#FrostyVoxBox Reveal

I got my Frosty Vox Box from Influenster.  I love getting boxes from Influenster.  It is always a pleasant surprise to see what’s in the boxes.  Influenster sends me a free box of goodies for my honest opinion.

This box contained Red Vines licorice, an EcoTools Hairbrush, NYC lipstick, Rimmel eyeliner, McCormick Thyme, No. 7 serum, Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Tea, and Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover.

      

The only thing I have used so far is the McCormick Thyme.

I use thyme in a lot of recipes like chicken noodle soup.  I also use it when I make Princess Ivi her Thyme-Roasted Carrots.  The original recipe came from Epicurious.com.  I use the original recipe except I cut the butter in half because I find that with the olive oil and the butter, it is a bit too much. 

Recipe:

ingredients

• 2 pounds medium carrots, peeled, cut on deep diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss carrots, oil, and thyme in large bowl. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Spread carrots in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet; dot with butter. Roast until carrots are tender and brown, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes

I am a big fan of McCormick spices.  I really like the thyme.  It has a rich flavor and smells very fresh.  It really enhances the flavors of the food too.

I am very pleased with my #FrostyVoxBox and I can’t wait to play with the rest of my box items.

2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

I love reading challenges so I am looking forward to participating in the Book Vixen's 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge. 

 Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2015. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many romantic suspense novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Remember, the idea is to challenge yourself.
• Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are 100 pages in length (give or take), as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• To join the challenge, grab the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge button below and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, etc., so as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the 2015 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge and yourprofile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Levels:

• Civilian: read 1–5 romantic suspense novels
• Hunter: read 6–10 romantic suspense novels
• Marksman: read 11–15 romantic suspense novels
• Sniper: read 16–20 romantic suspense novels
• SWAT: read 21+ romantic suspense novels

I think I’m going to go for the Sniper level.  Have fun!!!

Join me in the Show Your Shelves Some Love: A No Book Buying Challenge! #ShelfLove

My bookshelves are overflowing with books that I haven’t read yet and let’s not even discuss my virtual shelves on my Kindle.  To fix that, I am going to participate in the Show Your Shelves Some Love: A No Book Buying Challenge! #ShelfLove. 

The Guidelines

• Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year (or follow a monthly book budget).

• Gift cards OK,  audible account OK, but no buying extra credits (Rose!!!)

• Encourage other challenge participants via comments, social media and emails.

• Participate in the monthly posts. (The link up post will go live on the first of each month and be open for 30 days.)

• Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is mainly for books you already own.

• Netgalley books can count for this because you have the book, so read it!

No Book Buying Challenge Step 1: Select your goal

Yellow Belt —-> 1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves

Blue Belt    —->11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back

Green Belt  —->21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug

Purple Belt —->31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves

Brown Belt —-> 41-50 books: my shelves are now my bff

Black Belt —->51+ books: my shelves and I are going steady

My Spending Goal:  Because we have our local Friends of the Library book sales twice a year, I am not going to kid myself into thinking that I will not buy any books.  Instead, I am going to set a spending goal of $30 to spend on books purchased from the FOTL book sale only.  I will either spend it all in April or October or divide it between the two sales. 

Other than that, I will not purchase any other books this year.   My shelves will be thankful for that.  

My Reading Goal:  I am going to be realistic for 2015 and aim for the Purple Belt.  I usually read a lot of books.  In 2012, I read over 300 books, over 200 in 2013, and over 100 in 2014.  But I am starting school in 2015 so I am setting my goal lower this year.  

To join the challenge check out Chapter Break's site.