One of our good friends turned 8 this year and in the LDS world that means BAPTISM! Its a big birthday for us! I can not believe she turned 8! Time flies by! We unfortunately miss the event as we were all sick. But I wanted to share the gift I came up with to give her.
I got a few packages of Tic Tacs and attached a paper that read "Getting Baptized is worth a MINT" and I also got 10 loonies and attached them to 10 papers. On each of the papers I wrote a scripture reference. I then included the instructions for a Scripture Treasure Hunt. She was told that the scriptures contain many treasures so look up and read each verse and once she did that remove the loonie as a bonus treasure! I think it was a cute idea!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Post 200---One for the kids
This is my 200th post! YAY!!! Sorry I have no giveaway or anything super exciting to share with you... But I do have a new book for the kids
Yes this is late... my boys got their new book of the month at the beginning of the month and then I forgot to write about it. We are reading african stories this year. This month it's Tricky Tortoise. Im not to sure how I feel about this story. The art work is amazing. Makes me want to go to africa (but it doesnt take much to make me want to travel) Here is my issue... Its a tale about a tortoise who is always getting stepped on because he looks like a rock. He gets really mad when Elephant steps on him and bets elephant that he can jump over elephants head and the winner of the bet has to provide a huge feast for all the animals in the jungle. The next day when it was time to see if tortoise could make the jump, tortoise has his brother who looks just like him hide on the other side of elephant in the grass... then tortoise pretends to jump over elephant with this brother popping up on the other side. Elephant therefore has to provide a feast. In some respects I like the ingenuity shown by tortoise in taking on the bully that is elephant, but at the same time I dont like the lying and trickery is being rewarded. Jaxon loves the book and thinks its funny, especially the silly chant the tortoise says when jumping. So for now I will just enjoy it as a funny tale about talking animals and cross the rewards to lying bridge when it comes!
Yes this is late... my boys got their new book of the month at the beginning of the month and then I forgot to write about it. We are reading african stories this year. This month it's Tricky Tortoise. Im not to sure how I feel about this story. The art work is amazing. Makes me want to go to africa (but it doesnt take much to make me want to travel) Here is my issue... Its a tale about a tortoise who is always getting stepped on because he looks like a rock. He gets really mad when Elephant steps on him and bets elephant that he can jump over elephants head and the winner of the bet has to provide a huge feast for all the animals in the jungle. The next day when it was time to see if tortoise could make the jump, tortoise has his brother who looks just like him hide on the other side of elephant in the grass... then tortoise pretends to jump over elephant with this brother popping up on the other side. Elephant therefore has to provide a feast. In some respects I like the ingenuity shown by tortoise in taking on the bully that is elephant, but at the same time I dont like the lying and trickery is being rewarded. Jaxon loves the book and thinks its funny, especially the silly chant the tortoise says when jumping. So for now I will just enjoy it as a funny tale about talking animals and cross the rewards to lying bridge when it comes!
Another Great Read!
This past weekend I did alot of reading since everyone was under the weather. I finished a book called I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. Zusak is also the author of the Book Theif that I reviewed a little while ago. I am the Messenger is winner of the Michael L Printz award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature from the American Library Association.
I will admit at the beginning of this book I was not sure I was going to be able to get into it. At times the Language is not great. Im not sure if its a cultural difference (like I know alot of the swearing in the Harry Potter books is because its not really considered bad in England) This is an Australian book. But since the words used are harsher then the ones in the Harry potter books I think its just bad language. Its funny because it seems like it came in spurts... lots of bad words and then nothing for a while. As always Id much prefer if that sort of thing was not included at all.
But this was still a wonderful book. I loved it! I will probably buy it. Its about this young man named Ed. He is 19, driving a cab, playing cards with his friends, and basically going no where. This is is life and will be his life until he dies. Then one day he stops a bank robbery with out even really trying. After his 15 minutes of fame he is back to his normal go no where life when he starts getting Aces in the mail with weird messages on then... like addresses, or names or movies. He takes on this call to improve the lives of others, somewhat reluctantly at first, but once he gets going he feels a new purpose to life and slowly comes to realize that the messages he spreads are not so much for the people he delivers them too but for himself. By the end of the book you would barely recognize Ed if you had not taken this incredible journey with him.
There is one quote that has stuck with him in this book. It's near the end of the book. He is recalling the dismall state of his dad's funeral the year before and comes to realize that his life is/was headed in the same direction. no one had anything to say at his dads funeral and Ed concludes; "I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life." That is my firm belief. We all have been given a gift in this life. Time. Time is such a double edged sword... what will you do with it. Will you spend it being unkind or creditcal, or even worse will you squander it away doing nothing. or will you rise to the occassion and make the most of the time you have been given. I am trying everyday to make the most of the time I have been gifted with.
That was another thing I loved about this book. Rarely were the messages Ed delivered world changing. At first you were life to think... "Really thats it" but as it evolved you came to realize just how much a simple act can change a persons life. In all the instances the simple acts Ed did for them changed their lives. And by seeing that change in other and realizing his potential they changed Eds life as well.
im still thinking about the ending. It was a totaly surprise to me... and Ill admit Im still slightly confused. But it wasnt until I started to think about it that I got confused.... maybe Im over thinking. I dont want to give away too many details because I dont want to spoil the ending for you. But Maybe I was so caught up in the story that at the time the details of the ending didnt matter... but once I removed myself I bit I still have questions. But then again I think thats the mark of a good book as well; to leave one thinking and talking about it after you have closed the cover.
Well Done Markus Zusak. Well done!
I will admit at the beginning of this book I was not sure I was going to be able to get into it. At times the Language is not great. Im not sure if its a cultural difference (like I know alot of the swearing in the Harry Potter books is because its not really considered bad in England) This is an Australian book. But since the words used are harsher then the ones in the Harry potter books I think its just bad language. Its funny because it seems like it came in spurts... lots of bad words and then nothing for a while. As always Id much prefer if that sort of thing was not included at all.
But this was still a wonderful book. I loved it! I will probably buy it. Its about this young man named Ed. He is 19, driving a cab, playing cards with his friends, and basically going no where. This is is life and will be his life until he dies. Then one day he stops a bank robbery with out even really trying. After his 15 minutes of fame he is back to his normal go no where life when he starts getting Aces in the mail with weird messages on then... like addresses, or names or movies. He takes on this call to improve the lives of others, somewhat reluctantly at first, but once he gets going he feels a new purpose to life and slowly comes to realize that the messages he spreads are not so much for the people he delivers them too but for himself. By the end of the book you would barely recognize Ed if you had not taken this incredible journey with him.
There is one quote that has stuck with him in this book. It's near the end of the book. He is recalling the dismall state of his dad's funeral the year before and comes to realize that his life is/was headed in the same direction. no one had anything to say at his dads funeral and Ed concludes; "I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life." That is my firm belief. We all have been given a gift in this life. Time. Time is such a double edged sword... what will you do with it. Will you spend it being unkind or creditcal, or even worse will you squander it away doing nothing. or will you rise to the occassion and make the most of the time you have been given. I am trying everyday to make the most of the time I have been gifted with.
That was another thing I loved about this book. Rarely were the messages Ed delivered world changing. At first you were life to think... "Really thats it" but as it evolved you came to realize just how much a simple act can change a persons life. In all the instances the simple acts Ed did for them changed their lives. And by seeing that change in other and realizing his potential they changed Eds life as well.
im still thinking about the ending. It was a totaly surprise to me... and Ill admit Im still slightly confused. But it wasnt until I started to think about it that I got confused.... maybe Im over thinking. I dont want to give away too many details because I dont want to spoil the ending for you. But Maybe I was so caught up in the story that at the time the details of the ending didnt matter... but once I removed myself I bit I still have questions. But then again I think thats the mark of a good book as well; to leave one thinking and talking about it after you have closed the cover.
Well Done Markus Zusak. Well done!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Im Back!
Did you miss me??? Sorry for the unexpected absense from blogging the last few days... we have been bombarded with sickness in this house... its been crazy... first my little monster, Owen, started throwing up at 2 am thursday morning... then once he was better Jaxon took a turn starting friday night at midnight (I guess that technically saturday right) Tim wasnt well that day either adn then once all three boys were better it hit me today. I have extra diclitin (no Im not pregnant) so I have been popping those all day. It helps... I love those wonderful pills! I think Im better now... but Ill still take some more before bed just to be sure.
So today is menu day... good thing I did this ahead of time as I have not wanted to think about food lately. And this also comes with a disclaimer... this is my plan.. although I may not stick to it as Im still not 100%... but at least i have a plan!
Monday - Firehouse chicken
Tuesday - Gyoza
Wednesday - Pizza
Thursday - Enchiladas
Friday - Lasagna Ciabattas
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Chicken and sausage Gumbo
So today is menu day... good thing I did this ahead of time as I have not wanted to think about food lately. And this also comes with a disclaimer... this is my plan.. although I may not stick to it as Im still not 100%... but at least i have a plan!
Monday - Firehouse chicken
Tuesday - Gyoza
Wednesday - Pizza
Thursday - Enchiladas
Friday - Lasagna Ciabattas
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Chicken and sausage Gumbo
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Brown Sugar Cupcakes
Seems like its birthday time! Alot of my friends or friend's husbands, my kid's friend, or even my husband have had or are about to have birthdays. Since its birthday time I thought it was only approriate for me to share my favorite cupcake recipe. Arent cupcakes great. here is a weird fact about me... I cant stand cake, but I love cupcakes. I dont know why but I have no desire to eat a slice of cake... but give me a cupcake and its gone in 30 seconds. LOVE THEM! Yeah I know... weird eh?? Oh yeah and give credit where credit is due... I got this recipe in one of my most used recipe books... Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
Brown Sugar cupcakes
3 Cups Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
3/4 cups buttermilk
1. Preheat the oven to 325 Line standard muffin tin with paper liners. whisk together flour and baking powder.
2. With an electric mixer on medium high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one and a time. Scrape down sides and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk. beat until well combined.
3. Fill each cup 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Beef Dip Nachos
Here is yet another Nacho recipe for you. I can take full credit for this one... and Im feeling pretty proud of it. Its not as great BBQ Chicken ones I shared earlier but its still pretty darn good!
Caramelize one large onion in a saute pan. Put some sliced roast beef in med bowl and add the onions to it. Make up an Au jus sauce... I made mine by taking a cup of beef broth and a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce and a dash or two of hot sauce... (you will have lots left over) pour about 1/4 cup of the sauce onto the meat and onions and stir to combine. You want to use just enough sauce to moisten the meat. on a bakign sheet lay out a single layer of Sweet Chili Heat Doritos and top with the meat mixture and then grated cheddar cheese... bake until its melted goodness!
Sorry no pics... Tim ate them too fast! And this is a short post because Jaxon wants to build castles!
Caramelize one large onion in a saute pan. Put some sliced roast beef in med bowl and add the onions to it. Make up an Au jus sauce... I made mine by taking a cup of beef broth and a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce and a dash or two of hot sauce... (you will have lots left over) pour about 1/4 cup of the sauce onto the meat and onions and stir to combine. You want to use just enough sauce to moisten the meat. on a bakign sheet lay out a single layer of Sweet Chili Heat Doritos and top with the meat mixture and then grated cheddar cheese... bake until its melted goodness!
Sorry no pics... Tim ate them too fast! And this is a short post because Jaxon wants to build castles!
Big Red Tequila
ok...so here is the story... I had been hearing great things about this book called Mission Road by Rick Riordan. I didnt know he had written adult books before he did Percy Jackson. So I was very intrigued to read Mission Road since I loved percy Jackson. So I got it from the Library, only to find out its book five in a sequence... (not a series, you can read books in a sequence as stand alone books, but there is a main character in all of them that is the same) so since Im slightly OCD I have to read them in order. So then I googled the main characte Tres Navarre and returned Mission Road and then got Big Red Tequila. I was on the wait list forever so I was so excited to finally get it... that soon passed...
This book SUCKED. The language wasnt great, but I will admit I have read books with worse lanuage. But still it was a pain to have poor Language. But even beyond that the story just dragged. Nothing happened. It was supposed to be some big mystery and by the end of the book the killer was revealed, but I am still left here going... WHY DID IT TAKE ALMOST 400 PAGES???
Tres, the main character is just weird and whiney... and DUMB... I have no idea how he was able to do what he did. He got police records that were supposed to be confidential. He has guns pointed at him all the time and was always able to use his stupidity to get away.
I doubt ill be reading the rest of these books.... who knows maybe one day Ill get desperate and try again... But I say DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!
This book SUCKED. The language wasnt great, but I will admit I have read books with worse lanuage. But still it was a pain to have poor Language. But even beyond that the story just dragged. Nothing happened. It was supposed to be some big mystery and by the end of the book the killer was revealed, but I am still left here going... WHY DID IT TAKE ALMOST 400 PAGES???
Tres, the main character is just weird and whiney... and DUMB... I have no idea how he was able to do what he did. He got police records that were supposed to be confidential. He has guns pointed at him all the time and was always able to use his stupidity to get away.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)