Organizing on the cheap: spices

I've been doing a lot of organizing lately. It's been fun. For some reason it soothes me. Here are some of my projects:

My spice cupboard is my pride and joy. I am immensely practical and this situation works. There is a three tier shelvy thingy (I believe that that is the technical term). So I think I picked something like this up somewhere. Knowing me I bought it on sale or second hand.

And then I bought spice jars at Dollarama, as you can see they are 3 for a dollar.

And then I used my handy dandy labeller that I got for free with a mail in rebate. I have a pt-2100 and it allows me to plug it into my computer and print labels with icons on the computer. I don't think you can see but there is a little salt and pepper shaker next to the name of the spice. I have 2 shelves of this many spices and the great thing about is that spices come down for a recipe and then they just have to find the right empty spot to be home again. this is the final look:

Book review "In Too Deep"

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

 

 

I love this series by Mary Connealy. The first in this series was Out of Control. The series is about 3 boys, raised in the west in the 1800s. As children, their parents were distant and non-caring. So they explored the countryside with no restraints. There was an incident that scarred the three of them in different ways. The first born (in Out of Control) learned to deal with the world by trying to control his environment. The second born, Ethan (In Too Deep), reacted to the incident by not allowing himself to feel for anyone. Anytime he felt any emotion he would slap a big old smile on his face and not feel the emotion anymore. 

I thought it was very much like how we all cope with whatever life throws at us. Some people pretend that it never happened and doesn't affect them. Some people, like me, try and control every situation so that we never get hurt again. And some people just break. 

I love this book. Imagine a real hero. A person that for all his grinning is incredibly broken inside and avoids emotions like the plague. But despite his fear, does what is right. Ethan agrees to marry Audra because of circumstances. And then Audra helps him to see that his views about himself are not accurate. I don't think you necessarily need to read the first book to get this book but it sure makes some stuff easier to get.

Here is the back cover bit:

In 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.

And suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they'd planned.

Ethan doesn't expect Audra to affect him so profoundly, and when she begins to, he's terrified of the pain he's felt before when someone he loved was seriously injured on his watch. He's determined that his new wife will do as he says so he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on their ranch.

Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or another--and they've done a poor job of it. Now she's planning to stand up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her way!

What will it take to transform two wayward hearts fearful of getting in too deep into two trusting hearts ready to risk falling deeply in love?

Book Review "Confident Heart"

I have no idea why this book is not appealing to me. It is not that it is not relevant to my life. I need more confidence in God's truth in me. It is not that it isn't well written, it is. I cannot put my finger on why I cannot read more than a couple of pages without putting it down. I guess I cannot connect with the author. I connect with her circumstances, but when she explains her thoughts and feelings, I cannot relate.

Maybe it is the wrong time for this book. Maybe in another season it will work for me.

Book Review "The Doctor's Lady"

This was a great book. Two very strong characters with a plot based on a historical story. Priscilla and Eli are two young Christian's that are determined that God has called them to be missionaries. Unfortunately the missionary board has decided that unmarried missionaries are not to be sent out. Which puts them in a bit of a pickle, so they decide to get married.

They are sent west. Not a lot of women have made it west. The journey is fraught with danger. Disease, famine and freezing temperatures are all endured and survived. The love story between them was complicated (of course). He did not think that a woman could make it, and she thought that his opinion meant that she was not worthy. Throughout the trip, he was pushing them to keep up with the wagon train. But through misadventure and sickness they were not able to keep up. She was given custody of a baby along the way, and then a ruthless man tried to blackmail her into coming with him to be with the baby. He learned to lean on God instead of the wagon train. And she learned that she was all that God wanted and to trust God despite all.

At the end she was re-united with the baby and the her husband. Sigh...

My second book review "The Realms Thereunder"

I have been a Sci Fi/Fantasy junkie since ever. I love putting myself in a world where the current rules don't all apply. I love opening up possibilities and opportunities to play with reality. Since I have become a Christian I have shied away from Sci Fi/Fantasy because it didn't seem right. I was so happy to receive this new book "The Realms Thereunder" to fill my Fantasy fix.

The premise of the book, without giving anything big away is that there is a force of timeless soldiers that protect the modern day earth from dark forces. These soldiers have been asleep but there is great dark power building and they may need to wake up.

We follow two young adults. Freya Reynolds and Daniel Tully, on their journey. Daniel is a person hungry for a chance to make a difference and to escape his poor and abusive childhood. Freya would rather not be put in the middle of anything. She just wants to be normal, and not stand out. She has a touch of OCD (a bit more than a touch). She is cast into this journey against her wishes.

The book is well written and the possibilities are endless. I like the premise and the plot development. I love Daniel and relate to him well. He is not afraid to take on any challenge. I look for Freya to become more open. She hides information and wants so desperately to blend in. I cannot like her. Well maybe in the next book.

It sure filled my Fantasy needs and I look forward to the next book.


Here is the official backstory:

Ancient legend tells of an army of knights that will remain sleeping until the last days.
The knights are waking up.
A homeless man is stalked by a pale, wraithlike creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. Maimed animals and a host of suicides cluster around a mountain in Scotland. And deep beneath the cobbled streets of Oxford, a malicious hoard besieges a hidden city.
Freya Reynolds is a university student with a touch of OCD and an obsession with myth and folklore. Daniel Tully is living rough on the streets of Oxford, waging a secret war against an enemy only he can identify. Years ago, they found themselves in a world few know is real. They have since gone their separate ways and tried to put that adventure behind them.
But the mythical world is now bleeding into our reality—a dark spiritual evil that is manifesting itself in forgotten corners of the British Isles. Alex Simpson is a Scottish police officer who specializes in hunting mythical creatures. Together, they must confront the past, the present, and points beyond to defeat the ultimate threat to humanity.
Nothing they've seen so far prepares them for what awaits . . . in The Realms Thereunder.

I'm a book reviewer...YAY!!! First Review -- Out of Control by Mary Connealy

I am so excited, I will be reviewing books for Bethany House!!! I have recently had to stop buying books by Zondervon because of their library policies (They are owned by Harper Collins see the article here http://boingboing.net/2011/02/25/harpercollins-to-lib.html). I have been reading a great deal of the wonderful Bethany House authors since February.




The book I am reviewing today is "Out of Control" by Mary Connealy. It is the first book in the Kincaid Brides series.

It was a wonderful read. What I loved the most is that the people in the novel were real. Sometimes I find in the Christian Romance novels the Hero or Heroine obsess about something in their past which is quite minor and it controls their whole lives. I think it is done in order to make a broken person who is also good and kind. In this book, Julia and Rafe both have been through very difficult lives, and they have warts, but they are REAL.



Another thing that I love about this book, is that Julia and Rafe feel real desire. It is still clean but there is an acknowledgment that they forget the world when they kiss. I love that.


Another thing I love is that Rafe has the older brother attitude down to a "T". And his younger brothers, Ethan and Seth, are so darn real, and cool and conflicted. I honestly cannot wait for the next book.

I had some trouble warming up to Julia however. She is a bossy boots, and the characters in the book talk about her softer, kinder side but I don't think we see it, or I didn't identify it. I loved her step-mom though. I loved that Audra was upset that everyone treated her like a invalid. I can't wait to read the next book!! Audra and Ethan???

Here is the back cover bit:

Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around her. She particularly enjoys studying the fossils and formations in the magnificent cave near her father's house. The cave seems plenty safe--until the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to climb out.

Rafe Kincaid is a man used to being in control--of himself, his brothers, and his family's ranch. The last thing he expects is to find a woman trapped in the cavern on his land--or to be forced to kiss her!

Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman he's ever known. But when their developing relationship threatens a reconciliation with his brothers, will Rafe have to choose between his family and this new love that could heal his troubled heart and secure his happiness?

Here is a link to the interview with Mary Connealy.

Interview with Mary Connealy

Toronto Teacher Mom is giving away a $40 Gift Card to CSN

Toronto Teacher Mom is giving away a $40 CSN Gift Card. This is what I am looking at (as you may have noticed, I am all over the map as to what I would actually order...but if I win I guarantee I will buy something wonderful.