Recipe: Parmesan Garlic Potatoes with Dorot Pop In Flavor

The kids absolutely love to have flavored mashed potatoes. When I have time, I make them from scratch. We had these last night and they turned out fantastic. Super easy to make but they were loaded with flavor.

Parmesan Garlic Potatoes

6 potatoes, peeled, boiled & mashed
2 tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Dorot parsley cubes
1 Dorot garlic cube
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Peel, boil and mash potatoes.

Add in butter & Dorot Pop In Flavor Cubes. Mash well. Add heavy cream and Parmesan and mash until smooth and creamy. Serve hot.

Definitely delicious! Very easy to make and healthier for you than packaged flavored potatoes.

Exercising in comfort with Wilson

When I was younger, it took no special attention to stay fit and in shape. I didn't watch calories or count carbs. I made no particular effort to exercise any more than running around with my friends. We skateboarded. We took long walks together. We played ball and climbed trees. There was no way to be plugged into anything so my friends and I simply played outside when we were together.


Times have changed a little in the past 30 years and I spend much more time connected and plugged in than I did when I was younger. That means I'm not outside running around as much any more. When I am running around, I am generally connected to the Wii in some way shape or form whether it's Zumba or Wii Fit. Exercising inside is just easier for me now. I don't need to be concerned about the weather or who is doing what, where. One thing I do need to be concerned about now is comfort.

When I exercise, I wear clothes made for exercising. I want to be comfortable when I'm huffing and puffing and sweating to the oldies. No, I don't mean a pair of baggy warm up pants and my husband's 3x too large t-shirt. They don't offer any kind of support at all and honestly, they look awful on me. Since they don't fit correctly, they can chafe and tug and be irritating.

I recently received the Wilson La Divine Tennis Capri Pants to try out while I exercise. Wilson Tennis Apparel isn't just for wearing while you're playing tennis. It works just as well for any exercise or even for doing housework our lounging around in.  It has a compression fit for light support and the fabric is moisture wicking which means it's breathable and helps keep you cool and dry while you exercise.

I also like that the pants come in capri style.  In the warmer months, I tend to wear capris instead of long pants to exercise in.  They're cooler but still offer modesty and comfort which is important to me.  I also like that they're available in black which is very slimming and one of my favorite exercise colors. They're not totally black though. They have a little burst of bright blue color at the bottom of each leg band. They're really comfortable to exercise in because they're made of 92% poly and 8% spandex for a snug but comfy fit. If you're going to exercise, you might as well be comfortable while you're doing it!

My thanks to Wilson for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Contest & Chardonnay Pork Chops with Creamy Gravy using Tavern Direct Chandelier Chardonnay & Fire Grilled Garlic Marinade

We like to stretch our grocery dollars as far as we possibly can. One of the ways that we can do this is by watching the prices of the meat that we buy. Sure the more expensive cuts of meat might be a bit more tender but with a growing family, they just don't work into our budget. One of the ways we can make the most of the meats we can afford to buy is by marinating them. Marinating meat brings out the flavor and also breaks down the proteins which makes meat more tender.

I recently had a chance to try the Tavern Direct Chandelier Chardonnay & Fire Grilled Garlic Marinade on some pork chops. The marinade contains grape seed oil, chardonnay wine vinegars, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, sea salt, spices and roasted garlic oil. According to the website, it's also good with poultry and sea food but pork is what we had so that's what we used it on.

Tavern Direct is a philanthropic organization that was created to to support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's® (NCMEC) efforts to provide education about how to keep every child safer.  For every product you purchase on TavernDirect.com, they'll make a donation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.  Tavern Direct offers a variety of gourmet marinades & sauces, balsamic vinegars, flavored oils, dipping oils and bbq & grilling sauces that are used in their New York restaurant, Tavern on the Green.  Tavern Direct was recently featured on All Recipes.

Chardonnay Pork Chops with Creamy Gravy

4 pork loin chops thick cut
1 cup of Tavern Direct Chandelier Chardonnay & Fire Grilled Garlic Marinade
1 tablespoon flour
heavy cream

Marinate the pork chops in the marinade for at least 3 hours.

Fry in a cast iron pan until seared and cooked through.  Remove from the pan and keep in the oven to keep warm. 

In the cast iron pan, add about a cup of water and slowly whisk in one tablespoon of flour.  Stir constantly over very low heat until it gets bubbly. Add enough heavy cream to make it thick and creamy. Remove pork chops from oven.  Serve gravy over pork chops and mashed potatoes.  This was amazing. The kids loved it and came back for seconds.  The pork came out really tender and absolutely delicious.  We're definitely having this again.

Get $20 for $10 of Tavern Direct Gourmet Marinades and Sauces (shipping not included), with Coupon Code AllR10.  May 25th is National Missing Children's Day: http://www.take25.org/ and this is a great time to show your support for the cause by making a purchase from Tavern Direct.

Want to win some Chandelier Chardonnay Fire Grilled Garlic Marinade for yourself?   5 winners chosen for this giveaway and it will run through June 11.  Enter HERE.  Contest Rules HERE

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.  I am a Tavern Direct Preferred Blogger.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

WillowPads Natural Feminine Care

Feminine care is one of those touchy topics many people just don't discuss openly. It's one of those aisles in the grocery store that my son won't walk down. It's the *invisible* products I bring home from the store that my husband pretends he doesn't see when we put the groceries away. While I appreciate the convenience of the disposable feminine care products, I really don't like the environmental aspects of throwing away these products every month.

I also prefer to be prepared for emergencies and relying on products that you have to continually purchase and throw away every month just doesn't sit well with me.  You never know when there might be an emergency that prevents you from getting to the store when you need to.  Then there is the cost associated with buying disposables all the time. If these things bother you too, there is another option!

The Willow Store offers natural feminine care products. They use only certified organic fabrics with no plastics, no perfumes, and no harsh chemicals or synthetics. They are completely environmentally friendly and much safer than disposables.

They use an exclusive cotton flannel shell that gives WillowPads the comfort I'm looking for in feminine care products. They don't use tape or any bulky synthetics to cause irritation. They use breathable cotton which is recommended by doctors. Their WillowPads use a hemp inner core that is very absorbent without feeling bulky and uncomfortable.

I really love the flexibility of WillowPads.  You can wear your WillowPad without an insert to have it serve as light protection.  Wear it with one insert for normal protection or wear it with two inserts for heavy protection.  They're available  in both organic hemp fleece and organic cotton flannel depending on your needs.  You can also find WillowPads in regular size for daytime wear or long for overnight wear. They're available in natural, black or tie dyed colors.   The quality of the stitching is fantastic and I'm really impressed with the comfort.  I've tried several brands and some are just extremely uncomfortable.   That's not the case with the WillowPads.  WillowPads can last an average of six years which can save you $300! In today's economy, who doesn't want that? They can be purchased singly or in packs of three.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Book review: The Alarmists by Don Hoesel

Book Title: The Alarmists
Author: Don Hoesel
Genre: Fiction, Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0562-0
Publisher: Bethany House
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

From the book:

It's December 2012 and the world is approaching the brink of panic--the timing of which eerily coincides with the ending of the Mayan calendar. But beneath the chaos and despair, and amid a rising tide of earth-shaking disasters, something far more dangerous emerges--someone is orchestrating it all.

Recruited to a special Pentagon unit, sociologist Brent Michaels and his team have been tasked with discovering why the world is rushing toward doomsday--but can they uncover the truth before the unthinkable happens?
******************
More and more things are happening around the world that brings the world a little bit closer to chaos. Some of them are natural disasters like floods or earthquakes and some of them are man  made like terrorist attacks.  The government is trying to find out whether there is a connection between all these different events and then find out who is behind them and why.   Brent Michaels is a college sociology professor who has been recruited by the Pentagon to see if there is a connection.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the *end of the world* in December 2012.  This book is roughly based on that theory.  Is the world really going to end in December 2012?  If you like action and suspense stories, The Alarmists will be right up your alley.  I've never read any other books by Don Hoesel but this one is very well written and easy to follow.  While it contains scientific/military jargon, it's written so that your average reader has no problem understanding it.  Though some of the terms were unfamiliar, I still managed to follow the story line and understand the general idea of what the technical jargon meant. It just made the story all the more interesting for me.   I love the way that Brent Michaels discovers that science and religion don't need to be two separate things at all. That's something missing in too many stories today.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Save 30% and Enter LOFT’s “My Perfect Summer Getaway” Sweepstakes

We've had some gorgeous sunny days this past week so I know that summer will be here soon. As the weather really starts to warm up, I need to find some cooler clothes. Generally I live in jeans and a t-shirt but in really hot water, I switch to cropped pants, skirts and dresses to stay cool. You do remember that whole "I don't like shorts" thing right? Today only, Ann Taylor's LOFT is having a summer style event where you can get 30% off your entire order! Seriously! Here are just a few gorgeous outfits I fell in love with:

Aren't these so comfy looking!  I love the cool, casual styles.  You can enter the Getaway Sweeps on their Facebook page for a chance to win an unforgettable summer vacation for two. The vacation destinations are some of the LOFT’s design team’s favorite destinations; Tulum in Mexico, Bar Harbor in Maine, Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota and Santa Fe in New Mexico.  They have 8 other prizes, including a $1,000 LOFT gift card. You can use code MAYSE14E to save 30% on your purchase today (Saturday) only.

As required by the FTC: I will receive a gift card for sharing this contest with you.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Win $100 GNC GC because May is Mental Health Month

As moms, we need to be on top of everything in not only our lives but in the lives of our families as well. It's up to us for the most part to provide a clean, comfortable home and make sure there are healthy, delicious meals on the table (or at least a house that's livable and meals that are edible depending on your day). We manage everyone's schedules and keep things running smoothly. We are the keeper of lost keys and the finder of lost sports equipment.

All of this can put a strain on your mental health and can result in stress, depression, low energy or problems with sleep and relaxation. If we don't take care of ourselves, how are we going to be expected to take care of our families? You have got to make sure that your own health is a top priority and that includes your mental health. Nobody likes a cranky, overworked mom!

One of the ways that we can take care of ourselves is by eating properly and getting daily exercise. Exercise for the day might be something as simple as running after your toddler or you might luck out and actually get some quiet time at the gym or a few minutes access to the Wii Fit. Another important way we can take care of ourselves is by taking vitamins and supplements that address our individual needs.  I take a multi-vitamin daily to make sure I'm getting what I need to keep my body in the best of health.  It's also important to address specific areas of your life that you may need a little extra help with.  For me, that's stress. Who would have guessed?

GNC offers a huge selection of products for not only your general health but in my case, I can also find things to help with my stress level.   There's really a huge variety of items.  I had no idea GNC carried that many things.  I found supplements like SAM-e, Natural Calm Raspberry Lemon Drink, Masada Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts and even a Stress Eraser! Yes, I need one of those!

I like the ease of shopping on the GNC site.  You can shop by condition/goal, by brand, or by ingredients.  There are many GNC physical locations as well.  I'm in and out of the one in our local mall all the time.  Check out their store locator to find one near you.

Connect with GNC on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news.  Connect with GNC's Marketing Director Jeff Hennion.

One of my lucky readers is going to win a $100 GNC gift card! Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what product you would use your GC on other than the ones I've mentioned.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1 daily

Win a $100 GNC gift certificate @scentednights #giveaway #win @GNCLiveWell @JeffHennion http://tinyurl.com/67owdnt

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/21/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

Pomi Tomatoes and recipe for Mediterranean Spaghetti

I love to cook most nights. It's relaxing and lets me be creative in the kitchen. I get tired of eating the same old thing every week so I like to try new recipes and new cuisines. I always return to my favorite Italian cuisine though. It's just one of those tastes that I cannot get enough of.

Just because I love to cook doesn't mean I want to spend all day in the kitchen. I have a business to run. I have a job. I'd much rather be outside playing in my herb gardens or doing Zumba on the Wii with the kids. So I like to rely on a few healthy short cuts to make meal preparation time a little shorter. Nope you're not going to see me with any neon orange helpers in my pantry. What you will find are natural products that have been slightly prepared to shorten my time in the kitchen.

Pomi offers tomato products that are 100% from fresh Italian tomatoes. You can find chopped tomatoes, strained tomatoes and marinara sauce. You won't find any artificial flavors or preservatives. You won't find any added water or any citric acid. What you will find are tomatoes yup that's the only ingredient in the chopped tomatoes and the strained tomatoes I received from Pomi. Pomi tomatoes are all natural and have no fat and no added sodium!

Want to know another great thing about Pomi tomatoes? They come in these really cool little PBA-free, stay fresh containers. Traditional canned tomatoes are often packed in cans that are lined and contain BPA in the plastic lining. Pomi doesn't do that. I love it! One step closer to a healthy product.

I decided to use my Strained Tomatoes from Pomi in Mediterranean Spaghetti. They have lots of other recipes too. Here's the recipe:

Mediterranean Spaghetti

1 1/2 cups Pomi Strained Tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons of olive oil
12 ounces spaghetti
4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Saute the onion and garlic in a large pan in half the olive oil for 2-3 minutes.  Add Pomi and remaining ingredients. Simmer for 10 minutes.  Cook the spaghetti al dente.  Drain and add to the sauce.  Return pan to the stove and mix thoroughly over low heat.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.  Serves 4.

I love the taste of the Pomi tomato products I tried.  They really do taste all natural and I'm so glad to have found a tomato product that doesn't have anything added to it and isn't stored in a can lined with BPA.  Make sure you connect with Pomi on Facebook to keep up with all the latest product news & recipes.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Who said life was fair?

I would seriously like to know who told my kids that life was fair. Seriously, somewhere along the line they have decided that life is supposed to be easy and fair. I have no idea why they think this since it certainly doesn’t come from anything that I’ve ever told them. Life is far from easy or fair. Everything is quick and easy now in their lives. We have fast food, microwavable meals, coffee in less than a minute, texting people instantly in another country, face time chats. Everything happens in a split second. They’re used to easy and when things aren’t easy, they’re surprised.

It was so much simpler when they were babies. If they cried, I knew they needed food, a clean diaper or a cuddle. All of those are relatively easy to provide. I was thrilled when I could *fix* their problem and once again they were happy, smiling babies. I spent hours looking through baby magazines, trying to learn to be the best mom that I could be. I oohed and aahed at crib sets and diaper bags. I dreamed about redoing the baby’s room in jojo designs baby bedding or zebra baby bedding. I would have the happiest, most stylish baby around!

As they got older, problems became a little more difficult. A cuddle wasn’t always the perfect solution to scraped knees or lost balloons. Sometimes it took a lollipop or a bowl of ice cream to bring a smile back to their face. But still, I was the one they came to and the one that could fix everything. I was *super mommy* and I was quite happy.

Somewhere around 5th grade, I became less of a super hero. I somehow didn’t understand all of the vitally important fads that were vital to their continued existence. I didn’t understand that a 5th grader had to have a cell phone or her very life would be ruined forever. I was hopelessly unhip because I wouldn’t let my 12 year son get his ears pierced or listen to music that would make my ears bleed.

It got even worse as they got older. Now, not only do I not have the answers to their problems. I am obviously an idiot who knows nothing about what life is like for a teenager. I sprung full grown from my mother’s womb at 44 and know nothing at all. It’s surprising I am not just driving around in circles in a corn field without their constant attention. I cannot fix any of their problems if I even know what their problems are at this age.

I think I would like them both to be four again. Can we do that please? Just for a little while, I want to have a tea party and push cars around on the floor. I want to chase bubbles and watch cartoons. I want it back when life really was easy.

Brought to you by your friends at http://www.babybeddingzone.com/

Veggie Tales Live on DVD June 7th!

You probably remember me saying in the past that I am a HUGE Veggie Tales fan. There's just something about those smiling, bouncy, colorful veggies that gets my toes to tapping and my mouth to singing.

Veggie Tales Live Sing Yourself Silly is the latest DVD from Veggie Tales that takes you on the road with Bob, Larry and the whole Veggie crew. This high energy song and dance spectacular takes silliness to a whole new level. But sometimes silliness just isn't enough! Archibald Asparagus prefers songs with meaning. Mr. Lunt wants to sing about food, and Jimmy and Jerry are stuck in the 80's! But there's only so much time... will the Veggies learn the importance of sharing so that the show can go on and everyone will be able to sing themselves silly?

Bonus features include Larry's Backstage Pass, "Pick a Song" Singalongs, Veggie Tales Live Show Trivia Game, Studio Store, and 10 Ways Kids can Share and Help Others discussion guide.  The DVD features 18 different silly songs for you and your child to enjoy. The DVD is over seventy minutes long!

Check out the cool trailer for a hint of what's in stall for you with this DVD.

Includes The Songs:

• “VeggieTales Theme Song”
• "The Water Buffalo Song”
• "Big Things Too"
• "Gourds Just Wanna Have Fun"
• "Song of the Cebu"
• "Dance of the Cucumber"
• "God is Bigger"
• "His Cheeseburger"
• "Love My Lips!"
• "The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything"
• "Do the Moo, Shoo"
• "Rumor Weed"
• "Endangered Love" (Barbara Manatee)
• "Bellybutton"
• "Footloose"
• "The Hairbrush Song"
• "I Can Be Your Friend"
• "VeggieTales Theme Song (Reprise)"

This DVD will be released on June 7th so keep your eyes open for it! Veggie Tatles Live! is so much fun. You have got to add this one to your Veggie Tales library!

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

My mini backyard makeover #KmartOutdoor

We have two acres of land with our house but most of it is wooded so we don't really do all that much with it except enjoy the privacy. The open land we do have, we've spent most of our time putting in gardens, berry bushes, and fruit trees and that has left us with very productive growing spaces but a very unsatisfying area for entertaining and relaxing.

Right now our current entertaining area consists of this 15 year old picnic table. Yup. That's it. Just the picnic table. We do have a Old Smokey Grill already that we burn wood in for cookouts but other than that, we don't really have an area to entertain friends and family in.

When I was given the opportunity to do a mini makeover in my backyard I jumped for joy. Finally an area I could entertain in. I'd been checking out the various backyard make over posts on other bloggers' sites and was particularly impressed with the makeover done by French Country Cottage. I love how she used a common theme for her makeover and I knew I wanted mine to have a theme as well. The French Country Cottage look didn't really go with our 1865 New England Farmhouse so I knew I had to come up with my own theme.

I had $300 to work with for my mini backyard make over. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted or how far $300 would go since I'd never shopped for backyard items before. While I admired some of the table and chair sets, I knew they wouldn't work for us. In Vermont, we have about 3-4 feet of snow on the ground each year. Anything that gets left outside all year underneath all that snow doesn't last very long. We don't have a garage or storage space to store anything large so I knew what I purchased had to be able to be folded up easily for storage.

I headed off to the store to see what I could find. I really like Americana so I was hoping to go with a red, white and blue theme. I was thrilled to find a bunch of things that were red, white and blue and managed to put together a pretty good looking mini makeover.

What do you think?

Before

 

 After

For the whole visit and what I found, check out This Moment.

You'll see close ups of each area and what I used to create my new look. Total cost $280.96.

Little square table $19.99
Bracket to hang our own bird feeder $1.99
Tricycle planter $39.99
2 red steel chairs $63.98
2 red PVC chaise lounges $47.98
red solar lantern $11.99
2 white wave petunias $9.38
6 gerber daises $23.94
bag of bird food $17.99
pair gardening gloves .89
2 red flower pots $20.78
tablecloth $3.74

Wow I had no idea I could find so much at KMart to make over my yard!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions remain mine and mine alone.

Win D'Orsay Shoes in the Luna style from Coloriffics

There are a few staples every woman absolutely must have in her wardrobe. She needs a little black dress, a sexy pair of heels, a faded pair of jeans and a classic white t-shirt. No matter where you are in your life from teenager to mature woman, having these four things as staples in your wardrobe will take you far.

Sarah18 is graduating high school in another month and she's starting to accumulate pieces of her wardrobe that will help her as a young woman. Investing in a quality pair of heels is very important. You want a pair of shoes that's well made and comfortable in addition to looking fantastic.

Sarah18 chose the D'Orsay Shoes in the Luna style from Coloriffics. This shoe is a black satin platform sandal with a 4" heel and 3/4" platform that is perfect for prom time or any semi formal or formal event. The feminine straps, accentuated with flat pleating, crisscross the instep to create an eye-catching black matte satin platform sandal. These shoes are available in black, blue, ivory, rose and white. They come with a shoe bag to keep your shoes safe and protected when you're not wearing them.

Not only this shoe gorgeous, it's very comfortable too. Who wants to invest in an amazing pair of shoes to go dancing in only to have to take them off because your feet hurt? These shoes have built-in heel grippers and non-slip leather soles and they are enhanced with leather linings and suede insole cushions. This shoe definitely combines comfort and style into one amazing package.

Coloriffics offers shoes that will rock any outfit whether it's a prom dress or a wedding gown. They even have shoes for younger girls to accent a flower girl or communion dress. You can even find gorgeous bridal and evening handbags! Check out their store locator to find a store near you.

Connect with Coloriffics on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest styles.

One of my lucky readers is going to win a pair of the Luna shoes in black in their style.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what your favorite shoe is that isn't the one I'm reviewing.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1 daily

Win a pair of D'Orsay Shoes in the Luna Style from Coloriffics @scentednights #giveaway #win @coloriffics http://tinyurl.com/6fybvqw

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/18/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

Maximal Reserve by Sam Batterman

Book Title: Maximal Reserve
Author: Sam Batterman
Genre: Fiction, General
ISBN: 978-1-935265-52-8
Publisher: Deep River Books
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

From the book:

What if oil isn't scarce? A secret that can change the balance of the world's power and finance in a moment is known by the most unlikely of people - and he's only been employed for a week.
*****************
Phillip Channing just graduated from college and wants to do something with his life rather than continue on with his education.  He goes for an interview with a very prestigious company and is flown via helicopter to learn something that will change his life.  He accepts the job and finds the biggest oil reserve in the entire world.  Unfortunately, he isn't the only person that's discovered this.  There are a host of criminals and power hungry politicians who have discovered the same secret that he has and they don't want him to tell. They'll stop at nothing to keep him quiet so that the balance of power in the Middle East doesn't change.

This is a really awesome Christian thriller. It will make you question everything you think you know about the origins of oil.  If you like conspiracy theories and secret government missions, you are going to really get into it.  While it contains a lot of technical jargon, it's written in a way that is very easy to understand even by someone who has no technical history at all.  I had no problem imagining that this exact same scenario could happen today in the real world.  This made the book even more fun to read.  Very easy to read and hard to put down.  Great book!

Follow Deep River books on Facebook & Twitter.

My thanks to the author and MamaBuzz for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.