Free eBook: All the Pretty Girls

For all you e-readers out there, J.T. Ellison is currently offering free downloads of "All the Pretty Girls" at eHarlequin. It looks like a pretty good book. There's a synopsis of the story on the website.

When you download it, you're offered three different versions:
Adobe PDF eBook
Microsoft eBook
Mobipocket eBook

At 1682 KB, the Adobe is the largest file and you have to download Adobe Digital Editions in order to view the book. However... after you've downloaded the software, the Adobe website offers even more free ebooks! Yup, baby. The motherlode. If not that, it's at least a few freebies that you might enjoy, even Sophie Kinsella!

I would totally do this if my laptop was in commission... but it's been on vacation since late last year. Sigh. It looks like mama might just have to buy a new one. :) lol. In the meantime, go out and get this freebie and tell me what you think.

Tater Tot Casserole

A while back I made this for a neighbor. One for her and one for me. I meant to share the recipe here, but never got around to it. Looking in my purse today I figured I better hurry up and share before the recipe wears away to nothing!! Come on, it's been almost a year now. Yes, I procrastinate. What? You want to make something of it?? Go on then. I'll respond to your criticisms... eventually. :)

Anyhow, you probably remember this from back in school. The recipe I clipped forever ago out of who know's what magazine was called "Big Beef Casserole". It's the kind of thing that home ec teachers across the country are probably still showing their students. I just adapted it to use with ground turkey instead of beef. It's a bit less expensive and a bit better for you. :)

Tater Tot Casserole

1 lb. ground turkey (raw)

1 medium onion, diced

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 lb. frozen tater tots

Crumble the ground turkey in the bottom of a baking pan. You can use either a 8"-9" square cake pan or a 9"x12" pan. Spread the diced onion on top. Spread the soup over the mixture and cover with the tater tots.

Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour.

Serves 2-6.

Hard, huh? This is seriously supposed to serve 6, but if you're hungry (and you probably will be, otherwise why are you cooking??) you and a friend can probably finish the pan off easily.

You should see these things cooked. Pure elementary school lunch bliss!!

Jerezita

About a year ago I went through a major bout of housecleaning. I tossed a bunch of things that reminded me of Mexico and of what I had mistakenly thought to be happier times. One thing that I gave away was Jerezita. Jerezita was an adorable Mexican doll. I say "was" because (sigh) she has a new life now and hopefully a new name as well.

Today, I was on Wee Wonderfuls, and noticed a cute little doll that reminded me of an Americanized Jerezita. Isn't she adorable? She makes me want to go out and get another doll. Do you have a good source for handmade dolls? I checked on etsy.com but couldn't find anything I liked. If you know a place, let me know, please!

What's funny is I never really liked dolls growing up. I was more of a stuffed animal girl. However, I remember my maternal grandmother used to collect dolls. I never saw the attraction. Now I do. :) Weird, huh? Am I turning into my grandmother?? Lol.

Everclear Punch

Punch is an alltime standby when it comes to making drinks for a number of people with a limited budget. One way of stretching your money even more is by using Everclear, the hero/villain of many a frat party. Just be careful with this stuff. It's highly flammable! Yeah, really.



After looking online, I found a few recipes for Everclear Punch. The one that caught my eye was Becky's Magic Punch. Here's my version. Enjoy judiciously and away from flammable sources.


Everclear Punch

16 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate

8 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate

8 oz. frozen white grape juice concentrate

8 oz. frozen limeade concentrate

1 big can pineapple juice

2 2-liter bottles raspberry ginger ale

3 c. Everclear alcohol

Washed cut fruit (apples, plums, canteloupe, grapes)

Mix all the liquid ingredients in a large container. Add fruit and remix. Makes enough to last all night long! It gets stronger the longer it sits.

Also, the longer the fruit is in the punch the more alcohol-saturated it becomes. This is grown folk's punch. Keep the little ones away!

Video of the Day: Video

A good friend and I have been dieting since back in November. That's about four months of food journals and "should I, shouldn't I" debates over mealtime/snacktime choices. Since November I've lost two pounds. Woohoo! Two pounds! :) Okay, maybe I should have set my sights higher. Okay, maybe I *did* set my sights higher. But I will be very happy over those two lost pounds.

Stubborn little suckers that they are... those two little pounds are not resigned to being lost and will occasionally come back to visit. That's okay, though. I'm kind of happy with how I look. I'm not happy to look like this forever, but I'm quite happy to look like this for the moment. I'm a work (of art) in progress. Hopefully not an abstract piece of art. lol.



Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but what she knows
But I've drawn a conclusion,
It's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change
but don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
'Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicone I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be india arie

Party Garland

This weekend we're going to have a bit of a family get together. On Super Bowl weekend. This was planned even before anyone really knew who had made it to the big game. The Saints against the Colts. Um, I was already going to decorate in gold and black. Does that mean we're going to be rooting for the Saints? lol. Guess so.

Anyhow, I found a great party garland idea online via One Pretty Thing. Instead of putting mine together with casual cotton, I used this gorgeous ethereal-looking fabric in sheeny, transparent black and gold. I cut it in different-sized strips averaging 1" by 6". Each strip was quickly tied onto gold crochet thread. Here's the result. Whatcha think?

You can't really tell, but the slightest movement of air in the room sets the garland to fluttering. So simple and pretty. This reminds me of the gorgeous drinking straw/silk flower garlands they hang up in Mexico for fiestas. I've tried to find a source up here but haven't had any luck. If you know of one, let me know, please!

Feeling Phenomenal

Lately I've noticed that I'm getting the swing back in my step. I'm a tad more confident, letting go of things that I should have never gotten ahold of in the first place. I've prayed a bit, afraid that my prayers would be answered... not wanting to step out of my comfort zone and move on. God heard what I left unsaid. He answered my prayers. Now I know that I must move on regardless. I have moved on. God has brought joy back to my life.

Even my coworkers have noticed. My boss says he's noticed something different about me. He asked if I have a boyfriend now. lol. Um, no. I asked another coworker why he hasn't stopped by my office to chat for a while. He told me that he's been scared away because I've been so pretty lately. lol. Yeah, I blushed hard.

I haven't been doing anything different lately. In fact, I've been taking less trouble with my appearance than I used to do. I think it's in the way that I feel. In the way that I hold and carry myself. In the inner peace that God has given to me. I feel good. I feel phenomenal.

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

- Maya Angelou