Tea Time ~ Weight Watchers and Stationary~ 11/11/16

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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First I'd like to thank all the Veterans who have served our country.  Special thanks to my amazing Dad for serving.  I'm so proud to be his daughter!  Happy Veterans Day!

Now on to my Five:

 

~I joined Weight Watchers!  You can see my Weigh-In post HERE :)

~I was featured on Linky Ladies!  Steph's Afghan was one of their top five clicked :)

~I got a new Planner, Pencils and Highlighters for 2017!  Yes, I'm nerdy like that :)

~I also got my new Calendar for 2017!  I'm excited to start a brand new year :)

~I was selected as the Featured Blogger on Parajunkee and Alison Can Read's Feature and Follow Friday!  So excited :)

 

What made you smile this week?

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Love Made My Home , Friday's Fave Five. Life in Leggings.

 

Book Review ~ Refuge by Lisa Tawn Bergren ~ 11/10/16

 

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Blurb:

 

When Rachel Johanssen dared Beth Morgan to answer a personal ad in The Rancher’s Journal, she never thought her citified friend would become a bona fide rancher’s wife. Now Rachel, too, is falling in love with the glorious valley…as well as with Dirk Tanner, a rugged rancher who makes it his home.

 

Rachel isn’t the only San Franciscan newly drawn to the Elk Horn Valley. Jake Rierdon, son of a San Francisco client, has taken a shine to ranch life too--and to beautiful young Emily Walker. But will threats from the present and the past destroy any chance the couples have to build a future?    

My Thoughts:

 

This is the very first book in the "Full Circle" series.  I was surprised to find out that this book is actually in two parts.  One tells Rachel's story and the other tells Emily's story.  Basically, two short-stories in one book.

 

RACHEL

 

As with most books in a new series there are some learning curves such as getting to know the characters, setting, etc.  With this book, it jumps right into the plot.  I had to learn quickly who was who and what was what.

 

I loved the main characters but was wishing the story was a bit longer to get to know them better before the climax and ending.

 

EMILY

 

By the time I was reading about Emily, I felt that I had gotten to know the characters and the surroundings as they were basically the same as Rachel's story.

 

I felt more for Emily and Jake.  Maybe because I had met Jake in the first part and really like him then.

 

Emily's past was haunting and it was touching to read how she let herself heal with God's help.

 

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Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading Book 2 about Jake's sister.  Lucky me, it is already on my bookshelf!

 

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

  

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook , Hearts for Home

Weigh-In Wednesday ~ 11/9/16

 

 

My inspiration:

 

Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

 

Proverbs 16:3

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I did something life-altering Saturday morning at 8:30 am.  At least I hope it will be life-altering...

I joined Weight Watchers.

I've been thinking about it for years and at one point my dr. even suggested it but I balked at the idea.  I don't know why.  I guess I thought I could do it by myself.  But obviously, I can't.

I was so nervous walking into the meeting.  I arrived early (because that is what the WW website said to do) and there were only a few of the workers setting up.  It was probably the best time to get there.  It wasn't overwhelming with people yet and I met the "teacher", Dorothy, and the receptionists, MaryAnn and RuthAnn.

I filled out all my paperwork and weighed in.  Yikes!  (Maybe someday I'll be comfortable telling what my actual weight is (soon to be "was") but not yet.

Dorothy found a long-time member for me to sit by and we chatted until it was time for the meeting.  Soon people began pouring in.  I wondered about them.  How long had they been coming?  What is their success story?  What are their goals?

Soon, the meeting started.  The main focus was "Asking for help".  It was about not being afraid or timid to ask for help from those we are closest to.  A mate, children, parents, co-workers, etc.

I have to say that the Hubby has been very supportive in my decision to start Weight Watchers.  He is even helping me to figure out the point system and went grocery shopping with me.  It made me smile to see him walking down the grocery aisle with the point calculator

 So my question is:  Have you ever joined Weight Watchers or some other weight-loss support group?  If so, did you ask for help and have the support of your loved ones?


My week's stats:

Weigh-in:  Starting weight

Exercise:  Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues - 40 minutes per day walking as suggested by my Profile on WW website.  (It actually suggested 35 minutes but my walking route takes 40 min.)

Tracking:  Doing very well with tracking my food on the WW website.  I'm still learning the SmartPoint system.


Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

 

Linking up to  WholeHearted Wednesday, R&R, Word Filled Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, Ladies Collective,   Party in Your PJs,  The Mommy Club, Works or Me, Wake-Up Wednesday and  Women with Intention, Peaches and Salt, and Fitness Friday.

Teaser Tuesday ~ Christmas Mail-Order Brides ~ 11/8/16

 

My teaser for this week is from:

 

 

~"The shrieking blast of the train whistle shook the platform of the Chicago Central Train Station.  Annika Bergstrom clutched her twin sister, Sophia, and swallowed her tears.  She must be strong for Sophia's sake."~

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 11/7/16

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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The weather outside is::::

 Gorgeously Fall!!!!
And it is light out when I get up!

On my breakfast plate:
 

SmartOnes Canadian Bacon, Egg and Cheese Muffin
  

As I look around the house::::

 

Quiet!  After Laken being sick and home from school all last week, it is good to have her feeling better and in school.  Which means I have the entire day to myself to get some bedding washed after all that sickness!

On today's to do list::::

 

Wash Bedding.
Schedule Kaylee's ortho appt. (Still haven't)
Order more checks.  (Still haven't)
Bills (Behind on this due to sickness)
Work on Demelza.

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday....Bills, wash bedding, odd and ends chores, work on Demelza.
Tuesday...  Work on Demelza, Dentist Appts for all of us, Ladies Meeting at Church.
Wednesday... Clean, Menu and Grocery List, Baking day with Mom, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday.....Laundry, Work on Demelza.
Friday....Grocery Shopping, No School for the kids (Veteran's Day)
Saturday....Schedule for next week, Bedrooms, Help prepare and serve Veteran's Dinner at Church.

Currently reading::::



My Christmassy books arrived!  I love Christmas.  I love reading.  And I love mail-order bride stories.  Yay!  So far I've read the first novella and it was so sweet!  I'm in the mood for sweet ;)

 

On the TV::::

 

After a long week of sickness, we got of the house a bit to take the girls to see "Trolls".

It was such a cute movie with great music.  Here's a little taste:



 

 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Stuffed Shells, Garlic Bread, Green Beans, Apples
Tuesday - Pork Chops, Cheesy Potatoes, Broccoli, Apples
Wednesday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, Corn, Peaches, Sugar Free Dessert.
Thursday - Dan's Day (My brother will bring something home, so no cooking!)
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Toast- Breakfast / Cheeseburger Mac- Dinner
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

Granny Squares!  I have a beautiful pile of granny squares that will turn into an afghan for my Aunt Donna.

 

I'm using Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn Stonewash.  It is a gorgeous yarn to work with!

 

 

 

 I have 30 squares completed and only need 5 more.  I only need one more granny of the berry color and I'm cutting it QUITE close on the yarn.  I hope I have enough because 1.)  I really want to get this finished and 2.)  Hobby Lobby is an hour away.  I really don't want to have to drive an hour for just one skein of yarn!  (Who am I kidding?  It would be just one skein coming home with me!)

 

I'm also still working on Demelza but don't have any new pictures to show you.  I need one more panel and then the center square.  After I get them crocheted, I have some ends to tie in before next Thursday when the joining portion of the CAL comes along.  Hopefully next week, I'll be able to show you what the complete Demelza is going to look like!  So excited!

 

We'll also be starting a new CAL (Crochet-a-long) on December 1st in the Pippin Crochet Club facebook group.  It will be Bonnie Barker's Holiday Cable Throw which is a free pattern on Ravelry and Redheart.com .  Here's a intro video from Bonnie:

 

 

 

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name."

Luke 1:49 NASB
 

 

Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday , Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.

Stacking the Shelves ~ 11/5/16

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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This week I added the following to my shelf:

It is 1811, and the prosperous port city of Charleston is bustling with plantation owners, slaves and immigrants. Immigrants such as the raven-haired Adalia Winston. But Adalia has a secret: her light skin belies that she is part black and a runaway slave from Barbados. Skilled in herbal remedies, Adalia finds employment with a local doctor and settles into her quiet life, thankful for her freedom but still fearful that her owner will find her.

Born into one of Charleston's prominent families, Morgan Rutledge is handsome, bored—and enamored of the beautiful Adalia, who spurns his advances. Morgan's persistence, however, finally wins, and Adalia is swept into the glamorous world of Charleston high society.

But Adalia's new life comes at a high price—that of denying her heritage and her zeal for God. How far is she willing to go to win the heart of the man she loves? And when her secret is revealed, will that love be enough, or will the truth ruin Morgan and send Adalia back into slavery?  
 

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Also linking up to: The Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday



 

Happy Reading!

Feature and Follow ~ Childhood Favorites ~ 11/4/16

 

 

Q: What are your favorite childhood stories? (children's books, nursery rhymes, etc.)

Ohh, I love this question.  Takes me back memory lane!

"Little Women" was one of my first favorites.



"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" was the first book that made me cry and I love it!



Another favorite that I remember getting from Scholastic Book Orders is "Charlotte Sometimes".  Sigh!  Love it, too!



These books are still on my bookshelf in my childhood bedroom.  I couldn't bear to part with them.


Have a great Friday!

Tea Time ~ Fevers and a NEW CAL ~ 11/4/16

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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~I won the Pippin Crochet Club giveaway this week and already received my prize!  Isn't it a lovely little hook caddy :)

~My mom and I went yarn shopping for the new CAL on Pippin Crochet Club that starts on December 1st!  I picked "Mushroom" as my color for the Holiday Cable Throw :)

~Here is a Introduction video to the Holiday Cable Throw!  Come join in :)

~I finished Steph's Afghan, finally!  She loves it :)

~I was working on Demelza and looked over and saw my little Jazzy snuggled up beside my crochet squares!  She's so cute :)

~I don't have a picture for this one, but Laken's fever FINALLY broke!  I was so worried and now I can relax a bit :)

 

What made you smile this week?

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Love Made My Home , Friday's Fave Five.

 

Book Review ~ Strand of Deception by Robin Caroll ~ 11/3/16

 

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Blurb:

 

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.

Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.


But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.     

My Thoughts:

 

This book is the third book in the "Justice Seekers" series.  All three were excellent!  I'm a bit sorry to see this series come to an end. 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Maddie and Nick's story.  They both were perfect lead characters.  Maddie had the smarts and apparently Nick is a hunk of a man :)

 

At times, things got a bit technical but not enough to make it difficult to follow.

 

I love crime dramas with the right amount of romance, so this book (in fact - this whole series) was right up my alley.  I loved it!

 

I think I've found a favorite new genre, although historical is still high up on my list!  I do love to have variety in my reading, though.  It keeps it interesting.

 

I can't wait to read more books from this author!

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

  

Linking up to:  Share Your Cup;  Grandma Ideas, Literacy Musings and Saturday Situation, Booknificent. Party at My Place , Saturday Review of Book , Book Nook

WWW Wednesday ~ 11/2/16

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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• What are you currently reading?

 

This book is set during and after the great Chicago fire.  It is really interesting so far and I'm looking forward to digging in some more!

 

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• What did you recently finish reading?

 

 

I mentioned last week that I wasn't really getting into this book.  I'll admit that I gave up on it and put it firmly in the DNF category.  I hate when that happens!

 

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• What do you think you’ll read next?
 

I'm expecting this book in the mail any day!  I'm really looking forward to reading some Christmassy stories :)
 

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Have a great Wednesday!

Teaser Tuesday ~ Into the Whirlwind ~ 11/1/16

 

My teaser for this week is from:

 

 

~"Chicago
October 8, 1871

A wall of fire towered over Mollie.  The city of Chicago had been burning for hours, the scorching wind stirring up firestorms that barreled down the narrow streets and illuminated the night sky.  It was getting hard to breathe.  Smoke and ash hung in the air, coating Mollie's throat until her thirst grew more painful than the blistering heat.  The crush of people jostling to flee northward made it hard to even keep standing."~

 

Also linking up to:

 


Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 10/31/16

 

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

 

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The weather outside is::::

 Unseasonably warm.   We're supposed to have highs in the 80's this week.  Ugh!

On my breakfast plate:
 

Slim Fast Shake.
 

As I look outside my window:::

 

I see that the garden has been pulled out and cleaned up ready for the next planting season.

 

As I look around the house::::

 

Sickness has hit again!  I'm going to try to get Laken into the doctor today to check her ears and throat :(

On today's to do list::::

 

Call Pediatrician.
  Clean house.
Schedule Kaylee's ortho appt.
Order more checks.
Work on Demelza.

 

Happening this week::::

 

Monday....Dr., Clean, work on Demelza.
Tuesday....Me Day, Work on Demelza, watch Poldark and Timeless.
Wednesday... Baking day with Mom, Prayer Meeting.
Thursday.....Menu and grocery list, laundry, work on Demelza (a new part is released).
Friday....Grocery Shopping
Saturday....Schedule for next week, bedrooms, maybe a movie??? .

Currently reading::::



I've been waiting for some Christmas reads to arrive so I was holding out on starting something new.  However, since they didn't arrive before the weekend, I thought I'd go ahead and start it and hopefully my Christmas books will come this week.  I also LOVE this author!

 

On the TV::::

 

I have 3 episodes of Poldark to catch up on and also an 2 episodes of "Timeless".

I'm so behind on all my other shows, that I've decided to just give up on them!

 

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Weiner Winks, French Fries, Peas, Grapes
Tuesday - Pork Chops, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Apples
Wednesday - Chicken with Stuffing, Corn, Peaches, Apple Cobbler.
Thursday - Dan's Day (My brother will bring something home, so no cooking!)
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Toast- Breakfast / Grilled Cheese, soup- Dinner
Sunday - Dinner at Church

What I am creating at the moment::::

I "FINALLY" finished Steph's Afghan.  I've been working on it off and on since about August.
 

 

 

I made it in the colors of her Living Room.

 

 

It has already been gifted and was greatly appreciated :)

 

The flower pattern is the Primavera Flower from Ravelry.

 

I don't know why, but I always like to see how they look folded up all nice and neat!

 

 

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
 

 

Linking up to :What Are You Reading,   Yarn Fanatic, Art of Homemaking, Make Your Home Sing,  Good Morning Monday, Menu Plan Monday , Yarn Along, Keep Calm Craft On, Linky Ladies, Pieces by Polly , Homemaking Linkup, Homesteader Hop.