Fresh Friday Recipe Swap 1.29.10

Isalys's Choice:

5-Layer Mexican Dip
Prep Time: 10 min | Total Time: 3 hr 10 min | Makes: 32 servings

What You Need:

1 can (15-1/2 oz.) refried black beans

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

3 green onions, sliced

1/3 cup sliced black olives

1 tomato, chopped

Make It!

MIX beans, chili powder and cumin; spread onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate.

TOP with layers of remaining ingredients.

REFRIGERATE several hours or until chilled. Serve with tortilla chips.

How yummy does this look??

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Vanessa's Choice:
Ritz Cheesy Football
Prep Time: 15 min | Total Time: 5 hr 15 min | Makes: 32 servings

What You Need:

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing

2 green onions, chopped

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 pkg. (3 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits

2 Tbsp. pimiento strips

RITZ Crackers

Make It!
BEAT cheeses and dressing with mixer until blended.

ADD onions and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate several hours.

FORM into football shape on serving plate; coat with bacon bits. Add pimento strips for "lacing." Serve with crackers.

ENJOY!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Last week, Vane gave us a delicious recipe for a Slow Cooked Tex-Mex Chicken that I decided to make for me and my hubby on Sunday :) I improvised a little by adding some scallions, cilantro and extra veggies. It was a really easy recipe to make and came out pretty darn good! Cooking the chicken in the slow-cooker all day made it really tender :)

Here's a pic of my version:

Wicked Wednesday Winners!

Here are the winners for the 1.17 - 1.27 Giveaway!

Winners for Sleep No More by Susan Crandall

1. CrystalGB (Have Address)
2. Lczinha (Have Address)
3. Jane (Janie 1215) (Have Address)
4. cacopeland (Have Address)
5. tweetybrd22 (Have Address)

♥♥♥♥♥

Winners for Love in 90 Days


1. Estella (kissinoak) (Have Address)
2. Elaing8 (Have Address
3. rojosho (Have Address)
4. Maria B (Have Address)
5. Isolde C (Have Address)


Yayyyyy!! Congratulations!!

Don't forget to check out our current giveaways listed on the sidebar!

iHeart Thursday 1.28.10

I just HEART everything about this picture! There is something so romantic about it ♥

Old books are a thing of beauty for me. I even love that old musty smell from paper that's been aged for years & years. They are left-over pieces of a time where books were more valuable and admired than they are today.

I even love the bookmarks...how feminine & cute are they?!

I look at this picture and I can see myself sitting in a beautiful parlor, sipping tea with my closest friends while we read aloud.

Ok, so maybe this just goes to show that I really was born in the wrong time...lol!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I ♥ my pens!
These are the Staedtler® Triplus Fineliner Porous Point Pens, 0.3 mm, Fine Point, Gray Barrel, Assorted Ink, Pack Of 20. I bought them at Office Depot for $14.00. It may sound like a lot to some folks but trust me, $14 on a beautiful assortment of pens is NOTHING for me! I carry these pens with me EVERYWHERE I go, you just never know when you may need them. I ♥ writing in different colors and making little swirly's on everything. It just makes a page that much cuter, don't ya think?


If you iHeart something and want to share it with us, please just leave your link in the comment box :)

Blog Tour: A Highlander's Destiny by Melissa Mayhue

Title: A Highlander's Destiny
Author: Melissa Mayhue
Published: October 2009 by Pocket Books
Pages: 384 pgs, Mass Market Paperback

Reason for reading: We are participating in a blog tour (non-giveaway) courtesy of Sarah from Pocket Books.

Synopsis: The Nuadian Fae have discovered a long-forgotten path to dark powers and all that stands between them and the helpless Mortal world is Jesse Coryell. Another failed romance and Jesse's disillusioned. Even spending time in the Realm of Faerie and training as a member of the Elite Guard hasn't made him happy. Something he can't identify is missing in his life and according to his magically gifted niece, Rosie MacKiernan, that something is his destiny. When Jesse intercepts a letter from Destiny Noble, a young woman desperately searching for her missing younger sister, life and destiny collide. Not even Destiny's Faerie heritage and her ability to see glimpses of the future can protect the pair from the unknown evils they'll face. But, if they're lucky, the magic of True Love just might save them both before it's too late...

Isalys's Review:
Destiny has been searching for her missing sister for a while now, with nothing to guide her but the visions that appear in her dreams. Those visions led her work as a gypsy-clad fortune teller at a Renaissance fair. There she would meet the man dressed in black who would help her find and rescue her sister.

Jesse Coryell works as a private investigator of sorts for his father's company. As half-human/half-fae, his clientele isn't always a normal one. However, despite everything he has going for him, he's discontented, in a rut and freshly dumped by his most recent fling. He has decided to become a Guardian for the Fae and move to Scotland...now he's just has to let his family know. One day, after having an eerie conversation with his precocious little niece, he finds a letter addressed to his father's company requesting their help in locating a missing girl. Intrigued by how it relates to the message his niece gave him, he decides to take on her case...in an unofficial capacity. He will be Destiny's "man in black".

Destiny refuses to believe that her sister is dead. What she doesn't know or could ever have expected was that she and her sister are both part Fae as well and Leah was kidnapped by a sinister Fae that wants her for her blood. And so begins Jesse and Destiny's hunt for Leah...

Overall, I liked this book. The story was interesting and the plot was intriguing - I wanted to find out what was going to happen to Leah and if/how she would escape Adira [evil Fae]. I also enjoyed reading about the chemistry between Jesse and Destiny. They had an interesting dynamic in that each of them were equally attracted and yet frustrated by the other. Sometimes Destiny's stubbornness would annoy me, but if one of my siblings was missing, I suppose I would do anything and everything in my power to get them back too! What I did like was how Destiny was the one to initiate a relationship with Jesse (you go girl!)

In truth, my only complaint about the book is that sometimes the language seemed a bit old-fashioned coming from a 20-something girl. I found myself slighting editing some of the dialogue so it sounded like something I [as a 20-something girl] would say.

I give this book ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Tuesday Teasers & New Releases 1.26.10

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 a couple of “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:
Ok, so today I'm sharing two teasers. They're both so good, I just couldn't pick one so you're getting both :) They each give you an idea of some of the drama that this book deals with!

1) "He and Zsadist were twins, after all. Holy shit, this was trouble - of the bury-your-dead variety. Two bonded males tied to the same female were a lethal combination to begin with. Make that two warriors and you had the potential for serious injury. Vampire were animals after all."
~p. 80

2) "He imagined her in that pipe in the ground. Frightened, in pain, cold. Then he imagined the lesser doing what he did to her, holding her down while she struggled and screamed. This time Z knew what he felt. Vengeance. Icy cold vengeance. So much of it the shit ran straight into infinity."
~p. 87 from "Lover Awakened" by J.R. Ward

Rant or Rave Monday 1.25.10

♥ Isalys's Rave ♥

So this is actually more of a bitter sweet Rave. Many of our local Borders Express and Walden Books are closing their doors :( I don't think this applies to any of their main (big) branches, only their smaller ones. Nonetheless, we must bid them farewell!

Why is this my Rave post for this week? Because it means that the entire store is on uber, mega-clearance :) and that means that my money will take me extra far and get me a zillion more books than usual and that makes me very happy!

This weekend...and the week before that...and the week before that, Vanessa and I went to Borders Express and ransacked what was left of their YA and Romance section. (Side note: All YA was 60% off and Romance was 70% - woot!) Book stores should have grocery carts available for people like us because our arms can only hold so much!

See...
Pfft...I don't think I have a problem! *insert sarcasm here*

But at least I'm not alone...I've got my book soulmate/partner in crime with me :)

I can't say that I actually bought ALL those books [at one time] because if I had, my husband would probably throw me in a padded van. However, I will say that I'm out-growing my current bookshelf at lightning speed! LOL

Fresh Friday Recipe Swap 1.22.10

Vanessa's Choice:

Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken
Prep Time: 15 min | Total Time: 6 hr 15 min | Makes: 4 servings

What You Need:

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch-wide strips

2 Tbsp. (1/2 of 1-1/4-oz. pkg.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix

2 Tbsp. flour

1 each green and red pepper, cut into 1-inch-wide strips

1 cup frozen corn

1-1/2 cups TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese

Make It!

TOSS chicken with taco seasoning and flour in slow cooker. Stir in vegetables and salsa; cover with lid.

COOK on LOW 6 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 3 to 4 hours).

STIR just before serving; top with shredded cheese.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Isalys's Choice:
I love bananas and I found this yummy recipe that I wanted to share with you. Must be the monkey in me :)~

Banana Pudding Squares
Prep Time: 10 min | Total Time: 3 hr 30 min | Makes: 24 servings

What You Need!

35 Reduced Fat NILLA Wafers, finely crushed (about 1-1/4 cups)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine, melted

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

3 bananas, sliced

2 pkg. (1 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding
3 cups cold fat-free milk

1/2 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, grated

Make It!
MIX crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish. Refrigerate.

BEAT Neufchatel and sugar in medium bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spread over crust. Top with bananas.

BEAT pudding mixes and milk with whisk 2 min.; spread over bananas. Top with remaining COOL WHIP and chocolate. Refrigerate 3 hours.

ENJOY!

iHeart Thursday 1.21.10

This is my idea of a PERFECT DAY!

I love everything about rain...the smell, the sound.
It makes me feel so peaceful!

Like me, my mom loves the rain. When I was a kid, we would open the front door of our house and just sit there curled up in a blanket together and we'd talk while we watched it rain. I know it sounds totally cheesy, but I promise it's true! {hehe}

And really, what is better than enjoying the sound of the rain slapping against your window while sipping a cup of tea and surrounded by a pile of books?
Nothing!

I truly believe that it's the simplest and quietest moments in life that are the most pleasant!

PS: Dangit, now I wish it was raining and I was home! Oh well...

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Speaking of rain... is he not the cutest little owl you've ever seen?!
Here's a little tidbit about me that only my closest friends know....
I ♥ owls!!

I love them! I think they're the cutest! Whenever I see anything with owls I HAVE to have it!

When I get old, instead of being the "crazy cat lady", I think I'm going to be the "crazy owl lady". That's fine by me =)
I embrace it!

Book ♥ Soulmates is on Facebook

We are branching out and we now have our own, official Facebook page!


We'll be using our new page to stay connected to all our favorite authors & followers along with hosting monthly book discussions, sharing photos and much more.

If you're on Facebook, we'd love to be your friend.

Find us at: www.facebook.com/booksoulmates

Wicked Wednesday 1.20.10 {Part 2}

*Google Doc form is fixed!*

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway {Part 2}
Jan 20 - Feb 3

Other Current Giveaways:
Sleep No More by Susan Crandall {Ends Jan 27}
Love in 90 Days by Dr. Kirschner {Ends Jan 27}

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Giveaway:

Seduced by a Rogue by Amanda Scott


Synopsis: A fair-haired beauty at 19, Lady Mairi is heiress apparent to her father Lord Dunwythie's rich barony. He has carefully taught her how to manage their estates, but a feud between his clan and the Maxwell clan is brewing as the two families edge toward a clan war - their dispute over money owed. Mairi's father believes he owes nothing, and of course Mairi sides with him.

When the impulsive and blue-eyed Rob Maxwell chances to meet Mairi in a barley field, they feel instant attraction, despite their families' antagonisms. Knowing he must put his clan first, Rob enacts a plan to force Dunwythie to pay his debt: Rob kidnaps Mairi, making the abduction appear the work of a stranger; then he and his sheriff-brother offer to help Dunwythis rescue his daughter IF, and only if, he will pay them the monies due. Yet after Rob captures Mairi's body, she captures his heart. When Dunwythie summons the aid of the most powerful clan in all Scotland (the Douglases), clan-tensions rise to a fever pitch. Love takes its own feverish course, as Mairi and Rob join forces to prevent a clash between hot-headed clans, and to protect their budding love.

Author Website

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Wicked Wednesday 1.20.10 {Part 1}

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway {Part 1}
Jan 20 - Feb 3

Other Current Giveaways:
Sleep No More by Susan Crandall {Ends Jan 27}
Love in 90 Days by Dr. Kirschner {Ends Jan 27}

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

Giveaway:
A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine


Synopsis: SUITED FOR SEDUCTION

Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family's celebrated couture collection for her exhibit. So when she's called in to make sure the gowns are the real deal, she's ecstatic...until a dress she's examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he's sure he can't trust her. But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them...and memories both bitter and sweet. Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than...

A BLACK TIE AFFAIR.

Author Website
Author Photo and Bio
Author Twitter

{5 Copies Available}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for being a follower
+1 for following us on Twitter
+1 for following us on Blogged
+1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
+1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
(Please include a link to the post)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

Good luck!

Tuesday Teasers & New Releases

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 a couple of “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!

Vanessa's Teaser:
" As I pushed past Hunter, barely brushing against him, a sickening rush of energy hit me in my stomach - so hard that I gasped. He's put a spell on me, I thought in a panic..."
~p. 36 from "Blood Witch" - Sweep Series - by Cate Tierman

Isalys's Teaser:
"Destiny. Maybe that was what he needed. To search for what meant the most to him rather than simply allowing life to toss him around like a leaf floating on water. Maybe that was the whole key. Figure out who he was, what his destiny was, and that lonely hole in his soul would be filled at last."
~p. 23 from "A Highlander's Destiny" by Melissa Mayhue

Rant or Rave Monday *Updated*

MORE RANTING...

3:30 pm: So it seems I'm not done ranting for today! I was talking to Vane about our line-up for giveaways & reviews and in looking at our calendar, we have two scheduled for 1/27. One of them is Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione. This book happens to be # 4 in the Demonica Series which seems to be vastly popular...at least according to Goodreads, but I digress...

Last night, while we were at B&N I was looking for the others in the series so I can start building my Demonica collection. The only one on the shelf was "Pleasure Unbound". I have no idea what all these books are titled or what order they go in and of course, THEY ARE NOT NUMBERED!

Having no clue which one in the series it was, I didn't get it. Today I check, and it turns out it was # 1. THIS is what I was talking about *more grrrr*

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I have a rant today! A vast majority of the books I've been reading lately have been part of one series or another. I would probably go so far as to say that I prefer series because if I truly enjoy a particular story or I love the characters, then I simply don't want to let them go. However, there is one problem that I have with most series and it's time I vent a little.

PLEASE INDICATE ON EACH BOOK WHICH NUMBER OF THE SERIES IT IS!!

I have read of a few books where the series is no more than maybe 3 or 4 books and those are pretty easy to figure out. On the other hand, I have read several that are up to 8, 10 or over a dozen books in a series and unless you tell me which book is which, then I have to go on a Chinese fire drill to figure it out. Now I know I could always count on Goodreads to tell me what order the books go in, but what if I'm at the store and I want to buy one? Should I really have to go to the trouble of looking it up on my phone when a tiny, little number on the spine or cover of the book will do the trick?!

Maybe we can start a petition? LOL!
I'm teasing...but hopefully one day, the powers that be will figure out that such a tiny little thing can make the life of a reader easier!

(Extra Rant 1.0: It has taken me 3 times to do this post because apparently my computer is having a case of the Mondays. I'll put it to you this way; if my computer had a neck, I'd probably be choking it right now *grrr*)

Have a pleasant day everyone!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm raving today about an Author Event we went to last night for...
**Drum Roll Please**

Richelle Mead author of the Vampire Academy series!!
*Jumps up and down*

Nely, from All About {N}, joined us as well as Cynthia (one of our top commentors & also Isa's childhood friend) and Isalys's awesome book wormy mommy!

We all had a WONDERFUL night! Richelle read an excerpt from the upcoming fifth book in the Vampire Academy series and also spoke about her writing process as well as some of her other works. Afterward, we went to our favorite hot spot, Barnes and Nobles, and we each bought some pretty awesome books. (As if we needed any more! Can we say, "addiction?" yeahhh!)

(For more information on the series, stay tuned for Isalys's upcoming review(s) on the Vampire Academy Series and Author Spotlight for Richelle Mead!)

Review: Bound by your Touch by Meredith Duran

Title: Bound by your Touch
Author: Meredith Duran
Published: June 2009 by Pocket Books
Pages: 368 pgs, Mass Market Paperback
Reason for reading: Received from Pocket Books for review.

Isalys's Review:
Lydia Boyce is the eldest daughter of Henry Boyce, an archeologist who has spent a large part of his life digging in Egypt in search of rare artifacts. Lydia lost the man she loved to her sister and by 26 years old, accepted her fate as spinster and head of the family. One of her responsibilities was securing funds for her father's expedition(s). She was attempting to do this during a meeting with some very important and wealthy gentlemen when she was rudely interrupted by James Durham, Viscount Sanburne. James, by all accounts, had only one purpose in life and that was to make his father miserable. It seems he was the Victorian frat-boy spending most of his nights drunk gallivanting around town and his days hungover.

Needless to say that upon first meeting, the only sparks that flew between Lydia and James were sparks of irritation. She was angry that he would dare interrupt her meeting and he was angry that she would making him look foolish by proving him wrong in front of everyone attending the meeting, including his father. What neither one of them knew at that moment, was that their encounter was the catalyst for the end of a career and the beginning of a love affair.

I loved Lydia's character. She was a proper Victorian miss while being intelligent and educated which is something that I respect in female characters. She was innocent when it came to love and intimacy, but still had a hint of daring and a sarcastic streak that intrigued James and made her fun to read. James took a little longer to warm up to because it seemed he was nothing more than a rake. However, it's not until you learn more of James' family history that you begin to understand the reasons for his behavior. As a reader, you begin to understand James right along with Lydia. His need to drink was his way of dealing with a guilt that he couldn't shed. (No spoilers here!)

James and Lydia both came from troubled families. What they had no way of knowing is how during the course of their relationship, their own relationships with their families would change drastically and they would learn that they must only trust each other.

This was the first of Meredith Duran's novel and I became an instant fan of her work. I found her writing to be very intelligent and witty! The plot was captivating, heart-breaking but hopeful all at the same time. It takes true talent to pull that off :) Everything about the story simply made sense from character reactions to the pacing. Not to mention that the banter between the hero & heroine was amusing. A book that can make me smile gets a thumbs up from me!

Here's a quote from one of my favorite scenes:
(James, Sanburne) "She pursed her lips. The movement exposed a hint of dimple. In conjunction with her starchy manner, it seemed wholly incongruous. A mere anatomical fluke, he told himself, just a trick of her tightened lips. Nevertheless, he found himself staring at it, wondering what he might do to make it deepen. Breathy gasps, flashing dimples: the idea came that Miss Boyce's body liked to sabotage her."

a moment later into their conversation...

"Her mouth tightened further. Christ, but that dimple conspired against her. It drew attention to her mouth, which was overly wide and completely unfashionable, and suggested prospects that were not appropriate to the moment. Or, for that matter, precisely legal."

Definitely worth ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cover Art: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carrol
Illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia

Isn't it FANTABULOUS?! Release date February 2, 2010

Amazon said:
"This edition of Alice′s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, one of the most popular works of children′s literature of all time, follows in the track of a recent successful Collins Design title: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrated by Calef Brown and published in sync with the release of David Fincher′s film starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.

This new edition of Carroll′s cult classic, designed in a compelling package and priced affordably, will publish in sync with the release of one of 2010′s major Hollywood films. According to Variety, Tim Burton′s forthcoming movie is generating a lot of buzz as one of the year′s biggest. And it′s got an all-star cast to draw in audiences and position our book nicely in the market: Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Alan Rickman (Caterpillar), Helena Bonham-Carter (Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (White Queen), Michael Sheen (White Rabbit), Crispin Glover (Knave of Hearts) and Australian actress Mia Wasikoska (Alice).

The style of Camille Rose Garcia′s work has a dark yet Disney-esque sensibility that strongly recalls Burton′s aesthetic, so book buyers and readers will both readily make that visual connection, which should help both buy-in and sell-through.

Think Alice goes Goth, and you′ve got the magic of this special book."

About the Author: Camille Rose Garcia was born in 1970 in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the generic suburbs of Orange County, where she visited Disneyland and went to punk shows with the other disenchanted youth of that era. Her paintings of creepy cartoon children living in wasteland fairy tales are critical commentaries on the failures of capitalist utopias, blending nostalgic pop culture references with a satirical slant on modern society. Her work has been displayed internationally and featured in numerous magazines, including Juxtapoz, Rolling Stone, and Modern Painter. In 2007, a retrospective of her work, titled Tragic Kingdom, was on display at the San Jose Museum of Art, accompanied by a catalog of the same name. She has also written and illustrated a children's book, The Magic Bottle. The recipient of the Stars of Design award from the Pacific Design Center, she recently moved to the Pacific Northwest after thirty-eight years in Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit Amazon (Note: This link is not to a personal account/store)

Fresh Friday Recipe Swap

Isalys's Choice:

Chicken Parmesan Bundles

Prep Time: 35 min | Total Time:1 hr 5 min | Makes: 6 servings

What You Need:

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained

1-1/4 cups KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese, divided

6 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness

1 egg

10 RITZ Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)

1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, heated

Make It!

HEAT oven to 375ºF. Mix cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan until well blended; spread onto chicken breasts. Starting at one short end of each breast, roll up chicken tightly. Secure with wooden toothpicks, if desired. Set aside.

BEAT egg in shallow dish. Mix remaining Parmesan and cracker crumbs in separate shallow dish. Dip chicken bundles in egg, then roll in crumb mixture. Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF). Remove and discard toothpicks, if using. Serve topped with spaghetti sauce and remaining mozzarella.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Vanessa's Choice:

I'm choosing a Healthy Dessert for this Fresh Friday =)
New Year, New Resolutions, New "Me"

Quick Double Chocolate Mousse
Prep Time: 15 min | Total Time: 35 min | Makes: 6 servings

What You Need!
1-1/2 cups cold fat-free milk, divided
2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 pkg. (2.1 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP FREE Whipped Topping, divided
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Make It!
MICROWAVE 1 cup milk and chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min.; whisk until chocolate is melted. Add remaining milk and dry pudding mix; beat 2 min.
Refrigerate 20 min.

WHISK in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spoon into 6 dessert dishes.

TOP with remaining COOL WHIP and berries.

ENJOY!

Nutritional Info:

Calories 140 / Total fat 4.5 g / Saturated fat 3 g /Cholesterol 0 mg / Sodium 250 mg / Carbohydrate 24 g/ Dietary fiber 2 g / Sugars 11 g
Protein 3 g / Vitamin A 4 %DV / Vitamin C 4 %DV / Calcium 8 %DV /Iron 8 %DV /
Healthy Living Information: Low fat
Diet Exchange: 1-1/2 Carbohydrate + 1 Fat

Nutrition Bonus:
This luscious chocolatey dessert, made with better-for-you products, not only tastes great but it can also fit into your healthful eating plan!
Carb. Choices: 1-1/2

iHeart Thursday 1.14.10

I live in a 2-story house and never really thought about the empty space under the stairs. It's there, it's empty, oh well...

But someone, someone incredibly smart, decided to use their empty space for something truly ingenius!

Voila...

Really, how awesome is that?!
Now if I an only convince my husband to let me cut out the wall by the stairs and add shelves.
**sigh**

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I soooooooo want a wall of books!
(That's one of my new years resolutions)
*Sigh*


If you iHeart something and want to share it with us, please just leave your link in the comment box :)

New Movie Announcement

I have some veryyyy exciting news! I don't know how late I am on this, so if I am "sorry" but I'm going to share it with you all anyway :)

There's a new movie buzz going around that Lionsgate picked up the film rights to...da-da-da-dahhhh....THE HUNGER GAMES!!

***woo-hoo***
(does happy dance)

This is all very new so there isn't much info available on dates, casting, etc. Right now, there's an estimated release for 2011. I know that's still pretty far away, but I'm happy just knowing that it's on the horizon!

We also know that Nina Jacobson is slated to be the Executive Producer and Ms. Suzanne Collins herself will be writing the screenplay. I think that's pretty darn fantastic because who knows the story better than its creator, right?

Here is a little video/trailer goodness for you:

For those of you who are fans of the Hunger Games and are familiar with the characters, who would you like to see play the roles of Katniss, Peeta and Gale?

I'm not really sure who I'd like to see as Katniss, but I imagine someone like a young Angelina Jolie. What do you guys think??

Want more Hunger Games?
Visit the Hunger Games Fan Site