Don't Wash Your Hair

Please forgive me if I gross you out. I just read Good to Great Hair by Robert Vetica (a hairstylist for A-list celebrities). He says not to wash your hair with shampoo every day. Hair just doesn't need it. I've heard this (and tried it) before, but always gave up because my non-hairwashing days would be on Saturday night and I didn't want to look all nappy for church. Anyway, I decided to start again and did NOT wash my hair last night. It feels a little greasy (although that might be from sunscreen.) Robert said I might have to wait 2 weeks to 6 months to get the normal hair oil rhythm back. Ugh. But, with the money I'll be saving on shampoo, I could buy myself something nicer than Suave. And that works for me!

Quest for Celestia

I admit that I'm a bad book club member. If I don't like the book, I won't read it. Some of the books were stinkers (The Horse Whisperer) while others were outrageously long and awful selections for busy people (The Three Muskateers comes to mind).

So, when I heard that the choices from one member were Wuthering Heights (already read, didn't like) or Pilgrim's Progress, I just about signed off that month entirely. We decided on Pilgrim's Progress, but I was dreading the old English, the in-your-face morality and the general weirdness. Until another book club member suggested that I might like a more descriptive retelling.

Quest for Celestia by Steven James (PG, Recommended)
This friend dropped off Quest for Celestia by Steven James when I was sick. It was a quick read, fascinating, and a good tale. I'm fairly certain that the names and places in the book were changed. A young man named Kadin leaves his hometown after being invited by a wizard and beings a journey to a place called Celestia. Instead of being pilgrims, the characters were called vagabonds. He's joined by a woman named Leira, and together they face the trials of Christian living and emerge triumphant. I enjoyed the part where Kadin killed the dragon the best. There was a hint of romance, modern words, and beautiful descriptions. I'm not sure I understood the entire allegory, but I did enjoy the book. Now I have something to talk about at book club and another great recommendation for you!

Going to Town

Going to town. It sounds quaint, doesn't it? It conjures up a horse-drawn carriage clipping down a dusty road. A young girl sucking on rock candy in the backseat. A woman tenderly fingering her newest fabric purchase. A man sporting a new hat and a few farming tools. 

Not much has changed. Going to Missoula, the big town, is a big deal - especially with a baby. When I first had her and was still nursing every three hours (or less), I thought I'd never get to go again. We'd get up there, have to find a vacant parking lot so she could eat, drive around, get her in and out of the car seat (ugh!) at each store, and by then be worn out. Then there was the hour drive home. Someone was always cranky by the end. Sometimes everyone was.

It's not fun to go to Missoula with a baby. It's only kind of fun to go at all. I like looking at all of the things to buy. (My husband and I literally had drool coming out of our mouths one night when we went to visit Target and saw all of the little travel items. Travel deodorants, toothpaste, little travel plastic bottles. It was amazing!!) Some things can't be found at K-Mart or the little stores around town. I try to shop local when I can, but when I can't, I try not to complain, rely heavily on the internet for really cool purchases, and then break down and go to town.

Xeriscaping Article at BD

If you just can't wait to read something this week, check out my new article about Xeriscaping at Blissfully Domestic. I have included a photo of my front yard in the article to show you that I can keep some things alive. Enjoy your week!
- Bitterroot Mama

Summer Break

Hello Wonderful Readers!
This week, I'm giving myself a little break and taking a blogging vacation. Between being sick, tending to my garden, and being my normal housewife self, I'm doing a lot already! Thanks for understanding. I'll be back next week!
Love,
Bitterroot Mama

Italian Roast

I have had to change this week's recipe due to our schedule. This yummy recipe comes from long-time blog follower and friend Jen. I'm so glad she shared it with me. I used it this week for two meals, shredded beef and red potatoes and then again as tacos.
Italian Roast
3 lb. Roast (I use boneless)
3 packages Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix
1 package dry onion soup mix (or see alternative below)
3 - 4 golden pepperocini (optional)

Heat a large pan or pot with a little oil. Rub salt and pepper into the roast. Sear the roast in the pan until it is browned on all sides. (This is not an exact science, so don't worry if the edges aren't quite done.) Place the roast in a large crockpot. Dump the dressing mixes and soup mix on top. Add an inch of water to the crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Two hours prior to serving, shred the meat and return it to the crockpot. One hour prior to serving, add the pepperocinis (if using).

If you want to make your own dry onion soup mix because the store brand is too expensive or has MSG, here's a filler that I've been using with good results.

French Onion Soup Mix
(equals one packet of dry soup mix)
8 tsp. dried onion flakes (I use less because I'm cheap)
4 tsp. beef stock powder (Better than Bouillon works great!)
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. celery salt
pinch sugar
pinch white pepper

Battle of the Sickness

Our baby has her first cold and has decided to share it with her parents. All night long there's a chorus of coughing ringing in our hallway. Luckily, the baby seems to be doing better. Her parents are not faring so well.

My husband and I react much differently to sickness. Here's how each of us deal with the following situations when we're sick:

Diet

• He stops by the grocery store for canned soup, ginger ale, and saltine crackers.
• I drink water, eat leftovers, and guzzle down some open chicken stock in the fridge.

The Kitchen

• He asks me to heat up canned soup for him.
• I make meals for the whole family, make a special dessert for his work picnic (which was cancelled), and do the dishes.

Babysitting

• He changes one diaper a day and watches the baby so I can do the dishes.
• I give the baby a bath, feed her, wake up at night multiple times to nurse her, and change all but one diaper a day. Plus, I have to take the baby with me to run errands for him while he sits at home!

Entertainment

• He watches baseball games and a movie I rented for him.
• I watch the baby unfold the laundry I just folded. I also check my blog to see how many new comments are on here.

Drug Usage

• He alternates dosages of Nyquil and Dayquil.
• I (as I'm still nursing) take a Tylenol when I remember.

The comparison isn't entirely fair because he is running a fever and I'm not. I just have a really sore throat and awful memory. However, I baby him and the baby, so there's no one left to baby the mom. I guess that's one of life's new realities for me. We should be doing better soon. If so, we can celebrate with some ginger ale.

Burger Grilling Tips

It's summer and the season of the grill is upon us. If you're going to be firing up that grill with burgers and want them actually cooked (medium well to well done), here are a few tips I have adapted from Cook's Illustrated to help you end up with something other than hockey pucks:

1. The same principles that make meatloaf moist apply to burgers. A mix of bread and milk keeps the burgers supple. (See recipe below.)

2. Instead of making a hole in the middle of the burgers, just make a small indentation in the top, which will puff out when cooking.

3. Fattier meats are tastier. Eighty percent lean chuck is the best for the burger mix.

4. Make sure the grill is medium-hot before putting on the meat.

Well-Done Hamburgers (serves 4)

• 1 large slice (or 1/2 c.) of white sandwich bread, chopped finely
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 medium garlic clove = 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 tsp. steak sauce
• 1 1/2 lbs. 80% lean ground chuck

Instructions: Mash milk and sandwich bread together to form a mush. Add everything else but the meat and mix well. Break the beef into small pieces above the mix. Mix it all together well. Form 4 patties, 3/4 inches thick apiece. Place a slight depression in the top of each patty. Cook over a medium-hot to hot grill, 2 to 4 minutes on one side, and then 3 to 4 minutes on the other side, or until cooked to your satisfaction. (Note: This recipe does not work as well for raw or medium-cooked patties.)

Well-cooked hamburgers are great when you don't want to get sick or are pregnant. I'm trying not to get sick, personally. Moist, well-cooked burgers work for me! For more great tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday.

My Hutterite Life

Remember when I did my post about women exploring cults and sects? I forgot one of my favorite books. It's time again for my book club to reveal our fall selections (everyone gets to choose a book), and I was instructed not to include any tortured memoirs. Luckily, this collection of articles originally published in Montana newspapers by Lisa Marie Stahl fits the bill. It's light, informative, and as G-rated as the old Disney films.

As she wrote these short articles, she lived in the Gildford Colony west of Havre. In the book, Stahl explains Hutterite colony life, including making soap, clothes, and their renowned pastries. I love the history and the straight-forward tone she uses. The book culminates with her wedding, which she uses as an example of a colony wedding. After her wedding, she stopped writing her column and moved to Canada. This collection comes highly recommended as a window to the Hutterite life.

Menu Plan Week of June 13

It's finally starting to feel like summer here. We have grilling and a picnic scheduled, all summer fare. What I really love about summer is fresh corn on the cob. I try to have it as much as possible. What are you eating this week? For more meal plans, visit orgjunkie.com every Monday.

Breakfasts: Frozen homemade waffles, Bacon and Egg Breakfast Bars, Eggs, Toast

Lunches are always leftovers.

Dinners
Sunday - Grilled hamburgers, corn on the cob, leftover mac and cheese
Monday - Spicy Italian roast (in crockpot) with red potatoes
Tuesday - Chicken bacon alfredo bake, baby carrots
Wednesday - Burritos with leftover roast, corn on the cob
Thursday - Work picnic. We're bringing dessert, including a little Cool Whip magic dessert (check back Friday for the easy recipe) and I'm trying out these chocolate ricotta muffins.
Friday - Lasagna, garlic bread, salad
Saturday - Creamy chicken in the crockpot, instant brown rice

Putting the Tan Back in Montana

We don't really advertise ourselves as the sunshine bastion of the Northwest. We call ourselves the Banana Belt due to our comparatively mild winters, but that has nothing to do with our days of sunshine.

Needless to say, having a tan doesn't make a lot of sense in Montana. We have our tanning salons like the rest of the country, but I (and much of the population) steer clear. (That whole skin cancer thing scares me.) I try to lather up with SPF30+ and avoid any burns while gardening or the occasional trip outdoors.

I think Montana needs to do something about its image. We don't have the tanned and put together look of Californians. We just need to look sun-kissed, not sun-baked. I suggest bronzer for our faces. Personally, I'm thinking of connecting all of my freckles and moles to gain a few shades. And hiding my paper white legs as much as possible. What do you do to avoid the Bitterroot Vampire look?

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Bars

My husband is a big eater. If I don't have dinner on the table when he gets home, he starts grazing and doesn't stop until my pantry and fridge look like they were raided by a whole teenage summer camp. So, breakfast is important. I believe in protein for breakfast. My hubby can make eggs, but he's usually pressed for time in the morning. I tried this recipe to see if I liked it, but I ended up cleaning out my muffin tin for an hour, so I have revamped the recipe a little. Once I started making these, I have heard no complaints about breakfast! They freeze and reheat wonderfully and aren't all that difficult to make. I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Bars (Makes 10-12 bars)

Ingredients: Biscuit Layer

2 c. all-purpose flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. shortening or butter

2/3 c. milk

Ingredients: Bacon/Egg Topping

10 eggs

3 to 5 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. milk

a few strips to 1 lb. bacon or ham, cooked and crumbled

1 1/2 c. shredded cheese

to taste: garlic powder, hot sauce, salt, pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk together the dry biscuit ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in the shortening or butter. Add the milk to make a soft dough. Turn out and knead for 30 seconds. Press evenly into the greased pan. Cook for about 3 minutes and then remove from the oven.

2. While the biscuit bottom is in the oven, mix together the topping, starting with whisking the eggs in a large bowl. Add the cream cheese and milk. Stir in the bacon, cheese, and other ingredients to taste. Pour over biscuit bottom.

3. Put the whole thing back in the oven and cook for about 12-20 minutes, until the eggs are set. The eggs will seep below the biscuits and create an interesting texture. Allow to cool and then cut into rectangles and freeze.

Note: My finished product looks weird because I never allow the cream cheese to thaw properly. The little chunks of cream cheese add bursts of flavor.

Cosmetics Safety

You may know by now that I have become a total crunchy Montana woman. Part of that transformation came by revamping my personal products to reduce exposure to certain toxins while I was pregnant; I just never stopped. The photo above shows my personal products. I'm going to look up their relative safety in the Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. I encourage you to look up a few of your products as well, just to see what they rate. The lower the number, the safer the product. For instance, water is 0. If any of my products are over a 5, I am going to try to sub them out with something safer.

Tom's of Maine Natural Antiplaque Tartar Control Plus Whitening Toothpaste, Peppermint - 2
Curel Life's Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream, Pregnancy - 4
Dr. Bronner's Magic Hemp Castile Soap, Almond - 2
Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - 2 (The little tinted ones are 3)
Colorescience Blushers (mine isn't listed, but the rest are 5 or 7)
Colorescience Suncanny Foundation Brush, SPF 20 - 7
Kiss My Face Olive Oil and Aloe Moisturizer - 4?
Tom's of Maine Aluminum Free Deodorant, Long Lasting, Unscented - 2
Almay Eyeshadow Trio for Hazels - 6
Neutrogena Baby Pure and Free Sunblock Lotion - 7

That was informative. It looks like my sunscreen and makeup are the worst offenders. However, I really wish I had gone into the science field, because I'm not so sure about these ratings. The site includes a lot of data gaps, disclaimers, and results based on one or more uncited animal studies. I wish I could use a time machine and go into the future to see which chemicals are the worst offenders and quit using them altogether. Makeup is so hard to purchase because of its chemical composition. Sometimes I just want to stop wearing it.

I encourage you to try this out on your own products. What did you find? Do you have any suggestions for me that don't cost a fortune?

Diaper Cake Tutorial

My sister-in-law will be having a baby later this summer, so while we were all in California, we threw a little shower for her. My mom and I made this baby cake for her, and I wanted to show you how to make one too. Not only are they a beautiful centerpiece, they are practical too! Unfortunately, I don't have precise details (I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal), but you get the gist.

Supplies Needed

Diapers (I suggest number 1 size diapers)

Lots of small rubber bands (to fit around diapers) and some larger rubber bands (to fit around each layer)

Bottles for the middle of each 2 layers

Ribbon and pearl pins

Themed decorations

Fancy cake plate

Directions
1. Roll up the diapers you need for each layer. You can either unfold the diaper and roll it up, or roll it up as it is folded already. Place a rubber band around the center of each diaper.
2. When you have enough diapers for a layer, place a bottle upright. Add the diapers around it until it's the desired width. Secure with a large rubber band around the entire layer.
3. Continue making layers until you run out of patience or diapers. Three or four layers should be plenty. We had 5 because my mom had to put the Winnie the Pooh blanket head on the top. A large bottle can probably fit through two layers, keeping the cake together better.
4. Put bottom layer on a pretty cake plate. Add additional layers on top. Wrap ribbon around each layer to cover up the rubber bands. Secure with pearl push pins. Try to use good ribbon because otherwise it'll rip.
5. Add decorations at will.
6. After the party, give all of the goodies from the cake to the expecting mother. It's nice to remove the rubber bands from the diapers first because it's a pain in the neck to get them off. That's also why I suggested No. 1 diapers. Most babies stay in them for some time, unlike newborn diapers, which some larger babies never use.

Washcloth Flower Bonus: Take three washcloths (this was a Winnie the Pooh set from Wal-Mart). I cut off the tags because they were in the way. Put two of the washcloths together, with the right sides out. Fold the other washcloth in half and roll up the long way. Secure the rolled up one with a rubber band. Place it in the middle of the other washcloths and tie the whole thing together with another rubber band.

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Two Sad Memoirs

Today's books have the following things in common:

They are sad memoirs.
The authors go on to become successful financially and emotionally.
They involve deep family ties, especially with siblings.
Children were involved in creative play.

Why is the last item so important? Today's kids end up being monitored so closely (and with reason due to all of the dangers and weirdos out there) that they lose the ability to engage in creative play. Creative play can be defined here as play using imagination, often outside, and excluding most media influences. Of course, there is a fine line between imaginative play and neglect, which plays a part in this first book.

The Glass Castle
In The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls recreates her childhood, including all of the foibles and struggles of her parents, who reared four children in poverty. Her father spent most of his life in and out of drunkenness, while her artist mother battled a sugar addiction and put her own needs first, including refusing to work although they had no money. Walls faced hunger, neglect, lack of decent clothes, perverts (including an uncle with roving hands), lack of indoor plumbing, beatings by neighborhood kids, and watching her father during drunken rages. On the other hand, her parents instilled a love of learning into each of her siblings, and forced them to be self-sufficient. After reading this, it's hard to imagine how this family slipped through the cracks of the system. Actually, it's not, seeing that her parents were distrustful of government and did the "skedaddle" anytime a government agent was onto them. Although it must have been hard for Walls to relive this story while writing it, I'm glad she did. It allows the rest of us a glimpse into the life of children in poverty and how it must feel to love and despise your parents simultaneously. The compassion she brings for her parents, despite their destructive behavior, is remarkable. If you haven't already read this book, I recommend it. It's a quick (disturbing) read, but bound to be a classic. R - for language, and traumatic events

Three Weeks With My Brother
If you don't already love Nicholas Sparks, you will after reading this moving memoir. The storyline alternates between his childhood and a modern-day trip with his brother around the world. I had been studying personality types before reading this book, and it struck me that Nicholas is more like me, an introverted overachiever (classic "C"), while his brother is an "I," or party animal (in a good way). It explains why his brother, Micah, was always getting him into trouble on the tour. I enjoy hearing how writers become published, and this book included that aspect of Sparks, but also why his stories are often so emotionally-taxing: he's led a life filled with loss and heartaches, from the loss of his parents and sister, to the learning disability of his son. I managed not to cry during the reading of this book, but I can't promise you the same. Highly recommended, PG-13 (for sad, sad stories).

Election Blues

Tomorrow brings the primary elections to Western Montana. Election season knocks out candidate signs early and vigorously, like a mis-matched rodeo rider. Normal, printed campaign signs dot the highways, but mixed in are unsightly spray-painted signs.

The real problem with elections is the candidates. Now, I try to give everyone a fair shake. One thing I learned at my last job was to vote for the person, not the party. If a candidate's political views are on par with mine, but they are meaner than a clawing cat, they can count my vote goodbye.

Elections dominate the newspaper. I like that our local paper highlights the candidates and gives them a little space to share their views. Most of the candidates also have websites. They spend much of their time proving their Montananess. In fact, they try to out-Montana other Montanans. I might be breaking some kind of rule here, but I don't give an owl's patootie how long someone's lived here (unless it's a couple of days and the honeymoon period isn't over yet). I want to know these three things:

1. Can he/she read and understand technical documents?
2. Is he/she a kind, compassionate person with the ability to work hard and compromise?
3. Can he/she hold a conversation with people from other political parties without getting into a fistfight?

If the answer to all three is yes, they might stand a chance. Unfortunately, not too many people around here fit the bill. On both sides of the alley, passionate party-liners hold the sway and the signs. Speaking of signs, I'll just be glad when it's over and I can see the cows clearly again. Moo.

Menu Plan Week of June 6

This week is Italian meets easy. Not too much excitement here, other than a new recipe on Wednesday night. I love relaxing weeks like these! For more menu plans, visit orgjunkie.com every Monday.

Breakfasts include eggs, bacon, homemade frozen waffles, bacon and cheese breakfast bars (recipe coming Friday), oatmeal (if it doesn't explode all over the microwave), and yogurt.

Lunches are always leftovers.

Dinners
Sunday: Leftover hamburgers, salad, deviled eggs
Monday: Grilled spicy pork chops, corn on the cob, salad
Tuesday: Homemade whole wheat tortillas with ground beef taco meat
Wednesday: Baked peanut butter oatmeal and fried eggs
Thursday: Spaghetti, garlic french bread, salad
Friday: Pizza, Kettle Chips, salad

Chicken Fried Rice

My family is in love with Benihana. It's the restaurant of choice for birthdays, graduation celebrations, Easter, other holidays, whenever. The great thing about Benihana is that our large family can usually fill an entire table and the chef prepares our food right there so we can see how he makes it. I love their chicken fried rice, so here is my best attempt at recreating it at home (with a little help from a Recipezaar recipe).

Chicken Fried Rice (2-3 servings)

1 c. steamed rice

About 2 oz. of chicken breasts (1/2 a breast?)

2 eggs

1 tsp. onion, finely chopped

1 tsp. carrots, finely chopped

1 tsp. green onion, finely chopped

3-4 Tbsp. garlic butter

1 tsp. sesame oil (or canola oil)

2 tsp. soy sauce

sesame seeds

salt & pepper

Grill chicken breasts (or do it the easy way and just reheat already cooked chicken from the freezer.) Heat a pan and cook the eggs, scrambled style, chopping them finely when done. Saute the onions, carrots, and green onions in the sesame oil in a pan (or omit them if you're a picky eater). In a large pot, fry up the steamed rice with the garlic butter. Add the chicken, eggs, and vegetables. Continue to mix over medium-high heat. Add the soy sauce, some sesame seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Eat!

A Gentleman's Garden - Or a Quick, Urban Garden

While on vacation at my folks' house, my dad decided he wanted to transform this patch of dirt into a vegetable garden.

The method was simple: hack up the ground with a pick axe and add some compost.

Purchase already growing plants at Lowe's, Home Depot, and Anderson's Nursery.

Plant yellow squash and zucchini on the edges. Potatoes in the back, bush beans in the middle, and vining peas by the fence. Cover with a mulch from Anderson's Nursery.

Don't forget the onions!

Here's the Gentleman's Garden! (He calls it that because he gardens for leisure and pleasure, not out of necessity. I found the transformation a great use of a small space. If only the bunnies would stay away....)

15 Boredom Busters

Luckily, my 10-month-old can't talk. Otherwise, I'd be subject to the same whining millions of other moms will hear this summer: "I'm bored!" Here are a few solutions to that annoying phrase.

1. Play a game. My favorites include Monopoly Deal, Apples to Apples, Yahtzee, and Bananagrams. There are many other games out there, including outdoor sports and making up your own games!
2. Check out local events. Our library has a summer family series which meets outdoors and offers a little something for everyone. We also have outdoor concerts and Montana's Shakespeare in the Park. Other places might have museums, zoos, sporting events, and aquariums.
3. Plant a garden. You don't have to be a Master Gardener to plant a few pots of herbs or annual flowers. In most places, it's not too late to start a summer garden.
4. Create something. My favorite thing to do is browse Etsy and try to replicate the neat artwork on there.
5. Become an expert. Have your kid(s) choose a theme and learn as much as he can about it. Does he like dinosaurs? Borrow library books or research on the internet (if old and trustworthy enough). Have her recreate a dinosaur landscape by making a shadowbox.
6. Cook it up. Let your little one assist you in the kitchen, whether you're baking or making something delicious, like my recipes. Check out new recipes in your cookbooks or borrow new cookbooks from the library.
7. Get outdoors. Go for a walk in the park. Find a new play area. Join a little league team. Go for a modest hike or on a nature trail. The more adventurous of you can camp. (Don't forget the sunscreen!)
8. Make a rainy day box and enjoy it on rainy days. Include puzzles, books, videos, and other fun toys only to be used on rainy days (or as a last resort).
9. Write your own book. Let your little one channel her inner author. She can write a novel, true-to-life account, or a comic book.
10. Make a family traditions book. Kids might enjoy helping to list how your family makes holidays special. Or, have them make a traditional scrapbook.
11. Read a book! (Notice the book theme?)
12. Write and stage your own play. Make your own costumes and sets. Invite family and friends over to watch the final performance.
13. Start a journal. I still have these, which I would optimistically start at the beginning of every family summer vacation. They are quite interesting to re-read.
14. Plan a dream vacation or dream house. Let your imagination run wild! Try to think outside of the box when it comes to fun places to see or shapes for a house.
15. Do a service project. The best way to keep busy is by helping others. There are needs all around you, including things even a kid can do.

Don't take bored for an answer. There are so many things for kids to do - without resorting to the TV or video games! What are you planning on doing this summer?

This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Mystically Wired by Ken Wilson

In Mystically Wired, Pastor Ken Wilson attempts to unite current research with ancient prayer techniques. I enjoy new research and prayer, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. By writing as politically correct as possible, Wilson distances himself from mainstream Christianity and begins to discuss prayer abstractly, instead of as a conversation with God. I found it difficult to get into the book in the beginning due to my expectations for more in-depth research, which was mostly based off Why God Won't Go Away by Dr. Andrew Newberg, etc.

Part 2 of the book contains stronger chapters full of prayer suggestions and anecdotes. Of particular interest are the chapters on remembrance and praying in small intervals instead of large chunks. Due to my hectic schedule as a young mom, I will probably try some of the techniques mentioned. Other parts I'm going to try to forget (if my brain will let me). This book would have merit for people stuck in a prayer rut or interested in starting a prayer life, but I can't recommend it as theologically sound or accessible. [Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.] (PG)

The 5 Love Languages

I kept hearing references to it. At MOPS. At Bible Study. "What's your love language?" And I didn't know because I hadn't read the book. Now I have. I am proud to announce that my love languages are:

Acts of Service (Yes, you can do my dishes!)

Quality Time/Words of Affirmation (Hang out with me and say something nice!)

If you don't know what these mean, it's time you read the book too! I'm referring to The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Everyone should read it! Because he includes frequent anecdotes, the book moves quickly, but it has enough substance to make you think. It made me think about giving gifts and why I'm such a bad gift giver. I don't like receiving tangible items, because that's not my love language. I want someone to vacuum! Therefore, I need to work on that area when I'm relating to people who do like tangible gifts. That's just a small part of what I learned in this wonderful book.

If you don't have time to read the book, the website http://www.5lovelanguages.com/ has a synopsis of each of the love languages and a simple quiz so you can discover yours. I'm going to give it a PG-13 due to the discussion of marital relations (in a Christian setting) and another hearty recommendation. I know that this book has been out for awhile, but it's new to me. If you take the test, or have taken it, I'd love to hear what your love language is!

Love, Bitterroot Mama