Mom Loves 2 Read 2 - backup blog: 2014-02-09
For all current Mom Loves 2 Read Reviews, Giveaways, Mommy Moments and More go to ~ www.momloves2read.com

Saturday, February 15, 2014

How Was Your Valentine's Day? Read about The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman - and Enter the GIVEAWAY


THE MARRIAGE YOU'VE ALWAYS
WANTED









You can picture the perfect marriage in your mind, but re-creating it in
reality doesn’t come easy. Trusted counselor and relationship expert Dr. Gary
Chapman reasons that the most sought-after ingredient in any marriage is true
oneness.





In The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, he presents expert wisdom
and common sense methods to establishing that true unity on emotional and
practical levels. Discover the wit and insight that makes his worldwide
presentations and marriage conferences so popular.






Are you trying to change your
spouse? Do you know what it means to really love someone? Do you feel ignored or
even alone in your effort to improve your marriage? Dr. Chapman has answers and
action steps on topics from expressing your emotions to managing your money, all
in a format that will have you and your spouse talking and learning with every
page.








Available Now


$15.99


144 pages


Moody Publishers







My Review:


I wish I had read this when I was planning my wedding.  There are so many great tips and valuable insights into the Marriage Relationship that would have made the first few years a much smoother transition if I had followed Dr. Gary Chapman's advice in this wonderful book.  Well, since I can't go back in time and change things, and I am still married and will continue to be so for a very, very long time.  It is not too late for me - nor is it too late for you either!  I love how simple many of these great tips.






Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:






"LOVING WITH WORDS




 The story is told of a woman who went to a marriage counselor for advice. 'I want to divorce my husband,' she confided, 'and I want to hurt him all I can.'




'In that case,' the counselor advised, 'start showering him with compliments. When you have become indispensable to him -- when he thinks  you love him devotedly -- then start the divorce action. That's the way to hurt him the most.'




Some months later, the wife returned to report that she had followed the suggested course. 'Good, now's the time to file for divorce,' said the counselor.




'Divorce!' said the woman indignantly. 'Never! I've fallen in love with him.'"








"LOVING WITH DEEDS




  What would our marriages look like if we truly abided by the counsel of John, 'the disciple Jesus loved,' to love not with words only but 'by our actions' (1 John 3:18)? how do we back up what we say with what we do?"




I truly belive this book is for all couples.  Those dating, those planning to marry, those who have been married for years and don't think they can change.  Much of the advice is common sense, but is told and shared in such a way to make it refreshing and new.  I have begun implementing a few great ideas from the book and plan to continue - I can't wait to see what happens months down the road for my husband and myself!










ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DR. GARY CHAPMAN



As anyone who has attended one of his marriage conferences knows, Dr. Gary
Chapman’s expertise in marriage begins with the success and failures he and his
wife Karolyn have experienced in their marriage for more than 45 years. He is
just the man to turn to for help on improving or healing our most important
relationships. His own life experiences, plus over thirty-five years of
pastoring and marriage counseling, led him to publish his first book in the Love
Language series, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment
to Your Mate
. Many of the millions of readers credit this continual New
York Times
bestseller with saving their marriages by showing them simple and
practical ways to communicate love.





Since the success of his first book, Dr. Chapman has expanded his Five Love
Languages series with special editions that reach out specifically to singles,
men, and parents of teens and young children.


He is the author of numerous other books published by Moody
Publishers/Northfield Publishing, including Anger, The Family You’ve Always
Wanted, The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, Desperate Marriages, God Speaks Your
Love Language, How to Really Love Your Adult Child
, and Hope for the
Separated.
With Dr. Jennifer Thomas, he co-authored The Five Languages of
Apology
.





Dr. Chapman speaks to thousands of couples nationwide through his weekend
marriage conferences. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio program, A Love
Language Minute
, and a Saturday morning program, Building Relationships
with Dr. Gary Chapman
, both airing on more than 400 stations. Dr. Chapman
and his wife have two grown children and currently live in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina, where he serves as senior associate pastor at Calvary Baptist
Church.





Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College
and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the
University of North Carolina and Duke University.














Now, for the FUN - A chance to WIN a copy of The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Enter below - a winner will receive a print copy of this book.  Open to US & Canada - ages 18 and older.




















"Disclosure (in
accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of
Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):
Many thanks to Propeller
Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and
opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did
receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and
post.


Only one entrant per mailing
address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are
not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility
verification.”






Paris Cravings by Kimberley Montpetit ~ Book Blast Tour & $50 Amazon GC GIVEAWAY

Paris Cravings



Can life really turn on a dime,
a missed bus—
or a stuck pastry shop door?




Paris CravingsChloe Dillard’s life has always been complicated. Her mother is a neurotic romance novelist and her boyfriend, Mathew, has been pressuring her to go “all the way”.



But after The Worst Night of Her Life, Chloe escapes on her Senior Class trip to the swoon-worthy city of Paris which takes her mind off her troubles—temporarily. On the final leg of her dream trip, Chloe squeezes in one final run for a last-minute box of decadent pastries. Add a stuck door, subtract a broken four-inch heel from her cute strappy sandals, and Chloe ends up one stuck girl on the bakery shop floor with a sprained ankle.





Rescued by the shop owner’s dreamy son with chocolate-syrup eyes, the beautiful city of Paris suddenly becomes Chloe’s personal secret adventure. And even though Jean-Paul, the oh-so-kind La Patisserie shop boy is the gentlemanly guy Chloe has always dreamed of, even he has a girlfriend.



The police are tracking her down as a run-away, Mom’s having a nervous breakdown over her daughter’s “disappearance”, and Chloe’s just trying to have a Happily-Ever-After even as her dreams with Matt are swirling down the drain.



Could being lost in the city of Paris be just what the doctor ordered? What’s a girl to do in the most romantic city in the world?





Praise for Paris Cravings:



"PARIS CRAVINGS is such a fun read, I couldn't put it down! This is a humorous, delicious, and dreamy romance set in Paris about pastries, growing up, dating, and making those hard decisions about the kind of guy you want to be with, and who is best for you." ~Milyssa Rivera



"Who can resist a book set in Paris amidst a Patisserie shop full of eclairs and pastries?! I'm excited this is a series, because anything with a bakery involved and I am in! Paris Cravings started out with a girl, a big box, some high heels and a mishap with a door. Insert cute worker with Hershey brown eyes, a French accent and a missing passport and you have the beginnings of romance." ~Fire & Ice Blogger



Excerpt:



Dear Diary:






I have a confession to make: I’ve become a total idiot over French pastries.





They’re my new favorite food.






My new-found edible souvenir.





My new favorite sin.






Drizzled chocolate, sugar-dusted raspberries, flaky crusts with perfect crimped edges. I’ll have to run a marathon when I get back home to New York just to burn off my new five pounds. French beignets are the worst temptation. Those yeasty chocolate-filled pastries call to me the way Prada handbags call to my mother from Fifth Avenue.






Dunkin Donuts—so yesterday.






Climbing the Eiffel tower, running through miles of hallways at the Louvre Museum, gourmet lunches on the Seine River . . . yes, those are all must-sees . . . if you don’t mind vertigo-dizzying heights and enough paintings to saturate your brain for the rest of your life.






But once I discovered La Patisserie, the rest of Paris became a mere backdrop for my guilty pleasure. What’s a girl to do?







 


Author Kimberley Montpetit


KimberleyKimberley Montpetit once spent all her souvenir money at the La Patisserie shops when she was in Paris—on the arm of her adorable husband. The author grew up in San Francisco, another swoon-worthy city, loves all things Parisian and chocolate and lives in a small town along the Rio Grande with her family.



Kimberley has won many awards for her work, including the Southwest Book Award, the Whitney Award, the Arizona/New Mexico Book Award, is a Crystal Kite Finalist (SCBWI) and included in the Bank Street College Best Books of the Year.


She once stayed in a haunted castle tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland, sailed on the Seine in Paris, walked the beaches of Normandy, eaten in numerous French cafes, ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan, sunbathed on Waikiki, shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.



She adores all baked goodies; brownies, éclairs, donuts, tarts, and pie, and makes a lot of chocolate chip cookies while revising.


Kimberley is, of course, hard at work on her next novel(s).







BookBlast Giveaway



$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash



Ends 3/14/14



Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway











Friday, February 14, 2014

A busy night for a brand

A busy night for a brand

With a commercial airing during the big game for the first time in the history of the Cheerios brand, the team that oversees the cereal’s marketing prepared for a busy night. And it truly was. From family photos sent in by fans, to trending hashtags about the commercial, it was virtually non-stop. Was there a... View Full Post


Sponsored post #PlateFullCoOp
Platefull Co-Op

Homemade Parmesan Tater Tots #platefulcoop




Homemade Parmesan Tater Tots


Frozen tots get a major overhaul in this recipe for made-from-scratch tater tots featuring Parmesan and garlic (and only three other ingredients!). Okay, sure, tater tots aren't exactly the most highbrow of foods. But, just because they aren't the fanciest doesn't mean they aren't delicious. We all (hopefully) have had at least one perfect batch of tater tots -- golden, crispy, and seasoned to perfection. >>RELATED: How To Make Potato Gratin Without a Recipe ...Read More







Sponsored post #PlateFullCoOp

Platefull Co-Op

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Have a Fabulous Valentine's Day with a $100 Amazon Gift Card GIVEAWAY #lovez2read










Come Enter for a chance to Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card - A great start to celebrate the coming SPRING!  Buy some great ebooks, put it towards a Kindle, or spend it on something fun.







Hosted by:






Sponsored by:






Co-Hosted by:













One lucky winner will win 


a





Amazon Gift Card $100






Dates:


Feb 14  12:01am to Feb. 28 11:59pm


All entries are optional,


Continental US resident only



We appreciate the support of our sponsor, co-hosts and bloggers promoting, please show your support by following them on their social media pages.







a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Disclaimer
: Mom Loves 2 Read is not responsible for the awarding of the prize.  If you have any questions about this giveaway, please email the host at nysavingspecials@gmail.com



Love Poems & Musings from an 86 Year Old Widower - Book Tour & Amazon GC GIVEAWAY!




ABOUT LOVE POEMS AND MUSINGS FROM AN 86-YEAR
OLD WIDOWER











Title: Love Poems and Musings from an 86 year
old Widower

Genre: Inspirational and Personal Growth

Author: Lester Greenman

Publisher: iUniverse

Pages: 102

Language: English

Format: Ebook





This book is written
by an eighty six yer old recent widower. The poems and Musings are here to show
that age does not diminish love and romance.








Romance



Romance the greatest mental

Gift to mankind.

Yes I said it.

What more wonderful than the

Overwhelming feeling of love.

To be able to be near And to

Smell the scent, to caress the tresses, to

gently hold a hand,

This is rapture at its acme.

When there are times that I Am

Alone without you the seconds

Go painfully slow. To espy you

Again is as if the heavens have

Brought forth the shining sun.

The flowers bloom in all their

Radiance and aromas. To be in love is all. This is a reality made

In heaven.




L.D.G.









ABOUT LESTER GREENMAN




Lester David Greenman Born in Brooklyn, N, Y, graduate of East New York
Vocational High School. In the merchant marine till the end of World war 2
.Married wife Harriet in 1949. Three children, 6 Grandchildren and two
Great-grandchildren. Business man , owned 2 diners then became a builder of
homes and commercial real estate. Moved with family to Ottawa, Canada in 1971.
my wife passed way in 2012 after 63 years marriage. I now live in a retirement
home and am in good health. I have 6 Girlfriends all in pristine friendships. I
produce and pay for 2 floor shows a year at my present abode. I enjoy singing
and writing. I am now writing a Biography of my father.


Pump Up Your Book and Lester are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!



Terms & Conditions:


  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

  • This giveaway begins February 3 and ends on February 14.

  • Winners will be contacted via email on February 15, 2014.

  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.


Good luck everyone!



ENTER TO WIN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway







Disclosure: I am a review partner with Pump Up Your Book Tours.  All materials in the post above were received through the tour from the author. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Grab FREE Valentine's Printables & Save $5 on your purchase of Little Passports #littlepassports #affiliate

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.





Little Passports has Valentines Day Cards for Everyone!



With Valentines Day tomorrow, some of us will be trying to find unique and fun valentine's to give to friends or family.  Why not try one or more of these fun Little Passports Valentines Day Card Printables that your child can give to their
friends. These are perfect for homeschool groups too!



Have you ever
wondered how to say ‘I love you’ in German? How about in Tagalog? Our Little Passports Valentine’s Day cards include

‘Love’ and ‘I love you’ in languages
from around the world! To share the love, simply download, print, and pass one
to your valentine!





Here are some Little Passports "I Love You" Translations From Around The World!:



Jeg
elsker dig: Danish


Ik hou van jou: Dutch

Te amo: Spanish


http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=300697&u=640989&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=

I love you:
English


Je t’aime: French

S’agapo: Greek

Sarang hae yo : Korean

Ech
hun dech gaer: Luxembourgish


Mahal kita: Tagalog

Iay Ovlay Ouyay: Pig
Latin


Saya cinta kamu: Indonesian

Minä rakastan sinua: Finnish

Ich
liebe dich: German


Wo ai ni: Chinese

Ya tebya liubliu:
Russian


Aishiteru: Japanese

Hum tumhe pyar karte hae: Hindi




http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=300697&u=640989&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=

Little Passports enables you to teach your child about the hundreds of different
cultures around our world Little Passports even shares fun recipes that you can cook up with your kids to
turn them into little chefs who know all about foods from different cultures.
Subscriptions start at just $10.95/month which is another bonus! This is also
the perfect resource for anyone who homeschools out there. Let me know what you
think after you get set up with your own Little Passports subscription.



and around the USA! Each month, a package addressed to
your kids (which they LOVE) arrives full of little goodies like stickers for
their own passport, activity sheets that teach them about major landmarks around
the world and gets their brain going with fun word scrambles!




http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=300697&u=640989&m=32333&urllink=&afftrack=






Disclosure: I am an affiliate partner of Little Passports.  I have personally reviewed these products and stand behind them 100%.  Any links clicked in this post will take you to the Affiliate's website - any purchase made from clicking these links will result in Mom Loves 2 Read receiving a small compensation which helps keep this blog running smoothly. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Disney on Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic in Rockford, IL - Enter to win a 4 pack of tickets to Opening Night!

Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic! is
coming to Rockford Illinois!





Get ready to join Mickey
Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, the beloved Disney Princesses
and more February 27 through March 2nd! This wonderful production has entertained more than 135 million
guests worldwide to date!  Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s most
memorable characters from 18 cherished stories come to life in this
magical celebration.




Be amazed at the

exciting moments from Lion King, Finding Nemo, Mulan, Toy Story and The Incredibles.  Families
will see the some of their favorite Disney characters jump, spin, twirl and perform amazing stunts on the ice throughout the show.  What a wonderful way to spend some quality Family Time together!


 






Here is all the info - read through then enter for a chance to WIN opening night tickets!





Location:   BMO Harris Bank Center - Rockford, IL
Dates:   Thurday, February 27 – Sunday, March 2, 2014



All Show Times:

Thu,  Feb 27 2014  7:00PM
Fri,  Feb 28 2014  7:00PM
Sat,  Mar  1 2014 11:00AM
Sat,  Mar  1 2014  3:00PM
Sat,  Mar  1 2014  7:00PM
Sun,  Mar  2 2014  1:00PM
Sun,  Mar  2 2014  5:00PM




Sound great? I know, it is so much fun!  Now, why not make it even better by WINNING a 4 pack of tickets for your family to attend?  Mom Loves 2 Read has 2 sets of Family 4-packs for 2 Winners to attend the opening night performance in Rockford IL on Thursday, February 27th at 7pm.  Just enter below for YOUR chance to see this great performance FREE!



Need more convincing?  My family attended a Disney On Ice performance last year and here are are a few photos we took of our extraordinary night!










 





Due to the short time between this giveaway start date and the event date - this giveaway will only run for 1 week - To enter/win - you MUST be able to attend the Thurs. Feb 27th, 7pm showtime in Rockford, IL.  Tickets will be mailed out AS soon as Winners REPLY to claim the prizes - Must reply within 24 hours of email to claim prize. Email will be sent from MomLoves2Read@gmail.com



Giveaway will end at mighnight on Feb 19th - winners will be verified
and notified on Feb 20th - must reply by the 21st to claim the tickets
so I have time to get them in the mail ASAP to have them to you in time
for the event!  Enter below and Good Luck!













Disclosure: I am an FELD Family Ambassador.  I help promote FELD entertainment events in my local areas.  I did not receive ANY compensation for this post.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Undercover Mama $30 Giveaway ~ Enter to WIN on Mom Loves 2 Read







How many times have you seen women struggling to nurse their little bundle of joy while trying hard to maintain her modesty?  Some women use blankets or covers of some sort that completely hide baby and keep mommy modest but also lose that face to face opportunity unless mommy puts her head under cover too.  Now, with Undercover Mama shirts, mommies can get the best of both - modesty and face to face interaction with baby.









It is easy to use the Undercover Mama tops, simply attach Undercover Mama shirts to the outer flap of a top-opening
nursing bra by sliding each hook onto the flap a little below the clasp. Usually it will slide on just below the seam where the bottom of the clasp is sewn to the bra. You want to push enough material into the hook so it is snug. On most bras you can slide the hook clear on so that the entire width is inside the hook, but even if the strap is too wide to fit completely in, it still works just fine. You can also slip the hook of the Undercover Mama on to the strap of your bra instead of the flap. Keep in mind with this option you will need to unhook the Undercover Mama each time you nurse.





Most of my faithful readers know that my kiddos are well past the nursing stage, and I will not be having any more little bundles of Joy of my own, so doing a review would be difficult.  So, instead - I asked Undercover Mama if they would consider offering my wonderful readers a giveaway - and of course they said YES!



The entries are simple and easy - and all are optional, but there is a huge bonus for subscribing to the Undercover Mama Newsletter ~ They have a Giveaway Drawing for a $25 giftcard for anyone who Subscribes!  Bonus - 2 giveaways for the "cost" of one entry!  Plus, a little insider scoop ~ Undercover Mama will be having a Huge Valentine's Day SALE - check them out online here: http://undercovermama.com  or keep up with the news via Newsletter or Facebook.



Open World Wide - winner will receive a $30 voucher to use towards purchase and shipping - must be 18 or older to enter/win.  Winner will have 48 hours to reply to winning email - no reply after 48 hours will result in a new winner being chosen.  To keep from missing out on prizes, make sure to check your spam mail regularly or return here to this post at the end of the giveaway to see the winner's name.











Disclosure: Mom Loves 2 Read did not received any compensation for this post.  Sponsor will send the prizes to the winner. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Check out this great way to organize your recipes all in one place - Cook'n Recipe Organizer Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.







I have been trying out a new Recipe Organizer Program called Cook’N Recipe Organizer (simple I know) that I received for review.  This is a downloadable computer program that helps you to organize your recipes and make them into your
own organized cookbook right on your computer.  You can easily type in  your own recipes or input them from the
internet to have them all in one place.  Then, you can export the entire collection out to whereever or whenever you need it. 
It also has a built-in menu planner, shipping list organizer and
nutrition guide.





When you type in what you have on hand, Cook'n will search your recipe
database and tell you what you can make for dinner but to do this you
must have recipes in your Cook'n database! To help you eat healthy,
maximize the benefits of Cook'n, and take full advantage of the powerful
menu planning, cookbook printing, and other Cook'n features, we provide
brand name cookbooks with high quality recipes and food photos that
will import directly into your Cook'n Recipe Library automatically.








This program only took a few minutes to install.  It comes with one
cookbook already setup with recipes, and I was also emailed a code to download another cookbook of my choice off the website for FREE.  That's 2 cookbooks right away to start with!  And, there are apps that you can also get to have your Recipes readily available on all your devices.  So, not only do you have an organized cookbook on your PC, with ingredients lists, grocery shopping tips and more - now, you can also access all of it on your iPad, iPhone, Android device or Kindle!  Access your recipes wherever you go!





Want to know more?  Cook'N Recipe Organizer can:


* Easily Enter your Personal Recipes


* Get Ideas for What to make for Dinner


* Plan your menus


* Make shopping lists


* Capture Recipes from your favorite websites


* Find Nutritional Information on your recipes


* Capture & Sync Pinterest Recipes


* Scan in printed recipes


* Import and Share Recipes with Social Media


* and so much more . . . 











This great program
costs $79.97 and can be purchased as direct download or via CD.  It is compatable with both Windows and Mac.  For more information, you
can visit the Cook’n Recipe website, or check out their Facebook page or Pinterest Page.



Does this sound like something that would benefit your family?  Then feel free to enter below for a chance to Win A FREE download of this great Recipe program!  Open World Wide - must be 18 or older to enter/win!









Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review using Tomoson.com. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Notes from a ‘dumb’ dog






Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Myles, but my mom calls me Smyles cause I have a permanent grin on my face. Am I a dumb dog? Well, you decide!







You see, my former owners dropped me off at a vet’s office I had never been to before, asking for me to be euthanized. They claimed I was a ‘stupid, dumb dog that can’t be trained’. They wouldn’t even give the vet my name. Fortunately, the guy had quite a bit more sense than to put down a perfectly healthy dog, and contacted a lady from an animal sanctuary (Evo and Eli’s Love Box in PA). This got my tail off the

euthanasia table, and I spent the next two years in the sanctuary waiting for someone to adopt me. Anyhoo, through the marvels of technology my picture circled the net, and my mom (a German living in Canada) saw my mug. Aaah, you can always count on a German to appreciate the awesome dachshund breed!







I not only got myself a great home, but also recruited my mom as a volunteer for Evo and Eli’s Love Box. Not stopping there, I then talked her into adopting my sanctuary buddy Byrd, a victim of animal abuse by his former owner’s children. They beat him and repeatedly threw him out of a second story window while aiming for a trampoline in the backyard. 







These days, Byrd and I are co-administrators of the Love Box’s facebook site, and I, Myles, singlehandedly designed their website! Life is good-just unfortunately not for all pets. Why am I bringing all that up now? Well, it’s February-or as anyone in rescue knows “dog-dumping-month”. This is when people realize that impulse Christmas buy for their kids is actual WORK! Yes, a dog is a fifteen-year-plus commitment, and little Susie/Johnny didn’t quite think this through (at which point their exasperated parents look for a quick way out). So far, the Love Box sanctuary has already been contacted by four such parties, all within last week! What does this show your kids? That pets are disposable. Which is a pretty dumb thing to teach them.





Gabriella and Dr. Duggan’s Secret Dimensional Transport Machine by James Cardona



~ Review by Kirsten




Great story that raises important ethical questions-not just for kids!!!







While the title may evoke pictures of ‘back-to-the-future’-style, campy time travel machines, this book is far from your stereotypical sci-fi! Instead, it is about the questionable ethics of genetic research.





Cardona has crafted a mystery set in a futuristic society, where affluent folks can have their children modified through genetic upgrades. In this setting, narrator Gabriella, a sixteen-year-old girl, finds herself the only "natural" athlete in the most popular global sport, a game called "Ultraball". While

Gabriella's DNA does not show any genetic alterations, she can keep up with her modified peers and opponents. She, inevitably, becomes a target of NuGen, a prominent genetic research & modification company, and Ultraball's biggest sponsor. 





A fan favorite, Gabriella is chosen to promote Dr. Duggan's new Dimensional Transport Machine, which makes continental travel possible within seconds. During one of those transports gone awry, Gabriella encounters a mysterious man in that place between destinations called "The Void". Will she heed his ominous warnings?


With NuGen on her heels, Gabriella is on a quest to find out her true identity and solve the mystery of her dad's murder.





This book is a real page turner that kept me up several nights in a row-and I’m not even much of a sci-fi fan! A cleverly crafted story that raises strong ethical questions, it is sure to make you think. So once your teenagers tire of the usual high school dramas with the same cliché characters, simply point them to this book! I rate it a fully deserved 5 stars! Please note that this is the first installment in the upcoming NuGen series.





http://www.amazon.com/Gabriella-Duggans-Dimensional-Transport-Machine-ebook/dp/B00773Z3Q4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top







Disclosure: This book was purchased or borrowed by the reviewer for this review.  No compensation was received. All my reviews are my honest and personal
opinion.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.





Yummi Pouch Review - a great way to get kids to eat healthy on the go, and no mess and no spoon required!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.








http://www.yummipouch.com/



Yummi Pouch was created by husband and wife team, passionate about
serving people and pursing adventures together. Inspired by their
daughter, they designed Yummi Pouches to help parents meet their
children's fundamental need of good nutrition while making the feeding
process simple, eco-friendly, and cost-effective. Their vision is to
provide moms and dads with a simple container to fill with delicious
homemade blended snacks.



These reusable pouches have helped thousands of families enjoy healthy,
on-the-go snacks. With a range of



products including a 2.5oz pouch size for baby food,
6 oz size for smoothies and blended snacks, and 10oz sport pouch ideal
for fitness beverages and smoothies, Yummi Pouch is great for any occasion.



Yummi Pouch Features:



-
Each pouch holds up to 2.5, 6, or 10 ounces of your favorite homemade smoothies and blended snacks.

- Food grade material is BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free.

- Dishwasher safe, just expand the bottom and stand upside down over the prongs.

- Freezer safe.

- Reusable and recyclable.

- Great for healthy, on the go snacks.

- Easily fillable through the reinforced, leak proof zipper seal.

- Comes with a 30 day product guarantee.



My Review:

What a great idea - finally a way to take healthier snacks on the go, without taking up a ton of room in the cooler.  And, they are washable, reusable and recyclable too!  Talk about eco friendly - and Family Friendly too.



I love that now, I can take applesauce, yogurt, smoothies, shakes and fruits on the go when my family is traveling.  It saves money buying snack foods, saves room in the cooler for containers, no spoons necessary and my kids can eat something healthy instead of junk foods and snack foods.  They can also be used for drinks too!





To test out these fun Yummi pouches by making a fun fruity drink.  I had some frozen strawberries and bananas in the freezer and just a little no-sugar added vanilla ice cream - so of course I had to make a shake!  After blending together the fruits and ice cream with a bit of lowfat milk - I was able to scoop half of the fruity refreshing treat into one of the fun looking Yummi Pouches for my daughter to have for snack time!







She loved being able to sit with me in the living room to eat her ice cream snack while watching the Olympics instead of having to remain in the kitchen to eat.  I am excited about the amazing possibilities of all the great healthy and fun treats and snacks I can now take on the go for my kids.  They all love Applesauce, but that is a messy treat to take on the go - and those baby/toddler ones in the stores can be very pricy.  Now, we can pack our own, save money and have a great fresh snack to take with us.



My niece is a picky eater - at nearly 2 years of age, she will Only eat fruits or veggies if they are in similar containers to these Yummi Pouches.  To purchase them in the stores can add up to expensive grocery bills.  Now, my SIL has seen these pouches that I have, and she wants some to use for her girls too!  It is so easy to make homemade veggie mixes, fruit mixes and other great snacks for little ones that is not messy, and easy and fun for them to eat!



Right now, there is a great SALE going on - 35% OFF for Valentines' Day!  Hurry and grab a set or 2 or 4 - they are reusable, so great for families - make wonderful gifts too!  So, check out all the styles, sizes and accessories here ~ http://store.yummipouch.com/



Missed the VD sale?  Use this code:  PARTY4YP for 10% off at www.yummipouch.com/store.



For more great information about these Yummi Pouches, and some great Recipes too - check them out online at




Twitter - www.twitter.com/yummipouch






Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review using Tomoson.com. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

 

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