and his big dream.

Faux Paw is a light-hearted story with a big message. As always, Julia captures a great kid's story with fun characters and pure imagination. Illustrator, Walter Carzon, adds more zip to each character's expression, including a less-than-encouraging teacher.

My oldest enjoyed the story and silliness of Waldon's character, but it was also led us to a fun conversation about what we would want to be when we grow up (P.S. - she tells me I'm already there.). We both have enjoyed reading Julia's e-books for kids, and the character themed facts are an educational bonus for older kids.

I am a fan of Julia's books. Faux Paw is on Amazon for $3.99. Be sure to download a copy for your kids.

Until Next Time,

Katie

Learn more about author Julia Dweck and her collection of titles on her website JuleLoves2Write and follow her on Facebook.

My Mom Spark Reviews

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Mind Stir Media – Self-Publishing Options for Every Author

Mind Stir Media – Self-Publishing Options for Every Author

Rhyme Time for the Foolish & Coolish – Modern Twist for Bedtime #Review

Rhyme Time for the Foolish & Coolish – Modern Twist for Bedtime