Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue was recommended to me by my longest, dearest friend LC. She text me and told me it was good, so naturally I requested a hold on it at the library and picked it up the very next day. The first couple pages was hard for me to get into, see it's written from the point of view of a 5 year old boy. The language was a bit off and I wasn't sure what it was about. Let me tell you after the first 20 pages I couldn't put the book down. I finished the book in 3 days! I've only done that a few times. I highly recommend this book to anyone, it's not like any book I've ever read.

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the world. It's where he was born, it's where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack's imagination-the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells, the imaginary world projected through the TV, the coziness of Wardrobe below Ma's clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night in case Old Nick comes.
  Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she has been held since she was nineteen-for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven foot space. But Jack's curiosity is building alongside her own desperation-and she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer.
  Told in the poignant and funny voice of Jack, Room is a story of unconquerable love in harrowing circumstances, and of the diamond-hard bond between a mother and her child. It is a shocking, exhilarating, and riveting novel-but always deeply human and always moving. Room is a place you will never forget.

I also think this would make a great book club book. I may still suggest this to my book club and read it again.
Has anyone else read Room? What did you think?
Now on to the next book, what is everyone else reading right now?

xoxo
-N

Mexican Dinner, photo post!

My good friend over at At Altitude http://www.thechickvoice.blogspot.com/  lives next door to me, and she knows how to do a fantastic Mexican dinner. I could live on Mexican food like 5 nights a week if my husband gave me the OK...So naturally as two bloggers that live next door to each other must do is have a dual blog post!

The first item on the menu we have the Green Chili Casserole:

And OMG, is this casserole so wonderful! This is also good for breakfast the next morning. Also a great meal is Chili Rellenos made with these same chili's. So if you buy the big cans you can make several dinners. This would be on my list of freezer meals. Which I am in the process of doing now.

Up next we started with the Mexican rice on the stove.

This rice turned out way better then any Mexican restaurant rice I have had in years!

We then had Steve make his wonderful green chili served with warm tortillas and crock pot beans.

When you sit down for this meal make sure you have your "fat" pants or any other stretchy banded pants on, you won't leave hungry! It's a once you start it's hard to stop kind of meal. I just need to try and remake it at home on my own. But if all else fails, Chick voice will be making it on a more regular basis ;)
Now head on over to At Altitude to read what she has to say about her own recipes!

xoxo
-N

Almost over...

It's almost been 2 weeks. I've totally survived my husband being gone for 2 weeks. He comes home mid morning on Thursday! It hasn't been that hard at all having him gone in regards to taking care of the kids and house. It's just that my best friend, companion and husband hasn't been here to kiss me good morning and good night. I have to tell him about my day on speaker phone instead of in person.
He has totally enjoyed his "vacation" is what I like to call it but he's ready to come home too.
Friday is his birthday, so I am trying to plan something low key just so he knows I care. We are a little old to really celebrate like we used to. He starts his new job on Saturday, so he cannot be hung over or tired either.
I'll let you all know what we end up doing.

I've got a few blog post on draft for you all. So hang tight I'll get there. I have a lot of spring cleaning to do too. I made my LONG to do list this morning while getting the kids breakfast.

Make it a great day!
xoxo
-N

A Tree grows in Brooklyn, Book Review

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is about a girl name Francie that grows up in Brooklyn with her family. She has a younger handsome brother Nelley, whom the mother adores, a handsome father named Johnny who is an alcoholic and mother named Katie who doesn't care for Francie. They grow up in the early 1900's so money is hard to come by and paid in penny's. Can you believe 5 cents was a lot of money back then? Francie grows up fast and is learning that education is important but you have to get it at the same time as working. Francie goes through many changes in her young life.
This book is nothing like I have read before. There's no twist, no wow moment just a great story about a girl growing up. I really thought there might be a major climax in the book but was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. This book is an easy read and enjoyable for all ages.

If you have read this I would love to hear what you thought. If you read this after reading my post come back and let me know what you think also.

xoxo
-N

April Goals

April showers bring May flowers...I hope! We are having the driest winter, so hopefully spring we get some moisture. I want a flower garden or maybe put in a veggie garden on the side of my house??
I would love to have my own fresh veggies and herbs. I would like to make my own pesto whenever I wanted and make the best panini sandwiches you've ever eaten.
Anyway for April I really need to step things up a bit. Summer seems just right around the corner and I need some things in order and done before I have the boys full time and then it's all about them only!

April Personal:
*Continue Running and training for races
*Keep Rock Climbing


Family:
*Attend a few functions at church
*Teach boys about Holy Week and Resurrection of Jesus
*Practice sports at home

Reading:
*Finish A tree grows in Brooklyn
*Freezer Meals and how to plan ahead
*The Room
*Book Club Book

God Gave us so Much..Book Review

The book God Gave us so Much by Lisa Tawn Bergren was one of the most beautiful kid books I have ever read. This book is told through the eyes of a curious Polar Bear while going through journeys through the Artic North Pole. While on this journey with Mama, papa and grandpa bear they share the incredible miracles of God's creation and depths of His loves for her.
This book explained how God created this big world, his love for us and all about Heaven. My kids listened intently and liked it! I think a lot of parents want there kids to know all about God and Jesus and retain the information at such a young age. It's hard to make sure that the kids listen in church and at the dinner table, what have you. This book was written so good, that when I was done reading it they didn't have any questions it made perfect sense on how God created the earth, Loves us so much and what to expect in his house. "D" even said while reading about heaven how he can't wait to get there!
I highly recommend this book for all ages! If you are having a hard time getting your kids to understand who God is or they just have questions, this is a perfect book for your family!
I will be keeping this for a long time and looking for the other 3 books that Lisa Bergren has written.


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Our Baptism

Growing up I never did get Baptized and I didn't get my kids baptized when they were born like most do. When we finally decided to find a local church a few years back, I decided I'd really like to get baptized along with the boys. So after taking a few classes and being at the height of faith I decided this is the next level for me. T decided that he wanted to do it too. So we notified the church that we wanted to be baptized after the service on Sunday.

 My husband was the photographer...He sucks! The pictures all turned out blurry. I look horrible in every one too. So I don't plan on posting any pictures any where but on here.
After the service we came home with our friends and had some mimosa's, omelette's and monkey bread to celebrate our faith!

Anyone have a baptism story?
xoxo
-N

March Goals Update

Well another month comes to an end and I have finished a few goals again. I feel like March was a long month compared to the last few months that flew by so quickly. Yet I didn't finish everything as I would of liked to. Don't you feel like there just isn't enough hours in the day to do all you really want to do along with all the chores and things for the kids? Now that sports have started I need a new daily schedule!
 I need start thinking about my April goals now!
Also for March I have been doing fantastic with my no dessert/sweets for Lent. Tanner gave up Chips and he has cheated several times. Dylan with the cereal has been great, but has cheated with rice crispy treats and a cereal breakfast bar if you really want to get technical. I think we are all ready for Lent to be over.

March
Personal

*Run a 5k
*Run that 5k in under 32 minutes....I ran it in 32 minutes in 12 seconds, better luck next time.
*Close up Pampered Chef business...Had my last show, now only website is active
*Train more for my next 14er (on going)
*Work towards finding the right mission trip....Still working on it
*Indoor Rock climbing ..this is ongoing as well, but I have gotten up a few walls.

Reading
A Tree grows in Brooklyn.....almost complete

Financial Peace and planner by Dave Ramsey (I need to keep going on the planner)

God gave us so much... to the kids

Family....(didn't get to these goals, will transfer to April)
*Try making new dinner items
*tomatillo sauce from scratch
*Marinara sauce from scratch
*Challah bread
*1 more sandwich bread recipe
Anyone else have April goals they are working on?

Pier 1 Outdoor Furniture is here!!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring is here and stores are putting out the wonderful outdoor or patio furniture. I am always outside either relaxing in the sun or having a BBQ with friends. I looked on Pier 1 to see what I want or would like to have for my patio. They just have the cutest stuff!

For multi functioning decor pieces I will get the Lanterns 

The Lanterns can be used for the tabletop decor, yet I have a retaining wall so I would buy 4 of these and put them on the wall. During the winter this would be a great indoor ledge decor, mantel piece or a great piece to put next to your couch in the corner. Great space filler. Don't you just LOVE multi functioning pieces?? I DO!

 If you know me at all, I have to own everything Fleur de lis and this piece would go in my corner patio, then in winter in my living room corner for a filler spot again!

 

For patio furniture you must go with the iconic Papasan chair!  Who doesn't love to relax and in style?They also now have a swingasan too if you have a place to hang a swing. Looks pretty romantic.

For my small patio space I would have to go with the lounge area look. Which anyone could really pull off, with the options Pier 1 offers. I have noticed the lounge area is the new style instead of the table and chairs lately, anyone else noticing that? 

 I personally will have to go with the Cuidad style furniture, the corner chair with the matching armless chairs. I already have Pier 1 floral cushions like shown below. They are the most comfortable cushions I have ever owned. Well worth the money! I also have a window that pops out of my house, so the cuidad trunk must go under that and hold all my cushions and children's toys!  

    

So head on over to www.pier1.com and checkout what patio furniture your going to decorate with this year! Also checkout Pier 1 Tweetups in Atlanta on April 5th and NYC on April 20th.