Book Review: I Am the Messenger

Hey Ya'll! 

I literately just finished this book 2 minutes ago! But I couldn't wait to tell you about it! 

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak is an amazing novel. Zusak's is also the author of The Book Thief. I read The Book Thief several years ago and loved it, so I kept telling myself to read another one of Zusak's books but just got around to it this month. 

This story is funny, heart breaking, heart warming and thought provoking. It is about a guy named Ed, who is an ordinary cab driver with not much going for him. But he starts to receive messages in the mail box that tell him to help (or hurt when necessary) people in his town. 

As Ed delivers the messages, he ends up learning more about himself than ever and growing into a better person. The only mystery at the end is who is sending the messages? 

I highly recommend this one! 

Have you read it? What did you think?

xo

bre

Valentines Day

Hey Ya'll!

 

Its Valentines, So I'm going to get a little mushy. Sorry.

 

So Happy Valentines Day to my best friend & favorite person.

 

 

I love you to the moon and back.

I'm so happy to have you and to have spent the past 9 years with you. I look forward to all of our upcoming adventures.

 

xo

bre

Crock Pot Salsa Verde Ranch Beef Tacos

Hey Ya'll!

 

I forgot to take a picture, so please enjoy this stock photo.:)

 

This meal is one of the easiest and yummiest meals I have made in a long time.

 

Ingredients:

Chuck Roast (I used a 1.6 pound for 3 people and had left overs)

1 Ounce Packet of Ranch Dressing Seasoning

16 Ounce Jar of Salsa Verde

 

1. Turn the crock pot on high and place the roast inside

2. Sprinkle ranch dressing seasoning on top of meat & pour salsa all over

3. Close the crock pot lid

4. About 10-20 minutes later turn the crock pot on low and let the meat cook. I left mine for about 8 hours, but that was just because I was at work all day, the meat will probably be done in about 6 hours. (The meat should be tender and able to pull apart with a fork when finished.)

5. Remove meat from crock pot, shred (discard any fat), and place back inside the crock pot with the liquid.

 

Serve this on tacos or nachos!

 

My family served it on tacos with tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, and pinto beans.

 

If you try it out, let me know what you think!

 

xo

bre

 

**I found this recipe on picky-palate.com

 



Changes and Anxiety

Hey Ya'll!

Confession time: I hate change. Well, its not that I hate the actual changes, but more that I hate the figuring out what to do, the planning, and the waiting. Once I know what path I am on and know which direction I am headed I feel much better, but until then (whenever changes are still just ideas or possibilities) I feel a little like a basket case. Anyone else with me?

 

So I bet you are wondering what changes I have happening that are stressing me out. Well I can't share all of that just yet. But I can tell you that it has to do with my career and deciding where I want to work. I would love to tell you all about, and I hope to once I have it all sorted out, but for now I'm keeping it a secret since only a few people know.

Another confession: I'm terrified of failing. Now I'm sure I'm not alone on this, but it is a serious fear of mine. I'm a super A-type personality and a major perfectionist. So if I am making a big career move I want to make sure that I will succeed and not fail. This is where my anxiety comes in and makes me not what to even try. *sigh*

 

So this week or even the next few weeks will be spent making pro/con lists, praying, and thinking (a lot) about what I want and what I need. And I have to remember that quote above so that I will be willing to gain something better for myself, and that God is in control and will guide me to where I need to be.

 

Anyone else struggle with this?

 

xo

bre

 

 

Hello February!

 

Hey Ya'll!

 

Happy February! Can you believe we are already a month into 2014! Its crazyness, but exciting. January tends to be calm and a little boring to me. I normally need it after all of the excitement from the holidays, but I am ready for something different now.

 

Things I am looking forward to this month:

-Valentines Day: Ken and I don't go extreme for this holiday, but we like to do little gifts and go out to dinner. :)

-My Mom's Birthday: She and I will be spending a day together during the week of her birthday doing girly stuff (Nails, Lunch, Movies and Shopping), plus Ken and I will do dinner with her the night of her birthday.

-Vacation: Ken and I are going to Colorado to visit his family at the end of this month. I can't wait to get away for a week and play in the snow.

 

Are you excited for February?

 

xo

Bre

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

 

Hey Ya'll!

 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman is a young adult novel about the power to choose life or death and the way the death affects family and friends. It is reminiscent of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, except written for a younger fan based. Since it is written for a younger crowd, it is much less graphic and heartbreaking.

 

The story still tugs at the heart strings and has wonderful characters who you just can't help but love - I'm looking at you, Mia's Grandpa.

 

I don't want to say much because it will give a lot away. Although it didn't end the way I thought it should have, I'm still looking forward to reading the sequel - Where She Went by Gayle Forman.

 

Have you read it? What did you think?

 

xo

bre

Ice day

Hey Ya'll!

 

I live around the Houston Area in Texas and our winters are not very extreme. We will hit the 40's and 50's during the day and the 30's at night, and then other days we will be in the 60's and 70's during the day. Every once it a while it actually gets cold. And yesterday was the day it happened.

 

Our high was 36 degrees and it stayed below freezing majority of the day. This wouldn't have been a big deal, except that it was also raining and sleeting all morning. Another thing about Houston - we have giant highways. I drive over those highways every day for work, including several bridges that go over water. And you guessed it, those brides/highways had ice all over them. So many of you are thinking "So what? Big deal!" but it kinda is a big deal since our city is very unprepared. We don't have snow plows or trucks to salt the streets.

 

This whole situation caused for an ice day in Houston. I was stuck and unable to make it work, along with my family. This meant I was able to watch the newest episode of Pretty Little Liars, Law and Order SUV marathon, drink hot chocolate and snuggle with my puppy.

 

Today is back to normal. Our high is 62 degrees with a low of 42 degrees and all the ice is melting away. At least it was fun while it lasted.

 

Here are some photos from my ice day. :)

Ice on the grass and baby icicles,

Jaidyn Snuggling with Ken

 

Harry Potter Weekend

Jaidyn laying with me

 

And then I started watching YouTube videos and decided to see what I look like with short hair. I posted this on facebook, and even though I have now said I didn't actually cut it, people are still commenting on it. I think I look like a soccer mom.

 

xo

bre