What single exercise helps slow the aging process, increases metabolism, strengthens your immune system and reduces cellulite in just a few minutes a day?
Rebounding!
I’ve been rebounding for a few years now and LOVE it.
Enter to Win a New KINDLE FIRE by Spreading the Word About NEVER SMILE AT STRANGERS
Enter to win a new Kindle Fire (Wi-Fi, Full Color 7″ Multi-Touch Display) simply by “liking” the Never Smile at Strangers Facebook page between August 29 and September 2–and leaving a comment on ANY thread that mentions this Kindle Fire giveaway.
It’ll take you approximately five seconds and you’ll automatically earn one entry! 
WANT MORE ENTRIES?
To get more (or MANY more) entries, there are several simple things you can do between August 29 and September 2. Please note, though, that some of these activities are date-specific.
You can do one or more of the following:
September 1-September 2
1) Purchase Never Smile at Strangers for $2.99 (Kindle copies are free on 8/29 and 8/30, then revert to $2.99; paperback copies are as low as $9.32) for yourself OR a friend (+10 entries for each copy bought).
(Send a copy of your receipt here to get your entry credits.)
2) “Gift” a copy to a friend (or multiple friends). (You’ll get +10 entries multiplied by the number of gifts you give. For example, if you give 4 gifts, you’ll earn an additional forty entries. Note: To ensure you get the proper credit for these gifts, simply forward your receipts to this email address.
August 29-September 2
(It’s important that the following activities take place on these dates.)
1) “Share” this contest on your Facebook profile. (+5 entries)
2) Recommend Never Smile at Strangers to your friends on Goodreads (+3 entries)
3) Share this contest on your personal blog (+3 entries)
4) Re-Pin Never Smile at Strangers on Pinterest (+2 entries)
5) Send me a “friend request” on Goodreads (+2 entries)
6) “Friend” me on Facebook (+2 entries)
7) Tweet about the contest (+1 entry)
g+1 this Post (+1 entry)
SAMPLE POSTS
Sample Post #1:
John Doe: Please enter me to win! (John will receive one entry)
Sample Post #2
Jane Doe: I’m entered 6 times! Here are the things I did: I bought a Kindle download of Never Smile at Strangers for my mom (3 entries), plus I mentioned the contest on my Facebook page (3 entries). Whoo hoo! I hope I win the new Kindle fire! =)
HOLD UP. WHERE DO I ENTER AGAIN?
Simply add a comment to any thread that mentions the contest.
WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY LIKED THE FACEBOOK PAGE?
Just leave a comment & you’ll be entered to win.
CONFUSED?
Don’t worry if you’re confused by what to do and when.
Each morning, while the contest is active, I’ll post the activities for that particular day. So, for instance, if you earn entries today and then realize you want more entries on September 2, all you have to do is check the Facebook page for what activities are still available, then send me a fresh comment letting me know what your new entry total is.
Still confused? Send me a question in the contest thread.
I promise to answer it promptly.
CONTEST DURATION
This contest opens on Wednesday, August 29 and closes on September 2, midnight (ET).
WINNER ANNOUNCED
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 4.
KINDLE FIRE SHIPPED
The Kindle Fire will be shipped on September 5 and should reach the lucky recipient by September 7.
Thanks–and good luck!!
Filed under Never Smile at Strangers
Raw Chocolate Brownies with Sweet Raspberry Sauce
The first book I bought on raw foods was Jennifer Cornbleet’s “Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People.”
Since then, I’ve bought about 20 more, but still, this is the book that I rely on most often when preparing raw cuisine.
Unlike most of the other books, a majority of these recipes don’t take much time or expensive equipment… and most are DELICIOUS.
When it comes to raw desserts, Cornbleet’s raw chocolate brownies are one of my family’s (including my twin toddlers’) favorites.
And they only take 10-15 minutes to prepare.
They’re also high in valuable antioxidants, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.
Who knew that something that tastes this lovely could also be good for you? Well–as long as you eat them in moderation.
Filed under Raw Food
Sesame Honey Mustard Dip/Dressing
My twin toddlers LOVE fresh veggies, but prefer them with a delicious dressing or dip, so I’m always searching for new, nutritious ones to add to their menu.
Last week, while playing around with ingredients in my kitchen (aka, my CHEMISTRY LAB), I discovered this one.
It’s full-bodied, the perfect mix of tangy and sweet–and has a fun, crunchy texture that the boys LOVE.
It’s also very high in minerals, omega 3 fatty acids and the amino acid, tryptophan.
Filed under Whole Food Recipes
7 Reasons to Eat Quinoa
Never heard of quinoa?
Well, it’s time you did!
First of all, it’s pronounced “keen-wa.” Not “kin-o-aay”… the way I mistakenly pronounced it for months when my husband first introduced me to it.
Often mistaken for a grain, quinoa is actually a seed. In fact, it’s known as a “supergrain”… although still… not a grain.
Go figure. I found this confusing for quite some time.
It’s also delicious–and kids LOVE it. In fact, it’s been an important staple of my ten-month old twin sons’ diet since they were six months old.
I used to puree it into a cereal for them and add blackstrap molasses and organic maple syrup. What resulted was a very nutritious, delicious whole-foods based cereal.
Now, that they’re a little older, I add it to dishes like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beans and peas and carrots and they still love it.
My husband and I eat it quite a bit with sauteed garlic, onions and either raw or lightly steamed mixed vegetables.
One of my favorite quinoa dishes is my quinoa salad. It’s very tasty and extremely nutritious.
If you haven’t tried quinoa before, here are 7 reasons why you should check it out:
- Considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods
- High in fiber (one serving yields 13% of the RDA)
- Provides all 8 essential amino acids (one serving yields 7g/protein)
- Excellent source of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese
- High in vitamins B6, niacin and thiamin
- Superb source of iron
- Gluten- and wheat-free
Quinoa is available at most health food stores and higher end grocery chains. The best deal I’ve found on quinoa is Bob’s Red Mill Organic Grain Quinoa, 26-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) on Amazon.com.
I also use their Subscribe & Save feature and save an additional 15%.
Filed under Whole-Foods Nutrition
The Writing Life with Twin Toddlers
Life is good. . . but INCREDIBLY busy!
The boys outside Daddy's office door.
I’ve been crazy busy with taking care of my unbelievably cool, but challenging, twin two-year-olds, managing the household, getting “Never Smile at Strangers” to market, writing the sequel to it (“Ugly Young Thing”), studying holistic health & nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (which I enrolled in this year before knowing that my novel would take off), working out regularly and making sure that my family gets lots of love and eats a diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods (which means that I prepare 95% of our meals here at home).
I’m also pretty busy marketing the novel so that I actually have sales.
Filed under Twin Mommy
Never Smile at Strangers Hits Kindle’s Bestsellers List Again!
“Never Smile at Strangers” is back on the bestsellers list in Amazon.com’s Kindle Store!
Yep, my little indie.
It’s a dream come true. A big, big dream. . . one I’d pretty much given up on!
Thank God I didn’t.
Filed under Never Smile at Strangers
