The A-Z of C.S. Lewis by Colin Duriez Book Review and Giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Are you a big C.S. Lewis fan? This book is for you then.  Just published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia. 

Until I read Colin Duriez' new book, I was only aware of C. S. Lewis's children's books. I had grown up reading them and adored them but I didn't know about all his other works.  C. S. Lewis's work is known around the world and very well regarded but it is so unbelievable that even enthusiasts like me are often only aware of such a small part of his complete work.    He actually wrote so much more, including some amazing science fiction pieces and literary criticism.  This detailed volume from Colin Duriez brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life and his most intimate thoughts.  One of the things I really liked about it, being the organized gal that I am is that the book is arranged in alphabetical order.  It makes it easy to find exactly what you want.   The book begins with a piece from 1943 called The Abolition of Man.   It is described as "almost my favorite"-to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters.  It ends with a description of Zardeenah, a Calormene moon goddess in The Horse and His Boy.  This book is a perfect gift for a bibliophile or who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life

About the Author: 

Colin Duriez was for many years a commissioning editor at Inter-Varsity Press UK. He has subsequently appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works relating to Tolkien such as The Tolkien Encyclopedia (Routledge).

Princess Ever After By Rachel Hauck: Book Review $200 Visa Card Giveaway & Facebook Party on 3/6!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Princess Ever After By Rachel Hauck is part of the Royal Wedding Series.  Now I have not had a chance to read the first book in the series but I was pretty good at starting here at the second book.  This is definitely more of a fantasy type of book and that is fun to read sometimes too.

Regina Beswick is the main character.  She did a bit of a 360 recently and left a fantastic job to run a classic auto repair shop.  Things were looking good but then this man Tanner Burkhardt arrives in town with with paperwork that says she is a princess.  He is the Minister of Culture of Hessenberg. Very fantasy and fun.  Of course paperwork is found in her parent's attic that attests to the truth of this possibility. As the long-lost princess, she is the one who can save the nation of Hessenberg.

Rachel and Tanner Burkhardt get to know one another as he helps her save the nation of Hessenberg....of course she agrees and returns there. They develop a relationship and well, I don't want to give it all away. It is fun and light and kind of mystical...lots of fantasy.

I love sweet fantasies like the one that Rachel Hauck has crafted with princesses and tiaras.  It is a real Cinderella tale! I really enjoyed the main character Regina.  She always stayed true to herself even when she was placed into these unbelievable situations that might have tested another kind of person. She maintained her confidence even when she found out her true heritage as a princess.  The book delivers a strong religious theme where Regina leaves her trust in G-d which is a nice base.   She learns from past mistakes and decisions and looks to G-d to make sure she is living her life in the right way even with the men that are a critical part of the storyline like Tanner.   I enjoyed the way the whole story came together from her Gramma all the way to becoming the long lost princess of Hessenberg.

Enter to win! 

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of her latest "swoon"-worthy romance,  Princess Ever After, with a fun $200 "Princess" prize package giveaway and a Facebook "Princess" party on March 6th. Grab your tiaras and RSVP today!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (buy your very own "princess ever after" gown or tanks of gas for your "royal" ride)
• Princess Ever After, Once Upon a Prince, and The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6th. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "Princess" Facebook Party on March 6th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of "royal" book chat, princess-themed trivia, laughter, prizes, and an exclusive look at the next book in the Royal Wedding series!

So grab your copy of Princess Ever After and join Rachel and friends on the evening of March 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

A Road Unknown by Barbara Cameron Book Review and $200 Visa Cash Card Giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I have always been fascinated by the Amish and I was kind of excited to read this book because of that. This is the first book in a series and I can't wait to read the next books.  The author takes the basis for the story from an Amish point of view which is interesting and different.  Elizabeth is the oldest daughter in a large Amish family of 9 children which is fascinating to me. She runs away to escape all her endless duties to the family. It was already so different from my own life at this point that I was very into reading about the character of Elizabeth.

This lovely young girl starts a whole new life and takes a apartment with a roommate who attends college which is very exciting.  Her roommate introduces her to a nice young man named Bruce. I loved the sweet boy element in the story too!  She finds a job at a store and a new love named Saul who owns the store she works at.  She has two men competing for her attention which is always interesting.  She can't forget her family and is constantly reminded of them with her new responsibilities.  The poor thing wonders what to do....stay or go back to her traditional family. You want to keep reading to find out what she does.  Does she stay and start a new life with one of the young men or does she return home to her family?  The characters are well developed and the story is sweet. It is a wonderful weekend read that I really enjoyed.

Even more exciting is the prospect of winning a a $200 Visa Cash Card Giveaway!  Enter here to win.  Barbara Cameron is celebrating the release of A Road Unknown with a $200 Visa cash card giveaway and a fun "Amish Roads" Facebook party.

One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card
• A Road Unknown by Barbara Cameron

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 27th. Winner will be announced at Barbara's "Amish Roads" Facebook Party on February 27th. Connect with Barbara for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, laughter, prizes, and more!

So grab your copy of A Road Unknown and join Barbara and friends on the evening of February 27th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

Pure Body Naturals Vitamin C Serum Skin Care Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Do you see dull skin?  Does bother you?  It sure bothered me. I was excited to try Vitamin C from Pure Body Naturals to help me get my facial skin looking brighter and more radiant. Pure Body Naturals shared with me that the anti aging power of vitamin C + E + Hyaluronic Acid can instantly help provide brighter and more radiant skin with their professional Anti-Aging Serum. I was all for that in a millisecond!

Pure Body Naturals facial serum contains vitamin C and vitamin E, suspended in a concentrated base of pure vegan hyaluronic acid. It sounds super technical but read a little more and you will understand better how it works.

Vitamin C helps smooth and firm skin and fade those icky brown spots by inhibiting the free radicals that trigger wrinkling, sagging, and other aging changes. Apply Vitamin C in the morning, right under your makeup to protect your skin from free radicals caused by sun damage.

Vitamin E is a skincare superstar. The vitamin has been proven in many studies to ease dryness and boosts skin’s UV defense.  We all need to defend our skin as much as we can too.  My mom always used vitamin E when I was little too....she would have to cut open those capsules but that was 1970's!  Look how easy it is now and better.

Hyaluronic acid, (sodium hyaluronate), has become a very important skincare staple. It’s the body’s own hydrating molecule, able to absorb up to 1000 times its own weight in water and responsible for keeping our skin plump, smooth and supple. Sadly, we all know that our natural levels deplete as we age, so fight off fine lines and a loss of skin tone with our latest Vitamin C Serum.

 

Details, Details Details about Pure Body Naturals Vitamin C:

• 20% Vitamin C + E + Hyaluronic Acid Is The Absolute Highest Quality Vitamin C Serum Available
• Vitamin C Serum Is Proven To Stimulate Collagen and Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• Pure Body Naturals Vitamin C Serum Will Leave Your Skin Radiant and More Youthful Looking By Neutralizing Free Radicals - Professional Anti-Aging Serum derived from 98% natural and 72% organic ingredients.
• Made in the USA In Our Advanced FDA Certified Facility.

I love that you can purchase this on Amazon one of my fave places to buy my beauty items!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash Review {Giveaway}

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I am a member of the Purex Insiders. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dial® Vitamin Boost Body Wash was created to provide your skin with a daily boost of vitamins. My skin is always so dry I need every little bit of help I can get so I was thrilled to hear about this new product from Dial.  

They created a totally advanced formula that has a special moisturizing Vitamin Complex.  The best part is that this Vitamin Complex helps to bring moisture directly to your skin. 

Now you know when you bring moisture to your skin, none of us have to be a scientist to know that your skin is going to feel and be much softer and healthier.  

I started using Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash this week and I am really seeing a difference. It has been so darn cold here in the mid-Atlantic I have been desperate for anything to relieve the dryness in my skin.  My skin is so much softer and feels so much more healthier. I even convinced my hubby to give it a try and he agreed that his skin felt great. I think it is going to be a staple for us and I am excited to try the different scents in the Vitamin Boost line.  

Dial generously shared coupons with me and I am hosting a giveaway for my readers.  Enter my Rafflecopter giveaway below to win your own bottle!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Name A Star (Personalized Gift) Review {Giveaway with 3 winners!}

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

My daughter was super excited when I told her that I was getting her a very special present....a star named after her personally!  Is this the cutest idea ever?  Name A Star

could not have been easier to do either. It was super easy to complete the whole gifting process from A to Z.  The most wonderful part is that you are emailed the certificate with your giftee’s name on it and it includes the exact coordinates with the longitude and latitude.  Name A Star is a super gift idea if you are pressed for time because the turnover time is very fast.  If you already have google earth you can take a peek or it only takes a second to download google earth if you don’t have it. You install google earth and then download the star list. It is very easy to do.  One of the even neater aspects of this gift is that you can choose a special message for your gift recipient. When you view the coordinates of your personalized star over the little yellow pin your gift recipient can see the special message you created.  How amazing is that?  

This is a truly unique gift that someone can enjoy for eons! A great deal for only $12.99 too.  You can visit the  Name A Star site to learn more about them too.You will also receive instructions how to view the star with google earth, where the recipient of the gift will see a personalized message left by you. This is a super gift for any occasion too. Think about Valentine's Day coming up, special Birthdays, Christmas, Anniversaries, Births or even Christenings.

Name A Star Inc. has offered a special giveaway for 3 readers to win a Name A Star certificate of their own. Enter on the Rafflecopter giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Britax LATCH-Are You Confused Webinar

Disclosure of Material Connection:   I was provided with the chance to win one of 2 Britax Convertible car seats or 1 Harness-2-Booster for sharing this information with my readers. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

As moms, our children's safety is our top priority. That's why selecting the right child seat and making sure it's installed properly is of utmost importance. For expert advice on choosing and installing the right child seat, check out this blog post by Sarah Tilton, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Advocate for BRITAX. Make sure to share it with other moms you know who are looking for a convertible car seat.

With much conversation surrounding LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) and the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, BRITAX wants to make sure all parents and caregivers are educated and confident about the safe transportation of their children. That's why they are hosting an interactive webinar to answer questions and eliminate some of the confusion surrounding the LATCH requirements and new labeling.

Webinar : LATCH- Are You Confused?

Hosted by Sarah Tilton, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Advocate for BRITAX

Thursday, February 6, 2014 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Click here to register for the LATCH Webinar. You will receive a confirmation via email once you register. If you do not receive one, please check to see if it got caught in your spam filter.

Beltlock is an Ingenious New Device to Keep Your Child Secured In Their Car Seat

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.

Every mom and dad always (hopefully) puts safety first when it concerns their children. Seatbelts, car seats and booster seats are required by law and we all do our best to make sure our children are strapped in....but are they always?  Have you ever had seat belt not be properly secured or perhaps some rogue tiny fingers pressed the release button while you are driving? Yikes. How scary...just the thought. BeltLock was created with all of this in mind.  They share on their website that:

"Safety is of paramount concern for every parent, especially when traveling with children. The inadvertent opening of a seatbelt is dangerous for the child and distracting for the driver. As a parent you can protect your children by using Beltlock to secure their car seats in place. It fits easily over the seat belt receiver and can be removed without difficulty by an adult. Beltlock offers peace of mind as it is designed by parents, for parents."

Beltlock was designed to prevent kids from opening their seat belt that secures the car seat. Beltlock is strong, durable and easily visible in the car. It is easy to fit and simple to remove by an adult equipped with a key or narrow object.  Beltlock gives you that peace of mind no matter how crafty sweet your little one might be.

I liked that the BeltLock comes with very easy to follow instructions.  It is small, bright orange light weight device.  BeltLock gives you the confidence that little fingers have not undone your safest intentions. BeltLock is designed so that it is easily fitted to any seat belt used to secure your child seat and prevent little fingers from pressing the seat belt release button.

• BeltLock - Stop little Fingers Releasing That Seat Belt
• BeltLock is a device which prevents the unintentional opening of the seatbelt used to secure a child seat in any vehicle.
• BeltLock has been designed by Parents, to give every parent peace of mind.
• Secure Child Seat. Enhance Seat Belt Operation.
• Protect Your Child.
• Special Needs Friendly 

I wanted to give it a try to see for myself.  I have to say I am not the most techy momma out there but even I could see this is super easy to use. They even have step by step illustrated instructions that come with the BeltLock if you are not sure.  It is very easy to install and is definitely large enough to fit most any seat belt. You put the BeltLock on and it is a simple step to secure the child's seatbelt. It is definitely near impossible to unlock the belt without using a key or other narrow object to release the seat belt. It is a small little device and very light.  You can easily tuck it in one of those myriad compartments (at least I have them) in the vehicle. You could even pop it in your purse it is that small.  You won't have a problem finding it when you need it since it is a very bright orange color. I have several friends with children that have special needs. This was always an issue with their children trying to release the seatbelts especially when they were younger.  BeltLock would be a true lifesaver for a parent with a special needs child.

You can purchase BeltLock on Amazon.co.uk and via the BeltLock website. Don't forget to follow BeltLock on your fave social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook to keep updated on new information and developments. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.