Wednesday Sponsor Giveaways: Studio Calico, Shabby Straps, Simplify 101, & Songbird Ave
Studio Calico • one person will take home the fabulous April kit
For more from Studio Calico be sure to check out their blog + galleries.
Shabby Straps• one person will receive a camera strap & one person a wrist strap
ShabbyStraps offers you a fun and unique way to accessorize your SLR/DSLR camera and your point & shoot camera. ShabbyStraps are all made of the highest quality to ensure the safety of your camera. Each strap is extra thick and comfortable to wear for the shutterbug hobbyist or professional. Whether you are in the mood for polka dots, paisleys or stripes, ShabbyStraps has you covered!

Simplify 101 • one person will receive a spot in the online workshop Organize Your Paper Clutter with Aby Garvey
Paper, paper everywhere! That paper mountain growing on your countertop
represents a loss of freedom, a loss of control, and a nagging feeling
in your gut that something important isn’t getting attended to. Your
paper, and the feelings it creates, makes it hard to relax, focus or
even have fun.
Here’s
the good news: there is a better way! With the right paper organizing
systems in place—those created with you, your paper, and your home in
mind—you can free yourself from paper clutter and the stress that comes
along with it. In Organize Your Paper Clutter, you’ll learn a
step-by-step process on how to decide if you need a piece of paper (and
for how long!) and how to organize it so you’ll find it again right
when you need it! Your piles (and your stress!) will be replaced by
organizing systems you love, and feelings of confidence, relief and
peace of mind!
Start date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
End date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Registration status: open!
Read more specific details for the workshop here.
Songbird Ave • 5 Bloom & Grow digital kits
This month I am excited to announce that I have teamed up with Songbird Ave and their talented team of designers to create a kit with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks in honor of Autism Awareness Month. The huge kit, including 5 exclusive layered templates, is $8 and can be purchased/downloaded here.

To be entered into today's drawing leave a comment below sharing your favorite book (or a good one you recommend). Comments will be closed at 8pm Pacific with the winner's posted shortly after.




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2076 comments
I haven't made the time to read in a while. I'd have to say an eternal favorite, even though it's a childrens book is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
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On my nightstand since the beginning of the year is the Simple Abundance book. It is a book which inspires daily reflection, and encourages you to take notice of all things within your life, big and small, and to be grateful for them. Love it!
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My favorite book in my lifetime is Anne of Green Gables, and all the sequels beyond. But there are so many good books I have read lately. I started a book club 7 years ago, and we have read lots of fabulous books.
Water for Elephants
1000 White Women
The Glass Castle
Bel Canto
The Year of Wonders
Blackbird House (short stories)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Peace Like a River
Those Who Save Us
Sorry, Ali, I know you just ask for one, but I couldn't stop!
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I HIGHLY recommend ANY of the Suzanne Brockmann Troubleshooter series. They are HOT!!! Nothing intellectual or with deep meaning, but wow what a good, easy read they are! Also Julia Quinn for a feel-good-laugh-out-loud historical romance. You know, for that matter Suzanne Elizabeth Phillips and her Chicago Stars are pretty good too! Guess I enjoy getting away in a good book!
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My current favorite is The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. A little sad, but so so good!
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I loved Water for Elephants and the Secret Life of Bees.
For little children, my current favorite is A Diary of a Worm...HYSTERICAL!!!
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Hi Ali,
difficult question, i love books, so there are many. Ok then... i recommend the books of Karen Dinino and Linda Woods because they take you into journaling and scrapping memories in a different way. Visual Chronicles and Journal Revolution.
Hedwig
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I just finished reading December by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop ...
http://www.amazon.com/December-Elizabeth-Hartley-Winthrop/dp/0307268306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238590238&sr=1-1
It's about a girl who just decides to stop speaking. Very different from what I've been reading lately. I'd definately recommend it.
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Loved the Friday Night Knitting Club....could almost make me want to start knitting. Oh but theer is no room for more supplies:)
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I have read FIREPROOF. It was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.
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Loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan -- love learning about different cultures -- beautiful tale of friendship , love and loyalty
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Sadly, I'm in a dry spell in the reading department right now. I'm looking forward to long days poolside in the summer with some good books. I'm getting ready to start The Alchemist for my neighborhood book club. I'm hopeful that's a good one!
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I don't have a favorite book. I am constantly reading, so my favorite is always just the most recent good book that I have read! Just finished "Walt Disney: An American Original" by Bob Thomas. I'll be looking at these entries for my next read.
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Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. it is INCREDIBLE.
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Blue Like Jazz. . . this isn't a new release or anything - but it's what i'm reading now - and it's wonderful. Also, The Red Tent has been a long-time favorite. If you're wanting some throw-back reading. . . the Donna Parker series makes me smile lots and lots. . .
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I like the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum Series (One for the Money etc.) I can relate to the Kookyiness of the family and character. I find myself laughing out loud as I read these series.
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I loved Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. Other recent faves include The Shack and The Twilight series.
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I have many favorite books for many different reasons. For life,the Bible. For my pleasure, anything Mary Higging Clark and I am starting to get into Lisa Jackson's books. For my girls anything Suess, Love you Forever(I cry at this one!) or Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
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It has to be Mauve Binchy's book Tara Road. It goes through the struggles of young love...coupledom... young families and the relationship struggles that go with it all....When I was done I was still wondering what was happening with the characters...NOW THAT IS A GOOD BOOK!!!
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I have had a recent craze for space and all things space-related. Moondust, Too Far From Home, Riding Rockets and Two Sides of the Moon are all books I would recommend. So far my favourite of the lot has been Too Far From Home, it's beautifully written (by a journalist) about the astro/cosmonauts who ended up stuck on International Space Station after the Challenget disaster. I don't know where the urge to read about space travel came from, but so far it's treating me very, very well!
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