Frugal Creativity

Biological Depression: What It's Like

2013-05-16T09:27:00.000-04:00

At my Bible study yesterday, someone brought up a young man who recently committed suicide. He appeared to have it all: he was bright and accomplished, and his future was promising. So why would he take his life?

I didn't know the man, but I wonder if he, too, suffered from biological depression.

Biological, or clinical, depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It distorts your view of everything. What goes on in my head doesn't always make sense even to me, but I'll try to describe it to you.

It's unrelated to circumstances, which can be a hard thing to understand. My husband has found me sobbing and assured me that everything is okay. "I know!"

I fight that battle on my own, too. Sometimes I know everything is okay, yet I'm driven to find a way out. Imagine being in a happy situation, yet feeling miserable. It's an awful, out-of-control feeling.

I try to lean on what I know: God is in control. I have a family and friends who love me. I hope to see my son graduate, go to college, get married, become a dad. None of that overcomes the heavy darkness. It's so frustrating that I sometimes want to throw something.

My doctor has not yet found the combination of medications that helps me. But I'm hopeful because I have an appointment with a specialist in a few weeks. I also have a source of strength in the help of my husband and a few friends. They listen to me ramble, wait while I cry, and hug me until the storm passes.

Next week, anxiety. ;)

NOVICA (Shopping Site and Product Review)

2013-05-14T06:38:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of NOVICA? I hadn't, until I was given the opportunity to try one of their products. First I wanted to know who they were, starting with their mission:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

In association with National Geographic, NOVICA offers a wide range of home decor, jewelry, and wall art from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. The site is fun to browse, too. You can look at a Maya mask (seeing this on the wall would give me nightmares!) and jump directly to reverse painted glass jewelry boxes (these are so pretty!).

For my review item, I started looking at jewelry. I don't wear a lot of jewelry, and what I do wear is generally understated. So I began with silver pendant necklaces. A few of them caught my eye, but they were either out of my price range or tinged with religious symbolism that I didn't want to wear. I dropped the "sterling silver" filter (I appreciate the number of filters available to refine your results) and sorted by price. After much browsing, I chose a Carnelian and citrine pendant necklace. I wear a lot of blue, and I think the contrast will be fun. (If you wear earrings--I don't--you'll find a vast array of styles. Just of garnet dangle earrings there are 226 items.)

Now that I'd decided to divide my budget between two items, I started looking at handbags. It was not long before I fell in love with this 'Maya Meadows' cotton tote. I like the muted colors, the pretty design, and the hand-loomed cotton.

NOVICA is also introducing a new feature, curation. This allows users to create galleries of items and images. I used this to save the items that I was considering, which is not the intended use. (You can see my jewelry collection if you like.) The object is to boost the exposure and success of favorite artisans.

The last thing I want to mention about shopping on the site is the great amount of information available. For example, for the necklace I chose, the product page contains a description which includes materials used; dimensions of both the necklace and the pendant; two photos; a biographical sketch of the artisan, reviews of her work, and links to more of her items.

The items arrived reasonably quickly. The necklace was in a cute, tiny box. Inside, the necklace was in a fabric pouch. The butterfly was just as pictured. My only disappointment is that the butterfly is crimped onto the leather cord. If it wasn't, I would slip it off and wear the pendant on a silver chain.

The bag was gift-wrapped and embellished with a Mayan worry doll. The bag itself is just as pretty as pictured. I would like to see a clearer distinction between handbags and tote bags, but I count that as my oversight. My two favorite features? The zipper closure and the machine washability.

So that's my shopping experience with NOVICA. If you like items that are exotic or brightly colored, I think you'll enjoy browsing the site.

Creating the Perfect Cupcake (Guest Post)

2013-04-29T06:28:00.000-04:00

The key to making any cupcake is not just to make it super delicious, but also pretty cute. Just as decorating a birthday cake is a cause for those creative juices to flow, so is decorating a batch of delicious cupcakes. Their small size can allow for so much variation in design; do you want them each decorated individually from each other? Do you want to follow a theme? Or will they all merge together to create one bigger picture?

The first thing you have to decide on is what flavour cupcake you want to make. There are so many to choose from, and the beauty is you are really only limited by your imagination! Want to make peanut butter and jelly cupcakes? Done! How about a decadent Bailey's Irish cream cupcake? Delicious! Flip through your recipe books or do a quick internet search to find an array of quirky recipes or search for basic recipes, such as vanilla and chocolate, and go from there. Just adding chic chips or a creamy filling to your regular vanilla or chocolate cupcake can turn it from an ordinary treat to a personal creation.

Onto the decoration. There are many ways that you can decorate your cupcakes, I've already mentioned some things to consider when choosing a design, but what will you use to decorate with? Rolled fondant is great to create flat, perfected designs. It is a firm sugar mixture that involves colouring the fondant then rolling it out to cut out the design you desire. Royal icing is a runny or stiff meringue mix that is spread onto the cake or can be used to pipe small decorations like flowers as it dries candy soft. The most popular option is buttercream which is a soft whipped buttery frosting that allows you to pipe beautiful swirls, peaks and petals, like the ones below. This is the most popular option as it is the most tasty and easiest to colour and decorate with. You can create flavours of buttercream just by adding a little flavouring or cocoa powder for a chocolate frosting. Variations of fluffy, piped frosting include cream cheese frosting, like this Pistachio and Raspberry Cupcake by Little Bertha.

Barbara's Cookie Pies (Review)

2013-04-26T06:33:00.000-04:00

Still looking for the perfect gift for Mom this Mother's Day? How about one of these cookie pies from Barbara's Cookie Pies?

When I was given the opportunity to try one (at no cost to me, which did not influence my opinion), I couldn't choose just one! Would it be Caramel Chocolate? Oatmeal Raisin? Raspberry Chocolate?

After much debate (and drooling), I settled on Almond Raspberry. That's the beauty you see in this picture. And oh, it doesn't just look good!

The cookie pie was packaged well, so it arrived in excellent condition. After that, I was first impressed by the ingredients list. Barbara's makes cookie pies using the same ingredients I use to bake: real butter, sugar, and so on. And they're handmade. This is totally unlike anything I've seen in my supermarket bakery!

Then we cut a few wedges to try. We found that this cookie pie, which is about 7-1/2" in diameter, yielded six portions. The filling is rich and intensely flavored, so we didn't need bigger slices.

We decided that the crust should be described as tender and moist, not flaky like most pie crust. That makes sense, since this is made of buttery cookie dough. On top of the crust is a layer of raspberry preserves, then a thicker layer made with almond paste. This is one of my very favorite flavors! Finally, it's topped with a layer of almond slices. I liked the counterpoint of the raspberry and the almond paste; my husband wished for more raspberry flavor, so it's just a matter of preference.

So whether you're shopping for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation ... all of these occasions are coming up! ... think about sending a cookie pie from Barbara's Cookie Pies!

Don't Screw It Up! (Book Review)

2013-04-23T06:48:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through my Amazon link and complete a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!

New from author Laura Lee and Reader's Digest is Don't Screw It Up! Avoid 434 Goofs to Save Time, Money, and Face.

The "goofs" are divided into thirteen categories including Your Home, Your Health, Your Money, and Your Relationships.

To give you an idea of what each entry looks like, I'll tell you about "Don't be driven mad by a dripping faucet," part of the Your DIY category. This entry is three pages long and begins with a sidebar of three "Top Screwups:" waiting for someone else to fix it, having dirty aerators, and letting the faucet seat get worn out. The body of the entry includes instructions for cleaning the aerator, which is the easiest thing to attempt for a dripping faucet. That's followed by step-by-step instructions for disassembling--and reassembling!--the faucet and a sidebar that outlines how you'll know when it's time to call a professional.

I found Don't Screw It Up! fun to read, and I think it'll be great for reference. I have only two concerns about recommending the book. The first is a sprinkling of implied profanity. The second was an entry on kissing; I'm sure that it's not graphic by today's standards, but I wouldn't want my child reading it.

Links for more information:

Don't Screw It Up! at the Reader's Digest Store
Don't Screw It Up! at Amazon.com

Hug a Tree (Guest Post)

2013-04-22T06:42:00.000-04:00

Trees can be so plentiful and commonplace that they may seem ordinary and boring, but the world of trees is surprisingly bizarre and amazing.

Environmentalists and naturalists are often called "Tree Huggers," but there's plenty of good reason for us all to hug a tree from time to time. With Earth Day coming up, the folks at Monster Tree Service, based in Philadelphia and franchising across the U.S., put together some cool facts to prove it!

A tree in the Sequoia National Forest named “General Sherman” is over 275 feet tall and 102 feet around, making the California Redwood the most massive living single organism on Earth.
A Coastal Redwood named “The Mendocino Tree” is estimated to be 1000 years old, and at more than 367 feet tall is the tallest organism.
About one third of the United States of America is covered by forests and it is estimated that there are 247 billion trees over 1” in diameter.
The world’s largest forests are in Northern Russia, however, and cover more than 3 billion acres.
A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means just two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four.
One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles. Over the course of its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.
Studying a tree’s rings can do more than provide a tree’s age. Tree rings provide precise information about environmental events, including volcanic eruptions.
Oak trees don’t produce acorns until they are over 20, and some trees may not produce acorns until they are 50.
Birch trees mature quickly and can produce over a million seeds per year.
A fully grown Ada Tree in Australia can develop a root system that spreads out more than an acre.
A wild fig tree in South Africa has roots that measure 400 feet deep.
Trees grow from the top, not from the bottom as is commonly believed.
A branch's location on a tree will only move up the trunk a few inches in 1000 years.
Trees on residential properties lower energy costs, block the wind, provide shade, and increase property value.

During the month of April, for every 10 "likes" Monster Tree Service’s Facebook page gets, they will plant a tree!

The Obligatory Blogiversary Post

2013-04-12T06:38:00.000-04:00

April 13, 2009 ... the day I started this blog. I had no clear vision of what it would be, so I posted deals and sales. Before long I knew I couldn't compete with the deals bloggers. So I posted pictures of greeting cards I'd made. I played along with Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.

I don't remember when or what prompted me to start posting more personal entries. But in April 2011, the wall came crashing down.

After an abnormal mammogram, I blogged my way through a biopsy, surgery, and radiation therapy. No one had ever told me what all of that would be like, so I wanted to share my story.

In addition, I've spent my entire adult life fighting clinical depression. (It's been given different names, but let's go with that one.) Like breast cancer, depression is often shrouded in secrecy, which leads to a lot of misinformation. I want to bring it out into the open. Without being a complainer, I want to share the ups and downs.

Perhaps the biggest change is that I've started talking about the ways God is working in my life. Even in challenging times--maybe especially in challenging times!--He has been doing amazing things. Just as I was diagnosed with breast cancer, He lifted my depression and kept it away until my treatment was finished. During radiation therapy I had the most amazing opportunity to minister to someone I never would have met otherwise. As someone has said, God doesn't waste our pain.

When I started blogging, I thought that my favorite aspect would be having an outlet to write. I do appreciate that! But my favorite part of blogging is the community. I've found a few good friends and many more blogging buddies.

So if you're new here, Welcome! If you've been walking with me through these trials, Thank you! Either way, I hope you'll stay a while.

Friday's Fave Five - April 5

2013-04-05T08:38:00.001-04:00

We've had a difficult week or two. My depression has been flaring up in a huge way. Because of that, because I can't feel any hope, I purposed to find five favorites in the week. Thanks for visiting today!

I was not scheduled to see the doctor for another week. But I called yesterday and was able to move the appointment up to tomorrow. I'm thankful that he had an open appointment.
My husband, my son, and my friends have been very supportive when I've been down. In these dark times I can't feel the love of God directly, but I feel His love flowing through people who care.
DH and I had a date night early in the week. He suggested a quiet restaurant, so we had a good opportunity to spend quality time.
Last night my husband brought home two of my favorite almond horseshoe cookies. He got them at Harold's, where everything is larger than life. Huge: the three of us shared half of a cookie last night. And it was so good ... almond paste with just enough other ingredients (I think it's egg white and sugar) to hold it together.
I don't follow new stamp releases, but I heard about these Vintage Seed Packets stamps. Aren't they pretty? They make me want to plant flowers already!

What were the best parts of your week? Let me know in a comment or visit Susanne to link up your post.

Fiber One Bars and Publix (Review and #Giveaway )

2013-04-01T06:51:00.000-04:00

My family and I have been fans of Fiber One products since they came on the market. We especially like the Oats & Chocolate bars. Now, though, some new varieties have been added to the line, and I was happy to try them.

Here's the lineup:

Oats & Chocolate – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, chocolate flavored drizzle & yes, some oats
Chewy Trail Mix – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, raisins, peanuts & cranberries
Caramel Nut Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with caramel and peanuts wrapped in chocolate flavored coating
Coconut Almond Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with coconut and almonds wrapped in a chocolate flavored coating

I've been eating another brand of protein bar, so I was curious about how they'd compare. I decided that the Fiber One protein bars taste much better than the other brand. They're also more crispy, which I like. Fiber One protein bars didn't keep me full as long, but they also have fewer calories. It's a trade-off, but I'll choose the better flavor (and lower cost) of Fiber One bars.

Fiber One and Publix stores are teaming up for a great giveaway. One lucky winner will receive the same prize package I received:

One $25 Publix® gift card
One bar of each Fiber One flavor above

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See the Terms and Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget for more information.

Disclosure: I received this prize pack and product information from General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark.

Friday's Fave Five - March 29

2013-03-29T06:03:00.000-04:00

For this week I decided to do something different with my list of five. Last night I was thinking about my favorite people in the Bible, so I decided to list five of them:

Jesus. How could I not include Him? As God, He didn't have to come to live on earth at all. But He chose to come here, suffer, and die a humiliating death ... for me and for you. He knew that, apart from Him, I have no chance of paying the debt for my sin.
David. He sinned, even had some major failures, yet God called him "a man after my own heart." How sweet it would be if God regarded me as a woman after His own heart!
Paul. I appreciate Paul for a number of reasons. First, his conversion demonstrates just how completely we can be transformed by Christ. Second, he's very honest. For example, he wrote this to the Romans: "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." (Romans 7:15, NLT). I can certainly relate to that! Third, his epistles are just packed with wisdom.
Abigail. She showed how grace and humility can soothe anger and make peace.
Peter. Another imperfect person, yet Jesus uses him in mighty ways. He left his life as a fisherman to follow Christ. On several occasions he defended Jesus, even to the point of cutting off someone's ear. Just before the crucifixion, of course, he denied knowing Jesus. Even then, Jesus gave him another chance, and Peter didn't waste it. He helped start the early church, he performed miracles in the name of Christ, and he gave eloquent speeches that changed many lives.

I appreciate the people whose example reminds me that it's okay to be imperfect. God can still use me. I like Abigail because she was bold as well as gracious. And Jesus ... what can I say? He gave everything so that I might have life. As if that wasn't enough, He walks with me through this life, so I'm never facing challenges alone.

Do you have favorite people from the Bible?

For more Friday's Fave Five, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake (Recipe)

2013-03-28T09:29:00.000-04:00

Does this cake not look fabulous? Thanks to Kings Food Market for the recipe!

Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake

Rich and full-flavored delicious cake made without any flour

Preparation and Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

4 Ounces Dark Chocolate (4 One-Ounce Squares)
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
3 Large Eggs
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
1 Tbls Grand Marnier or Triple Sec (Orange Liquor)

Preparation (Serves 6-8):

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan. Dust with cocoa and set aside.
2. Chop the chocolate and place it in the top of a double boiler. Add the butter and cook over simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are melted and thoroughly incorporated.
3. While the chocolate and butter are melting, break the eggs into a small bowl and beat lightly.
4. Remove the double boiler from the heat. Pour the melted chocolate mixture into a medium bowl.
5. Stir in the sugar, cocoa, beaten eggs and Grand Marnier into the chocolate mixture. Stir or fold to combine.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
7. Prepare a bain-marie (water bath). Line a pan larger than the cake pan with a clean kitchen towel. There should be at least 2 or 3 inches around the cake pan. Place the cake pan on the towel. Add boiling water to the larger pan to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
8. Carefully place the bain-marie into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Note that the center will still look wet.
9. Set on a rack to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Unmold the cake on a rack or serving plate to cool.
10. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve.

Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal (Review & Giveaway)

2013-03-25T06:09:00.000-04:00

Somehow I managed not to hear of Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal when it was first published to great success. Now, though, I'm getting the chance to see the fully revised and updated edition--and I'm glad I am.

Subtitled "The Best and Worst Choices to Treat Your Ailments Naturally," this book begins with about 40 pages of information on nutrition and food safety. This includes topics like the good and bad aspects of carbohydrates (fats, proteins) and facts on widely publicized substances like high fructose corn syrup and BPA.

The next section, which is about 180 pages, is alphabetical by food. For each food you'll find health benefits, health risks, serving tips, and storage tips. Not every food has every section--and some have "bonus" tips--but this is the general format.

Following that is a section, about 130 pages, which is organized alphabetically by ailment. For each you'll find a brief description and a list of foods that help and foods that aggravate/trigger that condition. Nutrition tips and other helpful ideas are also included.

The book ends with a short section called "Ages & Stages" (what we need at different ages) and a glossary.

I like this book a lot. Although the Foods section was interesting to browse, I found the Ailments section more practical. Another thing that stood out: the indexing and cross-references are excellent. I plan to use this book to tweak my family's diet to help us feel better.

What about you? Interested? One lucky reader will win a copy of Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See the Terms and Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget for details.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this review are my own.

Friday's Fave Five - March 22

2013-03-22T06:18:00.000-04:00

Even though we had a bit of snow this week, I'm optimistic enough to choose the spring FFF logo. After all, my bulbs are trying their best to make an appearance.

Thanks for stopping by to read my list! For more Friday's Fave Five, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

A visit with a dear friend. We talked for two hours about anything and everything.
Flowers. Just as the carnations that DH gave me for our anniversary were fading, my friend brought a gorgeous bouquet of mini carnations.
Two good days. Although my medication issues aren't resolved, I'm thanking the Lord for a couple of good days this week.
Freezer meals. This week I had the opportunity to make a double batch of chicken parm. Half is in the freezer already, and I froze some leftover sauce, as well. Those will be great to have on hand when we have a busy day.
Coke FreeStyle. Okay, I know this is going to blow my sophisticated image (LOL), but I'm like a kid with the Coke FreeStyle machine. You choose a beverage (say, Coke or Dasani) then add another flavor (such as raspberry or lime). DH and I went out to a place that had one of these machines, so I got to play with different combinations. My favorite was Fanta Peach which, as it turns out, is a regular flavor.

What were the best parts of your week?

Friday's Fave Five - March 15

2013-03-15T06:30:00.000-04:00

It's still cold here, so I'm keeping the snowy FFF graphic!

Happy Friday! Is it me, or has this been a long week?

Here's my list:

We've had a good week of ministry. Our church food pantry is putting together Easter dinners, and I'm grateful that our congregation has been so generous.
I had a few bad days early in the week, and I'm so thankful for the help I got. My husband and two good friends were right there for me.
A friend and I had an impromptu talk about how the ministries we oversee can better work together. It was all very positive, and we came up with a few ideas that I think will help.
My husband surprised me with two of my favorite bakery treats: almond horseshoes and St. Joseph's cakes. (Hey, I got to #4 before I mentioned food!)
Well, as long as I'm talking about food ... My husband and I had another date night, and I had the best sandwich: chicken, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and balsamic vinegar on Italian bread.

What were the best parts of your week? Answer in the comments or visit Susanne to link up.

Friday's Fave Five - March 8

2013-03-08T06:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! This has been another week in which it's a challenge to find five favorites. Nevertheless, I'm glad you're here. :)

My husband and I went out for a date night. We went to a little Italian place that makes the best chicken parmigiana. And we had a coupon! These date nights, with time alone to talk with my husband, are such a special time.
I bought a silicone mold in the shape of Easter eggs; it makes six mini-cakes. This week I made egg-shaped "cupcakes." I decorated them simply, by using a sandwich bag with a corner snipped off. They're not beautiful, but they tasted good!
My family doctor was reassuring about the test results from a few weeks ago. That was a relief.
Afternoon naps!
I've been reading voraciously. I finished Welcome to Fred without knowing that it was from the same author as Muffin Man--a book which totally confused me at the end. I enjoyed Welcome to Fred and the preview chapters of the sequel, but I haven't purchased the sequel. Instead, I started reading an Amish novel ... perfect for reading while I'm curled up on the sofa with a blanket.

For more Friday's Fave Five, visit Susanne, our lovely hostess.

Got Sucralose?

2013-03-04T06:42:00.000-05:00

That could be the unanswered question, if two milk producing associations get their way.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) are petitioning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to "amend the standard of identity for milk and 17 other dairy products to provide for the use of any safe and suitable sweetener as an optional ingredient."

This would mean that milk, flavored milk, heavy cream, sour cream, yogurt, and other dairy products could be sold with ingredients such as sucralose or aspartame--and those ingredients would not have to be listed on the label.

According to the petition, the idea is to sell reduced-calorie flavored milk in schools. IDFA and NMPF claim that labels like "reduced calorie" are not attractive to children. They say that using artificial sweeteners without indicating that on the package would encourage children to drink more milk while not consuming extra calories from added sugar.

What do you think? My primary concern is that we as consumers won't be able to make informed decisions about food purchases. For example, my family and I avoid aspartame, sucralose, and other artificial sweeteners. If this change is approved, we'll have no way to know what we're purchasing.

The good news in this story is that it's not too late to give the FDA your opinion. Read more about the flavored milk petition, then go to regulations.gov (search for Docket No. FDA-2009-P-0147) to comment.

Friday's Fave Five: February 22

2013-02-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I'm glad to say that this week has been calmer than last week was. Thanks for stopping by for my Friday's Fave Five list. :)

My doctor adjusted one of my medications and I'm feeling a bit better. I'll take any improvement!
The rewards of freezer cooking: I thawed a roast, only to find that it had an "off" odor. I was glad that I had another meal that could go directly from freezer to oven.
My pastor and I had a good, quiet conversation. It was just what my spirit needed.
Sleeping late: On Wednesday night I forgot to set my alarm. On Thursday morning I woke up rested, then looked at the clock to see that I'd slept an hour later than usual. I wasn't late for anything, so I didn't have that awful "I'm going to be late" panic and frantic attempt to get ready. :)
DH and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary today. We've had some tumultuous circumstances, but he has stood by me through it all. A lesser man might have walked away and left me alone with my illnesses.

What were the highlights of your week?

For more Friday's Fave Five, click the link at the top of the post to visit Susanne.

A Plain Scandal (Book Review)

2013-02-19T06:02:00.000-05:00

The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, Chloe Humphrey is alarmed by the attacks and decides to conduct her own investigation. As you might imagine, this draws her into the center of a complex and dangerous situation.

I peeked ahead to see how many chapters were in the book, and I inadvertently found out whodunnit. Even so, A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower was a page-turner. The short chapters (of which there are 50, by the way) made it even more tempting to read "just one more."

I read that the author likes to include comic relief through minor characters, and I found that to be true for A Plain Scandal. I laughed out loud at this exchange between two older men:

"Do they have cinnamon rolls? I heart those."

"Heart? What are you talking about, you nut?"

"That's what my granddaughter says. She hearts everything. I'm trying out the lingo, so I can connect with the young folks. I figure she's less likely to stick me in a home that way."

If you're looking for a fast-paced adventure set in an Amish community, check out A Plain Scandal.

Links for more information:

Author Amanda Flower's website
Amanda Flower on Twitter
Amanda Flower on Facebook (read chapter 1 here, too)

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own.

Friday's Fave Five - February 15

2013-02-15T07:31:00.000-05:00

We've had a roller coaster of a week. My mammogram was clear, more or less. Separately, I had a different ultrasound which ruled out one problem and found another. *sigh*

In any case, I'm glad you're here for Friday's Fave Five!

Last weekend we went to a Jason Gray concert. It was so, so good. In addition to playing music, he told personal stories and talked about some serious things--heart-killers and relationship-killers like fear and shame.
I was especially thankful this week for friends and family who pray. Even as I went through the medical tests, I was comforted by the knowledge that they were praying for me.
Our Valentine's Day was sweet: DH and I celebrated with our son by having a special dinner at home. My heart-shaped cake didn't fall apart (as my special occasion cakes tend to do).
On Tuesday my husband and I had a date night. We went to dinner and did a little shopping, and it was wonderful to have that husband-wife time. It was like dating, only with discount coupons. :)
Our favorite radio personalities, Johnny and Stacey Stone, started their new show on Family Life Radio. The good news is that we can stream the show live.

This was a tough week to find five favorites. I'm thankful for Noelle for prodding me (gently) to write a post! What were the best parts of your week?

All About Love: Happy Valentine's Day

2013-02-14T06:22:00.000-05:00

image by nicubunu.photo

It's all about love today for the Faith Jam! Let's keep it light.

I was thinking this morning about all the different kinds of love.

I love my husband.

I love my son.

I love my sister, my parents, and the rest of my family.

I love my friends and my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I love chocolate and puppies and stay-at-home days.

And I love God.

Obviously I don't feel the same kind of love toward puppies that I feel toward God. But I was thinking that God is like an umbrella over all of these other gifts. After all, "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17a), right?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Aquaphor TLC for Your Skin (Review & #Giveaway )

2013-02-13T06:42:00.000-05:00

When I was in radiation therapy, every Thursday was Doctor Day. One day, upon seeing my badly burned skin, the radiation oncologist suggested that I use Aquaphor to soothe and heal it. I said that I was using another moisturizer, but she said, "Use Aquaphor."

It worked (although, unavoidably, my skin continued to burn with more radiation treatments), and I've continued to use it for dry skin. The ointment is very thick and rich, but it absorbs quickly and leaves no oily residue. With winter weather upon us, I've been using it often!

So when I had the opportunity to write about Aquaphor for a review and giveaway, I was happy to do so. I appreciate skin-care products that work well, are fragrance-free, and are safe for sensitive skin.

I received a "Bundle of Joy" package. Although the included Aquaphor products are formulated for babies, they'll work for the rest of the family, too. This is what was in the package:

“Warm Buddy” Sheep (So cuddly, and it can be heated or cooled)
Ice Age Continental Drift (2012) DVD
A Pottery Barn picture frame (This is white with an off-white mat, and definitely not just for baby's room.)
Godiva hot chocolate mix
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
Aquaphor Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo (I used this during radiation, too, because it was so gentle.)
$50 Visa gift card

Now it's your chance to win the same prize package I received!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received this prize package, at no cost to me, for review purposes. See the Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget for more information about this giveaway.

Diagnostic Mammogram: What It's Like

2013-02-12T05:07:00.000-05:00

Monday

Five--maybe ten--times, I reminded myself, "No deodorant." I'm going for my mammogram today.

While this is a scheduled follow-up, I'm no longer Routine Screening, but Bilateral Diagnostic. And since I scheduled it, I've had a sense that something is wrong. I'm hoping that it's my sense that's wrong!

I pray for peace and for accurate results. Downstairs, I choose decaf coffee, because I don't need anything else to make me jumpy. I check my email and dash off a message to ask my mom to pray.

We go through homeschool lessons, then I distract myself by starting a double batch of beef stew. Finally it's time to go. I don't want to go, but I want to get it over with.

At the radiology office, I just finish filling out the paperwork when Flo, the tech who will be taking my films, comes to get me. I change into the cute pink gown and wait until Flo returns.

She takes the usual set of films, then lets me go back to the waiting room while the radiologist looks at the images.

Flo comes back and explains that the radiologist wants more magnified images. She takes those, then I wait. We repeat this cycle one more time before she says that the radiologist wants an ultrasound. It'll be twenty to thirty minutes before they can squeeze me into the schedule.

All of this waiting gives me a lot of time to pray, which is far better than worrying.

The ultrasound tech comes for me, and except for the copious amount of gel, the scan is easy. I sit up to wait for her to come back with the radiologist.

Finally I see the radiologist. She says that everything is okay, but she wants to recheck in six months instead of twelve. She also raises the possibility of an MRI. Sounds like a conditional okay to me.

For now, though, we're okay, and thank the Lord for that!

Wake Up, Generation (Book Review)

2013-02-11T06:29:00.000-05:00

Do you know the Matthew West song, "Do Something"? In it, he sees the injustice and suffering in the world and asks God, Why don't You do something?--to which God replied, "I did: I created you."

I think Paige Omartian, author of Wake Up, Generation, would agree. As a child she was diagnosed with cancer, and out of that she resolved not to waste her life. Her purpose in writing this book is to encourage young adults not to waste their lives, either.

Before I read Wake Up, Generation, I hadn't known that the word "teenager" wasn't coined until 1941. (Incidentally, it was coined by Reader's Digest.) Until then, young adults were expected to behave like young adults, but the label "teenagers" gave them license to be irresponsible, even hopeless.

I like this quote:

Somewhere along the way we've gotten the message that we are of no value. We have been told that what we do doesn't matter--that we are insignificant, incapable, and unworthy.
That is the biggest lie. ...
God wants to rescue us from the degrading mindset the world has given us and exchange it for a purpose and value. I can feel the Lord saying, "Wake up, generation! I created you for more than this."

Wake Up, Generation is an inspiring call to action for young adults. With examples, direct challenges, and personal stories, the author effectively makes a case for not wasting your life. I'd say that she achieved her purpose for the book.

For more information, visit the Harvest House Publishers product page for Wake Up, Generation.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this review are my own

Friday's Fave Five - February 8

2013-02-08T06:19:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my little corner of Friday's Fave Five! I'm glad you're here.

My response to the medication change seems to have stabilized, sort of. It's not great, but it's been worse. :)
I met with my pastor. We had good conversation and prayed together. So uplifting.
My sweet husband knew I was having a hectic week, and he offered to do the grocery shopping for me. What a blessing that was!
I finished crocheting one cap and started another. These are made with cotton yarn, which I've heard is more comfortable for chemo patients than acrylic yarn.
I've become more of a coffee drinker, but this week I've been drinking tea instead. It's just cozier on a cold morning. (See, you knew I couldn't get through another FFF list without mentioning food!)

What were the best parts of your week? For more Friday's Fave Five, click the link at the top of this post to visit Susanne.

The Digest Diet Cookbook (Review, Recipe, Giveaway )

2013-02-05T06:28:00.000-05:00

Last year I told you about The Digest Diet, which condensed years of research into a 21-day kick-start diet and exercise plan. (See my review for more details.) Now I have the chance to tell you about The Digest Diet Cookbook, written to accompany the original diet book.

The Digest Diet, although it contained recipes, was mostly about the diet plan. The Digest Diet Cookbook reverses that: it has a less-detailed version of the diet and more recipes.

While some of the recipes are not for my family--Tofu Lasagna might be grounds for divorce (just kidding)--most of them look quite appetizing. That picture on the cover is of Eggplant "Meatballs" with Pasta, and we would definitely try that.

The recipe I'd like to share with you today is for Spicy Garlic-Tomato Soup with Chicken, which is for Phase 1, "Fast Release."

Spicy Garlic-Tomato Soup with Chicken
Makes 10 cups. Leftovers freeze well.

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
16 cloves garlic, peeled but whole
1-1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, cut into small squares
2 green bell peppers, cut into small squares
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup minced cilantro, plus extra for garnish
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about two limes)
1 tablespoon minced pickled jalapeno

In a large saucepan, combine the broth and garlic and bring to a boil. Add the chicken, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
With a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic to a food processor or blender along with 1/3 cup of the broth, and puree until smooth.
Return the garlic puree to the saucepan along with the tomatoes, bell peppers, cumin, salt, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the peppers are tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, when the chicken is cool enough to handle, cut into bite-size pieces.
Return the chicken to the pan along with the 1/2 cup cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno, and cook just until heated through, about 1 minute. Serve garnished with more cilantro.

Sounds good to me, especially on a cold winter evening!

Would you like to have your own copy of the The Digest Diet Cookbook? Thanks to the publisher, I have the opportunity to give away one copy to a lucky reader.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions in this post are my own.