Name: Bookseller of Kabul by Anse Seierstad Where do I get ?www.Amazon.com Cost: free from your library
Why I love it: Woof. This is one of those books that makes you extraordinarily happy to be born a woman in the good old US of A. This is a wonderful description of a writer's journey as she ended up living with a family in Afghanistan. The vivid imagery is enough to make you believe you are there. I couldn't put this book down. I love endings that wrap up neatly with a big pink bow. Don't expect that here. I am so happy I was born with all of the opportunities that are available in out culture.
Name: Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar Where do I get ? www.Iberostar.com Cost: a couple grand
Why I love it: One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is sitting on a beach, with my eyes closed listening to the waves and feeling warm. Really warm. We recently took a trip to an all inclusive in the Riviera Maya. We chose Iberostar, as we have stayed a the Dominican Republic Iberostars and were more than happy with our trip. This trip was perfect. The food was great, the entertainment was wonderful, the staff incredible, and the beaches were the prettiest, white sand beaches I have ever laid eyes on. The water was lovely, clear and perfect for lounging. I highly suggest and all inclusive deal, the only cash you need is for tips. I can't wait to go back.
Name: The Game of Things... Where do I get ? www.target.com Cost: $24.99
Why I love it: I played this game with all the women of my family (Aunts, Cousins, and Mom). We all laughed like we never laughed before. It is a fun, witty, sassy game that we didn't want to stop playing. Some of our answers were serious, some were naughty. It led to great story telling and sharing between family members that could not have been more perfect. It is my new favorite game. The bigger the group, the better!
Name: Life. Support. Music Where do I get ? www.pbs.org Cost: Free!
Why I love it: Living in a home that does not have cable leads me to watch a very small amount of TV. When I do find myself cuddled up on the couch at night, I usually check out PBS. I stumbled upon this show about this family that is nothing short of a miracle. This is a show about strength, love and support. It is amazing and this family rocks. Jason's story is one I will never forget. Beautiful and incredible. Check your PBS listing and watch it.
Name: Pretty Chicken Marinade Where do I get ? www.allrecipes.com Cost: Free!
Why I love it: This has become my new favorite marinade for chicken. It really is pretty right off the grill. It smells wonderful. I add a little extra hot mustard and go easy on the liquid smoke. If needed, it can be cut up and put in a slow cooker for parties. I always get compliments on this chicken and people want the recipe. So, here it is!
Name: Worx GT 18 Volt Grass Trimmer Where do I get ? www.qvc.com Cost: around $98.00
Why I love it: I do the majority of the yard work around our home. I actually like mowing the lawn, but cleaning up the edges with my old gas trimmer was wearing on me. I took the plunge and ordered myself this shiny new Weed Whacker. It is electric, so it starts with the push of a button. It has enough gusto to get my whole yard finished in one round. It by no means is as powerful as my old gas hog, but it does the job brilliantly, is very easy to lift and adjusts on the fly. I'm digging it, and it's digging me.
Name: Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals Where do I get ? www.amazon.com Cost: around $7.00
Why I love it: I have always wanted to be able to draw. We love to sit down at the table and create our own pictures, and with this book as a tool, we are making some great new animals. It has super simple step by step instructions to follow and the animals created are just awesome. We just ordered a whole library of books from this author, can't wait to spend lots of time in the back yard this summer perfecting our hidden talents!
Name: Little Read Bookstore Gift Certificates Where do I get ? www.littlereadbook.com Cost: Free
Why I love it: In an attempt to keep the little kids in our lives literate, we have been giving gift certificates to this store as our family birthday gift for friends. I love that this store is quaint, well stocked, and up to date on all the latest great books. It has a perfect little children's area and my kids love to browse. We love to keep it local and support our nearby businesses.
Name: Cheesecake Factory's Louisiana Chicken Recipe Where do I get ? www.recipezaar.com Cost: Free
Why I love it: We order this when we go out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It is always more than enough to serve two people and is ridiculously scrumptious. I tried this recipe and it is a very close match. It has a kick, so tone down the crushed red pepper if you don't love it spicy.
Name: Pottery Barn Josephine Organic Bedding Ensemble Where do I get ? www.potterybarn.com Cost: $239
Why I love it: I am a self admitted lip gloss junkie, but I have another little addiction as well. Duvet covers. I can't ever get enough of them. Our bedroom is small and quaint and a lovely duvet cover can make or break the mood. I love everything about this room, the bed, the linens, the colors on the walls, everything. Unfortunately, I don't have the cash to drop on this duvet cover or the entire bedroom contents. I will just covet the picture and pretend that when I wake up every day, this is my view.
Name: AngelsGrace Hospice Where do I get ? www.angelsgrace hospice.org Cost: sliding scale based on what you can afford
Why I love it: Well, life some times takes turns we don't see coming. My Dad passed away earlier this month. We decided that his last days would be spent at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc, WI. This place was a blessing for our family. The room was lovely, the staff were incredible and his final days were filled with dignity and grace. Please keep this place in mind for charitable donations. And if you ever find yourself in need of an inpatient hospice facility, please check out AngelsGrace Hospice. They were wonderful.
Name: Turano French Rolls Where do I get ?www.turanobaking.com Cost: around $ 4.00 for a pack of 6
Why I love it: This is a treat in our house. These French Rolls are a little pricey, but oh so worth it. We toast them up making the best tuna melts and garlic cheesy bread. They are light, soft and perfect. Stick them in the freezer and take one out at a time. Delicious.
Name: La Merenda Restaurant Where do I get ?www.lamerenda125.com Cost: around $50 for table for 2 (wine included)
Why I love it: I get excited when I find a new (to me) place that has great service, incredible food and a lovely atmosphere. It is the grand slam for me! This casual tapas bar makes me really happy. While out with 3 girlfriends, we tried 9 different items and had a bottle of wine. Our bill was less than $100 not including tip. It was the best food I have had in a very long time, and everything about the service was top notch. Did I mention that Monday nights bottles of wine are 50% off? Go, please.
Name: Slumdog Millionaire Where do I get ?www.fandango.com Cost: $10 or so
Why I love it: I don't go to movies often, and when I shell out money at a theater, it is usually for a movie that has good reviews. This is the best movie and I have been to in a very long time. The acting is brilliant, the plot thickens with every minute and the ending was perfect. Grab someone you like and head off to see this flick. This is one of those movies that you will never forget.
Name: To Die For Blueberry Muffins Where do I get ?www.allrecipes.com Cost: free
Why I love it: Let's hypothetically say I were to stumble upon the best muffin recipe ever. Would I really make two batches in two days? The answer is, oh yes I would! These are the most wonderful blueberry muffins I have ever eaten. They are the perfect blend of sweet and tart. The crunchy crumbly topping is just perfect and each batch makes a dozen. Six for me, and six for hubby!
Why I love it: We don't have fancy everyday dishes, just plain white functional simple plates. I saw this bowl online and knew I had to have it. I love the simple elegance of this bowl. It is perfect for oatmeal or soup. This is Mama's special bowl. I did buy two, just in case I need a back up. And if you have not yet visited an Anthropologie store, I highly recommend it. Beautiful!
Name: Flight of The Conchords Video Where do I get ?www.youtube.com Cost: free
Why I love it: We don't have cable, and at times it sure seems like I am missing out. Thankfully between Hulu, Youtube, Netflix and other web based streams I can watch things that I like. And I really like FOTC.
Name: Bookseller of Kabul by Anse Seierstad
