Lindsey B.

Living the Dream… On Drama Behind the Scenes

Published on 19th Nov 201919th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

Today’s post is brought to you in total transparency. It’s so easy to see things that are Insta-worthy without seeing behind the scenes. A perfect snippet of someone else’s life is never the full story and while many people have it all together, I don’t think anyone has it all together all the time. Not me. Definitely not me. We’re a hot mess over here and I’m not even sure about the hot part.

Today was one of those days. I’ve written about them before. It started out with potential, but slowly went downhill. I quit running my errands because I thought life would be a bit smoother from the comfort of my home. Alone.

I had about 10 minutes. Then I heard rattling in the drawer under my oven (I keep nothing in this drawer anymore.) Child #2 came in off the bus. No big deal. Compromise over snacks and how many episodes of Bizaardvark he could watch. Told him to check the drawer before sitting his butt down on the couch.

We’ve caught a mouse… but he’s a feisty little guy and somehow only got his back leg trapped. I cried. (I hate mousetraps, but I hate mouse mess even more.) Little buddy decided to try and escape the drawer while dragging the trap and he is frantic and fast. I ended up bagging him and slipping him out of the trap out the back door. I have no hopes for him and now think I’m the worst kind of person. At least I didn’t poison him and the birds of prey too.

Things settle down. Cue the drama surrounding chores and homework. No more negotiations. Child 1 comes in off the bus and stirs the pot. Okay, then… it’s going to be one of those nights. Cue the raised voice reminding both brothers to leave each other alone and do. their. things. without causing a hassle.

Child 2 decides that instead of chores, he needs to use the bathroom. Fair enough – except he always seems to need to use the bathroom ONLY when he should be doing something else. It’s remarkable how his 12-year-old body rhythms work with hardly an interruption to TV or other screen time.

While in the bathroom, he got bored. Bored! So does he finish and go about his (other) business like any child who isn’t interested in driving his mama to near-meltdown status? NO. He starts playing with the spring-like doorstop near the baseboard (with his stinky toes, I’m assuming.) He’s pushing my buttons. He’s irking his brother. For the love of pizza, please just use the toilet quietly, wash your hands, and GET. TO. WORK.

Silence. Sweet blessed silence. Followed by a frantic, “Mom, you’re not going to be happy.” (Hate to break it to you, kid. Mom’s already unhappy.) What did my darling delight of a child do? Not use too much toilet paper. Oh no, he did better than that.

He managed to get the doorstop IN THE TOILET with his turds. Thank goodness he didn’t flush. That would have done a number on our pipes… Mom to the rescue with fury on her face (“Why didn’t you listen and stop when you were told to???”) Trusty tongs in hand and problem solved. Apparently, he has grounded himself for a month… plus the dishwasher was unloaded in record time and he’s now doing his homework quietly. Does that count as a victory?

So parents, when you’re feeling like you don’t quite measure up and life isn’t always picture perfect, at least your almost-teenager didn’t make you stick your hands in the toilet today. Dad says he’s not sure whether he’s angry or proud. Mom thinks we have more than one pest problem. We’re living the dream, right here.

Meal Plan Monday: November 18 Edition

Published on 18th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

My kids are heading out to more ‘things’ in the evening and this seems to cover the dinner hour – no appeasing two different appetites on these nights (impossible!) I count that as a win. However, the driving back and forth doesn’t seem like a win and Kevin’s been working erratically “late” some evenings. Even when I meal plan, things seem like a bust – and it’s often on the fly.

I do, however, continue to try. I dont always share our menu or mealplan because I don’t often feel its remarkable or that I’m successful in sticking to it. Despite that, every week I have at least a loose plan going in before I tackle the groceries. Making things interesting is the desire to clean up my freezer/cupboard/fridge. My in-laws leave us with their freezer contents every time they winter in Florida. We have so. much. pork. at the moment. It helps with my grocery bill, but I come to a halt in creativity while still trying to find balance.

This afternoon, the boys headed to a paint party. They are literally painting the walls of a new youth room and the leaders are buying pizza. Kevin and I had tomato soup I found buried in the forgotten corner of the freezer. I served it with a fried egg, salami (there were 2 slices left), and cheese on some slightly freezer-burnt toasted English muffins. Gourmet dinner it was not. Curbed the hunger? Absolutely. Wednesday will most likely be another day I can cull the fridge of leftovers as I’ll be on my own. Or perhaps I’ll indulge, and grab takeout mango salad on the way home.

Here’s the rest of our menu for the week:

steak, potatoes, caesar salad, and carrot sticks
crockpot pork roast with rice and broccoli slaw
pulled pork tacos
slow cooker jambalaya (minus the shrimp) – I’ll be giving this recipe a try for the first time and using turkey sausage
dinner for 1 (soup, leftovers, or takeout)
Spinach and chicken pasta

What do you prepare when you’re cooking for one? How do you deal with fluctuating schedules and last-minute change of plans while still cooking at home? Share your wisdom, please! We want to know what works for other families.

Book Review: Code Name Lise by Larry Loftis

Published on 11th Nov 201911th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

I am not a big fan of non-fiction. It can be so dreary and difficult to read. Give me fairy tales and love stories and make-believe any day. This is a review on a work very relevant to today. It is most definitely not fiction.

“But Lindsey, if you don’t enjoy non-fiction why would you request such a title?”

I asked myself the same question many times over the last few months. In fact, I downloaded the advanced copy of this book on April 12th. It was published May 9th. I reluctantly dug in this weekend.

The answer to the question above? Sheer curiosity. I am so glad I indulged this whim. “Code Name: Lise” highlights the remarkable life of Odette Sansom, Britain’s most highly decorated WWII spy. A true story loaded with facts regarding an incredible woman. There was no drudgery involved in the reading.

While based on first-hand accounts, the author did a remarkable job of bringing factual information into a beautiful and exciting tale that will leave you in awe of the mission and the exploits and the incredible courage and humanity of a very normal woman. Perhaps not normal – Odette was almost unbelievably amazing – but normal, in that she was a wife and mother who just wanted to contribute something bigger than herself. Loftis presented her story richly and with colour, weaving a beautiful narrative through a terrible time in our history.

With Remembrance Day observed here in Canada today, I’m particularly glad I dove into this one. The timely reflection on the absolute sacrifice and suffering of people serving their country for a greater purpose at absolute cost to themselves was significant. The book was easy to read, yet painful, and evoked great emotion.

I would highly recommend this for anyone who has an interest in general WWII history and for those who enjoy fiction along these lines with romance and bravery (i.e. fans of The Nightingale.) Once you get into it, Code Name: Lise reads like fiction while being entirely based on fact. Incredible.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary digital copy of this title for review. All opinions are my own. (Seriously. Go pick up a copy of this book!)

I Stood Outside

Published on 11th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.1 Comment

I stood outside our township offices today. I was wrapped in my winter dress coat. It has a beautiful shawl collar which stupidly gapes across my neck and upper chest allowing snowflakes to settle in. I wore a warm pair of dress pants with my office flats. Without socks. It snowed. The temperature was -2°C. By the time I returned to the car, my toes hurt from cold. In my office, I’ve turned on the little heater under my desk. My toes are slowly thawing.

I stood outside our township offices today. I smiled in pride at the lines of elementary students from a local school standing alongside me. I gave a nod of my head when a young lady who is a part of our local fire department walked by in her dress uniform. I worried when a frail old man walked across the slippery sidewalk, wreath in his hands. I wiped away a tear when I heard the same family name called three times. I stood in silence as those around me stood in silence too.

I stood outside our township offices today. I stood with legions of others across Canada, putting aside our own discomforts and priorities to honour those who have served, who have sacrificed, who have given their very lives for a better world. I stood with hope that we can learn from past mistakes. I thought of those who marched, who lived in trenches, who found themselves tortured, imprisoned, illness and injury. I stood with gratitude, deep in my heart, that we stand a country, a nation, strong and free.

I stood outside our township offices today. I stood for freedom. I stood for honour. I stood to remember. I stood for those who can no longer stand for themselves. I stood outside our township offices today in front of a cenotaph, names of those loved and lost, but not forgotten. I stood outside our township offices today to remember… lest we forget.

Follow In Your Mother’s Footsteps… or Not

Published on 6th Nov 20196th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.1 Comment

Today was Take Our Kids to Work Day in Ontario – an initiative of The Learning Partnership. Long story short, it’s meant to provide Grade 9 students with the opportunity to see future careers in action.

Now, you may not know this, but this mama is not college educated. My career is self-employment providing administrative and clerical services, with our local church being my major contract. My job is not glorious, not much of a glamorous career. I’m not complaining about it, but it’s not very exciting in the whole “let someone shadow you” realm of opportunity.

My kid elected to come to the office with me this morning instead of with his father who runs digital printing presses and creates artwork. I’m not sure what he was thinking.

Besides being unable to connect to the internet, our day was rather uneventful. He created a logo for a program and a subsequent Facebook page. I walked him through the steps of our Sunday readiness checklist. He helped me design a flyer and tickets for a Christmas program and restocked the pews with Connect Cards and pens. He assisted the youth pastor in setting up for the after school drop in program. He stole my swivel chair.

By lunchtime he was spinning in circles. I’m quite certain that all we determined is that he won’t have a career doing any sort of grunt office work. In his words, “(My) job is pretty boring. All (I) do is answer email all day.” Pretty much, kid. Pretty much.

Book Review: Lake Season by Denise Hunter

Published on 6th Nov 20195th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.1 Comment

“The first story in a brand-new series, Lake Season invites readers to the Bluebell Inn in a small North Carolina town where a lost letter, a chance for new love, and old secrets beckon.“

Family, relationships, secrets, struggles, life, love, loss – Lake Season by Denise Hunter has it all. With her characteristic charm, Hunter has developed this novel – to be released next Tuesday – beautifully. It’s an endearing first title in a new series (hooray!) that hits all the points.

The characters, the plot, the setting (oh my – the setting!) all meld into this sweet tale with elements of mistaken identities, romance, and small town life. Another definite recommended read – sure to be a success for Ms. Hunter and Thomas Nelson.

I read it in a single sitting and missed too much sleep, but it was worth it. Likeable, flawed characters and a familiar story done slightly differently, all I can say is if you’re a fan of contemporary Christian fiction, you’ll want to pick it up a copy next week and block off a chunk of time to cozy up with this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland

Published on 5th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

If you’re looking for a book to get lost in, I’d highly recommend the new release The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland. Touted as “…a wholly original, charismatic, and uplifting novel that no reader will soon forget.” Spot on. Released on October 29th by St. Martin’s Press, I was privileged enough to be provided with an Advance Reading Copy, that once again, I finished up just after publication. (Too many books, too little time…)

My thoughts on this novel are generally positive – it wreaked havoc on my emotions making me laugh, cry, and generally content. It provides a gripping fictional account of a heart transplant survivor who needs to learn how to live again. It tackles the frailties of being a patient staring death in the face, the emotional repercussions of survival, and the nuances of relationships after a literal life-changing event -sussing out the events life and love, family and friends. It’s the telling of Ailsa’s journey to ordinary after an extraordinary experience.

It’s clever and charming with a streak of no BS and I absolutely loved all the characters. Each one has flaws, personality, and something to love. The novel as a whole is both uneasy and affecting. You will feel everything Ailsa feels. The author has done a remarkable job of taking a serious issue and making it lighthearted, yet impactful.

Reader discretion advised for: language (it’s not all squeaky clean) and a couple other elements. I could definitely look beyond them in the greater scope of the novel – maybe not necessary, but they were just little blips on my radar thinking that others in my book-reading network are pickier than I might be.

Overall, this one didn’t follow my typical formula and perhaps isn’t even something I would have picked up off a library shelf. That said, it was a definite win and I’m glad I took a chance when requesting it for a preread. Delightful from cover-to-cover.

I was provided with a complimentary early digital version via NetGalley with my thanks to the publisher and author. All opinions are my own.

Meal Plan Monday: November 4th Edition

Published on 4th Nov 20194th Nov 2019 by Lindsey B.1 Comment

Let’s talk produce. I can’t be the only one who does groceries thinking she has lettuce or spinach in the fridge only to find out it’s now a slimy disintegrated mess! I even looked when I did my meal plan, but I guess the corner I peeked at was hiding the mess. We had to get creative with our wraps tonight.

Last week was a nightmare of low energy and extra commitments. My boys have completely taken over their lunches and I’m not sure they’re getting as many fruits and veggies as I would like. The flip side is, I haven’t wanted to fight the battle either… I feel like I’m constantly nagging and who has energy for that!? So they’ve been slipping when it comes to balanced lunches. The one boy is good at throwing something in – frozen mango seems to be the go-to, but has also been asking for pre-sliced apples. Neither is my ideal, but I count it as a convenient win.

So how do you make sure there is balance? How do you allow them responsibility and autonomy when it comes to food choices and still remind them to make wise choices without devolving into a battle of wills? This is where we’re at.

We discussed our meal plan as a family this week. My husband zones out for these conversations because he’s happy if he’s fed. The youngest won a meal for two in a costume contest and bent the rules a little. His night to cook involves eating out and we will forego date night this week. The oldest chose breakfast for dinner (which we ate last night), but is a win because he can prepare it and no one complains.

Here’s what our menu looks like for the week.

Chicken Cucumber Wraps
Dinner Out
Quesadillas (instead of date night)
Breakfast
Soup & Grilled Cheese
Flattened Chicken, Fresh Cut Fries, and Fresh Veggies
Beef & Broccoli on Rice

Sounds great… works for me…

Book Review: All Hearts Come Home for Christmas – Various Authors

Published on 29th Oct 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

I copied in a few weeks ago to enjoy this collection of Christmas novellas. (Side note: Novellas is a word that I use to annoy my husband. He has bad high school memories over a confrontation with a teacher in relation to this word. Like any good wife, I usually use it in the car when he can’t escape me.)

This collection includes :

Christmas at Falstone Castle · Sarah M. Eden

The Dowager Duchess of Kielder eagerly anticipates spending Christmas with her son and his family. Though their relationship has been strained, the duchess is determined to heal the chasm. Even with the help of the widowed local vicar, her plan will take a Christmas miracle. But during this magical season, anything is possible . . . even two second chances for love.

The Heart of Christmas · Anita Stansfield

When a chance meeting brings together a gentle seamstress and a widowed banker, each lonely soul finds a first hint of hope. As their lives become entwined, it will take Christmas spirit to guide a broken family to love and healing.

’Tis the Season to Be Daring · Esther Hatch

Elizabeth Davenport has had quite enough of the London Season. Determined to evade a parade of unsuitable suitors, she seeks help from the one gentleman who has no regard for Society’s rules. All of Society knows Lord Hawthorne is not interested in marriage, yet he cannot deny Miss Davenport’s unique charm. And as the Christmas season works its magic, their charade begins to feel less like playacting and more like love.

The Christmas Dress · Joanna Barker

Seamstress Nell Addington is thrilled when her childhood friend Jacob Hammond commissions a dress for his sister. But when Nell realizes her feelings for Jacob run far deeper than friendship, an unexpected snowstorm—and some holiday cheer—may convince them both that love is worth fighting for.

Overall, this collection is exactly as presented: heartwarming. Each story has it’s own quirks and themes, all with a historical, seasonal backdrop. There is nothing objectionable in the content – just a bundle of emotion- stirring, feel good reads to get you in a holiday mood. You’ll need some hot chocolate to round out the experience.

Publication Date: September 1, 2019

Publisher: Covenant Communications

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley, with thanks to the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

Published on 13th Oct 201911th Oct 2019 by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron is the latest in the Lost Castle series. You may have read my review for the previous book, Castle on the Rise, here, back in January. I mentioned in that review that: “The modern characters weren’t as well developed (in my opinion), but it was a colourful novel…” Same goes for this one!

That being said, I loved this book. It was even better than the second. It spans three eras and includes art, love, loss, mystery, war, and follows the stories of three women whose lives intertwine across time. If I had to pick a favourite timeline, I would say WWII countryside England… or would it be the Victorian Era portion where women of the upper class were under-estimated for any talents aside from needlepoint? I couldn’t choose. Even with my statement above regarding the modern characters, the contemporary storyline was still intriguing and enjoyable. The women are strong. Their stories are moving.

I love watching the threads unravel through the back and forth of the stories and then ultimately weave back into a beautiful tale of secrets and triumphs in a beautiful historical castle.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

I would recommend this entire series for those who enjoy a poignant, heartwarming read with a strong dose of mystery to untangle. Pre-order your copy of this title so you have it on hand for its Tuesday release!

Published by: Thomas Nelson Fiction
Publication Date: October 15, 2019