Gina Rae Mitchell

Your December 20, 2019, Friday Finds are here. I’m so glad you joined me for the last issue before the holidays. It’s so fun to search for recipes, crafts, and of course, books I think you will like.

If you are a blog follower, but not on the email list, you are missing the weekly bonus material available exclusively to email list subscribers. I strive to make both valuable to you, the reader.

*There are affiliate links within this post. If you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small referral fee.*

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Alright, the business bits are done, now on to the fun!

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December 20, 2019, Friday Finds Book Recommendations 

 

    Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston

GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER for BEST DEBUT and BEST ROMANCE of 2019 

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER that is a *BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR* for VOGUE, NPR, BOOK PAGE, and more! 

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual Prince Henry, across the pond. When the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper and more dangerous than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic.

 

  Storm’s Clouds: Stormfall Chronicles Book 2 by J. W. Golan

Special Note: The Kindle edition is free Dec 20 & 21, 2019! If you take advantage of this offer, please leave a review of the book.

For the first time in centuries, there are reports of a dragon on the edge of the Feyfell. Homes, cities, and forests are all threatened with fiery destruction. The news has plunged the Fae Kingdom into a panic.

Desperate to know the truth behind the reports, and unable to discretely dispatch his fae soldiers to investigate, King Elyan tasks Lynette, Baxter, and Eirlon with tracking down the whereabouts and intentions of the fiery beast.

But Lynette is still only a second-year student at the Fae Academy. She has come far – but she knows she’s no Arche-Mage. Baxter is still struggling to prove his worth, hoping Lynette might see him as something more than the boy-squire she first met two years before. And Eirlon – he hordes secrets Lynette can only suspect. A girl, a boy, and a gnome – on the hunt for a fire-breathing dragon.

Book Two of the Stormfall Chronicles, Storm’s Cloud is an Epic Fantasy suitable for all ages.

I’m reviewing the 2-book series Stormfall Chronicles this weekend. Look for it on the blog soon.

 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers  

*The New York Times Best Seller *

For the first time ever, 75 beloved songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and The Children’s Corner are collected in this charmingly illustrated treasury. It’s sure to be cherished by generations of children as well as the millions of adults who grew up with Mister Rogers.

It’s you I like.
It’s not the things you wear,
It’s not the way you do your hair—
But it’s you I like.

From funny to sweet, silly to sincere, the lyrics of Mister Rogers explore such universal topics as feelings, new siblings, everyday life, imagination, and more. Through these songs—as well as endearing puppets and honest conversations—Mister Rogers instilled in his young viewers the values of kindness, self-awareness, and self-esteem. But most of all, he taught children that they are loved, just as they are. Perfect for bedtime, sing-along, or quiet time alone, this beautiful book of meaningful poetry is for every child—including the child inside of every one of us.

 

  Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.

“I devoured Daisy Jones & The Six in a day, falling head over heels for it. Daisy and the band captured my heart.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine book pick)

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Washington Post • Esquire • Glamour • Real Simple • Good Housekeeping • Marie Claire • Parade • Shelf Awareness • BookRiot

Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go-Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together.

What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

 

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December 20, 2019, Friday Finds Holiday Recipes

 

Marilyn’s Treats graciously permitted me to share her Sweetheart Fantasy Fudge recipe with you this week. I make a wide variety of flavors in my fudge, but I’ve never tried this recipe. I’m so making this to add to my holiday dessert trays this year. Speaking of which, my first party is tonight. You can find an image below of the table of desserts and snacks I’ve made so far.

Desserts make the perfect gift!

Time is getting short for making those holiday desserts and gifts. This easy Crockpot Candy recipe from Jen at CincyShopper will be a hit on a dessert tray or in a tin for a heartfelt gift. No one needs to know how simple it is to make. It can be our secret.

 

No holiday party is complete unless you have a fabulous, pretty punch to serve. This delicious Easy Holiday Punch from Jessica at A Farm Girl’s Kitchen is sure to have people gathering around the punch bowl.

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December 20, 2019, Friday Finds Crafty Fun

In my opinion, it’s time to have those holiday craft gifts all wrapped up. ( Pun intended! haha). I’ve pulled my fair share of late nights trying to finish a present. I’ve found that if it’s not done this close to Christmas, it’s time to make a lovely card with a picture of the pattern or the not quite finished object and present that with an ‘It’s Coming Soon” message. You will only stress yourself and probably not enjoy the opportunity to gift your lovely work if you’ve been pulling all-nighters to finish. So this week’s craft finds are all about the fun.

This knit Train & Tracks Hat pattern is sure to be a fun project to work on over the holidays. I love doing colorwork in my knitting. I find it relaxing, yet it keeps my mind engaged. Do you know someone who has a fascination with trains? This hat is perfect for young and old alike. Lynne at Imalulu has patterns for this hat with different designs such as diggers, fire trucks, dinosaurs, etc. I want to knit them all! For those of you who don’t knit, she also sells the completed items at a very reasonable price.

This adorable snowman is a fun, snow-day activity!

Andreja from Easy Peasy and Fun shares her simple No-Sew tutorial to make a snowman for play or to use as a doorstopper. This adorable little guy just needs a couple of socks, rice, markers, a glue gun, and your stash of buttons, ribbons, etc. to turn into a fun snowman project for all ages.

Fairy Gardens are like the new desk sand gardens. They are so popular right now. Fairy Gardens also make a fun project for the whole family to work on together. This grab-bag of accessories from The Felted Tree comes in different themes so you can choose what works best for you.

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Well, my friend, this “wraps up” another edition of the Friday Finds. I am just full of puns today! Please let me know if you try any of the books, recipes, or crafts recommended in this issue. Send pictures if you would like, I might feature them in a future article.

No matter how you celebrate the coming week, I wish you a wonderful, peaceful time spent doing what makes you happy.

Peace & Joy to you!!

Gina

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A few earlier posts:

• Myth Agent by LA MacFadden
• Ellie Everlasting by Isabel Scheck
• Things by Francine Garson 
• Sugar by Kimberly Stuart
• The Double D Ranch by Rochelle Bradley
• The Little Bit & Big Byte Series by Craig T. Feigh

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                Red, White & Royal Blue: A ...Shop on Amazon Storm's Clouds: Stormfall C...Shop on Amazon A Beautiful Day in the Neig...Shop on Amazon Daisy Jones & The Six: Rees...Shop on Amazon