Five on Friday (4)

I feel like my blogging has been kind of spotty lately. Yes, I'm still getting posts up, but they're pretty much all reviews or pregnancy updates. I kind of miss some of the more random life updates I used to post. But I figured that this would be a great excuse to link-up with The Good Life to share a few recent happenings.

1. A few weekends ago I had a much needed haircut. I didn't really do anything too extreme, really just cut off a lot of the dead ends, but still, there's nothing like a haircut that gives you an excuse to take selfies.
2. Although really the main reason I had my haircut was because I wanted it to look nice for my maternity photos. I haven't seen them all yet but my photographer, Melissa V Photography, who blogs at Little Mrs. Married, did post a sneak peak and so far I'm in love!
3. Speaking of the baby, the past few weeks I've gone through my old children's books sorting the ones I want to keep or giveaway. (Most of which have wound up as keep.) I'm in the process of tracking them all on goodreads , and while they aren't all listed yet I'm already close to 100. Not too shabby of a library for a baby that isn't born yet. Although considering how much I read, you can't be that surprised.
4.. This past weekend was my nephew's 5th birthday party. It's crazy to think that when I started this blog he wasn't alive yet, and how he's 5. Crazy how quickly time passes. I'm sure I'm going to blink and before you know it we'll have a 5-year-old of our own.
5. While it's been a while since I've mentioned my 101 in 1001 list I have been making progress. I can officially say I've completed 99) Have no dessert/sweets for 7 days, although not necessarily by choice. With my gestational diabetes I've basically cut out all desserts from my diet. Kind of depressing, especially when everyone one expects you to be eating ice cream all the time, but at least I've found a tiny silver lining to it.

What are some of the random happening in your life lately? And if you're here from 5 on Friday, be sure to say hello!

More From the Mennyms

Mennyms Under Siege by Slyvia Waugh
Published: March 1, 1997 by Avon Camelot
Originally Published: May 15, 1995
Series: Mennyms #3
I have such vivid memories of all the Mennyms books growing up. At least every single one except this one. I'm not quite sure why, especially since it's not just the first two I remember but the 2 that come after this as well. Either way, it definitely made the rereading experience different that the others since I really didn't know what to expect here.

So much of this book is a bit heartbreaking. The dolls spend so much of the book afraid that they're about to be found out and completely change their lives to avoid detection. But yet, as a reader we know they don't have the full story and it's almost painful that you can jump into the book to shake them and tell them not to worry so much.

Then of course there's the ending, something I only remembered was coming moments before it happened. But that still wasn't enough time to prepare. Fortunately for me I do have a hazy memory of how things work themselves out in future books, because otherwise would be a bit devastated by the cliffhanger.

It may sound a bit cliched, but these books really are utterly charming, and I love that I'm going back and rereading them now. Although it is a little disheartening to look back and see that these book never managed to take off the way they really deserved to.

5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

From AK to NC

This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash
Published: September 23, 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks
First Published: January 28, 2014
This is only my second book by Wiley Cash (and actually only second book he's written), but he's already becoming one of my current favorites. This is even more notable because his books aren't the type I'd normally decide to pick up, but yet they've both really captivated me.

While this book is completely different from his last, A Land More Kind Than Home, there's still a similar feel to them. Both are about such adult subjects, yet each one is told partially from the point of view of a children. I think it's an interesting way of taking such a serious subject, and somehow being able to give it a bit of innocence.

I'm not quite sure I can quite articulate just why these books speak so much to me. I know with this one I did appreciate that it was set during Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa's home run race, something I can look back on and remember as well. But even though I enjoyed this plot line, it's only a small factor why I connected to this so much. I think a lot of it has to do with feelings. It's just so easy to identify with what the characters are going through, their pain is your pain, their happiness is your happiness, it's almost like you become the characters within.

I never would have expected that I'd enjoy this more than Cash's debut, but I think after this he may go on to my auto-buy list, something few authors seem to make for me anymore.

5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

34 Weeks Bumpdate

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Size of the Baby: A cantaloupe

Maternity Clothes: As funny as this may sound I feel like there are too many clothes in my closest. Or more precisely my closest is packed full of clothes, and yet I can't wear most of them. At this point I'm ready to get rid of a ton of it, except I'll know I'll eventually be able to wear it all again. At least, hopefully, right?

Nursery: We finally took a big trip to goodwill and got rid of all the extra furniture hanging out in the nursery. It still isn't completely cleaned out yet, but for the most part everything left will at least be staying in the house.

Stretch Marks: Still none.

Sleep: You know those stories you hear about pregnant women who wake up constantly at night to use the bathroom? Well, I feel like I may be jinxing myself a bit here, but it hasn't happened yet and I have no problem sleeping through the night.

Movement: I may be slightly obsessed with poking my stomach just to see it move and react. Maybe not the best motherly instinct, but it is pretty cool to see.

Cravings: Not too much of a surprise, but nothing really I can think of.

Symptoms: I actually haven't had any crazy heartburn recently, which has been nice. And while my ankles will still swell up in the afternoon at work, they don't really bother me, except for the fact they look scary.

What I Miss: At this exact moment, nothing really. Although over the weekend there was a point where I was dying for a Dr. Pepper.

Looking Forward To: My baby shower is this weekend! Crazy to think it's already here, right? And it's definitely a good thing we made some progress clearing out the nursery, because I have a filling after this weekend it will be jam packed again.

6 Weeks ~ 7 Weeks ~ 8 Weeks

9 Weeks ~ 10 Weeks ~ 11 Weeks

12 Weeks ~ 13 Weeks ~ 14 Weeks

15 Weeks ~ 16 Weeks ~ 17 Weeks

18 Weeks ~ 19 Weeks ~ 20 Weeks

21 Weeks ~ 22 Weeks ~ 23 Weeks

24 Weeks ~ 25 Weeks ~ 26 Weeks

27 Weeks ~ 28 Weeks ~ 29 Weeks

30 Weeks ~ 31 Weeks ~ 32 Weeks

33 Weeks

Mailbox Monday (96)

Yes, it's the end of a weekend, and yes I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday once again to share the books I've recently added to my shelves.
Purchased
Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella
So I really didn't need to buy this book. Not only that I haven't even read the last few books Kinsella put out. But of course I received a Barnes & Nobles coupon in my e-mail, and couldn't really say no, right? Plus it's from her shopaholic series, and while I don't love these books as much as I used to, there's still a bit of nostalgia with this series for me.

From Goodreads
The Life Intended by Kristen Harmel
This one really intrigues me. First there's the gorgeous cover. Second, there's the summary that compares it to Sliding Doors and P.S. I Love You. I really hadn't heard of this one before I won a copy, but I have to say I'm excited about it now.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

From Italy to France

Madame Serpent by Jean Plaidy
Published: July 3, 2012 by Touchstone
First Published: 1952
Series: Catherine de Medici #1
It's been over two years since I've last read a Jean Plaidy book, which is a little crazy knowing that ever since college I've considered her one of my favorite historical fiction authors. (Just looking at my goodreads stats gives you an idea how much since I've read 17 books by her since 2007 compared to my second most read author at 10.) There's just something about how many historical places and periods she wrote about and how many details she's able to include to I can't help but be excited about.

Funny enough, I've never read a book on Catherine De'Medici yet reading this I realize how much I actually know about her story. It seems she's been actually been the background character in several other books I've read when reading about her husband's Mistress, Diane de Poitiers, or her daughter, or Mary, Queen of Scots, her daughter-in-law, or even her perfumer. Even with this background though, there's still so much new information I found which is one reason I love Plaidy's books.

It's hard for me to really articulate just why I enjoy reading her books so much. But she's definitely an author I'm always telling people to try out, especially if they like historical fiction. They've slowly started to bring more and more of her books back in print, but it definitely is exciting to know how many of her books I've still yet to read, although a bit depressing to know how many are still out of print.

5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

33 Weeks Bumpdate

How Far Along: 33 Weeks

Size of the Baby: A pineapple

Maternity Clothes: I think at this point the only time I'm not wearing maternity clothes is when I'm lounging around the house or working out. Other than that it's pretty much always the case.

Nursery: Are you really going to be surprised if I tell you it's the same here as it was last week?

Stretch Marks: And again here, still none.

Sleep: Sleep has been pretty awesome lately. Yes, it is hard to turn over when I'm trying to fall asleep, and every once in a while I'll wake up a little stiff from sleeping on one side all night. But still it's been pretty awesome.

Movement: All the time. Yes, there are times when the baby is more active, but at this point it feel more normal to have it moving than not moving.

Cravings: I could definitely go for some candy, especially knowing Halloween is so close, but I'm still managing to keep it out of my diet.

Symptoms: I've started getting heartburn. It really isn't anything too bad, but just kind of an odd occurrence since it's not something I normally ever deal with.

What I Miss: Again I'm not really sure. Although I hate the idea this whole fall might pass without a pumpkin spice latte.

Looking Forward To: I know our nursery progress has pretty much stalled this past few weeks, but hopefully this is the weekend where we start to make progress!

6 Weeks ~ 7 Weeks ~ 8 Weeks

9 Weeks ~ 10 Weeks ~ 11 Weeks

12 Weeks ~ 13 Weeks ~ 14 Weeks

15 Weeks ~ 16 Weeks ~ 17 Weeks

18 Weeks ~ 19 Weeks ~ 20 Weeks

21 Weeks ~ 22 Weeks ~ 23 Weeks

24 Weeks ~ 25 Weeks ~ 26 Weeks

27 Weeks ~ 28 Weeks ~ 29 Weeks

30 Weeks ~ 31 Weeks ~ 32 Weeks