Tag Archives: recipes

Weekend Reading Material

mortomI just finished reading “Mortom” by Erik Therme.  I am like…WOW.

When Therme contacted me about reviewing his book, it was for “Resthaven.”  But after I finished reading “Resthaven,” I was like…I have to read the other book.

Like “Resthaven,”  “Mortom” is a thrill ride all the way until the end.  Right when you are so wrapped up in the story and you’re really at the edge of your seat, you read the last words at the bottom of the page, turn the page and you’re looking at a picture of the author.

I swear to you, at the end of both books I did a “Nooo!  It can’t be over.”  That’s what he does.  He really hooks you in.  You’re at the edge of your seat and BAM!  The story is done.  You’re constantly thinking, ‘but what happened to…’  He does it to his readers every single time.

If you’re looking for something to read this Memorial Day weekend that’s filled with mystery, intrigue, edge of your seat…you have no idea what’s going to happen next…then this is your book.  It’s a quick read.  Try both.  I really enjoyed both books.  They are free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited.

Mortom
Resthaven


Other things worth reading:

    • I’m obsessed with DIY stuff lately.  My friend introduced me to Scrapbook.com and let’s just say…the best thing about it are the free classes!  I just took the 8 Ways to Embellish with Lisa Andrews.  She gave me so many ideas that I never even thought about…including a new way to journal.
    • I am a huge David Bach fan.  I have been for years.  A few years ago, he sent me a free autographed copy of his book.  I was in heaven.  What I love about David is that he’s passionate about teaching people how to live rich by being smarter with their money.  He is getting ready to release his bestseller “Automatic Millionaire” with new updates.  Until the release, sign up for his email list.  He’s sending free downloads of his work.  I downloaded a free copy of his ebook “Finish Rich QuickStart System.”  He’ll be sending out free downloads of the “Automatic Millionaire” reboot soon.  So get your name on his mailing list!
    • How to Successfully Balance Your Side Hustle With Your Full-Time Job.  This is a great read for those who work full-time and have a side business on the side until the side business becomes a full-time gig.  What I love are the tips on managing your time.

ml2

    • How to Stay Focused When Working From Home.  Something I’ve been learning a lot about lately is taking distractions away when I’m working at home.  It is a little difficult when you have a Maine Coon sitting right in your face when you are working at your desk.  I was working on a communion card last week and right as the glue was drying, Matthew Lucifer jumped up on the desk and sat right on the card, completely smearing the embossed picture.  He won’t move when he’s sitting in front of me while I’m working, so I’ve learned to just stop, give him some love for a few minutes, and then encourage him to take a nap on the sofa behind me or sit in the window.  Once that is done, I’ll have at least an hour to work before the next Maine Coon disaster begins.




    • Honey Chipotle Chicken Pizza With Goat Cheese.  Do I need to say more?  OMG. NOMNOM.
    • Looking Fly on a Dime.  I just recently came across this blog on my Twitter feed and I am in love.  I wish this site was around when I was in my 20s!  I love this shirt she found.  At first, she thought it was a dress!  Ends up it was a super long shirt…and a cool one at that.  I absolutely loved her $10 find.  I love how she pairs everything together.  This site is now an official PW bookmarked site!
    • 10 Tips from a Professional Organizer.  These simple tips are words to live by.   I’ve learned recently that there is no such thing as multi-tasking.  I watch people out on the street walking super slow looking at their phones, totally oblivious to what’s happening around them (like almost getting hit by a car).  Schedule out your day with little to no distractions.  Make sure you plan accordingly, including scheduling those few minutes of social media time.  If you don’t watch yourself, you’ll lose a lot of time and wonder where the day went.  You don’t want to be one of those people.  Being glued to your cell phone is no way to live.




Eat Smarter: The New Way to Pasta

Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini Noodles

I am absolutely addicted to spiralized noodles!  A friend of mine had become obsessed with zucchini noodles and wanted me to try it out, so she ordered a spiralizer for me and she started my latest food addiction.

Who needs all of those carbs from pasta noodles?  Not me.  Who wants to spend over half an hour just trying to cook a pot of noodles?  Not me.

Spiralized noodles are easy to make and very addictive.  They’re also so much healthier for you than regular semolina pasta.  All you need is a spiralizer, your choice vegetable (zucchini and squash are the most popular), and a sauce of your choice.


I love spaghetti with meat sauce, but I don’t like that gut feeling you get afterward.  Substituting the semolina spaghetti with zucchini noodles has become one of my favorite dishes.

The great thing about zucchini noodles is that you don’t have to boil them very long.  Just bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the zucchini noodles (sometimes called ‘zoodles’), cook for 2 minutes (keep your eye on the clock), then remove the noodles from the water.  Add the sauce of your choice on top and you’ve got an incredibly tasty meal.

Zucchini Noodles in Pesto Sauce
Zucchini Noodles in Pesto Sauce
Zucchini Noodles with Meatballs
Zucchini Noodles with Meatballs

After going Zoodles, I’m never going back to regular pasta.  I ended up donating all of my regular pasta to the food bank.

I have been trying out other versions of spiralized noodles and recipes.  I just recently made a Thai peanut sauce version with spiralized Korean squash.  I didn’t even need to boil the noodles.  I just tossed it into the stir fry and in a minute, it was done.

Trust me…you really won’t miss regular noodles.

The great thing about spiralizing vegetables is that you’re not only sneaking in more vegetables into your diet and cutting out the bad carbs, but you’re also consciously changing the way you’re eating.  If you can substitute the bad stuff with the good stuff and the meal tastes amazing, why stick to the bad stuff?

My friend gave me the Pro Cuisine Spiralizer, which comes in a bundle that includes several accessories, as well as a little cookbook with recipes.  It’s an inexpensive tool to add to your kitchen arsenal (currently $12.99 at Amazon.com).  It’s perfect if it’s just you, or two people.  If you have a family, you’re better off going with the bigger spiralizer for a few dollars more.  The crank on the bigger spiralizer makes it easier to spiralize more vegetables.  The smaller one is better if you’re only spiralizing one or two vegetables at a time.

I love my spiralizer.  It’s one of the best gifts I’ve received in a long time,, and one of the best new tools in my kitchen.