Delicious as Pie badge now available!

After laboriously creating a picture of a yummy-looking piece of pie and designing my badge, I set out to actually put it on my blog.

Easier said than done.

But I got there, gosh darned it! It's at the top of the right side bar. Cute, huh?

I do need knowledge from the great and all-knowing readers of Delicious as Pie, though.

How do I put the link below it so that people can put the badge on their own blogs? I don't even know what exactly to put in the Google search box so I can research it.

Thoughts? I'm sending you virtual pie in way of thanks!

(Photo from cobalt124 on flickr.com) 

Published!

Head over to Allied Moms to read my latest published article. Titled "God Prompts", I talk about five ways that I remember to trust God on a daily basis.

We all know how challenging it can be to trust that The Big Guy knows what He's doing, especially when the economy stinks, checking accounts hover near zero and job stability is a thing of the past.

So head on over to http://www.alliedmoms.com/, scroll down and read the reminders that I use every day!

Oh, and pass the link along to your friends, pretty please! (I think it's a pretty worthy little article, if I do say so!)

Kate :)

Opinions on single serve coffee makers???

Having been a good girl all month by tracking every single penny we spend, I've noticed a few too many entries titled "coffee". Gotta stop that.

Now we know from experience that we can't be bothered to make a pot of decaf for Scott every morning. Sometimes he drinks it, sometimes he doesn't, all the time I end up throwing most of the pot away.

And I, thanks to my brother who first introduced me to the Starbucks Non-fat Mocha, only need a tiny amount of coffee. Certainly not enough to make brewing a whole pot worth it.

Thus, my idea about purchasing a single serve coffee maker.

I. Am. So. Confused.

I'm looking at two different brands. The Bosch Tossimo and the Keurig Elite. Frankly, I like the Tossimo better. And I had it in my arms at Target this morning and even paid for it. The sign on the shelf said it was on sale, but it really wasn't. I didn't want to pay $130.00. Too much, I say. Too much.

So I returned it right then and there and came home to do more research.

Tossimo apparently has terrible customer service and their units often malfunction. Kuerigs, which run $110, are apparently too loud and also break frequently. There's more variety in the Keurig coffee pod thingies than in the Tossimo, but I'm sure that will change. I don't really need variety anyway. I only like one thing. But I like it enough to want it fairly frequently. (Thanks a lot, Bro!)

Do any of you Delicious Readers have one of these single-serve coffee makers? Of any brand? Please, please, please let me know your thoughts. I'd love make a decision this week since they're on sale (except for the Tossimo, of course) at Target through Saturday. Thanks!

My jaw is hanging open in astonishment!

Now would be a great time for all of you Delicious Readers to recite one of my favorite movie quotes to me...

"Close your mouth, Michael. You are not a codfish."

Who can tell me what movie that's from? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Get on with your post, Kate. Sheesh. Sometimes I annoy even myself.

Last Sunday, we worshiped at the church to which we belonged when we moved away from San Diego. We didn't love the church then, so we weren't overly anxious to go back.

But it's in the neighborhood and a new friend mentioned that she attended, so I thought we'd give it a shot.

Well, then.

Within minutes, Emma was enrolled in Sunday School (which she was *so* not happy about) and Hayley was bombarded with information about the coming weekend's Confirmation Camp. She smiled very nicely and nodded politely. I actually got a big kick out of her attempt to hide her martyrdom.

Now it's been seven and a half years since we last went to this church. We know... exactly... No. One. And I told Hayley when we left after service that she certainly didn't have to attend the camp if she didn't want to. I'd be shy around 100 kids I didn't know, so I couldn't imagine she'd ever want to even consider the idea.

(Yes, you read that correctly. There are over 100 kids in Confirmation at the camp.)

Jaw-dropping statement number one: "I'm thinking about it, Mom. I'll let you know."

Ummmmm... huh? My reserved, anxiety-ridden, tell-me-exactly-what's-going-to-happen-every-single-minute-of-every-single-day daughter was actually thinking about going?!?!

Wow. Just... Wow.

Monday I talked to one of the women in charge and received more information. I couldn't wait to give Hayley the low-down 'cause the camp sounds like SO MUCH FUN!

Jaw-dropping statement number two: "Okay. I'll go."

Wow. Just... Wow.

Turns out that one of the girls attending the camp shares a class with Hayley and over the course of the week,  met another Confirmation girl at school. Hayley, already excited, started packing on Tuesday and couldn't wait to get over to the church tonight.

And so I dropped her off. And watching her... it was just one of those heart-bursting moments I desperately wish I could have photographed...

My tall girl, leaning against a table, talking, laughing, meeting new girls... Comfortable, confident, stylish, gorgeous, perfect...

My heart melted into a big ol' puddle of butter right there on the Fellowship Room floor. My girl, my Hayley, at long last, discovered her confidence.

Deliciously Reviewed: "A Rather Curious Engagement" by C.A. Belmond

What a fun, fun, fun novel!

I loved it for its simplicity,wit and immediately-friend worthy characters.

It's an lively and pleasant mystery. Not violent. Not suspenseful. Not filled with murder and gore and non-existent morals.

At last! A mystery I can read!

Here's the delicious premise...

Penny Nichols and her boyfriend, Jeremy (who's also her cousin, but only by step-marriage), both recently inherited a huge estate from a great aunt--cars, houses, property, the works. They're learning to deal with people they barely know (or often, don't know at all) and having mounds of money at their disposal.

The two of them carefully plan out their investments and decide to splurge on a single grand gift to themselves: a 1920's yacht. Yacht's mystery? Free with purchase. Together they travel around Italy, Corsica and Capri to find a copper lion that two different families lay claim to. Aside from sentimental value, this lion likely has supposed connections to Beethoven. The Beethoven. Making it worth many, many, many beads.

Every time I picked up the book, it felt as though a wonderful friend was telling me a personal story.  C.A. Belmond, through her(?) conversational first person narrative, talked directly to me. I honestly felt like a member of the cast of characters. All my senses were involved. I could smell the amazing Italian vegetables fresh from the vine. (I was even tempted to eat a tomato just to put myself right at the yacht's dining table with Penny and Jeremy. And I abhor tomatoes, so this is saying a lot!) I felt the sea air and saw the Monet shades of green and blue and yellow in the sky. I honestly wanted to jump on the next flight to Italy and drive myself straight to Lake Como.

Go read this book. And it's predecessor (A Rather Lovely Inheritance). And it's successor (A Rather Charming Invitation).

I haven't yet read the former and just started the latter. Do yourself a favor and go buy them! Right now! Go, Delicious Readers! Go!