on a summer book list...

I'm keeping my summer book list small this year. I know for a fact I'll be doing a lot more writing and a little less reading on my spare time and even though I'm tempted to just push books aside for a little while and focus on my writing, it's just not something I can bring myself  look to do. I always like to have a book by my side. It's funny because I have a small notebook just for my book list. I carry it around in my purse because I never know when I'll spot a title that I want to write down or when someone will recommend a novel! Here are six books I've told myself that I want to read this summer...

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat. Someone had recommended this book to me after they saw my previous post about my love for wolves. Thanks Gina! It's a true story, totally dig that, and it's made into a movie which is something I will forward to watch after I read the book. It's basically a story of a man who goes to the Canadian Arctic to observe the wolves and in doing so starts to feel a deep connection to them. It just seems like a book that I would enjoy. 

September Girls by Bennett Madison. I stumbled across a blog that strictly shares and reviews young adult and scifi books called The Book Smugglers. That's were I spotted this book and thought it sounded interesting. It's about a boy named Sam who spends his summer in a beach town where he is surrounded by beautiful blonde babes. An unexpected romance happens between him and one the girls but as things come together she pulls away. Sam is faced with trying to unravel secrets to do with her and these girls. This book is about first love and...mermaids!! Now I got your attention. I know! That's what grabbed me too. 

Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Julee had this book on her dinner table and noticed it when I was at her house while we were out in Seattle. That's one of the things I love about going over to Julee's house, seeing all the books she has stacked in random places in her home. I always end up taking photos of them so I can go back and write all the titles down. I've already read Hopeless by Hoover and that was amazing! Everyone that I have gotten to read it say the same. After that, I told myself I had to read another of her books and this one seems just as captivating! Can't wait to get my hands on it. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Another author that I've come to like. After reading his novel The Graveyard Book I knew Neil and I were soul mates. I don't know much about this book other than it's a mysterious bewitching story and everyone that I've talked to rave about. So I'll be reading it!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. A story about a girl and a boy meeting at a Cancer Support group. I heard it's a heart-swelling story that will make you cry. Even though I don't read books like this often, I think it's good for the soul every once in a while. Many around the blogosphere say it's worth reading. 

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. Out of all these, I am most looking forward to this book! I've read lots of reviews where people compare it to The Host by Stephanie Meyer in the sense that it's about an alien race taking over but also they say that it's way better. Alien movies and or books always leave me with this creepy feeling like what if? It's the "unknown" that gets me and once I heard about this book I just knew I needed to read it. 

Have you read any of these books? Or do you have any other great reads that you just think I must know about? I am always looking to add more to my never ending book list! 

xoxo.

on books this year...

I love reading and just like cooking I love to inspire people to read. I get so much joy out of recommending a really great book and having someone read it and totally love it as much as I did. Not only that but I love seeing what others are reading too! I have a notebook that I use just to write down all the books I plan on reading and I cross them off as I go. Nerd much? For sure! Here are some of the books that I've read so far this year...

Under the Never Sky.  This series was recommended to me and I enjoyed it very much. This author takes you to another world with a crazy adventure full of hardship and love. Aria was exiled from her home and now forced into a unfamiliar land. Scared and hopeless she meets Perry, an Outsider who shows here who she really is. Oh and Roar Perry's best friend is my favorite. Very good read.

Little Wolves. This was one of those random picks I found while browsing books on my Kindle. This story takes place in the 80's in the Minnesota prairies full of folklore and mythology. While a man seeks the truth about his murdering son who then commits suicide and a wife of a pastor who also returns to the same small town for unknown reasons. Both stories are intertwined and yes, there's wolves! It's a haunting story about deep dark secrets and about how far people go to reveal them. Must read. 

The Witch's Daughter. A three hundred and eighty-four year old witch meets a teenage girl and ends up teaching her things that she never though she would ever share. This book is full of magic and witchy stories. It took me a little while to get into this book but in the end I was glad I read it. 

So, it's not lie that I am a hopeless romantic. I love, love stories. The sweet happily ever after ones, tragic tearful ones and even the dirty spicy ones. Yes, I said dirty and spicy. Or even a combination of all of those in like, one book! In Hopeless, girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy even though she doesn't want to have the feelings she does but of course those feelings are uncontrollable. Girl ends up finding out boy isn't just a boy she randomly met but a boy with a secret. A secret that involves her. Oh snap! Crazy book. You have to read this book. Like now. I've already hooked two people. A super page turner and I even cried at the end. Yep. Me. Cried. 

Dark Places. Same author as Gone Girl. Gillian's writing style is amazing. Different view points while the time and place jumps back and forth. At first I was a little weird about having things jump back and forth but she does it in such a way that makes you think and wonder. It's almost like a puzzle and each page is another piece that you are trying to put together to figure out this crazy mystery. Libby was the only survivor when her family were all killed, well, except her older brother who killed their mom and two sisters. Or did he? Dark places totally says it all. 

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors mostly of her books take place in the Pacific North West. Home. My first ever book I read of hers was Firefly Lane. Her books always build up so many emotions in me and I always relate to her stories in some way. Night Road was a beautiful tragic story about a mom who's world revolves around her twins Mia and Zach. Mia meets Lexi who become best friends. They grow up together and all three of them face challenges. And then something happens that chances all of their lives...I can't even say anymore! It's an amazing book. 

Have you read any of these? What are you reading now? I'd love to hear about it!

xoxo.

on a book review: warm bodies

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. The ultimate zombie apocalypse. The living crowd together in efforts to survive while the undead drift along the abandoned street looking for their next brain to devour. As devastation swallows the world one zombie stands out, different from his fellow zombie brothers. He wears a red tie and looks pretty good for well, being a zombie. Although he can't totally remember who he was or how he came to be a zombie he does remember one thing, his name starts with Rrrr. 

R is different then all the others mainly because he feels guilt for having to do what he does. Eat flesh and brains.  R and his group of the un-living corner a group of humans on their latest hunting trip and do what they do best. R took one bite into a dude's brains who now used to be a guy named Perry and was stocked to be sucked into glimpses of Perry's memories. He feels what Perry feels and then that's when his grey dead eyes meets Julie's. That's when something strange happens to R, a twitch in his soul he feels this strong urge to protect and save Julie. So he does.

Julie knows R is different and together they go about doing what no other zombie and human could have ever thought could be done. Change the world. All it takes is them believing and wanting more. With R's will to live and Julie's courage they send a spark across the land effect living and dead. 

I loved this book so much. I had no knowledge about this book until I came across the trailer of the movie they are making based on it. I quickly finished up what I was currently reading at the time and picked it up solely because well, it's about zombies. Sure it's another zombie story but the way Isaac told this intense and desperate encounter between his beauty and beast was pulling at my heartstrings. I mean, it had me getting all swoony over a  zombie. R is hot! Wait what? YES. That is what I am saying! Plus the fact that there's a girl who could potential be handing her brains over on a silver platter any second had me totally flipping pages. 

Now don't let the trailer to the movie Warm Bodies deceive you. The movie is totally going for a romantic comedy type of thing which is really not the case at all when you read this book. Sure there's romance, a forbidden kind. A kind that has you biting your nails hoping and praying that it could work and that it won't come crashing down. It's a serious novel behind the eyes of R, a guy who is fully alive but stuck in a rotting body. What isn't there to love about that?! Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited to see this movie. I think it's going to be great and also because I am a huge fan of movie adaptations of books but I'm one of those people that appreciate them for what they are and not what they aren't.  

Pick it up and read it. Let me know what you think! In my book it's the holy grail of zombie fiction. 

xoxo. 

on summer book no.1...

Crossed off my first book on my summer reading list. Hurrah! The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul. Great read! I was hooked just by the tittle when I saw it sitting on the shelf in Target. It was a quick read and had such a wonderful story to it. It was all that I hoped for and wanted. Of course, I am connected to this book simply by the fact that it's about a little coffee shop, obviously in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Sunny who is originally from "Nowheresville, Arkansas" now calls Kabul home after traveling there with her boyfriend who is off on dangerous missions leaving Sunny to run her shop. Kabul is not an easy place to own your own business with all the bombings, guns everywhere and the Afghan culture to uphold but Sunny molds to all of these things and creates life in Kabul.
Sunny is a strong women who has not only built a cute, quirky coffee shop but has also brought traditions that create quite a buzz around town. She becomes linked to four different women whose lives and secrets are not only dangerous but make your heart seize up.

It's a fun read about family, friends and relationships. Although, this book doesn't go into great depth it does give a nice understanding of life in Kabul. It was also interesting finding out at the end of the book that the author actually lived in Kabul and owned her own hair salon and even though this book isn't a true story she says that the characters are ones that were inspired by real people in the time she spent in Kabul. True stuff and very neat!

on my summer reading...

Summer is always the time to get some reading done. I read tons year-round but it's something about Summer that really motivates me to read as many novels as I possibly can! I've got a pretty good list going here this year and I'm sure I'll be carrying into Fall.
Reading has always been a passion of mine, since I was a young adult. I was always one to crawl into bed early just so I could lay back and flip some pages of my book. Growing up my favorite series was Harry Potter. I was totally a sucker for them and still am! I hope Sebastian will become an avid reader like myself. Books are really such lovely things to help ease your mind. I know when I have a tough day reading is one of the number one things I do to relax and to have the capability to just jump into another world or reality for a little bit, well, we all need that in one way or another. Happy Reading!
(all photos & descriptions from Amazon)

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. I bet a lot of you are looking forward to this one! The second book to A Discovery of Witches. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? So good! I without a doubt love my witches, vampires and demon books but I truly think these books are great for people who don't normally read that genre. This baby comes out July 10th. Mark your calendar. 

Game of Thrones by George Martin. This is on my list for two reasons; one because I want to read it and second because I want to watch the show on HBO. Most books that are made into shows or movies have to be read before I watch them. It's like a rule for me. If I watch the show or movie first then I won't read the book. Usually. For example, I never read all the Vampire Diaries books until after I already started the show. I read the first book and stopped. It was horrible and the show is hands down waaaayy better. So there. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth. Okay, people are saying that if you like The Hunger Games that you will like this. I will give it a try. It's a trilogy and the second book is called Insurgent. I'll let you know!

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard. Obviously by the cover you can pretty much guess as to what sort of book this is going to be :) Not going to lie when I say that I am a member of a Fifty Shades of Grey group on FaceBook and all the women on it are raving about this series. There's two books, this one and one called Gabriel's Rapture and they say it's the closest to Fifty Shades than anything out there and it's GOOD. I need to see what all the hype is about!

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio. This book has great reviews and most of all it's set in Washington State which is always a something that grabs my attention in the first place. It's about Emily who in her twenties who has a perfect husband and a perfect life but after 10 years things flip upside down. She ends up going to hang out with her Aunt in Bainbridge Island! Just reading the description of the book I already like Emily as a character. 

The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Robriguez. Story about a person who owns a little coffee shop and her meeting people that influence her life. Um hello, story of my life. Enough said. 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. You know I had to toss a vampire novel into this mix. I've read Richelle's Vampire Academy series which was two thumbs up. This book looks similar to those so I hope to enjoy it. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This guy is on the top seller list everywhere. Here's a little description off of Amazon... 

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

Last but not least, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. This is in Oprah's new Book Club 2.0. Sounds like an amazing story about a women who is on the brink of losing everything and sets out onto the Pacific Crest Trial that goes from Mojave Desert through California & Oregon to Washington with no experience. This book reminds me of Eat, Pray, Love. Where a women that goes on an adventure to escape life and journeys to a new one through struggle and self realization. I really love reading memoirs like this, it's very inspiring to ones soul.

Well, I hope maybe at least one of these books caught your eye. If you have any recommendation for me don't hesitate to post them in my comments :) 

♥A.

on a review: the last werewolf...

The Last Werewolf. Totally not what I was expecting at all and I mean that in a good way. When starting this book I was delighted that the main character was a werewolf because we all know those guys can get over shadowed by the vampires these days. It's starts out with Jake becoming a werewolf and sharing his story with us in a journal. I hope I'm not giving anything away but yes, Jake is the last werewolf and after being alive for 200 years he isn't feeling up to it much longer. On the verge of ending it all he finds out he's the last werewolf around, along with many other interesting details that have in effect been revealed. Jake is a bad guy who eats people once a month, the dude knows his scotch and has sworn off of love not to forget he's amazing in bed but what werewolf isn't right? And I won't really go into the fact that he's come up against an organizations whose sole purpose is to extinct werewolves. 

I know you can't avoid looking at the tittle and comparing it to Twilight but I kid you not it doesn't nearing touch the Twilight saga. This is book is rich in words that are profound beyond anything you might expect. If you're into that sort of thing and are looking for a fantasy book with some intellectual goodness then I absolutely recommend this book for you! 

Happy Reading. 

♥A.

on our favorite books...

We have a pretty decent assortment of children books. The past couple weeks even more have entered our home since a couple weeks ago work acquired a used books store (my coffee shop is in a mall so by that I meant the mall acquired a used book store). Sebastian loves to read! I always find him on the floor with tons of his books scattered around him with his head in a book, pretend reading. It's fun being a parent because you get to incorporate books that you grew up with into their lives and have fun reading them books that as a child you loved. Things like that warm my heart, knowing that Sebastian likes things that I liked as a kid :) 

1\\ Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books were one of my faves when I was a kid. Cute, funny and yet always has a lesson for Sebastian to learn. 


2\\ The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jen Berenstain are another favorite of mine. Just another great book full of wisdom and humor that help children and parents conquer their firsts! The two that Sebastian and I have been reading currently are "Too much TV" and "And too much Junk Food". Fits the current stage we're at. 


3\\ Eric Carle books are beautiful. Colorful in pictures and in words. By far the most beloved around here is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?". Classics none the less and such a great way to get kids to interact. Sebastian loves singing the Brown Bear song with me and we get to see different animals and make animal sounds. At times it can get a little loud in here!


4\\ Laura Numeroff books are new to me and we only have a few of them so far but their ones that I find Sebastian pulling out and wanting me to read often. "If You Take A Mouse To School" and "If You Give A Pig A Party". I don't know about you but I always wondered what if you take a mouse to school? 


5\\ No doubt Dr. Seuss books are on our list. Every single one of them are childhood must haves. Green Eggs and Ham, naturally is our number one.


6\\ Look and Find books are brilliant. Something that Sebastian has yet to become bored with. These books are his go-to in times when we're lounging around. There are so many to choose from, so far we have Toy Story, Elmo's Potty and Spider-Man. Sort of like a I Spy book for toddlers. Each page has a scene and then a box on the side of things that they have to find. Makes them think and it's always fun having to find Buzz Lightyear hiding behind a spaceship!


That's our favorite books. Always adding on and always reading. Other than the ones that I've shared, my most cherished childhood book is No Milk, No Moon!  Have you heard of it? What are your favorite childhood books?

♥A.

on book club review: The Butterfly Cabinet...

(remember spoilers people!!)

This books starts out about a women Anne who pays a visit to her childhood nanny, Maggie. With her visit Maggie tells a tale of secrets and behind the scenes of her Mistress Harriet (Anne's mother). Maggie was part of the staff at old castle like Irish estate where a four-year-old girl dies an unimaginable death that Harriet her mother was accused & put in prison. As Maggie tells her story we learn Harriet's deep dark secrets & thoughts through-out the book as she writes in her journal. 

Overall, and I'm not going to lie, totally had to force myself to finish this book! Very slow read. Although I can't say that I disliked the book. It was written well, almost poetically in a way. I enjoyed that through-out the whole book it was like two different stories were being told, two very different lives. One by Maggie and the other by Harriet. We got to see both points of view of the sad event that happened to little Charlotte. 

When I read this book it was easy to hate Harriet. She is a crude, grim and a bitter women to not only the staff of the house but also to her two boys & daughter. Not to forget that she really should not have had those three kids because of her total lack of being a nurturing mother. For the most part the only thing that I noticed her ever caring for was her butterfly cabinet with her collection of butterflies-- dead, lifeless, pinned to a board and tucked away inside a cabinet. 

Charlotte was found to have hung herself inside a wardrobe where her mother frequently put her to be punished. Harriet was accused of killing her and sent to prison. Charlotte's blood was on Harriet's hands. No doubt and for the prison time and every thought she had in her head when sitting in that cell was deserved. I can see how some people might have felt sympathy towards her. Not me. Unforgivable. 

Not an outstanding book for me but if you are into literary fiction then it's for you! 

♥A.

on an update...

For starters, can you believe Thanksgiving is here?! Thursday. Wow. Time yet again seems to whizz by. Thanksgiving is held at my in laws every year. Love the family huddled around at the table laughing and stuffing our faces with yummy food of all sorts. This year I'll be contributing a vegetable tian along with two different desserts. A pumpkin pie spectacular & an apple-cream cheese bundt cake. I know, you want to be part of my family. I don't blame you. 

Black Friday will be soon after. Most of you will be the shopper where as I will be the one in the mall at 4:30am serving liquid crack to the crazy shoppers (you) because I'm nice. Ah, Black Friday and your peer pressure. How I loathe you! I've had a slight set back this week with a lady who I hired and never showed up for her training this week. Yeah, boo on you! A week before the holiday season, really people? Well, what are you going to do? I was bummed and it's going to be bit tough with either finding another person or just trying to make it work. It.Will.Be.Alright. 


I've started a new book. Matched by Ally Condie. I just started and hooked already! It's about this "Society" were Officials decide everything. Where you work. What you eat. Who you spend the rest of your live with. And even when you die! Crazy right? The main character Cassie has her matching ceremony and finds out she is to be matched up with her best friend Xander. Perfect, well until she notices another guys face show up in the blink of an eye! Who is it Xander or Ky? Does she follow what the Society says is right or goes down a road that no one as ever gone? My kind of book. Best yet, it's a trilogy :) What are you reading?


Last Friday I had a lovely Twilight Marathon sleepover at my place with some girls. We ate ourselves to death with all the appetizer I had. We watch the movies, giggled and goofed around. Although, not going to name any names but there was someone that fell asleep and didn't even finish New Moon. CoughAshleyCough. But I don't judge. A night of just girls. Something I desperately needed.

Speaking of Twilight...I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 1 with Ashley Friday night. I am speechless. The best of all of them and overall the best movie I've ever seen in my life. I know what is a serious statement but I am not even kidding you. The whole time I was in awe. Ashley and I kept looking to the side at each other with wonder. I think after the movie was over and we starting out of the theater both of us were in shock. "OMG that was soooo goo0o0o0od" was said more than a dozen times each. I beg you go see it!


Also made amazing Mint Chocolate Chip cookies after I discovered Hershey's Mint chips at the grocery early this week. They are heavenly. Sebastian and I inhaled way too many of them together on the couch last night, my butt grew but I don't care. It was a sweet bonding moment :D

♥A.

on a book club review...

Okay, so I'm a little belated with this review. Julee just last month had drummed up a nice little book club. It's fun so I joined even though Julee & the girls are all the way across the country I still feel special in participating and doing reviews on my blog. Alas these are my thoughts on our first book The End of Everything by Megan Abbott. However, if you have not yet read this book and would like to-- don't read this post. In efforts to be involved in my book clubbing duties this is my tool to reach out to my fellow members of the Chatty Chicks Culture Club (the club name). Spoilers.Spoilers.Spoilers beware!


The End of Everything is about a girl named Lizzie who is thirteen-years-old and whose best friend Evie disappears. Lizze who by the way is father-less becomes very close with Evies dad while they both set out to find clues and piece together the puzzle as to where Evie went to. Hmmm where did she go??


I really enjoyed this book however I'm not quite sure I actually understood what really went on towards the end. Did anyone else feel like Megan Abbott wasn't clear as to some very major details? I know that I totally thought that Evie's father was sexually abusing Evie's older sister & even maybe Evie (?). I mean, it was very obvious that Evie's sister and her father had a very bizarre sort of relationship. I feel like this whole weird sexual relationship with the father & older sister is what lead Evie to run away with creepy neighbor dude. Yes? No? And also that is why the mother is very withdrawn from the family. She gets no attention from the father and is also in on the whole gross stuff happening but doesn't really do anything about it. 


Help me out friends! I mean- the father was abusing them right? 


All in all I really loved the writing style and getting to peek into a thirteen-year-old's point of view, be that as it may the thoughts of Lizzie were a bit advanced for her age. But you never know! 


I would love to hear all the Chatty Chick comments below. It would warm my heart :) 

♥A. 

on a book review...

Boneshaker by Cheri Priest was awesome. I really liked it. I wasn't sure about this one. One of my regular customer gents (a fellow obsessive readers) brought in this book for me, yes a BOOK. I haven't held a book in ages. But no I assure you I still am loyal to my beloved Kindle gem. However if someone hands be a good paperback or hardback for that matter and say it's a good book I can't say no. 

I am glad I didn't. I had the chance on this lazy Sunday on my couch that has been warm & toasty from my buttocks for quite some time (don't judge) to finally finished this book. 

If you're wondering, the Boneshaker is a machine made by an inventor to mine out gold in the Klondike. Something the Russians paid him to do. In the end the beast drilled into the ground and in doing so exposed a gas called the Blight. This unknown gas escaped up into the population killing people or worst turning them into the undead--zombies!! Or in the novel their called Rotters. Sure, there's lots more to it but that is what the Boneshaker itself is. You'll just have find out how the whole thing started and why. Just like the in the main character Zeke who went into the walled up Blight infested Seattle to find answers about his father but instead he found himself in a lot of trouble. 

Boneshaker is book one of five others! Next one is called Clementine & is adding to my list of books to read. Check them out. 

♥A.

on a book review...

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children was a easy read. I enjoyed it. A mysterious mystery (huh?) that had you guessing and took you into a very different kind of world. Along with learning about the peculiar children you got to see picture of the children right inside the book (like the one on the cover)! They give off a creepy victorian vibe to them and totally added to the story! The only downside is that the book sort of just ended...Without a real ending to it. So I'm hoping a second book will come out? 

----------------------------------------------------------

Remember when I told you that some books you just stumble upon, well this there book is one of those fortunate ones. One of my regular customers at work brought this book in for me. It's a Sci-Fi book with mad scientists, steam-punk tech, ravenous zombies, airships & if you have airships then of course you have to have air pirates! All set in Seattle with an alternative history where the Civil War is going on. This author defiantly had a elaborate sort of imaginations to fit all of this in a book! I'll let you know how I like it. 

♥A.

on my summer reading...

Summer is for reading! By the pool. At work. On the toilet. Listen..I know you all do it! I love reading. After finishing The Discovery of Witches I was unsure what to start reading and so I was on the hunt for my list of books to stick too. Lately I've been on a fantasy craze. Usually I jump back and forth from different genres but for some reason there are so many magical books out there that have be humming with excitement. I try my best to focus on my list but you never know when a fun book will be recommended or you happen to stumble across something that you cannot say no too. But none the less it's summer and this is my list...

This is most likely my next read! Jacob, a sixteen-year-old boy adventures to a remote island to the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to discover many secret along the way. SO MANY questions. Why is Jacob there? Peculiar children? A home for children on a remote island? Hmmmm!

My lovely MIL turned me on to this book. It was featured in one of our local papers saying that it's "a lovely fairy tale for all ages". It is said to be somewhat predictable yet with the way the book is written it's designed to become a classic. Rakhee, a young lady is about to receive her masters at Yale University and found herself newly engaged and can't move forward in the future until she faces some demons of the past. In order to do so she must go to India. A little mystery and a little magic. Sounds good to me! 

Can't wait for this! Kelsey is a girl that never thought she'd be spending her summer break trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse with a mysterious white tiger named Ren. So yeah, obviously this is will be an epic romance fantasy novel(s) since the second book Tiger's Quest is out too! 

This book is from my last summer list that never got read, one that got pushed to the side. I am very determined to read this million page book :)

What are you reading this summer?!

♥A.

on being sick...

My whole household has been sick. Started out with Sebastian getting a fever and having it for a couple of days. Took him to the doctor and he said Sebastian has a sinus infection. So now he is on antibiotics for ten days. As of right now he is feeling lots better! Then I came next with a fever. My sinuses decided to blow up like no ones business and I developed a cough. Joy. By this point I'm sure you know who was next on the list. Bobby. He ended up getting what Sebastian has, a sinus infection. And there you have one bigggg happy family :) All sick at once. I don't recommend it. 

What do you think about my new blog design?!?!?! 

I love it. Miss Sarah over at SillyGrrl was the fabulous creator of my new blog. She was very patient with me and made exactly what I wanted. She is still not completely finished and is still making a few tweaks here and there so be on the look out for some new additions.

Other than that we haven't been up to a lot since we've been sick as dogs. So I thought I would do a couple reviews for you dear peaches...

-----On some movies-----

The Last AirBender. I loved it! It was great. Definitely not for everyone. I'm totally into the kung-fu fighting in an alternative realm. So fun!

 Inception. Have you seen this? I saw maybe 1/4 of it and stopped. Why? Because it was going nowhere and I was annoyed. It's not a movie that you can be distracted from. Hence not a movie you can enjoy and get through with a 2 year old Tazmanian devil. Sorry Leo but you and me were just not working out. Maybe another time.

-----On some books----- 

The Hunger Games. Great book! It started out a little slow and doesn't have a big complex plot to it. I'm used to picking up books that have nonstop action with lots of involved characters. This read was a nice break and really had me attached to the main character who's in The Hunger Games fighting for her life. The two other books in the series are on my list of things to read. 

The Girls with the Glass Feet. Well, I'm not totally finished with this book but I'm enjoying it very much. It's a different read. (That has been my goal this year...put down the vampire novels and read other books:) This book is written beautifully. The author describes things so poetically. The title is pretty straight forward, there's a girl named Ida who has acquired glass feet out of no where. The problem is she doesn't know why or how or what to do. Poor Ida, can you imagine what it would be like to be ever so careful and not break your own feet? 

♥A.

on The Girl Who Played With Fire...

Once I found out that the my local non profit theater, Hiway Theater, was playing The Girl Who Played With Fire I just had to go see it on Friday night. Perfect timing for I just had finished the book. Going with myself wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was sort of fun!

I think they did an alright job sticking to the book, there were some minor things altered but things that didn't bother me a whole lot. The movie was two hours and ten mintues which seemed like eternity for me but I think it was because it was so late and I had been up at 6am that morning. All the new character introduced fit right in to the characters in the book. I was pleased with that.

Really, I believe that was really draws me to these movies is the simplicity of them. There is no glitter or glam. No Hollywood. The movie is made as if I would be you or I were to make it. Nothing seriously intricate. The language is very warm and inviting, I caught myself just watching their lips move instead of watching the words on the bottem of the screen! I think it's very beautiful in it's own way. Plus Lisbeth Is my BESTFRANNN!

Go see it if you can!

♥A.

on a girl with a dragon tattoo...

Guess what I finally watched. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Outstanding. I really was on the edge of my seat even though I've already read the book and knew the events. But still. I just had no idea it would be that good. The movie had subtitles but didn't really distract me from the experience. I thought the elaborate photo montages that the director told were much more entertaining than long wordy explanations. I enjoyed that very much.

The characters by far were pretty much great. Noomi Rapace played Lisbeth Salander. Amazing is the word really. I thought she did the look fabulously. I do think that the weirdness of Salander in the book wasn't done up has much. The "book" Salander was more awkward and sullen with her body language. The actor named Michael Nyqvist was Michael Blomkvist in the movie and he was alright. While I read the books I pictured Blomkvist to be more attractive with his looks but in the movie I felt Blomkvist was attractive in his own way, however more with his personality. The only real disappointment was Erika Berger. The book has her playing a big role in Blomkvists life, a love interest. She is beautiful and energetic. The actress who played Erika was nothing like that. More like a clingy complaning co-worker.

This movie most definitly does not shy away from displaying rape & torture. Some parts for me were even painful to watch.

All in all, I would recommend this movie to people that have read the book. I personally don't know if people that haven't read the book would understand this movie fully. And that would just be a sin. Read the book, then watch the movie. Also now that I've seen this movie I'm not so sure we need an American adaptation. But it would be very curious!

Oh, Lisbeth and I are BFF!


Here is what we had for dinner...

Remember these? Not even sure what their called. I guess a panini press. Well, a really really old school one. That there is Bobby's ham & cheese sandwich, that he said was scrumptious.

Here's my fabulous creation pre toasting. Mozzarella, cherry tomato, basil & balsamic vinegarette. On a nice crusty rosemary & oil oil bread.

Yummy!

♥A.

on being at home...

It's Tuesday and I'm at home. Reason? Pink-eye. Sebastian's left eye was looking funky Saturday night. Just a little glazed and watery. I was just thinking it might be irritation from being in the pool all day. But then Sunday morning he woke up to a crusted eye. More like an eye crusted shut! So then Monday came and both eyes were looking identical. Called the doctors and they just called some eye drops over to our pharmacy. We didn't even go in to see the doctor because firstly we couldn't even get an appointment and secondly they said from what we described that it most definitely sounds like pink-eye. I'm really not sure if I am comfortable with the diagnosis being made over the phone but what can you do.

Bobby stayed home yesterday with the little guy and I'm here sitting on the couch today. Sebastian feels fine and doesn't have anything else going on but since pink-eye is contagious there was no way he could go to daycare. The way I look at it is that I'm glad that this came out now rather than next week when it's his birthday! Amen.

 As for today we have been just bumming around. I took him out for a nice early morning stroll around our neighborhood, and at the same time I picked up a cup of coffee at the local shop named Elkins Perk :) Which was really what the doctor ordered for me because my body was like whoooaaa, what is going on here?? because I, on a regular day at work would have already had a good 2-3 cups of coffee. Yikes. I know but come on! I work at a coffee shop. It's right there. At my disposal.

 I'm about half way through The Girl Who Played with Fire. The book is killing me! It's so good. I can't get enough and I'm very frustrated with it right now because there is tons going on and not enough explaining going on. At times I just want to skip ahead so I can find out what the hell is going on because I just can't believe it. I find myself talking to myself about it. No it can't be. WHAT! Whatever, she didn't do it. or Come one, just tell me. Bobby even wanted a scoop on what was currently going on because of my dramatic reactions to each page. Pure amazing-ness!

 Sebastian's birthday bash planning is coming along great. I've already decided on the menu and set in stone. I've come to the conclusion that I won't be doing really any cooking. Which for me is a very difficult thing. I have a hard time with buying frozen stuff and throwing things together. But sometimes when you have lots of people and it's summer, cooking away in the kitchen isn't ideal. Plus this way I will be able to visit more and enjoy myself instead of being stressed over my five course meal in the kitchen.

So far I've got three families from daycare coming :) I'm very excited because three is so much better than just two or one. And I'm staying positive since we still have a week and a half so things could change. Five please!

Speaking of Sebastian's birthday, I took off Thursday the 29th and Friday to spend with him. Four day weekend anyone?! So did Bobby. We plan on taking Sebastian to Sesame Place on his birthday! We've been once when he was much younger and it was for an event held there. We weren't really able to enjoy it and that time. I was very surprised on how expensive it is for a ticket. $53! Really? Why? I just don't understand the reasoning of why it has to cost that much. That will be part one of his birthday surprise and then the second surprise gift I will just have to show you on his birthday. I really can't wait to give it to him because I know he is going to love love love it! Only 9 day left.

Bobby is going out to Virginia this weekend. He will be leaving Friday through Sunday. He has a friend out there and they are both car geeks. The guy is having a car geek shindig. I know he is going to have fun for there will be lots of things there that he will be able to participate in which doesn't happen everyday. His friend will be having a car Dyno present (big machine thingy that measures the horse power of your car) which is something that Bobby always likes to be able to do. It's always nice to find out how slow I mean, fast his car is ;) And that is me teasing him. I do however get a little nervous about him driving long distances with this T-Bird since the car isn't all that reliable. But that's me being a worry wart.

Well, there it is folks.

Have a swell day. Is that my eye itching...CRAP!

♥A.