Hello 26!

Today is my 26th birthday. I'm pretty excited because I'm OFF and I'm looking forward to my three-day weekend!

I'm still not sure what we're going to do. I'm thinking of watching The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 1. Then later do some drinks and food downtown. But that plan isn't set in stone.


I got some pretty awesome things for my birthday.

1. Classic Bombshell Pinup Tank in Coral from LeBomb Shop
2. Flamingo Full Skirt from Dressed to Kill Clothing
3. Basic Black Crinoline from Cats Like Us
4. Claire Scrunch Flat in Menswear from Payless
5. Martha Stewart Enameled Cast Iron 6 Quart Casserole in Teal from Macy's
6. Keurig Elite K40 in Red from Walmart

I'm not very good with waiting patiently so I've had these for a while already. Some of them have already been used...more than once. I'm looking at you, Keurig. 

My parents bought me the dutch oven and my mum and I used it to make some Chicken Pozole Verde the other day. 

It came out really delicious. The day we made it, it was actually a tad bit chilly so it put the warmth back into our bones. The recipe was pretty easy and when I get a chance I'll post it on here. 

I also received my first Stitch Fix box. Out of the five things they sent me I liked three so I'm pretty excited to try them out again. Unfortunately I got the package on Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) and tried the stuff on really quickly so that I could send the package back and I wouldn't be charged for everything. Which means I didn't get to take pictures and fashion them for the blog. I KNOW, I KNOW! Missed opportunity!  But I did buy a sexy wool dress that I'm excited to have an opportunity to wear. I'll definitely post pictures of that in the near future as well. 

I just seriously can't believe that it's already the end of November. There's only one more month to go to this great 2014 year. I know it will be busy with work, fun stuff, holiday shopping, and my favorite - New Year's Eve but for now I'm just going to enjoy my birthday. 

Thank Full

Well, this Thanksgiving is turning out a lot like the last one. Which is actually something to be thankful about.

I'm looking at waking up early(ish) to go eat at Mum's with John and the entire family. After way too many rolls, not enough turkey, and tons of apple pie I will be rolled to work. Yeah, it kind of sucks that I have to work on Thanksgiving but at least I'm not working retail. Plus, I'm thankful for the paycheck (woo holiday pay!) I'm getting to do it.

This will be the second Thanksgiving John and I spend together. Which is awesome, and great, and awesome. I'm definitely thankful he's stuck around.

Even though I'll be working Thanksgiving, my co-worker and I finagled it out so that I'll be off Saturday (for my birthday) and Sunday (for the hangover), and since my regular day off would have been Monday, I get a nice three-day weekend. Woo!

I don't have plans for my birthday, as of yet, but I'm sure that something will pop up. Get a drink or two at a bar and just bundle up in the cold weather. I'm thankful for another year of life. My 26th to be exact. (This post is scheduled so assuming I don't die between now and my actual birthday I should be good).

It's been a year since John and I have moved into our (rental) house and it's been great. We've redone the living and dining rooms (twice). We got two dogs (!!!) and had a party. Yes, the house may be colder inside than outside. And in the summer no fan is strong enough to move the sticky air, but I'm glad I got a roof over my head and enough room for our babies to run around.

There are many things to be thankful for this year and I'm not taking it for granted.

What are you thankful for this year?

Crescendo

Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Published by: Simon and Schuster

This is book #2 in a four part series. To read my review on Hush, Hush (Book 1) you can do so HERE. 

*This post contains spoilers.*

Nora and Patch have been dating for a few weeks now. When Patch rejected her sacrifice for a human body and instead became her guardian angel - Nora was sure he could be trusted. She can't help but feel that he is her soul mate and that he is everything she could possibly want. Caught up in all of the romance, Nora tells Patch she loves him. But instead of reciprocating, he floors it out of her driveway and straight to Marcie Millar's house. Hurt, torn, and confused, Nora takes an interest in an old school friend who recently moved back to the city. Scott may be a nice distraction but thinking of anything other than Patch and his new romance with Marcie is harder than Nora would have imagined. When weird things start happening, Patch tells Nora that she doesn't understand what is going on between him and the archangels. It seems that everything in her life is more complicated than ever and she must choose who she's going to trust and what she's going to do about it. 

I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed with this installment. I was so excited to read it and about  1/4 in I could tell that it wasn't going to be as good. 

Nora knows that she can trust Patch. He refused her sacrifice, which meant he wouldn't become human, THE ONE THING HE'D BEEN TRYING TO DO FOREVER, so that she would live. If Patch is sketchy, she must think he's playing a LOOONG con. 

I couldn't stand Nora in this book. She plays games with Patch that are absolutely ludicrous. 

If Patch tells her that there is nothing going on with Marcie, she should believe him. If Marcie comes up and says something different why would you even entertain the thought? Marcie is Nora's arch nemesis - you know she can't be trusted! 

Nora pretends to know more than she does and pretends to be super mature but she is neither. There are things that she won't understand. She's just found out about this whole angel, Nephil, human thing a few months ago. Now, all of a sudden, she understands all the intricacies and shady dealings that happen? Puh-lease.

She completely drove me insane. I love Patch. I think he's awesome. So when Nora tells him to get lost and hates him for reasons that are stupid and childish I was pretty much done with it. I didn't think Nora could drop any more points but then...she does by not sticking to what she says. She doubts herself so often it's amazing she can function by herself at all. If you're going to hate someone. DO IT! Hate them but you better know why and be confident enough to stick to it. 

This whole book could have been a page.

Nora: "Hey Patch, what is going on?"

Patch: "You wouldn't understand. Lots of stuff but I'll tell you when I can."

Nora: "Okay, cool."

THE END. 

I really wanted to like this book but sadly it was just OK. I'm going to continue reading the series and hope that it gets better.

I give it two out of five cateyes.

Half Price Books - Broadway Location

To me, there is nothing better than a misty, cold day on my day off because that means it's perfectly acceptable to stay in and curl up with a good book.

Of course, there is also the great sunny, bright days when going out and reading is a good option.

Or the sunny, cold day where reading an entire book in a coffee shop is totally acceptable.

I think you get my drift: I love reading.

I visit the library no less than once a week for a new book, DVD, or CD to check out. But there is nothing that gives me more pleasure than picking a book to BUY.

There are tons of places to buy books: Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, WalMart, Target, etc. but my all time favorite is the Half Price Books on Broadway.

This two-story ancient store is not only the closest but it's the dearest to my heart.

It's a little tricky getting to, especially with the construction going on there right now but it's totally worth it. You go in what is essentially the back of the building but the front of the store.

Right away you'll see what must have once been an old house converted to a store that sells used books, comics, DVDs, video games, albums, and CDs.

It smells old and creaky, with just a hint of the sickly delicious scent of old, mildewy pages.

The first level has DVDs, CDs, albums, cooking, film & theater, hobbies, and all of your fiction (children, teen, adult), as well as stationary and some video games.

I can easily spend an hour on the bottom level alone but what makes this store even better is the creaky staircase that leads upstairs to the art, photography, travel, and self-help sections. Even with the lightest tread you can hear people thunder up and down the narrow stairwell in search of more great deals.

On Sunday, they had a great 50% off deal that I just had to get on. John came with me and we scoured the entire store. He had never even been upstairs before! Though I wanted all of the books (and a half) I settled on a cookbook called One Pot Meals.

John settled on a pizza chopper. That's right. Not pizza cutter.

A pizza chopper. 

The only way the store could get any better was if they hired me.

Somber, Cold Winter Tunes

This was when it "snowed" in SA in 2011. 

When the weather starts to get cold I start listening to wintery tunes. Not Christmas carols (that comes later) but sad, melancholy tunes that mimic the misty, gloomy weather outside the window. You may think that it's depressing or that music doesn't have a season but these type of songs just get me into the mood of loving the cold winter nights and the long johns I have to wear underneath all my clothes.

Here are some good, calming, tunes that will make you curl up under three fleece blankets with these awesome USB foot warmers. 

Sea-son to Snuggle USB Foot Warmers. Buy at Modcloth! 

Emily Wells - Mt. Washington

The Civil Wars - The One That Got Away

Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You

The Vaccines - I Always Knew

The Church - Reptile

Mumford & Sons - Dustbowl Dance

Do you listen to any seasonal songs? 

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire
2008

Directed by: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tanden
Screenplay by: Simon Beaufoy
Edited by: Chris Dickens

Jamal is being beaten and tortured, the Indian police convinced that no one who was born in the slums of Mumbai could possibly correctly answer so many questions on the game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, without cheating. As he is being interrogated, a rerun of the episode plays as the interrogator asks him how he knows the answer to each question. 

As we hear each question being asked over the TV by the pompous host, Jamal flashes back to his life wherein each answer to the question is given in the context of a memory.

The movie tells the story of Jamal as a child, a teenager, and as a young adult though not always in that order. His flashbacks take him to many different years in his life. But no matter what memory he is reliving, his status of slumdog has followed him all the way to the hot seat.

The movie shows, with great cinematography, what life is like for many people in India who were born into situations beyond their control. Those who were born into poverty, who were left orphaned to beg on the street. Or in the case of Jamal and his brother, who were forced to cheating and stealing. Living off of tourists's open purses, parked cars, and stealing their shoes from outside of mosques, Jamal lives this life of survival by following his older brother. But Jamal does not want to be a part of this nefarious underground gang who profit from orphaned children, beautiful women, and other illegal dealings. He wants to live a better life with Latika, a beautiful childhood friend who has come and gone too many times in his life.

Slumdog Millionaire is a great story about the way people perceive others and the myriad of ways those people can surprise us in the best possible way. If you're looking for a moving, feel-good movie with a bit of romance give this one a go.

The movie won eight Academy Awards in 2009 for: best motion picture of the year, best achievement in directing, best writing, best achievement in film editing, best original score, best original song, and achievement in sound mixing.


I give it 4 out of 5 popcorn.

Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Published by: Simon and Schuster



Nora Grey is the daughter every mother wants. She's doing great in school, is responsible, and not very interested in boys. But when her biology teacher makes them switch partners and Nora meets Patch, all of her goodie-goodie traits go flying out the window. Soon she's wondering just what his dark, sexy eyes are hiding. Nora can't help but feel that everything in her life starts to go bad as soon as Patch enters it. But is it really his fault? Torn between getting closer to him and trying to keep as far away as possible, Nora has to figure out what exactly is going on that seemingly has her in the center of it.

Once Twilight came out the number of books published with paranormal romances grew exponentially. I'm not adverse to the genre but I usually don't go out looking for them. Hush, Hush caught my eye and I was glad I didn't put it back on the shelf.

I was immediately engrossed in Nora's life, even if at the beginning she is a bit bland. When her biology teacher pairs Patch and Nora together the books gets infinitely more interesting. Who is Patch and what is he hiding? Why does Nora seem so connected to him and yet afraid of him too?  Are the bad things that are happening in her life a coincidence or a direct result of meeting Patch?

What I really liked about the book was the fact that it doesn't tell you right off the bat whether you can trust Patch or not. Like Nora you are attracted to him and his flirtatious nature but you can't help but feel that he may be hiding more than he's letting on. Patch's personality makes it easy for the reader to connect with Nora. Like her, you are torn and conflicted. He's so good with the smooth talk but his student file is eerily empty. He can pretty much peer into your soul but he can also talk straight to your mind. He hangs out in sketchy pool halls but he's just so charming.

The first 3/4 of the book do a really good job of getting you connected, invested, and interested in Nora and Patch. Their flirting is sexy without needed an XXX rating. There are some scenarios that can be seen as abusive and definitely not part of a truly healthy relationship but as a 26 year old who knows that, I was able to overlook it and just got caught up in the fantasy of it all.

The last quarter starts to delve into the mythology of the story. I felt the mythology part was a bit rushed but this is the first book in a four part series and I have no doubt that the later books will definitely explain more as the series progresses.

I seriously cannot wait to read the rest of the series and I hope that they will be as good, if not better than, Hush, Hush.

I give it four out of five cat eyes.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Published by: Simon and Schuster



Aristotle, Ari, is a lonely, 15 year old boy living in El Paso when he meets Dante. Ari, who's always been angry and self-deprecating, is immediately drawn to Dante's confidence and the optimistic way he looks at the world. Spending the entire summer together, the two friends become close. When Ari saves Dante's life their relationship gets complicated but they both realize that now they're in each other's lives forever.

I always have a soft spot in my heart for Young Adult books that tackle complex adult subjects. I also love me a good melancholy tone. With Aristotle and Dante, Saenz does both.

Being able to relate to a 15 year old boy who is angry at the world was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I was an angsty teenager myself with tons of attitude and a very bleak outlook on life. I didn't fit in, thought that most of what the "cool" kids were doing was stupid, and even then my patience was little more than zero.

I read the entire book in one sitting but it isn't action packed with spies or guns. It's interesting in the way that life is interesting. In small moments that you witness and commit to memory. In the way someone you've never met before can have such a quick impact on your life. It's interesting because you can relate to Ari. You can remember what it was like to not fit in, to not understand all the changes your body, your mind, your family go through when you're at such an in-between age.

It's interesting because sometimes not even parents have all the right answers. So all you can really do is learn to listen, love, and accept yourself. It's going to be hard, it's going to take patience and practice but really what better feeling in the world is there to finally be content and happy with who you've become? And it's even better when you finally meet someone who not only understands you but who loves you even when you don't.


I give this book 4 out of 5 cateyes.