I Love to Crochet

Crocheting is something I really loved to do. It's really relaxing and helps me deal with the daily pain I go through day after day from living with lupus. I've tried teaching my daughter how to crochet, but she doesn't have the patience right now. I hope she will in the future. In my closet you'll find a big bag of yarn. Some of the yarn I've had for over 7 years even though I wasn't crocheting for a while. Since reading an article about crocheting helping with fibromyalgia pain I’ve started crocheting up a storm. I've created several projects with the yarn and even bought a few skeins including my first ball of cotton yarn, which I loved. I'd love to try different textures of yarn like the Alpaca yarn from Alpaca Fleece sometime. I love to feel the different yarn textures.

What To Expect Giveaway/Review (2 WINNERS) END 2/15/12

The fine people over at What To Expect series by contacted me about sending a set of their books to me. I received all three of the What To Expect books. The three books cover the entire pregnancy until the child is twenty four months old.  

The first book is the What To Expect when Your Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. It’s a complete book that covers pregnancy to giving birth to the baby to postpartum issues. Each chapter explains how your body changes during pregnancy and how your baby develops inside the uterus. 

The book answers real questions pregnant women ask such as:  normal pregnancy, carrying multiples, high risk pregnancy, and more.  The book is a great asset for anyone pregnan or their partner, especially for a pregnant teenager.

The Second book is What to Expect The First Year by Heidi Murkoff , Sharon Mazel, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N.  Each chapter talks about a different month of raising a baby in the first year.  The first chapter talks about getting ready for baby which explains things you’ll need to be prepared for bringing a baby home from the hospital, which explains things you’ll need to know before bringing the baby home from the hospital.  In the back of the book you’ll find first aid do’s and don’ts.

The Third book is What to Expect The Second Year by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. This book covers from twelve months to twenty four months.  It covers all the changes in the second year from the changes from being a baby into a toddler. The book explains the behaviors, feeding, and more in the toddler years. In the book is a section about keeping your toddler healthy

All of the books are a definite asset for any pregnant woman and  an expect father. They would make an excellent baby shower gift.

Giveaway Items:

What to Expect is giving away ALL 3 of the What To Expect Books to 2 lucky readers of A Mom's Choice.  
                                       
Mandatory Entry:

Like What to Expect on Facebook  and leave a message on the wall that A Mom’s Choice sent you.

Optional Entries:  (1 comment per entry)

• Like A Mom's Choice on Facebook and leave me a message on the wall. (2 Entries)
• Follow What to Expect on Twitter  and tweet    A Mom’s Choice is having a giveaway for the What to Expect Books http://tinyurl.com/8966l3n
   @amomschoice @ WhatToExpect    (2 tweets per day) (2 Entries)

• Share with StumbleUpon,  FACEBOOK, Google+ etc... (2 times per day) leave user name/link (2 entries)
• Subscribe to my blog by email (in left sidebar) (3 entries)
• Put my button on your sidebar (2 entires)
• Leave a comment on another post (1 extra entry)
• Advertise my giveaway on a giveaway linky or list (leave me the link)(2 entries)
• Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post (4 entries)

 GIVEAWAY Ends 2/15/12

 Disclosure: Review product was provided to me. No other compensation was received. Opinions expressed above were all my own, and were not influenced in any way.

(A comment per entry- 1 entry=1 comment 2 entries=2 comments) Winner will have 72 hours to respond to my email once winner is announced. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Open to US resident only. If I don't have an email I cannot contact you.

Giveaway:Collectible PetCakes Plush Ends 12/15/11

Do your kids love plush animals and cupcakes? If they do they’ll love the PetCakes Collectibles from WellMade toys. They’re plush animals your kids can take in and out of the cupcake bases unlike the original PetCakes that were attached.  The PetCakes I received were Nutty Nicky and Roco Coco. 

The two PetCakes I received are adorable. They are well made and are enjoyable for both kids and adults.  The collection is great for collecting just like beanie babies and baseball cards.
The  PetCakes are safe with little ones since it doesn’t have any removable buttons. 

WellMade Toys is offering several specials for the holiday season. 

• When you place a multiple order for PetCakes® plush toys you pay $6.99 shipping/handling for the 1^st. PetCake® and each additional is only $1.99 shipping and handling

• Buy (4) or more Petcakes® Collectibles plush toys and receive the PetCakes® Collectibles Minis - 4 pack FREE you only have to pay an additional $1.99 shipping/handling 

Mandatory Entry:
Be a GFC follower of my blog AND   Like PetCakes on Facebook
(Please  leave your Email)
(A comment per entry- 1 entry=1 comment 2 entries=2 comments)

Extra Entries:

• Visit PetCakes and tell which one is your favorite of the pack. (2 entries)
• Like A Mom's Choice on Facebook (2 entries)
• Follow A Mom's Choice on Twitter (I need twitter ID.) (2 entires)

• Tweet about the giveaway- You may use- I entered  #giveaway for 1 Collectible Pet Cake  @ amomschoice  @PetCakesToys   Ends 12/15/11    (leave link to tweet) (2 entries)

• Share with StumbleUpon, Google+ etc... (2 times per day) leave user name/link (2 entries)
  
•  Subscribe to my blog by email (in left sidebar) (3 entries)
• Put my button on your sidebar (2 entires)
• Leave a comment on another post (1 extra entry)
• Advertise my giveaway on a giveaway linky or list (leave me the link)(2 entries)
• Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post (4 entries)

Disclosure: Review product was provided to me. No other compensation was received. Opinions expressed above were all my own, and were not influenced in any way.
(A comment per entry- 1 entry=1 comment 2 entries=2 comments) Winner will have 72 hours to respond to my email once winner is announced. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Open to US resident only. If I don't have an email I cannot contact you.

Book Review: Fiction Boot Camp

Fiction Boot Camp is one of the best writing books I’ve read. Inside the book, I found chapter after chapter of thought provoking questions and advice.  The book is a lot like a workbook for writers. 

As a writer, I think the questions are helpful to engage the reader with chapter after chapter of interesting material. The book helped me see the areas I need to tighten up in each chapter. The book makes the writer’s job easier by asking the questions in black and white. The questions are one way a writer can explore their novel during the editing process. 

The book is divided into two sections: Make Your Manuscript Irresistible and Advice from Publishing Insider. Each chapter of the book explores the different areas where writers struggle.

In the first section of the book, you’ll have chapters after chapter of exercises for both beginner and seasoned writers. At the end of the chapters you’ll find questions to answer for homework.

The second section contains advice and interview questions from several authors.  The authors offer tips to help with the writing process. The writers can learn to succeed in publishing and show areas to avoid in writing. 

One of the questions that have helped me a lot is: 

“Are there any parts that are hard to visualize? Mark them.”

I noticed I needed to show more than tell in multiple areas or show too much. 

I printed out several sections of the book to explore different areas of my writing. Each section of the book has helped me know the areas I need to work on throughout my book.  Any writer could benefit from Fiction Boot Camp. 

To get your own copy of Fiction Boot Camp: Click here to view more details

Disclosure: Review book was provided to me. Opinions expressed above were all my own, and were not influenced in any way. If a book is purchased I do receive compensation for book purchases.

Giveaway Winner: Van Ness Pet Food Container

Lesley Mitchell is the winner of the Van Ness Pet Food Container with scoop