Monthly Archives: January 2015

Black and White Bean Salad

26 Monday Jan 2015

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My husband is on the Daniel Fast at the moment and so I have had to get creative when feeding my family. He is the only one who needs a special meal, so I have been preparing things ahead for him. Here is one of my favorite bean salads that just so happens to be appropriate for the Daniel Fast.

Finished salad. This is a colorful dish and reminds me of summer.

Finished salad. This is a colorful dish and reminds me of summer.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 chopped cucumber
1 chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 medium onion diced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro (we use more :0)
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (we use more :0)
1/8 teaspoon pepper

This is easy. Combine cucumber, pepper, onion, beans, and cilantro. Mix remaining ingredients together, pour over bean mixture and toss. I like it room temperature or cold. Refrigerate leftovers.

 

Book Review: At Home In Last Chance

26 Monday Jan 2015

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Last Chance

 

At Home In Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong is the third book in a series, A Place to Call Home. While each novel includes characters from prior books, this book stands alone. I did not feel like I was lost at all, in fact I actually did not realize it was series until I had finished it.

From the back cover:

Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life:when the going gets tough, they get going-out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over.

Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one question keeps getting in the way: How will they learn to trust each other when they don’t even trust themselves?

There are several things I really liked about this book. I loved the idea of a cafe called the Dip ‘N’ Dine and the character Juanita Sheppard who waitresses there. We all know a Juanita and I thought Cathleen Armstrong did an excellent job of evoking an emotion from me just by Juanita being present. I worked with a Juanita once…it wasn’t my favorite job. I also appreciate the slow development of relationship between characters. I am never a fan of “hello, my name is, will you marry me,” books. There is no love at first sight happening in this book. Apparently, the characters from the last book in this series are just getting serious about marriage in this novel. However, like a small town sometimes feels…this particular book was a little slow for me. On the bright side, it was perfect for breaking up the monotony of books I have been reading.

While At Home In Last Chance will not make my top 10 list this year, after reading it I would be interested in reading more by Cathleen Armstrong. I will likely pass my copy on to a friend for their enjoyment. I give this book 3.5 stars for its small town feel, real people, and life-like relationships. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Revell, in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.

Book Review: Home Is Where My People Are

25 Sunday Jan 2015

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Home 5

 

Home Is Where My People Are by Sophie Hudson totally surprised me in so many ways. Once again, I picked a book by its cover. Who does that? Well, I do. The cover is gorgeous and I want a giant canvas of it to hang in my kitchen. The surprise came when I discovered the book was in fact a memoir. I really thought this book was some Christian Living, appreciate what you have, make your home where you are kind of book. It is not! Home Is Where My People Are is a delightful story that will make you laugh, cry, and annoy your spouse as you read it aloud to him while he is watching a football game!

From the back cover:

Listen. It’s easy to go through life believing we can satisfy our longing for home with a three-bedroom, two-bath slice of the American dream, that we mortgage at 4 percent and pay for over the course of thirty years.

Well, you know what? I think what we’re really looking for is a place to belong and to be known. And rest assured, wherever we are on the long and winding road of life, God is at work in the journey-teaching us, shaping us, and refining us-sometimes through the most unlikely people and circumstances. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the numbers on the front door or even the name on the mailbox that says home, but the people who live and laugh and love there, wherever “there” might happen to be.

As author Sophie Hudson walks down memory lane, I found myself doing the same. Through her personal stories, I remembered some of my own. Especially, her stories of college friends turned life-long family. I love Sophie Hudson’s honest and conversational style of penning words. I have never seen so many parenthesis in all my reading life! Her inner dialogue makes this book personal…and hilarious. I could relate to this book on so many levels! While I never wore sweater pants (see chapter 14) I did grow up in the south and these stories so closely mirror my own experiences.  Even if you grew up in California, this story will touch your heart. Five stars from this book blogger!!

The first chapter of this book can be found and downloaded here. You can also find Sophie on her blog, boomama.net.

You can download a free copy of her first book, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, until January 31, 2015 at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and CBD.com.

salty

 

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Tyndale House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated other than the joy received from reading a lovely book.

 

Book Review: Keep It Shut

19 Monday Jan 2015

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keep it shut

Sometimes when I am looking for a book to read with my book club, I feel as though the shelves of my local bookstore are filled with commonly themed books. The only difference between one new release and another is the cleverly worded title. Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman is one of the few exceptions. This title is a much-needed change from the typical Christian Living books offered in the last few years. While the topic discussed is fresh and new, the problem it addresses is as old as time. Thank you Karen Ehman for giving us something to talk about!

In Keep It Shut, author Karen Ehman guides us through all of the issues we face when it comes to controlling the words that escape our mouths. How many times have I agonized over words I have carelessly spoken to another? The most useful chapter to me is entitled Lying, Loving, and People Pleasing. I cannot convey the number of times I have been unsure how to respond to people seeking an honest answer. Especially when I know the truth is difficult to speak. Keep It Shut offers the best kind of advise because it is given from experience. I really enjoyed every chapter.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review by BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. However, I also bought a digital copy of my own because I plan to pass on my complimentary copy to a friend to enjoy. It is that good. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Go West, young man!

11 Sunday Jan 2015

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Now that Christmas has passed, I felt like it was time to countdown to what has the potential to be the most amazing trip of my life. This summer we embark on a six week long National Parks trip with our two boys. We have been planning for months, saving for years, and finally the day is almost here. I love a paper chain because it allows you to see the days ahead. We are so excited!  Yellow Stone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon are all on the itinerary. All that is left is to survive the Winter, endure the Spring, and pack!

If you haven’t seen Ken Burns The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, you should definitely give it a watch. You might be inspired to take a trip of your own. You can also watch it on Amazon Prime or Netflix.

“Wilderness is a necessity … They will see what I meant in time. There must be places for human beings to satisfy their souls. Food and drink is not all. There is the spiritual. In some it is only a germ, of course, but the germ will grow.”

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

“How hard to realize that every camp of men or beast has this glorious starry firmament for a roof. In such places, standing alone on the mountaintop, it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make — leaves and moss like the marmots and the birds, or tents or piled stone — we all dwell in a house of one room — the world with the firmament for its roof — and are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving track.”

“The mountains are fountains of men as well as of rivers, of glaciers, of fertile soil. The great poets, philosophers, prophets, able men whose thoughts and deeds have moved the world, have come down from the moutnains — mountain-dwellers who have grown strong there with the forest trees in Nature’s work-shops.

– John Muir
Founder, The Sierra Club

A Review: Beyond All Dreams

06 Tuesday Jan 2015

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Beyond All Dreams

 

Beyond All Dreams is the first book I have encountered by Elizabeth Camden and I am happy to say I really enjoyed it. It is a romantic historical fiction with a twist of mystery and adventure. Many of the books pages are devoted to the growing relationship of the two main characters, and that is always my preference. Author Elizabeth Camden has written a stand-out book that is both interesting and exciting.

From the Back Cover: Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

There is a wonderful theme of forgiveness laced in the pages of this novel. It is subtle but adds tremendous value to the story. Both Ann and the congressman, Luke Callahan, must come to terms with their past and their present. In a conversation between Luke and Anna far into the story Anna states, “There is no statute of limitations on extending forgiveness.” I found this to be a very powerful statement. It really should be printed on canvas and hung in as many places as possible.

I now count myself as an Elizabeth Camden fan and I look forward to discovering more of her titles. This book is an easy 4 stars, 4.5 truly.  It is not your typical romance in that the love story between the characters is believable. The history is intriguing, and the end is delightful.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.

Book Review: The Song

01 Thursday Jan 2015

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The Song

 

I requested this book to review before I realized the chicken came before the egg. This was a movie first, and a book later. I was a little concerned before I turned the first page. However, my concern was unfounded. This is a really good book. It read well and was definitely a page turner. What a great surprise!

Author Chris Fabry has written this book based on the motion picture screenplay by Richard L. Ramsey.  The Song is a fictionalized retelling of the Song of Solomon from the Bible. It is set in todays time and has a wonderful message for single, dating, and married people. The Song is a story of love, regret, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

 

From the back cover: “Jed King’s life has been shaped and scarred by the songs and mistakes of his famous father. He wants to sing his own song, but the words are melody are elusive. Jed’s dreams of a successful music career seem out of reach…until he meets Rose.                                                                                                      

Inspired by his love for the vineyard owner’s daughter, Jed pens a new song with such emotional power and longing that it catapults him into stardom. But with this life of fame comes temptation, the same temptation that lured his father so may years ago and threatens to unravel his marriage.”

 

I love the way the story of Rose and Jed is told.  It was sweet and captivating. I found myself rooting for them from the beginning and hoping for the best outcome. There were definitely times in the story that I became frustrated with the decisions the characters were making, but each turn of events made the story real and relevant. My favorite moments were in the earlier pages, where we witness Jed and Rose meeting and falling in love.

I am so excited to see this movie! If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, add it to your list for 2015. I loved it. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have not been compensated and all opinions are my own.