As you all know, I try to stay on the healthy eating wagon (at least during the week). But let’s be real for a minute ok? It can get really boring. I tend to fall in to the trap of making the same recipes over and over for a month or so and finally either Chris or I will be like ummm let’s change it up this week!!!
I was really excited when I opened the box to my Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook! It has over 350 healthy recipes inside! There is a wide variety of different types of recipes from main dishes, drinks, sides, snacks, etc. Some of these recipes seem quick and easy and others are more advanced. Now, I knew nothing about Trim Healthy Mama before getting this cookbook, so I didn’t realize they have a whole blog and brand. I just get excited about healthy recipes!
At the beginning of the book it talks about the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle and talks about the different tags for the recipes. Like there is FP for fuel pull, S for satisfying, E for energizing, etc. It also tells you the tools and such that you will need in your kitchen. This book is all about lifestyle, not just a diet.
Some recipes that stand out to me:
-Just Like Campbell’s Tomato Soup
-Jalapeno Onion Burgers
-Banana Bread Pudding
-Drive Thru Sue Cheesy Crackers
One thing that really bothers me about most of the recipes is that they require Trim Healthy Mama products. These products have to be ordered online and they are a tad on the pricey side. See here. I can appreciate the healthy alternatives needed for the recipes but I don’t want to have to get on a website to order those things. What I will say is at the bottom of most of these recipes it will tell you substitutes so you can make it shopping from your regular grocery store. It is just most often, you will be adding calories/changing the nutrition of them.
There are also ingredients that I just don’t keep on hand or use for anything else. They give you a list of things that you may not have on hand that they suggest having for the recipes though, so at least you know in advance.
Now, I wanted to share a recipe from the book for your holiday gatherings!!!
Cranberry Wassail (makes 2 quarts)
What you Need:
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp who cloves
3 star anise (optional)
1/4 tsp pure stevia extract
2 tsp orange extract (or a few drops of pure essential orange oil)
What you do:
1.Put the cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise into a large pot and cover with about 1 1/2 quarts of water. Place lid on pot and bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and brew for 1 hour.
2.Fit a 2 quart jug or larger jug with a circle of fine cheesecloth, tying it over the mouth of the jar, or insert a funnel type coffee filter into the mouth of the jug. (You can use the permanent filter from your coffee maker.) Using a ladle, scoop the mixture into your filter to strain it into the jar. YOu might need to swish things around in the filter or remove mush to allow the liquid through occasionally.
3. Remove the filter and add very hot water to top of jar. Add the stevia and orange extract, stir very well, and taste.
Serving Suggestion: Pour the wassail into a warmed crockpot to enjoy on Thanksgiving or Christmas day with guests.
Read more about Trim Healthy Mama here. You can follow along with the Trim Healthy Mama on Facebook and Twitter!
**I received this book from Blogging for Books but all opinions are honest and of my own. **
I consumed this book via Audible, and I have to say that I enjoyed the reader’s accent! This book starts out going from character to character in each chapter, back and forth inter-winding the story. Cecelia discovers a letter that her husband wrote to her to be opened in the event of his death. How can you not read that if you found it sooner? This book basically follows how that one letter effects the lives of others around them. I enjoyed all three characters stories and plot lines and how they came together at the end. What I really appreciated was the epilogue to update where they were and what would have happened had that one major event not occurred. It really made you think.
Bottom Line: Once I got a few chapters in and got to know the characters, I became very interested and had to know what was going to happen next! I would say that this is a must read. I laughed, I felt touched by the struggles these characters went through, and I was drawn in from the beginning needing to hear more and more.
When I requested this book, I had no clue it was #4 in the Friends First series. It was no matter, you can read this book without reading any of the previous ones and still love it. And love it I did!!! Heather raved about this book so I knew I had to get to it before my others.
Maya sees Jack, her ex-husband Will’s best friend out at a bar one night. She hasn’t seen him since the divorce. They start growing close, but they shouldn’t be having these feelings because she is his best friend’s ex! The chemistry between these two is amazing. They are so sweet to each other and you get all the back story of Jack’s life. The devotion he has to the people he considers his “family.” The thing is, Jack stepped aside for Will before but can he walk away again? This one will touch your heart!
The relationships in this book move at a great pace, not forced or rushed. I really like all the secondary characters and how everything isn’t always perfect.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a sweet love story, grab this! I loved it and could hardly put it down. Such a great read!!!
*I was provided a copy of How Forever Feels by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is the follow up to Everything I Left Unsaid, which I reviewed here. The first book had left off on a huge cliffhanger so when I saw this one, I had to request it! This book starts off exactly where the first book left off. Annie is in her trailer and she sees Hoyt, her abusive husband. Obviously it is a page turner from the very beginning. All the characters in the first book come back in this one, Joan, Kevin, Margaret, Blake, Tiffany. There is some new action/drama in this book, and of course it follows along with the relationship between Annie and Dylan. And as the title states, you learn the truth about Dylan. About his past, about the relationship with his father, Ben and brother, Max.
Bottom Line: If you read Everything I Left Unsaid, then you have to read this one to find out what happened!!! I would say you must read the first book to understand the characters and what is going on in this book. This series is not for the prude or faint of hearts. This isn’t a sweet sappy love story. It is a dark romance full of imperfection that makes it perfection to read.
*I was provided a copy of The Truth About Him by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Also, there is a promotion M. O’Keefe is running right now called the #EverythingILeftUnsaid Contest.
We’ve all been there. When it comes to the truth about him, there’s always something that’s left unsaid. This is your time to get it off your chest – what do you wish you could have said, but didn’t? In 75 words or less, tell us #EverythingYouLeftUnsaid for a chance to win great prizes!
Five Lucky Winners Will Receive:
A copy of Everything I Left Unsaid and The Truth About Him by M. O’Keefe
Designed, shareable cards using your submission that M. O’Keefe will share on her Facebook and Twitter account (submissions remain anonymous)
This book started off at a drag race and Jordan looking for a guy to replace the interior of her 370Z that she bought at a police auction. I was sold. I used to love going to car shows and stuff like this when I was younger. It was so thrilling! Anyways, back to the book. Next thing you know, Jordan is being kidnapped by the man who is stealing her car. But there is a deeper story behind why the car is being stolen. Never has a kidnapping been so painful to read about as you feel sorry for the girl AND her kidnapper!
Nic Medina was in prison for seven years because a dirty cop put him there. And now the dirty cop had blackmailed him in to stealing Jordan’s car. He didn’t mean to kidnap her too and now he is just trying to make it right. Nic carries a lot of guilt about what happened to his sister and brother while he was in prison. He would do anything protect his family and friends. Soon Jordan falls under his protection as well.
This book leaves off on a huge cliffhanger. I heard the next book doesn’t come out for another year. OMG!!!! I am like…
Bottom Line: Read this book!!! It was so good and I had the hardest time putting it down. I basically devoured it in about two days. Action, romance, hot cars, what is not to love?
*I was provided a copy of Accelerate by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is another book I consumed via Audible. Again, loved the accents and voices for each character! There are several characters to keep up with in this book, but once I got a few minutes in to it…I had no issues keeping them straight. I love the way that this author writes, and I think that is what draws me into her novels.
Since I don’t have kids, I never really thought about the politics that can occur with parents at a school. Especially with kindergartners! But my goodness, is there some politics, gossip, and drama!!! I really loved how each of the character’s stories were really built up. I felt like I knew the main characters on a personal level. Not to mention the secondary characters as well. This is my second Moriarty book and I feel like she always raises the question….how far are you willing to go for your family and friends. I like a book that leaves you questioning scenarios in your own life. They all seem completely plausible after you are wrapped up in to it!
Bottom Line: This was quite an enjoyable read, I highly recommend this book and the author! I loved the school politics, the small town drama and the twists on how everyone is connected.
I love fruit. There. I said it. I love all kinds of fruit: berries, pineapple, apples, anything citrus. When I saw the Citrus book I was immediately intrigued. Citrus themed recipes? Don’t mind if I do!
The front cover alone is gorgeous!!! Upon opening the book, you will find recipes categorized by each citrus fruit: Lemon, Lime, Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, and the rest. You get an introduction and information about each of the citrus fruits and then the recipes follow. Some of the dishes are simple, but they all sound sophisticated and unique to me! You can find anything from drinks, to cakes to main dishes. I was glad to see very different recipes from my usual rotation, it forces me out of my box. Each recipe is accompanied by a beautiful picture. It gets you excited to try them all!!!
On my short list to try are the Icy Blood Orange Margaritas. Have you ever had a blood orange margarita before? I had one at a local restaurant and it was to die for! I don’t even really like margaritas, but some of the fruit flavored ones take me by surprise. The local place only had them as a seasonal special, so I was so excited when I stumbled upon that page!!!
There is a recipe for candied chocolate mandarins. How awesome of a homemade Christmas gift would those make? All you need is sugar, water, mandarins, and dark chocolate. So easy!
Looking for the perfect breakfast? There is a recipe for Burnt Cinnamon-Sugar Grapefruit or Crepes with Candied Tangerines.
For those of you who love the sea food, there are plenty of fish recipes and even one for Linguine with Clams & Lime!
This book would make a wonderful addition to your cookbook collection and would be lovely displayed on your kitchen counter! I also would highly recommend this as a gift for any citrus loving friends! Perhaps pair it with a basket of assorted citrus fruits so they can get cooking.
You can learn more about the author of the book here.
Read the overview and view an excerpt of the book here.
**I received this book from Blogging for Books but all opinions are honest and of my own. **
Another month of reading has come and gone! Hard to believe, right? What is even harder to believe is that Steph and Jana started this link up a year ago! Happy Anniversary to Show Us Your Books! Obviously, a book nerds favorite day of the month! Let’s take a look at my books lately.
This book surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. You have two broken souls, Cora who had a strained relationship with her mother growing up which eventually led to a wild and crazy life style that found her in rehab. Then there is Jake, a handsome baseball player whose dream was shattered when he had to have surgery on his elbow and is not sure if he will ever pitch again.
I liked the pace that the author took while developing the relationship between Cora and Jake. It wasn’t like they first met and are hopping in to a relationship. It had a realistic development that I appreciated. Also, I really liked the side story with Cora’s mom and her illness, and the friendship with AJ and Liam.
I loved Cora and Jake together and I really liked the style of writing from the author.
Bottom Line: This is a book about finding yourself. This book is a love story between two broken souls. This book is about a rocky relationship between mother and daughter. This book is about forgiveness for yourself and others. Who should read it? Everyone.
*I was provided a copy of The Light of Day by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is the second book in the Renegade series. (You can read my review for the first, Reckless here.) It sort of has the same plot as the first book. You have the damaged girl (Rubi) who has a problem committing to a relationship out of fears from her past. The “bad boy” stuntman (Wes) who has a huge heart and is almost too perfect. And the fight back and forth within the girl to fall in love and allow herself to be happy. Even though it followed the same recipe, I still really enjoyed this read! Plus, Lexi and Jax are back from the first book. The chemistry between Wes and Rubi is hot hot hot from the start and they can’t resist each other for very long. You get a lot of back story on why Rubi is so guarded, and I really enjoyed reading about it and seeing it all play out. I look forward to the next Renegade book!
Bottom Line: If you loved Reckless…you will love this one too! I would say that you don’t have to read Reckless to enjoy this book, but why would you want to skip it?!
These are two novellas in one book. I didn’t realize that when I requested it, my fault. Apparently, All is Calm is from the Lonestar series and All is Bright connects to the Hope Beach series. I haven’t read either of these series but I still enjoyed these two novellas. You have a little mystery, a little love, and a Christmas theme. Let’s be honest, my request was solely based on Christmas!! I saw the cover and said YES!!!! and knew nothing about the books. While it wasn’t what I suspected, the stories are pretty juicy for being short. At times I felt they were both a little rushed, but aren’t all novellas?
The first novella story has just a teeny bit of Christian faith thrown in, but nothing offensive, annoying or preachy. It is a murder mystery. The second novella is about a girl that is stalked and driven off a road. They try to dig up things from her past to figure out who is stalking her. Both were very quick reads once you got in to them.
Bottom Line: I would suggest these novellas if you have read either series or enjoy this author. If you are looking for a quick and interesting read, I would check these out! I really enjoyed both stories and the style of writing.
*I was provided a copy of All is Calm, All is Bright by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee – This is one of three audio book that my library has. Sad that there are only three, right? Anyways. I had high hopes once I learned that Reese Witherspoon was the one doing the reading. I tried. I tried for three days to get in to this and I just couldn’t.
Currently I am consuming The Husband’s Secret via Audible. I really wanted to have it completed for this link up, but that didn’t happen. It will be on the next one! Have you read anything good lately?
I am not going to lie, I absolutely judge a book by it’s cover. When I saw the Apartment Therapy Complete and Happy Home cover I thought….I want to live in that living room!!!
This book is full of beautiful home decor pictures that will inspire great ideas for your own home! The book is broken down in to three main parts: Setting Up Your Home, Living in Your Home and Maintaining Your Home. It helps you chose the right type of house, and different styles of decor to fit your lifestyle and tastes. Don’t let the title fool you though. This isn’t so much about an apartment as it is a house. But the concepts can apply to both.
There are sections of the book that break down how to have a good flow through the home, what the appropriate type and size light fixture is for a bed side table, even framing unexpected pieces like sports equipment or functional items to create a differnent vibe and added storage space!
Not all of the design styles are my taste, but it provides great ideas to apply to things that I do like. It talks about what to do with small rooms to make them look larger, how to chose paint and floor finishes, etc. Plus, there is an outdoor section! Learn how to have a garden with minimum acerage, set up your deck to entertain and maximize your small patio space.
One of my favorite sections of the book is in the back. There are useful guides with home repair tips and other great information. When you first purchase your home, you are just so excited and overwhelmed with the newness of it all that you’re not quite thinking what it is going to take to maintain it!!! And the best part? There is a yearly guide broken down by months to keep you on track with keeping your house clean, healthy, and happy! Starting January 1, 2016, I plan on writing down each month’s goals in my planner and see how the schedule works for me. I think I am going to love it!
You can read more about the author here and read more about the book here.
**I received this book from Blogging for Books but all opinions are honest and of my own. **
