Soft Scrub Review + Giveaway

This blog is about mostly green products so I do need to start this post off by saying this is definitely not a green product line. Soft Scrub's Total All Purpose Cleaners do have chemicals in them. One of them also has bleach in it. When the opportunity presented itself for me to do this review + giveaway, I accepted it rather hesitantly since I have not used these types of products in my home in about five years. However, we moved to a new house in March and there are tons of cabinets in my kitchen and they are white, so I thought I would give the Soft Scrub All Purpose Cleaner with bleach a try. It absolutely got rid of the stains with just one wipe. I will definitely continue to use this product on the tough stains. I will probably have my husband do it from now on though because now I have a huge headache. That doesn't happen to everyone, but using bleach always gives me a headache. Anyway, I was definitely impressed at how quickly the Soft Scrub with Bleach got rid of the stains on my counter- it will definitely come in handy for cleaning the counters this weekend before my twin boys' 3rd birthday party.

You can also use Soft Scrub to clean your bathrooms, specifically the toilets. These are heavy duty cleaners, so a little goes a long way!

I have coupons to giveaway to one person for 3 Soft Scrub Products! Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! Click here to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soft Scrub is also holding a sweepstakes with $3,000 in prizes! 1 lucky winner will receive $1000 and 50 other winners will each receive $40! Enter to win here!

The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry & Tina Eicher Book Review

I love to read, as evidenced by the fact that an overwhelming amount of my reviews here are book reviews. Something you may not know though is that I also love to make homemade meals for my family and I love to cook, so I love to come across a good cookbook!

I was excited to discover The Amish Family Cookbook! It was even more of a thrill when I saw that there were countless amounts of recipes in this book. And it wasn't like cookbooks where there is maybe one recipe in each category that I might cook, this book is full of wonderful recipe ideas, many of them pretty simple! Something else I really loved about this book is there are little bits of Amish humor and Amish proverbs sprinkled throughout.

The first recipe I tried out of this book were the hamburgers. I have recently become a vegetarian so I didn't eat them, but they did smell good. The other four people in my house are meat lovers and huge hamburger fans. I asked my husband on a scale of 1 to 10 where he would rate the hamburger recipe- his answer- "they were REALLY good, AT LEAST an 8!" He asked that they be added to our permanent rotation of recipes.

There are several recipes that I plan to make for the fall. There are just way too many great baking recipes in the book. Some favorites include- angel food cake, pumpkin cookies, Christmas buckeyes, Russian tea cakes and apple crisp! I know I will definitely be making the snack eggs, the easy chicken pot pie and the cheesy chicken and rice casserole.

I feel like many of the recipes in this book would work well for family dinners or for get togethers! I would highly recommend this book, especially to someone who likes good home cooking, but wants some simple recipes (with a couple of time consuming ones thrown in there for those days you really want to accomplish something!) I know that I plan to buy a few copies of this book to give away as Christmas gifts this year! THAT is how much I truly enjoyed it myself!

If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1-5 stars it would absolutely be 5 stars. It is a fantastic book filled to the brim with great recipes!

Here is a recipe for you to enjoy, just in time for Fall!

Hannah Byler's Pecan Pie-
Beat on low speed slightly or with hand beater:
3 eggs, 1/3 c. butter, 1 c. melted light corn syrup, 1/2 tsp. salt & 2/3 c. sugar.
Stir in 1 cup pecan halves.
Pour into one pie crust.
Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes.


The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry & Tina Eicher will be available for purchase on October 1st!
In the meantime, check out some of Jerry's Amish Fiction!

*Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of The Amish Cookbook via Netgalley. I was not required to render a positive review. All opinions are 100% my own!

Batman Costume Review

When you have little boys at your house (and let's face it, adult men as well) a slight obsession with super heroes is inevitable. This year with the release of the last movie in The Dark Knight series, there will probably be lots of little Batmen on Halloween. Our family will be no exception. We are huge super hero fans and our little boys are still young enough that we can pick what they want to be, so our youngest is going to be a super cool little Batman!

What I like about Halloween costumes is that we can keep them for a year or two and add them to our dress up trunk. For that reason I usually get my kids' costumes a size up. I got the Batman costume in a child's small. I have three kids-3 year old twins boys and a 5 year old daughter and they pretty much share everything. When the Batman costume arrived from Wholesale Costume Club, my daugther HAD to try it on. It fit her really well, even though it is a size smaller than what she would normally wear. It has a bit of stretch to it! It's a really cute costume that does not look like it was cheaply made (we have all had a costume like that at some point, I think!) I look forward to seeing all three of my kids take turns wearing the Batman costume and I will definitely post pictures after Halloween of my little pumpkin in it!

Wholesale Costume Club is an affordable choice for all of your needs this Halloween. I have seen Halloween Costumes that cost $40-$50 dollars with no affordable option. I have noticed with Wholesale Costume Club that there is an affordable option (sometimes less than $20!) from many of the costumes available and they have a wide range of costumes to choose from. Even just for Batman costumes, they have costumes available from everyone from your infant to your husband and everyone in between and several options available in each category!

On a bit of a different note- If you read this blog often, you know I am a huge advocate for healthy eating. What do kids think Batman would eat? And would that have any sway in what they would choose to eat? Check out this article to find out the answer!

Halloween is right around the corner! Have you started planning yet? What will your kids be this year?

*Disclaimer- 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.

Help kids that are not getting enough to eat through No Kid Hungry

A new public survey reveals that nearly 1 in 5 children are facing the threat of hunger this year.

When a child is hungry, he/she can't concentrate in school. This is such a huge problem on many different levels. Not only are some kids not getting enough nourishment, they are unable to learn what they need in school as a result.

The good news is you can help! You can donate money to help this crisis here! Every little bit helps! You can also help by sharing this page about the study I mentioned above on your social media outlets in order to help spread awareness. These kids need us. Let's see to it that there is #NoKidHungry!

Gift Hulk Giveaway- $250 in Amazon.com gift cards!

At GiftHulk users can earn gift cards, electronics and other rewards the EZ Way, by doing things they already do online – searching, answering surveys and more!

GiftHulk offers users more than 15 different ways to earn Hulk Coins! These include Search&Win, Offer Walls, Daily Surveys, Friends Connect, Treasure Box (patent pending technology) and much more!

Currently GiftHulk is open to users from USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

Why GiftHulk?

“Time Is Money.” However, when it comes to surfing on the Internet we totally forget about it and spend our time refreshing Facebook and Twitter to see if there is a fresh update. We all do it.

GiftHulk established a way to make it possible to gain from surfing the web and your online daily activities! The main goal is to allow people the things that they really want and need – for absolutely FREE!

That is the main reason they offer such a huge selection of gifts, from department and fashion stores to online shopping cards to premium game account cards and even cool gadgets! The idea is that every person will be able to enjoy GiftHulk!

I love websites like GiftHulk that give you something back for doing what you would already be doing anyway. I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to give it a try!

Everyone I know loves Amazon.com, myself included. Who couldn't use Amazon gift cards? the possibilities of what to buy are just about endless! Enter below via the rafflecopter form!

One lucky winner will receive a $150 Amazon Gift Card & 2 additional winners $50 Amazon Gift Cards.

Giveaway ends September 3rd at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Hosted by Mom to Bed by 8, Powered By Mom, Real Mom Reviews and Mom Always Finds Out.

The American Bible Challenge + Giveaway!

There is a new game show premiering this week on The Game Show Network called The American Bible Challenge. I'm kind of excited at the prospect of this show. Not only will it be good to see a Bible related show on a mainstream network, it will be fun trying to answer the questions from home and learn more about the Bible in the process. Watch the video below for a glimpse behind the making of The American Bible Challenge and more background information on it's host, comedian Jeff Foxworthy. I think many people will be surprised to find out some of the stuff Foxworthy shares about his personal life (he's been attending a Bible study weekly with the same men for 15 years!) It looks like a great show and I love that the people are competing for money to help OTHER people. If anything, maybe this show will ignite a spark to help others.

It is sure to be fun and include humor as well with a comedian as the host. If you enjoyed Jeff Foxworthy on Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?, you will probably enjoy The American Bible Challenge!

About The American Bible Challenge
Comedian and author, Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charitable organization. The American Bible Challenge is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL’s Tom Forman (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) and Embassy Row’s Michael Davies ("The Newlywed Game," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") serving as Executive Producers on the project. Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers.

About Host: Jeff Foxworthy
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy® Award nominee and the best-selling author of 11 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature.

Below the behind the scenes video, there is a rafflelcopter form to enter the giveaway. One lucky reader will receive a American Bible Challenge t-shirt as well as a Zondervan NIV Quest Bible! 

The American Bible Challenge Premieres on Thursday, August 23 at 8/7c on Game Show Network.
Connect with The American Bible Challenge on Facebook
The American Bible Challenge's Website
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*Disclaimer- I was given the opportunity to do this giveaway through Flyby Promotions. No monetary exchange took place and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

Essie's Penny Talk (Mirror Metallics) & Stroke of Brilliance (Luxe Effects) Review

For the last few years, I have been really into nail polish. I think even more so after my twin boys were born in 2009 because it's something small I can do for myself at home, even when I don't have a lot of time. I love trying new colors and new brands (provided that they use a 3 free formula- have to keep things toxin free for my boys and their older sister AND my husband and me as well!)

Essie has teamed up with Klout several times this year to hand out some of their polishes to Klout users who are influential in beauty. I wanted to share some of those polishes with you- because I am pretty impressed!

I have seen Essie in the stores and I love the bottle they come in. It is just easy to pick an Essie bottle out from across the store. I have been a pretty devoted Zoya fan and haven't really stepped outside of that box until this year, so I was very happy to be able to try Essie without having to buy it.

A while back Klout & Essie sent me Stroke of Brilliance- a fun blue glitter polish from their Luxe Effects collection. Today I received Penny Talk- a copper color with a tiny hint of pink from their new metallics collection. I am usually not a fan of copper nail color because I am pretty much ghost white and it washes me out and looks odd on my nails. Not so with Penny Talk, it is a lovely light copper that shines and looks awesome on my nails. Something I really love about Essie is it's pretty much the fastest drying polish ever. I am always impressed out how fast it dries! That makes it easier for me to not mess up what I've painted and easier to paint my daughter's nails!

Penny Talk from Essie's Mirror Metallics collection.

I will definitely use Penny Talk as a go to for every day polish. It's just gorgeous!

I thought it would be fun to layer Stroke of Brilliance over Penny Talk so you could see both of my Klout perks from Essie in action together!

It looks much better in person! I like the combo of colors!

I will say Essie definitely has me as a fan! I can not wait to try more of their gorgeous colors from their great collections. Thank you to Klout & Essie for allowing me to try both of these great polishes and share them with you! If you are not on Klout yet, what are you waiting for? I have got to participate in so many cool perks from some many different categories! Check it out and start getting your own free perks!

Connect with Essie on Facebook

*Disclaimer- I received both of these Essie Polishes through Klout perks. I was not required to post a review.

Live to Give by Austin Gutwein- Book Review/Blog Tour

About the book-

Want to do something for God, but don't know what? Want to help others, but don't know who? Want to know what it is that you are really good at doing? Your gifts may seems small and insignificant. But God can use them to work a miracle!

Inspired by the Biblical story of the feeding of 5,000, Live to Give delivers a message of hope that we all have something to give. Written in the down-to-Earth, candid voice of the gifted young man, who as a kid founded a relief ministry that has save and improved countless lives in Africa, Live to Give is the message that every teen needs to hear.

Jesus proved that no gift is too small when He used 5 loves and 2 fish to feed thousands. And if no gift is too small, too ordinary, too random, there is no limit to what the youth of today can accomplish!

A teen philanthropist, who has built a high school, two medical clinics and a dormitory in Africa- all before the age of 16- Austin Gutwein shares how to make what may seem like the simplest of talents, gifts and interests and use them for something Jesus can use to move mountains!

Meet Austin-

As found of Hoops of Hope, Austin started what is now known as the worlds largest Free-Throw marathon. Austin's Hoops of Hope has raised more than 2.5 million to help orphaned children in Africa. Austin also serves as Co-Chair of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's Youth Council. A highly sought after speaker, Austin has spoken and shared his heart in venues around the world. In 2009, Austin was selected into the Caring Hall of Fame, as one of the top 10 most caring Americans.

Austin's first book, Take Your Best Shot, shared stories that captured readers hearts and won a Moonbeam Award. For information of booking Austin or for general inquiries, please visit AustinGutwein.com.

My Thoughts-

Austin Gutwein saw a little girl on tv that was orphaned in Africa when he was 9 years old and he decided he should do something about it. With the support of his family, he started Hoops for Hope, an organization that aims to help orphans of the AIDS epidemic.

Austin is just 18 years old and from the content of this book, wise beyond his years. I found myself thinking, "I wish this book was around when I was younger!" Live to Give is aimed at an audience of ages 12-18, but anyone can pull lessons out of this great book full of inspiration and encouragement.

Austin uses great analogies to help illustrate how to get on the road the helping others by using your spiritual gifts. He stresses the point that with patience, perseverance and faith, we can all make a difference and that whether that difference is on a huge scale like Hoops of Hope or a simple as giving a few dollars to someone who is homeless, every little bit counts. I found Live to Give to be a wonderful, encouraging book. I would recommend adults without teens read it and that those with teens pick up a copy for their kids. Who knows what Austin's encouraging words might ignite in the heart of another compassionate teen!

< Austin's new book Live to Give is about "Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles"! Celebrate with him by entering his "Get and Give" Campaign - you could win a Kindle Fire for yourself AND Litfuse will donate $250 to the charity of your choice!

See what people are saying about Live to Give.

One winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
• Five copies of Live to Give by Austin Gutwein
• $250 donated on the winner’s behalf to the charity of their choice

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/25/12. The winner will be announced on 8/27/12 on the Live to Give Landing Page!

Just click one of the icons below to enter. Tell your friends about Austin's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

*Disclaimer- I received a free copy of Live to Give via Litfuse Publicity Group for the purpose of this review for the blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

Another fabulous FREE blogger opportunity!

Sponsored by LoveSac & hosted by Mom to Bed by 8

Prize: Four Cushion Chaise Sectional with Chocolate Rhinoplush Covers {RV$3,260}

The event dates: 9/10 - 10/1

Free Event ~ Sign-Up Here - LoveSac Event Bloggers Wanted

This is going to be a fabulous giveaway! Can't wait! If you are interested in signing up for this free event, please mention that Crist's Reviews referred you. 

Bloggers wanted for FREE OPP!

Sponsored by GiftHulk & hosted by Mom Powered Media

At GiftHulk users can earn gift cards, electronics and other rewards the EZ Way, by doing things they already do online – searching, answering surveys and more!

Prizes: $250 in Amazon Gift Certificates

The event dates: 8/20 - 9/3

Sign-Up Here - Bloggers Wanted

Today is the last day to sign up! Make sure and say Cristi's Reviews sent you! :)

Flash Giveaway- Purex Triple Action Detergent

I LOVE that being a Purex Insider gives me the opportunity to give away some great products for you guys to try out. I have 3 coupons for a free bottle of Purex Triple Action Detergent and thought what better to do than to give them away to 3 lucky readers. Enter via the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

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Over the Edge by Mary Connealy- Book Review/Blog Tour + Win a Nook Color!

About the book-

Seth Kincaid survived a cave fire, but he's never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he's gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back even crazier than ever.

After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh he's got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't happy to hear that Seth doesn't remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she's come to the Kincaid family ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.

Callie isn't a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She's not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.

Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth's pa kept for years. The Kinkaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can't sort things out. It's enough to drive a man insane-but somehow it's all making Seth see things clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way.

My thoughts- Well first of all, I really enjoyed the cover. Look at those gorgeous eyes! It's just a nice cover to look at in general and definitely fits in with the novel and how Callie feels about Seth forgetting about her. This was an interesting book. I felt like the fact that Seth had some memory loss was beaten into my head by the end and felt like it didn't need to be brought up SO much, but I really enjoyed that part of the story line. How crazy would it be to wake up and not realize you are not only married, but have a child? Seth has had a pretty crazy life and he has met his match in Callie, a fiesty woman from Texas. The novel starts off with a bang, with a stagecoach robbery in which Callie's quick thinking saves everyone aboard where she and her husband are finally reunited and we find out that he ran off, forgetting who she was. Together, they go to the Kinkaid ranch, where Callie meets Seth's brothers and their wives and Seth tries to remember Callie. Over the Edge is full of drama, humor, romance and even a touch of suspense. There are some interesting surprises that pop up for all of the Kinkaid brothers and it was fun watching them unfold. I loved the perfect ending to what I felt was a very original story.

This is the 3rd book in a series focusing on the Kincaid brothers. I have not read the first two, but Seth's story definitely makes me want to go back and learn more about him and his brothers in the other novels!

About the author-  Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedies with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie's Daughters series and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband Ivan, and has four grown daughters. Celebrate with Mary by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!

See what folks are saying about Over the Edge!

One winner will receive:

• A Nook Color with GlowLight
• The entire set of Mary Connealy's The Kincaid Brides series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Over the Edge" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/29. Meet Mary, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!

So grab your copy of Over the Edge and join Mary on the evening of the August 29th for a chance to connect with her 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 RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of Over the Edge via Litfuse Publicity Group for the purpose of putting together this review for the blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

$40 worth of nail product for ONE PENNY!

I haven't written a review on a beauty products in a while and I love them so much that I have to make it a point to do so now. I have already written about Julep and their Maven program several times on this blog. It is another subscription box, but the cool thing about the Julep Maven program is that it gives you lots of options. This box is full of nail polishes and other products for your mani/pedi needs. They send you a preview email of what the polishes and products are going to be sent out each month and you can choose whether or not you want to skip the month or even gift your box to a friend. I like that you have the option to skip a month, as far as I know Julep is the only subscription box out there that gives you that option. There are also several boxes to choose from. When you first sign up, you take a quiz and the result will tell you what box they think you will like and that is what you will be subscribed to, but you have the option to switch which box you get which is really cool because each box is usually really different from the rest. Another really awesome thing about being a Julep Maven is that you get 20% off at the website and free shipping if you want to buy products outside of the boxes. And if that all wasn't enough the Julep Maven subscription box is unique is that you get rewarded when you refer your friends. If just 3 of your friends sign up to get the Maven box, you get a free Maven box! And there is no limitation on how many friends you can invite, so you could get plenty of free boxes! And they are always new colors which I think is super cool. I loved last months metallics. I got a beautiful pearly white that I am just so in love with and a pretty minty green, along with Julep's polish remove (the best remover I have ever used.) I can't wait to see what is in store for September!

If you are not yet a Julep Maven and want to try it, but don't want to sink money into something you are unsure about- they offer new Maven's their first box for just ONE PENNY! That's right, one cent! Just enter the code COLOR2012 at checkout. If you end up not liking the program, you can cancel at anytime. Join Julep Maven for One Penny!

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman- Book Review

Julie Charlton is stressed out to the max. She's overwhelmed and feels like with the demands of today's society, her kids are too. Her sister in law is presented with the opportunity to do a reality television show in which she would be living simply- and needs another family to join her. Could this be the change that Julie's family needs? Julie's sister in law Susan, also brings along her teenage daughter. Both women will learn unexpected lessons about themselves and one another.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Almost Amish. I knew it was going to be a book about a reality show that focused on the simple living life that the Amish live, but I also new that with a reality show involved, it wouldn't be THAT simple. I thought it might be interesting to see this story unfold, since these two families indeed are not Amish, but for each of their own reasons, willing to try and live (mostly) like the Amish do. That whole idea interests me because I have said more than once, that I wouldn't mind visiting an Amish family myself for the same kind of experience. Our society definitely has a hard time slowing down or being detached from our various electronics, so I think that this book is easy to relate to. The story is mostly about Julie and her sister in law Susan and it is good to see them both learn from their time being Almost Amish, but I also love the teen point of view offered through their 3 children and that they are willing to go along with their moms' plans. I think too, that when many people think of the simple life that the Amish live, they don't think about all of the hard work that they put in, so it's nice to get a glimpse of how that might affect someone who is not used to living in that way typically being thrown into it.

I did wish that they would have had more interaction with actual Amish people in the book, they mostly just keep to themselves, but other than that, I found it to be a very enjoyable book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to learn about the Amish way of life, learn about others or who's ever dreamed of chucking their cell phone out the window and just hanging out in nature a little

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- According to Kathryn Cushman's blog, Almost Amish will be available via Kindle download for FREE for one day only on August 17 (that's in just a few days!) No Kindle? No problem. You can download a free app for your phone or onto your pc as well.

Connect with Kathryn Cushman at her website
Connect with Kathryn Cushman on her blog
Connect with Kathryn Cushman on Facebook

*Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of Almost Amish via Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of putting together this review. I was not required to render a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

New 100% Vegan Conscious Box option + Win a box!

Conscious Box already had my heart with their awesome monthly subscription box, which comes filled to the brim with product samples from eco-friendly, natural and organic companies. It is a great way for a newbie to living healthy to learn about the many different products that are available out there that you could be using in place of some of the less healthy or Earth friendly options that are the norm for many people. And now Conscious Box has announced that each month, in addition to the regular Conscious Box, they will be offering 100% Vegan box as well. I didn't think it was possible to love them even more! You can subscribe to one box or the other or both. For the vegan box, Conscious Box has teamed up with Brendan Brazier, former Ironman triathlete, best selling author of Thrive and formulator of Vega. Brendan is known as a top authority for all things vegan (plant based diet) and he has used that knowledge to help create one of the most incredible Conscious Box experiences yet! I am not vegan, but I am a beginner vegetarian and I absolutely think that anyone can incorporate vegan products in their lifestyle. Baby steps to a healthier lifestyle! Conscious Box wants to give one lucky reader the chance to try out the 100% vegan box! Enter via the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Disclaimer- Conscious Box has provided me a free 100% vegan box to give away. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

The Lean by Kathy Freston- Book Review

There are too many books about weight loss that are just not good for weight loss...or for your health in general. I mean, sure you might lose weight, but typically with fad diets, you will gain it all back and then some. 

 Kathy Freston's The Lean is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change. What I really love about this book is that you take one step each day to contribute to becoming healthy. You might be giving something up that is not good for you or you may be adding something healthy to your day. Either way it is all about becoming a healthier you and in the process, losing those extra unwanted pounds. I feel like The Lean is an easy program to follow because if you slip up one day, well you can start over because it's just one thing that you've messed up. It is easier than trying to stay on top of the "rules" of diets that aren't healthy for you to begin with. 

This is a 30 day program, some of the days the tasks are super simple and some days they are not, but anyone who is wanting to become healthier- this is the book for you. I had already incorporated a lot of these things into my daily life before reading The Lean, but I know many people will benefit from learning all of the little things they can do that will add up to being a great. healthy relationship with food that is good for you! I would recommend this book to anyone that is trying to lose weight and keep it off or that just wants to become healthier overall. The 30 day plan highlighted in The Lean will get you there!


The Lean on Amazon
The Lean on Barnes & Noble

Connect with Kathy Freston on Facebook
Connect with Kathy Freston on Twitter
Kathy Freston's Website


Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of The Lean from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble- Book Review/Blog Tour

About the book:

Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty...where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer's talent and love of history. She's delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she's met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams!

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the Island. The father who will her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her new found brother and sister are convinced she's there to still their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libb's under suspicion for the crime.

Libby's dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocemce, or lose everything on the shore of Hope Island.

About the author:

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Reader's Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

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My thoughts on Tidewater Inn:

This novel takes to of my favorite themes of a novel- mystery and romance- and puts them together. Tidewater Inn begins with a bang, Libby's business partner Nicole is kidnapped almost immediately, a crime for which Libby is immediately suspected. Not only does she need to find Nicole to clear her name, a father she thought was dead long ago has left her his inn on Hope Island and she has two siblings and an aunt she never knew about to try and get to know. Aunt Pearl is a shoulder for Libby to lean on when her new found brother and sister don't trust Libby's motives for being on the island. They feel their father should have left the inn to them. I really enjoyed seeing how each of these relationships would take off. Libby has also has met a very interesting man in Alec, but is he truly interested in her and helping her find Nicole, or does he think she is responsible for the disappearance?

This is a great novel with many twists and turns, great characters and a wonderful story line, all leading up to a very intense ending.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense!

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Celebrate with Colleen by entering to win a $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com
• A copy of Tidewater Inn.

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 22nd. Winner will be announced at Colleen's "Tidewater Inn" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/23. Colleen will be sharing the story behind the book, hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways - books, gift certificates and a Book Club Prize Pack! She’ll also be giving a sneak peak of her next book too!

So grab your copy of Tidewater Inn and join Colleen on the evening of the August 23rd  for a chance to connect with Colleen 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 and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER about Colleen's giveaway and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!


*Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of Tidewater Inn. I was not required to write a positive review & all opinions stated are 100% my own.

The Love Book by Fiona O'brien- Book Review

Summary (from the author's website)-

In 1980, three school girls visit St. Valentine's shrine in Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin to write their petitions for love. Abby,Vonnie and Diana have discovered that finding love was the easy bit- it's what to do with it once you've found it that's tricky...When Vonnie arrives home unexpectedly from her life in California, all three women are forced to examine their choices, loves and lives, which have proved surprising and, in some ways, precarious. So much for St. Valentine- if the saint has taught them anything about love, it's to be careful what you wish for...But real love is always a work in progress, and even life-long friends must learn to open their eyes- and especially their hearts- because St. Valentine has some unfinished business with them...

My thoughts-

I really enjoy books that cover more than one time period. I loved getting a glimpse at the 3 best friends as young girls and kind of craved more of that, but I realize there was not enough time to get to know their teenage versions, otherwise there would not be enough pages to discover their depth as adults. I love that this novel shows real love- in all it's craziness- not just the sappy love that most books contain. Don't get me wrong, I am a sap myself and I do enjoy those happily ever after stories, but sometimes it's nice to just be real. There is one solid friendship between these three girls and all 3 of their adult lives and love stories are very interesting.Vonnie is complicated and trying to find her own way, Abby is complacent and just wants to see to it that everyone else is happy, while not stopping to think of herself and her own happiness in the process and Diana is the one everyone thinks they want to be, she is a little spoiled, but a good friend, but not without her own problems. I really enjoyed taking a peak into their strong bond in The Love Book.This is the first book I have read by Fiona O'brien and I definitely will seek out more of her work in the future.


I will caution my more conservative readers that there are a few steamy scenes sprinkled throughout, although nothing to graphic.

You can purchase your own copy of The Love Book at Amazon.com

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*Disclaimer- I received a complimentary copy of The Love Book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opnions stated are 100% my own.

Announcing the winners of The Sweetness of Forgetting giveaway!

I am so happy to announce the THREE lucky winners who have won autographed copies of The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel. Hold tight to your autographed copies ladies- I have a feeling Kristin Harmel will only continue to get better from here!

The winners are:

Melissa M.

Maria S.

Ani W.

Congrats ladies! Come back and let me know what you think!

If you didn't win and would like to purchase a copy of the book it is now available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Don't forget to add The Sweetness of Forgetting to your "To Read" list on Goodreads!