Monday, June 15, 2009

Along Came a Contest

And intertwined with that contest is a review of Karona Drummond's book, Along Came You, a children's book its publisher, Zonderkidz, says is aimed for kids 4-7. I also know an expectant mother (or two or 5,042) who would find it valuable to read.



Along Came You has a mother telling her young daughter what her life and home and activities were like before her daughter and what they are like now. Two of my favorite are:


"Before you, I traveled light. After you, every outing is a big event."


"Before you, I read books with a thousand pages. After you, I read your favorite book a thousand times."


This is one of those books that will strike the right chord with your child, particularly a daughter who loves to dress up and play with her animals, and you'll find yourself reading and re-reading it. And then reading and re-reading it again. And again. Thankfully, it's written in just the right tone and it's wonderfully illustrated (by Estelle Cooke).


It sells for $15.99. I just saw on Amazon that it's going for $12.47. Barnes & Noble has it for $12.79 and for a member price of $11.51. [Please stop me before I check out all the online sites.]


But one of you can have it for $0. That's right, here's the contest part. You can have the book. I'll send it your way via media mail. And it's yours. How cool is that? Just leave a comment here by the end of the day on June 21. I'll pick a random commenter. You want additional ways to enter? Um, okay, you can tweet about it. Tell me you did in a separate comment, and that'll double your chances.







[I received the book free from Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists to review and to give away in the contest. Alas, no money exchanged hands. Sigh.]

Friday, June 5, 2009

Folks, Meet My Disclosure Policy

Disclosure Policy, meet my folks.

This policy is valid from 05 June 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. [Sadly, I make more money picking up bottles and cans for recycling at a nickel a pop.] [Get it? "A pop." Like in "a soda pop."]

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content. [In my own words, I'd say something like this: The only influence anyone is going to have on me is having me write about their product. What I say about their product is entirely up to me.]

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Short, simple and to the point. Contact me at wheeallthewayhomeATgmailDOTcom.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Welcome to Whee! Views

I'm starting a review and contest blog. Why? I mean, clearly, no one really cares what I think about a product, right? [Except my mom. She cares. Oh, and my sister. She cares. And my friends, all two of them, they care.] [But not my kids. They couldn't care less.]

So why, exactly, do this? Well, if I'm going to keep raking in the big, big, big bucks from my BlogHer advertising, I do believe there's a stipulation about not having posts on your main blog for which you are compensated. Does that mean I'm going to get paid? Bwaahaahaahaahahh! No, but I've gotten some free stuff to review and with which to do contests. And, besides, maybe, just maybe, someone will pay me to wax eloquently about their fabulous shiny red vehicle. [Matchbox need not apply.]

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my review and contest blog. Make sure you're not shy about telling me how much you love it.