I can't wait for Christmas. Actually I can wait for Christmas but cannot wait to be able to start decorating. This light is just awesome and can't wait to see it on the front of my house. I love how it rotates through different designs There is a red and green laser light which burn together and separately, to make really cool looking polka dot designs. The further the light is from a solid area the larger the design span is.
This comes with the light, a remote, a yard stake and a bracket for hanging or setting. The outside of the light is made from an aluminum alloy and it is waterproof and dust proof. The remote also controls a timer for the lights so you can have them on from 2 to 8 hours with one click of the remote. The lights are very bright. I plugged this in and pointed to to the ceiling the kids 2 and 4 loved it. They lay on the bed being mesmerized.
I received this product during a promotion free for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a good review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.
A BLIND GIRL'S TERRIFYING "GIFT" ALLOWS HER TO REGAIN HER EYESIGHT--BUT ONLY AS SHE FERRIES THE RECENTLY DECEASED INTO THE AFTERLIFE.
Loreena Picket thinks she knows herself. A blind young woman who lives with her uncle, a reverend at a small-town church, she's a dutiful niece and talented pianist for the congregation.
But they're both hiding a terrible secret. Loreena can kill people with the touch of her hand.
While her uncle sees her as an angel of mercy, helping usher the terminally ill members of his flock into the afterlife, Loreena has her doubts.
Torn between doing her uncle's bidding and the allure of the fleeting moments when her eyesight returns on the journey to the other side, Loreena cooperates with her uncle until her troubled older brother returns to town. When she reveals her power by saving him from a local drug dealer, she is drawn into a sinister and dangerous world that will test the true nature of her talent and force her to consider how far she is willing to go to survive.
An exciting debut that crosses fantasy and literary fiction, Loreena's Gift is a thought-provoking meditation on life and death and what ultimately lies beyond this world.
Let me start by saying WOW!! This was a great book. I could not put it down, I couldn't sleep needing to know what happened next so got up and read some more.
Loreena has a gift or a curse depends on who you ask. If she touches the palm of hand to your hand you will die. Loreena delivers you to your afterlife.
When Loreena was 9 she lost not only her mother but her sight in a tragic car accident. Her older brother and her went to live with their Uncle Don who is a preacher. When Loreena was around 15 she thought something was wrong with her hands. They always smelled like sulfur no mater how much she washed them. She really did not know about hr gift until one day she took the hand of a friend and he passed away, and she delivered him to his afterlife. Her Uncle Don convinced her to help people who had terminal illnesses. He would set it up and take her.
One day while helping someone her Brother shows up, he has been gone for 3 years after a fight with Uncle Don. In tow is his Girlfriend, who is also the Daughter of the person she had just helped. From there everything in Loreena's life gets turned upside.
Now that you have had a peek into the story you must read this book to find out how everything turns out.
Author's Bio:
Colleen M. Story writes imaginative fiction and is also a freelance writer, instructor, and motivational speaker specializing in creativity, productivity, and personal wellness. Her latest novel, "Loreena’s Gift," was released with Dzanc Books April 12 2016. Her fantasy novel, "Rise of the Sidenah," is a North American Book Awards winner, and New Apple Book Awards Official Selection (Young Adult). She is the founder of Writing and Wellness (writingandwellness.com) a motivational site for writers and other creatives.
3 Ways Essential Oils Make it Easier to Be Creative
I noticed that Teresa has quite a few articles about essential oils here on her lovely blog, so I thought another might be welcome!
I’ve been a health writer for over 17 years, and during that time I’ve learned quite a bit about natural oils and how beneficial they are. There’s a reason we’re seeing more and more of them in skin care products these days—the skin loves them! Even those who have trouble with acne can often use natural oils to enjoy deep hydration and anti-aging benefits.
But today I wanted to focus on three ways that writers (and other creative folks who spend a lot of hours at the computer) can use natural oils to make life just a little bit better.
1. Tend to dry, rough hands.
Writers (and other creatives) rely on their hands for their work. But we often suffer from dry, tight, and rough skin that makes our hands uncomfortable.
Plus who wants hands that look dry? Especially during a book signing! I know women, in particular, are becoming more and more concerned about the condition of their hands, because they can so readily reveal our age—oftentimes even faster than our faces do. Yet it can be tough to know just what to do to make them look better.
Here’s where natural oils can really help. Your standard everyday hand lotions don’t do much. They’re made up of synthetic ingredients that may make your skin feel better for about five minutes, but then you’re right back where you started. (Some even make your skin dryer over time.)
I’ve found that it’s worthwhile to invest a few more dollars in a natural hand cream that contains goodies like jojoba oil, honey, shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, triglycerides, vitamin E, and other similar items. Natural oils tend to penetrate more deeply into the skin and the effects last longer.
Ointments, balms, and butters are also better than lotions, usually. I’ve been using Windrift Hills “Goats ’N Oats” Body Butter lately, and I love it! It’s made with goat’s milk, mango butter, and shea butter, along with natural oils like apricot kernel, coconut, jojoba, and almond. It smells heavenly and works great.
2. Boost focus and creativity.
What we smell can affect how we think and feel. You’ve likely experienced this when detecting an old smell from your childhood, like that of homemade bread or your grandmother’s quilt.
We can use this connection to increase our focus and productivity when we need to. When sitting down to write, for example, a few drops of peppermint, citrus, lavender, basil, or rosemary simmered in a small pot of water on the stove can help get you in the mood to focus and concentrate. Bergamot or frankincense blended with a carrier oil and spritzed in the air (or on your skin if you’re not sensitive) can help relieve stress and get you into that calm, creative mode. Cypress, jasmine, and basil are other good options for creating an atmosphere conducive to creativity. Any of these can work well in a candle diffuser if you want to limit the effects to just one room.
We all need ways to transfer ourselves from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives into the “flow” of creativity. For me, that means getting into the setting where my characters are—literally slipping into another world. In addition to music and rituals (such as making a favorite cup of tea), essential oils offer a great way to open that door.
3. Use them to get a good night’s sleep.
Sleep is extremely important to everyone, but particularly for creative folks.
Recent studies have shown that when we get less than five hours of sleep a night on a regular basis, our risk increases for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and more. Some studies have even found that chronic insomnia can take years off our lives.
Creative people need that good night’s sleep even more. Think about it. If you don’t get much sleep, you can probably still clean the house or cook a meal or drive to work. But just try sitting down to a blank page and creating something new. Your eyes will droop and you’ll find it more of a struggle than a joy.
Essential oils can help you relax and fall asleep. Lavender is a favorite for this purpose, but ylang ylang, vetiver, chamomile, cedarwood, bergamot, and sandalwood are also good options. Try these methods of application:
Mix a few drops with your favorite carrier oil (like coconut, almond, or jojoba) and then rub on the back of your neck before sleep, or use as a massage oil.
Try a cold-air essential oil diffuser, like this one. Don’t use a heated diffuser when going to sleep to reduce risk of fire damage.
Add a few drops to a warm bath before bed.
Add a drop or two to a cotton ball and place near your pillow before sleep.
Please let us know if you have other ways to use essential oils to encourage creativity!
Book Trailer:
Giveaway:
Prizes:
Win a signed copy of Loreena’s Gift. One winner will also get a $15 Amazon GC (Open int’l)
When reporter Sherry Wilson-Wong wakes up in bed with ballet bad-boy Alexi Davydenko, she knows she’s crossed the line. But the dancer with the body of Apollo and the panty-removing stare wasn’t talking, so what choice did she have? Playing his little drinking game – a shot and a kiss for every answer - seemed like the perfect way to loosen his sexy lips. She gets her story, he gets his fun, win-win. But his answers only lead to more questions. And Alexi wants more than fun.
Investigating into the ballet company’s shadowy secrets, Sherry learns that the beauty on stage masks ugly dealings, some of which seem to bear Alexi’s signature. But the more truths she exposes, the more lies she is forced to tell herself.
That digging up dirt on a company with ties to the Russian mob isn’t dangerous. That licking every inch of Alexi’s naked body while hunting down evidence of his guilt isn’t a conflict of interest. That with each touch, each kiss, she isn’t falling deeper in love with the very man who could destroy her.
Alexi put his mug down and stood in front of her, tilting her face up with one hand. “Yes, I must rehearse, and yes, you must write. But there is no need to run away like a scared little girl from the wolf.” He bent down to kiss her.
Sherry wanted that kiss more than she wanted her Venti skim latte, and with her throbbing head, that was a lot. But she put her hand on his bare chest, stopping him.
He looked at her, confusion dawning in his eyes, followed quickly by hurt. He stepped back. “Oh. I see. You have your story now.” His voice was cold.
“It’s not like that,” she said. Was this just a case of bruised ego, or was he genuinely hurt? She flashed back to what the bartender said about the type of girls Alexi normally brought to the bar. Party girls, he said.
“So what is it like?” He turned away from her, looking out the window.
She reached out a hand to put it on his shoulder, the one with the tattoo of Tolstoy’s face on it, but thought better of it. “Look, Alexi. I’ve already crossed more ethical boundaries than I’m comfortable with.”
“To get your story.” His voice was flat, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Hey, it’s my job to get the story. I came ready to interview you like I interview all my subjects. The vodka, the kisses, that was your game.”
He turned suddenly, his green gaze pinning her. She couldn’t look away. “You didn’t want to play?”
“No. I mean, yes. I did…” she started.
He moved closer to her, his hand cupping her jaw. “I know you did. I think you still want to,” he whispered, his breath warm on her cheek. His lips touched hers, softly at first, questioning. When she parted her lips in response, he opened them wider, reaching for her tongue with his. Liquid. Melting. From her mouth all the way down to her softest, most private parts.
He pulled back slightly. “Do you want to play, Sherry?”
She was having a hard time regulating her breath. He was so close. She put her hands on his chest, but not to hold him back. She ran her hands over his chest, nipples hard under her palm, then down over the ridges of his abs. She hooked her fingers into his waistband pulling him toward her in response to his question. She wanted to play any game he had in mind as long as it involved what was under his pants, ethics be damned.
“Yes,” she said.
Hazel Hughes is a contemporary erotic romance writer and urban nomad. Born in London, Hazel has lived all over the globe, from the wilds of Northern Ontario and the cornfields of Iowa to the concrete jungles of Seoul and Abu Dhabi. Currently, she is living in New York, writing from wherever there is strong coffee and funky beats. When she’s not laying down steamy scenes on the page, you can find her whipping up hot and spicy concoctions in the kitchen or dancing to the beat of her own drummer.
When a wall of their cave hideout crumbles, three boys discover a skeleton, clutching a treasure map. They set off to trace the story of an old murder, but stumble into a modern crime, and confront ancient Chinese dragons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
The earth quivered. Then, like a lightning bolt, a crack shot up through the ground. Rocks and dirt crashed down, pelting their heads and shoulders. Sam grabbed Joey’s arm and Roger’s shirt and scrambled from inside the cave, pushing them ahead.
Outside, they landed in a heap. When the earth settled into place, they rolled onto their backs, sucking air and panting.
“Okay, that’s it,” Roger said. “This is one mean mountain. And it’s trying to squash all of us. I’m going home.”
“You get no argument here,” Sam said. “I’ll get our gear.” He edged toward the cave and grabbed Joey’s backpack. Roger’s backpack straps stuck up from the pile of rocks, but Sam couldn’t find his at all. He switched on Joey’s flashlight and aimed the beam at the heap of rocks and dirt.
Inside, where a solid wall once stood, was a hole, and behind that hole was another cave. “What the ... ?” He blinked, and then looked again. “Hey! You guys got to see this!”
“No way am I going near that cave,” Roger said, and he backed away.
Sam poked his head inside to get a better look. He swung his leg over a boulder. “Wait here, then,” he said, glancing back.
Joey jumped up. “Don’t even think you’re going in there without me. I’m coming. And so’s Roger.”
“I don’t—” Roger didn’t have a chance to dodge away from Joey’s grasp.
“Move it.” Joey pushed Roger ahead of him. Roger was bigger in all directions, but Joey had the attitude that let him get his way. It also landed him in major trouble almost all the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
C. Lee McKenzie has a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
I'd like to highlight the fact that I always have a free ebook (a different one every few months) available on my website for visitors. http://cleemckenziebooks.com
We live in a very rural area of a National Forest and it is very Dark at night. I really lie having path lights so I can see to leave the house or when we come home. This is a set of 10 solar lights. I really love the solar lights. I felt like I was replacing batteries all the time with the old ones that ran on regular batteries.
These do come with the battery included and already installed. There is a switch under the globe you do have to flip to on to make them work. They come with a bit of a charge already in them when I turned one on as I took it out of the box. These lights can be placed anywhere you want them, but they do have to be able to be in the direct sun at least 4 to 8 hours of the day for them to charge. Everything needed is inside the box to get these up in going. Just take them out of the box slide the post pieces together to the light and the pointed in and gently push into the ground. You are done.
We have a sidewalk from the gate to my porch it is only about 10 feet but it is very dark in that area. I put 5 lights on each side of the sidewalk and it really has helped. The lights do not light up the area around them very far but it is more then enough to know where I am walking at night.
I received this product during a promotion free for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a good review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.
My husband is Maintenance Lead where he works. He is climbing in and out of very large and dark machines all day fixing what is broken and also doing preventive maintenance. He has to have a good flashlight. It has to be small as well since it is a tight fit inside of the machinery. These lights are great for him. They are extremely bright and small. He really likes that they are also telescopic so he can pin point the beam of light to where he needs it most.
These flashlights will work with 3 AAA batteries which are not included. They also work with a 18650 rechargeable battery, which is also not included. We chose the rechargeable batteries as they do last longer and he has a charger at work so he can charge the battery over night for the next day. He does keep one of the flashlights at home as well so he can use it around the house and never has to worry about forgetting the flashlight at home.
The barrel of these flashlights are tough, they are made of an aluminium alloy. The lights have 5 modes to them, High, Medium, Low Beam, Strobe and SOS function. So they are perfect for pretty much every situation, including emergencies.
I received this product on a promotional discount for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a good review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.
