Guest Post: New Orleans and the Long Aftermath by Joy Castro

I'll be reviewing Joy's book tomorrow, 

but here's a great guest post from her, tohelp set you up for the book! 




When I decided to set my new thriller Hell or High Water in post-Katrina

New Orleans, I knew I wanted to take readers well beyond the tourist zone they would

ordinarily encounter if they visited the city for a conference or vacation: beyond the

French Quarter’s decadence,

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Book Review and Giveaway: Truth Be Told by Larry King

I hope you read the excerpt from this book earlier today!




Synopsis: Truth Be Told is a revealing and irresistibly entertaining look back on Larry's remarkable run at CNN, and an honest look at Larry's own life behind the scenes. After more than a half-century of asking questions, Larry King suddenly found everyone wanted answers from him. Was Larry King Live, CNN's highest rated program,

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Book Excerpt: Truth Be Told By Larry King

I'll be reviewing this book later today,enjoy this excerpt now!


Truth Be Told
By Larry King,
Author of Truth Be Told: Off the Record about Favorite Guests, Memorable Moments, Funniest Jokes, and a Half Century of Asking Questions






I was speaking at The University of Texas -- Pan American not long ago and a student asked me a question that had never been asked of me in more than fifty

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Bless Their Little Giveaways Linky : July 31- August 6, 2012

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Book Review As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur

Synopsis: What Can You Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned?

How do you respond when your husband or wife tramples your emotions?  When your boss fires you unexpectedly?  When you lose your life’s savings?  When the child you’ve loved and prayed for turns his back on you and your values?  

When disappointments like these smash their way into your life, you may want to scream, “

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Book Review: The Digest Diet by Liz Vaccariello

Drop a Size in 4 Days.
Eliminate Fatigue and Cravings.
Kick-start a Lifetime of Good Health!


Got your attention, didn't I? Read on for more!








Synopsis:

The Digest Diet utilizes groundbreaking science and collective wisdom to help you lose weight quickly and safely -- backed by the authority of America's most trusted magazine. Join editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello as she analyzes and

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Shhhhh. It's a Christmas in JULY Sale!

Yup, that's right, Paper Coterie is offering

 SEVENTY PERCENT off gift cards, ending 7-31-12.



What does that mean?



You can buy a gift card valued at $50 for ONLY $20,

a $75 card for ONLY $27, $100 for only $30 and even a $25 card for $12.50.



Translate that to your annual Christmas cards(AHH the Christmas in July link!)

and that means you could order this card:







which

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Comment Changes

After some soul searching and debating, I've decided to change the commenting on this blog from ANYONE, aka Anonymous comments allowed, to the use of Registered Users, via the OpenID system.

Why you ask?

Because this past week alone, we've had some pretty nasty comments posted (now gone, thank you for a delete button!). granted they weren't on the most current posts, but the fact that they

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Winners

1. Eyes of Justice- #136 Tabathia

2. Section 132- #  4 Wendy N

3. Paris Detective=#33 Darcy O



All winners have been notified by email!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

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Recipe Weekend: Crawfish Remoulade Wraps

You know how sometimes you go to a restaurant and get a meal that is just TO DIE FOR Scrumptious?



That happened to Suzanne and I this past weekend. We went to a new local restaurant and she ordered the Tilapia special and I decided to try the Crawfish Remoulade Wrap.



Suzanne liked her meal, but then she took a bite of mine:







and said, "ok I'll split yours, since you said you can't

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Redecorating? Paper Coterie Can Help!

I don't know about your house, but for us, the end of Summer doesn't just mean school is starting (can I get an AMEN hallelujah?), it has meant some serious redecorating changes!

We've repurposed rooms, moved furniture put up new art and photos. Freshened and came new life to the rooms. So it was no surprise that Kiddo wanted her room 'spruced up' as well!

It all started by moving a desk out of

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Summer= Adventures in Clean with Frigidaire

In the upcoming Disney film, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Jennifer Garner plays a mother who embarks on the ultimate adventure in clean when a son magically springs to life in her garden. At this moment, her character understands what every mother knows: life is full of messy adventures.






To celebrate magical moments like this, Frigidaire, makers of the Frigidaire Affinity front load

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Book Review and Giveaway: Severed Threads by Kaylin Mcfarren

Welcome to our stop on the Severed Threads Book Blog Tour!



I hope you read the excerpt earlier today!






Synopsis: Believing herself responsible for her father’s fatal diving accident, Rachel Lyons has withdrawn from the world and assumed a safe position at a foundation office. When called upon by a museum director to assist her former love interest with the recovery of a cursed relic from

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Book Excerpt: Severed Threads by Kaylin Mcfarren

I'll be reviewing this book later today, but here's an excerpt for you to read!











Chapter One
Shipwreck SiteTen miles off the California Coast 
Chase Cohen tumbled over Stargazer’s side and into the cold Pacific Ocean – his dreams of riches so close he could barely breathe. Five years diving for salvaging companies had taught him to restore his senses as quickly as possible. To

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Book Review and Giveaway: You Came Back by Christopher Coake

Synopsis: Thirty-something midwesterner Mark Fife believes he has successfully moved past the accidental death of his young son Brendan, as well as his subsequent divorce from his college sweetheart Chloe. He’s successful, he’s in love again, and he believes he’s mastered his own memories. But then he is contacted by a strange woman who tells him not only that she owns his old house, but

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Product Review and Giveaway: Julep Nail Polish

Have you heard about Julep Nail Vernis (Nail Color)?





I hadn't until I head they were looking for reviewers to be part of their VIP Program. After reading about the company i was THRILLED to be able to review their products, as they are so representative of the type of company that espouses the term 'girlpower"! Hear from their website:

"Julep was created as a tribute to the girlfriends who

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Bless Their Little Giveaways Linky : July 24- July 30, 2012

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FYI- Giveaways

Just an FYI for all you lucky winners/future winners here at BTHM. As of this month, I will be mailing out prizes ONCE a month, instead of twice. 

Occasionally it might happen within 3 weeks, but due to my paying for postage myself, and being on a tighter budget, with the changes in our household, mailings will go out at the end/beginning of the month.

Thanks for being supportive and

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Book Review and Giveaway: One Good Friend Deserves Another by Lisa Verge Higgins

Here's the perfect Summer read, if you're looking for the perfect novel about friendship!




Synopsis: Dhara, Kelly, Marta & Wendy have been the closest of friends since college, so close, in fact, that after a series of communal romantic disasters, they bond together to create rules of relationships meant to keep their hearts safe. Now, at the far side of thirty-five, those rules seem to have

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Hellman's and the 30th Annual Food and Wine Classic

Did you know that Hellmann’s was one of the sponsor's of one of the nation’s most celebrated food festivals – the 30th Annual FOOD & WINE Classic, that took place in Aspen this past June?  







To celebrate Hellmann's announcement of their mission to transition to 100% cage-free eggs in all its products by 2020 (they started in 2010, and have already done so completely in the European

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Carmex Summer Giveaway!

As a Carmex Blog Squad member, I get to try out some of their products before they hit the shelves everywhere, and that is a pretty cool thing!

Well they just sent me 2 of my favorite Summer finds for the year!




Yup this is a supersized bright beach tote, that there is NO way you're gonna loose on the beach! And it's the type I love with rope handles!

Filled in the bag's attached pouch (

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Book Review: It's Okay Not to Share by Heather Shumaker

Welcome to our last post on 'preparation' for the week!









Synopsis: Parenting can be such an overwhelming job that it’s easy to lose track of where you stand on some of the more controversial subjects at the playground (What if my kid likes to rough house—isn’t this ok as long as no one gets hurt? And what if my kid just doesn’t feel like sharing?). In this inspiring and enlightening book

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Recipe Weekend: Original Chicken Noodle Ro-tel Casserole

I know this is an oldie but a goodie, but we ha done of those mom-daughter psychic moments- i told her I'd been hunkering for good old Chicken Rotel or King ranch Casserole, and she said funny, i just printed out the original noodle casserole recipe! AHA, a sign! Add to the ingredients were in the fridge/pantry, and dinner was set!

Now we DID veer off the recipe a tad-we didn't have any egg

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Book Review: Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg, Illus. by Jeannie Hayden

Since we're talking about 'being prepared' and scouting this week, I new we had to include this book, that made it too late for the Father's Day roundup we had here!





Synopsis: An indispensable survival manual for guys entering the trenches of fatherhood, Be Prepared is loaded with one-of-a-kind insights, MacGyver-esque tips and tricks, and no-nonsense advice for mastering the first year as a

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Winners Enjoying Summer!

1. Asurion $40 Amazon Gift Card- #208 Debbie W

2. Game of Secrets- #79 Liza V

3. To Kill the Duke- #33 Angel J

4. Purex:
    1. #173 Michelle B
    2. #185 Lilly B
    3. #234 Carol W

5. Pampers: #80 Elena



All winners have been notified by email

Thanks to every one who entered!

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Product Review Matcha Green Tea Powder and Matcha Chocolate Cake in a Cup Recipe

Have you heard about Matcha Green Tea Powder?

You may have seen it all over Pinterest around St Patrick's Day, when everybody was using it to turn their baked goods green!

I had, but had never given it a try. So I was thrilled to be sent some Mocafe Matcha Green Tea sample packets to try!





Mocafe Matcha Green Tea Powder is finely milled or fine powder green tea. made from shade-grown tea

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Wordless Wednesday: My First Citation

And you thought I meant a Law Enforcement one....



LOL



I received it from Kiddo for

"moving stuff on her desk"....



Oh and my fine?

3 cents.

(I figured I got off cheap...)





Yeah, it's a long Summer.....

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Book Review and Giveaway: Lightning fast French Strikes Again by Carol Woods

Back in April we reviewed Lightning Fast French, the easy way to learn French for parents and their kids, and Carol is back with a second book! 




Synopsis: No time to learn French? 

Want to teach your children but don't speak French yourself? 

Lightning-Fast French helps you incorporate French into your every day activities, so you learn while doing the things you already do. This second

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Book Review: On My Honor by Shannon Henry Kleibler

We're on the topic of 'being prepared' this week, how about a great Kudos's to the Girl Scout's for their wonderful US Postal Stamp that was recently released:






And they made it a 'forever' stamp! How apropos! 



As a former girl Scout, I was quite happy to review this new book about the Girl Scouts, as 2012 marks the 100th year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America!





Synopsis: In

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Bless Their Little Giveaways Linky : July 17- July 23, 2012

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Book Review: Teach Children to Read Faster by Dennis Brooks

This week we've got some book reviews about 'being prepared'. 

Today's entry, is about readying your child for Kindergarten and reading skills. 




Synopsis: "Teach Children to Read Faster" is a supplemental self-teaching course for children and adults. 

Both learn to read faster using pronunciation patterns, phonetics, syllabification, and memorization. The lessons teach reading in spite of

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Book Review and Giveaway: Mystery Time by Janet Hannah

In Janet Hannah's third Alex Kertész mystery, her dashing scientist and charismatic sleuth returns with a beautiful German colleague to solve two mysteries: the murder of an American professor and the connection between an old watch and past time. The Wish to Kill analyzes the possibility that thoughts have the power to kill. 

Murder with a French Accent, the second book in the series, takes

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Book Review and Giveaway: The Line Between Here and Gone by Andrea Kane

Welcome to our stop on The Line Between Here and Gone BookTrib Blog Tour!








Synopsis: Amanda Gleason was distraught when authorities declared her boyfriend, Southampton real estate developer Paul Everett, a no-body homicide. They discovered signs of a struggle around his abandoned, blood-spattered car but were unable to find a body after days of searching and dredging.  Amanda was even

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Recipe Weekend: Hungarian Paprika Shrimp

Ever come across an old recipe book in an odd place, and go 'oh that's where I left it!" ? I had this experience this week, when i came across 52 Recipes by Christopher Blake, Vol. 2 (Volume 1 is for sale on Ebay by someone else), full of New Orleans Seafood recipes! From 1976, it's a great little booklet of amazing recipes! I'm glad I found it, so I can share one of my favorites from it!

You

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Guest Post: NCL Survey: Over Half of ‘Tweens’ Now Have Cell Phones, Does Yours?

Earlier we talked about the search for a new pastor in our book review, but Back to School is coming up before you know it (parents you can stop saying those 'Amens'!), and if you have a pre-teem, or tweener, as they are now called, you may be considering getting them their first cell phone. So this article may be of interested to you!

"Cell phones are not just for teenaged children any more.

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Winners Mourning the Loss of Bubble Guppies (from DirectTV)???

1. Henny on the Couch- #41- Jennifer M-I

2. So Far Away- #9  Beth D

3. Turquoise- #21 Nancy D (thanks for the Rudi's lunchbox vote!!!)

4. Speculation- #41 Martha L


All winners have been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

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Book Review: The Search Committee by Tim Owens

This is one of those books that I wanted to read when it came out, but just never had the time to. thanks to the Tyndale blogger bonus program I finally got the chance to!




Synopsis: They started out seeking a pastor. But what they found was each other. 

When a small-town southern church throws a hodgepodge of wildly different personalities together in a van and sends them out to look for a

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Purex Detergent Let's Be Honest Campaign Detergent Giveaway!

Back in April I told you about the Purex "Let's be Honest campaign", and the daily sweepstakes giveaway, that runs through July 24th, with one lucky daily winner winning a year’s supply of Purex detergent! With today's economy, that's a HUGE prize!


The Let's Be Honest campaign features a series of hysterical videos staring Second City Comedian, Molly Erdman, with topics such as boiling water,

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Wordless Wednesday: Marbles

Your childhood is calling.....

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Book Review and Giveaway: The Paris Detective by Gerald Jay

Synopsis: In a Berlin hotel room in the late 1990s, two former French intelligence agents hire Klaus Reiner, a ruthlessly effective killer, to eliminate an American industrialist vacationing in southwestern France. Reiner easily locates his target in the small Dordogne village of Taziac, but the hit is compromised when three innocent people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Enter

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Bless Their Little Giveaways Linky : July 10- July 16, 2012

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Book Review: The Lost Scrolls by Michael Scott

You guys now I'm a sucker for adventure book based on history and biblical theology, 

aka The DaVinci Code,

so it should be no surprise I wanted to review this book when the offer came!






Synopsis: When Dr. Jonathan Munro's house is broken into, and his former best friend and colleague, archaeologist Stephen Kaufman, is knifed in the streets of Ankara, he is thrust into a world of

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Product Review: Revlon to the Rescue!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Revlon for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you're like me, you probably haven't changed your make-up 'plan', that is how you style/wear makeup, since you had your child/children. Time takes on new meaning, and quick and easy is the approach most of us take, saving 'the whole sha-bang'for date night or special

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Keeping Kids Safe At School And Home by Lisa Wiehl

Last week I reviewed Lisa's latest book, 

Eyes of Justice, 

and I am happy to have a great little Guest Post from her today!




Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net





Peril can be lurking around every corner, so make sure your children know how to protect
themselves from dangerous situations.

These days, keeping kids safe is more complicated than just warning them not to talk to

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Rafflecopter Survey Results

Last week I asked you to answer a quick survey about the Rafflecopter entries for the giveaways for this blog. I was pretty surprised at the responses!






1. How many entries would you like to see PER giveaway in Rafflecopter, for this site?




Hmmm... so it's a practically draw between as it is now and 4-6 entries...


2. Do you prefer having numerous choices, or would you rather have to

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Book Review and Ebook Giveaway: Section 132 by Helga Zeiner

Earlier today I shared and excerpt for this book, and now here is the review!









SYNOPSIS:  Lillian is only 13 when her parents marry her to a middle-aged Bishop of a fundamentalist sect who practices polygamy. She is forced to live with her new husband’s many wives and children on his compound tucked away in the Canadian wilderness.




The hardships of poverty and isolation have crushed

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Book Excerpt: Section 132 by Helga Zeiner

I'll be reviewing this book later today, but first for an excerpt from the book!






Martha knew the Bishop was coming for her. His boots stomped toward the office, and when he unlocked the door, she moved back to the opposite wall, trying to melt into it. The room was only about ten feet deep, and he was threateningly close as soon as he had entered. She saw the gun strap slung over his

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Winners Celebrating this Week!

1. Survey Winner- #17- Kristi P   (more on survey coming up)

2. Champion me Books- #52 Liza V.

3. Mott's Medleys:
    1. #358 ALicia K
    2. #130 Nancy D
    3. #397 Diana M
    4. #224 Stephanie J


All winners have been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

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Book Review: The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter

I have not read any of Wanda's books before,

 but this one called out to be read when I saw the cover!



Synopsis: Join the club of unlikely quilters who show up for Amish widow Emma Yoder s quilting classes. A troubled young woman, a struggling couple, a widower, a rough and tough biker, and a preacher s wife make up the mismatched lot. But as their problems begin to bind them together like

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Book Review and Giveaway: Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl

Welcome to the latest book in Lisa's Triple Threat series!










Synopsis:



Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole fight for justice every day—Cassidy as a crime reporter, Nicole with the FBI, and Allison as a federal prosecutor. Together they're a Triple Threat to be reckoned with.



When a devastating turn of events upsets the balance of the Triple Threat team, they discover an ally in a quirky

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Book Review: The Truth About Grace by John MacArthur

Is the experience of God’s grace in your life a thrilling thing? Just thinking about the fact that God, by His own sovereign plan, decided to be gracious to me is overwhelming. There is nothing greater than receiving grace upon grace.” —John MacArthur






Synopsis:  Simple definitions can make grace feel like an obvious, even mundane, concept. Nothing could be further from the truth. Grace is

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Wordless Wednesday: WOW Bean!

What started as a school project, like this one from Pinterest:









that was a REGULAR bean, like you get in a bag to cook!



has turned into this:









Yup- it has about 17 bean pods on it! 



Kiddo is super excited!

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Don't Forget About the Pampers Giveaway!

For some reason, the Rafflecopter widget on the Pampers Soft Care baby Wipes 2 MONTH SUPPLY Giveaway was not working. 

 It appears to be fixed, so run on over and enter. 

 HERE is the link again!

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Let FREEDOM Ring....or NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

What would the founders of our country think?

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Book Review: The Klampie Mystery by Luis Rodriguez

And now a great kids book to prevent Summer brain drain,

and get those imaginations afire!





Synopsis: Samantha and her parents go on an adventure ‘down under’ to Australia.
Samantha gets a stuffed koala and names it "Klampie" since his arms clamp onto
anything, like a real koala. Follow Samantha as she is amazed by the differences
between the two countries. And then something unexpected

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Top Shelf Giveaway- July 2012

Welcome to this month's YOU CHOOSE THE BOOK Giveaway!








There's been some changes- I pulled a couple more books off and added a few more! So read the list carefully!




The choices this month are:







Promise Me by Harlan Coben











The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls















A Little Ray of Sunshine by Lani Rich  (ARC Copy)











The Seven Year *itch by Jennifer

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Bless Their Little Giveaways Linky : July 3- July 9, 2012

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Product Review and Giveaway: Pampers Soft Care Wipes

You know when you have a baby, you look forward to the day when you don't have to buy diapers and wipes anymore. Then your baby gets toliet trained and you find out the harsh truth: the diapers may be gone, but you're gonna use MORE wipes than ever with a preschooler in the house!

So when I was contacted about reviewing the new Pampers Soft Care Wipes, i was overjoyed! 


Pampers Soft Care Wipes

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Book Review: Dark Soul by Don Castle

I loved the first Jake Sommers novel, Pecan Gap, and in my review for that book, I hoped for future Jake book, and here we go- book 2!





Synopsis:  An African-American girl is shot and killed by a police officer during a routine traffic stop - a female FBI agent is drugged, kidnapped and severely tortured - and a prominent neighborhood has been targeted for racial profiling and hate crimes -

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Happy Canada Day!

To our Canadian readers, and relatives,







HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!!!!!

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Want some EASY Giveaway entries?

Want some extra entries for EVERY BTHM  giveaway this month?

Click on over to Rudi's Facebook page, and vote for Kiddo's entry to get FIVE  extra entries, PER giveaway!



For every vote they get, they donate $1 to The Lunch Box.

Woo hoo- that's right, vote once, you help multiple kids, and you can click into all the giveaways, and get FIVE entries for EACH one, with one action. You gotta love

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Winners Melting in the Heat!

1. Pear Tree Notelettes- #54 Donna K

2. It's Not That I'm Bitter- #18 Cyndee T

3. Top Shelf- # 62 Laura K-she picked the Snow Child

and a re-pick

4. Pear Tree notelettes- #33   Nancy D

All winners have been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone who entered, including our new followers (welcome aboard!)

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Please Remember the Survey....

Remember to take the short 4 question survey about Rafflecopter entry forms on this blog for giveaway, to be entered for a surprise drawing!

 I will pick the winner on July 2nd!


  Click here to take survey

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Recipe Weekend: Lilly's Cuban Tropical Pork Loin

So you buy some Capri Sun Tropical Fruit Water pouches for Kiddo. She drank them ALL through the last school year and into the Summer, and now suddenly she thinks they're 'nasty' and won't touch them. You have 8 packets left, what to do?

Well if you're my Mom, you make up a marinade with them! Yup, recycling 101! So here's her recipe for scrumptious Capri Sun Tropical Water marinated Pork Loin!

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Product Alert and Giveaway: $40 Amazon Gift Card

Quick- think of the one item in your purse that would cause you the most heartache and AGGRAVATION if you lost it.

Bet you had to pause did you?

Wallet or cell phone? Tick tock, tick tock. 




With most of us using smart phones nowawdays as more than just a phone, it's hard to decide if your wallet or or phone has more of per personal, private and financial records and history, isn't it?

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