Wandering Thoughts of a Scientific Housewife

Book Review: The Ruins of US

2012-01-24T08:51:00.001-05:00

Title: The Ruins of Us
Author: Keija Parssinen
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book: Paperback, 352 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:

More than two decades after moving to Saudi Arabia and marrying powerful Abdullah Baylani, American-born Rosalie learns that her husband has taken a second wife. That discovery plunges their family into chaos as Rosalie grapples with leaving Saudi Arabia, her life, and her family behind. Meanwhile, Abdullah and Rosalie’s consuming personal entanglements blind them to the crisis approaching their sixteen-year-old son, Faisal, whose deepening resentment toward their lifestyle has led to his involvement with a controversial sheikh. When Faisal makes a choice that could destroy everything his embattled family holds dear, all must confront difficult truths as they fight to preserve what remains of their world.

The Ruins of Us is a timely story about intolerance, family, and the injustices we endure for love that heralds the arrival of an extraordinary new voice in contemporary fiction.

Review:

I am always drawn to exotic novels placed in far away lands, as it is another form of traveling for me. This book takes me to Saudi Arabia, where an American woman lives with her Saudi husband and has raised their family there. She thinks everything is going perfect until she discovers the second wife and it throws her whole world upside down. The men in this story have strong personality types, but are hard to like. However, you automatically want to root for Rosalie given her misfortunes.

The hardest part for me was to understand the traditions and culture involved in this book. A second wife in America is not even allowed, yet in Saudi culture it is part of old tradition, though not always practiced. It's hard to understand why Abdullah would want another wife, especially since Rosalie gave up her life to be with him. Another conflict of the story is their son, who is starting to drift into the world of rebellion and extremism, which could send their whole family into chaos and shame.

As beautiful as the setting and culture of this novel was, I couldn't get as into it as I would have liked. It could have been the cultural differences were hard to understand, or the story itself moving at a certain pace. Regardless of my feelings on the novel, it is well written by someone that you know has experience to put down on paper. It may not be for me, but you can try it out and see for yourself if this adventure is worth experiencing. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Busy Bee

2012-01-23T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hello my wonderful readers, I apologize for the lack of posting. The holidays have left my work life as hectic as ever and I rarely get a chance to catch my breath, let alone blog. A lot has happened since I last blogged; for one, I am now one year older!

I celebrated my birthday January 11 and got a very beautiful and special gift from my husband... my first Tiffany's jewelry!

For my birthday, I decided to treat myself and purchased a Michael Kors Hamilton tote bag in navy. I'm not going to lie... even on sale, it was still the priciest bag I've ever purchased, but I love it!

One of our New Year's non-resolutions (because I don't believe in them) was to workout and eat healthier. In doing so, we decided to purchase a used elliptical to work on our fitness. The display is not calibrated but it definitely works.

I also did a little makeover on myself and got a new hair-do. I'm still trying to get used to the bangs but so far people seem to like it.

That's all my news for now. I'm still reading and reviewing books and I'll have a book review coming up tomorrow on an exotic novel. I miss you guys terribly and I hope to pop up more often!

Book Review: More Than Words Can Say

2011-12-30T09:40:00.002-05:00

Title: More Than Words Can Say
Author: Robert Barclay
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Book: Paperback, 400 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:

From the author of If Wishes Were Horses comes a novel of long-buried secrets and self-discovery, showing us that sometimes what goes unsaid is more powerful than words. . . .

Chelsea Enright never expected to inherit her grandmother's lakeside cottage deep in the Adirondacks—a serene getaway that had been mysteriously closed up decades ago. This is no simple bequest, however, because when Chelsea finds her grandmother's WWII diaries, she's stunned to discover that they hold secrets she never suspected . . . and they have the power to turn her own life upside down.

Even more surprising is the compelling presence of local doctor Brandon "Yale, and Chelsea soon finds her "short stay" has stretched into the entire summer. She cannot put this cottage and her family's past behind her easily—and the more she learns about the woman her grandmother truly was, the more Chelsea's own life begins to change . . . and nothing will ever be the same again.

Review:

I love a good "find my past through treasures" type of book. There's nothing more satisfying than reading a book where a character finds out just who their relatives are from past journals, photographs, and keepsakes. In this particular novel, Chelsea bequeaths her grandmother's lake cottage, which not only contains a diary and photographs from her time there in the 1940's, but also has a handsome neighbor who helps her along the journey of self-discovery.

I was immediately drawn into this book.... who wouldn't love to receive a beautiful lake cottage and have a change to learn more about their grandmother, even if what they learn could change their whole life. The plot in the story flowed really well between Chelsea's story and what she was reading in her grandmother's diary. Food also played a large part in the novel, as her grandmother was an excellent cook and had fun ways of titling her recipes. Chelsea also had her recipe book, so recreating her grandmother's dishes was another way to connect herself to her past.

I wasn't sure what the twist would be in the novel but it was somewhat surprising and thought-provoking. What was even better was that as Chelsea learned more about her grandmother's past, she was also getting closer to Brandon at the same time, what adds to the romanticism of the book. I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in the past and beauty of a cottage and a burgeoning love on the lake. I give this book 5 stars.

isclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Where Discontinued Cosmetics Go To Disappear

2011-12-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

I was doing some Christmas shopping yesterday at Big Lots and wandered on over to their cosmetics aisle. I was browsing through the messy bins when I came across some Neutrogena Moistureshine Soothing Lip Sheers.

I grabbed one in Ruby Kiss as it looked like a great sheer red to wear during the holiday season. When I got home and did some research, I realized that these sheer lipsticks had actually been discontinued and sent to Big Lots to finish off leftover supply. I remember seeing other colors there as well but didn't think anything of it. The reviews on this product are great... people say they liked them better than MAC's Slimshines (rest in peace) and other popular sheer lipsticks. It's a shame such good products get discontinued but places like Big Lots definitely benefit from selling them before they disappear.

I've also bought discontinued products at Old Time Pottery and Amazon.com. You'd be amazed at the stuff you find. And, if you like it, stock up on it because once they are gone, they're gone!

Are there any places in particular you search for discontinued products?

Book Review: The Secret of Lies

2011-12-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

Title: The Secret of Lies
Author: Barbara Forte Abate
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
Book: Paperback, 304 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past.
Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled.

Review:

This is one of those coming-of-age books that brings you back to your teenage years and fills you with hope and sorrow at the same time. The setting of the story sounds perfect; 1950's summers spent in Long Island away from their family at their Pennsylvania farm. Stevie meets and falls for a boy at the beach and it seems her teenage days are to be spent like any other girl's; until a shocking discovery leads to tragedy and the beginning of her changed life.

You never expect the twist when it comes, and especially the downward spiral of events following. Not only does it affect Stevie on so many levels, but the repercussions of this event are felt for years by everybody it involves. Stevie's once planned-out life becomes uprooted and she has to sacrifice so much of herself to do the right thing. In the process, she falls in love with someone that works at the farm and tries to cope with her inner tragedies while holding on to the one she loves. I could feel the emotions that echoed in Stevie during the whole novel; happiness, betrayal, shock, guilt, sadness, love... it was a roller coaster of events and feelings and you were with her every step of the way.

The book itself is beautifully written and flows nicely from chapter to chapter. I wished I could have seen more of the boy she fell for at the beach but when you abruptly leave some place and never come back, how easy is it to stay in touch with someone you leave behind? I think it says a lot about the characters and their chemistry to wish to see more of them, as well as the consequences of teenage summers.

All in all, given Stevie's circumstances, I imagine most would find themselves floundering through life with their mind stuck in the past and no vision for what the future might bring. I think she did well by the choices she made, some insanely stupid but human, and the ending leaves on a hopeful note, which is always nice. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Barbara!

My First Sewing Project

2011-12-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

A year ago, my mother-in-law was kind enough to give me a really nice Brother sewing machine that she didn't need anymore. I had never used a sewing machine so she took the time to show me the basics while we were visiting.

I knew my first project was going to be to replace the ugly pillows that came with our couch so I tore them up, kept the stuffing, and went shopping for a new fabric. I wrote earlier about what kind of pillows I wanted to make. I found a great green-patterned fabric on sale and bought plenty in case I made any mistakes (which I'm sure I will).

Fast forward a year; the fabric, stuffing, and sewing machine had all collected dust upstairs as I did not have the motivation to start my project. Thankfully, my wonderful friend Carmen happens to be a sewing queen and recommended that I bring all of my sewing supplies and a bottle of wine over one night so we could have a sewing party.

She did a great job of setting up her dining room to be a make-shift sewing workroom and we drank some delicious red wine and snacked on some finger foods while we proceeded with our projects.

This is the almost finished project on my first pillow. All it needs now is stuffing and closure and it will be done.

I think I'm going to take the remainder of my project to Panama City when we go up to visit for Christmas. I'm sure my mother-in-law would love a little sewing mother/daughter time.

Any sewing projects on your list?

Shiny New Kitchen

2011-12-06T13:55:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy lately, I haven't even shown you my new appliances! We got them on a Pre-Black Friday deal from Home Depot and had them installed last week. Our kitchen wasn't looking too hot with cream-colored appliances, so I am ecstatic to have something that goes well with the counters. Now the kitchen is sleek and shiny!

I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fun!

2011-11-28T09:04:00.000-05:00

Hello lovelies! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend full of great food, family time, and a little shopping ;)

I started off my Thanksgiving with one of my favorite holiday cards... Someecards. They knew just what I wanted to say on Thanksgiving.

The hubby and I headed to my grandparents house for Thanksgiving lunch with family. We got to sit at the kid's table (which was just us and my mom) and enjoyed a delicious meal. Once we got home, we passed out for a couple of hours and spent the rest of the night relaxing.

Black Friday is one of my favorite times of the year. I am one of the crazies who wakes up super early and goes to whatever mall has the best deals. This year, I woke up at 5 and headed to the Wiregrass mall. Since some stores are now opening at midnight, the mall was much less crowded than I anticipated and made it very enjoyable for me. I grabbed some cute clothes for myself and the hubs as well as some Christmas presents. This was my loot:

Once I was done shopping, I had to immediately go out again to attend the USF vs Louisville football game. The weather was pretty nice and my friends and I enjoyed a little bubbly before the 11am game. We ended up losing but it was still fun. The day ended with a beer at Cigar City, a long nap, and another night in front of the tv watching Christmas movies.

The weekend was the most rewarding as I got to do my favorite thing... put up and decorate the Christmas tree :) I've mentioned before that the faux tree we have is a hand-me-down from the in-laws and is one of those old-school trees where you put in the branches individually. It can take awhile to put together but the end product is always great.

Then I spent some time putting the 5 strings of lights on the tree...

...before finally adding the ornaments.

Now all that is left to do is to put lights up on the house. My annual Christmas party is 2 1/2 weeks away and I want to make sure everything is perfect for that night.

How was your Thanksgiving weekend and did you score any good deals on Black Friday?

Book Review: Chosen

2011-11-21T08:22:00.002-05:00

Title: Chosen
Author: Chandra Hoffman
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Book: Paperback, 320 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:

It all begins with a fantasy . . .

The caseworker in her “paperwork-signing” suit alongside beaming parents cradling their adopted newborn: this is the blissful picture that keeps Chloe Pinter, director of Portland’s Chosen Child domestic adoption program, happy as she juggles the demands of her boss and the incessant needs of adoptive and biological parents.

But the dream job that offers Chloe refuge from her turbulent personal life soon becomes a nightmare involving three very different couples: the college sweethearts who, after suffering fertility problems, are now expecting their own baby; the wealthy husband and desperate wife for whom adoption is a last chance; and the couple who has nothing—except the baby everyone wants. But when a child goes missing, perceptions of family and future are challenged, posing the questions: What happens when you get what you thought you wanted? How far would you go if it wasn't what you wanted after all?

Review:

I don't personally know anyone who has been adopted or gone through the adoption process, so I have no idea how it could be. This book opened my eyes to the whole aspect, both good and bad, as the main character Chloe believes her dream job to be that of one giving children to families who can't have their own. She works for a small adoption agency and not only deals with the adoptive families but the birth mothers as well, which is where the drama starts. The biological parents of one of the children is making Chloe uncomfortable; from the baby items that shouldn't be in their apartment to the father coming onto Chloe the wrong way, things go terribly wrong when the parents change their minds and want to keep the baby.

Obviously adoption is a tough and sensitive thing; there are the biological parents that want what is best for the baby or themselves and the adoptive parents that are hoping that baby will be theirs come birth time. I will never say for sure that I personally won't undergo this process in the future (who knows what the future brings), but this book made the process hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time. The author uses her experience as a director of an adoption program to create this fictional novel on the joy of children and the struggles each family makes to create their future. I enjoyed being given an insight to something I am not familiar with and seeing just why adoption can be so hard. The only things I had trouble with were how unrealistic the parents seemed to be and the way in which everyone's story was broken up by chapter, which gave a non-linear story line that was sometimes hard to follow. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Great Gifts at the Holiday Gift Market

2011-11-06T20:00:00.000-05:00

I had a great time at the Holiday Gift Market on Saturday. They moved this year's event into the big expo hall (brought back memories of graduation) and used the space very nicely.

There were some great vendors this year that had everything from kitchenware, Christmas decorations, clothing, accessories and food. I loved the Christmas vendor and their country-style Christmas displays.

Local sports teams were well represented throughout the event (except for USF, but I won't go there...). I loved the different ideas people had to incorporate local teams with holiday decorations.

One of the best areas was the Wineslushies table. Great gift idea for any girlfriends who love to get together for cocktails.

My favorite item from the even was this Christmas paisley glass cheese board that I got to display for my annual Christmas party. Love!

I had a great time and can't wait for next year's event. Did you go to the Holiday Gift Market?

Holiday Gift Market Starts Today!

2011-11-04T07:27:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again! The Junior League of Tampa is hosting their annual Holiday Gift Market at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

The Holiday Gift Market is a shopping event that features more than 135 merchants of all different kinds and is a great place to get some of your Christmas shopping done. They also will be selling their latest cookbook, Capture The Coast, which would make a great gift for any cook! All the proceeds from the event will support the League's community programs that focus on literacy, foster care, and education.

I've been the past two years and I've gotten some wonderful gifts for family and myself. The variety of merchants is something you can't get anywhere else, so I highly recommend attending if you haven't started shopping yet!

The event hours are:

Friday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 5, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 6, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $8 a person. I'll be attending tomorrow and will write about all the great items I've picked up. See you there!

Happy Halloween from Scientific Housewife!

2011-10-31T08:51:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a ghostly weekend full of fun costume parties and delicious treats. The hubby and I dressed up as Cleopatra and Marc Antony for a Halloween party we attended and I think it turned out great!

My eye makeup was inspired by none other than Miss Elizabeth Taylor, the most gorgeous of all Cleopatras.

Today, I am rocking some ghost earrings and my pumpkin socks to work today.

Are you handing out candy tonight? Carmen and I will be sipping some red wine and giving cute kids their treats for the evening. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Weekend Photos

2011-10-26T09:21:00.000-04:00

Finally enjoying some fall weather:

From last weekend's football game:

Book Review: Situations Matter

2011-10-13T08:13:00.006-04:00

Title: Situations Matter
Author: Sam Sommers
Publisher: Riverhead
Book: Hardcover, 304 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
The world around you is pulling your strings, shaping your innermost instincts and your most private thoughts. And you don’t even realize it.
Every day and in all walks of life, we overlook the enormous power of situations, of context in our lives. That’s a mistake, says Sam Sommers in his provocative new book. Just as a museum visitor neglects to notice the frames around paintings, so do people miss the influence of ordinary situations on the way they think and act. But frames- situations- do matter. Your experience viewing the paintings wouldn’t be the same without them. The same is true for human nature.
In Situations Matter, Sommers argues that by understanding the powerful influence that context has in our lives and using this knowledge to rethink how we see the world, we can be more effective at work, at home, and in daily interactions with others. He describes the pitfalls to avoid and offers insights into making better decisions and smarter observations about the world around us.

Review:
The author brings up great examples of how everyday situations shape our decisions and our lives. One such powerful example is the one of a little boy being kidnapped in England by two 10 year old boys. To the outside world, it seems like they are all brothers, but in reality, the boys had bad intentions. The witnesses that saw the boy are famously known as the 'Liverpool 38'; 38 people that saw them one time or another before the young boy was murdered. All the witnesses had different reasons for not intervening, and the author highlights that as one reason why victims in large crowds receive less help than ones in small crowds. It's also why police tell you to scream "fire" if you're in trouble instead of "help".

He also brings up situations that involve leadership, mass behavior, and self-perception, all of which play a role in our decisions. He makes serious points while adding bits of humor to lighten the mood, as well as examples from his own life as a professor and a husband/father. He lets you know that it's okay if every example fits you to a tee... that's why he wrote this book! He wants to make us aware of what we don't notice or don't do so that in the future, we can pay attention to those details that pass us by and make others aware. One of the biggest lessons this book teaches is this... don't jump to conclusions!

I thought this was a very informative and insightful book full of lessons that everyone should learn. It's not just about helping fellow people in need, it's also about noticing details, not letting life pass you by, and honing in on skills and knowledge that you may not know you have. If someone drops something in front of you, help them pick it up. If someone at work looks like they are mad at you, think of the many other reasons they could be upset and talk to them if you need to. It reminds me of the Allstate commercials where one person sees someone do a good deed and does a good deed to someone else. It's like a chain of good deeds, and I feel as though this book is the beginning link to that chain. I give this book 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

My D.I.Y. Baby Shower Gifts

2011-10-12T08:35:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, I attended my friend's baby shower. Before the shower, she asked that I create a nautical-themed origami mobile for her to hang over the crib. I opted to make sailboats, which I had done before. She asked for a light blue and dark blue color scheme, so I created the mobile and brought it to the shower. She ended up loving it and the parents said it would be the perfect addition to their future son's nursery.

I also decided to make her a diaper cake for the baby shower as well. I saw a how-to on The Cobia Family so I attempted one myself. I hid a couple of goodies in the middle and tried to find some nautical pieces to place on the outside.

For my first diaper cake, I think I did pretty well. The mommy-to-be loved it and I had a great time creating gifts for Finn.

As soon as I get a picture of the mobile in it's new home, I'll share it with you guys so you can see it with all of her wonderful decorations.

New Car!

2011-10-10T09:15:00.000-04:00

After 7 years, I said goodbye to my Mazda 6 and hello to a new Hyundai Sonata!

I love it and it's been so fun driving it around, even though it's been raining the past 2 days non-stop.

I had a busy weekend and created some great homemade gifts for a baby shower I attended, so stay tuned for photos of that!

How was your weekend?

IPhone 4S? Yes Please!

2011-10-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

I was waiting with bated breath for the Apple announcement yesterday and what the new Iphone was going to be like. Unlike a majority of Apple fans, I was excited to learn that the new phone is a way updated version of the 4 and as soon as I saw the price and release date, I was on board!

The Iphone 4S has a great list of features, including:

Dual-Core A5 processor chip for 2x the speed
8 megapixel sensor camera
1080p HD video recording
iOS5 operating system
iCloud
iMessage service for iOS5 users
CDMA and GSM networks for better service and calls
Siri, a voice-activated assistant for better hands-free use

I am especially excited for the Siri feature and the fact that I can talk to my phone and have anything appear or be programmed. That should make for some great hands-free action, especially if I need directions or restaurants when I'm driving.

The best part is... I am moving up from a 3G Iphone that is being left out of the iOS5 update to a new, state of the art phone. Pre-orders start Oct. 7 and the phone will be released Oct. 14. The phones start at $199 for the 16GB with a contract.

Are you going to be getting the new Iphone?

Busy Busy Busy

2011-09-28T08:59:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, life has been hectic to say the least. Here are some snippet updates of my life:

I won a facial from a new spa in Tampa called Spa Sundara and it was amazing. Definitely needed the relaxation moment. If you are local, I highly recommend you check them out!
We went to the USF/UTEP game last Saturday night and we won 54-17. It was a fun game and the tailgate was awesome.
After the game, we went over to Carmen's house for an Oktoberfest party. I donned a costume and enjoyed authentic German food and beer. We had a blast!

Sunday, we got some pictures taken for a friend's photography porfolio and I can't wait to see the finished products. We ended up playing football outside for the pics and some of them are hilarious (think chest bumping like the pros).
We celebrated my grandmother's 72nd birthday Sunday night with some amazing home-cooked food and cake. She doesn't look a day over 60!
Last night, my friend and I went to see Dr. Siddharta Mukherjee speak about the history and progression of cancer and cancer research. He is the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book "The Emperor of All Maladies" and it was fascinating lecture. The best part was getting my book signed by him... now I own two autographed books!

I have been working on a sailboat mobile for my friend's baby shower. She has decorated her nursery in a nautical theme and I'm excited she asked me to make a mobile to place over the crib. Once I'm finished, I'll show you the final product. I will also be making her other present, but it's a secret :)
The Boston Red Sox have a final game tonight and they have to win and the Rays have to lose in order for them to grab the AL Wild Card spot for playoffs. You can guess what we'll be watching tonight!

Whew, you can see why I have been absent from the blogosphere. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere... I just won't be blogging as much as I was until things quiet down.

What have you been up to?

Book Review: Your Medical Mind

2011-09-22T09:24:00.000-04:00

Title: Your Medical Mind
Author: Jerome Groopman, M.D., Pamela Hartzband, M.D.
Publisher: The Penguin Press
Book: Hardcover, 320 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
            Making the right medical choices is harder than ever. Whether we’re deciding to take a cholesterol drug or choosing a cancer treatment, we are overwhelmed by information from all sides: our doctors’ recommendations, dissenting expert opinions, confusing statistics, conflicting media reports, the advice of friends, claims on the Internet, and a never-ending stream of drug company ads. Your Medical Mind shows us how to chart a clear path through this sea of confusion.
            Drs. Groopman and Hartzband reveal that each of us has a set of deeply rooted beliefs whose profound influence we may not realize when we make medical decisions. How much trust we place in authority figures, in statistics, or in other patients’ stories, in science and technology or in natural healing, and whether we seek the most or the least treatment-all are key factors that shape our choices. Recognizing our preferences and the external factors that might lead our thinking astray can make a dramatic, even lifesaving, difference in our medical decision making. When conflicting information pulls us back and forth between options, when we feel pressured by doctors or loved ones to make a particular choice, or when we have no previous experience to guide us through a crisis, Your Medical Mind will prove an essential companion.
             The authors interviewed scores of patients who have struggled with situations such as these. They also drew on research and insights from doctors, psychologists, economists, and other experts to help reveal the array of forces that can aid or impede our thinking. They show us the subtle strategies drug advertisers use to influence our choices: they unveil the extreme-sometimes dangerously misleading-power of both narratives and statistics. And they help us understand how to improve upon a universal human shortcoming- assessing the future impact of the decisions we make now.

Review:
             I've never been in a situation where my medical choice affected mine or any of my family's future, but this book makes me feel better about those inevitable choices. People don't seem to realize that the choices they make are all psychological and have roots in someone's experience or past. Drs. Goopman and Hartzband did a great job of interviewing people in all different aspects of medical ailment to show how differently people think based on what is presented (or not presented) to them. It can be easy for someone who just has a broken leg to pick a treatment that will heal their leg in time, but someone faced with an incurable cancer or deciding for a loved one no longer termed coherent is another story.

              I think this is an important book to read for anyone who will ever need to make medical decisions for them or a loved one. It will open your eyes to the world of medicine to see that sometimes people have an agenda and that it shouldn't get in the way of what you need to do. Facts, figures, and experience all come into play everyday and everything should be considered and thought over before a decision has been made. Parts of the book tend to get a bit heavy in medical talk and statistics, but the stories of individuals faced with critical decisions will inspire you to be careful next time you need to make one. I give this book 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Boston Love

2011-09-20T08:51:00.000-04:00

Our trip to Boston was amazing! Not only was it 30 degrees cooler than Florida, and thereby very enjoyable, but the city was alive with baseball and we loved every minute of it!

We went to the game on Thursday night against the Rays and had seats 2 rows from the field in the right outfield. I told the people sitting behind us that the game was a birthday gift for my husband and they decided to buy him beers throughout the night. Even though we lost and it rained/misted most of the night, it was such an awesome experience!

The next day, we woke up early to take the Fenway tour, which included sitting in the Green Monster seats and seeing the amazing view from up there.

The hubs didn't want to leave!

After that, we headed to the Samuel Adams Brewery for the tour and tasting. I didn't realize it wasn't the mass production brewery but it was neat nonetheless.

Mmmm Oktoberfest :)

To round off our day of tours, we headed to the Taza Chocolate factory, where we got a look at how organic stone ground chocolate is made. They have some really neat types of chocolate, including ones with different flavors, and the best part was obviously the sampling. I may have purchased $50 worth of chocolate, only because I didn't know if we could find it in Florida or online (which we can).

That evening, we headed to the North End for some delicious Italian food and stumbled across the Paul Revere Mall, which also houses the Old North Church, which is where the famous "One if by land, two if by sea" lanterns were hung.

We ate at a place called Pomodoro, which was tiny but the food was delicious. It also happened to be across the street from Mike's Pastry, where we grabbed 4 cannoli's to take home (they are as good as people say they are). The hubby's cousin and fiance took us to a bar called Tavern on the Water where we had a beautiful night view of downtown Boston.

My attempt at a night shot of Boston

The next day, we headed to Boston Harbor for a Whale Watch boat ride and took some pictures of the beautiful boats and water.

I'm not going to lie, the boat was fast and bumpy and I almost got sick, but once we got to where the whales were located, I was all about taking pictures. They didn't come out of the water that much but I did get to see them and get some good shots.

On the way back, I got a great picture of the Boston skyline. I can see why people love it so much!

That was our trip in a nutshell, we got a lot of things accomplished and loved going to all different parts of Boston to get a true experience. I asked the hubby how realistic it was if we moved there but I think that decision will be put on hold, haha.

Have you ever been to Boston?

Salvage The Bones Giveaway Winner and Announcement

2011-09-19T09:05:00.000-04:00

Hello my lovely followers, I just got back from our short but sweet trip to Boston and we had a great time. I will be writing more about it tomorrow but I want to announce the winner of the Salvage The Bones book giveaway!

The lucky winner is....

Erika from Cafe Fashionista!

Congrats Erika and I will be contacting you shortly for your information!

I also have another really exciting announcement to share with all of you...

I got the job!!

I found out last Wednesday that I received a promotion to Supervisor of my department and I was so relieved to find out right before our vacation! It's really exciting to finally take a step into management and learn what it takes to become a leader. My official duties start October 3rd, so wish me luck in my transition!

I'll be posting pictures of our Boston trip tomorrow. How was everyone's weekend?

Birchbox Review: September 2011

2011-09-14T09:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I received my September Birchbox and there are some great things in this month's package!

This month's theme is celebrating Birchbox subscribers, as they have reached the 1 year mark! There is a nice selection of items including:

Colorscience Pro Sunforgettable mineral powder SPF30 - This is my first technical makeup product I've received from Birchbox and I'm actually wearing it right now! The color is medium but it could work for light to medium shades. I was really happy to see that it didn't contain bismuth oxychloride, which makes a lot of women break out, like so many other mineral powders do. The full size actually comes inside of a brush for easy application.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream - I've heard of Jurlique but have never tried their products, so I'm excited to see how this stuff works.

Incoco Nail Polish Applique - The only nail applique I'd ever tried before was Avon's and it was pretty good but still needed some work. I'm really excited to try these out because they are textured and gold, but I've heard good things.

Jouer Lip Enhancer - According to them, it plumps up your lips without any tingly sensation. I swiped some on when I first received it and it was glossy and definitely tingle-free, but as for plumping, I'll have to wait and see.

Salvatore Ferragamo Attimo L'Eau Florale - I love that they are coming out with sample fragrances in spray tubes now, I always make a mess when it's just a pop-off tube. This scent is definitely floral and nice, I could see myself wearing it in spring.

Bonus: Birchbox Friendship Bracelet - This cute bracelet reminds me of the Kaballah strings, but I'm wearing mine now, hoping another Birchbox person will spot it and stop to chat :)

Interested in subscribing to Birchbox? Help a gal out and click here!

What did you get in your Birchbox?

Book Review and Giveaway: Salvage The Bones

2011-09-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Salvage The Bones
Author: Jesmyn Ward
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Book: Hardcover, 272 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
            A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch’s father is growing concerned. A hard drinker, largely absent, he doesn’t show concern for much else. Esch and her three brothers are stocking food, but there isn’t much to save. Lately, Esch can’t keep down what food she gets; she’s fourteen and pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pitbull’s new litter, dying one by one in the dirt. Meanwhile, brothers Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child’s play and short on parenting.
           As the twelve days that make up the novel’s framework yield to their dramatic conclusion, this unforgettable family-motherless children sacrificing for one another as they can, protecting and nurturing where love is scarce-pulls itself up to face another day. A big-hearted novel about familial love and community against all odds, and a wrenching look at the lonesome, brutal, and restrictive realities of rural poverty, Salvage the Bones is muscled with poetry, revelatory, and real.

Review:
           The best word I can use to describe this book is "raw". The characters, the setting, the events; they all conjure an image of coarseness and grit that the author captures so well. The main character, Esch, seems like an innocent 14 year old girl, until you learn of her past and her present predicament. It's clear that her family is just trying to survive in rural Mississippi but the oncoming hurricane tests their loyalty and relationships to the limit. There are also incidences of violence, both of the human and animal variety, and the description of the fights are pure and reach you at a visual level.

           Not knowing much about the location, the author did a great job of describing it in detail, right down to "The Pit" that makes many appearances in the novel. Some locations are used to conjure pleasant memories, others more painful, but they all take their place in the novel, almost as separate characters. Another surprising character is China, her brother Skeetah's pitbull, who has a litter of puppies in the beginning and sets the tone for the entire novel with her lack of care for them and eventual fighting before the hurricane strikes. She is the catalyst for Skeetah's decisions and he puts her before everyone else, including himself.

            Even though this novel was darker than what I normally read, it was a nice and surprising alternative. It was written extremely well and you could tell that some of these situations may have come from the author's experiences or first hand knowledge. Some events in the novel are intense and hard to read, but I think it's those moments that make this book so powerful. It takes you outside your comfortable life and throws you deep into the South, where survival and family come hand in hand. Read this book during a rainstorm to truly delve yourself into the emotion and tone of the novel. I give this book 4 stars.

Want to read the book? I am giving away one free copy of Salvage The Bones for one of my lucky readers to win, courtesy of Bloomsbury USA. All you have to do is comment below and one lucky reader will be picked on September 19th. This giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Lisa at TLC Book Tours.

Great Night at FNO!

2011-09-09T09:21:00.000-04:00

Fashion Night Out Tampa was a big success! The whole International Plaza was buzzing with fashionistas and stylish people buzzing over fall fashions. My friend Carmen and I got dressed up and headed over to our first Fashion Night Out and we had a great time.

We stopped by the new Tory Burch store and ogled the Reva flats while we sipped champagne. We stopped by Gucci (where Carmen found her perfect bag and shoes) and Louis Vuitton for some bubbly and latest fashions and got a truffle sample from Godiva that was out of this world! Nordstrom's was serving up white sangria and we snapped a picture before moseying over to the shoe department. I also checked out the new Mad Men collection at Banana Republic and found some great pieces I would love to own.

Neiman Marcus was hosting a Lipstick Lounge and Carmen and I got some beautiful fall colors painted on our lips.

Finally, we ended the night at The Grape, where they were offering $15 wine flights and amazing appetizers. I finally met Krystal from Krystal's Kitsch and we chatted over wine about upcoming Boston trips and her next adventures.

In all, we had a fabulous Thursday night and I was so happy to see such a great turnout at this event.

Did you enjoy Fashion Night Out?

Fashion Night Out Tonight!

2011-09-08T13:01:00.001-04:00

As much as I would love to be in NYC right now for Fashion Week and tonight's FNO events, I am happy that Tampa is doing their own thing. International Plaza is hosting Fashion Night Out and a lot of stores are participating, including my favs Tory Burch and Michael Kors.

Hopefully I'll get some great pics at the event, but I decided to make a Polyvore outfit of what I'm wearing tonight (the closest look to it really). Kristin at Bon Bon Rose Girls told me to get funky for my first FNO but I'm also going to channel some sophistication ala Charlotte York :)

Fashion Night Out by scientifichousewife

Trina Turk square neckline dress, $278
Badgley Mischka floral shoes, $135
Clutch hand bag, €55
Beading jewelry, €17
London Road white gold jewelry, £130

The dress I'm wearing is black and white, with a long black and white pearl necklace, pearl earrings, and black, flowered heels. I decided to round the look out with a teal vintage clutch to get that pop of color that my outfit so desperately needs. Can't you imagine Charlotte in this??

Anyone else going to Fashion Night Out tonight?

Book Review: All Over The Map

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

You may think that if you've read one book about a middle-aged, divorced writer who travels the world to find love and meaning, you've read them all. I originally thought that until I read All Over the Map by Laura Fraser, and I realized that every author's experience is different.

I initially won this book for my book club through TLC Book Tours and thought it sounded nice but eerily similar to another popular book, of which I will not name. That book was good, but I couldn't relate to the author at all, and parts of it felt a bit pretentious and snooty. My book club decided to read this book for August and I couldn't wait to dive in and learn about someone's traveling adventures.

The author, Laura Fraser, has gone through countless amounts of men trying to find the love she is missing in her life. Since her divorce, she has been getting older and still wants to have a family. She constantly travels for different work assignments, hoping she finds someone in another country, or reconnects with the many guys she's become acquainted with.

She makes friends everywhere she goes and starts relationships only to find the men missing something, whether it be spontaneity or passion. When she travels back to a town she lived in as a child, she feels a reconnection with the area and makes a compulsive decision that changes her life.

This memoir is full of eye-opening truths that really make you examine your own life and question your decisions. She does everything she can to make herself happy and finally succeeds, realizing that you can't have it all and some things are worth the effort. It also makes me want to travel to all the exotic locations she describes, such as Samoa, Italy, Mexico, and Buenos Aires. I highly recommend this book to everyone and I hope it inspires you to do some traveling of your own.

Hot Fashion at Kohl's

2011-09-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

I used to love Kohl's... they had great clothes at great prices and there was always one relatively close to me. Then, a couple of years ago, their Juniors section became more Pre-Teen (think Miley Cyrus/Selena Gomez) and their Women's section seemed to be a little more mature (Daisy Fuentes).

A year or two ago, Lauren Conrad developed a line of clothing at Kohl's that catered more to my taste, but some of the prices were a little high given Kohl's usual audience.I loved some of the looks she offered but couldn't pay the prices they were asking for.

Last week, I was browsing her fall collection on Kohl's and found two great pieces that my closet desperately needed:

Slim Bootcut Jeans... I currently don't own any bootcuts but it's always hard to find jeans long enough for my 5'9" frame. Luckily, these jeans come in a long, which has a 36" inseam, so I can wear them with my favorite heels :) For only $45, I think they are a steal!

Peep-Toe Booties... Speaking of heels, another must that is absent from my closet is a pair of booties. These are not only a neutral color for fall, but they are in a great fabric and would look good with just about anything. At $55.99, I can't wait to rock them for fall!

Have you stocked up on any wardrobe must-haves lately?

Happy Birthday To My Hubby

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

My wonderful husband turns 29 today!

We plan on eating some delicious meatloaf and cozying up on the couch tonight. The big birthday celebration will come when we are here in a week:

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Interview and Win Against Notre Dame

2011-09-06T11:37:00.001-04:00

It's been an interesting weekend for sure. My interview on Friday went very well and I'll probably hear about it in a couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone that wished me luck!

Saturday, South Florida played against Notre Dame and, after the longest game USF has ever played (6 hours due to weather delays), we beat Notre Dame 23-20. It was a great win against a ranked opponent but Notre Dame outplayed us, we just benefited from their 5 turnovers.They also wore their new green helmets for the first time and I really liked them!

The rest of the weekend was spent at the house as we are slightly broke and awaiting payday.

How was your weekend?

Interview Tomorrow

2011-09-01T14:10:00.001-04:00

I have an interview tomorrow for a supervisor position in my department. I've been waiting 2 months for this interview and it's finally here!

When going to an interview, I find that professional and simple is the way to dress. That's why I am planning on wearing:

I think the gray and pink will be a nice combination, and completing it with a round toe black shoe, as opposed to the usual pointy toe, will make the outfit look fresh.

Wish me luck!

Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's

2011-08-31T09:39:00.001-04:00

Did you know that Karl Lagerfeld did a collection for Macy's? I didn't know about it until I read the September issue of Elle magazine and some of the looks were featured there. It comes out today and it's got some great pieces, though a little pricier than I can afford.

My favorite piece is this adorable tweed dress... it just screams sophistication and class.

At $129, I doubt I will be buying it anytime soon but for the lady who has the means, it's a great piece that will stand the test of time.

I'm also loving this sheer blouse

It's $89, which isn't bad and it's a great look for fall.

Loving the new 70's look for fall? This dress would be great to bring the 70's back.

At $119, you would be one groovy chick!

To check out the rest of his collection, head on over to the Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse site at Macy's and snag your favorite look.

Book Review: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.

2011-08-30T08:29:00.000-04:00

Title: Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.
Author: Sam Wasson
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book: Paperback, 288 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
                   Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Hepburn—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, “Moon River” composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the early sixties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good.

Review:
                  The first time I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's, I fell in love with Holly Golightly and her amazing wardrobe. Audrey Hepburn turned in a wonderful performance, but I had no idea the differences between the movie and the novel until I read Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. If you've ever wanted to know how a movie goes from novel, to screenplay, to cast, to production and the resulting reviews and reception, this is the type of book for you. It starts off with how Truman Capote turned influences in his real life into Holly and you get whisked off on a journey into the movies creation and release.

                   This book is full of almost gossip-worthy tidbits about the making of the movie, everything from how Truman Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly to Henry Mancini writing "Moon River" with Audrey's octave in mind, and it almost not making it into the movie. Mickey Rooney's portrayal of her Asian upstairs neighbor offended plenty and almost got cut out. Also, black dresses weren't even a popular fashion item until Audrey wore that Givenchy LBD and started a black dress revolution that is still alive today.

                   In the Capote novella, Holly Golightly is small town girl turned NYC socialite who sleeps around and has a gay friend named Paul. Thinking the storyline was too racy for 60's movie audiences, they adapted Holly to be more of a tricky, independent woman and her friend Paul into being a straight neighbor with a sugar mama. They also changed the ending to be more romantic in keeping with the theme of their movie.

                  I thought this was a great book and it gave me such an insight into how a movie is made and all the drama that goes into it. The fact that it's about one of the greatest movies of all time really makes it special. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves films, fashion, or Audrey Hepburn. I give this book 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Much Needed Shopping

2011-08-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

Last Friday was a much anticipated pay day, and I had a few items to pick up during a shopping trip on Saturday.

The first stop was Sephora... I needed a new concealer and their Perfecting Cover Concealer seemed like it would do the job of hiding those awful, dark under-eye circle. I also snagged a free mascara sample that I am wearing now (I don't remember the brand) :)

My next stop was to Barnes & Noble to pick up "Sister" by Rosamund Lupton, which is the next book is one of my book clubs. So far it's tragic but intriguing.

I went to Victoria's Secret and snagged a free Incredible hiphugger panty thanks to the coupons they send out. The Incredible panty is very soft and stretchy, so it's nice to get one for free.

I also went to MAC to check out their new Mac Me Over collection and I snagged a new lipstick called Oh, Oh, Oh, which is a sheer, gold pink color that looks great.

Finally, I ended my day at Lush with a $25 gift card, thanks to a sweet hubby, and nabbed some awesome must haves.

Stepping Stone foot scrub

Big Blue bath bomb

Sex Bomb bath bomb

Geophyzz bath bomb

Dorothy bubble bar

All in all, it was a successful shopping trip :)

How was your weekend?

Before Ever After Book Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-26T08:33:00.000-04:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to announce the winner, work has been crazy busy and I'm sure some of you can relate!

The lucky winner of a copy of "Before Ever After" by Samantha Sotto is.....

Mimi @ What Mimi Writes!

Congrats Mimi! I'll be emailing you today to get your information. Thanks to everyone that entered!

Football is almost here!

2011-08-25T10:36:00.001-04:00

We have 9 days to our first game against Notre Dame.

This is what we like to call a "Rent-a-win", where a great, historic team chooses an up and coming team to beat the crap out of the first week of the season. Don't get me wrong, anytime the underdog wins these games, it looks great, but the majority of fans thinks this one will be a win for Notre Dame.

Hubby and I wish we could go to Notre Dame and watch the game in person, as I hear it's a beautiful campus and stadium, but sadly it's a little pricey to travel and stay, so we'll be at a friend's housewarming party for the game.

Anyone else excited for the start of college football?

The Help

2011-08-22T11:59:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, I wrote about reading The Help for one of my book clubs and what an eye-opening book it was.

On Friday night, I went to see the movie with my grandmother, who also read the book and enjoyed it.

I thought the movie was great and just about as close to the book as it should have been. They obviously left parts out, but I don't think they were crucial parts, and they were usually mentioned.

Did you see this? What did you think?

Interview with Samantha Sotto, Author of "Before Ever After"

2011-08-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

Followers, you are in for a very special treat! While reading and writing the book review for "Before Ever After", I became internet friends with the author, Samantha Sotto. She is young, cute, spunky, and loves a great adventure. After loving the book, I asked her if I could interview her to find out what her inspiration was for this fantastic book, and she agreed!

SH: First off, I have to say how much I loved your book. I felt like I was going on a European adventure. I read that the book was inspired by your own travels, is that true?

SS: Thank you so much, Amanda! I'm thrilled you enjoyed the book :)

Before Ever After was inspired by my travelling adventures around Europe. I lived and studied in the Netherlands while I was in college, but it was my backpacking trip in my early twenties that served as a springboard for the tour the characters take in the book. My characters have it a lot easier, though - I fed them well and put a roof over their head. I couldn't bring myself to make them live off stale baguettes and sleep on bridges. They owe me BIG TIME.

SH: What was your favorite place to visit that you may or may not have featured in the book?

SS: I ADORE Venice. It's the perfect place to get utterly lost - which is wonderful if your sense of direction is as bad as mine. You can wander around aimlessly and be perfectly content. In fact, I think getting lost is probably the best way to experience Venice. Every alley, bridge and corner whispers stories the history books left out.

SH: How did you get the idea to incorporate characters such as Shelley and Max into your story?

SS: Max introduced himself to me while I was stuck in traffic. He came complete - quirks and all. I instantly knew five things about him: he had a penchant for not dying, he was not a vampire, he believed he could get through anything if he had a chicken, he ran an offbeat European tour, and he had a "widow" named Shelley. I developed Shelley by writing the eulogy she gave for Max. The eulogy doesn't appear in the book, but it really helped me flesh out what kind of wife a man like Max might have. Her flaws had to complement his strengths and vice versa. Another requirement was that she was not allergic to eggs.

SH: Some authors try to add a fantasy aspect into their novel, but it never really works. In your book, it works very well with the story. Why do you think that is?

SS: Thank you! As a reader, my favorite kind of fantasy is the kind that's woven into everyday life - the kind that makes me look around and wonder "what if?" That's the goal I had for Before Ever After. I wanted to create something magical enough to stretch your imagination, but not too far that it would snap.

SH: What was your favorite part of writing this book?

SS: You mean apart from writing"The End?" ;-) At the risk of sounding like the biggest nerd, I will admit that I actually enjoyed doing the research for the book A LOT. I didn't outline the story. Instead, I checked Google maps after every chapter, figured out what country the tour was headed to next and then researched about the historical period that was coming up. This made me feel like I was going on the journey along with my characters. I discovered things at the same time they did. I now have a black belt in Google-fu. I recently bought a purse to match it.

SH: I know you have been busy traveling and focusing on your recent book launch. How has this whole experience been for you?

SS: It's all very surreal. I go to sleep at night half expecting to wake up the next day and realize that this was all just a dream.

SH: Amazingly, this is your first novel. What kind of advice would you give someone trying to write a book?

SS: Butt. In. Chair :) Coffee is optional, chocolate is not.

SH: Finally, I have to ask... is there second novel in the works?

SS: Yes! I hope to finish it in the next couple of months - chicken fingers and all appropriate appendages crossed.

SH: Thank you Samantha for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions about your amazing book. Please check out her first novel, "Before Ever After: A Novel", available at all bookstores and online.

SS: Thanks for having me over, Amanda! I had a blast :)

Don't forget, I am giving away one free copy of her book, "Before Ever After", so head on over to my book review post and enter to win this amazing novel!

Target Saves The Day

2011-08-17T08:59:00.002-04:00

If you are a Floridian, you know that this past weekend was tax-free weekend! A wonderful weekend to buy clothes and supplies without that pesky tax, and I took full advantage. Last Friday night, I headed to my local mall to find myself a late-season bikini and some clothes. All the bikinis left were awful and everything I tried on fit weird. Doesn't it always feel like when you set money to actually buy something, nothing works out? I had almost given up hope when I remembered... there is a Super Target right down the street!

(my hand-drawn attempt to show Target as my beacon of hope on a dark night)

So, I headed to bathing suits and was pleasantly surprised at the selection they still had given it was August. I found myself a cute, James Bond-esque suit and some great shirts to hold me off in this hot weather.

By the way, I don't know if your local Marshalls has re-designed themselves, but the quality of clothes is really starting to go downhill. Thankfully, their shoes are still amazing and I scored an awesome deal on some camel peep-toes :)

Have you scored any awesome shopping deals lately?

Book Review and Giveaway: Before Ever After

2011-08-15T08:42:00.002-04:00

Title: Before Ever After
Author: Samantha Sotto
Publisher: Crown
Book: Hardcover, 304 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
                  Shelley Gallus’ happy ending abruptly ended three years ago when her husband Max died. She has settled into life as a widow, braving Sunday mornings alone with a cup of Jasmine tea and a poor imitation of Max’s famous baked eggs and cheese, until her fragile recovery is shattered one morning when the doorbell rings. On her doorstep she finds handsome young Paolo, who bears not only an uncanny resemblance to her late husband but some unbelievable news: Max is alive!
                  Shelley would be overjoyed by the words she has been longing for if not for two small details. First, Max was blown to bits by a Madrid subway bomb. And second, Paolo claims to be her 32-year-old husband’s 32-year-old grandson. Still, the single spark of hope that she could be reunited with the love of her life is all Shelley needs to launch her across the globe with Paolo in search of Max.
                  During their journey, Shelley is preoccupied with memories of “The Slight Detour,” the budget European tour package where she met and fell in love with her tour guide husband. Reality descends as Shelley begins to realize that Max’s vivid stories of bloody Parisian rebellions, medieval Austrian monasteries, and doomed Venetian cities may not have been stories at all.
                  Shelley had always believed her marriage was the stuff of fairy tales. But when fantasy collides hard with reality, and she and Paolo come closer to discovering the truth about Max, Shelley faces an agonizing leap of faith before she can have her happily ever after.

Review:
                The first thing that attracted me to this book was the charming cover; it was inviting me to take a peek inside and get lost in the adventure, which I did. The book starts off with the loss of Shelley's husband Max, a rather bold beginning to an otherwise enchanting story. You feel for her loss and are sitting right beside her as she is holding on to the memories.

                As their trip begins, you are taken back to when Shelley first met Max on their European tour and the beautiful and unique places they visited as they slowly fell in love. The detail given about these places made me want to stop every time and look them up, so I could see the sights they were seeing. Even the way his baked eggs and cheese were described throughout the book made me want to crack open the refrigerator and attempt the dish.

               I don't want to give away too much, as there are many twists and turns that the reader doesn't expect, but I will say that the "fantasy" aspect of the novel fits well with the story, and the ending is one of hope and interpretation. I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this European adventure and accompanying Shelley on the trip of her life. This is a great book to read at the beach, at home when it's raining, or on a plane to a fantastic destination. I give this book 5 stars.

Want to read the book? I am giving away one free copy of Before Ever After for one of my lucky readers to win, courtesy of Crown Publishing. All you have to do is comment below and one lucky reader will be picked on August 22nd. This giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only. Good luck!

Check back this week when I interview the author, Samantha Sotto, about her inspiration, her adventures, and any future books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Lisa at TLC Book Tours.

Book Review: Adam & Eve

2011-08-11T07:28:00.001-04:00

Title: Adam & Eve
Author: Sena Jeter Naslund
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book: Paperback, 384 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
              By decoding light from space, Lucy Bergmann’s astrophysicist husband discovers the existence of extraterrestrial life; their friend, anthropologist Pierre Saad, unearths from the sands of Egypt an ancient alternative version of the Book of Genesis. To religious fanatics, these discoveries have the power to rock the foundations of their faith. Entrusted to deliver this revolutionary news to both the scientific and religious communities, Lucy becomes the target of Perpetuity, a secret society. When her small plane crashes, Lucy finds herself in a place called Eden with an American soldier named Adam, whose quest for both spiritual and carnal knowledge has driven him to madness.

              Set against the searing debate between evolutionists and creationists, Adam & Eve is a thriller, a romance, an adventure, an idyll—a tour de force from Sena Jeter Naslund, one of the most imaginative and inspired writers of our time.

Review:
             This was definitely a unique book. It was a lot of things into one; thriller, mystery, historical fiction, sci-fi. It was interesting to learn of Lucy's husband's discoveries into space and that she held the key to all of his findings around her neck. It also makes complete sense that there were religious zealots that deemed his discovery, and also the discovery of an "alternate Genesis", to be damaging and traitorous to their religions. The religious "mafia" group, Perpetuity, is made up of a Jew, Christian, and Muslim, who in regular terms don't have much in common with their religion. What they can agree on is that these findings need to be found and destroyed.

             When Lucy lands in "Eden", where an American soldier named Adam has already been living, you get the fantasy aspect of an alternate destination located in Mesopotamia. This Eden has everything you could think of; an unlimited supply of animals and foliage to live off of and survive. Adam seems to be in a religious daze, thinking that his being brought there meant that he was truly the original Adam, come to Eden to find his Eve and start again. He believes Lucy to be Eve, but she constantly reminds him of her name and wonders what kind of mental state he's in. They are naked and surviving off the fruits of the lands and it's pretty slow until another guy parachutes in and disrupts their biblical re-enactment.

              You get the sense that there is a lot of things the book isn't telling you. The new guy in Eden is part of a major war going on outside the magical place, but you don't learn anything about it. By the end of the book, I was left wanting for some other kind of ending than the one given. I felt many parts of the book were forced or did not have the connecting thread to make it a really continuous story. While I did enjoy the historical aspect and the possibility of space discovery, the way the characters interacted and behaved left me disappointed. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Birchbox Review: August 2011

2011-08-10T07:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was an exciting day in the Scientific Housewife household... I got my Birchbox! It brought sunshine to an otherwise rainy day.

When I opened up my box and saw my goodies, I already liked this box compared to last month's. Everything in this box will be used, and with excitement! My box contains:

June Jacobs Papaya Purifying Enzyme Masque: I love masques and I was excited to see one in this box. I tried it last night and it was very interesting. A little goes a long way and it stays soft on your face, not drying up like other ones. Once 10 minutes was up and I washed it off, my face felt super soft and looked great. The price for a full size is a little steep but I am definitely going to enjoy this sample.
Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel: Considering the fact that it's raining and 90 degrees here in Florida, this sample couldn't come soon enough. I decided to try it on my hair this morning before I went to work. It does a great job of allowing my naturally wavy hair to dry with some great body, but it just can't tame my frizz. I might try to use more next time, but so far, I am still searching.
Shaveworks The Cool Fix: One problem I suffer from is razor bumps/burn. I recently switched to a fancy expensive razor hoping it would fix the problem, but so far it only helps a little. This gel seems like it could be my dream come true, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. I will let you know if this is a keeper!
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer: I've heard nothing but amazing things about this primer and I was pumped to be able to try it myself. I put it on this morning before my foundation and time will tell if it does the job. So far, I liked how it felt on my skin and that it was matte finish, which probably enhances it's hold ability.
Twistband Hair Tie: Like everyone else that got a Birchbox, this extra was a tad of a let down. It would be one thing if it were a revolutionary hairband that did something others haven't done before, but it's an elastic hairband that has a knot at the end and is not even connected. I'm not crazy about it and probably won't wear it out anywhere but some people might like the knot.

Anyone try these products before? What do you think?

(Sorry for the crappy pics, my camera battery died so I had to use the 'ol Iphone.)

Weekend Updates

2011-08-08T10:09:00.000-04:00

As I am swamped at work today, I would love to hear how everyone's weekend was. Mine was pretty low key and only consisted of lots of reading and watching TV.

By the way, I totally recommend Bossypants. It was hilarious!

So spill it... how was your weekend?

Friday Hotness

2011-08-05T07:38:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about Henry Cavill, one of the hottest actors out there, getting the role of Superman in the movie Man of Steel. Well, they just started filming this month and most people thought we would have to wait forever to see the first look of him in the suit. Turns out, we didn't have to wait long at all.

Doesn't he look amazing?? If you'd like a larger picture to see him in all his glory, you can find one here. I'm starting to get really excited for this movie, but it doesn't even come out until June 2013. So, for now, I'll just have to keep this pic close by ;)

Celebrity Sighting!

2011-08-03T08:50:00.001-04:00

First of all, my husband is amazing! He called me after work yesterday and told me to get dressed up because he was taking me out on a date and wasn't telling me where we were going. So, I put on a dress and we headed out to what I assumed was dinner. Turns out, he took us to one of our favorite restaurants, The Refinery. As we walked in, another surprise awaited us...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was eating at the restaurant!! He was casual and at the front table with a couple of friends. I quietly told the hubs that JGL was right behind him, and he nonchalantly turned around and said "Huh, that's crazy." We sat at a table about 20 feet from his and I had the view of his table. I constantly looked over there but tried not to look obvious, as his friends were facing in my direction and JGL had is back to us.

The first thing that popped into my head was "What is he doing here?" Tampa isn't really a celebrity hotspot (except around Super Bowl time) and this restaurant is tiny but very highly rated. It's also located in the hipster area of Tampa, which brought me back to a 500 Days of Summer moment. I assumed he was in Pittsburgh filming The Dark Knight Rises but he could have easily jetted here to visit friends and jetted back.

I'm sorry to say, I didn't snag a picture as it would have been extremely obvious, nor did I approach him as I know he just wanted to enjoy his dinner. It was really cool to see him in such a small place and he looked really cute!

After our brush with celebrity, the hubby took me on the second surprise of our date... the movies.

We went and saw Crazy Stupid Love, and I thought it was going to be one of those predictable romantic comedies, but it was actually really good. Ryan Gosling looks AMAZING in this movie and it was really funny.

Have you seen this movie yet?

Busy Busy

2011-08-02T14:16:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the sporadic posts, I've been super busy at work preparing for my boss' 2 week vacation and my interim management position. Other than working, I've been reading and doing mostly boring stuff, so you're not missing out on much.

I've also been watching a lot of movies. Last night, I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey

What a visually amazing film! There is a lot of music and less dialogue, but the story more or less makes sense. Can you imagine if 2001 was really like this? It would have been crazy!

My hubby and I went and saw Captain America on Friday night and this was my favorite part:

Why else do women go and see superhero movies?? :)

My Weekend

2011-08-01T08:35:00.000-04:00

This is where I spent my Saturday. It was a beautiful day and we decided to meet some friends at St. Pete Beach for some relaxing and fun. They were staying at the ever kitschy Postcard Inn, which was featured in Southern Living magazine.

I also caught up on the first episode of Project Runway Season 9. I am so excited that it's back and the first episode was awesome. Heidi looks amazing and it will be fun to watch once everyone stops being nice and starts getting catty!

How was your weekend?

Dreams of Shopping

2011-07-26T09:05:00.001-04:00

I think I miss shopping, because I had a dream the other night that I was let loose in our nicest mall to buy whatever I wanted... which was awesome.

I haven't gone shopping in awhile, mostly due to saving up for our upcoming trip. I am itching to go to a mall, though.

I did find out two very exciting things that were shopping related:

We are getting a H&M in Tampa! We have one in Orlando, but I rarely drive out that far. I've been to two H&M's and wasn't really impressed by anything I saw, but now if I see something cute in a magazine, I can zip over to try to find it!

They opened a Tory Burch store in our nice mall. I LOVE Tory Burch and dream of one day owning a pair of Reva flats, so the fact that it's that much closer makes me giddy :)

Anyone score any great deals shopping recently? I think I need to live vicariously through you :)

Book Review: Kicking Ass and Saving Souls

2011-07-25T08:03:00.001-04:00

Title: Kicking Ass and Saving Souls
Author: David Matthews
Publisher: The Penguin Press
Book: Hardcover, 336 pages
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:
           Stefan Templeton was born a child of extremes. The son of Ebba, an aristocratic Norwegian love child, and Roye, a militant African American philosopher, Stefan spent his early years shuffling between the discipline of his father’s house and dojo in decaying west Baltimore and the eccentricities of his mother’s life as a healer and artist in the wealthiest enclaves of Europe. The confusion formed a singular man who had nothing but his own abilities. By age eighteen Stefan was a skilled fighter, philosopher, lover, horseman, and swimmer who exuded confidence and competence.


          His highs came from adventure, always. He hunted in Macon, France; brawled in Oxford, England; lived as a kept man off the Champs-Élysées; served as a medicine man in Colombia; escaped death on the Amazon; and trained to serve on Cousteau’s Calypso in Marseilles. Love of the mother of his first child temporarily settled Stefan in Norway, but poverty and adrenaline addiction soon kicked in.

          Eventually, Stefan found himself in a labyrinthine criminal world-where he pulled off one of the biggest jewel heists in Scandinavia’s history as a player in a smuggling consortium. He eluded capture, but the downward spiral continued until he hit bottom one night in Tokyo.


          Alone and in need of redemption, Stefan lost himself in the south Asian jungle, but fate brought him an opportunity to help the wretched Karen people of Burma. By serving the forgotten, Stefan could begin his restitution. This Renaissance man at last utilized his uncommon skill set to embrace the call of humanitarian relief. Disasters like the Indonesian tsunami and the Sudanese civil war and drought required all of him.


          The adventure of Stefan Templeton tests the bounds of human possibility, and even the most hardened of skeptics will be gripped by this account of David Matthews, Stefan’s childhood friend and sometimes harshest critic.

Review:
           Reading the synopsis of the book, you almost get the sense that Stefan Templeton is a Jason Bourne-type character in a remarkable fiction novel. Then, when you find out that Templeton exists and has done everything described in the book, you find out that there are people in the world that live extraordinary lives. He has never experienced an ordinary life, which owes to his constant need of adventure. From learning Tae Kwon Do at an early age, to shuttling back and forth between his parent's opposite lives and eventually becoming independent, Stefan set forth to do everything he'd ever wanted. You already want to hate him for having such an adventurous life so young, but it's obvious that it comes at a price. He develops strained relationships with his parents while he sets off to get a high rate education, become a world class diver, and travel the world.

            Not everything he sets out to do works to his advantage; the very skills he's obtained to succeed are the skills that gets him into black market drug and gem deals, further separating him from his girlfriend and daughter. Along the way, he meets other women, and casually has affairs before finding someone he can't live without. Once life back in America gets too boring for him, he is thrown into humanitarian work that changes his life and sets him on a different path towards goodwill and honest work.

            You can tell throughout the book that Stefan has grown and matured. He eventually doesn't care if he's the scariest guy in the neighborhood, or that the drug deal he was sent on goes wrong... he finds his way through the world with the knowledge that he's obtained and the relationships he's developed. The most baffling thing about the book is the fact that the author, his childhood friend, knew nothing of Stefan's later life until 2007, when Stefan told him everything that he would eventually write about. The author admits to not believing any of it, but later on does enough research to find that all the facts checked out.

              I enjoyed reading the adventures Stefan went through but found it hard to like him until much later, when he started devoting his life to aiding those in need, instead of more selfish pursuits. He did always put his family first, financially at least, which was admirable. However, he fell out of contact with a lot of his family during the years, and only he was to blame. It was nice to see David Matthews write the book about his childhood friend, as Stefan would have never done it himself. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Book Reviews Coming Up

2011-07-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

Thanks to TLC Book Tours, I've been fortunate enough to be asked to do several book tours coming up, and I wanted to make sure to let you all in on the fun!

Monday, July 25, I'll be reviewing Kicking Ass and Saving Souls by David Matthews

Thursday, August 11, I'll be reviewing Adam & Eve by Seta Jeter Naslund

Monday, August 15, I'll be reviewing Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

Make sure to stop by and hear about these amazing books. I might even have a book or two to giveaway ;)

Movie Watching

2011-07-20T09:39:00.000-04:00

In the process of watching all my Netflix Streaming movies before September 1st, I've been trying to watch some classics that I had never seen before. These include:

These are all comedies, but I do have several action and thriller movies on the queue, just haven't watched them yet.

I also tried to watch This is Spinal Tap yesterday but couldn't get through it... it wasn't funny to me.

Any of you fans of these movies?

Birchbox Review: July 2011

2011-07-18T08:38:00.000-04:00

I wrote back a month ago that I had signed up for Birchbox and was awaiting my first box in July. Well, after a long 8 days of waiting due to ground shipment from Jersey to Florida, I received my box on Friday. Come to find out, there was good reason for it's long delay, but I will cover that in a second.

This Birchbox is unique in that it was designed by Cynthia Rowley to share some of her favorite things and even came in Cynthia Rowley-inspired box.

Once I opened the box, I found this double-sided card with an explanation of this month's box and a list of the enclosed goodies.

I got some great stuff this month!

Enclosed was:

Kind Almond and Apricot bar

I've had these bars before and they're delicious and pretty good for you. I guess Cynthia likes to keep these around.

Redken Shine Flash 02

I've never heard of this product before but Cynthia says it adds fantastic shine to dull hair. I used it once over the weekend but didn't really notice a difference other than an added texture to my hair.

Ahava Mineral Hand Cream

I know Ahava is a great brand, but I've never tried their products before. This hand cream is very moisturizing and doesn't leave a greasy feeling afterwards...plus it smells very fresh.

Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser

Again, I've heard Philosophy is a great brand but I've never tried their products. I used this several times over the weekend and I'm in love! It leaves your face so smooth afterward that I don't even need to apply moisturizer, especially in this heat.

Zoya Nail Polish in Shay

If you know me, you know I love nail polish, especially Zoya and their extensive color collection. I was really excited to get this neutral polish from their Touch collection (and it explains the ground shipping). I wore this over the weekend and it is definitely a light, neutral pearl color. It's almost the color of my skin.

So that was my Birchbox for July. I was happy with the contents as I hadn't used a couple of the products before and love trying new things.

I would love to hear from anyone that also got a Birchbox and would love to share their goodies :)

My New Lipgloss Obession

2011-07-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

I was supposed to do a review on my first Birchbox today, but after 7 days, I still haven't received it, so that will have to wait until Monday.

Today, I want to talk to you about my new lipgloss obsession... Buxom lip gloss.

I had seen it in Sephora before but never thought much of it, until my friend Carmen told me how much she loved hers. Last time we went, I browsed the colors and tried them on. The instant tingle that came from this plumping lip gloss was not overpowering but did feel like it was doing the job. My lips did look slightly fuller, and the color I chose, Dolly, happened to be the perfect neutral pink for me.

I love that these glosses give you just enough color without being too much, and they are not sticky at all... they actually feel pretty moisturizing.

You can snag these awesome glosses online at Sephora.com

Have you ever tried Buxom before?

Fall Vacation

2011-07-14T08:56:00.000-04:00

As soon as we came back from our trip to California, we knew we had to get planning for a fall vacation. We decided to go solo on this one and spend just a weekend wherever we went. Our destination was somewhat limited by what our JetBlue points could get us to for free, so what better place to go to in September than Boston!

Neither of us have ever been and, being Red Sox fans, we have always wanted to see a game at Fenway.

So, we are heading to Beantown Sept. 15-17 to watch a game, do some sightseeing, and revel in the historical beauty that is Boston. The flight has been booked (thank god it was free) and the bed and breakfast has been reserved. Since Boston is a pretty pricy place to stay, we figured out that a bed and breakfast was the most economical way to go, and the one we chose is situated one mile from Fenway and right in front of the T-train.

Now all we have left to do is buy tickets to the Red Sox game. Ironically, they are playing the Tampa Bay Rays that weekend, but we'll be cheering on the home team :)

Anyone been to Boston before? What did you do?

Netflix Changes; How Will It Affect You?

2011-07-13T08:11:00.000-04:00

If you're a Netflix subscriber, you got some bombshell news yesterday. Netflix sent out an email saying that they were not only splitting up the DVD and Streaming plans, but they were raising the price if you wanted to keep both.

You now have three options:

You can sign up for a DVD-only plan, which is $7.99/month for one dvd at a time and $11.99/month for two at a time.
You can sign up for Streaming-only plan, which is $7.99/month and only gives you access to their streaming library.
You can keep both DVD and Streaming, which will be the cost of each plan added together, or $15.98/month.

It's been very interesting to read everyone's reactions to this price hike and change. The good news is, Netflix looks like they are still sticking with DVD's for now, given that earlier reports had them slowly easing out DVD's in favor of future streaming only. The bad news is, now you have to pay a lot more or be limited in what you can watch.

The hubby and I decided that we are going to go through our Streaming movies (all 25) before September 1st, then sign up for the DVD only plan. It's not the price that's the problem... it really is only an extra 6 dollars a month. We just hardly use streaming and feel the choices will be better with the DVD plan. You do have the option of changing at any time.

So, Netflix members, are you picking a plan and staying or looking for another movie alternative?

Pass The Popcorn

2011-07-11T09:10:00.000-04:00

When it comes to games, I seem to do well with trivia. So when the hubby and I saw this movie trivia game at Target, I grabbed it off the shelves and high-tailed it home to play. Let me tell you... this game is addicting!

Each card has a movie on both sides and comes with the movie's cast, characters, story, and quotes. The object of the game is to guess the movie based on one of those items and whoever guesses the most wins. The movies range all the way from the 1930s to 2010, so it has a great span of choices to test your trivia.

We've probably played this game a dozen times now and it has made me aware that I have not seen a lot of "iconic" movies before. Anything relating to wars, westerns, gangsters, or science fiction, chances are I haven't seen it.

So I added some 50 iconic movies to my Netflix queue; everything from older comedies (The Naked Truth, Stripes), to science fiction (2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind), to thrillers (Deliverance, The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive). Thankfully, a lot of them are on instant stream so I don't have to wait for them in the mail, but I apparently have a lot of movie watching to do.

Are there any iconic movies you haven't seen yet that you'd like to?

The Duchess of Style

2011-07-08T11:13:00.000-04:00

If you've been following Princess Kate's style on their trip to Canada, you know that she is rocking it! If you haven't, here are some of her best looks:

Almost everything she has worn on her trip has sold out in stores and online, even accessories. It's clear that all eyes are on her and she is doing a fabulous job of dressing for each occasion. I like that she alternates between dressy and casual, though she does dresses the best.

I'm excited to see what she'll be wearing in California this weekend.

What is your favorite look?

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

2011-07-07T07:37:00.000-04:00

For my 4th of July party, I decided to do something fun and summer inspired. I had seen pictures of these before but wondered how easy they really were, so I made them. They were a hit!

I used this recipe to make them and filled the cones right to the line that makes them go wider. They didn't puff up as much as I would like, so you'll have to play with the right amount, but I filled the rest up with frosting to make up for it. Since I did that, I ran out of white frosting and had to use blue on a couple, but the white ones looked the most realistic.

I also read on the recipe that if you want to make these, do them day-of, otherwise they will be soggy the next day. You can also jazz them up with sprinkles and nonpareils, but I went simplistic on mine.

Hope you have a great day!

Sick :(

2011-07-06T08:31:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of posting, but I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and fever and spent all day sitting around the house watching movies.

We had a great weekend though; we relaxed and hosted an awesome Fourth of July party on Monday. We had games, fireworks, and food from the grill. It was a lot of fun, but according to my friends, a little too much fun for a Monday night.

How was everyone's long weekend?

Florence + The Machine

2011-07-01T09:06:00.000-04:00

Last night, I went to the Hard Rock Live in Orlando to see Florence + The Machine. I love her music and had seen performances by her on awards shows before, so I was excited to see her live.

Sorry for the bad quality pics, I used my Iphone

She came out in this gorgeous, long sleeve coat with some sort of fur or feather detail and sang a couple of songs in it before she took it off to expose a beautiful, sheer dress that she worked all night long. Florence is a true diva, not in the bad sense in that she wants only green M&Ms, but in the sense that she has an amazing voice and stage presence. She would jump, twirl, pose, and beat drums while belting out amazing notes. Usually singers don't sound as well in concert as on recordings, but Florence was even better in person.

The concert was sold out and everybody loved it. It was truly an amazing experience and I have major respect for her and her talent.

I will leave you with a video of her live... see for yourself how awesome she is.

Are you a fan of Florence + The Machine?

Upcoming Projects

2011-06-30T08:15:00.000-04:00

I admit, I have been super lazy recently. It probably doesn't look like I do anything and, recently, that's been true. I've gotten extremely busy at work and when I come home, I want nothing more than to lay on the couch and read or watch tv, especially with all the rain that has been going on lately...

This weekend, I will be keeping busy on several projects:

The flower beds in our front yard have been overtaken by weeds (laziness), so I've decided to take out the little ones and replace them with bushier plants that will keep weeds at bay. As far at the crape myrtle is concerned, it didn't bloom this year and has a bit of fungus so I have to weed it and apply a fungicide.

The herb garden in the back grew but some of the herbs are done for the season. I have to take out the old cilantro and basil and place some butterfly bushes instead. The rest of the herbs are still producing and I need to cook more with them.

I decided to throw a Fourth of July party on Monday and who better to supply some festive decorations than Carmen at Pom Flair, who will also be attending. She is making some of these great garlands as well as pomettes and the fringe picks for drinks. I will be putting my overgrown mint plant to work by making some festive mojitos :) I think it will turn out quite nice!

I have an exciting idea that I can't wait to announce, but I have to take some pictures before I do so look forward to this announcement in the upcoming week. I hope you guys will participate :)

Tonight, I am going to see Florence + the Machine, which I'm excited about. I hope everyone has a great day!

Birchbox

2011-06-28T11:21:00.000-04:00

I was flipping through People.com to keep up with the latest scoop and saw a story about Cynthia Rowley teaming up with Birchbox. My first question was "What is Birchbox?" When I investigated further and found out, my next question was "How do I sign up??"

Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends you 4-6 deluxe samples in the mail. The samples range from skincare, makeup, fragrance, and more and are top of the line companies like Nars, Bvlgari, Benefit, Kerastase, Perricone MD, and more. The best part? It's only $10 a month!

For the month of July, Birchbox is sending out deluxe samples that are favorites of Cynthia Rowley and will come in a neatly designed box. Want to sign up to get this great deal? Head on over to their site and get in on this action! Or give it as a gift... you know your friends would love this!

Now to wait patiently by the mailbox for my first Birchbox.... :)

Rainy Days

2011-06-27T08:42:00.000-04:00

If you've been to Florida, you know that summertime also means rainy season. Well, we have been in a drought for the past couple of months now and have been desperately praying for rain. The weekend I decide to go out and do some yard work? It rains... all weekend.

I'm not complaining... not only did I not have to do yard work, but we got much needed rain to water everything. The hubs and I played some board games we recently bought and rain didn't stop me from buying some new shoes :)

How was your weekend?

Pom Flair Giveaway Winner!

2011-06-25T10:52:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the Fourth of July Pom Flair Giveaway! The winner is....

Krysten at After I Do!

Congrats Krysten! I will be emailing you later today! Thanks again and I hope you have a great weekend :)

Last Day to Enter Pom Flair Giveaway!

2011-06-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

It's the last day to enter Pom Flair's Fourth of July Giveaway! Head on over to the giveaway page and enter before midnight tonight. One lucky winner will get this beautifully festive garland and set of 12 tassel picks to use at a 4th of July party! Good luck!

Summer Recipes

2011-06-22T08:32:00.015-04:00

The summer has been in Florida for months and I've been preparing more summer dishes that feature delicious summertime ingredients and flavors. Even if summer isn't in your state yet, trying these dishes out might just get summer to show up a little faster! All of these recipes have been featured on the blog before, but with all the new followers, they bear repeating :)

Watermelon Feta Salad

Provencale Chicken

Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Pesto

Blueberry Mojitos

Enjoy!

Do You Judge a Book by it's Cover (or Spine)?

2011-06-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

When I was in college, and essentially buying my own books to read, I had the tendency to only buy books with bright-colored spines. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but it was a horrible way to choose a book. I was mostly attracted to pink and, of course, most books with pink spines are chick-lit books about finding "the one" or spending too much money shopping.

In college, that was all fine and good, but as I got older, I had to rely more on reviews than on covers. When you're spending your hard earned money, you hope the book you choose is good, otherwise it feels like a waste.

Take these two books for example:

If you knew nothing about either of these books, which one would you pick up in the store? One of them has a beautiful picture and an attractive font, while the other displays one lightbulb with a witty way to display the title. You would have no idea that both of these books are fantastic, each in their own different way.

My point is, if you love chick-lit, the pink books are a great place to start. However, if you're looking for a fantastic read, sometimes a good review will point you in the right direction to a boring-looking book with great potential.

Here are some beautiful book covers of books coming out soon for those that want to judge :) :

Pom Flair Fourth of July Giveaway!

2011-06-17T07:41:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce this giveaway, as it's from my talented friend Carmen from Pom Flair! She has been busy making poms for weddings and parties, but she took some time out to create this gorgeous tassel garland for the 4th of July. It's 6 feet long and contains 9 patriotic tassels.

She also designed these adorable fringe party picks (as seen in the picture with blueberries) that would add pizazz to any drink!

Hosting a Fourth of July party? Here is a chance to win the tassel garland and the set of 12 fringe party picks!

To enter:

Visit Pom Flair on Etsy and tell me what other pom product you like

For extra entries:

Follow my blog
Like Pom Flair on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with the link
Tweet about the giveaway and leave a comment with the link
Post the giveaway on Facebook and leave a comment with the link

The giveaway closes at midnight on June 24, so good luck!

What's Going On In My World

2011-06-16T08:18:00.000-04:00

It is sooo super hot in Florida right now! The humidity is making it unbearable and our air conditioning bill is going to be through the roof.
We've had two bottles of the wine we brought back from California and they were delicious! We had the Murphy and Goode Chardonnay with a Moroccan Chicken dish last week and the Hop Kiln Pinot Grigio with a 3 bean salad I made earlier this week.
My car's check engine light came on 2 days ago and, yesterday, it wouldn't start for me after work. Luckily, a Good Samaritan jumped my car. It turned out that her husband was a Red Sox fan (I was going to the game against the Rays last night) and I think that was a good omen as the Red Sox won :)
I am working a lot more and have lost my days off, going back to five 8 hour days in preparation for a manager job that I'm interviewing for.
I am anxiously awaiting said manager job to be posted so I can apply and interview, and my good friend BJ is going to help me revamp my resume.
I purchased my first Coach bag at an outlet in California. It's the Soho leather pleated tote bag and I got an amazing deal on it.
Since I no longer have Wednesdays off, I can longer participate in my old lady book club at the library. I did, however, join a book club with girls my age and we are reading Room and discussing it early next month. Anyone read it yet?

Tomorrow, I am announcing a Fourth of July themed giveaway that anyone throwing a party would definitely want, so stay tuned!

Travel Journal: Yosemite Day 2

2011-06-13T08:44:00.001-04:00

Here is our last adventure in California, and the most breathtaking.

On Friday morning, we took an hour car ride to get to Glacier Point, which has an amazing view of Half Dome, North Dome, and the valley below.

There was also a lot of snow up there, as the road to Glacier Point had just opened up a week before we got there.

After taking in the view, we headed down on our way to Yosemite Valley and took probably the most iconic picture of Yosemite.

The view was absolutely gorgeous! Once we got to the valley, we explored Bridalveil Falls and I got up close and personal for a photo.

We rented some bikes and biked to Mirror Lake and Half Dome, taking pictures as we went.

Before we left the valley, we walked out onto the meadow across from El Capitan and watched the climbers on the face. A guy let us use his telescope so we could get a closer look and I took one last photo of the famous rock before we said goodbye.

We had such a great time in Yosemite, and California in general. I can't wait to go back!

Travel Journal: Yosemite Day 1

2011-06-10T08:36:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, we headed off on our 3 hour trip to Yosemite. We saw some amazing scenery on the way and the mountains were snow-capped and majestic! Our first stop in Yosemite was Mariposa Grove, home to the big Sequoia trees.

We walked through the grove and saw all the popular trees, such as the Grizzly Giant, the Clothespin tree, and the Faithful Couple.

After our tour of the trees, we headed to our hotel, Tenaya Lodge, and got dressed up for our fancy dinner at the Ahwahnee hotel. The Ahwahnee is the nicest, and most expensive, hotel in Yosemite Valley, and the dining room is absolutely gorgeous.

Before dinner, we had drinks in the meadow outside and took some pictures.

At dinner, Jason ordered a bottle of 2007 Chateau Montelena Cabernet. If you aren't familiar with Chateau Montelena, it is the vineyard that won the 1976 Judgment in Paris tasting, a feat no other California winery had ever done. It is told about in a movie called "Bottle Shock", which I highly recommend if you like wine.

The wine was absolutely the best I had ever had and the food was unbelievable as well. I ordered fava bean crusted lamb and a delicious assortment of gelatos for dessert.

Once we were done with dinner, and our wallets were empty, we headed back to the hotel and hung out in the hot tub before ending our day.

Later today, I will end my travel journal with our second, and picture-heavy, day at Yosemite. Hope you enjoy!

Travel Journal: Petaluma and Brentwood

2011-06-09T08:33:00.000-04:00

On our long journey from wine country to Yosemite, we made several stops at some small towns on the way. Our next stop was Petaluma, which was a very cute, small town that is apparently has been a filming location for tons of movies.

While we were there, we ate lunch at a restaurant called Cucina Paradiso, which was absolutely amazing. We also stopped by a cupcake shop and grabbed a delicious treat.

Our reason for being in Petaluma was none other than the Lagunitas Brewery. The guys considered this their Mecca and were more than excited to go try beer and tour the brewery.

After having fun with beer, we set out to Brentwood, where our friend's aunt and uncle lived and kindly offered their home for the night. The view on the way was awesome.

The next morning, we set off early for Yosemite, which was a 3 hour drive. On the way, I had to stop by In-N-Out for the first time. The double double was delicious!

Tomorrow, I will share photos and fun from our first day in Yosemite. I got very snap happy there so I'm dividing it up between two days to share as much as possible.

Travel Journal: Sonoma County

2011-06-08T09:13:00.000-04:00

We spent Monday through Wednesday in the beautiful hills of Sonoma County. We stayed in Healdsburg, which is a cute little town with lots of character.

On our first day, we went to 7 different tasting rooms and wineries and stocked up on 5 bottles of wine.

If we weren't feeling a tasting menu, we just ordered a glass of the good stuff instead, and the weather was amazing enough to sit outside and enjoy.

One of Food and Wine's top ten burgers in the country was located in Healdsburg and it was delicious!

The best experience of the first day was getting a free tasting and food pairing at Williamson Wines. The pairings were amazing and introduced us to truffle salt, irish cheddar, and a delicious mustard I bought on the spot. We also bought their awesome Merlot to take home.

We ate at a brewpub called Bear Republic for dinner and ended the night, knowing we were spending a full day of tasting the next day.

On Tuesday, we started the day off drinking some bubbly at Korbel.

We loved their Reisling Champagne so much that we bought some to take home, knowing we wouldn't be able to find it back in FL.

We went to 8 more vineyards and picked up 6 more amazing wines to bring our total to 12.

We also had dinner at an amazing restaurant that night called Zin and enjoyed some time in the hot tub at the hotel before calling it a night.

I really enjoyed our time in Sonoma and decided that Healdsburg is definitely the kind of place I could retire in so I could drink wine for my last 30 years :)

Travel Journal: San Francisco

2011-06-07T09:02:00.000-04:00

Hello my dear followers, I am back from my week-long vacation in California and it was amazing! I had to use Sunday and Monday to catch up on East Coast time and get my act together, but now I have pictures to share!

We spent Saturday and Sunday in beautiful San Francisco, and, although the weather didn't always behave as it should, we made the most of it and found some wonderful restaurants and bars.

One of the first things we did was explore Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. The views from the wharf were amazing and I finally got to see some sea lions at Pier 39.

We went to an amazing seafood restaurant called Sotto Mare and saw Tony Bennett walking out as we arrived! He must know his food because it was delicious! We also stopped by the Church Key Lounge, rode the trolley up to Union Square, and had some drinks at Johnny Foley's before we called it a day.

On Sunday, we had breakfast at Honey Honey, which was amazing, and picked up our rental car to tour San Francisco. We ended up going to the Presidio and Baker Beach, where the view was breathtaking.

We also went to Golden Gate Park and drove around, going down to see the museums and the tea gardens.

After that adventure, we headed back to the Sir Frances Drake, which was amazing, and us girls headed to Union Square to shop while the boys hit up breweries. After shopping, we went to Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery on Haight Street for dinner, and the food was great. Then, we drove back to our hotel and had some drinks at the bar to end our day.

Monday, we woke up early to check out and travel out of San Francisco to Sonoma County. We made sure to stop by Hendrik Point to get our last shots of the famous bridge before we left.

We had a great time in San Francisco and enjoyed some wonderful food and drinks. Tomorrow, I'll be doing a travel journal on our time in Healdsburg and wine country.

Hope everyone has a great day!

California, Here We Come!

2011-05-27T10:45:00.000-04:00

Our vacation is finally here! For a week, we'll be spending time in these wonderful places:

I am so excited! I'll share pictures when I get back. Until then, I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Top Shape Ticker

2011-05-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes while I got my heart tested out. Turns out it was all in my head and my ticker is fine :) It was comical to walk into the cardiologist office and hear the older people say "She is in the wrong office, she is too young and skinny to be in here!"

After getting an ultrasound of my heart (how cool to see it on screen) and a stress test (which I aced), the doctor said my palpitations and such were just benign, common occurrences and that I'm good to go. Happy news!

What did I want to do immediately afterwards? Eat a hamburger. Typical...

Summer Swap

2011-05-25T10:32:00.000-04:00

The wonderful Krysten at After "I Do" put together a fabulous Summer Swap recently. I got paired with the lovely Kim at Our Life...Unscripted and she sent me a great package of summer must-haves!

My package included:

Summer kitchen towels
Avon shower gel
A mini-planner
Handmade jewelry
A package of notepads
A magnetic notepad
A damask candle

I love everything in the package and can't wait to use it! The towels are already on display in my kitchen. Thanks to Krysten and Kim for a great swap :)

New Death Cab For Cutie Album Streaming on NPR

2011-05-24T12:01:00.000-04:00

If you're a Death Cab for Cutie fan like myself, then you'll be happy to know that NPR is streaming their new album "Codes and Keys" on their First Listen site. I'm not sure how long the free stream will be up for so listen soon and get ready for the album to release on May 31!

In other news, my holter monitor is off and tomorrow I will be doing the stress test and sonogram to finish all my tests and get my results. Wish me luck!

Heart Check-Up

2011-05-23T12:34:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I started a little late today because I had an appointment this morning with a cardiologist. It's nothing serious, but I get palpitations and skipped beats every now and then and I wanted to get them checked out before our vacation.

My EKG was normal, as was my blood pressure, and they fitted me with this nifty gadget for the next 24 hours:

On Wednesday, I am getting a sonogram of my heart and a stress test done, so hopefully everything turns out well. Then, I will be off to Cali!

Yosemite

2011-05-19T09:16:00.001-04:00

One of the stops during our California trip is to the majestic Yosemite National Park. The other 3 people I am traveling with have been there but they couldn't wait to go back and I can't wait to see it myself.

I just finished the book The Yosemite by John Muir, who was the foremost expert of the park in his time.

His book is amazingly descriptive and detailed and covers every aspect of the area. He describes all the waterfalls, species of trees, mountains, and wildlife beautifully and learned to live among it all for 10 years.

After finishing his book, I was more ready than ever to see everything he described and take a million pictures of it all. I love that our trip is a mix between trendy and fun San Francisco, relaxing Sonoma, and adventurous Yosemite.

Have any of you ever been?

NYX Cosmetics Sale Controversy

2011-05-17T07:36:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you've heard about it over the interwebs, but NYX Cosmetics is in a heap of trouble with their consumers.

They had a 12 Hour Mega Sale on Sunday where all of their cosmetics were $1.20 on their website. This isn't the first time they had done a sale like this; they are known for their $1 sales on selected items. Apparently, so many people were excited about this sale that they crashed the website. The website was down almost the entire 12 hours and even the extended 12 hour period NYX gave customers to try again. A lot of people were upset that they couldn't access the site or checkout the items already in their basket.

According to Phyrra, NYX's customer service was awful to people calling, emailing, and posting on Facebook. They deleted posts, then cut them off all together. After the sale ended, they offered people the chance to email for a coupon offer, but the offer was 50% off, not $1.20 like the sale.

Needless to say, NYX has alienated a large group of customers and fans who are stating on their blogs that they are boycotting the brand until they make it right.

I have heard of big sales on cosmetic websites and crashing every now and then, but this is the worst I've ever seen. I also tried to access the website and couldn't even get a home page. It's a shame, as I really like NYX Cosmetics; I've claimed that their Champagne and Caviar eyeshadow palette is better than Urban Decay's Naked. I think they did handle this situation all wrong and I'm not sure if I'll buy their products until an apology or make-up sale comes out.

What do you think about this situation?

My Weekend in Pictures

2011-05-16T08:54:00.001-04:00

I saw Bridesmaids Friday night and it was hilarious! I highly recommend it to all ladies.

I participated in the Miles for Moffitt event and ran a mile in 9:46

We took the dog we are sitting (Yoshi) to the dog park and I thought this was a great photo op.

This was my Sunday... laying around reading about Yosemite with Yoshi

How was your weekend?

Book Review: Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

2011-05-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

Title: Lost in Shangri-La; A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II
Author: Mitchell Zuckoff
Publisher: Harper
Book: Hardcover, 400 pages
Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:
           On May 13, 1945, twenty-four officers and enlisted men and women stationed on what was then Dutch New Guinea boarded a transport plane named the Gremlin Special for a sightseeing trip over “Shangri-La.” A beautiful and mysterious valley surrounded by steep, jagged mountain peaks deep within the island’s uncharted jungle, this hidden retreat was named after the fabled paradise in the bestselling novel Lost Horizon. But unlike the peaceful Tibetan monks of James Hilton’s book, this Shangri-La was the home of Stone Age warriors—spear-carrying tribesmen rumored to be headhunters and cannibals.

        But the pleasure tour became an unforgettable battle for survival when the plane crashed. Miraculously, three passengers survived—WAC Corporal Margaret Hastings, Lieutenant John McCollom, and Sergeant Kenneth Decker. Margaret, barefoot and burned, had no choice but to wear her dead best friend’s shoes. McCollom, grieving the death of his twin brother also aboard the Gremlin Special, masked his grief with stoicism. Decker, too, was severely burned and suffered a bloody, gaping head wound.

         Emotionally devastated, badly injured, and vulnerable to disease, parasites, and poisonous snakes in the wet jungle climate, the trio faced certain death unless they left the wreckage. Caught between man-eating headhunters and the enemy Japanese, with nothing to sustain them but a handful of candy and their own fortitude, they endured a harrowing trek down the mountainside—an exhausting journey into the unknown that would lead them straight into a primitive tribe of superstitious natives who had never before seen a white man–or woman.

          Drawn from personal interviews, declassified Army documents, personal photos and mementos, a daily journal kept between the crash and the rescue effort, and original film footage, Lost in Shangri-La recounts this incredible true-life adventure for the first time. Mitchell Zuckoff reveals how the determined trio—dehydrated, sick, and in pain—traversed the dense jungle foliage to find help; how a brave band of Filipino-American paratroopers, led by a dogged captain, risked their own lives to save the survivors; how the Americans would be protected by and eventually befriend a noble native chief and his people; and how a cowboy colonel was willing to risk a previously untried rescue mission to get them out.

Review:
           I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing this book and after reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued. After receiving it, it didn't take me long before I was hooked. From the very beginning, the book piques your interest, regardless if you're into war stories or history. I learned many things I never knew about World War II and the United States' placement of soldiers in New Guinea.

           Following the three survivors through this harrowing tale of crashing in a remote area of the island was inspiring. No matter how many friends they had lost, they were determined to move on and get rescued. They befriended the natives, who had a bad reputation back at camp as being cannibalistic and violent, and they soon made fast friends. On the other side, you also read about the soldiers back at camp trying to come up with ideas on how to find and rescue people in such a topographically difficult area of the country. Neither side gives up and it makes for an intense read.

          I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. I thought it was amazing how the author, Mitchell Zuckoff, was able to track down survivors and relatives to get the stories and photographs that grace these pages. The photographs in particular are really special, because they were taken as it all happened; from before the crash, after the crash, during the survivors time spent with the natives, and the rescue. It was also great to read about all the people involved after this heroic rescue took place.

          What amazed me most about this book was that it's one of those stories that you've probably never heard of before, but, after reading it, you can hardly wonder how more people don't know that this event took place. It seems like it's out of a carefully thought out novel, but it really occurred, and it really inspires. The fact that the survivors and rescuers still had a sense of humor while this happened is hope-inspiring and it truly is one of the best books of the year. I give it 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.

Cardigan Fever

2011-05-10T08:44:00.000-04:00

Because I have Cali on the brain, one of the staple items I will be taking with me will be cardigans. It's a great way to layer up without putting too much on and, with the right cardigan, you can really dress up or down any outfit. I bought a cardigan from Banana Republic that I love and found some other great ones on sale on their site.

Embroidered open-placket cardigan - $34.97

Merino ruffle trim striped cardigan - $44.99

Long-sleeve open cardigan - $64.50

Scalloped ruffle open cardigan - $69.99

Ruffles and beads cardigan - $79.99

Do you own a bunch of cardis?

Weekend Fun

2011-05-09T07:54:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! My grandparents didn't realize that Mother's Day is a big going out day so we tried to show up at Olive Garden at 6:30 and was told the wait would be an hour and a half. Needless to say, we ended up going back to their house and eating fried chicken. You never know what's going to happen at my house :)

Earlier this past weekend, we got a new buddy who is going to be staying with us for the next week.

His name is Yoshi and he is staying with us while his parents are having fun in California. He's a Shiba Inu and, so far, he is doing well, except he isn't really eating but everyone says he'll eat when he gets hungry enough.

Saturday night, Carmen hosted a Siete de Mayo party and it was a blast. I had fun helping her create decorations for it and she really made it festive-looking!

I made those blueberry mojitos I talked about earlier and they were a hit! We also hit a handmade pinata and I got away with 3 dollar bills, some candy, and a mini bottle of tequila.

How was your weekend?

What Is Your Television Style?

2011-05-06T07:55:00.000-04:00

My husband and I probably have what some consider to be an unhealthy relationship with our television/DVR. If you looked at our scheduled recordings, we record somewhere between 1-4 shows a day, which usually means a good 2-4 hours of television watching a night.

In having a relationship with my television, I've also had my feelings hurt more times than I can say. Who has started watching a brand new show only to see it snatched from under you?

The saddest example of my memory... October Road

When this show started a couple of years ago, I started watching and immediately loved it. I thought the main guy (Bryan Greenberg) was so cute and the cast was well chosen. They took my heart along for a ride for two years before the bigwigs at ABC decided to cancel it and leave it hanging with no ending. I might have shed a tear... I can't remember.

A show I did start watching immediately, and one that is doing very well for itself, is The Big Bang Theory.

It immediately appealed to the science nerd within me, and ended up being one of the funniest shows that I watch. Since Jim Parsons has won an Emmy, it's future looks promising.

For other shows, however, I waited for them to establish themselves among audiences and awards shows before I "jumped the bandwagon". Shows like Grey's Anatomy, Lost, and Mad Men were ones I had to catch up on through dvds, but I knew their chance of cancellation were slim (Lost doesn't count since they ended the series on their own terms).

So, do you like to dive into a brand new show and hope it stays afloat, or do you wait to see how it does before you get into it?

Blueberry Mojitos

2011-05-05T07:40:00.000-04:00

As I hinted at on my Twitter, I picked 3 1/2 pounds of blueberries yesterday morning. That seems like a lot but after freezing and eating some, I am left with just enough to make a delicious breakfast and a great cocktail. I'm also growing mint in my backyard, and it's getting big, so what better way to combine the two than with mojitos! Try making this tonight for Cinco De Mayo or this weekend at whatever fiesta you attend :)

Blueberry Mojito

Ingredients

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
5 mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish
Crushed ice
4 ounces unsweetened blueberry juice
2 ounces white rum
1 ounce club soda
4 to 6 fresh or frozen blueberries for garnish

Directions

Put the lime juice and sugar in a highball or other glass. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the mint leaves and crush or muddle them against the glass with the back of a spoon or a muddler.
Fill the glass with crushed ice.
Add the blueberry juice, rum, and club soda, and stir vigorously.
Drop the blueberries into the glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Enjoy!

What To Wear and Do in San Fran?

2011-05-04T08:02:00.001-04:00

Do you remember last year when I asked for recommendations for my trip to NYC? Well, this year I'm heading to the opposite coast and I need more of your advice!

I have never been to California and I know the weather is completely different from Florida. We will be spending 2 1/2 days in the beautiful San Francisco at the end of May and I want to be prepared!

The biggest wardrobe rule I've read is to layer. Apparently, the temperature can change drastically and having layers prepares one for any type of situation. Thankfully, I have some cute cardigans and jackets to bring, as well as some great scarves.

I also read that comfortable shoes are a must. This isn't like NYC where you just walk endlessly on level ground; San Fran has crazy hills that will really challenge my hamstrings and glutes, and as much as I'd love to wear heels, I'd rather not fall on my face. So, flats and boots will probably be my shoe staples in the city.

So, any other advice for me? Any food or entertainment recommendations?

2011 MET Costume Institute Gala

2011-05-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite events of the year is the annual MET Gala, which has celebrities bringing their fashion A-game to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year, they honored the late Alexander McQueen and looked good doing it! Here are some of my favorites:

Ashley Greene looks fantastic in this dress

I love how simple Claire Danes dresses and this is another winner

I love the texture of the dress and the high slit for Diane Kruger

I love Elizabeth Banks and I really love this dress on her

This beautiful blue, vintage-style dress is amazing on Eva Mendes

One of the most interesting dresses of the night, I dig this on Freida Pinto

As usual, Gwyneth Paltrow oozes sex appeal and class in this dress

All bow to Iman, who killed in this gold jumpsuit

I love the design and color of this dress on Salma Hayek

Who were some of your favorites at the MET Gala?

Pictures from People.com

Book Review: The Uncoupling

2011-05-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

I won this book on Goodreads's First Reads giveaway page. Usually, when you win a first read, you should read and review it as soon as you get it, so the reviews can build up to when the book is released. I was bad and didn't read this until a month after I received it. But I finished it this weekend and I'm ready to review!

The book is about a a small New Jersey town that is overcome by a spell when the new drama teacher puts on a high school play of Lysistrata. The spell takes away all the women's sexual desires and mirrors the "sex strike" that the Greek play is all about. The novel focuses on teachers and students at the high school and how their relationships are affected by the spell, as well as the impact the play has on the community.

I had never heard of Lysistrata but I thought the plot of the novel was original. You have to be willing to accept that supernatural forces are at work here and that the desire of sex can come in and out of someone like the wind. I don't believe that the male's responses are believable... in my opinion, I feel as though the men would be more angry than subdued and depressed. The relationships focused on cover all areas of the spectrum, but the reactions seem to be lessened to a degree. While the writing itself was easily followed, it was a mediocre read that left more to be desired. You almost assumed what would happen in the end and the statuses of each relationship.

I was thankful to have won the book and been able to read it before it was released (this was my second ARC I've ever read), but I can't say that I would recommend it to anyone else.

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T08:23:00.001-04:00

It's official! Prince William and Princess Catherine are husband and wife!

I was already waking up at 5am and I couldn't help but watch the coverage. What I was most excited to see, like everyone else, was Kate's wedding dress, and she did not disappoint!

She looked absolutely gorgeous and I looove her dress! It's so simple and elegant and perfect for her.

When she arrived at the altar, Prince William told her she was beautiful and it was a touching moment.

It was such a beautiful ceremony. Did any of you watch or care about the royal wedding?

Provençale Chicken Recipe

2011-04-28T08:08:00.001-04:00

Thanks to my Cooking Light Slow Cooker cookbook and my amazing crock pot, I prepared last night's dinner in 5 minutes and in 6 hours, it was ready! This had to be one of the easiest and quickest slow cooker recipes I have ever used. If you are really out of time one night, throw this meal together and enjoy!

Provençale Chicken

Ingredients

4 (6-ounce) skinned chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can pasta-style tomatoes, undrained

Preparation

Place the chicken in an electric slow cooker; sprinkle with basil, salt, and black pepper. Add the bell pepper, beans, and tomatoes. Cover with lid; cook on low-heat setting for 8 hours.

Recipe from Cooking Light

Water For Elephants

2011-04-26T08:10:00.000-04:00

Over a month ago, I wrote a book review about Water for Elephants. Last Thursday, I was lucky enough to catch a screening of the movie before it came out. I was a little hesitant at first, not know how Robert Pattinson's acting skills were, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The movie stays true to the book and mostly leaves out the details of the old man in the nursing home. The other difference is that the characters August and Uncle Al are pretty much combined into one, played by Christoph Waltz.

I enjoyed the movie and thought everyone did a great job at capturing the characters. For those of you that have read the book, you know that there is some animal abuse featured, which is also portrayed in the movie (and doesn't go over well with animal lovers). Other than that, it is nicely done.

Have you seen the movie?

I Need Your Help: Miles For Moffitt

2011-04-25T08:11:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend and got to share the time with family and friends. Ours was pretty low key but we had a great time with our family.

On May 14th, I am participating in Miles for Moffitt, which raises money for cancer research and awareness. I will be doing the one mile and I joined the Speak Out For Moffitt team, which alerts people when serious legislation is up that affects cancer funding on the state and federal level. Just this year, I've had to email State and US Senators and Representatives to keep cancer research funding on the budgets that have been voted on. Thankfully, no major cuts have been made to cancer research but it's because of programs like Speak Out For Moffitt that allow us to make our voices heard.

If you have cancer or know someone who has had or currently has cancer, I ask you to make a donation to our team. Your donation goes directly to Moffitt Cancer Center, which is on the cutting edge of cancer research in the country. So far, they have raised $31,631 but they have a goal of $75,000 that they would really love to reach.

If you are interested in donating, please visit our team's donation site. I thank you for your support and wish me luck!