I Predict That There Will Be A Lot Of Books In My Future

I enjoy making my own Predictions and seeing how they pan out.  Whenever I watch an award show, I try to guess who will win.  Half the time I am right and the other half I am way off.  My husband and I kind of make it a game to see who chooses the correct winner most often. 

I Predict that there will be a lot of books in my future.  Even though that's not really a fair prediction because I know for a fact that I will be doing a lot of reading until the day I die.  I'm so addicted to books and that is one thing that I will never apologize for. 

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by predictsthat.com. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review & Giveaway: Violight Duo Toothbrush Sanitizer

When I go visit someone and see their toothbrushes in the bathroom just laying out, I am appalled.  I can't help but picture germs from the toilet swirling around and resting on the bristles.  That is why my husband and I have kept our toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet for years.  I would buy the little covers for the brush part in hopes that it would keep them clean.  When I first laid eyes on the Violight Duo Toothbrush Sanitizer, I felt like the product had been made especially for my family. 

I was so excited when my Violight was delivered.  I feel so much better about my oral health now that we have a specific place for our toothbrushes that includes a UV light that eliminates 99.9% of germs.  It comes with a handy-dandy wall-mount bracket that is easy to use.  It does not include a screw, so make sure you have one before trying to hang it up.  The Duo slides right off making it portable and perfect for when you are on the go.

The Violight Duo Toothbrush Sanitizer is extremely easy to use.  All you have to do is place your toothbrushes in their place and close the lid.  It begins sanitizing automatically and shuts itself off when it has finished.  You can purchase your very own Duo and receive two free toothbrushes for only $39.95. 

Win it:

Review - Hunted By Night on DVD

SYNOPSIS: 

In the Florida Everglades, three men on a hunting trip find bails of drugs just dropped from an airplane. The men must decide whether to be law-abiding citizens and report the drugs or take the drugs and sell them for millions of dollars. Their decisions will take them on spine-tingling confrontations with drug dealers who both outnumber... and outgun them.

MY THOUGHTS:

One of the things that my husband loves about me is that I adore action movies.  He never has to "convince" me to watch a film that has lots of violence.  Actually, I am usually the one to initiate such movies.  We watched Hunted By Night last night and it was exactly what I was expecting.  Drugs, action and a hunt.  The acting was decent and the plot was pretty straight forward.  It did seem to lull in certain spots but picked back up pretty quickly. 

Buy it: Hunted By Night on DVD

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this movie for review purposes. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Affiliate links are used in this post.

Review & #Giveaway: Almost Everything by Tate Hallaway

SYNOPSIS:

Ever since her father banished the half-witch, half-vampire Ana Parker and vampire knight Elias from the court of the Northern vampires, Ana has been trying to live a normal life. But when the Prince of the Southern Region vampires informs Ana that they're on the brink of war and she accidentally offers up Elias as a peace offering, the princess knows that she's going to need some help to get out of this situation.

With Ana's boy drama meter hitting an all time high, summer in St. Paul is heating up for all the wrong reasons...

MY THOUGHTS:

As I'm sure you all know, I am a sucker for vampire books!  I had a blast reading Almost Everything and I could not put it down.  I read it from cover to cover and was thrilled with both the plot and the main character, Ana.  Tate is a very talented writer who can entice readers instantly.  This is the perfect book for fans of the young adult and paranormal genres.

Visit Tate's website

Buy it: Almost Everything by Tate Hallaway

Win it:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Looking Out

Almost everyone who knows me knows that I love to read.  My family used to read to me all the time and when I was two years old, I had memorized the majority of the books I had.  I even knew when to turn the pages.  There is something about holding a book in my hand that makes me feel like everything will be alright.

As I have aged, I have realized how important it is to be surrounded by beautiful things.  I'm not talking about making extravagant purchases to show off.  I'm talking about having a little piece of nature in view. I have been thinking about getting a couple of window boxes for a while now. Some beautiful flower boxes around my windows would be soothing.

What does reading and having a windowbox have to do with each other? Well, when I read, I normally take a pause in between chapters to reflect on what I have read. I normally end up focusing on something and it would be great to look at some beautiful daisies while thinking about the book in my hand.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by www.windowboxplanters.com. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: Benecos Makeup

ABOUT BENECOS CREAMY FOUNDATION:

"Our creamy foundation is enriched with organic sweet almond oil and shea butter to nourish the skin and ensure smooth even coverage. Skin stays soft and supple with the lightly hydrating formula. This sheer mineral foundation blends in seamlessly with your natural skin tone. Covers redness, blemishes and tiny imperfections creating a flawless complexion."

ABOUT BENECOS NATURAL CONCEALER:

"Use our Natural Concealer to instantly cover dark under eye circles, redness, blemishes or imperfections in the skin. Pure ingredients provide natural color to blend with your own skin tone or Benecos foundation. Long-lasting coverage ensures no mid-day touch ups."

I am so glad that makeup was invented!  Being able to cover up little imperfections and brighten up my appearance.  I've been experimenting with makeup since my early teens and when I find a product I like, I stick with it.  I recently tried out Benecos Creamy Foundation and I really like it.  It covers flawlessly and looks completely natural because it blends in with your natural skin tone.  I have really sensitive skin and it was great to put on a foundation that didn't make my face itch or break out.  Most days, I don't use concealer but on certain occasions, I do feel the need to use it.  When I have circles under my eyes or a pimple, I pull out Benecos Natural Concealer.  It goes on lightly, yet covers even the most unsightly bumps.  Benecos makes it easy to go from blah to gorgeous without having to cake it on. 

Disclosure: I received free products from Benecos for review purposes. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review & #Giveaway - Cook 'n Recipe Organizer Version 10

I love to cook - almost as much as I love to eat.  Making meals from scratch is relaxing to me.  If I had my way, I would only serve my family homemade meals.  Unfortunately, I don't always have the time to do this.  One of my resolutions this year was to be more organized in all aspects of my life.  This includes the kitchen.  Cook 'n Recipe Organizer has made it amazingly simple for me to keep all of my recipes in one place.

I have a couple of recipe books, but most of my recipes were on index cards.  It was a hassle to go searching for a specific recipe and I truly believe that it made me cook from scratch less.  While looking around to see what great recipes were on Cook 'n Recipe, I decided to do a search for buffalo chicken.  It's one of our household favorite's and I was so excited to see that my search returned several results.

This Recipe Software is unbelievable! I feel like I just won the lottery!  Cook 'n Recipe is one of the most user friendly programs I have ever used.  Everything is laid out in a simple manner that is pleasing to the eye. I will warn you, you will get very, very hungry!   It is the easiest way to...

Find the Best Recipes on the Internet

Capture and Save Internet Recipes

Enter Your Own Personal Recipes

Sync Recipes with iPhone, iPad, & Android

Print a Family Cookbook

Analyze Nutritional Values

Make Menus, Shopping Lists & More!

Get Free Cookbook with Purchase

You can even plan menus and meal plans!  This is something that I plan to use on a weekly basis.  I will be able to make a grocery list easily and not have to "wing it" when asked what we are having for dinner.

Here are a couple of videos that I found really helpful:

Interested in purchasing the CD or download copy of Cook 'n Recipe Organizer Version 10?   Use the code mb-mylife here and save 50%!!

Win it:

Treasure Buddies - Own It Today!

On January 31, 2012, The Walt Disney Studios proudly unleashes Treasure Buddies, an all-new live action feature for the whole family on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital. The 6th film in the Buddies franchise stars everyone’s favorite talking canine superstars Rosebud, B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud, as the pup pack journeys to mysterious Egypt in search of the greatest treasure known to animalkind, the legendary Cat’s Eye jewel, from the lost treasure of Cleocatra! Danger lurks around every secret sphinx, cryptic crypt and puzzling pyramid as Ubasti, a devious cat, schemes to possess the mystical jewel and use its powerful energy to rid the planet of all dogs! With help from new lovable friends Cammy, a baby camel - and a mischievous monkey named Babi - the gang and their new friends avoid booby traps, solve puzzles and explore a mysterious tomb in their most exciting and challenging adventure yet.

Treasure Buddies tail wagging adventure debuts across North America as an all-new 2-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD), 1-Disc DVD and Standard Definition and High Definition Digital on January 31, 2012.

Bonus Features:

· DIGS: B-Dawg Edition – In this fun bonus feature, B-Dawg the hip hop happening pup gives a tour of his home to kid reporter G.

· “Roam” Music Video – A re-make of The B-52s song performed by Caroline Sunshine, Kenton Duty and Adam Irigoyen from the cast of the Disney Channel hit series “Shake it Up.”

Own Treasure Buddies today January 31, 2012

For The Love Of Books #Giveaway: Moonlight in the Morning by Jude Deveraux

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In an all-new trilogy set in blissful Edilean, Virginia, Jude Deveraux weaves together the tales of three young women, best friends since college, and the lives, loves, and dreams that await them.

Sparks are flying between Jecca Layton and Dr. Tristan Aldredge. At the urging of her dear friend Kim, Jecca put the ruthless New York City art world on hold to spend the summer pursuing her passion for painting while enjoying Edilean’s tightly knit artistic community. For years, Kim’s cousin Tris—the town’s handsome and dedicated doctor—felt a deep connection to Kim’s college “sister” Jecca, though they had met only once before; now, Jecca is swept off her feet by this strong, sensitive man in a summer of sensual delights. But when long shadows announce Jecca’s return to “real life” and the big city, the lovers must decide: Can they survive the distance? And who will sacrifice the life they’ve created for themselves to be together?

Buy it: Moonlight in the Morning by Jude Deveraux

Win it:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for this post.

#Giveaway - Barbie Mermaid Prize Pack

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 Synopsis:

Surf’s up for Barbie™ as she returns as Merliah™, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who’s also a magical mermaid princess!　In this exciting sea-quel™, Merliah™ makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah™ and her sea friends dive in to stop her. It's a fresh new adventure where Merliah™ learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!

Is there a Barbie fanatic in your home?  If so, print off this fun coloring sheet:

About the dolls:

In the movie Barbie™ in A Mermaid Tale 2, these magical Royal Mermaids help Merliah™ save the ocean! Each mermaid princess has a beautifully detailed bodice and exquisite mermaid tail inspired by the oceans from around the world. With bewitching color change features, girls will love playing with them in or out of the water. Ages 3 and older. 

Marvel's The Avengers Twitter Chat (Win Prizes!!)

“MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS” ASSEMBLE ON TWITTER

MARVEL STUDIOS SPONSORS GLOBAL TWITTER CHAT WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST FOR FANS AROUND THE WORLD

PARTICIPANTS GET TEASE OF “MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS”

30-SECOND SUPER BOWL SPOT AND CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES

Marvel Studios announced that they will be sponsoring a Global Twitter Chat on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11 a.m. (PST) with cast members and the director of their highly anticipated action-adventure “Marvel’s The Avengers,” opening in theaters on May 4, 2012. The 30-minute live tweeting event features writer/director Joss Whedon and cast members Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg.

Fans around the world will be able to participate in the Q&A on Twitter by using the @Avengers handle and the #Avengers hashtag. Participating fans will have the opportunity to see a 10-second tease of the 30-second Super Bowl spot that will air during Super Bowl XLVI on February 5 on NBC. They will also have a chance to answer “Avengers” trivia for a chance to win “Avengers” prize packs.

International fans will be able to submit questions for the talent in their native language through a global translation tool provided by Ortsbo.com. The chat will be moderated by Marvel’s @Agent_M.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, NickFury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert DowneyJr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, JeremyRenner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson, and written and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film is being produced by Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The film is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Follow @Avengers on Twitter for more details.

Lady and the Tramp

Synopsis: A classic love story unfolds in the best Disney tradition as a lovely young pedigreed cocker spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and the affection of her human family.

Share this timeless Disney Classic with your family as Walt Disney’s beloved classic, Lady and the Tramp, finally releases from the Disney Vault for the first time ever on Blu-ray. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation and unforgettable songs in one of the greatest love stories of all time. Featuring high definition sound and immersive bonus features your family can enjoy together, Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition is a must own addition to your Disney collection.

Share these fun activities with you kiddies:

Pre-order your copy of Lady and the Tramp which releases February 7th!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Review: MAD Season 1, Part 2

SYNOPSIS:

Watch the second half of MAD Season 1! The new animated sketch-comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation, inspired by the iconic MAD magazine, pulls back the curtain and exposes the sordid truth behind movies, TV shows, games and of course, curtains. This is not a typical animation show; MAD magazine comes to life in this satirical animated sketch show. Each episode is a collection of animated parodies of movies, games, TV shows, celebrities, and other media using various types of animation.

MY THOUGHTS:

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my entire life!  Being a Twilight and Big Bang Theory fan, it will come as no shock that The Big Fang Theory was my favorite.  I loved how they tangled bits and pieces together to create an entertaining viewing session.  I called one of my friends to come over because I knew she would get a kick out of MAD.  It was fun to do something a little different for our "girl time".  Check out these clips and if you like what you see, grab a copy of MAD Season1, Part 2 to watch more comical animations.

  MAD Season 1, Part 2 released on January 17th.  Own it on DVD!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of MAD, Season 1 Part 2 for review purposes. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas

SYNOPSIS:

As a teenager, Hannah Benson ran away from home in order to save herself. Now, twenty years later, the past comes calling and delivers life-changing news: her mother and sister have passed away, leaving Hannah the guardian of her fifteen-year-old niece.

Returning home to bitter memories and devastating secrets, Hannah must overcome her painful past to pave a future with her niece, the last best chance at a family for both of them. She begins to create a new, happier life with her niece and rekindles a relationship with Grady Steadman, one of the few people she’s ever called a friend.

But she can’t forget what she cannot forgive, or lay to rest those ghosts that will not die. Will love and trust—and the truth—give her the strength to stand her ground and fight for what she deserves?

MY THOUGHTS: 

This novel is unbelievable!  Hannah is one of the most interesting characters I have every "met".  She wasn't dealt an easy hand at life but when push comes to shove, she is someone you would like to have in your corner.  Mary Kay McComas never lets her readers down.  I'm so glad that I read What Happened To Hannah and there aren't enough words to express how amazing it is.  Read it for yourself and find out why she is one of my favorite authors. 

Buy it: What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Super Bowl Meal Ideas With Finlandia Cheese

Sublime Submarine Sandwich

Serves 4

¼ lb Ham, sliced

¼ lb Salami, sliced

8 slices Finlandia Swiss cheese

1 c lettuce, shredded

2 tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 tsp dry oregano

¼ c extra virgin olive oil

¼ c red wine vinegar

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp granulated onion

S & P

French baguette

Create a marinade by combining the lettuce, tomato, onion, dry oregano, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder and olive oil in a bowl.  Season with s&p.  Slice the baguette in half lengthwise.  Remove some of the inner bread.  Drizzle some of the dressing (minus lettuce and tomato) onto each half of the bread.  Layer the ham, salami and Finlandia Swiss cheese and top it with the marinated vegetables.  Slice in 4 sections and serve.

Marinated Flank Steak, Grilled Scallion and Finlandia Havarti Sandwich

Serves 4

½ lb flank steak

¼ c soy sauce

¼ c teriyaki glaze

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

8 scallions

8 slices Finlandia Havarti cheese

2 Tbsp mayonnaise

8 slices country white bread

Combine the soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and red pepper flakes in a bowl.  Add the flank steak and marinate for 2-8 hours.  Preheat grill.  Place the flank steak on the grill and grill for 5 minutes.  Turn over and grill for 5 more minutes, depending on thickness of steak.  Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes.  While the steak is resting, place the scallions on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side.  Remove them from grill, chop and combine with mayonnaise.  Slice the flank steak thinly on the bias.  Spread scallion mayo on bread and top with the flank steak and Finlandia Havarti cheese. 

Classic Cuban Pork Sandwich

Serves 4

¼ lb peppered ham, sliced

¼ lb cooked pork loin, thinly sliced

8 slices Finlandia Gouda cheese

¼ c grainy mustard

1/2 c dill pickles, sliced

1 Cuban baguette

Slice the baguette in half lengthwise.  Spread the grainy mustard on both sides of the bread.  On the bottom half of the baguette, layer the ham, pork, Finlandia Gouda cheese and pickles.  Cover with other half of bread; slice in 4 equal sections.

Turkey and Finlandia Lacey Swiss Avocado BLT

Created by Chef Ariane Duarte

Serves 2

4 Slices 7 Grain Bread
4 oz sliced roasted turkey breast
6 Slices Finlandia Lacey Swiss
4 pieces turkey bacon (cooked according to package)
1 tomato, sliced

½ Avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

Green Leaf lettuce, such as Romaine

Light Mayonnaise

Spread mayo on all slices of grain bread. On two of the slices, place lettuce, tomato, bacon, avocado, turkey and top with Finlandia Lacey Swiss. Top with remaining 2 slices. Cut in half.

Serve with your favorite chips and pickles. Enjoy! 

 Finlandia Gloucester Burger with Russian Dressing

Created by Chef Ariane Duarte

Serves 6

2 lb ground chuck

1oz (package) onion soup mix

1 egg beaten

2t Worcestershire sauce

2t hot sauce

3/4c rolled oats

1/4t black pepper

12 slices Finlandia Double Gloucester

6 burger buns of your choice

2T melted butter

Mix first 5 ingredients all together. Form into 6 patties. Pressing your thumb print into each patty after they are formed.  Heat grill to med-high and place patties on grill. Grill on one side for about 7 minutes and flip once for another 7 minutes or until the temperature you desire. Add 2 slices of Finlandia cheese to each burger and allow to melt, while brushing buns with butter. Then place the buns on the grill butter side down for about 30 seconds, just enough to warm.  Smear some Russian dressing on bun, next add the burger and if you like lettuce, tomato and onion and pickles.

Russian Dressing

1/2c mayo

1/3c ketchup

1T red wine vinegar

1T grated onion

1Tchopped parsley

Mix all together. Refrigerate.

Jumpin’ Turkey Finlandia Swiss Burgers

Created by Chef Ariane Duarte

Serves 6

2 lbs Ground Turkey

1 or 2 jalapeño peppers, small dice (depending on how much heat you like)

½ c chopped cilantro

1T ground cumin

1t chopped garlic

1 small onion, diced

Salt & pepper

12 slices Finlandia Swiss or Light Swiss Cheese

6 burger buns of your choice

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Divide equally into 6 balls. Form into patties and place on grill. Grill on high heat - 4 minutes on 1 side, then turn and finish for about 3 to 4 minutes on the other. Add two slices of Finlandia Swiss and let melt. Then, place on your favorite bun with your favorite accompaniments.

 

About Finlandia Cheese, Inc.

Finlandia Cheese, Inc. is a division of Valio USA, a subsidiary of Valio, Ltd., Finland’s largest food company and one of the most dominant forces in the global dairy industry. Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Finlandia Cheese is the number one imported cheese brand in America. All Finlandia imported cheese is made in Finland from the purest milk in Europe with no added hormones. The milk comes from small dairy farms where the average farm has 20 cows and all are treated humanely with regular health screenings. There is also a fully integrated hygienic program in place regarding the milk processing and cheese production. The company’s cheeses are distributed to fine supermarkets, delis and club stores nationwide. For more information on Finlandia and its products, visit www.finlandiacheese.com

 

Eat or Cook Great Food and Get Paid!

Hundreds of regular people all across the world are STARVING everyday!!

Starving for more time with friends and family…
Starving for value and a better quality of life…
Starving for a healthy alternative at the dinner table…
Starving for a new experience…

Introducing Chef 52: an online community marketplace, bringing together people who LOVE to cook, with people who LOVE to eat. From the hobbyist to the celebuchef, the pie lady to the accredited professional, chefs can create a profile, sell their services, accept payments, and grow their business based on community feedback.

Through delicious localvore style meals, private or group lessons and Chef 52 events, they’re getting families out of the drive-thru lines and back to the table where they can reclaim their foodie independence.

They’ll be launching privately in the coming weeks so please sign up to be first in line to test out all the neat tools and fun experiences during their closed beta. Just click on over to Chef 52 and enter your email address. It’s really simple: see below.

Enter Your Email and Click ‘GO’

Copy Down Your Personal Referral URL

Receive Your Confirmation Email

The initial testing group will be, comparatively, quite small but it will grow as they eliminate bugs and are happy with the applications stability. To be fair they will be inviting people in order, so those who have requested access to the beta first, will be first in. So sign up now! Once their testers (i.e., you) are happy, they will be opening the beta to the public. To be a part of this world changing application simply join us at Chef 52! And if you share your personal link with others and they sign up as your referral you could win $500 smackers. That’s a LOT of dough!

Thanks for your interest in Chef 52 – they’re in development and it is going to be delicious!

For The Love Of Books #Giveaway: The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass

SYNOPSIS:

The onset of summer brings predictably steamy weather to the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Brockton's human-decomposition research facility at the University of Tennessee. But Brockton's about to get more heat than he's bargained for when Angie St. Claire, a forensic analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, asks him to help prove that her sister's death was not suicide, but murder.

Brockton's quick consulting trip takes a long, harrowing detour when bones begin turning up amid the pines and live oaks of the Florida panhandle. Two adolescent skulls–ravaged by time and animals, but bearing the telltale signs of lethal fractures–send Brockton, Angie, and Special Agent Stu Vickery on a search for the long-lost victims. The quest leads them to the ruins of the North Florida Boys' Reformatory, a notorious juvenile detention facility that met a fiery end more than forty years ago.

Guided by the discovery of a diary kept by one of the school's young "students," Brockton's team finds a cluster of shallow graves, all of them containing the bones of boys who suffered violent deaths. The graves confirm one of the diary's grim claims: that one wrong move could land a boy in the Bone Yard. But as the investigation expands, it encounters opposition from the local sheriff, who's less than delighted to find forensic experts from the state capital and the Body Farm digging up dirt in his county.

As Brockton and his team close in on the truth, they find skeletons in some surprisingly prominent closets . . . and they learn that the ghosts of the past pose perilous consequences in the present.

Buy it: The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass

Win it:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for this post.

Yummy Dinner Made Easy With #BertolliMealSoup

Preparing a delicious meal for my family is important to me.  It's time when we come together to eat and chat.  When I went to the grocery store this afternoon, I headed toward the freezer section to find something new and simple, yet tasty.  I wanted to make us a special dinner with an Italian theme.  In the end, I went with my gut and paired a Bertolli Meal Soup with Bertolli Chicken Parmigiana and Penne.  You can't have pasta without fresh bread, so I stopped by the bakery and picked up some Garlic Parmesan bread.

Bertolli makes it easy to create a healthy, hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen.  I was able to prepare a delicious dinner in around thirty to forty minutes.  The only thing you have to add to the Bertolli Meal Soup is a cup of water.  As soon as I turned on the heat and saw the soup start to bubble, I was overwhelmed with the tomato aroma.  My mouth was instantly watering.

Next up, I poured the Chicken Parmesan into a skillet and stood back to let the stove do all the work.  I cannot believe how simple Bertolli makes it to prepare a savory meal that really does taste like something you would order from a nice restaurant.

When everything was ready to be consumed, I put it all nicely on a plate and served my husband.  As soon as I started eating, I was in heaven!  The chicken, pasta and vegetables were fresh and full of flavor.  Usually, bread is my favorite part of the meal, but that was not the case with dinner tonight.  The soup was the highlight!  

Do you have the urge to taste Bertolli's Meal Soup for yourself?  Find a store in your area and satisfy that craving with Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, or Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.  You can connect with Bertolli on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.