Bountiful Baskets

I should have written about this almost two weeks ago, but we have started ordering our produce through Bountiful Baskets Co-Op. and I must say... I love it!

We payed $15 and received enough produce to last our family of 4 two weeks and the included making a huge fruit salad that I took over to my moms house for everyone to enjoy (made only from the fruit I received from BB).

This is what we received on our first pick up:

Romaine Lettuce

Kale

English Cucumber

Cauliflower

6 Bananas

Canary Melon (this was delicious)

broccoli

Green Onions

5 red pears

5 Nectarines

12 plums

3 tomatoes

6 oz blackberries

I loved this because it got us out of our, apples, bananas, grapes, green beans and corn routine that we have been stuck in. I don't have to think about what to pick out at the grocery store. They choose it for me, I just go pick it up. It forces us to try new things and helps me experiment while cooking. I can't wait to see what I get at this Saturday's pick up!

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

From a movie standpoint it was great! It was entertaining and kept me focus, but it lacked so much of what the books have to offer. I know that if they had put in everything from the book that I would have liked to see in the movie it would have been about 8 hours long... but that would've been ok with me.

I'm sad to see it go. This is an end to something great. I think this is one of those series that really encourage kids to read and use their imaginations. And pretty much whatever makes kids read I am in support of.

What's for Dinner?- Homemade Pizza and Garlic Knots

Last night for dinner I made homemade pizza. This is a normal occurrence here. We make homemade pizza every couple of weeks. What made this week different was that I also made homemade garlic knots. Also, one of the pizzas was made with roasted garlic parmesan sauce, topped with cheese, chicken cooked in salt pepper and garlic, and fresh chopped tomatoes. This dinner was a hit with the kids and with Michael as well. Sidda and MJ also had a couple of friends over who enjoyed the garlic knots so much that they took some home with them. It was a great night!

Book Review: Is It Just Me?

Is It Just Me: or is it nuts out there? Is a book by Whoopi Goldberg. I really just expected more out of this book. It's more of just a book full of complaints about life in general. I don't think I ever even cracked a smile throughout reading it.

There could have been so much more to this book other than the constant whining. I think it was just Whoopi complaining about how people lack common sense, manners and basic personal hygiene. There were about 17 chapters devoted to how to act on a plane alone.

I don't know... I was just expecting more....

2nd Samuel

The biggest thing that I took away from 2nd Samuel is the only thing that made David great was that he always thirsted for God. In every situation he turned to God. Other than that, though, David was stupid. He was a very lustful man. His wanting of women almost ruined him completely.

We've all heard about his affair with Bathsheba. It resulted in her pregnancy and the caused the spiral of events that dug David into a hole. His fear of being found out for his discretion he ended up having her husband Uriah murdered "accidentally on purpose" by sending him out into battle where it was most fierce than having the other men back off, letting him fend for himself, resulting in his death. After Bathsheba mourned the death of her husband David took her for yet another wife. The child they bore together soon after birth.

You would think that he would have learned his lesson, right? No. But let's move on. I just want to quickly talk about Absalom (just because I find it humorous). This is what the Bible says:

"Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and his mule went under the thick branches of a large oak. Absalom's head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going."

-2nd Samuel 18:9 NIV

I actually laughed out loud reading this. You can't make these things up, people! I thought it was funny and worth mentioning....

And now I give you a little clip from Veggie Tales.

Book Review: The Throne of Fire

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan is the second installment to his series of the Kane Chronicles which follow Carter and Sadie, who are magicians, on their adventures learning, training and fighting the Egyptian gods.

Maybe it was me, I thought the story was good, but it took my a long time to get into it. The first few chapters were so slow in comparison to the first book, The Red Pyramid. It did pick up somewhere about half way through and the story really took off.

Sadie and Carter are trying to stop the god of chaos, Apophis, from being set free from the prison he had been in for thousands of years and at the same time trying to wake the sun God, Ra, for his slumber that has lasted just as long. The God's and magicians are divided on whether it Ra needs to be awaken and if Apophis is really being released. There are good magicians and evil one, selfish gods and friendly ones. There are those that will do any thing to destroy the world and those that would sacrifice themselves to save it.

Once it get going the pages will keep turning and moving you forward. I am ready for the next in the series.

Movie Review: Bridesmaids

I don't think there can be much else to say other than: SEE IT!

This is probably the funniest movie I have ever seen! I laughed the entire movie and loved every minute of it. So, if you haven't seen it, go see it, if you have, go see it again. This will be a movie that we will buy when it comes out on DVD. We will watch this over and over.