Latest Movie Reviews

Band Slam:

I was actually surprised at how much I liked and enjoyed this movie. Mostly because it revolved around music, and had David Bowie in it! :)

The storyline is pretty basic, bands trying to win a contest... but there are some twists and turns along the way that are a little unexpected, and then again, some are VERY predictable!

I really enjoyed it!

The Pregnancy Pact:

I was a little surprised at this one, I only tivo'd it because I have been watching "16 and Pregnant" on MTV and then saw a commercial for this movie. I wanted to see what it was all about.

It's about these few girls in high school who all plan to have babies that year so they can raise them all together. Thora Birch does a wonderful job as a blogger in the movie and befriends one of the pregnant teens. It's a moving story, and some lessons learned for the girls!

Failbooking! Love this site!! :)

see more funny facebook stuff!


Wow.

Site for Movie Reviews - Read Before You Watch

For those of you with Children in your Christian homes... this site is a good one to check out before heading out to the theater to see a movie, or to rent one!

http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html

They put up honest reviews on all of todays movies so that we can make clean choices for children... I know it's all up to each set of parents, but this site might help you learn a little about what your kids could be watching!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's
Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies------that's Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

ANTM Updates!!!

I watched like the first three episodes all in one day... So here is what is going on so far!!

Episode 2: The girls pose for their first official Top Model photo shoot but quickly learn they are only allowed to wear one article of clothing. Andre Leon Talley makes his debut alongside Tyra and Nigel on the judges panel for the first elimination of cycle 14.

Contestants Eliminated:

Garielle


Naduah


Episode 3: The girls receive a surprise visit from cycle 3 contestant Toccara Jones, who puts their fashion knowledge to the test. This week's photo shoot is dance-inspired and forces the girls to pose while demonstrating their fancy footwork. During panel, Wilhelmina Models President Sean Patterson joins the judges, and one girl decides whether she wants to quit the competition.

Contestant Eliminated:

Ren

Music News: Ricky Martin finally admits he's Gay!

Ricky Martin: 'I Am a Fortunate Homosexual Man'

After years of keeping quiet about his personal life, pop star Ricky Martin has announced that he is gay.

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man," Ricky said in a message posted on his offical Web site. "I am very blessed to be who I am."

Seriously... we all knew this YEARS AGO!!! :)

I heard about this first on the morning show I listen to in Atlanta, Q100. They kept talking about how when a singer/actor comes "out" that their public sex appeal changes... and they are viewed differently.

They mentioned Taylor Lautner from the Twilight Saga - and how CUTE/SEXY he is... and if in a few years he comes out saying that he's homosexual.. if he would still have the same sex appeal and following from fans. I think it would change my view of him - especially if he played a part where he had to date/kiss/etc with a female.. and I knew in RL that he was gay... I don't know. I don't think I could/would be able to look at him the same!

Just wondering if anyone else thought the same thing...

New Book from Stephanie Meyer: Coming June 5, 2010

Stephanie Meyer is releasing a new book!!!

Coming June 5, 2010!!

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the newborn vampire world she inhabits.

In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

One dollar from each book sold will be donated to the American Red Cross*

Read a message from Stephanie Meyer here: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/


*The American Red Cross name is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position.

Hachette Book Group is helping people affected by disasters like the Haiti Earthquake by donating to the American Red Cross International Response Fund $1 for every hardcover book sold from the first printing in the U.S. Donations will continue until all first printing copies have been sold or at the end of a two-year period from the initial publication date, whichever is the first to occur. The International Response Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org.

Source: http://www.thetwilightsaga.com/page/coming-june-5-2010

I'm Married!!

My soul mate and I tied the knot on March 20th, just nine days ago!

It was a beautiful ceremony and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him on our honeymoon in Gatlinburg, TN. It was a wonderful week off of work... but today, it's back on the working horse and tomorrow it's back to school!

Movie Review: Did You Hear About the Morgans?

This movie made me laugh a lot!!

It's a typical rom com, but had a nice little kick to it, seeing as how they have new names and new identities to cope with, as well as dealing with living in the country for a short time after being city folk all their lives.

I thought that the plot was pretty predictable, but that Hugh Grant and SJP made the comedy in the movie worth a watch! It was funny how they portrayed the rich city folk having to live in the country - they go to a rodeo, encounter bears and go horseback riding! It was a sweet ending and in the end, the bad guy got caught!

It's not necessarily a date night movie, but makes for a good chick flick with the girls!

Wedding and Honeymoon!

Won't be around a few days... going on VACATION!! :)

Girls Detail Violent Attacks In Aftermath Of Haiti Earthquake

"They grabbed me, put their hands over my mouth and then the three of them took turns," the slender 21-year-old said, wriggling with discomfort as she nursed her baby girl, born three days before Haiti's devastating quake.

Read More Here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/rape-in-haiti-women-girls_n_501588.html

Author: Karen Kingsbury

I love Karen Kingsbury books - she writes about many different people and subjects. Her books are Christian Ficition, so I would not recommend them to anyone who doesn't believe in God and his hand in the world's creation and ways of life.

All of her books are easy to relate to and easy to read. I appreciate her writing because it hits home with me and my relationship with God. It gives me hope that He will always be there for me.

6 Signs you're in a healthy relationship...

Our relationships are vital to our mental well-being. However, toxic relationships can really do a number on our happiness and outlook on life. As a result, it is important to look for individuals who possess qualities that allow for healthy relationships. Although, once again, not an exhaustive list, the qualities listed below are those that should be at the very heart of a healthy relationship. And, just as you would expect your friend, family member or loved one to display these qualities, it is just as important to reciprocate.

1. Loyalty: Whether it's in friendships or in family, loyalty is truly important to maintain a healthy relationship. All of us are guilty, at one time or another, of making mistakes, having ups and downs, and even displaying some behavior that we may not always be proud of. When we find friends or loved ones who can forgive us and stand by us…even during our worst moments…we should be especially grateful. That said, loyalty should never be taken for granted and we should always be deeply appreciative when it comes our way.

2. Respect: I once knew an individual who was very opinionated about political topics. She would talk down to people who disagreed with her and would be very disrespectful. Not only did she make people feel stomped on, but she left many disinterested in friendship. Treating others with kindness and the respect they deserve is important in gaining the respect that WE desire. It never feels good to be taken for granted, judged or used and it doesn’t feel good to be talked down to or treated rudely or inappropriately. There will be times that we may not always have full agreement with our friends or loved ones, but respecting them along the way is a must.

3. Unconditionally There: There is nothing worse than having someone always resurface in your life when they are in need, are looking for something or need a favor. In a culture of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours,” it is somewhat rare to find those “who just scratch your back,” period. Finding individuals who want you in their lives just because…and not because they want something in return is refreshing and worth holding on to. Those who are generous of heart are to be treasured!

4. Trustworthy: I once worked with a woman who, within my first week on the job, felt the need to tell me all of the intimate details of the various extra-marital affairs that had occurred with the management of the firm. She was supposedly friends with these people and I have no doubt, was told this information in the most strictest of confidences. How she felt it was appropriate to divulge this information to a new-hire like me, I still have no idea. But, it was her nature to gossip about everyone and everything. If you share something in confidence, you should be able to trust that the information will remain that way.

5. A Genuine Sounding Board: Taking a genuine interest in what others have to say and really listening to someone is important in developing solid relationships. Letting go of the “me, me, me” and focusing on the other person not only makes the other person feel valued and appreciated, but they feel that they can really talk to someone who cares. Those who take the time to really listen to our thoughts and feelings, and then help us work through difficult times and situations, share our lives at a much deeper level than those who don’t. These are individuals worth hanging on to.

6. Dependability: I had a friend who frequently would RSVP to small gatherings and then would never show. They never explained…never brought it up…and never apologized. Although this example is somewhat trivial, it still makes the point. Obviously there are times when things come up that prevent individuals from following through on what they promise, but if a friend, co-worker or family member perpetually drops the ball, they may be sending you a message. If a friend says they are going to do something or be somewhere, you should be able to count on them. And, in reciprocation, they you.

Source: Shine @ Yahoo

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.



Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.

Source: History.com

Author: James Pattesron

I have been reading books from JP for years - literally since high school and that was over seven years ago!! :) From Alex Cross to Womens Murder Club and Maximum Ride to Witch and Wizard... he may be one of those authors that writes for the money, but he can turn out some good suspense and fantasy books!

All of them have caught my interest over the years. I appreciate his being so popular and being able to turn around books in just a few months, because it was hard waiting on new ones for the series of his that I have been reading!

U.S. history textbooks could soon be flavored heavily with Texas conservatism

The nation’s public school curriculum may be in for a Texas-sized overhaul, if the Lone Star state’s influential recommendations for changes to social studies, economics and history textbooks are fully ratified later this spring. Last Friday, in a 10-to-5 vote split right down party lines, the Texas State Board of Education approved some controversial right-leaning alterations to what most students in the state—and by extension, in much of the rest of the country—will be studying as received historical and social-scientific wisdom. After a public comment period, the board will vote on final recommendations in May.

Don McElroy, who leads the board’s powerful seven-member social conservative bloc, explained that the measure is a way of "adding balance" in the classroom, since "academia is skewed too far to the left." And the board's critics have labeled the move an attempt by political "extremists" to "promote their ideology."

The revised standards have far-reaching implications because Texas is a huge market leader in the school-textbook industry. The enormous print run for Texas textbooks leaves most districts in other states adopting the same course materials, so that the Texas School Board effectively spells out requirements for 80 percent of the nation’s textbook market. That means, for instance, that schools in left-leaning states like Oregon and Vermont could soon be teaching from textbooks that are short on references to Ted Kennedy but long on references to conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly.

Here are some of the other signal shifts that the Texas Board endorsed last Friday:

- A greater emphasis on “the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s.” This means not only increased favorable mentions of Schlafly, the founder of the antifeminist Eagle Forum, but also more discussion of the Moral Majority, the Heritage Foundation, the National Rifle Association and Newt Gingrich's Contract With America.

- A reduced scope for Latino history and culture. A proposal to expand such material in recognition of Texas’ rapidly growing Hispanic population was defeated in last week’s meetings—provoking one board member, Mary Helen Berlanga, to storm out in protest. "They can just pretend this is a white America and Hispanics don’t exist," she said of her conservative colleagues on the board. "They are rewriting history, not only of Texas but of the United States and the world."

- Changes in specific terminology. Terms that the board’s conservative majority felt were ideologically loaded are being retired. Hence, “imperialism” as a characterization of America’s modern rise to world power is giving way to “expansionism,” and “capitalism” is being dropped in economic material, in favor of the more positive expression “free market.” (The new recommendations stress the need for favorable depictions of America’s economic superiority across the board.)


- A more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism. Disgraced anticommunist crusader Joseph McCarthy, the Wisconsin senator censured by the Senate for his aggressive targeting of individual citizens and their civil liberties on the basis of their purported ties to the Communist Party, comes in for partial rehabilitation. The board recommends that textbooks refer to documents published since McCarthy’s death and the fall of the Soviet bloc that appear to show expansive Soviet designs to undermine the U.S. government.

- Language that qualifies the legacy of 1960s liberalism. Great Society programs such as Title IX—which provides for equal gender access to educational resources—and affirmative action, intended to remedy historic workplace discrimination against African-Americans, are said to have created adverse “unintended consequences” in the curriculum’s preferred language.


- Thomas Jefferson no longer included among writers influencing the nation’s intellectual origins. Jefferson, a deist who helped pioneer the legal theory of the separation of church and state, is not a model founder in the board’s judgment. Among the intellectual forerunners to be highlighted in Jefferson’s place: medieval Catholic philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, Puritan theologian John Calvin and conservative British law scholar William Blackstone. Heavy emphasis is also to be placed on the founding fathers having been guided by strict Christian beliefs.

- Excision of recent third-party presidential candidates Ralph Nader and Ross Perot. Meanwhile, the recommendations include an entry listing Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a role model for effective leadership, and a statement from Confederate President Jefferson Davis accompanying a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

- A recommendation to include country and western music among the nation’s important cultural movements. The popular black genre of hip-hop is being dropped from the same list.

None of these proposals has met with final ratification from the board—that vote will come in May, after a prolonged period of public comment on the recommendations. Still, the conservatives clearly feel like the bulk of their work is done; after the 120-page draft was finalized last Friday, Republican board member Terri Leo declared that it was "world class" and "exceptional."

—Brett Michael Dykes is a national affairs writer for Yahoo! News

Centuries later, lost Shakespeare 'found'?

By JENNIFER QUINN, Associated Press Writer

LONDON – Is this love's labor no longer lost? A scholar says a play written in the 18th-century is very likely based on a missing work by William Shakespeare.

After years of literary investigation, a professor at the University of Nottingham said Tuesday he's certain "Double Falsehood, or the Distressed Lovers" was born out of "Cardenio," a play Shakespeare scholars believe existed.

Some scholars believe Lewis Theobald's "Double Falsehood," first performed in London's West End in December 1727, was based substantially on the Bard's "Cardenio."

"There is definitely Shakespearean DNA," said English literature professor Brean Hammond, who has worked since 2002 to determine if "Double Falsehood" has Shakespearean roots. Arden Shakespeare, an authoritative publisher of the Bard's works, has released an edition of the play edited by Hammond — a decision the publisher acknowledges is controversial.

Arden's general editor, Shakespeare scholar Richard Proudfoot, agrees with Hammond and says there is no absolute way of knowing if "Double Falsehood" is based on Shakespeare's work, but he argues it is a "sufficiently sustainable position" that it represents the play in some form.

"My position is one of fairly confident — but cautious — acceptance," he said.

"Double Falsehood" is inspired by Don Quixote, and features two female protagonists, dashing leading men, and an aristocratic villain. "An interrupted marriage, a series of mad scenes and a near-rape ensure that the play does not lack incident," Arden Shakespeare said in statement.

Theobald said at the time he'd based his work on Shakespearean manuscripts. But few believed him, and Theobald was considered a fraud by many.

There is strong evidence "Cardenio" existed: records showed the actors in Shakespeare's company were paid for acting in it. And Hammond said Theobald claimed he had used three of the Bard's manuscripts when he wrote "Double Falsehood," which opened to positive reviews in London's West End.

"The first 10 days, when it was running in the theater at Drury Lane, were good," Hammond said. "It got a good reception."

But people began to wonder. It was missing some Shakespearean hallmarks, like lengthy soliloquies. Then, cultural grandees began weighing in, and not in a positive way.

"That was embarrassing for Theobald because he was trying to make his reputation as the great Shakespearean scholar of the day," Hammond said.

Prof. Tiffany Stern, a professor of early modern drama at Oxford University, said that Theobald could have published the manuscripts he claimed to have as proof that he'd been working with Shakespeare's material.

"Everyone at the time assumes he is lying, and everyone at the time says, 'if they are genuine, publish them,'" she said.

Alexander Pope, who had feuded with Theobald, chose the playwright as the focus of "The Dunciad" — a work in which a dunce replaces the Iliad's hero. And Pope's work is what brought Hammond from the 18th century to Shakespeare. He was working on Pope in the 1980s, and decided to investigate "Double Falsehood" further.

"I thought, I'll dig this out and read it, and I thought that this certainly has something behind it," he said. "It's not a forgery."

But it was 2002 before Hammond returned to the Bard. Proudfoot said he was willing to consider the evidence Hammond turned up, which the scholar considered "a huge boost."

Hammond's analysis turned up strong links to Shakespeare in elements like spelling, imagery and syntax.

Stern agrees there's a very real possibility that the play contains the bones of Shakespeare's work — but also believes there are strong reasons why it may not, citing Theobald's obsessions with both Don Quixote and the Bard.

"Theobald was repeatedly writing plays in imitation of Shakespeare, poems in imitation of Shakespeare," she said. "He was fascinated with Shakespeare, and he was always trying to write in a Shakespearean style."

Scholars are keen to find another Shakespearean play, she said, and so want to believe that "Double Falsehood" is that work.

"You can put forward a real argument to say it's a fraud," Stern said, "and you can put forward a real argument to say there's a play in there somewhere."

In "Double Falsehood," Hammond said he found the presence of three writers — Theobald, Shakespeare, and John Fletcher. Shakespeare and Fletcher had collaborated on two other plays: "Henry VIII" and "Two Noble Kinsmen."

Proudfoot said that in recent years, opposition to the suggestion that Shakespeare worked with other writers has faded, which helps their belief that "Double Falsehood" had its genesis in "Cardenio."

"It all depends on your take on Theobald — whether he's a a great scholar and an honest man, or a hoaxer," Proudfoot said. "We believe the former is the truth."

Source: Yahoo

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

I appreciate Ms. Maggie writing this book so much and I am so excited for the sequel to come out! :) It was a better werewolf story than the wolves in Twilight, in my own opinion. I could relate to the teenage characters and I love that she gears to YA, she has a knack for writing!

The plot was fun, and interesting and kept me wanting to read more. I would recommend her to any teen wanting to read a good fantasy/love story!!

Author: Nicholas Sparks

The thing I like about Nicholas Sparks is that he writes books that anyone anywhere can relate to. His books cover a variety of situations and can induce many emotions.

I always pick up any new Nicholas Sparks books because I know that I will like it, no matter what the book subject is. He writes so smoothly and evenly, the story is always told in an interesting way and I always have favorite and not so favorite characters!

I appreciate Nicholas Sparks for writing books that I can relate to personally and that have taught me many things about dealing with people in certain situations and caring for others as well.

His books make me smile, and make me cry. They touch my heart.

Author Appreciation Week!

WHEN: March 15-19

WHAT: Write a blog post each day of next week about the authors you appreciate and why!

RULES: There are none. Be creative. If you want to pick five, pick five. Ten favorites? Go for it! Can't choose between your top twenty? Well, then you'll be doing a few a day. And they'll love you for it!

Avatars & Graphics: Feel free to use the one Sara from Novel Novice (www.novelnovice.com) made (above), there's a few on Twitter, or make your own. Remember to credit the generous, book-loving artists!

What is an "author": Ideally, someone that has sold a novel to an established publishing house. I suppose it could be your cat, if she's purred her way into a contract. For our purposes let's do authors of YA/MG.

How do we spread the word? Post this post to your blog, link back here. Go on facebook and twitter and use the hashtag #AA (Author Appreciation) and @ the others you have chosen so they can go back and read your words of praise.


Source: http://seaheidi.livejournal.com/173993.html

Wedding Planning: The Worst Wedding Advice Ever

I read this article today and was astonished!! :)

From the moment you get engaged, it seems everyone has some wedding know-how to share. A lot of these tips are helpful; some are borderline disastrous. We asked brides for the worst wedding advice they've heard. Here's what not to do when you plan a wedding.

Bad Advice: "The worst wedding advice anyone has told me was to sing our vows to each other." Erin, Richmond, VA
Our Advice: We totally encourage personalizing your wedding vows, but unless you moonlight as opera singers, leave the American Idol aspirations for the wedding after-party.

Bad Advice: "My mom insisted that I wear my gold-colored junior prom dress as my wedding gown. She thought it was silly to buy yet another dress that I'd only wear once." Alyssa, Madison, WI
Our Advice: While hand-me-down gowns can add a sentimental touch and colored gowns are gaining popularity, most prom dresses should stay securely in the back of the closet for the wedding day.

Bad Advice: "My future father-in-law thought that since we were getting married in an historic home and I'm a costume designer, we should wear hoopskirts and crinolines!" Abbey, Austin, TX
Our Advice: We love historic homes, but unless you're into the idea of a masquerade ball wedding, play up the decor rather than your attire. Likewise, your wedding photos will be around for years to come, so wear something that won't leave your grandkids in hysterics.

Bad Advice: "I was told that if the groom was unavailable during the toast, the bride has to kiss the best man." Anonymous
Our Advice: Making out with the best man at the reception is a great idea -- if your wedding happens to fall on Opposite Day.

Bad Advice: "My mother-in-law said that it was perfectly fine to spend $9 a plate on dinner for our guests. She based this on my sister-in-law's wedding, where they served cold meat sandwiches, au gratin potatoes, and questionable-looking fruit salad." Morgan, Madison WI
Our Advice: Food is one detail every guest remembers. Whatever your budget, you should allot about 40 percent of it for wedding catering. Work with your caterer to prepare a menu within your budget and try to cut costs in other ways (like by trimming your wedding guest list) rather than skimp on the meal.

Bad Advice: "I was recently a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding. I'm also engaged and was amazed when she told me I couldn't wear my engagement ring during her wedding because it was larger than hers…ridiculous!" Scarlet, Longview, TX
Our Advice: Being upstaged by a bridesmaid can be a very real fear for some brides. Handle the situation gently -- explain that you'd rather not take off the ring for personal reasons. If she persists, remove it to avoid more drama.

Bad Advice: "My mother wanted me to ask random pretty girls at church to be in my wedding party so that my brother could meet and then date them." Anonymous
Our Advice: It's true that weddings are a great place to match-make. But your bridesmaids should be your dearest friends and relatives, so pick attendants you know you (not your brother) will want standing by your side at the altar.

Bad Advice: "My mother said that to cut costs, we could send invitations without an RSVP card. Guests could go online instead and RSVP on the web page my dad built for us. I thought it was a good idea, but only two people RSVP'd! I ended up having to call my entire guest list to find out who was coming." Nicki, Oklahoma City, OK
Our Advice: In the age of online-mania, RSVP cards are definitely still relevant, especially for older guests who might not be as accustomed to the Internet. If you do opt for digital responses, enlist your parents and attendants to spread the word and help guests who don't have access to a computer. The online option is an easy way to keep track of guest responses, but have a backup plan (a traditional RSVP card) for those who aren't as tech-savvy.

Bad Advice: "A lady I worked with overheard me telling another coworker how much my fiance and I were planning on saving up for our wedding. She decided to pipe in and say, 'Wow, you might as well just buy a house, you'll get divorced anyway.'" Caroline, Flagstaff, AZ
Our Advice: Avoid snide money-related comments by discussing your wedding budget only with those who need to know, like your parents and fiance.

Bad Advice: "I was told that the bride and groom don't receive the gifts. Instead, the bride's parents get them." Suzie, Norfolk VA
Our Advice: Give each of your parents a small gift as a token of thanks for being so supportive throughout the wedding planning process. The Cuisinart mixer and all the other goodies on your registry? Those are definitely your gifts to keep.

Bad Advice: "My fiance suggested we randomize the seating for all our guests because it would be cool for everyone to meet new people. I can just imagine my crazy friend from grad school and Aunt June at the same table. Yikes!" Vicki, Durham, NC
Our Advice: This idea is only partly off-track. To mix tables with a few people who don't know each other is a good way to bring everyone together at the reception. But don't put anyone at a table with no one else they know, and spare Aunt June the stress by seating like-mannered guests together.

Bad Advice: "'Beggars can't be choosers.' This advice was given to me when I decided to wait on making a decision on a dress and venue. I have a low budget, but being rushed into any decision seems unwise." Erin, Rockford, IL
Our Advice: Sticking to your budget certainly doesn't mean you have to settle. It's always best to check out a few options before you make a decision, and if a certain vendor is just out of your price range, see if you can negotiate for a slightly scaled-down package.

-- Miles Stiverson "The Knot"

Giveaway: Numbers by Rachel Ward!

Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

There are three copies of this book to give away!! Go enter to win now!!

Rules:
· U.S. addresses only - sorry!
· 3 copies = THREE WINNERS
· Please fill out the form, comments will not count as an entry
· Contest Ends: March 22, 2010 at 11:59 EST

Source: http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/2010/03/giveaway-numbers-by-rachel-ward.html

Free Swag & Giveaways!

Extreme Reader Book Review, one of the great blogs I follow, is having a HUGE prize package giveaway with some of my favorite authors (Melissa Marr, James Patterson and more!). Check it out and Enter to win!

Source: http://extremereaderbookreviews.blogspot.com

Writing: Script Frenzy

I found this quiz after I signed up to try out script frenzy. I am going to re-write my started novel as a screen play for Script Frenzy in April 2010. I hope that it goes well, and I only have to write 100 pages, so we will see how far I can get! I hope that it does go really well!!

Anyways... I found this online little quiz that says "What kind of Writer should you be?" I took it and got this...

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

Movie Review: Living with the Enemy

This was a lifetime movie that I watched this weekend on tv. It was typical and predictable, but it was a pretty good movie. The lead, played by Sarah Lancaster (Chuck's sister, in Chuck), was written well, and played well! It seemed like a pretty low budget movie, and the timeline moved really fast.

The basic story line was that she marries a billionaire after only knowing him for a number of days, and is moved in at his high security ranch with a GPS necklace! She finds out that his previous wife had been kidnapped, and found dead. She's told that she's a target now. She meets up with an FBI agent and realizes that the first wife had some dirt on her husband and his company... and she is out to find out exactly what happened the first wife.

There are some predictable twists and turns, but I won't give the ending away! It was a decent chick flick, no tears involved.

Making Exercise a Priority

Ideas to work in workouts
By Amy Clark
Source: http://www.momadvice.com/blog/

Finding time to exercise can be difficult, but it’s worth every minute you can invest into it. Not only is it great for you, but it sets a powerful example for your children. When your children see you moving, they want to move too.

Here are some quick tips for making exercise a priority in your life:

1. Make it quick and convenient.Try aiming for just 30 minute sessions and do what fits best with your schedule. If going to the gym doesn't work for you right now, stick to a workout DVD. If you can't manage either, try a brisk walk around your neighborhood. Put your gym equipment where it will be used in your home, not in a rarely used and inconvenient basement.

2. Make an appointment with yourself. Find the times that work best for you and do it every single day. Don’t do the workouts when you think you should workout, but do it when it’s best for you and your family.

3. Get pumped up. Find what motivates you to get moving and incorporate that. Music is a powerful motivator for me. I create playlists that I can turn on while I do my workouts. I also love to get music from the local library and play that or load fresh music into my layerdigital music player for working out. Others are motivated by having a workout buddy or making a daily date with a girlfriend at the gym. If you have an older child that can be your workout buddy, it will help you build up that relationship and stay physically active at the same time. Whatever it is, find what motivates you and get your body moving.

4. Buy some workout gear. Buy a few good workout pieces for yourself and try washing your tennis shoes to freshen them up. To wash them, just slip off the laces and throw the shoes in the washer. Wash them on a warm setting with a little laundry detergent. After they are done, stuff the interior of the shoes with newspaper (to help hold its shape and also to absorb any lingering odors) and let them dry outside in the sunshine. Fresh workout gear can make all the difference in how you feel about yourself and can help you commit to making exercise a priority.

Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients

* 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided in half
* 1-1/2 cups yellow onion, peeled and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips
* 2 cups bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 1/4-inch strips
* 2 cups Roasted Chicken, sliced or pulled into 1/4-inch strips
* 4 whole wheat or plain 10-inch tortillas, warmed
* Salt and pepper, to taste


Optional

* 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
* 1 Tablespoon chili powder
* 1 Tablespoon jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
* Sour cream
* Shredded cheese
* Salsa

Directions

1. Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is hot but not smoking. Add onions to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally until soft and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Remove to a large bowl.
2. Add peppers to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the peppers to the bowl with the onions.
3. Toss the chicken strips in the seasoning (cumin and chili powder, if using) in a medium-size bowl. Add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of oil to the skillet and heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chicken and optional jalapeno and cook, stirring frequently, until warmed through, about 4 minutes.
4. Add the cooked peppers and onions back to the pan and stir to mix thoroughly. Remove to a platter and serve with warm tortillas. Set out toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese and salsa so that everyone can fix his or her own plate to individual tastes.

* Total Time : 25 minutes - 30 minutes
* Prep Time : 10 minutes
* Servings : 4

Websites to Kill Time!

These are all the sites I visit when I have NOTHING better to do at home, or at work!

http://failblog.org/
http://icanhascheezburger.com/
http://emailsfromcrazypeople.com/
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
http://crazythingsparentssay.com/
http://myfirstfail.com/
http://mylifeisaverage.com/
http://lovelylisting.com/
http://itemnotasdescribed.com/
http://itmademyday.com/
http://thereifixedit.com/
http://www.wupsy.com/
http://www.stupidcoworkers.com/

Karen Kingsbury Book List

If you are looking for something motivational to read, or love the Christian spirit in a book, pick up one by this author. They are good christian fiction, easy reads.

These are the topics her books cover, in good Christian fashion:

Abuse
Addiction
Adoption
Alzheimers
Amnesia
Childhood Trauma
Crisis Pregnancy
Custody Battle
Cystic Fibrosis
Death
Depression
Down Syndrome
Forgiveness
Grief and Loss
Leukemia
Marriage and Divorce
Premarital Sex
Unfaithfulness
War

Warning: If you don't like reading stories about Christians and their faith, do not read one of these books!

Stand Alone Titles
This Side of Heaven
Between Sundays
Ocean's Apart
Where Yesterday Lives
On Every Side
When Joy Came to Stay
Divine
Like Dandilion Dust


Baxter Series # 1
Redemption (1)
Remember (2)
Return (3)
Rejoice (4)
Reunion (5)

Baxter Series # 2
Fame (1)
Forgiven (2)
Found (3)
Family (4)
Forever (5)

Baxter Series # 3
Sunrise (1)
Summer (2)
Someday (3)
Sunset (4)

9/11 Series
1. One Tuesday Morning
2. Beyond Tuesday Morning
3. Every Now and Then

Forever Faithful Series
Waiting for Morning
A Moment of Weakness
Halfway to Forever


Women of Faith Series
A Time to Dance
A Time to Embrace

Lost Love Series
Even Now
Ever After

Cody Gunner Series
A Thousand Tomorrows
Just Beyond the Clouds

Red Glove Titles
Gideon's Gift
Maggie's Miracle
Sarah's Song
Hannah’s Hope

Gift Books
Forever young
Be Safe Little Boy
Stay Close Little Girl

Children’s Books
Let me Hold You Longer
Let’s Go On A Mommy Date
Let’s Go On A Daddy Date (Coming 2009)
We Believe In Christmas (Coming 2008)

Treasury of Miracles Books
A Treasury of Christmas Miracles
A Treasury of Miracles for Women
A Treasury of Miracles for Teens
A Treasury of Miracles for Friends
A Treasury of Adoption Miracles

Above the Line Series
Above The Line, Take One
Above The Line, Take Two
Above The Line, Take Three (Coming Soon)
Above The Line, Final Cut (Coming Soon)

What Geek Decade Are You From?!

That's right! You and 7352 other people (out of the 58234 people who've taken this quiz) are sixties geeks.

Nice. This was interesting to me! Take it and see what answers you get!

OTH News!

Question: What has happened to One Tree Hill? Will it be back or is it canceled?—Pat K

Matt Roush: The CW’s scheduling strategy on Mondays is almost as confusing as cable. Here’s the deal: Gossip Girl took a break for a while to make room for the launch of Life Unexpected. Now it’s time for Gossip Girl to come back, so One Tree Hill is taking a breather while Unexpected continues and finishes its first-season run, after which time Hill will return in April to finish out the season. But beyond that, it’s still unclear if the CW will renew Hill for another year. We may not know until the upfront announcements in May about the fate of these Monday night soaps—or Melrose Place’s future for that matter. Don’t get too attached to that one.

Source: TV Guide Magazine | Ask Matt | Ask Matt: Desperate Times

Free Coffee!

FREE Sample!

Get a FREE deluxe sample of Too Faced Injection Pinpoint mascara at any Sephora counter inside JC Penney. Print out this coupon to take with you and find a store near you.

http://f.chtah.com/i/2/95827765/030910_SiJCP_Email_store_coupon.jpg

There is not date that this is over, it says in the small print on the coupon: “one sample per person, per coupon while supplies last. If we are out we’ll give you a custom sample of anything you’s like“.

Source: Southern Savers

One Dish - Chicken and Stuffing Bake

4 cup Pepperidge Farm® Herb Seasoned Stuffing (I use the Chicken one)
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/3 cup milk


1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Prepare the stuffing according to the package directions.
2. Spoon the stuffing across the center of a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Place the chicken on either side of the stuffing.
3. Stir the soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken. Cover the baking dish.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
5. Serving Suggestion: Serve with steamed sugar snap peas and a tossed green salad (Iceberg and Romaine).

Cost per recipe: $9.09
Cost per recipe serving: $1.52

Lazy Daisy Casserole

1 or 2 lbs ground beef/chuck (whatever you prefer)
1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese
2 Cans Tomato Sauce
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Make the mac and cheese according to the box while you brown and drain the beef. After you drain the beef, add the tomato sauce, stir well. Mix the completed mac and cheese into the beef mixture - stir well. Place the whole mix into a casserole dish and cover with shredded cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until it's all warm, bubbly and the cheese on top is melted. Serve immediately.

Serving tip: I usually have some bread and/or salad as a side dish!

Movie Review: The Party Never Stops

"The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker," starring Chelsea Hobbs, Sara Paxton and Nancy Travis. More than 7 million teens and young adults ages 12 to 20 report that they binge drink. What Jesse doesn't know is that she'll become part of the statistic and the results won't be pretty. Ready to spread her wings and move on to the next chapter in her life, 18-year-old Jesse is pumped to start her first year of college. Leaving behind her mom, April, and younger sis Sadie, the freshman instantly hits it off with Shanna, her outgoing roomie. Together the new friends embrace the college life of freedom - and temptations - and find themselves sucked into a binge-drinking lifestyle that includes cutting class, flunking courses and lying to cover it up. Before she knows it, Jesse's wild-child behavior ends up getting the best of her, and she's forced to learn her lesson - the hard way. Mothers and daughters can't afford to miss this powerful cautionary tale.

I would agree - every mother and daughter should share this movie together! It's a heart-warming and educational movie for all young girls getting ready to head to college and the dangers of binge drinking and the harmful effects as well!

Not suitable for anyone under 17!

Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

Last night, myself and two girlfriends went to see the new Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland". I personally thought it was a FANTASTIC movie! I don't really remember the cartoon version very much, but from what I can remember it was close enough to be a great story.

I loved the characters and the costumes. I think that's my favorite part of any Tim Burton movie - all the weirdness of his characters and how they look! Johnny Depp was awesome as the Hatter and I completely and thoroughly enjoyed the movie!

I would not take small children to see it - anyone under like ten years old because it could be a little hard to understand. There was a set of kids and grandparents next to me and the kids kept asking questions about the movie - the grandmother had to explain a lot of what was happening and why. The kids just couldn't understand!

"Life Unexpected": A Quiet Freshman Gem on The CW

How did a family-centered drama series as uniquely unassuming and gently appealing as The CW's Life Unexpected even make it to broadcast television? Considering the state of the medium, the arrival this season of an entertaining hour drama that does not revolve around doctors, lawyers, detectives, government agents, supernatural beings or sex-crazed teenagers is a miraculous circumstance all its own.

Life tells the story of Lux, a sixteen-year-old girl whose determined effort to emancipate herself from the foster-care system in which she had been raised largely backfires, landing her in the custody of her biological mother, Cate Cassidy, who gave her up for adoption after giving birth to her when she herself was only sixteen, and her biological father, Nate "Baze" Bazile, who didn't know Lux existed until the kid entered his life from out of nowhere. This turn of events isn't easy on Lux, but several episodes into this series' freshman season it has proven even more tumultuous for Cate, a morning radio personality happily engaged to her co-star, and Baze, a directionless, laid-back bar owner with two beer-loving roommates.

Read the rest here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-martin/life-unexpected-a-quiet-f_b_473183.html

Life Unexpected Review

Crisis Unadverted

In the midst of feeling like he is being pushed out of Lux's (Britt Robertson) life by Cate (Shiri Appleby) and Ryan (Kerr Smith), Baze wins the chance to compete against Ryan in a radio station contest and is determined to be the last man standing. Cate (Shiri Appleby) contemplates finally telling Ryan the full truth about Baze, but can't bear the thought of what might happen if she does. When Tasha (guest star Ksenia Solo) tells Lux (Britt Robertson) she may have to move three hours away to a new foster home, Lux decides to help Tasha track down her mother who is still living in town. Austin Basis also stars. Jerry Levine directed the episode written by Taylor Hamra.

I have been watching this new show since it began last fall! It has become a weekly indulgence for me and I enjoy EVERY moment of this show! Just to see the way the actors work so well together, there is so much chemistry on set... It's amazing!

First off, I love the Cate character - she is the one who got pregnant in high school and gave her daughter up for adoption, only to meet her as a teenager fifteen years later. I commend this show for letting Cate take responsibility for Lux and have custody of her!

As much as I love Cate and Ryan together, I'm glad to see Ryan out of the picture for a while. I would like to see Cate and Baze try to raise Lux together - there is still a lot of attraction there!

I'm glad Cate finally coughed up the truth to Ryan - but that scene could have been better. It was a little to emotionally played out for me... I would have enjoyed more of a conversation than a screaming match! :) But the truth is out.

I was happy that Lux tried to help Tasha and she did the right thing taking her to see her own Mom, but what kind of mother can turn their own daughter away like that?! My heart broke for her... and I hope that Cate or Baze do figure out a way to help Tasha out. She's a good girl, she just needs someone to love her. (BTW - I'm glad Bug is gone - he got on my nerves!)

One Tree Hill Review

The Last Day of Our Acquaintance

As Brooke (Sophia Bush) angrily deals with Alex's (Jana Kramer) tryst with Julian (Austin Nichols), Lydia's (guest star Bess Armstrong) condition worsens, prompting Quinn (Shantel VanSanten) and Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) to try to reconnect with Taylor (guest star Lindsey McKeon). Clay (Robert Buckley) is forced to deal with Katie's (guest star Amanda Schull) unsettling advances, and Nathan (James Lafferty) helps Jamie (Jackson Brundage) come to terms with Lydia's impending death. Lee Norris, Lisa Goldstein and Antwon Tanner also star. Joe Davola directed the episode written by Mike Daniels.

This episode really hit me hard and I cried for the whole damn hour! The three sisters dealing with their Mother's imminent death really got to me... mostly because that could be me and my sisters one day. I hope to hell not, but it could be. The arguments and the way two of them stick together and Taylor feels left out - that could happen to me and my sisters anytime and it sucks. I hate knowing that either of them are mad at me, or upset at something I did or said. I'm just praying that this situation never hits home for me.

I'm glad Brooke & Julian are finally back on track - they should have never gotten off in my opinion but that doesn't make for very good teen drama tv. :) I was happy to see Brooke apologize to Alex and there was finality in that scene.

Now, about Victoria & Alexander - that was just creepy and gross! Is she seriously dating someone that looks YOUNGER than her own daughter! WEIRD! I hope they nip that couple real quick - that's just too creepy for my eyes to watch.

Skills walking in on Mouth and Lauren was kind of funny, and very predictable! I saw that one coming long before it happened! I'm not sure I like Mouth and Lauren together yet... but it could work. Millie needs to fix herself before she can fix things with Mouth.

Clay & Quinn are now my new favorite couple (aside from Brooke & Julian) on the show - the two actors connect so well, and I'm afraid that tennis girl is going to get in the way, big time. I just hope that Quinn can be understanding in that Clay didn't sign her as his client because of personal reasons and that they can move through this!

Movie Review: Dear John

Stop right here if you don't want to know any spoilers about the movie!

I wanted to get a take on what you all thought about this movie versus the book by Nicholas Sparks. I personally enjoyed the movie very much, even though it was different from the book, I didn't have a hard time while watching it. I didn't spend a lot of time complaining and thinking about the differences. I actually enjoyed the ending of the movie better than the book. I felt like it gave a little more closure.

I figured they would leave the Christian aspect out of it for Savannah, that would have caused more controversy than it's worth in Hollywood probably. Although, it helped in the book to understand the kind of person that Savannah is. I think they did a GREAT job in telling the story about him being over seas, it was a nice visual to what it could have been like for John. It was hard for me to picture those moments when I was reading the book. But that might just be me.

I have never really had a huge issue with a Nicholas Sparks book being made into a movie, and I have enjoyed them all. My favorites being 'A Walk to Remember' and 'The Notebook'. (Although in the Notebook movie - they kill Noah, and that doesn't happen in the book, there is a sequel to the book). But that's another subject entirely!

Witch & Wizard

Witch & Wizard

BY James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared—for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic...and the pursuit of being a normal teenager.

I personally was not sure I would like this one and was delightfully surprised. I enjoy James Patterson books about serial killers - and I loved the Maximum Ride series. This is just a different feel for him. (He's not really the best writer - he writes for money). But he didn't write this one - I am pretty sure he helped edit and therefore got to put his name on it. Anyways - It's worth a try at least. It's aa cute storyline about a brother and sister getting thrown into a life of wizardry that their parents never warned them about. It has some humor and some action - and lots of drama. Check it out. I would love to know what everyone else thinks!

Southern Vampire Series & More

THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE aka SOUTHERN VAMPIRE SERIES
By Charlaine Harris

I got turned on to this series a while ago and have read all nine books that have so far been released. This is the book series that the "True Blood" HBO series is based off of. Although the two are completely different, I enjoy both the books and the show.

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead To Worse
Dead and Gone
Dead in the Family - May 4, 2010

She also has some other books that I am going to try out! Some that sound really interesting! I love her mystery style of writing, it keeps me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what will happen next!

THE LILY BARD "SHAKESPEARE" SERIES

From the Anthony Award-winning author of the immensely popular Sookie Stackhouse mysteries comes the first book starring Lily Bard, a reclusive cleaning lady with a penchant for karate. When Lily finds and reports a dead body, her shady past and connections to potential perpetrators make her a leading suspect.

Shakespeare's Landlord
Shakespeare's Champion
Shakespeare's Christmas
Shakespeare's Trollop
Shakespeare's Counselor

THE HARPER CONNELLY SERIES

Harper Connelly has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people. She can sense the final location of a person who's passed, and share their very last moment. The way Harper sees it, she's providing a service to the dead while bringing some closure to the living-but she's used to most people treating her like a blood-sucking leech. Traveling with her step-brother Tolliver as manager and sometime-bodyguard, she's become an expert at getting in, getting paid, and getting out fast. Because for the living it's always urgent-even if the dead can wait forever.

Grave Sight
Grave Surprise
An Ice Cold Grave
Grave Secret 

German Chocolate Butterfinger Cake

• 1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix (baked according to package directions)
• 5 butter finger candy bars
• 1 jar caramel ice cream topping
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• Cool Whip for topping

Bake the cake according to package directions and in a 13 x 9 inch pan. Mix condensed milk and topping in a small bowl. When the cake is done, and while it's still hot, punch holes in the cake and pour the sweetened condensed milk and topping mix over the top making sure some of it sinks in the holes. Let it cool completely. (I usually put it in the fridge, so the caramel mixture kind of gels to the cake.) Put all your candy bars in the freezer. When you're ready to use them, take them from the freezer. Leave the wrappers on and take a mallet or a hammer and smash them inside the wrappers.When the cake is cool, spread the Cool Whip topping on the top, and then sprinkle the candy crumbs on top of the cool whip. Keep cake cool before serving.

To My Future Husband:

I Promise

I promise to give you the best of myself
and to ask of you no more than you can give.

I promise to respect you as your own person
and to realize that your interests, desires and needs
are no less important than my own.

I promise to share with you my time and my attention
and to bring joy, strength, and imagination to our relationship.

I promise to keep myself open to you,
to let you see through the window of my world into my innermost
fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.

I promise to grow along with you,
to be willing to face changes in order to keep our relationship
alive and exciting.

I promise to love you in good times and bad,
with all I have to give and all I feel inside in the only way I know how.
Completely and forever.

by Dorothy R. Colgane

Books that I Read...

I just wanted to share some thoughts with fellow book lovers about what I read and why!

I prefer books that have a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, and a little bit of fantasy. I have read a wide range of books these past few years from Madame Bovary to Shiver. I tend to read a WIDE VARIETY of books and I love to get recommendations on new books and authors.

Recently, I've been really into fantasy: faeries, vampires and werewolves. I like to read about these different worlds and creatures. I went into these books thinking that they would mostly all be the same... and I proved myself wrong. Almost every vampire or werewolf book I have read is different from another - and the authors use different elements to tell their stories.

It's fun for me to compare and contrast books with one another, but my most favorite thing to do is compare a book to it's movie counterpart! I know that the book always proves to be a better story, but I still like to discuss differences and talk about things that should have been done better!

Currently, I am reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. I've only just started the book, but I think I'm going to like it. It was a recommendation by tmy most favorite cousin!

Wedding Tips: Stress Management

Eight Tips for Purging the Pre-Wedding Stress

By Jeanette Shinn

The last several weeks before the wedding can be the most stressful time period of the entire wedding planning process. Sure, the big items are all taken care of. The dress has been ordered, as have the flowers, photography, and the cake. But there are a ton of details that need to be wrapped up. Things like figuring out the seating plan at the reception. Like picking out your wedding cake jewelry or your bridesmaids gifts. And do not forget arranging someone to pick up aunt Georgina at the airport after your cousin bailed on you.

And that is assuming that your florist’s shop does not burn down two weeks before your wedding… The whole thing can get to be a little bit overwhelming.

You cannot avoid the pre-wedding stress entirely - no, not even if you have enough money to afford to hire a full service wedding planning service that claims all you have to do is show up.

You will not avoid it entirely no matter what you do, but you can take some steps to help yourself survive. So here are seven tips to help you in controlling the pre-wedding stress:

Go Out to Dinner: Go alone or with a friend or with your intended. It does not matter. What does matter is taking the time to slow down enough to sit and enjoy a high quality, healthy meal (sorry, no junk food). You need the time out and your body needs the nutrients. A nourished and rested body is better equipped to face the stress of last minute wedding preparations.

Take a Trip to the Health Spa: Make an outing of it with your bridesmaids and let yourself be pampered. Not only will you come out looking better than ever, but you will feel more prepared to handle the stress of this period of your life.

Prayer / Meditation: One of the chief benefits of prayer and meditation is that it helps you put things in perspective. Measured against an almightily God and all of creation, your wedding preparation stresses are relatively insignificant. When you see them in that light, it becomes much easier to control your stress level and deal with problems as they arise.

Work Out: Exercise your stress away. Really. It works. You see, exercise prompts the body to release a chemical called endorphins - resulting in a natural high, helping you to feel better after a stressful day dealing with all the details of putting together a wedding. Better yet, it has the added advantage of creating a healthier you, toned up to fit into your wedding dress (one common pre-wedding related stressor) and better equipped to handle wedding related stress.

Go to a Movie: This is not date night. If you are stressed get some of your girlfriends and catch a chick flick. If your future husband is pulling out his hair, send him off with some of his buddies to watch Bruce Willis blow something up. You need to let yourself be what you are, let him be what he is. Things work better that way.

Go Do Anything Active: Anything, that is that is not wedding related. Go for a hike. Try to learn to windsurf. Mountain bike. Ride horses. Ski. Walk on the beach. The point here is not the exercise, though you might get some of those benefits too, the point is that you can purge your wedding related stress often by simply giving yourself a change of pace. Do something fun, but do something active so that your mind does not wander back to the pile of wedding related jobs yet to be done.

Get Away as a Couple: Go for a picnic. Go for a day trip to the beach. It does not matter as long as you take the time to work on your relationship - not the wedding, your relationship. You are getting married to your best friend, but modern weddings have a way of driving a wedge between couples. You will enjoy your wedding day (not to mention the rest of your life) a whole lot more if you take time periodically to build your relationship during the wedding planning process and make sure that the wedding is not undermining your marriage.

Create or Buy a Wedding Day Survival Kit: We have all heard the stories of wedding day stress run amok over a broken nail, lost bobby pin, spilled snack or??? Going to the effort to have a wedding day survival kit in an easy to carry case ready to pick up and take to the ceremony with you will give you great peace of mind.

Yes, the weeks running up to the wedding day are demanding. But if you take time to purge the stress regularly and intentionally, you will have a great foundation for a happy and healthy wedding day.

Movie Review: All About Steve

I did not get a chance to see this particular movie while it was still playing in theaters. I'm glad I did not pay money to go see it. I received the DVD for either Christmas or my birthday and tonight I got a chance to see it for the first time.

I went over to Summer's house, ready for a girl's movie night - a good ol' chick flick has never done me wrong. This was one of the strangest Sandra Bullock movies I have ever seen in my entire life! I'ma HUGE "SB" fan - but this one disappointed me. It has some funny parts, but overall I was not impressed.

The movie had a really lame plot line to begin with - she basically stalks the guy. Those boots annoy me, as does her hair cut! Most movies are hit or miss with me and this was a big MISS!

I'm not saying don't see it, it wasn't completely terrible, but not worth paying to see it. I would suggest borrowing it from someone or watch it with some friends, maybe get some alcohol involved. Believe me - alcohol would have helped the experience.

Free Book Giveaway!

My cousin started a community for book lovers on LJ recently and we want to get the word out about this place!

http://community.livejournal.com/book_mosaic/

Her post from today:

I have one copy of Suzanne Collins', The Hunger Games, and a copy of Kristin Cashore's, Graceling to give away!!!

Are you excited? Because I am excited and you should be too! :) *Does Happy Dance*

Winners will be chosen by a random number Generator. There are several ways to enter. Here's How:

1) By joining the community if you are not already a member! That counts as one entry!

2)By pimping this community, book_mosaic on your livejournal! Post a description and link to the community and invite all of your friends to join! You will get ONE entry for your post and an ADDITIONAL entry for every one of your friends who joins the community!

3)By posting a book recommendation! We all love books so share with us one of your favorites!! You will recieve one entry for EVERY new book rec you post!

4)By posting a link to this contest on your facebook page or Twitter account! This counts as another entry!

5)By posting a paragraph about why you love to read and what type of books you enjoy! (Another entry!)

So, as you can see, there are multiple ways to enter and several opportunities to earn multiple entries! These are GOOD books people! You're going to want to win them!!!

YOU MUST COMMENT BACK AT THIS POST WITH YOUR ENTRIES AND LINKS!!!

Deadline: This contest runs until Sunday, March the 7th, at midnight EST. After that, I will tally all the entries and randomly choose two winners! Make sure you let me know in your post which book you'd like to win! :)

-amethyst18

Book Quotes

Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite Young Adult Fiction writers - she writes so smoothly and allows you to connect and relate to her characters so easily. If you have never read anything by her, I would recommend that you do!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from a number of her books:

"No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater...The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences. And that's the key. It's like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot."
— (This Lullaby)

"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment."
— (The Truth About Forever)

"Music is a total constant. That's why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one song says the same, just like that moment."
— (Just Listen)

"It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching and rarely discovered--so many locks not enough keys."
— (Lock and Key)

"It was like when you're a little kid and you run into your teacher or librarian at the grocery store or Wal-mart and it's just so startling, because it never occurred to you they existed outside of school."
— (Just Listen)

"But it's strange, when you've always been told something is true, like the moon will come back. You need proof. And while you wait, you feel the entire balance of your world just tipping. It's crazy. But when it's over, and it does come back, that's the best, because it's all you want, everything narrows to just that. It's this great rush, like for that one second everything's okay with the world again. It's amazing."
— (Keeping the Moon)

"I knew that there were no guarantees. No way of knowing what came next for me, or him, or anybody. Some things don't last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there."
— (This Lullaby)

"We can't expect everybody to be there for us, all at once. So it's a lucky thing that really, all you need is someone. "
— (Lock and Key)

"There are some things in this world you rely on, like a sure bet. And when they let you down, shifting from where you've carefully placed them, it shakes your faith, right where you stand."
— (Someone Like You)

"Maybe not," she said as we came to the car. "But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts too much when it ends. The first boy is always the hardest to get over, Haven. It's just the way the world works."
— (That Summer)

"You couldn't just pick and choose at will when someone depended on you, or loved you. It wasnt like a light switch, easy to turn on or off. If you were in, you were in. Out, you were out."
— (Along for the Ride)

Easy Chicken & Rice Recipe

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 cup water
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)

1. Stir the soup, water, rice, paprika and black pepper in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with the chicken. Season with additional paprika and black pepper. Cover the baking dish.
2. Bake at 375°F. for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

17 days!

I got Wesley's ring in the mail today!!

That makes it for real. I'm seriously getting married in seventeen days.

OMG! I'm jumping for joy. I feel so many different emotions right now! I'm nervous, happy, excited, anxious, scared and calm - all at the same time! I'm a BIG BALL of emotions, just bouncing around. I look forward to my honeymoon and first vacation with Wesley and I look forward to our wedding day and the memories we are going to create. Mostly though, I look forward to the life we are going to create and live together as a newlywed couple and as a family!

That's all I have to say about that...

In other news. I'm working on getting my house ready for a lingerie party this weekend. All my family and other girls are coming over to party with me and I'm super excited to see them all and show off my little home! :) Renovations are coming along nicely. I hope to have more of the house painted as the week continues. I want it to be all white by saturday afternoon. That is my goal. Then eventually, the walls will be tan. (I haven't bought that paint yet.)

School is going well - I have a test due next week over the Realism period and the pieces we've read. Should be pretty simple. I already have about half of it completed.

Summer is lonely now that Gabe is gone again - so I'm hoping for a girl's movie night tonight, if they don't go to church. **Fingers Crossed**

My sister & her friend Jess suggested "Silent Library" to me, so I am going to have to check that out on mtv.com and see what it's all about! More to report on that later! :)