Thursday, November 26, 2015

Beyond the Books: Thanksgiving

This Weeks Topic: Thanksgiving
Hosted by Kissin' Blue Karen

Hello all! I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! Today we are headed to visit John's family. For our dish to pass, we are bringing a seven-layered salad and pomegranate-cranberry sauce. We are looking forward to family time as well as the Macy's day parade! What are your Thanksgiving plans?

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling




Book Summery (Via Goodreads):
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
In “How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet’s Confessions,” Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (“Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn’t the land of appropriate–this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman’s traditional hair color is honey blonde.”) “Player” tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (“I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.”) In “Unlikely Leading Lady,” she muses on America’s fixation with the weight of actresses, (“Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they’re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.”) And in “Soup Snakes,” Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (“I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.”)
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.

Book Review:
About this time last year, I read Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), and loved it. Kaling brought a fresh voice full of savvy wit and honesty. So when I saw that she was releasing another book, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Luckily, my local library had an audio book version of Why Not Me?, which I lapped up greedily. Now here's the funny thing...I have never watched The Mindy Project. I only know Kaling from her appearances on The Office (one of my all-time favorite shows). So what then does Kaling's writing have to offer me? As I mentioned before, I find Kaling's writing refreshing. I love her unique, off-beat perspective on life. I find her priorities and overall lifestyle somewhat difficult to relate to. She's interested in romantic comedies, celebrities, and fashion...things that I wouldn't place as front prioritization in my life...and that's where I think the my interest is sparked. For whatever reason, I find her obsession with this lifestyle alluring and entertaining. Kaling takes me to another demention, one in which I enjoy rubbing elbows with celebs and hearing all the latest gossip, while carving out my legacy in Hollywood. It's a life I could never imagine without Kaling's particular perspective. To be fair, Kaling is also a rather intelligent person. I feel like this (more serious) side comes out most strongly at the end of this book. Overall, I feel that you get a diverse and entertaining perspective of Kaling's life in Why Not Me?. It's the perfect follow-up to Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? If you enjoy Kaling's brand of humor or are looking for something entertaining, but a bit different, I highly encourage you to check out Why Not Me?.

Cover Art Commentary:
I like the simplicity of this cover. The sleek, bright colors and simple lines. It draws attention to the author rather than the background.

Rating:

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Beyond the Books: I am most proud of…

This Weeks Topic: I am most proud of my kitties
Hosted by Kissin' Blue Karen

I know it sounds weird...but I am proud of my kitties. We raised these two since they were little fluffballs...about 6-7 weeks old, weighing barely over 2 pounds!

This little guy is Sharkey.

And this little orange one is Pumpkin, Sharkey's sister. 

They were the only 2 in the liter. 

They are always snuggling and curled up together.

They get monthly baths...which they've grown to tolerate, but not love.

They've grown into healthy, happy kitties. They're about 7-8 months old now and their personalities are really starting to develop and show. They love to play and snuggle. Sharkey always looks angry, but he's actually very sweet. :)

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Weekly Round-Up: 11/8 - 11/14

Life This Week:
It's been a rough one. I threw my back out in my sleep of all things. The pain has been excruciating. So it's been rest, ice, and several trips to the chiropractor for me. This has not allowed much reading to get done. :(

Books Read and Reviewed:

Beyond the Books:

What I am Currently Reading:
(audio book)


What I Will Be Reading Next:
or


Randomness:

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Beyond the Books: Bedtime Routines

This Weeks Topic: Bedtime Routines
Hosted by Kissin' Blue Karen

 I wash my face every, night.
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 Then I apply face cream and brush my teeth. 
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I soak my feet ant put lotion on them, then cover them with fuzzy socks. 
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John and I snuggle with the kitties and watch TV. 
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Then I usually read until I fall asleep. 
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That wasn't too lengthy I hope! What's your routine?