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Fifty Shades Darker by E L James
I feel like I'm flying through this series so quickly (the first 2 books at least, but I'm sure it'll be the same with the third), that I'm going to need to reread them to really understand everything that went out. These books are written so that at each chapter's end you want so badly to continue to the next (this book especially). There is a lot that happens in this book, so much that looking back I feel like parts of the second book actually took place in the first. But one aspect I found a little crazy about the books is how little time has actually taken place through them.

One thing I'm really enjoying about these books is comparing Anna to Bella, but especially Christian to Edward. They're both such tortured souls, who truly believe they don't desire love. Edward because he's a vampire, and he thinks of himself as a monster who doesn't believe he actually has a soul. And Christian because, well... I'm not going to answer that here just in case you haven' got to the books yet. But he's definitely a tortued soul to circumstances that really were beyond his control.

I actually set down to write this review as soon as I finished this book. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to see what unfolds in the 3rd book. (Although I'm already started to feel disappointed that I'm almost through the books.) Obviously I could have waited to write this review, but I wanted to be sure I was writing just on my feelings for this book instead of what comes after. So with that, I'm off to sit down with the final book 50 shades book.

4.5/5

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

Planning without the Internet

Yesterday I shared my parents' wedding book, which included a guestbook as well as a scrapbook full of memorabilia from both their wedding and honeymoon, and left you in suspense as to what else was included. I'm guessing from the title you probably know, but this was also my mom's wedding planning binder.
It started with a guest list, which to protect privacy I won't be showing, but here is at least the number count.
There's her registry list, which is quite a bit different than the online registries we have today. Except looking at the actual items listed (Kitchenaid Mixer, Cuisinart food processor) it looks incredibly similar to mine. It's funny when registering I never really thought what type of impression our choices would make on our future children, but just seeing "sea foam green" towels brings me back to the towels I always used growing up.
There's her timeline, showing what to do both 6 and 3 months out, as well as in the month before. (The monkeys in the corner look to be a stamp, and if you look there's a cut-out from Brides magazine as well.)
There's a budget page. (How would you like to be spending $25 on flowers or $55 on invitations? Cheap for 1982 I'm sure, but probably impossible now.)
There's a day-of schedule, which actually seems pretty consistent with a 2012 wedding.
My parents didn't have a caterer, which means my parents cooked most of the food themselves. And if you're cooking food, you have to have a grocery list (I'm guessing these are the ingredients for potato salad.)
And if you're cooking the food, you need to have your recipes, right?
Going from the reception to the actual ceremony, there's a list of verses. (No idea which of these if any were actually used.)
As well as a list of various wedding traditions.
My mom sewed her actual dress, so there's a small sketch, I'm guessing where she designed it, which looks pretty close to how it actually turned out.
There's a make-up "pinterest board."
As well as a board for flowers.
I know this post has gotten almost ridiculously long, but I'm just in awe of all of this. (And actually there's a few pages I wanted to share that didn't make the cut.)

Going through all of this is just so bittersweet though. Looking at all these pictures, seeing page after page of my mom's handwriting, you know how much work she put into it all. And I can only imagine how much she would be doing today, if she was still here. Looking through it the first time brought me to tears, but now when I look at it I'm just impressed and amazed at how much is actually in this single book.

Part of me feels like in 2012 we have it easy being able to plan our internet online. Except part of me wishes all my planning was in a single place, where it lasts as time capsule preserving almost every aspect of my parents' wedding day.

Would you be willing to give up the convenience of doing on your planning online in order to have something physical that has it all in one place? And do you have any idea what type of planning your own mother put into planning her wedding?

30 Years Ago...

When I was home a few weeks ago for my bridal shower, I also went through my parents house and brought a few items back with me. Things like several books, my high school diploma, some of my mom's jewelry, and this...
This is my parents' wedding guestbook, something that I hadn't actually seen until that weekend. I have no idea if it had always been there, or if my mom had taken it out of storage in anticipation of our upcoming wedding, and unfortunately she's not here to ask. But I thought that since 30 years ago today was the day my parents were married it was a perfect day to share it.
This was actually just a blank book that my mom turned into a guestbook. I'd love to show the whole thing, but to preserve their guests' privacy here's one of the blank pages.
Remember when I said it was a blank book? Well, my mom drew those lines, added "Guests" to the top, and the little butterfly in the corner. Each signature page had a little drawing, and more than that each one was completely different.

Except this wasn't just a guestbook, but was also a scrapbook as well. There was a copy of the menu. (It looks like my mom used those scratch-off-type letters and a few have fallen off. But the last bit is supposed to say Champagne with Pickled Strawberries and Cake.)
There's copies of the invitation. Which knowing my mom, I'm pretty sure she designed herself.
As well as the invitation inserts, starting with the RSVPs (complete with the stamps I'm sure were used to mail it all).
As well as a thank you card for later, a map from the invitation suite. And again by the handwriting, this looks like something my mom drew as well.
Probably my favorite thing in here are sample of the wrapping paper used to wrap gifts, each labeled with the gift giver. (I would have never thought of doing this, and now I'm thinking of the best way to do something similar.)
The there were also wine bottle labels. The top one is labeled as the champagne from the wedding itself, the second from their honeymoon, and the one at the bottom looks to be from a gift.
Except this wasn't just a guest book, and wedding scrapbook, but also a scrapbook from their honeymoon.
Except this wasn't just a guestbook/wedding scrapbook/honeymoon scrapbook.... but I think this post has already gotten long enough. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see what else is inside. But any guesses as to what else you think may be waiting?

Play Ball

This past weekend the boy & I made it to Alex Box Stadium to see LSU take on Oregon State in their NCAA regional.
Most years we try to get to a few games, and while we did get to one a few weeks ago, this is only our second game of the season. Hopefully next year we're able to make it to a few more.

Not the best picture, but at least proving we were both thereThe Tigers wound up winning, and went on to win the regional, which means next week we'll be hosting a super regional as well. Hopefully we win that, so we can go on to the college world series.
And since any post of mine wouldn't be complete without food, I went with a BBQ beef sandwich and had a snow cone (half watermelon, half wedding cake) for dessert, but failed to take a picture of that.

LSU about to score their first run of the gameHopefully we're able to pick up tickets to next week's regional as well, but if not, we'll still be cheering the tigers to victory. Geaux Tigers!

Hot as Hades

Dead Beautiful by Melanie Dugan
Modern retelling seem to be all the rage lately, so when I heard that Dead Beautiful was a modern YA retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Except I wouldn't really classify this as a modern retelling. The story didn't feel like it took place in modern society ,and there were comments made, such as when the Gods refer to this new guy Jesus, that made you wonder when it was actually supposed to take place. Really the only thing that made it feel modern were the comments about Uggs or Hallmark. But instead of placing it in modern day it felt more like an infomercial.

The story was told by changing the narrator every page or two. This way we knew exactly Zeus, or Hades, or Demeter, or Persephone or several other smaller characters were thinking at any point or time. This isn't the way I would have imagined the story would have been told, but it was definitely an interesting and unexpected idea.

I do think this story had a lot of potential, and if you aren't familiar with Persephone's story you may enjoy this a lot more than I did. But I do think if the author fully embraced modern times (maybe sent Persephone to high school, or gave her a cell phone, or even acknowledged technology), this could have had the makings of an unforgettable book.

2.5/5

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

Lips as Red as Blood

Snow White and the Huntsmen
Talk about a different movie from Mirror, Mirror, and yet, I still enjoyed them both. This movie reminded me a lot of the Narnia or Lord of the Ring movies. Overall I really enjoyed it, although there were parts in the middle where it dragged a bit.

I know a lot of people complain about Kristen Stewart, but I thought she was really good in this. And I have to say, seeing her lead an army gets me really excited for the final chapter of Breaking Dawn this fall.

Overall it wound up being a great fantasy movie (something I wasn't necessarily expecting), and easily lived up to my expectations.

The First Fifty

Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
Yes, I've finally jumped on the bandwagon. Before picking this up I heard over and over just how bad the writing was, and maybe I should be a little embarrassed to admit this, but it didn't really bother me. I did notice some typos, something I very rarely find. So I know if I found more than 1, I can only imagine how many are actually in here.

But to the actual story. I read a review at Read It, See It that I completely agree with. In her her review, Megan touches on some of the topics of discussion on the book. We all have an opinion on Ana's & Christian's relationship. But if two consenting adults have a relationship, does it really matter what goes on between closed doors? If you are enjoying yourself, does that make it wrong because society says it's not normal? Yes, Christian is controlling, but is he abusive? After all, he does make sure she knows what she's getting into.

Also, what I thought was fun was knowing that Ana was basically Bella from the Twilight books and Christian was Edward. No James' interpretation of them doesn't match Stephanie Meyers exactly, but it was still fun finding the similarities (and differences too).

Basically yes, it made me uncomfortable in places. Part of me feels like I shouldn't admit to liking it (but again in a way that goes back to the question about whether if we enjoy something does it matter if other may think it's wrong). But I guess the most telling thing here is that I've already started the second book.

4/5

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