#Oasis The Last Humans book 1

I received this product for free to facilitate my review, in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information regarding product review, please refer to my media kit. 

If you liked Star Trek or Star Wars story ideas this will definitely be up your alley.  If you are a fan of Sci-Fi genre you will love this one.

I will admit that this book starts out a little slow, but it is in this start that the society and the premise of the society is fleshed out. Don't worry though, it really doesn't take that long to do.  As the meat of the story begins to take off, you are glad that the author chose to give you these details so that the reason things are being done or some of the locations make sense.  

The main character is Theo, who at times thinks he is going crazy, but we all know if you think you are ... you're not.  
Phoe, the only other "main" character, who helps Theo through his journey in Oasis was an interesting character.  She was part of what made Theo think he was crazy or going crazy.  
Although I thought from early on I knew who she was ... I was actually surprised in the end. Since I don't want to give it away, I will leave it at that.

I think this could easily be a good story for the YA reader, provided they are "older" YA readers as there is some strong (vulgarity) words but not used out of context for the story line.  That being said, the words used occasionally in the story are no stronger than those heard in many/most middle or junior high schools.

Although this story ends without leaving a huge cliff-hanger, I can definitely see this as a long series.  It could be part of a group of interesting Sci-fi stories that zeros in on the Phoe character, in a different way from this, and expands on this story line by bringing more characters into the mix.  Perhaps those characters will have different talents to add to the story as well.  

Of course, you could be asking yourself if you really know if this is real life or someone's fantasy.  Could this be real?  Do you know if your thoughts are your own or someone else's "controlling" ideas?  Makes you think about censorship.

I look forward to seeing where book 2 takes us and I bet you will too.

Product was received from Dima Zales as part of the Tomoso.com review program in exchange for my honest opinion. Please read more on our review policy in our Media Kit

Coconut Green Curry Mussels

I will admit I am not a mussel fan, but this one looks pretty interesting for those who are. Especially if you are looking for something different for the holidays ... 

Ingredients

• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tbsp. fresh ginger
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded
• 1 tbsp. green curry paste
• 1 lime, zested and juiced using Zest 'N Press® Gadget
• 13.5 oz. can light coconut milk
• 1 lb. fresh mussels, scrubbed and rinsed
• 1 green onion, sliced, green part only

Instructions

1. Place garlic, ginger and jalapeño in base of Chop ’N Prep Chef. Cover and pull cord 4–5 times to process until finely chopped.
2. Add mixture to the Water Tray of the Smart Steamer, along with the curry paste, lime zest and juice and coconut milk. Place the mussels in the Steamer Base, place over Water Tray, cover and microwave on high power for 6 minutes.
3. Divide the mussels, placing into individual bowls, stir the sauce in the Water Tray and pour ¼ cup over the mussels in each bowl. Garnish with sliced green onions.

I can see this as a special meal for Christmas with some special people or as an appetizer for a group of special people.  

With the Tupperware Smart Steamer and the Chop n Prep, it is super fast and pretty easy to do without spending all your time in the kitchen. 

If you don't have the steamer or the chop n prep, you can pick either or both (and so much more) from my Tupperware site.  Any questions?  Drop me a message.

Artificial vs Real Trees

Where do you stand on this debate?
What kind of tree do you have?

Personally I have an artificial tree, but I do know many folks that have "real" trees.  Some of those with "real" trees are cut trees, others have "balled" trees so that they can replant them after the season.  We did have one of those balled trees years and years ago and replanted it.  One of the things I didn't like about that was that we had to get it into the ground much too early for me.  It was within days of Christmas, as I remember, so we didn't get to enjoy our Christmas tree.  Oh and unfortunately I don't think it lasted more than a few years.  Perhaps that was because we live in the Northeast.

One of the things I found interesting though, is that we really aren't alone or different in getting an artificial tree.  
The folks at TreeClassics shared some interesting graphics with me.  Since they are celebrating their 40th year I would think they have some idea what they are talking about.

There are more than 61% of households that are doing the same as we do - having an artificial tree for the Christmas holidays.  What I did find interesting though is where artificial trees have been purchased.

I bought my last tree online and couldn't be happier with it.  I had replaced my "original" tree after ... are you ready? ... 33 years!  I had originally purchased that tree from a Home Improvement Store after Christmas when they had decent things remaining after Christmas.

If you are thinking about doing an artificial tree this year, or if you have taken your last years tree out of the closet and think it should have been replaced ... check out TreeClassics.com.  If you remember, they sponsored one of my giveaways here.

Just to add a little more frivolity to the post, check out Santa.

Merry Christmas to all ...

French Onion Soup

I know for me, the winter cold calls to me for soup dinners.  
The warmth of the soup makes the insides warm and "comfy" so that deep down cold, that I always seem to have in winter, is gone at least for a little while.

I also like that this one is not loaded with heavy creams so that you can have a nice french baguette with melted cheese or butter without feeling too guilty about it.  Now there is nothing wrong with those creamy soups, I love those too, but some times you just need something lighter.  This one definitely fits the bill.

Ingredients

• 4–6 small or medium onions, peeled
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped using Chop ’N Prep 
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Crostini

• 1 baguette, cut into 8 slices
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

1. Set Mandoline round knob to #2, triangular knob to “lock” and select the straight v-shaped blade insert.
2. Using food guider, slice onions.
3. In 6-Qt. pot over medium heat, melt butter.
4. Add onions to pot, stirring occasionally until softened and beginning to brown, 15–20 minutes.
5. Once onions are browned and softened, add wine and garlic. Stir, scraping along the bottom of the pot to pick up any browned onion bits that have collected there.
6. Add beef and chicken broth to pot.
7. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20–30 minutes.

Crostini

1. To create crostini while soup simmers, preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Bake baguette slices 5 minutes. Flip, add cheese and bake 5 minutes more, until cheese has melted.

Serve soup topped with crostini.

Check out all these Tupperware products and so much more on my Tupperware Site.  Have a question?  Leave me a message/email and I will get back to you asap .. cause you know I love my Tupperware!

December Holiday Shopping Event

I had posted a "snip-it" on my FB page earlier this week, but today starts the Christmas Holiday Vendor Event on Facebook. 

One of the things I like about it is that its a vendor event where the vendors come to you so you could be shopping from the comfort of your couch in your PJs,

There are a diverse group of vendors at this event so you get to check out all kinds of products that you could be getting for Christmas gifts.  Or it could be for something that you give as a gift to yourself.

Another thing I love about this is that it goes on even AFTER Christmas, so that you could be getting gifts toward the new year.  Or maybe you got money for Christmas so that you could get what you really wanted ... you could be shopping here for that too because it will be open until January 5, 2016!

Here's the only catch ... you need an invite to join in on this Facebook Event.  
Want to come join in?  
Leave me a message and I will get you an invite.  Then you can check it out every day if you want to see what is offered (bet things will be changing every day or week for sales and products) between today and January 5th.

I'll be there ... will you?

Come check us out.

7 Thoughts for Success

I received this in an email from a Tupperware Director (thanks so much Joan) that I thought needed to be shared.  Maybe something we should be sharing with our kids from an early age.

7 Thoughts for Success

All the answers were right inside my room.

1. Roof said "Aim High"
2. Fan said "Be Cool"
3. Clock said "Every Minute is Precious"
4. Mirror said "Reflect before you Act"
5. Window said "See the World"
6. Calendar said "Be up to Date"
7. Door said "Push open to achieve your goals and believe in yourself!!"

So what do you think?
Don't you think it would be something that our kids would understand and perhaps put into practice, if we taught them this from an early age??

Sweet Potato Soup for Your Winter Meals

I don't know if I like the idea of sweet potato soup or not. I have to be honest here.  I'm not a  big fan of sweet potatoes, although I do like sweet potato fries and a new recipe I made for Thanksgiving with sweet potatoes and apples (I will share that one later), but I know some people a die hard sweet potato lovers.  

This could  be a winner for your winter meals.

Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
• 4 cups veggie stock
• 1 onion, chopped in Power Chef System 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary or ½ tsp fresh rosemary
• Sour cream or Parmesan (optional)
• Toasted walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in base of Microwave Pressure Cooker
2. Seal and microwave on high power 30 minutes.
3. Remove from microwave and allow pressure to release naturally until red pressure indicator fully lowers, about 10 – 15 minutes.
4. Pour cooked soup* in base of Power Chef System fitted with blade attachment. Cover and pull cord to process until smooth. (*Please note that the Power Chef System will not fit all of the soup, so you may have to repeat this step 2-3 times.)
5. Top with sour cream or Parmesan and toasted walnuts.

Need some of the Tupperware pieces mentioned here?  Check out my Tupperware Site for info and purchase options.