PRETTY follows Bebe Baker, a young woman coming to terms with her boyfriend’s death and her rocky journey to sobriety. Bebe is an ex-everything: ex-stripper, ex-Christian, ex-drug addict, ex-pretty girl. It’s been one year since the car accident that killed her boyfriend left her scarred and shaken. Flanked by an eccentric posse of friends, she is serving out a self-imposed sentence at a halfway house, while trying to finish cosmetology school. Amid the rampant diagnoses, over-medication, compulsive eating, and acrylic nails of Los Angeles, Bebe looks for something to believe in before something – her past, the dangerously magnetic men in her life, her own bad choices – knocks her off course again.

My Thoughts

Pretty is a book I won’t soon forget. Bebe is not someone to pity, but rather someone to watch. All her life she has been searching for who she is. She has been born again and again and is ever hopeful that one day it will stick.

Except for the ex-everything et al., I completely relate to Bebe. Who hasn’t thought about how their life should have been, could have been, should be, could be. Bebe is all about hope. She never loses hope even when she thinks it is all hopeless.

This is not a book about the privileged or the semi-privileged nor is it about the under-privileged. Pretty is about finding one’s way in life, regardless of the path we choose. One wrong turn does not mean game over. There is always another road just waiting to be taken.

About the Author

Jillian Lauren is a performer, writer and author of the New York Times bestseller Some Girls: My Life in a Harem and has an MFA from Antioch University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Weezer bassist, Scott Shriner and their son.

Bonus:

The first 250 people on 9/7 to order “Pretty” on Amazon, and email the receipt to pretty.the.book@gmail.com, will receive a Limited Edition run of the “Pretty” necklace, made by FairyTaleJewels.com.

Win It!

Win your own copy of Pretty by Jillian Lauren.

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter this giveaway.

Giveaway will end on September 14, 2011 at Midnight EST and is open to residents of the U.S., 18 years of age or older. Winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email. Additionally, I will post the winner’s name on my site in a separate post on or around September 16, 2011. Winner will have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I would not tell you something was wonderful if I did not truly believe it so. Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information. I received a copy of Jillian Lauren’s book ‘Pretty ‘ courtesy of Global Influences for the purposes of this review.

Review & Giveaway – Pretty: A Novel by Jillian Lauren is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Spreading the Buzz of the Holiday Season

Today I want to introduce you to a very special French Bulldog otherwise known as Sweet Pea the Bumble Bee.

Sweet Pea shares her message to “Bee” yourself no matter what you do. Beautifully illustrated with original images of Sweet Pea herself in various holiday inspired and message worthy poses. I especially love the one with the various cans of ‘sweet peas’.

This is truly a sweet book to share with children of all ages. The message is simple yet worth repeating again and again. The photographs of Sweet Pea will charm you and warm the heart of even the hardest critic. I only wish I had young children to share this sweet book with while watching their expressions and seeing the smiles form on their faces.

The Book Sweet Pea The Bumble bee is very inspirational and unique for all ages. Each page has a wonderful positive message, alongside an original photograph with Sweet Pea capturing the true meaning. With wit and humor, the readers mind is charged with creativity and inspired to have a positive outlook on life. Readers will find Sweet Pea The Bumble Bee very motivating while entertaining them as they turn from page to page to see what Sweet Pea will ‘Bee’ telling them next.

This book conveys many wonderful lessons in life, but most importantly to ‘BEE YOURSELF!’

Photographed by Gabriel & Tiffany Bressan Corbett and co-authored by Tiffany Bressan Corbett & Courtney Noelle. And of course, the star herself is Sweet Pea, Gabriel & Tiffany’s beloved French Bulldog.

My mother was very fond of angels. She must have had well over a hundred in and around her home. I even gave her 3 to represent my 3 kids (her grandchildren). This particular passage from Sweet Pea made me think of her:

Bee an Angel!

Angels guide your heart
and thoughts to do the right thing.
Spread your wings
and reveal to the world your kindness.
BEE AN ANGEL.

Great Gift Idea: Sweet Pea’s books are available for $14.99 or get a Paw Graph copy (autographed) for $19.99. Buy all three books for $30

Win Your Own Copy of Sweet Pea the Bumble Bee

Giveaway Rules:

Mandatory entry:

Like Sweet Pea on Facebook
OR
Follow @sweetpeabumbleb on Twitter

Please complete the form below to enter this giveaway.

If you have problems with the form, please send me an email with your information [be sure to include ReadyLeash Giveaway in your email] and I will manually add your information to the form according to the time stamp on the email.

Giveaway will end on December 20, 2010 at Midnight EST and is open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older. Winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email. Additionally, I will post the winner’s name on my site in a separate post on December 21, 2010. Winner will have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Review & Giveaway: Sweet Pea the Bumble Bee {closed} is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

I always said having a dog is like having a kid.

There are doctor visits (shots, illness, accidents), food & treats, toys, and lots and lots of love. Except for the love, none of this comes without its cost. And with so many of us feeling the tightening of our financial belts, many are having to give up their beloved family pets to shelters, or worse. In cases of high-cost operations or treatments, many are turning to euthanasia.

There are ways you can afford to keep your pet and avoid these heartbreaking alternatives.

Barkonomics

Paris and John have a long history of frugal living, starting with their marriage and the  launch of their writing business in 1986. Paris graduated from college with double degrees in Economics and Accounting (followed by graduate school, then a few years of teaching Economics) then the couple turned their attention to freelance writing, specializing in leisure and business travel.

Lifetime dog lovers, John and Paris launched DogTipper.com in 2008, highlighting tips for dog lovers with additional sections including dog news, dog-centric festivals, celebrity canines, pet product reviews, Dog of the Day, dog rescue, and more.

tips for frugal fidos

Did you know you may be able to fill your pet’s prescription at your local drugstore? And before you make those heartworm pill and flea & tick remedy purchases online speak with your vet. Make sure you are getting the same quality online. Your vet may even price match.

How would you like to make your favorite puppy some very special homemade treats? There’s a recipe for that and it’s in Barkonomics.

I especially like the way Paris and John got one of their finicky eaters to give a dog food a second chance; she loved it!

Learn how to re-purpose or create your own doggie beds, toys, and more.

Then there is the section on understanding pet insurance, figuring out what is best suited for your pet’s needs, and weighing the costs.

Paris and John combine all of their years of pet ownership and frugal living experience and put it an easy to read, easy to follow format to help you save money while still giving your pet everything they needs and some of those special things you just want for them.

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Barkonomics is available for $9.95 at Amazon.com. You can even get a sneak peak before you buy.

Then be sure to follow Paris & John on Twitter and on Facebook.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Please read my <a href=”http://anneonlife.com/about-2/terms-of-service/#Disclosure” target=”_blank”>Disclosure Policy</a> for more information.

Review: Barkonomics, tips for frugal fidos is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

25 Days of Christmas, 25 Deals in 25 Days!

But if you are like my husband and can’t bring yourself to read anything longer than a magazine article, then audiobooks may be more your thing. Simply Audiobooks is offering some great deals just in time for the holidays:

Nov. 24. 2009 — 30% Off Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Nov. 25. 2009 — Free media mail shipping

Nov. 26. 2009 — 25% Off all James Patterson audio books

Nov. 27. 2009 (Black Friday)*— 40% Off all Harry Potter audio books

Nov. 28. 2009 — 10% Off all purchases

Nov. 29. 2009 — Win your purchase free

Nov. 30. 2009 (Cyber Monday)*— 25% Off all purchases

Save even more and make sure you shop through a site that gives back: ShopAtHome (4%), Cashbaq (10%) are all highly recommended.

Don’t want to buy. Why not rent instead?

Think of Simply Audiobooks as Netflix for books [that you listen to instead of read]. For as little as $15 a month you can listen to over 11,000 audio titles. This makes a great gift, too. Sign up for the 15-day free trial and see if Simply Audiobooks is for you. And remember, there are no commitments. Pay by the month or a year in advance. If you decide you are no longer interested just cancel your membership. If you paid in advance, Simply Audiobooks will reimburse you for any unused months.

Why not give the gift of books to someone you love this year. And give them a whole new world to explore.

**Disclosure statement: Affiliate links used for ShopAtHome, Cashbaq, & Simply Audiobooks.  If you sign up through one of my links I benefit according to the affiliate terms of each site.

Great Deals for the [Audio]Book Lover on Your List is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Right now BookCloseOuts.com is having a sale on their massive stock of kids books.  Search by category, author, age, grade, series, format, or price.  They now have all of your favorite Disney titles, too.

And when you are done shopping for all those great reads for you kiddies, why not check out what is available for you!  What interests you?  Romance novels, poetry, sci-fi, or maybe cookbooks or self-help is your thing.  I can spend hours checking out what is available and then I just add to my collection.  But, I love books.  A house can never have too many books.  DH would beg to differ.

BookCloseOuts.com Kid's Books Sale is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010