New Look!

If you are visiting and thinking that something looks a bit different, I am in the process of updating and changing the blog's template and layout.  I am very open to comments.  Do you like or dislike the new layout?  Why or why not?  Please let me know for example if the font and colors are hard to read.  I access blogger via pc or laptop so I haven't seen the changes via smartphone, tablet etc.  Please feel free to let me know what you think.

I look forward to reading your comments.  Thank you.

How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant?: A Munch-and-Sip Pop-Up Book by Caitlin Friedman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


How Do You Feed A Hungry Giant is a large pop-up and lift a flap book. I liked this book. The story line, illustrations and activities were fun. I shared it with my five year old niece who loved opening the little flaps and extras. I found a larger story inside this book as we need to be aware to the "Giant" called hunger and help to feed it. Even one person can make a difference.

My only concern is for durability as with the first reading my niece split one of the lift a flap layers with her finger nail in effort to open it. A tab for the lift a flaps would have been helpful.  With that being said, I would still recommend this book!

View all my reviews

*Disclosure:  I was provided with a copy of this book free of charge for review purposes.  The review itself is my own words and honest opinion.
**Review was linked from Goodreads.com

Looking to purchase this book?  Check it out on Amazon.com.

Entering the Zanussi Cookers Make Every Meal a Masterpiece Competition on Contest Corner

This is my entry for the Zanussi cookers make every meal a masterpiece competition

One way to make every meal count is with a great start!  Salads are easy even for those of use who aren't experienced cooks and can make a "so so" meal into a "WOW" meal.  The other thing about salad is that you can throw in various ingredients to change things up and keep it interesting.  This is one of our favorite meal starters.

Recipe:

• Baby Spinach
• Shredded Cheese (we prefer the mixed blends)
• Mandarin Orange slices (Canned oranges may be drained and used)
• Almond Slices (great for protein!)
• Drizzle with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.

I love how this salad has it all: Vegetable, Fruit, Dairy, and Protein!

Too busy for a home cooked meal? Ordering out?  Pizza?  A meal from a box?  Add a salad like the one above and viola you've made a not so healthy meal much healthier and well...a masterpiece!

Bring Back Beatrice! by Jennifer Griffin ~ Book Review

Bring Back Beatrice! 1,108 Baby Names with Meaning, Character and a Little Bit of Attitude. By Jennifer Griffin is a great read for anyone thinking of having children.  Naming your child is an important and sometimes stressful task since their name will stick with them throughout life.  When we found out that we were having a baby I will be honest.  I didn't consult any of the hundreds of "baby names" books out there.  My husband and I had come up with a girl name several yrs before and a couple of possible boy names as we never could come up with a boy name that we just loved.  When our bundle of joy arrived she fit perfectly with the name we had in mind and we breathed a sigh of relief that we didn't have to make a decision on a boy name.
Bring Back Beatrice!  Is a book that I would have loved to have around when we were discussing baby names.  The author beautifully spells out her purpose of writing the book and her endeavor to save children from being named fad or made up names.  Does she really expect everyone to name their daughters Beatrice?  No.  The author simply wants thought to be put into the names we are giving our children and the history of those names.  What if you have your mind set on a fad name?  The author lists alternatives to the name and provides history behind the name.
I'm not in the market for baby names but found the book very refreshing and think it would be a great resource for anyone.  How many times have you cringed when you heard the name someone was planning to name their child?  Do the child a favor and let the expectant parents know about this book and that it provides a refreshing new option to the old baby names books.  The child just might thank you!  This would also make a great shower gift.

* Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of the book for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  This post is my own honest opinion and was in no way influenced by the sponsor.

Hot on Amazon! Haan FS20 Plus Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer (Steam Mop) with Deluxe Sanitizing Tray $25.84 Shipped! (tax may be added in some states) Amazon.com

Hurry over to Amazon.com for a seriously HOT deal!

Hurry to Amazon.com for the Haan FS20 Plus Steam Cleaning Floor Sanitizer with Deluxe Sanitizing Tray by Haan for $18.56.  This offer is through Ace Hardware Direct so it doesn't qualify for Free Super Saver shipping.  However with the $7.28 shipping making it $25.84 this is by far the best price that I could find on this unit new (not refurbished) as it lists for $99.99

Product Features

• Chemical-free steam cleaner for all sealed hard-floor surfaces--uses regular tap water
• Plus version comes with sanitizing tray attachment for refreshing carpeted areas
• Heats up in less than 3 minutes; produces up to 20 minutes of steam per refill
• Includes 2 super-absorbent, multilayer Ultra-Microfiber cleaning pads that are washable and reusable
• Measures 50-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 7-1/2 inches (HxWxD) fully extended and weighs 3.15 pounds; backed by 1-year warranty

Enter To Win $100 Amazon Email Gift Card- End Of The Year Giveaway

StuffSmart, One Moment in Time, Bits and Bobs, Ann Crabs, The Organic Blonde and 6 other super mom bloggers teamed up to bring this awesome $100 Amazon gift card giveaway to you all. The year is coming to an end, and the only way to show appreciation to each of you is by hosting this awesome giveaway. Each of the bloggers hosting this giveaway has an amazing site. Visit them as you enter this giveaway and i bet you won't want to leave so soon. This giveaway is open worldwide. If this is your first time of entering giveaway with Rafflecopter, all you need to do is to click on instructions and do what you are asked to do, then click I DID THIS..Jump to the next option

Freschetta Proud to Support Pink Program and Giveaway

In support of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Freschetta has launched their "Proud to Support Pink" program. From Sept 25 - Oct. 31, 2011 you can purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizza and Artisan Pizza Crusts and help them to reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The specially marked packages have codes to be entered at www.ProudtoSupportPink.com. Freschetta will donate $1 for each code entered up to $50,000. You can learn more about this exciting program at www.ProudtoSupportPink.com or on the Freschetta facebook page: www.Facebook.com/FreschettaPizza. To spread the word about the Freschetta Proud to Support Pink program, Freschetta is offering a giveaway.

*Disclosure- As a member of the Freschetta Fresh Connection Team I was given a prize pack like the one offered for the giveaway.

Giveaway: $25 Visa Card through Ann-Crabs

Ann Crabs is currently offering a great giveaway in conjunction with Essilor. You may read more about them in her post here: Ann-Crabs 

Thanks to rafflecopter you may enter here giveaway below.  (The Rafflecopter is the same for both sites so please only enter on one site to avoid disqualification).

See rule below on rafflecopter post.

If you don't already follow Ann's blog you definitely will want to for more exciting posts and giveaways!

HOT Offer! All You Magazine 6 month subscription for $6! Think Coupons!

Thank you All You and Amazon.com for easing our pockets a little in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays!

All You Magazine is well known in the couponing world for their great monthly coupons.  Today until October 25, 2011 you can get a 6 month subscription, which is one issue per month for only $6 on Amazon.com. I'm thinking that this will make a great gift for the coupon shoppers on my Christmas list!  Don't miss out!  Only $1 per issue!  Get this special offer here:  Amazon.com

*Notice the picture above.  It is the October 2011 edition and boasts having $61.40 in coupons inside! Not too bad for $1.

If you read about this tremendous offer here first please be polite and give a shout out with a link back.  Thank you.

KCWC Blog Tour --- Surrendered Sleep Blog Tour — September 19-23

KCWC BLOG TOUR
 Russ@kathycarltonwillis.com

Post by: Kathy Carlton Willis Communications

Surrendered Sleep
A Biblical Perspective
Dr. Charles W. Page
www.surrenderedsleep.com
Publisher: Camino Real Pub.
ISBN-10: 9-780-983-138105ISBN-13: 978-0-9831381-0-5 
Release Date: 9/15/2011

Paperback: 189 pages
Retail: $14.95

Book Summary

(Nacogdoches, TX) Sleep Clinics. Sleeping Pills. Sleep Systems. With all the focus on sleep, it’s obvious to anyone breathing (or not—in the case of sleep apnea) that sleep disorders are on everyone’s minds. Can’t fall asleep. Can’t stay asleep. So many problems, but so few zzzs.   Dr. Charles W. Page has been plagued with sleep deprivation his entire adult life. Whether from the rigorous unpredictable lifestyle of a general surgeon or dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Page sees sleep as a precious commodity. Many of his surgical patients also report sleep problems on their medical histories. It’s certainly a widespread problem.   Although there is extensive medical literature regarding sleep, insomnia and sleep disorders, there is little instruction about these issues from a Christian worldview. Sleep was God’s idea—why shouldn’t we go to the One who created rest in the first place for answers to our sleep problems. One of the reasons Dr. Page wrote Surrendered Sleep was to heighten people’s awareness of the spiritual side of sleep issues, which often goes neglected in health and medical literature.     BONUS FEATURE: Balin Jam (chapter 17 from Surrendered Sleep) Balin jam (“may you pass your night in peace”)—it’s how the Fulani people of western Africa say goodbye. This Fulani expression best captures the message of Surrendered Sleep. Passing your night in peace, from a biblical perspective, involves a whole lot more than sleeping well. It encompasses surrendering every aspect of sleep to God. The prerequisite for having peace as we lay down to sleep is a growing, vibrant relationship with God. Everything in our lives, including sleep, flows out of our pursuit of our loving Father in Heaven. The ability to sleep is a multifaceted gift given by God, who likewise pursues a love relationship with every individual on this planet.... MORE     Author Bio

Dr. Charles W. Page is a sleep-deprived surgeon. He completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and serves as surgeon in rural Texas. Dr. Page is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. In addition to his involvement in the teaching ministry of his local church, he has participated in medical mission trips to Cameroon, Pakistan, Milawe, Nigeria, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. He and his wife Joanna live in Texas with their five children.

Please Leave a comment related to this post below for a chance to win the Grand Prize.  Names will be submitted to KCWC from all blogs involved in the blog tour and one grand prize winner will be randomly chosen by KCWC September 30, 2011.

$69.35 Value Grand Prize Giveaway: Surrendered Sleep Products Surrendered Sleep - Book Surrendered Sleep - 8-Volume DVD Series Sleep Songs - CD of music from Fletch Wiley SLEEP - Lavender Vanilla Aromatherapy from Bath & BodyWorks Pillow Mist (4 oz) Body Wash & Foam Bath (2 oz) Lotion (2 oz) Candle (1.6 oz)