Top Summer Reads 2012

Well I am very happy that summer is just around the corner, as I'm sure you are too. And one of the best parts about summer and the beach/lake/mountains is getting done with the books that have been piling up all year. So here is a list of the books that I'm excited to read. 

The Hunger Games(The Hunger Games #1)- By Suzanne Collins

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337122323&sr=1-1

Caching Fire(The Hunger Games #2)- By Suzanne Collins

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Fire-Hunger-Games-Book/dp/0439023491/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Mocking Jay(The Hunger Games #3)- By Suzanne Collins

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Book/dp/0439023548/ref=pd_sim_b_3

The Help- By Kathryn Stockett

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Help-Deluxe-Edition-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399157913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124095&sr=1-1

Water for Elephants- By Sara Gruen

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen/dp/1565125606/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124071&sr=1-1

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- By Stieg Larsson

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Millennium/dp/0307949486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124032&sr=1-1

Grace for the Good Girl- By Emily Freeman

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Good-Girl-Letting-Try-Hard/dp/0800719840/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337124005&sr=1-1

The Wedding- By Nicholas Sparks

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wedding-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446615862/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123648&sr=1-1

The Lucky One- By Nicholas Sparks

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lucky-One-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446698342/ref=pd_sim_b_22

Redeeming Love- By Francine Rivers

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Love-Francine-Rivers/dp/1590525132/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123814&sr=1-1

Pride and Prejudice- By Jane Austen

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486284735/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123840&sr=1-1

Captivating- By John and Stasi Eldredge

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Captivating-Revised-Updated-Unveiling-Mystery/dp/1400200385/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123872&sr=1-1

Crazy Love- By Francis Chan

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Love-Overwhelmed-Relentless-God/dp/1434768511/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123895&sr=1-1

Dear John- By Nicholas Sparks

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Dear-John-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446567337/ref=pd_sim_b_14

Blue Like Jazz- By Donald Miller

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Like-Jazz-Nonreligious-Spirituality/dp/0785263705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123921&sr=1-1

Walden- By Henry David Thoreau

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Walden-Henry-David-Thoreau/dp/1619493845/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123945&sr=1-1

Same Kind of Different as Me- By Ron Hall and Denver Moore 

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Same-Kind-Different-Modern-Day-International/dp/084991910X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337123973&sr=1-1

Food: Homemade Granola

   I don't know about ya'll but I LOVE granola, but for some reason it is so expensive. I tried out a few recipes and combined my favorite parts of both. This final recipe is my favorite granola I've ever had. AND it relatively cheap to make, and stores for up to 3 weeks. 
Ingredients;

3 cups Oats

2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

1/3 cup Clover Honey 

1/4 Tsp Sea/Kosher Salt

1/3 cup Chopped Almonds

1/3 cup Unsweetend Cocoanut Flakes

1/4 cup Sunflower seeds

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl 

Separate onto 2 cookie sheets, flatten until 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick.

Bake for 25-30 minutes

Let cool, then store in air tight container (I stored it in a mason jar and it lasted for 3 weeks)

Food: Double Chocolate Cupcakes

   I made these cupcakes for mothers day, which is tomorrow. They turned out amazing! 

   The cupcakes are made without eggs or butter so they are a bit more healthy than traditional cupcakes. But the Frosting does have butter and milk in it. I got the cupcake recipe from site, and tweaked it a bit. 

The cupcakes are from;

http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2012/05/eggless-moist-chocolate-cake-no-butter.html.

   Ingredients for Cupcakes;

2 cups All Purpose Flour

3/4 cup Vegetable Oil

1 1/4 cups Water

1 1/2 cups Sugar

1/2 cup  Unsweetened Cocoa 

2 TSP Baking Soda 

1 TSP Vanilla Extract 

1/4 TSP Salt 

    Directions;

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Sift Flour, Cocoa, Baking Soda, and Salt
3. Mix the Water, Oil and Vanilla in a bowl. Stir in Sugar gradually until fully dissolved.
4. Add in the Flour mixture, stir until well combined, its okay if there are a few lumps they will bake out.
5. Separate into cupcake tins.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.
7. Let cool, then frost. 

Step 2 

Step 3 

Step 5

Steps 6 & 7

Yard Sale Finds: Beautiful Print of France

I was yard sale'ing the other day, and I came across the most beautiful print of a painting. It was in a golden frame, and was a few feet wide and tall. I asked to owner how much for it, I was shocked when she said $3!!! Needless to say I bought it. So here it is; 

Sorry about the glare...