Wedding Day

Wedding Day
Enjoy EVERY moment in your wedding gown. You can't stay in it forever...SO UNFAIR!!!!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Special K - Challenge - You're On! Day One

When I think of Special K, this is what pops into my mind:





Why oh why does my mind go back to these commercials? I seriously cannot pinch belly pudge without thinking about Special K. The person who thought up that ad was a mastermind! Special K has come a long way since then. The recommended breakfast back in the day was Special K, a glass of orange juice and a black coffee (blech). Sorry I love my coffee, but I am still a slave to cream which is why I am drinking tea now. Anyway now they have not just one cereal but they have several types including granola. Special K also has protein waters, drinks, and different bars. There are a lot of options, and the plan is to go beyond breakfast and use Special K for two weeks for a little weight loss jump start.

I have been gaining some epic amounts of weight since my thyroid decided to take a sabbatical. This has led me to be a big ole grumpy broad who sometimes feels quite hopeless. The jump start is just what I need, and I need to test it out this week, because on March 10th, 11th and 12th, my station will have its pledge drive. This means that we will be working odd hours (I am working a split on-air schedule for the hours of10am to 1pm and 3pm to 7pm), eating all kinds of crazy food, and really getting minimal exercise opportunities. Basically, eating right is not going to be easy. I figured I might as well jump in and take the challenge now so maybe the new weight loss (let's hope there will be weight loss) will inspire me to eat like a good girl.

So it's on Special K! I am going to accept this whole Special K Challenge, and I am going to blog it. Mainly I am holding myself accountable by doing the blogging part. Plus I kind of want to see the pros and the cons.

So today is day one, and so far the biggest con that I have come across is that during the afternoon from about 2pm to 5pm, I was totally thinking about having a good dinner. I didn't cheat with any of the munchies I have on hand. I stuck with the Special K bar, some veggies and later, 90 calories worth of crackers for my two snacks. Still...I was really feeling the cravings for a real meal by dinner time.

The biggest pro for me is that this is very simple to follow and it is something that I can definitely do at work. I simply packed my cereal in a storage container to keep it fresh and I put the milk in a little sealable smoothie shaker cup that has the ounces on the side. This made it easy to put in the right amount of skim milk in the cereal.

I am curious how the weekend will go. THAT is going to be the real test. I am definitely going to try to keep busy. :)

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saturday 9 - It's A Beautiful Morning

I don't know if I have ever done this meme before, but since I am waiting for my son to get ready (haircut MUST be done today), I figured I'd kill a little time blogging. :)



It's a Beautiful Morning

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: It's a Beautiful Morning

1. Are you a morning person?

I am most definitely NOT a morning person. Well, wait...I am a morning person in the fact that I like to stay up until it is morning and then crash to sleep. This worked well for me in college as I was always up late at night studying and one of my jobs was working as a cocktail server at a night club which. I have worked many over night jobs from working in a group home overnight to working overnight in a casino as again a cocktail server. Not being a morning person served me well for those jobs. I work a day job now and am married to a wonderful man who definitely is a morning person. No more staying up until the wee hours for me any more.


2. Tell us of a news story that truly shocked you.

I am beyond shocked by the story of baby Garbriel. LINK: Arizona Baby Missing

I do not understand how anyone could hate an ex so much that they would take off with their child and give him to strangers. Her story is supposedly she gave the baby to some couple she met in a park. First she sent the father texts that said she killed the baby. Now they have found that the hotel she stayed at has been a place where women who are involved in underground adoptions have stayed. She and the child were also seen on security camera in front of Six Flags and that too apparently is some place where birth mothers apparently have met up with the adoptive families. Here are all the levels to which I am shocked.

1 - That she refuses to help at all with finding the baby.
2 - That she texted that she killed the baby (so no one knows for sure if the baby is even alive).
3 - If a couple did adopt this child, they have had to see something in the news. Why are they not coming forward. What kind of people are they? This just scares me for this poor baby.

On every level this creeps me out, frustrates me, and breaks my heart.


3. What was your very first job?

Other than baby sitting, I was a jewelry inspector at a costume jewelry company in Johnston, Rhode Island. We took the jewelry off the wire from the dipping racks, made sure that everything looked good and then packed it up for the shippers. In a word... BORING.


4. What characteristics do you despise?

Selfish and self-centered people. These are the backbone of rude and callous behavior.


5. To where would you retire?

I don't know. I hope I can retire. I would love to retire in Carmel some day. Pretty pricey though. :)


6. Are you named after anyone?

Nope.


7. How do you release anger?

I listen to some serious loud music like old Limp Bizkit.


8. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I try not to, but I have a very sarcastic and snarky side. I never use it at people. I just make sarcastic observations about events in my life.


9. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?

My hypothyroidism drive me nuts right now. That and all the stuff that goes with it. Other than that, I am fine with myself. :)

Monday, February 8, 2010

Superbowl Ads

I honestly am not one of the people who look forward to the Superbowl commercials. I really don't care. I do have to say that I loved the e Trade baby last year and this year's was cute too, but it isn't why I watch the game. Heck I didn't even have a team in it this year. That really doesn't matter though. Totally not my point anyway.





This year though, I have to say that I noticed a lot of commercials in a totally good way. Who wouldn't notice Betty White getting tackled into the mud? Seriously, between her and Abe Vigoda, that Snickers' commercial cracked me up. Literally, I laughed out loud. I don't do that often. I laughed out loud often tonight though. Here were my faves. At least faves of what I saw.





truTV

Troy Polamalu taking over for Punxsutawney Phil showing us that there will be six more weeks of football was a riot. But the fact is I love Troy Polamalu. He is an amazing football player who is such an enthusiastic player you cannot not love the guy.

According to Youtube this video will only be available until March 15th.





Snickers

The Snickers' commercial was a riot. Just hearing Betty White talking smack rocked.





Those were the ones that really made me giggle. I understand that there was a pretty funny Doritoes one (an older guy tasering a younger guy who jumps in front of him at a vending machine), but I didn't see it. :)

Menu Plan Monday - February 8


Last week I strayed off the menu a bit because we had more leftovers than we expected. So I am bumping Sunday's meal to today. I actually made lemon chicken on Sunday. The leftover chicken from Sunday will still be put into this Monday's meal. My favorite meal last week was definitely the Mexican Pizza followed very closely by the Brown Sugar Chicken (got to love crock pot cooking!). I loved that I was able to totally eat leftovers of the Mexican pizza for lunch as was my husband. It still tasted great. The Brown Sugar Chicken was easy and very tasty. It took just about 10 minutes to prep in the crock pot. For the most part though, a successful meal in my home is one that the whole family enjoys. This is not always easy as my son can be a tad picky and likes to stick with the same meal (he has had peanut butter sandwiches as his lunch staple since about 3rd grade prior to that it was PB&J).

So on to this week:

MONDAY

Black Bean Quesadillas with Chicken Tortilla Soup (using leftover chicken from the Herbed Lemon Chicken)

TUESDAY

Hamburgers or Cheeseburgers (pepper jack cheese) with chips.

WEDNESDAY

Panko Breaded Chicken Strips with Salad (always a hit)

THURSDAY

KFC -Yep, KFC. I do not make this a habit, but our radio station is hosting three concerts this week. I have to work Thursday's show, but at least it is in my town so I will not be home terribly late. When I work shows in Phoenix I usually don't get home until well after midnight (breaking down takes forever).

FRIDAY

Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and carrots. I love this recipe!

SATURDAY

Beef Enchiladas (using some of the beef left over from the pot roast)

SUNDAY

Shrimp Scampi My husband's birthday is Thursday so this is actually for him. This recipe is incredible and he just loves it. It is a can't miss meal that will definitely make him happy.

Check out all the great recipes you can find at Menu Plan Monday courtesy of I'm An Organizing Junkie.






Monday Mayhem - Odd Cleaning Services

Welcome to Monday Mayhem.



Join Us for Monday Mayhem

Today's Meme is a reflection of our participants. It is called the Philippines and the Americans. Let's test our knowledge of our country and others.




Answer these questions as best as you know how. You may learn something new....


What is the 'official name' of each country?

The Republic of the Philippines
The United States of America

Which country has more people living in it?

I'm guessing the US, but truly this is based purely on my experience on California highways (my commute sucked).

Name a famous Spanish explorer who had a great impact on each country.



Megellan and Columbus


Who has the better shoe collection?
  1. Imelda R. Marcos
  2. Carrie Bradshaw
  3. Harriet
I think I would like Harriet's shoes more than Imelda's, and seeing as Carrie Bradshaw is a fictional character, I'll have to pass on her collection.

What is the shape of a football?
  1. Oval
  2. Round
  3. Don't want to stir up controversy.
Do I have to pick one of these?

What's the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?
  1. Same damn thing stupid
  2. Where they occur according to the dateline
  3. One is intended to wipe out Florida the other is intended to keep relatives from moving in.
  4. 1 and 2

I don't want to call you stupid, but yeah...1 and 2.

What is the proper spelling of the word ' color '?
  1. Colour
  2. Color
  3. Don't want to stir up controversy.

I just saw an argument on this, and definitely do not want to stir up controversy. I spell it color. If I got to England, I will probably not spell it colour because I don't plan on walking around spelling things if I go to England. If I go to the Philippines, I probably wont think to ask.


Who makes the best Pizza?

  1. Domino's
  2. Pizza Hut
  3. Lou Malnati's
  4. Some dude in NYC
Who's Lou Malnati? The best pizza I have had so far is at a little place here in AZ called Chi Town Pizza. Their sauce is incredible. Domino's definitely is way down on the pizza chain and apparently, according to their commercials, stalks any focus group who expresses a dislike for their grub. ***Wow...I never use the word grub***




Which country does Thom live closer to?



  1. US
  2. Philippines
  3. Who cares?
  4. Who the heck is Thom?
Last time I checked Hawaii counted as the US. I am guessing that Thom lives in the US so can you live close to a country you live in? Is this a trick question? Does this mean Thom lives close to the Philippines? My head hurts now. Thanks soooo much.

Finally, tell us something great about your country.


What do you want to know? Ummm...I am sorry. I just got completely distracted because I found out that there is a company here called Jock Strap Cleaning. How's that for a country?


Thanks for playing.

Join Us for Monday Mayhem

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Many Scattered Giveaways -- Hooray!


It has been a long time since I posted a giveaway grouping. This is because I was focusing on entering a lot of giveaways before Christmas, and I wanted to take a break. I like to give it a rest every now and then. It isn't like I expect to win everything, but I like to step back you know? One of the cool things about giveaways besides the obvious prizes and learning about new companies is discovering a new fabulous blog. THAT is really one of my favorite things.

Anyway, I am feeling the giveaway bug and thought I would post some giveaways that sang to me.

The links for the giveaways are the blog names. The links on the company name will take you to the company which will definitely help you learn more. :)

I have never been to Get Along Home. It was nice stopping by and also quite nice to see the giveaway she is hosting for 250 Uprinting custom stickers. I would actually like to win this for a friend of mine who is in a band. Promotions don't come cheap. I thought this would be a nice little gift for them. :) This would also be great for promoting your blog, book plates, maybe ID stickers to go on your items when moving. Or perhaps just for some fun. Go check it out at Get Along Home. Giveaway ends on 2/22!

Workin' The Deals
is hosting a wonderful can't-pass-up giveaway thanks to Fiber One yogurt for a $50 Safeway gift card giveaway. How nice to share the love with us all? I love Fiber One yogurt. It is absolutely the best size for a good snack, and a good way to incorporate fiber into my diet. Hurry and enter!


Remember Strawberry Shortcake? I loved that doll when I was little. She smelled so good. She looked so cute! She also had lots of sweet smelling dolly friends. Strawberry Shortcake has grown! Check her out at the giveaway for a Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise Doll at Energizer Bunny's Mom Reports. There is a great review with some cute pictures. You will also want to check out all the other cool toys that Hasbro has to offer (bargain hunters might want to check out all their clearance and sale items!). You can see exactly how darling this doll is and how much fun the little lady in your life will have with her. Go enter now! This giveaway ends on 2/20

Real Heart Prints had the perfect lovely Valentine giveaway. It is a giveaway for the beautiful Love Cushion Fine Silver pendant from JaneWear Jewelry. Check it out. It is really quite lovely! :) Jane puts her heart (seriously) into her jewelry. You definitely are going to want to check out her work! Giveaway ends 2/10.

In A Kid's World
has an amazing giveaway that can help you with your budget and help your student's school! Two readers are going to win a $25 Kroger gift card to get a nice jump start on the Box Tops For Education program. I am sure most of you have heard of the Box Tops for Education program. It is probably one of the easiest ways to help out your student's school or anyone's school if you do not have children. General Mills has been helping out so many schools with this program. I know I buy plenty of these products, it is great that they are giving back. Sign up for the program at www.rewardyourschool.com and get the action going. There are numerous ways you can get others involved as well. We have a box at school for collecting. My old church in Rhode Island use to have a box at church and each month a different school in the church family would be blessed by the box tops saved. Enter the giveaway, and get involved! Ends 2/14.

Want another amazing grocery giveaway! Head on over to Audrey's Spot for Recipes and Tips! Audrey is hosting a wonderful giveaway for a $50 Safeway gift card giveaway thanks to Safeway, Fiber One, and My Blog Spark! Can you stand it?! I know you are going to want to get in on this, and make sure to stick around for some awesome tips from Audrey! This giveaway ends on 2/9!

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is sailing right around the corner, and Frugalicious has a giveaway that is going to make someone's Valentine's Day extra special. It is a $100 Valentine package! Check out what is up for grabs!

* Up to $50 in flowers (or baskets etc) from 1800flowers delivered when and where you choose (USA only).
* A $40 gift card to Darden restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, The Capital Grill, Seasons Fresh Grill, Bahama Breeze, or Longhorn Steakhouse)
* A $10 gift card to Ben & Jerrys

Ends 2/8

Super Bowl is tomorrow! YAY! And there is a huge giveaway going on right now at A Nut in a Nutshell! One winner is going to get a $50 Walmart gift card to make game days very easy. Think of all the things you can buy with a Walmart gift card, because not only are their prices low...they match other sales. :) Check out the giveaway now! Ends 2/26

Oh this is SOOOOOO the day to enter giveaways! Good, True & Beautiful is hosting a giveaway for a $100 Visa gift card! What a great way to celebrate her new blog location! I don't know about you, but I could definitely use this gift card. I am thinking it would be great to update our camping gear. This is a great giveaway and a wonderful blog. Ends 2/13!


Frugal Mom Knows Best
is also hosting a fabulous $50 Safeway gift card giveaway thanks to Fiber One yummy yogurt! Frugal Mom also has some wonderful frugal weekly tips, so you are definitely going to want to browse around for some great information! Giveaway ends 2/20! What would you do with a $50 Safeway gift card?

Nichol of Kiddies Corner Deals is hosting a Flirty Aprons giveaway! I won one of these around Christmas, and I was beyond excited! I know you are going to want to get in on a chance, and really you'll just love Nichol. So go check it out. This giveaway ends 2/17! Nichol has lots of other great giveaways too so be sure to browse around. :)

I have straightish hair. It is the kind of hair that unless I am brushing it the whole time it is drying it will dry straightish with odd ball waves. Not cute waves. Seriously odd. This is why one of my dream wins would be for the Misikko Hana Pink Edition Flat Iron (I just LOVE pink!) giveaway at Closet of Free Samples. Have you checked out this blog? Totally new to me, but definitely a blog I will be returning to. This awesome giveaway ends on 2/18. A totally HOT item so get going!

Not only does Recipes for Moms have great recipes and links to coupons that may go with your recipes, but there is also a Safeway $50 gift card giveaway again thanks to Fiber One yogurt! Love that yogurt! Love Safeway! Love Recipes for Moms! Enter now because this giveaway ends on 2/13!

A Hen's Nest
is an awesome blog with some great reviews and of course some pretty awesome giveaways too! Right now you totally want to take advantage of seeing the awesome designs from Tookie Trinkets Etsy shop! Tookie has jewelrey and some awesome crochet work. My favorite is the Crazy for You hat and scarf set. Seriously bright and definitely fashionable. I also was fond of the Ice Princess bracelet which is definitely a stand-out piece! :) Giveaway ends on 2/27!

Do you like bargains? I am a huge bargain lover, and I learned of a new site (well new to me) called Buxr.com. Check out the review at You Have More Than You Think. Along with the review is a...$50 Amazon credit giveaway! I am also a huge Amazon lover and am saving up for a few special items. This win would go a long way in helping me out. How about you? Ends 2/9

Are there any changes you might want to make in your life? Do you have any goals that you would love to achieve, but they seem too much to handle? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you might want to read the review and enter the giveaway at Today Is My Someday for Achieve Anything in Just One Year by Jason Harvey. I can definitely think of a goal or two. Ends 2/14

That is all for today. Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Spring Breakdown by Melody Carlson - Repost with Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Spring Breakdown (Carter House Girls)

Zondervan (February 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Bridgette Brooks of ZONDERKIDZ for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best friction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031071494X
ISBN-13: 978-0310714941

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Just press the button!




MY REVIEW:

Spring Breakdown is the 7th in Melody Carlson's Carter House Girls series. To be honest, had I realized it was that far along in the series, I probably would have started with the first and worked my way up. The book did not make me feel like I did not know what was going on, but I would have preferred getting a clearer picture of the characters.

I always enjoy revisiting teen life via a good book. Reading about DJ and the other Carter House Girls adventures brought me back in that way. I liked that the girls were trying to do the right things and following their convictions with what they might wear whether at the beach or a dance and convictions against underage drinking. I wasn't crazy about the cattiness of the characters on all sides. I expected the "mean girl" to be generally portrayed as jerky, but it seemed a little stereotypical (spoiled little rich girl). I did not expect to see so much snarky and catty behavior from the characters who were talking the talk spiritually one moment and doing the slash and jab verbally later. However, all of this resolved itself in my mind, because of course we aren't perfect, and in the long run the good hearts were definitely showing through by the end.

All In A Day's Work - Posting My day job's blog

Just sharing the day job. I do these posts once a week along with my spot. Check us out sometime at www.radioshine.org to listen online or if you are in Arizona 90.9 FM, 90.7 FM, 101.9 FM. Also if you check us out online, you might like to sign up for Club Radio Active our online music survey site. Each month we do a drawing from survey participants and send out a free CD or other prize (this month it was a DVD) to three drawing winners. :)



Photobucket



Last week I brought up that I made my entire week's dinners using food that I got through Angel Food Ministries. I have been wanting to bring up Angel Food Ministries, but I hadn't had the opportunity to try it. I was able to make a week's worth of meals and in fact, I have food left over for this week as well.



Kind of hard to see here but here is what I got:
8 pancakes
3 brats with cheese
1 bag of frozen corn
1 bag of frozen carrots
3 lb bag of russet potatoes
1.5 lb beef roast
1 lb ground beef
1 bag of chicken patties (9)
1 side of baby back ribs seasoned
1 bag of frozen chicken breasts
1 beef macaroni dinner
1 pumpkin pie
1 bag of wheat rolls
1 container of shelf stable milk
1 dozen eggs


Angel Food Ministries started in 1994 and they have worked tirelessly to provide food relief for many. It started in Monroe, Georgia and now is in 44 states! For 30 dollars plus a service fee of 2 dollars you get a week's worth of food for a family for four. Go online and check it out, and find the Host Site closest to you. I was thrilled to find a host site that was literally five minutes away from me. That was a blessing, but the nice thing is that you do not have to live in the area that you order from. You just need to pick up the food in the time frame they have posted. Each site also has their order deadline, so make sure you follow that when ordering. I believe you can order at the Host site, but I ordered online at my Host site's link. The link that I am going to post will take you to the site which also will show you what this month's offerings are. :)

LINK UP: Angel Food Ministries



FREEBIES!!!!


I am very careful with the Freebies I sign up for. One good thing to do is have an account that you set aside just for your freebies. Remember you can sign up for free email with gmail.

LINK UP: Gmail



Free Coupons - I don't know who has gotten in on this but you can get an awesome FREE $10 General Mills Coupon Booklet. I love finding as many coupons as I can get my hands on! **Big thanks to Hey It's Free!

LINK UP: General Mills Coupons

Free Kashi Products - I love Kashi GOLEAN Crunch cereal and their TLC bars are amazing. The first time I tried Kashi TLC bars was from a free sample. I don't know if you have seen their commercials on television, but right now you have the opportunity to try one of their products for free. You choose one of three.

Your choices:

GOLEAN Crisp Toasted Berry Crunch Cereal
TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit and Grain Bar
GOLEAN Crunch Honey Almond Flax Cereal (what I ordered!)

LINK UP: Kashi Free Sample

Free Sample of Head & Shoulders Shampoo - If you are a member, sign in. If you aren't, totally sign up, because you can always count on some amazing samples from P&G. Today you have the opportunity to hook yourself up with a sample of Head & Shoulders shampoo. I love samples like this, because they are great to have on hand when traveling or just when you find out you are facing an empty bottle of shampoo in the bath.

You can choose from Smooth & Silky, Classic Clean or Dry Scalp Care

While you are there you might also want to check out the coupon links and other free samples. They also have a sample of Pamper's Cruisers.

LINK UP: Head & Shoulders Sample

Free Gas-X Thin Strips - This is so easy to fill out. Gas-X Thin Strips are easy to use and you can try them out for free.

LINK UP: Free Gas-X Thin Strips



Free Breathe Right Sample - I don't know if it is this time of year or what, but this is definitely the time to check out Breathe Right Strips. If you know someone who has entertained the thought of purchasing these little guys, but they didn't want to commit to the price without knowing if they work get them over to this sample. It is just two strips, but I think that should be enough to get you in the know. :)

LINK UP: Breathe Right Strips

Free Redken Style Connection Sample - This is totally while supplies last so don't wait!

LINK UP: Redken Style Connection

Free sample of Arm & Hammer Advanced White Toothpaste - This is while supplies last, but the sample is for a week's supply. I have relatives who exclusively use this toothpaste. Might as well check it out.

LINK UP: Arm & Hammer Advanced White Toothpaste


Free Breakfast - Oh yes, they are doing it again! Denny's will be offering Free Grand Slam breakfasts on Tuesday, February 9th from 6 am to 2 pm!

LINK UP: Details for Denny's Free Original Grand Slam Breakfast!


Free Short Stack of Pancakes at IHOP- February 23 from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. All they ask is for people consider giving a donation to support local children's hospitals.

LINK UP: IHOP Free Short Stack of Pancakes



Free KIND Bars at Starbucks - On February 5th, Starbucks will sample KIND bars at all of their 7000 locations!

LINK UP: KIND Bars


Free Pants - Okay this is a win kind of thing, but on February 7th during the Super Bowl, Dockers will air a commercial. The first 2010 people to register after that commercial airs will win a pair of pants. Actually this will be in the form of $30 gift code for Dockers Men's Soft Khakis. I figure I'll be watching the game anyway, I might as well try to win.

LINK UP: Dockers Soft Khakis Giveaway 2/7

Free sample Purex 3-in-1 Complete Laundry Sheets - This is still available and really a great freebie. I have heard a lot about these Purex 3-in-1 Complete Laundry Sheets. They have the detergent and fabric softener in one sheet. This is a great way to try it out or again keep it on hand for travel.

LINK UP: Purex 3-in-1 Complete Laundry Sheets

Free Music Download - Stephanie Smith song "Heart Attack" at iTickets

LINK UP: Stephanie Smith "Heart Attack"

Free Music Download at Free CCM:

Download Phillips, Craig & Dean "Counting On God"

Anthony Evans "Amazing God"

Free CCM is also still offering songs from Disciple, Building 429 and Laura Story.

LINK UP: Free CCM

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Spring Breakdown (Carter House Girls) by Melody Carlson

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


Spring Breakdown (Carter House Girls)

Zondervan (February 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Bridgette Brooks of ZONDERKIDZ for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best friction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031071494X
ISBN-13: 978-0310714941

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Just press the button!




MY REVIEW:

Spring Breakdown is the 7th in Melody Carlson's Carter House Girls series. To be honest, had I realized it was that far along in the series, I probably would have started with the first and worked my way up. The book did not make me feel like I did not know what was going on, but I would have preferred getting a clearer picture of the characters.

I always enjoy revisiting teen life via a good book. Reading about DJ and the other Carter House Girls adventures brought me back in that way. I liked that the girls were trying to do the right things and following their convictions with what they might wear whether at the beach or a dance and convictions against underage drinking. I wasn't crazy about the cattiness of the characters on all sides. I expected the "mean girl" to be generally portrayed as jerky, but it seemed a little stereotypical (spoiled little rich girl). I did not expect to see so much snarky and catty behavior from the characters who were talking the talk spiritually one moment and doing the slash and jab verbally later. However, all of this resolved itself in my mind, because of course we aren't perfect, and in the long run the good hearts were definitely showing through by the end.

Book Review -- The Chosen One - a novel by Carol Lynch Williams




I won The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams quite a while ago. I also read it a long time ago, but I am only just getting around to posting a review. So first...a little bit about the story.


About the Book (from inside cover): Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much--if you don't count her secret visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.

But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle--who already has six wives--Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

My Review:

I was immediately drawn into the story from page one. Kyra's life in the closed off community is vividly told, and in fact is told so well, I found emotions absolutely bubbling to the surface. Imagine living in a community where you are not allowed to read what you want to, go where you want to without supervision and marry who you want to. Imagine not only not getting to choose who to marry, but being told you must marry when you are still no more than a child. All of these scenarios are deftly captured in Carol Lynch Williams' book with such clarity and truth. Each character good and bad are so full and fleshed out, you feel as if you are reading someone's truth.

I strongly recommend this book. It is a compelling read involving a difficult story. It pulls you in and makes you face a situation that is not pretty. The story made me uncomfortable at times and angry at others. It is hard to say that I enjoyed it, because it was a difficult story, but I walked away feeling changed somehow and hopeful.

Monday, February 1, 2010

MONDAY'S MUST ENTER

Kiddies Corner Deals

Monday is my day off. This is the day when I do my grocery shopping and catch up a bit on blog reading. While reading one of my FAVORITE BLOGS, Kiddies Corner Deals, I caught a pretty awesome giveaway. There are several there, so you really are going to want to check it out, but what really got me was the giveaway for an EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale. I have been focusing on losing some extra poundage and this scale definitely would be a kitchen asset! Entering could not be easier. Simply head on over to Kiddies Corner Deals and get all the details, and make sure you also head on over to EatSmart, they have lots of awesome products! This giveaway ends on February 15th!

Monday Mayhem - Bathroom Musings - Not for the Weak

Join Us for Monday Mayhem




Today's meme- Bathroom Musings

For each of the prompts, you may answer with an image, a sentence or however you want to.Simply copy and paste this into a post on your site and answer the prompts. Be sure to list your a direct link to your post and visit the other participants.




1. What do you read when you are sitting on the toilet?


I feel rather odd answering this. Anyone else feel weird? Well...if I am going to read I will read any magazine I might have around. I am always getting magazines in the mail. I keep one or two in a drawer (I don't like leaving things around since discovering how far things fly when the toilet is flushed).


2. Do you pee in the shower?

Most definitely not. I don't want to be captive in a closed space with splashing water and my own urine. ICK.


3. Do you always wash your hands after you use the toilet?

Always. I worked in the medical and dental field for years. It has been ingrained into me. Not only do I was my hands using "proper hand washing technique" (yes there is one), but I also sing happy birthday to myself while I do it to make sure I am washing long enough. Sad maybe, but at least I have clean hands. :)


4. Do you allow someone to come into the bathroom while you are using the toilet?


It isn't something that really has come up in the past few years. That in and of itself is rather odd since we only have one bathroom. I would not wig out if someone wanted to come in while I am in the bathroom. As a woman, I have shared the bathroom with many a girl friend. I just don't have a shame about it.


5. Do you clean your shower in the nude?

No. I don't clean the shower. My husband cleans the shower.


6. When you use the toilet at someone else's house do you go through their medicine cabinet and/or their bathroom cabinets and drawers?


Not since college.


7. For the Men...Have you ever left the toilet seat up on purpose to irritate the woman in your life?


Not a man so I can't answer, but I am definitely interested in this one. :)


8. For the Women...Have you ever fallen into the toilet because someone left the toilet seat up?


Yes, but not since I was about 11 years old.




9. Do you courtesy flush?


What is courtesy flush? I kind of need a definition here.



10. Do you light a match or a candle or spray an air freshener when you are finished pooping?


We have candles in our bathroom and matches. We do not use air freshener, because honestly, that never works and usually makes things smell even worse. The general practice in our home is to turn on the fan (no one cares to hear what you are up to) and if needed light a match and candle.



11. Have you ever fallen asleep on the toilet?


Not yet, and I have been pretty tired especially when I worked the graveyard shift.



12. What is the strangest thing you have ever flushed down the toilet?


A giant Bonnie Bell bubble gum flavored lip balm when I was 12 years old. It slipped out of my school uniform skirt pocket and was gone in a flash or would that be flush? :)


Feel free to come join in at Monday Mayhem!

Menu Plan Monday - February 1




WHERE ON EARTH DID JANUARY GO? Seriously, I am stunned!

Last week, I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food I purchased through Angel Food was. The only disappointment I had was probably the roast, but at 1.5 pounds, really there wasn't a lot that could be said. However, the gravy that came of cooking that little bugger all day was superb! In fact, I was able to parlay it into gravy to go with the baked chicken breasts I made, and I am going to use it for my first recipe this week. We were pleasantly surprised with a pie brought to our home from one of the pastors of a church I visited last week (a friend's husband was getting baptized). That made a wonderful dessert addition for Saturday evening's chicken and Sunday night's barbecued baby back ribs.

Now on to this week. I have a pretty full freezer, so I am going to work on taking it down a few notches. :)



MONDAY

Simple Shepherd's Pie - Basically this is about as basic as it gets. Ground beef cooked with garlic powder, chopped onions and pepper combined with frozen corn (left over from Angel Food corn) and the leftover gravy from last week's roast, topped with mashed potatoes (hoping that I have enough potatoes to succeed in this endeavor).

TUESDAY -

Mexican Pizza


Check out some amazing recipes and fabulous blogs at I'm An Organizing Junkie where all the Menu Plan Monday links are located! :)

WEDNESDAY -

Chicken Patty Sandwiches with green salad

THURSDAY -

Crock Pot Brown Sugar Chicken Recipe
(after spotting this last week, I HAD to add it to this week's recipes)

FRIDAY -

Leftover hunt

SATURDAY -

Herbed Lemon Chicken (crock pot)


SUNDAY -

Black Bean Quesadillas
with Chicken Tortilla Soup (using leftover chicken from the Herbed Lemon Chicken)