Gone Girl, Book Review

"Gone Girl" is a tale of pathological deceit.  The author, Gillian Flynn,  takes you on a suspenseful roller coaster ride with a sociopath that jerks you into another direction without anticipation.  Think Law & Order meets Dateline and you'll have a great idea as to the style of how this book unfolds.  Amy and Nick's twisted manipulative relationship will have you turning pages way past your bedtime.  You will think you have the plot all figured out but Flynn brilliantly tells the story from both Amy's and Nick's perspective and it is full of surprises.  I don't want to give too much of the storyline away, as this book is best read a bit blindly. While this book probably won't be awarded a Pulizer, I enjoyed it. Want a good suspenseful read? Buy Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl."

What Remains, Book Review

Carole Radziwill was a cast member of the Real Housewives of New York last season and her best selling book was mentioned numerous times.  I purely picked up her book, "What Remains," out of curiosity.  Her memoir chronicles losing her husband Anthony and her friends John (Anthony's cousin) and Carolyn Kennedy.  While the book started off slow, I found myself becoming drawn in and invested in finishing the book. The story I found compelling was not the Kennedy's, but rather the story of Carole and Anthony. The vigor in which Anthony lived is inspiring.  The account of his battle against cancer stirred emotions inside me that I had never encountered before; the fragility of good health.  I was led to examine the delicate dance between life and death, how we console ourselves and try to understand our fortune. This could have been a fairytale, an ordinary girl falling in love with a prince and living happily ever after, but Carole's story is one of love and loss.

Preserving Holiday Memories

Isabella and Michael looking at our Christmas memory book 2011

I take thousands of pictures each year.  With digital imaging it is easy to shoot and delete pics with a press of a button.  So snap away, take lots of shots.  Moments pass by so quickly in our children's lives so perserve those eyes filled with wonder and excitement with your camera!

What to do with all the pictures? Good question. While I am not a huge scrapbooker (takes a lot of time, supplies, and creativity), I have created holiday memory books.  I just select a few images documenting an event. I mount the pictures on scrapbooking paper and create a collage.  It is easy to add stickers, cut outs, momentos, invitations, programs,  etc... We bring out the memory book as each new holiday approaches.  

I love looking at the photos and saying, "Remember when...?"  Seeing the kids grow from year to year is always special too. We really enjoy walking down memory lane and making future plans for the upcoming holiday. Preserve those holiday memories folks! XO

Our Week in Pics

We have been fighting sniffles, sore throats and tickling coughs this past week.

No big adventures this week but rather a week of mellow indoor activity.

We hope to be back in full swing in time for Thanksgiving.

These two LOVE to paint

Brought some flowers in to add some cheer

Daddy and the boys
 Just one quick story before bed

Isabella sugar cookie baker

Uh Oh, Jury Duty!

Our Week in Pics

Goodbye October...Hello November!

Did your week fly by as quickly as ours?

Here is our photo recap:

Meet our turkeyTOM.

My budding Picasso? This one is for my friend Ann, crayon on the wall.

Thank goodness for WD40.

Field trip and Mother/Daughter Time

Bumper to bumper TRAFFIC 405N

 A gift from the Hubs!

A few of my scrapbook finds from Hobby Lobby...you must go!

Sunday is a great day for doughnuts.

Holy, Heat Wave. Backyard story time.
If you haven't voted yet, Tuesday is Election Day.
XO

Field Trip #2 Michaels Arts and Crafts Store

Ready for our field trip and mommy/daughter day

Today we visited Michaels Arts and Crafts Store for our second field trip.  The field trip was centered around the six elements of art: form, line, space, color, texture, and shape.  Michael's staff sent us on a scavenger hunt of sorts with a map and a clue.  The kids looked high and low for clue cards and we coached them on answers.

There were almost as many parents along as children.  We were all impressed by the students stellar behavior.

After completing our scavenger hunt, the class applied what they learned and created self portraits and had snack.

It was a quick and enjoyable morning. A no fuss field trip that stimulated our crafting center of the brain.

Isabella and I took advantage of "our time" together and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and eating at Rain Forest Cafe.

 We found a clue!  Mark your map.

 Feeling the form of their faces. (just a few parents in the background)

 Portrait making

Our friends at work too!

 Prayer before snack (precious in every way)