New Year's Hoppin' Eve Giveaway Hop (Ends 1/2) U.S. (closed)

Get ready for 2012 by entering to win tons of prizes! The "New Year's Hoppin' Eve" Giveaway Event is hosted by Matter of Cents and Our Family World. More than 100 blogs have joined together to give their readers several chances to win! Swagbucks is also sponsoring a Kindle Fire as the Grand Prize! Will luck be on your side when the Winners are chosen? You can't win if you don't enter. Good luck!

Swagbucks.com is the online rewards community that works, rewarding people for all of the things they're already doing online - search, games, watching videos, shopping, surveys and more! The Swag Bucks earned by users have helped purchase everything from diapers to video games - it's easy, it's rewarding, and it's 100% free!

Now on to the prizes I will be offering.  I have 2 prize packs for my U.S. readers (sorry, international readers).  Both packages are worth $50, and mostly are company-sponsored.

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My first package will be a Smart & Sexy $50 "Surprise" Prize Package.  Smart & Sexy will be hand-picking a prize package for the winner based on the size that the winner sends to them.  This prize package will be worth $50.  

I am not sure if you are familiar with Smart & Sexy.  Some time ago, I won a prize package in a giveaway.  I got a beautiful lacy pair of pink panties and a gray, lacy bra.  Both have been staples in my lingerie collections for those days that I just don't feel sexy or feminine.  Nothing like a well-fitting, lacy pair of panties or a bra to pick up your spirits as a woman!  

Recently, I was fortunate enough to get to have another pack sent to me as a reviewer.  I was sent a really neat bra/panty set.  It was a turquoise lightly padded bra with a matching skirted thong.  I absolutely love the skirted thong--so frilly and feminine.  I was concerned that it would not be very flattering or comfortable, but thankfully, it was both!

I highly recommend this company to all women.  I am a single mother quickly approaching her 40's, and it is the perfect time in life to wear clothes that make me feel attractive and sexy.  And Smart & Sexy fits the bill!  Being dressed in feminine lingerie can only help you feel like a woman!

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My second prize package comprises a few different things.  So be sure to read the entire review so you will know what is included!

First up is SMMCosmetics.  I was unfamiliar with this company until I happened upon a deal site.  It was at the beginning of the school year, and I knew I needed some new make-up.  The price was good, so I figured I would go ahead and get it.  I have preferred mineral make-up for some time now.

I was absolutely blown away when I began to use their products.  The first kit I got was the Beyond Beautiful 8-piece gift pack.  Once I began to use the foundation, I was surprised to see it disappear into my skin!  My skin looked absolutely radiant.  Those who know me best know that I am not generally loyal to make-up companies.  I have struggled to find make-up I really like.  I can tell you that I have used their make-ups, I have practically thrown all my others away!  I never used bronzer until I tried theirs.  Their finishing veil powder is the most amazing powder I have ever used!

Since ordering with them the first time, I have place two other orders (one just came in, and I have tried nothing in it yet).  I am so spoiled that I want to get rid of any make-up that is not SMM!  

They have been nice enough to offer one of my U.S. readers a $20 gift code to their shop!  Trust me, you will love their special deals as well as their products.

To this package, I will be adding Stopain^® Cold Extra Strength Spray.  This is a product that I was contacted about trying, and I was so happy to discover that Stopain had more than just the normal "rub-on" type.  The spray-on sounded quite intriguing to me.

I know what some of you may be thinking.  How is is that a woman my age would be using a product that is made for those suffering from arthritis?  Well, I have had back pain off and on for years.  In fact, during my pregnancy with my daughter, my sciatic got really bad.  While losing weight did help, I have to still admit that my body is getting older and has aches and pains,  I have tried a lot of products for the pain.  In fact, I have been known to practically live on ibuprofen sometimes.  Sometimes back pain almost cripples me, and it all I can do not to cry out.

The most exciting thing about this product is that I do not have to rub it on with my hands!  In fact, I can spray it on at any angle.  I generally spray it on with the bottle turned upside down, and it still sprays well.  Not only that, but Stopain works!  When I first spray it on, it is rather cold, but it is also instantly soothing.  It has menthol, and I normally only have to use it once or twice a day.  If I wake up with pain, it works, and I get a wonderful night's sleep when I use it at night.  I have sometimes woken up with back pain before I began using this product, and it meant I had to get up and take some ibuprofen.

So if you have any kind of ongoing pain that bothers you, Stopain is the product for you!

This package is not done yet, my friends.  I will be adding a Brinker's Restaurant $10 gift card  which is good for On the Border, Chili's Macaroni, and Maggiano's.

And last, but not least, a nice stack of books--most in gently used condition.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado  (somewhat more worn than the others, but really good!)
Little Book Devotions Attitude
Little Book Devotions Obedience
Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas (one of my all-time favorites)
Vienna Prelude by Bodie and Brock Theone (one of the finest historical fiction books about WWII written)

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So are you as worn out as I am?  This is probably the biggest giveaway/review post I have ever done.  If you are still with me, please enter on the rafflecopter form below.  If you have any issues, please leave a comment on this post.  I know sometimes things don't always go right.

Also, I forgot to mention.  You can win more than once--one person could conceivably win both prize packs.  And the first winner will get first choice of prize packs.  Second winner gets the one left over unless it is not wanted.  Thanks!

Don't Forget to enter the Mid-Winter Giveaway Hop! Low entries! Now open to Canada and the U.S.! (And WW)

I did hear back from the publishing company.  They are willing to give out hard copies to U.S. and Canada of the two devotional books!  The entries are extremely low, so don't forget to enter to win!

http://www.mydevotionalthoughts.com/2011/12/midwinters-eve-blog-hop-giveawayends.html

There is also an international giveaway listed there on the same post, and the entries are low.

It ends tonight at 9 P.M. Pacific!

This Day in History December 27, 1932

'Tis the season for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes!  And we can be grateful that on this date in 1932, Radio City Music Hall first opened.  Originally, the name was going to be International Music Hall, and its name is actually derived from some of the first tenants of Rockefeller Center (where you find the music hall)--Radio Corporation of America.

Opening night boasted a tremendous spectacle in this theater featuring Ray Bolger and Martha Graham, but due to the length and sporadic nature of the show, it was not a success.  So January 11, 1933, feature films with short spectacles became the staple of the theater.  This film plus stage spectacle continued until 1979.

Of course, it now houses the Radio City Christmas Spectacular amongst other spectacles.  I have never seen a show there, but maybe I will one day!

For more information, please check out these links:
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID061.htm
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Radio_City_Music_Hall

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

Okay, this is not something that I generally do.  A lot of book bloggers get into "covers," and most of the time, I could care less.  However, since I agreed to do this blog hop, I figured I needed to follow the rules.
For this Top 10 post, I will be sticking to books that I have read this year, not just ones that I thought the cover was cool.  The cover needs to be neat, but I must have read it!
#10:

A Maze of Grace by Trish Ryan

A very nice, serene cover.  It looks exactly like what it is.  A calm, refreshing book that will encourage you in your faith.  Just like a beach can refresh your soul.

#9:

Pieces of Eight by Michael Reed McLaughlin

I will be the first to tell you that this is not my favorite book, but the picture on the front sets up the story of the novel quite well.  What you see is what you get.

#8

Countdown to Love by Julie Ford

Again, the cover hints at what is within the pages of this story.  It is a sweet romance--in fact, it is a clean romance.  My favorite summer read, for sure.  And the cover brings back all the memories!

#7:

Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy

What you see is what you get.  This is a Western romance, and the cowboy on the front is the cowboy in the book!

#6

Scandal Becomes Her by Shirlee Busbee

This cover looks hot, but I was glad to know that there were no really steamy sex scenes (except between the husband and wife).  And if you compare it to other romance covers, I think you can tell that it is only a hint at a scandal.  I began to like the cover the more I read it.

#5

Forever Taken by Danyale Nees

Too bad that covers are sometimes better than the books themselves.  Definitely true here.  I basically chose this book based on the cover.  It looks kind of neat, but the book was one of the worst I had ever read.

#4

Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

Again, the cover is better than the book.  I picked this book because I liked the cover.  I expected the book to be thoroughly engaging like so many historical fiction reads.  Too bad it was a disappointment.

#3

A Darcy Christmas by Various

I was so excited about beginning this book.  I love Pride and Prejudice, and this was the first book I read based on that novel.  What a thorough disappointment!  I even felt worse when I realized I had sent this to my "Secret Santa" last year, and it was not a very good book!  Maybe she enjoyed it more than I did!  I hope so!

#2:

Mistletoe Magic by Sophia James

At least this was what I thought it would be.  The cover did not lie.  It was a sweet, Christmas romance.  Not my favorite book, but the cover indeed hinted at the story correctly!

#1:

Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar

It was pretty far up the list yesterday, and now I have placed it at the top of today's list.  I put this at the top of the list because the cover is ideal.  It invites the reader to discover who this woman was.  The title is quite intriguing, and the cover reinforces that.

While today was not as much fun as yesterday, it was still good to go back through my reviews!  Looking forward to tomorrow!

Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop (12/31) WW (closed)

The year is quickly coming to an end. It's time to spotlight the best reads of 2011.  Join me in a giveaway hop!  Thank you to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting this hop!


For this giveaway, two of my international readers will receive a copy of one of my favorite reads of 2011 as long as the book is $15 or under.  The great thing about this giveaway is that is coinciding with this week's "Best of 2011" blog hop.  In order to participate, you will need to check out any of the posts in that series.  I only have the first post up (since I just began yesterday), but you can check them all out as I post them.


You will notice in the rafflecopter form that you need to pick one of them.  That is the main requirement.  Hopefully, my tastes are diverse enough that there will be something you can find (or maybe you can find something to pass on to someone else).  


This giveaway will end December 31 at 9 P.M. Pacific time. So be sure to get your entries in here and hop along to the next giveaway!


Exciting news!  I just contacted Dr. Rob Pennington, the author of Find the Upside of the Down Times.  I told him that a couple of you were selecting his book as the book that you would pick to win.  So he has agreed to add a signed copy of his book to this giveaway!  So I will add this to the rafflecopter form!  So there will now be three winners!  

Smelly Washer Review

Almost all users are able to remove stinky odor from any front loading or top loading clothes washer by adding just 1 level cap full (1 tbsp) and completing a hot cycle. More extreme cases find they need to allow the washing machine to soak for 2-6 hours so Smelly Washer can dissolve that moldy odor-causing mess deep inside their washer.

Endorsed by Linda Cobb, the "Queen of Clean", author of six books, including the New York Times Bestseller, "Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean" and television personality, it has been proven to be the best washing machine cleaner available!

Don’t just kill the mold and bacteria with harsh chemicals! Safely remove the odor-causing residue it grows on from deep inside your washer using all natural Smelly Washer Cleaner!

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I had read about this product before on various websites, and I was really happy to get a chance to try it.  We have very hard well water, and it often does not clean our clothes all that well.  Sometimes we notice various issues with smelly towels.  I was pretty excited to get a chance to use this.

This product could not have been easier to use. All you need to do is run a cap full of the cleaner through a full cycle on the hottest temperature on your washing machine.  Then you can run your normal wash cycle.  

While I have only had a chance to use this once, I am sure this product over time will continue to keep our washing machine in fantastic working order.  We did not notice any real difference in this single use, but I think this is something that needs to be used more than once to truly see the benefits.  I can say we did not notice any smell when we did use it.  In fact, I plan to go dump some in our washing machine right after posting this review since our washer got a major workout the past week.  

The best things about this product are that it is all natural, and it is for problem prevention.  Perhaps your washing machine works well, and you do not notice any problems.  But I can assure you that you do not want there to be a problem of "smelly" wash coming out of your washing machine.  So be sure to use this product to prevent and treat problems with your washing machine.  I think you will be happy with the results.  I know I am!

Like them on facebook, and be sure to tell your friends to like them, too!

.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Top 10 Books I Read in 2011

True to my word, I am participating in the blog hop I told you about.  Today I will be telling you about the top 10 books I read this past year.  I will link you to the review and tell you why I chose that book.

This was actually easier than I thought it would be in many ways (other than I probably could have added one more--I think I will add an honorable mention.)

I will do this an actual countdown.

#10

Blaze of Glory by M.Garzon
I feel like I absolutely must add this one.  It was a book I thought I would never enjoy, and yet I found myself absolutely loving the romance and the relationship between the main characters.  Not only that, but I feel like I have developed a love and appreciation for horses that I did not have before.  I just had to make room for this in the countdown.


#9:

Why God Matters by Karina Lumbart Fabian and Steven Lumbart

This is a wonderful little book that I truly enjoyed reading.  It is written by Catholics, but the truths found in the book are life-changing and uplifting.  It is a quick read, and it is one that I think everyone could enjoy.

#8:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
This is the only classic I will add in the list.  I truly enjoyed it, and it was not a slow read in any sense of the word.  If you like mysteries, you will like this book.  It is easy to understand and quite gripping even in spite of the age of it!

#7:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I hate to put this so far down on the list! This was one of those books that is so unusual and out of my normal genre--except that it is historical fiction.  Imagine a story narrated by Death!  Anyway, It definitely earns its rightful place in the Top 10!

#6:

Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
Again, this is a book that would not normally interest me.  I only read it because of the great amount of respect I have for Tony Dungy.  I actually enjoyed reading about football--go figure!  But Dungy's faith is so strong, and that is what carries this book.  I liked it so well that I am currently reviewing another book of his.

#5:

Finding the Upside of the Down Times by Dr. Robert Pennington
And this one is a definite one.  One of the best self-help books I have read--ever!  I do not know why more people have no caught on to this book.  The author is very down-to-earth and approachable.  And if this book does not uplift your spirits, nothing will!

#4:

It's All About Him by Denise Jackson
This is a definite read for anyone who loves country music or just enjoys a simple story of how God works in everyday life.  It is a true story, and the "him" is not who you might think it is!  I was so encouraged after reading this book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

#3:

Exit the Actress by Priya Parmer
This book was brought to my attention through a group on goodreads.  I think I read it a month after it was the group read, but I truly enjoyed it.  This is historical fiction at its finest! I was not aware of the historicity of the main character of this book, and the author does a fantastic job of painting each of these historical figures.  I often forgot I was reading fiction!  If you have not read it, and you have any interest in historical fiction, please check it out!

#2:

 The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick
And another historical fiction book that is unbeatable!  I actually put this one at number two because it is Christian in perspective without being "preachy."  The historical event on which the book is based is completely true, and it happened in my own backyard!  The story that the author weaves around the main character is absolutely compelling.  A must read for historical fiction enthusiasts!

And #1:

Something Inside of Me by Chitoka Webb
I struggled with this one, and I wasn't sure if this would be my top read for 2011.  This was a book that completely changed my perspective on life.  In fact, even today I find myself going back to her struggles and saying to myself, "If Chitoka could make it through, I can too!"  The author herself gave away 10 copies of her book--they even ended up being 10 print copies even though that was not the original plan.  She is one of the best authors with whom I have ever worked, and I can't thank her enough for sending me her book to review.  Her book continues to hold a special place in my heart.

Well, that wraps up the first of these Top 10 of 2011 posts.  I truly enjoyed writing this post, and I look forward to doing it again tomorrow and reading some others (if I have time!).

Be sure to go here to see the full linky list for other great posts like this one.