Second Hand Saturday With Reading Teen

The lovely folks at Reading Teen have started a weekly giveaway where they are taking books off their own shelf to give to their wonderful followers. Every Saturday they will post the books available and specific challenge to complete. The following Saturday, they will announce the winner and the next challenge. The winner will get a choice from their book as their prize! To enter and win, you must be follower and complete the mandatory challenge. This week I’ve decided to link up them and offer one of my fabulous readers a chance to win a book, as well. I was going to have a yard sale, but this is more fun! Below is a list of books I’m giving away. If you click on the title, it will take you to an Amazon.com page that has the book’s description.

Books Available

Vanished by Kathryn Mackel

The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

Leave a Candle Burning by Lori Wick

The Breaking Point by Karen Ball

Be Sweet by Diann Hunt

The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth

Where Heaven Begins by Rosanne Bittner

The challenge this week is to leave a comment telling me your two of your summer must-reads. This is a mandatory entry. Once this entry is complete, you can use any or all of the following bonus entries: Become a follower, Follow me on Twitter(leave username), Tweet about this giveaway(leave link), enter another one of my giveaways (one entry for each giveaway). Please leave one comment for each entry and include your email address so I can contact the winner. Good Luck and Happy Reading!

Update:  Radom.org picked Tara as our lucky winner for last week's giveaway.  Tara has already emailed me back and her choice was Vanished.

Recipe Corner: Black Forest Cake

After a lot of debate, I finally decided to try a new recipe for my dad’s birthday cake today. It sounds absolutely delicious, but I will leave a comment tomorrow after we’ve tasted it and let you know what everyone thought. If you decide to make it, enjoy!!

Ingredients

1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Cherry Flavor Gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
2/3 cup Sour Cream
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) Whipped Topping, thawed
1/3 cup drained maraschino cherries, divided
1 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Directions

 - Prepare and bake cake mix in two 8- or 9-inch round layers as directed on package. Run knife or metal spatula around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Cool in pans 15 min.

 - Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mix at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add cold water. Pierce cakes with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals. Carefully pour half of the gelatin mixture over each cake layer. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

 - Mix sour cream and powdered sugar; gently stir in whipped topping. Dip one cake pan in warm water 10 sec.; unmold onto serving plate. Spread with 1 cup of the whipped topping mixture. Reserve a few cherries for garnish. Chop remaining cherries; sprinkle over frosted layer.

- Unmold second cake layer; carefully place on cake layer on plate. Frost top and side of cake with remaining whipped topping mixture.

- Drizzle with melted chocolate.

- Garnish with reserved cherries. Store in refrigerator.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Can you guess what classic movie this quote comes from?  Bonus if you guess the character!

"Hearts will never be practical, until they are made unbreakable."

Take a guess in the comments below.

Last Day For Book Giveaway!

I just wanted to let everyone know that today is the last day to enter this week's Seond Hand Saturday Book giveaway.  Enter today for this week, and stop in tomorrow to enter for next week!  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Fabulous Food Friday with Little Bishop Chronicles

Welcome to Fabulous Food Friday! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe! Today’s feature blogger is Jaime from Little Bishop Chronicles. When you get a chance, swing by Jaime’s cute blog. You’ll love her funny and insightful posts. Today I will be featuring her Mammaw's Milky Way Cake.

 Here’s a little blurb from Jaime herself:





My name is Jamie and I'm 31 years old with far too many gray hairs that seem to show up more and more each day. I'm a wife to an amazingly patient and forgiving man, and I am so thankful that God put him in my life. I have four incredible children whom we affectionately call the Little Bishops. Thus my blog name, Little Bishop Chronicles. Katherine is 9, Kaleb is 8, Abbey is 7 and Olivia is 4. As you can see, I had my first three back to back...three of them in just 2 years and 5 days. So there is a good dose of crazy going on in the Bishop household! Blogging is my way to express myself, share the funny things my kids say and do, whine and complain about things that annoy me (the list is endless!) and overall writing is the outlet for my incredibly sarcastic, high-strung self to stay sane!

Now for her yummy recipe:

Ingredients
• 8 regular Milky Way Bars
• 1 stick Butter
• 2 1/2 cups Flour
• 1 cup Walnuts chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
• 2 cups Sugar
• 4 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla
Icing:
- 3 regular Milky Way Bars
- 1 stick Butter
- 2 teaspoon Milk
- 1 1/3 cups Powdered sugar

Preparation
For cake: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Melt butter and candy bars; set aside. Beat eggs, one at a time. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Fold in Milky Way bars and butter mixture. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours in a 13x9 pan (you can also use 3-9" round cake pans).
For Icing: Melt candy bars and butter. Stir in milk and powdered sugar. Add additional milk if needed. Beat until smooth and spread on cooled cake.

A Failed Challenge

I’m not one to usually quit a challenge, especially one I gave to myself, but I’m afraid that I have to bow out of my Chris Brogan challenge. I made the mistake of skimming the topic list and only really reading the top ten. I have just gone to get a new batch of topics from his site and realized that I was way over my head. The majority of the remaining topics focus on media marketing, social media, and working in a corporate business. I am unfamiliar with all of those topics and therefore my posts would be all research and no personal experience. So for the few of you who were following the challenge, I apologize for quitting. I just didn’t want to waste either of our times. After writing on yesterday’s topic, I realized how much I missed writing on the randomness of the day. I am excited to be able to get back to posting on topics that are important to me. Thanks for understanding! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Movie Quotes Trivia

Can you guess what movie this quote is from?

"I'm going to give you a Hawaiian name...Peepyopee!"

Take a guess in the comments below.

We Have A Winner!

Congrats to Kim!!  She is our lucky winner for the Roslyn's Closet Giveaway!

Winning Comment #27 - My Business K & E DarlinDesigns now hearts her Etsy Shop.

I have notified Kim and she has 48 hours to confirm or there will be a redraw.

Thanks to everyone for entering and don't forget to visit Jodi at http://www.roslynscloset.com/.

Chris Brogan Challenge : How I Use My Website

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Nineteen – Topic Nineteen (still writing)!

I use my blog in a variety of ways. I use it to reflect the type of person I am. I love to bake and cook, so I share recipes with all of you. I love trivia games, puzzles, and movies, so I share daily trivia questions with you. And I love trying new products (and winning them), so I share reviews and giveaways with you. The one thing that I feel is missing on my blog is personal posts. When I first started writing on my blog, I would include posts on things I was feeling or things that I had discovered or learned. However, since I started this Chris Brogan Challenge, I feel that I have stopped writing about things that matter to me. Sure I’ve learned new things about social media, but I missed opportunities to talk about other topics on my mind. Unfortunately, I just don’t have time in the day to write an additional post. I guess this was a good topic for me to stop and reflect on my writing. I will have to think about this more today and let you know what I decide tomorrow. In the meantime, for my loyal readers who have made it the bottom of this post, I have a little surprise. The first two followers that email me their favorite type of makeup, gets 15 bonus entries into the Orglamix giveaway. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com . What do you use your website for? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Berry Oatmeal Bars

Easy to make, yummy to eat! This is a great dessert that the whole family will love. Cut your bars out as small or as BIG as you like! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
• 3/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1 cup Strawberry, Raspberry, or Blueberry jam
• 1 tablespoon water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, cake mix, and melted margarine so that it makes nice clumps and there is no dry mix left. Press 1/2 of the oats mixture evenly into the bottom the prepared pan. In a separate bowl, mix jam with water, and spread over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over the top.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 23 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Cool before cutting into bars.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Can you guess what movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you can guess the character!

"Men are incapable of growth, change and progress. For men self improvement ends at toilet training."

Take a guess in the comments below.

Review: ecoStore USA

Most of you know that our family tries very hard to be “Green”. We recycle, we use energy efficient light bulbs, and we even have a Hybrid car. So when ecoStore USA approached me to review their products, I was thrilled.

ecoStore USA sells products that are formulated from all natural ingredients. All products are plant and mineral based, therefore they have no “nasty chemicals” and are 100% toxic free. These products are not only safe for the environment, but they are also safe for our family. ecoStore USA offers household cleaning products, as well as body and baby care items. Even if you don’t consider yourself “green”, you will love that these products are safe around your children and give you peace of mind. Many cleaning products have been linked to chronic health issues. The eco-friendly products from ecoStore USA have received great testimonials from consumers who have claimed relief from children’s eczema, dermatitis, allergies and asthma symptoms.

Look at these stunning facts from the ecoStore USA website:

• According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers accidental poisonings occur in the home every 30 seconds.
• The National Safety Council has reported that more children under four die of from accidental poisoning than are killed by guns.
• A report by the EPA to Congress determined household cleaners three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution.
• Women who work from home and are more frequently exposed to household toxins and poor air quality are 50% more likely to develop cancer.
• Newborn infants have trace levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies, passed on by their mother’s exposure.

Are you willing to take that chance with your children?

I was lucky enough to get to review two great products from ecoStore USA. The first product I reviewed was the All Purpose Cleaner. Not only is it safe to use on all surfaces, but it is also very effective! The spray was tough enough to use on the stove top grease, but it was gentle enough that I didn’t have to worry about it scratching the surface. It also had a very light citrus scent that wasn’t overbearing linke many other cleaners. I also was excited to review the Dishwash Liquid. I have been having such a hard time finding an eco-friendly dish detergent that would actually clean my dishes. This Dishwash liquid worked wonders! And to make it even better, ecoStore’s extra concentrated formula will make this product last for a long time. There’s nothing wrong with saving a little money while doing my part in saving the Earth!

 Keep up-to-date on all ecoStore USA products by following them on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t want to miss a single post from their blog? Sign up for their newsletter and catch all the updates and coupons!

Disclaimer: I received two complimentary cleaning products in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Bonus Entries and New Email Subscription

I just recently figured out how to use Feedburner to incorporate an email subscription onto my blog.  I have now included it as bonus entries on my giveaways.  To be fair for those who entered earlier, I wanted to let everyone know that the bonus entries are available.  To all my other lovely readers who don't want to miss a single post, I encourage you all to sign up for a daily email newsletter.  Can't wait to share some more with you!

Giveaway Ending Tonight!

Don't miss out on your last chance to enter this fabulous giveaway!  Roslyn's Closet is offering  one lucky reader a $20 gift certificate to use in their wonderful shop!  Enter here.

Chris Brogan Challenge : Ten Guilty Pleasures

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Eighteen – Topic Eighteen (still on target)!

Everyone has a few things in life that they enjoy, perhaps more than they let on. My guilty pleasures may be a bit embarrassing, but at least they aren’t bad for me. So let’s get started before I change my mind about sharing!

1. Twilight. Must I say more? I know, I know. It is a series written for teenagers and young adults. And as long as I’m being honest, I haven’t been a teenager in a long time. Either way, I enjoy reading this fun and romantic series by Stephenie Meyer.

2. Cookies. Baked goods are my weakness, and cookies are on the top of my list.

3. Blogging. We all know how addicting blogging can be. Once you start, you just can’t stop.

4. Dance Dance Revolution. I know everyone thinks I look ridiculous, but it’s so fun, I don’t care!

5. Rock Band. I know there target audience is teenage boys, but I can rock out with the best of them!

6. Twizzlers. Everywhere I look on TV, someone is eating Twizzlers. And every time I see it, I NEED a Twizzler.

7. Cherry Ameretto Sour. Sweet and refreshing.

8. Disney World. I love going with the family to Disney World. I get so excited and feel like a kid again.

9. Long Hot Showers. Not only do I love them, but it is the only time during the entire day that I have to myself.

10. iCarly. I know most of you won’t even know what this is (hopefully), but I actually enjoy watching this show with my girls. Embarrassing, I know.

Now that I’ve shared with you, what are a few of your guilty pleasures? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you guess the character!

"No girl will want to marry a doc who can't tell whether a man is dead or not."

Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : Book Shopping- Buy These Books

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Seventeen – Topic Seventeen(trying to stay afloat)!

With so many great books out there, how do you choose what to read? I usually take recommendations from friends and family to see which books are worth my time. Being a full time mom, wife, cook, maid, blogger, and chauffeur doesn’t leave me a much time to read as I would like. So with the time I do have, I want to make sure the books aren’t just good, but great! My books choices are very diverse. The majority of what I read falls into the Christian Women’s Literature category. But on the other end of the spectrum, I’m really enjoying the books full of the supernatural. For those of you looking for something new to read that is inspirational, heartwarming, and captivating, you must try a book by Karen Kingsbury, Dee Henderson, or Terri Blackstock. These amazing Christian authors tell unforgettable stories that you won’t be able to put down. If you decide to try Karen Kingsbury, I suggest you start with the book Redemption. Redemption is the first book of my most favorite series. I guarantee you will love it. If you decide to try Dee Henderson, I suggest you start with The Negotiator. This is the first book of my second favorite series! And if you decide to try Terri Blackstock, I suggest you start with the Cape Refuge series.

Now for those of you who love the supernatural, you have probably already read the Twilight series. If you have somehow missed these books, they are definitely worth a read. Just keep in mind that the characters are in high school and it is a young adult book. For those who loved Twilight and are looking for new books that fall into the same genre, you will love the House of Night series by P.C and Kristen Cast. This series has a different take on vampires that you will love. Another series that I’m enjoying is the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Just a heads up, if you have a teenager who loves Twilight and is looking for other vampire books, this is not the series for her. The Sookie Stackhouse books are much more mature and I would not recommend them for anyone under 18. So what books do you recommend we buy? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Pizza Pinwheels

With a big family party coming up this weekend, I was of course on allrecipes.com searching for some new tasty ideas. I came across this easy appetizer that I thought I would share. I’m not sure if I’m going to serve it Saturday (got to narrow down my choices), but I will definitely be making it in the future. Enjoy!  (go to here for a picture)

 Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 24 slices pepperoni
• 1 (14 ounce) can pizza sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. On a large baking sheet, pinch the 8 crescent roll dough triangles into 4 rectangles. Layer each rectangle with 6 slices of pepperoni and even amounts of mozzarella cheese. Roll tightly lengthwise and slice each into 4 or more pieces.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote comes from?  Bonus if you know the character!

"Nice of you to betray your race ,Jake. You think you are one of them? Time to wake up."

Take a guess in the comments below!

A Blogmania Preview

I know we just finished having a great time with Blogmania in April, but we are getting ready to do it again in September. The next Blogmania is going to be from September 15-16, so make sure to save the date! I have a feeling that September’s event is going to be even better than April’s. Lynda, from Between the Pages, has increased the blogs participating to 175. And it gets even better. Each of those blogs will be hosting a giveaway that is worth $100+! What a great opportunity to win some fabulous prizes.

Each giveaway will follow a theme. My blog’s theme will focus on “What Every Woman’s Home Needs”. I already have some great sponsors lined up. While I’m not going to tell you the exact giveaway items just yet, you can swing by their shops and see all they have to offer. I have been fortunate enough to get support from Rosemary from Clutch That, Christy from Wired Whimsy, Kate from Red Harp, Robin from Tiny Dots,  Country Candles and La Dolce Vita, and Cheri from Orglamix. Thanks again ladies for sponsoring this great event!

If you would like to sponsor me in this awesome event, please contact me at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com.

Orglamix Giveaway and Review

Last week, I was lucky enough to have been sent three mineral eye shadows from Orglamix to review. Orglamix is an Etsy shop that sells makeup made from 100% pure mineral. Cheri, the artisan behind Orglamix, never uses synthetic materials in her products. So you can be sure they are safe, especially for those of us with sensitive skin. Cheri says, “All Orglamix products are proudly formulated without: nano particles, bismuth oxychloride, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals or parabens. Orglamix is a proud member of PETA.”

Orglamix eye shadow was definitely a new experience for me. My typical eye shadow consisted of the cheapest one I could find. I have always been interested in trying mineral makeup, but the price of it always held me back. Thankfully, Orglamix’s prices are affordable. The eye shadow alone is only $4.99 each. Of course she has many other great products that you should check out. Orglamix offers weekly specials and combo packs (like the starter kit) that you won’t want to miss. Last week she has the most beautiful eye shadow in a light Willow color for only $2.99!

Orglamix offers over 200 exclusive colors. For my review, I was sent three eye shadows. Chocolate Chip Cookie, Storm, and Olive were my color choices (So beautiful!). Since I am so accustomed to the solid packed eye shadow, the loose mineral shadow was quite a treat. It went on smoothly and blended easily. I loved that I didn’t feel like I was wearing makeup. I tend to only wear eye makeup, so to find something that stayed on, while looking smooth was a great discovery. If you still are hesitant, wait until you hear the best part. Orglamix offers a money back guarantee. If you don’t like it, they will simply refund your money.
Orglamix is offering one reader of Between the Lines a chance to try out this wonderful makeup! The lucky winner of this giveaway will be able to choose 3 colors from the Pure Organic Mineral Line, including eye, blush, glow foundation, or color corrector.

Mandatory: Visit Orglamix and leave a comment telling me one of the products you will choose if you win.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Follow Between the Lines (3)
~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)
~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (3)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
~Follow Orglamix on Twitter (2)
~ “Like” Orglamix on Facebook (2)
~Heart Orlamix’s Etsy Shop (1)
~ Follow Haute Beauty Blog (2)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)
~Make a purchase from Orglamix (10)

This giveaway will end on June 4th@ 10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to everyone. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received 3 complimentary eye shadows in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Chris Brogan Challenge : Books I Want to Write

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Sixteen – Topic Sixteen(still going)!

Although I’ve reached my goal of successfully writing a book, there are definitely more books that I want to write. My completed manuscript is historical fiction for young kids, grades 2-5. It is intended to be a series, so of course I am hopeful to write some more in the series. I’ve already started the second book, but I’m taking my time completing it because I’ve yet to find representation for the first. Of course if I didn’t have my blog to write for, two kids to take care of, and a household to run, I’d probably have finished the second one already. But all in good time. Besides this children’s series, I have many ideas floating around in my head. The majority of books I read tend to fall in the Christian Women’s Fiction category. So I would love to try my hand in writing a book that fits that category. I’ve started a book in this genre (only 15 pages done), but I may have to start over because I was trying my hand at writing in first person and it sure is difficult. But I guess, it is good to try new things. I have another work in progress that I’m really excited about. It has been a difficult road put it together because I’ve been working with my husband on it. My husband does not enjoy reading books or writing anything, but he came to me one day with a great story and he asked me to write it. It is a hard collaboration because he works all the time and when he is home, helping create this awesome story is not top priority (which I’m glad about). One day we will finish it (Maybe in 20 years) and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. What types of books would you like to write? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Movie Quotes Trivia

Do you know which movie this quote came from?  Bonus if you can guess the character!

"My dad just died, we just killed Bambi."

Take a guess in the comments below!

Silent Sunday

My Baby Turned 6!

Birthday Breakfast

Birthday Presents

Birthday Cake (She will have her real cake at her party)

Happy Birthday!