Giveaways Extended!

Sunday, May 31, 2009 Posted by Dina

I am extending the four giveaways that were ending tomorrow until July 1! Now you have 30 more opportunities to enter if you send a daily tweet ;-)
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2 comments:

Winners of Poster Print Giveaway!

Monday, May 25, 2009 Posted by Dina


The two winners of a 16x20" Poster Print from UPrinting.com have been selected, courtesy of Random.org!

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 10 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 2

Powered by RANDOM.ORG


Congratulations go to:

Comment #10 - LittlePeopleWealth who said: "I would love to use it to make a gift for my mother in law. She is always asking for pictures because she lives a thousand miles away :("

Comment #2 - fivemonkeysreview who said: "I blogged about it http://fivemonkiesreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/u-printingcom-giveawayjust-another-new.html"

The winners have been contacted and have claimed their prizes. If you did not win, check out our sponsor here: Online Poster Printing Company

I'd like to thank UPrinting.com for sponsoring this giveaway, and all those who entered.
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2 comments:

Pardon Our Dust!

Monday, May 25, 2009 Posted by Dina

I am in the process of making some changes to my blog's layout. If your button used to be on my sidebar - it will be back up soon! Same with my blog roll. Please be patient while I make long-overdue improvements!
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0 comments:

Jantsen's Gift by Pam Cope with Amy Molloy: Review and Giveaway (6/25) CLOSED

Monday, May 25, 2009 Posted by Dina

Book Description
Nine years ago, Pam Cope owned a cozy hair salon in the tiny town of Neosho, Missouri, and her life revolved around her son's baseball games, her daughter's dance lessons, and family trips to places like Disney World. She had never been out of the country, nor had she any desire to travel far from home.

Then, on June 16th, 1999, her life changed forever with the death of her 15-year-old son from an undiagnosed heart ailment.

Needing to get as far away as possible from everything that reminded her of her loss, she accepted a friend's invitation to travel to Vietnam, and, from the moment she stepped off the plane, everything she had been feeling since her son's death began to shift. By the time she returned home, she had a new mission: to use her pain to change the world, one small step at a time, one child at a time. Today, she is the mother of two children adopted from Vietnam. More than that, she and her husband have created a foundation called "Touch A Life," dedicated to helping desperate children in countries as far-flung as Vietnam, Cambodia and Ghana.

Pam Cope's story is on one level a moving, personal account of loss and recovery, but on a deeper level, it offers inspiration to anyone who has ever suffered great personal tragedy or those of us who dream about making a difference in the world.



My Review
I must admit it took me a while to read this book. Not because it is not interesting or well-written. Several times, its raw emotion moved me to tears and I had to put it down and take a break. As a parent, I cannot imagine anything worse than losing a child. On another level, I find the exploitation and suffering of children - no matter where and under what circumstances - despicable. Helping such children should indeed be a concern for every adult, whether it happens next door or halfway across the world.

Pam Cope is a mother who survives the tragedy of her loss, and finds the strength and courage to help kids whose fate is nothing more than a headline for most people. She is a remarkable woman who shows that even an ordinary person can make a difference in the lives of many. Jantsen's Gift has three parts: grief, rescue, and grace. The first is about Pam's personal heartbreak and the second about her work with at-risk children in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ghana. Even though the part entitled "Grace" is only a few pages, I feel this is a fitting word for Pam's entire journey.

The best description of what Jantsen's Gift is about comes from Pam Cope herself:

"This is the story of a journey that took seven years and the loss of everything I had. What I learned along the way is that maybe the answer to grief, or to feeling lost, is to give recklessly and passionately. It is in those acts of giving that you become open to receiving life's most tremendous blessings."

Clearly, I highly recommend this remarkable book. You can find it at booksellers nationwide, or enter to win one below.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Jantsen's Gift!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 25, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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67 comments:

Testimony by Anita Shreve: Review

Sunday, May 24, 2009 Posted by Dina

Testimony is the latest book by Anita Shreve, author of many bestselling novels, such as The Weight of Water and The Pilot's Wife. The book centers around a sex scandal in an exclusive New England private school. Like a stone thrown in a placid lake, the incident affects many lives.

Testimony is an engrossing read, similarly to a detective story or a thriller, although the scandalous event is revealed at the very beginning of the book. The author introduces the voices of many people, both participants and observers, each adding a different nuance to the narrative. It seems as if the reader is peeling a layer after layer, as yet another veil is removed and we learn more about the events before and after the scandal. The incident which sounds initially straightforward is not as simple as it seems. Ms. Shreve, a master storyteller, makes the reader a witness and a juror, leading us to question our perceptions of the blame and the morality of all players in this drama.

Testimony reminds us how small actions can have far-reaching results and one misstep can ruin many lifes, forever changing the world of those affected. I highly recommend this book - it is engaging and impossible to put down. You can buy Testimony at booksellers nationwide, or enter to win one of five copies!

I would like to thank Hachette Book Group for this review opportunity.
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1 comments:

Reminder: Poster Print Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!

Friday, May 22, 2009 Posted by Dina

There is still one day left to enter my giveaway for a poster print! If you have a great picture that you would love to see 16x20" on your wall, let me know in a comment. There will be two winners, and just a few people have entered - so your odds are excellent!
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0 comments:

Girls in Trucks: Review and Giveaway (6/22) CLOSED

Friday, May 22, 2009 Posted by Dina

Book Description
Sarah Walters, the narrator of GIRLS IN TRUCKS, is a reluctant Camellia Society debutante. She has always felt ill-fitted to the rococo ways of Southern womanhood and family, and is anxious to shake the bonds of her youth. Still, she follows the traditional path laid out for her. This is Charleston, and in this beautiful, dark, segregated town, established rules and manners mean everything.

But as Sarah grows older, she finds that her Camellia lessons fail her, particularly as she goes to college, moves North, and navigates love and life in New York. There, Sarah and her group of displaced deb sisters try to define themselves within the realities of modern life. Heartbreak, addiction, disappointing jobs and death fail to live up to the hazy, happy future promised to them by their Camellia mothers and sisters.

When some unexpected bumps in the road--an unplanned birth, a family death--lead Sarah back home, she's forced to take another long look at the fading empire of her youth. It takes a strange turn of events to finally ground Sarah enough to make some serious choices. And only then does she realize that as much as she tried to deny it, where she comes from will always affect where she ends up. The motto of her girlhood cotillion society, "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia," may turn out to have more wisdom and pull to it than she ever could have guessed.


My Review
The title of this charming book, Girls in Trucks, comes from one of the Camellias rules: proper girls should not be seen riding in a truck. However, Sarah Walters, the heroine, finds herself in trucks more often than not - and not just of the regular kind. She grows up in Charleston, with all the traditions and etiquette of her Southern society. Despite these many rules - or maybe because of them - she does not feel that she belongs. Sarah is a good girl who makes poor choices and an outsider who quietly rebels in her own way. Her search for a place to belong takes her up North, to school, a job, and a succession of relationships that never quite fit.

Sarah tells her fresh and funny story, even the sad parts, in the amused and slightly detached voice of an observer. Her first-person narrative is honest and straightforward. She does not seek excuses for her mistakes, nor does she want the sympathy of the reader. I could not help but like her, root for her and hope that her journey would end well.

I enjoyed reading Girls in Trucks - it's a national bestseller, by the way, and I think it deserves to be. It is also Katie Crouch's first book. Currently, she is working on her second - and I cannot wait to read it, too!

You can buy Girls in Trucks at booksellers nationwide. Or, you can enter my giveaway and win a copy!

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Girls in Trucks!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 22, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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126 comments:

Mix Shake Stir by Danny Meyer: Giveaway (6/19) CLOSED

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Posted by Dina


Can you mix a martini? I can't, unless I Google it ;-) I used to like vodka and orange juice, a concoction commonly called a screwdriver. Now I like to play it safe and usually have a glass of cabernet. What to do if you want to serve - or drink - something a little more complicated than wine and beer when you entertain? I came across a book written by an expert who can help you out! And teach me how to mix a drink without resorting to a search engine.

Book Description
The bartenders at Danny Meyer's wildly popular restaurants are known for their creative concoctions. Guests at Union Square Café or Gramercy Tavern expect not only the finest cuisine but also Meyer's special brand of hospitality that often begins with a Venetian Spritz or a Cranberry Daiquiri. In MIX SHAKE STIR, Meyer offers all the tips and tools needed to become a masterful mixologist and supplements the cocktail recipes with gourmet takes on bar snacks. There are over 100 recipes of bar classics, signature favorites, and original, refreshing libations--from the Modern's elegant mojito made with champagne and rose water to Tabla's Pomegranate Gimlet. Shaken or stirred, straight up or on the rocks, these cocktails make this collection an invaluable resource for elegant entertaining.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away THREE copies of Mix Shake Stir!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • tell me about your favorite drink;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 19, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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102 comments:

Smart Mama's Green Guide by Jennifer Taggart: Giveaway (6/23) CLOSED

Monday, May 18, 2009 Posted by Dina

I am a mom, and by definition, I am very concerned about the impact of chemicals and environmental hazards on my family's life. I try to take steps to minimize this impact - I buy organic produce, subscribe to the recall lists, check labels, etc. However, I find that it becomes increasingly harder to keep up - without getting an advanced degree in, say, chemistry.

I am very excited to introduce to you a new book by Jennifer Taggart that can help you navigate the complex world of environmental risks and make informed decisions about reducing or eliminating what your children may be exposed to. I do not have a copy of the book yet but am looking forward to reviewing it. The book will be published on June 24, 2009, and you can be among the first to read it!

Book Information

Parents often feel overwhelmed and defenseless against a never-ending recall list of toys and baby products. Deciphering unpronounceable chemicals they encounter every day can be daunting if not impossible. With environmental exposures being closely linked to 70 percent of birth defects, new parents faced with the overwhelming responsibility for their babies' health frequently turn to organic products. But they quickly find they don't have the time to practice a completely green or natural lifestyle.

SMART MAMA'S GREEN GUIDE delivers the information busy parents want and the tools to make informed, individual choices without the demand to go all-out green. Packed with practical tips on eliminating or reducing the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals that lurk everywhere, this book will empower readers to control what comes into their homes and make informed decisions instead of relying on government regulation of harmful chemicals.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have the opportunity to give away FIVE copies of Smart Mama's Green Guide!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • tell me how you handle recalls and/or environmental risks;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 23, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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58 comments:

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson: Giveaway (6/16) CLOSED

Monday, May 18, 2009 Posted by Dina


Book Description
Lauren Gray Hawthorne needs to make things pretty, whether she's helping her mother keep family skeletons in the closet or sewing her acclaimed art quilts. Her estranged sister, Thalia, is her opposite, an impoverished actress who prides herself on exposing the lurid truths lurking behind middle class niceties.

While Laurel's life seems neatly on track-- a passionate marriage, a treasured daughter, a lovely suburban home-- everything she holds dear is threatened the night she is visited by the ghost of her 13-year-old neighbor Molly. The ghost leads Laurel to the real Molly, floating lifelessly in the Hawthorne's backyard pool. Molly's death is an unseemly mystery that no one in her whitewashed neighborhood is up to solving. Laurel enlists Thalia's help, even though she knows it comes with a high price tag.

Together, they set out on a life-altering journey that triggers startling revelations about their family's haunted past, the true state of Laurel's marriage, and the girl who stopped swimming.


Praise for The Girl Who Stopped Swimming
"A ghost story, family psychodrama, and murder mystery all in one. Jackson's latest is a wild, smartly calibrated achievement. A-." - Entertainment Weekly

"...spellbinding southern-gothic tale...." - Family Circle

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 16, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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116 comments:

Obama's Blackberry by Kasper Hauser: Giveaway (6/16) CLOSED

Monday, May 18, 2009 Posted by Dina


Book Information
When Obama stated that if elected, he would keep his Blackberry, debate echoed through Washington and among the ranks of the Secret Service. What would it be like to have a president who could Twitter, send text messages, and navigate the web with ease? What would it be like to receive a text message from inside the Oval Office and, most importantly, what would it say?

Now, for the first time, We The People are privy to our new leader's epistolary back-and-forths on his wily hand-held device. We're about to discover that his emails (and the replies, from his wife and daughters, Biden, Palin, Rush, Hannity, the new first puppy, and even Bush) are so tuned in to the language of electronic correspondence they come hilariously close to the brink of legibility.

This giftable, imagined glimpse into Obama's beloved Blackberry traverses the mundane and momentous contours of the Commander in Chief's life, from security briefings to spam, basketball practice to domestic bliss, and the panic of oops-I-hit-reply-all, to, of course, the trauma of dealing with the First Mother In Law.

To wit:
BARACKO: M rly busy
BidenMyTime: Right :( Can I lv at 4:45?

And if you're not convinced about how funny the Kasper Hauser crew is, you can check out their videos from their previous book, SkyMaul.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of Obama's Blackberry to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add this giveaway - or any of my current giveaways - to a Mr. Linky and let me know where to find it - you get two entries for every giveaway that you help promote, leave a separate comment for each;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 16, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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43 comments:

I've Been Tagged!

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Posted by Dina

Janet from Grammy Janet's Place has tagged me for the meme 6 unimportant things that make me happy!

The way it works is easy, I mention the person who tagged me, list 6 unimportant things that make me happy, then tag 6 more lucky bloggers. I am changing this a bit because I had to list 7 things that make me happy and therefore 7 bloggers! So, we have a 6a ;-)

The 6 - well 7 - unimportant things that make me happy - in no particular order:

1. Looking at clear blue sky
2. The smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning
3. Warm homemade bread
4. Spring flowers
5. The crisp pages of a new book
6. The warmth of laundry just out of the dryer
6a. Track #6 on my Yanni Voices CD

The bloggers that I am tagging:

1. Heidi from Little People's Wealth
2. Michelle from Flying Giggles and Lollipops
3. Sasha from The Last Blog on Earth
4. Piera from Jolly Mom
5. Mariana from Riding with No Hands
6. Angela from Barefoot Mommies
6a. Candace from "Deal"ectible Mommies
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1 comments:

Bobbi Brown Living Beauty: Review

Saturday, May 16, 2009 Posted by Dina

"I've learned that it's not about looking young for your age - it's about looking great for your age. It's not about a number on the scale - it's about being strong... It's not about striving for perfection - it's about being really good. It's not about doing more - it's about learning to do less. And it's not about having more - it's about having better."

This is a quote from the conclusion of Bobbi Brown' Living Beauty. Bobbi Brown, an internationally renowned makeup artist, founder and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and author of three bestselling books, clearly is an expert on looking beautiful. Although she can give you some of the best beauty tips - and she does in this book - Living Beauty is not about that. It is about celebrating what beauty really means. Some remarkable women talk about what beauty, aging, and looking good means to them. The first chapter of Living Beauty has words of wisdom by Susan Sarandon, Vera Wang, Lorraine Bracco, Ann Curry, Rita Wilson, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Steenburgen, Vanessa Williams - women who the world has admired for years, role models for elegance and beauty. Their voices are different but I see a common theme: true beauty comes from self-confidence and knowing who you are. Next, Bobbi Brown dedicates a chapter each on skin, makeup, hair, and wardrobe. In addition, there are examples of head-to-toe makeovers, remarkable before- and after pictures of regular-looking women that show how little we need sometimes to look our best.

One thing I did not expect to find in this book was the chapter called The Real Fountain of Youth. No, it's not about makeup tips or plastic surgery. It is about eating well and exercising! Here Bobbi shares her best advice about healthy food and fitness. It is refreshing to learn that the world-renowned makeup expert believes beauty is not possible without good health. I happen to agree with her.

This is an honest and truthful book about celebrating beauty. Read it - and then get one for each of your girlfriends, too!

You can buy Bobbi Brown Living Beauty at booksellers nationwide. Or, you can enter my giveaway and be one of five lucky readers to win a copy!

A big thanks to Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to review this book!
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How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp: Review

Saturday, May 16, 2009 Posted by Dina

I received a review copy of How Not to Look Old, courtesy of Hachette Book Group. I started leafing through it last night, and could not put it down! Charla Krupp, who has an impressive list of fashion and beauty experience, has put together a collection of great advice any woman can use.

The book is divided into 19 chapters, each focused on a specific beauty or style topic: from hair to eyewear to wardrobe. Krupp draws on her vast experience as editor of magazines such as Glamour, InStyle, and More to come up with valuable tips on how not to look old. In the first chapter, you can take a short quiz to help define your maintenance level: high, medium, or low. In every section, you can find advice for all three groups. Depending on how serious you are about being young and hip - and how much money you have to spend on fashion and beauty buys - you can find suggestions for your nails, hands, teeth, clothing, and jewelry.

The book is very well organized, with Too Old and Just Right descriptions, To Do sections, and Please Don't advice. The photographs of celebrities - both in their too old and just right versions - let you see right away what a difference a softer make up or a different haircut makes. These tips are not just for movie stars - three moms, all over 40, are seen in before and after shots. In each chapter, there is a list of Briliant Buys - recommended quality cosmetic products and where to find them. As you can expect, many are rather expensive - but you can also find some that are quite affordable and can be found at mass retailers such as Target and Walgreens.

I know that some of the pricey products are not what I would buy right now. However, there are tons of Briliant Buys that anyone can afford. If you keep a close eye on all those bargains after coupon or rebate available at drugstores, you might just score some for free!

I especially enjoyed reading how to find the perfect pair of jeans and how to choose eyeglasses. The make up, teeth and wardrobe advice are something any woman should read - even if you are in your 20s or 30s and not that concerned about looking old. For example - did you know there is a Good Gums Diet, in addition to the White Teeth "Diet"? Most of us are aware that coffee and red wine darken teeth - but not that some raw vegetables scrub away stains.

You can buy How Not to Look Old at book retailers nationwide. Or, you can enter my giveaway here and be one of FIVE lucky readers who will get this valuable book for free!
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1 comments:

Poster Print Giveaway (5/23) CLOSED

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Posted by Dina

I love taking pictures! I photograph my family, buildings, flowers, you name it. I have thousands of digital images on my computer. A few days ago, I used one of my nature shots in my Happy Mother's Day post. One thing I am not that good about is printing pictures out. For a while now, I have wanted to frame some of my favorites and hang them up. We own a few professional photos printed on canvas, and I think they look even better than the ones printed on paper. I am considering a company I found recently, U-Printing, for my prints on canvas order.

U-Printing is an online printing company that provides quality printing at affordable prices. They have been in business for over 25 years, and offer a wide array of printing services, from brochures and business cards to vinyl banners, wall graphics, postcards, stickers, and greeting cards. You can find their product selection here. Among many other items, they offer poster prints in various sizes.

U-Printing have offered a 16x20" Poster Print to TWO of my readers!

You can enter one of two ways:

- leave a comment explaining how you would creatively use your 16x20" Poster Print;

-
write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway post and to www.uprinting.com.

Feel free to do both and double your chances of winning!

The deadline to enter is May 23, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Two winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open worldwide - but unless you live in the U.S. or Canada, you would be responsible for shipping. Shipping of the photo poster prize is free for U.S. and Canada residents.

Good luck!
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16 comments:

Gift Good Health: Giveaway (6/16) CLOSED

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Posted by Dina

Today, health information is everywhere: on the internet, in magazines, in books and pamphlets you find at the doctor's office. Maybe you have friends or family who seem to know everything there is to know about certain medical conditions. It is vital to find, however, quality health information. For me, the ultimate source is my doctors. I do not see them all the time, and when I do, I try to address all important concerns that I have. I believe that in health care, as well as in any other area, everyone should be an educated consumer. When I go to the doctor's office, I need to be prepared and know to ask the right questions.

Recently, I came across three new books that address various health issues. Two of them are written by medical professionals, and one is based on personal experience. Whether you are a parent or simply interested in how nutrition affects brain and behavior, you may find these books helpful. Read on...

Book Information
THE NDD BOOK by William Sears, M.D.

The Sears Parenting Library's latest addition is an exploration of how nutrition affects the brains and behavior of youngsters. N.D.D., or Nutrition Deficit Disorder, as coined by Dr. Bill Sears, is based on the idea that if "you put junk food into a child's brain, you get back junk behavior and learning."

Dr. Sears will explore the latest scientific research on the effects of nutrition on the brain. He will present case studies of his own patients who were diagnosed as "N.D.D." and showed major improvement in learning and behavior with diet change. Instead of simply medicating his patients, Dr. Sears looked for a better solution--in fact, with better nutrition, many of his patients were able to greatly reduce or even stop their medication. The book will also provide parents with a prescription, shopping and meal tips, and recipes to make implementing a healthier lifestyle that much easier.

THE N.D.D. BOOK will be a must-have for all parents who want to help their children become healthier, happier, and better prepared to learn.


THE G-FREE DIET
By Elisabeth Hasselbeck

For years, Elisabeth Hasselbeck couldn't figure out what was making her sick. She asked doctors and consulted nutritionists, but no one seemed to have any answers. It wasn't until spending time in the Australian Outback, living off the land on the grueling Survivor TV show, that, ironically, her symptoms vanished. Returning home, she pinpointed the food that made her sick -- gluten, the binding element in wheat. By simply eliminating it from her diet, she was able to enjoy a completely normal, healthy life. But that wasn't all. Hasselbeck discovered the myriad benefits that anyone can enjoy from a gluten-free diet: from weight loss and increased energy to even the alleviation of the conditions of autism.

In this all-inclusive book, Hasselbeck shares her hard-earned wisdom on living life without gluten and loving it. She gives you everything you need to know to start living a gluten-free life, from defining gluten - where to find it, how to read food labels - to targeting gluten-free products, creating G-Free shopping lists, sharing recipes, and managing G-Free living with family and friends.

IF YOUR KID EATS THIS BOOK EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE OKAY
By Lara Zibners, MD

As an Emergency Room pediatrician, Dr. Lara Zibners has seen it all. She's cared for a portion of the 25 million children in the U.S. who are taken to the ER each year-and she knows that more than 50% of these visits may be unnecessary. IF YOUR KID EATS THIS BOOK, EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE OKAY shows parents when they may need to take action, and when they might be able to just go back to bed and call their doctor in the morning. With sections such as "In the Diaper" and "His Noggin and the Nervous System," Dr. Zibners covers every part of the body and offers sound advice (for example, did you know that oil is the best remedy for dissolving superglue between body parts?), all while maintaining a lively and often hilarious tone. To the question, "What if she chokes on her vomit?" Zibners answers, "A healthy child will not choke on her own vomit, unless she is drunk or high on Grandma's sleeping pills."

Finally, no more frantic late-night searches through the "why to buy," "how to diaper," or "what to feed him" sections found in other childcare books to find out if little Franny needs to go to the ER. This book focuses on the truly important questions, like how to keep her from electrocuting herself in the first place. Not every child has a pediatrician with specialized emergency room experience living in her home. But this book just might be the next best thing.


The Giveaway
How would you like to have these books? For yourself, or to pass the gift of good health to someone you know? Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE SETS of the three books to give away to FIVE lucky readers!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • tell me where you find health information;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is June 16, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One set of books per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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105 comments:

Testimony by Anita Shreve: Giveaway (7/1) CLOSED

Monday, May 11, 2009 Posted by Dina

* Update: read my review here! *
Book Information

At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment.

Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with the impact of a thriller. No one more compellingly explores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, the needs and fears that drive ordinary men and women into intolerable dilemmas, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.



Praise for Testimony
"Shreve, consummate craftsman and frequent provocateur, is on fire in her latest novel, a mesmerizing read centering on a sex scandal at a prestigious Vermont prep school....Shreve views all of the characters, even the most flawed, with a good deal of compassion, revealing the heartbreaking consequences of a single reckless act."--- Joanne Wilkinson, Booklist (starred review)

About the Author
Anita Shreve is the critically acclaimed author of fourteen novels, including Body Surfing, The Pilot's Wife, which was a selection of Oprah's Book Club, and The Weight of Water, which was a finalist for England's Orange Prize. She lives in Massachusetts.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of Testimony to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is July 1, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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115 comments:

Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts: Giveaway (7/1) CLOSED

Monday, May 11, 2009 Posted by Dina


* Update: Check out my new review! *
Book Information

The bestselling author of WHERE THE HEART IS returns with a heartrending tale of two children in search of a place to call home.

Lutie McFee's history has taught her to avoid attachments... to people, to places, and to almost everything. With her mother long dead and her father long gone to find his fortune in Las Vegas, 15-year-old Lutie lives in the god-forsaken town of Spearfish, South Dakota with her twelve-year-old brother, Fate, and Floy Satterfield, the 300-pound ex-girlfriend of her father.

While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas. As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind.

MADE IN THE U.S.A. is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place they can finally call home.



Praise for Made in the U.S.A.
"A heartbreaking tale about love, loss and survival that will stick with the reader long after the last page is turned." --- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Gripping...unflinching...Letts's best work since her stunning debut novel." --- Associated Press

"Heartfelt...Letts is at the top of her game." --- Dallas Morning News

"Deeply moving and entertaining."--- New York Post

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of Made in the U.S.A. to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is July 1, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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119 comments:

Bobbi Brown Living Beauty: Giveaway (7/1) CLOSED

Monday, May 11, 2009 Posted by Dina


*Update: read my review here!*
Book Information

Bobbi Brown began the trend toward natural-looking cosmetics with a simple philosophy: Women want to look and feel like themselves, only prettier and more confident. Today, top editors at elite fashion magazines--including In Style, Vogue, Allure, and Harpers Bazaar--revere her, and celebrities and millions of regular women throughout the world swear by her beauty advice. Now Bobbi Brown has written THE book redefining beauty for women over 40, BOBBI BROWN LIVING BEAUTY.

In this refreshing look at beauty and aging, Bobbi offers specific makeup tricks for a stunning face--showing how makeup can solve most of the flaws that many women go under the knife to fix. In fact, the right makeup can create an even skin tone, lift the cheeks, plump a smile...even take years off any woman's face. The key is to use makeup to enhance each woman's best features and showcase her natural beauty. With step-by-step makeup instructions and quotes from beautiful women like Marcia Gay Harden, Vera Wang, Susan Sarandon, and Lorraine Bracco, Bobbi Browns natural, celebratory approach to aging will enlighten and inspire women everywhere.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of Bobbi Brown Living Beauty to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is July 1, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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44 comments:

How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp: Giveaway (7/1) CLOSED

Monday, May 11, 2009 Posted by Dina


*Update: read my review here!*
Book Information

In her book, Charla Krupp, beauty editor and expert who is known for her real woman's approach to looking fabulous, offers brutally frank and foolproof advice on how not to look old.

Charla Krupp knows that aging sucks! So she's here to help. It's every woman's dream: looking hip, sexy, fresh, and pretty--whether you're in your 30's, 40's, 50's, or 60's. Now it's every woman's necessity: looking younger will help you hold onto your job and your partner--particularly when everyone around you seems half your age. It's about making the ultimate "to-do" list of LITTLE beauty and fashion changes that pay off BIG TIME.

How Not to Look Old is a 15-week New York Times bestseller.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of How Not to Look Old to give away!

To enter, please leave a comment below. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address if not visible in your blogger profile.

For extra entries, you can do one or all of the following - please leave a separate comment for each:
  • tell me what was the last book you enjoyed reading;
  • follow my blog (see right sidebar);
  • subscribe to my feed by e-mail (see right sidebar);
  • blog about this giveaway linking to this post and get 2 entries;
  • email three people about this giveaway and copy me;
  • follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name;
  • tweet about this giveaway and comment with the link to your tweet – you can do this once a day;
  • add my blog to your Technorati favorites (click on link or see right sidebar);
  • enter another one of my giveaways and leave a comment you did.
The deadline to enter is July 1, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. You will have 72 hours to get back to me, or another winner will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!
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53 comments:

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday, May 10, 2009 Posted by Dina

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1 comments:

Winners of By the Book Giveaway

Sunday, May 10, 2009 Posted by Dina

The winners of By the Book: How to Take Care of MY Child have been selected, courtesy of Random.org.

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 1 Powered by RANDOM.ORG


True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 14 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations go to:

Comment #1 - Anonymous who said: "Section IV: All Things Medical pertains to my family--we are so accident prone! I think this book would help me prepare my mother-in-law for emergency situations and the frequent bumps and bruises that happen when you watch a preschooler. She tends to freak out a little! Renee yeloechikee at hotmail dot com".

Comment #14 -Flying Giggles and Lollipops who said: " favorited you on technorati".

The winners have been contacted, and have claimed their prizes.

If you are not the lucky winner, you can still take advantage of the special offer:
use code BTBK7757 (case-sensitive) and get a 25% discount on the hardbound edition.

Thanks to all who entered.
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