K & K's Blog

This Move...

2012-01-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the post, Bernard Vasquez

This move was really tough on all of us, but I think Sally, are tabby cat had the hardest time of all. She had actually never even been in a car before the move in she did not take very kindly to a moving vehicle. I think she's just really confused because nothing smells the same and she spends a lot of time outdoors and she doesn't recognize anything. The kids are adjusting just fine because we brought the trampoline with us and we got direct tv newport for the house so they still get to watch all their favorite shows. I'm really loving the new house because it's so much bigger than our old one but I am having a hard time finding a job that I thought I would once we got settled in. The good news is my husband loves his new job and this city is actually the perfect size for us and I really can't wait to see her the next few years takes us. Hope Sally makes it!

**This is a guest post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition

2011-11-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition

Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with

ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!
No query? No pitch? No problem!

Serendipity Literary Agency, in collaboration with Gotham Writers' Workshop, is hosting its Third Annual Young Adult Novel Discovery Competition for a chance to win a one-on-one consultation with one of New York's leading YA literary agents!

If you've written a novel for young adults or have an idea for one that you would like to write, we invite you to enter our contest. Simply submit only an enticing title along with the first 250 words from the opening of your original YA novel. http://bit.ly/YAContest

GREAT PRIZES

The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks and receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop, plus a collection of gourmet teas from Possibiliteas.co.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York's premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at Scholastic, Disney, Harlequin Teen, Random House, Viking, Roaring Brook Press, Sourcebooks, and Kimani Tru and receive a one-year subscription to The Writer magazine.

The First 50 Entrants will receive a copy of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.
Enter to win at http://bit.ly/YAContest Hurry contest ends November 30, 2011

www.serendipitylit.com
Facebook.com/serendipitylit
@serendipitylit

**I was not paid to post this.**

Review: Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

2011-11-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

She's trading in her luxe lifestyle and heading for Wyoming...

In the wake of a nasty divorce and with her ex's vicious cronies hot on her heels, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming in search of an old friend. But her high school pal Chase Caldwell has changed, hardened by bitterness and loss. He's considerably less than thrilled to see the girl that broke his heart - especially when Lacey turns up on his door step asking for help.

As the two grapple with the ruins of their former friendship, a brand new, surprising attraction ignites. Lacey is boldly beginning to create a new life for herself. And, Chase has to admit, he's rather be part of that life than be left out in the cold alone... description taken from back cover.

I love these types of plots! Guy likes girl. Girl never knows. Girl falls for guy down the road. I especially like them when the guy is rough around the edges, like Chase is with his hardened heart.

I liked Lacey's character (as well as Chase's). They were well written and I enjoyed reading them and about their romance. And, of course, I liked the drama! Lacey had been a trophy wife and had never been able to go after the goals she had made when younger. Chase's family had gotten cheated out of their farm by Lacey's husband (now ex-husband). Lacey's ex's vicious minions are after her as well. All of this made for good drama.

The romance was very cute, but I don't want to give too much away, so I'm just going to say that I very much enjoyed it. The book was great, and it will be a good re-read that will be waiting on the shelf for me.

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: The Highlander's Heart by Amander Forester

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only to be abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom. Her determination to break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing between her and the Highland Laird. David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle for ransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where she belongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant for finding trouble. Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throne of Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride. Standing on the brink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart. description taken from here.

This is the 2nd book in Amanda Forester's Highlanders series. The first is called The Highlander's Sword, and the 3rd book in the series called True Highland Spirit will be coming out in March of 2012.

Lady Isabelle was wed to a mean older man, and now she is trying to get an annulment. She starts her journey here, running from her husband, only to find out that she can't hide out at her uncle's because he is now dead, and then be captured by a highland brute. Of course, we all know that heroins (as well as us, the readers) always fall for the brute, especially if they have a Scottish accent.

I thought the book was great. My attention was held the entire time, and I had some trouble putting the book down (which is not good for my sleeping habits!). The mix between romance and drama/action was awesome and I think it is pretty safe to safe that I loved this book. It doesn't hurt that the cover is pretty too though, does it? ; )

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney

2011-11-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

They were driven apart by a timeless secret...

Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to be more. Until Shay's true identity was revealed, and the fated pair's chance was gone...

But danger will drive them back into each other's arms...

Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secret he guarded. After what appeared to be a stinging betrayal, she's tried to banish memories of her first love. However, the machinations of the sinister demon that left her for dead will force her to confront her past head on.

Now she must learn to embrace her warrior nature, and the warrior who has always watched over her, in order to turn back a tide of unspeakable evil... description taken from back blurb.

~ ~Here is another little blurb of the book, this one taken from Anita Clenney's website to even further entice you:

When the powerful demon that left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. Knowing she can’t fight the demon alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.

This was a great book! The characters were well developed and are very likable. There was a lot of great detail throughout the book, as well as filled with bunches of excitement and romance. I had a hard time putting this book down to do anything else during my day (I never wanted the book to end!).

I really liked that along with men being warriors in the book, there are women warriors as well. It was a refreshing change. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

The first book in the series is called Awaken the Highland Warrior, and you can click here to read my review.

The 3rd book in the series is Unleash The Highland Warrior (coming Spring 2012)

Here is a blurb of it from the author's website:

A talisman belonging to Tavis Connor’s brother is the only weapon powerful enough to kill the demon hell-bent on stealing the clan’s Book of Battles so he can destroy the world. But the talisman has been locked in a time vault with Tavis’s brother and won’t open for 150 years. In desperation, the Scottish warrior breaks the clan’s sacred rules and uses another time vault to travel forward so he can protect the book and rescue his brother, or if he’s dead, finish his quest. But when Tavis finally wakes in modern-day New York, he discovers he’s the one in need of help. Anna MacKinley has been searching for her clan’s Book of Battles which has been missing for 150 years, but instead she finds a warrior with no memories who claims he’s come to save the world.

I deem this book recommendable!

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: Tempted by Elisabeth Naughton

2011-11-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

DEMETRIUS - He's the hulking, brooding warrior even his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it's best to keep everyone at arm's length.

Isadora is missing. The words pound through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetruis did all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she's gone - kidnapped. To get her back, he'll have to go to the black place in his soul he's always shunned.

As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty ti the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both. taken from the back cover.

I really liked TEMPTED. The characters were like able and well developed. The romance was very cute, and the plot had action and some shockers that kept me reading. It was a really good story line if I do say so myself. Demetrius likes Isadora, his soul mate, but he needs to keep her at arm's length so he is mean to her to keep her away. Isadora thinks he hates her, but when he starts to show his sweet side she starts to fall for the big guy. This is one of those plots that I love, that I will always love, the kind that I will always have a soft side for. Anywho, I really liked the book, that's what I'm trying to say here.

TEMPTED is the 3rd book in the series called Eternal Guardians. The 1st is Marked and the 2nd is Entwined. You can check out those books some more at Naughton's website- http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Pumpkin Cheesecake

2011-11-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Jewel Cole

The other day while I was watching the Today Show on Direct tv Centennial, a Thanksgiving themed cooking segment came on. I had mentioned to my mom this year that I wanted to make a dessert to bring since I wasn’t really a big fan of pumpkin pie, or pie in general for that matter. She used to make pumpkin cheesecake on occasion and I was craving it, so I offered to make it since I much preferred cheesecake to pie. I had never made cheesecake on my own, I had only helped my mom; so, I paid close attention to the Today Show segment since they were making one. I wasn’t married yet, so I hadn’t gone through the whole wedding registry gifting process. Therefore, I did not yet have a fully stocked kitchen that would make this effort much easier. I only had a hand mixer, not a KitchenAid and I also did not own a springform pan. I decided that I’d still take on this challenge since I knew that my mom would have a pumpkin pie as dessert backup in case of disaster.

**This is a guest post. For questions, please visit FAQ or Disclaimer.**

The Vacation

2011-08-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

My ultimate goal has been to take my family on a two-week vacation to the Amazon but I know that my wife is always hesitant to leave the house for even a weekend. Just yesterday I tried to sit down with her and see how she might feel about the idea in general. She ended up being very receptive to the idea but I know her all too well because she ended up saying that the she didn’t want to leave the house unattended and she didn’t trust any of the neighbors watching the dogs. Another one of her main concerns stemmed from the fact that we didn’t have the money to make the trip last for two weeks. Thankfully, several weeks ago my buddy at the office sent me this link ShopELECTRICITYRATESTEXAS.com and told me about how I could save money on energy cost. I figured that was one problem that I could tell my wife that had been taken care of, now I just have to figure out someone to housesit for us for two weeks. The major drawback will be finding someone that my wife fully trusts.

**This is a guest post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Online University

2011-08-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

I have wrote a few posts before about how important my education is to me. Looking into Universities and scholarships is a big part of the process at the moment, because soon I will need to transfer.

WaldenU.edu is an online university that was just brought to my attention. They offer online programs by career. Walden University's online degree programs offer a variety of programs, including a psychology program, which is great for me being a psych major!

I spoke on it before, but online courses are great because they can fit into work schedules, or if you are a parent of young children, then you can fit in your classes when you have the time. Online classes are all about doing your stuff on your time, so no need to reschedule things because of classes, or let life interfere with your higher education.

If you are interested in an online university, then go here to learn about Walden.

**This is a sponsored post. Please see the FAQ page or Disclaimer page to answer any questions.**

Cheap Concert Tickets and More.

2011-07-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

I love concerts, but I don't get to go to many. Why? Namely the price of the tickets. I desperately wanted to go to this concert in October, but I couldn't go because the tickets were in the hundreds (it is a very big concert, well actually it's a festival, but I'm not going to name names.)

Anyways, the point is that tickets are expensive and that's the reason I do not get to go to many. But, it just came to my attention that there is a website called A Cheap Seat. They sell, not just concert tickets (like Taylor Swift Tickets!), but also sports tickets (like Chicago Bull tickets and New York Knicks tickets), they have circus tickets (like Ringling Brothers Circus tickets), and also tickets such as The Book Of Mormon tickets, as well as many others. All of these tickets come at better prices, more affordable prices, which is a great thing for me.

I know I cannot be the only one being held back from concerts because of outrageous prices, and this web site might just be my answer, and maybe yours too.

**This is a sponsored post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Pool Covers

2011-07-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

My family just bought a pool last summer. We had purchased a pool cover from our local pool store and it was expensive. It also fell apart after not too long.

I just came across this website called PC Pools, and they sell all different types of pool supplies, including different types of pool covers. PC Pools sells three different types of pool covers. They have safety pool covers, winter pool covers, and solar pool covers + reels.

Compared to what we bought last summer, PC Pool's pool covers are less expensive. I like that they carry so many different types of covers. We have an above ground pool, and I thought it was nice to actually see on their site a safety pool cover for above ground pools.

If anyone else is looking around for pool supplies, you should check out this website.

**This is a sponsored post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Blue Sky Scrubs

2011-07-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

A lot of people work in the medical field. Either as doctors, nurses, paramedics, dentists, dentist assistance, etc. One thing all of these people have in common is that they wear uniforms to work. More specifically, scrubs.

BlueSkyScrubs.com is one place that people (who work in these fields) can purchase their scrubs. They sell nursing uniforms for men and women in a variety of colors, surgical scrubs for men and women, and scrubs complete set if you do not want to purchase your uniform gear in separate pieces. Blue Sky Scrubs sells cheap scrubs, which makes them available for even those on a tighter budget. If you are interested in checking out this site, then you can click the link here: http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/

If you spend $155 or more, you qualify for free shipping. The website is easy to navigate and they also sell scrub hats, medical coats, and accessories.

**This is a sponsored post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page.**

Search Engines

2011-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Local.com is a search engine that just came to my attention. Local.com is partnered with Citysearch.com, Yelp.com, Yellowpages.com, Superages.com.

At the bottom of the search engine web page is an area where you can choose your state, mine is California, and then go on to chose a city close to you to help narrow your search. If your city isn't listed, like mine wasn't, then you can type in your city and then the correct area search will pop up. You can see here the results of a local search when I searched for the Target store. I thought it was really cool because not only did it pull up locations and phone numbers, but also maps of how to get there in case you needed driving directions.

My absolute favorite thing about Local.com though is the fact that they have a search available for printable coupons for just about anything in your area. When I looked up coupons for local restaurants, a good variety of results popped up, as you can see from the link I provided.

You can even search for local events and local activities! I think I'm half in love with this search engine, it is pretty darn cool.

**This is a sponsored post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Gold Coins

2011-07-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

There is a website I just found out about. It is called Gold Coins Gain. Gold Coins Gain wants you to know the price of gold, how to handle and how to work with gold. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that gold prices have always been high.

Gold provides security in a way, and that is what Gold Coins Gain is trying to tell people. Paper money can and does fluctuate along with the economy. It can, has, and does lose and gain value over time depending on the economy. Gold prices however, change very little, and this is where the feelings of security comes into play. No matter the economy, gold holds a high price. So, even if the value of money changes, you can feel secure knowing that you have gold and if needed, you can get a high price out of it to help you move on in life.

Gold Coins Gain has a free gold guide for people interested in learning more. But, I want to toss a little bit of information out there as well that I learned from the Gold Guide website. I found some of the information on the site a little confusing since I never knew anything about this particular subject. The term spot gold price is equivalent to meaning prices of gold. When checking out the website, this information might just come in handy. Gold spot pricing, or the price of gold, is fixed twice a day. According to the website, the price is adjusted "to provide a recognized rate that is used as a benchmark" for the value of gold.

If you want to learn more about this subject, then I would suggest taking a look at the Gold Coin Gain website.

**This is a sponsored post. For questions, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Web Hosting

2011-07-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

I know quite a few blogs are changing domains after a while. Web Hosting Geeks is a web hosting site that some of you might want to check out if you are considering changing domains. The prices are cheap too, so if you have been wondering about how expensive getting another domain would be, then you can let yourself know that the change would be an affordable charge-per-month.

Web Hosting Geeks even has a Best Blog Web Hosting Provider 2011 page that blog owners would definitely want to check out. It seemed that a little while back that every bigger blog I followed was switching domains. When they blogged about it, they made it sound so simple, with all of their things being transferred and very little being changed around on their site, allowing me and other followers from getting confused about the blogs we love.

If you are considering changing changing domains, then consider checking out Web Hosting Geeks.

**This is a sponsored post. Visit the FAQ or Disclaimer page for questions.**

Education

2011-07-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

I am a college student. My education is very serious to me. And, I have always taken it seriously. For example, I took extra classes in order to graduate high school a year early, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. I no more than turned 17 years old and started college. That said, I do attend a junior college. In today’s economy it is the most logical choice. College is approximated to be $20,000 per year. Most people will go to a 4 year college, some more. With going to a junior college, I am saving a lot of money.

Right now, I am taking both in class and online courses. So, I know that I will have no problems taking Online Courses again in the future. I am a Psychology major, and while I am taking a lot of Psych classes already, I know that I will need to take more. Finding out that there are online courses in psychology is a wonderful thing, because while school is the utmost priority in my life, I do have to do other things. So, being able to take classes at home is really convenient. While this does not fit my situation, I know that there are a lot of single parents out there that want to continue their education. Taking online courses is a viable option for them.

When going to college, online courses or not, everyone should sign up for the Free Application For Federal Student Aid http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. I sign up for it every time my application expires. Going to a junior college, the FAFSA actually allows my fees to be waved completely. Instead of paying a couple hundred dollars for my classes, the only thing I have to pay for, thanks to the FAFSA, is my student fees (than than $50) and my books.

**This is a sponsored post. Please visit the FAQ or Disclaimer page.**

Home Security

2011-07-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to feel safe, and they want to know that they are safe. When you are going to work, or otherwise leaving the house, you want to know that when your kids are at home without you they are safe. It doesn't matter if you have hired a baby-sitter, you still want, and need, to know that extra measure of security is in place.

Advanced Direct Security has lots of offices located in different cities; for example, Home Security Gadsden. When I was looking at the home security web pages, I was pleasantly surprised to know that they offer very affordable prices. Installation prices are in the $100 range and the monthly payments are less that the majority of cell phone bills.

Another thing, when I found out about, I was wow-ed over, was the fact that with the 12 color cameras set up in your house, you can actually watch the footage when ever you want, whether it is to monitor activity or to identify a criminal. The cameras can record up to 30 days of continuous feed, and you can store the footage on your DVR; just like the ones that Direct TV offers.

**This is a sposored post. For more information, go to the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Free Ebooks from Sourcebooks!

2011-07-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

Sourcebooks has more promotions going on, which means FREE Ebooks for us!

You can always grab them through the Sourcebooks website: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/ebook-specials.html

However, it is easier for me to grab them through amazon, which also has Soucebook's promotions, so for while you can always click the link above to download the books via Soucebooks' website, I will also include the amazon.com links for other's convenience.

Mistress' House by Leigh Michaels

Never A Bride by Amelia Grey

Kiss At Your Own Risk by Stephanie Rowe

Lady Of Hay by Barbara Erskine

The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy

Happy Reading!

Facing my fears and going rafting

2011-06-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Chelsea Bingler

I've been afraid of going white water rafting for years and I've kept myself from going on really fun trips with my friends because of it. But I decided that this summer would be the summer that I would finally go ahead and overcome that fear. So I'm really working on that right now.

I went ahead and looked up white water rafting services and while I was doing my research on that, I ran across the site http://www.clearwirelessinternet.net/. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to sign up for a new internet service through it.

I booked a non-refundable trip so I'm really committed to going on it. Plus, I roped my boyfriend Sam into going with me on it. He was really excited about that because he's been trying to get me to go for a few years now but I've always shot him down on it as soon as he's mentioned it. I just hope that it works out and I don't chicken out in the end!

**This is a guest post. For questions about guest posts, etc. please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

Review: Demons Prefer Blonds by Sidney Ayers

2011-06-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

A BAD DAY FOR A DEMON

Rafe Deleon is a senior demon and he resents like hell his assignment to Earth to retrieve the Chest of the Damned before it falls into the wrong hands. But then he meets beautiful, intriguing succubus Lucy Gregory and she's just unleashed a whole load of trouble...

REALLY SUCKS FOR A SUCCUBUS

Lucy's chic suburban beauty salon has suddenly become the Underworld's center of mass chaos and destruction. The only good thing in a day going rapidly down the tubes is the arrival of a gorgeous demon who's adamant that he can help her...

But Lucy has quite a few deeply unpleasant--not to mention deadly and hateful--surprises ahead of her, and surely there's never been a worse time to try out a new boyfriend... description taken from here.

It hit the shelves June 1st and checking amazon, I noticed that in paperback there are only 9 left at the moment!

When beautiful half-succubus Lucy Gregory's antique chest unleashes a Pandora's box of demonic activity in a suburban beauty salon, brooding demon Rafe arrives to run damage control. He's darkly sexy and everything she's avoided- icy and reserved -but that only adds to his mysterious appeal. Being a demon, he knows he should be able to resist Lucy's charms, but his resistance is slipping at the worst moment. And Lucy has no idea of the power she possesses...

However, when an evil demon arrives to stake his claim, Rafe is determined to protect Lucy, who'd rather go into battle with guns blazing and daggers zinging. Sparks fly as they fight their growing attraction, but will they admit they need each other before it's too late? *description taken from Sourcebooks reviewer handout.*

Demons Prefer Blonds was really cute. It was fun and entertaining, there weren't any boring parts. I very much enjoyed it. I'm sure you already read the bold print above, but as of right now there are only 9 paperback copies available to order on amazon.com. You can get the Kindle edition, of course; as well as many other sellers and Sourcebooks themselves. But I am pointing out amazon's sells to offer the fact that this book is selling fast!

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: Heart Of The Highland Wolf by Terry Spear

2011-06-12T20:18:00.001-07:00

It's a matter of pride...

Modern day werewolf laird Ian MacNeill reluctantly allows a film production company to use his castle, but he knows his secretive clan has a big problem when a beautiful red werewolf female who insists she's working on the film keeps showing up in the wrong places...

And a matter of pleasure...

Julia Wildthorn is not who she says she is-she's sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic for her grandfather and to do research for her next werewolf romance novel. When she catches a glimpse of Ian, she realizes he's the perfect hero... **description taken from the back of the book.**

-----

I absolutely love Terry Spear's wolf romances, they are all wonderful, well written, and easy to fall in love with.

Heart Of The Highland Wolf is no exception to my love of Spear's books. It is as wonderful as the rest. Heart Of The Highland Wolf is actually the 7th book in the wolf series by Spear. To see all of the books listed in order, click here (it will take you to the author's web page).

The book started out with some action - it really took you by the seat and made you stay focused and right in the book. The action stayed for a bit, then it turned humorous and very cute; that being just the very beginning. Throughout the book, there was a lot of cute and funny moments, the action being mixed in just right to really keep your attention and your emotions empathetic.

I really enjoyed the book from start to finish. Spear is one of those authors that you know if you pick up one of her books, you will not be disappointed.

Heart Of The Highland Wolf hit the shelves June 1st, so if you want to read it, you don't have to wait for it's pub. date!

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Review: Virgin by Cheryl Brooks

2011-06-12T20:16:00.001-07:00

Virgin is the 7th book in the Cat Star Chronicals Series!

______

He's never met anyone who made him purr...

Starship pilot Dax never encountered a woman he wanted badly enough. Until he meets Ava Karon...

And he'll never give his body without giving his heart...

Dax is happy to take Ava back to her home planet, until he finds out she's returning to an old boyfriend...

As their journey together turns into a quest neither expected, Ava would give herself to Dax in a heartbeat. Except he doesn't know the first thing about seducing a woman... **description taken from back cover.**

-----

I have read 3 of Brooks' books from the Cat Star Series; although I have not read a single one in the correct order (but you don't really need to). I have loved every one of them. I first read Hero, the 6th book in the series (which I also reviewed for Sourcebooks- you can read my review of Hero here.) Then I read Slave, the first book in the series; and then I read this book right here that I am now reviewing for you, Virgin. (I also just got OUTCAST the 4th book in the series (which I have yet to read) for free on my Kindle thanks to a Sourcebooks promotion! Hurry & go to my Free Ebooks post that I wrote just a few days past and see if you can still get those 6 FREE eBooks!

I love these books. I think I mentioned in the HERO review that this series is about aliens and space traveling. That is just not my cup of tea for books. Normally, I cannot get into those types of books, they just bore me. This is not the case with this series; the books are so well written, the characters are wonderful, the sex scenes are fantastic, the action and humor is there and wicked. I simply adore these books.

Virgin hit the shelves June 1st so the book is available to you all now!

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Free Ebooks!

2011-06-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

FREE Ebooks from the amazing Sourcebooks! (I just love them, they are always having great promotions).

The Free Ebooks are:

THE EX-BOYFRIENDS HANDBOOK BY MATT DUNN
DATING MR. DECEMBER BY PHILLIPA ASHLEY
OUTCAST BY CHERYL BROOKS
SEDUCED BY THE WOLF BY TERRY SPEAR
COTILLION BY GEORGETTE HEYER
ALLEGRA BISCOTTI COLLECTION BY OLIVIA BENETT

I already downloaded all of them all via amazon.com (which is easiest for me because I have a Kindle) although you can also download them from the

Sourcebooks website

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Sony

All Romance ebooks

iBooks

Books-A-Million

Booksonboard

Review: Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys

2011-05-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Just a few real facts I would like to toss out first:

Dracula. Most know this name because of the famous book written by Bram Stoker. However, the man was not a made up being. No, he was not a vampire; though he was considered bloodthirsty. The real man, Vlad III Prince of Wallachia, ruled mostly from 1456 to 1462. He was known as Vlad the Impaler. Why was he considered such a name? Like I already mentioned the man was bloodthirsty. He was known to kill by impaling his 'victims' (they were at war so you can't really call them victims, just the other side of the war). Vlad would impale by inserting a sharpened pole into the bottom of the body and leaving the pole at such an angle that the pole would slowly fully impale the person until he died.

This sounds extremely vicious and gross, I know. But just keep in mind that this was in the 1450s, which was a very long time ago where people were well... different. Vlad might have been more bloodthirsty than most, but that may never be solved, for many cases may never have been documented.

Ok, now that I have spilt my 'knowledge' at you so you have a bit of background information, we shall go on to the review of the book.

Review:

For some reason I thought the book was a biography of Vladimir the Impaler's life. I was looking forward to reading it. I had previously watched on the history channel a series on the real Dracula. It was interesting and as I said I was looking forward to reading more about him.

However, the book is not a biography on Vladimir. No, it is a story with some 'facts' about the real man. The novel "is a reinterpretation of the 'facts' that led history to remember Vlad Dracula as a monster".

That said, while I was not as excited with this change in the tide, I still continued to read the book. I was not overly happy with it, but it was an ok read. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but it wasn't too bad.

**I was sent a copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. I was not paid to write this review. All opinions are my own.**

Want to read a Good Murder Mystery?

2011-05-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Before I found romance books ( which I review on my other blog Sexy Women Read ) I used to love reading murder mysteries.

If you like them, or maybe you just to know of a good one to try, I will give you a good list.

You have to keep your mind a little open when I say this- but there is "talking" cat and dog in the book. They are communicate with themselves, no one else can hear the animals. It makes the books interesting and very cute, I just adore this series!

The series is by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown. (The books are only written by Rita, for some reason unknown to me she adds Sneaky Pie - her cat - as one of the book writers).

The series is called Mrs. Murphy .

There are so many in the series I couldn't even begin to name them. I will say this though- the first Mrs. Murphy book I read was WISH YOU WERE HERE. It was so good!

So, there you go. Just a little something for those of you looking for a good mystery book. :)

Review: Murder Takes The Cake by Gayle Trent

2011-05-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

A routine cake delivery becomes a culinary nightmare when a small-town baker discovers her first client’s dead body in this irresistible new mystery series.

It’ll take more than a little sugar to convince folks Daphne Martin’s freshly baked spice cake was not to blame for the mysterious death of town gossip Yodel Watson. Getting her new cake decorating business, Daphne’s Delectable Cakes, off the ground is hard enough now that Daphne’s moved back to her southern Virginia hometown, but orders have been even slower since she found Yodel’s body. She soon realizes, however, that just about everybody in town had a reason to poison the cantankerous busybody, from the philandering pet shop owner, to Yodel’s church potluck nemesis, to the Save-A-Buck’s cranky produce manager-turned-bagger. Now, to help prove she’s no confectionery killer, Daphne recruits her old flame, Ben Jacobs, editor of the local newspaper, and quickly stirs up a long-hidden family scandal that just might hold the secret ingredient she needs to solve the case. All she’s got to do is roll up her sleeves and get her hands a little dirty before the real culprit decides that taking sweet revenge on Daphne will be icing on the cake. (Details taken from the back of the book.)

Murder Takes The Cake is written in first-person narration, which isn't my favorite angle, but that's ok, I've worked with it fine before. There were times when I thought to myself though, 'wow I am really getting bored'. There were some moments though that picked up some.

There was quite a bit of time spent going on about making cakes and references to cakes. That's just fine and dandy if you want to talk of them for a moment or two throughout the book; the woman is supposed to have a cake business after all. However, I was bored with all of the references and the time spent of the cakes. The one thing I liked though about the whole cake processes is that at the end of the book, Trent gives you a few of the recipes that her character makes. And, you can get more of her recipes on her website, which is nice.

The story line was rather skeletal and blah. It definitely could have been spiced up to give it some life. The suspense was lacking (this is supposed to be a mystery, cozy or not!) As far as the murder case that Daphne is suppose to solve, well, there really wasn't much of a case. The 'mystery' lacked the tension, the 'oh what will happen next', it lacked drama as well, something a good mystery should obtain.

Characters were ok, nothing too special. There was some unexplained bits though. Like why some of Daphne's odder neighbors had their quirky traits, and why did Daphne have a strained relationship with her mom? These are just a few examples to let you understand what I mean when I say this.

Overall- I cannot give this book praise. It lacked quite a bit and needs a major facelift. Although, I do like the cover, it's cute.
Rating- Don't Bother

**I was sent a free copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.**

Free Ebooks!

2011-05-06T17:13:00.001-07:00

Sourcebooks is having another awesome promotion with some FREE ebooks!

You can download them via Kindle, Borders, Sony Ereader, Nook and many more..

You can go to the main page for Sourcebooks to see all the promotion info.

Some of the FREE ebooks are:

One Lucky Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
SEALed with a Kiss by Mary Marget Daughtridge
Secret in Salem by Sheri Anderson

Review: Smashbox Softbox Eye Palette

2011-04-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

I was at Sephora the other day (I swear I'm always there) and I was looking for something new. And, I found the most gorgeous palette, the Smashbox Softbox Eye Palette. Now, this link takes you to the Sephora page, but you can get it other places. For example, I know Ulta also carries Smashbox products.

Palette is $48

Anyways, onto this gorgeous eye shadow palette...

The colors are (I'm reading them from top left to right and then down to top left to -->)

Nectar (matte)
Vanilla (matte)
Flirt
Lucky Penny
Sugar
Stone (matte)
Sienna
Nude (matte)
Truffle

The brown rectangle on the left is Bronze Liner (a cream liner) and on the right is Taupe Liner (also cream).

The brush that comes with the set is actually good, which I was surprised about because usually they are awful and cheap. As you can (hopefully) see from the picture, the brush is double sided, one side a soft fluffy brush and the other (which I am actually crazy about) is a really good liner brush. For a thicker looking brush, it actually creates a perfect thin clean line.

The kit also has a mirror on the top of the case (the case is magnetized to hold it together).

A small tube of Photo Finish Lid Primer also is included, which I am wearing today and my makeup has not budged.

Ok, onto the colors, which I am sure you are waiting to hear about:

They go on smooth, are soft and pick up easily, yet are well pressed. I mentioned next to the colors above which of the shadows were matte. The others are satin except for Flirt which is a shimmer shadow.

I LOVE the colors! They are colors that I can wear as "natural" colors, yet still be able to play them up. As far as the liners go, I adore those colors too, although the Taupe is definitely my favorite; it is a perfect color to make smoky eyes with.

So, would I recommend? Yes! Although, I would actually recommend all of Smashboxes products, they are a really great brand.

**I was not paid for this review. I purchased the mentioned items with my own money. I wrote this review to share my honest opinion with the public.**

Loving Lindsay Lohan

2011-04-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

Author: Jonathan Suarez

There are so many different great actors and actresses right now, and even though there is a lot of drama surrounding her lifestyle, I am still a huge fan of Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay is still my favorite actress, and it is because of the movies Mean Girls, and also Georgia's Rule that I really admire her work. I really wish that she could clean up her act and stay out of trouble, and also the media so that she could start working again in Hollywood. It is so sad that all of her talents are going to waste, and I think of this every time I watch her on my directstarTV. If you want to see the old Lindsay and remember her when she was America's sweetheart, then you are going to want to watch one of her old hits like Mean Girls or The Parent Trap. Hopefully she is going to get the help that she needs, and she is going to be able to become a role model for young children again. She is such a talented individual, and it is so sad what the media and spotlight has done to her, as it has to so many others as well.

**This is a guest post. I did recieve a small fee for posting this. Please see FAQ or Disclaimer for questions.**

FREE eBooks!!!

2011-04-08T22:36:00.001-07:00

Sourcebooks is having an awesome promo for THIS WEEK ONLY:

Backstage Pass by Oliva Cunning (I LOVE this book girlies!!!) Just click the link and it will take you to the Amazon.com webpage for the ebook.

50 Ways To Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom Just click the link and it will take you to the Amazon.com webpage for the ebook.

I personally downloaded both. While I already have the paper version of Backstage Pass, I wanted the e-version too so I can always have it on me for whenever I am having a Sinner's withdrawl ;)

Free Ebooks!

2011-03-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

Sourcebooks is having a great promotion right now for their ebooks! They are offering 4 ebooks for FREE where ever their ebooks are sold (their website, amazon, etc.) You can check out the ebooks here if you are interested. I myself was rushing to click download on one very cute sounding book in particular... : )

**I was not paid to post this. My opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Paranormal Television Shows

2011-02-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

Guest post of the week by Nestor Nielsen

I love traveling and can normally be found in areas that regular people do not go. I am actually a paranormal investigator and go to different locations in order to find areas that are supposedly haunted. I normally take my boyfriend and mother along since they both enjoy participating in this particular hobby as well. We'll normally take our camera and just get some great shots of different ghostly mists and orbs that can be found in a particular area. When we went to visit Gettysburg a few years ago, I found that we got a lot of great pictures of ghostly manifestations found throughout the battlefield and around the infamous Sach's Bridge. When I'm not traveling to different areas, I actually come home and enjoy watching paranormal travel shows on my Direct Star TV.

One of my favorite shows that I love watching all of the time has to be Ghost Adventures. This particular show actually has three people who go into different buildings that are haunted. They normally catch some really creepy stuff that could only be thought of as paranormal. It's amazing to see the multitude of shots they get from all different areas that they travel to, and I can't help but admit that I'd love to go to some of the buildings that they travel to and get some great pictures at.

**See FAQ or Disclaimer for questions.**

Review: The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

2011-01-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

Twelve years in prison has stripped him of his humanity...

Armand, Comte de Valère has lost the ability to interact with polite society, until his family hires him a beautiful tutor, and he starts to come alive again...

Saving him is her only chance to escape a terrible fate...

Felicity Bennett vows she'll do whatever it takes to help Armand fight back the demons that have held him captive for so long...

With Felicity's help, Armand begins to heal, until a buried secret threatens to destroy their growing passion... description taken from here.

I loved this book! I actually did not know that this is the 2nd book in Galen's series. Apparently the first book is The Making Of A Duchess, which I will definitely be getting my hands on very soon. That said, you can easily read the book as a stand alone book without getting lost.

The plot was simply beautiful and the characters were great. I love how much personality Galen put in each of her characters. In just the one book I felt like I already knew the whole family. The book was simply great, and I really do not want to say any more about it because I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who have yet to read it.

But, for those of you who are wondering what the book is about, I will say this:

Poor Armand who was once basically French royalty, was separated from his family as a young child and endured things no one should have to go through. He learned that the only thing that could save him was not speaking. Finally rescued as an adult by his older brother, he is now trying to get back in the swing of things (like wearing clothes and having manners, etc). Needing some help though, Felicity enters the picture.

Felicity is in a tough situation. Actually, she's stuck in a really bad engagement proposal, but unless she wants to ruin her reputation and never marry (then becoming the family burden), she has to pay her fiance off, which is why she took the much needed job as a governess.

And there our story begins.. : )

**I received an ARC of this book in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did not get paid for posting this.**

Review: Crazy Dog Tees

2011-01-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

Crazy Dog T-shirts is the number one source online for funny t shirts and vintage shirts that help you stand out and get noticed. Founded in 2004 the t-shirt empire offers custom shirts in Rochester, NY. They provide customers with a variety of cool t-shirts and crazy shirts. Featuring both creative original concepts and popular licensed designs. Looking for a funny t shirt? They have hundreds of funny shirts which you won't want to miss!

Some of you might have seen (a long while back) a review I did for Crazy Dog Tees. I love their shirts, they are so comfy and made of a great quality. One of the best things about them is that when they say "girl shirts", they don't mean 'uni sex shirts' (you know the ones with the box-y fit and longer sleeves that make you feel sloppy?), they mean actual women's shirts.

Nacho Mama Tees is the sister site to Crazy Dog Tees.

When Pete asked me to a review for Crazy Dog, I knew I was going to have a hard time picking out a shirt to review. They have such a nice variety of sayings that they put on their t-shirts. In the end though, I ended up choosing the "New Mexico TShirt", which is priced at $14.95.

Now, I got the shirt in a women's XL, but I want to make something clear (and I said this in my other review too, because since Crazy Dog and Nacho Mama are sister sites, they use the exact same sizing). It is not women's sizes, per say, more like teen sizes. You will know what I mean if you have ever tryed on a shirt from the actual women's department and another from the Juniors (or teen) department. While in teens you might wear an XL, in women's you might wear a medium. So, if you are wanting to order a shirt from them, but you normally wear an XL in the women's department (NOT teens!) I would recommend looking for the plus sizes, or if they do not have them, the men's sizes. Again, this is just what I would recommend, but use your own judgement.

The shirt is really comfortable, but there is not a whole lot of stretch to it. There is a pro and a con to the lack of stretch. PRO- the shirt doesn't stretch out / lose its shape. CON- if you order a size too small, the shirt will not stretch enough to fit. So, be careful on the size when ordering!

**I received a free shirt in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did not get paid for posting this.**

Review: Nacho Mama Tees

2011-01-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

Nacho Mama Tees has some of the best offensive t shirts around. Founded in 2004 the t-shirt giant offers funny shirts which include chuck norris shirts, hangover t shirts and zombie tshirts. They provide a variety of funny t shirts and crazy shirts. With new mens vintage tees and great movie t shirts you are sure to find one you will fall in love with!

Pete contacted me about doing another review, and, of course, I jumped at it. I got to pick out the shirt I wanted to review, and I chose the "Recycle Shirt", which is priced at $16.99.

Now, I got the shirt in a women's XL, but I want to make something clear. It is not women's sizes, per say, more like teen sizes. You will know what I mean if you have ever tryed on a shirt from the actual women's department and another from the Juniors (or teen) department. While in teens you might wear an XL, in women's you might wear a medium. So, if you are wanting to order a shirt from them, but you normally wear an XL in the women's department (NOT teens!) I would recommend looking for the plus sizes, or if they do not have them, the men's sizes. Again, this is just what I would recommend, but use your own judgement. Below I will put a size chart that the company goes by...

The shirt is nice and soft. The quality is great, which you can see right away by the way the shirt isn't see-through thin. It seems most white shirts now-a-days need to be worn with an undershirt, but with this shirt, that is not the case. It is able to be worn without worry that people can see-through it, yet is not so thick to make to get warm throughout the day.

I like Nacho Mama Tees because they offer shirts that you really can't find anywhere else. If you go shopping at a department store, or the mall, you can't find these funny sayings on their shirts. Sure, some shirts have funny sayings, but Nacho Mama offers unique shirts that you can't find anywhere else.

**I received a free shirt in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did not get paid for posting this.**

Review: Buxom Lip Glosses

2011-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

Before I start my review I just wanted to apologise for not writing too much the last few months. I have been so busy with life in general that I feel like I just cannot catch up at times. I am going to try to get some more reviews out soon, but I can't promise anything because the new college semester is starting up again for me on Monday already. But, thank you to everyone who has be patient and to everyone who follows my blog!

I love Buxom. They are a part of Bare Minerals, but are a separate line/brand. I started out last winter getting the Sailor Collection, which is 4 mini glosses, just like the one to the left. Since then, I have purchased 5 full size glosses and the Rock Star Collection, which is what you see to the left.

Types of Buxom

There are 2 different types of Buxom. Sheer and Full Coverage. The sheer has the perfect amount of coverage and the Full Coverage is more like a glossy lip stick, though it is in gloss form. Also, the Sheer colors have doe foot applicators (those form tips) and the Full Coverage glosses have actual lip brushes for wands.

About the Plumping Effect

They are a plumping gloss, however they DO NOT burn. They give a cooling sensation which actually feels really nice. I don't know if they really do plump. I say that because I've heard that they work for some people yet not others. I do feel that my lips look bigger when wearing my Buxom, however, I feel that it is because of their glossy and shimmering effects, not due to actual plumping.

The Colors

The colors in the Rock Star collection are wonderful. Julie is a gorgeous light pink, more like an extension of your lips that just helps to amplify your natural color. Blanche is a light nude color. It goes on pretty clear but with great glitter and shine. Gabby is gorgeous! It looks pretty dark in the tube, but trust me, it's lighter than it looks. I'm very pale so dark colors are generally a no-no for me (they wash me out), but Gabby is the perfect coppery red. Remember, the color is sheer, so while it is a nice coverage of color, it isn't as dark as it looks. Gabby has great red sparkles in it. Tanya is a beautiful peppy pink. Just a light layer of Tayna is needed because the color is so hyper, but it is gorgeous (and a great color for young teens!)THE BUXOM COLLECTIONS ARE LIMITED EDITION SO GET THEM NOW IF YOU WANT THEM!

Full size colors I have would include... ALL OF THE FULL SIZE ARE ON BUXOM'S PERMENT LINE.

Isabella which is a perfect bronzy-nude (especially for summer time!) Isabella is a Sheer Color. Roxanne is a Full Coverage gloss and it is a great red. It has bits of broze in it with shimmer and the shine is outragous! Destiny (Sheer Color) is my color. There is no other way to explain it, it was as if it was made for me! It is a corally pink with gold and bits of light green shimmer (though you cannot tell it is green unless you have a trained eye for this). It is simply the perfect year round color. Clair (Sheer Color) is a gorgeous light mauve. It is like an extention of the lips, it has coverage, but the color is so close to the natural color, that it only amplifies nature's beauty. Clair also is part of the diamond collection, so the shimmer in it is seriously amazing. Carmen (Full Coverage) is the darkest buxom I own. It is purple. I cannot lie. My little sister actually got it for me and I couldn't take it back simply for that fact. Put on very lightly, it is pretty, but defintly not a color for me (I'm too pale!).

Full size is 0.15 fl oz. and prices at $18 each
Mini size is 0.07 fl oz. and can only be purchased in sets. Prices usually sit at around $38-42

**I bought all the mentioned with my own money (except the one my sister got me!). I did not get paid for this review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a very Happy Holidays! Whatever holiday you celebrate, be happy, be with family and friends, and enjoy yourself. : )

Review: What Good Is God?: In Search of a Faith That Matters by Philip Yancey

2010-12-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

Journalist and spiritual seeker Philip Yancey has always struggled with the most basic questions of the Christian faith. The question he tackles in WHAT GOOD IS GOD? concerns the practical value of belief in God. His search for the answer to this question took him to some amazing settings around the world: Mumbai, India when the firing started during the terrorist attacks; at the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated; on the Virginia Tech campus soon after the massacre; an AA convention; and even to a conference for women in prostitution. At each of the 10 places he visited, his preparation for the visit and exactly what he said to the people he met each provided evidence that faith really does work when what we believe is severely tested. WHAT GOOD IS GOD? tells the story of Philips journey--the background, the preparation, the presentations themselves. Here is a story of grace for armchair travelers, spiritual seekers, and those in desperate need of assurance that their faith really matters. description taken from here.

Audio book is 9 hours and 28 minutes long. If you like books or audio books about god, then you should like this.

**I received this audio book at no charge so that I could write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Review: The Coming Econmic Armageddon by David Jeremiah

2010-12-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

Never before have we read such jarring headlines, distressing news analyses, or dire predictions concerning the world's financial future. The American housing market -- or, more sentimentally, the American dream -- began to collapse in 2006, taking with it large chunks of the global financial system. Millions of jobs worldwide have vanished forever. Did Bible prophecy predict this catastrophe? Are there biblical clues to how soon, if ever, a viable, long-term recovery can be sustained? Is the financial collapse just one of several signs that we are living in the final days of Earth's history In THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON, David Jeremiah says we can know the meaning behind what we see in the daily news -- and understand and prepare for living in the New Global Economy. description taken from here.

When I first read the title of this book, I thought it would be about our economic crisis. It is not. Is about how the bible warns people about the economy. So, that was a little misleading.. I would have preferred a different title that clued you in a bit more.. Yes, it does mention the actual book's content under the book's heading. In smaller print. It also is not included in the title, which, as I said, I find a bit misleading as you would not know this unless you were looking at the cover, which some people do not when reading about books. But enough about that, the book itself was straight forward in its message and/or meaning. The author's meaning was clear and decipherable.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: The Brave by Nicholas Evans

2010-12-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

"There's little love in eight-year-old Tom Bedford's life. His parents are old and remote, and the boarding school they've sent him to bristles with bullies and sadistic staff. The only comfort he gets is from his fantasy world of cowboys and Indians. But when his sister, Diane, a rising star of stage and screen, falls in love with one of his idols, the suave TV cowboy Ray Montane, Tom's existence is transformed. They move to Hollywood and all his dreams seem to come true. Soon, however, the sinister side of Tinseltown casts its shadow and a shocking act of violence changes their lives forever." "What happened all those years ago remains a secret that corrodes Tom's life and wrecks his marriage. Only when his estranged son, a US Marine, is charged with murder do the events resurface, forcing Tom to confront his demons. As he struggles to save his son's life, he will learn the true meaning of bravery." Powerfully written and intensely moving, The Brave traces the legacy of violence behind the myth of the American West and explores our quest for love and identity, the fallibility of heroes and the devastating effects of family secrets. description taken from here.

I found this book to be very entertaining. The characters were nicely developed, the plot was there, it was exciting! As an audio book, it held the right tone, and it was all around enjoyable. I give this one a thumbs up. : )

**I received this audio book free of charge in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. I did not get paid for posting this.**

Review: The Reversal by Michael Connelly

2010-12-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch.

Together, Bosch and Haller set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years.

With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again. description taken from here.

I found this book to be a bit confusing. As a mystery book, it wasn't all that great in the mystery department. It was slow and somewhat dull to read. This was definitely not "my book". Furthermore, as an audio book, the tone was that much more dreary for me.

**I got a copy of this book free of charge in order to write a real and honest review on it. I did not get paid for posting this. My opinions are 100% my own.**

Zappos

2010-12-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

I love shopping at Zappos.com. I actually just ordered a Christmas present from them two days ago for my boyfriend. I purchased it later at night (it was probably around 7pm or so) and it showed up the next day. Well, I should say the next morning. By the time I got home from my class (10am) it was there and waiting for me. Talk about fast shipping! And the best part, it was free shipping, I had qualified for free 1 day shipping.

So, it's safe to say I'm a bit in love with Zappos now. I was actually browsing their site last night for myself and I ended up staring at the shoes. I love boots. My motto is that you can never have to many pairs of boots. I own a pair of leather Doc Martins and I think the world of them. They are absolutely fabulous. Probably one of the most comfortable pairs of boots I have ever had. So, I was pretty excited when I saw that Zappos offers a whole selection of Doc Martin boots.

They offer a lot of styles, both with heels and without, and the prices are pretty respectable. They even have quite a few of the shoes on sale as well. And, if you do not like boots, they Doc Martin offers other sorts of shoes as well. They carry sandals, heels, heavy duty work shoes (which are great for hiking!) and tennis shoes as well.

I will probably wait until after the holidays to put in another order with Zappos just because I know I am going to get myself something. I don't want to spoil any of the gifts I might get on Christmas, so to make sure I don't buy myself something that some might get me, I think I'll wait. But, if you guys have yet to get all of your gift shopping done, you should check out Zappos. Their shipping is amazingly quick and you will not be disappointed!

**I did get paid a small fee for posting this. My opinions are 100% my own. I have used this service.**

Giveaway: Foxy Bombshell Panties

2010-12-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

My friend over at Never Too Shy Reviews is giving away a gorgeous pair of boxed (practically gift wrapped!) panties. They would perfect for yourself or any lovely lady in your life.

Giveaway ends December 14th!

Enter here!

Thanksgiving at Our House

2010-11-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

This is a guest post.

Author: Amado Howe

My family has some relatives who just call it “Turkey Day” with others being much more traditional about this day. We have the biggest house so everyone comes here. Our family isn't like some with members spread out all over the world. We all stuck close to home. There is some decent work here as long as we don't want to live like Hollywood celebrities or rock stars.

Our house is a huge old farmhouse. We renovated a few years back, and it is our home. We live in a rural area so no city water either. Nope, just the stuff we get from the well. Testing so far has given the water a clean bill of health, and none of our relatives from town even notice the lack of chlorine. We heat our home mostly with wood, and have an oil furnace for the really cold days. All this lets our whole family go back to an earlier time that is really relaxing even if it is only “Turkey Day” to some of them.

We are not without modern amenities. We have a big kitchen that is fully stocked with all of the best appliances for cooking great meals. Even though the electricity flows just fine here, the cooks on Thanksgiving day make heavy use of the wood-fired cooking stove in one corner of the kitchen. Aunt Betty says about that old stove, “The biscuits just taste better.” After dinner we all gather in the living room to watch some football on CirecTV packages. It is a neat mix of the old and new.

**For questions, please visit the FAQ or Disclaimer page.**

Style Tryst

2010-11-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

I just found out about Style Tryst a few weeks ago and wanted to share it with you guys since I know people are holiday shopping right now. They sell very stylish jewelry for women. They will have jewelry for men, but it currently not available.

Now, I have not bought anything from Style Tryst so I cannot speak of the quality and whatnot. However, everyone has heard of Fantasy Jewelry Box, right? If not, either check them out or go find my reviews of them and read those so you know what I'm talking about. But, I LOVE Fantasy Jewelry Box. They are amazing, SUPER affordable and amazingly cute. Well, Style Tryst is one of their new assorcies sites. That said, I'm pretty sure the quality is going to be great and well worth the cost.

Style Tryst is more expensive than Fantasy Jewelry Box. BUT, if you have a loved one with a more mature style, Style Trust is what you need to look at.

I love these earrings! They are so soft and whimsical.

You can get the Triple Small Stones With Vintage Clover earrings for $42 at Style Tryst.

These gorgeous Stacking Rings you can get for $55.

So, as you can see, the prices are a bit higher than Fantasy Jewelry Boxes, but you get a completly different assortment of gorgeous jewelry to choose from. Plus, there are some amazing designers creating for Style Tryst, which also ups the price of the jewelry. To check out a complete list of designers, click here.

**I did not get paid for posting this. I posted this only because of my wish to share it with my readers.**

What's For Lunch?

2010-11-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Guest post written by Simon Mccarty

The last fifteen minutes before lunch are the longest of the workday for me. I must peek at the clock at least twenty times in those fifteen minutes. I feel like a kid in grade school waiting for recess.

The funny thing is for all the waiting I do for my lunch hour, I very rarely actually eat lunch. I usually spend the first three or four minutes of my break browsing the picked over contents of the vending machines before I inevitably decide I am not hungry anyway. I make a mental note to start bringing a lunch to work, but I know Im never actually going to do so. Obligatory lunch activity aside I am free for the next fifty-six minutes.

If the weather is nice I will sit at the little man made duck pond on the other side of the parking lot. There are no ducks there most days, but the sunshine is nice. If the weather does not permit an outdoor excursion. I head down to the break room to watch satellite TV we got after looking at this satalite comparisons. I may as well watch it here, on what they pay me I cant afford it at home! And then before I know it, lunch break is over and Im back to work. Already impatiently awaiting lunch time tomorrow.

**Please see FAQ or the Disclaimer for questions.**

Review: Glee Gum

2010-11-18T13:12:00.001-08:00

Glee Gum is all natural chewing gum made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle. It comes in SIX great flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, tangerine, bubblegum, spearmint, and triple berry. Glee Gum is the #1 healthy alternative to synthetic chewing gum and bubble gum! With no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners (no aspartame), or preservatives, it's easy to chew Glee-fully! description taken from here.

Glee Gum sent me some products to review. They sent me 1 pack of Spearmint gum, 1 pack of Cinnamon gum, 1 pack of Wee Glee gum, and 4 mini packs of Glee gum in the flavors, Bubblegum, Tangerine, Triple Berry, and Peppermint. That means that I got to try out one of every flavor of gum that Glee has to offer.

The gum is shaped in little chick lets, which a harder outer shell. Chomping down, flavor immediately explodes and hits your taste buds. I really liked the cinnamon gum’s flavor. It was nice and cinnamon-y, but it wasn’t overpowering, which some cinnamon gums can be. The same can be said with the mint gums. They were nice and refreshing, but they were not overpowering in their mint flavor (something I enjoyed since I cannot stand chewing strong mint gums). I loved the Bubblegum flavor, it was nice and sweet and very flavorful. The Triple Berry was also very nice. It is made up of Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blueberry. The flavor leans more towards the Raspberry side rather than the Strawberry (again, something I rather liked because I am not a huge strawberry fan).

The Wee Glee are mini chick lets. They are all mixed together in one box. The flavors are: Banana, Bubblegum, Triple Berry, and Tangerine. Since I already said how much I liked the berry and bubblegum, let me jump right into the other two flavors. These were my least favorite of the gums I received. The tangerine was a bit overly sweet for me, but the flavor fades quickly so it isn't that much of a problem. The Banana tastes very much like a banana. That said, I don't like bananas so it makes sense I did not care for the banana flavored gum.

Besides from selling gum, Glee also has Make-Your-Own-Candy kits. These kits allow kids to make their own chocolate, chewing gum, or gummy candy. You can check those out on the Glee Gum website by clicking the link above.

For 1 pound of gum you only have to pay $10.
And, the Make Your Own Candy kits are only $13 each. I think the kits would be a really cool idea to get the kids for the holidays.

Thanks to Marguerite and Glee Gum for sending me the gum samples to review!

**I did not get paid for writing this review. I received free gum samples from Glee in order to write a real and honest review.**

Free On Demand Is A Great TV Viewing Option

2010-11-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the article from Jared Whitaker

Television just keeps getting better and better. The new technology that companies keep bringing out is making TV viewing easier, more convenient and cheaper. Watching free on demand is the best. I am able to watch shows I had missed such as Monk. I missed the last season of this show when it was on originally. I discovered it recently with free on demand and was able to enjoy episodes from the last season.

My family was able to watch ABC family and enjoy episodes from shows such as Make it or break it, this is a show featuring talented gymnasts. My daughter enjoys Make it or break it because she herself is a gymnast and she relates to it, our entire family watches this show together. We love watching free on Demand with our satellite TV. It offers the best picture and we have it hooked up to our big screen. Free on demand viewing has simplified our lives, by giving our family access to this feature we are no longer worried about missing our favorite shows.

Everyone should have access to this technology. My parents have been jealous of our family having this type of TV viewing and are considering going with a service that provides it. We are a family that enjoys our direct tv hd dvr; we would be very upset without this entertainment.

**See FAQ and the Disclaimer page for questions.**

A Halloween Visit!

2010-11-06T12:13:00.001-07:00

Guest post written by Ann Barley

This past weekend was truly something special. It always is when the grandbabies come over to visit, but since it was Halloween, we had a little bit of extra fun. This was actually my first Halloween with them, even though they’re 5 and 7—it just seemed like it never fell on a weekend day before now, and since they live about 45 minutes away it’s a bit of a trek on either side just for a weeknight rendezvous. Anyway, so they came over and I was able to see them in their adorable costumes! Ryan was Scooby Doo, and Chelsea was Velma. How adorable they were!

Before it got dark, we carved three pumpkins into different fun faces. They each got to make a design, and then we all decided on the third design together. It was such a blast. Then, I was able to escort the around the neighborhood trick-or-treating—they ended up coming away with quite the candy haul! Being with them, though, reminds me—I need to sign up for my hearing test with hearingaids.Miracle-Ear.com soon. I had a hard time hearing their sweet little voices at times! Anyway, I look forward to the event even more next year!

**See Disclaimer and FAQ for questions and concerns.**

Holiday Shopping!

2010-11-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

I know I haven't been posting many reviews lately and I apologize. I have been so busy with life lately that I just don't have enough time to get all of the extra (the ones I pay for) reviews up. But, I know the holidays are coming up and I for one cannot wait for Christmas! And, as much as I would love to, I just don't think I'll be able to find the time to post anything to help you guys find those perfect gift ideas or deals. BUT, I know of a few great blogs that are already making holiday gift guides, so I want to let you guys know about them (if you haven't already) that way you can still get some great ideas and deals. : )

I hope this helps with the crazy holiday shopping!

Playstation Move

2010-10-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard of the Playstation Move yet? It is the new interactive gaming system that Playstation has come out with. You have a controller that's movement is picked up from a motion sensing device in front of the game concole, or tv, and that is how you play! You move, and you are moving inside the game as well. How cool is that?!

What would you do if you got a Playstation Move? Would you be playing every hour of the day with your friends? Would you play with your family? Would you use it to exercise with? What about sibling rivalry?

If I got a Playstation Move, I could tell you right now how my family would use it. My mom would love to use it for exercising, it could be like her own personal trainer. My dad and sister would be playing all the time, challenging each other to see who could be the best. My sister would also have her friends over all the time playing as well. That is what I would use it for too, having friends over. But, together, my family would use it as one as well. We would get together and play games as a family, which is always a big laugh when we get together and do something.

I think my family playing Dance Dance Revolution would be the funniest thing for us to play. None of us can dance very well, and I don't think I've ever seen my dad dance before (not including slow dancing in circles at the blue moon wedding).

The Playstation Move is only $99 with the MOVE bundle package, which I think is a great gift idea for the upcoming holiday season.

Technical Difficulties...

2010-10-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else having issues with Blogger tonight or lately? I just had to re-write half a review because when I hit "publish", it deleted half of my post. That is not cool. So, anyone else having any issues or is just me?

Review: EcoStore

2010-10-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be able to be contacted to review for EcoStoreUSA.com. They carry products that have *No Nasty Chemicals and are eco friendly.

Going green is a huge thing for many people and I know a lot of moms are very concerned with only having green products or using green products around the home because of the fact that they don't want their children around the harsh chemicals that are in most products and items around the home.

Personally, I think going green in great, so I was pretty excited when I found out I could try out a few of their products for a review. I got to choose 2 items from the EcoStore site. I chose the Eco4Pets dog shampoo and a bottle of hand wash.

First the pet shampoo. I received the shampoo in the scent "Herbal Fresh". It is a 12 fl. oz. bottle made of a sturdy plastic with a nice squirt cap. The Eco site says that the shampoo is mild enough for frequent use and that it is safe for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens over the age of 6 weeks. I have 2 dogs that were nice and dirty and very in need of a bath, so I was more than happy to test out this shampoo. The shampoo smells really good, which I was a bit surprised at because all of the eco friendly products I have tried in the past (NOT from this particular website) have not. The shampoo was a nice consistency as well, not too thick but not running out of the bottle either, and, it created a great lather! My dog's coats were super soft after they had their baths. They still smelled like a wet dog, but that cannot be helped no matter what shampoo you use. But, they were very clean and pretty afterwards. : ) Now, because I have 2 dogs, I used quite a bit of shampoo (and I have a big dog so I need to use a lot to cover her..) However, I would say there is as least 8-10 washes in this bottle (4-5 for me because I have the 2 dogs).

Next, the hand soap. The soap is $5.49 for a 8.5 fl. oz. bottle. The bottle is made of a sturdy plastic with a nice spout top. I received the hand soap in the scent Coconut and Vanilla. These are my two favorite scents so I was very excited to get my soap and smell the two combine. Unfortunately, the soap smells nothing like coconut or vanilla or a mixture of the two. Instead, to me, I think it smells kind of like Elmer's Glue. My friend says it smells like an unscented lotion (the ones that still have a slight smell). Whatever it smells like, we both agreed that it is not the best smelling. Now when you wash your hands, the soap does not suds. At all. I felt like I had just put lotion on my hands then was attempting to rub it off with water only. I mean, my hands looked clean afterwards, but they just felt unclean because of the fact there were no suds and no scent left behind. I did find something I like the soap for however, cleaning my makeup brushes. It is not harsh at all, and it cleans my brushes more thoroughly than the soap I had used previously for my brushes.

EcoStore USA offers a nice variety of products, and their prices are very reasonable. If you are a green person, it might be worth checking out. I really liked the pet shampoo even though I'm a bit iffy whether or not I would personally buy the hand soap. The site is clean and easy to navigate and you might enjoy the products offered.

**I did not get paid for this review. I received the products mentioned free of charge in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated.**

New jogging route

2010-10-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Zach Douggers

I get bored pretty easily, so I try to swtich things up a lot so I'll keep doing the things that I should do despite getting bored with them. Right now I'm doing that for my joggng route. I've been so proud of myself for keeping up the good habit, btu I think that I need a more challenging route.

Plus, the route that I normally use tends to get kind of busy and has a lot of intersections that I have to wait to cross, which makes my heart beat drop and hurts my cardio activity. I was using the internet to try and find some new ways to go, when I found some info about clear tv bundle pricing and I think that I'm going to change my internet service provider over to the company.

I think I finally figured out a new jogging route that I like. I've been taking a street toward the back of my development that attaches to the next development over and has some challenging hills and a lot less intersections that I have to wait to cross.

**See FAQ and Disclaimer for questions.**

WINNERS!

2010-10-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

The OOGY giveaway has ended and I am here to announce the lucky winners. Random.org picked the winners, as always. But first, a big thanks to Hachette for sending me OOGY to review and for offering the 2 copies to two of my fabulous readers!

Winners are...

#6 StephTheBookworm

#16 Busy Working Mama

Congrats! I will be emailing you in just a moment. You will have 48 hours to respond. For any questions, please visit the FAQ page.

The Advantages of On Demand Movies

2010-10-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the post from Oliver Bailey

Remember going to the video store to rent a movie? Those days are long gone. Now, you can get movies with a few clicks on your remote control. On demand services offer the latest releases that you can watch at any time. In addition, there is a large selection of free movies, including many popular films. I can watch movies on demand through my satellite tv service from Best Choice TV.

On nights you want to relax with family or friends, on demand movies are a great choice. You can order a pizza, make some popcorn, and kick back on the couch. We like to scan through the movie lists to see if there is a new movie we haven't seen yet or a classic film we want to enjoy again. It is a great activity for a rainy night, a night where you have friends over, or just a night you want to relax. You don't have to worry about spending a fortune at a multiplex, driving to the video store, or waiting for a movie you want to see to arrive in the mail. With on demand movies, it is right there. It takes only a few seconds to order your movie, and you can enjoy it at your own pace.

**For questions or concerns, please visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page.**

NMEDA

2010-10-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you guys heard of NMEDA? They are a non-profit trade association and they educate consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer. They do not sell anything, they just educate consumers. NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled peoples as well as requiring the upholding of safety standards. The dealers are the ones that sell the vans and equipment for disabled peoples, not NMEDA.

With knowledge from NMEDA you can purchase some of the equipment from the NMEDA dealers that can help disabled peoples become more independent and that is something everyone can benefit from. Not only do the caretakers (who have an extremely hard and busy job) get a small break from the routine, but the disabled person also receives the feeling of satisfaction that he or she can now take care of themselves in some small way, that they are not helpless, etc.

While NMEDA has dealers, remember that they also have what are called Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers. QAP is a program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry.

You can check out NMEDA now at nmeda.org. On their homepage is an area entitled "Dealers Location" where you can type in your zip code and find registered and approved dealers near you. Try it out and see if they have a dealer near you. If you find one near you, or maybe you do not find one near you, leave a comment and let me know.

Cooking Something New

2010-10-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

The Author of this post is Kory Dotson

It was flipping through channels on satelite tv from expertsatellite.com one late night when I settled upon watching a travel channel. I loved all travel channel because not only do they show the region they are visiting, but most of the time they explore what a certain area of people eat as part of their cuisine.

I never had a lot to do with eating Indian cuisine, but as the host traveled through Bali and ate the dishes as if they were the best tasting thing in the world, I had the idea of finding a recipe. I am not a vegetarian and I really don't enjoy spicey foods, but I came across this wonderful chicken recipe that calls for equal parts mustard, honey and curry powder. With a splash of soy sauce this makes a perfect marinate for meats, especially skinless chicken. Best to let it sit in the refrigerator overnight for all the flavors to meld and bloom.

The next day pop it in a 350 to 375 oven, uncovered, and let it bake for forty-five minutes to an hour. Use a testing thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is cooked completely. Be careful to test the meat and not the bone, if there is one, because a bone will give inaccurate readings.

Simple and delicious, this is now one of my favorites.

**See Disclaimer and FAQ for questions and concerns.**

BoostMobile

2010-10-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm sure you guys have heard of Boost Mobile. They are a pretty popular brand that is in the news, on TV and so on. They are a pretty popular brand that is in the news, on TV and so on. But have you guys heard of Boost Mobile’s Re-Boost program? It is Boost Mobile’s method of adding funds to your account. Pretty awesome, right?

And, payments are easier than ever. You can now pay in person, over the phone, or online. This is great for those times you are sick and don’t feel like going into town, just use the computer. Or, maybe your phone is acting up, so you decide to pay online or in person. This is a nice connivance for everyone. Also nice is the automatic payments so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to pay. You can also use your credit or debit card for your payment options.

Also something I think is nice is that Boost Mobile sells Blackberrys which I am rather fond of. They even come with their very own easy payment plans, which is an awesome concept. For example, you can get unlimited phone time, texting, internet access, etc. all for $60 a month.

Boost Mobile has a very social plan as well. For one fee a month, you can have unlimited activity to Facebook, which is a great way to stay in touch with your family and friends.

Lots of Reviews...

2010-10-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hey guys

I'm sure you have seen a bunch of reviews being published on the site yesterday, and I just wanted to give you a heads up so I don't overwhelm you, but there will be a few more coming up soon. I have been writing them and saving them on my computer, just now finding the time to get them on the site, so a few more will be popping up soon.

That's all for now.

Have a great Tuesday, and for all you GLEE fans, it's on tonight!!! : )

Our Very Own Movie Tour

2010-10-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Linda Jarvis

My grandson flew out to Manhattan to visit my husband and I this past weekend. We were so glad to have him visit; he is such a sweet kid. When he came to visit with his parents a few months back, and he really didn’t have an agenda of his own. He came down with a mission: to see all the landmarks from the Ghostbusters movie, so we decided we would do everything we could to make that happen.

We took him as far up as Columbia University and as far south as the Ghostbuster’s firehouse below Canal Street.

My husband was really glad that he put in his brand new hearing aid before we went on our little tour. He just learned about the benefits of hearing aids from MiracleEarHearingAids.net , and he keeps talking about how buying one was such a smart decision.

When we got back from our trip, we went back and watched the Ghostbusters movie to see all the places we had just been, which was too cool.

Having our grandson back was a blast, and we can’t wait until he and his parents came back to visit us for Thanksgiving.

**See FAQ or Disclaimer for info and/or questions.**

Awesome Website I just found... PLUS Extra Entries!!!

2010-10-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

I just wanted to tell you about this awesome website I just found out about. It's called eBates.com. Signing up for it is free and all you do is go to the website to link to the website you want to shop online at (like Best Buy, Sephora, Walmart, eBay, etc.) then you get a percentage of money back for as much as you spend on these websites. You get a BIG FAT CHECK in the mail. It's super easy and I am so happy I found it.

Extra Entires for giveaways going on on my blogs,

For 20 EXTRA ENTRIES, sign up at eBates.com using my referral link. It's that simple.

I honestly hope that you guys do check the site out. Signing up is super easy. You just enter your email address and that's it.

Review: The Coming Economic Armageddon by Dr. David Jeremiah

2010-10-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Never before have we read such jarring headlines, distressing news analyses, or dire predictions concerning the world's financial future. The American housing market -- or, more sentimentally, the American dream -- began to collapse in 2006, taking with it large chunks of the global financial system. Millions of jobs worldwide have vanished forever. Did Bible prophecy predict this catastrophe? Are there biblical clues to how soon, if ever, a viable, long-term recovery can be sustained? Is the financial collapse just one of several signs that we are living in the final days of Earth's history In THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON, David Jeremiah says we can know the meaning behind what we see in the daily news -- and understand and prepare for living in the New Global Economy. description taken from here.

When I first read the title of this book, I thought it would be about our economic crisis. It is not. Is about how the bible warns people about the economy. So, that was a little misleading.. I would have preferred a different title that clued you in a bit more.. Yes, it does mention the actual book's content under the book's heading. In smaller print. It also is not included in the title, which, as I said, I find a bit misleading as you would not know this unless you were looking at the cover, which some people do not when reading about books. But enough about that, the book itself was straight forward in its message and/or meaning. The author's meaning was clear and decipherable.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: The Church Awakening by Charles Swindoll

2010-10-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

In THE CHURCH AWAKENING, Charles Swindoll discusses the challenges, struggles, and priorities of the church in the twenty-first century. He reveals the problems inherent in the entertainment-based postmodern church and shows how a return to biblical teaching will restore its strength and impact. Now being replaced by a feel-good message instead of what Christians need to know to stand strong in a world that's lost its way--Swindoll exposes the problems of--and solutions for--the postmodern evangelical church. Just as he opened readers' eyes with his bold statements in The Grace Awakening, now he offers a straightforward volume revealing how to reestablish a life-altering church with Christ as Lord and Master. Illuminating and empowering, THE CHURCH AWAKENING will ignite a revolution in the way Christians "do church" for years to come. description taken from here.

Swindoll tells readers with his newest book that the church is letting it's followers slack and develop their own thoughts, actions and concepts without interference. He says that the church needs to pick up the slack and say, 'hey wait a second, let's back up here so I can lead you in the correct Christian way'. I only see one major flaw with the logic of his book... Obviously he wants to target the ones who have gone astray somewhere, but what person who has 'gone astray' is going to pick up a book that tells you that you have 'gone astray'? I mean, as humans, we don't like for anyone to criticize us, tell us we have done something wrong, etc. I think Swindoll needs to be a little more suggestive and not so drill sergent in his ways. Humans do take suggestions better.. we tend to think we made the decision when it is only suggested after all... Other than that, Swindoll tells it how he thinks it.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: Dare to Take Charge by Judge Glenda Hatchett

2010-10-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Judge Hatchett is an accomplished woman: in addition to her successful syndicated show, she has been a corporate litigator and manager of international media relations, as well as a chief presiding judge of Fulton County, Ga.'s juvenile court. Sharing her own story and the experiences of those who have appeared in her courtroom, Hatchett challenges readers to take charge of their lives, to define their dreams and dare to achieve them, to try new things, and to start every day with a clear idea of what they can accomplish to move toward their goal.But she simply strings together self-help clichés as she urges readers to spend more time doing what they're good at, to expect more of themselves, to keep a Joy Journal to reflect on what has brought them pleasure, and to pursue activities they feel passionate about. The self-help advice offered is generic, and while fans of Hatchett's TV show might enjoy the book, she won't be attracting many newcomers. description taken from here.

This might possibly be an odd thing to comment on, but I liked the font that was used in this book. It was a bit larger than normal, yet skinny, but it was much easier to read than some fonts seem to be. Whatever was different, I liked it. Judge Hatchett shares with us in her book a little about her life, a little about her court, and a little about managing your life and your skills. I thought this was a well written book that was believeable. There is nothing worse than picking up a book by a celebrity, etc. (someone in the media) and starting to read it only to think 'I cannot picture this person actually talking like this'. With Judge Hatchett's book, the comentary was beliveable and real and I enjoyed it. This was a nice book.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: God and Sex by Michael Coogan

2010-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

For several decades, Michael Coogan's introductory course on the Old Testament has been a perennial favorite among students at Harvard University. In God and Sex, Coogan examines one of the most controversial aspects of the Hebrew Scripture: What the Old Testament really says about sex, and how contemporary understanding of those writings is frequently misunderstood or misrepresented. In the engaging and witty voice generations of students have appreciated, Coogan explores the language and social world of the Bible, showing how much innuendo and euphemism is at play, and illuminating the sexuality of biblical figures as well as God. description taken from here.

Coogan covers everything. I mean everything. Marriage, women's domestic roles, abortions, arranged marriages, divorce, etc. Like I said, he covers everything. Honestly, Coogan didn't leave a good impression with me. At all. Starting with the chapter on women's roles. Now, if you believe that women are supposed to be the subordinate, then you might just love this book. However, I feel like we are not in the 1800s anymore and we need to more forward with rights, equality and so forth. Apparently, Coogan thinks that women are subject to their fathers, and then their husbands once married. They are never their own person, they are un-named, that's just how important they are to him. As stated above, this does not leave a good impression with me. Coogan quotes overly much. His writting is stale and needs life in it. Obviously, I did not care for this book at all and I will not be recommending this to anyone.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: Raising the Dead by Chauncey W. Crandall IV, MD ~ ARC

2010-10-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

On October 20, 2006, a middle-aged auto mechanic, Jeff Markin, walked into the emergency room at the Palm BeachGardensHospital and collapsed from a massive heart attack. Forty minutes later he was declared dead. After filling out his final report, the supervising cardiologist, Dr. Chauncey Crandall, started out of the room. "Before I crossed its threshold, however, I sensed God was telling me to turn around and pray for the patient," Crandall explained.

With that prayer and Dr. Crandall's instruction to give the man what seemed one more useless shock from the defibrillator, Jeff Markin came back to life--and remains alive and well today.

But how did a Yale-educated cardiologist whose Palm Beach practice includes some of the most powerful people in American society, including several billionaires, come to believe in supernatural healing?

The answers to these questions compose a story and a spiritual journey that transformed Chauncey Crandall. description taken from here.

An interesting read that would interest anyone who is very religious or works in the medical field. Personally, RAISING THE DEAD was overly religious for me to to take seriously.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method

2010-10-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Did you know muscles get bored, just like people do? And did you also know that there's a 9 out of 10 chance that you're working the wrong muscles when you exercise? With TRACY ANDERSON'S 30-DAY METHOD you don't have to worry--her unique workout will help you drop the weight and shrink your body in just 30 days.
Based on ten years of scientific research and experience getting not just herself, but A-list stars and everyday people, red carpet ready, Anderson has developed a unique 30-day diet and workout routine that reshapes the body and defies genetics to tone the muscles and drop the pounds. While most people incorrectly target their major muscle groups, like the bicep or hamstring, the focus should be on the smaller accessory muscles that can create a long, lean, balanced look--instead of bulked up look. Anderson's program is composed of a groundbreaking three-tiered approach, including a mat workout and cardio routine targeting the all-important accessory muscles, and an exclusive 30-day meal plan, complete with dozens of delicious recipes.
This comprehensive kick-start program is unlike any other workout on the market and it leaves no chance for anything but terrific, fast results! description taken from here.

A great workout program! The book comes with a compatible DVD that really makes the book worth while. This is a program that makes sense and is something anyone at almost any age can try. The program includes a 10-Day muscle workout, a dance cardio workout that targets all the important muscles, a 30-Day meal plan and detox plan, AND tons of yummy recipes that you can try and use to help you lose weight and stay healthy!

*I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: God and Dog by Wendy Francisco

2010-10-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

GOD AND DOG is a phenomenon. First appearing on YouTube, the video of Wendy Francisco's charming animated illustrations and moving song tells of the unconditional love of both God and Dog.

With over 2 million YouTube viewings to date, Francisco's story appeals to all ages, to animal enthusiasts, to people of religious persuasions, and especially to anyone who has been loved by a dog.

Now in book format, Wendy's touching narrative will be expanded on through additional lyrics, illustrations, photographs and some of the powerful mail that is continually being sent to Francisco. description taken from here.

I found this book to be very dull. At only 48 pages long, some might consider this to be a children's book since the words are extremely simple and the pictures easy and cartoon-ish. However, I cannot image a young child, or a child of any age that is, to be any more interested in this book than I was. Its dull, and I feel as if it has been 'dumbed down' as some people may call it. Overall, this book was a waste of time.

*I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review & Giveaway: Oogy by Larry Levin

2010-10-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms, and decided to take him home.

Heartwarming and redemptive, OOGY is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own. description taken from here.

I loved OOGY. It was so moving and so very emotional for me. I love all animals, no matter how "ugly", "scary", etc. I am, plain and simple, an animal person. It was almost difficult for me to look at the pictures both on the front and back of the book. All I could think was 'that poor doggie'. But, the book was good, and I recommend it to anyone who loves animals or just dogs.

Giveaway!

Hachette is letting 2 of my lovely readers win their very own copy of OOGY!

Rules:

No P.O. Boxes

US & Canada residents only

LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT AREA!

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How to Enter:

Leave a comment WITH your email address.

Extra Entries:

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+5 follow my friend's blog, Never Too Shy Reviews

+3 tell me if you have a pet or not

+3 per each social networking sites you post my giveaway on (can do this up to 3 times a day!)

+4 per each other contest of mine you enter- tell me which ones!

+20 blog about this giveaway include some links- tell me where post is

+5 grab K & K's button- leave a link

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LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY! (example: if it says +2 but two separate entries)

Giveaway ends October 25th

*I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Review: Find a Way by Merril Hoge

2010-10-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

When Merril talked about his dream of playing in the NFL all he heard was, that will be too hard, you can't beat those odds, it's impossible, and son don't put all your eggs in one basket! That inspired him to write Find a Way and put it on the top of the wall above all his goals. Find a Way would become a life-long philosophy that helped him achieve his dream of playing in the NFL, but also has helped him deal with the near loss of his hand as a young boy, the loss of his mother at a young age, overcome severe head trauma and battle and beat cancer. It has also become a parenting tool and helped him realize the magic that exists in all of us! description taken from here.

FIND A WAY was an emotional and refreashingly real book. It was interesting to read and had a nice tempo to it. Anyone who likes Hoge or real life stories would be interested in this book.

**I received a complementary copy of this book in order to write a real and honest review. I did not get paid for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.**

Nebraska Cornhuskers are where it's at

2010-10-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Author of this post is Freddy Savage

There is nothing in life quite like going to Memorial Stadium and taking in a Nebraska Cornhuskers' football game. Of course it has been reported before that when the 'Huskers stadium fills up it becomes the third largest city in Nebraska but from what I saw it seems like the biggest. Bo Pelini has really gotten the team going in the right direction and it is pretty clear that the fans have really bought into what he and his staff and players are doing.

Watching quarterback Taylor Martinez run over, around and through the Idaho Vandal defense was a sight to see and I wonder if that kid might just win a Heisman trophy before it is all said and done. I have to admit that I've been a Husker fan since I was a little, little kid and Tom Osborne walked the sidelines, sending in plays to Tommie Frazier and Eric Crouch and even Turner Gill earlier in his career.

Since I've been watching the Huskers for quite some time now, when I can't watch the team in person I watch them and all my college football games on satellite tv from www.directstartv.com/compare_directv/directv_vs_dish.html; I think I can honestly say that this might just be the year that the mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers finally return to their days of glory. This just might be the year they win another National Championship.

**For questions please visit the FAQ page. This is a sponsored post.**

I need some ideas, any help??

2010-09-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard, my friend post-it noted my car last week. And, then, yesterday, I caught him in the act of trying to paint my windows with those car safe markers you use to write stuff like "for sale" or "go #44!".

Well, I need to get him back! I googled ideas and nothing really sounded good. I don't want to do anything that would cause any damage or anything, just something funny. Someone suggested that I get a Play Boy magamzine and cover his car with pictures of nude women. I thought that was super funny, but it's also probably illegal since anyone could walk by and see the porn.

My sister thinks I should stick a blow up doll in his car. This was a funny idea too, but I'm not sure whether or not he leaves his windows down..

Anyways, do you guys have any ideas??? I really want to get him back!

Mac Update

2010-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hey guys

I just wanted to write up a quick post to let you know where you can get authentic MAC products for less. You probably saw some older posts mentioning cheap wholesale sites (which I then posted and said they were fake). Well, this site is for real. They are not super cheap like the fake sites which sell fake MAC, but they are discounted, and when you buy in bulk like I do, the discount matters.

They sell all kinds of makeup brands for less.. MAC, Stilla, Urban Decay, Benefit, Bobby Brown, Chanel, L'Oreal, etc etc...

http://www.allcosmeticswholesale.com/

All Cosmetics Wholesale is the real deal. Their MAC refils are only .01 cheaper, but they sell with PayPal (which you all know I prefer to use). But, alot of their other products are a lot cheaper than in stores, so check it out. : )

We love tailgating with our friends

2010-09-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

One of the best parts about going to see a professional football game is tailgating before the game. We all wake up pretty early and call each other to make sure that we have everything that we need to make it a great day of tailgating and watching the game. My husband and I get so excited every time. We pack the car, put on our team jerseys, paint our faces, and head out the door. We always give each other a high-five as we are setting our ADT Home Alarm and locking up to leave. When we get to the arena parking lot you can always tell who our friends are. We fly flags from the top of our friend's truck, have balloons everywhere, coolers full of beer and ice, and the grill hot. There have been times where we have forgotten the plates and had to eat off of napkins. That did not hamper our day at all. We all just thought it was funny and have not forgotten them since. We are usually the life of every tailgating party. We have so much fun and look forward to it every time. It is a great time with our great friends that we wouldn't give up for the world.

**For questions, visit the FAQ page or the Disclaimer page**

Family Antics with the Family Guy

2010-09-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the post, Bernard Vasquez

What is funnier than watching the latest escapades of Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, family dog Brian and the psychotic infant Stewie? Join the dysfunctional Griffin family as you tune into the The Family Guy on satellite TV packages in California. This fun-loving and say-anything television cartoon has had American families in stitches for eight seasons.

The show takes place in the fictional city of Quahog and follows the adventures of dimwitted Peter has he continually puts his family through the wringer through various adventures. Stewie, the family's infant, spends the first several seasons attempting to kill his mother Lois. The British speaking baby is known for his psychopath tendencies, his genius abilities, and his love for cynicism. Meg, the family's teenage daughter, struggles with an endless barrage of insults and mocking from the rest of her family as she yearns for male acceptance, experiments with lesbianism, and deals with growing up. Chris is the teenage son. He fights off advances by the elderly neighborhood pedophile, the killer monkey in his closet, and the constant misunderstanding from his clear lack of intelligence. Lois, the popular, attractive, wealthy wife is way beyond Peter, yet, she somehow adores him with all the love a wife can offer. The brains and glue of the family, Lois seems oblivious to the dysfunction and disarray of her family. Brian, the drinking, intelligent, and sometimes lonely family dog continually bails out members of the family he seems to love and hate with equal ferocity.

The show has had a long run and will continue to entertain and amuse countless cartoon fanatics with their crazy antics, underlying affection and hilarious adventures.

**This is a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts are of the author and do not reflect upon K & K's thoughts and/or opinions. I did recieve a small fee for posting this.**

2010-09-24T11:51:00.001-07:00

It's the last day to enter in the Sin Undone giveaway!! If you haven't already, enter now. Or, if you have already entered, now is the time to make sure you did all of those extra entries I give you guys.

Malcolm in the Middle

2010-09-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Written by my friend Betty Walls

Malcolm in the Middle is a great show for teens. I watch this show all the time. It is one of my favorite sitcoms. I turn on direct tv oregon and sit back and get ready to laugh. In this show there are the parents and their four sons. They try to keep them out of trouble and teach them to do the right thing. The boys always have some kind of plan worked out to get something they want. They might trick the parents and sneak out at night. They do so much behind their parent's back. The funny thing is, they never get away with any of it. The parents always find out one way or another. The mom is named Lois, and she yells a lot. She is the parent that does most of the punishing. The kids usually fool the dad somehow. The dad acts more like a kid than a parent. He is always messing up something and trying to fix it before Lois finds out. This show is really funny and has some scenes that have more drama than anything. This is a great show for people of all ages.

**This is a sponsored post. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are of the author and do not reflect K & K's opinions. I have not used the sponsored's services.**

I got papered..

2010-09-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

OhMyGoodness. That is about all I can really say. Haha when you see the picture, you will understand. My friend decided to paper my car with about 1500 sticky notes (post-its) while I was in class today. So, when I got out, I found a neon colored car.

It was worse, at this point I had already took about have of the notes off the car (as you can see from the bare sided car. LOL. And, you can see on the windshelid it says "CALL". The other day I forgot to call my mom and I she didn't like that very much.. so this is his way of a friendly reminder. hahaha

This is all the paper after I tore it off my car.

If anything weird of funny has happened like this to you before, or maybe you did this to a friend, then post it because I want to hear about it. : )

Tagging along in Vegas

2010-09-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Tamara Hawkings

When my husband told me that his company's convention was going to be in Las Vegas this year, I was so excited and insisted on going with him. He agreed and I called up the wives of some of his coworkers and convinced them to go too so we could all spend time together when our husbands were in meetings.

When we were out shopping one day I was having a hard time hearing what the other ladies were talking about in the dressing rooms and then when we went to get some post-shopping drinks at the hotel bar I noticed that it was hard to hear them talking too. That kind of made me realize that I needed to do something about my hearing loss or it was going to start affecting my life.

So in the hotel when we were resting later that day I looked up hearing aids Columbia on my smart phone and made an appointment for when I get home.

This trip has been great and I can't wait to wear all of the stuff I bought here.

**This is a sponsored guest post. The opinions and information does not reflect K & K's opinions and we do not recommend, nor not recommend, the sponsored's services, as K & K's is not affiliated and has not used the sponsored's services before. I did recieve a small fee for posting this.**

Review: Fake MAC Pigment

2010-09-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

You might want to...

2010-09-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

head over to Sexy Women Read to learn how to get 4 fast and easy extra entries for the Sin Undone giveaway!

Good luck, and remember, it ends on the 25th!!!!!

Natural & Healthly

2010-09-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Being healthy is important for everyone. Even if you don't care about your own health all the time, the ones around you, you do care about. Like, your kids, or your parents, grandparents, etc. Maybe it's just your pet. Whatever. But, health is important. And, the new thing (well, it's not that knew, but it is starting to mainstream) is organic and natural ways to keep and stay healthy.

Oasis Advanced Wellness is a company that sells all natural products. They sell things like Oregano Oil, which they state on their site is full of vitamins and minerals as well as promoting digestive health. They also sell Bio D-Mulsion, which is a vitamin D (according to the site). Oasis says that one billion people are vitamin D deficent. I know I probably am, because I hate staying in the sun for too long, and because of it, I don't get much viatmin D in my system. Vitamin D is really important for the body (so says Doctor Oz).

Anyways, because so many people are health conconcoious, yet want everything to be natural, I wanted to share this with you.

**This is a sponsored post. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Don't forget to enter in the Giveaway...

2010-09-16T13:43:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to remind you if you have not yet, that there is still time to enter to win a copy of Larissa Ione's newest Demonica book, Sin Undone!

It was a GREAT book, so I hope you all enter to win. Sadly, not everyone will win, but Hachette is going to give the lucky few their own copy. So, I hope you are lucky : )

Insurance

2010-09-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Some of you might have seen a post on one of my blogs in the beginging of March about my grandpa passing away. He wasn't very old, he just had a massive heart attack in the middle of the night. Because of this, I know how expensive funerals can be. I always knew they were expensive, but wowza.. I think some people raise prices becuase they know they can get away with it while you aren't thinking straight.. Anyways, we were lucky to have funeral cover insurance. It covered quite a bit, but we still had to pocket some of the expensives. That said, it did help out a lot.

But besides just covering the cost of funerals, insurance does make a big difference in your life. It helps to afford all the medical, etc., that you need or might need. Real life cover is a big thing, right? You want to make sure you and your family are covered and protected. Medical care is expensive and your insurance helps to cover the costs. But, different insurance (and different packages) cover different things, so checking out different providers is considered a must.

What about income insurance? That's important too, right? Taking the time to see if you are covered is important. When the time comes that you need the insurance, you can't look around and see what you have, you need to know what you have. What if you aren't covered? When you are sick, if you find out you have cancer, a mental health issue, etc, etc, insurance is a lot harder to find. Even high blood preasure is an issue! So, just look around now before you need it.

**This is a sponsored post. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did not use the sponsored's services.**

Myrtle Beach

2010-09-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

Right now I am a full time college student. For me, that means waking up early all week long to commute to and from my college campus. By the time the weekend rolls around, all I want to do is sleep, but my professors have other ideas when they are giving me a load of work to do. I'm not complaining here, I love college, I really do. Honestly, I was going crazy over the summer break because I had nothing to do. However, having a really busy schedule means that taking vacations are a wondrous thing when I get to take them.

http://www.horizonmyrtlebeach.com/ is a great website if you want to plan a vacation by the coast. They help you find Myrtle Beach hotels, and, I'm sure if you ask them, they will tell you that they are Myrtle Beach best hotels. The first thing I thought when I saw their website was 'Oh, wow'. The picture of the resort does that to you. It is simply breathtaking. A huge, clean cut high rise building stands tall and proud in the middle of beautiful scenery. On a higher outdoor level, a crystal clear pool sits waiting to be enjoyed by the whole family, or that sweet couple looking for a nice getaway. The rooms have beautiful views as well, from what the pictures imply.

The website is one of the best I've seen in a while. It is easy to navigate, clean cut and easy on the eyes. The color scheme is calming, setting the feeling in you that you know you would have if you chose them on your vacation. Plus, the website also helps you book and plan your golfing adventures as well! Just think of it, after a nice, quiet, enjoyable round of golf, you can go back to your Myrtle Beach Resort and take a refreshing swim, or maybe even a nap before dinner!

**This is a sponsored post. I have not used the sponsored's services. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

B&B weekend

2010-09-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Esther Turner

My husband had been promising to go away on a long weekend together for almost ten months! So finally we figured out a weekend that worked out OK for both of us. Then we dropped the dog off at his sitter and drove about two hours out of town to a cozy little bed and breakfast inn that is in the mountains.

We ate a nice meal in a nearby restaurant and then took a stroll around the B&B we were talking about old times and how we met. I was going over silly little details and then he was disagreeing with me about the song that he used to propose to me but then we realized that he had misheard me and we were talking about the same song after all.

When we got back to the room I got on my smart phone, although we had agreed to spend time together instead of on our electronics, and I looked up Miracle Ear Hearing Aids.

Then when we got home after that weekend, we went and bought him some Miracle Ear invisible hearing aids. That kind of put a damper on our romantic weekend, but it's a good thing that we pointed that out then.

**This is a sponsored guest post. The opinions and information does not reflect K & K's opinions and we do not recommend, nor not recommend, the sponsored's services, as K & K's is not affiliated and has not used the sponsored's services before. I did recieve a small fee for posting this.**

Review: Unexpected Treasures by Dr. Mikel Brown

2010-09-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

Unexpected Treasures gives you 72 motivational triggers to help strengthen you throughout periods of discouragement or mental collapses resulting from prolong battles with unpleasant incidents. Life cradles within its cavity unwelcomed challenges that we all must face without exception. Whether you are trying to get over a divorce, struggling with bankruptcy, battling drug and alcohol addition, depression, or you are experiencing the lack of passion to simply live your dream, Unexpected Treasures will not only inspire you to delve deep within yourself for answers, but will give you the strategies to overcome and ignite the passion in your life once again. We were all created with intrinsic gifts and talents despite a person s apparent disadvantage(s). Unexpected Treasures will clearly illustrate how you can: Unexpected Treasures will undeniably inspire you to overcome the obstacles and roadblocks that are designed to zap the life out of you. After reading just a few chapters of this book, you will look to inform all your friends on the dynamics of how this book has changed your life. description taken from here.

The book is written in 72 brief chapters, each one touching on the "72 ways to uncover your hidden wealth". Dr. Brown helps you to "discover money in unlikely places" and to "make the right business decisions". Brown, as well as writing books to help people, also offers seminars.

I feel like the book doesn't offer too much help because of the fact he is so brief on the 72 chapters. It certainly could have been longer, the book standing at a lonely 232 pages. He does say point you in the direction of thinking that every problem and question created (brought up in this book) can be corrected or answered by you (the reader). Brown just keeps stating to "look within". In my opinion, however, if we need help (because we think we do if we obviously picked up this book) then don't you think we have "looked within" for answers and help in the past? If this is so, then don't you think a bit more than "look within" is needed in order to help with the problems?

**I received this book for free in order to properly review it. I did not get paid. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Casinos

2010-09-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

I found this website called Online Casinos Planet, and it is pretty helpful for anyone who likes or wants to go to casinos. They list just about every casino in the world (there are a lot!) and not just for the US either. They list them for the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, France, Ireland, Hong Kong, etc, etc. I think this is really cool because everyone can use it. I know my readers are not all from the US, and so many websites cator to just one area. But, this website can be used by just about anyone.

They also have a (shorter) list of the best online casinos that they recommend. And, they post information about the lastest news in the different casinos around the world. Online Casinos Planet also offers videos that can be watched of the different things seen and/or featured in different casinos. Free games and tips are offered as well.

I even found the casino that I go to with my family (the huge buffet is my favorite part!).

**This is a sponsored post. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

The National Geographic Channel is the channel to watch

2010-09-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

This guest post from Hong Alexander

When most people thing of National Geographic, they may think of the old magazines with giraffes on them or the magazines that you were made to read in school. I am here to say, that was then. The National Geographic Channel has to be one of the best educational and entertaining channels I have ever had the pleasure to watch. There is always something good on.

I like to snuggle up on my couch with a nice, cozy blanket and watch National Geographic on satellite tv, which I got through some great direct tv packages in Mississippi. They have shows on that hunt for Somali Pirates, shows on recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina, devastating shows on earthquakes, and so much more. Yes you will get the occasional fish program or monkeys running wild in India but most of the programming really opens up your eyes to what is going on in the world. Actually the program about the monkeys running wild in India was pretty funny! Imagine walking down the street and seeing a bunch of monkeys trying to steal bananas out of the local markets!

If you want a great educational experience, The National Geographic Channel has my vote. I give it two thumbs up. If you have a book report that is due or just want to learn something new, tune in and see what's going on. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

**This is a sponsored guest post. I did receive a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**

Warning!

2010-09-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

I did a post about a week or so ago about this great new site I found that sells MAC makeup at low wholesale prices.

IT'S FAKE!!!

The makeup, brushes, etc., they sell are all FAKE MAC products. They are NOT MAC, they are cheap replicas of MAC products.

I have not bought from them, thankfully. I was waiting a few weeks until my excitment died down and I could think straight on what I was going to buy in stead of going hog wild. Good thing, huh?

The products might be ok to use, some people (from YouTube) have done reviews on the fake MAC and said they work just fine. Others say how awful they are. I don't know from personal experience how well they work.

Be Careful!

There are sellers on eBay saying the makeup is real. Some of it is, some of it is NOT. I found some great videos on YouTube that is really helpful for detecting whether or not the products are fake.

Here are the links to the videos I found most helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWrCxAyjcs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgocFH-YFiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UUN8975Juw&feature=related

Websites that are selling FAKE MAC:

http://www.cosmetichotsale.com/

http://www.cosmetics-wholesale.com/

http://www.brush111.com/

http://www.ebay.com/

http://www.maccosmeticswholesaler.com/

My Opinion of the whole thing...

We all know stealing a name is wrong. I am not sure how the make up works. Like I said above, some people say they are great, others say they are not. I will probably buy some just to see if they are good or not. Actually, I do have 1 fake MAC eyeshadow. I thought it was real, but it isn't. It's a pressed single in the color Patina. I actually really like it, the color pay off is really good, and I got it for only $1. (This was on eBay.)

I am going to get some of the brushes just because they are such a great deal. However, I am only going to be buying from the sites that allow a return for full money back garentee. I asked http://www.cosmetics-wholesale.com/ they DO NOT allow returns unless the product broke in the mail.

brush111.com DOES allow returns with no restocking fee. I might buy them from them... They don't offer PayPal though, so I'm not sure.

So, yes, stealing names is a bad thing to do. Don't do it. That said, I don't care if they are real or not as long as they are good. I will probaby get some and do a review. We'll see. If you want to see more reviews on YouTube (from other people) I can leave links, so just let me know in the comments below and I'll find the best links.

REAL MAC wholesalers:

http://www.allcosmeticswholesale.com/

WINNERS!

2010-09-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Paula Quinn giveaway has ended and winners have been chosen. For any questions, please refer to the FAQ page before contacting K & K's.

Congrats to all of the winners, I already emailed you. You have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Congrats and thanks to Hachette for sponsoring the giveaway!

Don't forget to enter + extra entries

2010-09-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

in the Paula Quinn giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Seduced by a Highlander. The giveaway ends tomorrow so if you have not entered already an you still want to, there is time.

Remember, 5 lucky people are going to win a copy. One of those 5 people could be you, but only if you enter. For 2 extra entries in the Paula Quinn giveaway only, comment on the giveaway page with the answer to this question:

If you were going to go to Scotland in search of your prince charming, what type of approach would you use to find and win over your highlander?

Don't forget, the giveaway ends tomorrow, so enter now or forever wonder if you could have won.

Enter here!

Pop Up Displays

2010-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm sure some of you have never heard of pop up displays before, because before this, I have never heard of them. If I haven't heard of them, chances are at least one of you haven't either (at least, that's my theory). Pop up displays, or pop up booths, are large portable display walls. The fold and open up like an EZ UP canopy, according to camelbackdisplays.com. You can get pop up trade show displays in different shapes and sizes, and you can also choose to either add your graphics to them, or order them with graphics already ready for your displaying needs. Personally, I think that is pretty cool.

Trade show pop ups come in a case (and here is the cool part) you can use the case as a podium if you want or need one. The displays can be used just about anywhere, for example, they can be used at trade shows, events, job fairs, retail stores, etc. There is no limiting to what you can use a pop up display for. Bubble kits and 3D displays are also available and can be used. Table top pop ups are available for those who cannot afford the pricer pop ups and are built in a smaller version. Graphic "skins" are also available, and you can velcro your additional graphics to the skins for a polished display.

**This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did receive a small fee for posting this.**

Flirt! Cosmetics

2010-09-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

My mom and I went to Khols today to do some shopping. They were having a good promotion going on and we had 3 $10 gift cards. I ended up in the makeup section (because we all know I'm obsessed..). Khols' makeup section is small, but you can try on their products, which I love.

They carry the brand Flirt! and Khols is the only store I have ever seen to carry it in case you were wondering. I got a new lipstick (normally $12) on sale for $10 and some change. With my $10 off card, I ended up getting it for 83 cents. I was excited!

I got the shade "Poppy".

It is a very pretty pink, almost coral-ly with a high sheen and some sparkle to it. It goes on really smooth and feels hydrating (which I love because most lip sticks don't feel hydrating for me, they feel like they are making my lips look prune-y unless I put gloss over it.)

Anyways, I just thought I would let you girlies know about the cosmetic line in case you haven't heard of it before, or if you were wondering if the line was any good. I have not tried any of the other Flirt! products, but if you go to your local Khols store, you can try on anything you want before you buy. : )

Having a little fun...

2010-09-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a short video of my dogs playing with my dad's mini sheep. The big dog is Lucy and the small one is Tinker. The sheep's names are: Brom, Nelly, Riley and Sugar. I'd tell you which ones are which, but the video is short and you really can't differentiate. The song playing is Joan Jett's Bad Reputation.

Chain-of-Friends Contest

2010-09-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you guys heard of the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes? The grand prize is awesome and I'm sure just about everyone would love to win. The grand prize winner receives a free stay for themselves and 100 of their friends at a Hampton for one weekend (2 nights!) plus $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend. Isn't that one crazy awesome prize??

I don't have anywhere close to 100 friends, so I would probably just start handing out invites to all the hot guys walking around my campus. Haha, I'm just kidding.. maybe.. Who would you invite if you won the sweepstakes? Would you invite your crazy cousins that pull pranks? All of your extended family members for a huge reunion party? Maybe you were in the army and you want to have a big get together with the guys and show off your wives now that your home.

Whoever you invite, can you imagine how much fun you could have with 100 people staying at one hotel? That would be some crazy fun! And, everyone can enter in the sweepstakes. You do not have to have previously stayed at a Hampton, and you do not have to be a Hilton honor member in order to enter.

And, while the grand prize is awesome, 100 aditional winners will also be chosen to receive a free weekend stay at one of the Hamptons for themselves and 3 friends.

Entering is very easy and only takes about one minute.

Yay It's Friday!

2010-09-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

My college started back up this week, and it's been a long-ish week for me. At some points, I felt like it lasted forever, and some parts felt super quick. And, now I'm so happy it's Friday! I just got out of class an hour or so ago and now I can just lounge around. I do have homework, but at least I don't have to wake up early to do that, right? Haha : )

How was your week? Did it go well or not so good? Did a hot firemen sweep you off your feet at some point, or did you spend quiet time with Grey's Anatomy? Let me know and have a great weekend : )

TV

2010-09-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone watches TV. Children watch their cartoons, toddlers watch Barney, teenagers watch The Real World and adults watch it all. It used to be 'cable or no cable' where televisions were concerned. Now a days, however, is a different story.

Sure, you can still have your 'cable or no cable', but you can also have a television working via dish, local tv satellite, etc. There are just so many options! Then, it's 'what package do I want to get' and 'what package can I afford?'

Direct TV is a name you have probably heard before. Maybe you know someone who uses their services, maybe that person is you, or maybe you just saw one of their advertisements. Well, Direct TV is a partner with www.localtv-satellite.com. Because of this, I feel like I can trust them and their services to know that they do, and offer, a good job.

You can check out localtv-satellite.com to see for yourself the packages they offer and how you can get free HD for life.

**This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. I did receive a small fee for posting this.**

Favorite Courtroom/Legal Drama on TV

2010-09-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Roman May

My Favorite Court Drama TV show I watch on a regular basis on cable is Judge Greg Mathis. He is a tough lawyer who believes in upholding the law. When the show is about to begin they will show the Judge in his earlier teen age years. The narrator tells the story while the film is showing of how young Mathis is charged with a crime and hauled off to jail. It also explains how the Judge made a promise to his dying mother that he will turn his life around. Mathis is displayed of being a typical black teenager growing up on the streets of a large crime populated area.

I love his courtroom because he keeps it real. He doesn't pretend to be uppity or prejudice in any way. Males and females both are given equal treatment when they enter his courtroom. I love the way he mixes a bit of humor along with justice it keeps the atmosphere fresh and unbiased. He is a straight forward and fast talking Judge that gets to the root of the problem. The characters are everyday ordinary people who have legal problems and are looking for legal solutions. At the end of the show everybody goes home a winner. The victim gets compensated and the guilty gets a taste of justice. This courtroom drama TV show is definitely worth watching.

**This is a sponsored guest post. I did recieve a small fee for posting this. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.**