Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Kattnis, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

My Review - This book was pretty good. My favorite in the series is still the first book. This book took me about a month to read which for me is a REALLY long time. BUT it wasn't because it was a bad book or not written well, it was just my attention span wasn't there. I will read more of Collins' books and I did love how the story ended!

Six Word Saturday & Sunday Stealings

Been slacking in the blogging department...

I've been so uninspired, tired and just haven't wrote in a while...I feel bad not writing but life gets busy sometimes...Hopefully I'll feel inspired soon! :)

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A. Age: 28

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the bathroom - GAG

D. Dogs: Don't have one but someday Jamie and I hope to get a kitten and an English Bulldog puppy so they can grow up together!

E. Essential start to your day: Right now it's feeling Maddie kick! I'll wake up a few minutes early just to lay and feel her kick for a bit.

F. Favorite color: Blue or purple

G. Gold or Silver: Silver

H. Height: 5'7

I. Instruments you play: I played the flute in middle and high school.

J. Job title: Daycare teacher, wife, daughter, sister, Child of God

K. Kids: Madelyn Rae is due November 28th.

L. Live: North Carolina

M. Mother's name: Momma, duh! haha...The name other people call her is Debbie.

N. Nicknames: Kasi Lou or Sweetheart

O. Overnight hospital stays: Most recently I stayed with my dad when my mom was in the hospital in December 2010. I don't know that I've ever stayed in the hospital overnight for myself.

P. Pet peeve: Stupid people, people who let their children run wild and don't correct them, music playing when you open a page (especially blogs) - it just takes the page longer to load.

Q. Quote from a movie: She went to 402 Maple Street to see the Walnut Family - All Dogs Go To Heaven

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: I have two sisters who are twins, Jessi & Jamie

T. Time you wake up: Today it was 8:45am, to early for a Saturday.

U. Underwear: What about them? I wear them! Do you?

V. Vegetable you hate: Asparagus and peas come to mind...

W. What makes you run late: Myself! haha

X. X-Rays you've had: HUM...I've had a few of my ribs I know but other then that I'm not sure...

Y. Yummy food that you make: Apple Pie, Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, Egg Noodle Lasagna

Z. Zoo animal: Turtles

My first baby shower is today!!

That's right...Maddie has her first shower today. I'm so excited. I told my husband this was better then getting married! haha...He just gave me a look.

What's been going on lately with Maddie you ask? Well, the doctors are concerned with her growth. Her abdomen is not growing as fast as her legs. So that means we have another ultrasound in a little over a week in a half, on the 27th of September. The doctor also said I am not leaking amniotic fluid and they are going to test again on September 23rd just to make sure. I'm 29 weeks and 5 days right now. I'm so thankful for all the prayers and love Maddie has around her. And I'm also thankful for my work and them working with me having all these appointments. God is amazing!

The Versatile Blogger Award!!

Thank you Gwendolyn Gage over at Gwendolyn Gage - Serving Through Words for awarding me with The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you for friendship, encouragement and a wonderful blog to read as well! :)

There are rules to this award...
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself on the post.
3. Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.
4. Lastly, contact all of the bloggers that you've picked for the award.

Here are seven things about me...

1. I am a MAJOR homebody. I just like being at home.
2. I love to bake but don't really care for cooking.
3. I like my banana's a little green.
4. Sometimes I'd rather just wash the dishes then load them into the dishwasher.
5. Winning an award was on my 101 in 1001 list! :) Go check it out at the top of the page!
6. I like the beach but I also like the mountains, so picking between the two is not easy.
7. I do not like to make decisions, EVER!

So, I have to pass this award on to 15 people...Here's my list of winners! :)

• Vicrace Designs 
•  [My] Perspective
• A Home Keepers Journey 
• Heartmade Home 
• Knit By God's Hand 
• Life's a Beach 
• Mommy Panda 
• Mrs. O's Life 
• My Cozy Nook 
• Sarah Says 
• The Conscientious Reader 
• Three Wishes 
• Undeserving Grace 
• We Are For Each Other 
• Adventures of Frugalmom 

Make sure you check out all these wonderful blogs and thank you again Gwendolyn Gage for this award! :)

WOW!!

I haven't posted since September 8th with a book review. I guess that 30 Days About Me just wore me out! I took some time off from blogging not really posting that I was going to or really meaning too. I just didn't know what to post about. Recently I received a comment that my goal to be a stay at home mom that was VERY encouraging to me. Gwendolyn Gage informed me of a verse that I'm not sure I'd ever even read before but it was Titus 2:4-5. In the New International Version (NIV) this is what it says....

⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God

I love it...I sat honestly and just cried when I read her comment because I've always thought my goal for being a stay at home mom was looked down upon. Mind you I've always known my husband supported me. He told me that once he saw me working with children he could tell that I was right when I'd thought God put me on earth to be a mom. :) I remember that making my day too!


Anyhow, I'm posting because I want tell people that if you think you should leave a comment on someone's blog, do it! It could make their day!!! :) And thank you Gwendolyn Gage for making my day and encouraging me!

PS. I'm back!

A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston

Miriam Lapp, who left the Amish community in Pennsylvania three years ago, is heartbroken when her sister calls to reveal that her mother has died suddenly. Traveling home to Pennsylvania, she is forced to face the heartache from her past, including her rift from her family and the break up of her engagement with Timothy Kauffman. Her past emotional wounds are reopened when her family rejects her once again and she finds out that Timothy is in a relationship with someone else. Miriam discovers that the rumors that broke them up three years ago were all lies. However, when Timothy proposes to his girlfriend and Miriam's father disowns her, Miriam returns to Indiana with her heart in shambles. When Miriam's father has a stroke, Miriam returns to Pennsylvania, and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community and her faith in God.

My Review - I liked this book but it wasn't my favorite in the series. It took me a while to get into it but once it started going I was sucked right in. To me it was predictable but the kind of predictable where you know how it'll end but you want to see how it gets to that ending. Clipston kept me guessing almost up until the end that what I'd predicted was going to happen. I'm ready for the 4th book to come out. And I wonder if poor Naomi will ever find love...

30 Days About Me Day 30: Future Dreams, Think Big AKA Life List

Today is day 30 in the 30 Days About Me, which means it's the last day....I've liked doing this and thought it was fun and it was cool to learn about other people when I'd read their blogs. And it got me to blog more! :)

We are sharing future dreams. That’s what today is, sharing your dreams for your future, your wants. So here we go:

• The first one is obviously to have a healthy baby girl when she's born and to raise her the way God would want us to.
• Eventually I'd love to be able to stay at home with Maddie (and our other children whenever God gives them to us). I've always felt like God had put me on this earth to be a wife and a mom. And I've always felt like I should stay at home but right now that's not looking like it's possible, but I know God is in control and I'll be able to stay at home when He knows it's time.
• Be able to see my best friend Erica again (we've met one time in person) the rest of our 10 year friendship has been on-line.
• Go on another cruise.
• Jamie get a new job where he's being pushed and inspired to create the great food I know he can make. 
• We'll probably move when he gets that new job and I'm perfectly okay with that.
• Pay Jamie's car off (I say his cause he drives it the most).
• Pay Jamie's student loans off.
• Okay just be debt free from everything!
• Learn to read a pattern and crochet the "right" way.

So there's my list...I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but for now that's a start...Thanks for joining me in the 30 days about me...Hopefully you are still reading after you learned all about me! :) haha

Cheesy Chicken Shells

Tonight I made these cheesy chicken shells. I found the recipe on Weight Watchers and tweaked it just a small bit. So like always, here's the recipe and then pictures will come...

Ingredients
12 shells(s) uncooked jumbo shells (I cooked a whole 12oz box of shells and used 3/4 of it, but I know I made more then the recipe calls for)
1 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato sauce (I used 2 cups tomato sauce this time but next time I'll use spaghetti sauce)
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cups part-skim ricotta cheese (I used a whole 15 oz container which I know is not much more then the suggested amount but it is)
4 oz. chicken breast, roasted without skin, diced
3/4 cups chopped frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess water (I didn't use this because it wasn't thawed)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp ground oregano, or other Italian seasoning (I used Italian seasoning)
3/4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook manicotti shells in boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent them from cooking further. Set aside.
Coat a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup of sauce evenly over bottom of pain and set aside.
For filling, in a large bowl, stir together egg whites, ricotta cheese, chicken, spinach, garlic powder and seasoning. Stir in 1/4 cup each of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
To assemble, spoon cheese mixture into manicotti shells and place filled shells in a single layer in baking dish. Spread remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses and bake about 30 minutes.

 (Above) The noddles after cooking...waiting to be filled...

(Below) The mixture that would become the filling. Next time I'll add salt and pepper to this mixture.

 (Above) The shells cooking in the oven.

(Below) Ready to be ate now.

Overall these were pretty good. I will do some things different next time. Like I'll add salt and pepper to the mixture and I'll use spaghetti sauce. They are not going into my recipe box just yet as I'd like to make them again sometime and change the few things I want to change and see how that turns out.

30 Days About Me Day 29: Your Support System

So just a few days ago I posted a post on My Best Friends...These are my greatest supporters...But I'll list htem again just cause I like list! :)

• God - He made me just the way I am!
• Jamie - my husband
• Debbie - my mom
• Erica - my best friend
• AND I'll have to add my Daddy (Beau) he supports me too!

So there's my list...

30 Days About Me Day 28: What’s In Your Bag?

It’s Day 28 of the “30 Days About Me” fun we are having. Today is very simple, What’s In Your Bag? For us ladies it can be your purse, diaper bag, computer bag, backpack,etc. For the men share what’s in your computer bag, or backpack...

I love my pocketbook. (And yes here in the south we call it a pocketbook or at least in NC we do...haha). Last year when we went to Chicago, I'd just bought a Thirty One pocketbook a few weeks before our trip. I told my husband that I just wanted to shop some when we were in Chicago. Well, we passed a bag store. There were more bags in there then you could imagine. And they had anything from suitcases to actual pocketbooks. Anyhow, yes I did buy a pocketbook and I love it...I've carried it all but maybe three or four months since last October. Anyhow, in my bag I have:

• my wallet
• a small zipper pouch for pictures and store cards
• a zipper pouch full of pins (if they leak they aren't getting in my bag)
• my meds
• lotion
• a book (always!)
• gum
• candy
• a mirror my mom bought back from a mission trip for me
• fingernail clippers
• chap stick
• headphones (for listening to my iPod when I want)

That's it...As if that's not enough! haha. And I'm sure I'm forgetting something! But you get the picture...Hum...Maybe I should clean it out and switch purses. We shall see...

I got ??? and Death by Chocolate Cake

a bean pot...What is a bean pot you may ask?? This is my bean pot...

A bean pot is a pot that Celebrating Homes sales and they are awesome. You can cook meals, desserts, sides, anything in this one little pot. I have to give credit's to my boss, ToniAnn, because she gave me this pot and if I hadn't of gone to a Thirty-One party that her oldest daughter held I would have never learned about the bean pot. It was actually her other daughter who made this wonderful, delicious cheese dip in her bean pot that caught my attention. (I'll be making that dip later). But it was so tasty and I asked her about it. So since Friday night (the Thirty-One Party) I've been obsessed with getting myself a bean pot. I've been looking up recipes for it and everything. Anyhow, I told my boss that I really wanted one of these pots and I'd been looking Ebay at them. And she bought me hers! I'm so grateful! I told her I was coming home tonight and making something...And make something I did, I made Death by Chocolate Cake (yep you can make a cake in this pot!)

So here's the recipe and then pictures...

Death by Chocolate Cake

• 1 Chocolate Cake Mix with Pudding (I used Devil's Food)
• Eggs, oil, water as required by mix
• 1 container of chocolate icing (I used milk chocolate)

Stir cake mix, eggs, oil and water in bean pot with a spoon until well blended. Scrape the sides of the pot and even the batter. Place heaping spoonfuls of icing on top of batter, using all of the icin. Cover with lid and cook in microwave for 8 minutes.

It's so easy. I can't wait to make more stuff in this wonderful little pot. The cake was so tasty and only took about 15 minutes total to make. Yes this will be a recipe to keep! Now for the pictures....

(Above) My cake mix and icing in the bean pot.

(Below) The bean pot in the microwave (did I mention it was only in the microwave for 8 minutes?!)

(Above and Below) The finished product. The cake was cooked perfectly and so tasty. It was super rich and sweet but I like that kind of stuff! I love, love chocolate molten cakes and this was kind of like a take on that.

So there's my bean pot and my chocolate cake in it! :) I can't wait to try more recipes in this pot, and there are a ton of recipes. If you are looking to get you a bean pot they are Celebrating Homes. They come in different colors and I think some are round instead of oval.

30 Days About Me Day 27: My Worst Habit…What Are Yours?

Day 27: My Worst Habit…What Are Yours? YUCK, who wants to talk about those...Apparently we do! :)

I have a few bad habits...Some people think some habits are worse then others but here are the ones that I think others would think are my worst habits...

I twirl my hair, this drives some people I know crazy but it's a habit and sometimes I do it without even realizing it. Yes, I'm 28 years old but I've always twirled it. And by always I mean ALWAYS...I was born twirling my hair so this has been going on for a while. But can you tie a know with one hand?? I can!

I usually think the worst about situations and people. I know I need to trust God instead of thinking the worst (cause He can turn anything bad into something good!) but I struggle with that. It's a work in progress.

Some would say that my OCDness is a bad thing...I just think it's being super organized about some things...haha

So there they are...My worst habits or some of them...I'm not sharing all my dirty laundry on here! :)

Thankful Thursday

Today's Thursday so that means it's Thankful Thursday...Here's my thankful list...

• Mt. Dew - sounds silly but that stuff is so good!
• Reading other people's blogs...I love reading other people's blogs and "seeing" their takes on life
• Music - It drives my husband crazy but I love music and majority of the time I'll have music playing (instead of the TV) and it's usually 90's music or Christian
• Rain - although it misses my house somehow a lot here lately and goes right around it, God sends it when we need it!
• My Chubby - he's my cat and I love him...

What are you thankful for????