by Tami Brothers

Life.  Everyone is living in the fast lane these days.  Some people are behind the wheel, ignoring all the traffic signs.  Others cruising in the passenger seat with their feet propped on the window ledge.  Regardless of where our butts happen to be resting, the faster we travel through our days, weeks, or months; the greater our chances are of missing something.  Unfortunately, I’ve found myself trying to do so much lately that I’m missing out on the things that truly matter.

My organizing project is going well.  Due to work, classes required for work, soccer for The Kid, my indie-publishing endeavors, website updates, participating in blog hops, family stuff, oh and can’t forget the writing…

Where was I? 

Oh yeah. Due to all this extra stuff going on, I’ve had to slow down a bit.   I actually stalled on the section of the Organize Now! A week-by-week guide to simplifying your space AND your life book that deals with organizing my photos.  I seriously have a boatload of photos. Some print, some digital, but all needing to go into a scrapbook style format.  For those who don’t scrapbook, let me just tell you that it takes time. Lots and lots of time.  Time I do not have… Needless to say, I’ve stalled.  

So what do I do when I stall? 

I take a step back and try looking at things from another angle.  This usually involves a trip to the book store (I know, any excuse to step into a bookstore… ).  But this time my salvation came in the form of an e-mail and the opportunity to review a new organization book by inspirational author Kathi Lipp.  The last Kathi Lipp book I read, The Marriage Project (see review), was amazing and I couldn’t wait to dive into this new book, The Get Yourself Organized Project. 

I can honestly say it did not disappoint.  Kathi has a down-to-earth type voice that makes you feel like the two of you are sitting down for tea and a nice chat.  She shares heart stopping stories (“After his 3-month-old son sailed off the roof of his car at 50 mph and landed unhurt in the middle of an interstate highway on Sunday, Michael Murray decided to break the news to his wife gently.” (The Get Yourself Organized Project, pg 13) ), to strategic tips that make things easier to find (“My keys, my sunglasses, and my iPod all stay by the front door.” (TGYOP, Pg 32) ). 

There are a ton of neat tips and tricks in this book that will get you on the path to organizing your life, but there was one tip that really hit me this month.  The one tip that seems like such a given.  The tip that I should have been able to see from the time I started thinking about getting organized.

What tip gave me hope for getting back on track?

The one that said, “Rule 4 – Never Organize Alone.” (TGYOP, pg 24) 

Major duh moment for me.  Here I’ve been beating myself up because I don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done (that I really want to do).  I’ve even told Hubby and The Kid to ignore the pile of stuff sitting in the hallway because some of it needs to be taken to Goodwill, some needs to be organized and moved to other areas in the house, and some of it just needs tossed in the trash.  In my defense, I know hubby does not like to throw things away (you should totally see his shop – gives me nightmares), which is why I haven’t pushed the issue of enlisting help.  But I am literally drowning in To-Do tasks. 

I know this should seem so obvious. And yes, it should.  But I had myself convinced that I needed to do this. That if I didn’t do this myself, it wouldn’t be done right.  So, as I wallowed in my delusions, very little was being accomplished. 

If there is one point I hope to impart on others who might be traveling this same path, it would be to give yourself a break.  If you keep trying to do everything yourself, not only will it take a lot longer, but you might not even get to the tasks at all.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  We shall see…

What about you?  Are you the type who feels like they have to do everything in order for it to be done well/done right/get done at all?  If you have figured out how to get your family to pitch in without (too many) complaints, I’d LOVE to learn your techniques. 

Just for fun, Kathi Lipp has declared Tuesday, May 15th National Clean Out Your Purse Day.  Check out my blog on that date for some neat tips on how to make your purse a bit more organized.  Not only will you get some great tips on tackling this task, but you will also get a free copy of Kathi’s “30 Ways to Save 30 Minutes in the Next 30 Days”.  And if that isn’t enough to entice you, Kathi will be giving away a Vera Bradley Tote to one lucky reader who follows some simple instructions. Can’t wait to see you there.

Welcome to our April edition of the

Second Saturday Review Soup,

a delicate blend of genres and tastes.

Take a moment to browse today’s specials.

There is something to satisfy even the pickiest palate.

Bon Appétit!

~~~

Inhale, Just Breath book #1

by Kendall Grey

http://www.kendallgrey.com/

She isn’t crazy. She isn’t crazy. She isn’t crazy.

Or is she?

Dr. Zoe Morgan has made researching and saving the wales her life’s work.  Thanks to a connection she can’t explain, she’s able to communication with them.  But with every gift, there is a curse. And unfortunately Zoe’s curse is insanity.  Pegged with panic attacks and a fear of following in her father’s footsteps right off the deep end, Zoe does her best to ignore the voices.  If only that worked.

Gavin Cassidy is a rock star set on a path of total self-destruction. Then the Dreaming plucks him right out of his pity party and forces him to acknowledge his duties as a Sentinel.  After having ignored his gifts as a Water Element since tragedy struck years earlier, Gavin hoped this summons would be a quick in and out of the Dreaming.  But the rock star soon discovers he isn’t going to get off so easy.

How to begin this review?  Wow just about sums it up.

I read a blurb Kendall Grey posted on Goodreads and IMMEDIATELY had to read this book.  Thankfully I was able to finagle an ARC.  Ms. Grey’s description of Gavin Cassidy made me an immediate fan.  As flawed as any hero I’ve ever read, Gavin is one unique dude.  I could totally see this spoiled rock star trying to thwart his destiny.  One has to wonder if he would have been able to ignore the calling if he hadn’t met his “Muse” in the Dreaming?

What grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book was the introduction of Zoe and her life or death plight to save the wales.  Her struggle in the very beginning of the story almost cost her that life but it really showed us who Zoe is.

Inhale is sexy, raw and in-your-face.  The hero cusses, smokes, drinks and admits he has slept with his share of women.  Because of this, the author’s unique voice makes this story stand out from any other I’ve read. With a fast pace and very little filler words, this story will keep you moving on to the next chapter no matter how many times you try to stop.  LOVED IT!

Reviewed by Tami Brothers

Five Petit Fours

Four Hot Tamales

Inhale scheduled for released May 1st. For up-to-date information, stop by GoodReads.

~~~

My Hollywood

By Mona Simpson

http://monasimpson.com/

In the well-to-do environs of Hollywood, children are cared for by nannies, either live-in or live-out, five days or seven. In “My Hollywood” the focus is on Lola, a Filipina nanny who starts out caring for Claire and Paul’s baby Will while her own five children grow up in the Philippines. Lola’s mission is to send home as much money as possible so her children can be educated and grow up to be professionals. She becomes part of a group of nannies, mostly Filipina, who share their stories and help each other through all kinds of troubles. At the same time, Claire enters the world of upper-class moms whose children are watched by these nannies; an inescapable air of competition grows around the children’s development and the husbands’ status. Claire struggles to advance in her career as a composer, becoming frustrated at the insufficient time available for her to work on her music, even with Lola’s help, as Paul’s growing success as a TV comedy writer inevitably takes precedence over Claire’s work. The very close and loving relationship between Lola and Will (and later with another child named Laura) is beautifully brought to life, and adds immeasurably to the emotional depth of this wonderful story.

Reviewed by: Arlene Almas (a huge thank you to Arlene for sharing his review with us)

Rating: *****

Buy at Amazon.com  /  Barnes & Noble   / Borders  /  IndieBound  /  Powell’s Books  Random House

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.   Check out the site for more great reads.

~~~

The Big Guns, Mystery Men Series

By Helenkay Dimon

http://www.helenkaydimon.com/

Harlequin Intrigue

He was a Hero…

When he saw his mark being kidnapped, Recovery Project agent Zach Bachman had no option but to rescue her. Even if it endangered his assignment. After weeks of watching Sela Andrews from afar, he was now trapped with the blonde beauty as her bodyguard.

But could He Ever Be A Husband?

Her brave protector relished the heat of gun battles but retreated from his own emotions. Sela learned that when, in the dead of night in a darkened safe house, the loner became her lover. Still, as her would-be killers closed in on them again, she had no choice but to put her life- and her heart – in the hands of her reluctant guardian.

Okay, I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the Type A man that is handsome, fearless, carries a gun and will protect a woman even if he may be killed. Zach Bachman is that kind of man and he hangs out with other men like him. Sela is equally strong in her on right.  I really like this story. There is plenty of action and tenderness. Nice quick read that won’t disappoint.

Reviewed by: Susan May

4 Petit Fours

5 Hot Tamales

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Books-A-Million

~~~

Paris in Love: A Memoir

By Eloisa James

http://www.eloisajames.com/

Publisher: Random House

Release Date: April 3, 2012

In 2009, Eloisa James sold her house, took a sabbatical from her daytime job as a Shakespearean professor, and moved to Paris, France with her husband and two children. While there, she chronicled her days and nights with smart, savvy snippets on Facebook and allowed her fans to experience the journey with her. She eventually gathered them all together, added some poignant essays to go along with them, and thus, Paris in Love was born.

It’s been a very long time since I read a memoir and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I appreciate and admire Eloisa James for giving us a small glimpse into her life. Despite her personal struggles leading up to her year in Paris, she remained strong for her husband and children. She didn’t give up and that is a testament to the wonderful person she is. If I hadn’t already met her, this book alone would convince me of that.

I adore this book for many reasons, but two stand out. One was her descriptions of Paris, a city I’ve never visited, but want to after reading this book. Through her imagery, I could see the vivid colors and landmarks throughout the city; I could smell the fresh bread and delicious foods; and I could hear the melodious sounds.

It’s night, after a day of rain…the windows are open and the strains of a glorious opera pour from the conservatory down the street.

Very early in the morning, the only light comes from tightly closed bakeries. Chairs are upside down on top of tables, but the smell of baking bread feels like a welcome.

Paris (and our apartment) is so dark and quiet this morning that I feel as if I’m entirely alone. The sky is the color of gray flannel, the darkness broken only by the dormer window of another early riser. The woman who lives in the attic painted her walls yellow, and reflected light bounces out like a spring crocus. If light were sound, her window would be playing a concerto.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is when Eloisa is speaking about desires: It’s nice that life is long enough to give you desires of many kinds. Indeed, how nice it is.

The other reason I adore this book is Eloisa’s interactions with her children. As a mother, I was particularly drawn to that. She didn’t sugarcoat anything—she spoke about their difficulties along with their triumphs. And it’s obvious how much she loves them and is proud of them.

I loved this entry. It hit close to home and reminded me of my daughter.

Anna in the bath, arguing over her bedtime. “Why,” she wants to know, “can Luca stay up until ten o’clock and I can’t?” “Because he’s fifteen,” say I, “and when he was eleven, he had to go to bed at eight o’clock, too.” “How do you know?” she demands. “Because I’m the mother of both of you!” “You might not be,” she points out. “You might be only a mother in disguise.”

And this one makes me wonder if I will experience this with my son:

I always thought boys’ reluctance to speak about their feelings was programmed by culture (nurture, not nature) and raised Luca accordingly. But lately he only grunts when asked questions about his emotions. “I can talk about my feelings,” he said today, when pinned down. “But” (with unmistakable revulsion) “not with my mom.” I do hope whomever he’s sharing all those feelings with appreciates the training I put in.

And one last entry, because the Harry Potter fan in me couldn’t not include this one:

Yesterday Anna burst into tears at bedtime, saying she had no friends, no one laughed at her jokes, and that she was failing school (her report cars indicates otherwise). I pulled out a Gryffindor key chain I had been saving for just such an emergency, and she cheered up while telling me why she was definitely a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin.

Me, too, Anna. Me, too. *g* These entries and so many more made for an extremely pleasant reading experience. Eloisa had me laughing, crying, and sighing, repeatedly. I just enjoyed it so very much. I found myself reading sections to my husband and he smiled and enjoyed them as well. Paris in Love is an absolute treat and should not be missed!

~Andrea

Five Stars

Buy at Amazon.com  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble.com  /  By at Books-A-Million.com  /  Word Bookstore  /  IndieBound  /  Posman Books  /  Random House

Review originally posted at The Romance Dish April 3, 2012.  Check out their blog for other great recommendations.

~~~

Tamed by a Texan

By Tanya Michaels

http://tanyamichaels.net/

Harlequin American

ISBN: 0373754035

Category romance

Chef Grace Torres has a lot on her plate. Her mother has recently moved into an assisted living center, and the family restaurant is barely making ends meet. Now her brothers want to sell the money pit, even as she clings to the place that holds the happiest memories of her family. Since her talent has landed her a slot in a televised cooking show that’s coming to town, she makes them a deal. If she can win the competition, she gets to keep the restaurant. If she loses, they get to sell.

The same cooking contest brings Ty Beckett to town, and he has some serious stakes of his own: if he can win the contest, then he will be a shoo-in for his own show. Ty keeps the better part of himself and his painful past hidden, but there’s something about Grace that quells his competitive nature and makes him want to open up to her.

I loved this book. Ty is a charmer and Grace, a spitfire. Michaels’ trademark humor shines even as the inner conflict of each character resonates. Only one word of caution: reading this book could make you hungry.

Reviewed by Sally Kilpatrick

5 petit fours, 3 hot tamales (And those tamales are really appropriate this time!)

Buy at Amazon   /   Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Harlequin

~~~

The House at Riverton

by Kate Morton

http://www.katemorton.com/

For those of you who enjoyed ‘The Forgotten Garden’ by Kate Morton, I think you will find her first novel, ‘The House at Riverton’ equally as engrossing. Grace Bradley was only 14 years old when she began working as a servant at Riverton. Her life was inextricably tied up with the glamorous and eccentric Hartford family’s daughters Hannah and Emmeline. Then, at a glittering society party in the summer of 1924, a young poet shot himself and the only witnesses were Hannah, Emmeline and Grace. I really enjoyed Morton’s debut novel. I liked the way the author used flashbacks to tell the story and I fell in love with Grace and the story she had to tell. The secret Grace held dear her entire life unfolds in the last few pages of the book which only made the novel more riveting. The good news is, Morton has a new book out and I can’t wait to read it as well

Reviewed by: Dale Israel (a huge thank you to Dale Israel for sharing his review with us)

Rating: ****

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Find at GoodReads

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.   Check out the site for more great reads.

~~~

A Stranger’s Gift, Woman of Pinecraft Series

By Anna Schmidt

http://www.booksbyanna.com/

ISBN: 978-1-61626-234-1

Barbour

A Hurricane Sweeps Love onto One Woman’s Path

Hester Detlef, local Mennonite volunteer coordination for disaster relief in Pinecraft, Florida defied the Old Order Mennonite tradition of limited education to get her college degree. Still single, Hester is well aware that her father has attempted to match her with Samuel Longbecker, but she has no feelings for the carpenter—or any other man.

When a devastation hurricane roars across the barrier islands just off the Gulf coast of Florida, John Steiner is swept in Hester’s path. Due to his stubbornness to evacuate his cluster of ramshackle buildings at the onset of the hurricane, John is badly injured. And after being formerly shunned by his Amish community, he’s now jobless, homeless, and faithless.

As Hester offers a helping hand, will John have the patience to put up with the Mennonite do—gooder who seem determined to restore his faith, rebuild his property, and renovate his heat? And will Hester find love amid the debris?

I had heard and read that the Mennonite/Amish romance stories are very popular but I hadn’t read one in years, and even then it had been only one or two. I will have to say that I really enjoyed this one. The characters are well rounded and likable, even when they are trying not to be as Samuel was. If you are interested in a good sweet romance this would be the one.  Solid story.

Reviewed by: Susan Carlisle

Buy at Amazon  /  Buy at Barnes & Noble  /  Buy at Barbour Publishing

E

**The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.**

Fitting that I would get to add a blog post about one holiday trip during another holiday.  I thank all of you who stop by today for taking that extra step to support the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales and for supporting me.  I hope you can enjoy this trip to Washington DC as much as I did.

Happy Easter!

By Tami Brothers

The trip started with an e-mail to our congressman.  We’d been promising The Kid a trip to Washington DC for years, but life and everything that goes along with it kept getting in the way.  If one thing didn’t come up to make us cancel, then another would.  Finally, we put our foot down and said Thanksgiving was the time we were going. No ifs, ands or buts would stop us.

After a twelve hours drive the day before, we didn’t have time to find the exact spot we needed to be for our White House tour at 7:30 the next morning.  This is where the reference to e-mailing our congressman comes in.  In order to tour the White House, you need to e-mail the congressman from your state up to six months in advance requesting free tickets.

*just a note in case anyone is interested in getting White House tickets*

When we received our tickets, it was suggested that we stop by the White House Visitor’s Center before attending the tour.  Problem number one.  Ummmm, the Visitor Center doesn’t open until 7:30 am.  Second problem came up when we tried to find the address for the tour AND parking.  As most people know, parking is a hot commodity in the city.  We finally found a parking garage eight blocks from the place we needed to be.  It was a good thing we tend to arrive early for everything because we made it to the location just in time to get in line and start moving.

Although the tour was pretty cool, we really didn’t get as much out of it as we had hoped.  For some reason we felt a bit let down because we were only able to see a few select rooms. Don’t get me wrong. This was seriously awesome to think that we were where presidents and first ladies had stood, dined and even sat and read books.  Not until we actually toured the Visitor’s Center did we realize what we had been missing.  There was a short little video that gave some amazing history on the different pieces of furniture and other items in the rooms we had toured.  We really wanted to go back and do the tour again just so we could look for those items. 

Although the White House was cool, it was the tour of the Capital building that really made our trip special.  Because of a mix-up in the White House tour dates (the tour was scheduled the day we originally had scheduled to leave home – we ended up leaving a day early to make the tour), our Congressman’s Staffer offered to give us a personal tour of the Capital.

Heck yeah!  We took him up on it.  That tour could seriously be a blog post in itself.  We ended up getting to take an underground tunnel to the capital.  That alone was amazing.  A few other highlights were the tour of the original Supreme Court chambers, sitting in the seats on the floor of the Speaker of the House (although we were on the wrong side for our voting party ), getting a rare tour of the Speaker’s balcony (picture was taken off that balcony looking out over the city), and a chance to experience some of the most amazing architecture I had ever seen.  Our guide told us some hilarious stories, some that I’m not completely sure I believed.  This is a picture of me braving the wrath of a very grumpy tour guide (apparently I was where he wanted to walk) to stand on the lucky spot (the Marble Compass) that is supposed to be the exact center of Washington DC.

Because we were there for only four days, we really crammed a lot of stuff together in order to touch a bit of everything we wanted to see.  After our first day and the problems finding parking, we braved the Washington DC Metro.  For a family of country bumpkins, this was a little scary.  Funny thing is that traveling the Metro lines ended up being another highlight of our trip.  We met some very cool (and nice) people who were more than willing to help us find our stops.  By the final day, we were pretty good at navigating our way around and getting off and on at our connections.

It was because of the Metro that we were able to see all the museums we wanted to see.  Washington DC did a great job of putting the stations at all the vital points.  Even with this great transportation system, we were only able to hit the highlights of four of the five Smithsonian museums.

Mock-up of Julia Child’s Kitchen

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers

Who doesn’t recognize this photo?

Gotta love that Hope Diamond

Chilean Mine Rescue

Saw some of the animals from countries around the world

Amelia Earhart

Wright Brothers

Apollo II Command Module Columbia

Even snuck a friend’s book into the Library of Congress

We also spent quite a bit of time touring the Holocaust museum.  This was the one place The Kid really wanted to see because they had been studying this in school.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take photos but I will always carry the images and information that I learned from that tour deep in my heart.

Our final full day was a miserable rainy mess.  But that did not stop us.  Thank Heavens for street-side umbrella salesmen (and hubby thought I was nuts to buy one for each of us – he was a believer by the end of the day).  We walked more than seven miles in the pouring rain, touring ALL the memorials, viewing the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights (*Note- this place is NOTHING like what you see in the movie National Treasure -imagine instead a darktomb that is required to preserve the documents that are already faded and damaged from the elements), embracing the somber feeling of the Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

How could I write about Washington DC without mentioning the food?  To be honest, we didn’t get to eat at many fancy places.  Although I had budgeted a bit more than I thought we would spend, I also wanted to make certain The Kid was able to get the souvenirs he wanted.  With that in mind, we did find some very creative places to eat.  After the first expensive lunch at one of the Smithsonian museums, we found that the street side vendors were very good.  We had several park bench picnics of egg rolls and pretzels, grassy views of the Washington Memorial while eating hot dogs and (for The Kid) more egg rolls.  Even a tent covered outdoor McDonalds made for a memorable stop during our trek in the rain (the squirrels loved it).

Just as this short post could never do this trip justice, the short amount of time we spend in Washington DC could never be enough.  Those four days only wet our appetites to know more about the places we did tour and to see new places we only learned about while we were there.  I definitelysee another trip in our future.

If you haven’t already considered adding Washington DC to your must-see list of vacation destinations, you really need to do so.  Just being there gives you a sense of being a part of America’s history.

Oh! I highly recommend several good pairs of walking shoes and a comfortable bag or backpack.  This city is definitely a walking city.

Tami Brothers is a long time member of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog and a new member to the indie publishing world.  With the publication of her free short story, Drool Worthy, back in October, she has since moved forward with an ambitious publishing schedule for the next two years.  Her first novella, In Her Wildest Dreams, is schedule for publication June 1st, 2012 and her second novella, Jasmine’s Question, is scheduled for release October 1st, 2012.  2013 is set with a whirlwind of releases as she introduces a new story each month. Check back monthly here at the PF&HTs blog as she shares her Organization Marathon and her Quest for Spiritual and Physical Growth learn more about her Living Life to the Fullest journey over at her personal blog, http://tamibrothers.blogspot.com.    

April hopped right in and brought with it all kinds of new books and authors.  So many that we don’t know where to begin.  We’d love to hear your recommendations and find out what you are reading.

As an added bonus to encourage you to share, we’re giving away a $5 gift card to a book seller of your choice to one lucky commenter.  All you have to do is leave a comment and share some of your favorite new finds to be eligible.

From our March First Saturday Recommendations we had some amazing books shared by our readers.  In case you missed the post, we’ll list those books below.

1. Firelight by Kristen Callihan recommended by Jane
2. The Rake And The Recluse by Jenn LeBlanc recommended by Mary Preston
3. Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb recommended by Marilyn Baron
4. Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult recommended by Marilyn Baron
5. Good to a Fault by Marina Endicottrecommended by Marilyn Baron
6. The Next Always …Book One in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy by Nora Robert recommended by Sandra Elzie
7. The Widows of Wichita County by Jodi Thomas recommended by Pam Asberry
8. A Mother’s Homecoming by Tanya Michaels recommended by Pam Asberry
9. Organize Now by Jennifer Ford Berry recommended by Tami Brothers
10. Edge of Midnight by Leslie Tentler recommended by Pamela Mason
11. Once A Good Girl by Wendy S. Marcus recommended by Annie Rayburn
12. Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? by Susan Carlisle recommended by Annie Rayburn

A huge thank you to all our readers.  We can’t wait to see what you guys have in store for us this month.  Be sure to stop back by in May to see who won the $5 gift card.

Oh wait! You probably stopped by to see who won last time, didn’t you?  Well, that sneaky bunny left a lot of clues and after picking the blue egg, the winner is Pamela Mason!  Congratulations Pamela!!!  Shoot us an e-mail and we will get that sent to you ASAP!!!

By Tami Brothers

Weighted down with tons of paper

The company I work for decided to do a major 6S type cleaning this past month in preparation to achieve Silver Certification for an OSHA VPP program.  My bay ended up shredding more than 11,000 pounds of paper.  This completely filled a CINTAs shredding truck (holds 10,000 pounds) and we had to call for a second one.  Scary part is that my area is only one bay out of many.  I can just imagine the tons of other documents lying around still needing to be shredded.  

This was a major overhaul of our filing system and raised a bunch of questions on what papers needed to be saved and for how long.  We ended up having to call the legal department on a few items.

With me being the overachiever that I am and with 2012 being my Year of Physical and Spiritual Growth, I decided I was going to tackle my home filing system in much the same way. 

6S at home

Just like at the office, the big question was “what do I save and what do I toss?”

Last month I blogged about Making Organization an Olympic Sport and referenced an awesome book called Organize Now – A Week-by-week Guide to Simplifying Your Space and Your Life by Jennifer Ford Berry.  Not knowing how best to get started with this overwhelming task, I grabbed the book.  Jennifer Ford Berry provides a step by step guide on how best to tackle this situation.  Just to give you an idea of the wealth of information, I’ll reference a small section from page 52.

“Here’s a list to help you decide what financial items to keep or shred:

ATM Receipts… Put with taxes if necessary; otherwise toss

College Savings statements… Keep the most recent

Credit card receipts…make sure they are correct, record expenses and only keep the most current

Insurance policies and bills…Only keep the most current

Medical bills…Keep for three years

Mortgage records…Keep for as long as you own the property

Mutual fund statements…Only keep the annual reports

Selling records of previously owned property… Save and file”

This information was exactly what I’d been searching for. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve worked my way through my filing cabinets and am now wading through the last three years’ worth of documents that I’ve saved. 

What to keep

One example of a great use for this information is with the records hubby’s had me keep of the properties we’ve remodeled, built and sold.  I’ve wanted to shred them for years but am now glad that I did not.  I had no idea these were documents we really needed to keep for the long haul.  

This is a very small part of the gems filling this book.  If you haven’t already grabbed a copy, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Step by step

Switching thought processes, I also wanted to share information on an amazing fitness tracker I found. My FIL sent hubby this cool little gadget called a FitBit.  Not only did hubby get one, but so did his mom and his two sisters.  After only two weeks, hubby has lost four pounds and is on track to meet his weight loss goal by September. 

After watching them have all the fun, I broke down and bought my own.  Now, I’ll admit right up front that it isn’t cheap.  We paid $105 at Best Buy. But after studying the options available with the on-line program, I knew this little black pedometer was going to make tracking my fitness and weight loss goals much easier than with what I’ve been doing this past year. 

Not only does it keep track of my steps, but it monitors the hills and stairs I walk, keeps track of my calorie intake (you do have to input the food you eat, but I was doing that with the fitness app I was already using), correlates the number of calories burned compared to those taken in, and even monitors my sleeping patterns.  A bonus with the FitBit is that you get to friend other people using the same program, cheer them on and use their encouragement to keep you moving. 

Growing a garden

One of the coolest things has been working to receive the virtual awards for meeting my 10,000 steps, watching the leaves grow on my FitBit flower and trying to negotiate with a computer on how many more calories I can finagle in order to eat that evening snack. 

As silly as it sounds, it’s been a lot fun.

Now that I’ve worked my way through my filing system and found a great way to hold myself accountable to the exercise program I committed to, I’ve started to tackle a second pass through the extra stuff we weren’t able to part with during last year’s decluttering process.  Stop back Thursday, May 3rd to see how well that went over with hubby and The Kid. 

Care to share some of your filing tips and tricks? 

Do you keep a boat load of papers or are you a tosser? 

Do you have any ideas on making our fitness goals easier to keep up with? 

I’d love to hear them and as a way to encourage you to share, I’ll give away a $5 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. 

Picture from http://www.sxc.hu/

Marilyn Baron‘s Real Life Angel Story and her three, humorous supernatural angel stories ~ A Choir of Angels, Follow an Angel and The Stand-In Bridegroom ~ are featured on The Angel Pendant Web site.

Sally Kilpatrick and Romily Bernard both finalled in Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart writing contest. For those who don’t know, The Golden Heart is similar to the Grammy’s, the Country Music Awards, or even the Golden Globe.  Just finalling is a huge honor, but we will definitely be cheering for them in July when the winners are announced at the RWA National Conference in Anaheim California.

Linsey Lanier is having awesome success with her Miranda Rights series.  Check out all her books over at Smashwords, Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Photo credit http://www.sxc.hu/

Carol Burnside pushed the button and e-mailed her partial and synopsis to Harlequin’s Medical Romance line the UK.  This is the one where she received editor feedback from an online pitch. Way to go Carol!

Sally Kilpatrick has that Hot Yoga thing going on with her Adventures in Yoga.  Gotta LOVE those underwear SNAFUs.

Susan Carlisle, Debbie Kaufman, Sia Huff, Sandra Elzie and Pam Asberry had great time at the Silken Sands Writers Conference in Florida. Check out their lovely costumes over at Barbara Vey’s blog.  Yay Barbara on that first book signing!!!

Tami Brothers shares some Ireland photos and a reason the Irish dance that way, along with a sexy Waka Waka Video featuring Shakira. Makes you wanna get out and dance.

Pam Asberry expanded on the Silken Sands trip and posted some awesome photos.  She’s got us all wanting to head to the beach.  She even ran into former PF&HTs blog member, Christine Glover!

Our newest member, Bryonna Nobles, gives us a rundown of the Hunger Games Trilogy.  Anyone going to the movie this weekend?

~Getting to know the~

~Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Crew~

March’s Spotlight is on Pam Asberry

Who are the ladies of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog? Why should you spend your precious time reading our daily posts?  Why do we want you to follow us and read our books, our personal blogs, our FB status updates and our Tweets? Let us tell you why…

Once Upon a Time ~~

I started piano lessons when I was seven years old and decided my career path that very day. So even though I have loved reading from the moment I learned to string sounds into syllables, during my adult life writing has been primarily a tool used to support my music teaching and home schooling. Although the notion of penning a novel was always in the back of my mind, I never tried my hand at fiction. Instead, I wrote numerous nonfiction articles and even had a few published here and there; eventually, I even started a blog. But there came a day I decided I didn’t want my epitaph to be, “She meant to write a book.” So I signed up for an online fiction writing class through Writer’s Digest and attended my very first Georgia Romance Writers meeting on my fiftieth birthday. At this point in time I have completed two manuscripts and working on the first draft of my third. But I get my happily-ever-after ending whether or not I ever achieve my goal of being traditionally published (although I believe I will). I write because I am.

How many “careers” have you had throughout your lifetime?

Several! I put myself through college working in the cafeteria food service freshman year and in an accounting office for three years after that. I have also worked in a fabric store, sold Bernina sewing machines and taught sewing classes. When I was home schooling my children, I developed a how-to-homeschool seminar and presented it to area support groups and spoke at homeschool days at theme parks around the country. Now I design and create handmade jewelry and sell it on Etsy (http://etsy.pamasberry.com). But I have been teaching piano since I was in high school. I have had home studios in Carbondale, Illinois; Peoria, Illinois; and Raleigh, North Carolina. Currently, I teach in Dacula, Georgia and am active in professional music teachers associations at the local and state levels. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all the hats I wear but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What is a typical writing day like for you – from the time you get up to the time you go to bed?

I am a single mom but my children are older and quite independent. My 16yo gets himself on the bus every morning and eats breakfast at school, allowing me the luxury of sleeping until 7:30 or 8. I make myself a pot of French press and spend an hour or so online, catching up on email and checking in on Facebook and Twitter and reading the day’s Petit Fours and Hot Tamales post. Next I review my goals and affirmations, meditate, and write morning pages (as recommended by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way). Then it’s time for my work in progress; my word count goal is 500 words per day. After that, I do a quick tidy of the house before I head outside for a run or to the gym if it’s cold or rainy. I am training for a half marathon in April (http://petitfoursandhottamales.com/2012/03/put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other/) so that’s a top priority for me right now. After that, I come home and shower and dress for the day and divide whatever time I have left before piano students between practicing piano/clarinet/mandolin, beading, updating my Etsy store, studying French/Spanish, etc. There is never enough time to do everything on any given day, so I keep track of my activities on a checklist, and try not to skip anything two days in a row. I fail miserably all the time. But writing, exercise and teaching are non-negotiable. My teaching day starts around 2 and ends sometime between 7 and 9, depending on the day. When my last student is gone, I try to spend a few minutes with my kids (I have a 20yo who lives with me, too) then wind down the day with my laptop or a book or some knitting and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. I am a terrible insomniac; I am rarely asleep before midnight and sometimes it’s much, much later.

What writer advice would you give someone just starting to dip her toe into the writing world?

Writing fiction is tougher than I ever imaged it would be, and the odds of being traditionally published seem smaller than ever. But there is nothing better than agonizing over a scene and finally getting it right or the camaraderie I have experienced through Georgia Romance Writers, Petit Fours and Hot Tamales, and elsewhere. If you dream of writing a book, don’t let another day go by. Go for it! But don’t expect a walk in the park. Take classes, read books on craft, and find a support group.

Why you should read my blog …

Inspired by Laurie Perry (http://crazyauntpurl.com) whose memoir Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair really resonated with me a few years post-divorce, I started my own blog, Sometimes It’s Cloudy, Sometimes It’s Clear, back in 2008. At first I wasn’t clear about what direction I might take and posted infrequently. Over time, though, it has become an account of my personal journey – successes and failures, struggles and triumphs, hopes and fears. I spent nearly twenty years of my life in an abusive marriage, hiding behind carefully constructed safety mask, keeping my personal fire carefully in check. Ten years later, I am barely recognizable as the person I was then and I am very proud of everything I have accomplished since and grateful for loving family and supportive friends. I know there are plenty of other women out there living lives of “quiet desperation,” and I hope that by sharing my experiences I might empower someone else to step outside her comfort zone and take a risk or two in order to make her own dreams come true.

What is your most rewarding experience?

Besides watching my little boys grow up to become strong, handsome young men? I love it when one of my readers tells me that something I have said in a blog post has inspired her to make a change in her own life.

What’s a little-known fact about you no one would suspect?

I am terrified of thunderstorms. I make no apologies for this.

Are you a Petit Four or a Hot Tamale?

I recently discovered a recipe for “chocolate chili bites” – tiny chocolate cakes seasoned with (surprise!) chili powder. Complex, right? That’s me.

What Pam’s friends have to say..

Pam is a dynamo.  If someone met her on the street and didn’t know her age, they would NEVER believe she was in her fifties.  She has the heart and spirit of a thirty year-old. She is full of adventure, never afraid to try something new.  Having Pam as a friend is like having found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Anything Else?

Thanks for putting me in the hot seat – er, spotlight! – today.

Pam Asberry

Blog: http://pamasberry.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pamasberry

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pamasberry

Etsy: http://etsy.pamasberry.com

Studio: http://asberryschoolofmusic.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Welcome to our March edition of the

Second Saturday Review Soup,

a delicate blend of genres and tastes.

Take a moment to browse today’s specials.

There is something to satisfy even the pickiest palate.

Bon Appétit!

~~~

The Power and the Glory

By Kimberly Lang

http://www.booksbykimberly.com/ 

Harlequin Presents

ISBN 12:978-0-373-52844-8

Any red blooded woman would kill to be handcuffed to political hotshot Brady Marshall, but campaigner Aspyn Breedlove wants to raise awareness—Not her own acute consciousness of those delicious, iron-hard muscles beneath Brady’s expensive suit…

But in a shock move, she’s mad a part of the Marshall re-election campaign…Aspyn hopes she can dance with the devil and create change from within. But what chance does she have when that devil is sex-on-legs Brady Marshall—and as Christmas closes in, she want to do considerably more than kiss him under the mistletoe…!

During the season of politicking Presidents-to-be this was a cute and interesting spin on the political interworking’s of a political family. Aspyn puts a glitch into a smooth working political machine and shakes up Brady’s ordered world.  It may be close to Christmas time but there are a lot of 4th of July fireworks that are not to be missed.

Kimberly Lang’s books are not to be missed. This book isn’t to be missed.

Reviewed by:  Susan Carlisle

5 Petit Four

4 Hot Tamales

eHarlequin  /  MB (UK)  /  Amazon   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Book Depository

~~~

Not Wicked Enough

Seducing the Scoundrels, Book 1

By Carolyn Jewel

http://www.carolynjewel.com/index.php

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Lily Wellstone travels to Bitterward to comfort her friend Ginny, who is still grieving over the death of her husband. On her way there, she encounters a Gypsy king, who gives her a medallion in thanks for saving his dog. He tells her the medallion will unite her with the man she happiest with in love. Since Lily has already lost the man she considers her one true love, she does not believe in this bit of magic. Still, she never takes it off. When she meets Ginny’s brother, the Duke of Mountjoy, she is overwhelmed by her instant attraction to him. Is it the medallion or just the magnetism of this man?

Mountjoy was expecting to be mesmerized by is sister’s beautiful and charming friend, but Lily captivates him as no other woman ever has. Everyone expects him to marry one of the local ladies, Miss Jane Kirk—and Mountjoy intends to ask her soon, but Lily sparkles and shines so much that he has trouble focusing on anyone but her. During late night talks and strolls outside, Mountjoy and Lily discover more about each other’s past, and soon become lovers. Will their passion for each other turn to love or will duty prevail?

Not Wicked Enough, is the first in Carolyn Jewel’s Seducing the Scoundrels series, and it’s a grand beginning. Lily is an engaging, likeable heroine—one I would love to have as a friend—and Mountjoy is a hero I could, and did, fall for. He was not born to be a duke—-he was raised as a gentleman farmer—so he’s more down to earth, without any dandified ways. I love a man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Together, these two raise the heat to scorching levels! It’s a good thing it’s winter, and a little extra heat is always welcome. Amusing, intriguing, and sexy, Not Wicked Enough is a must read for lovers of historical romance.

Reviewed by: ~ Gannon from The Romance Dish Review blog

Amazon.com  /  Apple   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Find a store through BookSense   /  Google Books   /  Kobo Books   /  Directly from Penguin   /  Powells Books

Review originally posted at The Romance Dish blog on February 18, 2012.  Check out their blog for some other great recommendations.

~~~

WHEN PARENTS TEXT So Much Said, So Little Understood

by  Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli

http://whenparentstext.com/

Publisher:  Workman Publishing Company (September 1, 2011)

Launched as a website just last year, www.whenparentstext.com is a phenomenon.  It received 300,000to 500,000 page views a day…When Parents Text.com includes the best of texts from the website, plus more than 50 percent all-new material never before published.

Book Description

A collection of insanely funny texts between parents and kids, When Parents Text is a surprisingly affecting window into the complicated time when parents aren’t ready to let go, and kids aren’t ready to be let go.  The parents are well-meaning but hopeless, silly and a little corny, and befuddled by the technology.  The kids are bewildered yet patient:  the perfect straight man.  And the authors, two recent college graduates, Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli, have an unerring editorial instinct to select the funniest, sweetest, quirkiest, most-tell exchanges.

A truly funny, enjoyable read.

A few samples:

• MOM: You left your phone at church. I saw it and knew it was yours. I left it there so you can get it yourself. You need to go get it before someone does something stupid to it.
• (5 minutes later)
• MOM: Listen to me young lady if you do not get your phone right now you will be grounded. I paid good money for that phone.
• (3 minutes later)
• MOM: Are you ignoring me? Get your phone2!

####

• DAD: So did you keep stds high?
• ME: Uhm what?
• ME: stds is not a socially acceptable abbreviation for standards

###

• Mom: dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
• Me: ummm, what?
• Mom: It autocorrected me. I mean to say dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
•  (4 minutes later)
• Mom: PICK UP SOME TAMPONS ON YOUR WAY HOME.

Reviewed by: Maxine Davis

Five petit fours

Amazon   /   Barnes & Noble   /   Workman Publishing   /   Indie Bound

~~~

The Good Thief

by Hannah Tinti

http://hannahtinti.com/the-good-thief/

The Good Thief is one of those rare, delightful, well-written books that is easy to read and is beautifully written.

The story is written through the eyes of 12-year-old Ren, an orphan who is missing his left hand and has been living at St. Anthony’s Orphanage for as long as he can remember. One day a man named Benjamin Nab arrives at the orphanage and claims that Ren is his long-lost younger brother. He is allowed to take Ren away from the only home that the young, innocent boy has ever known. Benjamin Nab turns out to be a thief and scam artist and a grave robber, not his long lost brother. Ren becomes his accomplice in the life of crime.

Ultimately, Ren discovers the secret of the family he never knew. I just loved the young boy who was innately a good, decent lad who tries to rationalize his new life of crime. I absolutely recommend this wonderful book.

Reviewed by: Debbie Weiss

5 Petit Fours

Borders   /  Barnes & Noble   /  Amazon   /  Powells  /  or your local independent bookseller

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.  Check out the site for more great reads. 

~~~

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3670.Jhumpa_Lahiri

This is a beautifully written book about the immigrant experience of the Ganguli family. Ashoke and Ashima have an arranged marriage in Calcutta. Shortly thereafter, they move to Cambridge, Massachusettes where Ashoke is a graduate student in engineering. Ashima has difficulty adjusting to life in America and longs for her family left behind in India. She soon becomes pregnant and is thrilled to give birth to a healthy boy, whom they name Gogol.

Like most children of first generation parents, Gogol is a fully assimilated American child and has difficulty accepting the “limitations” of the immigrant family life. One of the most frustrating and embarrassing aspects of his Indian roots is his name — “Gogol.” The young man grows up, graduates from college and moves away to New York. He has various relationships with women but ultimately ends up marrying a young Bengali woman that he grew up with. It is not an arranged marriage, but is a “comfortable” marriage since both young adults share a common upbringing and customs, etc.

Over time, Gogol is able to define his place in America. His marriage fails, but he becomes confident in himself as he succeeds as an architect. He is ultimately able to merge his Indian traditions with his American customs so that he can feel comfortable in his place in society.

Reviewed by: Debbie Weiss

4 Petit Fours

Barnes & Noble   /  WorldCat  /  Kobo  / Indigo  / Abebooks  / Half.com  /  Audible  / Alibris /  iBookstore  /  Google eBooks  / Better World Books  / IndieBound  / Amazon

Review originally posted at the Women’s Book Reviews.  Check out the site for more great reads

~~~

Thorns of Eden

By Diana Ballew

http://www.dianaballew.com/

The Wild Rose Press

ISBN: 978-1-60154-957-0

Major Rayce Hampton is the Confederacy’s final hope to turn the tide of war. Haunted by heartache of generations past, love is the last thing he has on his mind when he meets Eden Blair.  The emerald-eyed beauty is as headstrong as she is tempting but Rayce must keep his wits – and his secrets – as he executes his dangerous undercover mission to save the South.

Accomplished nurse Eden Blair has secrets too … only she doesn’t know about them yet. Stung by her fiancée’s betrayal, she has no reason to trust the scandalous Major Hampton. But as Yankee troops close in, Eden must take refuge in the major’s mysterious ancestral home, leading her into the shadowy corners of deceit and desire, where endless love lurks within every soft whisper.

It has been too long since I’ve read a historical set during the Civil War. I was excited to have a chance to do so again. The story takes place in and around Richmond, Virginia before it was taken by the Union Army. The author did a nice job of showing the horrors of the Civil war in the US.

I loved the hero’s name. Rayce sounds so heroic and I wasn’t disappointed, he was. Eden was also much like her name implies – soft, sweet with a will of iron beneath. This book has some surprising twists and turns that adds some excellent texture to the story.

I enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a good historical read set during the 1860s this would be a good choice.

Reviewed by: Susan Carlisle   

3 Petit Fours

3 Hot Tamales          

Amazon.com  /  The Wild Rose Press  /  Buy for Kindle  /  Buy for Nook

~~~

**The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.**

By Tami Brothers

A couple of things before I get started.

1) The winner of the $5 Amazon gift card from the comments on my February 7th blog post, New Year, New Resolution, is Linsey Lanier!  Congrats Linsey!!! Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll get that sent to you ASAP!

2) If you are here from my personal blog and the Feeling Lucky blog hop (that starts tomorrow), leave a comment below and mention that you found this post via the hop.  I’m giving away a special $5 Amazon gift card for my Feeling Lucky friends.

(*hint* for my PF&HT friends, leave a comment letting me know you want to be a Feeling Lucky friend, then comment on my Feeling Lucky blog post tomorrow and I’ll add your name to the drawing*)

Okay, now for your regularly scheduled program.

~~~

Most people would go for the figure skating.  Others would enter the relay races.  Me?  I’m going for the Olympic GOLD in Organization.  Seriously folks.  I might actually need a 12 step program.

Last month I blogged about making 2012 my year of physical and spiritual growth.  I gave up drinking Starbucks and Sodas thinking that would be the best way to take control of some of my bad habits.  After a bang up job in December, I found myself falling off the wagon (with the sodas) just two days into the next month.  Not my finest idea.

January I had planned to give up cakes and candies.  February was cutting out chocolate.  With January being The Kid’s birthday and February the month of LOVE (Valentine’s Day), I set myself up for complete and utter failure.  In my defense, I wrote some of my quality of life goals onto slips of paper and drew random pieces, matching them up with each month of the year.  I think the Fates were laughing their @$$3$ off with that idea.

Instead of giving up on the idea completely, I decided I needed some outside help.  I needed a better plan. And I needed a bit more structure.  

I found exactly what I needed when I picked up the book Organize Now – A Week-by-week Guide to Simplifying Your Space and Your Life by Jennifer Ford Berry.

I can’t tell you how incredible and life changing this book is.  I honestly thought I had dug deep last year with the changes I made.  I’m finding out that was child’s play compared to what I’m working on now.

The author breaks things down into manageable chunks and then breaks those chunks down into smaller week long projects. She goes further and breaks those weeks down into specific things to do, as well as specific things to do in the months to come.

I’m working my way through the beginning section, Organize Yourself.  I’m taking my time through this one because I really want to be honest with myself.  I’m also working on the section, Organize Your Papers.  I’m incorporating this with an article I read from The Wall Street Journal, 25 Documents You Need Before You Die.  Seriously, folks, take a moment and read this.  Many of you will already have some of these things done, but the big question is if something happens to you, can your family easily find them?  My answer was no and I don’t want to leave The Kid in a state of chaos if the inevitable does happen.

So, this is my big 2012 change-up.  I’m still working on my spiritual growth. I started a beginners Yoga class once per week. Although I’m a complete klutz, this is going very well.  I also started a spin class.  My bottom hurts like crazy and I’m nowhere near able to stand up in the “stirrups” yet.  Although I am able to lean and straighten when the instructor prompts.  I think that goes a long way towards my original thoughts on this year long project.

That’s my status update.  I feel like I’m barreling along and making more progress than I planned by this point.  Along with that, I feel a thousand times better, both with the de-cluttering and with the personal growth.

How about you?  Any resource recommendations that would help our readers on their path to physical, spiritual or de-cluttering growth?  How about any thoughts on gathering those important documents into one locatable area?  Any tips with this would also be GREATLY appreciated.

Leave a comment with a tip or idea, or share your 2012 goal progress and I’ll draw a name to win a $5 Amazon gift card.  Winner will be announced on my Thursday, April 5th blog post.  Winner of my Feeling Lucky blog hop for both the comments here and for the blog hop entries will be announced on my personal blog on Wednesday, March 14th.

Happy (early) St. Patrick’s Day!