Q & A with Author Cheryl Kerr

This Veteran's Day I am thrilled to share with you the following interview with author Cheryl Kerr. Cheryl has written a wonderful book, See Ya, about the children of two different war vets. I am half way through the book and really enjoying it so far. Cheryl is a fellow Texan and a very talented writer. I am so excited to feature her here. Be on the lookout for my upcoming review of See Ya.

What inspired you to write See Ya?

Not truly knowing the man my father was when he died. How can you say goodbye to someone if you don’t know who it was that left? I yearned to figure out who my father really was, and I know other people have had similar experiences. It is such a precious moment in time when you find your answers. I wanted to capture a moment like that.

What was it like growing up with a military background?

Rough. You move a lot. You are part of a different culture. Full of transitional people, full of knowledge beyond my own and how to survive when you don’t know that world.

How much is Manda's story like your own?

Very. A sense of searching to belong, of not fitting in. Her questions are my own.

Who would enjoy this book?

I have readers ranging from middle school students to WWII veterans. It seems to have a broad appeal because so many people can relate to Manda’s search for closure. There is nothing in the book that anyone cannot or should not read.

Do you plan to write another book?

Yes, there are other stories to be told. I have been asked and have begun writing another novel about these same characters. Manda and Cameron seem to strike a chord.

What do you hope people get out of reading See Ya?

To live. To know your loved ones and yourself. I hope they realize they shouldn’t wait for these things to happen, because time can be very short. And you don’t want to miss your opportunity.

What does See Ya give people?

Room to recall their own struggles and grief. The book sets out Manda’s but allows readers to say, “This happened to me.” And then they tell me all sorts of things about their personal stories. It is amazing to have that trust.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Kota & Pals Stompers

Do you have a dinosaur lover on your gift list this year? I know I sure do! If you are looking for the perfect gift for them, you might want to consider Playskool Kota & Pals Stompers. We received a Triceratops Stomper to review and I was very impressed. The dinosaur stomps around, makes dinosaur noises, and even throws it's head back! I don't know what child would not enjoy playing with this adorable toy. My entire family, me and Dan included, had a blast playing with this guy. Toys have come such a long way, we never had anything this cool when we were little!


Kota & Pals Stompers are recommended for ages 3 years old and up. They require three “AA” batteries, which are included. You can purchase them at most major nationwide toy retailers or online at HasbroToyShop.com for $24.99. I think it's a great price for a toy that would be a huge hit with the preschool set this holidaty season.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from Hasbro other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner Review & Giveaway

The Janvier family thinks they are doing their niece Tally a favor by temporarily caring for her when she has nowhere else to go. Who knew they needed Tally just as much as she needed them? This is a story about families, the walls we build around ourselves, and healing.

Susan Meissner is one of my favorite authors and this book is every bit of what you would expect from her. She weaves several storylines throughout the book, which can seem daunting at first, but she ties them up quite neatly at the end. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with everything that was going on at times, but am so glad I saw this book through to the end. It was very good and I recommend it. You can purchase a copy of White Picket Fences here.

I have a copy of this wonderful novel to give away to one lucky reader. To win, simply follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Deadline to enter is 11/16/09 at 11;59pm CST.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Beauty Tip of The Day & A Giveaway

Image by melodramababs via Flickr

I am sure many of you have noticed the Beauty Tip of the Day widget here on Ramblings. I've really enjoyed having the widget on the site, as I feel it has a lot of good tips to offer. My favorite so far has been No Excuses:

Getting home late from the party and too tired for your normal makeup removal routine? Stash Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelette in your bedside table for fast and easy makeup removal…you don’t even need water. They have an exclusive cleansing system, with oil- and dirt-trapping fibers, that works like a magnet to remove up to 40 percent more make-up than other leading towelettes to keep you looking your best. One less regret in the morning.

I am very bad about going to bed with my make up on. Now my Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes are on my night stand, so I always have a way to scrub my face. I also keep a package in my person for cleaning my face after I finish working out a Curves. My face is looking great!

So, check out this cool widget for great tips on skin, nail, hair care and more. I am always learning something. I know lots of moms who don't spend much time taking care of themselves, but these easy tips make fussing over yourself a bit easy as can be. I am all about fast and easy when it comes to beauty, I just don't have time to fuss. Thanks to these tips, I can look good in a flash!

What are some of your favorite beauty tips? I have a beauty product assortment from Unilever to give to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite beauty tip. That's all there is to it! Deadline to enter is Friday 11/13/09 at 11:59pm CST. Be sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win.

Good luck!

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Holiday Gift Guide: ElliBathNBeauty Review & Giveaway

I love bath products. There are few things I enjoy more than luxurious body butter, delicious body spray, and wonderfully scented body wash. They are one of the few things I have a hard time resisting. I seem to have a compulsion to buy these things, even when I don't really need them. It never hurts to spoil yourself, right?


Some of the best products I've found are made by an Etsy shop called ElliBathNBeauty. I found them while looking for Twilight themed fragrances for Ashley. The shop carries a large variety of mouth watering scents, so even is vampires aren't your thing, you are sure to find something you will love! The owner, Lindsay sent me several products to review for y'all and I ordered a few things as well. Let me say right now that Lindsay is a doll, an absolute pleasure to work with. When it comes to customer service, this gal delivers!

From her Twilight line I was able to try the Jasper, The White Room, Edward, Rosalie, and The Cottage. Here are my thoughts on the scents I have used:

• The Jasper moisturizing body butter and hair & body mist are heavenly. The scent is pretty much exactly as she described it in the store.
  
• The White Room is another of my favorite scents. I wore the hair and body mist everyday for almost a month, that is how much I enjoyed it. It's scent takes you away to a tropical paradise. It is a nice, light, crisp scent.
• Edward is the only scent I was disappointed with. In my opinion the blend of fragrances did not work well and it smelled awful on me. Lindsay tells me she is still working to get the perfect scent blended, so hopefully she will get it figured out soon so we can all enjoy the essence of this wonderful character. *I just heard from Lindsay. She says "I think I have a much better Edward version now, it's been going over well and I love it! It's a bit sweeter because I remember Bella describing his "sweet" scent. Of course it contains a more creamy Honey, softer Lilac, and a dry-down of sweet notes." She is going to send me a sample & I can't wait to try it! I'll let y'all know what I think after I receive it.*
  
• The Rosalie scent I tried as body butter. It is a beautiful, feminine floral. You can't help but feel all girlie and sexy when you slather this on. My pal Lynette says it reminds her of "rose milk" a scent her grandmother wore. I don't know what "rose milk" smells like, but I can assure you Rosalie makes you feel like a girlie girl.
• The Cottage scent came to me as whipped cream soap. Again, Lindsay's description of this is pretty much spot on. It smells floral and earthy at the same time. It honestly makes me think of a flower garden after a good rainstorm. I absolutely adore this scent!

I love that the body butter moisturizes without leaving a greasy feel. You get all that moisturizing goodness without the greasy gunk; I hate greasy feeling lotion, so this is a big favorite with me! The hair and body mist leaves a subtle fragrance, lasts a long time, and contains no alcohol, so it doesn't dry out your skin or hair. As for the whipped cream soap, it is amazing! It is amazing to wash with and makes the best shaving cream I've ever used. The scent lasts a long time and your skin feels so soft after you shower! My overall opinion on all these products is two huge thumbs up!

Any of these luscious products would make a fantastic gift for you or any of the ladies in your life! I recommend checking out the shop and ordering soon to insure delivery before the holidays. Since all these things are hand made, the sooner you order the better. If you order before November 20 you will be entered for a chance to "WIN a signed photo of Rob Pattinson! We're giving away this authentic, signed photo of Rob Pattinson portraying Edward in the delicious Baseball uniform! It's the wet signature and YOU can own it!" Get more details about that here.

I have a 2oz Body Mist and Body Butter 2 Pack in your choice of fragrance for one luck winner. All you have to do to enter is head over to ElliBathNBeauty and have a look around. Come back here and leave a comment telling me what fragrance you would choose should you win. This is mandatory for entry!

For Bonus Entries:

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do. Also be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win! This giveaway is open to US residents only. Deadline to enter is Monday 11/16/09 at 11:59pm CST.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from ElliBathNBeauty other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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The Last Word Book 2: Sophie Trace Trilogy by Kathy Herman

This is book 2 in the wonderful Sophie Trace Trilogy. Sophie Trace is pretty much your average small town. This book focuses on Vanessa Jessup, police chief Brill Jessup's daughter. Vanessa returns home from college very pregnant, which sends shock waves through her family. The family deals with this unexpected news while the town's law enforcement is being hunted down by a madman. The plot of this book is fast moving, the characters very well written, and it is an overall great read. I really enjoy Kathy Herman's work, as she has the gift of creating characters you can relate to. I finished the novel quite quickly because I just has to know how things would end up. It's a great story of forgiveness, acceptance, and love. I give it two thumbs up and cannot wait for the third book! Check out the trailer below.

The Last Word, by Kathy Herman from David C. Cook on Vimeo.

The Last Word

In her second installment of the Sophie Trace Trilogy, Kathy Herman rolls

Henderson, Kingsbury, and Blackstock into one with both suspense and spirituality

Heart-pounding suspense meets heart-challenging truth as best-selling author Kathy Herman returns to Sophie Trace in her new page-turner, The Last Word (David C Cook, October 2009). Based on Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the gentile,” Herman’s second installment in the Sophie Trace series triumphantly demonstrates God’s miraculous ability to heal the broken.

This theme comes to life in Vanessa Jessup, a twenty-year-old college student who becomes pregnant while having a secret love affair with her psychology professor and has to make a choice: either end the pregnancy or end the relationship. The biblical truths she learned growing up prompt her to choose life and to go home to the refuge of her parents’ counsel and a right relationship with God.

When Vanessa arrives home, her mother, Sophie Trace Police Chief Brill Jessup, is stunned to see that she’s pregnant—and by one of her professors. While Brill is glad her middle daughter rejected the father’s abortion ultimatum, she’s also hurt that Vanessa ignored her upbringing and angry that the professor has disappeared without as much as a nickel of child support.

But that’s not all Brill’s got on her plate. One of her detectives has been killed, and the attacker has threatened to come for her next. When a second cop is wounded, public criticism mounts as Brill attempts to stay alive long enough to catch the perp. And she’s trying to find the deadbeat dad as Vanessa struggles to make decisions about her future.

In spite of Brill’s best efforts to stay safe, the murderer finally kidnaps and threatens to kill her and then commit suicide. As her life hangs in the balance, Brill becomes concerned that her attacker is about to die and is not saved and refuses to be silenced in her witness of God’s love for him. In a show of grace under pressure and fierce determination, Brill will manage to have the last word, even if it kills her.

Author Bio: Best-selling suspense novelist Kathy Herman has written fifteen novels, including CBA bestsellers The Real Enemy, Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden, since retiring from her family’s Christian bookstore business. Kathy and her husband, Paul, have three grown children and five grandchildren and live in Tyler, Texas.

The Last Word Book 2: Sophie Trace Trilogy by Kathy Herman

David C Cook/October 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6785-1/390 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com www.kathyherman.com

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Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind Giveaway Winners

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8 25 11 2 31

Congratulations to mverno, naynays1, Coupon Teacher, Carmen7351, and lilyk.

Timestamp: 2009-11-07 17:15:13 UTC

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Holiday Gift Guide: A Wonderful Book for the Holidays

Heard the Christmas Story a Few Too Many Times?

With his instant classic, Touching Wonder, author John Blase

breathes new life into the story of the Nativity

Little children understand how amazing the Nativity story is. But, sometimes, as we become men and women, we put away the childlike with the childish. The result? We lose something vital—the wonder of it all. When author John Blase went looking for the lost wonder of Christmas, he went back to the place he’d last seen it—the stories from Luke 1-2. What he found fills the pages of his new book, Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas (David C Cook, September 2009), with flesh and bone and dust and night and a baby’s cry; the intimate union of human and divine—the Incarnation.

By boldly imagining the first two chapters of the gospel of Luke, writer, editor, and former pastor John Blase has created an instant classic for Christmastime. In a tale that reads like a novel parallel parked by the record of Scripture, Blase beckons those who could use a little wonder in their lives to step onto the stage of history and witness the long awaited coming of the Messiah. With Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible translation as his backdrop, Blase adds his own voice and commentary to the historic events, exploring the renowned drama from an array of viewpoints.

In Touching Wonder, readers will meet a cast of unruly unlikelies—a frightened teenaged girl, a worried carpenter, a collection of senior citizens, a disillusioned young shepherd, even an angel or two—moving toward the realization that the little one just born is the One. This imaginative retelling of the grand miracle will leave readers wide-eyed, slack-jawed, and heart-full. The Lord is come!

In this lovely and distinctive book to be read…and re-read…and pondered in the heart, young and old will recapture the wonder of the Christmas story by seeing through the eyes of those who lived it. The book’s graceful design and Amanda Jolman’s beautiful line drawings combine to make this a thoughtful Christmas gift as well as a wonder that families will treasure for years to come.

Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase

David C Cook/September 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6465-2/hardcover/128 pages/$12.99

www.davidccook.com

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from David C. Cook other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Holiday Gift Guide: The SkyBall Review & Giveaway

One of my favorite new websites is Vat 19. The call themselves "Purveyors of the curiously awesome" and that is truly what you will find there. If you can dream it up, you'll probably find it at Vat 19. If you have lots of "hard to buy for" folks on your holiday gift giving list, then you really want to check out this site.

I was thrilled when Vat 19 sent me a SkyBall to review. You know those super bouncy balls you can buy? My kids love those and never seem to tire of them. This is the same idea, well it's super bouncy anyway. The ball is about the size of a soft ball, much softer than those tiny super bounce balls, and bounce as much as 75 ft. in the air. The kids and I had a blast with this thing. Want to bounce it over your roof? No problem! We were all amazed at how high this ball would bounce! Check out the video below to see how cool these are!



Did you see the blue SkyBall in the video? That's the one we were sent to review. The kids thought it was so awesome to have the "video shoot" ball. Anyway, this ball really does make for a good time. The kids never seem to get tired of playing with it. It would make an excellent holiday gift for kids of all ages!

Want one for yourself? Vat 19 is giving one of my readers their very own SkyBall! All you have to do is visit Vat 19 and look around. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me about another curiously awesome product that catches your eye. This is mandatory for entry!


For Bonus Entries:

• Subscribe to my blog.

• Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

• Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

• Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

• Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

• Stumble this post.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do. Also be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win! This giveaway is open to US residents only. Deadline to enter is Sunday 11/15/09 at 11:59pm CST.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from Vat 19 other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Holiday Gift Guide: The Slanket

Have you heard of the Slanket? It's a wonderful invention, a blanket with sleeves. I am always cold, so this product is a hit with me. I can sit wrapped up in a warm blanket and still easily type, read, or whatever. I love it!

The Slanket was invented by a college student suffering through the cold winter in Maine. He was cold, but needed his hands free to do things such as use the TV remote. He found the perfect solution with the Slanket! You have the warmth of a blanket and your hands are still free for whatever you need to do.

This product is the perfect gift for those who live in chilly areas, elders, pretty much anyone who craves warmth and hand freedom. I would be thrilled to receive one as a gift myself. I plan on giving several as gifts this year. Click on over to The Slanket for more information.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from The Slanket other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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