Protea Flowers and a Weekend Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #116!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

Flowers are so fun to photograph. They don't wiggle or make faces. They don't close their eyes at the wrong moment. They let me take all the time I need and I can turn them this way and that way without hearing one complaint. These beauties are called Proteas and even though they did not grow in my garden, they are indigenous to South Africa.

In case someone took me too seriously, Amanda is a pleasure to photograph and she is usually the one who puts up with me and not the other way around. My teenagers don't always allow me to photograph them, but they do sometimes ask for my pics of them to share with their friends. When they appreciate my photos, I feel validated.

I invite you to share your creativity by linking your favorite post of the past week. Make sure you visit the person who linked up before you and leave a sweet comment!

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Check out my latest book review:

Beggar Magic

This steampunk fiction / fantasy is perfect for girls ages 12 and up, including young-at-heart moms like myself. In Beggar Magic, you'll find magic, music, mystery and machines. Check out my review to learn more!

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Now you can order your own personalized
blog buttons with HTML, Facebook covers

or collages (example: Pinterest-ing pins)!

Just visit my page: Blog Buttons to Order

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see what link parties I take part in.

Read More

Beggar Magic by H.L. Burke

About the Book

In Gelia City, magic is music: a constant ever-changing melody known as the Strains. Hereditary ability to use the Strains divides the city into two classes: the wealthy Highmost, who can access the full potential of the Strains, and the Common tradesmen, who are limited to mundane spells, known as beggar magic. With the help of the Strains, Common teen Leilani rescues and befriends a gifted Highmost girl, Zebedy...

My Review

H.L. Burke is a gifted fantasy author. I have read all of her books thus far and this one was my favorite. The title, Beggar Magic, piqued my interest from the start. This steampunk fiction / fantasy has well developed characters with an intriguing plot. H.L. Burke has artfully developed a seamless flow between the dialogue and story-line. The moment I began reading, I was hooked. There's plenty of adventure that keeps the story moving at a good pace. I highly recommend Beggar Magic for ages 12 and up.

Purchase on Amazon 

ABOUT H. L. Burke

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

For information about H. L. Burke's latest novels, author news and events, or to contact the writer, go to the H.L. Burke author website.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book for my honest review.

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New School Year and #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #126!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the images to view them larger.

Jessica, Samantha and Jeremiah
Christmas 2014

My kids have begun the new school year for 2015. Jessica is now in Grade 11, Samantha in Grade 9 and Jeremiah heads off to university on the 6th of February. He'll be studying a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in English and Computer Science) at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Amanda is now in Grade 1 and really enjoying it. These photos are of her in her new uniform the very first day of school.

I've been posting lots of photos of their summer break on my travel/photography blog 1camera1mom. We live in South Africa where the seasons are opposite to my friends and family in the States and other places in the northern hemisphere.

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Check out my latest posts

on 1camera1mom:

Britannia Bay, South Africa - Part 6 

Britannia Bay, South Africa - Part 7

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Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

and

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Read More

My Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #115!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

The photographs that I've been using these last few weekends are pictures of roses from my garden and a friend's garden. I enjoy being creative that way. Please share with us how you've been creative this past week and visit the person who linked up before you!

*********************

Now you can order your own personalized
blog buttons with HTML, Facebook covers

or collages (example: Pinterest-ing pins)!

Just visit my page: Blog Buttons to Order

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see what link parties I take part in.

Read More

Best Photos and #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #125!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.
Click on the images to view them larger.

My husband (Robbie), Amanda and Jeremiah - 2014
South Africa

I've chosen a selection of my favorite family photos that I took in 2013 and 2014. My criteria included great scenery or atmosphere. Some of these photos were taken in Florida, U.S.A. and some were taken at South Africa's West Coast. A couple of these photos are also going to be posted on my travel blog, 1camera1mom. I've got a series that I'm currently doing of our December holiday.

Amanda - 2014
South Africa

Samantha - 2014
South Africa

Jessica - 2013
South Africa

Amanda - 2013
South Africa

Jeremiah, Jessica and Amanda - 2013
South Africa

Samantha - 2013
South Africa

Jeremiah, Samantha and Amanda - 2014
South Africa

Amanda and Samantha - 2014
South Africa

Jessica and Jeremiah - 2013
Vineyards on the way to the West Coast,
South Africa

Amanda and Samantha - 2013
Florida, USA

Jessica - 2013
Florida, USA

3 Sisters: Amanda, Samantha and Jessica - 2013
Florida, USA

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If you like animals, then you'll enjoy my latest post on 1camera1mom. Today's set of photos include some wildlife spotted at South Africa's West Coast as well as pets. I really enjoyed capturing these happy-go-lucky Beagles: Britannia Bay, South Africa - Part 5

***************************

Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

and

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
• Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
• If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
• Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS14XLc-z2uSUW00dIvyZc7lEfLP2tkPgO3qmU3NWi_UObDs_d7XqpYhjp0BBeROyZot-8YlEFU9rguELrZYu3arN1qHHNpB4_ezrb-TlBlfHRSOvP7pBA0VI-j1RkUkF77wJxUc7M7ye/s150/Picture%2520Perfect%2520Party%2520Linky.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.



Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Read More

Our Big News of the Week with #Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #114!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

Can you believe it's already the weekend again? So, what have you been doing this past week? Our big news of the week is that my son has been accepted to Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. He'll begin his first year of studies in February. And, his little sister, Amanda, will begin grade 1 this coming week!

Please link your family friendly posts below and leave a comment with a link. I'm always interested to see what other bloggers are doing and enjoy having a "chat" via comments. Remember to visit the blogger who linked up before you. Enjoy your weekend and I hope it's super sweet!

*********************

Giveaway!
Author Elsa Takaoka
is giving away a pack
of 3 adorable picture
books to 1 lucky
winner.

A Moat is Not a Goat

and a Giveaway of

a Pack of 3 Books!

*********************

Now you can order your own personalized
blog buttons with HTML, Facebook covers

or collages (example: Pinterest-ing pins)!

Just visit my page: Blog Buttons to Order

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!

Visit my Blog Hops page to see what link parties I take part in.

Read More