On My iPod
These are the books I listen to while walking, driving, cleaning the kitchen or doing my hair. (Whoever said curly hair was easy has sniffed too much product. I have to spend about 35 minutes every couple of days so that I don’t look like Rondald Mc Donald.)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
This is the third, and as far as we know, the final book in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. (The author died with a fourth book in process, and we don’t know if his girlfriend is planning on releasing it.)
I don’t like novels that are overly graphic (and can’t watch the movies), but the stories are so compelling I couldn’t help but get sucked it.
There is a lot of violence against women, but it is always seen as a bad thing, and never glorified. The other thing you have to take into consideration is that while American morals may be lacking, Sweden (where the stories are set) has a very different idea of what is right and wrong than even my most liberal countrymen.
On Tuesday Roger and I will begetting up at 4:30 in the morning, (have I mentioned that I am not a morning person?) to fly to New Mexico to teach at the Ghost Ranch CLASS Christian Writers Conference.
We must really love writers in order to get up before many farmers.
There has been a lot of prep work getting ready for this conference and that, on top of our every day jobs, (me, writing and speaking, Roger, working for HP,) has been a bit overwhelming what with the plague hitting our house and all.
I don’t think that Roger was expecting quite so much prep work and kind of shut off his brain to the influx of all the e-mails that were coming in. Which worked for him.
For a while.
That is until one or two people were trying to get me to get him to respond. One of those people, Gary Chevalier, had requested an interesting fact from each of us to use in his role as emcee for the event. He was getting desperate and sent me the following email:
I’ve sent him (Roger) the email about telling me an Interesting fact for Introductions, but I haven’t heard back from him yet. Can you give him a gentle spousal reminder to do that? Maybe over dinner tonight, you can give him a little something like this,
“Oh Roger! I had so much fun today coming up with an interesting fact about me to send to Gary Chevalier (pictured left with his adorable wife Andrea) for the Writer’s Conference.
Remember when I flashed those trick-or-treaters?
It was sooooo hysterical!
What interesting fact did you tell him?
What?
You haven’t sent him anything yet?
Roger Lipp, I’m appalled!
No nooky for you until you send Gary that interesting fact!”
Roger sent Gary the interesting fact about 30 minutes later.
It’s pretty funny. When ever I recommend a book on the blog, I will have people tell me 4-6 months later that they read the book and LOVED it. I think that many of the reader here have some of the same book passions I do so let me recommend some of the tinges I’ve been reading (and loving) lately and ask you for some of your recommendations as well.
Physical Books (real ink and paper – both bought from The Tattered Cover in Denver, CO).
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Who knew that the theft of rare books is more common than art theft? Besides being a fascinating story about the buying and selling of rare books (if you love reading, I think you will find this as fascinating as I do,) as well as one of the most notorious thieves in recent history (who was based right here in Northern California.)
Oogy – A Dog Only a Family Could Love
When I first read the synopsis of this story – this young puppy being used as bait in a dog fighting ring because he refused to fight, I didn’t think I could handle hearing about any dog in pain. But Oogy’s spirit triumphs over his physical limitation and makes him someone you would love to bring into your own family.
WinThe Man Who Loved Books too Much
On Thursday and Friday I will be sharing a couple of my favorite books via iPod, iPad and Kindle. But I want to hear what you’re reading. Tell me in the comments on either today’s, Thursday’s or Friday’s post and I will enter your name in to win the copy of The Man Who Loved Books too Much – yes – it’s been read by me – but hey – it’s recycling – and it’s an AUTOGRAPHED copy. I will announce the winner next week when I’m back in CA and have internet access.
And our Winner of Kathy Howard’s book God’s Truth Revealed as determined by Random.org is…
Every once in a while I like to feature one of my favorite authors and give away some swag. Here is the wonderful Kathy Howard talking about her new book God’s Truth Revealed. If after reading her excerpt below you want a copy of the book, just leave a comment below about a time God revealed His truth to you (y’all encourage me so much!) I will randomly pick a winner on Monday!
I asked Kathy to introduce herself:
Call me a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, our family has moved to Wyoming, then Texas, then Alberta, and finally back to Texas. I don’t know whether to drink “pop” or “coke”, or call my friends “ya’ll” or “you guys.” But one thing I do know — God loves us and wants us to know Him! That’s definitely worth writing, teaching, and speaking about.
And here is a little bit from the book:
It was our first day on the beach with our rented boogie boards. Wanting to catch the waves where they were breaking, I headed away from the shore. By the time I realized they were breaking too far out, the water was over my head. On the board from the waist up, I started kicking to get back to the beach. After a couple of minutes I had not made any progress. In fact, I was farther away. So, with the board trailing behind me by the strap, I swam until I was exhausted and swallowing water. But I was further still. No matter how hard I tried, I could not save myself.
My husband grabbed another board, left the safety of the beach and came to my rescue. When Wayne reached me, he calmed me down and talked me through riding out the riptide back to shore.
Like the riptide separated me from the beach, sin has separated each of us from God. We can never do enough to bridge that gulf. We cannot save ourselves, but God Himself came to our rescue. Jesus left heaven and came to earth to provide salvation. The 12-session study, “God’s Truth Revealed,” guides readers through the Bible to see our need for a Savior, and to discover how we can know Him. For more about the book, and to download the first session free, visit www.godstruthrevealed.com
Links/Free Resources
Free Discipleship Tools: http://www.kathyhoward.org/discipleship-helps/
This page is full of free Bible reading plans, Scripture memory tips and plans, Quiet time helps, prayer guides, and more!
Free helps for Ministry Leaders: http://www.kathyhoward.org/leader-helps/
This page includes a video workshop to train small group leaders, tips for guiding small group discussion, and a devotional for leaders.
Free video introduction for “Before His Throne:” http://www.kathyhoward.org/books/
This 12-minute video is perfect to kick-off a study of Kathy’s book “Before His Throne.”
Free download of the entire first session of “God’s Truth Revealed:”
http://godstruthrevealed.org/about-the-book/session-one/
For more information about Kathy and her ministry visit: www.kathyhoward.org/bio/
It has been a wild and wooly couple of weeks around here – first I was down with the death ful, and then we had a medical emergency of the parental kind and I’m now up in Sacramento hanging out with my parents and trying to keep my mom from quilting so she can heal. So here are the long overdue winners of the Husband Projec Mini-Project. If each of you could email my assistant Sunnie at Sunnie at kathilipp.com we will get your booty right out to you!
Ingredients:
•3 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
•14 oz. can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
•6 oz. can tomato paste
•1 cup chicken broth
•1 onion, sliced
•4 cloves garlic, minced
•1 cup sliced mushrooms
•1/2 cup dry red wine
•1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
•1/8 tsp. pepper
•1/2 tsp. salt
•2 Tbsp. cornstarch
•3 Tbsp. water
Preparation:
Put all ingredients except cornstarch and water in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
For a thicker sauce, combine cornstarch and water in small bowl and mix well with a fork to remove lumps. Stir into slowcooker; cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes until thickened. Serve with hot cooked pasta, if desired. 6 servings
I guess I am hunkering down for winter – here is my second recipe in a row that is for the crock and is all about the beef…
And who can blame me – I made the tri-tip on Monday and let it simmer all day in the slow cooker. It was the warmest, coziest day I’ve had in a long time. There is just something about the smell of dinner in the pot in the late afternoon that is a very good thing…
SLOW COOKER BEEF STROGANOFF
2 lbs. beef (round, sirloin or stew meat)
2 med. onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 sm. can mushrooms
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. bouillon
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 c. sour cream mixed with 4 tbsp. flour
Brown beef; add onions, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté until onions are golden brown. Put in crock pot with the remaining ingredients. Stir thoroughly. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Serve over pasta or rice.
Please share your favorite crock recipes here. Who knows – you may be included in my next book, The “What’s for Dinner?” Project.
I has been a long week. I have had the flu and after feeling super-yucky for a while, I came home after a speaking engagement on Thursday and (if I were living in a Jane Austin novel,) took to my bed.
I will announce the winners of the Husband Mini-Project on Wednesday. (I will let my super-assistant Sunnie handle the details – otherwise I will start sending out books to people randomly.)
It the meanwhile, I would love to spend this week sharing and collecting great slow cooker recipes. This is so the time of year to be dragging out the Crockpot! Plus, if you share a recipe that I love, it may be included in my upcoming book, The “What’s for Dinner?” Project.
So please, share your best slow cooker recipes with me and check back each day for something new and yummy.
Here is the first recipe from my agent Rachelle Gardner (if you are interested at all in writing, be sure to check out her award-winning blog.)
Salsa Tri-tip Sandwiches
1 bottle beer (can be non-alcoholic)
1 jar salsa (mild to hot, your choice)
2-3 lbs tri-tip roast
Sandwich rolls
Mayo
Put the tri-tip in a crock pot and cover with beer and salsa. Cook for about 6-7 hours on low. To serve, slice it thinly or shred with a fork, put on sandwich rolls with mayo. Use the extra sauce in the crock pot for dipping (as “au jus”). Easy and the whole family loves it!
If you don’t have a crock pot, you can put the meat, beer and salsa in a baking dish, cover and bake in 400 oven for about 3 hours.
If you’ve heard me speak on the subject of The Husband Project, you know I love the post it note project.
All I’m asking you to do today is to write a post it note and post it somewhere that your husband will see it. It can be something encouraging, it can be something flirty.
Here are some examples of what you could write:
Crib Notes: 21 Post-It-Sized Encouragements
1. I’m praying for you today.
2. Those jeans are really working for you…
3. I love you.
4. You are the best dad!
5. You’re the kind of husband that makes the other wives jealous.
6. You rock my world!
7. Can’t wait to see you tonight – meet me upstairs…
8. Thanks for working hard to provide for us. I appreciate all that you do.
9. You make me feel beautiful.
10. I thank God for you everyday.
11. How did I get so lucky, being married to a guy like you?
12. You’re great!
13. You make everyday more fun.
14. Have a great day.
15. You’re hot!
16. I feel so safe with you.
17. Smart and good looking – I’ve got the whole package in you!
18. You can be very distracting, you know…
19. Our kids are so blessed to have a dad like you.
20. That smile I wear – it is all because of you.
21. God have blessed me in big ways by letting me be your wife.
All you have to do to be entered into our drawing giveaway is tell me what you wrote in the comments below. Have fun and happy encouraging/flirting.
OK so I got a little behind (I wish I had a little behind, but that is a different blog post…)
So here is Project #3
Wear something he likes. Yep – that’s it.
Wear a color you know he likes, a shirt he complimented you on, or your good butt jean.
Oh. And lingerie works.
In the comments below, let me know what you did and I will enter your name into the drawing for today’s book:
On My Kindle/Droid/iPad
