May 7, 2012

Amazon Giveaway: One Simple Question!

Since Sunday is a day to honor moms…What do you appreciate most about your mother? Or if she has passed on, what do you remember most about her legacy?

(I’m thankful my mom has always honored my trust. No matter what challenges I’ve faced or personal discussions we’ve shared, I’ve never worried about who she might tell. She keeps it between us and God, and I appreciate her intentionality to keep it that way. I love you, Mom! :) )

Answer this question in the comments, and you’ll be entered in the drawing for a $10 Amazon e-gift card. Drawing ends on Friday at midnight. Winner will be announced in next week’s post. Good luck!

*The winner of last week’s Dani Pettrey giveaway is Bekah! I’ll contact you this week with details.

**Photo by luckypic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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May 4, 2012

Fashion Choice Friday: The Kentucky Derby Hat

For all you horse racing fans out there, the Kentucky Derby is this weekend. I usually like to watch it, not so much for the horses as much as the fashion. It’s the one time when Americans give the British a run for their money with fancy hats.

So let’s have some fun today…Imagine you’re going to the Derby and you have to choose one of these hats (no choosing “none of the above” please!). Which do you choose and why?

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*All hats are from hatsinthebelfry.com

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May 2, 2012

Groceries to Buy for Your Husband When You Travel

If it seems like I’ve been quiet online this week, it’s because I’m away on a writing trip. Ahhhh, do you hear that? It’s the sound of silence, of grown-up conversations and the clink of coffee mugs without a “Mommy, where’s the plunger thingy?!” in the background.

As with any solo expedition, I spent a few days preparing in advance, especially getting things in order for my husband to be Super Dad on his own. And part of my preparation included stocking up on groceries.

For fun, I posted the following update on Facebook last week: “Planning a grocery list for hubby for when I’m out of town next week. Let’s see…hot dogs, mac and cheese…any other essentials I should include?”

And oh my word, did people ever comment! So I figured I’d share the essential groceries your husband must have on hand if you, too, take a trip away and leave him home with the kids. Prepare for enlightenment, my friends…

- Chips Ahoy
- Chicken nuggets
- Grapes
- String cheese
- KFC
- Dinty Moore
- Frozen pizza (mentioned more than once)
- Cheese and bread for grilled cheese
- Spaghetti
- Peanut butter
- Gift cards to fast food
- Ice cream (also mentioned more than once)
- Potato chips
- Steak
- Potatoes to go with the steak
- Chicken noodle soup
- Cottage cheese
- Cereal
- Yogurt
- Recipes for crock pot meals

And my favorite response…

- The phone number to the local delivery pizza joint

What would our husbands do without us, ladies?! (They’d eat healthier, that’s what. :) )

Can the man in your life hold his own in the kitchen? What do you buy for him when you leave him home alone? Any other essentials to add to my list?

*photo by Robert Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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April 30, 2012

Meet and Greet with Author Dani Pettrey (Plus a Book Giveaway!)

Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.

I’m so excited to welcome Dani Pettrey today! Can I tell you what a fabulous writer she is? I just finished her debut novel and am pretty much telling everyone I know that they need to read it…It is so good! (And yes, I’m friends with Dani, but my opinion is completely unbiased. :) )

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com. You can also visit her blog, Twitter page, or Facebook Author Page.

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Welcome, Dani! Now on to the questions…

Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?

Wife, mom, Christian, writer, daydreamer, beach-lover, coffee-drinker. Hope hyphenated words count :)

Either/Or Questions:

1) Andes Mountains or The Alps? The Alps. I love Europe.

2) Full steam ahead or Life in the slow lane? Does somewhere in between count? I usually go pretty full steam ahead, but there are certainly days I wouldn’t mind life in the slow lane.

3) Better Homes and Gardens or ESPN Magazine? ESPN. We love international soccer with a passion. Go FCBarca!

4) Mommy chic or Comfy casual? Comfy casual. I’m all about comfy.

5) Chocolate cake or Carrot cake? Chocolate. It’s my favorite food :)

6) Shop til you drop or Shop only if necessary? It depends. If I have plenty of funds and I’m shopping for something fun, then shop until I drop. If it’s grocery shopping, trust me it is only because it’s necessary.

7) Rock climbing or Skydiving? (since I know you incorporate adventure in your novels) Rock climbing. I tried it while researching an earlier manuscript and fell in love with it.

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I wish I was brave enough to try rock climbing or sky diving, Dani, but I’ve gotta admit…I’m a wimp. :) I’m totally with you on the chocolate thing, though. And I do love a good game on ESPN, although my choice tends to lean toward football or tennis. Does your family blow one of those airhorns in your living room like they do at the soccer games? It always sounds like there’s a hive of bees living in my TV when I watch the World Cup. :)

Thanks so much for visiting today! I’m anxiously awaiting Book 2, so I’ll be stalking–I mean, keeping an eye out for when it releases. :)

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Submerged

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers. One single clue.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a town that doesn’t forget. She’s returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart… but doesn’t seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he’s not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

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Blog Readers: Let’s Talk…Are you an adventure seeker? What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done? Any sports fans out there? If you could go to a professional soccer match, would you take an airhorn or earplugs? :)

*Giveaway Details: Dani has offered to give away a copy of Submerged! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!

**The winner of last week’s Naomi Rawlings giveaway is Vera Godley! I’ll contact you this week with details.

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April 27, 2012

The Perfect Springtime Treat: Strawberry Tossed Salad Recipe

There’s nothing I love more than the perfect salad. (Well, okay, maybe chocolate, but I digress…) I love it when I discover a salad that combines textures and flavors that don’t make sense…until you taste them together.

The recipe I’m sharing today does just that. It’ll make your mouth dance with flavor, and it’ll give you good reason to buy an extra pint of strawberries every time you go to the store. :) The original recipe came from Quick Cooking, and I’ve made one or two minor variations as noted below.

Strawberry Tossed Salad

6 cups torn Romaine lettuce (The original recipe calls for mixed salad greens, but my favorite is Romaine.)
1 pint of fresh strawberries, sliced
1 pkg (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup sunflower kernels (or slivered almonds are good too!)
Balsamic vinaigrette (I like to either use Brianna’s blush wine vinaigrette or make my own dressing by combining equal parts olive oil with balsamic vinegar.)

Start by combining all the ingredients except the dressing. Just before serving, toss with the dressing until coated. (Makes 4-6 servings)

*photo from Tasteofhome.com

What are your favorite salad toppings or flavor combinations? Any foods that signal the arrival of spring to you?

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April 25, 2012

Top 5 Tips for Moms Seeking Peace and Quiet

All right, moms, I know the noise is inevitable. But if you reach your end, here are some options.

5. Put a pillowcase over your head and pretend to be part of the bedspread.

4. Tell your kids you’ve developed an ear condition that requires absolute silence and could result in a spinach diet if not followed properly.

3. Play a game of hide-and-seek. When it’s your turn to hide, sneak out to the minivan and go for a drive.

2. Schedule back-to-back dentist appointments. Then ask the doctor if you can spend the second hour lying on the chair by yourself.

1. There’s always Benadryl.

*Disclaimer: These are for humor purposes only and are not real suggestions. If you do any of these things in real life, you’ll bear the sole responsibility for any arrests or doctor bills that follow.

Any other moms out there craving peace and quiet once in a while? How do you make time for yourself in the midst of life’s chaos?

*To fit the theme of peace and quiet, I have an article posting on Ungrind today called Protesting Rest. For a slightly more serious look at how I’ve learned to seek rest, come on over and visit.

**Photo by photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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April 23, 2012

Meet and Greet with Author Naomi Rawlings (Plus a Book Giveaway!)

Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.

I’m excited to welcome Naomi Rawlings as my guest today! I met Naomi at a writers conference last year and felt an instant connection with her as a fellow writer-mom. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her here today, and hopefully you’ll jump in for the chance to win her debut novel, which sounds fabulous! (Keep reading for details. :) )

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A mother of two young boys, Naomi Rawlings spends her days picking up, cleaning, playing and, of course, writing. Her husband pastors a small church in Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, where her family shares its ten wooded acres with black bears, wolves, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Naomi and her family live only three miles from Lake Superior, where the scenery is beautiful and they average 200 inches of snow per winter. Naomi writes bold, dramatic stories containing passionate words and powerful journeys. Her debut novel, Sanctuary for a Lady, releases in April of 2012. You can visit her at her website www.naomirawlings.com, her blog makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com, or her Facebook page www.facebook.com/author.naomirawlings.

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Welcome, Naomi! Your home sounds amazing. And I know all about chasing little ones around, so let’s get straight to the questions…

Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?

Short, sweet (hopefully), romantic, nerd, wife, mom, author

Either/Or Questions:

1) New York City or Los Angeles?

NYC. Does that make me crazy? I live way up north, and we never get any sun in the winter, and LA would definitely be sunnier and warmer than NYC. But then, does anywhere in the world compare to NYC?

2) Fierce competitor or Cheering on the sidelines?

Sidelines. Clearly you’ve never seen me try to play volleyball or softball. I’m one of those weird people who runs the other way when a ball flies at their head (as opposed to running toward the ball and trying to hit it in a certain way). Phys Ed was my perpetually worst grade in school.

3) Chicken noodle soup or Chili?

Chicken Noodle Soup. Way more comforting than chili.

4) Snow boots or Flip flops?

I’d love to say flip flops. I want to say flip flops. But the average snowfall where I live is two hundred inches per year. That translates into about 17 feet. So definitely the snow boots. I own maybe two pairs of flip flops and six or seven different pairs of boots. It’s sad, I know, but it’s a reality where I live.

5) Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?

Oh goodness. I can’t pick because I never watched cartoons growing up. No, my parents weren’t ultra strict, I was just always in a corner reading a book rather than watching a cartoon.

6) From scratch or From the microwave?

Middle of the road. I don’t like to cook, but I don’t really like microwave food. I’m more the five-ingredient-recipe kind of person.

7) Dogs or Cats?

Dogs. Way more friendly.

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Fun answers, Naomi! I tend to agree with you about the five ingredients thing. I remember the peanut butter pie recipe you shared on your blog and how easy and yummy it sounded. I still need to get around to making it…just as soon as I finish this diet I’m on. :) And I know what you mean about P.E. class. Even though I love fitness, there’s a big difference between exercising and participating in a competitive sport. Competitive I am not. :)

Thanks so much for visiting today! I loved getting to know you better.

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Sanctuary for a Lady

Running to freedom, she found love . . .

The injured young woman that Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat, and in the midst of France’s bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.

Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke’s daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be . . .

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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Are you competitive by nature? Any former sports stars among us? If you’re non-competitive like Naomi and me, what other extracurricular activities did you do in school?

*Giveaway Details: Naomi has offered to give away a copy of Sanctuary for a Lady! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!

**The winner of last week’s Jessica Nelson giveaway is Karen Lange! I’ll contact you this week with details.

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