So, call me crazy, but I got Tina Fey's new memoir, Bossypants, a day ago and already finished it within 24 hours. It's just that good! A few pages in and I was laughing out loud, and that continued throughout the entire book. It's the perfect mix of wit, sarcasm, humor...and I thought the writing was just excellent.
The book is a memoir, so it's chock full of tales from her youth, all the way up to today. It's funny, it's personal, it's the kind of book you can't put down. Quite simply: if you like to laugh, then this book is for you!
If you get it, let me know what you think. Happy reading!
Happy Friday everyone! If you're anything like me, this weekend you will more than likely find yourself in a bookstore someway or another, running your hands over all of the books, flipping through the pages, and skimming over the first few pages of those that catch your eye. One of my most favorite things to do is spend an hour or two wandering through our local bookstore, making lists of all the titles I'd like to read. I can't get enough of books, and before I became a teacher I actually worked in a bookstore. It was heaven. And now, even though I've been using my beloved Kindle for over a year, I still purchase and swoon over all of the books in our local shop, and our library continues to grow. Today I thought I'd put together a list of 9 books I really love- some are my all-time favorites, a couple are recent reads, a few are of the young adult genre. So, if you're looking for something new to read this weekend, bring this list out with you, and see if any of these English-teacher approved books strike your fancy! Have a great weekend.
Hello everyone! This post was from Sunday morning, but when I started going into labor I pulled it! I rescheduled it for today. :) Friday I will begin sharing my wonderful guest blog features, so get excited!
Today I thought I'd share three things: a book, a movie, and an album! 1) a book
My blog has been lacking a bit in my normal book recommendations for one reason, and that reason is...HARRY POTTER! I've been reading the HP books for the very first time, and I recently finished book four. I'm trying to go slow so I can savor every bit of the series, so I decided to take a small break before I start book five. It's hard though, because I have the last three books stacked up on my nightstand, taunting me, but my Kindle is also full of samples of great books I've been looking forward to checking out. On a related note: did you know on the Kindle you can get the first chapter (or sometimes couple of chapters) sent to your device for free? I always do this to make sure I want to read the book before I commit to spending the nine or so dollars on it, and I'd say it's one of my favorite features of the Kindle. So, during my Harry Potter break this week I've read a few books in my downtime (aka waiting to have a baby time), and there was one in particular that I really enjoyed.
I am going to include a short summary from Publisher's Weekly, but I've shortened it because if you're anything like me, you dislike hearing too much about a book!
Near the start of this outstanding novel of psychological suspense from Edgar-winner Lippman (Life Sentences), Eliza Benedict, a 38-year-old married mother of two living in suburban Maryland, receives a letter from Walter Bowman, the man who kidnapped her the summer she was 15 and is now on death row. The narrative shifts between the present and that long ago summer...
This is the first book I'd read by this author (it was published just a few months ago) and I was really impressed by not just her style of writing, but her ease of story-telling. Her characters have great depth, and as a reader I started to really feel like I knew these people, and I got to live a bit in their experiences, which was an experience in itself. I found this novel to be fascinating, dark at times, but overall an intriguing read that I'd recommend to anyone who is looking for a new book!
2. a movie
Yesterday Hank and I went and saw "Morning Glory." I love Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, and Harrison Ford (along with a lot of the other minor actors), so you'd have to imagine my happiness when I first came across this preview over the summer:
Hank wasn't too keen on seeing it, but throughout the entire movie I glanced at him to find him laughing, smiling, and even maybe, sorta, kinda having a little tear in his eye. In the end, he enjoyed it. And as for me? I LOVED it. I found it to be motivating, inspiring, and uplifting. It went beyond a "chick flick" and I thought it was a lot of genres rolled into one; romantic comedy, a feel-good film, a "finding yourself" kind of movie, and yes, a movie that girls would enjoy. But my husband loved it too! There's something for everyone. I highly recommend this movie! 3. an album
I'm quite late on the Mumford & Sons bandwagon, but recently this album has been on repeat in our house close to everyday. It's just that good. I adore these guys- their music, their voices, and those cute scruffy faces. But, on the small chance you haven't yet fallen in love with this band, give this little playlist a listen, and then head over to their website to buy their album! Enjoy!
I've recently read some great books lately, that I thought I would share with all of you!
The Opposite of Me, by Sarah Pekkanen - click here to view via Amazon.
The summary on Amazon gives too much away, so click above if you want to order it, but I'd suggest refraining from actually reading the synopsis; it gives away the entire book! In summation, all you need to know that is that this book is about relationships between sisters, between oneself and who you "think" you are, and also who you really are. It's about coming into your own, following your passion, and realizing that life might not be what you've always pictured it to be, but that can be the perfect thing for you.
This book is part chick-lit book, part tearjerker (not in a Notebook way, more in a gentle tears in my eyes during various parts of the book kinda way)...and I really, really loved it. It's a great "beach read" kind of novel without being stupid or annoying, like a lot of those books are to me. I do love some Shopaholic-type books from time to time, but overall I find them to be mindless, and I often find myself getting irritated with the writing. I found this book to be witty, intelligent, and honest, and I couldn't put it down. It's a longer book, at almost 400 pages, and I found myself engrossed the entire time. I HIGHLY recommend it to all of you, and if you end up reading it please, please let me know what you think.
The second book I finished recently was a memoir called Falling Apart in One Piece: One Optimist's Journey Through the Hell of Divorce, by Stacy Morrison. Click here to view it via Amazon.
From Amazon.com:
The emotionally charged story of a divorce that brought the surprising gift of grace...
Just when Stacy Morrison thought everything in her life had come together, her husband of ten years announced that he wanted a divorce. She was left alone with a new house that needed a lot of work, a new baby who needed a lot of attention, and a new job in the high-pressure world of New York magazine publishing.
Morrison had never been one to believe in fairy tales. As far as she was concerned, happy endings were the product of the kind of ambition and hard work that had propelled her to the top of her profession. But she had always considered her relationship with her husband a safe place in her often stressful life. All of her assumptions about how life works crumbled, though, when she discovered that no amount of will and determination was going to save her marriage.
For Stacy, the only solution was to keep on living, and to listen—as deeply and openly as possible—to what this experience was teaching her.
Told with humor and heart, her honest and intimate account of the stress of being a working mother while trying to make sense of her unraveling marriage offers unexpected lessons of love, forgiveness, and dignity that will resonate with women everywhere.
This book popped up in my recommendations while I was browsing Amazon in search of books to put on my Kindle. As you probably already know, I love memoirs. I wasn't too sure about the topic of this book, but I had a sample sent to my Kindle anyway and began reading. Immediately I was engrossed in the writer's unique and wordy style. I'm not sure if it's for everyone though- she REALLY gets in her own head and the writing shows that. It's part story, part stream on consciousness that explains every single thing the writer is thinking about, why she is thinking it, and where this thinking gets her. Personally, I adored it. Everything she said made a lot of sense, and coming from someone who is happily married, I thought it was interesting to see the other side of things, especially from someone who never thought she'd be there. I found so many of her insights to affect me quite deeply- her thoughts on parenting, marriage, self, what it means to be a woman...all of it was hard hitting and although incredibly poignant, still extremely uplifting. I loved the author's writing style and couldn't put this book down either.
MOVIES
It's Complicated
I've always loved Meryl Streep and she's one of my all-time favorite actresses. It's amazing, but the older she gets, the more amazing she gets. I find her to be incredibly inspiring, and this movie is no different. I highly recommend to everyone- you will laugh (hard), you'll cry, you'll think about your life and where it's headed. It's another one of those movies that makes you think, but it's not one of those movies that throws anything in your face. It's more of an underlying "hmm..." as you watch it, and especially afterward. Go rent it!
The second movie I'm recommending is quite different from the first.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
I love love love movies like this. Dark, macabre, suspenseful. My all-time favorite movie is Rosemary's Baby, and this movie has that same feeling. I've had it recommended to me a million times but Hank and I only just watched it for the first time a couple of weeks ago when it was on Netflix Instant Play. We were both immediately engulfed in the strange way this movie sucks you in. You have to see it! Let me know what you think if you do.
BEAUTY PRODUCTS
I've tried quite a few new beauty products over the past couple of weeks and I wanted to recommend one and NOT recommend the other. The first is a product I've mentioned on this blog before. It's the belly cream that Autumn had me get when I became pregnant.
Great Mother's Belly Butter for Babybearing Women- click here to view via mothernature.com
OH MY GOSH you guys, I LOVE this stuff. I will continue to use it even after I have Henry, because it's truly amazing. It's a thick cream/body butter kind of stuff that goes on pretty greasy. Greasy would probably bring about negative connotations, so try to think of it as a pleasant greasiness, and that fades as it sinks into the skin. There's no petroleum in it, so it is actually absorbed and used by your body to heal, prevent and repair.
Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Comfrey Root, Wheat Germ Oil, Calendula, Marshmellow Root, Hawthorn Berry, White Oak Bark, Red Raspberry Leaf, Passion Flower, Vitamin E, Pure Essential Oil
Due to it's heavy consistency I apply it only before I go to sleep, but I apply it everywhere I feel a little dry, not just my belly. I've had issues in the past with a small eczema like dry patch on both of my forearms and this completely took that problem away. At $20 a 4 oz. jar it's a little pricey, but if you order from mothernature.com and then search for coupon codes at retailmenot.com you can get anywhere between $20-30 off your order. I love this stuff and I think it's totally worth it!
The second product I am sharing but NOT recommending is Chanel's Double Perfection Compact- click here to view via nordstrom.com.
This product initially got me really excited. One of my formspring commenters recommended it to me, and I ordered it right away, after reading online that it was oil-free and wouldn't clog pores. I have extremely sensitive skin, so I need to be careful, but even the reviews on makeupalley.com were favorable for sensitive skin, so I took the plunge and ordered it. At first I liked it. Alone and dry, the powder (which is supposed to be of a foundation consistency) wasn't enough coverage, and to me was just like my Laura Mercier translucent finishing powder, which is in no way foundation. I found though that if I layered it over my Almay foundation it gave me a nice MAC Studio-Fix-ish look, without the breakout (or so I thought). I also tried it wet, which make the formula thicker and allowed it to work better on its own.
As time went by, I started to breakout. For some reason I didn't attribute this to the makeup- I'm pregnant with crazy hormones so of course it was my body. But I decided to stop using it for a week, and my skin went back to normal during that time. I haven't used the powder again and have had NO breakouts! I'm so annoyed with myself that I used the product for almost a month, dealing with imperfect skin, thinking it was little baby Henry's fault! ;) It was all the powder. And for $50, that's no good. So, my verdict is that this product may work for someone else, but NOT for me! No thank you.
I hope you guys enjoyed this mini-recommendation post! Let me know if you end up reading, watching or trying any of these things! I hope all of you have a wonderful Sunday.
ps, thanks again for all the congratulations about our happy news! Baby Henry is already so loved and I feel lucky to have such a great support system here on this blog! Love to all of you.
Here's a mini-playlist of two of her songs if you'd like to get a quick listen. I love her music- super sweet and exactly what I like in summertime music. I imagine listening to this on a lazy day when I have all the windows open in the house, a cool breeze coming in, daydreaming of all the good to come! It's funny because this album is actually billed as children's music, but when I had my first listen I had no idea. I knew it was whimsical and fun, but once I checked her out online and via Itunes I realized that she was a singer-songwriter aimed toward a child audience. It makes me happy to know that I already love something so much that I will definitely be sharing with our future kiddo.
I've read a few great books recently too, that I'd like to share!
I'm a huge memoir fan in general, but I'm quite particular about both writing style and the way they tell their story. This novel was great- it was an incredibly interesting story and the writer's voice was refreshing. It details growing up with her paranoid schizophrenic mother, and at times it was painful to imagine the author and her sister going through some of the horrible things she detailed. However, it was a good read and if you like memoirs, I definitely recommend this one to you!
Another book I read in the past couple of weeks was The Carrie Diaries, by Candace Bushnell (click here to view on Amazon).
I'd been waiting for this book to come out for quite sometime, and I began reading it via my Kindle DX the day it was released. It's all about Carrie Bradshaw (a la Sex and the City), but before she became the Carrie we all know now! It detailed her senior year in high school, and how she ended up in NYC. The ended was so great, and I definitely enjoyed it. It was a fun read! One caveat though: if you're going to read it you have to keep in mind that it's a "chick-lit" book, so it's more of a magazine type read than a novel that will pose questions, get into your head, or make you think. It was a great summertime read though, and the only issue I had with it was that at times I didn't really make the connection with this old Carrie and the Carrie Bradshaw we got to know on SATC. I do feel that the author should have made a few changes to the younger character, but that's my opinion and overall it didn't hinder the book in my mind whatsoever. If you like the television series or even the movie, I definitely recommend you check this book out!
I've watched what feels like a million movies in the past few weeks and I wanted to share one of my favorite films of ALL TIME. I've seen this movie many, many times before and every time I watch it I love it even more. Mia Farrow's clothing, the dark and creepy ambiance, the music....I can't get enough. If you haven't actually seen Rosemary's Baby you should definitely take a night and enjoy it, beginning to end. In my mind, it's truly a masterpiece!
I also recently went to the theater and saw Babies with my Mom and sister for Mother's Day.
I knew the movie was a documentary but didn't have any commentary or much dialogue at all, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The movie ran about an hour and a half, and I didn't even notice the lack of words throughout. It highlighted the first year in the lives of four babies all over the world: Bayanchandmani, Mongolia; Opuwo, Namibia; San Francisco, USA; and Tokyo, Japan. It was fascinating to see the huge differences in how the babies were both born and raised. After the film was over, I thought for awhile about what the filmmaker was trying to convey. I definitely got an overarching message that no matter the means or the way, all of these milestones we viewed in the film, smiling, talking, walking, etc...are all achieved. It doesn't matter if the baby is raised in a small yurt in the middle of nowhere, or a high tech flat in a bustling city. I also got a feeling that the filmmaker was trying to make a point about simplication. It was so interesting to see the way the babies were stimulated by so many different types of toys: a few had nothing more than a stick and a stone, where as another had the blinking sound machines with a million different colors and pictures to look at. Which is better? The simple way of raising a child? Or through constant stimulation and entertainment? The film gave me a lot to think about, and I definitely recommend to everyone.
Well, I am still under the weather this morning and I'm going to try and get some more rest. This is either a bad, bad cold or the beginning of the flu. Yuck! Send me healthy thoughts ;). Oh, and while I'm sick in bed, I'm pretty fast at responding to my Formspring questions via my phone, so click here to ask away!
Oh, Monday. A Monday like today is especially rough when it's the start of not just a new week and the first day back from vacation, but the first day of a new quarter. Granted it's the last quarter of the year, but it's a bummer to have to snap out of vacation mode and get back into work mode so abruptly. I write all the time that I like my job, love it even, and I really do, but sometimes I wonder if I just enjoy it so much because I know there's a time stamp on it. I couldn't ever imagine doing this for the rest of my life. A few more years maybe, but I could never be one of those admirable people (like my inspiring Mama), who teach their whole lives. Knowing that I am going to be a stay-at-home mom when Hank and I eventually have kids kind of makes it much easier. Don't get me wrong, my job is incredibly rewarding and I smile every single day knowing I'm making a positive impact in my students' lives, but it's not quite a "career" for me. I hope that makes sense. :)
So, today was a good day at work. My sophomores and I started Fahrenheit 451 today (it's probably the 25th time I've read it!) and I'm excited. I love this book a lot and I hope they do too. This week should go by fairly quickly, and then next Friday we have off! So excited. Amber is coming home to Prescott for a visit and we will be heading down to Phoenix so she can get her very first tattoo. I can't wait.
Also, I've been reading tons of books lately, but one in particular I wanted to mention: "The Last Song," by Nicolas Sparks.
This book was recommended to me by one of my students, and I have had it for a couple of weeks, but didn't pick it up until recently. I won't give anything away, but I thought it was absolutely beautifully written, full of emotion and overall just a fabulous read. I spent the last 40 minutes of the book crying pretty hard, and it was amazing that it had affected me so deeply. I recommend that all of you read it, and please let me know what you think! The movie opens this weekend, and I am so looking forward to it. I researched the film a bit earlier today and found out that Nicolas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel, and Miley Cyrus actually named her own character Ronnie. I know a lot of people are skeptical of Miley- I personally am a huge fan- but after reading the book, I feel she was perfectly cast. In fact, I think the entire movie was. Miley and her love interest in the film are actually dating in real life too, and I find that really sweet and it will make for great on-screen chemistry I'm sure! Here's the trailer:
Have any of you read the book? Are you SO excited to see it? I am literally counting down. Fortunately my friend Robyn is going to see it with me, so I don't have to drag Hank to a movie he definitely doesn't want to watch. Yay for girlfriends!
I am heading to sleep, but I hope all of you have a wonderful night. I'll see you tomorrow night for Tattoo Tuesday!
I am so happy you all have been enjoying reading about the couples I've featured on my blog this week! I was originally going to just have them share 5 secrets to a wonderful relationship, but then decided background was necessary. I'm really glad I decided to include that, because it's been so fun reading all the little details of these beautiful love stories! Thanks for all the feedback. I finally got caught up on my Google Reader this morning, and I wanted to direct you over to the lovely Rachel's blog, Smile and Wave. She is featuring little "love notes" from some of her friends- I read them all this morning and really enjoyed them. So if you don't already read Rachel's blog you should head over and check it out! I love other people's love stories so much! I also should tell you that part of my last feature (Jeff and Rachel) was unfortunately cut off. I just added a LOT more to their post, so please please click here or scroll down to check it out.
Today's been a funny day. When I left for work there were a few clouds in the sky, nothing major...but an hour or two passed and the sky darkened up within minutes. Soon after, big, white flakes started falling, and sticking! Immediately there were announcements over the intercom about spring sports tryouts being canceled, club meetings being postponed...and now, an hour later, the crazy snow stopped and it's perfectly sunny outside. So who knows what's going on!
I'm currently on a break from work- I have to head back in a little bit for a faculty meeting, and then I'll be heading to the gym afterward. Some days I have to search a little to find motivation, but lately I've been looking forward to working out everyday. I really attribute this to mixing my routine up between long runs outside and great gym time, and lots of lifting. Do you have a routine you do in terms of working out? For me, I like to lift 4-5 days a week and do cardio 5-6 days, but something active on my rest days too. More than anything, it helps keep to sane and happy! Working out is my anti-depressant for sure. Without it, I feel totally out of sorts.
I am really, really looking forward to this upcoming weekend. Due to President's Day, it's a 3-day weekend! I don't have many plans except to finally see Dear John and to finish organizing our guest room closet, and frame/hang a couple of prints. Fun! I also just started a couple of books and I plan on finishing them-
Best Friends Forever- A Novel, written by Jennifer Weiner (click on any of the book images below to view them on amazon.com)
This book looks good so far. I downloaded the free sample to my Kindle and was intriqued from the beginning, so I decided to make the purchase. I'm only about 8% done so far (I know this thanks to the handy little bar at the bottom of the Kindle), but I like it. It's more of a "beachy" read, which I always really enjoy. I typically go between a couple of different genres- I read a lot of non-fiction, usually memoirs or biographies, or sociology-based books. I also tend to gravitate towards books about health and cookbooks. Another genre I'm usually enjoying at any given time would be the broad "classics" genre. I enjoy reading books like these, either to find out why they're considered classics, or just because I enjoy them. And then I of course love reading "beach" reads- chick-lit type books that make me feel like I'm reading a magazine. This type of genre is really fun for me, especially since I'm usually reading more serious things at work all day. I'm also type of reader who is in between about 3 books at any given time. Are any of you like this? I think this stems from those aforementioned library trips (click here to read that entry) and coming home with such a huge pile of books I was dying to read. I couldn't bear to just read one and ignore the others, so I would make my way through all of them at once. Crazy, I know!
The second book on my list is Fall To Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and Mental Illness, by Mary Forsberg Weiland (ex-wife of Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots)
I read a LOT of memoirs, and I chose this one because I read about it in a magazine. I haven't started it yet, but it's gotten pretty good reviews and I'm excited to see what it's all about.
The third book I began this week is called Mommywood, by Tori Spelling. Yes, that Tori Spelling! ;)
My sister recommended this book to me, and I've always adored every book recommendation she's made, so I thought I would give it a try. I really like it so far, since I actually kinda-sorta love Ms. Spelling. The book is as the title suggests- all about living as a Mom in Hollywood, and in the public eye. The writing is easy to follow and pretty silly at times, but I am definitely enjoying it.
I will let you know what I think about these books when I finish them, hopefully by the end of the weekend.
I hope all of you are having a great day! Before I go I wanted to give you a heads up on the rest of the week here at Sometimes Sweet. You'll be seeing a few more couples feature posts, a much-requested "what's in my bag post," a recipe for Valentine's sweets, and an outfit or two! I have a lot of fun things planned for this blog over the next few weeks, and I'm excited to share them with you. Annd...a giveaway may be one of those things!
Today was a fairly non-eventful day. School went by quickly and pleasantly. My sophomores worked on vocabulary (some of our words are vociferous, discern, and obviate, if you were curious) :) and finished up Ray Bradbury's short story "A Sound of Thunder." My seniors continued our documentary unit with the end of "Food Inc." Very fun day overall!
I wanted to share a book recommendation with all of you, and I will try and continue to recommend a book once a week or so, as requested! One of my students gave me this book to borrow a few months back, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It is a young adult book, but I still really enjoyed it and got into the story right away. You can click on the book to view it via amazon.com.
Have any of you read it? Two of my ALL-TIME favorite books are "A Wrinkle in Time"(another YA book- but a classic) and "The Handmaid's Tale." If you liked either of those books, or books like "Brave New World" or "Fahrenheit 451" you will be into this series. If you don't like books set in fictional, futuristic time periods, or science fiction-esque writing...you more than likely won't like this book! BUT I still recommend though, because due to it being a YA book, it's an incredibly quick and engaging read and you never know if maybe this is a genre you will end up loving!
The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian society- a futuristic post-USA, where the nation is divided into districts, and led by an insane government/dictatorship. The main idea is that each district must send in two "tributes," or representatives to fight in the Hunger Games each year- a televised "to the death" battle with only one winner. The purpose of the Games is to remind the districts and common people that they are just pawns in the government's hands, following an uprising many years ago. The book is so much more than that though- there is a love story finely woven throughout the chapters, and the best part is...it's just book one of a three part series! Book two, "Catching Fire," is JUST as wonderful (if not more wonderful), and I am anxiously awaiting book three, which will be released this summer. They are also currently beginning film production of this book, which is always exciting.
If you check it out, let me know what you think! You can find it in the Young Adult section of your bookstore, or online of course. It's been really neat for me to be able to suggest this to many of my students, as it is completely classroom and age appropriate, but in my opinion, just as intriguing for readers of all ages.
So, I hope all of you had a great day. I've been feeling a little "off" lately, and I'm not too sure why. I finally feel better tonight, which is making me happy, but it's just really annoying to not know why you're not feeling 100% yourself. I'm just going to chalk it up to feeling a bit hormonal and leave it at that. Oh, how wonderful it is to be a girl. ;)
This week has literally flown by! Tomorrow, then off to Phoenix for a quick trip that is all about Alana and Erin and celebrating their birthdays. I really can't wait to spend another weekend with my lovely girlfriends. AND, baby Carter is due to arrive next week. So much goodness happening right now. I hope that goodness is finding itself in your neck of the woods, wherever you may be!
