Got a Kindle? How about some Book Freebies!!

After the Leaves Fall [Kindle Edition]
by Nicole Baart

Here is a great read After the Leaves Fall, by Nicole Baart, and if you have a Kindle you can pick it up for free at Amazon.com! (I don't know how long the offer will last so you may want to hurry.) If you don't remember I did a review about this book last Oct, which you can check out here.

Another kindle freebie is Craving God: A 21-Day Devotional Challenge [Kindle Edition]. I have not read this book, but maybe you'd like too on your kindle.

Swag Bucks for Me, Swag Bucks for You!

I know I posted once before, but I wanted to share again because I really like swag bucks. All you need to do to earn points is to sign up, then start searching. As you search you can earn swag bucks, you can also earn them other ways like by finding codes that are posted, taking a daily poll, or many other ways. I've been using swag bucks for a while now, and find it easy to use, so far I've redeemed 9 prizes, mostly $5.00 Amazon gift card codes.

Prizes that I've Received:
From Swag Bucks:

One MP3 Download Johnny Cash Greatest Hits the song Ring of Fire


One $5.00 Me! bath Gift Card Code:


Seven Amazon $5 Gift Card Codes


What I purchased with Amazon Gift Card Codes (each item was new in the package, which even with shipping ended up being free for me):

One Clip on LED Book light with Button Cell

 
One Nintendo DS Game Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (Rated E)



One Set of Grafix Medium Weight 6-Inch-by-6-Inch Chipboard-Sheets, White 25-Pack (for scrap booking)




One KooKeys Lion (It's much like Webz Kinz)



 
One Melissa & Doug Smoulder the Dragon Puppet


 
 
The other two gift codes I haven't used yet because I'm trying to save up for a bigger purchase, Amazon allows their gift codes to be combined.

 Another great way to earn swag bucks is to refer other people, which is a good deal for me, but will also benefit those who sign up because it doesn't cost you anything but a little of your time while you use the search engine to do some searches, which you may regularly do anyway on other search engines. Check it out, and sign up, and then if you don't like it just stop using it, but I'm thinking you will. Just click on the button below to start EARNING FREE PRIZES.

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn and Robert Lewis ~ Book Review and Giveaway!

 This Giveaway is Now Closed.




Another book review...

About the Book:

Are you a ‘Doing it all’ or ‘Do what matters’ woman?


Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.

Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God's best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a LifeReady Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.

God has given every wonderfully unique woman different skills and abilities, different desires, and different temperaments -- and every woman around the planet and through the ages is certainly living in different circumstances. But no matter what a woman’s life looks like, the Bible says that God has an individual mission and plan that He’s carefully designed for each of us. And He wants us to find it. Starting January 2011, The Life Ready Woman and the Life Ready Woman Video Series will help every wonderfully unique woman to thrive as she identifies and courageously pursues God's unique design and callings for her. LifeReady Woman puts you on a roadmap to make decisions that will lead to relief, delight, and fulfillment instead of regret.


My Thoughts:

I really wish that I had more time to read this book before I did the review as I received it a bit late and ended up doing a quick read through, which would have been all right by me if it were a fictional novel. However, I was schedule to post today as part of a blog tour, so I found myself rushing through a book that had loads of information that I believe I needed to read. I’ll have to go back and give it some true devotion because I feel that I still missed a lot (this is odd for me to say, because like re-watching movies that I’ve seen before I dislike rereading books that I’ve already read). I loved the feel of this book, loaded with real life experiences that give a solid representation of where God fits into the author and other’s lives. There is a reality, rather than the cheesiness that tends to be layered on when people try too hard or fake it, that shows the struggles of a Christ like living as well as the hope and strength that also comes with the belief in knowing God.

I have to say that this book bothered me when I first started reading, talking about how women can’t have it all the successful career, and family and if they have one they are sacrificing another. How women that are aimed at having a successful career, or becoming equal alongside men within that career field women tend not to have children, or poor family relationships. (Sounds hurtful, doesn’t it?) However, after thinking about it, the same goes for many men. Looking at some of the men that surround my life, I see the sacrifice they make in the name of their careers. One good example would be my own father, he worked hard for the business that he had with his brothers. He was usually working Mon thru Fri, and Sat until noon, and an occasional Sunday afternoon between church services. When he came home, there was usually stuff to do around the house he was always working. I don’t remember spending a whole lot of time with him unless I went to work with him (and even then we were working), and never really were able to know him as a person. Wow, did I get a reality check in my young adult years as I came to understand that my father was a real person who made mistakes. Anyhow, my point being was that he sacrificed a real relationship with his children in order for his business to be successful, I don’t believe any of us (his children) really were able to get to know who he was, and we just had a false image of who we thought he was. (Thankfully, more recently we’ve be able to start building that missing relationship.) I have to say that I’ve seen this with other men as well, where the jobs they have require for them to be on-call at all hours (day or night), and sometimes they miss planned family events because of it. Anyhow, that’s the reality of it that both men and women have to make sacrifices in one area of their live for another; however, this book was written for women, which needs to be understood when reading it, or you may find your feminist side a bit offended. I do have to clarify that it did not say you should be a women who stays at home, or a women who shouldn’t strive to have a career they’ve always dreamed of, but that sacrifices are made in one area or another.

Chapter ten in the book probably spoke to me the most because it is the area in which I’ve been dealing within my own life recently. I think if you’ve ever been a person to think to yourself that there has to be more to live then just this, then maybe you too were or are stuck in that stage of life where you really don’t know what to do with your life, you want to be more, do more, and live more. You find discontent within yourself, or your life, and you know changes need to be made, but you’re unsure what. This is where I was just a few months ago, I really didn’t know what my talents were. The book covers this, by basically stating that if you have thing you do that you enjoy that those are the things that direct you to what your talents are, for example I started to blog more because I enjoy it, and crafting, and art, and reading. I enjoy all of these things, and for the longest time thought that these were useless gifts. I really didn’t know where to use them, and still feel that way at times or I feel like what I’m doing is a waste of time. I thought that I needed to make a change in my life and so; I talked with my husband about going back to school. Soon after I started taking online classes to get my BFA in Visual Communications with a concentration in Web design (actually, I just switched it from digital design to web design). I really enjoy the classes because I love being creative. I found that I’m over-all happier now that I’ve brought art back into my life. This chapter also speaks about how it is important to use the talents we have, and why it’s important as a Christian.

Your Chance to Win it...
So this was a bit of my take on the book, and  I'm offering one of my lovely readers a chance to read it too. I was given two books for this review, one for myself to read and one as part of a giveaway! If you'd like a chance to win the book and read it for yourself all you need to do is leave a comment about what you feel your talent/gift is and how you use that gift. Then I'll pick a winner with the assistance of random.org and announce the winner on 03/03/11, and send you your very own copy of the Life Ready Woman.
(Please only enter under one name, or blog. Also please leave an email address, or another way to contact you so I can notify you of your win.)

Oh, but that's not all...

You could have the chance to win The Weekend To Remember Get-Away Giveaway, to find out how just visit MomLife Today website.

About Shaunti Feldhahn:

Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta , Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.

About MomLife Today:
At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.

Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!

We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? http://www.momlifetoday.com/


If you'd like to buy the book you can find it at Amazon.

If you'd like to know what other bloggers said about the book go here to find the list of blogs on the tour.

 *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity group’s blog for books program in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Bead Bracelet Winner!

My self and Mr. Gnome's Etsy Shop and blog are pleased to announce the winner of the Handmade Book Bead Bracelet...

...and the WINNER IS.... number 10, Ronalee!!!

Ronalee's winning entry said...

Thanks to all of you who participated. I hope you enjoy your handmade book bead bracelet.

Protect Your Privacy ~ I found you on Spokeo!

I was off in blog land today, when I spotted something that was a bit bothersome over at Diddle Daddle (one of the blogs I follow). I know that my husband had shown me this site once before, but I guess I thought he took care of it. However, when I went to check it out for myself sure enough I found myself, along with a number of other people listed as Tana Cox (who know the name would be so popular!). I did kinda expect to find myself out there because I do blog, Facebook, and shop a bit on the web. Anyhow, for those of you who don’t know about it your information maybe on there too. Check it out yourself, and if it bothers you that your name, your email address, and your home address (with a map, so anyone could find you), and that people could pay under $3.00 to get more info about you; you may want to have your listing removed. I did by going to the site and typing in my first and last name, then I did my maiden name too. I was removed with in 30 minutes. 
Here is where you need to go to look yourself up: http://www.spokeo.com/

This is the link that’ll give you the directions of taking your info off the site:
http://www.spokeo.com/blog/help/#8

Here is the site that allows you to request your information to be removed.
 https://www.spokeo.com/contact

Then click on topic > privacy. Finish up by following the directions

Great Freebie for you Music Lovers

Free $2 Amazon MP3 credit
Click on the “Redeem a Gift Card or Promotion Code” on Amazon.com and enter code VDAYMP3S to get a free $2 MP3 added to your Amazon.com account.

Thanks,
Money Saving Mom

Mr.Gnome's Etsy Shop ~ Interview and Giveaway!

This Giveaway is Now Closed.

      I came across this super cute Etsy shop, Mr. Gnome's owned by Kim Franklin, and found some super cute bracelets, as I looked on I came to find that these bracelets were so unique because they were made from up-cycled book pages! I then had to contact the store owner to find out more about her and her shop. I love that fact that she bases her Crafting Art by renewing old things, especially the ones bound for the landfills. I asked Kim if she’d be willing to do an interview, so that all of you would have a chance to get to know her and more about her crafting and she agreed.


atlas necklace




1. Please tell us a little about yourself, what you do in life. Why do you do what you do?

I graduated from college last spring with two BA’s in Media Arts Honors (video & photography) as well as Communications, but I have always been passionate about crafting and the environment, so I blended them and now work on Up-cycled crafting. I did not want to go into a 9-5 job, so I am working on building my up-cycled craft work as well as doing video jobs on the side for small eco-friendly business that need web-videos.



2. What inspires you? When do you get most excited?

I am honestly inspired by everything! I have the blessing and curse of having ideas flow out of my brain at the speed of light all day long, I have problems keeping up. I get very inspired when I am hiking or camping as well as walking through thrift and antique stores, I really love items that have a history.



Karma



3. How did you decide to start a handmade business? What made you decide to sell on Etsy?



I had always had a passion for crafts since I was a child. My sister and I would go to my grandma’s house before and after school because my parents both worked full time. And at her house after homework was done it was craft time, my favorite time of the day. In high school and college, I had to give up my crafting because of studying or band practice. I think that time period of giving it up really made me discover how much it needed to be in my life. I heard about Etsy on someone’s craft blog one night and had a profile set up by the next morning. I want to do what I am passionate about and show others that you can do what you love, it does take long hours and hard work, but I will take that any day over work I hate.




4. How did you come up with the name to your shop?

 

Well, my boyfriend of 3 years (Dave) and I LOVE to hike, camp, backpack, and roadtrip. He was actually my very first date and my very first boyfriend and we liked to have art/craft nights together. He had this gnome that he had long before I met him that he painted with a girl he went on a date with. It was horrible looking all green with a dark brown face, so we repainted him and goodness he is dapper now. I just had to name my store after him, because he comes on every single road trip with us! Ode to Mr. Gnome.



Kim, and her boyfriend Dave, their dog, and Mr. Gnome.

5. What kinds of items do you currently sell?

When I first started off on Etsy I noticed that most people sold items that were made with new materials, and most of them just made mass produced and duplicated handmade items. My rule of thumb that I am very strict with it ONLY use second hand items, or items found in dumpsters that are bound for the landfill. So every single item is one of a kind, every single book bead is different. I really like the fact that my customers are getting unique handmade ONE OF A KIND items that no one else will have, I think that makes them so much more special and each item has a history, that's beautiful to me. I currently sell paper roses, book bead jewelry, memo holders, cork boards, picture frames, cards etc.

 

6. Out of your own work, is there a favorite or a series that is a favorite? What makes it/them your favorite?

My favorites by far are the Book Beads. Every person says “oh my goodness that is so much work”... yes it is very time consuming to gather the books from local thrift store dumpsters each week, go through and tear out the pages, then hand cut roll and coat each bead. But I LOVE BOOK BEADING! I love how every single bead is different, and the beads literally tell a story, it’s such a rewarding process when I am done to know that the book will live on and not be in a landfill, that puts a smile on my face.



Lollipop


7. What was the strangest find you used to create your unique up-cycled art?

Strangest was probably a jewelry holder for a craft show... I am so hardcore with myself on using only second hand items, even for my displays at craft shows and fairs. So I went to the thrift store trying to find something to hang my jewelry. I ended up using an old metal CD tower; it sits in a wood bottom and had wood dowels for the necklaces. The bracelets hang on the rack itself. Everyone is always like omg is that’s a CD rack, and I smile and say yep!

8. Do you consider yourself an artist, or a crafter?

What came first, the chicken or the egg.... I really have gone back and forth ever this question since I started video and photography work in college. Here is what I boil it down to. I think in my mind that art is something you hang on a wall or set on a shelf, craft is something you use, such as a scarf, purse, or stuffed animal. But the lines can get fuzzy and indeed something can be both. I am a both for sure.

9. Where do you do your best thinking?

I pretty much think non-stop about business and craft ideas all day long. But I seem to get really awesome ideas when I am in thrift or antique stores... I guess shapes colors and textures get my motor going.

10. How would you describe your design style? Are there any textures or colors that you are drawn to work with?

I used to be anti color, but my sister is the rainbow queen, she kind of got me hooked. I honestly love neon colors and bright colorful patterns. But I do know that not everyone loves it, so I do a very good variety so everyone gets a little something they love.

baby paper bead bracelet

11. How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

I am still learning, in social networking the best thing is to get yourself out there. I am currently on Facebook, twitter, and I have a blog. I am quickly learning that you have to sow your seeds in order to get rewards, so I like to say I am sowing my seeds right now. I am building amazing content on my blog of free craft tutorials, upcycled artist interviews, and giveaways. What I am noticing thus far is that consistency is key, get down a system and maintain. For sure get a blog, my blog has given me lots of connections to folks in the craft environment. Comment comment comment on blogs that have similar interests, you will learn for both the bad and good blogs for sure!

12. What has been your best seller so far?




Um, nothing has really taken off as of yet, a little of each thing has sold, so I am thinking that it will just take a while for my store to become more recognized in the craft and upcycled craft community. Rome was not built in a day, anything worthwhile takes time, and I am currently in the building stage.



baby paper bead bracelet

13. Are there items you would eventually like to add to your shop?

OMG I would love love love, did I say love to decoupage large furniture in the future when I have a studio and more storage space. I would love to work on chairs, rocking chairs, tables, large shelving etc.

14. Do you have any long-term goals for your shop?




Etsy shop or not, I would like to be a full time crafter/artist until I die. This takes time to build up, I am not sure if I will be on Etsy forever, but I would like to write books, teach classes, sell my work, show art galleries. I am also working on creating an Upcycled craft community called Trashy Crafter; I have so much in the works. Right now things are slow, but I can see the momentum building as I look forward, the future looks awesome!

15. Do you have a funny or interesting story you’d like to share?

I just want to say to everyone out there, FOLLOW YOUR PASSION, I don’t care how crazy it is, and I don’t care how many people say you’re nuts to do that, if you love it do it. You can figure out ways to make money from it, you do not have to go to work somewhere you hate until you die. I am making it happen, and mark my words. 5 years from now I will be looking back at my hard work and countless hours of doing what I love and you will see nothing short of a smile on my face. Do start listening to Dan Miller; he is such an inspirational person to listen to. He has a podcast called “48 Days To The Work That You Love”, yes it may sound cheesy, but I swear if you try it, the excitement and hope you get from his podcast is priceless!



Fiesta



       I really love the story behind Kim’s Book Bead Bracelets. Not only did she do the interview, but Kim also sent me two Book Bead Bracelets to try out for myself! (Thanks, Kim that was so sweet of you.) They came just in time for my birthday (what am awesome bonus). I have to say that I love them both, one is black and white and the other is full of specs of color which were made from pages of some books headed to the landfill, and I even wore them the whole day that my family went shopping for my birthday gift. I thought for sure that the bracelet would fall off because the clasp is just made of a bead and the string that the beads are placed on, but neither of them did. The clasp was made so well they just held perfectly. Even my boys liked them, and Royce and Giovonnie both complemented me on how pretty they were. Gannon also liked them so much when I took them off he grabbed them, and wanted me to put them on him. Then he tried to eat the colored one, saying it was candy. I saved it from his mouth, and after it dried out you couldn’t even tell that he tried to eat it. I wouldn’t suggest letting a toddler or a baby play it, and to keep it out of water as much as possible because they are made from paper.



       Now for the best part...any of my followers who make a purchase at Mr. Gnome’s Etsy Shop will receive 10% off during the 1st week of this blog post; just type in the code mrgnomeblog when you checkout (this code will be active until Feb 14). Plus, Kim has been so gracious to offer one of my readers a chance to win one of her beautiful Book Bead Bracelets.

Rules for Entry :

Please do not enter under more then one blog, and/or name. (Thank you). This giveaway will end Feb. 12, 2011 at 11:55pm (central time). The winner will be chosen by a Random.org widget.

Mandatory: comment once; with your comment leave your name that you follow under, and email or another way to contact you if you win.

1. Become a public follower of my blog LittleBirdSeeds via GFC (google friends connect).
2.  Visit Mr. Gnome's Etsy Shop and tell me what other Up-cycled item you like from Kim's shop.

Extra Entries: leave one comment for each extra entry; with your comment leave your name that you follow under, and email or another way to contact you if you win.

1. Like me on my LittleBirdSeeds Face Book page. (+ 1 entry)
come back and comment, leave the name you liked her under

2. Like Mr. Gnome's on FaceBook. (+ 1 entry)
come back and comment, leave the name you liked her under

3. Visit Mr. Gnome's Blog, and become a follower.
comment on her page that you found her by the way of LittleBirdSeeds, come back and leave a comment here that you did

4. Post about the Mr.Gnome's Esty Shop giveaway on your Face Book page. (+ 1 entry)
come back and comment, leave a link to your post (if you don't leave the link, it will not count and I will delete the entry).

5. Post about my giveaway on your blog. (+1 entry)
come back and comment, leave the link to your post (if you don't leave the link, it will not count and I will delete the entry).