Posted by Brandy on Jun 28, 2010 in
Uncategorized Book Read: The Duggars: 20 and Counting
Author: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar
Publisher: Howard Books
Genre: Family, Biography, Christian
The Duggars need more than two hands to count their family. How do they manage with so many children and what has their life been like?
In their book, you will meet them and each of their amazing children. They share their triumphs and their failures as a family and in business ventures. They offer some interesting tips on organizing and share some favorite recipes.
Get to know the Duggars yourself by reading their book!
My Summer Reading List:
- Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan
- The Companion by Susan Squires
- Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
- Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins
- Grave Intent by Deborah Leblanc
- Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
- Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler
- The Duggars: 20 and Counting by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar
Tags: book list, large family, reading list, reading log, summer reading, The Duggars, whole family living
Posted by Brandy on Jun 25, 2010 in
The Wandering Mind Book Read: Cause for Alarm
Author: Erica Spindler
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Action, Suspense, Crime
If you are familiar with Mandeville, Louisiana then the last thing you expect is to hear of a professional assassin stalking and murdering residents.
That is what happens when a young woman pregnant for a killer thinks she can hide from him in a southern town. Daddy comes looking and comes killing.
This is a tale of secrets, twists, professional hit men and an innocent baby on the Northshore.
You need to get the book if you want to know how it ends
My Summer Reading List:
- Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan
- The Companion by Susan Squires
- Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
- Slay It With Flowers by Kate Collins
- Grave Intent by Deborah Leblanc
- Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
- Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler
Tags: action, book list, crime, drama, mystery, reading log, summer reading, suspense
Posted by Brandy on Jun 20, 2010 in
Uncategorized Book Read: Dearly Depotted
Author: Kate Collins
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Cozy mystery
I enjoyed the third book in the flower shop mysteries.
Abby glides into Jillian’s wedding garbed in a hideous floral ensemble and right into another murder mystery. Someone took till death do us part a little too far.
Buy Dearly Depotted Today!
My Summer Reading Log:
- Antiques Maul
- The Companion
- Mum’s the Word
- Slay It With Flowers
- Dearly Depotted
Tags: book list, books, cozy mysteries, reading log, summer reading
Posted by Brandy on Jun 16, 2010 in
The Wandering Mind Book Read: Grave Intent
Author: Deborah Leblanc
Publisher: Leisure
Genre: Thriller
Never steal from a gypsy, even a dead one…..you will pay.
Check out Grave Intent at my Amazon store!
My Summer Reading Log:
- Antiques Maul
- The Companion
- Mum’s the Word
- Slay It With Flowers
- Grave Intent
Tags: chillers, reading log, south Louisiana, summer reading
Posted by Brandy on Jun 14, 2010 in
Uncategorized Book Read: Slay It With Flowers
Author: Kate Collins
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Cozy mystery
This is the second book in the flower shop mystery. It follows Mum’s The Word.
Abby has been hired to provide the flowers for her cousin’s wedding along with serving in it. When groomsmen go missing, she isn’t just going to miss being in a wedding, she will be out of the money she is putting into the decorations. So she puts herself in danger again to track down the men and some answers.
Check out Slay It With Flowers at my Amazon store!
My Summer Reading Log:
- Antiques Maul
- The Companion
- Mum’s the Word
- Slay It With Flowers
Tags: book reviews, cozy mysteries, flower shop mysteries, Katie Collins, reading log, Slay it With Flowers, summer reading
Posted by Brandy on Jun 13, 2010 in
The Centsible Home Price List:
- $1.33 – 1 1/2 packs of hot dogs, bought on sale
- .22 – quarter of a bottle of barbecue sauce, bought on sale
Total cost: $1.55
Recipe:
- Pour desired amount of barbecue sauce into a deep frying pan, I like to use about a quarter of a bottle
- Add quarter of a cup of water to sauce
- Add one to two tablespoons of cornstarch to sauce (or use more sauce or less water if you prefer)
- Stir sauce and turn heat to medium high heat
- Bring sauce to a boil
- Slice hot dogs into medallions and add to boiling sauce
- Lower heat to simmer hot dogs in sauce
- Cook until the barbecue sauce is thick again.
- Taste test, you may need to add a little more sauce if you prefer a stronger flavor.
Serve With:
- Salad
- Southern Green Beans
- Cornbread
Centsible Tips:
- Always watch for sales on hot dogs and vegetables to stock them when they are cheaper.
- Plan to eat southwestern hot dogs when you have the ingredients on hand.
- Watch for coupons for your favorite hot dog brands and for barbecue sauce.
- For the southwestern side dish of cornbread, you can use a cheap mix like Jiffy’s mix on sale or make it from scratch.
Tags: cheap meals, frugal food, frugal meals, main course under $2, recipes
Posted by Brandy on Jun 13, 2010 in
The Centsible Home,
The Kitchen The room I use most often is the kitchen. Here I plan out my meals, store my food stock, cook meals from scratch and manage the rest of my life. It’s my command center.
Like any good command center, it should suit our needs. It sometimes falls short since it’s a more modern kitchen, it lacks the space for serious food storage and it’s short on space for our homeschooling.
It’s a cute spot though with golden cabinetry, granite counter tops, white stone floors and walls painted beige. I have decorated it in a country cafe theme in colors of white, red, chocolate, cream and black. Even if some of the space isn’t exactly what I need, it reflects my tastes and our lifestyle.
This evening, I am sitting at the farmhouse table sipping my coffee and planning to tell you about my meal planning.
Did you know I have an obsession with organising food, planning budget shopping and preparing meals? If you didn’t, you soon will.
I am very southern and use many techniques that have been handed down in my family. We enjoy southern, homestyle, Italian, Chinese and some Mexican cuisines.
We try to have a low sodium, lower carb diet. My dream would be to have a diet rich in natural foods but sometimes realising the dream is out of the budget.
Most of my meals follow a plan that consists of salad, main course/meat, vegetable/fruit and a starch.
If you enjoy food, looking for some new frugal meals to try or want ideas on budget shopping and stocking food, check back here through the summer. I will be sharing my lists, menus and recipes!
Posted by Brandy on Jun 12, 2010 in
Uncategorized
Book Read: Mum’s the Word
Author: Kate Collins
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Cozy mystery
Kate Collins is the author of a flower shop mystery series. The first in the set is Mum’s the Word.
Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers, has not had any luck in walking down the aisle with flowers in hand herself but her blooms are attracting customers for all sorts of occasions. In this first book Abby also has had the fortune of not tripping over a dead body as many other cozy mystery characters do. She does however, see what she believes to be a murderer fleeing the crime that happens near her shop.
Abby’s concerns quickly go from selling enough flowers to being in great danger. You have to read the book too if you want to know if her chances of survival and love blossom.
Check out Mum’s the Word at my Amazon store
My Summer Reading Log:
- Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan
- The Companion by Susan Squires
- Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
Tags: reading, reading og, summer reading
Posted by Brandy on Jun 12, 2010 in
Uncategorized Our lifestyle is one where we all embark on life’s adventures as a family. We work, learn, play and live together as a family.
This is not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we are each running in our own directions or simply don’t agree on specifics. For the most part though, we are a united family.
Our lives consist of self employment, homeschooling, teaching the children skills they will need in adult life, martial arts, some old fashioned approaches to home management, gaming, reading/writing and also some lofty ideas on self sufficiency, natural and balanced living.
Today we are struggling to live a fulfilling life in the suburbs of Louisiana during a rocky economy. If you are trying to manage to find balance and happiness in hard times, may you too find success.
Posted by Brandy on Jun 12, 2010 in
Uncategorized I challenged myself to a summer of reading. Perhaps this won’t get plants maintained, fitness levels up or the house cleaned but it will help me to enjoy my life and to expand my mind.
I won’t be reading only fiction this summer. I have committed to learning new things and to learning how to improve my life. Children are not the only ones who can be homeschooled! Self education is an important undertaking for any adult who wants to continue to grow.
So far my reading log looks like this….
My Summer Reading List:
- Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan
- The Companion by Susan Squires
- Mum’s the Word by Kate Collins
Tags: adult education, reading, self improvement