MiscMayzee

Fighting Bathroom Mold: a Persistent Battle, but Always Winnable

2012-02-23T08:30:00.001-06:00

Tilex® has released a brand new Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover named Refereshing Breeze in an effort to help you/me/us keep your/my/our home stunningly clean and mold-free. In honor of this new product, Tilex's Facebook page is hosting a mega sweepstakes with great prizes. You can enter to win one of three 40" flat screen TVs or one of ten different Netlfix subscrptions. Each friend you invite to the Facebook page to enter the sweepstakes by 3/16/12 garners you an extra entry in the pool!

In our house, mold isn't a huge problem...at least not the naughty kind...except in our bathroom. We live in an older home that was apartmentalized and the small bathroom is prone to developing mold. It doesn't stick around long because my husband is a mold-killing bandit, but it pops up. There are a few different things we do to stay on top of the problem.

First, in the winter we keep the bathroom door open when the room is not in use to keep the room well-ventilated. In the summer time, we keep the window open to allow more fresh air to come in and encourage ventilation since we leave the room door shut in the summer to avoid cooling it. Keeping the room ventilated helps stop moisture from building up in the wall cavities and on other surfaces. Mold loves moisture and we don't need a bathroom-based love affair going on around here when mold is one of the participants.

My husband also makes a habit of cleaning out and reapplying the silicone sealant between our bathtub and splash guard on a yearly basis. Because of our older home and wood flooring and large temperature swings between summer and winter her in the upper midwest, our floor heaves ever so slightly. This leads to miniscule cracks forming in the sealant over time which can allow mold to start growing and working its way toward the back wall. A yearly tune-up really keeps anything visible from ever appearing and stops the nasty stuff from spreading.

We also practice wiping out the tub and shower when we exit and maintain a dedicated towel for this purpose. We don't wipe out the entire unit, but we do wipe down the edges of the tub and the outer rims of the splash guard to keep standing water at a minimum on surfaces that do not really have a path for water to find its way to the drain. To ensure this is done most effectively, I had to revert to the dorm room practice of keeping my shampoos, conditioners, and face care products off the edge of the tub and in separate storage. I basically pick the products I want on any given day, take it in with me, and pull it out after I get dressed. We all do this, but for me it is the bigger inconvenience because I have more stuff. However, I'd rather carry my razor into the shower with me and keep mold out of the unit versus keeping a blade that could give me a knick at any moment near mold. (I pick my battles.)

When we do have mold pop up, my husband believes in bleach, bleach, bleach or a product with bleach, bleach, bleach. I prefer produts with added bleach because the smell of it straight is an irritant for me, but I am more of the mildew attacker so I let my husband choose the tools for fighting his mold battles. He gets in there with old, discarded kitchen sponges, a bucket, and elbow grease and pulls everything out of the bathroom, wipes everything down, uses little improvised tools to get into nooks and crannies, and then brings everything back in. He truly finds this the only way to effectively combat mold, and I would agree. After one of his intensive cleanings it takes a couple of seasons for anything to begin to reemerge...and usually that is because we let one of our other steps slide!

Fighting mold can be a continuous battle when you live, like we do, in an older home. A bit of preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping the battles well spaced. However, even the best of us slip up sometimes. At that point, a good cleaning product is necessary to battle the mold you have and help keep it from coming back to such a large extent.

If you want more info on Tilex® Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover, check out the following link: http://www.tilex.com/mildew-stain-remover/

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Tilex blogging program, for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The Mighty Macs on DVD: Enter to Win!

2012-02-23T05:05:00.001-06:00

I've always loved a good underdog movie and a good basketball story. As a young girl, I would watch the TV movie about "Pistol Pete" everytime it aired! Needless to say, when I first saw a trailer for The Mighty Macs while watching The Grace Card, I wanted to watch The Macs because it looked like a great film and it was based on a true story. I ended up being a bit surprised at exactly how good the true story of The Mighty Macs was.

I originally saw the film in a preview screener in late 2011, but I missed a few minutes of the movie and watched it on my PC which is never quite the same as watching a movie on either the silver screen or a regular size TV (I have a generous computer monitor, but it is still a computer monitor...even when on the movie setting). When I first watched the movie, I found myself wanting to know more abou the real Macs and went in search of data but only found a few pictures and articles.

I was hoping that when the film hit DVD that a few bonus features would be included...and they were! In addition to deleted scenes, the movie contains a "Making of The Mighty Macs" documentary that lasts about 20 minutes and a "The Mighty Macs" ESPN segment that lasts between five and 10 minutes. I liked both because each contained footage of the real Cathy Rush and some of the team mates depicuted in the film. It was also touching to see exactly how invested in the film the cast and crew were. I also didn't realize that the nuns in the bench at Mass near the beginning of the film were actual Macs....that was cute to learn.

Past this new information, I want to share a few points from my prior review of the film:

Carla Gugino was wonderfully cast as Cathy Rush and, with the help of the hair, make-up, and wardrobe department, was really able to pull off the look and feel of the era. The girls who played the team members were are really beautiful in a normal girl type of way. They don't have the artificially enhanced look of Hollywood in the film - something that I appreciated greatly.

I wan't completely sure of each girl's name until closer to the end of the film, but an effort was made to lend a little bit of individuality to the characters. We see that Trish Sharkey doesn't have a lot of money and spends much of her school days in overalls. Lizanne loses her fiancee and we visit her at home crying her eyes out in bed. Jen's home life is briefly demonstrated when her father basically orders her to poor juice for her brother while navigating the family kitchen in her nurses uniform.

Each of these elements made the movie more believable as it demonstrated the truth of many situations - a lot of the girls at Catholic schools were wealthy or upper middle class children, but others were allowed to attend on scholarship or under the auspices of more traditional charity. They also showed that the girls were from situations that didn't encourage them to be their best and give their all at something since they were not always encouraged or allowed to realize dreams and work toward goals outside of traditional thought processes (read: only real goal is marriage/family).

The sisters in this film are every bit as enjoyable as they seemed to be in the trailers. When you watch The Mighty Macs, think of me when you watch Cathy in the little workout room with the nuns. I found this scene to be absolutely charming and quaint. It showed the real spirit any good religious institution must have to survive - the good, kind, and fun spirits of its members!

There was absolutely nothing objectionable in The Mighty Macs from a family viewing perspective though there are a few one liners during a short (30 seconds-ish sequence) that some may consider racy only because they contain double-innuendos.

About The Mighty Macs:

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

Connect with the film on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themightymacs
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MightyMacsMovie

Watch the Trailer:

Enter to Win a Copy of The Mighty Macs on DVD:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie: Enter to Win!

2012-02-23T02:14:00.003-06:00

I just finished The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie and am actually surprised at how much I liked this book! I will confess that I had actually looked at this book on Amazon before deciding to review it and read a review that made the book sound like it wouldn't be my cup of tea...but it was.

While I don't want to delve into what the Amazon reviewer said too far because it was a bit of a spoiler....suffice it to say that the reviewer didn't like the fact that the book derives from the standard Christian fiction formula to an extent. However, in this book it more than works because a mystery helps fuel this book. If a mystery book can't be a bit different than other releases, I don't know what type of book could!

In this volume, Lady Alexandria Featherstone is inhabiting her family's castle on the English shoreline when she receives word that her parents are presumed dead and that she has been placed under the guardianship of Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton. She doesn't believe they are dead and travels off in search of her parents who left home to solve a mystery for a private client (yes, the husband and wife were apparently a sleuthing team...novel concept since a lot of wives were not allowed so much freedom in this book's time period). As Alexandria travels, she makes several acquaintances and acquires a couple of companions for her journey along the way.

Perhaps this was my only problem with the book. Alexandria is continually described as beguiling and able to get people to do things for her because of her charm and cuteness, but I felt like the book never really established this winning personality and beauty when describing her, featuring her words, or relaying her actions. She was interesting, a compulsive manipulator in a non self-serving way, and described as having really nice eyes...but that was about it. Readers are told about her abilities instead of being shown it.

That being said, Jamie Carie makes up for the lack of Alexandria personality feeling by really making Gabriel a very internal character who shows us all of the aspects of his personality in his internal dialogue and struggles with the appearance of sudden sporadic deafness in the beginning of the book. Gabriel seemed to be a lovely, dedicated man, and I liked him a lot which may have influenced my opinions of Alexandria a bit as I didn't like her game playing and frequent fibbing and manipulations when it suited her needs.

Despite my little nitpicks, I did like this book well enough and am looking forward to reading The Forgiven Duke later this year. The ending of this volume kind of leaves anyone who didn't really loathe the book no option but to read the second book if they want a tidy resolution to the plot line (and that is really only if this doesn't turn out to be a trilogy...it doesn't look like it is one).

Official Book Synopsis:

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

Book Trailer:

About Jamie Carie:

When she was six, Jamie’s parents met Jesus and soon after started a church. It changed everything. Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch.
The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad would spend a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes. Nothing ever felt so special as a middle of the night slice of pie with her dad. And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.
As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled she wrote skits, poems, plays and short stories for school and church.
When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own.

Additional Material:

Forgotten Castles Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ForgottenCastles
Buy the Book on Amazon: The Guardian Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novel

Enter to Win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart - a Blog Tour

2012-02-19T06:12:00.000-06:00

I finished Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart on Saturday. I had been reading it off and on all week a chapter at time. I found that about page 100 was the point of no return in this book. I hit that mark Saturday morning and finished the book Saturday afternoon. Loved it!

I feel like I've been ultra-lucky lately because I have read so many Christian fiction books that have really good, decent male leads. Sometimes the love interest in a volume is a bit too stuffy or sanctimonious for my tastes, but I haven't bumped into one of those in a while and Blake Garrett in this book continued that streak. He was delightful...so much so that I feel him and Adriane Darcy were equal characters in this book instead of him being a convenient foil.

In this volume, there are two majorly competing newspapers in the town of Louisville, Kentucky (which I learned was actually a major city at the time when this book was written). Adriane Darcy is the daughter of the Tribune editor and has grown up in the press room. Blake is the editor of the Herald (though not the owner). Tension is supposed to ensue here, and it does....but it was the type of tension that tingles with sparks that let the reader know that it is not going to progress into Pride & Prejudice territory with both characters loathing each other until the end. Blake and Adrian only have a couple of terse exchanges before we learn that they are basically compatible people...but there are other problems.

Namely, the fact that Adriane is engaged to another man named Stanley Jimson (who you never like much, so don't feel sorry for him in the end!). Stanley's father is a political big whig running for office as part of the "Know Nothing Party" and, unfortunately, he mostly owns the Tribune because Adriane's dad needed to borrow money from him at different times. Problems, problems, problems. What should she do? Marry Stanley to pay her father's debt and save the paper or do what she wants to do with her life? And will that even matter after....I'm not going there!!!!

I really enjoyed this book, and loved the character development with Adriane and Blake (as mentioned above) and the texture added to secondary characters such as Grace (an abolitionist, feminist teacher Adriane attended school under), Beck (works in the tribune press room), and Duff (who brings tips Adriane way and is out to help cash a serial killer who is slashing women in Louisville).

This book has some unexpected twists in the last 1/4 to 1/2 and ties up every subplot in the volume quite nicely. I highly recommend it!

Words Spoken True is available as of February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

Enter to Win a Words Spoken True Prize Package

2012-02-10T04:29:00.001-06:00

In honor of her new book Words Spoken True, Ann H. Gabhart is hosting a giveaway featuring three different prizes.

First prize gets a gift basket of breakfast goodies from Kentucky. Second prize gets a Louisville Stoneware mug featuring the Louisville, KY skyline. Third prize is a yummylicious box of chocolates!

Enter the contest here. Ann is running the contest until 2/29/2012 at midnight EST. She will announce the winners the next day. I've already entered and hope many of you will as well. If you win, you can share the candies with me! ;)

P.S. I will be reviewing Words Spoken True here on MiscMayzee on the 19th or 20th. I am approximately 1/5 of the way through the book right now and am enjoying it greatly!

Going through the Golden Girls on DVD

2012-02-10T01:41:00.001-06:00

For the past several weeks, I have been working my way through the Golden Girls on DVD as I work through late night postings. I am currently part of the way through Season 4 of 7 seasons. The comedy in this show thoroughly picked up after the first season, and I have really been enjoying the program.

I usually plug in for three to seven episodes at night when I'm typing up articles and blog posts. Some of my articles and posts allow for such a stream of consciousness that the words flow forth from my fingers without a great deal of thought so that I can catch the high points of a show while still getting my work completely done without error. I actually think I end up working a bit better with the TV on as it easier for me to focus on typing with a slight distraction.

In the past I went through Desperate Housewives (Seasons 1 through 5), Ugly Bettty, and the first season of Glee this way. It worked quite well. As I matter of fact I actually did the ChaCha through Desperate Housewives and the show actually made answering all those text message questions hour after hour bearable.

What do you like to listen to while working or do you prefer the sound of silence? Any ideas on new programs for me to start post Golden Girls?

OR maybe there is an interesting self-development series I could check out. I have a new Christian study on CD that I am actually going to plug in in the evenings soon...that might work out to be a lot better.

Free Kindle Copy of The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher: Free Amish Fiction Today Only

2012-02-09T16:33:00.000-06:00

Do you love Amish fiction? Do you have a Nook, Kindle, iTouch, iPhone, Android Phone, Tablet, or even a desktop computer? If you do, then you have approximately 9.5 hours left to grab a free copy of Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest Amish novel, The Keeper, from either Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. Both companies offer a handheld eReading solution as well as downloadable apps for smart devices or the desktop that will allow you to read the book.

Before I had my Kindle I read more than one book on my desktop and on my iTouch, so I know it is more than possible to enjoy a satisfying novel this way!

I reviewed The Keeper here on MiscMayzee back in January as part of a Revell blog tour and really enjoyed it. I think the next couple of books in the series will be wonderful as well...you can read my original post for more about that.

If you keep your eyes out on Amazon and B&N, you can find a lot of good reads for free or next-to-nothing at different times or replace hard copies of books you have previously read and donate your physical copies to friends, family members, libraries, or shelters. I can really think of nothing better than spreading the Christian fiction love around!

The free copy of The Keeper (since it is a new release) is only available until midnight PST (which would be 3 am EST, 2 am CST, 1 am MT).

Watching the Winter Waft By

2012-02-09T04:42:00.003-06:00

I wasn't looking forward to this winter from the start, and the later the snow waited to arrive, the less I wanted to meet the cold weather. Here in northwest Illinois we didn't have snow until early January and I don't think any of it is left outside now.

Minus a brief dip for a day or two, we are going to have at least ten days or so of weather a few degrees above freezing according to the Weather Channel. I love it. I love being able to wear my sneakers instead of my snow boots when I go for a walk. I love having a bounce in my step versus a cautious shuffling slide.

I hope it keeps up. The days pop by, and at night here lately I have been cuing up the Golden Girls while typing articles and blog posts and getting my other affairs in order. I am over halfway through the series at this point. It makes the evenings fly by. Before long spring will be here in all of its glory, and I may be back in my hometown with my dear husband at my side. So many wonderful things are on the horizon for 2012, and this round of beautiful, easy weather only makes it all the more evident.

My First Electric Oral-B Toothbrush: I Have Entered the Space Age

2012-02-08T23:12:00.000-06:00

In a way it's kind of funny that I am a blogger and freelance writer who depends on the internet and technology for her very livelihood because in many ways I buck certain attempts at modernization.

I have an iTouch but I use an antique MixMaster Junior with an broken handle because I love it.
I have a laptop and a netbook but not a flatscreen TV or cable or even a digital converter box (though technically that can be lamed on cruddy reception)
I salivate on cue at the idea of having a smartphone (without the monthly bills) but I prefer not to drive unless I have to and would rather not leave home 9 days out of 10 because my work is here and I love to work.

Until recently one of my feeble protests against "the man" was never having owned or used an electric toothbrush. My little brother had one, but the idea of having a little rotating stick in my mouth seemed overrated...odd. Of course, to my ancestors the idea of a daily shower probably sounded odd, so I'm not really sure what I was silently protesting.

I got past all of it the other day when I went in for the teeth cleaning I blogged about previously. Have I ever mentioned here that I have a small mouth (it is big in the ways that count!)? After I had my wisdom teeth cut out a couple of months and became borderline obsessive about dental hygiene, I had noticed that really getting in and around my second molars was difficult because the tooth brush would fit back there but didn't have much room to move back and forth.

A bit of scraping and picking later on Monday, when the dental hygienist suggested that I may have better results on those back teeth with an electric toothbrush, you had better believe I listened. I went to Hy-Vee after the Dentist and picked up the cheapest adult Oral-B electric toothbrush on the rack to see if I liked it, and I do.

I actually brush my teeth longer and feel like a lot more good goes on in the far reaches of my mouth than ever before. After this battery operated puppy gives out on me, I will probably invest in one with the changeable tips (or maybe this one does that...my husband opened up and tossed the package before I ever thought about reading it.)

At the end of the day, I find it amusing how quickly we adapt to and embrace technology in some parts of our life and shun it in others. I find it even more amazing that I do this considering I have been through the gamut of medical processes - genetic testing, 100+ X-Rays, an MRI, casts, splints, etc.

Yet I balked at the idea of an electric toothbrush

We humans are strange creatures.

2011, 2012 Prestone Antifreeze Rebate Information

2012-02-08T22:48:00.000-06:00

If you purchased a specially marked (marked with a stick-on rebate label) container of Prestone Antifreeze coolant, either 100% or 50/50, between June 6, 2011 and February 29, 2012 you have until March 31, 2012 to get your mail-in rebate postmarked. After that you may need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the rebate to arrive.

To get the rebate do the following:

Keep your original receipt, the sticky bulletin about the rebate from the bottle, and the antifreeze bottle seal.
Fill out the form on the back of the sticky bulletin
Send in the bulletin, your original receipt or a photocopy (with the purchase price circled and the store name clearly printed), and the imprinted foil seal to the following address:

Prestone 2011 AF $5/$11
Dept # 33362
PO Box 6028
Douglas, AZ 85655-6028

Basically, if you purchased the product, all of this information is on the back of the mail-in rebate form (which you have to mail in), but sometimes it easy to accidentally blur out the address on one of these if you open your bottle in the rain, leave it in the cold, etc.

I love this yearly rebate Prestone offers as it brings the price of their product down way cheaper than store brands!

Small Blessings

2012-02-06T04:11:00.002-06:00

After a night's rest I will awaken tomorrow and go to get my teeth cleaned for the first time in several years. It is a small blessing, but it is a wonderful one. Why? Because there is a wonderful place near my town that takes care of such things for the uninsured self-employed on a sliding scale basis.

I qualified for reduced payments and am delighted with the quality of service I receive despite this. As my financial situation continues to improve, I will make sure to pass this small blessing on and send donations to the clinic I visit to ensure that others can continue to visit the clinic. While it should not be solely the burden of a few citizens, it is important that we individuals help out those who are less fortunate as our government continues to tighten the noose on programs that benefit the masses.

I am so thankful for the blessings I have received in my life - big and small - and today I will enjoy one of them.

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot - a Blog Tour

2012-02-04T20:00:00.000-06:00

I really loved the last two books in Amanda Cabot's Texas Dreams series, so I was very excited to receive the opportunity to share the first volume of her new Westward Winds trilogy, Summer of Promise, with you on a blog tour here at MiscMayzee.

Perhaps I went into Summer of Promise expecting a LOT or perhaps it was just the fact that this book is the first of a trilogy that will share the "Westward Winds" theme, but the volume came up a bit short. I tend to think it was the latter because there was a lot going on in this book.

The main character of Abigail Harding hops out to Wyoming (From Vermont) to spend time with her sister Charlotte because she thought perhaps her sister was a bit lonely out on Army fort in the middle of the "boring" Wyoming countryside. You may think that this and the likely love interest that we find in Ethan Bowles, a lieutenant at the fort, would consume the bulk of the book. However, this is not the case.

Within this book we also focus on the following:

Robberies at the fort
Peg's place (the hog ranch or a house of ill-respute)
Leah who works at Peg's Place
Abigail teaching English to the German soldiers at the fort
Abigail and her sister Charlotte bringing up a puppy named Puddles
Charlotte being sickly while expecting and the underlying reasons
Charlotte's cranky husband Jeffrey
Ethan's complicated relationship with his grandfather

That alone is a lot but there were also other smaller things such as baseball games, friends like Oliver, sewing circles, adventures with the cook, etc. that also took up space in the volume. The constant changing of thoughts and activities made the book a bit hard to follow consistently or develop a firm desire to keep turning the page. This was a rare volume that I went through chapter by chapter.

I ended up reading the second two volumes of the Texas Dreams trilogy without reading the first though I do own it now to read later. I am thinking that this book is the way Amanda Cabot sets up the scenery for her books and that the next two will be more focused as the other Cabot books I have read were most concise and gripping. I don't think I put Tomorrow's Garden down once.

I would emphasize that despite my note on the activity in the book that ended up being a satisfying read and leaves me waiting to read more about the next chapter in Charlotte's life as she is to be the star in that book. It should be quite interesting, and I will also be interested in seeing how the book compares to this one and the previous trilogy mentioned.

Also interesting--- Amanda Cabot mentioned at the end of this book that she will have a Christmas novella released later this year. I will be watching for it as well.

On a further note, I do want to call attention to the hearty way Amanda Cabot works the Christian message into this book. Instead of skirting around faith with generic calls to pray or Bible verse relating, this book features testimony and a female lead who offers true Christian compassion and aid to all while also offering a heartfelt reflection on trusting in God and Christ to help a man who has a void. I would recommend this volume for these aspects alone.

Summer of Promise is available as of January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey - a Blog Tour

2012-01-24T22:18:00.001-06:00

Today, I am happy to be bringing you a review and blog tour featuring Ann Shorey's volume Where Wildflowers Bloom. I reviewed The Dawn of a Dream by Ann last April and absolutely loved the book, much more than I liked the previous book in that three volume series (At Home in Beldon Grove I believe).

Where Wildflowers Bloom is the start of a new series, Sisters at Heart. It was a great start, because I can guess which two women will be featured in the other two volumes of the trilogy, and I can't wait to read their stories.

This volume follows Faith Lindberg - a young woman who has to begin to manage the family's general store as her grandfather's health declines. Since her father and brother were killed during the Civil War, Faith has to take on this new responsibility that wouldn't generally belong to a woman.

As Faith tends the store, she is waiting for Royal Baxter - a man she briefly met and shared a moment with prior to the war - to return to town. He finally does, but when he does Faith has already met another man named Curt Saxon and kind of likes him alright after she gets over her timidness around him. He and his sister Rosemary become fast friends of Faith and her grandfather.

Because of this and because of Royal's demeanor from the start, the book is a bit predictable in terms of twists and turns related to Faith. However, some of the twists around Curt's character are unexpected and really make the book nice as he was such a good man from the start. Also nice was the descriptions and trials Faith faced as she took on the responsibilities in the general store - I enjoy tales of industriousness. Despite the fact that Faith and her grandfather had no other option but to let her run the store, the townspeople don't immediately take to a woman in charge.

Based on this book, I feel like we will be following Rosemary Saxon and Amy (whose last name I don't remember). I loved Rosemary's healing abilities in this book, but these same abilities and her work as a nurse in the war made her a bit of a social pariah - reading her story would be super. Amy arrived in town after a train wreck that left her and her husband destitute for a time. After they continued on their journey west, Amy's husband died and left her with a baby to care for - a story of her finding love could also be in the works - either her or another young woman who was on the train (or maybe both of them in one way or another).

A lot to look forward to here! I would recommend Wildflowers as a heartwarming afternoon or evening read. I would more strongly recommend keeping your eyes out for the next volume in this series. I definitely am.

Where Wildflowers Bloom is available as of January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

Meeting Blogging Goals

2012-01-24T21:44:00.002-06:00

During the A to Z challenge last year, I outlined several goals for myself. When the challenge started in late spring, too much of the year had already went by for my to lay out year long goals.

However, I know that one goal I wanted - perhaps silently - to meet was to surpass the number of posts I had made in the previous two years within 2011. Between 2009 and 2010 I posted on my blog 221 times with 139 posts in 2009 and 82 posts in 2010. In 2011, I ended the year with 191 posts. This isn't quite the number I wanted, but it is very close. AND, it actually is a match when I discount the fact that the first few dozen posts in my blog were shorties dedicated to individual coupons before I really decided what I wanted to do here.

I have a goal now for 2012. I want to average a post a day. I don't need to post every last day of the year, but I want to have 365 posts by December 31, 2012. This is my 7th post in 24 days, so I am a bit behind the times. However, my blog tours and book reviews usually really take off in late spring and then again in the fall. I should also have a lot more to say about life here by spring or early summer.

This blogging goal is for MiscMayzee alone. I have several other blogs that I must also try to keep updated regularly. In fact, one of those sites pays more in ad revenue than this one, but I will always love this site more.

When I post a book review in a few minutes, I will have 8 posts - by the end of January my goal is 15 posts. Approximately less than 1/2 of a post a day. I will have to pull double duty 15 other days in the year to make up for it as well as to make up for other days I will not post.

If for any reason I greatly surpass this goal, I would have 1,000 posts here as 365 will put me firmly between 700 and 800 posts.

Here is to hoping for a good year!

So You Want to Pick on Young People

2012-01-23T13:29:00.000-06:00

I get so perturbed when people pick on young people about their lack of attention span. Why?

I think part of that is that I probably still tend to self-identify as a young person despite the fact that I am now closer to 30 than 20, and I know my attention span is just dandy. I can sit still for hours with absolutely nothing to do except look at a wall and watch dry paint get drier (this is also known as waiting in line at the doctor's office or any other office). I can watch epic movies without a bathroom break. I can read books in one sitting.

Point being?

Nothing is universal. Yes, some young people may have attention spans the size of fleas, but is this really all that different than life ever was. Not really. Ever watch classic TV? What do the parents do on these shows? Make fun of the fact that their children never seem to pay attention or focus on a project to completion.

The fact is that young people are growing up responding to the way the world is now. Only time will tell if this allows them to more effectively deal with the challenges the world they must live as adults will throw at them. With all the data thrown at each and every one of us now, perhaps it is better not to get locked in an every little detail as it allows you to process the bulk and then realign with individual items of more importance at will.

Why am I harping on this now?

It is simple.

Customer Service from a person of any age is rare. Rants should not target a single age bracket, but the population at large.

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander - a Book Review

2012-01-13T02:03:00.001-06:00

It took me a while to really get into A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander because it looked like a really long book with average size type, and I was thinking that it would take me forever to read at a time when I was only really getting back into books. Fortunately, this was not the case as I was so far gone into the book after about page 120.

Admittedly, before that I felt like the volume was off to a slow start as it took quite a while for the main character, Claire Laurent to actually end up at the place where we knew the book would take place - Belmont Mansion. After she arrives in Nashville and meets Sutton Monroe, the book truly begins though the beginning portion does let us know the background information on Claire that fuels her plotline in the book. However, I will say that I expected these elements to crop up more conspicuously within the book sooner and longer than they did.

Claire is a really nice character to read as she does not overly "force" her personality on you. Instead, she has a character and the Belmont mansion becomes an extension of her character through the perspectives she offers on the estate through her observations. (Read about the real Belmont estate here) Sutton is also a really grand love interest as he is ALWAYS decent with no real "dark night of the soul" in place to plague his relationship with Claire (technically, there are but they aren't truly serious).

I think it is really cool that this volume was set at a mansion that not only existed but still exists. I plan on getting to Nashville for a blog conference in 2013 after I am settled down south and will have to visit the real Belmont when I am there....maybe I could even attend an event (they have some stellar ones).

The only thing I would have wished is that Claire's passion for painting would have been a bit more evident outside of the evil she initially used it for (the forgery episodes mentioned on the book's back cover).

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

Loving to Read Again: Fear of Losing a Passion

2012-01-13T01:17:00.000-06:00

I have read three books to completion in the past couple of weeks and couldn't be happier. I had wondered if I would ever be completely comfortable cuddled up with a good book again. Even now I can still feel muscles in my head pop for the first couple of minutes after I sit down to read, but by and large I am comfortable.

So far I have posted reviews of The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher and 7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt and am going to begin typing up a review of a really good volume by Tamera Alexander, A Lasting Impression. This last volume was quite thick and a wonderful testament to my reemergence as a reader.

My weeks of reading exile really...I almost hesitate to say scared me, but worried me. Reading is my hobby...so much more so than the other things I do in my spare time such as cross-stitching, painting, and design. I would feel like a part of me were lost forever if I couldn't read my books, write my thoughts. When I think back on my happiest memories, so many of them revolve around reading a certain book.

The summer between junior and senior year: The Count of Monte Cristo
The few days I had off between getting out of school and actually attending my graduation ceremony in high school: Jane Eyre
Christmases for forever: The Little House of the Prairie books
The spring and summer of seventh grade: The Anne of Green Gables series
My childhood: Cinderella, Snow White, Arthur's Honey Bear, and The Biggest Most Beautiful Christmas Tree in the World
The fall of third grade: The Middle School Gets Married (Sweet Valley)
The months I spent in a back brace: so many other Sweet Valley Junior High books
A week I played hookie from school junior year: Ben-Hur

And on and on

I love my books, and I'm glad that we have found away to work around each other and be best friends again.

7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt - a Blog Tour

2012-01-13T01:04:00.000-06:00

For the most part I liked 7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt. It was well-written in a very engaging tone that I tend to find in non-fiction volumes written by people familiar with writing for online and magazine markets. Mary never drones on for too long and actually manages to impart a lot of the knowledge found in more mouthy manuscripts in a lot fewer words.

Many of Mary's points are tried and true principles such as saving, avoiding revolving credit, establishing emergency funds, etc. However, she tweaks a lot of these messages to fit the main budget concerns of the average family. I really liked the plan she lays out for paying off credit card debt as it ties in with the way I have always thought would be best for paying off bills.

However, I will say that my only problem with this book was a somewhat big one to my way of thinking. Mary Hunt repeatedly mentions "entitlement" and people feeling like they are entitled to things and charging up cards then wanting to lay their responsibility off on parents and family members by "borrowing from the bank of Mom and Dad." Then, a few pages later when she is espousing the joys of saving in addition to paying your bills every month (spending less than your earn), she recommends taking extreme austerity measures including moving in with a family member (which may or may not save you money - i.e. if I live in a cheap apartment and then move back in with mom and dad on the high end side of town and pay them rent/share expenses I may not get off any cheaper and sacrifice a lot of independence).

I also felt like the overuse of the buzz word de jour "entitlement" may have been more than a little bit purposeful...which I didn't care for.

Overall though I would recommend this book for those looking for basic financial advice. However, be forewarned that some of the elements like the personalized pay chart that the author mentions in the book are subscription services on her website.

7 Money Rules for Life is available as of January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume from the publisher.

So I Fibbed Two Posts Ago

2012-01-08T02:15:00.000-06:00

When I said I was all done with recuperation, I thought I was. But I wasn't 100% yet. Either that or I pulled a neck/shoulder muscle when exercising one night while watching The Golden Girls. Yeow!

I found it somewhat uncomfortable to sit at my desk for about a week and am still babying myself somewhat. I elevated my computer monitor at my desktop unit to accommodate myself and now use my netbook elevated on a dinner table tray so I can maintain better posture until everything settles down.

Since my wisdom tooth extraction I have had another tooth filled and have two more to have filled at a dentist appointment on Monday (or perhaps one Monday and one on the 20th). It was actually kind of neat because the dentist I went to now gave me white fillings versus the metal ones my old dentist did because he said my mouth was too saliva filled for the white ones to be dry long enough to set.

I have always had a problem with cavities despite practicing good oral care. My dentist never told me why. However, the day before I married in 2005, I drove my little brother to the dentist and he had several cavities filled. The dental assistant explained that it wasn't his fault - his teeth didn't seal properly inside when they grew in so they were cavities waiting to happen. I figure mine were the same way. Both of us were old enough that we weren't at the dentist with our new teeth after sealant use became compulsory on new permanent teeth. Considering my dentist was older, my teeth were probably never sealed.

While dental problems are always a hassle, there are worse things in the world. I'm glad to be able to work through my little aches and pains right now and do my computer work and read again. When reading is a large a part of your life as it is mine, even a couple week hiatus makes you feel awkward.

Long story short - worse situations barring, I am truly back now. I've currently got a new review of The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher up and have another book on the block for this week (I'm about halfway through with it). I can't wait to share it and other news with you soon!

The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher - a Blog Tour

2012-01-08T01:44:00.002-06:00

I don't think I have ever read a Suzanne Woods Fisher book I didn't like, but much like my favorite Animal Farm quote "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," some of Suzanne's books are good and some of her books are "more good" than others. The Keeper was one of the "more good" ones.

It took approximately two paragraphs about him for me to become yet another woman who fell victim to the charms of The Bee Man, Roman Troyer. He was an absolutely wonderful character. Despite the fact that Suzanne attempted to paint him as a roamer, it was evident from the start that he possessed an outstanding moral fiber despite his ability to flirt.

Julia Lapp took a bit more to like. She irritated me a bit with her "I know all" attitude in the first few chapters, but she straightened up admirably after a few. I particularly liked the way she took care of her brother and sisters and doted over Menno, the other boy I love, love, loved in this book. I can't reflect too much on Menno cause I don't wan to give away the book, but know that he is sunshine personified.

Little sister MK also provides an interesting tone to the book as does Sadie Lapp. I see that Sadie is going to be the main character in the next Stoney Ridge book and will presume that MK (the third sister) will star in the third and last volume in the set. I just read the teaser for Sadie's book, and I can't wait for it as I always felt like I wanted to understand Sadie's head more.

A bit about the book (in my own words):

Julia Lapp has basically been in charge of the family farm and orchards while her father deals with a weaking heart. Her mother had passed away some years before. Julia also watches over sisters Sadie and MK and a "special" brother, Menno as well as an eccentric uncle. She thought she was all set to marry a boy named Paul when he breaks it off after talking with The Bee Man. Julia sets out to make the Bee Man sorry after she feels like he must have talked her fiancee out of marriage because he had intentions of his own. Through it all her family deals with their father's health problems and a heartwarming and terrifying new maid.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

All Done with Recuperation

2011-12-17T00:40:00.003-06:00

So, I had my wisdom teeth out on Monday, December 5 in an oral surgery that lasted about an hour. I went with full IV sedation, thank you very much! I went back to the dentist on the 16th to have a tooth filed a bit that was bothering me in my new cross bite alignment.

My bite still feels off, but I think this may be a problem that will not correct until I can eat real food again in a week and a half (I got double the time on soft foods because of a bone condition I have) and build my jaw muscles back up a bit. Either that or I am looking at more orthodontia in my future in 2012.

No matter what, I am back in business. I have one paper to upload for school, and I am done with that until mid January as well, which will free me up for more conversational posts than I have done since the A to Z challenge. During the down time I hope to post on all of my sites at least once a day so that it becomes a habit I can maintain.

My next courses are a history class and a management class. I am preordering my books now to try and get ahead in terms of the readings and maybe some assignments. At least a rough outline of some assignments.

We are also kind of hoping to accelerate our moving to the first part of 2012 versus late spring/early summer. We have some nibbles!

Life is so busy, but I'm hoping for some really positive changes soon...and after we move we really will have our lives in place which will make everything a bit smoother around here (both at home and on the blog).

I can't wait to spend more time with all of you!

Many Small Business Owners Lack Internet Security

2011-12-15T21:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Norton Small Business by Symantec for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recent surveys have shown that 28 percent of small business owners believe that technology needs or one of their top three business priorities. Ironically, given this stat, 6 out of 10 of those owners (or 59 percent) have had malware (malicious software) appear on their business computers in the past three years and 51 percent of those businesses had to pay an expert to correct the problem.

I don't know about you, but for me, that doesn't computer. This is particularly disturbing when products such as Norton Small Business by Symantec are widely available, affordable, and can be written off as an income tax deduction when installed on a computer used solely for small business efforts. The cost of a preventative product is surely not a worse pill than paying for technical assistance!

Right now, Norton is making it even easier for small business to buy their products through a promotion that allows owners to get 30% off Norton Small Business Products now.

This security is so important! If the past couple of years have shown us anything, it is that the internet makes all computers, servers, and sites vulnerable. When trusted companies can have their servers overrun and email lists hacked, a lot of your digital security leaves your hands. However, it is important for the small business owner to stay on top of the things he or she can control and fix. This will help protect your tax records, customer transactions, customer email lists and so much other important, private data.

As of September of 2011, North 360 and Norton 2012 have both hit stores and the Norton website! Either of these two programs will help you and your family achieve the same level of computer protection your business enjoys.

So far, we have never had a problem with identity theft, viruses, or bad web-sites. However, we always use internet security - a pound of prevention and all that. If you aren't already a Norton customer, check out their website and see the options available to keep you, your family, and your business safe.

Leave a comment letting me know the Norton product that would most help you and your family and why it would?

Out for Wisdom Teeth Extraction

2011-12-05T01:41:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted for the past week due to dental pain. I have been trying my best to keep up with my freelance writing work to keep the green rolling in, but haven't had the energy for much besides that, my schoolwork, and family.

I should be getting the tooth out this week and actually have a dentist appointment tomorrow that may lead to its extraction but I will likely end up at an oral surgeon's office later in the week.

Add that to my recuperation time and I probably will not be posting again to the holidays are here or even slightly after depending on the level of surgery I need and how my recovery works out.

I will catch all of you on the flipside.

Until then,

MiscMayzee

The Names of God Bible - a Blog Tour

2011-12-03T01:13:00.000-06:00

I still remember the first time I saw a poster showing the names of God. It was at my Aunt's house and I felt like even looking at that poster was a form of meditation as I spent time contemplating the various names. This is why I'm delighted to be reviewing the Names of God Bible.

I really enjoy that this Bibles features two-page discussions of the various names of Gods, prayers, and information on praying the varied names of God. This content was crafted with Ann Spangler acting as Gneeral Editior. Many of you may recognize her name as the author of Praying the Names of God. The Bible also highlights the appearances of the names in small boxes when they occur and lists the exact verse the reference appeared in.

I particularly enjoyed the author's discussion of "Rabbi, Rabbouni" as a name of God because it broke down the meaning of one word I didn't know and correlated to its large context within the Bible. I also really liked the little prayer here "Jesus, you are my Lord and Rabbi. Teach me how to live as your faithful follower. Help me to study not merely the text of your words, but also the text of your life."

I also really appreciate the fact that a thoughtful introduction to each book of the Bible was penned as these always help me to refocus in on the fact that I am now reading a different literal book, not a new section of a really big book. The God's Word Translation used for the Bible text is also a very good translation that is easily read and understood. I think anyone would really be blessed to use this as a daily reading Bible and keep other Bibles handy for study and personal reflection.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.

Something I Noticed About Traffic

2011-11-23T03:00:00.001-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I reduced the number of posts viewable on my homepage for MiscMayzee down to five instead of the eight or ten I had been allowing in order to keep the page from being too scrolltacular considering my sidebars continued on for miles past the actual posts without content actually in the bar. (Don't get me started on peeps who fill these extended areas up with flashy blingy garbage that KILLS load time, please).

Anyway, my blog traffic had slipped a bit prior to this because I haven't been posting every last day of the week here lately and and the book reviews are ebbing until the late winter/early spring release cycle. However, the traffic REALLY slipped after reducing the number of posts I had up on the homepage. So I fluffed it back out to 10 (which I think is two more than I had previously, but not sure) and am going to post consistently for a couple of weeks to boost things back up.

Because of the near instantaneous difference, I'm pretty sure these two events are related and wanted to put the idea out there for those of you who may toy with the idea of doing the same thing.