The Last Meal

Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer
Published: April 2, 2013 by William Morrow Paperbacks
I first discovered this book on So Obsessed With, so when I won her giveaway for a free book, I knew this was the one I would request. With all the books I want to read, it did take me some time to get to it. But to ensure it finally happened, I suggested this book for our book club. A valid choice, since it was one we all fell in love with.

Even though I had read such rave reviews about this one, I wasn't quite sure what it was about. I knew it took place in the South and knew there were delicious descriptions of food. It definitely made that mark! I think the closest thing you could classify this as being is chick lit, except it isn't really cheesy and there's so much heart to it.

I loved all the relationships through the story. I loved the characters. I loved all the little details. And of course I loved the food. But again, there was just something extra to it. In a way I was so disappointed when the book because I really didn't want to leave this world.

This is actually the first I've ever read by Liza Palmer. Although I guarantee you with as much as I fell for this book, I know it won't be the last!

5/5

The Painted Ponies Go Up and Down

I remember back when I was pregnant with Elley, everyone told me how fast time would fly by. So often that it started to feel a little annoying. After all, I was an adult and already knew how you'd blink and find the year was ending.

Except then I actually had a baby, and I got it. There's something about having a concrete marker of time that puts everything in a new light. You don't realize 4 months have gone by, until you look back at newborn pictures and see how different a baby looks. Especially since photos of me 4 months ago, well they don't look a whole lot different than I look now.

As much as I look forward to the future and seeing Elley grow, part of me wishes I could go back and repeat it all. Just to hear one more time her little baby grunts or smell that newborn baby smell.

Alas, that technology isn't quite there. But we are left with pictures and videos, a snapshot of what's gone by. I thought I had a bunch of photos on my phone before baby, but it's nothing like what's on there now. Except sadly, that's where they stay.

Yes, I upload them online to save them. I've had photos printed once, but none of those are actually in a frame. I've been working on a photo book, and hopefully I'll finish it by the end of the year. And that's just the photos. What are you supposed to do with all the videos?

Lucky for me, I was contacted by Chris of GrandVideo, a service that takes all of your short videos and edits them together into a professional movie. He explained to me his company, but even more than that offered me a video for Elley. Besides book reviews I very rarely write sponsored posts but this was too good to pass up!

Speaking of time flying by, I've actually had this video for a few months now (hence the fact it's about Elley's first year and she's almost a year and a half!), but I'm finally getting around to sharing it with you all. So after much anticipation, I'm excited to share Elley's first year with you all!

Elley: Year One from GrandVideoSF on Vimeo.

How do you preserve all your photos and movies and memories? Hopefully you're better at it than I am!

This video was provided to me free of charge from GrandVideo. All opinions are my own.

The Morlands in Tudor England

The Dark Rose by by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Published: July 1, 2010 by Sourcebooks Landmark
First Published: 1981
Series: The Morland Dynasty Series # 2
More from the Morland family! This book takes place several generations after the first, although considering how many years went by in the first book several characters are still alive. As with the first, it is difficult to keep all the family relations straight, but the main characters are easily kept track of.

This book takes place during the reign of Henry VII and our main character, Nannette Morland, becomes good friends with Anne Boleyn. Several years ago, I probably would have loved this book. But over the years I've read so many books that deal with Henry VII, and Anne Boleyn specifically, I was kind of over those part of the book. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this, and can't wait to continue through history with the Morlands.

4/5

Mailbox Monday (129)

It's been a while since I've gotten a Mailbox Monday post up. So much so, that I'm sharing the books Elley received for Valentine's Day. And it's May... Yeah. Better late than never, right?
From PJ Library
Today by Kyra Teis
The title of this book, todah, means thank you. As you'd expect each page shows a baby saying thank you for some aspect of their life. I think the illustrations, which looks like children's artwork on pieces of paper, are adorable.

Where is the Afikomen? by Judyth Groner and Madeline Wikler
This is a Passover book in which a little girl looks for the afikomen, the last piece of matzah, to end the meal. Elley isn't quite old enough to go looking for the afikomen yet, but hopefully next year we can try hiding it for her.

Purchased
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
I really try to avoid purchasing books now, but my one exception is Cassandra Clare's shadowhunter books. This one is the first of a new trilogy and takes place a few years after the last book in The Mortal Instruments series. I've actually finished this book and really enjoyed it, so I'll have a bit more to say in my review... whenever I get around to writing it that is!

From Paperbackswap
Crossed by Ally Condie
The next in the Matched series. To be honest, the last book is a little blurry but I do remember liking it. I'm sure as I get into this one it will start coming back to me.

For Review from the Author
Painting the Moon by Traci Moon
I'm not quite sure how this one made its way to me. But it looks like a cute romance-y novel about a California girl who moves to a little cottage in England. Hopefully it's as adorable as it sounds.

Gifted
Olivia by Ian Falconer
This is the first of the two books Elley received for Valentine's Day. Like most of her board books, we keep this one in the living room. While I think it's adorable, sadly Elley hasn't quite gotten into it yet. But I'm hopeful that as she gets old she appreciates it a little more.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
I absolutely adore this book! I've bought it several times before, but always as a gift, so I'm really excited to finally own a copy. In case you haven't discovered this gem yet, in it each crayon writes a letter of complaints to their owner. For example, orange and yellow argue over which is the color of the sky, grey doesn't like being used to draw big animals like elephants and whales, but after reading all their letters the owner find a way to make all the crayons happy.

Just for fun, here's a photo of Elley opening up her Valentine's Day books, all decked out for the holiday.
What did you find in your mailbox this week?