Confession: Other than textbooks, I haven't actually read an entire book in almost seven years.
Yikes! That confession is terribly embarrassing when I read it aloud. It's true, though. I have read thousands of newspapers cover to cover and devoted hundreds of hours to magazine articles, textbooks and blogs in the last seven years, but finish an entire book just for the fun of it I have not.
It occurred to me about a month ago that this is a bit ridiculous. I guess amidst two jobs, cleaning, cooking and socializing, finding time to read was just not a priority. So I decided to meet myself halfway and try audio books. I've been in the car an hour and a half each day commuting for work, and I've already finished four books in a little over a month. Not bad considering my previous reading stats!
February is widely celebrated as "I Love to Read" month. What books have you read lately that you loved? I'm always curious to know what genres people like to follow. Here are some quick reviews of the books I've "read" via audio.
"Apologize, Apologize" by Elizabeth Kelly
My Rating: 3 out of 5. I loved the first half of the book - intricately descriptive and pithy. The second half really started to drag on, though, and was just kind of depressing.
"Mennonite in a Little Black Dress" by Rhoda Janzen
My Rating: 4 out of 5. If you live anywhere near a Mennonite community (as I do), you can completely relate to this memoir. I loved the sarcastic truths about religion and life in general, but the end kind of left me hanging.
"Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah
My Rating 4.5 out of 5. This book had me laughing out loud, glaring out the windshield in disgust and bawling by the end. Many of the underlying themes are relatable, and the story was always progressing.
"Ask Again Later" by Jill Davis
My Rating: 2 out of 5. For the longest time the story was going no where, and I wanted to tell the main character to just get over herself. It was a little too neurotic for me, and though the end was touching, it took forever to get there.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Love Is In the Air
Confession: There's something to be said for cheap whimsy when it comes to gift giving.
February is just around the corner, which means so too is the holiday that somehow manages each year to be as equally anticipated as dreaded. Valentine's Day.
Personally, I have always loved the day set aside to celebrate love. I was never one to mope if I wasn't in a relationship, or get stressed about giving or receiving the perfect gift. To me Valentine's Day is about more than fancy dinners or a nice bouquet of flowers (not that I'm opposed to either of those if you're reading his, Hubby). It's about celebrating all the relationships in your life, and being thankful for everyone you love.
With that in mind, here are some fun and easy homemade V-Day gift ideas perfect for anyone. Girlfriends, daycare providers, coworkers, oh and your spouse too! Unfortunately I don't have pictures to share with these ideas. I assembled the candy jar for Hubby's and my first Valentine's Day while dating and the cookie bouquet for our third, but didn't think to take pictures at the time. So use your imagination - I know you can do it!
Message In A Jar
You will need a bag of mini or snack size candy bars, sticky notes and a jar. Cut the sticky notes in half or thirds and write a nice message on the inside of each. Then wrap one note around each piece of candy, sealing with a piece of tape if necessary. Each time your loved one reaches for a piece of candy they'll have encouraging words to know how much you care. This homemade version costs so much less and is so much more personal than any versions sold in stores.
Cookie Bouquet
There is definitely some merit to the phrase "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," and one of my husband's favorite food groups is chocolate chip cookies. While most people would be more than happy with a zippie bag full of cookies, sometimes a little whimsy is good for a relationship. You can prepare your own dough, but the refrigerated break-apart squares actually work best as they're a little firmer and the pre-portioned dough is the perfect size. Insert a wooden skewer or popsicle stick through each cookie (like you would a campfire stick through a marshmallow, without poking through the top) and bake as usual. Allow cookies to completely cool, then place in a vase or trim the skewers short and place in mason jars or beer mugs for a more "manly" look. Click here for Nestle coupons!
There are all kinds of great ideas online for inexpensive, whimsical gifts. I think the best Valentine gifts are the thoughtful ones that really show your friends, family and spouse how much you care.
Show 'em some love this year. Happy gifting!
February is just around the corner, which means so too is the holiday that somehow manages each year to be as equally anticipated as dreaded. Valentine's Day.
Personally, I have always loved the day set aside to celebrate love. I was never one to mope if I wasn't in a relationship, or get stressed about giving or receiving the perfect gift. To me Valentine's Day is about more than fancy dinners or a nice bouquet of flowers (not that I'm opposed to either of those if you're reading his, Hubby). It's about celebrating all the relationships in your life, and being thankful for everyone you love.
With that in mind, here are some fun and easy homemade V-Day gift ideas perfect for anyone. Girlfriends, daycare providers, coworkers, oh and your spouse too! Unfortunately I don't have pictures to share with these ideas. I assembled the candy jar for Hubby's and my first Valentine's Day while dating and the cookie bouquet for our third, but didn't think to take pictures at the time. So use your imagination - I know you can do it!
Message In A Jar
You will need a bag of mini or snack size candy bars, sticky notes and a jar. Cut the sticky notes in half or thirds and write a nice message on the inside of each. Then wrap one note around each piece of candy, sealing with a piece of tape if necessary. Each time your loved one reaches for a piece of candy they'll have encouraging words to know how much you care. This homemade version costs so much less and is so much more personal than any versions sold in stores.
Cookie Bouquet
There is definitely some merit to the phrase "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," and one of my husband's favorite food groups is chocolate chip cookies. While most people would be more than happy with a zippie bag full of cookies, sometimes a little whimsy is good for a relationship. You can prepare your own dough, but the refrigerated break-apart squares actually work best as they're a little firmer and the pre-portioned dough is the perfect size. Insert a wooden skewer or popsicle stick through each cookie (like you would a campfire stick through a marshmallow, without poking through the top) and bake as usual. Allow cookies to completely cool, then place in a vase or trim the skewers short and place in mason jars or beer mugs for a more "manly" look. Click here for Nestle coupons!
There are all kinds of great ideas online for inexpensive, whimsical gifts. I think the best Valentine gifts are the thoughtful ones that really show your friends, family and spouse how much you care.
Show 'em some love this year. Happy gifting!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Are You Prepared?
Confession: Those Boy Scouts were on to something.
Unfortunately, I've had several reminders this week that life is a delicate, precious gift that can be taken away in an instant, without warning. No one is ever emotionally prepared for the loss of a loved one, but having your affairs in order in case you were to pass away unexpectedly can save your spouse and/or children an immense amount of psychological stress.
Working at a tax office, I constantly see examples of clients passing away and their surviving spouse not having a clue about how many retirement accounts, insurance policies, monthly bills, etc., they have. These are not all elderly couples, either. Tragedy can strike at any time, regardless of age. I think those Boys Scouts were on to something when they chose "Be Prepared" as their motto.
Now here is the real Confession to this post: I'm preaching from a totally and completely hypocritical soapbox. I handle all the bills, insurance policies and finances in general for our household. If I were to die unexpectedly, I would leave a huge headache for my husband, and as much as I love him, I think he'd be kind of lost without me as our financial operations status currently stands.
The only way to create change is to act, so I'm going to act. My plan is to make a Family Binder to house pertinent information in one place. You can find many amazing ideas for in depth, completely comprehensive Family Binders on organizing blogs and sites like Pinterest, but I think our binder will be fairly simple.
I'm hoping to have a good start on the binder this week, and I will check in with you when it's complete. Do you have a Family Binder? What suggestions do you have for organizing your important information?
Unfortunately, I've had several reminders this week that life is a delicate, precious gift that can be taken away in an instant, without warning. No one is ever emotionally prepared for the loss of a loved one, but having your affairs in order in case you were to pass away unexpectedly can save your spouse and/or children an immense amount of psychological stress.
Working at a tax office, I constantly see examples of clients passing away and their surviving spouse not having a clue about how many retirement accounts, insurance policies, monthly bills, etc., they have. These are not all elderly couples, either. Tragedy can strike at any time, regardless of age. I think those Boys Scouts were on to something when they chose "Be Prepared" as their motto.
Now here is the real Confession to this post: I'm preaching from a totally and completely hypocritical soapbox. I handle all the bills, insurance policies and finances in general for our household. If I were to die unexpectedly, I would leave a huge headache for my husband, and as much as I love him, I think he'd be kind of lost without me as our financial operations status currently stands.
The only way to create change is to act, so I'm going to act. My plan is to make a Family Binder to house pertinent information in one place. You can find many amazing ideas for in depth, completely comprehensive Family Binders on organizing blogs and sites like Pinterest, but I think our binder will be fairly simple.
I'm hoping to have a good start on the binder this week, and I will check in with you when it's complete. Do you have a Family Binder? What suggestions do you have for organizing your important information?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday Pick-me-up
Confession: We all need a little pick-me-up now and again.
It's an unfortunate fact that until I've had my morning coffee, I'm kind of worthless. The truth is, every now and again we can use a little pick-me-up; something to inspire a fresh outlook on life. As I walked into our bathroom a few weeks ago, I realized the room could use a little morning coffee... some fresh inspiration.
I knew my bathroom inspiration wouldn't be as inexpensive as my morning coffee, but I didn't want the project to break the bank either. So, I thought about what decorations we had in our house that weren't being used to their full potential, and set a $50 budget for the remaining items.
Before: The room was fairly plain, and lacking warmth and a concrete theme.
I repurposed the shelving unit from a guest bedroom, the flowers and vase from the basement, and finally found a home for a set of sconces we received as a wedding gift. I purchased the storage baskets for $25, the valance for $10 and the accent towels for $16. I also did splurge on the matching waste basket ($15) for a total $16 over budget, but it was worth spending a little extra!
The project must have ignited a little inspiration spark, as I decided to also add a few cozy details to our kitchen - details and pictures to come!
These were simple projects that were thought of and carried out within a week, but sometimes simple projects are all a modern "housewife" has time for. The kitchen is the first room our house visitors see, and one of my top priorities is to (try to) maintain a clean bathroom. Now our guests can admire our homey decor upon arrival and while visiting the powder room, dunny, john, water closet or (my personal favorite) urination station. Ever looked up all the nicknames for a restroom?
It's an unfortunate fact that until I've had my morning coffee, I'm kind of worthless. The truth is, every now and again we can use a little pick-me-up; something to inspire a fresh outlook on life. As I walked into our bathroom a few weeks ago, I realized the room could use a little morning coffee... some fresh inspiration.
I knew my bathroom inspiration wouldn't be as inexpensive as my morning coffee, but I didn't want the project to break the bank either. So, I thought about what decorations we had in our house that weren't being used to their full potential, and set a $50 budget for the remaining items.
Before: The room was fairly plain, and lacking warmth and a concrete theme.
After: With just a bit of staging and a new color scheme, our bathroom is warm and inviting.
I repurposed the shelving unit from a guest bedroom, the flowers and vase from the basement, and finally found a home for a set of sconces we received as a wedding gift. I purchased the storage baskets for $25, the valance for $10 and the accent towels for $16. I also did splurge on the matching waste basket ($15) for a total $16 over budget, but it was worth spending a little extra!
The project must have ignited a little inspiration spark, as I decided to also add a few cozy details to our kitchen - details and pictures to come!
These were simple projects that were thought of and carried out within a week, but sometimes simple projects are all a modern "housewife" has time for. The kitchen is the first room our house visitors see, and one of my top priorities is to (try to) maintain a clean bathroom. Now our guests can admire our homey decor upon arrival and while visiting the powder room, dunny, john, water closet or (my personal favorite) urination station. Ever looked up all the nicknames for a restroom?
Friday, December 16, 2011
Chicken Lemon Pasta
Confession: This is not your mother's spaghetti night.
We all need a few secret recipes up our sleeves that look and taste impressive but take little time and ingredients to create. Chicken Lemon Pasta is a nice alternative for a traditional spaghetti night, and it can be on the dinner table in 20 minutes.
CHICKEN LEMON PASTA
3-4 chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thick
1 lb. angel hair pasta
1/2 c. reserved cooking liquid
2 lemons (zest and juice)
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place chicken breasts between two sheets of wax paper. Use meat mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides with garlic salt and pepper, and cook in the oven for 10 minutes. Cook pasta according to package and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Combine pasta and reserved liquid with the zest of two lemons, then slice half of one lemon. After the first 10 minutes, flip chicken and top with lemon slices then continue to cook for 10 minutes. Combine juice of remaining lemons into pasta mixture along with butter, EVOO and garlic salt and pepper to taste.
Tip: It tastes just a good as a cold salad for the next day's lunch!
We all need a few secret recipes up our sleeves that look and taste impressive but take little time and ingredients to create. Chicken Lemon Pasta is a nice alternative for a traditional spaghetti night, and it can be on the dinner table in 20 minutes.
3-4 chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thick
1 lb. angel hair pasta
1/2 c. reserved cooking liquid
2 lemons (zest and juice)
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place chicken breasts between two sheets of wax paper. Use meat mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides with garlic salt and pepper, and cook in the oven for 10 minutes. Cook pasta according to package and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Combine pasta and reserved liquid with the zest of two lemons, then slice half of one lemon. After the first 10 minutes, flip chicken and top with lemon slices then continue to cook for 10 minutes. Combine juice of remaining lemons into pasta mixture along with butter, EVOO and garlic salt and pepper to taste.
Tip: It tastes just a good as a cold salad for the next day's lunch!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
I'm Dreaming of a Stress-Free Christmas
Confession: The holidays don't have to be stressful!
It's no secret Christmas seems to be sneaking in earlier and earlier each year. This year I even noticed ads in late September mentioning layaway plans. The companies didn't mention the words holiday or Santa, but we all know layaway plans come but once a year. All of the extra attention can lead to early anxiety for shoppers and holiday hostesses, but I'm a firm believer the holidays don't have to (and shouldn't) be stressful. All it takes is a little planning.
Christmas Cards/Letters: Keep one compiled copy of all addresses and update it as needed throughout the year. This saves the trouble each year of looking online and in different books and desk drawers wondering if you have the most recent mailing addresses.
Baking: Team up with friends or relatives for a cookie exchange. Have each person prepare two recipes and exchange the end results. This is a fun and easy way to have a variety of cookies at each home with only the work of preparing two recipes.
Shopping: Make a list, check it twice, and most importantly: stick to it! It's much easier to stay on budget if you know in advance exactly what you're purchasing. As for shopping methods, there are several options. You can pace your shopping over a few weeks so it's not such a one-time financial burden (unless you're wasting a tank of gas each trip) or do all your shopping at once to be done with it. I think the key is to find what works for you - and stick to your list! The more prepared you are the less time you'll spend agonizing in the store. If possible, wrap gifts the same day you purchase them. This will save you an extra day of work in the long run, and you won't have to worry about spoiling surprises for snoopy loved ones!
Cleaning & Cooking: Don't leave all the work for one day! Give yourself a break by spreading the work over the days leading up to the big event. Clean the upstairs/bedrooms one day, downstairs the next, and peel potatoes, prep the veggies for stuffing, make the pies and set the table the day before.
Remember the Real Meaning: The holidays don't have to and should not be stressful. The more prep work you do leading up to a holiday the more quality time you have to spend with your guests. No one will notice if everything is not perfect, and true friends and family recognize it's the thought that counts.
It's no secret Christmas seems to be sneaking in earlier and earlier each year. This year I even noticed ads in late September mentioning layaway plans. The companies didn't mention the words holiday or Santa, but we all know layaway plans come but once a year. All of the extra attention can lead to early anxiety for shoppers and holiday hostesses, but I'm a firm believer the holidays don't have to (and shouldn't) be stressful. All it takes is a little planning.
Christmas Cards/Letters: Keep one compiled copy of all addresses and update it as needed throughout the year. This saves the trouble each year of looking online and in different books and desk drawers wondering if you have the most recent mailing addresses.
Baking: Team up with friends or relatives for a cookie exchange. Have each person prepare two recipes and exchange the end results. This is a fun and easy way to have a variety of cookies at each home with only the work of preparing two recipes.
Shopping: Make a list, check it twice, and most importantly: stick to it! It's much easier to stay on budget if you know in advance exactly what you're purchasing. As for shopping methods, there are several options. You can pace your shopping over a few weeks so it's not such a one-time financial burden (unless you're wasting a tank of gas each trip) or do all your shopping at once to be done with it. I think the key is to find what works for you - and stick to your list! The more prepared you are the less time you'll spend agonizing in the store. If possible, wrap gifts the same day you purchase them. This will save you an extra day of work in the long run, and you won't have to worry about spoiling surprises for snoopy loved ones!
Cleaning & Cooking: Don't leave all the work for one day! Give yourself a break by spreading the work over the days leading up to the big event. Clean the upstairs/bedrooms one day, downstairs the next, and peel potatoes, prep the veggies for stuffing, make the pies and set the table the day before.
Remember the Real Meaning: The holidays don't have to and should not be stressful. The more prep work you do leading up to a holiday the more quality time you have to spend with your guests. No one will notice if everything is not perfect, and true friends and family recognize it's the thought that counts.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Candy Dish Remix
Confession: Occasionally I fancy being fancy!
Like many little girls, I used to love hosting tea parties for my dolls and stuffed animals. They were always very polite guests and listened patiently as I droned on about my hectic day officiating a marriage ceremony for Barbie and Ken, watching Disney movies and searching incessantly for my imaginary friend, Julie (she's a Hide-and-Seek champion - I haven't seen her since 1993).
The guests varied from day to day, but one item was a constant at my parties: the cup and saucer set from which I sipped "tea" (milk and about four scoops of sugar) that had belonged to my grandmother. I am honored to now display my grandmother's full set of tea cups and saucers in one of our hutches. Though they aren't used for many tea parties these days, it's a reminder that occasionally I fancy being fancy. So when it came time to decorate our dining room table with the usual modest center piece and candy dish, I thought I'd mix it up a bit and use wine glasses. It's probably not a viable option if you have little ones running around, but I think it's was a fun and festive way to share some holiday goodies!
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