How many 14-year-olds have had sleepovers with their friends, I know my daughter had a lot of them. Three 14 year olds; Leah, Harriet & Jasmine have a sleepover at their other best friend's house, Vicky. They eat pizza and drink vodka before falling asleep in sleeping bags in the lounge.
The next morning Leah wakes up and there's no one in the room with her. Just like that three teenage girls disappear. Twenty-five years passed and there's still no sign of them anywhere.
This riveting book by Kerry Wilkinson follows two timelines, the present day where Leah is still living in the same town and where one of her missing friend's brothers is doing a documentary about the night of the sleepover to coincide with the 25th anniversary. The other timeline is the night of the sleepover.
I loved this story, there were lots of twists and trying to work out who the mystery person messaging Leah was, let alone working out what happened at the sleepover kept me reading 'just another chapter'!
Towards the end, the mystery appears to have been solved before the final chapter when there's another twist that you probably won't see coming.
If you like psychological thrillers and you don't have a teenage daughter then I thoroughly recommend this book. If you have a teenager then I would wait a few years before reading as I'm not sure my daughter would've been allowed to go on another sleepover if I read this a few years ago!
The author is releasing a sequel called After the Sleepover this month which indicates that there may have been something else happening that we weren't aware of in the original book - I'm tempted to read it again to see if I've missed anything.
I was actually surprised to discover that the author was male as he seemed to really capture teenage girls extremely well. If you like books by Lisa Jewell or Lisa Unger then you will really enjoy this novel.
I read this as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription which I thoroughly recommend. I spend 2 hours a day on the train commuting back and forth from work and with Kindle Unlimited and I can spend that time in another world whether it's the world of disappearing teenagers, a historical novel, mystical tales or a good old romance. This subscription would also make a great gift idea for the reader in your life.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
A romantic Christmas movie review & recommendation, just in time for Christmas!
Have you ever dialed a wrong phone number and unexpectedly ended up talking to a nice person you don't personally know?
These days, phone calls are often replaced by emails or text messaging. Sending a text to the wrong person is not unheard of. Usually we send text messages to someone on our saved contact list, but it would certainly be possible to send a text message to the wrong person if you are trying to remember a phone number off the top of your head. Especially if you have a new phone without your contacts added.
Thus is the premise of the movie, "Twas the Text Before Christmas".
When a grandmother inadvertently sends a text message meant for her granddaughter to a stranger, she ends up making friends with the kindhearted woman who replies to the text. This is just the beginning of what ends up being a chance for fun, family, and romance.
Addie (Merritt Patterson) has a good job, a loving father and brother, and an ex-boyfriend. Christmas this year is expected to be a rather lonely time for her because her father will be spending Christmas in Australia with her brother. Even though she is invited to join friends in Florida, that trip would be too expensive since she is trying to save for her own vacation in Australia.
When Addie receives a text message from an unknown person, she decides to respond to let them know that they have the wrong number. After exchanging a few messages with a sweet grandmother who meant to be texting her granddaughter, she receives a phone call from "Nana" who opts to call her instead of continuing the texting. After talking a few times, Nana invites Addie to join her family for Christmas. Since it would only be a 4 hour drive to Vermont, she decides to accept and makes a reservation for 1 night at the local Inn.
When she arrives for Christmas dinner, she is introduced to Nana's family which includes the granddaughter Nana originally intended to text, as well as her son, James.
After 3 years, Addie, Nana, and the whole family are close friends and Christmas together has become a new tradition. It is not really surprising when Addie & James discover a they have deeper feelings for each other.
Where to Watch "Twas the Text Before Christmas"
I watched "Twas the Text Before Christmas" on Frndly TV, however the Great American Channel now has their own streaming service available at PureFlix.com which thrills me! When I told my husband about the new streaming service, he happily gifted me with an annual subscription to PureFlix for Christmas. I am guaranteed a year's worth of wonderful movies and I am pretty excited to start watching them.
You can also subscribe to PureFlix through Amazon or directly at Pureflix.com.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
A couple of weeks ago, Fran was looking for something to watch on Netflix and
came upon this Netflix limited series, "All the Light We Cannot See"
If you love historical fiction, like I do, you will love this limited
series. We were hooked from the very first episode and binged the whole
series in one night.
All the Light We Cannot See is based on the critically acclaimed novel by
Anthony Doerr.
The book was published in 2014 and was a New York Times Best Seller, and
also won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Netflix released the limited series on November 2, 2023. This series will
have you on the edge of your seat through every episode.
Set during World War II the story follows two young individuals whose lives
intersect amid the chaos of the war.
Newcomer Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French
teenage girl and the daughter of
Daniel LeBlanc played by Mark Ruffalo.
Aria Mia Loberti is really blind and this was her first acting
experience.
Louis Hoffmann as Werner Pfennig, a young German orphan who
eventually becomes a soldier specializing in detecting and tracking radio
frequencies.
Lars Eidinger as Reinhold von Rumple, an officer of the SS who
certifies and evaluates art, and jewelry.
Hugh Laurie as Etienne LeBlanc, a reclusive World War I veteran
suffering from PTSD and the great uncle of Marie-Laure.
The series spans from the years 1934 to 1944. When Nazi Germany invades
France, Marie, and Daniel flee to Saint-Malo to take refuge in her
great-uncle's house.
All the Light You Cannot See is a rollercoaster of emotions as the series
balances moments of intense drama, heart-melting romance, and the harsh
realities of war.
I was emotionally invested in the journey of each character. I found
myself rooting for their triumphs and feeling their heartaches as their
lives intertwined. You find out early on in this series what bonds Marie and
Werner, and you are eager to find out how it ends.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
One of my favorite gifts to give or receive is genuine wax flameless candles
with a lovely, flickering "flame," a timer, and a remote control that lets me
"light" them or "blow them out" from across the room at the touch of a button.
When flameless wax candles first came out, the quality of the "flame" from
most manufacturers was pretty poor. Fortunately, the technology has improved
and prices have come down a bit over the years. Now you can buy nice ones that
are suitable for both gift-giving and home decor at moderate as well as
premium prices.
Whether you buy a single flameless pillar candle, a pair of tapers, or a set
of votives, they're sure to add beauty and timeless elegance to your home and
be a gift that keeps on giving.
Flameless wax candles are elegant and safe to leave unattended. My
favorites also include a timer and remote control that let you "light"
and "blow them out" from across the room.
Why Choose Flameless Candles?
Here are some of the qualities that make flameless candles appealing for both
gifts and home decor, during the holidays and year-round.
Long-Lasting Beauty
These flameless candles let you enjoy the timeless beauty of genuine wax
candles that never burn down. We have used ours frequently for many years with
no end to our enjoyment in sight (unless we run out of batteries).
Flickering LED "Flame"
The flame on these LED flameless candles moves randomly to simulate the
flicker of an open flame on a traditional wax candle. Close-up, of course, no
one will mistake it for a real flame. However, from farther away, the "dancing
flame" effect can be quite realistic.
No Drips
Unlike traditional candles with wicks, the wax body of these flameless candles
remains at room temperature and won't melt or drip (unless you subject them to
excessive heat). A grouping of pillars or some tapers make a lovely
centerpiece that can't set your tablecloth on fire if they're accidentally
knocked over while passing a serving dish. You could even use them on a finely
finished antique wood table without fear of marring the surface.
No Smoke
Another advantage is that flameless candles are smoke-free. You can "burn" as
many of these beautiful candles as your heart desires without worrying about
setting off the smoke alarm! I love the look of candles everywhere, especially
during the holidays.
Candlelight That's Safe for the Whole Family
Since there isn't an open flame, these flameless candles can be left
unattended, unlike traditional wax candles. They're safe to leave on in your
windows during the holidays. They provide a romantic glow in the bedroom, with
no worries if you happen to fall asleep before turning them off.
They're also safe to use around children and pets.
Perfect for the Dark Winter Months
Here in New England, the winter months can be brutally cold and the sun sets quite early. We have flameless LED candles in nearly every room of our house, and during the winter we set them to turn on at dusk, so we never have to walk into a completely dark room. The LEDs draw very little power, so a set of batteries usually lasts us the whole winter and beyond.
Two of our Luminara flameless pillar candles with our set of three
color-changing flameless pillars
Luminara Flameless Candles: Perfect for Gifting
There are many brands of flameless candles, and the quality can vary
significantly. We've tried a few inexpensive brands and have mostly been
disappointed. The brand we count on for consistently high quality is Luminara.
Luminara makes top-of-the-line flameless candles made of hand-poured paraffin
wax. Most styles have a timer and a remote, and all are boxed for easy
gift-giving.
The company offers a wide range of styles, from everyday essentials to
specialty items like real birch flameless candles filled with paraffin wax
(gorgeous for country or rustic home decor) and Christmas-themed styles.
Here are some of my favorites.
This set of three Luminara melted edge wax pillar candles is one of the company's best
sellers. The graduated-height, 3-inch wide pillars are 4.5", 5.5" and 6.5"
tall, respectively.
The included remote control operates all three candles. Even if you split them up and place them in three different locations, you can control each one with the same remote, which is very convenient.
These are unscented (although Luminara does make some scented styles), so they're ideal for someone who is sensitive to scents, has allergies, or prefers to use other home fragrance products such as potpourri or sprays.
These also come in a choice of colors. I think the burgundy is very festive for the holidays and would be great as an accent color in a mostly neutral decor palette, while ivory or white are more subtle and very elegant any time of year.
We own this set of three pillars in ivory as well as a tall pillar in a
discontinued color (blue sage) that coordinates with our living room color
scheme.
Another choice that will grace your or your gift recipient's dining table for
years to come is this set of Luminara ivory flameless wax tapers.
Elegant wax tapers are a classic, timeless style for good reason. Classic elegance with the safety and convenience of a flameless "flame" is a win-win!
Measuring 1" wide by 9.75" high, these flameless tapers can be used in any standard taper candle holder. Even reheated leftovers can become a festive meal with these flickering beauties on the dining table.
Although these do not come with a remote control, they do have a timer function that allows them to turn on for 5 hours and then shut off automatically for 19 hours.
These
flameless taper candles come in classic ivory as well as a variety of colors
for a more contemporary style.
As with all Luminara candles, they come nicely boxed for easy gift-giving.
Another of my favorite flameless candle styles is this hand-poured Luminara wax pillar wrapped in genuine birch bark.
Every time I see one in a store I am tempted to add one to our collection. We bought one as a gift for my mother-in-law this Christmas and she loves it!
This is available in a selection of sizes including 3.5" x 4.5", 3.5" x 6.5", 4" x 5" and 4" x 7".
Just one of these is striking enough to make a statement in any room. Investing in a group of them in different sizes would make a real conversation-piece display!
The on/off switch on the bottom also has a timer setting.
Although this beautiful birch pillar doesn't come with a remote, it is compatible with Luminara's on/off remote, sold separately, which is well worth the extra money, in my opinion. We use our Luminara remotes all the time.
Color-Changing Flameless Candles
One of the best gifts I ever gave my husband was a set of three color-changing
wax flameless candles. I prefer white Christmas lights and he prefers colored
ones, and it was a big concession for him to go with white icicle lights along
our roof and on our Christmas tree. So, one year I decided to give him a form
of colored lights we both could enjoy: color-changing flameless candles.
These turned out to be an even bigger hit than I had hoped. I took a video of
ours to show the color-changing effect, which was hard to capture on video and
is MUCH prettier in person. (If you can't see the YouTube video below, you can
access it via this link to my
color-changing flameless candles video.)
In real life, the color changes are smooth and seamless, and the unsightly
flickering of the image caused by the low-resolution video doesn't exist. I
wish I could show just how beautiful these are in person!
The candles have an on/off switch and a remote control that allows you not
only to turn the candles on and off but also to choose from a wide range of
different colors or rotate through the colors, as shown in the video.
There is also a timer feature, which we use to automatically turn on the
candles in our bedroom at dusk and turn off either 4 or 8 hours later,
depending on the time of year (and how late dusk arrives).
The brand I purchased a couple of years ago is no longer available. However, I
found a similar set with a subtle, elegant, tone-on-tone damask pattern in
the wax shell that makes them even prettier, in my opinion.
If you want to splurge, Luminara also makes lovely color-changing pillars.
Don't Forget Batteries!
Whether you're buying these for yourself or as a gift, make sure to also buy the appropriate batteries for your candles and, if applicable, the remote control.
The set of three Luminara pillar candles, the smaller Luminara birch pillars, and the Luminara tapers take AA batteries. The larger Luminara birch pillars take D batteries. The remote takes a CR2025 button battery.
The three candles in the set of color-changing pillars I featured all run on AA batteries.
Beauty, long life, safety, and convenience — just some of the reasons to treat yourself and those on your gift list to some genuine wax flameless candles!
Genuine Wax Flameless Candles — An Elegant Gift Everyone Will Love by Margaret Schindel
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Gift Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors
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Product Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Making white bean (Great Northern Beans) soup is a holiday tradition in our
home. I don't just make white bean soup during the holidays, but it is
a part of the holiday week menu of recipes that I look forward to making and
eating.
Every holiday, whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, I bake a
big ham for the family. I can hardly wait for the ham to be devoured
so I can use the bone in a big pot of white bean soup. The ham,
itself, is usually served at least twice over the course of a few
days. I admit, sometimes (like this past Thanksgiving) I don't wait
for all of the ham to be gone before I claim the ham bone for soup.
I love the holidays and
cooking for the holidays, but after several days of heavy feasting, I am always ready for a lighter
fare of soup for a few days. For some, white beans are exclusively a
side dish. For me, they make a fabulous soup! And, just so your
know, I do make white beans as a side throughout the year. I make the
side dish exactly the same way as I make the soup, but with less
water.
I use a package of dried white beans. I do have a preferred
brand, but I have been known to use different brands if I can't
find the
Camellia Great Northern Beans
in the store. I have found that the Camellia brand has less
beans that I need to throw away before cooking.
I use the entire package of beans in one pot of soup. I start
by inspecting the beans as I rinse them in small batches in my
colander. I toss any shriveled, dark or broken beans, as
well as any bean loose or floating "skin".
All whole, white beans that pass inspection are placed in a large
dutch oven size cooking pot, covered with water, and left sitting out
on the kitchen counter to soak for 8 hours, or overnight.
Directions for White Bean Soup
Rinse the Beans & Soak for 8 hrs. or overnight (water should be
2/3 up the pan since the beans absorb water while soaking)
After 8 hours, Rinse the Beans again and put them in a dutch oven
pot with Ham (Ham Bone Preferred) OR (2 T Bacon Grease if a ham bone
is not available)
Bring to a Boil, then turn the heat down to a low boil (on my stove top that is 3½)
Add a generous amount of salt and pepper and stir the seasoning
into the beans
Cook covered (tilted lid or Pampered Chef Boil Over No More cover)
on low simmer for 1½ - 2 hours
*Note: I normally check the cooking beans a few times to add water as
needed to keep the water from boiling down too low
I mentioned bacon grease in the recipe above because I season white
beans with bacon grease if a ham bone is not available. Bacon
grease is exactly what it sounds like. It is the grease that is
rendered when cooking bacon. I cook bacon in the microwave on a
bacon tray or rack that allows the grease to settle below the
bacon. I literally pour the bacon grease from the tray into a
bacon grease jar to use as needed, whenever needed. You will
find a partly filled jar of bacon grease in my kitchen at all
times.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to transform your home into a winter wonderland than with the magic of Christmas area rugs? These versatile and festive floor coverings are not just accessories; they're the secret ingredient to elevating the holiday ambiance in your home.
Why Decking the Floors Can Be Fun
Instant Cheerful Transformation:
Rolling out a Christmas area rug is like waving a wand and turning your home into a festive haven. The vibrant colors, playful patterns, and iconic holiday symbols instantly infuse a sense of joy and merriment into any space.
Warm and Cozy Atmosphere:
There's something inherently cozy about the holiday season; a Christmas area rug takes that coziness up a notch. The soft, plush textures underfoot create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making your home the perfect retreat from the winter chill.
Express Your Style:
Christmas area rugs come in various styles, from traditional designs with classic motifs like snowflakes and reindeer to modern, whimsical patterns. This allows you to express your unique style while keeping with the festive theme. Whether your taste is timeless or trendy, a holiday rug suits every preference.
Kid-Friendly Fun:
If you have little ones running around, a Christmas area rug can become the focal point for holiday activities. From playing board games to opening presents, the rug serves as a designated festive zone that adds extra excitement for the kids.
Easy Seasonal Decor:
Only some have the time or energy to transform their home into a winter wonderland. A Christmas area rug is a quick and easy way to inject holiday spirit into any room without elaborate decorations. It's a hassle-free option for those who want maximum impact with minimal effort.
Investing in a Christmas area rug can become a delightful annual tradition. Each year, as you unroll the rug and place it in its designated spot, it becomes a symbol of cherished memories and a reminder of the joyous holiday seasons.
Perfect for All Spaces:
Whether you're decorating the living room, bedroom, or kitchen, a Christmas area rug can seamlessly fit into any space. Choose a size and style that suits the room's aesthetic, and watch as the holiday magic unfolds.
Consider adding a festive flair to your home this holiday season with a Christmas area rug. These rugs enhance the visual appeal of your space and create a warm and inviting atmosphere that embodies the true spirit of the season.
So, why wait? Roll out the festive carpet and feature some Christmas art on the floor.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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