Thursday, October 31, 2013

Picking between Different Car Dealerships


When looking to buy a car, you want to have all the information available. You want to make a good decision based on what you want and what you need. Buying a car can be stressful. There are so many different options available. It can be even more stressful when you aren’t working with people that have your best interest in mind. This is why it is so important to go to the right place. Here are some tips on how to choose between different Plainfield car dealerships when picking the right car for you.


Customer Service
There is a difference between selfish service and helpful service. You can almost tell the minute you step up to the dealership what kind of service you are going to get. You want the person helping you to listen to what you really want. They should stay in the price range you have decided on. You should also feel that they are there to assist you in purchasing a car, not convince you to purchase a car. Good customer service is all about the customer. If you go somewhere where you feel they are trying to push you into something you don’t want, it’s time to try a different dealership.
Selection
Next, you will want to have your pick of options. You want a place that will give you the freedom to change your mind. When you start looking for a car, it’s nice to have a few cars that catch your eye. This way you can compare and decide which is really best for you. If they don’t have many cars, you may make a purchase without realizing what else is out there.
Recommendations
And lastly, a great way to know what dealership to go with is to ask around. Family and friends will usually have a few opinions on which Plainfield car dealerships are good and which ones to avoid. If the people you trust recommend a certain dealership, you can bet that they have great service, selection, and more. Take time to pick the right dealership for you and your new car.

This is a sponsored post written for the enjoyment of Giveaway Lady readers. 



**DISCLOSURE:  Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Searching Through Used Cars to Meet Your Needs


When you are considering purchasing a vehicle, you may want to give some thought to going for a used vehicle because there are many benefits you can get from going used instead of new. First, used cars in Kansas City sell for significantly less than new cars, even if the used vehicle isn’t that much older than the new model. This is because new vehicle prices depreciate greatly as soon as they are driven off of the dealership lot. Because new vehicle prices depreciate so much faster than used vehicles, you will not only pay a lot less when purchasing used, but you will also not lose as much money when you decide to resell your car. These financial benefits can make purchasing a used vehicle much more advantageous than choosing a brand-new car. When you are trying to decide what used car you should buy, you should also consider some of these things.


Considering Your Budget

To begin, you will want to consider how a used vehicle can fit into your budget. Sure, you know you are saving a lot by buying used as opposed to new, but you still want to make sure that the vehicle you settle on purchasing can fit inside your monthly budget. Taking on a monthly car payment can be stressful; in order to save yourself some discomfort, you should consider how much your monthly car payments are going to be based on the vehicle’s purchase price and the amount it will cost you to pay for monthly car insurance. Speaking of car insurance, another benefit that comes with buying used is that your monthly insurance costs are much less than they would be on a new vehicle.

Considering the Vehicle Features

Next, you will also want to consider what features you need from a vehicle. If you consider what needs you have that you need your car to meet, you can figure out which features are essential to meet those needs. You will want to decide how much cargo and passenger space you need to have so you can pick something that can meet your space needs. Also, think about what kinds of road conditions you will be driving in so you can determine what kind of driving features you need for safe driving. Consider the answers to these questions when you are looking through all of the available used cars in Kansas City so you can pick out the right one.

This is a sponsored post from Bucks2Blog for the readers of Giveaway Lady. 



**DISCLOSURE: Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Subway Extra Entry!!

Hey everyone, I have some upcoming giveaways I am sure you all will enjoy. Like Michael Angelo's frozen dinners, Old El Paso Dinner kits, etc. But today I wanted to give you all another entry for my Subway gift card. Pin a picture from the giveaway over on Pinterest and then come back and leave a comment here. You have to do this entry on the Rafflecopter form though or it won't count. You get 5 extra entries if you pin to Pinterest.




**DISCLOSURE: Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Christian Home Exchange?



Hi readers!! Today is a beautiful Saturday with the sun shining and a bit of a breeze. I love our little part of the world:) But have you ever wanted to travel somewhere else and visit for a while? There are definitely certain times where I wish we could take a trip to another part of the state or even the country. But have you seen many of these hotels and places to stay? You never know if it will be up to par or if you will have to move, etc. And that is where Christian Home Exchange comes in. I had personally never heard that title used for it, but I know people who do this type of program and they have raved about it in the past. It is a great alternative to a hotel or bed and breakfast with lots of benefits. Check out some of the points below!

1.Friends and Fellowship
This is one of the biggest perks to the Christian Home Exchange program. Not only do you get to meet new friends, but you will also participate in fellowship together. Almost like meeting family! This is far different than a hotel where you don't know the people and will probably never see them or talk to them again. You might make friends for life with a program like this.

2.Ministry.
Some people may not view this as a ministry, but I see it as being very much a way to minister and encourage others. Maybe you could help a student trying to finish college. Or perhaps it will just be a well deserved vacation for a family tired out. Whatever the case may be, I see so many opportunities with this.

So, have any of you ever used a home exchange? Or have you hear any feedback about a program like this?





**DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post written on the behalf of Blogdash and Christian Home Exchange. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Friday, October 25, 2013

FIRST WildCard Tour for I Saul by Jerry B Jenkins. Excellent #Book!!


It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books.  A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured.  The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between!  Enjoy your free peek into the book!


You never know when I might play a wild card on you!





Today's Wild Card author is:



Jerry B. Jenkins



and the book:



I, Saul


Worthy Publishing (August 27, 2013)

MY THOUGHTS-I have long been interested in this book ever since I first heard it was coming out. Jerry Jenkins has written several great books about Biblical people and they are some of the few that I actually like. Many of them have too much fiction to keep my interest but let me tell you, I Saul is one of my favorites! I Thoroughly fell in love with Augie. And the storyline behind Paul and Luke was just amazing. It was like I saw the Bible come to life through the characters in this book. So much research went into this to make things realistic to Bible times and yet be interesting for the reader. We aren't talking just plain ole dry history, but Jerry Jenkins brings these people to your living room. Excellent novel and I can't wait to see what Mr Jenkins has in store for his readers!

***Special thanks to Leeanna Case for sending me a review copy.***



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Jerry B. Jenkins is a New York Times best-selling novelist (Left Behind Series) and biographer (Billy Graham, Hank Aaron, Walter Payton, Orel Hershiser, Nolan Ryan, Joe Gibbs and many more), with over 70 million books sold. His writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and he has been featured on the cover of Newsweek.


Visit the author's website.




SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A MURDERER who would change the WORLD
From multi-million copy best-selling novelist Jerry Jenkins comes a compelling international thriller that conveys you from present-day Texas to a dank Roman dungeon in A.D. 67, then down the dusty roads of ancient Israel, Asia, and back to Rome.

A young seminary professor, Augustine Knox, is drawn into a deadly race to save priceless parchments from antiquities thieves and discovers a two- thousand-year old connection with another who faced death for the sake of the truth. I, Saul consists of two riveting adventures in one, transporting you between the stories of Augustine Knox and Saul of Tarsus.

Filled with political intrigue, romance, and rich historical detail, I, Saul is a thrilling tale of loyal friendships tested by life-or-death quests, set two millennia apart, told by a master storyteller.






Product Details:
List Price: $24.99
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Worthy Publishing (August 27, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617950068
ISBN-13: 978-1617950063



AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:




Tor n

T E x AS

W EDNESDAy, M Ay 7



“call now. desper8.”
The text appeared on Dr. Augie Knox’s phone at 8:55 a.m., seconds before he was to turn it off—protocol for profs entering a classroom at Arlington Theological Seminary.
Augie could have fired off a “give me a minute,” but the message was not signed and the sending number matched nothing in his contacts. The prefix 011-39-06 meant Rome. He’d traveled extensively in his thirty-eight years and enjoyed many visits to the Eternal City, but such a text could easily portend one of those I’ve-been-mugged-and-need- money scams. Whatever this was could wait until he got the Systematic Theology final exam started and could step into the hall with his phone.
Augie had long been fascinated by his students’ nervous chatter before






final exams. One announced, “I looked you up in Who’s Who, Doc, and I
know your full name.”
“Congratulations for discovering something you could have found in your student handbook four years ago.”
“No! That just says Dr. Augustine A. Knox! I found out what the A
stands for.”
“Good for you. Now, a few instructions . . .”
“Aquinas! Augustine Aquinas Knox! Man, what other career choice did you have?”
“Thank you for revealing the thorn in my flesh. If you must know, that moniker was my father’s idea.” Augie mimicked his dad’s monotone basso. “‘Names are important.They can determine a life’s course.’”
Many students chuckled, having sat under the elder Dr. Knox before he fell ill the year before.
“It also says you were adopted. Sorry, but it’s published.” “No secret,” Augie said.
Another hand shot up.“Was that a hint about the exam? Will we be speculating on Paul’s thorn in the flesh?”
“He’s only mentioned that mystery every class,” another said.
Augie held up a hand. “I trust you’re all prepared for any eventual-
ity.”




“So, what’s your dad’s name?”
“Ed!” someone called out. “Everybody knows that.” “Look it up,” Augie said. “You may find it revealing.”
With blue books distributed, Augie slipped out and turned on his
phone.The plea from Rome had already dropped to third on his message list. At the top was a voice mail from Dr. Moore, who had been filling in as acting department chair since Augie’s father had been hospitalized with a stroke.






Augie would have checked that one first, but next was a voice mail from Sofia Trikoupis, his heart. It was eight hours later in Athens, after five in the afternoon. “Call me at the end of your day,” her message said. “I’ll wait up.” It would be midnight her time by then, but she apparently needed his undivided attention. That would bug him all day. How he longed for them to be together.
His phone vibrated. Rome again. “urgent. call now, pls!” Augie pressed his lips together, thumbing in, “who’s this?” “trust me. begging.”
“not w/out knowing who u r.”
Augie waited more than a minute for a response, then snorted. As I
figured. But as he headed back into the classroom, his phone buzzed again. “zionist.”
Augie stopped, heat rising in his neck. He quickly tapped in, “90 minutes OK?”
“now! critical.”
Few people had been more important in Augie’s life than Roger Michaels, the diminutive fifty-year-old South African with a James Earl Jones voice and a gray beard that seemed to double the size of his pale, gnomish face. Augie would never lead a tour of an ancient city without Roger as the guide.
“2 mins,” Augie texted.
He rushed to his father’s old office, which still bore the senior Dr. Knox’s nameplate on the door. Augie knocked and pushed it open.“Les, I need a favor.”
Dr. Moore took his time looking up from his work. “Number one, Dr. Knox, I did not invite you in.”
“Sorry, but—”
“Number two, I have asked that you refer to me as Dr. Moore.”






“My bad again, but listen—”
“And number three,” the acting chair said, making a show of study- ing his watch, “we both know that at this very moment you are to be conducting—”
“Dr. Moore, I have an emergency call to make and I need you to stand in for me for a few minutes.”
Moore sighed and rose, reaching for his suit coat.“I know what that’s about.Take all the time you need.”
Augie followed him down the hall. “You do?” “You didn’t get my message?”
“Oh, no, sorry. I saw one was there, but I—”
“But you assumed other messages were more important. I said we needed to chat after your first exam.”
“Well, sure, I’ll be here.”
“Part of what we need to discuss is your father. Is that what your call is about?”
“What about my father?” “We’ll talk at ten.”
“But is he—”
“There have been developments, Dr. Knox. But he is still with us.” As Dr. Moore headed for the classroom, Augie ducked into a stair-
well, away from the windows and the relentless sun forecasters were saying would push the temperature at least twenty degrees above normal by 2:00 p.m., threatening the 107° record for the month.
Augie wasn’t getting enough signal strength to complete his call, so he hurried back out to the corridor. Cell coverage was still weak, so he stepped outside. It had to be near 90° already. Scalp burning, he listened as the number rang and rang.
Augie moved back inside for a minute, braced by the air condition-






ing, then ventured out to try again. He waited two minutes, tried once more, and felt he had to get back to class.
On a third attempt, as he neared the entrance, it was clear someone had picked up a receiver and hung up. Augie dialed twice more as he walked back to take over for Dr. Moore. Just before he reached the class- room, his phone came alive again with a text.
“sorry. later. trash ur phone. serious.”
Augie couldn’t make it compute. Had his phone been traced? Tapped? If he got a new one, how would Roger know how to reach him?
Dr. Moore stood just inside the classroom door and emerged imme- diately when he saw Augie. “Talk to your mother?” he said.
“No, should I?”
Moore sighed and opened his palms. “You interrupt my work and don’t check on your father?”
Augie reached for his cell again, but hesitated. If he used it, would he be exposing his mother’s phone too?
“Call her after we’ve talked, Dr. Knox. Now I really must get back to my own responsibilities.”
It was all Augie could do to sit still till the end of class. Before get- ting back to Dr. Moore, he dropped off the stack of blue books in his own office and used the landline to call his contact at Dallas Theolog- ical Seminary, just up the road. Arlington Sem sat equidistant between DTS to the east and the massive Southwestern Baptist Seminary to the west. Arlington was like the stepchild no one ever talked about, a single building for a couple of hundred students, struggling to stay alive in the shadows of those two renowned institutions.When Augie needed some- thing fast, he was more likely to get it from the competition. Such as a new phone.
Like his father before him, Augie was  the travel department at






Arlington. No auxiliary staff handled logistics as they did at DTS and Southwestern. The head techie at Dallas was Biff Dyer, a string bean of a man a few years older than Augie with an Adam’s apple that could apply for statehood. He could always be counted on to program Augie’s phone, depending on what country he was traveling to.
“Calling from your office phone, I see,” Biff said. “What happened to the cell I got you?”
“It’s been compromised.”
Biff chuckled. “Like you’d know.What makes you think so?” “I need a new one.Trust me.”
“I’ll just switch out the chip.You’re not gonna find a better phone. How soon you need it?”
“Fast as possible.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me? I’m not deliverin’ it. Can you come by during normal hours?”
There was a knock at Augie’s door and he wrenched around to see
Les Moore’s scowl. “Gotta go, Biff.”
“Sorry, Les. On my way right now. Or do you want to just meet here?” “Here would not be any more appropriate than your insisting on our being on a first-name basis,” Dr. Moore said, scanning the tiny chamber in which the guest chair was folded in a corner and brought out only
when necessary.
“C’mon, Les. You were only a couple years ahead of me. We hung out, didn’t we?”
“Hardly. You spent most of your free time in the gym with the—
what?—six other jocks who happened to enroll here.”
It was true. And everyone knew the library had been where to find
Les Moore.
Augie looked at his watch. Another final at 11. He followed his interim






boss back to his father’s old office. It wasn’t that much bigger than his, but at least the guest chair didn’t block the door.
“Would you start with my dad?” Augie said as he sat.
“I would have thought you’d have already checked in with your mother, but all right. She called this morning, knowing you were in class. Your father has slipped into a coma.”
Augie nodded slowly. “She okay?”
“Your mother? Sure. It’s not like he’s passed. She just thought you might want to visit this afternoon.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Now then, Dr. Knox, I have some paperwork here that I’m going to need you to sign. Frankly, it’s not pleasant, but we’re all expected to be team players and I’m going to assume you’ll accede to the adminis- tration’s wishes.”
“What’s up?”
“You’re scheduled to teach summer-school Homiletics beginning four days after commencement.”
“A week from today, right.”
“And we have contracted with you for this stipend, correct?”
Why Les felt it necessary to pencil the figure on the back of a business card and dramatically slide it across the desk, Augie could not fathom.
“Yep, that’s the fortune that’s going to let me retire by forty.”
“Um-hm. Humorous. It is my sad duty to ask you to agree to under- take the class for two-thirds that amount.”
“You’re serious.” “Always.”
That was for sure.
“Les—Dr. Moore, you know we do these classes pretty much as gifts to the sem. Now they seriously want us to do them for less?”






“This is entirely up to you.” “I can refuse?”
“We’re not going to force you to teach a class when we have to renege on our agreement.”
“Good, because I just don’t think I can do it for that.”
“I’ll report your decision. We’ll be forced to prevail upon a local adjunct instruct—”
“Like that youth pastor at Arlington Bible—” “He’s a graduate, Dr. Knox.”
“I know! I taught him. And he’s a great kid, but he didn’t do all that well in Homiletics, and there’s a reason they let him preach only a couple of times a year over there.”
“He’ll be happy to do it for this figure—probably even for less.” “And the students be hanged.”
Les cocked his head. “Naturally, we would prefer you . . .”
Augie reached for his pen and signaled with his fingers for the doc- ument.
“I’m glad I can count on you, Dr. Knox. Now, while we’re on the subject, I’m afraid there’s more.You were due for a four percent increase beginning with the fall trimester.”
“Let me guess, that’s not going to happen either.” “It’s worse.”
“What, now it’s a four percent decrease?” “I wish.”
“Oh, no.”
“Dr. Knox, we have seen an alarming downturn in admissions, and the administration is predicting a fall enrollment that puts us at less than breakeven, even with massive budget cuts.We’re all being asked to accept twenty percent reductions in pay.”






Augie slumped. “I was hoping to get married this fall, Les. I can barely afford the payments on my little house as it is.”
“This is across the board, Dr. Knox. The president, the deans, the chairs, all of us. Some departments are actually losing personnel. Mainte- nance will be cut in half, and we’ll all be expected to help out.”
Arlington had been staggering along on a shoestring for decades, but this was dire. “Tell me the truth, Dr. Moore. Is this the beginning of the end? Should I entertain the offers I’ve gotten from Dallas over the years?” “Oh, no! The trustees wish us to weather this storm, redouble our efforts to market our distinctives, and then more than make up for the pay cuts as soon as we’re able. Besides, the way your father bad-mouthed Dallas and Southwestern his whole career, you wouldn’t dream of insult-
ing him by going to either, would you?”
“He bad-mouthed everything and everybody, Les.You know that.” “Not a pleasant man. No offense.”
Augie shrugged. “You worked for him. I lived with him.”
“Do you know, I have heard not one word from your father since the day I was asked to temporarily assume his role? No counsel, no guidelines, no encouragement, nothing. I assumed he was angry that you had not been appointed—”
That made Augie laugh.“He still sees me as a high school kid! Forget all my degrees. Anyway, I wouldn’t want his job, or yours. It’s not me.”
“How well I know. I mean, I’m just saying, you’re not the typical prof, let alone department chair.”
“I’m not arguing.”
Augie couldn’t win. Despite having been at the top of his classes in college and seminary, his having been a high school jock and continu- ing to shoot hoops, play touch football, and follow pro sports made him an outsider among real academics.Too many times he had been asked if






he was merely a seminary prof because that was what his father wanted for him.
Dr. Moore slid the new employment agreement across the desk. “Sorry, Les, but this one I’m going to have to think and pray about.” The interim chair seemed to freeze. “Don’t take too long. If they
aren’t sure they can count on you for the fall, they’ll want to consider the many out-of-work professors who would be thrilled, in the current econ- omy, to accept.”
“Yeah, that would help. Stock the faculty with young assistant pas- tors.”
“May I hear from you by the end of the day?”
“Probably not, but you’ll be the first to know what I decide.”
Back in his own office, Augie popped the chip out of his cell phone and put it in a separate pocket. He called his mother from his desk phone to assure her he would see her at the hospital late in the afternoon, then called Biff to tell him he would try to stop by DTS on his way.
“What’s the big emergency?” Biff said.
“Roger Michaels has himself in some kind of trouble.” “Tell me when you get here.”
During his 11:00 a.m. final Augie was summoned to the administra- tive offices for an emergency call. On the way he stopped by to see if Les would stand in for him again, but his office was dark.The final would just have to be unsupervised for a few minutes.
“Do you know who’s calling?” he said to the girl who had fetched him. If it was his mother . . .
“Someone from Greece.”
He finally reached the phone and discovered it was Sofia. “Thought you wanted me to call later, babe.You all right?”
“Roger is frantic to reach you.”






“I know. He—”
“He gave me a new number and needs you to call right now, but not from your cell.” She read it to him.
“Any idea what’s going on, Sof ?” Augie said as he scribbled. “This is not like him.”
“No idea, but, Augie, he sounded petrified.” “That doesn’t sound like him either.”
“You can tell me what it’s about later, but you’d better call him right away.”
Augie rushed to his office and dialed the number in Rome. It rang six times before Roger picked up. “Augie?”
“Yes! What’s—”
“Listen carefully. I’ve got just seconds. I need you in Rome as soon as you can get here.”
“Rog, what’s happening? This is the absolute worst time for me to—” “Give Sofia your new cell number and text me your ETA. I’ll give
you a new number where you can call me from Fiumicino as soon as you get in.”
“I don’t know when I could get there, Rog. I’ve got—” “Augie! You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t life or death.”





**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Finding What You Need with Buick Dealers


Before you head to one of the Buick dealers in Kansas City, you probably want to know what kinds of vehicles you are going to find there and what features you are looking for in your new vehicle. Knowing these kinds of things will help speed up your car shopping experience and will help you get what you really want so that you can be happy with your purchase afterward. Here are some things you can think about before you go to the dealer in order to help you make the right decision.


Varying Vehicle Options

Buick dealers offer quite a few different options for you to choose from when looking for a vehicle. These dealerships often offer new Buicks, certified used Buicks, and even previously owned cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans of other makes. So, if you are looking to buy a new vehicle or a used vehicle, you can go to a dealership to look at a large inventory of both to help you make your decision.


Options that Meet Your Needs

In determining what you need, you will want to decide what kind of space you’ll need. If you need a lot of passenger space, you will want to look at vehicles that have the kind of space you need. Also, if you know you are going to need space for carrying cargo, you will want to look at vehicles that either offer a lot of trunk/bed space or look at vehicles that have rows of seats that are easy to fold down when you need cargo space or pull up when you need passenger space. Also, determining what safety features you need is important as well. If you want a vehicle that comes with a rear view camera or a blind spot alert system, you can narrow down your search at the dealer by only looking at vehicles that come with these features. Finally, before you go to one of the Buick dealers in Kansas City, you will want to determine what luxury features you need to have in your vehicle, like stereo systems, DVD players, heating/cooling seats, etc.


This is a sponsored post in conjunction with Bucks2Blog for the readers of Giveaway Lady.


**DISCLOSURE: Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Mistaken By Karen Barnett. Excellent Book!

MISTAKEN by Karen Barnett

In the prohibition era rum running business, first impressions aren't always to be trusted...
Since booze and prohibition have made criminals out of every man in her world, Laurie Burke resolves to find at least one honorable man to fill her life. Convinced that handsome newcomer Daniel Shepherd is connected with her brother’s rum-running gang, Laurie quickly scratches his name off her list. But what of Federal Agent Samuel Brown? The Strait of Juan de Fuca, just off the beaches of Port Angeles, Washington, was treacherous water for reckless rum-runners—and the agents who tried to catch them. So when Laurie realizes her brother is in danger, romance is the last thing on her mind. Yet the people she believes she can trust, may not be so honorable after all. 


MY REVIEW-I wasn't sure how this book would be as I had never heard of the author before. But I was in for a pleasant surprise! Not only did the book keep my attention but I felt like I was plunged into the middle of the prohibition time period with rum running, soda jerks, and federal agents. It was so interesting and kept me guessing at what would come up next. Things slowly come out to light about people and they can be quite upsetting. I liked Laurie from the start, even when she is covering for her brother. And when Daniel stumbles into her path, or rather bumps into her, I fell for him from that moment. Sweet and kind, he is the exact person you imagine meeting. Of course, he has problems in his past as well. None of them are exempt. Overall a great story that I really enjoyed. Will definitely be looking for more from Karen Barnett. 


**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Shutterfly Holiday Cards and $50 Code Flash #Giveaway!!

I don't know about you, but I am a big fan of customized, personalized items. Whether they are holiday cards, gifts, shirts, etc. So one of my favorite places to shop is an online store called Shutterfly. They have lots of great items and the quality is wonderful! When I was given the chance to do a flash giveaway for their company, I jumped at it. So don't let me down here but make sure you enter below!!

Shutterfly has many holiday cards available in every style you can think of. We are talking photo cards, greeting cards, religious, whimsy, classic, etc. Pretty much whatever you are looking for, however obscure that is, they will probably have it. Some of my favorites are shown here.







As I am sure you can see, they have some very nice products that will make your holidays shine and remain memorable to your friends and family. Send out one of these cards, and you won't be forgotten! Or make one of these as a gift and I am sure they will love it. I enjoy receiving something that has been personalized because it means so much more. They put time and thought into it. You can't go wrong with something off Shutterfly.

So, anybody ready for a flash giveaway? The prize is a $50 gift code plus free shipping. This will end 10/24 at midnight. The winner will be chosen 10/25 in the AM and you have until that evening to get me your info. Otherwise you don't receive your prize. My winner has got to be in by Friday evening. Tell everyone you know to come over! USA ONLY!!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

CFBA Tour for Greetings from the Flipside.





This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Greetings from the Flipside

B&H Books (October 15, 2013)

by

Rene Gutteridge


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Rene is the author of seventeen novels. She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.


She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.


ABOUT THE BOOK



Hope Landon has been rewriting other people's greeting cards since she was six years old -- there's always a funnier caption. She's all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can't write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .


Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple's month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral -- everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it's not that easy to rent a place when you've been declared dead.


Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization's humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.


Is there anything in the cards for these two? Find out in the truly original Greetings from the Flipside by authors Rene Gutteridge (Boo) and Cheryl McKay (screenplay for The Ultimate Gift).


If you would like to read the first chapter of >Greetings from the Flipside, go HERE.

MY REVIEW-This was somewhat of an odd book. I enjoyed it and the comedy was kinda funny, but almost all the way through the book the female lead character is in a coma. So you see things from the flipside. Lets just say different. My mother read the book as well and wasn't sure exactly what was going on. If the girl was dead or alive? I knew ahead of time but still, it is not your normal Christian fiction novel. If you like those ones that make you sit up and take notice, or maybe even wonder if you are reading things right, this is the book for you:)





**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Monday, October 21, 2013

$5 Subway Gift Card #Giveaway!


Howdy readers! Today I have this wonderful giveaway for all my faithful followers, whether you be long time friends or brand spankin' new readers:) How many of you enjoy Subway? I know I sure do! I have been a fan of their food for quite a while and especially when I am trying to eat healthy I stop in there often. And I knew that if I loved Subway that much, I figured some of my followers might as well. And that is when I got the idea to host a giveaway, all my own with no sponsorship from the chain, for you all. This is for a $5 Subway gift card. And it may not sound like much, but that can get you a footlong sub or even one of their meal deals for lunch! Definitely a win in my book:) There will be plenty of extra entries for you to get and I am sure you all will enjoy it. So get going and use the form below!

This giveaway will end 11/12. Winner will be chosen through Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This contest is being hosted by myself. US ONLY!!


Friday, October 18, 2013

One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian Book Review with #Giveaway! #OneWayLove



About One Way Love
Real life is long on law and short on grace—the demands never stop, the failures pile up, and fear sets in. Life requires many things from us—a stable marriage, successful children, a certain quality of life. Anyone living inside the guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty of daily life knows that the weight of life is heavy. We are all in need of some relief.
Bestselling author Tullian Tchividjian is convinced our world needs a fresh encounter with grace.


MY REVIEW-I was somewhat skeptical on how much I would enjoy this book, One Way Love. I had never heard of the author before but I figured I would give it a try. How wrong can you get with a book on grace, right? So when I sat down to read it and finished it in one day, you can see how much I was drawn into the truth and amazing aspects of grace given in these pages. This is definitely a book I would give others to read, especially those who struggle with performancism. We all know them and I have even struggled with it in the past. The Christian life isn't all about the sacrifice we do for Jesus,but instead of what He did for us. I believe the author brings this point clearly into perspective. And he doesn't just leave it at you doing nothing for Christ. But he does show the danger of making everything about performance.

One of the quotes I loved from this book is below. I actually included a couple. There were so many I loved in here.
"The unintended consequence of this push, however, is that if we're not careful, we can give people the impression that Christianity is first and foremost about the sacrifice we make for Jesus rather than the sacrifice Jesus made for us; our performance for him rather than his performance for us; our obedience for him rather than his obedience for us. The hub of Christianity is not "do something for Jesus." The hub of Christianity is "Jesus has done everything for you."

"The law may work for...for a little while. Guilt and fear can be powerful motivators in the short run. What they cannot do is change a heart from self-seeking to self-sacrificing."

"The value of our lives rests on God's infinite, incomprehensible, unconditional love for us-not our love for Him."

This giveaway is for one copy of the book, One Way Love. Giveaway will end 10/30. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

What Makes a Good Math Tutor


Being successful in school is extremely important in an academically competitive environment. You need to do well in classes and on tests, and you need to demonstrate character through activities that set you apart. If you feel you have all of these things down but are struggling in one or two areas academically, you may want get some assistance. If you’re looking for a math tutor in Thousand Oaks, CA, read on for more information on what to look for.


Personal and Comfortable


If you pay for these kinds of services, you should get everything possible out of it. You may need to visit the center or company that provides tutors in order to get placed appropriately. They should get to know you and find out what your needs are. Once you are assigned a personal tutor, that person should take time to get to know you and what you like to do. This will make tutoring sessions much more comfortable for you. Your tutor should also administer some assessments to find out where your strengths and weaknesses are in order to tailor a program that will lead you to success.

Frequent and Adaptive


Your tutoring sessions should be frequent. As they say, practice makes perfect. The more assistance you have, the better you should get. With constant reminding of processes and principles, you will be more likely to remember. Having someone explain to you your mistakes helps you to not make them again. Your tutoring should also be adaptive if it is personalized well enough. If you get the hang of one concept, you should be moved on to the next. If you need extra help in an area, then more time should be spent increasing your skills there. 

Competitive and Easy


Finally, your math tutor in Thousand Oaks, CA, should make tutoring easy by coming to you. If it is a group program, the location should be held conveniently. Regardless of the location, the price should be competitive. There are many programs available that use volunteers and don’t cost any money, so if you are looking for professional expertise, find the best price available. 

This is a sponsored post from Bucks2Blog for the enjoyment of the readers of Giveaway Lady.


**DISCLOSURE: Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CFBA Tour for A Plain Disappearance by Amanda Flower!! Great Amish Suspense!



This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A Plain Disappearance

B&H Books (September 1, 2013)


by

Amanda Flower


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.




ABOUT THE BOOK



USA Today recently hailed award-nominated author Amanda Flower for A Plain Death, calling it “the first Amish rom-com . . . bring on the next one!” As the enthusiastic reviews continue to mount, she’s back with her third Appleseed Creek mystery, A Plain Disappearance.


It’s Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead. Unfortunately it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date.


Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy’s friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime. The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias. Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice, or prove his innocence.


If you would like to read the first chapter of >A Plain Disappearance, go HERE.


MY THOUGHTS-As I am sure many of you know, I am not real big on Amish/Mennonite stories. A lot of the same plots and a different lifestyle just make for a not so exciting book. Which is why I am happy to have stumbled across this series by Amanda Flower. They are Amish, but they are also suspense! I love a good mystery so I wanted to try them and the Amish aspect adds a bit to the plot. I had a hard time trying to figure out the whole thing and the characters were well written. An enjoyable book and looking forward to the next one from Amanda Flower!




**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Glittering Promises by @LisaTBergren | Win an Italian feast delivered to your door & RSVP for Facebook Party!


Lisa T. Bergren’s popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her.

America’s newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade—“Copper Cora,” the rags-to-riches girl—and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn’t going to claim Will’s heart, she might just try…


MY REVIEW-I have really enjoyed this series from Lisa Bergren so I was glad to get this new book for review. Glittering Promises is the final segment in the Grand Tour Series. I have met and fallen in love with so many of these characters and the people you will meet in these pages. Between Cora and her siblings, the man she loves but isn't sure she will ever marry, the man who wants her to be his wife but she doesn't love, Vivian and her fiance Andrew, her father Wallace, and the list goes on, you will find someone who connects with you. I personally loved Cora and Vivian. Wallace is a hard man and loves his children but he doesn't understand Cora wanting her rights and the man she loves. There are strict rules to follow and social obligations that would make any woman's mind swirl. And then when you throw in Hawkes who is after the young women and all the press after them, you get quite an interesting story.

One of the other aspects I liked with this series was the historical and geographical research that was done. Lisa went above and beyond in her research and it shows in the story. I felt like I was standing in the vineyard in Italy and seeing the basilica in Rome seeing things through the eyes of Cora. It was so rich in detail! And the history was wonderful! I loved seeing it in the pages of this series. I so fell in love with this series and it is on my shelf. There was one thing I didn't care for which was small but I felt it was enough to bring up. Cora is in a cathedral seeing a statue of Mary with her baby and the book says the following. "By some miracle, we were all His children, first and foremost. Forever claimed." Which is not correct according to scripture. I overlooked it because I know what the Bible says, but to others reading it, they may not know and think that everyone is a child of God. Yes we are made in His image, but not everyone is His child. Again, it was nothing all that major, but it was enough for me to bring up. Otherwise, an excellent story that I loved!! Way to go Lisa!!


THE FACEBOOK PARTY DETAILS!!
Lisa T. Bergren is celebrating the release of her new book, Glittering Promisesby giving away a $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma and hosting a fun Facebook party on October 29th.

glitteringpromises-rafflecopter

 



One winner will receive:


  • A $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma delivered to your door

  • The three-book Grand Tour set

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Glittering Promises" Facebook Author Chat Party on October 29th. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, European trivia, and prizes, and get an exclusive look Lisa's next book.






So grab your copies of the Grand Tour series and join Lisa on the evening of October 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books, don't let that stop you from coming!)





Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 29th!





**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**
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