currently

Oh my goodness! I'm on Christmas break and have been just a little bit lazy but I'm ready to get back to blogging! 

Jessica from How Sweet It Is has a weekly "Currently Crushing On" feature on her blog. Here are a few of my "currently's":

Listening to ~ "Architecture" by Jonathan Thulin. Such a great song! It took me hearing it on the radio a time or two to really listen to it and oh, it's my new favorite! I can only find the acoustic version on youtube (which is awesome!) and ended up buying the EP through Amazon :)

Wearing ~ Revlon's "Timeless" nail polish and Trader Joe's Nourish Antioxidant Facial Serum. I was on the search for a new nail polish and wanted a grayish color. I didn't want it to be metallic but really wanted more of a matte look. So I came across this shade from Revlon and really like it! I normally don't pay more than $2 or $3 for a bottle of polish but decided to splurge :) I actually found out about the Trader Joe's facial serum through one of Jessica's Currently Crushing On posts. It wasn't until I finally made it to Trader Joe's for the first time that I remembered to look for the product. And I really like it! It makes my skin feel super soft and I think my face looks healthier. I wear it under my foundation and when I don't feel like putting on makeup, wear it solo. 

Munching on ~ Hershey's Mint Truffle kisses. I only found out about them this year and need to stock up before all the Christmas candy is gone :) 

book review: "whispers of hope" by beth moore

"Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, but how in the world do we do that? In fact, do we even know how to pray? Where do we start?

Whispers of Hope teaches the process of powerful Word-saturated prayer in response to a daily Bible reading. In turn, you will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God."

I became a fan of Beth Moore after participating in a book study for her book, So Long Insecurity. I like how the devotional is set up with different parts. There's a verse for each day and an accompanying passage as well. At the end of each devotional is a P.R.A.I.S.E. section to fill out: 

Praise - thanking God
Repentance - confession and repentance
Acknowledgement - submitting to God and His will
Intercession - praying for others
Supplication - praying for your needs

Equipping - "...ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, to make Himself "conspicuous" in you and to make you victorious over the evil one."

I really like the title of the book. It makes me think of God gently speaking to me as I prepare for my day or to wrap up my day. Just the idea of Him day by day instilling hope in me...Whispers of Hope  is a great read!

I received a copy of this book from Icon Media Group for my honest review. 

 

book review: "God is able" by priscilla shirer

"Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. 

Not even that thing. Your thing. The one thing that seems to defy all attempts to defeat it, restore it, heal it, change it, overcome it, undo it, or just to get through it. 

If you've lost even an ounce of confidence in the power and loving attention of God - if experience has told you that faith must simply acquiesce to impossibility - it's time somebody told you different. 

Believe it.

Experience it.

God is Able." 

What an awesome book! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review it! Ephesians 3:20 is one of my absolute favorite verses and to have Priscilla break it down as she has makes it come alive. At the end of each chapter she repeats the verse, highlighting the words she's focused on for that chapter. I think she repeats it so as we re-read the verse each time, it gets a little deeper inside of us. Priscilla challenges the reader to dream big! "Your "beyond" - the most extravagant solution to your problem, the one that would shock you if God really did it - is a piece of cake to Him, no matter how big and bold it seems to us. If we think what we're asking is beyond what He can do, we're not thinking big enough." This book really encouraged my faith, reassuring me of God's complete ability to answer my prayers - those things I've been believing for and sometimes wanted to give up on because I didn't see how God was going to work things out. In chapter four, Priscilla talks about being grateful for God not answering her prayers the way she wanted Him to. "But now, years down the line, far removed from the impetuous, impulsive experiences that were spurring me on to such urgent demands of Him, I can see more clearly. I can see that He was doing things beyond my wildest expectations - even in denying my requests." This is a really great book to strengthen your faith and allow you to see Ephesians 3:20 in a whole new way! 

I received a copy of this book from Icon Media Group for my honest review. 

 

new favorite

I have an obsession with ink pens. I'm always looking for fun colors and pens that write smoothly. I bought a pack of these today and yes, they're pretty awesome :) I have the InkJoy pens with lids but wondered if these click ones would be any different. I can't tell a huge difference between the two but definitely like the InkJoy line of pens! I also like felt tip pens but they tend to slow me down just a bit when I'm writing quickly. But if they're brightly colored, I'm probably going to at least try them :)

 

book review: "a marriage in middlebury" by anita higman

"Charlotte Rose Hill enjoys a comfortable life serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and matchmaking advice for her quirky, devoted customers. The only thing lacking is someone to share it with. 

At eighteen she denied Sam Wilder's marriage proposal after his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship. They both moved on...or so she thought. When Sam walks back into her life more than a decade later, Charlotte is surprised that her heart still quickens. But is it because of his presence? Or because of the presence of Sam's new fiancee?

A second chance at love doesn't happen often, but their past may keep them apart. Is it too late for Sam and Charlotte?"

I always like books set in a small town. I love how quaint the town is - I secretly want to live in such a place someday :) It didn't take me long to get pulled into the story, wondering if Charlotte and Sam would have a second chance to be together. I thought all of the characters to be charming - especially quirky Cricket. My heart broke over Obie and his story. And I really liked the final scene being Sam and Charlotte on the bridge - the same place where he proposed ten years before. I finished the book with a smile - my indicator of a good book! Overall, a fun, easy read. 

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review.

book review: "dear mr. knightley" by katherine reay

A book of letters. Dear Mr. Knightley is a book of letters from Samantha to the man responsible for funding her way through journalism school. I wasn't sure I would like a book in this format but oh, I did. Even though the story is told through these letters, Samantha includes dialogue and specific moments. And then she meets Alex Powell. Their game of quoting lines from stories made me smile because I do the same thing sometimes. I couldn't help but be pulled in to Sam and her struggle to make it as I read these letters. She told Mr. Knightley she was able to be honest with him because she didn't know who he was. So she shared about her past, revealing parts of her no one else knew about. She shared her disappointment when she was about to be kicked out of the program because she wasn't giving her best to the writing assignments and then her excitement and hesitancy when she finally wrote the piece that changed everything. And what made me love the story all the more is the final page of the book. Sam quotes not from Pride and Prejudice the book but from the movie and it just happens to be one of my favorite lines in the movie: "It was a 'completely, perfectly, and incandescently happy' moment," she said." Dear Mr. Knightley is a great read. You go on this journey with Sam as she discovers herself as a writer and who she finds when she finally stops running.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. You can read other reviews in the tour by clicking here.

Debut author Katherine Reay is celebrating the release of her delightful novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway, a fun Favorite Austen Moments Pinterest contest, and an Austen-themed Facebook Party.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
• Handmade Austen-themed items (scarf, mug, bracelet, and necklace) 

Two ways to win! Enter today by clicking one of the icons below or participating in the Pinterest contest (see banner below)—or BOTH! 

But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Dear Mr. Knightley" Austen-themed Facebook Author Chat Party on the 3rd. Join Katherine (and Austen fans) for an evening of book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Katherine's next book.

So grab your copy of  Dear Mr. Knightley and join Katherine on the evening of December 3rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST. Hope to see you on the 3rd!

 

recipe: bacon appetizers

I made these earlier this week and they were everything Pioneer Woman said they would be! I made a practice batch last weekend and decided when I made them again, I would make a pan of the brown sugar ones as well. Oh, it was fun to hear the conversations surrounding these three-ingredient wonders. "I can't eat any more. I've had five!" "I've had seven!" was the reply from someone else. I love how incredibly easy these are and they smell absolutely amazing as they bake. I wonder what it might taste like to add sliced ham to the brown sugar ones? Something I might try next time. And unlike other recipes, I didn't have to do much after sticking them into the oven. There wasn't additional stirring or flipping or anything - though I did check on them after about an hour. Super easy and super tasty! You can also see Pioneer Woman's photo-by-photo instructions by clicking here. 

What you need:

- Club crackers

- thinly sliced bacon (bacon will be cut in half; one half wrapped around a cracker) 

- grated Parmesan cheese

What to do:

"Lay crackers (as many as you want) face up on a cookie sheet. Scoop about 1 teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese onto each cracker. Cut your package of bacon in half (or cut pieces individually) and carefully, so the cheese doesn’t fall off, wrap each cheese covered cracker in one half piece of bacon, completely covering the cracker. It should fit snugly around the cracker. Place the bacon wrapped crackers onto a baking sheet that has a rack on it. Place in a 250-degree oven for about 2 hours."