a review: Anna's cookies

I have this dear little friend.  She (and our other sidekick) and I were inseparable in High School.  She's the epitome of the stereotypical Californian girl: long, thick, shiny, (natural!) white-blonde hair; athletic and outdoorsy; just enough hippie to be cool.  She's funny and come to find out, she's rather creative too.

She has a blog... and she's just started this "series" where she puts her love of baking into action.  Every first Wednesday of the month, she'll state a genre of baking (September's genre was cookies!!) and if you leave a comment with your favorite of that genre, you've entered yourself into a giveaway where she'll pick a winner and bake their favorite and then mail it to them!!  Well... guess who won September's giveaway??  ME!!!  (Granted, there was only 5 or so entries, but I won!!!).

This was clothepinned  to the twine that wrapped around my box.
So clever and quaint.

My sweet package arrived in the mail today, and of course, I broke right into it before thinking to photograph the cuteness.  But, I remembered half-way through, as shavings of the cookies going down my gullet were beginning to cover my counter tops.  Here's just a peek:

The darlingly wrapped cookies...

I know, I'm an awful photographer...
but the cookies were in perfect condition,
and still soft!

Of course, she remembered my girls and wrapped their own cookie separately.
Bella commented, after indulging in hers,
"Anna sure does love me!"

We all enjoyed our cookies, Anna!!  Here's proof from the girls' faces:

So... readers.  Hope on over to Anna's blog on the first Wednesday of every month.  I'll drop a hint in October to remind you.  And maybe you too could be the lucky recipient of Anna's "You Bake Me Happy" giveaway!!  Thanks, Anna.  You da bomb diggity.

book review (& giveaway!): june 2012

My parents have visited the Czech Republic for the past two summers, teaching an English camp for high school students.  They are about to head out again, and in preparation for their trip, my Dad bought my Mom this book:

Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968
by Heda Margolius Kovaly

She finished it last week with those familiar stars in her eyes and with a word of encouragement to read it myself.  I did, in a few short days, and have spent the better part of my afternoon weeping for the lives of so many Czechs during the mid-1900's.

The back of the book summarizes well what's inside Kovaly's, a Jewish woman living in Prague during WWII, short (192 pgs) memoir:

Heda Margolius Kovaly's steady gaze at the lives caught up in Czechoslovakia's tragic fate under the Nazis and then during the Stalin era illuminates the chaotic life of a nation.  Kovaly was deported to concentration camps, escaped from a death march, nearly starved in the postwar years, only to be shattered by her husband's conviction ... and his execution.

What the back of the book doesn't say is how you'll fall in love with the Czechoslovakian people, weep for the misery that they endured decade after decade.  You'll come to see and understand why they turned to Communism, and how they later longed for freedom.  You'll love the human spirit to live, the innate fight for what is right, even when evil prevails.  You'll fall in love with Heda and her country, Czechoslovakia. 


While this book is gripping and horrific, it is uplifting in spite of it all.  While Heda shows her reader what she suffered, she uses decency not to get too graphic, which I (a sensitive-stomach-reader) appreciate.  


And because I love learning, especially learning through a GOOD BOOK and memoir, I am doing a GIVEAWAY.  Simply enter a comment at the end of this post, telling me anything you know about the Czech Republic (even if it's that it's in Europe!), and you're entered to win a copy of Under a Cruel Star.  I'll pick a winner on Friday.  Enjoy!

Winner!

Today's the day of the book giveaway winner!!

And the random number thingy came up with #27.... who is.....

The Scott Family!!

So, Emily, please contact me and I'll mail you your fabulous copy of These Is My Words.  Enjoy!!

book review: January 2012

First off, let me thanks the many wise women who commented on my diaper-rash-dilemma.  There are some good suggestions that I'll give a whirl!

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M'kay, I can barely contain myself over this book.  Just thinking about it makes me teary-eyed.  Ahhhhh.... I LOVED LOVED LOOOOOOVED it.

These is My Words

Another gift from my Ma for Christmas.  I had heard raving reviews all around, but couldn't find it in any library (for shame!).  A quick synopsis of the book:

A young woman's journaling of her early teens through adulthood/motherhood during the frontier days of living  in Arizona territories.  This story is based off of the author's own great-grandmother's journals, but is mostly a work of fiction, with many historically accurate facts entertwined.  

Sarah, the writer/main character in the book, grew very near and dear to my heart instantaneously.  Her spunk, love for books/knowledge, vigor and will to live are inspiring.  Her honesty and heart are endearing.  I related over so many aspects as she became a wife and mother.  Her life is tied to the military, as well, which  was very healing/helpful to see written down on paper many of the thoughts I have experienced over the years: the extreme swings of emotions towards my husbands job, the feelings of being abandoned, etc.  Too many pages are dog-eared with paragraphs that I need to read over and over again... 

True to my opinion, a good book is one that will make me laugh out loud and weep.  This did both on many occasion.  To put it down was torture, and to say that it has been occupying my mind and dreams would be an understatement.  I absolutely am over-the-moon with this book.  Good thing it has two sequels... but I will sorely miss this book and all that it is.

Of course, I can't just LEAVE you there... empty-handed!!  In honor of the rarity of a GOOD book, I'm giving away one copy of These is My Words to one lucky winner!  To enter the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment below naming your favorite book

2. Leave a separate comment if you're a follower of the blog.

I'll pick the winner on Wednesday, January 11.  Good luck!  Happy reading...

give away

I made this this afternoon out of some scrap fabric. 

It was fast and fun.

I made it for my fair-skinned daughter.

I forgot that those types of people need to be careful in the sun.

(Well, technically, we ALL need to be careful in the sun...

blah, blah, blah...)

Because we were outside for about an hour the other day,

enjoying the sun.

And while Bella and I came inside, unscathed...

Poor Summer's head and cheeks have remained a bright pink.  

Whoops.

But, I made it a size too small.

I made the 0-3 month size, 

partly because she is small

and

partly because I just can't believe she's nearly 4 months.

Either way, the pattern was correct

and it's just too small.

But instead of wasting it...

... I'll give it away!

Anyone have a little, tiny girl needing some shade for the summer??

It really will fit just 0-3 months.  

Perfect for a sweet newborn.

Any takers??

Leave a comment and I'll pick a "winner" by Tuesday night.

Now I need to go make a bigger size - shucks!

book review: january 2011 & a giveaway!!

Last evening, I finished a phenomenal book.  Mostly read while feeding Summer and in the few moments of quiet in the evenings.  It captured my attention from chapter one... all the way until the end.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick is a fascinating account of the secret lives of North Koreans.  By interviewing the lives of six North Korean defectors, she creates a mind-spinning book, allowing us - the Western world - a rare peek inside "the most repressive totalitarian regime today."

The title comes from the propaganda signs and songs that litter the North Korean's world:

LONG LIVE KIM IL-SUNG.

KIM JONG-IL, SUN OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

LET'S LIVE OUR OWN WAY.

WE WILL DO AS THE PARTY TELLS US.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO ENVY IN THE WORLD.

Uri Abogi, our father, we have nothing to envy in the world.

Our house is within the embrace of the Workers' Party.

We are all brothers and sisters.

Even if a sea of fire comes toward us, sweet children do not need to be afraid.

Our father is here.

We have nothing to envy.

I'm usually a novel-reader.  Biographies and history books are interesting, but I usually have to force myself to finish them.  Hence, when I began this book, I wondered how long it would take me to finish.  But, Demick beautifully weaves the stories in this book to read like a novel, all the while pumping your brain full of history of the Koreas, North Korean culture, and much more.  I feel very rich in knowledge after reading this.  That said, my father, who rarely reads a novel and prefers to stick to biographies and intellectual books, loved this book as well.  So, best of both worlds.

I highly recommend this book to anyone.  If nothing less, it opens eyes to the world that is bigger than our American dream.  It proves how much freedom, wealth, and abundance we truly have in our democracy - no matter how flawed.  And for me, it created an awareness of what others - in this very day and age - are living through, and surviving through.  Amazing.  Truly fascinating.

Because I so highly recommend this, I will be GIVING AWAY one copy to a lucky reader!  My gift to you!!  Just leave a comment telling me your most recent favorite read and you are ENTERED!  Dead line to enter ends Friday at midnight.  Good luck and keep reading!!

WINNER!!!

Alrighty.... are you ready for the winner!?!?!?  The random number generated was ironically my husband's favorite number and the one printed on the back of his sexy college baseball uniform: 17.  Which means that "My Bright Corner" won the giveaway!!  Congrats!!!  Email me with your email address and I'll connect you and Rachel for the your choice of 25 of anything from her etsy shop!!

This weekend, Bells and I suffered from colds.  Phooey.  I am an AWFUL sleeper when I'm pregnant - no clue why, but I am - and the lack of airway through my nostrils only made it worse.  Let's just say that the guest bed was put into use the past couple of nights.

Last night, my man and I stayed up extra late to just talk through some things and communicate.  It was much needed and helpful for our marriage, but 2:30 A.M. is just too late (early?) these days for either of us.  We both groaned as Bella happily chirped from her room, waking us at 6:45.  The day seems long ahead of both of us, but at least we are on the same page and feeling more connected, right?  Right?  *yawn*  Right.

My in-laws are coming into town today, also, for a week and I need to:
- grocery shop
- clean the guest bedroom
- write
- sleep

All this to say, I'll probably be a bit M.I.A. this week.  If you miss me, don't miss me too much and I'll be sure to be back....

reminder

Hey all...

Just a little reminder that this is the last day to enter the Birdy Blue Design giveaway!  If you haven't already left me a comment, click this link and go ahead and enter!  Contest ends tonight at midnight CST.  Winner announced Monday!!

GIVEAWAY!!!

I know, how tantamount!  My very first giveaway!

Rachel from Birdy Blue Design contacted me a couple weeks ago asking if she could host a giveaway on my humble blog!  YessireeBob!  I love giveaways: the chance to win something free, the aura of suspense in the air, the realization of a dream come true... 

Anyways, Rachel has some mega talent in the stationery/invitation/paper goods world... 

And I'm always up for some beautiful "Thank You" cards on which to send each and every benefactor of a good deed... aren't you?  My husband would beg to differ (he has yet to finish his Christmas thank you's), but when one owns fun stationery, thank you notes get written just that much faster.

While Rachel has many options available in her Etsy shop, she is aiming to build up her wedding side of the business.  She offers affordable, unique wedding invitations and loves to custom create to fit your style!  I know a couple of my readers who are engaged... so hop on over and consider Rachel's designs!

So... back to my part of the deal:

To ENTER::

1. Pop on over to Birdy Blue Design's Etsy shop and find your favorite piece

2. Leave ME a comment sharing your favorite piece.

3. To be entered TWICE, leave me a separate comment telling me you're a follower of MY blog (if you are, in fact.  Feel free to become one just to spike up your chances...)

The WINNER will win a set of 25 of anything in Rachel's Etsy shop!!  What a steal, right?  And Rachel will personalize whatever the winner picks with their name/info.

The giveaway will end Saturday (6/26/10) at midnight.  I will randomly pick the winner on Sunday and announce the lucky gal (or guy) on Monday!