Halloween Food Fun

We had a little bit of fun with food this Halloween.  Here are some of the  things my husband and I made for our kids:

These are spooky grilled cheese with ketchup faces.

Olive Spiders with sour cream eyes

Spooky Spaghetti & Meatballs

Mini Shepherd's Pie or BRAINS!  Made with pink potatoes the kids had the hardest time tasting this one. They were a little creeped out.

Ghouls in the Graveyard (Kraft)

Books and Books...

A few more books read lately...can't stop!!

My Amazon links aren't working as I write this so you will have to survive without the visual picture.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons - Lorna Landvik
- I liked it.  It was in my bag of books to pass on to others but I decided to keep this one.  It's about a group of friends  who get together to form a book club.  It follows the women in the club over the decades as their lives unfold.  While it wasn't the most amazing book I've ever read, I did thoroughly enjoy it and it will be going on my bookshelf to read again someday.

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Galbadon   I blame my work mate entirely for turning me onto this series.  While she does sometimes go on a little I can't stop reading this series.  This books ends in a bit of cliffhanger and its going to drive me batty to wait until 2012 to find out what happens!!

The Year of Fog - Michelle Richmond.  I downloaded this to our Kindle and finished it in a couple of days.  I could NOT put this one down.  What happens in the year when you look away from your daughter for 1 minute and turn back to find her gone?

What about elevators?

As I rode the elevator alone today bobbing my head and in general acting like a fool, I wondered if others do this too.  When you are completely alone in the elevator do you stare at the numbers just as if the elevator was full?  Or...do you twirl, dance, sing, make faces and other goofy things?  Don't tell me that I am the only one....

Crafting With Mom...

Last weekend Mom and I tried out my new stamps.  The top 2 are Mom's and the bottom one is mine. For some reason my phone invented the writing on the bottom one.  Weird.  I did one more card but I didn't like how it turned out so I'll wait until I re-do it before posting it here.  I ADORE these stamps.  Have I justified getting more of them yet?  How many times do you have to use 1 stamp to justify its cost?

A few Lunches recently....

My new Lunchbox

As seen here http://www.laptoplunches.com/
Inspired by lunches here:

http://wendolonia.com/bentoboxgallery/
and
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.342399236608.194597.248062301608

I actually bought my lunchbox at Chapters but if you go to the Weelicious site above you can get a discount code to use online at laptoplunches.

They are so fun to use.  DS is too picky to enjoy this lunchbox so while I wait for DD to get old enough to use it - it's all mine! Wha-hah-hah-hah!

Books!

I have read a pile of books lately but since it's been so long since I have blogged I won't be posting reviews on most of these. 

The Choice - Nicholas Sparks
Charley's Web - Joy Fielding
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
Summer of Two Wishes - Julia London
The Beauty of Different  - Karen Walrond
Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver - Fern Bradley
The First 6 books in the Sookie Stackhouse Series - (True Blood HBO Series) - enjoying these but taking a break after 6.  :)

Nail Fail

In case any of you were on the edge of your seat about whether or not I quit chewing and ever got my very first pedicure, be prepared to be enlightened.....

Did ya throw up a little in your mouth?  I did....

Those funky stamps!

I have had a couple of people ask me where I bought my oh so cute stamps that I talked about here.

They are Penney Torrente stamps and I bought them online at Running with Scissors Studio located in Victoria, BC.  Their shipping was super fast and very sturdy.

Although I haven't used them yet, I am packing them to bring to my extra long weekend (3.5 days!) October Scrapbook retreat!   Do you think I need more of them before I go?  hmmm....

IntelliTEC "Wash & Brush" timer

I ordered this online from Leaps & Bounds.  I love it!  It keeps the kids on track when brushing their  teeth or washing their hands.  They love hitting the button and watching the light blick on and off.  The light blinks faster and faster as the time runs out.  It has a suction cup to stick wherever you want it too but it also includes screws in case you want to more permanently mount it.

Bucket List...

I have done some more things on my bucket list but I am too lazy to edit the sidebar right now so that  will have to wait for another time.  I've inventoried my scrap room (found a double stamp set - ARG!), did some layouts, read a ton of books and failed on some other items.

My email reminds me daily at 11:45am to blog and daily I delete the email and promise to do it in 15 more minutes.  Sigh. 

Stamps that I am in love with...

I just received these stamps in the mail and adore them.  I haven't quite figured out what I will use them for yet but I can't wait.  LOL

I feel like I want the whole set now.  Please tell me what I can do with these and give me justification.  LOL

Is there anything better than singing in the car?

I am a morning person.  I'll just put that out there.  I am usually up by 7am or 7:30am even on weekends...by choice.  Today I had the opportunity to drive in the morning blissfully alone.  This set my day off to a positive tilt as it does every time I get the chance to do this.  I plugged in my iPod and set it playing my favorite On-The-Go playlist. Then I sang in a loud and largely out of tune voice all the way to my destination.

Singing alone in the vehicle is one of the greatest happiness pills there is.  As I tuned back into the world around me this morning I noticed that no one else was singing.  They were all yawning, scowling, talking on the phone, drinking coffee or staring zombie like in front of them.  Why aren't they singing?  Do they know what they are missing out on?

Sometimes I feel like I have discovered things that no one else knows or that I exist in a separate universe than everyone else... and that's ok.  Sometimes I try to fit back in with these people who don't sing and I sit silently in the car.  Almost as though against my will my toes will start wiggling or my fingers will tap the steering wheel in time to the music.  Then out of the corner of my mouth I will start muttering the lyrics, trying to keep my face impassive and zombie-like.  Eventually (usually when the light turns green) I will abandon these restraints and begin to enjoy the moment fully once again.

I haven't yet progressed to doing this when I am not alone in the car.  I'm just not that mean...

Do Lilacs Really Smell Like Urinal Cakes?

This is the dwarf Korean lilac that we have in our front yard. We planted it last fall and was so excited to see so many blooms this spring.  I did snip a few and bring them in the house but my husband Mr.Cheerios doesn't share my opinion on them.  He feels quite strongly that lilacs smell exactly like urinal cakes.  Not having been around a lot of urinal cakes, I tend to give him the hairy eyeball when he makes such statements.  The other part of my brain wonders if he might have a point somewhere in his wild accusations.  Rather that seek out a urinal cake for me to sniff, I'd rather ask you... do lilacs and urinal cakes share the same smell?

Uber Pen...Best Pen Ever

Bucket List...

Woot!

* Read one more book!
* Blogged another recipe on my cooking blog!
* Cleaned off my scrapbook desk but didn't actually start yet
* Thought about camping....

Oh Anne...

Another book under my belt.  I was cleaning out my closet last week and came across a bag with this inside.  I had forgotten that my mom had bought me this book during their cross Canada tour. 

I admit it here for all to see...I adore the movie Anne of Green Gables.  It is at the top of my movie lists most of the time.  I think I have seen the movie at least 20 times if not more.   I did enjoy the book Anne of Green Gables as well of course but I ADORED Megan Follow's portrayal of Anne.  When grouped with Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth and Patricia Hamiliton it makes for the best movie ever.  Mrs Smith in my office would beg to differ.  Hailing from Nova Scotia she hates everything green gables and the mere mention of it sends her into the 'depths of despair.' 

I see you rolling your eyes out there.  You don't have to like Anne.  I do.  Did I mention that my daughter's middle name is Anne which may or may not be related to Anne Shirley.

I assumed that this book would be 'the most tragical thing that ever happened to me' but I was pleasantly surprised.  Yes - you have to suspend a little bit of reality but I am totally ok with that.  I finished this book in less than 48 hours and rather than add to my giveaway pile it's going to stay on my bookshelf.  This book isn't for everyone.  Die hard fans of the original book will likely find it a 'perfect graveyard of buried hopes' as it isn't dark enough but it's a fun story and an enjoyable read.  Easily a 9/10 for me.  Hee Hee.  

I enjoyed it so much that I am going to have to watch the movie again. Soon.  I know that this review did go on and on so thank you for bearing with me as I ranted and raved.  'If you only knew how many things that I want to say and don't you'd give me some credit.'

Currently reading "Charley's Web" by Joy Fielding and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.  Reviews coming eventually....

Tupperware Veggie Spiral at work....

 

When I saw these on sale I bought a 4 pack and distributed them to some of my friends.  Over Easter I grabbed one of Mom's radishes and gave it a try.  :)

Ta - Da!

Bucket List Update

Let's catch up!

* My Mom taught me how to knit one evening at her house.  I have not picked it up since but I had better try soon or my dream of knitting something recognizable will fail.
* My friend Heather and I met during my lunch hour and we went to the Antique marketplace.  I didn't buy a thing and wasn't even tempted to buy anything.  Am I losing my touch?
* I signed up and attended a scrapbook retreat in Calgary
* I don't actually remember what I got done - if anything.  LOL  I will have to go back through the projects I brought and see if I can tick any more off the bucket list based on that.
* I did purge quite a few supplies from my scrapbook room.  More work is needed.  :)   Or maybe just more scrap time is needed.
* I do not move my butt 3 times a week.  Some weeks I do well with that and other weeks I fail completely.  The last 2 times I moved my exercise bike into my scrap room and watched PVR'd episodes of Days of Our lives.  I kept the remotes in the cup holder for convenience.  Hee Hee  That was fun.  I could do more of that.  I think I still am behind about 21 episodes.  I got addicted in University and now it's my guilty pleasure and stress outlet.  How can you watch that and NOT laugh your ass off?  I think I have perfected my own John Black eyebrow raise now and maybe even Friends Joey's "smell the fart" acting.  Almost ready to go pro with this and use it on real people...
* I thought about baking a pie.  Instead I played more Frontierville on Facebook.

Books and more Books

Another from the pile from my aunt.  This one was a fairly quick read and wasn't too bad.  A little too stretching of my own reality to really buy into that much I give this one a middle of the road rating.  6/10

Yeah yeah...I know I alternate between /10 and /5 but it's my blog and I'll be inconsistent if I want to.







I am actually not quite done this one but my Kindle battery died this morning when I was at 92%.  It's plugged in getting new life now but I've read enough of it to have an impression.  I enjoyed this book.  My husband suggested it after we watched the entirety of Season 1 of The Walking Dead: Season One . REALLY LOVED Season one and can't wait to see where they go with it.

As for the book, I did enjoy this one.  It is written from a unique perspective and while I sometimes wished that some of the survivor accounts went on longer I really liked how the whole story unfolded.  I am looking forward to reading those last few pages and see how they wrap it all up.  4.5/5




Just returned this one to the library today.  I saw this book reviewed on a blog that I read and even though I don't have any more babies in my future I wanted to give this one a read.

The first few pages made me laugh out loud.  By the time I was over half way I had begun skipping pages and then I finally just closed it without finishing.  This book does have some really humorous parts.  I found though that the humor grew wearisome after a while and I just wanted to stop reading.  DH tells me that my sense is humor is off though so maybe I just don't appreciate this book like I should.  DH did read a few pages on his own and reported that it made him laugh out loud.  He wants to give this book as a gift to the next couple we know expecting their first baby.

There isn't a whole lot of real info here but there is some buried in between the sarcasm.  It's not meant to be though - that's what all those other books are for.  While DH would likely give it a higher rating I am going with a 4/10 here.


Live More, Want Less: I can't give this one a fair review.  I've read too many of these books recently and have cancelled my other library requests for them.  It had some good ideas but nothing all that unique.  I peg it average and tuck it in with the other books of the same genre.










By the same author as above I also read this one.  I really enjoyed this one.  I love the idea of giving something up each month to try.  My mother thinks the whole idea is absurd and why would anyone do that to themselves.  I think it's brilliant.  I may be adopted.

As I near the halfway point in my 2011 bucket list, I am wondering if I should have a bucket list in 2012 or do my own version of "give it up".  I think I'll do both.  :)

I don't have a rating here - I liked it!!




This book was recommended to me by a co-worker who took a free course at work by the same name.  This book is a very quick read with a great fundamental idea.

The idea of prioritizing your life certainly isn't a new one but it is an important one.  I  had the privilege of hearing a keynote speech on the same idea at a conference that I attended 2 years ago.  It was inspiring and thought provoking.

This book brought back memories of the keynote speech and while I enjoyed the keynote more - this book does deliver the same message.  Definitely worth a read if you don't get bored with all the circus analogies.



I don't review cookbooks.  It doesn't seem fair when most of the time I take it out of the library, look at the pictures and vow to make something from there someday.  This one deserves a special exception.  Even if you don't plan to cook a thing from here (and you may not wish to with all the cheese etc in the self described not low on calories but high on taste recipes) the stories and pictures within make this a worthwhile read.  Her story of the city girl turned country ranch wife is great as well as the stories that follow. I have seen her blog now and again but this cookbook is a great compilation of recipes.  I love how she shows every detail of all the recipes in it - step by step.  There should be a law that all cookbook should do the same. DH thought some of these recipes sounded good so I will likely take this out from the library again the next time I am on a cooking binge.

Laugh Until You Cry and Hiccup...

http://damnyouautocorrect.com/


I can not stop laughing when I read these.  I laugh until the effort of keeping my laughter silent causes me to hiccup and whoop while tears run down my cheeks.  Coffee break or not - people should not laugh this hard at work...

I think I'll read the rest at home...

Another 2 books bite the dust...

I just finished this one a few nights ago. It's actually the second time that I've read it but this time I downloaded it to the Kindle instead.  I had the trade size paperback and it was beastly  to carry around and try to read. 

I like this series.  It does tend to get drone-y from time to time but I love the characters and I found that this particular one in the series got really great  in some parts.  I haven't yet downloaded the sequel.  My co-worker has warned me that it has a terrible cliffhanger and that the next one isn't due out until 2012 so I think I will take my time. 






The second book I read was the sequel to my other secret book listed below.  It was completely predictable in every way but at the same time - happened the way that it should so it was ok.  I liked it, but not enough to ever buy it.  I returned it to the library.

What would we talk about?

What would we talk about in Canada, if it wasn't for the weather?  Weather is what we talk about to the stranger in the elevator.  Weather is what we bring up when we end up in a conversation with someone that we haven't talked to for a while and with someone that we aren't entirely comfortable around.

I was in the car with my husband recently and loaded up the weather app on my phone.  We spent a minute or two laughing at the ridiculous weather this time of year.  One minute it is +10 and then the next day it's snowing and -15.

I have a few other locations saved into my weather app: Osoyoos, BC - because my Aunt/Uncle live there, Vegas - because we are going there again soon and Cancun - for pure torturous reading. As I looked at the Cancun forecast I realized that they are very boring.  5 days of plus 29 and lows of 24.   What do the residents of Cancun bring up for small talk?

Books I've Read Lately

This book was in a bag of books from my aunt.  I've read a couple of her novels before and this one left me with the same impression.  The story was enjoyable but she does like to make a story far longer than what it needs to be.  I'm not afraid of a long book - some of my favorite reads are hugely long.  I just want the length to mean something and to me, this novel didn't do it for me.  For a free book - it was enjoyable and if you enjoy her style of writing you may enjoy this.  As for my opinion: 2.5/5 and it goes into the Goodwill recycle box.







I subscribe to the book of the day email and when I read about this one, it sounded interesting.  I picked this one up at the library and gave it a read.  I did enjoy it.  Essentially it talks about how angry a person would get if someone stole their parking spot and how your perspective would change if it were a cow rather than a person. It then goes into detail about how to change your reaction to things that would normally anger you.  I found some great ideas in here.  I rolled my eyes at some parts too, but that's just my personality.  4/5






Book 3 - I have no picture before because I don't want to say.  No, it's not porn.  LOL   There are certain books that would best be classified under guilty pleasures and this was one of them.  I rate it 3/5.  I am reading the sequel now.

Besides the secret sequel, I am also reading 2 other books - hopefully to blog about next week.

Updates to the bucket list...

Let's see...what have I done lately...

* chewed off 9 fingernails.  With only one nail left - item 11 seems like a pipe dream.  LOL
* read 3 more books. Will blog about them next.
* have a date with my Mom this weekend to learn how to knit

I think next year I'll include something about naps.  Those should definitely be planned for....

Real Tupperware VS. the Competition

This is what happens when you listen to your husband while frantically cleaning house for last minute company and stash your dirty dishes in the oven.  This is what happens when despite reminding each other not to forget that we've done this - we forget.  This is what happens when you forget that you have done this and then turn the oven on a few days later.  This is what happens to Tupperware and Rubbermaid when left in a preheating oven for about 10 minutes....

Ahh tupperware....hot but not bendy.

Rubbermaid fail.

Organize It

I'm a little lazy when it comes to laundry.  I don't want to sort a whole lot so I have 4 groups: Normal wash & dry, delicate wash - no dry, sheets  and finally towels.  As the dirty clothes/stuff get removed they get put into the correct bin right away (sheets & towels are combined in the bin for purposes of space).  This fun sorter comes from Costco!

Gift wrap.  I had vague imaginings of having a gift wrap station in my scrapbook room.  The roll wrap would be mounted on the wall.  There would be a slide out knife block style working surface for wrapping...it was marvelous.  As it turned out I own a lot more crafty supplies than I thought and the gift center was put into our closet.  Still - things are sorted into their places and it does the trick.  The top drawer of the narrow 3 drawer is bows. The middle drawer is gift tags, tape and wrap cutter. The bottom drawer is ribbon and ties.  The top drawer of the larger cabinet is tissue paper. The middle drawer is flat wrap and the bottom drawer is gift bags. All roll wrap is off to the side stacked inside a square box.  These containers were bought at London Drugs.

Valentine's Day Cards

The night before Valentine's day my 6 year old asked me if he would receive a Valentine from my husband and I.  I assured him that he would and ushered him off to bed.  I then promptly forgot all about it until just before 11pm when I was heading up to bed.  ACK!  What to do?  I dashed into the basement and found some pre-cut mini notecards from Stampin Up.  I quickly threw these 2 cards together.  Not my best work but they were done in less than 15 minutes.  LOL  

A few more books off the list...

I liked this book.  It was small like a pocket book and had tons of great colorful pictures.  I don't think we ever grow out of wanting pictures in our books!  I liked this book because I found myself nodding my head to about 1/3 of the book saying "I already DO that!" which is a great feeling.   The only problem that I had with the book is that it told me that I am organized.  I'm just lazy and need to clean up more.  I don't like that.  LOL.  I prefer to think that I'm just disorganized.  Maybe there a group for me...

I say 4/5 for this book.






I did not like this book at all.  I'm sure she meant well and it wasn't all bad.  I think I managed to glean 2-3 tips from it.  The problem I had with her approach is that she seemed to think that her readers were made of money and were able to run out and buy a ton of organizational products to make everything look perfect.  She did say that she has organized for the stars and since they make a hell of a lot more money than me - they can read this book instead.  I gave it 2/5 stars.










This book was ok. Learning to live more simply is something that I believe we all need to do.  I did find some good lessons in this book but I also found myself wanting more.  I think this book could be summed up as a "Living Simply 101" with a level 2 to come?  I say 3/5.










Just finished this one today.  I found that I couldn't put this one down.  I won't say that some parts weren't predictable because they were but it was still an easy and enjoyable read.  The vague storyline is that a boy and his Mom live alone. The Mom is somewhat reclusive.  Then something happens one weekend that changes everything.  I give it 4/5.  










My son reminded me that we finished this book last week.  I read to him some nights before bed.  Our copy is an old old copy that must have been dropped in ink at one time rendering the bottom corner of each page completely illegible.  It's a book that I read as a kid and my son chose it from a stack of books that I had brought out.

My son rates this one a 5/5 while I give it a 4/5.  Fun and very short chapters which is great for bedtime reading with a 6 year old.

Bucket List Progress

Hey hey!  I've added 3 more read to my bucket list and another couple blog posts.  I've also posted on my recipe blog 7 times this year already - seems that I set the bar too low on that one! 
http://familysquabbles.blogspot.com/

My daughter is almost completely toilet trained.  She rarely has accidents during the day anymore and this weekend we are going to start transitioning sleeping starting with afternoon naps.  Woot!! I have not changed a diaper in weeks!

I made Valentine Sugar Cookies last week.  You can see the picture evidence on the recipe blog.  They were tasty and fun because DH helped too.  He is a very good dough roller.  :)

As for the scrapbook retreat which I posted about below...that's in progress.  Registration is Tuesday - Yay!

More Books to Return to the Library

More books to return to the library today!

Picked this one up as a "Bestsellers to Go - One Week Loan".  It was due yesterday and I still had half of it left.  After the kids were in bed, I brewed a dreamy hot chocolate and curled up on the couch to finish the book.

It was a quick read with a bit of a twist at the end.  I'd consider it "beach read" quality and give it 7/10 or maybe 6.5/10.  I know that I rated out of 5 last time but I feel 10-ish today.  Suspenseful but predictable at a lot of the turns.  2 brothers & a friend make a bet to see who can take home the pretty girl in the bar(named the Wild Zone). Turns out pretty girl has some issues in her life. 






I got 2 really good ideas from this book which makes it worthwhile to me.  I didn't get enough use out of it to own it but enough to recommend a skim through.  I found their tips on work routines and clothing culling to be useful for me.  Logical and perhaps easy for some - but still things that I hadn't thought of.  Once read though, they had the effect of me slapping myself on the forehead for not thinking of that sooner.  Rating? Hmm...6/10.






This was a fun read.  Some of the topics were serious while some were tongue in cheek.  This one belonged in the "bathroom books" category of life. 7/10

Camp Croppin' 2011

Have you heard about Camp Croppin?  It's a (mostly) yearly event that takes place in Calgary.  It's a fun, action-filled scrapbook weekend!

If you've come from my private blog, you know that scrapbook retreats are one of my favorite things so I am so excited to be going this year again after not having gone to this one in over 5 years.  

I didn't really plan on going for sure...  I was thinking about it and had sent the link to my scrappy-minded friends.  None of them jumped right in and said "Let's Go!" but it was a long time before registration so it didn't matter.  Then - out of the blue one night, a scrappy acquaintance sent me a message directly asking if I wanted to go.  Commitment happy I dove in with both feet and said yes.  I don't know my soon-to-be-roomie very well at all but she is enthusiastic about scrapbooking and that's all that counts.  I'm sure we will have a great time!

I have been to Camp Croppin 3 or 4 times before.  Is it sad that I've been to so many retreats that I don't remember for sure?  Some things that stood out about this one are: Sooo much energy and excitement - the girls putting it on are superb at that!  Lots of activities, contests, make n takes and draws going on.  Great classes with great product from great companies.  I remember one year a class coming out with a stack of patterned paper from the company!  The door prizes were plentiful and some of them were beyond belief.  Better yet - one of the best scrapbook stores I've shopped in is across the street. The only downside that I saw to the event was the lack of scrapbooking space.   This year - they've improved that! By only allowing 200 registrations - there are fewer people to a table and more space to work.

Looking forward to seeing how things have changed this year after being away from this event for so many years.  I'm also looking forward to seeing what my roomie thinks about it all  This is her first time!   I am hoping that my favorite parts of the weekend are still there.

If you are near Calgary or want a road trip, here is where you can find more info:
http://www.scrapbookersparadise.com/camp/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Camp-Croppin-2011/154330164619482


Don't delay though - registration is next Tuesday!!

Want to find out more about the store and learn some techniques?  Their blog is right here:
www.scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com

How am I Doing you Ask?

Since I originally started this blog to chronicle my quest to stop chewing my fingernails, I figured that I should update.

My goal was to get my nails to the point where I could get my first ever manicure and I think during my last update I was down to 8 good fingernails with 2 on their way.

*hanging head down* I've regressed.

If I were forced to get a manicure now, I'd have 1 fingernail that is not embarrassing,  5 that are borderline and 4 that are awful.  Sigh. 

One good thing to report about this is that I've made one of my triggers disappear.  My triggers are watching movies, surfing the web and riding in the car (passenger).  I've just about crushed the riding the car one.  I've replaced it with another manically obsessive habit instead.  Isn't that better?  Now I madly press my Blackberry's buttons on drives - reading Facebook updates, reading Twitter, reading emails and Google news.  My husband prefers this too because I read all of these to him and he gets entertainment while he is driving.

Now if I could just fix the chewing....

Maybe I could replace that with something else...like...hair chewing? Nose picking? Making lip razzberries? Hmm...it requires more analysis....

A Reading Machine

Ok...I'm getting a great head start to the reading part of my bucket list.  With the snow that's been coming down, we had no reason to leave the house this weekend and I was able to finish my current book.

Here is what I've read so far in 2011:

I grabbed this one off the shelf at the Public Library. I don't know why the book has the rating that it does.  I didn't like it.  I would give it a 2/5.  It started out ok. It had a quirky idea and had the potential to go somewhere.  Somewhere part way through though it seemed to lose itself and become more disjointed.  Then the end came - and I hated it.  It made me wish I hadn't started the book in the first place.










Whenever I see my Aunt from out of province, she gives me a bag of books for my Mom and I to read before sending them to Goodwill.  This book was one of them. It was a quick, light beachy kind of read.  I'd rate it a 3/5.











This is the one that I finished this weekend.  I had actually seen the movie one night during random channel surfing.  It was the Hallmark movie of the week which is one of my guilty pleasures.  When I see a movie based on a book, I get the urge to read the book too.  I liked this book.  It is a slow moving, simple book that takes the reader back into WW2 times.  I give this one a 3.5 or 4 / 5.

The Bucket List

This is not an original idea of course but I liked it so I am stealing it.

I made myself a bucket list for 2011.  Not like a life bucket list which feels to me like it should be UBER and not a New Year's resolution list which is doomed to fail from the start....but a list of things that I'd like to do this year.  I've posted it here in hopes that this will prod me to accomplish some of these things. 

Holiday Cookies

Welcome back! Did you miss me?

Every Christmas our family makes gingerbread cookies.  This year's dough turned out a little dry but overall I think it added to the effect we were trying to achieve.  This year we used my new cookie cutters that I found at Tin Box: Ninjas and Injury Men.I love the stuff that Fred and friends comes up with.