Serenity Harbor Book Review

I was excited to reserve a new book in the Haven Point series at the library.  I was shocked to find out that it was not even the newest one when I went on Amazon to get the summary.  Serenity Harbor: A Heartwarming Small Town Romance (Haven Point) by RaeAnne Thayne is the sixth book in the series and I couldn't wait to read this book!

In the town of Haven Point, love can be just a wish—and one magical kiss—away… 
Computer-tech millionaire Bowie Callahan is about the last person that schoolteacher Katrina Bailey wants to work for. As far as she can see, he's arrogant, entitled and not up to the task of caring for his young half brother, Milo. But Kat is, especially if it brings her closer to her goal of adopting an orphaned little girl. And as her kindness and patience work wonders with Milo, she realizes there's more to sexy, wary Bo than she'd ever realized.  Bo never imagined he'd be tasked with caring for a sibling he didn't know existed. Then again, he never pictured himself impulsively kissing vibrant, compassionate Katrina in the moonlight. Now he's ready to make her dream of family come true…and hoping there's room in it for him, too…

The beautiful cover was only the start to this wonderful book.  I was so glad to get back into the series but it took a little bit before I could remember who was who.  I loved the characters before and couldn't wait to meet more of them.  This book followed Bowie who was new to town and his autistic brother, Milo.  They were trying to build a new life after their mother died and Bowie got custody of his much younger half brother.  Kat was a back in town for her sister's wedding and met Milo in the grocery store while he was having a fit.  Kat helped to distract Milo so that he didn't get so upset.  Shortly after Bowie offered Kat a job helping him by caring for Milo between nannies.  Kat helped Milo make connects to her brother and the rest of the small town.  Bowie pays Kat a lot of money so that she can adopt her daughter in Columbia.  I couldn't put this one down when I started so it was super good with a few tears at the end.  I hope that you check out this book and others in this great series and enjoy them as much as I have!

Sixkill Book Review

I was excited to get started on the next book in the Spenser series since I haven't read it in a long time.  Sixkill (Spenser) by Robert B. Parker was the last book written by Robert B Parker and I was excited to read it. I thought that I had read all of the books that were written so it was nice to find out there were more and even better to find out that there was someone who picked up with the series.  This is the 39th book in the series so if you haven't picked up the series yet start and the beginning and check out this great author.

On location in Boston, bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of the rape and murder of a young woman. From the start the case seems fishy, so the Boston PD calls on Spenser to investigate. The situation doesn't look good for Jumbo, whose appetites for food, booze, and sex are as outsized as his name. He was the studio's biggest star, but he's become their biggest liability.

In the course of the investigation, Spenser encounters Jumbo's bodyguard: a young, former football-playing Native American named Zebulon Sixkill. Sixkill acts tough, but Spenser sees something more within the young man. Despite the odd circumstances, the two forge an unlikely alliance, with Spenser serving as mentor for Sixkill. As the case grows darker and secrets about both Jumbo and the dead girl come to light, it's Spenser-with Sixkill at his side-who must put things right.

I enjoyed this book as much as all the books in the series and I was super glad to get to read it. Spenser is always entertaining and this is no different.  Jumbo Nelson has been accused for murder of Dawn Lopata.  The Boston PD doesn't think that Jumbo did it but all the media attention and pressure from the parents is forcing their hands to press charges.  Quirk comes to Spenser to try to find out the truth but both lawyers and Spenser were fired because Jumbo was upset.  Spenser keeps investigating and starts working with Z who was Jumbo's bodyguard to train him.  They have lots of bad guys coming after them and they become close friends.  There is lots of action and suspense so this was another great book.  I hope that you check out this book and all the others in this series because you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Any Dream Will Do Book Review

I was at the library and looked quickly at the new release section which had this new Debbie Macomber book which didn't look familiar.  I decided to grab Any Dream Will Do: A Novel by Debbie Macomber and make sure that I hadn't read it.  It was in the really new release section so I only had 14 days to read it and return it with a pile of other books that really should have been read first but I went to this one so that I wouldn't have to return it unread.

Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, Shay realized she would do anything to help him avoid the men who were threatening him, and she crossed lines she never should have crossed. Now, determined to start fresh, she finds herself in search of a place to stay and wanders into a church to escape from the cold.  Pastor Drew Douglas adored his wife. But when he lost her, it was all he could do to focus on his two beautiful kids, and his flock came in a distant third. Now, as he too is thinking about a fresh start, he walks through his sanctuary and finds Shay sitting in a pew.

The pair strike up a friendship—Drew helps Shay get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose—that, over time, turns into something deeper, something soulful, spiritual, and possibly romantic. Even Drew’s two children are taken with this woman who has brought light back into their lives. Perhaps most important, Shay learns to trust again as she, in turn, proves herself trustworthy to her adopted community.  But Caden’s return to town and a disastrous secret threaten to undo the life Shay has tried so hard to rebuild. It will take the utmost courage and faith if she and Drew hope to find healing and open their hearts to a brighter future.

I was surprised when I was reading this book because it seemed so different then other books by Debbie Macomber.  I thought that the writing was good and the topic was good and soon got to the point that I had trouble putting the book down.  I guess that means that it isn't very different then her other books that I have trouble stopping reading but the subject matter was very serious.  Shay was trying to get back on her feet after serving time in jail for three years.  She luckily wanders into a church where the pastor gets her set up in a wonderful program to help her get back on her feet.  Shay's life and Pastor Drew's life will never be the same.  I loved following the journey with these two characters and seeing all the ups and downs that life handed them.  It was a great book and I know that you will enjoy.  I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did!!

Menu Plan Monday 9/4

Monday- Chicken fries, Buffalo Chicken with homemade fries
Tuesday- Pasta
Wednesday- Philly Cheese Steak Pasta
Thursday- Grilled Chicken with rice
Friday- Leftovers
Saturday- ?
Sunday- ?

Last week went pretty well with most things going according to plan and I even did the whole chicken butchering for Thursday so that we could have some yummy grilled chicken super cheap.  I took everything but the drumsticks and wings off the bones so that they would grill a little more evenly and it worked pretty well.  I took the breast and cut up some for the freezer so we will have a second meal out of the chicken too.  I had cut up all the other chicken that I bought at Wegman's last month so we have a ton of chicken in the freezer and 6 bags of ground beef ready for September and beyond. 

Saturday night we decided to splurge and get the customer special $4.99 pizza at Paisano's pizza which was great.  We ordered half cheese and half pepperoni.  My husband said that they were so nice that they said that they would put something different on the other side but that was exactly what we wanted.  It was great and only $5.29 out of our eating out budget so a bargain!! Plus I made my husband go to Harris Teeter and do a quick shopping trip with me to get some great deals first.

Hope you guys are having a good week too!!  I hope that you have a great week and enjoy some yummy meals.

Don't Panic More Dinner's in the Freezer Book Review

I found this at the library and decided I had to bring it home and see what was in it.  Don't Panic--More Dinner's in the Freezer: A Second Helping of Tasty Meals You Can Make Ahead by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia is a great freezer cooking instruction book.  I haven't read a good cookbook in a long time!!  I love reading cookbooks.  It is like window shopping and I get to pick out a bunch of things that I like and might want to try.

Hectic lifestyles make traditional cooking methods nearly obsolete in many families. The results are poor nutrition and budgets strained by the high cost of fast food or commercially prepared meals. Now, due to popular demand, the ladies who brought you Don't Panic--Dinner's in the Freezer offer more of their simple and economical recipes designed to be prepared and frozen for future use.

Don't Panic--More Dinner's in the Freezer gives practical tips for planning, organizing, and shopping for meals, as well as unique ways to freeze and reheat prepared foods. Every recipe includes measurements for cooking alone or as a joint venture with one or two friends. Families, singles, retirees--everyone who needs to eat--will find fast and easy answers to the question, "What's for dinner?"

I think that this is a great cookbook to change your lifestyle towards freezer cooking. here is an amazing beginning of the book that includes lots of tips on how to save money and cook ahead.  I found a lot of great recipes that I would love to try regardless of freezing ahead of not.  In the mouthwatering appetizer section, I look the idea of the blue cheese pine nut tart and the hot soft pretzels. 

In the Bountiful Breads and Brunch section, I love the cheesy breadsticks and Double Dutch Cupcakes as well as can't wait to try the Garlic Herb Bread. 

There is also a recipe for scones which sounds good but I am already set with my favorite recipes so I will probably not try it.  There is a different recipe for biscuits than I use so I might try them too.  In the Savory Soup recipes, I like the recipe for the Buffalo Chicken Soup but my husband thinks it sounds a little too intense because he loved buffalo everything we might just have to try it. 

The Fabulous Poultry and Fish section was great because we love chicken!!  There was All-Seasons Sesame Chicken, Bangkok Chicken Satay, Chicken Oreganato, Grilled Honey Lime Chicken, Parmesan Garlic Chicekn, and Spicy Peanut Chicken. 

I know that I need to try a recipe quickly in order to make this a good cookbook for me instead of just yummy reading so here is hoping that some of the chicken recipes sound good enough to try making.  I hope that you check this out if you are looking for some easy weeknight meals and thinking about going forward with freezer cooking.  I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Duchess of Bloomsbury Street Book Review

I was in search of another book by this author after reading her collection of letters and I am super glad that I found this one because it was the next in the series of books to tell her story.  The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff is the story that takes place after 84, Charing Cross Road when she actually goes to England.

Nancy Mitford meets Nora Ephron in the pages of The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, Helene Hanff’s delightful travelogue about her “bucket list” trip to London.  When devoted Anglophile Helene Hanff is invited to London for the English publication of 84, Charing Cross Road—in which she shares two decades of correspondence with Frank Doel, a British bookseller who became a dear friend—she can hardly believe her luck. Frank is no longer alive, but his widow and daughter, along with enthusiastic British fans from all walks of life, embrace Helene as an honored guest. Eager hosts, including a famous actress and a retired colonel, sweep her up in a whirlwind of plays and dinners, trips to Harrod’s, and wild jaunts to their favorite corners of the countryside.  A New Yorker who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, Helene Hanff delivers an outsider’s funny yet fabulous portrait of idiosyncratic Britain at its best. And whether she is walking across the Oxford University courtyard where John Donne used to tread, visiting Windsor Castle, or telling a British barman how to make a real American martini, Helene always wears her heart on her sleeve. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is not only a witty account of two different worlds colliding but also a love letter to England and its literary heritage—and a celebration of the written word’s power to sustain us, transport us, and unite us.

I thought it was a great book with more great writing as was found in the last book.  Another quick read with half being read in one evening and the rest the next morning.  I couldn't wait to find out what happened from the second that I picked up the book.  Helene was finally getting to England which was the entire discussion in the last book of her biggest life's wish.  I couldn't believe all of the adventures that she had there in a about a month.  It seemed like she spent a year there exploring.  She was making the most of the time that she had and could afford to spend in England.  She got to stretch her visit with the help of lots of friends picking up the tab for dinner.  She enjoyed getting to see the entire countryside from local people who loved their towns.  This took place in the 1970s so it was interesting to see the different culture and climate at the time.  I think that things have changed now but the places are still the same.  The same humor from the first book was still in this book and I highly recommend you read this book after checking out 84, Charing Cross Road.  I think that you will enjoy them both as much as I have!!!

End of the Month Shopping Update for August and Eating Out

I have worked for many years to maintain a $160 monthly budget for my family of three for all of our household needs including groceries, paper goods, cleaning supplies and more.  I try to shop sales and use coupons to make our budget stretch as far as possible.  I make many of the things that we eat from scratch like rolls, bread and muffins to have fresh food in the house with the best possible ingredients for my family.  I stay accountable by doing a middle and end of the month update on my blog so you can see what I have gotten each month and worked to stay under budget.

I was amazed how fast this month went and school starting but I committed myself to getting a lot of couponing done this month to stock up on a lot of things that we had run out of.  The first half of the month had a lot of trips to the store  because of super doubles at Harris Teeter providing some amazing deals.  They are all detailed here but pictures and amounts of the transactions are listed below.

This month I also worked hard to do lots of rebates through Saving Star, Ibotta, Checkout 51 and Mobi Save.  It looks like Mobi Save is not going to have as many good deals going forward so I didn't get anything from them this month.  I got $18.75 from Saving Star (so far only $12.25 credited and just got everything else!!), $14.75 from Ibotta, and $6.25 from Checkout 51.  That means that I got an extra $39.75 which will eventually make it into PayPal to pay for other things.  I don't count this money off my budget because I don't use it for groceries when it gets transferred to PayPal but it a great bonus with the work that I put in this month. 

Aldi $40.78

Harris Teeter $17.06

Harris Teeter $0.70

Harris Teeter $0.06

Harris Teeter $6.34

Harris Teeter $1.73

Harris Teeter $3.15

Harris Teeter $2.97

Harris Teeter $0.27

Harris Teeter $4.22

Harris Teeter $3.58

Harris Teeter $0.24

Harris Teeter -$5.22

Aldi $0.81

I got a container for the store brand cool whip for my son because he likes it on pancakes instead of syrup and we were totally out.  I don't know if it is any healthier but he likes it.

Harris Teeter $0.05

Harris Teeter $8.02 + $0.06= $8.08

I went to get granola bars and see what free stuff I could get.  There was a deal on the granola bars for $2 each.  If you bought 5, you got $3 off instantly.  I had to buy 6 to use two coupons for $1/3.  I got 6 boxes for $7 which is $1.17 per box.  I got free Hormel Natural Choice Snack, 4 Hormel Rev Wraps, Light and Fit Yogurt, Yoplait Dippers and $0.02 Yoplait Mix-ins.  I decided to splurge on the Pop Tarts for my husband because they were $0.67 and he ate all the ones from Harris Teeter that he bought before.  I also needed a head of lettuce which is cheaper then Aldi at $0.99.  I put in a rebate for $0.25 on Ibotta for any item and $0.75 on Checkout 51 for the Rev Wraps.  I will also get $0.25 for the Yoplait Mix-ins and $0.50 for Yoplait Dippers from Saving Star.

Harris Teeter $ 16.08

I got 6 more boxes of granola bars.  I had to get the disinfecting wipes for my son for school and I haven't gotten a deal so I just bought the store brand which was $1.79.  The Arid was $1.53 which was half priced and I am running out of my crazy stockpile from years ago.  The Cinnamon Toast Crunch was $0.79 after sale and coupon.  The Splenda was $2.67 for both of them after sale and coupon and I did a $2.50 rebate and needed them to get the additional $5 rebate from Saving Star so in all they were money makers in the end but hard for me to spend money on it just to get money back.  I got free yogurt and Hormel Natural Choice.  I found Puffs on clearance for $1.25 and used $0.50 coupons to get them for $0.25 each.  I turned in a Checkout 51 rebate for $0.75 for Puffs and $2.75 for Splenda and Lime from Ibotta.  I will also get $0.75 for the Puffs and $0.25 for the Lime and $0.50 for the Lara Bars and $5 for the Splenda from Saving Star.

Aldi $4.79- $3.06= $1.73

I went to the store to return lunch meat that was supposed to be good until September 8th but my husband said was icky!  I guess I am done with my beginning of the month attempt to stock up because it really only lasts a limited amount of time but I tried.  I grabbed marshmallows, parmesan cheese and an extra salsa.  There was also a free replacement turkey.

Target $20.27- $0.42= $19.85

Well, sickness has hit our house and my son and husband are both dealing with stuffy noses and coughs.  I swear my son is dealing with allergies but my husband swears that he caught it from my son so it has to be a cold.  My husband's is totally different then my son's but I got Tums for my husband and the Allegra and Dimetapp for my son.  I turned in the receipt to Saving Star for $1 back on the Dimetapp.  I turned it in for $0.25 Any Item Rebate on Ibotta which should get me closer to the August $1 Bonus but I am not sure because I have never gotten $10 in rebates in one month!  I actually still have to turn in one more rebate to get it because the any rebate doesn't work towards the one part so hoping to do that this month!

Harris Teeter $1.70

I skipped the first day of super doubles this time so I went after my physical therapy on Monday.  I left half of my coupons at home and was totally not organized but I was glad to get a few deals.  The Whole Fruit Juice Pops (free after sale and coupon) are missing from the picture because I forgot that I threw them in the freezer because I had to go for pick up of my son right after.  I did two transactions to get the shampoo deal because there was an instant $2 off and $4 coupon to get them free.  The Nutella was free after sale and coupon... wish I had more coupons.  The Smithfield was $3.99 and there was a $2 meat clearance and I used two printables that I still had for fresh Smithfield which doubled so they were free.  The expensive item on this trip was the Werther's Candies which were $2.00 less $1.60 coupon so they were $0.40 each. After I was done, I turned in rebates on Ibotta so I got $4.50 for this shopping trip!  I got $2.25 for Werther's Candies, $1.00 Whole Fruit Juice Pops, $0.25 for any item and $1.00 Bonus for August so a total of $4.50 for Ibotta.

Wegman's $34.23

I realized that I was really close to  Wegman's and I had planned on putting this off until September because of the second super doubles at Harris Teeter but I decided to run in since I was near the store so I wouldn't have to go out to especially since it is normally the store that I have to go out of my way to get to.  I had Arrowhead Mills coupons so I grabbed three of my vital wheat gluten for $2.59 for each bag since it is the only place that I can get it now.

Harris Teeter $0.29

I got two Dole Mixations and two Garnier with the $2 instant savings and $4 coupon so all was free and I just had to pay tax.

Harris Teeter $0.24

I used the instant savings and $5 coupon to get them free and only paid tax.

Harris Teeter $8.46

 I knew that I was going to go a little over budget with this transaction but I was having a really hard time passing up these deals.  The Garnier Shampoo, Tetley Tea, Listerine Floss, Dole Mixations, Whole Fruit Juice Pops and So Delicious Yogurt were free.  The Kahiki egg rolls were $1 per box.  The Honey Nut Cheerios were manager's special for $0.80 each after sale and coupon.  The Vicks Dayquil was $3.99 after sale and coupon but I knew that my husband needed something for his sickness.

Total Retail $838.86

Total Savings $671.21

Total OOP $167.65

I am pretty happy with the hard work and couponing that I did this month to get lots of things for my family and save lots of money.  I hope that I can continue to do this in months to come and get lots of freebies to stretch the budget.  I am a little disappointed that I went over after all my hard work but I know that I got a ton of value for my money!

My parents also came this month and brought a ton of junk food that we have been splurging on and really need to stop.  I know that they have added more food that weren't counted into our budget so hoping some of that follows through to September.  

I made bread, rolls,cinnamon rolls, berry muffins, chocolate chip cookies and more through the month.  I know that the baking will increase in the winter months so I hope that I can get lots of freebies to put into my baking.  I hope that you have had a great month too!

August Eating Out

My monthly budget for eating out is $40 so we try to get food and bring it home to save costs and still enjoy the food not cooked by me.  We had a pretty good month for eating out.  We got pizza with friends at the beginning of the month which was $16.29.  We got one Little Caesar's Pizza for $5.30 to eat at the pool and my husband got the meal at the pool with two sodas $8.  The total spent for the month was $29.59.  My mom took us all to my son's favorite restaurant which was a great treat for him and she picked up the check.  My dad came into town and took us to my son's other favorite restaurant and he picked up the check.  We got to eat out a lot this month and spent very little money.  Luckily that was $10.41 under budget which makes up for the overage in the grocery budget ;)  I would rather have the money spent well towards lots of food for next month and we have ton!!