You Find the Truth in a Child's Eyes

For any long time visitors of the blog you probably know exactly what's coming. Especially when I tell you the Backstreets Boys released their newest music video for their newest single, "Show 'Em What You're Made Of." So of course, I'm sharing it here today, so you all have the privilege of watching.

For the teeny still inside you, the video does feature Brian and AJ without their shirts. Considering they're in their 30s and 40s they all look pretty awesome. I even happen to think Nick looks better right now than ever.
But on a more serious side, the song is about the message they want to send to their children. (Since yes, all except Nick are now fathers!) There's several inspirational lines, include my favorite:

"You gotta stand for something
Even if you stand alone,
Don't be afraid
It's gonna be alright"

While I don't have children yet, I still can imagine a lot of these ideas are things I want to pass on to them. The idea that the sky is the limit, that they need to go out and show the world what they're made of.

What are some values that you want to pass on to your children?

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

I don't often participate in Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday, but every so often there's a new release coming that I can't help but get excited about. Clearly, this week is one of those times.

Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
Expected Publication: December 3, 2013 by Berkley Trade
Series: Cleopatra's Daughter #3
Synopsis via Goodreads:Based on the true story of Cleopatra’s daughter…

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty.

With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind.

Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

I loved the first two books of the series, and can't wait to see how it continues! I would imagine this is the last of the series, but hopefully I'm wrong. Either way, I definitely want to be savoring this once it's finally available.

Are they any books you're waiting on that you can't wait to see published?

From Miss to Mrs: The Morning After

Almost 3 weeks ago, I posted the end of our wedding reception. Since I haven't mentioned the wedding since you may have thought I was finished blogging about it. But surprise, surprise, I have a few final recaps posts to come. If part of you is saying, it's been over a year, time to move on, I understand and promise to soon. But first...
The morning after our wedding, after I night the boy & I spent at the Crowne Plaza, we all joined together at my now SIL's house for a morning after brunch. We expected to be one of the last one's there, but be it a mix of adrenaline and the excitement of our first morning as a married couple, we actually arrived before most of the guests.
But eventually friends and family arrived for a breakfast, leftover wedding cake, and present opening.
I'm opening my ice cream maker in the photo above, which of course I've yet to use. But I've been thinking of peppermint ice cream for the holidays could be a lot of fun, so hopefully I'm able to make that happen.
The boy even got in on the present action, opening one of his favorites, his mandoline, which he has actually made use of.
Before the wedding, I wasn't too sure about the idea of a morning after brunch. But I'm definitely glad it happened because it gave everyone a chance to be together one last time in a low key atmosphere before saying good-bye.

What are your thoughts on having a morning after brunch for weddings?

All photos in this post are personal photos.
Miss a Recap Post?
From Miss to Mrs: The Calm Before the Storm
From Miss to Mrs: There's a Hurricane Coming?
From Miss to Mrs: Here Comes Isaac
From Miss to Mrs: Weathering the Cane
From Miss to Mrs: After the Storm
From Miss to Mrs: Trials and Tribulations
From Miss to Mrs: The Last Errands
From Miss to Mrs: A Night on the Town
From Miss to Mrs: The Hangover
From Miss to Mrs: Rehearsing in the Heat
From Miss to Mrs: The Last Single Supper
From Miss to Mrs: Gifting the Girls
From Miss to Mrs: The Last Single Night
From Miss to Mrs: Oh What a Beautiful Morning
From Miss to Mrs: Getting Prettified
From Miss to Mrs: Prepping the Plantation
From Miss to Mrs: Turtle Time
From Miss to Mrs: The Photographer Has Arrived
From Miss to Mrs: Becoming the Bride
From Miss to Mrs: Dress Details
From Miss to Mrs: Ou Est le Groom?
From Miss to Mrs: A Bridge-y First Look
From Miss to Mrs: Couple Time
From Miss to Mrs: Just the Two of Us
From Miss to Mrs: Grouping the Girls
From Miss to Mrs: Ain't No Party Like a Bridal Party
From Miss to Mrs: Fun with Family
From Miss to Mrs: Making it Official
From Miss to Mrs: The Bedeken
From Miss to Mrs: The Final Minutes
From Miss to Mrs: Programming Break
From Miss to Mrs: The Processional
From Miss to Mrs: Walking the Walk
From Miss to Mrs: Circle to Ceremony
From Miss to Mrs: Remembrance to Kiddush
From Miss to Mrs: The Exchanges
From Miss to Mrs: Lucky Number Seven
From Miss to Mrs: Mazel Tov
From Miss to Mrs: Ceremony Details
From Miss to Mrs: The Yichud
From Miss to Mrs: Extended Fun with Family
From Miss to Mrs: The One Who Found You
From Miss to Mrs: You Are My Fire
From Miss to Mrs: Eat, Drink, and Be Married
From Miss to Mrs: I Want Candy
From Miss to Mrs: Let's Get Toasty
From Miss to Mrs: What a Wonderful World
From Miss to Mrs: Behind From Where We Came
From Miss to Mrs: Havah Nagilah
From Miss to Mrs: Hey Mr. DJ
From Miss to Mrs: The Littlest Guests
From Miss to Mrs: Show Me the Money
From Miss to Mrs: Tossing Fun
From Miss to Mrs: Don't Stop Believin'

Do You Know What Time It Is?

About Time
When I told the boy I wanted to see this movie, his response was that we had already seen it. And while yes, there were a lot of similarities to The Time Traveler's Wife, made even more apparent by Rachael McAdams being in both, they aren't quite the same. But if you had to compare them, About Time is the one I'd rather see, and knowing how I feel about the book, is what I wish that had been able to achieve with the other.

They keep marketing this as a movie made by Love Actually, which is both one of mine and the boy's favorites. And while it is nowhere near as good, it does feel similar. It has those moments where the two of us couldn't help but laugh together, and also those where I fond myself in tears.

We both wound up enjoying this more than expected. I can't quite get the boy to say he enjoyed it, but he did at least admit it was better than "the other version." It doesn't seem to be doing to well in theaters, so I'd say if you have any desire to see this in theaters, make a point to do so while you still have the chance.

Mailbox Monday (55)

Mailbox Monday is a place for bloggers to gather to share the books they've picked up each week. It's currently tours to a new host each month, and for November we're linking up at I Totally Paused!.
From Paperback Swap
The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
I'm really excited for this book, but also a little apprehensive. It's the first in the Morland series, which currently spans 35 books, so I know I have a lot of reading ahead of me. It's a multi-general story, that starts in the 1400s in this book and goes through the 1930s in the most recent.

From Goodreads
The Heart of Everything That Is by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
This is a biography of Red Cloud, the only American Indian to defeat the US Army in war. Until this book arrived, he's someone I'd never heard of, but I'm excited to learn more.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Project 365: Days 313 Through 319

I almost hate to jinx myself, but with only a month and a half left, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be completely my project 365 on my first attempt ever. Of course, still need about 40 more photos, but I'm awfully close. Till then, here are my daily photos from this past week.
November 9, 2013 - 313/365: Saturday we went to our niece's first ever swim meet. Here she is jumping in for her free stlye, before this she swam backstroke too. But even though she only swam two events, we were there several hours. I've never swam in a swim meet myself, bu do remembering going to one or two of my friends' back in high school.
November 10, 2013 - 314/365: The boy made red beans and rice for dinner. Which in my opinion, pairs pretty perfectly with a glass of wine!
November 11, 2013 - 315/365: My first red cup of the season.
November 12, 2013 - 316/365: Holiday catalogs in the mail. Although since when do snapfish and shutterfly actually mail out catalogs?
November 13, 2013 - 317/365: After living in our house almost 4 years, we finally took down the previous owners curtains and hung a set of our room. Of course every other room still needs curtains, but at least it's a start!
November 14, 2013 - 318/365: About two weeks ago Trader Joes finally opened in Baton Rouge! It was a little too crowded when we went to really stock up on stuck, but I did manage a box of these cranberry granola bars.
November 19, 2013 - 319/365: Sweet Italian sausage tortellini.

Have you ever swam in, or even just been to, a swim meet?

I'm linking this post up with Random-osity & Kleinworth & Co. for Project 52!

November Blog Love

Last month I participated in Dara's monthly giveaway, and one of the prizes I offered was adspace on my blog. So I'm excited to announce the winner, Shana of Organized Chaos who you may have noticed in my sidebar. Shana is a mother of two who currently lives in South Africa, and I'm excited to share some of my favorite posts of hers from the past month!
Organized Chaos
30 Days of Gratitude: Loving South Africa

"Today, I am grateful for my South African life.
1. I love the social atmosphere in South Africa. It is a difficult thing to describe, because yes, we are social in America too. But here....it’s just different."

Conquering PPD: Step 1 Finding the Shift

"I was discussing with a friend recently about depression and I’d realized that I hadn’t wrote anything about my....my....I don’t like the word battle because I don’t feel I’m battling. I mean, of course, I struggle and of course I attempt to overcome it, yet I just feel battle is too strong...to violent of a word."

Conquering PPD: Step 2 Recognizing the Changes

"Step two came as I realized when it started to change....I started recognizing why. What changed that caused the shift?

Maybe....so that you can understand where this is all going....after I started figuring out what changed....I then asked myself why those changes affected me so tremendously."

If you want to look into sponsoring From L.A. to LA, be sure to check out my sponsor page.

What are your favorite posts from around the blogosphere this past month?