Finally!!

Finally!  A book worth reading!  I just finished reading "The Museum of Extraordinary Things" by Alice Hoffman and loved every minute of it!  I started reading it Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down.  I finished this morning and it was one of those books that I didn't want to end.  So beautifully written.  I love reading about old New York and was thoroughly entranced by this book.

Unfortunately, I hated "Bread and Butter" immensely.  Another one of my recent reads that didn't live up to all the hype.  The three brothers were so unlikeable; I couldn't relate to any of them and thought the reviews were way off.  One of the reviews I read said something about "hilarious insights to the inner workings of a restaurant."  Hilarious?  Terribly depressing was more like it.

Some Goodreads, Some Not So Goodreads

Just finished reading "The Silent Wife" by A.S.A. Harrison.  Actually, I read it in one day. It's been compared to "Gone Girl" but I don't think that's very accurate.  The story is written in a similar style (he said / she said) but that's really about it.  The main female character, Jodi, is wound up tighter than a top and it's only a matter of time before she loses it on her cheating husband.

I read "The Fault in Our Stars" a couple of weeks ago and really, really did not enjoy this book.  Maybe I'm just too old??  I had downloaded it on my Nook and was halfway through it when KJ texted me and asked me to buy her a copy (she has a Kindle so we can't really share books).  Anyway, for her to ask me to buy a book is a big deal so when I was visiting T I picked up a copy of the book in one of the airport bookstores.  This YA novel is being made into a movie staring Shailene Woodley of "Divergent" fame.  She's about to become the new "It" girl in Hollywood.  Move over Jennifer Lawrence.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582846/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I've added a couple of new books to my Nook Wish list:

 "Bread and Butter" by Michelle Widgen (see NY Times review here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/books/review/bread-and-butter-by-michelle-wildgen.html?_r=0)

"The Museum of Extraordinary Things" by Alice Hoffman http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/books/review/alice-hoffmans-museum-of-extraordinary-things.html

Always on the lookout for a great book!  Please share your finds!

Summer Reads

I'm not sure why summer reading or beach books are separated from other genres.  Nobody seems to make a list of "top 10 books to read this winter!"  I don't read one certain type of book based on my geographic location.  I read what I read when I read. 

But, since I'm always on the lookout for a good book and love a great suggestion, I have read or am about to read a couple of books off People Magazine's 2013 summer list: 
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/38269.People_Magazine_s_Must_Read_Books_for_Summer_2013

This past weekend I read The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls: A Novel.  I've got The Engagements on my Nook queue as well as Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen (I've read some of his other stuff) and the Widow Waltz.  I'm thinking about Sisterland: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld  but I just couldn't get into Prep so I'm not sure if it was the author's style of prose that didn't do it for me or the subject matter.  The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story looks interesting, too. 

I'm currently reading Divergent (only a few chapters in). You can check out the author's blog here: 
http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/  Divergent is being made into a movie and this link gives a a quick review as to what this book is all about:  http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/05/14/divergent-tris-dauntless-exclusive/  And here's the IMDB link:   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=sr_1  It will be interesting to see if this series is as popular as The Hunger Games.  There also seems to be several discussion boards/forums dedicated to which is better:  Hunger Games vs. Divergent.  On a personal note, I loved the Hunger Game books but didn't really like the movie -- I thought some of the graphics were a bit cheesy and a little too CGI for my taste, however, I can appreciate a strong female lead and both books seem to have that in "Katniss" and "Tris." 

Good Year for Good Books

Had a chance to read some good books while I've been sick.  My mom suggested "The Shoemaker's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani.  I really enjoyed it and ordered a couple of her other books for my Nook.  I also read "Coming Out" by Danielle Steele.  Quick, easy read.  Nothing great; typical Danielle Steele.  She always sucks me in. 

I just started reading Mark Zusak's novel 'The Book Thief" and I'm intrigued. 

Stupendous Saturday!!!

Great start to a great Saturday!  Cosmo let me sleep in AND he made everyone bacon and eggs.  Gah, there is nothing like waking up to the smell of bacon!!  mmmmm! 

He and KJ are off on one of their weekly Father/Daughter Dates.  Today they took Trixie to the new dog park in Alabaster http://www.alabasterreporter.com/2012/07/05/celebrities-attending-dog-park-unveiling/  and they may try to hit that new Steel City Pops in Homewood http://steelcitypops.com/.  T is at work so I have the whole house to myself!  When I have the house to myself it's kind of a cross between Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear a la Risky Business with a little Macauly Culkin thrown in for good measure.

Miles:  I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp.

I've really enjoyed the rain we've had this week but love it when we have sunny Saturday's (honestly, I don't care what it does during the week, just be nice for my weekends).  I'm thinking me and my Nook need to hightail it to the pool.  Barnes and Noble folks listen up:  if you created some type of waterproof box (similar to what's available for cameras, iPods, etc.), I could be working on my mind AND my tan at the same time!!!   Aaahh...gently floating away in my tube while reading my favorite book.....

totally random

The other day I was chatting with a friend about my blog. She doesn't blog but reads mine regularly. I told her I sometimes have a hard time coming up with things to blog about. I don't want to be boring but I don't want to be political and turn people off, either. She said she was going to come up with some random stuff to help jump start the blogging juices. Well, here's what she sent me (I think she may have gotten these questions from another blog so if I'm infringing on someone else's original idea, my apologies in advance!):

1. Grab the nearest book to you, turn to page 23 and find line 4. What is it?

I haven't even started reading this book yet but it looks very cool when you take a photo of your Nook using the flash!

2. How many times a day do you say Hi?
I'm going to go with less than 5x a day.  I'm on the phone alot and never say Hi. 

3. Have you ever worn a uniform?
The only uniform I've ever worn is a cheerleading uniform. No, I take that back. I was a brownie and a girl scout when I was little.

Junior Year

  Senior Year (yay! we got new uniforms!)

4. What do you think about the most?
These two right here: 

5. How many keys are on your keyring?  
I don't know what you call the thing that starts the car (a fob??).  So maybe two "real" keys and a "fob?"

6. What was the last thing you bought?

Cosmo just bought me a pair of Jack Rogers. 

7. Are you growing anything these days?
Not that I'm aware of! 
8. What is under your bed?
Carpet

9. What is most important in life?
Family. 
10. What is the strangest word you used this week?
Stilted

Gone Girl

Wow.  Just finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  One of the best books I've read in a long, long time!  The book is about 450 pages.  I started reading yesterday afternoon and couldn't put it down.  I devoured 350 pages last night and the only reason I stopped reading and didn't finish was because I had to get up for work in the morning.  It was that good!  It's extremely tight and brillantly written.  The author totally strings you along and messes with your emotions.  The first couple of pages in you think one way, half-way through the book you're thinking something totally different.  Gillian Flynn gives you enough info to think you know how this book is going to end and then BAM!  She hits you with a left hook you never saw coming. 

Nook Time

Earlier in the week I started reading the book that every housewife in America is probably reading (some reviews have dubbed the book "mommy porn."). I had heard about it a while ago in either People or Entertainment Weekly and had it downloaded to my Nook but just wasn't ready to start reading it. Nor did I realize it was part of a series. I noticed a couple of friends on FB had mentioned their book groups were reading it and Cosmo's cousin said she read it on a flight this week and felt like she was a member of the mile high club! So, I thought "I'd better start reading this book and see what it's all about!" I started reading it Monday night and didn't get very far, maybe 5 pages. I read more last night and I'm at the point where they've signed the contract and she then tells him she's never been intimate with anyone before.

The two main characters are kind of stiff but I guess that's all part of the build up. I'm not sure how I feel about the dialogue between the two of them. It's kind of stilted and formal (even though Ana is supposedly a college student and he's only 27). Kind of sterile maybe? The author is British so that may have something to do with it. I don't know. I'm just having a hard time with the interaction between them and I find it distracting.

Studios were fighting over the rights to the book and it looks like Universal has acquired the rights to all three books. So now the dream casting begins! Message boards are throwing around Ryan Gosling's name but I keep visualizing someone like Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl....suave, sophisticated. Although I hate the Twilight series, I do think they were well cast. I haven't seen the Hunger Games movie yet but Cosmo saw it and said he liked Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Cinna's characters (the one and only Lenny Kravitz!). And, he didn't read the book. I've read all the Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" books and could NOT believe they cast Katherine Heigel in that role. Terrible!

Sunday Miscellaney

I am so disappointed with the current selection of books I've got on my Nook. I like a serious, saga that sweeps across continents and centuries. I need to find something like Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" or "Fall of Giants." Right now I've got a lot of quick, easy read chick lit. I need to find something a little meatier and hunker down. I like books that follow characters and their families for generations. I like the "City of ...." books by Beverly Swerling; they are a series of historical books about a New York City family. Yup. Definitely need reading suggestions.

Got my Thanksgiving decor completed. I've started some Christmas shopping. Everyone I shop for is pretty easy except Cosmo. He is just awful to buy for and I get very frustrated. He's got enough NY Jets stuff to last him a lifetime and the guy owns a lacrosse store so equipment/accessories/apparel are out of the question. And, on top of already being difficult to buy for, his b-day is in October, our wedding anniversary is in October and our "real" anniversary is in November. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm fresh out of ideas for him.

Every one's been asking if T wants stuff for her dorm for Christmas but she said no. She wants to wait to see where she's going first and wants to decorate with her roommate. One thing she vehemently expressed is that she will NOT be having any of the cutesy, monogrammed, matchy-match stuff. She hated that stuff as a kid and will not have any of it in her dorm. Which just breaks LCM's heart. I know LCM wanted to buy T some cutesy, girlie, polka-dotted things.

This Pink & Green dorm room would be KJ's dream room / T's worst nightmare

Heartbreaking loss for Alabama last night. I was really into the first half and couldn't believe it was such a low scoring, tied up game at the half. Second half I started to read and barely watched any of the OT. Hope today's Jets game makes up for last night's Bama loss.

(I think this is more than) 10 on Tuesday

How do you describe your personal style: sophisticated casual

Style Icon: Jackie O

Modern day style crush: Jennifer Aniston (and Pippa!)

Signature scent: Coach Summer Scent (but will change it up for Fall)

Go To Outfit: Wrap Dress

Accessory you can’t live without: Bracelets

Current weekend uniform: capri cargo pants, v-neck t-shirt, lots of funky bracelets

Must-have beauty/grooming essential: a good moisturizer

Best beauty advice you have ever heard: exfoliate!

You can never have too many: Accessories and tubes of lip gloss (I have tubes of lip gloss stashed all over the place...my car, my purse, the kitchen, my desk, my beach bag)

Style “Don’t”/Pet Peeve: the wrong bag with the wrong outfit

Trend(s) you could do without: socks with heels, mom jeans and jeggings

What will never go out of style: Classic LBD

East coast or West coast: East Coast (but I love the SoCal vibe/lifestyle, weird)

Currently obsessed with: Pinterest

Favorite night out: (please pardon the pun) I know it's cheesy but I love the Melting Pot!!!

Favorite city/vacation destination: favorite city is London but my favorite vacation destination is LaJolla, CA

Never travel without: my camera, toothbrush and passport

Favorite websites: Ebay, Etsy, Twitter, CNN and my local news website

Favorite film: Forrest Gump is my all time favorite movie and I never get tired of watching it.
Favorite quote: ‘Happy wife, happy life’

Always searching for the perfect: t-shirt (I live in t-shirts and I think my 2 favorite brands are the Gap V-neck and the Old Navy Perfect V-neck. They don't fade or sag and hold up really, really well).

Never leave home without: advil and chapstick

Signature cocktail: very simple. . . . a classic margarita on the rocks w/ salt

Go-to gift: Candles

On my iPod: Adele, Rihana, Jay-Z, a lot of 80's hair bands, a lot of dance music, a lot of disco, GNR, Cowboy Mouth. I can listen to just about anything except country and gospel and that Glee crap.

Describe your home in one word: happy

Dream dinner guest: Matt Lauer

Hobby/pastime you could not live without: reading! I can get lost in a book for days. Books (now my Nook) are portable. They make the best travel companions!

It wouldn’t be ‘my’ party without: a great tablescape

Stranded on a desert island, what 5 things could you not live without: advil, chapstick, my Nook, Schweppes ginger ale and a photo of my family.