Giving Thanks

I realize we're already in December. Hanukkah started two nights ago, and we're only days away from Elley first birthday (What?!?! How did that happen?!?!) But I couldn't let time pass and not talk about her first Thanksgiving, right?
This was our table, basically full of gifts from our wedding and various celebrations. Basically, the only thing you can see in this photo that wasn't a gift from someone was the Happy Thanksgiving sign I found in the Dollar Spot at Target. (Along with my pumpkin pie you can barely see in the background.)
The boy spent most of the day cooking making gumbo, turkey (which he artfully arranged even), mashed potatoes, gravy, and macaroni and cheese. As for me, in addition to my previously mentioned pumpkin pie, I also made cranberry sauce.
Our Thanksgiving was actually a little different this year than normal, since we were celebrating with a group of friends. But it was a fun way of changing things up and doing things a little bit different than normal.
As for Elley, she had a blast and ate every piece of food that was on her tray. Or at least she tried to eat every piece, but half of what she picked up didn't quite make it and ended up on the floor instead.
Our course I didn't think to take a picture of her in action, but did remember one picture of the two of us together before the night was over. Plus she joined in with one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions, that of leftover pie for breakfast on Black Friday! This time we even captured picture evidence!
Hopefully everyone else had just as sweet of a Thanksgiving, and I'm wishing you all a very happy holiday season!

Christmas in Montana

If Only in My Dreams by Mariah Stewart
Published: November 30, 2015 by Pocket Star
One thing I love about Mariah Stewart's books is how they transport you to a picture perfect location. In her Chesapeake Diaries series it's Maryland's Eastern shore. But in this book it's a Montana ranch at Christmastime. Everything about the setting felt so magical and made me want to curl up with a warm mug of hot chocolate. It's definitely a story to get you in the holiday mood.

As for the story itself, it is a lot of fun. From the first few pages you learn that our characters (a children's book author and aprofessional baseball player) were high school sweethearts but something happened to drive them apart. As it so happens both of them are back in Montana for the holidays, so it's not too surprising where things are going to go. But even so, it's fun getting there. Once I realized what broke up their romance, it made perfect sense, and I sped through the rest of the novella waiting to see when they would resolve their misunderstanding.

If I had any complaint about this book it's that it's a novella. I started the book and was finished within 24 hours, but wished there had been more to keep going. There's several background characters that I could see in stories of their own. Hopefully the next time Stewart decides to visit the ranch in Montana she's there for an entire book!

4.5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Born in Captivity

Room by Emma Donoghue
Published: May 18, 2011 by Back Bay Books
First Published: September 13, 2010
I remember back when this book first came out thinking it was such an interesting concept. It's now been years since it's been released, and years that I've been looking forward to reading it... something that can lend itself to a let down. But instead this book was just what I expected and I totally get what all the hype was about.

Reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. I would have been happy to sit down and read it all in one sitting, but pesky things like sleep got in the way. In some ways this book is predictable. You know they have to escape, otherwise what exactly would be the point. But I still had to know exactly when and how it would happen.

As much as I loved this book, it's hard to say it's really enjoyable. This book is about a really depressing topic. And the more you get into it the worse things become. It brought up aspects of life living your whole life in a single room that I never would have thought of. But yet each time something happened, it made complete sense that would be the reaction.

In a lot of ways I can't believe it's taken me so long to read this book. Although I do think reading this book now as a parent, gives me a different appreciation for it than I would have otherwise. I know they just turned this book into a movie, and while I'm sure it's amazing, I do think I'm going to need to prepare myself to watch it.

5/5

Mailbox Monday (122)

It's Monday, and I'm actually here posting my Mailbox Monday update sharing the books I've recently brought into my house.
Borrowed From a Friend
Room by Emma Donoghue
I've actually already read this one (review to come later this week), and it's one that lives up to the hype. I feel like it's so old that I'm the last to read it, but in case it's on you haven't heard of it, it's told from the point of view of a 5-year-old boy whose mother was kidnapped and he was born in captivity. It's unlike another book I've read, and I know it isn't one I'll forget.

Purchased
Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
Yet another book I've already read (and reviewed). You can tell how behind I am in getting this post up! While this book is completely different from Room it's still one I really enjoyed in a completely opposite way.

For Review from the Publisher
If Only in My Dreams by Mariah Stewart
This one I haven't actually read yet! Although I have read several other by Mariah Stewart. This novella was originally part of an anthology that's now being released a standalone. It was actually released today and with December starting tomorrow it looks like the perfect time to start this holiday story!

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Bounty Hunter Becky

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
Published: October 27, 2015 by The Dial Press
Series: Shopaholic #8
The Shopaholic books were one of the first "grown-up" chick lit series I remember reading. I was in grad school living on my own for the first time, and while I may not have been in shopping trouble, Confessions of a Shopaholic was a pretty good picture of where I was at in life. In a way the series has mirrored my life, as Becky has gotten married, had a baby,... I have too. Becky's best friend Suze even makes a comment in this book on a similar note, about how who would have believed that they're both grown-up and married with babies of their own now. I have to say I have a similar feeling about my life.

For the first time, the last Shopaholic book ended on a cliffhanger, which means we dove right into the story. It was a bit jarring in a way to go back and remember all that happened, but luckily these were published fairly close together and more than that I read them close together.

I think what I loved most about this book was Becky's character. I said it in my last review, but even more so here, Becky has really grown up. It's really nice to see Becky growing from her mistakes. Even though she may not have troubles she's responsible for, she still has fiascoes to deal with and I love the way she tackles them us.

This book doesn't end on the obvious cliffhanger as the last. But there's still a few untied stories. I'm pretty sure this isn't the last we'll see of Becky and I can't wait to catch up with her again!

5/5

One Couple's Journey from Embryo Mix-Up to Miracle Baby

Misconception by Paul and Shannon Morell with Angela Hunt
Published: May 4, 2010 by Howard Books
Earlier this year I read Inconceivable a book about a couple, the Savages, whose fertility doctor mistakenly implanted them with another couple's baby. I loved that book and since then I've been looking forward to reading the other side of the story. This book about the other couple, the one who instead kept the baby after the first gave birth.

I was obviously a bit biased about the Morell's since I read the Savage's book first. They didn't come off in the best light, but I figured reading the story from their words I'd understand them a bit better. Even so, I still didn't fall in love with the Morell's the way I did with the Savages.

I think part of it is due to the private nature of the Morells. Through the whole book there's a constant feel that they are getting dragged into a media circus of no wish of their own. I get the feeling that they didn't necessarily want to write this book either, but since the Savages were writing a book felt they needed to as well. It's almost like you're reading about them at an arms length and never really get to know the Morell's or the rest of their family.

From the title the book is written by both Paul and Shannon, but that wasn't really the case. Instead the majority of the book is from Shannon's point of view, and there's a few quotes from Paul throughout. As little as I felt like I knew Shannon by the end, it was like a friendly acquaintance compared to a complete stranger with Paul.

This book tells about such a heartbreaking situation, and I'm impressed that the Morells were willing to relive it and tell their story. I think it's a bit inspiring reading memoirs from others who were dealt with such unimaginable circumstances. While I may not have loved reading the Morell's book, I still think their story is amazing and I'm grateful they offered this little look into their lives.

3.5/5

Baby Wishes

Elley's 1st birthday is barely 3 weeks away! On top of that, her birthday is in December, which means not only is she going to grow up with birthday presents, but Hanukkah and Christmas presents as well. I've been stocking up presents for her, far more than really necessary, but even so there's still a few things on her birthday/holiday wish list.
Toy Cell Phone
Like most babies born in the twenty teens, Elley is obsessed with cell phones, likely because she always sees grown-ups playing on them. Technically she has her "own cell phone" which is really a calculator, but it works... sometimes. I'm not sure this will completely trick her into believing it's the real thing, but if it lights up it might hold her attention for a little while.

KidKraft Shabbat Set
I'm kind of obsessed with this toy Shabbat set and kind of want it for myself. It includes two candles, a wine glass, and a challah, everything a kid could need to celebrate Shabbat. We haven't yet started doing Shabbat with Elley, but that's mainly because she's not quite ready to eat a whole meal with us each night. Altough I have a feeling it will start to happen in the next year and this seems like a fun way for her to have her own Shabbat celebrations once she learns what they are.

Sports Toy with Balls
I think she'd love any type of sports toy but this Having a Ball 5-in-1 Sports Zone looks awesome! It includes pieces to play soccer, baseball, hockey, golf, and basketball which I guess would give her an early start on deciding which one she likes best.

Little People
I keep seeing commercials for this Little People Big Animal Zoo and think it looks adorable. It's funny in a way, because while I remember Little People from when I was little, I don't remember being a huge fan of them. But maybe Elley would be different? I'm sure she'd like any of the Little People sets, but I like this one because there's an elephant and a monkey. If only there was a Tiger too!

Books
Of course this is on the list! As for a few specific ones, we love the BabyLit classic series, but when I saw they had a book on California that's a landscape primer, I knew she had to have it eventually! Another good one that I love giving as a gift is The Day the Crayons Quit. As for some older options, she'd love more of the Angelina Ballerina books. The only one we currently have is Angelina and Alice. Not too surprising, I actually have a whole shelf on goodreads for her books on her wishlist, although it could easily have a few more additions to it.

KidKraft Jewish Holidays Puzzles
Yes, it's another KidKraft Jewish themed item. They actually have quite a few of them and make me wish they were around when I was little. This one is a set of puzzles each for a different holiday. With a puzzle for Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat they work all year round.

Although all things being equal, I'm sure what Elley will be most excited about is all the paper to rip and boxes to climb in. But you can't say we didn't try? (For fun, you can see Elley's holiday wish list from last year when she was only two weeks old here.)