Welcome Weekend!

With the kids out of school I'm having trouble keeping the days straight! Even Grace asked me this morning if we had church today.

Last night I made a chicken club ring--Pampered Chef recipe. It was only hubby and I who ate, but Kimber ate later after she went to Starbucks with a friend. The kids had been to Chuck E. Cheese all afternoon so they were full of pizza and junk food.



Chicken Club Ring
3 cups coarsely chopped cooked chicken
4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, drained, and chopped (I used turkey bacon)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
2 plum tomatoes, sliced
2 8-ounce packages crescent rolls

Preheat ove to 375. Combine chicken, bacon, 3/4 cup of the cheese, mayo, mustard, and garlic, mix well. Circle crescent rolls around circular baking stone, wide sides facing in. Scoop filling evenly over rolls. Top with tomato slices. Fold pointed ends over filling, tucking under wide ends. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

I make my own crescent rolls using a recipe from allrecipes.com. I make the rolls up through their first rising, then use them in the ring recipe just like the canned crescent rolls. It's much much cheaper than buying them.


Golden Crescent Rolls

INGREDIENTS:
2 (.25 ounce) packages active
dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water (110
degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter or shortening
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, softened
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2.
Stir in sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in remaining flour until smooth. Scrape dough from side of bowl. Knead dough, then cover it and let rise in a warm place until double (about 1-1/2 hours).
3.
Punch down dough. Divide in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch circle. Spread with butter. Cut into 10 to 15 wedge. Roll up the wedges starting with the wide end. Place rolls with point under on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double (about 1 hour).
4.
Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 12-15 minute or until golden brown. Brush tops with butter when they come out.

I've been working around the house, putting clothes away. Wow, what a chore. Grace changes her clothes so many times a day it's ridiculous! I have put her on a "no changing clothes unless clothes are filthy" restriction.

Back to the house and to reading, I have got to get it in gear!

Fettuccine and Pie, oh my!

I will admit, I have enjoyed the show The Next Food Network Star for the past two years. I really liked Guy, the winner from this year. For his last challenge, he made two dishes that I got the recipes for and have made a few times now. They are really tasty and everyone in the family enjoys them.

Tequila Turkey Fettuccini
Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri
Ingredients
1-ounce olive oil
1/4 red onion, cut into strips
1/2 tablespoon minced jalapeno
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 ounces turkey breast, cooked, sliced
1-ounce tequila
4 ounces heavy cream
1/2-ounce fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
9 ounces fettuccini pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 lime wedges, for garnish
2 sprigs cilantro, for garnish
2 tablespoons diced Roma tomato, for garnish
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
In saute pan with high heat, add olive oil, onions, jalapeno and saute until translucent. Add garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes. Add turkey, lightly mix ingredients, careful not to break turkey up to much.

Deglaze pan with tequila, pouring around the edge of the saute pan. Add cream, lemon juice and cilantro. Toss together, then add pasta, and toss ingredients while adding Parmesan cheese.

Nest pasta on plate, pour sauce over pasta. Lay sprigs of cilantro over top, sprinkle tomatoes on top, and crack pepper around the rim of the plate.

Here's how I changed it. First off, I have made this a couple of times. I tried using chicken and I tried using turkey, and I must say, chicken is MUCH better. It doesn't shred apart, and it gives a better flavor in my opinion. I doubled the recipe for my family, because this recipe only says it serves two. I substituted fat free half and half for the heavy cream, but I needed to thicken it a little with flour.



The next recipe is
Breath Mint Pie
courtesy Guy Fieri
Ingredients
6 ounces butter
6 cups chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (recommended: Oreo)
Mint chip ice cream
1 pound mint candy, frozen (recommended: Junior Mints)
1 cup whipped cream, garnish
1 cup chocolate sauce, garnish
12 mint sprigs, garnish

Instructions
In saute pan heat butter on medium heat. Add cookie crumbs and mix until butter is evenly distributed. Line a half sheet pan with plastic wrap, and cover the bottom of the pan with half of the crumb mixture.

In mixer on lowest speed add ice cream and mint candy. Slowly mix together, trying not to break the mints open. Pour the mixture onto the cookie crumbs and gently spread throughout pan, trying not to break the crumb base. Once evenly distributed, add remaining cookie crumb mixture, cover with plastic wrap and refreeze.

Cut into 12 triangular pieces, garnish with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and mint sprig.


We were all full and satisfied after dinner last night!
Microwave was fixed today...first thing Grace wants me to make when the guy left (9:30 am) was Easy Mac. I managed to hold her off until 11, but she's happily eating it now. I know, I know, I could have made it on the stove, but what a pain! Now to decide on tonight's meal...

Crazy Busy!

I have been absolutely crazy busy the past few days with graduation and school ending and everything. Hopefully things will calm way down now, I'll just have a boatload of reading to do!

The other night I made Parmesan round steak. I found a great deal on center cut round steak, and after searching all over for a recipe, I just ended up making one up.

Here's what I did. I took five center cut round steak pieces and pounded them on both sides really well to tenderize.

Made bread crumbs from one large whole wheat hamburger bun that had been hanging around since last week and no one was eating it :) Grated about 1/3 cup of pecorino romano cheese and mixed it with the bread crumbs. Heated up a skillet with a small amount of olive oil. Whisked an egg in a bowl. Dipped each steak in the egg, then coated both sides with the bread crumb/cheese mixture. Cooked in skillet until b0th sides were browned.

In a 9 x 13 pan, I poured one jar of spaghetti sauce (tomato, garlic and onion chunky Ragu variety) Put the browned steaks on top. Sprinkled over top enough grated mozzarella to cover each piece well. Dumped another jar of spaghetti sauce over the top of that. Covered pan with foil and baked in 350 oven for 2 1/2 hours.

Served it with some parmesan angel hair pasta-roni (the things I do when I don't have a microwave, LOL, I was going to have baked potatoes with it but I forgot how long it takes them to cook in the oven!)

Today was Logan's last day of school, and he's over at a friend's house to sleep over tonight.

I'm reading And God Created the Au Pair and it's very cute. All in e-mail, which is a format I love.

Banana Bread and Graduation

Well, the banana bread turned out great. I used a Cooking Light recipe and it's been moister every day since I made it. Made French toast with it on Saturday evening, and it was delicious. It was dense but tasty.

Banana Bread
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
4 medium sized ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1 egg, lightly beaten

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine sugar and next three ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour batter into an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 3 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.


Today was kindergarten graduation. Sob! I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast! I got very teary during the ceremony and when the teacher was giving out awards beforehand. I know, it's inevitible, but time just flies.



I'm currently reading Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury. And although I enjoy her writing, I'm finding myself avoiding this one because I'm a bit burned out on her books after reading so many the past few weeks.

Off to clean a little before dinner!

Rosemary Orange Pork Chops

This was a really good meal we had this week. On Wednesday night, our microwave went out, and it can't be fixed until this coming Thursday. That is a huge pain, I never realized how much I use it. I have to be really on top of what I'm making this week as I don't have the microwave to help me thaw things.

Rosemary-Orange Pork Chops and Lemon-Butter Broccolini

From Rachael Ray 365

Zest and juice of 1 navel orange

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup chicken stock or broth

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves removed and chopped

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons EVOO

4 1-inch thick center-cut pork loin chops

1 1/2 pounds broccolini (I used broccoli, can't find broccolini around here)

3 tablespoons butter

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

Crusty Bread

In a medium sauce pot over high heat, combine the zest and juice of the orange, brown sugar, chicken stock, rosemary, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until reduced by half.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Season the chops with salt and pepper, then add to the hot skillet. Cook the chops for 5 minutes on each side.

While the pork chops are cooking, trim the broccoliini ends. Place the stalks into a skillet and cover with water. Cover the skillet and bring to a boil. Add salt and reduce the heat. Simmer for 5-6 minutes, until tender and bright green.

Drain broccolini and return to the skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir and toss until the butter melts, season with salt and pepper.

Add the parsley to the reduced rosemary-orange glaze. Pour the glaze over the cooked pork chops. Toss to coat and transfer to a serving platter. Serve along with the broccolini and some crusty bread.

Really good flavors for late spring!

I'm currently reading Coupon Girl by Becky Motew. It's cute so far. I have eleven RT books for this month, so I have only a short window until I have to start reading them again.

I'm making banana bread right now, because I have this bee in my bonnet to make banana bread French toast. It just sounds so good! I'll keep you informed on how good it turns out.

Ok God! I hear You!

I just want to give thanks to God for bringing the book The Secret Life of Becky Miller into my life. Ok, Ok, I hear You! What a wonderful book, and I'm not even finished with it. It is quite convicting about the balancing act we do as wives and mothers, as well as all of the myriad of things I try to cram into my day.

Wow, did I need to hear this!
If any of you stay at home moms out there want to read this book when I'm finished, drop me a comment and I will send it along. In case there are more than one of you, tell me how you try to be a supermom!

Trying again---Cookies

I made some wonderful cookies the other day when Grace had a friend over. I got the recipe from the Cookie Madness site. I substituted semi-sweet chocolate chips for the white, and eliminated the pecans. I also had some dried cherries, which I chopped up and added for a little zing. They were delicious!

White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease cookie sheets. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the rolled oats, white chocolate chips and pecans. Drop by tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

I'm currently reading The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck. It's really good and hitting all-too close to home for this stay at home mom!

Let's see if blogger will let me publish...I've been having an awful time!

Apple Cranberry Crisp

I decided to make a dessert for my family last night. I know, this is more of a fall recipe, but I used what I had available, and I made something quick. They didn't care what season it was supposed to be from...they ate every bite!

I mixed up 1/3 cup oats, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl, then cut in 1/3 cup of butter.

Mixed 3 sliced, peeled apples and some frozen cranberries (fresh frozen, not sauce) in a baking dish, then mixed in a about 1/2 cup sugar. Sprinkled the oat mixture over the top, then baked at 375 for about 25 minutes.

I need to do some more reading, I'm not doing very well getting through the numbers of books I need to.

Spinach Artichoke Tortellini

Another RR recipe...this one was delish! (Like my RR impression?) It really tastes just like spinach artichoke dip!

It made a huge bowl of it, but we ate it all nonetheless. The kids even liked it, once they got over the fact that it had--gasp!--spinach in it. I told Logan to close his eyes and just take one bite. I used my standard phrase, "if you die when you eat the bite, I won't make you finish it." Glad they don't really get that yet, it is still an effective bargaining tool :)


Spinach-Artichoke Cheesy Tortellini--From Rachael Ray Express Lane Meals

1 10-ounce box frozen spinach
2 tablespoons EVOO
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small onion, peeled and halved
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream (I used fat free half and half and it worked great)
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
A couple of handfuls grated Parigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
Salt and pepper
1 pound cheese tortellini (I used one bag of the frozen variety)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil to cook the pasta. Microwave the spinach on high for 6 minutes to defrost.

Heat a deep skillet over medium heat with the EVOO and butter. When the butter melts and is hot, add the garlic. Using a box grater, grate the onion directly into the skillet. Saute the onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour into the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the stock, then the cream, and bring the sauce to a bubble. Season the sauce with nutmeg and reduce the heat to low.

Place the defrosted spinach in a clean kitchen towel and wring it dry. Separate it as you add it to the sauce. Stir in the chopped artichokes and the cheese, then season with salt and pepper.

Cook the tortellini according to package directions, about 3-5 minutes. Drain well, toss with the sauce, serve immediately.

Ok...am I the only one who is just now finding out about Take Home Chef? It's a show on TLC and it's great! I want him to find me in the store and come home and make me dinner. But I would be really embarrassed if I wasn't allowed to come in and tidy up a little before they came in! Oh well, it would still be worth it.

I'm still reading the same book as yesterday. I don't have an audio going , I finished up Digging to American and haven't made it to the library yet. Nothing I have on hold has come in--just wait, all of my audio books will come in at the same time!

I'm Done!

Books all read, reviews all written and submitted. Done for the August issue! Now onto a few other review books, first up is Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock by Andrew Beaujon (a non-Christian) LeeRoy finished this one earlier last week and has been bugging me every day to start it so we can talk about it. I had to finish up the RT books, but now I'm going to read this other book before he starts to read it out loud to me!

I'm off to put Grace to bed...hubby and Logan are at a special thing at church, I don't think I'm going to let her wait up.

Fruit Pizza and Shopping

I made a fruit pizza for my women's ministry board meeting last night. It was a big hit and I even got a small piece left over to bring home for my poor, deprived family.

I baked a tube of sugar cookie dough (yes, from the store, I was too busy tye-dyeing in Grace's class yesterday to have any time to make it from scratch, although it would have been tons cheaper) on my Pampered Chef round stone. Let it cool, then mixed a package of light cream cheese with about 1/2 cup sugar, then mixed in a tub of light Cool Whip. Spread it on, then sprinkled with sliced strawberries and blueberries. It was too easy and very yummy. And I even got a deal--the strawberries and blueberries were getting overripe, so the store had them marked at 99 cents a carton, down from $4!

Went shopping at the Vancouver Mall today (Still can't learn to call it by its proper new name) Bought tons of clothes and shoes for everyone in the family, we all really needed some new things. Well, all except for Kimber, but she got some things anyway.

I'm going to go watch a movie with the family (Millions) I still have one more RT book to read before tomorrow night, and three reviews to write up. Why am I such a procrastinator?

RR Day! Pappa al Pomodoro

I checked out Rachael Ray's Express Lane Meals from the library, and last night I made a pot of Pappa al Pomodoro.

Yes...I know, I need to do a little work with my food photography! LOL.

It was really delicious, I served the remainder of the ciabatta bread on the side with some balsamic vinegar dip.

Pappa al Pomodoro--from Rachael Ray's Express Lane Meals

1 loaf chewy bread, such as ciabatta

1/4 cup EVOO

1 sprig fresh rosemary

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 small onion

1 cup chicken stock

1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 cup fresh basil, about 20 leaves

Salt and black pepper

Freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano or grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Chop about 2 cups of the bread and reserve the rest to pass at the table.

Heat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add about 1/4 cup of the EVOO, 4 times around the pan, then add the sprig of rosemary and the garlic. Peel and halve the onion, , and, using a box grater or other hand-held grater, grate the onion directly into the soup pot. Saute the mixture for 5 minutes, then remove the rosemary stem. Add the chicken stock and the tomatoes and bring it to a bubble. Add the bread chunks and stir until the bread has melted into the soup; the result is a soup-er thick consistency. Tear or shred the basil and stir it into the soup. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste and ladle the soup into bowls. Top with lots of shaved Parm.

It's really delicious, good melded flavors and perfect for a rainy evening (which we had yesterday)

Tonight I have a big women's ministry board meeting, it's always interesting, but a lot of work.

Today I helped in the kids' classes. In Grace's class, it was a big mess. We tye died t-shirts for their last day of school party--ugh, my hands are very stained. We also painted "hot air balloons" that they had made from paper mache.

I'm off to read a little before I have to go get Logan from school.

My Marvelous May Reading Month

Religiously Transmitted Diseases by Ed Gungor (A)
Literacy and Longing in L.A. by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack (B)
Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble (C+)
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin (A-)
Lime Ricky by Jill Winters (B)
Violette Between by Alison Strobel (C+)
Princess Izzy and the E Street Shuffle by Beverly Bartlett (B-/C+)
Design on a Crime by Ginny Aiken (C)
The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio by Terry Ryan (A)
Redemption by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley (B)
Remember by Kingsbury and Smalley (B)
Return by Kingsbury and Smalley (B)
Rejoice by Kingsbury and Smalley (B-)
Reunion by Kingsbury and Smalley (B+)
Fame by Karen Kingsbury (B-)
Audio #6 for the year Don’t Say a Word by Barbara Freethy (B)
Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury (B)
Derailed by James Siegal (B)
Found by Karen Kingsbury (B)
The Reluctant Burglar by Jill Nelson (B+)
Interior Motives by Ginny Aiken (C)
Bad Connection by Melody Carlson (B-)
Pompeii by Robert Harris (C)
Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck (B)
Abiding Darkness by John Aubrey Anderson (C+)

24 books and an audio--and I finished my first for June today! I just couldn't squeeze it in last night.

Lime Cookies

I made the pasta with tomato and basil yesterday, but was in such a rush to get out the door I forgot to take a picture. So next time I'll have to show you what it looks like. I decided to make lime cookies this afternoon. Couldn't find a recipe that was exactly what I wanted, so here's what I came up with...

Soft Lime Sugar Cookies

1 1/3 cups butter or margarine

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 Tb. lime juice

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, mix well. Add vanilla and lime juice. Mix in flour and baking powder. Scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet, bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees, just until bottoms turn light brown, don't overbake or they will be dry.

Frost with vanilla frosting mixed with some lime juice.

Not very complicated, but they're yummy and hit the spot. I'm going to make a Rachael Ray soup recipe for dinner, I'm already dreading the kids' reaction. They just don't seem to like anything.

I finished the Yada Yada book--wow, what an incredible series. If you haven't read any of them, I urge you to check them out. Moving fiction.

Currently reading Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man by Clair Burney. Still listening to Digging to America, it's keeping me interested.

Well, I have one more review to write up, two more books to finish before Sunday night. I can do it if I work hard!

Enchiladas

Made some enchiladas yesterday. Used the recipe for Pineapple-Black Bean Enchiladas from the Pillsbury Bake-off, but I added chicken. My husband is not a huge vegetarian fan--he'll occasionally eat it, but it's not his favorite. I also used fresh pineapple, which was a huge hit with my kids.

In other news--we paid a deposit on a cruise last night! We're going over our 10th anniversary on a Carnival cruise to Mexico. It's actually the first annual "Believe in Marriage" cruise offered by Families Northwest, but we knew it was meant to be because it's actually over our anniversary (Valentine's Day) And my parents are free to come up and take the kids to school and activities, so we're going! We don't have passports, so I went to the post office and got the applications today so we can get going on those.

Today I'm doing a final test run for my Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil that I'm entering in the Southern Living Cook-Off. I'm going to have Kimber prepare the recipe according to my directions and see if I've left anything out or anything's unclear. I'll post a picture of the finished product tomorrow. Grace thinks I'm nuts taking pictures of food.

Still reading the Yada Yada book, after I get my errands done today I've got to get busy with it, because I have two others after it.

Apple Cranberry Bundt Cake

Here's a picture of my Washington Caramel Apple Cranberry Bundt Cake. It's really good...and even if I don't win (and I'm not really expecting anything) I am so happy. I have re-discovered how much I enjoy cooking and creating in the kitchen. It's fun to have something to inspire me to do it--thus a contest is a great thing. And my family is happy too!

I am going to enter something in the Southern Living contest as well...gotta work on that today because the deadline is next week.

I'm also reading up a storm. I'm currently reading The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson. Only two more books after this one, I should be doing well for this month.

We close on our house today! I am so excited to finally be done.

Changing the format a little

I am getting back into cooking more, so I'm going to start posting a picture of what I make each day. I've challenged myself to make something each day, no matter how small.

Yesterday, I made a recipe from the Pillsbury Bake-Off, Choco-Peanut Butter Cups

Here's the recipe:

1
roll (18 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies
1
cup Hershey®'s premier white chips (6 oz)
1 1/2
cups creamy peanut butter
1
cup Hershey®'s semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
4
Nature Valley® oats 'n honey crunchy granola bars (2 pouches from 8.9-oz box), crushed (3/4 cup)*

2 reviews
2 ratings
Preparation Directions:
1.
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray or shortening. Cut cookie dough into 24 slices. Press 1 slice in bottom and up side of each mini muffin cup, forming 1/4-inch rim above top of cup (dust fingers with flour if necessary). Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. With tip of handle of wooden spoon, press dough down in center of each cup to make room for 2 tablespoons filling.
2.
Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt white chips and 3/4 cup of the peanut butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Divide mixture evenly into cookie cups (about 1 tablespoon each). Refrigerate 10 minutes.
3.
In same 2-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and remaining 3/4 cup peanut butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Divide chocolate mixture evenly on top of peanut butter mixture in each cup (about 1 tablespoon each). Sprinkle crushed granola bars over top of each. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Remove from muffin cups before serving.
24 cookie cups
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Break up cookie dough into bowl; knead or stir 1/4 cup flour into dough. Divide dough into 24 pieces; press 1 piece in each cup.

I used homemade peanut butter cookies, because I'm too cheap to buy the refrigerated variety. They turned out really well, and the family is enjoying them immensely.

I'm going to enter the Nordicware bundt cake contest, so yesterday I made up a recipe for an apple cranberry bundt cake, and today I made it. I'm going to hold off on posting the recipe until after the deadline for the contest (I know, I'm paranoid) but I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Recent review posted (still in the middle of my RT books, six down, three to go)

Saved Folk in the House

So I should be posting a bit more regularly and a little more variety!

Forgot a couple! Plus a link

Forgot these two reviews!

Lime Ricky

Princess Izzy and the E Street Shuffle


This is such an interesting blog...check it out
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

More Reviews

I have been busily reading as my RT deadline is again quickly approaching. Here are my latest reviews:

Violette Between

Authority in Prayer

Better Dads, Stronger Sons

Weird Planet: Lost in Las Vegas

I'm currently reading Reluctant Burglar by Jill Nelson, who used to be the head inspirational reviewer at RT. I'm intrigued so far, it's a good book. I'm listening to Digging to America by Anne Tyler.

Back to the reading, I never seem to get caught up!

This week's reviews

Here are my latest reviews:

I Can't Do It All

When Crickets Cry

Alaska Twilight

I'm currently in the middle of Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series. I have the latest to review and I wanted to refresh myself. Haven't had much reading time, so it's slow going. I need to get busy because I have a slew of RT books this month.

And another one!

Here's another review:
A Year in the World

Currently reading Violette Between by Alison Strobel. It's a strange book, but I just started so I'll reserve judgment for a little while.

Sunday Update

Reviews posted this week:

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

Goodbye, Jimmy Choo

Zoe Sophia in New York


I'm currently reading Lime Ricky by Jill Winters and listening to Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy

We did a huge amount of painting today, painted Kimber's entire bedroom. Now to get it put back together tomorrow.

More quotes

"I'm never bored and I never mind waiting--anywhere. Unless, of course, I've forgotten my book, in which case I just run off and buy another one. I read at the DMV, in movie lines, in bank teller lines, or when the shuttle from L.A. to San Francisco is four hours late. Layovers in unfamiliar airports are a treat, as are jury notices that arrive at my home and give me license to sit around and read all day, knowing that I'm doing my civic duty."

"Books teach you how other people think, and what they're feeling, and how they change from ordinary beings to extraordinary ones. Often they are so appealing and intellignet, you'd rather spend time reading aobu them than doing anything else. And unlike life, if you don't like what you're reading, you can slam the book shut and...peace. "

More later!

My April Reads

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark (B-)
House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker ( C)
Pink by Marilynn Griffith (C+)
A Girl’s Best Friend by Kristin Billerbeck (C+)
A Year in the World by Frances Mayes (B+/A-)
The Notebook Girls by Julia Baskin et al (B-)
Uncharted by Angela Hunt (B+)
Waking Lazarus by TL Hines (B)
Goodbye, Jimmy Choo by Annie Sanders (B-)
Sandpiper Drift by Vanessa Del Fabbro (B-)
Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn (B)
Journey to Love by Charlotte Hubbard (D-)
Relentless by Robin Parrish (C-)
Last Light by Terri Blackstock (B+)
Night Light by Terri Blackstock (B)
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (audio) (B-)

Wednesday!

Haven't had any reviews posted this week. Finished up my Romantic Times books so I haven't had much time for any other reading.

I did finish Literacy and Longing in L.A., and while it was pretty good, I wish it had been a little longer. It seemed really short. I had many quotes I marked, here is one:

" I collect new books the way my girlfriends buy designer handbags. Sometimes, I just like to know I have them and actually reading them is beside the point. Not that I don't eventually end up reading them one by one. I do. But the mere act of buying them makes me happy--the world is more promising, more fulfilling. It's hard to explain, but I feel, somehow, more optimistic. The whole act just cheers me up."

I'm currently reading Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble. I'm listening to Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy. Both are decent so far.

Gotta go make dinner!

And here I am on Wednesday!

I have a couple of new reviews posted:

The Travel Mom's Ultimate Book of Family Travel

Woman First, Family Always

We head to California (yes, again) tomorrow morning. I have two more books to finish for RT before Monday, which should be pretty easy with the 16+ hours I'll be riding in the car over the next two days. Fortunately I don't get carsick!
I have to read Relentless by Robin Parrish and Night Light by Terri Blackstock. I also have a reader-reviewer book that has a review due May 3, so I need to read that one too:Literacy and Longing in LA

We're finishing up the house this week. Down to the last few things. We're having some open houses this weekend, pray that it sells quickly!

Back to go seal the tile on the shower...

Monday Review Update

Here are my most recent reviews. I'm currently working my way through my Romantic Times books for the month. I have three more to go before Monday, which should be ok. Especially since we're driving to California again. Kimber's done with school for the year this week...so early, I know! We have to go down and pick her up on Thursday and Friday. I'm really hoping to get some serious reading time in the car.

Latest reviews:
Drawing The Line

Carly

The Notebook Girls


I just finished reading Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn ( I love this series, really touching books) and am getting ready to start Journey to Love by Charlotte Hubbard.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous. I'm headed outside for a little reading before I have to go get Logan from school.

Books Read in 2006

Here are the books and ratings I've read so far in 2006. I will include April when the month is over and will post monthly after that.

March

Strictly Confidential--Terri Reed (C+)
Small Town Secrets--Sharon Mignerey (C-)
Be My Neat-Heart--Judy Baer (B)
Promise of Forever--Patt Marr (B-)
A Very Special Delivery--Linda Goodnight (C+)
Child of Mine--Bonnie Winn (C-)
Maggie's Story--Dandi Daley Mackall (B)
Red Velvet--Sandra Byrd (B)
The Art of Undressing--Stephanie Lehmann (C+)
Grace in Thine Eyes--Liz Curtis Higgs (A-)
Can You Keep a Secret--Sophie Kinsella (Audio) (B)
Claire Knows Best--Tracey Bateman (B-)
Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle-RK Mortensen (B)
Magdalene--Angela Hunt (C+)
House--Michael Ruhlmann (B)
Rekindled--Tamera Alexander (B-)
Magic Hour--Kristin Hannah (B)
Heavens to Betsy--Beth Patillo(C)
Earth to Betsy--Beth Patillo (C)
The Butterfly Farm--Diane Noble (B)
Everything's Coming Up Josey--Susan May Warren (A-)
A Vow to Cherish--Deborah Raney (B-)
Emily Ever After--Anne Dayton and May Vanderbuilt (B)


February

April in Bloom--Annie Jones (B)
The History of Love--Nicole Krauss (Audio) (B)
A Leap of Faith--Lenora Worth (B)
And Baby Makes Five--Debra Clopton (C)
Along Came Love--Carrie Turansky (C)
The Ransom--Kathi Mills-Macias (C+)
Things We Once Held Dear--Ann Tatlock (B+)
The Novelist--Angela Hunt (A)
Showdown--Ted Dekker (B/B+)
Tales from the Crib--Jennifer Coburn (B-)
Fashionably Late--Beth Kendrick (B-)
On this Day--Melody Carlson (B-)
Flee the Night--Susan May Warren (C)
Forever Odd--Dean Koontz (Audio) (C+)
Escape to Morning--Susan May Warren (C)
Expect the Sunrise--Susan May Warren (B+)
The Hunted--Fred Stoeker and DW Smith (C)
The Widows' Club--Joyce Livingston (B-)
The Forsaken--Stephen Arterburn and Mike Moscoe (C)
Mackinac Island--Gaymer Martin et al (C+)
Less than Frank--Lynn Bulock (C)
Leaves of Hope--Catherine Palmer (C)
If You Could See Me Now--Cecelia Ahern (Audio) (B)

January

A Time to Mend--Angela Hunt (B-)
Front Porch Princess--Kathryn Springer (B+)
Stormcatcher--Colleen Rhoads (B-)
Through the Fire--Sharon Mignerey (C+)
When Silence Falls--Shirlee McCoy (C-)
A Family Forever--Brenda Coulter (B)
When Dreams Come True--Margaret Daley (B-)
A Match Made in Bliss--Diann Walker (B-)
Lessons from the Heart--Dorothy Clark (C)
Miss New York Has Everything--Lori Jakiela (B-)
In Plain Sight--Lorena McCourtney (C+)
The Scent of Lilacs--Ann Gabhart (C+)
Unspoken--Angela Hunt (A-)
Savannah from Savannah--Denise Hildreth (B-)
The Tenth Circle--Jodi Picoult (B-)
Leigh--Lyn Cote (C-)
Carly--Lyn Cote (C+)
Fair Warning--Hannah Alexander(C+)
The Jane Austen Book Club--Karen Lee Fowler (Audio) (C)
In the Enemy's Sights--Marta Perry (C+)
On Wings of Deliverance--Elizabeth White (B)

Thursday

We have put in so many hours on the house this week I have barely done any reading. I decided to read Goodbye Jimmy Choo by Annie Sanders before going back to my RT books. It's pretty good, but not so much chick lit as women's fiction. The title makes it seem really fluffy and light, but it's not. I got a reader reviewer book in the mail today (actually a book I have been really wanting to read) Literacy and Longing in L.A. For book lovers like me it looks to be right up my alley!

All right, back to reading. Only an hour until Survivor starts and I want to knock back a big chunk of the book while everyone is outside.

BookLoons Updates

Here are my most recent BookLoons Reviews:

House

A Girl's Best Friend

Pink

Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle


I'm currently reading Waking Lazarus by TL Hines. It's a very interesting Christian thriller about a man who has come back from the dead three times and a race to find a serial killer. Creepy but engrossing. Next up I have Night Light by Terri Blackstock.

It's been an interesting reading month!

Happy Easter to everyone. Thank you so much Jesus for all you have done for me.

New Review

I have been busily writing reviews today. Didn't even get halfway through, but I did get quite a few written. I will probably get one more done tonight before everyone gets home from church.

New review posted:

Magic Hour

I am currently reading Uncharted by Angela Hunt. I have to say that she's becoming one of my favorite authors. This book has grabbed me from the start--it's a combo of Lost, The Big Chill, and Castaway according the the cover, and I'm not disagreeing!

Back to my review writing, gotta spend the day working on the yellow house tomorrow.

Busy but Reading

I have been really busy...hopefully we can get this house finished soon so I can get back to my regularly scheduled life. I am pretty tired of it and ready to be done.

I'm reading The Notebook Girls which is a (supposedly) true notebook passed around by four girls during their high school years. It's a fun format and a lot of it rings very true, but you know how skeptical we all are about "true" stories these days. It's kind of interesting though, because I'm still listening to Prep, and both books are about teenage girls and their high school experiences. I'm drowning in teenagers! LOL

Watched The Apple Dumpling Gang last week. How cute...brings back total memories and it was as good as I remembered it. The kids really enjoyed it too. Last night we watched Where the Truth Lies, which was a decent mystery with lots of twists and turns, but...pretty graphic sex.

I'm back!

Home from vacation! It was fun, but a long, long week. Too much togetherness sometimes.

On Friday night (the 31st) we left after LeeRoy got off work. Which was about 5:30. We hadn't eaten, so we stopped at the Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver. Long wait for a table, by the time we got out of there it was after 8. Then we drove to Newport, we got there after 11. Kids were exhausted, we were tired.

Saturday through Wednesday we spent at the beach. We did a lot of walking, went to the outlet mall, went to the aquarium, read a lot of books. Went to see Ice Age The Meltdown (cute). Thursday morning we did massive laundry and cleaned the house and then headed to California at noon. We got to Redding about 7:30, which was pretty good timing. Hung out with Kimber for awhile and went out to dinner, then took her back to her dorm and went to the hotel and went to bed.

Friday we went to the Sundial bridge, shopping, and just hung out most of the day. Went out to dinner for her birthday. We left there around 6:30 and drove to Medford, got there around 9. Yesterday we drove to Salem and picked up the dog and then drove home. Lots and lots of time in the car! LeeRoy went to church today but we all skipped, I just couldn't make it out of bed in time.

I have a tonnnnnn of reviews to write up, I don't know exactly when I'm going to carve out the time to do it. Maybe today for some, who knows.

Recent reviews posted:

Rekindled

Akimbo and the Crocodile Man


Here's a fun quiz to discover what type of reader you are:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/

Off to the shower (finally!) and maybe I'll get some typing time in today.

Current Read

I'm currently reading The Butterfly Farm by Diane Noble and still listening to Prep. This week I still need to read Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren andA Vow to Cherish by Deborah Raney (a re-release)

Feeling tons better

Now that I'm on antibiotics I am feeling a zillion times better. Strep is just running rampant everywhere! I'm trying to get my Romantic Times books finished up and all of my other reviews written so we can leave on vacation on Friday. We're headed to Newport for a couple of days and then to Redding to visit Kimber. It will be a long drive for such a short time, but it's her birthday next week.

New reviews posted:

Babymouse: Our Hero

House: A Memoir

The Essential Walker's Journal

Grace in Thine Eyes

I have many reviews ready to write and three books that need to be read before Friday. On to read!

New Reviews

I've had strep throat for the past week so I've been feeling pretty awful. Now that I'm on antibiotics I'm actually feeling like I can sit at the computer for more than five minutes without feeling like I'm going to pass out. Grace has the same thing and she had to stay home from school today which did not make her happy at all.

New reviews posted:
Red Velvet: Friends for a Season
The Art of Undressing

I should have more next week...fortunately that's one thing about being sick, I have had time to read quite a few books!

I'm currently reading Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah and listening to Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Well, back to writing up some reviews while I still feel halfway decent. I'll need to take another nap here in a bit.

I'm a poor updater

I've been very poor about updating this lately. The house flipping is taking all of my time and energy, I'm very behind in all of my reading (oh, what else is new with that!)
I haven't even had any new reviews posted because last month was a heavy one for Romantic Times. This month I haven't even started on my RT books and I really need to get busy.

I'm currently reading Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs. It's fantastic. Somewhat related to the trilogy (it contains many of the same characters) but it really stands alone because it's about Davina, the daughter of Jamie and Leana. It's taken from the story of Dinah in the book of Genesis.

I just finished listening to Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, which was a cute and light diversion from some of the heavier things I've been reading and listening to. I'm now listening to Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. It's all right, nothing really engrossing about it so far. We'll see, I just started today.


I'm a little disgusted that Lost has had so many repeats, and even repeats from the first season. Don't they know we want new episodes? It seems like Grey's Anatomy has had tons of new episodes and Lost has had very few. What's up? They say that they have 24 episodes over a 35 week season. So far it appears they've run 15 episodes. Which doesn't seem like all that many considering we're halfway through March. They must have a ten episode sweep coming up here soon!

Movies we've watched recently:
I finally finished all of the Sex and the City episodes. I really enjoyed this show. I was glad to watch it on DVD though, because I'm not the most patient person in the world. But if I had HBO I probably would have watched it when it was on TV.

Watched Just Like Heaven again this week. I got it from the library so LeeRoy could watch it. I saw it at the theater. It's a cute movie, I think I'm going to buy it to add to Kimber's chick lit collection.

The Thing About My Folks--Very cute and touching movie. Funny in parts and had a lot to say about our relationships with our parents. I realized how much I miss watching Paul Reiser in Mad About You!

11:14--Really interesting premise. Lots of different people all following their different storylines and how their lives all intersected in some way at 11:14 one night. Kept me interested all the way through.

Rent--I have never seen the stage production, so I enjoyed this one all right. I know that I would like it a lot better on the stage though, it just seems made for that more than for a movie. The music is fantastic and makes the movie worth watching regardless of the format.

We've got quite a few movies to watch this weekend: Junebug, A History of Violence, Proof, Lord of War, and whatever they ship next--probably Where the Truth Lies. I love Netflix.

Ok, I've got to put in some time reading while everyone's at church.

Forgot

To tell you what I was reading!
Just finished listening to If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern--very cute, I enjoyed it a lot. It's a story supposing that imaginary/invisible friends are real.

I'm reading Leaves of Hope by Catherine Palmer.

I need to find another audio book...I have quite a few lying around and tons I could request from the library. I may listen to Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo.

Review updates

Sorry again for lack of the updates. I have been so incredibly busy with this house we're flipping and with the new load of books for Romantic Times...I haven't been home much and when I have I haven't been on the computer.

Went to the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival this past weekend. What a blast that was. Found lots of new wines we liked and some new places for seafood. It was a relaxing weekend, just what we really needed.

Newest reviews posted:

Tales from the Crib

Babymouse, Queen of the World!

My review piles are teetering, I just need to buckle down. This house renovation is fun, but takes up a ton of my reading time.

Off to write some reviews!

President's Day

A little update for today. Kimber is home for spring break, so things are hopping around here. We close on our first house for flipping tomorrow...should be an exciting adventure!

Here are my most recent reviews:

On This Day

Showdown

I'm currently in the midst of reading a gazillion RT review books. Right now I'm reading The Hunted by Fred Stoeker and DW Smith. It's a book written for men, but it's an ok adventure in general. Still listening to If You Could See Me Now.

Kids are on a break from school...I'll be glad when Wednesday arrives and they are back in the swing of things. We're headed for the beach for the weekend to go to the Newport Seafood and Wine festival. We'll miss the last few days of Kimber's spring break, but I'm sure she'll be glad to be rid of us by then :)

Off to get the kids in the shower and read more of my book.

What's New?

Here are my most recent reviews:

The Novelist

Things We Once Held Dear

Fashionably Late

I'm currently reading Tales from the Crib by Jennifer Coburn and listening to If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.

Was thrilled with Gray's Anatomy last night. That show just keeps getting better and better. And I'm really liking the division growing between the groups on Lost. Just what I expected to happen. Jury's still out with the new Survivor, but I always feel that way at first. We've been watching quite a bit of the Olympics too.

Tuesday Update

One new review posted this week. I did get through all of my RT books...even a day early!

Leigh

I'm currently finishing up Things We Once Held Dear by Ann Tatlock. It's excellent so far and I can't wait to get back to it. Next up is The Novelist by Angela Hunt. I've heard great things about this one so I'm excited to read it. I'm listening to Forever Odd by Dean Koontz. It's not as good as the first one, but it's keeping my interest.

Now I'm off to read...it's a short month and I have a lot to get through.

Chris Tomlin

Is a very gifted man. I can't tell you how much I love the song How Great is Our God

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice

How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing How great is our God

How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great, how great is our God

Then Sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art
Then Sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art

How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God
and all will see how great, how great is our God.

What I'm Reading

I'm currently reading In the Enemy's Sights by Martha Perry, and listening to The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.

I have a ton of reading to get done this week, I need to move more quickly than I'm doing.

Will update when I have some reviews to post.
Yay, Survivor starts this week and the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl!

Sorry for the silence

I have been quiet for a very good reason--lots of reading!

I had five books to read and review for Christian Library Joural. I'm way behind, so I needed to get them done quickly. I did get four of the five done, so I guess I just have to be content with that.

This month I have more Romantic Times books to read. I'm in the process of stepping away from the series books, and I've been taking on more full length novels. I have read Carly by Lyn Cote and Fair Warning by Hannah Alexander. I interviewed Liz Curtis Higgs for an article, and that was so fun. She is wonderfully nice and very personable. Then I took on reviewing Grace in Thine Eyes too. So, before February 6, I still have to read six series romance books and the Higgs book. I am a book-reading machine right now.

I did get a book read for BookLoons, but haven't had the time to write up the review yet...it's coming.

The kids have their first gymnastics competition today, I am cautioning myself not to get too emotionally involved in their performance. It's just for fun!

Got to get to church...I'm helping with the 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School this morning while their teachers are on a cruise.

More updates to come soon, I promise!

Another review

Another review posted today:

Cooking for Mr. Right

I'm so excited it's Lost night tonight!
Woo hoo!

This week's reviews

Not so many this week. Life is crazy, I just have to say. I haven't had much time to write, read, or do anything. Not sure why either. A little seasonal depression maybe. Right now I'm at a place where I don't feel like I really fit in anywhere. Everyone is totally busy, and that could be part of it, but I'm feeling blah in general, not wanting to do anything but having tons to do.

Anyway, here are the reviews I had posted this week:

Miss New York Has Everything

Finding Anna


I'm currently trying to get through my Christian Library Journal stack. I think I'm going to give up reviewing for it after I get through these. It's just too hard to keep up with everything. I'm reading Unspoken by Angela Hunt. I've got two weeks of reading before I have to get started agian on the RT books for April. I'm listening to The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. It's really good so far.

I'm off to work on my Bible study for a few minutes before I go pick up Grace.
Maybe I just need a vacation. I guess I can wait a month until we go to the beach, but I am sure it won't be long enough!

Monday News

I had a bunch of reviews posted over the weekend:

Penguin Sudoku 2006

I'm No Saint

A Virgin's Guide to Everything

Hot Flashes and Cold Cream

Leave it to Claire

The Red Hat Society's Acting Their Age

Living Under God

I Grew Up on a Farm


Finished my Romantic Times books in time and got my reviews turned in--all without having to stay up half the night. It was nice. Got to watch Desperate Housewives, which was fairly good. Some funny moments. I recorded Gray's Anatomy since it was a recap show. I am SO excited that Lost is new this week--finally!

I'm currently reading Miss New York Has Everything by Lori Jakiela. It's a memoir and moving at a good pace so far. I'm still listening to the Jane Austen Book Club, but I am having so very little time in the car, I don't know how quickly I'll finish up.

Gotta go to Winco before picking up Logan. I'm making a recipe from my new Rachael Ray book!

Finally...an update

I have been so busy over the past few weeks I've been unable to update this as regularly as I would have liked. LeeRoy was off work for 10 days on vacation, so we did lots of fun things like playing in the snow and hanging out together. Not much computer time, that's for sure. I did get quite a bit of reading done.

Newest reviews posted:
Confessions of a Boyfriend Stealer

Sooner or Later

I have lots more both pending and pending on my desk waiting to be typed up. Hopefully I'll get at least two more done today, that's my goal at least.

I'm reading my RT books, right now I'm reading Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer. It seems like the Steeple Hill Cafe books are more mom lit lately than chick lit, not that I mind! I'm listening to The Jane Austen Book Club when the kids aren't in the car, which hasn't been often lately. But I think I'll be switching to The History of Love because it just came in at the library. Not sure yet.

I finished the year with 213 actual paper reads and 15 audio books. I finished the year with A Million Little Pieces which was really thought-provoking. I'm going to be participating in an essay group, writing an essay for one book per week, kind of like So Many Books, So Little Time I am thinking about posting the essays here...not sure yet, depends how personal they get!

All right, time to buckle down and start writing. Grace is at a friend's for a half hour, I should get at least two done.

Trying to Get Ready For Christmas

Trying to get everything done for Christmas. It's a very busy time of year! Still have reviews piling up too.

New Reviews Posted:
Adventures of Riley: Dolphins in Danger
Calorie Queens

I'm currently reading I'm No Saint by Elizabeth Hayt. I'm listening to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis with the kids, and The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler.

Again I need to get busy with my RT books starting next week, but fortunately, the kids are out of school and LeeRoy is off for 10 days. That will probably make it more difficult, come to think of it!

Tomorrow is the kids' last day of school until after the New Year, I am glad for that. I relish a few days of sleeping in.

For He alone is Worthy!

I think I'll probably be doing weekly updates until after Christmas. It's just way too busy around here, and then stupidly, I accepted a recall job.

New Review posted: Where Fat Girls Haven't Gone

I just started reading Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah. Hopefully it will be a quick read since it's not for review. I have been so busy lately I've had very little reading time.

I'm headed off to work some more on my Bible study for tomorrow. Last one before a vacation, I'm glad. I have to take the dog to the groomer, go to LeeRoy's Lion's Club lunch, then work on the recalls until it's time to pick up the kids. Then to hip hop, back to get the dog, then Logan has gymnastics tonight.

Kimber comes home Friday. Thankfully all of my Christmas shopping is done (I think!) I just have more decorating and other things to get, along with various teacher and other gifts.

Finally!

I can finally sign in! I don't know what giltch has been going on, I kept getting error messages.

I have a bunch of new reviews posted:
The Nutcracker

Turning Thirty

No More Christian Nice Guy

The Friendship Test

Remember Me

What She Left for Me

I'm still behind on writing them up. But at least I got my Romantic Times books done, written up, and turned in.

I'm currently reading Confessions of a Boyfriend Stealer by Robynn Clairday. It's a cute YA book. Supposedly written in a blog format, but that's a bit gimmicky...I am not seeing that it's all that accurate. Way too much detail in conversation for a blog, especially one written way after the fact of an incident. But I'm enjoying it.

Christmas shopping is well underway. I have many stocking stuffers still to get, but the big stuff is done. I think we're going to hit Wal-Mart, our least favorite store, tonight while the kids are at church.

This weekend we have a ton of things going on. Even today! Had my Bible study brunch. This weekend is the Journey to Bethlehem, I think we'll have to go on Friday if we want to go at all. Saturday is our church tour of homes, and we have to get our Christmas tree sometime. Oh yeah, Friday morning is our Mom's group Christmas brunch and gift exchange. Saturday night is LeeRoy's company Christmas party. Sunday we're going to see Narnia.

Ok, on to working on my Christmas letter.

It's December

I got a whole bunch of reviews written up last night so I should have a bunch posted this week. I only have two left and they are kids books. I should be able to complete them this afternoon.

I'm working on my RT books, I only have one LI Suspense book this time, that's the one I'm reading right now. Then I have the four LI ones...ugh. They are getting a little old. But as it's my only real paid reviewing gig I am going to stick with it.

Kids have a birthday party to go to tonight at the Hoppin House. I was wishing to just stay home, bummer.

Not much else going on, the thrill for the kids is that it snowed today. It seems to have stopped but there's still quite a bit on the ground. Hopefully it will stay until Logan gets out of school so he can enjoy it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. Ours was great.
Other than that icky hide-a-bed! It was so fun to see my sister and her family, and the kids adored playing with their cousins. Kimber was so happy to be home, although I am not sure she was quite prepared for the clingy-ness of the kids. Oh well. Christmas should be interesting.

I am way, way behind on writing up my reviews. I have five books sitting here to be reviewed, and I had to start on my RT books today because Monday is my deadline. Not too big of a deal though, because I have fewer books this month than normal. The single title book is a re-release (according to Harlequin...but I don't consider a book that has been completely re-worked from a secular romance novel to be a Christian novel a re-release, but I can't argue with them) And I have one less suspense title for some reason.

I'm currently reading Queen Esther and the Second Graders of Doom by Allie Pleiter. It's cute so far. Still listening to Trace.

New reviews posted:
Eloise Wilkin Stories

Texas Christmas Grooms

I got the coolest new toy yesterday. It's actually my Christmas present that I got early. It's an XM SkyFi2 satellite radio. So great, I got the one that goes in the car and at home. I am totally loving it! I can even listen online which is great also.

How great is Lost? I am SO SO excited for this week's episode. I have been waiting for so long to find out what's up with Kate. It should be good. I hope they don't wimp out with the story, but so far no one's has been as I had predicted.

I also adore Gray's Anatomy. The storylines are excellent. Not really liking Amazing Race, give me back the two-person teams thank you very much.

Ok, gotta get busy!

Long Awaited Update

Things have been craaazzy around here. Getting ready for Kimber to come home today. And that whole van thing threw my week into a tizzy last week.

So...didn't get the van out until Sunday. We put four people along the door and lifted it up. It wasnt' that it was all that heavy, it was just awkward and got off balance easily if it wasn't being lifted evenly. So we lifted it up and got the van out so I could use it yesterday. And yesterday afternoon the guy came and $145 later, I have a working door again. I guess it's cheaper than a new door, but springs and labor are expensive!

We went to our church couples retreat this past weekend in Seaside. It's one of the highlights of my year. What a fun time! It's great to spend time together and with other couples just hanging out and having fun. We played lots of board games in the evenings and the speakers were absolutely phenomenal. They were Jeff and Stacy Kemp, who run Families Northwest Jeff is a former pro football player and he had a great way of speaking to the men so they could relate and understand. They talked a lot about the roles of husbands and wives and what we need to do to show love and respect for each other. It was just fantastic.

I am on my way to get in the car to pick up Kimber. Everyone's excited for her to come home, but I think Grace and Logan are the most excited.

I'm currently reading Remember Me by Deborah Bedford, still listening to Trace, but I should get farther with my drive to the airport.

Ok...the kids are ready to drag me to the car.
I guess we can wait in the airport as easily as we can wait here!

Van held hostage...

My van is being held hostage by my garage...
Last night after we got home from church we heard this strange noise that sounded like it came from outside. Looked around and couldn't figure it out. This morning, LeeRoy went to open the garage door...no luck. We have a broken spring. So later today we'll gather the neighbors and try to lift the door with brute strength, they can't fix it until Monday afternoon. And although I don't need it now, nor will I need it all weekend because we're going to the couple's retreat and my parents have their own van--I do need it on Monday. So if we can get it out I'll be much happier.

Kids are over playing with the neighbor, I am going to sit and read my book, Turning Thirty by Mike Gayle. It's cute so far.

I'm reading the message boards for Lost (when I can get through) and it's so interesting to read other people's take on it. I avoid spoilers, but I love to read the discussion.
This is most definitely the best show on TV right now.

Busy, Busy!

I have been so busy lately I haven't had much opportunity to update. Went to my parents' for the holiday weekend because LeeRoy was at the Christian Musician Summit. We had a fun time, it was nice to get out of town for a couple of days. Yesterday we had a combined church service and then our annual business meeting. After we went to see Zathura, which was pretty good. The kids had a birthday party at the Hoppin' House last night. Hopefully tonight will be an early night, they are really tired.

I ran like crazy to get things done today, but I've accomplished quite a bit. Worked in Logan's class all morning and really did a lot. Went to gymnastics, then home for a little while. Went to the post office and then to pick up Logan. The kids got to play outside for a bit while I made dinner, we finally had a non-rainy day!

I am currently reading What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson. I'm almost finished. I started listening to Trace by Patricia Cornwell. Not sure if I'll stick with it, but I am behind on that series so I really should. I also have A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve which I'm looking forward to.

New Reviews Posted:
Cassandra's Angel

Revenge of the Paste Eaters

Body Intelligence

The Light Speed Bible

Boo Hiss

I have a whole stack here just waiting to be written up, and I'm sure I'll add the book I'm reading to that pile. Tomorrow I have Bible study (which I'm not sure I'll be going to), Lunch for 4, and sometime I HAVE to work on my own Bible study presentation for Wed. That's most likely why I would skip the morning Bible study. We were supposed to have the video tomorrow, but she's thinking of postponing it. Since we're not meeting next week, that will mean on the 29th now. We'll see how I feel in the morning. I have to make the time for my own teaching prep though. I will really be happy to have a week off of preparation.

Like always, I'm way behind in my reading. This weekend is our couples retreat, I am so looking forward to it. It's always a ton of fun. My parents (bless them) are coming up to watch the kids.

It's conference week for the kids, so tomorrow is Grace's last day of school for the week. Logan gets out at 12:30 every day. Should be interesting trying to keep them entertained.

I'm off to finish my book.

I've been a flake!

With this, not with my real life! I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off (not a pretty picture) and not getting much done. Fortunately, today I have Grace in day care for another two hours (has been all day) and I'm slowly but surely working my way through my piles of "to do" stuff. That computer crash threw me so far behind I'm not seeing much light. But my goal is to get all of my reviews written in the next two hours, so I have a lot more work ahead!

I'm currently reading Boo Hiss by Rene Gutteridge. I'm listening to At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks. After a draggy beginning, At First Sight seems to be picking up and I'm intrigued enough to really want to stick with it.

I've bought a ton of books in the past few days at the library sale. Today Grace has her first hip hop class, so Logan and I will go to the buck a bag day for the ending of the sale.

Ok, down to business. I worked on my Bible study, went to the new Winco store, listed some things on ebay, listed some things on paperback swap, now I have to write some reviews before I get fired (LOL) from my review positions.

Back online!

Had to get a new computer, then had to figure out how to use it! In the meantime, I had my second RT deadline of the month, so I had massive amounts of reading to do. And work on my Bible study. You never quite realize how much you use a computer until you don't have one to use!

I am currently reading Boo Who by Rene Gutteridge. Currently listening to Night Fall by Nelson Demille. But I did have four books on CD come in all at once at the library, and I decided to buy a copy of Night Fall, so I'll be moving on to something else tomorrow.

New Reviews Posted:
The Wedding Day

Everyone Else's Girl

She's All That

I've got quite a few books sitting here waiting to be written up, being without a computer really put me behind with that too.

Back to reading and cleaning!

Computer Crash

Had a major computer crash this week. Power supply failed. So we got a new computer yesterday. Will update more when I get a chance later today.

Sunday Afternoon

It's a rainy day here today. I am trying to finish up my book Boo by Rene Gutteridge so I can start my RT books. Two deadlines this month. I also need to finish three other books this week on top of my 8 for RT. Impossible? Probably. Grrr. Why do I do this to myself?

I am starting on Shades of Gray by Jacquelin Thomas first. Hopefully I can make a lot of headway today. LeeRoy is watching the Seahawks, so he's occupied.

I am starting a bookbox for the bookbox yahoo group I belong to. I am trying to clear out some more books before the library sale starts a week from Friday. Some of these books have just been hanging around way too long.

This should be another busy week. Hopefully I can get done all I need to.
I am off to do some serious reading.

Movin' Right Along...

In the week (but doesn't that title just make you hum, or is it just me? Maybe I'm the only Muppet fan out there)

Got to go out to lunch today with my friend Misty, that was totally fun. It will be even more fun next year when the kids are in school all day and I don't have to feel guilty leaving Grace in day care. But she loves it and has been begging to go for the past couple of weeks. Besides, there is this boy that also asks every day if she's going to go...tee hee too funny.

Currently reading Revenge of the Paste Eaters by Cheryl Peck. So far not as funny as her first, but I am enjoying it anyway.

TV thoughts:
Amazing Race--Boring. That's pretty much all I can say. It's not challenging when everyone speaks your language and all you have to do to find something is look in a phone book at a gas station. If they aren't leaving the US they could make it more difficult! I can't wait for the next real one, which is sad since the family one had so much potential.

Lost--Oh, can I say addiction? I absolutely love this show. Can't say enough good things about it. My only complaint--last night they drop a bombshell about someone dying in the next episode and now it's not going to be on for three weeks! Grrrr. That darn baseball.

Ok, off to clean some more before I need to pick the kids up from school.

Yay Grace!

At gymnastics today the teacher kept pulling Grace aside. I was wondering what was up, but after class she told me that Grace is too good for the class she's in, she needs to be in a higher level! I knew she had been really improving, but didn't realize how much. So next week she'll be in a higher class!

Still reading the same book, I hope to finish today. Still listening to Vanishing Acts. It's ok but unless something exciting happens I am not going to rate this much higher than a C. It's just average, especially compared to My Sister's Keeper.

New review posted:

Don't Get Too Comfortable

Monday, Monday...

What a busy weekend! We took yesterday just to relax and regroup.

Friday I worked in Grace's classroom and it was pet day. So I had the dog with me. First thing in the morning Logan showed him for his sharing, and then Grace showed him at 11. After we quickly took the dog home, went by the bank, then to Taco Bell, then to church for the mom's group. Picked up Logan from school and hurried home. I made the rest of my Tastefully Simple items and did another clean-up of the house. Had my party, which was fun but really busy. Watched The Longest Yard after, it was pretty funny.

Saturday we went to a Safeway grand opening ($1.38 Diet Coke 12 packs!) then to the fire station open house, then out to lunch with my parents and aunt for Logan's birthday. My mom, aunt, and I went to pick up Logan's Star Wars birthday cake, then we came home to open presents. Before we knew it, it was time for Logan's birthday party at the Hoppin' House. That was really fun, when we got home we watched Speak, which was really moving.

Sunday was a day of vegging after church. I read my book, LeeRoy napped, and Logan had Jacob over. Grace went to Katie's. It was just a long, lazy day.

Not really sure I'm enjoying Desperate Housewives this season. Nothing is really happening. On the other hand, I am loving Grey's Anatomy even more. The story lines are great and I was just bawling when Burke held Cristina while she cried.

Currently reading Everyone Else's Girl by Megan Crane. The cool thing...when I opened up the book there were a couple of pages with quotes from reviews about her last book and my review was quoted! Not using my name, but using Bookloons. Here's a link to that review if you're interested:
English as a Second Language

I have a new review posted:
Hannah's Hope

I hope I'll have a little time to write up some reviews today. I am going to force myself, I'm three books behind.

Logan's Birthday

Today my little boy is seven! I can't believe time has gone by so quickly. People always say it does, and when he was colicky and crying all the time I never believed it. But it has. It is so amazing to see him growing and changing every day, becoming more of his own person.

I'm currently reading She's All That by Kristen Billerbeck. I have four books I have to get through before Monday because I've got to start on my next round of RT books. Two deadlines in one month are not fun. She's All That is a Christian chick lit book, first in the spa girls series. It's decent so far, but nothing spectacular. I'm only on page 30 though.

My wonderful husband took the kids to church last night so I could stay home and get some things done. It was so nice of him. I got cupcakes made and frosted, Logan's presents sorted and wrapped.

I'm going to get on the treadmill, I've got 2 hours until I am going to pick up Grace from school.

Yipes!

After a walk around the block with Grace, I have handed her off to her "adopted" grandma who is going to walk another round with her.

Life is crazy, I think that should be my catch phrase.

Logan's birthday is Thursday, so I am busily preparing for his party on Saturday. I have Bible study tomorrow, so I spent this morning preparing my notes for that. I'm having a Tastefully Simple party on Friday, so much cleaning is necessary. Today I've been cleaning and getting things ready, it just never seems like there are enough hours in the day.

Currently reading Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. It's a decent book so far, although I'm not sure it will measure up to her previous book (Little Earthquakes) in my mind. I guess I'd classify it as a chick lit mystery. I've only got about a week until I have to start on my RT books again. Two deadlines in a month will about send me over the edge. And my family too, LeeRoy especially dislikes the deadline weekends.

Started a new study at church --Know Fear. We're attending a new small group which isn't too bad. Different than I'm used to, we're one of the youngest people there. I don't feel very connected to the people, but maybe it's just too early for that. I've been feeling very disillusioned with our church lately, I'm not connecting with God like I used to, and I'm not sure what the cause is. We've been contemplating trying other churches, but we can't find something that would work for both of us. I like contemporary music, but I like some structure. I don't care for three hour long church services that may or may not include a sermon, depending on what's happening. But I also don't like these time crunched, non-Spirit led services I've been experiencing lately. I really need to pray about what to do.

I'm a little overwhelmed with life in general...I need to figure out what to cut out because I can't keep up with the pace I'm trying to right now.

Clutter

I've been thinking a lot lately about the clutter in my life. I've been doing the Beth Moore study "Living Beyond Yourself" and God has been speaking to me. The video this week talked about clearing things out through confession and bringing concerns to God before you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. She also talked about actions and how every action has its root in something internal. For example, I have a big problem with just totally losing it with my kids--yelling and getting so angry. Even bringing it to Jesus and trying my hardest to turn from it isn't working.

So I got to thinking, what is the real root cause of this? What is setting me off? And I came back to the thing that has been plaguing me my whole life--perfectionism. I expect too much from myself, my family, and even my home. I have these perfection expectations that just can't be met, no matter how hard anyone tries. And most of the time, when I lose it with the kids, it's because I'm failing at something I think I should be getting perfect--like my house clean, or being on time for things, etc.

Just something I am definitely working on with God. But now that I have really acknowledged the root of the problem I can get to work on it.

On another note, I am now reading The Wedding Day by Catherine Alliott.

I am so wishing for a date night with my husband but we really haven't found a babysitter. All of the teenagers we know are going to football games, it's frustrating. And Alicia is in Hawaii (lucky her!)

Have been diligently working on the physical clutter in my home today. I've cleaned out Grace's room and have a big garbage bag ready for Goodwill (I can't freecycle this stuff because she doesn't really know what's in there and I dont' want to keep it around any longer than necessary) and another big bag of Logan's stuff. I actually need to get rid of more of his stuff because his birthday is this week, which means more will be arriving. I'm trying to get him to part with some Rescue Hero items because he has thousands and he doesn't really play with them anymore. His is mostly really into Legos and Star Wars right now.

This is long enough, back to cleaning!

New Reviews Posted

The Judge Who Stole Christmas

Saturday Morning

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough

Another breakneck week

I can't believe it's Thursday already. Kids have two days off school for the ASCI conference, so we're back to summer mode again. Logan has an eye appointment this morning, so I need to get in the shower very soon.

I'm reading Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff. It's a very funny set of essays about over-indulgent Americans. I'm enjoying it. Still listening to Vanishing Acts, it's definitely good, I hope I'm not disappointed.

Kimber is driving to Ashland and back today to see a play. Pray if you think of it, that's a scary drive at night through the mountains.

I'll probably post some more later when I have more time. I think I'll have some reviews posted today.
Oh, here's one:
The Railway Children

I Hate Thinking of Titles

Same thing with subjects of e-mail. My titles are all boring because I just can't think of anything to write. I should just date them and leave it at that.

Weekend was a little busy but not too bad. Logan's spend the night friend went well. We took my father-in-law out for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate his birthday (well, my m-i-l came too) then we all watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I remember reading the book in the 6th or 7th grade, it's probably where I developed my off-the-wall sense of humor when it comes to entertainment. HGTTG was better than I was expecting.

Sunday we went and bought Logan's birthday party invites and other stuff and Grace's Halloween costume. I spent most of the weekend reading like a fiend trying to get through the RT books.

Currently reading Saturday Morning by Lauraine Snelling (finally finishing it up) and listening to Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult.

Lots to do around here and only an hour to do them in!