Spooky Little Girl has been on the shelves since April 13th, so get moving and pick it up!
Don't forget to vote for the May Blogger Book Club selection. I will be posting the poll on Friday night instead of Saturday and the poll will close Monday!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Spooky Little Girl Blog Tour
Yesterday, Morning Runner posted her take on Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro. She is the 4th stop on the 5 stop tour! The next stop is good ole Tennessee! Thanks for posting your review and partcipating! You can click on the labels at the bottom to read Lisa's review and my review!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Discussion Questions: Firefly Lane
First off, thank you so much to Lisa, for actually partcipating in the book club activities the last couple of days! Sometimes, I really think I am just picking a book for myself to read and discuss with myself. And Lisa. ha. (and kelly, when i wrote this last nite, i hadn't seen hers yet either!)
If you actually DO want to partcipate in next month's selection and reading, go back to Monday and put in a suggestion for May's group read.
Now here are some discussion questions for Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
1. From her earliest memory, Tully feels abandoned by her mother and father. How does this sense of being unwanted influence her life? How does her troubled relationship with her mother lead to the decisions she makes in her life? Do children have an obligation of some kind to forgive their parents, even inthe face of repeated disappointment? How much do you think childhood heartaches make us who we are?
2. The Kate-Johnny-Tully triangle is one of the fundamental underpinnings of the novel. How does Johnny really feel about Tully? How does Tully feel about him?
3. When Chad leaves Tully, she rationalizes away her broken heart by saying,"if really loved me, he would wait for me." What does this reveal about Tully's perception of romantic love? How do these perceptions setthe stage for the rest of her life? Do you believe that Tully will ever fall in love?
4. Under what circumstances do you feel a betrayal is unforgivable? Do you feel that any of these characters crossed that line?
5. What role do you see Tully playing in Mara's life, after the pages of the novel are closed?
Leave your comments, and I will be back later to comment back!
If you actually DO want to partcipate in next month's selection and reading, go back to Monday and put in a suggestion for May's group read.
Now here are some discussion questions for Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
1. From her earliest memory, Tully feels abandoned by her mother and father. How does this sense of being unwanted influence her life? How does her troubled relationship with her mother lead to the decisions she makes in her life? Do children have an obligation of some kind to forgive their parents, even inthe face of repeated disappointment? How much do you think childhood heartaches make us who we are?
2. The Kate-Johnny-Tully triangle is one of the fundamental underpinnings of the novel. How does Johnny really feel about Tully? How does Tully feel about him?
3. When Chad leaves Tully, she rationalizes away her broken heart by saying,"if really loved me, he would wait for me." What does this reveal about Tully's perception of romantic love? How do these perceptions setthe stage for the rest of her life? Do you believe that Tully will ever fall in love?
4. Under what circumstances do you feel a betrayal is unforgivable? Do you feel that any of these characters crossed that line?
5. What role do you see Tully playing in Mara's life, after the pages of the novel are closed?
Leave your comments, and I will be back later to comment back!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Music of My Life as inspired by Firefly Lane
Those of you who have read Firefly Lane know that music plays a big part in the story. The songs change as the years change and certain songs bring Tully and Kate right back to a memory shared between the two. So many songs remind me of people or times or places in my life and this weekend as I sat in the theater watching Kenny Chesney in 3D (yeah no judging, he’s my true love yo!) it reminded me of how many songs take me back and how may of his songs in particular take me back. And when I say take me back it’s usually me thinking of myself belting out the tunes in my car; or hearing certain songs on the radio on long road trips with family. Compiling this list was so hard, because so many songs remind me of people, places and times in my life. I know that I will forget some important ones, but here I go!
The Childhood Years
1. American Pie by Don McClean – I LOVED THIS song. We used to hear it at least twice every time we drove to my grandparent’s house. I’ve known all the lyrics for what seems like my entire life. It reminds me of good times.
2. How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless – I remember asking my mom what her favorite song was when I was probably 7 or 8, and she flipped the channel and this song was playing and she said this was one of them. I then had to be just like mommy and decided I liked it too! Still makes me want to cry when I hear it!
3. Last Kiss by J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers – So I may not have known current music existed until after I was 5. We listened to the Oldies station with my parents all the time. This was one of my faves! When I think of this song, I think of night time driving in my parents old mni-van.
4. Leader of the Pack by The Shangri-Las – Vroom Vroom. I always used to hear this driving to my grandma’s house! And I loved it!
5. That’s What Friends are For – We learned this in Music Class and would always sing it!
And further proof that my memory sucks, there used to be a song that I LOVED, and would sit out in my parents yard singing and pretending to play drums with my neighbor, and I cannot think of it’s name.. but many summer nights were spent out “playing!”
The Awkward Years aka Junior Hell er High..
1. California Love by 2pac – I still remember finding out 2pac was shot and killed during what I think was my very first Junior High Dance. My BFF’s mom picked us up in their rockin’ mini-van and we heard the news on the radio. Oh and they played that song AT EVERY dance I attended 7th-12th grade.
2. Pretty Much the entire 2pac Greatest Hits Double CD – I would blast this every morning as I got ready for school in front of my bedroom mirror!
3. Don’t Speak by No Doubt - Totally did a lip sync with 2 other girls to this song in speech class. It sucked.
4. Mariah Carey.. oh god did we listen to a lot of Mariah Carey and “dedicate” songs to boys we liked! Laaaaaaame.
You Couldn’t Pay Me to Go Back aka High School
1. Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC – Same group of us sang/danced this song at every dance we attended.
2.Ice Ice Baby – Junior Year, brand new car/license my bff and I purchased a rockin’ TAPE that included this. We would drive around town BLARING this song. I also know all the words to it ha.
3. Baby Got Back – It was also on the best tape ever!
4. City High Cd –My friend Mark and I pretty much wore this CD out one summer in my blazer driving around town!
5. Beer Run by Garth Brooks – Reminds me of a road trip to an out of town basketball game where we got completely lost, and showed up with 1 quarter of the bball game left. After, we had originally left an hour late. Whoops. We may have played this cd over and over. The boy who claimed we dated was with us. So sadly, I think of him too. Bleck.
College 2002-2007
1. Get Low by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys – I worked as a night receptionist and people would always come in drunk singing this song and tell me they lived in room 369. Most of the time they did not.
2. It’s Your Birthday – Oh lord this song was alllll over the place. I always remember dancing around my dorm at MSU freshman year to this gem!
3. Lips of An Angel – Totally reminds me of an ex. Used to belt this out in the car.
4. How Forever Feels by Kenny Chesney – Totally was proposed to during this song!
5. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey – Tuesday dollar nights at a local bar with our favorite local band! It’s been my ringtone for 2 years now as well ha.
6. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems by Kenny Chesney – Summer 2003. Sun, sand, drinks and friends!
7. Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney – Always makes me want to cry and think of my friend who passed away waaaaaaay to young.
8. Young by Kenny Chesney – Wild times in my dorm in 2002! Haha
9. I go Back by Kenny – Reminds me of allll my good ole times!
Post-College
1. Went Out Last Night by Kenny Chesney – All the wild times I have with my friends! I have had more fun/crazy times post-college!
2. This Afternoon by Nickelback – Also reminds me of my friends and are late nights in my back yard!
3. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus – This was our theme song for our Nashville trip. We may have a dance to it.
4. Lady Gaga – Reminds me of two friends and karaoke in Nashville. And the video I have to prove all the crazy happened!
5. Because of You by Reba and Kelly Clarkson – Reminds me of an ex. And I enjoy belting it out on my way to work in the morning to get me going for the day.
Wow, this is an incredibly long list and I feel as though I should stop now or I could keep adding and adding and adding. What’s on your list?
The Childhood Years
1. American Pie by Don McClean – I LOVED THIS song. We used to hear it at least twice every time we drove to my grandparent’s house. I’ve known all the lyrics for what seems like my entire life. It reminds me of good times.
2. How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless – I remember asking my mom what her favorite song was when I was probably 7 or 8, and she flipped the channel and this song was playing and she said this was one of them. I then had to be just like mommy and decided I liked it too! Still makes me want to cry when I hear it!
3. Last Kiss by J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers – So I may not have known current music existed until after I was 5. We listened to the Oldies station with my parents all the time. This was one of my faves! When I think of this song, I think of night time driving in my parents old mni-van.
4. Leader of the Pack by The Shangri-Las – Vroom Vroom. I always used to hear this driving to my grandma’s house! And I loved it!
5. That’s What Friends are For – We learned this in Music Class and would always sing it!
And further proof that my memory sucks, there used to be a song that I LOVED, and would sit out in my parents yard singing and pretending to play drums with my neighbor, and I cannot think of it’s name.. but many summer nights were spent out “playing!”
The Awkward Years aka Junior Hell er High..
1. California Love by 2pac – I still remember finding out 2pac was shot and killed during what I think was my very first Junior High Dance. My BFF’s mom picked us up in their rockin’ mini-van and we heard the news on the radio. Oh and they played that song AT EVERY dance I attended 7th-12th grade.
2. Pretty Much the entire 2pac Greatest Hits Double CD – I would blast this every morning as I got ready for school in front of my bedroom mirror!
3. Don’t Speak by No Doubt - Totally did a lip sync with 2 other girls to this song in speech class. It sucked.
4. Mariah Carey.. oh god did we listen to a lot of Mariah Carey and “dedicate” songs to boys we liked! Laaaaaaame.
You Couldn’t Pay Me to Go Back aka High School
1. Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC – Same group of us sang/danced this song at every dance we attended.
2.Ice Ice Baby – Junior Year, brand new car/license my bff and I purchased a rockin’ TAPE that included this. We would drive around town BLARING this song. I also know all the words to it ha.
3. Baby Got Back – It was also on the best tape ever!
4. City High Cd –My friend Mark and I pretty much wore this CD out one summer in my blazer driving around town!
5. Beer Run by Garth Brooks – Reminds me of a road trip to an out of town basketball game where we got completely lost, and showed up with 1 quarter of the bball game left. After, we had originally left an hour late. Whoops. We may have played this cd over and over. The boy who claimed we dated was with us. So sadly, I think of him too. Bleck.
College 2002-2007
1. Get Low by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys – I worked as a night receptionist and people would always come in drunk singing this song and tell me they lived in room 369. Most of the time they did not.
2. It’s Your Birthday – Oh lord this song was alllll over the place. I always remember dancing around my dorm at MSU freshman year to this gem!
3. Lips of An Angel – Totally reminds me of an ex. Used to belt this out in the car.
4. How Forever Feels by Kenny Chesney – Totally was proposed to during this song!
5. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey – Tuesday dollar nights at a local bar with our favorite local band! It’s been my ringtone for 2 years now as well ha.
6. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems by Kenny Chesney – Summer 2003. Sun, sand, drinks and friends!
7. Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney – Always makes me want to cry and think of my friend who passed away waaaaaaay to young.
8. Young by Kenny Chesney – Wild times in my dorm in 2002! Haha
9. I go Back by Kenny – Reminds me of allll my good ole times!
Post-College
1. Went Out Last Night by Kenny Chesney – All the wild times I have with my friends! I have had more fun/crazy times post-college!
2. This Afternoon by Nickelback – Also reminds me of my friends and are late nights in my back yard!
3. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus – This was our theme song for our Nashville trip. We may have a dance to it.
4. Lady Gaga – Reminds me of two friends and karaoke in Nashville. And the video I have to prove all the crazy happened!
5. Because of You by Reba and Kelly Clarkson – Reminds me of an ex. And I enjoy belting it out on my way to work in the morning to get me going for the day.
Wow, this is an incredibly long list and I feel as though I should stop now or I could keep adding and adding and adding. What’s on your list?
Monday, April 26, 2010
May Book Blogger Suggestions
Leave your suggestions for the May Group Read here! Will post the poll on Saturday, May 1st. Late I know, whoops! Can't wait to see what we come up with this time around.
Review: Firefly Lane
Wow. This was probably my favorite book so far in 2010. I flew through it and I have only done that with one other novel this year, 13 reasons why.
Firefly Lane covers the 30 year friendship of Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart. Absurdly different, they take on the world together. We enter their lives in 8th grade when Kate is a loner and Tully has moved to town with her stoner mom. They start off their relationship with Tully, in Tully form, being an awful bitch to Kate, and Kate being the friend Tully needs after a devastating experience. Tully's mom gets sent to jail and the two must rely on letters through most of high school.
Tully has decided they are going to be TV Reporters and Kate is easily manipulated into that dream as well. They are roomies at the University of Washington where they blossom and bloom in their own ways. Kate is a hopeless romantic and Tully the driven pessimist. After college they move into an apartment and get a job that Tully got for them and where they share Johnny as a boss.
Johnny like most people are drawn to Tully's personality and he is bewitched. Kate is equally bewitched with Johnny she falls head over heels with him and never breathes a word to anyone. Which, she should have because that would have saved her the heart ache of her BEST FRIEND SLEEPING WITH JOHNNY before they got together. Cuz that would have been nice.
Anywho, Kate the good Catholic girl, gets knocked up and marries Johnny. Tully can't understand marriage and tying yourself down and losing your dream. Which, Kate IS living her dream, but Tully is too stubborn to realize that HER dream isn't the same as Kate's.
Long story short, they grow up and older and Tully becomes hugely successful and Kate enjoys her life in her own way. They fight, they make up and they are always there for each other. Until they aren't after a horrendously bad decision on Tully's part. And that is alll of the spoliers I shall retell here.
My view: I LOVED IT. I adored Kate, flaws and all, and Tully was okay but she needed to be smacked. I couldn't stand how she always ran to Kate's mom to tattle. Dude, fight your own fights and realize the world is not all about you. Kate also needed to speak up for herself more. I could totally picture Johnny has incredibly handsome. Kate's daughter needed a serious attitude adjustment and I loved Mrs. Mularkey. It was such an awesomely written story that had me up way past my bedtime with tears dripping down. It probably wasn't the best book for me to read given how easy it is for me to cry about people dying lately, especially moms, but I adored it.
This was such a great book about enduring female relationships and mother daughter relationships.
What did you think? Who did you relate to the most? What part of the book made you want to throttle a character?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Book Blogger April Book Activities
Hello one and all. I finished Firefly Lane by Kirstin Hannah on Monday night and while reading the back section of her book was directed to her website http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/index.php . While there I found some interesting book club suggestions and wanted to let you all know about some exciting events coming next week on my blog and I hope you all will join in!
On Monday, April 26th I am going to share my review of Firefly Lane. If anyone else would like to also post their review on their blog that day, that would be awesome, and we could all compare what each other has to say!
On Tuesday, April 27th, it is Music of Your Life Day! Come up with a playlist spanning your life. So I will be sharing 12-20 songs that have had special meaning in my life. It would be awesome if you would ALSO like to host this on your blog that day as well. Or you could share in the comments. This is one of the ideas I gleamed from her site!
On Wednesday, April 28th I will be posting Discussion Questions for Firefly Lane. If you have any you would like to include in the post, respond here or you can email me at pinkflipflops44 at gmail dot com. Or you can pose them in the comments of the post next Wednesday!
That is all I have planned now, but I may or may not have a few more ideas up my sleeves. If you have any suggestions, comments or whatever let me know. I really hope everyone who reads the book will participate in one or all of next week's book club festivities!
On Monday, April 26th I am going to share my review of Firefly Lane. If anyone else would like to also post their review on their blog that day, that would be awesome, and we could all compare what each other has to say!
On Tuesday, April 27th, it is Music of Your Life Day! Come up with a playlist spanning your life. So I will be sharing 12-20 songs that have had special meaning in my life. It would be awesome if you would ALSO like to host this on your blog that day as well. Or you could share in the comments. This is one of the ideas I gleamed from her site!
On Wednesday, April 28th I will be posting Discussion Questions for Firefly Lane. If you have any you would like to include in the post, respond here or you can email me at pinkflipflops44 at gmail dot com. Or you can pose them in the comments of the post next Wednesday!
That is all I have planned now, but I may or may not have a few more ideas up my sleeves. If you have any suggestions, comments or whatever let me know. I really hope everyone who reads the book will participate in one or all of next week's book club festivities!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Teaser Tuesday - Firefly Lane
When I started reading this I realized I had gotten the first couple chapters in my email about a year ago from the online book club my local library hosts. They send snippets of a book every day for a week and if you like it, they assume you will go to the library and check it out. I thought the beginning sounded awfully familiar, but I could NOT think of how it ended.. so glad that mystery was solved!
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is our Blogger Book Club selection for the month of April. Who is reading?
"Something was wrong, a wave of dizziness struck her so hard and suddenly
that she stumbled.
"Hold on honey," Tully said, moving her gently toward the door. "We
need to get to a phone." - pg. 246
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is our Blogger Book Club selection for the month of April. Who is reading?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Top 100 YA Reads..
Last week I shared the Top 100 Children's Books and then over the weekend I came across the Top 100 YA books put together by Good Books and Good Wine on Forever Young's blog.
I bolded the ones I have read and italicised those on my TBR list. I didn't spend a lot of time reading YA as a teenager, but now as an adult I have been going back and reading some. The selection has definitely gotten better!!!
100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (it's in my huuuuge pile!)
96. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus
95. Forever by Judy Blume
94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
93. Tithe by Holly Black
92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike
90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast
87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (I can't really believe I still have't read it.. it's also in my big pile!)
82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
77. Evernight by Claudia Gray
76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer
74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce
71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman
69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (This also made the Children's list.. ironically my 6th grade teacher read it to us as a read-aloud and I read it myself that summer)
68. Paper Towns by John Green
67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon
63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (this one does NOT appeal to me)
62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz
61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni
56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
54. Fallen by Lauren Kate
53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry
49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding - no desire
48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong
44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - sooo good
43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card
41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
40. Wake series by Lisa McMann
39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
37. Looking For Alaska by John Green
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray
34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare
31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan
28. Holes by Louis Sachar - yuck.. it's also on both lists..
27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton
26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger
25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - loved the movie but I have no desire to read it
24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield - in my huuge pile
21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder
19. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine
17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (I've read the first one, but not the series)
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry
12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle (I also read these in 4th grade and hated them)
8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore
7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan
6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
How many have you read? Did you avoid YA when you were a teenager as well?
I bolded the ones I have read and italicised those on my TBR list. I didn't spend a lot of time reading YA as a teenager, but now as an adult I have been going back and reading some. The selection has definitely gotten better!!!
100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (it's in my huuuuge pile!)
96. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus
95. Forever by Judy Blume
94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
93. Tithe by Holly Black
92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike
90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast
87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (I can't really believe I still have't read it.. it's also in my big pile!)
82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
77. Evernight by Claudia Gray
76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer
74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce
71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman
69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (This also made the Children's list.. ironically my 6th grade teacher read it to us as a read-aloud and I read it myself that summer)
68. Paper Towns by John Green
67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon
63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (this one does NOT appeal to me)
62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz
61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni
56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
54. Fallen by Lauren Kate
53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry
49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding - no desire
48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong
44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - sooo good
43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card
41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
40. Wake series by Lisa McMann
39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
37. Looking For Alaska by John Green
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray
34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare
31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan
28. Holes by Louis Sachar - yuck.. it's also on both lists..
27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton
26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger
25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - loved the movie but I have no desire to read it
24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield - in my huuge pile
21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder
19. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine
17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (I've read the first one, but not the series)
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry
12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle (I also read these in 4th grade and hated them)
8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore
7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan
6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
How many have you read? Did you avoid YA when you were a teenager as well?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Review: Middlesex
"The mind self-edits. The mind airbrushes. It's a different thing to beinside a body than outside. From outside, you can look, inspect, compare. From
inside there is no comparison."
Is it any indication of how I felt about the book, when I finished the last page and told my husband, FINALLY! Phew, Middlesex took me a good month to read. I didn't LOVE it, and I did not HATE it, but I did dislike it. The beginning was slow, the middle (around the time Cal hit junior high) it picked up. It finished nicely, I didn't feel as though it was rushed or non-believable. It was just a decent end to a mediocre book.
"But in the end it wasn't up to me. The bigs things never are. Birth, I
mean, and death. And love. And what love bequeaths to us before we're born."
Back Cover: Middlesex tells the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides, and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family, who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of 1967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Ponite, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret, and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction. Lyrical and thrilling, Middlesex is an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic.
Middlesex is about Cal Stephanides who is a hermaphrodite. The book covers his entire live span and tells the story of how he went from a she to a he. It starts the story waaay back in Turkey with his relatives and the choices his older relatives made that led to his genetic mutation.
I will say this book grossed me out. Cal's grandparents were brother and sister. Ew. Just ew. There is no way I can fathom marrying my brother, let alone EVER having ANY romantic ideas about him. It would make me vomit. Ugh Ugh ugh. Also, his PARENTS were cousins. Not first cousins, but still cousins. And with the fact that his grandparents were SIBLINGS. EW EW EW. I think at that point, all I could think was, out of MILLIONS of people in Detroit you pick a relative??? I come from a much smaller town and was able to NOT MARRY MY BROTHER. EW EW EW.
I also felt bad for Cal at certain parts, the doctor his parents take him too was so clinical and wanted to exploit him. Also, did not share all the details with Cal or his parents. I would be livid. Though, I do understand that Cal was a teenager, but if you are determining whether to turn someone male or female by a surgery you should GIVE THEM ALL THE FACTS. I felt sick for Cal as he traveled across the U.S. and was once again exploited in San Francisco. I don't know emotionally you could handle all that as a teenager and turn into a semi-functioning adult!
"I live my own life and nurse my own wounds. It's not the best way to
live. But it's the way I am. "
Eugenides does develop wonderful characters. I have to say that he described and built up all of the main characters. I really liked the people in the book and felt that most of the parts I liked the best were stories of the people of the book. Minus the inter-family marrying and all!
Another thing I did enjoy was the look into early to mid 1900s Detroit. Especially the first-hand account via Cal about the race riots. From a native Michigander and history nut, that was pretty neat.
Discussion Questions:
1. Describing his own conception, Cal writes: "The timing of the thing had to be just so in order for me to become the person I am. Delay the act by an hour and you change the gene selection" (p. 11). Is Cal's condition a result of chance or of fate? Which of these forces governs the world as Cal sees it?
2. Middlesex begins just before Cal's birth in 1960, then moves backward in time to 1922. Cal is born at the beginning of Part 3, about halfway through the novel. Why did the author choose to structure the story in this way? How does this movement backward and forward in time reflect the larger themes of the work?
3. When Tessie and Milton decide to try to influence the sex of their baby, Desdemona disapproves. "God decides what baby is," she says. "Not you" (p. 13). What happens when characters in the novel challenge fate?
4. . How does Cal's experience reflect on the "nature vs. nurture" debate about gender identity?
As always, these insightful questions have been taken from litlovers.com
Here are some others thoughts on Middlesex Curt Gardner , Mad Professah , and The Biblio Blogazine .
What did you think? Any questions you would want to ask in discussing Middlesex?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Top 100 Children's Books
Here are the Top 100 Children's Novels, as determined by Betsy's poll. I put the ones I've read in bold. 46/100, I will say that I have at least heard of most of them. Some I have started over the years and stopped because they were boring. Others I own but have not read yet. I grabbed this list off of Abby the Librarian's site. BTW, it is National Library Week, have you stopped by your local library recently?
100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006)
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950)
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. Walk Two Moons - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003)
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. The BFG - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908)
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. Where the Red Fern Grows - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995)
44. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Blume (1972)
43. Ramona the Pest - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003)
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000)
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. James and the Giant Peach - Dahl (1961)
32. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007)
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003)
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005)
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)
19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling (1999)
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)
10. The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993)
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)
3. Harry Potter #1 - Rowling (1997)
2. A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle (1962)
1. Charlotte's Web - White (1952)
How many have you read? Any you hated? What's your fave?
100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006)
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950)
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. Walk Two Moons - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003)
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. The BFG - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908)
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. Where the Red Fern Grows - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995)
44. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Blume (1972)
43. Ramona the Pest - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003)
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000)
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. James and the Giant Peach - Dahl (1961)
32. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007)
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003)
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005)
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)
19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling (1999)
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)
10. The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993)
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)
3. Harry Potter #1 - Rowling (1997)
2. A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle (1962)
1. Charlotte's Web - White (1952)
How many have you read? Any you hated? What's your fave?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wedding Wednesday - The Reception Table Camera Style..
We had camera's out on a lot of tables. I wanted to do this because I knew they would crack me up. We didn't have one on EVERY table, but a lot. It was a lot of fun to go through and check out all the pictures
the ladies in this photo crashed our wedding.. they were attending a wedding downstairs.
just hanging out...
college friends.. LOVE THEM..
my dad with his friends from his OSU days..
my dad and his friend.. who owns the place we got married at/had the reception..
groomsmen dancing...
the ladies in this photo crashed our wedding.. they were attending a wedding downstairs.
my cousin's baby...
just hanging out...
college friends.. LOVE THEM..
my dad with his friends from his OSU days..
my dad and his friend.. who owns the place we got married at/had the reception..
Ahh.. I love looking through our photos.. I still haven't finished my photo albums..
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Review: Spooky Little Girl
"We all carry a hope that our death will not be in vain, or that it will assume
some higher translation, maybe even taking on metaphoric stature. In life,
we all want our deaths to be magnificent and relevant. And in your case...
I'm sorry, no." - pg. 60
I received an ARC of this book, and read it, in February from a goodreads.com giveaway. I have to say it wasn't what I thought it was going to be and that IS A GOOD THING! I also hosted a Blog Tour for Spooky Little Girl, but only Lisa has shared her thoughts so far..
Spooky Little Girl is the story of Lucy Fisher and how one bad week turned into the Worst Week Ever. First, she comes back from the trip of a lifetime to find ALL of her belongings on the front yard and the locks changed on the house she shares with her boyfriend Martin. No explanation besides a note telling her she can pick up her dog on Thursday. Lucy is completely bewildered and has no idea why Martin has changed the locks, his phone number and will not talk to her.
Then she shows up to work and is accused of stealing a HUGE deposit from her employer. Then she tests positive for cocaine???? And accused of stealing drugs? She thinks she is in a bad dream. But no, this is her life.
So she drives up to her sister's house to hide out and figure out what to do. The next day, she gets hit by a bus. Totally gives new meaning to any of our bad weeks, right?
When Lucy "wakes up" she finds herself in the Transition Center and learns she must attend Ghost School and learn how to haunt. This is where the story picks up and really started cracking me up. Lucy has some hilarious, quirky and silly ghost classmates. She then is sent back to Earth to attend to her assignment so she can move onto The State. (Essentially, your individual view of what would be in Heaven).
"She had had the worst day of her death, and by her calendar, it had only been
her second one." - pgs. 98 & 99
I really don't want to give away anymore because the story drops out more details the further in you get. Let's just say, it was a light and funny read. Nothing I would probably have thought to read on my own, and by reading the back cover, I would have probably rolled my eyes. But it is a cute book. I love the funny chapter names and I have to say the Authors Note in the back of the book is something you have to read at the end.
"You won't fail," Ruby assured all of them. " I make good ghosts.(Quite possibly my favorite line of the entire book. I had to read this to my husband).
Plus, the devil is on sabbatical right now, anyway. He's got a gig on AM
radio, and I heard he got tangled up with triplets known as OxyContin, Lorcet,
and Vicodin." pg. 101
Definitely worth checking out. And the good news? It is ON SALE TODAY!!!
Have you had any experiences with ghosts? What was your worst week ever?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Read-A-Thon
This Saturday, April 10th is Dewey's Read-A-thon. You pretty much drop everything and read for 24 straight hours. Or as many as you can. Or you sign up and can cheerlead for people who are participating. I remember hearing about this last time there was a read-a-thon and I thought, hey that is pretty cool. Then as I was browsing through some blogs I was reading about people preparing for the Read-A-thon. It got me thinking. Hmmm.. should I participate? And I think the answer is yes.
I don't really want to commit to a whole 24 hour day, because I think my eyes will go cross, but I am thinking that I could handle a good 4-6 hours worth. And if maybe I could push it past that a little, but I think the husband really wants me to do some yard work this weekend!
So I don't believe I will be joining the 24 hour read-a-thon but I think I will participate in my own little way this weekend. God knows I need to finish off Middlesex and get started on Firefly Lane that I picked up today! I will plan on updating my blog sporadically during the time I am participating. Maybe next time around, I will participate in the whole she-bang.
Have any of you participated in the read-a-thon before? Are you participating this Saturday? If so good luck!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wedding Wednesday - The Reception Official Photog Style
I have an insane amount of photos from the reception and a lot I want to share.. So today I will be just sharing the pictures our photographer. I have a ton from the table cameras that are funny. First thing we did when we walked in was cut the cake. My husband may be a dork and my have tried to feed HIMSELF first, so we had to do it twice. We had dinner around 6 and it was delicious. I don't even remember all we had but I do know green bean casserole was involved. As was garlic mashed potatoes, fruit, chicken and some other good stuff. Sad that I don't have such a grand memory of it all but I do know my food was awesome. Our DJ managed to piss me off by having everyone yell Get 'r Done when Anthony went to get my garter. Livid would better describe my feelings. Also, he seemed to dismiss what I had to say and do what he wanted to do. Not cool. Not cool at all. Unfortunately I will be dealing with him again in October at my SIL's wedding. Blech. Not a fan.
us being silly 
him feeding himself.. me standing looking at him like he's crazy. and the yummy cookies. mmmmm
one of my favorite pics..
so they are a little out of order.. whoops. hahah
us being sillyhim feeding himself.. me standing looking at him like he's crazy. and the yummy cookies. mmmmmone of my favorite pics..
so they are a little out of order.. whoops. hahah
My favorite part of the reception was definitely the dancing and hanging out with everyone. I have pictures of that for next week! If you have a wedding story you want to share for Wedding Wednesday email me at pinkflipflops44 at gmail dot com!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Nashville weekend and Green Monster Update
I have so many videos and lots of pictures from Nashville. Most that the public will not see. However, I have gone through and picked a few that are appropriate to share. However, it takes a long time to upload these videos so you may be treated to Nashville videos sporadically! The pictures are from either Saturday or Sunday and the video is from Sunday evening, from a bar on Broadway in Nashville. I would have added some more video but it takes forever!
Saturday night we went to Loveless Cafe & Motel for a Southern Family Style Dinner.. my second time there was just as good as my first.. YUM. The food is good and they have a bunch of shops around that you can look at while you wait for you dinner. I will suggest the pulled pork, coleslaw, mac & cheese, potatoes and their yummy homemade rolls. I also had some sweet tea, but it really wasn't all that sweet. We got fried chicken but I am not a fan so I only had a wee bite. The boys loved it.
Saturday night we also got tickets to the Grand Ole Opry because Charlie Daniels and John Anderson were playing. Charlie Daniel's plays a mean fiddle. We also saw a lot of country singers had never heard of before that were older. We did get to see a girl debut at the Grand Ole Opry that was 16 and pretty darn good!
Charlie Daniels!
This is a clip of a guy at one of the bars on Broadway singing. For the most part we really enjoyed all the bands and singers on Broadway. Except for the jerks who wouldn't play our songs.
Also, I tried a Green Monster today and it was surprisingly good. I wasn't really leery about it and it was fine. I went with a handful of mango, a banana, a scoop of peanut butter, very little spinach because it was all frozen together and I could barely break it apart, splash of milk and some ice cubes. The hubby even tried it and kind of liked it. I think tomorrow will be more of the same. My only complaint was that it was pretty thick and kind of hard to drink through my straw. Any thoughts?
On the book front.. still plugging away on Middlesex.
On the exercise front.. the hubby and I went on a 2 mile walk tonight.
Can't wait for tomorrow's green monster adventure. Oh and I apparently cannot boil eggs successfully.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Green Monster
I know I have a lot of healthy and active readers so I felt this would be the best place to ask this question since I have been looking around the interwebs and still have questions. I want to make my first green monster in the morning, but I am trying to figure out what I should put in, and what would mix well. If not a green monster tomorrow, I am definitely in the mood to start my morning a couple days this week with a yummy smoothie.
I do not have spinach in the house, well I have frozen spinach, I should say. I have cabbage and lettuce. In other ingredients I have peanut butter, milk, yogurt, bananas, cantaloupe, frozen strawberries and fresh, frozen mango, celery, carrots, hmmm.. I think that is probably about it in terms of smoothie ingredients.. But I may be mistaken.
With having those limited options in mind.. what would you suggest? I am up for multiple choices since there are lots of days in the week to try new recipes! Is spinach a must, or can I use lettuce? What are your favorite ingredients to include in your smoothies/green monsters?
The hubby and I are in a eat healthier and get moving kick and I really don't even think a green monster will appeal to him, but I may be mistaken! I am currently hard-boiling eggs to use as protein in my salad line up for the week. Which also brings up, what are your favorite salad ingredients? At the store this week I stocked up on, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, radishes, strawberries (love them in salads!) orange peppers, sweet peas and I think that may be it.. Can't wait for our asparagus to come in!
Give me your salad suggestions.. They seem to be my best bet for lunches everyday and I like to change them up day to day so I don't eat the SAME salad/thing every day.
Thanks in advance.. I can't wait to hear all the ideas and will try to photograph my concoctions to share with you all.. after of course I go through my trip photos and videos eesh.. Anyone else put that stuff off and off cuz you know how much time it is going to take??
I do not have spinach in the house, well I have frozen spinach, I should say. I have cabbage and lettuce. In other ingredients I have peanut butter, milk, yogurt, bananas, cantaloupe, frozen strawberries and fresh, frozen mango, celery, carrots, hmmm.. I think that is probably about it in terms of smoothie ingredients.. But I may be mistaken.
With having those limited options in mind.. what would you suggest? I am up for multiple choices since there are lots of days in the week to try new recipes! Is spinach a must, or can I use lettuce? What are your favorite ingredients to include in your smoothies/green monsters?
The hubby and I are in a eat healthier and get moving kick and I really don't even think a green monster will appeal to him, but I may be mistaken! I am currently hard-boiling eggs to use as protein in my salad line up for the week. Which also brings up, what are your favorite salad ingredients? At the store this week I stocked up on, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, radishes, strawberries (love them in salads!) orange peppers, sweet peas and I think that may be it.. Can't wait for our asparagus to come in!
Give me your salad suggestions.. They seem to be my best bet for lunches everyday and I like to change them up day to day so I don't eat the SAME salad/thing every day.
Thanks in advance.. I can't wait to hear all the ideas and will try to photograph my concoctions to share with you all.. after of course I go through my trip photos and videos eesh.. Anyone else put that stuff off and off cuz you know how much time it is going to take??
Friday, April 2, 2010
I'm back!
We had soooo much fun. It was definitely a needed break and it also brought up once again, how pretty Tennessee is, and how much I want to move there! I have some photo's I will share and some adventures that I will share, but today I am going to be busy enjoying the 80 degree weather that we are being blessed with, oh and catching up on all the blogs!
I am just into the third book of Middlesex. Bad, bad I know. But I will finish it. Just was too busy having fun on vacation to read ALLL the time! Though, I have to say the incest stuff is a bit much for me. Like, there aren't enough people in Detroit that you have to marry your cousin? UH NO.
In other news, our April's Group Read will be Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
Goodreads.com descrpition: From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship...
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
So begins Kristin Hannah's magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success...and loneliness.
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn't know is how being a wife and mother will change her...how she'll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she'll envy her famous best friend...
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart...and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.
Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone's Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it's the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It's about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you...and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you'll never forget...one you'll want to pass on to your best friend
Have a fabulous weekend! Hope you are doing something fun!
I am just into the third book of Middlesex. Bad, bad I know. But I will finish it. Just was too busy having fun on vacation to read ALLL the time! Though, I have to say the incest stuff is a bit much for me. Like, there aren't enough people in Detroit that you have to marry your cousin? UH NO.
In other news, our April's Group Read will be Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
Goodreads.com descrpition: From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship...
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
So begins Kristin Hannah's magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success...and loneliness.
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn't know is how being a wife and mother will change her...how she'll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she'll envy her famous best friend...
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship---jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart...and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.
Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone's Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it's the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It's about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you...and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you'll never forget...one you'll want to pass on to your best friend
Have a fabulous weekend! Hope you are doing something fun!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wish List - April 2010
This great idea was stolen from Steph Su Reads.. It is a montly feature she does on her blog where she mentions recently released or soon to be released books that she wants to read. This month I am playing along. Authors and publishers, if you're interested in having me review your book, don't hesitate to send me an email at pinkflipflops44 at gmail dot com! I'd love to hear from you!
Description: When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.
Published: February4th,2010 by Razorbill
Description: When Lake Warren learns that her husband Jack is suing for full custody of their two kids, four months after their separation, she's pretty certain that things can't get any worse. The upside is that she's working with the Advanced Fertility Center as a marketing consultant, alongside the attractive, flirtatious Dr. Keaton. But when, the morning after their one-night stand, she finds Keaton with his throat slashed, Lake learns that things can indeed become worse - they can become deadly. So not to jeopardise her case for custody, Lake is forced to lie to the police. Having just been intimate with a man who has been murdered, and wanting to protect herself from being charged with the crime, she begins her own investigation. But when the police start looking at her closely, people at the clinic start treating her with hostility, and strange and dangerous clues begin dropping-quite literally-on her doorstep, Lake realises that she is dangerously close to dark truths about Keaton and the clinic. But can Lake stop what she's started before it's too late?
Published: March 1st 2010 by Harper
Description: Millions of readers have fallen in love with Little Women. But how could Louisa May Alcott-who never had a romance-write so convincingly of love and heart-break without experiencing it herself?
Published : April 1st 2010 by Putnam Adult
Description: Andie Ryborg is on the run. Her father's campaign for governor and work against the illegal drug trade has put a target on her head. Hiding out in a quiet bungalow in Miami's exotic Coconut Grove, she hopes to find a normal life removed from the treachery of her father's world. But no matter how far she runs, she can't escape the powerful Francini family.
Haunted by her mother's untimely death and the uneasy feeling that someone is watching her, Andie eventually buckles under the weight of fright and returns to her childhood home in Tallahassee. But trouble is not far behind as Andie finds herself in the crosshairs of an assassin's rifle. As she tries to win her freedom and save what family she has left, she must deal with her mother's legacy, a God she doesn't completely trust, and someone else-whose motives are not what they seem but might be exactly what Andie needs.
Description: When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.
Published: February4th,2010 by Razorbill
Description: When Lake Warren learns that her husband Jack is suing for full custody of their two kids, four months after their separation, she's pretty certain that things can't get any worse. The upside is that she's working with the Advanced Fertility Center as a marketing consultant, alongside the attractive, flirtatious Dr. Keaton. But when, the morning after their one-night stand, she finds Keaton with his throat slashed, Lake learns that things can indeed become worse - they can become deadly. So not to jeopardise her case for custody, Lake is forced to lie to the police. Having just been intimate with a man who has been murdered, and wanting to protect herself from being charged with the crime, she begins her own investigation. But when the police start looking at her closely, people at the clinic start treating her with hostility, and strange and dangerous clues begin dropping-quite literally-on her doorstep, Lake realises that she is dangerously close to dark truths about Keaton and the clinic. But can Lake stop what she's started before it's too late?
Published: March 1st 2010 by Harper
Description: Millions of readers have fallen in love with Little Women. But how could Louisa May Alcott-who never had a romance-write so convincingly of love and heart-break without experiencing it herself?Published : April 1st 2010 by Putnam Adult
Description: Andie Ryborg is on the run. Her father's campaign for governor and work against the illegal drug trade has put a target on her head. Hiding out in a quiet bungalow in Miami's exotic Coconut Grove, she hopes to find a normal life removed from the treachery of her father's world. But no matter how far she runs, she can't escape the powerful Francini family.
Haunted by her mother's untimely death and the uneasy feeling that someone is watching her, Andie eventually buckles under the weight of fright and returns to her childhood home in Tallahassee. But trouble is not far behind as Andie finds herself in the crosshairs of an assassin's rifle. As she tries to win her freedom and save what family she has left, she must deal with her mother's legacy, a God she doesn't completely trust, and someone else-whose motives are not what they seem but might be exactly what Andie needs.
Published: May 31st, 2010 by Kregel Publications
What are you looking forward to reading?
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