Copyright
© Copyright 2006-2010 blackbeltmama dot com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Lakeshore Christmas (The Lakeshore Chronicles) by Susan Wiggs
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by MotherTalk on behalf of Lakeshore Christmas and received a copy of the book to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
What is it about small town America that draws us towards it? Is it the simple life that we really all desire, or is it the honest people we imagine living there, or the great sense of fellowship? I find myself drawn to stories set in these small towns, being pulled into a life I think I would enjoy immensely.
Lakeshore Christmas, part of The Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs, delivers that small town feeling at a time of year that reminds us what friends, faith, and simplicity really mean in our lives. The characters are typical, but that's what makes them so endearing to us…the reserved librarian with a past, the Hollywood star/rocker with a heart of gold, the struggling teenage mom, the bad teenagers who find the right path. And of course, the conflict…
At the heart of the story is the town Christmas pageant, the one thing that can save the characters and the heart of the town. In the end, miracles will happen and it makes the reader believe again in the goodness of others.
Lakeshore Christmas makes you want to get those decorations out and start baking cookies. Grab a cup of tea and your coziest blanket and enjoy a heartwarming and fulfilling novel! Thanks for MotherTalk for hooking me up with yet another delightful read!
TKDDaughter gives Lakeshore Christmas a:
Wendy’s High School Heismann Program + GIVEAWAY!!
I teach high school, ninth-graders specifically. I am amazed each year as more and more parents are stressed out about college when their children enter the ninth grade. While I understand that every decision and choice in high school impacts the college application, it makes me a bit sad that children have so much stress so early.
Students today work hard. They are over scheduled and still maintain good grade averages and help in their communities. As a way of showcasing and congratulating these students who work so hard and achieve so much, Wendy's is continuing its eight year tradition of the Wendy's High School Heisman Program. Here's how it works:
High school seniors who have a 3.0 average or higher, participate in a school-sponsored sport and contribute to their community can apply at www.WendysHeisman.com, or a high school educator, guidance counselor, or coach can nominate them. As a little reward, the first 41,100 applicants will receive a free Wendy's gift card in amounts ranging from $5 to $50. One male and one female from each high school will win the award and continue on in competition for state and national awards. Twelve national finalists will participate in Heisman Weekend festivities during an all-expenses-paid trip Dec. 11-13 to New York City. ESPN2 will feature all 12 national finalists during the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards Ceremony, which airs Dec. 13. The Wendy's High School Heisman website will display the names of all applicants and individual school winners on October 22, 2009.
I encourage any parents or teachers to let the high school seniors in their lives know about this great opportunity. And anyone who leaves a comment here will be entered into a drawing for a $20 Wendy's gift card-you can't beat that!
For encouraging kids to keep working hard, TKDDaughter gives the Wendy's High School Heisman Program a:
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Wendy's and received a gift certificate to giveaway and to thank me for taking the time to participate.
Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend
A little over seven months, my father suffered two massive strokes. By the grace of God, he received medical help within the needed time frame, and we are blessed to have him with us today, with very little long-term damage. DUring the recovery, diet became a huge concern. Low-fat, low sugar, low cholesterol, low sodium-ugh! If you do low-fat, the sodium is high. If you do all of the above, there's not taste. I spent hours in the grocery store, reading labels, hoping I wasn't adding to my father's health issues.
That's when I checked out Mrs. Dash. We always had Mrs. Dash growing up, but what I didn't know was that many varieties of Mrs. Dash that were out there (over fifteen!!!). Mrs. Dash is introducing two new seasoning blends, Fiesta Lime and Caribbean Citrus, and Mom Central asked me to play around with one of the seasonings and let you know what I thought. They sent me the FIesta Lime blend and yum! It popped with flavor and I wasn't dying of thirst afterward.
There are recipes at Mrs. Dash, but I decided to make something up. My friend's garden is plentiful, so I steamed up some yellow zucchini and some fresh green beans, mixed it with a little olive oil, sprinkled on the Fiesta Lime seasoning blend and served over a bed of brown rice, black beans and a touch of salsa. Fresh and yummy! The husband even enjoyed it!
I can't wait to try the Caribbean Citrus blend soon. Both new flavors would be great on fish or in a salsa…hmmmm, now I know what I'm having for dinner tonight!
TKDDaughter gives the new Fiesta Lime seasoning blend by Mrs. Dash a
McAfee Family Protection
In the world we live in, danger is all around us. In the "good ol' days," you could shut out the bad things when you closed your front door…now, danger follows us right in and makes itself at home. This poses an extra problem for parents whose children use the computer. McAfee Family Protection software aims to help curb some of a parent's fears on keeping their kids safe.
What I like about the software is the many features that focus on monitoring computer usage…I have found that you can filter all you want, some sites still get through the cracks…this way, I can see who has been where in case one of those sites sneaks through. (Although, I have to tell you, nothing bad has gotten through!)
For you, BBM Review readers, McAfee is offering a discount through August 31, 2009 to save $5 off the McAfee Family Protection. The promo code is: 5familyprotection. Take advantage of this great savings while protecting your family!
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of McAfee and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, McAfee sent me a blanket and care package to thank me for taking the time to participate.
For giving parents some peace of mind while their kids surf the web, TKDDaughter gives McAfee Family Protection:
Making Life Better
Filed under: Food and Drink, General Information, Household
The title of this post alone should be your "narrative hook" (sorry, geeky English teacher here…). We all strive in this tough economy to make the most of what we have and stretch our resources. Along the way, we don't want to scrimp on the health and well being of our families. Dinner is a constant struggle to do this…Mom Central showed me a website that is quickly becoming a new favorite place for me when I do my meal planning.
Making Life Better features great recipes and cooking tips. I'm planning on putting the Grilled Chicken with Peaches meal (at only 320 calories!!) on my meal plan for next week. There is a quick search where you can quickly search by different criteria, making it easy to find what you need. They even have their own YouTube channel where you can find Cooking Coach videos to learn new tips and ideas.
I like that this website focuses on making dinner fast and easy and affordable. There is an entire section on Budget meals…I like that! You can sign up for a newsletter, enter a monthly sweepstakes, and more! Check out this helpful website and start gaining some sanity into your life at mealtime!
TKDDaughter gives Making Life Better a :
Getting Rave Reviews
BlogHer Review
Go Shopping
Macho Warrior Sparring Gear Set
$69.99And see the rest of our Sparring Gear
at MartialArtsSupplies.com
Martial Arts Pagoda
