Jacqueline Hopper

DADDY WANTED excerpt

2013-06-19T11:17:00.002-04:00

WANTED:

A Daddy for Her Roommate’s Baby

A game designer in NYC, Grace wakes up one morning to discover she has lost her job and her roommate is pregnant. Determined to solve both problems, she searches for jobs online and sets up an ad to find a daddy for the child. How hard could it be in a city of eight million people? She soon learns it is both risky and dangerous. She wonders if Russell, who lives downstairs, is a safer bet, but why is he always stalking her? And why is it that the only one who will listen to her is her roommate’s turtle?

Russell, an IT repairman, is going to be the best man for a wedding in Minnesota. He needs a date, but the woman on his arm must be the Perfect Woman. According to his list of specifications, Grace will fit the bill—until he finds a pregnancy test kit box in the garbage. Deciding she’s only a little bit pregnant, he offers her a business deal, an all expenses paid trip to Minnesota with no strings attached. But when Grace insists on bringing her roommate along, Russell is in for a surprise.

Out Now from Prism Book Group/Diamond!

Ebook $2.99/Print $11.99

www.prismbookgroup.com

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Excerpt

Grace held her breath until Ulysses moved. He blinked at her and scrambled into his small pool. She sprinkled a few grains of his food into the water and he went after them with the precision of a heat-seeking missile. The turtle belonged to her roommate, Elyse, but she neglected him. Grace feared one day she would wake up and find he had passed away.

Assured of the red-eared slider’s vitality, she stumbled into the bathroom, groggy from lack of sleep. She should never have turned off the snooze alarm. Her boss had scheduled a morning meeting and she might have to run all the way to work to arrive in time.

Despite her blurry vision, a vivid pink color in the wastebasket caught her attention. Her heart sank when she read the words on the box: pregnancy test kit. She supposed she should not be surprised. Every man in New York City adored Elyse. Her slightly exotic, almond-shaped eyes, curly, coal-black hair, and perfect, hourglass figure drew men.

Grace’s throat tightened. Her roommate might be in major trouble. A lot of young women went through pregnancy scares, but Elyse never had any trouble until now, which was a miracle, all considering.

A cold chill went down Grace’s spine. How could Elyse take care of a baby if she could not take care of Ulysses?
Grace fought to tame her short, mousy-brown, bedhead hair and lost the battle. She put down the brush and opted to wear a hat. Her current favorite resembled a designer one she saw at Saks. She purchased the knockoff from a vendor on the street—the genuine article would have reduced her to poverty. She tilted the chapeau to one side and imagined herself a movie star from one of the ancient black-and-white films Gram favored. She pursed her lips and batted her eyelashes. The vision in the mirror did not resemble Lillian Gish, the American stage, screen, and TV actress. Disappointed, she told herself the bitter cold of February would give her frostbitten ears if she did not wear the hat.

Her gaze rested on the pink box again and a cold knot settled in her chest. Should she ask Elyse about the test?
Would Elyse volunteer the information?

She had been sharing the apartment on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn with Elyse for the past year and a half. Men regularly appeared on the doorstep hungering after Elyse. She had more boyfriends than Ben & Jerry had ice cream flavors, but most of the swains did not last long--until Aidan came along. Elyse’s infatuation with Aidan proved the most intense, up until one week ago when they had a fight.

Elyse called him a slacker because he did not have a job, nor did he appear to have any hope of landing one soon. “Do you think you can sponge off me for the rest of your life?”

Aidan did not respond. Instead, he’d walked out.

After the altercation, Aidan went from being an unemployed actor to imitating a rather good magician. He vanished, which might not be too hard to accomplish in a city with eight million people, but the speed of his departure was impressive, at least to Grace. He had been crashing at an apartment with two other young men, and they vowed he had left no forwarding address after he’d packed up and moved out in less than an hour.

Grace needed more time than that to pack up her books.

After Aidan’s departure, Elyse dissolved into long bouts of crying. Her grief would undoubtedly worsen if the pregnancy test came out positive.

Grace glanced at the mirror again. Dark smudges under her eyes attested to all her sympathetic listening. What else could she do? Elyse had helped her through the worst tragedy in her life. She had to be there for her friend.

Over and over, Elyse had blurted out between sobs, “He was such a poser!”

Grace bit her lip to prevent herself from saying, “Well, yeah. He’s an actor.”

The dull throb of a headache pulsed in her temples. She had the chore of taking out the garbage this week, which made her solely responsible for stuffing the pregnancy test kit box into the building’s trashcan. She did not want anyone else in the apartment building to view the evidence. Especially the new guy in 2L who always seemed to be hanging around the garbage cans whenever she stepped outside. The mailbox in the vestibule listed him as Russell Thorpe. She frowned as she recalled how often he hung around the stairway when she came downstairs. When she picked up her mail, he stood in the vestibule and glanced over her shoulder as she flipped through her bills.

Was he a stalker?

If so, he didn’t instill any fear or panic in her. She did not break out in a cold sweat. On the contrary, instant warmth slid through her and her heart flip-flopped at his nearness, though

Her brief musing ended when Elyse banged on the bathroom door.

“Let me in!”

Grace hurried out. Elyse stood before her with wide eyes and a hand over her mouth. Then she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Grace sank onto one of the kitchen chairs and covered her eyes. Elyse has morning sickness!

Grace squelched a groan when she glanced at her watch. The boss scheduled the meeting at work for nine thirty—in Manhattan. She hated rush hour in the subway with strangers pressed together as closely as oranges in the display case at the fruit stand on Nassau Avenue.

She heard the sound of the toilet flushing as she grabbed her backpack and coat.

“Are you going to be okay?” she called out.

“Get moving. You’re late.”

“Send an instant message to me at work!” She ran down the stairs. The guy in 2L came out of his apartment, but she kept her eyes focused on the steps. She did not want to look at him. If she cast a glance his way she would be left with the sensation of losing her balance and toppling off her surfboard. She had never met a man as tall and handsome, or so...intense.

“Are you practicing for the marathon?” A hint of humor touched his voice.

She caught a whiff of his aftershave as she passed. The woodsy undertones had her remembering the scent of the tall pines which grew in Gram’s backyard in Long Branch, New Jersey.

“I’m late.” She clipped her words as she gripped the railing.

“That’s unusual for you.”

Her heart thundered as she hurried into the vestibule and escaped onto the street. What was she going to do?
The guy watched her every move.

www.prismbookgroup.com

Bargain and Free Books for 6-19-13

2013-06-19T10:22:00.001-04:00

Garrett
by Jayna Morrow
Rating: 4.9 Stars
Genre: Christian Fiction
Price: $0.99 Save $2.00
Make sure price is still 99 cents before clicking “Buy”.
FOR DETAILS, GO TO: http://ereadernewstoday.com/bargain-and-free-books-for-6-19-13/6730872/

Elisse says: "DADDY WANTED is one of those stories that keep you reading to the lovely end."

2013-06-19T09:43:00.003-04:00

Daddy Wanted [Kindle Edition]

Penelope Marzec (Author)

(1 customer review)

Digital List Price:	$2.99 What's this?
Kindle Price:	$2.99

5.0 out of 5 stars Grace knows she's not perfect, but circumstances push her to aim high June 18, 2013

By Elisse

Format:Kindle Edition

Within a couple hours, Grace's life changes: she discovers her best friend's pregnancy test kit in the bathroom garbage, the guy in the apartment downstairs appears to be obsessed with her, and she loses her job. The latter problem makes helping her friend nearly impossible, so she does the next best thing: she places an ad to find a daddy for her friend's baby.
Easy peasy, right?
Not so much!
Caught up in her quest to fix her best friend's problem, tunnel vision blinds her to some major issues; one of them being that not everyone who answers an on-line classified ad is above board. She runs into some...interesting...characters, to say the least.

Russell, the guy in the apartment below Grace, likes what he knows about her. She doesn't wear makeup and she dresses demurely. His best friend's grandfather--Russell's mentor--is dying and it's his wish to see Russell settled down with a good woman. However, Russell doesn't have any intention of marrying for a good long time, but he's willing to give the performance of his life to make his mentor happy.

Grace, The Perfect Woman, as Russell comes to think of her, fits the `pretend girlfriend' bill to a `T'...until he accidentally discovers the pregnancy test in the trash. That's when misunderstandings arise, opinions change, and Russell and Grace struggle to deny their growing feelings for each other.

Russell makes it his mission to find the baby's low-life father--the one who'd `taken advantage of a good girl like Grace'--and Grace adds Russell's name to the Daddy Wanted shortlist.

DADDY WANTED is one of those stories that keep you reading to the lovely end. The story flows beautifully, the dialogue is quick, smart, and real. Before reading Daddy Wanted, I wasn't particularly interested in turtles. However, Ms. Marzec changed my mind by introducing the supporting character, Ulysses. I would never have used the word sweet to describe a reptile, but Ulysses smashes through my preconceived ideas.
Great book! I highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Wanted-ebook/dp/B00DH01S0Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371649020&sr=1-3&keywords=PENELOPE+MARZEC

Penelope Marzec is celebrating today's release day for DADDY WANTED, make sure to enter for a chance to win 1 of 3 Amazon gift cards. http://penelopemarzec.blogspot.ca/2013/06/celebrating-release-of-daddy-wanted.html

Congratulations, Carlene Havel

2013-06-19T09:26:00.001-04:00

WAY TO GO, CARLENE!

Most Popular Authors in Religion & Spirituality

18.Carlene Havel

Most Popular Books in Religion & Spirituality

Daughter of the King

A Hero's Homecoming

http://www.amazon.com/author-rank/Religion-Spirituality/digital-text/158280011/ref=ntt_at_kar_B004AL16YY#2

FRUGAL TIPS

2013-06-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Master the thirty day rule. Whenever you’re considering making an unnecessary purchase, wait thirty days and then ask yourself if you still want that item. Quite often, you’ll find that the urge to buy has passed and you’ll have saved yourself some money by simply waiting. If you want, you can even keep a “thirty day list” where you write down the item and the day you’ll reconsider it, but I prefer just to keep this one in my head – that way, I often just forget about the unimportant things.

Write a list before you go shopping – and stick to it. One should never go into a store without a strong idea of what one will be buying while in there. Make a careful plan of what you’ll buy before you go, then stick strictly to that list when you go to the store. Don’t put anything in the cart that’s not on the list, no matter how tempting, and you’ll come out of the store saving a bundle.

Invite friends over instead of going out. Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out. Invite some friends over and have a cookout or a potluck meal, then play some cards and have a few drinks. Everyone will have fun, the cost will be low, and the others will likely reciprocate not long afterwards.

Instead of throwing out some damaged clothing, repair it instead. Don’t toss out a shirt because of a broken button – sew a new one on with some closely-matched thread. Don’t toss out pants because of a hole in them – put in a patch of some sort and save them for times when you’re working around the house. Simple sewing can be done by anyone – it just takes a few minutes and it saves a lot of money by keeping you from buying new clothes when you don’t really need to.

Don’t spend big money entertaining your children. Most children, especially young ones, can be entertained very cheaply. Buy them an end roll of newspaper from your local paper and let their creativity run wild. Make a game out of ordinary stuff around the house, like tossing pennies into a jar, even. Realize that what your children want most of all is your time, not your stuff, and you’ll find money in your pocket and joy in your heart.

Word of the Day harangue

2013-06-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

Word of the Day

harangue
\huh-RANG\

DEFINITION

noun

: a speech addressed to a public assembly

: a ranting speech or writing

: lecture

EXAMPLES

The comedian's stand-up act consisted mostly of sharpharangues against celebrities and the media.

"Every time I see one of these conspiracy types stand up and with great zeal launch into their harangue I'm reminded of something I heard a former Idaho State Superintendent, Roy Truby, once say: 'I have a hard time understanding these people who say they love their country but hate their government.'" — From an article by Chris Carlson in the Idaho State Journal, May 1, 2013

DID YOU KNOW?

In Old Italian, the noun "aringo" referred to a public assembly, the verb "aringare" meant "to speak in public," and the noun "aringa" referred to a public speech. "Aringa" was borrowed into Middle French as "arenge," and it is from this form that we get our noun "harangue," which made its first appearance in English in the 16th century. Perhaps due to the bombastic or exasperated nature of some public speeches, the term quickly developed an added sense referring to a speech or writing in the style of a rant (though the word "rant" is not etymologically related). There is also a verb "harangue," which refers to the act of making such a speech.

WRITING TIP: More Answers to Questions About Capitalization

2013-06-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/more-answers-to-questions-about-capitalization/

Ulysses from Daddy Wanted

2013-06-19T07:03:00.000-04:00

Ulysses is the 'wise' red-eared slider who seems to be the only one listening to Grace these days. If not for her tiny audience of one, Grace might have pulled into her own 'shell' when she loses her job, her best friend tries to hide her pregnancy, and the guy in the apartment below her is showing non-creepy, stalking tendencies.

Red-eared slider

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) (Br. Eng Red-eared terrapin) is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and also popular in the rest of the world. It is native only to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases and has become an invasive species in many introduced areas, such as California, where it outcompetes the native western pond turtle.

Red-eared sliders get their name from the small red dash around their ears. The "slider" part of their name comes from their ability to slide off rocks and logs and into the water quickly. This species was previously known as Troost's turtle in honor of an American herpetologist; Trachemys scripta troostii is now the scientific name for another subspecies, the Cumberland slider.

The red-eared slider is the most common type of water turtle kept as pets.^[13] As with other turtles, tortoises, and box turtles, individuals that survive their first year or two can be expected to live generally around 30 years.

Red-eared sliders can be quite aggressive—especially when food is involved. Behavior is usually noted to become this way when fed live food. If being kept as a pet, care must be taken to prevent injury or even death of its smaller tankmates. Additional care is needed if shrimp are used as food. Smaller red-eared sliders less than a year old have been known to choke on the shells of the shrimp and suffer from lung puncture.

A candid writing moment with Penelope Marzec: A Diversion

2013-06-19T07:01:00.000-04:00

A Diversion

"When I wrote Daddy Wanted I was going through an especially stressful period.

One of my daughters experienced constant earaches, dizziness, and lost the hearing in one ear. After going to several doctors, she'd lost hope. She was walking out the door of one specialist's office when he came running after her and suggested an MRI. From that image we learned she had an acoustic neuroma. It is a benign growth but it's location next to important brain centers makes it dangerous. (http://www.acousticneuroma.org/causes)

She's had two surgeries and must schedule regular MRIs to monitor the tumor. If the growth returns again, she will opt for a Gamma knife procedure. At the time she was diagnosed, she was 28.

But Daddy Wanted is not about a young woman with a brain tumor. The hero, a geeky, Internet tech, grew up in Minnesota and needs a date for his best friend's wedding. He thinks the heroine is The Perfect Woman.The heroine, a game designer, grew up in Long Branch, NJ. Her hobby is surfing. She's lost her job and her roommate is pregnant. She thinks the hero would be a good father for her roommate's baby.

The setting is the only part of the story that bears any resemblance to my daughter's health crisis. I lived in my daughter's Brooklyn apartment during her hospital stays. I grew up in a small beach town and now live in a suburban area not far from the beach.The city is a foreign environment to me. However, I got to know Brooklyn well. (Although the alternate side of the street parking rules are really crazy!)

I rode on the subway to get to the hospital everyday. I found the subway a great place to dream up my story. Writers always ask, "What if?" So on those many subway rides, I asked myself plenty of questions and dreamed up Daddy Wanted.

In essence, I diverted my attention from the trouble at hand by creating my own fantasy. This technique probably won't work for everyone, but it worked for me.

Since then, my daughter has enjoyed some very bright spots in her life. She was awarded a residency at Eyebeam Art and Technology Center and is a recipient of the A.I.R. Gallery Emma Bee Bernstein Fellowship. Her illness changed her life. It became a gigantic detour, but it gave her more focus.

I've always tried to see the positive side of things. I've always looked for the silver lining, but sometimes it's difficult when there are no guarantees. That's why I make up romances. I get through difficult times entertaining myself with the stories in my head. Daddy Wanted is one of those stories."

Penelope Marzec

http://www.penelopemarzec.com

LOW CARB Grilled Chicken Salad

2013-06-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.companyscoming.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-salad/2005/3/112/

Grilled Chicken Salad print friendly version

An inviting mixture of fresh vegetables glistens with a slightly sweet vinaigrette. Warm grilled chicken and crunchy walnuts make this salad irresistible!

Red medium peppers, quartered,	2	2
seeds and ribs removed

ZESTY BALSAMIC MARINADE
Olive (or canola) oil	1 tbsp.	15 mL
Balsamic vinegar	1 tbsp.	15 mL
Finely grated orange zest	1 tsp.	5 mL
Salt	1/4 tsp.	1 mL
Pepper	1/4 tsp.	1 mL

Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves	3/4 lb.	340 g

Fresh spinach, stems removed, lightly	5 cups	1.25 L
packed
Crumbled feta cheese (about 1/3 lb.,	1 cup	250 mL
150 g)
Thinly sliced red onion	1/2 cup	125 mL
Coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted	1/4 cup	60 mL

BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
Olive (or canola) oil	3 tbsp.	50 mL
Balsamic vinegar	1 tbsp.	15 mL
Chopped fresh oregano leaves (or	2 tsp.	10 mL
1/2 tsp., 2 mL, dried)
Garlic clove, minced (or 1/4 tsp., 1 mL,	1	1
powder)
Salt, just a pinch

Preheat electric grill for 5 minutes or gas barbecue to medium-high. Cook peppers, skin-side down, on greased grill for 10 to 12 minutes until skins are blistered and blackened. Transfer to small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sweat for about 15 minutes until cool enough to handle. Peel and discard skins. Cut into thin strips. Set aside.

Zesty Balsamic Marinade: Combine first 5 ingredients in small cup. Makes about 2 tbsp. (30 mL) marinade.

Place chicken breast halves in medium resealable freezer bag. Pour marinade over top. Seal bag. Turn until coated. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours, turning occasionally. Drain and discard marinade. Heat electric grill for 5 minutes or gas barbecue to medium. Cook chicken on greased grill for about 5 minutes per side until no longer pink inside. Cool. Cut into thin slices. Transfer to large bowl.

Add red pepper and next 4 ingredients. Toss.

Balsamic Vinaigrette: Combine all 5 ingredients in jar with tight-fitting lid. Shake well. Makes about 1/4 cup (60 mL) vinaigrette. Drizzle over spinach mixture. Toss. Makes about 8 cups (2 L) salad. Serves 4.

1 serving: 425 Calories; 27.2 g Total Fat (12.1 g Mono, 5 g Poly, 8.3 g Sat); 96 mg Cholesterol; 13 g Carbohydrate; 4 g Fibre; 34 g Protein; 571 mg Sodium

Note: Prepared roasted red peppers are available in jars in most grocery stores. Drain well. Use 1 cup (250 mL) in place of 2 fresh, roasted red peppers.

Learn from the talents: Linda Carroll-Bradd

2013-06-18T18:45:00.002-04:00

Linda Carroll-Bradd, author and novelist from United States. A writer of heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor. In this brief interview Linda Carroll-Bradd shares her personal experiences and insights about promoting her books. Linda is the author of Dreams of Gold, The Ring that Binds and Only for One Night.

What literary genres do you write?

I write romantic stories of the relationship between a man and woman set in contemporary and historical time periods. One of my older titles contains light paranormal. The story lengths vary from short story to full-length.

What were the difficulties you faced in promoting your books?

As an author published by small presses, I struggle to have my titles stand out from the crowd. As an author of mostly shorter length stories, my titles are only available in ebook format which sometimes precludes those titles from being reviewed by the larger review sites.

- See more at:
http://www.humanmade.net/interview/linda-carroll-bradd

Today on Life Inspiring Scribes: Jayna Morrow

2013-06-18T17:43:00.002-04:00

Jayna Morrow is the featured author on LIFE INSPIRING SCRIBES
Make sure you read her interview

http://www.lifeinspiringscribes.com/featured-author.html

Penelope Marzec is celebrating!

2013-06-18T11:44:00.005-04:00

Penelope Marzec is celebrating tomorrow's release of DADDY WANTED. Check out her website and enter for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. http://penelopemarzec.blogspot.ca/2013/06/celebrating-release-of-daddy-wanted.html

DADDY WANTED Release day tomorrow

2013-06-18T09:57:00.006-04:00

Daddy Wanted

By Penelope Marzec

Russell, an IT repairman, is going to be the best man for a wedding in Minnesota. He needs a date, but the woman on his arm must be the Perfect Woman. According to his list of specifications, Grace will fit the bill—until he finds a pregnancy test kit box in the garbage. Deciding she’s only a little bit pregnant, he offers her a business deal, an all expenses paid trip to Minnesota with no strings attached. But when Grace insists on bringing her roommate along, Russell is in for a surprise.

http://www.prismbookgroup.com/DaddyWanted.html

FREE EBOOOK Accidental Meeting

2013-06-18T09:42:00.001-04:00

Accidental Meeting [Kindle Edition]

Susette Williams (Author)

(76 customer reviews)

Digital List Price:	$2.94 What's this?
Kindle Price:	$0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via *Amazon Whispernet*
You Save:	$2.94 (100%)

Abbey Martin isn’t willing to be the kind of ‘player’ her boss wants her to be. When he threatens to not promote her because she refuses to get in ‘compromising’ positions, she quits.

If a day can go from bad to worse, it does for Abbey. She runs into Bruce Harrington on her way home—literally.

Bruce Harrington was on his way to a very important meeting. That was until a raving lunatic with brown, bouncy hair spiraled towards him in her car and then on foot. Maybe he should count it a blessing that when she sent him cascading over the side of the embankment—he wasn’t in his car.

To make amends for causing Bruce to break a leg, Abbey becomes his chauffeur and helpmate until he recovers.

When his cast is about to come off he has to face losing Abbey. There has to be some way he can keep her from walking out of his life forever. If a job offer won’t do it then perhaps it’s time for a proposal.

GET YOUR FREE COPY HERE: http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Meeting-ebook/dp/B008X7AJX0/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371562744&sr=1-5&keywords=SUSETTE+WILLIAMS

A reason to celebrate A Hero's Homecoming

2013-06-18T09:38:00.003-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS, CARLENE HAVEL!

A Hero's Homecoming [Kindle Edition]

Carlene Havel (Author)

(10 customer reviews)

Digital List Price:	$0.99 What's this?
Print List Price:	$8.99
Kindle Price:	$0.99 includes free international wireless delivery via *Amazon Whispernet*
You Save:	$8.00 (89%)

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #1 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Romance
- #2 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Romance
- #2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Romance

GET YOUR 99 CENT COPY HERE: http://www.amazon.com/A-Heros-Homecoming-ebook/dp/B008JNM0YY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371562559&sr=1-1&keywords=a+hero%27s+homecoming

5 FRUGAL TIPS

2013-06-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

1. Switch your bank accounts to a bank that respects you. You shouldn’t be spending your hard-earned money on maintenance fees – you also should be earning some serious interest on your checking and savings accounts. I use ING Direct as my primary bank – I earn roughly 3% on my checking account and 3.4% on my savings account and they’ve never dinged me with a fee. Here’s a guide on how to make that switch.

2. Turn off the television. One big way to save money is to watch less television. There are a lot of financial benefits to this: less exposure to guilt-inducing ads, more time to focus on other things in life, less electrical use, and so on. It’s great to unwind in the evening, but seek another hobby to do that.

3. Turn a critical eye to your “collections.”Most people collect something – what do you collect? Is it something that consistently brings you joy? Or is it something that you just do out of habit at this point? Does the collection itself have value? Could you perhaps “trim the fat” from this collection by getting rid of duplicates or getting rid of the items you no longer use? Also, could you perhaps cut down on your spending on that hobby? Focus on trimming the things you don’t feel strongly about – if you dig into things that bother you, you’re going to eventually relapse.

4. Sign up for every free customer rewards program you can. Even if you rarely shop at that place, having a rewards card for that place will eventually net you some coupons and discounts. Here’s the basic game plan for maximizing these programs: create a Gmail address just for these mailings, collect every card you can, and then check that account for extra coupons whenever you’re ready to shop.

5. Make your own gifts instead of buying stuff from the store. You can make food mixes, candles, bread, cookies, soap, and all kinds of other things at home quite easily and inexpensively. These make spectacular gifts for others because they involve your homemade touch, plus quite often they’re consumable, meaning they don’t wind up filling someone’s closet with junk. Even better – include a personal handwritten note with the gift. This will make it even more special than anything you could possibly buy down at the mall, plus it saves you money.

Word of the Day demure

2013-06-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

Word of the Day

demure
\dih-MYOOR\

DEFINITION

adjective

: reserved, modest

: affectedly modest, reserved, or serious : coy

EXAMPLES

When we first met Kelly, she was quiet and demure, so it surprises us now to see that she can be vocal and forward.

"Amazingly, though, these corporate creatures have suddenly turned demure, insisting that they don’t want to draw any attention to themselves." — From an editorial by Jim Hightower in the Illinois Times, May 16, 2013

DID YOU KNOW?

"Demure" has essentially remained unchanged in meaning since at least the 14th century. Its first recorded use in our language dates from the Middle English period (roughly the 12th to 15th centuries), a time when the native tongue of England was borrowing many new words from the French spoken by the Normans who gained control of the country after the Battle of Hastings. "Demure" might have been part of the French cultural exchange; etymologists think it may have derived from the Anglo-French verb "demorer" or "demourer," meaning "to linger." During Shakespeare's time, "demure" was briefly used in English as a verb meaning "to look demurely," but only the older adjective form has survived to the present day.

writing tip: Writing for the Web

2013-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Writing for the Web

by Mark Nichol

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-for-the-web/

People read online for the same reasons that they read print documents: to obtain information or knowledge, to complete forms and applications, or to be entertained. The key difference, however, between habits of print readers and online readers is that online readers are more likely than print readers to be researching, not reading. Here are some recommendations for producing successful websites.

Consider these study results:

Four out of five people scan online content rather than read word by word.
On a typical Web page, readers read only about one-fifth of the content.
The more words on a Web page, the lower the percentage of words readers are likely to read.
Readers tend to read closer to one-half of online content when a Web page’s text is limited to about one hundred words.

Most of these figures date back to the late 1990s, when fewer people went online, Web design and architecture was less sophisticated, and much of the content was functional (now, many websites, like this one, are equivalent to periodicals or books), but the findings are still essentially valid.

For that reason, clarity and conciseness — advisable in any form of communication — is even more important in online content. In many circumstances, readers will be drawn to easily accessed information. Rather than presenting paragraph after paragraph of content in blocks of text, as is routine in print publication, give readers multiple reference points:

Use headlines that are informative first, and clever second, if at all.
Break content up into small blocks of text separated by subheadings.
Organize brief items into numbered or bullet lists.
Provide information in captions for photographs and graphics.
Place the most important information at the top of a page or at the beginning of a piece of content.

The primary goal for the owner of a website, whether it’s a commercial site or one whose primary purpose is to provide information or impart knowledge, should be to increase the number of readers and retain those readers. To that end, websites should be designed and organized to help visitors

locate what they need or want
understand what they locate
apply what they locate to satisfy their needs or wants

How do you know what readers want from your website? Try these strategies:

Analyze reader communication — comments, emails, and other contact.
Engage with readers by asking them directly by email or through the site itself.
Note, in your site analytics, the most popular pages and the top word searches.

LOW CARB Almond Waffles

2013-06-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.companyscoming.com/recipes/almond-waffles/2005/3/113/

Almond Waffles

Subtle almond flavour and crunch make these tender waffles a welcome treat!

Light cream cheese (about 1/4 cup,	2 oz.	57 g
60 mL), softened
Light sour cream	1/4 cup	60 mL
Hard margarine (or butter), melted	2 tbsp.	30 mL
Large eggs	3	3
Almond flavouring	1 tsp.	5 mL

Biscuit mix	2 tbsp.	30 mL
Ground almonds	2 tbsp.	30 mL
Granulated sugar	2 tsp.	10 mL
Baking powder	1/2 tsp.	2 mL

Beat first 5 ingredients in medium bowl until smooth.

Combine remaining 4 ingredients in small bowl. Add to cream cheese mixture. Stir until just moistened. Preheat waffle iron. Pour batter onto greased waffle iron, using about 1/3 cup (75 mL) batter for each waffle. Cook for about 6 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter. Makes 4 waffles. Serves 2.

1 serving: 385 Calories; 30.6 g Total Fat (15.3 g Mono, 3.4 g Poly, 11.3 g Sat); 349 mg Cholesterol; 14 g Carbohydrate; 0 g Fibre; 15 g Protein; 649 mg Sodium

LAST CHANCE alert

2013-06-17T12:55:00.002-04:00

Last day for a chance to win $65 Amazon gift card, free books, and swag. Hop by to enter! http://bonnieblythespureromance.blogspot.com/2013/06/tortured-heroes-plus-sweet-moola-and.html

EREADER NEWS TODAY FEATURES A 99 CENT BARGAIN

2013-06-17T09:50:00.003-04:00

BARGAIN BOOKS

A Hero’s Homecoming
by Carlene Havel
Rating: 4.7 Stars
Genre: Christian Fiction
Price: $0.99

A Hero's Homecoming [Kindle Edition]

Carlene Havel (Author)

(10 customer reviews)

Digital List Price:	$0.99 What's this?
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“The book was well written and kept my attention all of the way through it…the author did a good job of making interesting characters and relationships.” -Britt98

Colonel Rich Martino returns home from overseas to find everything has changed and nothing makes sense. His wife Rita has disappeared. His credit cards are invalid. A stranger is living in his house and he keeps running into people who are convinced he was killed in action months ago. Worst of all, his wealthy father has suffered a stroke.

Psychologist Charlotte Phillips claims to be his comatose father’s legal guardian. Rich is determined to learn what has happened, gain control of his father’s money, and unmask Charlotte as the gold-digging schemer he’s certain she is. He is shocked to find his father’s crusty old attorney has been taken in by her along with everyone else.

Can Rich straighten out the mess his life has become?

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FREE CHILDREN'S BOOK Wacky Wishes

2013-06-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

Wacky Wishes [Kindle Edition]

Susette Williams (Author), Jack Foster (Illustrator)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $0.99 What's this?

Print List Price: $6.99

Kindle Price: $0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

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Tommy and Suzie find a wishing well and like children do, they begin making wishes. Imagine their surprise when their wishes start to come true! Are spacesuits the new dress code at school? What’s Tommy going to do with three heads? You’ve heard of, “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” When Tommy and Suzie's wishing gets out of hand, will they be able to wish away the mess they've created before their wishes run out?
GET YOUR FREE COPY HERE: http://www.amazon.com/Wacky-Wishes-ebook/dp/B00CAHCP4U/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371476172&sr=8-1

4.8 out of 5 stars

(24)

4.8 out of 5 stars

5 star

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See all 24 customer reviews

“Very cute, colorful illustrations, fun story. ”Cynthia Hickey | 14 reviewers made a similar statement

“"Wacky Wishes" is a delightful children's book sure to be enjoyed by its young reading audience. ”Dolores Ayotte | 12 reviewers made a similar statement

“Like being careful what you wish for that it might just come true. ”Catherine Luense | 4 reviewers made a similar statement

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,560 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
- #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Ages 4-8
- #44 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Literature

Biography

Susette Williams is a Best Selling Author. She loves writing various genres, both for children and adults. She usually can't resist the urge to let her ornery sense of humor shine through in one of her characters and has always believed that laughter helps you deal with the obstacles life puts in your way.

Susette and her husband have six wonderful children, all with intriguing and different personalities, like the characters she creates in her novels.

It is her desire to write fast paced books that children and adults will enjoy. Her books are sure to entertain and delight readers.

FRUGAL TIP: Small Change For Fun and Games

2013-06-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Fun and games on a budget is possible with just a little bit of imagination. frugal entertainment need not be a pipe dream.

Small Change For Fun and Games

A really good tip for supplementing those occasions of fun and games is to have a special jar put aside for loose change that can be put towards leisure activities.

It is amazing just how much you can put together over a couple of weeks and even if it doesn't cover the whole of the cost it will still go a long way towards making the activity possible and less painful on the purse.

The secret is to get into the habit of putting your loose small change into the jar every evening. Make it a ritual and easy to remember, for instance you could keep the jar on the bedside cabinet and when you get undressed at night, empty your pockets of the small coins. Or keep the jar by the front door, so when you take your coat off you also empty your pockets or purse of change.

Word of the Day fawn

2013-06-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

Word of the Day

fawn
\FAWN\

DEFINITION

verb

: to show affection — used especially of a dog

: to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

EXAMPLES

The author gave a reading from her latest book, followed by a meet and greet where she was fawned over by adoring fans.

"The trip was relaxing, and Lauren was right. I was like a different person, probably because I didn't have deadlines looming over me, the pressures of running a household, no hour-long commute and my parents fawned over me like I was royalty." — From a blog post by Jessica Ryen Doyle on FoxNews.com, May 3, 2013

DID YOU KNOW?

Some people will be glad to learn the origins of "fawn"—and there's a hint about the word's etymology in that declaration. Middle English speakers adapted an Old English word meaning "to rejoice" to create the verb "faunen," which shifted in spelling over time to become "fawn." That Old English word, in turn, derives from "fagan," meaning "glad." "Fagan" is also an ancestor of the English adjective "fain," whose earliest (now obsolete) meaning is "happy" or "pleased." If we follow the etymological path of "fawn" even further back, we arrive at an ancient word that also provided Old German and Old Norse with words for "happy."

Jacqueline Hopper

DADDY WANTED excerpt

WANTED:A Daddy for Her Roommate’s Baby

Ebook $2.99/Print $11.99

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Congratulations, Carlene Havel

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LAST CHANCE alert

EREADER NEWS TODAY FEATURES A 99 CENT BARGAIN

A Hero's Homecoming [Kindle Edition]

FREE CHILDREN'S BOOK Wacky Wishes

Wacky Wishes [Kindle Edition]

Susette Williams (Author), Jack Foster (Illustrator) 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews) Digital List Price:$0.99 What's this? Print List Price:$6.99 Kindle Price:$0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet You Save:$6.99 (100%)

FRUGAL TIP: Small Change For Fun and Games

Small Change For Fun and Games

Word of the Day fawn

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WANTED:

A Daddy for Her Roommate’s Baby

Susette Williams (Author), Jack Foster (Illustrator)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $0.99 What's this?

Print List Price: $6.99

Kindle Price: $0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

You Save: $6.99 (100%)