While Terri Giuliano Long has enjoyed remarked success with her self-published novel In Leah’s Wake, she recently “announced the European launch of a revised version of her self-published book by Inspired Quill Press.” In a recent Inspired Quill Press release, author Terri Giuliano discusses the latest edited release of In Leah’s Wake:

The newly edited edition features two new chapters and several new scenes. “I listened carefully to responses and suggestions I received from readers and reviewers,” Long says. “I cut over 60 pages and added insights while still maintaining the integrity of the original edition and showcasing what I felt were the best parts of the novel.”

With the launch of Happy Hour Mom’s Book Club, the wonderful Ms. T.G.Long thought it was only fitting that our Happy Hour Mom readers received the first of the revised edition. We couldn’t be more thrilled! She has generously offered to giveaway 4 fantastic prizes :

1) Signed copy of the novel, In Leah’s Wake, with a bookmark (3 lucky readers will receive this offer!)

2) Grand Prize: Canvas Tote, a $ 15 Starbucks card, a signed copy of In Leah’s Wake, and a bookmark (1 reader will be selected for the grand prize!)

Bonus: While not part of the giveaway, Happy Hour Mom will also be featuring an interview with Terri Giuliano Long towards the end of the month, and each of you will have the opportunity to submit questions directly to the author herself!

Don’t miss out! Please enter the giveaway only if you are truly interested in participating in the HHM Book Club. We are looking for moms who are passionate about reading, and who would love to discuss great novels with other like-minded mommas. The HHM Book Club is going to be full of fun giveaways and great surprises, and we can’t wait to go on this exciting adventure together. So sign up today, and enter to win!

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Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

giveaway :: 3 signed copies of in leah’s wake & a special grand prize offer is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Check out pictures from Beyonce, Jay Z and new baby Blue Ivy Carter’s hospital room. The suite came equipped with 4 flat screen televisions, kitchenette, gorgeous styling, modern furniture and state-of-the-art electronics. Rumors have been spread that the powerhouse couple spent a reported 1.3 million dollars at New York hospital, Lenox Hill. (The hospital begs to differ) If true, they were able to turn 6 hospital suites into two 5 star hotel-like suites to bring the pop princess to-be into the world.

There has been much backlash after women who were also delivering at the same hospital that were not treated fairly. If you had their kind of deep pocket books would you even go to a hospital? Or, would you bring the hospital to you?

I was blessed to have my baby boy at the American Hospital of Dubai and felt like I was treated like royalty. After my C-section I had a five day stay, no pain, 5 course meals, amazing staff who literally did EVERYTHING for us, pristine accommodations, excellent doctors and top-notch care. Now that my hubby and I are pondering baby #2 I’m kind of nervous to think about our next experience. In the beginning I was deathly afraid of giving birth abroad without my closest friends and family. After my own 5 star treatment, plus, our amazing friends we had in Dubai, we felt liberated. It was such a special time in our life I hope Jay Z and Beyonce were able to get past the hype and cherish their special moments. To each it own…

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

a look inside beyonce’s hospital room is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

2010 was a year full of amazing ups and tragic downs. From the Chilean miners rescue to the BP Oil Spill Americans witnessed a whole slew of dramatics. Whether your issues are personal or public we can all hope for improvements for 2011. The Today Show did an amazing job at recapping 2010′s top stories of the year. Enjoy the last few days of 2010.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

top stories of 2010 recap is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

MY MISSION FOR THE NEW YEAR:

“What is your New Year’s Resolution?”

It is interesting, I don’t remember the last time I actually carried out my resolutions consistently for an entire year, let alone a month. Maybe it is a jinx. Maybe the more I “say” I am going to accomplish something–be it weight loss, consistent workout regimen, finishing school, etc.–the less of a chance that it will actually happen. This whole New Years resolution thing really messes with my mind. For some reason I feel like this year might be different.  Mostly because my life is due for change. 2010 has been a trying, interesting, yet blessed year. My family has gone through so many ups, downs and all arounds that we are left feeling more blessed and driven than ever.  So, instead of your traditional “resolutions,” 2011 is going to be a year of positive changes. It has to be, right?

Don’t get me wrong, I get sucked back in to tradition every year, and have already decided I would start P90X to kick my butt into gear. But more importantly, my goal is to get my bearings. My husband is a professional athlete. A phenomenon that only those who have experienced the lifestyle first hand can truly understand. After an amazing year in Dubai, back in 2008, my husband’s career was put on hold due to a knee injury. I was pregnant, he couldn’t walk for 7 months (not at all), we had an active 4 year old running around at the time, a diminishing savings account that served as our “cushion” to my full-time, on-my-feet-all-day-while-pregnant0and-waddling job. The amazing thing about it is that not once did we pout or feel sorry for ourselves. We weren’t sure if my husband would ever be able to play again and didn’t know how we would be able to support a family of 4 until he was able to work, but we managed to get closer than ever. I would say it was one of the best years of our lives in regards to our relationship.

However, when you go through hardships like that, you are constantly looking for light at the end of the tunnel. That little crack of sunshine, reassuring you that it is all going to start looking up. Well, when you are an athlete who plays primarily overseas, stability and consistency is not always available. We are now four years in, plugging away–still happy, still healthy, still well-fed and living in a warm home–yet still looking for that crack of light. With no ability to plan ahead, I often find myself consumed with the current “situation” rather than having the ability to focus on the future. It is difficult as a woman, wife, mother, to worry about myself, when there are far too many priorities that seem much more important. I started Happy Hour Mom in 2009 as a way to find myself again and do what I love–write.  So as 2011 approaches, what I have in mind is not as much a resolution as it is a goal (trying to avoid the jinx here), backed with great determination.

In 2011, I want to find MY way. Not who I am as a mom or a wife. But to reconnect with the aspirations that I have for myself. My dream is to write. Whether that be as a Novelist, Journalist, Columnist…I don’t care. I want to be published. I want to see my name on a by line. It may sound ridiculous to some, but for me it will be an accomplishment. Validation to myself that in addition to being a wife and a mom, I can still do more than nurse babies and sing the ABC’s.  And believe me, I can do both REALLY well. Now I have plenty of “by lines” on websites and blogs across the web–I want something more concrete. 20011 will be spent looking, and FINDING, that opportunity. Let’s just hope that as I write my “goals” for 2012, I can report back with success and link to this post with a smile on my face : )

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://own.twittermoms.com/about)

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

new year mission is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

As many of you already know, I am a huge fan of MTV’s Teen Mom. As I was going through my normal browsing of the Internet this morning, I ran across the trailer for Teen Mom scheduled t air on January 11th at 10 pm. It is a new set of girls from 16 and Pregnant, and it will be interesting to see how the lives of the teens have changed since baby (or babies) arrived. I know there is some controversy over the show, and what exactly it is promoting, but I think that MTV does a decent job of showing teens that having a baby is not easy on anyone, especially those who are still in high school. I don’t think it encourages teens to get pregnant or glamorizes motherhood at all, however, I think the naysayers are reacting to the attitudes of the featured moms, and the so-called “celebrity” that has developed as a result of the show. While these ladies may have had their 15 minutes, and been featured in a magazine or two, they are still very much living in reality with their young children. All I know is that, come January 11th, I will be purchasing the new season on iTunes. (Just in case you are wondering why I will have to purchase it on iTunes, while living in Europe we are unable to watch MTV online.)

Read HappyHourMom.com’s previous interview with Catelynn of the original Teen Mom series.

I was having a hard time finding a trailer I was able to embed, and hope to update to a better quality video as soon as possible, sorry for the quality!

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

new season of teen mom on mtv is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Looking for a way to spend your Happy Hour? As moms, it is no longer about finding time to ourselves, we must MAKE time. You can check out our daily shot of Happy Hour Tips on our home page or check them out in our archived collection on the Daily Shot page. Want to be a part of the fun? Submit your suggestions for the daily dose of Happy Hour and you may be a part of the fun. We will share your tip, and include your name in the feature. Keep your tip at 140 characters or less (the length of a Tweet) to make sure it is eligible for selection! You can submit your tips on our Daily Shot page, can’t wait to read them!

CHEERS!

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

introducing our daily dose of happy hour is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

mixed-gender room | building a room around one key design element

mixed-gender room design | selecting the perefect color palette for your nursery

mixed-gender nursery | finding accessories for your nursery

Want to read more on room design/decor and see some of their amazing nursery creations? Check out the Little Crown Interiors blog and website!

Naomi + Gerri of Little Crown Interiors

As partners and best friends, Naomi & Gerri are the co-creators of Little Crown Interiors, a Southern-California based interior design firm specializing in nurseries and children’s rooms.  The two share a deep love for children, a collective excitement for innovation in design, and the feeling that a nursery is more than just beautiful bedding and artwork.  Having designed close to 60 nurseries and children’s rooms, and with hands-on motherhood experience, the pair have become experts in nursery and children’s design, and their services are available nationwide.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

the perfect gender-nuetral room | thanks go to little crown interiors + caden lane is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

In August, Surgeons provided live tweets during a double-hand transplant at Jewish Hospital Handcare Center in Louisville. It was incredible to read through the tweets of the surgery and it really made me think of the impact Twitter, and other Social Media platforms, have on our society today. I think of how cell phones and texting have changed the way we communicate with one another, and I realize that eventually we won’t even have to speak to have a relationship with someone. While I truly believe that texting, Twitter, Facebook, and other Social platforms are hindering verbal communication and one-on-one interaction, I also believe that these platforms are drastically changing the way we do business. Social Networks have evolved from personal profiles and communication, to full-blown media and marketing campaigns for businesses around the world. If you own a business, you must have an online presence. And to have an online presence, you need to find new and creative ways to engage your audience and stay ahead of the times. How can you compete with real-time updates and personal interaction? Not only does Twitter provide a great way to communicate with your consumer, but it is also a great source to stay up on your competition. Check out some of the innovative ways individuals are using Twitter. From 911 Tweets and saving lives, to surgical procedures, to job inquiries–Twitter is changing the world!

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

tweeting surgeries in real-time, emergency 911 tweets, what’s next? is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Congratulations Beth Sheperd! You have won this holiday gift idea!

The sweet smell of fresh baked cookies reminds everyone young and old of the holidays. Some of the favorite lingering scents of gingerbread, vanilla and sugar cookies can all take us back. It can be quite a daunting task to narrow down each year’s endless cookie-do list. Each batch seems to take longer and longer with the help of little fingers. After the sugar cookies have been frosted make the switch. Pretend Play Kitchen a whole line of kid-friendly play kitchen activities.

HHM loves the Play Kitchen Baking Set. Baking fresh cookies is always a great activity for parents to share with their children. Now, with our new Primary Baking Set, the young chefs in your life can pretend to do all the work themselves! A great addition to their play kitchens, these wooden 8-piece sets are so detailed that you’ll swear you smell the chocolate chips. Free Shipping on all orders at their website, and, if you sign up for the newsletter list, you will receive an instant $5.00 off coupon too!

Features include:

* Made child safe of sturdy WOOD construction!
* Mixers lift in and out of mixing bowl.
* Rolling pin
* Cooking pan
* 2 chocolate chip cookies
* Spatula
* Measuring spoon
* Rolling pin rolls back and forth.
* No assembly required

Enter to win!

1. Subscribe to Happy Hour Mom

2. Choose their favorite item from our site and comment AND your favorite holiday cookie. (extra entry for a recipe)

Extra Entries ***

3. Like Play Kitchen on Facebook.

4. Follow Play Kitchen on Twitter. @playkitchen

5. Join the Play Kitchen Mailing List for special offers and the instant $5.00 coupon.

5. Leave a comment for other Happy Hour Mom posts.

6.  Tweeting; Calling all Cookie Bakin’ MAMAS. WIN a wooden 8 piece set from @playkitchen http://happyhourmom.com/?p=12132

@happyhourmom

7. Suggest the Happy Hour Mom Fan Page to your Facebook Friends.

8. Suggest Happy Hour Mom to your friends via E-mail. cc to happyhourmom (at) hotmail.com

9. Join our Forum to chat about hot topics!

10. Add a Play Kitchens sidebar text link (or we can provide our button!) back to our website from their blogs

Contests ends Midnight November 9th, 2010. Winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email with further details. Please be sure to respond within 48 hours or we will have to select another winner. Please leave separate comments for each entry.

[Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

WINNER! pretend play kitchen shop baking set GIVEAWAY! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Congratulations Diana D and Naomi. You are the Happy Hour Mom Winners!!!

The missions of I Rescue Rover is simple and effective; Be Good, Do Good, Buy Good, Feel Good. They are an amazing company that produces great quality and modern designed apparel for a cause “dedicated to rescuing dogs and other animals; to loving and caring for them, to providing food, medical care and emergency assistance, to promoting spay and neuter for dogs and cats, to promoting adoption, and to educating people to help in these efforts.” From t-shirts, to yoga pants and accessories for your fine, fashionable and furry friend I Rescue Rover helps to promote up and coming artists and designers who share in their mission of saving and protecting the lives of animals. Check them out, then win one of your own!

Your purchase of just one of I Rescue Rover’s graphic tees can contribute to feeding a shelter dog for a week!

PRIZE:

Chihuahua Fuerte T-shirts (2 winners)

How to Enter:

1. Subscribe to Happy Hour Mom

2. Comment here on your size.

Extra Entries ***

3. Like I Rescue Rover on Facebook.

4. Follow I Rescue Rover on Twitter. @IRescueRover

5. Leave a comment for other Happy Hour Mom posts.

6.  Tweeting; Calling all Animal Lovers. be good, do good, buy good, feel good @IRescueRover via #happyhourmom http://happyhourmom.com/?p=11950

@happyhourmom

7. Suggest the Happy Hour Mom Fan Page to your Facebook Friends.

8. Suggest Happy Hour Mom to your friends via E-mail. cc to happyhourmom (at) hotmail.com

9. Join our Forum to chat about hot topics!

Contests ends Midnight October 14th, 2010. US  and Canadian shipping addresses . Winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email with further details. Please be sure to respond within 48 hours or we will have to select another winner. Please leave separate comments for each entry.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

WINNER! hhm review & giveaway | i rescue rover | be good, do good, buy good, feel good is a post from: Happy Hour Mom