2015 Summer Reading List

Well after years of trying it has finally happened! I am pregnant, 27 weeks along and doing fantastic! No I am not being sarcastic, I really feel great (most days). As I drift into the third trimester things are becoming a bit more difficult. I guess what they say about carrying a boy is true, all belly, no sickness, great skin & hair, etc. So this means I need to read as many books as possible because from what I hear, I won't have the time for another 5 years or so!?!? Let me just say I will find a way, somehow, because I love escaping my world and going into a different one. I have a list a books below that I want to finish by the time baby boy arrives around 11.5.15. I will give each book a grade and a short review, I have tried to be as brief as possible so I don't spoil any books!

BOOK LIST 2015:


Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Grade: A+
Review: For months all I heard was, "Oh, you have to read this book!". So I did and I am glad I did! The main character is not your average main character, she makes a lot of mistakes and does a lot of stupid things. The plot keeps you guessing but provides great insight to the character and why she makes certain decisions. I like how the book jumps back and fourth between characters. This book is mysterious and a great psychological thriller! It will capture your mind until the end.

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Grade: A+
Review:This is my first Stephen King read and now it seems silly to have been intimidated by his books for so long. This was an easy read. Although it has some highly disturbing aspects. This book allows you into the mind of a killer and a retired cop who is trying to catch him. There are a lot of twists and turns! Perfect cat and mouse type book. Very suspenseful!

We Were Lairs by E. Lockhart
Grade: A
Review: This book started out a bit slow but it has reasons why it does, so pay attention! The ending is something that caught me off guard and I cried over this book for a good hour after I finished reading it! It is books like these that I seek more of. The main character is a member of a wealthy privileged family who owns their own private island close to Martha's Vineyard. Then an accident happens, fueled by greed and carelessness, many are effected and the main character doesn't remember what happens, until the end.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Grade: A+
Review: Set in France during WWII, this book jumps between the lives of two very different sisters. This book is about love, resistance against the Nazi's, life during the war in France and forgiveness. This book will make you cry and cheer! As it is a great reminder how many lives were effected by this war and the little things that were done that may have never been noticed. Excellent and suspenseful read! Highly recommended if you want a book that will suck you in completely.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Grade: B-
Review: This book was a bit on the high school side but it was good and I finished it so that says something. It has a very creative plot and is different from any book I have ever read. It reminds you how your actions can effect other people whether you realize it or not. This book is heart braking in a way that is very real. This book is about teenage suicide.

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Grade: C-
Review: I was intrigued by the reviews of this book, being compared to Gone Girl. The beginning captured me and was interesting and suspenseful. I was waiting for something major to happen, it is what the book sets you up for. By the time it happened I figured it out and the ending was not my favorite. I was disappointed. Maybe someone else would like this book better than I did but it's the first book on my reading list that didn't satisfy my reading needs! Maybe I expected it to be more like Gone Girl and that is a hard book to live up to

The Book of You by Claire Kendal
Grade: B+
Review: Imagine having a stalker who is there watching you all the time, never getting a break or a peace of mind, constantly being on guard. This book was disturbing in a lot of ways so naturally I really liked it. It does have some kinky aspects to it but I really enjoyed this read. It was very suspenseful and ended differently than I imagined it would but left me satisfied with the ending.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Grade: D
Review: This book slowed down my reading because it is so descriptive and a bit difficult to read. The characters are all so deep and different. If you don't know much about War World II then you wouldn't understand some aspects to this book. I can't say that is was super exciting and I have mixed feelings about it. However, it is interesting reading about a blind child and a Nazi youth during this time period. If you enjoy deeply descripted books then read this, however if you like simple quick reads you might want to skip it. Overall, I was not impressed. I am guilty to admit that I called it quits on the last 70 pages because the book was going nowhere and it was dragging on and on and on......
I kept thinking I want to finish at least another 3 books before this baby comes!! This is the first WWII book that did not completely suck me in.

Follow You Home by Mark Edwards
Grade: A
Review: Where do I begin with this one? This has many twists and turns! It is creepy and suspenseful! I was even scared at one point I had to stop because I was alone at night and my imagination was running away from me! This takes place in Romania and England. Romania giving off a very creepy setting. This books is mainly in the main character Daniel's point of view, jumping from a few other characters insight as needed to explain certain parts of the story and how everything came together. This was an easy read, easy to follow but kept you guessing. It is disturbing so be warned.


CURRENTLY READING:
The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
Grade: A
Review: What would you do if you found out your whole life has been a lie? That's what Riley had to face when her Father suddenly died and she was left to go through his things. Great mystery and kept you guessing. Excellent book!


BELOW ARE THE BOOKS I STILL HAVE LEFT TO READ. I will update them as I read them.

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
Far From You by Tess Sharpe
Miracle Man by William R Leibowitz

The Baby Whisperer
What to Expect When You Are Expecting



You can also find my Book list on Pinterest:

Return of the Talented Hubby!

Doug & I had a nice relaxing weekend. We made no plans and just hung out, which leads to fast boredom. Randomly I said I was thinking about getting a bigger book shelf because my book were over flowing my book case and things were getting cluttered. Clutter is one of my biggest pet peeves. So Doug and I picked out a design on this website that offers free building plans for furniture. Less than a few days later, I had myself a new 6 tier shelf! Thanks Hubs!

Backyard Garden Make over

If you read my blog, you know how much I love color! I also love flowers with big bright colors. Hydrangea's are one of my favorites, especially the light blue-purple ones. I have tried and failed twice trying to keep one alive. Last year I planted one in the backyard and it grew back, bigger and stronger than the year before! So I decided to spice up my backyard and planted some peonys, a second hydrangea, some hosta's and 3 other plants. After a few hours of loading and unloading soil, I took flat stones from around the trees in my yard and made a nice border. I got solar lights to outline the border for .97 cents a pop from Walmart. Total spending was $90 for soil, plants and lights, all in a half days work! Garden cat is happy with his new hangout!

A Quickie

I had the house to myself over the weekend. I cleaned, caught up on yard work &gardening. Spring is here and you can feel it in the air! That means art shed season is here! All I wanted to do on Saturday night was paint, sip some wine and listen to some good tunes. I choose something simple on Pinterest for inspiration, like I said I just wanted to paint. I ended up making a duplicate but I love it! This was a fun, simple and quick painting, good for beginners who want to learn and good for veterans who just want to paint!

Pinterest Inspiration Credit: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196117758747486497/

If everyone thought this way..

This is what I always have lived by; it's nice to see it in words from someone else.

Snowshoeing Adventure in Alpine

The first full day we were in Alpine, we went snowshoeing. It was my first time doing it and I loved it! It was like using a step machine but you actually move and have a great view. It is a fantastic leg work out! Once I live out here, I can picture myself doing this a few times a week, have to bring the bear spray though! Happy to share some more pictures of our trip, I hope you enjoy it!

The Snake River is just a 5 minute walk from our place.

I stumbled across some kind of dead carcass, not sure what it was but it was a reminder to me that there is a lot out here! And a lot of danger so carrying protection is the norm.

I Heart Birchbox

Last May, my sister introduced me to Birchbox! After being on a waiting list for a few weeks, I finally received my first box in June. It was love at first box! For those who do not know what Birchbox is, for only $10 a month you get 5 samples of select products in a trendy little box. By creating an online profile on their website you can adjust your preferences and the people at Birchbox select samples just for you according to that information. For example, I am really interested in anti-aging skin care, make up and hair products, so I get mostly that kind of stuff but often get little random surprises. Being the product freak that I am, I am happy to have gained so many new products! I would say I have loved 95% of the samples I have tried through Birchbox. Below is a collection of some of the samples I have gained, of course there are many others that I used up and threw away.

Now here is the exciting part! You can submit reviews of the products you try and receive 10 points for each review. You only get about 5 reviews a month that you get points from but it adds up. You also receive points for how much money you spend through their website. For example if you buy $26 of products, you will receive 26 points. Each time you reach 100 points you get $10 off a purchase. So if you have a 313 point balance, that's $30 off! That can make a difference if there is a $70 product you want to try but don't want to spend that much money. There is more... if you are responsible for signing someone new up to Birchbox and they give you credit for introducing them, you receive more points! Wait, I have more good news, most of the products ships for free and arrives within 2-3 days! Below are all the full size products I have purchased from the Birchbox website either at full price because I loved the sample or I purchased them using the points I earned. The pink conditioner in the circular tub is something I bought because of all the great reviews it had. It smells like spring in a jar, love it!

Now I have all these cool little boxes! I am saving them because I know a creative idea will pop into my head one of these days on how to reuse them. Check out Birchbox.com and see for yourself how amazing it is! Join the monthly excitement!

Alpine Home

A dream come true is what this home is! My plan was to move here in October 2016, now it is looking like September of 2015 will be my new goal. I never seen my hubby so happy! I have not been this happy in awhile either. Every way you turn there are mountains! Wildlife is everywhere. We have hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, pretty much in our backyard! I will never get tired of the views.
Here are some pictures of the front of the house:

Next are pictures of the back of the house:

This is just a around the corner from us, it's also where I get the best cell phone reception!

Below are the views from our back deck. They never get old because they constantly change.

This is our happy place!

Never Leaving Wyoming

I knew how great it was going to be out here. Now that I am here, I am not surprised how easily this place exceeded my expectations. The views are amazing, but the pictures do not do it any justice. Everywhere I go I am in awe, my camera is always in my hand ready to be snapped. I never want to leave! Below are some pictures I took around the Alpine and Jackson area. There is so much to do and so much to see! Enjoy!

Counting Down to Wyoming!

In 5 days I will finally be in Wyoming. In the middle of no where, where I love to be! I have been told that I will fall in love with the place. What they don't know is that I already have, years ago when I first set foot in that state. It's hard to believe that we actually own a home there. It was just a dream Doug & I had and didn't expect it to come true so soon! Thanks to my parents who are now in love as well!
Below is the view from our backyard:

The Snake River pretty much runs through our backyard!

View of the town of Alpine from the top of Mt. Bradley.Population 828 as of 2010. We will be living the small town life someday!

2014 Monthly Challenges

The year of 2014 is going to be another good one! So I am making mini goals each month and after I complete them, I will give an update. They are subject to change, in case any surprises come a long.
I stopped with the resolutions a few years ago because they are pointless to me. I stop focusing after a month or few weeks. In 2010 I made the goal cutting out fast food, to this day I rarely eat fast food. When I do, it's a treat to myself. In 2011 I made the goal of flossing everyday. I floss more than the average person and it helps, no dental problems for me! 2012 I skipped a goal completely and 2013 I reached my goal of getting a respectful and challenging job. 2014 is the year of monthly mini-goals (if I actually do them all, I will be impressed)!

January- No soda, beat the bat wings and lose the pouch Month! I will cut out soda this month and start out with 12 push ups and 60 abs crunches every night, adding on as I go. No excuses, even if I am sick I will complete this every night, on top of my usual 2-3 weekly workout/runs. I need to lose what I gained over the Holidays!

January Update: It's only the 17th and my arms feel tighter, up to 20 regular push ups and 20 knee push ups daily :o)
It's the last day of the month and I am soda free and almost batwing free. I will continue to be soda free for the rest of the year. I am so happy with the results of doing push ups and ab work every night! I am up to 25 regular push ups and 20-25 knee push ups nightly. I am going to continue this challenge well into the year, maybe I will pass my high school record of 52 perfect push ups in a row. Haha...maybe not but I can dream! This was a fun experiment and it took some discipline but I did it. It was a fantastic idea! The only issue I see is that by December I may be doing every month's challenge because I won't want to give it up because of the awesome results! :P

February- The month of 8,000 Steps. Yes I will be wearing a pedometer everyday for 28 days! Even if I have to get the steps in while watching TV or reading, it will be done! This was my original goal and it's not happening. Not only can I not find my pedometer and I don't want to buy another, it's freaking cold outside! So this month's goal is changed. I must run, either outside or on the treadmill, at least 8 miles a week. I usually average about 4-6 a week, so I will up my miles and hopefully get in a 10 mile week before the months end.

February Update Week one= 7.4 miles, not too bad considering I hate treadmills and it's an ice box outside. Week two I did 5.8 but I had a big set back. Came down with some kind of throat infection that wiped me of all energy and gave me a fever of 101 for a few days. So I am extending February goal through March. The first week of March I will lose a week of running since I will be in Wyoming but will make that up in snowboarding and snow shoeing.

March-My month of Zen! I must do yoga at least 10 minutes a day and run at least 8 miles per week.

March Update- So here is my honest update! Yoga kind of went out the window. Besides stretching for 10 min before every run, I maybe did Yoga 3 times for 40 minutes. On a good note, I achieved my goal of running at least 8 miles a week! This is where I have been seeing the results! I have lost about 10 lbs and now favorite pants that would hug my hips and legs are falling off me! It's bitter sweet because I love those pants, they made me feel skinny when nothing else did! I bought a new pair of size 6 jeans 2 weeks ago, too big for me now! BTW, I don't drink soda at all anymore. The cravings are gone and when I did have a small bit of coke few weeks back, it tasted bad. So I feel like I am on a good road for bikini season this year! Every year it's always the same regret, "I wish I started working out in winter", this year the challenge will be to continue this routine and add on more miles at a faster pace.

April- New Recipe Month! I will try 2 new recipes a week during this month and back to no soda, just because it's the healthy thing to do! I will make a Pinterest Board with the recipes I plan on trying.

May-Summer Ab, Arm and Butt prep! 70-100 crunches, 1 min planks, 20-30 push ups, 20 dips everyday and 100 squats! Adding more on as I go....of course!

June-Dance till I drop. Dancing is proven to make people happier and the month of June is the most stressful and busiest month in my work place so for each day of this month I will dance to one song all the way through, even if people think I am crazy. I have a feeling that sometimes it will be more than 1 song, since dancing is so addictive!

July- Journals of July. Everyday I will write in my journal, EVERYDAY (even if it's just a sentence or two). I have done such a good job of keeping a journal throughout my life but the last few years I have only been writing in it every 2-3 months or so.

August- Make someone else feel good Month. Everyday I must smile at a stranger, give someone a sincere compliment and do some kind of good deed for someone else, not myself. Also leg month. I will do 20 lunges on each side and 50 squats nightly.

September- Go vegetarian! Just kidding, I could never do that to myself. This month is all about going on a nightly walk.

October- The Art of October. I must create 2 different kinds of art work each week. This could include going to the beach to paint the sunset, melting crayons, sculpting from mud, it doesn't matter but each work of art must be created using a different kind of medium. October is prime art shed season, not too cold and not to hot.

November- I need a good goal for this month...it's in the works.

December- Prevention Month. I will not let the Holiday pouch sneak up on me this year! 60 crunches, 15-25 push ups every night...should I add in 10,000 daily steps? I have 11 months to think about it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 2014!

Crazy Cats

Wine Time

Those who know me, know how much I love a good glass of red wine! California Pinot Noir or Zinfandel to be exact. Owning and running a vineyard is my lifetime dream, if I ever won the lottery, that is what I would do! Below is my latest painting and a link to my Pinterest inspiration.

Must give credit to the artist who orginally painted this piece of work, however I could not find an actual person who made this but here is the link where I found it. INSPIRATION: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196117758746650273/

Scarf Organization

It's hard to pick out a scarf when I have so many and keep them folded and stored in a cold room we barely use. So I came up with this creative way to showcase them and I can work them into my daily outfits. Yes, I still have more scarves than shown and I admit I have a scarf addiction!

10 Years in the Making

This painting was one I started in an Art Class at Salisbury University in 2003. I painted the sword, got bored and threw it to the side. When I moved to New Jersey in 2008, I found the painting. I came up with an idea to add to it. So I drew in a face, taking on a native/Indian/fantasy theme. I added in the feather, got bored and threw it to the side again! This past summer I found the painting again and decided it was time to finish it. So I did and here it is!

Scaring up some fun!

Halloween, bonfires, carving pumpkins, costumes, candy, scary movies, changing colors, falling leaves, hoodies and autumn recipes! I could go on and on about why I love this time of year. When I was a kid we made my basement into a haunted house every year for the neighborhood kids until I was 16. We nailed blankets into the beams and turned it into a haunted maze, complete with a bloody barbie that fell from the ceiling in a noose and a mysterious ghost that flew down the stairs at unsuspecting kids or even parents!My only regret is that we never video taped them. When Hallowen comes around every year, I get that sense of excitment again. So I share with you my pumpkin carvings and decorations, enjoy! This year's pumpkin carvings- Pinterest inspired!

2013 Halloween Décor. HAPPY HAUNTING!

Bootnard was happy to sniff out any unwanted ghosts in the graveyard before the trick or treaters arrived!

Photo below is complimentary from my good friend Lauren Graham!

The witching hour is here! Hope your Halloween is fang-tastic!