Tag Archives: giveaways

Reading

If you’re looking for a good book to read at the beach …

"Aloha Also Means Goodbye"I’m sure we’ve all met a number of people who say someday they’d like to write a book. I am one of those people, in fact. But I’m guessing the number of people who actually do write a book is only a small percentage of those who are dreaming about doing it.

The difference between the authors and the dreams? The authors are actually writing and not just thinking about it.

I met Jessica Rosenberg a few years ago at a social media conference, and we talked a little bit about the book she was writing. Actually writing; not just thinking about writing. And she kept at it and kept at it until she finished. And then what did she do? She published it!

And so I read it! In all honesty, though, I probably wouldn’t have picked “Aloha Also Means Goodbye” up if I didn’t know the author because it’s filed under “romance” and I don’t generally read romance novels. The book is definitely heavy on the lovey-dovey stuff, but with the secondary plots that explore relationships between friends and family members and coming to terms with one’s individual issues, there’s enough going on to hold a non-romance reader’s attention.

Here’s the synopsis from Amazon:

Jo and Jordan tied the knot five years ago in a mud hut in the middle of Zambia far from all their friends and family. Now they’re in Hawaii for a big wedding vow renewal ceremony elaborately planned by Jo’s mother. There’s just one small issue, something’s wrong with the wedding license issued in Africa and only Jo knows that she wasn’t legally married in Zambia. Enter her old flame, the man she was running from when she met Jordan. He’s on the island and with his two kids, both of whom are named after her. Coming face to face with her past, just as she’s trying to brave her future, forces Jo to make some big decisions. It might even force her to grow up. Luckily she doesn’t have to do any of it on her own; her two best friends are there to hold her hand and help her down the right path. But what path will she choose?

Want to read it? “Aloha Also Means Goodbye” is available at Amazon. And it’s also available right here, because I have a copy to give away! Fill out the ol’ Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

National Blog Posting Month, reviews

How I became a girl who wears boots to run all the errands

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“Buy a great pair of boots” has been on my mighty list for a good long time now. I’ve bought a few pair of boots since it’s been on there, but they haven’t been great boots. They didn’t fit quite right, maybe, or they weren’t quite as lovely as I wanted them to be. But they were OK, and they were not expensive, so I bought them. And I didn’t love them, and most of them made my feet hurt.

So why did I buy them? Because I am cheap and optimistic, I guess.

I’ve recently learned, though, that cheap and optimistic aren’t a good combination when it comes to acquiring a great pair of boots. Optimistic on its own is fine, but you have to be willing to spend some money.

Unless Country Outfitter asks you to review a pair of boots, in which case you feel like the luckiest girl in the world. And then you immediately start browsing the boots. I love the Old Gringo Sora boot and the Dan Post Blue Birds, but I ended up choosing a pair of Ariat boots called the Heritage X Toes.

And then I sat back and waited.

Last Monday was a busy one for me. We had co-op, Odyssey of the Mind and a few errands to do, so we got home a few hours later than usual. And guess what was waiting on the front porch for me? Boots! I opened the box and put them on immediately. And then I wore them around the house for the rest of the day. And I wore them throughout the next day, too!

I need to vacuum the car. Also, I was in the driveway for both of these pictures. No driving while trying to take pictures of yourself driving, kids!

Things my Ariat boots from Country Outfitter and I did last week

  • Dragged the trash and recycling bins into the garage from the cold, rainy driveway.
  • Washed the dishes a few times.
  • Made tuna-macaroni-peas salad. (Surely there’s an official name for this, but my boots and I don’t know what it is.)
  • Played Zelda and PacMan with Pete.
  • Took Poppy to a playdate; it was my boots’ first time driving.
  • Went to church.
  • Bought groceries.
  • Strolled through nearly every aisle of Toys ‘R’ Us.
  • Took pictures for this year’s Christmas card.

    • That’s a lot of boot-wearing, and I am so pleased to tell you that my Ariats and I are still happy together. Thrilled, even. They’re nearly as comfortable as my sneakers, and they’re one million times more attractive.

    They make me feel great.

    I want you to feel great, too, and so does Country Outfitter. So I’m giving I gave away a Country Outfitter gift card for $150! Yay!

    And the winner is …

    Butterscotch Sundae friend April! Congratulations, April!

    How to enter
    You must (must!) click this link and enter your email address to enter. For a bonus entry, please leave a comment on this post letting me know which Country Outfitter boots you’ll order if you win. Good luck! This giveaway has closed.

    Disclaimers & small print: Country Outfitter sent me a pair of Ariat Heritage X Toe boots in Vintage Caramel to review. After you give them your email address, Country Outfitter will occasionally send you marketing messages, which you may opt out of at any time. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents age 18 and older, and it closes on November 30, 2012.