Take a look, it's in a book...

Hello fellow readers! I've been busy since I got my Kindle for Christmas. I'd highly recommend it, or any other electronic reading device because I LOVE instant gratification! I'd love to hear what you've been reading because I am always looking for something new. Anywho, here's my list:

1. Stuff Christians Like -Jonathan Acuff
2. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels -Ree Drummond
3. Age Before Beauty -Virginia Smith
4. Stuck in the Middle -Virginia Smith
5. Third Time's a Charm -Virginia Smith
6. House Rules -Jodi Picoult
7. Skipping a Beat -Sarah Pekkanen
8. The Opposite of Me -Sarah Pekkanen
9. All is Bright -Sarah Pekkanen
10. A Scattered Life -Karen McQuestion
11. Saving Rachel -John Locke
12. Leaving Home -Jodi Picoult
13. The Color of Heaven -Julianne MacLean
14. The Weird Sisters -Eleanor Brown
15. Miranda's Big Mistake -Jill Mansell
16. Rumor Has It -Jill Mansell
17. Staying at Daisy's -Jill Mansell
18. Millies Fling -Jill Mansell
19. Perfect Timing -Jill Mansell
20. Take a Chance on Me -Jill Mansell
21. Easily Amused -Karen McQuestion
22. Water for Elephants -Sara Gruen
23. Heaven is for Real -Todd Burpo
24. Sixkill -Robert B. Parker
25. Offer You Can't Refuse -Jill Mansell

(Miss Rachel reading to Tater Tot)

I must say that a lot of those are chick lit and several are british chick lit, but there are some more meaty ones too. The Weird Sisters was one of my favorites and of course I loved the true love story of The Pioneer Woman in Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Heaven is for Real and Stuff Christians Like are both very inspirational and the books by Virginia Smith are Christian romances. Robert B. Parker's Spencer books are so much fun and Sixkill did not disappoint. Do you remember Spencer for Hire? If so you'd love all of his Spencer books. I loved Water for Elephants but I've also ready Sara Gruen's other books and loved them just as much or more. Anyway...Please Please Please give me some titles to check out.

Happy Reading!

xoxo.

Mama Stone

Craziness 101 or 202 if you've mastered the class

Sometimes you just have to get it down on "paper" to realize the craziness of our lives. I've done that with a family calendar and I just can't believe all we do in a day, week, month and year. When you are in the moment you sure don't realize it. Of course we all have those melt-downs and don't try to tell me you don't. I've seen you in the Wal-mart parking lot loosing it. The past two weeks I was on an unofficial cooking strike. You know the deal, I might cook, but we are talking breakfast for dinner, grilled cheese for dinner, cheese quesadillas etc. etc. Something easy and quick. Don't get me wrong, these definitely count, but I really enjoy cooking from recipes, trying new things and experimenting on my family (I learned that from my step-mom). Anyway, I guess I chose to handle my near melt-down with a cooking strike. I must say, I think it worked! I'm back to cooking and feeling loads better. So send me a recipe! Seriously, during those times when nothing seems to go right, or there seems to be more to do in the day than you really have time for, here are my suggestions: stop and pray, love on your babies, snuggle with your suge or just eat marshmallows for dinner. Trust me they all work!

And she's back...

It's been over two months since I've posted here! To say I've been busy is the understatement of the year, but also the biggest excuse. Regardless, there's so much to tell but let's start with this update: my sweet tater-tot is 6 months old and my wildman is going on 4 1/2.

TIME is FLYING!

I just want to stop time in its tracks.

Enough with the mushy stuff and on to more meaty substance. Well, not exactly meaty. I wanted to share this recipe and it has NO meat:

red bean vegetable jambalaya-

1 tbs veg. oil

1 large onion, sliced (maybe use zucchini if you can't use onion)

4 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2" coins

1/2 cauliflower, cut into florets, about 6 cups

1 large green pepper, cut into 1" pieces

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 tbs cajun/creole seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg 7 oz. couscous

-Heat oil in stock pot over med. heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook 6 min., stirring occasionally. Add cauliflower and pepper and cook an addition 6 min., stirring occasionally.

Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, cajun seasoning and salt.

Simmer with lid ajar for 25 min., stir occasionally.

Add beans and simmer 3 min., until beans are heated through and veggies are fork tender.

While jambalaya is cooking prepare couscous according to pkg.

Serve jambalaya over couscous.

I served it with cornbread and you know you could always add chicken, shrimp or sausage or all three, but we really enjoyed it sans meat.

Let me know what you think.

xoxo.

Mama Stone