Watching the Detectives // A Book Review

I love me some easy and entertaining page-turners. And if they involve murder and humor: even better! I stumbled across the "Country Club Murders" book series by Julie Mulhern not too long ago, and love each and every single one of them.

So I was happy when NetGalley and Henery Press sent me the kindle version of the latest book in the series:
Watching the Detectives (The Country Club Murders) (Volume 5)

Ellison Russell wanted a decorator, not a corpse. Too bad she finds Mrs. White in the study killed with a revolver. Things go from bad to worse when she finds Mr. White in the dining room killed with a candlestick. With so many bodies, is it any wonder Detective Anarchy Jones’ new partner considers Ellison a suspect? 

With the country club gossips talking a mile a minute, an unexpected cocktail party, a visit from Aunt Sis, and a romantic decision, Ellison hardly has time to think about murder. Unfortunately, the killer has plenty of time to think about her.

“This series has become so enjoyable precisely because Ellison strives against the norms no matter how many times she is told how to behave. It is her sharp wit and humor that allows her to prevail, and attempting to teach the same to her daughter further cements her place as an admirable and extraordinarily likable heroine. As entertaining as it is for readers to romp through 1970s country club society, far more enthralling are the adventures of such a resilient and stalwart woman.” – Kings River Life Magazine

Recipe: Grains Zucchini Bowl

Today I want to share one of my go-to summer recipes (besides the "Cool Cucumber Soup"): A "Grains Zucchini Bowl"!
I love the Minute® Brown Red Wild Quinoa Multi-Grain Medley! It only takes about 30 mins to prep it, and it tastes delicious warm or cold. It's quick, fresh, healthy & vegan/vegetarian.

If I feel like having some more protein with it, I grill some fish, or half an avocado with an egg inside. Sure, chicken breast works, too. The bowl can easily be your main dish, but it works great as a side dish.

Find the printable recipe below, and don't forget to Pin & share.

Guten Appetit! :)

print recipe

Grains Zucchini Bowl

by www.grapefruitprincess.com August-15-2017

For the grains I usually use "Minute® Brown Red Wild Quinoa Multi-Grain Medley", but you can use plain rice or quinoa, too. Just get creative!

Ingredients

• 2 bags Grains
• 1 medium sized, shredded Zucchini
• 1 15oz can, drained and rinsed Beans (Black or Pinto)
• 1 15oz can, drained Whole Kernel Corn
• Juice of 2 Limes
• 1/2 cup, chopped Fresh Cilantro
• 2 tbsp Butter (unsalted)
• to taste Salt & Pepper

Instructions

In a large saucepan of 1 3/4 cups water, cook the grains according to package instructions.Remove from heat and stir in black beans, corn, zucchini, butter, lime juice and cilantro.
Serve immediately.Cover and let stand 5 minutes.Fluff everything with a fork and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 4 Servings

(Wordless) Wednesday LinkUp // Little Rock is More Than Bullets

I took this picture downtown Little Rock, AR. Right across the street from the building where 25 people were shot when gunfire erupted at Power Ultra Lounge during a concert for rapper Finese 2Tymes in the early morning hours of July 1.
Luckily no one got killed, but as of today there are 42 homicides in Little Rock in 2017.

This has to stop. I want to see more art, more joy, more culture, and more love in Little Rock again.

Ideas for Turning a Small Dorm into a Great Space

Tips and Tricks brought to you by ModularClosets.com

The average dorm room is about 110 square feet. Assuming it’s a shared space too, that’s not a huge footprint in which to spend time studying, sleeping and getting ready for the party down the hall!

Dorm rooms, as they come, are pretty bare. A bed, maybe a desk and a closet. That’s about it. The same can be said for a room for rent in a house that is leased to students. We’re not talking the expansive spaces of Mom and Dad’s house!

A few excellent ways to MAXIMIZE the space in a dorm room

• Get rid of clutter! It’s your enemy. Clutter will make any small space seem even smaller. Find ways to store all the bits and bobs that you have laying around—stackable clear plastic bins, for example—are ideal. Make sure every item you bring into your dorm room has a ‘home’.
  
• To keep important papers and reminders handy, put up a magnetic board on the wall near your bed. This way, anything that you need to have at the ready is right there for the taking, but isn’t in the way. Keep it small, as too many things all over the wall CAN make a small space look even smaller.
  
• If you have a small desk, a wall organizer is a perfect way to keep all of your studying and snacking essentials handy but off the flat surface of your desk. Keep that important desk space free for a lamp, books and your computer, with all your other needs in easy reach.
  
• It’s easier to keep all your papers and notes organized with a rolling file cart. You can roll it under your desk when you’re not sitting there, so it’s out of the way, and roll it out when it’s time to get down to hitting the books!
  
• If you’re allowed to make additions to your closet space, a well designed, easy to install DIY closet system is just the perfect way to ensure that you can find each accessory, bag, belt and sock, quickly and easily.
  
• Outside of the closet itself, extra shelving is a good idea to keep books and papers, as well as those clear plastic bins mentioned in the first point, tidy but still accessible.

Gift Idea and Rainy Day Fun // Piczzle.com

This post was endorsed by Piczzle.com. I received compensation in exchange for writing this review, all opinions are my own though.

Pumpkin Spice everything starts popping up, which usually is an indicator for "fall is just around the corner". While I'm kinda blessed to be living in southern Arkansas (I never thought I'd say that), I know you guys up north will experience rain, colder temperatures, and for sure shorter days aka longer nights very soon.



When I was living in Germany, a puzzle was one of my favorite things besides reading during those rainy, dark evenings. Landscapes, animals, flower etc. get old soon, so here is something pretty neat for you to check out: