A weekend update post on a Wednesday? It’s my blog, I do what I want!!! Plus, I had to link up for the books post yesterday so what’s a girl to do?
You guys, can we just make three day weekends a thing every week??? I would be willing to work more hours for four days to have that third day off. It is just good for the soul, you know?!?! Let’s jump in to the weekend, shall we?
Friday evening we spent a little time at Chris’s parents house and I tried to get to bed at a decent hour because I knew we had a busy weekend ahead!
Saturday morning was spent cleaning the house. I got dressed in my game day gear and we headed to Chuy’s to have lunch with Chris’s parents.
The rest of the day was spent watching football, though I have to say that they were all boring except for the few minutes of the Auburn game where I really thought Louisville might have had a chance to come back and our Alabama vs Wisconsin game. I mean, we were the only ones who even played a ranked team this week. Come on you guys!
Sunday we headed up to Huntsville to see Amanda!!! She was in town from Australia and we sure do miss this girl! The funny thing is, we met Amanda through the internet. But not blogging, Chris was actually friends with her through this tech forum that he is a member of. It was just a bonus that she turned out to be a blogger too! We met her a few years ago, and every time we visit her….she introduces us to more of her friends that become our friends.
We did quite a lot of bar hoping while we were in Huntsville, and besides Below the Radar, everywhere was new to us. Fabulous!!!
We started out at BJ’s Brewhouse at Bridgestreet. We ordered chips and spinach dip and I got to try BJ’s very own Wild Berry Cider. It was magical!
Next we were off to Below the Radar. I absolutely love this place, probably one of my favorite spots in Huntsville. I ordered Not Your Father’s Root Beer (which I decided I like Sprechers better) and Cider Boy’s Apple Cinnamon Cider. We also had spicy queso dip there.
On our walk to our next destination, I had to snap a picture of the beautiful tree lined streets and this super awesome free book exchange!!! Even the art on the box was cool!
We stopped by Amendment 21, which was a cool spot but a little pricey for my tastes. I did get to try my first Moscow Mule there though and I loved it!!!
From there we went to Humphries which is much more my speed. They had fried cheese curds, so double win!!!
We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the live music and amazing weather. The patio reminded me of New Orleans with the balconies.
Matt Carroll was there, and he is awesome! I have heard him play in Birmingham before. He puts his own spin on popular songs like Genie in a Bottle, How to Love, etc plus he played some Kings of Leon and Freefallin’ and just a bunch of other awesome songs!
We said our goodbyes late that evening and headed back to Birmingham. So sad to see Amanda go!
Monday morning was spent cutting grass. I had gotten in 3.89 miles and over 8,000 steps just on the side yard alone!! Such a great work out. We then meal planned and I got our grocery shopping for the week knocked out and picked up some Moe’s BBQ for lunch. We watched two movies, Get Hard and Sex Tape. We also started watching Younger, and I love it!
Just like that, the weekend was over and it was time to go back to work.
I had a hard time getting in to this book at first. I am not sure if I just wasn’t in the right mood or what? This book really made me think, how well do I really know anybody?? Simone’s boyfriend Mack disappears and her and her guy friend Jazzy set out on a quest to figure out what happened to him. I felt like there was a story line brewing between maybe a lost flame between Jazzy and Simone but it was sort of a fizzle and could have been elaborated a bit more for a plot twist or interest. Other than that, the book basically follows them around as they try to piece together what they actually know about Mack. Which they realize, isn’t much.
To be honest, I really liked Jazzy but I didn’t care much for Mack. Perhaps because we didn’t know that much about him? Either way, I almost felt indifferent most of the book as to whether or not they even find him.
This is sort of a suspenseful book but in the why did Mack leave sort of way. Which did peak my interest throughout. The thing was I knew instantly why he had went off and Simone and Jazzy didn’t even have the real reason cross their minds, which to me was ridiculous because it was so obvious to me!!
Bottom Line: I did enjoy most of this book, I just wish I had liked Mack more. I guess that is part of the suspense, because you don’t really know him. Though I didn’t need to know much about him at all to figure out the end. Overall, it was an interesting read, I just wish it was a little more developed with the plot because it is a fantastic plot idea.
I was provided a copy of this book (Before We Were Strangers) by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to this one via audiobook. This book is based on a true story/experience. It changes perspectives from present day Helmut in jail to memories of his past that lead up to him being in jail. I immediately related to the character. While I obviously am not German nor did I live in the WWII era, I can appreciate how people felt back then. I loved how Helmut had his own thoughts. He was told that all the books he reads must be German, but he thinks that is ridiculous and loves his American Western novels. He sees Jewish people being treated badly and it upsets him. He tunes in to the BBC radio in the evenings to get the true story about what is going on around the world, not what is fed to him by the German government. Standing up for what you believe in at such a young age is a very brave thing to do.
When Helmut goes to jail for simply speaking the truth, it is rather eye opening to realize how many people this really happened to then. I insist that if you do read or listen to this book, you stick around for the author notes.
What I find the most interesting is that this stuff still goes on today. I am not so naive to think that our own government doesn’t hide certain truths from us, but even worse in other countries. Look at North and South Korea!! The people of North Korea were told recently that their astronauts landed on Saturn. Saturn!!! Last checked, Saturn is a gas giant planet. Only about 1,000 people (mostly North Korean government) have internet in that whole country. Just crazy, right?!?! They have no way of knowing what is really going on.
Bottom Line: I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction, or just want to understand more about Germany and the Hitler Youth. While all the events are not real, they are based on a real person and the author did extensive research to make the most plausible story.
This was such a quick read for me, about two days. Nix owns a tattoo shop that he opened with an inheritance from his father that passed away. He is a former heartbreaker with a core group of friends and is a sweet guy. He looks after his sick grandmother and seems to be the levelheaded one of his group. Scottlyn is a selective mute who lost her family in a tragic car accident and has never quite recovered. She was taken in by a douche canoe named Lincoln who is controlling and in to shady business. Scottlyn meets Nix when Lincoln takes her to Freefall to get her scar from the accident covered with a tattoo. A spark is ignited between Nix and Scottlyn. You see where this is going….
This book is considered romance, but there is much more story line and hardly any smut. So this is a great choice for those of you who don’t care for the smut in romance novels.
Bottom Line: I liked this book. It had a little suspense in it that kept me interested in finding out what would happen next. I liked the characters, though I felt like Clutch and Taylor was a weird side story that never went anywhere. One thing I didn’t like? The book needed editing bad!!! There were several errors that I caught. Also, the ending came quick in a perfect little bow and I thought more could have be done with it.
I did this one via audible and I loved it! I used to watch Girls Next Door, so I was already familiar with Holly and the other girls that were on the show. This really gave you a different perspective on what the Playboy Mansion life was really like. I remember when I watched the show I thought that it probably wasn’t as glamorous as they tried to make it seem.
Bottom Line: If you watched Girls Next Door or are at all curious about what Hef is really like, then this is a great read. I found it really entertaining to listen to, as Holly reads it herself. I loved the Alice and Wonderland quotes at the beginning of every chapter, even if Holly’s English accent is the worst I have ever heard.
This book was (maybe still is????) free on ibooks! I am going to be honest, the main draw to it for me was that Dex, the leading male character, is a video game developer. Since I like video games and am married to a gamer/computer mastermind, I felt like I would connect with him. This is your typical love story of the girl in need being rescued by her strong man. In this case, Ellie was a child “of the system” when she was younger and grew up next to Dex. Her foster parents decided to let her go and she left without saying goodbye to him. Several years she showed up at his door for a weekend and left again without saying bye. He never recovered. Now she is back and a lot of the book is her struggle with wanting to stay with him and fighting the urge to run.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the plot of the book and I really liked Dex. My issue is that the author kept repeating over and over again the struggle that Ellie was going through. We get it, she was a foster child, she had a hard time earlier in life, she is a flight risk now because of it…quit repeating it! For that reason, I will only be rating this book 2 stars. But I really did love the idea behind it.
Favorite Song: U by Gareth Emery. This song is awesome!!!! Give it a listen. Around 1:39 is when my favorite part of the song hits. Right after that amazingness the beat hits and it becomes the perfect running song.
Favorite Color: Is houndstooth a color? It should be!
Favorite Surprise: Winning Julia’s Starbuck’s gift card giveaway!!! Bring on the PSL!!!!!!!!!!
Favorite Skin Products: My face has been the worst it has been in my entire life. Nothing seems to help me. After talking to Amanda, I started using the Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy last week and the Lush Ultrabland this week. I have to say….I am impressed. While I am no where near “clear” right now, nothing new has sprung up this week and some of the irritated red splotches on my cheeks have calmed the effff down. I am hoping with my continued combined use, I can start looking like myself again.
Favorite Recipe:I made the Thai Peanut Spaghetti Squash recipe that has been all over Pinterest lately. This was amazing!!! The recipe for the peanut sauce actually makes way more than you need and now I am dreaming up what I can do with all that left over. Mmmm. I may or may not have eaten a few spoonfuls of just the sauce before refrigerating it. No shame.
Favorite Workout: I had two amazing runs this week. I have realized that if I get out of my head and stop telling myself I have a limit, I get a lot further. Imagine that! This was from this morning, I hit a new for me PR and had to give myself a fist bump after sending my sweaty selfie to my ahole bro group. Shout out to my ladies who give me all the motivation and laughs!!!
I found this on Pinterest and plan to start it next week on the days I do my arm workout.
Favorite Funnies:
No words could be truer..
Grab a pen guys….
I think we have all been here….
How I feel now that football is here!!!!
I hope that all of you have a fabulous long weekend!!!! Down here in the south, our obsession with football shall continue. Roll Tide Y’all!!! (You have no clue how unnatural it is for me to type y’all.)
Reading: I am about 75% done with Game of Love. I am hoping to complete it and squeeze in one more book before the Show Us Your Books link up! Also, I have a bazillion magazines I need to be catching up on!
Listening: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison on audiobook. I am really enjoying this one! I just loved watching The Girls Next Door back in the day. Which was your favorite? Mine was Bridget.
Also, I have listened to The Fray a lot this week. Remember this song…
Watching: Marcos. It is a new series on Netflix about a drug cartel in Columbia. I like it, but I wish that there weren’t so many subtitles! I have to wear my glasses because I am an old lady and cant see the words and sadly I hardly remember any Spanish after the four years I took of it in high school.
Thinking: This is by far one of my favorite movie quotes of all time….
Feeling: Like I finally have some definition starting to show in different areas of my body. Like my arms. Don’t mind the no make up, baggy eyes I woke up at 430am to get this work out in look. I still have a long way to go, but I can appreciate how far I have come.
Lusting: This mug! Or this shirt. Basically anything that says For Fox Sake!!! How cute, right???
And this because, hello!!!
Working On: I have a few blog posts in the works that I need to finish, two websites to get up and running (non-related to this blog), a guest room to organize, a garage to clean out, a home office to get serious about and about a million other little things I should be doing!
Pinning: Classy Halloween decor! I really want to get more in to the holiday decorating. I go all out at Christmas, but there are so many more holidays to appreciate!!!
Excited: For this weekend!!! Not only is it Labor Day weekend and the kickoff to football season, but we have plans to head to Huntsville to see our lovely friend Amanda who is back here visiting for a few weeks from Australia!!!
Tell me something you are doing currently, other than feeling like this…
–Yesterday I sat down to write a post and was like ummm……So I decided to just call it a day off! It gave me a chance to catch up on email and read all of your posts 🙂 #fuckit
–The amount of time I spend looking for awesome ecards each week for Wednesdays and Fridays is probably shameful. #noshame
–My five year old nephew says the funniest shit. My mom went up to see him after his surgery and she brought him balloons. He says “Ummm, where is my cake and flowers?!?!” My mom was like “What do you mean cake and flowers?” He said, “I was in the hospital and have boo boos, you should have brought cake and flowers with these balloons.” My mom said, “Aren’t flowers kind of girly?” Cooper said, “Flowers are beautiful and I was sick….” #kidssaythedarndestthings
–This time of year is always weird for me. I am so ready to wear all the pretty fall clothes but am torn because it is too damn hot to do such! The thought of jeans and boots right now makes me twitch. Yet, I feel like a weirdo wearing my sandals and summer dresses until October. #alabamaweather
–I am already starting to have anxiety about having to fly for a work trip in a few weeks. The fear is real you guys. So real! #ihateflying
–I walked around Z Gallery on Friday during my lunch break and have decided that I basically just want to move in to the store. Why do they have to make everything look so pretty and perfect?!?!? I was hoping to get some ideas for how I want to finally decorate our house and now I am more confused than ever. I can’t even decide on a look, yet alone colors and actual items. Meanwhile, we are on year 3 of bare walls for my lack of decision making abilities. #givemealltheprettythings
–Today was leg day. I love to hate leg day. Leg work is hard stuff and I love the burn the next day. You know the one, where you are left waddling around. That is when you know you had a good work out! #waddlelikeapenguin
Confessions in ecard
Happens every time…
Happy Hump Day everyone!!! We are half way through this week and I for one am ready for Friday and the holiday weekend!!!
