The Glass Series

 This series is a spin off of the Study Series. It is told through Opal's view point. I absolutely LOVED this series! They were great books and I am sad that it is over! I love Opal in these books and I love all the twists with her love interests that happen. Spy Glass was my favorite book of the series.




Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will admit, I was a little skeptical going into this book not sure how I would feel about it. I am so in love with Yelena and Valek that I thought it might taint my view on this series and that it wouldn't meet my expectations. However, I am just as attached to Opal as I was to Yelena. I can not wait to read the next book!




 Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all the twists and turns through this book. It has been fun to see Leif in a different light cause in the Study series, I did not like him. I have a love hate with this series! I love these books and can't read them fast enough, but I hate for them to end. Can't Wait to read the next one!




 Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW! This was my favorite book of the series! I loved the book and was totally satisfied with the way that it ended! Just like the Study Series I am very sad that it is over, but I can not wait to read the new series that Maria Snyder is working on! Seriously go read the study series and the Glass series! I will be adding these books to my personal library sometime soon!

Frugal Friday- St. Patty's Wire Clover

I found some extra wire that my husband had just sitting around in the garage and figured I could put it to some good use. This is what I came up with. I took a heart shaped cookie cutter and traced it 3 times onto some cardboard. I then took the wire and just outlined the cardboard so that it would take on the shape. It was super cheap and easy to make and I used it for our wreath...

-Buff-

Things We Love Thursdays: Our Best Bites Cookbook

I've been a fan of Our Best Bites for a while now and finally got the cookbook several months ago.  It is, without a doubt, my favorite.  cookbook.  EVER!  The recipes are all very easy to prepare (no weird ingredients!) and taste delicious.  I typically use at least 1-2 of the recipes each week.

Yes, a lot of the recipes can be found on their site, but it's so much more convenient to have them in book form.  I love the recipes but I also LOVE the book itself.  There are big, beautiful pictures of every recipe and a cool "rollover" ingredient feature.  I hear they are coming out with another book soon.  I can't wait!!!

Here are some of my family's favorite recipes:

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos w/Creamy Cilantro Lime Dip

Black Bean Soup

Guiltless Alfredo

Thai Peanut Noodles

Perfect Frosting

What are your favorite Our Best Bites recipes?

-marie

WIWW: A little bit country ...

My 8 year old daughter loves this outfit. She says I look like a cowgirl. :) 

Shirt & Tank: Styles for Less

Jeans: Kohls

Books: Discount Shoe Factory

I normally ALWAYS wear my hair down, but I've been playing with it recently and trying out some messy buns.  Thank goodness for pinterest and youtube to show me how!

-marie

Linked to: Rae Gun Ramblings, The Pleated Poppy, Real Momma, & Transatlantic Blonde

Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes in 5 minutes

I needed to quickly find an appropriate reward, that would encourage the boys, to get some projects done for me, much sooner than later, so I whipped up their favorite dessert in a convenient snack form, that prompted them to move fast on my projects, and we all got what we wanted in a short period of time.



                                                  I couldn't believe how quickly they devoured them...




Place a paper cup cake liner inside each cup cake pan, and place a ginger snap cookie in the bottom of each cup cake liner and set aside.















In a large bowl combine the cream  cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lime juice till well blended. Stir in the vanilla then add the whipped topping till thick and smooth. Add drops of food coloring to desired color. Immediately pour some lime filling on top of each ginger cookie and garnish.

 Place in the freezer to cool for about 15 minutes. You can eat them immediately, but they need to be stored in the fridge or freezer. These freeze well, so you can make them ahead of time.

                                                                These were definitely a great motivator.......

                                                   

Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes (No Bake)

1 pkt. Ginger Snap cookies (the easiest crust you'll ever use)
1 8oz pkt. softened cream cheese
1 Cup bottled or fresh Lime Juice
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
1 12oz tub frozen whipped topping
green food coloring (about 2 drops)
 Lime slices or garnish

                                                            -Buff -

                 

                         


                                   

Gearing up for the Games

Just over 2 weeks til Hunger Games comes out and Chelsea and I are SO EXCITED!  We absolutely devoured the books and since we read them together (well, not together together -- that would be weird!) We spent many hours on the phone with each other discussing every little detail and every character -- what we loved, what we hated, what made us cry. (Our reading habits totally remind me of this pin I saw on Pinterest)

I recently listened to the audio books for the series and fell in love all over again.  And the new single Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift?  LOVE!  It is so hauntingly beautiful and so perfect for the soundtrack. Just watching the music video gives me chills.









I really wish I could see the movie with Chelsea (or any one of my awesome sisters!!!) but alas we all live too far apart.  :( 

To gear up for the Games I decided to make a fun little craft.  These pendants are super easy and you can use them on a necklace or key chain.

What you'll need:

• 1.25" wood squares (I got mine at Hobby Lobby -- 6 pk for $1.47)
• bails (found in the jewelry section at craft stores)
• graphic
• Mod Podge  
• Glossy Accents
• sand paper

1. First you'll want to print off your image onto cardstock and cut it to size.  
2. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the wood square and attach your cardstock.  (You could apply a layer of Mod Podge on top but I didn't bother with that!)  File the edges with sandpaper if there is any overlapping paper.  I also like to "rough" up the edges a bit for a more distressed look. 
3. Apply the Glossy Accents, making sure to apply it all the way to the edges and not allowing any bubbles. Allow to dry several hours, or overnight.  This gives it a really cool glossy, hard finish.  
4. Next, attach the bail (I used a dab of hot glue) and thread it onto a string or chain or ribbon or key chain.  And now you have your own little piece of the Hunger Games. :)

I created several different versions you can use if you use the 1.25" squares.  You can right click and save the image you want or click HERE for all images or click HERE for a printable of all designs.

Happy Hunger Games!!!!

-marie

Linked to - Rae Gun Ramblings, Craft-O-Maniac, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Becolorful, C.R.A.F.T. 
Sugar & Spice, Fine Craft Guild, Classy Clutter, Sugar Bee Crafts, Michelle Paige, Oopsey Daisy, Lil Luna,

Sunday Best Fashion & Crafts

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week!  Can't wait to see what's in store today. :)

Some favorites from last week:

Becca, from Forever, Becca.  Such a cute outfit and such a beautiful girl.  I wish I had been so cute and stylish at age 15! :) 













Bead board frames by Adventures of a DIY Mom.  I think these are just adorable and lucky for me I have some scrap pieces of bead board I can use to make my own! :) 










I love this outfit from Modern Modest Beauty.  The shirt is such a pretty color and paired with the scarf and jacket ... love! 

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