Amanda's Books and More

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #40

I shared a Mother's Day photo on Sunday.
Samantha (my 12-year-old) made me breakfast
all by herself. Along with that post I also had
an eBook giveaway in honor of
Children's Book Week. Visit
5 Mermaid eBooks Giveaway
to enter my Rafflecopter or

visit other Kid Lit giveaways on the
linky list at the bottom of that post.

Here are two more photos taken on Mother's Day.

I've also added new photos of my family
and the African Penguins on 1camera1mom,
so please check it out this Wordless Wednesday.
And, at the bottom of this post, you can link
your own Wordless Wednesday!

My mother-in-law and I

Amanda building a Disney Princess puzzle with her Grandma

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Come 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

Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
Grab the button below and add it on your post or side-bar.
Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

5 Mermaid eBooks Giveaway!

Girly Comments & Graphics

I first want to wish all moms a very Happy Mother's Day!

And, all women who care for others and animals should be

honored today too. We are the backbone to a healthy society.

My 12-year-old daughter made me breakfast this morning.

I wanted to show you how pretty it looked and the omelette

she made was delicious!

This week is Children's Book Week from 13 - 19 May.

Renee at Mother Daughter Book Reviews and

Katie at Youth Literature Reviews are hosting

an awesome Blog Hop featuring links to giveaways

for fabulous children/teen's books, gift cards, cash

or other prizes! Their hop will go live on the 13th.

My giveaway goes live now, so keep reading!

I am taking part and have joined up with E.S. Ivy, the author of

Miri Attwater and the Ocean's Secret. It's a really neat mermaid

story like no other for girls ages 6 - 12. I read the first

book in the series and got really caught up in the story.

I wanted to read more! The story has lots of little bits of

cool scientific information that makes the story feel possible.

It will even keep Moms entertained.

Summary:
A young girl, who hates fish and other slimy things,

finds out she’s a mermaid princess and must overcome her fears

to visit the mermaid city of Kai Kaona and meet her mother.

E.S. Ivy is giving away 5 of her Miri Attwater and the

Ocean's Secret eBooks! Please let us know in the comments

what format you would like to have it emailed to you if

you do win (mobi, epub, or pdf).

You can read more about Miri’s world and ask questions

when you visit the series’ blog, Miri Attwater’s World.

While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter!

A Little Bit About the Author

Growing up in East Texas, E.S. Ivy preferred her adventures to be in books,

where things were nice and safe. Ivy graduated from college with a degree

in Chemistry. She learned how to grow a certain type of fern upside down

and sideways! She sent some of them up on the space shuttle Columbia and

got to see the nighttime launch at Kennedy Space Center in person.

Ivy also worked as a writer and editor of children’s science textbooks.

But she got tired of the publishers taking out all of the fun parts.

Novels are much more fun. She also likes to craft and has had original

crafts published in Family Fun Magazine.

Ivy now lives in the hills of Central Texas with her husband and three kids.

And – because there’s a rule that all pets have to be a type of critter that

mom is willing to catch – a dog named Topaz.

Visit E.S. Ivy's author blog,
which also includes some posts on crafts

and other interests.

5 Lucky Winners will be chosen for the

1st book in the Miri Attwater series!
Don't forget to let us know in the
comments if you would like your
eBook in mobi, epub or pdf
format if you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To find more giveaways of fabulous

children/teen's books, gift cards,

cash or other prizes, click on the

links below!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #36

Today I'm linking with 3 other blog parties, so you'll get to know more about me and my family with photos too. But first I want to tell you that I'll be hosting an international e-book giveaway this weekend for 5 lucky winners of a really neat mermaid e-book (ages 6 - 12), so make sure you don't miss out.

Also, I had to share with you the gift that Amanda and I put together for her teacher. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week and so we showed our appreciation by baking chocolate chip cookies and decorating a jar to put them in. The chocolate chips were my last bag from the States. They arrived in a Christmas package from my mom and grandma. We can't get chocolate chips here unless I buy the waxy kind that are not real chocolate or the gourmet kind that come in small tins, so I don't do either. If I'm stuck, I just chop my own chocolate, but then they don't look like chocolate chips.

For my first writing prompt of today, I'm linking with Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday and Create With Joy's Friendship Friday.

Comfort

I feel the comfort of my little girl as we snuggle together on the couch to watch TV. She enjoys watching cooking shows with me like Barefoot Contessa or The Great British Bake Off.

It’s a wonderful feeling when I come into the bedroom early in the morning to find Amanda already awake and waiting for me in my bed with Hubby. I give them both a big hug and kiss. It’s a wonderful start to a new day with our youngest child.

I see the comfort she brings to our kittens with all the attention and love that she showers on them. They don’t mind having her so close. In fact, they enjoy it.

My son brings me comfort when he takes the time to lean in and give me a hug. He’s so grown now, but he’s not too big for hugs. I’m proud to be his mom.

Stop

For my second writing prompt of today, I'm linking with Janine's Finish the Sentence Friday.

This summer I plan to...

go with my family to Florida to visit family and to see Disney World. It will be Amanda's first time leaving South Africa. My kids are being raised as South Africans and Americans, but they don't have many American experiences except the few trips to the States and what I bring to the family.

Amanda hasn't even seen real fireworks yet, so this trip to Disney will be great. And, we'll be at my mom's for the 4th of July, so we'll see more fireworks. Samantha and Amanda never experienced a 4th of July in the States. Jeremiah and Jessica got to see the fireworks from the downtown park in Atlanta, but they were very small and can't remember. We enjoyed taking them to the playground there and the fountains during the day.

This trip will be awesome!

Jeremiah, Jessica and Me in Atlanta in 2000

Now on to the 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

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

CafePress - A One-of-a-Kind Online Shop

I have been offered a great opportunity and I'm not letting it go to waste, because I've made sure that my readers will benefit too. I have secured an international $20 gift voucher from CafePress for one lucky winner. Once I receive the voucher, there will be a draw for it on my blog. I'll let everyone know, but if you don't want to miss a thing, then consider getting updates via email. That option is available on my right-hand sidebar.

What is CafePress and what can you purchase with your $20 if you win?

Custom T-shirts, Personalized Gifts, Unique Mugs, Posters & More

CafePress is where the world shops for custom t-shirts and other unique gifts that express people's unique personalities. You'll find millions of one-of-a-kind designs on every topic you can imagine (and some you can't) - from political expressions, funny T-shirts & stickers, to all sorts of merchandise with cool personalized designs. Plus find themed gear from major brands such as the Twilight Saga, American Idol, Star Trek, & more. You can also make your own personalized gifts with their easy design tool.

Personalized Photo Gifts - Here are some great ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day! It's so easy to make it personal. Just add your own photo of your family or kids or anyone else you want to have remembered on a framed tile, mug, pillow, or any of the many other products to choose from.

Writers and Bloggers Mugs - If you are a writer or a blogger, you will want one of these! Sayings include, "I Love My Blog" and "I am SO gonna blog about this."

Travel Mugs - A variety of mugs in different themes, such as Vintage, Retro, Art, Cute, and Animals. Some are quite funny.

Flip Flops - These are perfect for the summer and you can find your own unique style from beach themes to photography, music, animals and more! So, go on and express yourself this holiday.

Cool Shirts - Find a cool T-shirt for Men and Women to Kids and Infants... even Dogs! There's something for everyone.

Custom Shirts - Design your own T-shirt! The online Design Tool makes the whole process quick and easy. You can create almost anything you envision. Type a message in the text box, then choose from font selections to make it your very own. Even add a graphic or photo. You can design one side only, or both front and back.

CafePress also has a new partnership with Marvel. And, with the new release of Iron Man 3, there's a variety of merchandise to choose from. Make sure you don't miss out!

Iron Man 3 merchandise - Check out the wide variety, including cool T-shirts, caps and bags.

Iron Man 3 Movie T

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #39

Amanda wearing her Red, White and Blue Hello Kitty T-shirt.
I took this photo just after Valentine's Day.

I'm very excited about next month. We'll be flying to the States to see my mom, step-dad and grandma. Hopefully we'll also see my dad, step-mom and grandfather. We'll be going during our kids' school holiday. It will be the middle of their school year and winter over here in South Africa. We're looking forward to getting a tan and missing a part of our winter.

We'll also be spending three days at Disney World. We already have our park tickets. We can hardly wait. I'm just as excited as the kids, maybe even more than them. I guess I'm young at heart.

Today I'm sharing photos of my three oldest kids taken back in 2002, just after our last visit to the States. At that time we also got to visit Disney World. I got a Disney towel for each of the kids back then and they were a great purchase, because they lasted. The Disney mugs have also lasted.

The last photo is of Amanda and was taken this year. She's wrapped in the same bath towel that Sammy had. Of course, in Amanda's photo you can see that it has faded over the years. Oh, and she was playing with lotion. That's why there are lots of little dots on her legs. I wonder if she'll be icing/frosting cakes when she's older. So cute.

To see more recent pictures of my kids, and one photo of all six of us, visit my photography blog at 1camera1mom.

Jeremiah and Jessica in 2002

Samantha in 2002

Amanda