Archive for the ‘Contests’ Category

We’ve Got  Winners Of 

Crazy Aunt Purl’s Home is Where the Wine Is

 Contest

Michelle S.
Marilu T.
Amanda W.
Jennifer L.
Serena
 

Congratulations to the winners!

We’ve Got  Winners Of The Susan Jane Gilman Contest

Sharon
Amanda
Julie
Ella
Florinda – Grand Prize Winner

Congratulations to the winners!

Cast your tie-breaking votes for…

Best Dog

Here’s Charlee… 

His Mommy Shares:

Name:  Charlee (with two e’s because he wants and needs to be different)
Breed:  He’s a Keeshond, not to be confused with a little Pomeranian or a Chow Chow, and believe me that has happened.
Age:  He’s 12 going on puppy.
Gender:  And obviously from these pronouns, you’ve deduced he’s a boy, though he is neutered.

Why He’s So Loved:        I’ve included my favorite photo of him from this winter’s snow storm in his new outfit.  He just loves snow…eating it, tumbling in it, catching snowballs in his mouth, which leads to eating them, and just running around in it.  He’d live in the snow if I’d let him, but its too darn cold.  I’ve had him since I was a pup when Anna and I were in college and just had to get a dog because we were never getting married and would be old maids anyway.

Milou

Her Book-Bloggin’ Mommy Shares:

Name:Milou
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Age: 14 Years Old
Gender: She’s a lovely lady

Why She’s So Special: She is quite the princess and thinks she deserves to be treated like royalty.  She loves to eat, sleep and get loving.

Best Couple

Emmy & Finn…

Their Mommy Shares:

Names: Emmy & Finn
Breed: Sacred Birman 
Age:  Emmy: 2 Years Old & Finn 11 Months Old
Gender: Girl & Boy(friend)

Why They Are So Wonderful: These two kittehs are blog stars – hogging the spotlight every Tuesday at Presenting Lenore with their adorable fluffy faces and tendency to sit on everything and anything in our apartment.  They are very sweet natured and love to cuddle.  Everyone who meets them falls in love and wants to take them home!  We are so lucky to have such a loving pair.

Magellan and Penelope…

Their Mommy Shares:

Names: Magellan & Penelope
Breed: American Short Hairs
Age:  A Little Over A Year Old
Gender: Boy & Girl

Why She Is So Wonderful: Magellan and Penelope are brother and sister from the same litter.  Their other brother is black and white. He was adopted by someone else. They are the sweetest two kitties who are two peas in a pod.  Even though they may be sitting across the room from each other -they mimic each other-from their cleaning routine to their sitting pose.  Penelope loves to chatter away, making sure you are wide awake when she is at 4 AM, while Magellan likes to sleep in and sees no need to wake up until he is sure you are wide awake. 

Please cast your tie-breaking votes by 2.26.10

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

Claire & Tori Thank You For Voting!

Tommy, Oliver & Dante Say, "Thanks For Voting Y'all!"

Didn’t Catch it in Hardback?

The good news is Susan Jane Gilman’s

Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven  is now available in paperback.

So, how do we celebrate?

Why… a giveaway, of course!

First… some cool book review goodies…

Author: Susan Jane Gilman
Publisher: Grand Central/Hachette
Website: www.susanjanegilman.com
ISBN #: 978-0-446-55543-2
Type: Non-Fiction/Memoir
Pages: 320 (Trade Paperback)
Purchase: $10.07 @ Amazon.Com (HERE)

The Review

I read Hypocrite in a White Pouffy Dress by Susan Jane Gilman in January 2009.  I liked that book, so much so that I gave it a 9 out of 10 rating.  Gilman’s writing in Hypocrite is very funny and I found the book to be touching and an overall good read.  Therefore, Gilman had to live up to that book in my mind, especially because of my appreciation for Hypocrite.  My expectations were high for Gilman. 

Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven has a different flavor than Hypocrite.  Whereas Hypocrite has a myriad of stories that span across Gilman’s life, Undress Me is a beginning to end story about her post-college travel to China with a college friend.  Keep in mind, this was 20+ years ago and China had just opened its doors to Westerners.  Add to this these two 21-22 year old gals from New York and it’s going to add up to some quirky adventures.  Which, it did.

This book took me a little time for me to warm up to.  It may be that I was expecting something more comical like Hypocrite.  But, once I got about 1/2 way into the book, I was really hooked on the story.  I wanted to know what happened to Susan and Claire (her friend).  By the end of the book, I couldn’t put it down until I had the ending under my belt. 

Another thing to state about this book is that I learned quite a bit about China that I never knew before.  She has a remarkable memory to be able to write this book 20+ years after the fact with such clarity.  My favorite scene is when she goes to the Great Wall of China (see below).  Also, the readers really get to know all of the characters in this story very well!  To me, that makes a story.  I regretfully cannot go too much more into the review without spoiling the story.  But, if you’re a Gilman fan, you’ll enjoy this read.

For a more detailed review of this book, click HERE.

Author: Susan Jane Gilman
Publisher: Grand Central/Hachette
Website: www.susanjanegilman.com
ISBN #: 978-0-446-67577-2
Type: Non-Fiction/Humor 
Pages: 205 (Trade Paperback)
Purchase: $10.36 @ Amazon.Com (HERE)

The Review

After reading Hypocrite In A White Pouffy Dress and Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven, my Susan Jane Gilman obsession would not be complete without reading Kiss My Tiara.  This book is for every feminist, sassy-mouth, liberated, and intelligent woman out there.  Gilman encourages her female readers not to subscribe to the world’s view of how we “should be.”  Based on her opinion of the superiority of the female mind, she concludes that women as the perfect choice to rule the world.  I can’t find any logical reason to argue with that!

And, just how do we do that?

We get comfortable in our own skin.  We find beauty in the creation that we are.  Gilman states, “And so we women end up believing on some level that we’re only beautiful if we’re under forty years old and 110 pounds.  We end up believing that, in order to be beautiful, we’ve gotta treat our bodies and faces like Humpty-Dumpty, delicately smashing them up and trying to put them back together again-except better this time.”

One of Gilman’s greatest suggestions in the book is…

“Do not calm down.  Practically every women’s magazine I know has advised women to reduce stress by lighting candles, meditating, taking bubble baths, and “visualizing a safe, nuturing place” whenever we get upset.”

-and-

“If we’re stirred up about something, chances are it’s because there’s a good reason.  Let’s blow out the candles, get up, get out, and take action.  Ultimately, it will keep us happier and healthier than any narcotizing soak with Mr. Bubble.”

Touche, Susan Jane Gilman, Touche!

It’s a women’s book of anthems of self-expression and self-acceptance.  I laughed out loud and decided to be more accepting of myself.

You Have A Chance to Win 1 of 5 Copies Of Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven
- or -
Be The Grand Prize Winner and Win a Copy of All of Susan Jane Gillman’s Books! 

FTC Disclosure: This book was provided to me from the publisher. All giveaway prizes are provided by the publisher. Clicking on the either the photo of the book cover or the link next to the purchase price stated above will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page. No purchases are necessary.

I’m So Excited…

And, I Just Can’t Hide It…

I got 5, (count ‘em) FIVE copies of

Crazy Aunt Purl’s Home is Where The Wine Is

 Please Read My Review of This Funny Book!

(Go ahead, you know you want to! )

FTC Disclosure: This book was provided to me from the publisher. Clicking on the photo of the book cover will link to my book review. An additional FTC disclosure is located on said review. All books provided in the giveaway are provided by the publisher. No purchases are necessary.