Thursday, December 5, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Nerf N-Sports Cyber Hoop Set



Nerf N-Sports Cyber Hoop Set

Retail: $19.99
ASIN: B00ARQW0N2
Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 13.3 x 11 inches  
Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up 
Batteries 3 AAA batteries required.

Purchase Links:

Product Description: 

Take on anyone, anywhere in the Cyber Hoop arena! The hoop connects wirelessly to your mobile device (sold separately) so you can challenge your friends through the app! Prove your dominance in quick play, head-to-head play, dunk contests and more. Watch your most amazing plays again with the automatically created highlight reel, which has commentary and slow-motion replay! You can even share your video highlights and stats with others! There are 5 ways to play and room for up to 4 players, so get your virtual dunk on and dominate with the Cyber Hoop!

Challenge your friends to a virtual dunk contest or other ways to play with the Cyber Hoop! Compete with your friends in real time, even when you're not in the same room! Choose from 5 ways to play for up to 4 players! App records your game or dunk and automatically tracks your stats! Creates a highlight reel with slow-motion replay, commentary and the ability to share it with others! Hoop wirelessly connects to your mobile device! App works with iPhone 4/4S/5, iPod touch 4th or 5th generation or iPad 2/3/4. iPhone 4/4S/5, iPod touch 4th or 5th generation or iPad 2/3/4 required (not included).


Billy's Review:

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: The Simpsons: The Sixteenth Season Blu-Ray

Writing Tips Wednesdays: Dealing With Writer Burn-Out


I've been a writer for a long time. For most of my writing career, I have ghost written for other people. I often get burnout writing other people's ideas. So that is why I decided I was tired of writing for other people and I wanted to write something for myself. Enter NaNoWriMo.

If you are not familiar with the concept, it is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words between November 1st and November 30th.

I was able to complete my goal (read how I did it here). I did get to 50,000 words. But what I was not prepared for was how I would feel afterwards.

Writing is draining. I always imagine each word like a tiny smudge of yourself that you leave behind like a snail's slimy trail. The more words you write, the less of yourself there is.

After writing 50,000 extra words in November, I can definitely tell you that I feel like a drained snail. It has been extremely hard to continue working since I reached my goal just before Thanksgiving.

So, what have I done to keep motivated? Basically, three simple things.

3 Simple Ways to Keep Writing after Burn-Out


  1. Set Goals: Goals are how you stay focused on what you want to achieve. If you don't have any solid goals, then there is no way you can make it past burnout. I like to plan daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals. 
  2. Do the Bare Minimum: Normally, I try to do a little more than I have to do to get ahead. But when facing burnout, the minimum is enough for a while. Just make sure you start doing extra again after a small rest period to avoid life-long procrastination. 
  3. Plan for Breaks: You will need a lot of off time to recover from burn out. I plan to take off at least a week in late December to make up for my burnout. I have also taken several small breaks each day. My kitchen has never been so clean. 
So, that's it! What do you do to keep going if you are feeling burned out by writing? 


Brenda is a fellow book-lover and coffee-addict. She is a freelance writer, punctuation nerd, and grammar enthusiast. Her favorite book genres are Science Fiction, Fantasy with a Twist, and Dystopian. Brenda blogs about books, writing and more at Daily Mayo. Find her here on CaW for Writing Tips Wednesdays the first Wednesday of every month.

Follow Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to updates from Daily Mayo to keep up with all the exciting things in her life; ranging from drinking coffee to get through the day to drinking coffee just for fun.

How to Choose the Right Photographers

If you are looking for St. Louis photographers for your next special event, it is important to find the right professional to provide beautiful photos that you can enjoy for years to come. Don’t just go with any photographer; you need someone who can provide exactly what you are looking for. Whether you need a wedding photographer, headshot photographer, or want a photo session for your child or pets, you should look for a professional who specializes in the types of photos you need.

Candid or Posed

Most photographers can meet your unique needs and preferences, so if you are looking for a particular type or style of photos, they can work with you. However, if you are looking for something in particular, such as candid photos leading up to your wedding, let your photographer know upfront.

Research Your Options

Make sure to thoroughly research your options to find the best photographer that your budget can afford. While you can get a good feel for their personality, style, and willingness to help by either looking online or calling your favorite photographers, it may be a better idea to visit some professionals. By meeting for coffee or in their studio, you can ensure that you feel comfortable and relaxed with your photographer of choice so that you are confident working with them on the day of the event.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Review - Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman

Plain Peace
A Daughters of the Promise Novel
By Beth Wiseman
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: November 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1401685942
Pages: 320

Review:

Anytime I see an Amish book, I have to read it and that is exactly what happened when I saw Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman was available to review through Book Sneeze. Though this is the sixth book in the series and I've only read one or two books, I still wanted to read it.

Normally young Amish woman have a say in who her future husband will be, but that is not the case for Anna Byler, whose grandfather happens to the bishop and he is an old-school Ordnung, enforcing strict rules on the Amish community. All the marriage-age young men never approach or take interest in Anna, as they are all afraid of what her grandfather might do to them. That is until Jacob Hostetler moves to Paradise and takes an immediate interest in Anna.

She loves her grandparents and wants to respect their rules, but the strict legalism her grandfather has created is practically dividing the community. One woman has already been shunned because of adultery.

Despite disapproval from her grandparents, Anna pursues a relationship with Jacob. She must decide what is more important - marrying Jacob or staying loyal to her grandparents.

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Bella Dots Programmable12-Cup Coffee Maker




Bella Dots Programmable12-Cup Coffee Maker 


Retail Price - $49.99 

Purchase Links:

Product Description:

24 hour programmable timer lets you set and go
Removable filter
Convenient pause and serve function
2 hour keep warm function so your coffee doesn't get cold
Automatic shutoff for your safety
Convenient cord storage
Programmable
2 hour keep warm
LCD digital display
Automatic shut off
24 hours programmable timer
Water level gauge
Automatic pause and serve
Glass carafe
Cord storage
Removable filter
Includes measuring scoop

Billy's Review:

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Furry Paw, Middle Claw by Barry Jackson





Furry Paw, Middle Claw
A Novel
By Barry Jackson
Publisher: Turn The Page Publishing
Pub. Date: June 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1938501104
Pages: 217

Purchase Links:


Book Description From Amazon.com:

From a cold, loveless childhood in the south, Dean finds sanctuary in his well-ordered brownstone in Manhattan. Single and successful, his life is shaken to the core when he meets soul mate, Melissa. But not because he can't take his eyes off of her, or because they're both products of dysfunctional families, but because Melissa's baggage contains fur and paws. Four cats enter Dean's life, nicking and clawing to stay number 1 in Melissa's heart. Dean maintains his sense of humor until his heart bursts when their two-year-old son,Craig, is diagnosed with autism. Stricken, Dean's past, present, and future collide when the world rejects his son. As Craig's need for human contact slips away, Melissa and Dean watch in awe as the cats reach through the veil of autism and touch Craig's heart. These unlikely furry, spiritual guides pierce Dean's defenses allowing him to see light, to see the other side of himself, and the reason he was put on the planet.


Billy's Review: