Before dinner this evening, I had an important errand to run.
The other day I plucked a card off of a giving tree at Panera and set out to fulfill the teenager’s request.
Seeing a teenager request books for Christmas simply warmed my heart!
I swung by Barnes & Nobel to pick up the four books from the Twilight series that she requested.
I’ve read all the Twilight books and though I’m not exactly a huge Bella fan, I think they’re an entertaining read and hope the girl enjoys them.
I also wanted to throw in another book that I really enjoyed with the Twilight books…
Totally kidding. 
I added the first book in The Hunger Games series to the gift because I found Katinss a much more likable heroine (Bella seriously frustrated me to no end) and thought the books were pretty badass!
Hopefully she’ll enjoy the surprise addition! (Don’t worry, I included a gift receipt.)
After turning in my gift, I was pleasantly surprised when I was given a free cookie at Panera for my contribution.
Sweet!
The Panera cookie reminded me so much of the chocolate chip cookies I used to buy all the time from the Fremd High School cafeteria. I know that probably sounds like a knock on Panera, but I assure you that it is a ginormous compliment. Those cookies were unreal.
Not a bad appetizer, huh?
Dinner
Dinner tonight was my lazy take on Ryan’s favorite BBQ meatloaf. Lazy because I didn’t feel like looking up the exact ingredients.
I tried to remember the gist of it and combined the following:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1/3 Italian bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 egg
I then spread more BBQ sauce on top of the loaf and baked it in the oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
My version didn’t exactly stay together like legit meatloaf should, but the flavor was all there!
Served atop a bed of spinach and sautéed zucchini.
Can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow!
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My first thought when I saw her wish was “books or movies”?
I loved the books and have only seen the first movie so I can’t compare. One of these days I’ll see the movies.
I’ve heard of Hunger Games but haven’t picked it up. I honestly thought it was a tv show.
That was so sweet of you to buy presents for that girl! My friend bought my the twilight series for a bday present years ago and it took me months to pick them up to read them. I thought they would be stupid. And then I got obsessed! ;p
They say that every time someone watches an episode of Jersey Shore, a book leaps to its own death off a shelf somewhere….. I wonder what would happen when someone reads the Snooki book!
Wasnt she a Times best seller?
LOL!!
Aw, I loved this! I’m a High School English teacher so my heart sings when I hear teenagers say they like reading or tell me books they like or request books!
I love that you added The Hunger Games to the gift too – I just finished the series and I loved it – I’m ordering a class set to teach to my year 10 students (15year olds) next year – can’t wait! 🙂
that is AWESOME you’ll be using these books to teach kids – i bet they will LOVE them. i wish i had a teacher like you!
Julie-
Thank you for making my day. I got into work early this am and the first thing I do is look at your blog. This post made me feel so happy and put me in the Christmas spirit. You just gave that little girl a gift she will never forget!
I have yet to read the hunger games! I need to get on that 🙂
I agree with you on the whole Bella thing, I really disliked her character. The all consuming love and her inability to function without Edward really bothered me, especially because it is a teen series. However the series itself is good and you are amazing for gifting the entire thing plus The Hunger Games to that little girl. : )
That’s so refreshing to see a teenager ask for books!
That is so nice of you to purchase books for a teenager! I think it’s great to see that kids are still interested in reading. It’s super important 🙂
I love that you bought gifts for the girl in need, my gym took collections over the last few weeks and we just completed (as a group) 24 wishes for 24 different kids!!!
what a wonderful thing to do, all those books aren’t cheap. so nice to see people doing such generous things for others less fortunate. wtg!
I totally agree with you about Bella vs. Katniss. I thought Katniss was a much better character and more relatable. Bella was so “Ehhh” through the whole book. And the Hunger Games movies look SO much better than Twilight. The cast actually seems like they can act 😉
Julie, I love you.
I love your dedication to do good and be good.
I love your “going beyond just enough” approach to so many things in life, which is clearly shown here in your giving an EXTRA gift.
I just thought you should know that you are awesome and that even in things that may SEEM little [like buying a gift for a needy teenager and adding a little something special of your own touch, perhaps] you are inspiring me to do more good in my life.
THANK YOU, DOLL FACE!
xo
i feel like you’re giving me way too much credit, but thank you so much for your kind comment. coming from you, someone who is so genuine and whose simply saturday quotes are basically written down all over my office, that means a lot!
EXCELLENT call including the Hunger Games series. The books are amazing, and Katniss is a kick-ass role model and heroine.
i feel like “kick-ass” is the perfect way to describe her!
I keep reading posts about “The Hunger Games” but never heard of it before this week- I obvi missed the memo! Is it similar to the Twilight series?!
P.S. Totes cool about the Panera gift, I wonder if our local Panera is hosting a drive too [national]?
That’s such a sweet thing to do! x
My High School had the best chocolate chip cookies as well! Every now and then there is Facebook comment from a former classmate mentioning how good they were and it receives like 100 likes from everyone.