Weekly Savings

A couple of hectic weeks here meant that blogging had to be put to the side.  I expect things to be slightly calmer for the next two weeks.  I am going to do my best to get back to a regular schedule.  Today's weekly savings post will cover what I can remember for the past couple of weeks.

I dried all of our laundry on the line.

I got a discount on my favorite brand of nail polish by using a coupon.  I adore Zoya nail polish which is a bit higher than other brands but still much cheaper than paying for a manicure.

W had a movie night at home.  I took advantage of a sale on used DVDs to buy several movies we have wanted to see.  A less than $5 DVD and a bowl of popcorn make for a cheap movie night.

I focused on eating up leftovers so very little went to waste - meaning to the chickens.

I transplanted marigolds and zinnias that self-seeded from last year.  It was great to have free flowers to put all over the garden.  I am doing my best to keep the bees happy.

I bought a few herbs on sale to finish out my garden.  I was also very excited to find lemongrass which I thought I would have to order online.  I used compost from the garden and rabbit manure to fill the pots I planted the herbs in.

I picked radishes and garlic chives from the garden.  It is not quite as easy as shaking dried chives from a container, but I am not complaining about free, fresh chives.

A bit on the short side, but I wanted to get this posted and get myself back on track!

Weekend Book Review: Layered

I love to bake and have a ready group of taste testers.  Layered by Tessa Huff follows up on its subtitle:  Baking, Building, and Styling Spectacular Cakes.   The cakes in this book are works of art.  The book begins with sections on the basics - ingredients and techniques.  Layered includes chapters on everything from classic cakes to adventurous cakes.

Various elements are put together to create a variety of cakes.  One of the recipes that caught my eye are banana custard, coconut cream cheese frosting, and maple candied pecans.  These are all elements from different cakes that I could use in other recipes.  Layered offers so many recipes that can be used in many other ways.

One downside for me is that the cakes are complicated.  These are not desserts that can be put together when you come in from work.  These spectacular cakes are definitely for special occasions.  If you are looking for simple, this is not the cookbook for you.  If your aim is to impress, add this to your cookbook collection!

disclosure:  I received this e-book from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley was a book that I really wanted to love.  Two sisters (Cassie and Sid) decide to become pen pals in an effort to get back in touch with each other's lives.  Things are going well until Cassie decides to save the letters by creating a private blog that becomes public.  I have pen friends and was intrigued by a book of people writing letters rather than e-mailing or checking in on social media.  

I had several issues with the book though.  First I wondered why Cassie created a blog rather than saving them to a jump drive or external hard drive.  Second the letters were like nothing I have ever sent or received.  I chalked that up to Cassie and Sid being sisters rather than friends.  Sid's letters were interesting, but Cassie came across as a whiner and a bit of a drama queen.  Parts of the book were a bit crude for my taste.  At times I liked the book, but at other times I hated it.  Overall it was just okay.  

Dying for a Taste is the first book in the Sally Solari mystery series by Leslie Karst.  Following her mother's death, Sally Solari returns to the family restaurant to help her father.  The plot was interesting, but there was just so much going on.  The characters were somewhat likeable but not my favorite.  I cannot quite put my finger on the reason I did not love this book.  It was a good book just not a great start to a new series.  I would give a second book a try though.  

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews: Rejected Writers and a Happy Dog

The Rejected Writers' Book Club by Suzanne Kelman is a fun book.  I picked it mainly for the cute cover and the unusual title.  Plus it is not my usual type of book.  Janet works at the Southlea Bay library and is pulled into an adventure courtesy of Doris and the other members of the Rejected Writer's Book Club.  This book is different which is not always a bad thing.  The plot is a bit out there and the subplots are a little silly.  This is the perfect book if you need to just lose yourself in a story.  

The Rejected Writers are a quirky, eccentric bunch of women.  Their adventures are somewhat hard to believe.  I enjoyed the fantasy of the book though and found myself laughing aloud a few times.  If you are looking for a quick easy book to read, add this one to your list.  Try not to think too much and just enjoy the adventure!

One Hundred Ways to a Happy Dog by Celia Haddon is a short book on keeping your dog happy.  While the book is easy to read, it is quite basic and does not have much in depth information.  The book would be best suited to someone new to dog ownership.

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Savings

I spent a bunch of time on new house stuff and did not have much time to blog last week.  This will be short as I cannot remember much of what went on.

I bought some chicken on markdown.  I will only purchase one brand which does not have antibiotics or other icky stuff fed to the chickens.  Obviously it is more expensive so I keep my eye out for any deals.

I prepared meals at home and fixed a few things to add to the freezer.  I made crunchy chicken tenders, marinara sauce, English muffins, three spaghetti pies, and two pepperoni pizzas for quick meals.

I combined errands to save on gas and time in an extra trip to town.

I mowed our yards but skipped a small section that had young, tender grass.  I have been pulling it up to feed the rabbits.

The weather has been mild enough that we have not really needed the heat.  We opened the windows on the days it was warmer.

We priced having our new house insulated and discovered it was cheaper to hire out than doing ourselves.

A electrician friend came over to inspect the work W did on the wiring before we called in the building inspector.  W has done electrical work but never wired an entire house.  He got two thumbs up from a certified electrician, and we saved a bunch of money by doing it ourselves.

Those are the high points for this week.  What did you do to save money?

Weekend Book Review: Closer Home

Closer Home by Kerry Anne King is not my usual type of book.  It falls best under the category of women's fiction.  I have been looking for books that are not my type though.  This was a wonderful choice.  The story opens with Lise at her estranged sister's (Callie's) funeral.  Callie was a megastar with an empire and a teenage daughter, Ariel.  Both of those are now entrusted to Lise.

Callie almost seems to be the main character even though she is more of a ghost in the lives of everyone.  This book could easily be an interesting movie of the week.  Callie's passing brings up memories, regrets, and questions for both Lise and Ariel.  I read this book in less than a day.  The story was engrossing and easy to read.  The book did contain a bit of foul language, but that is the only negative aspect.  It was nice to read a women's fiction book that did not revolve around romance but rather had a deeper meaning.

disclosure:  I received this e-book from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for this review..  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

A Devious Lot by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs is book five in the Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries.  This book easily stands on its own.  I have not read any of the previous books, but I was not at all lost.  Readers join Molly and Matt on their honeymoon in England which includes a visit to her Great Aunt Tessa.  A murder and some missing people threaten to ruin the newlyweds' trip.  This cozy mystery also included a backstory from the Victorian era which was placed in chapters during the regular story.  Rather than taking away or being confusing, it added to the main story.  I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the writing style of this book.

Killer Reunion by G.A. McKevett is part of the Savannah Reid series.  I have not read any of the other books in this series and was only introduced to Savannah as she returned home to Georgia for a high school reunion.  I certainly hope Savannah is more realistic in the books set in California.  As I started reading I was annoyed at the portrayal of southerners A few things were true.  Southern grandmothers are often called Granny, and southern families do stick together.  A few other southern rules were broken.  In the South women who are your elders are referred to as "Miss", for example Miss Jane.  You do not refer to every single woman as Miss.  We also do not go around spouting off every single southern saying that comes to mind 100% of the time.  If we did talk like Savannah and her family, we would be kicked out of the south for the lack of "y'all" and "bless your heart".  I got the feeling the author has never been to the south or even met someone from the south.  While I generally enjoy southern themed books, this one completely missed the mark.

Death of a Bacon Heiress by Lee Hollis is a fun cozy mystery that is part of the Hayley Powell series.  I had no idea there were so many other books in this series, and this book makes me want to read them all.  Hayley is the food and cocktails columnist for her local newspaper.  She finds fame after appearing on a morning talk show and meeting bacon heiress Oliva Redmond.  Unfortunately for Hayley, Oliva soon turns up dead.  Hayley then becomes the caretaker of Oliva's pet pig, Pork Chop.  I loved Hayley's columns which are sprinkled throughout the book.  The characters are loveable, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end!

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!