Friday, August 12, 2016

Review - AQS Wall Calendar 2017


While there is still over four months left of 2016, bookstores are already stocking up on wall calendars for 2017. You can buy just about any type of calendar your heart desires, including quilt calendars.

Quilt calendars typically have one quilt design featured every month, and there are even a few that have foldout patterns to go along with the designs.

Now available to purchase is the AQS Wall Calendar 2017 (Retail $15.95).

What does AQS stand for?

It stands for American Quilter's Society, where they host AQS QuiltWeek® shows around the country every year. The twelve quilts that are featured in the AQS Wall Calendar 2017 were part of the winners circle at the 2016 AQS QuiltWeek® in Paducah, Kentucky.

The Back Cover

The quilts featured in this year's calendar are:

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Summer Reads: When Death Draws Near



Thomas Nelson; 336 pages; $15.99; Buy Link: Blog Tour
I've been trying really hard to have my reviews for blog tours written and posted a few days before whatever specific date is assigned to me, but that isn't the case for this one. I'm a little under the weather this week, so my review is being written today, which happens to be my blog's turn on the tour.

What am I review today?

Well, I'm reviewing the mystery thriller When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks (You can find information about her at the very bottom of this review!). The book was published by Thomas Nelson and was released to bookstores last week (August 2nd).

The novel centers on forensic artist Gwen Marcey, who takes a temporary job in the small town of Pikeville, Kentucky. While at first it sounds like she wouldn't have much to do there, she quickly learns that the town has had several recent crimes (some accidental). Her first assignment is to draw a sketch of a serial rapist. However, before she can finish the drawing, one of witnesses disappears.

While the sheriff is looking into the incident, Gwen decides to do her own investigation that might link the "accidental" deaths to the serial rapist. Also, along with her teenager daughter, Gwen goes undercover a serpent-handling church to undercover illegal activities.

Despite Gwen's already busy life, she is a thrown a curve-ball when she learns that her breast cancer has returned.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Product Review: VasogenXT Powder




Whether your bodybuilding, training for an athletic event, or if your just trying to get into shape, herbal supplements can come in handy, especially the ones that can help decrease recovery time and aid in muscle building.

Recently, I was sent a 7.25oz container of VasogenXT Powder from VMI Sports (retails at $38.99). It's currently available in three flavors: Tigers Blood, Hawaiian Pump, and Mali-Blu Berry Breeze.

Unlike other vasodilator products, VasogenXT doesn't contain Arginine, but instead it has clinically studied herbal compounds. It's meant to hydrate your muscles, give a Nitric Oxide boost, and make your muscles swell while you're pumping iron. It will also increase blood flow and increase strength and endurance.


Each serving (30 servings per container) contains:
  • Carbohydrates 1g
  • Vitamin B3 10mg
  • Chloride 61mg
  • Sodium 39mg
  • L-Taurine 2g
  • Vasogen Swell Matrix Blend 1.15g
    • Hawthrone Berry Powder
    • Schizandra Berry Powder
    • AgmaPure (Argmatine Sulfate) 
    • Pine Bark Extract
    • ViNitrox

Friday, August 5, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: August 5th - 11th


Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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 Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

If you recommend a book to someone, do you also send that person your review?

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: 

 No, I don't normally send anyone a link to my review after recommending a book; though I sorta refer people to my review links on Twitter.


Linky List:

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Three Reasons to Shop at a Used Bookstore


Although there has been a movement away from the brick and mortar bookstore, and towards shopping online for books such as the one here, local used bookshops still exist, and those that remain may be with us for many years to come. The following are three reasons people continue to visit local used bookstores.


You Can Discover New Authors 

Sure, you can talk to friends and relatives that share your interests in reading material, but the truth is that fewer people are reading today than in years past, and those that do read are often reading best sellers or genre specific fiction. Because of today's reading environment, there are many authors waiting to be discovered by you at used bookstores. Not every book written in the past had a huge readership, but the content may be compelling to you. Used bookstores often have their books shelved by topic, so you can browse for authors you are not familiar with and make discoveries of books that you would not have found by other means. If you know exactly what you are looking for, then buying on the Internet may be your best bet, but there is no substitute for a used book store when browsing.

You Can Converse With Knowledgeable Store Owners

Summer Reads: Goosebumps Most Wanted: Special Edition: The Haunter


Scholastic; 192 pages; $7.99; Amazon
While Halloween is less than three months away, many publishers are already releasing books set around All Hallows' Eve. Scholastic released "Goosebumps Most Wanted: Special Edition: The Haunter"  by R.L. Stine last month, which just happens to have a Halloween theme.

Similar to other Goosebumps Most Wanted titles, "The Haunter" opens up with a short prologue where R.L. Stine points out the readers to the "The Haunter" Most Wanted poster. Instead of telling the story himself about the monster, he quickly introduces us to Sammy Baker, the main character of this story.

Twelve-year-old Sammy is dreading Halloween, which is only days away, mostly because he's afraid of anything that is scary! He's not the most popular kid at Grover Cleveland Middle School, though he does have one good friend, Bill "Buzzy" Buzzner, who is the complete opposite of him as Buzzy is not afraid of anything. 

Out of the blue, Sammy's teacher, Miss Flake, announced that the class will split into groups for a Halloween-themed assignment, and of course he is given a scary subject to write about - "Are Haunted Houses Real?" 

The Good News
  • Sammy's crush, Summer Magee, is in the group.
  • Buzzy is also in the group.

The Bad News:
  • Sammy's nemesis, Rubin, is in the group.
  • They are going to play "Ghost Hunters" and explore the haunted Marple House on Halloween Night!

Delicious Drinks and a Friendly Feel


For some of us truly and utterly caffeine-addicted coffee enthusiasts out there in the world, a day really isn’t a day at all unless it starts with some hot, tasty, full-bodied steaming coffee or espresso from a favorite cafe or beverage cart. It’s true, those of us who are part of this “cult of coffee” will plan our lives around having a place to enjoy that first morning cup. Without it, the day just doesn’t seem right, which is why there are so many busy, quaint little coffee carts springing up in corporate lobbies, schools and outdoor patios everywhere.


The companies out there that are renting fully equipped coffee carts from companies like www.allstarcarts.com/coffee-and-espresso are very wise to do so. These carts operate like self-contained little cafes that are polished up and ready to serve the coffee craving multitudes at almost a moment's notice. These carts have special storage compartments for supplies and they also come with advertising displays. Display cases for tasty pastries are also included with the carts, as well as two Cambro 5-gallon beverage carriers. A pull-out sink area and refrigerator complete the compact kitchen area, and a jaunty awning adds a delightful detail while also adding shade.

These carts make setting up a cafe business easy as can be, and there’s no doubt that the lines will be forming as soon as the delicious coffee starts brewing.