Life lately, it has been quite busy. Blogging, redesigning this website, traveling, learning, sharing recipes, doing some more traveling and WRITING A COOKBOOK, let me tell you, there’s a lot of amazing things happening and a lot of faves I’ve been collecting along the way, so I thought I’d start a new series wherein every once in a while I’ll check in with a Faves & Life Lately Update.
I am also giving away a bunch of stuff throughout this post so stay tuned!
Let’s start with some of faves:
- Food Whore: A Novel of Dining and Deceit by Jessica Tom. I love both reading books the old school way, and listening to books on audible as I drive. As soon as I saw the cover of this book and a snipit of the description “Full of wit and mouth-watering cuisines, Jessica Tom’s debut novel offers a clever insider take on the rarefied world of New York City’s dining scene in the tradition of The Devil Wears Prada meets Kitchen Confidential. Food whore (n.) A person who will do anything for food.” I knew I’d probably enjoy the book. Now, over half way through I cannot put the book down, following the story of Tia is fascinating, and makes me hungry! Jessica describes food beautifully, it’s as if one is getting to experience it oneself! Not only do I want to plan a trip to NY stat, but I can’t wait to finish this page turner. Want your very own copy of Food Whore? Of course you do, it’s an awesome holiday read! I’m giving away a copy, see the widget at the bottom of the post to enter!
- So as soon as I saw the cover of Food Whore I had the hankering for some pomegranate seeds/tendrils/whatever you want to call them. I had just received a pomegranate in my Door to Door delivery (I’m giving away a $100 gift certificate to try their services here) and my mother-in-law had told me about steel cut oats and how she was enjoying them, so I made some and decided to top them some pomegranate seeds. Um yeah, have you ever tried getting the seeds out of a pomegranate? I watched several videos and different methods. It took me forever and I posted a picture and asked for tips and someone suggested this pomegranate deseeder, I need one! I absolutely loved my steel cuts oats (I made them using this method) and topped them with pomegranate seeds. Delish. So I’m giving away a pomegranate deseeder and a canister of steel cut oats, see the widget at the bottom of the post to enter.
- “I have enough jewelry – said no one ever” I absolutely laughed at the little card that was included in my monthly Rocksbox. Rocksbox is a very cool premium jewelry subscription service. They send you three pieces of jewelry, if you like any of the pieces you can purchase them, if you don’t you can send the pieces back and they send you new ones. If you sign up (it’s a really cool service that I use) I’d love if you’d use the referrer code “philiakelnhoferxoxo” and because Rocksbox is so cool, they’re giving a month away free to 3 lucky winners, see widget below to enter.
- Speaking of words that start with Jewel…did you know that Jewel, the singer-songwriter-artist just released an album and a new memoir? I downloaded it on audible on a whim, and it is honestly one of my favorite books I’ve listened to this year. Her voice is amazing, but in the audio book version of Never Broken: Songs are Only Half the Story she sings too, and her story is just incredible. I definitely recommend it as one of the best books I’ve listened to, and so I’m giving away a copy (your choice of audio, kindle, or paperback). See the widget below to enter.
- My last favorite is a CD by the band The Dustbowl Revival. This band is “Bluegrass. Swing. Hot jazz. Pre-war blues. Southern soul. New Orleans funk. The Dustbowl Revival is what you could call an American roots orchestra with eight full-time members — and they play it all, mashing the sounds of traditional American music into a genre-hopping, time-bending dance party that coaxes new fire out of familiar coal. This isn’t a throwback band. It’s a celebration of the sounds that have kept America moving for more than a century, performed with all the flair of a medicine show and rooted in the sweat and swagger of a juke joint song swap.” And want to know something truly cool? I’ve known the lead singer Zach since we were in the 1st grade! Zach is the friend I’ve known the longest in my life. His music and creativity are truly amazing. The Dustbowl Revival music is probably one of the only albums you can find me listening to on repeat, time after time. As I was writing this post I came across an old picture of us in high school, and he was an usher in my wedding, how cool is that? Clearly I want you to experience their beautiful sound so I’m giving away their two latest albums, see widget below to enter.
Now about life lately:
I’ve been thinking a lot about the past four years (<– yup, the SweetPhi blog is now four years old) and all the truly amazing things that have happened. Yes, it’s a bit nuts at times (like when I have to stay up until 2am finishing a post, or have a meeting before work at 6am about my new website – thank you Envy Creative for being so flexible with meeting times, or when I’m recipe testing for the cookbook during any and all free time) but it’s the best possible kind of crazy and I am so grateful to YOU.
You, amazing reader, are the reason this blog keeps going on!! Whenever I get comments from you telling me how you made one of my recipes and it turned out great or when you send me your Reader Recreations, it brings an honest to goodness smile to my face. I’m still working on updating all the amazing Reader Recreation Submissions on my new submission form page, SO I’m going to do a give away giving two $25 visa gift cards to two lucky. To enter this giveaway submit a reader recreation between now and December 14 and two entries will randomly be selected as winners.
In the past, whenever someone said ‘my heart is so full of love’ I secretly did an inward eye roll. But now, I have to say, I truly understand the meaning of the term.
You know how people talk about their ‘happy place’? well this blog is mine. Every time I come to check something out on my site, my heart does a little pitter patter, it’s my creative outlet. I love having a place where all my recipes are, if I am wanting to make dinner, I just come back and search for the recipe, and I get to interact with all of you awesome readers, so THANK YOU!
I realize this first faves and life lately post is extremely long, so thanks for reading. Here are the giveaway deets – simply comment telling me which giveaway you’d like to be entered into and why. Maybe share some of your favorites and what’s happening in your life? For the reader recreation giveaway submit a reader recreation between now and December 14, 2015. Extra entry options available, don’t forget to fill out the widget telling me you’ve entered! Winners randomly chosen December 14, 2015. Here are the giveaways and prizes
- (GIVEAWAY 1) A copy of the book Food Whore
- (GIVEAWAY 2) Pomegranate Deseeder and a canister of steel cut oats
- (GIVEAWAY 3) 3 winners each gets a month of Rocksbox
- (GIVEAWAY 4) A copy of Jewel’s book Never Broken
- (GIVEAWAY 5) Two albums from The Dustbowl Revival
- (GIVEAWAY 6) 2 winners each gets a $25 visa gift card for submitting a reader recreation
Disclaimer: some of the above links are affiliate links, if you purchase amazon products through the links at no cost to you, I will earn a few pennies. As always, thank you for supporting the brands and products I love that make the Sweetphi blog possible.
Little Cooking Tips says
It was so beautiful, coming back to your blog after an -extremely busy- month to enjoy your posts, and seeing this. THANK YOU dear Phi, for your wonderful blog, for your delicious recipes, for your beautiful travels that you share with us, for putting a smile on our faces! 🙂
Have a wonderful, happy, creative and healthy 2016! And lots of success with the book!
Lots of love,
Panos and Mirella
Off we go to check the rest of the posts!xoxo
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for coming back after a busy month, hope your new year is off to a great start 🙂
Ally G. says
I would like to please be entered into (GIVEAWAY 3) where 3 winners each gets a month of Rocksbox!! Thanks, good luck all.
Sweetphi says
Thanks for entering and best of luck 🙂
Bo Simms says
I would like to win #3 the Rocksbox prize, which is a very cool premium jewelry subscription service that sends you three pieces of jewelry in the mail giveaway for one month prize. This is amazing!!!
Sweetphi says
Rocksbox is so awesome, thanks for entering 🙂
Faye Gates says
I’d love the 2nd Giveaway. The Pomegranate Deseeder and a canister of steel cut oats.
Sweetphi says
I just had oats with pomegranate seeds again for breakfast, it’s so delish! Thanks for entering!
mita says
I would like to win the visa gift card, would help me with groceries.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for entering, I can’t wait to see the reader recreation you submit as part of your entry for the gift card!
Susan Craig says
I would like to enter for the book Food Whore – love the sound of that one. I would also like to enter for Jewel’s book because I love her music. Finally, I would like to enter for the Dustbowl Revival CD because it sounds like something my husband would love. Thanks for the great blog and for the amazing recipes which are fast becoming family favorites.
Sweetphi says
Thank you for entering, best of luck 🙂
Tabathia B says
giveaway 3 and giveaway 6 because my oldeset daughters enjoy jewelry and I could use the gift card to purchase presents
Sweetphi says
Thanks for entering Tabathia, best of luck, and I can’t wait to see the reader recreation you submit as entry to the gift card giveaways 🙂
Beverley @ sweaty&fit says
hahaha i love how aggressive the title of that book is. Definitely one that i would love to read!
Sweetphi says
I love the title too, and it’s such a fun read! Thanks for entering!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Oh you really never can have too much jewellery. I keep telling my husband that, but he just doesn’t get it.
Sweetphi says
Hahah, that’s so true – I just bought some pieces from my Rocksbox earlier today, one can never have too much 😉
Jen says
The Rocksbox is cool as is the deseeder and oats!
Sweetphi says
Thank you for your comment and for entering, best of luck – both those giveaways are awesome 🙂
Amy C. says
The Rocksbox would be fun to try. Like you said…who doesn’t need new jewelry!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for entering Amy, I totally love Rocksbox and think you would too, best of luck!
Denise L says
I’d like to win the gift card to help with holiday shopping and traveling! Thanks for the giveaways 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thank you for entering Denise, I can’t wait to see your reader recreation as entry to the gift card giveaway 🙂
Elena says
I would like to win the visa gift card because it would help me with Christmas shopping
Sweetphi says
Thank you for your comment Elena, I can’t wait to see your reader recreation for the entry to win the visa gift card 🙂
Emma says
I would like to win the Pomegranate Deseeder and steel cut oats because anything that makes life easier (and more delicious!) is fine by me. (And I won’t mention the angst of peeling a dozen hard-boiled eggs for deviled eggs to bring to a Thanksgiving party- I’m waiting on a tool to never have to go through that again!)
Sweetphi says
Haha, I’m right there with you – anything to make life easier, right? Thanks for entering, best of luck 🙂
Shawnna says
hey girl love your post!!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much girl, I always love seeing your comments 🙂
Amy says
I would love to trial the Rocksbox! “I have enough jewelry.” – Said no one ever I LOVE their sense of humor and wholeheartedly agree. Never too much jewelry 🙂
Sweetphi says
I love their sense of humor too, and their service is awesome, I just bought another piece today actually! Thanks for entering and best of luck!
Melanie says
I would love the Dustbowl Revival albums. Their music sounded very cool. Or the jewelry. Who wouldn’t love getting jewels in the mail??
Sweetphi says
Thank you for entering Melanie, the Dustbowl Revival albums are truly awesome, and so is getting jewelry in the mail – good luck 😉
Denise E. says
I would like to win the Rocksbox because I am a jewelry fiend. All the prizes look great, though. Thanks for the opportunity. Loved the post…it helps us readers get to know you better.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for entering Denise, I’m a total jewelry fiend too 😉