The Mountain Between Us - Book Review

In every life, there are mountains to be crossed.  For some, those mountains are physical.  In other cases, the challenges are emotional or relational.  For Ashley and Ben, in The Mountain Between Us, those mountains come in all three forms.  On the surface, their story appears to be one of wilderness survival, but as we delve deeper, we will see that it is really about crossing over into your own truth after braving the storms of life.

As the story begins, Ashley Knox, a magazine writer, and Ben Payne, a surgeon, are about to be stranded in Salt Lake City as all flights are being shut down by a massive storm system.  Ashley is desperate to get home for her wedding, while Ben has surgeries to perform.  Given the situation, the only option left to them is to charter a private flight around the line of growing storms.  The plan is to fly to Denver while there is still the possibility of making it home.

Mid-flight to Denver, their pilot has a heart attack and makes a crash landing in one of the most remote and rugged areas of the country (the High Uintas Wilderness of Utah).  To make matters worse, a flight plan was not required, so no one knows the whereabouts of these three passengers (or even that Ashley and Ben got on that plane).

Now, with their pilot dead, and Ashley seriously injured, Ben must figure out a way to keep both of them alive.  Stranded at a very high elevation in the midst of winter storms, without food or other necessary provisions, the odds are not good for them to make it.  Without hope of a search and rescue operation, their bleak situation will cause both Ashley and Ben to reflect on the things that matter most in life.  During their odyssey of searching for a way to survive, both will discover what it means to truly live and love.

There are many things I liked about this book.  First, I must admit that I am really into wilderness survival stories.  There is just something about rising up above your circumstances, no matter how bleak, that speaks to me.  Nobody survives a devastating accident without being changed in critical ways.  It is the story of that transformation that greatly appeals to me.  I think, too, that it is impossible not to insert yourself into the situation to reflect on how you would handle things, or be changed by such life-altering circumstances.  One of the things I enjoyed most about the story is how Ben uses the few things available to him in a MacGyver fashion.  It was interesting to see how he came up with creative solutions to daunting challenges.  In a life-or-death situation, I would want Ben Payne by my side.

I appreciate how author Charles Martin tells a story.  He makes me care about his characters and they become real to me.  Though this book has been newly released as a movie, I'm glad I chose to read the book first.  The reviews for The Mountain Between Us, in book form, are much better than those for the movie.  It seems that many moviegoers felt a disconnect between the two leading actors.  That is so different from what you will experience about the connection between Ashley and Ben in the book.  The two become very bonded, though neither character violates any promises made to spouse or fiance during their time together in the wilderness.

This is a good book to read during the holiday season.  It reminds us that love conquers all and that we can each climb and cross any mountain that rises up in our lives.

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Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Review

Source: Wikipedia

We're all familiar with the popular candy Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  It was one of the confections created by Harry Reese who began his H.B. Reese Candy Company in 1928.  

Reese originally worked at a Hershey dairy farm in Hershey, Pennsylvania. From the very beginning of his candy company he used Hershey's chocolate in his confections. Harry's Peanut Butter Cups became so popular that Reese eventually discontinued his other lines.

Reese died in 1956 and passed the company on to his six sons.  In 1963, the Reese Brothers merged the H.B. Reese Candy Company with the Hershey Chocolate Corporation and by 1969 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups became The Hershey Company's top seller.

Over the years, many variations of these Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have been produced, including different sizes and various chocolates (white, milk chocolate and dark chocolate, etc.).

Holiday editions

I worked as a cashier at a retail store and candy was displayed near the cash registers. It wasn't until I noticed the manager opening the latest orders of candy boxes that I discovered that there are holiday-themed candies now on display.  

The one that caught my attention was the Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Trees ~ Milk Chocolate and peanut butter in evergreen tree shapes.  These are available mainly in November and December for the Christmas season.

Reese's also offers miniature Reese's cups in a Christmas bell shape and a milk chocolate-covered Reese's Snowman, wrapped in a snowman foil. The peanut butter snowman is three times larger than the peanut butter tree.

After doing a bit of research, I've learned that Christmas isn't the only holiday for which Reese's makes the peanut butter cup treats in holiday shapes. Each holiday shape is available for about two months around each holiday. A partial list is shown below: 

• Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts for Valentine's Day
• Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs for Easter
• Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins and Ghosts for Halloween
• Reese's Peanut Butter Trees, Bells and Snowman for Christmas

Available on Amazon

The Reese's Peanut Butter Trees are perfect for stocking stuffers, and any of the Reese's shapes, including the well-known 'cups', are great for holiday snacking.

So indulge your sweet tooth with a Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree treat for the holidays.

Reese's Peanut Butter Trees

(c) Wednesday Elf

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Multi Function Pressure Cooker Reviewed

Sometimes You Want To Cook Fast

Cook It Slow or Fast? Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

I asked Santa Claus to bring me a multi-function pressure cooker for Christmas this year. I sure hope that my name is on his "good list" and that he will consider leaving one under my tree. 

I can remember my grandmother and mother used a pressure cooker often when I was a child. It isn't a tool that I have ever owned but now I think I want one. 

Back when the girls were small and during the time that I worked outside of the home, I had a tendency to use a slow-cooker for many of our meals. It was nice to put it all in the pot and let it cook all day so that we could eat shortly after I got home. I still use the slow-cooker from time to time. 

Now that I am home all of the time, I think that having a pressure cooker would be nice. I will be able to cook healthy meals in much less time. Unlike the versions that my mother and grandmother owned, the new models offer several functions to use depending on what you are cooking. 

Pressure Cooker with multiple functions

I love the versatility of the features in the one pictured above. There are 25 functions available with 12 of them being automatic features. I can set the timer for cooking for as little as 5 minutes or as long as 12 hours which makes it a fast cooker and a slow cooker in one pot. I also love that one of the automatic settings is a reheat. So, when I have leftovers that need to be warmed up, I will no longer have to heat up the oven to get dinner ready. That will save energy and time.

This multi function pressure cooker also comes with its own measuring cup, spatula, steam tray, trivet and recipe book.  Those should come in handy, I think.

I'm really hoping that Santa remembers that I asked him for one of these this year. I told him that of all of the things that I have mentioned as gift ideas, this pressure cooker is the one that I most want. Of course, I am never disappointed with anything that he leaves me under the tree. That jolly old elf always delights me with his choices every year.

How about you? What have you asked Santa for this year?

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KeySmart Compact Key Organizer Review

Organize your keys with the KeySmart on Amazon

KeySmart is an ultra light weight but very durable organization system for keys. Are you tired of that mess of keys on your key chain. And that lump of keys in your pocket or the jumble of keys rattling around in your purse? This may be the perfect solution. Do you know someone whose job requires access to many keys at all times? This would be the perfect gift for that person. 

Vote of Confidence From a KeySmart Owner

Word-of-mouth recommendations are often the best way to gain information. In this case, the best review comes from someone who has owned and used this little gadget. 

I was recently with a friend who had purchased this item for himself over a year ago. And then liked it so much that he had purchased it as a gift for his brother last Christmas. I was surprised to see my friend still using the KeySmart after all this time has passed.

"You like that little thing?" I asked him

"Oh man, do I." 

How to use your KeySmart Extended Key Holder:

• Purchase the KeySmart based on how many keys you want to organize. Note: I am referring to flat keys - such as typical house keys. Car keys will big fobs will attach to the end of the KeySmart with the loop.
• Unscrew the sections of the KeySmart, and place your keys inside - with a washer on each side of each key.  
• Screw the sections back together.

The KeySmart has become similar to a Swiss Army Knife of your keys.

When I told my friend that I was considering writing a review, he said, "Gadgetry, tinkery, mechanical folk will like it." He then immediately took photos of his KeySmart with the quote after "one and a half years of HARD use."

He carries his in his pocket and in his tool bag. He works hard and his tools do too. 

At first, I was skeptical and thought this was just a gimmick. But now I've decided I want one of my own for my sets of keys. 

Photos courtesy of WLSIII

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3 Home Decor Items that Will Add Sunshine to Your Space

Yellow Sunflower Clock Here

No need to frown when the sun isn't shining, simply add a few items to your home that bring the sunshine indoors. 

Your home is more than just an assembly of pieces, it's a reflection of who you are.

There's nothing carved in stone that says you have to limit your home decoration pieces to standard, traditional accessories and furnishings. 

Décor items that encourage positive feelings can help to create a positive mood and environment.

Here are three creative ways to add sunshine to a room using funky decorating pieces:

Sunshine, Sunflower Wall Clock

Add this 3D Yellow Leaves Sunshine Clock to the kitchen or hallway. The clock measures approximately twelve inches around and comes in three different colors.

The clocks come in pink, yellow and white making them ideal on a colorful wall as indicated in the photo. Add one to a den or outdoor patio area, or better yet, use it in a flower themed bedroom.

Add an Outstanding 3D Printed Ceiling Mural

Amazing Leaves & Sunshine Ceiling Mural Here

This is certainly unlike anything most of us have seen. Ceiling murals are fast becoming the latest craze.

The three dimensional scenery designs bring the outdoors in. Fabulous and different, that's what you get with one of this on your ceiling!

If you're not ready to add one to a main room, try it in a bedroom first. They look incredible where mouldings have been installed around the ceiling so that the mural appears inset. But if you don't have any trim to frame the mural, not worry, simply put it on the entire ceiling. 

The mural comes in seven size options and is made of a durable, waterproof, self-adhesive PVC material.

Sunshine and Trees 5pc Canvas Art

Golden Sunshine and Trees Canvas Art will add Crisp Freshness

If you're more on the traditional side when it comes to home décor, this funky yet standard canvas art piece makes an excellent choice.

Spread sunshine and a forest feel throughout the room when you feature this outstanding canvas art in the living room, den, office, or bedroom.

They also make an excellent housewarming or birthday gift. The person receiving this will certainly be thrilled ... who wouldn't be. You'll notice that this piece is quite affordable as it's non-framed. That means you have to add the canvas art to your own frame. However, you can easily find numerous pieces of already framed canvas art here.

It's five pieces are non-glare and moisture resistant. They're easy to clean as well; simply wipe them down with a slightly damp cloth. 

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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