A Book in Review: This is Where I Leave You

I just read the novel 'This is Where I Leave You' by Jonathan Tropper.  I bought it a long time ago and just got around to reading it well, mostly the yesterday.

When I first started reading it, I thought to myself... goodness this is depressing, but it turned out to be a really good read.  It is a bit different the way it is set up... by days and certain hours in those day, but it flows smoothly.

I don't really want to say much about this book, because I feel if I describe it, it will take away from the reading experience.  All I can say is, you should give it a try.

4 out of 5 stars, I really liked it

The Finished Strawberry Cake

I had a little time to make the Easy Strawberry cake the other day, before heading to bed.  Not only was it super easy to make, like the name states, but it was also very tasty and pretty!

Here is the link to the recipe: Easy Strawberry Cake

The Czech Republic

I think I mentioned this before, I am going on a Mission trip to the Czech Republic, this summer.

I am very excited about this, even though it has yet to really sink in.

If you would like to read about my team members and the Chicago team, that we are running the English camp with, click on this link:  Czech Mission Teams



P.S.-  I hope to make the Strawberry cake from my last post, tomorrow!

Easy Strawberry Cake

Thanks Smitten Kitchen!  I cannot wait to try this recipe out!


Easy Strawberry Cake

Makes a 9-inch cake

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

1 egg


1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Cream together the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla and mix until combined. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until incorporated. 

Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch cake pan. Place the strawberries, cut side down, on top of the batter. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar on top and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325 degrees and bake for another 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan. 

Source: Smitten Kitchen

Update:  6/28/2012-  This is in the oven right now and it looks fantastic!  I cannot wait to taste it!

The Laundry Mat and the Grocery Store

Today is Memorial Day.  I am thankful for those who have given their lives, fighting for our many freedoms.  I am also thankful for the many friends that I have, who serve in our military currently.  My hats go off to them today!

Even though it is a holiday, I needed to do laundry something fierce!!  And I really do not like to grocery shop... the last time I went was about a month and a half ago.  Let's just say I have been really hungry the last few days.  Granola bars don't carry me for very long... and I have 2 left! Ha ha.

So, naturally I took care of both situations today.

Let me say that I learned something doing my laundry today, and that is, that there are three types of people at the Laundromat.

1.  The Normal-  You can decide what normal is for yourself, but these people are like me.  We want to get in and out.  Be done as fast as possible, so that we can get on with the rest of our day.

2.  The Crazies-  These people are like the man I encountered today.  He yelled at a woman for drying her clothes... and then  accused her of bringing in wet clothes and then using the dryers.

3.  The Pushy-  These are the people that put there stuff right up against yours, on the folding table.  So, you move over a bit... and then low and behold there stuff is right up against your stuff again.  This keeps happening, until you are straddling your laundry cart and are folding your things in 2 inches of space.  How did this happen?

If you were previously unaware of these three types of people, like I was, I hope I have encouraged you to look deeper into your surroundings, when next at the laundromat.  Ha ha.

At the grocery store today, I was thankful to be there when all of the Stater Brothers, at the same time took a minute of silence for all fallen military personnel.  I was surprised by the amount of people who actually stopped everything they were doing to be a part of this. It made me happy to see this type of respect/ patriotism for our country.

What ever you are doing today, think of those you know, and maybe those you see from afar... that give their time (family, personal) for you and me... so we may live the lives we chose to live.