Dangerous Minds Book Review

I was excited to put the next book in the Knight and Moon series on reserve when I saw it but it came in on my reserve shelf unexpectedly after all that waiting.  Dangerous Minds: A Knight and Moon Novel by Janet Evanovich is the newest book in the series.  I knew that I needed to start on it right away so that I could return it before it was due since I don't get renewals on books with holds.  I went straight to work on it and didn't put it down much until I was done.

The irrepressibly charming duo of Emerson Knight and Riley Moon returns in another gripping mystery by #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.

Buddhist monk Wayan Bagus lost his island of solitude and wants to get it back. The island was about two hundred miles northeast of Samoa. It had a mountain, beaches, a rain forest, and a volcano. And now it’s gone. Poof! Vanished without a trace.  Brilliant and boyishly charming Emerson Knight likes nothing better than solving an unsolvable, improbable mystery. And finding a missing island is better than Christmas morning in the Knight household. When clues lead to a dark and sinister secret that is being guarded by the National Park Service, Emerson will need to assemble a crack team for help. Since a crack team isn’t available, he enlists Riley Moon and his cousin Vernon. Riley Moon has a Harvard business degree and can shoot the eyes out of a grasshopper at fifty feet, but she can’t figure out how to escape the vortex of Emerson Knight’s odd life. Vernon has been Emerson’s loyal and enthusiastic partner in crime since childhood. He now lives in an RV behind Emerson’s house.  Together, this ragtag, mismatched trio will embark on a worldwide investigation that will expose a conspiracy one hundred years in the making.

So funny as this series so often is even though it is filled with mystery and action.  This book has both Emerson Knight and Riley Moon who were featured in the last book who always bring humor and adventure with their stories.  It also has Vernon, Emerson's crazy cousin who really might be a little special in his thinking.  In this book, Wayan Bagus brings even more humor with his island disappearing and the funny Buddist sayings that he throws into every conversation.  I was totally amused and laughed out loud at some parts while I was sitting on the edge of my seat because they were trying to escape the government men that were hunting them down for saving the universe.  I hope that you enjoy this book and check out the rest of the silly series!  I think that you will enjoy it as much as I have!!   I know that I couldn't put down any of these novels and I hope that it is works the same for you!

Nightingale Way Book Review

I was excited to get back to this wonderful series with the fifth book in the series, Nightingale Way: An Eternity Springs Novel by Emily March.  I really didn't know anything about the series or details on the books before starting but I was glad that I got to reserve all the books at the library so that I could read through them at my leisure.  The great thing is that this series is a little older so there are a bunch so with this book, I am about halfway through the series so excited to read the rest because it normally goes into more details about a character that you have met through other books in the series.

Dark, brooding Jack Davenport hides his secrets well, never telling his wife about the dangers of his job, never sharing his thoughts or worries . . . never sharing himself. After tragedy strikes, their marriage shatters. Now a threat to Catherine Blackburn’s life brings her back into his—and gives them a second chance.  A reporter whose most recent investigation has ignited a national controversy and put her in harm’s way, Cat thinks she can handle herself. So when Jack grabs her off the street and sweeps her to his home above Eternity Springs, she’s furious.  In the warm sanctuary of the Eternity Springs community, Jack and Cat face the heartache that drove them apart. But can they find the courage to pick up the pieces of a shattered love?

I was interested when I started this book because it started in Alexandria Virginia which is very close to where I live.  Wondering what this new location was going to bring to this series and all of the characters were new to the series, I was starting the book.  There was a quick turn of events and Cat was kidnapped from Alexandria and dropped in Eternity Springs by her ex-husband.  The very interesting thing about this book is that some of the mystery from the last book was revealed because she had appeared in the last book although you didn't know who she was then.  I loved to watch the two exes fight and try to work through problems that had not when they split 5 years before.  Eternity Springs is supposed to heal the past so find out what happens when you pick up this book.  I hope that you check out this book and others in this series soon.  I know that you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Money Secrets of the Amish Book Review

I am not really sure how I found this book while searching on the computer at the library but I am glad that I did.  I put it on hold and it came in fairly quickly.  It was copy written in 2011 so it isn't a super new book and this copy of the book smelled like incense.  I started to get used to it while reading through the humorous book.  It was a fast read and well worth looking it up if you haven't read it before.  Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving by Lorilee Craker is a cheaper book on Amazon at $9 if you can't find it in your library, maybe add it to your wish list or check out the preview.

Take one thoroughly modern gal with a recessionary income problem, mix with the practices of a culture that has proved to be recession-proof, and what have you got?
A financial planner in a straw hat.
When writer Lorilee Craker learned that the Amish are not just surviving but thriving in the economic downturn, she decided to find out why.  What she found was about a dozen tried and true financial habits the Amish have employed for generations that will make your cash last longer and help you build wealth.  Craker provides tips to...

• use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without
• rethink your gift giving
• repurpose, recycle, and reuse
• eat like royalty for a peasant's pittance

Endorsements:

Packed with practical, simple, and smart money saving ideas and teeming with great insight into the sensible Amish ways, Money Secrets of the Amishwill entertain you with stories and retrain your brain to be the savvy money saver you always dreamed you could be.  --Beth Wiseman, best-selling author of Plain Promise and Seek Me With All Your Heart
Sometimes touching, sometimes humorous and always helpful, author Lorilee Craker pulls us into the family rooms of the Amish and shows us how they make ends meet. Story after story illustrates savvy money management: trading for goods and services, shopping for bargains, living with less, avoiding debt, curbing the desire to impress others. And Craker’s journalistic bent provides plenty of takeaway value for the non-Amish. A very worthwhile read whether your bank account is bursting or busting.  --Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and Lancaster County Secrets (Revell)
This book is like an Amish basement shelf loaded with Mason jars full of Plain money wisdom.  Self-confessed “Fancy” gal Lorilee Craker rolls up her sleeves and cracks them open one-by-one, figuring out how to fit Amish principles to a non-Amish life.  She succeeds, and so can you―read Money Secrets of the Amish and add weight to your wallet.  --Erik Wesner, amishamerica.com; author ofSuccess Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
Money Secrets of the Amish is a practical, doable guide, and it's such fun to read.  Lorilee's voice is as engaging and lively as ever, and the wisdom she shares from the Amish community is both inspiring and instructive. I just finished the last page, and my mind is buzzing with all sorts of ways to waste less, want less, and spend less.  --Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet

Lorilee inspires and impacts your everyday life with this marvelous little read. From buttons to bakery you suddenly realize this conversation is not about just pinching a few pennies but about transforming how we view our everyday lives. I applaud Lorilee for asking the hard questions and pressing in to find honest answers. Forget the mall, kick back and soak up the delicious wisdom of a life well lived. Thank you Lorilee for shaping my everyday!  --Tracey Bianchi, author of Green Mama
Money Secrets of the Amish isn’t so much about making money; it’s about family, discipline, and redefining what wealthy means. This is a great read that helps us all to see more clearly what’s really valuable in our lives.  --Jeff McMahon, award-nominated musician and national director/runner with the Team McGraw endurance program

I thought that it brought some of the same ideas that I already use but it was filled with funny stories and strong reminders on how to be frugal.  These 14 chapters help describe how the Amish live that makes them more immune to the economic downturn then other Americans.  There are many ideas such as using things up, not paying bills late, not using credit, rethinking gifts, saving, buying in bulk, and bartering.  There are many lessons in this book and I know that the last chapter talking about the best things in life are free really brings the book to the natural conclusion.  We can all be reminded of great things that Amish do and things that we can do to make more frugal decisions even if we are already making them.  This book puts very funny stories with these lessons that make it even more fun and enjoyable.  I think that this book is a great summary for those who couldn't make it through the whole Tightwad Gazette with all the wonderful ideas.  I highly recommend checking this book out if you can find it at your local library!!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Menu Plan Monday 7/31

Monday- Chicken fries, Buffalo Chicken with homemade fries
Tuesday- Papa John's leftovers from my husband's work
Wednesday- Salsa Sloppy Joes with mac and cheese
Thursday- Spiedies Chicken with white rice
Friday- Pizza at the Pool
Saturday- Honey Mustard Chicken
Sunday- Leftovers??

Last week went well with enough time to get everything done and still make a batch of chocolate chip muffins and rolls before the week started.  I also got a loaf of bread and peanut butter cookies made during the week.  I woke up early one morning and made blueberry bread which came out of the oven before my husband had to go to work and it was hot and yummy!  I was hoping to get a few more things made but it took a little bit more time then I had with all the other activities we had going on.  I know that it helps to get my baked good made so I stretch the time before I have to go back to the store but I never leave enough time or creativity to get them made.

Last week went mostly according to plan except that I didn't take the chicken tenders out for Saturday because I wasn't looking at the calendar so I made a Chopped Salad with croutons and pepperoni for my husband and I.  I cooked up two Brats that I bought at the store that day for my husband and my son wanted spaghetti so we made that instead.  We had a birthday party on Sunday so we got home and were exhausted after all that so we just had leftovers so I moved the spicy chicken with leftover breadcrumbs to this weekend.

I had the whole post done and didn't take a picture of the calendar so I totally forgot that I didn't schedule the post ahead of time...oops!!  I hope that you have a tasty week!!

Debt to Pay Book Review

I got Robert B. Parker's Debt to Pay (A Jesse Stone Novel) by Reed Farrel Coleman out of the library because it was the next book in the Jesse Stone series.  I was excited to start it but it always got put farther down in the pile because it was such a big and heavy book that it seemed hard to figure out why I would want to carry it.  I finally started it and got to read most of it at home.

All is quiet in Paradise, except for a spate of innocuous vandalism. Good thing, too, because Jesse Stone is preoccupied with the women in his life, both past and present. As his ex-wife, Jenn, is about to marry a Dallas real-estate tycoon, Jesse isn’t too sure his relationship with former FBI agent Diana Evans is built to last. But those concerns get put on the back burner when a major Boston crime boss is brutally murdered. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Jesse suspects it’s the work of Mr. Peepers, a psychotic assassin who has caused trouble for Jesse in the past.

Peepers has long promised revenge against the Mob, Jesse, and Suit for their roles in foiling one of his hits—and against Jenn as well. And though Jesse and Jenn have long parted ways, Jesse still feels responsible for her safety. Jesse and Diana head to Dallas for the wedding and, along with the tycoon’s security team, try to stop Peepers before the bill comes due. With Peepers toying with the authorities as to when and where he’ll strike, Jesse is up against the wall. Still, there’s a debt to pay and blood to be spilled to satisfy it. But whose blood, and just how much?

I was excited to get started on this next book in the Jesse Stone series.  It was another one that was hard to put down because I needed to find out what was going to happen next.  Jesse is looking into someone who is shooting out the tires in the cars around Paradise but making no progress.  Jesse gets an invitation to his ex-wife Jenn's wedding.  He is set that he isn't going to be going until he puts together the shot out tires with another two crimes that were committed by Mr. Peepers.  Mr. Peepers sends Jesse a picture with a note on the back that he is going to harm Jenn so Jesse and his girlfriend, Diana head to Texas to help protect Jenn.  At the same time, things are going on in Paradise and they realize that they are needed back there to help the rest of the people that would be targets.  There is so much action going on in this book and you need to pick it up to see how everything ends up but I think that you will be surprised and amazed.  I was sad to come to the end of this book because I think that it might be the last book currently published.  I am going to have to keep my eye out for the next book in this great series!!  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of this series and enjoy it as much as I have!!!

More Shopping and Eating for the Month!! Did I go overboard???

I got a ton of things at the beginning of the month which I went into detail here if you missed it.  Below are the totals and the pictures for the whole month on everything that I got for the month.  I think that I got a lot and got some great deals but I might have still gotten a little too much for the month.  I guess that happens with vacation and a crazy long month. 

Harris Teeter $7.93 + $8.30= $16.23



Aldi $11.54

Wegman's $29.60

Aldi $5.56 - $2.04= $3.52

Aldi $2.75 - $2.96= -$0.21

Harris Teeter $6.82

Weis $13.11

Aldi $13.71

First Half of July Total Retail $228.86
First Half of July Total Saving $134.54
First Half of July Total OOP $94.32


Harris Teeter $36.42 + $1.12= $37.54

I went to the store because I had a weekend only deal to get free HT Popsicles.  I didn't make it to the store until Sunday afternoon and I was amazed to find they still had some.  Super excited but surprised!!  My son and I ate one each on the way home! YUM!

My family wanted to go together so that we could pick up the ice cream flavors so that I wouldn't have to do it over the phone.  I was also glad to find the tortillas for $0.99 and my husband was excited to find the HT brand pop tarts for $1.  My son's favorite deal was getting the granola bars for $1.67 so we bought every one on the shelf even though I didn't have coupons.  We bought the two boxes of Cocoa Pebbles for my son which were on sale on my card for $1.87 so I used a coupon for $1/2 and then there was a rebate.

Before I left, I went on Homemaking Mom to find out what other deals I should pick up.  I got some free Hormel Rev Wraps so I picked up three and my husband picked up three.  I got free salad dressing so I picked up three and my husband picked up three.  There was also two Annie free mac and cheese microwave bowls because I only had two coupons.  I love coupons and sales that make things free and I love even more when I have someone else and more coupons to buy more for free. 

I put in lots of rebates when I got home to off set it.  I got $2.10 through Ibotta including $0.25 for the granola bars, $0.80 for both Cocoa Pebbles and $0.25 for any item.  I got $1.00 rebate on Mobi Save for the salad dressing.  I got $0.75 back from Checkout 51 for the Hormel Rev Wrap.  I got $3.85 back for the stuff that I bought which is a pretty good day for me in rebates.  The great bonus is that I used at least 13 coupons to get Swagbucks money back in addition towards my next gift card purchase.

Aldi $21.96

I went to Aldi knowing that I had a limited budget left for the month so I quickly write a list and added up the amounts for everything on the list which put me under my budget.  When I was at the store, I grabbed two bags of chips, two blocks of cheese, package of lunch meat, 10 lbs of potatoes, chicken fries and popcorn chicken.  If I paid closer attention to the freezer, I would have seen that I only needed the popcorn chicken but the other won't go to waste by any means.  The lines were long and the women let me go in front of her because I was carrying everything because I was too stubborn to get a cart.  The lunch meat was the only thing that I added to my list while I was in the store so I knew that I would still be under budget when it was all totaled but I still held my breath.  Woo Hoo!!  I added correctly and got put of the store with my few bags of groceries.

Harris Teeter $20.00

I saved a little money in the budget to get some deals with the Harris Teeter sale and weekend freebies but it wasn't nearly enough!! Although I got some great deals.  I got free Oreo Cookies with the weekend promotion.

I also got free Ramen noodles, free Bratwurt (reduced meat clearance), and free Knorr Rice sides.  The chicken breast were on sale for $0.88 per lb if you bought $25 of groceries.  I wasn't sure how it was going to count the groceries but it is usually before coupons but after sale prices so luckily it worked out okay.  There was a electronic deal for the Jif Peanut Butter to be $1.77 limit 4 and it happens to be one of my favorites and the season to stock up on peanut butter even though I don't have any coupons.  I got the Newman's Own salad dressing on sale for $2.50 less $1 electronic coupon, $1 manufacturer coupon for $0.50 and then put in the $1 rebate for Ibotta.  I got the Purell for a back to school gift for the teacher because it was on sale for $2.50 and I used a $1 coupon and did the $1 Ibotta rebate even though the Checkout 51 offer was gone.  I bought margarine for $0.99 each which wasn't on sale but we are out.

My crazy deal that I wasn't going to splurge on was the Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches which were shelf price of $5.49.  They were on sale B1G1 which really means they are half off.  I printed a coupon online for $1.50/1 or $3.00/2.  There was a deal on Ibotta to get $1 limit 2 so I went for it.  I paid $1.25 each and got the rebate back so they were $0.25 after rebate.  I figured that if I didn't take this deal then we would never try them so it was worth a try!!  We haven't gotten ice cream at the pool yet this year or from the ice cream man so this will be our special treat for way less then we would spend on them.

I went to the store mainly to get the Coke because we are totally out (okay my husband was saving his one last one for an emergency) and they were finally on sale buy two and get three free.  They are normally priced $6.99 so it works out $2.79 per case which still isn't the greatest deal.  I am going to start being better about searching the deals as soon as my little guy is back to school.

The deals ended up being a little bit sweeter which I didn't realize until I got home because the cashier didn't ring up the Brats but only the coupon off the front so I got the $3 off the Brats without the $3 charge for the Brats so I ended up getting $12 off the total purchase.  I was totally upset for going to the store knowing that I was going to go over budget but I knew it ahead of time and only bought what was on the list... adding in the Brats.  I turned in $4.25 in Ibotta rebates too so that was a great bonus too.

Second Half of July Total Retail $246.29

Second Half of July Total Saving $166.79

Second Half of July Total OOP $79.50

Over budget by $13.82 but I still think that I did amazing this month.  I did great turning in rebates for tons of things so I got back $2 through Mobi Save, $1.75 through Saving Star, $2.50 through Checkout 51, and $12.95 through Ibotta which is $19.20.  This is a huge jump up from last month where I turned in $1.15 to all of the sites!!  Of course, it might mean that I am getting too many things that aren't good enough prices in the store but after I transfer everything to Pay Pal, it will all work out to more money.

I am totally blaming the overage on vacation because it usually brings us more over budget then this so I going to call it a win and see how much food I bought this month for so little.  

July Total Retail $475.15
July Total Saving $301.33
July Total OOP $173.82

Eating Out Total

For the first half of the month, I had the Papa John's unexpectedly high total for $38.00 and the McDonald's purchase at $3.99.

My husband bought my son a snow cone at a swim meet which I knew he wouldn't eat for $2 but I thought that my husband was going to eat it when my son didn't....he said that he didn't remember that my son didn't like them.  We had a discussion that we wouldn't be buying them in the future because they don't have a lot of flavor and although they look like they should be cooling, ice cream would be better!  He doesn't ask for a lot of those impulse food purchases so it was worth the $2 for him to try it and not be mad that we were saying no.

 I did get very tempted by the call of pizza at the pool instead of making dinner one weekend but I resisted.

Total $43.99 OOP for take out which is only $3.99 over budget which I would call a win for a vacation month for sure. 

Hope you guys had a good month as well!!!

Confessions of Domestic Failure Book Review

I saw this new release book and reserved it with about a million other people.  Confessions of a Domestic Failure: A Humorous Book About a not so Perfect Mom by Bunmi Laditan finally came in and I was excited to get started.  I knew that I had to finish it because there was such a wait that I wouldn't be able to renew it.  Luckily, I got it read quickly and returned it to the library without delay.  I would hate to have to pay a fine for a book or keep someone else waiting.

There are good moms and bad moms—and then there are hot-mess moms. Introducing Ashley Keller, career girl turned stay-at-home mom who's trying to navigate the world of Pinterest-perfect, Facebook-fantastic and Instagram-impressive mommies but failing miserably.
When Ashley gets the opportunity to participate in the Motherhood Better boot camp run by the mommy-blog-empire maven she idolizes, she jumps at the chance to become the perfect mom she's always wanted to be. But will she fly high or flop?
With her razor-sharp wit and knack for finding the funny in everything, Bunmi Laditan creates a character as flawed and lovable as Bridget Jones or Becky Bloomwood while hilariously lambasting the societal pressures placed upon every new mother. At its heart, Ashley's story reminds moms that there's no way to be perfect, but many ways to be great.

I started laughing from the very beginning and never stopped.  This is the true story of motherhood and everything that goes with it.  Whether being immediately overwhelmed with the pressures of motherhood and keeping up or lack of human interactions, this book is the perfect book for you.  Many first time mom's have an idea of what motherhood is going to look like and it is always different then expected.  This book deals with all of those questions in a funny and light manner that makes you know that you aren't the only one out there going through these emotions and problems.  This book has been released for less than three months and already has 431 reviews on Amazon so it is certainly out there are a popular book although I knew nothing about it when I put it on reserve except someone in my mom's group online recommended it.  I am so glad that they did because it was just the light heartedness that I needed this summer while my pile of dishes sat in the kitchen and I tried to figure out what I was going to make for dinner.  Although not as troubled as Ashley, I am sure that many of us can relate to her extreme problems dealing with raising her first child.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it for yourself.  I think that you will enjoy it as much as I did.