Kristin Hannah - 2 Novels

Between Sisters:  This book centers on two sisters (obviously)! They had a mom, for lack of better words, whom was self-absorbed and seeking fame.  When the mother abandoned the children unsupervised for an extended amount of time the older sister located the younger sisters biological father whom neither has ever met.  They go to stay with the man and the older sister is very jealous of the relationship the two have, as she doesnt even know who her father is because her mother never would tell her.  The oldest girl begins to act out and is then asked to leave.  They grow into their lives without one another.  The older sister becomes a rich, sucessful and lonely divorce attorney. The younger sister has a very simple and poor life but is filled with good friends and love from her father and her daughter.  The younger sister meets a man, falls head over heels and rushes into a marriage that the other sister does not approve of but the older sister must learn to bite her tongue and be supportive in order to rebuild their broken relationship. After the marriage the plot thickens and becomes wonderful and teary- just like I like em!!

Winter Garden :  This book did not captivate me at all and I have liked ALL of her other novels up to date.  Too much time was spent on these weird fairy tales of a winter garden passed down froma Russian mother who was very cold & distant.  It was like prying teeth to see into this character.  Subconciously you find yourself skimming over the text to further yourself along inthe book. I never do this.. but halfway through the book I gave up, quit reading and returned this book. I dont recommend this book - save your precious time :)

Great - Great - GREAT Book Reviews!!

Prayers & Lies:  Southern families who keep secrets for generations.  Story centered on two young girls from different means whom become the best of friends.  One family has a nice home and a stable life with problems of their own only they know about,  The other girl is from a broken home and lives with her broken mother whom she must care for.  This story incorporates chilling subjects such as incest, rape, mental health, alcoholism and suicide. Fabulous read from a first time author!!

Up from the Blue:  This book centers on a brother and sister being raised in a dysfunctional home.  The story starts on a military base - as the father is employed as a general prior to being promoted to work at the pentagon.  The father is very strict/militant and emotionally unavailable to his children.  The mom, although in the home, is non-existant in her kids lives. The responsibilty of being a parent and all it entails ruins her.  She is irrational, unpredictable and irresponsible.  You find yourself wondering if she is on drugs, depressed or just menatlly unstable.  The daughter deeply loves her mother despite her flaws.  Once the family moves for the fathers job extreme changes take place which literally break the childrens themselves and the ties that bond them.  LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!

Home Stories A to Z Inspirations

 

How great is the mirror

with the shutters

 in a dining  room with no windows?? 

These 3 are photos of Beth's home are found on her facebook page.

I personally plan to copy the wine cork frame and display of baby spoons! 

Pottery Barn Inspirations

 How incredible are these!!

Again, I have the problem of not knowing where to put them....

but they sure are inspirational!! 

Family Tree Inspiration

I stumbled acrost this photo on FB. A friend of a friend (you know how that goes on there) is an artist and painted this "treescape" on her wall to serve as a family tree for photos. I LOVE THE IDEA!!  So much so that I found an artist to do it for me.. but I am in "the chickening out stage" and I am not quite sure where to put it... over the couch or in a hallway? IDK!!  We have been in our new home for 8 months now and I am still just too scared to put paint on the walls. Hopefully soon I shall persevere!!  :) But how cool is this idea?

"Whistlin Bill" aka "Superbird" is actually a GIRL !!

On Fathers day we were in for quite a surprise when my son came running out to say the bird just laid an egg. My husband and I initially didnt believe him and went running in to see. We were told the bird was a he and all his markings were pointing to this assumption as well. My hopes that it was a real egg came crashing down (we adopted him recently from my vet- he was found in the wild) when a few friends told me this is actually very common that their birds did the same thing. My son said to me "she laid an egg on fathers day as a present" it melted my heart away as he always does :)  I am however starting feel bad for the bird... she keeps sitting on it and is very protective of it. Eventually I am going to be a bird abductor when I take that egg away!!

Kathryn Stockett - The Help

I am pretty sure every woman on the planet has read this best seller.. but I just wanted to put it out there!!  This book is amazing. It is a bit hard to get into the characters voices at first due to the slang/speach patterns of the south but once you are adjusted you are hooked. Really gives such a heartbreaking perspective of how unfair life was to those born into slavery/race. I found myself seething at "the white folk" until the book turns around when a few of the women have the courage to stand apart from the norm of their social circles and stay true to their hearts and what is right. I loved this book- looking forward to another book from this new talented author!

Nicholas Sparks - Author of my heart!!

Just when I thought Nicholas Sparks couldn't get any better!!!  My first novel of Mr. Sparks was The Notebook.. wow. I was one of the few who had not seen the movie and I feel so lucky for that!!  Reading a book before seeing it on film is so much better because the canvas of your mind is empty... there are no images or preconceived impressions of the character's personality (which on film often reflects the actor rather than the true written character).  I cried my eyes out over the pages of this book- then watched the movie and was not impressed by the cheesy love scenes and felt so much was lost!! Well, on to Last Song and Dear John.....  more gutwrenching crying and heartfelt ooey gooey good emotion!!  I cannot say enough about this author.. I plan to read every single one of his books by the end of the summer :)

Book Review: Anna Quindlen

Every so often I go through reading spurts where I read 6-8 books in a month. The problem is after all the crying and hysteria of the is done I forget what the book was even about. I thought this blog would be a good place to help me keep my memory intact. Recently I read two of Anna Quindlen's novels: Black and Blue and Every Last One.  Both were exceptional books pertaining to a mothers love of her children and what she will or will not do to protect them.  Both books take you through the journey of a mother loosing it all and starting over.. but in extremely different situations & eventual outcomes... I wont give away the storyline.. but I will say both are a must read!!

artscape window film for eyebrow window

Daytime glows inside the home

@ night film glows on the outside