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Tuesday 30 August 2011

Week Two Winner/Week Three Prize

The winner of the week two prize is:

Vivien

Congratulations!

The prize for week three is a $20 Amazon gift card. Remember you can enter by leaving a comment here or by leaving a comment on any of the blog tour's participants. Good luck!

August 15 - Maria Hoagland 
August 16 - Heather Gardner  
August 17 - Rachelle Christensen
August 18 - Jane Still
August 19 - Deborah Davis
August 22 - Renae Mackley 
August 23 -  Cindy Hogan
August 24 - Matthew Tandy 
August 25 - Taffy Lovell
August 26 - Kathy Habel 
August 29 - Don Carey
August 30 - Teri Rodeman 
August 31 - Cathy Witbeck
Sept. 1 - Shelly Seele 
Sept. 2 - Tristi Pinkston
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Sunday 28 August 2011

Awesome August Blog Hop

Welcome to the Awesome August Blog Hop, where bloggers from all over the Internet have come together to throw a summertime party!

Every blog on this hop is offering a fun prize, and entering is quick and easy. Simply follow the instructions on each blog, leave a comment, and bop right along to the next blog. You can win multiple times, so be sure to check out all the participating blogs!

On my blog, you can win a $15 Amazon gift card.

To enter:


1. Become a follower of my blog.

2. Answer the question "Why do you like to read?" on your blog or in my comment section.

3. Leave me a comment and tell me that you've done both things. If your e-mail isn't available through your profile, I'll need you to leave that, too - I can't tell you if you've won if I can't contact you!

This blog hop runs through Wednesday night at midnight, so be sure to enter before then! The winner will be notified by e-mail.

Now that you've entered my contest, come meet all my other blog friends and see what fun things they are offering!



Awesome August Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
2. Karen Hoover
3. Michael Young
4. Kristy Tate
5. cindy Hogan
6. Julie Bellon
7. Margot Hovley
8. Laurie Lewis
9. Mandi Slack
10. Melanie Jacobson
11. Joyce DiPastena
12. Renae Mackley
13. Debbi Weitzell
14. Donna Hatch
15. Carolyn Frank
16. Marsha Ward
17. Stacy Coles
18. Bonnie Harris
19. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan
20. Diony George
21. Lisa Asanuma
22. Susan Dayley
23. Christine Bryant @ Day Dreamer
24. Stephanie Humphreys
25. Ranee` Clark
26. Tamera Westhoff
27. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
28. Heather Justesen
29. Rebecca Talley
30. Jennifer Hurst
31. Aimee Brown
32. Cheryl Christensen
33. Rachelle Christensen
34. Imaginary Reads
35. Andrea Pearson



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Friday 26 August 2011

We Need a Little Christmas

Last week I was in my mother-in-law's home and saw the Sears Christmas Wish catalogue on the coffee table. Doesn't it seem like it comes a little earlier every year? I can't decide if it is added pressure and stress or if the early reminder will relieve the pressure and stress in December.

My oldest daughter has always loved Christmas music. I used to start listening to it in late September because the month of December just isn't long enough to really enjoy all the great seasonal music. Every year, my daughter tries to convince me to put in a Christmas CD a little earlier. Last month she had an idea. Maybe I would let her and her sister play some one day a month, say the 25th since Christmas is on the 25th. The idea sounded fine to me, so I agreed, sure they would find it a novelty for one month.

Guess what yesterday was. That's right, the 25th. I assigned the kids the chore of washing all the walls and then went into the office to do some work. When I came out to see how things were going, they were singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. When my husband came home for lunch and heard what was playing, he just rolled his eyes. He maintains that Christmas music should only played in December and put away on December 26th, but he determined years ago that he lives in a weird household and tolerates our quirkiness with a smile.

So this family celebrates Super Bowl Sunday in our own peculiar way and we listen to Christmas music on the 25th of every month. It keeps life interesting. What strange things do you do in your own families?

P.S. I apologize in advance to my daughter's roommates. I hope you like Christmas music!
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Monday 22 August 2011

Running On Empty - Week 2 Contest

The winner of last weeks contest is:
Debbie Davis
Congratulations!

The prize this week will be this book:

Happiness and contentment are not the same. Happiness is circumstantial - it depends on outside influences that are often beyond our control. Contentment, however, has no preconditions. Contentment can be found by all - rich or poor, sick or healthy, privileged or underprivileged.

When was the last time you fueled up emotionally? Spiritually? Physically? Do you find yourself out of fuel when you encounter trials? We all need to find ways to refill our tanks as we navigate the road of life. If you're feeling overwhelmed, tired, confused, or just plain weary, the solution may lie in refueling.

In Running on Empty? Joseph Alston gives 12 revitalizing tips for navigating the road of life and the obstacles you'll face. With its conversational style and candid wisdom, Running on Empty? is a practical user's manual for life. As an added bonus, the book doubles as a meditation journal with space for you to reflect on the ideas discussed. 


Burns Alston was my neighbor, bishop, friend, and my children's school teacher. He wrote this book after he was diagnosed with ataxia. Despite the difficult years he spent living with this illness, he always kept his positive attitude and spent his time teaching others. Burns passed away this July and our whole community misses him. Running on Empty is an inspiring look at the way he lived his life.

I will also throw a few surprises into the package as well. To enter the contest this week, do any of these and leave a comment telling me what you've done. 

Here are the ways you can enter to win the prizes.

  • Become a follower of my blog.
  • Comment on any post or comment on any reviewer's post.
  • Blog about the contest or the book tour
  • Mention the book on Facebook or Twitter
  • Leave a review of either of my books on Goodreads, Amazon, etc.
Make sure you leave a comment telling me which of the above things you have done. Each thing you do will earn you one entry. You have until September 2. Have fun!

August 15 - Maria Hoagland 
August 16 - Heather Gardner  
August 17 - Rachelle Christensen
August 18 - Jane Still
August 19 - Deborah Davis
August 22 - Renae Mackley 
August 23 -  Cindy Hogan
August 24 - Matthew Tandy 
August 25 - Taffy Lovell
August 26 - Kathy Habel 
August 29 - Don Carey
August 30 - Teri Rodeman 
August 31 - Cathy Witbeck
Sept. 1 - Shelly Seele 
Sept. 2 - Tristi Pinkston
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Wednesday 17 August 2011

Stretching

My kids take after me and are all avid readers. Like most young people they have a favorite genre and most of the books they read come from that genre. I suppose many adults are the same way. My son enjoys fantasy and some distopian and devours books so quickly I can hardly keep up with him. He tells me quite regularly that other books just don't interest him. I can relate. I read everything but fantasy.

Just before school ended in June, the English teacher asked my son what he planned on reading this summer. He listed a few books - all in his regular genre - and his teacher was impressed with the amount of reading he thought he could do. Then she told him that he should stretch his mind and reach something that he wouldn't normally pick up. She challenged my son to read a few classics and let her know what he thought.

When he told me about the teacher's challenge, I just shook my head. This is the first summer he has worked full-time and I couldn't imagine him taking what little spare time he has and using it for something that doesn't interest him.

I was wrong. This summer he read Ben Hur and he just finished Great Expectations. He can't wait to report back to the teacher about his summer reading. He just started reading A Tale of Two Cities and was wondering what to read after he finished it. I told him he should read some Shakespeare, quite sure he would laugh at the idea. Tonight, I noticed my volume of Shakespeare was on the couch. Somehow this teacher inspired him to try something out of his comfort zone and, even though he probably won't admit it, I think he is actually enjoying the experience. At the very least, he is inspiring me. There are several classics I've been meaning to read and I think it is about time I start on them.

What books have you read lately that have stretched your mind?
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Tuesday 16 August 2011

Wild Irish Rose - Week 1 Contest

The prize this week will be this book:

"It is May 1865. When Rosaleen O'Shay and her mother lose their factory jobs, and then her father and brother are injured in a coal-mine cave-in, the family is in serious trouble. Rosaleen worries they will never save enough money to fulfill their dream to leave Pittsburgh and buy a farm in California. Hoping to give her a better life, Rosaleen's father secretly arranges to marry her off to Blaise Cameron, a young man on his way to his parents' ranch near Stockton, California. In a twist of fate, Blaise turns out to be the soldier from the street — the one Rosaleen considers a blackard.
To make matters worse, Blaise has a plan and dubious motives for taking a wife — so Rosaleen will have to drive a hard bargain of her own. Will Blaise tame the fiery redhead and make her truly his? Or will he annul the marriage as promised when he has achieved his objectives? And will Rosaleen realize that unusual beginnings can lead to happily ever after?" from DeseretBook.com

 I will also throw a few surprises into the package as well. To enter the contest this week, do any of the things listed here or leave a comment.
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Monday 15 August 2011

Double Deceit Blog Tour and Contest

Welcome to my Double Deceit Blog Tour. I'm so excited to have fifteen amazing bloggers on board. Make sure to stop by each blog and come back here every day for chances to win prizes. The tour for Double Deceit starts Monday August 15 and runs through September 2.

I will be giving away a prize package each week.

Week 1 - Wild Irish Rose by Deborah L. Weikel, a beaded bookmark, and chocolate.

Week 2 - Running on Empty by J.Burns Alston, a beaded bookmark, and chocolate.

Week 3 - $25 amazon gift card

There will also be a grand prize. This will include both of my books, Double Deceit and Finding Rose a beaded bookmark, and of course chocolate.

Here are the ways you can enter to win the prizes.
  • Become a follower of my blog.
  • Comment on any post or comment on any reviewer's post.
  • Blog about the contest or the book tour
  • Mention the book on Facebook or Twitter
  • Leave a review of either of my books on Goodreads, Amazon, etc.
Make sure you leave a comment telling me which of the above things you have done. Each thing you do will earn you one entry. You have until September 2. Have fun!

August 15 - Maria Hoagland 
August 16 - Heather Gardner  
August 17 - Rachelle Christensen
August 18 - Jane Still
August 19 - Deborah Davis
August 22 - Renae Mackley 
August 23 -  Cindy Hogan
August 24 - Matthew Tandy 
August 25 - Taffy Lovell
August 26 - Kathy Habel 
August 29 - Don Carey
August 30 - Teri Rodeman 
August 31 - Cathy Witbeck
Sept. 1 - Shelly Seele 
Sept. 2 - Tristi Pinkston

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Thursday 4 August 2011

A Favorite Quote

This is the quote that hangs on the wall in my office. 

"The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.

Creativity in living is not without its attendant difficulties, for peculiarity breeds contempt. And the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your time is that when people realize you were right, they'll say it was obvious all along.

You have two choices in life: you can dissolve in the mainstream, or you can be distinct. To be distinct, you must be different. To be different, you must strive to be what no one else but you can be. . ."

Alan Ashley-Pitt
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Wednesday 3 August 2011

Peaceful Place

It has been a crazy year and my blogging has suffered. In the last year, I've had two books published, co-directed a high school play, redecorated two rooms of my home, and made or altered four prom dresses. Like everyone else, I'm too busy.

Last September I talked about the office makeover my husband and I started and I promised pictures - which I never got around to taking or posting. So here they are for the few people who asked to see the finished project.

I didn't take "before" pictures. I'm new to the redecorating thing, so it didn't occur to me to document the process. I also forget to take pictures of my kids most of the time, so it only makes sense that I would forget a mere room.
So the first picture is approximately the original colour of the room. My name for it was "blah" and I didn't find it inspiring at all. The room was a standard bedroom that held two tables which my husband and I used as desks. A previous owner built in  bunk beds on one wall. The room has always functioned as an office/guest bedroom. I would make the beds with whatever quilts the kids weren't using on their beds and hope the guests didn't think it too odd that the wood on the beds had never been painted or finished in any way.

The whole makeover began when my uncle offered me a desk. It was one of those huge, old, wooden desks that all the teachers had in their classrooms and came with a large piece of glass to cover the top of the desk. The light coloured wood didn't appeal to me, but the size of the desk did and besides that, it had drawers (remember, I was using an old office table.) I decided to paint it white and replace the old gold pulls with new silver ones. Of course once the painting was done, I just couldn't put my shiny new desk in my old blah office. What better colour to show off the white desk than a deep blue? So I picked this colour, then crossed my fingers and held my breath. I've always lived with neutral walls and knew even if I hated it we wouldn't be repainting the room any time soon. We painted the unfinished wood on the bed white to match the desk and found some bright fabric to make into quilts.

The finished room ended up being much darker then I had initially pictured, but once I put everything in place, it was perfect. The blue is calming and shows off the desk and quilts on the bed. It took me quite a while to figure out what I wanted on the walls. I ended up making a wreath out of an old dictionary I picked up at the thrift store. There is also a family tree and some framed prints of Celtic knots and hummingbirds that I love. I've also framed one of my favorite quotes. The room does have a little bit of a split personality. My husband's half of the office still has his old office table for a desk, but we put two narrow white shelves on the wall and put some of his mission memorabilia from Japan. I just need to finish sewing the quilts and put some curtains up.


Here is my little corner of the world.

Guests beds or the perfect place to shut my eyes for fifteen minutes when I just can't keep them open any longer.

So that's it. I don't think I have a talent for decorating or even a real desire to do too much of it, but in the end, I'm pleased with my peaceful corner of the world. Now if I could just figure out what to do with the rest of the house.
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