Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Why did you start to blog? For me, I wanted an outlet to publish, while being involved in a community. The connections I've made through the blogosphere are growing, and I can't express how much I appreciate having friends from Seattle to Austin to Canada and every where in between. When I started blogging, I found a few communities that encouraged making connections and supporting each other. God bless SITS and The Lady Bloggers for introducing me to several of my blog buddies.

Then, I realized that I needed more. I went on a search for a community that welcomed foodies and crafters and bookies and mommy bloggers and the non-mommy blogger, alike. I could not find a site that offered education, networking and fun events. So, I summoned the DIYer in me, and partnered with Gigi of Kludgy Mom to create the site that was the missing piece of the blogosphere.


The Blogger's Concierge is our little baby. The site welcomes bloggers of all niches to join in the fun, much like a grand ole cocktail party! Our "Inside Tips" will guide your blogging, while the "Red Carpet Events" will give you a fun way to interact with other likeminded bloggers. Everyone is invited to join "The A List," which is our directory of bloggers who want to network and most importantly -- have fun!

The A List Affair is the inaugural event. To join in the fun, simply write a post letting us know why you are an "A Lister." It's our way of having you introduce yourself to the crowd. Each week, Gigi and I, "the head concierges" will select one A List blog to be in the weekly spotlight post.

If you are looking for a blog that culls the internet for the best tips, and offers you fun events to participate in, I suggest that you join The Blogger's Concierge. Gigi and I have big plans for the site, and you don't want to miss what we have next.

Visit http://thebloggersconcierge.com to become an ultimate insider!

Whew! Moving day came & went!

Bons Vivants has moved! After much contemplation, Miel Abeille (that's me!) decided to buy her own space on the 'net. Bons Vivants has merged with the companion book review site, Reminder List, to form Miel et Lait.




Miel et Lait is French for honey and milk. The goal of the new site is to nourish and soothe the body, mind and soul through the familiar posts of personal reflection that you are accustomed to here on Bons Vivants. Additionally, Miel et Lait will review books and products geared to enhance quality of life.

The first giveaway is for $50 of free product at Pear Tree, an online greeting card and stationary boutique. They have beautiful products at great prices!

Also, look for a giveaway for the young adult adventure book, The Necromancer: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. The giveaway includes a book and water bottle with a retail value of $25 USD. (Giveaway is for US residents only.)

Thank you for supporting me here at Bons Vivants. I hope to see you at Miel et Lait.

Merger! Reminder List has moved!

Reminder List
has merger with
Bons Vivants
to become

Miel et Lait


http://www.mieletlait.com

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran

What do you do with a bride who has been jilted, not once, but twice? It's 1890 in London, and Gwen was left standing at the altar. Her parents died long ago, and her brother's dieing declaration to his friend was to see that his sister be married. In Wicked Becomes You, by Meredith Duran, the hero learns that sometimes, promises are hard to keep. 

Before Chapter Three even begins, Gwen finds herself in a predicament. Attempting to make her deceased parents proud, she sets off on the tiara trail, only to be left in the dust. Ignoring a letter from a secret admirer, Gwen ponders why all of her discreet social climbing and considerable wealth has left her a young spinster.

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran is a hot tale of wicked desire between two unlikely lovers in Paris during the late nineteenth century.  On a journey to retrieve a missing jewel, they find the jewel she had been searching for all along.

Meredith Duran is a master at historical romance! Fans will love her newest release, while newcomers will be wanting to catch up on all of her books.

Reminder List rates Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran unforgettable, awarding it three out of three stars.

PR Friendly!

Reminder List, a book review blog, and the companion blog, Bons Vivants, are PR friendly!

Reminder List reviews books and products geared towards readers.

Bons Vivants is a blog dedicated to living well. The focus is personal growth and enhancing quality of life. Products that offer convenience and/or indulgence will be best received by readers of Bons Vivants.

Promotional campaigns can be tailored to meet your needs. In addition to book reviews, Reminder List is available to host giveaways and blog tours.

Reminder List is a growing blog, as a result of strong content and participation in social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, and online forums. Your book will be aggressively promoted through the same networks.

In the month of April, 2010, Statcounter has tracked over 600 visitors and over 1000 pageviews.

Contact reminderlistreviews@gmail.com to arrange for a product review and to host your giveaway.

Book Blogger Hop: May 14, 2010

Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the fabulous Friday Book Blogger Hop! The BBH is about connecting with other book bloggers and offering each other encouragement and support while learning about new books.


Here are a few of my recent posts:

• Deceptively Delicious: Sneak veggies into your child's favorite foods!
• The Necromancer: Preview of the book, online game & hint for a giveaway!

If you haven't visited Bons Vivants, my non-book blog, here is a taste:

• For the Pleasure of the Art: Why I write
• Wishes in Limbo: Where do wishes go?

Enjoy the blog hop! Thank you for hopping by!

The Necromancer by Michael Scott

Reminder List is thrilled to present to you The Necromancer: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott.  Reviews, games and a prize awaits!



Being released on May 25, 2010, The Necromancer: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is the fourth book in the best selling series. This installment has Josh and Sophie Newman back at home in San Francisco. Perenelle Flamel is being held in Alcatraz. Over in London, Dee is an outlaw.

This young adult tale is sure to please fans of the series and those just discovering author Michael Scott. To compliment the book, head over to http://www.questforthecodex.com/ to begin your quest for the Codex. After you collect all twenty Codex tiles, you will unlock the code to read the sixth chapter of Necromancer!

Visit Necromancer on Facebook to get hints and clues, and to read the first five chapters!

Want more?

Come back here to Reminder List on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 to read my review of Necromancer and enter to win a paperback copy of the Necromancer as well as a Necromancer water bottle (bpa free.) The retail value is of this prize pack is $25. The giveaway is only open to US Residents only.  

Give away will be posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010! 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Master & The Muses

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.  Each week, a pre-publication book is spotlighted.


This week, I am eagerly anticipating the June 2010 release of Amanda McIntyre's The Master & The Muses. Blending art and literature, does it get better than that?

 From the publisher:

Icon, rebel, unabashed romantic...with a single look, painter Thomas Rodin conveys the ecstasy of creativity-the pleasures awaiting the woman who can fuel his artistry. As fate would have it, he finds that inspiration not in one woman but three: an apprentice milliner, a prostitute and the daughter of a stableman. What follows are three transcendent tales of women bewitched by a master of seduction-a slave as much to his art as to his boundless passion. 

What are you waiting on?

Mailbox Monday (2)

Mailbox Monday is host by Marcia of The Printed Page.  Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


This week, I was lucky to find these books in my mailbox:

Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton

Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect.

Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson

Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join psychiatrist Curt Thompson on an amazing journey to discover the surprising blueprint for transformation hidden inside your own mind.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

...shocking, visceral, brutal, and beautifully crafted story of an abducted woman, her year held captive, and an escape that is just the beginning.

After the Fall by Kylie Ladd

A captivating blend of psychological insight, raw emotion, and rare wisdom courses through this enthralling tale of two marriages brought together by friendship -- and the illicit affair that blows their worlds apart.

What will you be reading this week?

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious is more than a cook book geared for a child's palette. This book is chock full of dietary and nutrition information to help parents make the best choices. Beginning with a foreword by Dr. Roxanna Mehran and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the book includes nutrition advice from guru Joy Bauer. The recipes were tested on Seinfeld's children, affectionately referred to as, "The Kitchen Cabinet."

The early chapters explain how the program works, with advice on how to equip your kitchen, stock your pantry, and prepare the purees. Deceptively Delicious includes instructions on how to prepare purees from eleven vegetables and six fruits. Calorie counts and an explanation of the nutritional value of each fruit and vegetable is thoughtfully explained.

Once you are ready to cook, there are 186 recipes, over forty of the recipes are in the chapter titled, "Mealtime." The balance of the recipes are equally dispersed between breakfast and dessert. The author gives you a choice between purees to use in most of the recipes. For example, in the recipe for Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins, the recipe calls for either carrot or cauliflower and banana puree. Seinfeld claims that the purees blend into the recipes so that the flavor is "as invisible as possible."

Deceptively Delicious is a brilliant book to incorporate nutrition into almost any of your child's favorite dishes. Reminder List rates Deceptively Delicious as unforgettable, earning it three out of three stars. Visit Bons Vivants the week of May 9, 2010 to read a review on how the recipes taste.

Book Blogger Hop: May 7 - May 13, 2010

Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the fabulous Friday Book Blogger Hop! The BBH is about connecting with other book bloggers and offering each other encouragement and support while learning about new books.


Here are a few of my recent posts:

• Book Pairings: matching teas with a book 
• Bookmarks: a selection of gorgeous bookmarks available on Etsy

If you haven't visited Bons Vivants, my non-book blog, here is a taste:

• SMART goal setting: What to expect during the month of May
• Love in three parts: Part one of a trilogy about a first love

Enjoy the blog hop! Thank you for hopping by!

Book Pairings

The best way for me to enjoy a good read is with a nice cup of tea. For some reason, tea sweetened with a quality honey are one of my favorite affordable indulgences. Pair a good book with a good cup of tea and that is a little taste of heaven, if you ask me.

Today's tea picks are:

Yogi Tea's Mexican Sweet Chili: a blend of thirteen flavors, this tea has a sweet kick to start your day. Great pairing for a book that has passion, romance and heat! Suggested reading:  Queen of The South by Arturo Perez-Reverte

St. Dalfour Black Cherry Tea: Hand-picked, organic Ceylon tea selected and blended under the direction of tea experts of St. Dalfour France. Enhanced by the all natural flavor of black cherry. The packaging alone is enough to transport you into a garden of wonder. The subtle black cherry flavor refreshes and soothes. Perfect pairing for a delightful romance. Suggested reading: The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Relaxing Lemon Rooibos: Bohemian, eclectic packaging and relaxing and fresh flavor, pair this tea with a beat poet or new age spiritualist. Suggested reading: Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

Teaser Tuesday: May 4, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Technically speaking, I guess you could say I killed Robert Morgan, but I did it only because he insisted on it, and because death had clearly already gotten its mealy hands on him, and because I knew the very act of asking must have made him madder than hell.


He was lying under his great-grandmother's famous quilt, the one embroidered all over with flowers and vines, some of them nice and neat inside a diamond-edged border and the rest running riot around the edges.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County 

by 

Tiffany Baker

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is host by Marcia of The Printed Page.  Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


This week, I was lucky to find these books in my mailbox:

I Am the Word by Paul Selig will be published in June 2010.

"In a series of enticing, irresistibly practical dialogues, the guides of I Am the Word identify the 'emotional boulders' -- residues of pain, fear, or anger -- that block our true nature.

hand wash cold by Karen Maezen Miller published in May 2010

It's easy to think that meaning, fulfillment, and bliss are "out there," somewhere outside of our daily routine...the compelling voice of a contemporary woman reveals the happiness at the bottom of the laundry basket, the love in the kitchen sink, and the peace possible in one's own backyard.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker published in 2009

Meet Truly Plaice -- part behemoth, part witch, part Cinderella.

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews published 2005, 2010

The Heart Mender is a story of life, loss, and reconciliation, reminding us the power of forgiveness and the universal healing experience of letting go.

Did you notice in the photo that there are two copies of The Heart Mender? The publisher graciously offered me a second copy for Reminder List's inaugural giveaway. Stay tuned to read the review and enter to win a copy for yourself!

What did you get in your mail box?

Bookmarks

What self respecting book lover would be without a beautiful bookmark? Some books deserve better than dog eared pages or a grocery store receipt to note the spot you left off.  Here are a few gorgeous handmade bookmarks from my friends at Etsy.

For thirty-six dollars, you can have this sterling silver with Swarovski crystal bookmark which is handmade by The Little Shop of Sparkles.  Dangling from the shepherd's hook are crystal balls, bicones, butterflies and cubes. The Little Shop of Sparkles will customize your bookmark in any color to suit your tastes.  Based in London, England, The Little Shop of Sparkles ships throughout the United Kingdom, as well as internationally. 
Visit The Little Shop of Sparkles at 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tlsos

"Daisy Face" is a five inch long bookmark with floral embossing and a pendant frame attached. A sunny photograph of a daisy will peer out over the edges of your book. Designed by Jude of Wearable Art by Jude, this bookmark costs only sixteen dollars. 


Bee-ing a "Melissa," the bumble bee bookmark from Nature Made Scents made sense to me! How adorable is this wire twist bookmark fashioned into a busy bee that hovers at the last page you read?  Melissa is Greek for honeybee, but in plain English, this bookmark is a sweet addition to my book nook. Pam, the designer, hand twists each book'marker™.  See more of her handmade creations at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NatureMadeScents

The Prolific Blogger Award

Sincere thanks to Becki at Confessions of a Bibliophile for awarding me with The Prolific Blogger Award! What is a prolific blogger, you ask?

A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs.

And the award goes to....

Jessica at Mia Ma Miah's Diaries

Sheila at Book Journey

Elan at Honest Reflections from a Split Mind

Jenny at Take Me Away

Carrie at In the Hammock

Anna at Frosted Petunias

Colleen at Adventures of a Small Town Girl

Book Blogger Hop: April 30 - May 6, 2010

Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the fabulous Friday Book Blogger Hop! The BBH is about connecting with other book bloggers and offering each other encouragement and support while learning about new books.

Here are a few of my recent reviews:

• Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition
• WOW: A Handbook for Living

If you haven't visited Bons Vivants, my non-book blog, here is a taste:

• Open Letter to Mama M (funny!)
• My guest post at Mia Ma Miah's Diaries (even funnier!)
  

Enjoy the blog hop! Thank you for hopping by!

Love's Alchemy transated by David & Sabrineh Fideler

Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition translated from the Persian by David and Sabrineh Fideler is the perfect anthology of poems to honor National Poetry month. The collection features a range of Sufi poems, including the most notable Sufi poets, Rūmī and Hāfiz. If you are not familiar with Sufi poetry, one could say that you haven't really lived. The words of these poets drip with romanticism. Even after translated into English, much of the poems are written in a code, which

"provides the reader with an ongoing source of delight -- for as the reader's understanding continues to expand, the same poems can continue to reveal deeper levels of meaning over the course of many years."

After a thorough introduction to Sufi poetry, the translators include close to 175 poems which exude passion, love and an exuberance for life. Each poem lingers in the soul, provoking a mysterious connection to the poets of another culture. Each poem captures a very specific sentiment that cannot be described, but only felt. At the conclusion of the book, the translators offer an introductory course on understanding Persian poems. Additionally, a glossary of common Sufi metaphors is provided to assist in the reader's appreciation of the poems.


"It would be me," by Pūr Bahā Jāmī is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy this Sufi poem as much as I do.

It would be me

Drunk on love's wine?

That would be me.

Broke a thousand vows?

That would be me.

Crazy yet learned--

Scoundrel yes saint--

If anyone is like that

it would be me.

Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition translated by David and Sabrineh Fideler is now available in paperback. This anthology of Sufi poems is unforgettable, earning it three out of three stars. Reminder List highly recommends Love's Alchemy for every poetry lovers library.

Waiting on Wednesday: Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.  Each week, a pre-publication book is spotlighted.

This week, I am eagerly anticipating the June 2010 release of Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson, MD.

From Tyndale Publishers: Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join Curt Thompson, M.D., on an amazing journey to discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people.

Have you missed a recent review? Check out these great books:

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy

The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer

Teaser Tuesday: April 27, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
•  Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
• Leave a comment with the link to your TT post. If you don't have a blog, leave your teaser in the comments. 

"Rick was tired of arguing with her about this. He knew she needed professional therapy but there just didn't seem to be any way to convince her of it's importance."

Title: Questionable Therapy
Author: Steve Godofsky

 Recently reviewed by Reminder List:

The Bad Queen by Carolyn Meyers
Obedience by Will Lavender
Wow: A Handbook for Living by Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono

Wow: A Handbook for Living by Ohaski & Kurazono

The brilliant red and crisp white on the cover of Wow: A Handbook for Living by Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono projects the zen undertones of the book. Red is the feng shui color representing fire and passion. White is symbolic of clarity and precision. The pages within the handbook are filled with exercises and photographs in a stark black and white. The graphic design of Wow: A Handbook for Living cannot be a mistake, as the blend of red, white, and black -- a feng shui color of ease and purity -- combine to compliment the inspiring lessons which will bring harmony to the reader's life.

Within the pages of the book, there are thirty one questions for the reader to contemplate.  The questions are not rhetorical.  The authors encourage the reader to complete each exercise slowly, going so far as to write in the preface, "Whatever you do, don't be in a hurry. Don't try to master this book in three weeks."  Many of the exercises in Wow: A Handbook for Living can be completed in a few minutes. To reap the maximum benefit of the lesson, it is best to digest the question before responding.

In one hundred and fifty pages, authors Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono act as the reader's life coach.  Each page provides questions and commentary to be contemplated over before progressing to the next lesson. Having begun the lessons, I can testify to the positive outcome of the thought provoking questions. Question number one of Wow: A Handbook for Living is "What's working for you?" After days of pondering the question, my response was simple -- there is a lot working in my life to smile about.  Ohashi and Kurazono's first exercise led me to my inaugural "Sunday Smiles" post on Bons Vivants.

Any person who enjoys quiet introspection and desires personal growth will enjoy Wow: A Handbook for Living by Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono. Impressive is Reminder List's rating of Wow: A Handbook for Living, giving it two out of three stars.

Free books (?)

Photograph courtesy of Billy Alexander

Earth Day came and went, and all I did to acknowledge the day was to bring my reusable bags to the grocery store. Had I planned, I'm sure that I could have better honored the day. In the spirit of Earth Day, here are a few suggestions on how to recycle unwanted books. My suggestions will help you re-home your gently used books, and you can find almost free books for yourself. I used the word almost, because the following sites do not currently charge a fee for their service. While, the books are free, the shipper must pay postage. Using media mail, the shipping for most books averages three dollars. With the exception for the price of shipping and packaging, book swapping is an excellent source to find free books.

Book swapping is similar to a barter exchange between owners of books. There are several websites which act like the middle man, pairing owners of a books with someone who wants a book. Each site has its nuances. Here are the summaries of three well known book swapping sites.


BookMooch.com is a points based swapping site. Points based means that you can send out books you want to part with, and you will earn one point for sending the book to a person requesting your book. Additionally, you earn a tenth of a point for every book you list on your bookshelf.  You can also earn a tenth of a point for confirming receipt of a requested book. The benefit of this system is that you can clean off your book shelves, while earning points which will accumulate until you are ready to use them.

PaperBackSwap.com is similar to Book Mooch, except that the books cost credits. Credits are earned by mailing out books or you can buy credits. Upon signing up, the company offers you free credits for listing ten books to be swapped on your bookshelf.  Each book costs one credit, audio books are two credits each.

Books are traded on a "first in, first out" basis. Basically, if there are 500 copies of a book listed, and you just listed the 501 copy, you will have a significant wait before book leaves your shelf. Also, wished for books are granted in the same fashion. PaperBackSwap, or PBS, also offers a subscription service in which you can directly swap with another member.  Finally, PBS has an active forum which discusses all genres of books and book related topics.


SwapTree.com is a media swapping site. Books, video games, CDs, and DVDs are all eligible to be traded for each other. When an item is listed for trade, the owner indicates its condition, such as "like new." Swap Tree differs from Book Mooch and PaperBackSwap in that you immediately send out your item and receive an item once when they have negotiated a trade for you. There is no accumulation of points. 

Before joining, read the terms for any site that you choose to sign up for.  Each site has a disclosure that their terms may change at any time. It is always a smart idea to read the fine print.  However, having had experience with all three swap sites that I mentioned, I can strongly recommend Paper Back Swap. By clicking on the banner beneath to join PBS, I can earn a referral fee. Leave me a comment if you join, and I will check out your shelf to see what books you have to offer.