Today, I have an excellent gift idea for sports fans who love reading - John Feinstein's fascinating new book, One on One. It's coming out in December, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Book Description
After numerous beloved and bestselling sports books, John Feinstein returns to the subjects of his first ten books, crafting a narrative of the most revealing encounters he's had.

Feinstein has interviewed some of the most enduring figures in sports--from hallowed coaches such as Bob Knight, Jim Valvano, Mike Krzyzewski, and Dean Smith to beloved athletes including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and John McEnroe, and here we have John Feinstein at his very best. He goes behind the scenes of his reporting from The Final Four, Wimbledon, The US Open, the Army/Navy game, the Olympics, and more, opening up sport's most private, closed-door places and sharing exclusive stories from the reporting of books like Season on the Brink, A Good Walk Spoiled, A Season Inside, and A Civil War.

These are the coaches and athletes who know their games the best, and the legends and legendary moments that gave inherent shape to our favorite pastimes.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) copies of One on One: Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game by John Feinstein!

To enter, share in a comment below what's your favorite sport or athlete and follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Eating healthy is important throughout the year but probably takes a little more effort around the holidays. It's hard to resist yet another rich chocolate brownie or an extra slice of grandma's extra special homemade pie.

Green Giant makes incorporating veggies in your family's meals fast and easy during this busy time of year. The Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Vegetables with Pasta are tasty and convenient frozen meals that are ready in minutes. Check out thee new  varieties - don't they sound good?

• Macaroni and Cheese Sauce with Broccoli - classic elbow pasta and broccoli in cheese sauce;
• Pasta and Vegetables with Alfredo Sauce –corkscrew pasta with carrots and broccoli in Alfredo sauce. 

Disclosure: Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Ahhh, the gift of a good (long) sleep. I have to admit I never fully appreciated it until I had kids and my days no longer had enough hours. Now I focus on getting the best sleep I can in the time I have.

One way to do that is make sure my pillow is as comfy as possible. For the past couple of months, I've been enjoying a quilted pillow protector. I love the extra comfort it provides! If you missed my review of Pamela's Quilted Pillow Protectors, go back and read it because you can win a set! These pillow protectors will make a great gift, too. Hooray for good sleep!

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a set of two Pamela's Quilted Pillow Protectors! The winner may choose between queen and king size.

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

Piczzle is just what it sounds like: a picture puzzle. Not just your ordinary picture puzzle - a customized jigsaw puzzle that you can personalize with your favorite photo. What a cool gift idea! My kids on a picture puzzle for the grandparents - now that's a winner.

Piczzle offers cardboard and wooden puzzles of various shapes and sizes. You can choose a round, rectangular, or heart-shaped photo puzzle. The number of pieces ranges from 12 to mind-boggling 2000. There are several very cute designs, and you can even add text - The Jones Family, Summer 2011, Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, you get the idea.

I received a medium-size cardboard Piczzle with 100 pieces. I had it personalized with my favorite pumpkin patch photo of my daughter. It came in a cardboard box with the same picture on the front. The colors of the puzzle are vivid, the print quality's very good, and my kids have a blast putting it together. Besides a fantastic gift, this puzzle makes a great family activity for a rainy day. Or any day. We love our Piczzle!

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a Piczzle puzzle!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser. Per sponsor's requirements, the winner cannot win Piczzle from more than one blog for a year during the giveaway period.




Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Today, I have a great gift idea for kids who love books! The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox is recommended for children 9-13. I've started reading it to my daughter, and so far it's been very interesting.

Book Description
Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she's honored as ''the chosen one'', the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz's control. But it s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous ''Magic Warble,'' in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen s ''zelbocks'' before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a copy of The Magic Warble!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Do you have a Kindle? Do you love getting free books? Michael Gallagher, the person behind the Free Kindle Books and Tips blog, has announced his annual Thanksgiving Kindle Challenge.

In addition to writing a very useful blog that's a must-read for Kindle owners, Michael has written a must-have book - Free Kindle Books and How to Find Them. The book is, of course, a Kindle book and only costs 99 cents. If you purchase Michael's book by 4 p.m. Central time today, he will donate the proceeds to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign. So far, Michael has raised over $240.

I've been following Michael's blog for months, and he's helped me find hundreds of free books for my Kindle. Maybe you are planning to get one of the new Kindles for yourself, or as a gift. Michael's book - and blog - will keep on giving you free books. And you can help a great cause, too. It's a win-win in more ways than one!

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was provided for this post. 

On December 6, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings will release The Very Best Of Neil Diamond - The Original Studio Recordings. This 23-song compilation will make a great gift for Neil Diamond fans! Also included is "Recollections," a set of liner notes penned by Neil especially for this collection, providing anecdotal detail and behind-the-scenes point-of-view insight into each of the songs.

Neil Diamond has sold more than 125 million albums during a musical career spanning nearly five decades. He's had 16 Top Ten albums, and 37 Top Ten singles. A Grammy Award-winning artist, Neil Diamond has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. Among Diamond's many other honors, he has received a Golden Globe Award, 12 Grammy nominations and was named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year.

Neil Diamond, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, was recently announced as a 2011 Kennedy Center Honoree and will be part of the 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Very Best of Neil Diamond draws from Neil's complete studio discography. Here is a list of the songs in the collection:

1. Forever In Blue Jeans
2. Beautiful Noise
3. Love On The Rocks
4. Cherry, Cherry
5. I Am…I Said
6. Sweet Caroline
7. Cracklin’ Rosie
8. Play Me
9. I’m A Believer
10. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
11. Holly Holy
12. Solitary Man
13. Song Sung Blue
14. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
15. Hello Again
16. Red, Red Wine
17. If You Know What I Mean
18. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
19. Pretty Amazing Grace
20. Kentucky Woman
21. Shilo
22. America
23. Hell Yeah

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win The Very Best Of Neil Diamond!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

It's hard to believe that Billy Joel began his recording career 40 years ago. This fall, Sony Music /Legacy Recordings is commemorating this talented musician with a special release of Piano Man (2 CD Legacy Edition).

Piano Man is Billy Joel's debut album with Columbia Records. The new release includes the remastered 10-song original album. A second disc presents for the first time Billy's live performance at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studio on April 15, 1972. I enjoy Billy Joel's music and loved listening to the new release. My favorite is the second CD in the Piano Man set because of the magic and palpable energy of his live performance. Even at that early stage in his musical career, it's clear that Billy Joel's talent will go a long way.

Here is a complete list of the songs included in the new Piano Man edition:

Disc One: The Original Album
1. Travelin' Prayer
2. Piano Man
3. Ain't No Crime
4. You're My Home
5. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
6. Worse Comes To Worse
7. Stop In Nevada
8. If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
9. Somewhere Along The Line
10. Captain Jack

Disc Two: The Sigma Sound Studios Performance
Introduction
Falling
Travelin' Prayer
The Ballad of Billy the Kid
She's Got A Way
Everybody Loves You Now
Nocturne
Turnaround
Long, Long Time
Captain Jack
Josephine
Rosalind
Tomorrow is Today

Piano Man was released on November 8, the same day that Billy Joel - The Complete Albums Collection came out. This remarkable edition has the complete catalog of 14 Billy Joel albums, from 1971's ColdSpring Harbor through 1979's Grammy-winning Album of The Year 52nd Street and 1981's live Songs In The Attic to 2001's Fantasies & Delusions, the first album of Billy's classical compositions. Each album has been remastered in 24 bit audio and comes in cardboard jackets replicating the original album covers and sleeves.

Both of these editions would make wonderful gifts for Billy Joel fans and for music buffs.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win Piano Man (2 CD Legacy Edition)!

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.





Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Earlier this year, I blogged about Libre Tea. This company's tea glass lets me brew fresh loose leaf tea anytime, anywhere. Today, I have another gift idea that's just perfect for tea drinkers: the Libre Tea mug.

The Libre Tea mug has a glass interior, a durable poly carbonate exterior and a removable tea filter under a twist-on lid. It keeps my tea warm inside but the outside stays cool to the touch. If my kids grab it, the tea will not spill or burn their fingers - as long as I smartly keep the lid on, of course. I can keep my tea right next to my laptop as I work, and not worry about spills or damaged furniture and equipment. The mug is just the right size - 10 oz - and it's well made and pretty to boot.

There are two ways to prepare loose leaf tea using the Libre tea mug: place the tea in the mug or on top of the twist off filter. Using it is easy - see how here. I prefer having the tea in the filter. When the tea is ready, I remove the filter and lid and - hello, wonderful Kashmiri chai. Then I can put the lid back on to keep the drink where it belongs.

Just as all Libre glasses, the mug is BPA free and wonderful for any tea beverage. In addition to these fantastic tea glasses, Libre offers organic Ming Mei green tea that I have yet to try.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a Libre Tea Mug!

To enter, please share in a comment what's your favorite tea - and follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.




Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

You know how much I enjoy shopping at Kroger. I love their product selection and the sales that help me save money.

This holiday season, Kroger makes gift card shopping easy and rewarding. Who does not love receiving a gift card to their favorite store? And buying them at Kroger will save you money on gas, too. Beginning tomorrow, November 20, and running through December 11, Kroger will offer quadruple fuel rewards points on most gift cards sold at its in-store kiosk. The rewards points can be redeemed for discounts of up to $0.10 on fuel at Shell stations and $1 at Kroger fuel centers. For example, for every purchase of $50 in gift cards from Kroger’s Gift Card Mall, you will receive 200 fuel points. Those 200 points can be redeemed for $0.10 off per gallon at two different fill-ups at a local Shell station, or $0.20 off per gallon at a Kroger fuel center.

You can choose gift cards from retailers such as Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Starbucks, iTunes, Lowes, Gap and Old Navy, Chili’s and Best Buy, among many others. Some exclusions do apply, and the rewards offer may vary by market, so customers are encouraged to visit their local store for more information.

And you know gift cards are more than great gift ideas. You can stop by Kroger before you even start holiday shopping, buy gift cards to use like cash, and save on fuel in the process. How's that for a win-win!

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to the Kroger family of stores!

To enter, please share what gifts are on your shopping list this year - and follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.




Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was provided for this post. The opinions expressed here are mine and may differ from yours. I received a Kroger gift card and the opportunity to host a giveaway courtesy of Kroger.

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

Welcome to The Great Scots & Highland Heat Blog Tour with Amanda Scott and Margaret Mallory! Today, I have the pleasure of presenting their new romance novels: Highland Hero and The Sinner. They sound fascinating! Read on...

Book Description: Highland Hero by Amanda Scott
When Scotland’s Queen Annabella dies, her devastated niece, Lady Marsaili Cargill, takes charge of the seven-year-old prince James, who is second in line to the throne. But rumors abound that the King’s brother— the Duke of Albany — will stop at nothing to fulfill his ambition to govern Scotland. But before Marsi can help the young prince escape to the safety of St. Andrews Academy, she will need to confront the men seeking to use her — and accept the help of the King’s devoted master archer, Sir Ivor Mackintosh. With traitors and assassins all around, Marsi and Ivor must risk all for the little prince James, while hoping for a future that will allow their love to flourish.

Book Description: The Sinner by Margaret Mallory
Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty — and defiant ways. Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex’s past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives?

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) sets of both books: Highland Hero (Scottish Knights) and The Sinner (Return of the Highlanders 2)!

To enter, share in a comment below what's your favorite romance novel. Then say hello to the Rafflecopter!

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Something About Silver specializes in personalized hand stamped silver jewelry. They sent me a beautiful Little Gems necklace with my kids' names and birthstones. This delicate piece consists of silver disks with the names and Swarovski birthstone crystal charms. They hang on a delicate bead chain of sterling silver. The necklace works with casual outfits as well as with more formal clothing. I love the meaning behind this piece: my children are my precious jewels, and family is the most important gem of all.

My keepsake necklace came perfectly packaged in a linen drawstring bag and a gift box. The quality and beauty of their pieces make great gifts that will be cherished for years. I adore the stacking rings and the Sassy Heart Necklace. I have some other necklaces on my wish list, too.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a $40 gift certificate to Something About Silver! Open worldwide.

To enter, please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.





Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Eat mor chikin! This holiday season, the cows are including a cow watch with the Chick-Fil-A Kid's Meals. The new Cow Watches remind us to make sure to stop and take a few moments together as a family to spend quality “time” with one another.

I don't have a cow watch yet but I do have a very cool widget to share with you. The cow watch widget has an assortment of fun family activities. Plus - there is a Holiday Quiz! Are you the first on your block to deck the halls? Find out if you are the biggest holiday fanatic in your house.



The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a Chick-Fil-A Calendar with $30 worth of free product coupons to enjoy year round! Check out the list of Chick-Fil-A coupons included in the calendar.

To enter, take the Holiday Quiz and share your results in a comment below - then follow the Rafflecopter instructions.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Do you have the cutest kid? Are you the proud owner of the cutest pet? Or is your entire family as cute as can be? Tiny Prints is looking for you! They want YOUR cutest photos in the following categories:

• Cutest Baby (From ages of 0-24 months)
• Cutest Kid (From ages of 25 months - 10 years old)
• Cutest Family
• Cutest Couple
• Cutest Pet & Owner

The 3rd annual Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest is going on now. You can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash, plus a $500 Tiny Prints gift certificate. How perfect is this - just in time for the holiday season!

You can enter the Tiny Print Talent Search Contest via Facebook or on their website. Hurry - the entry deadline is November 21. After that, the entire community can vote for their faves to determine the winners. Check out the Official Rules of the contest.

Good luck, and may the cutest win!

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was provided for this post. I receive a Tiny Prints gift as a thank you for spreading the word.

Welcome to Just Another New Blog's Holiday Gift Guide! Over the next few weeks, I will blog about some of my favorite gift ideas for 2011. There will be reviews and of course giveaways!

Today, I want to tell you about a nifty little product that lets me bring my perfume along - without having to carry the entire bottle. I use fragrance daily and always buy the biggest bottle I can find. These bottles tend to be a tad bulky and too heavy to carry around in my purse. And let's not forget air travel and its carry-on limits.

Travalo is a great solution: a pocket-size perfume atomizer that can be used with any perfume bottle. It's a refillable perfume spray that lets me carry up to 65 sprays of my favorites in my purse, gym bag, or suitcase. My Travalo Elite holds up to 0.17 oz and weighs just 13 grams when empty. It features a Genie-S refill system that easily transfers perfume from a full-size atomizer bottle into a travel-friendly container. There are no glass parts, so even if you drop it on concrete, it will not break. In addition, it is approved for carry-on luggage. Travalo Elite is available in pink, silver, gold, or hot pink - I love all four colors and the cute polka dot design.

Travalo atomizers are made from light yet sturdy aircraft grade aluminum. There is a clear window on the side that lets me see how much perfume is left. It is small and compact - a little over 3 inches long, Travalo Elite is the size of a tube of lipstick. In addition, the Travalo spray bottles are eco-friendly because they are 98% recyclable. Each Travalo comes with a No-Quibble performance guarantee for the operational lifetime of the product, which is about 10 years, or 10,000 operations.

Travalo is not just for girls. Your guy can carry his fragrance in style, too! Stocking stuffers, anyone? Oh and make sure to check out the Travalo Gift Packs - they include two Travalos and a carry case. They are perfect for those who like using more than one fragrance - I do! If you prefer to mix and match, you can pick your Travalos and then choose one of the stylish travel cases that hold two or even three Travalos.

Travalos and their accessories are available at select retailers and at the Travalo online store. With prices ranging from under $16 to about $50, they can make nice and affordable gifts for any occasion.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. / CAN reader will win a Travalo Elite!

To enter, share in a comment below which Travalo is your favorite - and follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.





Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Book Description
Alexander Popper can't stop remembering. Four years old when his father tossed him into Lake Michigan, he was told, Sink or swim, kid. In his mind, he's still bobbing in that frigid water. The rest of this novel's vivid cast of characters also struggle to remain afloat: Popper's mother, stymied by an unhappy marriage, seeks solace in the relentless energy of Chicago; his brother, Leo, shadow boss of the family, retreats into books; paternal grandparents, Seymour and Bernice, once high fliers, now mourn for long lost days; his father, a lawyer and would-be politician obsessed with his own success, fails to see that the family is falling apart; and his college girlfriend, the fiercely independent Kat, wrestles with impossible choices.

Covering four generations of the Popper family, Peter Orner illuminates the countless ways that love both makes us whole and completely unravels us. A comic and sorrowful tapestry of memory of connection and disconnection, Love and Shame and Love explores the universals with stunning originality and wisdom.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for two (2) copies of Love and Shame and Love by Peter Orner!

To enter, share in a comment below what's the best book you've read so far in 2011. Then follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to design our family holiday cards. This year, I used Mixbook for the first time, and could not be happier with the results.

Mixbook is a photo products company that helps people create custom photo books, cards, and calendars. They offer tons of beautiful holiday card designs. The site is easy to navigate - the hard part for me was narrowing down the choices. I wanted a set of 30 5x7 flat Christmas cards. Finally, I picked the Red Wishes design. This two-sided card allowed me to use three photos on the front and three on the back. I could customize the text of our greeting, the font, the background, and use special effects for the pictures. I went back and forth, testing many different options, until I decided to use black and white versions of the family photos. I had them cropped in a round shape for the front of the card and a combination of round and oval shapes for the back. I tweaked a little the default background on the front of the card and changed it to light blue on the back. I loved how I could easily customize every single element of our cards!

The set I received was printed on premium matte cardstock and had a luxurious feel and look. The holiday cards are absolutely gorgeous. Even my husband commented on how beautiful they turned out this year. The cards arrived within days, complete with premium white envelopes. All I have to do is print out address labels and add stamps. The whole process was easy and fun. I will be looking into the Mixbook calendars and photo books next - these make wonderful gifts for close friends and family.

Right now, Mixbook are offering $10 off on orders of $75+, or $20 off orders of $150+. Use coupon code YOURMIX1025 but hurry - it expires on November 16, 2011. Connect with Mixbook on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on everything Mixbook.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I love shopping at Kroger. They offer a great variety of quality products - including my favorite Private Selection organic milk and yogurt. In addition, Kroger runs sales and promotions regularly, helping me save money.

One of these deals is starting tomorrow. From November 13th through November 26th, with the purchase of any four participating General Mills products, you will either receive free milk (up to $3; limit of 2) or $3 off your shopping order. The promotion varies based on store location, so check your local Kroger store for details. Some of my favorite General Mills products are included, such as Cheerios, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies, Nature Valley Bars and Fiber One Bars.

Make sure to visit the other Kroger Co. Family of Stores for specific deals and offers, too. The Kroger family includes Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a $25 Kroger gift card to help with shopping for great deals!

To enter, please comment below with your favorite General Mills product - or tell us what you love to buy at the Kroger family of stores. Then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.





Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was provided for this post. The opinions expressed here are mine and may differ from yours. I receive a Kroger gift card and the opportunity to host a giveaway courtesy of Kroger through MyBlogSpark.

I've seen kids slide around on Heelys and just could not resist trying them out myself. I used to skate in high school - granted, it's been a while but the Heelys take me back in time in a very fun way.

Heelys are shoes and skates in one. As shoes, they are nicely made and sturdy. I absolutely love the black suede-like look of the Heelys Wave and the hot pink accents. The sole is thick and provides stability - with or without the wheels. I like the extra thickness that gives me an inch or two extra without having to wear heels. The Heelys are like a good pair of outdoorsy shoes but more stylish than rugged. I decided to get used to them as shoes before I tried them as skates and found them very comfy - plus the coolness factor is off the charts. The wheels are easy to put on and take out. When they are not in place, you are not left with holes - there are covers in place.

I did not dare skate out in the park on the first try, in full view of family and friends, but had a blast Heelying in the grocery store - with the shopping cart as extra support. The Heelys made my chores much more fun! I also felt like I was exercising - skating is a sport, after all. As I get more practice and the weather gets warmer, I will be taking my Heelys outdoors - wheels included.

Now my kids have a bad case of Heelys envy. Lucky for them, their birthdays are coming up. And lucky for me, Heelys is having a Black Friday special in a couple of weeks. Between November 25 and November 28, buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. Or buy a Nano, and get a pair of shoes for $25, and get free ground shipping on all orders. Hmmm, I do need more than one pair - for the kids, of course. And maybe another for me. I've got my eye on a couple more models. After all, I am rockin' those Heelys - even winter-style, sans wheels.

Heelys are on Facebook, Twitter, in parks, on sidewalks and in stores near you.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was obtained for this post. I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. The opinions expressed here are mine and may differ from yours.

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is released on DVD today! How's 11/11/11 for magical? That makes a great stocking stuffer - just in time for the holidays. Harry, Ron and Hermione battle against Voldemort in the epic conclusion to the film series.

Are you a Harry Potter whiz? Take The Harry Potter Trivia Quiz below to find out. Then make sure to come back and enter my giveaway for a chance to win the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD.

And if you can't get enough of all things Potter, check out the Harry Potter Buzz Portal. It will give you real time updates on the trending Harry Potter topics from Facebook and Twitter. Plus, you can share your top three tips to having the ultimate Harry Potter party.



The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD!

To enter, check out the cool widget in this post, take the quiz and share your results in a comment. Then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

Book Description
To me, some people lived in the real world and others lived Brooklyn...

It’s the summer of 1978, and Samantha Bonti is fifteen years old, half Jewish and half Italian, and hesitantly edging toward pure Brooklyn, even if her dreams of something more are bigger than the neighborhood girls’ teased hair. She lives in Bensonhurst with her mother, Joan, a woman abandoned and scarred in a ruinous marriage, poisoned with cynicism, and shackled by addictions; and with her Grandma Ruth, Samantha’s loudest and most opinionated source of encouragement. As flawed as they are, they are family.

Samantha’s best friend is Janice Caputo, a girl who understands, as well as Samantha does, this close-knit community of ancestors and traditions that stand like roadblocks, this insular overcrowded little world of controlling mobsters who mold their women like Jell-O; and of the wannabes, the charismatic young guys who are willing to engage in anything illegal to get a shot at playing with the big boys. Yet, Samantha has something Janice doesn’t—a desire to become a writer and to escape the destiny that is assumed for all of them in the outer reaches of Bensonhurst. And it’s to be had just across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Then comes Tony Kroon.

Older than Samantha, Tony is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, half-Sicilian, half-Dutch mobster wannabe. A Bensonhurst Adonis. Taken in by his adoring attention, and empathetic to Tony’s own struggles with identity, Samantha is falling in love, even when she’s warned never to ask imprudent questions of Tony’s life. Even when her family and friends warn her to stay away. Even when Samantha knows she’s too smart to fall this deep . . . but the last thing she wants is the first thing to happen. Unable to resist Tony’s seductive charms, Samantha soon finds herself swallowed up by dangerous circumstances that threaten to jeopardize more than her dreams. Grandma Ruth’s advice: Samantha had better write herself out this story and into a new one, fast.

Told from the adult perspective, this is a powerful, true-to-life novel of leaving the past to history and the future to fate — of restoring hope where there was none, and reaching for dreams in an inspiring promise of paradise called Manhattan.

My Thoughts
Brooklyn Story is a moving coming of age novel about a teenage girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Ms. Corso masterfully describes a young girl's ambition, passion for writing, first love, and conflict between her values and desires. The book also depicts the life of women who are involved with small-time Bensonhurst mobsters: the control, the violence, the uncertainty, and the fear. In a way, it's a mob story from a female point of view. While the narrative is a bit repetitive and the bridge concept is overused - literally and as a metaphor - overall I enjoyed Brooklyn Story. Ms. Corso is planning a sequel that I will make sure to check out.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy with no obligation for a positive review. No compensation was obtained for this post. Photo and book info courtesy of the publisher, author or PR firm.

Book Description
Inspired by the lives, antics and talents of her six rescued or second-hand golden retrievers, Holli Pfau has written Pure Gold to support the efforts of Golden Retriever Rescue and other dog rescue and adoption programs. Holli's dogs guided her to a new career in animal-assisted therapy, deeper into wilderness adventures, and to relocation in the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, she added rally obedience and dog agility to her compendium of canine activities. In every case, the dogs led the way. Pure Gold is a tale of unexpected adventures and the richness of life with rescued dogs.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a copy of Pure Gold: Adventures with Six Rescued Golden Retrievers!

To enter, please comment below what's your favorite dog breed - then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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Black Friday is just days away, and many people are gearing up for a day of shopping and finding a good deal. I am staying home this year but the hubby may be venturing out for some deal hunting. I am halfway done with my holiday shopping. How about you? Do you shop for gifts throughout the year, in the last minute, or are you somewhere in between?

I love giving and receiving Visa gift cards. I can buy exactly what I want with them! How's that for a great gift? And I know many others feel the same way. Visa gift cards take the guesswork out of holiday shopping. There are no crowds, no wrapping, no shipping costs if you need to send it to someone - except for the stamp. If I am presenting it in person, I always make sure to get a pretty gift card box and to put a thoughtful note inside, along with the gift card.

Visa has put together a fun quiz to help you figure out just what kind of holiday shopper you are. I am a Gift-Giving Guru! According to Visa, I have mastered the holiday shopping season. Every year the Guru makes a shopping list, checks it twice, and has everything wrapped ahead of time.Which one are you? Take the quiz to find out, and then enter my giveaway for a $25 Visa gift card to help you practice your shopping style!

Make sure to check out Visa's Gift Card Holiday Guide for some handy tips on giving and receiving Visa gift cards.



The Giveaway
One lucky reader of this blog will win a $25 Visa gift card!

To enter, please comment below with your shopping style according to the quiz - then follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

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It's getting a little chilly out there, so Forever's Turning Up the Heat! At least as far as your reading material is concerned. Two sizzling hot new romance novels are up for grabs: Cara Elliott's Too Wicked to Wed and Lilli Feisty's Deliciously Sinful. Whether you are familiar with these exciting romance novelists or not, we are in for a double treat!

Book Description: Too Wicked to Wed (Lords of Midnight)
Outspoken Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake, the Earl of Killingworth, and is drawn into a passionate romance that has serious consequences. When a reckless wager forces the Earl, the owner of a gambling den and brothel, to take on a new business partner, the lovers begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception. If they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

Book Description: Deliciously Sinful
Things are heating up in the kitchen... and the bedroom. Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she's positive she can whip him into shape. But will their hunger for each other be a recipe for love that lasts?

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) sets of both books: Too Wicked to Wed and Deliciously Sinful!

To enter, share in a comment below what's your favorite romance novel. Then say hello to the Rafflecopter!

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