THREE THINGS:
1.) I just got my first “meal” subscription package today! 😀 “Hello Fresh” is up for this next week so I will let you know what I think. Three meals for 2 that I need to prepare (I received just the fresh ingredients plus the recipe cards) but since it’s only me, it will be a full week of suppers… I think. 😉 Honestly, meat wise, for 2? My first impression? Small portions. I dunno any man that would be excited by that tiny amount of food. LOL! But then again… proper portion sizes are important and this is probably very good in the grand scheme of things. I’ve got 3 more subscriptions coming from other meal companies (some already cooked and just need to be warmed up and I’m kind of extra excited about those). This will be a month long experiment and I will let you know what I think.
2.) I spent the entire weekend at home, but I got to see a whole estate sale going on across the street from me. I live on such a quiet street, and Saturday morning I woke up to a plethora of cars EVERYWHERE trying to find parking, and all sorts of fluorescent signs on my lawn saying NO PARKING! As well as other lawns. LOL! I appreciated that. So much excitement this weekend for a “stay-at-home” weekend.
3.) I got SO much done this weekend. Lots of organizing, sorting and throwing away… and even spray painting a couple of wood stools that I’m going to use as plant stands in my front entrance of my home. 😀 Yay creativity!!! It was a quiet weekend, but a productive and fulfilling one.
LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE 
!!!
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After Us (Next Generation Book 6) by J.M. Walker <— SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE!!! “…Jaron Mercer rescued me. But after spending more than a year in jail, he came back a different person. No longer was he the man I had fallen in love with but a shell of himself instead. Now we would have to work even harder to be together. Even though he was taken from me, he left me a gift in return. I was constantly reminded of his love. For me. For her. While we tried reconnecting and finding us all over again, there was a plan behind the scenes to make him pay for what he’d done…”
- The Ice Duchess: Prequel to the Duchess Society Series by Tracy Sumner
- The Adversary: A Novella of the Elder Races (The Chronicles of Rhyacia Book 2) by Thea Harrison
- Bite Me (Shadow Guild: Vampire Bride Book 1) by Linsey Hall
- Mistress: A Lesbian Age Gap Romance by Emily Hayes
- Boss with Benefits: A Secret Baby Romance (Bosses and Babies) by Crystal Monroe
Seeking Happily Ever After by Elena Aitken <— FAKE FIANCE SINGLE DAD BILLIONAIRE!! “…The last thing Charlotte Davis expected when she walked into the bakery was to snuggle the sweetest baby girl and lie to a case worker that she’s engaged to be married to her father, it just happened. It’ll all be worth it if it helps Nick win custody of his daughter. And her growing feelings for the sexy single dad? Well, that does complicate things a little. Sexy, smart, and amazing with babies…his fake fiancée has it all….”
- Out for the Holidays and Out for Gold: MM College Romance (Out in College Book 9) by Lane Hayes
- The Player and the Bookworm: a one-night stand, surprise pregnancy rom-com (The Legends Book 2) by Erin McCarthy
- Mr. Motorcycle: A Billionaire Romance by Winter Travers
- Her Titans: Ironhaven Book One by Genevieve Jasper
Her Audition: A Standalone Romantic Suspense (First Encounters) by Ashlyn Fables and Sierra Summers <— TEACHER-STUDENT!! “…Desperate times call for desperate measures, and for Jessa, that means auditioning for a nude modeling position at the local university. But the audition doesn’t go as planned when Jessa is told she isn’t cut out to be a model. With nowhere else to turn, she pleads with the professor for the job, but he knows that with a body like hers, it would only cause chaos in his classroom. So he offers her a different position. It’s just a job. Nothing more. Or at least that’s what they tell themselves...”
- Wolf, Shifted: A Rejected Mates Shifter Romance (Exiled World: The House of the Crescent Moon Book 1) by Rebecca Ethington
- Wayward Soldier (The Wayward Souls Trilogy Book 2) by Mandi Konesni
Doctor Arrogance: A Hero Club Novel by Alandra Knight <— Whoooooooops????!!! “…The charming, handsome stranger sitting next to me on the plane talking all the way to paradise? Perfect start to this trip. I can resist him and his smoldering looks, killer smile and confident attitude. Until I figure out that he’s my neighbor at the resort. His washboard abs and that perfect V…I don’t think I can resist him for a whole week. Giving in to temptation is easy. The souvenir he leaves me with? Not so much...”
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PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )
- Small Favors by Erin A. Craig – July 27th 2021
- For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing – July 27th 2021
- The Duke Goes Down: Duke Hunt by Sophie Jordan – July 27th 2021
Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas – July 27th 2021
- Claimed (Lair of the Wolven, The Book 1) by J.R. Ward – July 27th 2021
- A Good Day for Chardonnay: A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Series Book 2) by Darynda Jones – July 27th 2021
- Love Next Door (Lakeside Book 1) by Helena Hunting – July 27th 2021
- Not a Happy Family: A Novel by Shari Lapena – July 27th 2021
- Revealing the Monster: Playing with Monsters by Amelia Hutchins – July 27th 2021
- Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron – July 27th 2021
Tasha J: Oh, hey! I finished an arc recently that releases this Tuesday that I think is right up your alley! Definitely a read if you like “You”. It’s called Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron.
Maryse: OH YESSSSS PLEASE!!!! I LOVED You and love crazy stalker reads!! Thank you Tasha!! 😀
- The Right Side of Wrong by Prescott Lane – July 29th 2021
- The Timepiece and the Girl Who Went Astray: A thrilling new time travel adventure by O.R. Simmonds – July 30th 2021
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1. I decided I was finally ready to start potty training this weekend. Not a good time as we’re prepping for vacation. But, there never seems to be a good time either.
2. Crunch time begins today. Cleaning car, laundry always, putting more of a list together and getting all reservation stuff in order. And any other things I can stuff in.
3. I made it to 80ish% in It Happened One Summer. Progress, slow going, but getting there. I still like it, but too many sex scenes are such a turn off for me anymore. Will see how I feel about it as a whole hopefully today or tomorrow.
Ah, and hopefully will see more of our garage today. I think we’re sending back extra siding and it’s been in there since beginning of June. Small garage, so many construction things, and bikes and strollers galore. Will breathe a little easier then! And can get to some things I may wanna pack.
I’m with you… I just skim sex scenes for the most part unless they sneak up on me and I’m so into the book. 😂
Yes, stupid covid. Was asking two weeks ago if the vaccinated felt comfortable without a mask still and now I’m buying new ones.
Maybe 2022?
One last book to finish, and it is a fast one, and will be ready for Lisa Kleypas.
I bought a couple of pretty news ones a few weeks ago, that I loved (sparkly). I didn’t know how much longer I’d be needing them but got them anyway, so I’m glad I have them (along with my more boring looking ones).
I love Hello Fresh and Home Chef…..I alternate between the 2. Just be sure to keep up with your weekly order. I have had weeks where I forgot to look at the menu and received too much or something nobody in my house will eat!
PS-I hope you got a coupon code!
Hi Theresa!!!
I DID!! First time customer sort of thing and received a HUGE discount on my first order. I’m going to cook one tonight. Can’t wait!! 😉
Home Chef will be my next try mid-August. I already have 3 more from other meal companies coming (one new one each week until I decide what my favorite is)
I loved Home Chef, but after a while the meals began tasting the same. This is likely because I was sticking to low carb/low cal so my options were limited. I assume you’ll run into this too, so switching between companies is a good idea. The other issue we had was being tied to our meals so we didn’t lose them. Some nights we just wanted to go out or order in and we couldn’t do that if we had a fridge full of food. Also when the hubs took a spur of the moment trip, I was stuck eating double. We resolved this by cutting it down to a few times per week, but in the end decided to take a break. I definitely miss it though.
Now we’re doing eMeals, which fits us much better but has its own set of issues.
What are the issues you’re running into with eMeals?
Most of the recipes for 2 are actually for 3 so the nutrition count is off from the get-go. And while I’ve had some stellar dishes from there, many are just so-so. However, if I do find intriguing recipes, it makes my life super easy because I can add the ingredients right to my shopping cart. And it’s cheap. And I can freeze food I don’t get to so there’s less waste. All in all, I like and will probably keep using it, but I don’t expect to see more than a few recipes per week that I want to try.
I finally read The Simple Wild….and I loved it.
Yay! Nothing like that book!!
Yes! It was so good. I immediately ordered the next book and while I wait, I’m going to give a Taylor Jenkins Reid book a try. I always hear good things about her books.
One of my favorites! I LOVE K.A. Tucker so much!!!
1. I want to do a jigsaw puzzle like the old days in summer.
2. All our family is here now. Lots of eclectic books on the go…Night Swim, Where the Crawdads Sing, Genghis Khan bio, Red Rising, Dragon Hoops (graphic novel), Sun Down Motel. Good break from electronics.
3.We’re listening to lots of old summer music… Dock of the Bay, Good Vibrations, Summer in the City, Boys are Back in Town, Heat Wave, Do You Love me, You Really Got me. Favourite is Helpless by Neil Young.
Do you have favourite summer songs?
Love Helpless.
🙂 🎶🎸
I LOVE “Summertime” (actually the version that Fantasia did on American Idol a million years ago).
Yes!
Loved Sundown Motel!
I remember that!
Quick update!! I made the “one pan saucy beef and charred pepper tacos” and it was fabulous!!!
I was MUCH lazier than their instructions… this whole… fry the veggies… then wipe out the pan… and then fry the meat, then mix both back together and add the…
Get out of here! 😂 I have no time for that. You said “one pan” and I mean “one pan”
bell pepper slices and onion slices and meat and spices (and beef stock) alllll mixed at the same time in the pan… and guess what? Maybe not “charred” veggies but definitely perfectly delicious and cooked. Everything turned out perfect.
I kind of wish everything was prechopped since I have to cook it myself but it’s true that pre-chopped veggies are not great at staying fresh, so I get that.
Flavors… perfect!!! Very happy with this Hello Fresh meal. 😀
Oh and I threw their soft shelled tacos in my freezer and used my own super-low carb version (2 carbs). I love them just as much.
That sounds delicious. I am not a good cook at all, just don’t have the patience for it, so usually follow recipes to the letter. But the last few weeks not so much when it comes to the measuring. The important parts like liquids sure, but half a cup of sliced Olives? Eh, just throw some in. Also not caring as much about if I don’t have a spice I thought I did. Salt and parm cover a lot.
You are speaking my language, bev!! I will improvise a ton now, apparently even with recipes that I have ALL the ingredients ’cause it’s a meal kit. LOL! I mean… they didn’t even include shredded cheese for the tacos. WHAT??? Yes… I added my own shredded cheese. 😉
Sounds delish!
I did the Hello Fresh deliveries for awhile last year. I only ordered veggie meals. I stopped because it was expensive (for me), the quality was starting to get iffy and the choices were repetitive/ similar. But it did get me to stop being lazy. And try new things. One of my fave recipes to make is the Greek Goddess chickpea bowl. And I get to pick out organic everything by making it on my own. I definitely prefer the Annie’s dressing I buy vs whatever they give out. I also use couscous or rice depending on my mood instead of the bulgur wheat.