All is Pretty

I meant to do an update on the 75 books I managed to read last year! This year I am attempting 100 and so far I am off to a good start. I think I've read 5 so far. So out of the below list my favorite book of the year was The Help. I also enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars Series, The Lost Symbol, Shiver & Linger, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series, and all of Elin Hilderbrand's books that I read over the summer (I think I've almost read all her books). It was sad to see The Hunger Games come to an end. If anyone is on Goodreads please add me! Here is my Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/733439-tammi

January:

1. I Alex Cross by James Patterson (3 stars)
2. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (5 stars)
3. Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart - CD (2 stars)
4. Dramarama by E. Lockhart - CD (2 stars)
5. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and The Olympians) by Rick Riordan - (1 star)
6. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot - CD (3 stars)
7. How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt (3 stars)
8. How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart (1 star)
9. When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (4 stars)
10. Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella - CD (2 stars)
February:
11. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot - CD (2 stars)
12. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin (1 star)
13. Jinx by Meg Cabot - CD (1 star)
March:
14. Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris - CD (3 stars)
15. Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse #2) by Charlaine Harris - CD (4 stars)
16. Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #3) by Charlaine Harris - CD (4 stars)
April:
17. Tempted (House of Night #6) by P.C. Cast (3 stars)
18. Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block (2 stars)
19. 90 Day Geisha - My Time as a Tokyo Hostess by Chelsea Haywood (3 stars)
20. Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (4 stars)
21. Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse #4) by Charlaine Harris - CD (2 stars)
22. The Bright Forever by Lee Martin (1 star)
23. Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse #5) by Charlaine Harris - CD (2 stars)
24. The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) by Melissa de la Cruz (1 star)
25. Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #6) by Charlaine Harris - CD (2 stars)
May:
26. All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #7) by Charlaine Harris - CD (1 star)
27. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (5 stars)
28. From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse #8) by Charlaine Harris - CD (1 star)
June:
29. Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane (4 stars)
30. Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse #9) by Charlaine Harris - CD (3 stars)
31. Pearl of China by Anchee Min (3 stars)

32. The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand (4 stars)

33. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (4 stars)

34. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (1 star)

35. Lunch in Paris: a Love Story by Elizabeth Bard (4 stars)

36. Vision in White by Nora Roberts (3 stars)

37. Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts (2 stars)

July:

38. Family Affair by Caprice Crane (3 stars)

39. Learn to be an Optimist by Lucy MacDonald (4 stars)

40. Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand (2 stars)

41. The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand (3 stars)

42. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand (2 stars)

43. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (3 stars)

44. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (5 stars)

45. Forget About it by Caprice Crane (2 stars)

46. The G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck (3 stars)

August:

47. Buying a Piece of Paris by Ellie Nielson (2 stars)

48. The Island by Elin Hilderbrand (5 stars)

49. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (0 stars)

50. Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts (4 stars)

51. The Castaways by Elin HIlderbrand (4 stars)

52. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson (4 stars)

53. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (3 stars)

September:

54. The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand (5 stars)

55. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - reread (4 stars)

56. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (2 stars)

57. Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10) by Charlaine Harris (3 stars)

October:

58. Poker Face: The Rise and Fame of Lady Gaga by Maureen Callahan (2 stars)

59. The Espressologist by Kristina Springer (2 stars)

60. Lauren Conrad Style by Lauren Conrad (1 star)

61. Size 12 is not Fat by Meg Cabot (1 star)

November:

62. Burned (House of Night #7) by P.C. Cast (1 star)

63. Misguided Angels (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz (0 stars)

December:

64. Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

65. Flawless (PLL #2) by Sarah Shepard (4 stars)

66. Perfect (PLL #3) by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

67. Unbelievable (PLL #4) by Sarah Shepard (4 stars)

68. Wicked (PLL #5) by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

69. Killer (PLL #6) by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

70. Heartless (PLL #7) by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

71. Wanted (PLL #8) by Sarah Shepard (3 stars)

72. Let it Snow by John Greene etc. (4 stars)

73. Grayson, Will Grayson by John Greene (4 stars)

74. Crank by Ellen Hopkins (1 star)

75. Glass by Ellen Hopkins (3 stars)

Flour frosting??? you might say, but actually it's one of the best frostings.
Not too sweet and light and fluffy. :)

Continuously whisk the flour and milk over medium heat.
Constant whisking is important for no lumps. You do not want lumps, trust me.

Cooking the flour will result in something that looks like mashed potatoes.
It's sticky and comes together away from the sides.

Mix the mixture for a minute or so to make sure there are no lumps.
Cover and refrigerate until cool.

Cream together the shortening, softened margarine and sugar.

Slowly add the cooled flour/milk mixture in little bits beating after each addition.
Continue to beat for 7-10 minutes until light and fluffy and all sugar is disolved.

Ha, don't laugh at my attempts at writing with a gel frosting.

Recipe:

5 tbs. flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1In a small saucepan blend flour and milk.

2Cook stirring constantly until mixture bubbles.

3Transfer to a small bowl, beat mixture with mixer for one minute. Cool.

4In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugar with a mixer until fluffy.

5Add vanilla and salt, blending well.

6On medium speed beat in cooled flour mixture in small portions (teaspoonful at a time), beating well after each addition.

7Continue beating until light and fluffy.