If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Judy!

Do you blog for a living or for fun?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

I mostly blog for fun, though I occasionally make a few dollars from sponsored posts. Plus, it is nice to receive a free book to review.

My Name is Rapunzel
By KC Hilton
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pub. Date: November 23, 2013
ISBN: 978-1492863007
Pages: 322
Buy Link: Print, Kindle

Review:

I believe almost everybody has read or has at least heard of the Grimms' fairy tale called Rapunzel, but many people probably don't know that the Grimm's version isn't the original. It is actually remake of Persinette by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force. The fairy story has become more popular thanks to Disney's recent computer-animated film, Tangled.

Author KC Hilton recently published a modern day version of the classic tale, titled My Name is Rapunzel. I enjoyed reading the author's children novels, The Magic of Finkleton and Return to Finkleton, so I was eagerly agreed to review her take on Rapunzel.

The book's narration is from Rapunzel herself, as she explains how she was cursed with immortality by the witch, Gretta, when she was a child. In 1763, she fell in love with a young man named Henry and they became engaged, but Gretta intervenes and their happily ever after bliss never occurs.

With Henry gone, Rapunzel has to accept that she will never find love, though her parents have tried to help her find another love, she can never fully forget Henry. Years fly by, her parents age, but she never does; she even outlives her mother. She moves with her father to the family's castle, but old age has caught up with him too, but he make sure Rapunzel is always protected by leaving the witch Gretta as her guardian.

Convertible cars allow the driver to put down the top and let the breeze blow through their hair. Though often associated with the rich and famous, this type of vehicle has been made more affordable by certain car companies, such as Mazda. Are you thinking of looking into a Mazda MX-5 in Kansas City? Here is what you might want to know about this convertible sports car before you visit your dealership.


Mazda debuted the MX-5 Miata in 1990. The first generation of the MX-5 featured a five-speed manual transmission and a 1.6-L, four-cylinder engine with 116 hp until 1994 when it received an upgrade to a 1.8-L engine with 128 hp. The first generation was produced until 1997. The second generation would not be released until 1999, however, and would see the addition of an optional four-speed automatic transmission along with its upgrade to a 1.8-L engine with 140 hp. In 2000 a special edition MX-5 was released with a six-speed manual that would become a permanent option in 2001. The engine would also receive an upgrade in 2001 to 142 hp. In 2004 a turbocharged MX-5 became available offering 178 hp. The current third generation arrived in 2006.

Machete Kills
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Antonio Banderas, Cuba Gooding Jr., Demian Bichir, Charlie Sheen (Carlos Estevez) and Mel Gibson
Studio: Universal Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 21, 2014
ASIN: B00GDDNMEY
Running Time: 1hr 48mins.
Rating: R

Review:

Coming to DVD and Blu-ray on January 21st is the exciting action-pack sequel to 2010's Machete, titled Machete Kills, once again starring Danny Trejo as Machete and co-staring Michelle Rodriguez as Luz, the leader of She. New faces to the world of Machete includes Amber Heard, Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Antonia Banderas, Cuba Gooding Jr., Demian Bichir Carlos Estevez (Charlie Sheen's birth name) and Mel Gibson. Bonus features include: Deleted and Extended Scenes and Making Machete Kills.

What originally started as a fake trailer to the Grindhouse movies lead to the feature film of Machete in 2010, which also had its own fake trailers of Machete Kills and Machete Kills Again. Thanks to the box-office success of Machete, Machete Kills arrived in theaters this past fall, though it didn't do as well in theaters with moviegoers and critics, the film still has a chance to gain an audience with the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray release. The film is already available on Digital HD.

Being an action-junkie, I enjoyed watching the first film,which was a throwback to 70s' exploitation movies, only with more over-the-top violence. That being said, I was looking forward to reviewing the sequel Machete Kills, only to be slightly disappointed with the opening, (SPOILER WARNING) where Jessica Alba's character from the first movie meets her end.

More companies are incentivizing their employees to live a healthy lifestyle with programs like www.heartmath.com, and they are doing so for a few different reasons. The main reason is that healthy employees are much more likely to be productive during work hours. When you are getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise, you will be more likely to come to work every day and have the energy, stamina, and brainpower to get the job done. Healthier employees also mean lower costs for healthcare across the board.

One of the biggest things to address in the workplace is stress. When people are struggling to meet deadlines, are not getting along with co-workers, or have more responsibility than they are qualified to handle, it can cause stress that inevitably turns into illness in some form. Fortunately, there are programs designed to help employees learn the essential skills required to handle stress and find joy in their work. When people have the capacity to feel good about their efforts and receive positive feedback, it will naturally encourage them to do better.

It seems like most fairy tales are aimed for a female audience, but I have to admit I do like watching Once Upon A Time and reading Grimm's Fairy Tales, so when I saw the cover of Doon, I thought I would give it a try. Plus, it has a Scottish setting and I have ancestors from Scotland.

In Doon, Veronica jumps at a chance to get away from her complicated life when her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland. This isn't a two week vacation, it is for a few months.

Before going on vacation, Veronica had been seeing a strange blond boy, whom magically appeared almost everywhere she went. She thought traveling to Scotland would get her away from whoever he is, but she was wrong. The boy had followed her. Or maybe he is leading her somewhere.

While in Alloway, Veronica and Mackenna stumble upon a set of rings and a mysterious letter that was left behind by Mackenna's aunt. This all leads them to the fairy tale land of Doon; full of princes, enchantments and mystery, but just around the corner lies unthinkable danger.

Flowers in the Attic
The Dollanganger Family Series
By V.C. Andrews
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub. Date: January 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1476775852
Pages: 400

Review:

It’s hard to believe the guilty pleasure novel Flowers in the Attic is over 34-years-old! I wasn't even born back in 1979 when Flowers in the Attic written by newcomer V.C. Andrews was published. The book about four siblings being locked up in a bedroom and attic for over three years was a huge success, but there was major controversy involving the incest theme involving a teenage brother and sister. The book has been banned from libraries and schools because of this, though over time some have put the book back on the shelves, it is still banded in some locations.

The book is told from the point-of-view of Catherine Leigh "Cathy" Dollanganger and centers on the there and half years when her siblings, Chris and twins Cory and Carrie, are hidden away in the vast Foxworth mansion. After their father died in a car accident, their mother, Corrine, drags them to live in her parent's house, where they are locked in a bedroom by their wicked Grandmother.

Their mother had been disinherited years ago when she married their father Christopher, and now the only way to get back in her father's grace is if she never had any children with her husband, so the Dollanganger children must be  away in a bedroom, which has access to the attic, until their grandfather dies.

During the first year their mother visits them on a daily basis, but as she starts to establish herself back into society, she distance herself from her children. Meanwhile, Chris and Cathy become less like brother and sister to the twins and more like farther and mother, as they take care of them and continue their schooling (well as much as they can). They’re fearful of their Grandmother, whom will give them severe punishment what she considers sinning. Being locked away has put stress on the twins and they are physically becoming ill. As for Chris and Cathy, they are starting to have intimate feelings for each other, despite the fact they are brother and sister.

Runner Runner
Director: Brad Furman
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton, Ben Affleck
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: January 7, 2013
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00GICP86A
Running Time: 91minutes
Rating: R

Review:

Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray last week (January 7, 2013) was the gambling-thriller Runner Runner from director Brad Furman and stars Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck (Yep, the future Bruce Wayne/Batman). Special features include House of Cards - The Inside Story of Online Poker (Exclusive to Blu-ray) and deleted scenes.

I've never been a fan of Justin Timberlake's music or film roles, but he won me over in the underrated Clint Eastwood's vehicle Trouble with the Curve. I have always thought Ben Affleck's acting has been extremely wooden or just god-awful at times, so my expectations for Runner Runner were quite low.

Somewhat based on a real-life professional poker player, Nat Arem, Justin Timberlake plays a Princeton grad student, Richie Furst, who has been paying his college tuition by referring students to a online poker site, in which he receives a fee. He once had a wonderful  career on Wall Street, but things happen and now his only source of income is through his gambling scheme that is until the Dean learns of his activities and tells him to shutdown his operation or get kicked out of school.

With no other choice, Richie closes his business, but takes all his earnings and enters an online poker game, in the hope of winning the rest of his college tuition. Despite his poker experience, Richie loses everything!

Christmas is officially over (well, until December 2014), so you would think you would have time to relax, but there is another holiday around the corner - Valentine's Day. For some people the day of love is just a scheme created by the card companies, while others celebrate the day in honor of Saint Valentine.

Whatever is the reason you celebrate Valentine's Day, it is not that easy to find the perfect gift for your loved one, especially for men, who are mostly likely to do their shopping at the last minute. Sure, you can go the safe route and buy some roses, candy or cheap jewelry, but your wife, girlfriend or partner, may not feel like you put your best effort into picking out the gift. If only you could read minds it could be a lot easier, but wait, there is something you could do.

There is a new website called PickURGift that can help you buy the perfect present for someone. It's just like writing your wish list, except it is reverse. You're are picking out gifts you think your loved one will like, then you send an email to that person, they will pick out what they would like to have. This is a simple way to give the perfect gift.