I have winners to announce - the last round for this year. Congratulations go to the following commenters:

Organic Canadian Raw Honey from Tropical Traditions: #33 { Mom of 3 Dolls } - this is a redraw;

Scrabble Pendant from YumYumPendants: #203 blueviolet;

Girl on Top from Hachette Book Group: #16 Benita, #57 ossmcalc, #10 LV, #84 Laura, and #19 enyl;

Dolphin Explorer Boat from Sprig Toys:#69 janetfaye.

All winners have been contacted and claimed their prizes.

Happy New Year to all my readers, and many thanks to our sponsors!

Book Description
Finding true love is possible in just 90 days. Renowned clinical psychologist, Dr. Diana Kirschner, uses the latest research, clinical and personal experience to show you how. Dr. Diana knows the questions single women everywhere face: "Why am I attracted to the wrong kind of guys?" "Why is he just not that into me?" "Why can't I seem to find the One?" She also knows the unconscious mistakes that women make over and over again in love-regardless of age, work success, or the type of men they are dating.

Over the years Dr. Diana has received countless inquiries from single women about writing a how-to guide on her work. Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love is that book.

Love in 90 Days is fun, savvy and based on the latest research on singles, online dating and healthy relationships. Loaded with step-by-step instructions, checklists, and weekly homework assignments, this revolutionary love book is also an intensely personal journey for each reader. Love in 90 Days guides you along your own path towards self discovery with proven and effective dating advice and tough love. Dr. Diana dispels common misconceptions about love relationships and dating, and share personal stories from women who have successfully completed the Love in 90 Days Program. There's also a chapter devoted to the special issues faced by African-American women, single mothers, and women forty-five and older.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of  Love in 90 Days by Dr. Diana Kirschner, PhD!

To enter, leave a comment who in your life would benefit from reading Love in 90 Days.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of  Love in 90 Days by Dr. Diana Kirschner, PhD #books #Giveaway ends 1/12 @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/yh68snn" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is January 12, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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.

One of my major discoveries this year in bodycare has been goat milk soap. It may not sound as a big deal to you, but to someone with my dry and sensitive skin, it truly is. If I use the wrong kind of soap or detergent, at best my skin gets really dry - and at worst, I break out in hives and itch all over. That never happens when I use soap made of goat milk.

The people behind Creamery Creek Farm have been making goat milk soap for over 10 years. On a small family farm located 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, they raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, Oberhaslis, heritage chickens and hotot rabbits. I found out from their website that Nigerian Dwarf goats, apart from being the cutest little goats I've seen, give milk that is higher in butterfat, sweeter, and has more protein than milk from most dairy goat breeds. These loveable creatures produce a surprising amount of milk for their small size - up to two quarts per day or more.   

Creamery Creek Farm makes goat milk soap in a variety of yummy fragrances, as well as unscented. Their soap is handcrafted and retains its glycerin, along with the moisturizing benefits. In addition, goat milk has amino acids and vitamin A to nourish the skin. For this review, I received a bar each of Honey Almond Oatmeal, Moroccan Nights, Vanilla Bean, Lime Sugar and Red Clover Tea - plus a sample of Mango Mandarin, all carefully packaged in pink tissue paper. Each bar weighs about 6-7 oz and is stamped with an image of a goat - the Creamery Creek Farm logo - and the words Creamery Creek on one side. All these soaps contain is fresh goat milk, saponified skin loving oils - such as olive, coconut, palm, castor, shea butter, and soybean - and fragrance or essential oil.

I love all the fragrances I received. The names are pretty much self-explanatory. I should mention that Moroccan Nights combines chocolate - one of my favorite scents - with sandalwood for a very nice, exotic fragrance. The Honey Almond Oatmeal contains ground oatmeal for a mild exfoliation. I love the description of the Vanilla Bean: "A lush and exotic blend of the vanilla orchid and vanilla bean imported from Madagascar, with sweet amber and vanilla bourbon with hints of soft woods and musk." Sounds almost poetic! And check out what the site says about Red Clover Tea: "A bright fruity bouquet with top notes of raspberry, pineapple, nectarine, and green tea. The heart blends white lilies, sweet pea, muguet, and red clover. Contemporary with fresh marine notes and soft sensual musk." A symphony for your senses!

I found that the soaps from Creamery Creek Farm are creamy, mild and gentle on the skin. They moisturize, rejuvenate, and do not irritate my skin. The soaps produce just right amount of lather to provide a luxurious, pampering experience. My skin is happy - and so am I! I am not a soap expert but I can tell you that once you try handcrafted goat milk soap, it's hard to go back to commercially available soaps. I am very happy with my soaps from Creamery Creek Farm, and recommend that you try them!

You can see the full list of fragrances offered by Creamery Creek Farm on the left side of their site. The soaps are priced at $5 each, and shipping is $5 for 1-5 bars and $10 for 6-20 bars.

The Giveaway
Creamery Creek Farm are generously giving away a set of THREE SOAPS, winner's choice, to one of my readers!

To enter, please check out Creamery Creek Farm and e-mail shelleyshum {at} yahoo {dot} com telling them what you like about the site. Then come back and comment below, "I entered the Creamery Creek Farm giveaway!". The sponsor will draw at random one winner on January 25.

This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and once confirmed, will have to provide their full name, address, and soap selection to Creamery Creek Farm for prize fulfillment. Giveaway closes at 11:59 EST on January 24, 2010.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Creamery Creek Farm provided me with soap to review for free. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are unaffected by the complimentary nature of the products. No other compensation was received or implied. Images and product information courtesy of Creamery Creek Farm.

Book Description
Which is the safest seat on an airplane? Where is the best place to have a heart attack? Why does religious observance add years to your life? How can birthdays be hazardous to your health?

Each second of the day, someone in America faces a crisis, whether it's a car accident, violent crime, serious illness, or financial trouble. Given the inevitability of adversity, we all wonder: Who beats the odds and who surrenders? Why do some people bound back and others give up? How can I become the kind of person who survives and thrives?

The fascinating, hopeful answers to these questions are found in THE SURVIVORS CLUB. In the tradition of Freakonomics and The Tipping Point, this book reveals the hidden side of survival by combining astonishing true stories, gripping scientific research, and the author's adventures inside the U.S. military's elite survival schools and the government's airplane crash evacuation course.

With THE SURVIVORS CLUB, you can also discover your own Survivor IQ through a powerful Internet-based test called the Survivor Profiler. Developed exclusively for this book, the test analyzes your personality and generates a customized report on your top survivor strengths.

There is no escaping life's inevitable struggles. But THE SURVIVORS CLUB can give you an edge when adversity strikes.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood #Book #Giveaway ends 1/12 #win @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yzlpl9b" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is January 12, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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 and cover image were provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Book Description
Covering topics such as "It's Jesus or Jail," "Marriage, the Hard Way," "Children: The Gift You Can't Give Back," and "All the Things I Don't Know...And All the Things I Definitely Do," stand-up comedienne, actress, and ABC's The View co-host Sherri Shepherd comically chronicles her struggles to keep up with the many roles-professional, wife, mother, daughter, and friend-that women must play in today's world. Sherri urges women to pursue their most important dreams and to never give up, but also lets listeners know that it's okay to give themselves "permission slips" when things don't always work out the way they want them to. As her many fans know, Sherri is never hesitant to speak from the heart, and her bubbly personality shines through in this delightful autobiography.

My Review
Sherri's tell-all autobiography is a endearing story - at times sad and at times hilarious - that had me smiling and laughing out loud. She openly recounts her mistakes and her struggles, her joys and sorrows. Her sense of humor shines through even when she shares personal humiliations and private disappointments. Sherri's thoughts on living with diabetes, being a single parent, and trying to keep everything up in the air - while giving herself a permission slip to focus on things that truly matter - is a funny yet inspiring account of her life. She sounds like the girlfriend many of us have - and possibly some of us wish we had - in our lives. The audio book version is read by Sherri herself and her comedic talent and expressive voice add a nice extra dimension to the text.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, THREE readers will win the audiobook of Permission Slips by Sherri Shepherd!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks: Permission Slips by Sherri Shepherd #Book #Giveaway ends 1/11 #win @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yh47l9f" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is January 11, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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 and cover image were provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this audio book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours.

Earlier this month, General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

• Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.
• Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.
• More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

Right now, if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals.

As a mother of young kids, I am happy to hear that General Mills is committing to providing healthier breakfast options for children. My children love eating cereal for breakfast - and we all know how important breakfast is to start your day right. We eat lots of Cheerios at my house - both as a snack and in a bowl with milk. Golden Grahams, Cocoa Puffs, and Trix are other favorites of my kids.

*Disclaimer: General Mills provided this information to me, along with four coupons for free cereal, via MyBlogSpark.

Whether you liked the gifts Santa brought this year - or not - you can still win goodies that SHOULD be on your wish list! No lumps of coal in this giveaways stocking ;-)

YumYumPendants (12/26)
Girl on Top (12/27)
7th Heaven (1/3)
Exit Music (1/3)

The Green Thirteen
Dolphin Explorer Boat (12/29)
Body Butter (12/31)

The winners of four recent giveaways have been selected, courtesy of Random.org. Congratulations are in order for the following commenters:

Knight of Pleasure: #126 budletsmom, #111 409cope, #23 elaing8, #36 Homemaker, and #100 justpeachy36.

Dear John Audiobook: #16 Linda, #126 Nancye, and #39 darlanpaulsmamma.

Cleaving Audiobook: #144 Laura, #75 LV, and #105 sunnymum.

Organic Canadian Raw Honey: #198 Elena.

Ten out of these twelve lucky winners have claimed their prizes. If you see your name on this list and have not sent me your mailing address, please check your inbox!

Happy Holidays to all!

We love coffee at my house. I am the latte / cappuccino girl, and my husband is the black coffee / espresso guy. We also drink tea, chai, and hot chocolate - a favorite of the kids. We've owned several different coffee makers through the years that leave us craving drinks from the nearby coffee place. My husband recently noticed that the neighborhood coffee joint got a rather dismal hygiene rating, so we switched to a different one. I sometimes joke that had we invested the money we've spent drinking coffee outside our home in shares of this company, we'd own a decent chunk already.

Being a cappuccino fan, I own a milk frother. We also have an espresso machine, a grinder, an Italian stovetop percolator, and a programmable coffeemaker. We've used all of these, some for years, with varying success. Making the perfect cup of coffee had eluded me - until now. I have a new favorite coffee machine: the Tassimo Suprema!

When I opened the Tassimo Suprema Hot Beverage Machine, the first thing I noticed was the sleek design. I love the black and gray combo! This color combination is called Silk Silver. The same machine is also available in red and black - a festive looking Glamour Red! The Tassimo is compact and does not take much counter space in my kitchen.

Tassimo is developed and designed by Kraft Foods and manufactured by Bosch. It works with T discs that are little single-serve containers of coffee (tea, hot chocolate, and so on) with a bar code printed on one side. The machine has a microprocessor that reads this bar code and automatically calculates the water amount, temperature and brewing time to make the beverage.

I received five packages of T discs that allowed me to make over 50 drinks. We got a package each of Starbucks Caffe Verona, Gevalia Signature Blend, Milka Hot Chocolate, Chai Tea Latte, and Starbucks Cappuccino Primo. It's really simple to make a delicious hot drink with Tassimo: slip in the T disc, press a button, and in about 60 seconds, voila! When I brewed that first cup, the house filled with the wonderful aroma of freshly made coffee. The hot chocolate, tea latte, and cappuccino require two T discs - one with the cocoa, tea, or coffee and another one with the milk creamer. My favorites are the Chai Tea Latte and the cappuccino - both drinks are full of flavor and simply yummy. My husband loved the Caffe Verona - a bold multi-region blend from Starbucks. And the kids finished their hot chocolate in record time! Milka is one of our favorite brands of chocolate, and this drink tastes as good as a bar of milk chocolate.

With the Tassimo Suprema Hot Beverage Machine, you can make a different beverage for each member of your family - or circle of friends - and keep everyone happy. There is no taste transfer between drinks, and you get a freshly brewed cup every time. We've been using the Tassimo machine daily, and we love it!

Tassimo offers T discs from a growing selection of brands, including Starbucks, Gevalia Kaffe, Maxwell House, Seattle's Best Coffee, Twinings, Tazo, Mastro Lorenzo, Jacobs, and Milka. The Tassimo T45 Suprema Beverage System and the T discs are available at the Tassimo website, online and at some fine retailers.

Disclaimer: The Tassimo Suprema Hot Beverage Machine and the five packages of T discs were provided by Tassimo for free thanks to my association with SheBlogs.org. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are unaffected by the complimentary nature of the products reviewed. No other compensation was received or implied. Images and product information courtesy of Tassimo.

Book Description
It's late in the fall in Edinburgh and late in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he is simply trying to tie up some loose ends before his retirement, a new case lands on his desk: a dissident Russian poet has been murdered in what looks like a mugging gone wrong.

Rebus discovers that an elite delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, looking to expand its interests. And as Rebus's investigation gains ground, someone brutally assaults a local gangster with whom he has a long history.

Has Rebus overstepped his bounds for the last time? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, controversial career, will Rebus even make it that far?

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of Exit Music by Ian Rankin!

To enter, leave a comment with the title of a book you read recently.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of  Exit Music by Ian Rankin #books #Giveaway ends 1/3 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yfruede" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is January 3, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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.

Book Description
A terrible fire in a wealthy suburban home leaves a married couple dead and Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin searching for clues. And after California's golden boy, Michael Campion has been missing for a month, there finally seems to be a lead in his case - a very devastating lead.

As fire after fire consume couples in wealthy, comfortable homes, Lindsay and the Murder Club must race to find the arsonists responsible and get to the bottom of Michael Campion's disappearance. But suddenly the fires are raging too close to home.

Frightened for her life and torn between two men, Lindsay must find a way to solve the most daunting dilemmas she's ever faced - at work and at home.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of 7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro!

To enter, leave a comment with the title of another book by James Patterson.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of  7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro #books #Giveaway ends 1/3 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yk6c4jk" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is January 3, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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.

Link up your giveaways, and enter some at other blogs! Good luck!

Here are my giveaways this week:

Knight of Pleasure (12/19)
Dear John (12/21)
Cleaving (12/21)
YumYumPendants (12/26)
Girl on Top (12/27)
7th Heaven (1/3)
Exit Music (1/3)

The Green Thirteen
Organic Canadian Raw Honey (12/22)
Dolphin Explorer Boat (12/29)
Body Butter (12/31)

I drink coffee in the morning but during the day and at night, I love a nice, relaxing cup of tea - especially now that the weather is colder. I came across a company called Golden Moon Tea that sells a vast selection of quality teas, including some of my favorites: white tea, Earl Grey tea, organic green tea, and English Breakfast. I am particularly interested in trying out the exotic Kashmiri Chai from their line of black teas. Stay tuned for my upcoming review - and in the meantime, check out Golden Moon Tea.

Two audiobook giveaways closed last night, and I have winners to announce! Random.org picked the following commenters:

The American Journey of Barack Obama audiobook: #35 catss99, #70 Anonymous, and #111 ossmcalc;

The Imperial Cruise audiobook:  #23 Nancy, #124 Benita, and #55 Anne-Marie T.

Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to all who entered! Hachette Book Group, our sponsor, will be sending the audiobooks directly.

Fresh Organics was founded in 2008 by Jeff Wilkinson, a successful enterpreneur and businessman. After becoming a father, Jeff realized that many products designed for babies contained synthetic fragrances and potentially harmful chemicals. He wanted to make better products for his son and for other children, and so Fresh Organics was born - a small company that values honesty, integrity, and service, and hopes to make a difference.

Fresh Organics offers a line of baby products called Organic Baby that includes several hypo-allergenic organic baby care products. The company also has a selection of men's and women's products.  I had the opportunity to try three of the specialty bath items in pomegranate fig: the body butter, the hydrating lotion, and the castile soap.

The pomegranate fig is a very pleasant fragrance, light and fresh. The lotion comes in a 14.2 oz bottle and contains jojoba oil and organic green tea. It's certified organic and does not have harsh chemicals. There are no parabens or petroleum, and the lotion is hypo-allergenic. I wash my hands frequently, and found that this lotion hydrates my skin very well without leaving an oily residue. The lotion is absorbed quickly and leaves the skin feeling smooth and soft. It's appropriate for all skin types.

The body butter is rich and creamy, and works great right after a shower or overnight. This butter is 95.9% organic and natural, made from a blend of wild crafted shea butter, jojoba oil, and other organic oils. I was surprised to learn from the company's website that shea butter is known for its healing properties, and has been used for centuries to heal severely dry skin, eczema, burns, rashes and lessen the irritation of psoriasis. It also provides a natural UV sun protection, protecting your skin from free radical damage. In winter, my skin dries out easily from the cold outside and the heating indoors, and this body butter felt wonderfully pampering.

The castile soap comes in a pack of five, beautifully wrapped and gift-ready with a cute tie decorated with a green leaf. It is made of pure vegetable oil and glycerin, and has crushed walnut to gently exfoliate your skin. This soap is gentle enough for daily use. The soap is lightly scented with a botanical fragrance. I used it in the shower as well as to clean my face. The soap did not irritate my skin and left it feeling clean and refreshed. In fact, this soap complements the body butter and lotion perfectly: clean and exfoliate, then hydrate and moisturize.

I enjoyed using the soap, lotion and body butter. Each of them would make a great gift in itself or a wonderful addition to a spa-themed gift basket. Or, get all three for yourself to indulge and pamper your skin.

Speaking of pampering, Fresh Organics also offers a beautiful heart-shaped box filled with bubble bath roses. Once you are done with your Christmas shopping, think Valentine's Day! Although I would not mind getting one of these at any time during the year.

The lotion and body butter also come in lavender vanilla, and you can complete your set with a cleansing wash or exfoliating scrub. Happy pampering!

The Giveaway
Fresh Organics are generously giving away the same body butter that I reviewed to one lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please visit Fresh Organics and comment below with a product you would like to try.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a jar of body butter from Fresh Organics! #eco #giveaway ends 12/31 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ylgushy";
• subscribe to the Fresh Organics Living Well blog via e-mail and get two extra entries - plus you become eligible for special offers year round;
  
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 31, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Fresh Organics provided me with three items to review for free. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are unaffected by the complimentary nature of the products reviewed. No other compensation was received or implied. Images and company information courtesy of Fresh Organics.

I wash my hands a lot - especially in winter. Every time I use one of those automated sinks at a restaurant or elsewhere, I am relieved I do not have to touch any germ-infested soap dispensers and faucets. And I say to myself, wouldn't that be nice to have at home, too? Mess-free, hassle-free, and hygienic!

I came across simplehuman, a company that makes all sorts of smart products for the home. I received one of their sensor soap pumps for review. The first thing that I noticed was the sleek modern design. This pump would look equally well on your stainless steel sink, on a granite countertop, on the white porcelain sink in the powder room, or in your bathroom. I received the pump in black but it is also available in white.

The sensor pump holds 8 oz of soap or lotion, and has a wide opening on top for easy refills. It operates with four AA batteries. The pump has an automatic sensor in the front that detects movement when you place your hand nearby, and it dispenses soap (or lotion). There are four volume settings that determine the quantity of soap coming out. The pump is preset to dispense the largest amount of soap any time new batteries are inserted. It took me some trial and error to figure out that I wanted the pump to work on the lowest setting. It releases a sufficient amount of soap for a normal handwashing, and if you need more, you can just place your hand under the spout again to get another dose.

The sensor pump can be used with lotion, too - or with dishwashing liquid. I found it worked equally well with two different kinds of liquid soap, one thick and another thinner. One thing I would recommend is to use rechargeable batteries to reduce waste - and it would be nice if those were included with the sensor pump.

The sensor pump would make a great gift for just about any adult on your list - even for those people who seem to have everything. Anyone can use a smart product that makes daily life a little cleaner and more convenient and mess-free.

The soap sensor pump retails at $29.99 and can be purchased on the simplehuman site.

Disclaimer: simplehuman provided me with a product to review for free via SheBlogs.org. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are unaffected by the complimentary nature of the product. No other compensation was received or implied. Image courtesy of simplehuman.

Book Description
Camry MacKeage has absolutely no intention of telling her parents that she left her job as a NASA physicist for the small-town life of a dog-sitter -- which is why she's spending the holidays alone in coastal Maine with her furry friends Tigger and Max. Unfortunately, her irresistibly handsome rival, scientist Luke Pascal, accidentally spilled the beans. Now he's on a mission from her mother to tempt Camry home for the family's annual winter solstice celebration. But Luke is hiding his own secret, and he'll need a little bit of magic to earn Camry's trust... and a whole lot of mistletoe to seduce his way into her heart.

My Review
This is the seventh book in the Highlander Series by New York Times bestselling author Janet Chapman - and my first encounter with her work. It's a romance with a twist - two talented, passionate about their work physicists clash and sparks fly while they try to solve the mystery of a crashed satellite, the lifelong work of none other but Camry's mother. Add to that some time travel mystery, and you get a Highlander story.

I liked the characters but felt their chemistry was not convincing. The plot was improbable - OK, I don't mind a little fantasy here and there if the rest of the book is good. While A Highlander Christmas is an entertaining, light read, it's just an average romance story that does not warrant a second reading. I have not read the other books in the series but this one is nothing to write home about. 

Visit the other blog tour stops to read more reviews of this book:
Books Reviews by Buuklvr81: http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
She Reads: http://mandyfish-reads.blogspot.com/
I Read: http://sumanam.wordpress.com/
Seductive Musings: http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/
What Book Is That: http://whatbookisthat.blogspot.com/
My Five Monkeys: http://www.tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
My Overstuffed Bookshelf: http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
My Book Addiction and More: www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
My Reading Room: http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com
Frugal Plus: http://frugalplus.com/
Book Magic: http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/
The Bibliophilic Book Blog: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
All About {n}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Psychotic State: http://www.psychoticstate.blogspot.com/
That’s a Novel Idea: http://thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com/
Brizmus Blogs About Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Wendy’s Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Pam’s Personal Reflections: http://hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com/
A Book Bloggers Diary: http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
MetroReader: http://metroreader.blogspot.com/
I Heart Book Gossip: http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/
Jen’s Book Talk: http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/
The Princess and the Monkey: http://kennedyandzach.blogspot.com/
Marta’s Meanderings: http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
Angela R. Simmons’s Blog: http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=2xqn4gl4wjnvi
Broken Teepee: http://www.brokenteepee.blogspot.com/
Books, Books Everywhere: http://bookbookseverywhere.blogspot.com/
Books, Books, The Magical Fruit: http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/
Find the Time to Read: http://www.findthetimetoread.blogspot.com/
Libby’s Library News: http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com/
Reading at the Beach: http://ilratb.blogspot.com/
Book Soulmates: http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours.

The lucky winner of a $25 gift card to spend at Taraluna is commenter #10, Kim! Congratulations, and many thanks to all who entered this giveaway.

Remember to enter my current giveaways - two of them end on Thursday!

The Imperial Cruise (12/17)
The American Journey of Barack Obama (12/17)
Knight of Pleasure (12/19)
Dear John (12/21)
Cleaving (12/21)
YumYumPendants (12/26)
Girl on Top (12/27)

The Green Thirteen
Organic Canadian Raw Honey (12/22)
Dolphin Explorer Boat (12/29)

As a mom of young children, I love toys that engage my kids in creative play. Anything fun and safe that develops their skills and stimulates the imagination is welcome in my house. I also have a preference for toys that do not require batteries, flash blinking lights, or make squeaky noises. And I mostly don't need to hear the toys talk - I'd much rather listen to my kids! With the recent recalls of all kinds of children's products and concerns about lead paint contamination, BPA plastics, and the like, it seems choosing safe yet interesting toys has become a full-time occupation.

Companies like Sprig Toys help us parents take the guesswork out of toy selection. They make eco-friendly toys with smart design that encourage creativity. The people behind Spring Toys are three designers who wanted to help kids be active and have fun. They also wanted to avoid the harmful effects of traditional toy production on soil, air, water, plants and people. When I came across their site, I fell in love with the toys and just had to try them with my kids!
Sprig Toys sent me two toys for review: the Dolphin Explorer Boat from their Adventure Series and the Ol' Mac Story Building Barnyard from the Story Builders line.

The Dolphin Explorer Boat is made from Sprigwood, an eco-friendly material that uses bits of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. The boat is sturdy and can withstand hours - and possibly years - of active play. This wood and plastic combo does not need paint because the material is dyed with safe pigments during manufacturing. The colors used in this playset are nice shades of blue, brown, red, and yellow. In addition to the big explorer boat, the set includes a smaller rescue boat, two very cute dolphins - mother and baby, a life preserver - love the attention to detail!, and an adventure guide called Captain Owen who comes with his own little yellow hat and backpack. The boat can float in water, and my kids had a grand time playing with it - both on land and in the bathtub "ocean". They came up with a story about the adventures of Captain Owen, and entertained themsleves for quite a while. My kids loved the toys, and I loved the hours of imaginative play.

I have to mention the box the Dolphin Explorer Boat. This is more than just packaging, it's additional play! There are pictures of a sea map and a wooden bridge that you can cut out - the carton is quite sturdy, too - and add to the playset. Then recycle the rest of the box ;-) And by the way, the packaging is eco-friendly too - printed with water-based ink and includes recycled chipboard.
The Ol' Mac Story Building Barnyard - the other toy we received - consists of blocks made from Sprigwood and panels from sturdy paperboard. The blocks and panels fit together to make the barnyard and farm animals. The set includes 95 pieces. There are cows, horses, pigs, ducks, a goat, a chicken coup, some corn, a veggie patch, a tractor, bales of hay, and of course - the farmer, Bernie Macdonald! He has a cute yellow hat and three cardboard friends to help him work the farm. My kids named them Daisy, Wendy, and Ernie. I know, Bernie and Ernie! We had a blast building the barnyard and arranging and re-arranging the animals. We also had Captain Owen visit with his boat. Yes, there was a river flowing from the farm to the ocean... and then Bernie, Ernie, Wendy and Daisy went for a ride on the explorer boat to meet the mama and baby dolphins. 

Cute, safe toys that are fun to play with AND are eco-friendly? I could not ask for more!

The recommended age range for these two toys is 3+ years and they retail at $29.99 each. If you want to get the boat, barnyard, or any other toy from Sprig Toys in time for Christmas, make sure to order by this Friday, December 18. They have cute eco-trucks, a Sprig Hollow line, and more fun toys in the Adventure Series and Story Builders. Sprig Toys are also available on Amazon.com. I plan to add to our Sprig Toys collection for next year's birthdays!

The Giveaway
Sprig Toys is generously giving away the same Dolphin Explorer Boat that I reviewed to one lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please visit their site and comment below with your favorite toy - or tell me which toy the child in your life will likely enjoy the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a cute #eco-friendly #toy Dolphin Explorer Boat from Sprig Toys! #giveaway ends 12/29 @sprigtoys @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ybfw7wg";
• follow Sprig Toys on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 29, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Sprig Toys provided me with two toys to review for free. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are unaffected by the complimentary nature of the product reviewed. No other compensation was received or implied. Images and company information courtesy of Sprig Toys.

Book Description
Nicole Williams is the tell-it-like-it-is career expert who you wish could fight your work battles for you. But with her ingenious approach-taking the tactics used to land a man and applying them to your career-you'll be able to handle any work situation and come out on top. Here, Nicole introduces twenty tried-and-true dating rules such as "Don't Give Away the Milk for Free" and "Don't Waste the Pretty" and reveals how they can be applied just as effectively in the office. Other strategies include:

· Keep It Brief
· Don't Bash Your Ex
· Have Others Sing Your Praises
· Play Hard to Get
· Keep the Fire Alive
· Be Willing to Walk Away

Among other topics, Nicole dishes on how much to reveal at work as well as what to put up with from your boss (and, more importantly, what not to). She tackles everything from having the money talk to leaving them wanting more on a job interview. And sprinkled throughout GIRL ON TOP is fashion advice ("Top Ten Commandments of Style") and checklists to determine if you need to get a life.

Nicole's keen insight and candid advice will teach you how to recognize the good guys from the bad, win the kudos of those who matter, and create the career of your dreams.

My Review
GIRL ON TOP: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success by Nicole Willams is a career advice handbook written with a sense of humor and sassiness. Occasionally, it's reminiscent of a Cosmo piece. Don't let that fool you - the book is full of sound tips how to achieve professional success that many working women aspiring to a career will find valuable. I enjoyed Nicole's no-nonsense approach and her straightforward writing style. Even though some of the pointers may seem obvious, her book is a nice reminder of what to do and what not to do in the business world. It would be useful to many young - or not so young - female professionals, and an altogether enjoyable read to others. Towards the final chapters, the novelty of Nicole's style wore off somewhat and her phrasing felt a bit repetitive. Yet, Girl on Top delivers good advice down to the last page.

About the Author
Nicole is the best-selling author of Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success and Earn What You're Worth, and the founder of WORKS by Nicole Williams, the first media and content company marketed toward young professional women. Her advice is featured regularly in major media outlets including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Marie Claire, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times. Nicole also regularly appears on The Today Show, ABC's Primetime, Good Morning America, Fox News, and CNN.


The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of GIRL ON TOP: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success by Nicole Willams!

To enter, leave a comment who in your life would benefit from reading Girl on Top.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of Girl on Top by Nicole Williams #books #Giveaway ends 12/27 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yc9skrh" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 27, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. 

Today, I have the pleasure to introduce a brand-new Etsy shop called YumYumPendants. Ela, the talented artist behind YumYumPendants, offers affordable glass tile and scrabble tile pendants. Right now, she has over 200 beautiful designs in several categories: holiday, birds/wildlife, plants/flowers/trees, patterns/symbols, quotes/words, initials/monograms, and miscellaneous. You can get one of these nice little pendants for only $5.50! Stocking stuffers, party favors, gifts for girlfriends - and remember to get a few for yourself.

Ela uses a mix of both new and vintage scrabble tiles as the base for her pendants. To make her beautiful designs, first she makes prints on high quality paper, cuts them to size, and then adheres them to the tile. The images are then covered them with jeweler's grade resin and cured for at least 24 hours before attaching the bails. Ela does a lot of the art herself as well, and uses some of her original photographs.

I received the beautiful Pink and Yellow Butterfly on Swirls for review. This is one of many designs that I love from YumYumPendants! The pendant is very well made, with utmost attention to every detail. The colors are lovely and bright. The pendant came complete with a nice ball chain. These chains are made to order, and you can pick any length up to 20 inches. 

You can find YumYumPendants on Etsy, Twitter, and Facebook. Ela also has another Etsy shop that features her original art creations - in Ela's own words: offbeat gifts, surreal art and weird jewelry.

Deal Alert
YumYumPendants is having a Grand Opening Sale right now - buy 2, get 1 free until December 31.

The Giveaway
YumYumPendants is generously giving away one scrabble pendant - winner's choice - to a lucky reader of this blog! A 18" chain is also included.

To enter, please visit the store and comment below with your favorite design.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a scrabble tile pendant with chain from YumYumPendants! #giveaway ends 12/26 @aitmama @YumYumPendants http://tinyurl.com/yeur7q9";
• follow YumYumPendants on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 26, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open worldwide! The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: YumYumPendants provided me with a free product to review, and I was under no obligation to blog about it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or host a product giveaway in return for the free product.

I love sweets - and honey is one of my favorite healthy treats. When I found out that Tropical Traditions sells certified organic Canadian Raw Honey, I just had to try it! Although I've been eating honey all my life, I had never tasted unprocessed raw honey before.

This week, I received a 17.6 oz jar of Canadian Raw Honey from Tropical Traditions. The first thing I noticed was the light color of the honey - not golden brown but beige. Once I opened the jar, I discovered the honey was not liquid but looked like hard margarine - and smelled delicious. I found out that processing is what makes honey liquid, and since this is raw unprocessed honey, it remains in crystal form.

I was curious how Tropical Traditions makes sure the honey is organic - after all, bees fly around freely, right? I was surprised to learn that in order for honey to be certified organic, the beehives must be placed in isolated areas miles away from densely populated regions, industry, landfills, traffic congestion, and farm fields treated with chemicals. Besides, a bee’s flying range is determined by their natural instinct which tells them to stay within their natural four mile range from the hive location. Finding an area which can be certified organic is extremely difficult, which is why there are so few certified organic honeys on the market. Tropical Traditions sources its honey from hives in the wild frontier areas of Canada, and this honey is only harvested during a 6-week period in the summer.

I tried the honey on some whole wheat crackers, and it tasted just as delicious as it smelled! Next, I sweetened a cup of tea with it. The kids enjoyed it in some warm milk. I also tried the honey on a slice of homemade bread, and smeared it on French toast - the way my mom used to make it when I was little. Creamy goodness at its best! Everyone at home loved it. This is the best honey I've ever tasted.

If you like honey, you should try this Canadian Raw Honey from Tropical Traditions. In addition to the 17.6 oz jars, it also comes in 15 or 60 lbs. buckets. Right now, the jars are on sale at $10.99, with regular retail price of $17.50.

Deal Alert
If you decide to buy the honey or anything else from Tropical Traditions, as a first-time customer you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its benefits! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

The Giveaway
Tropical Traditions are generously giving away one 17.6 oz jar of Canadian raw honey to a lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please take a look at the Tropical Traditions product line and tell me what interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials and promotions - and get 2 entries;
• check out the free coconut recipes here and tell me which one you'd like to try;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win #organic Canadian raw honey from Tropical Traditions! #eco #giveaway ends 12/22 @troptraditions @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ybpzqhx";
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 22, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Comment #115, darlanpaulsmamma, is the randomly selected winner of a box of stollen mix from King Arthur Flour! Congratulations to our winner, and many thanks to King Arthur Flour for providing this great prize.

Even if you did not win this time, you may still enter my other giveaways - these prizes would make great gifts for yourself and for others on your list. And stay tuned, I am working on a few more!

The Imperial Cruise (12/17)
The American Journey of Barack Obama (12/17)
Knight of Pleasure (12/19)
Dear John (12/21)
Cleaving (12/21)

The Green Thirteen
$25 GC from Taraluna (12/15)

It's time for another edition of Link Your Giveaways Saturday! List your contests below, and check out everyone else's.

Here is my giveaway list:

The Imperial Cruise (12/17)
The American Journey of Barack Obama (12/17)
Knight of Pleasure (12/19)
Dear John (12/21)
Cleaving (12/21)

The Green Thirteen
$25 GC from Taraluna (12/15)
Organic Canadian Raw Honey (12/22)

Russell Organics offers a line of luxury skin care products that are free of known toxins. Russell Organics products are Certified Cruelty Free and meet Certified Vegan Standards. That means they never use animal testing or animal products in their formulations. In addition, the company uses organic ingredients whenever a dependable organic supplier can be found. Besides skin care for the face and body, Russell Organics has a men's line and carries a selection of gourmet teas.

The first thing I noticed when I received the Russell Organics Creme 24 was the packaging. You know how some moisturizers come in a big thick jar, complete with plastic and carton box? By the time you realize the quantity of cream inside is much less than expected, it's too late. And what a waste of packaging material and energy used for making the jar / box combo and transporting this unnecessary weight! The Creme 24 comes in a recyclable jar made of thin but resilient plastic, topped with a metal foil lid. Kudos for a commitment to the environment that extends to the product packaging! I found out later that one of the four founding principles of Russell Organics is to operate as a Carbon Free organization. No useless boxes and heavy thick-wall jars here.

The creme is made with high-quality natural ingredients, most of them organic. It contains organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, and Organic Alfalfa Extract as the main ingredients - see the full list here. The consistency of this creme is thicker than lotion but thinner than most face creams I've used. It absorbs very quickly, and has a slight scent of botanicals. The Creme 24 is an all-on-one moisturizer and I used it as both a day and night creme. It did not irritate my sensitive skin and left my face feeling toned and refreshed. This creme is specially formulated to offer hydration, gentle exfoliation, and anti-wrinkle action. It is suitable for all skin types and comes in a 4 oz jar.  I found that all that's needed to get its moisturizing benefit was a small amount, and it seems this creme will last a while.  I've been  using it every day and I am very pleased with the results.

If you are looking for a luxury skin care product for yourself or as a gift, check out Russell Organics. Their products can be found at boutiques, spas and retail locations, as well as online.

We have winners for two more giveaways! The following comments were randomly selected via random.org:

Say You're One of Them audiobook: #75 fredamans, #121 janetfaye, and #130 jeana - all confirmed;

Organic Cotton Woven Blanket from Sage Creek Organics: #143 cherdon - please check your inbox.

Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to the giveaway sponsors and to all readers who entered.

I have winners to announce! Congratulations to the following commenters:

Cheating Death audio book: #14 dor, #68 Susan, #30 { Mom of 3 Dolls };

SproutBaby $25 GC: #120 Anonymous;

The Sound of Music CD: #126 Anonymous.

If you have not entered my other giveaways, here's what you might be missing:

Box of Stollen Mix (12/11)
The Imperial Cruise audiobook - 3 winners (12/17)
The American Journey of Barack Obama audiobook - 3 winners (12/17)
Knight of Pleasure - 5 winners (12/19)
Dear John audiobook - 3 winners (12/21)
Cleaving audiobook - 3 winners (12/21)

The Green Thirteen
Organic Cotton Woven Blanket (12/10)
$25 GC from Taraluna (12/15)

This summer, I enjoyed reading Julie Powell's memoir, Julie & Julia. I have not seen the movie starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child in theatres but since it's coming out on DVD tomorrow, I finally get to watch it at home! Julie has written a new book, Cleaving, that came out last week. Cleaving is available on a 9 CD audiobook, complete with a PDF of recipes, and read by Julie Powell herself! Stay tuned for my review of Cleaving - and in the meantime, three of my readers can win their own copy right here.

Book Description
Julie Powell thought cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking was the craziest thing she'd ever do - until she embarked on the voyage recounted in her new memoir, CLEAVING.

Her marriage challenged by an insane, irresistible love affair, Julie decides to leave town and immerse herself in a new obsession: butchery. She finds her way to Fleischer's, a butcher shop where she buries herself in the details of food. She learns how to break down a side of beef and French a rack of ribs - tough, physical work that only sometimes distracts her from thoughts of afternoon trysts.

The camaraderie at Fleischer's leads Julie to search out fellow butchers around the world--from South America to Europe to Africa. At the end of her odyssey, she has learned a new art and perhaps even mastered her unruly heart.


The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, THREE readers will win the audiobook of Cleaving by Julie Powell!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks: Cleaving by Julie Powell #Book #Giveaway ends 12/21 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yk8p7kh" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 21, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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 and cover image were provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Book Description
An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life - until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, THREE readers will win the audiobook of Dear John by Nicholas Sparks!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks: Dear John by Nicholas Sparks #Book #Giveaway ends 12/21 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/ylh3a86" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 21, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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 and cover image were provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

Congratulations to the winners of the following giveaways:

Bayes Cleaners package: #169 trixx;

Organic Teeth Cleaner from Tropical Traditions: #77 spitfyr;

Three foam soaps from Tropical Traditions: #118 mim;

Wooden Train from Oompa Toys: #152 zachsgran;

Signed Joshua Bell CD: #83 DonnaP;

Canvas Print: #22 Niecey.

Many thanks to our sponsors for providing the wonderful prizes, and to all who commented to enter these giveaways!

I am delighted to participate in the blog tour for Margaret Mallory's new historical romance novel, Knight of Pleasure!

Book Description
THE GREATEST PASSION
Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.

IS WORTH THE GREATEST PERIL
Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. So when a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen has a chance to prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure... and that love can conquer all.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, FIVE readers will win a copy of Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory!

To enter, leave a comment with the title of another book by Margaret Mallory.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 5 copies of Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory #books #Giveaway ends 12/19 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/y8a7ld6" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 19, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates 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.

Visit the other blog tour stops:
http://froggaritavillesbookcase.blogspot.com/ Feature - 11/24 Review 12/1
www.bibliophilicbookblog.com Feature & Giveaway - 11/25 Review - 12/6
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com 11/26 - Feature & Giveaway 12/4 - Review
http://libslibrary.blogspot.com/ - Giveaway 11/26/2009
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 11/27/2009
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/ - Giveaway 11/27/2009
http://www.brokenteepee.blogspot.com Giveaway 11/30/2009
http://www.saveyspender.com Review, Giveaway 12/2/2009
http://blog.lyndacoker.net Review, Giveaway 12/3/2009
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 12/3/2009
http://www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com Feature, Review, Giveaway 12/3/2009
http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 12/5/2009
http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 12/7/2009
http://alphaheroes.blogspot.com - Review 12/8/2009
www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 12/8/2009
http://razloversbookblog.blogspot.com/ - Feature and Review 12/8/2009
www.findthetimetoread.blogspot.com - Giveaway 12/8/2009
http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/ - 12/08/2009

Link your giveaways below, and visit other blogs for a chance to win some goodies!

Here are the giveaways I am hosting:

Say You're One of Them Audiobook - 3 winners (12/6)
Cheating Death Audiobook - 3 winners (12/6)
The Sound of Music CD (12/8)
Box of Stollen Mix (12/11)
The Imperial Cruise Audiobook - 3 winners (12/17)
The American Journey of Barack Obama Audiobook - 3 winners (12/17)
Knight of Pleasure - 5 winners (12/19)

The Green Thirteen
$25 GC from SproutBaby (12/7)
Organic Cotton Woven Blanket (12/10)
$25 GC from Taraluna (12/15)

Ecostore was founded 16 years ago in New Zealand. Today, ecostore USA offers plant-based cleaning products as well as body and baby care products. The company's philosophy is based on the principle that the end product must be good for the planet as well as for the consumer. ecostore USA is passionate about delivering household products that are safer and healthier. ecostore's motto sums it up nicely: No Nasty Chemicals™!

Ecostore USA's product line is divided into five categories: baby care, bath and body, hair, household, and pet care. I received their Aloe Vera shampoo and laundry powder for review.

The first thing I noticed about these products was the stylish black-and-white photographs on the packaging, and the second - their size. At 35.3 oz, the laundry powder is dwarfed by the big boxes of my other detergents. Compared to many other products on the market, ecostore's come in smaller containers because they are super concentrated, and this small box of laundry powder gives you an average of 25 washes. It also takes much less space on the shelf, and saves money and energy during transport.

The laundry powder is plant and mineral based. I believe what's NOT in a product is just as important as what's in it. This laundry powder contains no nitrates, no phosphates, no ammonia, no chlorine, no toxic petrochemicals, no enzymes. In addition, there are no synthetic dyes or perfumes. It has a light, pleasant scent and does not leave clothing excessively perfumed like some other detergents I've used. Many conventional detergents irritate my skin, and ecostore's laundry powder passed my ultimate test - no itching and no redness after I wore clothes washed with it. It's economical and a small 40 ml measuring cup is included in the box. The powder washes white and color loads equally well. I used it both in warm and cold water, with and without pre-soaking, and am very pleased with the results. Ecostore USA also offers laundry liquid, wool wash, front loader laundry powder and a pure oxygen whitener to meet all your laundry needs.

The second product I tried was the Aloe Vera shampoo. This shampoo is recommended for normal / dry hair, and comes in a 6.8 oz bottle. This is another plant-based formulation and is suitable for daily use. The shampoo contains essential oils that provide a pleasant scent. I noticed it cleaned my hair well with a single application, and it only took a small amount to do the job. My scalp was not itchy or dry after I used the shampoo, and my hair looked great even without a conditioner. Speaking of conditioners, ecostore USA has them, too - see the complete hair care line here.

Deal Alert
Ecostore USA is having a great online sale right now. All plant and mineral based products - including the two I reviewed - are 40% off for the rest of the year. Plus, you get free shipping on orders of $25 of more. Or, you can buy their products at all 185 Meijer locations throughout the Midwest.

* Disclaimer: ecostore USA sent me the products I reviewed for free. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal experience and are not influenced by the complimentary nature of these items. Images and company information courtesy of the ecostore USA.