inspiration Archives - Dad of Divas

Same Kind of Different As Me Comes To Theaters Oct 20!

October 6, 2017 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

About the Movie

“Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody.” Words of wisdom from a homeless drifter; words that never would be shared with the world if not for a wayward husband, a forgiving wife, and an unforgettable true story that brought the three of them together.

In Same Kind of Different As Me we see a family that has more money than they could ever possibly need, however even though Ron and Debbie Hall have everything they could ever want they do not have a loving marriage. When Ron’s unfaithfulness is brought to light, Debbie invites him to stay—as long as he remains truthful and does what she asks of him. But when her request includes serving the homeless at an inner-city rescue mission, Ron would prefer to write a large check instead. Guided by her faith and spurred on by the dream of a homeless man she senses will change their city, Debbie befriends a disenfranchised man named Denver. More surprisingly, so does Ron. Despite vast differences, their lives begin to intersect and they all are changed … forever.

Behind the Scenes

After watching these videos I have to say that this movie looks very inspiring. I work in an area that has many homeless and I know that there is more that I can do to be able to support the people around me. This movie looks like it will work towards changing the way that people look at homeless and people that are other and to be honest I feel that we need more of this kind of message around us today!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a chance to see this great movie? I am giving away 4 Fandango movie tickets, to see for SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME. All you need to enter is the following:

Share a comment about your thoughts on this movie and what you would do to make the difference in someone else’ life
Share this giveaway socially and leave a comment on where you shared it
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY –

Winner must be a resident of the U.S.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

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Giveaway – Chicken Soup for the Soul – Country Music

May 26, 2011 by dadofdivas

About the Book

The Inspirational Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Country Songs

Songs tell a story, and now many of country music’s most famous singers and songwriters are sharing more of the story! These artists reveal the inspiration, influence, and background, and when and why they wrote their most famous songs, in this fresh collection of stories. The book also includes great photos of the songwriters and lyrics of many of the songs. A great gift for anyone who loves country music!

Purpose of the Books

After 15 years of bringing real people and their stories together to touch the lives of others, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has gone beyond the bookstore to become a world leader in life improvement. Chicken Soup for the Soul is home to the largest catalog of user-generated, life-changing stories. Through books, movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships it brings hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chicken Soup for the Soul authors and readers belong to a one-of-a-kind global community that shares advice, support, guidance, comfort, and knowledge.

About the Company
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world’s premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit: http://www.chickensoup.com/.

Facts About The Reach of The Books

Total retail sales of Chicken Soup for the Soul branded merchandise have topped $1.3 billion.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 200 titles has sold over 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the world’s most well-known brands– 88.7% of the US public not only recognizes the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, but knows what it is (source—Harris Polls).
Chicken Soup for the Soul holds the world record for having the most titles on the New York Times bestseller list at one time.
Chicken Soup for the Soul receives millions of monthly media impressions, with cross-promotion relationships in place with top media brands like King Features, Woman’s World, BeliefNet and others.
Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have looked to Chicken Soup for the Soul for co-branding opportunities, including American Idol®, Coke®, NASCAR®, Marriott®, Campbell’s®, Arby’s®, Golf Digest® and others.
Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup for the Soul series the “Publishing phenomenon of the decade.”
In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul and dick clark productions entered into an agreement to develop a television series based on the brand.

My Take On The Book
As a part of the award winning Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this book does a great job at continuing the tradition of great motivational and inspiring stories that readers have come to expect within these books.

While I am far from being the largest Country Music fan, I do like them and this book makes many of the songs come alive in my mind as it allows the reader to understand where these songs came from and what the stories were behind them.

Knowing the stories you were reading were real made the book compelling and an easy read and you are both motivated and in awe of some of the challenges that some of these people went through in the stories that they share.

If you are interested in having this book for yourself you can find it on

Products from Amazon.com

‹ ›

[amazon_enhanced asin=”1935096672″ /]

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 3 copies to lucky readers! All you need to do is subscribe to Dad of Divas and let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on June 2, 2011.

Bonus Entries

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site
Subscribe to Dad of Divas by Email
Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 3 @ChickenSoup4TheSoul Country Music Books – http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway #win” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
Like Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

This contest will run until May 13, 2011 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

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American Girl Shine on Now Video Now on YouTube

June 29, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

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Book Review – Angel on My Handlebars

May 28, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

About the Book
67 year old beauty queen bicycles across the US to raise money for music scholarship

She may seem “old” by young people’s standards and even considered “mature” by others, but she isn’t over the hill by any means. And now turning 72, she’s a remarkable model of what a person can aim at and achieve for all of us.

Patricia Starr, a Santa Barbara, CA and Wahoo, NE trombone teacher, a concert pianist and a former beauty queen, amazed everyone when at the age of 67 she decided to do the unthinkable and bicycle across America to raise money for a music scholarship. This past year, at age 71, she pedaled 1,400 miles to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to represent the State of Nebraska in the Ms. Senior America pageant.

This beautiful remarkable woman shares her story and experiences in her new book, Angel on My Handlebars.

In 50 days this untrained woman in short shorts and Hanes Pantyhose rode a bicycle with a fuzzy seat cover 3,622 miles. All odds were certainly against her, and some seasoned cyclists scoffed at what they thought was a frivolous attempt to complete this noteworthy journey.

Start in Astoria OregonStart in Astoria Oregon

Many of the days during the ride stretched between 100-120 miles. The excitement swung from angel experiences to heartbreak to excruciating pain.

Riding up the Columbia Gorge

Patricia had to overcome many obstacles along the way – ominous electrical storms, rain, heat, wind, fatigue, hunger, a broken toe, screaming muscles, a nasty crash, panic at being lost and alone, sharing the interstate with 18-wheelers, a bear scare and her follow-up van being stolen.

Day 15 Jackson Wyoming

Day 30 Sioux falls, South Dakota

Angel on My Handlebars is an adventure story about the survival of the human spirit. Through this book, Patricia and her husband want to inspire others to never give up. Whatever your dream happens to be, go for it!

Day 50 Arrival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

She never gave up. Her strong desire, along with a husband willing to do anything to help his wife succeed and endure the rigors of the road, allowed her to accomplish this feat to raise funds for a music scholarship at Santa Barbara City College.

Angel on My Handlebars

By Patricia Starr

US $19.95

ISBN: 978-0-9795444-8-4

Published December 2009

Published by Summerland Publishing

Available in bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information visit www.angelonmyhandlebars.com

My Take on the Book

Persistence, persistence, persistence. This book makes me think of the childrens book Little Train That Could. Patricia is an amazing woman that is an inspiration to anyone. I mean, how many 67 year old individuals would take a 3,622 mile bike journey across the United States, I don’t know that I know many, and on top of this, the list of other accomplishments that she has done in her life made me start thinking of my own accomplishments. From being a concert pianist and trombone teacher to winning the Mrs. Senior California and Mrs. Senior Nebraska beauty pageants, she is living her life the way that she wants to and inspiting others as she does.

If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to be and do more with your life, I would encourage you to check out this book. You can find it on Amazon!

Music is Key to Summer Enrichment – The Ocarina can help!

April 3, 2010 by dadofdivas 1 Comment

STL Ocarina is offering two summer enrichment packages:

The Art of Ocarina for Young Children: This method book is specially designed for children and those of who are young at heart. Through ten step-by-step lessons, you can learn how to read music and how to play songs on your six-hole ocarina. No prior musical knowledge is required. A demonstration CD is included so you can play along with us! This book also includes: 10 Step-by-step lessons; Colorful fingering chart; Over 30 well known songs; Tips on how to practice each song; and a free 6-hole plastic ocarina. SRP: $30 Available at http://stlocarina.com/method3.html

The Art of Ocarina for Older Kids (ages 10+): This method book is designed to help older children learn to play the ocarina. No prior musical knowledge is required. In addition to presenting various rhythms and the fingerings for the notes, our lessons provide instruction on how to read standard musical notation on the ocarina. The repertoire chapter includes 12 famous songs with detailed information on how to practice each song. A demonstration CD of all the songs in the book is provided to help you learn to play beautifully. This method book includes: 12 Step-by-Step lessons; How to play each note; Tips on how to practice; Breathing techniques; How to play various rhythms; How to play in different keys; Scales and exercises for daily practice; Over 50 well known songs; and a demonstration CD. Also included in this custom package is a 12-hole Plastic Tenor Ocarina in C Major. SRP: $39. Available at http://www.stlocarina.com

History of The Ocarina
The ocarina is an ancient instrument. The first known ocarina-like instrument appear about 12000 years ago. The ocarina’s origins can be traced back to many different cultures. In South and Central America, the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas all developed and performed on clay ocarinas which were often shaped like birds or animals. Ocarinas shaped like birds and animals could also be found in India as early as 5000 BC. China had its own form of ocarina called a Xun which was more rounded and egg-like in shape.

Early History – 16th – 19th Centuries
The ocarina eventually made its way to Europe. In 1527, Cortes sent a group of Aztec dancers and musicians back to Emperor Charles V to perform at the royal court. The performance was well received and the Aztecs were sent to perform at various exhibitions throughout Europe. According to legend, a baker in Rome saw such a performance and was so impressed with the ocarina that he decided to make his own. (Bakers at that time often would make small pottery objects in their ovens to use up the leftover ashes.) It was nicknamed “ocarina” meaning “little goose.” It soon became a novelty item, but with its limited number of notes, it was little more than a toy. This all changed in the late 19th century when Guiseppe Donati, a young baker and musician, invented the submarine/sweet potato shaped ocarina which included accurate pitch and an extended range of notes. The ocarina could now be used for western art music. Various sizes were made which enabled ocarina players to form ensembles. One such ocarina ensemble is the famed Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese which is still actively performing today.

20th Century
During the first and second World Wars, servicemen often were provided with a pocket-sized ocarina to boost moral. As a result, the ocarina gained popularity in America as well as in Europe. However, due to rising interest in the recorder, the ocarina soon became unknown to the general public. With the release of the popular video game “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” in the 1990s, the ocarina has reached a new level of popularity in America and Europe. The ocarina has also gained recognition in Asia, particularly in Japan, thanks to the efforts of ocarina master Sojiro. He has released several recordings and continues to perform internationally.

What does an Ocarina Sound Like

My Take On The Ocarina

Growing up, I was very musical in nature, I played Trumpet as well as was a vocal singer, so I read music and know how to play musical instruments. Ocarina gave me the opportunity with this review to try out two (a 6 hole & 12 hole Ocarina) of their Ocarina’s along with the Beginners Guide to the Ocarina and the Beginners Guide to the Ocarina For Kids.

I found each of the ocarinas to be very different from one another in terms of how they sounded and how you played them. The hardest part that I found in playing one of these ocarinas was learning the different note finger positions and being able to move my fingers in the right places at the right time. The guides though help the beginner to take a step-by-step approach to learning the finger positions to make you start sounding like a pro in no time. I decided to give these ocarina’s (the 6 hole at first) to Diva-J to start working with her on learning the instrument. If you know Diva-J, you know she is not the most patient, so I expected her to simply start blowing all over the place and not take direction. Surprisingly, I was impressed to see that she did do that at first, but then I sat down and talked to her and slowly she took to the direction step-by-step. So I am hopeful that through the summer we can work on this and practice and see what happens, maybe she will become as good as the woman you year above someday.

Overall, I would say that if you are looking for a unique musical instrument or if you want your children to experience and appreciate an instrument that has been around for a very long time, take a look at purchasing an Ocarina for yourself.

If you are looking to purchase an Ocarina, you can find a myriad of different types of ocarinas at: http://stlocarina.com/

New Hallmark Kids Collection Really Motivates! Review & Giveaway

March 26, 2010 by dadofdivas 17 Comments

About the Cards
This collection was developed keeping in mind that everyone needs to be cheered on– kids included. Whether it’s school, sports or trying to make new friends, the children in our lives are on a journey of growth and self-exploration. Few things are more helpful to kids than the support of a parent or grown-up who believes in them and is there with a few heartfelt words of encouragement.

But sometimes, what kids hear “goes in one ear and out the other,” meaning that kids are often missing out on something they really need: encouraging words. In fact, Hallmark research revealed that the moms they surveyed think they are encouraging their children all the time, but in the moments when their kids most needed encouragement, the kids didn’t feel like it was there.

To help grown-ups better connect with and encourage kids, Hallmark recently introduced the all-new Kids Collection, a line of cards and gifts designed specifically to cheer kids on, cheer them up and make them smile. You can check out some of Hallmark’s Kids Collection at www.hallmark.com/kids. There, you’ll see a sampling of the gifts and cards that are available for grown-ups to share with the kids in their lives.

My Take on the Cards
I loved these cards. Not only were they funny, but they truly were on the kids’ level and I know that if I were the recipient of the cards, I would have a smile on my face! I was impressed by the variety of cards available, from basic to cards that can be electronically personalized or that provide you with keepsakes, they all are unique and special and do a great job of cheering and motivating your child to be the best that they can be, no matter what that is.

So if you are looking for a unique way to tell your child how you feel about them, look no further than the new Kids Collection from Hallmark.

Giveaway

How would you like to win these cards for yourself? I will be giving away all 5-6 Hallmark Kids Collection Cards to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this product to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on April 2, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to this blog either by RSS or email for one entry (top right hand corner, if you already do leave in a separate comment)
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Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving 5-6 Hallmark Kids Collection Cards to 1 reader – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until April 2, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

Book Review & Giveaway – Achieve Anything In Just One Year

February 12, 2010 by dadofdivas 18 Comments

About The Book

This is a self improvement, motivational and personal development book that is designed to be read on a daily basis. One page a day for one year. Each page starts with an inspirational quote, followed by a discussion of that day’s topic, and ends with a task or an assignment for the reader to follow. Achieve Anything in Just One Year equips readers with the tools to:

Be truly committed. Don’t just go through the motions – act like you’re making a promise to your company, or to your best friend.
Be specific. A resolution like “I want to lose weight” is easier to ignore than “I want to lose five pounds by March.”
Set a deadline. A timeframe equals commitment and helps quantify success.
Avoid overwhelming yourself. You may want to lose weight, quit smoking, achieve moderation with martinis and cut up your credit cards all at once, but let’s get real. Focus on a limited set of goals and plan on taking stock mid-year.
Change one thing at a time. Recognize that change is hard. Wait to achieve one goal before starting on the next.
Be realistic. Taking charge of a fitness regimen is a realistic goal, while exercising seven days a week may not be. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment with lofty goals.

The idea is to take daily action that creates a ripple effect in your life.

By transforming your life with small steps, you can stay motivated, focused and balanced. Best of all, you will feel happier about pursuing your personal success.

The key to a happier life is contained in the dreams you already have. Your aspirations can create new opportunities, a fresh direction for your life’s path. It is possible to unlock them. It’s never too late. You have started today by looking at this book.

With his accessible, unique approach using tangible daily steps to reach achievable goals, Jason Harvey can help you succeed by taking small steps to a better you.

Comprehensive and inspiring, Achieve Anything In Just One Year will teach you how to:

Set goals and stick with them
Take daily action that creates a ripple effect
Stay motivated, focused and balanced that
Feel happier everyday!!!
Define, pursue and celebrate personal success

Learn to equip yourself with the tools to become your own personal life coach, without relying on outside motivation. You have the power to do anything you desire. The possibilities are within you. It’s time to nurture that spark and let it catch fire.

Jason Harvey is a Certified Life Coach and the founder of The Limitless Institute.

My Take on The Book

This book is set up as a book that you will read and work through over a year-long period with a notebook and pen close at hand. That means that each day of the year you will read and do the activity listed on the page. The page itself not only has an inspirational quote but also a brief discussion of the day’s topic and an assignment that must be completed.

I did not read through all 365 pages of this book, but I did focus on the first month of the year. What I saw in this forst month was is that would definitely allow me to learn and grow over a year-long period.

I liked the fact that the book was straight forward and did not require a long period of focus. Instead, the book allowed the reader to know exactly what they needed to do. I have read a number of self-help books both personally and professionally and one thing that I liked about this book was that it did not read like a self-help book. You instead feel like you are being encouraged daily.

If this book sounds like something that you would be interesting to have as a part of your collection, find it over at Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 2 copies to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on February 20, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to this blog either by RSS or email for one entry (top right hand corner, if you already do leave in a separate comment)
Stumble this post. (leave username in comment per day)
Digg this post (Leave username in comment)
Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
Follow me on Google Connect
Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 2 Copies of Achieve Anything In Just One Year! – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
Bookmark this post in Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, or whatever social bookmarking site is your favorite. (Leave comment with the info. One entry per site per day)
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Become a fan of Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until February 20, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review & Giveaway – Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales: 101 Inspirational Stories from Great Teachers and Appreciative Students

February 7, 2010 by dadofdivas 30 Comments

About the Book
Teachers today feel unappreciated, underpaid, and stressed over shrinking budgets, tough children, and mandatory testing, among other things. Turnover rates are climbing. Chicken Soup for the Soul and the best teachers in America have come to the rescue with 101 inspirational stories that will make teachers laugh out loud, shed a few tears, and above all, realize that they really do make a difference and they are very much appreciated. As Anthony Mullen, the 2009 National Teacher of the Year, says in his foreword, “We need this book!”

In an unprecedented move, all 55 of the 2009 State Teachers of the Year have come together in this project, joined by several dozen other teachers and appreciative students, to write the stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, February 2010, 978-1-935096-47-4, $14.95).

“This book is about the heart and soul of teaching and why we have committed our lives to helping children,”
writes Mullen, “This book reminds us why we are teachers and why we love our work.”

Chicken Soup for the Soul’s publisher Amy Newmark is passionate about the value of education and determined to show teachers how important they are to our nation. She approached Mullen about creating a book that would inspire novice and veteran teachers alike. Mullen, a former New York City police detective who now heads up an alternative high school in Greenwich, Connecticut, was very enthusiastic about the project. He wanted his fellow 2009 State Teachers of the Year involved. He saw it as a chance for them to express their passion for teaching and their desire to restore the value of teachers in our society.

“These teachers represent some of the very best teachers in our country,” Mullen says. “These educators
understand what we teach is not as important as whom we teach.”

In addition to the stories from the State Teachers of the Year, Chicken Soup for the Soul selected 46 stories from teachers, and some grateful students, from the thousands of stories that were submitted. These 101 stories truly represent the honor roll of inspirational stories for teachers. Teachers will be amused and touched by the stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Purpose of the Books
After 15 years of bringing real people and their stories together to touch the lives of others, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has gone beyond the bookstore to become a world leader in life improvement. Chicken Soup for the Soul is home to the largest catalog of user-generated, life-changing stories. Through books, movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships it brings hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chicken Soup for the Soul authors and readers belong to a one-of-a-kind global community that shares advice, support, guidance, comfort, and knowledge.

Facts About The Reach of The Books

Total retail sales of Chicken Soup for the Soul branded merchandise have topped $1.3 billion.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 200 titles has sold over 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the world’s most well-known brands– 88.7% of the US public not only recognizes the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, but knows what it is (source—Harris Polls).
Chicken Soup for the Soul holds the world record for having the most titles on the New York Times bestseller list at one time.
Chicken Soup for the Soul receives millions of monthly media impressions, with cross-promotion relationships in place with top media brands like King Features, Woman’s World, BeliefNet and others.
Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have looked to Chicken Soup for the Soul for co-branding opportunities, including American Idol®, Coke®, NASCAR®, Marriott®, Campbell’s®, Arby’s®, Golf Digest® and others.
Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup for the Soul series the “Publishing phenomenon of the decade.”
In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul and dick clark productions entered into an agreement to develop a television series based on the brand.

As J-Mom, my mother, father and many of my other relatives are or have been teachers in the past, this book and the stories within were definitely pertinent. I came to find the stories to be inspirational and ones that any teacher would be engaged by.

I can definitely see how any new teacher or even season teacher would find comfort in the words within this book and would give them the energy and the motivation to keep persevering through the rough times as well as give comfort within the good times.

I definitely recommend this book to all!

If this book sounds like something that you are interested in, you can find it over at Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 3 copies to lucky readers! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on February 14, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

Subscribe to this blog either by RSS or email for one entry (top right hand corner, if you already do leave in a separate comment)
Stumble this post. (leave username in comment per day)
Digg this post (Leave username in comment)
Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
Follow Chicken Soup for the Soul on Twitter
Follow me on Google Connect
Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 3 copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul- Teacher Tales – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/ ” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
Bookmark this post in Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, or whatever social bookmarking site is your favorite. (Leave comment with the info. One entry per site per day)
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Ripples

May 12, 2008 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Every week I get a feed from The Ripples Project, a project started by Paul Wesselman who felt that by making a small change you can truly make a larger one that effect many people. This week one of the quotes that were shared I felt was kind of an interesting one.

Now is Now.
And Now.
And Now.

And it’ll be now later on too.
Now is sort of a continual gray area of time,
sandwiched between then and yet.

Now is quite plentiful really,
so it’s not like you need to worry and stress
to take advantage of now.

But if you don’t take advantage of now,
it becomes then.
The trick is to see yet as it approaches,
take advantage of yet as it becomes now
and turn now into a then
when you arrive at a new now.

But by far, the best now of all is now.

-Kyle MacDonald

So my question: How do you all take advantage of now?

For me, I try my best to stay in the moment and enjoy the time that I have, but I find this isn’t always easy. I tend to plan, thinking ahead for things to come so staying “in the moment” is not always an easy thing to do. Yet, as I read this, I am reminded of the importance of being “in the moment” and how these “now” moments will only be here fleetingly…so I guess I do need to pay closer attention to these in the future…