GUEST POST AND BLOG TOUR BY KRAIG DAFOE AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL SEARCH FOR THE LAST REALM. ($100 GIVEAWAY INCLUDED- USA ONLY)

I want to welcome Kraig Dafoe to Books R Us. Kraig is the author of the fantasy novel Search for the Last Realm and he is virtually touring the blogosphere with Pump Up Your Book! Thanks for stopping by.

Nothing to Blog About

I have gone on the internet to find blogging ideas and there are several sites with lists of things to Blog about. I copied the ideas and stuck them in a file, over two hundred ideas in all. I sat down today and ran through these ideas to find one for this blog post and I discovered that there is not one of them I wish to talk about.

Writing can be a fickle mistress. There are days of the week I can’t think of one interesting thing to put on paper and then there are nights I can’t get to sleep because of the ideas running through my head.

Not too long ago, I went to bed one night at 10:30. I got out of bed literally, fourteen times and jotted down notes for the book I’m currently writing. I believe I finally nodded off about 4 am.

I don’t think there is a real formula when it comes to creating. For me, it just seems to happen, usually when I least expect it. I don’t know any other writers so I have nothing to compare with.

Am I alone in my insanity? Probably not. I picture a time in my head when I have a set schedule that works. I picture my-self, writing in a comfortable office, fire burning in the fireplace, dark mahogany wood creating a perfectly calming atmosphere.

Maybe someday that dream will come true. For now, I suppose I will have to plow through and do things the way they appear too naturally happen. I suppose things could be worse. I could be writing in the days before spell-check, tapping away on an old typewriter, adding hours to my work just to fix all the silly mistakes I make.

What do you know? I had nothing to write about for this blog today yet I managed to spill out more than three hundred words. I don’t know how people blog every day, but I say if it’s in your head, find a way to get it out.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Search for the Lost Realm is an epic journey in which a young man named Varan wants to find a power which has been missing from the world of Kantania for thousands of years.

Varan sets out but soon discovers his true mission is to save the worlds creator from a spiritual bond placed upon him by the powerful demon, Eldrok.

From demons to dragons and sorcerers to soldiers, battles erupt and Varan must hurry or the world could be lost to darkness forever.

This story does not consist of action alone as Varan faces dilemmas of the heart, struggles of the flesh and complex issues of the mind.


  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Kraig Dafoe was born in Potsdam, New York and grew up in Canton. He played high school football and joined the United States Army Reserves at the age of seventeen.

Kraig married at the age of nineteen and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia where he worked as a Private Security officer for The Christian Broadcasting Network and also attended the Tidewater Community College for business.
After five years as a security officer, he became a Deputy Sheriff for the city of Chesapeake Virginia.

Kraig left the Sheriff’s office after nine years of service and pursued a couple of different business opportunities before he went on to publishing his debut novel.

Kraig is the father of five children and he currently resides in Kansas, raising his youngest son.

His latest book is the fantasy/adventure, Search for the Lost Realm.
Visit his website at www.kraigdafoebooks.com
Connect with Kraig on Facebook.

Purchase the Book:
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES

Pump Up Your Book and Kraig Dafoe are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card/Paypal Cash! See Rafflecopter for rules. Contest ends on 5/31/13 and winner will be chosen by Rafflecoper. Good Luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW OF BOB'S RED MILL GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CAKE MIX

 Thanks to Vitacost.com, I will have the opportunity to review some of the products that they offer on the site. Vitacost.com gives you a selection of of health foods and snacks, bath and body products, natural household supplies, baby care essentials--plus, of course, discount vitamins, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition supplements and other formulas for your nutritional needs. You'll find nearly 40,000 products that help you care for yourself, your family, your pets and your home. Get up to 50% off health and beauty products, vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and whole food products.


BOB'S RED MILL GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CAKE MIX. 

 

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cake Mix is made with a perfect blend of gluten free flours and starches, this mix can be easily transformed into your favorite custom cake or cupcake recipes that call for a white cake, or simply bake as directed for a delicate vanilla cake.

I have tried other gluten free cake mixes and I have not been impressed. They were either dry or just tasted like cardboard but Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix was different.

The instructions were easy to follow and when mixed there were no lumps and the mixture was smooth. I used a 3 x 9 inch pan and the cake baked perfectly.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of the finished product. While it was cooling I went shopping for a couple of hours and when I returned most of it was devoured  by my kids and their friends. They loved it and never realized it was gluten free. I was lucky to try it for myself. It was fluffy, moist and tasted great. I will definitely use Bob's Red Mill in the future. I will be trying their pancake mix soon. The cake mix is reasonably priced and there are many other flavors to chose from. So visit Vitacost.com and check out all of the gluten free products they sell.

Disclaimer: I was given a free sample of the product for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.


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WIN A $ 100 HOME DEPOT GIFT CARD

Welcome to the Father's Day giveaway event sponsored by Tip Hero, featuring some wonderful bloggers. With Father's Day just around the corner, we thought that a giveaway event was a great way to recognize all of the dads out there and to give someone a chance to win a great dad-ly prize.

One lucky winner will be the recipient of a $100 Home Depot gift card to help get your favorite dad the perfect gift this Father's Day!

This giveaway begins on May 24th and will run until June 7th at 11:59pm US Eastern time. It will be open to residents of the US only, 18+. Use the PromoSimple form below to enter, and be sure to take advantage of the many entries you can gain. And make sure you come back daily for even more chances to win. Good luck to all!

$100 Home Depot Gift Card


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REVIEW OF THE NEW MICHAEL BUBLE' ALBUM- TO BE LOVED

I have always been a Buble' fan because he has a fantastic voice and a sound that draws me in. His new album To be Loved has covers of Frank Sinatra, the Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Van Morrison and many more. Included is 4 original songs co-written by Buble' that were inspired by his personal life.

"I wrote Close Your Eyes about my wife and about the power of all the women in my life—my sisters, my mom, my grandma and all women in general. Let’s face it, where would we be without them? I Got It Easy, another original, is basically a song where I count my blessings and is a reminder to me and everyone to appreciate all the good parts of life. I’m a very lucky guy and I never want to forget it."

If you love the Big Band jazzy sound as well as Frank Sinatra then you will love this album. He does a fantastic job on the covers and has written some original songs that shows how talented he is. This is the perfect album to help me unwind after a long day at work. I really enjoyed his take on Randy Newman's " You Got a Friend in Me." Although it is not your typical Buble' song, he did a great job on the song and made it work. So head on out and pick up a copy of the album you will enjoy it.

To Be Loved Track Listing:

1. "You Make Me Feel So Young"

2. "It's a Beautiful Day"

3. "To Love Somebody"

4. "Who's Lovin You"

5. "Something Stupid" (featuring Reese Witherspoon)

6. "Come Dance with Me"

7. "Close Your Eyes"

8. "After All" (featuring Bryan Adams)

9. "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" (with Naturally 7)

10. "To Be Loved"

11. "You've Got a Friend in Me"  

12. "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" (featuring The Puppini Sisters)

13. "I Got It Easy"    

14. "Young at Heart"

Links To Buy Album:

• iTunes
• Amazon

 


Disclosure: I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the album to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.
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REVIEW OF THE NEW ROD STEWART ALBUM- TIME

I have been a fan of Ron Stewart and I have always asked myself what happened to him? Over the years he has been busy being a rock star, a parent and has been busy writing material for a new album called TIME. This is his first album in 20 years. He started writing material for the album after reviewing his life for a memoir. This is what he said on the album.

"Suddenly ideas for lyrics were piling up in my head," he said. "Next thing I knew, I had a song called 'It's Over' about divorce and separation. And now I was getting up in the middle of the night and scrambling for a pen to write things down, which has never happened to me. I finished seven or eight songs very quickly and I still wasn't done, and it became apparent that I would eventually have a whole album of material to record."

Along with the release of Time, Stewart is set to embark on the European leg of his Live the Life tour on June 1st, while American dates with Steve Winwood will kick off October 17th.

 Time Track Listing:
1. She Makes Me Happy
2. Can’t Stop Me Now
3. It’s Over
4. Brighton Beach
5. Beautiful Morning
6. Live The Life
7. Finest Woman
8. Time
9. Picture In A Frame
10. Sexual Religion
11. Make Love To Me Tonight
12. Pure Love

My thoughts:

I listened to the CD while driving in my car on my way home from work.  There was a variety of tempos, the songs fit together and Rod's voice flowed smoothly. The last song Pure Love was very moving and touched my heart. The tempo was slow but it fit for the tone of the song.  If you like Rod Stewart's style you will like this album.

Disclaimer: I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own

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REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF SOFT SCRUB MOLD AND MILDEW STAIN REMOVER GEL

I have been a fan of Soft Scrub products for many years and the new Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a unique spray gel that clings to stains and is gentle on surfaces. It is perfect for tough stains on grout, showers and tubs. 

When I first spayed the bathroom cleaner there was a faint smell of bleach but was not overwhelming. The clear gel stayed where I sprayed it and there was no over spray. I have used other cleaners that produced a mist that got over everything including my clothing.  I accidentally got some of the gel on my acrylic toilet seat and it did cause the area to fade. This product will be great if you want to get rid of mildew from the grout in your tub. I did not have to scrub the grout like other products that I have used. So you can try the bathroom cleaner, I am giving away a coupon for a free Soft Scrub product.


Contest ends on  6/1/13 @ 11:59 PM EST. See Rafflecopter for rules. USA/CAN only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclaimer: I was given a free sample of the product for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review


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WELCOME TO THE APPLE TV GIVEAWAY HOSTED BY FAMOUS FREE SAMPLES

Welcome to the Apple TV Giveaway Event hosted by Famous Free Samples! We're looking to give away an Apple TV, in the form of a $100 Apple gift card, to one lucky winner!

A little about the Apple TV:

"Apple TV gives you access to the best 1080p HD content - including blockbuster movies, your music and photos, and more - right on your widescreen TV. You can even play content from your iOS devices on your TV using AirPlay."

This giveaway begins on May 22nd and will run through June 5th at 11:59pm EST. Open to residents of the US only, 18+.

Use the PromoSimple form below to enter the giveaway. Be sure to come back daily for more chances to win. Best of luck to all!

Win an Apple TV



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Bloggers Wanted! Tip Hero's Father's Day Giveaway Event

Tip Hero’s Father’s Day Giveaway Event

Sign-ups are now open for this great new giveaway event!

• Event is free to join with an announcement post. If you don't wish to post the announcement, please send the $5 non-post fee to tiphero@gmail.com
• You'll receive 1 free link for participating (either Twitter or Pinterest)
• Additional links (RSS/Email, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest) are available for $5 each
• Sign-ups for this event close on May 22th
• Event runs from May 24th - June 7th
• Prize: $100 Home Depot gift card

Please send all payments to tiphero@gmail.com as a "gift" via PayPal.

Sign up for this event here.

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VITACOST.COM ITEMS SELECTED FOR REVIEW

Vitacost.com gives you a selection of of health foods and snacks, bath and body products, natural household supplies, baby care essentials--plus, of course, discount vitamins, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition supplements and other formulas for your nutritional needs. You'll find nearly 40,000 products that help you care for yourself, your family, your pets and your home. Get up to 50% off health and beauty products, vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and whole food products.

I was given the opportunity to try some of their great products and in the coming weeks I will posting a review of the items that I have chosen as well as a great giveaway.


GLUTEN FREE ITEMS:

None of my family has any difficulty with Gluten but many of my friend said that restricting gluten was good for you and can help you lose weight. So I decided to give them a try.

CHEBE CINNAMON ROLL MIX- GLUTEN FREE

Delicious By Nature™ 

Makes 12-15 Rolls

Chebe Cinnamon Roll Mix is free of gluten, lactose, and other common allergens. It is quick and easy to prepare, has a great texture... and is unusually good!

BOB'S RED MILL GLUTEN FREE PANCAKE MIX
 

•  All Natural Product
•  Light, Fluffy, Great Tasting
•  Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free
Our Gluten Free Pancake Mix makes up quickly and produces perfect, very light and fluffy pancakes everyone will enjoy.  Use any kind of milk - soy, rice, almond or cow - that is suitable for your diet.  Add blueberries or bananas for pure pleasure.




BOB'S RED MILL GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CAKE MIX. 
 
Easy to Prepare 
Delicate, Light Texture 
All Natural Product 
Wheat Free 
Gluten Free 
Dairy Free 
Kosher

 

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cake Mix is made with a perfect blend of gluten free flours and starches, this mix can be easily transformed into your favorite custom cake or cupcake recipes that call for a white cake, or simply bake as directed for a delicate vanilla cake.

 

 OTHER NATURAL ITEMS.

 PRINCE OF PEACE ORGANIC GREEN TEA BAGS.

100% USDA organic. 
Green Tea has been known for thousands of years to offer a large number of health benefits.  Prince of Peace tea is 100% organic green tea is freshly harvested; the leaves are then gently washed, steamed, rolled and dried to retain their delicate flavor and aroma.  Green tea is known for its antioxidant properties which can aid in combating free radicals that can cause cell damage.  Recent scientific research has investigated green tea's benefits toward maintaining cardiovascular health, strong immunity and proper cellular tissue growth. 

 

NATROL GUARANA 200MG CAPSULES 

 

Promotes Positive Mood 

Supports Mental Performance

Enhance your energy level with Natrol Guarana. A native plant of the Amazon, guarana has been used for centuries as a natural source of energy. 

 

 

 

 

 

GANADEN DIGESTIVE ADVANTAGE LACTOSE INTOLERANCE THERAPY

 

Lactose Intolerance Probiotic Plus Formula™
•  No Need to Take With Every Meal
•  For Daily Digestive Fitness™
•  Powered by GanedenBC30 Probiotic - Digestive & Immune Health

Digestive Advantage™ Lactose Intolerance Therapy combines our patented probiotics, or "healthy bacteria", along with digestive enzymes, that do not require taking a pill before every meal.




BEST OF ALL STEVIA SWEETENER PACKETS. 

An all-natural sweetener that satisfies like sugar, but doesn’t have the bitter aftertaste found in most stevia brands.
Best of All® Stevia is an all-natural sweetener that comes from the sweetest, most wholesome part of the stevia leaf, providing a pure, fresh taste that is twice as sweet as sugar. Add it to your favorite beverage, sprinkle it on your morning cereal or use it as a sugar substitute in your favorite recipes for guilt-free flavor you can enjoy any time.  

 

 

 

 MOTIONEAZE MOTION SICKNESS RELIEF

 

 

This will be perfect for my cruise coming up soon. I get motion sickness riding on a bus or a boat. I will let you know how it works when I return from my cruise.

 

• All-Natural Family-Friendly Formula
• Doctor Recommended / Safe and Effective
• One Drop Behind Each Ear
• Fast 5 Minute Relief!
• Safe For Kids
• Non-Drowsy
• Drug-Free / No Pills
• 100% Natural Oils

 

 

 

 So stop back soon for my reviews of these great products!!

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SELF RESPECT AND CHILDREN- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BY MARY JO RAPINI

Self-Respect Gets No Respect

by Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC

Parents worry about self-esteem with their children. A low self-esteem is correlated with poor academic and personal development. Building a healthy self-esteem takes years, and parents, teachers and the child's community help foster the child to feel good about him or herself while growing up. Part of self-esteem is learning self-respect. You aren't born with an understanding of self-respect, so the people closest to you must model and teach you this characteristic.

Last week in the news there was a story about a concert performer* who was on the stage when a woman in the audience jumped onto the stage and performed a sexual act to him. It was disgusting, and of course social media spread it like a bad flu to everyone who was in harm's way of catching it. The performer, as well as his public relations people, told the media that they couldn't help it. He was unable to stop the performance or the behavior.

What? Couldn't stop it or didn't know how? How about stopping the performance and making a point of the inappropriateness of this action? Or how about if he spoke into the microphone and said to the crowd that he had too much respect for himself and his fans to allow this on stage? The problem wasn't that he couldn't stop it; the problem is he wasn't comfortable with what it would say about his manliness, his brand or his music.

Self-respect is your reputation and in life that becomes your brand. What you allow yourself to become involved with, say or do is what you are building as your brand. If you aren't able to stand up for yourself and say "NO" on your behalf, you are demonstrating what lack of self-respect looks like. The problem becomes complicated with the advent of social media and people with little self-respect desiring fame, but not understanding or caring that the fame they get may cost them their reputation.

Parents need to help their kids feel strong enough to say "No." No to sex, no to drugs, no to texting in the car, and the list goes on and on. But most criticly, parents need to teach their kids why those things are important. It's important because respecting your own voice, your life, others' lives, and your ability to be trusted teaches others how to treat you. If you esteem yourself, you are teaching others your boundaries of right and wrong.

Empowering kids to stand up for their own reputation has never been tougher, but below are some suggestions that should help. 1.  Teach your child what respect looks like. You do this by modeling, but also by pointing out people who show you respect. 2.  Talk to your child about what they want to do with their life. Help them define a goal and a path to get there. When kids own their dreams, they protect their future and their reputation more. 3.  Honor your core values and don't sell out. Your core values are what you stand for and they protect your reputation. 4.  Spend time helping others with volunteer projects. Kids who get involved with working and helping others are actually teaching themselves about their own boundaries and deriving self-respect. 5.  Part of self-respect is empowering your teens to say "no" to sex. Parents should talk to their children about sex and help them feel reassured by saying no. Pressure and body language can make it difficult for self-assured kids to say no. Understandably, it is even more difficult for kids who aren't as confident. Boys need help as well as girls. Brainstorming with your kids about things they can say back to pressure helps. Phrases such as if a date tells them, "Everybody's doing it," your child can respond back assuredly and with confidence, "I'm not everybody and I don't have to do it just because everyone else is," which helps your child feel confident about protecting themselves.

Teaching self-respect is successful when we model what self-respect looks like. Saying no is never easy if the crowd is all saying yes. However, when you know who you are and what you stand for, then it becomes easy to say the right thing for you and not worry about what everyone else is going to think or say. The ability to set a standard for yourself, and honor your code of honor will be respected by you and anyone who walks into your life.

*I am not a fan of rap music. However, had this artist taken a self-respectable stance, and been able to demonstrate on stage what self-respect looks like, I would have been tempted to buy every one of his CDs.

Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, is a licensed psychotherapist and co-author with Janine J. Sherman, of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom About Health, Sex or Whatever. Read more about the book at www.StartTalkingBook.com and more about Rapini at www.maryjorapini.com.

 
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BLOGGERS SIGN UP FOR THE APPLE TV GIVEAWAY COMING SOON

 We’re looking for bloggers to join and help promote our latest giveaway event. Sign-up for free or choose from any of our paid options below

Run Dates: May 22nd – June 5th
Prize: An Apple TV (in the form of a $100 Apple Gift Card)
Eligibility: US, 18+
Sponsor: Famous Free Samples

• Participation is free for this event with an announcement post. For participating, each blog will be included on the entry form and receive one free link – either Twitter or Pinterest.
• The announcement post can be found here or you can pay the $5 non-publishing fee to tiphero@gmail.com.
• Each blog will have the option to add additional links (RSS/Email Subscribe, YouTube, Twitter and/or Pinterest) for $5.00 each, which can be paid via PayPal as a Gift to tiphero@gmail.com.
• Each blog must post the giveaway on their blog on May 22nd and promote it on their social media outlets 3 times during the event.
• This giveaway will be promoted in Famous Free Samples’ newsletter, along with other sister site newsletters, reaching close to 100,000 in total.
• This is a great opportunity to co-market with other great bloggers and increase your social media followers.
• We will submit the giveaway to all relevant giveaway/sweepstakes directories to gain further exposure.

 SIGN UP HERE

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REVIEW OF THE CAT THAT GOD SENT AND THE DOG THAT TALKED TO GOD BY JIM KRAUS

If you are a pet lover then you will love these books. The author has written two fantastic books that incorporated humor, pain, despair, disbelief and loveable characters that you will enjoy. 

The Cat that God Sent-

Meet Petey, your not-so-average cat—on a mission from God
Disillusioned young pastor, Jake Wilkerson, has just arrived at his new assignment in the small rural church of Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Also new on the scene is Petey, a cat of unknown origins and breed—but of great perception.
As Jake sets about doing the business of ministry, Petey’s continued interference brings chaos to the community of curiously off and eccentric people—residents like the faith-avoiding veterinarian Sally Grainger and Tassy, a young runaway with a secret. An expert at hiding his fears, Jake wonders if all this—and the cat to boot—is more than he can handle. What is Petey’s real “mission”? Perhaps something larger than Jake—or even Petey—can possibly know.

Purchase the book- Amazon

The Dog that Talked to God-

Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a Miniature Schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief.  It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God. When Rufus begins sharing advice that could result in major changes, Mary gets the feeling the pooch might not be steering her in the right direction. Or, is she just afraid to take the leap and discover something she desperately needs? Only Rufus…and God…knows.

Purchase the book- Amazon


 My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed both of the books. They were full of wonder, sadness, love and a bond between the owners and pets that was unbreakable. 

The Cat that God Sent-

I could relate to the Cat that God Sent more because I have a cat and I am always wondering what he is thinking when he looks at me. The author had a way of incorporating Petey's thoughts in the storyline that was interesting and humorous. I found myself laughing from time to time on what Petey's thoughts on dating, the congregation, life and being a cat was. Petey helped Jake overcome feelings of self-doubt, lack of faith and helped him to move on with his life.

The Dog that Talked to God-

Rufus was a remarkable dog and helped Mary to continue on with her life after the loss of her husband and son.  Rufus entered her life at the perfect time and through his conversations with her she was able to move to a new home, meet a great guy, and strengthen her faith in God. The ending was not what I expected and I found my self shedding a tear or two. 

Mr Kraus wrote two great books that touched my heart and made me think how God may be communicating with use everyday through animals. I highly recommend both of the books.


Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the books for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.
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