The Painted Table

While the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover" rings true, this is another book that I chose because the cover attracted me. The Painted Table by Suzanne Field is a story that spans three generations and focuses on mental illness.

I was immediately drawn into the story and captivated by the writing. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book I felt like important aspects were skipped over and that the end was rushed. I didn't feel as though the story telling was consistent to the end.

Overall, it was an engaging book that I would recommend.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

December IPSY Bag Review

My IPSY bag finally arrived! One of my favorite subscription "boxes", this bag is $10 a month and comes with a decorative make-up bag and 5 make-up items (often times full-size!).

This month the theme is "Celebration!" Each month there is usually around 10 items available. The combination of 5 that you will receive are based upon your profile and the surveys that you complete after each bag you receive. You can see the other items by going to your Glam Room at IPSY.

This month I received:

*Ardell Natural false eyelashes. I really wonder why I keep receiving items like this in my bag when I specify that I do not use these. Maybe their system is on the fritz?!

*Be a Bombshell The One Stick in "Girl Crush". For your lips, eyes, and cheeks. Can't wait to try this out!

*Pop Beauty Eye Shadow Trio in "Naturally Bare". Should be the perfect shade for me!

*J. Cat The Big Lip Pencil in "Caramel Mocha". At first I was disappointed, thinking this was another lip pencil to outline your lips with (which I don't use) but it is also to be used like a lipstick so now I'm happy.

*Signature perfume samples by English Laundry. One for women and one for men. These smell wonderful and the one for men will go in my husband's stocking on Christmas.

*A nice black bag, which I will surely find a use for.

Disclaimer: Referral links included in post.

PopSugar Must Have December Box Review & Code

For some reason my PopSugar Must Have box always arrives after everyone else's. So of course I had already seen spoilers of the box and at first I wasn't impressed at all. Holiday boxes are usually awesome but I was feeling pretty bored with the box.

After I had the box in my hands it still didn't knock my socks off but I realized that there are some nice gift items in here and some things I will eat use myself.

The theme for the December box is "the wish list you never knew you needed".

*Ghiradelli Squares Chocolate ($4 each) While I think a gourmet chocolate may have been a better choice for a holiday box I will never turn down chocolate! Especially flavors like eggnog and pumpkin spice!

*CC Made Caramel Corn ($3) This is baked by hand using organic yellow popcorn mixed with buttery caramel and roasted nuts. Sounds divine! I'll be sure to share this with the rest of the family or else I would probably eat it all at once myself.

*Govino Go Anywhere Flutes ($12) These glasses look like crystal, but are made from shatter-proof material. I wouldn't buy these myself but they will be something special for New Year's Eve (when the kids get sparkling grape juice, which Jacob always called "little kid wine")

*Mixt Studio Holiday Gifting Set ($9) It feels like newsprint but is so much prettier and is made from recycled materials and comes with tags and twine. I wouldn't pay $9 for this but it will make some of the gifts I give look a little extra special.

*NCLA Peppermint Lane Nail Wraps ($16) These are so cute! I think I will be gifting them!

*Modelco Fibre Lashtend Black Mascara ($20). I really don't need ore mascara, as I have enough already and rarely, rarely wear it to begin with. This will go in the gift pile; I have lots of sisters and female friends who would appreciate this.

*Lulu Frost for PopSugar Bracelet ($75) This brand is known for mixing vintage and modern elements to create timeless baubles.

I don't wear expensive jewelry and would never buy this myself but I liked it when I opened it up more than I thought. I'm now trying to decide if I should keep this or gift it.

All totaled this box is worth $143. It's not my all-time favorite but still a very nice collection of items! If you are interested in subscribing to PopSugar Must Have use the code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box.

Did you get the December box? What did you think?

Disclaimer: Referral link included in post.
 

Today

*Started off with a baby diaper that exploded all over our bed. Apparently it's now sheet washing day.

*We awoke to about an inch of snow. I know that the kids will be begging to go outside later today. It's been awfully cold here as well so it may take me as long to bundle them up as it will for them to play outside.

*Amy is pulling herself up now. And getting her top two teeth. And getting hurt a lot as she is mobile and constantly on the go. She seriously never just sits there now!

*I did a big shopping trip to start back on the Trim Healthy Mama book and have been loving the recipes. It's nothing like "diet" food and much more like real, satisfying food. This morning for breakfast I had a cup of coffee and steel cut oats with 1/2 cup berries and 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese blended up. You don't mix it together but rather plop the berry mixture in your bowl and dip the spoonful of oatmeal into it. It was delicious and so satisfying! 

*I recently finished the book The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein which a friend and a reader here recommended to me. I loved it and finished it within the same afternoon of starting it. A great book for a cold winter day!
 

Trim Healthy Mama Kai Si Ming

I'm still trying recipes from the book Trim Healthy Mama, though I really need to get back into using the plan daily. One recipe that we all love turns out to be a very quick and very inexpensive dish. It is an "S" meal (Satisfying) and there is enough for supper and leftovers for lunch. 

Kai Si Ming

Brown 3 lbs. ground beef in a large pot (we are not big meat eaters so only do 1 lb. of ground beef).

While meat is browning, slice 1 1/2 large cabbages thinly (keeping strands long). Slice 2 large onions thinly.

Drain most of grease from meat, leaving a bit for flavor.

Add cabbage and onion to meat. Put lid on pot and let cabbage wilt down a little for a few minutes.

Add 1 tsp. sea salt and lots of black pepper, 2-3 T. nutritional yeast, a dash or two of cayenne pepper, onion powder, and some generous splashes of soy sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos. 

Add 4 cups water, or 2 cups of water and 2 cups stock/broth (which is what we do)

Cover pot with lid and simmer slowly, stirring now and then until cabbage is soft and well cooked, about 30-45 minutes.
 

I'm Dreaming of a...

...Goodwill Christmas.

I really felt like skipping this Christmas altogether. I have no plans to send out cards this year. Can't imagine making Christmas goodies. I didn't have plans to decorate, but my husband decided to decorate the porch and the kids begged me to have a tree but instead of our typical big tree I just pulled our miniature one from the closet. I had no plans to drag out all of the decorations this year.

I also had no plans to do a lot of shopping. This year, if anything, the true meaning of Christmas shall prevail. The whole Black Friday shopping and buying just to buy things makes me feel sad. I joked with my siblings and mom that we should just buy the ugliest thing at Goodwill for each other. The idea stuck. My mom and siblings over 18 are looking for the ugliest, yuckiest, tackiest things we can find for each other. The rules are that it has to be used and has to be under $5. I've actually had fun, as have Becca and Joe, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone! :)

Today, with my husband off from work, we decided to go grocery shopping and made a stop at another Goodwill. I found a few perfect gifts for my siblings and then actually found a few decorations for my own home. The snowman, embroidered picture, sparkly tree, and snowman picture holder (which will hold my holiday cards) were under $10 combined. Decorating the buffet without much hassle or heartbreak? Priceless.  

Yesterday after going to an Amish dent and bent discount store (discounted food products) we stopped at a little out of the way thrift store. I found several miniature vintage wooden ornaments for 10 cents each. Their ugliness drew me to them, the type of ugly that ends up being cute. These are now decorating our tiny Christmas tree. 

I equate this as our Charlie Brown Christmas. Bare. A little ugly. Hopefully beauty is found in it's simplicity.

 

This Week & Book Winners

*The kids and I went thrift store hunting yesterday. It was a rainy, gloomy day and my husband had to work until 6pm so  figured it was a good day to get out of the house.

It was tough, as we went to a town that the last time we were there was Jacob's birthday. At one point, for no reason in particular, I felt the beginnings of a panic attack. 

Though I don't write much about my journey with grief at this point it is there, every single moment of the day. Which is maybe exactly why I don't write about it much. Sometimes, just for a moment, I want to feel normal. That's a thing I don't feel often these days.

*Back to the thrift store shopping. I was finally able to find Becca some jeans. We've been having a hard time as the regular jeans end up being too big and the slim end up being too small. She tried on several different pairs and we found four that fit her! One new with tags Pumpkin Patch jeans and a pair of Joe's jeans even...all for under $2.50 each.

I may not be able to afford a Dyson vacuum but Amy now has one waiting for her for her birthday. :) A little toy Dyson vacuum was just too cute to pass up for $3.88 and when I looked online about them to figure out the wheels on hers I saw that they are $30+ new and actually suck up some bits and pieces! Joe had fun playing with it yesterday and now it is in the closet for Amy's birthday.

I fell in love with a vintage clock. The robin egg blue second hand and the typeset of the numbers spoke to me. It works and found a place in the living room now. 

*The winners of the Shades of Mercy book were chosen by Random.org and were number 9, 2, and 6. If your comment is posted below please e-mail your address to me at babys_mama1 "at" yahoo.com and I will get the books sent out this week!

AnonymousDecember 2, 2013 at 8:51 PM

I would enjoy curling up with this book some snowy afternoon! I've not heard of it or the author and it would be a treat to try something new. --Dorothea

AnonymousNovember 30, 2013 at 7:26 AM

I love to read--everything and anything. But most of all, I check each day to read your latest post.

 

 

AnonymousDecember 2, 2013 at 7:03 AM

I would love a new book to read. Thank you for the chance!
Elizabeth