Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 2/1/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

We made it through January 2021!  Happy February :)

The weather outside is:

Snow.  Snow.  Snow.  Snow.  SNOW!  (If you've ever seen "White Christmas" you know the tune I'm singing to...)  I've heard that we're supposed to get anywhere from 6 inches to 24 inches!  lol  As I'm writing this Sunday afternoon, we've gotten about 3 inches so far and it seems to have just started.  Please pray for safety for all those who have to travel in this nasty weather.

On today's to-do list: 

Due to the impending snow storm, we went for groceries Saturday morning.  The stores were nuts!  I guess we were right there with them, though :)  So my to-do list is to stay in and stay warm!

Happening this week:

Laken's birthday is Tuesday.  She turns 14 years old!  I can't believe my baby is 14!  Laken is "in-school" this week.  Kaylee is working her normal 2nd shift and Doug is working 3rd shift.  Other than Laken's birthday and a doctor's appointment, it is a pretty normal week...

Currently reading:

Last week I read "Panning For Love" by Meg Cross Wenig and loved it!  Now I'm getting ready to read "The Ace of Hearts" by Ashtyn Newbold, a new-to-me author.

On the TV:

NCIS (the original) ~I didn't realize that NCIS with Mark Harmon (my favorite) was back on and had a few episodes to catch up on.  SPOILER ALERT!!  Ellie and Torres!  Things are going to get interesting :)

The Prodigal Son ~ Did you see this week's episode?  Oh my!  It was creepier than usual and that is saying something!  lol  My favorite new(er) show!

Walker, Texas Ranger ~ This is a reboot of the CW.  I've seen the Pilot so far and it was really intriguing.  I'll definitely be watching more!

The Little Things ~ This is a new movie that became available at the theater and on HBO Max Friday.  We saw the preview for it last week and anxiously awaited the release date.  It was a drama/crime/psychological (I don't really know how to describe it...) movie.  I was sometimes confused?  I didn't know if it was confusion or just me trying to figure out what was going to happen next.  The acting was amazing.  Of course, Denzel Washington starred in the movie so, you know, it was good!

Listening to:

I featured  "Royal Blood" by Richlin   this week on Songs on Sunday.

On the menu week:

Monday ~ Pork Chops, sweet rice

Tuesday ~ Meatloaf, mashed potatoes

Wednesday ~ Spaghetti, garlic breadsticks

Thursday ~  Chicken, Stuffing

Friday ~ Ham Pot Pie

Saturday ~ Enchilada Stuffed Shells

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

I was working on the "Linen Afghan" in the Beautiful Shells pattern for most of the week.  Then I got an order for a "Think Pink Prayer Shawl" so I whipped that up.  Now it is back to the "Linen Afghan".

Memory Verse

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you."  Psalm 86:5

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

I'd love for you to stop by and give THE SHOP some love!

Songs on Sunday ~ Royal Blood by Richlin

I'm pretty sure I heard this song on The Forward Message, a program on SiriusXM The Message.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

Colletta

P.S.  I'd love for you to come visit my SHOP!

Hey, It's Okay ~ 1/30/2021

Go visit Amber over at Airing My Laundry  to share what you're "Okay" with!

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Hey, It's Okay...

...for me to be glad that my Chronological Bible reading is finished with the book of Job.  It is a tough book to read.

...that I'm not totally in love with the new curtains we hung in the Family Room.  Anytime we decorate with something new it takes me some time to get used to it.  I'm hoping that is the case in this instance.

...that I'm not a fan of "Call Me Kat" starring Mayim Bialik.  I gave it a fair chance and watched a couple episodes hoping to love it but the show just isn't for me.

...to take a snow day every once in a while.  Better safe than sorry!

...for me to have a love/hate relationship with Winter!

...that I had to dig deep for next week's Top Ten Tuesday topic.  I totally used high school literature class to fill out the 10 books I've read that were written before I was born!  You'll have to come back to see what my over-achieving self read.

...that I burned my finger getting Baked Macaroni and Cheese out of the oven.  Ouch!

...to go to bed at 8:30pm.  I was tired...

What are you "Okay" with?

Colletta

P.S.  I hope you can stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

My Weekly Bookishness ~ 1/29/2021

All things bookish!

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What I Read:

You can read the blurb and my review HERE!

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What I'm Reading:

Blurb:

A secret venture, a regrettable love letter, and a heart he can't afford to lose.

Faced with her stepbrother’s betrayal and an unwanted marriage, Alice Rosemeyer accepts an invitation to the estate of Larkhall. Determined to earn her future security without a husband, she begins operating as the anonymous Ace of Hearts, writing love letters on behalf of the men eager to secure a match at the close of the London season. If she can manage to keep her identity secret, her reputation intact, and avoid the arrogant house guest, Mr. Thomas Herring, she might just call herself successful.

When Thomas Herring's sister marries an indebted man because of a love letter, he has no choice but to marry into money himself. Invited to stay at Larkhall, he sets his sights on the wealthy sister of his host. When she appears indifferent, he stumbles upon an advertisement: a gentleman offering assistance in matters of the heart. An ace, so he is called. But when he turns out to be she, and also a guest at the same house, his task is further complicated—especially as Alice proves herself to be as captivating as she is clever.

With reputations, secrets, and more than one heart at risk, Alice and Thomas become trapped in a game with no rules, a game neither intended to play. Had they been wrong to play love for a fool?

The Ace of Hearts is a sweet regency romance novel, book one in the Larkhall Letters series by Ashtyn Newbold. 

First Lines:

Escape.  The word pattered softly through Alice Rosemeyer's mind like the rain that would soon fall against her window.

56%/Page 56

A deep scoff came through the air.  "How on earth could that be a good plan?"

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What I'll (Probably) Read Next:

Blurb:

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!

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What I Can't Wait To Read:

Blurb:

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

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What I Was Reading 5 Years Ago:

Originally a feature called Last Year I Was Reading created by Maria from ReadingMaria. 

Literary Feline liked it enough to continue, but has tweaked it

 to feature Five Years Ago I Was Reading. 

See the Blurb and My Review HERE!

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Book Haul:

 

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Book Blogger Hop:

Q.  Do you share books? If so, do you have a system to keep track of whom you lend books to? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

A. I'm a one-and-done kind of reader.  I only read books once and very rarely hold onto them.  When I'm done with a book, I pass it on to fellow book-loving friends with no expectations of ever seeing them again.  I would prefer that they get passed along to yet another reading enthusiast.

I started reading ebooks on my Kindle about 9 months ago, so that also takes care of having a stack of books with no where to put them.

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Bookishly Yours,

Linking up to: 

   

  

Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, Sunday Salon,  Mailbox Monday

Three Things ~ I Love About Winter ~ 1/28/2021

This is a post containing a list of "Three Things".  

If you'd like to join in with a list of "Three Things" of your own, 

leave a link in the comments!

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Three Things I Love About Winter:

~ I love the freshly fallen snow.  I especially like when the snow sticks to the trees and it looks like a Winter Wonderland :)

~I love Winter because my youngest daughter, Laken, will be turning 14 years old on February 2nd!  (How did the time fly by so fast?)  She loves everything about winter.  I love the memory of the day I went into labor with her...  There were snowflakes coming down as big as a quarter.  They were just slowly floating down and seeing it calmed my heart.  Laken's birthday is a bright spot in the other-wise dreary Winter.

~Each day that passes means it is one day closer to Spring!  I like to watch the time it gets dark each day.  Just a few weeks ago, 5pm was pitch dark.  Now it is almost 5:30pm before it is dark out.  I love it!  I love the hope it brings.  If I can just make it to Daylight Savings Time!  (BTW, that would be March 14th this year.)

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What are some things you LOVE about Winter?

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I hope you'll come back next Thursday to read about:

Three Things That I Hate About Winter!

Colletta

P.S.  I'd love for you to stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

Thankful Thursday ~ 1/28/2021

 

Here are some things that made me thankful/smile/excited this week:

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~Goodreads Challenge!  I'm ahead on my Goodreads Challenge!  I set my 2021 goal for 26 books and so far I'm 2 book ahead of schedule.  Go me!

~Hannah's Birthday!  Last Friday was Laken's friend Hannah's birthday.  With school being virtual and hybrid, they hadn't seen each other since October!  (thank goodness for modern technology that these kids can keep in touch)  To celebrate Hannah's 14th, I picked Laken up at school and then we got some frozen hot chocolates for Hannah and her little sister.  We stopped by their house (pre-planned) and Laken was able to see Hannah and give her a gift along with the frozen hot chocolates.  We didn't stay long as we were standing outside talking (appropriately distanced) but I know it was good for the girls to see each other!

~Vanilla Cookie Crunch!  I mentioned in my "Hey, It's Okay" post that I started burning my new candle before finishing the last one.  That is because Vanilla Cookie Crunch is seriously one of the best smelling candles I've ever had the pleasure of owning.  The only problem is that it makes me want to bake :)

~Lilah in Socks!  Laken was playing in the snow on Monday and decided when she came in to put her fuzzy socks on Lilah.  Lilah didn't mind it at all and I must admit it was cute and made me chuckle to see her walking around the house with socks on.  Bunny socks, even :)

~Snow Day!  We had some nasty weather on Monday/Tuesday.  Kaylee and Doug were both able to take snow days and stay home safe and sound.  Laken is on virtual schooling this week so we didn't have to worry about her.  I truly don't mind winter weather as long as my loved ones aren't traveling in it!

What are you thankful for/smiling/exited about this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

P.S. I love for you to stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

Weekly Blogging Challenge ~ Book/Movie/TV Show That Influenced My Life ~ 1/27/2021

This week's topic is:  

A book/movie/TV show that influenced my life

In my early teens I fell in love with Regency romance (or any romance that took place in England).  I also loved Western romance books.  I guess you could say Historical romance is my all-time favorite.

All through my teens and 20's I read mainstream romance.  My hubby called them smut books and, trust me, there were some steamy ones.  You know, the ones that you're embarrassed to have your mother catch you reading!  At least that is how it was for me especially with some of those covers!

Then I discovered Cathy Marie Hake and "Fancy Pants".  I guess you could say I discovered Christian Fiction and a whole new world (and backlog) opened up to me!

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Blurb:

When Britisher Lady Sydney Hathwell's father dies, the American who planned to wed her suddenly reneges. Stranded in America and penniless, Sydney contacts a relative in Texas who, mistaking her male-sounding name, invites his "nephew" to join him on his ranch.

"Big Tim" Creighton, however, is appalled when this mincing fop arrives at Forsaken. He determines he'll turn Fancy Pants Hathwell into a man before the boss returns home. From the get-go, he has "the kid" mucking stalls, clearing and plowing a field, and assisting with a difficult calving. But when Sydney's true identity is uncovered, Tim resents being deceived. Yet in time, he also finds that he doesn't like all the attention Sydney garners now that she's wearing pretty gowns...

Together Sydney and Tim will discover the importance of family and what it means to be a man--and a woman--of God. 

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"Fancy Pants" was the best of all worlds to me.  Historical/English/Western and best of all:  guilt free.  Not to mention, it was funny as "all-get-out"!  (what does that even mean?)

Now, I can say that I read Christian/Clean Fiction exclusively.  There are tons of "CF" authors and genres out there.  I've read just about every type:  Historical, Contemporary, Chick Lit etc., etc., etc.

And I owe it all to Cathy Marie Hake and "Fancy Pants".

So, what is a Book/Movie/TV Show that influenced YOUR life?  

Colletta

P.S. I love for you to stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

Book Review ~ Panning For Love by Meg Cross Wenig ~ 1/26/2021

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Title:  Panning For Love by Meg Cross Wenig

Series:  N/A

Pages:  285

Date Published:  September 28, 2020

Publisher:  Kindle Edition

 Blurb:

Maggie Carver found herself as the third wheel in her own relationship with a guy who was really good at living a double life—until he wasn’t. Since then, trust didn’t come easily. Two years later, her best friend convinced her to go live for a week in Summit Springs, an old mining town in Utah. In a historical reenactment experience, they would get to live as people did in 1866 during the Wild West. What Maggie didn’t plan on was falling for an outlaw from a wanted poster.

For John, it was love at first sight. He and Maggie had a rare connection, and it wasn’t every day someone understood his humor. He never minded playing the part as livery owner by day and outlaw by night at Summit Springs—until now. His other job came with a nice paycheck, but people normally treated him differently when they found out about it. John didn’t want a thing to change between him and Maggie.

Will Maggie let John steal her heart or will past fears foil the heist? 

My Thoughts:

I knew I would love this book from the time I read a review written about it and of course read the blurb.  I immediately went and downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited.

I love history so the idea of spending a week back in time sounds like so much fun!  In fact, certain aspects of this book reminded me of Austenland by Shannon Hale, a favorite of mine :)

The book is written in the first person from Maggie's perspective.  I usually prefer reading both sides of a story but I think in this case it lent to the air of mystery.  I don't want to give anything away, but I figured out John's "other job" at least I had a good idea.

Maggie was such a fun character and was so witty and sharp-as-a-tack!  John fell right into step alongside her.

I loved that, even though the time-table was one week, the way the author wrote didn't make the love story feel rushed at all.

Meg Cross Wenig is a new-to-me author but I'm already excited about reading more book by her!  Again, I got this book through Kindle Unlimited but in case you'd like to purchase it, it is $3.99 to download on Amazon.

Onto the next book!

P.S.  I'd love for you to come visit my SHOP!

Tuesday 4 ~ Rejoice! ~ 1/26/2021

Head over to Tuesday's Place for the questions and to visit everyone's answers!

Lets rejoice today!

1. What makes you rejoice the most?

First I'd thought I'd start with the definition of "rejoice":  feel or show great joy or delight.  So what makes me feel or show great joy or delight?  I think what delights me is when I see my girls (Kaylee-19 and Laken-almost 14) get along and even enjoy each other's company.  It doesn't happen often enough for this mama's heart!

2. What song makes you feel joyful or happy?

I think sometimes in life "joy" is something you have to choose.  Thereafter, I've picked the following song for this question:

3. Do sounds of nature give you a joyous feeling?

Yes, it does!  I love sitting outside on my porch swing listening to the birds.  Long ago, when the girls were little we had 2 parakeets.  I loved hearing them chirp in the mornings :)

4. How about holidays? Do you really rejoice or just kind of show up?

Most of the time I rejoice if all I have to do is show up!  If you know what I mean.  Sometimes all the prep-work it takes for holiday fun can steal the joy right out of a person.  I have to make a conscious effort to limit my stress so that I can rejoice to the fullest :)

Colletta

P.S.  I hope you can stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

Top Ten Tuesday ~ 2020 New to Me Authors ~ 1/26/2021

New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2020:

I got my new Kindle along with Kindle Unlimited in 2020 which opened up a whole new world of reading to me.  I read exactly 10 new authors!  How is that for luck?

(Click on the cover to go to the Goodreads page)

Please leave a comment with the link to your Top Ten Tuesday post so I can return the visit :)

P.S.  I'd love for you to stop by MY SHOP and give it some love!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 1/25/2021

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello, and Happy Monday!

The weather outside is:

VERY cold!  And we're supposed to get snow accumulation today and throughout the week.  I hate the thought of Kaylee and the Hubby driving in bad weather to and from work :(

On today's to-do list: 

I need to get groceries.  I was going to go Saturday evening but just didn't feel like fighting the crowds.  Hopefully I can get to the store and back before the weather gets too bad!  Kaylee is going to go with me.  She has decided that she wants to be in charge of cooking dinner on Saturdays!  See the menu below :)

Happening this week:

Other than the normal (groceries, laundry, housework), Laken has a Dentist appointment.  She was supposed to go last week when the rest of us did, but it was her first week back in school and I didn't want to take her out of school.  This week she is on virtual, so we can easily slip down to the dentist without it effecting her work.

Currently reading:

I read two, yes two, books last week!  "Wyatt" by Susan May Warren and  "The Loneliest Cottage" by Melissa Storm.  That is a record for me lately.  Currently, I'm reading "Panning for Love" by Meg Cross Wenig.

On the TV:

I didn't really watch anything this week.  I have lots to catch up on!  It is all DVR'd.

Listening to:

I featured  "Wake Up Sleeper" by Austin French this week on Songs on Sunday.

On the menu week:

Monday ~ Weiner Winks, homemade fries

Tuesday ~ Meatloaf, mashed potatoes

Wednesday ~ Fish, homemade mac-n-cheese

Thursday ~  Chicken Pot Pie

Friday ~ Creamed Chipped Beef on toast

Saturday ~ Southwestern Casserole

Sunday ~ Potluck at Church

In the Craft Basket:

I decided to make the "Linen" afghan in the Beautiful Shells pattern.  It is going to take me a while...

Memory Verse

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9 NIV

Have a great Monday!

Colletta

I'd love for you to stop by and give THE SHOP some love!

Songs on Sunday ~ Wake Up Sleeper by Austin French

This is another of my newest favorites.  I always have to turn up the volume when this song comes on.

Enjoy!

Colletta

P.S.  I'd love for you to come visit my SHOP!