Aussiemama Reviews

BOOK: To Love, Honor and Vacuum by Sheila Wray Gregoire

2009-11-15T13:42:00.000-06:00

After reading many discouraging marriage books full of half truths, "To Love, Honor and Vacuum" is definitely a breath of fresh air. This book is not a doormat manual like others. Sure, it is aimed at helping us be good wives, but this book does not do what others do, blaming the woman for all the marriage problems. It helps women where they are at, realizes that sometimes husbands can be jerks, and how to live your life so that you are doing right but are not burnt out.

I felt that this book was enabling to me as a woman, while it seems that other authors think that I should be walked all over just because I'm a woman. There is very good Biblical and practical advice, including how to do things to get your husband to respect you.

This is one marriage book I can actually recommend, and I gladly do so.

Online Party!

2009-11-02T07:38:00.000-06:00

There is an online carnival going on this week at No Longer Quivering. Sure, I don't agree with everything on the site (I am a Christian and most aren't and have decided to reject the Bible completely) but there are some nice ladies on there who can help any of you trapped in the Quiverful or Patriarchy movement. Those of you who know me know that I do believe in submission, but I don't believe in being a doormat and being in an abusive relationship.

So, come and join in the fun! Hurry, the carnival ends on November 5th. There is fun and games and prizes!

Currently Enjoying: To Love, Honor and Vacuum

2009-10-31T12:39:00.000-05:00

I got received a free copy of To Love, Honor and Vacuum from the author, Sheila Wray Gregoire. I am currently enjoying this book a lot and will review it on here and on Amazon soon. Thanks so much for the book Sheila!

Check Out my Amazon Reviews!

2009-10-31T12:33:00.000-05:00

I am currently reviewing a whole heap of books and other products on http://www.amazon.com/. Go check them out. I have reviewed some very controversial books and will review more as I have time. Included in the controversial books I have reviewed so far are: Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl, So Much More by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin, and Love in the House by Chris and Wendy Jeub.

In the line up for being reviewed are: Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy MacDonald, The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace, Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr Kevin Leman, The Duggars: 20 and Counting by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn.

I will also be reviewing more books and products, this is just a start. My profile on Amazon is K.Wilson. Check out my reviews and leave some comments!

BOOK: Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World ~ Dr David Jeremiah

2009-10-30T08:29:00.001-05:00

I was very interested in reading Dr David Jeremiah's work as I had heard plenty of good things about him. I was kind of disappointed in this book in the end. If it had been a book of inspirational stories, it would have been fantastic and would have been a job well done. He had so many inspirational stories in it that it made it feel like it was an anthology of inspirational stories and nothing more.

The book was ok, and it raised some good points. However, I'm a deep and meaningful kind of person, and I felt that all the stuff he was saying was just scratching the surface, and was something that a person with common sense already knows. I was hoping for a book that would make me think, not a book that would make me yawn. It was a tough book to get into simply because it lacked the substance I expected.

I know the end times are real, and books about it are as valid as any other book, but I look for something, fresh, new, deep and meaningful. Otherwise, like this book, it is not worth the time it took to read.

PRODUCT: Scripture Prints

2009-10-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I came across some gorgeous KJV Scripture prints this morning, for just $12.99.

Check them out here: For His Glory Photography.

BOOK: Green ~ By Ted Dekker

2009-10-16T17:26:00.000-05:00

With what I had heard about Ted Dekker being amazing, the book “Green” which was my first Dekker book, was kind of a disappointment. The idea of a book being a prequel and a sequel making a circular series really appealed to me. However, “Green” seemed like a whole bunch of confusion that did not go together.

I say it was confusing because Dekker takes us from the future, then to the past that is really the present that is really the past. There are also too many main characters for my liking. Aside from the confusion, he appears fascinated with blood, and adds in a vampire theme that was not appealing at all. The vampire theme is what ultimately ruined the book for me. It would have been a much better novel without it.

While I enjoy fiction that takes me deep, I do not appreciate highly graphic scenes, and this book has several. It churned my stomach at times. However, I would be willing to give this author another shot with another story. “Green” didn’t really endear the rest of the circle series to me though. If I read him again it would be a completely different series.

CD: Casting Crowns ~ Until the Whole World Hears

2009-10-13T14:15:00.000-05:00

Casting Crowns new CD "Until the Whole World Hears" will be released on November 17, 2009. I am so excited for this CD. You can hear the first three songs of "Until the Whole World Hears" here. Casting Crowns have three other awesome CD's also: "Casting Crowns", "Lifesong" and "The Altar and the Door". I can't wait to hear this CD!

GIVEAWAY: Family Feasts For $75 a Week

2009-10-09T08:50:00.003-05:00

Mary Ostyn is giving away three sets of 3 copies of her latest book "Family Feasts for $75 a Week". From what I have heard about this book it promises to be awesome! It's a book I want to be able to get for myself with all the good things I have heard about it, and the fact that her first book "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" was excellent.

You can enter to win by going to Mary's blog and following the instructions.

Editorial Update

2009-10-08T16:23:00.001-05:00

Pictures for reviews coming soon!

PRODUCT: Kawaii Baby One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper

2009-10-08T15:46:00.007-05:00

Kawaii Baby One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper

As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I knew I was going to cloth diaper. In reality, it wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be. I tried cheap Gerber prefolds and wasn't impressed. I tried some fitted terry cloth diapers with plastic pants that didn't work out either. So for many months I used disposable diapers, despite the fact that I did not want to. It wasn't until after I had my second baby that I found some inexpensive but good quality cloth diapers that really worked and I was happy with.

Then I came across Kawaii Baby One Size Pocket Cloth Diapers, which can be ordered from theluvyourbaby.com. I ordered just a dozen to start out with, but was so impressed that I have ordered three lots of these diapers so far. The diapers come in pretty colors with a waterproof outer liner that is adjustable for the size of the baby, and two microfiber inserts. They work very well for my two toddlers (age one and two), and for my newborn (age 6 weeks). The sizing is very good as they fit my small and skinny two year old just as well as my large and chunky one year old. My boys so far have never leaked through these diapers. The diapers are very easy to launder and the covers are quick to dry.

The diapers are so good that I will be ordering a fourth lot in the near future. There was a problem with one of my orders that was fixed quickly and professionally. I even use these diapers when I am out, and I am so glad to have found a good quality but inexpensive diaper. I don't have to buy disposable diapers anymore and am happy with the money I am saving as well as the product. At just $6.99 US each (and FREE shipping from Canada) they are a real bargain. While all of the diapers are cute, my personal favorite is the green.

BOOK: A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family

2009-10-08T14:31:00.003-05:00

A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family ~ A Real Life Book For Real Life Moms.

For my birthday in March, my parents sent me an Amazon gift card. You can't send much else from Australia, as it's too expensive. Far easier to order something from here and have it shipped directly to me. I had $65 to spend on whatever I wanted that was on Amazon. I knew it would be books, it's always books. I love books and books are such an encouragement to me. So began the hours upon hours of searching for the best books to spend my $65 on. For hours I looked up categories, titles, and read reviews.Then I saw it. It was titled "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" by Mary Ostyn of the Owlhaven blog. I looked at the description. I read the reviews.

And this was a book I knew right away that I just had to have. I had three books arrive in that shipment, and they were all good, but this one was my favourite.

If you are looking for a book full of Bible verses and spiritual encouragement, then this is NOT the book for you. I LOVE books that have Bible verses and spiritual encouragement, and I bought one of those at the same time as this one. But what I needed was the message this book contained. This book is full of practical wisdom and advice from a mom of ten kids.

Right away I appreciated the fact that the author, Mary Ostyn, although having ten kids herself, realized that a "large" family in this day and age really consists of anyone with three or more children. She wasn't snobby about those that had less children than she does. Her ideas are tried and tested ideas that work not only for her ten children, but for families with three or four.

Although I don't have what I would consider to be a "large" family yet, I have a young family, and it appears that we may end up with a large family if God chooses to keep blessing us with children. That's why I'm interested in finding out a lot of tips now. Even with a young family there are unique circumstances and frustrations that go along with it.

I felt that "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" to be THE most encouraging practical book that I have read yet on raising a family. The Spiritual encouragement books have their place, but so also do the books like this full of practical encouragement from Christian moms, as it is often the practical that bogs us down and begins to affect the spiritual. I find that if I am not so overwhelmed practically, I am not so overwhelmed spiritually either.

I don't believe that there are many books out there like this one, and the ones that are out there aren't as good. As a Christian mom, I'd rather read practical advice from a Christian mom. All moms, Christian or otherwise, have wisdom to share, but I believe that Christian moms will have even richer wisdom to share.

Mrs Ostyn's book is fulfilling a great need for the older women to teach the younger to love their husband and children, as they are instructed in Titus 2.

I also liked the fact that Mrs Ostyn talks about how she integrated her adopted children into her family. For any mom who has adopted or is interested in adopting, this is a great book also.

There are plenty of ideas in this book, such as: how to make more space rather than just moving to a bigger house, which toys are a good buy and which are not, cutting back on finances, kid's activities, vacations with a large family, things to worry about and things to just let slide, etc. This advice is from a mom who is living the daily reality of ten children...six of whom are adopted. It's a real life book for real life moms.

Find "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" on Amazon.

While I'm on the subject of this awesome book, I'll take a few minutes to advertize Mrs Ostyn's new book. I haven't read it, but if it's anything like "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" I know that I want to. The new book is called "Family Feasts for $75 a Week" and you can learn more about it here.

Welcome!

2009-10-08T13:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Aussie Mama Reviews, where I will be reviewing books, movies, blogs, products and sometimes even just writing articles related to Christianity. I already have several things I would like to review, and will even post some previously written reviews and articles on this new site.

If you would like to send me something to review or promote, please contact me. I am interested in reviewing anything that adheres to Scriptural principles (if in doubt don't hesitate to ask) that relates to christianity, motherhood, or children. It does not, however, have to be a "christian" product. I do currently have a few projects in the works, but certainly do not mind having others.

I would also be glad to host a giveaway for you, just contact me using the email address on my sidebar.

I have previously done a little in the line of marketing, advertising, and design, and before I got married was studying for a degree in communications. I would like to pursue that again one day perhaps when my children are a little older. I enjoy reading and writing and learning, and I thought this would be a wonderful way to combine all three. Most of all though I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I love my family which consists of my husband and three boys. I am originally from Australia and was born there, but since being married live in the USA with my American husband.

I hope the reviews are beneficial to you.

God Bless!

aussiemama