Are you looking for a good book to read that is just a bit different? The School of Essential Ingredients has a delightful main character, an interesting take on cooking and a look into the lives of a wide variety of cooking students.
Apples are one of my Favorite Basic Ingredients
When our book club picked this book to read for the monthly meeting, I was not sure if I would like it. I enjoy a good mystery or historical fiction and this book did not fit into either of these molds. However, it only took me one chapter to get hooked on this book. The author has such an interesting way of writing that I instantly got involved in the book. Lillian, the main character owns a restuarant and conducts a cooking school in the back rooms. She has a very unique way of cooking that instantly got me interested. She didn't use recipes but rather concentrated on the basic ingredients for each dish and explored with her students how to make the most of the ingredients. Lillian surely was a true artist when it came to her cooking. She had a way of making everything magical and made me want to get in my kitchen and experiment. The book is set up with a chapter for each student of the cooking class. As the dish for that evening is explored we also learn a little bit about each of the students and why they came to the class to start with. Each student had their own story and they were a very diverse group. Lillian not only had a way with the food but also with each of her students. She seemed to bring out the best in people and helped them to explore the situations in their lives.
I don't want to spoil the story line for you. But I will tell you if you enjoy cooking and reading you must try this book. I highly recommend it.
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.”
Since my husband and I decided to get into Amazon Prime, my Television watching has increased by 100%. I thought I'd take a moment and review why my TV habits have changed.
For years now, our television set was just a big black screen that we would show our family pictures on. Neither myself nor my other half were interested in anything that was being shown for entertainment purposes, on most cable channels. So our TV became our picture show instead. Our cable was cancelled and the only thing he missed was his hockey games. I did not miss anything about the TV. I did start reading a lot more and that was not a bad thing either. Then............
That all changed when he signed up for Prime! Initially he signed up so that our items would ship for free and quickly. He's the impatient one in our family. What he did not fully realize when he signed up, was all the added bonuses that came along with his membership in the Amazon Prime community.
Because we have Prime, we are now able to watch many varied and wonderful shows that cable companies don't offer. I haven't even scratched the surface of what's available on Amazon Prime.
So here's part of the confession: I go to Prime Movies and look for fun and new Christmas Specials. After all, it is that time of year. There are so many movies that I have never heard of before. There is a category called Family and Kids Movies! That is exactly what they offer! I know when I pick something from this category, that I won't need to worry about the content being for "adult audiences".
Family Movies is full of wonderful films that are good for all ages. There are animated movies and movies from all over the world.
I just happened to come across a movie called the Christmas Story. I expected the usual Santa Claus story and while it was along that line, it was a whole new story to me. This one had a twist in it that made it a real heart tugging movie. Filmed in Finland and Lapland, the scenery is breathtaking and the actors are pretty good too. There is no one in the movie whose name I recognized, but, there is talent out there in the world too.
Prime not only offers you TV that you will enjoy watching, but books (with membership you get 3 free books a month), and music. So these have all been added bonuses for us. My other half just wanted to save money on shipping and time. What he got was a whole lot more!
All together I would say that getting Prime for your family would be a gift that will keep on giving long after Christmas is over. Those are the kind of gifts I like and would really enjoy! I'm sure there is someone out there that feels the same way and has not yet taken the plunge into the world of Prime.
I had given up watching Television for over 4 years and now that we have Prime available to us, I know that when the itch to watch something hits, I can get a show that I know I will enjoy.
If you don't have Prime yet, consider it for your family. I'm sure that you won't regret it.
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.”
I love to play board games with my grandchildren and Monopoly is one of them. Monopoly Unicorns vs Llamas is one I think I should have so that my youngest grandchild can play, too. The standard version is a little more than she can handle at her age but this new release would be right up her little alley.
Monopoly: a great family game
image courtesy of pixabay.com
The new release of an old favorite is geared more for the younger set. I know my little cupcake will enjoy playing it and I can tell you right now which team she will chose to support. The unicorn team, she is wild about those mythical creatures!
Slightly Different Play in the Game
Instead of individual play in this new edition of Monopoly, the game is played with teams. Players decide which team they want to play for, the unicorn team or the llama team. Properties aren't purchased but instead as you move around the board you collect titles for your team. Things like the Sweetest, the most colorful, or my personal favorite the twinkliest eyes. You know when the game is over when all of the titles have been collected. The winning team is determined by the team who has the most titles. Now, I'm asking you. Doesn't that sound like loads of fun?
This game can be entertaining for children ages 8 to 88. Although, I love playing the original version of Monopoly, it can take hours and hours to play. The nice thing about the Unicorns vs Llamas game is that the time-frame for the game doesn't take forever for someone to win.
Board Games Encourage Family Time
When my girls were little, I loved playing games that we could all play together. Can I tell you how many times I've played Candy Land? It wasn't so much the game that we were playing but the family time we were spending together. Once the grandchildren began to arrive, I've kept up the tradition.
How about you and your family? Do you play games together? If you have small ones, I think a nice round of the Monopoly Unicorns vs Llamas might be enjoyable for all.
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 groceries are here! Yes, in the driveway and I never entered the store. How fun is that! If you dislike grocery shopping (raising my hand) then Shipt is a service which can lighten the burden, save time and make life just a little easier.
What Is Shipt?
Shipt is the home delivery service in which groceries and essentials are delivered to your home. The items are ordered via the Shipt app or the desktop version and can be at your home within 2 hours.
How Does Ordering Work?
You are virtually shopping on the computer screen and adding items to the cart. The interface is very user friendly and the screens are self explanatory through the ordering process.
After the cart is filled you "check out" and select a delivery time frame. The delivery window is by the hour.
The shopping order is then processed and waiting for a shopper to accept the order. Once a shopper accepts the order you are notified via text or within the desktop screen.
The Delivery
Delivery is free if a minimum of $35.00 is spent. Orders under $35.00 are charged a delivery fee.
Thus far the deliveries have been very smooth with only one 'bumpy' order. The shoppers have been very communicative, courteous and pleasant. This is a real time collaborative shopping experience with the shopper. The shoppers can (your option) communicate with you during the order via text should any stock problems arise.
I have ordered items by 1 p.m. and the groceries have been on the driveway at 2 p.m., the deliveries have been very expedient.
I have been impressed thus far and one of the reasons I have been trialing Shipt is to vet the service for a homebound neighbor. This could be a very valuable asset to have in the toolbox for caregiving, not just the convenience factor of home delivery.
What Stores Participate In Shipt?
In my urban area (where big box stores are in great abundance) the participating stores are Target, Meijer and Petco.
What Is The Cost Of Shipt
I have been participating on the trial which is free.
The annual fee is $99.00 a year; however I have seen sales for the service for $49.00 a year.
Delivery Or Pickup?
Thus far I have only used the Shipt delivery service; however the Pickup option can also be utilized. Because I do live in an area where it is not unusual to find multiple stores within 5 miles, the Pickup option can be very useful. I have frequented other services which offer the pack and pick up service and I have found this service to be a huge time saver.
Pros
User friendly screens
Fast service
Courteous shoppers
Reasonable annual cost
Convenient, easy to use
Free trial offered
Con
This one area I would like to see an improvement is the stock in store versus the stock reflected on the app screen. Just as happens with an in store shopping experience items are not always in stock. The majority are, but sale items are in high demand and the shopping app stock is not always reflective of the actual stock found by the shopper.
Recommendation
I've definitely enjoyed the service and would recommend using the trial offered by Shipt to explore if this would be a useful service for your lifestyle. I do plan on giving Shipt as a Christmas gift this year!
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.”
What is your life theme for 2020? 5 Life Theme Songs
Last week I reviewed five inspirational quotes to carry you through 2020. This week's review is about musical inspiration.
Which one of these five areas in life do you feel you need to or want to focus on in 2020? COURAGE
For me, strangely enough, for 2020, it's courage. It's strange because I've always been a doer, a person who steps-out, steps-up, and gets things accomplished. I've always had the courage to fight for others, and help them with their tasks and build their goals. However, if I'm honest with myself, my weakness is in fighting for my own goals. It's scary when you're only doing for yourself! To keep myself on track and accountable, I've created a specific plan and told most of my family what it is.
More than ever before, I'm feeling a sense of independence. I can't explain it, except to say that to complete my 2020 career-related goals, I need courage and the discipline to follow the plan I've laid out for myself.
Celine Dion's new song 'Courage' is about her new life without the love of her life, her husband, Rene, and the courage needed to step out of her own comfort zones. However, there are lyrics within the song that speaks to exactly how I feel:
"Courage, don't you dare fail me now,
I need you to keep away the doubts
I'm staring in the face of something new
You're all I got to hold on to
So, courage, don't you dare fail me now"
BELIEF
Whether you're trying to achieve a dream, accomplish a goal, or want to believe in the power of good, Rascal Flatt's Olympic Version of Unstoppable is your song. A few New Years ago, I wrote about this being a choice song to start fresh.
Belief gets us to where we're going. It's hard to hold onto, especially when things come crashing down around us. That's when we have to dig deeper, and believe that there's sun on the other side. Mastering self is the hardest battle we'll fight.
Belief for me begins with realizing that the only person I can control is myself. We can't change other people, we all know that, yet we spend so much mental energy trying to. Letting go, in my opinion, that's the road to self-belief.
HOPE
Is 2020 all about holding onto hope? If so, you'll want to add Natasha Bedingfield's song 'Hope' to your new year's playlist.
Holding onto a positive outlook isn't always doable, that's why we have music. The right song, with the right message, can wake us up and help us see things from a different perspective.
My word is Hope. What's a personal word? It's the word that you choose to govern your life by. My children have even selected their own life words. I'm wearing a necklace with the word Hope written on it; it was a gift from one of my closest friends. I never take it off.
KINDNESS
Is kindness your major theme for 2020? Are you planning to seek out more of it? Or are you going to lead by example and be the best person you can be? I imagine most of us think of ourselves as mostly kind anyway. Maybe resisting those moments we want to be unkind is a way to stretch that kindness goal a little further. Most of those tests are within families, and sometimes online.
If you're looking for a song for 2020 that can help stay within the margins of kindness, add Tim McGraw's gorgeous song, 'Humble and Kind' to your playlist.
GRATEFUL
Are you choosing 'Grateful' as your theme for 2020? Get the tissues out and listen to Josh Groban's song 'Thankful.' The lyrics remind us that each of us must find our truth and that it's so long overdue.
As we look into the face of those we love, and smile, we don't always grasp that, that alone is enough. Appreciating all that we have, it's as easy as that isn't it? Would you agree that understanding the concept of being grateful comes more into focus with age?
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.”
