Sara Reads Things

  Another Monday and another delicious weekly menu full of recipes for you to enjoy. Hello and welcome back to the blog. I know I say this all the time, but its been a week. One of my co-workers stated the other day that weird things happen to me and I'm really starting to believe it. I was headed to the store on my lunch break and noticed a yard sale sign at the top of my hill on the main street. What caught my attention was the address on the sign. It was my address. I was fairly certain I wasn't havening a yard sale. I texted the husband and it freaked him out a bit as it did I. Was this some kinds of TikTok prank where someone puts up a sign with your address on it and then people show up to your house to try and buy your stuff/steel things? Or does one of my neighbors not know what their address is. A little while later when I was home, the camera's around the house started going off and I noticed two people wandering up my driveway. They glanced at my husbands mess of...

  Hello Sunday and welcome back to my weekly confessions where I talk about what books, movies and food have been gracing the pages of the blog and what's still to come. Sunday Confessions #209 ~ Weekly Menu #516 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson ~ Book Review: Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo ~ Life Confessions: Post #5 Weekly Menu #517 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao ~ Series Review: The World of Solace Series by Jaleigh Johnson ~ Book Review: A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen ~ Life Confessions: Post #6 ~ Sunday Confessions #211 If you haven't seen the Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks crossover episode from Star Trek Strange New Worlds, you are really missing out. My family watched this episode twice in one day and laughed so much. Even my 10 year old was super into it, and he is hard to please. 72/100 2023 Reading Challenge ~ 54/196 in my  Star Wars Legends challenge ~ 59/341  G...

  The lifestyle of a PNW mom, avid reader, exballerina and food lover. Some weeks come at me like a hurricane and they bring a lot of chaos and emotions that take a while to come down from.  We are dealing with kitten chaos. Can't keep them in the box, but still trying to cuddle with them since they won't be with us long. Birthday festivities for our youngest son that spanned several days and both sides of the family. Along with the husband going through the motions of job interviews for a job of a lifetime for him, his stress and excitement that comes with all that. Its just been a lot. Kitten Update The babies are now 6 weeks and coming up on their time to go to their forever homes. They cannot be contained, bot that I think they should be. Living in a small box that once held a dishwasher is no life, but at the same time, having them underfoot can be a lot. I think the worst part is following them around, cleaning up their messes since they are still learning to use the lit...

I never thought I would be reading a book about shark attacks throughout history and how little we actually knew about these vicious fish. This review of Michael Capuzzo's book Close to Shore was really fun to write. Enjoy! Title: Close to Shore By: Michael Capuzzo Genre: Historical Non-Fiction Pages: 318 Release Date: May 18th, 2001 Publisher: Crown Rating: ★★★★☆   Summary from Goodreads: Combining rich historical detail and a harrowing, pulse-pounding narrative, Close to Shore brilliantly re-creates the summer of 1916, when a rogue Great White shark attacked swimmers along the New Jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching the most extensive shark hunt in history. During the summer before the United States entered World War I, when ocean swimming was just becoming popular and luxurious Jersey Shore resorts were thriving as a chic playland for an opulent yet still innocent era's new leisure class, Americans were abruptly introduced to the terror of sharks. In July 19...

The finale to this wonderful book series. I'm excited to review the last story in the World of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson. This has been a wonderful ride and I'm sad its over. Can't wait to see what else Johnson has in-store for her readers.   Title: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands By: Jaleigh Johnson Genre: Fantasy Pages: 352 Release Date: June 13th, 2017 Publisher: Random House Rating: ★★★★★   Summary from Goodreads: From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller  The Mark of the Dragonfly   comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure. Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it's simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind. Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes ma...

  Hello Monday and welcome back to the weekly menu. A place to share my read of the week and the recipes we will be making. Its going to be a great week on the blog. Last week was a whirlwind of activity. My youngest had a momentous birthday with lots of celebration and fun times. He seemed to like all the gifts he got this year after everyone really put in a lot of effort to think of wonderful gifts to give my dark and brooding child. I still think his favorite was the sign that says, "Baking, because murder is wrong." He hung it on his wall right next to the picture of his first cheesecake he made. I'm so proud of him and his aspirations. His goal for his life is to own his own bakery with an old fashioned soda bar inside. I absolutely love that for him and will do all that is in my power to help him make that dream come true. Keep dreaming big, my son. This weeks read is The Power by Naomi Alderman. I just finished watching the TV series on Prime and although it wasn...

Hello #Sunday Its been another hot week here in the PNW, but I'm kind of liking it. Its giving me a chance to close up my home and live like a hermit for a while in the cool darkness of my small cottage. Lets recap the week. Sunday Confessions #208 ~ Weekly Menu #515 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: The Secrets of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson ~ Book Review: Lolita by Vladimir Nabovok ~ Life Confessions: Post #4 Weekly Menu #516 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson ~ Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo ~ Life Confessions: Post #5 ~ Sunday Confessions #210 Loved the Parmesan Stuffed Bell Peppers. The Mediterranean one pot meal was delicious, although I had to add chicken for a little more protean. The Grilled Bruschetta Chicken really hit the spot. And the French Dips are always a favorite. All the recipes can be found here , on last weeks menu. Morgan Wallen - Thinkin' Bout Me 70/100 2023 Reading Challenge ~ 54/196 in my  ...