thespoonieandherbooks - Tumblr blog

[thespoonieandherbooks]

I bought this so I could have something where hammering was creating something and not too destructive. This pack came with the stamps, hammer, and circle metal pieces to write shit on it with. I saw on one of the craft blogs how people use sharpie to darken the words on the designs. I tried it but I preferred how I was doing it — but I did smash the words into the blanks thick enough that you couldn’t mistake the lettering. So, that did help a lot. It works well enough. The only thing that was frustrating is on the brass hammer is it a screw on / off. While hammering I have to twist it back on after awhile. While it does get scratched up I didn’t notice it interfering with the ability to hammer the letters. I was surprised at how easy it scratched up — as I don’t slam the hammer too aggressively. This can stamp metals and wood. I haven’t tried wood yet — but will update if/when I do that. Overall, it’s great for I am using it for — as a stress relieve crafting.

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-impressart-metal-stamping-kit.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#Review: #ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit – Basic Uppercase (3MM), Ergo-Angle Hammer, Steel Bench Block, Stamping Blanks https://ift.tt/2xilXRO

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#MidnightOnTheRiverGrey #NetGalley https://ift.tt/2IQRKjz

[thespoonieandherbooks]

Title: Midnight on the River GreyAuthor: Abigail WilsonPublish day: July 2, 2019 Publisher: Thomas Nelson Description via Netgalley: She knew the house was keeping secrets. If only the darkness would speak . . . After her elder brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian. Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path. Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she developed feelings for the man she swore to see hanged? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future? Review: This is DNF book. I was drawn in by the description and the bookcover. Felt like something that would interest me — I like historical, romances, and murder mystery of sorts. For me, the dialogue caught me off guard and felt unnatural. Other reviews found this an enjoyable read something that caught them from the start. However, that didn’t happen to me and it felt like a chore to get through. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley — free to read in exchange for an honest review.

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/06/midnightontherivergrey-netgalley.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#GottaCatchHer #NetGalley https://ift.tt/2FAyfKd

[thespoonieandherbooks]

Title: Gotta Catch herAuthor: Kelly Haworth & on TwitterPublish Day: April 29, 2019 -- out now!Publisher: NineStar PressRating: 🥄🥄🥄 Description The story revolves around Ann, a project manager with a dog and Rachael a store manager (I think?) with a child. Ann has a crush on Rachael -- after finding one another through Ani-Min -- a game that takes people outside to catch virtual animals. Ann has to balance work -- which is intense ATM -- and trying to develop a real relationship with Rachael. Can she though? Review: What drew me into this was their use of a Pokemon Go game/augmented reality game wrapped into a romance story. That and the love interest is a bisexual woman. The conversations and the real life thrown into the story is there and happens naturally. While we're seeing Ann in her work environment -- it's often the worse part of the story in my opinion. It talks about things that she's going to have to do..then she has a conversation about what she's going to do. So, we're getting double-dippings of the going ons with her in the job world. I know IRL, that's literally how you have conversations with your co-workers, especially, if you're not interested or close to them. Her interactions with Rachael and her son are quick glimpses before she's pulled back into her work life. It feels like we're supposed to be reading about the work life and the writing just remembered in spurts that there was also supposed to be romance. The writing and the interaction with the characters feel more natural and flow better when it's focused on the relationship. Overall, it's a short read -- while the romance is slow to come to the surface and things get moving.. it's good enough read to recommend. Almost forgot -- Downloaded from Netgalley thanks to the publisher / netgalley -- free eRead in exchange for a truthful review :)

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/06/gottacatchher-netgalley.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

Title: Little WitchesAuthor: Leigh Dragoon Oni Press Publish Day: August 29, 2019 Rating:🥄🥄🥄🥄 Description Way I see it as I read: An Alternate reality of Little Women. It's a graphic novel that tells the tale of sister witches who get new neighbors...witch finders. Review I have never finished the original. I had it on my Goodreads Currently read list for years. I finally took it off of there out of pure shame of it all. It's not bad it's something that I should have read when I was a kid. It gets shoved to the side for a newer, shinier book. Instead of reading the original... I read Little Witches a comic adaptation of the original. Do you see what I mean? It's not that I don't love the story it's just... haven't finished. However, this mixes in fantasy of witches and an alternative reality of sorts. Which is in my ball park. I couldn't afford comic books or graphic novels growing up. Libraries around me didn't house any --- they're more popular to have around these days and easier to access. I find them AMAZING for children and for adults (cos hello!). This was a fun and interesting read. I've provided 2 amazon affiliated links to find the pre-order -- as this doesn't come out until August 29th. It's available on Netgalley at the moment to request to download and review though.The girls get a new neighbor -- witch finders. Witches aren't hidden and are seen and known. The service that witch finders provide is to help against the witches who don't follow the laws. At the beginning of the story their neighbor explains he became a Witch Finder because in the south... slave owners abused their powers and used them against their slaves. Overall I like the tone, pacing and the story line. As the spoons above indicate I give this a 4 spoon out of 5. I would recommend for those who have read Little Women or who have tried to read it and haven't got through it yet. Thank you for allowing me the time to read and review this for free in exchange for an honest review.

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/05/littlewitches-netgalley.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#LittleWitches #NetGalley http://bit.ly/2WO7GYA

[thespoonieandherbooks]

Teach Your Kids How To Cook I made enchiladas a few days ago: I'd apologize for the rusty stove top. But it's not my stove. It came with the house and there's not much we can do with what it looks like. We clean it but it never looks clean. I wasn't taught how to cook by my mom. My dad, it was a point of pride as a man that he didn't know how to cook a lot. Since I didn't have any at home cooking lesson. I went where any millennial would go -- YouTube and cooking blogs. I found one where with the enchilada sauce they put cream cheese in it. So, that's what I did. I'm not doing that again, I'm just going to prep regular never wrong enchilada sauce like I knew I should have I forgot to take the chicken out of the fridge I woke up late and forgot to take the chicken out of the fridge. Like our stove the fridge came with the rent house. It sucks, you can take things out of the freezer and it'll continue freezing in the fridge. So, to quicken things I googled if I could defrost the chicken in a crock pot. Thankfully, you can, so that's what I did. I learned that you shouldn't start seasoning until after chicken or anything really is no longer frozen. Thank God for the internet. I started to freakout thinking I put too much seasoning in this. Every 1.5 I'd throw more cayenne & garlic salt. At one point I accidentally peppered it and put cinnamon in it. At the end of this it was a gurgling red-pink thing from everything. I was weirded out that everything red I put in here turned pink. And, hoped it wasn't a bad sign. But then I did add salt, pepper, garlic salt, cayenne and taco seasoning by the end of its time in the pot. So who knows (probably someone that isn't me). No one in my family or anyone on internet would reassure me. So, I would ask for advice on the internet or my family. No one was HELPING. Which didn't help my anxiety at all. By the time the chicken was out of the crock pot some of it not only thawed but also cooked. For my boyfriend to be able to eat this by the time he got home.. I had to take it to the oven to cook. I put more seasoning and cooked it in the liquid from the crockpot. I started to wonder if I was supposed to use butter at all. I'm so used to home cooked meals having butter in some form that I wasn't sure. My sister started handing out advice AFTER I COOKED THE MEAL. AFTER. Not,y'know, when I was asking for it. After I took a picture I put more seasoning on this. My anxiety levels to settle it was just: PUT MORE ON IT WHO CARES AT THIS POINT( I did). Then, I watched a YouTube video where they're all: If you use flour tortillas you're going to get soggy enchiladas. Which tortillas do you think my boyfriend purchased? So, there went my anxiety again. I don't know why, it's not like I was making this to win a cooking show or serving this to someone I wanted to hire me.I was just more concerned about not killing anyone who I fed this to. What they looked like after I rolled the tortillas with chicken and cheese. The cream cheese gave my sauce this funky color. It was orange. It was as thick as they said it would become. I shouldn't have put it in. But I was splicing together recipes to get something edible. And, I like cream cheese so I mean I figured may as well. It was edible and no one died. My boyfriend went for seconds. I walked some over to my sisters house so she could eat some. I sent some home with my other sister the day after that. So, it was a win. I plan on seasoning the chicken even more and not ever putting cream cheese in an enchilada recipe ever again. The day after we made BBQ chicken sandwiches with the leftover chicken from this. It was good, like, my enchiladas were the right amount of spicy. But combined with the BBQ sauce it added to it so much. This was my first time cooking with chicken, a crock pot and making enchiladas. I hope you all have parents who help you learned how to cook so you're not an almost-30 year old having a panic attack for half a Saturday. This took like, roughly six hours to cook because I forgot to defrost the chicken. Recipe: Links are Amazon Affiliate thank you! 2 packages of boneless breast chicken (Or something? just make sure it's boneless)2 packets of taco seasoning (McCormick but sadly, they're non-GMO)8 oz of cream cheese (I don't recommend this at all).Chicken broth but I didn't have any so I used waterGarlic Salt (I'd recommend anyone who doesn't promote NON-GMO).Lemon juice (I used realemon that I bought for another dish that I never made). I just put enough to smell just a hint of itGround red pepper - McCromick ..sadly they're NONGMO labeled, tooPepper - McCromick ..sadly they're NONGMO labeled, too.Olives - I used a lot because I like olives I even mixed it in the sauce then added more before cooking. Any that aren't NONGMO.Tortillas - Honestly flour or corn. Warm the corn ones up though so they' don't crack. Don't over sauce flour because they start ripping when rolling after dipping it in sauce.3 Mexican shredded cheese. Or the 4 one,really. This also tastes good on top of goulash (I know not this recipe but it's a good cheese blend.) Cinnamon (Powder and it was accidental. thankfully iddn't make a difference taste wise).Enchilada SauceChicken:gently placed in a crockpot filled with water (or chicken broth if you remembered to buy some). Crockpot put on high, put 1 packet of taco seasoning in. Then every 1.5 hours garlic salt, cayenne, pepper and some lemon juice. Can be finished in the oven if you're running out of crockpot time and it's almost dinner time. In oven: High, 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Then can lower that to 350-300 for another 30 minutes. Check to make sure it's cooked thoroughly and don't assume the time + temperature I'm giving is the right one for you. Mine cooked at 400 degrees in 30 minutes after sitting in the crockpot for over two hours. SO. Shred the fuck out of the chicken once it's out. Get busy with it, shredded to perfection is the best of bets. Enchilada sauce:I didn't make homemade I bought it -- anything that isn't NONGMO. Heat it up, throw some olives in (not a half to I just really like olives), cut 8 oz of cream cheese in (don't do this part), taco seasoning ( just do 2 packets of this on the chicken not the sauce). Flour tortillas: You didn't buy corn sooo. Don't oversauce, the tortilla will start ripping from the sauce. Otherwise, dip in sauce then throw cooked chicken, and cheese, roll. Place in pan. Realize that you made too many pre-dipped tortillas that can't fit in the pan. Ignore them and keep going. Corn: heat them up before you start rolling they'll probably crack on you otherwise. Cook for another 30 minutes to bind everything together. Pray, and then eat. Just make sure everything is cooked, that you washed your hands throughout the meal making, and that you enjoy the experience. Whether you follow this recipe or not... just have fun. And, remember if you followed this recipe but changed a bunch of shit it's no longer this recipe. K,thx.

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/05/enchiladas-post-includes-recipe.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

Enchiladas Post (includes recipe). http://bit.ly/2HlzfmM

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#Gardening #Outdoors http://bit.ly/2JBQba5

[thespoonieandherbooks]

When I found out that I was being let go I was devastated. I planned on creating an outdoor space to hang out in over the summer. There was going to be a need for somewhere that I could distress as I started job hunting again. I am chronically ill so I was needing a way to do this without a lot of back-breaking intensive --a n y t h i n g. I was able to purchase: I have discovered that the porch on the other side is decent size. Since we don't use it to enter/leave the house... I decided to put this there. I was nervous because it does have mixed reviews. It came to us in good condition, everything is sturdy and nothing busted. It fits perfectly on our porch. The patio bistro set in my "front" yard. My boyfriend and I moved into this rent house last July. I started a new job at the beginning of August so didn't wander over to this space that much since. It didn't help when we moved here there was a TON of wasps over there. I wasn't going to deal with it. Anyway, seating for me is a complication because I deal with fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Means things have to be comfortable or I feel like I am being tortured. Thankfully, this is comfortable enough for what I need it. I can sit here for 10-20 minutes and have no issues. I haven't sat in it longer than 20 minutes (I can't be in the sun very long due to medication.. I'll fry). The cat pots I got from Walmart and the tiki thing from Dollar General. You can see the Backyard X-scape fencing in the background on some of the images. The house next door is starting to get a lot more visits from whoever owns it. I suspect that it was recently purchased and they're house flippers. It seems that they're fixing it up or I'm basing that off the noise I hear on the other side of the fence. It's not a thick and can see through it. But it gives enough to the illusion of privacy for sitting out, watering plants or whatever. I can't really afford anything heavier and wouldn't be able to work with something heavier. My sister had to help me put this thing up. Not that my boyfriend wouldn't help assemble something but it's my desire to pretty up the side of the house on my own accord. The barrel that is shown in the picture. It's big, slightly heavy -- with the assistance of my sister I was able to fill it with dirt, plant the flowers and she moved it to the sunny point of my yard for me. I wish I had saw these before purchasing my first two pots. I like the roominess and the fact that there are decent already drilled holes in this. I plan on getting another one to plant the flowers that I couldn't fit in the planters that I purchased on the last check. I over purchased flowers. Plus, I have seeds that I plan on starting this week. I purchased a couple pots that don't have draining holes that I'll have to get someone to cut holes into because... that is above my ability to do. But overall, this has been the best distraction -- while pricy at first I'll be using it a lot over summer break. What do you do when you're stressing out?

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/05/gardening-outdoors.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#LiteraryPlaces #NetGalley http://bit.ly/2IjIxkW

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#LiteraryPlaces #NetGalley Posted on March 17, 2019 by Spoonsnbooks   Name: Literary Places Author: Sarah Baxter Publish Day: March 5, 2019 Downloaded from: Netgalley (I’m auto-approved with quarto publishing) these are all free in exchange for honest reviews. Description: Inspired Traveller’s Guides: Literary Places takes you on an enlightening journey through the key locations of literature’s best and brightest authors, movements, and moments—brought to life through comprehensively researched text and stunning hand-drawn artwork. Travel journalist Sarah Baxter provides comprehensive and atmospheric outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Full-page color illustrations instantly transport you to each location. You’ll find that these places are not just backdrops to the tales told, but characters in their own right. Travel to the sun-scorched plains of Don Quixote’s La Mancha, roam the wild Yorkshire moors with Cathy and Heathcliff, or view Central Park through the eyes of J.D. Salinger’s antihero. Explore the lush and languid backwaters of Arundhati Roy’s Kerala, the imposing precipice of Joan Lindsay’s Hanging Rock, and the labyrinthine streets and sewers of Victor Hugo’s Paris. Delve into this book to discover some of the world’s most fascinating literary places and the novels that celebrate them. My review: It’s a short book with description of famous places in literature. Great for someone who absolutely loves reading about certain books. I’ve only read a few of the books that are mentioned in this book. Covers Les Mis, Ulysses, A Room with a View, Crime and Punishment, Wuthering Heights, The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird — and more! A great guide for someone who is familiar with most of the literary locations. I am only familiar with a handful.

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/04/literaryplaces-netgalley.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#AscendantRevolution #NetGalley Posted on February 18, 2019 by Spoonsnbooks   Title: Ascendant Unrest Author: Matthew S. Cox Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press Publish Day: July 24, 2018 Two weeks after Maya tried to change the world, little has changed. Little, except for a nine-year-old’s building fear that her ex-mother’s revenge waits around every corner. When her face appeared on every still-working video monitor along the Eastern Seaboard, streaming her plea and her evidence all over the planet, she thought they’d won, but her fairy tale dream died. The Authority did not become noble overnight, no longer simple thugs for Ascendant. Her ex-mother did not face punishment for her crimes. The lack of any retribution, or even any effort on the part of the Brigade to hide her, only fans the flames of her worry. To make matters worse, her best friend Sarah is hiding a painful secret. Maya’s fears come to fruition in the middle of the night. In a hail of gunfire, she flees into the dangerous streets of the Habitation District, rife with dosers, street gangs, corrupt Authority officers, chased by an unknown enemy worse than Ascendant. They don’t want to kidnap her―they want her dead. Review: This is a sequel — the first is called Heir Ascendant . The cover that is for the official book is prettier .. I know we don’t read for pretty covers but it is different than the one on Netgalley. Ch.1 “Unease had moved into Baltimore Habitation District. It became the awkward neighbor lurking in every shadow, acknowledged by cautious vigilance and knowing glances among the locals, but never challenged aloud.” Good read, interesting post-world focused on Maya. The only thing I have negative to say is…kidnapping? Again? Whhyy? Lol. Otherwise, good story. This is available as an eBook on Amazon — can buy or read through Kindle Unlimited. I was able to download through Netgalley freely in exchange for free review. Thanks

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/04/ascendantrevolution-netgalley.html

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#AscendantRevolution #NetGalley http://bit.ly/2UPrsVK

[thespoonieandherbooks]

#TheThornQueen #NetGalley Posted on March 21, 2019 by Spoonsnbooks The Thorn Queen Title: The Thorn QueenAuthor: Elise HollandPublisher: SparkPress Is the entire Above-world here?” She whispered. “Yes,” the tree whispered back. Page 1, The Thorn Queen by Elise Holland Description Welcome to Glendoch! Hidden to most, this glacial world once crackled with alchemy. Now it waits for war—divided and bound by strict rules. So when twelve-year-old Meylyne falls from a tree onto Glendoch’s sickly prince, she must flee or face imprisonment in the Shadow-Cellars. The only way she may return home is with a cure for the prince’s peculiar disease. Convinced she will perish, Meylyne and her companions embark on their journey—and before they know it, they are knee-deep in a plot to sink Glendoch into shadow, like other worlds before it. Poisoned guardians, cursed wizards, and cunning witch-spirits bound into wands are just some of the dangers that dot the way of their travels. And behind it all is the Thorn Queen. Mysteriously magnetic (or murderously vengeful, depending on whose side you’re on), she is always one step ahead of them . . . My Review: Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for a free honest review. I’ve linked to where you can purchase a copy, the author’s website for this book and the publisher. An interesting middle-grade level story. Definitely not for my age range. I plan on purchasing a physical copy for my niece who ..will enjoy this a lot more than I did. It was not the point of this story to appeal to me but to the age range. I feel this book did it well.  

http://glitchthespoons.blogspot.com/2019/04/thethornqueen-netgalley.html