Life of Crime … Exploring with Orkin {+ Giveaways}*

{Notice: The winner of the $15 Fandango gift card is Marcy M. and the winner of the Orkin giveaway is Brian B. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all that entered the giveaways.}

Once again I’m being different and bringing you two awesome giveaways, but they’re not books. The first is book-related, while the second is geared toward youngsters going back to school.

Life of Crime, the new caper comedy from legendary author Elmore Leonard starring Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, Will Forte and Isla Fisher, hit theaters, on demand and iTunes on August 29th! 

To celebrate the release of Life of Crime, I have a $15 Fandango gift card to giveaway to one lucky visitor. More details in a moment.

Have you heard about the movie or read the book? Well, here’s a brief summary of the movie:

      When a pair of low-level criminals kidnap the wife of a corrupt real-estate developer, they get both more and less than they bargained for in Life of Crime, a dark caper comedy based on legendary author Elmore Leonard’s novel The Switch. 

      Starring Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes, yasiin bey, Mark Boone Junior, Isla Fisher, Will Forte and Tim Robbins, Life of Crime is packed with the outrageously eccentric characters, black comedy and unexpected twists that earned Leonard a reputation as one of America’s sharpest and funniest crime writers.

      Mickey Dawson (Jennifer Aniston), the wife of crooked real-estate developer Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins), is kidnapped by two common criminals (yasiin bey and Jon Hawkes), who intend to hold her for a $1 million ransom and extort her husband with inside information about his illegal business dealings. But Frank, who is holed up in the Bahamas with his mistress, decides he’d rather not get his wife back, setting off a sequence of double-crosses and plot twists that could only come from the mind of master storyteller Elmore Leonard. 

Here’s the movie trailer for Life of Crime for your viewing pleasure and to entice to a bit more.       
                                       


You can check out Life of Crime on Facebook to get the date information on where the film is playing near you and see additional videos. You can also check out Life of Crime on Twitter with the hashtag #LifeOfCrime.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for a $15 Fandango gift card to one lucky visitor. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. 

There is a short turn around on this giveaway. The deadline to enter is Thursday, Sept. 11. The winner will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected.

I’m making another change here and trying something different. To enter, just fill out the form below. If the form doesn’t appear, just drop me an email at mcbookshelf@gmail.com with ‘Life of Crime giveaway’ in the subject line. 



ORKIN SCIENTIFIC FACT OR FAKE
 
Orkin is back with their awesome Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake series of famous bug myths! Just as youngsters are going back to school, you get to share what you know about bugs.

Test your knowledge about bugs and entered to win an official Orkin Scientific Back-to-School Prize Pack. This awesome prize pack includes:

- Clip-on Fisheye Lens (iPhone, Galaxy, Android compatible)
- Orkin On-the-Go Drink Tumbler
- Orkin Drawstring Bag
- Orkin “Field Notes” Notebook with Pen 

      “Daddy longlegs are poisonous.”
      “Mosquitoes prefer adults over children.”
      “Ants can survive underwater.” 



You’ve heard the myths about bugs before, now it’s time to debunk them. Do you know what is fact and what’s fake? Well, take Orkin’s Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake™ Quiz to test your knowledge, and be sure to watch every clip for the scoop on these infamous bug myths. 

Orkin uses the latest technology and unparalleled training to develop a treatment that's right for your home and your needs. To learn more about pest control that's based in science or to schedule an inspection, visit orkin.com or call (844) 503-8251. You can also check out the Orkin Facebook page, the Ask The Orkin Man® Twitter Page, or Orkin YouTube Channel.

Are you afraid of bugs of any size or just certain ones?


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for an official Orkin Scientific Back-to-School Prize Pack for one lucky visitor. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. 

There is a short turn around on this giveaway, as well. The deadline to enter is Thursday, Sept. 11. The winner will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected.

I’m making the change here too and trying something different. To enter, just fill out the form below. If the form doesn’t appear, just drop me an email at mcbookshelf@gmail.com with ‘Orkin Prize Pack giveaway’ in the subject line. 



Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to enter one or both of these amazing giveaways. Have you read Elmore Leonard’s novel The Switch? Do you enjoy learning about insects with the youngsters in your family?

* FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with Life of Crime in making this announcement. Life of Crime, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the promotional giveaway. I am hosting the giveaway without compensation solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win. The thoughts and comments are completely my own and given honestly and freely.


** FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with Orkin LLC in making this announcement. Orkin LLC, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the prize pack as a promotional giveaway. In hosting the giveaway I will receive a prize pack as compensation, as well as providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win a prize pack. The thoughts and comments are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Things You Didn’t Know or Maybe Do {+Giveaway}

Have you ever watched a game show on TV and thought ‘I could do that’ or “I know the answers better than they do’?

Well, The American Bible Challenge began its third season Thursday, May 22, at 8 p.m. (ET)/7 (CT) on the Game Show Network. As part of the celebration for the new season, The American Bible Challenge and the Game Show Network are sponsoring a giveaway. Please see the end of the post for details.

But first, the “5 things you didn’t know about The American Bible Challenge” and the video promoting the new season. You can also see additional videos about the show by clicking on the video.

ABOUT The American Bible Challenge:

1. All the money won in every single episode is donated to charities.
2. All of the questions come from the old and new testament.
3. Your bible knowledge will be tested in physical challenges as well.
4. The American Bible Challenge is the highest rated TV program in Game Show Network history.
5. It is nominated for two daytime Emmy awards: Outstanding Game Show, and Outstanding Game Show Host Jeff Foxworthy.

The American Bible Challenge is a spirited game show that celebrates the Bible and its place in American culture. Bible enthusiasts from all across the country compete in a variety of challenges that put their knowledge of the Good Book to the test. The show’s prizing further reflects the celebration of faith, as teams earn money for the charity of their choice. 

The American Bible Challenge returned for a two hour block May 22nd at 8/7c on the Game Show Network. Don’t for get to tune in Thursday, June 5th, for the first episode of It Takes a Church premiering right after The American Bible Challenge. 

You can keep up with The American Bible Challenge on Twitter and Facebook. 

Here’s a (late) sneak peek at the season return of The American Bible Challenge.



GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for an American Bible Challenge Prize Pack consisting of:

* 1 official “The American Bible Challenge” Tee-shirt
* 1 11x17 official Season 3 poster 

The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and post office box addresses cannot be accepted. The giveaway will end on Friday, June 6. Each household is only eligible to win one (1) The American Bible Challenge Prize Pack via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will have ‘Thoughts in Progress American Bible Challenge’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you seen The American Bible Challenge? Do you think you’d win big if you had the chance to be on the show?

* FTC Full Disclosure – This post is sponsored by the Game Show Network and The American Bible Challenge. The Game Show Network and The American Bible Challenge, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the prize pack as a promotional giveaway. I will receive a prize pack for hosting the giveaway. However, receiving the complimentary prize pack did not influence my thoughts and comments on this subject those are solely my own and honestly given. This post contains affiliate links. a Rafflecopter giveaway

American Dream Builders, Lowe’s and Giveaways

Do you ever fantasize about creating your own personal library – a room with a reading nook and plenty of space for your book collection? What about creating that perfect office space – a room where you can write without having to rearrange your paperwork when it’s time to make dinner.

The American Dream Home is something everyone fantasizes about. Whether it’s a new closet, a larger family room, or simply a place to put all your stuff, there’s always something we want to change about where we live.

What if you could make your home into your Dream Home? AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS – a new show on NBC airing on Sundays at 8/7c – and Lowe’s want to make your dream a reality.


Thanks to Lowe’s, one lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress can get a jump start on making minor changes with a $50 Lowe’s Gift Card. Please see the end of the post for details. First, find out how you can win an awesome makeover for your home.

Hosted by famed interior designer and bestselling author Nate Berkus, AMERICAN HOME BUILDERS follows the nation’s top 12 designers and home builders as they compete to be crowned the Ultimate Dream Builder and take home a $250,000 cash prize. It’s the home competition that will change everything.

From the producers of Survivor and The Bachelor, you won’t want to miss an episode of AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS, Sundays at 8/7c, only on NBC.

The wonderful thing is YOU CAN ENTER for a chance to win $100,000 in products and services from Lowe’s and a consultation with the winner of American Dream Builders! To enter for your chance to win your dream renovation at www.nbc.com/lowes.

You will have the opportunity to earn 5 bonus entries when you “Dream It Yourself”! Upload a photo and description of a home project you are working on and EARN 5 BONUS SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. In addition, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter for a chance to win more prizes from American Dream Builders and Lowe’s!

To get involved with the show, you can join LIVE TWEET with the judges – Nate Berkus, Eddie George and Monica Pedersen at #DreamBuilders. You can join the judges and contestants on Twitter as they LIVE TWEET along with the show. Nate will be live tweeting all season long, don’t miss a chance to chat with him.

AMERICAN DREAM BUILDER’S FIRST LOOK …
        Get an extended look at American Dream Builders, the new makeover competition show hosted by Nate Berkus on NBC at 8/7c on Sundays.

 

DREAMING BIG …
        American Dream Builders is bigger and better than any show out there. See what the show’s designers can accomplish in just one week!


LOWE’S $50 GIFT CARD …

This giveaway is for a $50 gift card from Lowe’s. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only. To enter the giveaway just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I know I’ve veered away from books again, but just think of the beautiful personal library or reading nook you could create with these prizes. What would be your personal ‘Dream Home Makeover’ if you won the $100,000 prize or what would you purchase with the $50 gift card?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with NBC Universal in making this announcement. NBC Universal, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the $50 Lowe’s Gift Card as a promotional giveaway. I am hosting the giveaway without compensation solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win the $50 Lowe’s Gift Card and chance to enter the $100k home renovation from American Dream Builders and Lowe’s. Each household is only eligible to win One (1) $50 Lowe's Gift Card via blog reviews and giveaways. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention and Giveaway*

Do you remember the old saying, “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite”?

As children we believed that was just something our parents told us to make us sleep. But as adults we know bed bugs really exist. They can come into your home no matter how neat and tidy you keep your surroundings.

According to Wikipedia, dwellings can become infested with bed bugs in a variety of ways, such as:

• Bugs and eggs inadvertently brought in from other infested dwellings on a visiting person's clothing or luggage;
• Infested items (such as furniture, clothing, or backpacks) brought in;
• Nearby dwellings or infested items, if easy routes are available for travel (through duct work or false ceilings);
• Wild animals (such as bats or birds)^[15][16] that may also harbour bed bugs or related species such as the bat bug;
• People visiting an infested area (e.g. dwelling, means of transport, entertainment venue, or hotel) and carrying the bugs to another area on their clothing, luggage, or bodies.
• Though bed bugs will feed on pets, they do not live or travel on the skin of their hosts, and pets are not believed to be a factor in their spread.^[17]

According to reports, bed bugs have come back strong over the last decade making it harder to get a good night’s sleep without worrying. Even curling up in bed with a good book can lead to visions of your own horror story unfolding. 

Now is the time to take control of the situation with a smart action plan – before the bed bugs bite. Bed bugs reproduce quickly so it’s critical to detect and treat an infestation early.

 
Thanks to Orkin and the good folks at PartnersHub Family, I have a giveaway that will help with your fight against bed bugs. I have the Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress safe, pillow safe protectors - $30 value) to award one lucky reader! Please see the end of the post for details.

Take the “Don’t Let the Beg Bugs Bite” QUIZ and download the “5 Must-Known Facts” PDF for a few tips on how to spot a budding beg bug problem. 

 
If you suspect an infestation, be sure to contact your Orkin professional, who can inspect your home thoroughly and design a treatment that’s right for you. You can also visit Orkin.com or call 877-412-6806 for a free estimate.


THE GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway is for one Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack which includes two mattress safe, pillow safe protectors valued at $30. The giveaway is for residents of the U.S. only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. To enter just click on the widget below and follow the instructions. If the entry form doesn't seem to work, just send me an email (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with Orkin Bed Bugs in the subject line and your name and mailing address in the body.

Entry-Form

Thanks for stopping by today. I know you enjoy book-related material, but from time to time I want to share information that is more lifestyle-related. I hope you find it helpful. Know any horror stories of bed bugs you’d like to share with us? Do you think bed bugs could be used in a murder mystery?

FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with Orkin LLC in making this announcement. Orkin LLC, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack as a promotional giveaway. I am hosting the giveaway without compensation solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win this prize pack. 

NOTICE:
Each household is only eligible to win Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress safe, pillow, safe protectors) via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

* This post is sponsored by Orkin. Find more on Twitter at #OrkinBedBugs

Are you eating ‘Heart Healthy?’

In recent years there has been more and more emphasis on creating a healthy lifestyle by eating better and being ‘heart healthy.’
 
In our household with two in-laws over 90 years old, I’m always on the lookout for foods and recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and especially good for our health. Limited to the amount of exercise they can do, healthy food is a top priority in maintaining their well-being.
It’s important to us to watch what foods we eat in order to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle. I watch how much sodium I use in our meals and try to find dishes that will help keep our cholesterol levels in check. So far, my in-laws have been able to come off the blood pressure medicine they were taking.

I’ve also discovered that using Campbell’s products always makes the dishes easy to prepare and quite tasty. Some of their products have healthy alternatives to other ingredients. With that in mind, I’m delighted to be participating in Campbell’s Address Your Heart campaign.

As part of the campaign, Campbell’s is offering a list of great money saving coupons and special offers for you to try. Just click on this link and check out the awesome savings and much more.

In addition, I’m happy to share five delicious dishes from Campbell’s “American Heart Association Certified Recipes” that I hope will become family favorites for your home as they have for ours. Just click on the photo for the tasty recipes.

BROCCOLI CHEDDAR RICE



GRILLED BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN

 

SLOW-COOKED CHICKEN & BUTTERNUT SQUASH

 

CREAMY CHICKEN & VEGETABLES OVER SPAGHETTI SQUASH

 

CREAMY TURKEY & VEGETABLE LASAGNA

 

TURKEY MEATLOAF

 

FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with the Campbell Soup Company in making this announcement. Campbell Soup Company, through PartnersHub Family, supplied the links to the coupons and special offers made available for readers to download. I am being compensated for this post, but that has no influence on my views and opinions of the products mentioned. I would not be presenting this sponsored post by Campbell Soup Company, if I didn’t believe in their products. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you’ll check out the recipes and coupons. While this post isn’t book-related, I’m always eager to share information that I hope will benefit you in some way. Besides, maintaining a healthy lifestyle gives us more years to read wonderful books.

Is your family trying to maintain a ‘heart healthy’ lifestyle? Do you find it difficult to make changes in the way you select and prepare food for your family when trying to be ‘heart healthy’?

iParent.TV Family Subscription and Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Tabathia B. Congratulations to Tabathia and thanks to those who entered.

I’m always on the lookout for books and information to share with you that I feel will be something you’d enjoy or find useful. While I don’t have children, that doesn’t stop me from also seeking out items that would be of interest to you that do have children or grandchildren.

Thanks to the great folks at PartnersHub Family, I’d like to tell you about iParent.TV and have a one year subscription to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

First let me tell you a little bit about iParent.TV for those who aren’t familiar with it (I wasn’t).

What is iParent.TV? If your youngsters are awake, they’re probably on a smartphone, in front of a smart TV, downloading apps, or posting to social networks. And most likely you have no idea what they’re doing.

iParent.TV will be a yearly, subscription-based website for teaching and informing parents on all things tech, mobile, devices, websites, and apps for kids so that you WILL know.


The Problem. Most parents don't have an inside track to tech or social media dangers, let alone how to safeguard their children against them. 

Fifty-eight percent of 10-12 year old youngsters believe they know how to hide their online activities from their parents.

Forty-six percent of them said they would change their online behavior if they knew their parents were paying attention.

Introducing iParent.TV - keeping parents ahead of the tech curve. iParent.TV believes they have the opportunity to help parents understand, get involved and safeguard their children in the ever-evolving tech World. iParent.TV educates parents with all the latest trends via Websites - Social Media - Apps – Devices

The idea. It started with a group of dads who felt like their 9-year-olds knew more about tech than they did. They were right. But their idea will help change that forever for all parents. Once launched, iParent.TV will have 100s of videos and product reviews that are very current, cutting edge and trending, keeping parents who subscribe ahead of the tech curve.

How it will work? The iParent.TV website will be a subscription-based site costing $49 per year for parents to access all the videos, reviews, how-tos, and live chat support. It will be the largest site on the net helping parents understand what's safe and what’s not in the world of tech. - And they are offering it for only $29 on Indiegogo.

What you get? Articles, videos, reviews, tips, tools and expert advice on EVERYTHING like…
- Popular Apps
- Social Network Sites
- Major Websites
- Top Devices 

To get started visit http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iparent-tv.

Learn About iParent.TV! - Learn about out the idea and the awesome people behind iParent.TV and be sure to check out their Indiegogo page for awesome backing deals.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

iParent.TV is giving away a one year subscription (valued at $49) to one lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress. The subscription includes a password and login to the site and access to articles, news, and information on what’s new in the world of tech and how it affects your family. There will be ratings, rankings on which platforms are safe for kids and age ranges so you know if a site is safe for very young children. This is a great way to stay ahead of the curve and be informed just like your kids are!

To enter this giveaway, just check out the indiegogo page and post your favorite part about the iParent.TV platform in the comment section. 

If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.

The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 7. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress iParent.TV.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.

BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link). 

Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of time with us. Remember, just check out the indiegogo page and post your favorite part about the iParent.TV platform in the comment section. 

 

 
PartnersHub Disclosure: Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Subscription to iParent.TV via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a one-year subscription to iParent.TV for my participation in this tour, which I plan to give to a family member who has young children. Receiving the subscription, however, did not influence this post. I wanted to host this giveaway solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog to opportunity to learn additional ways to safeguard their youngsters on the web.

Fun Warner Bros. Valentine’s Day Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Erin E. Congratulations to Erin and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.
 
Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to enjoy the spirit of love and romance throughout the year.

February is the one month of the year where everyone has love on their minds! It can be romantic, it can be love for your children or parents or you could just be a movie lover. Whatever you love, Warner Bros. has you covered with some amazing DVDs perfect for the whole family! Thanks to Warner Bros. and the good folks at PartnersHub, I have a fun giveaway to share with you.

Warner Bros. can help if you’re a love lorn poet, there’s the Peanuts Collection. If you want to smother your significant other with kisses there’s the Looney Tunes Pepe Le Pew Collection to inspire, and if you want to solve some madcap mystery, then look no further than Scooby-Doo.

One lucky visitor to Thoughts will win one of the following titles. (The DVD awarded will be chosen at random by Warner Bros. and PartnersHub.):

* Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition
* A Charlie Brown Valentine
* Bugs Bunny’s Cupid Capers
* Happiness is... Peanuts: Friends Forever
* Elmo Loves You
* Looney Tunes Pepe Le Pew Collection
* Scooby-Doo! 13 Spooky Tales: For The Love Of Snack

Who is Your Cartoon Crush?

Everyone has had a crush at some point in their lives, but do you know who your cartoon crush is? Is it Scooby-Doo? Charlie Brown? Or maybe Bugs Bunny?
Find out who you would be romantically perfect with!

Valentine’s Day Recipes:

When we think of movie night, the first thing we want to know is... What are the snacks? Here are three easy and fun recipe’s perfect for you and your Valentine throughout the year.


Poems to show your love:

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only. To enter for a chance to win one of these fun DVDs, just take the ‘Who Is Your Cartoon Crush Quiz?’ and post your favorite cartoon crush in the comment section. It’s fun to be a kid again, so go ahead give it a try. Be sure to include your email address, if it’s not included in your profile.

The deadline to enter this giveaway will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Feb. 22. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Warner Bros DVD.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.

At the request of the promoters, I’m including the following notice: Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Valentine’s Day DVD chosen at random via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with Warner Bros in making this announcement. Warner Bros,, through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the DVD as a promotional giveaway. I am hosting the giveaway without compensation solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win a Valentine’s Day-themed DVD. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day and continue to enjoy the spirit of love and romance throughout the year. I’m sharing some more photos below from the additional 4 inches of snow we got Wednesday night for a total of 8 inches from this ‘wonderful little storm.’