Sunday Sunset #25

Book finished: Becoming Mona Lisa; City of Bones

Reading: Washington by Ron Chernow

On the Nightstand: No Turning Back by Estelle Freedman; Fingersmith by Sarah Waters; An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Making Lists: Grocery list (it's that week again), projects to do, daily tasks, craft classes and events, fall social projects, pre-Christmas planning.  So many lists!

From the kitchen: I tried three new recipes this past week -- sweet garlic chicken (decent), potato ham bake (mediocre), and cake mix lemon cookies (amazingly awesome!).  I'm looking at a few more new recipes for this coming week, but need to narrow them down.

Crafting: Next Saturday, I am attending a SU demo event.  As part of the event, I am participating in a card swap.  That's 50 card fronts that I need to make by Friday.  This may have been a mistake...

Watching: Finally getting around to catching up on Parenthood S4.  J and I are continuing with The Newsroom S1.  And that's about it... we've really not been watching much tv at night this week.

Wondering: Will I have have any time to work on projects during the day?  Arthur's non-napping is really taking its toll on the house and my personal attitude.

From Nature: It's been breezy lately and it's downright lovely.  It's still warm, but it almost feels like fall.  The change helps me justify hot coffee in the morning.

Project: Besides that crazy card swap, I am attempting to clean and organize my crafting space.  I need a better system of packing for classes and crops without tearing everything apart and then having a giant pile to put away.  I need some different storage options.  Right now I'm trying out some different configurations in the hopes that I can work with what we have.  Don't have high hopes.  I'll probably need to buy something else.

Picture: Arthur selfie. He's really be obsessed with the camera this week.

August 2014 Wrap-up and Monthly TBR

Hop on over to Booksessed to participate.

August's TBR Pile (10/15):

1. Carry Over: The Little Prince √
2. J’s pick: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming √
3. Nonfiction: Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon √
4. Historical Pick: Washington by Ron Chernow
5. Classic: The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. Contemporary YA: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie √
7. Series pick: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn √
8. Book to movie: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare √
9. Random pick: Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton
10. Adult Contemporary: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
11. YA Pick: Sunrise by Mike Mullin √
12. Fantasy Pick: Moonglow by Kristen Callihan √
13. Mystery Pick: Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn
14. Book Club Selection: The Orphans at Race Point by Patry Francis √
15. Added: Reasons My Kid is Crying by Greg Pembroke √

Picture Book Roundup (I'm not planning on reviewing the picture books we read, but I do plan on recording them monthly for my reading challenge)

1. Mousterpiece by Jane Breskin Zalben
2. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce
3. Good Night, Monkey Boy by Jarrett J. Krosoczko
4. Wolf Wanted by Ana Maria Machado
5. There's a Dragon Downstairs by Hilary McKay
6. A is for Autumn by Robert Maass
7. Gone Wild by David McLimans
8. Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack
9. Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell
10. The Case of the Missing Donut by Alison McGhee
11. Here Comes Destructosaurus! by Aaron Reynolds
12. Elmer's Special Day by David McKee
13. That is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
14. Olivia by Ian Falconer

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 3466 pages
Pages Remaining: 821,437 pages

Current Read - Washington by Ron Chernow

Books Won (0)

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Challenges Completed (0)

Comments - Very good showing for the month.  I know that participating in Bout of Books gave me the push to actually focus on reading a bit more.  Plus, I did encounter some really good books.  Looking ahead to September, my TBR pile looks a little different.  I have now joined three different book clubs, so that's potentially three more selections a month on top of my usual TBR pile.  This should be interesting...

September's TBR Pile:

1. J's pick: Dune by Frank Herbert (iPad)
2. Book club selection: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
3. MVPA Book Club: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (library)
4. Feminist Book Club: No Turning Back by Estelle Freedman
5. Carry-over: Washington by Ron Chernow (library)
6. Series pick: Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan (library)
7. Book to movie: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
8. Fun and Funny: The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul by Terry Pratchett (iPad)
9. Comic Pick: Fairest Vol. 3 (library)
10. Dystopian: Divergent by Veronica Roth (iPad)
11. Adult Contemporary: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
12. Comic Pick: Soulless Vol 1
13. Comic Pick 2: Soulless Vol 2
14. Short Story Collection: The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination
15. Zombie Pick: The Living Dead
16. Steampunk Pick: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon Pulse 2007

Genre: YA

Pages: 485

Rating: 4/5 stars  Movie: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Book to Movie; 100 YA; NPR Teen; Fantasy Project

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

I enjoyed this volume way more than most of the YA paranormal books I've read in the past.  It wasn't amazing, but at least I was entertained.  I guessed most of the twists in the book, but they weren't completely obvious.  The characters were interesting.  The storyline kept my attention.  I want to know more about the world of the Shadowhunters.  I have the second and third volumes in the series.  I will definitely be reading them soon.

Movie

First starting to watch the movie, I thought "oh okay, it's the same."  But I was mistaken.  As the movie continues, more and more things are changed.  There are some direct quotes here and there and mostly the characters are the same.  However, there are many changes to Valentine and the entire ending is different.  I can't quite decide if I like the changes or not.  I think that if I saw the movie without reading the book, I would have liked the movie just fine.  As I read the book, I had to change my perspective.  They didn't turn the book directly into a movie.  They used the book as a starting off point.  Becuase it isn't a bad movie by itself, I still rated it 4 stars.

Mortal Instruments (DNFed series)

• #1 City of Bones
• #2 City of Ashes
• #3 City of Glass
• #4 City of Fallen Angels
• #5 City of Lost Souls
• #6 City of Heavenly Fire

FF #31: Modern Office

This is my twist on office wear.  The pieces are very structured and work appropriate, but the colors and accessories help spice everything up a bit.  I love the combo of pink and green with strong black accessories.  That handbag could haul all the essentials while still looking very stylish and versatile.

Collared shirt prinkko.com

Doublju red blazer amazon.com

Green skirt $110 - zalando.co.uk

L.K.Bennett black suede pumps $330 - lkbennett.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors black leather purse cusp.com

Bead bracelet jtv.com

Fendi belt overstock.com

Odds and Ends

Here is my randomness for the week:

• Is it wrong to be that person in the group that says what she says out loud?
• A little more sleep from the little one is helping get us back to a happy place
• I found my book reading people this week!
• Meet some great people on Wednesday night, hope to see them again soon
• Excited about all the books
• Realized I'm happier with multiple projects going on, they keep me moving
• Want to finish prepping my 30 Days of Lists cards this weekend
• Mom's Night Out on Saturday -- can't tell you how excited I am
• Looking forward to my next crafting event (need to get my craft on)
• SU shipment arrives tomorrow -- new toys!

Quote Wednesday -- Beecher

Books are the windows through which the soul looks out.  A home without books i slike a room without windows. -- Henry Ward Beecher

Top Ten Tuesday -- Want to Read, But Don't Own

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This week's topic is those books that I want to read, but don't own.  Thankfully my list is short this week.  I'm trying to keep my book buying to a very small amount and actually succeeding.  But you know there are always those books that I really really want to buy and read...

1. The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman -- Read the first two, really want this one...
2. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs -- The sequel to Miss Peregrine... Another really really want to read book.
3. The Twelve by Justin Cronin -- The Passage was super scary and amazing.  Need the sequel.
4. Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon -- Guess I should read the rest of this series before this one, but still want it.
5. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale -- Really enjoyed the first one, still haven't gotten around to buying this one.

Short list, but it hits the highlights.

Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon

Title: Becoming Mona Lisa

Author: Donald Sassoon

Publisher: Harcourt 2001

Genre: Nonfiction - Art

Pages: 337

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; TBR Pile; 52 books - W35; Well Rounded Reader - Art/Design

The Mona Lisa is widely recognized as the most famous painting in the history of art--and an undeniable icon of pop culture. Her celebrated face is used to sell everything from champagne to automobiles, and appears on ashtrays, mouse pads, and refrigerator magnets. More than any other art object, the Mona Lisa demonstrates that something can be high art and pop, classic and cool. Likewise, Donald Sassoon's elegant narrative is as much the story of one painting's ascendance to the status of global icon as it is the popularization of serious and distinguished art. A professor and acclaimed writer, Sassoon provides a fascinating account of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius who created the picture; who the mysterious subject was; why it gained its unrivalled position in the art world; and how it has come to be used and abused by other artists and the international advertising industry. Lavishly illustrated, Becoming Mona Lisa is at once social, cultural, and art history of the highest order.

Meh!  I thought this would be a great look into why the Mona Lisa is so popular.  And while it is, I felt that the writing and overall book construction left much to be desired.  It was just so clunky.  I had a lot of trouble paying attention to the pages.  I gave it 3 stars because the subject matter is interesting and there were interesting bits.  I was just bored through a majority of it...

Arthur: 45 Weeks

A slightly better week, but we're still struggling with the sleep issue.

Likes: Music, clapping, food, sock monkeys (all of his)

Dislikes: Sleeping, schedules, when mom leaves

Sleeping: We're still in sleep hell.  Sunday night he decided to just not sleep.  I got maybe 4 hours of sleep spread out over a 10 hour period.  Not fun at all.  Consequently he was cranky all day Monday (me too!).

Eating: Still all the things.  His new favorite food is potato salad.  Weird!  But he chooses it over fruit so I guess he really likes it.  He also loves pizza (big surprise) and pasta right now.

Playing: Besides clapping all the time, we're still rolling balls back and forth and stacking things.  He also got an early birthday present that we will debut next week.  Right now he's checking it out, but still a little wary.  At playdates, he's been interacting more with the people and things around him.

Medical Milestones: 

• Engaging in parallel play with age-mates -- Check!  He really enjoys playdates now and tends to watch other babies play.  He then jumps in and starts playing. So cute!
• Starting to speak specific words/variations of words -- Well, sorta.  When he wants something specific, he yells and gestures in the general direction. We then have to decipher the meaning.  No recognizable words, but communication is improving.
• Venturing away from mom and dad and exploring -- Check! At playdates, he's out and about and not usually by me.  He tends to cling at home, but in public he wants very little to do with me.  I guess that's good.

Schedule: Oh what I wouldn't give to have a schedule again!

Out and About:

• Playdate at Mariposa Park
• Playdate at War Memorial Park
• Coffee with a friend (and soon-to-be new mom)
• Grocery store visit
• Playdate at Rengstorff
• Deer Hollow Farm visit
• Book club brunch at Hobee's

Music Monday -- Tori Amos "Creep"

I don't usually highlight covers for my Music Monday posts.  However, this one is so amazing, I had to highlight it.  I adore her voice, and it fits completely into this song. 

Bout of Books 11.0 Finish Line!

Pages Read: 22 (Becoming Mona Lia)

Pages Read Total: 1180

Comments: This weekend was a total bust when it came to reading.  Things just did not go my way.  I only got one chapter into Becoming Mona Lisa, but at least it's a start. Overall, the week was decent.  Way more pages than I've been averaging lately.  I'm happy with my progress and I knocked three books off my list!

Goals:

• Read more than 500 pages √
• Participate in at least one challenge - fail
• Participate in at least one Twitter chat - fail
• Review all books read √

TBR Pile:

• Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon (in progress)
• Washington by Ron Chernow
• The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
• Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton
• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• Moonglow by Kristen Callihan √
• Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn
• The Orphans at Race Point by Patry Francis √
• Reasons My Kid is Crying by Greg Pembroke (added)  √

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. 

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Sunday Sunset #24

Listening To: The Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse Pandora channels.  Jazzy goodness. And Arthur loves it.

Book finished: Reasons My Kid is Crying; The Orphans at Race Point; Moonglow

Reading: Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon

On the Nightstand: The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald; City of Bones by Cassandra Clare; The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Making Lists: Stampin' Up to order lists, projects to complete list, TBR lists for the rest of 2014, house projects list, baby craft ideas list. Lots and lots of lists.

Around the house: I finally put the twins' bunk beds back together.  They've been in disarray since they left at the end of July.  Every time I think about it, Arthur is sleeping in the room so I can't fix them. Finally got a chance yesterday.  Now on to organizing/destashing the random office products bin in the office.

From the kitchen: Nothing really excited from the previous week.  However, I have a few new and interesting recipes to try this coming week.

Watching: We finally started The Newsroom.  So far, I like it, but it's no West Wing. We'll keep with it I'm sure.  We're also enjoying Garfunkel and Oates, and True Blood, Game of Thrones (S3).  Plus, Doctor Who started again!  Woohoo!  So excited to see where Peter Capaldi's takes the Doctor.

Shopping Scores: Arthur's early birthday present arrived on Saturday.  I bought him the green one.  Now we have to blow it up so he can play.  Hope he likes it.

Project: Lots of crafting projects lately.  I've got the Meetup running and people are starting to RSVP for classes and events.  Now I need to nail down my card designs for those classes and events.  And order any supplies I need for those classes and events.  And make the sample cards.  Busy, busy, busy, but hopefully this all pays off.

Picture: State of the dining room table.  Trying to catch up our scrapbook albums

Bout of Books Update #2

Pages Read: 290 (Moonglow)

Pages Read Total: 1158

Comments: I finished

Moonglow

Thursday night and had every intention of starting my next book.  I got about 5 pages in before life intervened.  Today was full of baby care and cleaning.  Hopefully I get some reading time tomorrow.  I'm really looking forward to my next book: Becoming Mona Lisa.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. 

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

FF #30: Gilded Beauty

This outfit reminds me of Roman costumes.  I had to play off of the golden tones in the dress.  I never thought I would pair yellow with gold, but something about this dress allows for the combo.  If I wore stilettos (and had more money), these shoes would be mine.  They are just gorgeous!  The Roman coin inspired bracelet adds the perfect final touch.

Valentino embroidery dress

mytheresa.com

Christian Louboutin patent leather sandals

net-a-porter.com

Gucci yellow leather handbag

gucci.com

What Goes Around Comes Around vintage charm

shopbop.com

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan

Title: Moonglow (Darkest London #2)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 382

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Motif - Alternate Reality

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . . 

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul. 

I thought I really enjoyed the first volume in this series, Firelight.  How is it that the second volume is even better?  I immediately fell for Daisy and Ian.  I was rooting for them the entire time.  The complications were riveting.  The world expansion was a nice surprise.  As was the inclusion of Miranda, Archer, Poppy, and Winston.  I was lost in this book until the very end.  I could not put it down!  Definitely a winner!  I can't wait to read the third volume.  I hope we get to see more of Poppy and Winston and special appearances by all the already know characters and a few shadowy figures.  I want more!

Darkest London

• #0.5 Ember
• #1 Firelight
• #2 Moonglow
• #3 Winterblaze
• #3.5 Entwined
• #4 Shadowdance
• #5 Evernight
• #6 Spellbound
• #7 Forevermore

Look There! Videos!

Not long enough, but I do love Tina Fey! 

Even without singing in the trailer, I want to see...

Love Bill Nye!

Nice summary info video about Earth

Love me some John Green Mental Floss lists

I don't even like football, but this is absolutely hilarious!

Bout of Books Update #1

Pages Read: 202 (Reasons My Kid is Crying) + 574 (The Orphans at Race Point) + 92 (Moonglow)

Pages Read Total: 868

Comments: Having a crazy active 10-month-old really puts a kink in my reading plans.  I did manage to finish my book club book (for Sunday) and a fun silly book.  Plus, I started my next book.  Hoping to finish it Friday...

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. 

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Quote Wednesday -- Blum

You never conquer a mountain.  You stand on the summit a few moments; then the wind blows your footprints away. -- Arlene Blum

The Orphans at Race Point by Patry Francis

Title: The Orphans at Race Point

Author: Patry Francis

Publisher: Harper Collins 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 547

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New Author; Monthly Key Word - October; Lucky No. 14 - Blame It on the Bloggers

Set in the close-knit Portuguese community of Provincetown, Massachusetts, The Orphans of Race Point traces the relationship between Hallie Costa and Gus Silva, who meet as children in the wake of a terrible crime that leaves Gus parentless. Their friendship evolves into an enduring and passionate love that will ask more of them than they ever imagined.

On the night of their high school prom, a terrible tragedy devastates their relationship and profoundly alters the course of their lives. And when, a decade later, Gus—now a priest—becomes entangled with a distraught woman named Ava and her daughter Mila, troubled souls who bring back vivid memories of his own damaged past, the unthinkable happens: he is charged with murder. Can Hallie save the man she’s never stopped loving, by not only freeing him from prison but also—finally—the curse of his past?

I feel like this is a good book, but not a great one.  I enjoyed reading it, but didn't have any strong feelings at the end.  I didn't get into the world as much as I would have liked.  I didn't connect to the characters as much as I would have liked.  And yet, the writing was good, the storyline was thought out, and the characters were interesting.  I guess I just wanted a bit more from the book.  I'm giving it 4 stars on the strength of the writing and storyline.

Reasons My Kid is Crying by Greg Pembroke

Title: Reasons My Kid is Crying

Author: Greg Pembroke

Publisher: Three Rivers Press 2014

Genre: Nonfiction - Humor

Pages: 202

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Well Rounded Reader - Humor; 52 Books - W34

A glimpse into the tribulations of parenting that is part documentary, part therapy, and completely hilarious.

It all started when busy father Greg Pembroke posted a few pictures online of his three-year-old son, mid-tantrum, alongside the reason his son was crying: He had broken his bit of cheese in half. In Reasons My Kid is Crying, Greg collects together photos sent from parents around the world, documenting the many, completely logical reasons why small children cry.  Among them: “I let him play on the grass” . . . “He ran out of toys to throw into his pool” . . . “The neighbor’s dog isn’t outside”.  The result is both an affectionate portrait of the universal, baffling logic of toddlers—and a reminder for burned-out parents everywhere that they are not alone.

Grabbed this one off of the library's New Books shelf after hearing about it from another blogger.  Too hilarious!  Arthur hasn't hit full-blown toddler crazy stage, but I remember when the twins would cry over silly things.  I had a nice few minutes chuckling to myself at the absurd things kids cry about.  Very quick and light-hearted, but enjoyable.