book review

The Beach House

I have read several magazines this month after finishing a huge series, as I wasn’t sure how I was going to jump back in to just regular books where there is one and done. The Beach House was the perfect transition in to it!

The Beach House

From Goodreads:

Nan Powell is a free-spirited, sixty-five-year-old widow who’s not above skinny-dipping in her neighbors’ pools when they’re away and who dearly loves her Nantucket home. But when she discovers that the money she thought would last forever is dwindling, she realizes she must make drastic changes to save her beloved house. So Nan takes out an ad: Rooms to rent for the summer in a beautiful old Nantucket home with water views and direct access to the beach.

Slowly people start moving in to the house, filling it with noise, laughter, and with tears. As the house comes alive again, Nan finds her family and friends expanding. Her son comes home for the summer, and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside down.

I adored the way this book was written. It is sort of soap-opera style where it follows along the separate lives of different people, but eventually they all intertwine, as you would expect. I will not give away spoilers, but there was a huge plot twist that I totally did not see coming. I forgot that “and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside down” part from the back of the book.

I loved that this book was set in Nantucket. The description of the beach houses and all the characters made it that much more enjoyable. Perhaps what I loved most? Was this passage at the beginning:

These are the reasons Nan has come to have a reputation for being slightly eccentric. A reputation she is well aware of, and a reputation she welcomes, for it affords her freedom, allows her to do the things she really wants to do, the things other people don’t dare, and because she is thought of as eccentric, exceptions are always made.

I feel like we probably all know that cooky old person. The one that is slightly embarrassing because frankly, she doesn’t give a damn. But why wait until your old to enjoy  your life and not give a damn? To let go of all those insecurities. Do everything you want to do. Say everything you want to say. It really has me thinking.

Another fun thing to note about the book, there is a Nadine in it! She is a past relationship from one of the characters in the book, so she isn’t spoken of much but I thought that was cool.

Skimmers: I really enjoyed this book. It is not mind blowing or incredibly deep, it would make a great summer read. Especially if you are on a beach! I personally liked the way it followed along with several characters, and I would recommend this book.

I started Promises to Keep yesterday, another Jane Green novel out of opportunity of a 49 cent find at the thrift store! My hope is to link up more than just one book next month. No one wants to hear about my magazine 🙂

What are you reading?

Life According to Steph
weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

Well, hello there! I looked down at my calendar this morning and saw that it was April 13th and I had to do a double take. Didn’t April just get here? How are we nearing the middle of the month already?? Here is another installment of my weekend shenanigans!

I cut the grass again this weekend. I have a feeling with all the rain that we are supposed to be getting this week, it is going to need to be done again next weekend too! I also finished reading The Beach House and got started on Promises to Keep.  I will be linking up with Stephanie and Jana tomorrow to talk about the book. Spoiler alert: I loved it 🙂

Saturday, we found ourselves at World of Beer. It was such a beautiful day that it called for some day drinking on their patio! We split an order of shrimp and the tavern tators and just chilled.

Laura and B came and joined us! It has been awhile since the four of us have gotten to hang out. We headed over to Moe’s BBQ for dinner. They have the best turkey and baked beans!!!  

Like the wild and crazy 30 somethings that we are, we stayed out until *gasp* 9:00 pm! Crazy town, right?

Sunday, as always, was meal planning and grocery shopping. I had to stop by TJ Maxx to pick up some new weight lifting gloves. I use them to cut the grass because hello hand blisters if you don’t! While I was there, I perused the beauty department to see if I could find some stuff for an at home pedi, low and behold they had a scrub and a peeling lotion on clearance! Score!!! I also picked up a 4-in-1 tool and a box of foot masks. All that foot stuff combined was only $13!

I used everything but the foot mask last night, and I can already tell a huge difference! I figure if I do it again tonight, then keep up with it about once or twice a week…my feet will be in good shape all summer!!! Do you have a favorite foot product? What is your favorite nail polish color for your feet? Like not pink…but a specific color.

We are nearing the end of this season for a lot of TV shows. We watch Grimm, Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Modern Family, Pretty Little Liars, Law and Order SVU, The Big Bang Theory, The Mindy Project, The Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Tosh.O, South Park and Revenge. What other shows are awesome that we are missing? It is time to start finding more to binge upon.

Linking up with Biana today! I hope everyone has a fabulous week! I am trying to talk myself in to doing the same 🙂 Oh, Monday!

friday favorites

Friday Favorites

Favorite Song – Born This Way by Lady Gaga was playing this morning when I hit a new PR during my run so I figured it was a sign that it needed to be the song of the week!

Favorite Recipe – I made Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin this week. It turned out pretty decent, but I think we decided that pork loin isn’t our favorite meal in general. Either way….it looks awesome!

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I also made Lindsay’s Paleo Veggie Soup for lunches this week and it is delicious! I think I might make it again next week too.

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Favorite Outfit – I brought out my jean jacket and favorite striped dress from Anthro which will basically be on repeat all spring/summer.

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Favorite Beauty Find – Two weeks ago I picked up the NYX Wonder Pencil and I have never looked back. I have been using this as a lip liner and my life is forever changed!

Favorite Funnies

I am that friend…

Seriously that was every thought that went through my mind when this movie was playing

These are the best! It’s worse when you can see it coming. | 25 Puns So Terrible They Should Be Made Illegal

Oh, Ramsay...does he know how funny he is? ROTFL#!!!

These Memes Are So Funny But True At The Same Time Part 3 (10 Photos)

25 Best Funny animal Quotes and Funny Memes | Quotes and Humor

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

about me

About Me in Fours

I have read a few post where people list out four things about them and I really enjoyed getting to know these random tidbits of information about other bloggers, so I decided to join in on the fun. But Wednesday is confessions day!!! Not today, today is anything goes Wednesday around here.

Four names people call me

Nadine

Deenie(my grandmother called me this)

Nay Nay (high school nick name)

Deedee(how my nephew used to pronounce my name when he was little)

College Nadine

College Nadine, taking selfies since 2005!

Four jobs I’ve had

Assistant Manager at Kirkland’s

Assistant Property Manager

Marketing/GIS Specialist

Market Analyst

Award

I was Assistant Manager of the month when I did property management

Four movies I’ve watched more than once

Wedding Crashers

Hall Pass

Dude Where’s My Car

10 Things I Hate About You

Four things in my purse

lip gloss

planner

Advil (you just never know!!)

brush

Four books I’d recommend

Attachments by Rainbow Sowell

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts

Four Places I’ve Lived

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

St Louis, Missouri

Atlanta, Georgia

Birmingham, Alabama

Atlanta

The view from my apartment when I lived in the 4th Ward District of Atlanta

Four places I have visited

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Nashville, Tennessee

Ontario, Canada

Savannah, Georgia

Gulf Shores

Chris and I at Gulf Shores, Alabama

Four places to visit on my travel bucket list

New York City, New York

Chicago, Illinois

San Francisco, California

Italy

Four things I don’t eat

okra

most seafood(I like sushi, mahi and amberjack)

mushrooms

grits

Four shows I watch

Big Bang Theory

The Originals

Good Wife

Pretty Little Liars

Four things I am looking forward to in 2015

Beach trips this summer with Chris and his sister’s family

Gatlinburg for Christmas

Turning 32

The Rocket City Brewfest

GatlinburgThe fountain in Gatlinburg

I hope that you maybe learned a little something about me!!! What is your favorite movie that you can watch 1,000 times and never tire? Did you have a nickname in high school?

recipe, Recipe Swap

Ma, The Meatloaf!!!

Today I want to share with you a very basic recipe that hits the comfort food craving! Meatloaf!!!

Sorry, but it is impossible to talk about meatloaf without referencing Wedding Crashers! I have probably seen that movie fifty times.

Meatloaf

I like to serve my meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes and green beans!

What You Need:

1 lb of ground beef (I use extra lean)

1 egg

1 green pepper, diced

1/2 yellow onion, diced

breadcrumbs – about 3/4 cup maybe more (I use Panko Whole Wheat)

Ketchup – about 1/2 cup, maybe more, plus some to put on top

1 tsp Nature’s Seasoning

IMG_4889What You Do:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Add everything in a large bowl and mix with your hands until combined. Now, I don’t exactly measure anything…I sort of feel it out. If it feels too moist, I add some breadcrumbs. If it feels too dry, I add more ketchup. It is really hard to screw up meatloaf so just toss and mix!

-Spray a pan or roaster with olive oil spray and then form your mixture into a loaf. I ended up making two smaller loaves so that it would cook faster/evenly.

-Squirt some ketchup on top of those loaves, be generous!

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-Cover and cook at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink.

Enjoy!!!

What is your favorite comfort food? What is one of your favorite movies to quote? I have quite a few and can probably have an entire conversation consisting of nothing but movie quotes!

Martinis & Bikinis

 

Creative K Kids