The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook Review

July 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

One of my FAVORITE kind of books is a cookbook. I have quite the collection of cookbooks and LOVE every one of the books in my collection. I recently added another book to my collection that happens to be really COOL!

I had the opportunity to review The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz. My kids and I enjoy the Harry Potter movies, so I knew I had to have this book. This book has more than 150 magical recipes for wizards and non-wizards alike. Each recipe in this book is on it’s own page or pages and has a little story or saying that goes along with it at the top which makes it fun to read. If you are a Harry Potter fan and wonder what the foods taste like that he talks with his friends about in the movies, you will want to grab a copy of this cookbook for your kitchen. Here are the names of just a few of the fun recipes you will find:

  • Triple Power Icy Lemon Drops
  • Treacle Pudding
  • Knickerbocker Glory
  • Peppermint Humbugs

Like I mentioned, these are just a few of the fun recipes you will find. There are actually over 150+ easy-to-make recipes in this book that sound mighty good! Now you can make the PERFECT Harry Potter meals straight from the pages of your favorite stories……

If you know anyone that is a Harry Potter fan that likes to cook, this would be a PERFECT gift.  The only thing missing from the cookbook is photos of the recipes, but I think they would take away from the “wizard or witch” type of look that cookbook that this resembles. Even though I am a big fan of cookbooks with photos, I think this book is awesome just the way it is….

You can find out more about this  book by visiting: http://unofficialharrypottercookbook.com

Disclosure – I received a copy of this book for review purposes. These opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

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Mommy Brings Home The Bacon – Book Review

May 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

Even though I am grown, I still enjoy books for children. I especially love reading books to my children that are fun and have a good story behind it. I have a book that I have read a couple times that I think it awesome that I want to share called Mommy Brings Home The Bacon.

About the book:

Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” is a heartwarming children’s book that explores the touching relationship between a young boy and his working mom. Told from the young boy’s perspective, the whimsical narrative reflects a child’s imaginative interpretation of why mommy goes to work, and the beautiful bond that develops as a result. Bringing simplicity and lightheartedness to an emotional topic, “Mommy Brings Home the Bacon” fosters a child’s appreciation for a working mother, while simultaneously easing the minds of moms who balance the difficult responsibilities of financially supporting their household and raising the children they so dearly love.

I think this is a cute story. Since I used to work outside the home, I know how important it can be for moms (especially single working moms) to teach their children to understand why they are leaving the house. I read this to my 6 year old and she LOVED it. I think she really enjoyed the title of the book. This will be one of those books I will keep on my bookshelf to read over and over again.

You can find out more about this book my visiting: http://www.mommybringshomethebacon.com

Disclosure – I received a copy of this book for review purposes. These opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

Book Review – The Frugalista Files By Natalie P McNeal

February 26, 2011 By 10 Comments


Today I finished a book that had me sad that it had came to an end. It actually took me over an hour to read the last few pages because I kept putting it down because I didn’t want it to end so soon. For me, I love to read but most of my reading is done online since I am always working on my computer.  When I find a book that I can read when I am not at my desk that I actually enjoy, I try to only read it in increments to take it longer to read. For me, a good book is like a little escape from reality.

This evening I finished reading The Frugalista Files. This is a non-fiction book about Natalie P McNeal who was formally a  journalist for the Miami Herald who got out of $20,000 in debt giving up the fabulous life and quitting her job as a journalist to be her OWN boss.What got my attention was that she is now a blogger and she is Frugal. I consider myself frugal and now that I have read her book, I consider myself a Frugalista. I had heard about this book online from another fellow blogger friend and was so excited when it arrived at my doorstep for me to read. I started reading it as soon as I took it out of the package. The Frugalista Files is like a diary of  Natalie’sday to day life as her journey from journalist from a self employed Frugalista who gets her way out of  a whopping $20,000 in debt by being frugal and stopping her bad shopping habits! It was fun reading along her journey and I wish their was part #2 to keep me occupied.

I like Natalie’s personality and writing style. I definitely will be keeping my eye out for her next book. I have always wanted to publish a book ever since I was a child. This book is giving me the inspiration to put my ideas for a book into a soon to be book!

Right now you can purchase The Frugalista Files on Amazon for only $8.74 (regularly $14.95). If you are FRUGAL like us and want to save money, buy it now while it is on SALE  – You Save $6.21 which is 42%  OFF! – - It is available on Amazon Kindle too!

About Natalie P McNeal: Natalie P. McNeal is an award-winning journalist and blogger who launched her personal finance “Frugalista” brand in 2008.
Oxford University Press named “Frugalista” as a finalist for Word of the Year because of Natalie’s savvy style of teaching people how to live the frugal and fabulous life.

Natalie has been mentioned or featured by CNN, the New York Times, BBC, Oprah Radio, Black Enterprise and ABC News Now. The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life is her first book. Follow Natalie at thefrugalista.com or at twitter.com/frugalista.

Disclosure – I received a copy of this book for review purposes. These opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

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120 Slow Cooker Recipe Favorites Review

November 26, 2010 By 9 Comments

I have always been a fan of anything Mary Engelbreit. I first fell in love with her artwork years ago when I received one of her calendars as a gift. When I seen that Mary Engelbreit  has cookbooks with her artwork and you know that I LOVE to cook, you probably would know that I would want any cookbook that she might have created.

I have in my hands a copy of the Mary Engelbreit’s Fan Fare Cookbook: 120 Slow Cooker Recipe Favorites. This book is NEW and on sale  November 30, 2010. I LOVE cookbooks, I LOVE Mary Engelbriet stuff and I LOVE using my slow cooker. This just may be one of my FAVORITE cook books yet. Yesterday I put this book to use and made a recipe in the book titled “Old Settlers Beans” that can be found on page 148. While the turkey was in the oven, I had this yummy recipe cooking in the crockpot which made my kitchen smell so GOOD!

On the subject of cooking, Mary Englebreit once stated, “If my family had to depend on me for food, they would starve to death in a really cute kitchen.” So for 120 Slow Cooker Recipe Favorites: Mary Englebreit’s Fan Fare Cookbook, Mary called upon family, friends, and fans to submit their all-time favorite slow cooker recipes.

This cook book is so cute and a must have for anyone with a loves comfort food and cooking with their crock pot. This book contains recipes I want to try such as Green Chile Stew, Warm You Up Chili, Ten-Can Soup, Taco Casserole, Sunday Roast and many more. There are too many recipes in this book that I wouldn’t give a try. They all look like winning recipes to me!

About The Author:Mary Engelbreit is known throughout the world for her distinctive illustration style, imbued with spirited wit and nostalgic warmth. The unmatched following for her work has grown with a range of licensed products that stretches from calendars, to best-selling children’s books, millions of greeting cards sold each year, and thousands of gifts, crafts and home accents.

You can buy this book by visiting: www.andrewsmcmeel.com/products/?isbn=0740779672. You can also find Mary Engelbreit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/maryengelbreit

Disclosure – The products featured above were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency. These opinions expressed are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Product Reviews

Lunchbox Love Review

November 6, 2010 By 7 Comments

Have I ever mentioned that I love to cook?  I am getting better at it too! I am no chef, but my cooking skills are really improving. Or maybe it is just the fact that I am trying more “complicated recipes”. I used to stay away from those recipes with long ingredient lists and directions. I used to think that easy and fast was the way to go. Now, I like to take my time and create home cooked meals from scratch. Since I love to cook and I love books, you can probably take a guess that I love cookbooks. I have quite the collection and I cherish every one of them. This mom can never have enough cookbooks in this home.

Since I have children, I am responsible for what they eat. What they eat now can effect them later down the road and that is something that I think about often. While I want to be the “cool mom” and send my kids off to school with fancy pre-packaged foods and fruit box drinks full of sugar, I don’t. I admit that I will on occasion as a treat, but I am trying to send them off with more healthy choices. Last year the school district did a complete makeover on their menu and also have more healthy choices.

I recently had the opportunity to read a cool little cookbook called Lunchbox Love. This is a short but sweet book that has over 60 delicious and healthy lunch recipes your family will love and ask you to make it again. In addition to the healthy recipes, you will also find some interesting lunch packing tips and facts that you might not have known and could use.

Here are just a few of my FAVORITE recipes:

  • Pumpkin Loaf – YUMMY
  • Calzones
  • Freezer Burritos
  • Tortilla Pizzas – kids love this one!

About The Author: A mom who knew at an early age that being a mom was going to be her passion. She enjoyed having a successful career as a hairdresser, but having children was the icing on her cake. Her youngest son developed anaphylaxis to peanuts and reading food labels became something she had to do to prevent her son from eating anything that could risk his life. She then used her knowledge that she had gained from reading everything she could find, to create this awesome little healthy recipe book!

You can purchase this book by visiting Sally King’s website at: http://www.sallyjking.com

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Product Reviews

My Fairy Tale Books Review

September 24, 2010 By 12 Comments

When you have kids, you can tend to have quite a collection of books around your house. This is especially true if you have children that vary in ages. I actually LOVE books so the couple hundred of them lying around my house don’t bother me. I actually just recently put a bookshelf in my bedroom to keep all my books.

I have had the opportunity to review a very cool book from My Fairy Tale Books. The reason I say the book is “cool” is due to the fact that you can personalize the book. The book we received “My Tea Party” had each of my child’s names throughout the book. The book was for my daughter Hannah, but the characters in the store were me and her sisters and brother. She was SUPER EXCITED when I started reading the book and she heard familiar names. I actually read the book with all my children so they could all enjoy it for the first time.

If you have a little girl on your shopping list that likes to read, one of these books might just make her day. I know it did for my daughter Hannah. She was so more tuned into my reading the book because it was about her than when I read any other story book to her. My Fairy Tale books carries adventure books, baby books, birthday books, fantasy books, super hero books and more!

You can check out all the personalized books at My Fairy Tale Books by visiting: http://www.myfairytalebooks.com.

Disclosure – The products featured above were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency. These opinions expressed are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

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101 Recipes For Microwave Mug Cakes Review & Giveaway

July 8, 2010 By

Did you know that you can make cakes in the microwave? For all these years, I had NEVER thought of cooking a cake in the microwave. I have always thought of my microwave as the appliance that cooks frozen food in just minutes. I have always just thought that making a cake takes at least 30+ minutes and I would never run my  microwave for that long. I was excited to find out that I can make myself a cake in my microwave. Now my diet just might be in trouble! [Read more...]

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