The Book Challenge: January Recap

Hmmm ... I think I promised to blog about more than just books and skating, but here we are with another book post. I actually do have a vacation recap post in progress, but sometimes all you have the energy for is something quick and easy. It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks.



I upped the ante and got off to a really good start this year. I always read more on vacation. :-)

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver -- This month's book club pick about an evangelical minister who drags his family to the Congo, and the lasting effect the experience has on them all.

2. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult -- The ending annoyed me. I hear the movie has a different ending, but I'm still not convinced that the movie won't annoy me as well.

3. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver -- A mother tries to understand what might have made her son a killer. Disturbing, but thought provoking.

4. Cleaving by Julie Powell -- One of the worst books I have read in a long. long time. I'm not bothered by the fact that Julie Powell (of Julie & Julia) had an affair. I am bothered by how whiny, self-absorbed and entitled she is. Plus she's in dire need of a copy of He's Just Not That Into You.

5. Skinny by Ibi Kaslick -- A rather disjointed novel about anorexia, its aftereffects and family secrets.

6. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson -- What Skinny hoped to accomplish in tackling the topic of eating disroders, Wintergirls actually did.

7. The Wild Things by Dave Eggers -- I don't have the sentimental attachment to Where The Wild Things Are that a lot of people my age do. So while this entertained me, I probably didn't appreciate as fully as others would.

8. Crank by Ellen Hopkins -- Realistic story of a teenage girl's addiction to meth. I'm torn about the ending. One the one hand, it seems a little preachy and too convenient. On the other hand. it is not uncommon among addicts.


9. Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-time Eater by Frank Bruni -- It's not too often you read about body image concerns and insecurities from a man's perspective, much less a man who makes his living as a food critic.

10. Falling Out of Fashion by Karen Yampolsky -- Standard chick lit fare, but holds a special place in my heart because it's a thinly veiled account of Jane magazine's demise. Jane had also been the editor of Sassy magazine, which I adored and which was the first magazine I ever subscribed to. Teenagers today totally missed out on that one. Jane wasn't as great as Sassy, but sometimes one has to take what one can get.

11. The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee -- A tale of ill-fated lovers in Hong Kong's expatriate community, both during WWII and the decade following.

Three years ago ...

I was so excited while waiting in the bridal room at the church that I could barely sit still.

We had an awesome time with our guests during cocktail hour.

I spent a very important day in my life with my best girls,

the best co-workers I could ever have in my life,

and the best brothers a Deltasig could ask for.

Kids at weddings are a hot topic of debate, but our reception wouldn't have been the same without all the kids who hit the dance floor.

And we ate the yummiest cake I have ever had in my life. nomnomnom :-)

Three years later and I haven't changed the locks yet ...... haven't even contemplated it ...... I love you Eddie!

What are you doing this week?

We will be gazing upon this:



Don't be a hater! ;-)

The Book Challenge: December Recap

I missed my revised goal of 65 books, but that was out of sheer laziness on my part. I can't complain at all though. I finished out the book challenge with some great stories, especially the last book I read. Before going any further, I have to give a shout-out to Jessica, who has been an endless source of fantastic recommendations & reviews. Whenever I got stuck trying to decide what to read next, I always found an answer within her blog.

The final books of 2009:

58. The Luxe by Anna Godberson

59. Rumors by Anna Godberson

60. Envy by Anna Godberson

61. Splendor by Anna Godberson

62. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

My reading goals for 2010? To read at least 50 books again, but with a focus on some big books and classics that I've been meaning to tackle for a while.

Why Hello There 2010 ...

... you certainly seemed to sneak up on me. I guess that's what happens when you never quite get into the holiday season. It all passes by before your eyes and all of a sudden it's a new decade. Then you start to reflect on the past ten years and realize how much has happened in your life. I have to admit that the last decade brought a lot of change and upheaval to my life, but overall it was good to me.

So I am trying to be good to the new decade by starting off on a positive foot. I'd like to say that it was an easy day, but I hit a rough patch in the morning that had the potential to entirely derail my day. I'm a big believer in setting the tone for the year by your actions and attitude on January 1st though, so I forced myself to turn the day around rather than wallowing. I made a yummy brunch . I took a chance on an interesting-sounding sparkling shiraz instead of my usual champagne (verdict --- thumbs up). I called my parents & my brother. I went to the gym and did a solid 30 minutes of cardio (gasp! --- like literally dude; I'm way out of shape). Then I came home and made Eddie one of his favorite meals. And now I'm actually blogging again, about something other than books or skating.

So bring it on 2010. You might have startled me a bit, but I think I'm ready for you.

'Tis the Season

I totally stole this from FCD because it's been a while since I blogged and because my pictures from dinner at Providence came out really crappy. The meal itself, however, was awesome and if you need a place to go for a special occasion I would completely recommend it. If you do go, try to get Olaf as your waiter. He's so much fun.

A Christmas Meme

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, preferable spiked with a bit of Bailey's, Godiva liqueur or Frangelico.

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? Wrapped. What would be the point of unwrapped gifts under a tree?

Colored lights on a tree or white? White.

Do you hang mistletoe? No.

When do you put your decorations up? The weekend before Christmas, usually in a panic after realizing that Christmas is only a week away.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Lamb curry.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not anymore, but I did as a child, after returning from midnight mass.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I haven't put up a tree in years. :'-(

Snow: love it or hate it? Love to look at it. Hate to fall in it or drive in it.

Can you ice skate? Well, duh! Do any of you not know the answer to this one?! ;-)

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Christmas cookies.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Having mom's appam & lamb curry for breakfast on Christmas morning and spending the day visiting various family friends.

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Yuck. I only like the mini ones.

Favorite Christmas show? A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Nutcracker ballet & Love Actually.

The Book Challenge: November Recap

So I failed miserably at my November challenges (NaBloPoMo and 30 workouts in 30 days), but at least I kept reading!

53. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

54. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

55. Because I'm Worth It by Cecily von Ziegesar

56. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

57. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

My revised goal of 65 by year end might be a little tough to meet, but I'm still going for it!