Super Cute Easter Craft!

I saw this and just LOVED it!!

Check out the how-to

HERE

My Weekly Book Pick

Synopsis:

Lily is haunted by memories–of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

My Review:

I was intrigued by this as soon as I picked it up, I loved "Memoirs of a Geisha," by Arthur Golden, so I was hoping this would read similarly. Well, it did and it didn't. It was again focused on the story of one girl, but bringing out cultural nuances at the same time. I found this one struck home with me more than "Memoirs" did, and read slightly more story-like. The girls show what true friendship really is and form such a powerful and awe-inspiring bond despite their families financial differences and their distance from each other. It brought back powerful memories of my pen-pals from elementary school, and pleasant memories of girlhood friends. I thought it was a great book and well-written. Enjoy!

*Synopsis courtesy of BN.com

Family Day Friday

This weekend, we're having a family movie night. We try and do this about once a week as its fun for just about all of us! :)

This week's pick is:

Harry and I saw this in the theatre and loved it. He talked about it at least once a week until it came out, so it was an easy choice to purchase it this week when it was released! It has humour both for the kids and adults, but without being raunchy (like Shrek!)

We dim our lights, put our jammies on, curl up on the floor with blankets, pillows, and of course, popcorn! 

Weekly Book Pick

This week's book pick is "Remember the Sweet Things," by Ellen Greene. 

Synopsis:

For twenty years, Ellen Greene kept a running list of the thoughtful, funny, touching things that her husband, Marsh, said and did. She wrote them down secretly, then shared those thoughts with him every Valentine's Day when he would find pages from her "Sweet Things List" tucked inside a card.

Married and divorced at a young age, Greene raised two small children alone. After another failed relationship in her late thirties, she swore she'd never again subject herself or her kids to men who treated them poorly. Then she met Marsh Greene.

In this beautiful tribute to a man and a marriage, Greene intersperses selections from her "Sweet Things List" with recollections from their years together. Written with grace and candor, Remember the Sweet Things captures the kindness, sharing, humor, and affection that defined the Greenes' marriage, and encourages us to acknowledge the goodness in our own lives and relationships.

My Review:

Although this book is non-fiction, it reads like a fictitious love story. Its easy and enthralling. Each page has countless real-life experiences that make me relate to the author and her subject. The love they share for each other and their family is inspiring and awe-worthy. It makes me want to run out and start a "Sweet Things" list for my hsuband!!

Giveaway Winners!

I'm so excited to announce the winners of my very first giveaway. They'll each be receiving a coupon for a free full-size Nature's Source cleaning product! 

Kim

Wifey

Rhonda

Rhenda

If you didn't win this time, stay tuned as I'll be doing a drawing for a basket full of all FOUR Nature's Source products in a week or so!

*Winners were drawn by Random.org

Last Day for the Giveaway!

Don't forget, today is the last day for the giveaway! I'll do my drawing late late late tonight and announce the winners tomorrow morning. Remember, these are FULL-SIZE products, not just itsy-bitsy little samples!

Must-See Movie Saturday

I met up with a girlfriend this weekend to see this. I'd read a little about it and knew that Kate Winslet had won the Oscar for her performance, and was intrigued. So, we decided to go.

I have to say that it was one of the best movies I've seen in years: it was moving, poignant, and beautifully done. The actors did a wonderful job, I haven't been that captivated in a long time. The cinematography was incredible as well, there was some footage of Auschwitz that was used that brought back memories of my trip to Germany in high school when I had the opportunity to visit Dachau. 

I'd like to tell you more about the plotline, but it's hard without giving away the story: it's a must-see movie and I highly recommend that you all head out immediately and go see it!!

Family Day Friday

At least once every weekend, we make time to have a "Family Night." The kids love it, Jay and I get to spend quality time with them and each other, and we're all having fun. :)

This weekend, we're baking cookies. 

Sweetheart Face Cookies

Start with some roll-out sugar cookie dough. Either bake your own or use the pre-made stuff. I like the Pillsbury stuff the best when I don't have time to do my own. Their website has lots of great recipes and projects to do with the kids, plus they have coupons!! (You do have to register on their site to print the coupons, but they send you recipes and whatnot by email, so why wouldn't you??!) Cut out your cookies with cutters or punches if you like; we'll be doing plane old round ones as they get eaten before anybody realizes that they once had a shape!

You'll also need a can of frosting, or again, you can make your own. I like to separate mine out and use food coloring to make several colors. 

Knowing my kids, they're going to be quite creative (another word for messy!), and the cookies probably won't all look like faces, but its a good starter idea for my 3 year old. I have a ton of candy left over from Valentine's Day plus some that I've bought early for Easter (okay, that was more of an excuse for me to have it around the house!), so we'll use that to decorate. I like chocolate chips, skittles, m&m's, sprees, and licorice twines. They're easy to use and nice and bright colored. Another fun way would be to use frosting tubes to decorate with, mine are a too little to do this well, so we'll stick with the candy. 

Enjoy your family and remember, this is supposed to be fun!!!

My Very First Giveaway!!

So, I want to do a giveaway. This is my VERY FIRST ONE. Feel excited people. :) Its even going to have TWO parts to it! WHOOP!

I belong to a fabulous WOM (Word of Mouth) group called BzzAgent. They send me product samples and I Bzz about them to my friends IF I like them. The key word is IF. However, this time, I'm SO excited to share with you! I received the 4 products in the Nature's Source Natural Cleaners line by the makers of Scrubbing Bubbles and Windex. I've used the toilet bowl cleanser before (as a home with 2 males, I'm up for trying anything!) and loved it and now am thrilled to be able to use all of their products! 

A few key points:

1. Made with 99+% natural and naturally derived ingredients

2. Free of ammonia, bleach, and phosphorous

3. Not tested on animals

4. Packaged in recyclable bottles

5. Safe for plumbing and septic systems

6. Totally affordable (under $4!) and can be found at your local everyday stores (Target, Walmart, etc)

So, now to the giveaway part. I have coupons for a FREE product and a gorgeous gift basket containing all of the 4 Nature's Source items. We'll do the coupons this week through Sunday (3/22/09) and all you have to do to enter is:

1. leave me a comment telling me which of the products is your favorite (check out their website!) and

2. Follow me. (Let me know you do this in the comment line as well!) Since I'm new, my number of followers is directly wrapped up in how cool I make my giveaways... See the thought train everybody?? Love me and I shall love you back! 

So, you have the chance for TWO entries to my contest for one of the 4 coupons I have to give away. Next week will come the bigger part of this giveaway, so stay tuned!!

Recipe of the Day

Is it just me or is this spring weather starting to get pretty stinkin' dreary? Today on PBS, the Good Morning Show featured several kids who had SUNNY weather. And I'm thinking, "okay, here I am in Washington. Where EXACTLY is that sun??" I know, I know, we just got back from Hawaii, but that was a whole month ago. ARGH.

Anyways, I'm in the mood to bake today, and I'm thinking my mood is leaning towards the decadent. Hence, the Better Than Sex Cake. Yup, that's actually what its called, and its FABULOUS. (I've also heard it referred to as the "Better than Brad Pitt Cake" but that's a whole 'nother story now....) It's also extremely easy to make, so bear with me and I promise you shall be rewarded. 

Better Than Sex Cake 

Ingredients:

• 1 German chocolate or other chocolate cake, baked, 13x9x2-inch
• 3/4 cup fudge topping
• 3/4 cup caramel or butterscotch topping
• 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 6 chocolate covered toffee bars
• 1 tub of whipped topping or 1 envelope Dream Whip, prepared with milk

Preparation:

Do not remove cake from pan. After the cake has cooled, make holes in the entire top of the cake using a large fork or the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour (one at a time) fudge, butterscotch, and condensed milk over the top of the cake and let each flavor soak in before adding the next. Crush 3 of the candy bars and sprinkle on the top. Frost the cake with the whipped topping and crush the 3 remaining toffee bars to decorate the top. Try to keep your hands off of this great cake before serving!
Serves 12

I sometimes skip the fudge and use a little extra caramel, but that's my partiality to caramel speaking of course. Also, its great refrigerated, gives that Cool-Whip a little extra zing. :) Sometimes I like to pretend its a healthy version by using low-fat Cool-Whip, but again, that's just me and is complete BS. I also sometimes pretend its a kids baking project and let Harry do the toffee on the top and maybe add a few chocolate chips. Whatever your excuse needs to be, just MAKE THIS.