Kmart's Big Layaway Giveaway!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

I love this time of year, when the leaves are turning and the temperature is falling, but most of all, when great companies like Kmart decide to hold an awesome contest! Kmart's Big Layaway Giveaway has started and you really have to get in on this one.

 

 

I haven't put anything on layaway in a long time but this year is going to be different, especially when I can add my holiday gifts with free layaway at Kmart! There are very good odds that I could win my layaway for free, since every week from 9/9/2012 through 11/17/2012 Kmart is giving away a layaway a week PER STORE!

If layaway is the way you are choosing to go this holiday season, be sure you understand that Kmart has much better layaway plans than Walmart or Target. There is no charge for layaway, for one thing. All those Walmart commercials you see about layaway? They can't touch Kmart's.

Be sure to check out the links I have included in this post for official rules for Kmart's Big Layaway Giveaway and how their layaway works. You will have just as good a chance of winning the giveaway as anyone else and putting stuff on layaway, especially with all the sales coming up, just makes good sense!

In this screenshot are a few things I am going to put on Layaway at Kmart. I hope I I win the Big Layaway Giveaway!

Review of CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter

I just finished reading CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter and I was blown away! This is the 3rd or 4th novel I have read by Karin Slaughter and I have to say, she is one of the best thriller writers of all time, and that is saying a lot coming from me, because I have been reading this type of fiction for over 40 years. I think she's so good because she's been there, done that. Karin Slaughter grew up hard-scrabble in Georgia redneck country, and you can tell from her writing that she doesn't pull any punches. In CRIMINAL the main character, Will Trent, is a mentally bruised and psychologically damaged cop who grew up in an orphanage after his serial killer father murdered his mother, who I won't tell you about because that's one of the biggest twist. He is married to Angie, his friend from the orphanage days, but she leaves like the wind on a regular basis and Will falls in love with a doctor named Sara. She's a peach. But what's going on in their town is far more important than Will's love life or his past, though it is very connected. Someone is killing prostitutes, but unlike many novels that use this as a theme, the torture they go through at the hands of the killer, Will's father who's been locked up for 20 years but has now made parole, is like none you have read about before. If you love edge of your seat suspense and some good gore, you gotta read Criminal by Karin Slaughter.

The World's Most Expensive Poker Set

If poker is your game then you’ll be very interested to learn that Geoffrey Parker, the London-based maker of the finest games and gaming accessories in the world, has come out with the most expensive poker set ever. Priced at $7.5 million, this unbelievable poker set comes in a genuine alligator case, created in the color of your choosing, and is fitted with 18 karat white gold combination locks and hardware. And that’s just the case!

The case’ suede lining features an 18 karat gold and diamond frame to hold 384-18 karat white gold chips, each inlaid on both sides in shagreen (stingray skin) embossed with its value, which can be in any currency and denomination the client desires. The edge of each chip is set with precious stones – white diamonds for the white chips, sapphires for the blue, rubies for the red, emeralds for the green and black diamonds for the black. The dealer button will be a larger 18 karat white gold “chip” set with two rows of diamonds to the edge. The set will feature an estimated 22,364 stones in all, totaling 1,012 carats. Finally there are four platinum-plated decks of poker cards. Orders are now being taken with an expected delivery time of six to nine months. Of course with so many precious stones and metal the price of the set may go up if the market fluctuates. Maybe you have been searching for the ultimate gift for the poker player in your life. Here is your answer. With this $7.5 million poker set intimidation will truly be the name of the game.

Review of OPENING THE GATES of THE HEART, A JOURNEY OF HEALING

Dear Readers, I you are searching for the perfect Christmas gift for someone in your list who has been through a tragic or traumatic experience, OPENING THE GATES OF THE HEART, A JOURNEY OF HEALING by Carolyn CJ Jones is the answer.

This gorgeous inspirational, collectible coffee table book is a life saver for those who are seeking healing through beautiful images of gates with poetic words which match the theme of each gate. I was so impressed with the quality and substance of this book. Clicking this link will lead you to the page on Amazon.com where you can purchase OPENING THE GATES OF THE HEART, A JOURNEY OF HEALING for help with your own journey of healing or as a great gift for someone who needs some support. The copy I have is signed by the author and also has a beautiful matching bookmark from the publisher.

I Am Selling My Books on Amazon.com!

I have started selling my personal collection of books on Amazon. Here is the link to the 38 books I have for sale. I have a few rare collectibles, but mostly genre fiction, although there is a wide assortment of contemporary non-fiction too. Take a minute to check out the link to my Amazon.com/shops/denisegrier account. I have tried to beat the best price on everything, have already sold three books in 5 days! I ship immediately upon receipt of payment and guarantee your money back if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Amazon.com is a great place to sell used books, I have learned that quickly. I sold Harlan Corben, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly novels so far.

Comparing Gaming Consoles

The Console Wars: Which Console Should You Buy

Games consoles feature on birthday and Christmas wish lists every year, and video games are one of the most popular forms of modern entertainment. However, deciding which console to buy can be difficult. They may share many similarities, but their differences are extremely important to any gamer. Here are some of the essential factors which differentiate the three major games consoles.

Gaming Performance

If graphics are important to you, then you’ll probably want to stick to either the PS3 or Xbox 360, both of which offer some truly amazing visuals. The Wii is generally much weaker on this front, although some of its titles are extremely attractive (the best examples being the Mario Galaxy titles).

Multiplayer Fun

While the Xbox 360 and PS3 both offer online gaming, the Wii takes the crown when it comes to group living room entertainment and party fun, with titles like Wii Sports being particularly popular.

Motion Control

Wii was designed to combine video gaming with physical activity, and really stood out in the marketplace thanks to its innovative motion-sensing controllers. In the last few year however, Wii technology has remained more or less the same. By contrast, both Xbox 360 and PS3 have developed their own competing motion-based control systems.

The PS3 motion control technology is known as PlayStation Move, which functions in a similar way to the Wii remote. The PlayStation Eye tracks the remote’s position and direction of movement, which are reproduced within the game.

The Xbox 360 Kinect differs from both the Wii and PlayStation devices in that its motion control involves no physical controller at all. Instead, the Kinect is able to track the player’s bodily movements using a camera, meaning that game control is achieved purely through physical gestures.

Extra Features

Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 can be used to watch films. Xbox 360 currently supports DVD playback (with Blu-ray support planned for the future), while PS3 supports both DVD and Blu-ray playback. These devices can also store and play music, and can be used for streaming media such as Netflix. The Wii does not support DVD or Blu-ray playback, and cannot be used to store or play music. It can, however, be used for streaming media services.

Console-Specific Flagship Games

Perhaps the biggest difference between these consoles lies in the specific video games that they offer. Most games are available on all three consoles, but an important few are not. These flagship console-specific titles are usually some of the best games available on the system.

The most notable Xbox 360 console-specific titles include the first-person shooter franchise Halo – one of the best first-person shooter series available on consoles; Forza Motorsport – the Xbox 360’s racing game franchise to rival Gran Turismo on the PS3; the Dead or Alive beat-‘em-up franchise, and the Gears of War franchise – a third-person action series offering intense gunplay in a post-apocalyptic future.

Stand-out PS3 console-specific titles include the Uncharted franchise – an action-adventure series of Indiana Jones-like peril; the Gran Turismo racing realism franchise; the unique and creative LittleBigPlanet sandbox puzzle platformer franchise, and the Killzone first-person shooter franchise.

The Wii’s console-specific titles are among some of the most well-known and best-loved game franchises in history. They include Super Mario Galaxy – the unparalleled platform series; Zelda: Skyward Sword – the latest instalment in the legendary Zelda franchise offering some of the best action adventure gaming out there; Super Smash Bros. Brawl – the unique multiplayer beat-‘em-up; Metroid Prime 3 – the latest instalment in Nintendo’s acclaimed action-adventure Metroid franchise, and an array of Pokémon titles.

To conclude, remember that no one console is better than the others – each has its own merits. The decision simply rests on your particular preferences.