Leigh Kramer

April Somethings

Ah, April, you were good to me...

I Read: I reviewed a few books for the various book blogger programs I'm in.  Of those, I most enjoyed Here Burns My Candle.

However, the book I'm most enthralled by is The Distant Hours (Kate Morton.) My words will not do justice to this sweeping Gothic-inspired mystery. It switches between past and present but not in the typical fashion. The writing was beautiful, the plot fast-moving, the mystery unwinding to the very end.  I loved getting to know Edie, her mother's secret, and the Sisters Blythe.  Morton has written 2 other novels and I can't wait to tear into them! First, I'm going to buy a copy of The Distant Hours. It is ownable and a definite candidate for a spot on my list of Favorite Books.

Speaking of which, AnnieBlogs asked her readers to list their top 5 books across any and all categories.  There are few things I enjoy more than talking books, as you'll see from my many comments on the post.  I left out so many of my favorites in my own response that I'll be taking time soon to post a list (or lists) here.

Currently Reading: I have only 1.5 chapters left of 1000 Gifts (Voskamp). You better believe I'm making them stretch out. I love her approach and perspective to grace and gifts. I've been working my way through some writing books: Plot and Structure, The Right to Write, and Writing the Breakout Novel. At first I was overwhelmed and hated my writing but now I feel inspired and have all sorts of new ideas for my novel.

TV: The Office has been great the last couple of weeks! I am sad to see Michael/Steve Carell go but they have been doing wonderful things with his departure. I won't spoil anything in case people didn't watch last night but last week's Rent-inspired send off? Loved it.

Onto The Vampire Diaries.  Does anyone else watch it? My friend Jill and I love to hash it out from time to time.  The twists and turns this series is taking has me on the edge of my seat!  After hearing many people rave about it, I watched my first episode of Fringe. I enjoyed it but was thoroughly confused.  I'll have to track down the DVDs and catch up before I watch anymore.

I've been trying to watch the Real Housewives of Orange County but that ship might have sailed.  I gave up on the New York housewives after the first episode.  The earlier seasons were much classier, if there is such a thing when it comes to these ladies.

Movies: I actually rented a couple this month!  I was in a chick flick mood the other weekend.  Morning Glory was surprisingly endearing. I loved watching Harrison Ford play such a curmudgeon! He and Diane Keaton played really well off one another. Rachel McAdams was also great. However, I was really irritated that the love interest started out as a one-night stand.  Is this what society is coming to?  Life as We Know It was a disappointment. There's only so much suspension of reality that I can take! I think I'm starting to dislike Ms. Heigl, though Josh Duhamel is always a treat. 

In the Kitchen: Apparently I was all about dessert this month- and I'm not that big of a baker!  However, I shared my favorite Mug Brownie recipe.  Then I saw this recipe for Pudding Cookies with Robins Eggs and Robins Eggs are one of my favorite Easter candies so I had to give those a whirl, thus breaking my agreement to not keep dessert in the house. Between those and Cadbury Eggs, I haven't gone overboard too much.  For Easter I made Lemon Thyme Chicken with Sauteed Zucchini Ribbons. Pure heaven. I'll be posting the recipe soon!

Listening: At Blissdom, (in)courage/Dayspring gave us copies of Adie's CD Just You and Me. I listened to it a couple of times when I first got home but now it's in the car. Adie, incidentally, is married to Jeremy Camp and used to be the lead singer of The Benjamin Gate. I only know that because of my time working at The Christian Bookstore. In any case, she does a great job with some of the worship songs I love and a few new ones.

NoiseTrade has had some fantastic free downloads lately- Sandra McCracken's full-length and Sleeping at Last generously put up Storyboards. (Though, I really hope you already own Sleeping at Last's CDs.)

I went to the William Fitzsimmons show the other weekend and was blown away.  His newest album is phenomenal! So glad to have finally seen him live.

Wow- I was wordy this month! What were you into during April?

Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate links included in this post.  If you click through to Amazon from HopefulLeigh, any purchase you make supports this site.

An Ode to My Two Gray Hairs

There you lie, a beacon

Proof of wisdom,

Maturity,

Age.

You are not yet legion

But I see you 

Glistening

Giving me hope

One day I will look my age.

How do you feel about your gray hair(s)?  My mom doesn't dye hers.  She is beautiful both inside and out, a wonderful example for me. While no one else notices my few grays right now, I don't think I'll change it once there's more salt and pepper either.  I really do feel proud of these glimmers- I earned them!

Toasting Jesus

Several years ago I was a small group Bible study leader for our young adult group.  My church had a certain protocol for its small group leaders.  First, you would be an apprentice leader.  Second, you would attend a couple of leadership training sessions, in which you learned the basics of leading a small group.

The training encouraged its small group leaders to think outside the box.  They acknowledged that it was good to have a regular structure and format but also encouraged us that mixing it up could be beneficial.  One such activity they suggested was taking communion as a group.  This was an intriguing idea to me, as I'd never experienced the sacrament outside of a church setting.

I am the type of person that is more comfortable helping others succeed in leadership roles.  I know that I'm a good leader. I just happen to think I'm an even better follower.  Even so, I was flattered when I was asked to be an apprentice leader.  That said, I was also nervous about taking on the role.

I shouldn't have been nervous.  The girls in my group were fantastic!  A few I knew before but there were a lot of new additions to the young adult group.  We fell into a regular rhythm of discussing our study and challenging one another.

For group one fall night, I gathered everyone around and explained that we would be taking communion together.  I had us all go off into separate spaces in the apartment to spend time with God and prepare our hearts. I didn't know what would become of this experiment but I thought it was worth trying. 

Instead of bread or those horrible dry crackers, I bought Cinnamon Teddy Grahams.  I hate grape juice but not everyone drank wine so I chose a lovely CranApple juice.  I figured the spirit mattered more than what we drank and ate.

After a time, I called everyone back.  I read Scripture: This is My body. This is My blood. Do this in remembrance of Me. 

The mood was solemn. I felt moved and humbled to have such an experience with these women.

As I finished reading the passage from Luke 22, my mind went blank.  What on earth came next?  I unsuccessfully tried to remember how our pastor would transition from scripture to inviting the congregation to take part. 

There we sat with our juice and Teddy Grahams, everyone looking for me to move us forward.

I did the only thing this then 20-something could think of.

I raised my Dixie cup of CranApple juice high and proclaimed:
"To Jesus!"

(Bonus points if you are like my friend Jill and this story reminded you of Demetri Martin Toasting Traffic. You are super cool!  If it didn't, you should acquaint yourself with Demetri's work right now.)

(Bonus points to my small group for not holding my lack of communion-leading finesse against me.  We toasted Jesus and moved on with the night.  And, for whatever reason, they continued to come back week after week.)

Mug Brownie (we were made for each other)

It's no secret that I love dessert.  It's the reason I went cold turkey for a month. I'm happy to say that dessert has become less frequent, yet more enjoyed since our relationship resumed in March.

I've figured out a few ways to keep my dessert-loving ways under control.
1) Don't keep it in the house.  While I have ice cream in the freezer, it's just one kind. If I make dessert for an event, it doesn't come back. No more buying cookies from the bakery- it just means I'll rationalize eating them for breakfast.
2) When I'm offered something sweet, I ask myself if it's worth being my "one dessert of the day."  Sometimes it is, but sometimes I decide to skip it, even if I don't have anything else later.
3) Figure out ways to make it personal/single-sized.  Just one serving is enough!

A couple of years ago the Chicago Tribune Food section printed a recipe for a brownie made in a mug. It was a tiny blurb and I might have overlooked it, but "brownie" called out to me like a siren song.  I quickly became a convert of the Mug Brownie.

It's the perfect pick-me-up!  I can't say whether it's healthy or not but it's better than eating a whole pan.  In fact, sometimes I just eat half and save the rest for the next day.

Mug Brownie
4 T flour
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa
2 T vegetable oil
2 T water
(optional: dash of salt, 1/4 t. vanilla)

Assemble ingredients and mix thoroughly.  It helps to use a small spatula so you can be sure the dry ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.

Microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. It won't be entirely set in the middle.

Be careful- it'll be really hot!  Best to cool for a couple of minutes and then eat warm.  Top with vanilla ice cream, if you'd like. Then sigh with pure happiness and joy. All is right with the world when you're enjoying a Mug Brownie.

Bonus: Throw in a handful of nuts, chocolate chips, or Reese's peanut butter cups when mixing the batter to take your Mug Brownie to a whole new level. I'm a particular fan of adding a Cadbury Creme Egg during Easter.

Tip: You can use a mug or a ramekin.  It's entirely up to you.

 

Do you have any pint-size dessert tricks up your sleeve?  Any variations on the Mug Brownie recipe?

Home-Ec 101 review

I'm ashamed to admit this but I haven't had a regular housecleaning schedule since I graduated college.  Between living at home with my parents during grad school and then living with roommates, cleaning was something to do in my occasional downtime or before having company over.

I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to homemaking.  I'm comfortable in the kitchen and I'm familiar with the contents of my toolbox.  I can hem with the best of them and enjoy taking on home-related projects.  Cleaning, however, remains something I'd prefer to avoid.

Now that I live by myself, I can only blame myself if my house isn't pristine.  I subscribe to the idea of cleaning once I notice its dirty.  (Lest you think I'm a slob, I'm not. I just don't dust and polish as often as I should.) I keep up on laundry and the dishes but other chores tend to be delayed. I know it's just an excuse but the idea of cleaning after a hard day's work makes me feel more exhausted.

Clearly I needed Home-Ec 101, written by blogger Heather Solos. When the One2One Network offered to let me read a free copy of the eBook, I didn't hesitate to say yes.

The full title of Home-Ec 101 says it all: Skills for Everyday Living.  The book is divided into 4 sections, comprised of Clean It, Wash It, Fix It, Cook It.  It is jam-packed with helpful information.

Wondering about why you shouldn't mix ammonia and bleach? And did you know you still shouldn't mix them, even if they're included in other cleaners?

Do you know how long your appliances will last? Are you versed in how to get rid of all manner of stains?

What should you do if you need a rolling pin but don't want to buy one? (I felt proud that I already knew this answer- use a bottle of wine.)  What are common cooking substitutions?

All this and more is contained in Home-Ec 101.  Thanks to Heather, I have now developed a cleaning schedule that works for me.  She breaks up chores into daily tasks.  Dusting becomes more manageable when you do it one room at a time. She walks the reader step by step through deep cleaning, then offers tips on how to maintain a clean home.  This I can handle.

While the eBook was helpful, I'm glad that Home-Ec 101 is available in hard copy at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Depending on your question, it would be easy to flip to the pertaining section.  This is a handy manual that you'll want to keep around. 

What are your cleaning habits?  How do you stay on top of the demands of your home?

Disclosure: One2One Network provided me with a free copy of the Home-Ec 101 eBook for review, with no expectation that I would provide a positive review.  The thoughts, opinions, and reactions are entirely my own.