Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Simple Woman's Day Book

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... chattering birds, breezy leaves
I am thinking... that I wish I had more hours in the day
I am thankful for... the hours that I have
From the kitchen... Pasta will be steaming soon for cold pasta salad
I am wearing...blue with white polkadots, and a "creamsicle" jean skort
I am creating... order out of chaos..(? I hope!)
I am going... shopping soon for 13th birthday party foods
I am reading... my computer and many blogs
I am hoping... that I am done with what needs to be done by tomorrow
I am hearing... basketballs bouncing, children's footsteps
Around the house... still too much chaos, but it's getting better
One of my favorite things... making breakfast cookies and smoothies
A few plans for the rest of the week: finish preparing for the party, and then~ BREATHE!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
For more "Simple Thoughts"~ 
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 21, 2010

Menu Monday~ 6/21/10

Well~ I'd better make this quick, because this week is crazy/busy, just like the last few weeks when I've been MIA with menu-planning~ Here's my hopeful plan for the "work week". :)
  • Monday~ left overs from dinner out yesterday, and a big salad~ no outside plans, thank goodness~
  • Tuesday~ Little League playoff game~ pasta salad(Maybe a curried tuna or swordfish pasta salad)
  • Wednesday~ sleepover birthday party~ Tortilla Chip Casserole, chips & salsa, and Chocolate Suffle' Roll for cake
  • Thursday~ Breakfast for the girlies~ maybe pikelets, maybe muffins(pumpkin chocolate chip  if I can find the canned pumpkin~ apparently it is strictly "Seasonal" in some grocery stores :/)       Dinner~ I'm thinking hot dogs before the hopeful Championship Little League Game. Potato Salad if I get the potatoes...
  • Friday~ Hmmm.. this looks interesting! Looking for a good idea for our night with no major outside plans...  Popcorn Chicken
Be sure to check out Organizing Junkie for hundreds of other families' menu plans for this week if you are looking for some inspiration. :)

Oh, and visit Heavenly Homemakers for some cute, free, printable "summer themed" menu planners and grocery lists~ I like the beachy theme at the bottom! :)

Blessings~

Monday, June 7, 2010

Character Classics Winner

I have a  winner for the Character Classics Books and Music~ The Burkherts had comment # 12 :)

Congratulations and Blessings!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Book Review~ She Walks in Beauty

  She Walks in Beauty, Siri Mitchell, 978-0-7642-0433-3

Now that the 2009/2010 year of TOS Crew reviewing has come to a close, I have a little bit of time to do some recreational reading and reviewing.

Thanks to the good folks at Bethany House, I have received a copy of Siri Mitchell's novel She Walks in Beauty for review.

She Walks in Beauty is set in 1891.  In this novel, Clara Carter, a physician's daughter, would rather be studying her books and conducting experiments, with an eye to attending Vassar College. However, it is her father and aunt's wish to see her poised to be the season's most desirable debutante, with the goal of snagging the most coveted heir in the city "To restore the family's honor".

The "Gilded Age" of New York was a time where your entry to fashionable society was dictated by the gloved fingers of the Vanderbilts, the Asters, and their like. As is still the case, sometimes it's who you know, or WHAT(about others) you know that seems to matter more than who you ARE.  I appreciated that the most impoverished and the most wealthy can both feel like so much "merchandise", but the reality is that God loves us, and knows each one as an individual who matters. This did come through in a few parts of the book, without being "preachy".

I would consider this a "light reading" book, with a few moments that gave me pause to ponder. In addition to being an easy read, this book gives an interesting (and educational) insight into exactly HOW those famed 18-inch hour-glass figures were formed, as well as a brief look at the corruption of Tammany Hall. I felt that this book would be most particularly interesting to an older teen/twenty-something, as they deal with the expectations of today's society.
You can find She Walks In Beauty at Bethany HouseAmazon**, CBD, and other book sellers


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the Bethany House Book Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 
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