Be sure to stop by Conversion Diary for this week’s 7 Quick Takes Friday fun!

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Have you left a comment for my Tupperware giveaway? And if you want to place an order, you have until July 13. (Make sure it says “Sarah’s party” on the right side.)

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Over at CatholicMom.com, I’ve raved a bit about some of the Friends & Heroes products I’ve had a chance to review. Most recently, I shared about the What About Love? CD.

I was intrigued to read about a contest they have going on.

Your chance to win an amazing prize of £5,000 ($8,000) for yourself or £10,000 ($16,000) for charity!

– Are you a crazy film-maker or a budding singer just waiting to be discovered?

– Do you have a flair for making videos, or a voice you want to share with the world?

Then we’re calling on YOU to use your creative skills to make a YouTube video inspired by Portia’s song – What about Love?

What about Love? tells the story of a journey of discovery – where Portia – a lead character in the popular Friends and Heroes TV series – learns that there is a higher love, far greater than she could ever have imagined. The song describes her moment of revelation when she embraces the love that can change the world and challenges us to do the same.

Portia’s song is the title track to our first music CD and you can view our original version on the right. But we want you to take our special song, and create your own stunning version of it. And you could win a fantastic prize of £5000 (approx $8000), or donate it to charity and we’ll double it to £10,000 (approx $16,000)! What better way to put that “higher love” into practice?

They have all the details at the website, along with a link to enter. You have until November to enter. I can’t wait to see who wins!

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Now available for preorder, a book that needs to be high on your must-read list: A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul, by Lisa Hendey.

I was lucky/blessed/delighted to get my hands on an electronic copy of Lisa’s latest book. I told a friend that THIS would be the new standard in devotionals for us Catholic moms.

Lisa has expertly combined the best of the saints with the best of her reflections with the best of her insight. I just went to the post office yesterday and got my hands on the actual book and…wow, you guys. It’s everything I hoped for and so much more. I only barely refrained from lending it to a friend who needs it far more than I do (I still might; the day’s only just beginning).

Don’t wait: preorder it now so that it’s waiting in your mailbox to change your life.

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I met the infamous Katharine Grubb, also known as @10MinuteWriter on Twitter and who has the ever helpful, always humorous, very insightful blog of the same name.

The only thing missing was Maria (@bego on Twitter). Maybe next time…

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Next week marks episode 100 of the Faith & Family podcast.

So if you haven’t already, call in and leave a brief message to their voice mail only line: 1-413-FAITH-55 or 1-413-324-8455

Was there something that you found especially helpful? Something that changed your life? Okay, so maybe not, but if you like the podcast, your call will be the best motivation you can give us to keep it going.

Danielle’s hoping to have enough feedback to make it a special episode. I’m hoping so, too!

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At the beginning of August, I’ll be in Pennsylvania at the Catholic Writers Conference Live and the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show. I’m so excited to finally meet in person some of the Catholic writers I’ve gotten to know over the years.

If you’re interested in attending, you can find more information at the conference website. I’ll be moderating a panel on blogging, carting my baby all over the shows, and trying to refrain from drooling and jumping up and down (though I’m sure to fail).

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I just got a review copy of The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, by Brandon Vogt. Can you say “dropping everything to devour this”? Can you say “who cares about finishing any other book that I’m currently reading while this is unread”? Can you say “IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!”?

There’s a nifty website that goes with the book, and as I consider the book I have coming out in March 2012 through Pauline, I can’t help but think a few things:

  1. Brandon, who is an engineer, excels at marketing.
  2. I can’t wait to dig in and read this!

Here’s a video trailer for those of you who click on such things.

Now, excuse me while I go get my writing work out of the way so I can curl up with a pile of books! Have a great Friday!