Saturday, January 8, 2011

Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop

It's Spotlight Saturday Hosted By



Between the Lines




Welcome to our fun blog hop with a twist!  Every week swing by to link up your blog and one you want to spotlight!  Did you find a new blog you liked this week?  Is there one you visit on a daily basis?  Well, simply link up your Spotlighted blog right under yours.  We will Spotlight our favorite blogs of the week in spots 4, 5, and 6.  

This week is Spotlight your favorite blog!  I'm Spotlighting Kerri from Kerri's Klutter!  Next week we will be spotlighting our favorite Foodie Blog!

How it Works

1) Link up your own blog.
2)Link up a blog you want to spotlight for the week.(ex. Spotlight: Roslyn's Closet)
3) Follow your three hosts.
4) Grab our button and post it on your sidebar or in a Spotlight Saturday Post.
5) Follow as many blogs from the list as you like and leave a comment so they know you stopped by.
6) Return the favor by following blogs that followed you.
(Be aware that URL's cannot be duplicated so please have a second spotlight choice in mind. If your blog's URL has already been spotlighted, just add one you'd like to spotlight. And don't forget to leave a comment with the blog you spotlighted so they can come and join the blog hopping fun! )


Friday, January 7, 2011

Limping Into Shape

As most of you know, I have been training for a marathon.  I have been running hard, stretching extra, and sleeping more.  Unfortunately, my last run didn't go so well and I hyper-extended my knee and then twisted it.  After recovering from the humiliation of almost falling flat on my face, I realized that I had actually done quite a number on my knee.  The pain is tolerable and if I'm sitting with it bent it isn't even an issue.  But the second I straighten it out, pain shoots up through my leg.  Needless to say, I haven't run in the last few days.  I have taken up the elliptical and I'm not too excited about it.  Although I know the elliptical is a great workout, it just isn't going to cut it when I'm suppose to be teaching my body to run long distances.  I'm not going to give on my goal of finishing a marathon, but I think that the one I run in is going to have to change.  Anyone else manage to hurt themselves this year (the whole week of it)?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball Review & Giveaway

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 320 pages


Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire; 1 edition (September 1, 2010)


ISBN-10: 1402241062


ISBN-13: 978-1402241062





Book Summary:
When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived "outside the box." But now Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future-or at least the key to getting dates...

In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right? 

My Thoughts:
The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball, written by Risa Green, is a YA fiction novel that readers ages 13 and up will enjoy.  Green's novel focuses around Erin Channing, smartest kid in the 10th grade.  Erin is your typical teenage girl who feels her life is boring and unexciting.  At any other time this really wouldn't bother Erin, but now that she has to come up with an essay about herself to win an all expense trip to Italy, she wishes her life was a little more exciting.   When Erin's Aunt Kiki leaves her a mysterious pink crystal ball, she will soon discover that perhaps wishes can come true.  

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball is a well written novel with funny and loving characters.  Although, Risa Green was writing for a young adult audience, I still was able to enjoy the book and have a few laughs.  I would definitely recommend this book for girls 7th grade and up.  And of course for us a bit older than that who enjoy our YA fiction.


Would you like to win your own copy of The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball?   

Mandatory Entry: Visit the author's website and leave me a comment about something you learned.   Don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries:
~ Like The Secret Society... on Facebook (5 entries)
~ Follow Between the Lines
~ Follow me on Twitter
~ Subscribe to Between the Lines (3 entries)
~ Like Between the Lines on Facebook (3 entries)
~ Add me to your blog roll and leave a link (5 entries)
This giveaway will end on January 20th @10p.m Eastern
Giveaway open to US and Canada only.  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 a complimentary book  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. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Kidorable Sale

I know all of you love Kidorable's cute products, so I wanted to let you know about a new sale they are having.  From now through January 29th, let Kidorable help make winter wonderful with 10% off boots, knitwear, and towels.  Not just for puddles, Kidorable's rain boots are perfect for stomping around in the snow, too. Made of natural rubber, they are great at keeping little toes dry.  Their knit hats, scarves, and gloves can brighten any dreary day with the warmth and smiles they bring.  And the best way to warm up after a chilly day of winter wonderland activity is to snuggle in their impossibly cute hooded towels after a hot bath.  So sled on over to www.kidorable.com and use coupon code GROUNDHOG9 at checkout to get 10% off boots, knitwear, and towels

Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway: Orglamix




Handmade with Love Winter Giveaway

 Are you ready for another fun giveaway hop?  If so, join us along with hosts Simply Stacie, Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, and Kelly's Lucky You for some great giveaways starting February 2nd.  With over 140 blogs participating it is sure to be a great time!  The Handmade With Love Winter Giveaway will run for 5 days and all blogs will be giving away prizes that have been made by hand especially for you. Between the Lines is lucky to be featuring some wonderful companies and I will give you little previews throughout the month of January.


PhotobucketOur first wonderful sponsor is one you have probably heard of if you are a loyal reader of my blog.  I have written about Orglamix on several occasions.  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 $6.49 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 Spiced Cookie color for only $4.99!


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.  Visit them today before your favorite color sells out!!!  And don't forget to join Orgalamix on Facebook.  It is a great way to keep up-to-date on great sales and freebies.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas Clean Up

Every year after Christmas is "Spring Cleaning" for my household.  With all the new toys and clothes coming into the house, we need to get rid of some of the old to make room.  I know that it is a necessity, but it is also very sad for me.  I know it's silly, but as I go through my girls' old toys and clothes I remember them using them when they were younger.  These toys and clothes aren't just things but memories.  I know that the memories will still be there (thank goodness for digital cameras), but it is still a challenge to let the things go.  This year we will be donating all our stuff to our Relay For Life yard sale.  All proceeds will go directly to Relay and all leftover items will be donated.  Hopefully our things will help other families create cherished memories while helping to stop cancer.  So am I the only parent out here who gets sentimental over old  "stuff"?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

I SPOT YOU Sale!

This post was copied from my sister-in-laws blog:

900th Sale on Etsy --- SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR YOU!!!

Yipppeee! I am so excited...I SPOT YOU just made our 900th sale today! To celebrate our special day, I would like to offer all my special customers that check out my blog 10% off their total order. In order to receive this discount, visit my shop http://www.ispotyou.etsy.com. As you proceed through checkout, put in 900THSALE as your discount code. Yes, the discount code is 900THSALE. Enjoy it and use it...I'm not sure how long it will last :-)

OCEAN Review and Giveaway


With winter upon us, it is inevitable that most of us will be suffering from dry skin, chapped lips, and even dry nasal passages.  And while most of us will lather up with lotion and lip balm, we tend to neglect our poor little nose.   OCEAN has developed a line of products that are perfect for keeping noses of all ages moisturized and ready for the winter cold.
Little noses – even those of newborns -- are sensitive to dry heat, cold temperatures and not to mention all the viruses and germs they encounter at daycare or school! We all know a congested child is an uncomfortable (and therefore unhappy) child, and limited child-safe, non-drug options for relief can be frustrating for parents. One such option to help keep kids’ nasal passages from drying out is OCEAN for Kids Saline Nasal Spray.  OCEAN for Kids is a non-medicated, specifically-formulated for kids saline spray and kid-sized nozzle -- safe for newborns to children up to 12 years of age. Ocean For Kids is ideal for use by children suffering from dry nasal passages, nose bleeds, nasal congestion or sinusitis, and since it is non-medicated, it can be used as often as needed.
OCEAN also has two products that are perfect for those of us a bit older than 12.  OCEAN Premium Saline Nasal Spray is the best-selling nasal spray and "recommended by doctors coast to coast".  My Dad has been using it for years and has often recommended it to the rest of the family.  My husband and I are now users of OCEAN Premium and we no longer suffer from night time dry nasal passages or congestion (knock on wood).    I would definitely recommend getting your own at your local drugstore or grocery store.  OCEAN Complete Sinus Irrigation is a two-in-one saline solution for sinus and nasal relief of congestion.  This product actually has two separate tip that serve different purposes.  The white side gives its user a soft saline mist for nasal moisturizing, while the orange side has a bigger saline stream for sinus irrigation.  I have not yet tried the irrigation because I've luckily not run into any sinus problem yet this winter.  But I will definitely update you all when I do.  

Check out this video on OCEAN Complete:



Thanks to the people at OCEAN, one lucky reader of Between the Lines will have a chance to try out these products at home. 

Mandatory Entry - Visit OCEAN's website and tell me one thing you learned.  Come back here and leave a comment with your email address.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)
~ Like OCEAN on Facebook (5)
~Follow Between the Lines (3)         
~ Subscribe to my email (3)
~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (3)
~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)
~ Follow me on Facebook (5)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
~ Add my Spotlight Saturday button and leave a link (5)
~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)

This giveaway will end on January 18th @10p.m Eastern
Giveaway open to US only.  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 complimentary nasal spray  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. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Issues With Ebay

About three weeks prior to Christmas, I ordered my niece a present off Ebay and received a confirmation that it would be delivered between Dec. 22 - 29.  When I first received this confirmation I was a little upset because this was the one thing she asked for and I wanted her to be able to have it for Christmas.  But then I figured, if it didn't arrive, I just just print her a picture of what it was and deliver it to her a few days late.  She's almost 10 and a very patient and grateful person.   So I knew it wouldn't be a problem (and it wasn't).   But now that December 29 has come and gone, how long do I wait before I make an inquiry about it?  And if I did want to find out about it, does anyone know how I go about doing that??  Anyone else order Christmas gifts that haven't arrived?

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Silent Sunday

Christmas Memories

My niece thinking she can lift me (thank goodness I can hold a handstand for quite awhile).

My handsome hubby and I

My family

My little sis and I

My little peanut

Me and my handsome Daddy

My hubby and nephews

My nephew and I (and Manny the dog)

A Very Merry Christmas minus my younger brother and sister-in-law 
Thanks to technology, now they look like they were there!