Mommy Has to Work

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

September 11, 2015 By Sharon

If you know me, you’ll know that I’m a total sci-fi nerd. I watch everything sci-fi. Star Trek? Yup. Orphan Black? Yes. Doctor Who? Of course. Battlestar Galactica? Oh. My. Gawd. Yes!!! But Star Wars is and always will be my favorite which also tend to be one of the favorites this year to collect more at the box office with a 4/1 prediction for this year.

I beg my kids every year to dress up as Star Wars characters for Halloween. I succeed once. My twins were Luke and Leia and my toddler was an Ewok. It was awesome.

I agree with most Star Wars fans that say episodes 4, 5, and 6 (the originals) were fantastic. Instant classics. Episodes 1, 2, and 3, not so much. Good, but not great. So when I heard that Disney was taking over Star Wars, I was MAD. My first thought was, “Great. They’re going to turn Star Wars into a Disney Movie. It will be like Frozen but with outer space and light sabers instead of ice and…ice.” If you can’t tell, I don’t like Disney. Yes, I said it. Don’t judge me. After seeing the latest trailer for The Force Awakens, though I’m not really mad anymore. I’m actually super excited about it now. It looks dark, but in a good way.

It looks like a movie I could really love. But it also looks like my kids would love it too, which is great because then I won’t have to bribe them with $10 popcorn to come see the movie with me. I really hope The Force Awakens is as good as the trailers so far have been. This movie has had a ton of hype and there are a lot of doubters out there and we all have very high expectations. Despite my doubts, I’m super excited about this and I’ll be the first in line at the movie theater in December!

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS arrives in theaters everywhere on December 18th!

Sharon

My name is Sharon Geyer. I am originally from New York City and currently live in beautiful Ponte Vedra, Florida. My husband and three kids keep me very busy as a stay-at-home mom. I also teach ballet, organize community events, and I love to read books. I typically choose historical fiction when reading something new but I also enjoy science fiction and fantasy, and the occasional romance novel.

Ransom Canyon By Jodi Thomas

September 8, 2015 By Sharon

Ransom Canyon is hard to categorize. It seems to combine a romance novel, a teen novel, and a thriller
and somehow does it really well! I was drawn in emotionally at the start and hooked to the characters throughout.

The story follows several characters in a small town. Staten is a rancher and a widower, and is finding love with Quinn, a lonely woman with secrets. Lauren and Lucas are teens having their own life changing adventures. And Yancy is fresh from prison and discovering he doesn’t have to break the law to survive in Ransom Canyon. When his past comes back to haunt him though, all the characters are affected.

Ransom Canyon is well written and Jodi Thomas really brings her characters to life and gets you invested. This book is the first in a new series by the author so I’m eager to see what happens next!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A fifth-generation Texan, JODI THOMAS sets the majority of her novels in her home state. With a degree in Family Studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence. When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and “checking up” on their two grown sons.

Sharon

The Rise of the Minimalist Lifestyle

September 8, 2015 By Anne

I am a clutter person. I admit it. I have a problem.

Not really. I mean I watch hoarders and think, “Wow! My house looks pretty good!” But really. I have a lot of stuff. I would love to live a more minimalist lifestyle like shown in the story below. I love it when I throw away a bag of stuff or donate a bag or two to charity.

Will I ever change my ways? I’m not sure but a girl can dream can’t she?

Are you a minimalist or a clutter person like me?

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

4 Practical Reasons to Shop Online

September 8, 2015 By Anne

Most people realize the potential of what online shopping can deliver. However, there are still many out there that are intimidated by purchasing goods on the Internet. In reality, buying goods off of websites can be more practical than going to your local retail stores. The only real difference is the lack of instant gratification. Instead of having an item now, you must wait for shipping deliveries.

Getting What You Want

In many situations, retailers will only supply items they think they can sell in a local community. If there is something you like that isn’t popular with the general public, it may be difficult to find that particular product. Shopping online allows you to get exactly what you want regardless of the local market. For example, visiting sites such as http://www.DontPayFull.com can deliver many items that you may not have in your area.

Saving Travel Time and Expenses

Shopping online allows you to buy the goods you want without having to leave the home. If you normally commit to a great deal of shopping, Internet stores can help you save a lot of money in gas. When you tally up all of the minutes you spend on the road and standing in the checkout line, you may be wasting a large portion of your day.

Security Measures

Many people are afraid of shopping online due to security threats. The truth is, shopping in person can be just as risky. In many situations, it can actually be more dangerous to hand someone your credit card than it is to shop online. Because of this need for enhanced security, most legitimate online shops go to great lengths to protect your financial information.

Shopping From Anywhere

Most online stores nowadays have mobile integration available. This means you can buy nearly anything you can think of while on the move. This could be perfect for those days where you see something you like while walking down the street. Instead of trying to remember to shop for it later, you can do it from your phone in a matter of minutes.

Shopping online has never been more safe and secure than it is today. With billions of dollars being spent buying goods online annually, technology and security are in constant development in order to provide the best experience possible. Don’t settle for what your local shops are stocked with if you have something else in mind. Virtually any item can be bought from the comfort of your own home.

Anne

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

September 2, 2015 By Sharon

This super juicy, tender corned beef can be prepared the traditional way by adding cabbage and carrots to the slow cooker. No one in my house eats it that way though so I make sandwiches on rye bread with a swipe of mustard, or, our favorite, hash and eggs.

Corned beef with spice packet
1/4 cup Mustard (I prefer Grey Poupon)
1 cup water

Put the beef in the slow cooker fat side up. *This is important since the fat cooking down into the meat is what’s going to make it so juicy and flavorful.*

Mix the mustard and water together until blended. Pour it over the beef. Sprinkle the flavor packet over the beef.

Cook for at least 8 hours on low. *this is also important. If you cook it on the high setting, you’ll be stuck with a corned beef brick. Booooo!

Remove the corned beef from the slow cooker and let in rest for at least 20 minutes.

Slice for sandwiches or… Make corned beef hash and eggs!

For the hash, slice about half of the corned beef and then chop it up into small pieces. It should just fall apart from it being so tender. I use “country style” frozen hash brown potatoes but you can use any style or fresh potatoes. Cook the hash browns until brown and crispy and then add the chopped up corned beef straight on top. Mix it around and let the beef brown a bit too. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook your eggs. I prefer sunny side up or over easy so the yolk is runny and the hash soaks it all up.
YUM!!! Enjoy!