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“NEST” By Esther Ehrlich–Book Giveaway!!!

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NEST by Esther Ehrlich

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Debut author Esther Ehrlich delivers a poignant and genuine middle-grade novel NEST (Wendy Lamb Books / On sale September 9, 2014 / $16.99 US / Ages 8–12), a memorable story about a girl, a tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship.

 

It is 1972. Home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein; her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp’s mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes. Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.

 

Esther Ehrlich’s lyrical writing is honest, humorous, and deeply affecting. Chirp and Joey will steal your heart. Long after you finish NEST, the spirit of Chirp and her loving family will stay with you.  READ The first 59 pages of the book HERE by clicking Look Inside.image003

 

«A stunning debut, with lyrical prose and superbly developed characters, this novel is an emotional roller coaster that effectively conveys a family’s visceral tragedy.” —School Library Journal, Starred

 

«Ehrlich’s novel beautifully captures the fragile bond shared by Chirp and Joey and their growing trust for each other in a world filled with disappointments and misunderstandings.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

 

«A poignant, insightful story of family crisis and the healing power of friendship.”Kirkus Reviews, Starred

 

Ehrlich writes beautifully, constructing scenes with grace and layers of telling detail and insight.”The Horn Book

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a copy of NEST!  Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

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Peekaboo Barn, Lift-The-Flap Board Book Review & Giveaway!!!

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Peekaboo Barn is an adorable new Lift-The-Flap  book based on the iconic toddler app Peekaboo Barn will thrill fans with its tactile feel and keep them busy with lots of flaps to lift in this sturdy board book. And for those who’ve never seen or played the app, the barn setting, adorable animals, and sound words make this a book for the very young that easily stands on its own. Includes a free app with purchase!

Written by Nat Sims and illustrated by Nathan Tabor the book is suitable for ages 1 month to 3 years. Little hands will love opening the barn doors to discover the animals inside.  This book makes a great gift for any young child!

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ABOUT THE APP

Peekaboo Barn, which celebrated its fifth birthday in early 2014, has been played over 85 million times worldwide.

Night & Day Studios recently unveiled an updated look to their classic app that features vibrant colors, more robust and playful animations and three new farm animal friends. The app includes twelve different language options, as well as a feature for caregivers and children to record their own voice in the app.

Enter The Giveaway:

Candlewick Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a copy of Peekaboo Barn, A Lift-The-Flap Board Book!  Thank you to Candlewick Press for the review copy and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

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Chicken Soup For The Soul: “Home Sweet Home” Book Review & Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!!

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Whether you call an apartment, condo, or a house home, there is not much doubt that you probably feel like there is no place like home!  Do you feel like Dorothy clicking the heels of your ruby slippers 3 times at the end of a long day?  If so, you will probably love the Chicken Soup for the Soul Book, Home Sweet Home which is filled with 101  stories of Hearth, Happiness and Hard Work.  The book makes a great housewarming or hostess gift, is perfect to present to a new neighbor, or just to read yourself when you want some “me time”.

 

Enjoy stories about the excitement of moving into a new home, buying and selling, visiting your childhood home, remodeling stories, DIY disasters, downsizing and what makes a house a home.  Experience joy, laughter and inspiration in the stories about everything we do to make a home.  I can totally relate at this point to the remodeling and DIY disasters in the book since our home is in a state of craziness with all the renovation projects we have going on.  You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! 3 lucky blog readers will win their own copy of Home Sweet Home!  Thank you to CSFTS Publishing for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

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Chicken Soup For The Soul, “The Multitasking Mom’s Survival Guide” Review & Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!!

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Do you ever feel like you have so much on your plate you can never catch up?  I feel like that most days.  I always look around and feel that I just have so much going on.  With a house in chaos because no less than 5 major home improvement projects are happening, a very busy career as a marketing director, busy blogger and writer, brand ambassador, and handling a few businesses that my husband and I have, added to the fact that we have 5 kids and a big house (ever see the movie The Money Pit?), where there is always something to be done, I can feel like things are swirling out of control.  I am blessed to be able to work from home but I still work and work a lot!  I make time to play but probably not as much as I should.

When I was picking out books to review from Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, I chose The Multitasking Mom’s Survival Guide.  Do you wonder how I made that decision?  I didn’t think so.  I love this book because it’s filled with stories with moms like me, some who juggle and wonder how to keep all those balls in the air just like I do.  I have found that it’s okay to give yourself permission to say, “I am done for the day” and leave whatever for tomorrow and if it doesn’t get done then so be it.

 

I know that I need to prioritize what really needs to be done, my family needs, my needs, jobs that have deadlines are all first.  Then the things we want to get done can come next, but if I don’t get something done, I’m going to stop beating myself up for it.  The opposite is true to that too.  I read in one story in the book, we are told over and over the importance of playing with our kids, that messy houses are signs of great moms, but our kids need to see that we do have to work. Whether it’s for a job or doing the laundry, we teach them important things by showing them we have responsibilities that need attention too.  That really allows moms to release some of that mommy guilt  we all carry in one or two large suitcases with us.  Let’s unpack some of that today!

Stories that show the importance of a mom taking me time strike a very strong chord with me.  Often times I want to put my needs last but really, when I do the things for me I need to do or just spend some down time doing something I enjoy, it really helps my mood, spirit and productivity.  It’s just recognizing that if we don’t take care of our needs we can’t do a good job taking care of anything else and risk becoming resentful.

Stories about slowing down, learning from our kids, juggling a career and laughing after the fact among others will show you how other moms are surviving their multitasking years.  Read some great tips, funny disaster stories, and fill your mind with great ideas for your own life.  Best of all, you will know you are in good company and not alone.  You can purchase the book on Amazon.com.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! 3 lucky blog readers will win their own copy of The Multitasking Mom’s Survival Guide!  Thank you to CSFTS Publishing for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Chicken Soup for the Soul; The Multitasking Mom’s Survival Guide Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Win an Autographed Copy of “It Ain’t Over…” By Marlo Thomas

Anyone who has ever tried to make a big life change knows it can be a bit more complicated – and frightening – than that. How do you get up the nerve and confidence to actually take the leap? No one knows better than the women profiled in this powerful book by actress, activist, and bestselling author Marlo Thomas.

It Ain’t Over . . . Till It’s Over introduces us to sixty amazing women who are proving that it’s never too late to live out a dream – to launch a business, travel the world, get a PhD, indulge a creative impulse, make a family recipe famous, escape danger, find love, or fill a void in life with a challenging new experience.

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Meet a graphic artist who fulfilled a childhood ambition by going to med school at age forty-two; a suburban mom whose innovative snack recipe for her daughter’s lunchbox turned into a multimillion-dollar business; a private-practice psychiatrist who convinced her husband that they should quit their jobs and take off on an exciting, open-ended, cross-country adventure – in a giant bus, no less!; and a middle-aged English teacher who, devastated to discover that her husband was cheating on her, refused to be a victim, filed for divorce, and began the challenging journey of rebuilding her life.

Brimming with anecdotes that will inspire smiles, tears, and – most of all – hope, It Ain’t Over speaks to women of all ages with an empowering message: The best is yet to come!
Get your copy today at But anyone who has ever tried to make a big life change knows it can be a bit more complicated – and frightening – than that. How do you get up the nerve and confidence to actually take the leap? No one knows better than the women profiled in this powerful book by actress, activist, and bestselling author Marlo Thomas.

I am excited to be meeting with Marlo Thomas tomorrow during a live webinar and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Get your copy today on Amazon! Follow Marlo on Twitter @MarloThomas and like her on Facebook.

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Win an autographed copy of the book!!!

Enter to win an autographed copy of It Ain’t Over…Till It’s Over by entering via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Open to US residents. Good Luck!!!

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“Count on the Subway” Book Review & Giveaway!!!

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Count on The Subway by Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender is a delightful children’s book that tells what it’s like to ride the subway counting all the way.  My little ones love this book especially since they hear all about the subway from their sister who attends school near NYC.

This book was very timely since she will be graduating in a few weeks and was hired as a GIS Analyst with New Jersey Transit.  So trains, subways and everything transportation is big around here.

So if you have a MetroCard of if you have never stepped foot on a subway, this book is a ticket to ride for all.  Everyone can experience a taste of navigating through NYC on this counting adventure!

Count on the Subway

1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Down 2 flights—to catch the 3.
4 turnstiles, singers 5.
A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives!

This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.

Giveaway

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Count on the Subway!  Thank you Random House for sponsoring this great giveaway and for the review copy.  Open to US residents.

Random House, Count on the Subway Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Margery Williams’ “The Velveteen Rabbit”, Deluxe Gift Edition Review & Giveaway!!!

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A few weeks ago the little ones and I began to add Spring and Easter bedtime story books to our routine.  Experiencing an Arctic blast here in the Northeast, I found it very promising to read stories about springtime.  Many of the stories were about bunnies, ducks and the rebirth experienced each spring.

Along the bunny theme we recently were sent the beautiful Deluxe Gift Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit.  The first time we read it, my little guys were all ears (no pun intended). They wanted to know why all the boys things needed to be burned because of germs, and wondered why they couldn’t just wash them.  They were very glad to know the Velveteen Rabbit was not burned and was made real because he had been so special to the boy.  This is a delightful story to share with your children or to give as a gift.  Would make a beautiful addition to put in an Easter basket!

The Velveteen Rabit Gift Edition Random House

 

A deluxe gift edition of one of the most beloved children’s stories. With illustrations remastered from a 1922 first edition and a beautiful cloth binding with gold accents, this lovingly reconstructed classic is the ideal collectible gift for baby showers, birthdays, and holidays throughout the year. Includes a book plate for personalizing your gift.

At first a brand-new toy, now a threadbare and discarded nursery relic, the velveteen rabbit is saved from peril by a magic fairy who whisks him away to the idyllic world of Rabbitland. There, he becomes “Real,” a cherished childhood companion who will be loved for eternity. Treasured for generations, here is a timeless tale about the magic of boundless love, newly available with the luminous color of the original edition.

The Velveteen Rabbit Inside of Book

Excerpt From The Book:

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room.  “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse.  “It’s a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.  “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse.  “You become.  It takes a long time.  That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Deluxe Gift Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit!  Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this beautiful giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

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Want To Get Your Home In Order? Try Debbie Lillard’s “A Mom’s Guide to Home Organization.”

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Are you frazzled by your family’s hectic schedule and chaotic household? Then try Debbie Lillard’s “A Mom’s Guide to Home Organization.” This book walks you through simple processes and tips for organizing your time, your stuff and your space. The second half of the book addresses how to teach your children the life skill of being organized. Written by a busy mom for busy moms. Buy Today on Amazon in Kindle or Print editions!

Mom's  Guide To Home Organization

Create a Happy, Clutter-Free Home!

Do you dream of having a clutter-free kitchen, organized closet, tidy toy room and stress-free schedule? All of this and more is within your reach when you follow the practical and effective organizing advice in this book. In this ultimate home organization guide Debbie Lillard, professional organizer and mother of three, helps you gain and maintain order in three key areas of your family life:

  • Your Time: Learn how to get more done in less time by streamlining everyday duties, creating morning, after-school and bedtime routines, and effectively managing extracurricular activities.
  • Your Belongings: Use Debbie’s simple but effective C.P.R. method (Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange) to organize, toys, clothes, children’s artwork, paperwork, photos, collections and more.
  • Your Home: Follow the step-by-step instructions for organizing every room in your home, plus find help for keeping your child’s schoolbag, desk, locker, and home study area organized.

Follow the book from start to finish for a complete home makeover, or dip in here or there for help with one problem area at a time. The tried-and-true advice will help you simplify your life so you can spend less time struggling to keep up and more time savoring everyday moments with your family.

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Dinosaur Rescue! By Penny Dale Book & Limited Edition Print Giveaway!!!

I am so pleased to bring you a very special giveaway of Penny Dale’s book Dinosaur Rescue! and a limited edition print from the book!  This great book is full of Dinosaurs that are rushing in vehicles to help out their fellow dinos.  The illustrations are beautiful and my little guys just love the story and to see the dinosaurs driving buses, fire engines and police cars!  Dinosaurs and vehicles, two of most little boys favorite things so how could this book be a miss?

Dinosaur Rescue

 

 

All of your favorite dinosaurs from Dinosaur Dig! and Dinosaur Zoom! are back, but this time they are busy saving the day! Children will be enthralled by the wonderful illustrations as the dinosaurs rescue one another. But don’t worry, there’s a happy ending for everyone!

There’s an emergency! Call the fire engines, ambulances, police cars — and the dinosaurs, of course!
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Candlewick Press and Penny Dale Prints are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win Dinosaur Rescue! and a limited edition print from the book!  Thank you to Candlewick Press and Penny Dale Prints for the review book and for sponsoring this  dino sized giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  Open to US residents.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas! Review & Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!!

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas! 101 Joyful Stories about the Love, Fun, and Wonder of the Holidays.  If you need to take some time to de-stress, relax, put your shopping feet up and soak in some of the Christmas magic, this is the book for you!  It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life especially during the holiday season.  To do lists keep growing longer, it seems like your time is growing shorter, and you can feel like you need to clone yourself just to keep your head above water.  We all need to remember to treasure the time we have with family and friends and not focus on all we have to do, but instead appreciate what we have.  This book is filled with stories that will make you remember what is truly near and dear and best of all your whole family can share in reading and listening to them.

Chicken Soup For The Soul Its Christmas

Christmas is an exciting and joyous time of year, a time of family, friends, and traditions. You will delight in reading these 101 festive stories about the joy, wonder, and blessings of the season. This collection is filled with merry and heartwarming stories about holiday traditions, family, and goodwill. Remember, all of our stories are “Santa safe” so they can be enjoyed by the whole family. A fantastic holiday gift and a great way to start the season!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Three lucky blog readers will win their own copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas!  Thank you Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing for the review book and for sponsoring this heartwarming giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas! 101 Joyful Stories about the Love, Fun, and Wonder of the Holidays Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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