Motherhood Matters By Connie Sokol, A Blog Tour

motherhood books, books, book review, simple pleasures, reviews, giveaways

I never joined blog tours simply because I am wary of not making the schedule due to a lot of other things that I have to do both online and off, most especially offline, since as most people would agree, mothering can really be quite time-consuming and demanding. But when I saw the Motherhood Matters Blog Tour, I just felt like I had to sign up for this tour and I am glad that I trusted my motherly instincts. This books is just great and is a perfect bedside book for any mums out there! Read on to know all about it and join the giveaway towards the end of the post, too!

Check out the Tour Schedule here!

Mothering Matters in a Nutshell

motherhood books, books, book review, simple pleasures, reviews, giveaways Here is a little synopsis about this lovely Motherhood book:

Motherhood is a divine calling—but it may not always feel that way. Now you can show the women in your life how much they matter to you, with this delightful and heartwarming volume of wit and wisdom about the divinity, reality, and rewards of motherhood. Fresher than flowers and sweeter than chocolate, it’s a perfect gift for the women who give so much.

In these hectic days where life’s demands can quickly become a heavy burden, Motherhood Matters helps you find more memorable moments and take the stress out of the to-do lists. Written with clarity, concision, and wit, this short, yet indispensable handbook is better than flowers, more guilt-free than chocolate, and gives back to the woman who sacrifices so much of herself every single day.

Motherhood Matters is chock-full of inspiring anecdotes and touching stories that will surely inspire mothers of every age and stage. It is filled with the author’s very own life experience and journey, bearing and raising 7 children! Yes, 7 and I am not sure how she ever managed to do it!

Motherhood Matters is available in both hardcover and Kindle editions through Amazon:

About the Author

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Connie Sokol,  a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week is also a mother of seven. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education at Brigham Young University. Apart from her mothering duties, she is also monthly contributor on KSL TV “Studio 5,” and regular blogger for KSL “Motherhood Matters.” She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated romance Caribbean Crossroads, the 8-week Challenge program of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats.

To know more about Connie and her books, do visit the Connie E. Sokol Website.

Mum’s two cents

A must-read for every mum!

Apart from being a great read, Motherhood Matters is also an inspiring book that I thought all mothers should have and read. It is a perfect Mother’s Day gift to your mums or your mum friends and even yourself. Mothering can really be quite a tedious job and it can take it’s toll on anyone. It can be frustrating on occasions and energy-draining, too, just imagine having to reason with a toddler who simply refuse to see reasons! That is why we need reinforcement and inspirations like this book to keep us on our toes, to remind us that we have probably the most noble and the most rewarding job in the world, to make us feel that yes, it is okay to be a mother and be confused with it all since it was after all a confusingly profound profession. The book also reiterates mum’s various valuable roles in shaping the lives of her children, from painstakingly preparing meals with love in her kitchen, to being a “lioness at the gate” to make sure she protects her offspring from any harm that would come their way to being the very first people given the task to educate her children and shape their spirituality. Tall order, I know! That is why I am convinced that more than an inspiration and a guide, this book is also a salute to all the mums out there who do their jobs, albeit with complain sometimes, every single day with never ending love!

I would love to devour and read this book over again. Now am thinking of having my 128-page e-book printed so that I can get to read it every time I want to.  Either that, or am keeping my fingers crossed that someone will gift me with it for Mother’s Day! Wink

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes goes to this lovely book! Be joyfully reminded about the divinity, reality and the beautiful rewards of motherhood!

Join the Tour Giveaway

Thank you for making it this far, to reward you for your patience here is your chance to $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash. This giveaway ends on 15 May, 2013. Simply wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load and join. Good luck and advanced Happy Mother’s Day to you mums! Smile

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Mumwrites is not compensated for this post. I was provided a free e-book copy of the book mentioned for review purposes. Opinions stated here are 100% my own and does not, in anyway, reflect the opinion of the author mentioned. Either am I responsible for the fulfillment of the prize item for the giveaway included. This post contain affiliate links that will allow mum to earn a small amount which will be used to power up her site. 

Product Review: Address Stickers From Label Yourself

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address sticker labels from LabelYourself

I love stickers! That is why when I was offered to review these address sticker labels, I readily agreed. Actually, I was offered a GBP30-voucher which I can use to get any item I fancy from Label Yourself and I opted for these lovely address stickers which is just perfect for my postcrossing hobby!

I received the package shortly after I made my order online and the prompt delivery is really a plus in my book considering these items came all the way from the UK!

Label Yourself in a nutshell

As I’ve mentioned, I was given a GBP30 voucher which I used to get any item that interest me from this site. It was a good thing I ordered these products myself so that I can tell you now how easy-peasy it is to do it! Smile

Apart from sticker labels they also have a wide array of other exciting label products to choose from, including labels for clothes, customized ID cards and name badges, lanyards, an assortment of wristbands ranging from silicone to fabric ones, as well as customized woven labels for any of your labeling needs. Their site caters to just about anyone, from mums which schooling kids to big corporations that organized numerous events and functions. Labels are perfect for corporate gatherings, event giveaways or simply to keep your children’s school stuff properly named and organized.

What I love about my address sticker labels

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my address sticker labels in action! had to blur my address for security reasons

I personalized my address stickers by including, of course, the details of my mailing address and my name, and adding a simple hint of cuteness by putting this lovely smiling sun character {there are other characters to choose from}.   Grin

I was actually expecting paper sticker labels so I was surprised when I received these labels in waterproof material. They stick neatly into place so I won’t have to trouble myself with painstakingly gluing those homemade address labels I made one by one. Now, putting return addresses to my postcards is easy-breezy! And since they are made of durable, water-proof material, I am sure they can stand long travels and journeys, and I won’t have to worry about lost postcard ever again as even when they cannot reach their respective recipients, I bet they can return to me every single time {of course, lost envelopes in the Post Office is an entirely different story Frown}!

I also love the size of my labels, they are a perfect fit to the return address section of my postcards!  Big Smile

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A big envelope like this is too much for a roll of stickers, won’t you agree? Nevertheless, I love these cool stickers! ^_^

The only concern I’ve got with Label Yourself is the unnecessarily-big envelope my stickers came with. They sure can use smaller ones to cut on the shipping cost, too. Otherwise, I give my sticker labels  Yes Yes Yes Yes! They are perfect additions to the postcards I mail out regularly!

For all your labeling needs, do not forget to check out LabelYourself today! And did I tell you, they ship anywhere in the world for only GBP2.95? Smile

Disclaimer: I was given free items for review purposes, however, opinions stated here are 100% my own.

Product Review: Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners

review, product review, eco-friendly stuff, earth-friendly products, cars
I have mentioned on several occasions that I am in constant search for earth-friendly products to replace those that I have been using at home and early this year I was delighted to find out that one of my favorite brands just came out with their own 100% natural dishwashing cleanser and laundry detergent! This wanna-be green mum was more than ecstatic and is keeping my fingers crossed that they come out with a natural all-around home cleaner for the house, too.

Everything green and eco-friendly is okay in my book that is why when Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners approached me to ask if they can send over some samples for review, I agreed. Of course, I had to ask Jared’s dad first, since he will be the one to try the products as I do not have any inkling of how to use them whatsoever and I have never tried washing a car before. So I am just glad that he readily agrees! Smile

review, product review, eco-friendly stuff, earth-friendly products, cars

Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners sent me the following products to try:

  • Waterless Carwash and Quick Detailer
  • Waterless Glass Cleaner
  • Waterless Rim and Tire Cleaner

The package {in a brown bag} also comes with a microfiber towel to apply the products with. This set sells for Php660.

Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners in a nutshell

This is what their Facebook Fan Page says:

Save time and water but still maintain a clean and shiny car. Reduce frequency of washes with our water and dust repellent waterless car cleaners. Remove water spots, preserve your car paint, add an extra gloss and protect it from extreme sunlight! We make use of Filipino-made eco-friendly and biodegradable products. It lubricates to remove stubborn dirt without the risk of scratching the paint. The product evaporates to prevent further spotting. It also enhances the gloss of your car making it look refreshed.

And this is how the Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners work its magic:

  • Pre-clean your car to remove dust, loose dirt and contaminants on the car surface using a feather duster
  • Spray Spray n’ Go with an even mist, one section at a time. Let it settle to lubricate and lift stubborn dirt
  • Wipe the surface in one direction to remove dirt, using a folded microfiber towel
  • Buff the surface with the same circular motion using the dry side of the same microfiber towel

A single application of these car cleaners is enough to make your car sparkling clean and according to Jared’s dad they clean better than just water and soap. In fact, a 100ml Car Wash can last up to 6 to seven washes, while the Glass Cleaner can wipe your windows clean for 11 times while the Rim and Tire Cleaner can last up to 5 or 6 wishes on average-sized cars.

Mum’s two cents

review, product review, eco-friendly stuff, earth-friendly products, cars
review, product review, eco-friendly stuff, earth-friendly products, cars
Jared’s dad’s car is spotlessly clean after one application, too bad he was not able to take a “before” photo
Firstly, I love that these car cleaners are made up of earth-friendly coconut-based components, it has no solvents that can damage your paint, no harmful chemicals that can render your tires brittle. These products are in fact cosmetic-grade, making it gentle and safe even for human skin. Using Spray n’ Go not only give Mother Nature a break from all the harmful chemicals that go into the waterways but also lend a hand in conserving water supply, too. Did you know that you consume about 40 gallons of water whenever you wash your car at home? And some people even wash their cars several times in a week. With Spray n’ Go , you not only save up on water, but also reduces the number of times you have to wash your car as they coat your car from dust and grime, as well as preserve and revive the car’s original paint color.

Two thumbs up also for this products being Filipino-made, it is a living proof that Filipinos can clearly create green products that are not only effective but affordable, too. I may not be too familiar with car cleaning products but if there are greener alternative that allows you to use no harmful chemicals in cleaning your car and lets you save a considerable amount of water, then I am all for it!

review, product review, eco-friendly stuff, earth-friendly products, cars
I give this product the highest rating I can give: Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Currently, Spray n’ Go is giving away 10 sets of Spray n’ Go Waterless Car Cleaners {a set of Waterless Car Wash and Quick Detailer, Waterless Glass Cleaner and Waterless Rim and Tire Cleaner. Join here

Apart from these car cleaning products, Spray n’ Go also offers cleaning and detailing services, as well as business opportunities in the forms of product dealers and service outlets. For more information do get in touch with them through the following way:
Their various products are also sold at:

AutoProject Custom Paint Detailing
Email: autoproject.custompaint@gmail.com
Landline: (043) 706-1189
Mobile: 0917-5048677 / 0915-1190803

Disclaimer: I was given these products for FREE for review purposes. I was not, in any way, compensated for this post. Opinions are 100% my own, too.

Preparing For Your Sweet 16′s Bash

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Your little one’s turning into a pretty sixteener is another milestone every mum is waiting to plan and celebrate. It will be one emotional journey, I bet, especially when you look back to all those many years and the very first time you held your baby in your arms or that momentous day when you found out you were pregnant. I am sure a considerable amount of tears will be shed on your little girls 16th birthday recalling all the happy and beautiful memories you had together.

Of course every mum would love for her no-longer-a-little-gir’s birthday party to be something special and memorable and something her girl and her guest will enjoy, too. Mum will take the gargantuan task of planning and executing everything from thinking of the best party them  to the cake and decors, to the food and  music, just to make sure everything will go well on her little darling’s big day. Although it might be quite a lot to take in and can get overwhelming at some point, mum will take on the task head on and will stop at nothing to make this celebration one of the best days in her girl’s life.

It was a good thing that mum can now check online for a big selection of sweet 16 party themes to choose from. The site, PartyPail, also carries a wide array of birthday treats including invites, thank you cards, decors, balloons, banner and centerpieces, as well as party favors and keepsake. Choose from a number of themes for the one that your girl will definitely adore. You can also take advantage of their free shipping promos for orders over $29 or $100. In addition, you can even grab a themed tableware to match the rest of the party at 50% off. I am sure anyone can find her way around the site as it has the most user-friendly interface so mum will not have a hard time looking for something she might fancy. Visit their site now to give it a try, or you can always dial their hotline, 866-969-7245, for assistance.

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