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Amanda · #1 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 12:23 AM

Welcome Everyone! It's September, and you know what that means!
For those of you with school-aged children, back-to-school is in FULL SWING!
So get out those texts, sharpen those pencils and hit the books!
OH, and you parents out there take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the school year along with your kiddos!

September 5 - Labor Day
September 11 - Patriot Day
September 22 - First day of Autumn

Don't have time to peruse the latest bestseller lists and know which books are worth picking up?
Want to join a book club but don't have the time to dedicate to hosting and meeting on a regular basis?
Want to chat with bestselling authors like Emily Giffin?
Then our online SheKnows Official book club is perfect for you!
It's free, easy to join and completely flexible to your super busy schedule.

Wondering what to pick up next?
Our SheKnows Book Club pick for September is Love in Mid-Air by Kim Wright
Here's the trailer to one of her picks guaranteed to wet your appetite!

Love In Mid Air Trailer
Learn more about the book here:
SheKnows Book Club: Join us!

And check out this great video of Crystal (WriterCrys), your SheKnows Book Club host, and some other book club members, talking about the book and our book club:

The Daily Dish on Sheknows TV

Do you have an idea of the last book club pick of the year?
Make sure to let Crystal know!

Poll for the last book club pick of the year

"the loaded bowl"

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup cooked bulgur (to cook: soak bulgur in 1 cup boiling water for about
20 minutes)
1 cup dried black beans, drained
1 cup dried kidney beans, drained (save this liquid from reconstituted beans)
1 cup cooked whole corn kernels
1/2 cup green onions, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup cucumber, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup plum tomatoes, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp chili powder
Sea salt to taste
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 cup liquid from kidney beans (or use olive oil to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine cooked bulgur, beans and chopped vegetables. Mix well.

To make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, garlic, chili powder, salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Whisk in ½-cup reserved kidney bean liquid (or olive oil, to taste) and pour over salad and toss well. Allow salad to sit in refrigerator for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend before serving.

Did you participate in the Fabulous Fireworks Challenge back in July?
Did you know that all 3 places went to our very own "Word Seekers" right here on SheKnows?
Margarita (over at Graphic central) made all three of the winners "bling" too add to their siggies.

GypsySnow took 1st place, littlemisscant 2nd & eagleswings2004 snagged 3rd.

If you haven't already snagged your blinkie make sure you do!
Click here to sign up today!
It sounds easy because it is! You can earn points to win fabulous prizes -- like movie and TV show DVDs, CDs, gift cards, books, calendars, planners, beauty products, magazine subscriptions and much more -- by becoming a Points & Prizes member!

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Don't forget to visit our very own Points and Prizes chat forum Points & Prizes - SheKnows Message Boards and collect even more points.

*If you would like to nominate someone to be Host of the month, please submit to crisantemo or littlemisscant , who you would like to nominate and why. Don't forget to leave your name as well, so we can give proper credit. You may only submit one nomination per month. Should there be more than 1 nomination per month, I will choose one. If your person is not chosen, I will keep the nomination for the following month. We are also entitled to nominate one person per month.

This month I would like to recognize ALL of our wonderful hosts on Food & cooking. Keep up the great work ladies!!

** If you would like for your forums to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, please let crisantemo or littlemisscant know.**

Our Get-To-Know-You question this month for all our members is school related. Did you enjoy school as a child?
Either elementary or high school and which one? Please share.
All hosts please answer this question in the Leaders board
A friendly reminder to all our hosts, please remember that you still need to check into the leaders forum at least once a week. If you have forgotten the link or password please ask. If you post in the leaders forum then I know you are doing okay!

To be one of our hostesses?
We want you!!

We are looking for friendly and supportive members to Host this board. If you are interested, please check out our Hosting Guidelines and contact Amanda via PM or email at Community Director - Amanda aka crisantemo amandamcwhinney@aol.com with the subject heading Board Host and answer the following questions:

What is your username?
What is your first name?
What is your email address?
What time can you commit to hosting this board?
Will you commit to checking into the Community Leaders forum AT LEAST once a week?
What qualities do you have that you think would make you a good host for this board?

Thank you!

August Changes

*Gone are the pink and orange...hello blue and white!
What do you think of our new template change? I personally love the fresh new look. What are your thoughts about our "makeover"?
I am sure you have noticed that the boards have been rearranged as well so make sure to bookmark your favorite board!

*There has been an automatic clean up of hosts who haven’t posted for a month. Sadly this might mean we have lost one or two so we really need your help. If you have been picked up in the removal and would still like to host your forum please let Amanda or Heather know and we can chat about it.
If you would like to host a couple of forums please let me know and I can see about adding you on.

*A reminder for all of our hosts*
We recommend that you check in on the Community Leaders Forum at least once a week. We also request that you read and respond to all "read and respond" threads, and the Newsletter on the 1st of each month.

Our newsletters allow us to know that you are all still here and active, and also keep you up to speed on new things happening on SheKnows!
~Keep your stickie posts to three.
~Post to CL if you're going to be away for more than a few days.
~We have many hosting opportunities still available.

Not Getting Enough Activity On Your Forum?
Don't forget to put a link in your siggie to the board(s) you host. Advertise a hot topic that's happening on your board in your siggie with a link to bring in more discussion. Post for help here in CL and maybe we can all suggest ways to get a board moving.

We are always available by email, private message, or you can even post here!

Community Director - Amanda aka crisantemo amandamcwhinney@aol.com
Assistant Community Director - Heather aka littlemisscant littlemisscant@hotmail.com

Many thanks to the author of this months newsletter - Heather!