Books in Review: Chasing Wishes

Chasing Wishes is written by Nadia Simonenko and tells the story of Nina and Isaac. Or do I say Irene and Terrence?

The young couple is brought together in a prep school where Nina earned her way in through hard work and exemplary testing scores. From the wrong side of the tracks, Nina struggles to adjust in her new school with classmates and teachers who are less than welcoming. Isaac, feeling for her, gives her a desperately needed ally.

One day after wishing on stars, Nina's taken away from her mother and placed in a foster home with a new name, one filled with new possibilities. Fast forward nine years and we find Irene working in a cafeteria looking for work as a voice actor, reading to kids at the local library. While reading to them, a man who remarkably looks like Isaac walks in. But Terrence, having been blind for five years now, is unable to recognize her. He just knows her laugh reminds him of Nina.

One too many close calls with an over zealous supervisor, has Irene leaving her cafe job but not before Terrence recognizes her and offers her the position as his personal assistant. With nothing to lose, Irene moves into Terrence's mansion helping him navigate it and the dark world that surrounds him. Wishes and dreams come true as the book delivers a happily ever after, with each realizing they're Nina and Isaac after all.

I liked the book enough. I skimmed some of it because I wanted to get to the good stuff and there was some filler. It makes me intrigued enough to buy another Simonenko book, though. I'd say, DON'T PAY FULL PRICE.

Have you read anything by this author? What do you think?

She's Crafty - Jewelry Board Frame

In my peruse of pinterest, I've stumbled upon a few different pins about putting your jewelry on display like this one and this one. Since then, I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head. To be able to see all my jewelry! Then I wouldn't be stuck with wearing the same pieces day after day. I would be able to check out my choices. Daily. I was bouncing with joy as I started this project. A month ago...

I already had some of the supplies I needed. Small frame for earring holder? Check. Paint? Check. Pegboard, big frame, pegs, chicken wire? UNCHECK. It also took me a few days to convince the hubbs that these were necessary items for my latest crafting idea. Somehow, he just doesn't see the pictures in my head. Weird, right? I bought the pegboard and hardware cloth at Home Depot, pegs from Walmart, and frame from the Albany ReStore.

After spending what was probably too much money, I started out making the small frame for earrings. I actually have had this one done for a while. I used two coats of the silver finish and two coats of gloss clear coat. Because the frame had slots where plexiglass fit in, I was able to slide the hardware cloth right in and not use staples to keep it there.

The one part that took the longest to get was definitely the frame. I had to find or make the perfect one. After searching a lot of goodwill, salvation army, and thrift stores I found what I was looking for at a reasonable price. I wiped it down, coated it with two layers of a white base, then painted three layers of silver coat on top of it. Followed by a layer of clear coat, I just had to get the pegboard fitted.

Good thing I have strong men who have and know how to use power tools...namely a table saw. Us poor women are just so lucky to have them around. (Please read the heavy sarcasm layered in there) But man, they are nice to have around. 

the hubbs and my dad

With four coats of my favorite color paint on the pegboard followed by what seemed like seven layers of clear coat - I couldn't seem to get the even gloss - the pegboard was ready to go into the frame! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was for this moment! I kept running back and forth looking at the wall, looking at my frame, trying to figure out what else I had to do to get this on the wall. Securing the board in with teeny tiny nails, this bad boy was ready. Note that I did take off the hanging wire and loops from the back and used just the saw tooth hanger on top to mount it.

It was a little difficult to get the frame straight at first because you can't just hang it straight on. It's heavy towards the one side. Then you add on your jewelry and it slips the other way. I unloaded EVERY SINGLE PIECE of jewelry that I own from my standing jewelry chest and placed all necklaces, dangle earrings, and bracelets I had. I also got the chance to go through it all and ask myself if I really wanted it. I have a nice little baggie awaiting the yard sale I plan to have this summer. 

I am incredibly happy with how this turned out and it's definitely a HIT. What do you think? Ready to tackle your own?

Food for Thought - Five Layer Brownies

The other night I had this huge craving to bake something. I had no idea what to bake so I asked Ryan what he'd like me to make and showed him all the desserts I've pinned. After three pins of letting him down - we didn't have the ingredients - I went to the kitchen to figure it out myself. I started by pulling out EVERYTHING baking related from my pantry. Literally, everything.

After deciding I wanted to make some sinful brownies, I ended up using the following:'

Brownies Layer

4 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

4 (heaping) tbsp cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Cookie Layer

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/3 cup peanut butter

1 stick of butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp water

Additional

1/2 cup chopped pretzels

1/4 cup toffee bits

Here's how I concocted it...

Step 1. I started with the cookie layer to make sure it would all be ready by the time the brownie mix was set to go. I mixed the egg, oil, and vanilla together until they were well combined.

Step 2. Add in your dry ingredients (minus the chocolate pieces) and mix until you have the basic cookie dough. 

Step 3. Fold in your two ounces of chopped chocolate into your dough and then set aside. Try not to eat too much. 

Step 4. Preheat your oven to 350° F. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, oil, vanilla, and cocoa powder for the brownies. Mix well until fully combined.

Step 5. Add in the remaining dry ingredients for the brownies, mixing well. 

Step 6. In a foil-line 9" x 13" pan, pour half of the brownie mixture and spread until you have an even layer.

Step 7. Carefully, layer all the cookie dough on top of the brownie layer. Press down slightly, but not so that the brownie goes on top of the cookie dough.

Step 8. Take the remaining brownie batter and mix in the chopped pretzels, folding until the pretzels are evenly distributed. Pour the batter on top of the cookie dough layer. 

Step 9. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Checking the center with a toothpick.

Step 10. While your brownies are baking, soften one stick of butter and add it to a bowl with the peanut butter. Using an electric mixer beat the two together until well combined. Add in your water and powdered sugar until it has a smooth consistency. 

Step 11. Allow your brownies to cool overnight (or a few hours). Store your frosting in the fridge if you do. Layer on your frosting and then finish off with toffee bits (your fifth layer).

The good thing about baking your brownies in foil is that you can just lift it out of the pan, making it incredibly easier to cut. You may have to beat back the masses from these. They're fantastic and go quick. It's not hard to imagine why.

I know, I need a new camera. I've been using the one on my phone.What do you use? What would you recommend?

Books in Review: Shattered Hearts

This is the first time I've read an Octavia Wildwood book and I'm happy to say that I'm pleasantly surprised. Shattered Hearts focuses on a woman named Amanda. Running away from an abusive boyfriend, she lands in LA where she put her life back together. Ready for a change she heads to a small farm in Minnesota where she meets Maggie and her brother, Nate. Trying to keep the farm up and running while paying for his sister's college classes, Nate struggles over the untimely death of his parents.

Amanda quickly learns how to be a farmhand while helping rehabilitate an abused horse. Haunted by her past, she falters when she develops feelings for Nate. Mistaking her mixed signals as "mind games" Nate reluctantly puts some distance between them until one night he learns the truth about her past. 

While the book ends with a seemingly happily ever after, it's perfectly set up to continue the story in Shattered Dreams. I'm intrigued enough that I'm going to buy it and read on. I'd definitely say SPLURGE ON IT.

Books in Review: Everlasting Sin

Let me start by saying that I've read other J.S. Cooper books before, namely the Forever Love Series: The Last Boyfriend, The Other Side of Love, and Before Lucky. I should've known better with Everlasting Sin. 

I read the preview that's available on Amazon's website and was intrigued. But at $3.99 and 275 pages, I thought it'd be worth it. 

Hudson and Riley have known each other since they were nine and six, respectively. They've been in love with each other for just as long. But neither is willing to admit it to the other. A tragedy 11 years later leaves them devastated and Hudson broken after a night they spend together. After four years of radio silence, they meet at a gym where Hudson is training to compete in a fight worth $1,000,000. Hudson is at odds with their reunion, struggling to let Riley live her life without his demons while desperately wanting to be with her. 

Unfortunately, the story doesn't seem to flow. Don't get me wrong, the story line flows, I just feel that the writing isn't polished. I generally like the premises of Cooper's stories, I just wish they were longer or focused on one aspect to develop it more. If I were you, I'd SAVE IT. 

I mentioned to one of my coworkers that I read about five books a week and he was shocked. Now, granted they're romance novels, but they're still books. How do people just not find reading enjoyable? How can they not get caught up in the characters?

Food for Thought...Nutella Frosting

A few years ago, while I was still with GE, I was nominated to attend a leadership development workshop at the famous Crotonville. Crotonville is like university for the folks at the heart of GE. The company invests about $2.0 billion a year in the center on courses and innovative learning. It's no wonder the campus looks like this:

Yea, it's pretty sweet. The hotel located on the campus can hold over 400 folks and has stocked kitchens with ready-to-eat sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, snack, and Haagen Dazs ice cream. It's like heaven there. Oh, and there's five star meals from the on campus executive chef. They really spare no cost. This is the place to make connections across the company and up the ladder. 

The campus also has two places to hang out, the Green House and the White House. The Green House is self-sustainable and off the grid (hence the "Green"). The fully open bar, pool tables, and darts offer ways to interact and network with folks. If that's not your speed, the completely redesigned White House, is a coffee shop with professional baristas and the most delicious thing on this entire planet. The Nutella Hot Chocolate.

Up until that point in my life, I had never had nutella. Ever. I'm not quite sure where my life was headed before this magical drink but I certainly knew that my life was going to have a whole lot more nutella in it afterwards.

Which brings me to today's recipe. Nutella Frosting. Since my glorious discovery of the delicious hazelnut spread, I've tried to incorporate it into everything. Today, I bring you frosting. Here's what you need:

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup nutella

1/4 cup milk

1 cup powered sugar

Step 1. Soften butter in microwave but be sure not to melt. You don't want to wait to spread this on your cupcake. 

Step 2. Beat together butter and nutella until well combined and there are no butter lumps. (Sorry, no pictures. I was making this up as I went.)

Step 3. Add in milk and powdered sugar. Beat on high until all ingredients are well combined and fluffy.

Step 4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes as your cupcakes are cooling. (This step is NOT required.)

Step 5. Layer this delicious-ness on your cupcake (I made vanilla) and try not to eat one right then and there. 

I sprinkled toffee bits on top of these to make them just a little bit more heavenly. Ryan couldn't wait for these to come out of the oven. Or for them to be frosted for that matter. 

On another note, I truly hate, hate, hate my kitchen lighting. It's dull and gross. Someday I'll switch to nice bulbs. Maybe even LED, you know, after I hit the lottery.

Books in Review: Lunch Time Reads

Sometimes, I am incredibly cheap. I hunt down free books on Amazon all the time. I also check content (normally) and page count before purchasing a book. Today, as I was perusing the Kindle eBooks, I stumbled upon a few free romance books that looked promising. Since they were free, I went ahead and downloaded with one-click (boy can that get me in trouble!).

The first was Rescue Me: A Valentine's Day Short Story by Serena Bell. It was super short. Molly is stuck on a ledge outside her apartment after attempting to rescue her Jimmy Choo, which just so happened to stop on the ledge and didn't fall the 20 feet to the ground?. Then there's Dave, fellow building tenant, to the rescue. All of this happens on Valentine's Day. Man...the title kind of gives it away. After a fallen ladder, the reemergence of Valentine's Day Dumper (ex-boyfriend) Peyton, and the rescue of one Jimmy Choo, Molly and Dave make it back inside just in time to properly celebrate Valentine's Day. Hey! What's a random hook-up with your neighbor on a romantic holiday? This took me about fifteen minutes to plow through. Haha, get it? Plow. ANYWAY, it was free. It was good but DON'T PAY FULL PRICE FOR IT. Twenty pages of content isn't worth $0.99 to me.

The second book I picked up today was Connections by Selena Kitt. After skimming through the brief plot description, I thought, "what the hell." Again, it was free. Cathy is this strange character who seems to have trouble connecting with reality and is this shell of a person, randomly calling people in the phone book. Only, one night, a victim of her calls startled her enough to speak back. Fast forward eight months of now constant communication with Seth (literally the book jumps eight months for no rhyme or reason) and they're meeting for the first time in person. Sex, awkwardness, and an incredibly abrupt ending follow. This was FREE and I'm telling you to SAVE IT. It's definitely not worth the original $2.99 digital price.

The third book I read today at lunch was The Escort Next Door by Clara James. This book I enjoyed the most of the three. I had to keep reading something after the depression the last one left me in. Julia is a late twenties, married housewife with three children under eight. Lo and behold, her executive husband is cheating on her. With an overbearing mother-in-law and an outwardly iron clad pre-nup she struggles to find a way out of her marriage and how to support her children. This is the first book in a short trilogy. While the end of this book doesn't provide any resolution to the problem at hand, it makes you want to continue reading. It's not poorly written and keeps me intrigued. The digital list price for this is $0.99. The next two books in the trilogy are each listed at $2.99 though. All the books are about 80 pages in length, so as good as it may be, I'm not spending another $5.98 to find out what happens. It's up to you but DON'T PAY FULL PRICE FOR IT.

Have you found anything worth the full price lately?