September-December Books.

I am so behind! I have also been so busy that I have done next to no reading these past few months. September and October were full of reading travel guides and planning for Europe and since we have been home it has been busy busy busy with Christmas and everything.

Professional Blog.

So I have big plans to get caught up on some blogging. I did go to Europe after-all! However with life and now starting my Masters that is going by the wayside. As a part of a class assignment I will be blogging here for the next little bit, so check it out.

https://stephaniehartford.wordpress.com/ 

Pumpkin Puree.

I know this is a little late, I started writing it, almost finished and then jetted off the Europe for a few weeks, so the whole blogging thing fell to the wayside. So here it is, not super useful now, but next fall I highly recommend it!

It is Fall. Therefore it is everything pumpkin. I, like 90% of people seem to be obsessed with everything pumpkin. The downside, everything store bought is super high in sugar or in quantities to feed a family not two people. If I buy an entire pie, I will then eat an entire pie. So with my love to bake I have been searching Pinterest for some healthier pumpkin alternatives. Most recipes called for canned pumpkin, but at almost $4 a can, it was looking like an expensive fall season.
I was at the market yesterday and saw a section of pumpkins labeled 'pumpkin pie pumpkin's'. I had no idea what that meant, but I assumed that somehow I could turn that pumpkin $2 or 3/$5 into a pie. I had no idea how to turn said pumpkin into a pie, but I was determined. I then came home and was very disappointed in finding no information on how to make the pumpkin into a pie. So after searching a number of resources I figured I would wing it. It turned out great and with one small pumpkin I made a skinny pumpkin loaf and pumpkin zucchini dark chocolate chip loaf with some left over.

Skating Lessons.

I have been feeling very blessed as of late. I am lucky enough to have a job I love, that also allows me to have a ton of flexibility due to the limited number of hours I work. One of the major perks is that Thursday mornings I am able to spend hanging out with my crazy niece. We have so much fun. A few weeks ago she started skating lessons. 

July/August Books.

Reading the past few months has been slow as most free time has been spent preparing for our european adventure coming up in a few months, but some of what I have been reading has been great.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - I started reading this on recommendation from a coworker, the perks of working at the library is that your coworkers are always reading and know a good book. It was just what I was looking for, action packed with a twist and a bit of romance thrown in. If I must compare it I would say it is a little Hunger Games/ Divergent esque. Basic concept, in the future love is a disease and if caught you are said to have delirium. It is a horrible thing and there is a cure when you turn 18. The story is of a girl who is about to turn 18 and falls in love. It ends on a cliff hanger which does not disappoint in the second book. Well worth the read.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - This is the follow up to Delirium, there are actually three and I am currently waiting for it at the library. The book was good. Potentially even better than the first, which is a rare thing. It was written in a similar style as Gayle Forman's books 'If I Stay' and 'Where She Went' which I love, the one present chapter and then one past. It also leaves you at a point where you become desperate to read the next book. I am excited.

The Giver by Lois Lowry - Read this book in preparation to see the movie that was in theatres. Little did I know that the movie was only in  our local movie theatre for about a week and therefore I had missed it. It was an easy read, but a wonderful one. I had read it back in about grade seven but did not remember much about it. I enjoyed the plot and the fast pace that I was able to read it. The only down side was the ending. The ending of the book, not giving anything away, left me furious! It kind of just ends and leaves you guessing as to what happens next. I get that then allows you to guess as to what happens next and believe what you want, but lets be real, I am not having that. I finished it late at night and was so frustrated that I had to immediately download the next book (I had no idea there was a next book) in desperate need to figure out what happened. Not impressed.

Cycle of Lies by Juliet Macur - This book was the first non-fiction audio book that I have listened to. Next time I will pick something a little more action packed. It was a little dry. A little too naming names and drugs and hard to follow along with. A number of times I wished it would just end, but I stuck it out until the end. Don't get me wrong it was interesting, I was once a huge Lance Armstrong fan, I wore a yellow rubber bracelet for years, and understanding just what was actually going on all that time with all of the lying and cheating was intriguing however I might have been more satisfied had I just read a ten page magazine article over listening to over 8 hours of an audiobook.