It started as a kinda joke. Now the Tumbleweed Snowman is a symbol of the holiday season.

The Snowman is on the side of I40 near the Big I. Now you can have a fast look at the Snowman going West but do not stop to take pictures or to look. IT IS DANGEROUS TO STOP ON I40.

But you can go on Menual and work your way back to the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority building and park there. It is a short walk up to take pictures and look at the Snowman. It is a lot safer.

Or go to the Twinkle Light Parade! Last year it was on a float.

Barbe Awalt

Talk about manufactured! Cyber Monday really? And frankly, Cyber Monday’s time has come to go. If you shop you just don’t do it on Cyber Monday. Now there are so many fake and misleading sales – who needs it?

I will confess, I need the instant gratification of seeing and feeling the product and coming home WITH THE BAG! If you have something delivered you have to watch out for the Grinches who follow UPS, Fed Ex, and even US Mail trucks to rip you off. Who needs it?

Sure shop but be a wise consumer. Check prices and think about what you are doing. A tip – shop during the week. No crowds and no rush! But you get all of the holiday feelings.

Barbe Awalt

I didn’t do Black Friday. It has gotten out of hand. I don’t like crowds or pushing and not finding what I want. I went to Whole Foods and no one was there. Frankly, I have all my gifts done! But now I am starting on next year.

But it is time to mail the boxes. One thing you can do this weekend is take a picture with Santa and put it in your boxes and gifts.

I hope I see you at Treasure House for my signing today at 1pm. We all need to shop small and local businesses. This is my way of saying they are important. They are also festive!


Barbe Awalt

May you all have a stuffed day with family and friends! And please don’t go shopping today! There is a limit!

If you go out the next three days remember to shop local. Sure, you can go to a big box or chain store but remember local stores too! You can often find unusual and gotta-have stuff there.

Saturday is Shop Small Business/Local day put on by American Express. Go to at least one local store and even if you don’t buy tell them you love their assortment and you will be back.

To celebrate, I am doing a booksigning at Treasure House Books in Old Town Albuquerque. The Small Business Day is in my Christmas Bucket List book and Treasure House was the inspiration. No place I would rather be!


— Barbe Awalt

The new issue of Village Vision magazine came out Saturday for folks in the Village of Los Ranchos to learn about our Bucket List books. We are in the Village and have always been proud of our books. Unfortunately, the Village hasn’t quite figured out that they have an award-winning publisher in the Village limits, even though we tell them. Actually, there are at least two award-winning publishers in the North Valley. Fresco Fine Arts is right on the edge the Village but…..

To make it even more interesting Fresco and Rio Grande Books had the two Best Books in the NM & AZ Book Awards – Best Adult Book, Pure Quill and Best Children’s Book, How Crocka Dog Came to Be. Our hats off to Susan McGarry, Barbara Van Cleve, and Ross Van Dusen.

They are not Bucket List books but we are proud of them just the same. It is too bad the Los Ranchos Village isn’t proud of them too! Think of the things the Village could do with them!

- Barbe Awalt

Last night was the NM & AZ Book Awards Banquet and the Winners in the Book Awards were announced. I am very happy to say that all of the Bucket List Books entered received awards.

Cowboy Bucket List Book - Winner
Green Chile Cheeseburger List Books – Winner
Space Buff’s Bucket List Book – Winner
AND
Santa Fe Bucket Book List Book – 2 Winners – First Book & Small Book Cover

The books sell very well and are now Winners. What more could you ask for?

To mark the win – the four Bucket List Books are $10 (plus postage) Saturday and Sunday (this offer expires at midnight on Nov 20, 2016. Why $10? It is to mark the 10th Anniversary of the NM & AZ Book Awards. Don’t delay because this is a really good deal!

- Barbe Awalt

Kicking the Bucket List has been very popular with both people who want to downsize and family or friends SUGGESTING downsizing. It is a gift that can start a conversation. Order on Amazon HERE

The Cowboy Bucket List book is for those cowboys or almost cowboys who need a little spur to get going. Order on Amazon HERE

- Barbe Awalt

We have been running around refilling stores with books! It is THAT time of year.

Get everyone on your list a book – they will last long after a fruitcake and it can be shared! It also makes it easier on you with shopping!

Use the found time to shop for yourself! Just saying.

- Barbe Awalt

Pat Hodapp will be signing copies of her Santa Fe Bucket List book at Kim’s Hallmark – Santa Fe in College Plaza near Santa Fe Community College. If you haven’t met Pat you need to say hi! Also, go to Kim’s to get in the holiday spirit! It will be fun and festive – who could ask for more?

AND her Santa Fe Bucket List book is in the December New Mexico Magazine! Look for it - on newsstands now!


- Barbe Awalt

Gotta say kids – older kids – will love this book. Try it out and use a Tip Sheet to see if it hits the mark.


- Barbe Awalt


Get your copy of the "Ten Fun Activities to Whet the Interests of a Space Buff" tip sheet by emailing LPDPress@q.com

Henrietta Martinez Christmas said a tip sheet would work and it has ALREADY! Hats off to Paul Rhetts for putting them together! This is a great way to see if you like the books and information for you to use. So this week we are going to put them out for you!

Email us at LPDPress@q.com to get your FREE copy of "A Dozen Tips to Get You Started in Researching Your Genealogy/Family History".

- Barbe Awalt

This Sunday, all day, the Balloon Museum in Albuquerque has free admission because you can also see the holiday fair! Local crafters, authors, publishers, and gift makers will have their fares! We will be there with our books including all the Bucket List Books at a special price. This is a great chance to bring the kids – FREE ADMISSION!! They can look at balloons and you can shop and you can all get in the spirit of the holidays!

- Barbe Awalt

I know you are dying to get Bucket Books and here are some places that have them: Bookworks and Treasure House Books in Albuquerque. Page 1 has a few but they know where to get more titles. Collected Works in Santa Fe has the Santa Fe Bucket List. Kim’s Hallmark, Marcy Street Cards, and op cit have more titles. Other places in Santa Fe and Albuquerque may have some books because they order from another place. The Range Cafe store – Home at the Range has many titles and they know where to get more. The Little Store in Peralta – south of Albuquerque, carries many titles.

For some true made in New Mexico things go to the Balloon Museum Holiday fair next Sunday. Admission to the Museum is free ALL DAY! We will have all the Bucket List Books at our booth. And I bet we have special Fair prices on all our books. Do I hear shopping bells?

Start shopping early before the crowds and when you finish early you can enjoy December. There is nothing better than sipping hot chocolate and looking out the window at the falling snow! Here is an idea – have the Christmas Bucket List book to read at Thanksgiving or the Kicking the Bucket List to encourage family to prepare. Get stories with the stuffing!


- Barbe Awalt

I just watched the news and there were so many doom and gloom predictions for Tuesday and beyond. So use this weekend to get ready.

Shop for books for you and gifts. That way if you have to hold–up, you can READ – what a novel idea! If you read you can also tune out the election. 8 out of 10 people say they are now repulsed by the election. I am too – I have had enough!

We are optimistic and have a number of events planned for next weekend. Pat Hodapp will be meeting and greeting and signing the Santa Fe Bucket List book next Friday at Kim’s Hallmark in Santa Fe. Pat and Barbe are at Op Cit in Santa Fe, on Saturday at De Vargas Mall at 1pm. You also see all of our books – Bucket List books and all – all day at the Balloon Museum Holiday Fair in Albuquerque on Sunday, November13. There is free admission all day! What a deal! Get into the spirit!

The election will be behind us. Now get in the spirit next weekend!



- Barbe Awalt

This year above all others, we have to get our heads on straight. Christmas and Thanksgiving are not about sales and presents. They are about thanks and goodwill. I am very happy to see stores saying they will not open on Thanksgiving. No one needs to stuff in food and run to sales. I have always felt badly for employees of those stores working on Thanksgiving. There is more than enough time to shop and frankly, stores have up holiday stuff NOW!

In honor of Authors Day! We have a bucket list book deal for you! To get your shopping off and to promote READING!

New Mexico Collection

Universal Bucket List Book Collection

Personal Collection

Full Set