2008 December

Dec 18, 2008

Book Giveaway: The Name Book

Here we are — the last Thursday of Fall 2008. Today is my last giveaway from Bethany House for this year’s Fall Into Reading challenge. I’d like to say a special thanks to Bethany House for their incredible generosity in providing books throughout the giveaway. I think it’s been just as much fun for me to give away the books as it has been for the winners to receive them!

Before I tell you about the last book, let me announce the winner of last week’s book, Home Another Way.

The winner is:

Comment #24 — Christel

Congratulations, Christel!

Now, on to this week’s giveaway. If it sounds like a book you’d like and you want to be eligible to win it, just leave a comment on the post and I’ll put your name in the virtual hat. I’ll leave the post open for comments until Sunday night. I’ll then randomly pick a commenter and announce that winner on Monday, December 22nd. U.S. & Canada mailing addresses only, please.

The Name Book

Over 10,000 Names — Their Meanings, Origins,

and Spiritual Significance

Baby-naming has become an art form with parents today, but where do parents go to find names and their meanings? The Name Book offers particular inspiration to those who want more than just a list of popular names. From Aaron to Zoe, this useful book includes the cultural origin, the literal meaning, and the spiritual significance of more than 10,000 names. An appropriate verse of Scripture accompanies each name, offering parents a special way to bless their children.

Get a peek inside the book at Amazon.com

Filed Under: Book giveaways 8 Comments

Dec 17, 2008

Book Giveaway: Living Rich for Less

written by katrina · 18 Comments

In addition to the regularly-scheduled book giveaway coming up tomorrow, I have 2 BONUS book giveaways today. Isn’t that exciting? Yes, I thought so too. [You can find the other one here.]

Living Rich for Less
by Ellie Kay

The publisher says:

You really can be rich in every way, every day.

So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?

You can—starting here and now.

With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor™ tips that keep or put money in your pocket.

Ellie knows what it’s like to be financially-strapped or struggling, wanting to be the Joneses but feeling as poor in spirit as in pocketbook. She went, within two and a half years, from being a new wife and mom with $40,000 in consumer debt and seven children (and college educations) to support, to being completely debt-free and within fifteen years able to pay cash for eleven different cars, give away three of those cars, buy two five-bedroom houses (moving from one to the other) and nicely furnish each, take wonderful vacations, dress her family in fine fashion; and support more than thirty non-profit organizations in more than a dozen different countries, giving away more than $100,000.

Isn’t that the kind of transformation to a rich life that you want?

Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.

Why keep up with the Joneses when you can be them?

Callapidder Days says:

Well, I have to admit that I haven’t had a chance to read this book. But I have looked through it and it definitely looks good. It’s packed with practical advice, encouragement, interesting facts, and a guide to create a workable plan for your own finances.

Want to win a copy?

I have one copy of Living Rich for Less to give away to one of you! To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on this post. I’ll randomly choose a winner Sunday night and announce that winner Monday, December 22nd. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only, please.

And even if you don’t win, you can always pick up a copy at Amazon.com

Filed Under: Book giveaways 18 Comments

Dec 17, 2008

Book Giveaway: Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight

written by katrina · 19 Comments

As mentioned in today’s other giveaway, I have 2 BONUS book giveaways today (stop by tomorrow to see the third giveaway for this week). Here’s the information on this one:

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight
by Karen Scalf Linamen

The publisher says:

Every woman longs for change in some area of her life. Unfortunately, fear, fatigue, adversity, heartbreak, past failures, and even the choices of other people get in the way and make lasting change seem out of reach. Having been there herself, Karen Linamen knows exactly how to take readers from where they are to where they want to be.

In Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight, she examines 52 powerful actions readers can apply to any change they long to embrace. Her insights apply to career, finances, personal health and fitness, relationships, faith—in fact, every facet of a woman’s life.

Blending laugh-out-loud humor and sage advice, Linamen shows readers the link between dissatisfaction and transformation, how to remodel habits, the little-known truth about procrastination, how to generate the energy they need to pursue the life they desire, how to benefit from options and resources they never dreamed they had, and much, much more!

Callapidder Days says:

Again, I confess: I haven’t read this. Yet. But I have started it and am looking forward to continuing it and applying it to my present situation. I’ve read other books by Karen Scalf Linamen and she somehow manages to be funny and encouraging and practical all at once. I have plenty of habits I’d like to change or implement and I believe Linamen’s approach will be a great tool as I work on them.

Want to win a copy?

I have one copy of Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight to give away to one of you! To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on this post. I’ll randomly choose a winner Sunday night and announce that winner Monday, December 22nd. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only, please.

And even if you don’t win, you can always pick up a copy at Amazon.com

Filed Under: Book giveaways 19 Comments

Dec 15, 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

written by katrina · 24 Comments

Today is the big day: BooMama‘s 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes! In which many, many bloggers share pictures of their holiday decor and then ignore all the baking and wrapping and shopping they should be doing in order to virtually visit everyone’s homes. Sounds like a perfect day to me! So come on in, have a cup of coffee (with Peppermint Mocha creamer, of course) and let me show you around.

First, you’ll be happy to know that I had some snow ordered especially for you. The outside lights are pretty on their own, but they look so much more festive when the lawn is coated with that wintry white delight. The view from our street (you can catch a glimpse of our tree through the window):

Outside

Now, it’s cold out there, so let’s move quickly into the house.

There’s something you should know about my indoor Christmas decorating: I have a 2-year-old. In other words, I’ve kept things simple and at least 2.5 feet off the ground this year. It’s much easier than battling with L. during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Constant toddler battles can suck the excitement right out of the house. But let’s move on to the few things I did do.

First, the tree. My son, C. (10), and I decorated the tree about a week ago. Here he is helping:

helping

And here’s the finished product:

finished

Well, I suppose I should clarify and say that it was supposed to be the finished product. Since the day that particular picture was taken, many of the ornaments hung toward the bottom of the tree have been moved up, as L. (2) proved unable to resist their sparkly, jingly, throwable-ness whenever I was not in the room to enforce the rules. Thus, there are still some (very sturdy) ornaments toward the bottom, but there’s a section about 15 inches high that is far more bare than it was in this picture.

Every year, I buy each of the boys one ornament that becomes part of their personal collection. I try to make them relevant to the boys’ interests or activities that year. This year’s ornaments are:

truck

For C., this Ford pickup truck, since he is completely and utterly into all things vehicular right now.

farm

For L., a Fisher Price Little People Barn. He thoroughly enjoys his Little People toys and his imaginative play has really bloomed in recent months.

Next stop: the mantel. I keep things pretty simple here. A garland with lights and ornaments, our stockings, and a house-shaped tealight-burning thing to hide the outlet right above the mantel shelf.

mantel

Finally, the nativity, which resides on the dining room table. I just set it up last night, but I guarantee you that by Christmas, it will not be arranged like this. Little fingers (and maybe big ones, too) like to rearrange and re-enact.

nativity

There are a few Christmasy knick-knacks scattered around (all a good 3 feet from the floor), but that covers the primary decorations. Thanks so much for stopping by. Before you go, please have a Cranberry Pecan Tassie. It’s the one cookie I make each and every year, because I like them so much.

Cranberry Pecan Tassies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash salt
1/3 cup finely chopped cranberries
3 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions:

For pastry, in a mixing bowl beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Stir in the flour. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, if desired.
Shape the dough into 24 balls; place in ungreased 1-1/2-inch muffin pans. Press dough evenly against bottom and up sides of each muffin cup.
For the filling, in a mixing bowl beat together the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt just until smooth. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Spoon filling into the pastry-lined muffin cups.
Bake tassies in a 325 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Cool in pans on wire racks. Remove from pans by running a knife around the edges. Store in airtight container. Makes 24 tassies.

Click on over to BooMama’s place to visit all the other homes on the Christmas Tour. And from the Callapidder House to yours: Have a very Merry Christmas!

Filed Under: Bloggy Stuff, Family, Home stuff 24 Comments

Dec 14, 2008

Fall Into Reading 2008: Almost Done!

written by katrina · 10 Comments

Hello, fellow readers! Christmas is almost here, and the Fall Into Reading Challenge is just about over. I hope you’ve all enjoyed your reading, and met some (or all) of your goals for this fall.

On Saturday, December 20th, I’ll post the “official” wrap-up post for Fall Into Reading 2008. I’ll include a Mr. Linky so that you can put up a link to your personal wrap-up post (posted on your blog), letting us know how you did with your reading.

Not sure what to put in your wrap-up post? There are no real rules — we’d just like to see how the challenge went for you! But if you are someone who likes a little more structure, here are some questions you can answer as part of your wrap-up. Pick and choose whatever works for you!

Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?
Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?
What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why?
Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them?
Did you learn something new because of the Fall Into Reading challenge — something about reading, or yourself, or a topic you read about?
What was your favorite thing about the Fall Into Reading challenge?
Would you like to participate in another challenge here this spring?

That should be enough to get your started!

So this week, amidst the Christmas decorating, wrapping, shopping, baking, and planning, try to squeeze in a little more reading. And don’t forget to write your wrap-up post! I’ll see you back here on Saturday, when we can all compare notes.

Filed Under: Fall Into Reading 2008, Reading Challenges 10 Comments