I Can't Pass This Up

Ok, during the past two weeks I have received emails from Coldstone Creamery (telling about their Oreo ice cream sandwiches) and Dairy Queen (buy one Blizzard get one for 25 cents) and Baskin Robbins ( 31 cent scoop night) and I have passed them all up. BUT I got another email from Dairy Queen announcing their May Blizzard...and I HAVE TO GO GET ONE! It's a Buster Bar Blizzard! Buster. Bar. Blizzard. I haven't been this excited since the Girl Scout Thin Mint Blizzard came out! If anyone is interested in a DQ play date let me know!!!! :)

Another Book Review

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Link for more info and other books:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422057


Here is the write up from the back of the book:

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family. Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace. The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?



Here is my review:



Well, first of all, I finished it! Most of the time that is a good sign. (I have finished some books that I'm not sure why I kept going.)

Here is what I liked about the book: it had an interesting idea, I liked the interaction between the main characters...they were pretty likable and I rooted for them the whole book.
What I didn't care for: the whole NINA terrorist group idea...it was like the author was trying to write a book similar to the Da Vinci Code, but this group was confusing and not very interesting. I kinda zoned out when there was a section devoted to them. Then there were different guys trying to kill the main character and they confused me. Not sure who they were or who they were working for or why they did what they did. Again, I zoned on those parts. Although those people and the group are important to the story, I didn't get the full impact because I didn't like that part of the story.

I guess this book would be considered a thriller, but I never had an "Oh!" moment. It was an easy, fast read. It is a Christian fiction book, which I usually don't read, so that was a little odd to me.

Overall it was a decent book. I feel bad writing these reviews...I'm such a harsh critic!

Thirsty?

Lately I have been obsessed with drinkware. (is that a word?) Anyway, Dan has a Tervis Tumbler (I just like to say Tervis Tumbler!) that he got at Bed Bath and Beyond that he uses for coffee and beer. The cup is big and holds a lot. (almost 2 beers Dan says) I load it up with ice and a can of pop and still have room at the top. I have been searching for one with flowers. I found this one...
Then when I was at Books A Million I saw these:

they are water bottles for Monday-Friday. They come with a base that they sit in...if you need to take them with you to work or wherever. I like the idea of drinking out of pretty bottles. I fill them all up and use them throughout the day and keep one by my bed at night. I find that I am drinking more water because of these pretty bottles! (they are PBA free)

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I saw these in the Lakeside Collection catalog. I thought they would be perfect for when my friends come over for a playdate. My classy friends prefer to drink out of a glass with ice...which I like now too. Before I would just swig from the can...I guess everyone has some billy in them!

If You Like Pina Coladas, and Chewin' Gum In The Rain

Then try this...it's my new favorite gum. It's like vacation in your mouth!

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On an unrelated note to yumminess and Rupert Holmes...Girly Tomboy Extraordinaire is the winner of the Blog For Books book. Please leave a comment with your info and I will ship it out to you! Or leave your email and I will contact you...whatever you are more comfortable with. Hope they let you blog for books in Canada! :)

My First **Blogging For Books** Tour

My friend Michelle told me about this program:

Blogging for Books

Do you love to read and review books?
Do you have an established personal blog on which to share your opinions?

If so, you may be eligible to join upcoming blog tours for WaterBrook Multnomah titles.

As an approved blog reviewer, you'll receive a free, advance copy of the featured book in each tour in which you choose to participate. To submit your blog for consideration, please fill out the form below. If your blog is chosen to participate, a WaterBrook Multnomah publicity representative will get in touch with you soon.

Here is the link...
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blogging-for-books/

This is the first book I said yes to. I am a very picky reader. I don't just read to read. AND I have this "100 page try" rule that goes like this...if after 100 pages I could care less what happens to any of the characters or how the story ends, I stop reading. My friend Angie dubbed me as the "Book Tease" years ago.

I received a complimentary book to read and one to give away! :) If you are interested in winning a copy, please leave a comment and I will write down all the names and have a random drawing. I will post the winner and send out the book after I get an address.

Here is the summary I got in the email:

Summary:

Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

Here is my review:

I didn't realize that this book was based on the author's grandmother. I guess that is why I felt it was a little boring and there were parts in it that didn't really need to be there. As I stated above, I am a picky reader, so after 100 pages I was ready to put it down. Not because it was a bad book, but because it just didn't seem all that interesting. But, because I agreed to review the book, I kept going. Then I got to 200 pages and just had to skip to the end to find out what happened. After reading the ending I was a little curious about how the characters got to that point, but not enough to actually finish the book. I know a lot of people would enjoy this book. Most of the gals in my book club would probably finish it and like it...I just look over beside my bed and see the growing pile of books I want to read and I just want to get to them. Another sign that I wasn't really into the book...whenever I got a chance to read it, I would find something else to do. I guess I just didn't really like the characters all that much. One thing I did like about the book was every so often there would be a picture taken by the main character and then a write-up about the picture. (the conversations that the subject and photographer had, why they chose the props they did, why the photo was being taken...) I want to state again that this isn't a bad book. It just wasn't a book for me. I'm like a kid who needs to be constantly entertained (oh, that's where Cole gets it from!) so if the book isn't giving off fireworks, then I will move on and look for the new M-80 book to blow me away.

To get a copy of this book or other books, visit:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816

(This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.)

This is so weird!

These taste like McDonald's cheeseburgers!

It was a good birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. The weather was decent, I saw daffodils growing in the wild, I went shopping for clothes and scrapbook supplies and went out to dinner with my family...at IHOP. Everyone always laughs at my pick, but hey, I love IHOP! I was actually good. I got the whole grain pancakes without butter and used sugar free syrup. (I had a run in with the Girl Scouts this weekend and had to redeem myself after all those thin mints!)

When Cole and I were getting ready in the morning I said I was going to the gym even though it was my birthday. He said "You're not fat, Lady!" I never say anything about my weight and always tell him I am "medium" so I am not sure where that comment came from. He has seen the Biggest Loser...

So, I went to the gym and I walked 5 minutes and then planned on running for 10 and then run/walk the rest of the time. But after 10 minutes I still felt good so I thought I'd go for 15. 15 became 20 and then I thought I am only 5 more minutes away from completing week 6 of the Couch to 5K...so I did it! No guaranteeing I will ever run 25 minutes straight again in this lifetime, but I did it on my 38th b-day! (thanks to Hey, Soul Sister and Party In The USA)