Weekly Wrap Up (01/15/11)

Books Reviewed:

Dining With The Dollar Store Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

My Posts This Week:

CSN Stores + Gift Card= Giveaway!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday's Fabulous Find

Dining With The Dollar Store Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Yes, I'm back...well, maybe...no really I am! 

Waiting On Wednesday

The 2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge

 

My Week In Review:

Well, my week has been pretty boring! Well, except for the blogging and trying to get caught up 

after my 5 month hiatus. But I have read some great books, My Guilty Pleasures is lucky enough

to be hosting a giveaway from CSN Stores. I did have my group therapy session (and let me tell ya, it's ain't nothin' like Bob Newhart!) and I am thankful I only have 2 more to go! Matt, my youngest, donated blood today at school and passed out for a couple of minutes. Lucky for him he doesn't have a Mama that panics over stuff. LOL! Well, that's it for my week, how was yours? 

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins is hosted by Friday Fill Ins!

1. Right now I need to read.

2. Diet Dr. Pepper is what's in my glass.

3. A copy of this letter is here.

4. Ice Cream is best with a spoon.

5. The best movie I've seen lately is The A-Team.

6. From like; To love.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with my sweetheart, tomorrow my plans include my grand daughter's 10th birthday party and Sunday, I want to watch Season 1 & 2 of True Blood!

Friday's Fabulous Find (2)...

from rachelvincent.com

SOUL SCREAMERS PREQUEL NOVELLA

Kaylee Cavanaugh's trip to the mall ends with a brutal panic attack and a brainscrambling shriek she can't stop. Her secret fear is exposed. It's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

But the hospital isn't a safe place for Kaylee, and getting out won't be easy because everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, who has a secret of her own...

This prequel novella is free to download from Rachel Vincents website. But if you go anywhere else, it's going to cost $2.99!

Dining With The Dollar Diva by Elizabeth Fisher

About the book:
(from Amazon.com)
This cookbook contains "divalicious" recipes created with ingredients that cost one dollar or less. Author Elizabeth Fisher is a regular mom who is a wiz at creating exquisite menus and dining experiences at economical prices. Each recipe is accompanied by an interesting story about how that recipe came to be created. Most ingredients can be found at your local dollar store or in the dollar section in your local supermarket. This is the first book in the Dollar Diva series.

• Perfect Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Elevator Group (March 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982528248
• ISBN-13: 978-0982528242

About the Author:
Elizabeth Fisher is a single mother of two adult sons, Marques, and her “adopted” son, Harold. She loves to cook and eat, and she prays that everyone enjoys this book as much as she enjoyed writing it.She is known for her annual July 4th get together, which she has hosted for over twenty years. The party has grown from grilling a few burgers to a neighborhood block party event entertaining up to 100 people. Visit The Dollar Diva™  on her blog at www.dollardivameals.blogspot.com.

My thoughts:
Ok, when I read that this was a cookbook and all the items could be bought at the Dollar Store, I thought, Oh Yes, this is for me! Ms. Fisher has created a cookbook with some fantastic recipes with items that can be found at the Dollar Store! I ran out and bought the items (yes! at the dollar tree) for the Butterfinger Brownies. They were a HUGE hit in my household! I can't wait to try some of the other recipes... How does Pepperoni & Swiss Knots sound? Delicious, right? Yummy. So if your like me and your shopping at the Dollar Tree, swing by the book section and pick up a copy of Dining With The Dollar Diva by Elizabeth Fisher. It's only a $1!

Awakened by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Zoey has returned from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey--or her relationship with her super-hot Warrior, Stark--ever be the same?

“My love, speak to me.  Tell me everything.”  Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.
“What would you have me say?”  He didn’t meet her eyes. 
 “Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.
“She does.”
“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.”  She started to walk away from him.
“Where are you going?  What will happen next?”
 “It is quite simple.  I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma.  There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”
Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…
And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?
In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

 
My thoughts:
WOW! So much happened in this book! I couldn't believe some of the twists that happened for Zoey and the gang. A couple of times I was left utterly speechless (and anyone who knows me, knows that does NOT happen often!). Choices were made that would (in my opinion) change the House of Night forever. I don't know how P.C. & Kristin Cast do it, but every House of Night book is better than last! My one objection with this book? The way it ended. I thought it was too obvious of a cliff hanger. But as far as cliff hangers go, it was an awesome one!

Yes, I'm back...well maybe... no really I am!

 Well, it's been about 5 months since I've posted. I've been really neglectful and I'm sorry! I had to take a break and try to get my life back on track. At the beginning of June, my son (mini me) left for Basic Training for the Army Reserves. The day he leaves, my daughter & I got into a tiff and she moved OUT. I mean just left. I thought she would be coming back home. NOPE. She stayed with her friend until she could be moved into her dorm. Unfortunately, she didn't make it a semester. She decided Florida, yes, you heard me, Florida had better forensic schools, so she withdrew from classes (oh did I mention that she had a full ride to a private college? No, well she did) and moved to Florida and now lives with her boyfriend, his parents and his grandparents. Hopefully she can get into summer classes and get into the swing of things. Needless to say, even mini me coming home from Basic Training wasn't enough to pull me out of the dumps I was feeling. So, I went to a dr. asked for some handy dandy anti-depressant and voile! I am reading again! So here is where the maybe comes in. I received a Kobo ereader for Christmas! Woohoo! And I had the bright fabulous idea to start another blog. My lavender Kobo. BUT. I'm thinking I like it here. So the few posts I have made there, I will try to import them here! But I will tell you this: I will NOT be having as many giveaways. It was starting to cause me to much stress. Fortunately our friends at CSN just emailed me about a giveaway! So I think that is the perfect way to start the new year! Be looking! Details to come soon!!

Waiting On Wednesday (1)...

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted each week by

Breaking the Spine

My pick this week is: 

The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship by Lisa Verge Higgins

From Borders.com

Rachel Braun was the inspiration to her group of friends, the one who 
lived each day to the fullest--and the one whose life was cut tragically short. Upon her untimely death, Rachel leaves letters for her three closest friends challenging them to face their biggest fears.What makes a wife a lover?
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo, a high-powered career has led her to believe that she doesn't have a single maternal instinct. When an orphan unexpectedly enters her life, she is forced to confront her own unhappy childhood and the walls it has built around her heart.
What makes a man the love of your life?
For Sarah, home is the steamy jungles of Africa while the man of her dreams waits in the air-conditioned confines of Los Angeles. Her longing for this man from the past is blinding her to a new love standing right in front of her.

What these women all have in common is a friend with a generous soul, an irrepressible spirit- and a serious illness. In her final letters, Rachel raises one last question: 
What makes a friend live in our hearts forever?

The Proper Car and Maintenance of Friendship will be released January 26, 2011

2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge!

The 2011 Stephen King Challenge
Hosted by Book Chick City

I haven't read any of Stephen King's books but I have heard many great things about them from my son and a couple of friends so I think it's about time I read a few!

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules - There are two levels: Read either SIX (6) or TWELVE (12) Stephen King novels in 2011 (6 is the minimum but you can read more than 12 if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

For the rest of the details click here!

Go to the challenge page HERE

My goal is to read at least six (6) Stephen King books!

Books I Have Chosen

- Cell
- The Running Man
- Carrie
- Full Dark, No Stars
- It
- Salem's Lot