March in Review

This has been a very busy/productive month. I'll start with a review of my reading challenge. My goal was to read one book a month, but I am happy to say that I knocked three books off of my list within the first two weeks of March. I guess it is a good thing too, since the second two weeks left no time at all for reading! I'll start with my book reviews.

#1 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Wow, wow wow! Occasionally I will find a book that pulls me in so deep that when I put the book down (either for a break or after finishing it), I still feel really detached from reality. I call it a reading hangover, and for me it's the sign of a great book. This was definitely one of those books. I don't usually enjoy distopias, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Fantastic!

#2 - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, and it's hard for me to say which I liked better, this one or the first. These books are uber-emotional and captivating. This one built off of the first one in a very dramatic way that, in some places, actually blew my mind. Let me tell you this, the next book I am about to review is NOT the third book in the trilogy, and I am going crazy wanting to read it. Alas, I have to wait until payday...

#3 - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks became one of my favorite authors when I read Dear John. I have to say that Safe Haven is now one of my favorite works of his. It is in the top three for sure, along with The Lucky One and The Last Song. Like the first two books in the Hunger Games Trilogy, I could not put this book down. It also gave me a reading hangover. The story is captivating and the characters are very realistic. This is one book that I would read a second time from an author's point of view, to study craft. When Spark's switches to the husband's point of view, the change in style is so dramatic that the reader can't help feeling like part of the chaos that is part of this character's mind. There is also a twist at the end that I did not see coming. GREAT read! I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of romance mixed with drama.

As you can see, March was a great month for books. Each of those is now considered a favorite of mine! I'm hoping that next month's book review will feature Mocking Jay, the last book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. In the meantime, my sister came up from Atlanta to go wedding dress shopping, and while she was here we got her bridal pictures taken. Amazing huh? She found a gorgeous dress, the sample was new and fit her perfectly (literally no alterations needed), and the store sold her the sample because a new one could not be ordered before August. Jan, the photographer that did my wedding (Shoootz Photography = Awesome) was able to get her bridals done a few days later. 

I WISH I could post pictures, but alas, since there is a chance that Alan could stumble across them on this blog, it is forbidden. He is a very traditional Southern boy, and very superstitious. Suffice it to say, she was gorgeous, but I'll have to wait on pictures until after the wedding...in August...

Well, Today Was the Day

Emmett got his helmet this morning. We have been nervous about this day because we weren't really sure what to expect. I know this is for the best, but I felt really mean, sticking him in a helmet for 3 to 4 months! Thankfully, he doesn't seem to mind it all, and it hasn't diminished his cuteness.

He didn't mind it being put on at all. I think he got mildly irritated and grunted at the man one. I was so glad, since a child before us screamed and screamed...and screamed some more. He's had it on for a few hours now and is still rolling and kicking, happy as can be. I'll admit that I'm still a bit nervous about this helmet, if only because he headbutts me on a regular basis. Ouch!

In other news, Josh got a new job! I'm very proud of him, and we're excited to take this step forward. He will have to finish school at night or online because the job is a full-time job, but it represents a significant pay raise for us, which couldn't be more welcome right now. Way to go Josh!

The Living Planet Aquarium

On Saturday we decided to take a break from our normal routine, so we (meaning my little family, my parents, and three of my cousins) drove down to Sandy to visit the Living Planet Aquarium. I'm ashamed to say this is the first time I've been there, though it's been around for quite awhile now. It was very much worth the trip! We had a blast. Here are some pictures:

Emmett riding the giant frog.

 Peek-a-boo!

 The group picture

 Otters!

 Row, row row your boat, gently down the stream!

 Emperor penguins are very large.

 Emmett really loved this spotted sting ray.

 Of course my husband couldn't resist the urge to try on this hat.

 Ailene and the frog

 Playing in the boat with Grandma

And here is one that is not related to the aquarium, but I wanted to post it just for giggles.

I can totally feed myself, mom!

(Note to self: Don't let the baby reach the baby food.)

Tag You're It

Well, technically I'm it, since I was tagged. (To be honest I have NO clue who to tag next, but I will at least answer the questions!)

1. What Are My Colors?

Well my favorite color is blue, so I tend to buy a lot of things that are blue. I've also been into purple lately though.

2. Who was the last person I called, and why?

It was my mom, yesterday. We were going to the aquarium and I was calling to see if they were on their way.

3. What is the first picture on your camera roll on your phone?

My pups, ready to go camping. They carry their own gear. :)

4. Instagram or Facebook?

Facebook. I've never even been on Instagram. To be honest I have a bit of an addiction to Facebook and I need to break the habit. I haven't been on Farmville in months though...does that count?

5. Beverage of Choice?

Milk. Is that lame? I could drink milk with everything. Although I have to say I could probably do the same with Winger's blackberry lemonade. Yum.

6. With a cup of soup do I order a half a sandwich or salad?

I'm more likely to take the salad and the sandwich. Except on rare occasions, I'm really not a fan of soup. But if I had to have the soup, then I would probably take the sandwich with it.

7. What is your favorite road trip music?

It varies from country, to rock, to movie scores, to musicals....the only thing I wouldn't really listen to on a road trip (or ever, really) is hip-hop/rap or music that screams at me.

8. What is your go-to candy?

I love gummy bears or gummy worms and red vines. Sadly, I could eat these is very very large quantities...all in one sitting.

9. Am I a flip-flop or sandal kind of person?

Sandal. I hate flip-flops because I can't stand the strap between my toes. *shudder*

10. What is my favorite thing to do to exercise?

Karate. I really love Yoga too. I'm not very good at making myself exercise just to exercise. I do better if it's included in an activity.

11. Why did I start a blog?

I started my first blog because I just wanted a place to write down my random thoughts, and it was a good excuse to practice writing. I essentially abandoned that blog when I started this one, however, which is meant more to be a journal for our little family. I try to update it frequently, but in the past I haven't done a good job of that. It was one of my New Year's resolutions to blog more often.

Books, Recipes, and Parties...oh my...

How much can I cram into one little post? I guess we'll find out. Let me start with my thoughts on February's book.

Thereby Hangs a Tail - Spencer Quinn

This is the second "Chet and Bernie Mystery" in the series. I will admit that I found the story in the first book to be a bit slow, but I LOVED the fact that it was from the dog's point of view. Chet is an awesome narrator. Easily distracted, but entirely loyal to his partner and dedicated to his work, Chet is easy for any dog owner/lover to relate to. Sometimes I believe his thoughts would be echoed perfectly in my dogs' heads. The story in this book was more interesting to me as well, and Chet didn't disappoint. There are times in this book (as well as the first) that I was laughing out loud. I'll admit that I identified the bad-guys long before the end of the mystery. So far I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who loves dogs. The stories are entertaining and the books are really runny. Readers be warned though: Chet does occasionally run into people who are less than savory and who aren't inclined to be nice to dogs. (This book was better than the first in that Chet didn't get into nearly as much trouble.) And you know, I'm still trying to figure out what breed he might belong to. :)

Second, let's talk about the new recipes I tried this week. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, but you can find the links here:

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/slow-cooker-parmesan-honey-pork-roast.html

and here:

http://norikoburky.com/?p=91

The first was a crock pot honey parmesan pork roast. And it was good. We'll definitely be adding it to our recipe list, though we probably won't be making the gravy again. Josh and I both thought it was too overpowering. The second, the creamy avocado lime pasta was pretty tasty when it was fresh, but after a couple of hours it turned an unappetizing brown and lost much of its flavor. This is definitely I dish I would recommend serving almost immediately.

And what's next? Oh yes. Parties. Last night was Josh's birthday party. I have been planning a murder mystery dinner. I was very excited but very nervous at the same time. This really is the first "theme" party I have planned. It was a lot of work, but I am happy to say that it seemed to be a hit. We had 24 people, so I had to break us up into three groups. Our time period was ancient Rome, and nearly everyone came dressed up. Here are some pictures:

There was a lot of noise in my parents' basement, as everyone really seemed to get into character and "arguments" (fake of course) and accusations were flying everywhere. I am relieved it's over, but glad that it was a success.

At last, but definitely not least, our little man is 7 months old today! Some of his favorite things include his My Pal Scout, which he got from his Auntie Kathrine, jumping in his jumparoo, kicking his feet (and kicking, and kicking, and kicking), and eating "real" (baby) food. His favorites so far are sweet potatoes and bananas, but I have to say that the only thing he hasn't liked is peaches. He is sitting up on his own now and is working really hard at learning to crawl, but I think he still has a long way to go. He has discovered his voice for sure, and alternates between shrieking and blowing raspberries at everything.

Diagnosis: Torticollis

For the past few weeks, we have been worried that our little man might have to have surgery, as his skull is just not rounding out and is actually becoming prominent on the left side. The pediatrician referred us to a surgeon at primary children's hospital so that we could find out for sure. Thankfully, no surgery will be necessary! We're breathing big sighs of relief all around here. What he does have is torticollis - a tight neck muscle that caused him to favor laying on one side. So the flat spot is positional plagyocephaly, nothing more. It will require a helmet to reshape the head into the correct position so that future problems in speech, hearing, or mobility don't arise. He will have to wear this helmet 24/7 (almost) for 3 to 4 months. While that's not necessarily ideal, we just look at it like he'll have crash protection for his head when he learns to crawl. We'll take the helmet over surgery any day!

2012 Book Challenge

I have had a love of reading as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, reading is something I haven't made a lot of time for lately, and I decided that it's time to change that. While I may not have a lot of time - cause let's face it, being a stay-at-home mom is more than a full-time job, there are definitely moments I could spend reading, rather than, well, wasting time. So I have decided to undertake a book challenge this year. In the past reading a single book every month would have been no issue for me, but with my busier schedule I figure one book a month is a reasonable goal.

I realize that it is February already, but since I started two books in December and finished them both in January, I figure I can count that as my January reading. At the end of each book I'll post a review for anyone who might be interested in reading some of the books on my list. I make the disclaimer that I reserve the right to change this list at any time, particularly since some of the books are part of a series, and until I've read the first book (The Hunger Games, for example) I have no way of knowing if I will actually be interested in the rest of the series. But for now, here is my list (in no particular order):

To Read in 2012:

Cascade (Book 2 in the River of Time Series) – Lisa Bergren

Torrent (Book 3 in the River of Time Series) – Lisa Bergren

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins

Mocking Jay – Suzzane Collins

Eragon – Christopher Paolini

Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks

The Best of Me – Nicholas Sparks

Thereby Hangs a Tail – Spencer Quinn

To Fetch a Theif – Spencer Quinn

The Dog Who Knew Too Much – Spencer Quinn

January 2012 Book Review

On Folly Beach - Karen White

I read this book after a friend posted about it on her blog. I absolutely could not put it down. Historical fiction, mystery, and romance all tied into one, this book tells of two women from very different times, whose stories become entangled. I loved the way it was written from different points of view in both 2009 and 1942, and how Karen White manages to use both stories to build the mystery until the truth finally comes to light at the end of the book. I really would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. Thanks for the recommendation, Leah!

Waterfall (Book 1 in the River of Time Series) - Lisa Bergren

Josh heard about this book from a coworker, and bought it for me for our anniversary. It is also something of a historical fiction romance, with a bit of fantasy thrown in. I will admit that the main character, Gabi, can be a bit annoying at times, but hey, she's an American teenager. In this book, two American teenagers are thrown back in time to medieval Italy, where they inadvertently become tangled in politics and war, and, of course, love. I feel like this book started a bit slow, but overall the story was interesting and it turned out to be a good read. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.

Stay tuned for more reviews from my 2012 Book Challenge!