Spring Cleaning Giveaway

It is that time of year when people start to think Spring.  The weather is starting to warm up, days are getting longer, and spring break is upon us.  We are even springing forward this weekend, not that I'm a fan of that, because I lose an hour of sleep, but spring forward we must.  Springtime brings with it new life in the grass, flowers, animals, etc.  Another place where it brings new life is in the home.  This time of year, we find ourselves doing spring cleaning.  Why, maybe because we've been cooped up for the winter and it's time to start anew.  Whatever the reason, many of us do it. 

 

Today, I have 2 books to offer you that just might help you in the area of spring cleaning.  Hachette has generously let me giveaway 1 copy of each book.

 

MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN HOME

When Thelma Meyer tells it to you, she tells it straight: Clean the kitchen daily! Don't waste anything (not even the water leftover from those potatoes you just boiled)! Always work hard!

 

Now for the first time, Thelma's sage advice is being made available in this revolutionary cleaning guide chock full of practical tips and secrets based on the premise that life is hectic and messy -- and so keeping your house clean and nice is the only sensible thing to do. With shortcuts and tips for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME contains unexpected advice such as:

 

--Never use vinegar and water on wood floors. One part dish soap and four parts water is the only way to truly get them clean. And remember to buff with a terrycloth towel.

 

--Always clean out the fridge before grocery shopping. Serve the kids "Musko" ("must go") for dinner, using the items that were fast approaching expiration.

 

--Wash windows on a cloudy day to avoid the nasty streaking that happens when the sun's out and glass dry too fast.

 

MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME is two parts common sense and one part inspiration. Read it and learn how to clean like the dickens.

 

THROW OUT FIFTY THINGS

"Our lives are so filled with junk from the past-from dried up tubes of glue to old grudges-that it's a wonder we can get up in the morning," exclaims motivator, best-selling author, columnist, and life coach Gail Blanke.

"If you want to grow, you gotta let go," is Blanke's mantra; and that means eliminating all the clutter-physical and emotional-that holds you back, weighs you down, or just makes you feel bad about yourself.

In THROW OUT FIFTY THINGS she takes us through each room of the house-from the attic to the garage-and even to the far reaches of our minds. Through poignant and humorous stories, she inspires us to get rid of the "life plaque" we've allowed to build-up there.

 

-That junk drawer (you know that drawer) in the kitchen? Empty it!

 

-Those old regrets? Throw 'em out!

 

-That make-up from your "old" look? Toss it!

 

-That relationship that depresses you? Dump it!

 

Once you've hit fifty-you'll be surprised how easy it is to get there-and once you've thrown out that too-tight belt and too-small view of yourself, you'll be ready to step out into the clearing and into the next, and greatest, segment of your life.

This contest is open to US and Canada addresses; no PO boxes please.  The contest starts today, March 6 and will run until Thu, Mar 12 at midnight.  I will draw the 2 names, randomly from all the entries, and post the winners on Fri, Mar 13.  Good luck to everyone!

To enter, just leave a comment telling me which book you would like to win.  As always, you may earn extra entries for:

• Following my blog through Blogger, a reader, RSS feed - 1 extra entry
• Following me on Twitter and tweeting about the contest - 1 extra entry
• Blogging about this contest - 2 extra entries

 

 

Friday Fill-Ins - 3/6/09

1. Taking a friend a plate of bbq while he was working was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place, Warren, AR, today, 1941, my father was born.

3. I'm no expert in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or diet coke with cherry is what I'd prefer.

5. We were once on separate paths.

6. Our visit to the funeral home reminds me that there is no time like the present to tell someone you love them.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working at the rodeo, tomorrow my plans include resting, laundry, and visiting friends and Sunday, I want to read!

Boomtown Bonanza

I just learned of a giveaway that I wanted to alert you to. Over at The Bookworm's Booklist, there is an autographed copy of Boomtown and an autographed, full-color map of the city of Boomtown up for grabs. This contest is running until Monday, March 16th.  Head on over there and check it out!  Here is a link to Boomtown so that you can see what it's all about.

Thursday's Thoughts - week of 3/5

I am participating in Thursday's Thoughts this week. It is something I've wanted to do for a while, so here goes nothing. This week's question is from Jennifer at The Literate Housewife Review.

What are your earliest childhood memories? How old were you at the time? Why do you think those memories are what stayed? How are those memories important to you?

I'm not really sure if it is my earliest, but it is one that stands out to me and one that I'll never forget.  I believe it was around Valentine's Day or Easter, and my brother and I were sitting in the middle of my bed sharing candy.  We had been eating chocolate and then he wanted a piece of butterscotch, his favorite.  Well, I'm the big sister and I doted on him so of course I gave him what he wanted.  How was I to know that he hadn't completely finished his chocolate candy?  Anyway, he started choking on the butterscotch because he swallowed it before he dissolved it or chewed it up.  Talked about scared!  I ran to my parents who yanked him up and commenced to shake him upside down.  I remember my mom being on the phone with the doctor while I just waited at the front door.  I was watching out the glass door, begging the ambulance to hurry, praying for my brother not to die.  What if I killed him?  The doctor told my mom to tell my dad to turn my brother right side up and beat him on the back.  He did, for what seemed like ever, and the candy just popped out!

I must have been 4 or 5 when this happened, which would make my brother 3 or 4 at the time.  We are 18 months apart.  I think it has stayed with me because I felt so responsible for what happened.  My parents were mad at me at the time, but also knew that it wasn't entirely my fault.  Yes I had given him the candy, but he was okay and that was all that mattered.  Needless to say, I don't think we were left unattended to eat candy for awhile.

This memory is important to me today because yesterday my brother's first child was born.  I love my brother and would have been devastated if something had happened to him that night.  He is now a father and is experiencing a new kind of love, the love for a child.  Congratulations little brother; you are going to be a great daddy!

Wednesday Wanderings 3/4/09

I wander around the blogosphere and bring you what I find.

This week's wanderings post will be short and sweet.  I just want to point each of you to the Book Giveaway Carnival that is going on over at Bookroom Reviews  this week.  There are many, many giveaways for you to choose from. 

Oh, and one more thing.  Many of you follow me on Twitter and know that my sister-in-law went into labor yesterday.  Well, my nephew was born yesterday at 2 PM.  I am so excited and couldn't wait to share him with you.  This isn't the best picture, but it's one my brother sent from his phone yesterday before I could leave school and get to the hospital.

Welcome to the world, Brayden!

I am a very proud aunt and plan on immediate spoiling!

Review and Giveaway: Everyone is Beautiful

Title: Everyone is Beautiful
Author: Katherine Center
Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotion

About the Book: Lanie Coates’s life is spinning out of control. She’s piled everything she owns into a U-Haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multiflight walkup in the Northeast. She’s left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life–all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too. If only she could remember what they were.
These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last–and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it’s the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she’s willing to count since the day she said “I do,” Lanie longs desperately to feel like her old self again. It’s time to rise up, fish her moxie out of the diaper pail, and find the woman she was before motherhood capsized her entire existence.
Lanie sets change in motion–joining a gym, signing up for photography classes, and finding a new best friend. But she also creates waves that come to threaten her whole life. In the end, Lanie must figure out once and for all how to find herself without losing everything else in the process.


My Review: Dorothy asked me to take on this book at the last minute, and boy, am I so glad that I agreed! It's been quite awhile since I've picked up an adult fiction novel that I couldn't put down. This was one of those reads. I fell into this story, fell in love with Lanie and her family, and continuously rooted for her until the very end of the book. Katherine Center has written a "real" story. By "real," I mean Lanie could be the stay at home mom down the street. What woman that got married and had kids, hasn't had regrets, dreams that they put on hold, wished their life had been different somehow, etc.? Lanie's story is just that. It's about what really happens in a marriage, the emotions that are out there, and the way women feel but are sometimes so afraid to talk about. I admire Lanie's character. She had what she loved, a husband who took care of her and three beautiful children, but she wasn't happy with herself and what she had become. She loved the men in her life, but she didn't love herself, not completely. Why do I admire her then? She did what she had to do, put herself last, to put her family first. That's the way I was raised and the way I thought it was supposed to be. Lanie learned differently and I have too. Yes, she needs to put her family first, but she learns that she can do things for herself, to better herself and make herself happy, without sacrificing her family. Doing for Lanie, makes Lanie a better person and in the end, makes her family stronger. I kept thinking that Peter was going to have an affair and hurt Lanie, because most novels I read turn out that way. Boy, was I wrong; thank goodness. Nothing was as I expected, and that's what kept me so intriguied by this book. Center has, in my opinion, a bestseller on her hands.

GIVEAWAY

I was so moved by this novel that I immediately emailed the author just gushing with praise for this book. She actually lives not too far from me and is doing a book reading in town that I am anxious to attend. She emailed me back the next day, with these words, "Thank you so much for your kind note--and for taking the time to write it. It is always great to get good feedback! " I emailed back and asked if she would want to give one of my readers the opportunity to win her book. Well, Jayne at Ballentine Books contacted me today with the news that yes, we could definitely do the giveaway. So, there you have it. One of you will win a copy of Katherine Center's Everyone is Beautiful. All you have to do is comment here about one thing you find beautiful about yourself. Be sure to leave your email address if you are not a blogger.

This contest is open to US and Canadian addresses. Please no PO boxes as the book will be coming from the publisher. You can earn extra entries by doing any of the following:

1. 
   
   Follow this blog in Blogger, in a reader, or through RSS feed - 1 extra entry
2. 
   
   Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway - 2 extra entries
3. 
   
   Blog about this and link back to my site - 3 extra entries

You could possibly earn 7 entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry you do. I am running this giveaway in conjuction with the Book Giveaway Carnival, so you have until Mar. 8th to enter. A winner will be drawn randomly on Mar. 9th, emailed and posted on this blog.

Mailbox Monday - 3/2/09

I apologize for this post being late today.  I was in the middle of a great book last night that I just couldn't put down, so I didn't get this post ready.  I was reading Everyone is Beautiful; look for the review and a giveaway tomorrow.

Anyway, here is what arrived at my house last week.  Mailbox Monday is brought to us each week by The Printed Page.

Morning in a Different Place by Mary Ann McGuigan - from The Picnic Basket

Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells - from The Well Read Child

Loose Leashes by Amy Schmidt - from The Well Read Child

The Milo & Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Stinky Socks by Lewis B. Montgomery - from The Picnic Basket

Refined in the Furnace of Affliction by John McCulloch - from Bostick Communications

Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Doreen Rappaport - from The Picnic Basket

The Mommy Interviews by Kristy Stratton-Tolley - from the author

Wrigley Field's Last World Series by Charles N. Billington - from Lake Claremont Press

Our White House: Looking In Looking Out by the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance

Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace - from Knopf Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell - from Knopf Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

Carolina Harmony by Marilyn Taylor McDowell - from Knopf Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

What books came into your house?

Blog Link-Up #6 - 3/1/09

Wow!  Can you believe it's already March?  Where have the first 2 months gone?  I am a little late getting this post out to you because I worked at the rodeo cook-off yesterday.  The Houston Rodeo begins Tuesday and will run for 3 weeks.  My husband and I are both on a committee, so it takes up alot of our free time during it's run.  We love it though!

Now, for this week's blog posts by my blogging buddies.  Make sure you head on over and see what they chose as their favorite posts this past week.





Devourer of Books was visited this week by author, Robin Maxwell, who stopped by to do a guest post.  She talked about the Italian Renaissance and Leonardo Da Vinci.  From this post, you can link to a review of Signora Da Vinci, and/or enter to win 1 of 2 copies of the book that she has to giveaway.

Beth Fish Reads has a review of Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke.  She reviewed the audio version as this was for a book challenge that she needed to complete.  She says, "There is much to like about the story."

Are You There God? I Got My Period is a review post by Bookroom Reviews of My Little Red Book.  I will be reviewing and giving away a copy of this book this week, so I enjoyed reading her thoughts about it.

My Friend Amy wants to talk about book signings this week.  What are your thoughts on the subject?  BTW, the book signing she went to was Dan Simmons, the author of Drood, which is a book that many of us toured this week on the blogosphere. 

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn was reviewed by Wendi's Book Corner.  This is the 3rd book in a mystery series and Wendi says, "I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down!"

Finally for this week, Carrie at Books and Movies has marked a number of books to read from the March/April issue of Bookmarks Magazine.

I hope you enjoyed this week's edition of the round-up.  This is not an exclusive group, so if you are interested in participating, we can talk.