Tuesday Teaser

It was like a bit of flypaper stuck to your finger that you couldn't shake off. The bloody thing clung to life like a limpet.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag

I just finished Flavia de Luce Mystery book II and loved it.

Teaser Tuesday

I know... here I am taking over again... I just love the Teaser Tuesday idea too much to let it pass by!

"'Absolutely,' Mr. Benedict replied. 'You must remember, family is often born of blood, but doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.'"

From The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart.

Next week - how about a volunteer!

Teaser Tuesday

I know that it's not my turn and it's not even Tuesday anymore but I just need to post that this is one of the most hillariously true statements from the book. (Thanks to Abi for bringing it to my attention!)
"And he'd have to be not too thin. Why, I remembered hugging Ernest was like wrapping your arms around a fence post, and I love Ernest, but I want a man who can hold me down in a wind."
Amen, sista!!!

These Is My Words

Teaser Tuesday

I am currently reading "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.
Enjoyable so far. I'm gonna do a little more than two sentences though.

"The wives of missing men are all the same, thought Mma Ramotswe. At first they feel anxiety, and are convinced that something dreadful has happened. Then doubt begins to creep in, and they wonder whether he's gone off with another woman (which he usually has), and then finally they become angry. At the anger stage, most of them don't want him back anymore, even if he's found. They just want to have a good chance to shout at him"

Next Week: DeEtte

Teaser Tuesday

I know I wasn't tagged but it's been a while so I didn't think anyone would care. :)

This is from August's book, "Shanghai Girls" - which I'm liking but not loving...





"Coming here is ugly and hardly auspicious, like stepping into the past, which is precisely what Baba wants us to do with these marriages. Still, May and I have come, obedient as dogs, stupid as water buffalo."





For next week I tag Devin :)

So Sorry - Teaser Tuesday

Yes...I'm a slacker and completely forgot about Teaser Tuesday. So here it is..Teaser Tuesday...on Thursday a week late.

I am reading March's book. "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. I'm loving this book.

"With a boy you never know whether he's smitten or gagging, but with a girl you can tell in the first three seconds. Between girls there is a silent and unending flow of invisible signals, like the high-frequency wireless messages between the shore and the ships at sea, and this secret flow of dots and dashes was signaling that Mary detested me."

Next week....Mila.

Friday Finds

A few years back, I worked for an awesome professional hair care and cosmetic contract manufacturing company called Graham Webb. One of the perks of the job was at-cost professional hair care - the best around (if you ask me). One of the lines that we developed was called Halo and was designed and created specifically to lengthen the time required between hair colorings.

I LOVE the Halo products and totally stocked up right before the lay-offs (they relocated to LA). I still have at least enough shampoo to last me through the rest of this year and probably next year as well. One of the things that I couldn't stock up on because of the shelf life of the stuff, was the mousse and gel. Shampoo and conditioner generally last a lot longer than the styling products...

I digress...

I ran out of the best (but somewhat expensive) mousse (Brit Style Mousing Wax) a couple of months ago and have been looking for something else. Since I was a loyal Pantene customer prior to my days at Graham Webb, I decided to start there. And I'm so glad I did. I love their mousse.

I tried the Full & Thick one first. I don't really need a lot of help in this area, however when you're going curly it's generally better to go big. I loved it. It's a tad on the crunchy side for me, but it totally kept my frizz at bay and it washed out well.

I'm now trying the Curls one which doesn't have as strong a hold and I'm not sure if I'll keep it or go back to the other one.

A few of you have curls and try to hide them. Let it go. Stick some mousse in it and love the hair you're in!

I'm hoping that their shampoos and conditioners have improved as much as their styling products have because that's where I plan to start when my stash runs out.

For next week, I tag Lori :)

(Can't remember if she's already been picked or not...?)

Teaser Tuesday!!

It's back!

Here's mine for the week:

"All around me, the church seems to breathe with shadows. Mice scurry under pews, their claws scratching against the marble floor. My skin crawls at the thought. " A Great and Terrible Beauty pg. 77


Next week I tag Devyn.

iphone case

Hope you don't mind, but I have to post today or I will not have time tomorrow. I just got a new phone because my old phone was dying. Because I drop my phone so much, kids play with my phone, and in general I am just not very careful with it, I made myself a case for it. It is lined with fusible fleece to give it lots of cushion. I got the example from this site. Mine didn't turn out as cute, and they don't have the back pocket, but they were so easy and fun to make, I ended up making four of them. One of them is for a very special mom with 6 boys!! Can you guess who it is? I hope she likes it!

Camille

For next week I tag Abi.

Don't Eat Darcy

i saw this post and giggled thinking of all of my "mr. darcy" fans :) game sounds kind of lame, but hey, it's mr. darcy and chocolate so it can't actually be all that bad!!! enjoy.

http://www.executivehomemaker.com/2009/03/dont-eat-darcy/

i tag camille for next friday!!!

First Look at 'Twilight: Eclipse'

First Look at 'Twilight: Eclipse'

Intervention

Hello. My name is Vanessa and I am a book wreath-a-holic. I can't stop myself from tearing up old books and making wreaths out of them.



It has progressed into trying to find new and different ways to fold and glue paper. I know I'm hurting millions of librarians and book readers alike, but I can't stop myself. Something must be done....

Last Friday's Friday Find

Book Bag

Look at the slacker, finally posting…only 5 days late. Well, better late then never. So, I had a totally different thing in mind and then I ran across this cute little number. Seeing as how this is a book club blog, and this is a cute bag made out of an old book, it seemed to fit the bill. I found this on Remodelaholic. I suggest that at one of the book club meetings we briefly discuss the book and then quickly get our craft on! Who’s with me?! Click here if you should want to take a peek at the actual tutorial and cruise around the cute little blog.

Supplies:
One hardback book
Exatco knife
1/2 yard or less of fabric
Handles of your choice.
Hot glue
Duct Tape

Teaser Tuesdays

"As he wrote to a clergyman friend,"No man has a more perfect reliance on the all-wise and powerful dispensations of th eSupreme Being than I have, nor thinks His aid more necessary." p. 171 The Real George Washington, By Jay A. Parry & Andrew M. Allison

Teaser Tuesdays

The Gift and the Ceremony:

"The purpose of gift giving is not simply to get an object from one person's hand to another. The purpose is to express emotional love. We want the person to sense deeply "I care about you. I think you are important, I love you." These emotional messages are enhanced when attention is given to the ceremony accompanying the passing of the gift."

I am reading The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman (again). Kathryn's love language is receiving gifts and this is hard to execute if this is not your love language. It is difficult and it takes a conscious effort for me. But, I love my daughter and I will read and re-read this book as many times as I have to. I highly recommend this book.

I tag Michele for next week! I will let her know.

Big Book Sales

I read this in the Oceanside Magazine the other day and thought I would share:

Saturday, April 24 and Saturday, July 24:
At the Friends of the Library's Big Book Sales, customers will discover a wealth of gently-used books and other items. As usual, hardcover books and large trade paperbacks will be sold for $1. Paperbacks will be $.25 or 5 for $1. CDs, DVDs, VCR tapes and children's books will sell at low, low prices. Magazines will be only $.10. Sales are open to members of the Friends of the Library at 9:00am, with membership applications available on site, and open to the public at 10:00am. See you at the sales!

602 Civic Center Drive, across from the City parking structure. Runs until 4:00pm.

I know it's not my turn and I know it's not Friday, but I couldn't resisit sharing this one! I'm a book junkie so I've already added it to my calendar! Anyone wanna come with me? :)

Saturday boredom

http://movies.msn.com/superfans/twilight/twilight-vs-harry-potter-face-off/harry-vs-edward/

I was just browsing the internet reading about earthquakes and stuff, when I came across this question; "Who would be a better boyfriend, Harry Potter or Edward Cullen?" Instead of doing my taxes, I thought about this. What do you think?

Friday Finds

HALF PRICE MOVIE TICKETS AND MOVIE FOOD! Today only. Go to the "Ultra star" website and you'll see their ad for this amazing deal of the day.

(Here's their ad:) "Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Dimming lights, the smell of freshly popped popcorn....the boom of surround-sound and the screen comes to life. Time to turn off your cell phone and take a break from the rush of everyday life. Today's deal to UltraStar Cinemas gives your wallet a break too- $18 for two movie tickets plus $14 in food and drink. That's a $36 value at half the price."

P.S. I tag Koni

I ACTUALLY made it!

I made the book wreath! Actually, I made two, but the first one was a present and I forgot to snap a picture before I gave it away (dangit.) Then I made this other version last night....





Now I'm book wreath crazy and am researching all different kinds of folding/ruffling techniques for the paper.. we have to plan a book wreath day!

Teaser Tuesday

My Teaser comes from Sarah (Orson Scott Card). I'm LOVING this book. It's taking me a while to read but that isn't because I don't love it. I'm just slow ;)

"Silenty speaking this inward prayer made her think of something else. If Sehtepibre was in the business of faking omens from the gods, it must mean that he does not believe in any god at all. And if he feared no god, then what would restrain him from any crime he wanted to commit? A man without a god was a many without decency, for he would fear no divine retribution."

For next week, I tag...... Carmen :)

I was reminded that the visitors center in Old Town has been rededicated and looks great. It is has a lot of interactive activites with photo backdrops, paning for gold, and picnic tables for a family meal. I grew up in P.B. (15 minutes away) from Old Town and went to the visitors for many F.H.E. activities. It is a great history lesson involving the Mormon Battalion and the establishment of various communities along the coast of California. My family is planning on a trip to check it out next month. Oh! And one other piece of info. it is all free!!

Address:

2510 Juan StreetSan Diego, California 92110
Phone number(s):

619-298-3317
Schedule:

The newly remodeled historic site is now open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for free tours.

posted by Rabecca I tag:Phaedra

Teaser Tuesday (Part Two)

Sorry Ladies,

Mila was actually the tagged person for Teaser Tuesday. She sent her teaser to Phaedra who sent it to me to post for her, but life got in the way and by the time I got here, a teaser was posted. I still want to post Mila's because she had it ready at the end last week and it's FABULOUS.

Here's Mila's teaser one day late!

"This book has pores... The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are."

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Page 83


I tag Abi!

Mila

Teaser Tuesdays

This is Sara, not Mila. Perhaps Mila doesn't look at this blog or forgot to post yesterday? Perhaps she's sick, and whatever the reason, it doesn't matter except for the fact that I really really missed Teaser Tuesday!!
I know, how lame am I to check and check and check to see if anyone has posted anything. (Think how I'll be once I quit my job!!) So although it's Wednesday, here's a little Teaser Tuesday for you:

"It made good chemical sense, I reasoned: If salts were a cure, and chicken broth were a cure, think of the magnificent restorative power of a glass of effervescent chicken broth! It boggled the mind."
From The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie pg 250
(Can I say again how much I love this book?!)

Sara

Oh, and for next week I tag Abi!!

Blog books

I get asked about this a lot so I thought I'd post it here in case anyone is interested. I really wanted to be one of those mom's who kept journals for their kids with all the funny things they said and the milestones they reached. Unfortunaltely, I never had the time. Then I discovered Blogger. It's so much easier for me to find a few minutes here and there to type up a few sentences about our day, or week, than to sit down and write it in a book. I'm also an excessive picture taker so a blog has been the perfect way for me to journal our family. So I finally found the perfect way for me to keep a journal but...I also like to have something I can hold in my hands. Then I discovered Blurb.

Blurb is a publishing website that will slurp your Blogger blog into their software. You don't have to copy and paste text and pictures, it transfers it all into their template for you. Going through and editing the pages and getting them set up exactly the way I wanted was still very time consuming but so worth it in the end. I now have my blog printed from 2007 (I'm still working on 2008). It's hardcover with a dust jacket that you can design yourself (I didn't bother and just used a digipaper but you can get really creative and do whatever you want). It has all my blog posts and pictures for the year. I'm really hoping that the kids will enjoy looking through it as they get older. I try to give them their own special post every six months or so with all the reason they're special and I love them. Again, in the hope that it will be something they'll enjoy later. Sorry about the terrible pictures below! I think it helps to see what it actually looks like.

I tag...Rabecca!

Hunger Games Final Book

Scholastic has released the title and the cover art for the third Hunger Games book! Woohoo!



It will still be released on August 24th. I can't wait and I know a lot of you are excited too! Read about it here.

Happy reading everyone!

Teaser Tuesday

"Let me be the conduit. There are all these hearts, and mine is strong, and if there are-there are!-capillaries that bring blood to millions, that we are all of one body and that I am-Oh, I want to be the heart pumping blood to everyone, blood is what I know, I feel so warm in blood, can swim in blood, oh let me be the strong -beating heart that brings blood to everyone!"
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, page237

I tag Mila!

Friday Finds

I really loved the book wreath idea. I have a bunch of old books that I was about to get rid of but maybe we should do wreath's at one of our book clubs (or at least help me make one).

My house is a very sports oriented place (and this is not just Greg). Sometimes I am more sports craze than my whole family put together! We have the Super Bowl this Sunday, the Winter Olympics is about to start, the men's soccer World Cup (my favorite of all) will begin in June etc... This of course changes the menu at our house. Food and sports goes hand in hand. I love eating in New Orleans and since the Saints are in the super bowl this year, I am posting this recipe; http://video.about.com/southernfood/Gulf-Coast-Shrimp-Po--Boy.htm

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

I tag Meaghan!

Teaser Tuesday

"If she told him her fears, it would only discourage him, and she'd have to listen to more insistence that she take him back to the enchanted place and lead him across the bridge so he could go home. She tried to imagine what it would be like to be in his place, cut off from family, trapped in a situation not of her devising."

Enchantment, by Orson Scott Card. Page 136

Next Week......Phaedra!

Friday Finds

Okay girls!! Here's my Friday Find for the week.

I don't know about you, but January is all about renewal for me.

I set goals to excercise, (-hey I actually went to the YMCA twice this week something I haven't done since...hmmm...May?) -Setting goals to read the scriptures more, to learn a new skill, to spend more time with my family, to save more money, blah, blah, blah, on and on; and they are typically broken around February. Sound familiar?

Well the good news for me, is that I just sat down this Monday and planned out my 2010 goals so perhaps all of them won't be broken until March this year?! LOL.
One of my goals was to be more diligent with Family Home Evening. I don't know about you, but to be honest, I'm one for four this month. BOINK!
I think I was secretly waiting for Vanessa to send out the link for the FHE lessons for the entire year, like she did last year. But alas; nada. If you've had this, why haven't you shared with me!!!
So, with that said, here is my Friday Find:

2010 FHE Lessons for a year "I Know My Savior Lives."
Yep, I went looking for it myself, I loved having this for 2009, if made FHE so much easier, and if it's easy, there's a greater chance of me actually doing it!

Enjoy! -If like me you hadn't got this yet.
And shame on you if you already had it and didn't send it to me.

Here's another one I found, but this one seemed to be geared more to older kids, (and was a lot more pages to print) so pick which one is right for your fam.
2010 FHE Lessons -geared more for older kids

For next week's Friday Find, I tag CARMEN!

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday!!

Here's mine...


"The river tugged at Lirael's knees, willing her onwards. For a moment she resisted, reluctant to give up the feel of Life at her back." Abhorsen by Garth Nix page 96



And for next week, I tag Devyn.

Friday Finds

Here's our newest fun blog game. I've called it Friday Finds. Every Friday we list something we've found that other book clubbers might like! It could be a new book, new magazine, a new craft, something new around Oceanside, whatever you can think of. I'd like to be able to tag each other to do this so we can all have a turn! I'll go first this week and name someone I've tagged at the bottom. If' you are up for being tagged, leave a comment so I'll know it and the other people will too!

So here is my first Friday Find:

The Book Wreath!



Yes, that's right. It's a wreath. Made. from. an. old. book!!! I'm dying. Why don't I already have one??! Click on the book wreath link above the picture to check out the tutorial. I think I could possibly be able to pull this on off!

This has to be one of the funnest craft projects I've seen in a long time! My friend Elaine (who is a librarian) tipped me off to it and I can't wait to make my own. I even want to try one with magazine pages or something colorful like a comic book for the girls playroom. What do ya think? Should we make some together?

Also, the blog I found it on, Living with Lindsay is TERRIFIC! It's a fantastic little crafty blog I know I'll be checking time and time again! I feel a house overhaul with my glue gun coming on...


Okay, for next week, I tag....SARA!

Teaser Tuesdays

Okay, so today is our Teaser Tuesday.

Yes, I know it's Wednesday. I'm late. I have good reasons, but I wanted to get it done to show you how it will work. The idea came from this blog over at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Every week I hope we can post our own teaser and link it back. Plus we can have teasers for each other, just leave a comment with your two teaser sentences!

WHY are we doing this we ask???!!! Because I say so. And I have author access so you can't stop me. And it's awesome. And I'm feeling extra snarky today, so watch it!

No really, I thought this could be really fun considering how many of our original group has now moved and goshdarnit, I miss them!!! So I'm hoping they'll chime in too! (you know who you are!)

Without further ado, here's my first Teaser Tuesday:

"Lirael wondered how on earth they could work with the corrosive taint of Free Magic all around and looked at them more closely. Then she gasped and tried to move back, but the vision held her." From Lirael by Garth Nix. (second installation in the Abhorsen Trilogy)

Okay ladies, let's see it! What's your teaser?

New Year, New Books

Hello Everyone! Welcome to 2010!!

The list of books for this year are over on the right. The alternate reading list was updated as well, if you have a book for that, just let me know or post a review here and I'll add it. We had a couple of changes to the list after further thought, but I don't think it effects anyone's choices that wasn't in on the discussion.

This month's book is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. We will be meeting at Shauna's house.

Here's a few different things for this coming year..

• We are going to be trying out a monthly book exchange. If you have a book you've finished and enjoyed and either want to pass it along for good or just loan it out, bring it along each month. We will have stickers to place in the back saying who to return it to if it's just a loaner. If you have books you no longer want, bring those too and if no one picks them up, I will gather them up and take them down to the library for donation.
  

• Is everyone aware of Good Reads? www.goodreads.com is a fun and great (and free) way to review and keep track of your books and to keep track of what your friends are reading as well. We can even start our own group on there if we have enough people who want to do so! Make sure to check it out!
  

• Don't forget, you can always post a review or book suggestion or anything else you come across here! If you don't have author access, let me (Vanessa) know and I will fix that quick!

• After following a few other book clubby blogs (namely Exclusively Books and ShouldBeReading) I thought it might be fun to play along with some of their blog posts. In particulary Teaser Tuesdays (which I'll start this Tuesday) and maybe Friday Finds, which just means on Fridays, we post a book (or blog or magazine) we've heard about that we think others might enjoy.

• Next meeting we'll talk about a few other group endeavors, like group movie tickets purchases and a group Barnes and Noble Membership.

Happy Reading Everyone!!!!!