Book Review: Heart of Ice

I recently found a website called Booksneeze.com and they give books to bloggers. I found a few different titles that I liked on their website, and signed up to review my first book. Hopefully, there will be more where this came from!



 

I had not read any of Lis Wiehl's books before starting this one, including the other Triple Threat books. I really did not like the book at first. I had to write down who the different characters were and what their jobs were so that I wouldn't get confused. And the fact that the chapters were anywhere from 1-6 pages and switched whose point of view it was kind of annoyed me. And I think if I had read the other books and kind of knew the different characters it would have bothered me to keep getting that information again in this book.

But once I got through the beginning, I found myself not being able to put the book down. I really liked the different characters. I devoured the book in two days. I have now put the other Triple Threat books on my "To-Read" list.

Disclosure: I received this advanced copy e-book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.



 

I created a list of books to read, and used a frame I got on clearance from Target.

Now I have a visible non-digital list in my room for me to look at of my books. (Also folks, I hit a new level of nerdyness.)

 

Also, I recently updated my profile on Goodreads (an awesome site for book recommendations, by the way!) so if you're looking for some books to read, you should check out my lists of read, currently reading, and to-read books!

twelve by 2012 check in: part two

I started this on October 20th, and did a check in on November 12th. With about 3 weeks left in 2012, I figured I would do another check in... before the end of the year when we will see how successful I was with my goals!

In progress goals will be in blue, finished or unobtainable goals will be in green.

1. Read 2 books. - I finished reading The Power of Half by Hannah and Kevin Salwen. I need to read another! Luckily, I have a few started, a few books on my ipad, and a list of over 100 books to read.


2. Give Mia, Lila, and Jordan their belated birthday presents, and buy Dan his. - I bought Dan his birthday present. I need to either wrap or get bags for these presents and bring them over to the kids I babysit. So this goal is one that is almost near completion. Haven't really made any progress since my last check in.


3. Post on my blog 3 times a week. - I feel like I'm doing well at posting multiple times a week.


4. Open my etsy shop. - Check it out! YAY One goal completed.


5. Get a job. - Multiple interviews. I'm trucking along with this one. But this one needs to be completed (as apposed to reading books) so I can pay off my loans.


6. Visit Eileen and Kyle before they head to Alaska. - So I set myself up for failure with this one. I don't have the money to take a trip, so unfortunately this goal is not going to happen.


7. Start a little freelance business. - I have business cards designed and I printed them. I have a friend with a business who needs a website, so I guess I can consider myself having my first client? I've been working on my portfolio.


8. Spend quality time with my friends here. -I've definitely been successful here. I've done dinners and gone to concerts with my friends here. I'm gonna call this goal good.


9. Finish my room design/clean/reorganization/set up. - I moved a few pieces of furniture around. I can't really do much more than I have as far as rearranging and cleaning since I don't really have the money to go and buy new items for my room... like a bigger bookcase and storage for my etsy stuff.


10. Figure out budget and start saving! -I haven't really worked on this goal yet. I should probably wait until I have a job.


11. Make 5 things (either food or crafts) I've pinned on Pinterest. - Doing well with this goal. I made the picture collage, I turned a shirt into a skirt, made eggnog pound cake, and made the artwork of my dog. So I'm 4/5 for this goal. One more item and then I can cross this one off!


12. Visit Burlington! - Hmm. With my alma matter having finals next week, this is probably not going to happen before they are done for the semester.

Okay. 6 in progress. 3 finished. 2 unobtainable. And only 1 I haven't started!

Rablings of my Busy Brain

I've slowly been trucking through my to do list that I made back on Monday or Tuesday of this week. I've been filling out a million and one applications and sending my resume and cover letters out. Here's to hoping that I get somewhere with one of them. And I finally finished the picture collage that I did for The Pinterest Challenge.

I also wrote out all of my student loan checks for December. And yes, I was able to afford December's student loan payments and still have a tiny bit of money left over. It was mostly thanks to my cousin Kyler asking me to fill in for him on a weekend gig. And my favorite little family from down the street who asked me to babysit like 4 times in the past few weeks or so. I was excited to have more money than I had orginally thought I was going to have, plus get to do these things anyway.

I also made a new item for my shop. I had sort of come up with the idea but finally brought it to fruition today... and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Hopefully I will have a few new items up shortly! I joined an etsy "team"... the Etsy Maine Team! Hopefully this will help me get my stuff out there more. I've also been brainstorming local shops that I could sell my stuff.

My mind has also been following with an idea for a business and what to get for my Lovely Package exchange partner. I'm emailing back and forth with my exchange partner and my mind is excitedly figuring out what to get her and how to package it! Can't wait to show you more soon!

22 Questions & Answers about Christmas

Saw this on Caitlin's blog and had to steal it.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I like them both. Though I made some egg nog pound cake that was to die for.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Always wrapped or in a gift bag.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  We never decorate the outside of the house. And we have colored lights on the tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? It varies from year to year, but when I was attending college it was generally right after Thanksgiving so that everyone was home and could participate.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? This incredibly delicious mix of carrots and turnips that my grammy makes. It’s so good.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I don't know if I have any favorite memories... the Christmas that I had the chicken pox was memorable, but not in a good way...


8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I found Santa’s outfit in the linen closet, put it on, and went downstairs where my parents were sitting. They kind of had to explain it at that point.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. It’s definitely a tradition!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Ornaments from throughout the years, an angel on the top, and lights!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I’ve grown up in Maine, and went to school in Vermont. I hate/dread snow. Not a fan.

12. Can you ice skate? Yes. Though I hardly go ice skating… the few times that I have gone recently were with the kids from the mentoring program I was in while in college.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Probably a book about Mother Theresa my grandmother gave me signed by the author.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Seeing my family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My aunt has a cake that she makes and we sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus and eat cake.


16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? We have a DVD of TranSiberian Orchestra music that we all watch as a family.


17. What tops your tree? The same angel for as long as I can remember.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I like both. Though I love the look on people's faces when they get a really great gift that they were not expecting.


19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Yuck.


20. Favorite Christmas show? I don't really have one... I'm not a huge fan of Christmas shows.


21. Saddest Christmas Song? “The Christmas Shoes” which is a song about a boy trying to buy shoes for his mother, who is dying. He doesn’t have enough money for them and the guy waiting in line behind him gives him the money. It’s a beautiful but sad song.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? I don't really think I have a favorite.... there are so many good Christmas songs!

Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday & Etsy Folks You Should Check Out

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I love small businesses. I know many small business owners, and I just think they're fabulous. My parents and I did our part and went and supported local small businesses and crafts people this weekend.



I've been looking for something for the extra bracelets and jewelry that don't fit on my hanging jewelry holders... and this cool bowl made out of an old record was super cool and fun! Now my dresser looks less cluttered!

And now I want to share with you a few small etsy buinesses folks I'm loving at the moment... This is definitely not a full list, but just a few people I want to share with my friends. :)



Megan has an etsy shop with a ton of cute things. I have this watch. I'm loving the hats, and pretty much everything in her shop! She also has a blog, as well as a blog with her sisters (she's a triplet!)



These eco friendly cat toys are awesome. I especially love these made from wool sweater scraps. I definitely want to get some of these for Charlie!



I'm actually known for drinking cold Starbucks drinks in the wintertime, even though it makes my hands freezing cold! I love these cozies, it would be the perfect thing to keep my hands warm(er). I love the best friend cozies, but there is such a variety!



I love these! Olivia started this business in college and it's taken off. I just got mine in the mail on Friday and I have been wearing them since! She has tons of colors, and a huge variety. And the best thing is that when I take my hair down, it doesn't leave that dent that you sometimes get from other hair ties.... and I can just put it on my wrist and wear it like a bracelet!





If you're a pinterest addict like I am, then you probably saw these legwarmers. After these hit pinterest, Melissa, the owner of Sienna's Closet, got so much interest that she's had a steady stream of people going to her etsy store and facebook pages asking for them. I ordered a teal pair that I wore when we got some snow last week, and they are gorgeous as well as being cozy and warm! Your best bet is to check out her facebook page, she will keep you updated as to what she has in stock and when!



I happen to think that you cannot go wrong when you mix pearls and ribbon! Twillypop does just that! I have my eye on a few of them.

Also, I did not get paid to mention any of these lovely folks... I just like sharing good finds with others! All photos/banners belong to the shop owners!

TV Shows I'm Currently in Love WIth

The X Factor: I've never really been into American Idol, The Voice, or any of those other music competition shows. I watched a little bit of The Sing Off when On the Rocks was on it. But I've been SO into watching the X Factor. My favorites are Drew, Rachel, Lakoda Rayne, Josh, Leroy, and Marcus. If any of them won I would be content.



Kitchen Cousins: John and Anthony are cousins (as the title might alude to) from a big 'ol Italian family in Jersey. They work together at a construction company. They are cool, fun, have a great space (an old firestation) and they design great kitchens.



Check out the boys, their office, and two of their completed kitchens. Or watch them Wednesday nights on HGTV.

Bones: On after the X Factor on Thursday nights, I normally just keep the TV on the same channel and have been watching the last 3-4 episodes of Bones. I love the characters.

 

X Factor pictures from the X Factor website. Kitchen Cousins pictures from their facebook page.

Review & Giveaway: Start Something That Matters

The book started off with a poem about success (often attributed to Elizabeth Anne Anderson Stanley), which at the time I was reading this book I wasn't quite feeling very successful. But the book and poem reminded me that there are many ways to define success. The book then starts telling the story of TOMS, which is a mix of things that as a huge TOMS fan I already knew, as well as information I didn't know before reading.

It's not just about TOMS. Blake also talked to others who "started something that matters" including the guys behind method, an eco friendly cleaning brand. I was fascinated to learn that beef fat is a common ingredient as a softening agent in dryer sheets.

It's an easy read, with the book split into different sections such as learning how to tell your story, facing your fears, which includes a great story about Blake's mom! There's also great advice like when Blake suggests reading biographies and that the timing is not going to ever be right. I thought it was a pretty quick read. Whether you just want to learn more about TOMS, want to make a difference, or want to learn how to do what you love, it's a good book to check out.



And...

I'M GIVING AWAY TWO COPIES!

Sorry for the caps lock/yelling. I'm very excited to share with you! All you have to do is comment below saying that you are a follower of my blog.... and I will randomly choose two people to receive a copy of the book! Make sure to include your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win!

The giveaway ends on November 28th, 2011.