Menu: Week 39

Its not often that my kids can surprise me these days, but my little Ronan put these glasses on and made a cheesy face, and oh boy! Was I dying laughing. He is the greatest. He even wore the glasses to the hospital to visit my sister because he wanted to make her feel better. :)
In the news. My husband starts his new job this week. He has been blessed with the job he wanted for the pay he wanted. He has been waiting a long time for this and I am proud of him. Way to go SUNSHINE!
Well, on to the food.

Monday
- Southwest steak tacos

Tuesday
- Garlic parmesan pork chops and broccoli

Wednesday
- Ranch chicken over green salad

Thursday
- Burgers on the grill

Friday
- Pizza night

Saturday
- Grilled salmon and baked potatoes

Sunday
- Breakfast Burritos

Trailer Reveal - Princess of the Light


Princess of the Light by N.N. Light
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Blurb:
Miriam Miller likes the simple things in life: a good book, close friends, and a healthy relationship with God. But, destiny comes calling, and her neat, little life turns upside down.

Ethanial, an angel of God, has been sent to reveal Miriam's true calling -– she is the Princess of the Light, the woman chosen by God Himself to vanquish the demons intent on infusing the world with evil. And her first assignment: restore the soul of a homeless man known only as The Walking Man.

Enter Joe Deacons, a man intent on stealing her heart. But as Miriam embarks on her journey to save the Walking Man and fulfill her calling, it becomes clear that Joe isn’t what he appears to be. Miriam must decide: Is she willing to risk her soul to save those she loves?

Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC66sQNXXKw

Author Bio:
N.N. Light was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband, Mr. N. She is blissfully happy and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports and baking.
Website: princessofthelight.com
Blog: Princessofthelight.wordpress.com
Twitter: @NNP_W_Light
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nnlight/

Links:
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20885910-princess-of-the-light?ac=1
Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com

Menu: Week 38


Monday
- Chicken Alfredo (Just me and the boys)

Tuesday
- Mac and cheese (Just me and the boys)

Wednesday
- Sloppy Joe's (Just me and the boys)

Thursday
- Cheesy smoked sausage pasta

Friday
- Ground beef Tacos

Saturday
- Dinner with the In-Laws

Sunday
- Raspberry lemon muffins

Date Night #4 - Spain

So, I had planed this wonderful night with the hubby where we were going to take our imaginary trip to Spain, eat Spanish food and watch a wonderfully Spanish movie, but life has a great way of getting in the way.

I was preparing to make dinner and getting my two eldest boys in the bath. Unbeknownst to me, the big boys had left the front door open and little man decided it was his time to escape. He took his walker right out the front door and down the steps. Unfortunately he landed on his face. :(

He scratched up his nose and forehead and gave himself a nice knot on his forehead as well. He scared me so bad I took him to the ER, just to make sure he didn't have a concussion. Turns out, he was just fine.

So, as for my date night. Hubby was good enough to make dinner and wait up till we got home. Then we watched a lighthearted move, the delivery man. Let me just say, FUNNY!

If you want to have a great night in Spain, try this.
Spanish Paella for dinner
Churros for desert
The movie Puss in Boots
And a cuddle on the couch

Stay tuned for our next adventure. My husband has requested spa night. He wants a pedicure. :) 




Menu: Week 37

If only we could always be this happy.

Monday
- Pizza night

Tuesday
- Buffalo Mozzarella pork chops and baked potatoes

Wednesday (Date night)
- Spaghetti

Thursday
- Cheesy chicken and bacon rice

Friday
- Creamy crockpot chicken and broccoli over rice

Saturday
- Macaroni (Just me and the boys)

Sunday
- Old fashioned sour cream blueberry pancakes

Throwback Thursday

A little throw back Thursday fun with help from yearbookyourself.com and photoshop. Happy Thursday!!



Trailer Reveal - Winter in The Soul





Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX5yYhX7lwQ

Blurb:
In a world divided by power and greed, seventeen-year-old Lilika harbors an intense desire to 
return to Winter in the Soul, the place her family left to escape the darkness that was manifesting 
from a coldness of the soul.

When she meets Talon, their connection is evident right from the start, and together they travel 
through the Black Kingdom to recover Lilika’s stolen locket. And in search of an answer to the 
mystery behind Winter in the Soul.

Lilika holds the key to stopping the darkness from spreading. The fate of their world lies in her 
hands. Will she stop the Black Kingdom before its darkness overtakes them all, or will they 
succumb to the darkness that is spreading across the land?

Release Date: July 15, 2014



Author Bio:
Jennifer Novotney was born in Burbank, California and lived in Los Angeles for most of her life until settling in North Eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter. She attended California State University, earning a bachelors degree in journalism, and Northern Arizona University, earning a masters degree in English. After college, she spent several years writing and teaching, including at Pennsylvania State University.



Website: www.jennifernovotney.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jennovotney

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jen.novotney

Links:

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20869515-winter-in-the-soul 

Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com

Menu: Week 36


Monday
- Grilled cheese (just me and the boys)

Tuesday
- Spanish Paella (Date night)
- Desert Churros

Wednesday
- Sesame noodles and chicken

Thursday
- Mac and cheese (Just me and the boys)

Friday
- Chicken Tacos

Saturday
- Dinner with the In-Laws

Sunday
- Banana Pancakes

Cover Reveal - A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver’s Tale of Life, Love and Chaos

A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver’s Tale of Life, Love and Chaos

Blurb: Sometimes reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots, vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and, instead of carefree retirees, we have become caregivers. Regardless, dreams die hard, and we somehow stumbled into the purchase of a forty-foot motor home. That’s when all four of us set out on this seven-week trek across sixteen U.S. states. Now, Dad stopped-up the toilet again, Mom wet her last pair of clean jeans, and David just announced that he was hungry. My head is beginning to pound, and I know this isn’t going to be the easygoing retirement we’d imagined for Linda Brendle takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotional and spiritual challenges that many families are facing right now. Co-dependency, mental breakdowns, and finding love after divorce are just a few of the issues weaved into this journey of caregiving. Whether you’re looking for an inspirational story to help teach you how to “let go and let God,” considering becoming the caregiver for one of your own parents, or are just looking for an entertaining travel book, this story is sure to strike a tender nerve. 

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Author Bio: After 15 years as a family caregiver, Linda began writing to encourage, inspire and
amuse other caregivers. She loves to travel and since retiring has traveled mostly by
motorcycle and RV. She and her husband live in a small East Texas town where she
gardens, writes and attends church.

Website: http://www.LifeAfterCaregiving.WordPress.com
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/LindaBrendle/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/linda.brendle
Google+: http://goo.gl/5Ov8qo
Goodreads: http://goo.gl/SeqyBz
Yahoo Voices: http://goo.gl/NT0bdt
Red Letter Christians: http://goo.gl/xYSvRf

Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20983741-a-long-and-winding-road
Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com

Date night #3 - France

Imagine that we have left Italy, the place of romantic water ways and rolling Tuscan hills and we are now traveling by train through the country of France. We stop off in Paris for dinner and a movie.

"What shall we have?" You ask your husband.

"No clue," He replies.

You find the first restaurant you see that has a great view of the Eiffel Tower and take a seat. Nothing on the menu looks familiar, cause its all in French but you have Google translator :). You manage to decipher some kind of tuna fish sandwich. You think, why not.

 The sandwich is like nothing you have ever had before. Its covered in olives, cucumbers, red onion and Brie cheese. It's drizzled in a vinaigrette with a little hint of red wine. It's finger licking good.

As you sit and watch the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower you wish you could never leave. So why not take this experience home and have a great date night while the kids are tucked soundly in their own beds?

My husband and I had a nice relaxing night of wonderful food and a fun movie. It had been a long frustrating day with the kids. I think they might be deaf. It's either that or their ears don't work anymore. After this long day of yelling till my throat was raw, I was glad to just sit down, put my feet up and do nothing for the next two hours. I didn't have to worry about little hands putting things in little mouths that didn't belong there. I didn't have to tell anyone to stop running in the house. All I had to do was... Nothing. :)

After we had the best tuna sandwich I had ever tasted (Didn't know tuna could be sooo good, you can get the recipe here) We sat down with a glass of mango hard cider and watched a movie set in France, The Three Musketeers. Love this movie. It had been several years since I last saw it, so it was like a whole new adventure to me. Too bad they didn't make a sequel.

So, the next time you need a date night and don't want to find a baby sitter. Sit down to a little night in Paris and enjoy yourselves.

For other date night ideas, try"
Game Night
Italian Night




Menu: Week 35

Well, the month is over and March has begun. I can't believe how fast this year is going.
Liam turned 7 months this last week and my entire family came down with the "plague." Of course, the first time we get sick this winter had to be a doozy. Runny nose, cough, fever. It was all so fun because mamas don't get a sick day.

Monday
McMenamins Lighthouse pub - Lincoln City.

Tuesday - Date Night
- Pan Bagnat

Wednesday
Quesdailla burger

Thursday
- Beef Stroganoff

Friday
- Dinner with in-laws.

Saturday
- Lasagna with friends

Sunday
- Cheddar Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta