book reviews

I have been on a reading roll, since recovering from my book hangover. First I read The Secret Life of Bees and then I read The Girl on the Train. Both were incredibly satisfying and had me wanting more after I turned the last page.


The Secret Life of Bees is set in the American south during the start of the Civil Rights movement. It follows the life of a teenage girl in search of information about her mother. She finds her self in a very unusual place, but feels as though that is where she belonged her whole life.

It was an easy read and didn't induce any nightmares, which is always a plus in my mind. I know there is a movie based on the book starring Dakota Fanning, but I have yet to watch it. The books are usually better, but if I happen to watch it I will add it to this post.

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The other book I finished this month was The Girl on the Train and let me say this...it totally lived up to the hype. This book was AMAZING!! It may have given me nightmares, but I couldn't put the book down and I found myself reading at all hours of the night.

This book is set in London and follows a woman who takes the commuter train into town every morning. She watches out the window of the train and daydreams about what people's lives are like on the other side of the tracks. When a girl goes missing, the girl on the train proves to be a key component in solving the mystery. If you like mystery fiction with a little suspense check this book out. It feels very much like Gone, Girl so if that's your cup of tea you will enjoy this story. 

There is a movie coming out in October 2016 that tells this story. The main character is Emily Blunt and you can check out the teaser trailer from Universal Studios.  

refurbished front porch planter boxes

With the nice weather we had this weekend, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a bit of sprucing up before Apple Blossom. We have these concrete planters on our front porch that weigh a million pounds-not really, but close. They are extremely heavy and an eyesore on the porch. I knew I wanted to plant something in them for the spring, but I don't have the greenest thumb. 

We started off by making a trip to Lowes to look at their garden section and pick up some grass seed. I popped in to look at all the flowers they had blooming and I was amazed. Everything was so vibrant and beautiful that I had a hard time choosing. We decided to pick up a bunch of Celosia and another upright annual to add some height to the planters. 

While we were there, I picked up some spray paint that could be used on masonry. We bought the color "metallic rust" and it turned out a bit coppery, but I really like the way it looks against the brinks of the house. 

That's how we turned old concrete planters into something new and vibrant. Can't wait to watch the new plants grow this spring!

the most wonderful time of the year

PLAYOFF HOCKEY IS HERE! I repeat, playoff hockey is here.

This is y most favorite time of the year, with Christmas being a close second. Beards are just getting started and every fan is hoping to see their team play into June.

I was lucky enough to attend the Capitals first playoff game this year against the Flyers and it was AMAZING.  The arena was full of energy and fans couldn't take their eyes off the ice. The Caps pulled out a victory to give them a one game advantage in this series. I can tell after last nights performance that this series between the two teams is going to be personal, physical, and demanding.

Follow me on this wild road that is playoff hockey. Hope to see you in June :)

chicken poppyseed casserole

This is another delicious recipe that we enjoy during the week because its quite easy to assemble. As always I make some changes to mine and deviate from the recipe just a tad. I only use two chicken breasts and I find that that is plenty, but I use two cups of uncooked rice in order to fill the bottom of the casserole dish. 

I also like added some chopped steamed broccoli to the mix. It's just the kind you can steam in the microwave inside the bag-then chopped into finer pieces because broccoli is not my favorite. 

There you have it.  A quick dinner for weeknights that will leave you with plenty of left overs. 

Ingredients:

4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts

1½ sticks butter

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1 ½ stacks of Ritz crackers, crushed

8 oz sour cream

2 cups cooked rice-cook in chicken broth or use rice pilaf from box

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Melt butter and add Ritz crackers

2. Layer chicken, soup, poppy seeds, salt, pepper and sour cream over the rice in a casserole pan

3. Spread cracker mix on top and bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until bubbly. 

currently || april

eating || I am loving the Fruit-are fruit popsicles right now. I have a bad habit of wanting ice cream as a midnight snack-which is so unhealthy. These are nice because they are all less than 100 calories and have real pieces of fruit inside the popsicles. It is a nice cold snack that won't make me feel super guilty about eating it. My favorites right now are the pineapple and the strawberry. I want to try the lime and lemon-perfect summer flavors!

watching || Some playoff hockey! The Capitals ave already clenched a playoff spot which guarantees them playing time through April.....and maybe May and June....if I'm lucky. I can't wait to see what playoff hockey has is store for the team, and I will be watching all along the way.

anticipating || Apple Blossom Festival is right around the corner and I am pretty excited. If you don't know anything about the festival check it out here. Some special guests this year include comedian Wayne Brady and the legendary Cal Ripken Jr. → cue jumping up and down like a kid at an ice cream truck in the summer! I am so pumped to see both of them in the parade this year!

reading || I had been in a bit of a "book hangover" since finishing Harry Potter so it's been a bit tough to start a new book. After checking out some reviews I finally settled on The Secret Life of Bees....and as I am typing this post realized it was made into a movie! Say what?!? I guess I will have to watch the movie after I finish the book.

crafting || I have been coloring more and more in my "adult" coloring book from Johanna Basford. I have both the Enchanted Forest and the Lost Ocean. It's hard to get back into coloring after reading so many books back to back, but I find that the coloring is more interactive and a bit more relaxing than reading. When I read a book I get immersed in the characters and plot line so much that I can't put it down to sleep or eat. The coloring book is a nice afternoon activity that won't keep my mind racing after I put it down.