Giveaway: Fairy Godmother Academy Party Pack

As I mentioned previously, there’s an exciting new book series and online world for little girls on the horizon – The Fairy Godmother Academy. My daughter loves to read. I would hate to calculate what we spend on books in the average year.

Our newest book arrived yesterday, and I’m happy to say it was free. Yesterday we received a Fairy Godmother’s Party Pack that included the first book in the series (Birdie’s Book), iron on transfers for the girls at the party to make their own Fairy Godmother’s shirts, a music CD, handouts for the girls to research their lineage (I’m thinking pre-party – maybe of sending these with the invitations), wisdom cards, stickers, and then a nice customizable book for recording everyone’s lineage.

As I stated, I just received this party pack yesterday. I’ve just started the book so I can’t tell you much about it yet, but will come back and post a more thorough review after I finish it. However, I have great news for you. The company has been generous enough to not only offer my daughter a party pack, but also a party pack for one lucky reader! This contest will be a live contest.

Here are pictures of our Party Pack:

Live Contest Rules

1. Comments will be opened  at 7:00 pm CST
2. The comment number of the winner will be announced prior to comments opening.
3. Topic will be announced at beginning of contest.  All posts must be relevant to conversation.
4. No duplicate comments.
5. You may comment as often as you like – as long as all comments are relevant.
6. No comments back to back.

See you Monday!!

Contest Time!

Topic: Conversation must begin about who you will throw this party for, ideas of how to use everything, and other activities you might include.

Conversation can evolve from this however comments should make sense with everyone’s current conversation or be on the original topic.  No off topic, no duplicate comments, spam, etc just get the comment numbers up. The same person CAN NOT post back to back.

One extra comment per person per day allowed for follwing me on Twitter and tweeting this live contest. Must post link to your tweet in contest. (this can be back to back with another of your comments)

One extra comment per person for blogging about this contest and posting the link. (this can be back to back with another of your comments)

Comment #123 will win.

I will go back through comments and delete off topic comments if necessary so final winner will not be announced until previous comments are reviewed.

Contest will continue until comment #123 or August 30th. If we do not have 123 comments by the end of the night, one comment will be randomly selected.

Operation Kindness

You may remember how much Cameron liked the first book in the Precious Girls Club series, A Little Bit of Faith.  Thanks to the Precious Girls Club and MomSelect she just received the second book, Operation Kindness, and it was just as much a hit as the first one – maybe more so.

In case you have not heard of this series, it’s a book series and virtual world website for young girls from the makers of Precious Moments.  Just as the figurines are inspirational, so are the books.  The protagonist in the book is Kate Bennett and she struggles just as the young girls in our lives do to “fit in” and at deciding just who they really are.  Through the help of her guardian angel and family, Kate does find her own group of friends in the first book, A Little Bit of Faith.

In this book, Operation Kindness, Kate and her group of friends (The Precious Girls Club) have decided that they want to volunteer at the local community hospital to cheer up sick children.  They run into some problems and through the use of joining together, they are able to overcome these obstacles and develop a puppet show.

Once again, Kate and her friends present real problems with solutions based on values and morals.

If you have a young reader in your home, I think that the Precious Girls Club series, may be the books I recommend over any other that Cameron has read.

And in a fashion, I love – you can introduce this series to your favorite reader for FREE thanks to A Novel Mind, Mom Select, and the Precious Girls Club.  I have a hardback copy of Operation Kindness for one lucky reader.  BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!  I also have a stuffed puppy from the series, and special codes for the online world of the Precious Girls Club, some bracelets and stickers.  There will be LOTS of winners for this contest.  I also have two copies of the first book, A Little Bit of Faith.

This is how we’ll break up the winners:

• 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive Operation Kindness, the stuffed puppy, as well as bracelets and stickers.  If the Grand Prize Winner does not own the first book, A Little Bit of Faith, they’ll also receive a copy of this book.
• 1 or 2 Runner Up Winners (depending on Grand Prize winner prize) will win the first book, A Little Bit of Faith, bracelets, and stickers.
• The First 60 Entrants will be selected to receive the online code for their little one to have special privileges on the online world of the Precious Girls Club. (will be sent via email)

How to Enter:

Required Entry:
Tell me the little girl in your life’s (that would receive this package) favorite books – or the books you wish she would read!

Bonus 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.  You can still enter if you already subscribe.
3. 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)
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.
6. Enter any other contest here or at Southern Girl Reviews through the duration of this contest.  You may have an entry for every contest that you enter between now and then.

The Fine Print

• Must be a US Citizen
• Contest ends Sunday, August 9 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.

Don’t want to wait until the contest ends? You can buy it now for $9.95 at Amazon.

CONTEST ENDED! COMMENTS CLOSED! WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Adventure at Brimstone Hill

Who doesn’t love an adventure? I know I have always loved adventures and mysteries so how happy was I when Carol Ottley-Mitchell asked me to review her book, Adventure at Brimstone Hill.  This is a children’s mystery – the first in the Caribbean Adventure Series.  I originally passed this book on to Cameron to see her reaction, and as she started telling me about her readings the first day, I had to join in and read it behind her.  After she fell asleep each night, I’d take the book off of her nightstand and read what she had read that day.  I think I may have enjoyed it as much as she did.

There’s no way that Carol could have known, but Cameron is really fascinated by monkeys right now. Her last two Build A Bear pets? Monkeys. So when she found out that this story was about 3 children – Kyle, Ingrid, and Mark and their MONKEY, Chee Chee she was hooked from the beginning.  Did I mention one of her dogs name is Chee Chee?  That was one of the first things she had to tell me about the book  - the MONKEY NAMED CHEE CHEE!! She loved to read about their adventures of the children on their field trip at Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. The adventure takes place on a tiny island called St. Kitts in the Caribbean. Maybe better than Chee Chee? The fact that the children are 9 – so close to her own age.

What did Mom like?  I loved the vocabulary in the book. The book was full of words that Cameron didn’t know that served as great spring boards into vocabulary lessons.  After the first chapter, I gave her a highlighter and she started marking any words she wasn’t sure of the meanings.  We then worked on context clues and looked up some of the words that she couldn’t guess.  The English teacher and Mom in me was proud that the book was interesting enough to keep her attention and made for a great lesson too.

Another Mom plus?  The fact that the setting is a true location that Cameron (and I) had never heard of – Brimstone Hill.  After finishing the book, we browsed the Internet to learn more about this historical location.

The story? The story begins with us meeting the 3 children and Chee Chee on the day of the class field trip to Brimstone Hill.  Chee Chee, of course, isn’t welcome on the field trip, but makes it anyways.  As the children search for Chee Chee, they are taken into the past – right in the middle of a battle between the British and the French during the 18th century. The book centers around the adventures the children have when they are taken back in time to this battle. I won’t reveal more of the plot, but if you have children between 7 or 8 and 12, I think you’ll find this to be an enjoyable story for them to read, or maybe you could read it as a family.  It has so much history throughout the book, that a great summer project could be researching the history surrounding the setting and battle after you finish reading Adventure at Brimstone Hill by Carol Ottley-Mitchell.

Want to know more about Carol and her series? Even read a preview of book 2 – Pirates at Port Royal at http://caribbeanadventureseries.com/.  You can also read more about Carol here.

And do I have great news for you!  This is your lucky day as you can now enter for a chance to win your very own copy of Adventure at Brimstone Hill.

Required Entry:
Tell me where you would go if you could go on your very own dream adventure – you can choose a past or present location!  Or maybe even somewhere in the future!

Bonus 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.  You can still enter if you already subscribe.
3. 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)
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, August 1 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.

Don’t want to wait until the contest ends? You can buy it now for $12.95 at Amazon.

PLEASE NOTE CONTEST IS OVER!!!  WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED AND ANNOUNCED!!

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.

A New Blog – A New Contest

Before wrapping up my blogging for the night, I wanted to take a moment to let any A Novel Mind readers know that I’ve started a new blog for the purpose of product reviews called Southern Girl Reviews.

You now have your first chance to win a prize at this new site!  Go check it out!!

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! 

This Is The Day by Nancy White Carlstrom – ENDED

Today’s review and giveaway are for your little ones, and it’s a true gem. The book is called This Is the Day! by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey.

This is a lovely children’s book about the miracles of God’s creations and the importance of preserving them.  What I found really neat about this book is it’s divided by the days of the week so that we see 7 days of creations just like the 7 days that God took to create the Earth. 

The illustrations are beautiful in this book also.  I really enjoyed the pictures as much as the story. Richard Cowdrey deserves as much recognition as Nancy for such great illustrations.

Without any further adieu – You can win a copy of This Is The Day for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or family friend.  This is a hard cover edition of this book worth $15.99 and it can be just for you.  So how do you win?

Required Entry:

Head over to http://www.nancywhitecarlstrom.com and tell me one thing you learned about Nancy White Carlstrom or her books.  The trick? You can’t list anything on my post or that another person enters in their comments.

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.

But wait!  I’m upping the ante. For all the contests being posted over the next week, I’ll give you TWENTY (yes you hear right) TWENTY extra entries if you head over to MomCentral and vote for my blogging friend, Trisha, to win an Electrolux washer and dryer. She’s #8 strawberryred.  After you vote, come back and tell me you voted and leave your Mom Central username.  You can then comment 20 times for 20 entries for each of the grand opening prizes!

The Fine Print

• Must be a US Citizen
• Contest ends Saturday, March 28 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

….and more to come…check daily!