Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name by Timothy Battle - Review & Giveaway

"Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name" by Timothy Battle is the true story about the rescue and adoption of Linus from a local Humane Society shelter.  'There it was in big letters for all to see: Recommendation: Adopt.' He really was a nice, special male cat, and he knew soon he would be leaving this small cage for a large, comfortable house with his real name.' A stray cat temporarily named Linus is living in a cat adoption center dreaming of the day someone will take him home.  Join Linus in his story, told by his loving pet parent, of rejection, adoption, and knowing that your day to head to your forever home will come.


With my home full of adopted animals, and knowing that I would take more if I only had the time, Mr. Bo's story reminded me of the adoption of my oldest cat, Bailey, now 14.  If Bailey were telling his story, it might be very similar to Mr. Bo's story!  "Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name" is such a sweet tale of rescue and adoption!  If you've ever adopted a pet or had one show up on your doorstep refusing to leave, you'll understand that they pick you!


"Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name" can be purchased at Mr. Bo Books and Amazon [Tate Publishing (ISBN 978-1-60696-938-0)].  Read more about Mr. Bo and find out if Timothy Battle and Mr. Bo will be coming to a bookstore near you soon on their webpage or facebook page!  For a limited time, you can order personalized autographed copies through the author's webpage!



Timothy Battle has provided me with an extra signed copy to give away to one lucky reader!  You won't want to miss this book for the kids in your life, the cat lovers or even those considering adopting a pet!  This is truly a heartwarming story!

Win It - Giveaway Details!

One lucky reader will win a signed copy of "Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name"!  This giveaway is open to US only and will end on March 18th at 10:00PM Central.  I'll email the winner who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

Mandatory Entry!

Let me know if you've adopted or rescued or been the lucky recipient of a front door friend that decides they are staying and who the book is for!  Please leave an email so I know how to contact you!

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Disclosure:  I received a complimentary signed copy of this book from  Mr. Bo Books through Family Review Network for review in exchange for my honest opinions.  No additional compensation was received.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul - Christmas Magic : Book Review & Giveaway

About Chicken Soup for the Soul - Christmas Magic:

In his foreword for the book, Santa Claus writes about how he and Mrs. Claus observe the festivities from the North Pole. He says, "We watch as you reunite scattered family members, enjoy the wonder on the face of a child, feel the joy of gift giving, and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We watch you gather with your communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days."

Sometimes the Christmas memories we end up treasuring the most have nothing to do with buying gifts or enjoying holiday luxuries. Christmas is a magical time of year -- a time of family, friends, and traditions -- and a time for great stories, whether they are funny or heartwarming. All the joys, blessings, and excitement of the season are captured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic (ISBN 978-1935096542, $14.95), with its 101 new holiday stories covering everything from finding the perfect Christmas tree, being with family, and seeing the wonder in a child's eyes, to goodwill, love, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Our thoughts on Chicken Soup for the Soul - Christmas Magic:

Who doesn't love Christmas?  As we pack up the decorations this year, it's the pictures and memories that remain!  We think about the laughs, the time spent with family and friends, and the moments that can never be replaced.  This book is great at reminding us about the true meaning of Christmas and you don't need to read it just at Christmas, although you could always tuck it back for next year!  Whether you need a good laugh or are ready for a story that might bring tears to your eyes, each short story is written to capture the Christmas Season!

Win It - Giveaways Details!

Three winners will receive a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul - Christmas Magic!  This giveaway is open to US & Canada will end on January 22nd at 10:00PM Central.  I'll email the winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

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Disclosure:  I received a copy of of this book for review in exchange for my honest opinion.  No additional compensation was received.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul - Think Positive : Book Review & Giveaway

Chicken Soup for the Soul - Think Positive is 101 true stories about how positive thinking can change your life!  With its 101 stories of optimism, faith, and strength, this book will encourage you to stay positive during challenging times and in your everyday life. Real-life stories from people, taking a positive attitude to the ups and downs of life, and remembering to be grateful and count their blessings. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope and its stories remind us that each day holds something to be thankful for. A great start to the New Year!

As with the many Chicken Soup for the Soul books, it's always a great reminder that we can use positive thinking to adjust and improve our lives.  Moving into the new year, this book is a great reminder that we should be counting our blessings and changing our outlook for the better because we should all be making every day a special day!  I loved the stories in this book and even on the rough days, this book is a great book to grab and remind yourself to think positive because there is probably a silver lining in the situation even if at first you don't see it!  My favorite quote in the book is, " Positive anything is better than negative thinking."  from Elbert Hubbard.  I truly believe that if you can be positive good things will happen, but sometimes we all need a few reminders!

Buy It!

You can purchase Chicken Soup for the Soul - Think Positive in bookstores, directly from Chicken Soup from the Soul or purchase from Amazon!

Win It - Giveaways Details!

Two winners will receive a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul - Think Positive!  This giveaway is open to US & Canada will end on January 10th at 10:00PM Central.  I'll email the winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

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Disclosure:  I received a copy of of this book for review in exchange for my honest opinion.  No additional compensation was received.

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A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday by Tina Barseghian - Review!

A HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday by Tina Barseghian includes many great ideas for quick and festive decorations and gifts this holiday season and for years to come!

I made the snow globes but of course added my own innovations even though I tried to follow the directions in the book. I like the idea of making your own safe version because you can personalize them.  The first step was gathering the supplies: deciding on and finding the right container is basic to success: baby food rarely comes in glass screw top jars now and are thus hard to find. I decided to use short wide mouth glass canning jars which give you more options in the size and shape of decorative items to include. I have since emptied other glass jars that will work for future projects but I like the nostalgic look of the canning jars.  I had to keep reminding myself that the contents had to be waterproof because they will be in water for a long time. This limits what you choose to include in your design.  I also recommend allowing plenty of time (24 - 48 hours) after each application of glue. Depending on the complexity of the design this might be several steps and several hours. (one complete, one still a work in progress)

I followed the books's directions on adding water and glitter. I considered egg shells but like the extra "bling" that glitter provides. I used silver and white so that they would fall at different rates and prolong the show and it worked. Some other sources recommend adding something like glycerin or liquid soap to keep the glitter or snow in suspension longer but that wasn't necessary.  I did not use the lid as the bottom of the "snow globe" as directed in this book. I wanted the globes to last longer without rusting or leaking, so the lid is my top!  I would consider experimenting with sealable plastic containers the next time when making globes with or for young children. Snow globes are an interactive experience and I'm sure my kids will find a way to break these at some point...it's just bound to happen!  I think they turned out really cute though!

There were several projects that caught my interest. Many are very quick and even one would add a special personal touch to your home, holiday celebrations or gift giving. The Knit a hat project in the book is a quick easy project for even the beginner.   The Make your own Christmas stocking ideas in the book are great inspiration for making your own stocking or alternative shapes and many don't require sewing or special skills such as knitting or embroidery. Many seem to be quick and easy so there is still time to personalize a stocking for your self or someone else. I decided to reuse materials that I have on hand. I am set to cut up an old well worn favorite jacket and turn the fabric into something that I can enjoy for Christmases to come.

This is definitely a Christmas project book with ideas for simple projects that can be made, many with your kids help.  You may have seen some of the ideas before, and some may just not make sense for your home (like making a ladder into a Christmas tree) but this book has some great projects for those just getting started in crafts or trying something new.  Many projects can be made with items you probably already have on hand!

Buy It!

You can purchase A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday on Amazon for $10.17 or in your local book reseller for $14.95!

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Book Review & Giveaway: Fire Up Your Metabolism & The Secret to Skinny by the Nutrition Twins - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended!

I always shudder at the thought of another fad diet, but am always willing to take a few moments and read through a new book on diet and exercise, think about trying out a new plan if it looks like it is credible, and then spending a little more time researching any diet and exercise program before getting started to see if it's a good fit for me!  I've done the yo-yo dieting in the past, and I'm not looking for that now so I'm trying to take it slowly!

When I was given the opportunity to review Fire Up Your Metabolism and the Secret to Skinny by Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., and Tammy Lakatos, R.D., I was hesitant to say the least!  I've read so many books over the years that really weren't suitable for the average human being with a job, kids, and house but that really isn't the case with these two books!  I'm looking forward to implementing many of the recommendations once I'm back to 100%!

Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever by the Nutrition Twins provides sound nutritional advice about focusing on portion control, what the "right" foods to eat are without being too aggressive, and includes exercises that will increase your energy levels under realistic goals!  I would have loved illustrations for some of the exercises included, but appreciate that the authors were realistic and included exercises for the gym or at home and were perfectly happy with a walk around the neighborhood too!  The book was easy to read and understand and isn't fad dieting, but rather staying within recommended daily intakes and how to understand what that really looks like!  I can't wait to implement these strategies coupled with those in The Secret to Skinny once I'm fully recovered from my gall bladder surgery!

The Secret to Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat, and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size and Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps is the second book by the Nutrition Twins (Tammy Lakatos Shames, R.D., and Lyssie Lakatos, R.D.) and will open your eyes to the levels of sodium in the foods you eat everyday (at least I know it did for me)!  I read labels and count calories, but sodium was the one place that I never really paid much attention to in my own diet!  I watch the labels for my kids and will never purchase pre-packaged foods with high-sodium content for them, but never really thought about how much it could be impacting me!  I love the humor that's included in the discussions throughout the book and the twins teach you how to swap your favorite foods for lower sodium alternatives that you'll soon learn to love just as much!  There are also some great recipes included in this book, as well as, fitness tips!  As with the first book, I love how the authors first focus on your diet then add in the exercise to really gain a new healthier self!

If you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off, these books should definitely be ones you seek out!  They don't talk about fad diets but encourage you to learn how to take care of yourself and in turn reap the benefits!  Like I said earlier, I can't wait to start implementing some of these recommendations into my weight loss journey!

Buy It!

You can purchase both books on Amazon or at your local bookstore!

Fire Up Your Metabolism:  ISBN-10: 0743245482, Published: 2-3-04 ($14.00 list price)

The Secret to Skinny:  ISBN-10: 0757313515, Published: 9-1-09 ($15.95 list price)

Win It - Giveaway Details!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Secret to Skinny!  This giveaway will end on October 25th at 10:00PM Central!  I'll email the winner who will have 48-hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!  (US Only)

Mandatory Entry!

Visit the Nutrition Twins Tips and let me know something you learned that might help you in your weight loss goals!

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Disclosure:  I received the products mentioned above for the purposes of review in exchange for an honest opinion.  No additional compensation was received.

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Book Review & Giveaway: Tracy Anderson's 30-day Method - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended!  Thanks for visiting!

Any chance I get to review a book about weight loss that promises new methods for achieving goals, I'll jump at!  I received Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method: The Weight-Loss Kick-Start that Makes Perfection Possible for review and I think there are some really great points in the book but it definitely isn't the ideal solution for everyone!

From the press release:
Based on ten years of scientific research and experience getting not just herself, but A-list stars and everyday people, red carpet ready, Anderson has developed a unique 30-day diet and workout routine that reshapes the body and defies genetics to tone the muscles and drop the pounds. While most people incorrectly target their major muscle groups, like the bicep or hamstring, the focus should be on the smaller accessory muscles that can create a long, lean, balanced look--instead of bulked up look. Anderson's program is composed of a groundbreaking three-tiered approach, including a mat workout and cardio routine targeting the all-important accessory muscles, and an exclusive 30-day meal plan, complete with dozens of delicious recipes.  This comprehensive kick-start program is unlike any other workout on the market and it leaves no chance for anything but terrific, fast results!

My thoughts:
I loved some of the ideas in the book and I can see why this plan works for those that are looking to achieve perfection.  In my opinion this book is for those that want to lose those last 10-pounds and just haven't had luck!  I like the exercise routines, but I get bored easily with exercise so I don't know that I could keep these routines up for a full 30-days for the 45 minutes to 1.5 hours that are required per day....I just don't have that much time (working full-time plus two toddlers - not gonna happen) and with exercise restrictions from my doctor, it just doesn't work for me!  If you add in the meal preparations, you are looking at devoting 1-3 hours per day (minimum) on achieving your ultimate goal weight (just a warning)!  If you're looking to lose weight, find a new routine to help you get to your final target weight, and have plenty of time to devote to it, then this book is ideal for you!  I think there are many people that would be a perfect fit for this book, but for those that work full-time, have young kids, and can't remember the last time they slept more than 5 hours in a night, this book probably isn't meant for you!

Buy It!

You can purchase Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method: The Weight-Loss Kick-Start that Makes Perfection Possible at Amazon today and at many major bookstores!

Win It - Giveaway Details!

Want to see if Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method will work for you?  Two will win a copy of the book!  This giveaway will end on October 21st at 10:00PM.  I'll email the winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!  (US&Canada Only)

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Tweet:  Win TracyAnderson's30-day MethodBook @monkeyswashtub http://goo.gl/fb/hmeLK !Ends 10/21!

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Disclosure: I received a copy of the book mentioned above for review in exchange for my honest review and opinion. No additional compensation was received!  The opinions represented above are mine and may differ from others!

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Book Review: God and Dog by Wendy Francisco

Through humorous illustrations and simple text, Wendy Francicso has captured the feelings of many dog owners and put them into words.  God and Dog is a tribute to the unconditional love dogs give us and also a prayer of thanksgiving to God for dogs. This is truly meant as a gift book for dog lover's, whimsical and a great reminder of the value of dog's in our everyday lives (well if you're a dog parent for sure)!  This book is suitable for any age, young children will enjoy the illustrations and simple text, while adults will cherish the message of companionship!

God and Dog initially started as a YouTube phenomenon, a song with an animated story with over 2.5 million views to date and now you can share this wonderful animated song in book form with your dog-loving friends and family.

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Hachette Book Group.  I was not required to post a positive review.  The thoughts and opinions are mine and no additional compensation was received.

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Review: Katie Up and Down the Hall by Glenn Plaskin

Katie Up and Down the Hall is a distinctly sentimental and touching memoir by celebrity journalist and best-selling author Glenn Plaskin about how his first dog, a blonde Cocker Spaniel, turned a hallway of New York City neighbors into a family. The story spans the fifteen years Plaskin and Katie lived together in Plaskin's Battery City apartment. Katie charms their elderly neighbors Pearl and Arthur, Plaskin's friend and neighbor John and his son Ryan, and many of the celebrities Plaskin interviews as part of his job—such as Leona Helmsley, Peter Jennings, and Katherine Hepburn.

Katie's antics are both charming and likely familiar to many dog owners. Her story illustrates how sometimes the most important people in our lives arrive there both unexpected and completely by accident.  Katie experiences both the mundane and surprising of Plaskin's everyday life and she has a front row seat for the extraordinary and saddening events of 9/11. Her death mirrors the inevitable losses of beloved pets and people in our lives that we all experience.

Katie Up and Down the Hall is a sweet book about a man, his dog, and a family created by choice with a smattering of encounters with familiar celebrities. Glenn Plaskin is a skilled memoir writer which makes
what could be just another dog book an enjoyable read.  Read more about this story on Facebook and on the book's website!

Katie Up and Down the Hall: The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family by Glenn Plaskin
Hardcover: 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1599952548
ISBN-13: 978-159995-254-3

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of Katie Up and Down the Hall from Hachette Book Group for review in exchange for my honest opinion.  No additional compensation was provided.  The views presented are mine and may differ from others.

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Review: A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker

A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker is a padded hard-cover book with board book pages making it easy for small hands to hold and turn pages.  The prayer, written in rhyme, thanks God for all the people, animals, and places in the Christmas story - Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, the donkey, the manger, the shepherds, the star, and of course, Jesus.   With two young boys (ages 2 & 4), this story is just perfect for their age group and possibly up through age 6!  A Christmas Prayer is a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and helps reemphasize that Christmas is not only about the gifts under the tree but about the true Gift of Christmas and the reason we are celebrating.

The illustrations were very subtle of a small child gathering household objects, like dolls and a rocking horse, to re-create the characters in the nativity.  I would have liked brighter colors but it makes this a perfect nighttime story that will make every parent and child want to snuggle up by the tree and offer a prayer of thanks to God for His many Christmas blessings!  As the child offers thanks and prayers on Christmas Eve, it will offer you, as a parent, the opportunity to expand on the story of Christmas with your own children so this is a perfect book without being overly religious.   A Christmas Prayer is a simple reminder of the true meaning of Christmas from a child's perspective.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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