I was contacted a while back and asked if I would be interested in reviewing the book Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues. The woman who contacted me was a student of one of Lisa’s classes and the information she shared with me was intriguing so I agreed.

Delays in shipping happened and I had actually forgotten about the book completely. Then on my boys’ last day of school this year it arrived. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book, so when I opened it and found that the very first step in Becoming a Writing Mother tells us to “Throw Away the Rules”, I simply couldn’t put it down. You know, all the rules we were taught for all those years in school. The very rules that so many would-be-great writers stop before they have even begun. The rules that cramp them and throw them in a box … yes, those rules … just throw them out and write.

That got the whole book off to a good start for me! I’m a bit of a stickler for grammar because I grew up simply loving English and read books like crazy so it comes naturally to me. But since I edit a great variety of articles for various websites and columns, I know how daunting it can be to feel like you measure up or are “good enough”. Let me just say right here and now that in my opinion some of the best writers are the ones who have given up on putting pen to paper simply because of spelling and grammar hangups.

Moving on though LOL! This book takes you step by step and chapter by chapter through writing lessons, thoughts, tips and strategies. The idea basically is to write every single day, not online, using pen and paper. I couldn’t agree more.

Surprised? Although I share a lot of thoughts and tips and life happenings at A Frog In My Soup, it is not exactly an open book. I can’t share everything there, I can’t record everything that way, I would bore all of you absolutely to death! So, I agree, one page per day in your Mother Notebook is a great thing.

If you love to write … even if you’ve incurred hangups over the years … get this book! I truly recommend that you read it and be ENCOURAGED in your writing or even just to get started. I related to so many of the things Lisa shared in Part One of the book I was surprised to find myself getting emotional so many times. If you decide to get it let me know what you think .

I want to take a moment to thank all of the sponsors and participants one more time for making the week of giveaway a lot of fun!!!  I’m so thrilled that so many of you participated!  Here’s the list of winners from that week …..

Greeting Cookie Company-Greeting Cookie : Susan Smith
MarieLynn Boutique-Korker Bow: Taneil
The Green Path-Tote: Caryn B
LLL Designs-Boutique Bow: Mattie
Sapphire Secrets-Miss Pink Fairy Dress: Andrea
Regionz Kidz Educational CD: Kristinia Clos & Doreen
Sew Blessed Boutique-Size 6 Strawberry Criss Cross Halter Dress (whew): Jennifer Bogart
Bambina Ballerina-$15 Gift Certificate: Carly

Whew!!!!  I’m exhausted!  I emailed each and every one of these winners as I picked them (using random.org of course), so be sure to look for an email from froggyreviews!!!

Congratulations to all of you!  I mentioned before that I have more great contests to come, but I’m so exhausted from listing all of these that will have to wait until tomorrow!

Today I’m going to be announcing a lot of winners!!!  I totally forgot to announce the winners of a couple of contests from a few weeks ago too! 

Sweetie Pie Baby Boutique - Rachel

BabyCakes Art - Jeanine P.

Thank you all for your participation!  I will announce the Week of Giveaways winners in a little bit! 

I have some more great contests coming, so be on the lookout.

That’s right there’s only one day left to enter all of the great contests from the Week of Giveaways.  Remind all your friends to hurry over and enter if they haven’t already!  I’ll announce all of the winners on Monday!

Today is the last day of the Froggy Reviews Week of Giveaways!! To end the event, we have a fun contest being offered at A Frog In My Soup (information below)! I hope you have all enjoyed this last week and don’t forget to continue to let everyone know about it! The information (and a button) for the event is in the sidebar on the right, feel free to use that information on your blog through Thursday.

When Janet Nusbaum, owner of www.KidsandChores.net contacted me about her chore system for families I was intrigued. When she offered to send me the book I was thrilled! This isn’t your ordinary chore system! 

Hop on over to A Frog In My Soup to enter to win a complete Chore System and to take advantage of a great offer!!!

Bambina Ballerina is a fun online boutique that offers tutu hairbow holders. With a large variety of sizes to choose from (mini, large specialty, fairytopia, and custom designs) you are sure to find the style and price you need!

I love their Fairytopia line! These holders are beautiful and in my opinion make a great decoration for a little girl’s room. Also a wonderful gift! Bambina Ballerina is adding to this line all the time! Just look at the images in this post and visit the site and I think you’ll agree!

I am the number one leader in hairbow holders on the net and am in over 30 stores in the United States. I am a stay at home mom and started my business almost one year ago. I love to work with other moms and do also promote other mommy hairbow businesses, so if there are moms out there with hairbows, they are welcome to contact me.

Bambina Ballerina’s bowholders are approx 15-17 inches for their small version and 28-30 inches for their large version. They are made of lightweight material so they won’t hurt little heads if it falls. These adorable “accessories” use nearly 8 yards of material on the large skirts and 4-6 on the small skirts, so they are very full.

Bambina Ballerina is offering one of you a $15 gift certificate for their shop. Please note, this may not cover the entire cost of the purchase. To enter, visit Bambina Ballerina and take a look around. Come back here and mention your favorite product or something you’d love to see.

Sew Blessed Boutique is a swanky and funky children’s boutique that specializes in OOAK boutique clothing and accessories. Affordable, cute clothing for children (mainly little girls) that is as unique as your child. I think their creations would make a fantastic gift!

Our clothing is unique and One of A Kind because we choose to only use fabrics one time in the construction of a garment. Different clothing sets may be made in the same print, but once an outfit is made, that outfit will not be made again in the same print. This is what makes our clothing truly OOAK. However, if you are the mother or father of twins, we will work with you to provide you matching outfits that your little blessings can WOW the crowds with. Please email us for special requests of this nature. We also offer made-to-match boutique bows to coordinate with your OOAK clothing from our store or any Gymboree line, past and present.

They have just added a Tween Clothing section that offers unique clothing for pre-teens. This clothing line will include skirts, tops, capri-sets and more that will have every pre-teen drooling over their clothes.

Having a pre-teen daughter of our own, we understand the struggle to find cute, hip, and modest clothing that parents and girls can agree on.

Customer service is a huge deal to this family run business!!! “All of our products are 100% satisfaction guaranteed.” They respond to emails almost immediately and are dedicated to creating a product that you love!

They even offer bows and flipflops to match the outfits they create. My favorite product is the Bodice Ribbon Dress - very sweet!

Sew Blessed Boutique is offering a 15% discount for my readers! Just enter the code FROGGYBLOGGY before checkout.

Sew Blessed Boutique has offered a fun prize for our giveaway event. Because of the OOAK nature of their products this prize is VERY specific to please pay attention to the details before entering. They have offered a Criss Cross Halter Dress - size 6 Strawberry Delight Print.

“This amazing dress pairs our criss-cross halter with a beautiful full ankle length skirt. This dress is perfect for church, weddings, or just everyday wear. Your little darling is sure to be blessed!”

If you know a little girl that would love this cute Strawberry print and wears a Size 6, here’s what you need to do to enter: Visit Sew Blessed Boutique and see what they have to offer. Come back here and leave a comment telling us about your favorite product.

Regionz Kidz offers products that celebrate diversity. I have featured their amazing t-shirts for baby and mom before, but this time I am honored to be featuring their latest product addition, an Educational CD Series! There are three CD sets: Flash Cards, Activities and Books.

Flash Cards: Features all 8 of their flash card sets along with many great teaching tools and resources for parents while using these great cards.

Activity CD: Includes a mixture of images from their sketch collection with over 20 activities for parents to enjoy with their little one. Just print them out and follow the instructions.

Books CD: Regionz Kidz offers a great line of books you can purchase, but they now offer them on this CD as well. They are in PDF format, so you can view them on the computer with your child, or print them out as a hard copy.

I love that for $10 I can purchase one of these wonderful educational tools for my children. They offer the tools I need and activities to make the experience rewarding for both parent and child.

Hop on over to Regionz Kidz and check them out. While you’re there, if you want to pick up a couple of CD’s just use the wonderful 10% discount they’ve offered by using the code FROG. The offer is good on any purchase in their store.

Giveaway: Regionz Kidz has offered each of you the opportunity to enter to win one of two Educational CDs Regionz Kidz is giving away. To enter you’ll need to visit Regionz Kidz‘ website and take a look around. Then, come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite product is.

At Sapphire Secrets you will find beautiful handmade Fairy Dresses, Wands, Wings and Shoes.  You will also find Childrens/Babies Clothing and Gifts, and Lingerie, Stylish Handbags for the Mums and more…

I love their fairy dresses!  The Creme Sweet Fairy Dress and the Princess Plum Fairy Dress are my favorite ones!  I’m also always looking for fun, functional, mom-friendly handbags and they offer those too!  My favorite there is the Cherries Handbag - a little young for me I suppose, but oh-so-cute.

They have a great discount deal for all of you … When you spend $50 or more at Sapphire Secrets you will get 5% off your order and when you spend over $100 you get 10% off your order!

Sapphire Secrets has offered a Miss Pinky Fairy Dress (for ages 3-5 Years).

This beautiful Miss Pink Fairy dress (pictured right) has a Satin bodice with sequins and 3 rosette flowers on the neck line. On the back of the bodice it has small fairy wings sewing onto the bodice. The skirt has pink satin underlining with pink zig-zag soft netting around the skirt with sequins and hanging from the skirt is little droplets of beads to make your little fairy sparkle. This fairy dress is ideal for dancing, dressing up or any special occasion for girls aged 3-5 years.

To enter just visit Sapphire Secrets and take a look around, then come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite product is.

This contest is open for shipping anywhere in the world!

I was very excited to recently “meet” Kaleena, the designer behind the wonderful products at LLL Designs! LLL Designs is a brand new company - so new in fact that they are adding new product almost daily!  With Kaleena’s pageant background however, she’s been around bows and making bows for years!

I had a lot of fun looking around LLL Design’s shop.  They have some very fun products, especially for family’s with little girls!   I honestly CANNOT choose a favorite, they are all so sweet and adorable, but I do love the everyday simplicity of the Clippies and my frilly-girly-girl self can’t help but love the Boutique Bows (the Brown and Pink as well as the Cotton Candy are oh-so-fun!).  

I strive to make quality products at a reasonable price and to make each customer smile when they receive their items. I’m very willing to do custom work and actually invite it to make sure you get the best match for your outfits!

Their bows are ULTRA affordable!!!! I can’t tell you how excited I get when I find a mom-owned shop offering mom-created products that you can purchase directly from them for a great price. How fun for moms with little girls to know that they can afford to buy designer and custom bows that would normally cost a phenomenal amount at a department store.

LLL Designs is offering your choice of any Boutique Bow $10 or less from the shop.  To enter to win, just visit LLL Designs and take a look around.  Come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite product is.