Next up...

A package arrived in the mail this afternoon. Some exciting reading coming up!

(Ronie Kendig's Firethorn. Denise Hunter's The Accidental Bride. LTG William G. Boykin's Kiloton Threat.)

Natural Goodies

I am a research librarian, and that talent/curse spills over on every area of my life, not just my workday job. I enjoy researching natural ways to treat illnesses and health problems, and how to use the things God made to prevent disease, illnesses, etc. Because of that, I use a lot of different vitamins, supplements, and herbal products to stay well during cold and flu season, and help me function better and feel healthier in a variety of areas year round.

Unfortunately, I live in a town that doesn't have a health food store, and the closest one is about a forty minute drive. That store also happens to be a brand name health food store with prices that are more than a little steep.

But then I found this place: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/

To a budget conscious, natural supplement lover like myself, this place is a HUGE treasure trove full of goodies.

I have been ordering from Swanson Vitamins about once a month for over a year now, and I have yet to be dissatisfied with service or product. Not only do they carry just about any brand you've ever seen in a health food store, they also have their own brand, which is usually a bit cheaper, and just as high quality, if not a bit better then the brand name you might have used before.

I get things from them like:

Emergen-C.  http://www.swansonvitamins.com/AC063/ItemDetail
A powdered vitamin C drink mix that has 1,000mg of C plus B vitamins and other minerals and electrolytes. It's several dollars cheaper than the box stores sell it for, and we love using it!

Vitamin D-3. http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW1210/ItemDetail
The more I hear in health news about this supplement, the more I think we've caused a lot of our own health problems by being deficient in this area. (There is a lot of research out there that points to this being the best flu preventative.)

Tart Cherry. http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWH112/ItemDetail
My dad suffered with terrible gout attacks until I found this. Since he started taking it over a year ago, he has only had one very mild flare. Before that, the attacks were so bad in his feet, knees and hips, they prevented him from being able to walk, much less go work. I use it now too, because it is a great source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and is good for your joints, heart, etc.

MSM Cream. http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWCS008/ItemDetail
My sisters and I love using this on our face after a shower. It not only feels good, it has evened out skin tone while it moisturizes. (MSM has a lot of benefits, and it's a supplement we give in powder form to our horses as well as ourselves.)


Another favorite to get for everyone in my family is essential fatty acids, which come from several sources. Swanson's carries a large variety; fish, flax seed, krill, etc. We try to always have this on hand, and I've seen an improvement in the general health of my family with a side benefit of skin being clearer with the consistent addition of essential fatty acids in the diet.

Swansons doesn't limit itself to just vitamins and herbals, though. They have things like natural soaps, shampoos, deodorants. Things like raw honey, organic teas, skin care items, organic herbs & spices, etc. They literally carry thousands upon thousands of products, and all for a lower price than you can get in a store. Their shipping is great, too. Price and timing are excellent. They also run specials such as buy-one-get-one, percentages off your order, or free shipping on orders over a certain amount. If you like them on Facebook or sign up for their emails, they'll alert you when they are running one of these specials.

Have you ever had a flyer in your mailbox for a "new" natural supplement that promises all kinds of health benefits, but the price is just a little...well...pricey? I get them all the time, but now, I just go to Swanson Vitamins and look the particular supplement up. So far, they have had it every time. Either in their own Swanson brand, or some other health food brand, or both. And, the best part is, the price is much more affordable.

So. If you like to use natural products, do yourself a favor and check out Swanson Vitamins. I just placed a new order this morning to replenish my family's supply of natural goodies and am eagerly awaiting its delivery.

(P.S. This advertisement was entirely my idea and totally unsolicited. I just had to share my satisfaction with this company and their products.)

The Earl's Mistaken Bride

I love a good Regency romance, especially if it falls into the Christian fiction category, and I've found a new-to-me author that fills that niche rather nicely.

The author's name is Abby Gaines, and the book is The Earl's Mistaken Bride.

Marcus Brookstone, Earl of Spenford, has made a bargain with God. If God will heal his mother, Marcus will take a wife, and a daughter of the Parson Somerton will fill the bill nicely. Though they are beneath his lofty station in life, at least they have an impeccable pedigree, and the beautiful daughter he met in the stable yard fits the image of the type of Countess his pride demands.

But the girl he finds under the wedding veil at the end of the ceremony is NOT the beautiful daughter he planned to marry. He unwittingly married Constance. The stubborn, irritating, PLAIN daughter. If this was God's idea of a joke, Marcus wasn't laughing!

Marcus doesn't want love, it's messy and completely undignified, so as long as his new wife will remember her place, he'll swallow the bitter pill of a mistaken marriage for the sake of his mother. Unfortunately, Constance not only doesn't remember her place, she turns his world completely upside down by having the audacity to fall in love with him!

When a handsome stiff-necked, prideful Earl marries a plain, stubborn, opinionated Parson's daughter by mistake, his troubles are only beginning. In fact, he didn't even know how to spell trouble until he met Miss Somerton. But now he knows trouble is spelled with a capital C O N S T A N C E!

This book is out in stores now and of course available online. Grab a copy for yourself. It's an entertaining read with a great cast of chacters (I loved the sub-story line of Tom and Miriam!) and a not-too-subtle message about the ways pride can trip us all up.

If you like historicals, especially Regency historicals, check this one out. You'll be glad you did!