Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

We have some big problems with dry air here
at my house. It affects us all in different ways
but it is just out of control no matter how you
look at it. I have a Humidifier and that puppy
needs to be filled anywhere from 2-4 times a
day if that gives you any clue on just how dire
our situation is. It is a very old Condo and I have
told you guys more then once I have a slum lord for
a landlord who does not fix anything no matter how
dangerous or bad it is. My carpet, my walls and
my plumping and electric and ceilings in 3 rooms need
to be replaced and he knows it and has been cited but
he will not do anything to it is push come to shove.
Hey, I am lucky, I got a new water heater, my old one
exploded last fall. I have a new Faucet in the bathroom,
my old one and the pipes connecting it crumbled when
I was 8 months pregnant and John was out of town. I had
water free flowing into the kitchen through the ceiling
and it took the guy 5 hours to respond even though I left
him several messages that it was flooding the house for
the turn off is in the unit next to mine. And we all know
what happened to my front step that fell apart under my feet
last October when I had Rowan in my arms and we both hit the
side walk and who knows how bad that is going to turn out
for my doctor still has several more tests to run. It seems
all the nerves in my arm are not working. I thought I just
had a neck issue and headaches and didn't even realize the
doc was poking my arm all over for I couldn't feel a thing.
At least that doesn't hurt though I am sure next time I
have burns on my hands from pain not registering I might
rethink my fortune. So if he is not going to do anything
about these issues I really doubt he is going to change out
my Furnace for one that does not soak up in moisture in my
house like a sponge. So I have learned to deal!
How it affects me and even little Rowan who seems to have this
issue too, is dry nasal passages. Every morning we wake up coughing
and with severely stuffed noses. An hour later we are okay but
that first hour stinks. For me it results in Nose Bleeds through
the Winter months and I pray for Spring. I also have dry skin
and it drives me nuts for Rowan is so soft and tender and I hate
touching her with Ruff scaly hands from my skin being so dry and
my feet, Ewww! Nasty. I have to wear socks all year long to keep
some moisture on my skin for other wise they end up hurting from
being so dry. Trust me, for a person with a shoe shopping condition
I do not enjoy wearing the sandals I so love to buy. A heard of
Wild Elephants could not drag me to get a pedicure either for
I would die of embarrassment. When I got the chance to review Skin
MD I was walking on sunshine for there isn't a better candidate.
When the bottle came I almost took it out for dinner and a movie
I was so excited to be alone with it. I have tried several other
skin creams with no results. My hands and arms look better for a couple
of days but the second I stop constantly applying it goes right
back to the horrid shape they were in before . My feet never even
got that brief reprieve. I used Skin MD according to the directions
for one week before I wrote up the review.
Here is what happened:
1.My hands and feet are now smooth and though I was putting it on several
times a day at the start, maybe 6 or 7, I am now only applying it
first thing in the morning and then before bed. Skin MD has locked
the moisture into my hands and even the constant in and out of dish
water, as I am sure all mothers go through, has not affected them.
They feel soft and when I say that I mean it, not on the outside
as in Smooth, I mean soft where my whole hand feels like it is
fresh and new and the softness is not only on the surface. Beauty
is only skin deep but this stuff goes a lot deeper!
2. The lines that were starting to resemble Canyons instead of wrinkles
due to the absence of moisture are almost gone. It didn't take long for
them to soften but after a week I was pretty shocked when they started
to fade. No where does the product claim to be something to combat the
affects of age but when you think about it all aging does to your skin
is rob it of nourishment and vitamins and Skin MD has been busy repairing
that damage so it is only a natural perk to have the skin of my youth start
to make an encore appearance.
3. I no longer have to constantly apply the lotion. Let's face it, a good
lotion costs some cash and when you are dolling that out and not seeing
results it kills you. The minute you stop using it your old Alligator skin
comes back and it is an endless cycle of buy, use to death, buy again
for nobody wants skin that could double as a belt or shoe. With skin
MD I have found I do not have to constantly slather it on for it does what
it says it will do and repaired my skin and now I only need a little to
maintain.
The primary function of Skin MD is to Seal in moisture and
put a barrier between you and the outside irritants so your skin
stays healthy and soft. Unlike other lotions it does not prevent
the skin from breathing by clogging your pores with products that
will end up doing more harm then good. Through Skin MD's use of
the finest effective Natural ingredients it has managed to create
a lotion that is promptly absorbed and the only thing left behind is
transforming the outer layer of your own skin into an invisible shield.
It also provides moisturizing factor of at least 6 times greater than
glycerin. I think I can get into a lotion that stacks up 6 times better
then other brands!
All technological hogwash, facts and figures aside here, I had a
problem with dry skin and Skin MD fixed it. No thick greasy slather
your body in a bevy of chemicals cure. No let's make her jump through
42 hoops and dance a jig cure. Not a bunch of junk I can't pronounce and
will spend the next ten years waiting to hear it was the worst thing I
ever could have put on my skin cure. A simple, no brainer that is Natural,
Effective and most of all over due!
Skin MD
It fixes dry skin.
Period!

Skin MD

For about ten minutes I lived in North Dakota!
When I was a Baby my Father was in the Military and
his base was in Minot, North Dakota. Him, my Mother and
I all lived there, though I do not remember a lick of it.
Does that make me a Beautiful Woman of North Dakota?
Or are their Beautiful Women everywhere and North Dakota
was the only one smart enough to write about it? I am
going to go with that later of the two for after reading the
book I feel as if I have ran across Women like that over
and over again through my whole life and just never realized
it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its message and
was pleased to see an author, or couple of authors bring into
light the fact beauty is more then skin deep, it is a way of
life.

The ladies in the book come from all walks of life, they
are of all ages, races and creeds, and different background
and most assuredly are headed in different directions yet they
all have one thing in common. Heart! If it is for the passion,
bravery, skill or faith, they pick up where others have left off.
I love the fact none of them were looking to be found, they
never wanted to be noticed, they are just your everyday ladies
going on with their lives doing what they think is right. With
two daughters under the authors own wing, Chris Linnares and
Billy Black have the difficult task of bringing them up in today's
materialistic and vision orientated world and still teach them that
beauty is more then what you see at first glance. The message
comes across spectacular in the stunning Coffee Table book that
has Native Charm and timeless mantra. Women are more then they
seem and it is about time the rest of the world realized what us
ladies have known all along. The book is broken into mini stories
that highlights different peoples lives, loves and dreams and strengths
and each story is not only inspirational and touching it is just plain
motivating and captivating.
The book makes a perfect gift for women of all ages
and is sure to stand the test of time. The Authors are each
respected in their own fields and as a Married couple, a Photographer,
a Psychotherapist and as humanitarians they complement the message of
their book as much as they must complement each other in
real life. Beautiful Women of North Dakota offers a rare glimpse at
what is underneath the surface and I admire their focus and
hope that I can some day teach Rowan the same message that
they are trying to teach the world. It is not often you run across
parents, professionals and people who are willing to go against
the grain and explore what honest real woman have to offer and
with poignant illustrations and heartwarming stories I recommend
giving this book the time it deserves. 70 pages in length, the
book also offers a section for you to jot down your own notes
and though I try to bring you guys humor as much as I can
I felt like with this review you deserved to understand the
importance of the message and I did not want to sour it
with a cute remark for I feel it is important we focus as
a society what message they are bringing to the table and
enlighten future generations to what is truly important. Maybe
if more people looked at the world though the eyes this
couple looked at a few select women of North Dakota we
would not have some of the social issues and standards
that are running rampant in our country today and I can only
hope our youth understand this message is one of value and
it doesn't get lost underneath a pretty cover!
Chris Linnares and Billy Black also have a copy of their
Book for five of my readers. To enter just head over to
their site and take a look around then come back here
and post something you have learned in a comment. The contest
will start tonight and run to Midnight on April 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Beautiful Women Of North Dakota


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Woobie Wear Contests!

Everyone wants flawless skin. I don't care if you
are a 60 year old Grandmother or a 15 year old Boy.
Clear, flawless skin is in. We drop more money on skin
care then just about any other beauty item out there.
It is our first line of defense when people see us and
hey, let's be real here, it covers our entire body! The
search for the perfect complexion has taken people
to some pretty odd places and they do some pretty
crazy things. I watched a special not long ago where
people let Fish eat the dead skin off of them and not
only did they do this willingly, they paid big money to do
it. I do not care what my problem was, getting in a tub
with ANY FISH, even a minnow would only bring Jaws
flashbacks and I would be screaming like a little girl
before my toe ever hit the water. To make matters
worse I get no sympathy from the guys in my life
and I am pretty sure my son would be over my shoulder
humming the Jaws theme song. Now I know this skin
eating critters are little but isn't there a fish that can
get into your body and do some damage? I am not going
to tell where he gets in but let me tell you it is not only
gross but has to be painful. No thanks I will pass on
the fish.

I also can't afford some of these skin cream I have
seen out there. I have seen creams as much as $600
bucks for a bottle I would call a tester of the stuff I use.
You have got to be kidding me. I could buy a laptop for
that price and find a cheaper brand that works just as well
on line with the lap top and pay for that and still come in
under 600.00 bucks! Do people think normal consumers
are insane? I do not care if you are a trump, who would
pay that for skin cream? ( SIGH) I know, I know, people
do, other wise it wouldn't be out there. I have always been
very careful with my skin for my family goes both ways
and there is no middle ground. We either have really really
bad skin or really really good. Since the moment I knew
what a pimple was I was all over my complexion and
have been lucky, though I still would never pay 600
bucks! My son is at the same crossroads and he is also
just as ridged on skin care.
In my quest to find items that are great for your skin
and keep you in the Oh, La La you look fabulous column
and not the hello there Quasimoto side I found a neat
little book that says chuck that cream and eat right and
you just won't have to worry.
You mean I can eat and still look good?
You mean I can use my skin as an excuse to eat?
You mean yummy goodness I stick in my tummy can
be good for the rest of me?
You mean I can feed my son some healthy foods under the
guise that it will be great for his complexion?
Yes Mam', all that is true!
Sign me up, I am in! Well, I am at least going to give it
a whirl. Let me tell you the book is darling. It has cute
little Quotes all through it that keep you trucking along
and are sure to bring a smile to your face and inspire you
too and what really got me was some of these Recipes
are dang tasty! Who cares if they are good for me, the
made my taste buds do a jig! Some of the recipes were things
I ate anyways and didn't know it was good for me, um, er,
rephrase that. I have been telling everyone for years that I
only eat Whipped Chocolate because it is good for my
skin, really, do you think I would resort to eating chocolate
for any other reason! I hope you guys bought that! Anyways,
like I said, some I have been eating all along and some
are things I never would have thought to try but I am now
darn glad I did! Awesome goodness on a plate that my son
even went WOW Mom, good job!
A fruity French Toast! What's not to love?
Candied Pears, yum and double yum!
Spicy Tomato soup with a Pomegranate Tuna Sandwich to
go with it. Now I know you are drooling here! This
stuff is awesome! AND the book is packed with recipes
even better then the ones I just told you!
I love how the book is spelled out in an easy to follow
format that makes finding what you are looking for a snap.
It starts out with some useful tips and information and even
facts for those of you who need to see the proof when you
eat the pudding. Elizabeth TenHouten is the Author and she
knows her stuff for Beautiful skin has me convinced I can
chuck those messy creams and eat like a Queen. She offers
you a guide to healthy skin from start to finish and next time
you are tired and need a nap, point to the book and tell your
husband, hey, Elizabeth says I need my rest to look good for
you Honey and run to your bed before he thinks of a response!
Cooking Well, Beautiful Skin is a great book for any complexion!
Take it from me!
Okay, I don't mean take my copy for Cooking Well,
Beautiful Skin is going to give 5 of my readers a copy
of their own. You guys are going to love it and I better
get a dinner invite when you make some Peppered
Persimmon Steak. To enter just head over to the site
and take a look around then come back here and post
something you have learned in a comment. The contest
will start tonight and run to Midnight on March 14th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Elizabeth TenHouten


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Pepper and Tanky and Bebe Soleil Contests!

You can order on Amazon now!

I just bought some new plastic wear a few
days ago with Rowan in mind. These were little
lidded containers for she is well onto solid foods
now and I have to start carting snacks a long with
me where ever I go. As I was standing there waiting to
pay for my purchase and I started to wonder what I was going
to put in them. With Andrew the choice was easy for you
had no choice at all. There were Cheerios and Gold Fishes.
That was it, end of story, close the book. Now, wow, I am
undated with choices every where I go and I feel like
I am lost in a food tunnel with zillions of bite sized snack
foods taunting me and a giant finger going No, No, No,
when ever I think I am making the right choice. It is
a mad eat mad world out there and I am lost in the
middle of it.

Okay let's not forget the fact I am a busy Mom,
I do have a life outside the kitchen and hats off to
super Mom's of the past who could whip together
a 32 part meal from scratch while balancing 4 babies
and 2 loads of Hand Washed ( and Pressed, like that
would happen here) laundry and still have time for a
manicure AND wore heels while doing it all. I am not
that woman! Um, I am not even part of that woman. I am
the one screaming my feet hurt when I am wearing anything
but flats or sneakers and wearing a jogging suit and T-shirt
and tossing in a TV dinner that says it is good for you in
the microwave while turning the steam on in the shower
for I once again didn't pull my laundry out in time before
the wrinkles took hold and who knows where my iron is!
Now that is what I am working with! So here I am, an
underachiever by Donna Reed Standards, lost in a world
that is telling me 7,000 different ideas on what is good
for my kids and all I can focus on is good? That's nice,
but what is fast and fun for them to eat!
Annabel Karmel heard me scream, she must have
for she made a book filled with some great recipes for
Moms like me and also saved me from my own label
of bad food Mommy and made them good for my kids
too! I love how the book starts out with the all important
information on what is great for your child and what age
should you introduce it. The starter list is perfect for those
of us with questions and the handy reminder on what to do
for choking is extremely important. It not only lists finger
foods that could be a hazard it teaches you tips on how to
make even foods on the safe list a little bit safer yet!
Annabel takes these foods and turned them into tasty
treats even the fussiest baby is sure to enjoy. My son and
I spent some time making some of the recipes in the
book and I don't know how else to explain it then to
tell you, move over Baby, Mommy and the Brother are
Hungry! We made the French Toast with Caramelized
Bananas and this was a dream. SO Delicious I even tried
to hide the rest from my son but when went to do so I
caught him trying to do the same. I am posting that one
in the recipe section of the site for you because I really
don't want you to miss out! YUM. We also tried the Nachos
and the Potato Pizza Bites and both were also scrumptious
and perfect for a picky pallet.
Everything in the book is on the simple side to make
and each section gives an overview of not only what is
in it but helpful tips and guidelines to make it simple to
introduce and nutritional tips. Rowan is still on the little
side and I have been sticking to Pureed items and hard
biscuits and cookies but I found a recipe for the Welsh
Rabbit she loves. She didn't get to the veggie part but
did love the Cheesy Toasted English Muffin and I went
about it with the idea that even if she is too young to
eat the veggies that way if I at least show them they
are a part of a normal dinner plate she will understand
when she is old enough that they are a good thing and not
try to avoid them.The Soft boiled Eggs with Italian Soldiers
were adorable and right up her alley after Mommy ate the
ham. She had the best time dipping her bread stick into
the egg and I felt great knowing she was already on her
way to enjoying a balanced meal before she is even
off and running. Top 100 Finger Foods will not only give
you the top 100 but will leave you and your own creative
juices flowing and that 100 will turn into thousands of your
own ideas as well!

Make sure to check out the yummy French Toast
Recipe for I promise you will love it as much as your
kids and stay tuned for I promise to post more from her
book as well! Annabel Karmel and her Top 100 Finger
Foods is a must have addition to any cooking collection
and double that to serve six if you have kids! My final
review is a huge two Banana French Toast Pieces up!
YUM

Annabel Karmel

I host all events at my house and not only do I
do up Thanksgiving and Christmas here I also have
a to-do for my friends on the forth of July and a
few other times during the coarse of the year. I
am a nut when it comes to planning these events
for I need to know that my guests are knocked off
their feet for sometimes a party is the only way you
can show people in your life how much they mean to
you. I take great pains to offer people their favorite things
and work my butt off on those special personalized
touches I hope they will always remember. I am
always looking through magazines and buying books
on the subject and when ever I find a new idea I am
totally thrilled and can't wait to try it out. Sometimes
I have a party for the simple fact I have so many great
ideas built up I have to do something to release them
before I explode. I just got the chance to review a book
called Party Like a Rock Star: A Celebrity Party Planer's
Tips and Tricks for Throwing an Unforgettable Bash and
let me tell you this book Rocked! So much so in fact
I contacted the sponsor and told them I normally will
give the review copy of a book away to my readers
but they would have to pry this copy out of my cold
dead hands. She laughed and I am pretty sure she
didn't want to be part of a homicide investigation
so she made sure I knew there would be an extra copy
for one of my readers as well.
Jes Gordon is the author of this book and she knows
how to throw a bash. Just the simple fact that she has helped
throw parties for stars such as the likes of Madonna, Barbra
Streisand, Nicolas Cage, and Jennifer Lopez was enough to
get me giddy all over but when I flipped through the pages
of her book and saw some of the ideas and suggestions I
knew there was no way I was giving this Baby up. The book
is pretty much a blue print on how to host the ultimate bash
and have it reflect your own inner Diva every way possible.
You are not just regurgitating ideas from Martha Stewart,
you are making a unique and original statement and instead
of her telling step by step what to do, think of her more as your
Guru or Guide on all things festive and fun. The end result is
a soiree that will knock the socks of your guests but has
also came from your own noggin and reflects your personal
tastes every single step of the way. The book is chocked full
of hints and tips as well and offers you solutions to not
only common questions but those you have not even thought
of yet. Included between its covers are:

Etiquette guidelines and gift ideas
How to produce a party from beginning to end
Stocking a home bar and whipping up smart cocktails
Being a flawless host—or guest
How to budget
Creating a concept for any party
And so much more! From start to end she helps you
create the perfect atmosphere and stick to any budget.
I love to throw a bash and I could not believe the amount
of ideas she has in there that when I was reading it I found
myself shaking my head going, wow, that would be awesome.
Like I told you, this is the first time I contacted a sponsor and
said, "Look, um, I know I said I would do the review and there
is a slight problem. You will never see this item again for I have
to have it!" Now I have never had a sponsor ask for an item back
but I just needed to make it clear before I broke out my sharpie
and started jotting notes in the sidebars for I have at least 10
new party ideas that the book helped me to develop. Jes Gordon
delivers all this information and ideas in an easy to read format
that allow you to skip through and pick out the parts you
need to brush up on whenever you need to reference them
or just hone skills that you have previously neglected. You
can also be like me and absorb the whole book, give me another
week and I will have it memorized for it is just packed with
helpful ideas and some new ones that are sure to impress.
You guys have read articles from Jes before and might well
not have known it for she has penned items for Good
Housekeeping, Seventeen.com, Glamour, the Washington
Post, and Time Out New York and is considered a top mover
and shaker in her field. Her book was released last fall and
you can find it at all the book stores or just save your self
the time and order from the Amazon link on my home page.
If you throw parties all the time like I do, host the occasional
gathering or about to launch your first effort into the social
field, Jes will make sure your event is the event of the year
no matter what your budget. This is a must have book for
every host or hostess out there!
Like I told you guys at the start of this review I can not in
good faith allow you to have my review copy. I will not be
able to sleep at night knowing someone else might be touching
pages meant for me. I would have to camp out on your front lawn
and picket you for the release of my new must have item and
shared those facts with the sponsor so instead of a huge hoopla
on the evening news they offered to give one of my readers a copy
too! To enter just head over to the web site and take a look around
then come back here and post what you have learned in a
comment. The contest starts tonight and will run to Midnight
on March 10th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Jes Gordon
Party Like a Rock Star: A Celebrity Party Planner's
Tips and Tricks for Throwing an Unforgettable Bash


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Shred Sled and Bebe Soleil Contests!

The Busy Couple's Guide to Sharing the Work & the Joy
By Kathy Peel


Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 304
Vendor: Tyndale House
Publication Date: 2009
Dimensions: 9.25 X 6.88 (inches)
ISBN: 1414316208
ISBN-13: 9781414316208

Award winning Author Kathy Peel write The Busy
Couple's Guide to Sharing the Work & the Joy.
A book chocked full of tips and tools to help
any family divide the chores, to do lists and
tackle all of the day's details. Helps you
learn to work as a team so a family can
weather any storm!

Michelle opinion:
I like the book. It was easy to read and full of
useful information. It offers all points of view and
has little pieces that let you figure out what your
family's weak spots are and chart and graphs to
help you find away to strengthen your family as
a whole. I really liked the blurbs at the sides of
the page for they are filled with super tidbits of
information that offer fun facts and figures and
made me realize I am not alone in my thinking!
All in all this is a great book and I learned a lot
about myself and how to make my life run a little
smoother.

Johns opinion:
It was okay, I am not a huge fan of help
books for I think people should figure things
out themselves. I did like that it was nuts and
boltz though and didn't come across all flowery
and I really liked the fact that had a part of
the book that was just for us guys. I think
everything in it will help but with stuff like
this I tend to follow my Wife's lead and she
needs to be the one to start some of the ideas
offered at our house.

   Review for Crap
by Erin Elisabeth Conley, Karen Macklin, and Jake Miller


Product Details
* Paperback: 96 pages
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0979017351
* ISBN-13: 9780979017353

Mom says:
I was surprised when I read "Crap" that it
didn't stink! ( Booo Boooo, I know I know) Okay, for real now.
I was impressed. it was a good book. It was packed full of
lots of useful information jammed with cute little jokes
and quirky definitions tossed in between segments to break
up the monotony. There quips were even funny unlike my own.
It taught them how to deal with out ignoring a problem all together.
It also taught them how to tell the difference from an issue that
matters and should be taken to heart and one they might
be blowing out of proportion. I really liked the fact in encouraged
them to think their feelings were right and justified without
using another person as a crutch or excuse to shoulder the
blame. There were not right or wrong answers in the book
and not a clear cut map on how to handle things but more
like a general theory and easy to understand strategy's that
can be manipulated to fit any problem. Even an adults.
The only thing I did not like is that I feel it is meant more for
pre-teen and not full fledged I have my wings now 14 and up.
The tone is too airy and the subjects to light for a 16 year old
who believes the World is out to get them to relate to. My 16
year old is reading it now but after I read it I think I would have
been better off letting the 12 year old. That would have been a
perfect fit and we might have avoided her having the
attitude the 16 year old now has. I do believe the theory's will
work if the person ready is not already so tainted they will give
them a chance.


Teen says:
Okay, it took me a few weeks to read it but it
wasn't because I didn't like the book it was because Mom
told me it was like a self help job and Pleaseeeeeee, what
a pain. I was hoping for some thrillers or even a classic to
review and she tossed this at me. She rode my butt to I
opened it and I wish I had before she started driving me nuts
for I might have dealt with it better. The book was good, it
had a lot of tips that really worked. Some I already knew but
it was cool to see them on Paper to be reminded. Other's I
had never thought of and it did help me to pick and choose
what I got all worked up about. Sometimes people are stupid
and you have to deal ya know? I am glad she made me read
it for I am not as annoyed at her now as I was a week ago. I
suggest though that you just leave it in the car or something
for your kid to read when they are bored to find out they like
it for if I hadn't agreed to help my Mom do reviews in the
first place I never would have looked at it for it was her
idea but if we were driving somewhere or another place
where my options were to talk to my Parents or read I
would have picked it up on my own. Good Book is
my say so!

The reviews are here


All books that are reviewed are published free of charge from various publishers


Hold on to your hats guys, the book reviews are
already rolling. 3 books are on the slate for this month and
I hope to start getting the reviews posted as soon as I
can. The First review is complete and posted.
The order of the reviews will be Fiction, Non-Fiction and Family Choice.
Please scroll down to the review you are looking for!

The first book up is my choice and provided by LitFuse
who has offered to host a contest as well. It is a thriller,
detective story and those are always a blast for me.
The book they have provided is...................


Double Trouble
By-Susan May Warren




With one solved case under her belt, PJ Sugar is ready to dive into her career as a private investigator. Or at least a PI's assistant until she can prove herself to Jeremy Kane, her new boss. Suddenly PJ's seeing crime everywhere. But is it just in her head, or can she trust her instincts? When she takes on her first official case-house-sitting for a witness in protective custody-Jeremy assures her there's no danger involved. But it soon becomes clear that there is someone after the witness . . . and now they're after PJ, too.


John's pick is not really my thing but since he has to read and give and
honest review of my choices it is only fair I do the same for him. He is all
gung ho on this one for it is right up his alley, sports and non-fiction.
I can pretty much promise you he will read this watching a football or
hockey game. His choice is.............


From Peanuts to the Pressbox
Insider Sport Stories From A Life Behind The Mic
By Eli Gold



In this behind-the-scenes look at sports broadcasting Eli Gold
tells how a kid from Brooklyn, New York, went from selling peanuts
at Madison Square Garden to being one of the most recognizable
voices in all of radio sports broadcasting.
From Peanuts to the Pressbox is an intimate walk down memory
lane, reliving some of the greatest moments in Alabama sports
(basketball and football) and NASCAR. Gold also shares
stories from his early days with Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen
and Red Barber and other broadcasting greats, such as Bob Costas,
Tom Hammond, Verne Lundquist, Kevin Harlan, Ron Franklin,
and Mike Tirico.


Our last book this month is our family choice. We try to keep up
on trends, currant events and advancements in child rearing and in the
medical field. Also we are both educational nuts and try to keep that
in mind when picking books for our children or how to books to help
or inspire them. This choice we thought we be good to help them
with moral and values and just plain old faith.The last pick is............






Family Choice Review




Product Description
___________________



A collection of 365 daily devotions that
that center on topics that pertain to toddlers
up to pre-school aged children. Each day has
a verse, story and prayer. Illustrated with
child friendly graphics and full of charm.


Product information
_______________________


Hard covered
for ages 3-5
385 pages
Tyndale Kids
ISBN 978-1-4143-3445-5
Suggested retail price $14.99 USA
________________________



Publisher's Description
Watch your young children grow
in their understanding of God as you
meet with him together using this One
Year devotional. Each reading pairs a
Little Blessings illustration with a short
Bible verse and devotional thought that
gets you and your child talking about the
simple truths of Scripture. A fun, rhyming
prayer completes each devotional. A great
way to get young children interacting with
Scripture daily
__________________________________


Michelle Says


I grew up in a deeply religious house
and this took me home but with more
softness. My family was much more
strict. The book is chalk filled with
Nano Stories that bring about good
feelings and happy thoughts.

I loved that it was written in an
easy to read format that though
it is meant to be read to kids
can easily become an early reader
for them to tackle on their own a
few years later. The verse is
prevalent for each little story
and inspiring. The story is
perfect for young attention spans
and the prayer is so simple
any child can repeat it and
take something away from
the experience.

_______________________________


John Say's

I did not grow up in a religious
household and do not know any
of the verses of prayers but I
though it was cute and taught
good values and is great for
teaching kids what is right
and what is wrong. It is quick
to read too so even when I am
busy I can get in a story or two
and the story's are broken up
enough and vary just the right
amount where I can read as
long as or as little as I want
to my kids without them feeling
like we are stopping at a point
where they are left hanging.
The little prayers are cool
and to the point of be nice,
be good and other little
morals parents struggle
with teaching their kids
now a days.
__________________________


Andrew says


It reminds me of the story's
Grandma Great used to read.
I liked it!





* John and I will each post our reviews as we finish them so check back
often to see if they are up yet. I tend to read a little bit faster then he does so mine are posted a little faster. All reviews are honest opinions and
the only thing we are compensated for the review is a copy of the book itself.
       Having both John and I review the books and post both our opinions
gives you the unique insight of a "He say-She say" scenario. I feel this is
a great benefit to you when it comes to picking books as gifts for people
and taking that dreaded jump into another genre.
        In the future I am working on getting more children's books since
I am a published children's short story writer they hold a special place
in my heart. When we do get children's story's to review I plan on letting
my 16 year old son and hopefully my 12 year old step daughter post their
reviews as well. That was you will get the honest to goodnessopinion of the intended market and a parents point of view as well. My son also reads adult literature and when books are appropriate he will offer his opinion on those as well.
     I hope our reviews help you with your reading pleasure and if you have
any questions or need advice on a book or a gift please feel free to ask. Every member of my household is an avid reader and between us we have read thousands of titles in every category from Comic books, Sci Fi, History, Mystery, Thrillers, True Crime, Romance and on and on.

From Peanuts to the Pressbox

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401604366
ISBN-13: 978-1401604363
by Eli Gold

Summery: A behind the scenes look at the life of
a person who worked their way up from a nobody in
the Biz to someone who rubs elbows with everyone
famous in sports. Eli started out as a kid in Brooklyn
selling Peanuts at the Garden to one of the most
notable voices in radio.



John says: I was a little hesitant to read the book at
first for the intro said this was a really famous person
and I had never heard of him. It made me think for I
thought I knew a lot about sports and to not recognize
the name gave me the impression he was just trying
to cash in on who he knew.
After reading it however, I was impressed. I learned
a lot and understand how it is just about as hard for
a person like him to make it in the field as it is a kid
who slams a good ball at our local High School. I liked
the fact the story was told from the heart and was light
and even funny and was very easy to relate to. Better
yet I loved all the inside details of what they really do
and I realized it isn't just something every guy would like
to do but a real job. He also rubbed elbows with a lot of
who's who in the sports world and though I thought that
would be a reason I didn't like the book the way he told
it made it a reason I liked it even more!
I say home-run!


Michelle says; Well I didn't know anything about sports
going into the book and now that I read the book I still
don't like sports but I did like the story. It is one of
those touching heart felt jobs that have you rooting
for the little guy and if that is how sports fans feel when
routing for their team I can relate a little better! I loved
the struggle to the top and it makes me nostalgic for a
time in American history when hard work paid off!
I don't know any cute sport cliche's to add like John
did but I say it was a good read for even people who
don't follow the game. It would also make a great gift!

_______________________________________________________________________________


Teen Reads!



Dude-The Book of Crazy, Immature Stuff

Written & Designed by Mickey and Cheryl Gill
ISBN 978-1-892951-46-5
Pages are not numbered

Summery: A book jammed packed full of
ideas, jokes, ways to pass the time and
loads of useless information to pass the
time!

Mom Says: When I saw the book I knew my son
would love it. Not because I thought it was his
taste in books but because of the name alone.
Crazy Immature Stuff, why that smacks of teenage
boys and what would amuse them. When I went
through it I realized it has some pretty darn useful
information and they phrase it in a smart alecky
teenage way and I can really see the attraction. Now
relax Mom and Dad the book is harmless and does
nothing to instill bad manors and you will still recognize
your angel once he has read this. Nothing in the book
is rude or will encourage trouble it is more of a busy
book filled with loads of harmless things to do and
loads of trivia. They might even learn something
without realizing it! The part I really liked is they
highlight things kids don't like and give you funny
ways to deal with them like the chore avoidance
checklist but it also give them a feeling of the other
side of the coin by asking them what they would do
if they were in charge. A kind of make you think, shoe
on the other foot deal.
My final word-I really loved it and think it would be
great for boys aged 8-18.


Teen says: I really liked this book a lot more then the
last book I reviewed. That book was like a self help
this is like looking at your self in the mirror and some
of the crazy thoughts that go through my head. It is a
boredom buster and I keep mine in the living room for
when I am once again forever waiting for my mother to
be ready to leave instead of twiddling my thumbs I just
flip through this. Some parts are pretty darn funny and
some of the things they have in here I write down any
ways and this just gives me a cool place to put it so
I don't have to bust my hand with too much writing. I can
see some of my younger cousins ready it and I got into
it but I am not sure how many guys older them me would
admit to reading it. I am also a sucker for books like
this!
Mom says I need to add a final word so mine is -Pretty
Cool, but if you have a sister hide it for she could use
some of the stuff against you!

_______________________________________________________________


Dude Dairy


Written & Designed by Mickey and Cheryl Gill
ISBN 978-1-89295145-8
2009
No page count

Summery: Aguided Dairy that has pages
to jot down ideas and thoughts with
suggestions on how to fill it!


Mom Says: This is like the other Dude book in the
sense it is filled with lots of fun facts and things
to do! The thing I found cute is the lock on the
cover but I am not sure what Andrew will think of it.
This would make a great busy book for the car or any
place where they might be bored other wise or if you
have a child that is artsy or just likes to read. I thought
it would make a great gift for a boy who you really have
no idea what their tastes are for I don't think you could
go wrong with this. It has something for everyone. I really
liked that it promotes creativity and I could really see
this being a huge hit for a child aged 7-12 and would
keep them busy for a long time.
My final word- Loved it, perfect gift and perfect to buy
yourself a little peace and slow down a busy boy!

Teen Says: Dude! it says Dairy on the cover! That
is a hard thing to get past. I got to give them props
though for if you have the guts to open it the book
was pretty book and a lot like the other one if you
forget the lock. This one gives you more space to
write things and more activities and not as many
bits of trivia but you can tell they are by the same
guy, or Dude! I liked it but would never have bought
it if I had seen the title first. The other book is more
appealing when you look at the cover this one gave
me the Heebie Jeebies at the word Dude. Okay, I
will fess up, I had some fun messing with the lock
but if my friends ever knew I would not hear the end
of it. My Cousins would really like the whole deal
though, name and all. For me if the cover wasn't there
I would take it to school with me for something to do
when I was bored for the front off all my folders are
all filled up and this is great for the kinds of stuff I
draw and write there. Cool Designs though.
My Final Word- Love the content, hate the name.
Wish it were more notebook sized so it was more easy
to write in but I will use it.