2012 Reading Challenge

Doing the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge again.

Didn't quite make my goal of reading 100 books last year, but this year I'm going to try harder.

Maybe.

Anyway, you should come join me in this challenge. To participate, go sign up for a GoodReads account, join the challenge, then track your reading.


Ready, Set... ha! already started.



JANUARY

1. Back When You Were Easier to Love — Emily Wing Smith; YA (5)
2. The Breakup Artist — Shannen Crane Camp; YA (3)
3. Pride and Popularity — Jenni James; YA (4.5)
4. Sean Griswold's Head – Lindsey Leavitt; YA (5)
5. Bitter Blessings – Christine Mehring; YA (4)
6. With A Name Like Love – Tess Hilmo (5)
7. The Last Days – Scott Westerfield (4)
8. So Yesterday – Scott Westerfield (4)
9. Girls Don't Fly – Kristen Chandler (5) 
10. Slayers – CJ Hill (4.5)
11. Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens – Brandon Sanderson (3.5)

Give Books for Christmas Winners!

And the winners are...





The winner of Possession by Elana Johnson is...

Tiffany Drew

The winner of Nativity Bingo is...

Roberta P.

*Roberta, I don't have your email address. Please send it to me.









The winner of Santa Bingo is...

Sheila W.

Tiffany, email me your mailing address & I'll ship that right out to you.


Roberta & Sheila, I'll send you info for the free download via email.


Thanks for visiting everyone & have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Win Nativity Bingo!

I finished the second Bingo Book today!

Nativity Bingo!

This one centers around traditional Christian symbols of Christmas. Teach your children the meaning of Christmas as it relates to the birth of Christ, using the included information sheets.

Like the Santa Bingo book, it comes in zipped pdf files that you can open and print for hours of play.

(Yes, I do consider it a book because it's book sized and I'm negotiating now to have it printed and available as a book.) 

AND it's not just Bingo. You can also play Memory Match-Up and Go Fish with the image cards. 


Deadline to enter: Midnight, Thursday, December 15, 2011.


This giveaway is open to U.S. AND International entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win Santa Bingo!

I decided to give away another book...

Santa Bingo!

What better way to have a little fun during the Christmas holidays? It's been thoroughly tested by adults, elves and grandchildren—and given a big thumbs up!

This book comes in zipped pdf files that you can open and print for hours of play.

(Yes, I do consider it a book because it's book sized and I'm negotiating now to have it printed and available as a book.) 

AND it's not just Bingo. You can also play Memory Match-Up and Go Fish with the image cards. 




Deadline to enter: Midnight, Thursday, December 15, 2011.


My giveaway is open to U.S. AND International entries.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


While you're waiting to see if you win this awesome prize, visit the other blogs in the hop and enter to win their books too! (See links below.)

Give Books for Christmas — My Prize!

I'm participating in the Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop!

Why? Because I think EVERYONE should give books as Christmas gifts. I do it every year. In fact, I've sort of become known for it within my family.

Over the next two weeks, I'll be posting about books that I think make wonderful Christmas gifts for various age groups. But if you want a head start, go here for my Top 10 Christmas Picture Books that I recommended in 2007.


But now for the Giveaway Hop.

I'm giving away a copy of Possession by Elana Johnson.

Here's the promo blurb:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

I really liked this book and I think it would be a great gift for older teen girls—or anyone who enjoys Young Adult dystopian fiction.

Deadline to enter: Midnight, Thursday, December 15, 2011.


My giveaway is open to U.S. entries only.

Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop!

Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop
December 1-15, 2011
Hosted by Inksplasher

What is a Blog Giveaway Hop?
A blog hop is a linky list of bloggers that is shared across multiple blogs. Each blogger on the list agrees to giveaway a prize that is specific to the theme and rules of the particular hop. In this case, we're each giving away a BOOK!

If you are a blogger and want to participate by giving away a book on your blog, see the rules below.

If you are a reader and you want to win a prize, visit each of the bloggers linked below and follow their rules for winning their book.


Hop Rules for Bloggers:

• Each participating blog will host their own giveaway on their own blog site.
  
  
• The giveaway must be a BOOK. Gift Card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other online bookstore is okay. (You may also give away multiple books. That's up to you.)
  
  
• You must be able to ship the book on December 16th. (Inksplasher shall not be responsible for blog participants who fail to ship prizes in a timely manner.)
  
  
• Your blog and the book offered must be "family friendly."
  
  
• Create your post for the Giveaway Hop (see a sample post here). Post should include:
  —image and description of book you're giving away
  —linky code Go here to get the InLinkz code that best fits your blog platform
  
  
• Add your blog to the linky list below. Include shipping information in parentheses after your blog name. [Example: Inksplasher (US) or Inksplasher (Int)]. Link directly to your giveaway post, not just to your blog URL.
  
  
• Put a Give Books button in your blog sidebar. (Get code here.)
  
  
• If you have multiple blogs, you may give away a book on each blog. Each blog must have it's own prize.
  

If you have any questions, email me at inksplashercontests-at-gmail-dot-com

Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop Buttons

Here are buttons and instructions for putting them on your blog. All bloggers must put the button in their sidebar.

If you're a blog reader and want to earn extra entries for Inksplasher's prize, put a button in your sidebar, then leave a comment on this post with your blog URL.

Thanks!

220 px button (for standard sidebar)

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.inksplasher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx279/LibrisPro/Buttons/GiveBooksButton_220c.jpg" /></a>

125 px button (for smaller sidebar)

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.inksplasher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx279/LibrisPro/Buttons/GiveBooksButton_125c.jpg" /></a>

To Install the Buttons on Blogger

If you have one sidebar, use the bigger button (220 px). If you have two sidebars, use the smaller button (125 px).

1. Put your cursor in the box below the button and copy all of the code. The easiest way to do this is to place your cursor in the box, then press control + a. This highlights all the text in the box. Then press control + c to copy it.
   
   
2. Go to your blog's dashboard and click Design. This should take you to Add and Arrange Page Elements.
   
   
3. Click on Add Gadget.
   
   
4. Scroll down the list and find the one that says HTML/JavaScript. Click on it.
   
   
5. Paste the code into the large Content box. You can type in a Title if you want. Click the orange Save button. If you get a message that says there are illegal characters, it means you didn't get all the code. Go back to Step 1 and recopy the code.
   
   
6. The button will display at the top of your sidebar. While on the Page Elements page, you can drag the new gadget box to another position on your sidebar, if you want. Then click the orange Save button.

That should do it. Let me know if you have any problems.

What's On Your Tree?

DH and I were married 10 days before Christmas. A dear friend decorated the room for us with Christmas trees and white fairy lights, burgandy poinsettias, cream candles, mauve netting, gold snowflakes.

It was absolutely breath-taking.

After the reception, she boxed everything up and gave us all the Christmas decorations as a wedding gift.
(Those white envelopes are not part of the wedding decorations. It's a family tradition on Christmas morning.)

I love this tree. Every year when I put it up, it reminds me of my wedding—a memory that makes Christmas even more special for me.

But.

After fifteen years, I decided I needed something new. My grandsons are fascinated with the Grinch, ever since Aunt Suan gave them the book, the movie and a Grinch doll for Christmas one year.

And she's also given me a couple of animated Grinches.

So...

Yep. It's a Grinch tree.

Next year, I may go back to my burgandy, mauve and gold tree, but it was fun creating something new!

What's on your tree?

I Can't Believe I Ate...Wait! I Have an UNDO Button!

Who's regretting everything they ate yesterday?

I'm not much of a cook, so we took DH's mom to Golden Corral for our turkey dinner.

Thanksgiving dinner is MY FAVORITE FOOD of all time! I love turkey and potatoes and corn and green beans and rolls and...

...and I ate it all.

In previous years, I would be beating myself up for this holiday gluttony, but not this year because I have a SECRET WEAPON.

I have The Undo Button!

This book is by my daughter, McKenna, and I got to read the first couple of chapters a few months ago. It has some great information and is written in a friendly, easy-to-understand style—kind of like she's sitting down with me and chatting.

Definitely worth the read!

Here’s a little teaser of what you’ll get when you read The Undo Button.

• Why we’re all addicted to food …page 16
  
  
• The secret to getting through social occasions without even wanting to “cheat” … page 19
  
  
• Your magic bullet to stop eating triggers dead in their tracks with a smile … page 32
  
  
• How to eat healthy all the time, without feeling one bit of deprivation … page 38
  
  
• Why cravings are merely emotions, and how to move through them gracefully and successfully … page 41
  
  
• The Pantry/Fridge Raid – exactly what to keep, what to toss, and what to replace with delicious, healthy alternatives without your tastebuds noticing …page 52
  
  
• How to see right through the lies on food labels to know with 100% confidence that what you’re buying is actually healthy and doesn’t just claim to be. … page 70
  
  
• The specific foods that turn your body into a healing machine and can begin to reduce and reverse things like blood sugar problems, excess weight, IBS, arthritis, thyroid issues, acne, eczema, pain and inflammation, indigestion, insomnia, depression, anxiety, dormant sex drive, and energy that’s hiding in the toilet … page 81
  
  
• How those who hate the taste of vegetables can still get the health benefits of eating piles of veggies each day, without purchasing a single product … page 86
  
  
• The most gentle and simple way to detox your body and skyrocket your energy levels … page 103
  
  
• My secret recipe to instantly zap the horrible water retention that occurs after just one day of unhealthy eating … page 172
  
  
• Healthy desserts that taste ANYTHING but healthy … page 181
  
  
• Plus pages on pages of delicious, energy-giving recipes that will make your fat cells cry for ever-loving mercy.

Get your copy during her
Black Friday special for less than half price!

And because I'm an uber-supportive Mom, if you leave a comment on her site HERE, stating that you bought the book because you heard about it from me, I'll put your name in a drawing for a FREE copy of my Christmas Bingo game!

Deadline: Midnight, November 28, 2011.

Christmas Bingo: Santa Edition

My newest book is ready, just in time for Black Friday specials.

Christmas Bingo:
Santa Edition!

Keep the family entertained during the Christmas holidays with this downloadable PDF print & play bingo game can be yours in minutes!

Bingo game file includes:

• 12 color playing sheets
  
  
• 50 color image cards
  
  
• Instructions for play

You will need to supply your own marker pieces.

Laminate for long-lasting playing sheets.

We play this Christmas Bingo game at our family party every year. We have a Treasure Box filled with dollar store items for all ages—enough for everyone to win a couple of prizes each. Each time we play the Bingo game, the winner gets to pick a prize from the Treasure Box. When everyone's tired of playing, it's a free-for-all for the leftover prizes.

Black Friday Special!

Use this code: blackfri
before midnight, November 28th,
to get any (or all!) Scatterbrains Print & Play games
for HALF PRICE!

(which is an excellent deal, considering their already low prices)

Want a chance to get the Santa Bingo Free? Read this post.

Grand Prize Winner!!!

This contest is closed.

What is the Grand Prize for
Bella's Totally Awesome Bridal/Baby Shower?

The GRAND PRIZE includes...

Your Choice: 'Vampire Lips' OR 'Fangs Are Fabulous' Tote bag
with Matching Notebook

donated by Suan/Life is Good

PLUS several other awesome prizes!
GO HERE TO SEE!

And the winner
chosen totally at random
is
MEGAN ORME!

And the winning sponsor,
who gets the same prizes as the Grand Prize winner
(because I lurve my sponsors and want them to lurve me back!)
is
NANCY ALLEN

YAY Winners!!!

Thanks for playing everyone. Hope you had fun.

And just a quick heads-up...

I'll be sponsoring another contest in December. Check back for more info!

Breaking Dawn Puzzle & Game Winner!

This contest is closed.

 

PRIZE: Your Choice of Any TWO Scatterbrains Print & Play Puzzle or Game

SPONSOR: Karlene @ Scatterbrains

Karlene's Question:
Which two game books do you want to win?


Answer:
Winner's Choice

And the winner
chosen completely at random
is
Juliana McIntosh!

Isabelle Webb Books Winner!

This contest is closed.

PRIZE: Isabelle Webb, Books 1 & 2

SPONSOR: Nancy @ Nancy Campbell Allen

Nancy's Question:
Is Nancy an Edward girl or a Jacob girl?


Answer:
She is an Edward girl for the books,
and for the movies, she's a Jacob girl.

And the winner
chosen completely at random
is
Megan Swanson!

Breaking Dawn Calendar Winner!

This contest is closed.

 PRIZE: 2012 Breaking Dawn Calendar!

SPONSOR: Kandis

Kandis's Question:
Who is the minister that marries
Edward & Bella?


Answer:
Mr. Weber (Angela's father)

And the winner
chosen completely at random
is
Harlene!

Shakeology (Better Than Blood) Winner!

PRIZE: Two Shakeology Packets

SPONSOR: Suan @ Life Is Good

Suan's Question:
In Breaking Dawn, Carlisle says, "I've seen vampire venom work miracles, but there are conditions that even venom cannot overcome."

What condition can vampire venom not cure?


Answer:
A heart that's stopped beating.

And the winner
chosen completely at random
is
Evelyn!