THREE THINGS:
1.) After my move, I still had a bunch of important paperwork and files in boxes, so I spent a day this weekend organizing, sorting, and creating folders for them, and into my filing cabinet they went. *phew* I love being organized!
2.) Publix has an amazing deal on the rib roast right now!! We got one and cut it into 6 or 7 ribeye steaks!!! 🥩 Vacuum sealed them (I think this is our identical model, and it’s so easy to use!) and the ribs too!! YUMMY!!
3.) I wanted to change out the drawer pulls/handles for one piece of furniture in my room (was going to do it this weekend). I thought I ordered the perfect size handles, and yet, the predrilled hole is just a few spaces too short for this handle. Grrr! Even drilling new holes, we’d still see the original one. *sigh*
LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE 
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The Crush by Lauren Blakely <— LAUREN BLAKELY’S LATEST!! IT’S A PREQUEL!! “...I swear I wasn’t that obsessed. I wouldn’t have called it an obsession at all. But a year ago, I was just a girl with the start of a crush. Everything that happened that night was just the luck of the draw. I wound up a little bruised—fine, a little broken—and intoxicated by a man I couldn’t have…“
- Wild Kiss : A Rejected Mate Romance by C.R. Jane and Mila Young
- Unforgettable Christmas by Tiye Love
- Wicked Instinct (SEAL Team Blackout) by Em Petrova
- Shifted (The Shifted Series Book 1) by Roxanna Mason
Bluegrass Mafia: Going Home: (A Reverse Harem Romance) by Phoebe Pierce <— NURSE FROM A MAFIA FAMILY RETURNS BACK TO HER HOMETOWN… “…I might be a buttoned-up healthcare professional, but I come from a family of outlaws. How can I resist the temptations? A tattooed rocker guy? Muscled twin strippers? And the promise of revenge?I might allow myself to have some fun, but I’ll always keep one thing in mind: Nothing, not even falling in love, is worth getting sucked into that criminal underworld again, where a woman is just a possession with no will of her own…”
- Family: The Skulls and Chaos Bleeds Christmas Special by Sam Crescent
- Home to You: A Sweet, Small Town Inspiration Romance Novel by Jada Stone
STARSTRUCK a heartwarming, feel-good romance to fall in love with (Heartwarming, feel-good romances) by EMMA BENNET <— ROCK STAR WANTS TO RENT ONE OF HER CONVERTED BARNS! “…Newly divorced Kate just wants a quiet life with her son Charlie now that she’s single. She’s not looking for love, but then an old schoolfriend turns up on her doorstep out of the blue. He’s not just Joe anymore, he’s world-famous rock star Joseph Wild. And he’s looking to rent one of Kate’s cozy converted barns so he can hide out from the paparazzi after his own break-up...”
- Immortal Secrets: A Blackstone Vampire Clan Novel by L.A. McGinnis
- Flicker (The Storm Dragons’ Mate Book 2) by M. Sinclair
The Fall of Souls: A Black Fantasy Romance (The Book of Kan Series 1) by R. A. Moreau <— SHE MUST LEAVE HER MORTAL LIFE BEHIND!! “…After Onia loses the only family she has ever known, she gives up on understanding her life’s mysteries, like why her mother abandoned her or why her kan can read the spirits of those around her. But when a handsome man, whose wild spirit calls to her, rescues her from the demons hellbent on dragging her to the Pit, Onia must leave her mortal life behind to uncover the truth of her heavenly heritage…”
- Ignite (Sinful Desires #3): Mafia Romance Suspense by A.L. Long
- Serpent & The Wolf by Chelsea Callahan
Sexy Bastard: A Hero Club Novel by J.L. Perry <— HE’S HER SOULMATE BUT SHE LEFT HIM WHEN SHE REALIZED HOW THEY WERE CONNECTED… “...When he got down on one knee and proposed, asking me to spend the rest of my days by his side, it was a surreal moment. He was my hopes and dreams all rolled into one. A bright future I never thought I’d have. But life has a way of kicking you in the teeth sometimes, and I was in no way prepared for what was to follow. I never would’ve guessed we shared a common link from my past. A past that still haunts me to this day. One so horrific, I had no choice but to walk away from the person I loved more than life itself...”
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PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )
- State of Shock (First Family Series Book 4) by Marie Force | Dec 20, 2022
Deception by K Webster | Dec 20, 2022
- The Crush by Lauren Blakely | Dec 23, 2022
- The Rocker Series: OtherWorld Collection by Terri Anne Browning | Dec 25, 2022
- A Bit of Holly Jolly (Holidaze in Salem Book 2) | by Kelly Elliott | Dec 25, 2022
- Scorch (Steel Brothers Saga Book 24) by Helen Hardt | Dec 27, 2022
- The Intern (The Dalton Family Book 4) by Marni Mann | Dec 27, 2022
- Ancient Vengeance (Ancients Rising Book 6) by Katie Reus | Dec 27, 2022
- Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake | Dec 27, 2022
- Echoes from the Past (The Agency) by Alexandra Ivy | Dec 27, 2022
- Made For Me (Made For Series) by Natasha Madison | Dec 27, 2022
- The Valentine’s Hate: A Novel by Sidney Halston | Dec 27, 2022
Timeless (Lark Cove Book 5) by Devney Perry | Dec 27, 2022
- Shadows of Light (The Shadow Realms, Book 6) by Brenda K. Davies | Dec 30, 2022
Filthy Little Liars (Midnight Bites Book 3) by Yolanda Olson and Ally Vance | Dec 30, 2022
- The Midnight Queen (The Official Dark Prince Academy Book 1) by Helen Cooper | Dec 31, 2022
- Hard Tide (Blackstone House Romantic Suspense Book 2) by Elise Noble | Dec 31, 2022
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1. It’s going to drop into the teens for a few days later this week and I’m a nervous nelly after our last big freeze that blew up our pipes and left us without water for days on end. We’re trying to be as prepared as possible, but we thought we were last time too. 😬
2. Meanwhile, I’ll be in the proofing/formatting cave working on Emma Scott’s upcoming release! I’m almost at the point where I left off beta-reading and I can’t wait to find out what happens!
3. I’m making stuffed peppers for dinner if I meet my chapter goal for the day. If I don’t, the husband will be making stuffed peppers for dinner. One of these things is not like the other. 🤣
LOL!!!!!
YAY on the new Emma Scott book,
and I LOVE stuffed bell peppers soooo much. I used to hate them as a kid… no idea why.
Also, as long as I’ve been dealing with them, I always think I’m ready for a hurricane but everything is just so unpredictable.
I remember having to deal with frozen pipes in Quebec, and not even being able to get out of the house without plowing like the Kool-aid man right out of the top-to-bottom snow covered door and patio. Hilarious and yet so annoying at 7 or 8 am when it’s dark outside, so freaking cold, and you’ve gotta get to a college class.
I also love stuffed peppers. I’ve only made them once, and they were so good and everyone loved them- even the doubtful ones. But 3/4 of the way through the process I thought, why not cut the time and effort in half and just dice and sauté the peppers with it. Like one of those open egg roll things, an unstuffed pepper? I haven’t done it again since, but I’d like to try it that way too.
A college boyfriend used to make me something called “bell pepper dressing” that sounds like that but in 25 years, I’ve never found an actual recipe for it! My husband is a meatloaf freak so it’s about that texture for him. I cheat though. I use a meatloaf seasoning mix and parboil the peppers. I don’t add rice or anything else but may top it with cheese or ketchup. I use Emeril’s recipe for regular meatloaf but that’s way too involved for these.
For something quick (and yes this is cheating) Costco makes delicious stuffed bell peppers – all you need to do is pop ’em in the oven to cook.
I LOVE them!
Now I’m curious… I wonder if he put bread crumbs in it?
I don’t think so. It was more like a sauté, like what Tasha described. I just remember loving it. But back then I wasn’t a very experienced eater!
I’ve never heard of a meatloaf seasoning mix, I’m curious. I did parboil the peppers though. I heard they don’t get soft if you don’t. The rice is the best part for me, lol.
something like this: https://bit.ly/3hGrUmI
My mom never used rice. Hers were just mini meatloaves wrapped in peppers, so I continued that, which worked well in the land of low carb!
That sounds really good!
Oh!! I had no idea they made meatloaf seasoning! I will try that!
I would throw a ton of veggies in the food processor (carrots, mushrooms, onions, celery, bell peppers) and mix that very tiny-cut veggie mix into the meat. Undetectable as “veggies” but super-yummy in flavor!!
The seasoning packet works in a pinch, but I wouldn’t use it for a regular meatloaf unless you’re in a hurry. This is my favorite, albeit time consuming, but it’s sooo good. I sub pork for veal and most of the time skip the sausage and just do half a pound of beef and half a pound of pork. The other half I mix together and freeze to make meatballs later.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196
I’ve just used up the last of our 1/4 cow (beef, lol) and it took us a year and a half to do it. I resisted ever needing so much beef bc I mostly use ground turkey/chicken breast, but have found I like the convenience of it and the quality and price is better than the store. Now I have my hubs calling around for another. The last thing I used was our ribeye steaks. I put them in the crockpot with au jus seasoning, a can or cream of mushroom, and a cup or two of beef broth. And then I shredded it and made beef and noodles out of it. So good. Not the healthiest, but Im trying to use up what I have. 😅
1. We’ve had the crappiest month. A lot of vehicle repairs the last couple weeks. Such a pain and expensive. And right at Christmas time is such a bummer.
2. Schedule has also been really hard on my sanity. There is a sort of end in sight though, February. 😒 It’s felt non stop since May, unfortunately. Summer was nuts, then there was soccer season with all 3 kids. 3 days/week for 1, 2 days for another, and 1 for another for just practices. Then games also weekly. And then with school, and swim 3 days/week for 1 and another started out all 5 days swimming also. She had to quit though when we saw the basketball schedule, which is also 5 days/week October-February. I’m beat. Christmas break is in a few days but the darn sports don’t stop.
3. I need a trim, badly. 😂😂 Haven’t had one since April.
I just had three inches cut off of my hair, and layers redone. Though I feel like I need more layers… my hairdresser was a bit too conservative with them… I like my hair a la “Megan Markle” flow-ey layers, ya know? That’s what I love.
It’s almost like she’s trying to let my layers grow all to the same length or something. *hrmph* I don’t think she got what I was asking for (despite saying… lots of long layers…) I’ll try again with someone else.
Your beef and noodles sounds so yummy. I bet everyone loved it. I can’t do mushrooms anything in the house ’cause all 4 males (boyfriend & his sons) hate mushrooms. I LOVE mushrooms.
I even bought these delicious seasoned dehydrated mushrooms from Costco (total snackable and so yummy) and I snacked on a few while making supper, and then my boyfriend asked why I smelled like weed. LOL!!! OMG, I was all…. no!! It’s the mushrooms, and sure enough, when you smell them… it definitely has a more.. *ahem* pot smell to them. 😂 He believed me then. 😉
Unexpected expenses are a pain. As new-ish as this house is that we just bought, we had to have a bunch of stuff repaired (sprinkler system had a leak), gutters installed, now a new roof due to hurricane Ian, and a few other willy-nilly things that were annoying on the spot.
Omg, I so needed that laugh on the shrooms! 😂😂
Love Markle’s hair, sounds gorgeous. Mine is too fine and flat to pull that off. But I did a sort of choppy, fringed layered cut last time and it was ok. Now, my hair naturally is doing some sort of flip that I keep getting compliments on and I dk how it even happens. I’m wondering if it’s the layers growing out and just how they hit in the back that makes it so.
The beef n noodles were well received 3 out of 5. I call it a win, lol.
Yes, agreed on the unexpected expenses. And it broke down on me twice at the worst time and places. Had to call my hubs twice from work to get us home.
LOL!! I’m glad that made you laugh. He’s a cop, so… his weed reaction was hilarious and gasp-worthy!!! 😂
I like when my layers do their own flip. Now my layers are too long to do anything.
Hi Maryse!! Merry Christmas! I just finished reading books one through four of The Legacy of the Nine Realms series by Amelia Hutchins. As with many of her other books, I love the storyline and most of the characters. This author has perfected the craft of leaving her fans waiting for more, lol! It takes her forever and a day to put out the next book. I thought the series was complete, but I was wrong and now Im suffering through the wait for the next book, Queen of Chaos. Can you please do a bit of sleuthing to find out then the next book will be released? Word on Goodreads was that December 1, 2022 was supposed to be the day, but alas (lol), nothing. I also read that there will be an additional book titled King of Chaos. Oh, one last thing. J.A. Huss writes PNR as KC Cross. I am on the final book in her Monsters of Saint Mark’s Series. Its a great series! Julie Huss knows how to spin a tale, and this one does not disappoint. Its a fresh take on Greek Mythology. I listened to the audio book while reading it and fell in love with it!
YAY Joy!! I’m so glad you messaged me this! 😀 I’ll add it to this week’s Friday Finds.
Merry Christmas to you, too!!! 🎄
Okay Joy, I have an update from the author (she posted it on her Facebook page).
She’s pretty upset that someone at Goodreads posted a release date, since it was never a date she mentioned (she’s still working on that book as we speak). She says:
Amelia Hutchins
December 1 at 5:19 PM ·
Author update:
So, a few of you are aware of Goodreads allowing others to add details to books. Those who don’t know, here’s the thing about that vile platform where authors souls go to die. Someone else decided Queen of Chaos was coming out this month. Not me. Me? I was dealing with a lot of things happening all at once.
I took a mental health break from writing, social media, and people for the first time in ten years. It was refreshing, but even better, my soul felt lighter for the first time since I started writing. I breathed, and just exhaled past the drama of people targeting me, my writing, or just negativity in general. I feel lighter which has less to do with my diet, and more to do with healing internally. Sure, some people are angry because I didn’t throw out a ton of books, but I also didn’t burn out as most authors tend to do with the demand placed on them.
I wrote Queen of Chaos 5 times this year, and I hated each one more than the last. I started other books in existing series, but they felt off, too. Why? Because I was off. I wasn’t in a good place mentally. I felt like a stranger in my own skin. I began avoiding my office. Literally, I had to step back, look in at what was off inside of me. It’s been a couple very rough, brutal years for my family, and still is going to be. I can’t change that. My Dad is dying. Fact. My grandson’s losing his mother after he just lost his 13 day old brother. I almost lost my daughter. I am going to lose my grandparents soon. My sister almost died, and had brain surgery. One week later, my daughter in law was rushed in for emergency brain surgery. Two days after surgery, she had five more tumors in her brain. She had been in remission. The girl isn’t even in her 30s yet. That sort of thing, mixed with my hands not working because of peri menopause had my creativity at a zero.
The characters deserve better than that. YOU deserve better than that from me. If I don’t like what I am working on, you won’t either. So, for the first time in 10 years, I took a break. I recharged my batteries. Now, I am writing and I am liking what is flowing. I don’t have a date yet. There’s a lot that goes into writing and publishing a book. So, just know I am working on it.
I’m the ONLY one who should be giving dates. I barely go into Goodreads. It’s more of a site where people bond over hating authors, books, or used to bully people. I would rather staple my eyelids closed than go there. Which books are being worked on? Queen of Chaos.
Red Flag Series.
Guardians reboot.
Bulletproof Damsel 2.
King of the Shadow Fae 2.
What’s coming out first? Queen of Chaos.
So, there’s the update. Please be understanding when people ask for dates. Most are new to the group, or saw on Goodreads it was already released, even though it wasn’t. 🥰😘 Back to destroying the 9Realms.