Reminder List

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

2010-06-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-05-19T07:52:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-05-18T10:50:00.000-04:00

Reminder List
has merger with
Bons Vivants
to become

Miel et Lait

http://www.mieletlait.com

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran

2010-05-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-05-14T07:18:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-14T07:06:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-14T04:49:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-12T11:16:00.000-04:00

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)

2010-05-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-09T18:15:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-06T07:45:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

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

Tiffany Baker

Mailbox Monday

2010-05-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-02T08:58:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-02T02:01:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-29T23:54:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-28T22:50:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-28T13:30:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-27T00:32:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

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 (?)

2010-04-25T10:55:00.000-04:00

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.

Book Blogger Hop: April 23 - April 29, 2010

2010-04-23T03:19:00.000-04:00

Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the fabulous Friday Book Blogger Hop! This is the first week that I am participating, and I invite you to join in the fun! The BBH is about connecting with other book bloggers and offering each other encouragement and support while learning about new books.

New book bloggers I was introduced to from the April 23, 2010 hop include:

Molly from Media Molly (book & movie reviews!)
Carrie from In the Hammock (YA and historical fiction)
Cat from Tell Me a Story (favorite genres are historical fiction and suspense thrillers)
Emily from Emily's Reading Room (children & YA)
Caroline from Portrait of a Woman (prefers YA, fantasy & strong female characters)

Want to join the fun? Hop over to Crazy-For-Books!

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

2010-04-21T19:20:00.003-04:00

Carolyn Meyer's latest edition to the Young Royals series is the historical fiction novel, The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette. With an authentic voice, Meyer illustrates the life of a young Antonia, the name Marie Antoinette was known as during her youth in Austria. Written as a first person account, The Bad Queen reads like a diary of a young woman whose life begins and ends as being nothing more than a political pawn. Divided into four parts, the reader is introduced to the woman history has attributed with saying, "Let them eat cake!"

Fans of young adult fiction will enjoy Meyer's novel which begins in the year 1768. Part one of The Bad Queen documents the struggles of a young Antonia, who has been forced into an arranged marriage at the behest of her mother, the Empress. Each chapter begins with a rule given to Antonia, with the first rule for the Dauphine being to "marry well." The reader cannot help but sympathize with a young girl forced to change her name and appearance in an effort to benefit Austria, her native country.

With each successive rule, Meyer clearly paints a portrait of Marie Antoinette that contradicts the overwhelming impressions most closely associated with the famous Queen of France. Throughout part one, I could not help but pity Marie Antoinette. She was desperately trying to please her mother, while marrying a man who showed no interest in her and was unwelcome by the Parisians. Blamed for everything, Marie Antoinette is an easy scapegoat for all the ills of the era.

The Bad Queen begins from a little known perspective of Marie Antoinette. After the death of her mother, the story begins to flow with Marie Antoinette evolving into the frivolous persona she is most closely associated with. Due to the way Meyer introduces the reader to Marie Antoinette, the reader cannot help but feel compassion for her. Deprived of love and ridiculed for her inability to produce an heir in a timely fashion, Marie Antoinette seeks solace in superficial belongings and the arms of a devoted lover.

Historical fiction fans and any reader who enjoys a tragic romance will surely enjoy Caroline Meyer's The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette. Reminder List rates this book as unforgettable, earning it three stars!

Obedience by Will Lavender

2010-04-21T01:11:00.002-04:00

Some thrillers are page turners with each page leaving the reader wanting more. Obedience by Will Lavender is classified as a thriller. Unfortunately, with every turn of the page I was wanting more substance. With every turn of the page I was wanting the book to finally end. I could not avoid finishing the book, because I had high hopes that with the next turn of the page, the action would begin. That was not the case.

The plot of Will Lavender's Obedience centers on "the Polly experiment." Students in a college philosophy class are given the hypothetical case of Polly, a female who has been kidnapped. Polly will be murdered if the students are unable to save her before the end of the semester. It does not take long before the lines begin blurring the reality from the fantasy. A few students become too emotionally involved in the case of the missing girl, forgetting that she is fictional. The book ends with a Romeo & Juliet twist.

While the premise of Obedience is promising, the execution was disappointing. Will Lavender falls short of the mark with the development of not only the plot, but the characters were weak, as well. Obedience is nothing more than a social experiment to see how many people will plod through reading this torture device that is disguised as a book. At best, Reminder List can only rate Obedience as ordinary.

Obedience
Will Lavender
ISBN: 9780307396105
Rating: Ordinary

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

2010-04-18T12:04:00.004-04:00

In 1997, Don Miguel Ruiz first published his 138 page book of Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements. Thirteen years later, his book continues to be a guide for those with the desire to live “a way of life, distinguished by the ready accessibility of happiness and love.” In four simple guidelines, Ruiz enables the reader to break free from habits which limit one’s ability to experience happiness, love and freedom.

The four agreements include:

1. Be impeccable with your word

2. Don’t take anything personally

3. Don’t make assumptions

4. Always do your best

Ruiz introduces the importance of these four simple agreements which, when put into action, can change a person’s life experience. Each agreement is defined and illustrated with examples of how easily one can implement the agreement. Conversely, living without the simplicity of Toltec wisdom can lead to a life of frustration, anger and resentment.

One of the most poignant statements Ruiz makes is in the chapter titled, “The Toltec Path to Freedom.” He states, “As children we are not afraid of the future of ashamed of the past.” The Four Agreements coaches the reader into recapturing the joy of living once thought to be reserved for childhood.

The Four Agreements
Don Miguel Ruiz
ISBN: 1-878424-31-9
Rating: Unforgettable

*Don Miguel Ruiz's anticipated sequel, The Fifth Agreement, is available now!

Everyday Greatness by Stephen R. Covey

2010-04-16T22:49:00.005-04:00

David K. Hatch has compiled a collection of stories and quotes that truly provide the reader "inspiration for a meaningful life." Everyday Greatness is divided into seven examples of living a meaningful life, each example is then examined through three principles. The commentary from Stephen R. Covey introduces the three principles which illustrate an aspect of living a meaningful life. Each of the twenty-one chapters concludes with a wrap-up and questions for reflection.

Everyday Greatness is more than a compilation of short stories first published in Reader's Digest. This publication is an accumulation of motivating words compelling the reader to choose to act, to live with purpose and with principles. After reading over four hundred pages of thought provoking anecdotes, Covey provides an afterword with six suggestions on how to put the principles of Everyday Greatness into practice.

The most distinguishable characteristic of Everyday Greatness is that it reads as though it was custom written for me. In each story, I could relate to either the person I am, or the person I aspire to be. In chapter ten, Covey begins with,

"All things are created twice. All things. Vision is the first creation."

Without vision, there can be no action. In the ensuing pages, I realized that I had lost my vision a long time ago. Everyday Greatness replaced my blindness with a desire to envision the life I want, so that I can act upon that vision. I highly recommend Everyday Greatness to any reader wanting to find more greatness in their life.

Everyday Greatness
Stephen R. Covey, David K. Hatch
Thomas Nelson
Self-Help/Personal Growth
ISBN-13: 978-1-4016-0241-3
464 pages
Hardcover- pub. October 10, 2006
Rating: Unforgettable

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a complimentary copy of Everyday Greatness!

Donatella Cooks

2010-04-13T12:29:00.005-04:00

Despite the availability of recipes online, nothing replaces a genuine cookbook to flip through during those times when you need to find just the right menu for an occasion -- whether it be a mundane Tuesday evening or a dinner party to celebrate a milestone. I have found few cookbooks which I can honestly say that I would try each recipe, and Donatella Cooks is definitely one of them. Each recipe is the perfect blend of artisan and sophisticate.

Beginning with hors d' oeuvres and progresses through a six course meal, ending with dessert, author Donatella Arpaia provides clear instruction and precise advice on where to find specialty ingredients. Some recipes include the notation, "Donatella Clicks," which lists the alternatives for where one might find specialty items or a directs you to a website for purchase. The recipe for "Baked Buffalo Ricotta" includes the suggestion to find fresh ricotta at www.buonitalia.com. In addition to the purchasing suggestions, Arpaia provides menu suggestions for seasons and occasions.

Donatella Arpaia is a restaurateur in New York City and well as a judge on the Food Network's Who will be the next Iron Chef? On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, Ms. Arpaia appeared on NBC's Today to demonstrate how to prepare the Gruyere and spinach souffle from Donatella Cooks. The instructional video and recipe can be found on Today's website by clicking here.

Photographer Anna Williams must be acknowledged for capturing the recipes to mouth watering perfection. Between the recipes, food styling and photography, Donatella Cooks is an unforgettable cookbook!

Donatella Cooks
Donatella Arpaia
Rodale Books
Cookbook
ISBN-13: 978-1605296425
272 pages
Hardcover- pub. April 13, 2010
Rating: Unforgettable

Readathon Progress Report

2010-04-10T17:11:00.002-04:00

The books I would have liked to have read during the readathon:

The Late Bloomer's Revolution: A memoir by Amy Cohen
Buddha by Deepak Chopra
The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore
Finding Grace by Donna VanLiere
The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
Everyday Greatness edited by Steven Covey

Instead, I reviewed "What's New, Cupcake?" and had a craving from something fresh baked, so I paused the readathon to bake these:

Progress so far:

Pages read:
14pgs- The Kitchen Boy
2 Pages - Bleeding Heart Square
20 pages - The Postmistress
34 pages - Everyday Greatness

Brownies Eaten:
medium sized- 2
2 bite sized- 3

Books reviewed:
1- What's New, Cupcake?

I suppose all progress is relative, yes?

What's New, Cupcake?

2010-04-10T15:32:00.003-04:00

Every parent of a young child needs to have this cupcake decorating book in their personal library! What's New, Cupcake? is filled with breathtaking designs for every occasion. Authors Karen Tack and Alan Richardson deliver page after page of simply stunning photographs of confectionery feats. In nine chapters, the authors guide the reader from the basics on how to bake a firm cupcake (the secret ingredient is buttermilk) to selecting decorating supply and tools, and recipes to decorate eye catching cupcakes. The book ends with advice on how to manipulate box cake mixes into a variety of unique flavors, as well as an "almost homemade butter cream frosting" and variations to that.

No one can deny that the authors delivered "ingeniously simple designs for every occasion." While some decorating recipes are more intricate than others, such as the Pork Lo Mein cupcake, every chapter includes at least one "EZ" decorating idea. My only criticism of this book is that these cupcakes are meant to be looked at, and not eaten. Who wants to eat a cupcake decorated in strips of Wrigley's Wintermint gum or Circus Peanuts and Laffy Taffy? Cupcakes covered in candy is essentially the backbone of each recipe.

What's New, Cupcake? serves as a wonderful inspiration to be a little more creative with how you frost and decorate cupcakes. Elementary school children with enjoy the aesthetic of the cupcakes and will be able to have their cake and eat the candy, too.

What's New, Cupcake
Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Cookbook- Desserts
ISBN-13: 978-0547241814
240 pages
Paperback - April 1, 2010
Rating: Noteworthy

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

2010-04-07T14:57:00.004-04:00

"It won't be pretty for a while, my friends, but we'll get through it together," from page 73 of Jordan Christy's "How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World" sums up Christy's approach to mentoring women who want to live "with style, class and grace." Unlike a self help book, Christy has written a reference manual of modern etiquette that draws on the wisdom of old-fashioned advice.

In the introduction, Christy acquaints the reader with the "Stupid Girls," who epitomize the antithesis of living with style, class and grace. Christy's aim is to

"make intelligent look attractive! Can we do it? Again, I say YES! But first, you must know what you're up against in a Stupid Girl world. It's easy to slide into stupidity with just a few small, bad choices, so we need to be on the lookout for them ahead of time."

The ensuing chapters provide concrete examples of how one can make the choices that will reap huge benefits towards building the character of a woman who emulates style, class and grace. Her advice may not cover new ground, for example one of her key points is the importance to maintain eye contact during conversation, but what is unique is her ability to convey valuable life lessons in a non-preaching manner. Instead of lecturing on how a woman should act, Christy shares her insight on how a woman can respect herself.

"How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World" reads almost like a diary complied of advice from a woman who with a strong sense of self respect. Jordan Christy inspires the reader to demonstrate self respect from how you spend your time to the people you spend time with, from your words to your actions. In a flawless manner, "How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World" nudges the reader into being a stronger woman.

Unforgettable is the best description for "How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World," as well as this reader's rating. This is a fantastic gift for a high school graduate!

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World
Jordan Christy
Center Street
Reference-Etiquette
ISBN-13: 978-1599951836
196 pages
Hardcover - August 13, 2009
Rating: Unforgettable

Denial of Sunlight

2010-04-06T15:24:00.003-04:00

Robert Troy's first novel, Denial of Sunlight, is 333 pages of mystery, shock and awe. Beginning with a life changing discovery made by two brilliant, yet greedy, post-doctoral candidates on Christmas eve 1987, the story hooks the reader into a world of chemistry and physics leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The independent story lines and their characters are woven together to create an explosion of strong characters driven by a cohesive plot. While much of the mystery is based on an engineering project with details only a physics professor would be familiar with, Troy explains just enough of the science to allow the lay man to understand its importance to the plot.

The heroine of Denial of Sunlight, Katherine Murkowitz, is an engineer at a professional crossroads due to an unexplained accident at her previous employer. With her tail between her legs, she moves back to her hometown, depressed and financially unstable. Once Pittsburgh Power Pegs, "PPP," offers her a position that seems too good to be true, the action begins to heat up. Katherine finds herself and the small staff of PPP transferred to a production facility in China, working on a secretive project. Censorship, espionage and terror ensue.

Fans of medical mystery writers Michael Palmer and Robin Cook will most likely enjoy Denial of Sunlight, as the book is a provocative peak into the world of physics and its applications, twisted into a thrilling dooms day scenario. The element of political corruption heightens the thrill. An unexpected surprise awaits the reader as the book draws to a close. Denial of Sunlight certainly has me curious to read the next book by Robert Troy.

Denial of Sunlight
Robert Troy
Outskirts Press
Fiction-Triller
ISBN-13: 978-1432751265
333 pages
Hardcover - December 1, 2009
Rating: Noteworthy

The Ten Golden Rules

2010-02-20T15:13:00.003-05:00

When I first came across "The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient wisdom from the Greek philosophers on living the good life," I thought the book would be an interesting self-help book. My assumption was that the book would be used as a guide to living "the good life" with philosophies that could be applied to any person. The concept is to employ the theories of the antiquity on contemporary life in a manner that serves as handbook for self discovery.

Authors Michael A. Soupios and Panos Mourdoukoutas begin the book with ten rules adopted from the teachings of ten Greek philosophers. Each successive chapter begins with a case study of a person who life is in opposition to the rule and one whose life illustrates the rule. The first rule, "Examine Life," is inspired by Plato and his classic quote, "The unexamined life isn't worth living." The subsequent pages attempt to explain the foundation of the rule.

In my opinion, the book contains a handful of useful nuggets of wisdom, such "cross examining life is an act of courage," (p.8) and the philosophy of ataraxia (a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquillity) but are unfortunately surrounded by cliched illustrations. For example, rule three is "Treasure Friendship." The case studies describe two women, one whom lives a life filled with expensive clothes, dinners, and short term romantic relationships, and can name dozens of people as her friends, while the other lives a very "g-rated" life an has only two friends.

While I agree that the acquaintance-ships or "utility friendships," as the authors refer to them, might not enhance one's life, I disagree with their constant preference of living very modestly in terms of finance and friendships, that by living minimally, one's life will be enriched. To be fair, the authors do not advocate living in poverty as a means to genuinely appreciating life, but each case study and its analysis favors living with less in all aspects of life.

Not including the preface and introduction, the book totals one hundred pages. Perhaps if the authors had more thoroughly developed their ideas about Greek philosophy and its application to modern life, I would have a clearer understanding about how to utilize the wisdom of the ancient Greeks. Unfortunately, I feel like the book was published before the final draft was written.

I would not discourage anyone from reading "The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient wisdom from the Greek philosophers on living the good life," but I would advise you to keep your expectations low. Noteworthy is the the most honest rating for "The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient wisdom from the Greek philosophers on living the good life."

For product information...

The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient wisdom from the Greek philosophers on living the good life
Michael A. Soupios and Panos Mourdoukoutas
Non-Fiction-Self-Help/Philosophy
Hampton Roads Publishing
ISBN-10: 1571746056
ISBN-13: 978-1571746054
128 pages
$15.95
Hardcover- April 10, 2009
Rating: Noteworthy

Reminder List Facelift

2010-02-16T14:50:00.002-05:00

Typing this, all I can hear is the echo from my finger tips hitting the keyboard and the anxiety of knowing that when I started Reminder List, I had a vision of a blog that encompassed all aspects of my life, the epicenter of which is books. Unfortunately, with a divided focus, I was not able to create a meaningful reading, or writing, experience.

After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Reminder List should be a dedicated book blog. In addition to reviewing books currently in my library, and flirting with those classic books that "should" be read by any genuine bibliophile, I hope to earn the respect of authors and review their unpublished or newly published books. As a reader and a writer, I have always had a strong desire to advocate for books like a cheerleader rooting on the home team.

With the onset of the Chinese New Year, I have been busy designing a second blog, independent of Reminder List, which will be the blog which balances my divergent interests. Bons Vivants is a blog for those who are dedicated to the enjoyment of life, especially good food and drink. Bons Vivant is about nourishing the mind, body and soul, and appreciating life with all the senses.

Reminder List will be strictly book reviews, and Bons Vivants will be reviewing the remainder of what makes my life a life lived well. Hope you join me!

Author Interview: J.W. Nicklaus

2009-08-10T08:14:00.004-04:00

Author J.W. Nicklaus generously granted me an interview with him to discuss his recently published collection of short stories, "The Light, The Dark & Ember Between."

1) In the preface, you wrote, "While I'm not retelling any one individual's story, perhaps save my own..." and the author bio mentions that you are a single father. Then, the collection begins with four men who lose a woman in their life. Coupling those nuggets of information, I can't help but wonder, what are the parallels between your experiences and the experiences of the characters in your stories?

That is a wonderfully profound question, and I'm not entirely certain my answer can live up to the question itself!

Within the stories there are parts of my personal character within some of the storied characters. With all I share a bond of time-worn romanticism--a sometimes melancholy, sometimes many hued ideal. I revel in the sweeping kind of romantic throes exhibit by the father in Emissary, and smile with every smaller gesture like that in Paper Doll. Losing someone who so divinely occupies your heart was the focus of Requiem For Linny. The story idea itself came from seeing a painting in the Phoenix Museum of Art--the storyline wasn't based upon the loss of a person, however, rather the loss of a relationship. I tried to manifest that feeling in Buck's actions and in the way he laments the loss of his love.

I find it intriguing that you mention the first four stories, because Broken is one of those. I intentionally left the story's conclusion open-ended because I wanted the reader to decide, in their own mind, what the actual result was: 'hard' or 'soft'. I was interviewed by one of our local newspapers, and the reporter (a male, mind you) had read the book and asked me specifically about that ending. He was looking for a definitive ending, because I think we are somewhat conditioned to that. What if the ending isn't what you thought? That one clandestine piece is a haunting definition for Hope, is it not?

My experiences are not the least bit unique--they're the same as yours or any one else's. I've simply tried to take mine and give them some form, a vehicle for my own catharsis. What I hope brings the characters to life is the ability of the reader to relate and empathize, which in turn evokes emotion. Many of the decisions we make in our lives are predicated upon passion. I wrote the stories sheerly as a way for me to manifest something internally into a different realm.

2) Juxtaposed against men who are depicted as flawed and fragile, the women of "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between" are described with an almost ethereal quality, personifying beauty and strength. What was your inspiration for the characters?

You've hit upon a hot button of mine. I have long felt that women hold a latent but stunning power over men. Sure, we can be macho and do all the things that men are typically associated with, but I genuinely believe that even the hardest of men has some true weakness, in some way, that a woman can exploit. We need their tenderness and nurturing, their playfulness, their softness. Women, to me, are beautiful and strong. That's not to say all men are weak, mind you. Women just have a silken way of separating man from beast. As much as I try to explain it, it becomes more apparent that it's inexplicable . . . yet inarguably without heartfelt reproach

The inspiration? All for the love of a woman; a simple statement, yes, but so very layered. What other soul-rending emotion could better illustrate the flawed nature of men than love. There is a tangible, palpable feeling that I draw from--the ancient Greeks and many artists refer to the muse, while I feel my muse is far more spiritual in her inspiration, and as such is my angel

3) In the spirit of "Ten word quickie," define "ember between."

I am currently working on a couple.(Ed. note: Mr. Nicklaus generously provided an amazing answer befitting its own post. Come back tomorrow for his creative response!)>

4) I mentioned in my review that you write with poetic beauty. Is poet on your resume? What path did you take to arrive where you are now -- with a collection of short stories being reviewed all over the bloggosphere, podcast interviews, and signings at book stores?

You know, I have a hard time with the label of 'poet' -- not that I don't respect it, but it carries an aura of ornate literary means, and I'm not the least bit convinced that the two poems I've had published necessarily fit that criteria. I write as I feel best befits the situation. Sometimes the only way to accomplish the right moment is to be respectfully beautiful while remaining true to the story and characters. I'll give you an example from one of the stories I'm currently working on, Rhapsody In Blue, in which a woman finds herself alone in a lifeboat after suffering some injuries in an accident she has yet to remember: All I could see around me was water; reflecting sunlight made it twinkle, as if a hundred clear night skies had fallen into it.

Poetic? That's not for me to say, really. But I do believe it's respectfully beautiful and describes the way the sun comes off the ocean.

You've pretty much nailed the path . I did a virtual blog tour with Pump Up Your Book Volume, working with a wonderful coordinator by the name of Dorothy Thompson. I have to say, it's a lot of work but worth every minute if you approach it properly. I did some research into VBT's before going with PUYBV, and ultimately my instincts screamed at me to go with them. Honestly, it was one of those 'little voice' kind of moments. I was richly rewarded for heeding it, too. It was a fantastic experience for me, and to this day I remain in contact with a good number of those folks.

By the time this posts, I will have done my first book signing here in Tempe, Arizona. The bookstorewas Changing Hands, and it's no shrinking violet in independent bookstore circles. They get big name authors all the time for their events: J.A. Jance, David Ewing Duncan (NPR 'Biotech Nation' host and contributor to National Geographic), and Jennifer Steinhauer (New York Times L.A. bureau chief) -- and that's just a sample of their July authors! I'm fortunate to be listed amongst such contributors.

5) How long do those of us who have read, and loved, "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between" have to wait before we can read more J.W. Nicklaus?

I am currently working on a couple other short stories, one of which I hope to have completed within a month. Once I'm confident it's polished to my liking/standards I'm thinking of offering it as a bonus to those who have purchased the book already, or certainly to those who have reviewed it. I've been tinkering with a much longer novel for some years now, and I really need to get back into that. Tentatively it's entitled Eden, about a woman who has a rooftop garden that gets her involved in things she's never contemplated before. In true Nicklaus fashion, there is more than a hint of romanticism involved, unwittingly on her part. If I really put my self back into it I suppose I could have it ready for pre-press in about a year. In the meantime, I'll keep working on the short stories and will see where they take me.

6) What message do you hope readers will keep with them after they've finished reading the last page of the collection?

Hope isn't always right in front of our eyes, nor always at hand when we most want it--but it's always there. Always nurture your dreams, because they bring color to Hope. Perhaps the best message overall is stated by Marcus Aurelius at the end of Emissary . . . but I can't reveal it here without spoiling the story, so you'll just have to read the book to find out ;^)

7) Shameless promotion time! Here's your chance to share the social networking tools can readers can use to connect with you, where are you on the bloggosphere, etc.

First, and most importantly, I am grateful that you took the time to provide me this list of questions, and for giving me the opportunity to delve a little deeper behind-the-scenes, if you will. I was only too happy to do it! I really had to take some time to think about the answers to these questions--this was good stuff.

My web site, http://www.avomnia.com/, is geared more towards my writing and approach to the same. You can find more informaton about me, other things I've written, reviews and other info about the book, including a book trailer and links to my Blog Talk Radio interviews and all my Blog Tour stops. You can order an autographed copy of my book from there as well!

My blog, avomnia.wordpress.com, is far more dynamic and contains my ruminations on pretty much whatever I'm thinking about at the moment I write. Use the Tag Cloud to find a topic that might interest you, or just browse around a bit. I'm pretty good about interacting with my readers, so leave a comment!

I do have a Facebook page, but in all honesty I'm not very good about keeping up with it, but I do check occasionally, so ifyou're in the neghborhood by all means look me up ;^) You can reach me through my web site (jwnicklaus@avomnia.com), lostpenguin1@cox.net, or my blog, and I certainly enjoy getting mail from fans :^)

Read my full review here!

Giveaway: Tech Savvy Mama

2009-07-24T18:54:00.006-04:00

1-800 Flowers is Tech Savvy Mama's website of the week, and she has partnered with them to give one lucky winner a $50 gift certificate to 1-800 Flowers!

Many people think that flowers are a luxury that will wilt and die within days. I have only been the lucky recipient of flowers on a few occasions, but from my experience, the sentiment delivered with the flowers lasts forever.

1-800 Flowers offers beautiful arrangements in a variety of price points, and a variety of gifts, including plants and gourmet baskets.

Additionally, 1-800 Flowers offers same day local florist delivery with a click of a mouse! Gifts from 1-800 Flowers will brighten the day of a friend and loved one, while supporting a small business owner.

Head over to Tech Savvy Mama's website for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to 1-800 Flowers!

Psst- What are you waiting for? Tech Mama is giving you an extra entry in the giveaway!

For extra entries, do any of the following and leave a separate comment on Tech Savvy Mama's Blog.

* If you aren’t going to BlogHer, leave a comment telling me so.
* Tweet this and leave me a link to your Tweet: @techsavvymama is giving away $50 to 1800Flowers.com. Enter here: http://www.techsavvymama.com
* Share the giveaway on Facebook and put your Facebook name in your comment: I’m trying to win $50 in flowers from 1800Flowers.com from Tech Savvy Mama: http://www.techsavvymama.com
* Post about this giveaway on your blog include the permalink in your comment.

Brainy Dancer

2009-07-22T23:12:00.002-04:00

I can't help but hum Elton John's Tiny Dancer whenever I see the right brain/left brain dancer. Watch her pirouette.

According to an article published on Perth Now, most people see her spin anti-clockwise. If you see her spin counter clockwise, you use more of your left brain than right, and those who see her twirl clockwise are using their right mind.

I see her spinning clockwise, but for me, she usually spins clockwise to 3 o'clock, then pivots, and spins counter-clockwise to 9 o'clock, where she pivots again and repeats her 180° path across the upper hemisphere.

After the jump, characteristics of each brain function, and a quiz!

Left Brains:
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

Right Brains:
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

Hemispheric Dominance Inventory Test

Let's Be Friends!

2009-07-22T21:41:00.002-04:00

The lovely Sheila, of Book Journey, has flattered me with the "Let's Be Friends" award.

"Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and befriends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers."

Without further ado, here are the bloggers I would like to call friends:

Trin at Bloody Bad
Jenny at Take Me Away
Natasha at Maw Books Blog
Kim at Passion & Art

The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between

2009-07-20T09:35:00.006-04:00

After I finished reading "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between," I emailed the author, "I'm still letting the book sink in, because I felt like I was on a little emotional roller coaster of "ooh, what's next! oh, that's sad! no, not sad--bittersweet! Sweet, it's sweet!" I guess I could say it feels draining, but in a good way, because it drains despair and fills you with hope."

J.W. Nicklaus's collection of fifteen short stories begins with "Emissary," a story about a father living in a lighthouse, with his son, daughter-in-law, and mysterious need to keep vigil over the ocean. With each page, the story "invit[es] the soul to wander in abysses of solitude." (Kate Chopin, The Awakening) Just as the waves of the ocean roll into a crashing crescendo, "Emissary" progresses from mysterious to familiar, and just as the sea seduces the sailor, Nicklaus has gently coaxed the reader into a somber place.

The first four stories emulate the four element discussed in the Preface -- Air, Earth, Fire and Water. With "Emissary" representing water, the subsequent three stories, "Requiem for Linny," "Steetlamp," and "Broken," honor the remaining three elements. The rhythm of the book continues with less overt connections, but there is a latent connection weaving the stories together. An unmistakable yin and yang is evident in the reoccurring presence of flawed and fragile men, contrasted by soft, yet strong women. The men struggle, the women survive.

J.W. Nicklaus writes with a poetic beauty, using strong descriptions that perfectly capture the mundane moments which memories are made from. Almost every page contained a quotable phrase, such as on page 31, "To the untrained eye -- hell, to the unappreciative eye -- it all looks the same, don't it?"

There are certain books that epitomize a stage of the human condition and become "the" gift book for certain occasions. Graduating? Oh, the places you'll go! Pregnant? What to expect when you're expecting! Coping, or trying to cope, with a loss? "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between!"

The vignettes of life that often pass as an ordinary moment will resonate with those struggling with life, with death, and everything between. "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between" will be your emissary, your "bridge between loss and love."

Purchase a signed copy of "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between" on the author's website.

(Hello Arizona! J.W. Nicklaus will be at Changing Hands Bookstore on Saturday July 25, 2009 at 2pm. Changing Hands is located at 6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283 Phone: 480-730-0205)

The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between
J.W. Nicklaus
American Book Publishing Group
Fiction-Short Story
ISBN-10: 1589825055
ISBN-13: 978-1589825055
196 pages
Paperback - May 14, 2009
Rating: Unforgettable

UPDATE: I'm not the only one who enjoyed "The Light, The Dark, & Ember Between." Visit my friend Sheila's blog, Book Journey, to read her two cents.

Time Capsule

2009-07-20T08:57:00.003-04:00

A day late, but who's complaining? Last week my life was chock full of goodness, and I needed a day of rest on Sunday. Here's what happened around the world for the week of July 12th through July 18, 2009:

1. The American League won the All-Star game, again.

2. Nominations for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards were announced. What would an awards show be without snubs and surprises?

3. Walter Cronkite passed away, after a lengthy illness.

Three things I'm looking forward to this week:

1. Reading "He Who Sings Last" and keeping my fingers crossed for an interview with the author, Lisa Laird DiRosso.

2. Finally sewing a much-coveted tea wallet!

3. Visiting Halo Farms! Aah, the memories!

The Write-Brain Workbook

2009-07-18T22:21:00.004-04:00

Bonnie Neubauer is the brilliant author of "The Write-Brain Workbook: 366 Exercises to liberate your writing." (also available on DVD)366 exercises is actually an understatement, since each of the daily exercises includes a secondary exercise, titled "Take the next step."

Each of the daily exercises begin with a scenario that challenges the writer to dust off the cobwebs deep in the crevices of creativity. To compliment the drills, the pages are beautifully illustrated with a flair that stimulates creativity just by flipping through it. In Ms. Neubauer's own words, "The designers thoroughly explored and expressed each writing prompt, resulting in pages that are stunning, intriguing, varied, and beautiful."

A sample exercise:

Dear Diary-One(from Day 27)

Circle one age option:
12 yr old girl
64 yr old beekeeper
20 yr old college student
42 yr old movie star
6 yr old boy

Circle one location option:
Live on a farm
Live in a penthouse
Live in a mansion
Live on the streets
Live with an aunt and uncle

You are now this person and this is where you live.
You just found a diary from 1864. Let the story unfold. Start with:

"Some people might not have opened..."

TAKE THE NEXT STEP:
If you knew no one would ever read what you write, would you:
Not write at all
Write a bit less
Write a lot more

How else would this affect your writing?

Look out for Neubauer's most recent book, "Take Ten for Writers: 1000 exercises to build momentum in just 10 minutes a day."

From Amazon:
Looking for ideas? This book of ten-minute writing exercises gives you 100 exercises with ten different variables for 1,000 prompts. You'll learn to play around with starting phrases, the last sentence of the story, locations and more. It only takes ten minutes to open up your writing to boundless possibilities!

Title: Take Ten for Writers: 1000 exercises to build momentum in just 10 minutes a day
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Writers Digest Books (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582975337
ISBN-13: 978-1582975337

Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day!

2009-07-18T02:25:00.009-04:00

July 18th is Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day! There is not a lot of documentation on the proper way to celebrate this holiday, so we'll have to make up the rules as we go along.

1) Pull off a few squares of toilet paper. Write down all of your could'ves and should'ves. Flush the list. Now your regrets have gone to a place you can't retrieve them. Let it go!

2) Get a bucket and an eye dropper. Fill the bucket, drop by drop, with all of your could'ves and should'ves. Dump the bucket down the drain. Isn't it easier to dump the regrets?

3) Write a list of could'ves and should'ves. For every could've and should've on your list, donate one article of clothing to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. You can live with the baggage of a past you can't change, or clean house and simultaneously help someone else.

4) Find the largest vase in your home. Add one flower to the vase for every could've and should've. Can you see the beauty of your past harmonizing to create a beautiful present?

Exhibition of Rejects

2009-07-16T02:34:00.003-04:00

Spring 2006, I'm sitting in the most fascinating lecture of my entire academic career. The professor, a man who resembles a mad scientist more than the artist that he is, is inducting me and my classmates into the Salon des Refusés, the exhibition of rejects. In Paris during the 1860s, critics not only opined on the works of the artist, but dictated what an artist was capable of creating. Painters were pigeonholed as either able to paint still life or portraits or landscapes or nudes. An artist could not possibly paint both a peach and a person or a bare bosom and a boat floating in a pond.

Manet was irate that spectators were limiting the abilities of an artist based on arbitrary precepts. He challenged the status quo by not only proving he could paint still life, landscapes, nudes and portraits, but that he could combine the four styles of painting in one piece of work. His magnum opus, Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, showcases his abilities as an artists and demonstrates that an artist is only limited by his own imagination.

Déjeuner sur l'Herbe is particularly poignant for me, because I relate to the frustrations of Manet and his contemporaries. Sometimes well-meaning individuals attempt to support me by discouraging me from pursuing more than one avenue of creative writing. "Focus on one genre," is one nugget of advice I've received. As a result of my diverging interests, I am accused of having a lack of discipline. Unauthentic, insincere, and juvenile are just a few of the words of support I've heard.

Truth be told, my critics have been spot on accurate.

Writing is not my "passion."

My heart belongs to story telling. The art of story telling is not limited to fiction. Non-fiction can qualify as creative writing, if written creatively! Some stories are best told through poetry. Other stories, such as the story of a struggling artist attempting to be understood, is best told on canvas with oils.

That's my story. What's yours?

Hot Dog!

2009-07-16T01:34:00.011-04:00

Today is "Hot Dog Day!"

Organized by the Luverne Chamber of Commerce, Luverne, Minnesota is home to the annual "Hot Dog Night," a celebration featuring a Wiener dog race, beauty pageant and free hot dogs!

But, the fun doesn't end there! Horse drawn wagon rides, mini train rides, skits, songs, and illusions are just a few of the scheduled festivities. With a population of only 4500, Luverne seems to be a darling American town with a strong sense of community.

A neighbor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, residents of Luverne enjoy the benefits of a small town with the convenience of Sioux Falls, the Twin Cities, and Omaha just a few miles away.

Notable residents include:

Frederick Manfred, author of "Riders of Judgement," a work of historical fiction telling the story of the 1892 range wars in Wyoming.
John Rodman, Pharmacist who pioneered "individualizing dosages of life-saving drugs for children with cancer and HIV"
Jim Brandenburg, environmentalist and renowned nature photographer

If you attend the hot dog fest, please drop me a line, and let me know if it is half the fun I am imagining it to be!

Remember ...

2009-07-14T23:51:00.003-04:00

Months ago, I saw this picture on the web somewhere. Saving the pic, I never intended to republish it. If this belongs to you, contact me and I will remove it.

1. Whoever comes are the right people.

2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.

3. Whenever it starts is the right time.

4. When it's over, it's over.

Teaser Tuesday

2009-07-14T23:32:00.004-04:00

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!

"But when he saw the carnage
from the massacre outside his window,
he was pushed past his capacity
to absorb and endure any more.
Anguished, he resolved to do
the thing he did best: make music."
p. 14 "Everyday Greatness" by Stephen Covey

"Packed with a wealth of wisdom from the pages of Reader's Digest, Everyday Greatness will inspire you with moving and timeless stories of lives lived to the fullest, often through adversity and challenge. Works from such diverse perople as Maya Angelou, Jack Benny, Henry David Thoreau, and Joe Paterno represent shining examples of character-driven living. Stephen Covey's insights and commentary help readers apply these principles to their own lives."

An Emerging Nutritionista

2009-07-13T23:17:00.003-04:00

Buried somewhere deep within me, there is a nutritionista clawing her way out. She wants fiber(!) and lean protein(!) and abstinence from empty calories!!! She also desperately wants me to have an affair of the heart with cardio, and do yoga and pilates! Usually, I drown her cries for more fiber/less sugar with a nice big bowl of spagetti and meatballs, piled high with parmesan, finished with a pint of Häagen-Dazs.

Every now and then, she wins the battle and I dine on quinoa and fruit salad. (Fact: Quinoa rocks! Honest!) Recently, her voice has gotten stronger and I'm losing my will to ignore her pleas for a more healthy me. But, she hasn't completely won, not yet, at least.

I demand flavor!

I deserve convenience!

In an effort to satisfy my dueling desires, I paused as I passed the frozen food section on the organic aisle. Next thing I know, I'm at home, popping a Kashi frozen entree in the microwave. How did my meal fare, you ask?

Well, I sampled the Kashi Pesto Pasta Primavera: "Yellow Carrots, Sweet Red Peppers & Peas, Kashi™ 7 Whole Grain Penne Pasta, Basil Pesto Sauce with Shredded Parmesan Cheese." I'll admit that this wasn't the first time I've nibbled on Kashi. Their GoLean Blueberry Waffles really do have a "true flavor explosion." The TLC Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookies are unbelievably tasty! Okay, the first bite tastes like a healthy cookie, but by the time you're done indulging, it really does taste yummy. (I can't say the same for the TLC Oatmeal Raisin Flax cookie. I think it's the flax that is a turn-off.)

Back to the Pesto Pasta Primavera.

Positives: The penne was al dente! The veggies were crisp! No soggy/microwave-meal texture or consistency!

Area of opportunity: I'm not sure how to say this delicately, because I try to be positive. But, in the interest of honest disclosure, the Pesta Pasta Primavera had a funky flavor.

To be more accurate, it had a strong flavor that I can't quite pinpoint, although it is reminiscent of fresh ginger root. (I don't see ginger root listed as an ingredient.) Now, if you care for fresh ginger root, you will really enjoy the flavor. I wasn't expecting that flavor, and I don't care for fresh ginger root one bit!

The quality of Kashi can't be beat, so I will definitely try other flavors. The Pesto Pasta Primavera is better than ordinary, but not quite noteworthy. Because of my other experiences with Kashi, I'm not going to turn my back on them. In fact, I already have the "Southwestern Style Chicken" on my shopping list.

If you have any recommendations, I'm all ears!

Mailbox Monday

2009-07-13T10:02:00.003-04:00

The Printed Page created a marvelous meme, "Monday Mailbox." Here are the guidelines:

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Once again, I owe thanks to Trin @ Bloody Bad for tipping me off to this trend.

My mailbox was full last week, giving me lots to read this week:

1. Aging with Grace by Greg Liberman

"Grace, a middle aged housewife, is dissatisfied with her looks, her husband, and her lifestyle. Grace is certain that she was meant to lead a more exciting life than the one she finds herself in. She finds the thrill that she is looking for and more when she reconnects with a high school friend though a social networking website. Suddenly, Grace is hobnobbing with celebrities, wearing designer clothes, and being wooed by Victor, a mysterious Hollywood powerhouse. Soon, Grace is flying off to Malibu on a whim to hook up with Victor, all the while lying to her husband and two daughters."

2. As Long As He Needs Me by Mary Verdick

"In honor of their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, Kitty and Clem Johanssen set off on what's supposed to be a dream vacation: a gracious cruise up the East Coast from New York to Montreal. But in a hectic rush to embark, Clem foolishly loses his cash to a couple of street swindlers. Unbeknowst to Kitty, the incident sets off a profound introspection of Clem's weaknesses, regrets, and mortality -- amplified by the sudden appearance of his old war buddy-turned-politician, T. McCollough Boyle, during a shore excursion..."

3. Hannibal's Elephant Girl by Ariion Kathleen Brindley

"In 218 BCE, Hannibal took his army, along with 37 elephants, over the Alps to attack the Romans. Eleven years before this historic event, on the banks of a river near Carthage in North Africa, one of his elephants pulled a drowning girl from the turbulent waters. Thus began Liada's epic journey with the elephant known as Obolus."

4. Concubine by Kota Ozembew

"Frustrated with her life in China, fifteen year old Shiao-Shiao accepts the offer to join the harem of a mysterious and wealthy American polygamist. But soon she discovers that being a concubine is not just about luxury and sensuality."

Head over to J. Kaye's Book Blog for more Mailbox Monday!

Thought of the day

2009-07-13T09:54:00.002-04:00

My horoscope says:

You are starting something fantastic today --
even if you can't tell exactly what's going on!
It's one of those days when you can tell
that things are going to work out for the best.

Never have I read such an accurate prediction!

Daily Affirmation:

“Twenty years from now
you will be more disappointed by the things
that you didn't do
than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.”
--Mark Twain

Time Capsule

2009-07-13T08:55:00.003-04:00

Whew! Last week came and went so quickly, the new week began before I could recap what happened.

Highlights from the week of July 5th to July 11th:

1. Steve McNair, father of four sons and a former NFL quarterback, was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. McNair also founded "The Steve McNair Foundation" dedicated to empowering youth.

2. Byrd and Melanie Billings were killed in Florida during an apparent home invasion. The Billings were parents to sixteen children. Twelve of their children have developmental disabilities. All but two of their children were adopted. The online memorial is available here. Their generosity is a legacy that will never die.

3. Obama spoke at the G8 summit and stated that the world's economic recovery is "a ways off." I have never hoped that a president was just as plain dead wrong as I do now.

Three things to look forward to this week:

1. I will sew a tea wallet by hand.
I will sew a tea wallet by hand!
I will sew a tea wallet by hand!

2. Reading on the hammock. So many books, so little time!

3. Play with clay! Coffee ground clay crafts. Thank you, Starbucks!

Kreativ Blogger [Award]

2009-07-12T06:13:00.010-04:00

The Kreativ Blogger award is the brainchild of a darling Norwegian blogger, Hulda. Originating in both Old German and Hebrew, "Hulda" means "loved one." On May 5, 2008, Hulda introduced the "Kreativ Blogger Award" to the blogsphere. Hulda hand made the original award, before creating the digital button. Bestowing the award upon just four Norwegian blogs. Since then, the award has traveled the world, from Indonesia to New Jersey, with over 200,000 hits on Google! Thanks to Trin of Bloody Bad for passing the award on to me.

First, I would like to properly thank Hulda for creating the vessel in which bloggers can recognize each other's creativity while supporting each other. Interestingly, when you translate Hulda's blog with an online translator, the directions indicate to "divide it out."

Honoring the evolution of the award, here is a list of seven of my favorite things, followed by my nominees.

My favorite things: deadly vices and heavenly virtues

Lust
Scott Caan. They don't make men like him in Jersey.

Gluttony

A chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting.
Sugar + Sunshine Bakery

Greed

Seriously, can you blame me?

Sloth

Heaven is on a hammock, in the ocean, with a book.

Patience

Patience: noun, an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness
or annoyance when confronted by delay

Envy

Christian Louboutin, how I covet thee!
The perfect ruby slippers a la Wizard of Oz!
Like a superhero, I could wear my "ruby slippers" incognito,
a silent reminder that I "had it in me all along."

Kindness

Kiva: empowering individuals to lend directly
to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.

Passing the torch:
I would like to recognize the following blogs because they inspire me.

1. Book Journey

2. Crazy for Books

3. JannyPie

4. Love to Read

5. Take Me Away

6. Shhh I'm Reading

7. When She Reads

Sincere appreciation to Trin, from Bloody Bad, for honoring me, and Hulda, for creating the award!

Wash that _______ outta my hair

2009-07-12T04:35:00.005-04:00

"Well, you don't have to look so dramatic about it!
Things like this happen every day!"*

I finally broke up with my shampoo. We had been together for years. Sleek.look by Matrix is a lovely product, consistently smoothing my ~~naturally~~ highlighted hair. My only beef is the price.

$18.99 for 13.5 ounces just is not in my budget anymore. When gas didn't cost an arm and a leg, I could justify the expenditure. For close to a year, I have had to grin and bear the price, because I just could not find a suitable substitute. Finally, I can proudly say that I found a grocery store brand that only cost me $4.49(on sale for $5.99 plus a $1.50 coupon!) for 10.5 ounces. Want a free sample?

Aveeno® has a great new, or at least "new-to-me," hair care collection, NOURISH+. I tried the NOURISH+Moisturize. Since my experience with grocery store brands has been disappointing, my expectations were low. Very low. Every line of hair care offers a "moisturizing" product, and none of them deliver. Until now.

Aveeno® knocked one out of the ball park with their NOURISH+ line. The shampoo has a nice, light fragrance, didn't weigh down my hair, and actually left my locks smooth, silky and without the need to add a detangling product post washing.

I am so pleased with this find, that I doubt I will go back to my old shampoo.

Dear Matrix,
I think we need a break.
I'm just going through some things.
I just need to work on myself.
I love you so much, but I'm willing to let you go.
It's not you, it's me.
We can still be friends!

The Aveeno® NOURISH+ hair care collection is available in:

NOURISH+ VOLUMIZE: With a fusion of lightweight conditioners, Nourishing Wheat Complex and Anti-Oxidant Blue Lotus Flower, this shampoo gives lush, rich life to limp locks.

NOURISH+ REVITALIZE: Infused with Nourishing Wheat Complex, this shampoo does much more than just nourish and cleanse your hair. It also helps protect hair's intrinsic moisture balance from everyday damage.

NOURISH+ MOISTURIZE: Nourishing Wheat Complex and Hydrating Oat Protein work together in this breakthrough formula to quench hair and replenish vital moisture.

NOURISH+ SOOTHE: This exclusive ACTIVE NATURALS^® formula, with Nourishing Wheat Complex, Soothing Lavender and Cooling Peppermint helps soothe itchy, dry scalp.

Aveeno® is offering free samples on their site. Try it for yourself, and let me know what you think!

*Classic line from South Pacific. This post would not be complete without a lil Rodgers and Hammerstein. Enjoy!

Watermelon granita

2009-07-12T03:30:00.011-04:00

As in the case of almost all of my favorite foods, I can thank the Italians for this refreshing summer treat. Granita has been traced back to the times of the Greeks and the Romans to a little town called Sicily, but it apparently gained notoriety courtesy of the Arabs. For a more in depth explanation on the history of granita, held over to the archives of The Old Foodie.

Best of Silicy has a very elementary recipe for granitas, using only three ingredients (fruit, sugar, and water.) For my concoction, I included a pinch of salt and a bit of lime. Full recipe after the jump.

Watermelon Granita
1/2 of a seedless whole watermelon (about 5 cups)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
juice from two limes
1/8 tsp salt

First, slowly heat water and sugar on low heat until the sugar is dissolved, creating a simple syrup. Allow syrup to cool completely before using.

Meanwhile, cut the watermelon into 1 inch sized cubes, or use a melon baller. The exact ratio of fruit to simple syrup is not set in stone (hehe, anyone who read Old Foodie's post about the word "granita" might see how I made a pun.) The more fruit that is used will create a granita that tastes less sweet, whereas increasing the amount of simple syrup will result in a more stickly-sweet granita.

Drizzle the juice from two limes over the cubed watermelon.

Working in batches, puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor.

After all of the watermelon has been pureed, add the pinch of salt.

Pour the watermelon puree (batches!) through a fine mesh sieve to strain, pushing through solids. (Hint: Periodically scape the puree off the exterior of the sieve.) I repeat this step for two reasons. One, I think it results in a smoother, more sorbet-esque granita, and two, there is something soothing about gently and delicately straining the puree.

Once you have a smooth watermelon juice, gradually add the cooled simple syrup. Blend well.

Pour the mixture into a 9"x13" freezer safe baking dish. (Non-stick is not recommended, as you will be scrapping through the granita to the bottom of the baking dish.)

Place the baking dish in the freezer. Every 30-40 minutes, gently scrape the mixture with a fork to break up any icicles that are beginning to form. It may take 4 hours to completely harden.

(Caution! Initially, there will be very few ice crystals, and a lot of liquid. Splashing may occur. Fun to clean up!)

The final product is a cool, refreshing summer treat. It's so good, you might dig in before you take a picture.

If you don't have watermelon, substitute any citrus, strawberries, or coffee. (Yum!)

Daily affirmations

2009-07-08T06:13:00.003-04:00

"Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility. Effective leaders are able to."
-- Rosabeth Moss Kanter

"And the day came when the risk to remain
tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took
to blossom."
--Anaïs Nin

"If I must fall,
may it be from a high place."
--Paulo Coelho

Medicine Cabinets past & present

2009-07-08T04:22:00.006-04:00

Historic Houseparts is one of my favorite places to window shop on
the web. I recently came across this unforgettable find -- a vintage
medicine cabinet. Rustic, yet elegant, the fashionable find evokes a
certain nostalgia when the panacea for all of life's pains were found
in my grandmother's medicine cabinet. Those were the days that St.
Joseph's aspirin and Bactine, or a combination of both, cured every
ache.

A well stocked medicine cabinet should extend beyond baby aspirin, but
what are the necessities? Cruising through the grocery store, the aisles teeming with products promising to be the antidote for every symptom. I decided to bend the ear of my local Pharmacist and ask her advice on what type of products I should keep in my medicine cabinet.

Here is a comprehensive list of medicine cabinet must-have's:

Tylenol: reduces fever and treats headaches.
Advil or Motrin: relief from headaches and all-over aches & pains
Midol: relief from cramping, bloating, and PMS
Benadryl: seasonal allergies, and allergic reactions to insect bites
or food allergies
Bactine: disinfects cuts/scrapes, provides relief from itching/insect
bites (Alternative: Neosporine and Cortisone)
Mederma: applied after wound has heeled, reduces and prevents scars
Lozenges: provides relief from sore throat
Multi-sympton cold syrup: relief from sneezing, runny nose, coughing
Colace: stool softener for constipation
Pepto-bismal: multi symptom relief of upset stomach and other symptoms
including, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and indigestion (Alternative: Tums and Immodium AD)
Ambesol: relief from tooth pain
Desenex: anti-fungal spray to treat and provide relief from athlete's foot
Honey: yes, honey. Soothes sore throat, aids digestion, induces sleep, and the list goes on!

Tools:
Tweezers: splinter removal
Thermometer
Measuring spoon and/or dropper: ensures proper dosage of liquid medications
Assorted bandages, gauze, sterile pads, first aid tape and disinfecting swabs

Alternatives:
Neosporin: antibiotic creme, disinfects cuts/scrapes
Cortizone: topical allergy cream, provides relief from itching due to
rashes or insect bites and treats
Tums: antacid to treat heart burn and acid reflux
Immodium AD: anti-diarrheal

Based on the prices advertised at Drugstore.com, the total cost for the supplies is roughly $200. My advice is to add a few items to the cart each shopping trip, to slowly build a medicine cabinet. (Be aware of expired medications in your medicine cabinet!)

*Disclosure: This is not intended to be medical advice. If you seek medical advice, please refer to a medical professional.

*Photo of vintage medicine cabinet courtesy of Historic Houseparts

Teaser Tuesday

2009-07-07T03:44:00.006-04:00

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!

"What propels a person toward this ecstasy are the five senses. The more the senses are stimulated, the stronger will be the drive toward ecstasy and the more powerful the ecstasy."
p. 122, "Brida" by Paulo Coelho

Brida is "a tale of love, passion, mystery, and spirituality from the master storyteller." If you haven't been exposed to Coelho's writing, I highly recommend "The Fifth Mountain" and "The Alchemist," but honestly, all of the works of Paulho Coelho are unforgettable. Look for my review of Brida later this week.

Time Capsule

2009-07-05T23:45:00.005-04:00

Highlights from the past week:

1) I discovered the Day Zero project and created my own 101 in 1001 list. Writing the list was a challenge in itself. 3-23-12 will be here sooner than I know.

2) Sarah Palin announced she is stepping down as Governor of Alaska. Strategic? Or surrendering?

3) Biden says "we misread the economy."

4) Linda Castillo's mystery, Sworn to Silence, made it onto the NY Times best seller list at #35. My review can be found here.

5) 1.6 million people registered for tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial. Only 17,500 people will win.

Three things that I am looking forward to this week:

1) Monday morning. Silly, I usually dread Monday mornings. However, this Monday I will be working alongside a very talented woman. My gut says that I will learn a lot from her.

2) My mailbox should be crammed with several books that I have been anticipating. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that The Delivery Man by Joe McGinniss Jr is among the stash.

3) Entourage premires Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 10:30pm! In all fairness, the only reason I plan to watch this season is to see my future husband play "a talent manager with tough talk that will become a nuisance for Eric this season."

(If anyone were reading this, I would be too shy admit my school girl crush on Scott Caan.)

101 goals in 1001 days

2009-07-04T19:20:00.003-04:00

Unless you are a johnny-come-lately like myself, you are probably well aware of the Day Zero Project's "101 goals in 1001 days." These lists are all over the blogosphere. I discovered this brilliant idea from Suki, of [Super Duper Fantastic]. Simply put, 101 goals in 1001 days is a list of "SMART" goals. What are "SMART" goals, you say?

"SMART" is a mnemonic device to help the goal-setter create specific, measurable, achievable, rewarding, trackable goals. Day Zero recommends the deadline of 1001 days, because "The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks."

Call it irony or call it fate, but by starting my 101 goals in 1001 days today, my deadline is March 31, 2012, exactly one week after my thirty-fifth birthday. Also known as a major milestone in my life.

Please join me on my journey to complete, and blog about, the 101 goals I hope to achieve before my milestone birthday. Without further ado, here are my goals:

Adopt a dog
Adopt a Solider
Attend mass every Sunday until my 35th birthday (Bonus pts: Holy Days)
Bake a loaf of bread the old-fashioned way.
Be inspired daily--document source of inspiration.
Become a non-practicing smoker
Become a UN Goodwill Ambassador
Buy a compass
Buy a sewing machine and use it to make 35 projects
Buy a stock
Buy my own domain
Buy myself flowers 35 times.
Carry a totem.
Celebrate a personal victory with a bottle of Champagne
Collect 1001 lost coins. Document discovery.
Compliment 35 people, in writing, for their accomplishment.
Create a portfolio of 35 things showcasing my creativity.
Create a sanctuary.
Create an exercise routine and commit to it.
Create my own "School of Athens" with 35 teachers
Design a signature menu and master it.
Discover or create the perfect tomato sauce.
Drink 1001 cups of tea.
Eat vegan for 35 consecutive days.
Enter a competition: a race, a writing contest, a bake-off, etc.
Feed 35 people
Feed the birds
Find a classical musician that I adore--learn all about him.
Find one beautiful thing about each day. Document discovery.
Finish college
Fly a kite
Get 5 facials from a professional
Get a percent body fat of 23%
Get certified in CPR and the Hemlich.
Give blood.
Give myself 35 facials.
Go horse back riding
Go on an audition--extra and background work counts.
Go one 35 trips to a museum
Go to an opera
Go to the dentist.
Have 1 friend who makes me laugh, 1 who lets me cry, 1 who will help me move
Have a boyfriend who reminds me of how far I’ve come
Have a job that I'm proud of and pays the bills
Have a solid start on a satisfying career
Have a wardrobe that reflects my style
Improve my posture
Knit a sweater
Learn how to select & apply make-up that compliments me.
Learn how to smile for the camera
Learn to say "please" and "Thank you" in 20 languages
Learn to speak French fluently with a flawless accent
Learn to surf
Learn when to try harder and when to walk away.
Live in SoCal for a year
Mail a postcard to PostSecret.
Make 35 Christmas decorations.
Make chocolates from scratch--start at roasting the cacao beans
Master eating with chop sticks
Meditate for 143 hours
Only eat meals I prepared from scratch for 35 consecutive days.
Open an Etsy shop
Organize a book club
Own a home
Own a luxurious monagramed spa robe
Own a pair of Loubutain's
Own a stocked tool kit & stocked medicine kit
Paint a picture, even if it's just a paint-by-number
Pick my own blueberries
Picnic 35 times. Even if it's in my back yard. Even if I'm alone.
Plant a garden
Play Roulette in Vegas.
Read 350 books
Read Dante's Divine Comedy
Read The Bible. Every chapter and verse.
Save $3500 to spend on March 23, 2012
See a show on Broadway
Send 101 thank-you notes
Sew a quilt.
Sleep under the stars.
Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square
Spend Thanksgiving serving meals at a soup kitchen.
Start a gratitude journal with 1001 things I am grateful for.
Start a retirement plan.
Submit 35 articles for publication
Take 1001 pictures
Take a pilates reformer class.
Take a ride in a hot air ballon
Take dance classes, preferrably ballet.
Visit a Native American reservation
Visit Costa Rica
Volunteer 143 hours
Wander for 1001 miles
Write 2 letters, 1 to myself & 1 to my husband, for our 1st wedding anniversary.
Write 35 poems
Write a letter to 35 people asking for their help with one thing on my list
Write a list of 101 things I have done--the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Write a list of 101 things to do before I die
Write my family tree
Write three novels

Where in the World Wide Web am I?

2009-07-04T05:00:00.005-04:00

And you may ask yourself...how did I get here?

Miel Abeille, my accidental pseudonym and alter ego, is a lady that gets around. With interests ranging from literature to linguini to Louboutin, Miel Abeille buzzes around the net, seeking to satisfy cravings of the body and soul. She takes her coffee breaks at the following watering holes:

Twitter A cross between a cyber primal scream and message in a bottle, the simple announcements of what's on my mind. Follow @miel_abeille!

BookBlogs at Ning: BookBlogs members read books, blog books, write books, and publicize books. About Ning: “Ning lets you create and join new social networks for your interests and passions.” Create your own social network and learn all about Ning here.

BlogHer: "The community for women who blog"

Goodreads "Goodreads' mission is to improve the process of reading and learning throughout the world."

LibraryThing "An online service to help people catalog their books easily."

FoodBuzz "Find flavor, share taste"

Facebook "Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected."

PaperBackSwap Book swapping community

Miel Abeille can always be reached at reminderlistreviews gmail {dot} com.

Morning Meanderings @ Book Journey

2009-07-02T12:49:00.003-04:00

Sheila McKinney DeChantal is a self-described "wife, mom of two great boys,office manager, bike enthusiast, rollerblader," and the list goes on! Additionally, Ms. Sheila is a fellow book blogger and kindly allowed moi to guest blog over at BookJourney: One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. If you are looking for a recommendation, she might have just what the doctor ordered.

Thank you, Sheila, for sharing your stage with me.

Tastes (almost) like Trader Joe's!

2009-07-02T04:22:00.012-04:00

One, and quite possibly the only, thing that I miss about living in Manhattan is Trader Joe's. Specifically, their Mandarin Chicken. But, I traded the city for the smell of honeysuckle, road side produce stands and wild rabbits scurrying across the yard, but mostly the honeysuckle.

Out of nostalgia, I've visited Joe's website, and on more than one occasion, I emailed their powers that be with a location suggestion. A location suggestion is a bit of an understatement. In my emails, I listed the multiple colleges, estimated the total enrollment of college students, and included the ideal address for their new store which would give Trader Joe's the maximum exposure to commuters from the various corporate campuses. I might have offered a first born child if they granted my request and opened up shop in Princeton, New Jersey.

Imagine my surprise, when I moseyed over to Joe's and found that a "coming soon" location is good ole Princeton! Delighted doesn't come close to describing my demeanor! Ecstatic, elated, euphoric--none of those adjectives accurately describe the magnitude of my emotions. Unfortunately, their grand opening is the dreaded "tbd." I guess that beats living in a town without Joe's, but it's still going to be a long, difficult wait.

Until then, I'll have to make do with a recipe I found, and tinkered, to make a Mandarin Chicken that almost passes for Joe's.

"Traitor" Joe's Mandarin Chicken
Ingredients:
2.5 to 3 lbs chicken breast (cut into 1-2" cubes)
1.5 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 eggs (beaten)

Sauce:
1.5 cups water
juice from two Valencia oranges
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp orange zest
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/8 tsp grated ginger root (use more if you love the flavor of ginger)
1/2 tsp minced garlic (pre-minced garlic from a jar works nicely)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water

Instructions:

For chicken:

1. Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Set aside.
2. Put the chicken cubes in a large mixing bowl, pour beaten eggs over chicken.
3. Stir chicken to thoroughly coat with egg.
4. Using a clean, large grocery store paper bag (I take an extra bag on occasion for this purpose) dump the flour mixture into the paper bag.
5. Add the egg-coated chicken to the paper bag.
6. Fold over the top of the paper bag several times to seal closed.
7. Firmly grasp the top of the bag with both hands.
8. Shake the bag vigorously to ensure the chicken becomes completely coated with the flour mixture. Set aside.
9. Pour vegetable or canola oil in skillet and heat until oil becomes 375°.
10. Working in batches, deep fry chicken cubes until completely cooked. (make sure the oil returns to a temperature of 375° before beginning a new batch)
11. Put all cooked chicken cubes into a large serving bowl.

For sauce:

1. Pour 1.5 cups water with lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar and soy sauce into a medium size sauce pan. Stir well.
2. Gently heat the water/juice/vinegar mixture for several minutes, until just barely simmering.
3. Add the brown sugar, orange zest, ginger root and garlic. Stir well.
4. Bring mixture to boil.
5. While waiting for the mixture to boil, stir 3 tbsps cornstarch into 1/4 cup water. Mix completely! (The mixture could begin to resemble Elmer's glue. Continue stirring, and make sure the cornstarch has evenly and completely adsorbed all of the water.)
6. Once the water/juice/sugar mixture has come to a boil, slowly add the cornstarch/water mixture to the sauce pan. Be sure to stir the mixture while you are pouring in the cornstarch/water mix. The addition of the cornstarch will temporarily change the color of the sauce from a translucent brown to a lighten, muddy brown. Keep stirring! The cornstarch will thicken the sauce, giving the sauce its consistency.
7. After all of the cornstarch/water mix has been completely incorporated into the water/juice/sugar mix, add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
8. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken cubes.
9. Gently toss the chicken cubes in the orange sauce to completely coat the chicken with sauce.
10. Serve over brown rice or quiona, adding steamed veggies like snow peas or broccoli compliments the dish nicely. I use Green Giant Steamers for convenience.
11. Bon appetit!

Review: Sworn to Silence

2009-07-02T03:09:00.003-04:00

St. Martin's Minotaur Books published a genuine gem with Linda Castillo's Sworn to Silence. Castillo has an impressive resume, having published over two dozen books and winning numerous awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Holt Medallion and a nomination for the Rita.

Painters Mill, Ohio is the Amish community that serves as the backdrop for a mystery that intertwines the lives of the Amish and the English, the past and the present, and the simple and the unfathomable. Kate Burkholder, current Chief of Police and former resident of Painters Mill, returns to the town she escaped from sixteen years earlier. The idyllic community has a past riddled with secrets. Those secrets return with Kate, to haunt and taunt the entire community. Women disappear, the town is in chaos, all while Kate is struggling with her own skeletons. Small town politics, personal demons and a sadistic killer explode in a captivating thriller with more twists and turns than old country road.

Sworn to Silence is one of the best mysteries I have read in long time. All too often, I find that authors give away far too many clues far too early, rendering the reveal anti-climatic. Castillo perfectly advances the story line so that the resolution is both stunning and unexpected. Each character is flawlessly developed, as is the relationships and interactions between them. Fans of Stephanie Plum and Regan Reilly will relate to Kate Burkholder.

Read an except at the author's website, www.LindaCastillo.com

Sworn to Silence
Linda Castillo
Fiction-Mystery & Thriller
St. Martin's Minotaur
ISBN-10: 0312374976
ISBN-13: 978-0312374976
336 pages
$24.95
Hardcover-Available June 23, 2009
Rating: Unforgettable

Time Capsule

2009-06-27T11:37:00.007-04:00

A week of loss.

Gary Papa, the beloved sports anchor on 6ABC in Philadelphia, lost his battle with prostate cancer on June 19, 2009. Mr. Papa was 54 years old. I've never been a sports fan, but I have always enjoyed Gary Papa's broadcasts. He had an infectious enthusiasm for sports and Philadelphia, and an incomparable zest for life. The Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health's has renamed their annual Father's Day fundraiser the "Gary Papa Father's Day Prostate Run."

Ed McMahon, best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show, passed away on June 23, 2009 at the age of 86. In addition to The Tonight Show gig, McMahon was the host of Star Search, and introduced the world to a little girl named Britney Spears. A decorated war veteran, Ed McMahon served in the US Marine Corps as fighter pilot, flight instructor and test pilot during World War II. His service earned him six Air Medals.

Michael Jackson, pop music icon, died on June 25, 2009.

Farrah Fawcett was an Angel among us. Despite her brave, and widely publicized battle with anal cancer, she passed away on June 25, 2009. I remember the first time I saw her iconic red-bathing suit poster. I remember seeing the smile in her eyes and wondering if I be as happy as she looked when I grew up. Rest in peace, Farrah.

Remembered Joy
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all...
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life's been full, I've savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don't shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

Safe Bet

2009-06-26T14:18:00.002-04:00

"Safe Bet" by The Morning Light is today's song of the day.

In case you mishear lyrics as famously as I do, I'll let in know now that the lead vocalist is not singing "I read you opera. I thought you were a safe bet."

It would have been oh so romantic if he had been, because seriously, how can one read opera? That's like writing a painting or drawing a song. An impossible feat, but love knows no bounds, right?

The real gem of the song, or at least the lyrics I feel a kinship with are:

She tries too much
She doesn't smile enough.
She's got these great ideas
And no one to hear them

Enjoy the tunes!

Experience

2009-06-26T12:40:00.003-04:00

"Art is one of the means whereby man seeks to redeem a life which is experienced as chaotic, senseless, and largely evil."
--Aldous Leonard Huxley

Experiment

2009-06-26T12:36:00.002-04:00


Lose something every day.  Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel.  None of these will bring disaster.
excerpt from One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

Disclosure

2009-06-26T12:19:00.008-04:00

This policy is valid from 14 May 2010

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Discover the Unforgettable

2009-06-26T12:06:00.002-04:00

Discover the book you never knew you wanted to read.

Discover the recipes you didn't know you could create.

Discover what you have to look forward to, and re-discover the things you swore you would never forget.

Review Policy

2009-06-26T11:45:00.008-04:00

Books reviewed are rated based on their originality, usefulness, and forgettability factor. The forgettability factor ranges from ordinary to unforgettable.

Unforgettable--3 stars is the highest rating a book can earn. This rating indicates an incredibly impressive book or product, which can be enjoyed by a broad audience. Reviews bearing an "unforgettable" rating are for items Miel Abeille strongly urges you to experience for yourself.

Impressive--2 stars is reserved for books that are exceptional, but lack that little something that deems it unforgettable. All books and products with an "impressive" rating are highly recommended.

Noteworthy--1 star books have earned said rating because they worth being aware of, but lack an appeal to a large audience. Reviews rated "noteworthy" may be most enjoyed by the audience indicated in the review.

The rating of "ordinary" is reserved for books that were, in the opinion of Miel Abeille, disappointing and/or anti-climatic. These items were not especially original or usefull. Miel Abeille does not discourage anyone from reading a book with a rating of "ordinary," however, she would not recommend the item to a friend or enemy. No stars are earned for "ordinary" books.

Miel Abeille welcomes requests for honest book reviews. Most of the books reviewed on Reminder List are complimentary or advance copies sent for honest review.

The Reminder List review policy and guidelines are available to authors, publicists and publishers by request. Please send an email to reminderlistreviews@gmail.com for the details.

About Miel Abeille

2009-06-26T08:24:00.016-04:00

Let me introduce myself, technically, my name is Melissa, however, I sign my blog posts as "Miel Abeille." Sometimes that confuses people, but at least they are forewarned that I am naturally confusing.

The story behind Miel Abeille is simple -- I needed an email address, Gmail wouldn't give me a simple address with the name "Melissa," so I fudged things. Melissa is Greek for honeybee. I improvised.

Having studied a little French, and being smitten with the language, I translated "honeybee" into French and Miel Abeille was born! Legally, my name is Melissa McKee. You can call me Melissa.

Life long bibliophile and artist are two words to describe myself. I'm fairly certain I was born with a book in my hands! Reading fuels my hunger for life-long learning, and writing is an outlet for creative expression.

As an artist, I like to consider myself as a woman who sculpts with sentences and paints with words. Being creative, with my mind and body, comes as natural to me as breathing. Music, poetry, and nature are great sources of inspiration for me. When I'm not reading or writing, I like to express my creativity through culinary and visual arts.

In addition to Reminder List, I am the author of Bons Vivants.

What is a bon vivant? Technically speaking, "bon vivant" is the French term for a person who lives well, especially in regard to food and drink. Using poetic license, I expanded the meaning to a include nourishing the body, mind and soul. Here at Bons Vivants, topics discussed include personal growth, as well as products and services that enhance quality of life.

Would you like me to guest post on your blog?

Do you have a request for a product to be reviewed?

Anything else on your mind? Leave a comment or email me!

Please send emails to reminderlisreviews@gmail.com.

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Contact Miel Abeille

1977-03-23T12:43:00.007-05:00

Couldn't have done it without them

1977-03-23T01:21:00.002-05:00

Props to the following sites for their support of bloggers everywhere! Without their resources, Reminder List would look like a cookie cutter blog.

JannyPie: Provides lovely blog backgrounds that are bound to inspire.

EmailMeForm: Their name says it all! The contact page on Reminder List is designed by EmailMeForm.com. Quick, easy, painless--and free! Design your own contact form here!

Sitemeter: Hmmm... you might not be commenting, but sitemeter gives an accurate count of visitors and pageviews -- so to you lurkers, let me know what you think!

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Blogger!

Do you know how to make Reminder List more efficient or effective? Contact me!

Thank you

1977-03-23T00:21:00.000-05:00

Thank you for contacting Reminder List!

I will give your message thoughtful consideration before replying.

Sláinte!