A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

I started reading this book last night and am already half way through it, will probably finish it today.  I love love love her books!! This one has had me laughing and smiling, which I have needed the last few days.  Nothing wrong, just in a funk.  Is it sad that I am trying to read all of her books??  My husband just looks at me and says, another one of her books??? Yes, they remind me of home since she talks about the Pacific Northwest in pretty much every book.   Check them out, I know you will love them!!
http://www.debbiemacomber.com/  this is her website, you can sign up for her "fan Club" and leave comments.  Check it out!!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!

I think that they are trying to get us, all these resolutions about getting thinner and doing better and then BAM, here come the girl scout cookies!!!  I already ordered mine through a friend and they should be here soon. (here they start selling earlier than in the states)  I am so excited, but means more eliptical for me. ;) 

So what is your favorite cookie???????  This one is mine!!! LOVE IT!!!

Huge by Sasha Paley

I watched this show on ABC family when they had it on, I was bummed when they took it off the air, I really enjoyed the characters.  I just finished the book that the series was based on, very loosley based on that is.  I enjoyed both, but they are nothing a like, except the name of the one of the main characters.   The book has been inspiring and making me rethink my body and what I am doing to it. 

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients for cake:

1cup Sugar

2cups flour

4 tbsp cocoa powder

1tsp baking soda

1tsp cinnamon

2 sticks margarine

1 cup water

2eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

(if you don't have any don't worry, put 1 tsp of lemon juice in a cup, add milk to the rest, walla, buttermilk)

1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingriedents together in bowl, set aside.  Melt butter in pan, add water, bring to a boil.  Pour dry ingredients into butter mixture, beat slightly.  Beat eggs, then add to rest of batter, mix well. Add buttermilk to batter and vanilla. Beat well, bake in greased and floured cookie sheet,

for 20 min. at 350 degrees

For Icing:

1 stick margarine

6Tbsp milk

2Tbsp cocoa powder

1 cup mini marshmellows

1 tsp vanilla

1 lb powdered sugar

Melt margarine in pan, add milk, marshmellows and cocoa. Sitr over low heat until blended.  Add vanilla and pwedered sugar beat well, spread over cake while still hot.

Not as pretty as my mom's turns out, but I can't wait to sink my teeth into this yummy treat!!!  This is what we will be having for New Years Eve tonight, as well as homemade pizza, and milkshakes!! Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Sharing a little Okinawa Beauty!!

Today we were able to enjoy the beauty of the island and explore a bit more in depth one of our favorite beaches here.  This is stairs going up the the playground.

One of the many beautiful views.

This is a pothole cover, I love that they all have different designs on them.

Another beautiful view!

Some of the rock formations that we explored.

Brains anyone??

My beautiful babies!!

Another neat pot hole cover, made me think of my grandma with all the honeycombs on it.

Baby Gecco that Xanen found.

If you squint you can see the Kayaker!!

and of course I had to write in the sand.  It was beautiful today and I needed the sunshine. 

Reading While on Vacation.

While we were gone and doing all of our travleing, I got the chance to read quite a few books.   Thank goodness for my Kindle so that I didn't have to lug around a ton of books.  I enjoyed reading all of these. "The Christmas Jar for Santa" by Jason Wright is only a short story and the only place I have found it has been on Amazon for the kindle.  I love all the Christmas Jar books and loved this one as well.   "Christmas Dog" by Melody Carlson was a nice read and reminds us not to judge people by the way they look, you just don't know what is going on with them. "Spun by Socrcery" by Baraba Bretton is the 3rd book in this series.  It's fun to see what the characters are up to and what they have to go through in the name of love and magic.

I also read a few Debbie Macomber books: Wyoming Brides, Orchard Vally Brides, Orchard Valley Grooms, Fairy Tale Weddings, and Trading Christmas.  I love reading her books, one of the biggest reasons is that they are clean romance stories and also because most of them are based in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up.  Pick up a good book and read something today. :)

When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macromber

This one was a really quick read, started yesterday and finished it this afternoon.  Would have been faster, but of course had to deal with husband and kids too. ;)  What a fun little Christmas story and love story too!!! Very fun for me since one of the settings is in Leavenworth WA, a little bavarian town hidden in the cascade mountains.  2 yrs ago my husband and I were able to visit there for our 10 yr anniversary before we moved to Japan.  I love it there!!!   So if you are in the mood for a nice fun romantic read, check this book out!!