Tag: "books"

Brenda Novak’s White Heat Giveaway

white heat

Have you heard of the author Brenda Novak? She’s got not one, but three, great sounding books all coming out this summer. The first of the three, White Heat, is available now.
Check out the trailer.

About the Book White Heat

In Stores NOW

White Heat is the first book in Brenda Novak’s new Department 6 Hired Guns trilogy. Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop are operatives for Department 6, a private security company, and they’re going undercover to expose a new and dangerous cult. This group has taken up residence in the Arizona desert, in a ghost town called Paradise. Members worship at the feet-and in the bed–of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. On his orders, they tried to stone a woman to death. And they’re implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl. To expose the Church of the Covenant, with its arcane rituals and debauched practices, Nate and Rachel must pretend to be married. That’s the only way they can get in-but being Nate’s “wife” is the last thing Rachel wants. She and Nate have a one-night history that’s just an embarrassment to her now. But they don’t have a choice. Wycliff has to be stopped.

Don’t forget, there are two other books coming out this summer.

bodyheat killer heat

brenda novak

About Brenda Novak:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has three novels coming out this summer - WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT & KILLER HEAT. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1,072,000. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

white heat lip gloss

WIN IT! THREE winners will each receive

  • White Heat Lip Gloss (made exclusively for the book! $22 retail)
  • A copy of White Heat
  • $25 Visa card

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me what interests you about this book or what other Brenda Novak book you love.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

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)
1 - Follow Brenda Novak on Twitter 1 - Tweet this giveaway with this phrase - Fellow readers, enter to #win a great White Heat by @ Brenda_Novak #giveaway by @valmg .
1 - Friend me on Facebook. (sidebar)
1 - Leave a comment on Brenda Novak’s Facebook wall that valmg told you about her new books.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit one of my other blogs - From Val’s Kitchen, Val’s Views and Game Review Network - and leave a comment on any 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, no PO Boxes. This contest will end on Friday 09/03/10 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!

I received compensation for hosting this giveaway. As always, my opinions are not influenced by the sponsor or compensation and my reviews and recommendations are always my own and represent my genuinely held opinions.

BOOK REVIEW - Chicken Soup For The Soul: Teacher Tales

chicken soup for the soul teacher tales cover

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales: 101 Inspirational Stories from Great Teachers and Appreciative Students

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935096478
ISBN-13: 978-1935096474

Synopsis

This is a great gift for new and experienced teachers, providing them a morale boost and the knowledge they are appreciated. The teaching industry has embraced this book, and more than half the stories are from “celebrity” teachers, including all of the 2009 State Teachers of the Year and the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. There is a lot of buzz about this book in the teaching industry and those teachers who don’t receive it as a gift are sure to buy it for themselves, to read these 101 true stories by great teachers and appreciative students, with lots of laughs, poignant moments, and some tears too.

As a young child I loved school. I know that it was a direct result of the teachers I had and the school I was in at the time. I was heartbroken when I couldn’t attend anymore. Teachers can make such a difference, they can have such an impact on a person’s life. As students you get to hear other student’s stories about what teachers influenced them. But you don’t get the opportunity to hear about what student’s impacted teachers. This book is broken up into chapters – Why We Teach, First Year Tales, Learning From The Kids, Great Ideas, Thanks I Needed That, That Was Embarrassing, Touched By A Student, The Teacher Who Changed My Life, Tough Kids, Reconnecting, and Reflections On Being A Teacher. The stories are all short and meaningful, some humorous and some inspiring. Many of the authors are teachers that have won state teacher of the year awards. My favorite stories were The Power Of The Pen, My Christmas Lesson, Field Trip Fiasco and Special Treatment. This book would make a great gift for any reader, and an especially great gift for a teacher or someone that wants to become a teacher.

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

BOOK REVIEW - Chicken Soup For The Soul: Thanks Dad

chicken soup for the soul thanks dad

Chicken Soup For The Soul: Thanks Dad - 101 Stories about Gratitude, Love, and Good Times

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul; Original edition (April 20, 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 193509646X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1935096467

SYNOPSIS

This book gives fathers the pat on the back they deserve. Children of all ages share their heartfelt words of thanks and loving memories in this collection of 101 new stories. Personal accounts of learning from Dad’s example and lasting lessons, special moments and memorable outings, encouragement and expectations will bring any father joy, inspiration, and laughs. Whether the reader is a new dad, a father to one or more, a father of teens, a father of grown children, or a grandfather, these heartwarming and humorous stories will resonate with him. He may even find that his kids did pay attention after all! !

What I love most about Chicken Soup For The Soul books is that they are light and easy to read short stories yet they provoke some thought provoking feelings and memories. More than once I found myself remembering moments from my past while reading this book. While I’m partial to the father/daughter stories and the teen stories I also found the others interesting, including father/son stories, sports stories, hero stories and father knows best stories. My favorites included Words Of Wisdom, Johnny, The Track Meet and Melody Of The Heart. The book would be a great gift for any father or grandfather.

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY - Chicken Soup For the Soul: True Love

chicken soup for the soul true love cover

Chicken Soup For The Soul: True Love - 101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about Dating, Romance, Love, and Marriage

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul (December 29, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1935096435
  • ISBN-13: 978-1935096436

Synopsis

Everyone loves a good love story. And we all love stories about how the love started and blossomed. This fun new book about dating, romance, love, and marriage, will make readers laugh and cry, and is guaranteed to inspire a renewed search for that special someone or open the heart a little more to the love already found. Stories of how couples met, when “they knew,” good and bad dates, proposals, maintaining the relationship, second chances, and all the other ups and downs of love, romance, and marriage will entertain, encourage, and warm the hearts of all readers. A great Valentine’s, wedding, or romantic gift!

I like the Chicken Soup For The Soul books for lots of reasons. They’re diverse, light, touching, easy to read and they often cause one to reminisce. This is especially the case with Chicken Soup For The Soul: True Love – a book about love in it’s many phases including dating, marriage and death. This is my favorite Chicken Soup book to date. The book contained a forward from skater Kristi Yamaguchi and her husband on how they met and eventually married. Reading about how he proposed and what he was thinking made me chuckle. This book is broken into chapters titled How We Met; Adventures in Dating; Meant to Be; The Proposal; The Wedding; Keeping the Love Alive; Lessons in True Love; Happily Ever After; Gifts from the Heart; and Love Everlasting. My favorite story of all was Special Friends Special Love, it had me balling my eyes out. Lighter favorites included My Ninja and The Counterproposal. The Last Valentine and The Most Glorious Vacation brought a tear to my eye. This book is a great fit for anybody and would also make a great gift.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a copy of the book Chicken Soup For The Soul: True Love.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me how you feel about true love.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

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)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook. (sidebar)
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit one of my other blogs - From Val’s Kitchen, Val’s Views and Game Review Network - and leave a comment on any 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, no PO Boxes. This contest will end on Sunday 07/18/10 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!

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

The Ocean Between Us With Susan Wiggs Book Collection Giveaway

the ocean between us book cover

The latest book by Susan Wiggs is called The Ocean Between Us. In it the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the emotional rewards and sacrifices of love and marriage.

When Susan Wiggs’s recent novel Fireside debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, the author responded by jumping into her swimming pool fully clothed, despite the freezing temperatures of February. Why? “Because I never wanted to forget that moment,” she said. “It’s such a singular sensation. And so often for a writer, the good news comes during the odd time of day, when no one is around but the dog and the seagulls on the beach.”

Wiggs credits the book’s popularity to her loyal readers, whose unflagging interest has steadily propelled her sales upward over her twenty-year career. From the very start, the author’s stories have illuminated the everyday dramas of ordinary people. She self-published her first novel at the age of eight (and it can be seen on the author’s blog here—http://susanwiggs.wordpress.com/about). A Book About Some Bad Kids was based on the true-life adventures of Susan and her siblings.

Today, she is an internationally bestselling author with millions of copies of her books in print in numerous countries. Her novel Table for Five has been optioned as a feature film by Zimand Entertainment. She continues to draw inspiration from her friends, family and the nuances of human nature that make the headlines every day.

Susan, who holds a graduate degree from Harvard, confesses that the first romance novel she ever read was Shanna, by the late Kathleen Woodiwiss, which she devoured while slumped behind a college textbook, studying to become a math teacher.

How did a math teacher become a bestselling writer? Susan says the real question is how did a writer turn to teaching math? “I was born to write. I always knew it. When I was in college, I took a career aptitude test that said I should be (a) a writer, (b) a teacher or (c) a speech
pathologist. So I decided to go for two out of three. I chose teaching—and the subject of math specifically—because it was something I knew I’d love and be good at. Also, a math teacher can make a living. This is not always the case for a writer, not right out of the gate.”

Susan appears at writers’ conferences across the country, speaking to aspiring novelists about the profession. She’s been an instructor and workshop presenter at the Maui Writers’ Conference, an intense retreat for published and unpublished authors. She is also a key organizer of the prestigious Field’s End Writers’ Conference closer to home, on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

The author has won three RITA® Awards for her novels Lakeside Cottage, Lord of the Night and The Mistress. Her recent novels have all placed high on the New York Times, Washington Post, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly lists. The Charm School was honored with the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence and was designated a Favorite Book of the Year by Romance Writers of America. Wiggs belongs to the Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. She is often interviewed in the media on the topic of writing popular novels for today’s women, having appeared on Talk of the Nation and in the Seattle Times and Portland Tribune. Her blog, “The View from Here,” (susanwiggs.wordpress.com) is filled with her photos and observations and was featured in Publishers Weekly. It has quickly turned into a huge hit with readers.

When she’s not writing, Susan can likely be found hiking with her dog, Barkis, listening to music, seeing the world, reading books and doing what she calls “extreme crafts”—Fair Isle knitting, impossible faux-finish paint projects, furniture refinishing and upholstery.

Susan lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. Her lively Web site can be found at www.susanwiggs.com

Synopsis

The Ocean Between Us is a powerful novel of love, duty and second chances. Susan Wiggs deftly portrays the struggles and triumphs of an American family facing life’s greatest challenges as they come to understand the timeless lessons of the heart.

Grace Bennett has it all—three wonderful children, a devoted husband and a life of adventure and travel. But beneath the calm demeanor of an efficient Navy wife, Grace stands at the crossroads—of her life and her marriage. When she looks in the mirror, she doesn’t recognize the person staring back. She’s tired, out of shape and feeling invisible. Somewhere between her husband’s demanding career, raising a family, the constant uprooting and the Navy’s routine, Grace has lost her sense of self. Something needs to change. She needs to change.

Steve Bennett simply can’t understand the unraveling of his wife’s heart. He thought he was proving his love to her with each promotion. He believed he could still be a good husband and father while juggling an officer’s myriad duties. But he now realizes they were seeing their marriage through different eyes. And when a nearly forgotten secret resurfaces, Grace’s discontent comes into sharp focus. Now Steve must try to make their marriage right again before his next deployment. For himself. For his family. For the twenty years of shared history that have always anchored him to home.

Then duty calls.

Separated by an ocean of regrets and longing, Grace and Steve take a hard look at their faltering marriage, the love that brought them together and the family they cherish. They confront the choices they’ve made, the sacrifices they’ve rationalized and the dreams they’ve set adrift.

But just as they come to grips with their marriage, the unthinkable happens—a disaster aboard Steve’s aircraft carrier shatters Grace’s world. As she gathers her children around her and waits for news, she faces a Navy wife’s worst nightmare—the cold truth that life’s biggest chances can slip away while you’re looking for guarantees.

The Ocean Between Us arrives in stores on April 27th, 2010.

susan wiggs books prize pack

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive 11 titles from the Susan Wiggs catalog, including a copy of The Oceans Between Us. This Gift Pack is valued at $100.50.

Titles include:

* Table for Five
* The Summer Hideaway
* Just Breathe
* Summer at Willow Lake
* Home Before Dark
* The Charm School
* Snowfall at Willow Lake
* The Horsemaster’s Daughter
* Fireside
* The Winter Lodge

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment telling me why you’d like to read The Ocean Between Us OR what your favorite Susan Wiggs book is.

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)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook (sidebar)
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati (sidebar) AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Friend me using Google FriendConnect. (bottom right of page)
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (bottom of page)
1 - Visit Game Review Network and leave a comment on any 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 Saturday 05/22/10 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.

Crazy Busy Beautiful Giveaway And AIR OPTIX AQUA Surprise Your Eyes Contest

crazy busy beautiful book cover

“Crazy Busy Beautiful” is a new beauty book that was released earlier this mnonth, on April.

From the Publisher -

Women today are crazy busy. And they want to be beautiful!

Beauty can be overwhelming. Walk by any cosmetics counter or into any drugstore and you’re suddenly surrounded by thousands of products promising to make you look younger, fuller, lusher, thicker, and just about every other “er” you can think of. It sounds too good to be true and most of it is. But who has the time to navigate though all the beauty myths out there (or even her own makeup bag!) to find the tricks that will help you be your most beautiful? Is it really that hard to look and feel your best?

Not anymore! Carmindy, the makeup artist on TLC’s hit show What Not to Wear, is opening her beauty treasure chest and sharing more than 600 beauty tips and secrets she’s learned on the show and during her years as a makeup artist across the globe. Try these tips from Carmindy:

* Blackheads be gone! Elmer’s Glue is just as good as a pore strip for removing blackheads from your nose.
* Forgot to pack your eyeliner? In a pinch, mascara can pull double duty as eyeliner. Use a brush to pick up a little color from the mascara wand and smudge it into the lash line.
* Can’t get that last bit of blush to come off? Swipe a cotton ball dipped in mineral oil across stubborn makeup. It will melt off.
* Traumatized by age spots that just won’t go away? Put lemon juice on age spots at night to help fade them. But never apply lemon juice to the skin right before sun exposure.

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy. I must say that the book is not at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be a girly-girl book but in fact it’s quite useful, interesting and informative.  The easy to read  book is frequently splashed with color and is full of fast and easy ways to solve common beauty problems. The book is a light read that is interesting to go through, as well as a great resource for beauty emergencies and questions. There’s a “nasties” section in most chapter, this is my favorite - it highlights the common issues many women share.

Celebrity makeup artist Carmindy from TLC’s “What Not to Wear” is serving as an expert judge for the AIR OPTIX AQUA “Surprise Your Eyes” contest. Two grand prize winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a spa day with a friend. To enter submitting their best photo or video tip for keeping their eyes healthy and beautiful in the  at www.airpotixcontest.com. To see more tips from Carmindy: http://www.airoptixcontest.com/tips

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a copy of the book Crazy Busy Beautiful.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

Leave a comment on this post telling me one beauty tip.

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)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook (sidebar)
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati (sidebar) AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Friend me using Google FriendConnect. (bottom right of page)
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (bottom of page)
1 - Visit Game Review Network and leave a comment on any 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 Friday 05/07/10 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.

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.

Copyright © 2010 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!)

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)
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 - Friend me using Google FriendConnect. (bottom right of page)
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (bottom of page)
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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

theres no i in office cover

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.

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