RE-POST REVIEW:

My dh and I have lived in 8 different homes in the 9 years we have been married. I haven't had the same address long enough to justify spending money on address labels. Now in our 8th home we have decided to settle down; we bought this house (it used to be a church) and we are making it ours. As far as I know, we'll be here a good long time, so I jumped at the opportunity to review address labels from Little Lamb Design.

I chose this design.

I got to pick the colors and the large letter (of course, so that it matched my name). I am very very pleased. The labels stick well; they are clear and just the right size, even for larger envelopes where some address labels tend to get lost. Not these ones from Little Lamb Design. The H on mine stands out well!

From their welcome page:

Welcome to Little Lamb Design and thank you for stopping by! Here you will find a huge selection of personalized stationery products. We also offer custom studio and on-location photography.

What makes Little Lamb Design unique is that we have the ability to customize anything on this site to suit your needs and preferences. Whether you are throwing a huge birthday bash, or just need a unique way to label your stuff, we have or can create the perfect design for you. Please be sure to check back often as we are continuously updating the site with new and exciting products and designs.

The selection is incredible, almost too many to choose. I love that you can make each item unique though. They customize everything. I am very very pleased with this company. They are prompt, fun and friendly. The work is well done.

Thank you, Little Lamb Design, for such a great product!

I received, to review, the first three books of the Green Stone Healing series from the author, C L Talmadge. I have admitted to her and to others that I do not generally read fantasy or sci-fi. I am a non-fiction, self-help, Christian romance type reader. So one might ask why I decided to even accept the books to review. Well, I honestly must say that I wondered too when I first started! I struggled through the first few chapters. I put the book down over and over again. I would say to my husband, "I don't know why I said I would read these." But I was committed to giving the books an honest review.

About The Vision, a bits and pieces summary from the author's press package:

Lt. Helen Andros is an illegitimate, presumed orphaned physician with a gift for healing. She always wears about her neck a green gemstone from her mother with hidden potentials that Helen does not yet know about, although she frequently touches the stone for reassurance and comfort. Helen is also a despised half-breed: unusually tall, black-haired like the dominant Toltecs, the race of her unknown father, pale-skinned and blue-eyed like the conquered and oppressed Turanians, her mother’s people.

.......

While Helen manages to save Prince Harnak’s life, the Lord Protector, angered by her insolence, reviews her service record. At first he is appalled to find out how many times Lieutenant Andros has been put on report and is determined to discipline her for unsatisfactory performance as an officer. When he sees an image of Helen wearing the green stone, Lord James is shocked, and immediately suspects that she is his daughter. He gave that very same stone and necklace more than thirty years ago to his secret love: a Turanian woman named Miriam Andros.

.......

Lord James’ tough decision to acknowledge a daughter he never knew he had touches off a political firestorm between warring factions striving for power and dominance during the mental incapacity of the Exalted Lord, Kefren Poseidon. It also leaves Lord James extremely vulnerable to his political enemies, who include the heir to the Kingship, Prince Seti Poseidon, and the prince’s primary supporter, Ezekiel Malachi, Supreme Lord of the Temple of Kronos.

.......

Nor is Helen happy. She and her father both have been profoundly wounded by her mother’s secretive behavior. Not even wise counsel from Judith Altair, best friend of Helen’s mother and a much sought-after advisor to the powerful, can keep the two from clashing out of pain and fear instead of coming together in love and friendship.

And that's not even the half of it; there are so many neat and intricate details to sort through and that intrigue the reader.  I am really enjoying the process and seeing the pieces fall into place while others lay the groundwork for the next "puzzle".  I could say it this way - the foreshadowing is very very well done!

What were my issues with the book and series?  Well, the genre was a huge hurtle but there were other things.  A new language was thrown in from time to time.  The characters were numerous and have titles I'm not used to reading or talking about.  Our apparent differences in religion and beliefs (reincarnation vs. Christianity) caused me some concern as well.  Lastly, each character could be referred to by any number of names - their job title, their given names, or other titles of royalty and such.  I just can't keep them all straight even at the end of the first book, I don't know who belongs to which title or titles.

What do I love about the book and series?  I love that the new language that I had trouble figuring out at first is easy once you get into the mind-set.  For example, the characters have a drink called caf.  Well, that's coffee.  They have this thing called a link; to me that's a form of the internet or a network of computers.  There are other words that aren't as easy to follow, but I think I'm getting there. I love the parallels I see between my world and the world of Helen Andros.

I love the detailed descriptions of both the people and the landscapes.  I don't know about you but the idea of royalty - princes and princesses, lords and ladies, and their servants - has always intrigued me!  The author tells of and explains rituals in such a way that I can see each step and bend and nod and bow.  I wanted to be a princess when I grew up; I wanted to do and see those rituals when I grew up.

I went exploring the Green Stone of Healing website and found a wealth of information that will help with reading the other two books.  I found family trees including titles and who belongs to what and whom!  I love the family trees.  Here's a link to the Andros Family Tree.  There is also some pre-information given about some of the characters; I found that here and here.

I don't know what it was or when even (sometime after chapter seven of The Vision which is the first book) that got me hooked but now I have trouble putting it down.  The other titles in the series so far are: Fallout, The Scorpions Strike, and Outcast (due out October 1, 2009).  Look for reviews of Fallout and The Scorpions Strike here on Simply Sensational Divas Review in the future.

An excellent work of fiction!  I think I may have found a new genre to add to my joy of reading.  Thank you, C. L. Talmadge for the opportunity to review this wonderful book!

Hurry and comment! We are giving away one copy of ToDoodList. This is a great orginizational tool that we reviewed a while back, and loved! Nick gave us multiple copies to giveaway, so this is your chance! Comment number 30 will win a copy and also copy goes to comment number 35 (or next on the list if same as 30)!

*UPDATE* Please comment with ideas for the future of Sensational Divas Review Blog. Additional entries can be gained for subscribing to our personal blogs found in column to your right. 1 comment for each subscription please.

Hurry and you will have a good chance on winning one of these! More live giveaways to come!

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School by Herman Parish and Lynne Avril, is such an adorable book. This is not the first book to be published, but it’s a great addition to our collection. Our family loves Amelia Bedilia (never call her only Amelia by the way). This little girl is the cutest little girl ever. She takes everything that the teacher says literally. You never tell Amelia Bedilia to keep herself glued to her seat. Can you imagine what that child’s mother thought after her first day? Whew! This is a great book with great When we read Marley Goes to School by John Grogan , we laughed so hard, because the first day of school, our Dottie wanted to go also. It was hard to keep her in the van while I walked the kids to their classes. Kayla loved this story because Marley reminds her of our dog Dottie so much. Marley however makes it into the school and interupst the entire day. Just like the playful pup we have, Marley is always the center of attention. My daughter enjoyed these books so much that they have read and re-read them in her classroom for the last two weeks. These two books are parent, kid and teacher approved. Thanks goes out to Harper Collins for the opportunity to review your books! They are staying on our bookshelf for a while.

   

Surf Sweets candies are made from organic and natural ingredients without artificial colors or flavors. Our naturally sweet, organic gummy candies and jelly beans are drenched in fresh fruit flavors. Each sweet treat will send you back to the beach.  

 Quick Facts About Surf Sweet Candy:

 

   

 

 

 

   

 Clicking on the front door of any home takes you inside to visit and each home has its own games and activities.  There are also things to do and look for while cruising along! 

 

 

 

“We wanted to take our Wiggles Fan Club to another level. We just needed to make sure we were going to be able to provide children with an environment that was exciting, fun, educational and safe. WiggleTime.com certainly has all of the right ingredients to provide children with a fantastic Wiggles experience” - Anthony Field (BlueWiggle).  

 

  Staying true to The Wiggles philosophy of “education through entertainment”, WiggleTime.com acts as an early childhood developmental tool for both toddlers and their parents. Each game played on WiggleTime.com contains cognitive, physical and social elements to help benefit the pre-schooler. It also doubles as an educational resource center for parents to monitor their child’s development and be kept up to date with the most recent parenting news.  

 

 

    WiggleTime.com offers an interactive environment enabling preschool children to explore, play and learn with the use of familiar Wiggles themes, destinations and characters. Enjoying Wiggle Time is as simple as jumping into the Big Red Car, buckling your seat belt, and toot-toot chugga chugging down the road to visit some of your favorite Wiggle destinations including Wigglehouse, Dorothy’s House, Wag’s Kennel, Captain Feathersword’s SS Feathersword, or Henry’s Underwater World.

 

 

  The majority of the games found on WiggleTime.com have been designed to be played in stages that progressively get more challenging as the child learns. Each time they complete a game they are rewarded with virtual toys that they not only get to keep but play with as well! In addition to games and activities, WiggleTime.com will also offer preschoolers with a series of video clips on a month-to-month basis.     

 The WiggleTime Interactive Online Play Space For Preschoolers is $5.95 for one month (one pymt), get a 6 month subscription for $5.35/month (pay monthly), or $60/year which includes a bonus 3 months (15 total months = $4/month).  There are also a couple of additional packages available to help support UNICEF and get some bonus goodies in the play space: $41.10 for 6 months and $78/year.

 

The trial membership for this review was provided by WIggleTime.com.

 

 

So, do you like to party like a preschooler? The Go Fish has a great collection of family friendly music that the young and young at heart will enjoy. They are offering 2 SSDR readers a Go Fish Guys CD.

Rules:

Open to US & Canada

Deadline August 31st, at 12 noon EST

How to Enter:

Visit the Go Fish Guys website and check out the collection. Then come back and comment on a song you think you would like. List multiple songs for multiple entries.

• Subscribe to Simply Sensational Divas Review RSS Feed via email or blog reader.

• Grab our Launch Party button & put on your sidebar.

• RSVP to the Simply Sensational Divas Review Launch Party Twitter Bash.

• Follow us on Twitter: @SensationlDivas, @ShakeTheSalt, @mom2kchmwr2001, @KimSSDR, @StephSSDR, @PolkaSpotFarm, @SvrMomOf6, @GmaGreen (One entry for each follow)

• Tweet this giveaway including link, #ssdr & @SensationlDivas.

• Become a fan of Simply Sensational Divas Review on Facebook.

• Follow this blog (join this site) via Google Friend Connect (see sidebar of blog).

• Grab our blog button & put on your sidebar.

• Fave Simply Sensational Divas Review on MomFaves.

• Fave Simply Sensational Divas Review on Technorati.

• Share this post via Facebook, Stumble Upon, Digg, etc. (One entry for each).

• Blog about this giveaway. (3 entries)

Jonesin’ for even more entries? Get one extra entry for every non-giveaway post you leave a comment on at any of our blogs: Simply Sensational Divas Review, Shake The Salt, Just Our Thoughts, Polka Spot Farm, Pink Stinx, Momma’s Untwisting, American Mommy, and My Chick Flick.

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Interested in music that is great for the kids, but you don't mind listening to? Then this is one giveaway you want to enter. 2 lucky SSDR readers will receive a copy of both The Lads and Yancy. This upbeat, get you moving will have you rocking and rolling down the street.

Rules:

Open to US & Canada

Deadline August 31st, at 12 noon EST

How to Enter:

Visit The Lads and Yancy website. Then pick a song you like from each site and leave a comment. Remember to leave two seperate comments to get credit for both.

• Subscribe to Simply Sensational Divas Review RSS Feed via email or blog reader.

• Grab our Launch Party button & put on your sidebar.

• RSVP to the Simply Sensational Divas Review Launch Party Twitter Bash.

• Follow us on Twitter: @SensationlDivas, @ShakeTheSalt, @mom2kchmwr2001, @KimSSDR, @StephSSDR, @PolkaSpotFarm, @SvrMomOf6, @GmaGreen (One entry for each follow)

• Tweet this giveaway including link, #ssdr & @SensationlDivas.

• Become a fan of Simply Sensational Divas Review on Facebook.

• Follow this blog (join this site) via Google Friend Connect (see sidebar of blog).

• Grab our blog button & put on your sidebar.

• Fave Simply Sensational Divas Review on MomFaves.

• Fave Simply Sensational Divas Review on Technorati.

• Share this post via Facebook, Stumble Upon, Digg, etc. (One entry for each).

• Blog about this giveaway. (3 entries)

Jonesin’ for even more entries? Get one extra entry for every non-giveaway post you leave a comment on at any of our blogs: Simply Sensational Divas Review, Shake The Salt, Just Our Thoughts, Polka Spot Farm, Pink Stinx, Momma’s Untwisting, American Mommy, and My Chick Flick.

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• Hhnet Business Overview (slideshare.net)

Christi: I found the gummy bear’s package this morning, and no one owns up to eating them! I'd rather that they sneak these than real candy.

LaDonna: yummy!

Christi: But I didn't get to try them! (the gummy bears that is) These only had 70% of vitamin C daily recommendations, but you know some of them had 100% and some had 100% Calcium too.

LaDonna: If I hadn't of been right here when the package arrived I wouldn't have gotten any.

Christi: I had at least some of all of the others.

LaDonna: no corn syrup. I like that too.

Sweets: and of course organic! So the kids loved them?

LaDonna: yep; J too.

Christi: Can you get these locally? I don't think we can, but I'll ask my local health food store to order them, because I'd love to keep these around.

LaDonna: I don't know. I know you can get them at Toys R Us and we have those stores in the cities. Yeah, I could ask the health food store. I'm sure she'd get them in for me.

Sweets: Toys R Us? Really! That's great.

LaDonna: That's a pretty big store.

Christi: We try to avoid that store, but I guess we could go in for good-for-you snacks on our Kidless Weekends

LaDonna: Yeah, I've never been to a Toys R Us, but I would never want to take my children there!

Christi: So which of the TruSweets do you like the most? My favorite was the Sour worms.

LaDonna: Even though the Sour Berry Bears had a different texture I liked them best. It wasn't so different that I didn't get used to it quickly, but different than I first expected.

Christi: I was expecting the same texture as you would get in any candy isle, but these were different, not bad different, but different.

LaDonna: The girls loved the Gummy Worms.

Christi: I was a little disappointed that the sour varieties were not all that sour, but they were still my favorites.

LaDonna: Yes, you are right there. But I'm sure that sour stuff is all synthetic bad for you chemicals.

Christi: I guess you are probably right, but that doesn't make me like it! lol

LaDonna: hee hee What are some of the other samples we were sent?

Christi: rofl! I don't remember. There was the gummy bears, and the worms, and some kinda swirl one...We ate them so fast I couldn't keep up!

LaDonna: Well, some of the others listed on the information sheet include: Gummy Worms, Gummy Swirls, Gummy Bears. Fruity Bears and Jelly Beans.

Christi: I didn't get jelly beans

LaDonna: We didn't get the jelly beans, I don't think. Sour Worms, Sour Berry Bears and Snack Packs. Organic, organic, organic. I think it's something we can trust - they taste good. They look good. The kids love 'em!!

Christi: yep! and I LOVE THEM!

LaDonna: And so do the moms and the dads!

A Big thanks goes out to TruSweets for allowing us to review your products! The Diva's love them and are gladly giving away a package on SSDR. So hurry and sign up!

Christi: LaDonna, have you used your Fuji EnviroMAX batteries?
LaDonna: Yep, in lots of things like flashlights, remotes, and W's camera.
Christi: Well I forgot to charge my batteries before we left for Tuscaloosa, and forgot the charger. So I took some of Scott’s batteries and put them in my camera. They lasted for 2 pictures before dying! I was upset! I thought it was my camera. So I dug out the EnviroMAX AA's for electronics. I was really impressed. They lasted for about 200 pictures. My reusable batteries that cost a TON last about 300 pictures.
LaDonna: WOW! That's great!
Christi: I know, right!
LaDonna: That's similar to what Tammy said.
Christi: Now Scott's batteries were not Duracell or Energizer, but they were working in everything else. Most of the time I opt for the regular Duracell or Energizer and they last for 150 pictures or something; I normally don't get the ones for electronics.    I haven't priced these batteries, but for my camera, I'd buy them even if they were a little more, especially because they are environmentally friendly.
LaDonna: See I have only bought rechargeable Duracell for my camera.
Christi: I bought Fuji rechargeables that week too, and like them. I wonder if they will do the rechargeable ones in the environmentally friendly ones?  We should check online for that and for a price.

Christi: So what was your experience with them?
LaDonna: We put them in J's Mag-light (it takes C's). It was shining brighter than the store brand batteries.
Christi: Oh I bet with him being a fire fighter, that could be a great advantage!
LaDonna: except he never uses that flash light while fire fighting.
Christi: oh ok
Christi: He may want to now, if it’s that much brighter.
LaDonna: Yeah
Christi: Men sometimes treat their flashlights like their dogs (man's best friend). But I never have one when I need it, or the batteries are dead.
LaDonna: Yeah.

LaDonna: I put them in the remotes and I haven't noticed a difference but it takes a long time for store brand to run out of power in remotes. W has an old 35mm camera that we've put them in. They work great in there.

Christi: With these batteries, I'm not as worried about them being left in flashlights and things long term. cause if they leak, I don't think there's anything in there that will be harmful.
LaDonna: To me, batteries are batteries. I never worried before. But I do like that they are safer. And that they last longer than store brand. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fuji+enviromax+batteries The prices are comparable to regular batteries. that's important too.
Christi: Yep, 'cause even though I love the environment and all, I live on a very tight budget.
LaDonna: Yeah, we are living on one income too with 5 kids. I may just change brands of batteries whether I go environmental or not. To me, they are making an effort in that direction.

LaDonna: I can't actually buy them here in Canada. But I can order them online.
Christi: Oh, well that sux. If you do bulk, it should be less expensive too.

Kim: I thought the batteries were pretty good. I don't think anything I've used them in has ran out of juice. I'm sure a lot of people would think they would run out quick due to the fact they are environmentally friendly, but they seem to hold a good charge.

Steph: Nothing I used them in has run out and DH has used them in his xbox and he normally goes thru batteries left n right. I also used them in the flashlight.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway too.