Awkward family photo

Happy Friday y'all!! 

One of these Fridays I'm going to post before 10pm...

How was everyone's Christmas?!

I got tons of goodies! Including a barnes and noble gift card AND The Book of Totally Useless Information :) yea yea I know. My brother, Parker, and I took an extremely awkward photo. That's our only picture from Christmas lol. The dogs got a TON of stuff. Sophie was super excited to open her presents! I had a great time relaxing with the fam on Christmas Day. Can't believe it's already over :( 

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I finished reading The Lost Wife by Alyson Richamn and WOW. This was so heartfelt and romantic. This is another WWII/Holocaust book and it was so touching. I cried through the last 30 pages. Lenka, an art student, and Josef, studying medicine, fall in love and marry in prewar Prague (which I learned is in Czechoslovakia). Their dreams are shattered by the Nazi invasion. Josef becomes a successful obstetrician in American but has never forgotten the wife he believes died in the war. But in the Nazi ghetto of Terezin, Lenka survived. Then decades later, an unexpected encounter in New York leads to once more chance for Lenka and Josef. I can't give anything away but this was such a wonderful story. It does go into the details of the Holocaust, which is still so horrifying and we go through Lenka's struggles. She becomes such a strong character. It's a love story wrapped in tragedy and survival. A must read! 

Up next, possibly Michael Connelly? :)

Check out more H54f posts on Lauren's blog!

4 days till Christmas!

Happy Friday, y'all!! 

It's the Friday before Christmas and shoppers are getting crazy! 

1. There will be a BIG change for me starting in 2013...I got a new job as a labor and delivery nurse at Woman's in Baton Rouge! I'm super nervous but beyond excited! 

2. My best friend Katee is home all the way from London with her hubby! Tomorrow we're having a big barn party at her house. It's a much needed quality drinking time for all of us! 

3. My friends. I hate to brag but I really do have the best friends in the whole. Throughout the whole job interview, getting the new job and resigning from my current job extravaganza, my friends have supported me and stood by my side, especially when I panic and overreact. Jenny and Danielle have been my rock and kept me sane. I wouldn't know what to do without their love and support! Thanks y'all!! 

4. If you can't take the heat, get out the kitchen... I finished Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. If you don't read anything else, READ THIS ONE NOW. I laughed out loud throughout the whole book. Basically it's about southern Italian mobsters and a food columnist who is trying to throw a wedding at her house. The wedding turns into a fiasco but with the help of mobsters and a hitman, they'll get through it...with a slight body count. It's a witty, page-turner you don't want to miss! 

5. PITCH PERFECT IS THE GREATEST MOVIE! I bought it Tuesday and watched it twice before I had to go to work Wednesday night. It's hilarious and heartfelt with singing and dancing...who doesn't love that??! PLUS it has Rebel Wilson... "excuse me bitch, you don't have to shout"... funniest part of the whole movie! 

Hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas! 

Check out more H54F posts at Lauren's blog! 

Happy Friday!

It's Friday!!...and I'm off for the weekend :)

1. First off, I have to mention my new obsession interest, The Walking Dead on AMC. This show is phenomenal! It's an edge of your seat thriller and I never know what's going to happen. The writers do a lot of unpredictable/non- traditional things, which is CRAZY and mind-blowing Just adding this to my long list of shows, which include The Vampire Diaries, Parks and Recreation, Supernatural and of course Pretty Little Liars...just to name a few.

2. My apartment is a Winter Wonderland! All my decorations are out and starting wrapping presents. I love the holiday season! 

3. Fixed this little treat last night dinner for dinner and it was delicious. Thanks again Pinterest :)

4. My first Kardashian Kollection purchase. I love this shirt! Saw Kourtney wearing it on Twitter and HAD to have it. Check out their collection here.

5. Almost done with this one! I've been on the edge of my seat. Michael Connelly never fails. I'll be sad to see Harry Bosch come to an end :(. As a side note, In the Woods by Tana French will be a Dublin Murder Detective series. Her other 3 books focus on murder detectives but not the main characters from the first book, except for the second book. The Likeness follows up Detective Cassie Maddox. This one is definitely on my list. 

Check out more H54F post on Lauren's blog

How was y'alls week?? 

Hit or Miss

I started Pulse and Prejudice by Colette Saucier (who also wrote All My Tomorrow's) but couldn't finished it :(. This is a vampire adaption of Pride and Prejudice BUT Saucier used Jane Austen's language and I had a hard time following it. I was really disappointed because I had high hopes for this one. I couldn't understand what they were trying to say and got bored. Don't let this discourage you from her other books. I loved the first one I read. If you like Jane Austen, I'd recommend this. 

Instead...

I read In the Woods by Tana French. I discovered this little gem in the new authors section and Barnes and Noble during one of my hour long loner trips. I love this section because I usually find an new awesome author! This is her first of three books. In a small Dublin town, mothers call in their children from playing in the woods but they do not return. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children hugging a tree trunk in terror, blood filled sneakers and unable to remember anything that happened. Twenty years later, Rob Ryan, the found boy is a detective on the Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve year old girl was found in the same woods, he and his partner and closest friend, Detective Cassie Maddox begin investigating a familiar case to the previously unsolved case. Ryan has a chance to uncover the mystery of the case and his past. I loved this book and French's writing style. It reminded me a lot of Michael Connelly and a Harry Bosch case. One of my favorite things about this book is the setting- Dublin, Ireland. This wasn't your typical big city in the United States. French uses a lot of Irish slang, which is cool. As Ryan and Maddox begin investigating this case, it begins to take a toll on Ryan. You'll love their relationship; it's very brother/sister. But this book does not have a happy ending. This is another thing I liked about the book because it was unpredictable. Throughout the whole book I wasn't sure how it would end. It was beautifully written about past returning to haunt, murder, cops and Ireland. Definitely an outstanding first novel for French. Check out her other stuff here. 

Up next...

Michael Connelly of course! I have to read one of his books every few books. In City of Bones, a doctor's dog finds a bone in the woods. Bosch is called to the case on New Year's Day to identify the bones, which belong to a child murdered twenty years before. This investigation takes Bosch into his past as an orphan but a beautiful rookie cop keeps him alive in the present. No official warning can break them apart or prepare Bosch for the explosions when the case takes a few hard turns. Bosch is fighting to keep control and is driven to the brink of an unimaginable decision. Very excited for this one! 

I was reading on my Connelly app that he signed partnerships with a production company and the writer has written the first episode of the Harry Bosch TV series!! Imagine my excitement :). The first season will focus on City of Bones so I have to finish this one quickly but also Concrete Blond. It'll most likely be on Netflix also, which is awesome. I'm a big Netflix junkie fan. This is very exciting and can't wait to start watching this! It'll be adding to my VERY long list of shows. Thank God for DVR, Netflix and Hulu plus. You can read more here.

Happy Turkey Day!

I just wanted to mention a few things I'm thankful for and couldn't live without! 

1. My Family. They're my rock and are always there when I need ANYTHING. They even put up with my terrible moods (which I blame on working nights!). I couldn't find a pic of my mawmaw but...I don't know what I would do without that woman! She's my best friend. 

2. The best friends a girl could ask for. This pic is cira 2006. We went to New York for our senior Spring Break, which was 6 1/2 years ago (yikes!). I wish we could do this again SOON. How many of  you are still friends with your best friends from high school AND middle school??! This girl right here :)

3. My puppy dogs, Sophie (left) and Benny (right). They keep me entertained! 

4. My favorite place for vacations. So wish I was on the beach right now...reading :) 

5. I am SO thankful for books and reading. I couldn't imagine not being able to read. I'd be so bored! I finished All My Tomorrows by Colette L. Saucier in one night! and absolutely LOVED it! I was hesitant on reading this for whatever reason but it exceeded by expectations by 100%. The book begins with you reading from The Edge of Darkness, which is what Alice is reading for inspiration for her show. The Edge of Darkness itself was so good! I found myself more interested in that than the actual story at first. This was such an easy read with a good story line. Peter, who Alice can't get along with, is the type of guy that's an ass but you like him away like Damon on The Vampire Diaries. Why do we always root for the bad guys??! If you're look for a good read by a local author, I'd pick this one up first. I am very impressed! 

6. Almost forgot...pumpkin pie! This is my FAVORITE part of Thanksgiving!! :)

Hope everyone has a great holiday! What are you thankful for? 

Wild Ride has ended!

Last night I finished Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer and it was so good! I think what I loved most about this book is the dry sense of humor; I laughed throughout the book. From my previous posts, you know that Mab is hired to restore Dreamland, an amusement park that holds 5 of the most dangerous demons, The Untouchables. Mab doesn't believe in demons or the supernatural; she's career driven and focused on her project. Meanwhile, Ethan comes home from the Army. He has had a near death experience in Afghanistan that's left him depressed and drunk, for lack of a better word. Ethan begins doing security detail for the park until he is called to be apart of the Guardia, those who fight the demons. His mother Glenda, works at Dreamland and is apart of the Guardia also. Ethan fights his calling until he gets a taste of a demon. He meets and falls in love with Weaver, a government agent studying Dreamland and demons and Ethan.  Mab is then called to the Guardia, which of course she wants nothing to do with but then starts helping out for Glenda. I can't give too much away but Ethan and Mab begin fighting the demons together with the rest of the Guardia, while their personal lives also get a little more interesting. This was an easy read and so funny. I'd definitely recommend it. I'd like to check out more by Jennifer Crusie. Anyone read any of her other books? 

Up next.. 

All My Tomorrows by Colette L. Saucier. This is one of the books I bought from the Louisiana Book Festival last month. I was trying to go with a less supernatural read while fighting the urge to read the next Harry Bosch book. Alice McGillicutty has had a drama filled year, with the death of her mother, her relationship ended in disaster and now poor ratings for her long-running soap opera. She begins reading The Edge of Darkness, an old melodramatic paperback she found among her mother's things for creative inspiration. When scandal rips Hollywood bad boy Peter Walsingham off the tabloids and into her studio, Alice doubts the small screen is big enough for his ego. Peter's vanity and arrogance compel Alice to write him out of her script or can she find a role for him in All My Tomorrows? 

My copy is autographed :)

High Five for Friday!

Linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk blog to share highlights from this past week! 

1. This was a our third game night with the girls. It was very successful! Taboo is ALWAYS a blast and Pinterest gave us tons of recipes to try :)

2. I finished and dropped off my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for those children that need a little help during the Christmas season. I've been doing this since I was in nursing school and love it. Check it out here! 

3. My brother and I ordered a popcorn maker for free from my mom's credit rewards! We've tested it out every night this week and it's pretty awesome. 

4. The apartment has transformed from Halloween to Thanksgiving decor for November! I have my Pilgrims and Indians out on display. Getting excited for Thanksgiving, even though I have to work...

5. Still working on Wild Ride by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer. This work week has been terrible stressful so I haven't had a lot of time to read. But so far I really like the main character, Mab. She's introverted, keeps to herself and focuses all of her time on restoring Dreamland. She has just learned that Dreamland holds the most dangerous demons of the world and she has been called to be the Seer in the Guardia, which she does not want to do. Really liking the story line, can't wait to see where it goes! 

H54F! 

Have a great weekend...I'll be working :(