A Gluten Free Journey

Cook'n 10: A Review and Giveaway

2012-02-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

Every day I seem to find a new recipe on the internet. Previously, I had been either printing them out (which was getting really expensive) or saving them to my laptop. This was a very unorganized method and left me rarely actually making any of the dishes I had found. Another huge flaw with printing out the recipes was that I would lose them. They would turn into fridge masterpieces when I needed to grab a piece of paper quickly for pre-dinner artwork time. Or they would wind up covered in what ever I happened to spill on them while cooking.

Fast forward to the digital age...Cook'n 10 is amazing organization software for recipes that I have found on my daily blog hops and for the recipes I self-create. The software is easy to read and looks nice.

Screen Shot from Cook'n 10

This is the first software program I've installed on my new Macbook Air. It was so simple to install, downloading was a breeze and the program looks like it was made for my Mac. I was a little worried about learning a new program and a new computer system at the same time, but it was wasted worry! Cook'n 10 was the perfect learning tool for the Mac. It has a streamlined and extremely clean looking interface that anyone can learn.

Already, I have created a cook book with the recipes I have on my blog and have fallen in love with Cook'n 10. There are so many different cook books that you can download directly into the program including one from Taste of Home that have already used a couple of times with yummy success.

Are you ready to win your own copy?

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Tool Belt Defender: A Book Review

2012-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Carla Cassidy writes in one of my favorite series for relaxation and escape. Harlequin Romantic Suspense novels are some of my favorite bath time reads. Grab a nice glass of wine, fill the tub, toss in some nice bath salts and relax with Tool Belt Defender.

Come on a trip with Brittany and her lawmen brothers as they embark on another adventure in Black Rock, Kansas. Tool Belt Defender is part of a series of romance novels about the lawmen of Black Rock, but this particular novel stands alone wonderfully. Cassidy provides just enough back story to fill the reader in on all the important details, but doesn't bog down the storyline with past events.

Like any other Harlequin Romance, the love story line moves quickly and I was left wanting a little more action in the secondary plot areas. The suspense part of Tool Belt Defender could have been incorporated a little smoother. Brittany, as a lawman, could have been a little more forthright in her actions.

Overall, I was drawn in quickly and this was a wonderful pool side or bath tub read. Go into it expecting a light, entertaining romance novel and you will be immensely satisfied. I know I was.

How much is too much?

2012-01-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

As I attempt to plan out the things I want to accomplish with Kirsten and Shawn for this week I became lost in thought. Images of the Tiger Mom flashed through my head and I wondered if I was over scheduling my family. Now that they are in Montessori Pre-school, maybe it's time to back off a little. That is hard for me. Intellectually, I know that they have spent a large portion of their day in work blocks, but I still know that I am and always will be their primary teacher. But, I keep coming back to "how much is too much?"

Apparently it is also the season of birthdays...In the past 3 weeks we have been invited to 4 birthday parties. We were able to attend 3 of the 4. Kirsten loves birthday parties, but I can only spend so much time surrounded by 30 4-6 year olds. But again, "how much is to much?"

In protest of the over-scheduled feelings that have begun to run rampant through my days, I declare this a free week. No birthday parties, no worksheets, no computer lessons. Just simple playing and reading with my kids. It's going to be a week to decompress and most importantly Breathe!