mainemum
Member Since: September 25, 2018Reviews
Broadway’s Best The Wizard of Oz
This Tuesday my daughter and I were extremely lucky enough to be able to attend the Wizard of Oz musical at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Wizard of Oz has been one of m favorite movies for as long as I can remember. My first stuffed dog... +
This Tuesday my daughter and I were extremely lucky enough to be able to attend the Wizard of Oz musical at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The Wizard of Oz has been one of m favorite movies for as long as I can remember. My first stuffed dog I received as a child I named Toto. I dressed up as Dorothy on more than on Halloween. I have bought every collector’s anniversary set of the Wizard of Oz. When I found out Wizard of Oz was coming to Bangor I was hopeful. When I received tickets as a gift and we got to attend with family I was ecstatic.
So if Broadway’s Best Wizard of Oz performance comes to your town should you see it?
Yes.
The musical is well worth the price and your time. The performance was perfect. The characters all their own while sticking to the story. There are many new musical numbers that are incredibly enjoyable and fit in with the play perfectly. If you bring your kids (which you should) they will be sitting on the edge of their seats in awe the whole time. I did not see one kid there whose eyes were not glued to the performance.
Kalie Kaimann was a wonderful Dorothy. Exactly the Dorothy we all love and have grown up with. She portrayed Dorothy flawlessly and her singing voice is just absolutely beautiful.
Overall I was and still am beyond words on how wonderful Broadway’s Best in Bangor the Wizard of Oz performance really is. The cast, every member was spot on and perfect. The play was engaging, very well performed, and the characters are all just as you love and remember. If this musical comes to your city jump o the opportunity and go enjoy it!
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Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe
I recently read the book Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson.I finished the book very quickly. I would not consider this a must-read book. If you have the spare time or nothing else to read then this book may be fine. This book is not for... +
I recently read the book Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson.I finished the book very quickly. I would not consider this a must-read book. If you have the spare time or nothing else to read then this book may be fine. This book is not for the easily insulted. When I started reading this book I did not want to finish it. I really had to push through the beginning of the book. The first few pages of the book go through how women tend to believe lies more than their husbands and other fun facts pertaining to that topic. I was actually pretty insulted at first. I showed the chapter to my husband to see if I was alone, I wasn’t. After the beginning, if you can keep going and not think about those first few pages it isn’t too bad.The book title isn’t what I envisioned at all. Not a good book, not a bad book. You may love it! You may be uneasy about like I am. If you have the time pick it up. If not, you are not missing out.I finished the book feeling very discouraged as a homeschooling mother, which I believe was supposed to be the opposite point of the book. The book went on about how homeschooling mothers are not perfect (heck yes we are not!), we may have messy houses, think everyone else is so perfect, etc. All the stuff homeschooling mothers wonder and need to hear. Those parts were awesome. Then there was the constant warning to NEVER share your success or accomplishments to other mothers, especially homeschooling mothers. Apparently, we can only share our constant failures and flaws and never when we actually succeed or do something right. That super bummed me out. It is written a few times to not share when we succeed. So here is my end take from the book, and I have had 2 weeks to think about it. Surround yourself with a good group. Preferably in person but online if you HAVE to (read my Sunshine Award post to meet some awesome homeschool mums like Pajamas, Books, and Chickens) or just create your own group. Homeschooling mums normally need support, I know I do (and if you don’t good for you!). Whomever this author and their wife are hanging out with stay clear of, clearly, they are not surrounding themselves with a good group of people. The purpose of the book is to show you that homeschooling mums are not perfect, even if they seem to be- and I get that. We all know that perfect Pinterest flawless house mum that we swear has a make-up artist living in her home that we are uncomfortable around. You know something about that mum though? She has bad days too. We need to be sharing our bad days and good days. Maybe Todd Wilson and his wife do not want to hear about your accomplishments, just your bad days. I understand that. Maybe they want to hear both he just forgot to write that down. I want to hear both though. I want to hear everything you succeed in and everything you struggle with. -
book: Overcoming Addiction A Biblical Path Towards Freedom
Overcoming Addiction A biblical Path Towards Freedom is not just a book that I believe should be read by those going through addiction, though that is the purpose of the book. This book is smart, easy to read, touching, and will change your... +
Overcoming Addiction A biblical Path Towards Freedom is not just a book that I believe should be read by those going through addiction, though that is the purpose of the book. This book is smart, easy to read, touching, and will change your perspective about those around you. And not just change your perspective about those going through a type of addiction around you, it will change your perspective all around. Elizabeth A. Shartle writes in a first-person format. She says she wrote this book like a letter, so it is clear to understand but personal and organized. Elizabeth A, Shartle is a licensed attorney who deals with the opiate epidemic in Ohio and she is a licensed professional clinical counselor who counseled clients going through addictions before she decided to become a lawyer and help people get their lives together in a legal way. She has dedicated her life to helping those going through addiction and recovering from addiction and we need to listen to what she has to say. The book is only 147 pages so you can make time to read it, I think you need to take the time to read Shartle’s words. The second I opened the book my first thought was “Another book where I have to learn more about this drug issue, great.” In Maine, like in Shartle’s home in Ohio, we are also going through an opiate epidemic, and it does get sad but irritating at the same time. I’m not saying that to be mean or harsh, just watching your home state turn into something you don’t remember is incredibly hard. Wondering if this week you’ll be that one parent who sees a needle in the park (which has even happened in my tiny town), this opiate crisis is not something to be taken lightly and is affecting those who do not even have a clue. Shartle opens up in her book about her childhood. She writes a real story about the negative experience she had going to church and youth groups. How hurtful, mean, and harsh some of the children and adults were. The youth group kids were just horrible. Some of the adults that were around her at the church we not much better. Treating her differently, wouldn’t let her have a safe place to talk to anyone, pushing her aside, accusing her of lying. Her tales of how she was treated in this particular church environment are some of the same reasons and stories you hear of my people leave the Christian religion, because of these negative experiences. My heart just hurt the whole time reading about her childhood. How even her parents cast her away. Then her father got sick and she still had no support, no outlet, no one to turn to. Reading the first chapter of her childhood just aches. Shartle goes through the periods of hearing that “Jesus loves you” more than once and that doesn’t mean anything to her. She is correct when she says “Why would it?” her whole life, and more so in the church, she grew up in, people were mean, hurtful, and didn’t want her around. She the few nice people she did encounter early on she didn’t fully believe. I’m sure that there is a point that we have all been there. We hear that Jesus loves us and forgives us but do we listen? Do we always believe it? Shartle goes on to write about her young adult life and very abusive relationship. You get a whole look into her past to understand that she does get it, that she did have hard and bad times, she did have to overcome her own addictions and left the faith. By the end of the beginning of the book you fully trust Shartle and you understand. She knows, she gets what you are going through, her education gives her steps to overcoming addiction a reason to listen but it is her past and truthfulness that gives her the experience and reasons for you to keep reading and listening to her words.Overcoming Addiction teaches you that God is in control and nothing else. No negative people, not yourself hurting yourself and others, not these situations you think are out of your control. She teaches you how to cope with stress and communicate better with yourself and those around you. She writes a whole chapter on forgiving one another and not holding on to those grudges that are hurting you worse than others. Chapter 13 she writes a very important chapter, Loving Someone with an Addiction. After spending time reading about the reason for addiction, why it happens and how, what it is doing, how it works, you hit a chapter that can benefit both sides of the issue. “The person in recovery is learning a whole new way of life” pg. 120 ch.13. The one going through the addiction recovery can see what you may be going through and you, the one who loves someone going through this addiction will learn how to understand and catch yourself. You may not like the changes that are happening; Shartle writes that you may be grateful and supportive of the decision for your loved one finally receiving help and going into recovery but there may be new habits or personality changes that you may not like or be used to. You may be walking on eggshells constantly trying to keep the peace and it isn’t working. You may still be holding the grudges. Shartle works with you to understand your own feelings. You do not have to constantly try to ‘keep the peace’ but you can catch yourself before you let out your own grudges. “Whatever someone has done in the past, if you’re still sticking around, then you’ve made the choice to do so. It’s up to you to work on forgiving” pg. 131 ch. 13.
Now those are some real words to live by. Now can you see why I said everyone needs to read this book?
Overcoming Addiction by Elizabeth A. Shartle is a must read for everyone. You have the time. It is a quick meaningful read that will open your eyes and change so much for you. Take the time and read this book. You will be so grateful that you did.
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Book: How To Trick The Tooth Fairy
My daughter brought home How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell from the library. The only thing I see wrong with this book is you need to return it once you read it because your children will not stop asking you to read it, over and... +
My daughter brought home How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell from the library. The only thing I see wrong with this book is you need to return it once you read it because your children will not stop asking you to read it, over and over again.How to Trick the Tooth Fair is a very silly book about a little girl who likes to play tricks on people. Tricks like putting toothpaste in Oreos instead of the cream filling. In this story, the girl decides to play a trick on the Tooth Fairy, who also is a fan of tricks. A battle occurs! The little girl and Tooth Fairy spend the night pranking each other and having a ball and it is funny! Your kiddos will laugh the whole time reading this book. In the end, the Tooth Fairy and the little girl become friends an help each other. The whole story to get to that point is just funny. They prank each other in silly ways and the Tooth Fairy is great at it! Even makes it rain cats and dogs :p. The book is funny, the pictures are amazing and so well done, and the pages are quick so it can keep the attention of young and old. Even my boys have not stopped asking me to read it.
While I am very eager to return this book back to the library, I have to say it is a great and funny story. You and the kids will have a lot of fun reading this book! I can't wait to buy it and have it in my home forever!
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