Tag: "books"

Momover - The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together - With Giveaway

Here’s a book for the moms!

momover book cover

Tapping into Meditation to Tame Your Restless Mind
by Dana Wood,
Author of Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!)

I can’t tell you how long “Learn to Meditate” has been sitting on my life-goals list. Not on my ho-hum to-do list, next to “schedule teeth cleaning” or “buy Huggies Pull-Ups.” I’m talking about the biggie, the list that serves as the repository for my deepest desires for myself, like “Find Hubby” and “Have Baby.” That’s how important I consider meditation to my overall health and wellness.

So if it’s so important, why haven’t I tackled it before now? I guess I wasn’t ready. Though I’m sure I could’ve benefited from meditation at earlier stages of my life, I was just too antsy to explore it (and yes, I see the irony in that). Another big reason is that I’d always assumed meditation required a lot of skill and knowledge. Not so. As it turns out, meditation is just like so many other things in life. Sometimes you just have to wade into the shallow end and start splashing around. “There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ with meditation,” says intuitive guru Michele Bernhardt, a multitasking healer, astrologer, and metaphysician who’s produced several guided meditation CDs. (Learn more at her brilliant website, www.myinnerworld.com.) ”A big part of meditation is your intention.”

So at least intend to give meditation a shot, and in the process, you’ll be giving yourself the opportunity to relax, gain mental clarity, and connect with your spirituality.

Go with the Flow

As I said, I hope you don’t take a page out of my book by contemplating meditation for a good ten years before actually trying it. To help you move your intention into reality and make the whole shebang that much more compelling, here’s a list of tips:

Designate a sacred space: For me, it’s my walk-in closet. I love the girl-power vibe — the shoes, the dresses, the purses. Attached to my office, my walk-in is a key part of my “Dana Zone.” I’ve stocked it with a few small pillows and a beautiful meditation mat Bernhardt gave me years ago. In one of my shoe cubbies, I’ve stashed a gorgeous sand timer, pictures of the ocean, candles, meditation CDs, and a player. Though pillows and candles are the norm, trick out your own sacred space with treasures that speak to you.
Create a ritual: This can involve repeating a mantra, listening to particular music (I like Gregorian chants, but you might prefer wind chimes, Tibetan bells, etc.), or inhaling certain scents. “I think, deep inside, most of us love a ritual,” says Bernhardt. “So use sounds, a candle, or some kind of scentlike incense or myrrh. Patchouli is also perfect. With a scent, right away your body says, ‘Okay, I’m ready.’”
Make sure you’re comfy: Sorry, that means no Spanx. (Kidding. Sort of.) If you’re not keen on sitting on the floor with your back erect and your hands on your knees, you can sit in a chair. Just make sure you’re maintaining good posture, that you’re positioned a few inches away from the back of the chair, and that your feet are on the floor. Kneeling is another possibility, though you might want to use a pillow for support.
Observe your thoughts without “feeding” them: We discuss how tricky this is below, but it becomes easier once you realize that it’s all about detachment. For instance, if, midmeditation, you think about the fact that you need to take your DD to the doc, you say to yourself, ”I’m having a thought about needing to take the baby to the pediatrician.” What you don’t do is take that original thought to the next level, as in, “Next Tuesday afternoon might work” or “I hope the poor little doll doesn’t need too many shots.” Just let those snippets pass in and out without reaction.

themotherload

“I’ve gotten much more deeply spiritual since I had my child. I trace it directly to being pregnant with him. I was introduced to the notion that our babies choose us as parents. Well, that terrified me to my core. So, I started an intense inner dialogue with my unborn child about who I really am, what kind of mother I hoped to be, my hopes and dreams, etc. To do that, I had to really dig deep and explore the whole ‘Who Am I? Why Am I Here?’ business. It got me on the path that has led to my becoming a meditation coach. I meditate daily and love it. ”

-Katherine, mama of one

The above is an excerpt from the book Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!) by Dana Wood, Foreword by Veronica Webb. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Author Bio
Dana Wood, author of Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!), is a mother, wife, and the writer of “Momover,” an online column that explores the collision of age and first-time mommyhood. Currently the senior fashion features editor of W, Wood has served as the beauty director of W and the health and beauty director of Cookie. In her twenty-plus years of journalism, she has also written for numerous national publications, including Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Women’s Health, Self, and People. Learn more about Wood and her her popular blog at Momover.net. She lives in New York, NY.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a copy of the book Momover.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me if you have ever tried meditation and what you do to relax.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (sidebar)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (sidebar)
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1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
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1 - Friend me using Google FriendConnect. (bottom right of page)
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
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1 - Visit Game Review Network and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned there. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 03/14/10 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Mar 04, 2010 | 5 comments | View Post

This Week’s Winners

To select the winner of these giveaways I put the number of entries into the Random Sequence Generator on random.org. I matched the numbers that came out on top to the comment bearing the same number and made sure the comment was eligible.

Snaptotes winner

#18 Hope L

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey’s Choo Choo Express winner

#21 Melanie

Kids Foot Locker winners

#91 Shelly, #107 Melissa Nunley, #37 Andrea H and #43 Laura Deluca

Carolina Pad winner

#90 nan lara

There’s No I In Office winners

#5 lilshuga2001, #8 Nancy and #15 Wendi P

Popcorn Factory winner

#115 Debbie S

Build-A-Bear Frosty winner

#34 K Rock

Crayola Light Timer Toothbrush

#9 Lynn Matthews

Toms’s Of Maine winners

Everyone that entered

Firsts: Origins Of Everyday Things That Changed The World winner

#9 Michelle, #26 Raelena, #33 Karen Pepin, #29 Deb Anderson and #2 Judy Brittle

I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School winner

#37 Cheryl Bradley

Vaseline Sheer Infusion With Stratys 3 Body Lotion winner

#22 Jackie

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways! Please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on the latest posts, reviews and giveaways.

Dec 19, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Words Move Me - Sony Reader Giveaway

words move me

What moves you?

The two things that move me the most are my children and knowledge. Knowledge takes many forms and my favorite form, by far, is the English language. That’s right - words. I love words. To me, words are interesting. They form knowledge. And you know the old saying - knowledge is power.

I’ve always loved words. The daughter of a 7th grade English teacher, I learned to read before I was 4 and have loved it ever since. As a teenager, when I was supposed to be delivering my newspaper route I
could be found sitting on a corner reading a book instead. Seriously. It was tough for my Mom to yell at me because I wasn’t getting into trouble - I was reading. You can’t get mad at someone for reading, right. Reading was my escape from everything back then. I could fall into a book and disappear for hours, not putting it down until I’d finished (or sometimes until it was too dark outside). To this day one of my favorite activities is to curl on on the couch with a book with a cup of coffee and read.

Sony has created Words Move Me to foster interest and interaction in words between readers all around the world. Readers can share their feelings via widgets. Other readers can search by emotions to find people with like interests. It’s pretty cool. My widget is below.

Sony and I are wondering what moves you. So let’s talk about that.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a SONY Reader Pocket Edition (value $199)!

The Reader Pocket Edition™ lets you access up to 350 of your favorite books from anywhere. Its elegant, lightweight design is small enough to slip into a purse or jacket pocket, and features a 5″ display with E Ink® Vizplex paper-like screen technology for easy reading, even in direct sunlight. For added versatility, it supports multiple file formats including ePub and PDF, offering access to more books from more places, including the Reader™ Store and over one million free public domain titles from Google Books.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment telling me about your favorite book and why it is memorable.

IMPORTANT NOTE - These entries will be judged on originality and content and not randomly. You may enter daily as long as the book and the story are completely different.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Create an account on Words Move Me and leave a link to your profile in a comment on this post.

1 - Tweet this giveaway with the following message - Words move me. Share what words move you and enter to win a Sony Reader Pocket Edition from @valmg at http://tinyurl.com/ybr75o7

1 - Spread the word about this giveaway on Facebook with the following message - Words move me. Share what words move you and enter to win a Sony Reader Pocket Edition from @valmg at http://tinyurl.com/ybr75o7

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 12/18/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

Please note that I am to receive a Sony Pocket Reader but that in no way have my opinions been influenced by the product or the sponsor.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 14, 2009 | 83 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - The Body Scoop For Girls - A Straight Talk Guide To A Healthy, Beautiful You By Jennifer Ashton, M.D., OB-GYN

body scoop for girls cover

GIFT IDEA - THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS

This book would make a great gift that would benefit you and your tween.

About the book A Straight Talk Guide To A Healthy, Beautiful You
Book by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., OB-GYN,
CBS News Medical Correspondent

“Dr. Ashton offers a life- changing message at the right time to a generation of young women and their parents. I trust her with my daughters” –Dr. Mehmet Oz

“Dr. Ashton is a practical and realistic voice of help for adolescent well-being in our community. Her ‘21st century’ knowledge of girls and their relationships and pressures coupled with her extensive hands-on experience make her the leading voice for effective treatment and counseling for our girls, who will be our future leaders.”
-Helen Wronski, President and CEO, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and Chair, New Jersey State coalition of Girl Scout Councils.

PRESS RELEASE

As an Ob-Gyn specializing in adolescent care, Dr. Jennifer Ashton understands better than anyone that being a teenage girl these days is fraught with a special kind of angst. But in her practice she talks openly and non-judgmentally to each of her young patients like a good friend, answering each of their questions respectfully and with candor, like all good doctors should.

Now she shares her advice with teens, tweens (and moms!) everywhere in THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS: A Straight-Talk Guide to a Healthy, Beautiful You (Avery Books, January 2010; $18.00), a no-holds-barred guidebook, based on her passion to cut through the embarrassment that girls often feel about their changing bodies and to arm them with the knowledge they need to make smart choices. Says Dr. Ashton, “I found that teens and tweens just didn’t have a clue about their bodies, and no one (parents, teachers, friends) was giving them the right information. I wanted to be the person to make a real difference in their adolescent years; I wanted to give them the inside scoop on their bodies so that they would be empowered!”

Covering questions about a girl’s body, head to toe, THE BODY SCOOP includes chapters on:
• Breast Development and nipple bumps (What is normal?)
• The decision to have sex, and the benefits of waiting (Just because you’ve done it, doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it)
• Birth control (There are many options. Which one is right for you?)
• The lowdown on STIs (Many are curable. Which ones can you protect yourself against?)
• Eating disorders (Is there more going on here than just food?)
• Depression and hormone imbalance (What treatment is right?)
• Grooming: from hair removal to hygiene products (Even down there!)
• Body Piercings (Dr. Ashton leaves no stone unturned)

Writing in a funny and fresh, girl-to-girl voice, Dr. Ashton has created a totally up-to-date health book that speaks directly to young women and the unique pressures they face today. From a doctor who “gets it,” THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS makes the road to womanhood an empowering one.

About the Author:
Jennifer Ashton, M.D., Ob-Gyn is a board-certified ob-gyn who specializes in adolescent gynecology. As CBS News Medical Correspondent, she regularly contributes to The Early Show and CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. She has also been featured on such broadcast venues as XM Radio’s Oprah and Friends. She lives and practices in Englewood, New Jersey.

www.drjenniferashton.com

THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS: A Straight Talk Guide to a Healthy, Beautiful You by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., OB-GYN
Avery Books | January 2010 | $18.00 | Trade Paperback Original
Also Available as an e-Book

About Avery:
Avery, an imprint focusing on health, wellness, fitness, psychology, and popular science, is best known for publishing cutting-edge, but accessible books from the top experts in their fields. Leading the backlist is one of the best-selling health books of all time, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch. Other top sellers include the The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Life by Cherie Calbom and Maureen Keene and The New Rules of Lifting by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove.

Founded in 1976, Avery quickly established itself as the most successful independent publisher of health books in the market. Penguin Group (USA) Inc. acquired it as an imprint in 1999 with a strong commitment to continue publishing respected, up-to-the-minute books with a clear focus on helping people make the most of their lives. To this end, Avery’s scope of titles has broadened to include psychology, inspirational memoir, and sociology.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive their own copy of the book The Body Scoop For Girls.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me who you would give this book to if you won.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Friend me on Facebook.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Place my holiday gift guide button on your blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 12/20/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 12, 2009 | 18 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - I See Me Books

i see me a christmas bear for me

GIFT IDEA - A CHRISTMAS BEAR FOR ME PERSONALIZED BOOK

I love the idea of this book. It would make a perfect gift for a young child and down the road it could become a treasured family heirloom. Here’s the press release about it.

NEW CHRISTMAS BOOK STARRING YOUR FAVORITE CHILD AVAILABLE DURING HOLIDAY SEASON

I See Me! Inc. Launches Latest Personalized Storybook, A Christmas Bear for Me

MINNEAPOLIS, (October 28, 2009) –While holiday gift trends come and go, I See Me! Inc., creators of high-quality personalized books, introduces a new holiday gift that children are sure to cherish for a lifetime. A Christmas Bear for Me is a beautiful, heart-warming, personalized story about a child’s Christmas wish for a special Teddy Bear friend. Each copy of the book comes with an adorable plush Gund bear with the child’s name on the tag and a personalized letter to the child from Santa.

Written by Jennifer Dewing and illustrated by the nationally renowned artist Wilson Ong, A Christmas Bear for Me follows the child’s journey from longing and wishing to the magic of Christmas morning, when the child finds his or her special bear along with a personalized note from Santa under the tree. This high-quality, hard cover, 26-page book includes wonderfully hand-painted, personalized illustrations that capture the magic of the season through a child’s eyes.

The child’s and siblings’ names are woven into the rhyming copy and are also incorporated into the intricate illustrations of stockings hung across the mantle, ornaments on the tree, Santa’s list of the children who have been nice this year, and more.

The entire A Christmas Bear for Me gift set, including the book, bear and letter from Santa, retails for $34.95 and is available only from November 3 through the holiday gift-giving season for any child ages 0-10 years old at www.ISeeMe.com. To make the gift even more special, all books ordered between November 3 and November 23 will be signed by the author.

I See Me! Inc. creates high-quality personalized books that celebrate the uniqueness of each child. The company’s goal is to build self-esteem in young children as they read these keepsake books. For more information or to take a virtual tour of the books, visit www.ISeeMe.com.

i see me a christmas bear for me stockings

The book A Christmas Bear For Me is no longer available for delivery by Christmas but some of the other terrific looking products are. Other I See Me personalized products and books include:

My Very Own Name Personalized Storybook
My Very Own Fairy Tale Personalized Storybook
My Very Own ABC’s Personalized Board Book & Lamb
Christmas Personalized Stickers
My Very Own ABC’s & My Very Own Name Gift Set
The World According To Your Child Kit and Book
You & Me Book from Grandparent(s)
Personalized Floor Puzzle
My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook & Personalized Fairy Plate Gift Set

Hurry if you’re ordering, the deadline for Christmas deliveries is almost here!

Dec 11, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

i used to know that stuff you forgot from school cover

GIFT IDEA - I USED TO KNOW THAT: STUFF YOU FORGOT FROM SCHOOL

I think this book is neat and would be a terrific gift for anyone, especially students. All of the facts from the following article are directly taken from the author’s book I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School. Currently, Borders Book Store is featuring the book as one of the top five best holiday gift books for 2009.

I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Michael O’Mara Books Ltd (May 22, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1843173093
ISBN-13: 978-1843173090

12 Days and 12 Facts for This Holiday Season

By Caroline Taggart,
Author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

Ever catch yourself saying I Used to Know That?

Each holiday season brings another round of cocktail parties, family get-togethers, and corporate gatherings — and invariably, lots of small talk. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when discussing politics, literature, and other intellectual “stuff,” especially when what is thought to be general knowledge is often long-forgotten. Enter I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School. From English and Literature to Math and Science, from History and Geography to Religion and Other-Worldly Topics, this book leaves you equipped to handle any topic of conversation.

Here we’ve cherry-picked twelve fun facts for the holiday season — one for every day of Christmas (or whatever holiday you prefer!) Quiz yourself to see how much “stuff” you need to brush up on before hobnobbing with the boss or office crush.

1. On building sentences: Just what is a “clause”? (Not to be confused with Santa Claus.)

Answer: A clause contains a subject and a verb and may stand alone as a sentence or as part of a sentence (when it is often called asubordinate clause): Santa Claus loves cookies but can’t eat them without milk.

2. How many bones is the spine made up of?

Answer: 26 small bones called vertebrae (Be careful lifting all those heavy holiday boxes.)

3. Acclaimed author Charles Dickens (1812-70) wrote which Christmas classic?

Answer: A Christmas Carol. The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge tries to ignore Christmas and is haunted by the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, who show him the error of his ways.

4. The fist chapter of this famous book opens with “Call me Ishmael.” Name the book and author. (Hint: it makes a whale of a gift!)

Answer: Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Melville is also the author of Pierre and the unfinished Billy Budd.

5. There’s a name for the process of watering your Christmas tree? Who knew?

Answer: Grab the kids and give them this science factoid as they nurture the family tree: Osmosis is a form of diffusion that is specific to the movement of water. Water moves through a selectively permeable membrane (that is, one that lets some types of molecules through but not others) from a place where there is a higher concentration of water to one where it is lower.

6. Can you name all 6 wives of Henry VIII, father of the Church of England?

Answer: (Listed in order) Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, Catherine. They are often remembered as divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Sure makes you think twice when complaining about bad relatives.

7. Who was the 16th President of the United States?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln (R, 1861-65) and yes — he really was born in a log cabin on a winter’s day. Notably famous for many reasons including his Gettysburg Address: “Four Score and Seven Years ago our fathers brought fourth upon this continent a new nation conceived in Liberty . . . ”

8. ‘Tis the season to be jolly giving! Don’t forget to tip well this season — etiquette coaches will tell you that means no less than 18%. So just how much should you tip on a bill of $50?

Answer: Percent means by a hundred, so anything expressed as a percentage is a fraction (or part, if you prefer) of 100. So 18% is 18 parts of 100, or 18/100 or .18. If your bill is $50, multiply 50 by .18 to get your tip total of $9. If you’re feeling generous, a 20% tip would require you to multiply 50 by .20, for a total of $10.00

50.00 x .18 = 9.00

50.00 x .20 = 10.00

Percentages can also be holiday-relevant when it comes to figuring out in-store sales. In this case, you want to multiply by the inverse of the percentage listed. So if you have a $50 sweater that’s on sale for 25% off, multiply 50 by .75 for your total of $37.50. That same $50 sweater on sale for 40% off would equate to $30, or $50 multiplied by .60.

50.00 x .75 = 37.50

50.00 x .60 = 30.00

9. Brr, it’s cold outside. But just how cold does it have to be to get some snow around here?

Answer: Did you know that the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit? Keep an eye on the temperature and watch your footing for ice on the ground. (See previous fact about those treasured vertebrae!)

10. Everyone knows Santa and his elves live in the North Pole. But what about the South Pole (aka Antarctica)?

Answer: The South Pole was discovered by Roald Amundsen (1872-1928, Norwegian), who was also the first to sail though the Northwest passage, the sea route from Pacific to Atlantic along the north coast of North America. Antarctica is the only continent that contains no countries — instead, it is a stateless territory protected from exploitation by an international treaty. A good place for the elves to protest low wages?

11. Which Ocean is bigger: the Pacific or the Atlantic?

Answer: The Pacific Ocean is larger at 69,374 square miles — that’s almost double the Atlantic, which comes in at 35,665 square miles. Making it even more astonishing that St. Nick can cross the globe in just one night.

12. Remember the reason for the Season! Can you name a few things that both Judaism and Christianity have in common?

Answer: Both are monotheistic religions that share the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. Both religions view Jerusalem as a sacred site, the former for the Wailing Wall (contains the remains of the temple that was thought to be the place where God resides on earth) and the latter for Christ’s burial and resurrection site.

Happy Holidays to all!

©2009 Caroline Taggart, author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School

Author Bio

Caroline Taggart, author of I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School, has been an editor of non-fiction books for nearly 30 years and has covered nearly every subject from natural history and business to gardening and astronomy. She has written several books and was the editor of Writer’s Market UK 2009.

I Used To Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School is available for purchase online at Amazon.com.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a copy of the book I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me a subject you’ve forgotten most of what you learned about in school.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Sign up for my newsletter. (in sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 12/18/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 08, 2009 | 53 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - Firsts: Origins Of Everyday Things That Changed The World

firsts origins of everyday things that changed the world cover

GIFT IDEA - FIRSTS: ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

I think this book sounds like an interesting light read, perfect for trivia and history buffs.

About Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World

ISBN: 9781592579242
Published October 2009, Alpha Books
Price $12.95

Ever wonder when the first cheese in a can was? Or the first person buried on the moon? Or even the first disposable diaper?

Firsts Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World will trace you through the most unique milestones of human achievement to answer any question you may have about histories firsts.

Written by Wilson Casey, a trivia and FAQ expert, this book is an amazing collection of over 500 firsts on nearly every topic imaginable. From fashion to food, politics to science, entertainment to art, each first entry offers a full explanation of the topic, written in a humorous yet authoritative style.

History and culture buffs can read about firsts such as:

The first cellular phone call: On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, general manager of Motorola’s Communications Systems Division, placed the first call on a cellular phone. Who did he call? His rival, Joel Engel of AT&T’s Bell Labs.

The first Beer: Beer is the first alcoholic beverage known to civilization, with mentions dating to thousands of years ago. Nearly every culture developed its own version of beer, using various grains like millet, maize, cassava, rice, and barley.

The first Brassiere: Around 2500 b.c.e., warrior Minoan women on the Greek isle of Crete began wearing and using a garment resembling a bra. It shoved their bare breasts upward and exposed their breasts from their clothing.

The first Bubble Gum: In 1928, the first marketable bubble gum was invented by 23-year-old Walter E. Diemer, an accountant with the Fleer chewing gum company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Casey conducted research to compile the most historically correct firsts. This book is sincerely dedicated to the real first innovators who are not in history textbooks.

WIN IT!

FIVE winners will each receive a copy of the book Firsts: Origins Of Everyday Things That Changed The World.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you’d be interested to know the origin of.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Friend me on Facebook.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Place my holiday gift guide button on your blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 12/18/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 08, 2009 | 58 comments | View Post

This Week’s Winners

To select the winner of these giveaways I put the number of entries into the Random Sequence Generator on random.org. I matched the numbers that came out on top to the comment bearing the same number and made sure the comment was eligible.

Bamboo furbuster winner
#14 valerie2350

Ben 10 poster winners
#8 Amanda, #20 Stephanie R and #13 Danetta

Old Spice Swagger winner
#23 Liz L

muvee Reveal 8 winner
#10 Lynn Matthews

The Green Year book winners
#4 Sarah Mines and #2 Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker

Bang The Keys winners
#9 Sara and #5 Nancy

A Christmas Carol Special Edition winner
#27 Linda Kish

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways! Please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on the latest posts, reviews and giveaways.

Dec 06, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - There’s No I in Office: 4293 Meaningless Phrases to Keep Your Coworkers Smiling While Avoiding Actual Conversation By Jacob Lentz and Paul Koehorst

GIFT IDEA -THERE’S NO I IN OFFICE: 4293 MEANINGLESS PHRASES TO KEEP YOUR COWORKERS SMILING WHILE AVOIDING ACTUAL CONVERSATION

For your Secret Santa gift at the office, or for anyone who enjoys humor. I want to read this one. This is a skill my Mom was born with.

About There’s No I in Office: 4293 Meaningless Phrases to Keep Your Coworkers Smiling While Avoiding Actual Conversation

By Jacob Lentz and Paul Koehorst

ISBN-10: 1569757011
ISBN-13: 978-1569757017
Publisher: Ulysses Press (April 1, 2009)
Paperback: 377 pages

Includes phrases for every workplace situation from passing in the hall to waiting for a meeting to begin. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the greatest challenge in today’s office environment is not how to keep from being stabbed in the back by corporate climbers; it’s how to avoid becoming friends with the vacuous office idiots. Thanks to this book, the reader can make coworkers think he or she is witty, interesting, and likable while allowing them to remain total strangers.

Jacob Lentz, a Harvard graduate, is a writer for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Show, where he has overseen daily creative content and produced numerous specials. Paul Koehorst is a writer and TV producer for the Ryan Seacrest radio show. They live in Los Angeles, CA.

WIN IT!

THREE winners will each receive a copy of the book There’s No I In Office.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Leave a comment on this post telling me if you would use this as a gift or keep it for yourself.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO boxes. This contest will end on Saturday 12/12/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 01, 2009 | 16 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists: A Mind-Boggling Collection of Fun, Fascinating and Bizarre Facts on Movies, Music, Sports, Crime, Celebrities, History, Trivia and More - With Giveaway

GIFT IDEA - THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF TOP TEN LISTS

I’m really looking forward to checking this book out myself. I love lists of facts because they’re interesting and fun. The book would be a great gift for the person who has everything and the person you don’t know what to get, as well as trivia buffs.

About The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists: A Mind-Boggling Collection of Fun, Fascinating and Bizarre Facts on Movies, Music, Sports, Crime, Celebrities, History, Trivia and More

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Ulysses Press (November 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1569757151
ISBN-13: 978-1569757154

Providing an astonishing array of information, The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists contains the best of everything from serial killers, scientific oddities, and historical events to little-known facts about everyone’s favorite celebrities, films, and books. There are even practical lists on how to save time and money and how to survive anything from a cocktail party to a bear attack.

From the Oscars to Fantasy Football, everyone loves to debate rankings of the best and worst. Even if one thinks they know the answers, there is an inherent curiosity to see what made the list. The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists is the perfect book to pass around to family and friends who will no doubt debate what’s been included—and who’s been left out.

The book was compiled by ListVerse.com. ListVerse.com is a trivia and factoid site founded and run by Jamie Frater, a professional software designer in New Zealand. It features over 800 lists and more than 8,000 interesting facts. The site receives 70,000 hits per day.

The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists: A Mind-Boggling Collection of Fun, Fascinating and Bizarre Facts on Movies, Music, Sports, Crime, Celebrities, History, Trivia and More is available to purchase online and in select bookstores and sells for approximately $14.95.

WIN IT!

THREE winners will each receive a copy of The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Leave a comment on this post telling me what subject you’d enjoy seeing a top ten list for.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO boxes. This contest will end on Saturday 12/12/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

Dec 01, 2009 | 41 comments | View Post

This Week’s Winners

To select the winner of these giveaways I put the number of entries into the Random Sequence Generator on random.org. I matched the numbers that came out on top to the comment bearing the same number and made sure the comment was eligible.

The Law Of Forgiveness book winner

#27 Stephanie

Santa Buddies winners

1x prize Blu-ray AND DVD Combo Pack and plus Tiny - #27 Cheryl W
2x prize Blu-ray AND DVD Combo Pack - #91 Beth and #62 Liz L

Imagine That Movie Pack winner

#57 Mrs K, #50 Over Thirty Mommy and #1 Hollowsins-Amanda

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways! Please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on the latest posts, reviews and giveaways.

Nov 29, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - Percy The Perfectly Imperfect Chicken By Rick Reiser

GIFT IDEA = PERCY THE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT CHICKEN BY RICK RIESER

I couldn’t agree more - it is ok to be different.

About Percy The Perfectly Imperfect Chicken By Rick Reiser

“Percy, The Perfectly Imperfect Chicken” is a story based on a young chicken named Percy who is different from the other chickens in his coup. The moral of the story is that children should accept themselves for who they are.

The 38-paged book is aimed at children from ages 3 - 10.

“Percy, the Perfectly Imperfect Chicken” represents the culmination of first-time author, Rick Rieser’s, 25-year career as a nationally recognized children’s advocate. He has developed resources for children of all ages that emphasize and focus on the inner strength and potential that exists in every child. Percy was written exclusively at FastPencil.com - where you could write a book too!

‘Percy, The Perfectly Imperfect Chicken’ by Rick Rieser is available to purchase at www.rickrieser.com. A soft cover is $12.95 and a hard cover is $19.95.

Nov 24, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - A Christmas Carol Special Edition By Charles Dickens, Edited By Stephen Skelton

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA - A CHRISTMAS CAROL SPECIAL EDITION

A Christmas Carol Special Edition - The Charles Dickens Classic with Christian Insights and Discussion Questions for Groups and Families

By Charles Dickens, edited by Stephen Skelton

ISBN # 978-0-7847-2391-3
Published by Standard Publishing
September 2009
$7.99 - available to purchase online

From the publisher

Since its publication in 1843, the tale of a miserly old man and the ghosts who visit him has been bringing the true spirit of Christmas into hearts and homes. Whether you’ve read the story a thousand times or have only seen the movie, A Christmas Carol Special Edition will enrich your enjoyment of this holiday favorite with:

The complete text of the Charles Dickens classic.
Annotations offering interesting insight into the story’s biblical allusions, the author’s faith, and compelling Christian themes throughout.
Discussion questions designed to engage and promote dialogue among readers of all ages on such subjects as regret, repentance, and redemption.
A list of related resources to enhance your study.

Enjoy A Christmas Carol Special Edition in your home, study group, book group, or Advent celebration and learn how to say with Scrooge:

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

Author Bio

Charles Dickens has held the title of the world’s most celebrated nineteenth-century novelist for more than two centuries. Incredibly, his popularity continues to grow today. In addtion to A Christmas Carol, his legendary literary works include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities,and Great Expectations.

Stephen Skelton is the producer of a best-selling video-based Bible study series, which includes The Mayberry Bible Study and The Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study. He lives with his family in Nashville, Tennessee.

I received a copy of this book. Having never read A Christmas Carol I found it interesting. No matter which adaptation of it you’ve watched on television or in the movies you’ll find it interesting to read the original that started it all. The book is full of explanations about the story that are very interesting. The only thing I wish is that the book was a little larger - there’s a lot of information in there besides the book and a larger size would make it easier to read.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a copy of the book A Christmas Carol Special Edition.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me who you’d give this book to if you won.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter.
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter @valmg AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 12/05/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Nov 21, 2009 | 35 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - The Green Year by Jodi Helmer

the green year cover

GIFT IDEA - THE GREEN YEAR BY JODI HELMER

The Green Year by Jodi Helmer (Charlotte, NC)

ISBN: 9781592578290
Alpha Books
Published December 2008
$14.95 - available to purchase on Amazon

From the publisher

Every day truly can be greener than the last. In Green Year, author Jodi Helmer offers practical, daily ideas to make anyone’s everyday choices environmentally friendly. Any lifestyle can accommodate simple green ideas like:

Take a mug to the coffee shop, to decrease the number of paper cups that are thrown away

Scrape dirty dishes instead of rinsing them- if every household did this it would save 1 billion gallons of water- in one night

Switch to powdered laundry detergent and dish soap, to save water

Park in the shade, which will decrease the gas that evaporates and the amount of air conditioning needed

WIN IT!

TWO winners will each receive a copy of the book The Green Year.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me one suggestion you have for living greener.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter.
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter @valmg AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 12/05/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Nov 21, 2009 | 30 comments | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - Bang The Keys by Jill Dearman

bang the keys cover

GIFT IDEA - Bang the Keys: Four Steps to a Lifelong Writing Process by Jill Dearman

Bang The Keys
ISBN: 9781592579143
Published August 2009
$16.95 - available to purchase online

From the publisher

From those looking to begin a writing career or those simply hoping to reenergize one, author and writing coach, Jill Dearman, offers guidance. Bang the Keys includes practical direction to get any writing project off the ground including:

Tips to find the right plot so they can identify and start “the right project”
Exercises to focus and stay motivated
Organizing strategies to carry the work through to the final deadline

WIN IT!

TWO winners will each receive a copy of the book Bang The Keys.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me who you’d give this book to if you won.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter.
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter @valmg AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 12/05/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.