Book Review: WJA Series

I recently finished a series of books that are amazing.  It is a lot of spy/criminal behavior mixed with some really neat futuristic weapons stuff and the ending OH BOY the ending.  You will be so surprised it's unreal.  I hope the author comes out with more of these books to follow up because I'm hoping to find out the fate of Mark Appleton (main character).  There are 3 books in this series, Sweet Dreams, Dream On, and In Your Dreams and they MUST be read in order otherwise you will be super lost. I highly recommend these books and they are cheaper than the super popular authors on Amazon.  Go check them out I promise you won't be disappointed.

 

Description from Amazon-

Mark Appleton is living the American Dream. Beautiful wife, loving daughter, and a high paying job in New York City. But when his family are killed in a accident he must reinvent himself. A year later in the midst of putting his life back together, Mark finds out that his family was killed and it was...No accident. Mark will stop at nothing to hunt down the men responsible for the death of his family and what he finds will change his life forever.

Kirk Weston is a Detroit detective. He hates his job, his ex-wife, and his life. He is hand selected to help the FBI on a high profile case and just when he thinks things could not get any worse...

They do.

 

 

 

Description from Amazon-

Evil is on the hunt...And it s tracking you!

RUSSIA, JUNE 19, 1966 THERE is a story about a Red Dog that is running wild, killing sheep and other livestock under the watchful eye of a full moon. One farmer, who claimed to have seen the Red Dog, said it looked like a man, but ran on all fours and foamed at the mouth. This account was never confirmed.

NEW YORK, AUGUST 23, 2009 RUMORS of a secret agency arise with questions about the government's involvement. Speculation is that this group, known only as the WJA, is involved in countless assassinations involving the Russian Mafia, terrorist leaders, and suspected murderers and rapists. The FBI and CIA deny any such group exist and claim the rumors are just that rumors.

THE BATTLE BEGINS IN YOUR MIND...

Dream On thrusts you into the mind of a killer so tormented, that you will ask yourself if evil lies within all of us. The evil nature is like a caged monster, begging to be set free so it can come out and play. Whatever you do don't let it! The highly anticipated second book in the WJA series will have you excited, and scared all at the same time. In this thrilling and intricate work, Aaron Patterson spins a tale of shadow and sunlight. Prepare yourself. Check the locks. Leave the lights on.

Description from Amazon-
Mark Appleton must figure out what time he is in as he fights to bring down the worst enemy he has ever faced. Himself.

Kirk Weston is back and falling for Isis, the dark deadly killer he cannot stop thinking about. It is a race against time as he tries to save her life, as an enhanced virus is sweeping through the country.

This is the final chapter in the WJA series, and will push you and your ideas of reality, to the limit.

Happy Reading!

Happy Things

It's been a busy, fun filled, and let us not forget exciting weekend so far and I have tomorrow off so it's not even over yet!  Tomorrow Kaylynn and I are going to roam the state fair but I will post about that later.  Right now I'm going to give you some things that are making me happy and all these things are just from this weekend!  Sometimes I get wrapped up in life, school, love and the stress of it all and forget how awesome my life is.

Happy Things:

*Random I love yous

*Coming home to a clean house

*Getting woke up by Lincoln on his way out to work to tell me bye and that he loves me then getting to sleep in his warm spot for a bit longer

*Cool mornings

*Warm cups of coffee

*Slumber parties with friends

I went to NaShae's housewarming/ gender reveal party Saturday and Piper and I stayed the night. We had a lot of fun and it was nice doing the next item on my list.

*Catching up and reminiscing- we did a lot of this and it was really nice just having girl talk and relaxing over great chili that Ryan made and later on pumpkin spice cappuccino

*Talking/thinking about the future

*Being a grown up

*In-N-Out Burger- on my way home I grabbed a yummy burger for lunch from In-n-Out

*Good news of a baby girl for NaShae & Ryan- Piper captured this amazing picture of Shae's face as Ryan cut into the cake.  NO ONE at the party knew what the gender was and as you can tell from Shae's face she really thought it was a boy but it was a GIRL!  We are so excited for Ryan and Shae and can't wait to meet Miss Riley Katherine.

*A baby on the way for Rachael and Brad- more baby news was delivered this afternoon!  Brad and one of my besties Rachael are pregnant.  They recently moved into their huge and beautiful new home and this is very surprising news to me.  We are so happy and excited for Rachael and Brad.  I can't wait to know what she's having so we can plan for two babies!

 

 

It has been a great weekend and it makes me realize that I am very grateful for my life and how I get to share in all these important memories with my friends and family.  Good times of the past are remembered, we continue to have a good time with each other in the present, and I can't even imagine all the good times that the future holds for us!

 

Happy Sunday, I'm going to drink hot chocolate in my Christmas socks while I watch DVRed Harry Potter movies! 



Weight Loss Motivation

I haven't done well this week with working out or much of anything else so hopefully I will get myself together....I only have 2 more weeks to complete the challenge I made with myself!!!! :O  I really have to kick my own ass the upcoming weeks or I may not make it!  Since I have let myself down this week here are some ladies to keep me and you motivated.

Amazing Race Premiere Party

Sunday night we had Colby, Lara, Casey and Kaylynn over for an Amazing Race Premiere get together. 

 

I made sure to have everyone were the same shirt as their partner since we of course had to take pictures and all that. 

Everyone showed up around 5:30 which gave us plenty of time to visit, cook, and eat supper before the big show. 

I made Kaylynn’s eftoufee recipe and it turned out great. Lara was a bit skeptical of it since I am known to cook some “off the wall” things according to her and she doesn’t eat fish so it was a new thing for her…BUT as far as I know she liked it and so did everyone else so. 

YAY!

Recipe is at the end of this post 

 

After a scrumptious dinner that ran past the show, thank goodness for DVR, we cleaned the kitchen up and got ready for the big premier. 

Before we started the show we took our team photos and boy was that an ordeal. Everyone rolls their eyes and doesn’t want to play along with me….NO FUN! 

The girls were good sports but it was getting the guys attention that was the hard part.

 

THE COMPETITORS OF THIS YEAR'S AMAZING RACE ARE.......drum roll please.....

Lara has her game face on and Colby is overjoyed as always LOL

Our fiercest competitors...Casey insisted on doing a "live" picture!

the winning team in my book. LOL

After that we were ready for the show to begin. 

I had looked up the teams to check out what this season was going to look like and found a really cute couple that I picked to root for. 

I always try to go for an actual couple because most of the time they are the most interesting. Once the show began and all the teams were being introduced the team that I had picked was actually from Texas…sadly they came in like 8^th place so I hope they step up their game or I may have to switch who I’m rooting for. 

The first episode was great and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds. 

I saw some pretty noticeable places so it’s bound to be great!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Kaylyyn's Crawfish Etoufee- this is the regular serving recipe, I doubled this to feed 6 and it was the perfect amount

 

1 1/2 stick butter

1/4 c flour

1 lg onion chopped

1 lg bell pepper chopped

2 ribs of celery chopped

2 garlic gloves minced

salt & pepper to taste

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1-2 cups of water

1 package crawfish tails

1 tbls lemon juice

french bread

green onions chopped

white rice

 

1. Made medium brown roux with butter and flour

2. Add veggies and cook stirring frequently until tender and light brown

3. Add crawfish, seasoning and lemon juice

4. Mix well

5. Gradually add water as it cooks to get desired thickness

6. Simmer until tails are tender

7. Serve over cooked white rice  with bread and green onions as garnish

Fall TV

 

I don't know about you but I am excited for a few of my favorite shows to return after the summer break and some even longer than that.

 

Premiering Sunday September 30th....drum roll please....

The Amazing Race

 

I have watched pretty much every season of this show since it has began and I never tire of it.  I am still just as obsessed...and if I must admit a bit more obsessed each season.  Now I have an obsession friend, Kaylynn, who loves the show just as much as me.  We are even having her and Casey come over Sunday night for the premiere and a little Cajun cooking!  I can't wait and hopefully this year her and I will make the audition.  We both are dying to be on that show!

 

Next, pPremiering October 8th....

....Gossip Girl

Tear :( this is the last season of Gossip Girl.  I got hooked on this show when I was in Iraq and have loved it from episode one.  I really hope that since this is the last season that all my favorite couples end up happy...mainly just Chuck and Blair.  I think there's going to be fireworks this go around and I don't mean celebratory ones. ;)

 

Last, premiering October 11th......

Vampire Diaries.....

 

I don't know about you but how can you not love this show with all the mystery, supernatural creatures, and lets not forget Damon Salvatore along with the entire sexy cast.  I can't wait to see what this season has in store for the love triangle.  I hear Elena is going to be a Vampire!

 

I'll be tuning in what about you?



Fall To Do List

I hope it starts to cool off soon because I'm really ready to get going on my Fall activities.  I get to mark off one next weekend for sure but I hope to accomplish a lot more of these.....

1 Have a date night and see Taken 2- *update* missed it in theaters going to have to wait until DVD

This movie looks amazing.  We loved the first one so I'm anxious to see how this one turns out.  I think this would make a great middle of the week dinner and a movie date!

 2 Go to the Texas State Fair- completed October 8, 2012

 

I haven't been to the state fair in years and only one time in my life.  I was little and went to the dairy show...fun I know.  I want to go and experience the heart attack that's been fried food and the over priced rides. YES!

3 Terror Trails- its probably been 5 years since I went to Terror Trails with a group of friends and this year I told Lincoln I for sure want to get some people together and hit it up in the month of October.  My best memory of Terror Trails is when NaShae and I went when we were probably 3rd grade, not sure really but her Dad took us. We laughed so hard I'm pretty sure something edible came from our noses and we sang Strawberry Wine at the top of our lungs.  Oh too be young again. LOL

4 Attend NaShae & Ryan's house warming/ gender reveal party-  Speaking of NaShae next weekend I am heading to Benbrook to see NaShae's new home which knowing her is bound to be A-MAZE-ING and also cut the cake to find out if their new addition is a boy or girl.  To top it off Piper and I are staying at NaShae's that night for a slumber party.  It's going to be so much fan, as it always is when we are all together.  We will get to visit and spend some QT before the baby gets here and we all get absorbed back into our own lives.  completed October 6, 2012

5 Get-a-way in Oklahoma- On the 19th me, Lincoln, Casey, Kaylynn, Lara, and Colby are heading up to Beaver's Bend for a cabin getaway.  I can't wait for the HOPEFULLY cool air, changing leaves, hiking, and wine drinking. completed thru October 21, 2012

6 Repaint trim on house- I have only had the 5 gallons of paint for the past 6 months! So in the next few weeks I plan on enlisting my brother's help and getting the outside of the house repainted...its just the trim and the porch not like the walls, which are brick, whew...thank goodness because that would be a job!

7 Hike/walk the Mineola Nature Preserve

It is Texas so there's not much "hiking" here in the Eastern part but whatever.  A girl at work was telling me about this little gem and I think it would make a great Saturday afternoon trip or whenever.  Bring a sack lunch and wear your sneakers.  Plus it's only like 25 miles away from home.

8 Visit Lake Bob Sandlin State Park for camping, bike riding, or trail walking

9 Camp in the backyard- The weather was so cool and breezy a few weeks ago I told Lincoln that one night we needed to pitch the tent in the backyard and enjoy the nice weather.  It's the best kind of camping... no packing, no extra grocery shopping...just set up and in the morning run back to the house and eat a hot breakfast.   Sounds like a perfect plan!

10 Make many fires in the fire pit and roast marshmallows- this goes right along with my camping in the backyard.

11 Carve pumpkins- I love carving pumpkins even though I'm not the best artist.  completed October 23, 2012

 

 

 

Stay tuned for posts that prove I'm accomplishing my Fall To Do List.

 

 

HAPPY FALL YA'LL!

Want List #2

After posting my first want list, a few days later it dawned on me that UUHHH I had forgot some pretty important things that I had been thinking about...

so here ya go!

 

this sports watch

THIS Fossil purse

For the past 2 years I have bought myself a little birthday present and I might do the same this year if I don't get this amazing bag from someone who loves me.  I used to be obsessed with buying purses, just ask my mom, but as I've grown up there are more important things to buy and save for (rain gutters) so the extravagances of personal style suffer but that's my own choice and one I'm perfectly fine with.  Any who I love this bag and I have been carrying the SAME purse for almost a year now...GASP....

I know the horror!!! 

I would love all the Pioneer Woman's cookbooks and a little road trip to her ranch if possible.  I love watching her show on Saturday mornings as I drink my coffee.  Sometimes you can tell she is a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera because her lines seem a little rehearsed but her recipes are always good and is something I would actually cook and people around my parts would actually eat. It's nothing Martha Stewart fancy....you know what I mean?  I also follow her blog and she has some good stuff on there and it's also more herself...or what I perceive to be herself. LOL

This amazing pair of tennys Nike Air Max+ 2012 

Well I do believe that's all I have now folks!