Amanda's Books and More: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Mousebirds in My Garden with #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #148!

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Click on the images to view them larger.

This past week I saw the prettiest birds for the first time in my winter garden. Some of their neat features include blue beaks, pinkish-red feet and long tail feathers. I looked them up and they are a type of mousebird. In case you are confused why it's winter here, I need to explain that we live in South Africa and our seasons are opposite to my friends in the Northern Hemisphere. I took all these photos from Samantha's bedroom window.

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Here's a peek at
My Latest Post

on 1camera1mom:

Tulbagh Christmas in Winter 2015

Sisters: Amanda, Jessica and Samantha

Siblings: Jessica, Jeremiah, Samantha and Amanda

These photos were taken last Sunday.
I've got quite a nice selection of photos,

so please take a moment to have a look:

Tulbagh Christmas in Winter 2015

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Here's a peek at my weekend post:

Flowers...

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My Latest Book Reviews:

Luna's Lost Ball

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond

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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+

Twitter

Facebook

and

I'm also now on Instagram!

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 to your linked post or blog's sidebar.
Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

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

Friday, June 26, 2015

Flowers with #Weekend #Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #133!

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

Please pin any photos that you like to your Pinterest boards and you can follow me on Pinterest too. Also, make sure you visit me on Instagram. Sometimes I capture some neat photos with my mobile phone that I haven't shared on my blogs.

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My Latest Book Reviews:

Luna's Lost Ball

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond

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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

I'm also now on Instagram!

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:

This is a blog hop!

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

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Airplane and Glider with #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #147!

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

We have a good view of the small airfield near our house. I enjoy watching the planes. We often see gliders being pulled by small planes and later gliding silently in the sky. I took these photos from our property.

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Here's a peek at
My Latest Post

on 1camera1mom:

Jason's Hill: Wine Cellar and Bistro

Our son looking at the view
from the bistro's balcony

I've got quite a nice selection of photos,

so please take a moment to have a look:

Jason's Hill: Wine Cellar and Bistro

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If you missed my weekend post,

it was in celebration of

Father's Day...

To see all the photos,

visit Happy Father's Day!

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My Latest Book Reviews:

Luna's Lost Ball

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond

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

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+

Twitter

Facebook

and

I'm also now on Instagram!

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:

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

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

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond

Book Review Blitz

About the Book

Bubbles is causing a stink. And the other frogs are not happy. They tell him to stop bubbling the water or he’ll have to leave Frog Pond. But he can’t help it. He’s been bubbling since he was a little tadpole. Will Bubbles have to leave Frog Pond? Where will he go? And what happens when danger comes? Find out in this fun picture book about friendship and self-respect for preschoolers and all ages.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My Review

Amanda (age 7) enjoyed listening to me read Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond while looking at the pictures. She giggled at the funny parts. I asked her what she learned about the story. She replied, "It doesn't matter how you stink or look; it matters about the heart." That's an important message for all of us to be reminded of and it's good to start learning this when we are young.

Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond teaches about friendship and attitudes of the heart, using a funny story with silly illustrations. The story is easy enough for young children to follow and understand. I recommend this book for girls and boys ages 3 to 7.

About the Author:

Ben Woodard

A spellbinding storyteller of high adventure, Ben Woodard has walked the Great Wall of China, hiked in Tibet, and climbed to 18,000 feet on Mt. Everest. And recently learned to surf in Hawaii. Ben is active in SCBWI and a member of a local children’s writing critique group. He is a former Marketing Manager for a major corporation and ran his own marketing consulting business. He started writing children’s stories in 2008 and has written picture books, middle grade and young adult. Stories of adventure and wonder. Stories that inspire and educate, and, most of all, entertain. Ben lives in Kentucky with his wife Lynda.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Luna's Lost Ball

Luna's Lost Ball

Book Blast and
$25 Giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Luna's Lost Ball (Shiloh and Friends | Author: R.A. Milnes II | Publication Date: April 30, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 36 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8

Summary: Luna is a Labrador retriever and she has lost her most favorite ball. Follow Shiloh and her friends in a tale of friendship, teamwork, sharing, and reward as they help Luna find her lost ball.

Amazon * Goodreads

The Buzz About the Book

"Wonderful book for small children! My twins are 4 years old and loved the story and colorful backgrounds! We are anxiously waiting the next in the collection!" ~ Marianne H., Amazon

My Review

One of my favorite things about this blog is getting to review sweet picture books with Amanda (age 7), like Luna's Lost Ball. We enjoyed the story very much. Amanda and I both liked the bright illustrations. The cow on the tractor was the funniest. Amanda understood the message of friends working together and that friends are there for each other. We are looking forward to reading more books in the Shiloh and Friends series. I highly recommend this book for girls and boys ages 3 to 8.

About the Author:

R.A. Milnes II

I am a business professional working in the healthcare industry. Luna's Lost Ball began as a gift to my niece and nephew. I have such love for them that I wanted to give them something that they can hold on to. The beauty of this work is that I am able to incorporate my dogs, Shiloh and Luna, into telling a story of friendship, teamwork, sharing, and reward.

I hope that you enjoy this story and it brings your family joy each time you read it. My goal is to continue to write more stories under the Shiloh and Friends brand.

$25 Book Blast Giveaway!

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Giveaway ends: July 2, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, R.A. Milnes II and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, June 19, 2015

Happy Father's Day and #Weekend #Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #132!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome

I'm super excited for Sunday! Father's Day is a special event where I get to honor the good fathers in my life. I've been blessed with three dads and my husband who is the father of our four kids. The photos below were all chosen carefully for the important men in my life. All the photos were taken by me.