Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
I hope everyone's week was great. I don't really eat a lot of sweets unless my daughter is around. She did an amazing job with the Christmas desserts. Now, I must prepare for the long goodbye. Not sure when I will see her again. I checked last night, and it looks like our Arizona/Utah trip is still on for mid-March, but there's still plenty of time for them to cancel it. I am hoping for the best, but not banking on it.
Linzer Tart and Eggnog Tres Leches Cake
Remember how I bought my daughter that $200+ piece of the Syracuse dome? Well, she was going through her emails, and when she checked the package was supposedly delivered LAST MONTH! Needless to say, she didn't get it, and she didn't realize it until Wednesday night, so of course, I couldn't call the seller. --Sigh-- I hope I can get in touch with someone on Monday, otherwise I will be stressed out until 2021.
We went to Harmon's one day, and the kid saw this scrunchie. Apparently Goldie the sloth was inspired by a holiday special and enjoyed wearing it.
We had the strangest weather for Christmas. It was 62°F. I had my windows open and everything. Then it dropped by to the 20s again. At least I got to air the house out a bit. I relish those days that are comfy enough to get some fresh air in the place. How was it by you?
Let's Discuss!
On the Blog:
STACKING THE SHELVES
Free
You know what I just found out? Hallmark actually adapted Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper. It looks like there were many, many changes, but it's a fun concept. I am curious to compare book to movie, because the book was fun and full of feels. I loved it! Hopeless Romantic was another standout this week, and as expected, I LOVED the Backman book. I broke my own rule and did a re-listen of Zac and Mia. I had to do it! I was so close to completing my AtoZ challenge, and I could not find any Z books I was interested in. The good news is the book is still a hit for me.
Books
A Week of Mondays is great. It's time loop done right, and I am enjoying watching the main character pick up on some important things about her family, friends, and her life.
Rocky VI (2020) 🔊
— Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) December 23, 2020
📹: Imgur user finibloom pic.twitter.com/hf1HUG8Hiq
Let's Discuss!
- Malka talks about what defines a favorite
- Nicole has been compiling reading challenges for us
- The Orangutan Librarian wants to know what even is a relatable book
On the Blog:
- Monday: Best of - Contemporary Romances
- Tuesday: Best of - Book Travels
- Wednesday: Best of - New-to-Me Authors
- Thursday: Best of - Books I Wish Had More Buzz
- Friday: Discussion - I Tried It, and I Liked It
STACKING THE SHELVES
Free
- Hoops Holiday by Kennedy Ryan
- Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl
- Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez
What I Read Last Week
You know what I just found out? Hallmark actually adapted Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper. It looks like there were many, many changes, but it's a fun concept. I am curious to compare book to movie, because the book was fun and full of feels. I loved it! Hopeless Romantic was another standout this week, and as expected, I LOVED the Backman book. I broke my own rule and did a re-listen of Zac and Mia. I had to do it! I was so close to completing my AtoZ challenge, and I could not find any Z books I was interested in. The good news is the book is still a hit for me.
Books
- The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson - ★★★★
- Winning It All by Victoria Denault - ★★★★
- You Have a Match by Emma Lord - ★★★★
- Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair - ★★★★ 1/2
- Never Kiss a Man in a Christams Jumper by Debbie Johnson - ★★★★ 1/2
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★
- Zac and Mia by AJ Betts - ★★★★ 1/2
- Hard Crush by Mira Lyn Kelly - ★★★★
- Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne - ★★★★
- What I'm Looking For by Karen Grey - ★★★ 1/2
What I Am Currently Reading
A Week of Mondays is great. It's time loop done right, and I am enjoying watching the main character pick up on some important things about her family, friends, and her life.
Suite Dreams is the fluff I was seeking. There were a ton of these rom-comish YA books released back when by HarperTeen, and they are really hitting the spot. I lean more towards lighter fare for my audio selections, and these have been perfect.
- A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody
- Suite Dreams by Rachel Hawthorne (audiobook)
What I Plan to Read
- Then There Was You by Mona Shroff
- The Knockout by Sajni Patel
- This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey
- Tacker by Sawyer Bennett
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I'm drooling on my keyboard over that eggnog cake. Yum! I hope you're able to track down the missing gift with the seller's help! Into the 60's for you up there? Wow. We had some record-setting cold. Christmas Day is hovered just over 40 degrees and overnight dropped into the 20's. Yikes! Has there ever been a happier hedgehog than that little guy? :)
ReplyDeleteAs if Tres Leche cake isn't yummy enough, she added eggnog and spices that took it to the next level. I saw that FL was having a cold snap when it was rather warm up here. We must have swapped. Mr. Pokee never fails to make me giggle. He wears the biggest smiles I have ever seen.
DeleteThose are some fancy looking desserts! For us, December is cookie month! Lol! We make a variety, some are pretty much only made at Christmas. The bad part about having to stay home all the time now is that I am eating them all the time! Lol. Got to have them while they still have some freshness!
ReplyDeleteThat's scary about your daughter's present. I mean I know I've checked tracking before and they said they delivered it but clearly didn't and it somehow shows up the next day! But since this was a month's delay I'm a little worried for you too! I hope you're able to get things worked out tomorrow!
Nice new reads! These are new to me ones, as usual! Lol. I hope you enjoy them all, as usual! ;)
Thanks for visiting my StS!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
My Aunt Ilse used to make all the cookies. I miss them so much! She was an amazing cook/baker/everything! The weird thing about the kid's package is that she gets those USPS emails, that tell her what's coming in the mail, and she monitors them. There was no mention of this package that supposedly shipped via USPS. Hopefully the place is open tomorrow and I don't have to wait until the new year to talk to them. I don't think it ever came, though, it says it did.
DeleteOoh, those desserts look yummy. I hope you’re able to track down the missing gift. That’s an expensive thing to lose. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I will dispute that charge on my credit card if they don't replace it. I paid way too much money to eat that.
DeleteOh no! I hope you can track down what happened with your package!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope so too.
DeleteI'm glad you had a great visit with your daughter, and I hope you get the gift straightened out! The weather was crazy, wasn't it? Although it was kind of nice that all the snow melted and wasn't hanging around for too long!
ReplyDeleteWe still had some snow piles, but I really was mystified by the weather.
Deleteoh ...you are coming to Utah? If it still happens, its worth it. I live here primarily because its so gorgeous here.
ReplyDeleteI love having deserts around the holidays....I look forward to them every year.
We originally books a Rhine river cruise for Oct 2020, which was cancelled. So, we books a new excursion to AZ and UT, which sounds amazing. Fingers crossed the situation improves, because I am not rescheduling this time. I am just going to wait and see how things are in 2022
DeleteI am so glad you got to enjoy your daughter's presence Sam! And she seems to make the best desserts! Now about your gift, that's really infuriating! I hope it gets sorted out. Have a great Sunday!
ReplyDeleteKiersten is very creative and it translates to food too. It's nice when she is here and can pamper me.
DeleteI am just trying to figure out how you get your daughter to cook for you! And what she makes looks so good! I hope you can work out the situation with the gift that wasn't delivered to your daughter. It was freezing here on Christmas but was decent the next day. Walking those dogs when it is 11 degrees out is not my idea of fun. I hope you have a great week and enjoy all of your new books!
ReplyDeleteI am lucky my daughter likes to cook. She cooks for me when I visit her too. It's wonderful. I just wish we lived in the same area so I could enjoy it more. I don't think we have had temps as low as you in a while. It's in the 30s this afternoon, sunny with no wind. So, not bad.
DeleteYes, your daughter is the dessert queen. :) Oh man, too bad about that cool gift going awry. Your trip sounds fun so I hope you get to go. You've got some good books in the haul.
ReplyDeleteThat cat Rocky is hilarious.
Have a great week, Sam!
I am trying not to get too excited about the trip, since it may not happen. There's always 2022, right?
DeleteOK, so Kiersten can sew AND bake...is there anything she can't do? 😄 You're a lucky mom!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can track your package back tomorrow! I'm sure it would be so stressful for you to have to wait until Jan. 2nd.
Our Christmas was so-so, but still on the warm side. Then the temps dropped and we've been freezing ever since LOL. Now we're supposed to have a rainy (and windy) week ahead...AGAIN 😠.
I know. My kid is so domestic, but she doesn't really do cleaning. I hope you can stay warm and dry. I think we have another storm coming with more warm weather. I really can't complain, since I hardly leave the house and don't have to travel in it.
DeleteOoooh! The Linzer tart looks good! Hope you find your daughter's package. That can be so distressing.
ReplyDeleteLove the cat going to town on the Christmas ball, lol!
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper has got to be one of the best book titles out there! I'll have to check out the story. Anxious People was a great audio, I only wish the narrator had a Swedish accent. Have a lovely New Year, Sam! :)
My dad said the linzer tart tasted like his sister's, so that's high praise. It was really good. I bought Christmas Jumper for the title, and it surpassed my expectations. It was really fun and touching. I love the person who narrates Backman's books. I think it's the same person for many of his books. I struggle a little with narrators with accents, because I have to listen harder, and I am usually doing something else when I listen to an audiobook.
DeleteI hope your trip stays on. And I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! The desserts look great. :) We had mostly cold weather for Christmas, it snowed a bit on Christmas Eve- just enough to make it white. But it was nice the day before, I opened the windows for a while too just to air it out.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Snow on Christmas is kind of nice, and with us not traveling, it's not so bad. We just had wind and rain, but luckily, my power didn't go out. Happy New Year to you too!
DeleteThat's exactly what we had for christmas! Eggnog Tres Leches Cake! SO GOOOOOD! Glad you enjoyed it s well Sam.
ReplyDelete*high five* Glad we both got our eggnog fix. I have no idea when eggnog was canceled, but I am happy the kid made me a delicious nog dessert.
DeleteThose desserts look amazing! I really hope your trip goes on as scheduled so that you'll get to see your daughter again soon. I also really hope that package turns up. That's wild that your temps were so high on Christmas. It was actually cold enough here that we had a white Christmas. It was only about an inch of snow but I don't think I've seen a white Christmas since I was a child so it made for a fun day.
ReplyDeleteI am riding out these 12 mins until I can try to call the company about the gift. Fingers crossed they are open. I remember loving snow as a kid, because it usually meant no school LOL
DeleteThose desserts look amazing! Seriously... Yum. I'm such a sweet tooth. I wish I wasn't but it is what it is. Need to find some willpower in the new year though or I won't be able to fit into my work clothes. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteHope you manage to resolve the missing parcel! That royally sucks. Sounds like post is as patch in the US as it is over here at the moment. It's stories of missing or undelivered parcels everywhere I look. :(
Have a happy new year when the time comes!
My daughter always says, she has sweet teeth. She loves making dessert and she's good at it. I think the package never came, because my daughter gets daily emails from USPS listing all her mail and she monitors it. Someone has some explaining to do, that's all I know.
DeleteThose desserts look delicious! And here's hoping you're able to get some answers about your daughter's present, fingers crossed! We've had normally cold weather but have been dry. We finally got some snow today, yay!
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
I called this morning, and the guy sounded like he didn't believe me. He said he will contact USPS to open a lost package investigation. My daughter does USPS Informed Delivery and never received anything about that package. You like snow? Didn't you have like endless feet of snow last year? I am not about the snow-life.
DeleteOh that's so frustrating! Here's hoping that USPS can help. One of my good friends just ran into a similar issue but both USPS and the shipper weren't any help at all. So she had to have AMEX step in and give her her money back. Here's hoping yours gets answers! Yeah if you live by Lake Tahoe you better like snow, we usually get 400 inches a year or so. Thankfully we love snow lol.
DeleteI am not sure what USPS can do, since they are showing it as delivered, but I will dispute the charge if they won't send me a new one.
DeleteGood luck!
DeleteWow! Those desserts look amazing and it has been so many years since I had any type of tres leches cake but needless to say I adore it! I am glad you had your daughter over and had such a good time. I am sorry to hear that about the giftcard and hopefully something can be sorted because that is a lot money D:
ReplyDeleteIt's not a gift card, it's a piece of the Syracuse Dome, where they play basketball, autographed by the coach. It was expensive, and the guy made me feel like he didn't believe me when I called. May just have to dispute that charge with my credit card company. --sigh--
DeleteThose are some fabulous-looking desserts!! I hope you guys get to go on your trip and something can be done about your daughter's present!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
They were amazing and we took the leftovers home with us too.
Delete