Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday Social-Summertime



1. What is your best summer memory as a kid?
I would say one of my favorite memories from when I was way young was going to Chicago. My sisters and my cousins were performing at Six Flags. So it was a lot of fun to visit a new city, see my family perform,  go to the theme park and enjoy all of the fun rides. We even met and took a picture with Batman. 

2. What is your favorite summer drink?
I love my Dr. Pepper anytime of the year.
If we are talking smoothies I love Pina Colada. 
Otherwise I'm really simple. I love regular lemonade and strawberry lemonade. 


3. What is your favorite summer TV show?

I thought Whodunnit was fun last summer so I hope it comes back.
And of course of I just mentioned it in my last post but the Bachelorette.
Other than that I don't remember what shows on just on in the summer time. Maybe I will have time to start watching Scandal or Friday Night Lights on Netflix. 

4. What is the best outdoor summer activity?
I love being able to be outside and enjoy the sunshine. My absolute favorite thing to do in the summer is to enjoy concerts and shows/plays at outdoor venues. It is truly the most fun you will ever have. 
5. What are your summer vacation essentials?
T Shirts, Swim Suit, Sun Screen, Sun Glasses, and a good book. 

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Weekly Favorites #24


After playing this stinking game forever,  I finally beat it. I feel like I can move on with my life. 


L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder
I have really liked the smooth silky finish of this foundation. The coverage is great and does not feel caked on. It also has sun screen protection as well.  While the packaging isn't ideal because it doesn't have a pump the coverage lasts and holds up extremely well during the day. 


Audible.com
While I think the monthly subscription is a bit pricey (almost $15.00). They do give you a credit for one free book each month and I love listening to books while I commute in the car. They seem to have quite a large selection of books so you are bound to find something you're interested in. 



The Bachelorette is starting on Monday!


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Book Club-Serena by Ron Rash



The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire. Although George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, Serena is new to the mountains—but she soon shows herself to be the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness. Together this lord and lady of the woodlands ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Yet when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out to murder the son George fathered without her. Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel as the story moves toward its shocking reckoning.

So now that you have an idea of what the book is about I have to add in my two cents. This plot summary makes the book sound way more exciting than I felt it was when I read it. Let me just say this, I did not hate the book. It was decent. You get some action in the very beginning chapter with a knife fight and a murder but the first three quarters of the book is all very quaint and colloquial but it also moves so slowly. You can say it definitely lacks momentum, in my opinion. For the majority of the book I feel like it is all a lot of shop talk and description about the lumber camp and the are of trees that need to be brought down and chopped up. 

There is a cast of supporting characters, the men who labor in the lumber camp, that is overwhelming. There were too many of them to keep names straight in my mind and there voices were not distinct in any. It seemed they were all one general collective essence that is simple and not particularly all that interesting. Then, there is the side plot of Serena training an Eagle to hunt snakes, which was completely superfluous to her character and the plot in general. There is some random visit by a European circus or carnival show of some kind. What was the carnival doing at small lumber camp in the middle of nowhere? Only so the author could right a scene about how Serena's eagle fights a Komodo Dragon. This has nothing to do with the plot or character development of any kind. I am by no means an expert so there could very well be some symbolism or deeper meaning behind the eagle. I just don't see it. 

The most compelling part of the book was the relationship between Serena and Pemberton.

“A kind of annihilation, was what Serena called their coupling, and though Pemberton would never have thought to describe it that way, he knew her words had named the thing exactly.” 

I'd even say Serena was the most dynamic and interesting, which is good since she is the titular character, and that is to be expected.  She is smart, ruthless, dangerous, and most likely a sociopath. Her actions alone are what give the last quarter of the book easier to digest in a way. Here is just a glimpse into the cold and calculating way that Serena's mind works. Serena is accustomed to accomplishing her goals and getting what she wants. She doesn't care how it happens, or who she has to step on along the way, as long as the job gets done. If somebody poses a threat or an obstacle of any kind, her solution is to get rid of problem. 

“Others can make us vulnerable and the sooner such vulnerabilities are dealt with the better”


I really enjoyed how the book ended and how many of the characters had their true colors displayed as the conflict grew bigger and deeper, specifically Serena. In many well written  books there is a point where a character's actions are so horrifying and shocking, you can only describe that person as bat s*!t crazy! And at the same time there is something about that moment that is wonderful to read because it truly does take you by surprise. 

I enjoyed the book for the most part but my final thought is this-its no Gone Girl. 


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Sunday Social-TV Throwback


What was your favorite TGIF show?

My all time favorite was Boy Meets World. I have seen every episode several times and have the DVDs. My other favorite was Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I love that Sabrina and Harvey finally ended up together. 

2. What was your favorite Saturday morning TV show?

I usually watched Cartoons on Saturday morning. Recess, Doug and Pepper Ann. I also watched some of the X Men Cartoons. 

3. Mickey Mouse Club or Kids Incorporated.?
I never really watched either of them but I've always been curious about seeing a young Brittany, Justin, and Christina on Mickey Mouse club. 

4. Zack Morris or AC Slater?

Zack Morris all the way. He is a cutie. I do think Slater was awesome but that mullet killed me ha ha!

5. Which show would you love to see remade? (For example, Boy Meets World is back as Girl Meets World)

I honestly do not know. I am really excited to see how Girl Meets World turns out. I heard that one Network was working on a reboot of Charmed-one of my other all time favorite shows.  Did anybody watch that besides me?
I also loved the Cosby Show. That might be fun as well 

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Favorites of the Week #23

#1
This has been exciting but completely terrifying. I have been applying to be a first year elementary school teacher to a whole bunch of different schools and districts. I have received 15-20 messages this week that told me "Thank you for applying, but the position has been filled." I've been visiting the schools to drop off my resume in person. I was about to just give and say "forget it" when Thursday came around and to my surprise I had two schools contact me. They wanted me to come in for an interview. One school, Highland Elementary,  called me for an interview-I'd applied for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. The other school Oquirrh Elementary called me to interview for a Kindergarten position. Then Friday, I got another call from Ridgeline Elementary to schedule an interview for a half day Kindergarten job. So I have three interviews next week and I am about to have an anxiety attack because I am so nervous. 

#2
I was able to participate in this pre sale promotion and bought tickets to see Wicked in July. I cannot wait. 

#3
I really am not a fan of tattoos, whether we are talking about the actual art or as some sort of a long lasting, eternal symbol. However, I love Hunter Hayes. His new album came out this week and I love this song. 


#4
This picture of my nephew Henry. I love his face and miss him so much. Isn't he the cutest

#5
I made a trip to Barnes and Noble and it has been a while since my last visit. I forgot how much I love this store and how much money I could spend in there. Its dangerous. 

#6 
Its Mothers Day. Thanks to my madre for caring for me, pushing me, and always looking out for me. 



Sunday, May 4, 2014

Sunday Social-Me Time


1. Who do you call when you need to vent?
Usually I will call my mom or my sister. They always seem to understand how I think and tend to agree with me. 

2. Where do you go when you need alone time?
It depends on how I am feeling. I am always a fan of going to my room and shutting the door. I will go to a movie. Its true, some people think its weird to go to a movie by yourself-I have no problem with it.
 Or I will go shopping (the mall, Target, Barnes and Noble.) 

3. What is your favorite alone time activity?
Most of the time I will watch Hulu or Netflix. 
I will read a book or a magazine. 
Sometimes i will go shopping.
4. What us something we should all stop and read right now?
Malcolm Gladwell-Outliers or David and Goliath.

5. Who do you wish would read your blog that doesn't already? Family? Celeb?
I honestly do not know.  Maybe Hunter Hayes because then he'll know that I am his number 1 fan. 

Friday, May 2, 2014

Weekly Favorites #22


Graduation was this weekend. I decided not to walk, again, because I wanted to be at work, making money. But I am so proud of these girls. They were the best group of people you could ever hope for.  They made some rough classes that much more bearable.  I wish them them all the best. I hope we don't all lose touch. 


Okay guys. I bought myself some new jeans. They were the 1969 curvy style fit at Gap. I went shopping sometime last week with my friend and saw these jeans. They were on sale (59.99 down to 39.99). I was so tempted to buy them but I didn't want to just make another impulsive decision. So I went back a few days later. These jeans were marked down even more 29.99. I love when that happens.

Enough Said!


I am kind of becoming obsessed with Frank Abagnale's story. I enjoyed the movie, and I just listened to the full soundtrack of the new broadway show. If you are a fan of theatre, I feel confident you will like this music. Aaron Tveit is always stellar. My sister was able to hear Frank speak at her husband's school in Missouri this past week. I was very jealous. I think I will try and convince my book club to read the actual book for our next meeting. 

Last but not least. I've really been enjoying Once Upon a Time Lately. The Wicked Witch has been a very good villain. What do you guys think?  If you haven't been watching watch the first few seasons on Netflix




Thursday, May 1, 2014

3rd Annual Crook Family Refunion-Day 3

Flying Kites. Oh the matching!








Jake playing ball with Adrienne and Luke













 Luke loved the chocolate dessert. 

Fun at the Pool














This is what sealed my fate as the biggest loser at The White Elephant

Swimming Suit


 Ancestry.com DNA Test 

Faye got a whole bunch of hair ribbons and is modeling the Snuggie

One of the best presents. The front of it says "Ask me about my ninja disguise." Then you flip up the front of the t shirt like so and there's a ninja mask. 

This was the real low point. The Chinerciser 

Head Phones

Frozen and Fruitsnacks

Italian Cookbook that came may or may not have come with an Olive Garden gift card. 

New Hair Dryer

Shark!

New Shoes

Little Girl Shoes


Candy Dish and Card Shuffler

Another Cookbook that might have come with the card shuffler.