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Relaxing & Reading

This weekend was Camp Primo! For the uninitiated, that’s my parents’ Grandparent/Cousin camp. They take all the grandkids on a 3 day trip complete with creek-stomping, campfires and arts & crafts! But the most important thing for you to notice about this is that I DO NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN WITH ME. My husband and I celebrated our two days of kid-less-ness by going to the mountains. Our friends have a cabin (which really, would be better described as a log PALACE) in Tennesse that is just gorgeous. Here’s the view:

We slept late, we went out to eat, we lounged in the hot tub and we even did this:

raft1

Yup. That’s me on a zipline. Do I look cool or what?! (Don’t answer that.)

The other thing I did was read. One morning I got up, wrapped a blanked around me and sat on a rocking chair on the porch. Overlooking the mountains, I pulled out my husband’s iPad and read. I have recently discovered e-reader apps. There’s iBooks, Kindle, Nook, Sony e-reader and more! AND there are loads of free books online to download! In the last few weeks I’ve read Sixteen Brides, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, She’s in a Better Place, My Heart Remembers, She Always Wore Red, Waterfall, Cascade and Stuck in the Middle . That’s like 8 books. And almost all of them were free. The other ones I bought with swagbucks!

Then I discovered Nook Kids which is like it’s own app for kids–and they have kids’ books that you can read by yourself or it has the audio version on it, too! The kids have a Rudyard Kipling book, an I Can Read book and even Curious George. They love reading on it! (I do, too. It’s super cool.)

Anywhoo. I’m trying to decide if I’m going to keep commandeering the iPad for my own personal reading pleasure or if I’m going to ask for an e-reader for Christmas. (I kinda like that idea because I could slip it in my purse or keep it with me whenever I wanted!) Any insight from someone who has an e-reader? What do you recommend? What pitfalls have you found with them?

Speaking of e-readers how would you like to WIN A NOOK?

*insert squealing*

I knew you would! I’m literally salivating over this giveaway today. Nestle has been doing this fabulous campaign for Happy New {School} Year. They are giving away a $2000 Literacy Grant for your school, $5000 for back-to-school stuff, daily $50 prizes along with some really cool ideas for snacks, lunches and crafts. Honestly, you can always find a fun idea on their website or facebook page.

Also, I have to mention that Nestle (their PR firm) is compensating me for this post. But part of the reason I accepted this is because some of the compensation is $350 worth of books for Lydia’s school! I am SO excited to bring these books to her teacher! I’m gonna feel like Santa! Only skinnier. And less hairy.

win a nook

Now, let’s get on to the prize! If you win you will receive a Nook e-reader, a mix of free coupons from STOUFFER’S, TOLL HOUSE Refrigerated Cookie Dough and Morsels, JUICY JUICE, NESQUIK, TOMBSTONE, OVALTINE, product from WONKA, a $3 off coupon from BOOST Kid Essentials, a CARNATION BREAKFAST ESSENTIALS $1 off coupon, an OVALTINE straw dispenser and coupon book. That is FUN stuff! Just imagine reading curled up with your Nook and all that yumminess!

And just how can you win this? Well, I’m kinda over the whole bajillion comment thingie. So, let’s just do it the old-fashioned way:

Leave me a comment with your favorite book of all time (or kids’ fave book) and you’ll be entered to win!

Of course, if you want to tweet or facebook about this giveaway, I’d be honored! I made it easy for you–there’s some handy dandy little buttons right at the bottom of this post for you to use! I’ll pick a winner this Saturday (10/01)–it’s open to US only. Thanks again to Nestle for the fabulous prizes and for encouraging reading!

 

Comments

  5. My favorite book of all time? Geez, that’s a tough one. I would definitely have to say The Chronicles of Narnia book series. My favorite is still the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

  6. You go girl! That’s awesome that you did the zipline!

    Hard to choose a favorite! One of my favorites that I’ve read recently is “Devil in the White City” (Here’s what I thought of it: http://www.d-mom.com/200-am-book-club-april-11/)

    But I think my favorite book of the last decade (Harry Potter series aside) would have to be Wicked. The touring production of the musical is coming to a town near me this fall and I’m FINALLY going to see it. Love the soundtrack, too.

  7. My favorite book as a kid was “There’s a Monster at the End of this Book”. I think if there were any books I could continue to reread it would be the Chronicles of Narnia series.

  9. My favorite book is Mary Poppins! It is so much better than the movie 🙂
    Our family also loves the Knuffle Bunny Books…though honestly, my daughter loves any book so long as some one is reading to her!

  10. That’s a hard question – I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one book. I guess I’ll go with my favorite book when I was a child: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

  11. It’s hard to pick just one but I will go with “To Kill A Mockingbird”. “Gone With The Wind” is a close second.

  12. My favorite would have to be The Three-Fold Secret of the Holy Spirit by James McConkey. I think it’s out of print, but pretty easy to find used.

  18. two kid-less nights/days?? – so jealous! 🙂
    you doing the zip line – looks like fun! not sure if i could do it, wish I could. would the zip line people get mad if I peed my pants ’cause I’m pretty sure I would. 😉
    free nook and yumminess – FUN!!! pick me! pick me!

    my favoritest book of all time?? – not sure I can pick just one! lately I’m reading The Hunger Games series, so good! can’t wait for the movie to come out! but my new favorite author is Kate Morton (not of the hunger games). she writes so descriptively that sometimes I have to stop and re-read whole paragraphs because it’s so delicious. 🙂 Seriously, if you like a good, clean mystery in a story with words written so well you get lost…..then check out this author. 🙂

    • OOh. I do need to check those out. I haven’t read a good mystery in awhile.

      And actually, the zipline was not as scary as I thought. When I walked up and realized what we were doing, I got kinda scared. But really, it’s dummy-proof. You can’t fall or anything. It was super fun.

  20. It’s hard to pick ONE book, but I LOVE Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. THANKS for the chance to win this! I love the pic of you on the zipline! FUN!

    • Oooh, Mary! I just found another reason to love you. I LOVED Timeline. That’s what made me start reading Michael Chrichton b/c we listened to Timeline on audio and I fell in love with him!

      Also, yes, I loved Waterfall and Cascade. It’s YA. But I love Lisa Tawn Bergren and read the books in practically one sitting. 🙂

  23. ooo I would so love to win, my daughters favorite book right now is Potty…I don’t get to read that much but I loved the Twilight series books, I really really really got into them…and the movie…and edward of course! LOL Thanks for the giveaway!!

  24. Hey Amanda! Glad ya’ll had fun at the mtns kid-less 🙂 We miss you guys! I would HIGHLY recommend an e-reader (I have a Kindle)… I’ve never read more books and found it so enjoyable/easy to hold a book and read with the book light without disturbing Trey, take multiple books on a trip, etc. Would love to have a nook to load up with children’s books for Kaden and Molly (coming Nov 4th!!!). My favorite book of all time is To Kill A Mockingbird.

    • Kelly! I MISS YOU! When we were in the mountains, I saw the email you sent to B&S after the last time you guys were at their cabin (she taped it in their guest book). You said, “I hope Waumba Land was fun. Did you meet Asa and see Amanda?” It must have been right after Asa was born! *sniff* I got all sad and started to miss you guys again.

      SO EXCITED about Molly! Love you guys!
      a

  26. Favorite book of all time? Does ohamanda count as a book yet? So let’s go for children’s books – i remember loving the Babysitter Club books!

  27. My favorite book – whew that’s a hard one. For years I would have said “Gone with the Wind” – love that book. I’ve read it many times.

    Then, there is the Harry Potter series. I ADORE that series… I’ve read the first book over a dozen times. The last one at least four times. **sigh** I love HP.

    As a child, I would have said the Little House books. I wanted to be Laura (Half-Pint). I really did.

    So, I can’t really answer the question, but I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a Nook.

  29. Favorite book? So hard to choose! recently it would be Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver!

  30. My favorite book of all time is Lulu and the Witch Baby. It’s a kiddie book, but was one of my favorites (and definitely made an impression upon me :P). It’s about a big sister witch that wishes away her baby sibling through magic – I won’t give away the details or ending. It’s a great book to read around Halloween, too!

  31. My Fav book that I have read in the past year, which quite possibly could be my favorite of all times is “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. It inspires the reader that no matter what you go through, God forgives you and will always take you back with a sincere heart.

  35. It is so hard to pick just one! But the book that is nearest and dearest to my heart is Anne of Green Gables. I just remember being so in love with the Anne books when I was a tween. I wanted to be just like Anne–with an “e” . 🙂 I can’t wait to share them with my daughter someday! (She’s only 2, so I have a while to wait lol!) I would adore a nook!! What a fabulous give-away!

      • Yes, I’ve read, drooled over, cried into and spilled food stains on them all lol! It’s hard to pick a fave from the set b/c it’s one continuing story but I think the very first Anne is my fave, just b/c I have such fond memories of first discovering her and relating to her at that age.

  39. My favorite books seem to change when I read new books! 🙂 But my favorite kid’s book right now is “Boo Boo Bird” by Jeremy Tankard.

  40. Favorite book of all time? That’s tough! For a kids’ book, we’re re-reading the Jesus Storybook Bible with Ladybug and she is really getting into the stories, making comments and asking questions. Love it! One of my favorite works of fiction is The Secret Life of Bees.

    An aside, I wonder if there are Bible commentaries for e-reader? I would totally love that!

    • If they don’t have them now, I’m sure they will soon! I noticed some books by famous authors were going straight to digital and NO print. They were like novellas or something!

  41. Oh my goodness, how does one choose? I’ve read so many great books, but for a children’s book, I would have to choose Charlotte’s Web, and for an adult read – The World According to Garp.

  42. So how about the “Mandie” books? LOL! Didn’t we have like ALL of them? I seriously want to find some of those for Annabelle to get into. Those were my favorite as a kid. Highschool years believe it or not was “The Count of Monte Cristo”. And I really loved “The Mortal Instruments” series. That has been my favorite since I have “re-discovered” reading as an adult. I had lost touch with it and forgotten how fun it was.

    p.s. My girlies LOVE the Llama Llama books! They are so sweet. Oh and “The Tickle Monster” is awesome b/c it comes complete with tickling gloves! I could go on…..

  43. A book I loved as a kid was “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst.

  44. a) Good gravy, woman…you look ADORABLE flying on that zipline!!

    b) And, MY, you’re a prolific reader!!

    c) To answer your question, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I love it more every time I read it!

    #crossingmyfingers 🙂

  46. My fave book of all time? “The Power of One” by Bryce Courtenay.

    My kid’s favorites include anything Curious George, Disney or Sesame Street (they’re 3 and 5)!

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