Morning Meanderings… Sunday Salon

Published on March 4, 2012March 4, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Good morning! Happy Sunday!

My recap of this week is so much more laid back then last week! I absolutely had nothing in my evenings all week. I know right? That never happens! I usually am looking at my week thinking – ok I have that Monday evening, that on Tuesday evening, that on Wed…

but nope, this past week my Monday group was cancelled, Wednesday activities I usually volunteer for were cancelled due to the snow storm that hit Brainerd (sort of), Thursday I was supposed to have a belated dinner with friends and one of them had to go to the cities so we decided to postpone… and that was all I had planned for the week!

On Friday night hubby and I had chicken fajita and watched the movie Moneyball. I will review it this week but in the meantime know that it is good and worth seeing! 😛 On Saturday evening we went out to dinner with friends Robb and Julie to a restaurant we had never been to before. It was about a 30 minute drive but the food was good, the conversation was awesome. Robb and Julie had just completed the Polar Plunge earlier on Saturday.

Beyond that – I received some pretty exciting books in the mail this week:

AND – Bloggiesta is back!!! Woo Hoo! I am so excited and you can sign up to be a part of it now… and trust me, you want to be a part of it! 😀

That’s a wrap! Today I have church, then working out… some reading this afternoon and tonight Floor Hockey and then Amazing Race. Ahhh…. a good Sunday 😀

Heartbreakers by Pamela Wells

Published on March 3, 2012April 3, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Sydney’s boyfriend decides to break off the relationship. Kelly’s boyfriend has big plans for Valentine’s Day… just not with her. Raven is stuck in the middle of two guys and can not decide. Alexia has never had a serious boyfriend and wonders if she ever will.

Four friends all single start to wonder if this teenage love is worth all the pain of heartbreak. Together they make a list of 25 Rules that they call the Breakup Code. These rules are to get them all through the next few months and they are to make sure that not one of them falters…

Rule No 1: You must not text or IM the ex boyfriend

but rules were made to be broken…

right?

I think I have found a true YA book that really felt to me to be YA… a young YA. There is no paranormal activity, while partying is mentioned, it is just that…a mention. No sex, no drugs, just clean sweet relationships that reminded me of Jr High.

(Yup…. we are going to have a flashback…. hang on!)

I remember those first what I thought were serious relationships in that 14 – 17 year range. And I quite easily remember what it felt like when “the one” you thought was :the one”… wasn’t. Seriously, do you remember that feeling? You though you were going to die from the pain of heart-break! I remember barely being able to get my head off the pillow…

This is the kind of love we are talking about in Heartbreakers. The girls are still young and each break up or relationship feels overpowered with emotions. And of course you can’t break girl code – your friends come first at this time in your life and if that say he’s wrong for you… then he is… even if you think he is so right.

I thought how each chapter started with one of the Break Up Codes was smart writing. I thin I would have liked it more if the chapters and codes were in order instead of the code skipping around that is in the book.

Over all I can imagine that this would be a book more appreciated by tweens. I have heard this book be compared to the Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants and I think that is a fair comparison.

**Update: Pamela has a third book in the series coming out yet in 2012!

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Rating

Borrowed from my local library

February Recap

Published on March 3, 2012March 3, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

February sailed by didn’t it? With the nice numbers I put up in my January recap, I have to admit I was curious to see where I would land for February. February just felt off…. I felt too busy to read much and too tired to read in the free time I did have. Then I gave up and returned quite a few audio books that I didn’t get into…. total DNF.

So…. how did it line up?

I added 12 books to my 16 in January (Thank God for audio…. seriously!) but added only three new states to the Where Are You Reading Challenge… ugh… already duplicating states! 😯 I added no reads outside of the United States.

Of those 12, 6 were audio books. Busy lives people – I am telling you, audio is the fix you need! 😀

2 books into the ebook challenge, sticking with my goal of reading all book club books this year on my Nook… 2 for 2 😀

No progress made on the Dystopia challenge but I am craving the genre…. luckily Pandemonium sits on my kitchen table right now… hopefully being picked up this week.

No progress here either… and looking at this list again, I need to get a move on it as there are some great reads on here that have been on my shelf too long!

For the year I am at 4,587 pages and audio equals 5 days and 38 minutes which sounds scary…. like book coma scary, but remember that is mostly active audio time as in house cleaning, getting ready in the morning, cooking, and drive time.

While February this year was down from last February by 4 books.

SO how did your February come out?

Morning Meanderings… A Retreat

Published on March 3, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

A quiet Saturday! Just what I wanted and needed! A day to catch up on some reading, a little bit of working out and a couple of reviews.

Isn’t it weird what a difference a week can make? Last week at this time I was exhausted and at a Women’s Retreat… which really sounds like an oxymoron right? I mean the words “women’s retreat” brings up visions of relaxation and down time and girl chats….

and it was all that – but I went into it wrong. I had a hugely busy week last week and by the time I arrived at the women’s retreat on Friday evening, stick a fork in me… I was done. 😯

Don’t get me wrong – it was a lovely time.. I was just tired. I had a chance to chat with some friends and make a few new ones.

Part of the camp we stayed at — **Part Of the camp we stayed at - Trout Lake Camp**

026 — **An area that was in the main lodge.... my favorite hang out space!**

033 — **Me... ready for the winter activities!**

**Loading on to the bus to be driven to the dining hall**

**The massive fireplace in the dining hall**

All in all the retreat was fun! We ended the second night with a purse action. Throughout the retreat you could earn “dollars” to bid on purses. I did not win a purse but t was a lot of fun to watch people go a little crazy over the purses!

These pics are my contribution to the fabulous Alyce’s Saturday Snapshots. Pop over and see what others have taken pictures of. 😀

Have a fab morning – I am going to make an egg white omelet while listening to the end of an audio book. Later I am back with my February recap and possibly later yet (to get myself on track) a review.

Morning Meanderings… Commercials CRACK Me Up!

Published on March 2, 2012March 2, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Good Morning!!!

Friday! SO EXCITED!

Why?

No commitment weekend! I have no have to’s!!!

Put that on pause though as I do have a half day at work today – and this morning as I sit her with COFFEE CUP contemplating life and what to wear… I thought I would share with you the commercials that cracked me up when I watched the Oscars and have continued to do so since…

First off… kudos to JC Penney’s for these funny and smart Ellen Degeneres commercials that have been airing since the Oscars. Seriously – the ones over the holidays that Penney’s had going with the screaming people were awful!

BUT – all is forgiven now as I smile every time I get a chance to see these funny commercials about returning items…

Ok… that is some good stuff. 😀

Have a great morning everyone!!!

Mental Floss The Book… only the greatest lists in the history of listory

Published on March 1, 2012March 1, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Do you like facts? Fun facts, interesting facts, facts that are conversation starters? Then this book is for you! Filled with lists of facts that are just funny, interesting, and yeah… sometimes down right odd…

Here are a few examples:

Five Presidential Fashion Flubs (did you know that Thomas Jefferson sometimes greeted dignitaries while wearing his PJ’s?)
Questions that probably need answers Immediately (can a pregnant woman drive in the carpool lane – appears that is a yes)
Eight Everyday Items Brought To You By NASA (smoke detectors is on the list, so are cordless tools… but something is conspicuously missing!)
The Stories Behind 9 Muppet Favorites (did you know Kermit was born in 1955 and originally made his appearance on a show called Sam and Friends?)
6 Laws Of Cartoon Physics (such as the fact that weapons never work well and you can pull anything out of a bag or coat)
Missing Body Parts of Famous People (While Stonewall Jackson is busied in Lexington, VA, his arm… well that is busied elsewhere…)
Six Tasty Foods Names After People (Graham crackers and nachos are on this list..)

There is even a magazine called Mental Floss for information junkies!

When both my boys were home a few months ago this book was on the coffee table (yes in the family room we still have a coffee table…. sounds so 70’s when I type it out…) and we poured over this book. We took turns sharing random facts, sometimes laughing out loud, others times saying “What? How can that be?”

In the end we all felt we knew a little more and were a little more prepared if we were ever chosen to be on Jeopardy. 😛

This really is a fun book that I will keep out on that coffee table, ready to be picked up again by company or by me, as I love to read facts out loud to Al and try to stump him. Did you know there are 5 traditions that were invented to make us buy stuff? See? I can’t even stop now!

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Morning Meanderings… It’s March? Wha… Wait…

Published on March 1, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Holy coffee cup batman…. where did February go?

It certainly went out with a bang here as I mentioned yesterday we were DUMPED on by the snow fairies….. I shouldn’t complain too much – it was not as bad as was predicted and it is all over now except for all that snow… which I am not a fan…which I know I live in Minnesota and do not like snow. It’s true.

February is usually a great reading month for me but I don’t think it was this year. Seems like as of late reading has been hard to find the time. I am behind on books, but not reviews because I need to read the books to do the reviews… you get the picture. 😀

In the next couple of days I will work on my Feb stats and get that posted but I think it will be disappointing, mainly because I have several books going that I want to finish… just need to make the time to do so.

In other news – I was FINALLY able to put my review on Amazon for The Book Club Cookbook, which I LOVED and I am excited to be the first to review it there!

Today I work and work out – tonight I must finish my reviews for Her Voice magazine – the books are read the reviews are written I just need to put them in a word document and send them. It does not sound hard right? Yet night after night I claim I am too tired…. what is my issue? 😯

Well… here’s to March… may it be filled with great reads and time to read them 😀

Morning Meanderings…. SNOWMAGGEDON!!!

Published on February 29, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Good snowy morning to you! 😀

Brainerd Minnesota is under a winter storm warning as I type until 6 pm tonight. It is coming down pretty hard right now and due to continue to 6 pm tonight. Here is what it currently looks like:

085 — My back deck... was snow free last night...

Its snowing and blowing and some may be able to call this a snow day but here is the good and the bad about where I live. I live right off a main highway that takes me directly to work which is about 3 miles away – straight stretch. Of all people, I am the one that can get to work.

Being from Minnesota, of course both my vehicles have 4 – wheel drive….

So – while I was hoping it would be a complete white out and I could stay at home… I dont think that is the case so I am off to get ready for work…

IF this had been my ~~dreamed of~~ an actual snow emergency my day would have been:

writing my book reviews that are due
READING!
Making Soup

and part of that reading would have been what arrived in the mail at my house yesterday:

SQQQUUEEEEE!!!!

Ok… seriously – I have to get ready for work…. my three mile drive and my snow filled driveway might be interesting 😀

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben

Published on February 28, 2012March 2, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Myron Bolitar is a Sports Agent heading for the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie Quarterback and Myron’s prized client. When Christian gets a phone call from a girl he had given his heart too and had disappeared over a year ago, things get a little odd. This missing girl is Kathy Culver and she has been believed to be dead. She also is Myron’s true love Jessica’s sister.

Trying to figure out the truth behind Kathy’s disappearance, keep Christian on the straight and narrow, and once again find himself immersed in Jessica’s presence in his life… Myron finds himself up against the dark side of his business. Secrets and lies woven into a family, where image and talent can make you rich – but the truth can make you dead.

This is the first of the Myron Bolitar series, where Myron began to be developed from the witty brain that is Harlan Coben. On audio, narrated by Johnathon Marosz, the book is true wit and mystery and at times “snort worthy” (snort worthy: that embarrassing sound when you laugh and it comes out a short noise that comes through your nose instead of your mouth).

This being my second dip into the Bolitar books I have come to appreciate the surrounding players…. his best friend Winston Horne Lockwood III (or “Win” to his friends) and his assistant Esperanza Diaz.

The constant twist and turns – unraveling of a mystery and funny FUNNY wit moments, so hard to explain, but if you have experienced this world of Myron’s, and I hope that you do…. you will know what I mean. Yes, a book can at once be a mystery and funny. Think the Stephanie Plum stories, but an ex basketball player instead of a New Jersey girl, and Myron is not ditsy… he is smart and gets his man….errr…. woman…. errr…. well – you know.

It was fun to listen to this first book of the birth of a great character. While I do not plan to listen to all the Bolitar books one after another…. I would not be disappointed if our paths did cross again.

Who would like this book? If you like smart and witty humor, two good-looking guys solving a crime, and funny scenarios as they do so…. this book would be for you.

*Note: This particular book has a character with a huge fowl mouth…. frequent language is used the last fourth of the book, something I did not notice when I listened to One False Move last week.

Morning Meanderings… I’d Like To Thank The Leg err… Academy

Published on February 28, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

Good morning! 😀

Did anyone else watch the Oscars on Sunday night? I admit… I first was watching Amazing Race with the hubby… BUT as soon as that was over I tuned into the Oscars. While not a die-hard fan, I do like to look at what people are wearing and this year in particular – I was interested as so many movies from books were up for awards…

Highlights for me were of course the supporting actress award going to Octavia Spencer for The Help.

If you did not see her acceptance speech grab a tissue and watch it. If you have yet to see The Help, I highly suggest you do and do it soon. Octavia is a hoot (yes I said hoot!) throughout the movie and in case you did not know… she is also the voice of Minny on the audio version of the book. Nice pic all the way around and standing ovation on her best supporting actress award.

As always the Oscars in surrounded with wonderful announcers and one stands out to me…. Angelina Jolie parades out to the stage front and center and immediately takes a stance that I was sure was going to be the topic of today:

So at first umm…. glance, you (I) would think well… she is in very good shape why not show off a little…. er, a lot of leg….. although this was when she was presenting an award… prior to that moment there was…

1aaaaa — and on the red carpet, Angelina with her leg

Ok … I am picking…. I mean if I had legs like that I may have a tendency to show them off a bit too…. what surprises me is that Angelina has a history of awkward Oscar moments (oh if only I could forget the year of her acceptance speech about her brother….), but again… I pick. Honestly I think this whole thing went down something like this:

(Scene: The Pitt/Jolie home. Afternoon, pre- Oscar arrival, Brad and Angelina meet in the foyer after each getting dressed in their separate rooms)

Brad takes a look at Angelina…

Brad: That dress shows off quite a bit of leg

Angelina: So? I have quite a bit of leg.

Brad: Well its going to be hard to not draw attention to yourself my dear.

Angelina: Jealous much my much shorter darling?

Brad (smugly): Ok, fine, we don’t have time for this. I DARE you to bare your leg….. ALL of your leg at least ten times during the Oscars. Oh and it must be caught on camera!

Angelina: Fine, you are on. If I win you owe me a green bean. I am famished!

😛

LOL

Ok enough of Angelina…

In other Oscar moments I realized I have missed out on a few movies that I did not think I would enjoy but after seeing highlights now I have added them to my “must see” list…

and my nominees are….