The holidays are over, and with them our WAGB Advent Calendar has ended as well, but we still have a few things to give away. We had THREE great holiday giveaways leading up to Christmas, and though some of you have been notified, I thought we should make sure all the winners know who they are!

The winner of All I Have to Give by Melody Carlson
from our our Day 3 Giveaway is: 
JEN A!

The winner of Ex-mas by Kate Brian
from our our Day 10 Giveaway is:
TABITHA B!

The winner of The Christmas by Donna VanLiere
from our our Day 17 Giveaway is:
JEN A!

Congratulations ladies! Your books will be making their way to you soon!

Our final Advent Calendar item is a combination holiday reading rec and free e-book!

It’s the last day of prepping, so hopefully your stockings are hung and your gifts are wrapped! If you’re all ready to enjoy the big day, why not take some time to enjoy a true holiday classic? Last year I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens as part of the 2009 Christmas Reading Challenge and I absolutely adored it!

Charles Dickens is a true wordsmith. His writing flows in such a way that makes it almost lyrical. I won’t go into the story of A Christmas Carol, because I can’t imagine there’s a person out there who hasn’t heard, read or seen it some form or other, but I will say that I regret not reading this wonderful tale earlier, and look forward to reading more stories by Dickens!

I’ll leave you with a quote from the end of the novel that always makes me smile:

“His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.”

May your heart laugh this holiday season!

Now head on over to Project Gutenberg to download your very own FREE copy of A Christmas Carol in the format of your choice. (Click the Download tab at the top of the page for download options.)

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

OK, for all you serious procrastinators, we have our last  Bookish Gift Suggestion! And we know you’re running out of time so we have the perfect gift that will arrive before the big day and you don’t even have to leave your house!

What could it be? Well, e-book gift certificates of course! This would be a good compliment to our Day 19 suggestion, but since so many people have e-readers these days, it will work for plenty of book lovers. And if you happen to have a reader on your list who hasn’t gone digital, you can always send the old fashioned gift certificates via email and they’ll still arrive on time!

We’ve gathered up some helpful links to make your last minute gifting even easier! Just head on over to:

• Amazon.com – Send a Gift Certificate by email, Facebook, or print it out and hand deliver!
• Sony Reader Store – Purchase online Gift Cards at the Reader™ Store.
• eBooks.com – Give the gift of books with no fuss and best of all – no shipping delays (or charges).
• BooksonBoard.com – Give that special someone a personalized gift certificate from Books On Board!
• Barnes & Noble – B&N eGift Cards are sent by email within minutes and can be redeemed both in stores and online.

And for all my fellow Canadians:

• Amazon. ca – Send a Gift Certificate by email or print it out and hand deliver!
• Chapters.Indigo.ca – Send and electronic Gift Certificate by email.

Hmm, with all these great choices I think I might do all my shopping from the comfort of my home next year!

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

Today’s Advent item is a little something to help out all of you who are searching for ways to keep the kids busy over the holidays. We’ve found 8 different Christmas themed coloring pages for you to print out and have the kids color!

OR, if you’re not able to print out pages for your kids (or for you big kids!) head on over to this nifty online coloring book at www.free-coloring-pages.com for loads of holiday coloring fun!

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

Today is the last of our Bookmark giveaways. I have TWO of these awesome full color, laminated Piers Anthony Incarnations of Immortality bookmarks to give away, and will send one to the first two people who comment on this post!

For everyone else who doesn’t happen to be one of the first two commenter’s, you can still have your very own copy of this lovely bookmark by printing out the artwork provided below.

All you have to do is right click save the following jpeg file to your computer, and then print it out on card stock and cut it out. For those of you who are so inclined, laminating them is an excellent way to make them last!

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

I know we’re a day late getting this one to you, but I was unable to get away from my work obligations yesterday so I’ll have to pass along this little number for you today instead.

As you know, we’ve been sharing little virtual treats from our trip to Harry Potter’s  Wizarding World, and today we have one last little tidbit to share with you.

If you’re lucky to catch them at the right time, the Hogwarts Choir can be heard as you travel the grounds of the castle, and Rae and I just happened to catch this performance. Enjoy!

Less than a week to go! Hopefully we can help all you last minute shoppers with some easy-to-find last minute Bookish Gift Suggestions!

Now this one is a little bigger than our last few, so pool the siblings together and get your parent a gift that they’ll really use! An e-reader. Many people are still wary of the e-reader for various reasons, but I’ve yet to find anyone who has actually used one dislike it. It doesn’t seem to really matter in the end, because no matter what brand they own, people all love and praise their e-reader. Just click on the images below to learn more about each reader and find out which one will help you make somebody’s holiday with a great gift! (Or if you’re like Rae and I, the holidays are a perfect time to treat your self to that one big gift you’ve been coveting all year!) If you order soon you can still get one in time for Christmas!

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

Today we have a very sweet treat for you in our Advent Calendar – a week’s worth of scrumptious holiday desert recipes! These delicious delicacies come to us courtesy of the Celebrating Christmas Christmas Cake Recipes Cookbook.

I selected a few of my favorites to share with you, but if you like these and would like to see some of the other recipes, just head on over to www.celebrating-christmas.com.

CHRISTMAS CAKE RECIPES

1. CRESCENT CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESE CAKE

2 pkgs. crescent rolls
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
1/2 to 3/4 c. sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 bag milk chocolate chips (reserve
1/2 c. chips)

Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with 1 package of crescent rolls, press to seal. Mix cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until creamy. Add the chocolate chips less the reserved chips. Spread on the filling to 1/4 inch from the edges. Top with second package of crescent rolls. Pinch the edges together. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove, frost immediately while hot. Melt reserved chips in microwave and drizzle on iced cheese cake.

–FROSTING:–

1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. warm milk

Mix together. Frost baked cheese cake. Refrigerate when cool. Makes 24 to 36 squares.

2. HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. bananas, chopped
1 c. nuts, chopped
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. Crisco oil
3 eggs
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple
(include juice)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10 inch tube pan or bundt pan. In bowl, sift flour, sugar, soda, salt and cinnamon. Add remaining ingredients and stir until mixed. Hand mix only. Bake one hour and 10 minutes. Comes out very moist. Makes a big cake. Very good.

3. FUDGE RIBBON CAKE

2 tbsp. butter
2 1/4 c. sugar
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 tbsp. cornstarch
3 eggs
1 1/3 c. milk plus 2 tbsp.
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
4 envelopes Nestle’s Choco-bake
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 c. butter

Cream butter with cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and cornstarch. Add 1 egg, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat at high speed until smooth. Set aside. Combine flour with 2 cups sugar, salt, baking powder, and soda in large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup milk. Blend well at low speed. Beat 1 1/2 minutes. Add remaining milk, 2 eggs, choco-bake, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Continue beating at low speed. Spread half of batter in greased and floured 13 x 9 inch pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture over batter. Top with remaining chocolate batter to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool and frost.

4. CHERRY CHOCOLATE CAKE

6 egg whites
1 (18.5 oz.) chocolate cake mix
1 (21 oz.) can cherry filling – pie
mix

–7 MINUTE FROSTING:–
2 egg whites
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar or 1 tbsp.
light corn syrup
1/3 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla extract

CAKE: Combine 6 egg whites, chocolate cake mix, and 21 ounce can cherry filling. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool and top with 7 minute frosting. FROSTING: Combine 2 egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and water in top of a double boiler. Beat with electric mixer on high speed 1 minute. Place over boiling water, and beat on high speed 7 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla, beat 2 minutes longer on high speed. Frost the cooled cake.

5. APPLE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

2 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
4 c. peeled apples, diced
1 c. walnuts, chopped

Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, oil, and vanilla. Sift together next 5 ingredients and add to first mixture. Stir in apples and walnuts. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan, and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool in pan, then spread with frosting.

–FROSTING:–

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room
temperature
3 tbsp. butter or margarine, softened
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar

Mix all ingredients together until they are smooth. Spread on cake.

6. CINNAMON CAKE

1/2 stick margarine
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt, opt.

–TOPPING–

1/2 stick margarine
1/2 c. white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream margarine and sugar, add eggs 1 at a time. Beat well combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add milk alternately with flour. Stirring well after each addition spread in greased pan. 9 x 13 inch pan or 10 x 15 x 1 cookie pan. Melt margarine and pour over batter. Sprinkle sugar and spices over cake. Bake at 350 degrees.

7. CRANBERRY CAKE

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sweet milk
Dash of salt
4 tbsp. butter, melted
2 c. raw cranberries

–SAUCE:–

1 c. sugar
1 c. cream
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar, salt, baking powder and milk. Add flour and cranberries and butter. Bake at 350 degrees in 9 x 13 inch pan. Serve with warm sauce. Boil sauce mixture for 5 minutes.

————

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

In keeping with our traditional Friday Freebie, today’s Advent Calendar item is another great holiday giveaway!

This week we have one very pretty hardcover copy of The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Here’s a little about the book:

Christine’s ex-husband provides little child support and makes life difficult for Christine by using the children as pawns. She works long hours as a waitress to make ends meet, but her job is in jeopardy because she’s often late to work due to the unreliable sitters she’s forced to use. When Christine saves the life of a woman who works in Wilson’s department store, he sets his grandson to the task of finding the mysterious “Christy.” Jason, an accountant by trade who has lost his job to downsizing, soon  discovers that this new task gives him more than he bargained for. “The Christmas Secret” is a novel for anyone who wants to see how love is a gift that keeps giving back; that hope is a treasure that never runs dry, and that faith is a miracle that is reborn with each new day.

• To enter The Christmas Secret giveaway, just leave a comment below. Be sure to include an accurate email address in the comment field so we can let you know if you won. It won’t be published.
• For an extra entry post or tweet about this giveaway. Please leave a link where we can verify this!

This giveaway closes at midnight Thursday, December 23, 2010.

*We really hate to impose any restrictions, but due to high mailing costs, this giveaway is only open to those who have Canadian or US mailing addresses. Our sincerest apologies to those readers outside North America.

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!

On day 12, we hinted that we’d have some more bookmarks for a few lucky readers. It just so happens that I have TWO of these fun Castle bookmarks (these bookmarks are full color and laminated) and will send one to the first two people who comment on this post!

For everyone else who doesn’t happen to be one of the first two commentor’s, you can still have your very own copy of this lovely bookmark by printing out the artwork provided below.

All you have to do is right click save the following jpeg file to your computer, and then print it out on card stock and cut it out. For those of you who are so inclined, laminating them is an excellent way to make them last!

Happy Holidays from With a Good Book!