Review & Giveaway: The Noticer – ENDED

I think that I may have found my favorite book to b e given to review so far.  I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the summary of The Noticer, but I had agreed to read it so finally this weekend I sat out to do just that. It was a small book so I thought – no biggie. I’ll just knock this one out over the weekend so I can write the review and move on.  Imagine my surprise when I was engrossed so quickly.

I’m not sure how this book would be categorized, but I categorize it as INSPIRING.  It really makes you stop and think.  While I usually read books really fast, I expected to be done with this book in an hour – two most, but it ended up taking me longer because I would actually kind of stop and think while reading.  I would think of the advice that Jones (the main character) was giving at that moment and how it applied to my life.

I don’t want to reveal too much of the plot, but the book centers around one man’s (Jones) influence over a small southern town.  He seems homeless and no one can imagine how old he is as he’s been old “forever.”  He seems to come and go in this town, but no one really knows why or where he goes.  What they do know is that he arrives at just the right time – when someone is in need of some “perspective.”  He comes to the rescue of a troubled youth, a married couple, an older lady, and even gives advice and helps out the local teens.  No matter what trouble the characters in the book are facing, Jones seems to know how to help them look at it from a different “perspective” so that life looks better and thus becomes better.

I’ve actually enjoyed this book so much that I’m requiring my teenage daughter read it.  I think that if we choose to remember the advice of old man Jones throughout our life that all of us could be happier with our lives.

The book is available at Amazon, but if you aren’t quite ready to buy it, then enter today for your chance to win a copy.  How do you enter?

Required Entry:
Tell me someone in your life who has provided life changing advice – or someone you turn to when you aren’t sure what to do.

Bonus Entries:

**To earn these entries you must first complete the REQUIRED ENTRY**
**For each extra entry, you must leave an additional comment**

1. Join The Noticer Project. Be sure to post a link verifying your entry.
2. Place my button in your sidebar (Grab it on the right sidebar) or add a text link
3. Subscribe to my feed.  You can still enter if you already subscribe.
4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet this contest out! (you must leave a link to the tweet – already a follower, just tweet and let me know)
5. Add me to your Technorati favorites (leave your username)
6. Enter my current contest at Southern Girl Reviews for a Sane Fitness Kit.
7. Blog about this contest (WORTH 3 ENTRIES – LEAVE 3 COMMENTS) linking to this post.

The Fine Print

• Must be a US Citizen
• Contest ends Saturday, May 12 at Midnight CST.
• You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address.
• All entries will be verified before naming the winner.
• Winner has 72 hours to claim prize and then a new winner will be selected.

Also check out my Sane Fitness Giveaway at Southern Girl Reviews.

NOTICE!! NOTICE!!

I’m excited to be a part of a new blogging project – The Noticer Project. What is The Noticer Project?

The concept is based on a new book that will be out in late April called The Noticer by Andy Andrews. The book is about gaining a fresh perspective on life by looking at the small things that make it good. The first step to participating in The Noticer Project is recognizing five people who have made a special impact on your life.

“In times like these, it’s important not to get wrapped up in what we don’t have or what we’re lacking, but instead to focus on the simple things in life that give us hope,” says Andrews, an internationally renowned speaker and author of The Traveler’s Gift. “It is most often our friends, family, teachers, spiritual leaders and heroes who truly inspire us. With The Noticer Project, I want to encourage folks everywhere to give the gift of noticing someone today, and gain perspective on their own lives in the process.”

This task proved to be a challenge for me as I think I’ve been blessed with many amazing people in my life, but this is my list (in no particular order):

My Grandfather. My grandfather was the one person in this world that I knew thought I was wonderfully perfect. You know that one person that thinks you can do no wrong and wants to give you the world? For me that person was my grandfather. This probably sounds petty when I put it in writing, but I don’t mean it that way. With my grandfather, there was never any doubt to anyone just how special I was to him. Yes, I was the favorite grandchild. Yes, he would buy me anything I asked for (luckily I had great parents who kept me grounded so I never asked for much). For 20 years, I literally was the center of my grandfather’s world, and I will always be grateful for that. I think everyone deserves to have that person in their life. That person that you know no matter how bad you mess up, no matter what, will never ever be anything but proud of you. Yes, that largely describles my parents and other grandparents – even aunts and uncles, but it was different with my grandfather. I wasn’t just one of the children, grandchildren, or nieces – I was THE grandchild – the chosen one, and I have missed him more than words can say since his passing 9 years ago.

My Parents. I really didn’t want this to just be a list of 5 of my closest family members so I’m going to group this together. I have 3 wonderful parents – yes 3 (my mom remarried when I was young so I’m lucky enough to have 2 dads). My parents have always been there for me, and I’ve always known (like with my grandfather) that they were proud of me. I can admit this now at the age of 30, that I’m glad they didn’t baby me, didn’t give me everything I asked for, and set high expectations. I was grounded for B’s, had an earlier curfew than most of my friends, I had to work if I wanted a car, and I had to pay for my education. There have been times (of course) that I think it would have been nice to have them relax on a few of those expectations, but ultimately I know I’m a better person because of their love and expectations.

My Children. Yes. I guess they didn’t choose to be a part of my life, but they may have had the biggest impact on my life. Almost nine years ago, my daughter was born and from that moment on, I do feel that I became a different person, a better person. Every day I thank the Lord for her even though the situation was awkward, the Lord did know what he was doing. She was just what I needed and still need to make my life complete. My teenager came into my life just a couple years ago – a young girl who was working hard to make everything of her life that she could, but life wasn’t really working with her. She deserved so much more than the opportunities she had in her present situation and so we invited her into our family. The work was done, we went to court, and I became the guardian of a teenager. In the last two years, she has brought me nothing but happiness. I’ve known her as both her guardian/mother figure, her teacher, and her debate coach, and in each she has proven nothing but superior. I love her as if she’d been with me her entire life.

My “Other” Parents. I’m avoiding names here, but if they were to read this, they would know who they were. At around 10, a couple came into my life. They worked with my dad.  Over the years they became more than coworkers – they became FAMILY.  It is hard to explain this relationship.  As I grew up, they were like a mixture of a parents and grandparents to me. As I’ve grown into adulthood, our relationship has evolved into that of friends also.  When I went to work at my first teaching job, she became my mentor and coworker.  This is such a hard relationship to describe – that of a friend/parent/grandparent, but that’s what they are, which makes them so special.  Though life keeps us from seeing each other too often now, I still think that without their influence for the past 20 years, my life would have not been complete.

My Friends.  Ok, so maybe I’m cheating, but I’m grouping some very important people here into this list and counting them as one.  There are really 5 current friends that I would include in this list.  All of them but one are in education – they all teach high school and a variety of subjects.  There’s a Math teacher, an English teacher, a Speech/Theatre/Health teacher, and a Social Studies teacher, and then there’s one that isn’t in education, but he thinks he may coach baseball one day.  Each in their own ways, play big parts in my life – they each listen when I need to really get something off my chest, if I need to go out for a drink, there’s a couple of them that do that for me. When I just need a distraction from life’s current stresses, these 5 people can always chill me out and put life back into perspective. I love each of them dearly.

Now there you go.  Those are my “5 Important People.”  It would be great if you participated too.  Join in The Noticer Project and find a way to acknowledge 5 Influential People in your life.

Also – Join in the Facebook Group or Follow on Twitter!!!

Coming April 27 – A Review of The Noticer and your own chance to win a copy of The Noticer!!

Chicken Soup for High School

The next book we’re giving away for our Grand Opening Party is a Chicken Soup book for a little bit older of an audience – the high school student. Being the mother of a high school student, we both read this book – Chicken Soup for the Soul Teens Talk: High School.

This book is much like the Middle School version from yesterday’s post, but it deals with issues that are more common to the high school age student. Some of the similar topics are being happy with yourself, teenage love, family issues, and embarrassing moments, but then there are the categories that are more focused towards the 15 to 18 year old such as love gone bad, going for it, tough stuff, and moving on.

I thought the best way to summarize this book was with an excerpt from the forward,

“These are the best days of your life!” Has anyone ever said that to you about high school? They said it to us.

We grew up watching movies and TV shows and reading books that made high school out to be such a fantasy. Great-looking prom dates! Football games with friends! Cars! Freedom!

No one ever mentioned that we might wake up the morning of the prom with a pimple the size of Mount Everest protruding from the tip of our nose, or that we would have to study like crazy, or that our parents would still tell us what to do. They also failed to tell us that the football team might continuously lose, or that the driver’s license doesn’t get placed in your hand until you pass the dreaded driver’s test. But even though high school has its blemishes, ti’s guaranteed to be a special time.

This book has inspiring stories to help make the tougher times of high school manageable and doesn’t let them prevent high school from being a special time.

I read this book more thoroughly than the Middle School edition as not only do I have that 17 year old in my house, but I also teach 9th through 12th grade.  This book is heading straight to my classroom shelf now that both Becka and I have read it because I really would like to see as many of my students as possible to read at least portions of this book.

And now, it’s your turn to win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Teens Talk: High School. This would make a great gift for any teen you know about to go to high school or already there.  Don’t have one of these teens in your life? I can guarantee your local high school library would love to have this donated to their collection. So enter now for your chance to have your very own copy.

REQUIRED ENTRY:

We’ll do an entry similar to yesterday’s – tell me a story of a memorable experience from high school that you think would be fitting of a Chicken Soup book.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

**To earn these entries you must first complete the REQUIRED ENTRY**
**For each extra entry, you must leave an additional comment**

1. Place my button in your sidebar (Grab it on the right sidebar) or add a text link
2. Subscribe to my feed
3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet this contest out! (you must leave a link to the tweet)
4. Add me to your Technorati favorites (leave your username)
5. Blog about this contest (WORTH 3 ENTRIES – LEAVE 3 COMMENTS) linking to this post.

The Fine Print

• Must be a US Citizen
• Contest ends Saturday, March 30 at Midnight CST.
• You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address.
• All entries will be verified before naming the winner.
• Winner has 72 hours to claim prize and then a new winner will be selected.

Note: While you are here, be sure to enter the Grand Opening contests for a

• If Mama Don’t Laugh, It Ain’t Funny ball cap
• This Is the Day
• Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday
• Chicken Soup Teens Talk Middle School

….and more to come…check daily!

Chicken Soup for Middle School – ENDED

I decided to cover the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that I was given over the next few days.  I’ve got 4 books so I’ll start with the one geared towards the youngest reader – Chicken Soup for the Soul Teens Talk Middle School.  I have a sister in middle school so I actually skimmed the book and then passed it on to her to read and tell me about it.

The book is geared towards the 12 to 14 year old and focuses on how their bodies are changing and the peer pressure that becomes so much stronger at this age.  It also covers love, family, being happy with yourself, harder classes, and dealing with embarrassing moments.

One feature I really liked (that is a good feature of all the Chicken Soup books I’ve read), is that it was divided into the sections mentioned above so that if a teen is not a “real reader” but is struggling in one of these areas, they can just read that portion of the book.

The portions I read were great stories that I think teens today can really relate to. As a ninth grade teacher, I still think that many of these issues apply to my 9th graders and think that I’ll be adding my copy of this book to my classroom library.  I’m not sure if I can get them to read a book with “middle school” in the title, but I think a few will pick it up that are fond of the Chicken Soup series.

My sister enjoyed my copy of this book, and I can tell read it thoroughly from the wear and tear on it.  I find that as the first sign of a good book when I let students read the books in my room.

Do you know a middle school student? Or someone who will be one soon? Or maybe you would like to win it to donate it to a local middle school? Whatever the case, I have been generously offered a second copy of this book for one of you.  All you have to do is enter the contest following the guidelines below.

REQUIRED ENTRY:

In the comments below, tell me (briefly) one situation you faced in middle school that was challenging.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

**To earn these entries you must first complete the REQUIRED ENTRY**
**For each extra entry, you must leave an additional comment**

1. Place my button in your sidebar (Grab it on the right sidebar) or add a text link
2. Subscribe to my feed
3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet this contest out! (you must leave a link to the tweet)
4. Add me to your Technorati favorites (leave your username)
5. Blog about this contest (WORTH 3 ENTRIES – LEAVE 3 COMMENTS) linking to this post.

The Fine Print

• Must be a US Citizen
• Contest ends Saturday, March 29 at Midnight CST.
• You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address.
• All entries will be verified before naming the winner.
• Winner has 72 hours to claim prize and then a new winner will be selected.

Note: While you are here, be sure to enter the Grand Opening contests for a

• If Mama Don’t Laugh, It Ain’t Funny ball cap
• This Is the Day
• Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday

….and more to come…check daily! 

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution

As we are now entering the third month of the year, I feel safe in saying that most of us have abandoned those New Year’s resolutions that we made so determinedly just 60 days ago.  Resolutions tend to stick to being more healthy and losing weight, with the failing economy, there were probably a lot more financial resolutions made this year – from getting completely out of debt, to increased savings accounts, to just putting less on credit cards, it would be hard to find someone that doesn’t have one realistic ( but challenging goal).

Being a single mom, financial issues are of great concern for me, and I’ve also realized that with age, I’m adding on the pounds. When I found out that one of my favorite book series, Chicken Soup for the Soul, was putting out a book dealing with setting resolutions and sticking to them.  It covers everything from finding financial peace to going green. The book is filled with tips from real people on ways to make small changes to accomplish big resolutions.

The publishers of Chicken Soup of the Soul have actually created a tip sheet based on the newly released book that I’m pleased to say was shared with me to pass on to my readers.

Tips for 2009: This year’s resolutions and the troubled economy

Inspired by stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, D’ette Corona and Barbara LoMonaco

Everyone makes resolutions: The new year motivates all of us to improve our habits, and holds the promise of a clean slate. But after January passes, many of us may beat ourselves up for letting resolutions fall by the wayside – which is why now is precisely the best time to renew commitments you’ve made to yourself. While most years, our resolutions are primarily about things like diets, being on time, becoming neater and similar issues, this year many resolutions have a different feeling. Set a household budget. Start recycling. Save more. If these sound familiar to you it is because this year, more than most years, the resolutions are related in some way to the troubled economy.

Here are 9 Tips for 2009 for surviving and thriving in turbulent economic times:

Simplify. As Mary Davis writes in her story “Resolutions for Sale,” we all have items from previous resolutions that never panned out: Exercise equipment still in its original packaging, organizational gadgets collecting dust. So why not make a buck or two and have a “Resolution Sale?” Sell all of your unwanted and unused items, make some money, and simplify your life for the better.

Go green. When going green, little changes can make a big difference for the environment — and your wallet. Ashley Sanders writes in her story “I’m Not a Dirty Hippie” that her husband was apprehensive about going green at first, but got on-board once he saw the savings benefit. “After a lot of testing and trying, we began to find products that we could not only use, but that were more affordable than the products we previously used,” Sanders writes.

Count your blessings. List-obsessed Sarah Jo Smith shares in her story “A Daily Practice in Gratitude” how even the most sincere resolutions can turn sour. “I planned to write down three things a day that expressed my appreciation and love for the things and people around me….[But] what started as a positive exercise turned into a mental list of countless complaints and worries,” she writes. However, after an emotional encounter with a stranger, Sarah realized there was much more room in her life than she previously allowed for gratitude. In the face of financial worries and other daily stressors, remember your gifts – you’ll likely discover the strength you need in life’s intangibles.

Don’t exceed your needs: Try downsizing! Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution story contributor Harriet Cooper had a size problem – with her home. Saddled with double the house space she needed, she realized there was a lot going to waste. Cooper was also unhappy with her home’s “double identity” – one side that guests saw, and one side that she actually lived in. In her story “One House, Two Faces,” she writes about selling the house and moving into a smaller one. With her savings, she bought herself two years of freedom to explore new job possibilities. What’s more? Now, her guests get to visit a relaxed hostess who is happy with her (smaller) home, just the way it is.

Put the unnecessary items back. Single mom Rebecca Jay tried to save money, but every month she was living paycheck to paycheck. So she invented a game that she and her son could play to save money at the grocery store. At the check-out lane, she and her son perform a “Cart Check,” pulling out items they really don’t need. When her son puts something back, Jay rewards him with the savings. In her story “Check the Cart,” she recalls how this game not only helped rein in impulse spending, it taught her son a valuable lesson on personal finances in the process. What a great legacy to pass on to a younger generation! 

Find financial peace. Kristine Byron likes to look at what she spends, rather than what she saves. In her story “Spend, Spend, Spend,” Kristine resolves to save money by cutting out certain things, but recognizes all the ways she gets to “spend” time doing something else. “As I have pledged to save on lavish meals dining out, I have vowed to ‘spend’ more time entertaining at home,” she writes. When you make resolutions to save, you can also resolve to “spend” more time with your family and doing things that you love to do … for free!

Work with those you love. Working with someone you love might seem scary at first, as B.J. Taylor describes in her story “A Leap of Faith.” But when her husband needed her to work at his company because of financial setbacks, she stepped up. The two agreed to sit down and talk every six months about what’s working and what’s not. Though challenging at first, the couple has worked with each other now for 15 years. Could it be possible to go into business with your loved ones?

Give gifts of yourself. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the people you love, just spend time doing things with them. In his story “A Commitment to Play Dolls,” Timothy Martin recalls his decision to play with his four-year-old daughter for an afternoon. “I still thinking playing with dolls is dumb,” writes Martin. “But my four-year-old daughter, Emily, loves them. She plays with her Barbie dolls every day. Since I want to be a good father, and because Emily and I don’t get to spend much time together, I resolved to learn.”

Celebrate the old. While everyone else may be resolving to try something new, don’t forget to remember your old treasures. Dayle Allen Shockley writes in “Let’s Celebrate the Old” about all the many items, principles, and people that she celebrates every new year. “I enjoy making new friends, but old friends who have shared my pain and sorrow, celebrated my joys, and remained steadfast when trouble came knocking; they are the ones I will celebrate most in the New Year,” she writes. In 2009, which old pleasures are you thankful for? Life can be improved just by recognizing the wonderful gifts we already have.

And remember, improving yourself is not exclusive to the month of January; it’s a year-round opportunity.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution (Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, D’ette Corona and Barbara LoMonaco) is published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. For more information, please visit chickensoup.com.