Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Everyday MOMents book review

Everyday-MOMents-Blog-Tour-bannerAbout the book:
Discover the divine purpose in your motherhood! Each inspiring chapter moves through another hour in a mother’s day, highlighting spiritually symbolic insights and describing how Christ is by your side even during the daily routine. From sun-up to bedtime, this entertaining and uplifting book will help you find the inherent divinity hidden in the every day details of motherhood.
About the author:
Jessica Poe has spent the last decade writing professionally for healthcare systems across the nation. Prior to freelancing, she worked as a communications specialist for Intermountain Healthcare and earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Brigham Young University. She and her husband homeschool their three children under the lively green trees of Oregon; basking in the small, natural moments. Jessica maintains a collection of divine details from their daily doings at www.jessica-poe.com/blog and she’s a regular contributor at www.multiplygoodness.com.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Book review: The Land of Look Behind

The-Land-of-Look-behind-Blog-TourAbout the book:
When Gideon, a former missionary, discovers a mysterious drawing tucked in an ancient journal he returns to Jamaica with dreams of finding a centuries old treasure.  He quickly discovers there are those who would kill to keep the treasure secret. This thrilling adventure takes you deep into Jamaica’s treacherous cockpit country and back in time for a spine-tingling mystery you won’t be able to put down.


About the author:
Born and raised in Arizona, Aaron is proud to call the desert home.  He came of age in the suburbs of Sacramento, California and as a missionary in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the people and their culture, but he has always been drawn back to the valley of the sun.  He married his childhood crush, and the girl of his dreams, in 2001.  Together they are raising four beautiful and rambunctious children.  He worked as a freelance sports reporter for The Arizona Republic for nearly ten years, combining his love of writing and sports.  In his storytelling he draws heavily on his love of history, adventure, his faith and his own life experiences.

From Reidhead Randomness:

A soldier named Jarvis journeyed deep into Jamaica and discovered a land of myth, treasure, and danger.  This could have been adventure enough, but 300 years later, his journal finds it's way into the hands of Gideon, who is serving his mission in Jamaica. When he comes home, he has "accidentally" taken the journal.  He and his friend plan a trip back to Jamaica...to "return the journal."  BUT....He is set on finding the lost treasure.   As they begin their adventure, they come against LOTS of opposition in the quest to find the treasure.  It is a fun adventure book!  It really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The writing is fun to read, as it is written with a Jamaican accent through parts.  It makes it feel very authentic, but a little tricky to read (I had to reread a couple passages to figure them out). 

Amazing Ice Castles review!!!

As I mentioned here, there is a FABULOUS family friendly fun adventure for winter!  It is the Amazing Ice Castles in Midway, UT....as well as some other locations around the United States, and Canada.  (See my review after the location information).


UTAH:
WHAT: Acre-sized, all-ice castle in Midway, UT. One of four Ice Castles in America.
WHERE: 2002 Soldier Hollow Rd Midway, UT 84049 USA
WHEN: Jan 8th-March
M - Th: 3pm to 9pm
Friday: 3pm to 11pm
Sat: Noon to 11pm
Sunday: Closed
VISUALS: -- Amazing ice features including archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne.
-- Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning Narnia Like display.
-- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night. Built by hand and made from more than 20,000,000 pounds of ice, the Ice Castles in Midway, UT are READY to be explored!

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE:
WHAT: Acre-sized, all-ice castle in Lincoln, NH. One of four Ice Castles in America.
WHERE: 64 Railroad St
Lincoln, NH 03521
WHEN: Early Feb. TBA.
M - Th: 3pm to 9pm
Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Sat: Noon to 10pm
Sunday: 3pm to 9pm
Tuesday: Closed
VISUALS: -- Amazing ice features including archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne. 
-- Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning Narnia Like Display.
-- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night. Over an acre of frozen ice walls, tunnels, towers, archways and more! Come see us starting in late December!


 

MINNESOTA:
WHAT: Acre-sized, all-ice castle in Eden Prairie, MN. One of four Ice Castles in America.
WHERE: 17970 East Miller Parkway
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 USA
WHEN: Jan 29th-March.
M - Th: 3pm to 9pm
Tuesday: Closed
Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Sat: Noon to 10pm
Sunday: noon - 8pm
VISUALS: -- Amazing ice features including archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne. 
-- Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning, Narnia-like display. 
-- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night.


 

EDMONTON, AB:
WHAT: Acre-sized, all-ice castle in Edmonton, AB. 
WHERE: Hawrelak Park, 9930 Groat Road, Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 USA
WHEN: Dec 30th-March.
M - Th: 3pm to 9pm
Tuesday: Closed
Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Sat: Noon to 10pm
Sunday: noon - 8pm
VISUALS: -- Amazing ice features including archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne. 
-- Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning, Narnia-like display. 
-- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night.




   We arrived early in the evening....about 5:45, after a quick stop at the Heber Valley Cheese Factory Store.  (Try the wasatch back jack cheese!!)  

As the evening begins, the beautiful lights start to come on.....Bright colorful...and changing colors of light bring the ice to life!

There are so many fun areas to explore!  There are slot canyons, narrow passes, tunnels, tunnels, tunnels, and even a SLIDE!



 The best of the adventure begins once it starts to get dark...but that is where most of the crowds start pouring in as well.

 
This year, it was much, MUCH bigger than previous years, so there was MUCH more to see and do....and it felt a little less crowded.....maybe?!

 
This is the super fun SLIDE!  If you sit/lay on your coat...you go SUPER fast!  It was so fun!!  To get there, you climb around in the icecastle...there is a nice path you go up to the top where you have a great view of the whole place!
 

There is so much to see.....but don't forget to look UP!
 

 I love it during the day...but I think at night, with it lit up aglow, it is AMAZING!