Happy New Year

Wishing you all a Happy and Safe New Year

The Mailbox Post

Its hard to believe that this will be my last mailbox post of 2011. Where did the time go? It just felt like yesterday I was writing my first mailbox post of 2011.

This week I didn't receive any books in the mail nor  did I buy any books this past week. Although I did place an order with Book Closeouts Canada because they had a huge boxing day sale and I was able to nab a few books that I have been eyeing for under $3 each and those are hardcovers. So that will probably come in the new year.

Speaking of the new year I want to wish all my readers a happy and joyous New Year and all the best for 2012. I wish you much happiness and great reading.

I would also love to thank all the great reps and publishing houses that I work with for sending me some many great books in 2011. Looking forward to working with you again in 2012.

To all the great bloggers out there  who have shared their love of reading with us and for sharing their reviews of so many great books. My wallet appreciates it HEHE.

See you 2012.

(Product Review) Luxe Box (December)

 Recently I got my Luxe Box for December and I have had the chance to try out all my products so I thought that I would share my thoughts on them.

I thought that the design on the holiday card was really cute and I loved the different snow flakes that were on the card. It was super cute/

The first product that I was super excited to try was the Yves Rocher Italian Mandarin shower Gel.

Bask in beauty this holiday with the limited edition Les Plaisirs Nature Italian Mandarin collection. Fall in love with this irresistibly indulgent body wash and envelop yourself in its delicate and delicious citrus-scented lather.

I received a sample of 50ml and the full size is 400ml for $12 Canadian. I love Yves Rocher bath products and being able to try a sample before buying it is really nice and I think this is a scent that I would definitely buy when I am in the store again.  I found it wasn't a strong smell but a nice light fruity smell. A little goes a long way and it lathered really well. This is a thumbs up for me.

The second item was the limited edition Belgium chocolate which I thought was super cute because this wasn't just a random item that was thrown in the box it was custom made and it was delicious. I had no problems opening it up and it got devoured right after I made my vlog for the box.

I didn't use the NYX slim eye pencil because the last time I bought an eye pencil and used it I just thought it wasn't age appropriate. I felt like I was trying to be younger then what I was so I ended up passing it on to my niece who will hopefully give me her thoughts on it.

A smooth definer for your beautiful ids, this basic eyeliner blends easily and comes in a variety of shades. A staple in every one's make up bags, you can never go wrong with black!

I received the full size product of this and its 1g for $4.

The next item is DDF Advanced firming cream. (DDF=Doctors Dermatologic Formula)

Advanced formula contains the breakthrough Tumeric Complex, with glycerin, zinc and copper, that hydrates to firm and tighten, provides antioxidant protection for the moisture barrier, and promotes rapid surface cell turnover to help reverse the appearance of aging for younger looking skin.

I received a 14g sample that I was told is worth $41 (which is crazy) and the full size is 48g for $140. I had a hard time getting the product opened as the lid was on really tight which I guess is good because nothing leaked.

I didn't find the directions to be very clear on what to do. It said "Apply day and/or night to face, neck and decollete. As with all facial products avoid getting into eyes."

It went on nice and smooth with no greasy feeling and it didn't weigh down my skin like some products do. I didn't find the product to have a smell which is nice. This is a product that I will enjoy while I have the sample for. Sadly with the $140 price tag I won't be buying it anytime soon.

Then finally its the Paco Rabanne perfume samples.

Lady Million
For her, a heady bouquet of voluptupous flowers underlined with patchouli and amber.

I received what was suppose to be 1.2ml sample but I think it was much less because the sample bottle was half full. This wouldn't be a scent I would buy because I found it to be a little to strong for my liking and the price tag of $80 for 50ml is a little steep in my books.

1 Million
For him, an intense harmony of leather, white wood and amber dashed with citrus and spice.

I really enjoyed the smell of this one as I found it to be very masculine and I found it did smell good on my significant other. Although with the price tag of $58 for 50ml doesn't appeal to him. The sample size was suppose to be 1.2ml but it was half full as well.

So, personally for me I have to say that this was my least favorite box of the month. I just found that after watching a few youtube videos and seeing what others got and what I got was a huge disappointment. I am finding that the same bloggers/reviewers always seem to get the better boxes and everyone else including me seems to have gotten the bottom of the barrel. Not sure if that has to do with the fact they paid for a year or not.

Now for the Pros and Cons:

PROS:
-I got to try a new Yves Rocher product which really excites me because I love Yves Rocher and now I can add a new product to my shopping and bathroom.

CONS:
-This is the third month I have gotten perfume samples and my second month for getting a Paco Rabanne samples.
-The perfume samples were only half filled and honestly I probably could have gotten them at The Bay or Sears and gotten more of a sample. These weren't deluxe sized samples.
-The only full product I got was a $4 eyeliner. Really?
-The only deluxe sample I got would be the Yves Rocher shower gel and perhaps the DDF firming cream. On the website they say 4-5 deluxe sample sizes which didn't happen this month.

Since its the holiday season I guess I was expecting a huge wow factor but that didn't happen. I will try another box in January to see what its like but I am thinking if this continues I will be cancelling my subscription because they aren't delivering what they promise and I can spend my $12 a month on something else.

I know on facebook Loose Buttons has gotten alot of complaints from people like myself who aren't happy and I have to admit that it bothered me how much the ones who got the better boxes were leaving comments praising Loose Buttons and telling the ones who complained to unsubscribe if your not happy and that we all signed up for a sample service and this is what you get.

Do you feel as though I have a right to complain and offer my feedback or should I just say nothing and cancel? Please let me know what you think.

The Mailbox Post

 I have to start off by saying that I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and enjoyed your weekend.

Isn't it funny how much time we invest into Christmas to have it over in a blink of a eye?

I will be making a Christmas book haul vlog sometime this week as you can imagine we did get a ton of books this holiday season.

Well we did end up having a white christmas in the end. It was nice to see the snow on the ground and it did make it feel more Christmas like. I took some great photos that I will start sharing in the new year.

Well its that time of the week when you get to peak into my mailbox. It was a very quiet week and I was pleasantly surprised that I got a book in the mail and here is where I will admit that I did the happy dance.

I am not going to do a vlog for one book so I will share a photo instead. Here is the book I got:

Is this cover hot? I absolutely love this cover and how the hunk's eyes match the wolf eyes.

This only comes out in March 2012 and honestly I don't think I will be able to hold off on reading this till then. I love Terry's books.

So this is what I got last week and I a dying to read this but if I do read this before the release date my review won't be posted until release date.

What did you get in your mailbox this past week?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you enjoy this day with the ones you love and that you got some amazing gifts and eaten some great food.

I love Christmas and will be spending the morning at home with my family with a Christmas breakfast and then later on today I will be having a Christmas dinner with some more family.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

(video)Where Are You Chirstmas?

This is an absolute favorite of mine.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (video)

Its hard to believe how close we are to Christmas Eve. I thought I would take this video to be my last video for this holiday season. I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite holiday music videos.




The official video:

(video) Winter Wonderland

I was just checking my blog roll and I found this on Mundie Moms blog and I just had to share it with you.


Isn't that awesome? If this can't get you into the holiday spirit then I don't know what will. LOL

Merry Christmas to all those wonderful ya authors who took the time out of there busy schedules to do this.

Did you know that Maggie Steifvater could play the bagpipes? I didn't. I am total awe of Maggie.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Loose Button/Luxe Box January

I finally got my December Luxe Box.

According to their face book page I wasn't the only one who wasn't really happy with their box this month as you will see why after the vlog I did.

I will add some photos for those who don't like to watch vlogs.

I will now let you know what I got in my December Luxe box now:

1. DDF Advanced Firming Cream. The sample size I got was 14g and they said this was worth $41. Wow and the full size is 48g for $140. That is one expensive product.
2.  Yves Rocher Italian Mandarin Shower Gel. The sample size I got was 50ml and the full size is 400ml for $12 (This one I am actually excited to try out as I love Yves Rocher products)
3. Paco Rabanne Lady Million. The sample I got was 1.2 oz and the full size is 50ml $80
4. Paco Rabanne 1 Million for me. The sample I got was 1.2oz and the full size is 50ml for $58
5. NYX Slim Eye Pencil. Full size product is 1g for $4

Okay so my impression of the December box is quite honestly I am not really impressed especially after watching what others got in there box and I feel as though the last ones to get their boxes (like me) got what ever was left.

This is my third month of getting perfume samples and honestly this was a bummer because they aren't even full sized samples. The bottles were half filled. Compared to what I have gotten in the past with perfume samples alone it says alot.

Then after when I was reading the card they said "This season is all about giving. As a thanks, all our existing customers are receiving a full size product this month." Well that product was a eye liner pencil for me.

I have to say I feel as though this month they didn't really live up to there promise of sending deluxe sized samples.

I really wish that Luxe Box and Glymm would switch up the lists of customers because I am starting to get a little discouraged when I see the same bloggers/reviewers getting the better products each month and the others getting the bottom of the barrel.

So as of right now I probably won't continue with this for much longer because honestly I am paying $12 + tax to get the chance to try 4 to 5 deluxe samples each month and that's not what I am getting. Perhaps they need to re-evaluate their system and work something out. I really think that we should all be getting the same boxes and if they don't have enough to go around perhaps they should switch up the lists and let the bottom people get some good products.

I was on their face book page and I was starting to get annoyed with the ones who gotten the great boxes criticizing the others who crappy boxes and saying we shouldn't be complaining. I am sorry but perhaps if they were the ones we were constantly getting the crappy boxes perhaps they would feel differently about it.

I understand that they are fairly new (Feb 2011) and that over 200,000 beauty products have been sampled but if you want to WOW us each month like you claim you do then I think you have to step up to the plate and do so.

I will be trying January to see what its like and if I am not completely blown away I will be unsubscribe. I just found out that there is another Canadian sample box that is out and I will be getting my first box in February and there is one from the US that ships to Canada that I am currently waiting on as I got confirmation its been mailed. So we will see what they are like.

The opening of the box. The traditional card this time its the Holiday Edition.

This month they are using a silver Made for Cindy sticker with sky blue crinkle paper and white tissue.

What I got this month.

So I have to say that I am excited to try the Yves Rocher shower gel and the DDF cream. The chocolate was good and I have to say I am surprised it lasted that long. As for the perfumes I am finding them rather strong and the eye pencil has been passed on to my niece because its something I don't use.

Check back later this month when I will do a review of the products received.

December Glymm Box

I am super happy that I finally got my Glymm box for December. I wasn't sure what was going to happen because it was sitting there for awhile.

The only down part about this was that Glymm is actually in Montreal and this is where the boxes are being shipped from and sadly I was in the last wave that got their boxes this week. I was really disappointed to see bloggers/reviewers in Ontario and else where get there boxes last week. Personally for me it doesn't make sense because I would have thought local area would have been faster.

But anyways okay lets get onto what I got this month in my December Glymm box shall we. Here is a vlog I made and following that will be pictures for those that don't want to watch the vlog.

What was inside the December 2011 Glymm Box:

In November I was missing the Annabelle Smudge paint and I emailed them right away and they told me they would make it up to me and well they send me the missing product. I must have read the email wrong when they promised they would make it up to. They didn't.

Sadly this month again I am missing a product and they told me they would replace it. So I guess I will have to wait until January to find out.

In each and every Glymm box we got a little jar of jelly belly jellybeans and I love them. Not quite sure what flavors they are this month but they are really good. I just might have to check their site to find out what they are.

-Ahava Mineral Hand Cream

• The sample size I got was 0.68fl oz and the full size product is 3.4 oz for $20

-Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne Eau de Parfum

• the sample size I got was 1.5ml and it was only half filled. The full size is 50ml for $75

-Sula beauty Natural Lip gloss

• I got a full size product. 0.5fl oz for $8

-Glymm sent us a $10 off gift card for their beauty boutique. I am hoping to use this one. ( I am hoping to try one of their nail polishes.)

So I guess my over all impression this month is that I am a little bummed after seeing what others got in their boxes in the first wave of shipping and this is the second month that I have had a missing product. I would have thought with Christmas that the boxes would have had some extra products or something special in it. Plus when you look at it they promise 4-5 deluxe samples and I only got three.

I am sure I will have some negative comments but honestly this is my opinion and how I feel and yes I can easily unscribe from this service but I will see it through another month to see what its like and hopefully it will get better.

I love the card they sent out this month. Isn't it pretty?

The inside once I opened the tissue paper.

All the products out and in front of the tree.

I am loving the Jelly Beans. They are so good.

As for the products I am excited to try the Sula lip gloss and the Ahava mineral hand cream.

Check back later this month for my Glymm box review.

The Mailbox Post

Wow its hard to believe its time of the week again when you get to take a peak into my mailbox to see what great new books there is coming out or that is already out there.

Where is the time going? I can't believe its already December 18th and that this time next week it will be Christmas. That is just crazy.

I hope you all have a Happy Holiday and a joyous new year. Just in case I don't have a mailbox post for you before Christmas.

I wasn't sure that I was going to get anything this past week because it was really quiet and it seemed like everything came towards the end of the week.

The books that I did get I am really excited about and I can't wait to read them. 

As you can see I don't have a vlog for you this week. The reason is because my throat is very sore. Michael had two hockey games this weekend. One was a tournament game and they lost in over time 4-3. Then on Sunday (today) they had another game and I am super excited because Michael got his second goal of the year and the kids won 9-1. He was so happy that he got his goal.

Anyways, lets get onto the books shall we.

I got a surprise package from Thomas Allen which made my day because they are both books I wanted to read and I was waiting to get them. They were:

-In The Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton.
(This is the second book in The Goblin Wars Series)

-Au Revoir Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Then the next day I got a surprise package from Kensington Teen and inside the package was:

-Torn by Erica O'Rourke

-Tangled by Erica O'Rourke (RD is February 2012)

This is the first two books in the Torn series. I have been picking up Torn everytime I go to chapters but end up putting it back so I am really happy that I got them.

Then the last book I got was a win from Lucy at Moonlight Gleam when it was her blogoversary. I believe Lucy asked about a book we wanted to read and I picked Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne because Lucy spoke of it and recommended it and I was dying to read it.

I just want to send out a huge thank you to the wonderful people at Thomas Allen & Son and Kensington Teen for sending me these fantastic books to read. Thank You Lucy for the awesome win.

Happy Holidays Everyone

(video) Last Christmas

(Guest Post) Stephen Schochet

Title: Hollywood Stories: Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and the Legends of the Movies!
Author: Stephen Schochet
Pub Date: June 2010
Publisher: BCH Fulfillment & Distribution
Pages: 324

About The Book:
high noon on a cold November day in 1974, sixty-seven-year-old John Wayne faced off with the staff of the Harvard Lampoon on the famous campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The students had issued their challenge by calling the beloved American icon a fraud. Wayne, who had his new movie McQ to promote, responded by saying he would be happy to show his film in the pseudo-intellectual swamps of Harvard Square. After the screening, without writers, the former USC footballer delivered a classic performance. When one smart young man asked where he got his phony toupee, Wayne insisted the hair was real. It wasn’t his, but it was real. The appreciative underclassmen loved him and after the Q and A session, they all sat down to dinner. Later Wayne, who was suffering greatly from both gout and the after effects of lung cancer (sadly the Duke only had five years to live), said that day at Harvard was the best time he ever had.

Just when you thought you’ve heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book — a special blend of biography, history and lore.

Hollywood Stories is packed with wild, wonderful short tales about famous stars, movies, directors and many others who have been a part of the world’s most fascinating, unpredictable industry!
What makes the book unique is that the reader can go to any page and find a completely engaging and illuminating yarn. Sometimes people won’t realize that they are reading about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story. The Midwest Book Review says Hollywood Stories is, “packed from cover to cover with fascinating tales.” A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen,” The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard.”Full of funny moments and twist endings, Hollywood Stories features an amazing, all-star cast of legendary characters and icons and will keep you totally entertained!

Q: Will you share with us what’s your favorite decade or trend in Hollywood movies and why. What stands out the most during that time period?

The 1960’s for me stands out because it was when I was first introduced to movies and I love musicals; Seeing West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Oliver on the big screen, just incredible experiences especially when you are a kid and every thing seems bigger. West Side Story is often made fun of movie because the gang members didn’t look so tough to everyone but the energy level of that movie is off the charts, especially if you can suspend disbelief:

When Robert Wise directed West Side Story, he was faced with the challenge of making cinemagoers believe that street hoods would suddenly burst into song. He insisted to reluctant studio bosses that the movie’s prologue be shot expensively on

location in New York. The musical started with panoramic views of Manhattan taken

from a helicopter, then seamlessly closed in on the dancing gang members. Later, all

the interiors were filmed on Hollywood sound stages. The only giveaway that the

company was no longer in the Big Apple came during the violent rumble scene.

Written on the wall, behind the on-camera knife fight, there was graffiti that clearly

said, “GO LAKERS!”

My Fair Lady was another favorite. I actually got to see Rex Harrison perform on stage as Henry Higgins; he was in his eighties so the potential love connection with a twenty-something Eliza Doolittle was a little hard to swallow so I was happy I got to see the film. Apparently in real life Rex Harrison had some real life Higgins-like qualities he saw right through Jack Warner’s companion at the premiere:

A lifelong gambler, seventy-two-year-old Jack Warner spent seventeen

million on My Fair Lady, more than any other film in his career. The wisecracking

tycoon had fallen in love with the story of a cockney flower girl who tries to better

herself by taking lessons from a snobbish English professor. Warner insisted that the

musical be a first-class production all the way. The cream of New York society was

invited to the premiere, the picture was well received and it went on to be extremely

profitable. But at the after party at the Sherry Netherland Hotel, there was a great

deal of talk about Warner’s companion. Who was this stunningly dressed, quiet

twenty-something beauty that looked like My Fair Lady’s fictional Eliza Doolittle at

the ball? The mogul referred to her as Lady Cavendish, but no one there had ever

heard of her. At the end of the night, Warner instructed his limo driver to return his

date home. The mysterious girl, whom Jack had met earlier that night in the lobby,

told the chauffeur, “You know, I had such a fun time; I’m not even going to charge

him!”

For production values The Sound of Music beat them all. One thing I learned though if I have tour customers from Austria don’t bring that movie up, they are tired of it. So apparently was Christopher Plummer who usually won’t speak about it interviews; over the years it became a bit of a sore spot:

Sixty-year-old Maria von Trapp had a great time watching Hollywood change her life

history for the 1965 musical, The Sound of Music. The escape from the Nazis in the

film was so exciting. Audiences would be bored to find out that the von Trapps left

Austria in 1938 with a tourist visa; no one had tried to stop them — the train station

was actually right behind their family estate in Salzburg. And they made her seem like such a wonderful governess and mother. Nobody wanted to hear how in real life,

Maria, the driven leader of the von Trapp Family Singers, verbally battled with her

stepchildren when they wanted to quit their music careers. While constantly touring

around America, the kids complained so much to her about living out of a bus for

eighteen years. The best thing about the picture was this handsome Christopher

Plummer who played her late husband, Captain von Trapp. So romantic was this

movie! In truth, young Maria had at first loved her seven stepchildren far more than

her twenty-five-years-older spouse. When introduced to the thirty-six-year-old

Plummer on The Sound of Music set, Maria, who once intended to be a nun, shocked

the actor by greeting him with a big kiss on the lips. “My God, darling, I wished my

real husband had looked as good as you!”

Mary Poppins was actually the first movie I ever saw. Again when you are a little kid tea parties on the ceiling are the bomb. It took me a long time to realize that Dick Van Dyke played not only Bert the chimney sweep, but also the avaricious old banker who steals the tuppence out of little Michael’s hand (reflecting Walt’s real life views about bankers). Van Dyke’s co-stars didn’t realize it either:

Thirty-nine-year-old Dick Van Dyke fooled both audiences and co-stars, playing an

old banker in the 1964 classic Mary Poppins. The TV sitcom star, who was already the

leading man in the film, donated four thousand dollars to Walt Disney’s newly

formed Cal Arts University in exchange for getting the secondary role. With his cane,

white hair and whiskers, the two child actors who had already worked with Van Dyke

had no idea who he really was. One day in front of the Disney Studio, a bus full of

tourists caught sight of the make-believe geezer just as he was about to cross the

street. Leaning on his cane, he slowly walked to his destination, pausing sometimes to clutch his chest for dramatic effect till he made it. As the vehicle pulled forward, the passengers’ sighs of relief turned to gasps of surprise when they saw the grinning

senior citizen running full speed alongside them.

Of all the 60’s musicals Oliver! was probably the scariest to me because of the chilling performance of Oliver Reed as the murderous Bill Sykes. One of my buddies who worked at a movie theater in Westwood met him and said once you got over the intimidation factor Reed was a great guy. He turned out to be quite the character:

When Oliver Reed joined an all-star cast in Madrid to film the 1973 version of The

Three Musketeers, the producers fretted about his hell-raising reputation. Yet, in

spite of his all-night booze festivals, the British actor endeared himself to his coworkers

by always being on time and knowing his lines inside and out. The biggest

hurdle for Reed’s bosses was keeping a roof over his head. One night, in the lobby of

the posh resort the cast was residing at, Oliver reached into an aquarium, pulled out

one of the tank’s inhabitants and appeared to bite its head off, causing some old

ladies standing nearby to faint dead away. It was revealed that Reed had gotten the

hotel chef to mash some carrots together in the shape of a fish, and after some hasty

bribes and apologies, he was allowed to continue staying there.

Extra: Playing the world-weary musketeer Athos in The Three Musketeers (1973),

Oliver Reed (1938-1999) had no prior experience with sword fight scenes. Yet he

refused to rehearse for them and insisted on performing his own stunts with great

ferocity. The Spanish extras who fenced with Oliver were literally shaking with fear

after their on-camera battles. Finally, one burly man stabbed Reed in the arm sending

the British actor to the hospital, where his room, not surprisingly, became the scene

of a wild, overnight booze binge for him and his pals.

I want to send out a huge thank you to Rebecca at Pump Up Your Books for contacting me and allowing me to showcase this book & author and for also allowing me to have Stephen guest post today.

I also want to thank Stephen for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do this guest post.

About the author:
professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. His latest book, Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies!

Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen," The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard."

You can check out The Hollywood Stories webpage by clicking on this for more information.

You can check out Stephen Schochet's page on Pump Up Your Book  to see the rest of his virtual tour.

Here is a clip about the book:

My 3rd Annual Book Blogger Holiday Swap

It was brought to my attention that this is actually my third time doing the Book Blogger Holiday Swap. For some reason I thought that I missed last year but when I did go back to check I did see the post and my gift post there and if you want you can click on this to see what I got.

I had so much fun that I decided to take part again this year. Once my Santee posts her post about the swap I will share a funny story with you on that. She has already contacted me to thank me for the gift. You are so welcome.

So now its my turn to thank my Secret Santa. I have no idea who had me. I received this package late one night from UPS.

I was super excited to get a package from Amazon and yes I know I should have waited for Christmas but I honestly couldn't wait and proceded to open it up and look at what was peeking out at me. Two of my wish list books.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick is one I have been dying to read and everytime I have gone to the library its been taken out and I was contemplating buying it and now I have my very own copy.

Reckoning by Lili St Crow. I believe this is the third book in the Touch Series and its another one I am really happy to get and I am hoping to start this series very soon. I love the covers to this series.

As I was flipping through the books I spotted this sticking out. There is no clue to who my Secret Santa is. Who are you Secret Santa? :)

So Secret Santa if you are reading this and I hope you are, I want to send out a huge Thank You for the gift and I can't wait to read them. I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.

(Review) Dreaming of the Wolf

Title: Dreaming of the Wolf (Bk 8 in the Wolf Series)
Author: Terry Spear
Pub Date: December 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 384

Source: I received an ARC copy of this book for my honest and sincere review.

About the book:

A FIERCE HUNTER...

Alicia Greiston is a no-nonsense bounty hunter determined to bring a ring of mobsters to justice. Her dogged pursuit of the crime family has forced her to avoid relationships— any man would only become a target for retribution. Luckily, Jake Silver is more than a man, and his instincts are telling him to stop at nothing to protect her.

AN ANIMAL PASSION...

However, the mob isn't entirely human either, and soon Alicia must flee for her life. When Alicia and Jake's passion begins to spill over into their dreams, Jake learns he will have to do more than defend her— he'll have to show his mate the way of the wolf.

Dreaming of the Wolf is the 8th book in the Wolf series and there is a 9th scheduled to be released in March 2012 called A Seal in Wolf's Clothing. Which I am dying to read because it sounds super good.

I am an absolute fan of Terry's Wolf series of books. I can pretty much devour a book in a day if I am given the chance to sit and read for that long. Thankfully I got this book before my birthday and I thought that was a fantastic birthday present and the Sunday before my birthday was a me day and I made it a point that I was going to spend the day before my birthday reading and that this was the book I was going to read. I managed to finish it up in that day and refused to go to bed until I read it.

I loved this book. I think everyone I have spoke with lately I had to talk about this book and how you should it read. Even though its been a while since I read it I am still thinking about it.

I love that even though this is a series you can read them all as stand alones. So if you are looking for a great book to curl up with this holiday season or winter I have to suggest this one highly. I am sure you will love it just as much as me.

I am not sure what it is but I love Terry's writing because she gives you details and descriptions that make it seem believable and that this story can actually happen. You can see all the research she has put into each of her books.

I fell in love with Jake and it was so nice to see that a good guy can win in love. I knew I was going to love Jake from the first moment I met him and I loved how it was Jake who was head over heels in love with Alicia and that he pursued her instead of the other way around.

Jake first spots Alicia when he is in Breckenridge, Colorado going to a art gallery to sell his photographs (which just happens to be closed at that very moment) when he spots Alicia taking pictures secretly of a licence plate. Not only has this action peaked his interest but also she has his attention.

He decides to follow her into the restaurant and at first he doesn't see her so he sits down to order when he spots her. She doesn't appear to notice him because she is too interested in watching two guys across the way from her. When she is threatened by a goon, Jake steps in and does what any person should do when a life is being threatened.

Jake finds out that Alicia is actually a bounty hunter and the two guys she is watching are mobsters and one is responsible for the murder of her mother and she is determined to bring justice.

I love how Alicia has had two failed marriages and has sworn of men and you can see the walls she has put up and that Jake isn't coming off as a pushy guy and forcing is way he steps back and gradually you can see that even though they have fooled around she is actually starting to care about him and you want her to have that happy ending and find love.

But will she allow that to happen or is she just hell bent on having justice served no matter at what risk?



This is the other books in the series:

This is the 9th book coming out in March:

If you haven't had the chance to read any of Terry's books then I highly recommend you do because they are all fantastic and so worth it.

(Guest Post) Terry Spear

Title: Dreaming of the Wolf (bk 8 in the Wolf Series)
Author: Terry Spear
Pub Date: December 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 384

About the book:
A FIERCE HUNTER...

Alicia Greiston is a no-nonsense bounty hunter determined to bring a ring of mobsters to justice. Her dogged pursuit of the crime family has forced her to avoid relationships— any man would only become a target for retribution. Luckily, Jake Silver is more than a man, and his instincts are telling him to stop at nothing to protect her.

AN ANIMAL PASSION...

However, the mob isn't entirely human either, and soon Alicia must flee for her life. When Alicia and Jake's passion begins to spill over into their dreams, Jake learns he will have to do more than defend her— he'll have to show his mate the way of the wolf.

Today I am truly honored to have Terry Spear stop by my blog once again for a guest post. I absolutely love, love, love Terry's books as I am sure you have heard me gush about with all the reviews for her books and if you haven't read any of them yet that I have to highly recommend them.

Interesting Wolf Characteristics! 

When I write my wolf books (werewolves, that is), I do a lot of research about their characteristics and use this in the development of the werewolf characters.

In my books, I try to show that the werewolf, when in human form, is still part wolf. They still have the heightened senses of the wolf, the enhanced sense of smell, night vision, ability to see movement, and hearing. But they also have some of the personality of the wolf.

All wolves do have their own personalities. They may look very similar, but each is a unique individual, just as humans are. Just as your pets are. Each has their own personality.

I often use something from research I’ve done on wolves in each of my stories. In the tenth book, A Highland Wolf Wedding, Duncan MacNeill (of Heart of the Highland Wolf), is searching for the crook that stole his pack’s money. The heroine is an American wolf who is a botanist doing research in the Grand Cayman Islands when he arrives.

Here is an excerpt from A Highland Wolf Wedding, due out in December 2012.

With his ground-eating stride, he raced to catch up to her. She was like a greyhound, and he loved stretching out his legs to join her. He definitely wanted to protect her from the sharks in the sea some more, but running as wolves was just as exhilarating.
****

In this excerpt, I described Shelley Campbell in her wolf form as being as fast as a greyhound. When doing research, I actually found a reference to a real wolf that was the sister of the alpha female that actually chased down more prey than her pack members and the biologist who studied the pack dynamics described her as being as fast as a greyhound.

In another wolf story, I mentioned a wolf who had hair that stuck out all over the place. This was also mentioned by another wolf biologist as he observed a different wolf pack. 

I often mention how curious wolves are, and werewolves are. In one case, a wolf biologist was trying to become one of the pack to observe them. He was wearing a cap and crouched down, trying not to upset the wolves. He saw the alpha male watching him, but didn’t make any move to look him in the eye, which could be considered aggression. After staying like that for quite a while, the alpha wolf finally approached the man. He finally looked the wolf in the eyes. And then the wolf lunged for his hat, but the man anticipating the lunge, quickly removed his hat and the wolf was startled to realize he didn’t have it in his grasp. From then on, the man was part of the pack.

I love stories like this because I use them to show the playful side, the humorous side, the serious side of pack dynamics, and how this becomes a werewolf’s characteristics too.

In Dreaming of the Wolf, I had to research about keeping wolves in confinement when Alicia Greiston is being questioned by a detective about a dead man found in her hotel room and another man who’s thought to have been bitten by a wolf.
       
Excerpt from Dreaming of the Wolf:
      “It’s not illegal to own a wolf,” Jake interjected, his voice quietly firm, as if he was a lawyer who knew her rights when it came to pet wolf ownership.

      She supposed that to protect themselves, Jake and the rest of the pack would know about such a thing for self-preservation.

      The detective switched his attention to Jake. She thought Detective Simpson was fighting a smile. Jake to the rescue. But it was more than that. It was as if the detective had caught them in a falsehood. But she wasn’t rolling over and playing dead yet.

      “No, you’re right, Mr. Silver,” the detective said with emphasis, “not unless the wolf owner takes the wolf within the city limits of some cities, which is illegal. Crestview is not one of those cities. But the wolves have to be fenced in with at least eight-foot-tall fencing. Every access has to be locked to prevent the wolves from escaping.

      “Taking a wolf into a motel room isn’t legal, nor a safe thing to do. If Miss Greiston was afraid for her life and was using the wolf for protection, it wasn’t really a smart idea. Nor was it legal. The wolf could have injured anyone. Since it has bitten someone now, we’ll have to hunt it down and make sure it wasn’t rabid.” He sat taller and turned to Alicia. “So what about this wolf, Miss Greiston?”

      “He wasn’t mine,” she said stubbornly, head held high, voice confident.
***

So you see? Wolf research is extremely important, not only for creating werewolf characters, but for letting the werewolves know what they can and cannot do when it comes to “owning” wolves!

So what would you do if you were in Alicia’s place? Trying to explain how other hotel guests had seen a wolf race out of her room? Take the 5^th? Or square your shoulders and well…what would you say?

Especially if it was YOU who had bitten the man and run from the room?

Terry Spear
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality.”

Here are some ways you can contact Terry:
www.facebook.com/terry.spear
www.terryspear.com
www.myspace.com/terryspear
http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/TerrySpear

DREAMING OF THE WOLF by TERRY SPEAR—IN STORES DECEMBER 2011

About the author:

Award-winning author Terry Spear has written a dozen paranormal romance novels, with over 60,000 copies sold. She received Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year in 2008 for Heart of the Wolf. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry is a librarian by day. She lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.terryspear.com/.

The next book in the Wolf Series is:
A Seal in Wolf's Clothing (bk 9) and its set to release March 2012

Thanks so very much Danielle from Sourcebooks for arranging this guest post for and thank you Terry for taking the time out of your busy writing schedule to do this guest post for me. I truly appreicate all that you do for me and my readers.

Check back later this morning for my review of Dreaming of the Wolf.

The Mailbox Post

The above picture is nothing like what it is here. We literally have no snow on the ground and quite honestly I am perfectly fine with that. If you know me you know I am not a huge winter person and yes I live in Canada. One day I will eventually move somewhere warmer.

I am just looking at the calendar and released that we are literally 14 days from Christmas Eve. Are you ready? I am not. We don't have our tree up yet and that is because next Saturday we are going with friends to chop down our very own tree. I have a few presents bought and still need to work on that as well as my holiday baking. There just doesn't seem to be enough time but I am one of those people that work well under pressure and everything will get done.

So this past week I only got one book in the mail. This is what I got:

I got an ARC copy of First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci from Susan at Waste Paper Prose. If you haven't checked out Susan's blog you should.

Thanks Susan.

This is all I got, what about you?

Montreal Book Bloggers 3rd Meet Up

Today I got to meet up with some Montreal Book Bloggers for our 3rd meet up.

We went to the same restaurant we went to for the 2nd meet up and this time I ended up trying a California Salad with Chicken. Cat from Beyond Books and I were laughing because it seemed like my greens kept expanding and no matter how much I ate it just seemed like there was no end although I think Tina from Bookshipper was putting the greens onto my plate when I wasn't looking. LOL

Here is one of the group photos.

I am going to go left front to back and then right front to back.

Left:
Amanda from Tales and Treats, Natalia from Dazzling Reads, Ilana @ From Smiler with Love, Avis from She Reads And Reads and Tina from Bookshipper.

Right:
Emilie from A Beautiful Madness (I wish I could have talked more to Emilie, next time), Cindy B. from Tynga's Reviews, Lucy from Moonlight Gleam , me and Cat from Beyond Books.

As you can see some were missing and we missed you all and perhaps we will see you at the next meet up.

It was so nice hanging out with everyone and talk. We spoke about NY/BEA and who was going, food, (mainly about glutten etc and I am on a low carb diet due to my high cholesteral), magazines (Clean Eating that Cat had mentioned months ago, I love this magazine) the hockey game that was going on with the Canadiens (we won against the NJ Devils 2-0) and the weather. (It was snowing at one point).

The food was great and I am looking forward to going back again and perhaps trying something different the next time. Of course no meal can be complete without coffee/tea (in my case) and a yummy dessert. Although I think it was only Lucy and I who decided to go with a dessert. We were good and decided to share one and this is what we picked:

It was a chocolate brownie with ice cream. It was so good. Although I think  Tina took a really good picture of Lucy and I with it and is holding it for blackmailing purposes with me LOL How can something like that be bad for you?

Just before everyone left we of course exchanged books because no meet up could be complete without it right?

This is what came home with me:

-First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci (This is actually the copy I bought for the signing that some of the Montreal Book Bloggers were invited to a few weeks ago with Scholastic and Lucy was gracious enough to get it signed for me. Thank You Lucy) and if that wasn't gracious enough of Lucy to do for me, she also gave me two stickers that Cecil signed so that I can put them in two more books I have of Cecil's. Thank you Lucy.
-Poison Study by Maria V. Synder was given to me by Avis. I have been wanting to read this series and I am so happy that I got the first book. Thank You Avis
-31 Dates in 31 Days by Tamara Duricka Johnson was from Laura from Library of Clean Reads. Laura came at the end and it was so nice to see her again. Thanks Laura for the book and the ride home.
-Soulless by Gail Carriger was from Ilana. I have been seeing this series around and hearing good things that I actually want to try it out. Thank You Ilana
-To Walk The Night by E.S. Moore was a R.A.K (random act of kindess) from Cindy B. Thanks so much Cindy. I am actually dying to read this after reading the first chapter. Sounds so good. I know I can't go wrong with Cindy's recommendations. She hasn't steered me wrong yet. :)

Then Cat took out a few books that we ended  up having to have an auction with because quite a few of the bloggers wanted them.  Thankfully no one really wanted these ones so I was able to nab them.

Everytime I go to Chapters I always been pick up the Demon's  Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan but always put it back. So now I finally have it along with The Demon's Lexicon and The Demon's Surrender. This has been another series that I have been wanting to read for awhile now. Thank You Cat.

After leaving the restaurant I was walking with Tina to get the metro (subway) and then the bus home when we walked through Place Bonaventure. If you aren't familiar with Montreal we have a huge under ground system with all kinds of store that link together. Its fantastic because you can get off the metro (subway) and walk undergound without walking the streets and getting cold. Anways when we walked into Place Bonaventure we saw these beautiful decorations.

The lights on the true were so pretty I loved it and the lights hanging looked like water fountains with water coming down it was so pretty. (This is actually the train station)

This wreath was above a store and it was so pretty too. I love it and it actually came out really nice in the photo. While I was in the store we got a call from Lucy saying Laura was there so I left Tina and met up with Laura who was gracious enough to offer me a ride home. Thanks again Laura.

So that was my day. It was so much fun and I am looking forward to the next one which will probably be in the new year.

Happy Holiday ladies.

(video) Do They Know its Christmas?

My First Cover Reveal Post

I have been thinking back over my blogging time and I have to say that I think this is the first time I have been asked to take part in a final cover reveal and I am truly honored. Thank you Derry and Sourcebooks for asking me.

I think this is going to be a huge book for 2012 and I am super excited to have been given an Advance Readers Copy of this book. I am dying to read it.

So here it is my lovely book friends the final cover of Embrace . Isn't it gorgeous?

About the Book:

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. And she will have to make a choice that could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

LINCOLN: He’s been Violet’s one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he was training her for an ancient battle between angels and exiles.

PHOENIX: As an exile, he is not to be trusted, yet he’s the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln’s betrayal. But what is he really after?

Who will she...Embrace?

Not only does it have a beautiful cover but I am thinking I am going to enjoy this and it could very well be one of my favorite books for 2012.

If you are on facebook don't forget to like Embrace the Series.

I am also allowed to share with you the jacket flap description of EMBRACE:

It starts with a whisper.

            “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

If you would like a fuller description of the book, you can find it here:

http://sites.sourcebooks.com/embrace-the-series/about-the-series/embrace-about-the-series.html

Behind the scenes for the Embrace cover shoot:

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

(Review) The Cats in the Doll Shop

Title: The Cats in the Doll Shop
Author: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Illustrator: Heather Maione
Pages: 160
Publisher: Viking (Penguin)
Pub Date: November 2011

Source: I received a finished copy of this book for review from the publisher.

About the book:
When Anna spots a cat in the yard behind her parents' doll shop, she is excited. Then she realizes the cat is about to have kittens-even better! And Anna has something else to look forward to: her cousin Tania is coming from Russia to stay with Anna's family. Anna already has two sisters, but she and Tania are the exact same age-eleven-and she imagines they will get along perfectly. But Tania doesn't respond to Anna's friendly overtures, and her sisters don't seem to like Tania at all. Luckily, Anna finds a creative way to use her love of dolls and cats to bring everyone together.

I have to send out a huge Thank You to Diane for bringing this book to my attention because up until she mentioned it to me I have never heard of it and I am so happy that I got the chance to read it because it was so much fun to read. I am actually going to pass this book on to my son's school library as I am sure the kids would love this story.
I haven't read the companion book The Doll Shop Downstairs  yet but I am going to after reading this one.

I am always a little hesitant about reading a second book or a companion book when I haven't read the first one because sometimes characters have been introduced or things have happened and the story continues but I have to say not this one. This can actually read as a stand alone and I really enjoyed it. I think the middle graders would too.

Anna's family (Mama and Papa) own a doll shop (in New York City) where they make dolls that they sell to all kinds of stores (F.A.O Schwarz). Anna lives with her two sisters (Sophie and Trudie) in an apartment above the doll shop. She is a middle child.

In the beginning of the book the girls discover that their cousin Tania will be coming from Russia to stay with them for a year until their aunt can get anough money together to join her daughter. This is the first time they have met her and they are excited. Anna has imagined all kinds of things about Tania and is hoping that since they both are the same age that they will bond but once Tania gets here things aren't like they were imagined.

Now if having a stranger coming to visit who couldn't speak english wasn't enough excitement lets throw in a stray cat that Anna spotted across the yard. This is just any stray cat but a stray cat ready to give birth anytime soon. The girls decide they have to take care of it especially after what they witness a neighbor doing. Thankfully their dad steps in and allows the girls to give it scraps but nothing else. They are from the old country and they didn't have pets.

I loved how having a mouse in the house changed Tania because she bonded with the cat because the father allowed the cat to come in so that she could catch it or at least that is what we think happened.

I love reading stories that happen in New York City because it brings back so many great memories of my trip there and when Yona wrote about Ellis Island and when you came in from the boat you went right there before coming into the US. Having visited Ellis Island I can only imagine what it must have felt like to have been traveling weeks, months to finally hit land and see this amazing skyline in front of you and wondering what your future would hold.

Yona did a fantastic job because the story takes place during the Cold War and I can only image what it must have felt for Tania to be coming to a new place on her own and staying with strangers.

I also enjoyed the glossary of terms at the back of the book because there was a few Jewish words I didn't know and to have them close by was nice.

Thanks to Diane once again for bringing this book to my attention and to Viking for sending it my way.

(Guest Post) Yona Zeldis McDonough

Title: Cats In The Doll Shop (book 2)
Author: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: November 2011
Pages: 144

About The Boook:
Young readers joined nine-year-old Anna as she helped turn her family’s doll repair shop into a doll-making shop. Now, Anna finds herself in an all-new adventure in The Cats in the Doll Shop. In this “quiet treasure” (Kirkus), World War I is still raging, and Anna’s cousin Tania leaves Russia to live with her family in New York City. Anna is so excited for Tania to arrive and be her new best friend. When her cousin finally moves in, Anna quickly discovers that Tania doesn’t respond to her friendly gestures and her sisters don’t seem to like her at all. Luckily, Anna finds a creative way to use her love of dolls and cats to bring everyone together. Inspired by her own experience with an injured kitten many years ago, Yona Zeldis McDonough offers a gentle story rich with history, family, and love. The Cats in the Doll Shop is a story that will be a favorite of readers for generations to come.

Today I am honored to have Yona Zeldis McDonough, the author of The Doll Shop Downstairs (book 1) and The Cats In The Doll Shop (her latest book) stop by to share with us her holiday guest post. Thanks so much Yona for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this for me and my readers. Happy Holidays.

We didn’t “do” holidays when I was a child. No Christmas (well, we were Jewish) but no Chanukah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah either. I grew up bereft in this regard, resigned to wishing for the sort of large-scale family celebrations that never, alas, were ours. As an adult, I’ve finally got the holiday thing down pat: I married a Catholic and so feel that along with his name, I’ve assumed his holidays too and I “do” Christmas in an over-the-top festive fashion worthy of anyone who’s grown up in the tradition.

But here’s a funny thing: in my writing, I am and remain stubbornly Jewish, a fact that is made particularly evident in my fiction for children, which tends to revolve around Jewish themes, characters, locales and yes, Jewish holidays.

In my most recent book, THE CATS IN THE DOLL SHOP, I have a scene in which the Breittlemanns and their friends celebrate Rosh Hashanah with a traditional meal, music and song. And here is how the family celebrates Chanukah:

We light candles in menorah at sundown, and the smell of Mama’s crispy brown latkes and cinnamon-laced applesauce is in the air. There are small gifts for us to share, too, like a bag of almonds, and orange and, best of all, pieces of chocolate Chanukah gelt, wrapped in shining gold foil.

We use the gelt as part of the game we play with the wooden dreidel that always comes out of the cupboard on holiday. It’s a game of chance that involves winning and losing the chocolate coins. First Sophie is winning, then Trudie and finally Tania. But when we are done, we divide up the gelt again, so everyone gets the same number of pieces. I eat of mine right away but decide to save the rest. I’ll be glad I have some left for tomorrow.

Later, Papa comes in to say good night. He sits down on Trudie’s bed and starts telling us the story of Chanukah...A long, long time ago, Papa begins, the holy temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the eternal flame was in danger of going out...As Papa talks, my mind drifts. Maybe there is room for a little miracle in our lives. Maybe Plucky will come back, safe and unharmed, and Papa will let him stay. Now wouldn’t that be a miracle? I cannot help wishing.

It’s all there: the menorah, the latkes, the dreidel, the gelt, the story of the lamp that burned for eight nights even though there was only enough oil for one. I seem to gravitate back to these rituals, giving myself in fiction what I was denied in fact. I’ve read that writing is a form of redemption, and that through writing, we can restore what has been lost, or in my case, never been. And as the holidays come around again, I know that this is true. I am grateful for the chance to recreate once more the life I had longed to live.

Thanks again Yona. I loved your guest post and how even though you are doing things differently you have stuck to your roots.

Check back tomorrow for my review on The Cats in the Doll Shop.

2011 Advent Tour

As you can see I am one of the participates in the 2011 Advent Tour. This is my first year taking part and I have to say that when I first started blogging I saw this and every year I always meant to take part but for some reason or another it didn't happen until this year.

When I first signed up for this I was wondered what I was going to talk about without having a repeating posting topic going around the blogosphere and honestly its was hard because it seemed like I was on the same wave length as so many book bloggers and thinking of the same things they were.

Growing up we didn't have alot of money because my dad was a seasonal worker (construction) and that meant money was usually tight come the holidays. As it is with so many households then and now.

One of the things I always  swore to was that I would always make sure Christmas was special in my house and that I would do things with my child that I never got to experience with my own parents. Those are the true memories of Christmas and making new memories and traditions.

Traditions that have been passed down are:

• a complete Christmas dinner (turkey and all the trimmings)
• a bowl that contained huge oranges and apples (every person got an apple and orange)
• getting socks and undewear
• getting to open one small present Christmas Eve
• a stocking filled with little goodies
• advent calendars

For the past two years this has been Michael's advent calendar. He has tried the chocolate ones and he never liked them and they would always be wasted so when we discovered that Lego was doing an advent calendar we started to pick them up. He loves doing them and each year is different.

New traditons that we have started:

• putting up the Christmas tree the second weekend of December. Growing up my parents always put up the tree up on December 1st so my birthday (the 5th) was always included in with Christmas. So when I moved out of home I always made it a point to do it after my birthday and to this day I still do it.
• decorating the tree as a family. Growing up my father always did it and we weren't allowed to help.
• When Michael was born I started him on his very own ornaments. So every year he gets a new one and after Christmas its all wrapped up and put in a bin so that one day when (and if) he leaves home he will have his own very special ornaments.
• new pjs for everyone. Nothing nicer then having a pair of new jammies on Christmas eve.
• seeing Santa. I try to make it a point to take Michael to see Santa. Currently to my knowledge he still believes and I just love seeing his face light up on Christmas day.
• a new outfit for Christmas day. For me is usually ends up being a nice new top.
• holiday baking with Michael. This is something my mother never did with us and I always said when I have kids I want them to be able to do this instead of just watching.

Holiday Baking:

I usually don't do alot of holiday baking but some of the things I always tend to make is cookies, peach fruit cake and fudge. I try to keep things simple when it comes to baking so that I can get Michael involved.

Over the course of the holiday season I will share some of my favorite holiday recipes with you.
Be sure to check out the other daily tour stops. This is who is touring with me today:
raidergirl3 @ an adventure in reading

*Vanessa @ A Journey Through My Music Collection

Sara @ Make Music from Your Heart...

*Carol @ Better is Possible