Love My Nook

I know, I know, I told some of you that I didn't understand why you would have an ereader. Let me just say that I am ok eating those words.

Let me explain how my view changed...

I love to read. I read in the tub, I read in the evenings when there is nothing on TV, I read on a Saturday morning when everyone else is asleep. I love to read.

That said, I hate going to the library. The branch closest to us is housed in the high school. That's a great idea, but doesn't work very well. The public can only go on from 4-9pm. These are not very convienient hours for me. This is homework time, dinner time, prep for the next day time...not library time. If, by chance, I can make it during these hours, the selection is very limited. It is a high school library, after all. So, browsing is not very fun. Yes, I can get online at home, choose my book, have it transferred, yadda yadda, but that's not very fun either.

I love a bookstore. I love to go to Barnes and Noble and look at all the tables. I love to see what's new. I love to.read the jackets of books to see it that book interests me. This tends to cost me a lot of money. When I find a book worth reading I want to buy it right then. I don't have the patience to wait for the paperback version. So, I tend to have a lot of money invested in hardbacks that I only read one time.

Then enter ereaders. I tell people that I don't understand the point...just read a real book. Until I do a bit of research. I decide to research the 2 leading ereaders, Nook and Kindle. I find out that Kindle is supported by Amazon, which I rarely use, and Nook is supported by Barnes and Noble, which I love! I do a bit more research and discover the Nook is compatible with our local library! This means that I can log on to the library at home and download a book to my Nook and read for free! Then, the book will disappear after 3 weeks...just like checking out a physical book from the library. I also discover that ebooks are anywhere from $10 to $15. This is considerably less than the $30 I have been paying for books.

So, I asked for my Nook for Mothers Day and have been loving it ever since. To this point, I have been buying ebooks (which I usually get for free using my Swagbucks, but that is a different post altogether). Today, however, I sat at the computer long enough to figure out how to download from the public library. I just started reading Somewhere Inside, downloaded this morning.

So, all that to say, I changed my view because of the money I can save using an ereader. I chose the Nook because it is compatible with my public library...and I love B&N!

Well, back to my Nook. Have to finish the book before it disappears and heads back to the public library!

If You're Not, You Should!

If you have not started earning Swagbucks, you should.

Swagbucks is a search engine. With every 5th or so search, you earn Swagbucks. Accumulate Swagbucks and trade them in on free stuff.

Seriously, its ALL free!

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Easter Egg Craft

I am the coordinator of our neighborhood Easter Party. Every year we do a craft, decorate eggs, decorate cookies and hunt for eggs.

Last year, I thought I found the perfect egg coloring activity. It ended up being a HUGE mess!

This year, I am using this activity. I just had my children be my guinea pigs and it worked perfectly!

I think this activity will be a huge hint with children and parents alike.

Need a Fabulous Christmas Present?

Now that December has rolled around, you are probably starting to think about Christmas.

I just want to take a moment to remind you of the fabulous bags that I have come to love. Miche Bags are perfect for any one in your life that carries a purse.

Please contact me at Miche Girls and I would be glad to talk to you about the bag. I would love to help you choose the perfect new bag and shells for someone on your Christmas list!

Wild Olive Tee Winner

I just won this giveaway! A Wild Olive Tee!! I am so excited! Those 3 precious girls picked my name out of the hat!

So cool!

I think I will be using it as a Christmas gift!

Thanks Michelle!

New Business Cards

I recently won a blog giveaway.

Believe it or not, it is one that I did not bog about! However, I wanted to tell you about it now because the service was great as was the final product!

I won 500 free business cards from UPrinting.com.

So, I designed a card in photoshop and uploaded my file.

I received a huge box just a few days later!

I love the final product!

What a great prize to win for a company that is just starting out!

Miche Big Bag Inside

I have been asked a few times to show the inside of the new Miche Big Bag, so here it is...

The pictures DO NOT do it justice. I snapped these quickly for people to see, but the photos are by no means professional! Just believe me when I say it is spacious and organized and beautiful!

The dimensions of the bag are 15 side to side, 12 tall and 6 deep.

Let me know if you are interested in knowing more about the Big Bag or any other Miche Products. You can see all the products I have in stock at my Miche Girls website.

Joey Purse Organizer Giveaway

At Helping Mommys Win, she is giving away a Joey Purse Organizer.

Wouldn't this be a great addition to the Miche Big Bag!

Go check it out! Great stuff!

Miche Girls!

Check out these great new shells!

The Big Bag is due out in the next month, so if you have been holding out for that...the wait is almost over!

Lastly, my partner and I are working on getting our own website! I will let you know when it is up and running...

(btw, if you have no idea what I am talking about, check it out here. Just remember, this is not my site, if you are interested in purchasing a bag and shells, you can contact me at cbowren at michebagshows dot com. I will ship anywhere!)

Pimpin' the Park

How cute is this precious button?

Christine made it so people like me could tell people like you about her great family's new adventure!

Go check it out!

I wish I were half the woman she is!!

My New Ride

Hubby got tired of pouring money into my previous car. This is what I got instead of an oil change and a tire rotation...

E-Party Follow Up

Sorry it has been so long...

Head to Kaylee's blog to see what freebies I got.

Please consider hosting a party. Both of the Plum Precious Families have been effected by the economy...both husbands laid off. They need income. It really is easy on the hostess. Please leave a comment if you are willing to host a party and get great products in return.

Come To My E-Party!

UPDATE: My E-party ends Wednesday, May 6th in the evening. I would love to max out the Adoption Love Meter on my E-Party page. Please, consider purchasing some great clothes for your little one and support adoption!

Remember not so long ago when I introduced you to a great company?

Well, I love them so much that I decided I would help them on a new venture...an E-Party!

What is an E-Party, you ask? Well, it is much like any party that an at-home business throws...you know the ones...send out invitations, make some food, clean your house, have the business person come over and talk about her product and get product credit based on what your guests purchase...EXCEPT, I didn't have to cook or clean and people didn't have to take time out of their busy schedules to come over and spend a few hours! How great is that? All I had to do was provide the company some email addresses, write a few blog posts, let my friends get on their computers and purchase some great products and...VIOLA! It's a party!

So, if you enjoy their products and would like to be a part of my E-Party (or better yet, host your own!) just come! You can crash my party!

Let's Party!

Shanks Bakery

My great-grandfather had a bakery in El Paso 'back in the day'.

I recently found this photo of it (thanks to a cousin on Facebook).

Just thought I would share it. I think it is super cool!

Plum Precious Clothes

Kaylee's birthday was this past weekend. We had a great time!

Our friend, Lili, and her mom, Yvette, came to the party. They gave Kaylee a precious outfit. When I 'ooh-ed and ahh-ed' over it and asked where she got it, she told me that she makes them.

She and a friend have a company.

She told me that she and a the friend met while travelling to China to adopt their baby girls. They sell these precious items and donate 10% to help other adoptions. How great is that?!?!

I am so excited! I am going to buy the quads each an outfit.

Please, click on the link above or the cute little button in my sidebar and order from these precious ladies who are doing great things with their company. You won't be disappointed!

Well, On 2nd Thought...

...I love their bag, but their customer service SUCKS!

I returned two shells to be exchanges OVER A MONTH AGO and have yet to get my two in return!

Holy Hooch!

I called today to check on the status of the order and was told that they no longer carried one of the ones I wanted in exchange...what, well, you had it a month ago when I sent those shells back...so, which one would you like now? Well, this is my chance to get one of the new shells that I want but can't afford to buy right now! So, I asked for the new shell THAT HOLDS PICTURES!! You know that is right up my alley!

So, although the bag is terrific...and their return policy is too, the speed with which they exchange those returns is at a turtle's pace.

I will let you know when and if I ever get the exchanged shells!

Chama Gaucha

Since we were crazy, busy this past weekend, my husband and I were not able to celebrate Valentine's Day together. We were also busy for a few nights at the rodeo. We finally got to celebrate together this past Tuesday night.

My husband had a gift certificate for dinner for 2 to a new fantastic restaurant in our area (Which, for those of you who know me, know that the free meal added to the excitedness of the outing for me!). We went to Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse.

First, you start with a HUGE salad bar. Along with the 'normal' salad fixings, one could choose marinated asparagus, roasted bell peppers, goat cheese, antipasto, and much more. One could take multiple trips to this salad bar.

There is a card at each persons place that is red on one side and green on the other (yep, you get it...red for stop and green for go...with the main course). So, when ready, turn the card to green and the Gaucha's bring on the meal! All of a sudden, fried bananas and mashed potatoes come...along with FOURTEEN different types of meat! Anything from steak to pork to chicken to lamb. They gauchos come with these various meats on swords and they cut of a piece for you. They keep bringing the meat until you turn that card to red. This is also all you care to eat, so, if you want more, turn that little card back over to the green side! It is a meat-lovers paradise!

Now, that is all included in one price. But we were out for Valentine's Day...so, we needed a sweet. We had Papaya Cream with Blueberry liquour (David decided that if it was in a dessert, it didn't count)! OMG! That is one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth!

The whole restaurant is a fantastic experience! If you are in SA, you MUST try this place!

I Must Be Getting Old...

...because I am loving another thing from shopping TV.

Those who know me, know that I am FOREVER cold! Those of you who know me also know that I LOVE my laptop! Well, when trying to cover up and use the laptop, the arms freeze! So, when I saw this, I knew I had to have one.

I received it today as a late birthday gift from Suzanne.

Love it! As I sit to type this, my arms are oh, so toasty!

Ahhhhh...

Just so you know...

I received my Miche last week...and I absolutly LOVE IT!!

UPDATE: I love this product so much that I ordered the brown bag, too! I now have the brown and black bags and 8 shells. So worth the money!