Teaser Tuesday & New Releases 11.10.09

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
  

Isalys's Teaser:
"My world was, and is, me and death. It's a lonely place to live, but I thought things were getting better; I was wrong."
~p. 3 from "Meridian" by Amber Kizer

Vanessa's Teaser:
"Caterina gasped as he explored her dampness, gripping his shoulders as he eased in first one finger and then another, stretching her in preparation for his possession."
~p. 218 from "Sins of the Flesh" by Caridad Pineiro

New New New! iHeart Monday 11.9.09

Good morning sunshines and welcome to a new week!!

So we did a little thinking this weekend and decided that it was time for some change on Book ♥ Soulmates. It's out with the old and in with the new! We'll be saying good-bye to a few old memes and saying hello to some new ones...but don't worry, a few of our favorites like Wicked Wednesday and Fresh Friday will be staying!

Our first change is bye-bye "Manic Monday" and helloooo "iHeart Monday".

"i heart" is a really fun meme introduced to us by our wonderful amiga Nely at All About {n} and we just couldn't wait to jump on board :)

Every Monday, we'll be sharing something (anything) that we love with you and we encourage you to share something that you love with us!

Today, we iHeart Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley is a designer line of feminine handbags (and oh so much more) introduced to Isalys by a friend some years ago. The founding duo that is Vera Bradley became known for their signature 'all fabric' purses in fun & colorful patterns; patterns that when you see them down the street have become synonymous with this brand.

Isalys got her first V.B. purse as a gift in the very popular Java Blue pattern and soon fell in love! Her collection is slowly growing and now includes: (3) purses, (1) giant weekender tote, (1) wallet, (1) eyeglass case, (1) notebook, and even (1) lunch bag in a variety of 4 different patterns. She has converted her mom into a bonafide V.B. fan and is now working her magic to get Vanessa to become a fan too :P *hehe*

Vera Bradley's products are not only fun, flirty and sassy but also really practical. Their all fabric purses can be tossed into the washer & dryer and come out good as new without damaging the purse...what other purse can say that huh? Plus, because they are all fabric, they're uber flexible so you can fit a TON of stuff in them and usually come with a bunch pockets for extra storage.

You can check her out at Vera Bradley.com
Their products are available at any V.B. Boutique shop, Hallmark, Crabtree & Evelyn and yes, even Barnes & Nobles now carries them too *yayyy!*

Ok, enough sales...

Isalys iHearts her Vera Bradley notebook and lunch bag in Bali Blue
(which she got at Barnes & Noble)


Isalys: I used my Bali Blue journal to take notes of our trip while in the UK. It's got a magnetic flap to keep it closed and a string book mark. As for my lunch bag, I can honestly say that I don't leave home without it :)

Vanessa iHearts this Vera Bradley Pen & Pencil Set in Imperial Toile
(a new and fabulous brown & pink pattern)



Vanessa: I have to admit, it took me a while to jump on the Vera Bradley band wagon b/c I usually go for simpler looks. All that changed a few weeks ago when I was in B&N with Isalys and I saw (and fell in ♥ with) this pen/pencil set. I ♥ the design! I ♥ the colors! It's soooo.... ME! I cannot wait to buy the purses and all the other cute thingies in this collection! =)

That's it for this post. We hope you guys are as excited about this new meme as we are!

Have a fantastic Monday!

Fresh Friday 11.06.09

Vanessa's Choice:
Quick Taco Salad

Prep Time: 30 min| Total Time: 30 min| Makes: 4 servings

What You Need:

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onions (about 1 medium)
1 pkt. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1/4 cup water10 cups torn romaine lettuce (about 1 large head)
1-1/2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 2 medium)
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 cups tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing

Make It!
BROWN meat in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat to skillet. Add onions; cook 5 min., stirring occasionally.

ADD taco seasoning mix and water; mix well. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 3 min.

DIVIDE lettuce among four plates. Top evenly with meat mixture, tomatoes, cheese and tortilla chips. Drizzle with dressing.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Isalys's Choice:
Triple Layer Mud Pie

So last week I had my family over for Sunday dinner and I made this new dessert. I had to share with you all because it was so easy to make and totally YUMMY :) I would have taken a picture of it but it was devoured! I definitely plan on making it again!

Prep Time: 15 min | Total Time: 3 hr 15 min| Makes: 10 servings

What You Need:

3 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted
1/4 cup canned sweetened condensed milk
1 OREO Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans, toasted
2 cups cold 2% milk
2 pkg. (3.9 oz. each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

Make It!
MIX chocolate and condensed milk; pour into crust. Sprinkle with nuts.

BEAT 2% milk and pudding mixes with whisk 2 min.; spoon 1-1/2 cups over nuts. Stir 1/2 the whipped topping into remaining pudding; spread over pudding layer in crust.

TOP with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate 3 hours.

Tuesday's Teasers 11.03.09

Shhh! Do you hear that? Listen carefully!

It's the sound of the bookstore calling your name :o)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
  

Here is Isalys's teaser for this week:
"He'd faced capture and torture and the imminent prospect of his own death for years on end, but for the life of him, he hadn't a clue how to respond to this small slip of a girl. So it was perhaps just as well that a shot rang out at that moment."
~p. 65 from "To Desire A Devil" by Elizabeth Hoyt

Note: Tomorrow we will be hosting a blog tour and giveaway for this novel so come back tomorrow for your chance to enter!

Shout out to my B♥S

Vanessa is one of the few friends that I have that truly shares in my love of history and all things English (hehe). I couldn't help but think of her while I was on my trip wishing that she could have been there with me because she would have been blown away by all the sights...plus we would have had a blast :)~

I made a quick little video for her...so here it is!

I {heart} my book soulmate!