*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Luxe Home Essentials Microfiber Kitchen Dish Towels Review
*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Finding Mr. Darcy (High School Edition) Blog Tour & Book Review + Enter to Win a Copy of the Book & an Amazon Gift Card!
About the book-
Sixteen-year-old Liza Johnson takes fangirl to a whole new level of crazy when she decides to take dating advice from her literary hero: Jane Austen.
With the help of her best friends, Liza sheds her ancient-speak and complete Austen wardrobe for something a bit more modern in an attempt at finding her very own Mr. Darcy.
Enter Will, the new kid and Liza's Darcy incarnate. Add her BFF's ex to mix and the sexy Brit who kisses with an accent, and Liza is in trouble.
So, what's a girl to do? Without her mom to go to relationship advice, Liza turns to the only person she can truly trust with matters of the heart via her mother's copy of COMPLETED WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN.
It's too bad Austen's heroines have never played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Liza's determined to find her true Austen-esque happy ending, but if she can't trust herself instead of books, she just might end up in her own tragic love story.
About the book-
I read this book in one setting after I put my kids to bed one night. It is not super long and it is quite engaging so it was an easy one to work my way through. As a Jane Austen fan, I was thrilled to see a book like this, aimed at high schoolers and about a high schooler who is an Austen super fan. I loved all of the references to Jane Austen books, which will hopefully lead a new generation to Austen's beautiful, witty, romantic novels. This book is about Liza discovering the woes of dating and trying to figure out exactly what it is she wants in a guy. Using Mr. Darcy as the ultimate example, Liza has to decide who it is she wants to be with when she has several guys after her suddenly after feeling like she had never had any boys liking her before. I really enjoyed going on Liza's journey with her whether she was at school or in England for a surprise trip. Any teenage girl (or woman who once was one of these creatures) will find herself relating to the inner dialogue in Liza's head about boys, what they want and what she wants. Finding Mr. Darcy is a fun, light read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a romantic story line or young adult novels.
About the Author-
Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially loves the ones with kissing scenes.
Erin lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but will venture out for chocolate and sunshine. She is the author of BLOOD HEX, a YA paranormal, HOW WE LIVED, a contemporary New Adult novel, and FINDING MR. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, a contemporary YA.
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Friday, September 19, 2014
The Low-Sugar Cookbook by Nicola Graimes (Cookbook Review)
About the book-
Most of us eat too much sugar, which can have serious repercussions on our health and well-being. It is widely accepted that a diet too high in sugar can cause mood swings, fatigue, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and even premature ageing.
But eating low-sugar foods doesn't have to mean being condemned to a dull diet, as the wonderful range of recipes in this book demonstrates.
The good news is that there are numerous naturally sweet foods and flavourings that can be substituted so that there's no need to resort to artificial sweeteners with their reported adverse health effects. Here, Nicola Graimes presents more than 100 easy-to-follow meals and snacks, inspired by recipes from around the world.
Chapters are divided into Breakfasts, Brunches, Light Meals, Snacks, Dinners, Desserts, and Cakes, Bakes, Breads. You'll find delicious family favourites ranging from curries, stews, stir-fries and salads to sponge puddings, muffins and cheesecakes. Savoury foods can also be surprisingly high in added sugar, particularly canned foods and sauces, and you'll find specially adapted dishes for healthier, low-sugar alternatives.
All the recipes have been carefully created to be suitable for diabetics to meet their dietary requirements. This means that they are also low in salt and saturated fat and high in unrefined carbohydrates and fibre – not forgetting packed with bountiful amounts of fresh produce.
Clear at-a-glance symbols highlighting nutritional benefits provide an additional valuable feature.
But eating low-sugar foods doesn't have to mean being condemned to a dull diet, as the wonderful range of recipes in this book demonstrates.
The good news is that there are numerous naturally sweet foods and flavourings that can be substituted so that there's no need to resort to artificial sweeteners with their reported adverse health effects. Here, Nicola Graimes presents more than 100 easy-to-follow meals and snacks, inspired by recipes from around the world.
Chapters are divided into Breakfasts, Brunches, Light Meals, Snacks, Dinners, Desserts, and Cakes, Bakes, Breads. You'll find delicious family favourites ranging from curries, stews, stir-fries and salads to sponge puddings, muffins and cheesecakes. Savoury foods can also be surprisingly high in added sugar, particularly canned foods and sauces, and you'll find specially adapted dishes for healthier, low-sugar alternatives.
All the recipes have been carefully created to be suitable for diabetics to meet their dietary requirements. This means that they are also low in salt and saturated fat and high in unrefined carbohydrates and fibre – not forgetting packed with bountiful amounts of fresh produce.
Clear at-a-glance symbols highlighting nutritional benefits provide an additional valuable feature.
My thoughts-
I am always looking for recipes that are sugar free or low on sugar. The problem I usually run into is that "sugar free" often equates to chemical laden artificial sweeteners which I won't touch with a ten foot pole (and neither should you. there is nothing healthy about them.) What I like about this book is that the recipes are all either no added sugar at all or if they do contain a sweetener it is something like xylitol or brown rice syrup, two alternatives to sugar that I am a-okay with. I thought that The Low-Sugar Cookbook was a pretty well rounded cookbook, full of recipes for all tastes. I can not decide whether my favorite section was breakfast or dessert, but there are so many great recipes that I can not wait to try. My only complaint would be that I feel like there is seafood overload in the dinner section, but I am sure many people will love that. I just don't happen to like seafood. My absolute favorite thing about this cookbook are the sample menus at the end of the book. It just goes to show that you can use these recipes regardless of what kind of diet you follow. There are sample menus for any type of diet you can think of- vegetarian, vegan. gluten-free, nut-free, ect. making the recipes appeal to quite a large audience. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for healthy yet tasty recipes.
Connect with Nicola Graimes on Goodreads
The Low-Sugar Cookbook by Nicola Graimes is available on Amazon.com.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Where Treetops Glisten (Book Review)
*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Litfuse Group. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.
About the book:
The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime
Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America's involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.
In Cara Putman's White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements---until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.
Abigail's brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin's I'll Be Home for Christmas,trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete's friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he's no longer the bully she once knew?
In Tricia Goyer's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, "Merry" to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that's precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.
The Turner family believes in God's providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ's birth and His plan for a future?
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/BwVP9
My thoughts-
I have been on a WWII reading kick lately. Where Treetops Glisten was probably 3rd or 4th in a hodge podge of different books on the subject that I have read. I am so glad I saved it for last! Novels set during any war, but maybe especially during this tumultuous time that is not that far off in the past, can be daunting and heartbreaking. I liked these stories for the great romantic aspect in them. They didn't sugar coat the war, but these stories were sweet and a light although set in such a dark time. I loved that the stories in these three novellas interweave effortlessly and yet gave us three wonderful stories about the three separate siblings- Abigail, Pete and Merry. I thought all 3 stood well on their own and really added to the overall book. There were different things I liked about each story. In White Christmas I loved seeing Abigail overcome her fears of loving again and I enjoyed the mystery aspect of trying to figure out what happened to the money he had been sending home. I couldn't put down the book when I was on I'll Be Home for Christmas. The sweet, feisty little girl Linnie got me interested in it and I thought that redemption and forgiveness (and of course a chance at love) were great themes. Finally, I am always excited to read novels (or a novella in this case) set in different countries. What I found interesting about Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was the small glimpse we get into what life for an Army nurse on the front lines in Europe might have been like during the war. These women were very important and Tricia Goyer is so good at painting a picture with her words, that I felt like I was right there with Merry. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about war time romance or that is interested in the WWII era or the 1940's.
About the authors-
TRICIA GOYER is a prolific author of nearly forty books, including Chasing Mona Lisa, and a speaker and blogger.
CARA PUTMAN is the author of twenty books includingShadowed by Grace. She is the winner of the 2008 Carol Award for historical fiction.
SARAH SUNDIN is the critically-acclaimed author of the Wings of the Nightingale series, the Wings of Glory series, and the forthcoming Waves of Freedom novels.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
The New Indian Slow Cooker by Neela Paniz (Cookbook Review)
About the book-
The newest book in Ten Speed's best-selling slow cooker series, featuring more than 60 fix-it-and-forget-it recipes for Indian favorites.
The rich and complex flavors of classic Indian dishes like Lamb Biryani, Palak Paneer, and chicken in a creamy tomato-butter sauce can take hours to develop through such techniques as extended braising and low simmering. In The New Indian Slow Cooker, veteran cooking teacher and chef Neela Paniz revolutionizes the long, slow approach to making Indian cuisine by rethinking its traditional recipes for the slow cooker.
She showcases the best regional curries, dals made with lentils and beans, vegetable and rice sides, as well as key accompaniments like chutneys, flatbreads, raita, and fresh Indian cheese. Using this fix-it-and-forget-it approach, you can produce complete and authentic Indian meals that taste like they came from Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore, or your favorite Indian restaurant.
Featuring both classic and innovative recipes such as Pork Vindaloo, Kashmiri Potato Curry, Date and Tamarind Chutney, and Curried Chickpeas, these full-flavor, no-fuss dishes are perfect for busy cooks any day of the week.
My thoughts-
I love Indian food. I grew up in a household that ate it quite often and it is still to this day one of my favorite kinds of food to eat. I have been trying for years to find good Indian recipes to make at home, but they can often be complicated and time consuming. I have never seen an entire cookbook dedicated to making Indian food in slow cooker, so I was beyond excited to see this one! I was even more stoked when I looked inside and saw the recipes. Not only are there great curries and vegetable dishes, but there are some great recipes in the front that explain to you how to make homemade yogurt and homemade paneer (an Indian cottage cheese that kind of reminds me of the shape and texture of tofu, but tastes so much better! It's especially great in a really good Tikka Masala!) There is still times in these recipes where there are several steps, but this is still lighter work than it would be if you were making Indian food the traditional way. I will say the time put in is worth the effort. I absolutely love that at the beginning of the book that there are several pages of explanations of spices, lentils, rice, flours and other ingredients commonly used in Indian food. That makes this a great book for an Indian food novice, but the familiar recipes make it a wonderful book for more experienced Indian food cooks as well. I absolutely recommend this cookbook to anyone that likes Indian food or who loves to experiment with new recipes and cuisines.
Connect with Neela Paniz on Goodreads
The New Indian Slow Cooker is available now on Amazon.com.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Prince Harry Brother, Soldier, Son by Penny Junor (Book Review)
About the book-
The authoritative biography of Prince Harry by noted royal family biographer Penny Junor, author of Prince William: The Man Who Will Be King and The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor.
Prince Harry, one of the most popular members of the British royal family, has had a colorful life. After losing his mother at 12 years old, he spent his teenage years making questionable choices under intense international media scrutiny, becoming known for his mischievous grin, shock of red hair, and the occasional not-so-royal indiscretion. As he's grown, he has distinguished himself through military service, flying helicopters for the RAF. He served in Afghanistan and continues to devote himself to his military career. He also follows in his mother's footsteps with charity work--he is the founder of Sentebale, a charity to help orphans in Lesotho, and works with many other charitable organizations to help young people in society and to conserve natural resources. As he reaches his thirtieth birthday, Prince Harry is proving himself a prince of the people.
With unprecedented access to the most important figures in his life, Penny Junor is able get the truth about who this mercurial and fascinating royal son really is. A modern biography of a modern prince, this book offers an insider's look at the life of the man who is fourth in line to Britain's throne.
My thoughts-
I have always been interested in the royal family. Maybe it is because of the huge chunk of British ancestors that I have discovered through my genealogy research (several of them of royal blood themselves) or maybe I just find the whole idea of a monarchy intriguing. What little girl doesn't grow up dreaming of marrying a prince? One of the more interesting people from the house of Windsor is Prince Harry, but I realized that I truly don't know a lot about him, so I thought this would be a very interesting book to read. Prince Harry Brother, Soldier, Son spans Harry's entire life from before he was born to the present day. That means there is a lot of information about his parents, his brother William and his sister-in-law. Some of the information is rehashing of very public events, the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana, the births of both Harry and William, the ugly divorce of the prince and princess and the crash that ultimately took Diana's life. Some of these events offer a perspective on Prince Charles that I have never seen in the American media and make him far more likable and make me more sympathetic to his side of the story on several different things. The same can be said of Harry. Although he is a super likable guy already, some of the way that the media has portrayed him has made him out to be immature and careless and I feel like we get a better look at the prince as a whole. I especially like that the second half of the book focuses a great deal on his charity work and philanthropy. It is very evident to me that Prince Harry has inherited his mother's heart for changing the world. I really enjoyed reading Prince Harry Brother, Soldier, Son and getting a better picture of him as a whole. If you can get past the author's clear dislike of princess Diana, I think anyone interested in the royal family, the British monarchy or philanthropy will find this book particularly appealing.
Prince Harry Brother, Soldier, Son by Penny Junor is available now on Amazon.com.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher Blog Tour & Book Review + Enter to Win a Kindle
About the book-
Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.
When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.
As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos, too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.
Join bestselling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish
Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit.
My thoughts-
I haven't read an Amish fiction novel in a while so it was nice to not only have a book to read in a great genre, but also a book set around Christmas time. Although most of the book isn't necessarily centered around Christmas, it is definitely good at making you feel the spirit of the season. The majority of the book is about Bess trying to work out her feelings on the brink of her wedding to someone who wasn't her first choice, while the man who has always had her heart but disappeared has suddenly made an appearance back in her life. I can appreciate her dilemma and feel almost kind of bad for Bess when Billy shows back up to examine the unique rose, he is almost kind of aloof with her as he tries to fight his own feelings. My very favorite thing about Christmas at Rose Hill Farm are the interactions between Billy and George. They have only just met, but George keeps Billy on his toes and tells him exactly what he needs to hear time and time again. He encourages Billy, nudges him to do the things he needs to do. I really loved that entire story line in this book and how it concluded at the end of the story. I was rooting for Bess the entire story and was impressed by how brave she was to lay her feelings out there on the line the way she did several times. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good holiday book, Amish fiction or nice love story.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including “Amish Peace.” She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi
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********Enter to Win a Kindle!********
- A brand new Kindle
- All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant
So grab your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes and join Betsy on the evening of September 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!
Monday, September 8, 2014
The Doctor's Diet Cookbook by Travis stork (Cookbook Review)
About the book-
A companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling diet book that has swept the nation, The Doctor's Diet Cookbook is a collection of simple, delicious, and balanced recipes that will help you maintain a healthy weight now and throughout your life. The highly flexible and workable plan in The Doctor's Diet unlocked the power of 10 Food Prescriptions to activate weight loss while restoring health, preventing disease and adding years to readers’ lives, and this cookbook is an extension of that plan. The positive feedback on the tasty recipes in The Doctor’s Diet was overwhelming, and you demanded more. So, in The Doctor's Diet Cookbook, Dr. Travis Stork brings brand new, easy-to-follow and quick-to-prepare ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and, of course, dessert, all designed to support your weight loss efforts and keep you at optimal health. Dr. Travis believes that in order to commit to healthy eating, our food must taste good and these meals reflect his passion by presenting unique food variations that are delightful for the palate, as well as for the waistline. Plus, it’s flexible for almost any dietary restriction or choice; whether you’re a “meat and potatoes” type, a vegetarian, or watching your sodium or sugar intake, this cookbook has mouthwatering options for you.
My thoughts-
I absolutely loved Travis Stork's book The Doctor's Diet. There was so much good information in it and it was written in a tone that felt like you were having a casual conversation with a friend. I like Stork's laid back style and his terrific advice. The book also included several recipes, all of which sounded tasty, but there just were not that many recipes since it was a self help book and not a cook book. I was super excited to see this companion cookbook come out. I knew that the recipes would be healthy and tasty and I wasn't disappointed. The book is full of great recipes for the whole day as well as information about why specific foods are good for you and why you should eat them. I appreciate the breakdown of why we should eat certain foods rather than a long list of what we shouldn't eat. This book is encouraging and easy to read.
The Diet's Doctor Cookbook will be available for purchase October 21. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com.
About the author-
Travis Stork graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University where he studied anthropology. He received his medical degree at the University of Virginia and completed his residency in emergency medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. On October 9, 2013 Dr. Stork joined tele health company MDLIVE as Chairman of its Medical Advisory Board. Stork is best known for appearing on season 8 of The Bachelor and for being the lead doctor on the panel on the syndicated television show The Doctors.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant Blog Tour & Book Review + Win a Kindle!
About the book-
Kat inspected rows of the same old cupcakes. They seemed to blink back at her, as if they knew she was capable of so much more.
Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.
But when Lucas Brannen, Kat's best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.
As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself her is suddenly in danger of slipping away.
The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat's senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.
My thoughts-
I love cupcakes and love stories, so I knew this would be a cute book that I would like. I loved the premise- Kat's best friend Lucas, in an effort to show his true feelings for her, wants to make a grand gesture, so he signs her up for a reality baking show. He hopes that the gesture will show her his true feelings and how much he believes in her. I always enjoy a good romance between to best friends who don't realize the other feels the exact same way, but these two almost drove me to the point of insanity. It took forever for them to figure it out, these two who are supposed to be such good friends they tell each other everything, how could they not see how the other felt sooner? Not only that, each of their efforts just has the opposite effect on how the other *thinks* they feel about them. I just wanted to smack the both upside the head! It took way longer than it should have for them to figure out their feelings. I did enjoy the reality show competition and the tension created by judge Thad. I liked reading about how it might be to be on a cooking competition and I love those kind of shows so it was a lot of fun for me to read. I also really loved that there was a recipe included at the end of the book for Kat's secret weapon cupcake recipe. I do wish that several others would have been included though. I think anyone who enjoys a lighthearted modern romance will enjoy this book.
All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes is available at Amazon.com and christian retail stores.
Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God’s grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.
Find out more about Betsy at http://www.betsystamant.com/.
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***************************Enter to Win a KINDLE*******************************
Don't miss Betsy St. Amant's latest fiction release, All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes. A "sweet" tale of two best friends and the choices they make between dreams and a possible "sure thing," St. Amant's novel is sure to satisfy your romantic-fiction craving.
- A brand new Kindle
- All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant
So grab your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes and join Betsy on the evening of September 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Riunite Lambrusco Red Wine Review + Tailgate Chili Cook Off Contest!
It is September and in Texas that means not only has school just started, so has many people's favorite past time- football! Pretty much my entire family (including my husband) are huge Dallas Cowboys fans and love to watch the games every Sunday. Something else that is overtly Texas, especially in the fall, is making big batches of chili and everyone has their own special recipe or twist on it. I know a lot of people (especially here in Texas!) do not believe that chili should include beans, but my favorite personal chili recipe is a spicy 3 bean chili. It is vegetarian, but will definitely keep you full with the protein of all the beans and will satisfy your palate with the nice kick of spice it produces. A great pairing with my spicy 3 bean chili is Riunite's Lambrusco. Lambruso actually goes well with pretty much anything, but the sweet, chilled red wine makes the absolute perfect pairing with a spicy chili.
Riunite knows how well their Lambrusco goes with chili and is hosting a nation wide chili cook-off contest in honor of that perfect pairing. The competition will take place in cities across the United States including Dallas, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York and Arizona among others and with the finals will be held in San Diego, California at Qualcomm Stadium. The first stop will be in Dallas, TX on September 28th and the last regional event will be held in Phoenix, Arizona on November 16. The 8 best chili cooks in the nation will then compete in the final on November 23, 2014 in San Diego. The grand prize winner will not only receive bragging rights about their chili, they will also receive a trip for 2 to the Big Game in February to Pheonix! The grand prize includes:
- Three nights at a deluxe hotel in Phoenix
- Roundtrip economy-class airfare to Phoenix
- Tickets to the Big Game on Sunday, February 1, 2015
- Pre-game hospitality
- A $250 pre-paid gift card
- Deluxe gift bags
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Had To Be You by Juliet Chatham Blog Tour & Book Review + Win the Book and a Amazon.com Gift Card!
After college, Rory Finn left behind the familiarity of her quiet, picturesque hometown to pursue a professional career in the city. With her sights firmly on the future, Rory pressed on in hopes of forgetting the past until a jarring bit of unwelcome news forces her to confront it.
Her first love, the one she'd tried so hard to forget, is about to marry someone else. That pang Rory feels isn't envy, it's not even regret. It's love. But Rory can't be that girl. She won't. But if she doesn't, she'll never know what could have been. She'll never have another chance to tell him how she feels.
As she embarks on an impulsive, desperate bid to win him back, her mission turns into an unexpected and emotional journey of rediscovery. Had To be You explores a history of love from its tentative beginnings to what may just turn out to be its final bittersweet end, as Rory ignores her head and follows her heart.
About the book-
I think anyone who hasn't married the first person they fell in love with, which is probably the majority of people, have given a thought or two to their first love. I think it is why stories like this are so swoon worthy and easy to read. It is fun to root for unrequited love. The further on in this story I got, the more I wanted to scream at Rory that she didn't deserve Matt. There were so many chances he gave her and she broke his heart over and over and here she is showing up at his wedding because she can't let him go. Why couldn't she figure that out before he is about to get married? The further on I read, I did begin to feel a little sympathetic toward Rory, as we find out some of the reasons she is the way she is, but still! Her constantly sabotaging the relationship she has with Matt drives me batty. This book is in kind of the same vein as one of my favorite books of all time Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern. The story in both of these books begins in childhood and grows into adulthood. It is really cool to watch a relationship, even if it is fictional, grow over so many years and through so many different stages of life. I will warn some of my more conservative readers that there is some explicit language and dialogue, but I would recommend Had To Be You to anyone who enjoys a romance or loves reminiscing about first loves.
Had To Be You is available on Amazon.com.
About the Juliet Chatham-
Juliet Chatham is a life long New Englander who divides her time between the North Shore and Cape Cod. Her favorite things are beaches, boats, books, bars, the Boston Red Sox and boys, but not necessarily in that order.
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Monday, September 1, 2014
Jamberry Nail Lacquer Review
I am a nail polish addict. I love having my nails painted and having lots of different colors and textures to chose from in my collection. Many of you have probably heard of Jamberry Nails, a direct sales company taking the nail world by storm for their adorable nail wraps that come in so many different colors and patterns, but what you may not know is that they also have nail lacquer for sale and that their polishes are 5-free! Woo hoo! There are not that many 5-free nail polish companies so it is always nice to discover a new one. A friend of mine that is a Jamberry Consultant offered to give me a polish of my choice because she knows of my addiction issues and of course I was more than happy to take her up on the offer. With fall coming up, I wanted a nice, dark color, so I opted for Iris, a beautiful medium purple cream polish. I was impressed that it only took two coats of the polish for full coverage. I had also recently bought the Jamberry matte top coat because I absolutely think there are nowhere near enough matte colors available and I think matte polish offers such a sophisticated look. It also gives you at least two options with any cream polish you have, you can wear it shiny without the top coat or you can wear it flat with the matte. I thought Iris would look great with a matte finish, so after I applied my two coats, I added a coat of matte top coat on each nail. I was excited to see that this top coat helped my nails dry uber quickly. I mean like 5-10 minutes quickly. I am really bad about doing things to mess up my nails after I get them painted, so I really like that the top coat saved me loads of time and helped me not mess up my nails right after I painted them.
I opted to paint all of my nails with the Iris lacquer, but the cool thing about Jamberry is that you can use the polishes in conjunction with the nail wraps to create a customized look. If I were to mix and match Iris with Jams, I would pick either Emperial or Confetti Cake as accent nail wraps-
You could create a few different looks with just these three Jamberry products and there are so many more nail wraps and several more nail lacquers to chose from!
Since I am all about keeping the chemicals out of my house and Jamberry is 5-free, I absolutely recommend giving them a try. There are so many cute patterns and polishes to chose from, there is definitely something for everybody!
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