CSftS Does It Right

I have a new Chicken Soup for the Soul book that I wanted to share with you. It is about my all time favorite subject.  Married Life!  I love my Dear Hubby and I adore that our life is not a struggle to achieve.  You see I have been married twice before.  And each time I felt that I just never was good enough, did the right things at the right time or was worth even being loved.  With Dear Hubby it is so easy.  I am just me, he is just himself and it all works out.  I am not putting down my previous husbands at all.  They were both very good men.

But I am finally happy.  So much so I talk about it quite often.  That is why I like CSftS: Married Life!  It is fun for me to read about other families having fun and finding wedded bliss.  This would be the just right book to give as a wedding shower gift to the bride.  Not typical but one I bet she will read all the way through by the time the big day rolls around.

Top it off Chicken Soup for the Soul is raising money to fight breast cancer, running an exclusive online promotion with DealChicken.  The promotion offers you the opportunity to show your support for American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and runs through November 9, 2012.  This features Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey that I featured at the beginning of this month. The book is part of a new health and wellness series from Chicken Soup for the Soul and combines stories from those affected by breast cancer with Dr. Silver’s cutting edge medical advice. As part of this exclusive package, you will receive the book and a limited edition pink cooler bag for only $12.50 (a $25 value) with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. If individuals want to contribute even more to the cause, they may choose to donate their savings, an additional $12.50, to Making Strides with the American Cancer Society.

It is a blessing to get to work with Chicken Soup for the Soul.  I am an avid supporter for the strides they make in showing a positive out look on life.  No not a rose colored glasses approach but still seeing the glass half full.  Thanks so for sending me this book to review.  It is on my keeper shelf time I find the just right lady to share it with for her wedding day.

Unwinding with a Good Book

Hello all.  Today I started off with a great big ol cup of coffee doused with a shot of butterscotch schnaaps.  And boy did it hit the spot.  Lush?  Naw, just enjoying the small joys of life.  The Other Mother had popped over for our morning coffee routine.  We teased each other over a game of cards.  Then she had to go get Poppi for lunch.  Dear Hubby texted me with a hug, kiss and wink.  Also invited me out to a lunch date.  So happy to get out for a lil time alone.  We really enjoyed the Texas favorite of bacon wrapped, cream cheese filled jalapenos.


Granny M was happy that I did the last of her Christmas gift wrapping before lunch too.  She is all ready to go and visit her great grandbabes on Christmas day.  I know that she will have a wonderful time.  As for here, we are dealing with some much needed winter rains.  Glad to see it but have mud trails from all of the dogs needing to go in and out.  My broom and mop are getting quite a work out.  But the tree is up and unmolested so far so life is good.




I am looking forward to a late afternoon hot bubble bath though.  That is a wonderful gift to myself.  A time that I lock out the world and give in to indulgence.  Warm water with lovely scents to embrace me.  I also take me a book to help me unwind.  And of late I have been taking in my CD player and listening to my story.    Now that is the best way to really unwind.

Well of course I am going to share my latest reading joys with you.  The book on CD I am listening to is based on my favorite fairy tale, Cinderella.  In "Cinder" , a 16 year old cyborg, we see the time honored story with a great wicked twist.  Yes the step mother is a horror.  And there are the step sisters, prince and kingdom too.  But now we are on Earth that is currently crumbling under the devastation that has been plagued upon it.  You know how it goes in the sci-fi world.  Thankfully Cinder is a cyborg that has the ability to get things fixed up just right.  This brings in the notice of Price Kai.  And that is where the story starts to heat up.  Well not to tell you all of it, but let's just say the step mother messes up things, the step sister gets hurt and all of it becomes quite a mess before it all finds the right way of working out.  I am enjoying the twist and turns.  How the scientists get involved and find a new guinea pig (so to speak) that might just change how everything is being done.  Marissa Meyer is a great new writer and a fellow NaNoWriMo participant.  

I have had the book "The Crossings" by Serita Jakes (wife of T. D. Jakes) on my bedside table.  This novel is based in my lovely home state of Texas.  And it is about a murder mystery too.  So you know it is top on my to read pile.  It starts of with horrid shooting 10 years ago.  A gunman opened up fire upon a school bus coming home from a football game.  In the damage done the cheer leading coach is killed and the star quarterback is injured.  The gunman was never caught.  Years later the case is reopened.  Now we have our story.  You can read an excerpt of "The Crossings" here.  And you can hear what Serita has to say about her book here.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

This book follows "What Women Fear" from Angie Smith.  This one hits home because I live in fear most of the time.  The self doubting of myself.  I do not know if this is just from my mental illness that I am always worried about what I do and how others perceive my actions.  Or just my messed up, oh my goodness what am I going to do fears.  But I do bet that most of us do just this at one time or the other.  Angie Smith does hit the nail on the head for me here though.  So many have said to just hand it over to God and all fears will go away.  But I do like that Angie knows it is not just that easy.  That there is work to be done on our part to let go of fears.  And she is willing to give ideas of how to do it. Whether it’s a constant “What if?,” or a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, Angie will walk you through every step and reveal how these strongholds can be broken and you can truly be transformed.   You can check out the trailer here.

With these last few books being of the Christian genre, it brings to mind my latest Chicken Soup for the Soul.  "Devotional Stories for Tough Times" is more apt today than in any other time for me.  Not that life has not had it's ups and downs.  But it is a constant struggle daily to figure out how to get all the bills paid, have food on the table and keep the household running.  Not that we are not frugal as ever but that times are just hard.  And I think this is a constant for most households these days.  See there is that fear issue again!  But I do like reading devotionals to help me both lift my spirits and to show me I am not alone.  It is also nice that each story has both a scripture at the beginning of it and a prayer at the end of it.  Sorta helps you see where your headed and to give thanks afterwards.  Struggles test us all, but you will find counsel and reassurance in these devotional stories of faith, strength, and prayer. This collection is filled with stories that show God's presence during times of trouble — from illness, addictions, job loss, grief, and much more — providing a boost and reminder of God's ever-present love. I find encouragement, solace, and hope in these personal stories and prayers.


Well this has been my reading list for December.  I think they have been quite appropriate.  And it is with great thanks that I give to the wonderful PR firms that help me find such books.  I am amazed at how well they know me.  And often contact me with just the right book for the place I am in at.  

Keeping Young

Oh what a week.  I loved my weekend with a quick in and out of the grandbabes.  Our local festival of the Pow Wow is always a favorite for me too.  My brother had his motorcycle entered in the contest there too.  I was so proud for him.  Yes, that is me beside his pretty Harley.  My Grandbabe TK loved riding the ponies too.  She does this every year!  I can not believe how much she is growing.  Then my Grandbabe Landon enjoyed watching the antique tractor parade with my son-in-law Jordan.  How adorable as they judged the best looking tractor.  

I know I am getting older now. Seeing signs of it all around me. Yes, I am now a grandmother to 3 lovely grandbabes. But I also hurt more often. Can not get up and down like I use too. And I have this horrid spot on my hand I can not dig out. "Out damn spot, out I say!" Top that off, I had my first skin tear this week too! Hit the back door and that easy was bleeding. Dang the luck. So what are the benefits of getting older?

Well there is great stories that you gather over the years.  And if your lucky someone to listen to them as you spin your yarns.  We can learn quite a bit from this wealth of knowledge.  I know that I was thrilled this last week to read Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Inspiration for the Young at Heart.  This was filled with 101 stories that share the wisdom as well as the humor of life once you reach that certain age.  I am not quite there but getting closer every day.  I am also going to be sharing this one with Granny M.  She has shared a some great stories with us earlier.  So to let her read about others who have developed new passions, even pole dancing!  Wow!  That was a hilarious story....and one full of women who know who they are and how to have fun.  Even going so far as to raise money to help others too.  Yes we can stay young at heart....some even stay youthful in their appearance.  Myself, I am working on staying young in my sense of humor.

Well you should know it....I have 3 of these books to share with you.  So just use the rafflecopter below to enter.  I love that app....works like a dream.  And yes, I got a copy for myself as well.  Thanks so to Chicken Soup!

You Had Me from Hello Giveaway

Y'all I do live in Texas....born n' bred as they say.  Even more so since I was born in Pecos Texas....home of Judge Roy Bean and home of the world's first rodeo.  And you would think that I owned many pairs of jeans, a pair of cowboy boots and the regulation cowboy hat.  But no!  I hardly ever wear jeans, never have had a pair of boots or a cowboy hat.    Yet I am Texan through and through.

Also there is the love of Friday night football and scooting a boot to country music.  Again I fall short.  If my daughter was in the band I was at the game.  Once that was done I have not seen another football game here or elsewhere.  And I have never ever ever enjoyed a country bar for dancing.  But I do have to say that I do have a few choice favorite country songs.  Ones that must have been just the right song at just the right time.

Well Kenny Chesney has a song titled "You Had Me from Hello".  And this one spoke to me when I remember how Dear Hubby and I met up.  You see we were both at a funeral, actually the dinner after the funeral.  I heard his voice and my head turned to see who owned such a soft smooth sound.  It was like warm dripping honey....sweet as can be.  I was so thrilled when he and his mother sat at the table I was at with my great uncle.  Dear Hubby said "Hello." and that was the beginning of our life together.



Kenny and songwriter Skip Ewing say it best in the lyrics.

One word, that's all was said,
Something in your voice called me, turned my head.
Your smile captured me, you were in my future as far as I could see.
And I dont know how it happened, but it happens still.
You ask me if I love you, if I always will.........

Well, you had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow the moment I looked into your eyes,
You won me, it was over from the start.
You completely stole my heart, and now you won't let go.
I never even had a chance you know?
You had me from "Hello"

Inside I built a wall so high around my heart, I thought I'd never fall.
One touch, you brought it down
Bricks of my defenses scattered on the ground
And I swore to me that I wasn't going to love again
The last time was the last time I'd let someone in.

It was great to get a chance to see how this song came about.  I was reading it in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music.  Skip telling how Kenny heard the phrase 'You had me at hello" in the movie Jerry McGuire.  And how it was built from there.  Of course as it always goes....Kenny got the girl and Skip got a lil credit for writing the song.  But more so....this one song so captures the way I feel about my Dear Hubby.


I might not be a big one for country music.  But I am a sucker for a song that tells just the way your heart feels.  Lyrics that twist and turn in such a way that tears run down your face and your not ashamed of it.  I have been enjoying learning the background of so many of these songs in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music book.  And  you know what, I bet you would find many of your own favorite songs there too. 

Well I can share 3 of these books with you, my readers.  And am thrilled to get the chance.  So yes, it is giveaway time once more.  And oh so easy with the help of RaffleCopter.  So just start clicking below to win.

Preteen & Teen Giveaway

Well today is Monday and we are back home for three days.  Thursday we will be back at the house/dog sitting place for 10 days this time.  It is lovely there but good to be home too.  Our own dogs were thrilled that we returned.  Thankfully we have Granny M and Our Gentleman here to care for them while we are gone.

I want to catch up on so much both here at home and online today.  Not sure if I can do it all.  But am going to try my best.  There is laundry to do.  And the house desperately needs to be swept and mopped.  Thank goodness for Libman there...makes the job much easier for me.  I also need to clean up the dog yard and check out our dirt patch of a yard for any other clean up.  The porch needs to be looked after and all the plants watered.  Whew!

And on here I have to catch up with y'all, my review work, facebook and twitter, and get some snail mail printed out.  Oh and that reminds me of my email new look.  You can get it too by the way.  Okay, I checked out MeebleMail Stationery online.  It is so cool.  You can pick a design and personalize it to your specifications.  And then use it in your email to make it more eye catching.  See mine?

Here is the top half.

And this is the bottom half with my real name and address omitted.

Once you have your design made then you purchase the use of it for a year at only $4.99.   Not a bad deal for all the email I send out.  An easy bookmark tool bar icon is put up on your tool bar.  Then when you write a new email you just click that tool bar and pick the design that you made.  I made up two of them.  One for me and one for College Girl to use.  I think that I am going to love using this in my email to the pr firms that help me out.  Maybe I will be noticed just a lil more!  And since I can edit them for the next year.  I can make it work for family reunion, holiday letters and special occasions.  I can not change the design once I purchase it but I can change the text. 

I think this would be fun  for just about anyone.  But especially for the preteen and teen.  You know to make them different from the rest of the crowd.  Oh and you know what.  I also have two of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  One Just for Preteens and the other Just for Teenagers.  These are great to share with the kiddos.  With 101 stories in each they can be quite inspiring and right on the nose as to what the teens are going through.  With all the texting these days, it is really nice to hold a real book in your hands, not an app or an ebook.  So many of my favorite books have writing in the columns of how they effected me at the time.  It is interesting to see that years later.  And the one Just for Teenagers also has the M Magazine Contest Winners stories in there.  Pretty neat to see.  You know what is next don't you?

Yes, I have the chance to give away 3 copies of each book.  Just leave me a comment below on who you would share your Chicken Soup book with.  And would it be preteen or teen?  Make sure I have your email so I can contact you if your one of the 6 (yes 6 total) winners. 

Gifts for my Family

With a weekend coming up and a new car to drive it seems we are off for a road trip.  During this time we are going to get some much needed time with just Dear Hubby and I.  But of course what is a new car for if not showing off.  So we are also going to go and see some family members too.

Now I never like to arrive empty handed so I have a few goodies to take with me.  I thought you would want to see what they are.  Never know, they might just be what you was looking for too.

First off I know I may have mentioned that my Step Daughter is not feeling too well.  She has a long term illness and it is running her down really bad.  Add that into the mix of two very active kiddos and summer vacation...well you see the problem don't you.  So I thought maybe I could help out with a lil bit of ideas on how to keep the kids entertained while not being to taking on mom.  Since she does not have internet or a computer for herself or the kids available.  I knew that "101 Offline Activities You Can Do with Your Child" was a perfect start.  We always did different projects when I was growing up.  Princess Emma is working on her sock puppets right now.  But I thought that the Grandbabes could use some direction.  Some of my favorites were Pin the Food on the Plate using magnets and paper plates.   Easy Abacus using a shoe box and uncooked noodles.  Or Two-Bit Tiddly Winks that makes me remember playing this game in our hallway when I was growing up.  I hope this will help spark their imagination and help out mom too.

I also have the brand new Pressman Toy's Dinosaur Train All Aboard! Game.  The Grandbabes love Dinosaur Train and they also adore playing games.  I feel that here is one that can work with both the 7 year old and the 4 year old.  In this game, players will choose a character – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank or Mr. Conductor – and try to move the fastest along the tracks. Speed through the three dinosaur eras: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous along the beautiful scenery. Special Stopwatch spaces will help you get closer to the nest, while Dinosaur Crossing spaces will send you back. The first player to reach the nest area in the center of the board wins.

After that we are going to get to see my Step Son, his lady and pat the belly to say hello to our future Grandbabe to be.  Not much more time and he will be here.  I can't wait!  Of course we have some items to share with this part of the family too.  First I want to make sure that my step son does not feel left out with all the attention on mom to be right now.  So I have a way for him and his dad to compete.  Yeah that always gets a guy's attention.  "The Man Test" is a a fun book with 100's of questions to test the knowledge of a real man.  Now we are not talking sports stats here.  No no no.  Instead fun trivia that will get both of them reved up.  There are questions like:
· What is the best day to negotiate a car purchase at a dealership?
· What should you do if a bear is about to attack you?
· What are the three things women lie most about online?

I also have a Chicken Soup for the Soul New Moms collection and The Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy for the momma to be.  I know how much she loves to read.  And having the stories to lift her up as a New Mom will be perfect for her.  She is going to be so good....I just know it!  How lucky it is to be starting that journey.  I look back often on my days as a mom already.  Do you remember those first time feelings?  Some things never change for us do they?  Oh and of course to make delivery easier and get that pretty figure back into shape she can use the Miracle Ball Method.  We all know that exercise makes it so much easier to deliver.  And breast feeding alone does not make the pounds melt.  Yeah, raise your hand if 20 years later your still carrying around that 'baby fat'!  Don't we know that exercise is the key to having the figure.

Well what do you think?  Have I found the right gifts to take on my visits?  You know Nonnies have to come bearing gifts.  And I love being the gift giver!

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary items to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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CSftS Dogs & Cats Giveaway

Good morning folks.  It is a nice cool morning here.  Yes, I said cool.  Of course it is 5 a.m. too.

Let the day begin.  I know I am late.  So many post behind.  Was just busy and tired and hot and busy still.  So time to get back in the swing of things and rock n' roll.  What to catch up on?  Humm.  

Hey!  You know what we used for bedtime stories when the Grandbabes where here?  Not the old tried n' true kiddie stories.  Nope!  We went for the Chicken Soup for the Soul books on My Cats Life and My Dogs Life (two different editions).  When College Girl was just a lil one, her favorite stories were from James Herriot's books on animals.  The "All Creatures Great and Small" set was her first series of books that we purchased.  Before it was the different story here and there.  But reading about the lives of people and how they were affected by their pets always seemed to make our day anchored.  Realizing that we are blessed so to have these creatures who love us without any reserve.  Well, the Grandbabes loved the same thing in reading the stories collected in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  Both of them so wanting to share their own stories of their pets.  I think we have found a winner here.  Always a new story available and many that bring a tear to your eye too. 

We can share them with you.  Yes!  You want to read with us?  Well great!  Let's do just that.  Of course the great Chicken Soup for the Soul giveaway that we are so famous for.  Ha Ha!  Leave me a comment.  YEAH, that is all you do.  Tell us what you love about your pets.  And do not forget the important parts.  What are they?  Well do you want the Dog or the Cat book first of all.  Oh and of course, how can we contact you once you win.  Come on now......I have books to share! 

Here I Am!

You heard the Wicked Witch of the West shriek, "I'm melting" when she was splashed with water. Well, I am yelling it too....yet wish I was being splashed with water.  It is so crazy here.  Mornings the cool air is blowing goosebumps across your arms and legs.  But the afternoons have you stuck to the chair where you have become part of the grime and dust of the room.  Why?  Global warming?  Massive lack of home insulation?  No air conditioning blowing?  Well, yes to all of that. It is in the 60's here in the mornings and is 100 in the shade this afternoon.  As in the words of Charlie Brown......
AAAARRRRRUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

But other than that.  It is beautiful weather for many things.  My laundry hanging out on the line is drying in a jiffy.  Some things are done by the time I have finished hanging up the full load.  Princess Emma says it is really nice and cool under the big ol oak tree while swinging on the horse swing.  But she says I can't swing as I am just a lil too big.  Darn the luck.  Yesterday evening we introduced our Gentleman to playing Chicken Foot with the dominos.  We were out on the big ol front porch with a cool breeze blowing across.  It was quite a nice way to spend an evening.  And I can spend a lil time in the afternoons, laying in the bed reading one of my latest books.  Dreaming of some place cooler than here for sure.

I also have my winners in the Chicken Soup for the Soul giveaway.  If you did not leave a comment there then you did not get to enter.  DARLENE, this means you have to stop lurking and jump on in here with us.  Leave a comment with your way of contact and you could have had a new book on it's way to you.   Yeah, I know, you are thinking about it.  But our 3 winners are:

Gimpe10 who said that she recommends exercise and lots of water for the new mom to be.

ALWAYS remember when you look at the MIRACLE, you are looking at the face of an angel from God!! LOTS of snuggles, and kisses too!!  This was tassynutt's comment. Congrats on this Kat. Glad you finally made it by here.

Giant Sis said... I would remind her to ask for help! No one expects her to do it all by herself, but they might not want to offer too much help so they don't offend her. She doesn't have to try to be a superhero - she already IS one! Always love hearing from you. Glad you will have a new CSftS coming your way soon.

Serenity in Motherhood: Giveaway

I have shared with you that we will have a new Grandbabe this summer.  The new mommy to be is doing her best to handle all the changes going on with her body.  What a great difference for a young attractive lady to feeling like your carrying around this foreign body.  Not at all what your use too.  I feel for her also with our Texas heat.  It has already been in the 90's here.  I pray they have access to a pool as that is the only place I could imagine being during the summer for your last trimester of pregnancy.  What secrets would you share with our new mommy to be?

I wanted to share with her from the Tao of Motherhood (20th Anniversary Edition).  I love how this one helps one look at life with a clearer mind.

Simplicity

Keep your life simple,

and serenity will follow.

Like a small country with little

need for supersonic travel,

a simple life has little need for

tension and stress.

Give your children yourself, and

the need for things will be minimal.

I love the way this one flows.  Showing that we are enough for ourselves and our children.  Even before they are up and running.  It is like a clear meditation to start the day.  Do you meditate?  What do you focus on?

I know that reading also helps clear my mind.  And quite often just a lil page or two helps me focus on what has been wondering around in my mind.  That is why I love the Chicken Soup for the Soul books so well.  Granny M has one sitting on the front porch with her right now.  It is how she relaxes, unwinds and prepares for an afternoon nap.  I am happy to have a new one to share with my new mommy-to-be.  Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms seems to be as close to perfect as I could get.  I am going to add this one to her gift for the baby shower.  Everyone needs a lil something for themselves, don't you agree?  I know that reading is a joy that our mommy loves too.  So how about you?  Any new mommies out there?  Got one on the way or know someone who does?  If so how about sharing....I can help.   We are giving away 3 of this issue to our readers. 

It is easy to win...just leave a comment with your email listed in it.  Tell me a piece of advice to pass on to my mommy to be here.  I will share them all with her.   And I will pick 3 winners in a week.  Ready.....get to commenting!

Perfect Pairings: Grieving & Recovery

Joel 1:8

Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth.

“Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
Dream is a Wish in Your Heart

We all have times where we are having to grieve and from that we then enter into recovery.  That spot where the light begins to shine once again in our lives.  We have all had to go through this process.  It is not anything that we wish to do but a part of the life process.  How we handle it is where we each show our strengths.  Myself, crying is where I do not do well.  I try so hard to hold it in.  It feels as if the damn will burst and never stop.  Of course we all know that it will eventually flow to an ebb.  Thankfully I have not had to deal with as much grief in my life.  Having lost family and friends but coming through it fine in the long run.  I so feel for those who become stuck in the grief and do not experience the recovery at all.

There are ways to help with this process.  And one of them is learning how others have managed with it.  In Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery, you can find those stories of how so many have healed in time.  I have loved every CSftS book that has crossed my path.  They have helped to brighten my days and also to show me just how life goes on.  Have you found that the way these books are laid out with short true stories has helped you?  Thankfully the lovely souls there are willing to share with us once again.  Three are 3 books to giveaway. And it is easy to enter, just leave me a comment.

1. Tell me how you have handled grief and recovery in your life.. That is the first thing you have to do to enter. Make sure I have an email to reach you too!

2. Want an extra entry? Follow me on GFC. If you do....then tell me you do. Gosh that was easy.

3. More ways? Ok follow me on any of the following and tell me how you do it.
Twitter--@CrazedMind Leave me a tweet when you follow or telling me your following.
Face Book--Lenore Keough Webb friend me, let me know your coming from Crazed Mind!
I will pick 3 winners on 3-20-2011. Make sure there are emails in your comments!

I want to also thank That's Baloney! for letting me join up in the perfect pairings once again.  You should join in on any given Sunday.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies of these books to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

Healthy Me, Healthy You Giveaway

I have had it with everyone being sick this winter.  Running from one doctor visit to another.  Loosing months of work.  The horror of not knowing what is going to happen next.  It has been just too much.  So I am taking control of my family and their health.  We have already started with some little things that can make big changes.  Grandma M is in Cardiac Rehab right now.  Dear Hubby is getting out of his walking boot this week and has promised to walk with me every night.  I am back at Curves working out at least 3 times a week.  We jump, run, jive and twist on the Wii in so many different forms and fashions.  I am working on changing to a heart smart diet as I purchase new food each time.  But I think there are more things I can do.

I like 'working' from home so to speak.  And believe in the old country wife who could make up those remedies that later science proved worked.  So now I am finding some of my own with "Home Remedies from a Country Doctor".  This has over 200 solutions for those common illnesses.  We all know that they are putting capsaican into creams to help with aches and pains.  Well that came from a lil known remedy of putting hot pepper into a homemade cream.  And Dear Hubby has been belching so much we are thinking he has been eating zombies for lunch.  But now I am putting a bit of candied ginger in his lunch box.  He is chewing it and not only has sweeter breath but no bad gas either.  Even my friends mom told us to cure pain from arthritis by eating 9 gin soaked golden raisins a day.  She swore it helped her and I know she could really get moving around the house.  So I don't see why I should not also take some tips from the ladies and gents before me.  There is a reason those at home remedies are passed around...they work!

Another thing is I am going to start paying attention to those people who never get sick.  And I am one of them.  Rarely do I come down with the common cold lil on the flu or worse.  I know there are things I am very picky about.  What foods I eat and getting to bed early help me, that I know.  Making sure that foods are not out of date or blinky as my Dear Hubby will say.  I do not like, want or even want to be around someone with food poisoning from eating something that seemed to be okay.  Also there is daily exercise, stretching, yoga, strength training...and you can do it in many ways.  I have told you that hanging clothes instead of using a dryer is not only saving electric but gives you time to stretch from your toes to your head.  Gene Stone wrote "The Secrets of People who Never Get Sick" and I have found that there is a large majority of things that I do like these 25 people tell of their lifestyles.  Of course there is more I can do.  Mostly I want to figure out how to help my family change their ways and become healthier.  You know that old adage of you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. 

The worst issue I have is not getting enough sleep.  I toss and turn and turn and toss til I finally give up and get out of bed.  Some times I get 6 to 7 hours of sleep.  Others I am doing good to get 4 hours.  But I hate taking meds to make me conk out.  So instead I am practicing on how to Master Your Sleep.  There are some of the things I can do easily like no exercise 2 hours before bed and to wind down and read before bedtime.  That is the easy part.  But no caffeine 6 hours before bed is really hard for me.  Since I lay down around 9 pm most evenings that means I have to stop coffee or cokes by 3 pm.  GOSH!  I know that water, milk and juice are great for me but I will say I do love my caffeine.  If I prepare for bed at 9 pm and lay down by 9:30 then sleep normally hits at 10 p.m.  So if I wake at 6 a.m. (which is a great time for me) then I will have 8 hours of sleep.  Perfect.  But I need to also learn how to rest when I sleep.  The tossing and turning and bad dreams and such really does beat up a body.  I do use medications some times.  But I want to learn how to rest on my own if possible.  So I now am looking at what my bedtime practices are.  Am I helping to tell my body it is time to rest and relax, not to just crash.  Tracey Marks has many tried and true ways to help you find the rest cycle you need.  Just stop in and read her book to find out.

But my favorite way of helping take care of my family is by introducing a new Chicken Soup for the Soul book to them.  Perfect for a new year is Shaping the New You.  Here I can find many ways to encourage my family to work on their diet, fitness and that happy balance with in.  It never fails to bring a smile to my face when I am paging through a Chicken Soup for the Soul book.  And that is the same here.  I am meeting folks who have changed their diet and exercise after a heat bypass like my mom.  Others who picked up on moving more with walking and finding ways to lengthen the steps they take as I want to do with Dear Hubby.  Here so many share the ways they have found the balance in their life to be healthy mind, body and soul.  So let's help make that so for you too.  Yes, you got it.....I have 3 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You books to share.  It is easy to win.  Just do the following.

1.  Tell me a way you are helping your family to stay healthy.  That is the first thing you have to do to enter.  Make sure I have an email to reach you too!

2.  Want an extra entry?  Follow me on GFC.  If you do....then tell you you do.  Gosh that was easy.

3.  More ways?  Ok follow me on any of the following and tell me how you do it. 
Twitter--@CrazedMind  Leave me a tweet when you follow or telling me your following
Face Book--Lenore Keough Webb friend me, let me know your coming from Crazed Mind!
I will pick 3 winners on 2-15-2011.  Make sure there are emails in your comments!

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies of these books to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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Merry Christmas from CSftS

I have the winners for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters drawn now. They are:

Charity said...

Well, here goes again:) My sister has a funny quirk of bouncing her leg. No matter where we are or what we are doing her leg is going:D It really gets irritating at a restaurant though. Please enter me in this great giveaway! Thanks!

 

Giant Sis said...

My sisters like to make up nicknames for me. With a name like ELIZABETH, the choices are almost endless! I go by LIZ, but they try to call me any other nickname they can think of! And I always reply "Don't call me that!" so they think it's funny. And we're all over 25 now - so it's not like we're little kids. Sisters, huh?   Heather said...

 ...after reading this I can only sit here & laugh. I don't think I need to comment on this because after all you know the true story of my whole nutty family ...ooopsss did I say that ? Why yes I did ... ROFLMAO ..... it's all good though .....xoxoxoxo...HMM

As a bonus Christmas present I am adding in the newest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Christmas Magic.  This way they can not only read about the nutty things families do but remember the amazing traditions that are brought on in their spirits too. 

I love the forward for this book that if from Santa himself.  In his foreword  Santa Claus writes about how he and Mrs. Claus observe the festivities from the North Pole. He says, “We watch as you reunite scattered family members, enjoy the wonder on the face of a child, feel the joy of gift giving, and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We watch you gather with your communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days.”

There are so many stories here to fill your soul.  I know that this is becoming one of my permanent Christmas traditions.  I have so enjoyed the evenings when I have read a story or two before going to sleep.  I have also slept better having such nice stories rolling around in my mind too.  With 101 stories that just about covers the time for me from Halloween til Christmas to help me get and stay in the spirit!

I also would like to let you know that CSftS has a great facebook page too.  You might wanna visit them there.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.