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A little bit of Magic

July Reading

At the beginning of the month I challenged myself to read 10 of the books I have sitting around the house I haven't yet. I tend to buy a lot of books but don't read them right away as I always have a pile of library books as well.


Here are the books I've read....

The Trouble With JJ - A cute and easy read

Gone With the Nerd - I got this book really cheap. It was decent. Nothing I would spend 7 or 8 bucks on though

The Principles of Uncertainty - I just didn't get this book. There seemed to be no point to me

By the Shores of Silver Lake - This book took me awhile to get into. I ultimately enjoyed it because it got the Ingalls family to their final spot and me to the books I've already read and enjoyed

A Walk With Jane Austen - A waste of time. I enjoyed the parts about Jane Austen but the author got on my nerves talking about herself

Wuthering Heights - Not what I would call a romance book but I found it interesting. I'm glad I read it but it's a little weird.

One Restless Summer - Just ok, nothing I would recommend. If I had gotten this book from the library I wouldn't have finished it.

Give It Up - This book defiantly inspires me. I already have what I'm giving up in August lined up. Shopping. Good thing I'll be by an outlet this week so I can get it out of my system.

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World - I will take this book with me when I go back in September. If you've never been to WDW I wouldn't read this because it takes away a little bit of the first time magic but since I've been there so much the new stuff I find out, how the make the magic, is magical to me.

Midnight Bayou - I'm actually reading this right now. I've read it before, I didn't figure that out until a couple chapters in though. It's good that I don't remember how it ends. Basically anything Nora Roberts writes is good so I'm enjoying it.

Of course I have read a couple library books

LA Candy - You can definatly tell this book is written by a first time author. The most interesting thing I found was trying to figure out how much Lauren Conrad took from her own life to use in the book. Plus, it shows you how reality shows are edited to show you what they want to see.

Best Friends Forever- Finished this book over the weekend. I had to force myself to finish it. I hated all the characters and the story line.

Meet Sparky

He was only supposed to be here for a couple days and now he's staying here permanently.

Guess Where I'm Going?

Over the weekend I booked my next trip. I wanted to go one more time before my annual pass expires and I don't get discounts on things. Like hotel....

I got a great deal at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since I first visited it over a year ago I've wanted to stay there. I have high expectations since the other hotels I've stayed at recently have been a disappointment.

I've already made 3 meal reservations for places I've never ate at. Trying to decide which back stage tour at the Animal Kingdom to do. And getting excited about Trick or Treating at the Magic Kingdom.

Thankful....

• That mom and dad had a good vacation
• I have lots of new books to read
• Traveling this week
• Pretty flowers popping up around our yard
• a new iMac at home, I'm seriously in love
• I finally finished Anna Karenina, that has to be the longest book ever and I didn't even enjoy it
• Grilling weather
  

Pebble Beach

Mom and dad spent part of last week in Northern California. The main reason for the trip was so dad could golf Pebble Beach. It was a dream of his. Now he just needs to go to Scotland.

At $500 a round it's a little pricey but dad said it was worth every penny and more. It was fun just to talk to him Friday after he was done. It was like a little kid on Christmas morning.

The day was made better when at dinner they sat next to Clint Eastwood. So basically it was a perfect day for dad.

I agree!

"Chocolate is the only aromatherapy I need."
—Jasmine Heiler

I didn't intend for this week on my blog to be food week. :)

A Homemade Life

Last week I read this book. It's a memoir written about food basically. There are short stories about food and then a recipe after the story.

The actual stories in the book aren't what makes this book worth it. It's the recipes.

So far we've tried 4 of the recipes in our house, in less than a week. They're all keepers.

The best was a chocolate cake. It's to die for. It also happens to be the last recipe in the book. Saving the best for last.

If you like food or cooking, this book is one you should at least get from the library. I'll probably wait until I get a really good coupon and buy it because there are so many things I want to try.

I give this book 2 thumbs up.

The author also has a blog with some of the recipes on it.

Let's Go Wings!!!!

I really don't want a game 7!

Loved this...

Yesterday I made roasted tomato pesto for dinner. I've never really had pesto so I was a little apprehensive but I loved how it turned out.

First follow this recipe. I don't like salt and didn't use the coriander but I did the rest. :)

After the tomatoes cooled I put a couple cloves of garlic, a teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of EVOO in my food processor. Pulsed it until the garlic was chopped. Then added in about 10 leaves of basil. If you really like basil I would add more. Pule that until the basil is chopped. Then throw in the tomaotes and let it go until they are chopped up. Lastly add some pepper and parmasean cheese and mix it up one last time. Taste it, it's wonderful.

I used the pesto 2 ways. First I cut up some crusty bread and toasted it in the oven. When I took it out I put some cheese on top then the pesto on top of that. Major yum.

The other way was over some pasta. It's a light tomato sauce.

Enjoy!

recipe came out of A Homemade Life.