Don’t let the simplicity of the book title or cover of Gold take you by surprise.    The storyline of Gold was completely unexpected for me!   The beginning of the book is typical enough…..in fact, the main “mystery” appears in the very first page.  I thought I knew what would happen, but I was completely off base.  The main character, John Neale, is a small town lawyer who is unsure about his career path.  The events in the book help to feature him as a strong, kind person.  I really enjoyed seeing the transformation of his character. [Read more…]

When my daughter was very young, I spent a small fortune on her wardrobe. Her boutique-brand dressy outfits were in like-new condition and I was able to recoup as much as I paid for them when I learned the ins-and-outs of selling on eBay. Learning to become a confident eBay seller was challenging and I spent a great deal of time and energy figuring it out. I wish I would have had a resource like Good Sellers, Bad Buyers: Protecting Yourself on eBay in those days. This ebook is a gold mine of information for those who want to take online selling to a professional level.   If you’re interested in cashing out some of the valuables that collect dust around your house, this is definitely a book to consider.  This book is probably best for sellers who have a bit of experience (although it would still be helpful to “newbie” sellers.) [Read more…]

No need to head out into the cold rain or snow today…..shop from home and still snag those great deals!   Even better, you’ll save gas money and probably even tax, too.  I also won’t have to drag my kids out; instead, they can be warm inside playing with their new toys.
Here’s where I’ll be shopping today:  Shop Amazon – Year End Deals

I’ll also be checking out this great sale on clothing—-up to 75% off clothing

I’ve already spotted a few things that I might grab for early 2013 birthdays. [Read more…]

This is why I don’t try Pinterest at home.

I saw a beautiful Christmas-tree-made-of-fruit centerpiece on Pinterest.  I got the bright idea to make it for the brunch at my sister-in-law’s house.  The instructions said to use cone-shaped florist foam.  Well, when you wait to shop until late the night before, it’s hard to find those.  So I improvised by trying to cut a personal sized watermelon into a pyramid shape.  Yeah, it didn’t go so well.

I spent about an hour and a half putting together this pitiful version of the Christmas tree fruit thing.  Once I started, I just couldn’t stop.  I tried to anchor it with the pineapple slices on the bottom but it still tilted like the Tower of Pisa. [Read more…]

If you are a reader who likes anecdotes and personal stories, you’ll want to read When The World Goes Crazy (Life’s Outtakes – Year 1): 52 Humorous And Inspirational Stories From Year One. These 52 stories are sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always something to remember. I liked the down-to-earth conversational tone of the book.  Each “outtake” is only a few pages long so it’s the perfect book to take along for a layover at the airport or reading at the doctor’s office.  They kind of remind me of those short stories in Guideposts or Reader’s Digest…the ones that left me with something to think about.  I’m sure you’ll find more than one story that you can relate to in this book. [Read more…]

A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer was the first of her books that I’ve read.  It was one that I just couldn’t put down!  Historical fiction is my favorite genre, but until recently I’ve stuck with Renaissance era novels.  A Home in Drayton Valley is set in the 1880’s, centered around a family who is settling in the midwest.   The characters are vivid and meaningful from the start. [Read more…]

Restaurant.com has a fun promo—a scavenger hunt!  You can text the word JOY to #78166 to receive your special prize.   You must send the code by 12/25/12 to receive your prize.

I found the first and second clues this morning, and here’s clue #3:  Y

I love using Restaurant.com certificates to save on our eating-out meals.  Check it out and see if your favorite restaurant offers a certificate!

Yes, this week’s freebie looks great!   Grab a cup of hot tea and enjoy a free NookBook over the Christmas holiday.

And by the way, my daughter is getting a Kindle Fire for Christmas this year, so I’ll be looking for free Kindle books more often! [Read more…]

My little guy is full of imagination.  He’s always putting together gadgets with his MegaBloks, trying to take things apart with his plastic pliers, and is extremely curious about the world around him.  When I saw the Champion Me book called Gadgetland, I knew it would be a HUGE hit.   In the book, I was able to create my child’s likeness as the main character of the story.   Using the online prompts to design the book was easy.  I did have some issues when trying to use Firefox to create the book.  When I switched to IE, I didn’t have any problems.  Maybe there was an issue with my firewall or something on Firefox.  So be aware of that when you create your book.  I was also told that that the new ebook version should open in the web browser, so this issue might have been resolved.  The customer service at Champion Me was beyond excellent.  When I alerted them of my problem, it was immediately handled in an extremely professional and courteous manner.  My book was sent to me immediately and arrived within just a few days.

My book is beyond my expectations in quality and child-friendly interest.  I was so impressed by the size!  It’s quite large which makes it perfect for a read-together book.   Inside the book is my own dedication!  The only thing I would change about that is where the dedication is located….it’s justified on the left side where I almost overlooked it.  I would love to have seen it in the center of the page and perhaps in italics.  Still, that’s such a minor thing, and it was really cool to see my son’s name on the book cover AND in the dedication.   The pages of the book are just beautiful.  The pages are thick and glossy.  The artwork is very eye-catching. It looks like a cartoon on paper because of the vivid colors and smooth lines.   It’s really a treasure that your child will enjoy again and again.

This may seem like such a small detail, but I REALLY loved that the last page of the book is an action shot without words.  It’s just the perfect ending to a cool story.  The picture truly looks like my son as he flies down the road on his bike, the wind blowing through his hair. I think the character does need to wear a helmet though!!  This last page captures such a fun, exhilarating experience.   It also gives us  a chance to pause and enjoy the last moment of reading a book together.  This is also the exact second when my son begs me to read the story again!!    I hope that Champion Me Books develops more story adventures.  I’d love to see more customized features, too, such as favorite activities, sayings, and other characteristics that would make the book even more individualized.

If you’re a last-minute shopper trying to find a really fun gift for a special child in your life, consider a gift certificate to Champion Me books.  You can have the child design his or her own book this way.   There are several book options available.  Definitely bookmark the page for a unique birthday gift, too!

You can purchase an ebook for a very reasonable $6.99 per book.  WOW, what a deal!   The print books start at $21.99.  You can follow Champion Me Books on Facebook.

Our family spends a great deal of time outside during the spring and summer months.  One of our favorite activities is gardening.  We have an inground pool with a white fence around it.  I like to plant wildflowers all around the pool.   I also grow my vegetable and herb garden in containers around the pool.   Next to this area we have a large hill that was completely barren.    When I ran out of containers for my veggies, I decided to utilize that hillside.  I planted my extra zucchini, squash, and pumpkin seeds on the hill.  The area was moderately successful as a garden.  I didn’t fortify it with extra soil or chemical fertilizers, so anything that actually grew was just from sheer will of the plant.   However, now my mind is spinning with all the possibilities of that space.  My husband and I have toyed with the idea of building a concrete wall with built-in garden beds for my plants.    Since this would require a great deal of time, money, and elbow grease, it’s really important to me that we use quality materials that will last.

Anyone who spends time researching ways to maximize money and time will tell you that proper insulation can save you a load of money.   It makes sense that one would use insulated thermal forms when installing a concrete wall.  In my case with the garden, I think that the insulated thermal forms could help my plants by creating a warmer area to encourage root growth.  Additionally, I think it would help the plants I grow from seed.   Many of my plants and bulbs would be left in the ground year-round.    Perhaps having insulated concrete would allow the plants to thrive in the next year without having to be removed and stored.   Can you see the spark of my Very Unscientific Research starting here?

So there you have it…..my mastermind plan for a garden. The funny thing is, I end up giving away most of my garden!  For me, it’s just a great way to spend time outdoors with my kids while ensuring that they eat organic, healthful foods.

This post was brought to you by Durisolbuild.  The opinions stated are 100% mine.