And the Winner Is.....

.....Jane from Pinks and Blues Girls Blog! Congratulations, Jane!

Bruce has been traveling for a Barnes and Noble book signing and has not had computer access. As soon as he gets back to me (which I'm guessing will be sometime today), I will announce what the secret treasure is.

If you didn't win, but still would like to own the book Garage Sale America (and who wouldn't?!), you can order it here.

My thanks to Bruce Littlefield for his generosity in sponsoring this contest and for making it so much fun!

He is such an awesome guy and he's lucky he doesn't live near me, or I'd stalk him until he agreed to be my best friend, lol.

Seriously, though, he's a great guy and I feel privileged to have worked with him for this contest. Thanks, Bruce! :)

Treasure Hunt Contest

NOTE: This post will stay at the top of my blog for the next week. Scroll down for my other posts. Thank you!

Update: If you tried to email me by clicking the link in this post and it didn't work, you can manually type in my email address instead: ablondeandherblog AT yahoo DOT com

Also, if you're worried about protecting your identity should you win, you have the option to send your mailing address directly to Bruce (who will not share it with me or anyone else), instead of to me. And I won't be the least bit offended because I am *extremely* protective of my identity as well.



A contest, a contest……yay! I’m so excited to offer this contest and I’m not even going to win anything myself, lol! But I think you all are going to LOVE this and have a lot of fun with it.

Bruce Littlefield, author of the book Garage Sale America (the book that I reviewed here a few weeks ago) has offered to give away an autographed copy of his book to one of you, PLUS one of his garage sale treasures.



Bruce will be hunting for the treasure in a garage sale this Tuesday, with all of you in mind. How cool is that?! I will udpate with information on what the "treasure" will be once he finds it.

(I previously said it was this past Saturday, but was wrong. Apparently, I'm calendar-challenged lately because I also thought his Today show stint for "the things America hoards" was this past Sunday. It's actually Sunday the 29th. Sorry if you Tivo'd the show on Sunday for nothing!)

The treasure will be worth far more than what Bruce pays for it, something he's very good at (as you'll see in the YouTube video below).

All you have to do to enter this contest is go on a fun and easy "treasure hunt" and answer three questions. In order to make this fair, PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENT SECTION! When you find the answers to the three questions, email them to me instead at this address. ( ablondeandherblog AT yahoo DOT com )

If you get the questions correct, I'll enter your name into Random.org, which I'll be using to select the winner (this is only a tool to make sure that selecting the winner is fair and random. Your name is NOT stored at Random.org).

And if you mention this contest on your blog, you'll get a bonus entry! Just put your link either in your email to me or in the comments section.

The contest will run for one week (ending at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, July 17.) I will announce the winner that Tuesday.

Okay, ready to play? Hint: The answers to question 1 and 2 can be found here. The answer to question 3 can be found in the YouTube video below.

Happy hunting! :)

Question #1: How did costume jewelry come to be called "costume jewelry?" (Answer found on the landing page of Garage Sale America's website. Place your cursor over the items pictured there and a box will pop up with fun trivia and tidbits of information).

Question #2: Where is the World’s Largest Garage Sale? (IMPORTANT: We're looking for the LARGEST garage sale, not the longest).

Question #3: In the YouTube video below, what is Amy Robach from the Today show wearing that Bruce says will get her a bad deal at a garage sale?

Garage Sale America

It’s been years since I’ve been to a garage sale, but I still remember the thrill I had when I picked up a stair stepper with a Jane Fonda step aerobics VHS (yes, it’s been that long, lol) for $5. What a steal!

Those memories came flooding back when I received Garage Sale America by Bruce Littlefield to review for Mother Talk’s Blog Tour (Disclaimer: I am not making any money on the sale of this book, or through Amazon).

The book is filled with stories about the author’s adventures in garage sales across the country, as well as tips for how you can make the most out of either hosting a garage sale, or shopping at one.

The book is filled with fun and interesting photos of the author’s finds, along with information on what to look for of value (down to the red rim on the tires of Hot Wheel’s vehicles).

Littlefield's writing style flows so well that I found myself reading more than I had planned to each night (I was reading two books at once and many nights never got to the other book because I was so captivated by his writing.)

I brought the book with me when I got my hair done recently and showed it to my stylist. She was just as taken in as I was by the photos and prose and sat down on her break to read it. Unlike me, she avidly seeks out garage sales every weekend, so the book had a huge appeal to her.

Even if you haven’t or won’t be going to a garage sale, the facts, photos and tidbits of information are so fascinating that you’ll wish you were heading to a sale right after you finish reading. I know I want to try to get to one now, even though I'm not a morning person (which appears to be essential to successful garage saling).

Check it out, and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Mamasource - A Review

The following is a website review for MotherTalk's Blog Tour.



Imagine a large circle of local moms, gathered together to ask questions, give advice, share tips, and more without ever having to leave their living rooms. That is the concept behind Mamasource, a unique website created for mothers.

Unlike other websites for mothers (at least ones that I’m aware of), Mamasource focuses on community…..YOUR community. When you register (for free) you simply type in your zip code and voila! You have a network of moms living near you at your fingertips.

Loved a visit you had a to a pediatrician? You can post a recommendation so that other mothers can benefit from your experience. Want to find out where other mothers have enjoyed having their children’s birthday parties? You’ll find that information, too.

You can sign up for email updates and see what questions moms near you may be asking, and if you know the answer or have a good suggestion, just log in and post. If you have your own questions, on anything from toilet training, to adolescent angst, you’re free to post that as well.

Here's a description of the site right from "the source:"

Mamasource is a safe and easy way to connect with other moms in your local area. Find the advice, referrals and insight you need, in a supportive community of moms helping moms.

I really enjoy Mamasource simply because of the close-knit community of moms. I’m sure many wonderful friendships will develop between moms who would’ve otherwise been complete strangers. Never before have I come across a site that has this local, homey angle to it.

If you’re a mom, head on over and check out Mamasource. And if you know a mom who could benefit from such a site, share the link with her, too. Enjoy!

Book Review - Late Night Talking

The following is a book review for MotherTalk's Blog Tour.



When I received an invitation to review Leslie Schnur’s new book Late Night Talking, I was very intrigued. As a lot of my friends and readers know, the subject of judging others was a hot topic here on my blog not that long ago. So when I heard that the main character in this book (Jeannie Sterling) was a judgmental behavior cop, I knew I was going to enjoy this read.

The difference between Jeannie and “real life” behavior critics, however, is that you can’t help but love her. She’s coming from a good place in her heart and even learns the hard way that judgmental behavior comes with a price.

Jeannie is a late night talk show host and her program, “Sterling Behavior” deals with pet peeves such as people who leave pee on the toilet seat, litter, cut into the front of a long line, don’t clean up their dog’s poop, and other irritating behaviors.

Quick to chastise such anti-etiquette criminals, Jeannie soon finds that her own behavior (of judging others) has an affect on her relationship with others.

How far will Jeannie go with her policing antics? Will she make the changes she needs to salvage friendships, love and family ties? Or will she decide to give her life a complete overhaul to honor who she is?

Read Late Night Talking to find out.

Check out the the author's bio here and scroll down to see "Milo" the dog, who was the inspiration behind "Mouse" in the book.

Mouse, a Beagle/Basset Hound mix is the exact opposite of Jeannie - mischievous and just plain rotten. He not only eats Jeannie's panties, he buries them in her plants, then digs them up again. Plus, he has a poop fetish and loves to roll around in it. But, he's even more lovable than the main character! And everything that the fictional Mouse does, the real-life Milo has actually done himself.

You'll also discover that Schnur wrote the book based on her own "obsession with rude behavior." Click here to read a hilarious list of her pet peeves.

You can click around her site for in-depth information on the book, excerpts, and questions and answers with the author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When it arrived (hardcover edition at that), the cover design alone had me hooked. It’s so beautiful that I want to leave it on my coffee table even though I’m finished with it.

It is a PERFECT chick lit book to take to the beach or pool this summer. In fact, my only regret is that I read it before my pool opened up because it would've been so fun to read it pool-side.

The book has a lighthearted, airy, fun feel to it that goes perfectly with summer. If the thought of being on a beach, sun beaming down on you, pina colada in hand, waves crashing in front of you, with a light breeze blowing your hair, appeals to you, then I promise you'll love this book. It's the literary equivalent to all of that and more.

If you read it, I'd love to hear your comments! Enjoy! :)

Pretty Little Mistakes

Note: I am not being paid for this book review, other than having received a free review copy. I am also not profitting from the sale of any copies.

I found out about this book while flipping through my Redbook magazine a few weeks ago. I went to buy it online and found it wouldn't be available until May 1 (this was back in April). So, being a writer, I decided to contact the publisher (Harper Collins) for a review copy, figuring I'd write a review of the book here and try to pitch it to a few magazines as well.

Just a few days after contacting them, a "pretty little package" came by UPS. It was the book. And it really is indeed pretty! I am in LOVE with this book!!

I think the author's bio is very compelling and will inspire other writers out there, so I will be writing a separate post on her in the next few days.



You might be a crack whore, a volcanologist, a thief, married-to-the-mob, or any other number of crazy idenities. The one thing you won't be when reading Heather McElhatton's Pretty Little Mistakes is bored.

Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books you read as a kid? Well, for the first time ever, there's now such a book for adults.

Do you go home with the kind German stranger you just met in a bar? Do you invest in a stock that might get you arrested for insider trading? Or do you kiss a man that you love, but are repulsed by because of his deformed face?

So many pretty little choices. 150 possible endings to be exact. But, the one decision I keep finding myself facing is, "Do I finally put this book down and go to sleep, or do I keep reading?" (I usually keep reading)

Be forewarned: it is not for those who are easily offended. Throughout most of the book you will be a total whore. A sense of humor is definitely needed to enjoy the book. If you're an uptight prude, you'll want to pass.

Fortunately for me, I am not a prude, so I was able to get a good laugh....over and over again.

The book is perfect for when you need to kill a little bit of time, such as a doctor's waiting room. You might go from college to being dead within ten minutes, so you can read it in easily digested little chunks.

Just like a computer game where you can save and do a "re-do" if you die, this book allows you to see what your fate would have been had you taken one or several different paths.

I found the best method for reading it is to bookmark each page where you have to make a choice. As you end your journey, go back to the last bookmark and take the other road and see where it leads you. Keep doing that again and again until you get back to where you started. Then, start on another new path all over again.

No matter what decision you make, and no matter how awful your fate is (I've died in several ways so far- choking on a peach pit, mistaking sharks for dolphins, and being run over by an ice cleaning machine at an ice rink), you will LYAO!

Want proof? Take a look at this little excerpt for a taste of McElhatton's type of humor:

The dry cleaners is run by a small albino called the Tomato Man. He's no more than four feet tall and he sits on a small padded stool as he runs the register. He's called the Tomato Man because of his chubby cheeks and the fact that his fingers are alway bright red from the pistachio nuts he eats. You ask for your laundry and he frowns at the ticket. "I got your order in the back - one of those dresses had a stain so bad they sent it out for special treatment." The he sighs and looks down at his legs. "You mind stepping back there to get it?"

So just what does the Tomato Man have planned for you back there? You'll have to read to find out. :)

My Little One...

We've all had a little virus going on around here. Matthew had it, I had it last night, and now Natalie seems to have it. I was very nauseated last night, my throat felt like someone shoved a meat grinder into it, and I had a low-grade fever. Today, I'm much better.

Natalie, however, is worrying me to death. As most of my friends know, she has ketoacidosis. (Natalie's ketoacidosis is a rare, non-diabetic form, but just as dangerous as diabetic ketoacidosis. The cause is different, but the symptoms are the same.)

Usually, I know by now what to do with her. When she becomes listless like she is right now, with dark circles under her eyes and is really out of it and sick to her stomach, we'll find high ketones in her urine.

But, she only has a very small fever and no ketones. She's on the verge of vomitting and that's always when we knew to head to the hospital before. But now, without any ketones showing up, I don't know what to do.

I have two other children and I know they can get really out of it when they're sick. But with Natalie, it's just different. It's hard to put into words.

I'm by her side right now keeping a close watch on her. If she starts to vomit, I guess I'll call her pediatrician on call and ask if I should take her to the hospital or not. I'm afraid maybe my ketone strips aren't working for some reason.

I'll update when I can, and, just so you all won't have to bother leaving more comments feeling sorry for me (I hate being a whiner and I don't want anyone to feel like they have to keep leaving me comments on posts like these. It must be really annoying to leave those constantly!), I'm turning comments off on this post.

I have a fun post up just below this one....so don't feel sorry for me and go ahead and have a laugh at that other post! :)