I just drew the winner for the book Winner of Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich
and…
the winner is
Month: October 2009
Countdown to Halloween!
Ok ha ha… you got to love Jib Jab…. here is the one I made:
Click on the picture and it will take you to our video
This is starring me, hubby monster Al, werewolf Chance, my eldest son Brad (who is going to have my head for putting him in a dress….) and our youngest Vampire Justin.
If you make one too, let me know… I would love to see it!
Morning Meanderings…. a Minnesota Rant
How pathetic is this blog this week? 🙂 I mean seriously… the last few days all I have had time to post is my meanderings….. today I have a low key afternoon – I should be able to catch up on the review that should have went up yesterday, giveaways that need to end…
ANYWAY…. This morning I am driving Chance to school and it is 28 degrees. 28! I am wearing a long sweater jacket that I am hoping makes me look super cool like Neo in The Matrix (but of course more feminine).
I think it is funny that 28 degrees today is nothing like 28 degrees in March. Now I am wining that I should have started the Durango earlier so it would have been warm when we got in. I have the heat on and the windowns up tight. I complain all the way out of the driveway about the cold and how Minnesota and I are not friends at this time of year.
On the flip of that…. after a long Minnesota winter of temperatures dipping way below zero, icy roads, shoveling sidewalks and the decks…. 28 degrees in March is like a heat wave. I am outside that time of year in capris and a t shirt…. loving the crisp after winter sun and praising all things that are green or soon to be green.
I took a picture of this gorgeous tree on my way through town this morning…. perhaps looking at it occasionally will help me get through the long cool (who am I kidding?) COLD days ahead….
Whats the weather like in your corner of the world?
EXTRAORDINARY by John Bevere w/ Giveaway
John Bevere paints a picture for us of what living Extraordinary lives can look like… ~ Sheila
About This Book
Isn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.
Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary.
Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.
Isn’t it time to pursue your extraordinary life?
My Thoughts…
This is my first read written by John Bevere and I found it enjoyable. I like it when an author of a book like this shares insights into their own lives, almost breaking down the point of the book into layman terms…. what could be an overly heavy book is not – due to the style in which John writes.
In one point early on in the book, John shares about a moment he had with his sons at the dinner table. He told them that there was nothing they could do to make their parents love them anymore than they already do or anything they could do to make their parents love them any less. However – they were in charge of how pleased their parents were with them.
I had to smile here as I have had a similar conversation with our sons stating that no matter what they did we would always love them…. however, we didn’t always have to like the choices they may make in life. (I believe John Bevere worded it better. Out of this area of the book came a reminder that God feels the same way about each of us. No matter what… no matter what we do – God is going to love us. Unconditionally. He may not always like what we do, we may cause Him great pain and tears…. yet He calls us to Him again and again. Humbling isn’t it?
At the end of each chapter John has left questions, or reflections, as he calls them, on the chapter. The questions are through provoking and would make for good discussion with a group.
You can purchase the book here
About the Author
John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Find John’s website here.
I have graciously been offered a copy of this book for giveaway. To enter:
1. Leave a comment here and tell me about someone who has been EXTRAORDINARY in your life
EXTRA Entires: **Extra entries must each be on separate comments to be counted
2. Twitter or blog about this giveaway AND leave that link on a separate comment for 2 bonus entries
3. Follow this blog for an extra entry (let me know here)
4. Follow me on twitter for an extra entry (let me know here with your twitter name)
5. Earn 5 extra entries by grabbing my blog button and putting it i=on yur sidebar (button is on upper right side)
Have fun! Giveaway will end Nov 9. US and Canada entrants only please.
Morning Meanderings…
Never really completed what I had hoped to yesterday. Busy day… went to a poorly done movie last night, All About Steve. Yikes. A little funny…. but really not so much.
I was mentioning on Twitter last night that I am in a reading slump….the books I had prepped to read this week all feel heavy… does that make sense? I am sure they are great reads… I think its me. I think I have Readers Block….;) With the business of the banquet this weekend and Chance with us and everything… I just think my mind isn’t wrapping around some of these books.
Last night I picked up a different book from my shelf…. Receive Me Falling by Erica Robuck. I cautiously opened it and read the first few pages. When I put it down for the night, I knew I wanted to know the what next… “Whew!” That’s a good thing! Hopefully that will break up the readers block…..
Today I work, then spend the rest of the day prepping the auction baskets for our Missions Banquet that takes place this Saturday. Hopefully the baskets wont take all night! I have now been up for two hours… still unprepared for my day – just getting the last of the payroll in and hoping to sneak in a few minutes here to prep this post and make sure my review is ready to roll yet this morning.
“Readers Block” ever happen to you? What did you do about it?
Morning Meanderings…
Is it just me… or is morning coming faster? Or should I say is it morning or still Twilight? It is still dark out but I am still due up to get ready for the daily school drop off and then the office. Today awaits me about 4 hours of mandatory videos on a new program we are rolling our the end of this month so with joy…. I am enjoying my pre-office time with you and Coffee Cup.
This morning I opened an email that kind of made me smile. Ok… really made me smile. I just love how movies come up with all the little extras you can purchase. The great ones have t shirts, notebook covers, board games, pens, pencils… and yes. Even dolls.
Ok… seriously… this cracked me up a bit. I don’t know why, obviously it is a good likeness so kudos to Mattel. yes, there is a Bella too but not as close a resemblance I didn’t think. Without the Edward doll next to her I am not sure I would know she was Bella.
I just wanted to share this today as I like to share the ones that remember folks – they were books before they were movies! 🙂 HIgh five to Stephanie Meyer. I am off for now but will be back later for a book review.
I would love to hear if anyone has purchased any other movie related paraphernalia. We have Harry Potter Scene It
here and Star Wars Monopoly. Oh yes…. I am so proud. LOL 🙂
Have a great day everyone!
It’s Tuesday, Where Are You?
This is hosted by An Adventure in Reading
I am in Abbeville with George Bailey. Don’t laugh… that really is his name. His mother had a weakness for It’s A Wonderful Life. We are at George’s grandpa’s home… a home that George never thought as an adult that he would spend another night in – or want to. Yet here we are, looking at the old bookcase that used to hold such treasures as Zane Grey’s Stories For Boys, sea tales, a copy of Dale Carnegie and The Robe, a number of Bibles, including one inscribed in German in 1851 by one of Grandpa’s forebears, and more. Now, the old books were gone.
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
Kay gives a wonderful voice to the YA in me…I am left with my own memories of school, and boys…. and how we all just wanted to fit in somewhere… ~ Sheila
What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?
Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. Then she gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join the Cinderella Society, a secret club of some of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. Catching the eye of her popular crush, and with a chance to finally fit in, Jess feels like she’s found her fairy tale.
Until the Wickeds – led by Jess’s archenemy – begin targeting innocent girls, and Jess learns that there’s more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself from the outside. She’s become part of a battle for good vs. evil, and now the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. Is honouring her new sisterhood worth destroying her dream life?
My Thoughts…
Where do I begin? I picked up Kay’s book wondering what this book would be about… a coming of age story? Ugly duckling to swan? No – I found out quickly that this was a different story… a story of acceptance in a school where you are the new kid…. a story of those high school years where everything is a big deal (or at least as teens you tend to think it is) prestige, parents, clothing, and of course who you hang out with. A story with another story inside it,one that goes back 100+ years… a story of a group of strong women with *Power *Personality *Appearance *Strength ... a secret society called The Cinderella Society.
I immediately took to the main character of Jess…. trying to be strong and fit in, I think I could sense a little bit of me in this character when I was that age. Jess and I? Yeah… we bonded. Jess is a wonderful character who is a typical teenager, trying to fit into her new school and trying not to be embarrassed by a very pregnant mother who Jess feels relies on her too much. Jess has decided that it is too late for a “mother/daughter bonding” at this point. No matter how hard her mom may try.
And what is a book without a villain… or in this case, a wicked? Lexy is Jess’s arch enemy. Ever since Jess won the spot on the cheerleader squad over Lexy it has been a battle. Lexy is after Jess and works hard to make her look stupid at every opportunity from spilling coffee drinks on her to starting hurtful rumors…. As Jess works to counteract each blow, you wonder what is the story behind Lexy’s anger?
This is one of those books that I am so excited about having this opportunity to read and want to share so much of it with you ! About the secret society (Oh yes my friends – it is that cool!) about the hot guy (what YA book would be complete without him?) and about the friendships we make through those years while we are molding into who we will become… and probably more importantly, the friendships that survive those years, the good ones… that make it through because we all know… those are the true ones. (Yes – that is an intentional run on sentence!) Yet, I don’t want to give away too much so I am going to encourage you to seriously consider this book to go on your own TBR lists for yourself or the YA in your life….. because she is going to thank you for it!
Let’s Talk about Kay Cassidy…
Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. Her debut novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, won the 2008 Golden Heart award in the Young Adult category. In her life B.W. (Before Writing), Kay was an award-winning professional trainer and now enjoys giving energizing motivational talks to young people around the country.
Kay is a former cheerleader and sorority girl, an M.B.A. and a member of Mensa. She thinks it’s comical when people are surprised to discover those things aren’t mutually exclusive. When not writing, Kay enjoys tennis, yoga, movies and reading.
On a personal note…I discovered Kay a couple months ago online at her blog You 2.0. Kay’s blog is an active one! She is always interviewing YA authors and having great contests and tips for YA authors. It was through her blog that I won this book and now that I have read it I am beyond excited to read the sequel that she is currently putting the finishing touches on.
My Amazon Rating
I received this book from an online contest at Kay Cassdiy’s blog You 2.0
I would rate this book PG
Morning Meanderings…
Mornin’
. Little groggy… I was up until 12:45 a.m finishing up The Cinderella Society. I kept thinking after the next chapter I would stop… but then no…. and then the next one… and then it came to the point that really – I didn’t have all that more to read and why would I leave such a little bit?
At 12:45 am. I closed the back cover… completely satisfied with the book and my choice to complete it.
Of course now… I am in the office with Coffee Cup and just a wee bit fuzzy. I am going to write the review and it should be up in a couple hours. It is not the longest I stayed up to finish a book. I think a few years back I finished After Anne at about 2 am…. could not – would not put it down until the bitter, heartbreaking end. (That’s another story) 🙂
So readers – whats the longest you have stayed up to complete a book?
100 Mile Challenge
Ok… this is a not so bookish moment…. but hey just like a book girl has to eat, she also has to take care of herself. So when Trish posted about this 100 Mile Challenge Between October 1 and December 31 I felt this was a great incentive to keep me on track going into these colder months.
Here’s the challenge:
Here’s how it works:
In order to complete this Challenge, you will need to “travel” 100 miles from October 1st through December 31st.
Here’s how you calculate your mileage:
*Running or walking 1 mile outside or on a treadmill equals 1 mile.
*15 minutes of other workouts equals 1 mile (elliptical, swimming, weight lifting, workout video, workout classes, etc.).
Click on the button above to go to the page to sign up. Hope you join us!
Book Journey 