Book Review! Woohoo!

I actually had time to finish TWO books on the flight to and from San Diego for BlogHer ´11.

The first book I read on the way there was ¨Raising Jake¨ by Charlie Carillo.

This was actually a fairly good book.  It was a coming of age book for both the father and the son.  The book was a little raw but it was really honest.  I do think there were  a few parenting lines that were crossed but it was pertinent to the story.  The idea that it took this long for a father and son to really talk or get to know each other seems like it would hit home with a lot of people.  I have been fortunate to be close enough to my dad that it didn´t take something hard in each of our lives to learn about each other so I wasn´t really able to relate to that idea.  It was nice to see the relationship between two people grow so rapidly when they were honest with themselves and each other.  

I think as parents we do need to filter some of the things we reveal about ourselves but I still think we need to be honest with our children.  If there is not a base of honesty in our relationships with our children then what is there?

So, yes, I would recommend this book.  It was a pretty quick and easy read because there was never really a lull in the storyline so a few hours or a couple of days and you´ll have one more book checked off your reading list! If you add it to your list first! Happy reading!

Book Review: "Goodbye Jimmy Choo"

The whole book review thing kind of went out the window after I found out I was pregnant.  Most nights I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open after putting Teagan to bed.  Recently I've had a bit of energy and decided I would take advantage of it.  I went to the library determined to get a light and easy read and as I was rummaging through the shelves my eye caught the the words "Jimmy Choo".  Hello! Instant attraction.  I pulled the book off the shelf and after reading the back thought it was just what I was looking for.  I was right. 

The Book: Goodbye Jimmy Choo
The Author: Annie Sanders

I've never read anything by Annie Sanders.  I have no idea who she is but I will probably be checking in on other possible works she's created. 
This book is an easy read.  To me it was an "I am woman hear me roar" type book without going over the top.  When faced with hardship the two heroines in this book found their niche and trudged on.  Coming out triumphantly.  I liked the fact they both had children they were taking care of while overcoming the obstacles they were facing.  It really took on the old adage that it takes a village.
The book is based on 2 women who moved from the city and by chance end up friends.  One is an impeccable dresser who could step straight off the pages of Vogue.  The other is looked at as below par by the society women.  Both were moved to the city becasue of their husbands jobs.  Tragedy strikes and the women become instant best friends.  They bring out the strengths in each other and carry each other when their faults overpower them.  They find a future in old recipes and run with it.  It comes down to whether the fame/fortune and working hard to find a balance is worth it or if they should just give in and let somebody else take over. 
I appreciated that the book didn't turn into a romance novel.  There is some sexual tension through a few of the pages but it's not something you would feel naughty reading.  If it had gone there I would have put it down.  I'm not a romance novel girl. 

Overall I would give this book about a B rating.  It is definitely a book you could take on a weekend beach getaway and be done by the time you got home.  It's enjoyable.  It's an easy read.  It's not something that is going to make your head hurt trying to figure out what the characters are feeling.  It is literally laid out for you.  So, if you're heading out on vacation and have a few hours in the car or to lay out on the beach or in a rocking on a back porch then head to the library and check this one out!

February's Book review.

*picture via Google Image Search *



For February I teetered off the path of my reading list when I wandered through my local library's jungle of books.  I have a really bad habit of going into the library for the soul purpose of one book and coming out with at least 5.  I'm quite naive in thinking I can read that many in the time it takes to return them and I usually end up with a late fee. Like this time. Ooops. *sidenote, I can consider it helping out the public libraries funding, right?*

Anyway, February's book was "Barbie & Ruth" by Robin Gerber.  I'm not really sure why the book caught my eye amidst all the other books that happened to be in line on that aisle in the library but it did.  Perhaps because I've been wondering about the affect of Barbie on young girls and how that is going to play into how many Barbie's Teagan has.  Anyway, that is another topic for another time.

The book was a good read.  I never really knew the history behind Barbie.  I just knew she has been around for a very long time and that I played with them a lot when I was a little girl.  This book shows the story of how Ruth (the creator of Barbie, named after her daughter, Barbara) took on the world and showed the toy industry how a woman could take control and know what she was doing.  Ruth was a take names, expect perfection and nothing less from anybody kinda gal.  It showed how hard she worked to really make a name for herself & her husband and their company.  I found myself occasionally understanding where she was coming from and then getting angry at her thinking she needed to get her priorities in order.  This is a real "I am woman hear me roar" kind of book.  So, ladies if you need a little "you can do it" fire lit under your rear you might should read this book. 

I would give it about a 3 out of 5.  It would definitely be a good plane ride book. 



I've had a lot on my mind here lately.  Life has been going in a whirlwind.  My brain is going on overdrive and to be quite honest, I wish it would stop or at least slow down for a little while.  I've lacked inspiration as of late.  Not to say I'm not in love and inspired by my love and my toddler love on a daily basis but it's, well, it's pretty hard to explain.  I don't even really know how to describe it. 
Also, the lack of posts are due to my lack of computer.  My laptop has been on the fritz but luckily my hubs has been able to fix it so that shouldn't be a problem soon!


I will wet your appetite with some upcoming things:
2 give aways!
1 book review
1 (MAYBE) What We Wore Post

I know I've been a slacker but find a little love in your heart for me and spare a vote? Thanks!!

Wicked.



                                                        picture via: google image search

One of my New Year's resolutions was to read more.  So far I've met my goal...the whole 1 book for the month of January...although I am almost finished with my February read so I haven't fallen off the bandwagon just yet!
I've decided to start reviewing, not summarizing, the books on the blog as a new monthly feature. Although, I should probably do this more closely to the time I actually read the book instead of a month later.  I don't have the best memory but I'll do my best this time and do better the next.
I really enjoyed the book.  There were many nights that I stayed up too late because I didn't want to put it down.  To be honest I picked Wicked because I love a good Broadway musical and Wicked has been a hit. Also, I have quite a few friends who have loved it and recommended it.
The idea behind the book is genius.  Who ever really thinks about the villian or villaness? Where they came from? What their parents were like? If they had real friends, ever? This book tells all about the wicked witches of the Wizard of Oz story; the wicked witch of the West and East.  This book is written as "the other side" of the story of Wizard of Oz.  What happens before Dorothy comes to Oz and what "really" happened.  The characters are incredible and have more depth then you would expect when you compare them to the Wizard of Oz characters.  The description of the characters was amazing and they weren't hard to visualize at all.  You almost feel like the way they are described in the book is the way they should have been in the movie. 
I was kind of taken back by some of the more sexual parts of the book.  This book is not something Teagan is going to be allowed to borrow until she is at least 17. 
If you don't mind the occasional "adult scenes" then this is a good book overall. I would absolutely recommend it to a friend but it's not something my mom is going to read.  I would probably give this book a 3 1/2 out of 5.   

Next up: Barbie & Ruth. 

First Book Review

When I was still nursing Teagan during my lunch break I would take her into the library and feed her (it was a church library so nobody was there during that time).  After she nursed I would read her a book and cuddle with her for a few minutes before heading back to work.  Shaoey and Dot was one of our favorites.  Every single time I would read this to her I would cry a little and she would snuggle up even closer. 

Shaoey and Dot is about a little girl and her friend the ladybug going through the process of adoption.  The story is seen through the ladybug's eyes.  The ladybug hears Dot's cries and her laughs and tries to comfort her tears and cheer her up as much as she can.  The ladybug doesn't understand it all but does understand that Dot needs a somebody and the ladybug decides to stick around.   Dot (the little girl) is raised in an orphanage and the ladybug stays with her from the time she is a baby girl until the time she becomes adopted by a wonderful set of people.  The story will bring you to tears and shows you just how many kids out there really do need a good home to be raised in. 

By Mary Beth and Stephen Curtis Chapman

Illustrated by Jim Chapman