Super 6 in 1 Metal Tool Pen

Super 6 in 1 Metal Tool Pen

Joe recently had a birthday and I was looking for some unique ideas for gifts. I found this 6 in 1 metal tool pen at Amazon and he loves it!

        

   Joe is a "handy guy" so this seemed like something he would actually use, not just put in a drawer somewhere and forget about it. And that's what happened. He carries this tool pen around with him all the time and actually USES it! 

     

And whenever he shows it to someone, they want one too! 😉

I got the silver one for him and it is really a nice looking metal pen. The other colors look good too, and there are several to chose from at Amazon and  also Amazon.ca. 

The 6 functions include: a writing pen (of course!) and it writes nice and smoothly, a small carpenter's level, a stylus for using with computer/tablet screens, 2 kinds of screwdrivers and a ruler.

This pen is currently on sale for less than $8. at Amazon, so a real bargain too!

I haven't seen anything nicer in stationary stores for a reasonably- priced, specialty pen like this and at those places, I KNOW this one would cost more.

Some other nice things about this pen... It came in a slim, velvety pouch for gift-giving and was also boxed nicely on the outside. 

I also had noted that some other reviewers had mentioned receiving several pen refills with their order. When I mentioned to Amazon.ca that I hadn't received any refills with mine, they refunded the full purchase price and let me keep the pen, in lieu of not getting extra refills. Now that's my idea of great service! 😊

If you have a handy (or not so handy) guy in your life or just like unique pens, you might want to give this one a try. 

I think these pens would also make EXCELLENT stocking- stuffers at Christmas too. A gift to be enjoyed all year round and for years to come.

 If you want to stock up for gifts and/or for yourself, click through to read more and to purchase.

Overall rating for this product: Excellent. 5 out of 5

Yogi Lemon Detox Tea

Yogi Lemon DeTox Tea

I'm not a big fan of herbal teas but I DO like to use some type of detox product, when spring arrives. Spring cleaning for the body,not just the home LOL!

I happen to find this:  Yogi Lemon Detox tea online recently and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did!😀

To begin with, it tastes GREAT! 

Really hard to compare the taste with other herbal teas I've tried. Kind of a lemony-cinnamon flavor that really blends well together. 

There are so many herbal teas I've tried over the years, especially those for detoxification that tasted so BAD. Not the case with this one. 

Made with 71% organic ingredients and priced right at about $7 for 16 tea bags.

Here's a list of the ingredients in each tea bag:

Medicinal ingredients: Each tea bag (1.81g) contains:

Sarsaparilla Root (Smilax officinalis) 307mg, Organic Lemongrass Whole Plant (Cymbopogon citratus) 263mg, Organic Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 173mg, Organic Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) 160mg, Organic Figwort Herb Top (Scrophularia nodosa) 160mg, Organic Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale) 160mg, Organic Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) 156mg, Organic Lemon Peel (Citrus limon) 96mg, Organic Peppermint Leaf (Mentha x piperita) 45mg, Juniper Fruit 4:1 Extract (Juniperus communis) 17mg.

********

I've never even heard of Figwort (love that name 😀) before but apparently it is a mild laxative and diuretic.

The only cautions listed for this tea were not to use if pregnant, breast feeding or if you have heart disease. Pretty basic cautions and a lot less than many other detox products I've tried and/or checked out.

I appreciated that this tea didn't cause me any cramping or tummy upsets, as can be the case with a lot of similar products, especially with laxative properties. No side effects at all which I really appreciate.

I bought mine at Well.ca but they only ship to Canadian addresses. I'm guessing though that this tea is probably widely available at health food stores and natural food sections in the US. 

If you've been looking for a milder option for a detox program, you might want to check this product out. I plan to be using it for a long time to come (although it is suppose to be for occasional use, not daily).

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5

Your Opinion Please! :-)

After recently reaching the Number 1 spot  click to read more on the Asian and Haiku poetry paid list at Amazon.ca, (woohoo!) 😉I have now decided to create another book/eBook in the Haiku Reflections series. 

The print cover above (click to enlarge cover) is what I have worked out so far. 

I wanted something with a wintery theme and also, a cover that would be in keeping with the previous two books/eBooks in this series:

What do you think?

 I was going for an icy, cool, wintery look with the new one, so that it would be a good contrast from the two previous volumes.

 I tried several colors for the background and also the text color and overall, this seemed to work best. 

I am open to suggestions though and have not submitted the cover for publication yet.

 I DID try black for the text color and also pure white, but neither of them seemed quite right. The text above is a lighter blue, in keeping with the cover color. 

I look forward to your suggestions and feedback!

The  only thing that I DON'T want to change is the cover photo. I like this one from my files, a lot. 

But I am open to ideas re: the color of the background and also the text. 

It is a template I am working with, so I can only adjust it so much, if I want to stay with this theme.

Thank you in advance for your input! It is appreciated.

When I created the other volumes in this series, I had lots of feedback from readers beforehand and it was really helpful. 😊

Have a Super Week and Happy Creating! 

An Exciting Amazon.ca Screenshot to Share! :-)

                                                                            

❤ This page, at Amazon.ca (this morning) really made me smile!! ❤

                             

                                                                                                

That is one of my eBooks: Haiku Reflections I, in the Number 1 spot for Japanese Poetry and Haiku, on the paid list!

I have had several of my eBooks show up on Top 100 lists over the years, but NEVER in the number one spot, on any paid list.

 I am honored and encouraged by this.

 I've actually been thinking about writing another haiku eBook (I have two in this series to date) and this has given me a gentle push to get started on that book project.

Haiku is one of my favorite poetry forms. I love the simplicity but at the same time, complexity that is part of creating a memorable haiku poem. 

If you are not familiar with this poetry form, you can read more about it at one of most popular  and respected haiku sites :

Haiku Journal
                                                                                           

And, if you'd like to check out my Haiku Reflection series, you can find the two eBooks (with seasonal photos) at these links:

Haiku Reflections I (at Amazon.ca)

Haiku Reflections II (at Amazon.ca)

and

Haiku Reflections I (at Amazon.com)

Haiku Reflections II (at Amazon.com)

I probably won't stay at the top of that list for long (these lists change every hour) but I'm sure glad I happened to check out that particular book today, at the right time! 😁

Have a super week!!!

RV Living: The Naked Hippies Way

RV LIVING: The Naked Hippies Way

Live Your Dreams. Don't wait for "Someday"

The sub-title of this book, SUCH good advice. 

But all too often, it's so easy to put our dreams on hold for "someday". 

And that day might never come. 

Although I have no interest in become a full-time RVer, I just LOVED THIS BOOK!

RV Living by Trisha Barnes is so much more than just a guide to living the RV lifestyle. 

The author's story (actually her and her hubby's) and their advice may be helpful to anyone who is contemplating a lifelong dream, perhaps sitting on the fence about a decision to change their own lifestyle in a big way, starting over, second chances, shifting gears...the list goes on and on.

Interesting, funny, practical advice and most of all, oh so inspiring!

I was so impressed by this book that I plan to follow up (and SOON) with their mentoring program, offered at the end of the book. And offered in a friendly, non-pushy way! I appreciated that as there is nothing that turns me off more than resource books that are just one big ad for the author's other products/books. You definitely(and thankfully!) won't find that here.

From the Amazon product page:

Living in an RV is not everyone’s dream …but everyone has a dream. 

This is not an RV living for beginners "how-to" guide…it is written as a motivational "why to" live YOUR dreams NOW, no matter what your dream is. 

Whether you dream of full time RV living or your dream is far removed from the RV living lifestyle, the story of how we began living the RV dream will be one that will give you hope, encouragement and belief that anything is possible and your dream can come true, just as it did for us. 

RV Living: The Naked Hippies Way will show you that: 

No dream is too big or off limits. 

The stories shared about our how our dream of RV living full time came true are meant to inspire and motivate you to live your dreams, all of them, no matter what your dreams are. There is no dream that is deemed off limits. The life you want also wants you. 

Waiting for “someday” is betting against time. 

Far too many people put off living their dreams thinking there’s still time, later on, to do what they love … that someday they will do what their heart continually tugs at them to be and do in life. We learned from personal experience that waiting for “someday” is not an option. The only time is NOW to begin to live your dreams. 

Miracles happen when your desire to live your dream is unshakable. 

Whatever is holding you back from living your dreams now, our experiences shared in this book will help you begin to put into motion the creation and manifestation of your dream right now. You’ll begin to see that anything is possible, that unexpected miracles and synchronicities will come your way ... and that whatever you think right now is your reason to wait ... that will change and dissolve as you move in the direction of your dream. 

You can start from where you are, with what you have. 

The starting point for living your dreams is first the desire, then the decision, which is exactly how our dream became real. We didn’t know how or when it would happen; we didn’t even have the means to purchase an RV. We just never gave up on the dream and continually believed in it happening … and it did. 

And for the RVers and RV Dreamers: 

Because we do live, travel and work full time in our RV on the never-ending road trip, included in the chapters are some of our RV living secrets that have helped us live and travel simply, cheaply and safely which will definitely help anyone who is thinking about or already living the RV dream. You'll discover there are always solutions and opportunities to live your dream now instead of waiting for “someday.” 

Well done Naked Hippies ;-) you are my kind of people!

Overall rating for this eBook: Excellent. 5 out of 5

What Do You Think? Conversation Starters and Icebreakers

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Volume 1

I'm often rather shy when it comes to starting a conversation, especially with people I don't know well. So, the idea of being more relaxed and better at this particular social skill (with anyone and at anytime!) spurred me on to give this book a try. 

For the most part, I really enjoyed it.

 It has some thought-provoking questions/conversation starters, many that really make you think.

Some are fun and just plain goofy. But there are many others that bring up serious topics and situations that make a person contemplate and ponder what they would actually do, if placed in that particular scenario, in their own life.

Three (shorter) example scenarios, from the book:

"Should pet ambulances be allowed to use an emergency siren and flashing lights to run red lights if a pet is in critical condition?" 

***

"What do you think is the best kept secret in the world?"

***

"If you entered the Witness Protection Program and you had to change your occupation in 30 days, what would you be?"

***

On the goofy front: the author (or authors) seem to have quite a fixation on "passing gas", LOL!!! Several questions that come up involve farting at inopportune times. ;-)

Do you find it easy to get a conversation started, especially when talking with someone you don't know well, or at all? 

Overall rating for this eBook: Very Good. 4 out of 5

An Amazon.ca Screenshot That Made Me SMILE! :-)

This was the top of the search page for the popular keyword: AGING, at Amazon.ca, for May 12th! 

It sure made my day to see: 

Laughing AT the Grim Reaper! Gems of Wisdom for Aging Well 

#1 out of  all the "aging" books listed, a total of 400 PAGES at the Amazon Canada site! 

This, more than any of my other books, is the one written straight from the heart and in so many ways. 

My journey from mid-life and beyond. My ups and downs, successes and failures. 

And most of all, what I have learned that works and doesn't work along the way, in terms of aging successfully, pro-actively and joyfully.

I am so grateful to everyone who has supported my work and found my books, especially "the Reaper" helpful and inspiring.

Just had to share this special "Amazon.ca book moment" with my blog readers! ;-)

Have a super weekend. G 

Mr. Cheddar's Back With An Upcoming eBook Promo!

Mr Cheddar here!!! 

Yes, I'm finally back for a bit(e) of blogging. Snoooorrrt!!!!

As long as I can keep the keyboard out of Meowmie's (oh soooo...) big paws, that is!!!

Just wanted to give you all the PAWS-UP about my upcoming eBook promo.

Amazing but true, my first and furrrrrbulous new eBook:

Mr. Cheddar's Meowsings!

Kibbles of Wisdom from a Wise and Witty Feline,

will be available as a free download, this Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8 at all Amazon sites: Amazon.com, .ca, UK, IT.... 

Download a copy to your eReader, Kindle, iPhone, PC desktop...

Here's a small sampler of just a few of the wise and witty kibbles of wisdom, included in my new book:

Willie Shakespeare had nothin’ on me!

Keep the tummy side up.

Especially when it’s time for another grooming session.

I’m a furry-lious, clean-machine, with the fastest tongue in the West!

It is SO much better to age like a fine chunk of Cheddar,

than a dusty old bottle of grappa.

That’s a no-brainer, big-time!

If I've whet your appetite for more than just a plain ol' bowl of kibbles (perhaps cereal for the humans??) make sure to download a copy this weekend. 

Lots and lots of my witty and wise kibbles of feline and human advice to contemplate and learn from. Not to mention my ruggedly handsome good looks on every page!!!

I ask you...what's not to love???

And do share this promo with your feline and human pals. The ones you really like that is!!! 

Happy Reading and Have a PURRRFECT Weekend.

Headbonks from Me>^^< and Hugs from Meowmie!  :-)

Love OWLS? Check Out 4 Of My Fav Owl Products! :-)

I LOVE OWLS! :-)

                                                                                                                                         

There's something so special, almost mystical about these magnificent birds.

And to have them linked to the concept of wisdom appeals to me so much too. 

Wisdom is something I continue to strive for, more and more with each passing year. Street smarts, intellect, intuition...it's all good. But having wisdom, being wise in our decisions is what truly endures.

Here are 4 of my fav new OWL items that I hope you'll enjoy, with links to the pages where you can purchase them too.

What a magnificent owl that is featured on this card. :-)

I bought these cards at the Spirithelpers Etsy shop. 

Excellent photography and such good quality paper too. Lovely envelopes are included, with a softly "ragged" edge, making the overall presentation extra special. 

This photo is also available in numerous sizes, suitable for framing, all very reasonably priced too. 

I'm so glad I purchased some of these cards to use during the holidays, I will definitely be back to purchase more in the future from Spirithelpers. 

Stop by to check out all of Tammie's work, featuring unique and beautiful photos of all types, many taken around the Montana area where she lives including: water, snow, rocks, mountains, trees and much, much more!  

 

Owl Gift Bag

I bought this paper gift bag recently, for a bag of goodies I was assembling for a gift. 

It is so cute! Nice paper quality, bag measures:  0.6 x 21 x 24.8 cm

Also includes a good-sized owl gift tag, attached. 

I always prefer using gift bags to wrapping paper. So much better to use, again and again. And I just love the OWL pattern on this gift bag too. Colorful and cute. 

Owl Pattern Bi-fold Clutch/Wallet

This wallet was a Christmas gift from Joe. It is SO cute and well-made too. I get compliments almost every time I pull it out to pay for something! :-)

It has several inside compartments (click the Amazon link above to see more product views) and with several, secure slots for credit cards too. 

Dimensions are: 7.5" x 3.5"

Mine is the soft yellow shown above but it also comes in several other colors too. 

A wallet I plan to use and enjoy for years to come. At around $5. on sale at Amazon, right now, this is a bargain for a good-quality wallet.

Owl Wallet/Cosmetic Bag

This cosmetic bag/wallet is also available at Amazon. 

It is well-made, in a sturdy canvas-type fabric.  Metal clasp closes securely at the top of bag. I bought it to stash a lipstick, pen, nail file...in my purse but it is large enough to use as a small clutch purse too.  

The dimensions are approximately : 7.5" x 4".

At less than $3. at Amazon,another owlie bargain! ;-)

Overall rating for all of these owl products: Excellent. 5 out of 5

NeuTab® G7 7 inch GSM 4G Quad Core Tablet (Phablet)

I was not happy with this NeuTab phablet (phablet: a combination tablet with cell phone option) for a number of reasons. It is now on its way back to Amazon.ca for a refund.

I had bought this primarily to use as an ereader and replacement for my Kindle Fire (which I loved but the battery died).

What DON'T I like:

To begin with, the screen on this phablet is quite narrow for reading books on it, not ideal for this purpose.

The booklet that comes with it is basically useless. For eg: they say to insert sim card but no diagram is shown how the sim card compartment is even accessed, on the back of the unit. No photo of the parts of the unit either. I had assumed it was just a slot on the side of the tablet but it is actually enclosed and you need to snap off the plastic cover to get to it. I didn't want to break something trying to do this so I went to YouTube to see how to go about this. I shouldn't have had to do that!

Then, after charging the unit, I tried to adjust the volume for the keyboard, it was set with an annoying "tap, tap..." sound. couldn't find how to adjust that, the sound option only adjusted the volume on the tablet, not the keyboard.

I also tried to find the clear history option, again couldn't find it anywhere. Tried security tab, etc... not there.

I also noted smudges and marks on the back of the unit when it arrived. Not pristine as expected. Perhaps a refurbished unit, not sure about that but it was being sold as "new".

I then tried to get some answers from the NeuTab customer support. 
Now, over a week later still no reply and no option to phone them either.

Not a good start and I am not impressed by this company at all.

If I have to wait and wait... for an email for support, I know it's not a company I want to interact with, right from the get-go. That is where Amazon usually leads by a mile. If only they would get those Fire tablets back at Amazon.ca!

Overall rating for this product: Unsatisfactory. 1 out of 5

How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months by John Locke

As an indie author, I have read a LOT of kindle marketing books. 

Some good, some so-so and some, just plain bad. 

John Locke's: How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months falls into the GOOD category and for a number of reasons.

First of all, this is an author who really can show that his ideas DO work, not some "pie in the sky" suggestions from someone who has never achieved any success with their own books. 

Locke has definitely done well, going from selling only a few books each month, to thousands and then into the millions on Amazon! And he shares his own success story in a personable and entertaining way.

He also shares not only what worked for him but also what didn't, I appreciated that.

There is only so much time in a day and as a writer, I want to focus on writing and also on marketing strategies that have been proven as worthy of my time. Again, his own background as a very successful author of numerous kindle books gives credibility to his many tips and marketing strategies.

Mr. Locke also mentions (repeatedly) how important his readers and fans are to him and says that he answers all emails personally. He also seemed to sincerely mean that. So I wrote to him after completing the book. I'm still waiting on a reply, but hopefully he will deliver on that promise. :-)

As for the reviews he is suppose to have paid for (as some Amazon reviewers have mentioned) obviously this is not something I agree with or condone. But would that actually account for the kind of phenomenal success that he has achieved as an author? To some small extent perhaps, but it is definitely not the whole story. Whether he is a completely ethical person or not, the fact remains, he does know what works and what doesn't when it comes to book marketing. And he provides a lot more in this book than what most other successful authors/marketers have to share.

One small negative, the formatting of this eBook is not the best. The paragraphs on many pages run together with not even a little space between them. Doesn't add to the presentation and yes, I do think that is important too. A small point though in comparison to the quality content of this eBook.

Overall rating for this eBook: Very Good. 4 out of 5

TCM: Hitchcock Thrillers

This truly is: "Hitch" at his finest! :-)

I LOVED 3 of these movies, :-) the 4th one, not much :-(. 

You can read my full review here.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5

A Body at Bunco (Myrtle Clover cozy mystery series, book 8 )

A BODY AT BUNCO 

When I noted this cozy mystery by Elizabeth Spann Craig (click to visit her site/blog) at Amazon recently, it was the word "bunco" in the title that caught my attention first.  

Many years ago, my mom hosted bunco parties. 
At that time, I was a little girl, sneaking out of bed to see what was going on with all these ladies moving around our living room and porch, the tables, the treats...what a nice memory it brought to mind. :-)

And In case you haven't heard of BUNCO, it's a dice party game that is apparently still quite popular now.

A Body at Bunco was a real treat and Myrtle Clover is my kind of main character.

 Myrtle is spunky, sassy, opinionated (in a good way) and lives life on her own terms. 

And In spite of being in her 80s, she is not portrayed as some achy, whining older woman (which has all too often been the case in other books I've read), who is past doing anything constructive or exciting, Myrtle is still living life full-tilt and making the most of every day! ;-)

The story has LOTS of twists and turns and red herrings left along the way. Had me guessing who the real killer(s) was too, I like that. I don't like stories with obvious finales almost right from the start, that are too obvious.

Another plus with this series, the stories can be read in any order. Too often books in a series don't make sense, unless they are read in order from book 1...I appreciate that. 

I will definitely be reading more from the Myrtle Clover series! :-) Just delightful.  

Overall rating for this book: Very Good. 4 out of 5

ShaSha Co. Organic Buckwheat Snack(s)

ShaSha Co. Organic Buckwheat Snack(s) are tasty, organic and healthy. I recently tried them for the first time and just LOVE them!!! Crunchy, not too sweet and kind of addictive too. ;-) Love the cocoa kick these have too. 

You can read my full review here.

Have a wonderful weekend and week to come.

HAPPY SNACKING! :-)

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders

This is a fabulous book! 

It's now one of my all-time fav knitting books. 

Perfect if you have stash sock yarns you need to use up (like I do, always!)

Read my full review here.

Happy Crafting! 

Overall rating for this book: Excellent: 5 out of 5

The Groovy Green Kitchen II: Simply, Super, Supper Soups

The Groovy Green Kitchen II: Simply, Super, Supper Soups

(click for Amazon.com product page)

I have FINALLY finished this cookbook! 

I am doing a happy dance today. :-)

So much work, so much time invested in this project...but I'm very pleased with the finished results.

I hope you'll check it out soon, now available in Kindle and print versions at:

Amazon.com, .ca, UK, IT....

Happy Cooking and Reading!

Cookbook Countdown!!!

I've made the end of February, my deadline for completing my newest cookbook.

You can read all the details here, including an upcoming free Kindle book promo and sample recipe.

Wish me luck! :-) 

Happy Cooking and Weekend. 

Believe by Louise

I just love this little eBook! 

I re-read it several times a week, on my Kindle Fire HD. 

A quick pick-me-up that always makes me smile! :-)

Read my full review here.

Overall rating for this eBook: Excellent. 5 out of 5