How to Blog a Book, Revised and Expanded Edition shows you how to plan a successful book that you can then blog into existence while building your platform and attracting potential publishers. Aspiring authors learn how to create a blogged book with a well-honed and uniquely angled subject, targeted posts, and a readership large enough to get noticed by an agent or a publisher.

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As a blogger and writer, this is an idea that I've seen thrown around more than once. I was thrilled when I got a digital copy of this book because I wanted to learn more and learn I did! The author takes the time to break down complex terms and gives clear explanations on everything. Every step involved in the process is laid out so there's no guesswork involved. Heck, even the legal aspects are covered! Honestly, if this is something that you've ever considered as a blogger, a writer, or some combination of the two, this would be a great book to have on your shelf. I know that I'm going to be adding this book to my Amazon wish list so that I can have it to reference, jot notes in, and just have on hand.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Far too many people in contemporary culture feel they don't have enough time to "get it all done." The stress of this chronic overwhelm creates a disorganized mind that leads to a chaotic life. Based on her highly acclaimed "Energy Management" workshops, and drawn from over 25 years of counseling and coaching experience, professional trainer and speaker Jackie Woodside shares her breakthrough methods that lead to becoming the least stressed, most productive person you know!
In Calming the Chaos, you will learn the step-by-step skills and thought processes that lead to increased productivity and peace of mind. Jackie's approach stems from the new frontier of human performance called energetic consciousness. Part philosophy, part psychology, fully practical application, you will learn:
- Why there is no such thing as time management and what to do instead.- How to manage your energy instead of your time and stress.- The three-step formula for managing every component of your life for the rest of your life!- Why "to-do lists" are a set up for failure and what really works.- "The Three Strikes Rule" that will end procrastination for good!- How to always know that you have the time for what you want and need to do!
Many books promise to change your life. Applying these principles will make this a reality!

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Another book for the bin of books I will come back to time and time again! Honestly, this is just one of those books that you have to pick up and read for yourself to truly understand just how great it really is. There are so many principals in it that I intend on applying to my own life and so many that I already have. I love the fact that she does say that clutter in the home is clutter in the mind. It's something that I've said for years and years and that I am now very solidly applying to my own life. I always thrive in clutter free zones and it's good to see that when I came up with the theory that a cluttered home often equals a cluttered mind, I wasn't crazy.

So, kudos to the author for agreeing with me...lol! Also, tons of love goes out to her writing for being such an easy, down to earth read. The personal stories were not only easy to relate to, but often immensely helpful. Like I said, this book will be in my basket of books that I come back to time and time again.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Get inspired to step out of your box and into a world full of potential. From the corporate world, to the arts, to working with the disenfranchised the message is clear. There is no such thing as a normal way to live your life and no one right solution to any problem. Selected from amongst over 100 interviews, the stories shared here open a window on the journeys of seven women and three men who have charted their own path, including Ruthie Davis top U.S. luxury shoe designer and the winner of the 2014 AAFA Footwear Designer of the Year award and Geir Ness whose perfume is a staple in Nordstrom, Disney World and on Disney Cruise Lines. Enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes into the unique ways these individuals chose to deal with life's challenges and how they define success in their careers."

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Every so often I run across a book that by the time I'm done I just know that it's going into my "come back to this" basket. This was one of those books. All ten stories were of individuals who didn't let life stand in the way of their dreams. This is such an important message for all of us. We all have challenges and struggles and there will be times that it would be easier to give up than to keep going, but I read stories like these and I think to myself, "Hey, if these guys can do it, so can I." I know that when I'm struggling, this is a book that I will come back to time and time again to remind myself to let my drive, determination and creativity flow.



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I can't believe it, but the boys have been out of school for nearly 5 days now. As predicted, the summer schedule is insane with one boy doing football workouts three days a week and the other one helping with swim practices three days a week and never the same days or times. Thank god for my crockpot. Seriously. I can take five minutes in the morning, dump the bag into it, turn it on and walk out the front door and then, when my exhausted self comes in the front door, I'm greeted with the aroma of homemade deliciousness. What's your biggest summer challenge?

Ranch Pork Chops:

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs. thick sliced, boneless pork chops
6 medium red potatoes, chopped
10.75 oz can cream of celery soup
10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup
2 - 1oz dry Ranch dressing mix packages
1 c milk

Mix soup, milk and ranch packets together in a bowl and then pour into a gallon sized freezer bag. Add remaining ingredients, remove excess air, seal and freeze.

Cooking instructions: Thaw in refrigerator, pour into crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.




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HUNTED. Part 2 of Guy Erma and the Son of Empire

The new serialisation of Guy Erma and the Son of Empire.

"Guy Erma and the Son of Empire by Sally Ann Melia is a fast-paced and exciting YA military sci-fi read. Don't miss this one!" — Brent LeVasseur, author and illustrator of the Aoléon The Martian Girl series.

How dare you? How dare you hold me captive?

13-year-old Teodor was taken by the vicious Battle Borgs of Dome and now he must fight to survive.
13-year-old Guy Erma has been offered a chance to fight for his place in the Dome Elite. Only who will be his opponent? Will he face a Battle Borg of Dome?
Once they were heroes. These men died as heroes in battle. Now they have been reincarnated as the fearsome vanguard of the Dome Elite. They are the Battle Borgs of Dome
Two boys as different as any two boys might be. They face the same enemy, the same danger, the same fear - dare they trust each other? 

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Remember how great I said the full book was and then how I said the same thing about Part 1? Well, that hasn't changed for Part 2. The book is still fast paced, exciting and full of adventure. Honestly, I'm thinking about assigning my boys each a book to read over the course of the summer and I think my youngest is going to get handed this one. It's right up his alley. After all, who can resist reading about the Borg? Well, he's a teenage boy so he could just to be persnickety, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he's going to start reading this and then he'll keep reading it because it's just that good and honestly, if you can get a kid who is generally a non-reader to sit and read, you know the book just has to be good.



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If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup.

Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance.

Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all.

Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?

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Chick-Lit at its most enjoyable. I curled up yesterday with this book and didn't put my Kindle down until I'd read it right up til the end. I'm pretty sure that I laughed, sighed and nearly cried right along with Bridgette. Man, that girl had a lot going on and then an incredibly hard decision right at the end. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I will say that it kept me turning pages. I had to know if she was going to end up with any of the men in her life! On top of that, the cast of secondary characters were so incredibly well written that I felt as if these were people that I really do know. They all have their flaws, but that's what makes them that much more real. Seriously, a great read and I'm so glad that it ended the way that it did.



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Every so often, even with it being summer, we get a cooler period here in Michigan. On those days, I love to pull something like a stew out of the freezer. Honestly, I just hate to be cold and something like beef stew with biscuits helps warm me up and keep me going. Otherwise, I'm tempted to hibernate and nothing seems to get accomplished!


Beef Stew:

Ingredients:
2 lb stew meat
2 c baby carrots
2 c red potato, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar

Place all ingredients into gallon sized freezer bag. Remove all excess air, seal and freeze.

Cooking instructions: Thaw in refrigerator. Place into crockpot and add 1 cup of water. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.



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