25 Things About Me (yourLDSneighborhood)

Let's play a little game I found on Facebook.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. yourLDSneighborhood was created to pull internet shoppers who prefer a safe, clean environment and quality vendors together. We've created a warm, friendly neighborhood which is so much fun.

2. We've launched our own radio station: yourLDSradio.

3. Gaylen Rust, the coolest boss ever, is the CEO of yourLDSneighborhood. His interests are wide and varied, including coin collecting, which is the family business! (Rust Coin in Salt Lake City).

4. Gaylen also launched a music sharing company, PositiveMusicandDownloads. Great new musicians as well as those long established in the industry. Both cultural and national markets.

5. yourLDSneighborhood works with the funnest musicians like Shaun Barrowes, Daniel Beck, Sara Bethany Ham, Amy Van Wagenen, Michael Ethington, Mike Dowdle and more!

6. We work with some awesome authors as well, such as Rachel Ann Nunes, Candace E. Salima. H.B. Moore, Annette Lyon, Tristi Pinkston, Anne Bradshaw and more!

7. Last year, yourLDSneighborhood sponsored the prizes for the first annual Whitney Awards, celebrating greatness in fiction written by LDS authors. It was a fun night and The Whitney Award committee and winners were very grateful for the generous cash prizes donated by yourLDSneighborhood.

8. yourLDSneighborhood is very interested in community and the arts and continually shows support in many ways.

9. yourLDSneighborhood has a newsletter which comes to your Inbox 3 times a week filled with articles, blogs, interviews and ads from wonderful vendors. Our readers mention how much they love to see it arrive, giving them a few minutes away from the craziness of the world. Subscribe now.

10. yourLDSneighborhood launched a fantastic social network for a safe and fun placed to network with family and friends, as well as make new friends in a safe and clean environment. Please join us at NeighborhoodandFriends.

11. Rebecca Cressman, former radio morning talk show host (820 AM), conducts interviews every week on yourLDSneighborhood called Personal Touch, which celebrates greatness in ordinary people. Listen in.

12. yourLDSneighborhood has 15 Bloggers which blog on a variety of topics, such as: arts & entertainment, movies, books, clothing, health & food, home & family, gardening & landscaping, humor, culture & tradition (new neighbors), religion, scrapbooks & crafts, service, social networking, sports & recreation and weddings. Just click on the different blocks and walk the block . . . that will take you straight to our newsstands where our blogs can be found.

13. Tristi Pinkston, both an historical fiction as well as a humor fiction author, blogs on two of our blocks. Both Arts & Entertainment in the movies section and the Home & Family blocks. We're so lucky to have her and are excited for the two new books she has coming out this year. Congratulations Tristi.

14. Of our yourLDSneighborhood bloggers, to date, we have nine who are having 11 books released this year. Rock on Neighborhood bloggers!

15. Daniel Beck, Ryan Innes, Amy Van Wagenen and others rocked the Utah Chocolate Show this year. The concert was sponsored by yourLDSneighborhood and PositiveMusicandDownloads.

16. Julie Boye, one of sales ladies, is the wife of Alex Boye who was the lead singer of one of Europe's most popular boy bands. Very cool!

17. When Candace, Curt and Brock worked the Neighborhood and PositiveMusicandDownloads.com booth at the Utah Chocolate Show, it was the day of the BYU/UofU football game. You know, the holy war. Candace was the lone Cougar in the booth until Daniel Beck arrived to perform on the stage.

18. yourLDSneighborhood has a new Classifieds section. We're just launching it but anticipate that it will be hugely popular. Check it out. You can find it on the main page of the website.

19. yourLDSneighborhood is a great home and distribution outlet, for musicians, authors and vendors garnering television, radio, newsletter and social networking ads.

20. yourLDSneighborhood has a jukebox on their site called Jukebox with all styles of music. Daniel Beck and Shaun Barrowes are current favorites! Choose your favorites and rate the songs. It could lead to music contracts for the musicians on the Jukebox.

21. Greg Hansen, an award producer, works hand-in-hand with the Neighborhood.

22. yourLDSneighborhood is located downtown, in the heart of Salt Lake City, not too far from one of Food Network's Drive-ins, Diners and Dives or is it Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, or Dives, Diners and Drive-ins stops, Moochies.

23. yourLDSneighborhood is a constantly growing and evolving site. We also look for ways to better provide for our customers, vendors, authors and musicians.

24. yourLDSneighborhood is the distributor for "Man of Honor: Remembering Gordon B. Hinckley", a compilation CD dedicated by the incredible musicians who participated to the memory of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

25. I got nothin' else. I think I busted a vessel in my brain!

Tagged: Gaynell Parker, Tristi Pinkston, Alison Palmer, Nichole Giles, Keith Fisher, Heather Justesen, C.L. Beck, Julie Keyser, Cheri Crane, Rebecca Talley, Kim Thompson, Liz Adair, Rachelle Christensen, Steve Christensen and Danyelle Ferguson.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Bloggers at the Neighborhood!

Everyone is doing it these days . . . blogging, that is. You can't go to a newspaper, news station, entertainment, company, etc. website and not have someone blogging about something. yourLDSneighborhood also has it's own bloggers. We're very cool, even if I do say so myself.

Of course you know there are multiple blocks at the Neighborhood filled with wonderful vendors, musicians, authors, artists . . . all great places to browse and shop. But did you know that each block has a Blogging newsstand that is at the end of the block? All you have to do is click on the arrow titled "More shops and blogs here" and you'll walk the block straight to our fantastic bloggers.

We have bloggers from all walks of life. So let me give you a little run down on each one and invite you to drop by the Neighborhood and enjoy ever aspect of this fantastic site along with our new . . . wait for it . . . radio station! Oh yeah, we're the ultimate in cool. Really!

The Arts & Entertainment Block has two bloggers: Gaynell Parker and Tristi Pinkston.

Gaynell Parker covers all things related to art. She is a middle aged mom who loves her amazing hubby, children and writing - though not always in that order. I love the Lord Jesus Christ, this great United States, cooking, writing, painting and reading. Oh...and anything chocolate. Writer, artist and mom, there's no question she always has great insights.

Tristi Pinkston is our movie reviewer and is an LDS historical fiction author with three published novels -- "Nothing to Regret," "Strength to Endure," and her newest release, "Season of Sacrifice." Tristi has two new book coming out this year, one in May and one in November. She also has three more completed and twenty+ on the drawing board. She is a stay-at-home mom, homeschooler, and media reveiwer.

Our Books Block has one blogger, our book reviewer Alison Palmer.

Alison Palmer is a book reviewer extraordinaire and is the author of seven published books who wears many hats. She states, "Obviously, writing is my favorite past time, but I also love to read (mostly juvenile and young adult). I like to spend time sewing, cooking, taking naps and long walks, playing piano or enjoying music, playing with my children and generally avoiding housework as if it were the plague."

On the Clothing & More Block we have blogger Nichole Giles.

Nichole Giles knows clothes and jewelry unlike anyone else I've seen. She lives with her husband Gary and their four kids ages eight to fourteen. When she has a spare minute, she is usually working on at least one writing project, and often several at once. Her current published works can be viewed in several children’s magazines including Highlights for Children, The Friend, and Boy’s Quest or at www.LDSWritersblogck.com. She is excited for the future publication of her first two book-length projects, which will hopefully be on shelves in the next two years.

With the Health & Food Block, we have Keith Fisher, our resident national Dutch Oven champion.

Keith Fisher blogs about all things Dutch Oven. He is a writer of fiction and his hobbies include Dutch Oven Cooking, Gardening, camping, and fishing. Keith has competed for years in outdoor cooking competions with his wife and they won the IDOS World Championship cook off in 2005. Keith loves to share tips, and advice which help you be the champion cook in your campsite or backyard.

No Neighborhood would be worthwhile without a block dedicated to Home & Family.

Again, Tristi Pinkston who is the mother of four children as well as an accomplished author, writes about all things surrounding home and family.

Our LDS Outlet Stores Block has great vendors as well as two bloggers: Heather Justesen and C.L. Beck.

Soon to be published, Heather Justesen, blogs about gardening and landscaping for the Neighborhood. She lives with her husband, one dog, two cats, four geese, seven ducks, a slew of chickens, a bunny, nine quail, and three fish in the small town where she grew up. She works two part-time jobs and works her writing in around the edges of my day. She rarely turns on the television or radio, and if she took a test on pop culture, she says she would flunk, but there are worlds in her head just fighting to get out, so she writes. She recently signed a contract with Cedar Fort for her first novel, to be published in early summer '09. She writes women's fiction, mostly romance, but not strictly, and is working on a non-fiction title as well.

And of course, our humorist is C.L. Beck whose unique style of humor has folks giggling at the crazy happenings in rural America. Her bi-weekly column, The Writing on the Wall, is a must read, and was awarded first place for "Best Feature Column" by the Utah Press Association in 2008, for category one newspapers. Her short stories have appeared in the nationally published anthologies, Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers, (titled, "Horse on Lap"), and Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors (titled, "Dancing in the Moonlight.") In addition, she has a story in Life is Like Riding a Unicycle, by Shirley Bahlmann (titled, "Priming the Pump"). She also has a short story in the upcoming My Dad is My Hero (titled, "A Whap on the Head," release date Spring 2009).

The Music Block is loaded with incredible musicians from all genres. Our blogger is musician Julie Keyser:

Julie Keyser blogs about all aspects of the music business. If there is one thing she is in this world…it’s passionate! One of the things she's most passionate about, besides her husband and family, is songwriting and all things musically inclined. This passion led her to become the Utah chapter head coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), a nonprofit organization aimed at help aspiring songwriters. She's been blessed through NSAI and various other musical organizations to get to know many amazing artists, musicians, and songwriters. Through yourLDSNeighborhood, I’ll be bringing many of these amazing musical Mormons to light.

The New Neighbors Block is where each new vendor is introduced for a week and as well as on their permanent block. Here we have author, Cheri Crane blogging about travel and traditions.

Cheri Crane is a published author and traveler. She is perfect for blogging on the New Neighbors block. Funny, informative and a grandmother!

Our Religious Block is a great place. Rebecca Talley blogs on all things spiritual and gospel related.

Rebecca Talley, a published author, lives on a small ranch with her husband, eight of her ten children, horses, goats, a dog, a cat, and a llama named Tina. She has wonderful insight into the Gospel and all things related spiritually.

The Scrapbook & Crafts Block is an oft visited block by our visitors and shoppers. It's just too much fun. Here, we have Kim Thompson blogging about scrapbooking and crafts. I had no idea there was so much to learn!

Kim Thompson is the mother of six children ranging in age from 5-16. Also an aspiring LDS fiction writer, she likes to play, read, scrapbook, write, cook, and loves learning new things. If you love to scrapbook or craft, this blog is a must read.

Our Services Block has great vendors and a great blogger who reached out across the world, Liz Adair.

Born in New Mexico; Liz Adair, a published author, lived in lots of places including Alaska, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah. She loves the Pacific Northwest, but likes to go back to the desert to nourish her roots. She is the mother of seven, grandmother of 15 1/2 and still counting. She teaches seminary--some of whom are said grandkids. Liz also work in construction management with husband, Derrill. Best of all, she believes that senior citizenship is the sweetest state of all. She does a great job of blogging about service around the world.

Our Social Networking Block is new and so much fun! We're all over the social networks and even created one of our own, Neighborhood and Friends (pssst, come and join us there)! Our blogger, Rachelle Christensen is great at helping intrepid internet travelers navigate the intricacies . . . or simplicities, of social networking.

Rachelle Christensen grew up on a farm in rural Idaho and still loves wide open spaces. Now she lives among the mountains of Utah. Rachelle is a creative person and loves writing whenever she can get the chance. As a stay-at-home mom of 3 and consultant for Story Time Felts the writing time is hard to come by, but the creative experiences are plentiful!

And of course we have to have a Sports & Recreation Block. Please . . . what is Mormon culture without sports & recreation? Steve Christensen is our resident sports expert.

Steve Christensen is a sports fanatic with a family of females--but now he has his own little boy! All is good and right in Steve's world.

And least, but in no way least, our Weddings Block. Also a very popular block, Danyelle Ferguson, an author and wedding planner, blogs about preparing for a wedding, the day of your wedding, your reception, your honeymoon . . . all things wedding.

Danyelle Ferguson is a self-proclaimed wedding addict. She truly loves weddings. When she was little, she fell in love with Cinderella and Prince Charming . . . and continues to dream about happily ever after. And she is happy to say her little girls are just as in love with Cinderella and happily ever after as she is. She is a stay-at-home, working mother with four wonderful boisterous kids. She is a: Writer, Book Editor & Reviewer, Mommy Extraordinaire, Queen of the Clan and a Daughter of God.

And those are our blocks and bloggers. Certainly worth dropping by every Monday and checking out what's new in the Neighborhood Blogland!

yourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Pake a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, the associated music download site, our authors, our musicians, our artists and more.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Alliance for Unity Food Drive

Congregations of all denominations will join together to donate food to the food banks throughout Utah on Saturday, December 6th. The goal this year is more than one million pounds of food.

Members of church congregations will organize the food drive in their own area, collect the donations and deliver them to designated drop off points. To find out the location of your community’s food bank and their drop off locations go to www.FoodBanksofUtah.org.

The food banks in Utah are thankful for the generosity of their communities. The need is greater than ever. Food banks throughout Utah are experiencing a 20% to 50% increase in those seeking help since last year.

In these tough times we can give thanks for the many things we have – family, friends, home and caring neighbors. The food banks are thankful for the community’s past support. Because the need is great, please give generously to the food drive on December 6th. If each one gives a bit more then many more can be helped.

Individual family donations are being accepted at all Jiffy Lube and Smith Food King locations throughout the holiday season.

Utah Chocolate Show a Success!

The Utah Chocolate Show was amazing this year. Every year it just gets better and better and better. The cake decorating contest brings in professionals from all over the nation and their cakes were amazing things of beauty and physics defied. And yes, there is chocolate dipped everything! I promise. Mel Henderson and Michele Stevenett, who happen to be the sisters of author, Annette Lyon, are the ones behind the show. And every year, they do a fantastic job. This show is always so fun, upbeat and enjoyable. For both vendors and attendees. Every year I participate I just love it more and more. Even if I had no booth, I’d still go and have a blast.

yourLDSneighborhood sponsored a booth there and we promoted our new venture, www.positivemusicanddownloads.com, the iTunes of clean music. In other words, you will find no explicit lyrics or scantily clad women anywhere near our site. PositiveMusicandDowloads is much easier to navigate as well. We sold CD's, let people listen to music through Bose headphones which blocked out the background noise of the show and had a blast interacting with those wandering by.

It was fun. I was, however, working the booth with nothing but Utes! I was the lone Cougar in a sea of red. I tried to give extra discounts to Cougar fans but my boss laughingly put the kibosh on that! Good thing I like the guy.

We tried to watch the game on the internet, but the MTN doesn’t allow that, so Brock , one of my coworkers and a good friend, pulled up something called ESPN game cast. As we worked, we would look at the web and see, play by play, what was happening on the field. It was very cool, although we couldn’t actually see the game.

The show was so much fun! Gaylen and Denise Rust, the owners of yourLDSneighborhood, joined us at the booth along with Julie Boye, Curt Rust and Brock Arnold. We had a rockin' booth, I have to tell you!

We ended both nights of the Utah Chocolate Show with concerts sponsored by PositiveMusicandDownloads.com. Daniel Beck was the headliner and he rocked the house. What an astounding voice and his new CD has become my brand new favorite. To quote my boss, "I'm waiting to see how many times I can listen to it without getting tired of it." Hasn't happened yet. His new CD "Love Like That" more than lives up to its billing.

yourLDSneighborhood has a record label called Our Legacy. Dan’s CD is our first release. Holy Cow! That man can sing! I mean really, really sing. Warm, powerful voice that just pulls you into the song.

I bought the CD and I can’t stop listening to it. You have to take a listen. Go to www.positivemusicanddownloads.com and check him out him. I think he’s my new favorite singer. I’m buying three more CDs today to give to my family. Think Josh Groban without the nasally sound. Also, Josh is a 2nd tenor and Dan’s more of a 1st. Really loved being surrounded by great music the whole weekend.

We have some exciting plans for the Utah Chocolate Show next year. Stay posted to this blog because musicians and authors around the world are want to going to participate. Give us 3 months to nail down the details and we'll issues a press release with all the details.

In the meantime, if you didn't make it to the Utah Chocolate Show you really missed out. Good thing it comes around once a year.

Don't forget Dan Beck's next concert is coming up on the 25th of November. Rose Wagner Theater! You buy the tickets online at ArtTix. You better believe my husband and I will be front and center.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Daniel Beck releases "Love Like That"

CONTACT: Jan Hemming

JKH Associates
801.582.2799
jkhassociates@burgoyne.com

PositiveMusicandDownloads.com will promote and launch Daniel Beck’s first CD Love Like That; Solo album by the 33-year old Utah tenor will be released mid-November online and will be in retail stores by Thanksgiving; Songs are a collection of intensely moving contemporary music consisting of powerful ballads and upbeat tunes.

Salt Lake City, Utah 1 November 2008 - PositiveMusicandDownloads.com, a new premier online site for ordering CDs and downloading songs that emphasize positive music, announced today it will promote and launch Love Like That, the first CD released by Utah tenor, Daniel Beck, later this month.

Beck, who has performed and acted in films, concerts and on stage for the past 16 years, “is one of Utah’s best kept secrets,” according to Greg Hansen, director of music for PositiveMusicandDownloads.com. “He has a Josh Groban-like range and appeal,” said Hansen. “When people hear him sing they are going to be amazed.”

Love Like That, produced by well-known Utah performer and composer Kenneth Cope, includes 10 songs – five original tunes by Cope and several other song writers as well as popular favorites like The Impossible Dream and Homeward Bound. The music is a collection of intensely moving music consisting of powerful ballads and upbeat tunes with an adult contemporary sound. The title song Love Like That, is a new original piece written by Tyler Castleton and Staci Peters.

A launch release concert is planned:

November 25th
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
138 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT
801-355-2787
Purchase Tickets at ArtTix

According to Hansen, Beck will be accompanied by a string orchestra and a live band. Concert guests are asked to bring blankets, gloves, coats, hats and other clothing items that will be donated to The Road Home. Also, $1 from the sale of each Love Like That CD through Christmas will be donated to The Road Home. Tickets are available at Capitol Theatre, Abravanel Hall and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center ticket offices and at selected ArtTix outlets. Or call 355-ARTS (2787) or toll-free 1-888-451-ARTS (2787).

Beck has played major roles in several musicals such as The Scarlett Pimpernel at the Hale Centre Theater and Oklahoma at Salt Lake Community College. He has also starred in several DVD productions featuring adaptations of scripture stories known as the Liken the Scripture series, created by Lightstone Pictures. He performs a duet with popular Utah singing artist Jessie Clark Funk on her current album Everything Speaks His Name and has solo tracks on two Especially for Youth CDs – the 2007 release Purity in Power and the 2008 release Steady and Sure.

Beck said when he and Cope met in 2006 to discuss his first CD “the very album that’s being released is the one we both envisioned. We were on the same page at our first lunch meeting.”

PositiveMusicandDownloads.com is a new online sales and distribution company. It was launched to promote music that embraces positive lyrics and tunes. While positive music can be found in many musical styles – from blue grass to pop and rock – according to Hansen, “by creating a new category that leaves no doubt about the content of the words and the music being played, we hope it will be hub for artists and music listeners to celebrate this brand of music.”

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Return to the Neighborhood.

Radio You Have Been Looking For

Looking for a lift? Yourldsradio.com hits the internet airwaves on Monday, November 3. It's a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week internet radio station dedicated to the music Latter-Day-Saints love. Wherever they are, and whenever they're connected to the internet, people who love LDS music can tune in for the best in uplifting inspirational music by their favorite Latter-Day-Saint artists.

The station brings together the talents of some of the LDS music industry's finest, including composer, playwright and radio broadcaster Steven Kapp Perry, long-time arranger and producer Greg Hansen, poet and songwriter Sam Payne, and former ops manager for "The Glenn Beck Program," David Dalley.

In addition to an always-on radio stream of great contemporary LDS music, visitors to yourldsradio.com can enjoy weekly audio segments like Steven Kapp Perry's "Cricket and Seagull fireside chat" (featuring interviews with prominent Latter-Day-Saint authors, artists, personalities, and more), the "Radio Family Journal with Sam Payne" (featuring two minutes of hometown wit and wisdom), and Greg Hansen's "New Artist Show" (featuring brief interviews with new faces in the LDS music community). Sunday listening options include a one- hour program of peaceful sacred music--just right for the Sabbath day.

With a built-in discussion board, yourldsradio.com provides a place where people can request songs, meet other LDS music aficionados, or comment on the music they hear.

Gaylen Rust, founder of yourldsradio.com, sees the internet as the perfect place for great LDS music to be introduced and enjoyed. “The beauty of an online radio station," he says, is that "it can be heard anytime, anywhere." With the world increasingly turning to the internet for news, information, and entertainment, chances are you spend some time in front of a computer screen. Anytime you're connected, enjoy the best in music for Latter-Day-Saints.

24-hours a day of the best in Latter-Day-Saint contemporary music: if you've been looking, you've found it! Make yourldsradio.com a part of your day.

The Neighborhood Jukebox: 1 Year Old

The one year anniversary of yourLDSneighborhood.com has been distinguished by the realization of the most complete set of services ever before available to LDS musicians.

The Music Division at yourLDSneighborhood.com encompasses: The Jukebox, a virtual player so your songs and demos can be heard.

• Concert production and sponsorship
• Digital distribution thru all major national channels
• Retail distribution thru LDS stores and soon with several national chains like Wal-Mart, FYE and Costco
• Web presence and promotion with the various Indie and Neighborhood Artists buildings and newsletter on the Neighborhood site itself
• Promotion of CD's to media and radio that support Positive Music
• A radio station, called YLDSR (yourLDSradio-launching November 1st) with hosts Sam Payne, Steven Kapp Perry and Greg Hansen
• An artist development program for artists of all skill levels
• A booking agency for performances, concerts and conventions
• Positive Music and Downloads, the premier download site for MP3's and physical CD ordering (launching Nov 1st)
  

And a cooperative relationship with reporting all the above on PositiveMusicandArts.com, with features on artists, news and events. Musicians can now take advantage of extensive tools to help their careers at all levels. For more info contact greg@greghansen.com.

Advertising with yourLDSneighborhood.com: If you're interested in advertising with yourLDSneighborhood, please contact us at mod@yourldsneighborhood.com and we will discuss different options which would best suit your needs. No pressure situation, just good information which will help you to make an informed decision. We have an advertising package for every budget.

Subscribe to the yourLDSNeighborhood Newsletter

In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world—all with an family focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Alex Boye' coming to Orem!

There is a fantastic concert coming up and it's happening right in Orem, Utah on Wednesday, October 8th. Alvin and I are very excited about it and plan on being front and center to enjoy the music.

Alex Boye' is coming in concert and he's bringing his friends with him. Let me share a little bit with you about Alex. I went straight to his website because I happen to LOVE his voice. I mean really, this man can sing. Wait until you read his bio!

Alex Boye' was born and raised in London, England. He joined the church at the age of 16 and later served an LDS Mission to England Bristol. Alex sang regularly on his mission, and from the encouragement of his Mission President, pursued a career in music when he got home.

Alex became the lead singer in the European Boy band "Awesome", and signed a recording contract with Universal Records in 1996. The band had hits in over 15 countries, selling over half a million CD's and performed alongside such groups as N'SYNC, The Backstreet Boys, Missy Elliott, Bryan Adams, Mary. J.Blige, The Smashing Pumpkins, and George Michael to name a few.

Despite the fame, glory and fortune, Alex felt emptiness in his life that none of these worldly accolades could sufficiently fill. He explains, "I was climbing the ladder of success but when I got to the top, I found myself leaning on the wrong side of the wall". In 2000', Alex felt compelled to move to Utah, to pursue a career in gospel music, and is currently signed to Deseret Books' Shadow Mountain Label. Alex has since received the 2005 Male Artists Listener Award by the LDS Booksellers Association for his sacred Album entitled 'Testimony', and also received the "2006 Spirit of Heritage Award", for his notable work with the youth, an honor given to Senator Hatch, NBA star Thurl Bailey and Elizabeth Smart in previous years. Alex has been nominated this year for three Pearl awards by the Faith Centered Music Association.

Alex continues to have wonderful experiences in the Arts. In theatre, he has performed 'Smokey Joe's cafe'" at BYU, "Big River" at the Hale Center Theatre, and played Frederick Douglass in Frank Wildhorn's "The Civil War".

In music, Alex has had music featured in several LDS movie Soundtracks including Charly, The Dance, Baptist at the Barbecue,Suits on the Loose, and Church ball.

In acting, Alex played 'Abinadab' in The successful Lightsone Films production of 'David and Goliath' which has won a 'Dove Award', and is shown regularly on 'TBN' channel that has gone out to millions of Christians worldwide.

Alex has found much joy and purpose utilizing his personal experiences in the entertainment industry to educate and warn the youth through his powerful and engaging firesides on some of the dangers and perils of today's media and entertainment, and how they can affect our thoughts personalities, character, and spirituality.

Alex simply refers to himself as the "Token Black Guy in Utah". He loves to laugh, and says some of the highlights in his life have been giving a Book of Mormon to Prince Charles, recently joining the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and marrying his wonderful wife in the Salt Lake Temple.

He is a captivating entertainer who will be joined by a five-piece band and special guests Mindy Gledhill, Nicole Sheahan, Ryan Innes and Matt Abernathy for a night of pop, rock, soul, contemporary and inspirational music.

So come join us! It's going to be a wonderful night in Orem. Bring your families and friends, you won't want to miss this!

Alex Boye and Friends
Time: October 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Location: Scera Center: Showhouse II
Street: 745 South State Street
City/Town: Orem
Website: http://www.scera.org/events/view/94.
Contact Info: 801-225-ARTS

General Conference Advice That Keeps on Giving

by Jennifer Ricks
Guest Blogger

It was almost a year ago when my husband and I took some advice and guidance from general conference and applied it to our family. I never thought that a General Conference talk could still impact my life this much a year later. As the first talk in the Sunday Morning session of the October 2007 General Conference of the Church, President Eyring taught the members of the Church by example “to find ways torecognize and remember God’s kindness” (Ensign, Nov. 2007, 67). As President Eyring related to us the account of his first inspiration to begin keeping a family journal and how keeping the family journal was a daily blessing for him as he “became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers” and “felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that [came] because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ,” President Eyring also shared that that his family journal has since been a blessing years later to his sons as “reading of what happened long ago helped [them] notice something God had done in [their] day.”

After hearing President Eyring’s talk, I knew that this was the perfect use for a wedding gift that had been dormant for months. One of my former Young Women’s advisors had given us a beautiful wedding gift: a leather-bound journal with gold-edged pages and an artistically textured cover. She also pasted our wedding announcement in the inside cover of the book to make it especially ours. I knew that such a wonderful gift deserved a wonderful purpose and all summer I had been brainstorming how we could use the journal and put the gift to good use. I toyed with a lot of ideas in my mind, but nothing ever stuck or gave me enough motivation to begin writing in the journal. The summer ended and we were well into autumn before the answer of what to do with the beautiful journal came where I least expected it, in President Eyring’s talk.

After General Conference, my husband and I prayerfully decided that we should follow President Eyring’s example and use our wedding gift to start our own family journal. While President Eyring used his family journal to write down “evidence of what God had done” for his family each day, we decided that we needed to use our family journal to write down a moment when we were happy each day. Every night we take turns and each write a sentence or two in our family journal about a happy event that day. We have found that by writing in our family journal we have been more grateful for the many blessings that Heavenly Father gives us each day. As we approach General Conference this year, I’m excited to have a year’s worth of entries in our family journal. Soon I’ll be able to look back and see what blessings had come into our lives exactly a year ago. This exercise has been important in motivating us to keep important family records and has helped us draw closer as a family as we seek to recognize the daily blessings that the Lord gives to us.

In beginning a family journal of your own, you could do as President Eyring did and ask: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” Or, you could
personalize the idea of a family journal and prayerfully adapt it to your own family’s needs. This could mean a happiness journal, a gratitude journal, a journal of family spiritual experiences, or a blessings journal. As you seek his inspiration, the Lord will bless you with promptings of how you can better keep baptismal covenants as a family to always remember him.

President Eyring has promised us that as we “will find a way to preserve [memories of God’s messages] for the day that [we], and those that [we] love, will need to remember how much God loves us how much we need Him,” these memories “will soften [our] hearts to allow the Holy Ghost to testify to [us].”

© Jennifer Ricks 2008

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yourLDSneighborhood Ideal Employer

yourLDSneighborhood is not only a great place to socialize and shop, they are a dream employer. Really. They've gone totally green. 90% of their employees work from home using a completely virtual office in order to complete their duties and responsibilities. The bulk of our work is done via telephone and internet, which is wonderful.

Looking at today's economy I find myself wondering why more employers don't look at this option. With today's technology there's no reason why most employees can't work from home, as long as production remains high, it's perfectly ideal.

First: As a woman, I save a fortune on business clothes, makeup and hair products. I don't need them on a daily basis anymore. I work from my home office, perfectly comfortable, only needing to put on said "business look" when I head out for a lunch meeting.

Second: I save a fortune on gas. Really. With gas prices where they are now I'm saving a lot of money by staying home, which is really helping our budget. If I bought into the carbon footprint, which I don't, not to the extent the environmentalists sell it, I'm certainly reducing mine. All in all, a very good thing for both sides. And I avoid the frustration of a twice daily commute, which of course reduces my blood pressure, frustration and stress. Always, always a very good thing.

Third: I actually work harder and produce more from home. There's no one dropping by my office to talk or waylaying me at the water cooler. I get up around six in the morning, put in several hours, break and take care of things and then back to work for several more hours. While working in an office, I was chomping at the bit to get out of there after putting in my requisite eight. But not now, it just doesn't feel like work, although it is. I put in a good eight to ten hours , sometimes fourteen, a day as a matter of course. Great for my boss. Great for me.

Of course, working from home requires discipline and self-motivation. Initially, I was putting in close to 20 hours a day. I had to stop, regroup and exercise discipline in keeping to a reasonable number of work hours in a single day. Self-motivation isn't a problem for me, never has been. And it seems to be that way for everyone at the company. We work hard to provide a wonderful place for you, our customers and clients, to browse, shop, read, listen . . . and enjoy yourself. Everything we do is to that end.

So here's to the Neighborhood! You're doing your part to protect the environment by having your employees work from home. Oh, and one more thing. By providing yourLDSneighborhood.com, you're allowing shoppers to go to one central online location and shop a number of vendors, products, services, authors, artists, musicians, photographers, articles, interviews and so much more. Therefore, you're saving them gas and money too! You just can't go wrong! yourLDSneighborhood . . . great place to be. Great newsletter, one of the favorite parts of my day. Wonderful music.

There are great changes ahead for yourLDSneighborhood and believe me, my friends, you you'll want to check it out. Every day there is something new and exciting.

Speaking of new and exciting: Join us at Neighborhood and Friends. yourLDSneighborhood has launched its own social network and it is a fantastic place to be. Connect with family, friends, musicians, authors and more. Share photos, music and videos. Join discussion groups on a variety of subject and simply have a blast in a safe, clean environment.

Ch-ch-changes at the Neighborhood

Some of the folks over at yourLDSNeighborhood's new social network, Neighborhood and Friends!

Find more photos like this on Neighborhood and Friends

Social Networks have invaded the Neighborhood.

Remember the Neighborhood of your childhood. Streets perfect for playing kick the can or freeze tag. Leafy trees shielding homes filled with happy families, sad families, perfect families and broken families, people from all walks of life and social strata. Backyard BBQs, driveway basketball games, hanging upside from the limbs of sturdy trees while eating M&Ms (yes, that didn't end well for me.) Anyway, the point is neighborhood's have a unique social effect. You can be clear across the world and if you run into another American the sense of connection is huge, you run into someone from the neighborhood and the sense of family is instant and solid.

Researchers at the University of Indiana stated the following in their study findings:

"We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site."

MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, and Cyworld are quoted in the study. But what it boils down to, is people are spending more and more time online, for work, for research, for play and in so doing, often have no idea who the neighbor is right next door. That's not a good thing, by the way, in case anyone actually cares.

Connections are being made on the internet that are every bit as lasting and real and personal, as face-to-face connections. In Arizona, when a popular blogger, with readers from all over the world, was in a private plane crash with her husband, the blogging community united and began praying and fundraising. NieNie was in trouble and now they wanted to help. This is the type of virtual relationship which spilled over into real life.

Social Networks were created to give people a place to gather, communicate and share with friends and family online. These networks have exploded across the worldwide web and so there is little surprise that yourLDSNeighborhood has launched its own social network.

So here are the links to "hook up" with the Neighborhood in cyberspace.

First off, you simply must join the Neighborhood and Friends! Created by the Neighborhood, this is a fun place to associate with the customers and friends of the Neighborhood. But oh, we're not restricted to just that! Come and associate online with the authors, artists and musicians as well. Small business owners, established businesses and new businesses, we're all there. And don't stop there. Invite all your family, friends and peers to join you at Neighborhood and friends too All in all, it's a blast. I'm loving every single second of it! So welcome home to the Neighborhood.

You can also find the Nieghborhood on MySpace! And on Facebook! And on Bebo! See you around the Neighborhood!

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And while you're there subscribe to our fantastic Newsletter. Welcome to the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

LDS Newsletter Subscriptions are FREE, and joining is easy.

A Money Saving Idea or Two

A Money Saving Idea or Two
September 12, 2008
from Three P's in a Pod
by Barbara Salsbury

Many of us are truly noticing that budget tightening is not a rumor anymore. That makes me think that a money stretching idea would prove to be helpful.

As you work toward stretching your buying power in non-foods, consider evaluating your closets as well as your pantry. One money-stretching trend that is gaining momentum is houses brands in clothing. A recent purchase of house brand support hose proved to be a $2.00 per pair savings compared to the same brand name item, and almost a $4.00 per pair savings to what would be considered the same designer label item.

Take time to check out basic clothing items such as socks, underwear, etc. … in house brands. However, shirts, tops, blouses, pants and more are also appearing in house brand labels. What if personal preference dictates that for you … or a teenager in your household … a label that shows has to cost more? Maybe you can begin saving a significant amount on those items that won’t show. (And of course we won’t mention those individuals who purposely allow underwear to show. Ah yes, we are talking budget here, not fashion. Fashion? No you didn’t read that here:)

You might consider house brands for your preparedness program when it comes to blankets, sleeping bags, and other such items. Such savings gives you more buying power … more for the same amount of money.

Another money-saving idea is to make your calculator a power tool when stocking up or shopping sales. Use your calculator when you are reading the ads and planning to stock up on an item or two. This is especially true when you are trying to stretch a limited budget among several tweens for clothing purchases. The extra ten or fifteen minutes could mean added buying power. It could make the difference in saving money that you might spend “thinking” an item is sale priced, but not knowing if it really is or is not a bargain. For example, a recent ad extolled a “Bargain” on toilet tissue. A six-roll pack for .99 cents. At first glance it looked good. Further reading showed that it was 1-ply sheets, and would equate out to a 4-roll costing .66cents. A better value bargain would be to wait for a 2-ply sheet, 4-roll pack on sale at .69 cents or .79 cents. And of course these prices were factored a month or so ago, because the prices have already gone up. But unless you take the time to figure it out, you don’t know! I even carry a small calculator with me when I do major shopping, so that if I find a promoted bargain or better yet an unadvertised bargain, I will take the time to punch in numbers.

If it’s cool to carry a cell phone, we can make it cool to carry a calculator and use it! How cool is it to stretch your budget!

Return to the Neighborhood

Monday, September 8, 2008

What Will Your Stash Be?

In today’s blog I want to present a practical part of preparedness. Having been through many different kinds of disasters, including being without employment or a paycheck for over eighteen months,I have a different perspective than many on what is needed to really be prepared. But prepared for what?

For hard times and down times it is extremely important that you are able to have comforting things, and that includes comforting things to eat. (This is above and beyond – or perhaps before - the requisite “preparedness supplies.”)

With that in mind will you ask yourself a question? What will be your stash? Before any emergency arrives at your door, consider having a “stash” of goodies. (Not to be confused with supplies on the pantry shelf. “Stash” meaning kept in reserve, or as in kept from view or common knowledge.) Know what your comfort foods are whether they are chocolate covered raisins, hard peppermint candies or granola bars. Then after the onslaught of the crisis, when the worst of the panic calms down, and the dust begins to settle, you can sit for a moment and take stock of the situation with a comforting treat to help get you through. A rule while you munch is to be sure to count your blessings!

A storage tip is to remember that chocolate or anything with chocolate as a main ingredient will melt, mush and warp if exposed to heat. Even an especially warm cupboard will be considered “being exposed to heat.” A stash in a box, large gallon bottle or large plastic bucket, labeled and kept in the coolest closet corner will keep your “comfort foods” much longer. Another keeping quality key is to make sure the items you are relying on are edible. Stash only items that are without nuts for longer storageablitiy. Nuts have a high rancidity factor as well as a high “bug factor”. If you are counting on a treat to help lift your spirits, bugs and bad taste are not what you want to find.

Of course the hard part of this is keeping your family members and yourself out of the stash until it is needed. Perhaps you will need to specifically qualify need. (In my house need many times equals chocolate. Plan carefully.)

That’s what you need to do, as you try to be practical in preparation. Have something “stashed” or prepared to lighten your tough times, something that is a comfort food for you. Believe me, it will be needed.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Recipe: Sweet Cornbread

From our Health & Food Block Newsstand:
yourLDSNeighborhood
Candace E. Salima

A long time favorite, both from my childhood and that of my family now, is sweet cornbread. There is just nothing like sliding cornbread fresh from the oven, slicing a piece open and slathering it with butter and honey. Oh my word, my mouth is just watering and you can guess that dinner tonight will center around cornbread. That's a given!

This recipe is tailor made for butter and honey, drizzled over a steaming hot piece of cornbread like syrup.

So I invite you to throw some chicken in the oven, toss a green salad, boil some ears of corn (bring water to a boil and throw corn in for only 3 minutes. Gets the corn hot but keeps it fresh, crisp and nutritious.) And top the whole thing off with some delicious cornbread.

Sweet Cornbread
Preheat oven to 400°
Lightly grease an 8" skillet.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together until creamy:

b C. Sugar
1 t. Salt
a C. Butter
1 t. Vanilla
Stir in:
2 Eggs, one at a time

In a separate bowl, mix:

2 C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
¾ C. Cornmeal.

Stir into wet mixture alternating with 1a C. Milk . . .
be certain to alternate, dumping neither in all at once.
Beat until well blended.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Happy Eating!

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And while you're there, subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. Welcome to the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
LDS Newsletter Subscriptions are FREE, and joining is easy.

yourLDSNeighborhood Wins Rights to 2008 Especially for Youth Music

yourLDSneighborhood.com wins distribution rights to 2008 Especially for Youth™ music CD; The disc will be available for sale starting August 23; Popular artists include Jessie Clark Funk, Dan Beck and Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band

Salt Lake City, Utah (August 5, 2008)

The 2008 Especially for Youth™ CD, featuring the songs of local recording artists such as Jessie Clark Funk, Daniel Beck and Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band, will be available for commercial sale beginning August 16.

yourLDSneighborhood, which was awarded distribution rights to the popular CD, announced that the disc will be sold through its web site and at retail music stores along the Wasatch Front. The CD is a compilation of songs chosen to support the theme and focus of this year’s program “Steady and Sure” and has become a vital part of the EFY™ tradition. EFY™ is a summer program sponsored by the Church Educational System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held in locations through the U.S. and Canada.

Gaylen Rust, president and founder of yourLDSneighborhood.com, said the commercial release edition will contain an additional track not available on the CD distributed to EFY™ participants and feature more robust instrumental accompaniments.

“Music is an integral part of a young person’s life and the songs on this CD really speak to the everyday challenges and exhilarating experiences that youth encounter. It’s uplifting and inspiring but also the kind of music that’s fun to listen to anytime. It’s also a way for teens unable to attend EFY™ to catch the spirit and joy of the whole EFY™ event.”

The “Steady and Sure” CD features 12 tracks including

• “Steady and Sure” – the title track on the disc by Jessie Clark Funk, as well as
  
• “Amazing Grace,” by Daniel Beck,
  
• “A Woman’s Heart,” by Felicia Wolf,
  
• “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee,” by Mindy Gledhill and
  
• “Dream Big,” by Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band

Other artists include Ben Truman, Megan Flinders, Greg Simpson, Hilary Weeks, Terry White, Tim Gates, and a group song “Hurrah for Israel,” by Daniel Beck, Megan Flinders, Jessie Clark Funk and Dan Kartchner.

yourLDSneighborhood.com is a new virtual neighborhood launched in November, 2007 where a wide variety of goods and services are sold from clothing and jewelry to sports, scrapbooking, travel, and things of interest to home and family. Visitors can stroll through the neighborhood, stop and browse at retail stores, purchase merchandise, or stop at newsstands to chat with more than a dozen bloggers, read timely articles or listen to audio interviews with newsmakers and hometown heroes.

At the Neighborhood Jukebox, a new music feature in the neighborhood, visitors can listen to hundreds of new tunes and download them. A music directory lists dozens of musicians who are available for family reunions, concerts, weddings and other occasions.

Besides the virtual neighborhood, yourLDSneighborhood.com produces an informative lifestyle newsletter four times a week delivering thought-provoking and inspiring ideas, and offers special marketing opportunities for artists, musicians and authors – as well as those interested in buying artistic works.

Return to the Neighborhood.

Tiananmen Square

Five days and counting. You could be the lucky winner for the Trip for Two to China, sponsored by yourLDSNeighborhood and to be drawn on July 24th . . . and you could be standing in the center of Tiananmen Square, named after Tiananmen, literally interpreted to mean the Gate of Heavenly Peace, which bars the way to the Forbidden City.

In order to be eligible to win this exotic and thrilling grand prize, you must subscribe to the Neighborhood Newsletter. Filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interviews conducted by Utah personality, Rebecca Cressman, the newsletter is dropped into your inbox four times a week. It has become the most looked forward to newsletter amongst our subscribers, of which you can be one. So back to Tiananmen Square . . .

Tiananmen Square stands in the center of Beijing. First a gate, and now a square, it was destroyed off and on, at times only a gate and other times, like now, an actual square. It is now, actually, the biggest open urban square in the world.

The Tiananmen Gate was first built in the 1420s in the Ming Dynasty. During the demise of the Ming Dynasty, heavy fighting between Li Zicheng and the early Qing emperors damaged (or perhaps destroyed) the gate. In 1651 (early Qing Dynasty), the Tiananmen Gate was renovated. During the Ming and Qing eras, there was no public square at Tiananmen; instead, it was a T-shaped walled courtyard flanked by offices various ministries, bureaus and agencies.^{[citation needed]} It was enlarged to its present size and cemented in 1958. ^[2]

British and French troops who invaded Beijing in 1860 pitched camp near the gate and briefly considered burning the gate and the entire Forbidden City down. They decided ultimately to preserve the palace and to burn instead the emperor's Summer Palace. The Qing emperor eventually agreed to let the foreign powers establish headquarters in the area. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 the siege badly damaged the office complexes and several ministries were burnt down. In the conflict's denouement, the area became a space for foreign troops to assemble their armies and horses. It was cleared in due course to produce the beginning of what is now known as the Tiananmen Square. The Square, however, was not officially made until the PRC took power in 1949. ~ Wikipedia

My minor in college was history. Being surrounded by and steeped in the history of a people which have existed for millennia is something which would thrill me to no end . . . alas, I am employed by the Neighborhood so I'm out of the running for this fantastic grand prize, but you aren't! Subscribe now to the Neighborhood Newsletter and toss your hat into the ring . . . maybe you'll walk away with the grand prize, maybe you won't. But at least you'll have a fantastic newsletter to look forward to four times a week.

Gaylen, the CEO of yourLDSNeighborhood, is aching to give this Trip for Two to China to somebody . . . why shouldn't it be you?

China's Forbidden City

I'll be honest, until yourLDSNeighborhood decided to award a free Trip for Two to the lucky winner, I'd never though about the Forbidden City. But before we get into the details, you might be wondering how YOU could be that lucky winner. By subscribing to the Neighborhood Newsletter your hat is tossed into the ring and you become of the possible lucky ones. First, you get a newsletter which drops into your inbox four times a week filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interests from around the world. And second, you could win that trip to China where you'll get the chance to check out China's Forbidden City.

So, you might be asking yourself, just what is the Forbidden City? Well I'm not talking about the Hollywood version, but the real thing. I picked up some information from Wikipedia about this ancient place:

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms^[1] and covers 720,000 square metres. The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,^[2] and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987,^[2] and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. ~ Wikipedia

Imagine walking up those ancient steps into the Forbidden City and steeping yourself in ancient Chinese tradition and majesty. Simply drop by the Neighborhood and subscribe to the Neighborhood Newsletter and see if July 24th is your lucky day.

The Great Wall of China

On July 24th, yourLDSNeighborhood will draw a winner from all their Neighborhood Newsletter subscribers, which number in the thousands, to win a Trip for Two to China. Yes, an exciting time will be possible for all who receive the Neighborhood Newsletter in their inboxes four times a week. Filled with wonderful articles, products, services and interviews from around the world, the Neighborhood Newsletter is one of the most popular newsletters available to people. And just a quick reminder, it's not too late to be included in the drawing. Just click on any of the links above and subscribe and you're "in like Flynn." But it was China we were talking about . . .

One of the places you'll get to visit on this fabulous vacation is the Great Wall of China. So I thought we'd take a quick look at one of the famous Seven Wonders of the World, or are their eight now? But I digress.

The Great Wall of China winds up and down across mountains, deserts, grasslands and plateaus of China. It stretches over 4,100 miles, can you imagine that, running east to west across that vast expanse of the Orient.

Constructed over 2,000 years ago, from Wikipedia we learn:

"The long wall of 10,000 Li (里)"^[1]) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Xiongnu attacks during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220–200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.^[2]

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men.^[5] It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.^[6] ~ Wikipedia

Rich in history and sorrow, the Great Wall of China brings thousands of visitors each year. You have a chance at actually standing on this ancient wall, steeped in the history which surrounds it . . . if . . . you subscribe to the yourLDSNeighborhood Newsletter.

So drop by the Neighborhood today and toss your hat into the proverbial ring . . . you just might win.

yourLDSNeighborhood Huge Giveway in 14 Days

Fourteen days and counting. yourLDSNeighborhood has been running a tremendous promotion which is reaching its climax July 24th. For every person who signs up for the Neighborhood Newsletter they become eligible for one of the fantastic prizes we've got lined up. Your days are running out, my friends, if you want a chance at a free 7 day, 6 night trip to China or one of the dozens of other prizes up for grabs.

If you win, you and a friend will be on your way to visit one of the world's most exciting and historic cities. Located close to famous sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, you will be immersed in Chinese culture and enjoy the breathtaking panoramas this nation has to offer. Beijing offers something for every type of traveler. And what is this great trip valued at? $4,000 . . . all for signing up for and receiving the Neighborhood Newsletter.

So you might be asking yourself why yourLDSNeighborhood is willing to shower so many gifts on its customers. It's as simple as this: yourLDSNeighborhood burst onto the scene in 2007, bringing to the market a unique idea for a business. They launched a website with a unique design, a neighborhood comprised of blocks revolving around art, books, jewelry, sports and recreation, home and family and more. Businesses from around the nation leased buildings on the blocks, providing a plethora of shopping opportunities for the Neighborhood browser. They then launched the Neighborhood Jukebox where music can be downloaded. Oh, but they didn't stop there, they're not far from launching a radio station.

It's a wonderful place to visit, browse and shop. But one of the greatest things I like about yourLDSNeighborhood -- the Newsletter. It drops into your email inbox four times a week filled with wonderful articles, interviews, products and services . . . all with an LDS perspective.

So how do you visit this great Neighborhood? Simply go to http://yourldsneighborhood.com. How do you sign up for the Newsletter and become eligible for one of this great prize? Simply sign up for the Neighborhood Newsletter at http://yourldsneighborhood.com/Subscribe.aspx.

So come on over to the Neighborhood and join us. You might just win a 7 day 6 night to China!

Blogger ∙ Alison Palmer - Books

We've had a change in the Neighborhood. I am so sorry to say goodbye to our Book Blogger, Anne Bradshaw. But I'm very excited to introduce Alison Palmer who will be our new Book Blogger. Alison is a published author, a nurse, a wife and a mother. Wow! We're in for some good reading!

So who is Alison Palmer anyway? This is the place to go if you want to find out more about her. She was born in Mesa, Arizona and has lived in Arizona, West Virginia, and currently Michigan.

Alison Palmer - The Author: Obviously, writing is her favorite past time, but she also loves to read (mostly juvenile and young adult). That will have to be expanded. She likes to spend time sewing, cooking, taking naps and long walks, playing piano or enjoying music, playing with her children and generally avoiding housework as if it were the plague.

So, I had to ask her a few questions so we could learn a little bit more about her.

1. What brought you to the Blogging World and what is your favorite thing about blogging?

I started blogging for money before I ever had a personal blog. What can I say, I like to get paid for what I write! I still do that. I’m more productive when people outside of myself are counting on me.

I did break down and finally start a personal blog when I wanted some place to just ramble. Ok, I also wanted to be egotistical enough to assume people would want to read my ramblings just because they liked me or something. Every writer, no matter how lowly their pursuits, still has a glimmer of a dream for stardom. Not necessarily huge amounts of claim and fame, but at least one other soul who claims your writing makes them a better person.

Yeah, I like getting paid, but I like making a difference even more. Too bad I can’t fill my bank account with all the warm fuzzies associated with creativity and enlightenment.

2. What intrigues you the most about blogging for yourLDSNeighborhood?

One of my favorite topics to write about is, and always has been, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though I began my writing career in secular fields, my church related works are among the things I’m most proud of. It goes back to that old advice new writers often get, “Write what you know.” Well, what I know is that the church is true and that I love my Savior more than I could ever express in words. Though it defies expression, I like trying. It’s the process of getting to put those thoughts on paper that makes my spirit soar.

Because of this opportunity with yourLDSNeighborhood, I get to combine that testimony with another of my favorite things- books. My husband rolls his eyes at my perpetual “books to read” pile. The average number of titles in the stack at any given point in time is 13. Yeah, 13. Hey, I didn’t choose the number, that just seems to be the number of titles that will jump out at me all at once, crying to be read.

YourLDSNeighborhood gives me an excuse to share my excitement for good literature with people who can appreciate my standards and pull toward knowledge and spiritual enrichment. I get to ramble more and hope it makes a difference somewhere along the line.

3. What is your favorite thing about yourLDSNeighborhood?

One word: Diversity. It doesn’t matter what path of life you are currently on.

YourLDSNeighborhood meets you where you’re at in a down-to-earth, supportive and uplifting way. There’s something for every church member if you spend time in the Neighborhood.

4. Tell us a little about yourself: What your likes, dislikes, hobbies, hopes, dreams, etc . . .

I’ve already mentioned that whole reading and writing thing, right? Other than that I love being a mom. I love serving in the church. I love dessert. I love quiet times, and little ticklings of inspiration. Warm fuzzy slippers and nap times are also pretty high on my list. I despise sweating and housework.

My biggest dreams involve my children and my writing. I dream of actually seeing my kids through to the stage of normal, happy, functional, and stable adulthood without traumatizing or killing them in the process. (I’d like to be sane when it’s all over, too.) I dream of some day actually being able to support myself entirely from my writing projects in the LDS market. If you know anything about the LDS market, you know that’s a pretty lofty goal. So, I’m sorry to say I end up doubting myself and slinking back to my other markets more often than I’d like.

5. Tell us something unique about yourself.

Hmmm. I have very short toes.

6. What has been your greatest challenge to date?

See the above comment on my children making it to adulthood…

My biggest writing related challenge probably has to do with my own self-doubt and procrastination issues. I know I’ve been given a huge blessing, but I always feel inadequate in my efforts to live up to my potential. These inner conflicts are probably more challenging for me than any rejection letter I could ever receive. Those are just part of the business, but my ability to put my efforts, with full vigor and confidence, on the projects the Lord would have me do is a whole other matter.

7. What books/projects/songs are you working on right now?

I’m currently waiting with very baited breath to hear back on my first LDS women’s fiction project. It is currently under review for possible publication. In the mean time, I’m outlining and negotiating with my editors about a possible Book of Mormon tour guide project. I’m also scanning the horizon for next year’s Primary curriculum for my Sharing Through Primary Songs series and trying to catch up on some miscellaneous backburner projects between more routine writing commitments like yourLDSNeighborhood and LDSblogs.

8. What obstacles have you run into?

I feel I got started seriously writing much later in life than I should have. I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but those around me did not see that as a serious pursuit and I once again lacked the self-confidence to stand up for the promptings in my heart. In some ways it’s put me behind many of my peers that I admire and left me without some of the valuable skills that would make me a better writer. If I had felt that it was really okay for me to become the writer I dreamed of while I was still in high school I would have taken those aspects of my education more seriously.

Curses on nursing school! Sure, I don’t faint at the sight of blood but I go into convulsions when someone tries to explain grammar rules to me. Honest, just ask my husband. Oh, and I can’t spell.

9. What advice do you have for all the browsers in Blogland?

Be careful. Words are powerful things. They can hurt both those who read them and those who write them. It’s fun to just “surf” sometimes and see what comes up, but remember if something comes up you didn’t want to see you can’t take it back. As with everything, browse blogs for things that are lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy and all that stuff.

Also, set a time limit. It’s worse than any other media for sucking away hours in your day that you needed to fulfill other aspects of your self and your life.

10. If you had 3 minutes to give advice to someone headed into danger, what would it be?

Stop. Pray. Walk away.

If it comes after you, have faith that it will turn out okay.

It all comes down to the Lord’s place in your life. If He’s there, He’s the one you turn to first to help you find your way through anything. He’s also the one who shows you the way around to a better path.

Now, if I could get that through the thick skulls of my teenage children, they might actually make it to adulthood.

Alison, welcome to the Neighborhood. We're so excited to have you as a part of our team.

And to my browsing bloggers, drop by the Neighborhood every Monday and Thursday and visit the Books Block. You'll find Alison's reviews in the Newsstand.