Introduction from Our New Co-Blogger, Sara!

Hello everyone! I figured I’d introduce myself before I started writing about my daily life as well as sweeping and reviewing. My name is Sara and I’m the younger sister of Tia.  She’s basically my third parent being that she helped raise me and also named me! In return, I gave her the nickname “Tia” which started out as “Ca-Tia” since I couldn’t pronounce Christina as a toddler. Funny enough, Tia means aunt in Spanish. So maybe she isn’t a third parent; she’s a hybrid sister-aunt.

Not sure if the older sister is mimicking the younger or if the other way around…

I have a journalism and public relations background but my true passion lies in fiction writing. I have a million and one projects lined up but my main focus at the moment is my sci-fi/fantasy novel set in an alternate desert world. I would love to travel around for inspiration before I have to settle down, but unfortunately money plays a big role in everything (or lack thereof). Until I’m the next J.K. Rowling, I’ll have to click around on Google Earth or the Universe Sandbox until I can satisfy my wanderlust.

 I lived in Scotland for half of 2012, so I can’t complain too much. 

Photograph featured is me at Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands

In my spare time, I’m a writer, artist, a gamer, reader, and cheapo. The latter meaning I’m disappointed if I don’t have enough food at a restaurant to bring back home a doggy bag so I can have it the next day for lunch. I currently write for Girl Gamer Vogue and Tomodom, both gaming websites. I’m also a proud mom to a Flame Point Siamese kitten named Grenwauld aka “Grenny.” I started running a store called Delicabella which you’ll definitely see a lot more of on here.

From kitten to full-grown menace

For five minutes a day, I enter sweepstakes. I win an average of three things a month and I think that’s a good pay off considering how little I invest into it. Off the top of my head, I’ve won: a snowboard, Dyson Bladeless Fan, concert tickets, a year’s supply of Perrier seltzer, gift cards, shopping sprees, an espresso machine – you name it. I consider myself really lucky. My Italian last name “Ventura” comes from Bonaventura which translates to good fortune or luck. I give my namesake credit whenever I win. Luck is in my blood.

What I want from blogging on Sweeps Go 'Round is to give everyone a different perspective. My sister and I share a lot of the same ideals, but since there’s an age gap, I’ll always be in a different chapter in life than her – maybe even a different book all together. Right now I’m on the cusp of a three-year-relationship turning long distance while my boyfriend starts his first year of law school four hours away from me. I also graduated college last December and then recently left my job for personal reasons, so I’m in a huge transitional phase. What’s next?

I look forward to starting my new chapter with an audience.

Sara

Island Dreams - A Motivational Photography Book {REVIEW}

I had the opportunity to recently review a beautiful coffee table book with beautiful pictures from the Islands of the Bahamas. “Island Dreams – A Motivational Photography Book” is the work of author Suzy Liebermann, which many of my readers who are parents of young children may recognize as the author of the adorable “Hugo the Starfish” series. This book is filled with gorgeous photography that truly comprise the stuff that daydreams are made of. What makes these photographs in this book so stunning is the unique perspectives offered by the author that beautifully differs from the tropical photography you may have encountered previously. From a gorgeous pair of starfish to a seemingly unknown beach cove with serene turquoise blue water, it is more than easy to picture yourself in the tranquil bliss that is displayed on these pages in the Bahamas. To me, that is the perfect definition of a relaxation book! What makes this book extra special is that each photograph is paired with a rousing motivational quote. Similarly to the aforementioned unique perspective of the photographs throughout, each quote is markedly touching without actually being cliché. You could imagine your mother, sister or best friend saying any one of these beautiful quotes to you when you might be in a rut or having a bad day. Personally, that’s exactly what I find inspiring about this book – each quote was honest and inspiring, and the photograph alongside it complimented it so well. It really makes an excellent motivational photography book. I don’t know if I will have the chance to travel to the Bahamas anytime soon to scour the Islands to see if I can locate any of the beautiful locations documented here having a newborn baby girl, but the photos have definitely given my daydreams some material to work with :). The quotes also really put a smile on my face, something a new mother who gets very little sleep every night could really use. Certainly, this is one of the better dream books I’ve ever come across. I highly recommend it. If you'd like to purchase this book, you can do so on Amazon here.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.