O{pin}ions

Sheesh, I don't know about you, but this last week just flew by!  Seems like I was just writing up my last O{pin}ions yesterday.  Anyway, I have a couple of reviews for you, lets start with a couple of books that I had pinned and have since finished.

Before I go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

The description on Goodreads is this:
"As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life."

My thoughts:
I thought this was a good book ~ I rated it 3/5 stars.  The storyline felt a bit repetitive at times, which I understand given the story line. It is about a woman who was in some sort of accident and since can only remember things from the day she is living. Once she goes to sleep all memories are gone and she wakes in the morning not knowing how old she is, where she is, or anyone in her life. However she is working with a new doctor, with a new treatment to hopefully help her regain some memories. There are twists and turns. This book will keep you guessing at the outcome. Can anyone be trusted? And I will admit, when I read the last chapter, I didn't want it to be over. I wanted it to keep going!

Sing you Home by Jodi Picoult

The description on Barnes and Noble is this:

"Every life has a soundtrack. All you have to do is listen.

Music has set the tone for most of Zoe Baxter’s life. There’s the melody that reminds her of the summer she spent rubbing baby oil on her stomach in pursuit of the perfect tan. A dance beat that makes her think of using a fake ID to slip into a nightclub. A dirge that marked the years she spent trying to get pregnant.

For better or for worse, music is the language of memory. It is also the language of love.

In the aftermath of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rage, some people—even those she loves and trusts most—don’t want that to happen.

Sing You Home is about identity, love, marriage, and parenthood. It’s about people wanting to do the right thing for the greater good, even as they work to fulfill their own personal desires and dreams. And it’s about what happens when the outside world brutally calls into question the very thing closest to our hearts: family."

My Thoughts:

Warning, my review may be a bit of a spoiler

I gave this book 4/5 stars. Honestly, I really didn't know what this book was about when my Mother-in-Law loaned it to me with a warning, "This book is a little different." And it is different. It is about views and perspectives you may not think about. I know I didn't. This book is about a man and a woman who are married and after 9 years of marriage, IVF, many miscarriages and a stillbirth the husband asks for a divorce. What happens to them as their marriage ends isn't what I expected, but what I could see coming based on the writer's storyline. The woman falls in love with another woman, the husband "finds Jesus" and moves in with his brother and his wife. Even though their divorce is final, there is "property" that has been forgotten, the 3 frozen embryos. Now, does the wife, whose new "lifestyle" her ex husband doesn't approve of get them, or do they go to the ex husband who plans on giving them to his brother and sister in law as they are unable to have children. This book is about religion, homosexuality, family and the law. The author does a good job assessing many different perspectives. I think this is a good book, one that will perhaps open your eyes to a new view, or at least give you something to think about.

Ok, enough about books, lets get on with some food!

or how about a beverage?

Perfect Sweet Tea

(via ~ Craving Comfort)

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it looked easy and refreshing.  It was easy and it is refreshing.  However, it is a little too sweet for me.  I will definitely make it again, but will use less sugar than is called for.  If you like sweet tea, I say give it a whirl!

Last, but not least:

Broccoli, Grape and Pasta Salad

(via ~ MyRecpies.com)

Pasta, grapes, onion, broccoli, pecans and bacon.... yes, please!  This was pretty easy to make (I hate cooking bacon which is why I say "pretty easy") and tasted yum-mmy!  Actually I made it yesterday and took it to our annual neighborhood "National Night Out" party.  It was a hit!  I will definitely be making this again.  

So, what have you been pinning and trying lately?

and

Does your neighborhood participate in National Night Out?

Oriental Chicken Salad ~ Copycat

I have to admit, I use to be a huge fan of Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad.  A huge fan until I found a "copycat" recipe somewhere online years ago.  Since then, I've been making this version of the salad at home. And actually, I ordered it one time when we had gone out and...... I decided I liked my copycat version better.

So, I am sharing it with you!

Dressing Ingredients (FYI, I usually double or triple this ~ like I said, I love this salad and have been known to eat it many meals in a row) :

Whisk together ~ 


3 Tablespoons ~ honey
1 1/2 Tablespoon ~ rice vinegar
1/4 Cup ~ Mayo
1 teaspoon ~ grey poupon dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon ~ sesame oil

Salad Ingredients (FYI, I never measure these ingredients out, but here's what the directions say) :

Chicken ~ you need chicken. And, if you want to make it like Applebee's then you should use breaded chicken.  Me, if you remember this chicken recipe post, I had hubby grill me some plain chicken so I could make this salad up and have everything already ready.  See, thinking ahead :)


and you need (like I said, I don't measure this out, and now that I actually look at the measurements, I make way more than it calls for!) :

3 Cups ~ romaine lettuce
1 Cup ~ red cabbage
1 Cup ~ Napa cabbage
1/2 carrot ~ shredded
1 green onion ~ chopped

Toss all of the salad ingredients together then, 


1.  Spread Chow Mein noodles onto your plate 

2.  Top with the salad mixture and as many slivered almonds as you want


3.  Drizzle with the yummy dressing

4.  ENJOY!

And a  tip, because I'm nice like that, another good way to eat this up is in Wrap form.

Sprinkle a few chow mein noodles onto a wrap

Add the salad mixture, almonds and dressing.

Wrap up and EAT up! YUMMY!

Chopped Vegetable and Bean Salad

In my opinion a perfect, fresh spring or summer salad. 

You can either eat this as a main dish salad or as a side dish.

CHOPPED VEGETABLE AND BEAN SALAD
from: experiencelifemag.com

Dressing:

Whisk together,
3 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 Tbs. olive oil


Salad:

1 large head romaine, chopped

1/2 cup peeled and diced cucumber

1/2 cup diced red pepper

1/4 cup diced yellow pepper

1/4 cup peeled and diced carrots
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup diced black olives
3/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano
2 tsp chopped fresh basil
3/4 cup diced tomato
3/4 cup (cooked ~ not dried) white beans
1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans


In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients.

Add salad dressing and toss lightly.

*** When I make it, I don't really measure out the salad ingredients. I usually use 1 can of navy beans and 1 can of garbanzo beans instead of the 3/4 cup and 1/2 cup the recipe says.  I also used grape tomatoes and either cut them in half or leave them whole.

ENJOY!

Here's where the parties are: