Five on Friday (1)

For the first time in ever, I decided to join in the fun and link-up at The Good Life for Five on Friday!

1. After all the cold weather and ice, things are starting to get back to normal. But just for fun, here's one more photo from our yard from Wednesday afternoon.
3.I kept hearing over and over how much I would love Downton Abbey, and finally gave in to temptation. I borrowed the first season from a friend and while I'm only 4 episodes in, I am loving it just as much as I hoped.



3. With all the crazy cold weather we've been having I thought it was finally time to try the pin above. While my version my not have been as pretty, and the ice cream melted pretty quickly, it was still amazingly delicious.
4. For years I've been driving by Mitterndorf's on the way from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, and I finally had the chance to stop in and try it. I had their soft shell crab platter, and it was exactly what I was expecting (in a good way). It is a bit out of the way to stop by normally, but I'd be more than happy to stop there again on the way back from New Orleans.
5. I've spent years of refusing to upgrade my phone, but I finally did it and am now the owner of an iPhone 5C. Of course that means I lost my unlimited data plan, but so far that hasn't been an issue. I've been avoiding downloading apps so far, except for Twitter and Instagram which are basically required, but if you have any suggestions for apps I should look into please let me know!

I'm in the Gardens

Last week I wrote about my trip to California, about how we didn't see to do much except visit family and eat good food. Except one thing we did manage to fit in was visiting the Huntington Gardens. I'm told I've been there before, but this was the first time where I've been old enough to remember. And since these photos don't really require a lot of description, here's a glimpse to help transport you.

In the Chinese Gardens

A giant tree

My brother and his girlfriend with koi

In the Japanese gardens

Rock gardens

Me and Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire

In the herb gardens

A pomegranate bonsai tree

With the mountains in the distanceWhen was the last time you found yourself at a public garden?

A Novel of Honey, Love, & Manners

The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Published: January 28, 2014 by William Morrow & Company
First Published: April 1, 2013
Sugar Wallace is moving to New York City to start her life over. She knows no one in NYC, except of course her bees, but that doesn't stop her from quickly befriending everyone she meets. Sugar is the type that wants to fix everyone she meets (and is able to!), yet she doesn't realize that her own life also needs fixing.

There's a timeless feel to this whole story. And while you know it takes place today, it could just as easily take place 50 years ago. There's just such feeling of old time nostalgia throughout. The book also feels a magical, and while they are a few specific magical elements, even without them there's just an aura of magic.

The book might be a little predictable, but that's almost expected with a book like this. But even so, there were a few moments that were unexpected.

I think this story could had the potential to be too saccharine-y sweet and over the top, and while at times it got close, it still had a lot of depth. I loved all the characters from Sugar, to the mysterious Theo, to the sweet Ruby, to even the bees, and part of me wishes I could jump inside the book to spend time with them. The whole book reads like a cool drink on wraparound porch, and I feel almost lucky that I had the chance to be there.

4.5/5

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

Sneaux Day

I remember the first time I was ever in Louisiana, in August, driving across a bridge and seeing the sign "Bridges May Freeze in Cold Weather," thinking it was ridiculous. After all, as hot as it was in the summer, there's no way it could get that cold in the winter. Especially knowing it was never this hot in California, and we never had snow by the beach. Except in 2008, it did snow.

December 2008And again in 2009.

December 2009And yet again, in 2010.

February 2010Except despite what these picture may prove, snow isn't that common in Louisiana and until this stretch it hadn't snowed since the 1980s. And we haven't had any snow since 2010. Which is why everyone was so excited when snow was predicted last Friday, and all the schools were closed.

My car before leaving work FridayExcept it didn't actually snow. Instead there was frozen rain with freezing temperatures, and those bridges I mentioned, they did freeze. Unfortunately for me I still had work Friday morning. Knowing that all the schools were closed I had imagined that the roads would be empty. But I didn't factor in the bridges. From where my house is there's 3 ways to get into town, each involving bridges. Except Friday morning, two of those bridges were closed, which turned my normal 30 minute commute into one of 2 hours.

Ice in the backyard, Saturday MorningOne the way home I was under the impression that was still the only bridge open, as was everyone else. Which meant I waited 2 hours trying to cross it, until hearing on the radio that they were closing that bridge to salt in hopes of being able to reopen it. But turns out there was a second bridge, the one furthest out of the way for me, still open. That meant I had to turn around and go all the way back into town to get back to it. All in all, I got home after 4 hours of driving, which means my daily commute which is normally under an hour both ways, was 6 hours long!

The Interstate, Saturday MorningEven Saturday morning they still hadn't managed to reopened everything, but thankfully by Sunday things seem to be back to normal. So yes, while it might not be real snow depending on where you live, we did still get our fill in Louisiana. And yes, bridges definitely do freeze in Louisiana!

EDIT: I wrote this post originally on Sunday thinking this was our one snow storm for the year. I definitely wasn't expecting to be at home today because of snow. No way was I going out in it again after last Friday's craziness. The snow and ice is supposed to stay around till tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see if we leave this house tomorrow either. But for now, here's a look into our backyard today, around 4pm.

Monday Movie Review

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
I have fuzzy memories of seeing Clear and Present Danger growing up, so officially this wasn't my first Jack Ryan movie. But even so, I knew little of what to expect with this aside from the obvious fact that it was an action movie.

Overall though it wasn't bad, but it isn't one I'd rave about. I did like Chris Pine and Kierra Knightly in this, and think if they hadn't been in it I would have felt quite differently by the end.

Overall, I don't necessarily regret seeing it, but don't see myself ever making a point to watch it again.

Mailbox Monday (62)

It's the start of another week, which means it's time to be linking up at Mailbox Monday to share the books I've recently added to my bookshelf.
From Paperback Swap
Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell
I may not have loved The Carrie Diaries that much, and I may not be watching the new tv series, but still... I love Sex and the City too much not to continue with the series. This book finds Carrie living in NYC for the first time, and it's also when she first meets Samantha. It probably won't be the best book I've ever read, but still, I can't wait to finally start reading it.

From TLC Book Tours
Driving Lessons by Zoe Fishman
This is a chick lit-type book with the exact opposite premise of Summer and the City. Instead in this it's a thirtysomething woman moving from NYC to the suburban countryside. While there she tries to figure what exactly she wants from her life, and what sacrifices she might need to make with her career, family, and friendships along the way. Being where I currently am in my life, 9 months from my 30th birthday, trying to decide exactly what I want to be doing with my life, I feel like this book is coming at the perfect time.

Do you find yourself wanting to read books that relate to what you're currently going through or would you rather find a book so different from reality that it's more of an escape? And what did you find in your mailbox this week?

Down the Rabbit Hole

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Published: January 1, 2013 by Amulet Books
Series: Splintered #1
I had forgotten I listed this book as one of my "Can't Wait to Read in 2013" until after I started reading it. But once that realization hit, I remember thinking how I loved the idea of an Alice in Wonderland retelling or somewhat sequel. Plus it had such a gorgeous cover. I'm actually a little surprised I had forgotten about it, since I only picked it up when my book club decided to read it.

This books seems to have gotten quite hyped lately, especially since the sequel was just released. I definitely went into this with high expectations, but I'm not quite sure they were met. I can't quite explain why, except that something about the book didn't quite click for me.

I actually enjoyed the first parts of the book, before Alyssa travels to Wonderland, which is the opposite of most people. I think once we were in Wonderland everything was too chaotic, and so much happened that it was hard to follow. I found myself lost in sections, needing to reread it, and still not quite understanding what was going on.

I also read a review where they complained that they couldn't connect with the characters, and that they hated both of the love interests. This is something I don't think I would have been able to articulate, but I think that might be part of what bothered me with this.

I did love all the references back to original, which even though I haven't read, I have seen enough movie versions to identify a lot. I also loved the ending in that it reminded me of one of my favorites episodes of Buffy & Angel.

Overall, I did still enjoy this, I just feel a little let down by it. I know the sequel is out now, and while I'd still pick it up, I almost feel that this book's ending would be enough for it to stand on its own.

4/5

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