Today, I noticed my kids plotting a Mother's Day surprise for me. That got me thinking about Father's Day. This year, one of the things I plan to get my husband is a framed poster print of a photo I took last summer. It's a candid shot of our family in the park, and I just love how it turned out.

Speaking of poster prints, our friends from Digital Room are generously sponsoring another giveaway! This time, one of my lucky U.S. readers will get a free 18x24" poster print of a photo of their choice. The winner may choose between high gloss or semi gloss, and the prize will be shipped for free with UPS ground.

To enter, please comment below how you would use your prize if you won.

For extra entries, you may 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 18x24" poster print from Digital Room! Makes a great gift! #Giveaway ends 5/9 @aitmama #win  #contests http://tinyurl.com/2afptye";
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 9, 2010, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I will receive a complimentary 18x24" poster print for hosting this giveaway. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Finally, the day we've been waiting for! Today is Blogmania - the mega giveaway event where 123 blogs are giving away fab prizes for one day only. Welcome to blog #57, and good luck in all Blogmania giveaways!

The Giveaway
I am celebrating Blogmania by giving away a fab Girl's Fave Things package - ARV $60 - including:

• French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano (who wrote the famous French Women Don't Get Fat) - hardcover edition;
• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason DVD; 
• $10 GC to iTunes;
• 2 tubes of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shine - natural mineral color for your lips in topaz and pearl.

Wondering what some of these goodies are, exactly?

French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano
For the legions of fans who asked for seconds after devouring French Women Don't Get Fat, a charming and practical guide to adding some joie to your vie and to your table, every day of the year. After being inundated with requests for more advice from her readers, Mireille’s answer is this buoyant book, brimming with tips and tricks for living with the utmost pleasure and style, without gaining weight.

Here are 100 new simple and appetizing recipes that feature French staples such as leeks and chocolate and many more unexpected treats besides, guaranteeing that boredom will never be a guest at your table.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason DVD
The hilarious sequel to Bridget Jones' Diary - a movie and book I enjoyed immensely! Renee Zellweger is back as everyone's favorite witty heroine in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Not that Bridget's counting, but it's been six wonderful weeks, four fabulous days, and seven precious hours with one flawless boyfriend, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). But when mischievous and devilishly charming Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) arrives on the scene claiming to be a reformed man, can Bridget find a way to make true love last forever? It's the "absolutely hilarious" (Jim Ferguson, ABC-TV) romantic comedy that proves there's nothing like love to send you over the edge.

$10 GC to iTunes
Your choice of free music! Need I say more?? 

Two tubes of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shine
Fabulous organic treats for your lips! 

To enter, please leave a comment below, including an e-mail address for me to contact you if you win.

The usual extra entries valid for all my giveaways apply. If you have a few minutes, feel free to check out my other current giveaways on the left sidebar.

This giveaway is open to those 18+ worldwide! Ends at 11:59 pm EST on April 30. The winner will be selected at random and contacted by e-mail. A winner's announcement will also be posted on this blog. The winner will have 3 days to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen.

Here is a reminder of how Blogmania works:

Please hop along and visit some of the other blogs participating in Blogmania:
(Blog- 1 – host) Between The Pages 
(Blog -2 – co-host) The Black Sheep Dances
(Blog-43 - co-host) Books, Books Everywhere 
(Blog-13) Broken Teepee
(Blog-26) TS Reviews and Giveaways
(Blog-51) Laina Turner-Molaski
(Blog-79) Huppie Mama
(Blog-102) Book of Secrets
(Blog-87) Happy Birthday Author 
(Blog-61) Hope. Dreams. Life…Love
(Blog-73) Stretching the One Income Dollar

Blogmania is April 30 - and my giveaway post goes live at midnight tonight! If you don't remember what I am giving away, read this post.

Here is a special message from the Blogmania organizers!

WOW! Aren’t you the lucky one! You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which, ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY  (For One Day Only).
 

I started wearing eyeglasses in high school. I still remember my first pair: oversized metal frames, not particularly trendy but did the job. I don't recall being particularly preoccupied about choosing what to wear - it was more a matter of needing them to see better.

Until then, few of my friends had prescription glasses. As the years went by, I started noticing more and more people wearing them. I became more concerned with how the frames fit the shape of my face, whether they were comfortable enough, and if they looked hip or, well, outdated.

I was not tempted to try contacts until a couple of years ago. I finally had a fitting, and although I could appreciate the convenience of not having to remember bringing my glasses everywhere I go - just in case I needed them - that turned out to be the only easy thing about my experience with contacts. At first, it just did not seem right to me to stick my fingers in my eyes to get the contacts in and out. I shed many tears and uttered a few choice words, trying to get the stubborn contacts in - and especially out of - my eyes. Then I did not like working at the computer while wearing them, and no matter what the kind doctor said, I could always feel the contacts in my eyes. I guess I was just overly sensitive to contacts because no matter how many different brands I tried, none seemed to work for me. I just could not get used to any of them.

These days, I see my eye doctor every year for an eye exam, and own several pairs of prescription eyeglasses. Lucky for me, my prescription has not changed in over 10 years. I can still use a pair of glasses I got in 1998! Of course, they are no longer particularly trendy. Now I tend to pick frames that complement my features. I go for the classic look more than for the latest fashion but still like to spice things up now and then. One of my newest pairs is a beautiful red frame that draws attention to my eyes, and another is a fashionable little thing with stripes that my daughter picked out. There are so many beautiful frames to choose from - in stores as well as online - that I can always find the pair that is just right for my personality and style.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are based on personal experience and may differ from yours.

I am a big fan of coconut oil - I use it for cooking, and it is the main ingredient of several skin care products I love. Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment has been on my list of products to try for a while now. My scalp has been dry and itchy lately, and my hair just craving some TLC.

I was surprised to find out that coconut oil has been used for hair treatment in coconut producing countries such as India and the Philippines for thousands of years. This Tropical Traditions hair treatment contains only virgin coconut oil that is USDA certified organic. It is made especially for hair application. This coconut oil has a slightly higher amount of protein compared to their other coconut oils due to the presence of coconut solids.  It also has a long shelf life due to its high antioxidant properties.

The hair treatment has approximately the same consistency as the coconut oil I use for cooking. It comes in a 16 oz glass jar. At room temperature, it is solid yet soft. I scooped a little with my fingers and rubbed it between my palms to warm up, then massaged it on my scalp. I love the natural scent of coconut oil, and enjoyed how it felt on my skin. If you suffer from dry scalp like I do, it is recommended that you rub the treatment into hair and scalp at least 30 minutes before showering, or before bed at night. Of course, if you decide to sleep with it, you should wear a shower cap or towel to protect bedding.

I left the treatment on for about 4 hours, and felt relief from the dryness and itching almost immediately. My hair looked healthier and more lustrous. I have not tried this but you can also use it as hair conditioner. In this case, it is suggested to rub the treatment into the ends of your hair after washing, while the hair is still wet. The hair treatment is suitable for all hair types.

A 16 oz jar retails for $25, and a little goes a long way - so I am sure it will last a while. My plan is to use it a couple of times a week to nourish my hair and my skin with the luxurious pampering properties of coconut oil.

Deal Alert
Right now, the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment is on sale at $19.95 - 20% off its regular price! In addition, by midnight today, you get 10% off your entire Tropical Traditions order with coupon code 42610. If you decide to buy this product 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 uses! 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 a jar of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for Hair Treatment 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, feel free to do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials, sales 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 Tropical Traditions #Organic Coconut Oil Hair Treatment #Giveaway ends 5/8 @troptraditions @aitmama #win #eco http://tinyurl.com/26rwn24"
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• go here and here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 8, 2010, 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.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I won this product at another blog and chose to review it. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information and images courtesy of Tropical Traditions. The winner will receive their prize directly from the company. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

In less than two days, over 100 blogs will be hosting one-day Blogmania giveaways! If you missed my earlier post, on April 30, I am participating in an exciting event - the first ever Blogmania giveaway extravaganza! Blogmania  is a twice yearly blogging event where you can go visit lots of blogs to try and win lots of prizes in a single day.

I am giving away a fab Girl's Fave Things package - ARV $60 - including:

• French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano (who wrote the famous French Women Don't Get Fat) - hardcover edition;
• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason DVD; 
• $10 GC to iTunes;
• 2 tubes of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shine - natural mineral color for your lips in topaz and pearl.

Let me give you a little extra information about these great prizes.

French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano
For the legions of fans who asked for seconds after devouring French Women Don't Get Fat, a charming and practical guide to adding some joie to your vie and to your table, every day of the year. After being inundated with requests for more advice from her readers, Mireille’s answer is this buoyant book, brimming with tips and tricks for living with the utmost pleasure and style, without gaining weight.

Here are 100 new simple and appetizing recipes that feature French staples such as leeks and chocolate and many more unexpected treats besides, guaranteeing that boredom will never be a guest at your table.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason DVD
The hilarious sequel to Bridget Jones' Diary - a movie and book I enjoyed immensely! Renee Zellweger is back as everyone's favorite witty heroine in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Not that Bridget's counting, but it's been six wonderful weeks, four fabulous days, and seven precious hours with one flawless boyfriend, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). But when mischievous and devilishly charming Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) arrives on the scene claiming to be a reformed man, can Bridget find a way to make true love last forever? It's the "absolutely hilarious" (Jim Ferguson, ABC-TV) romantic comedy that proves there's nothing like love to send you over the edge.

$10 GC to iTunes
Your choice of free music! Need I say more?? 

Two tubes of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shine
Fabulous organic treats for your lips!  

Make sure to come back this Friday to enter and blog hop to the other fabulous giveaways! Good luck!

The lucky winner of the Organic Coconut Flour from Tropical Traditions giveaway is #116 Carapace. Carapace wants to try out the recipe for Dairy Free Cashew Creamer.

Congratulations! Many thanks to all who entered, and to Tropical Traditions for sponsoring the review and giveaway.

Remember that through midnight today, you can take advantage of the 10% ff discount to order something from Tropical Traditions! Read the details here.

Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 172 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
        
Set #1:

116

Episencial is a skin care company that has developed all natural and sustainable products specifically for today’s families. Their line of products was created because founder Kim Walls – a skin care expert from the Epicuren family – couldn’t find kids' products that met her standards.

We received a set of four Episencial products: Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath, Playful Foaming Wash, Better Body Butter, and Protective Face Balm. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. Minimalist yet elegant, the bottles are made from recycled plastic that is phthalate and BPA-free. Each Episencial product features a favorite fruit from Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. My kids noticed the familiar pictures right away! There is no unnecessary plastic wrap or carton boxes for the bottles, and they are sealed with a Baby Safe sticker.

The second thing I noticed, as I read the labels, was that all products were manufactured in the USA with solar power. How cool is that! In addition, they are made with all natural ingredients, including many that are organic. These products are suitable for all ages, and contain no questionable chemicals. Specifically, all are free from parabens, fragrances, hormones, preservatives, phthalates, petroleum, and other things that are bad for you.

My children loved the bubble bath and foaming wash. The bubble bath is actually a bubbly gel concentrate, a little different from other bubble making bath products we've tried. The foaming wash can be used to cleanse little ones' hair as well as body. Both products were gentle on my kids' delicate skin, and were perfectly complemented by the body butter - a nice hydrating lotion containing organic oils. The lovely scents come from juice extracts, and do not overwhelm sensitive little (or bigger) noses. The protective face balm works great on chapped skin and lips, and contains SPF6 sun protection. It is fortified with vitamins A, D, E, and C to help restore and repair skin balance and texture. The balm comes in a handy little tube that can be taken along anywhere for quick soothing relief from the elements.

Deal Alert
All four products are sold at 450 Targets nationwide. Plus, Episencial is running a special Target Gift Card promo on Facebook right now. The first 200 customers who email Episencial a copy of their receipt showing they bought one of their products at Target will receive a $5 Target gift card!

The Giveaway
Episencial are generously giving away the same set of 4 skin care products that I reviewed to a lucky reader of this blog!

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

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

• subscribe to the Episencial newsletter - see the bottom right of their homepage - and get 2 entries;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win set of 4 sustainable skin care products from Episencial! #Giveaway ends 5/11 @babyskincare @aitmama #win #eco http://tinyurl.com/29xr4ac"
• follow Episencial on twitter;
• check out the store locator and comment where you can find Episencial near you;
• go here and here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 11, 2010, 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 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received free product samples without any obligation to write a positive review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the products which may differ from yours. Product information and images courtesy of the sponsor. The winner will receive their prize directly from the company. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Have you been planning to try something from Tropical Traditions? Through midnight EDT on Wednesday, April 28th, use coupon code 42610 to receive a 10% OFF discount! Good on either the Tropical Traditions or the Healthy Buyer's Club website.

In addition, if this is your first order, you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its uses! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

Of course, there is still time to enter my giveaway for a 2.2 bag of their Organic Coconut Flour! The giveaway ends Tuesday night, 4/27.

Check out the other promotions Tropical Traditions are running this week - they are listed on the right side of their home page.

I recently reviewed The Pocket Therapist, a new book by Therese Borchard. You still have a chance to win a copy if enter by Sunday, May 2. In addition, Therese Borchard will be on BlogTalkRadio this week! Check out the invite below.

Book Description
Violet Parry is living the quintessential life of luxury in the Hollywood Hills with David, her rock-and-roll manager husband, and her darling toddler, Dot. She has the perfect life - except that she's deeply unhappy. David expects the world of Violet but gives little of himself in return. When she meets Teddy, a roguish small-time bass player, Violet comes alive, and soon she's risking everything for the chance to find herself again. Also in the picture are David's hilariously high-strung sister, Sally, on the prowl for a successful husband, and Jeremy, the ESPN sportscaster savant who falls into her trap.

My Review
This One Is Mine is a smart and entertaining debut novel by Maria Semple whose writing for TV experience includes shows such as Arrested Development and Mad About You. In her book, Ms. Semple deals with serious issues - a disintegrating marriage, a search for love and happily-ever-after, heartbreak and addiction - with a sense of humor, honesty and compassion. The author has plenty of love and understanding for her imperfect characters. Nothing is merely black-and-white in this story. In the many shades of gray, Maria Semple masterfully shows that people can make mistakes but still find forgiveness and have a shot at happiness. For some of the characters in this book, having everything means nothing - until they discover they already had all they needed. And while This One Is Mine takes place in L.A., with all the Hollywood and Beverly Hills riches and celebrity name dropping, its topics are universal. 

The Giveaway
Five (5) of my readers will win copies of This One Is Mine by Maria Semple!

To enter, leave a comment about a good book you've read lately.

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  Maria Semple's debut This One Is Mine! #books #Giveaway ends 5/9 @aitmama #win #contests http://tinyurl.com/24t7vxn" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 9, 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 18+ of U.S. and Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from the sponsor. Book information and image courtesy of the publisher. No compensation was provided for this post.

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

The lucky winner of the $15 gift certificate to Piggy Paint is #86 Nicole. Nicole's favorite Piggy Paint color is Angel Kisses.

Congratulations! Many thanks to Piggy Paint for sponsoring the review and giveaway, and to all who entered.

Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 205 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
        
Set #1:

86 

I have a metal shelf in my laundry room that used to be full to the brim with huge containers of detergent and softeners. A couple of years ago, when most companies realized that concentrating their products is better for the environment as well as for their bottom line - think of all the weight that needs to be transported, and the space these things take on store shelves! - the situation somehow improved. Switching completely to eco-friendly detergents helped even more.

Imagine pre-measured tablets of detergent - the size of the packs you may use in your dishwasher - that are without harsh chemicals, and 6 times concentrated! Enter Dropps, an innovative liquid detergent that comes in pacs dissolving in water. It works in all types of washers and at all temperatures. Dropps is gentle on your clothes because it does not contain harsh enzymes. And imagine the space saving factor - plus saving energy in transportation, packaging, and so on. It takes 292 stacked stand-up pouches to reach the height of one laundry jug. Now I did not actually measure that because I no longer have laundry jugs at home but it's easy to understand the space-efficiency of Dropps.

Dropps comes in three varieties - fresh scent, scent and dye-free, and baby. You can buy them in several package sizes: from a tiny 2-pac pouch (fresh scent) to 42-load (fresh scent). The scent and dye-free and baby varieties come in 20-count pouches.

I tried the fresh scent, and I have to say it's the ultimate convenience in laundry detergents - toss and go, no measuring, no mess. The scent was pleasant without being overpowering, and the detergent worked fine in cold water. The pouch dissolved completely - yes, I did look for it after the laundry was done.

Last but not least: the eco-friendly benefits of Dropps go beyond its no-waste and small size. Dropps are biodegradable, phosphate-free, and chlorine-free. They were never tested on animals, and all Dropps detergent has been recognized for safer chemistry by the EPA's Design for the Environment Program.

The Giveaway
Dropps are generously giving away a three-month supply of Dropps detergent to a lucky reader of this blog! The winner will receive 3 pouches of 20 pacs (60 total) in their choice of scent.

To enter, please comment below how often you do laundry.

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

• subscribe to the Dropps' newsletter - see the bottom of their home page - and get 2 entries;
• check out the store locator and tell us where you can buy Dropps near you;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 3-month supply of Dropps #eco-friendly detergent! #Giveaway ends 5/9 @droppslaundry @aitmama #win #contests http://tinyurl.com/2darety"
• follow Dropps on twitter;
• go here and here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 9, 2010, 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.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: Dropps provided me with a free sample of this product to review.  This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information and images courtesy of the sponsor. The winner will receive their prize directly from the company. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

The lucky winner of the Nature's Baby Giveaway is #104 Kim. Kim chose the Shampoo & Body Wash  Lavender-Chamomile Scent  16oz. Bottle.

Congratulations! Many thanks to Nature's Baby for sponsoring the review and giveaway, and to all who entered!

Remember to check out my other 11 giveaways listed on the left sidebar.

Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 147 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
       
Set #1:

104 

It's time to link and enter some giveaways again! Please link directly to the giveaway and not to your home page. Good luck!

Nature's Baby (4/23)
$15 GC Piggy Paint (4/24)
Organic Coconut Flour (4/27)
What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life - 3 winners (4/29)
Seventh Generation Green Cleaning Pack (4/29)
A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (4/30)
Tiny Prints Greeting Cards (4/30)
Nourish Your Inner Goddess Gift Pack (5/1)
The Pocket Therapist - 3 winners (5/2)
$20 GC Kroger (5/2)
EvoraKids (5/3)
Body Butter and Lip Balm (5/6)

The lucky winners of the Presumed Innocent giveaway are #134 etirv, #147 Sue, and #170 Misusedinnocence.

Congratulations! Many thanks to Hachette Book Group for providing the books and to all who entered!


Remember to check out my other 12 giveaways listed on the left sidebar. 
 
Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 3 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 197 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
        
Set #1:

134, 147, 170

National Kids and Pet Day is April 26th. Kroger and its family of stores are celebrating by sharing useful  information about pet safety, selecting the right pet for your family, and making sure your family’s animal friends are taken care of.

Pets are such an important part of our families, and making sure that they are happy and well cared for is a huge responsibility. Everything from finding the right pet to making decisions their health and well-being is a major undertaking that can impact the whole family.

Overview of Kroger’s pet insurance offerings
Offered through PetFirst, Kroger pet insurance policies cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats, and is available at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger family including City Market, Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Frye’s, King Sooper, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralph’s and Smith’s. In addition to being available in-store, Kroger’s pet insurance can be purchased online. Kroger’s pet insurance works at any veterinarian nationwide, with reimbursement typically occurring within two weeks. Coverage starts as low as $9.95 per month and right now, individuals who purchase online can save $10.

Family Friendly Dog Breeds

• Cocker Spaniel – These lap dogs are sensitive and sweet and enjoy the attention of children. Cocker Spaniels are obedient with training and friendly around people.
• Pug – This affectionate breed loves being part of a family. Outgoing and mischievous, they make playful companions for children.
• Golden Retriever – Similar to Labs in personality, Goldens are mild mannered and enjoy being around families and other people. These dogs are easy to train are gentle with children.
• Basset Hound – This breed is good with children of all ages. They are known for their docile nature and gentleness. Their long backs need to be supported when they are picked up, and an eager child can accidentally injure them.

Tips parents can teach their children regarding safe pet play

• Teach your children to pet softly, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones, and not to startle your dog or cat when it is sleeping.
• Keep babies and toddlers at a level higher than your dog. Dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy. Keep your children off the floor when the dog is in the room.
• Don’t give your dog toys that resemble your children’s toys or clothing. Stay away from fabric stuffed dog toys that resemble your child’s stuffed animals.
• Involve your child in your dog’s care. Even just the presence of your child in the same room while your dog is receiving his favorite things or activities can help build a positive association to children.

For more information on family friendly breeds or additional tips on teaching your children about pet safety, visit Kroger’s Pet Health blog.

The Giveaway
One reader will win a $20 gift certificate to the Kroger family of stores!

To enter, please comment below what pet you have - or had as a child.

For extra entries, feel free to do any and 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 $20 #GiftCard to Kroger to celebrate Kroger National Kids and Pet Day! #Giveaway ends 5/2 @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/2c5fhuf";
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 2, 2010, 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 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. 

Disclaimer / Disclosure: For helping raise awareness of National Kids and Pet Day, I was provided with a $20 gift card to spoil our family pet and a $20 gift card to giveaway to a reader so that they could do the same by the Global Influence Network and the Kroger Co. Information was provided by the sponsor.

Glengarry Gardens is a Canadian company that offers organic skin care products. Their skin care is plant-based and pure, made by hand in small batches from potent medicinal herbs and essential oils. Here is what they say about their work:  

We grow, harvest and extract our plants organically and ethically. In order to make our essential oils we mindfully process the plant matter ourselves. This is done via steam distillation, no chemicals or solvents are used to speed up the process or increase extraction rates.

A very informative Essential Oil Guide is available on the Glengarry Gardens website. Check it out if you are curious to learn more about essential oils.

I received two Glengarry Gardens products: the Chocolate Orange Body Butter and the Livacious Lip Balm in Chai Celeste. The body butter is very rich and pampering, and smells good enough to eat. Chocolate and orange, yum! It felt wonderful on my dry skin. This product is a delicious blend of rich organic butters and oils, and makes my skin feel nourished and hydrated.

The lip balm is just as delicious - creamy and gentle on my lips. The main ingredient is unrefined cocoa butter,
and it also contains beeswax, organic shea butter, and other oils and extracts. There are no additives, no artificial flavors or colorings. 

You can connect with Glengarry Gardens on Facebook.

The Giveaway
One reader will win the same two products I reviewed - Chocolate Orange Body Butter and the Livacious Lip Balm!

To enter, please visit Glengarry Gardens and comment below what product(s) interests you.

For extra entries, feel free to do any and all of the following:

• tell us something you learned about essential oils;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win Chocolate Body Butter and #organic Lip Balm from Glengarry Gardens! #Giveaway ends 5/6 @aitmama #win #eco http://tinyurl.com/25zwecd";
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 6, 2010, 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 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. and Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

* Disclaimer: No compensation other than a sample product was received in exchange of this post. This review reflects my personal opinion and experience with the products which may differ from yours. Images and company information courtesy of the sponsor. 

Today is Earth Day! Let's take a minute to think about all the beauty surrounding us on this blue planet, and how we can preserve that for future generations. Here's hoping every day is Earth Day.

The lucky winner of the Original Sprout Deep Conditioning Gift Basket giveaway is Michele P. Congratulations!


Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 388 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
        
Set #1:

167

On April 30, I am participating in an exciting event - the first ever Blogmania giveaway extravaganza! Blogmania  is a twice yearly blogging event where you can go visit lots of blogs to try and win lots of prizes in a single day. More than 100 blogs - including yours truly - will be hosting a ONE-DAY giveaway with fabulous goodies!

I am giving away a fab Girl's Fave Things package - ARV $60 - including:

• French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano (who wrote the famous French Women Don't Get Fat) - hardcover edition;
• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason DVD; 
• $10 GC to iTunes;
• 2 tubes of Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shine - natural mineral color for your lips in topaz and pearl.

Mark your calendars for April 30, and make sure you join us on Facebook and Twitter!

Here are some tips how to get the most of Blogmania:

1. Be at any of the blogs participating in the Blogmania Event as early as possible on April 30th.   The easiest way to find a Blogmania Blog is to look for the Blogmania Badge.

2. This is an international event, so understand that there will be some differences in time zones.  My advice is to start early and stay late to catch all the blogs.

3. Each blog will have their own giveaway requirements. Read them carefully, follow through, and then move on as quickly as possible. If you run across a blog that you really like and want to spend some time exploring, copy their URL and then visit them after Blogmania is over.

4. We will have a 100+ blogs for you to visit. Each one will post their number like this. ( This is blog 57 of 100) This is to help you keep track of which blogs you’ve visited, and which ones you still need to reach. I’d suggest that you prepare a blog sheet which is numbered from 1 – 120, then mark off each numbered blog as you visit them.

5. All blog links provided will also have a number like (Blog 57 of 100). Look for the blogs that you haven’t yet visited and follow those links until you’ve checked off all the blogs on your sheet.

6. We have all types of blogs participating in Blogmania, which means that the range of items in their giveaways are diverse. I have previewed many and they are awesome.

7. Why not contact a friend and partner up. Compare notes, share loot, or organize your own friendly neighborhood Blogmania Competition.

This is our first Blogmania Event, but it isn’t our last. Blogmania is a bi-yearly Giveaway Extravaganza. In fact, our next Blogmania Event will start September 15th,  and do we have some cool stuff planned for you! So keep in touch with our Blogmania Blogs, because they will be giving sneak previews, secret codes, and who knows what else in the weeks and months ahead.

The five winners of our latest romance read giveaway sponsored by Hachette Book Group have been selected via Randomizer.org!

Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 5 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 202 -- Sorted from Least to Greatest

Job Status:
        
Set #1:

73, 162, 170, 191, 197

The lucky people who will receive a copy of Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis are:

#73 Scorpio M., #162 409cope, #170 grannyvon, #191 nel, and #197 Bookie.


Congratulations to the winners, and check out this invite to hear Dee Davis on BlogTalkRadio/HBG Program:


Join us in a live interview with Dee Davis. Dee Davis has a BA in Political Science and History, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. During a ten-year career in public relations, she spent three years on the public speaking circuit, edited two newsletters, wrote three award winning public service announcements, did television and radio commercials, starred in the Seven Year Itch, taught college classes, lobbied both the Texas State Legislature and the US Congress, and served as the director of two associations. Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she has sold eighteen books and three novellas, including Chain Reaction and A Match Made on Madison. She’s lived in Austria and traveled in Europe extensively. And although she now lives in Manhattan she still calls Texas home.

Call-in with your questions during show time to participate in the live interview @ 646-378-0039.

Listen-in or chat on the Grand Central Publishing channel on BlogTalkRadio.

If you would like your questions to be read on air by the host or if you would like to give advanced notice of your participation during the live call, email anna.balasi@hbgusa.com.

Have you heard about Tiny Prints? They are a web-based company that offers cards for all kinds of occasions: holidays, birthdays, party invites, even personalized thank you notes, business cards, and more. I first saw one of their cards when I received a note from a friend who uses Tiny Prints. I was impressed by the beauty and quality of their work.

This month, Tiny Prints is launching Tiny Prints Greetings, a new line of printed greeting cards people can personalize, schedule and send online. This new service combines the tradition of mailing a printed card with online ordering while adding a personal touch to each card. Here is some information about this service:

• Personalized Greeting Cards: Users will find the vast selection of stylish and creative designs that they have come to expect from Tiny Prints, only now they can also match their favorite designs with one of the thousands of verses from a library of options. Plus, since every aspect of a card can be personalized, users have the option to easily include a recipient’s name, edit the verse and upload photos to truly personalize their cards to express their exact sentiments. As a result, no two Tiny Prints cards will ever look exactly the same.

• A Better Way to Shop:  Not only can users easily personalize their cards online, they can address the envelope, add a stamp and pay for the card with just a few clicks. Customers have the option of sending cards to themselves to sign or save even more time by having Tiny Prints mail their cards directly to recipients. The end-to-end process can be completed in minutes, and all cards can ship within 24 hours.

• Enhanced Convenience: For those who wish to avoid a mad dash to the store right before a special occasion, the service even allows users to set up automatic event reminders for birthdays, Mother’s Day, anniversaries and other occasions. Users can even schedule a queue of personalized greeting cards to be sent automatically up to a year in advance.

Deal Alert
Right now, you can receive 3 FREE greeting cards just for signing up here for one of their membership plans  - and the first year's membership fee has been waived!

Party Invite
Tiny Prints (@TinyPrints) is hosting its first ever Twitter Party this Friday, April 23rd at 9 pm (ET). The event is co-hosted by @ResourcefulMom and the hashtag for the party will be #makeitpersonal. RSVP and find out more here.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader of this blog will win 25 greeting cards from Tiny Prints!

To enter, please comment below how you would use the Tiny Prints greeting cards if you won.

For extra entries, feel free to do any and 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 25 personalized greeting cards from Tiny Prints! #Giveaway ends 4/30 @tinyprints @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/y6mbxsr";
• follow Tiny Prints on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is April 30, 2010, 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 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

* Disclaimer: No compensation other than a sample product was or will be received in exchange of this post. Image and information courtesy of the company via Global Influence.

A couple of months ago, I tried a new oral health product: EvoraPlus. I've been using it ever since to keep my gums and teeth healthy and my smile brighter. In late January, the company released a version for children: EvoraKids.

EvoraKids is the first probiotic-based, all-natural oral care chewable created to promote oral health for children 3-10 years old. It has a pleasant cherry flavor called Wild Very Cherry Berry. These chews includes Oragenics’ patent pending ProBiora3 technology, which has been specifically formulated for children to help maintain healthy teeth. The probiotics in EvoraKids effectively compete with certain harmful bacteria in the mouth and help maintain an optimal balance of beneficial bacteria. 

My children liked the EvoraKids chews and it was easy to have them chew one twice a day after brushing. It's important to me to keep my kids' pearly whites healthy, and I feel EvoraKids probiotics nicely supplement brushing and flossing.

EvoraKids is 100% natural and GMO free, with no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. It’s sugar, gluten, soy and dairy free. It is made in the USA and does not require refrigeration. Personally, I prefer the minty taste of the adult version but then again, I am not 10 years old.

Deal Alert
You can get a 30-day supply of EvoraKids at their website for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. If you buy 2 boxes, shipping is free! Use promo code EPLUS2151 for $5 off your order.

The Giveaway
One of my lucky readers will win a box of EvoraKids!

To enter, please visit the EvoraPlus site and tell me where else you can buy the mints (hint: look at the bottom of the page).

For extra entries, feel free to do any and 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 box of EvoraKids for your kids teeth! #Giveaway ends 5/3 @evoraplus @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/y5mj4gs";
• follow EvoraPlus on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 3, 2010, 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: No compensation was received in exchange of this review. Sample product was provided to facilitate my review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours.

The winner of the Kindred Soy Candles giveaway is #73 Khrys { Mom of 3 Dolls } who likes the scent of freesia for spring. Congratulations to Khrys - fellow blogger at Mom of 3 Dolls!

Thanks to all who entered, and remember to check out my other giveaways.

Dark Deceptions - 5 winners (4/19)
Original Sprout Gift Basket (4/21)
Presumed Innocent - 3 winners (4/22)
Nature's Baby (4/23)
$15 GC Piggy Paint (4/24)
Organic Coconut Flour (4/27)
What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life - 3 winners (4/29)
Seventh Generation Green Cleaning Pack (4/29)
A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (4/30)
Nourish Your Inner Goddess Gift Pack (5/1)
The Pocket Therapist - 3 winners (5/2)
EvoraKids (5/3)

I love coconut. While coconut oil and shredded coconut are staples at my house, I had yet to try it as flour. So I was quite excited when Tropical Traditions sent me a 2.2 lb bag of their organic coconut flour.

This coconut flour is fiber from the coconut meat after most of the oil has been extracted to make Virgin Coconut Oil. It is certified organic, unsweetened, and has not been treated with sulfites. The first thing I noticed when I opened it - apart from the delicious smell - was the natural yellowish color. Tropical Traditions organic coconut flour is high in dietary fiber and protein, and is gluten-free.

You can add coconut flour to standard wheat-based recipes for extra fiber, by substituting 10-30% of the grain-based flour. If you need 100% gluten-free muffins and quick breads, that can be done with Tropical Traditions organic coconut flour. Organic coconut flour contains natural sugar from the coconut meat, so you can cut down on adding sugar.

Tropical Traditions organic coconut flour also contains over 19% non-gluten protein. It makes an excellent addition to shakes and smoothies where fiber and protein are needed. You can also use it to add a wonderful coconut flavor to many dishes, or use it as a thickener in soups and sauces.

I made some coconut water with the flour, and added it to a banana yogurt smoothie. Then I made the recipe for Pumpkin Coconut Squares from the Tropical Traditions site. I used pure canned pumpkin instead of the pie mix and added a 1/4 cup of agave nectar for sweetness. I have a strong oven, so I cut the baking time down to 35 min. Finally, after I cut the squares, I topped them with plain yogurt - we use low-fat organic - and decorated with agave nectar and chocolate syrup for the kids. You can get similar results using honey and whipped cream if you prefer. This desert was delicious! I would compare it to cheesecake without the heavy feeling in my stomach after I've had a slice or two.

There are many recipes using Tropical Traditions organic coconut flour on their recipe list. Next, I plan to try the pizza crust recipe and the Coconut Flour Oat Pancakes. Yum!

Deal Alert
If you decide to buy these products 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 uses! 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 a 2.2 lbs bag of Organic Coconut Flour 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, feel free to do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials, sales 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 Tropical Traditions #Organic Coconut Flour! #Giveaway ends 4/27 @troptraditions @aitmama #win #eco http://tinyurl.com/y78gr4x"
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• go here and here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is April 27, 2010, 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.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: 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.  This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information and images courtesy of the sponsor. The winner will receive their prize directly from the company. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Book Description
Whenever Therese Borchard was weathering a personal storm, and help was nowhere to be found, her one guiding light was the question, "What would a therapist say?" The result was a sort of therapy scrapbook for rough days--a quick reference for anyone who needs a dose of encouragement, support and tried and true ways to cope.

The Pocket Therapist is a compact and accessible guide filled with techniques and advice to help combat everything from addictive behavior to negative thinking.

My Review
The Pocket Therapist is a tiny book that I read in a couple of hours. Then again, you could read each of the 144 mini chapters one at a time, and reflect on them for days. Therese J. Borchard has the benefit of hundreds of hours of therapy with professionals, she's read the books, walked the walk - all things I have not done. She masterfully combines what she learned in therapy with everyday wisdom and remarkable quotes by others. And while The Pocket Therapist is no substitute for professional help should you need it - nor was it intended to be one - the book provides a crash-course perspective on emotional survival. Therese has included all techniques and tricks she uses between her therapy sessions to build her sanity file. Now you can use it to make your own "emotional survival kit".

The Giveaway
Hachette Book Group is generously giving away to my readers three (3) copies of The Pocket Therapist!

To enter, leave a comment about a good book you've read lately.

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 copies of  The Pocket Therapist by Therese J. Borchard! #books #Giveaway ends 5/2 @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/y4azt4t" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 2, 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. and Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information, review copy and image courtesy of the publisher. No compensation was provided for this post.

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

The two winners of The Cream Perfume Company giveaway have been selected, courtesy of random.org.

Comment #188 angie lilly, is getting the Coconut Body Moisturizer;

#153 Gingermommy, picked Melon d'eau solid perfume.

Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to all who entered.

Welcome to Link Your Giveaways Saturday! Please link your giveaway posts below and check out everyone else's. I'll go first ;-)

Kindred Scents Soy Candles (4/16)
Dark Deceptions - 5 winners (4/19)
Original Sprout Gift Basket (4/21)
Presumed Innocent - 3 winners (4/22)
Nature's Baby (4/23)
$15 GC Piggy Paint (4/24)
Organic Coconut Flour (4/27)
What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life - 3 winners (4/29)
Seventh Generation Green Cleaning Pack (4/29)
A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (4/30)
Nourish Your Inner Goddess Gift Pack (5/1)
The Pocket Therapist - 3 winners (5/2)
EvoraKids (5/3)

In my family, we love our dairy. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are everyday staples at the table. When I heard that Yoplait has a new Greek style yogurt, I could not wait to try it!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Yoplait, I received a couple of free coupons and headed over to the grocery store. The Greek yogurt is available in four delicious flavors, Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain. We tried all but the Honey Vanilla. I love the creamy thick texture and the yummy taste. Besides, at only 100 calories for the plain variety, it makes for a very satisfying low-calorie snack! Did I mention it's fat free and contains 14 grams of protein - twice that in other yogurts? The flavored varieties have 12 grams of protein and 130 calories.

My favorite is the plain, and the kids loved the strawberry and blueberry. I wish these varieties had pieces of fruit, too but they are still delicious. I topped the plain with some shredded coconut and agave syrup, and voila - desert!

If you like cooking with yogurt - I do! - check out some recipe ideas using Yoplait Greek yogurt.

My grocery store has Yoplait Greek yogurt on sale this week - for $1 each. To save even more, you and I can print a coupon here and save $0.30 on one cup of Yoplait Greek. Please note this coupon offer is not valid in some states, including LA, NV, and ND.

In addition to the two free product coupons, I also received Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack, which includes the great spa goodies pictured above. I plan to use mine for some much needed Mother's Day pampering!

The Giveaway
One of my readers will win the Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack (including two coupons for free Yoplait Greek yogurt*) to help you relax!

To enter, please comment below with your favorite yogurt flavor.

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 Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack! Giveaway ends 5/1 @aitmama #win http://tinyurl.com/y2euwrl" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is May 1, 2010, 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 alternates will be chosen.

Open to U.S. residents 18+. No P.O. box addresses, please. The winner will receive the prize directly from the sponsor. Product coupons, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away were provided by Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. No compensation was received for this post.

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

What's on your wish list for Mother's Day this year? A day at the spa? An extra few hours of sleep and breakfast in bed? A few blissful hours with an exciting book? I may wish for all of these at some point but this year, I am wishing for some Le Creuset. This must be the most beautiful cookware I've seen! It comes in many wonderful colors, and I've been reading rave reviews from people who own Le Creuset dishes. 

Now that I know what I want for Mother's Day, my birthday, wedding anniversary and Christmas - of course you need more than one fabulous piece of cookware! - I need some ideas for Father's Day. My husband is a big movie buff. Before we had kids, we used to go to the movies every couple of weeks. Now it's DVD land. Our Panasonic Plasma HDTV is almost a member of the family! On Saturday night, we put the kids to bed, make some popcorn, and enjoy a good movie and grown up conversation.

Our TV takes too much space in the family room, and I am thinking of getting it relocated. I might just get a corner TV stand for my husband for Father's Day! I've been browsing the selection at Racks and Stands.com, one of the CSN family of stores. I can't narrow it down yet but am working on it. Maybe you can help me? Which one do you like best?

And for those of you who care to comment below with an opinion, I'll give you extra entries in my forthcoming Le Creuset giveaway! Thanks to CSN Stores, I will be reviewing and giving away some of this fabulous cookware. We can all use some inspiration in the kitchen!

Book Description
How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is the transcendent story of a young woman who, in a twenty-four hour period, journeys through startling moments of self-discovery that lead her to a courageous and life-altering decision.

My Review
How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is not light reading. It covers one day in the life of Clarissa, a writer who six months prior moved to an old house in a Florida swamp. The swamp is quite symbolic because with her every move, Clarissa has been sinking deeper and deeper into an unhappy marriage and an inability to write. She needs a catharsis, a series of events that would help her find her voice again and maybe have another chance for happiness. On this day, the summer solstice, Clarissa will finally awake from her emotional and creative slumber and change her life. She makes shocking discoveries of past violence on women and children who used to live in the area, and finds the strength to overcome her own painful relationship with her emotionally abusive husband.

How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is a beautifully written and complex book that at times left me emotionally drained. Still, the main character can be an inspiration for all those women who put up with violence of any form. As long as we live and breathe - and maybe even afterward, as some of the other characters in this book can attest - we have a fighting chance. That's the positive, life-affirming message that I hope readers will get from this novel.

About the Author
Connie May Fowler is the author of five novels, most recently The Problem with Murmur Lee, and a memoir, When Katie Wakes. In 1996, she published Before Women Had Wings, which became a paperback bestseller and was made into a successful Oprah Winfrey Presents movie. She founded the Connie May Fowler Women With Wings Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding women and children in need.

Visit the other participating sites for more reviews of this book:
April 12
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com
http://frugalplus.com/
http://reviewfromhere.com
http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com
http://therempels4.blogspot.com
http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com
http://www.rundpinne.com
http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

April 13
http://readingatthebeach.com
http://onemorefoggynotion.blogspot.com/
http://redladysreadingroom-redlady.blogspot.com
http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
http://a-long-the-way.blogspot.com
http://chaoticbookobbsession.blogspot.com
http://busyjulieblog.blogspot.com

April 14
http://www.bellasnovella.com
http://www.maryinhb.blogspot.com
http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com
http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
http://booknaround.blogspot.com
https://sumanam.wordpress.com/
http://booktumbling.com/
http://thedmlibrary.blogspot.com

April 15
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/
http://josephsreviews.wordpress.com/
http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com
http://www.delgalreviews.com/
http://www.justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
http://debshere.blogspot.com/
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com
http://ojoyofmylife.blogspot.com

April 16
http://www.justshortofcrazy.blogspot.com
http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com
http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com
http://www.tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
http://lorisreadingcorner.com
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com
http://www.mybookbuds.com
http://www.armsofasister.com
http://wiseowlbookreviews.com
http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com

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