The Windfall App - A Fun Summer Mystery

Winning the lottery would be an amazing good thing, right?   For Marina all of her problems seem like they will be solved when she wins the mega jackpot in the new popular lotto, she never could have predicted how completely it will change her life.

I was given a copy of The Windfall App by Teresa Richards in exchange for a honest review.

The Book
Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town. 


When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.

But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.

Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.


My Review
  I really enjoyed this book.  If it was a movie, it feels like one where a lot of suspenseful music would be playing in the background.   Things appeared good, but you as the reader just feel this sense of foreboding that the main character seems to not fully realize.  It was fun trying to guess and piece together what was going to really happen along the way, and I was not able to figure it all out!   I love the unique background of the main character and the way the author described the book's setting in San Francisco, it made me really want to visit the city and I felt like I was getting a VIP guided tour of the great spots to hit while reading.
  This is a perfect summer read that will keep you turning the pages wondering how it is all going to turn out.  This is also a clean book free from graphic language or imagery.


** The Author is hosting a great giveaway for a YA Book Bundle!  Click the link to enter for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway The Author  --Find the Author Teresa Richards at the following Website// Facebook//Twitter//Instagram

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The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Midwife

I love reading and do it a lot.  Often I can predict the entire plot right from the start,  when I find a book that throws me for some loops I love it!   I was recently given a copy of The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Midwife by Crissy Sharp, which took me on a ride that I loved!

The Book 

Lotty Brooks’ days consist of avoiding thoughts of her failing marriage, changing diapers, and trying not to eat chocolate brioche for breakfast and lunch. However, everything changes when her perfect, lakeside Montana neighborhood begins bustling with crime and she seems to be the target. 

Jason Brooks wants to know what happened to the woman he married. Lotty’s a mere shell of her former self. When she becomes the focal point of neighborhood threats, and the town seems to question her innocence, he must decide how well he knows his wife. 

As Jason and Lotty try to get to the bottom of the threats and find those responsible, they’ll need to remember what they once loved about each other. Otherwise, they may lose everything and everyone they care about.

My Review
  Lotty's life is falling apart and now their once quiet neighborhood has become overrun with crime, much of which points right back to Lotty.   The book takes you for a ride with great twists and turns as Lotty tries to prove her innocence and decide if her marriage is worth saving.  
   I got sucked into the book very quickly and immediately found myself pulling for Lotty and her husband, wanting things to work out.  The book continued at a fast pace and surprised me with twists I did not expect or predict, which I love when a book can do that! 
   The book is what I call a clean book- free from graphic imagery and language.  If you love a good clean murder mystery with relatable real characters, then I definitely recommend this book.  This book made my "Can't Put Down" list.


The Author
  Website//Twitter//Facebook

Finding Unique Gifts

--This post is written on behalf of UnCommon Goods.  All feelings and opinions are my own--

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, finding the perfect gift may be on your mind.  Or maybe you don't do the whole V-day thing, but there will most likely be a time that you are looking for the perfect gift for someone.

We all have that person in our life who is hard to buy for, the one who has everything, or is just really picky.   That is why I love Sunny, the Expert Gift Guide at Uncommon Goods.

Uncommon Goods has a ton of unique gifts, and Sunny makes it possible for you to search by interests.

You start by saying who the gift is for and if they are a baby, kid, teen, etc.

Then you pick from a list of things they are into and it gives you a great list of unique gifts.  For every item you star, it will then help refine your list and show similar items.

I searched for my teen son, who is into reading, math, science, gaming-- just all kinds of nerdy stuff, and I love these glasses

We all have our own water cups we like to use, and sometimes his will get used by other people, so if he had one of these, we would all know it is his. 

                             

I was honestly amazed at the variety of gifts, and so many unique things.  Plus you can just search the old fashioned way by categories, like home decor. 

I think this may become a go to site for me for looking for unique ideas.  In just a few minutes, I had a page with several things I could get my son for his birthday or Christmas.  

I also picked out some things for my husband, (don't miss the Valentine's Day Gift For Husbands or for you men Valentine's Day Gifts for Wives) but I don't want to show them here as I would give away the gift I am going to get him!   And I may have even found a few things I want...

Where do you find unique gift ideas for those hard to buy for people? 

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A Billionaire's Sweet Valentine

Valentine's Day is this week!  Are you excited?  Could care less?   This week on my blog will be all about Valentine's Day, starting today with a book review A Billionaire's Sweet Valentine by Laura L. Walker.   I was given a copy of this book to review.

The Book

All Penny Merrill wants to do is run her own sweet shop in beautiful and ritzy Scottsdale, Arizona, but her money-hungry mother and conniving stepfather are making it nearly impossible to keep her dream alive. When Penny finds an advertisement for a Valentine's Day contest for Arizona's Cutest Couple, with the winnings being enough to enable her to hold on to her floundering business, she comes up with an idea that just might work--if she can find the right man for the job.

Commercial contractor Preston Ames is starting to develop feelings for Penny, and even though he's been through enough heartache to know that he should avoid her at all costs, he can't keep himself from visiting her sweet shop everyday. When Penny asks him to participate in a crazy scheme so that she can overturn her stepfather's underhanded business ploy, Preston is tempted to run the other way. But one look into her soulful blue eyes and he's a goner. Little does he know that just one picture will turn Penny into his sweet Valentine.

But when the fact that Preston is a billionaire comes to light, and Penny and Preston compete against another couple whose heartache transcends all of their misconceptions about love, will they do the right thing? And in the process, discover a bond that is greater than they thought was even possible?

My Review

   If you want a feel good quick easy read that will get you in the Valentine's spirit, then you will love this book.   an starting a relationship with a lie every lead to anything good?  Penny is in desperate need of money and tricks one of her best customers into participating in a Valentine's Day contest with her.  

   I will admit, right from the start I knew how this book was going to end.  However, there were some twists and story development that I did not expect and enjoyed and it gave the story a fun unique feel.  If you are looking for a sweet little romance, that will leave you smiling, I recommend this book.  The book is a clean book, free from graphic imagery and language.


Buy The Book

Finding Beauty in The Beast

Do you like fairy tales?  Do you love the movie Ever After?  If so, I think you will adore the books by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee.  I was given a copy of Jessilyn's latest book Finding Beauty in the Beast to Review.


The Book 

Princess Rose's fiery temper has kept every potential suitor away...until now. After being spurned and humiliated for the last time, the princes forces every eligible man to present a gift to her under pain of death. The man who brings her the best gift will be chosen as her husband. 

When Corbin presents his gift, he hopes that his simple offering will keep him safely overlooked. All he wants is to return to his quiet life as a blacksmith, away from forbidding castles and beastly princesses. But love works in mysterious ways, and it all starts with a rose...

My Review

This book goes along with the Beauty and the Beast story, which has always been a favorite of mine.  After Princess Rose tragically loses her parents at a young age, she begins to shut herself off from the pain, turning to anger and becoming a 'beast'. 

  After a broken engagement, Rose out of spite and vengeance, forces all of the men in her kingdom to present her with a gift, Corbin (whose character shows up in Jessilyn's first two books), presents a gift that will change his life and Rose's life forever.

I love the twist, in that the female is the beast in this story.  This one took me a little longer to get into than Jessilyn's other books, but I was soon sucked in and hurried to finish it. I love the similarities to the original fairy tale, yet enough changes to make it a unique story and feels more genuine and believable.  If you love fairy tales and good clean books- I highly recommend this. 

  Note: This book, while a stand a lone book- definitely would be better to be read after Jessilyn's other books Ella and Ella's Will, as there is some overlap with the characters. 

Brush With Love: Book Review

It's almost Christmas, which means you may still be writing your Christmas lists!  If so, you should add Brush With Love by Lisa McKendrick to your list, loved this book!

The Book

Lana, a talented Ivy League artist, and Walt, a small-town farmer, couldn't be more different. She arrives in Bluegill, Idaho, ready to spend the summer painting, excited to study under Walt's grandpa, a brilliant but aging artist. The more she is thrown together with Walt though--and the more she spends time with him--the more she realizes her heart may be drawing up its own plans. As the weeks pass, Lana realizes she'll have to choose between following her dreams or following her heart.


My Review
  Sometimes life does not go as you plan, from a young age Lana was abandoned by her mother in a Siberian Orphanage.  Never really able to over come that abandonment she turns to art to express her feelings.  When Lana is awarded a prestigious opportunity to train as an artist overseas, it feels like her dreams are coming true; but when the program takes an unexpected turn and she ends up in a small town in Idaho, her life will never be the same. 
   This is a good clean romance that covers feelings of abandonment, Alzheimers Disease, a coming to understand oneself, and love.   
   This story felt unique yet real and I later read that the author based it loosely on some real life people.  The story is a quick easy read that will leave you happy at the end.
  This is a LDS-fiction, but the religious aspects are minimal and not preachy.  It is also a clean book free from graphic imagery and language.  I highly recommend it.

Giveaway The author is hosting a $30 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!


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Great Book for Teens: Topaz Reign

It is sometimes rare to find those books that would be great for tweens and teens and also really holds the attention of adults too.  Topaz Reign, the second book in the Altered Stone Series by Teresa Richards is one of those book series for me.

I am going to do this review a little differently, as I don't want to give away anything, so will be recapping the first book a little and then giving you my thoughts about the whole series.

The Book:-- Emerald Bound 

A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairy tale.

Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate. 

Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late.

If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend. 

My Series Review:
  What if fairy tales are true, or at least partially?  The Altered Stones series takes you on a fantasy adventure exploring the possibility that fairy tales may be true.  I loved both Emerald Bound and Topaz Reign.  Emerald Bound actually wrapped up pretty nicely on its own, but this second book is the perfect sequel jumping off where the first one left off but adding to the story wonderfully.  The books are a mix of fantasy, magic, friendship and a little bit of romance (totally clean and good for the younger reader though).
   I like how the author brings more science into the fantasy side of it, making it more scientific than just magical.  The books also have a strong sense of family and ancestry that drew you even more into the story.  There were points throughout both stories, were it felt like the story was going to take unrealistic directions, but then there were twists that made the story feel more authentic and possible.  The climax at the story definitely kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down.

I highly recommend this series.  They are clean books, free from language and strong graphic imagery.


Find the Author: 

Her website: http://www.authorteresarichards.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/byutm33

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorteresarichards/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorteresarichards/

Buy The Books:




Giveaway!

The Author is hosting a great giveaway to win both books!
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Tips For After School Routine

We all know that time, when the kids first get home from school, bags and papers everywhere, kids usually saying they are hungry, some wanting a break, some having activities to go to; it can become a chaotic time.  How can you make the after school time run more smoothly?   Here are my tips for making the after school routine a little more pleasant.

1. Get Your Own Stuff Done
   As a parent our lists are never done, but when our kids get home, wanting to tell us about their day- we need to be available to listen.  Taking even a few minutes to sit and talk to your kids when they first get home can make a huge difference.

2. Have a Place For School Work
  -Those pile of papers that the kids bring home, some which can be thrown away, some which need to be saved, some which have to be filled out and returned to school- what do you do with all of those papers?

-You should have a designated "In-box", a spot where all of those papers can be placed, that when you have a few minutes you can sit and go through.  The key is to go through this in-box nightly, or while your kid are having a break, and work through the papers until it is empty, otherwise things will get missed.

3. Break or No Break 
   Some kids truly need a break when they get home, a chance to unwind and decompress.  Others do  better if they get right to homework while still focused and then play.

My daughter often likes to get right to homework so she can then just have free time 

You are the best judge of your own child and what they need, the key is to be consistent.  If they have a break, a time limit needs to be established.  If they are going right to work, there should be a spot ready for them to start their homework.  The key is consistency.

4. Refuel Their Bodies
   Dinner can sometimes seem a long ways off after school, and after a day of hard work they often are truly hungry and thirsty.  The key is to give them healthy snacks, but not too many as you want them to still eat a good dinner.

I am so excited about Welch's BRAND NEW product, 100% Juice with Coconut Water.

This new juice has 30% less sugar with these other great benefits.

**30% Less Sugar
**Vitamin C
**2 Servings of Fruit
**USA Grown Grapes

My kids, especially my boys, aren't always the best fruit eaters, but a glass of Welch's Grape Juice is 2 servings of fruit, so I feel good knowing I am getting a little more fruit in them this way.  


Now I know I am refueling them, letting them have something they love and can feel good doing it.

I found the Brand New Welch's Grape Juice at my local Walmart.

*-*Make sure to check out Welch's website so you know where you can buy this new product.*-*

******************

Every afternoon is definitely not perfect, but with these tips things can run a lot more smoothly.  What is your best after school routine tip?

The Best Things About Fall

So happy it's fall and the yummy fall recipes it is time to make!  This post is sponsored by Bush's Best Beans through the Women's Blogger Network. 

With fall now officially underway, it has me nostalgic for all things autumn!  These are are few of my favorite things about fall.

1. Leaves Changing
 

There is something so wonderful and fun about the leaves changing to brilliant colors of red, oranges and yellows and when they begin to fall, well it's just fun to play in them.   Yes, in SoCal we don't have a real fall, but we can take a quick drive up to the mountains to enjoy the fall colors in their splendor.

2. Football

I love college football and fall means Football Season, with weekends filled with cheering for our team and when we are lucky even attending a game.

3. Fall Recipes
 Anything pumpkin, and warm hearty dishes are perfect for this time of year.  It is finally cool enough to turn on the oven and cook some good comfort food.

A new recipe I have come to love is Mac and Cheese Black Bean Chipotle Dish.

There is something so comforting and classic about Mac and Cheese, and I love this twist, adding some Bush's Black Beans which makes it the ultimate fall recipe.

Bush's Beans are a great pantry staple, are inexpensive and can be picked up on any trip to Walmart.
I love adding hearty things like Bush's Black Beans to Mac and Cheese as it makes it feel more like a grown up dish.  So, you get the childhood comfort with an adult twist. 

(See Below For Recipe)

4. Cute Fall Clothes

With cooler weather it means it is finally time to break out the pants, sweaters and cute boots!  I love when the seasons change and it feels like I suddenly have a whole new wardrobe.

These are just a few of my favorite things about fall, not to mention all of the fall birthdays (including my own), Halloween and Thanksgiving.  It really is just a great time of year!

What is your favorite thing about fall?


*********************

Mac and Cheese Bush's Black Bean Chipotle Dish 

Serves: 4  
Prep/Cooking Time: 30 Minutes  

Ingredients:
 2 t. cornstarch
 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
 2 eggs
 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
 1 can Bush's Black beans, drained and rinsed
 2 whole chipotle chilies packed in adobo, minced, plus 2 T. adobo sauce from can
 6 oz. American Cheese, grated or diced
 6 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated or diced
 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
 4 finely sliced scallions

Directions:
  1. Cook pasta in large pot in salted water according to directions.  Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.

  2. While pasta is cooking, combine cornstarch, milk, and eggs in medium bowl and whisk together.
 
  3. Return drained pasta to pot, adding reserved water, Bush's Black Beans, chipotle chilies, evaporated milk mixture from step 2, and cheeses.

4. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy and smooth.  Stir in cilantro and scallions, saving some for garnish.

5. Transfer to serving bowl, garnish with cilantro and scallions and serve immediately.

Right Next To Me

I love reading books and when a fellow blogger writes a book, someone who's blog I have followed for many years, of course I will jump at the chance to read it!  I loved Right Next to Me by Rachel Ward.

The Book: 
After high school Sydney's friends scattered to different colleges across the country. Over Thanksgiving break they are reunited, and much to Sydney's surprise, she discovers that her best friend has kept a quiet flame for her for years. Sydney is faced with making an impossible decision: stay with the perfect boyfriend or go for the best friend who has always loved her?


My Review:
  Ever read a book where you knew how it was going to end but couldn't put it down and stop reading?  This is how I felt when I read Right Next to Me.  I loved this coming of age book.  It took a unique approach by jumping back between the present and back to high school days when many of these relationships began to form.  It was done in such a way that wasn't confusing and just added to the story like a puzzle coming together.  
  The book felt like it could have come right from the author's life, the characters felt real and likable. This is Rachel's second book, and I enjoyed it just as much or maybe even more than her first book.  I read this book in one day, so a quick easy read that will capture you from the start.  It is a clean book free from graphic imagery and language.   This book made my "Can't Put Down List"

Find the Author:
  Rachel's Blog//Facebook//Twitter

Buy The Book:
 Amazon//Barnes And Noble//Deseret Book

Teaching Kids About Money

As a parent there are a lot of things you have to teach your kids; sleeping through the night, going to the bathroom, how to tie your shoes, reading, writing and the list goes on and on.  Sometimes along the way you will realize you forgot to teach your child something, like counting money.  Today I am sharing some tips on how to teach your kids about money.

We are already in our third week of school, and when my youngest came home from school one day with a math paper that showed the value of the penny, nickel, dime and quarter as 1, 2, 3, 4; I realized that was something I had never taught him.  I pulled out some change and told him this was a penny and it was worth 1 cent, this is a nickel it is 5 cents, etc.- but it seemed to go right over his head, so I knew I needed to do something different.

How To Teach Kids About Money

1. Teach Coin Amounts
   -To help kids learn how much coins are worth, show them using counters- we used Honey Nut Cheerios.

   -We first sorted the coins in value from lowest to highest, then talked about how much each coin is worth.

  -My son counted out the amount of Cheerios and placed that amount underneath each coin.

 -It was then so much easier for him to visually see that the dime, even though actually smaller than the nickel is actually worth more.

-I then asked him questions like, how many pennies would you need to make a quarter.  Since we had the Cheerios there, I could also phrase it as how many Cheerios would you need to be the same as the quarter's Cheerios.

It truly was like a light bulb moment and it suddenly seemed to make sense.

Plus, he was more than happy to eat the Cheerios when we were done learning, and since Cheerios are made of 100% Whole Grain Oats with no artificial flavors or colors, it is a great afternoon snack I don't mind him eating.

2. Practice Making Money
   Kids love playing real world things, like restaurant or store.  My kids often will play restaurant, ordering pretend food and "cooking" for each other.  You can help your kids create a menu, or let them create it, with food prices listed.

Then use real money, or play money, and have them pay for their food.  They will practice counting money and adding money all while feeling like they are just playing.

3. The Value of Money
  -"It only costs $20!" -has your child ever said something like this?  How can you help kids understand the value of money?

-In our home, we have house hold chores that we have our kids do simply because they are part of our family and we all work together.   If they do their jobs without having to be asked and without whining, then they can earn money for their jobs.

((I shared more about our family economy in this post))

Then as the kids earn money, it helps them recognize how much work they had to do to get that $20, how many weeks they had to save, and they are much less likely to spend it on a bunch of junk at the dollar store.

-As a stay-at-home mom I try to always thank my husband, and point out to my kids, how hard he works to provide for our family and that we are able to do the things we do because of his hard work and dedication.

**What tips do you have to teach your kids about money?  Is there ever anything you realized you forget to teach you kids?**

Cooking With Kids: Skillet Penne with Beans

Summer usually means a few things- one: it will be hot; two- the kids will seem to have a never ending appetite and three-it is the perfect time for kids to learn to cook.

Since it is so hot, I love finding a good summer recipe that I can cook fully on the stove, no need to turn on the oven.  I also want a lighter dish with fresh ingredients.  The Skillet Penne with Beans is a perfect summer time dish.   Thank you to Bush's Beans for sponsoring this post and letting me share this perfect summer time recipe.

#MyBestWithBushBeans

This summer I have had each of my kids pick one recipe each week to make.  Ryder was my helper for the Skillet Penne with Beans.

I love that this dish has only a few ingredients, including Bush's beans which is a great staple to have on hand for last minute recipes.  I will often grab a few extras cans on my trips to Walmart, where they are readily available.

I love that when Ryder cooks, not only is he learning to cook but he is practicing reading while following the recipe.

It definitely takes a little longer to cook when kids help, but I really don't mind as I feel like a good mom and am totally engaged and present when we cook together.

The other great thing about having kids cook, is their willingness to try new recipes.  If I had made this on my own, the fact that it has cherry tomatoes and *gasp* green things, probably would have made my kids turn up their noses.

When they are involved cooking the recipe they seem to take ownership of it and are willing to try it without any complaints.

It definitely is a win-win.

What is one of your favorite summer recipes?

Skillet Penne with Beans

Serves: 4-6    Total Time: 20 mins
 Ingredients: 
   2 Cups Low sodium Chicken Broth
   2 Cups Water
   1/2 t. salt
   8 oz. Penne Pasta
   Pint of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
   1 Can Bush Cannellini Beans
   1/2 cup pitted olives (optional)
   1/2 cup Fresh Basil Chopped
   1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
   2 T. Olive Oil
   2 T. Lemon Juice

Directions:
   1. In a Nonstick skillet over high heat add: chicken broth, water, salt, penne pasta.  Stir often and   cook for 15-18 minutes.

  2. While the Pasta cooks, halve the tomatoes.  Rinse the can of Bush's Cannellini Beans. Chop the olives.

3. Add the ingredients from step 2 when the pasta has cooked about 15 minutes.  Stir and let the ingredients cook for about 3-5 more minutes over low heat.

4. While those ingredients cook: chop 1/2 cup Fresh basil, grate 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.

5. Remove from heat and stir in basil, cheese, 2 T. olive oil and 2 T. fresh lemon juice.  Season with Salt and pepper to taste.