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Friday, January 17, 2014

This Week's Reads 1/17


From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment, not enlightenment.

What. A. Week.  A highly productive week, but an utterly exhausting one as well.  I do have some projects to post though, so hopefully those will be up in the next few days....along with my sister's wedding decor!  But anyway, onto the topic at hand:


The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
I wasn't totally certain going into this....I mean, a Realtor who sees/hears ghosts?  Sounded a little hokey.  But it wasn't.  Well, at least I didn't think so!  :)  It was a fascinating mix of contemporary life/romantic tension, history, ghosts and mystery.  Plus it was set around historic homes in Charleston, a city which I love.  I REALLY liked it.  Which led me to....






The Girl On Legare Street by Karen White
By the time this book was over, I was completely hooked on this series.  I love it; one of my top mystery series of all time.  The characters are engaging and well-developed; the storylines unique and interesting.  Couldn't put it down.  And onto....







The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White
My favorite!  The introduction of Nola brought out new dimensions in the main characters, and I loved it.  The dramatic ending sent me straight to Amazon to buy the fourth, which JUST came out. I'll let you know how that went next week.  ;)



Friday, January 10, 2014

This Week's Reads 1/10


From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment, not enlightenment

Busy busy week, as usual!  But because it was so busy, whenever I had some open time, I collapsed with a book instead of sewing or digiscrapping or what have you.  So I read a lot this week.  I'll just be sharing the highlights.


My Story by Elizabeth Smart
I grew up less than twenty miles from where Elizabeth Smart did.  I was away at college when she was abducted, but as I was still in Utah, it was omnipresent.  It was big news everywhere, but especially in Utah.  I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard she was found. I was a little apprehensive about reading her book because I didn't want to be haunted by what happened to her....but though she is straight forward and honest about what happened to her, she is not graphic and detailed about the abuse.  Most of the book is about those nine months she was captive, but the most compelling part for me was after she was found.  In particular, what her mother told her about living her life and not giving her abductor another minute of it.  Elizabeth Smart is truly inspirational in how she has risen above what happened to her.  Worth reading.



The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate
I love food.  And I can't help but love books about food.  This was cute!  Fun and filling like a good Italian meal.  :)








As You Are by Sarah M. Eden
You know, the work of some authors I just love indiscriminately.  Sarah Eden is one of those.  I was thrilled when I found it this had been released. Though I've really enjoyed all her books, the Jonquil brothers series is my favorite. This latest installment has continued it beautifully. As soon as I found out it had been released, I rushed over to the local Seagull Book and snatched it up. I rarely buy new books. If I have read and loved a book, I'll try to get it on Paperback Swap or at a used bookstore. But for Sarah Eden, I make an exception, because I know I'll love it!  For those of you who don't have a Seagull Book at your fingertips, don't worry, you can get the Kindle version on Amazon.


Friday, January 3, 2014

Top Reads of All Time - December


From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment, not enlightenment

This was supposed to be last Friday's post.  Oh well!  :)


The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
For all the hype over The Forgotten Garden, I actually didn't like it that much.  I DID, however, REALLY like this book.  Both the historical context and the mystery of the story fascinated me.  I have only read two of Kate Morton's (though I have another sitting on my bookshelf!); I definitely want to read more.






The Awakening by Angela Hunt
Christian fiction, but pretty subtle.  I don't particularly enjoy in-your-face Christian fiction.  This is a story about a woman who, upon the death of her mother and a new neighbor moving in, discovers the most important things she thought she understood about her life may be wrong.  Mysterious and utterly captivating.  And a pretty great take home message, of course, seeing as I AM a Christian.  :)





The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald's masterpiece.  (Anyone see the movie?  I really liked it...it obviously sought for a certain feel over absolute historical accuracy...I liked the interpretation.)  And a masterpiece it is.  Truly thought provoking.  Loved it the first time I read it when I was young, and love it still.

Friday, December 27, 2013

This Week's Reads 12/27


From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment, not enlightenment.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  We did, it was lovely.  My little daughter said it was the best Christmas ever!  And my son said his stocking was full of happiness.  :)
Anyway, didn't have time for a ton of reading, but I did manage a couple quick read cozy mysteries.


Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
Number three of the Flower Shop Mystery series.  This heroine (our law school drop out turned flower shop owner) just keeps growing on me, I'm enjoying the series more and more.








Snipped in the Bud by Kate Collins
Aaaaaand onto number four!  I think this was my favorite so far, maybe because it forced Abby back to the law school she attended before flunking out.


Friday, December 20, 2013

This Week's Reads 12/20



From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment, not enlightenment.

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!  It's also the beginning of Christmas break for our family...including my wonderful husband who saves up most of his PTO for the end of the year.  It's going to be a wonderful Christmas season, I just know it.  :)
It's been a busy week, trying to finish up gifts and treats and whatnot, but I still fit in some reading.  So here's what we've got:


The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Interesting.  I'm still not totally sure how I feel about it.  It's well written, and the story engrossing.  Or maybe it was the lifestyles of the wealthy in the Golden Age that was engrossing.  Either way, I found it fascinating.  Not too sure about the conclusion.  Still a lot of questions and mystery surrounding it, I felt.  And a gorgeous cover, which is always a point in a book's favor...I don't have to cringe every time I look at it!





Slay It with Flowers by Kate Collins
Number two in the cozy mystery series I started last week.  Enjoyed it!  The characters are fun, our heroine spunky.  I think we'd be friends.  :)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Holiday cards and a time saving tip



So back in the day when I had only one child, my other baby was an Etsy shop.  I sold handmade cards, jewelry and accessories.  And then I had another child.  And that went out the window.  But anyway, these days I do a few card orders a year as a favor (paid favor, but favor nonetheless!) to my dad for use in his business.  He sends out cards for employees' birthdays, anniversaries of working for him, and of course, Christmas cards.  Now these cards of a necessity are simpler than the cards I typically make, and I have to find ways to make them as efficiently as possible; otherwise I just don't have the time.

Here is this year's Christmas card:
Cute, huh?  I really like it.
So on to my time saving tip: spray adhesive.
Really.  This is the kind I like:
I picked it up at JoAnn, and when I ran out (I've had this can for years, it goes a long way) I picked up another brand at Michael's which is far inferior.
Anyway, so rather than using Tombow or a gluestick or what have you in assembling the cards, I use spray adhesive.  It does come in acid free, but seeing as these will hardly be a treasured momento for those receiving them, I felt that regular spray adhesive would do just fine.

So here's what I do:
I get some cardboard and lay out the piece to be adhered face down, 30 to 40 at a time.  Any more than that, and they'll begin to lose their stick towards the end of the batch from sitting out.

Then I lightly spray the adhesive on.  Lightly.  Don't drench, and be careful that you don't blow the pieces away with the force of the spray.  In fact, do a test spray first to get the hang of how the adhesive comes out.

Then take your cardboard and set it next to your assembly location, and assemble!  Carefully lay down the pieces and smooth into place.  Repeat for as many pieces as you have to adhere.

SOOOOOO much faster, cheaper and easier than the other options.

And this might be it for the year, unless I manage to squeeze in my reading posts!  I will also really really try to get my sister's wedding post up soon.....  :)
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