Wow

I have kinda slacked in the reading/reviews department.  This saddens me on a few levels, mainly because I do really miss reading.  I love reading, but so many things have come up in life this year that really has made it hard to actually read.  The biggest one was we moved.  Instead of living in Las Vegas, Matt got a job offer in Seattle, so we moved to Washington.  Moving is stressful, crazy and very exciting.  But it did make it to where I just didn't pick up a book.  I guess maybe my life was that exciting that I didn't want to get lost in someone else's.

Now that things are calming down a bit, I am really looking forward to reading again.  My night stand is looking forward to being more than just something covered in dust.  Next years goal will not be as crazy as it was in 2010.  It won't be as low as this year's though.  I have some thinking to do, some planning to and some revamping up my sleeve.

So I hope that those few followers I had will stick with me.  Things will come around.  In the mean time, please check out my other blog that I actually have been updating and find me on facebook too!

Sowdering About in Seattle

Bossypants

Bossypants
By Tina Fey

277 pages (kindle)

Grade B+

There are two things I knew about Tina Fey before reading this book.  One, she was on SNL and two, she does an incredible impersonation of Sarah Palin.  That was IT!  However, after reading her book, Matt and I went on to watch all the episodes of 30 Rock and every Tina Fey movie we can find on Netflix.  We now love her.

I think she is terribly funny and Matt things she is incredibly beautiful.  He also thinks she is funny and I also think she is pretty but that is besides the point.

I really liked reading about how she started her acting carrer and how she really worked for it.  And I really admire her success.  She has done great with all she has done.  Her book is funny and quirky and even though I think this is one of those books that needs to be "read" on audio, I was still able to capture her voice in my head while I read it on my kindle.  What is great about this book, is that I consider stars to be superheros, or super humans, above criticism, critique and judgements.  I mean, they can't be 'real' humans, they are only on TV.  But after reading her book, you get to know that she is just as self conscience as I am, just as awkward.  And it's comforting to know that she is, after all, just human.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wondered if it was worth reading.  It is.  And it's quick too, I finished it in just a couple days.

So I will leave you with this quote from her book has been floating around pinterest for a while now and every time I see it, I read it and still smile.  It's my favorite part of her book.  It's a prayer to her daughter:

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.”

-Tina Fey 

Reel Life

Reel Life Starring Us
By Lisa Greenwald

304 pages (Kindle read)

Grade C

I got this book as an advanced reader copy, and actually had it read before it was released which has never happened to me before.  Then I attempted to get my review done and posted before it was released, and failed.  Miserably since it's been on shelves for like 6 months.

Anyway, it was a cute book.  I enjoyed it and it was a feel good type of book.  My only issue with it was that it was a little too young for me.  Now I love me some young adult, but this was like more like pre-teen.  I don't necessarily like the super younger novels.   However, I didn't feel like I wasted time on it so that was good.

I liked in this book how the main character Dina really stuck to her roots and did things the way she liked to do them without really taking much outside influence.  I guess as a mom that is all I can hope for in my own daughter, that she remain confident in herself so that she doesn't follow or fall into the wrong group of kids.

So, coming from a mom standpoint, I would let my kid read this book.  So moms, let your girls go for it.  It isn't life changing, but it's appropriate for the age group that it is geared for, and that is all we can hope for really right?

Reading

Reading has been terribly difficult with two children, one that is attached to my boob 89% of the time and the other that takes to sight of a book in my hand as a form of danger that she must protect me from.

However, I have found more time to read now than I did when I only had one kid. I make sure I make the time. It means that I get an hour less sleep at night than I actually could, but for me it's worth it.

I am now three months into the year and have finished a book on audio and will hopefully also finish a book in print soon. Baby steps, but it feels great to be reading again.

Two Kisses for Maddy

Two Kisses for Maddy
My Matthew Logelin

272 pages (read in print)

Grade A+

Imagine marrying your best friend.  You then decide to have a kid.  During your pregnancy you have to be put on hospital bed rest because of complications.  One day, the doctors tell you that you have to deliver early and they take the baby by c-section.  Then, before you are able to have a proper first meeting with your child because she is in the NICU, you get up out of bed, a blood clot moves into your lungs and you die leaving behind your daughter and your husband.

This is Matthew Logelin's personal hell.

I first found Matthew's blog (http://www.mattlogelin.com/) around the time that I had Lucy.  I couldn't get through many of his posts without sobbing like a crazy person.  And not just a tear here and there, I am talking full out SOBBING.  I had times that I would visit his blog, but they always left me in tears.  His daughter is the same age as Lucy.  His wife had an emergency c-section.  And where I lived, she died.  It was hard to think that this could have been me.  But his blog was terribly beautiful and I liked watching Maddy grow in pictures.

When I heard that he was writing a book, I waited.  I waited and waited, and when it was done, I pre-ordered.  I got the book right when I found out I was pregnant with Dexter, and I read it in two days.  And again, I SOBBED.  His writing is so raw, so honest, so perfect.  When I finished the book, I felt like we were old friends and I wanted to bring him a casserole of food because that is what you do when someone dies right?  I then tried to read parts to Matt, and couldn't get through my sobs to get them out right.  I was so happy he wrote his story, but I was so depressed about reading it.  But I am glad I did.

I would read this book again in a heart beat.  I am hoping one day I can get him to sign it.  I also would recommend this book to anyone I know, but please, don't read it while pregnant.  Matthew is a great author and a great photographer so check out his website too and look at his beautiful little girl.  And if you do take me up on my recommendation, make sure you have a box of tissue handy.  And not a small box either.

Today...

I picked up a book and read 2 pages.

Baby steps.

Welcome 2012

I have spent the last couple of weeks deciding what I want to do here on this blog.  It is evident that I am slacking hard core, and I haven't picked up a book to actually read it and not move it out of my way in months.  However, I miss reading.  And I still follow about 30 people's book blogs, and although I am not commenting on them, I am still reading them and following what is awesome in the book world.

I miss reading, and I am changing my book goals.  In 2010, my goal was 100 books, but I ended up reading 117.  In 2011, my goal was 111 but I read less than 30.  A big part of this was my changing careers to from a desk job to a stay at home mommy.  I no longer listen to audio books, although I severely miss them, and I don't get a lot of time during the day to pick up a book, because it seems my little Lucy has a book tracker and if I do, she hops in my lap and wants to do something else, regardless of what she was in the middle of five minutes ago.

Also, being pregnant with a toddler has been a little more challenging than I thought it would be.  As easy going as this pregnancy has been, as in, I haven't suffered any complications and he has been growing normally and every thing has been fine, it is severely exhausting being pregnant this time.

Enough excuses.  My goal this year on the book front is a simple, modest 30.  I would like to finish about 4ish books a month, which I don't think is asking a lot of myself.  I don't want to set myself up for failure, but I also don't want to give up on this blog, or my followers (if I still have any).

So, as it is January 1, 2012, I will start with the books I still have yet to finish, and then move on to the rest of my to be read pile.  This way, I also will not feel so bad that I keep buying books, or downloading free ones for my kindle.

So happy new year everyone, and happy reading!  I hope you won't give up on me  :)

Reading is not working these days...

I miss reading I really do.  But every time I pick up a book, I fall asleep.

I am going to finish the reviews that I have listed and then drink LOTS AND LOTS of coffee and am going to sit down and finish the two books I started MONTHS ago and finish them.  They are close to being done but well, I still need to finish them.

I don't want to give up on my reading just because I am having another kid.  I know that I can read and be a mom, so I am going to get better.

Plus I am going to give myself some limitations on Pinterest since it's devouring all my time.

I miss this blog, but not for looooong  :)  I am coming back.  And this time, I mean it  ;)

Well I think the neglect should be over

I have been off the reading bandwagon for long enough, and with that, the blogging bandwagon too.  I really miss reading, but I haven't found anything that has been taking my full attention.  That's ok though, sometimes that happens.

I will be spending the rest of this week finishing up the reviews that should have been done months ago, and I will also dedicate some of my "valuable" time to finishing the books I have started.  There is no reason I won't have them done by the end of this week if I just put my nose in them.

The hour each night that I usually have dedicated to reading, has turned into my recent pinterest addiction, and while that is all fine and dandy, I can't get much reading done when I am looking at fun stuff on the internet.  So I just need to manage my time better.

Also, I don't think it is any surprise that I will come no where near meeting my goal of 111 books this year.  As much as this saddens me, I am also ok with it.  A lot has gone on this year that has distracted me and taken my reading time.  And there is always next year.  It's not like my To Be Read list is going anywhere  :)

Thanks for sticking around if you are still reading.  I promise to get better!!  Again.

What Happened to Good-Bye

What Happened to Goodbye

By Sarah Dessen

402 pages

Grade A

What can I say, I am a sucker for teen chick lit, and Miss Sarah did not fail to impress me. All of Sarah's characters are usually some kind of troubled teen, but somehow she still makes them moderately different. Same thing with the guys in her books too. What I liked so much about this book was that the main character, McLean, lives with her dad. She choose to live with her dad after her parents divorced. Now I grew up with my dad. I didn't have a choice between my parents like McLean did so I don't know how hard that choice would have been to make, but I am happy with how my life turned out living with my dad. I know now, especially since I am a parent myself, that I would not be the person I am today had I not grown up being raised by my dad. And for that, I thank him because I think I turned out ok. So dad, if you are reading, I love you and you did a great job!!!

Anyway, back to the story...McLean's dad works for a consulting company that forces him to travel, and in his travels, he carts his teenage daughter along with him. McLean learns to adapt, maybe not in a healthy way, but in her own way. I think out of all of Sarah's lead characters, I liked McLean the best. For me she has been the easiest to relate to. But most of Sarah's books have the same idea or concept behind them, odd girl falls for a guy, something happens, the girl and the guy split and then at the end of the story they work it out and get back together. And this book went along with that basis too, but for me, this book wasn't like reading just another Sarah Dessen book. There was something about this book that really set it apart from her other books. So good job Sarah. I can't wait to read what you put out next!!

Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

By Jillian Lauren

352 pages, read on my Kindle

Grade C-

A friend of mine hosted book club a few months ago, and this was her book choice. She is friends with the band Weezer and when she found out that the lead singer (I think it's the lead) was married to Jillian, and that Jillian had written this book, she decided it to be her book. Because she is friends with Weezer, she also made arrangements for Jillian to Skype with us during our book club, which was pretty cool seeing as I had never really "talked" with an author like this before.

Ok so on to the review...

This book is actually a memoir. It's really really hard to believe that it is a memoir when you start out because Jillian as an 18 year old girl goes to Dubai to live and be a prostitute for one of the princes. There are nights of partying, drugs, shopping and sex. It's so hard to imagine that someone would actually sign up for something like this. I mean, the idea of getting handed wads of cash and taken to the mall with an unlimited spending amount and being given gifts of expensive jewels is pretty exotic and intriguing, but knowing that you have to sell your body in order to get these things totally changes the "awesomeness" of it.

Towards the end, Jillian goes home to NY for a little while and all of a sudden she becomes very whiny. A friend of mine actually told Jillian that she sounded insipid (10 point word if you ask me) to avoid saying whiny and spoiled brat. After she goes home to NY, she ends up going back to Dubai for a short stint where things in the harem have changed, she isn't happy anymore, and goes back home...again. She then meets her husband and they adopt a son. And then BAM! just like that, the story ends. Very, very anticlimactic.

Jillian as a person, was really fun to talk with. She was very down to earth and we all had a great time. I admire her for telling her story and coming out with it. It takes a lot of courage to do something like that. She is also writing another book that is coming out here soon, and it will show up on this blog at some point because the same friend that selected this book is picking her next book. Maybe we will Skype again, because honestly, that was pretty cool.

Where She Went

Where She Went

By Gayle Forman

264 pages

Grade A

This book is the book that follows If I Stay, which I read last year. I finished this book in about a day and a half. For me, it was amazing. I really really liked it.

Basically in the first book, Mia is in a terrible car accident and has an out of body experience and watches as everyone around her wonders if she is going to make it or not, it's really tough. I cried, a lot. Where She Went is actually told by the perspective of her ex boyfriend, Adam. I kinda fell in love with Adam's character. I really liked him.

But anyway, Adam runs into Mia in New York one night. They spend the whole night together and catch up with each other's lives. The journey between them is just incredible to read. I LOVE how the author completely entraps you in her story. I am really happy that I got a chance to read this book. I think I am going to pick up a copy of the first one in print so I can re-read them because it was really just that good.

**************

This post was my first post for "Book Review-a-thon" hosted by Jacki over at the Lovely Little Shelf.

Book Review-A-Thon

Hey everyone, since I am behind again, not only in my reviews, but in blog maintenance in general, I decided to participate in this, the First Annual Book Review-A-Thon, hosted by Jacki over at Lovely Little Shelf. I am hoping I can take one week out of my oh so busy new stay at home life (what am I talking about, I watched Rio about 14 times last week) that I can get caught up, and make you all love me again.

So there you have it...let's see if I can do it!

Wish me luck!!!

Fall for Anything

Fall for Anything

By Courtney Summers

Grade B+

I don't normally do this, but I like this summary of the book, my review will follow:

From Goodreads.com:

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I was totally blown away by this book. I am not sure if it was because I have experienced some of the same emotions that stem from knowing someone that has killed themselves, or if Ms. Summers was just that good at gripping your heart. Either way, I can't believe I put this book off for as long as I did. And when it only took me about two days to finish it, I was mad that I read it so fast.

Hunger Games, Catching Fire (re-listen)

Hunger Games and Catching Fire

By Suzanne Collins

Re-listen

I started to re-listen to this series before I quit my job, and as it was the first time, it was amazing! I didn't get a chance to finish Mockingjay on audio, so I think I will pick it up in print before the end of the year. Either way, this series is incredible. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, then you just need to do it. You won't regret it!

Some more Janet E.

Three to Get Deadly

Four to Score

High Five

Hot Six

By Janet Evanovich

Grade D

To continue on my Stephanie Plum series journey, while I still was working I finished four more of them on audio. At least I think it was four more. I might have finished number 7 but I can't be for 100% sure because since my laptop died I can't see what book I left off on my iPod.

However, honestly, these books are only moderately entertaining. I don't remember much of the plots of each book, only that there is a lot of very corny story lines, and ridiculousness. I am not impressed with them, and if I never finish this series, I doubt I will lose any sleep over it.

I know I said it before, and I will say it again...I don't get what the appeal to this series.

So how incredibly lame am I???

I am sorry I have been MIA for so long. Things have been a *little* crazy on my end. I have finished probably four more books that I need to list on my sidebar, which will put me at like 40 books behind in reviews. AAAHHH!!! Well I am going to be working on catching up. But first I will catch you up to a little of what has been so crazy, as I am sure you all are just *dying* to know.

First, my laptop broke. The battery died, or the power cord doesn't work anymore, but either way, I can't get the damn thing to turn on anymore, so this weekend we are going to head to the repair shop and see if I can get a new battery or something. I feel lost with out it and I really don't like using my husbands Mac.

Second, I recently became a stay at home mom. The first week I was off work, my little brother who is 12 was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was in the hospital for most the first week, and then he spend the rest of the week days with me while my mom was at work. It was exhausting, but thankfully he is completely ok with it and he is doing much much better.

And lastly, which also just happens to be the most exciting part of my crazy life, I found out I am pregnant! I am now 11 weeks pregnant and the dr has told us everything looks good. I have been experiencing some pretty bad morning sickness and I also have been getting mild bouts of dizziness. This is causing me some problems when I try to read because I get dizzy and want to puke. But it's all starting to subside and I am hoping that I can get on with my normal life here pretty soon.

So that is the news with me. I am hoping that I will get caught up on reviews here within the next week, it's not like I am strapped for time or anything!

Thanks for being patient with me :)

Ok Ok I know....

I have no excuse for getting this far behind, HOWEVER, we did move, we have been unpacking and it's been slightly crazy around here.

I think I might have also lost count of books that I have finished in the passed few days.

The GOOD news, is that soon, I will have plenty of time to catch up on everything soon.

So sit tight, don't give up on me, and just know that there are a ton of new things coming up!!!

Weight Loss Update

Well, there really isn't anything to report here. I lost three lbs in the first week, and I gained back at least 2 of them...I have been jumping from one to two for two weeks.

Anyway, we have had a lot going including moving into a different house so I have been an emotional eater lately. I am hoping once we get moved into the new house and things settle, I can get back on track. I am falling severely behind and the closer to my goal I get, the more I fall behind.

Well, at least I have been getting to the gym three days a week.

Gang Leader for a Day

Gang Leader for a Day

By Sudhir Venkatesh

8 hours and 48 minutes listening time

Grade D

Let me preface this by saying, I know this book was a research book and was based on true events. That being said, most of what was written was so unrealistic and far fetched, that I didn't believe it. Maybe, that's just me living in my cushy little world, but I just don't believe it. I also don't believe how this guy could just sit back and watch things that happened and NOT REPORT ANY OF IT. How he isn't in jail himself for just being around the drugs is beyond me.

This book was picked by one of my book club gals for our club this month, and that is why I read it...had it been up to me, this wouldn't have been a choice of mine. I didn't much care for it at all.