Therapy Thursday and a good book

Ahhh...Therapy Thursday - my day to share the things that make me relax, unwind, and feel human again. I have been reading ALOT lately, more than I think I ever had before. If you know me or have been reading this blog you know that I am a Twilight addict - actually Twilight is what got me reading again. I blew through Harry Potter a few years back and didn't want to read another series because I was so drawn to those books - so I picked up a few here and there (some good - some not), and then bam...enter the Twilight Saga (which I have read through 3 times and will read again). Since then, I think I have tweaked my style of reading - what I like to read and what I love to read and have found a few good books that I would like to share - so here are my recent recommended reads - I have some on the shelf to read so I will update this list in a week or two.

If you haven't read Twilight yet - don't read any more of my recommendations, go buy the books, get a cup of tea, relax and read!

If you have then here are some others I've enjoyed:

The Host, Stephenie Meyer
Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr
Ink Exchange, Melissa Marr (not as good as the first, but good)
Peeps, Scott Westerfeld
Uglies, Scott Westerfeld (this is part 1 of 4 - reading the second now)
The Pilot's Wife, Anita Shreve
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
Harry Potter - all of them!, J.K. Rowling


If you read any of these - let me know what you think.

And don't forget that today is HIP HOP Thursday over at Unity. The DT has some great inspiration flowing today...so Hop on over to check it out!

Hopefully I will have some scrappy goodness to share with you this weekend : ) - until next time, Tracy

Wildcard Wednesday brings you a CTMH Special!

I wasn't really sure what I was going to post today - I mean Wildcard is basically anything. I thought maybe something about it being Tax Day, but thankfully our wonderful tax man had ours done and submitted before today (I am notoriously late getting the info to him...last minute Nellie...and he always manages to turn them around quickly...).

But, CTMH launched their campaign for National Scrapbooking Month (which is May) today! So I can bring you all the details if you are interested in purchasing their great new kit...Tickled Pink. The kit is available 4/15 - 5/30 or until supplies last.

So - the kit contains everything needed to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about things you love and that make you shine. The papers are stunning and even contain a kiss of glitter (love bling!). You will receive paper (CS & patterned) as well as an exclusive stamp set, mini medleys collection and a foam texture tool. For all the info on the set and how you can get your hands on it, please visit my CTMH website at www.tracyoleksak.myctmh.com or the corporate site at www.closetomyheart.com.

Tomorrow is Therapy Thursday and I already have my post started - yeah, a little motivation for you all (not crafty I am afraid). I hope to start crafting Friday as I have birthday party invites to make for my son and have a great new stamp set that I can't wait to use! I will post those ASAP.

Until tomorrow take care,

Tracy

Tasty Tuesday brings Sweet-and-Sour Pork {Yummo!}

Ok - so I haven't posted since Thursday and I was on a role with these topic things...but I don't have a catchy phrase or theme for Mon, Fri, Sat & Sun - HELP! I need some ideas, inspiration - anything. Plus, I figured I would get some crafty stuff done this past weekend - but nope. I didn't feel well Friday so the kids and I snuggled with books on the couch and the hubby brought home pizza - Saturday we had a Tae Kwan Do tournament so that took all day, but we did get to eat at one of our fav restaurants which is a turn of the century train station, but the trains still run by - the kids love it, and Sunday was Easter so between egg hunts and dinner - there was no crafty time...oh well, have to schedule some extra time in this week.

So today is Tasty Tuesday and do I have some yummies for you! Today's recipe comes from weightwatchers.com, I downloaded it like 3 years ago and on my never ending quest to weed out my cook books and recipes I came across it and decided to try it the other night - this will make it on my recipe rotation it is so good....enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Pork
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs lean pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
15 oz canned unsweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 medium green pepper(s), sliced
1 small onion (s) sliced
3 cups cooked brown rice, kept warm

Instructions:
1) heat a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat.
2) Add pork and cook until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes; removed from skillet and set aside. Drain any remaining fat from skillet.
3) Drain Pineapple chunks, reserving juice; set aside.
4) Combine water, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, slat, soy sauce and reserved pineapple juice in a small bowl; add to skillet and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add pork; cook covered over low heat until meat is tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
5) Add peppers, onion and pineapple chunks, cook 5 minutes. Serve over rice.

Yields about 1 cup of pork and 1/2 cup rice per serving / 6 servings.

Therapy Thursday for 4/9

Wow! Maybe this theme thing does work...2 days in a row is definitely a major milestone for me. So Thursday is...Therapy Thursday...I think, it is today at least. For me, therapy can be so many different things, a bottle of wine, a good book, a run, a trip to the gym, playing with the kids, a good laugh, a good cry, scrapbooking, stamping, talking on the phone...did I mention a bottle of wine?

Today, I actually found my therapy in stamping, making Easter cards specifically. I needed to make some cards to send out to my gram, sister, parents, and uncle, all of whom I won't be seeing this weekend. So, I started creating and I really just got lost in it (actually I didn't even know it was almost time to get the kids from the bus stop...oops!) I think coloring the chicks and flowers in was therapeutic today - mindless....soothing. I am pretty happy with how they came out (but it is early - so I still might be relaxing with that bottle of wine).

Enjoy -

What is used ~ Cardstock (CTMH: Buttercup, White Daisy, Garden Green, Cocoa); Stamps (CTMH: Easter Surpises - really old wood mounted set); Ink (CTMH: Cocoa); Markers (CTMH: Holiday Red, Hollyhock, Twilight); Other: Colored Pencils (CTMH: Orange, Sunny Yellow, Kentucky Green); Fiskars Threading Waters Punch.

Oh and don't forget that today is Hip Hop Thursday! Be sure to head on over to Angela's blog at http://www.theunitystampco.blogspot.com/ and start your hop! The DT over at Unity has some amazing inspiration going on this week - so grab your fav beverage, and relax as you hop along!

Wildcard Wednesday

Ok, so I had this thought that if I had a different theme for each day, I might actually post more often. I so admire those people who actually have the time, creativity, and wit to actually post each day. I wish I had the time for lots of things, time and wit is the challenge.

So...with that being said, yesterday, was supposed to be Tasty Tuesday. My thought was to post a fav and really yummy recipe of mine, but by the time I had time to post it was Wednesday already! So, next week I will start that one. Wednesday is as the title says Wildcard Wednesday. This is the day that I will post who knows what. Haven't figured out the other days yet, but give me a week or two to iron everything out (I am big into schedules if you didn't already know that). I want this blog to be a bit of everything, and I usually only find scrappin' & stampin' time Friday through Sunday - so weekends and Mondays will most likely be creative posts.

So....what is Wildcard Wednesday bringing you today? Some news for all you Twilight addicts out there. No, New Moon is not coming out sooner, or being filmed local (you know I would be all over that one...family, what family ???..), but Jackson Rathbone, aka Jasper Cullen, will be appearing on Criminal Minds tonight. The episode airs at 9 PM (eastern) on CBS. I have watched the show a couple times, but it is very hard for me to stay awake during the time slot - but I have already set my DVR (TiVO) to capture the episode...so happy viewing!

Alright, the kitchen is calling my name...clean me, clean me...and I have a zillion other things to cross off on my to-do list (that won't be), plus I need to think about what Thursday could bring.
I would love to hear your comments for titles for the remaining days of the week (M, TH, F, S, S) - so leave me some love and let me know what you want to see or hear!

Tracy