XOXO!

10/31/11

Hallowen parties, everywhere...



Two boys.  Two parties.  One day.


Sam's new school is so wonderful, where kids can be kids...





I couldn't make an appearance at Luke's pre-school
party, but I snapped some "before" shots...


The Paper Mama



Adventures & Misadventures of Daily Living


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Erin Healy’s The Baker’s Wife




To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Bofinger family has lost their church ministry in a scandal exposed by Officer Jack Mansfield. Hoping to heal and to restore their reputation, Audrey, Geoff, and their son Ed take over a failing bakery in the small community.

Driving to the bakery one morning, blinded by fog, Audrey hits a motor scooter owned by Jack’s wife, Julie. The mangled scooter is crushed and bloody. But Julie is nowhere to be found. Her disappearance coincides with a sudden illness that nearly cripples Audrey.


Jack believes the Bofingers have hurt Julie to take revenge on him, but the evidence dries up and her trail goes cold. At a breaking point, Jack takes the tiny bakery and its patrons hostage, issuing only one demand: Audrey has six hours to return Julie to him, or lose Geoff and Ed forever.



With only an excruciating and intuitive gift, an ex-con, and Julie’s estranged daughter to help search for clues, Audrey starts the search of her life for a woman who has vanished like the fog.





The Baker's Wife was nearly impossible to put down!  It centers around the choices people make and how they can affect others.  I loved everything about it, especially  the well-crafted characters.  Audrey and Geoff are so likable, and Julie's disappearance had me puzzled until the very end.  I also appreciated the reminder that  everything must be forgiven...and that forgiveness brings freedom.




Well-known to critics and reviewers, Erin Healy has established herself as an award-winning editor and a best-selling co-author with Ted Dekker. Healy received wide acclaim for her two debut novels Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. Her work focuses on the psychological and spiritual, driven by high moral stakes. She lives and writes in Colorado with her family.

For more information please visit www.erinhealy.com.






Enter to win a KitchenAid Mixer and RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/10!





Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!






One grand prize winner will receive:

  • Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
  • Black & White Kitschy Apron
  • Black Silicone Oven Mitt
  • Black OXO Rolling Pin
  • Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
  • At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
  • Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
  • The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!


Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter



Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!



***I received this book free-of-charge, in exchange for an honest review.
The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.***


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10/29/11

Scavenger Hunt Sunday



It's been a beautiful Fall week in GA...

1.  Macro





2.  Found Texture



3.  Home




4.  Tree




5.  Cover


Photography love...







Reminder:  I have a fun toy giveaway....so be sure and enter!

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10/27/11

Fall Frenzy



It's a busy time, but so lovely...and fun...





We just visited our local botanical garden, Smith-Gilbert
and their roses took my breath away.  Many were 8-10 feet
tall and the beautiful blooms were 6" across.  Stunning!







Of course, there was a lot of beauty there...
These SO resembled spun gold.
(I think Rumpelstiltskin was nearby, for sure!)





And, speaking of beauty.  Check out these guys...

(Can you tell that one son is all about detail (Luke)
and one is all about the silly (Sam)???)



Give me your best shot at Better in BulkPhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli



Reminder:  I have a fun toy giveaway....so be sure and enter!




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10/26/11

Xia-Xia Pets -- Review & Giveaway


***CLOSED***CLOSED***CLOSED***

Congrats to random comment #45!





Have you seen these cute little crabs???



If not...then meet the Xia-Xia Pets (pronounced Sha-Sha)
from the makers of DaGeDar and Zhu Zhu Pets.



These new colorful, collectible creatures combine the loveable charm
of a real hermit crab but add a twist of imagination. Each Xia-Xia comes
with a candy colored shell in which kids can fi­nd a little friend hidden
inside. Additional shells can be purchased so children can style their
Xia-Xia in their favorite fashions. For an added bonus, each additional
shell contains two little friends. Xia-Xia have colorful playsets, bringing
alive a world of color, magic, and imagination for kids to enjoy!



We recently received one each of the cute little crabs, some 
extra shells and three fun playsets.  They really are too cute,
and kept us giggling as they scooted around their "habitats".
And, tho, they appear fragile, they can certainly handle the 
fingers of a 3-year old, plus the occasional fall.  Love that!


The tiny friends that come in the shells were a big bonus
for my kids, too.  And, I personally, loved the packaging
for the crabs and shells.

These fun pets are predicted to be a big seller during the
holidays, so I'm really happy to announce that I have one
crab and shell to give away!  Wanna win them?



Just leave a comment below telling me what you
like best about this new toy.  That's it!  Oh, and
if you're a follower, you can get a second entry.
(Please leave a second comment.)



***This giveaway will end at 9PM on October 31st.***




(Many thanks to MomSelect and Cepia for the opportunity to review these items.
The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any manner.)





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