Stunning Mosaic and Weekend Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #128!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

I spotted this stunning mosaic with beautiful hand made tiles on a wall at the art center where Jessica is currently taking hip-hop lessons twice a week. I'll be posting interesting photos with geometric shapes and lines on my Picture Perfect Party Linky this coming Tuesday and I thought this wall mosaic kind of fits that theme.

Jessica is my eldest daughter. She'll be turning 17 soon. Before she did hip-hop, she was taking contemporary dance as a school subject. She began in grade 8. Then suddenly, at the end of last year, the art center told the kids that their teacher was being moved to a different school district and the classes would no longer be offered. That was upsetting news.

Now there's a lady giving hip-hop classes and, even though it's not a school subject (Jessica is taking Business Studies now in place of Contemporary Dance), she is enjoying it and glad that it allows her more time to focus on her grades since it's not as demanding. Before contemporary dance, Jessica was in rhythmic gymnastics for several years and competed twice at the South African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.

My 3 Girls: Jessica, Samantha and Amanda

We have put a lot of prayer into Jessica's future, especially since she's such a hard worker, extremely self-motivated and diversely talented. The transition from last year to this one was a bumpy one for her with the changes, but by God's grace, it's going well.

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Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

I'm also now on Instagram!

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see what link parties I take part in.

Read More

Mother's Day Photos and a #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #141!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the images to view them larger.

Prince sitting by my Mother's Day flowers

My Mother's Day treats

Coffee and Belgium chocolate -
after breakfast treat

My 3 Daughters

Hubby took this photo of me with
our 3 girls on Mother's Day

Follow me on Instagram

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What I did on Mother's Day weekend:

Wine Tasting and Olive Oil Tasting

in the beautiful Nuy Valley

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My Mother's Day Post:

Happy Mother's Day

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My Latest Book Review:

Fish Also Go to Heaven

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Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

and

I'm also now on Instagram!

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Read More

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

and Grand-Mother's Day!

I decided not to host my weekend blog hop this weekend. I was super busy and I'm behind on following back those who have left comments on my last couple of posts. I hope you can join me next Friday.

I'll be updating photos of the beautiful Nuy Valley on 1camera1mom where I spent a wonderful day yesterday at the Nuy Valley Feast with part of my family. This morning we are heading off to our church fellowship. Hubby is sharing the message and Samantha (my 14-year-old) is standing in for the Sunday School teacher and doing a Mother's Day project with the kids.

Enjoy your Sunday with your families!

By the way, our website is Light and Life Bible Ministries and our blog is Real Church Life.

Read More

Fish Also Go to Heaven

Fish Also Go to Heaven

Book Blast and

$25 Giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Fish Also Go To Heaven | Author: Tammy Brown Elkeles | Illustrator: Raquel Afonso | Publication Date: October 28, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 42 | Recommended Ages: 4 to 8


Summary: Fish Also Go to Heaven – A unique optimistic view of a loss of a loved pet.

Ellie’s best friend is her little goldfish. Spending every moment she can with him and telling him all her secrets. And at school she talks about him all the time as well. But one morning little “Fishie” is not moving….

Like all children, Ellie loves her little pet, Fishie. Sometimes young children are confronted by the realities of life that no one lives forever, especially little fish. How will Ellie and her mother handle the situation when Fishie is not moving one morning?

After trying to spare Ellie the pain and replacing Fishie by a similar fish, after a while the new fish jumps out of his fish bowl. Mother must now teach Ellie about one of the most basic facts of life. What happens to fish when they die? Are they OK wherever they are? Will we ever see them again? How will Ellie handle the loss of her goldfish? How will mother help Ellie with her loss?

Fish Also Go To Heaven offers kids a lesson about the facts of life and death in a unique optimistic way that will make it easy for them to handle similar loss. The book will help parents of tender children discuss the subject of loss with their kids and ease the grieving process for those who are faced with such loss.

This children’s book is suitable for a read aloud bedtime story for preschoolers or as a self-read for older children.

* PRICE DROP *

"Fish Also Go To Heaven" is available as an e-book for only 99 cents from Amazon between May 5 & 7, 2015. Or, subscribers to Kindle Unlimited can grab an e-copy for FREE!

Amazon * Goodreads

My Review

I read this heart-warming story to my 7-year-old daughter, Amanda. She asked me questions and listened intently through the entire reading. She said that it was sad and exciting. Her favorite part was when the fish went to heaven and she liked when the girl talked to the fish. I recommend this book for girls ages 4 to 8.

The Buzz About the Book

"My daughter loves this book, I read it to her over and over again. Warmly recommended." ~ Daphna, Amazon

"This bittersweet story deals with the subject of loss and death in a creatively spiritual way that would appeal to small children as well as their parents, who may debate how to answer such questions as 'What happened to my cherished goldfish?' Highly recommended." ~ Shiran B., Amazon

"This lovely bed time story gives an insight into how to help small children to deal with loss in a lovely manner. The illustrations are cute as in other books by the same author. I generally feel that Tammy's stories, invite me into her life and experiences with her children." ~ Odvir, Amazon

About the Author:

Tammy Brown Elkeles

I started to write children's stories soon after a gave birth to my first child. I believe that children are an endless source of inspiration and joy and they can teach us important lessons about life. I live in Tel Aviv with my husband Miki, a photographer and documentary director, and my two boys. Being a staunch optimist, I believe that we have the power to influence reality and shape our own lives, and that is the message I wish to convey through my writing. I graduated with a BA in chemistry and nutritional biochemistry and later studied advertising as well as interior design. It was only in my thirties that I got to realize my childhood dream, studying playwriting and screenwriting and making writing my main focus. Works Published I currently have seven children’s books available on Kindle, and there are more to come. My book The Birds’ Bakery will soon appear in print nationwide. I’m also working on a comic books series for teenagers, D.J. Dirty Brown, to be published on Kindle.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

$25 Book Blast Giveaway
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest ends: May 18, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Tammy Brown Elkeles and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy for my honest review.

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Amanda with #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #140!

Recent Photos of Amanda

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the images to view them larger.

Amanda's very first choir performance!

The other kids were blurry, because

the lighting was poor. I didn't

use a neat photo editing tool.

Amanda playing in the back garden.

We gave a bag full of Amanda's clothes away.

She was taking it to the family who could use them.

My precious little Amanda

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My Recent Posts

on 1camera1mom:

Cool Animals and Birds

at Giraffe House!

Wine Tasting in the

Idyllic Nuy Valley

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My Weekend Post:

Adopt a Pet

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My Latest Book Reviews

Caterpillar Shoes

Katie and the North Star

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Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

and

I'm also now on Instagram!

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Read More

Adopt a Pet with #Weekend #Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #127!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

We adopted a puppy over 10 years ago and about 2 years ago a kitten from this animal shelter. Our recent visit to the shelter was to see the stray cat that we helped rescue and to take pictures in order to raise awareness. It's hard not coming away with a new pet. There were plenty of choices.

The precious cat in the above poster was found by Samantha. Because of her, we were able to help save its life. Read the full story on Stray Cat Rescue.

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*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

I'm also now on Instagram!

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see what link parties I take part in.

Read More