Charade

Image via Wikipedia

Thanks to a reader comment, my choice of "thriller" movie this Halloween was Charade. I'll admit it isn't scary, but it has plenty of suspense! I had never seen it and was mesmerized! I am oh so glad it was available for instant watch on Netflix. The movie has a fantastic cast; does it get any better than Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Throw in other greats like James Coburn, George Kennedy, and Walter Matthau, well you've got a hit! This gem of a film is sometimes called "The best film Hitchcock never made" and I agree 100%. The acting is superb, the plot keeps you guessing, and it is just marvelous! If you've never seen it, I highly suggest it. They just don't make movies like this one anymore.

Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Kiss Me Again Giveaway Winner

Sorry I'm late getting this posted folks!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2009-10-31 14:23:38 UTC

Congratulations to dreamcleavers!

Eye of the God by Ariel Allison

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
eye of the god
Abingdon Press (October 1, 2009)
by
Ariel Allison


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Allison is a published author who lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Justin Case, the first of three children’s books will be published by Harvest House in June 2009. Ariel is a weekly contributor to www.ChristianDevotions.us and has written for Today’s Christian Woman. She ponders on life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and on her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com.


From Ariel:
I am the daughter of an acclaimed and eccentric artist, and given my “unconventional” childhood, had ample time to explore the intricacies of story telling. I was raised at the top of the Rocky Mountains with no running water or electricity (think Laura Ingles meets the Hippie Movement), and lived out the books I read while running barefoot through the sagebrush. My mother read to me by the light of a kerosene lantern for well over a decade, long after I could devour an entire novel in the course of a day. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, George MacDonald, and L.M. Montgomery were the first to capture my heart and I have
grown to love many others since.

ABOUT THE BOOK

eye of the god takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond and weaves it together with a present-day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian Institute.

We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative jewel thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the gem, which according to legend was once the eye of a Hindu idol named Rama Sita. When it was stolen in the 17th century, it is said that the idol cursed all those who would possess it. That won’t stop the brilliant and ruthless Weld brothers.

However, they are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond and a deadly secret to keep. Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration.

When the dust settles over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, readers will understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of humankind, nor can it change the course of God’s story.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of eye of the god, go HERE

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason

I recently had the opportunity to read a delightful children's book, The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason. It is the story of Zac Spark's, a boy who is sent to live with his Aunties when his mother dies. He encounters a cast of unbelievable characters and is unsure who to trust. The book reminds me a lot of the Lemony Snicket books. It is a fantastic read that my children and I really enjoyed. We give it two thumbs up! Check out the trailer below.

The Blue Umbrella, by Mike Mason from David C. Cook on Vimeo.

The Blue Umbrella

In his first novel, best-selling author Mike Mason offers the Unfortunate Events crowd

a beautiful literary fantasy with deep spiritual resonance

What would happen if all the world’s weather was controlled by one man with a blue umbrella? If your mother had been killed by lightning, would you trust this man? This is the decision facing 10-year-old Zac Sparks in Mike Mason’s new page-turning fantasy novel, The Blue Umbrella (David C Cook, October 2009). Probing the depths of good and evil, the first in Mason’s series for 9 to 12 year olds is a superbly written children’s story with deep spiritual resonance.

When Zac Sparks’ mother dies, he’s sent to live in Five Corners with his cruel old Aunties. It isn’t long before Zac knows something strange is going on. Five Corners is populated with weird characters—a midget butler, a girl who doesn’t speak, a blind balloon seller, and a mysterious singer who is heard but not seen. Then there’s the Aunties’ father, Dada. Zac’s first encounter with Dada is so terrifying he faints dead away.

The one bright spot is Sky Porter, the proprietor of the general store across the street, a friendly soul who encourages Zac—when the Aunties aren’t looking—and shows him a kindness that is sadly lacking from his dismal life. But Sky isn’t what he seems either, and when Zac learns Sky’s amazing secret he realizes, to his dismay, that this wonderful man may have a very dark side as well.

Discovering that Dada is an evil magician who is intent on stealing the ultimate treasure, Zac knows many lives are at stake, including his own. With time running out, he must turn to the one person who might be able to help: Sky Porter. Can Zac trust him?

In the vein of Lewis and Tolkien, Mason has crafted a fantasy that will certainly appeal to fans of Harry Potter, The Golden Compass, Lemony Snicket, and The Chronicles of Narnia. “In this era of climate change, when weather is arguably the most important issue facing the world, a story that dramatizes the human role and responsibility in creating weather is highly relevant and timely,” says Mason. “The Blue Umbrella is permeated with a sense of awe at the power and beauty of weather, and it asks the question: Who is behind all this?”

Author Bio: Mike Mason is the best-selling, award-winning author of The Mystery of Marriage, The Gospel According to Job, Practicing the Presence of People, and many others. He has an M.A. in English and has studied theology at Regent College. He lives in Langley, BC, Canada, with his wife, Karen, a family physician. They have one daughter, Heather, who is pursuing a career in dance and the arts. The Blue Umbrella is Mike’s first novel.

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason

David C Cook/October 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6526-0/425 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com - www.mikemasonbooks.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.

Giveaways Expiring 10/31/09

Here is a list of great giveaways that are ending soon. Hurry on over and enter before it's too late!

Leslie Loves Veggies:

Awesome Moms R The Best Tee Giveaway! These tees are so adorable! Just what every sassy mama or grndmama needs!

Mom's Focus Cyber World giveaways:

Combo Pack of 2 Putumayo Kids CDs Review and Giveaway

Fairy-Gram’s Fairy Costumes Review and Giveaway

Tropical Traditions – America’s Source for Coconut Oil Giveaway

See Kai Run – Urban footwear for babies and children Giveaway

Layers Clothing Swim Suit Giveaway

PokenZoo – USB devices that allow a user to share personal information Giveaway

GamiWorks – handcut glass and Japanese chiyogami pendant necklace Giveaway

SIRJJ Organics Anti-Aging Prize Package Review and Giveaway

Spinbrush Pro Clean Sonic and Arm & Hammer Advance Toothpaste Giveaway

The Great Bra Rebellion

Image by krystal.pritchett via Flickr

Yes, that is what I am calling it. You see, my darling ten year old needs a bra. She has actually been wearing a bran since late summer. But, suddenly the great bra rebellion has started. She does not want to wear one of the darn things!

Recently I've received a couple of strange phone calls from the school.

School: Mrs. Nessa? I am calling about Ashley again. She simply must wear a bra to school.

Me: Yes ma'am I understand that. She has been wearing her bra.

School: Ashley has come to school bra-less the past two days.

Me: Excuse me? (I'm thinking at this point that I checked the kid before she left the house, they must have the wrong girl!)

School: She has not been wearing a bra the past two days. I would think you would pay closer attention.

Me: (Getting really irritated now) Of course I pay attention to how my daughter is dressed when she leaves here. I assure you she has worn a bra everyday this week.

School: Are you implying that I am lying? I do not appreciate the accusation or your tone Mrs. Nessa.

Me: (Thinking they haven't even begun to hear my "tone" yet) I will look in to this matter immediately. I am sure there is a logical explanation.

School: See that you do! (Then the woman hung up on me!)

There was a good explanation. Little Miss goes to the bathroom as soon as she get to school and ditches the bra. Then she puts it back on before she gets on the bus. She is such a mischievous thing! But, at least I know what she's doing.

The thing is, I am at a loss as to what to do about this. Her bras fit well, are cute, and she says the are comfortable. Why oh why won't she keep them on?! The answer "I don't want to". Lovely. I mean, they aren't my favorite piece of clothing either, but I feel naked without mine. Do any of you wise mamas have any advice for me? I am about to pull my hair out!

Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind by Phillip Done Review & Giveaway

Phillip Done has written a witty and heart warming collection of tales from 20 years of teaching. Even though the stories are humorous, the deep affection Done had for his students is evident in his writing. Reading of his classroom adventures, I was touched by just how much he cared for his students, which is a great quality in a teacher. He apparently had quite a life teaching little ones and his account will leave you smiling.

Phillip Done loved teaching and loved his students. I am delighted that he put his tales from the classroom on paper for others to enjoy. It is a great read for anyone who has ever taught or who loves children. Each chapter covers a month and the chapters are not very long. You can easily read just a little at a time, but if you are like me, you will find it hard to put this book down!

I highly recommend Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind. It will bring a smile to your face and your heart.

Hachette Book Group is giving 5 of my readers their very own copy of this great book! All you have to do to enter is tell me your favorite memory from elementary school or your favorite teacher. That's all there is to it! Deadline to enter in Wednesday, 11/04/09 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is limited to the US and Canada only, no PO Boxes allowed.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation from Hachette Book 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.

Enjoy this guest post on fun things to do with the family on Halloween!

Halloween Family Activity Ideas

Author: blachmeo

It's important to know various Halloween family activities and things for family to do on Halloween. Halloween is one of the most fun holidays not only for children, but also for other family members. With Halloween comes, a variety of interesting family ideas for Halloween come into my mind. Planning great Halloween family activities is essential to make sure that this Halloween is fun for all the family members.
If you can't figure out what to do with your family on Halloween, don't worry. Here are some interesting Halloween family ideas:

1. Supernatural spots:

If you are really courageous, you probably like scary things. Visiting a local haunted house is a great way to enjoy the Halloween with family and get scared at the same time. You can quickly find local haunted old houses, railroads, and supernatural spots by doing an online research. It was one of those fun things to do for Halloween that no one should miss it.

2. Trick or Treat:

I can still remember how fun it was to go trick or treat with families on Halloween. I looked forward to this day for months. When Halloween arrived, we would always get a group take a lot of pictures. I used to stay out all night long going from house to house getting candy and showing off our Halloween costumes.
If you are looking for something to do on Halloween with families, you can't miss it. It's always a fun time!

3. Halloween Family Decoration:

I always enjoyed going up to the houses that were decorated on Halloween. Get your yard ready for all the trick-or-treaters. And put on scary outfits, fill garbage bags with leaves, hang up spider webs on your house and make a few fake head stones. It is really easy to do the Halloween family homemade decoration and it won't cost much.

4. Halloween Family Party:

Not everyone likes to let their kid go trick-or-treating. A Halloween themed party is a great way to bond with your family and to get them into the spirit of Halloween. Halloween is the perfect holiday to dress up silly, make and eat some good food and socialize with your families and friends. Serve some Halloween inspired cocktails, finger foods, and candy. At a family Halloween party, set up trick or treat stations throughout the house and allow children to trick-or-treat.

5. Halloween family fest.

Many movie theatres around the country host a special all-night horror fest on Halloween,they usually begin around midnight. So get together some friends, load up on popcorn and soda, and get ready for hours of horror.

6. Visit an old cemetery

What could be more terrified than an old, gloomy cemetery? Make sure you have the courage to try it because you never know what would happen and what you might see!

7. Create a Halloween Flash Slideshow:

Whatever your plan is, never forget to capture these scared moments and spooky scenes, these are all the memorable moments of life.
It's a Great way to create flash photo albums with the Halloween pictures you took.
Halloween Flash Slideshow sample

You can easily create the Halloween Flash Slideshow with flash slideshow software, and upload the flash album on your blog or website, share with your family and friends even the visitors to your site.
Tell your special Halloween story and bring them into your Halloween world.
Celebrate and whatever you create, Happy Haunting!

Tips:
1. You can edit photos and music by click the "Edit photo" and "Edit music" button above storyboard on Browse tab.
2. The duration time for each photo can be revised by double click the default value under the photo in Browse or Template Tab or right click the photo by revising the "Photo Properties".
3. You can put your flash album to your blog, MySpace or websites for sharing with your friends.

• How to make Cool Halloween Slideshow

About the Author:

Photo DVD Blog

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Halloween Family Activity Ideas

HEB Gift Card Winner

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

90

Timestamp: 2009-10-27 11:50:25 UTC

Congratulations to ZESTYWONDERLAND!

A Little Help from My Friends by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Little Help from My Friends
FaithWords (October 15, 2009)
by
Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


ANNE DAYTON graduated from Princeton University and is earning her master's degree in English literature at New York University. She works for a New York publishing company and lives in Brooklyn.

MAY VANDERBILT graduated from Baylor University and went on to earn a master's degree in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in San Francisco, where she writes about food, fashion, and nightlife in the Bay Area.

Together, the two women are the authors of Miracle Girls series




ABOUT THE BOOK

Zoe is used to being overlooked. As the youngest and shyest Miracle Girl, she was happy to fade into the background last year. But when she sheds her baby fat and shoots up four inches the summer before her junior year, everything changes. Now she's turning heads at school, and this new attention is beginning to strain her relationship with her sweet, serious boyfriend, Marcus.

Pressure builds when Zoe's assigned partner for history class is Dean Marchese--a handsome New York transplant who isn't afraid to show her how he feels.
Just when she needs her three best friends the most, the Miracle Girls are suffering from boy troubles of their own.

Even Zoe's rock-solid home life begins to shake underneath her when her parents' relationship frays in the face of serious financial burdens. As this uncertain year of growing pains comes to a frenetic head, the quietest Miracle Girl must find her voice at long last and take control of her own destiny . . . with more than a little help from her friends.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Little Help from My Friends, go HERE

Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Revised Edition Review & Giveaway

I love a good ghost story. I am completely intrigued with any supposed haunting and always have been. Dan is the same way. The one show we watch together is Ghost Hunters. We love researching local tales of haunted places, learning the history to it. I think that is what attracts me the most, the history of these haunted places and what all has happened there to start the ghostly tales. So, I was very excited when I was given the chance to review Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Revised Edition compiled & edited by Jeff Belanger.

This book takes you all around the world to a lot of different supposedly haunted locations. It is full of tales of hauntings, the accounts by some of the leading paranormal investigators the world over. I found haunted places close to home I'd never even heard of before, so I was delighted. The accounts of the hauntings are both thrilling and informative. There is also quite a bit of information on paranormal investigators from all over the world, which I found very fascinating.

I found this book to be informative and entertaining. Thanks to Jeff Belanger, there are several places we are now very anxious to visit. It is an easy to read book and it is easy to navigate. I had no trouble finding exactly the information I was looking for. If you are interested in the paranormal, you might enjoy this one. The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon.com, and many other booksellers.

About the Editor:
Jeff Belanger has been studying and writing about the supernatural for regional and national publications since 1997. He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the largest supernatural community on the Web, and the author of more than 10 books, including The World’s Most Haunted Places, Our Haunted Lives, and The Ghost Files. Belanger lectures throughout the United States and has appeared on more than 100 radio and television programs worldwide, including The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, Coast to Coast AM, and The ‘X’ Zone. He currently haunts Massachusetts with his family.

I have one copy of Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Revised Edition to giveaway. To enter, simply leave me a comment telling me about a ghost story from your area. I look forward to reading your comments. Please note that comments such as "I want to win" or "please enter me" will not be considered. Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on Halloween 10/31/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

The Ultimate Shortcut Cookie Book by Camilla V. Saulsbury

As holiday time approaches, I start dreaming of all the yummy treats I will bake up. I love to make delicious cookie trays for parties and as gift, but don't always have a lot of time to fuss around in the kitchen. Camilla V. Saulsbury's new book, The Ultimate Shortcut Cookie Book is the perfect solution. I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review it. The book is filled with 745 amazing recipes for everything from bar cookies to filled cookies, and everything in between. All the recipes start with a shortcut like cake mix, refrigerated cookie dough, etc.

I love just looking through cookbooks and this one is especially drool worthy. I've made three recipes so far: Pumpkin Gooey Chess Squares, Black and Tan Espresso Bars, and Tuscan Cornmeal Cookies. All were simply incredible and easy to put together. You can find the perfect cookie for any occasion and they are all made with a shortcut! how great is that?

Camilla V. Saulsbury has several great cookbooks under her belt. She won The Food Network's ultimate Recipe Showdown with her recipe for Exotic Spice Cookies with Ginger, Cardamom, and Rose Water. Her recipes have appeared in several publications, including Southern Living. This lady knows food and her recipes are fantastic!

I highly suggest picking up a copy of this fantastic book. I feel like it is a must have for all your holiday baking. 745 cookies gives you a great variety, you are sure to find one you love! I am super excited to be giving away one copy to a lucky reader during my holiday gift guide next month! Be sure to keep checking back for that.

Here is the recipe for Pumpkin Gooey Chess Squares. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Pumpkin Gooey Chess Squares

* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, divided
* 1 (18.25-ounce) package spice or yellow cake mix
* 4 large eggs
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
* 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or ground cinnamon)

Preheat oven to 350°F (or 325°F for dark-coated metal pan). Position oven rack in middle of oven. Spray the bottom only of a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray (or foil-line pan; see page xxiv). Melt1/2 cup (1 stick) of the butter in a small saucepan set over low heat. Beat the cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed until well blended (mixture will come together as a thick dough). Pat the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Set aside momentarily. Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan set over low heat. Beat the softened cream cheese and pumpkin puree in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Add the melted butter, remaining eggs and vanilla extract; blend until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice; blend until smooth. Spread the pumpkin mixture over prepared crust. Bake for 42–45 minutes (do not overbake; bars should be slightly gooey). Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Cut into bars or squares. Cover and store in refrigerator.

Makes 24 large or 36 small bars.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

World Pasta Day

Image via Wikipedia

Today is World Pasta Day. I adore pasta, pretty much any pasta. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. In honor of World Pasta Day I am thrilled to share with you a great pasta recipe from the book The Silver Spoon: Pasta. I will be reviewing this book in the next week, so be sure to come back and see what I think of it. Click over to my cooking site, What's Cookin' to check out this mouthwatering recipe. Enjoy!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

Kids and Glasses

Miss Ashley has been wearing glasses for a very long time. Born with lazy eye and near blindness on her left side, glasses have been part of her life for as long as she can remember. She has had surgery for the lazy eye, so now it is just a vision issue. Her left eye is not correctable, so now when she wears glasses it is pretty much just to keep her "good eye" protected. We've been blessed that the glasses have never been much of an issue for her. What was an issue was when she was wearing an eye patch for lazy eye therapy. She hated and the kids at school were incredibly cruel. It was then that her glasses, or rather her differences from everyone else became such an issue. It was so hard on her and I was thrilled when the patches were no more!


Rhonda Fischer has written a wonderful book for kids with glasses, Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses?. The book is written in an engaging, musical rhyming style, which kids seem to enjoy. It is the story of Randy who finds out her needs glasses and is not particularly thrilled by it. He continually comes up with places to hide his glasses, but his mother always seems to have another pair! His parents help Randy learn to accept himself and embrace the motto “I love being me!”. The illustrations are adorable, complete with hidden glasses throughout the pages. Even though Ashley is ten, she enjoyed the book and said it would have been nice to read when she was younger. With all her "differences" a book teaching you to love and accept yourself is a great thing for her to have. She says it gets two thumbs up and I agree! I think is a great book for all kids, glasses or no glasses. Self acceptance is important no matter what!



Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells Giveaway Winner

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

26

Timestamp: 2009-10-25 15:54:11 UTC

Congratulations to SandyM204!

Halloween Is Almost Here & A Giveaway

My kids are really looking forward to Halloween this year. We are the "mean" parents who don't do the whole trick or treating thing. That's not to say that we frown on costumes and fun, because we don't. We just limit what the kids do to events like fall festivals and such. We do not hit the neighborhood and start ringing doorbells.

The kids hated this at first, but it actually works into a pretty good deal for them. We attend fall festivals that are generally not held on Halloween, so they get to have fun multiple times. What's fun about not trick or treating? Our Halloween night is the ultimate in family time. The four of either cook dinner together or splurge on pizza or other food, since we don't eat out much. Then we curl up on the couch for movies, usually scary ones. I buy Halloween candy and make special Halloween treats, so the kids are not missing out on anything. It is a night we all look forward to all year long.

A great place to stock up on all your Halloween needs is HEB. They have everything you need for a fantastic Halloween celebration at great prices. Be sure to check out their great Halloween recipes; I am so going to make the Pumpkin German Chocolate Harvest cake! Yummy! You truly can get "More Halloween for Less Green" at HEB!

My friends at HEB are going to give one of my lucky readers a $20 gift card!

To enter:
Simply click over to HEB's awesome selection of costumes, then come back and leave me a comment about your favorite one. This is mandatory for entry.

Bonus Entries:

• Check out all HEB's spooky Halloween recipes and leave me a comment on one you'd like to try.
• Leave me a comment telling me your favorite scary movie.
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. *3 entries, leave 3 comments*
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the url of the post. *5 entries, leave 5 comments*

Be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave separate comments for each bonus entry. Contest is open to residents of the US only. Deadline to enter in 11:59pm CST on Sunday, 10/25/09. Winner will be announced and contacted on Monday 10/26/09.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

Q&A with Double Cross Author James David Jordan

Q&A with James David Jordan, Author of Double Cross

Double Cross is an action-packed story that provides thrilling twists and turns as well as a thought-provoking look at the personal and spiritual struggles of characters who are as complex as they are flawed. Ultimately, it’s a story of self-examination that describes Taylor Pasbury’s journey toward the conclusion that some sacrifices can never be earned.

Q: Double Cross is your third novel, but writing is not your full time job. You are a successful business attorney. Tell us how and why you started writing.

A: I’ve always enjoyed writing and always considered it a challenge to write a novel and get it published. Like most beginning writers, I was naïve and didn’t know how much I didn’t know about writing. I knew that when I did write, I wanted to write about life’s "big" issue which, at least in my mind, is faith.

Q: How much of your inspiration for writing novels comes from your true life experiences as an attorney?

A: Very little really. I don’t want to write about work because it would be too much like being at work. Writing and sports are what I do to get a break from being an attorney.

Q: Your latest book is a follow-up to Forsaken in which your main characters were presented with what seems an almost impossible dilemma. Can you share what that situation was and why you chose to address this thought-provoking topic for your book?

A: In Forsaken, a famous televangelist is forced to decide between his faith and his daughter’s life. It’s a dilemma that is perfect for a Christian suspense thriller. I chose it because of the Bible verse that says that if we don’t love Jesus more than our family members, we’re not worthy of him. That’s a tough rule, and I wanted to explore what it would be like to be faced with that choice.

Q: Double Cross continues the story of Taylor Pasbury. Tell us about Taylor and what makes her tick.

A: Taylor was raised by her father, a former Special Forces officer, after her mother ran out when she was a child. Taylor knows how to take care of herself and did stints on a Dallas SWAT team and in the Secret Service before opening her own security agency. She’s the person you want next to you in a crisis, but she is terribly insecure on a personal level which makes her attractively vulnerable. Her father was murdered when she was seventeen, and she’s been adrift. She’s not someone anyone would describe as a religious person which makes her an interesting narrator for a novel with a Christian theme.

Q: You have a knack for weaving deep spiritual truths into intriguing story lines. What’s the secret to making a spiritual point without creating a plot that seems too contrived?

A: The trick is to find a story idea in which the characters would naturally be expected to think about spiritual angles. Let’s face it. Despite what the popular press and Hollywood would like us to believe, the average person in this country does think about spiritual issues—not necessarily daily or even regularly—but not just rarely, either. Some events in life naturally focus the ordinary American’s mind on the spiritual. Even people who don’t consider themselves religious are generally willing to consider spiritual issues as long as they’re not presented as part of an evangelical bludgeoning.

Q: This book deals a lot with abandonment. Was there anything in your own life or in the lives of others around you that made you take on this difficult subject?

A: Perhaps, but Double Cross is not a book about me or about anyone I know. My characters tend to be composites, with characteristics of many different people I’ve met.

Q: In Forsaken, Taylor Pasbury deals with the pain of losing her father. In Double Cross, she is set alongside her eccentric mother. What do you hope comes across to readers through Taylor’s relationship with her mother?

A: In many ways Taylor’s mother is remarkably self-absorbed, but Taylor comes to understand, at least to an extent, why it is so difficult for her mother to give unconditional love. She also learns some important things about how faith and forgiveness work. Most importantly, she learns that grace can never be earned.

Q: Taylor, like so many young adult women, has difficulty finding men that she can trust. Talk about the connection between a young woman’s relationship to her father, and how that translates to her relationship with other men. Is there a connection there that you hope will penetrate your readers?

A: First, I don’t pretend to have any unique insight with respect to a twenty-nine-year-old woman’s dating relationships. I didn’t even understand that when I was twenty-nine myself. But I do know that Taylor is hyper-critical of men, perhaps because she believes that none of them can measure up to her father (who made a terrible sacrifice for her when she was young). She has difficulty identifying a good man, even when he’s right in front of her. Like many young women, I think, she’s attracted to the bad boys. For Taylor, part of dealing with the many problems her background has created for her is learning that there are some good men out there if she’ll just cut them some slack.

Q: You write about characters who are very flawed and sometimes self-destructive. Why have you chosen to present a message of faith through such messy characters?

A: I don’t think anyone gets much out of reading about religious super heroes. We’ve all got our faults and our problems, and Christians don’t have to be perfect people. In many ways, I almost think God likes us better when we don’t try to act so perfect and instead acknowledge our own flaws.

Q: Is this the end of the road for Taylor Pasbury, or will we see her again?

A: Right now, it looks as if Taylor is going to appear again in a Michael Crichton-style techno thriller. She is going to walk the border line between science and religion when she’s hired to protect an orphan boy who has a baffling ability that causes a lot of powerful world players to want to get their hands on him. I just need to find the time to write it.

Double Cross by James David Jordan

B&H Publishing Group October 2009

ISBN: 978-08054-4754-5/softcover/302 pages/$14.99

Visit the author’s website to view the trailer - www.jamesdavidjordan.com

PUR Flavor Options Pitcher Winner

Here are your random numbers:

167

Timestamp: 2009-10-23 01:33:03 UTC

Congratulations to Becca Ann!

The Big Book of Parenting Solutions by Michele Borba

Parenting can be such an adventure. These kids didn't show up with user manuals unfortunately. So, you just try to do the best you can. Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way that you generally don't realize you've made a parenting mistake until after you've already done it. I know I am guilty of this one! S, I just try to do the best I can. This often means reading every parenting book I can get my hands on.

Since I am always striving to be the best parent I can, I was thrilled to be given the chance to review The Big Book of Parenting Solutions by Michele Borba. This great book contains "101 answers to your everyday challenges and wildest worries". There is truly a lot of valuable information packed into this book! You are very likely to find something in the book on every parenting challenge you can think of. I give it two thumbs up!

Check out what the book says about being selfish. It's good advice!

Here are simple, proven ways to deprogramming selfish, spoiled kids to stretch them away from assuming the world revolves around them, so that they start thinking about others:

Focus on others. Selfish kids put themselves first. So gently start helping your kid step to the side and think of others. “No, let Rob have a turn. He’s been waiting just as long as you.” “I know you wanted to use the Wii, but let’s think of your brother also.” Also help your child recognize the strengths of others. “Kira is a good artist. Let’s ask her to help draw the poster.”

Teach your child to wait. Selfish kids want their way N-O-W. They rarely stop to consider whether you or anyone else is being inconvenienced. You need to stretch your child’s waiting quotient so that he doesn’t put his own needs in front of others’. If you’re on the phone, put up your finger and signal that you’ll talk to him in a certain number of minutes. If you’re at the mall, tell him you won’t stop what you’re doing to go to the bank for more cash. He’ll have to make the purchase when he remembers to bring his allowance. If he wants to get on the computer, don’t let him push his sister’s time aside to suit his own convenience. It will take patience and fortitude on your part, but a less selfish attitude will be the outcome.

Reinforce selfless acts. One of the fastest ways to increase selflessness is by “catching” your kid doing considerate and unselfish acts. So look for selfless behaviors in your child and acknowledge them. Describe the deed so that he clearly understands the virtue and point out the impact it had on the recipient.

Doing so will also help your child be more likely to repeat the same act another time. “Did you see Kelly’s smile when you shared your toys? You made her happy.” “Thanks for giving your CDs to your brother. I know you don’t listen to rap anymore, but he just loves it.”

Require giving back. Dr. Ervin Staub, a world-renowned researcher at the University of Massachusetts, has extensively studied the development of selfless, considerate kids. His studies found that children who are given the opportunity to help others tend to become more helpful (and less selfish) in their everyday lives. Require your child to do for others on a regular basis, every day: do his chores; give part of his weekly allowance to charity; bring cookies to the shut-in neighbor; take the dog for a walk; call Grandma every Sunday to see how she’s doing. Just plain expect that he think of someone besides himself and contribute to your family. If you don’t expect him to give to others, he will feel entitled.

Help kids realize the impact of giving. Research also finds that it is important not only for kids to help others but also to understand the effect of their kindhearted action on the people they helped.87 Posing the right questions to a child after he performs any selfless, considerate act helps a child recognize the impact his behavior can have on others as well as on himself. So use giving actions to stretch your child from “me” to “we” by posing such questions as these: “What did the person do when you were considerate?”

“How do you think she felt?” “How would you feel if you were the person?” “How did you feel when you were being kind to her?” “How did you feel when you saw her reaction to your gesture?” Even better, decide to give back as a family. Find a cause you support and then bring your kids along to experience the miracle of giving. It could be taking extra toys to a children’s ward in a hospital, helping at an animal shelter, reading to the elderly. There is no better way to stretch your child than having him experience the joy of giving.

Adapted from “The Big Book of Parenting Solutions” by Michele Borba. Copyright © 2009 by Michele Borba. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation 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.

Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson Review & Giveaway

Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands. But while sex before marriage was hard to resist, now resisting seems like all they do. In her new book, Barbara Wilson shows how couples can suffer for years from the “invisible bonds” of previous relationships without even knowing it. Hidden emotions of distrust, shame, and resentment can sabotage even the most loving marriage.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:

• Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
• Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices
• Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
• Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
• Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
• Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost
  

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

About Barbara:
Barbara Wilson is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.

My Review:
Christians are not perfect and God knows it. We make mistakes. Even though we can be forgiven of our sins, sometimes the mistakes we make in the past come back to haunt us. That is what this book covers; how the invisible bonds of our past can cause very real problems for us in our present. I found Kiss Me Again to be a very thoughtful and educational book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with intimacy in their marriage. Click on over here to read more about it or buy your own copy.

One lucky reader will win their own copy of this great book. All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me why you find it interesting or why you'd like to have a copy. Comments like "I want to win" will not be counted. Entry deadline is Thursday, 10/29/09 at 8:00pm CST. Winner will be announced and notified the next day. Please be sure to leave your contact information!

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 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.

Brookshires Deals 10/21 to 10/27

Image by asrai via Flickr

Brookshire's is having a buy one get one for a penny sale. Sometimes these types of sales can be a great opportunity to stock up on some good deals. Check out the full circular to see all the deals available this week.

Some potentially good buys:

Bar-S Bacon, Corn Dogs Or Deli Shaved Lunch meat
Bacon: Original , Thick Sliced Or Lower Sodium - 12 oz Pkg, Corn Dogs: Classic, Beef Or Cheese - 1.5 Lb Box Or Lunch meat: Ham, Honey Ham Or Turkey Breast - 9oz Pkg

Use the $1 off two Bar_S products coupon found here.

Hormel Entrees: Fully Cooked Selected Varieties - 17 oz Pkg

Use the $2.00 off one coupon found here. You may print this twice.

Curly’s Pulled Beef: With Barbecue Sauce Or Pulled Pork Regular Or Bold & Spicy With Barbecue Sauce 18 oz Tub

Use the $1.00 off any Curly's Barbecue item coupon found here.

Split Chicken Breasts Or Halves: Pilgrim’s Pride - Bone-In - USDA Grade A Or Skinless Split Chicken Breasts Bone-In - USDA

Use the .55 off coupon found here. You may print this twice.

Gorton’s Crunchy Breaded Fish: Selected Varieties Of Fish Sticks Or Fillets - 18.2 oz To 24.5 oz Box

Use the save $1 on 3 Gorton's products coupon found here.

Other items listed in this sale are:

Totino’s Pizza Rolls
Sunbeam Bread
Trappey’s Beans Or Peas
Kraft American Cheese Singles
Blue Bell Ice Cream Cups
José Olé Chimichangas
PictSweet Corn On the Cob
Sara Lee Oven Fresh Pies
Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage
Lance Crackers
Doritos Tortilla Chips
Large Hass Avocados
Fresh Express Iceberg Garden Salad
Hefty OneZip Bags
Oscar Mayer Lunchmeats
Johnsonville Brats
Mission Flour Tortillas
Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage
Jell-O Gelatin Or Pudding Snacks

Check your local circular for more!