Wendi's Book Corner

Make Kids Food and Party Food More Fun With FunBites (Review)

2013-05-30T15:27:00.003-07:00

Sometimes, getting kids to eat there food can be a chore - or a pain-in-the-neck!

Lucky for me, I got to try out the FunBites food cutters (I tried out the pink heart-shaped cutter seen in the picture to the left). They took a normal lunch that got grazed earlier in the week (eat a little now, go play, ask for more food, pull it back out, eat a little more, etc), to a fun meal that was played with while the entire thing was eaten.

FunBites are sort of like a really thick cookie cutter with partitions inside the design, with an insert that pushes the cut food back out. There is a pattern with hearts (that can be made into sail boats, ice cream cones, etc with the shapes), squares and a brand new triangle cutter.

Washing is easy - handwash in warm soapy water is suggested, but they are also top rack dishwasher safe if you put it in there with the insert IN the cutter.

I had a lot of fun putting the boy's lunches together and giving them plenty of shapes to play with. Pizza was an easy cut as was bread... lunch meat was a bit harder, and I recommend cutting cheese LAST as it really liked to stick to the cutter.

I love that you can look through the cutter to line up your food - it made it possible to line things up so as to minimize the "leftover" pieces... which I promptly ate while working on the next piece. The bottom of the cutters are curved, which makes it easy to rock back and forth to ensure that you cut all the way through the food you are cutting.

I will be heading to my local Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up the green Square cutter so I can have bowls of cut fruit and fun things that can be stacked onto skewers.

Overall - a BLAST for kids food!

I also thing these would be great for cutting finger foods for a party or get-together, and I think the square cutter would be great for cutting fruits for a fondue party.

FunBites Food Cutters
by FunBites
Price: $12.99/1 and $22.99 for 2 on their website Website / Facebook / Twitter

Disclosure: Sample Reviewed: Pink Heart Cutter - Review sample received courtesy of FunBites while participating in a tour through Karma Media Team! All opinions are mine and are based on my experience with the product.

Learning to Use Ravelry

2013-05-18T19:54:00.003-07:00

Back in 2009 I signed up for a Ravelry account to keep in touch with a friend, and to find some fun crochet and knitting patterns.... then I kind of lost interest and left my account alone.

I recently became active with my account again because of an old 4-H hobby I started when I was around 8 or 9... spinning! I have been able to find a wealth of information on the site to cover all kinds of fun things from Crochet, Kitting, Spinning... Recycling Sweater Yarn (who knew???) and oh-so-many fun things!!

I recently got to be a crochet tester for a new pattern, which I love!!

Have you checked out Ravelry yet? If not, take a peek, and if you have, send me a message on there - I'm wbarker on there :)

MyBlogSpark Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Prize Pack Giveaway - Making Homemade Pizza Easy (Enter thru 5/27)

2013-05-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills and Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

From MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury:

Spring means a fresh start for everyone, including your pizza! Get your pizza fix right in your own kitchen. With Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain, you can create any fresh flavor combination you like while getting 16 grams of whole grain per serving. Share your favorite recipes using fresh, local ingredients from your farmer's market or garden. Whether you like tomatoes or spinach, fresh peppers or onions, let Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust be your canvas. Look for it in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.

Our family enjoys pizza year-round, and we especially love to let the kids make their own pizza's. Most of the time this means a lot of mozzarella cheese, and a tiny bit of sauce on some type of crust (sometimes this means an English Muffin or even a tortilla).

I recently got to try out the refrigerated pizza dough by Pillsbury: Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain. My favorite part? It is a dough that is easily kept in the refrigerator and pulled out for spur-of-the-moment pizza making. It bakes really nicely and tastes great. The family had NO idea it wasn't one of our favorite crusts, but they did mention that it seemed fresher.

When I made our pizza, I made it with a light covering of pizza sauce and a thin layer of mozzarella. I then added chunks of goat cheese to the whole thing (tip: I open one end of the cheese and use a fork to make small pieces chunk apart and fall on the pizza). I like to add Canadian Bacon and chopped basil on mine, so I added that to some of the pizza, and then I added pepperoni, olives and mushrooms to part for my husband.

The best part is that the whole family enjoyed the pizza and it was easy to make! Plus, if you visit Pillsbury, check out their great pizza topping ideas at the Farmer's Market Pizza page!

Some of you may know that one of our family FAVORITES is BBQ'd pizza. I haven't tried to make a bbq'd pizza with the new Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust With Whole Grain, but I'm going to!

Want to make your own pizza? It is easy with this great prize pack from MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury:

Win your own great prize pack and get started!!

One winner will receive :

A VIP coupon for one FREE Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain
15.5" Farberware Pizza Pan
Food Chopper with Storage Containers
Silicon-grip Oven Mitt
Retail Value: $64

Enter daily between now and May 27th, Open to US residents, no PO Boxes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills and Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

Tagger Bags: Express Yourself In Style With Customizable Messenger Bags and Backpacks (Product Review)

2013-04-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

I was really excited to learn about a revolutionary company called Tagger Bags, who specializes in providing customers a way to share their own style through the personalization of messenger bags, laptop bags, and backpacks.

You pick out the base color you want (main part of the bag/backpack), then you choose a strap color and a flap or front. The straps are changeable, and the tops of messenger bags are held on securely with velcro, and the backpack fronts pip on and off. You can update and change parts as often as you want - it is great! (Plus, it takes only SECONDS to switch the look of your bag!)

Tagger Bag Transformation - Takes only seconds to Attach and Snap Front Flap and Strap!!

The bags are made of PVC tarpaulin with a nylon core, which makes them strong and durable. (The material is the same that is generally used on truck trailer tarps. I've found them to be VERY easy to keep clean, simply using a damp rag will remove just about any dirt from the flaps and bags.

My Tagger bag has been invaluable lately - I took it filled with small books, water and snacks during a trip to Urgent Care for my 3 year old who split the corner of his eye open while playing soldiers with his big brother. By keeping him hydrated, full and happily reading, we were able to keep him calm while the doctor patched him up with liquid stitches. I also used it while setting up our community Easter Egg Hunt. It was placed on damp grass, and cleaned up easily back at the car!

Note: The Flow Messenger Bag has a zippered section along the inner back of the bag that is perfect to stow keys, money... anything you want to keep more secure or hidden away.

One of the best parts apart from the size - Flow - which I love, is that right now I have a pretty pink floral flap on, but when the boys go somewhere with Daddy (who loves how great the bag is for snacks and water plus a few extras), I can change the flap to make it less girly. My Flow Tagger Bag has been going everywhere with me and the family lately, either as a girly pink floral (taking misc. things to and from the boy's school, carrying books to book club, transporting craft projects to get-togethers, or taking my Kindle and a few books for some quiet time), or proud and boyish with the American Flag (to the zoo, full of snacks, toting coloring books and markers).

Flow Messenger Tagger Bag: Easily holds 2 large waters, 4 snacks, 1 book, markers, coloring books and magazines

I'm actually planning to order another front flap, likely in white, because the boys want to customize their own bag with permanent markers and paint. My guess is that after their artwork is added, I'll likely need to seal the artwork with a clear sealant to keep it safe. I bet it will turn out GREAT!

Be sure to check out all the great things you can do with your OWN Tagger Bag!

Use the Code: TAGGERBLOG to receive 25% off all orders over $50.00, now through April 30, 2013!

Tagger Bags Fully Customizable Messenger Bags, Backpacks, Laptop Phone Covers and MORE Find them: Facebook, Twitter, Photo Gallery
Edition Reviewed: Flow Messenger Bag Shown Above - Review copy received courtesy of Tagger Bags, many thanks for sending me a sample to review!
*Disclosure: I received a Flow Messenger bag and covers/straps from Tagger Bags so that I could share what I learned about it with you. All opinions are mine.

Zinio - Making Keeping Up With Magazines a Breeze (And Expanding my Reading)

2013-03-28T16:33:00.001-07:00

I have to share about my latest obsession - Zinio! Zinio is a digital magazine provider, that readers can access from their computer, smartphone, Kindle, iPad, etc.

I've been able to find most of my favorite magazines on their service, and get them at great prices (often they have wonderful sales that single issues and subscriptions REALLY affordable.

Something REALLY fun? I've found some great new international magazines I would normally NOT be able to subscribe to or find in my area. Some of my current favorites are Super Food Ideas (from Australia), Food Heaven (From England) and Hello! magazine (similar to US Weekly, but the English version - I love following Kate Middleton, so it is a fun read).

Here is a peek at my current reading list:

I was really skeptical at first to move some of my subscriptions over to digital, but honestly, I like it better. Fewer magazines cluttering up my coffee table, and I can take virtually all my magazines with me on my Kindle, anywhere I go!

One I was careful with was the first craft magazine I purchased. I wasn't sure I would be able to follow instructions from my Kindle or my computer screen, but again, I love that I don't need to keep booklets open to a specific page - I can have a TON of fun projects ready to go on my Kindle without losing them or creating a mess.

Plus, I can print as many of the pages as I want and I can open them on almost any device I've got.

What's not to like??

Check out this wonderful looking salad from the April 2013 Edition of Super Food Ideas (I can't wait to make this one, and hope it is a family hit):

This great-looking salad is Thai Beef and Rice Noodle Salad, and can be found on page 40.

Have you tried out digital magazines yet? If so, what are some of your favorites?

*Disclosure: I am a Zinio Blog Ambassador. :)

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

2013-03-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

I think it is safe to say that everyone has their own story of how they came to know the works of Dr. Seuss, and a few probably have yet to discover his stories.

For me, I can tell you I'm no expert, and my walk with Seuss has been short. You see, I grew up WITHOUT the influence of Dr. Seuss in my life. My family seemed to think that the books were nonsense, so it wasn't until a VERY heated discussion many years ago with my future sister-in-law and husband that I became intrigued by his books. They brought up many examples of hidden meanings and we had a lot of fun with our discussions.

Today I am happy to announce that I am filling in our children's bookshelves with many of Dr. Seuss' books... it is with a happy heart and a smile on my face that I wish a VERY happy birthday to Dr. Seuss' memory.

Do you have a fun memory of Dr. Seuss?

Best Buy Has a Great FREE Recycling Program Available At All Their Stores

2013-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

If you are anything like me, you've likely got a few old electronics sitting in the garage or in a closet because you don't quite know what to do with them. In my case, I've got 3 really old laptops. I never did anything with them because they had problems and were old... AND they still have personal information on them.

Best Buy has a recycling program to help us out! They take all kinds of electronics, and it doesn't matter where you bought them. TV's, DVD and Blu-ray players, DirectTV Rooftop Dishes, Tivo, Tuners, Home Theater Systems, Wall Mounts, Audio components, Portable Devices, All types of Computers and Laptops, Computer Accessories and SO MUCH MORE!

There is a GREAT list of items, and after looking over it, I found a few more things I'm going to be taking to our local Best Buy.

Their recycling program is available FOR FREE at EVERY Best Buy Store throughout Porto Rico and the US.

I thought this video was really great - it shows the process the recycled items go through - take a quick peak:

Technology has become one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world, and as one of the largest electronics retailers, Best Buy wants to be part of the waste solution.

They will recycle your used electronics (check the list) no matter how old it is or where you bought it.

To show how effective their program already is, every minute their stores are open, they recycle an average of 387 pounds of electronics.

Some states have restrictions on what the stores can take, so make sure you check their recycling page for state specific requirements: Best Buy Recycling Program Details

So far, I've recycled one laptop and it felt great! Plus, my Best Buy offered to remove the hard drive for me and let me take it home so I could save it in case I wanted the information at a later date, or I could destroy it myself. I loved the feeling it gave me - that they valued my privacy and security enough to reassure me that my data would be safe.

Have you had a chance to use the Recycling program at Best Buy yet? If so, what did you think?

If you will be recycling old electronics, keep in mind the great line of Energy Star Certified products that Best Buy has that can make upgrading and saving energy easy.

*Disclosure: As a blogger/reviewer, I am being compensated in the form of a Best Buy gift card in exchange for sharing information about their Recycling Program.

It's Been a While - Happy Holidays!!

2013-01-12T23:56:00.001-08:00

First I must apologize! It has been TOO LONG since I've been on here. The holidays in our house are craze... from about Halloween until about now. We have my hubby's birthday, Halloween, my Dad's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Sister-In-Law's Birthday, Son's Christmas Eve Birthday, Christmas, New Year's, My Birthday, then getting ready for our youngest Son's birthday at the end of the month... So, needless to say, it is easy for me to get wrapped up in holiday festivities. On top of that, I've got two grandparents that aren't doing well, so... I'm remiss in keeping up with things. I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season! ~ Wendi

GiantMicrobes: Making it Fun and Easy to Learn About Tiny Microbes

2012-12-18T14:07:00.002-08:00

It is so hard to teach young kids about the things they can't see: germs, viruses, micro-organisms, etc, but GIANT Microbes takes the mystery out of these hard-to-see things and makes them squeezable, fun and educational. Well, fun to learn about. Somehow I don't think E-Coli will be fun any other way!

The kids and I have had some fun over the past week playing with our little Bioluminescent Sea Sparkle, which in short, is the micro-organism that serves as a tiny little night-light in the ocean. Both boys love the stuffed toy, but our almost-six year old really loved hearing about the facts, which spurred some fun ocean-themed conversations and some reminiscing about our last trip to the Seattle Aquarium.

The label the the Sea Sparkle came with is invaluable. It gives the common name, the scientific name (in this case: Noctiluca scintillans), a real image of the cell and shows the size of the cell (in this case, a little smaller than a pin-head). When you open the card, it explains the facts of the little guy.

The inside label reads: FACTS: When you go to the beach or bay at night and see tiny sparkles of light coming from the water, it isn't your imagination. It's Noctiluca! From the Latin for "night light," Noctiluca are also known as Sea Sparkle.

These tiny dinoflagellates float beneath the surface of the ocean by the millions. When they are disturbed, they glow and produce bright flashes of light. This glow is called "bioluminescence," and in the ocean it is usually greenish or blue, as these colors travel well through the water.

[That is just a snippet from the first two paragraphs taken from the Sea Sparkle tag]

Our Sea Sparkle comes from the Aquatics line, which is made up of eleven different microbes. Sea Sparkle can be bought as the original plush toy that we have, or a Petri Dish that contains three small Sea Sparkles.

As a parent, I love that this is a fun and educational toy that spurred questions and conversations surrounding Ocean Life. I can also see these little stuffed toys being great tools for teachers, doctors and educational presenters (zoo presentations, aquarium presentations, etc). These are a great way to take the mystery out of the common cold, little tiny creatures, and some of the other little things we just can't see.

In addition to these great educational toys, GIANT Microbes also has a line of ties, mugs and ornaments.

Bioluminescent Sea Sparkle
by GIANT Microbes
$8.95 Find them on: Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition Reviewed: Sea Sparkle stuffed toy - Review sample received courtesy of GIANT Microbes in coordination with a review campaign through Karma Media Team!

Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular is HERE in Seattle THIS WEEK (Get 25% off Tickets Thurs/Fri)

2012-12-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

The Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular is here at the Tacoma Dome tomorrow!!!!! Haven't got your tickets yet but still want to go? Read on and see how you can save 25% if you go tomorrow or Friday... But don't wait too long, the show is only here from December 6th through December 9th!

The live show was inspired by the movie How To Train Your Dragon, which is a favorite here in our house (as well as the cartoon spin-off on the Cartoon Network). The show brings to life your favorite dragons and characters, and includes 13 dragons (some of which fly and breathe fire).

The other day I saw an interview one of our local news shows did with the characters, and I can't wait to see the show!!

Visit the Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon Live website special things like how the dragons were made, have a sneak peek at the show and get some behind the scenes information.

Description: (From Dreamworks)

Barely contained within the arena, the production utilizes the full venue, maximizing every dimension of performance space to transport audiences into a mythical world of fire-breathing dragons who soar overhead at great speeds. The state-of-the-art animatronic technology and large-scale cinematic projections interact seamlessly with the live actors to bring the story to life.

The show features 23 dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet, Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats, to perform against a state-of-the-art, wall-to-floor immersive projection measuring more than 20,000 square feet.

Produced by DreamWorks Animation, RZO Dragon Productions and Global Creatures, the masterminds behind Walking with Dinosaurs, proudly presented by S2BN Entertainment.

Showtimes:

Thursday Dec. 6th: 7:00 PM
Friday Dec. 7th: 7:00 PM
Saturday Dec. 8th: 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM
Sunday Dec. 9th: 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Tickets:

Tickets start at $21.50 on Thursday Dec. 6th and go up to $269 for the "Meet The Dragons" Experience, which includes a behind the scenes tour, special meet and greet, pictures in costume with a special How To Train Your Dragon backdrop, VIP parking, a VIP gift bag and more. Use the special discount code MOM and save 25% on your tickets Thursday and Friday - hope to see you there!

Visit Ticketmaster to get your tickets.

Disclosure: I am excited to share the Dragons experience with you. I'm posting a series of posts in exchange for tickets to the show on opening night.

The Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook: Full Color and Everything You Need To Bring Your Cooking to the Next Level!

2012-11-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

For years, my husband and I have had a really old set of cookbooks that had great how-to instructions and photos that we have loved and relied on, but that all changed with the Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook, which has beautiful step-by-step instructions (most of which have full color photographs) and scrumptious recipes just begging to be mastered and shared.

Did I mention the full-color photographs? And how many there are? That is what sets this book above a lot of others. With the exception of the index, I do believe that every single page (there are 320) has at least one full-color photo. I'm fairly picky with my cookbooks now, and I really do value those that take the time and resources to include what a dish is supposed to look like. Sure, my version of the dish very rarely looks as nice, but a picture can help us know what things are supposed to look like when they are done, and they can occasionally help us figure out something that is stumping us.

Speaking of stumping, I don't think you can be stumped with this Cooking School Cookbook, because there are such great instructions for how to do things (which include pictures as well) step-by-step. This includes some basics in the introduction, like how to measure different ingredients the correct way (shown below), and How-To's, Tips and Information shared throughout the book in the outer margins.

In addition to great instructions with full-color pictures, the book has a great variety of recipes that cover simple to extravagant in each main area: Appetizers, Drinks, Better Than Takeout, Soups, Beef & Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Vegetarian, Side Dishes, Breakfast, Baking, and Deserts.

Here is one recipe I can't wait to try out at one of our upcoming Football Sunday Family Get-Togethers:

This cookbook would be a great gift, or a great addition to anyone's kitchen. (Shhh - I'm actually thinking about replacing that old set we've been using for years).

Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook
by Catherine Cassidy and Taste of Home
Readers Digest; Original edition (March 15, 2012) ~ 320 pages
Non-Fiction / Cooking

Edition Reviewed:Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the FSB Associates, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

About the Book:

Learn to cook with confidence with The Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook based on the popular Taste of Home Cooking Schools attended by millions.

The Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook, "is just like having a Cooking School instructor in your very own kitchen," says Catherine Cassidy, Editor in Chief, Taste of Home. "This essential cookbook captures the highlights of our cooking school lessons and presents them in a way that allows people of all skill levels in the kitchen, to create memorable holiday meal moments in their own homes with family, friends and neighbors."

Learn fresh techniques, tips, secrets and entertaining ideas straight from the Taste of Home Cooking School team. Each chapter builds from simple, beloved classics to spectacular dishes handed down by families from generation to generation that are sure to impress family and friends. Better yet, all of these recipes can be created with affordable ingredients available at your local grocery store. As you move from one recipe to the next, you will enhance your cooking skills and discover new favorites.

Highlights Include:

- Low-effort "Cheat It" recipes with big rewards like the refreshing Lemonade Icebox Pie, the 10-minute Zesty Salsa and Chocolate Cooking Cupcakes
- More than 400 simple to spectacular recipes including mouthwatering Gnocchi in Sage Butter, snappy Sweet & Tangy Wings, and Fresh Cherry Pie
- 140 how-to's, secrets and tips shared by Taste of Home Cooking School experts from how to shape drop cookies to the best techniques for shredding meat for sandwiches and grilling salmon fillets
- Exciting twists on all-time favorites like burgers, pizza, Chinese takeout and more

About the Author: (from Amazon)

Catherine Cassidy, Taste of Home Editor-in-Chief.
Catherine M. Cassidy is Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Home, overseeing the development of four national cooking magazines, the entire book program, and more than three-dozen newsstand specials, "bookazines," and wall calendars.
She has toured the country doing events and national and local TV, radio, and newspaper interviews in support of the best-selling Taste of Home Cookbook, Taste of Home Baking Book, and Taste of Home magazine.
Most recently she has been named One of America's 50 Most Powerful People in Food, for the second year in a row, according to The Daily Meal.
Taste of Home’s unique staff of field editors is made up of more than 1,000 experienced home cooks located in each state and Canadian province, who regularly share recipes, well-liked menus and kitchen tips. Taste of Home is published six times a year and has five sister magazines, Simple & Delicious, Slow Cooker, Appetizers, Cooking for 2, and Healthy Cooking.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Super Food Ideas Magazine: An All-New Favorite Magazine of Mine!

2012-11-30T15:08:00.001-08:00

I have got an all-new obsession! I was using my free $5.00 voucher on Zinio, a great digital magazine provider... and I found an Australian magazine called Super Food Ideas that is now one of my all-time favorite magazines (I think I paid a whopping $3.18 for a year's subscription after applying my voucher). It is FULL of yummy looking/sounding food. The December issue (available now) has 421 recipes and ideas and I haven't made it through the whole thing yet!

Here is one of the salads I want to try (the one on the left... well, I want to try both, but I'm going to start with the one on the left). It is a Rice Noodle, Chicken and Pineapple Salad that takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare.

Super Food Ideas Magazine
December 2012 ~ 132 pages

Edition Reviewed: The Digital Edition I purchased myself
*Disclosure: If you want to check out this subscription or others on Zinio and you use my link, you will get a $5.00 voucher to use on a subscription, and I will also get $5.00 for a new subscription myself! If you check them out, let me know what you think. :)

What You Can Do If You Get a Clogged Tear Gland (Which Is Different From A Tear Duct)

2012-11-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

So, today I learned the hard way (after a few very painful days) that we have such a thing as a Tear Gland, that is kind of on the outer edge of your eye behind your eyeball.

When I get stressed and tired, I tend to get Styes in my eyelids, which are very painful, but easily treated (basically, kind of a clogged folical in your eyelash area). This one was different. It was in the outer corner of my eye but INSIDE my eyelid. I treated it how I normally would for a Stye and .... nothing!

I then put hot water on my face in the shower and it stopped hurting! So I looked up the anatomy of an eye and saw a Tear Gland around that area... so I looked up clogged tear gland and found that it IS possible and does happen on rare occasions. To fix a light case, hot compresses and massaging the gland a few times a day until it is gone will generally work.

I tried it, and have done it twice today, and it feels MUCH better.

Now, I'm NOT a doctor, or a nurse, so I can't offer advice, and I do know that more severe cases may need to be treated by medicine under a doctor's care. But, I thought I'd share this as I'd never heard of it, and maybe my week's worth of needless pain can save you some time and trouble. :)

~ Wendi

Vinyl Disorder (Review): Your Stop For Affordable Quality Vinyl Decals

2012-11-29T20:55:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to try adding sayings and other accents to my walls in a more professional way than stencils (don't get me wrong here, I love stencils and they work well on a lot of walls, but I tend to have problems with them bleeding under the edges due to the type of finish our walls have), and I got the opportunity to do that via an online store called Vinyl Disorder.

Here is my first project:

This is our master bedroom - yes, I need to repaint - when we chose this light green, we didn't know that it would turn a kind of gentle neon when the light over the sink was turned on. Lesson learned, will use a more muted color soon.

The saying above our headboard is from Vinyl Disorder and I LOVE it! Not only does it look great, but it was easy and FAST to put up. Plus, when I ordered it, I chose the type of decal that can be removed and reapplied to the wall, so when I'm ready to paint, I'll pull it up, paint, then put it back.

Now for a close-up of the decal:

This decal is 36 inches and costs $25 from Vinyl Disorder. Different sizes are available, starting at 15 inches at only $10. They have 20 different wall colors, 20 car colors, and 6 specialty colors available.

Looking for decals for the playroom, a special theme, or for your car or craft project? Vinyl Disorder can help! They have a wonderful selection of pre-designed decals, and give you the option to design your own.

For my next project, I'm thinking of a pretty family tree design that I can hang small pictures around to create a wall of family photos.

They also have some GREAT holiday themed decals that would be nice to put on the walls and then remove when the holidays are over.

Live Every Moment F009 Vinyl Wall Decal
by Vinyl Disorder
36 inches as ordered ~ $25.00
Visit them: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Edition Reviewed: Vinyl Decal - I received a review sample of my choice under 36 inches as part of a review campaign with Outburst Media. All opinions and pictures are my own!
About the Company:

Vinyl Disorder creates vinyl artwork and decals that can be used on walls, cars, and crafts, as well as stickers, banners, and much more.

They use high quality vinyl products and create your products right before they ship it to you. Shipping ranges between $2.00 and $5.00 and if you spend $50+ you can select Free Shipping!

Zinio Magazine and iPad Giveaway And Digital Magazine Sale (Win a Subscription HERE)

2012-11-27T13:10:00.001-08:00

Zinio is giving away 3 iPad Minis in the next couple weeks and everyone who enters to win will get $5 towards a magazine subscription of their choice (single issues and yearly subscriptions are available through their site).

They have also launched their Black Friday deals. There are 230 magazine titles available at up to 50% off our already-discounted prices.

A few of their titles include: TOP GEAR, FOOD HEAVEN, O Magazine, CRAFT, QUILTING ARTS, HGTV, OK! Weekly magazine, and CROCHET TODAY! They have 5500+ magazines available, so you are sure to find some favorites.

Follow this link to find out more, save up to 50% on digital subscriptions and enter the sweepstakes (enter now through Dec. 1st 7:52PM EST): http://bit.ly/givealittlegetalot

Plus, everyone is a winner - when you enter the sweepstakes, you will be provided a $5 voucher to use toward a Zinio purchase (I saw quite a few magazine's for less than $5 for a single issue)

Keep in mind, digital magazine subscriptions make great gifts too! Here are some benefits:

1. Hard to find magazines are MUCH more affordable in most cases (Top Gear Magazine subscriptions to the US are over $150 per year after converting British Pounds to US Dollars, but the digital version available for just $66.60, Food Heaven would be around $90 for a print subscription to the US, while the digital version is on sale via Zinio right now for $28.24 - I've been dying to get my hands on a copy!!!!)

2. No stacks of magazines piling up on your counters

3. You can take them with you anywhere you can take your computer or device (iPod, iPhone, Kindle, etc)

Enter to Win a Zinio Magazine Subscription HERE - Multiple Winners!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: I am being provided with a total of 10 subscriptions to give away and/or redeem in exchange for sharing the information about this fun giveaway and Black Friday Promotion with you. :)

Review and Tour: The Silver Cross by Debra L Martin and David W Small

2012-11-20T08:12:00.001-08:00

The Silver Cross was a really fun surprise for me. Yes, it is paranormal romance, but with a twist. The heroine, Lacey, is a tough detective working for a Fringe division of the local police, who investigates unusual, usually unexplainable (to the public anyways) and bizarre crimes. She worked hard to get there, after her sister was attacked by a vampire, she made it her mission to go after vampires and make the streets a safer place.

She also has a dark side of one-night-stands that sometimes turn out horribly (so thank goodness for a partner who is determined to watch her back even off-hours)... until she meets Damon, the mysterious bar owner who wears a beautiful silver cross. Then it seems to be love-at-first-sight in a challenging kind of way, with plenty of hurdles, including finding out that her would-be perfect fling just MIGHT be a vampire... but how can that be when he is out in the daylight?

I loved everything about this story - the build up was great, the characters are perfect (yes, even the bad guys are written really well). I became so engrossed in the story, it was hard to see it end, and I can't wait for the next book!

I did think the end was a bit abrupt and left me dangling with questions of what happens next, but I guess that is probably the point of book one in a three book series.

Loved this book and can't wait for book 2!

Stop by the authors' blog and read an excerpt, and stop by Promotional Book Tours and enter to win one of: $50 Amazon Gift Card, 5 eBooks

The Silver Cross (Book 1, Vampire Nightlife Series)
by Debra L Martin and David W Small
Fiction / Paranormal Romance / Vampire Author's Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Edition Reviewed: eBook - Review copy received courtesy of the author and Promotional Book Tours, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

About the Book:

There are two things Boston detective Lacey Gardner knows about killing vampires. Slicing off a head or a hit directly to the heart are the only surefire ways to kill one. Silver is their Achilles heel. A vampire never wears silver. When she meets bartender extraordinaire, Damon Harte, her heart does a quickstep for the dark hunky guy. She’s learned the hard way that having a love interest in her line of work can be heart-wrenching. She’s kept to herself for years, but something about Damon captivates her and draws her to him. When she learns Damon’s devastating secret, she knows what she has to do: kill the man who has stolen her heart.

About the Authors: (from Amazon)

Debra lives on the East Coast with her husband and 2 cats. She works as a Programs Manager at a research university. David lives on the West Coast with his wife. He retired from the Marines after 21 years and currently works as a Network Specialist.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Treat.com Greeting Cards: Two Days Only - Get Your Free Greeting Card!

2012-11-19T15:57:00.004-08:00

Treat.com is Shutterfly's new greeting card brand that brings you the freedom to create and send your own custom greeting cards.

Customized greeting cards are great for all occasions, including birthdays, holidays, Christmas, baby showers and so much more!

With the holidays just around the corner, I think it is safe to assume that we all have a few people we would love to send a personalized card to, and Treat.com would like to help!

Use this code: TREATBLOGR
Today Monday 11/19 thru Tuesday 11/20 to create and send your own custom greeting card for FREE and make someone's day a little brighter!

*Disclosure: I am sharing this with you in exchange for Treat.com greeting card credits so I can give them a try too. :)

Share a Scholastic Book at School With A Friend In Need This Holiday

2012-11-16T18:06:00.002-08:00

Today, I had a chance to talk with our son's Kindergarten teacher in passing. I hadn't thought about some children not having the ability to participate in things like the Scholastic book orders or Popcorn Friday until my husband asked our son if any of his friends didn't get to bring home popcorn on Popcorn Friday. When he mentioned two friends, it made me wonder, so I asked his teacher if there were any children whose families were unable to pay for those fun treats.

You see, Popcorn Friday is only a few dollars, and Scholastic books on special are sometimes as low as $1.00. Our son's teacher was able to confirm without sharing any names that there are a few children who don't get to participate in those activities, so on Monday, I will be taking in money to sponsor 3-5 children's Popcorn Friday, and with our next Scholastic Book Order, I will be ordering extra copies of Corduroy's Christmas Surprise, which costs only $1.00! I will be asking our son's teacher to put the books into the backpacks of those children who never get to order books so that they too get to experience the excitement of taking a book home!

I have also picked up multiples of some of the Disney Wonderful World of Reading books that we collect, and we will be donating them to our son's classroom.

I encourage you to speak with your child's teacher if you are able to share a book order book, or buy a special treat, and see if there are any children who would not otherwise get to participate in fun extras at school, because I remember those as special and exciting days from my own school days, and I hope to share those memories with others.

Guest Post and Giveaway: CH Admirand, Author of A Wedding In Apple Grove

2012-11-08T13:28:00.001-08:00

I've had the pleasure of reading and featuring some of CH Admirand's books here on Wendi's Book Corner, so it is with great pleasure that I get to host a guest post written by her today.

She has just written and released a new book called A Wedding In Cedar Grove, so I had an opportunity to host a guest post and I got to ask Ms. Admirand about the challenges and benefits of writing about a small town. Here is what she shared with me:

Hi Wendi, thanks for inviting me to guest blog today about the challenges/benefits of writing about a small town. For me, thinking in terms of a small town was very easy. Having grown up on Cedar Hill, a small community of 25 homes on dead-end streets in a tiny corner of Wayne, NJ…if you didn’t live on Cedar Hill, you really didn’t have any reason to drive up there. We always felt as if we were a world away from everyone else in town. We were always the last neighborhood to see the plow whenever there was a snow storm…and boy did we pray that it would be as close to lunchtime as possible so that we’d have to stay home. For the last 30 years, we’ve lived in Lindy’s Lake—a small lake community in West Milford, NJ. The lake had a wonderful mix of long-time residents and new residents just starting out and having families. There were five of us pregnant at the same time, so our kids attended pre-school through high school together. Before pre-school we started our own play groups and then decided our lake needed an arts and crafts day for kids. So many fun activities and all within walking distance to the Manor House…our lake’s community gathering place.

The challenge for me was trying to keep my quirky characters, based on real-life people from sounding too over the top. When my editor and I were first discussing the types of people and setting for the book I started thinking about all of those delightful people I’d grown up with and met over the years. I just had to include the little old man we used to see walking in town…he had a walking stick and was always dressed in khaki jodphers, a white button-down shirt and wellingtons—no matter what the weather was. He looked as if he’d been transported from England to West Milford and would nod regally to passersby. The twist was that I could just see a little old lady dressed in the same attire because she would be running her own garden center…that’s how Miss Trudi Philo came to be. J

The sense of community is what has always been the strongest in the neighborhood where I grew up and where we raised our family, and that is what I wanted to make sure I convey to readers…that marvelous sense that your family, friends, and neighbors care about you and for you. I love embracing that aspect of small town life and hope readers will enjoy reading about small town life in Apple Grove, Ohio.

A WEDDING IN APPLE GROVE BY C.H. ADMIRAND – IN STORES NOVEMBER 2012

He's not so sure about small town life.
She can't imagine living anywhere else.

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can't agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork done, there's no job too small for the Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace.

Specializing in hard work and family loyalty, tomboy Meg Mulcahy has left behind any girlhood reams of romance. Enter newcomer Daniel Eagan, looking to bury his own broken heart and make a new start. He's surprised-and delighted-by the winsome girl with the mighty tool belt who shows up to fix his wiring.

But Dan's got a lot to learn about life in a small town, and when Meg's past collides with her future, it may take all 595 other residents of Apple Grove to keep this romance from short-circuiting.

Praise for A Wedding in Apple Grove:
“A terrifically fun read... With quick dialogue and a homey feel, this is a wonderful book to curl up with. Small-town romance at its best!” —RT Book Review, 4 Stars
“Raw charm... one to read.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sexy and fun... Admirand’s series will be popular, especially with fans of Susan Wiggs and Janet Chapman.” —Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.H. ADMIRAND was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but grew up in New Jersey. She has been delighting readers with her Secret Life of Cowboys Series, featuring three cowboy brothers with Irish charm, and is now working on the next books in her small town contemporary romance series, featuring the town and quirky characters of Apple Grove, OH. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ best traits, in New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.CHAdmirand.com.

I'd like to extend my deepest thanks to CH Admirand for taking the time to visit with us!

Giveaway Details: One lucky winner will receive a copy of CH Admirand's A Wedding in Apple Grove. Open to residents of the US and Canada, enter now through 11/30, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ Wendi

Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragons LIVE is Coming to Tacoma

2012-11-07T19:25:00.003-08:00

The Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular is coming to the Tacoma Dome, here in Washington, December 6th through December 9th!

Inspired by the movie How To Train Your Dragon, this live-action show brings to life your favorite characters, including 13 dragons, some of which fly and breathe fire. To add some perspective to how massive this show is, the backdrop is the size of 9 movie screens.

To see the dragons and vikings, visit the Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon Live website and see how the dragons were made, who plays the characters, and watch special videos.

Description: (From Dreamworks)

Barely contained within the arena, the production utilizes the full venue, maximizing every dimension of performance space to transport audiences into a mythical world of fire-breathing dragons who soar overhead at great speeds. The state-of-the-art animatronic technology and large-scale cinematic projections interact seamlessly with the live actors to bring the story to life.

The show features 23 dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet, Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats, to perform against a state-of-the-art, wall-to-floor immersive projection measuring more than 20,000 square feet.

Produced by DreamWorks Animation, RZO Dragon Productions and Global Creatures, the masterminds behind Walking with Dinosaurs, proudly presented by S2BN Entertainment.

Showtimes:

Thursday Dec. 6th: 7:00 PM
Friday Dec. 7th: 7:00 PM
Saturday Dec. 8th: 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM
Sunday Dec. 9th: 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Tickets:

Tickets start at $21.50 on Thursday Dec. 6th and go up to $269 for the "Meet The Dragons" Experience, which includes a behind the scenes tour, special meet and greet, pictures in costume with a special How To Train Your Dragon backdrop, VIP parking, a VIP gift bag and more.

Visit Ticketmaster to get your tickets.

Disclosure: I am excited to share the Dragons experience with you. I'm posting a series of posts in exchange for tickets to the show on opening night.

Shutterfly and Frankenweenie: Bringing You 101 Free Prints This Halloween! #101freeprints

2012-10-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

I don't know about you, but I love taking pictures of the kids on Halloween! Yes, some turn out blurry, and some are too dark, but I also get some really fun ones too. :)

Shutterfly and Frankenweenie have teemed up and are offering everyone 101 FREE prints now through November 2nd. Use the promo code: SPOOKY

#101freeprints

Have You Been Boo'd This Halloween Season? Sharing Some Halloween Fun With Neighbors

2012-10-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

We've just been Boo'd, and have since Boo'd two neighbors, with two more coming up (we had too much fun to stop at just 2 as the neighborhood tradition stipulates...).

If you aren't aware of the good-natured neighborhood 'Boo-ing', take note, its not too late to get it going in your own neighborhood:

The idea is pretty simple as a sort of Pay-It-Forward concept.

Secretly leave a Halloween treat for a neighbor and encourage them (via a note) to Boo two more neighbors, thus spreading Halloween cheer.

Last year I'd seen some papers taped to front doors throughout the neighborhood, and I didn't realize what they were. This year we were Boo'd ourselves so we know what it is all about now!

I asked a friend at our son's school if she knew about Boo-ing, and she told me that their neighborhood has been doing it for over 10 years, and that almost every house in the whole neighborhood get's Boo'd!

Start this fun tradition in your neighborhood:

1. Visit BeenBooed.com and print two copies of your notice
2. Put together two Boo-bags, including the Boo notices. Some ideas include:
Bags of candy
Party favor type items
Bubbles
Little toys
A fun Halloween book
A fun game
3. Pick two neighbors
4. Wait until dark
5. Sneak over and leave the Boo-treats on their doorsteps
6. Ring the doorbell or not - your choice
7. Watch in the coming days to see who else gets Boo'd and watch the Halloween cheer blossom

Let Miracle-Gro and their Gardenieres Help With Your Fall Projects!

2012-10-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Our family works hard in the yard all Spring and Summer, but we don't really know what to do in Fall, so I was excited to see that Miracle-Gro® and the Gardenieres have started a website dedicated to providing videos for people like me, and they currently have some great videos for Fall.

The Gardenieres have each been hand-picked by master gardener, William Moss. They are people who have real experience when it comes to gardens, plants and growing thing. They will be showing us gardening tips and tricks from across the entire country, so there will be plenty of great learning opporutnities, and it sounds like there may even be some opportunities to meet them online and in our neighborhoods. They are here to help us be more successful.

One of the problem points in our yard is our roses. We have both rose bushes and climbers. When we manage to care for them they are beautiful, but more often than not they are leggy and need tlc. I just watched a video Gardeniere Gina did on Rose Bush Pruning and Rose Bush Training, which had some wonderful information on where and why to prune the bushes, as well as how to tame climbers.

I was really impressed with the information Gina provided, such as the importance of pruning rose branches that are smaller in width than a pencil because they are pulling energy from the plant. She also showed how to prune the branches to encourage growth in a certain direction, so now I have a great place to start.

I know one Fall project I'll be working on this weekend, especially now that I know how to prune those roses. I'm also going to look at the Find beauty in the Fall page and see what Fall edible plants I can plant in our yard. The kids and I had a blast growing a big garden this year, and I'd love to continue it a little longer.

It is also a great time to add Tree Spikes to some of our trees and shrubs so they will get plant food all Fall and will stay healthy and strong.

I encourage you to check out the great videos available. You can also visit Miracle-Gro® on their Miracle-Gro Facebook page.

The Silver Cross Book Tour: Tour and Giveaway (Win a $50 Amazon GC and 5 eBooks, 11/25)

2012-10-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Silver Cross

There are two things Boston detective Lacey Gardner knows about killing vampires. Slicing off a head or a hit directly to the heart are the only surefire ways to kill one. Silver is their Achilles heel. A vampire never wears silver.

When she meets bartender extraordinaire, Damon Harte, her heart does a quickstep for the dark hunky guy. She's learned the hard way that having a love interest in her line of work can be heart-wrenching. She's kept to herself for years, but something about Damon captivates her and draws her to him. When she learns Damon's devastating secret, she knows what she has to do: kill the man who has stolen her heart.

Purchase now on Amazon.

Follow the Authors, Debra L. Martin and David W. Small on their Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Tour Prize - $50 Amazon GC and 5 ebooks Open Internationally Ends 11/26
Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

Updates on My Disney's Wonderful World of Reading Book List: Can You Confirm Any Titles For Me?

2012-10-16T21:31:00.002-07:00

For about 5 years I have been working on collecting the Disney Wonderful World of Reading Books for our family's library. The boys LOVE the bright colorful pictures and the fact that they know a lot of the characters. Plus, they are a perfect length for reading at bed time.

Today, I spent a few hours updating my original post. I found two other sites with fairly complete lists, I copied my list and theirs into Excel and proceeded to organize and cross-reference all three to get the most accurate one I can find.

I'm still missing around 90 books (listed below), and would love to hear if you can confirm any of the titles.

101 Dalmatians Treasure Hunters
A Scare for Mr Toad
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Aladdin and the Sly Magician
Aladdin and the White Baby Camel (aka Aladin and the White Camel)
Bambi 2
Basil the Great Mouse Detective
Beauty and the Beast - Enchanted Chrstimas
Bolt
Brave
Brer Rabbit and the Pot of Gold
Brer Rabbit Plays Some Tricks
Cars 2
Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales
Cars: Look Out for Mater
Country Mouse, City Mouse
Donald at the Seashore
Donald Duck and the Magic Stick
Donald Duck's Bad Day
Donald Duck's Big Surprise
Donald Duck's Birthday
Duck Tales: Christmas at the North Pole
Dumbo and the Circus Train
Dumbo on Land, on Sea in the Air
Farmer Mickey
Ferdinand and the Robbers
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo: Bruce Breaks Loose
Fool's Gold
Goofy and the Enchanted Castle
Goofy and the Magic Fish
Goofy and the Miller
Goofy and the Pirate Treasure
Goofy in the Wild West
Goofy On the Hillside
Goofy the Gardener Makes Up His Mind
Goofy's Book of Colors
Goofy's Gags
Goofy's Neighbor's
Henny Penny and the Big Bad Wolf
Hiawatha and the Big Flood
Hiawatha the Brave Hunter
How Cinderella's Mice Tricked Lucifer the Cat
Ice Age
Ice Age 2
Jungle Cubs: Bee a Friend
Lady and the Tramp II - Scamps Adventure
Li'l Wolf and the Three Wishes
Little Hiawatha
Meet the Robinsons
Merry Christmas Uncle Scrooge McDuck
Mickey and the Magic Cloak
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Mickey's Counting Book
Mulan II
Peter and the Wolf
Pinocchio & the Isle Of Fun
Pocahontas and the Baby Eagle
Pumbaa Runs Away from Home
Quasimodo the the Rescue
Return to Oz
Robin Hood Wins Again
Scamp & the Kitten
Sinbad the Pearl Diver
Sinbad the Sailor
Snow White & the Messy Dwarfs
Snow White Helps the Seven Dwarfs
Tall & Short a Book of Opposites
Tangled
The Black Hole
The Hare & the Tortoise
The Haunted House
The Love Bug
The Mice and the Circus
The Mickey Mouse Birthday Book
The Mickey Mouse Magic Book
The New Adventures of Mr Toad
The Princess and the Frog
The Princess Who Never Laughed
The Rescuers Trouble in Devil's Bayou
The Runaway Wolf Cub
The Small One
Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell's Secret Adventure
Toy Story 3
Up
Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh and the Birthday Expedition

I currently have a bunch of duplicate titles, and may start a page somewhere to list them in case anyone wants to buy them. :)

In the mean time, I will continue my Disney's Wonderful World of Reading quest...

~ Wendi