Mailbox Monday (12)

I was all set to share these books with last week's Mailbox Monday. Except I got tired of my computer forgetting it had internet access every 5 minutes, and needed to restart, so I decided to re-install Windows. Unfortunatly my laptop has an issue where it won't load all the drivers, and needs a work-around to load windows correctly. And while I have been able to get Windows back, I haven't fixed that little work-around. But my computer is working, and should hold out till I decided to finally upgrade.

Anyways, back to the point of this post. I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday, which for November is hosted by BermudaOnion's Weblog. (And sorry in advance that the lighting is so awful in this photo.)
From TLC Book Tours
A Cowboy For Christmas by Lori Wilde
I've already finished the cute story. (But as of last Sunday when I was supposed to post this, hadn't even started.) It was a cute & fun story, and my review will be up in early December.

A Desire Path by Jan Shapin
This is a historical fiction that takes place during WWII. I am a little unsure about how this one is going to be for me, but I'm excited to see!

For Review from the Publisher
Winning the City by Theodore Weesner
I previously read Weesner's The Car Thief , and was excited to have the chance to read another of his. I did enjoy him previously, so hopefully this is another one with a positive review coming.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And when was the last time computer issues kept you from blogging?

From Miss to Mrs: The Last Single Night

Twas the night before the wedding when all through the house, not a creature was heard, not even a mouse... except that's not quite how it went down. After the rehearsal I went back to the house along with my MOH, Bridesmaid Chicago, and Bridesmaid NYC (yes, I kicked the boy out of our house the night before the wedding). I figured we could have a fun girl's night while accomplishing the last few tasks for the wedding.

Except my lists of things to do a morphed into something unimaginable, and to me, we had to get them ALL done. There were things that had to get done just before the wedding (like washing out all the candy jars), things that I would have finished earlier if I hadn't been dealing with Isaac (like those programs), and things that I just hadn't made time for (like mapping out where each assigned table would be).

Tensions were high, we were all tired, and I may have had a mini-breakdown. I was just so nervous about everything going as planned the following day, and felt so stressed and alone in a way. I know I didn't plan the wedding by myself, and I had a lot of people who were there and who wanted to help, but I think the fact that it was the night before the wedding and my mom really wasn't there made me a little emotional. (As it is I'm tearing up writing this.)

Just in times past I would talk to my mom and work out details with her, and she would then talk to everyone else and make sure everyone knew what was happening. Without my mom as point person, I didn't feel like I knew how to communicate to friends and family what was happening and what I expected from them, but I also didn't feel like anyone was trying to communicate to me either. My dad and I didn't really talk about the wedding, so for all I know people were talking to him, and the message never got to me. But I guess part of me just felt alone, and that I was having to deal with all the stress of the completely by myself. I know that isn't the case, and I'm not saying I don't appreciate all the help I received (because I did receive a lot!), I'm really just trying to say if you are lucky enough to have your mom there to help you plan your wedding, just be appreciative.

After I felt awful, and made my bridesmaids feel awful, which in turn made me feel awful for hurting them, we finally made it to bed and I slept miserable. I remember being awake at 2am with such a miserable headache, that I got out of bed to take advil. Then remember looking at my phone around 4am, and couldn't believe I hadn't feel back asleep yet. But from there actually did sleep until my 8am alarm.

How did you spend the night before your wedding (or any other type of big event)? Was it a blissful night with your future husband, or did you wind up a little over- stressed?

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

The Perks

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
You know when you read a book that you loved so much, that it feels like nothing you can say about it does it justice? That's how I feel about this book. I absolutely fell in love with this. And my biggest criticism is for me, that I didn't read this sooner, because I think would have loved it even more in high school.

You can't help but feel for and identify with Charlie throughout, and get lost in his world. The whole thing just feels so real, and the fact that it's told by letters he's written only makes everything more lifelike.

I did think it was interesting given a few of the subplots, that major characters went to Penn State. I know this was written over 10 years ago before the scandal came out, but it does make you wonder especially since we know somethings that happened at Penn State at that time. A bad coincidence? Probably. But it does make for an interesting discussion point.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm really forward to seeing it. But even though I haven't seen it, I still pictured the actors (specifically Emma Watson) when reading through this one. If you're like me, and have been putting this off, then I think it is definitely time to mark this off your to-read list.

5/5

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

Show Us Your... Side Dishes

Last week I joined in at Kelly's Korner for her Show Us You Life link-up, where we linked our favorite dessert recipes. This week the theme is side dishes. I'll be posting similar to last week, where instead of posting just one recipe, I'm posting several. This is actually all the side dish recipes I've posted in the past few years, which I realize isn't that many. But at least it's a great place to start. Hopefully by posting several options, you can find the perfect one for you!
Charoset
Herb & Garlic Roasted New Potatoes
Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms
Roasted Root Vegetables
Tortilla Chips

Which dish out of all of these would you most want to try? And if you're stopping by from Kelly's Korner, be sure to say hi in the comments!

Sunday Social (8)

I'm back linking up with A Complete Waste of Makeup so let's get with it!
What is currently on your wish list?
I'm wishing for my first gingerbread latte of the season. Probably not the answer you were expecting here, but it's the truth just the same.

Share a new iphone, droid, ipad app you have recently discovered that we all need
I don't really use any apps on my phones. The only one I really use (besides facebook & twitter of course) is a movie app to tell me movie times. And I've had it on my phone since I've got it, so I wouldn't really call it new.

What is a new Fall TV show you have added to your DVR?
I'm pretty sure everyone's been watching it, but I'm in love with Nashville so far. I can't wait till they release the soundtrack on CD, because I definitely plan on buying it.

Share your Social Media links for us to follow you on(pinterest, twitter, facebook, etc) Tell us which is your favorite and why
Flicrk
Goodreads
Pinterest
Twitter
As for my favorite? Well, I don't really want to choose just one. But if we're going by time spent on a site, it would have to be, twitter or goodreads.

What is a TV series or Movie or Song you could listen to or watch over and over and over and never get tired of…feel free to name one of each
Going with movie, it would have to be Love Actually. My friend and I would watch it every year during finals to symbolize the end of the semester, and since college I try to watch it at least once every holiday season.

If you haven't answered these questions yet, let me know your answer to your favorite one in the comments. And if you have, please let me so I can stop by!

Proud Cis

Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith
I absolutely LOVED Anne Easter Smith's first novel, A Rose for the Crown, but I think sometimes when you start on such an awesome note it can be hard to follow it up. And unfortunately for me, her books since they just haven't done it for me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy this one, and I think it may be my second favorite of hers, but would probably go back and read her first than read this again.

I was not a fan of the heavy handed foreshadowing in this, although part of that could be due to my knowledge on this time period. I think for a lot of readers hearing Cecily say something along th lines of, "I hope my children are always friends and never could," could read as a nice motherly thought. Except I know that was not the case, and we know one brother executed the other, and it's possible another murdered the sons of ones. I do think a little bit of foreshadow makes sense, but at times it just felt so over the top.

I also wasn't a fan of how Joan of Arc was presented. It reminded me of another book (I beleive Philippa Gregory's The Red Queen, where our narrator knows Joan is innocent, but everybody else see her as England's enemy (as she was). I get that writing Joan of Arc as anything but a Saint would be hard for some people to swallow. But it just doesn't seem to be historically accurate to keep reading from the point of view that Joan was wronged. It might be nice at some point to read something where the character does she her as practicing witchcraft, which is probably more accurate as to how much Englishmen felt at the time.

With these complaints, I still loved hearing Cecily grow throughout the novel. And even though it was long, it didn't drag to me. There are so many details about things like the clothes and the food (historically accurate I might add), that I really loved. You could remove them to make this, a lot shorter, but I think you'd be losing more than the length. There are also a ton of historical characters, but I was even surprised how easy it was for me to keep them straight. I also learned just how a several historical figures where related that I hadn't realized before.

I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking to learn more about the War of the Roses. Anne Easter Smith's books definitely do require an investment to get thought, but it's my strong belief that the time is well spent.

4.5/5

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

Show Us Your... Desserts

It's been a while since I've participated in any of the Show Us Your Life posts over at Kelly's Korner. But since today we're linking up desserts, which is something I'm always a fan of, I figured it was a great week to join back in. And instead of linking up with one specific recipe, I thought I would use this as almost a way of cataloging all of the dessert posts I've written throughout the years. Hopefully this way you find at least something you can't wait to try!
Lemon Bars
Peanut Butter Cookies
Rolo Cookies
Snickerdoodles
Skinny Girl Margarita Cake
Toffee Matzah
White Squares

Which of these recipes would you most want to try? And if you're stopping by from Kelly's Korner, be sure to say hi in the comments!