Let's Read Something... February 25th 2015

What better way to expand your horizons than to pick up some great, FREE books for your Nook or Kindle?  

I have a few goodies to share:

SweetFreeBooks.com

Miami Requiem

by J.B. Turner

Since her first day on the Miami Herald, rookie reporter Deborah Jones has been agitating for a shot at one particular story. William Craig is on Death Row, convicted of killling Senator Jack O'Neill's only son. There is no question of his guilt. Craig murdered the young man who was acquitted of raping his granddaughter. There are only five weeks and one day until his execution.

FREE!Original Price: $2.99

Get this deal:Amazon
Barnes & Noble

   

All for Anna

by Nicole Deese

If guilt is a prison; Victoria Sales has given herself a life sentence.
Held captive by regret, 23 year-old trauma RN, Tori Sales, has seen the reality of many nightmares. But there is one nightmare she will never wake from—her last memory of Anna.

FREE!Original Price: $3.99

Get this deal:Amazon
Barnes & Noble

The Faith

by Michael Seeley

Nathaniel Fletcher and Viscount Logan Harling are two young Englishmen on their Grand Tour through Europe. But when they stumble into a plot to kill the King of Riktenburg, it's all they can do to stay alive.

FREE!Original Price: $2.99

Get this deal:Amazon
Barnes & Noble

A Common Language

by Caitlyn Bogart

Kalli Hardford is forced to leave her home in the US to attend an elite music college in the UK when she is accepted on scholarship. There she meets the members of Data Venia, a group on campus focused on excellence. When Kalli's scholarship is put at risk she must choose between friendship and getting ahead. All of the members of Data Venia must face their past to start their careers.

FREE!Original Price: $1.99

Get this deal:Amazon
Barnes & Noble

The Memoirs of Detective Vidocq

by Eugene Vidocq

Eugène François Vidocq (1775-1857) was a French criminal who became the founder and first director of the crime-detection Sûreté Nationale as well as the head of the first known private detective agency. Vidocq is widely regarded as the father of modern criminology and of the French police department. 

FREE!Original Price: $0.99

Get this deal:Amazon

Dot Smith's Jams & Chutneys

by Dot Smith

In this handy wee free sampler Dot shares some of her favourite jam and chutney recipes.

FREE!

Get this deal:Amazon

Avoidables

by Rachel Medhurst

My name is Hope and I'd like to introduce you to our world. Earth is full of two races, the Avoidables and Perfects. I'm an Avoidable because I only have one arm. I was born that way apparently. Because of my defect, my mother had to move to the Lower Side. The Perfects are humans that have no physical flaws. They live in luxury, while we live in filth. 

FREE!Original Price: $0.99

Get this deal:Amazon

Bookbub.com

Out of Darkness By Jason D. Morrow Mora has one goal: to save her home from the undead greyskins. But when she discovers she shares a secret power with superhumans called the Starborn, Mora must decide where her loyalties truly lie… Free! Originally: $0.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Deal ends: Unknown Category: Horror

Boys for Sale By Marc Finks When young Tavi’s parents send him to a special school in the city, they have no idea that they’re sending him into a nightmarish human trafficking scheme. Faced with a darkness and evil that threatens to consume him, Tavi knows that he must escape… or be lost forever. Free! Originally: $3.99 Get Deal: Amazon Deal ends: February 28 Category: Literary Fiction

A Hopeful Heart By Amy Clipston Amish widow Hannah knows her brother-in-law Joshua is in love with her, but he doesn’t quite fill the hole in her heart. When she connects with Englisher Trey, she must choose what is best for her family — or leave the community forever. Free! Originally: $7.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Deal ends: February 28 Category: Christian Fiction

Addicted to You By Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie Lily Calloway is a shy college student by day, but a steamy hookup addict by night. Only her best friend Loren Hale knows her secret — and he’s got a vice of his own, too. As their friendship grows into something more, will their addictions tear them apart? Free! Originally: $2.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Deal ends: Unknown Category: New Adult and College Romance

My Despicable Ex By Sierra Rose Five years after leaving Ashly at the altar, gorgeous bad boy Jake returns, reeling from his mistake and determined to win her back. But can he convince her he’s finally grown up? A delightful romance. Free! Originally: $4.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Deal ends: March 2 Category: Contemporary Romance

Fatal Greed By John W. Mefford In the wake of a corporate takeover, Michael’s work life is crumbling around him. Then he gets drawn into a murder investigation — and receives a chilling lesson in what happens when unlimited greed meets a taste for blood... Free! Originally: $3.99 Get Deal: Amazon B & N Deal ends: Unknown Category: Thrillers

Who Murdered Garson Talmadge By David Bishop Ex-cop Matt Kile investigates the murder of his neighbor, a weapons dealer with ties to Saddam Hussein and with all kinds of enemies — from the FBI to the French police. With nearly 150 five-star reviews on Amazon. Free! Originally: $4.99 Get Deal: Amazon Deal ends: March 1 Category: Mysteries

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EHRSUY

MY Top 10 AWESOME Online Websites YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT, NOW!!!

I am a girl that LOVES a good bargain!  I am always shopping around for the best price, the newest stuff and I love when I find absolute gems that are totally unique.  

With the age of technology, I find it incredible that there are so many websites filled with hip, trendy and unique stuff AND the prices are out of this world!

If you haven't found these yet, you NEED to check them out TODAY! 

Sign up for the emails and have all kinds of new things delivered to your INBOX daily!  

Email has never been so exciting!!

Here is my TOP 10, and I must mention...not in ANY particular order- because I LOVE all of these and could NEVER itemize them, let's face it, they are all equally AWESOME!

1) GroopDealz-  this site requires a login of your Email address and password.  They will email you daily.  In your emails you will find all kinds of great items from hip clothing, home-goods, stuff for kids and of course boots and jewelry.  You never know what the next day will hold!!! (and btw the prices ROCK!)

Available at GroopDealz now!!!

2) Jane- this site is a lot like GroopDealz but equally as awesome.  Things are different and prices are comparable!  They e-mail daily. This site if free to join.

Available at Jane now!

3) Joss and Main-  this is a Premier Members-only limited-time sales site of the best brands for your home and life. This site has distinctive designs and trends at great prices.  There is really something for everyone here!  If you are                                                                                                         remodeling...per-say...this site has awesome items                                                                                         and the prices are great! The site is Free to join. 

4)  West Elm - this is a personal-style site that offers unique goods at wonderful prices. If you are looking for things for your home, this is a great place to find one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as more traditional pieces.  This site if Free to join!

5) Pick Your Plum- this site sends out an e-mail daily, usually at 9:00 a.m. with great deals of the day.  There are always a variety of things to choose from offered at great prices. Plus, they ship out fast!  But hurry because supplies are limited and they SELL OUT FAST!






6) World Market- this website has been around, but if you sign up for there e-mails, you will get great deals e-mailed to you directly, daily!  We don't have a store in our area, so I rely on the internet and with all the discounts offers attached to the e-mails.  I always find a ton of unique stuff here for my home, to eat and even to decorate! 





7) Horchow-  This site has a little bit of everything. If you sign up, you also get 20% off your first order and I can vow that you WILL USE IT!  Great finds and                                                                            Great Prices.  They have everything from Furniture to Gifts                                                                              and Travel!  Free to  join.





8) AntiqueFarmHouse - this is a unique site. For anyone who watches Fixer Upper on HGTV, you will FALL in love with this site. You will be asked to sign up by entering your E-Mail address- DO IT!  You will not regret this decision.  They send out an e-mail around 11:00 a.m. ET everyday with new and exciting stuff and it is a 
JOY to get this little treasure! Free to join!

Available at Antique Farm House NOW.

9) Decor Steals- this is a sister site to the AntiqueFarmHouse.  You will receive an e-mail about 10:00 a.m. ET or so with a feature of the day. That is ONE DEAL a DAY at 80% off retail!  The items are amazing and I have several featured in my own                                                                home!  Free to join!

Feature product right now at Decor Steals

10) Dot&Bo- I am new to this site after being invited by my Mom.  Everything here is handpicked and beautiful! They focus on items for your home and offer traditional style, to modern, to unique. Something for everyone!  

Available at Dot&Bo NOW!

So, get signed up and start saving through your e-mail today!  You will not be sorry!  

Let me know if you have any other websites that I am missing!  

~Kel      

Today is a new day... or is it?

Good News...the "Groundhog's Day" effect has been broken!  Eh...sort of...

Have you ever just been stuck? 

There is a rut that you just can not seem to break out of?  

Trust me, I think we have ALL been there at one time or another and it is time to 

BREAK FREE

and run, fly, get out of dodge!

Life is full of unexpected things, so why, as a Mom, is it so hard to leave the schedules, the timelines, the "routine" behind, even for a day? 

I am what you call "An organised Mom."  I have, um, let's call them "DUTIES" that I like to put in place to help me maintain a lower stress level. 

Hubby calls this the "OCD Tornado" and while I try to take this term lightly, I guess I do see his point.  

Mornings are hectic in the Amstutz house. I get up early, get ready (where I am going is still a mystery!).  Then I get up Miss Six, get her teeth brushed, dressed and hair done.  Then it is breakfast time.  While she is eating I am busy getting the ice pack in her already packed lunch and checking her already loaded backpack to ensure we have not forgotten anything for the day. She finishes eating, she plays Disney Infinity and I try to knock some work out real quick. 

It is now seven fifty seven- exactly! 

It is shoes on, coat on, hat on, gloves on, scarf on- grab that backpack, let's head out to our already pre-heated car where we pull to the end of the gravel drive, between the two pillars and wait...wait...wait..until we see that yellow sparkle.  Then it is unloading and waiting some more for it to come to the end of the drive. 

One kid down.  One to go!

Everything is precise. Honestly....it is exhausting!  I get some what of a break when I get Miss Three out the door with my Parents. Its all business then.  

At precisely two, I head out to pick up Miss Three, which is a one hour tour.  Then back to the home-base to get Miss Three situated and wait for Miss Six to come at four twenty one on the dot. 

From there it is a little laid back...after homework is done, and the lunch box is re-packed, the girls play. 

I busy myself with finishing laundry, picking up and getting clothes and backpack ready for the next day. Then, dinner promptly at five o'clock and onto bath at six forty until seven fifteen. The girls get dressed in pj's, play until seven forty. Books are read, tuck them in and it is good night. 

Routine. Routine. Routine.

Exhausting!

Yes...the tornado just passed through!  

To look at it through this reality is kind of discerning!  I mean, I have great kids and I thank this tight ship for that, but the challenge I have is on the weekends, I have been working very hard to be more lax.  The problem is that these are the times that Daddy-o is present and he doesn't want crazy, high energy kids who talk a lot around. 

Catch 22!  

I love to hear little voices, I love them expressing themselves and having FUN, even with the tight ship that I run.  Good behavior is rewarded with fun things. 

Last night, they were great at playing, no fighting, etc. So before bath, we went upstairs and they love the giant work-out ball but I don't typically let them play with it because it is literally bigger than Miss Three! But, last night, they asked nicely and got to wear themselves out...carefully, of course...bouncing and rolling on the ball!  

I might be strict about time, but I love to see them having fun and it is in these times that I do run late and guess what...hell doesn't freeze over- who knew!

So, I am breaking my routine...slowly though.  

It is scary! 

We have lived on routine for six years now. Whoa!  I probably have lived on routine far before that, in one way or another. 

I am ready for Spring and Summer to arrive, outside air and time gets..or feels just a little bit longer. 

Do you have a routine for your kids?  

Your life? 

How does it work out for you? 

How do you break down time? 

How do you break free?  

I would love to hear from you!  Feedback is what keeps me going!!!

Have a great rest of the week all! 

~Kel