Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip

This Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip is so good, so tasty, and so easy to make.  You can make your own Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip so easily. Try it today!

1 Cup chopped artichoke hearts (canned or frozen & thawed)
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (Hint: I allways add more :P)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
dash of black pepper
For the side:
Crackers
Chips
or Sliced toasted Pitas

1. FIRST: Boil the spinach and artichoke hearts in a cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain in a colander when done
2.  Heat the cream cheese in a small bowl in the microwave set on high for 1 minute. Or, use a saucepan to heat the cheese over medium heat just until hot.
3. Add the spinach and artichoke hearts to the cream cheese and stir well.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the cream cheese and combine

Serve hot with crackers, chips, or toasted pitas for dipping.

Contigo Product Review

First off I just have say that I love this bottle!

The AUTOSEAL^® Kangaroo Water Bottle with Compartment has a built-in pocket on the side. I use that most for a small amount of money, my id, and my house or car key. I love the compartment because it is handy and easy to use.

Drinking with the bottle is easer then 1 2 3 because all you have to to is press the Autoseal button and sip. But then, when you let off of the AUTOSEAL button no water leaks out, AT ALL!  A reason I love this water bottle is because it is leak-proof and spill-proof.  I don't have  to worry where I place my water bottle because I know it will not leak out onto anything important. The handle on this water bottle is able to flip up and down, the handle has a carabiner so you can clip your bottle to almost anything!

Being able to wash my water bottle on the top-rack of the dishwasher is excellent, for my lifestyle. I can just  plot the bottle on the top-rack along with all the other my dishes. For those for knows me I love Ice Tea. This water bottle does not hold the smell nor the taste of it if I put water in it the next time, which is fantastic!

The bottle is 100% DA-approved materials, and 100% BPA free. All of Contigo's bottles are BPA free.  For those of you who like their drinks cold, the mouth of the bottle is wide, so it is able to fit ice cubes easily.

                                                                                                                                                         

I Recommend this Product
Enter The GiveAway!

Disclaimer:  I was send a free AUTOSEAL^® Kangaroo Water Bottle with Compartment for the purpose of this review. I was not monetarily compensated in any way for a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. Yours experience with this products might differ from my own.

>>Please Use Rafflecopter From to enter giveaway if you have problems using the Rafflecopter Form please contact me at autumnreffett@yahoo.com

>>Comments although I love to recieve them do not count as entries, unless stated above.

Photos

here are some of the photos I took of my Conitgo Water Bottle.

Book review of Mercy Come Morning, by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

There are no second chances. Or are there?

Krista Mueller is in a good place. She’s got a successful career as a professor of history; she’s respected and well-liked; and she lives hundreds of miles from her hometown and the distant mother she could never please. It’s been more than a decade since Alzheimer’s disease first claimed Charlotte Mueller’s mind, but Krista has dutifully kept her mother in a first-class nursing home.

Now Charlotte is dying of heart failure and, surprised by her own emotions, Krista rushes to Taos, New Mexico, to sit at her estranged mother’s side as she slips away. Battling feelings of loss, abandonment, and relief, Krista is also unsettled by her proximity to Dane McConnell, director of the nursing home—and, once upon a time, her first love. Dane’s kind and gentle spirit—and a surprising discovery about her mother—make Krista wonder if she can at last close the distance between her and her mother … and open the part of her heart she thought was lost forever.

“A timeless tale, to be kept every day in the heart as a reminder
that forgiveness is a gift to self.” —PATRICIA HICKMAN, author of The Pirate Queen

Mercy Come Morning is an exciting story about the women Krista Muller, whose mother has Alzheimer and is kept in a first-class nursing home for patient who has Alzheimer. Krista Mulle, the main character n the novel, is not an unique character, but she is fun to read about and as you read, makes you feel close to her as if your knew her personally.

The story line and ending was a predictable story line, without the twists you would expect in novel like this one. For example, no real miracle happen during the novel. By no real miracle I mean, during the novel her mother did not just get cured of Alzheimer. This novel would be really nice for a car trip or if you had a few spare hours wherever you are. The story is a quick and easy read.

I would recommend this story to any of my family or friends.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.

Rate my reivew
http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/11819

Bambola Beauty Skin Care Review

I recently reviewed the products I received from Bambola Beauty. I was asked to review five products they included: Acai Anti-Oxidant Cleansing Creme, Essential Avocado Moisturizer, Vitamin C Moisturizer, CoEnzyme Repair Creme, and Botanical Eye Makeup Remover.

Acai Anti-Oxidant Cleansing Creme: This cleansing creme is full of Vitamin C. The product is creamy which coats your skin smooth, this smooth cream does it job, it gently removes debris. I enjoyed using this products because it is super gentle on the skin. A little goes a long way with this cleansing creme!

Key Ingredients:

Lemon Juice Extract – Tones, uplifts and oxygenate

Mandarin Oil – Refines texture of skin, has antiseptic and cell rejuvenation properties

Sunflower Seed Oil – Rich in Vitamin A & E

Vitamin C from Acai – Stimulates collagen synthesis and fights environmental damage

Essential Avocado Moisturizer:The essential avocado moisturizer is a rejuvenating moisture cream that provides long-lasting hydration without leaving skin feeling greasy. One thing I did not care for was the smell, it was not awful but, the smell was strong.

Key Ingredients:

Avocado Oil – Deeply penetrating, rich in vitamins and nutrients

CoEnzyme Q10 - Powerhouse that fuels cell growth

Murumuru Amazon Fruit – Rich in Vitamin A, highly moisturizing

Shea Butter – Absorbs quickly and penetrates deep moisture, restores resiliency

Sunflower Seed Oil –Excellent source of Vitamin A & E

Vitamin C Moisturizer: The cream of the moisturizer is highly concentrated which helps to balance, repair and nourish you skin, making your skin have a even more amazing complexion. The cream is rich with anti-oxidant! This was my favorite moisturizer of the two I tried.

Key Ingredients:

Avocado - Ddeeply penetrating, rich in vitamins and nutrients

Lucopene - Derived from tomatoes and red berries is a natural source of Vitamin C.

Organic Seaweed Extract - Contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements to detoxif, nourish, balance and hydrate the skin

Sunflower Seed Oil - Excellent source of Vitamin A & E

Vitamin E - Rrestores, heals and nourishes the skin

CoEnzyme Repair Creme: This is a Bambola Beauty Favorite, and it's mine too! Of all the products I received to review I enjoyed this the most! The moisturizer is rich and creamy feeling on the skin and the smell is amazing, this cream had the best smell of any skin care products I have tried! CoEnzyme Repair Creme is excellent for dry, devitalized skin. While moisturizing your skin it also helps to deter free radicals and fight signs of aging!

Key Ingredients:

CoEnzyme Q10 - Powerhouse that fuels cell growth

Cranberry Extract - Hydrates and soothes with omega-3 and 6, tocotrienols, vitamin A and phospholipids

Murumuru Amazonian Butter - Rich in Vitamin A, highly moisturizing

Sunflower Seed Oil: - Prevents moisture loss and cell damage and promotes soft, smooth and healthy skin

Botanical Eye Makeup Remover: It's simple, and quick! The Botanical Eye Makeup Remover is great at removing dirt or makeup with out drying your skin out. It is also great to use it you need to wash your face to refresh your self during the middle of the day!

Key Ingredients:Calendula - Helps to heal damaged skin

Chamomile - Reduces inflammation, softens and soothes the skin

Comfrey - Is known as a cellular regenerator

Cucumber - Reduces puffiness and naturally tightens pores

Eyebright Extract - Calms and constricts the capillaries around the eye

To receive a 20% discount plus a free deluxe sample enter the code: BEAUTY at checkout

---

I recommend these products!

I received a free sample from Bambola Beauty was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.

Restless in Carolina

By: Tamara Leigh

Restless in Carolina by Tamarah Leigh (Chapter 1)
Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is the perfect character for her role in this fiction book. The author, Tamara Leigh, has a creative mind for giving her charters in the book a wonderful, exciting, and totally unique personality. This was the first time I read one of Tamara Leigh's books, having never read any of the series before this one there were too many different charters in the beginning and it kept getting me confused; however after I finished the first few chapters I quickly got acquainted with them and really got into the story.

Throughout the book it kept me wanting to read more,and it kept me wondering what would happen. There were many things I was surprised by when reading this novel, one was how well the author described the feelings of the charters and by the amazing story she created.

The story, overall was better than I had excepted when I first started reading. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read an exciting story, filled with an abundant amount of wonderful charters, and a unique story line. Pretty much any age who has basic vocabulary would enjoy reading fiction story by Tamara Leigh.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.

Rate my review
http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/11280

Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is the perfect character for her role in this fiction book. The author, Tamara Leigh, has a creative mind for giving her charters in the book a wonderful, exciting, and totally unique personality. This was the first time I read one of Tamara Leigh's books, having never read any of the series before this one there were too many different charters in the beginning and it kept getting me confused; however after I finished the first few chapters I quickly got acquainted with them and really got into the story.

Throughout the book it kept me wanting to read more,and it kept me wondering what would happen. There were many things I was surprised by when reading this novel, one was how well the author described the feelings of the charters and by the amazing story she created.

The story, overall was better than I had excepted when I first started reading. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read an exciting story, filled with an abundant amount of wonderful charters, and a unique story line. Pretty much any age who has basic vocabulary would enjoy reading fiction story by Tamara Leigh.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.

Rate my review
http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/11280

God's Love Letters to You Book Review

God's Love Letters to You

A 40-Day Devotional Experience

By Dr. Larry Crabb

God's Love Letters to You is a daily devotional. Each of the 40 days you start with a Bible chapter, then a verse from that chapter related to the short one page devotional. After reading the daily devotion it is followed by few question regarding the devotional you read then, it end with a closing prayer. Dr. Crabb writes for each day as if you receive personal letters from God.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, but one thing that I noticed while reading this book was the printing in the devotion part was smaller than normal which was not a problem to me, but if someone reading this had poorer eyesight them myself might. It was fun and exciting to read this book, having never read one Dr. Crabb's books before. It was also very interesting reading this daily devotional, it brought up points which was unique. The devotionals were written by Dr. Crabb's opinion of how God would speak to us if he was the one personal writing the letters. I overall enjoyed reading this short devotion as it was fun, and easy to read, and enjoyable.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.

Trapper In an Airplane

Have you every taken a plane trip and felt as if it would never end?

The last place that I went that was long enough to feel as if it would never end was when my family and I went on vacation to Hawaii. The whole time I was on the plane was a little more than 10 hours. You may be asking yourself what I did during that time,truthfully your answer is a bunch of stuff. My family and I pack light. We use our carry on bag (the one you normally put in the overhead compartment) for our clothes; our personal bag (such as a small duffel bag) we normally put the small items we use during a plane trip.

In my personal bag I pack small things. In my bag you will find a variety of things including the following: books, pillow, activity book, pen and paper, a game, and water. The books that you find in my bag are for while I am flying I can read some, to past the time. My pillow is usually a small neck pillow in case I decide to take a nap during the trip ,or if you don’t have a neck pillow use a travel pillow. An activity books, there are many types of them : Word crosses, coloring pages, mazes, and more. Activity books are always a good thing to pack to keep busy during the long trip. Pen and paper can be used to many things. Write a short story or a poem, draw,or play a game like hangman. The next thing you would find if you kept pulling things out from my bag would be a game. Yes, a game they are both good to pass the time on a long, boring plane trip and to have fun, in and out of a plane. The last thing you pull out of my bag is a bottle of water of water, which was purchased on the other side of security; having water handy is one of the most important things. When on a plane you want to make sure you are kept hydrated, be sure to drink plenty of water and juice.

Even if you have to stay in a plane for a long amount of time don’t make yourself feel as if you are trapped, just keep yourself busy. Because I’ll bet if you do just that while on the plane before you know it you will be hearing the Caption or First Officer over the intercom saying that they are approaching the airport at your destination and that you should say seated in your seat with your seat belt fastened. After hearing the message you better start putting away your things which kept you busy during the whole tripe…Why? Because soon the landing gear will come down then you will hear “Squeak, Squeak, Squeak” as the wheels hit then pavement! Then your back on the ground before you know it. And your be at your destination and ready for an adventure.. But remember to keep yourself busy on the trip back.

Turtles

Box turtles are silly creatures. They are all different, each has their own personality just like a person. Some of them are shy and won’t come out of their shell while others are more feisty and easily come out. Just like humans I guess. The turtle I found on the road was an Eastern Box Turtle they are terrestrial, meaning they live on land, not water.

or... on a rock

Okay okay.. So a turtle’s shell is it home… Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. This is why you should not draw on the shell of the turtle, because by doing so you could damage their shell. Turtles requires a healthy shell to survive in their environment. Their shell provides the turtle protection from their predators. They clamp their shell shut, keeping the animal try to hurt them. They clamp their shell shut to keep the predators away from its tender flesh

Did you know, Eastern Box Turtles hibernate in the winter? Normally they hibernate under dead leaves or inside old stumps.

Green

I’ve been wondering how many Christians believe in being “green”? I am an animal lover and I’ve always have tried to care for the environment, to make the planet a better place for animals, especially my cat. But I’ve noticed that most Christians that I have known tend to think that the earth is not an important thing to take care of and is just a place for them to live as do as they like with. I understand this a bit, knowing that I can’t be 100% green; however I do still try to be green as much as I can.

Right now, at this point, I’m trying to become more environmentally friendly with my everyday living… For example, you know those plastic berry containers? Do you realize how many of those there are? Too many! My family and I have started to save them since last summer to keep our homegrown veggies and berries in. Since then, we have collected a cabinet full of them, which we never will be able to use all of them since there are so many! Do we honestly not have another way to stock berries in our local food stores? If you have visited a local farmer market or a fruit stand they are using cardboard type of container to store their berries in instead of those plastic containers. Even if they are using some material, it will decompose in time unlike plastic. God tells us not only to care for the animals but also the place in which we live.

There are so many scripture verses that remind us that God not only created the Earth, but also appointed us to care for and protect it.

God Created the Earth

Below are some verses I have found that shows God wants us to care for the Earth.

Genesis 1:28 (KJV)

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

~God said to replenish and subdue it.. Meaning he wants us to replenish by giving back to the Earth and subdue it (Subdue: to bring (land) under cultivation)~

Isaiah 11:9

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

~This vers tells us God created earth to be inhabited!~

Psalm 37:9-11

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace

~These verse tell us that the righteous ones will possess Earth.~

Proverbs 2:21-22

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

~Treacherous ones torn away from the Earth.~

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him

~If he made it for him, why would you want to destroy it?.~

So, these are the versus I have came to mind which are located in the Holy Bible…

Why I Enjoy Reading

There are many reasons I turn to reading. Reading is one of the ways I transcend the normal boredom of life and the rush of life. When I read, it helps me to relax and escape the stress of everyday life. When I read, I sometimes learn interesting things. Relaxing, escaping, and learning are my favorite things about reading.

Above all, relaxing is my favorite thing about reading. While I am reading a novel, I can just relax and not have to worry about anything that is going on outside of the story I am reading. Instead of worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow, I will just pick up a good book and read for hours and not worry about it anymore. What I really enjoy about reading a good book is that is for some reason I cannot fall nasleep on a certain night, I can just reach over to my bed stand and grab my book and start to read. Reading helps me to fall asleep because it is soothing and relaxing. It is not something I have to worry about.

In addition to relaxing while I read, I can also escape the reality of my life and transform myself into someone else for a short amount of time, before I come back to being myself. When I read I can transform into any character the story portrays. I can escape into the story. And I don’t have to deal with life’s problems. For example, the last time I escaped from my life was while I was reading the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. I was in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. I witnessed the unfair trial of Tom Robinson as he was an example of an innocent victim without proper evidence. Tom received an undeserved guilty verdict. This elicited my sympathy for Tom and drew me into the character and the story. I think escaping is a wonderful thing to do for my imagination. It helps to expand my opinion of the world and the people in it.

While I am reading, I can learning from reading. Reading a simple storybook can be just as educational as reading a chemistry textbook. Reading and learning go hand in hand because while I read, I not only get better at reading, but I also learn spelling and grammar in the process. While reading a book I learn things that are crucial to life and things that are not as crucial to life, but are in any case still good to learn. I have learned many important life lessons by my reading about the mistakes made and lessons by the character, among other things. for example, the book Tuesdays with Morrie taught me about the importance of having love and concern for other people. As a result of theses lessons, I will be able to make better choices in my life. In spite of some people’s opinions of reading, I still believe that reading is one of the most important things to be able to do in life.

As I have mentioned above, reading is many things to me. Reading is very important to me in my life. Relaxing is the way I transcend. Escaping is the way I build my imagination. And learning, is what happens while I have fun reading. All the above are a part of why I can never enjoy reading too much. I believe reading is a great way to end and long day at work, school, or even after a day of plain relaxing. Reading while I am curled up in front of a fireplace or in my bed is a great way to just be myself.