Virtual Cookie Swap (2nd recipe)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

For the past 12 Days I have drooled over recipes that Kathy from Bermuda Onion and Julie from Booking Mama have put up on the blogs.  Today they are asking that we join in on this recipe swap by writing our post and linking chocolate recipes to Booking Mama and traditional cookies to Bermuda Onion. Both sites are offering a copy of The Christmas Cookie Club book to one lucky winner who submits a recipe!

This is a recipe my grandma used to make when I was a kid.  This is a second recipe being submitted for the Virtual Cookie Swap.


Favorite Sour Cream Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 cups chopped fav. nut (optional)

Directions:

1.

In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Then stir in the sour cream. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda; stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the nuts. Cover this and refrigerate for 1/2 hour.

2.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good Morning those of us who Are still at home at 8 am!  🙂  I havent been the Black Friday shopper for many years.  I actually used to love working it.  When I worked as a Department Manager at Wal-Mart this was my favorite day fo the year to work.  I absolutely loved to watch the people run in and just grab random things!  We were not allowed to work any new freight on this day, so basically you just watched the craziness and helped customers…. well, I liked that!  It was also a day you worked from 4 am to noon.  Then off you went to do your own thing.  I found being on the other side, “the shopper” I really didn’t enjoy as much and only did it twice.

Thanks to online shopping… I can sit right here in the comfort of my own home and click away at whatever I am looking for.  One of the places I will be visiting today is Christian Books.com they are having a huge sale and I browsed it the other day and they have many wonderful reads around $2 each, I encourage you all to check it out.  There are books, cd’s, gifts, movies….  really some great ideas there.

I will also be on Amazon today.  I have to get my book club read yet for December as well as the two secret santa gifts I need.

Other than that today I am finishing up the book Thanksgiving At The Inn.  I also have a couple posts to do – one is the Cookie Swap post that has been going on at Bermuda Onion’s and at Booking Mama’s .  You should stop in a t both sites – they have posted some incredible cookie recipes and the fun is continuing today as they are encouraging us to post ours as well!  🙂  My other post will be the one I meant to put up yesterday (but was having way too mych fun playing Trivial Pursuit on the wii with my boys and then watching the new Star Trek movie) Healthy Bread….

So uhhh… yeah.  Cookie recipes…. and then healthy bread.  🙂  Perfect!

My question this morning is do you do any online shopping?  Any great sites you could share here?

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly Audio Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

This giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to Anna With Hachette Audiobooks, I have three copies of this audio to give away!  I have read this book and I am thrilled to have a chance to listen to this on audio!

LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is off the chain in the fastest, fiercest, and highest-stakes case of his life.


Available in CD and Digital Download formats.
Listen to an excerpt.
Visit MichaelConnelly.com

How to Enter?

1)  Leave a comment here with a motto you like.  In the book, Detective Harry Bosch’s motto is, “Happy is the man who finds refuge in himself.” (you must answer the question to be entered in this giveaway!)

Bonus Entries!!!

2)  Subscribe to my email to this blog (upper right sidebar) and receive 2 additional entries!  Let me know you did here on a separate comment – entries that say they are subscribed and are not will be deleted.

If you are already a subscriber let me know in a separate comment and you will receive 3 extra entries!

3)  Blog or tweet about this giveaway and let me know by leaving the blog link or tweet link here on a separate comment and you will receive an additional entry.

4.  Follow this blog and let me know on a separate comment and you have an additional entry as well!  :)

That’s is!  You can do the first entry alone or as many bonus as you choose.  Giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.  Winners will receive the audios from Hachette.

Giveaway ends December 16

Permission Slips by Sherri Shephard Audio Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

This giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to Anna With Hachette Audiobooks, I have three copies of this audio to give away!  This will be a greta one to listen to next trip I take alone to the cities or to the cabin.


ABC’s The View co-host Sherri Shepherd speaks honestly about her life, her family, and her struggles. As she relates her life experiences, she will also share the things she’s learned along the way.


Available in CD and Digital Download formats.
Listen to an excerpt.
Visit SherriShepherd.com

How to Enter?

1)  Leave a comment here with one of your favorite things you like to do to unwind. (you must answer the question to be entered in this giveaway!)

Bonus Entries!!!

2)  Subscribe to my email to this blog (upper right sidebar) and receive 2 additional entries!  Let me know you did here on a separate comment – entries that say they are subscribed and are not will be deleted.

If you are already a subscriber let me know in a separate comment and you will receive 3 extra entries!

3)  Blog or tweet about this giveaway and let me know by leaving the blog link or tweet link here on a separate comment and you will receive an additional entry.

4.  Follow this blog and let me know on a separate comment and you have an additional entry as well!  :)

That’s is!  You can do the first entry alone or as many bonus as you choose.  Giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.  Winners will receive the audios from Hachette

Giveaway ends December 21

Say You’re One Of Them by Uwem Akpan Audio Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)42 Comments

This giveaway is now closed

Thanks to Anna With Hachette Audiobooks, I have three copies of this audio to give away!  I am so excited to get into this one soon!


Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances.

“Each one of these stories left me really gasping and profoundly moved.” – Oprah Winfrey

Available in CD and Digital Download formats.
Listen to an excerpt
Listen to the Interview with Uwem Akpan.

How to enter?

1)  Leave a comment here of a title of an Oprah Book Club Book you have read.  If you have not read one, what one peaks your interest. Here is a list to look at of Oprah’s Book Club Picks (you must answer the question to be entered in this giveaway!)

Bonus Entries!!!

2)  Subscribe to my email to this blog (upper right sidebar) and receive 2 additional entries!  Let me know you did here on a separate comment – entries that say they are subscribed and are not will be deleted.

If you are already a subscriber let me know in a separate comment and you will receive 3 extra entries!

3)  Blog or tweet about this giveaway and let me know by leaving the blog link or tweet link here on a separate comment and you will receive an additional entry.

4.  Follow this blog and let me know on a separate comment and you have an additional entry as well!  :)

That’s is!  You can do the first entry alone or as many bonus as you choose.  Giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.  Winners will receive the audios from Hachette

Giveaway ends December 20

Lovely Bones Audio Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

This giveaway is closed.

Thanks to Anna With Hachette Audiobooks, I have three copies of this audio to give away!  I am currently listening to this in my home and it is being read by the author, Alice Sebold.

It is a story of unspeakable tragedy and loss, but also of abiding love and even joy. With its astonishing force, THE LOVELY BONES has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world.


Available in CD and Digital Download formats.
Listen to an excerpt.
Watch the movie trailer.
Visit the official movie website at LovelyBones.com.

How to enter?

1)  Leave a comment here of where or when you are most likely to listen to an audio book (you must answer the question to be entered in this giveaway!)

Bonus Entries!!!

2)  Subscribe my email to this blog (upper right sidebar) and receive 2 additional entries!  Let me know you did here on a separate comment – entries that say they are subscribed and are not will be deleted.

If you are already a subscriber let me know in a separate comment and you will receive 3 extra entries!

3)  Blog or tweet about this giveaway and let me know by leaving the blog link or tweet link here on a separate comment and you will receive an additional entry.

4.  Follow this blog and let me know on a separate comment and you have an additional entry as well!  🙂

That’s is!  You can do the first entry alone or as many bonus as you choose.  Giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.  Winners will receive the audios from Hachette

Giveaway ends December 18

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

I was up early (Coffee Cup too!) to start the traditional prepping of the bird.  I always go all out for this day even though it is just the four of us, Al and I, and our two boys, Brad (21) and Justin (19).   Since we have such a small family I think I over compensate with days like this.  I have a 24 pound turkey.  Don’t laugh….. ok, laugh.  I make a big one so the boys have left overs to take home and eat all weekend long.  What else is on the menu?


I have shrimp and cocktail sauce  (something to snack on throughout the day!)

Mixed nuts and M & M’s mixed in… (another mindless snack item)

I am making broccoli cauliflower salad with grapes (so ym and I make it light w FF Mayo and Splenda)

Sweet Potatoes (are a must!  And I have a new recipe this year that calls for FF Plain Yogurt blended in… sounds really good!)

Cheesy broccoli

warm whole grain dinner rolls and bread out of the book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day (review on this book yet today!)

Turkey stuffing (the boys love this!)

Carrots and vegie dip

I think that is everything.  We have the new Star Wars movie to watch this afternoon and I have Trivial Pursuit for the Wii.  Should be a good day.  We dont really have any traditions… just hanging out together.  Next month Brad goes into the Navy (on the 14th) so this is a bitter sweet holiday for us…. and my job of course is to hold myself together… ha ha.

I am so thankful for my family, my faith, my friends.  I am thankful for our health.  I am thankful for all the things that my eyes are open to in this world and  the heart to want to do something about it.  I am thankful for all of you, for the conversations and the friendships developed through talking books.

How about you?  Any traditions today?  Any fun foods or plans?  I would love to hear what you do!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor by Willow

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

I have always enjoyed a bit of fantasy mixed into my own world…. I like to imagine the possibilities ~ Sheila

One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell? Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. An old herb woman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, and her journey takes her across the Three Kingdoms. Along the way she’s joined by a kindly troll and a short, fat palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird. Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms.


In My Opinion:

I have really taken a liking to YA fantasy reads over this past year.  I honestly did not know what I was going to get with this book.  The cover reminds me of an older style book… it doesn’t really follow the trends of today’s covers that snap you to attention and cause you to pick up a book… yet something about it, something in the description, made me want to read it.

As I dove into a new fantasy world of wizards and trolls… and something about a necklace…. I found myself enjoying the pace that Willow had set for her readers.  There were parts that seemed to drag on a bit for me, but I can imagine reading this to a young girl and having her hang on the words as Tirissa makes her way around the Three Kingdoms.




Willow grew up in Albuquerque, NM, in the late 1940’s and 1950’s, always with her nose in an Oz book or else out under the peach tree in the back yard, looking for fairies. After she grew up, moved to CA, and graduated from Occidental College, a few aptitude tests suggested she should be a novelist, but she didn’t try her hand at it until her thirties. By then she’d forgotten her childhood love of fantasy and over the years tried her hand at a variety of genres. None of the stories really captured her imagination and each time her interest petered out. But the years passed and one day, in her fifties, she felt a yearning to read Lord of the Rings, which she had never read. Halfway through, she knew that all along it was children’s fantasy she wanted to write. And so she began writing the tale of Tirissa, who loved to be out under the trees, and it turned into Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor.

This review copy of this books was sent to my by Pump Up Your Book Promotions

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

I as I sat up form bed this morning and looked out my window I see the light covering of snow that has salted its way across our yard.

First word of the day, “Ugh.”

For a Minnesota girl you would think this would be my thing.  It’s not.  It’s cold.  It’s wet.  It’s sloppy.  And it can really suck to drive in it too.  The game plan is someday we are not here for this part of Minnesota.  We hope to start leaving in November for warmer territory, and returning in mid March in time for warm up.  We have friends in the area that do this and stay in Florida.  We also have family in Florida….

Hmmmm…..


So is everyone getting the emails now for book sales at the big name stores?  Just this morning I received these two:

Christianbooks.com :  Has a huge selection of 80% off items.  I checked it out.  There are some great buys!  A whole selection of items under $2.

  • Randy Alcorn’s Deception is $1.99 (if you have not read Alcorn you are missing out!  Fantastic author!
  • Gift items too – cd’s for 99 cents…

 

Also Barnes and Noble has a 25% coupon off of one book if you use your Mastercard on your order.


Amazon is having Black Friday Deals Week going on now.  I seen a few things of interest there as well!

 

So thats what I have to share this morning.  I have a day in the office than off to the store to get all the things that I have procrastinated on for tomorrow.   I am purchasing two copies of Hunger Games for my boys and I will be baking out of the book healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day for tomorrows review.

Have you discovered any great book sales?

Do you have any reading plans for the upcoming 4 day weekend?

 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

As strong and as steady with her words as Kitness is with an arrow, Suzanne Collins once again has created a win.  ~ Sheila

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

 


In My Opinion:

Suzanne Collins does not disappoint with this sequel to Hunger Games.  Coming in strong, starting where the first book ended, I felt like I had never left the story – I had never lowered that level of excitement…. of fear for what was next for Katniss and Peeta.  When the unthinkable happens I cant think that there is any way out… how could there be?

I am really pleased how clean Suzanne Collins has kept both of these books.  There is plenty of teenage “opportunity” for her to take the books a different direction and she doesn’t.  I actually find that refreshing.

My one regret is that when I started Hunger Games, I did not know until I was into the book  that it was actually one of three, Catching Fire being the middle book and the third not due out to fall of 2010.  If I would have known that I probably would have waited (or at least tried!) so I could have read them all together.  Now I have created a longing in me  to know what happens next….MUST READS!


I won my copy of this book

I would rate this book PG