Book Review: BREAKNG BUSY: How to Find Peace & Purpose in a World of Crazy

Happy Release Day! :) Today's the day that BREAKING BUSY: HOW TO FIND PEACE & PURPOSE IN A WORLD OF CRAZY officially hits the bookshelves. I was blessed enough to be on the launch team, which means I received an advanced copy and got to read it before most of the rest of the world. :D

Alli Worthington has written a book that I will consider a RESOURCE more than a "good read"; it IS that, but it's so much more. Right now, I'm NOT in a season of BUSY very often - there are waves, like everyone has, but nothing like it has been.

Alli's book has so much useful information, however, that I still felt she was trying to help ME, individually, and not just the busy mommas and other twenty-and thirty-somethings. Each chapter of BREAKING BUSY ends with a section of "Action Steps", asking yourself questions and actually taking steps to help yourself with each section. There is even a link to her website, where you can find more information on the chapter's information.

The chapter on communication was my favorite. As an interpersonal communications person, it was refreshing to see someone break down interactions to some of the simplest components - allowing us to identify ourselves easily, and giving suggestions to overcome challenges each of us might have in communicating with others.

You might be in that BUSY season of your life, and thinking of adding another something to your plate is laughable - but I highly recommend you read Alli's book, BREAKING BUSY. It's broken into manageable segments, so you don't have to read a LOT to find something to chew on. And it's an easy read, interspersed with examples from her life that will have you laughing - and identifying, in my case... :D

This book is a YES, PLEASE! Do yourself a favor - click on the name of the book anywhere in this post, and pick up your copy today!

Quick and Easy Mason Jar Frittata

Happy Monday! Thanks for stumbling across my blog today! :)

Today I'm reviewing this review for Quick and Easy Mason Jar Frittatas from Target.com - who knew they had recipes?!?!

I made these a few months ago for our Bible study; I use that and my turn at hostessing Stampin' Up! parties to try out new recipes, since most of the ones I want to try aren't things we can eat around here. :D But these ARE something I can eat - and they earn a YES, PLEASE!!!

These frittatas are SUPER easy; I made them up the night before, and just cooked them off that morning. They were TASTY!!! Everyone oohed and aahhed over them - and who doesn't like something in a cute mason jar? :D I loved being able to make them ahead. Perfect for entertaining, OR for regular family!

These also reheated well enough that I could make up a batch and keep them in the fridge for a week's worth of breakfasts.

Let me know if you decide to try them! Have a wonderful day - BE BLESSED!!!

Book Review: CHOOSE JOY: FINDING HOPE AND PURPOSE WHEN LIFE HURTS

Good morning! I hope this post finds you well. :) Life has been different and busy, and I really am sorry for dropping off the face of the earth. :D

Today I want to tell you about this book; I am on the launch team, and the book goes on sale TOMORROW! You can find out a lot more on the book's website, including places it's available. Because I don't want you to miss this book.

Here's the "official" synopsis of the book:

Sara Frankl knew she had a terminal disease, but she didn't let it stop her from living. In the face of immeasurable pain, Sara chose joy--again and again. Her unforgettable message of hope and purpose lives on, even after her death, in her words.

CHOOSE JOY is a compilation of the lessons Sara learned while she was dying, written in her own words and sewn together by her close friend Mary Carver. It is a reminder to see the beauty in life, even when it looks nothing like you hoped or planned.

In a world full of tragedy, choosing joy is no small task--but, as Sara knew, the importance lies in the choosing. Once you learn to make that choice, every day, no matter what happens, joy will come.

This book has been a true life-changer for me. It helped me to have a couple of difficult discussions about my own health with loved ones, conversations that are they types I avoid at all costs. It has challenged me, made me examine my own heart and walk with Jesus, and helped me (by Sara's ability to put what she believes about healing into words) to have peace that what I believe may not be so whacked, after all. :)

 

 I've already told my mom she NEEDS to read this book; there are several people I know who may be getting a copy from me during the year. Life is not easy; just because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior doesn't mean everything is going to be smooth sailing, or that we can have everything we WANT. That includes health and wealth - and I think we get in real trouble when we believe otherwise. (Disagree all you want, but I won't get into it any further! :D )

Sara's words will make you laugh and cry; Mary's way of knitting her blog writings together into a cohesive whole makes the book flow easily. Not only is it broken into chapters - SO many great topics! - but each chapter is also broken up, so if you only have time for a page or two at a time, you'll still be able to really chew on the meaning of what you've read.

I had never heard of Sara Frankl before joining this book team; what I've read makes me wish I had known her when she was alive. Her deep faith in Christ continues to point the way to Him through this book - and I look forward to spending eternity with her.

I can't pick my favorite part of the book! There's SO MUCH richness here. I will read it again and again throughout my life; I need the reminder to choose joy in the middle of pain, of trial, of hard times. And to hear it from someone who actually made the choice herself - there's a depth to that voice I can't explain.

I guess you'll just have to read for yourself!

(All images in this post were given to the launch team to use for promotion during the pre-launch efforts.)

FOT THE LOVE: FIghting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards

Hello, everyone! Thanks for coming over to my blog; I know I've been awful about posting for a very, very long time. But this one is worthy of dusting off the ol' keyboard.

You may remember that I was part of the re-launch for Jen Hatmaker's INTERRUPTED. I was blessed  enough to get attached to this launch team, and what an incredible experience it's been! Imagine, if you can, a group of almost 500 women - and four men, whom we've dubbed the #bandoffour - who have been transparent, open, funny, accepting, and loving each other online for 22 weeks. No disagreements, no judgements on each other, meeting each other face-to-face whenever possible

We've been able to experience first-hand what Jen's book is about: loving each other, granting grace to ourselves and each other, encouraging each other - because life is tough sometimes, as we all know.

This book. It can be life-changing, if you allow it - and, in my opinion, will give you a great place to start to figure out what Jesus is asking of you, personally. I would be laughing one paragraph, gasping for air from the strike of truth the next, and wiping the tears from my eyes the net.

Jen writes this book as if she's sitting on the porch with you over coffee. She's real, she's speaking truth, and she's walking through the same thing she's talking to you about. I so appreciate that!

All of us on the launch team have our favorite quotes. It's so hard to pick - the phrases, the words, are put together to strike to the the truth of the subjects she discusses.Some of my favorite word actually come from the introduction; so many people skip it, but I love that it reveals the author's purpose.  I'm not going to type out everything - I'd be writing out the whole thing. :D

I will write more next week about the book; if you've read it, I'd love to  hear your take-aways. But the official launch is TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 - TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go get your copy - it's available at almost any bookstore, and Target, even! :D

For more info on the book, go to http://forthelovebook.com The graphic is made by my friend, Brianna George.

Lo Mein

Happy Monday! :)

I don't know if you've heard, but the Southeast has had a little weather lately. :D So, this was my lunch one of those days - it's vegetable lo mein from Mandy's Recipe Box.

The prep work is the biggest part of this recipe, honestly - and most of it's taken care of with using cole slaw mix for the veggies! :) It was good; I would go a little lighter on the red pepper flakes the next time, because it was a BIT spicy - but Kenn loved it, too. He finished off the lo mein for me. :D

This is a YES, PLEASE. It's easy and tasty - oh, and I used Dreamfield's spaghetti instead of the egg noodles, so the carbohydrate impact wouldn't be so big. We love Asian food, so I know I'll be making this again SOON. :)

Have a wonderful week, friend. Be BLESSED!

Perfect Pizza Crust

Happy Monday!! I don't know about y'all, but we've been cooking in SOOO much the last week, with the ice and snow! I made this early last week for lunch, and was in the process of making it again on Saturday to put two crusts in the freezer - and ended up using them that night. Do you know how crazy expensive ordering pizza is?!?!??! Kenn likes mine better, anyway. :D

SO. This is Perfect Pizza Crust, from Carlsbad Cravings.

I will tell you right off: this is a YES, PLEASE!!!! - from me and my family. Crispy and chewy - and I made the dough in my bread machine. Oh, yeah I did. :D I halved the recipe the first time; we were only doing it for one meal, and my dad is gluten-free, so he wasn't going to share this one. :) This is half veggie, half mushroom, onion, and ground beef.

I will also tell you this: do NOT cook two pizas at the same time. That's what I did the second time, and the top one ended up almost steamed on the bottom, not with the crunch we expected - but the bottom pizza was perfect. I do recommend the broiling step, to brown up the cheese; we don't tend to use our broiler much, and I'm not sure why. It added the perfect touch to this lovely pizza! :)

I can't tell you if the dough freezes well yet; I have yet to be able to get a batch made and in the freezer! :) (Yes, it's because I'm lazy, and I know it. :D )

I really hope you'll try this recipe - either the long way by hand, or short-cutting with your bread machine. :D

Have a wonderful day! Be BLESSED, dear friend!

Baked Vanilla Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

Happy weekend! :) I hope you're staying warm and DRY - things around here are getting interesting, with another round of snow and ice followed by RAIN all day Saturday. It's going to be a MESS. I haven't left the house since last Sunday, so we've been doing lots of baking and cooking. :)

These Vanilla Donuts with Chocolate Frosting are one of the things I've made, brought to you from Call Me PMC,

Now, because it's snow/ice, there is no running to the store to get one or two things, as you well know. :) So I didn't have any Greek yogurt; I used lemon juice in my milk, as the recipe says you can. And I didn't use any canned frosting - YUCK! - but some chocolate frosting I've been saving from a past cake recipe to use. :)

I don't think any of us were knocked out with the TEXTURE of these. They were a LOT like sponge cake, which is okay when that's what I'm EXPECTING in my donut. :) And Kenn said they were very filling. :D I'm keeping the recipe in my "Good Recipes to Have" file, but it probably won't be one I go back to. (I'm trying another baked donut recipe this weekend, I THINK, so I'm excited about it. :D )

OK, I'm leaving you alone now. :) Have a WONDERFUL weekend, and may you be richly blessed!