Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tristi's October Blog Hop...

****THIS GIVEAWAY HOP IS NOW CLOSED*******

Welcome to the October Blog Hop, where you can visit new blogs, enter to win prizes, and have a great time!

At the bottom of this post, you'll see a list of participating blogs. Just click on each link, check out the prize, and follow the easy instructions to enter. You can enter on each blog, so it's possible to win multiple times. It's frighteningly easy.

On this blog, you can win ...August Moon Pumpkinina © And a Bath and Body Spiced Cider mini candle!!






To enter, all you need to do is:

1. Become a follower of my blog.

2. Leave a comment on this post and tell me why you'd like to win this prize. If your e-mail address isn't visible through your Blogger profile, please also leave it with the comment so I can notify you if you win. You can enter until midnight MST on Saturday night, October 15th.

That's it! You are now entered. Now please go visit all my friends on the list below. It's almost like trick or treating!





October Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston
2. I Am a Reader, Not a Writer
3. Bonnie Harris
4. Michael D. Young
5. Misty Moncur
6. Debbie Davis
7. Mandi Tucker Slack
8. Mary Ann Dennis
9. Deanna Henderson
10. Laura Bastian
11. Kristy Tate
12. Kristy Wilson
13. Jennifer Debenham
14. Jenny Moore
15. Elizabeth Hughes
16. J. Lloyd Morgan
17. Close Encounters with the Night Kind
18. Billy Boulden
19. Scott Bryan
20. Maria Hoagland
21. Shirley Bahlmann
22. Shelly Brown
23. Marcy Howes
24. Lynnea Mortensen
25. Jaclyn M. Hawkes
26. Diane Stringam Tolley
27. Gail Zuniga
28. Betsy Love
29. iWriteNetwork
30. Canda's InkBlast
31. Stacy Coles

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Renovation Bootcamp....Kitchen!

Publisher's NoteShopping trips to discover trends, cabinet styles, counter top materials, appliances and plumbing fixtures are only the opening skirmishes when planning a kitchen renovation battle plan.

Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen is the ultimate step-by-step, behind-the-scenes manual to remodel a kitchen. This must-have manifesto is loaded with "before" and "after" photos, drawings, questionnaires, lists, and "Tales from the Trenches" from the author's own jobsites.
Packed with practical, no-nonsense advice, checklists and proven recommendations, the book will help the novice and seasoned renovator alike plot a logical course of action before jumping into the fray.
Learn how to:
• determine how long it should take
• de-code the design process
• establish a budget
• hire a contractor
• ask the right questions when shopping for cabinetry, appliances and materials and so much more.
Armed with this renovation road map, homeowners can plan their strategy so they won't just survive, they'll save time, money, sanity and win the renovation war!
Robin Siegerman is a Registered Interior Designer and international, award-winning, Certified Kitchen Designer. With almost 20 years experience designing and managing home renovations, she sets a new standard for the kitchen renovation guide with Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen. Her columns, articles and projects have been featured in newspapers, magazines and coffee table books, she is a regularly featured designer on various HGTV shows and is a popular speaker at trade and home shows.

My Review:  Recently I had the opportunity to review Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen written by Robin Siegerman. I loved this book. Not only did author Robin Siegerman describe the hows of renovating your kitchen, she also included a companion workbook to help the process along. Renovation Bootcamp featured beautiful before and after pictures that leave you excited and anxious to begin your own renovations. The author offered "Tales From The Trenches" where she highlighted several of her own experiences and sometimes humorous stories from her time spent as a designer. She offered practical advise from who to hire to a realistic breakdown of prices and a do-able timeline. I thought this book was a definite must have for anyone considering remodeling or redesigning their kitchen. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. She states,

"[The kitchen] is arguably the most important
room in the house. A kitchen is to a home what air traffic control is to an airport; what mission control is to NASA; what the hub is to a transportation line; what the heart is to the body. A deeply personal space, it can be the scene of domestic intimacy, creativity, harmony, and even drama and discord within the family."

And I couldn't agree more. I found this book very helpful, easy to read and follow, and again, she offered a realistic approach to remodeling a kitchen. A definite must read for any homeowner.

Today, I also have the opportunity to offer a guest post from Robin Siegerman. I appreciate the time she took to take a minute and give a quick note of advise.

Guest Post by Robin Siegerman:



When remodeling a kitchen, what are some things that should be left for the professionals and why?

The top three areas that should be left for professionals during a kitchen remodel are:
1.    Electrical/mechanical work
2.    Plumbing
3.    Structural work.
Electrical and mechanical work are the most hazardous components of a kitchen renovation.  Faulty wiring can be the cause of a house fire and if that happens, the occupants have only 3 minutes to escape before being overcome by smoke.  All electrical work should be done to meet or exceed the local building codes to ensure safety and this is best done by a licensed electrician.  However, the electrician is NOT the best person to design the lighting.  There are a lot of reasons for this that are too detailed to go into here, but chapter 6 in my book, Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen, explains it more fully.
Plumbing can be more problematic than a lot of people think and many DIY enthusiasts would scoff at bringing in a plumber.  I had designed a project in a condo with a contractor hired by the clients, whose plumber got a bit careless.  The apartment was on the 34th floor and it was an older building that didn’t have stop valves in each unit, but only down on the main level.  So to do any work, it was necessary to take the elevator down 34 flights and get the maintenance people to turn off the valves (Can you see where this is going?).  The contractor had spent 6 months joining two units together and re-arranging the floor plan with new kitchen and 3 new bathrooms as per my design.  Finally when everything was completely finished, the furniture had been moved in and the clients were within 24 hours of moving back in, the plumber adjusted a fitting under the sink without having the stops turned off.  The fitting was under such pressure, that the connection broke, it blew off nearly hitting him in the head and scalding him with hot water.  It took 20 minutes to get anyone to turn off the stops, while hot water was gushing out into the newly finished apartment, ruining floors, cabinetry , baseboards and pouring down 10 floors through the main pipe chase.  This was the worst thing I have ever heard of on a job site with plumbing, but the point is, it can happen even with a professional, so imagine how easy it would be for something similar to happen with someone with less experience.  Hire a licensed plumber.
Doing structural work requires proper construction drawings and a construction permit that you will have to apply for through your municipality.  Doing structural work without professional drawings and permits is foolish and risky.  If the work is improperly done, and the structure of the house is affected, not only will it be a bigger job to fix it, but your insurance may not cover you.
If in doubt, hire a professional, and make sure they are properly covered with insurance.

To purchase a copy of Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen visit Amazon today!
To learn more about author Robin Siegerman visit www.sieguzi.com.

Monday, October 10, 2011

I Almost Divorced My Husband....

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to meet Sherri Mills for the very first time. We were attending an LDS book sellers meet-and-greet and we just happened to walk in the doors at the same time. Unsure where to go, we both turned right, toward a gathering of people. It soon became apparent, after we'd spent nearly fifteen minutes at this convention, that we were at the wrong convention. It was hilarious and thanks to Sherri, we finally found the correct convention. Right from the beginning I was drawn to Sherri's sweet personality and her friendly demeanor. I loved getting to know her, and I've had such a great time learning about her and her amazing new book, I Almost Divorced My Husband, but I Went On Strike Instead. I've had the privileged of reading her book and I have to admit, I loved it! This is definitely a must read for every married couple and even those who are considering marriage. During the course of reading this book my husband and I laughed and had many "Ah-hah!" moments. We also had many interesting conversations during the time we spent reading Sherri's book. I Almost Divorced My Husband, but I Went On Strike Instead has been featured in Red Book Magazine and has had raving reviews. So, today, I'm very excited to feature Sherri! Meet Author Sherri Mills....




1-What inspired you to write I Almost Divorced My Husband?

When the strike was over and I  witnessed the devastating apologetic reaction from my husband Gerald, after he had done everything for a week and a half. I had an epiphany. I discovered that we have been blaming the wrong person. My husband didn’t believe any different than other men, women, mom’s, dad’s, grandma’s grandpa,s, in other words society at large. The idea that women should be responsible for everything in the house has been so imbedded in our culture that I knew it was going to be a tough nut to crack. I knew that I was going to have to be the pioneer who did it.

The only way I was going to get this message out to society, was to write a book. That way I could get the word out into the world where society lives.

The real inspiration came from my clients who begged me daily to write a book.Then my daughter who sent me the book ‘How To Get Published’.

She wrote, “I love you mom. I have faith in you. One day, women all over the world will owe you their future.”

2-Have you always wanted to be a writer?

No- I have had absolutely no literary training. When I saw so many people I knew and loved go through divorces that didn’t have to happen, I knew that someone HAD to do something . I knew instinctively that that someone had to be me. It seemed I was the only one brazen enough to confront the elephant in the living room.

I am not a writer who published a book.

I had a message that had to get out. So I knew I had to do whatever it took to learn how to write a book. To me this message has got  to become a movement. We have to stop the divorce rate from skyrocketing. For our children's sakes and for our grandchildren's sakes.

3-What are your current projects?

A man who bought my book at Costco sent me an email the next day full of praise for my book. He told me how it had helped him in so many ways.

He said, “Do you think when you write your next book you can devote two chapters to men, telling us what we can do?”

My acquisition editor had different ideas. She said, “Do you think you can write the whole book to men as if they were sitting in front of you?”

Besides working full time in my salon I am now mid-way through the ‘Man’ book.

4-What is the best advice you can give your readers?

It would be, ‘first seek to understand-then to be understood.

This is not only successful with householder work but any other dispute you have in your marriage.

For the first 12 years of my marriage, I handled everything the wrong way. I never would have had to go on strike had I handled everything differently. First I let him off the hook with housework, and then I blamed him for not doing anything. I was always full of self pity , anger and worse of all- hidden resentments, which is by far the most dangerous. All of these feelings that are not dealt with early on can simmer under the surface until they finally erupt often leading to divorce.

5 -What is your favorite part of the book, I Almost Divorced My Husband?

The three main reasons the ‘me generation’ has adopted as an excuse for getting a divorce. I go into great detail to de-bunk all of them.

6-What is your favorite hobby besides writing?

I have been consumed with the idea of convincing everyone that (barring abuse) most marriages can be saved. My research seems to be my only hobby/obsession. I live it, I sleep it, I do it on vacation, I search for it in the newspaper, on TV, and when My husband asks me why I didn’t hear him we both chuckle as I say, “Shush, I’m working.” I can’t seem to even meet anyone new without syphoning out at least a little bit of research. No one is safe.

7-What is your favorite food?

Fresh garden tomatoes.

Thank you, Sherri, for sharing your answers today!! 

To purchase a copy today visit Amazon.
To learn more about Sherri Mills you can visit her at www.sherrimillsauthor.com


Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Key of Kilenya...by Andrea Pearson

Publisher's Note: When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control. 

The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.


My Review: To be quite honest, I don't usually read books in this genre. However, I loved Harry Potter, so I took a chance when asked to review this and I have to admit, I liked it! A lot! Jacob Clark is a normal teenager who dreams of becoming a basketball star. One day while his parents are away he hears his little sister, who is playing in the backyard,  scream. Honestly, this scene sends chills up my back. He and his older brother race into the backyard only to discover a pair of vicious, snarling wolves. He and his brother are unsure what to do, but when the wolves give chase, Jacob's only choice is to run and lead the wolves away from his sister and brother. He is chased deep into the forest. There he discovers a strange tree where he takes shelter from the pack of wolves. He is baffled by the strange tree in the middle of the forest, but knowing he has no other choice, he stays hidden in the tree. The next day, he is attacked by a bear-like creature, who chases him through the tree "house", and when he is rescued by a strange group of people known as the Makalos, he is stunned. He soon learns that these Makalos are the protectors of "The Key of Kileyna" which has been stolen by Lorkon, and HE is expected to help recover this lost key to save  a new world he never knew existed. I thought The Key of Kilenya was a great read, especially for boys ages 10-16. I thought the story flowed well and I like how the author parallels two different stories through the book. It comes together nicely in the end. I'd recommend Andrea Pearson's book to anyone looking for a new fantasy series that is clean and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series. 



You can purchase a copy of The Key of Kilenya HERE.

To learn more about Author Andrea Pearson check out  www.kilenyaseries.com

Monday, October 3, 2011

Mush Head and Other Crafty Things....

For reasons I can't explain, this time of year the crafty bug seems to bite everyone....including me! I was bored today, so my 3 year old and I came up with some fun Halloween crafts to keep us busy! The plate was easy and the little monster guy was just weird...but we had fun! (My daughter called the little monster man "Mush Head" )






Antique Photo Dish

Things you'll need:
Old plate or dish from any thrift store
Antique picture (real or computer)
Lighter
Black Spray Paint
Plate Stand
Glue

Directions:
1. Spray paint dish
2. Cut and burn edges of your antique photo until it is the shape and size you desire
3. Glue photo onto plate
4. Display using plate stand

Mush Head...not exactly sure what he is!
Things you'll need:

Old material
Wood or metal base
Rustic colored wire wrap
Thin wooden dowel or stick
Hot Glue
Stuffing
Needle and Thread (any color)
Shiny Beads (2)
Stiff Hair Spray or Elmer's Glue

Directions:
1. Glue wooden dowel or stick onto base after you have painted it or colored it if needed
2. Take a square of material, shred the edges
3. Stuff Material to size you desire
4. Wrap around end of dowel and tie the edges around the dowel using a strip of material the same color or varied. Secure with knot.
5. Thread needle and use thread to create an eye. Thread bead onto doll and secure with string. Repeat for second eye.
6. Use thread to create "pinched" mouth. Sew until desire look is attained.
7. Tread needle with different colored thread to create hair. Pull thread, cut and tie off. Repeat until desired look is achieved.
8. Using hair spray or glue ( I used hair spray) spray hair until stiff and sticking out at the angle you desire. Let dry.
9. Using wire wrap...design wire around dowel and display.

Friday, September 30, 2011

The Outer Edge of Heaven...

*See Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop Below*

A novel by Jaclyn M. Hawkes....


Publisher's Note: 

Montana truly is heavenly. Especially those handsome cowboys.

Filled with colorful characters of all shapes, sizes and species, including an orphaned baby pig, most of the Langston family put the fun in dysfunctional, give or take a couple of black sheep. There's one in every family, isn't there? Add to that glorious scenery, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive cousin rancher, Luke Langston, and it makes for a summer Charlie will never forget. Which might not be a good thing. She has the time of her life, but her heart may never recover.


My Review: The Outer Edge of Heaven is a love story that takes place in the beautiful open spaces of Montana. Charlene Evans or "Charlie" is attending BYU and preparing to go to law school the next year. When summer break begins she is loath to return to her parent's home in Connecticut where she knows she will be pushed into a relationship with a man of her parent's choosing. When her friend Forest suggests she takes a position working on his family's ranch in Montana, she is quick to accept, despite the problems it will cause between her and her parents. Montana is wonderful and the ranch is more than she could have hoped for. She loves her job, and as she gets to know the Langston family, she can't imagine a better life. The Langstons, like any other family, is full of colorful, sometimes quirky characters, and Charlie finds she is happier on the ranch than she has ever been before. When she meets Luke Langston things truly seem like heaven. However, darkness lurks on the farm, and when Charlie is attacked, her illusions of the ranch are somewhat shattered. Charlie is forced to come to terms with her feelings and emotions as Luke and her friend, Fo (Forest),  do everything they can to keep her safe. Luke is a marvelous hero and the other quirky characters are well defined and definitely a fun addition to this novel. The plot moves quickly and keeps a steady rhythm. Charlie, the protagonist, has a great sense of humor and I believe romance readers will enjoy this book.


To learn more about Jaclyn M. Hawkes visit www.jaclynmhawkes.com
To purchase a copy of The Outer Edge of Heaven visit Amazon

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At....

* See Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop Below

Publisher's  noteAfter the attack on Pearl Harbor, eighteen-year-old Robert Stuart had a decision to make: keep working at the steel mill in Warren, Ohio, or volunteer to serve his country. Stuart's father had served in the first World War, and service was in his blood, so he enlisted in the Marines.

Anne Davis had a decision of her own to make. The girls in her high school were going to send letters to alumni who were going off to war. She looked at the list of soldiers and saw a familiar name: Robert Stuart.
The letters Anne sent would mark the beginning of a relationship that would span sixty years, two marriages, two children, and three wars.
Over half a century after those first letters were sent, the Stuarts' grandson, Kyle, began chronicling their life together. He would discover pieces of a family history that only he dug deep enough to learn. But in the back of his mind, one concern lingered: the story of a person's life can only have one ending, and his grandfather's health was deteriorating.
I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At is a true story of love and war, of three generations and two romances, one of sixty years, the other of just a few months. Pray deals with one generation trying to ----connect with another and how it affected them both.

My Review: When I first received this book I believed this was a novel based on World War II. However, I quickly came to realize it was much more than that. Kyle Garret, a first time author, writes an engaging story of love, family and the bond between a grandson and his grandfather. Having served in three wars...World War II, Korean, and Vietnam...Robert Stuart was someone you could look to for an example.  He retired as a Major in the Army and then worked as a teacher for many years following his time in the military. He married his high school sweetheart, twice, and raised both a daughter and a son, but the story didn't focus solely on Major Robert Stuart. The author's input and perceptions of his family and his grandfather filled a good portion of this novel and I found it was an interesting sort book. I enjoyed learning about Garret's family and the ties they shared with one another. I enjoyed his retrospect concerning his grandfather's time in the military and his goal to write the book he so desperately wanted to finish before his grandfather's death.  It wasn't a fast paced book and at times it was a little hard to follow as it jumped around quite a bit, however, I feel it was a heartfelt novel and the author gave good insight into the emotions of the characters he wrote about and described so vividly. 


Purchase your copy today at Amazon
To learn more about the author visit www.kylegarret.com
Follow Kyle Garret on Twitter