Guest Author Mari McCarthy

CMash September 12, 2011 Leave a Comment

The ladies from WOW!, Robyn and Jodi, are stopping by today with another exceptional and amazing author for us to meet and hear about a book that will help all of us. So without further ado, please welcome, Ms. Mari McCarthy!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After twenty years as a business consultant Mari McCarthy switched gears. The catalyst was a health issue for which the remedy became her new life path. Mari now assists others with personal development and health issues through therapeutic journaling.

Mari says that journaling has become her “tool for life”. She keeps a journal in her office for assistance in business, one in the family area for use with introspection, and one by the bed for dream work.
Visit Mari at her website and blog.

Through journaling Mari has discovered many things about herself, like her desire and talent for singing! Watch Mari’s video for “To Make You Feel My Love” on YouTube.

GUEST POST

BabyBoomers and Journaling

As a fellow baby-boomer, I am sympathetic to those of my peers who feellike they’re responsible for everything, and for good reason. We’re oftenresponsible for elderly parents, kids, a marriage, and a job, just forstarters. How is a person supposed to cope?

How long has it been since you sneaked a moment for yourself? How didyou use that sliver of time? If you’re like many, you probably either slept orself-medicated. Next time, if you try journaling, my bet is you’ll feel farbetter.

Your sweet Mom asks you the same question 43 times in one morning (youknow because you counted), your son is out of money again, your biggest clientjust exited stage left, and you hissed at your spouse last night.

Hissing can be worse than shouting. That why you need to startjournaling. You need a friend to whom you can say absolutely anything. You needa moment when you and only you are the center of attention, the adored one, thehero.

So you find a notebook with a lot of blank pages. Don’t worry aboutfinding a fancy one, it can be anything as long as it’s chock full ofblankness. You locate a pen that you like. You carry these tools with youwherever you go. You write, observe, write, feel, write, understand.

Funny word, understand. Standunder. That sure feels like what it is to be a Baby Boomer these days; standingunder the weight of all those responsibilities.

Understand alsomeans to get a better perspective, a better overview, too, right? If Iunderstand something, I see the why and wherefore of it.

Journaling is a practice that helps you understand / stand underyour life: giving you perspective on both your responsibilities and the reasonswhy.

· Taking Mom to the doctor? Journal while you wait.

· Mad as hell at your child? Journal to vent beforesaying something you’ll regret.

· Worried about work? Use part of your lunch hour tojournal every day.

· Feeling not-so-good physically? Get into dreamjournaling.

· Frustrated with your spouse? Figure out yourfeelings in your journal.

If, because all the responsibilities exhaust you, it seemscounter-intuitive to do somethingwhen your fondest wish is to do nothing,let your journaling be the equivalent of doing nothing. Lazily scrawl your penacross the page in whatever way it wants to go. Even this will give youstrength. It won’t be long before you’re madly scribbling every chance you get!

By Mari L. McCarthy – The JournalingTherapy Specialist, founder of Journaling for the Health of It™. Please visit Mari’s blog at http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/.In Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and GrowYour Life (http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-therapy-store#ecwid:category=1077033&mode=product&product=4674145),Mari presents a gentle process for self discovery through journaling. Mari’slatest publication is titled, Your Money Matters! Use Journal Writing Therapy to Get Financially Fit Now. See http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-therapy-store#ecwid:category=1077033&mode=product&product=5436679for details.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon):

A fun, how-to manual on getting started in the practice of Journaling for self-growth. This e-book examines the basic process of journaling and then provides a few prompts, or variations on the basics, that can spark your imagination and enrich the potential of your journal writing. The goal of this guide is to give a clear picture of how to use journaling for self-discovery and self-growth. Includes color illustrations.

Book images

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/12253551.jpg Who Are You?

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/12253458.jpg53 Weekly Writing Retreats

http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/152432/6781461.jpg85 of Mari’s Most Museful Journaling Tips

THANKS TO THE AUTHOR, MARI McCARTHY

AND THE LADIES AT WOW!, I HAVE ONE (1)

EBOOK EDITION TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners

via publisher, agent and/or author. This blog hosts

the giveaway on behalf of the above.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Giveaway

EBOOK INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "WHO ARE YOU?" ENDED

CMash September 12, 2011 7 Comments

SEPTEMBER 12th to SEPTEMBER 26th, 2011

WHO ARE YOU?

How to Use Journaling to Know and Grow Your Life

by MARI McCARTHY

SYNOPSIS (borrowed from Amazon):

A fun, how-to manual on getting started in the practice of Journaling for self-growth. This e-book examines the basic process of journaling and then provides a few prompts, or variations on the basics, that can spark your imagination and enrich the potential of your journal writing. The goal of this guide is to give a clear picture of how to use journaling for self-discovery and self-growth. Includes color illustrations.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, MARI McCARTHY

AND THE LADIES FROM WOW!

I HAVE ONE (1) EBOOK EDITION OF

THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.

*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*

AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN

*LEAVE COMMENT: HAVE YOU EVER KEPT A JOURNAL?*

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).

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*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.

*EBOOK EDITION–INTERNATIONAL*

**HONOR SYSTEM**

ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD

PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE

WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER

SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY

HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN

AND READ THIS BOOK.

THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 26th AT 6PM EST*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG AND NOTIFIED

VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND

OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

DISCLAIMER / RULES

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,

agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the

above. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in

exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are

ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped

from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries

if rules of giveaway are not followed

Misc

911 Anniversary

CMash September 11, 2011 4 Comments

It was 10 years ago today, the world we knew changed. I remember it was a glorious beautiful day. My oldest son, Paul, was at college. My youngest son, Mark, was in HS. My husband at work. My plans for the day was to start on another room for fall cleaning, after I finished my coffee while I sat at the computer in our family room, reading my email and watching the Today show. And then it happened. I called my son at college and told him to turn on the TV and to stay in his dorm, not to move. The second tower was hit. I kept trying to reach my husband with no luck. That’s when I started to panic as he works for a company that has government ties. I remember not knowing if I should go pick up my youngest son but I remember that I felt that I couldn’t move from the TV and then the Pentagon was hit. My son at college called me with extreme terror in his voice, asking me what was happening, what should he do, what was going to happen, what did this mean? All questions I had no answers for and I still couldn’t reach my husband. I told Paul to stay in his dorm as I felt it was the safest place and I would let him know if we would be coming to get him. Then it was the heroes in Shanksville Pennsylvania.

When my youngest son walked through the door he was physically shaken and pale. The fear written on his face. We just sat on the couch with my arms around him and watched the images on TV. After hours of trying to reach my husband, he called, relief, he was ok. However, some of his coworkers that he knew, were on the first plane that hit the towers.

I remember, for days, I hardly left the couch, watching the TV trying to process what had happened, how could this happen, what this meant, what those families were going through. Those days following are a blur. Today, 10 years later, it is as vivid in my mind as it was that beautiful day in 2011. But today is in remembrance of those who lost their lives, and their families, because of a senseless act of hate of innocent people

I think we were all changed by that horrific day. We didn’t know each other 10 years ago and I would like to know where you were, what you were doing, what you felt, your thoughts, etc., etc., Today is for those lost, those that remember, those that mourn, today is for all Americans. Please feel free to leave your feelings, thoughts, prayers and comments.

Winners

And the winner is………..

CMash September 10, 2011 1 Comment

……….of THE SUMMONER by Layton Green

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-09-11 02:08:37 UTC

mamabunny13 said…I think I would.14

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.

A Bit of Me

A Bit Of Me

CMash September 10, 2011 1 Comment

Hosted by Crystal at I Totally Paused!

From Danielle’s blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week’s question: What is your fall favorite? Share a fall recipe, activity, memory, or any other fall favorite! (Remember, next week will be hosted here!!!)

Years past, I would look forward to fall. Seeing the beautiful scenery of leaves changing colors, the nippy chill in the air, start my fall cleaning and starting to cook in bulk what I call cold weather food.

However, due to my physical limitations and responsibilities, I may not be able to accomplish all of that this year, but I am going to try to do what I can. There is nothing more comforting than walking into a house, and smell the aromas coming from the kitchen.

I like to cook certain foods in bulk and freeze in portions so that if some nights I don’t feel like preparing, it is already done. I will usually double my portions of chicken soup, meatballs and gravy (us Italians call it gravy, others call it sauce), another gravy recipe that was passed down from my grandmother, home made apple sauce and even fresh vegetables.

And just the other day I started to prepare for the fall. I ordered my Yankee Candle Fall Scents to burn to make the season complete.

What about you? What is your fall favorite?

Friday Memes

CMash September 9, 2011 21 Comments

Hosted by An Island Life

From An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Sunday is the 10th Anniversary of 911, so

MY QUESTION IS:

Where or what were you doing when the Twin Towwers were hit?

MY ANSWER:

I was having my coffee, checking my email, and watching the Today show.

Booking Thru Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

CMash September 8, 2011 18 Comments

Dear Friends: I have always tried to make my blog a fun place to be, for me it has been my sanity and something I look forward to everyday no matter how much pain I am in or what curve balls real life is throwing at me. And I hope it is also a fun place to come to visit. But there are times that real life can be so hard that, not so good news, need to be told.

I am not sure if you have been following the news about the Texas wild fires and how people have had to evacuate their homes. I have been following one of our blogging buddies status on FB and just read some horrible news that has me feeling helpless, useless and wanting to do something but what?, being so far from her. I just read that Jackie from Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories, has lost everything. This is what she posted on FB: “It is all gone, house, RV, buildings all rubble and ash.”. Please keep her in your prayers.

And on another note. Over the next few weeks, I will probably not be participating in daily memes, visiting blogs, answering emails. However, I will be posting Guest Author showcases and giveaways that I have already committed to. Monday, the day after I attended the beautiful wedding, my Mom fell and I spent the day/night in the ER. No fractures, however, due to results of other tests, the doctor told me to put Hospice in place. I will be spending as much time as I can with her and away from blogging. Shining Star will be on hiatus a bit longer, I apologize, but I hope you understand.

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Today’s question:

What are you reading now?

Would you recommend it?

And what’s next?

My response:

Reading: Moonlight Rises by Vincent Zandri

Would you recommend it? Most definitely

Next? Claim Of Innocence by Laura Caldwell or The Most Dangerous Things by Laura Lippman

Guest Author

Guest Author Cheryl Crane

CMash September 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

Another treat for you!!! We have a bit of Hollywood visiting today combined with a “superb mystery”. What could be better than that? Judy from The Book Trib contacted me and, as you know when it comes to suspense or mystery, that 2 letter word that starts with N and ends with O is just so very hard for me to say. So I have the distinct honor to introduce you to today’s guest, author Cheryl Crane, daughter of the late movie star Lana Turner. Welcome Cheryl Crane !!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl Crane is the daughter of Hollywood legend Lana Turner and actor-restaurateur Josef Stephen Crane. Today, Cheryl works in real estate in Palm Springs, California. Her autobiography, Detour: A Hollywood Story, was a New York Times bestseller. In 2008 she published the ultimate illustrated biography of her mother, Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies. She’s currently working on the next Nikki Harper mystery.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the first of a wildly entertaining mystery series set amid the bright lights, big egos, and Botoxed brows of Hollywood, Cheryl Crane—daughter of legendary movie star Lana Turner—introduces a smart, hilarious, and utterly loveable heroine in realtor-turned-amateur sleuth, Nikki Harper.

For Nikki Harper, realtor to the stars and daughter of 1950s screen goddess Victoria Bordeaux, Hollywood is home. A completely dysfunctional home populated by a cast of crazies, true, but home nonetheless. While Nikki’s no stranger to scandal, she’s shocked to receive a hysterical phone call from her business partner, Jessica Martin, saying that TV has-been Rex March has been found dead in Jessica’s bed.

More shocking than Rex’s death is the fact that, as far as anyone knew, Rex was already dead. Six months ago, the star of the seventies sitcom Shipwrecked Vacation was supposedly killed when his plane crashed in the Mojave Desert. Nikki and Jessica recently sold his mansion on behalf of his widow, Edith. It’s obvious to Nikki that Jessica is being framed, but by whom? And why? And how on earth can Rex be dead a second time?

In search of answers, Nikki turns to the one person she can always count on. From her pink boudoir in her Beverly Hills mansion, the ever-glamorous Victoria suggests Nikki focus her sleuthing on Rex’s not-so-grieving widow. And there’s a veritable casting couch full of other candidates, including Edith’s boy-toy lover, Rex’s scheming lawyer (like there’s any other kind), and the diner waitress with whom Rex was having one of his numerous affairs. But with the killer readying for a repeat performance, Nikki will have to act fast—before her own screen fades to black…

“Cheryl Crane has written a superb mystery: rich in milieu, deep in plot twists, constant in the exercise of suspense and surprise. This book is a veritable primer on why people read and love crime fiction.” –James Ellroy
“In The Bad Die Twice Cheryl Crane has written what should have been the final role of her mother Lana Turner’s career. Bravo! I sure hope they make a movie out of this very entertaining book.” –John Waters

THANKS TO JUDY FROM THE BOOK TRIB,

I HAVE ONE (1) COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.