Books | 3 Boys And A Dog

Are you a Reader? Can you write Reviews? I need you!

December 13, 2011 By Kelli 1 Comment

Hi y’all! I am looking for a regular contributor on the deal site to review books – you must be a pretty fast reader and able to review at least 2 books per week. I will have a specific form that I want you to follow when reviewing the books, so that will make it easier on you.. You will write it up on my wordpress site and submit it to me to review your writing, check that all items are there, and schedule it to post. For the most part, you will have no contact with the PR reps.

You will be reviewing romance, mystery, kids books, cookbooks, self-help books, DIY, and more. You will need to rate it on a certain scale (I will provide the scale), etc. Honestly, I am looking for a good writer and they don’t necessarily have to have a blog. They will need to have the time necessary to devote to reviewing the book and advertising the review in several places. Many of the book reviews also need to be posted at Amazon and Good Reads.

For more information, please see the complete post at my deal site.

Thanks!

Filed Under: Guest Blogger, Reviews Tagged With: books, contributor, reading, review

Giveaway: Book Lonely Girl, Gracious God

December 7, 2011 By Donna

Have you ever read a book that changed the way you looked at everything around you? I just did, and I am amazed at how it opened my eyes. The book is called “Lonely Girl, Gracious God: A Mother’s Story of Autism’s Devastation and God’s Promise of Enduring Love” by Lauri Khodabandehloo. (ISBN # 9781935265467)

The author is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul, and she shares with us the story of her daughter, Farema, and her developmental disability of autism. But the story is more of her journey of understanding her role in the whole scheme of things, and her coming to accept whatever God chose to test her with. She shares the ups and downs, the good and bad, and the realization that it is the WHOLE picture that leads her down the path.

I will admit, this would not have been a title I would have picked up on my own. I don’t really know why, but I probably would have just passed it by. I have never had to deal with autism, nor do I really have anyone close in my life that deals with it either, so it’s a pretty unknown subject to me. Now that I have read this book though, I can definitely say that my eyes have been opened, not only to the subject of autism, but to the struggles of being a parent in that situation as well. I am a parent of four children, and even more so now, I am humbled and so grateful for my life. I won’t lie, it made me glad for the children I have, the life I have had, and the fact that I haven’t had the struggles that the author has had. But, it also let me see that she is not bitter for having the life that she has led. It let me see through her eyes and to marvel at her strength, and her love for her family.

I would recommend this book to any parent who finds themselves facing a diagnosis of Autism in their child. There are lots of technical books out there, to explain the physical details of autism, but this one touches on the spiritual aspects that are so often disregarded. This one helps a parent come to terms with things not being as they had expected, and coming to love everything they have on this different path they are now traveling. I would also recommend this book to parents who may be struggling with the thought that they were being punished for something – for thoughts, or feelings, or something they just couldn’t name. This book shows them that they are not alone. They never were. I would also recommend this book to any parent, to help them see the facts behind being a parent of an autistic child. It’s an eye-opener for anyone.

You can find this book in many locations. It is published by Deep River Books, and was published in paperback in March of 2011. The list price is $13.99. The book can be found at Amazon.com or Bn.com, and also comes in e-book versions.

Win it!

One lucky winner will win their very own copy of the book worth $13.99!

REQUIRED COMMENT: Go to the Lonely Girl Gracious God website HERE and tell us something that you learned while there.

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Lonely Girl Gracious God and 3 Boys and a Dog on Facebook, then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
#2. Sign up for my NEW Weekly Newsletter.
#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
#4. Put my button on your blog.
#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on December 18th

OPEN TO: USA Only

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book to facilitate my review. All opinions stated are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Parenting Tagged With: autism, book, books, chicken soup, Christian, developmental disabilities, disability, enduring love, farema, Giveaways, God, gracious, inspirational, lonely girls, Parenting, spiritual, technical book

Giveaway: Fit Moms for Life book

December 3, 2011 By Tamera

I was beyond excited about this book, because I have had a hard time losing the extra baby weight! Hurray for a fantastic book!

About the Book (from the back cover)

In this book, you’ll discover:

31 transformation stories from women like you

A training program that burns fat while you sleep

How to burn 5-9 times more fat WITHOUT cardio

How to get your kids to eat healthy and move more

An eating plan and recipes for balanced meals

The ultimate form of accountability

One exercise that can shrink your waistline WITHOUT diet changes

The five pillars necessary for lasting success

About the Author (from his website)

My name is Dustin Maher and I am a fitness professional living in Madison, WI. I am 28 years old and absolutely love my job as a personal trainer/fitness instructor/writer/motivational speaker/and teacher. I love helping everyone I come in contact with get in better shape. I especially enjoy helping moms to look even better than before having kids.

The first question I get asked a lot is, why a 28 year old single guy loves working with moms. Well the answer to that question goes back many years to when my mom raised my 3 younger siblings and me, along with my dad. She was a stay-at-home mom and did so much for her 4 children. Looking back, I realized that she spent so much time taking care of her kids that she didn’t take time for herself. I also realized that she didn’t have a good support group of other mothers who were motivated to get in shape and lose the baby fat. I was very blessed to have a mom that was health conscious and cooked very healthy. I learned a lot from her as she taught me what it meant to eat well. I have also realized that when I can help a mom change the foods that she buys for her family and begins to exercise, her kids want to do what she is doing! So not only do I get to help the mother out, but I get to help out the kids and maybe the husband (once in awhile) out as well.

When I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science, I immediately knew what I wanted to do! I created a class called MamaTone Fitness. The mission for MamaTone was to help moms realize that it was important to take care of there physical bodies, and that they could still achieve a great body after kids. The second part of the mission was to connect mothers with each other so they could share life’s experiences with one another.

From MamaTone came Fit Fun Bootcamps, which in 3 years has grown to 10 locations and one of the largest bootcamp programs in the country. Out of the success of the bootcamps, came calls and emails from around the world asking me to train them. So from that, came my 28 DVDs which include: 12 month Fit Moms For Life DVDs, Got Core, Buns Guns Back and Shoulders, Ultimate Buddy Bootcamp, and BabyTone.

I have been blessed to have been on TV nearly 100 times, and been featured on numerous radio shows, magazines, and newspapers.

My Thoughts

Seriously, best book EVER! I love, love, love it! I might be getting this as a present for lots of women that I know who are having problems losing the weight! I’m not giving up my copy! As I read through, I would dogear the page that I wanted to reread or remember and have at least half of the pages dogeared! The whole premise is “How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids.” Since I have five, I absolutely want that! This book tells you step-by-step, how you can be a fit mom for LIFE, not lose twenty pounds, but be fit for life! I know that if I’m going to lose weight and be fit, that I want to stay that way. I don’t like fad diets that tell you exactly what to do, but if you mess up or go off, you gain all of the weight back. Yikes! Dustin gives you food tips, but you can have up to three cheat meals a week (although only one a day)! Phew! I know my poor kids would be terribly disappointed if we didn’t eat one of their favorites every week! There are five pillars of health: mindset, nutrition, strength training, burst training and environment. He covers each in depth and shows actual “Fit Moms for Life Transformations” with before and after pictures! I love seeing real people! As for strenth training, the one exercise he gives is FANTASTIC! I’ve been doing it for three days and already feel a little thinner and am building up stomach muscles that have never recovered from my daughter’s birth eleven months ago! I’m THRILLED! I’m looking forward to buying some of the workout DVDs to go along with it! This book is changing my life, which is exciting! Everyone should have their own!

Buy it!

This book will be released on December 5th! You can buy it here for $19.95 (plus shipping). A fantastic price for something that will change your life!

Win it!

One lucky winner will win their very own copy of the book worth $19.95!

REQUIRED COMMENT: Go to his website here and register for his newsletter. It’s fantastic! THEN, you can leave a comment after completing each of the bonus items.

BONUS #1: Follow @Fitmomsforlife and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Fit Moms For Life and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
#2. Sign up for my NEW Weekly Newsletter.
#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
#4. Put my button on your blog.
#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on December 17th

OPEN TO: USA Only

*Disclaimer: I was provided this book by Dustin Maher, and was not compensated for my opinions. They are my very own and can’t be bought!*

Filed Under: 3 Boys & A Dog General Posts, Fitness, Giveaways, health, Living and Lifestyles, Mind and Body, Parenting and Family, Review and Giveaways Tagged With: Be healthy, book, books, Burn fat, dustin, Dustin Maher, eat healthy, Endless Energy, exercise, fantastic books, fit, fit mom, Fit moms for life, five pillars, for life, Free bonuses, home moms, human interest, life books, maher, mom, moms, Move more, Strength training

Historical Fiction: Call Me Kate Book Review

September 10, 2011 By Erika Leave a Comment

When you think back to what you learned in history class, what comes to mind?

Are strings of people, places and dates running through your brain?

Or, do you recall particular figures who’s story was so interesting that it captivated you?

cover Historical Fiction: Call Me Kate Book Review

I know that for me and many others, it is far more interesting to read about people who walked before us. Even historical fiction, which takes historical events and people and embellishes to bring intriguing stories presents a more palatable way to expand our knowledge and appreciation of history. Call Me Kate by Molly Roe meets the criteria of bringing historical events to life beyond a dry retelling in the history books. I would even wager that many of us have little background or knowledge of the unrest among mining communities of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

Call Me Kate illustrates the harsh living conditions many immigrant workers faced as well as the unsafe working environment for the boys and men who worked in the coal mines. Kate is a young girl who finds her dreams of completing school thwarted after her father is in a mine accident. While he does not meet the same fatal end as others, he is no longer able to work. So, Kate begins her life as a servant to help the family survive.
At first, she works for a local man while he awaits the arrival of a female relative to tend to his needs around the house. She misses the simplicity of life before employment, yet finds a balance between work and play as she becomes friends with sisters that live near her employers house. And, she begins to transition into adulthood with feelings towards one neighborhood boy moving from friend to something else.

When that short term job ends, she is then faced with moving away from her family and all she knows. Seeing anger in her one friend after his brother is seriously injured in the mine, she also brings her worries about what he might do and how he might be involved with the Molly Maguires. Under the employment of a rich and powerful businessman’s vacation home, she makes the decision to take action to protect those she loves back home. There’s plenty of action and tension as Ms. Roe weaves her tail of Kate infiltrating the Molly Maguires in an attempt to save her friend and ultimately save lives.

(To read the rest of this Historical Fiction Review, please visit my blog: Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints)

Filed Under: Guest Blogger, Homeschooling, Just for Kids, Parenting, Parenting and Family, Teachable Moments Tagged With: book review, books, Call Me Kate, Civil War, fiction, Guest Blogger, Historical, historical fiction, history, Raising Little Saints

Review and Giveaway: Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go Book

August 30, 2011 By Erika

Wow this summer just flew didn’t it? We started school two weeks ago on Monday, August 15th, mainly because of how hot summer has been the

Fruit Lovers' Devotional

past couple of years and I’d love to finish by the end of May! The one good thing about hot summers is the refreshing amounts of fruits my kids love to eat! I literally ran out of ways of serving them and varying up the fruits they liked, we tried fruit salads and smoothies among other things. Just when I was hoping to find other methods of serving up these nutritious snacks, this great little book arrived in the mail for a product review, Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go by author Beth Bence Reinke!

Meet the Author!

Now I know what you are probably asking yourself, “what do fruits and devotions have anything to do with each?” {I know this is what you are thinking because it was the first thing I thought when I glanced at the colorful cover.} But literally they do have lots to do with each other! The subtitle reads, “Nourish your body & sweeten your spirit” The author was very clever when writing this book. When you turn the pages you will see that there are 30 chapters in the book. Followed by the first devotion, “Party in a Bowl”. Each devotion has a clever fruit title, some with the same title of a yummy fruit recipe. It has a Bible passage, a reflection on this passage with a “fruity-twist”, and ends with a lovely little prayer to accompany both of them. If that wasn’t enough as you turn to page 12 you will find the actual recipe for Honey-Kissed Fruit Salad!

It really is a great little book to have and you can either ready daily for a whole month or just have it to flip to a chapter and see how the Lord speaks to you that day, popcorn prayer is what my thirteen year old calls it! Another convinient thing about this book, especially for busy moms, is that it fits right in a diaper bag or purse easy because of its size. I keep mine in a bowl in the kitchen and while I’m preparing supper and waiting for something to cook, I read it…and a couple of times got inspired and followed the recipies! My kiddies where happy to have a sweet and refreshing dessert after supper and I was happy that they were eating something healthy!

Book Description:
“The stories in Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go address two seemingly unrelated struggles women face – nutrition and niceness. Planning nutritious meals day after day is difficult and being sweet-tempered all the time is tricky, too. Fortunately, the answer to both dilemmas may be the same – fruit! Edible fruit adds natural goodness to your table. Spiritual fruit brings refreshing changes to your life. Through scripture, recipes and stories about her personal experiences, Beth offers ideas to help you become fruit-filled, in both body and spirit. Go ahead – fill up on sweetness that’s actually good for you.”

Since it was such a great little book, we at 3 Boys and a Dog want to give one away! Here’s what you must do:

REQUIRED COMMENT: Visit the author Beth Bence Reinke on her website, look around and let us know which other book you’d like to have of her’s.

BONUS #1: Follow Beth Bence Reinke and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Author Beth Bence Reinke and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on 9/13

OPEN TO: US or Canada.

*DISCLAIMER: I was given a Fruit Lovers’ Devotions book to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.