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Santa Paws Holiday

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25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

This video, which was shared with me by my friend Jenni, is sort-of brilliant. I am overwhelmed however, by all the options. I think I need to watch it again!



In the meantime, I have many posts I have been hoping to share and for many reasons, none worth mentioning, I have not gotten to it. Watch for some fun fall recipes, stories and highlights... soonish!

And finally, PS. Happy NaNoWriMo Kick-off Day!

NanoWriMo Take 2!

I can't believe it's that time again! It's nearly November and that means it's nearly time for my second annual venture into the world of writing a novel in 30 days! NaNoWrimo 2011 is almost here!

I, for one, can't wait! I have a few ideas in mind, but am still working on planning out the details of my 2011 adventure. Expect updates on the way. It's my most wonderful time of the year!

For my fellow NaNoers- good luck and happy writing!

And, if you're anything like me, your October may look something like this. Hooray for NaNoWriMo!

Recipe Box: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Tonight I got in the mood for fall baking. I've been in the mood for pumpkin-flavored fall treats. To kick off the craving, I made a batch of pumpkin cinnamon rolls, which I found on one of my favorite baking blogs, Baked Bree.

They are in the kitchen rising now. I can't wait to taste one! I am so confident that they will be delicious that I'm sharing the recipe even before trying one myself. (Original recipe taken from Good Life Eats blog).

Watch for more from me soon-- I bought six cans of pumpkin pie filling at the grocery store tonight!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

roll dough adapted from King Arthur Flour
makes approximately 15-16 rolls

 

Ingredients:

Roll Dough:
1/4 cup warm water (not hot, about 110 degrees)
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm milk
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 cup pumpkin puree, either fresh or canned
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 cups (approximately) All-Purpose Flour
1 1 /4 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Filling:
1 stick butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon each of allspice and ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese
1 stick (4 ounces) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon lemon juice
2-3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Stir yeast into water to soften in a large bowl. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before stirring to combine. Stir in the milk, eggs, pumpkin, butter, 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to yeast mixture. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.

Slowly add the rest of the flour (all purpose), a bit at a time, until the dough is stiff enough to knead. Begin with 1 1/2 cups of flour and increase if necessary. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough.

Place the dough into a greased bowl. Turn the dough in the bowl to coat the entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and rise until doubled, approximately 1 hour.

Combine the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in a another bowl, set aside. Transfer the risen dough to a lightly greased work surface, and pat or roll it into a 16" x 12" rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture.

Roll the dough into a log the long way; it'll stretch to about 20" long as you roll. Using a very sharp knife, slice the log into 15 slices. In order to cut down on drag, it helps to rinse the blade in hot water, and wipe it off, between slices. Place slices in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan (or in two 8 or 9 inch round cake or pie pans). Cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven. Bake the rolls till they're brown around the edges and beginning to turn golden brown across the center, about 20-30 minutes.

While rolls bake, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and lemon juice to a small food processor. Blend until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, blending in between, until well mixed and desired consistency is reached. (I used 2 cups powdered sugar)

Frost warm rolls with the cream cheese frosting and serve immediately.

For night before prep: Prepare the rolls up to the point where you roll and place in the pan. Then, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, remove the pan from the fridge and proceed with the instructions where you left off. Rising time may be slightly longer than noted in the recipe due to the dough being cold vs room temp.

Getting organized...or trying at least

I'm trying to organize more stuff in my life. I've spent a significant amount of time lately gathering together a lot of things I find interesting... recipes, home improvement projects, pet stuff, and more. So, thanks to my wonderful friend, Jenni, I've discovered Evernote, a great organization tool. I have it synced on my home computer, my work computer and my phone. I love it. Lately, I've been using it to save recipes. I love to cook and follow foodie blogs so Evernote has been a great place to save the delicious looking recipes I find.

I was a slow adapter, but am finding it more and more useful. So much so that I am even considering upgrading from their free account to their premium account. The only reason I haven't is that the premium account is $45 and I haven't yet decided if its worth it to me yet. I like it, but I haven't decided yet if I'm just having a moment of excitement or am really ready to upgrade and be a full adapter.

Jenni raves about it. So much so that she was featured on their blog for how she uses it. (She saves like her entire life in Evernote. I'm not kidding.)

I am seeking more ways to be organized in my life. And more hobbies. And more interesting things to post about. Does anyone have great ideas? I'm sure I can save them in Evernote for future inspiration!

Oh and Jenni, here's to you, friend!

Road Trip, Solo Style

This past week I hit the road and drove to Nebraska. A seven-hour drive to Lincoln, mostly through the fields of rural Iowa doesn't necessarily sound like the greatest time, but I learned something about myself on the way. When I'm really tired and really stressed out, a nice quiet drive with just me and an audio book does the trick.

While my stay was short and sweet, it was sweet. I went to visit a dear friend and celebrate her forth-coming marriage with her because, for many un-moveable reasons, I can't attend her wedding. Her mother said to when hearing that I was willing to drive that far for a bridal shower, "You must really think highly of Becky." She was right. I do.

It was wonderful to spend a short, but precious amount of time with my friend. Our time together made me think about relationships and the importance of maintaining them. Some people are always there for you. And those people I always try to be there for.

On the way back, I took a route that brought me not across rural interstates, but across rural back roads, allowing me to make a quick stop on the way back in the tiny town of Ringsted, Iowa, population 400. There, I visited another dear friend, who is a pastor at the Lutheran church in this tiny town. It was wonderful and uplifting to hear her tales of ministering to these people-- a ministry that is constant. To those who saw us come into the local bar and grill for a slice of pizza for dinner, she was simply, "Pastor" and several people stopped to chat with her.

Quick Review: "The Last Child" by John Hart

As I often write about the books I read on here, I will say, my road-side companion was, "The Last Child"  by John Hart.

Here's the synopsis:

A year after 12-year-old Alyssa Merrimon disappeared on her way home from the library in an unnamed rural North Carolina town, her twin brother, Johnny, continues to search the town, street by street, even visiting the homes of known sex offenders, in this chilling novel from Edgar-winner Hart (Down River). Det. Clyde Hunt, the lead cop on Alyssa's case, keeps a watchful eye on Johnny and his mother, who has deteriorated since Alyssa's abduction and her husband's departure soon afterward. When a second girl is snatched, Johnny is even more determined to find his sister, convinced that the perpetrator is the same person who took Alyssa. But what he unearths is more sinister than anyone imagined, sending shock waves through the community and putting Johnny's own life in danger. Despite a tendency to dip into melodrama, Hart spins an impressively layered tale of broken families and secrets that can kill.

I am not quite yet done with it, but, will say, with only a bit left, I'm giving it a 2.5. It's a decent read, but fairly predictable and the characters, all are a bit flat. Had I not needed the company for my more than 14 hours in the car, I would have given up on it. But, now I'm nearly done and I suppose, I should learn what happens.

I'll also provide the caveat that as far as mystery-thrillers go, I tend to like something with a bit more "thrill" to them than "The Last Child" provides. It's more of a read for someone who likes a straight-up police investigation. Those who like that type of story may be more drawn to this particular book.

And my second caveat is that I've been listening to this on audio and the guy who is reading it is starting to get on my nerves... maybe that is making my score fall a bit lower, too. But really, I think it's not a bad book (not really bad), just not my kind of book. 

None the less, it was a good companion and I'm glad for that. Does it seem silly that I'm already dreaming of a new road trip just so I can enjoy another quiet get away, even, for this extrovert, all alone? I might just love that idea.

BYOB Book Review: The Wrong Mother

Last night I hosted my first book club meeting. We met at my house and enjoyed lovely conversation over a book we, as a general consensus, found... well, just ok.  Per usual, here are my thoughts:

Brief synopsis: 

Sally Thorning is watching the news with her husband when she hears an unexpected name-Mark Bretherick. It's a name she shouldn't know, but last year Sally treated herself to a secret vacation-away from her hectic family life-and met a man. After their brief affair, the two planned to never meet again. But now, Mark's wife and daughter are dead-and the safety of Sally's own family is in doubt. Sophie Hannah established herself as a new master of psychological suspense with her previous novel, Little Face. Now with accomplished prose and a plot guaranteed to keep readers guessing, The Wrong Mother is Hannah's most captivating work yet.

My rating: 3 stars

Group rating: 3 stars

We created 1-5 ranking scale and this one landed at a 3, middle of the road.I'm going to defer to Michelle at Red Headed Book Child, who is an amazing book reviewer fir her official review of "The Wrong Mother."

My review: 

My quick personal take is, I was really excited about this book, but in the end, mostly disappointed. I thought it would be more gripping and it kept me going (mostly) until about the middle of the book, where upon I just gave up on it for many of the reasons Michelle notes in her review. 

Thanks, BYOB Book clubbers!

However, on a positive note, I'd like to say thanks to all the amazing women who joined me for the discussion last night. It is so exciting to have such a great group to discuss books with! And I loved having a chance to host each of them.

We had 12 wonderful ladies at the first meeting! And the total group has 15 wonderful women in it. We're going to overwhelm each others homes every other month as we all squeeze together to chat literature for a couple hours, but I think it will be great! I never could have imagined that my Facebook post seeking just a couple friends to join a book club with me would have led to such a great group! Wow!

Upcoming read:

We will meet every other month (which I think is plenty!) and will next read, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, a book that has been on my to-read list for some time now. We'll meet in November and celebrate all that fall has to offer when we gather again! Between, now and then, happy reading!

Friday Funnies

I've realized I haven't been good as of late at sharing witty thoughts on my blog. So, instead, I'll just share this clever YouTube video that a dear friend sent to me earlier today. Happy Friday!

Book Review: Loved Walked In

Book: Loved Walked In 

Author: Marissa De los Santos 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Brief synopsis:

A tribute to classic film and true romance, LOVE WALKED IN tells the story of two women – one older, one younger – and the unexpected ways in which their lives are forever changed by chance.

For thirty-one-year old Cornelia Brown, life is a series of movie moments, and “Jimmy Stewart is always and indisputably the best man in the world, unless Cary Grant should happen to show up.” So imagine Cornelia’s delight when her very own Cary Grant walks through the door of the hip Philadelphia café she manages. Handsome and debonair, Martin Grace sweeps Cornelia off her feet, becoming Cary Grant to Cornelia’s Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable to her Joan Crawford. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself after her increasingly unstable mother has a breakdown and disappears. With no one to turn to, Clare seeks out her estranged father, and when the two of them show up at Cornelia’s café, the lives of Cornelia and Clare are changed in drastic and unexpected ways. A cinematic and heartfelt debut that pays homage to the classic Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn romantic comedyThe Philadelphia Story, Love Walked In is sure to win over critics and readers of contemporary fiction. 


My review: 


So, I read the follow up novel, Belong to Me, before reading this book. A lot happens in this book that leads up to Belong to Me. Because I had read Belong to Me first there were certain events toward the end of the story that I knew would happen. In the end, I'm glad for this. I actually found De los Santos's character development to have strengthened a lot with Belong to Me. While I really liked the characters in this and felt a warm affection them throughout, De los Santos was able to really develop the characters in new, interesting and layered ways much more with Belong to Me. I am glad to see her ability to do that-- it made some of the slight flatness of the characters I felt with Love Walked In manageable because I knew she would grow in her writing with her second novel. 


With that said, I did enjoy this book. It was warm and fuzzy and really touched on the many types of love that people have for each other-- romantic, maternal, the love of friends, the love of a stranger even. I liked the development of the friendship that was created between Corneila and Clare, especially because I knew where Corneila's story was taking her. (And really, to be honest, the direction that her future was heading wasn't in-obvious even without having read the follow up novel.) 


I gave this book a 3.5. Without having read Belong to Me, I may have said a 3 to be perfectly honest. It's a short, quick read. It's warm. It's fuzzy. It's nice. It's a good filler book. Grab it for a quick vacation read or as a follow up to a bigger, denser novel-- it will take the edge off. :) 


More soon! Working on finishing my book club read- my next book post will be our group review.  Happy reading! 

Book Review: The Kite Runner

Book: The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Brief synopsis:

A novel set mostly in Afghanistan. The introverted and insecure afghan narrator, Amir, grows up in Afghanistan in the closing years of the monarchy and the first years of the short-lived republic. His best and most faithful friend, Hassan, is the son of a servant. Amir feels he betrays Hassan by not coming to his aid when Hassan is set on by bullies and furthermore forces Hassan and his father Ali to leave his father´s service. Amir´s relatively priviledged life in Kaboul comes to an end when the communist regime comes to power and his extrovert father, Baba emigrates with him to the U.S. There Amir meets his future, afghan wife and marries her. Amir´s father dies in the U.S. and Amir receives a letter from his father´s most trusted business partner and, for a time, Amir´s surrogate father, which makes Amir return, alone, to a Taliban-dominated Afghanistan in search of the truth about himself and his family, and finally, a sort of redemption.

My review:

Wow! Why it took me as long as it did to get around to reading this book I don't know. It was amazing. Powerful. It made me stop. It made me gasp. It made me cry. It was nothing short of amazing. Some books are best sellers because they are popular. And some are best sellers because they are well written, eloquent, beautiful pieces of prose. This is definitely the latter.

I am sure many who are reading this have read The Kite Runner before me. I sold many copies of it during my days as a bookseller at Borders. And, now I know why. While it's tough to get through at points, and requires a strong stomach at several points. But, it is a book that should be read. It's a story of love, friendship and family. It's a story that helps Americans understand the culture of Afghanistan-- and the impact that the wars that have wrought the country have had.

In short, just read it. It. is. just. Good. Very, very, very good.

Recipe Box: Mint Cake!

I've realized that I haven't posted any recipes in awhile, something I've meant to do on my blog. While I aimed to make 30 recipes before 30, that honestly fell away. I think mostly because my time and attention were given to Lucy. (She takes a lot of both!)

So, I'm trying to get back to my blogging and am sharing a new recipe. For a friend's birthday in July, I made a family favorite, simply called "mint cake." It's very, very easy and very, very delicious. This is a super simple one. Enjoy!

Mint Cake

Ingredients:

One box of white cake mix

Bottle creme de menthe

Cool whip

Fudge ice cream topping

To prepare:

Prepare the white cake mix according to the box directions. (Or for those more culinary inclined, prepare white cake batter from scratch.) Add creme de menthe to the batter. I eyeball it, but about 1/8th cup is probably close. Bake the cake according to cake mix directions. Let cool. Add layer of fudge topping on top of the cooled cake. Mix creme de menthe into cool whip. Again, I eyeball it, but 2-3 tablespoons is probably about right. Spread the cool whip layer over the cake. Serve and enjoy!

Book Club Reading List

I am so excited that we've come up with a reading list for BYOB Book Club. I can't wait to dive into these good reads over the next year and discuss them with a great group of fun women!

Based on our group recommendations (we started with 40, narrowed that down to 27 based on what people had already read), we came up with these eight great reads for 2011-12.

2011

September: The Wrong Mother, Sophie Hannah

November: Loving Frank, Nancy Horan

2012

January: Maze Runner, James Dashner

March: Blindness, Jose Saramago

May: Delirium, Lauren Oliver

July: The Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udal

September: Freedom, Jonathan Franzen

November: Never Let Me Go, Kazu Ishaguro

Puppy Terrorism

Lucy has gotten to the puppy terrorist stage, as I'm calling it. To date, her damage has been limited, but as she's getting bigger and more aggresive, I'm getting more nervous for the state of items in my life that I like.

So far, she's managed to:

• Rip up two book covers that I've carefully taped back together.
• Chew through more newspapers and mail than I could ever begin to fathom.
  
• Rip up a corner of my carpet and chewed on the padding beneath.
  
• Chew on four pairs of shoes that I know of, fortunately, only one of which is damaged so badly that I need to replace it, the others are minor and can mostly not be seen.
  
• Break two pairs of sunglasses. (The second pair, an exact replacement of the first I think I can glue to together.)
  
• Chew through more cardboard than I could ever imagine.
  
• Rip up at least five rolls of toilet paper and scatter it all around her.
  
• Pee on the rug more times than I can count.
  
• Rip out the black lining underneath the box spring of my bed, turning it into a cocoon to sleep in at night.
• Capture a baby rabbit, but fortunately she has a soft bite and I was able to pry the bunny out of her mouth and let it hop away to safety.
  

However, she has not yet (knock on wood):

• Destroyed the sofa.
  
• Chewed on my expensive dining room furniture, nor my large office desk.
• Run away any farther than down the street to the neighbor's house.
  
• Jumped up on someone with such strength she knocks them down.
  

So, really, I can't really complain, I mean, she is a puppy and I did want a puppy after all. But word to the wise, shoes should be out of reach at all times. At. All. Times.

We're an official book club! Hooray!

The book club that I decided I want is now a reality! I look forward to sharing reviews from the books we read on my blog. In the mean time, check out our new logo thanks to Jenni who is amazing! I'm so excited! Organizing this new book club brings me to my happy place.

We've named the book club, BYOB (Bring Your Own Books) Thanks to Molly who cleverly came up with our name!

I added the tagline "Bring your own books, bottles or bars!" to celebrate our gathering of books, good drinks and good food (including desserts). I think I'm clever. Maybe it's just me, but, hey, I founded the darn thing. :)

Can't wait to get started! Hooray!

I need a book club. I've made a book club.

So I put a post on Facebook this morning about needing a book club, and now, I have a book club with at least 10 members! All in a days work! Needless to say, I'm quite excited!

I need a book club

It's official. I've said it for years, but have not really done anything about it. I need a book club.

I suppose some of this need is coming from my part-time job at Borders coming to an end. I now need another outlet to discuss books.

So, I need a book club and, gosh darnit, I am bound and determined to start my own. Now, I just need people to join and recommendations from others who are in book clubs for what works well for them.

If you need a book club, or a second book club, let me know. Or, if you have good book club recommendations for reading or tips to get started, please also let me know. I am going to start a book club somehow.

Now, I just need some book club friends to join me.

And on another note, I just finished reading Something Blue. I read its predecessor, Something Borrowed, years ago. I couldn't quite get myself to read this one for a long time because Darcy wasn't the most likeable character. I don't feel like giving it a full review, but I will say, I'm glad Darcy mostly redeemed herself in this book.

Now, onto The Kite Runner, another book I've been meaning to read for years.

Dogs as Socialization Agents

If I've learned on thing in the last four months, I've learned that a great way to make new friends is by getting a dog. One of my co-workers said to me, "Dogs and kids are both socialization agents."

That much is certainly true. I've met and befriend a lot of people in my neighborhood who I had never even talked to before. Lucy is a friend creator. People love her. Of course, it helps that she is a super friendly puppy who wants everyone she meets to pet her.

Tonight we went to the dog park. We've been there a few times before. She loves it. She's gotten to meet lots of new dogs and tonight especially she learned to be a bit braver around other

dogs.

Of course, she still favors the small dogs to the big dogs because she's still learning that one day she'll be a big dog, too.

My best dog park memory yet is that she's learned to be a brave dog and, true to her breed, swim! (See photo.)

My friend Lisa half-jokingly says that I'm going to meet my husband at a dog park. It's funny because now my dog park trips are not only about allowing Lucy to run off some energy, but also about my glancing at the left hands of attractive men to see if I should attempt to strike up a conversation. (To date, I've struck out.)

Dogs certainly are socialization agents. I now wonder... are they marriage agents? If so, Lucy will most certainly take part in the wedding.

Book Review: Sarah's Key

Book: Sarah's Key

Author: Tatiana De Rosnay

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Brief synopsis:

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

My Review:

Sarah's Key is a book who many have read before me. It's not a new release, but one I've meant to read for awhile now. So, because of that, I'm going to make the disclaimer, this is a short review.

In short, I liked it, but I didn't love it. And I feel bad about that because I really wanted to love it. There was a lot that was really quite good about this novel... and all that was what revolved around Sarah, rather than Julia. Julia has a sad life and quite honestly, in spite of a few very redeeming moments, I found her to be a bit of a weak heroine.

My great critique is that I wanted to know more of Sarah through her voice. This happened through the first half, then faded as they moved into the second half. I loved that the first half of the novel flipped between the two, but that ended abruptly about half way through. While this change was intentional and made sense in the context, I wanted to know more of Sarah's story and what happened to her after the epic moment where they left off.

What De Rosnay did really well is to give people a historical insight into World War II France. The story of how Jewish families in France were impacted by Nazi occupation was extremely powerful. De Rosnay shared a wonderful glimpse into how this impacted the French, both historically and in present day.

I also have to admit, I could have done without the romantic ties that De Rosnay introduced toward the end. It felt very forced to me and also took away some of the power of Sarah's story. In the end, it made it more of a story of Julia finding happiness, rather than redemption for Sarah.

Now those who have read this can disagree with me. In fact, I hope they do. This book has gotten rave reviews. So, maybe listen to the critics not me. (See the editorial reviews on Amazon.com.)

With that said, I'd recommend this book to a friend. It has a powerful story to tell, that is, if you pay attention to Sarah and the historical context of the book, rather than the present day problems that Julia encounters in her personal life.

Where Have I Been?

So, I haven't blogged since Easter weekend and today it's July 20th. That's just terrible. So, where have I been? Well, mostly preoccupied by raising the puppy, who is now four months old.

And with raising a puppy came other compromises.

I gave up on my attempt at visiting one museum a month, but promise to loyally write about those I do continue to visit.

I've decided my 30 recipes before 30 will have to extend into my 30th year, however, I have made a few new recipes, but just not noted them. I guess that means I will just have to make more.

I haven't written any book reviews, although I've read some great stuff:

• "The Likeness" by Tana French
• "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein

And am currently reading:

• "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay
• "Switch" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

I've also become completely addicted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Yes, I said Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I love it.

But mostly, I've been raising a puppy. And that takes a lot of time and energy. So, I promise to come back to you all soon. Lucy Rose says its OK and she will not break the keyboard while I type by jumping all over me... maybe.

She is a darn cute dog though, see?

Best Easter Ever (At Least in the Top Five)

I hope everyone had a great Easter. I sure did!

Because it is Easter, and because the service I went to this morning ended with the Hallelujah Chorus, I want to remind everyone of this awesome video.

Also, Best. Easter. Ever. Good family. Good pets. Good day. And of course, Good Jesus.

After church and Easter brunch, my sister and I were given the gift of two tickets to Target Field (from my parents who have season tickets and were kind enough to share and then watched the game at my house while dog-sitting. I think they loved it, actually.)

So, the Twins were in an Easter mood and there were many bunny ears to be had, which made for some really cute fan photos and moments, such as this cute message.

From Twins Baseball 2011

Ok, so for those who don't know, it is one of my new goals in life to be on the jumbotron at Target Field (the one above). I think it would be amazing. So, today I got a small taste of it. But only a small taste; it was like having one bite of dessert and having it taken away. Really only my arm and a tiny spec of my head could be seen in the background of the shot up on the big screen, but it was still cool and exciting. My sister and I are total dorks and were excited even to be basically unnoticeable specs. I will admit, I really only knew it was me because I knew the camera was there and could look for myself. But, it was like a taste of how awesome it could be some day. For that I was satisfied.

Even better, my sister and I got a picture with the Twins Easter Bunny. It was fabulous.

From Twins Baseball 2011

Before we got the shot with the other bunny, we got this shot, which I think is down-right hilarious.

From Twins Baseball 2011

P.S. For those who don't know, Baby Jesus is Joe Mauer's nickname. It's not an Easter joke or something.

So, after the awesome afternoon at the ball park, we enjoyed dinner with our parents. I was rather proud of my creative solution for using things around the house to make a festive centerpiece. A few pretty wine glasses that I don't use anymore, some glass pebble and votives- wallah!

From Drop Box

My mom even pitched in by sharing an Easter bunny. (Oh and I totally busted my dad with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar!).

From Drop Box

Happy Easter! Amidst my secular babble, I will say, "He is risen. He is risen indeed!" Happy Easter!

Lucy and Ball

Ok, so I gave Lucy this ball. It was actually a toy I bought for Henry a few years ago, but he never played with it. I think it was just too big for him. He likes his small little balls he can bat around. But, Lucy, on the other hand, loves it. This is just a 24-second video of what she was up to yesterday.

P.S. I love that suggested other videos based on this title are all about Lucille Ball!

Meet Lucy Rose!

So, today I brought home a six-week old puppy. She's absolutely adorable. I am already in love. Be ready, for those of you who read my blog, to get puppy updates-- and lots of them!

So, how did I get here? It's a bit spontaneous, but something I've thought about for a long time!

My sister sent me a text late Friday afternoon that a co-worker's brother had a puppies he was giving away for free to good homes. Erin texted me to see if I wanted one, not really sure if I'd even say yes, but she knew I'd been thinking about getting a dog a lot more seriously lately. Something clicked, I said, "Yes, absolutely, I want one!" So, yesterday we bought supplies and today we went and picked her up. (It was a bit haywire trying to arrange meeting the guy with the dogs, but we made it.) And tonight, I know have a new family member

As I said, I've wanted a dog for a long time, but never really felt like it was the right time. I also knew I really wanted a dog with at least some Labrador in it (I grew up with a beagle, then a yellow Labrador). And, somehow, this weekend, I found just that. My new puppy, Lucy Rose, is half Labrador and half golden retriever. And 100% adorable.

For those who may recognize a name resemblance, yes, Lucy Rose is named in honor of Maggie Rose, the yellow Labrador I grew up with who is now playing baseball in heaven with Grandpa and Uncle Maurice. In my mind, she's perfect. (But maybe that's because she has yet to pee in the house!)

I know puppies are a lot of work, and I'm excited to dedicate a lot of time to training her to be the best dog she can be. I am very excited. I've already learned the cycle of a puppy: sleep, play, eat, pee/poop, play, sleep, repeat!

As soon as I said I'm bring a puppy home, many asked about how my cat, Henry, would adapt. I'm sure he'll be fine, but right now, it's weird and new for him. He is slowly adjusting. I hope the two will become good friends. The best of friends. So far he hasn't swatted her nose, so I figure we're off to a good start! I say only half jokingly that I feel like I'm preparing myself for having kids and learning to bring a baby home from the hospital and helping their older sibling adapt!

So, fun and happy are my words of the day. I think Lucy Rose is just what the proverbial doctor ordered!

If you have a moment, enjoy a Lucy Rose slideshow with guest star Henry Thomas!

Easter is Coming

I just came across this again, as I was reading my friend Jenni's blog. I remember watching it a year ago and it took my breath away. It still does. Blessed Easter.

Book Review: In the Woods

Book: In the Woods

Author: Tana French

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Brief synopsis:

Quite simply, I couldn't put this book down. It was amazing. I love Tana French's writing and am immediately now reading her second book, The Likeness. I highly, highly recommend her for anyone who likes a good psychological thriller.

Here's an overview of the book:

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled shoes, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox – his partner and closest friend – find themselves investigating a case with chilling links to that long-ago disappearance. Now, with only snippets of buried memories to guide him, Rob has the chance to unravel both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

As I read the book which I could barely put down, I just grew closer and closer to the character, and loved them for all their flaws. Rob Ryan is innately flawed. He doesn't always treat people well. I don't think it's because he means to be rude or cruel, but because he just doesn't know any better. He's a bit self-absorbed and taking on a case like the one he and Cassie are assigned to only seems bring that out in him even more.

Cassie, on the other hand, is entirely loveable. She's tough, edgy and funny. I just liked her. She kept Rob in his place. But as much as she seemed like a hard-edged cop, she was also very, very real and very, very loving. But to that end, she won't put up with anyone's crap. She's the main character in The Likeness and I'm already enjoying getting to hear the story from her perspective.

I will say, as I mentioned before, the end does not wrap up in a neat little bow. That can be frustrating for some. While, I didn't love where all the characters ended up, I do appreciate where they ended up feels real. Sometimes life doesn't wrap up in a perfect bow. And by the book ending the way it does, there is opportunity to go back and revisit the characters in a new way. I hope French does this at some point. It would be fun to see where Rob goes from here.

Oh and because I love Tana French and want to be her friend, if you, like me, want know know more about her, visit her website.

Cat and Dolphins Playing Together

I came across this adorable video today. I share it because if my cat ever met a dolphin, I think he would do the exact same thing.

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth series

Book: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, The Dark and Hollow Places

Author: Carrie Ryan

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Brief Synopsis:

I just read the third book in Carrie Ryan's post-apocalyptic zombie series came out this March. I've read all three, and as I started this blog after reading the first two, this is going to be a brief three-in-one review.

I'll start with saying that I love this series. I think my friend and colleague, Kelsey, for introducing it to me. They're young adult books so they are quick reads. It took me a week to read the most recent, "The Dark and Hollow Places," but mostly because I was quite busy all week and trying to savor it a little.

Here's an overview of the three books.

"The Forest of Hands and Teeth"

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

"The Dead-Tossed Waves"

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.

"The Dark and Hollow Places"

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets—dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah—can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

These books build on each other and should be read in order.

Throughout all three, of course, the teenage female lead character is heroic and each has a unique flaw (Mary is a bit of a martyr, Gabry is resentful of her mother's oddities and Annah wishes she was as beautiful and perfect as her sister.) Without understanding the women that came before them, each book will not make as much sense.

They also build on the dangers that the various women face. In each, they face the walking dead (though they have different names for them depending on where they are from). But the Unconsecrated, Mudo or plague rats (depending on the voice of the main character)-- in short, the zombies-- are not the only threat. There are dangers within each of their cities. There are those meant to protect who hide deep secrets.

In the end, all the women find themselves needing to escape where they are from. Where they are always holds dangers they need to flee from. They must face some form of an adventure, they must also face love and all its dangers and mostly, they must survive.

So, who might like these books?

Those who appreciate a fantasy books, seek a little romance in their novels (even if that romance comes in the sometimes naive first love, but hey, they are young adult books). And really, if you like zombies, you can't go too wrong. (That is if you're a girl that likes zombies. But I won't say that statement is universally true. My friend Jenni likes zombie books and didn't care for these. I think she's crazy.

If you give them a try, let me know. They're fun. I like them. I also really like the author. I follow her on Twitter, @carrieryan, and really enjoy her tweets. I feel like I want to be her friend. It's silly, I know, but I hope she writes a whole bunch more of these books and they become really popular. Or maybe not, so they are like a secret present for me and only those also cool enough to know how great she is.

Signs of Spring

Spring is finally around the corner. It's so near. I can hardly wait. I'm ready to get outside and plant flowers and enjoy warm, breezy walks. Spring is near. Yes, spring is finally near!

I feel like Minnesotans crave and appreciate spring in a way that our southern neighbors can't understand. It's our reward for again have survived the dead of winter, the below-zero temperatures, the snow, the ice, the scraping cars. It's a God-given gift that yes, we can again appreciate warm days, smmer clothes and summer food and drinks.

This year it is more true than ever. It's been a long, cold and very snowy winter. (Minnesota had nearly record-breaking snow fall, I think around roughly 60 total inches of snow this winter based on what I've found). Now with that said, I don't want to dwell the long, cold winter we are exiting. Instead I want to focus on the signs that spring is near. The signs that good days are ahead.

Sign 1: Summer beverages.

Sangria is just around the corner. Soon, I'll switch back to ice tea as my drink of choice. Lemonade will soon sound delicious again. To welcome in spring, I've already enjoyed margaritas and summer beer, Bud Light Lime (while I'm not a huge fan of regular Bud Light, I do love it with a touch of lime in it.)

Sign 2: Summer food.

Last night my mom, sister and I watched the Twins home opener, accompanied by a dinner of brats and pasta salad. Months of grilling are ahead. Ahh summer days. Ahh, summer food.

And speaking of the Twins, that leads me to sign 3...

Sign 3: Baseball.

Ahh, the American past time. I've already commented on how happy it makes me.

Sign 4: Open Windows

Today was the first day I could open a window. It was only in the mid-50s, but my cat was begging for a chance to sit in the window, so I gave in. (Of course, he's so spoiled, it doesn't take much for me to give in.) The little bit of, albeit cool, fresh air felt great after many months of cabin fever.

Sign 5: Flower buds.

I can already see my tulips and lily of the valley coming up. Soon there will be flowers! Soon there will be flowers! (The photo below was taken a few weeks ago. While there is still snow, there is significantly less now.)

Sign 6: Warm weather.

It's coming. I finally believe it's coming. Happy spring! Happy summer! Happy warm weather!

Museum Tour 2011: Museum 3: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Titian Exhibit

So, I have to start off by admitting, my goal is to go to one museum each month. And I'm two days late for March. Bad planning on my part. Oh well, I am counting my visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where I saw the special exhibit, "Titian and the Golden and Age of Venetian Painting" as my March museum stop. I also plan to visit a second museum later this month.

This month, my sister was my museum tour buddy. (Our wanting to go together and both having busy schedules is one of the reasons I missed my March deadline. I'm a little hung up on that, unnecessarily. Anyway...) We both loved the exhibit and would highly recommend it.

On the MIA's website, the exhibit is described as:

Catch this rare opportunity to see the cream of the Venetian paintings collection of the National Galleries of Scotland, here for the first time ever. Two ravishing pendants by Titian, Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto, make this a must-see for painting lovers.

Acclaimed as the most poetic creations of the Italian Renaissance, these luminous sixteenth-century paintings are the two most significant works by Titian outside of Italy and Spain. Originally painted for King Philip II of Spain, they entered the Bridgewater/Sutherland collection at the end of the eighteenth century and have been on loan to the National Gallery since 1945.

The exhibition also includes Titian's famous Venus Rising From the Sea (formerly a Bridgewater picture) and masterpieces by Lorenzo Lotto, Jacopo Tintoretto, Jacopo Bassano, Paris Bordon, Giovanni Cariani, and Paolo Veronese. A companion exhibition, "Venice on Paper," will present a selection of stunning Venetian drawings by Venetian Renaissance masters.

While it is a small exhibit, I was overwhelmed as soon as I walked in the room. I learned a lot about Titian, and his Venetian roots. The exhibit of course featured several other Venetian

artists from the period, as well as some beautiful maps drawn of the city of Venice.

One thing I found really interesting was a map Titian drew of the city of Venice, which is considered to be history's first copyrighted work. (See below.)

I actually found a review of this exhibit from its tour at the High Museum in London online that gives a nice overview of what you'll find. The article describes Titian's work as a mix of humor, eroticism and mythology-- and its true, you'll find that in several of the paintings on display at the exhibit.

My favorite piece was a Madonna and child (below).

I did not pick this as my favorite because of the subject matter (I think we've all seen more than enough interpretations of the Madonna and child from Renaissance artists), but because of the bright, beautiful paint used. I love the way she is posed, too. The Madonna has slight gesture away from the saint who has a tear in his cloak (which shows a location of one of Christ's wounds). There is an unknown female saint in the background leaning near her, and two mysterious men in the background going about their work. This particular painting caught my attention more than any others I saw today. It was just beautiful and rich.

I'd really encourage anyone who appreciates art to see this exhibit. It goes through May 6, 2011 and is well worth the mere $8/ticket (non-member price).

Also, Art in Bloom starts later in April. While I don't plan to count a second visit to the MIA among my tour, I may come back the weekend of April 28-May 1 to see this exhibit. I went last year and it was beautiful and well worth the visit.

For those who aren't familiar, Art in Bloom features fresh floral arrangements placed throughout the museum that are meant to be an interpretation of the piece that they are arranged near. According to the MIA's website, more than 150 floral artists will be featured. It's a great event and a fun and interesting way to look at art and think spring! Again, highly recommended!

As a final note, I also checked into the MIA today on Four Square and earned a badge. I'm not an avid Four Square user so I'm up to a solid two badges. (Woot!) But thanks to the History Channel, I can now proudly say I have a "historian badge. " I guess this museum tour idea is worth something!

Twins Baseball!

Soon it will be baseball season. Friday, April 1 marks the official start of Major League Baseball. I'll loyally be cheering on the Twins again all season. I can't wait! My parents have tickets for the Twins home opener on April 8. I'm quite jealous, but am glad they are generous and will share many of their season tickets with me (as they always do).

Highlights of the start of the year include:

• Justin Morneau is back and hopefully will remain concussion free!
• Joe Nathan is back and again will be our closer. (Last season was a little rough.)
• I feel like we are still in the honeymoon stage with Target Field.
• I will again do my damnedest to get on the jumbotron, one of my goals in life.
• Kramzcuks's polish sausage and brats are a main food attraction
• Beautiful, sunny weather out at the ballpark!
• Outdoor baseball! Outdoor baseball! Outdoor baseball!
• Summer baseball road trip with Jillian in the works!

Baseball season! Best six months of the year!Happy baseball season!!!