CVS Flag Review and Giveaway!

I was contacted by a representative of CVS Flags and asked if I would be willing to do a review and a giveaway on my blog. 

CVS is a wholesale flag distributor that has been around for over 30 years. In addition to great customer service, all of the flags are made right here in the USA.

 

 I received by Air Force Flag in the mail, and immediately opened it up.  One thing with flags, I always have to make sure that they are made right, I look at the stitching and the fabric and want to be certain that it won't fall apart on me.  I was happy to note that the flags from CVS Flags are of great quality, bright and colorful.

I handed it to my hubby and you should have seen the smile on his face, this is his first Air Force Flag and he's been in for 19 years so you can imagine his surprise and joy.  With retirement just around the corner, this will make a wonderful keepsake.

I went to the CVS Flags site and looked around, needless to say I was there for quite a while because they have a huge selection of flags, besides the US and military flags they also have state flags, world flags, sports flags, and even city flags.......and one of the great things, the prices are really affordable.

But judge for yourself because the wonderful folks at CVS Flags have offered to send one of my readers their very own 3x5 Military Flags or a traditional US Flag, whichever you prefer. 

They would make a great Christmas gift for a military member.  They DO ship to APO addresses to again, this would be a wonderful gift for the troops.

Here's what I need you to do:

- Leave me a comment, PLEASE make sure you include an email address so I can contact you if you win.

- Let me know which flag you would like, either a military (what branch) or the US flag, and who it's for.

The contest will be open to all US residents until Sunday, 24th of October at 12am Pacific.  I will then use Random.org to pick a winner.  You will have 2 days after I notify you to claim your prize or I will have to pick a different winner.  Good Luck and feel free to let your friends know about the giveaway.

I received a flag from CVS Flags for the purpose of a review and giveaway.  All opinions are mine alone.

Winner of Dewey's Nine Lives

Thank you all for entering the contest.  I used Random.org to get the winner and it came up with comment #10...Mel.

Congratulations Mel, I will be contacting you shortly to get your address.

Cooking Thursday - October 14

Won't you join me and share with us one of your new recipes, or an old family favorite, you can even throw in a recipe for homemade soaps or detergents (just remember to specify).

For the guidelines, you can go here.

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Soft Pretzels

Printer-Friendly Version

Ingredients:
For the dough:
1½ cups warm water (110-115° F)
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
2¼ tsp. instant yeast
22 oz. all-purpose flour (about 4½ cups)
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for greasing the bowl

For finishing:
Cooking spray
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tbsp. water
Pretzel (or kosher) salt


Directions:
To make the dough, combine the water, sugar, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix on low speed to dissolve the yeast.  Add in the flour and melted butter and mix just until the dough comes together.  Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium speed until the dough is smooth and clears the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the dough to a bowl lightly greased with vegetable oil, turning once to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place, about 50-55 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Preheat the oven to 450° F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.  Bring the water and baking soda to a boil in a large saucepan or stockpot.

In the meantime, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.  Working with one piece at a time, roll a segment out into a 24-inch long rope.

Make a U-shape with the rope and holding the ends of the rope…cross them over each other and onto the bottom of the U-shape in order to form the shape of a pretzel.

 Place onto the parchment lined baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 or 2 at a time, for 30 seconds.  Remove from the water with a slotted skimmer and return to the baking sheet.  Once all the pretzels have been boiled, brush the tops with the egg wash and sprinkle lightly with salt.  Bake in the preheated oven until dark golden brown, about 12-14 minutes.  Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

It's that time of year!

Even though we really don't get the full effect of Fall around here, no changing of the leaves, no beautiful reds and oranges showering the trees or really cool temperatures, there still seems to be a certain something in the air.

Maybe it's because I'm a firm believer in making the best of every situation, so even though the weather may not be cooperating, it doesn't mean that I can't pretend that it is and so, I treat this time of the year, as if I were in Idaho or somewhere where there are actually four seasons.

It's kind of what I've been doing around here, bringing out the fall decorations, preparing for Halloween, lighting the pumpkin scented candles and sprinkling some pumpkin spice or cinnamon into my morning coffee.

All over the house you'll find jars filled with Candy Corn, not only do I love the taste of these goodies but I think they're so cute.

The outside decorations have also started sprouting up here and there.....

There's also lots of crocheting going on, and baking and cooking and just plain old living.

There may be times when it seems that I'm not blogging as much as usual and I know a few of you get a little worried and email me, I truly appreciate your concern, but rest assured that I'm fine, I'm here, I'm just busy with mommy and wifely duties. 

I do tend to blog more around this time of the year so I'm looking forward to getting back into some routine, besides I have a bunch of reviews and contests coming up, some of which will make some great Christmas presents, so stay tuned for that.

I'm off to read a little more, I'll back in the morning and I'll even bring Cinnamon Rolls, will you meet me back here for another visit?

Happy Homemaker Monday - October 11

The weather in my neck of the woods:
70 degrees outside and not a single cloud in the sky.  It's been wonderful having these cooler temperatures all week.


Things that make me happy:
Taking walks with my family


Book I'm reading:
Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harries
Don't Kiss Him Goodbye by Sandra Byrd (Review)
America's Prophet by Bruce Feiler (Review)


What's on my TV today:
Episode 3 of Downton Abbey
Episodes 5 of the new Merlin Season 3
Catching up on my DVR.....The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, The Haunted



On the menu for dinner:
Pizza Margerita

On my To Do List:
Finish off the Laundry
Bathrooms


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Pumpkin Pie Tart Slices

In the craft basket:

Halloween Stitchery...got some cute ones I'm working on.
Granny Stripe Crochet Blanket, I've been making some progress on that one, will have to take a picture to show you all

Looking forward to this week:
Cooler temps


Tips and Tricks:
Mix the yolk of an egg with a little warm water..rub on the stain with a sponge. For stains that have been set in, add a few drops of alcohol to the egg and water. Nice, simple and safe way to remove stains. Doesn't cost a bundle, either!



My favorite blog post this week:
Stunning Sunset by Mousy Brown's House


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Not Dabbling in Normal.....I enjoy this blog so much, tasty recipes, beautiful photos, wonderful insight :)


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
Every day is a learning lesson for me as a Christian woman, but the recurring theme and one which usually needs to be thumped over my head repeatedly, is that things are done in HIS time, not in mine and not because I think I am entitled to it at the moment.  We're going through another one of those trials right now, we may be going back to Idaho sooner than we think, it won't exactly be under the circumstances we wished but nonetheless if it happens, it's because He thinks it's the right time and for that, I have to be thankful and understanding and not question Him.


On my mind:
Halloween


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

— Psalm 62:8 (NIV)

Dewey's Nine Lives Book Review and Giveaway

Dewey's Nine Lives The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter 

DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World was a blockbuster bestseller and a publishing phenomenon. It has sold nearly a million copies, spawned three children's books, and will be the basis for an upcoming movie. Dewey touched readers everywhere, who realized that no matter how difficult their lives might seem, or how ordinary their talents, they can-and should-make a positive difference to those around them. Now, Dewey is back, with even more heartwarming moments and life lessons to share.

For more information about Dewey you can click here....and you can watch the trailer right here

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To say that my daughter and I enjoyed this book, would be like saying that chocolate is delicious.  It is such a sweet and yet powerful book about an amazing cat named Dewey.

Do you know that this book alone has sold over 1 million copies and is presently under development as a film adaptation that stars Meryl Streep?  I was pretty floored when I found out.

The success of this book has sparked a new book that is set to be released on October 12th. Entitled DEWEY’S NINE LIVES: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions, the press release for this book, by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, say that the book “contains two new stories about the beloved Dewey, as well as seven other tales of amazing true-life cats of fans who were inspired to share their experiences with Vicki.”

I'm not a cat person, I will admit that, but my daughter is and she couldn't put the book down, she loved every single page and ooohh and aaahh'd and awwwww'd through it all.  If you're a cat lover, you will enjoy this book immensely, though I have to tell you that it does touch your heart and it may make you emotional at times, so be forewarned, but I think in the end the message is about how much joy and happiness these felines bring into our hearts.

Now for the giveaway, the wonderful folks at Penguin Publishing have offered a giveaway copy to one lucky winner in the US and Canada.

If you're interested in winning the book, please leave me a comment on this post and let me know if this book would be for you or for a friend or family member.  

The contest will end Wednesday the 13th of October at 12am Pacific.  Good Luck, and don't forget to leave an email address to contact you. 

Thank you to Nicole and Penguin Books for providing me a copy of the book for review.   All thoughts and opinions are mine alone. 

PHILANTHROPY…A Big Word for Big Hearted People - Book Review

Philanthropy…A Big Word for Big-Hearted People highlights children’s charitable endeavors and provides a portion of proceeds to Blessings in a Backpack

Mother and daughter Jan and Rachel Helson know that kids with BIG HEARTS can make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

In their book PHILANTHROPY . . . A Big Word for Big-Hearted People, Jan and Rachel share inspiring real-life stories of young, Big-Hearted People (BHP), all of whom have done amazing philanthropic work. In this fun-filled and emotional exploration of the word "PHILANTHROPY" and the trail-blazing kids who bring the word to life, young readers are encouraged to make philanthropy a part of their lives at an early age. The message: It is never too soon to combine your talents and your compassion to become a philanthropist — and a BHP forever!

A quick note: A portion of the proceeds from each book purchase will go to support Blessings in a Backpack, an organization fighting child hunger and improving educational success. Blessings in a Backpack is a unique program designed for children of families that qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program. Blessings provides those children with food for the weekends, at home, transported in a reusable backpack. Jan and Rachel are committed to supporting this organization, and by buying this book you have joined other BHP in doing so as well. Thank you!


I don't think there's enough good things to say about this book, truly, as a mother I just cannot stress enough the wish that I have that every single child would get to read this book and understand what the word Philanthropy means.

It's written in a simple and easy way which makes it brilliant for kids to read on their own, but most of all, it's packed with colorful amazing pictures and the greatest message of all:  Giving back, helping other people.

In this day and age where so many seem to forget what is important, when so much in this world is about being selfish and only thinking of ourselves, it's great to have a book that can teach our children from a young age, all about thinking of others first and lending a helping hand.

Wish they would read this book in schools!

Loved it Loved it Loved it.  Again, can't say enough good things.

The book was provided by the wonderful folks at Butler Books, for review.  All opinions and thoughts are mine.

Zhena and Dohch by Michael Pennington - Book Reviews

I was approached by author and Submarine Officer, Michael Pennington, to review his two books, Zhena and Dohch, namely book 1 and book 2 of his series.


I usually don't read ebooks, I much prefer to hold the actual book in my hands and feel it's pages, but being that I'm a military wife, I was extremely intrigued by these books and decided to give it a go.  I'm glad I did.

Zhena by Michael Pennington

Susan was content with her ordinary life. As ordinary as it can be when you're married to an officer in the submarine force. For the past twenty years she has wanted nothing more than to help her husband Bill succeed in his career and raise her children. Then one day the phone rang. After this mysterious call, nothing was the same. Suddenly, she is able to analyze situations and people more rapidly than she thought humanly possible. Anything or anyone that is out of place is immediately noted and its threat level determined. She has fighting and weapons skills, despite having never even held a gun. And most concerning and disconcerting is the strange voice in her head telling her what to do in any given situation, as though her life is one big mission - a mission she knows nothing about. 

I love a good fast paced book, truth be told if it starts getting boring or rambles on and on, I have a tendency to either stop reading completely or set it aside and only reach for it as a last resort.  Thankfully with this one I didn't have to do that.  I really enjoyed the writing and it's hard to believe that the author doesn't have many books out already.

The main character Susan is a strong woman willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family while struggling to understand why she knows certain things and is so comfortable in some situations without any memory of ever being in them.

Pretty good read, I enjoyed it.

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Dohch by Michael Pennington

A normal life, Susan truly wondered if she’d ever have one again. A year ago she discovered the truth, that everything she believed about herself and her entire life was a lie. Up until that fateful day, she was an ordinary housewife who was raised in an orphanage, had attended Purdue University and was happily married to a Naval Officer with two children. Then she received a mysterious phone call and nothing was the same. She began to have flashbacks to events she didn’t remember and also seemed to suddenly have amazing martial arts and weapons skills. Most importantly, she discovered “the voice”, a mysterious person inside her head who began giving information and advice in stressful situations. All of this forced her to look into her past only to discover nothing about her childhood was real, at least not for her.

The second book in the Zhena series was just as good as the first.  I came to really like Susan and I sympathized with what she was feeling, I felt for her, I want her to figure things out and I rooted for her with every page of the book.

Once again I was thrown into the lives of Susan and her family, the authors way with words kept me in suspense right until the end, I honestly did not know what was going to happen and THAT is what I love about a good thriller.  I don't want to know from the start, I don't want it all spelled out for me.  Would the character of Susan survive?  Would someone step up and help her or would she stand alone?  And the one word that keeps coming up: DOHCH!

Truly enjoyed this book, I can't wait for a third one.

Both books were provided to me by the author himself, Michael Pennington, for review purposes.  All opinions are mine alone.

Cooking Thursday - October 7

Won't you join me and share with us one of your new recipes, or an old family favorite, you can even throw in a recipe for homemade soaps or detergents (just remember to specify).

For the guidelines, you can go here.

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BREAKFAST DELIGHTS

2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
2 c. sugar, divided
1 egg yolk
1 t. vanilla extract
24-oz. loaf sliced bread, crusts trimmed
cinnamon to taste
1 c. butter, melted

Mix together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, egg yolk and vanilla. Spread one tablespoon mixture on each slice of bread. Roll slice from one corner to the other.

Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar together in a shallow bowl. Dip rolled bread in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place rolls on ungreased baking sheets.

Freeze rolls for at least 20 minutes. Bake at 350º for 8 to 10 minutes until hot and bubbly. Makes about 2 dozen.

Fabric Pumpkins

I started seeing these cute pumpkins pop up all over the internet in preparation for Halloween.  I can tell you that the minute I saw them, I fell in love and knew I just had to try my hand at them.

The first one I made is still adorable but not exactly what I wanted, but by the time I got to the second one???  Yeah I was head over heels in love.

I have four right now and two just waiting for me to finish, let me tell you, if you're looking for a quick project that takes but a few basic sewing stitches, then these are the ones to try.

I used a couple tutorials, like this one and this one as my guides, but I changed some of the steps in mine.

Can I say how irritated I am that Walmart is getting rid of all their Fabric Departments?  I mean really????  Anyway, I was able to find some fabric quarters in a basket near the sewing stuff, seems like they were the last they had.



I love my sewing machine, it's very therapeutic hearing the brrrrrr of the machine as it zips through the fabric.

So basically you're cutting your fabric into a rectangle, you can follow the sizes on those tutorials above, or you can just wing it like I did.  I did smaller rectangles for smaller pumpkins.

Fold your rectangle, right-sides together.  Stitch down the long-side (side to the right) with a regular straight-stitch.  Then run a gathering stitch around the bottom.  Pulling on the bobbin thread, gather the fabric as tight as you can, be careful not to pull too hard so you don't break the thread.  Tie your thread ends together.



Turn inside out and fill with fiberfill or whatever stuffing you have on hand.  I actually popped a cinnamon stick in two of mine just to give it a little scent.



At this point I made the stem, all you need is a small 4in x 2 1/2in rectangle.  Fold in half, right sides together and sew an "L" shape, top edge and side edge, leaving bottom open for stuffing. Turn stem right side out and stuff stem with fiberfill.



After I filled mine, I took some embroidery thread in a matching color, and sewed a running stitch along the top, leaving about half an inch edge. The way I do it is to leave a long tail and start sewing, when I get back to the beginning stitch I cut the thread leaving another longish tail.....then I grab both ends of the thread and start pulling gently to gather the material.  When it's as tight as I can get it, I tie a tight knot and cut the excess thread.



Take some twine or embroidery floss and wrap it around the pumpkin (very tightly).  Do this as if you were wrapping a present.  Loop it around, then cross-over, around and cross-over.  You will cross-over at the top and bottom of the pumpkin.  Go back and forth until you have sections on each pumpkin.  Finish by simply tying in a knot.
Attach the stem to the pumpkin making sure to cover the puckered edges where you gathered the fabric.  I used a blind hem stitch, or just do whatever, just remember that you'll tie a ribbon on afterwards to hide any imperfections.

I made these 4 pumpkins in 1 hour and that is because I kept having to stop to take care of the kids and dinner etc.  They whip up really fast.

I still have another two just waiting for the stems to be attached.  I think I'm going to go through my fabric stash and make a bunch more, I want a huge one and maybe some tiny little ones too.



Just have fun with it and if you do make some, please come back over and let me know so that I can come and see them :)