Juggling Life

A Klutz Giveaway! Woohoo!

My love for all things Klutz is well-known. From Cat’s Cradle to friendship bracelets to Window Art to Immaturity I’ve not encountered a Klutz book I don’t adore. And educational Klutz? Even better!

I am widely known as “not-a-science-person.” I am also a “doesn’t-want-to-pass-my-hangups-onto-my-kids-person.” When my kids were young we did lots of science-related activities in which I feigned great enthusiasm and they apparently bought my act—thus far two of my progeny have majored in Chemistry and Wildlife Biology respectively. Maybe if I’d had this book I’d have an astronomer, too.

Just in time for spring (it is finally spring, right? Some days I’m not sure) . . .

Klutz is letting me give away three (3) books (shipped to addresses in the U.S. or Canada), plus they gave me my own copy. They’re very nice people!

To enter to win just leave me a comment and let me know what hang up you tried not to pass onto your kids, or what Klutz book you love, or who you want to give this book to. So basically, leave a comment. I’ll pick winners randomly and announce them next Tuesday.

Good luck!

Back to the Books: Mercy Kill—A Book Review and Giveaway Post

I have been reading, but I haven’t been doing many reviews or giveaways. I’m getting back to it this week. So, first off, the winner of “Nonna Tell Me A Story” is commenter #3, Heather.

On Christmas morning, we eat a Swedish tea ring (sweet rolls, basically, but extra pretty) and scrambled eggs and egg nog.

Posted by: Heather | December 14, 2010 at 05:09 PM

I became a reader via mysteries. From Encyclopedia Brown to Nancy Drew to Sherlock Holmes to Ellery Queen to Agatha Christie to Sue Grafton, I love a good mystery. Mercy Kill is a good mystery. And it’s a well-written one; a priority for me. I used to be able to tolerate so-so writing for a compelling plot, but I’m becoming more discriminating in my old(er) age.

The unconventional heroine of Lori Armstrong’s novel is Mercy Gunderson, a former Black Ops army sniper adjusting to life back home in South Dakota. I particularly like how Armstrong really brings the stark South Dakota landscape to life—in certain places the landscape is almost an additional character in a story and I feel that South Dakota is one of those places. I also appreciate the insight into the army experience in Afghanistan that’s woven throughout.

While this book stands on it’s own, it is the second in a series and I’ll definitely go back and read the first installment, No Mercy.

If you’re interested in getting invested in the storyline of a tough but vulnerable woman with demons to battle you’ll want to read this book.

If you’re a mystery reader like me, what book or character first hooked you? Leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner next week.

Nonna Tell Me A Story: A Book Giveaway Post

One of our favorite family traditions (on hiatus now until grandkids come along) was to buy one (or more) Christmas books every year. Then throughout the holiday season we’d use those for our nightly story time—which was more special in winter because we’d light a fire in the fireplace and snuggle together on a quilt to read.The books were extra-special because when we took the tree down we also put the books away.

Our holiday baking has also always been a special time for us. Even Danger Boy, contributes—my MIL’s peanut clusters. Social Butterfly and I do our cinnamon rolls, Grownup Girl makes peppermint bark and MVP helps with everything—from homemade Oreos to sugar cookies to peanut butter cookies.

Today’s giveaway is a delightful book that combines the story of a grandmother’s Christmases when she was a little girl in Italy with some excellent recipes; it is by renowned Italian chef Lidia Bastianich.

This sweetly illustrated book serves as an excellent reminder that at Christmas time it is the simple things and the togetherness that serve to make the holiday special.

I was tempted to keep my copy, but in the Christmas spirit I decided to give it away. Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite holiday tradition is and I’ll pick a winner next week. You won’t get the book in time for Christmas, but it will be great to have next year.

 

 

Thanks to Running Press for the opportunity to do this giveaway.

Back to the Blog . . . And a Klutz Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Katie, commenter 27, for winning the Klutz Package giveaway.

This is totally something Ceara (16yo - daughter) would love to do with Conor (soon to be 8yo son). She is great with him and loves to do crafts and projects with him.

Posted by: Katie | November 16, 2010 at 11:35 AM

I didn’t really set out to take a few days off from this blog (I think this is the longest I’ve gone without posting since starting almost 3 years ago), but I just started doing other stuff.

Like?

I cooked and baked (duh). I know I’m weird, but I like to do the whole shebang myself (well, with help from my kids, but that’s it).

I took some long walks—including a solo 3-miler on Thanksgiving Day which was wonderful and a 5-miler on Friday which made me feel virtuous.

I drank Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale (several times). Tasty!

I kayaked 3 times. It was great, but I think my friend Heidi and I are going to have to hang up our paddles for a few months. When it takes an hour of soaking in a hot bath to recover feeling in your feet, it starts to be problematic.

I entertained. We missed Grownup Girl for Thanksgiving (though we texted back and forth lots), but were able to introduce Pedro to a traditional American Thanksgiving and DB’s water polo coach joined us (Social Butterfly taught him how to roll Pillsbury crescent rolls). We had lots more people for dessert—which was perfect. It wasn’t too many people for too long (as Thanksgiving can sometimes be), but just lots of fun.

I huddled for warmth—with a variety of people (thanks for the snuggles, Social Butterfly) and under several blankets. Mr. Fix-it is a big believer in fresh air circulating through the house—and this California Girl is NOT on board with that concept when overnight lows are in the 30s. The 30s!

I read 3 books including one in a single sitting. I really need to do that every so often to maintain sanity. Even better was that I’d only paid a dollar per book because I went to a used book store with a friend on Monday.

I saw a movie with my family (Love and Other Drugs)—SB sold them on it by saying it wasn’t a chick flick. It was, but it was still good—awesome chemistry between Jake Gyllenhaal  and Anne Hathaway.

I did NOT eat leftovers other than turkey.

I put on a successful Father/Son/Alumni water polo game/fundraiser. It’s an annual tradition and everyone looks forward to it so much; it’s so great to see the kids home from college and it’s even better to see what good sports so many of the dads are.

I realized that I only have to wait 3 weeks until the whole family is back together for a good spell—yay!

I was editing photos from the aforementioned Father/Son game and came across a candid that did not send me diving for the delete button (I also came across one that did, but is there anyone that wants to see a butt shot?!).

What did you do for Thanksgiving break that you really enjoyed?

A Klutz Giveaway—Fun, fun, fun

The winner of last week’s book giveaway is #4:

Posted by: Marms37 | November 08, 2010 at 10:41 AM

The resiliency of the human spirit surely is amazing—your comments included some heartbreaking stories.

 

Now, onto the fun, fun, fun!

Dina, from Big Honcho Media, sent me these to sample; Social Butterfly quickly set to sampling.

The Window Art was, in Klutz fashion, both fun and eminently do-able. Not to mention decorative—they’ve brightened up her bathroom mirror quite a bit.

The Capsters were just as much fun and would make delightful magnets.

Here’s the giveaway:

KLUTZ Window Art and Capsters

BOOK REVIEWS & GIVEAWAY

ONE WINNER FROM YOUR SITE WILL RECEIVE

A HUGE KLUTZ prize pack featuring:

• Window Art
• Capsters
• Headbands & Hairstyles
• Paper Airplanes

Retail Value: $75.99

CHECK OUT THE KLUTZ WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE

Capsters is the ultimate introduction to a form of pop art using bottle caps, specially sized round art, charms, gems, glitter and special goo, all included within the book!

Window Art Classic features ready-to-trace designs along with window paint to decorate all the glass surfaces in your house!

Who are you going to craft with or give the gift of craft to? Leave me a comment and I will pick a winner in two weeks.

Even if you don’t win, Klutz is offering a coupon code for holiday use: KZ25

Unstoppable In Stilettos: A Book Review and Giveaway

The winner of the Laws of Attraction giveaway is #4. Julie, send me your snail mail so I can get this to you.

I have loved mysteries starting with my Nancy Drew days, then I moved on to Agatha Christie & think I've owned most of them at one time or another.

I don't know who my favorite author is now, but I tend to like the fluffy ones that involve food, cats, knitting or all of the above. I use them as sleeping pills...

Posted by: Julie M | October 11, 2010 at 10:19 AM

I was scheduled to do this book review today and I didn’t receive the book until Wednesday, so I was a little worried. But, the up side to subbing in middle and high schools is that daily prep period—when you have nothing to prep you can read—and so, I did. Through lunch and prep on Friday and then when I got home.

I am not generally a big self-help person, but I really enjoyed this outside-the-box, practical and positive memoir/advice book.

To start with, Lauren Ruotolo is definitely the kind of person you can imagine meeting at a party and being taken with—she exudes a spirit of fun. She’s up front about her physical difficulties and the obstacles those difficulties have presented in her life. BUT, she views obstacles as something to be overcome—and her indomitable spirit lets her do that; it also encouraged her to share how she does it.

I think this would be an excellent graduation book for any young woman and a great choice for someone that might be struggling with a sense of self (which pretty much covers all teenagers).

It’s not a weighty tome, and the tone is decidedly breezy, but the messages, and the anecdotes she chooses to illustrate them, are compelling.

My favorite chapter is the one called, Pay your Dues. Yes! I say; recognize that we all need to pay our dues. But Lauren says it better than I do, so listen to her instead.

What piece of life advice do you give when asked? Leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner next week.

 

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book.

Moving Day: A Book Giveaway Post

The winner of Starting from Scratch is #20, Owlfan. And I must say, you all love to talk about cooking and mothers—the post generated a lot of comments. I think I may be on to something!

My mom is a good cook, though she claims not to like it. Growing up, once we were in middle school, my brother and I each got a night to cook. My mom claims she figured my brother would make mac & cheese every week, but he didn't. It started with more help from my mom and evolved into us doing all the cooking. I'm trying to do that with my boys, but I find that they wander off during the cooking.

I have definite fond memories of cooking with my grandmother. I often spent spring break with her, while my parents worked and I remember making cream puffs with her. And sticky buns at Christmas. makes me hungry...

Posted by: Owlfan | September 27, 2010 at 05:53 PM

___________________________________________________________________

How excited was I when I got this offer in my inbox?!

Would you be interested in giving away an ALLIE FINKLE book party kit? I’d love to encourage parents to start book clubs with their daughters by offering a $50 Visa cash card and multiple copies of the first book in the series.

Sharing the books I love with my girls (and boys) has been a highlight of my life as a mother.  Some they loved—The Little House Series--and some they did not share my enthusiasm for (An Old Fashioned Girl comes to mind). I guess you can’t win them all. Hmmm, maybe I’ll have granddaughters!

If I was blogging (if there was blogging) when my girls were 8 or so, I would have loved to win this giveaway and host this book group party. Meg Cabot, of The Princess Diaries, is the author of the series, Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls. The giveaway is for the first book, Moving Day.

I love feisty girls a la Junie B. Jones and Ramona Quimby, and Allie Finkle is in this mode. Naturally, Allie’s got problems that she doesn’t handle in the most mature way possible—the better for her (and the book’s readers) to learn some life lessons.

I’m a rules person, so this plot device always resonates with me. It’s used to great effect in a couple of novels for older youth I’ve recently read—speak and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian—and also in Allie Finkel.

Here are a few of my favorite rules:

• You can never make a second first impression
• Sometimes (but not always) it’s better just to keep things to yourself.
• Don’t get a pet that poops in your hand.

Leave me a comment and tell me what childhood book is it imperative that you pass your love for on to someone—anyone—and I’ll pick a winner next week.

Edited to add: The Allie Finkle website is now up and running.

 

Thanks to Dina at Big Honcho Media for my review copy and the winner’s package.

Starting from Scratch: A Book Review and Giveaway Post

Last week’s winner is sure to love the book she won. Email me your info and I will get the book out.

#9: I read to read . . and for book club . . and i love the stephanie plum series :)

Posted by: Julie | September 21, 2010 at 08:09 AM

I was in Costco browsing the books (I might have ended up buying one) and this book caught my eyes.

Appealing cover, no? It looked both intriguing and somewhat familiar. Hmmm. Perhaps that’s because it was sitting in my leaning tower of books to be reviewed.

I really love books that incorporate recipes into them—as this one does in a natural way since the narrator is her mother’s daughter; and hence, a cook. Learning to cook and bake from my mother is a memory and a life skill I will cherish. I hope my children will say the same one day: Grownup Girl already does.

A warm, simple in a comforting way, and intelligent family story I would call it a lovely read. I am predisposed to enjoy mother-daughter tales with all the complicated layers that entails; this novel did not disappoint.

Did your mother teach you to cook? Are you teaching someone to cook? Leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner next week.

Thanks to Ashley at Touchstone/Fireside Publicity for the chance to do this review/giveaway.

A Bad Day’s Work: A Book Review and Giveaway Post (Plus last week’s winners)

We read for a variety of reasons. To learn, to be forced to think, to expand our horizons, for escape and sometimes, just for fun. Nora McFarland’s debut novel, A Bad Day’s Work, is strictly for fun.

This mystery novel with a quirky main character, even quirkier supporting characters and action that unfolds at dizzying speed, can be best characterized as a wild romp.

I have to agree with BookPage that “their zaniness is reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.”

The heroine, Lilly Hawkins, has a job as a TV news photographer—or shooter—and the author’s background work for CNN shows in the detailed descriptions of Lilly’s job.

If you’re a mystery lover and love your mysteries even more with a shot of humor—you will enjoy this engaging read.

Why do you read? Leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner next week.

Thanks to Ashley of Touchstone/Fireside Publicity for giving me the opportunity to do this review/giveaway.

 

The winners of The Paranoid Parents Guide are numbers 1, 13 and 16. I love that one copy is going to a brand new mommy. Send me your info and I will get those copies on their way.

#1 I worry more now about teenage driver error that I used to -- blame that on MM totally the car back in April! I'm afraid it might have affected his brother, too, because EB has not yet completed the process to getting his license and he just turned 18.
My biggest worry is definitely safety. My husband tells me all the time that I'm being silly, but I can't help it. It was hard work bringing these kids into the world and I'd like them to stay around for a long time!

Posted by: kcinnova | September 12, 2010 at 11:56 PM

#13 Right now, with Luke being a month old, I worry about him getting sick, or, heaven forbid, SIDS. In terms of worry, it's going to be a LONG rest of my life! ;)

Posted by: Stacie | September 13, 2010 at 05:13 PM

I've got a kid with a learner's permit. What do you think my worry is? LOL

#16 I've got twin girls with vastly different friendship styles. I worry that they watch each other and feel inferior, on various counts. It's too easy to compare. It's such a knee-jerk reaction.

Posted by: yogurt | September 13, 2010 at 10:50 PM

The Paranoid Parents Guide: Worry Less, Parent Better and Raise a Resilient Child: A Book Review and Giveaway Post

The winner of the giveaway for Halfway to Each Other is #14—Suz. She has a grammatical error to thank for that—she was correcting the “your” from her previous comment!

I meant: You're a heathen???
My bad. :)

Posted by: busy bee suz | September 02, 2010 at 11:41 AM

It’s a good thing the random number generator didn’t come up with #15—she’s already got the book.

Jenn, aka my new heathen friend :)

Thank you for taking the time to read Halfway to Each Other and sharing your heartfelt review. It is no small thing to help a brand new author share her story. I appreciate it so much~

I enthusiastically encourage all of those who have commented to consider a year with their family abroad. Such wonders await!

Susan

Posted by: Susan Pohlman | September 03, 2010 at 12:31 AM

Now, on to today’s book . . .

I love to read Parenting books—even now, with my kids almost grown, I flip through Parenting magazine at the pediatrician’s office. I am sure I have read a hundred parenting books.

This parenting book?

Is my favorite.

This is the book that I would have written if I had written a book. Common sense is the absolute bedrock of Christie Barnes’ philosophy.

She articulates (and backs up with solid research and data) exactly what is wrong with paranoid parenting.

For years I have maintained that the world is no more dangerous a place—and probably less so—than when we were kids. The difference is that because of the 24/7 news cycle we know about every horrible thing that happens everywhere.

I arm my kids with the best tools I can and send them off into the world.* Anything beyond that would be overprotecting them to the point it hurt them.

Christie Barnes, in The Paranoid Parents Guide, highlights the rules you should teach, where the risks really are, and trains you (if you are a worrier) to put your mind at ease.

This book is relevant for all parents. I think it’s worth reading even if, like me, you’re almost done with child-rearing or even if you’re a worried grandparent. Barnes is a reformed worrier herself; she has empathy regarding what we worry about and why we worry, but she also practices tough love towards parents.

What’s your parenting worry? I’ll pick winners from the comments next week. I can give away 1 copy per 10 comments up to 3 winners, so please—enter the giveaway!

Mine? Teenage car accidents. Hands down. It’s why I have for years driven my children by the accident scenes/memorials of teens in our neighborhood that have perished in accidents caused by recklessness and/or drinking. I want them to know that it could happen to them, but it doesn’t have to.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review and giveaway this book.

* I do have to admit to feeling vindicated by a lot of what Ms. Barnes says. My in-laws would have definitely described me as paranoid when the kids were younger because I was rabid on the subjects of car seats, helmets and life jackets. It turns out I was worrying about the things that needed to be worried about—that is the things that can be controlled and whose use provides the greatest safety boost.