Dining with Joy

It takes a good book for me to delve into a new author. I already have so many that I enjoy and adding another just means that I have less and less time. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel Hauck’s book Dining With Joy. This sweet romance is set in the lowcountry of South Carolina and tells the love story of Luke and Joy, complete opposites that are instantly attracted to each other.

Sometimes I get frustrated with lazily written Christian fiction, but with Hauck’s background as an English teacher, the characters are developed nicely, conversations are easy to believe and descriptions paint a lovely picture in the mind.

I was VERY excited to find that Hauck has written two other books…and I’ve already placed them on hold at the library. Can’t wait to read the previous novels in her Lowcountry series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Let's Do Lunch - Roger Troy Wilson

Let’s face it. All diets seem the same. And, for me, they never work. But this one actually IS different! Let’s Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson attacks a major problem in our house – eating our main meal at supper time, loading on the fat and calories right before we relax for the night. So how does Wilson remedy this?

Let’s Do Lunch is exactly that – making lunch your major meal of the day. Pack in as much protein as you want…eat until you are full and satisfied. And for supper? Eat fruit! As much as you want! The natural sugars in fruit break down much quicker, so your body isn’t just sitting (or laying) with all night with an unhealthy meal in it.

Let’s Do Lunch includes meal and snack ideas, along with a buying guide to insure you are buying what is best for this plan. Reuben and I have been doing the Let’s Do Lunch plan for about a week and a half and have already noticed a difference in energy level and our physical bodies and we just generally feel better! Looking forward to seeing what a couple of months will do for us!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Never Let You Go - Erin Healy

So I finally finished reading Never Let You Go by Erin Healy. It took me forrrrrrrever to read this 338-page book! I had previously read Kiss which Healy co-wrote with Ted Dekker. When I ordered this book, I was really looking forward to reading it.

In Never Let You Go, Erin Healy weaves the tale of Lexi Solomon whose life is dismal at best. With a murdered sister and a husband who left her, Lexi’s only hope comes from her daughter, Molly. But when a demon from her past reenters her life, Lexi must do everything in her power to protect Molly and keep her from harm. The combination of Ted Dekker’s endorsement and back cover summary had me very excited about reading it!

I was disappointed. Though I’m almost positive, part of me is still wondering if this book really was about spiritual warfare. The plot was okay, but it was a little confusing for me. Part of my problem, I think, was that I am used to the Ted-Dekker-alternate-reality-never-really-knowing-what’s-going-on-until-the-end that I was trying to figure out the book while I was reading it instead of just reading for the pleasure of the story. I was more thrilled with finishing the book than I was with reading it and was relieved when I finally finished skimming the last 80 pages.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I Am Hutterite

I Am Hutterite - Mary-ann Kirkby

Ever wonder what it would be like to be raised a certain way and then have that yanked out from under you at a day’s notice? I Am Hutterite chronicles such a story. Mary-Ann Kirkby recalls the angst, fear and struggle for acceptance after her parents decided to leave their Hutterite colony, the only life Mary-Ann had ever known.
I found I Am Hutterite to be extremely interesting. The story itself is good enough to push me through the book, but I was also fascinated learning about the Hutterite way of life; their unique customs, their interdependency and reliance on others, and their utmost respect for a conservative, Godly way of life.

I love Kirkby’s writing style. Occasionally it was slightly disconnected, but the stories interspersed throughout the chapters always wound back around to the chapter theme. So many nonfiction books get bogged down in details, distracting from the theme and overall message of the book. However, Kirkby delivers details that add to the story, expertly weaving them into the story that only further illuminates what her life must have been like.

A highly recommended read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What good are coupons anyway??

So I've been following this blog for awhile now. She always has fantastic information on there about good deals and freebies. But there's an incredible section about using coupons and store credits while shopping.

My new favorite store? CVS. Love you, CVS.

I've been using coupons and ECB's at CVS for about a month now (For more info, check out MSM's CVS Intro post here.) I've gotten some good deals, but nothing like the one I got today. Today I hit the jackpot!

Here's the scoop...

Transaction #1

Bayer Aspirin — $1.00
Used $1/1 coupon =
Free after coupon

2 Right Guard at $2.49, Get $4.00 ECBs
Used $3/2 coupon =
Credit of $2.02

1 Crest Pro Rinse at $3.50, Get $3.50 ECBs
Used $.75/1 coupon =
Credit of $.75

1 U By Kotex at $4.99, Get $4.99 ECBs
Used $1/1 coupon and a $1/1 CVS coupon (you can "stack" store & manufacturer's coupons) =
Credit of $2.00

1 Reach Floss Mint Flavor at $1.99, Get $2 ECB
Used $1/1 Reach Floss coupon
Credit of $1.00

I used a $2.00 ECB Reward Coupon and then actually paid $7.88 out of pocket for this. If I had planned better, I wouldn't have had to use as much cash. But this transaction garnered me $14.49 in CVS cash.

So...

Transaction #2

1 Mitchum Deodorant at $2.99, Get $1 ECB
Used $0.75/1 coupon =
$1.25

2 Mentos Gun, 15 ct. at $.99
Use $.100/2 coupon
$.49 each after coupon

1 Jumbo Huggies at $8.49, Get $2 ECBs
Used $1.50/1 =
$4.99

1 Schick Hydro at $8.99, Get $4 ECBs
Used $5/1 coupon =
Credit of $.01

To pay for this, I used most of the ECBs that I got from my first transaction (and $3.21 out of pocket...If you don't use all of the ECB amount, you lose it).

I forgot one coupon in the car and had to go back in, but also got some soap for the girls for $.39.

So here's the breakdown...

$54.08 retail price...

$40.30 marked down sales price...

$16.25 in coupons...

$21.49 in Extra Care Bucks...

$2.00 cashed in Extra Care Rewards...

So after the coupons & value of the ECBs, I got all this...


for $.56 (plus tax)

Not too shabby, huh? :)

Friendship for Grown-Ups - Lisa Whelchel

Friendship for Grown-Ups : What I Missed & Learned Along the Way – Lisa Whelchel

Who didn’t love The Facts of Life? But who would have imagined it was so difficult for “Blair” to form true, lasting friendships? In her book, Lisa Whelchel explains why she has had trouble opening up to other people and experiencing intimate friendships. From feeling alone to a horrible betrayal by one she trusted, Lisa has experienced the ups and downs that come with friendship. She has persevered, however, and shares her methods for survival in her new book.

I found this book both enlightening and entertaining. I have such a hard time feeling comfortable enough to share my inner-most thoughts, especially since we have relocated. What a relief to hear that someone else has gone through the same thing. Lisa (that’s right…we’re on a first name basis ) has wonderful suggestions for finding the right person with whom to form such an intimate bond and how to keep that bond in place. Her strong faith is evident all through the book and is a testament to how she has withstood things throughout her life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hand of Fate - Lis Wiehl

In the second book as part of her Triple Threat series, Lis Wiehl tells of the murder of radio broadcaster Jim Fate. Due to his outspoken and controversial manner, any number of people could be responsible for his death. Working as a team, Allison, Nicole and Cassidy try to narrow the field of suspects to find who is to blame.

So what did I think???

Overall, I enjoyed the book with its easy writing style, fast pace and believable dialogue. Unfortunately, while the main story line is good, there were times when Wiehl slipped into secondary storylines that never fully developed and were unnecessary, consequently making them a distraction. Though this book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, having just finished the first book in the series, Face of Betrayal, I noticed some repetitive phrasing. And though it is purported to be a political thriller, Wiehl occasionally launched into political statements there were a bit irrelevant to the main plot (illegal immigration, domestic violence). I also found the book jacket reviews stating that the book is a “…flat-out suspense masterpiece!” and “a thrill-a-minute mystery” to be overstated.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Booksneeze :)

I recently ran across a blog that advertised reviewing books from publisher Thomas Nelson. In exchange for a free copy of a book, I simply have to post a review on my blog. I hear they occasionally open the pool for reviewers. Check it out!

The time has come for February cookin'! Let me tell you, January was awesome. The longest it took me to prepare for a meal was about 20 minutes. It was such a relief not worrying about what to cook, trying to make sure I had enough time to get it done, etc. So I've been pretty excited to get February's stuff rolling.

I'm not sure why it seemed a little more overwhelming this month. I pulled out some new recipes, so I'm sure that unfamiliarity had something to do with it. Last month I had the steps for getting everything done written down beforehand (cutting up vegetables all at one time, cooking ground beef all at once, etc.). But I can't seem to get a handle on the order this time. Oh well...not having the big cooking day until Monday, so maybe I'll get it figured out before then.

So...menu for February:

Suppers
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Stew
Cheesy Chicken Skillet
Italian Chicken
Chicken Quesadillas
Deconstructed Broccoli & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
BBQ Chicken
Chicken Stir Fry x 2
Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken Cannelloni
Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Cheeseburger Pie
Chimichangas
Meatloaf
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Baked Ziti (Already done!!! :)
Taco Chili
Poppyseed Ham & Cheese Melts

Breakfast
Chocolate Chip Pancakes x 2 (Done!! :)
French Toast Sticks.

Sides
Crockpot Mac & Cheese x 2 (Done!! :)
Baked Corn Casserole x 2
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes x 2

Desserts
Ice Cream Shop Pies: Toffee Bar Crunch & Oreo

Looking at the list right now, this seems like a daunting task. But so much of it can just be put together once you have the chicken (did you see how much chicken & cheese we eat?!?! That's insane...) and ground beef cooked. SOOOOO worth the weariness that comes at the end of the project.

On that note, if anyone has any great freezer cooking recipes, I would love to have them!! Okay...off to organize!

My New Love

Time is a precious commodity around our house, not to mention to utter exhaustion that hits just about the time I need to start supper. There are days when the thought of cooking is completely overwhelming and we end up just ordering out. So imagine my excitement when I came across this blog just after Thanksgiving.

The concept of freezer cooking or Once-a-Month-Cooking (OAMC) was completely foreign to me, but it sounded neat. The more I researched it, the better it sounded. So many advantages:

* Saves time - Being able to simply pitch it in the oven is the biggest attraction for me. Think about it - it's no harder to brown five lbs. of ground beef than it is one, but it takes SO much less time to do it all at once.

* Saves washing - SOOOO many less dishes to wash!! :)

* Saves money - Shop the sales (especially on meat) and plan what your going to make around that! Also, planned meals + less trips to the store + less impulse buying = saving LOTS of money!

One night shortly after reading about it, I decided to try to cook a small amount...and I was able to make four meals in about an hour and a half. I was happy with that, but ECSTATIC when I was able to pull meals from the freezer and shove them into the oven.

So I decided to plan a full day of freezer cooking! I made out a menu for the rest of the month (yes, the month!!!), went grocery shopping, and went to town cooking yesterday while Reuben watched the kids.

The beginning to the day with almost all supplies:


Progress (and mess) at the lunch break (which I forgot to eat...)




The fruits of my labor?? 15 full or partial meals!! 15!!

2 batches of Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken Cannelloni
Stuffed Shells
Chicken Pot Pie
2 batches of BBQ Chicken for the Crock Pot
4 batches of individually seasoned ground beef for:
* Sloppy Joes
* Lasagna
* Chili Beans
* Reuben's specialty that we have named Good. Because it is :)
3 cups of cooked chicken for Poppyseed Chicken
2 extra cups of cooked chicken
2 Tuna Noodle Casseroles
2 batches of Chocolate Chip Pancakes

It seems like that would take FOREVER to do. But (excluding the Pancakes...I just did a double batch for breakfast), it only took 6 hours from start to finish (including getting ingredients together, washing dishes, packaging the food for the freezer, and putting everything up). And, at the worst, it will take about 15 minutes to prepare the meal for the night we eat it.

The end product:


Yummy Stuffed Shells:


Can't wait until I can employ her: