Just Another New Blog

Romance Give Away and Blog Tour: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

2012-05-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

Book Description
Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn?t?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all... anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a copy of Lucky in Love (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Pirate Costume Review

2012-05-27T06:43:00.000-04:00

Before I had children, I thought that kids only needed costumes one day a year: on Halloween. Now I know better: from dress-up to theme birthday parties, my kids can have hours of fun pretend play with costumes - or with whatever props they find in my own closet.

My daughter loves dressing up in dance costumes for end-of-year recitals. Over the past few weeks, she's also dressed up as a superhero and a pirate for her friends' birthday parties. Her favorite type of costume used to be anything princess, and preferably pink. We have a superhero cape in purple - and now an adorable pirate costume from AnytimeCostumes.com.

The Child Sassy Victorian Pirate Costume is very cute and includes a dress and a pirate hat. It pairs perfectly with a pair of black leggings and black boots. You can even add a plastic sword - or not, just the costume was enough for hours of pretend play for my daughter. The dress and hat are well-made, and I love the colors. The Child Sassy Victorian Pirate Costume comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Anytime Costumes offers free size exchanges with no additional shipping charges in case you need a better fit.

Now that we have the perfect costume for a pirate, my kids love turning the living room into a pirate ship. They tell me we need a parrot, an eye patch, and a peg leg. I do draw the line at adding an ocean to the props. Ahoy matey! All aboard!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#Linky for Your Give Aways Saturday: 5/26

2012-05-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. And you can enter them, too, of course. My Saturday linky is below. Please include prize and ending date, and link directly to the giveaway page.

Looking for more blogs hosting Saturday giveaway fun? Visit Aleks at Busy Working Mama and Kristi at Mom's Own Words. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

* Puzzles Book Bundle 6/3
* $25 GC to Cool Cuts 4 Kids 6/6
* The Butterfly Cabinet - 2 winners 6/7
* Pinterest for Dummies 6/8
* Moppy Probiotic Floor Cleaner 6/9
* Hylunia Skincare Prize Pack ARV $120 6/10
* Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook 6/11
* KIWI and Shout Clean Team Prize Pack 6/12

Mario Snack Olives Review

2012-05-24T17:06:00.002-04:00

My family loves olives. We use them on salads, in appetizers, and in my favorite Spanish quiche recipe. We also buy olive oil by the gallon. A salad at my table is never complete without some olive oil!

It never occurred to me that olives can be a portable snack - until I discovered Mario Snack Olives. They pack olives in convenient pouches. Each pouch holds 1.75 oz of olives - 100 calories worth. I am used to eating olives that come in jars or cans with liquid, so I was concerned that the olives in brine-less pouches may be dry. They are not - they taste great, just as if they came in a just-opened jar. The olives are lightly coated in olive oil to stay juicy and delicious.The Mario Snack Olives are available in three varieties: Manzanilla Olives with Garlic and Thyme, Manzanilla Olives with Chili and Thyme, and Kalamata Olives with Thyme. My favorite are the Kalamata olives. My husband, who loves spicy food, inhaled the chili-seasoned olives and asked me to get a few more boxes.

My only complaint is the high salt content. If that bothers you, I suggest rinsing out the olives before eating. That might interfere with the seasonings, though. I'd top a green salad with them and skip the salt. Otherwise, Mario Snack Olives are a perfect snack: at home, at school, or at the office.

You can find Mario Snack Olives at major grocery chains, as well as at their online store and on Amazon. Connect with Mario Camacho Foods on Facebook and Twitter (@brandmario).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

KIWI and Shout Game On Sweeps and Clean Team Prize Pack Give Away

2012-05-24T10:33:00.001-04:00

The school year is almost over, and my kids will be spending tons of time outdoors. Whether your children play organized sports or just love to run around outside all day, they are bound to get dirt and grass stains on their clothes.

KIWI and Shout are coming to the rescue of busy parents and active kids. During the month of May, they are giving away 350 Clean Team Prize Packs every Friday as part of their Game On! Sweepstakes. The Clean Team Prize Pack includes everything you need to get your game on without worrying about dirt and grass stains. There's KIWI Sports shoelaces - because we know that simply by replacing old, stained shoelaces we can make shoes look much better. Then there's KIWI Sport Cleaner to keep those sneakers in top shape. And - last but not least - a bottle of Shout Trigger Triple-Acting Formula stain remover to take care of stains. KIWI is my favorite shoe care brand, and I've been using their products for years. And there's always a bottle of Shout in my laundry room.

So hurry up to enter the Game On! Sweepstakes on KIWI's Facebook page. Tomorrow is the last Friday of this month!

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a Clean Team Prize Pack right here! The prize includes KIWI laces, KIWI Sport Cleaner, and Shout stain remover.

To enter, please follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

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Cookbook Review and Give Away: Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook

2012-05-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Book Description
YOU ENJOY IT AS A SOUP.
YOU’LL LOVE IT AS A MEAL!

• Stir-fry ramen with peppers and shrimp for a delicious noodle bowl
• Bake layers of uncooked ramen and spinach smothered in pasta sauce for a hearty lasagne
• Steam noodles and salmon in parchment packets for a dish that will impress any guest

It’s that quick and easy! With just a few simple tricks, Ramen to the Rescue transforms the classic, can’t-fail pack of noodles into over 100 amazing, palate-pleasing dishes, like:

•Bacon, Egg and Ramen Scramble
•Minestrone Soup
•Black Bean and Green Chile
•Stuffed Peppers
•Ramen-n-Cheese
•Cold Noodle Salad with Grilled Beef
•Ramen Bolognese
•Pad Thai
•Salmon Croquettes with Creamy Chili Sauce

My Thoughts
My family loves noodle-based dishes. I have a shrimp-and-broccoli over noodles recipe that's always a winner. I am (almost) addicted to Pad Thai, and my husband can live on spicy noodles and any meat and veggies on top.

Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook by Jessica Harlan takes the modest, unassuming ramen noodles and transforms them into over 100 different dishes. Think beyond noodle soup and stir-fries: there's Herby Buttered Noodles and Peas, Warm Lemon Poppy Seed Salad, Ramen-Crusted Trout, and even desserts. The recipes are grouped into categories, such as Snacks and Starters, Breakfasts, Soups, Salads, Side Dishes, Asian-Inspired Classics, and more. The prepping and cooking directions are clear and easy to follow. There's a handy section, listing ingredients you'd need to make those delicious ramen noodles recipes, another on kitchenware, and a list of ramen manufacturers and retailers. Our favorite brand is Nongshim, Korean instant noodles that we buy by the case at our wholesale club or on Amazon.

Cooking - and eating! - ramen noodles can be lots of fun with the Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. / Canadian reader will win a copy of Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook: 120 Creative Recipes for Easy Meals Using Everyone's Favorite Pack of Noodles!

To enter, please follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

*If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

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Book Feature: Abdication by Juliet Nicolson

2012-05-22T09:47:00.002-04:00

Book Description
From critically acclaimed historian Juliet Nicolson comes a glorious debut novel set in 1936 London about secrecy, tumultuous love, and a king and his subjects torn between public duty and private desire.

The Second World War looms in a world that dreads another international conflict, and England is full of secrets, not least of which is the affair the newly proclaimed King is having with an American divorcÉe. But not every confidence involves royalty. The lovely young chauffeur May Thomas and the complex Oxford undergraduate Julian Richardson share an undeclared love, while the identity of May’s real father remains mysterious. Mrs. Cage, the housekeeper, desperately tries to keep her Nazi-sympathies hidden, and Evangeline Nettlefold’s ambivalent relationship with her school friend Wallis Simpson threatens to become explosive.

Secrecy, tensions between parent and child, the private tussles of life, and the dilemma of whether or not duty supersedes love, reverberate throughout Abdication, in matters of social conscience, politics, and romance.

A glorious story that brings to mind the film The King’s Speech, as well as the beloved English novels Brideshead Revisited and The Remains of the Day, Abdication is a breathtaking story inspired by a love affair that shook the world at a time when the world was on the brink of war.

Abdication is new today from Atria Books.

Moppy Probiotic Floor Cleaner: Review and Give Away

2012-05-21T18:39:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months, I've learned that probiotics are not just about yogurt: they can keep my home clean, too. Natural House has come up with natural household cleaning products that put the power of probiotics to work: in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and now on my floors.

Natural House cleaners are phosphate/APE-free, eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable. Moppy, the latest product I've tried, is a floor cleaner and scrubber. It comes in packs of 4 soluble packets. Each packet dissolves into a gallon of water - then you mop and scrub to your little heart's content. Moppy has a pleasant orange mint scent. This cleaner is concentrated, and does the job very well. Its plant-derived scrubbing agents are safe to use on many types of flooring, including high-gloss, terrazzo, marble, slate, vinyl, tile, and finished hardwood. The best thing for me is that Moppy’s probiotics remain on the surface to help maintain a germ-free and odor-free household. The company recommends that you use Moppy once a week to keep floors spotless.

Moppy retails at $4.99 for 1-month supply. You can purchase Natural House products at their website. They are also available on Amazon, great news for those who enjoy Amazon's one-stop shopping, Prime benefits and free super saver shipping like I do.

Connect with Natural House on Facebook and Twitter (@naturalhousepro).

The Giveaway
One U.S. reader will win a 1-month supply of Moppy probiotic floor cleaner and scrubber!

To enter, please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review and Blog Tour: Shelter by Frances Greenslade

2012-05-21T10:30:00.001-04:00

Book Description
For sisters Maggie and Jenny growing up in the Pacific mountains in the early 1970s, life felt nearly perfect. Seasons in their tiny rustic home were peppered with wilderness hikes, building shelters from pine boughs and telling stories by the fire with their doting father and beautiful, adventurous mother. But at night, Maggie — a born worrier — would count the freckles on her father’s weathered arms, listening for the peal of her mother’s laughter in the kitchen, and never stop praying to keep them all safe from harm. Then her worst fears come true: Not long after Maggie’s tenth birthday, their father is killed in a logging accident, and a few months later, their mother abruptly drops the girls at a neighbor’s house, promising to return. She never does.

With deep compassion and sparkling prose, Frances Greenslade’s mesmerizing debut takes us inside the devastation and extraordinary strength of these two girls as they are propelled from the quiet, natural freedom in which they were raised to a world they can’t begin to fathom. Even as the sisters struggle to understand how their mother could abandon them, they keep alive the hope that she is fighting her way back to the daughters who adore her and who need her so desperately.

Heartbreaking and lushly imagined, Shelter celebrates the love between two sisters and the complicated bonds of family. It is an exquisitely written ode to sisters, mothers, daughters, and to a woman’s responsibility to herself and those she loves.

My Thoughts
Shelter is the story of Maggie, a young girl who is forced to grow up way too soon. Even before the accident that takes the life of her father, Maggie is mature beyond her years. When her mother abandons Maggie and her older sister with a family of strangers, the two girls struggle to adapt to a life when nothing can be taken for granted.

Shelter is a well-written and thought-provoking book about what it takes to feel safe. Maggie is a remarkable character, a survivor whose strength is extraordinary not just because of her young age. Despite hardship and emotional suffering, Maggie keeps her ability to love and succeeds in rebuilding the family she's lost.

Shelter is new this month from Free Press.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was obtained for this post. Cover art, review copy and book description courtesy of the author, publisher or PR firm.

Hylunia Skincare Review and Give Away

2012-05-20T19:35:00.001-04:00

Hylunia is a natural and organic skincare company that's been around for more than two decades. Their products focus on prevention, correction and efficacy. Hylunia takes a holistic approach to skincare, making their customers active participants in taking care of their skin.

I've been using two of Hylunia's products for about a month now, and I am very impressed. Their Healing and Restoring Cream is fantastic - an excellent moisturizer that absorbs quickly and takes care of dry areas on my skin. I use it every evening on my hands and arms, letting it work overnight. The cream is suitable for all skin types and contains hyaluronic acid. It's also free of preservatives, parabens, fragrances, alcohol, dyes, lanolin, mineral oil, and animal ingredients. I learned from the company's website that the Healing and Restoring Cream is recommended for a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, bed sores, burns, post chemotherapy or severe dryness.Whether or not you suffer from such conditions, the Hylunia Healing and Restoring Cream is one rockin' product.

On my face and neck, I used Beyond Complex C. After just a few weeks, I've noticed an improvement in my skin tone. This rejuvenating bio-active serum promises to minimize wrinkles by 15% to 25% in 12 days. I am no expert to measure it but I can clearly see better skin texture when I look in the mirror. All I need is a small amount, morning and night. In science-speak, the serum minimizes free radical damage and uses unique encapsulation technology, allowing greater absorption of Vitamin C into the skin. Beyond Complex C is organic, vegan, and cruelty-free. Whatever mix of skin art and science is behind it, this serum is awesome and my skin loves it.

The Healing and Restoring Cream retails at $36 for 5.1 oz tube, and Beyond Complex C is $84 for 1 ounce. They are available from the company's site, and shipping is free.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader in the Continental U.S. will win a Hylunia prize pack, including Healing and Restoring Cream and Beyond Complex C (ARV $120)!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Linky for Your Give Aways Saturday: 5/19

2012-05-19T08:26:00.001-04:00

* The Hunt for KSM - 3 winners 5/23
* Mariah Carey Prize Pack 5/24
* Luxury Mattress Protector 5/25
* 3 lbs Mixed Dried Fruit & Nuts 5/26
* Puzzles Book Bundle 6/3
* $25 GC to Cool Cuts 4 Kids 6/6
* The Butterfly Cabinet - 2 winners 6/7
* Pinterest for Dummies 6/8

Book Review and Give Away: Pinterest for Dummies

2012-05-18T20:31:00.000-04:00

I've been using Pinterest for a while now, and I am having a blast with it. If you are not familiar with Pinterest, it's a visual collection of bookmarks that you organize into virtual pinboards. Think bookmarking - with pictures.

Pinterest for Dummies, a new book by Kelby Carr, covers everything I've learned about Pinterest so far - and it fills in the blanks with things I did not know. The book is easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions and lots of informative screenshots to illustrate each point. It covers topics such as Getting Started on Pinterest, Creating Boards, Pinning and Repinning, Socializing on Pinterest, and more. I found the chapters on Pinterest etiquette and privacy especially useful. Those who run a website and/or have a blog may find the chapter on self-promoting particularly helpful. I love the handy tips and "Remember" tidbits throughout the book.

Pinterest for Dummies is a great resource for those who are just discovering the joys of pinning. Even if you are proficient in all things Pinterest, you might find some useful information that makes using it even more fun.

About the Author
Kelby Carr (Candler, NC) is the founder and CEO of Type-A Parent, a social network and online magazine-style blog founded in 2007 for digital moms and dads, and Type-A Parent Conference, an annual blogging and social media conference in its fourth year that attracts major corporations and hundreds of parents who blog. She was an early adopter of Pinterest, and is active there daily with thousands of followers and hundreds of pins.

About the Book
Organize your life, your likes, and more with Pinterest and this fun how-to guide

Now you can organize your digital life with Pinterest, a hot new site that lets you create visual bookmarks of your favorite things and "pin" them on virtual pinboards. Want to save something from a blog? Have a favorite retail website? Want to pin a quick photo you took with your phone? Organize them all with Pinterest and this fast, friendly guide that shows you just how to do it. You'll see how to set up an account and your boards, how to pin and re-pin, where to use hashtags, find ways to share pins with your other social networks, and more.

Helps you get the most out of Pinterest, a visual collection of bookmarks that you can organize into virtual pinboards
Shows you how to set up an account and boards, how to pin and re-pin, use hashtags and like pins, and even share pins with your other social networks
Also discusses Power Pinners, using search, and finding people to follow
Offers tips, trick, and techniques to make the process easy and enjoyable

Pinterest is fun and easy, and even more so with Pinterest for Dummies!

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. / Canadian reader will win a copy of Pinterest for Dummies!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

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Book #Giveaway, Review and Blog Tour: The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill {2 Winners}

2012-05-17T17:42:00.000-04:00

Last summer, I had the pleasure of reading The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill. Now this fascinating novel is available in paperback! Read on to find out more about the book, and make sure to check out the book trailer.

Book Description
Vivid, mysterious and unforgettable, The Butterfly Cabinet is Bernie McGill's engrossing portrayal of the dark history that intertwines two lives. Inspired by a true story of the death of the daughter of an aristocratic Irish family at the end of the nineteenth century, McGill powerfully tells this tale of two women whose lives will become upended by a newly told secret.

The events begin when Maddie McGlade, a former nanny now in her nineties, receives a letter from the last of her charges and realizes that the time has come to unburden herself of a secret she has kept for over seventy years: what really happened on the last day in the life of Charlotte Ormond, the four-year-old only daughter of the big house where Maddie was employed as a young woman. It is to Charlotte's would-be niece, Anna — pregnant with her first — that Maddie will tell her story as she nears the end of her life in a lonely nursing home in Northern Ireland.

The book unfolds in chapters that alternate between Maddie's story and the prison diaries of Charlotte's mother, Harriet, who had been held responsible for her daughter's death. As Maddie confesses the truth to Anna, she unravels the Ormonds' complex family history, and also details her own life, marked by poverty, fear, sacrifice and lies. In stark contrast to Maddie is the misunderstood, haughty and yet surprisingly lyrical voice of Harriet's prison diaries, which Maddie has kept hidden for decades. Motherhood came no more easily to Harriet than did her role as mistress of a far-flung Irish estate. Proud and uncompromising, she is passionate about riding horses and collecting butterflies to store in her prized cabinet. When her only daughter, Charlotte, dies, allegedly as the result of Harriet's punitive actions, the community is quick to condemn her and send her to prison for the killing. Unwilling to stoop to defend herself and too absorbed in her own world of strict rules and repressed desires, she accepts the cruel destiny that is beyond her control even as, paradoxically, it sets her free.

The result of this unusual duet is a haunting novel full of frightening silences and sorrowful absences that build toward the unexpected, chilling truth.

My Thoughts
The Butterfly Cabinet is a beautifully written book that stays in my thoughts long after I've read it. Based on a true story about the death of a 4-year girl, it's a novel about parenting, passions, guilt, love, loss, truth and punishment. I will not retell the story because the book description does a wonderful job on that.

The story spans over eight decades and is told in two voices: that of the elderly Maddie, former servant to the family, and of Harriet, the dead girl's mother, who writes a diary while in prison. Maddie shares her memories with the daughter of the child Harriet gives birth to while in prison. The events in the book take place against the background of a changing Ireland, with its complex political, religious and class divisions. The narrative is multi-layered, gradually revealing characters and events. Maddie, a keeper of secrets for decades, uncovers them in fragments. What at first seems to be an indisputable truth - a child dies as a consequence of her mother's disciplinary methods - becomes more nuanced as the story continues.

The Giveaway
Two (2) lucky U.S. readers will each win a copy of The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

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Cool Cuts 4 Kids $25 GC #Giveaway

2012-05-16T11:49:00.000-04:00

When my kids were little, they did not enjoy getting haircuts. I remember having to sit in the chair at the salon with my daughter in my lap while she was having her locks trimmed. Otherwise, there were tears.

At child-friendly Cool Cuts 4 Kids, little customers get more than a cool haircut. The nation's largest salon chain for kids has entertainment zones with movies, video games, and more, creating an inviting and fun atmosphere. Parents can choose from a range of services, such as basic trims, treatments, and more complicated 'dos with ringlets, braids, twists, and updos. For those special little first-timers, Cool Cuts 4 Kids offers a First Haircut Memories Package that includes a certificate with holder for lock of hair and photo (photo not included but you can surely snap your own).

Cool Cuts 4 Kids has a free Cool Rewards Club with cool perks, discounts, and rewards. Check out the Cool Cuts 4 Kids salon locator to find a location near you. In addition, new customers get $5 off any service $11.95 or higher with this Cool Cuts 4 Kids coupon. Stay updated on what Cool Cuts 4 Kids has to offer via Facebook and Twitter (@coolcuts4kids).

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a $25 GC to Cool Cuts 4 Kids!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

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A Mother's Prayer by Tina Fey

2012-05-13T14:26:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! I hope all moms out there are enjoying a nice, relaxing - or another wonderfully busy - day, full of love and surrounded by those who matter in your life.

I posted Tina Fey's A Mother's Prayer last year, when I was reading her hilarious memoir. It still speaks to me today, so I am sharing it again.

* If you are reading this in a reader or e-mail and can't see the widget, hop over to my blog. *

A Mother's Prayer -- Tina Feygreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Disclaimer / Disclosure: Many thanks to Hachette Book Group for sharing this with me. No compensation was provided for this post.

Fun Puzzles Book Bundle Review and #Giveaway

2012-05-13T10:44:00.000-04:00

Do you love puzzles? I do - and today, I have a great bundle of puzzles books for you, just in time for summer vacation. These books are perfect to take along anywhere you want to exercise those little gray cells: on a business trip, on a rainy day, on a road trip or by the pool. If the puzzles prove too difficult, there’s an answer key in each book to help.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Picture Puzzles, Volume 2, Puzzle Baron’s Sudoku and Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles, Volume 2 include a variety of puzzles for beginner through expert solvers. Puzzle Baron's Sudoku has 400 Sudoku puzzles - 25 easy, 100 medium, 175 hard, and 100 super hard. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Picture Puzzles, Volume 2 is my favorite among the three books. It challenges you to find the differences in 100 sets of pictures. The photos are entertaining and in nice bright colors. The picture puzzles range from easy through medium, difficult, and advanced. Each puzzle has a space to keep score and a time limit. These puzzles are fun to do on your own or with the whole family.

Last but not least, the Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles, Vol. 2 features 200 grid-based logic puzzles. I enjoyed working on some of the puzzles with my daughter. Each puzzle comes with extra information, such as average completion time, best time, and solve rate.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a puzzles book bundle, including all three books: The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Picture Puzzles, Volume 2, Puzzle Baron’s Sudoku and Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles, Volume 2!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

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Delicious Mixed Fruit and Nuts from Bella Viva Orchards: Review and Give Away

2012-05-12T08:52:00.000-04:00

We love our sweets in my family. To keep it healthy, we eat lots of fruit. Sometimes I want fruit with an extra sweet kick - but without the extra sugar. Dried fruit fits the bill there. We eat raisins, of course, but also dried apricots, dried mango, and dried plums. Our other favorite snack is nuts - almonds, edamame, home-roasted peanuts... There's always a jar of some yummy nuts in the pantry.

Bella Viva Orchards sent us 3 whole pounds of yummy goodness: their California's Fruits & Nuts Tray. It's full of wonderful treats: sun dried apricots, white nectarines, pears, peaches and moyer plums. I will not tell you how long - or rather short - it took me to devour all that delicious fruit. That's the best dried fruit I've tried, hands down. It's full of flavor, pleasantly chewy, and all around irresistible. I can't decide if my favorite was the plums or the nectarines. I could hardly bring myself to share them.

The second 24 oz tray we received was filled with roasted almonds and pistachios. Mmmm, the perfect snack. The kids could not crack those pistachios open fast enough. The nuts tasted fresh and perfectly roasted, and lasted just a couple of days in my house. It seemed like every time I looked, someone was grabbing a handful of almonds or a few pistachios. Those were some seriously good nuts.

Last but not least, the dried fruits and nuts were packaged in pretty cardboard trays, complete with ribbons. Perfect for gifting! Except I would not be able to part with them once they come to my house. Ship directly to the lucky recipient, perhaps?

In addition to the fantastic 3 lbs California's Fruits & Nuts Tray, Bella Viva Orchards has gift baskets, chocolates, trail mix, and even fresh fruit. I would love to try their organic dried fruit - and some chocolate-covered fruit, of course.

You can get a 15% discount 15% discount on all the delicious goodies available at Bella Viva Orchards with coupon code blogdiscount2x720. It will expire on 7/20/12.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a 3 lbs California's Fruits & Nuts Tray from Bella Viva Orchards!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#Linky for Your Give Aways Saturday: 5/12

2012-05-11T19:34:00.000-04:00

* Surfy All Surface Probiotic Cleaner 5/13
* alternaVites for Kids 5/14
* On Celestial Music - 3 winners 5/15
* Crazy for Cake Pops 5/18
* The Hunt for KSM - 3 winners 5/23
* Mariah Carey Prize Pack 5/24
* Luxury Mattress Protector 5/25

Protect-A-Bed Luxury Mattress Protector Review and Give Away

2012-05-11T17:56:00.001-04:00

A good night's sleep is essential for me. I need a dark, quiet room that's not too cold and not too warm, and a comfortable bed.

Protect-A-Bed products go a long way in making my bedding snooze-friendly. I love their pillows and mattress protectors. Their Luxury Mattress Protector is a fitted-sheet style protector that keeps me cool in these summer-like temps, and will keep me warm in the winter. The mattress protector fits well on my mattress. It's very soft to the touch and made with all-natural Eucalyptus based fibers. This is the first time I've slept on Eucalyptus fabric! Its fibers work all night to wick moisture away from the mattress. I have sensitive skin, and this particular mattress protector is perfect for me. Eucalyptus fibers are very smooth, even when compared to cotton. The mattress protector is waterproof and comes with a 10-year warranty. In addition, the Protect-A-Bed Miracle Membrane® provides a barrier to dust mites, liquids and irritants. I am very happy with it - what more to ask of a mattress protector? Hmmm, maybe wishing for a goodnight story and a lullaby is a bit much...

The Luxury Mattress Protector is available in a variety of sizes from twin to king. Prices range from $69.99 to $119.99. You can purchase the protectors at specialty stores and online from the Protect-A-Bed website.

Protect-A-Bed is a company that wants to help everyone get a good night's sleep. They recently launched a new blog, . The blog is a great resource that provides information on various sleep issues. The Healthy Sleep Zone discusses sleep-related topics such as allergies, dust mites, pets, sensitive skin, bed bugs, incontinence, bed wetting and sleep pattern issues.

The Giveaway
To celebrate the launch of The Healthy Sleep Zone blog, I am hosting a giveaway! One lucky U.S. reader will win a Protect-A-Bed Luxury Mattress Protector (ARV $120).

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Mariah Carey Prize Pack Give Away

2012-05-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

Just in time for Mother's Day, Columbia Records has released a brand new hit collection from Mariah Carey. The Essential Mariah Carey includes two CDs with 28 of her hits. That's a real treat for Mariah fans - just take a peak what's in there:

Disc One – Selections: 1. Vision Of Love • 2. Love Takes Time • 3. Vanishing • 4. I Don’t Wanna Cry • 5. Emotions (12-inch Mix) • 6. Can't Let Go • 7. Make It Happen • 8. I’ll Be There (featuring Trey Lorenz) • 9. Dreamlover • 10. Hero • 11. Without You • 12. Anytime You Need A Friend (C + C Club Remix) • 13. Endless Love (duet with Luther Vandross) • 14. Fantasy.

Disc Two – Selections: 1. One Sweet Day (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men) • 2. Always Be My Baby • 3. Underneath The Stars • 4. Honey • 5. Butterfly • 6. My All • 7. Close My Eyes • 8. The Roof (Mobb Deep Extended Version) • 9. When You Believe (from The Prince Of Egypt) (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston) • 10. I Still Believe • 11. Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z) • 12. Bliss • 13. Thank God I Found You (featuring Joe & 98 Degrees) • 14. Can't Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme).

The Essential Mariah Carey is an update of 2001’s Greatest Hits with four different tracks. “I wanted to create a collection of some of my favorite songs,” explains Mariah. “Several of them are very big hits and some are more obscure favorites of mine as well as fan faves.”

The Giveaway
To celebrate this release, I am hosting a Mariah Carey giveaway! One lucky reader will win a fab prize pack, including The Essential Mariah Carey new album, an autographed CD booklet and a bottle of Mariah’s Forever fragrance.

(That makes a great Mother's Day gift but please note that the winner won't receive it until after Mother's Day. You can find the album and perfume on Amazon.com, among other places, if need it sooner for a mom in your life.)

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Book #Giveaway: The Hunt for KSM {3 Winners}

2012-05-08T14:19:00.001-04:00

Book Description
The definitive account of the decade-long pursuit and capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the terrorist mastermind of 9/11

Only minutes after United 175 plowed into the World Trade Center's South Tower, people in positions of power correctly suspected who was behind the assault: Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. But it would be 18 months after September 11 before investigators would capture the actual mastermind of the attacks, the man behind bin Laden himself.

That monster is the man who got his hands dirty while Osama fled; the man who was responsible for setting up Al Qaeda's global networks, who personally identified and trained its terrorists, and who personally flew bomb parts on commercial airlines to test their invisibility. That man withstood waterboarding and years of other intense interrogations, not only denying Osama's whereabouts but making a literal game of the proceedings, after leading his pursuers across the globe and back. That man is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and he is still, to this day, the most significant Al Qaeda terrorist in captivity.

In THE HUNT FOR KSM, Terry McDermott and Josh Meyer go deep inside the US government's dogged but flawed pursuit of this elusive and dangerous man. One pair of agents chased him through countless false leads and narrow escapes for five years before 9/11. And now, drawing on a decade of investigative reporting and unprecedented access to hundreds of key sources, many of whom have never spoken publicly-as well as jihadis and members of KSM's family and support network-this is a heart-pounding trip inside the dangerous, classified world of counterterrorism and espionage.

The Giveaway
Three (3) U.S./ Canadian readers will each win a copy of The Hunt for KSM: Inside the Pursuit and Takedown of the Real 9/11 Mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

To enter, please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter.

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Book Feature and Blog Tour: The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat by Thomas McNamee

2012-05-08T14:03:00.001-04:00

Book Description
In the 1950s, America was a land of overdone roast beef and canned green beans—a gastronomic wasteland. Most restaurants relied on frozen, second-rate ingredients and served bogus “Continental” cuisine. Authentic French, Italian, and Chinese foods were virtually unknown. There was no such thing as food criticism at the time, and no such thing as a restaurant critic. Cooking at home wasn’t thought of as a source of pleasure. Guests didn’t chat around the kitchen. Professional equipment and cookware were used only in restaurants. One man changed all that.

From the bestselling author of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse comes the first biography of the passionate gastronome and troubled genius who became the most powerful force in the history of American food—the founding father of the American food revolution. From his first day in 1957 as the food editor of the New York Times, Craig Claiborne was going to take his readers where they had never been before. Claiborne extolled the pleasures of exotic cuisines from all around the world, and with his inspiration, restaurants of every ethnicity blossomed. So many things we take for granted now were introduced to us by Craig Claiborne — crème fraîche, arugula, balsamic vinegar, the Cuisinart, chef’s knives, even the salad spinner.

He would give Julia Child her first major book review. He brought Paul Bocuse, the Troisgros brothers, Paul Prudhomme, and Jacques Pépin to national acclaim. His $4,000 dinner for two in Paris was a front-page story in the Times and scandalized the world. And while he defended the true French nouvelle cuisine against bastardization, he also reveled in a well-made stew or a good hot dog. He made home cooks into stars — Marcella Hazan, Madhur Jaffrey, Diana Kennedy, and many others. And Craig Claiborne made dinner an event — whether dining out, delighting your friends, or simply cooking for your family. His own dinner parties were legendary.

Craig Claiborne was the perfect Mississippi gentleman, but his inner life was one of conflict and self-doubt. Constrained by his position to mask his sexuality, he was imprisoned in solitude, never able to find a stable and lasting love. Through Thomas McNamee’s painstaking research and eloquent storytelling, The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat unfolds a history that is largely unknown and also tells the full, deep story of a great man who until now has never been truly known at all.

The Man Who Changed the Way We Eat: Craig Claiborne and the American Food Renaissance is new today from Free Press.

KnowPhone.com Review

2012-05-07T22:01:00.002-04:00

All phone numbers in our household have been on the do not call list for years. Yet, we often get annoying calls from strange numbers. We get missed calls without messages, and when we call back the phone just rings and rings. It would be nice to know who's calling - and with KnowPhone.com, I could.

KnowPhone.com is an online reverse phone lookup database. I tried out their flagship product, the Platinum Pass. It provides unlimited searches across a variety of public records, phone numbers, criminal records and more. They offer five broad categories of searches: phone, people, email, criminal record, and genealogy.

Under phone searches, you can search for just a phone number, for unlisted numbers, cell phone numbers, or do a premium phone search. I noticed that for some numbers, each of these searches offers results that are a little different. To get the most comprehensive information, I suggest running all of the searches for each phone number you are interested in checking. The searches yield names and addresses of people who have owned that phone number at various times. I was surprised to see results even for unlisted phone numbers that should be, by definition, unavailable.

For name searches, you'd need first and last name as well as state of residence. The results provide age, address, date reported, and sometimes a phone number. There are also people searches by address, relatives search and neighbor search.

I found the site very easy to navigate. I like the simple layout - no annoying adds or pop-up screens here. Most of the personal information I was able to verify was correct, with the possible exception of people's ages. The company states that sometimes they don't have all the data but try to be upfront and as honest as possible with everyone - which is also why they offer a 100% Ironclad any time guarantee. Unlimited platinum pass access to KnowPhone.com costs $19.95 per month, or $239.40 per year.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#Linky for Your Give Aways Saturday: 5/5

2012-05-04T20:00:00.002-04:00

* Annie's Organic Pizza - 3 winners 5/5
* PhoneFetcher 5/6
* S.A.S.S.! Yourself Slim 5/7

* Romantic Comedy New Year's Eve DVD 5/10
* The Good Father - 2 winners 5/11
* Surfy All Surface Probiotic Cleaner 5/13
* alternaVites for Kids 5/14
* On Celestial Music - 3 winners 5/15
* Crazy for Cake Pops 5/18

alternaVites Vitamins for Kids Review and #Giveaway

2012-05-03T18:51:00.002-04:00

alternaVites Kids is a new multivitamin for children ages 4 and up. It's not a pill that's hard to swallow and it's not a gummy that makes me worry about teeth hygiene. This multivitamin comes in a yummy powder that melts in your mouth.

alternaVites Kids contain essential vitamins and minerals, no sugar, and no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. In addition, the multivitamins are formulated with ingredients that do not contain major food allergens (egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish). The tasty multivitamins come in two flavors: strawberry bubble gum and raspberry cotton candy. My kids tried the strawberry bubble gum and loved them. They take theirs straight from the packet or from a spoon but the powder can be mixed into yogurt, puddings or smoothies as well. alternaVites Kids are very convenient to use at home or on the go. They come in single-serve packets that make taking your daily vitamins easy and convenient - not to mention delicious. And in case you are having vitamin envy, do not despair: there are alternaVites for adults, too.

alternaVites Kids are available at www.alternaVites.com. A one month’s supply includes 30 daily dose packets and retails for $15.95. Use discount code moms20 for 20% off of your order! Rich Vitamins LLC donates a portion of the proceeds from each sale of alternaVites to cancer research and treatment.

Stay updated on all things alternaVites via Facebook and Twitter.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a month's supply of alternaVites Kids!

To enter, please follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

*If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer / Disclosure: Thanks to my involvement with Global Influence, I received a complimentary review sample. No compensation was provided for this post.