Reading, Watching, & Listening

Hello, dear friends.  I hope that everyone is healthy out there.  As I type this, I see two well-fed blue jays out my window.  Spring is almost here.  When I took my walk yesterday, it was 72 degrees!

This week I have two book functions.  I have a Supper With The Authors and Book Club.  I hope that they don't get canceled.  It just came over the News that the Mayor canceled the St. Paddy's Day Parade.  No St. Paddy's Day Parade in Boston is practically a sacrilege!  

Today, I am joining Jana Says for the Show Us Your Books link-up.  If you love to read, stop over and see what other bloggers are reading and their reviews.

Amazon

Morgan is an inmate at the North Carolina Correctional Facility.  Two women visit her and offer her the deal of a lifetime.  They want her to restore a mural on the USPO wall in a small town.  In return, they will give her a get-out-of-jail card and 50 thousand buckaroos.

The story is written in two timelines.  The book was a good one, but it was about 50 pages too long.

Amazon

A husband and wife take their two daughters on vacation to an island in the Caribbean, St. X.  The older one, Alison, is about 16 and the younger one is about 9 years old.  Allison has got a real wild streak and secretly sneaks out at night to carouse with some hotel staff.  She then disappears, and the outcome is devastating.

This book started out strong.  At about 40% in, I felt like I arrived in quicksand.  The story stood still.  It did pick up again.  And I did finish it, which says a lot. 

Amazon

This book is a perfect example of why I love book clubs.  I would never have chosen this book for myself.  The Buttonwood Book Club chose it for me.  

As you can see from my rating, I really enjoyed it.  Just like everyone has a story, every day has one too.  A random day. December 28, 1996, was chosen out of a hat, and the author set out to find people in which that day was significant in their lives.  A couple of stories made the newspapers, but most did not.  

Gene Weingarten is a Pulitzer Prize winner and a master storyteller.   

Amazon

This thriller has gotten off to a rip-roaring start.  A family moves to a small island off the coast of Main.  Along with an old rickety house, they inherit a rude, sarcastic teenage girl.  My worst nightmare.  A few days after they move in, a neighbor is murdered.  Did I mention that they moved because the husband had an affair?

I am reading this one now.

Amazon

On New Year's Day, a father takes his sons to a lake to write resolutions on paper boats.  Meanwhile, a woman takes her dog for a walk around the same lake.  Father and sons return home, but the woman does not.  

I'm listening to this one, and it's pretty good.

I'll keep you posted.

Amazon

A few months ago, this was offered on Audible Deal of the Day, and I bought it.  The Mister and I just started listening to it, and we think it's quite good.

Sista met Sally on a movie set when she was about 5 years old.  The actress left her perkiness at the convent and was miserable to Sista and my parents.

I was just as happy that she was snippy because I was left home with Grandma. 

Amazon

Before I even start a Kristy Woodson Harvey novel, I know that I am in for a captivating story laced with delightful characters.  Gray has hit a string of bad luck.  Loss of a loved one, a cheating spouse, and a sister who has made the wrong decision in choosing a spouse.  Enter: Diana, who is facing challenges of her own. One of which is caused by Gray. 

I can't wait to start this wonderful book.  I have yet to finish a Kristy Woodson Harvey novel without a smile and a tear.  

Amazon

This memoir chronicles the life of Princess Margaret's lifetime Lady-In-Waiting, Anne Glenconner.  After reading the synopsis, it sounds like Anne's life was as tumultuous as Princess Margaret's.  This is perfect for my walks.

Amazon

The story centers around Vincent, a female bartender.  The plot involves a Ponzi scheme.  The setting is a five-star luxury glass hotel.

It sounds right up my alley.

Amazon

The author is the daughter of the famous chef, Alice Waters.  This sounds like the perfect hostess gift for that friend who enjoys a good story as much as a new recipe.

Amazon

A daughter delves into her Mother's past life as a theater legend.  
It examines a complex mother/daughter relationship.

Amazon

The year is 1913.  A young boy, Sonny, wanders into the woods and disappears.  His wealthy family searches far and wide for him.  He is found two years later in the company of a wandering handyman.  While the handyman is on trial, another woman appears to claim the boy. 

  

Amazon

An emergency room doctor traces the steps of her lover who disappears on a rural road in Vietnam.

Amazon

Charlotte wins a cruise.  She decides to invite her somewhat estranged adult children to join her.  

Let the dysFUNction begin!

Amazon

Recently widowed Willa sends out invitations to three other women to spend a week at her lodge.  All the women have come to a crossroads in their lives.

This book has been described by reviewers as a feel-good book. 
After a week like this, is there anyone out there who doesn't need a feel-good book?

Amazon

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am a self-professed Kennedyphile.  This book is described as revealing and fascinating. 

I'm there. 
  

Amazon

After Nina deals with the shock of her husband's drowning, she finds out that he was leading a double life.  By the way... his body was never found.  Nina goes on to find love with a widower.  But there are still so many questions that she needs the answers to.

I enjoyed Palmer's last book, Saving Meghan, which kept me guessing.  

I may just carry this book around for the next couple of weeks to keep the Mister on his toes.  I'll tell him it's a training manual for his replacement.

Amazon

The time is 1997.  Casey is 31 years old and heartbroken over her mother's death and a love affair that went sour.   She moves to Massachusetts for a new start.  Casey needs to figure out what she really wants to do with her life.  In the meantime, she takes a waitressing job in Harvard Square and tries to finish a novel that she has been working on for six years.  I downloaded this one.

Amazon

Gabe decides to reopen his family's bookstore on the shores of Lake Michigan.  A rekindled romance is also added to the mix.

Books and romance.

Is there a better combo?

The Mister and I went to see Emma this weekend.  I can't say enough wonderful things about this movie.  The set design and costumes were stunning.  The lead actress, Anya Taylor-Joy stole the show. 

I finished watching the remake of Howard's End on the plane last weekend.  I wish there were more shows like this one.

trailer

I chatted with my friend, KTG, yesterday, and her daughter highly recommended this documentary.  I'm hooked after watching the trailer.

trailer

The Mister and I binge-watched Hillary over the weekend.  

No stone went unturned in this stunner of a documentary. 

trailer

If you are a fan of This Is Us or Parenthood, I think that you will love the new show Council of Dads.  It premieres this month.

photo credit: the Mister

We met one of the stars, Michael O'Neill, one day in Boston.  My buddy, Annie, recognized him from his role in Gray's Anatomy as the guy who pulled the trigger on McDreamy.  He was so charming.


Until next time...

Linking up with:
The Happy Now
Show Us Your Books
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesdays With A Twist
Lou Lou Girls
Your Whyms Wednesday
Jersey Girl Texan Heart
Keep In Touch
Wonderful Wednesday
A Little Bit of Everything
Party In Your PJs
Wonderful Wednesday
Creative Mondays
Is This Mutton
Classy Flamingos
Creative Muster

Favorite Things

Hello, dear friends.  Just checking in.  I have been in North Carolina visiting my #2.  There is a post in the works with plenty of pictures of the beautiful Tar Heel state.  

Tonight I am hosting my book club.  I am supervising the Mister as we speak as he is whipping up his magic in the kitchen.  

In the meantime, here are a few of my latest favorite things.

About a month ago, I was contacted by jimmyCASE asking me to review their iPhone case.  How could I say no?

First of all, it's a great looking case.  The core is mahogany, and there are a variety of great color choices for the elastic pocket.  It can hold up to six cards or even a car key and not stretch out.

My jimmyCASE arrived the day before I left for North Carolina.  I decided to give it a whirl on my trip.  I stowed my driver's license in the pocket so that I had my downloaded boarding pass and ID together.  Usually, it takes me 20 minutes to get my license out of my wallet.  You never want to be behind me in line.  My jimmyCASE made my security experience much more pleasant for me and those waiting in line behind me.

My jimmyCASE also came in handy at the hotel.  For once, my room key was not swallowed up in the Bermuda triangle in my purse.  

It would make a great gift for the high school or college student who needs to have their fake ID school ID with them at all times.  

I give my jimmyCASE two thumbs up.

This deliciousness in a bottle was one of my favorite things in 2014.  There are very few, if any, sunless tanners available containing SPF.  Ulta used to have one but discontinued it this year. 

I use Palmer's Sunless Tanner every day.  It contains SPF15, and it is the perfect protection for me running around town.  A lot of sunless tanners stink like dirty feet, but Palmer's is loaded with cocoa butter and smells like Summer.  An added bonus is that it is a rich moisturizer. 

Amazon used to carry Palmer's, but they have been out of stock for a while.  I finally found it on Walgreens online.  Added bonus:  it's only $7.99 and is delivered within two days.  

I received a sample of LaRoche-Posay CC Cream, and I really liked it.  If you have a lot of redness in your complexion like me, this CC Cream is for you.  It is light and blends easily and camouflages my a ruddy complexion.  It only comes in one color which is light so if you have a medium skin tone this probably won't work for you.  

An added bonus for all you fair-skinned girls is that LaRoche-Posay CC Cream is enriched with a 30 SPF.   

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am very fickle when it comes to mascaras.  My new love has been a past love, and I am back to Benefit's Roller Lash.  I just love the fact that it is easy to apply, looks natural, and doesn't clump.

PS...I still love my heated eyelash curler.

I'm sure I'm late to the party on this one, but I love to put frozen grapes in my Chardonnay on warm Summer nights.  Not only do I appreciate the fact that my wine stays cold, but it makes me feel like a fancy girl.

That's it for now.

What's your latest favorite thing?

Until next time...

Proudly linking up with:
Thoughts of Home
Foodie Friday and Everything Else

Friday Favorites

This n' That

Hello dear friends, I wrote this on Saturday and didn't get around to posting it until today.

We are having a gorgeous sunny day here in Massachusetts.  I just got back from the General Store or the "Genny" as the locals call it.  I picked up some warm muffins and scones for my sleeping house guests.  

First of all, I want to start with a product that I have fallen in love with.  I found it on line when I googled sunless tanner containing an spf.  It is very hard to find one product that contains both.  I used to use a lotion by L'Oreal for years, but I think they discontinued it.

So my google search came up with Palmer's Cocoa Butter Bronze that was sold out on a lot of sites.  I managed to order one on Amazon.  By the way, Amazon is sold out now.  I searched other sites and they were sold out too.  I finally got in touch with the manufacturer and the representative said that you can order it directly from them.  You can find the website here.  By the way - they are cheaper than Amazon. You can forward the $5.00 savings to me, please.

I love this stuff!  First of all, it has color in it so you can see any places that you have missed when applying.  They don't call me "blotchy legs" for nothin.' The smell is delicious - which I could never say about the L'Oreal product.  It is also extremely moisturizing.  The SPF is only a 15, but I figure its better than nothing.  I am long passed my sun bathing in baby oil days, so it's enough for me.  I use it every morning before I go on my stroll run.

I have not been paid by Palmer's to endorse their product.  However, if you are from Palmer's, I wouldn't turn my nose up if a free case showed up on my doorstep.

*****

After 6 months of  wearing turtlenecks I finally put on a collared shirt.  I looked in the mirror and then screeched in horror.  What the heck happened to my neck?  What is it with Massachusetts?  First my clothes shrink - now my neck is covered in wrinkles and it looks like it belongs to a  turkey.

She looks pretty good compared to me.

The first thing I did was to whisper a prayer of gratitude that scarves are really "in" now.  I then went on a serious, comprehensive search for a good neck cream.  Ok, that's not true.  I was actually in Marshall's drowning my jowl sorrows when I came across this.  

It was encased in a plastic box only to be magically opened by the cashier and it was $39.99.  The good part was that according to the tag it retails for $80.00.  I decided to splurge and bought it.  Don't tell the Mister - he would tell me to save the 40 bucks - and that he loves turkey necks. 

I've used StriVectin for about 4 weeks - twice a day.  I have to say that it has definitely made a difference.  It has improved the quality of my skin and it does not look quite as wrinkly as it was.  As a matter of a fact,  I splurged on another jar last week.  Don't tell the Mister.

I'm closer to this now.  

My neck looks better but I still need a nose job. 

*****

I picked Covet up at Target to take with me on my trip to Texas.  I did not realize that I had read Tracey Garvis Graves' first book On the Island, which I really enjoyed.

This is an interesting book that raises the question "can a man and a married woman who are attracted to each other just be friends?"  It is a fast, enjoyable read and would lead to some interesting discussion at book club. 

*****

Took a peek into Homegoods last week and shot a few pics of some new additions for summer.

Kind of cute for a patio.

A whole outdoor kitchen! 
Great deal if you happen to drive a mack truck.

Adorable drink cooler for a girls party.

I would be the coolest girl in my new 'hood if I had one of these.

And last, but not least, 3 gorgeous Lilac trees are in bloom outside our kitchen window.  I bought a couple of pitchers at my beloved Homegoods while I was doing some investigative reporting for you.  I kept one for me, naturally, and bought the other for the host and hostess of a party that we are attending this weekend.  The hosts just happen to be the former owners of our house.  Hopefully, they will enjoy the flowers from their garden.

One more thing - I need to ask your help.  

I have received a couple of emails from people who subscribe to my blog through email .  They said that they are no longer getting it in their mailbox.  If you do subscribe, and you are or are not getting my post, would you be kind enough to leave a comment either way? 

I'll give you a ride on my new motorcycle if you do.

Happy Hump Day!