Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! We here at Just Us Girls hope you all have a terrific day! Don't forget to check out our Book Giveaway still going on and also be on the look out this week for more reviews, giveaways, recipes and more!

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Pumpkin Spice Syrup #Recipe

Happy Friday! I'm pretty excited and feeling pretty good. If you follow us on twitter you know that I wasn't having the greatest day yesterday, I felt sick with a sore throat and body ache pains, but with a couple Hot Toddy's and having a few naps helped a lot. Not to mention me waking up in time for the Dempster's Lunch Twitter party hosted by Mom Central Canada. I had such a good time and was so happy I was one of the winners. 

I love the smell of pumpkin scent anything. I have to admit I had my pumpkin candles out a few weeks before Fall arrived, maybe, because of all the rain we've been having. About a month ago I went to Starbucks and got their Pumpkin Spice Latte, (which is to die for) and thought, I bet there is a recipe online somewhere where I can make my own. And there was, duh, everything is online now and days.

I logged on to FoodGawker as soon as I got home and searched pumpkin spice latte in the search box and found Baker Girl’s amazing and easy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe. I have to say I’ve never been more pleased and satisfied with the outcome of something I thought would be so hard to make. Not only was this so easy to make, it was so good to drink and even better to drink the second day when the syrup for the latte get’s to sit in the fridge for a day or two and have all the yummy ingredients pull together.

Below is the recipe, but please be sure to check out better and more beautiful pictures over at Baker Girl’s blog along with a printable recipe.

 

Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Ingredients
1/3 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally to keep syrup from burning.

2. Let mixture cook together until it becomes syrup-y and begins to coat the spoon (for about 10-15 minutes), then remove from heat.
3. Refrigerate in a heat-proof container. 

To Make Pumpkin Spice Latte:Heat syrup with milk (about 2 cups of milk and 2-3 tablespoons of syrup, depending on how much milk or creamer you want to use and how sweet you want your latte. I used two tablespoons of both creamer and syrup for one cup of coffee and it was perfect). Pour into a blender or whisk until frothy, for about ten seconds (to make it thick and prevent the pumpkin from settling on the bottom). Pour into cup and stir in about 1/2 cup or more of strong, hot coffee.

Have a great weekend!

7 comments Tags: Fall, Fall Drinks, Holidays, pumpkin, Recipe

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Online Blogging Communities

One of the best things about being a blogger, besides getting awesome products to test out, is the friendships you build throughout the blogging world. One of the things that I think is very helpful and a way to "jump in," is by joining a couple blog communities. If you're lucky you'll find one that you're very comfortable in and feel like you fit in. For me I found two this past week that I absolutely love and need to give shout outs to. Follow Me, I'm Canadian and Canadian Moms. Both are Canadian communities and both are just amazing. When you first join they make you feel welcome by both greeting you and automatically the owners of the community send you a friend request.

I'd like to say thank you to these ladies for starting such great online communities and I look forward to being an active member. If you're just starting out in the blog world things can be a bit crazy and you may not know where to begin, but let me say that if you join a blogging community you will receive tons of help on how to get started and what to do and before you know it you'll be good to go and be a blogging pro!

~LaQuita

3 comments Tags: Blogging Communities, Canadian Moms, Follow Me I'm Canadian

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His Country Girl Review & Giveaway (4 Winners)

Being a part of the Harlequin Ambassadors Panel, you get four different books a month to review and extras to share with friends and family. We decided instead to share with all of you!

Title: His Country Girl

By: Jillian Hart

Publisher: Steeple Hill

Publication Date: December, 21, 2010

                                                   IBSN:  978-

Pages: 213

To fulfill a sick boy's wish, rodeo star Tucker Granger surprises little Owen in the hospital. But no one is more surprised than single mother Sierra Baker. She figures the carefree champion for a different kind of man. One who doesn't spend hours talking "cowboy code" with a hospital-bound child. One who can't have her dreaming of a second chance at love. Somehow, Tucker ropes her heart and fills it with hope. Hope that this country girl and her son can lasso the roaming bronc rider into their family forever. 

I adored this book from beginning to end. It's a love story. I loved how as the reader I felt really connected to Sierra. The love she has for her son, Owen, is very well written. As a mother, I can relate to always thinking ahead on how whatever action you take and the effect it has on your children. This book made me smile, tear up and made me want more. I'd love to know how the characters are doing now. (lol)

To win your very own copy, please enter below

~LaQuita

5 comments Tags: Book Review, Giveaway

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Between Two Promises

Sequel to Between Two Worlds

Title: Between Two Promises

By: Shelter Somerset

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publication Date: October, 3, 2011

IBSN: 9781613721636

       Pages: 230

Daniel Schrock and Aiden Cermak have forged a life in the rural Montana foothills, but a shadow still lingers, made stronger when a letter arrives from Daniel's brother Mark inviting him to his Christmas wedding. Daniel fears returning home might force what he wants to avoid: telling his family about Aiden and facing the dreaded Amish shunning.
Despite the uncertainties, Daniel and Aiden head to Illinois, where frustration will not only endanger Daniel’s relationship with his family and the church community, but his bond with his boyfriend, who leaves Daniel with a choice: him or the Amish. Before Daniel can stop Aiden, he’s gone… and threats from the past resurface, crystallizing Daniel’s fears about a murderer still at large.
As he desperately searches for Aiden and the identity of the suspected killer, Daniel will have to decide if love is important enough to risk losing everything he knows. Will Daniel choose to keep his commitment to the Amish church or will he stand by the promise he made to Aiden that first night they made love?

Between Two Promises was both inspiring and heartbreaking.  The author had my throat tightening with emotion for both Aiden and Daniel. Even without reading the first installment "Between Two Worlds," the story never made me feel like I was missing anything thanks to the author's subtle recaps.  There were some environmental descriptions with a bit more detail than I, personally, would have liked.  Some of the vocabulary for character descriptions were a bit repetitive as well, but otherwise a great story.
~Bobbi~  

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