Book review: A Time to Dance

Book review: A Time to Dance

I received a copy of the novel A Time to dance by Karen Kingsbury.  This is the first book in the series with John and Abby as the main characters.

From the Authors website:

A Time to Dance

John and Abby were the perfect couple, but they are about to lose it all: On the verge of having an affair, John is no more the man Abby married than she is the long ago girl of his dreams. They make the sad decision to divorce. When they gather their three children to tell them the news, their daughter makes an announcement of her own: she's getting married that summer.

Determined not to ruin their daughter's season of happiness, Abby and John secretly agree to put their divorce plans on hold. But as the wedding nears, they wonder: Is it possible to find joy, after all these years, and perhaps the time...to dance

While reading this book you really did get the feeling that you where part of the couple’s lives.  The story is very real and the emotions that the people in the book feel are very real.  It would be easy for many couples to find themselves in the situation that John and Abby found themselves in after many years of marriage.   While I was reading the book I wanted to tell them to listen to the word of the lord and to say what they really mean out loud and not to be hurtful to protect themselves.  I have learned some lesions from this book to help build a relationship, always talk and make time for each other even when you are busy. I managed to read this book in 2 days and I loved it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

winner from first giveaway

lucky winner is
Teiva said...

I follow you and my favorite chocolate bar is the Ghiradelli Twilight Bar..a nice dark chocolate! Yum!

I will send you an e-mail shortly and you have 48 hours to claim your prize

Wordless Wednesday - a walk on the beach

Makeover Complete

So here are the after shots from my makeover:

The process of colouring my hair with L'oreal was so fast and easy I would easily do it again.  After application which took a bit of time because I have never done it before it was only another 10 minutes before I could wash it off and I got a good colour. 

The makeover that I got was fun and I did get a lot of L'oreal products to try, but sadly I didn't get a hair cut or to keep the outfit they dressed me in.  I would have loved to keep the dress I was wearing for the show!
All in all it was a great day and I had lots of fun being dressed up and made over!

Goodies last week

Well I missed a week, but this was last weeks goodies, I will post another entry with this weeks and the one I missed early next week!

Lots of magazines are arriving (all free) and coupons for free products - I love it!

Giveaways from other sites

So to enter this contest I needed to do a post on my blog and here it is:

Win a copy of: Wreck this journal and some chocolate!
I think the Wreck this journal would be fun!
http://adventureswithmrsw.blogspot.com/2010/10/back-to-normalgiveaway.html


I thought I would also include a few other sites I visit to look for giveaway, if anyone want to give me more ideas of other sites to visit for contest entries please leave a comment:

http://bloggiveaways.blogspot.com/
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2010/10/got-great-giveaways-1014.html

Pre Makeover photos

So I won a Makeover that will take place on Monday.  Part of the deal is I need to colour my hair with the hair dye that they gave me before Monday.  So I have taken a few before shots of my own so I can see the transformation myself.

The colour that they gave me is 7G dark golden blond.  I am going to try this out later today and will post some after photo's of the new colour.  The reset of the transformation will need to wait for Monday when the professionals take over.  I am really excited about trying L'oreal hair dye; I haven't used colouring since I had my baby as there just doesn't seem to be enough time.  The box says it only needs to be on for 10 minutes plus the application time, I wonder what the total time will be from start to finish?  I am guessed a lot less then going to the salon for hair colouring, plus the price savings are

So that's me before . . . The after shots are being downloaded to the computer tonight and I will post them Tomorrow

Giveaway number 1 US only

Here is my first giveaway as promised.

I am giving away a copy of the book Holy Cow and Indian Adventure, a package of caramel hot chocolate, and a chocolate bar (that I have not picked out yet)  I am thinking maybe something not sold in the US to be different. 

Rules:

- You must follow on Google Friend Connect

-1 entry per person only

-must have a US postal address

-must be over 18 or have parents permission to enter

leave a comment telling me your favorite chocolate bar and in your post include a way to contact you.

Winner will be chosen on October 28 by random and will have 48 hours to reply before another winner is drawn.

Goddies from last week

It was a good week, I got $5 gas card, $2 cheque and free bacon coupons and samples.  I love samples they are great to help me find new products that work for me!

Wish I had more time to write up about last week but I want to get my giveaways and my makeover posts out soon.  (I hope to have these posted before the weekend) 

Wordess Wednesdays - from my garden

Goodbye Summer hello fall! the last beauty's of my Garden

Review: Overall Beauty.com

Review: Overall Beauty.com

Overallbeauty.com is your one stop beauty site for the must have beauty products that will release the glamourous diva in you!

Last Month I won 5 mineral eye shodows in my choice of colours.  What I received was the 5 colours that I wanted to try a makeup brush and a cute little make up bag to store it all in. 

One of the shades that I really wanted to try was Summer Wheat so when I was getting ready to go out the other night I pulled out my new shade.  The application was just as easy as any other mineral makeup that I have used in the past, the best part was the coverage I got the colour I was looking for right away and used very little product so I truly beleive the statement that she makes on her site:

All of our MINERALS have a higher percentage of pure mineral colorants and NO FILLERS, so a small amount on your eye lids provides the same color depth as a heavy application of traditional pressed powder eye make up.  A 5G jar of Overall Beauty MINERALS will last about twice as long as the same amount of cake eyeshadow.

I had a hard time picking just 5 shades that I would want to try but I did in the end pick ones that I thought would best suit me.   If you have a hard time picking shades to try you can always order sample pots of the product to try for $1 a peice  http://www.overallbeauty.com/catalog/overall-beauty-minerals-samples-p-686.html?osCsid=48928bf893ef2a6931227bbbe5e3ecec

Goodies September 20-26

So I would say that this week was much better than last week here are the photo's of the items I got for free this week:

I am hoping again that this volume will continue!

Goodies September 13-19

Well this was a so so week, much better than nothing, but pretty close to nothing.

I received my win primary fairy month by month stickers to mark the milestones of my baby's birth.  This come at a perfect time, she is 4 months old today.  I will have to take a picture of her with the sticker today!

I received a coupon to get free tasters choice coffee. (I might include this in my first giveaway that I am planning for October)

One free magazine came in the mail as well Lou Lou.

Hopping for a better week this week.

$20 challenge Update 3

So I had $8.20 left to spend and spend it I did.
I went over and out this weekend when I went out to dinner with my friends.
My total was $40 (way over $8.20) so my $20 challenge ended not so great.  I think I may find another way to try this again.

As a heads up I expect to be hosting my first giveaway at the start of October so keep posted for that!

Goodies week of September 6-12

Would you believe that this is the first time in a very long time that I have got nothing in the mail and no wins!
Wow what a slow week!!

Everyday I would walk to the mailbox expecting something, anything just not bills. Sure enough the only thing I did get way a bill and a wedding invitation. Oh well better luck this week - fingers crossed.

Goodies August 30 - September 5

Wow it is September already!!

(like my babies foot in the photo?)

Here is this weeks update of things I got for free:

Samples:
small pack of tissue, jet dry sample, breath right strip, nivea lip gloss, nexus shampoo, and face cream

Free with coupons:
Huggies wipes, air wick imotion, finish dish soap, stayfree
Freecycle:

1. baby swim ring, with sun shade.  I can't wait to use this it is something I had asked for as I plan to take my daughter swimming very soon outside and I can't put sunscreen on her yet.  I will also be using this when I visit my parents in Florida in March.

Wins:
1. L'Oreal Elnett hairspray

Other promotions/magazines:

Town and Country Magazine
60 Aeroplan points

$20 Challenge - update 1

I started out with $20 on Monday August 30 to use on any personal purchases, here is the break down of what I have spent so far:

On Tuesday i went for a walk and I ended up going past the bulk food store and I wanted a treat.
I spent .35 cents on Jube Jube's - I didn't want to spend too much of my money.

Today was a big spening day.  I spent a total of 11.45

I managed to get some good deals but considered it personal expenses as they are things we would not have bought. 

Box of Corn Pops with mail in code for $5 free gas card
Air wicks Imotion compact starter kit - I have a mail in rebate form for the full price so i will get my money back.
Finish dish washer starter kit - also have a mail in rebate for the full price of this.
Huggies wipes - free with coupon
Colgate toothpaste and milk


Leaving me with a total of  $8.20 to see how long this will last keep posted.

$20 challenge

I am off on maternity leave and we have been noticing the crunch a bit with the decreased income.  One of the things that we do is give ourselves $50 a month to spend without needed to talk to the other person about what we are going to buy.  This is not for joint or household expenses only things we buy for ourselves (IE coffee or lunch etc)

So on Monday I will take $20 out of the bank and will make it last as long as possible.  This will help me cut back on what I am spending money on and encourage me to really think if I need the item I am about the buy.  It will not include baby items or groceries, only variable spending on myself. 

I will update this post along the way to see how long I can make it last.

Day 1 = Balance of $ 20 to my wallet (everything else has been removed from my wallet)

Goodies August 22-29

So I can't find my camera but I still wanted to post the items that I got for free this week.



Free Samples:
Purex all in one laundry sample

Free from sales and Coupons:
1 package kotex pads (18 count) from save.ca

Freecycle:
baby swim ring  - looking forward to testing it out with my baby

Contest Wins:

Picky Sticky - set of stickers to show babies age in photo's - these are a great idea and I can't wait to get them.  I will post photos when I get them and when I find my camera. http://www.pickysticky.com/index.php

Book: Underkingdom

Coupon for a free package of Bryers Ice cream

I also received a past win - set of 5 eye shadows, and a make up bag and brush
Promotions/Other:

I got 2 more magazines this week (the subscriptions are free)  Shape and Town and Country

Goodies Aug 15-22

I thought last week was slow with free stuff, guess I was wrong this week was a very slow week.

Free Samples:

Free from sales and Coupons:

Freecycle:
2 packages of bottle liners
Baby rain jacket
light fixture

Contest Wins:

Promotions/Other:

I got about 5 different magazines for free, some I have passed along to other people already so they are not in the photo.

Amazon sent me an e-mail to thank my past magazine subscription purchases; the e-mail had a promotion code for $5.  I searched Amazon magazines to see what I could get for free, not wanted to use any of my own money.   I decided to get Parents Magazine, retails on Amazon for $4 for a 1 year subscription.  Thanks Amazon for another free magazine subscription.

Do you Freecycle?

I love Freecycle, it a a site that connects you to people in your area allowing you to get rid of your junk for free and get other peoples junk for free.  You know what they say, one mans junk is anothers treasure.  The main site is: http://www.freecycle.org/ simply locate the area you you are in and start to see what people are offering or post things you want to get rid of all for free.

We had an old computer that we would have had to pay to dispose of, before going that route I thought I would post it on Freecycle and see if I anyone would be interested in it.  Well sure enough the requests came flooding in.  I picked a person who could pick up right away and the clutter was out of my house at no cost or inconvenience to me. 

I have used the site to offer and request many things.  The latest things that I have received are a baby gap rain jacket (picked up today, see photo) and bottle liners 2 unopened packages picked up yesterday. 

I love the option of using this site to help divert items from ending up in our landfill.  Check out the site see if they have a local group for your area if it as as well used as the area I am in I am sure you will find many treasures!

FYI: I will be including items received on Freecycle in my weekly Goodies received post going forward.

Last Weeks Goodies

I thought for this blog entry I would do a show and tell of all the items that I received for the week either through contest wins or free samples sent by companies.

This was a slow week for freebies from companies, I did however receive some goodies . . .

I received coupons for free: cat or dog food (I choose cat food), pet treats (need to pick these up still), and 6 boxes of crackers. 

I also won 2 contests this week (I have not received the prize yet for these, but when I do I will post a blog entry)

The first contest was a blog contest for eye shadows of my choice of colours from Overall Beauty

http://www.overallbeauty.com/catalog/overall-beauty-minerals-c-77.html?osCsid=48928bf893ef2a6931227bbbe5e3ecec  I am really looking forward to trying these out.

The second contest win will take place on October 4th, I will get a make over, hair, make up done and will walk the runway at the mall sponsored event. My prize will be:  hair dye for 6 months, gift cards, and a gift basket. I am really looking forward to this as I have never had a make over before.

In addition, I got 2 bottles of ice win to use a a party I am to host and 4 cd's.   I also received a prior win a teal bag and pillow for travel - Lug a Rug which will come in handy on my trip in February.

On Friday the 13th Starbucks was giving out free vivanno smoothies to registered card holders.  I got 3, one for my sister in law, my niece and one for me.

That's it foe last week, I will post this weeks goodies over the coming weekend.

First Blog Post

This first blog post is more of test than anything else to see that the blog page is set up the way I would like for it to be.  I hope to be able to update this blog often with different ways to be frugal.  I do not intend to post every deal or free offer that comes along, but rather those that are of most interest to me and my family.  I will also try to do product reviews and giveaways, even book reviews if given the opportunity!

As this is my first blog please be considerate as I learn the ins and outs of the blogging community.  I do ask that you follow me on Google Friend Connect, and hopefully I will be able to bring you many Mommy reviews and giveaways.

Thanks for stopping by my blog