Great visit with my brother Mike and his wife Jen.
Saw a movie last night... Angels & Demons... ROCKED!
Batteries in the camera are dead... no pictures to post till they are charged.
Book club tomorrow night, then more visitors this weekend for Alex's birthday! This time we'll have Craig's side of the family. It will be fun to have everyone here for the holiday and the birthday.
Time for bed now.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Let the visits begin!
So we're gearing up for some great visits from family this summer. It starts off right now... with my brother Mike and his wife Jen visiting this weekend. Then next weekend Craig's parents will be here to ring in the 4th of July and help celebrate Alex's birthday. The week after that we head back to a family reunion for my late grandfather's side of the family. Later this summer I'm hoping to squeeze in visits with a few old friends from high school... well, actually I've known these babes since KINDERGARTEN! And maybe another trip back to Illinois later in the summer too, before it's time for Alex to start school in the fall. I promise to take lots of pictures and post them along the way!
What are you looking forward to this summer? Today was the first day it actually felt like summer. It was hot and sticky. I'm grateful I didn't have to spend the day in it, but it was great to get a little sweaty while working on my poor, heat stressed flowers tonight. We even had a nice surprise with the first strawberries of the season. I'm hoping to have enough to make some jam this year.
What are you looking forward to this summer? Today was the first day it actually felt like summer. It was hot and sticky. I'm grateful I didn't have to spend the day in it, but it was great to get a little sweaty while working on my poor, heat stressed flowers tonight. We even had a nice surprise with the first strawberries of the season. I'm hoping to have enough to make some jam this year.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Lots of Reading Lately
I have been tearing through books lately. I finished my book club read, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I won't discuss it in too much detail, as my book club hasn't met to talk about it yet (next Monday! Can't wait!) but just simply... I LOVED THIS BOOK! Pick it up or get it from the library. It's worth it.
I've also read "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. This was another great, quick read. It's chick lit, for sure, but I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It's the story of two best friends... one of whom sleeps with the other's fiance. Much drama, heartbreak, and soul searching ensue. An online group I'm in at GoodReads had a fascinating discussion about it. It's so interesting to read other peoples interpretations of the book, and reading which character people most identify with and why. I think it says quite a bit about the high quality of the writing that it sparked so many emotions with people. It's chick lit, but far from fluffy.
"Mrs. Kimble" was another one that I absolutely tore through. I mean I couldn't put this book down. It's a complex story about three women who are married to the same man chronologically. You meet the tragic first wife, the second wife, and the third wife who tries to clean up the husband's mess. To say the man had issue is a huge understatement, but this was an amazing character study. It's nearly 400 pages long, but I read it in only a few days. It was a total page turner!
I'm currently reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. This is another one that I'm asking myself "What took me so long to read this book??" This book is beautifully written. So descriptive! It's about two best friends in China who are bound together in a special friendship called "laotong." They are basically bound together for life as friends. I haven't been able to put this one down either.
None of these books are new, but I've just been tearing through them lately... which is good considering that I have about 3 shelves full of books I haven't read yet! Tell me what you've been reading lately!
I've also read "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. This was another great, quick read. It's chick lit, for sure, but I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It's the story of two best friends... one of whom sleeps with the other's fiance. Much drama, heartbreak, and soul searching ensue. An online group I'm in at GoodReads had a fascinating discussion about it. It's so interesting to read other peoples interpretations of the book, and reading which character people most identify with and why. I think it says quite a bit about the high quality of the writing that it sparked so many emotions with people. It's chick lit, but far from fluffy.
"Mrs. Kimble" was another one that I absolutely tore through. I mean I couldn't put this book down. It's a complex story about three women who are married to the same man chronologically. You meet the tragic first wife, the second wife, and the third wife who tries to clean up the husband's mess. To say the man had issue is a huge understatement, but this was an amazing character study. It's nearly 400 pages long, but I read it in only a few days. It was a total page turner!
I'm currently reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. This is another one that I'm asking myself "What took me so long to read this book??" This book is beautifully written. So descriptive! It's about two best friends in China who are bound together in a special friendship called "laotong." They are basically bound together for life as friends. I haven't been able to put this one down either.
None of these books are new, but I've just been tearing through them lately... which is good considering that I have about 3 shelves full of books I haven't read yet! Tell me what you've been reading lately!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Cut the Cliches
Okay, this is a minor rant, but I have something I want to get off my chest.
What is it with people taking pictures of their feet at the beach and then posting them online?
I don't want to see your feet at the beach! I've seen these all over blogs, social networking sites, whatever. I simply don't get it.
I'm happy to look at a picture of you at the beach. I'm happier to just see a picture of the beautiful beach you went to that I probably haven't been to or won't get to go to for awhile. Thank goodness your pedicure is fresh, but seriously. Feet at the beach pictures have now become cliche. I don't need to see your feet, or your alcoholic beverage at the beach.
Sorry. Rant over.
What is it with people taking pictures of their feet at the beach and then posting them online?
I don't want to see your feet at the beach! I've seen these all over blogs, social networking sites, whatever. I simply don't get it.
I'm happy to look at a picture of you at the beach. I'm happier to just see a picture of the beautiful beach you went to that I probably haven't been to or won't get to go to for awhile. Thank goodness your pedicure is fresh, but seriously. Feet at the beach pictures have now become cliche. I don't need to see your feet, or your alcoholic beverage at the beach.
Sorry. Rant over.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day!We had a fairly quiet Father's Day... just the way Craig wanted it! We got up... opened cards and presents, made some cinnamon rolls (nothing fancy, just the yummy refrigerated dough kind that I like a little too much), went to church, came home, ate some lunch and hung out. Craig did all the things he likes to do... work outside, watch some baseball. I got some reading done. The three of us ran some errands after naptime, then headed over to Steak n' Shake for dinner. (Craig's favorite, plus kids eat free on weekends. Woo Hoo!) We each got to talk to our Dad's for a little bit today to wish them "Happy Father's Day." All in all it was a pretty great day!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Yet another reason to be skeptical about what you read on blogs...
This story totally caught my eye this week. It's about a woman who created a fake, high risk pregnancy, then took to the blogosphere to write about it. Along the way, she rounded up hundreds of followers, placed ads on her blogs, tried to drive up traffic to make some $$$, and it all blew up in her face when she got busted. It's a really sad commentary. It also serves as a warning not to believe everything you read on blogs... or online for that matter!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-baby-hoax-12jun12,0,5601624.story
I'm not getting jaded about blogging. I know I've been kind of hit or miss lately with posts. I just don't feel like I have a lot to say. But this article compelled me to write something. Don't believe everything you read. Have compassion for people, but realize that this is not the real world. That sob story you just read may not be real. That person bragging about their wonderful home-based business, might not have a business at all. Before you add a button linking to someone elses blog, make sure you're not being taken advantage of... they may just want the extra traffic to drive up their numbers. I'm not saying everyone is a fake. Just exercise caution both in what you read and what you put out there.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-baby-hoax-12jun12,0,5601624.story
I'm not getting jaded about blogging. I know I've been kind of hit or miss lately with posts. I just don't feel like I have a lot to say. But this article compelled me to write something. Don't believe everything you read. Have compassion for people, but realize that this is not the real world. That sob story you just read may not be real. That person bragging about their wonderful home-based business, might not have a business at all. Before you add a button linking to someone elses blog, make sure you're not being taken advantage of... they may just want the extra traffic to drive up their numbers. I'm not saying everyone is a fake. Just exercise caution both in what you read and what you put out there.