book review, books

Books

Another month of books! Linking up with Steph and Jana and jumping right on in!

The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green

The Sunshine Sisters

The Sunshine Girls are together again, called home by their mother Ronni, who has learned that she has a serious disease and needs her daughters to fulfill her final wishes.

Jane Green is always a solid read for me, and this one was no different. I actually really enjoyed this book!!! You get to know all the characters so well and watch them grow. In the beginning, I felt like none of the characters were particularly likeable, but I did end up liking all of them in the end. There were a few things about the ending that sort of made me scratch my head, but I liked how it all came together. If you like books about dysfunctional families, this would be right up your alley.

Bottom Line: Another solid read from Jane Green.

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

The Breakdown

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods. She learned the next day that the woman died. Since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby. And then there is the silent caller. 

I am coming to love B. A. Paris. Man, can she write a good book! I sort of guessed early on a little of what was really going on, but there were a few twists I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed the development of characters in this book. There was a point in the book where I hardly trusted any of the characters. That is how you know you are sucked in and must continue on!

Bottom Line: Read it!!!

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

The Family Next Door

The small suburb of Pleasant Court lives up to its name. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street. Isabelle Heatherington doesn’t fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers. But Ange, Fran and Essie have their own secrets to hide. As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread – and they’ll soon find out that when you look at something too closely, you see things you never wanted to see.

This is my second book by Sally Hepworth, I really enjoy her writing. I got in to this one right away. It moves at a fast pace, but it is easy to keep up with the different POV. It sort of reminded me a little of Big Little Lies, following the lives of five separate women who all have their own secrets. I was actually surprised at the depth of some issues it touched on and it really shows how complicated marriage, relationships, and parenthood can be. I felt like anyone could relate to each of the characters in some way, and they were well developed without the author dragging on.

Bottom Line: If you liked Big Little Lies and reading about drama with a little bit of suspense and imperfect lives…I think you would enjoy this one!

**I received a copy of The Family Next Door from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

The Hating Game by Sally Throne

The Hating Game

I request that my library purchase books all the time. Nothing makes me sadder than when I really get excited about one and find they don’t even have it. I got an email that a book I requested for purchase was now available and squealed in delight when I realized it was The Hating Game!!! Kristen speaks so highly of it, so I knew I had to read it. I am going to go ahead and say it. I LOVED this book. I think this is my favorite read so far this year. It was so light, romantic, funny. I absolutely adored it and cant recommend it enough! I had such a horrible week last week, and this book is really what go me through. It was just what I needed. I loved the build up of the characters and all the witty banter. I had such fun reading it!

Bottom Line: Read it if romantic comedy is your thing. So good!

The Healing Powers of Essential Oils by Eric Zielinski

36478456

I have dabbled in essential oils in the past. Mainly tea tree oil for acne and argan oil for dry skin. I have never really diffused any or used them to make cleaning products around the house or anything. I would like to get more in to them, and I thought this would be the perfect book for that. This book has a lot of information and is a great place to start. I really like that there are recipes for many things and suggestions to help with conditions like inflammation, anxiety, and skin disorders. I have been looking at diffusers on Amazon and am about to pull the plug on one and get started!

Bottom Line: Great book full of basics and more to get started with essential oils.

**I received a copy of The Healing Power of Essential Oils from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

 

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

Another weekend here and gone in a blink of an eye. I cant even remember what I did Friday night other than make sausage, peppers and onions for dinner. So there is that. The weather was weird, cold and rainy Saturday and mostly decent yesterday.

Saturday we had gotten some things done around the house. During Zoe’s nap I deconstructed her baby swing and stored it in the garage, along with a few other items she no longer needs. I also put away the Easter stuff and vacuumed out my car. Chris had some work to do with a friend, and some of his own stuff to do around the house. So when Zoe woke up, her and I had a girls afternoon out. We went to TJ Maxx and went ahead and got all our grocery shopping done while we were out. We picked up a new comforter for our bedroom, a few new bath towels, a romper for Zoe, a dress for me, a cast iron skillet, a new rug for in front of the bath tub. It was quite the successful trip! We had also squeezed in a little coloring time. Color Wonder markers are the best invention ever.

Saturday night, Chris had his friend come over to help me work on something. I really appreciate his time and efforts!! And Chris for setting it up. I also had a glass of wine (or two) and made pigs in a blanket for dinner and tried to let the week roll off my shoulders some. I don’t know what it was about last week, but it wasn’t my favorite.

Sunday was going to be a designated grass cutting day. The first of the season. But Chris had taken apart our lawnmower and realized we needed  a new  belt and promptly called our old lawn guy from when I was pregnant and scheduled him to come out on Tuesday. That left us with the day wide open. We were both craving Thai tea, so we headed out to Saigon Noodle House in Avondale and snacked on some egg rolls and Thai tea, before doing a little shoe shopping for him.

We also strolled through the flea market in Leeds, and when we got home, Chris grilled out some amazing burgers for a late lunch. Zoe wasn’t having anything to do with a nap yesterday, as she was teething something terrible, so we all just hung out around the house for the afternoon. For dinner I made a keto pizza recipe that I cant wait to share with you all this week! It was so easy and delicious! I paired it with a Caesar salad and we caught up on Scandal and Grey’s.

And just like that, the weekend was over. I finished up my favorite book that I have read so far this year this morning, listened to way too much 90’s hip hop, and warned Zoe’s teachers that she may have another tough teething day ahead. It’s Monday and I am trying to look at it as a clean slate. I hope you all have a wonderful week! Linking up with Biana.

“Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, but every day is a clean slate and a fresh opportunity.” — Gretchen Rubin #WiseWords

and also

about me

3 Things

Jana comes up with the best three things lists every month, and I decided to play again!

Movies I quote often

  1. Step Brothers – Did we just become best friends? Why are you so sweaty? I was watching Cops.
  2.  Mean Girls – Boo, you whore!
  3. Clueless – I feel like such a heifer. I had two bowls of Special K, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, a handful of popcorn, 5 peanut butter M&M’s and like 3 pieces of licorice.

Image result for step brothers rumpus time is over

Apps I use every day

  1. Instagram
  2. Zoe’s daycare camera app – I love checking in and seeing what she is doing!
  3. Overdrive (audiobooks from my library!)

Words I hate

  1. Girlboss
  2. Moist
  3. Roach – Ugh I shudder!

Most recent Amazon purchases

  1. Diapers
  2. Clairol Shimmer Lights Blonde Shampoo (keep my new highlights from looking brassy)
  3. Fit Simplify exercise bands

Weird foods I eat (or, stuff that most people find disgusting)

  1. Noodles and Beans
  2. Noodles and Cottage Cheese
  3. Blue cheese stuffed olives

Things I’m excited for in April

  1. Zoe’s Spring Picture Day
  2. Hopefully listing our house!
  3. Nice weather before it gets too hot
currently

Currently

Linking up with Kristen to share what I have been up to currently. I realized reading over this post this morning that I was sort of whiny towards the end of it. The past few weeks have been really rough at work and clearly it has changed my entire mood. I deleted some of my ranting for everyone’s sake. I think I need a large bottle of wine and some retail therapy to calm me down this weekend.

Reading: I am about half way through The Family Next Door and I really hope to have it finished before the next book link up. I am enjoying it so far. It sort of reminds me of Big Little Lies in a way.

The Family Next Door

Listening: I am still on an audiobook kick! Right now I am listening to The Hating Game during my commute and I am obsessed! This might be one of my favorites so far this year. I have LOL’d on more than one occasion.

The Hating Game

Watching: All the shows! I am really in to The Resident and 9-1-1 still. A lot of shows will be having season finales soon, can you believe it is that time already?? I want to watch Rosanne, has anyone checked it out yet? I used to love the show when it originally aired. Trading Spaces is coming  back! That was the original design show and I might check it out too.

Reminiscing: Zoe turned 16 months old yesterday. I dont even know how that is possible???? One of the class aids from her infant class was holding a tiny baby when we walked in and as I was struggling with a wiggly, 22 pound Zoe who just wanted to get down and walk and I thought….how was she ever that tiny???

Wearing: One confusing wardrobe! Monday I had on a dress, Tuesday I wore cropped dress pants and a short sleeve shirt, yesterday I was in a bomber jacket with jeans, last night it dropped in the 30s but it is supposed to be 70 today. How are you even supposed to dress accordingly? Get it together Alabama!

Planning: I need to plan a time to paint the guest bedroom. Maybe this weekend or next. The problem is, I need to find somewhere to put all the extra stuff that is being stored in there! We also have a few more things to do around the house to get it ready to list. I de-cluttered some of the living room this past weekend so I can at least cross that off. Oh and the grass. Ugh. Tis the season to start cutting grass every weekend!

Annoyed: I am not sure why, perhaps a combination of the stress from work, stress of getting all the things done, eating sugar with the Easter candy and cookies, or who knows what…but my face is breaking out again. I haven’t changed anything in my arsenal to cause this…so I know it is a lifestyle change that I need to make. Anyone have any tips on clearing up stress zits? Damn they suck.

What have you been up to?

weekend shenanigans

TBB Asks – Spring and Easter Shenanigans

Hey there April!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! This weekend went by so quickly, I am not even sure how it is Monday already. Yet, here we are. This weekend was full of snuggles, Easter activities, seeing family, eating lots of cookies and candy, snapping some spring photos of Zoe and cleaning up around the house.

My sister came over to visit us Friday morning and brought Zoe a huge umbrella full of Easter clothes, shoes and some toys too. She spoils Zoe with all the things!

Saturday morning my mom came over to spend some time with us. We haven’t seen her since Christmas, so it was nice to just sit with her and get to talk. She brought Zoe some really cute spring/summer outfits. While she was there, we baked some sugar cookies with Zoe! My mom passed her epic recipe down to me, and I had made the dough up the night before and decided to share in the joy that is decorating with Zoe. She had a BLAST!!! It was special sharing that moment with my mom.

We had made a Sam’s club run before my mom came over and purchased some new shelving for our living room to clean up all the toys. Step on in operation stage the home. I am still working on cleaning and decorating it, but look how much better it is already!

We ended up staying home on Sunday. The Easter bunny spoiled Zoe with lots of fun things. She was so cute taking each item out, one at a time.

Zoe was in a really good mood after she woke up from her afternoon nap and we were able to get a quick spring photo shoot.

We also tested out her new bubble gun.

And just like that, we are back to reality. So harsh, right??? I am linking up with Biana for my weekend, and also Andrea for TBB Asks. Who doesn’t love a good spring Q&A?  Happy Birthday to Andrea!!!!

1. What 3 colors remind you most of Spring?

Yellow, lavender and light pink

2. What is the first thing you’d add to your wardrobe in Spring?

sandals and dresses-my spring/summer uniform

3. What is the first wardrobe item you ditch in Spring?

boots

4. Who mows the grass where you live?

I do. It is a beast of a yard to take care of and SUCH a good work out! I don’t mind it most of the time.

5. What’s Spring Like where you live?

Green and hottttt. And by green, I mean covered in pollen. We have a few nice weeks and then its basically summer.

6. What’s Your favorite thing about Spring?

The nice temperatures before it gets too hot and the beautiful flowers that bloom.

7. Are you a Spring Cleaner?

Sort of. I do a big purge every season.

8. Are you a Baseball Fan?

Ugh, I hate baseball. It is so boring!

9. Tulips or Daffodils

Tulips!!! Tulips are one of my absolute favorite flowers.

10. Favorite Outdoor Spring Activity?

Patio day drinking.

11. Flowers in the Ground or in Pots?

I am a horrible gardener, so I have neither but think all flowers are beauitful. I would like to be able to care for some eventually!

12. Favorite Bird? 

I hate birds, they creep me out. Haven’t you ever seen the movie Birds??? Just no.

13. Car Wash or Wash Vehicles at Home?

I used to only wash my car at  home. I had all the stuff and could physically do it so why not? Now, I just don’t have the time for that shit. My car gets washed once, maybe twice a year. And even taking it somewhere is such a pain. Who has time to wait???

14. When Do You pull out Your sandals?

Easter, sometimes sooner depending on the weather and how later Easter happens.