Strange Daze Indeed

Isn't life strange? And wonderful!

Win a $50 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash – If You Believe #Giveaway

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If you believeIf You Believe by Mya O’Malley

For some people love only comes once, but for some lucky people, it is possible to love again.
Melody and Jack shared an unforgettable love story that abruptly ended. Melody, left picking up the pieces, finds herself alone many years later, with no hope or desire to date again.  However, with the holiday season approaching, Melody finds it particularly difficult to get Jack out of her thoughts.
Jack isn’t sure if he’s an angel or a ghost, but his mind is set on one thing only, finding a new love for Melody by Christmas Eve at midnight. This is easier said than done! With many obstacles to tackle, Jack underestimates how difficult the task is. With conflicting emotions, Jack takes it upon himself to find a man for a woman he still loves.

With the clock ticking as the holidays approach, this charming story of finding love the second time around will have you laughing and crying, but ultimately, it will have you believing in true love.

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Mya-Omalley-180x300Author Mya O’Malley

Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers; Destiny and Dolce and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.

Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her sixth novel.

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$50 Blast Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/29/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Win $50 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash – The Awakening #Giveaway

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The Awakening by Dorine WhiteThe Awakening by Dorine White

Nightmares really can come true; for fifteen-year-old Kyler Birkwood, they are just beginning. As he was raised on a farm by his Aunt Martha, Kyler has no clue about the magical heritage that is swimming through his blood. When he discovers evidence of a mythical creature, a terrifying beast thought only to exist in fairy tales, his once safe world shatters.
Left at a school of magic to hunt for clues, Kyler is overwhelmed and disbelieved. As loved ones begin disappearing and Orcs roam the land, Kyler undergoes a journey that takes him from the High Courts of the King to the unknown forests of the East. His magic is just awakening and Kyler is the lone hope for a world that will not listen.

Amazon Kindle * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

DorineAuthor Dorine White

Dorine White is a children’s fantasy author and a book reviewer who grew up back East in Maryland and attended BYU in Utah. Currently she lives in the beautiful, yet rainy Northwest with her husband and 6 children.

 

 

 

 

 

Enter to win an50_Amazon_Paypal Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
$50 Book Blast Giveaway

Ends 12/29/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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Win a $50 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash – Meow if It’s Murder #Giveaway

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Meow if its murderMeow If It’s Murder by L.C. LoTempio

Nora Charles doesn’t believe in fate, even if she is a crime reporter who shares a name with a character from The Thin Man. In fact, she’s moving back to Cruz, California, to have a quieter life. But after finding an online magazine eager for material, and a stray cat named Nick with a talent for detection, Nora’s not just reporting crimes again. She’s uncovering them…

Back in her hometown, Nora reconnects with old friends and makes some new ones, like Nick, the charming feline who seems determined to be her cat. But not everything about Cruz is friendly. Writing for a local online magazine, Nora investigates the curious death of socialite Lola Grainger. Though it was deemed an accident, Nora suspects foul play. And it seems that her cat does too.

Apparently, Nick used to belong to a P.I. who disappeared while investigating Lola Grainger’s death. The coincidence is spooky, but not as spooky as the clues Nick spells out for her with Scrabble letters—clues that lead her down an increasingly dangerous path. Whether fate put her on this case or not, solving it will take all of Nora’s wits, and maybe a few of Nick’s nine lives.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

ToniAuthor Toni LoTempio

While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She lists among her favorite mystery/suspense writers Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, as well as EJ Copperman, Steve Hockensmith, Victoria Laurie, Ali Brandon, Rita Mae Brown, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly to name only a few! Toni is also passionate about her love for animals, as demonstrated with her four cats: Trixie, Princess, Maxx and, of course, ROCCO, who not only provided the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat in the Nick and Nora mystery series, but who also writes his own blog and does charity work for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read! Toni’s also devoted to miniseries like The Thorn Birds, Dancing with the Stars, reruns of Murder She Wrote and Castle (of course!). She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuts Dec. 2, 2014. She, Rocco and company make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York.

 

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$50 Blast Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/22/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

 

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Bring in the Magic of the Season with Christmas Forest’s Beautiful Wreaths – #Giveaway

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My entire house smells like a fresh evergreen forest and I couldn’t be happier! This year I had the good fortune to receive a wreath from Christmas Forest.

Christmas Forest is a seasonal company in the Pacific Northwest that makes Forest Fresh Christmas Wreaths. Working with nature, they create exquisite noble fir Christmas wreaths from the finest evergreens of the Cascade Mountains.

The beauty and the scent of the wreath are just heavenly as is the hand-crafted detail. Truly it embodies the essence of Christmas. Each design is a one-of-a-kind creation and you can feel the love in each and every one. I also find their outstanding customer service as well as their environmental commitment very impressive.

I loved looking at all the beautiful holiday wreaths at the Christmas Forest site, but, as lovely as they were, they didn’t quite prepare me for the splendor of seeing mine in my home. The wreath came beautifully and carefully packaged from Santa and the Elves and we quickly opened the box.

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Immediately, the room was filled with crisp evergreen and I was transported to so many memories of picking out the perfect tree with my family. The wreath was even more beautiful than I could have envisioned, so fresh as though it was newly cut that morning. We received the Jingle Bells Wreath which came filled with lights, bells and colorful ornaments. It also came with a gorgeous red bow which could be added as well. This wreath is 20″ in diameter and really creates a heavenly ambience.

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From now on, I will be buying all my wreaths from Christmas Forest, as they are the freshest and most attractive I’ve ever seen or smelled! This is also one of my top holiday gift picks since it is perfect for home or office, for any age, male or female. It brightens and livens up any environment, illuminates the entranceway and provides festivity and cheer to visitors. Wherever you place it, you are bringing in the magic of Christmas.

 A little history

Rick and Ramona Holt sold their first Christmas wreath at Pike Place Farmer’s Market in Seattle in 1976. Rick was working in construction and Ramona was a piano teacher at the time. Looking for extra Christmas money to buy Christmas gifts, they harvested cedar boughs to sell to a local nursery. When the owner of the nursery said that he didn’t need the branches after all, the Holts decided to try their hand at making and selling wreaths so the boughs would not be wasted. They worked all night making wreaths and the next morning they sold their first Christmas wreath in Seattle, Washington. That was 38 years ago and now the wreaths of Christmas Forest have decorated thousands of doors around the world.

 A Green Christmas

The wreaths from Christmas Forest are a renewable resource. They do not cut down any trees to make them. In the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, they harvest the tips of the branches which promotes the growth of the trees. Trimming the branches of the noble fir tree is actually beneficial to the trees and thus great for the environment.

The aromatic noble fir trees from Washington state are the longest lasting evergreens. These majestic trees are nature’s way of fighting against global warming. Trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and release oxygen. The process of producing plastic to make artificial wreaths burns fossil fuels while adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Knowing that fresh Christmas wreaths are recyclable, renewable and less of a contributor to global warming, those who are concerned about Mother Earth are choosing a fresh Christmas Forest wreath. So, go green and buy a fresh evergreen Christmas wreath this year. Right now you can order from Christmas Forest and get Free Shipping to 48 States via UPS Ground and 10% Discount on 10 or More Items.

Christmas Giveaway

Thanks to the generosity of the kind elves at Christmas Forest, one of my readers is going to win the same beautiful wreath that I was sent. I am sure you will love it as much as I do! Simply enter via Giveaway Tools below.

 

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Happy Holidays! 

 

Disclosure: I was provided a wreath for the purposes of review, however, all opinions are strictly my own.

Holiday Fashion: Matching PJ’s For the Family

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If you’re looking for something new and different for the family this holiday season, check out these adorable matching pajama sets.

These pj’s are one of my favorites! Right now, my house is filled with green. Between the tree and the wreaths, it smells like a delightful pine forest. Now you can cuddle up in style this winter with matching Christmas Tree pajamas The Adult pajamas are 100% Cotton Flannel while the Infant and Kids pajamas are 100% Knit Cotton. You can find them at Sleepyheads.

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Can you imagine Christmas morning under the tree with everyone in their matching jammies. They bring a sense of warmth in so many ways.

Another favorite of mine are the Lazy One Bear Bottom Flapjacks Family Matching Long Johns.

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These are perfect for snuggling up with a cup of hot cocoa to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” or read a Christmas story, and imagine the fun holiday postcards you could send!

For purple lovers like me, you might like these Karen Neuburger Holiday Novelty Bear Peri Mommy and Me Matching Fleece Pajamas. I love the color and style.

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Part of the fun of being a family is in doing things together that create memories for years to come. Watching videos later is a wonderful and lasting way to remember the good times.

You can find footed and unfooted pjs and every kind of style, color and pattern at Sleepyheads. You can mix and match! You can outfit a whole team or match your boyfriend in style. In any case, warm snuggly pajamas create a sense of happiness and celebrate the joy of being together.

Why not check out ideas and get some more great information at LifestylePost.

If you could create your own style of matching pajamas, what would you put on them?

Disclosure: This is a partnered post with lifestylepost.org however all opinions are strictly my own.

#Aging Well – Helping our Parents and Grandparents Navigate a Path to Healthy Living

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I participated in this program on behalf of Aetna and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Aging is a fact of life, and, like most things that are inevitable, it’s best to try and make friends with it. After all, our attitudes really determine how we live our lives.

My Mom would always tell me as she got older that inside she felt like a young girl. She kept that youthful outlook throughout her life. When she was younger, my Mom loved to sing opera and to dance salsa and jitterbug. She would tell me stories about how she and Dad danced in the streets on their honeymoon in Cuba. She was a hot ticket.

As my Mom got older, she developed some health problems which made it much harder to do the things she loved to do, but, of course, she retained her irrepressible spirit. We would always try to take a walk around the block and stop to look at the ocean. She took a t’ai chi class which she loved and I took it with her. Every weekend, we would go to our favorite seafood restaurant and order something healthy and delicious. Salmon with grilled asparagus was a favorite. She cut out salt and ate more salads. I would take her grocery shopping with me, even if it meant she had to lean more on the cart. She loved Jeopardy and her favorite gift was always more crossword puzzle books. These kept her mind active and young as well.

Parents and grandparents can still stay active, even though it may not be in the same ways as when they were younger. New and healthy foods can be an adventure and one that helps ease inflammation and blood sugar issues.

In short, we can help our elders age gracefully and healthfully.

This fall, Aetna teamed up with Grandparents.com on a new survey of more than 5,000 Grandparents.com members to gauge what matters most to grandparents for healthy living.

aetna1Aetna.com

A group of bloggers were recently invited to a virtual chat with Dr. Randall Krakauer, Vice President and national medical director for Medicare Strategy and Innovation at Aetna. A recognized leader in geriatric care, board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, Dr. Krakauer is also the proud father of three and grandfather of two. What we learned was interesting and enlightening.

Only one in four Grandparents.com members view themselves as”seniors”and less than half are retired for good. In fact, over one in three are still working either full or part-time.

Ninety percent of grandparents have access to a computer, almost sixty percent have access to a smartphone, and over half of the respondents list overuse of technology as their biggest concern regarding their grandchildren’s future. I don’t blame them. Sometimes when we’re having dinner and the kids are texting one another across the table, I feel the same way!

The most common health conditions reported were high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity while only one in five list exercising 30 minutes a day at least three times per week as their most successful health habit. I think this is something we all can work on together. It is a great benefit at any age. If you exercise with your parents or grandparents, they may be more likely to join in.

Regarding top health concerns, cost and chronic disease management were predominant.

If they could do it all over again, about 30 percent say they wish they had started exercising 20 years ago and 40 percent believe that exercise is the hardest health habit to form.

The holidays are a good time to talk and an opportunity to discuss family health history with your parents and relatives and help them make health goals for the year ahead.

We can also help our family members make the most out of Medicare Open Enrollment. The General Open Enrollment period runs from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015 and Open Enrollment for Medicare beneficiaries runs from October 15, 2014 to December 7, 2014.

Aetna

Consider preventive services and learn how to make the most of them. If using Medicare, consider other programs that many Medicare plans offer – such as Silver Sneakers.

Be a smart shopper – use resources available on sites such as www.grandparents.com/aetna-survey and AetnaMedicare.com to help make healthy informed decisions for the year ahead.

Above all, show your concern in authentic and helpful ways. This compassion is invaluable as parents and grandparents go through the different stages of life. To know they have your support is everything.

Win $100 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash – Winter Wolf Book Blast Giveaway

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Winter WolfWinter Wolf (Witch & Wolf Book 2) by R.J. Blain

The Hunted Wizard

When Nicole first dabbled in the occult, she lost everything: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now that she is on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and to the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.

The savage murder of a bookstore employee soon throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she simply decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could eventually kill the entire werewolf race.

Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted.

Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls.

But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish…

 

 

Author RJ BlainAuthor R.J. Blain

RJ Blain suffers considerably from a Moleskine journal obsession as well as a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn’t playing pretend, she likes to think she’s a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied

Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/16/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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Win $50 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash – Cranberry Bluff Book Blast Giveaway

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Cranberry Bluff

Cranberry Bluff by Deborah Garner

Molly Elliott has been leading a quiet life in Tallahassee, Florida. But this is disrupted when routine errands land her in the wrong place at the wrong time. She finds herself in the middle of a bank robbery! After being accused and cleared of the crime, she flees both media attention and strange, threatening notes, to move across the country to Cranberry Cove, where she’s inherited her Aunt Maggie’s bed and breakfast on the Northern California coast. Her new beginning is peaceful – that is, until five guests show up at the inn for a weekend. Each one has a hidden agenda.

Mix together one blushing honeymoon couple, one flamboyant boutique owner, a deadpan traveling salesman, and a charmingly handsome novelist, and there’s more than scones cooking at Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast. As true motives become apparent, will Molly’s past come back to haunt her or will she finally be able to leave it behind?

Amazon

 

Author Deborah Garner

Deborah Garner is a talented travel writer who has a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. While born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. and attending UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.

 

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/23/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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LG OLED TV is a Great Family Gift from Best Buy! #HintingSeason

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LG_OLED_Infill_smaller file 2

Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a tv fanatic. With all the channels out there, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I often wish I could clone myself, so one could work and the other could watch tv all day, catching up on all the old movies, the new sci-fi fantasy and binge watching Netflix!

So, when I got a chance to check out the new LG OLED TV over at Best Buy, I was excited. The LG OLED TV features spectacular picture quality including Infinite contrast ratio and stunning vibrant color that delivers a greater sense of realism and depth that really must be experienced to be believed. The super sleek design is only 0.21″ thick at its thinnest point and the intuitive webOS™Smart TV interface  lets you find content faster. With its ingeniously curved screen, you can watch from any angle with no picture distortion.

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I love that the LG OLED’s 4 Color Pixel technology enhances color range and accuracy giving you more natural, lifelike viewing. This would be incredible for football, concerts and for those who like zombies invading their living room. Whether you’ve always wanted to be Tom Brady, Bono, or travel around the world on the Amazing Race, this latest technology gives you the sensation of really being there.

This tv is way up on my wishlist this year. I mean, why not? After all, it’s hinting season so I’m swinging for the fences! Creating a home theater in my living room with the LG OLED would be pure nirvana.

Learn more at Best Buy.

Join the Party

Do you love twitter parties? Best Buy is hosting an LG OLED Twitter Party on Thursday December 4th at 7PM CST. Feel free to join this party for a chance to receive Best Buy gift cards and other great prizes. Tweet #HintingSeason with your top gifts that you want this Holiday from Best Buy.

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Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

 

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