Wordless Wednesday: Spotted At Sea World

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Embrace Me - The Review

I have to say the premise of Embrace Me by Lisa Samson rather disturbed me. A lizard woman? A self-mutilating preacher? 

When I picked this book up I did so more because of all the awesome reviews I had read. Not really because it was something I couldn’t wait to read. I am so glad I listened to the editorial reviews and bought myself a copy!

This book is real, raw, edgy and in-your-face honest. I admire Lisa Samson for going places other authors would be afraid to go. Especially Christian authors.

I don’t want to give anything away about the plot of the book so I will stick with the excerpt from the back of the book:

“Biting and gentle, hard-edged and hopeful . . . a beautiful fable of love and power, hiding and seeking, woundedness and redemption.

When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattooed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace.”

I highly recommend this book. Its message is one of true brokenness and restoration. It urges the reader to examine his or her own walk with Christ – forgetting surface stuff and digging deep. It beckons us to not only forgive others but to allow ourselves to be forgiven.

It is one of the most well written books I’ve read in a long time. The style of writing, the creative way the author writes on two separate timelines yet ties the story together so profoundly…

All I can say is go get this book!

My only problem with reading this book is simply I wish I would’ve read Lisa Samson sooner! I’m going to buy all of her books as soon as possible.

What is even better is right now on CBD.com you can buy this book for $5.99. 6 bucks? Are you kidding me? GO GET IT NOW!

On Top of a Monsoon

Okay, so Andrea posted her favorite moments from The Office last night and well…I just HAVE to join her! I’m not just being dramatic either. I literally have to. My fingers silently just placed my coffee cup on the desk, pushed my work aside and started typing this. I couldn’t stop them if I tried. Not that I would.

Here we go:

 - Andy saying, “"I'll marry you in the eye of a hurricane, in the middle of a snowstorm on top of a monsoon.” Funny, sweet and strange all rolled into one.

 - The scene where Angela is yelling at Kevin (she is something isn’t she?). Holly storms the room defending Kevin yet insulting him without knowing it. “He’s mentally challenged!!!” Oh. My. Gosh. Hilarious.

- Michael in his “sumo suit”. I don’t even know what to say about that. The voice he put on with that suit was just as funny.

- When Andy said, “Andy Bernard does not lose contests. He wins them, or he quits them. Because they’re unfair.” That quote made my week. How funny is that?

-PB & J getting engaged. In the rain. So simply. So perfect!

I really thought they were going to drag out their coming proposal throughout the season! I kept telling Eric all week long, “They are going to break up or drift apart or…or…”

And then they actually got engaged! I was way too excited.

Obviously I have too much time on my hands. How that is possible I don’t know but come on, you can see it too, right?

I think I need a club. Or a class. Or a meeting group. Too much time.

Actually, I think I just need next Thursday (9pm next Thursday more precisely) to get here as soon as possible.

Please tell me...

You saw Jim propose to Pam in the rain outside a rest stop!!!!!


TELL ME YOU SAW IT!






PB&J (or JAM) you are back and better than ever.

Fun, Fun!

Your Autumn Test Results

You are a energetic, warm, optimistic person. You approach everything with a lot of enthusiasm. When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy. You prefer change to come slowly. You need a long transition period when your life changes. You find solitude to be the most comforting thing in the world. Being alone with your thoughts feels very peaceful. Your ideal day is spontaneous and surprising. You like to play things by ear, and you always end up doing something interesting. You tend to live in the moment. You enjoy whatever is going on, and you don't obsess over the past or future.

The Autumn Test

It is amazing but the majority of this is right on! Other than that part about change, I agree with all of these things...strange.

How about you?

For Better or For Worse - The Review

For Better or For Worse
By Diann Hunt

                                                                                         Book Summary:

“She's a wedding coordinator. He's a divorce attorney. She begins marriages. He ends them. How could these two possibly find common ground?

Wendy Hartline is finally starting to settle into the single life. After a difficult season of grief following her husband's death, she's taken over the family business of coordinating memorable weddings. Life has become . . . comfortable.

Then the charming and incredibly frustrating Marco Amorini opens a legal practice--specializing in divorces--right next to her wedding chapel and stirs up everything.

Wendy learns that perhaps there is such a thing as second chances in this hilarious story of the pleasures and pains of new love in midlife.”

Review: 
 
Well, what can I say? For starters I bought this book for a dollar. A single dollar. (Actually, 3 cents less than a dollar.) I love hitting the thrift store in my area up and looking for new books. You’d be amazed how many BRAND NEW books are there. I am always shocked. I’m talking books that only came out a few weeks ago. Seriously, who has the time to buy a book, read it and then in a matter of days already donate it? I don’t know who this woman is but I’d love to meet her. Much of my reading joy I owe to her.

I did enjoy the quirky characters in this book. The author really made sure each character had his or her own distinct personality – quirky personalities at that! The main characters hatred toward feet was funny as she kept getting put into strange situations that would put her face to face with her greatest fear. I also enjoyed how the author didn't sugarcoat Christianity - just because we are saved certainly doesn't mean we aren't touched by heartbreak. This was a theme weaved throughout the book. A theme that pointed toward a greater Hope.

With that being said, I wouldn’t recommend this book. It is not that is was bad…it just wasn’t overly captivating.  The writing is a little bland and the story is oh-so predictable. A good book, in my opinion, is one you just cannot put down.

This one was kind of hard to pick up.
 

But for a dollar should I really be complaining? Probably not!

Fall Into Reading 2008 ::My Book Choices::

Fall is a wonderful season for so many reasons. You have the pumpkins, the sweaters, the apple cider, the hot lattes, the crispness in the air, leaves changing color (if you're lucky enough to live in such an area!) and you have, Fall Into Reading, a book challenge hosted by Katrina at Callapider Days.








Lately I've been reading too much non-fiction for work research and the like and cannot wait to dive into some much needed fiction!

Without further ado, my Fall reading list:
(not in any special order!)

And there you have it, my Fall Into Reading book choices. I can't wait to dive in and get started. I've needed an excuse to get serious about some reading downtime lately. Thanks to Katrina at Callapidder Days, I now have one!

My reading list will be on my sidebar until we close out our reading fun to help keep better track of things. I will also be reviewing each book here as I finish up. So check back if you are interested in which books make the top cut.

And of course, hit those links up to join in the fun!

Because Love

 I wrote this when I was 16! I am not sure why but I've been thinking about it lately and had to dig it out of my old writing box. Thought I would share...

I met a man by the sea one day
Who offered his secrets in hope that they may
Brighten a future or save a friend
Soften a heart or better yet mend
He spoke of loss and the pain he felt
How when alone she’d make him melt
He told of times he wished he’d missed
He laughed, he cried, he reminisced
He slowly told me to love with my all
Not to worry about how hard I might fall
For in the end it is all worth it
Whether you miss or whether you hit
The times you spend with the one you choose
Will be the memories your heart won’t lose
Try to dance and laugh and sing…
Those are the moments that mean everything
Aim high, dream big, don’t live to please
With time and patience pray your heart will increase
In size and space so you may always have that special place
For the one you call your own
Do not leave room for regret
Forever is not easy to forget
Cuddle up, hug and kiss…
Because love is the only guaranteed risk

So, They Can Pretty Much Do Whatever They Want

I’m borderline nervous to write this and toss it out into the land of Forever Google-able .

But only borderline nervous. I don’t get seriously nervous about much.

Here it goes:

The Navy has officially overstepped their boundary lines in my life. At first, being married to a Navy Man didn’t seem like it would be such a big deal. He had already been deployed to every known place in the universe and is set to be in the States for the rest of our time. So, that’s a plus.

I like seeing new bases and wearing the military gear.

I am all for protecting the country and patriotism.

I am NOT into being told how to live our personal lives or when, where and how we are allowed to do things. We don’t live on base so we are much more removed than other families but I think today a line was crossed.

Today the higher-ups decided that if my husband and I want to go somewhere over HALF AN HOUR AWAY FROM BASE ON ER’S DAY OFF, WE HAVE TO ASK FIRST.

Come on, are you kidding me? 30 minutes away? On his day off?

Sure they tried to spin it like we don’t have to necessarily ask as much as “tell” but still.

I’ve just about had it. The list is a long list of gripes but this one takes the cake.

{Sigh.}

I’m off to eat a freshly baked apple/cranberry pastry puff. They can have my cake, but I am keeping the pastry puffs!

My Holiday Personality

Your Holiday Personality is Fun

You're all about the celebrating. Whether you're partying hard or singing along to Christmas music, you're totally enjoying the holidays. Make your own Christmas ornaments. Create a holiday mix for all your friends' stockings. Run around your neighborhood late Christmas Eve ringing bells.

How Should You Spend the Holidays?

Locks of Love & Loving My Locks

So, this weekend I had just over twelve inches of hair cut off my head. More than I went in to do but decided to donate to Locks of Love when I realized just how long this crazy mane was. I had enough hair to donate for an adult wig (which is hard to find) so I joyfully jumped on that giving ship.

Before

After

What was the last cool thing you gave to someone? I'd love to know.

Bookends

"I do not want people to be agreeable,

as it saves me the trouble of liking
them. "

--Jane Austen

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

Considering I've never been more in the mood for the weekend in my life, I've decided to share a few of my favorite weekend things.

And we're off...

First, we have the Apricot Scrub from St. Ives. Now, I am not exactly sure why this is a weekend favorite of mine since I use it all week long but on the weekends I seem to notice it more. It makes my face feel so nice and so smooth. It is my favorite part of the shower!

Next, we find ourselves staring at my favorite snack by the handful. Almonds. I could eat them all day, every day and never get tired of them. So delicious. And the perfect weekend energy car snack. Yum!

I doubt I had to tell you this is my favorite weekend treat. Starbuck's Skinny Vanilla Latte. Oh, how could I ever forget you? Live without you? I bless the day I first sipped you, Sweet Skinny, I bless it.

Books. I adore them. All of them. Every single bound book. I love curling up on the weekend under a warm blanket and touching the pages of a crisp new book. This weekend I am going to attempt diving into the newest purchase. Preferably while sipping my Sweet, Skinny Latte.

Irish Oatmeal. This makes the weekend as beautiful as can be. As a matter of fact, we're starting early this weekend and eating some in a few minutes! Eric is making it right now...Oh, how delicious!

My iPod. Whose name happens to be Petri. Yes, I do name all of my Apple products. I feel they are such awesome creations they deserve a title. The weekend is a wonderful time to break out the iPod and rock around the house. Or stretch my muscles, listening to tunes, while doing Pilates. Or tuning Eric out when he talks about politics. I kid. I only tune him out on weekdays.

Candles. I have them lit all the time but on the weekends I go for candles in volume. They are so calming!

And, of course, kisses from the Mister. Weekends spent doing silly things with Eric make the work week worth it. We're hitting up a Tall Ship Festival this weekend. The perfect opportunity to hear Eric talk like a pirate. A Johnny Depp-like pirate most likey.

So, what are your favorite weekend things?

I Think I'm Feeling Better Already

Dear Eric,

Take a look at my sick, tired, sniffling little face. How sad does it look? I know, babe. It is traumatizing...and I think the only way to make this better is for you to surprise me with one of the following for my Belleek collection.






Just think of all the Irish Breakfast Tea with honey/ Lattes with foam I could drink from these mugs.


Please, my health depends on it.


Thank you.