Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox: Kisses, Dances... and Locavesting???

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is on a blog tour!

This month, Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Amy over at Passages to the Past, so stop by and join the fun!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.

Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)

Stay tuned for a GREAT giveaway I'm going to try to get up today or tomorrow! (Still trying to get this one up) I don't think you will want to miss this one. :) I'll post a link here if I can get it up today!

Here are the wonderful books that have come into my house over the past week.

The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble~ Fiction / Christian / Romance / Historical ~ Available April 19th 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher and B&B Media for review

At the elegant Mercy Falls masquerade ball, Olivia's hidden identity will be revealed.

It is the dawn of a new century and Olivia Stewart is heiress to an empire. Her family numbers among the Four Hundred-those considered the wealthiest and most distinquished in America. Unfortunately their wealth has nearly disappeared, and now their security rests upon the Stewart daughters' marrying well.

Olivia's sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, one of the nation's wealthiest men, but has since died. Now the pressure is on Olivia to take her place, despite her suspicions about Eleanor's fiance. Using her family's long-forgotten English title, Olivia travels to Mercy Falls, California, as Lady Devonworth, hoping to learn more before committing to marriage. There she finds that Eleanor's death was no accident. And Harrison is not the man she thought he would be.

When Mercy Falls holds a charity masquerade ball to raise funds for the new lighthouse, secrets-and truths long hidden-will be revealed. But can Harrison really love Olivia when he finds her true identity? Can she live with the repercussions of failing her family, or will she finally realize that nothing-not money, family, or romance-will ever compare to God's unconditional love?

Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing And How to Profit From It ARC by Amy Cortese~ Non-Fiction / Investing ~ Available June 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the publisher for review

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, generating eighty percent of jobs and half of GDP. They also create the foundation for healthy, diverse neighborhoods and strong local economies.

So why are we starving these vital enterprises?

The truth is, our financial and political system is stacked against small business. The stock market has become a vast, electronic casino that has abandoned any pretense of allocating capital to productive use. And community banks—a mainstay of small business funding—are an endangered species in a Too Big to Fail world. Don't look to the government for help, though: politicians at the federal, state, and local levels are often under the sway of deep-pocketed corporations. Meanwhile, Main Streets and downtowns everywhere are slowly dying.

But don't write them off just yet. In dozens of towns and cities across the country, an extraordinary experiment in citizen finance is underway. From Brooklyn, New York to Vernon County, Wisconsin to Port Townsend, Washington, residents are banding together to save their small businesses and Main Streets from extinction. And they are reaping rich rewards in the process. These citizens are at the vanguard of a grassroots revolution that journalist Amy Cortese calls "locavesting."

In Locavesting, you'll meet these pioneers and explore the often ingenious ways—some new, some as old as capitalism itself—they've come up with to take back their financial destinies from Wall Street and the corporate fat cats while revitalizing the communities they call home.

Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber ~ Fiction / Romance / Paranormal ~ Available Now ~ This was a great win from Memrie over at darkangel88! It is actually three books in one. :) Thanks Memrie!!!

A new guy in town.

Rumors of vampires.

Dangerous first love.

This is where it all begins. . . .

The mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood empty for years. But one day it seems to be occupied, and its mysterious, handsome inhabitant Alexander Sterling becomes the source of much talk around town. Raven, a vampire-obsessed Goth-girl who has always considered herself an outsider in "Dullsville," is determined to uncover the truth surrounding the secretive Alexander. As she gets to know him, and their spark intensifies, Raven finds herself in some unanticipated situations. Can Alexander make her lifelong dream come true? But love always has its complications—especially when it can only be awakened at nightfall.

The first three books in Ellen Schreiber's bestselling Vampire Kisses series capture the thrill of a most unusual romance.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

A Prelude to E-Mealz: Downloading and Shopping for the First Week Using E-Mealz

I've been given the opportunity to try out E-Mealz (stay tuned for a full review and giveaway in May), and so far I'm really impressed!

For months now (may even be over a year or so) I've had "Make Meal Menu" one of the tasks in my dayplanner... I've simply been dragging my feet to make a commitment to a weekly menu because of the need to figure out how to put the menu together, and how to build my shopping list... sad, I know.

That is why I'm so excited to give E-Mealz a try.  For only $1.25/week, they put together a full week of dinners and give me a shopping list based on the menu type I selected (choices include things like Gluten free, low fat, low carb, regular, etc, and can be selected for specific grocery stores or simply general store).

So today, I began my journey with E-Mealz.  I logged in, downloaded/printed my menu for this coming week, and went grocery shopping.  At about $120 for all 7 dinners (feeding 4-6 people) plus a few groceries we needed for the coming week, I've already saved myself a few trips to the store and a few hours of shopping with the kids if I successfully got everything on the handy list provided by E-Mealz.  :)  Crossing Fingers...

Stay tuned for more updates.

Teaser Tuesday: Wolves Among Us: A Novel by Ginger Garrett

TEASER TUESDAYS :
hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading ~

"Because you are my priest, and I have sinned. I am confused. I do not know how to repent, whether it is my nature to sin or some devil at work." She paused, taking a deep breath before releasing what burned in her heart.

~ page 176 “Wolves Among Us: A Novel" by Ginger Garrett

About the Book (from Amazon):

This richly imagined tale takes readers to a tiny German town in the time of “the burnings,” when pious and heretic alike became victims of witch-hunting zealots. When a double murder stirs up festering fears, the village priest sends for help. But the charismatic Inquisitor who answers the call brings a deadly mix of spiritual fervor and self-deceptive evil. Under his influence, village fear, guilt, and suspicion of women take a deadly turn. In the midst of this nightmare, a doubting priest and an unloved wife—a secret friend of the recently martyred William Tyndale—somehow manage to hear another Voice…and discover the power of love over fear.

Dinfoil, Germany, 1538. In a little town on the edge of the Black Forest, a double murder stirs up festering fears. A lonely woman despairs of pleasing her husband and wonders why other women shun her. An overworked sheriff struggles to hold the town—and himself—together. A priest begins to doubt the power of the words he shares daily with his flock. And the charismatic Inquisitor who arrives to help—with a filthy witch in a cage as an object lesson—brings his own mix of lofty ideals and treacherous evil. Under his influence, ordinary village fears and resentments take a deadly turn. Terror mounts. Dark deeds come to light. And men and women alike discover not only what they are capable of, but who they are…and what it means to grapple for grace.

I always look forward to reading everyone's teasers! ~ Wendi

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up and use to buy more books! :)

Quick Fruit Fix: Great Snack/Smoothie in a Hurry With The Help of the Magic Blender, Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry Juice and Safeway Frozen Fruits

My 4-year old wanted "something yummy to drink" with his lunch today, and I remembered that I had an unopened bottle of Minute Maid 100% Fruit Juice Blend: Pomegranate Blueberry on hand. I decided that since I bought it to make smoothies with, we'd have smoothies!

So! Out comes the Magic Blender, which we have perfected using for fruit/juice smoothies. To make this great smoothie, you will need:


                               4-5 large frozen strawberries
                               4-5 large frozen peach wedges
                               4-5 small pieces of frozen mango
                                               (I got all our frozen fruit at our local Safeway Store)
                                               (roughly, it should be about 2 parts strawberries, 2 parts peaches, 1 part mango)

                               We then filled the rest of the glasses with the Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry juice, then used the Magic Blender to turn each one into a perfect smoothie.  When I use the Magic Blender, it probably takes less than one minute per glass and I usually stop and shake the glass mid way through to make sure there are no big huge pieces of frozen fruit left.

:)  My son then picked the glass with the green rim because, "green is my favorite color" and I got the yellow one.  Add a couple of straws and we were ready to go.

As a bonus, our 1 year-old LOVED this and I was able to bribe him with my smoothie to eat some more meat and cheese for lunch... plus he got some fruit!

As I sat here writing, my 4 year old drank 3/4 of his drink, and I don't know how many servings of fruit it was, but I feel great because he ate fruit, thinks it was a great shake, and wants to have them again soon.

** This recipe is really similar to the Jamba Juice Pomagranate Paradise one that is my personal favorite, but which is SO darn expensive I only stop and get one for special occasions.  I have MORE than saved the cost of the Magic Blender by making my own Pomagranate Paradise smoothies at home.

Next time I'll try to take some pictures, but trust me when I say the smoothies are a beautiful color and they taste great with no added sugar!

Let me know how you make your favorite smoothie!

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up and use to buy more books! :)

Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox: Full of Joy!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is on a blog tour!

This month, Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Amy over at Passages to the Past, so stop by and join the fun!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.

Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)

Stay tuned for a GREAT giveaway I'm going to try to get up today or tomorrow! I don't think you will want to miss this one. :) I'll post a link here if I can get it up today!

Here are the wonderful books that have come into my house over the past week.

Beside Still Waters: A Big Sky Novel by Tricia Goyer ~ Fiction / Christian / Amish ~ Available April 15th~

Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. But when her older brother chooses the world’s path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in Englisch ways, Marianna’s parents move the family to Montana.

Although she is also in her rumschpringe years and not obligated to move, Marianna makes the journey to dutifully help her mother who is expecting another child. Surprisingly, from strangers on the cross-country train ride to the less rigid stance of the new Montana community, many Englisch influences awaken within Marianna—and even her father—the desire to pursue a deeper kind of joy and love for God.

After an accident, Marianna tells her friend Ben a defining story about the Sommer family, and his response further illumines the active relationship God seeks with His followers. In due time, she learns the move from Indiana was not about losing anything, but finding out who God really is. Despite all the shake-ups, Marianna feels a sweet peace, like still waters, in her soul.

A Cowboy's Touch: A Gib Sky Romance by Denise Hunter ~ Fiction / Christian / Romance ~ Available Now ~ Received for review courtesy of The B&B Media Group

Abigail is just in Moose Creek, Montana for the summer to temporarily care for her great aunt. But a tender-hearted cowboy beckons her to stay.

Abigail Jones intends to spend just one summer in middle-of-nowhere Montana with her Aunt Lucy. Time away from her job is just what Abigail needs to reassess her life. The slow pace has her breathing deeply for the first time in years. And the majestic scenery encourages her to get reacquainted with herself . . . and God.

What she didn't count on was the handsome widowed cowboy who owns the ranch where her aunt lives. When the rancher loses his daughter's nanny, Abigail decides to lend a hand for the summer.

Wade Ryan can't help being attracted to Abigail. But he's given up everything to protect his daughter, and he's not about to risk it all on a pretty face.

Under Abigail's care, Wade's home and daughter thrive. And with Wade's touch, Abigail's heart feels at home at last. But Abigail knows this elusive rancher is hiding something. Will her own secrets separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

Dreams of Joy: A Novel ARC by Lisa See ~ Fiction ~ Available May 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.

Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime.

Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.

Mission: Out of Control (Missions of Mercy) by Susan May Warren ~ Fiction / Romance / Inspirational Suspense ~ Available Now ~ Received courtesy of the publisher for review and tour with LitFuse Publicity in April

Brody "Wick" Wickham is a former Green Beret turned security agent—with a 100 percent mission success rate. No way is his new assignment changing that. Even if it's protecting a diva American rock star while she's on tour in Europe. Except Veronica "Vonya" Wagner isn't just a beautiful celebrity used to having her way—she's the daughter of a U.S. Senator. And she's hiding a dangerous secret. When Wick discovers what's at stake, how far over the line will he go to keep them both alive?

Point of No Return (Missions of Mercy) by Susan May Warren ~ Fiction / Romance / Inspirational Suspense ~ Available Now ~ Received courtesy of the publisher for review and tour with LitFuse Publicity in April

An American boy and a warlord's engaged daughter have disappeared—together—in an Eastern European border country. Only one man can find them in time to prevent an international meltdown—Chet Stryker. But Chet is taken aback when he realizes the boy is the nephew of Mae Lund, Chet's former flame. When Mae insists on rescuing her relative herself, Chet knows he has to protect her from the enemy on their trail. Yet can he protect himself from falling for Mae again?

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Laundry Time: Dropps Laundry Pacs - A Quick, Easy and Eco-Friendly Way to Save When Doing Laundry

I am amazed at how much time and energy Dropps are saving me in the laundry room!  In the not too distant past, I used to have at least three different laundry products (scented detergent, scent-free detergent, dryer sheets, etc) on hand at all times when doing laundry.  I also kept the measuring cups the detergent came with, along with a shelf lined with wax paper so it was easy to clean up the spills and drips that are sure to happen over time when using liquid detergent.  Then I was sent a bag of Dropps (Dye and Scent Free) to try from Mom Select (a while back) and my laundry experience changed forever!

Laundry is so easy and hassle free now, I simply load my laundry into my washing machine, grab a Dropps pac, toss it in, close the door and start the laundry.  The great thing about these is that they are safe to use in a high-efficiency washer (which I have) as well as a normal washer.

On top of that, there is very little packaging, no mess, and the ingredient list is VERY short: Laureth – 7 (Plant derived + biodegradable cleaning agent), Polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether (Plant derived + biodegradable cleaning agent), IPA (Processing agent), Hexylene glycol (Processing agent), Agua (water)!  All great things in my book. 

On top of that, I was comparing the prices at my local grocery store, and even when my normal brand of liquid detergent was on sale, these were a little cheaper.

Dropps come in 20, 42 or 80-load bags (there are 20 little packs in the bag, and each one dissolves completely as it cleans, so there is no messy residue and only a small plastic pouch to throw out) and are available in Fresh Scent, Scent + Dye Free, Baby (Scent + Dye + Enzyme Free).


Dropps Laundry Pacs: Scent + Dye Free
by Cot'n Wash, Inc.
Available in 20, 42, 80 load pouches
Laundry Detergent

Edition Reviewed: Scent + Dye Free - Review sample received courtesy of Mom Central and Dropps - I'm WAY behind on reviewing this but REALLY wanted to share my thoughts with you, so better late than never!

About Dropps:

JACK-OF-ALL-LAUNDRY

Dropps laundry detergent is one multi-tasking marvel. Not only are those little pacs handy, but they play well with others, too. Now that's smarter laundry.

All colors
The fade-free Dropps formula keeps all your laundry fresh and
bright, from lights to darks to hot pinks.

All fabrics
Dropps laundry detergent pacs are equal-opportunity gentle, and
wash everything from cotton to silk with care.

All washers
Dropps laundry detergent pacs work their magic in everything from
old-timey top-loaders to the smart HE models to the industrial-types
at the laundromat.

All temperatures
Dropps laundry detergent actually cleans in the energy-conscious cold
cycle, making it smart and powerful.

Scent + Dye Free

Dropps laundry pacs are tough on dirt, but easy on your favorite garments. Simply toss the pac directly into the washer drum (1 pac = 1 load) and it dissolves completely. Dropps laundry pacs are compatible in HE (High Efficiency) and standard washers. The Scent + Dye Free formula is gentle on sensitive skin. Dropps laundry pacs clean all fabrics and all colors in all temperatures (cold or hot water). The Dropps formula is Phosphate-free, enzyme-free and biodegradable. And, it’s safe for septic tanks and gray water systems. The Dropps Scent + Dye Free formula is approved by the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program.

Fresh Scent

Dropps laundry pacs are tough on dirt, but easy on your favorite garments. Simply toss the pac directly into the washer drum (1 pac = 1 load) and it dissolves completely. Dropps laundry pacs are compatible in HE (High Efficiency) and standard washers. Dropps laundry pacs clean all fabrics and all colors in all temperatures (cold or hot water). The Dropps formula is Phosphate-free, enzyme-free and biodegradable. And, it’s safe for septic tanks and gray water systems. The Dropps Fresh Scent formula is approved by the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program.

Dropps Baby

Dropps Baby laundry pacs are tough on dirt, but sensitive on baby skin. The Scent, Dye + Enzyme Free formula is perfect for loads of itch-free laundry. Simply toss the pac directly into the washer drum (1 pac = 1 load) and it dissolves completely. Dropps laundry pacs are compatible in HE (High Efficiency) and standard washers. Dropps laundry pacs clean all fabrics and all colors in all temperatures (cold or hot water). The Dropps formula is Phosphate-free, enzyme-free and biodegradable. And, it’s safe for septic tanks and gray water systems. The Dropps Baby formula is approved by the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program. Cleaner baby, cleaner world.

About the Company: Cot'n Wash (from their site)

ABOUT US

They were the best of times. They were the worst of times.
The time was the early 80s. New Wave was on the radio. MTV came to cable TV. And those big chunky sweaters were all the rage. We should know, we made the chunky yarn at our very own cotton mill just outside Philadelphia. Yep, those were good times. Except of course, if you were the sweaters. Because every time we washed them, the harsh detergents and rough laundry routine made our sweet yarn all yellowed and stretchy.

Necessity is the mother of clean clothes
What we needed was a formula that could keep fabrics looking better, longer. So we removed the enzymes to keep the fabrics vibrant and soft (and to prevent their fibers from breaking down.) The result? An innovative formula with a split personality: tough on dirt, but gentle on your favorite garments. We knew we were onto something great... but it was only the beginning!

Clean. And pretty darn convenient, too.
With all the stuff we took out of this new detergent, we knew we had a small wonder on our hands. Which got us thinking, “What else can we make smaller? ” Then we thought the last thing moms needed was another huge drippy, sticky jug of detergent to deal with. So we put all the cleaning power in small, convenient, dissolvable pacs. Each is pre-measured to make laundry down-right fool-proof. You just drop ‘em in the laundry. Voila! Dropps was born. An idea that proved to be so smart, the leading consumer publications (did someone say Oprah?) and moms couldn’t stop raving about us. And who doesn’t love flattery!

Saving the earth, one wash at a time.
A funny thing happened on the way to the laundry room. We quickly discovered the whole Dropps movement is great for the planet. (Yay!). Remember, we’re phosphate-free, chlorine-free and NPE-free, too! And talk about a smaller footprint! We use less water, use way less plastic, take up less space, cost much less to ship and leave tremendously less mess in our landfills. You’ll agree... every pac counts!

And to think, we started out trying to save some clothes... and it looks like we’re helping to save something even larger.

Enjoy

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)