Start a Christian Review Blog eBook

Courtney Chowning from FaithApproved has put together a 15 page ebook called Start a Christian Review Blog. The ebook with explain:

Basic Blog Terminology How to setup your blog Tips for selecting a blog name and tag line Tips for selecting a blog theme and layout Tips for choosing what products you want to review How to get products to review How to write great reviews Tips on how to host a product giveaway Tips for promoting giveaways Sites to check out for further reading and help

Courtney does a great job of laying out the basics. The ebook is set up nicely and is easy to read. She explains the terms used (blog, platform, web host and domain name) and the steps necessary to start and maintain a Christian Review Blog. Courtney gives ideas of where to find the products to review (from starting with the products in our house, to joining a network, to contacting the company directly). Courtney then explains who to write a review and how to promote it. Additional resources and a check list are included.

My thoughts:

Where was this book a year ago!? It would have been so helpful when I was interested in getting started last year. The information is well formatted and easy to follow. After a couple of years of entering lots of sweepstakes (winning a few), I settled on blog sweeps about 2 years ago. After entering (and winning) quite a few, I started wondering how people got started getting free stuff to review and giveaway. I asked a few people, but nobody gave me much advice. I have learned as I've gone, and now I do quite a few reviews (sometimes too many!) But it was a slow process. I posted my first review in November after joining MomSelect (a network for Mom bloggers). That month, I got the courage to e-mail an author and ask to review her book Kissing and Cooking. I was surprised when she agreed to send me a copy.

Start a Christian Review Blog would be a great resource for anyone interesting in getting started writing a review blog.

Click here to view more details The price is $9.95 and comes with 3 bonus documents (blogging ideas, tech tools, and contest listing sites.)

Would you like to win a copy?

Enter here.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Teen and College

If you haven't heard of Chicken Soup for the Soul, where exactly have you been the last 15 years? Chicken Soup for the Soul began with a single volume in 1993. Now there are more than 200 titles that have been translated into 40 different languages. They have sold more 112 million books. Chicken Soup for the Soul continues to develop new ways to reach the public including movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships.

The newest offering from Chicken Soup for the Soul is a series directed at teenagers and young adults. There are 4 titles: Teens Talk Middle School; Teens Talk High School; Teens Talk Getting Into College; and Campus Chronicles. Each book tells a series of stories. The stories cover topics like "Happy to be me"; "Dating, Crushes and Just Friends"; "Consequences" and "That was Embarrassing" (from the High School book). Some topics are fun; others are serious.

When my son (who goes to middle school in August) gets home from camp, we are going to start reading the stories together. I want to read the stories together in case there are things that we need to discuss. It could be things he has been dealing with or asking him how he would have dealt with the situation.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School

101 Stories of Life, Love, and Learning for Younger Teens

Almost everyone hated middle school. It’s a very tough time for adolescents. This “support group in a book” is specifically geared to younger teens -- the ones still worrying about puberty, cliques, discovering the opposite sex, and figuring out who they are. Meant for middle school students ages eleven to fourteen, stories cover regrets and lessons learned, love and “like,” popularity, friendship, tough issues such as divorce, illness, and death, failure and rising above it, embarrassing moments, bullying, and finding something you’re passionate about. The stories provide emotional support, humor, and inspiration for the young teens making their way through the tumultuous middle school years.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School

101 Stories of Life, Love, and Learning for Older Teens

This book focuses on issues specific to high school age kids, ages fourteen to eighteen. Teens in high school have mainly moved past worrying about puberty and cliques, so stories in this book cover topics of interest to older teens such as sports and clubs, religion and faith, driving, curfews, growing up, self-image and self-acceptance, dating and sex, family relationships, friends, divorce, illness, death, pregnancy, drinking, failure, and preparing for life after high school. High school students will find comfort and inspiration in the words of this book, referring to it through all four years of their high school experience, like a portable support group.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In... to College

101 True Stories from Kids Who Have Lived Through It

These days, colleges are deluged with applications, and the application process has become something traumatic that students and parents experience together. This book isn’t about how to get into college -- it’s about providing emotional, not tactical, support. The stories in this book are written by kids who have been there and want to pass on their words of support to the kids about to go through the whole ordeal. Story topics include parental and peer pressure, the stress of grades and standardized tests, applications and interviews, recruiting, disappointments, and successes. Parents and students alike will findGetting In... to College a great source of inspiration.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles

101 Real College Stories from Real College Students

College life can be fun, stressful, exciting, and educational in more ways than one. Campus Chronicles is a book for any current or prospective college student who wants to know what really goes on in the dorms and in the classroom. Story topics range from the academic, like studying abroad and picking majors, to partying and life choices. Read about other college students’ spring breaks, personal growth, relationships with family and significant others, Greek life, transferring schools, money woes, and alternative paths. Campus Chronicles is about growing up, making choices, learning lessons, and making the best of your last years as a student.

Would you like to win a copy? I will be giving away one copy of each title. Enter here.

Mabel's Labels

More than a year ago, I won a package of label's from a blog. (Right now I couldn't even tell you which blog!) I chose to only use our last name because I didn't know which child would need them first. (And I was too cheap to buy the extra 2 sets.) When the labels arrived from Mabel's Labels I glanced at them and put them on the stack on my desk. Eventually John gathered stuff up and put them in a box. I've run across them a time or two but had no reason to get them out.

Until yesterday. Chewie is headed to camp today. I was not looking forward to writing all 7 letters of our last name 100 times. So I dug out the http://www.mabel.ca/ What a great time saver! Not to mention they look a whole lot better than than scribbles.

In my pack (which I believe was called the Camp Pack) I had 50 TagMates. These are small labels that attach to clothing tags. There were 8 round Shoe Labels (with clear plastic overlays) for the insole. There about 15 of the larger Sticky Labels for things that will be going through the dishwasher. And Chewie's favorite: a pair of Bag Tags. The looked like wide dog tags with a short chain.

I had everything labeled in about 15 minutes. Wow! I need to order a couple more sets!

Don't Give In...God Wants You to Win!

When I picked up Don't Give In...God Wants You to Win! I expected a light, fun read. Boy was I surprised! The book is actually a deep look at spiritual warfare and learning how to fight the battle. Don't worry! Thelma includes humor to keep things from becoming too heavy. Thelma gives a lot of great information. One thing I really liked is that she included whole Scripture passages (sometimes in more than one translation) in the text of the book. I know that when I read I book, I usually don't take the time open my Bible and read the passage at the time. I always plan to get back to it, but rarely do. Having the text in the book, made it certain that I would read it. I am going to be going back through this book again---much more slowly this time!

This book is about spiritual warfare, demons, the Holy Spirit, and some pretty heavy-duty areas. Why write on this topic?

In this day and age when all around us seems to failing like our economic system, the government, relationships, health, self-worth, business and workplace situations, the church, wayward children, divorce and so much more, it is imperative that people have something sturdy and reliable to hold on to. Everyday we are fighting some kind of battle small, great or tremendous. When we don’t know how to fight against the disappoint, heartache, confusion, depression, and all the emotional and spiritual fall out from these issues, we become desperate, violent, vicious and vile. John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy us. But, Jesus has come to give us life and that life more abundantly than the feelings of no hope. This book teaches about the only hope we have and how to use that hope physically, emotionally and spiritually with a guarantee that we are winners when we do.

You’ve been known as the BEE lady, but it seems you’re evolving into more than that? Where do you see your ministry heading in the future?

God has so many surprises for me that my heart is overflowing. I have a teaching and preaching anointing that has made my ministry one of integrity and worth. God is doing great things in my life and reinventing some vital things that will be seen by everybody in a few weeks. He has guaranteed me that the international travel I’ve done over the past thirty years, the seeds I’ve sown over my lifetime, the barriers and tough times I’ve overcome are about to pay off in many different ways. He has put Christian people in my life that have and are changing the course of my life in great and wonderful ways. I will be taking a group to Israel next November, on other Ready to Win tours throughout the world, working with World Vision in their child sponsorship program, presenting mini Ready To Win Conferences throughout the world, and whatever else the Lord assigns me to do.

Thelma, this book was released at a perfect time. So many people are struggling just to survive. They’ve lost jobs, money, health, marriages, and more. Many just want to give up! What can we do if we are in those situations to prepare for victory in the battle of life?

When you’re in a battle these are the things that must be done in order to win:

• Put on the helmet of salvation to cover your thought life.
• Put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard your heart against devil and sin.
• Put on the girdle of Truth so that you will be able to understand what real truth is and be able to use the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God – the Bible) in every situation as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the mountain.
• Put on the shoes that have prepared you with the preparation of peace so you can march and stay fit as you tell other people about the goodness and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Hold up the shield of faith believing that God will keep every Promise He made for our good.
• Pray for each other and for ourselves by asking God for what we need, seeking His perfect will in all we do and knocking continually until we know God has answered our prayers. We must realize that God does not answer all our prayers the way we want Him to but whatever way He answers them, they are for our good and for His glory.
• Praise God with thanksgiving for all He has done and will do for us. The worship of God brings us into an atmosphere of being able to fight the good fight of faith and WIN.

Most of us are familiar with the list of spiritual weapons available for us to use as listed in Ephesians 6. You have a way to remember these that might be more relevant to today’s woman – as a mom, wife, business woman, etc. Will you share these five things with us that you do daily when you’re getting “dressed” in the morning?

In 1980 Thelma became the first black woman in the South to organize her own international speaking and consulting corporation. Her natural talent for public speaking and storytelling attracted the attention of the Women of Faith Tour, and in 1996 she became the first black core speaker for the organization. She has authored several books, including God Is Not Through With Me Yet, an inspiring examination of her own life experiences in which she encourages readers to “sing in the closets of their lives.” She serves as the president of The Daughters of Zion Leadership Mentoring Program, an organization she founded in 2000 (another first for a black woman). Through this ministry, “Mama T,” as she is affectionately called, has mentored over 100 spiritual daughters, received an honorary doctorate degree and was ordained into the Christian Ministry on December 16, 2008, from St. Thomas Christian College and Theological Seminary and the Association of Christian Churches in Jacksonville, Florida. She was also was named Extraordinary Woman of the Year 2008 by Mrs. Julie Clinton, Host of the Extraordinary Women Conferences an affiliate of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Thelma has been married to George Wells, her best friend, supporter, and encourager, for over 45 years. The couple lives in Dallas, Texas, and has three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

RUVAcards

If you have budding artists like I do, you have got to check out RUVAcards! You send them a digital scan or send the artwork through the mail, and RUVAcards will match the colored dots to create personalized stationary. My kids all love to draw and color. This would be such a fun Christmas present for the grandparents!

RUVAcards also does party invitations, birth announcements, and greeting cards.

We pride ourselves on truly unique stationery, innovative custom notecards and personalized thank you cards and stationery cards. From blank cards and blank notecards to personalized notecards and personalized stationery and more, Ruvacards is your one stop shop for custom stationery and notecards that they won't soon forget. Looking for a special way to keep in touch with the child in your life? Our kid's stationery provides a personalized and exciting way to help make correspondence the joy it ought to be. Personal correspondence and letter writing are excellent ways to improve literacy, reading comprehension skills and creativity. Our personalized notecards and personalized stationery can help your young ones find pleasant recreation in reading and writing. Using our stationery cards and custom stationery you can introduce kids to the amazing world of writing and correspondence. We can even customize our unique greeting cards, personalized to fit the vibrant personality of the child in your life. From thank you cards to journal keeping, make our visually stunning stationery a part
of your life today.

Even if unique birth announcements, customized baby shower invitations and kid's stationery are not on your list today we know you'll find something you need in our eclectic collection of stationery and stationery cards. Leave a lasting impression that speaks to your individual style with our custom stationery, individually personalized notecards and artistic notecards.

Ruvacards' personalized stationery gives you an unforgettable way to send meaningful thank you cards that reflect your gratitude. Stop searching for blank notecards and custom stationery. Make Ruvacards' unique blank cards and custom
notecards part of your communication repertoire today.

Transform your purse

I want to show you a couple of great products for accessorizing your purse. I know! Who knew you could accessorize your purse?!? Both come from Je'Marie PurseHook and Accessories.

The Scarlett is a clip on accessory that transforms your purse from blah to brilliant. It is amazing what a difference a little decoration can make. It kind of reminds me of the kerchief square men where in their suit pocket to make the suit look new and different each time!

Are you looking for a new method to convert your bag from a day to day convenience to a trendy piece for a night downtown? Never fear that your bag will get lost in a sea of purses when you’re out to eat with the girls. Shrug away any worry about not being at the forefront of friendly fashion competition. The Scarlett is the perfect addition to the FUMI now elegantly trimming your purse, or will be a classy first time purchase from Je’Marie PurseHook & Accessories. At this great price- you can't go wrong! $19.95

The FUMI (or fashionable, unique, multi-purpose innovation) is a lot of fun! It is a beautiful bracelet (that even fits on my large wrists!) It is a purse accessory (so you don't have to go looking for it!) And it is a purse hook (so you don't have to put your purse on the floor!) There are some great purse hooks out there, but most would get lost before I could use them.

The FUMI comes in a variety of patterns and sales for about $25.

Bra Barrett

The Bra Barrette is a great way to add some drama to your outfits. I was not able to use the Bra Barrette myself because, as the website explains, the Bra Barrette is NOT one size fits all. Soon, in addition to the average size one, they are planning to release a "petite" and "large" version. But I love the idea of the Bra Barette. It is beautiful and functional.

The Bra Barrette is the essential tool every woman needs in her wardrobe. Made for a flexible and durable plastic, the Bra Barrette adds fashionable jewelry to the back while holding tank top, swimsuit or bra straps in place. Plain Bra Barrettes are ideal for keeping your straps hidden under clothing and staying professional at work. Charmed Bra Barrettes add personal style to the back with interchangeable charms and jewels. Genuine SWAROVSKI Crystallized Elements will add grace and elegance to any formal wear.

Q & A

How difficult is the Bra Barrette to put on?

It's not difficult at all. If you put your hands behind your head, you put on the Bra Barrette. You can also put the Bra Barrette on before you put on your attire and simply slide it over your head and then adjust the straps once you've fastened your top. Click Here to watch the video clip to see how to put it on.

How durable is the Bra Barrette?

It is extremely durable! It’s made from a food-grade plastic so it is flexible and comfortable to wear. It has been tested repeatedly for durability under normal wearing conditions. The product is guaranteed!