Clutter Busting Your Life by Brooks Palmer Book Review

CLUTTER BUSTING YOUR LIFE

Clearing Physical and Emotional Clutter to Reconnect with Yourself and Others

Cut the Crap — and Discover What Really Matters

Over the course of his career helping people let go of things they no longer need, Brooks Palmer has been struck by the many ways that clutter affects relationships. In these pages, he shows how we use clutter to protect ourselves, control others, and cling to the past, and how it keeps us from experiencing the joy of connection. With insight-prompting questions, exercises, client examples, and even whimsical line drawings, Palmer will take you from overwhelmed to empowered. His gentle guidance will help you to not only clear clutter from your home but also enjoy deeper, more authentic, and clutter-free relationships of all kinds 

I am very excited to have my mom, Lois reviewing this book on Genuine Jenn. This is her first review for my blog and I am sure not her last as she really enjoys reading. I will also be coming back and adding my thoughts after I have a chance to read Clutter Busting your Life. 

Lois' thoughts:  

I found this book very interesting and informative. Brooks Palmer gave a lot of good examples of how to get rid of clutter in your life, from things in your own and also relationships. Throughout the book he explains the different kids of clutter including relationships that are not working anymore and making you unhappy. I never thought of relationships as clutter but after reading this book have really thought more about my relationships with others and if they are healthy. I was really glad to have the oopportunity to read this book as I have a lot of items to de-clutter in my life from my deceased parents, husband and other things I have been holding on too.

Throughout this book there are also exercises to help you de-clutter your life. These have been great in helping me part with some items and I will be using them some more. I highly recommend this book to everyone that has some kind of clutter they would like help getting rid of.

Brooks Palmer answered some questions in regard to clutter and how to get rid of it.  Also how to help our kids clutter bust.

What is clutter?
Clutter is anything in our life that is no longer serving us.

How do I get rid of my clutter?
You go through your things one item at a time. You hold the item and you ask, "Do I like this, or can I let it go?" The first feeling that comes to you is the honest one. The more you do this the easier it becomes. When you look at a big pile of stuff it's overwhelming. Going through one item at a time is easier and doable.

What are some tips on letting go of clutter?
The going through one item at a time technique works well. Make sure to remove the clutter when you are done clutter busting. Toss the stuff that is unusable in the outside trash cans. Recycle the recyclables. Bring the usable stuff to a charity organization. Drink plenty of water while you clutter bust. Avoid phone calls. Turn off the TV. It's okay to listen to music that you like. You may feel resistance to starting. However once you start it becomes easy. There is a supportive momentum in starting the process. Once you get started it feels really good. Know that the clutter in your home or office keeps new things from coming into you life. There are things waiting in line to come into your life. Give them the space to come in. 

What's the best way to help a child sort through their things?
It helps to be super easy going when working with kids. They can sense if we are trying to control them. Rather than tell them they have to clutter bust, it works well to say something like. "I wanted to see if you'd like to go through your things and see if there's anything you don't play with anymore. We can donate what you don't like to kids that don't have toys to play with."

If the kids don't want to clutter bust, don't push them. You can ask them again later. Or, you can ask them to help you clutter bust. They can ask you questions about your things. Perhaps in your openness, you can be an encouraging role model for them. Plus it helps to have a kid's eye when letting go. They often see things in a simpler way.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn of New World Publishing. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
    In Flanders fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.

    - John McCrae

Don't forget to take a minute of silence at 11am today to remember all the fallen soldiers.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Teethease jewelry Review

Finding the right products for baby can be sometimes a challenge. We want to make sure it is toxic free and not a choking hazard. I love to also shop Canadian if I can and support mom businesses.

I remember when both my kids were in their teething stage and it was so hard to keep them happy with something to chew on. Also most babies love to grab at their mothers jewelry. I remember never being able to wear a necklace unless it was on date night.

Back in April I featured a great Canadian company, Teethease that makes fun and funky jewelry for mom with the thought of a teething baby in mind. They are practical and affordable. My friend Diane and her baby tested out the Original Teethease pendant. This time I would love to tell you about some new products you can get from Teethease that my friend Jenn and her lil man tested out. 

Peyton and I have been using the Rock-ease for about a week a now and I am hooked. At first I was afraid Peyton might not like to chew on it because he seems texture picky. He doesn’t seem to like chewing on many of teething toys we currently have but much prefers to chew on our sleeves or my wallet. However, after two or three introductions Peyton grabbed hold and chewed like a teething mad man. When I first showed it to Peyton he put it in his mouth, chewed on it for maybe a minute then put it down and grabbed another toy.

The second time I tried to get him to use it he was quite sick and uninterested in anything. The third time I gave it to him I was on my way to a last minute meeting with six other faculty members and no babysitter. When we arrived Peyton was happy to see all of the new faces but after about 15 minutes he was bored and reached for the necklace, he played with it in his hands for a few minutes and then began to chew on it. He seemed to rotate through the different rocks. This, along with some bouncing, kept him content for about 35 minutes before he fell asleep for a nap. This is the best behaved Peyton has ever been at one of our infamous last minute meetings.

I washed the rock-ease in the dishwasher when I first received it and it came out completely intact and ready to use. The necklace is very durable; it was toted around in my work bag and didn’t end up with any scratches or indents causing sharp edges. Peyton’s top two front teeth are coming in now and he is chewing quite viciously these days. He sits with the rock-ease and chews it quite hard, with no scratches or indents when he’s done either. It also got an extra test from our 7 year old boxer who decided to give it a chew. Luckily, he only got hold of it for less than a minute before I was able to get it away from him and even that didn’t cause any damage to it!

I like the look of this necklace as it looks like some of the other jewelry I own and I can wear it with my suits when Peyton and I head into the college for meetings. I also saw some of the other color options on the internet and they are nice too. I like the fact that it has a closure that will eventually let go if it’s pulled on to hard and I also like that Peyton is now pulling on this necklace instead of my gold “mom” necklace and I don’t need to worry about him breaking it. The price is also quite reasonable. It is in line with what I would pay for some of the other jewelry I wear but it comes with the advantage that Peyton can chew on it, it keeps him entertained and he is not likely going to break it.

The only thing I didn’t like is that the little baby hairs on the back of my head sometimes got wrapped around the string between the rocks and would give that little, tugging feeling. The second time I washed it I did have to remove a few strands. But in the grand scheme of things I’ll sacrifice a few strands of hair for a quiet content baby during a meeting.

I would recommend this product for mom’s on the go or anyone who is interested in soothing the teething agony their child is coping with.

You can shop for your own Teethease at their website and don't forget to follow @MyTeethease and "Like" Teethease on Facebook to be first to know about new products, sales and more.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Vacation Rentals with Wantizen.com & Great Contests!

With the cold weather coming I am already thinking about next summer or at least going away somewhere warm. Yes I know it isn't that cold and there isn't even snow on the ground but I don't like winter. I do like the thought of taking a weekend and hiding in a nice little chalet on a ski area. The thought of a nice warm fire all bundled up in a cozy blanket and a nice cup of java or hot chocolate. Or maybe heading away somewhere warm for a week, to take in some swimming some sun!

How about making that more than a thought or dream? What if I told you I just heard about a new website where you can get rentals at great prices?

Wantizen.com is a new website to help people find vacation rentals or rent out their own vacation rentals. There is no cost to use Wantizen to find a vacation rental. It is also super simple. You are asked where you would like to visit, the dates and then you can also specify other things like pet friendly, free wifi etc. Right now you can choose from Orlando Florida, Honolulu Hawaii or Whistler BC with more coming soon. Once you find a place or two you like place an offer with the owner and sit back and wait for the owner to bid.

It is safe to send a bid to property owners without sending any personal information unless you contact the owners directly. There is also no obligation to buy if you are not happy with the price. It is a fun and safe place to find a great getaway rental. There will be new places added daily so it is good to check back frequently.

Extra bonuses when getting a vacation rental vs a hotel is all the extras that are included to make it feel like a home away from home. Some of the things that may be included are:

* lawn chairs

* cleaning supplies 

* "artisan" soap 

* fresh ground coffee 

* a cube of butter

* baguette

* cream

* fresh vase of flowers 

* spices, herbs and condiments

* microwave popcorn

* cooking oil

* jam, honey, tea, etc. 

* salt & pepper

* toilet paper

* paper towels

* laundry detergent

* can of Pam 

* sugar, sweetener

* sand toys

* iPod dock

Do you have a rental vacation property you would like to rent out? Click on List your property, it is quick and simple and you also have two options for fees - pay a yearly fee for unlimited listing and biding or just pay when you bid.

Enter to Win

Wantizen has two fun contests happening right now! Head over to the Wantizen's fan page on Facebook and enter the Photo Sweepstake to win one of two iPads!

Also head over to Wantizen.com to enter to win $500 off your first rental. It is very easy to enter in 3 steps - 1. Sign up 2. Like & Share and 3. Plan your vacation.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Wantizen.com. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Your Mark on the World Excerpt #BookTour

Your Mark On The World

Your Mark On The World combines inspiring stories of ordinary people doing remarkable things to make the world a better place with practical advice to empower anyone to give more to a cause (charity, non-profit or social venture) without giving up a career or family.

The inspiring stories include:
Botevy’s life and death struggle through Pol Pot’s killing fields that led her ultimately to create an orphanage in Phnom Penh.

Rick’s personal crusade to cure cystic fibrosis to ensure that his two afflicted grandchildren will attend his funeral and not the other way around.

The eight-member Smith family’s world service tour.

David’s decision to walk away from a successful career as an international executive to volunteer to care for victims of leprosy in rural India.

These stories are combined with practical financial advice to empower you to give more to a cause without giving up your family or your career.

The book answers these questions:

• How do I get out of debt and stay out of debt?
• Which charity or cause do I choose to make my donation?
• How do I decide where to volunteer?
• How can our family plan a volunteer vacation?
• How can I save money for retirement?
• How much should I contribute to my 401k?
• Can I use Mint to manage my budget?
• How to retire early enough to devote healthy years to volunteering?
• This must-read book provides an overview of philanthropy in America and around the world, providing you with a clear picture of charity and its fruits. You’ll learn the ability to leave your mark on the world.

Purchase on Kindle / Paperback / Nook / Smashwords

Follow Devin D. Thorpe

Blog:  YourMarkOnTheWorld.com

Facebook.com/YourMarkOnTheWorld

Twitter: @devindthorpe or #yourmarkontheworld

Newsletter Sign Up:  http://bit.ly/NLQBn6

An Excerpt from Your Mark on the World - Chapter 30 - Measuring Success

Having considered all of these people who do so much good in the world and all of this
financial advice intended to help you organize yourself to give more and do more, I’d like to
give you some ideas about how to keep score, how to measure your success.

Let me begin by saying that the least important measure of your real success in life is
your net worth. Money’s only value is the good we can do with it. If your net worth is large
enough to allow you to give time and energy to your cause then it is enough. So much the
better if you can leave a few dollars to support your cause when you go.

As important as I think it is for you to give to your charity, what you have given should
not be compared to anyone else. The only relevant measure of your giving is to compare
what you have given to what you could have given. If you feel you could have given more,
then give more now. It is never too late to start doing more good.

Follow the Book Tour



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Promotional Book Tours. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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The Salamander Stone by CJ Fenge Book Review

The Salamander Stone by CJ Fenge

She’s just the girl-next-door, that long-legged pretty thing with the flowing auburn hair. Nothing special, just ordinary Amber Brigantia, a sixteen-year–old with boyfriends on her mind; nothing more.
 
But you’re wrong. Beneath that enigmatic smile lie dark secrets hiding an elemental power, and when those secrets come out, everyone wants her. Everyone wants a piece of Amber.

They murder her father and lock her mother in an asylum. Then they come after her, led by the charismatic Dr. Pitt who wants that power for himself. And he doesn’t care how he gets it, smiling and smiling as he twists the knife. But Pitt has a rival, the sadistic Mrs Fedorowicz. She wants Amber too and she is an expert at making people dance to her tune - a tune that can really hurt. 
 
Even those who love Amber cannot help her. Khiza, the African boy, is the lost other half of Amber’s soul, yet when she encounters the damaged and demonic Meshak she is torn in two and cannot decide what to feel any more. 
 
Then the demon Azmodeus suckers onto Meshak and time itself rocks in chaos, for the demon is after Amber as well - and what he wants is unspeakable. 
 
So let the power-games begin. And let that long-legged pretty thing be the prize. 

Visit CJ Fenge's website and purchase The Salamander Stone on Amazon or Burst Books Canada.

My Thoughts: 

This was a very different kind of book, it took me some time to get into the book as I found it a bit slow moving at the beginning and really more about the politics of the school where the main character Amber was boarding at. It did pick up and the author does a great job at describing each character in great details. It is a different take on the regular vampire type books I have read in the past. I haven't read much fantasy so I can't compare but I did enjoy the authors writing style and would read more from CJ Fenge. It was great to read about the UK and Africa making it a fun journey to go on.

It is catagorized as a YA Thriller/Fantasy book and a nice change to the last few books I have read which have been erotica. If you are looking for something different and like a fantasy I recommend you check it out.   
 
Don't forget to enter to win a $25 Gift Card below
a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Reading Addiction Blog Tours. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Reflected in You by Sylvia Day #BHBC

I am really excited to be posting my first review for the BlogHer Book Club! I reviewed Reflected in You by Sylvia Day. It is a #1 New Year Times bestselling novel and is the second book in the Crossfire series, the first is Bared to You. Can I tell you a secret? I didn't get a chance to read the first novel. Now telling you that I want to also say that Reflected in You was easy enough to follow without reading the first book. I will be reading Bared to You very soon.

Here is the blurb about Reflected in You

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We'd never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...

I am not even sure where to begin. Both of the main characters are wealthy with Gideon owning tons of businesses, building etc in New York City. Eva has a high end apartment which she shares with her best friend Cary (who is a guy). Eva and Gideon are both struggling from horrible sexual abuse in their pasts which seems to bring them together but also at the same time drives a wedge between them. Both are very infatuated and totally obsessed with each other. They can't keep their hands off which makes for some steamy sex scene. Gideon has a very dark, mysterious way about him not letting Eva know much about himself or his past. He is also very controlling or dominant.  

This is a very seductive novel. I would find myself thinking Eva don't let him be like that with you but they again I could feel myself falling for Gideon's darkness.

I highly recommend starting with Bared to You so you will be able to follow better with the couples history but you can easily pick up Reflected in You and be hooked. When I read the last couples pages I was really caught off guard with the ending and I was right away thinking - I can't wait until the next book comes out which is called Entwined with You. 

Come join in on the discussions at the BlogHer Book Club for Reflected in You.
  
 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn in part with BlogHer Book Club. This is a sponsored post but all opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Wordless Wednesday - Sandi Richard

On the weekend I attended an event called There is a Meal to my Madness which was presented by Sandi Richard of Fixing Dinner and Cooking for the Rushed cookbooks. Sandi talked about how most of us are in the same boat with getting dinner to the table and also to get everyone to sit down together. I am a huge believer of eating as a family and had a really hard time when I worked afternoons for a year and never got to eat with my family. I have now switched to overnight awakes and miss out on sleep to spend more time with the kids and be there for dinner and bedtime.

Here is a picture of Sandi and I after the event. Of course I am making my "picture" face like always but I am happy to be able to share the photo of such an amazing woman.

If you are in Ontario Canada check out Sandi Richard's tour dates to see if there is one near you.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Yamuna Body Rolling Review

Do you suffer from aches and pains in your body? I have been suffering from back pain for a couple years now. It usually goes in spurts - a week here or there. It started because of a way I moved and I had about a month of massive pain in my lower back. I finally gave up and went for to the doctors for the pain. My doctor told me I had degenerative discs. He gave me no medication but told me I needed to strengthen my core by doing Pilates or yoga.

Recently I was introduced to Yamuna Body Rolling which is a yoga program like no other. Yamuna Zake who is the founder behind Yamuna Body Rolling. Yamuna Zake is a visionary, She is a master teacher and healer who has literally dedicated her life to understanding how the body works and helping others to create positive change in their bodies through what she has learned. Yamuna's vision is a fully aligned body with all of its capacity for movement free.

Using YBR you will improve posture and alignment, increased range of motion, and increased muscle tone, flexibility and organ function. Yamuna's methods are uniquely her own, but are a natural complement to other workouts like yoga or Pilates. There is a whole section on the website dedicated to YBR-Pilates Integration. There are also many video's over on Youtube also.

If you are in the area NYC West Village you can visit Yamuna beautiful studio. Yamuna also travels the  world teaching, speaking and giving lectures.

I checked out the Yamuna Yoga: Building a Strong Foundation kit which includes the gold ball and foot savers. This video shows you how to begin your Hatha Yoga practice by building a strong, flexible, and solid foundation. This practice takes you through how to master Tadasana and how to build continuing concepts that will allow you to work through an easier flow of standing postures whichever form you practice.

My life has been super crazy with working shift work etc but I have pulled out the video a few times and have really felt the muscles being used afterwards. If you are a workout wimp like I am you will want to start first with a "run" through or just watch to get what is being done. Next take your time and only push as much as you feel comfortable. I am working on getting through all the moves now with more confidence. It is really different with the foot savers being added to regular yoga poses. It has been a great experience so far and I will be trying to include this dvd in my regular day to day routines along with my almost 5 km walks.

RSVP today for your chance to win a free personal consultation even if you do not live in NY.

Don't forget to "Like" Yamuna on Facebook and Follow on Twitter @YamunaBody

Want to check out Yamuna's blog head over to Yamunabody.tumblr.com


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Yamuna Body Rolling. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Marvelous Menu November 3-9, 2012

Here I go again, trying to get back on my menu planning. This week I was lost at what we should make with really not much help from anyone on what they wanted for the week. I did get the kids to tell me Mini Pizza's.

Saturday - Mini pizza's and salad

Sunday - Pineapple meatballs, rice and veggies

Monday - Black Bean, sausage and sweet potato soup

Tuesday - Homemade Hamburger helper

Wednesday - Sloppy Joes, french fries and coleslaw

Thursday - Cheese and Onion waffles with Apple and onion salsa

Friday - Taco's

What is on your menu this week?


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Book Review - Elsa by Simon Gandossi

Elsa Baum dreamed of moving away from Germany a country she had watched everyday being dragged deeper into war by Adolf Hitler.

Everyone was under his spell, listening and believing in everything he told them. Elsa and her close friends were the exception, they despised the Nazi’s and were soon to learn the extent of their hatred towards others they considered a threat to their ideology of the perfect superior race. After a chance meeting with the daughter of a high ranking Nazi, feelings developed and she found herself a part of the minority the Nazis were trying to eradicate.

“I don’t want my story to inspire people nor make them sad; I want it to educate them because hate, homophobia and racism still exist today, and although the chance of another event like the Holocaust is rare; the world will never be rid of the foundations that cause hatred among us.
— Elsa Baum”

Purchase on Amazon / Barnes and Noble / or Elsanovel.com

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

My thoughts: Going into this book I kept a very open mind not really knowing what to expect. I had a feeling this may be a very hard read as it was based with the Nazis and the Holocaust but I really wanted to read it and get another point of view. The book started out with Elsa telling us about herself and that she isn't Jewish but she wasn't Nazi either like her parents and almost everyone else she knew.  
We meet Elsa's two best friends, Liz and Grata who are just like Elsa and does not approve of Hilter and what was happening. Liz is sent away to a boarding school to become a better Nazi and that left Elsa and Greta alone to figure out how to get out of Germany. Elsa meets Raina and it is love at first sight which is forbidden. Elsa and Raina are sent away to a concentration camp because they are found in a sexual act that is forbidden for same sex relationships at the time. 

This was a hard book to put down as I was pulled into finding out what will happen to Elsa and her friends but a few times I needed to put it down and walk away as the things happening were very hurtful. By the end of the book I was in tears. This is a heart wrenching book about love and hate. Be prepared as it is very hard on the heart strings. Innocent people are being killed for no reason but they are Jewish or have done something that is impure to the Nazis. 

Follow the rest of the Elsa book tour.
   

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Promotional Book Tours. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Playtex & Babies ‘R’ Us Bright Futures Start Early Contest

As I look back on when I was pregnant with my son I was super focused on the little baby that was growing inside me. I was online daily reading about each stage of the pregnancy and also found an online forum for moms due in 2006. This was a wonderful place to chat with other first time moms or moms that were expecting number 5. I would pop on here and there throughout the day and chat, ask questions and form some great friendships.

Playtex Mommyville is an online community that offers Canadian moms and moms to be great tools, newsletters, expert advice, support and tips for women through all the stages in the first few crucial years of motherhood. Great articles from birth to 24 months on development, feeding, health, parenting, preparation, safety and sleeping. Signing up for Playtex Mommyville is free and easy. When you sign up you will also receive a personalized profile. 

Playtex Mommyville also offers fabulous tools you will find on Playtex Mommyville are baby proofing checklist, immunization chart, daily activities to keep you and baby active when you may need it most.

Playtex Mommyville on Facebook is a great place to go and chat with other moms, you will also enjoy monthly sweepstakes, and special offers/coupons. Head over to Playtex Mommyville on Facebook as right you can enter to win 1 of 2 contributions towards an $25,000 RESP or 1 of 12 $100 Babies 'R' Us gift cards and a Playtex gift basket. What a fabulous contest! Good Luck to all that enters.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Playtex (Playtex is a licensed trademark. © 2012 Playtex Products, LLC). All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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