Alienation

By RJ

I’m a huge fan of anything action related. While I love a good classic book like Anne of Green Gables, I’m also a huge tom-boy and I love action books and sci-fi. I had a chance to review Alienation by John  S. Lewis and let me just say that this book is amazing.

Alienation is a book about Colt McAlister and his two friends Oz and Danielle. All that Colt wants to do is have a normal life. Without aliens, mutants, and danger. He wants his parents alive and he doesn’t want to attend the CHAOS military academy.

But when someone is out to get him and take over the world will Colt step it up and take responsibility for what he has to do? Or will he just run away?

Can I just say that this book was AMAZING?????? This book is SO awesome! I can’t get over how much I enjoyed this book.  Even my younger teenage sister enjoyed it. (Then again, she loves any books!)

I’m generally pretty picky about my sci-fi books. The story has to be easy to follow and it can’t be too sci-fi or else I don’t like it. But this book was such a great book! It was easy to follow and is a pretty easy read. I felt like I was right there with Colt, Oz, and Danielle.

I really connected with Colt in this book. I think that the author did such a great job with this book. Teens will easily connect and sympathize with Colt. They will also enjoy the adventures that he encounters along the way.

Even kids that don’t like to read will love this book. Especially boys. But I know that teenage girls will enjoy this book too. Its action packed, suspenseful, funny, and dramatic. It’s a great story with a powerful message that any teen will enjoy.

You can find this book in stores on January 3rd, 2012. Be sure to pick it up online or at your local bookstore.

Jon Lewis Alienation Giveaway

Enter 1/19 – 2/7. RSVP for Party today!


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Running Blanket – Wordless Wednesday


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Re-organizing Closets and Office

I finally found some time on Friday to do a bit more organizing. I cleaned out our closet. Still have to do the top shelves but it is looking a lot better than it was. I also put the two little boys clothes cubby in our linen closet/now my husband’s office. We decided to leave the desk in there so he can have a place do bill paying etc. He’s a happy man.

The other photos of what I still need to organize. The boxes and piles are what is in the middle of my bedroom floor. This is baby stuff and clothes that need to be packed up because we are no longer using it, there are books that still need to be unpacked and there is old office equipment and files that need to be put in the basement out of the way. Hoping dh will do that for me after we re-organize and re-pack everything!

Our utility/preserve storage closet got a once, twice over by my boys, but I think it needs a thrice over by mom to get it up to par. So many shoes! Ugh. The little shoe caddy only works if people use it! And it isn’t big enough for boots. I just wanted it cleaned up so the children had a place to take off all their snow gear and a place to hang it up to dry. Even though the closet is mostly picked up, snow clothes are still laying on the floor in the hallway…..still working on some habits around here.

The last photo is of the office and as you can see it is more cluttered. Maybe by Monday I will have it looking better as it is a weekend project and I am writing this Friday night! Here’s to hoping anyways!


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Children at Work & at Play!

I captured some shots of our children at work and at play yesterday. I used the flickr slide show again. I just wanted to try it this week to see how I liked them and how you all liked them. Might try something different next week. Not sure what yet.

The first photo is of one of our older daughters (the third oldest) playing with her horses. I snapped a shot because soon enough she won’t be playing with them any more. Sniff. Sniff. She’s growing up! The second one is of our youngest daughter with our reading lesson book, 100 Easy Lessons, which I have used with all six older children to teach them to read. Blondie is doing wonderful and I really believe that the foundation that ABCmouse.com – Over 3,000 Educational Activities – First Month Free – Click here! gives the children has helped her supersede where she would have been otherwise. She is nearly sounding out the words silently and saying them fast – we are only on lesson 14! We are very pleased with ABCMouse.com. I don’t have to conj-ole or bribe the children to do their school work on ABCMouse. It’s that much fun. Ok, enough of my shameless, unpaid plug! 😉 (Update: I have since added an affiliate link above due to the amount of searches for it leading here! So we earn a few dollars if you click on our link and purchase a subscription.)

Back to the photos…next comes the blocks that were scattered on the floor. And if I was participating in my old friend’s “The Children Were Here” posts this is one that I would post as we always seem to have these blocks scattered. Then I shot one of a couple of school books that were laying around.

The next photo after that is of our two older boys shoveling the driveway for their Dad. The thing is I didn’t send them out there to do it, they volunteered. Granted they have always loved to shovel snow for some reason, but still it does this mama’s heart good when they do things like this without asking and especially thinking of their Dad who had to drive home on messy roads!

My oldest daughter has taken a dislike of being caught on camera, she’d rather be behind the lense these days! So when she put her laptop up in front of her face today as I was snapping a picture I told her I was going to post it! So that’s why that one is there! She’s a hard worker that one and has some solid work ethics already. She won’t go to the barn if she has too much work to do, nor will she goof off until her work is done. We are proud of her.

The rest of the photos are of two of the younger children doing their best to help shovel a little bit, the snow plow (the boys wanted me to get one of all the snow flying over the truck but I kept missing it) and just of our time outside.

The last photo is of a masked man…not sure where he came from or what he was doing in my house but my daughter caught him red handed! Isn’t he positively evil looking? Ha! 😉


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Yummy Fun with Food Fridays

Most of these food photos were taken by my oldest daughter. She loves taking close ups of food. I have to admit that I think it’s cool too how the camera/the eye captures particular shots. This week, I only took the one of my son and the chocolate cake. The cake was made by my other two daughters. The chili and homemade pancake photos were taken by Virtuous. Yummy fun with food Fridays!


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Hasbro Fun & Coupons!

I’m always looking for ways to save on toys and games.  Sometimes it’s not always easy.  I’m big on buying stuff on sale or clearance and saving it for a rainy day or holiday.  I was super excited about an email I got this morning!  I LOVE coupons and use them regularly. 

Go and check out  www.hasbro.com/fun .  They have great coupons for Playdough, Transformers, Baby Alive, Elmo and more! In addition, they have a daily game for 6 to 13 year olds, are giving away Hasbro toys & games every hour until the end February.  AND – they have a daily deal.  Today’s was a Baby Alive for 50% off!  I unfortunately missed it, but I signed up to get the daily email for a heads up!


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Country Views in Winter

Love, love, love my country views this winter! So picturesque and pleasing to this country girl’s eyes!


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Top Secret Cleaning Techniques From Housekeepers

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In case you haven’t already heard, Reader’s Digest is coming out with 13 Top Secret Cleaning Techniques From Housekeepers and I actually learned a couple of new and interesting things. I will say that lemon juice and baking soda are good for tough stains on counters, toilets and sinks, but may leave a baking soda residue depending on how much you use – I haven’t quite got the portion thing down yet.

http://gma.yahoo.com/video/househome-26594254/13-things-your-housecleaner-won-t-tell-you-27895811.html


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Win an iPad2 in the Alienation Givaway!

Win an iPad from @JonSLewis and @NelsonFiction in the Alienation iPad2 Giveaway!

The invasion was only the beginning! Jon Lewis is celebrating the next adventure in his fast-paced C.H.A.O.S. series with an explosive giveaway!

One thrill-seeker will receive:

  • iPad2 with Wi-Fi
  • Copies of the C.H.A.O.S. novels, Invasion and Alienation

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 7th. Winner will be announced at the Alienation Facebook Party on 2/7. Jon will be hosting an Author Chat, giving away copies of the books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don’t miss a second of the intrigue!

Grab your copy of Alienation and join Jon on the evening of February 7th for an author chat, spy training (How much do you know about alien invaders?) and lots of giveaways. 

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!


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Smiley360.com

Remember a few month ago, I posted about House Party?  Well, I found a new one yesterday, called Smiley360!  They offer you the opportunity to test products and leave your feedback, without the party!  I’m still learning my way through the site, BUT I do have a Knorr Homestyle Stock coming for FREE!  In addition to the stock, they are saying the box will include coupons ($2.00 each), a soup ladle, and Knorr stock recipe booklet!  I can’t wait to get it!

If you click here I get extra “smiles”…

http://smiley360.com/353281.cfm Or you can join at www.smiley360.com

Happy Testing!


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