Books & Music - Episode 8

Kind of short this time...

BOOKS:

The Hand That First Held Mine
by Maggie O'Farrell


Rating: MMMM(out of 5)
Two stories of Lexie and Elina and there struggles and joys of life and motherhood. Eventually the two stories end up intertwining. I really liked this book and even though it scared me out of my mind to be a parent I would definitely refer you to read it!

Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret
By Obert Skye

Rating: MMMM1/2 (out of 5)
I am not sure if I ever did a review on the first one but this is the second of the series. There is five in all. I am really liking these books and I think the second one was better than the first. They are a mix of Harry Potter and Narnia. You learn about a whole new world of Foo and how Leven is one who can save the land from the evil. If you like fantasy books you will definitely like this. And I love the authors writing style. Some of the things make me laugh out loud!


MUSIC

Yellowcard
'When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes'

Genre: Alternative
Rating: MMMM (out of 5)
Top 3 Songs: Hang You Up, With you Around, For You, And Your Denial
Good album. A good addition to their collection of music. I don't think Yellowcard could ever go wrong but nothing can top of their Ocean Avenue.

Next time there will be more!!

Day 16 - Another picture of yourself

Sometimes I am just not photogenic...

I am getting my hair cut this week, so say goodbye to the longness!

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I confess. I have been a MAJOR slacker when it comes to blogging. All my fault. Even though I slightly blame it on the weather. I have no motivation when it is cold. Finally yesterday was spring weather and today is also, even though it is raining. April showers bring May flowers! I feel summer on the tip of my fingers, can't wait!

As you know I have the cutest nephews and niece around. Emett loves to "read" the Harry Potter books. He goes through every page, pretending he is reading. He has seen the movies and can remember everything that happens in each one, so he totally knows what is happening even though he isn't reading! Garet saw me on my laptop one day so the next Sunday he brought his and made us play on our laptops together in my room. This is that taking place, along with Emett reading Harry Potter and Mia just wanting to hang out:

So cute!

Yesterday I taught Pake how to play the piano and we did Yoga together. I love being an Aunt!

Internship is going amazing! This is what I walk out to at the end of my days:

If you haven't been to Temple Square you got to go soon. They have been working on all the flowers, the trees are starting to bloom, and the water displays are everywhere. Its beautiful.

Day 15 - Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

This is going to be fun!!

1: "Song For Someone" by The Frames

2: "Who's Got My Back?" by Creed

3: "Big Jumps" By Emiliana Torrini

4: "Never Gonna Be The Same: by Sean Paul

5: "Lovers Without Love" by Joshua James

6: "Look At You Girl" by Chris LeDoux

7: "Canvas" by Imogen Heap

8: "Do What You Do" by Cute Is What We Aim For

9: "We'll All Be..." by The Maine

10: "Water Runs Dry" by Boys II Men

Some good songs... and some oldies!

I hope you all got to watch or listen to General Conference. It was wonderful. If not go here. I think I get most excited to go download them onto my iPod to listen to again!

Day 14 - A picture of you and your family

This picture was taken back in 2008 but it is the only one I have with all the "adults" in the family. I think I show enough of the kids =). We went to the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona to watch the Oklahoma Sooners play. They are my dads fav. It was a really fun time...except that all of us drove down in one vehicle....have had better experiences that way!

Love ya family!

It's here... 30 by 30

I have finally gotten to posting my complete 30 by 30 list! Yay! I have had it done for quite some time so a couple of things are complete. You can find the list on the left hand side below the People I Love section. The things that are complete are a linked to the post that talks about it. Which I need to take advantage of this post and let you know that I bought a Cricut Cutter....one of my 30. It looks like this:

Pretty amazing machine... I can't wait to really start using it and make some fun stuff!

Also can't wait to start getting some of those awesome fun things accomplished.

These little boys are just so cute...

Day 13 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Thank you. Thank you for being strong enough to do what I couldn't. Thank you for being you and teaching me so many things. Thank you for loving me for who I am and who I want to be. You broke my heart in a way words can not explain but because of that I am who I am today. I am eternal indebted to you. You will always have a place in my heart and even though you chose a different path I will always love you and will always want the best for you.

Day 12 - How you found out about blogs and why you made one

Blogs. I use to be the one that would say I would never start a blog (I used to say that about reading Harry Potter too...now look at me). I use to look at my friends' blogs all the time. I would get to see pictures of them and there families and all those cute kids and I would think "my life is boring...why would I create a blog?". Than. Life hit rock bottom. I graduated college, couldn't find a job in my degree, couldn't get full time at work, living away from home, and the boy I was madly in love with decided he didn't want to date me anymore. Tough, tough times. So you would think the last thing I would do was start a blog right? Still not quite sure why I did but now I am addicted! Even if no one reads it and it isn't exciting I would still do it for the sake of me. Selfish I know but in some ways it is a life saver. :)

p.s. Life is good. Sun is shinning with decent temperatures, I finally am feeling better after days of awful sickness, and I am loving life! I hope your life is going good too. If not, go here for some great inspiration!

Books & Music - Episode 7

BOOKS

Matched

By Ally Condie

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

Rating: MM1/2 (out of 5)

When reading about this book it sounded like it had a lot of potential but I was slightly disappointed. Its about a Society that determines your outcome in life and leave nothing left to chance. They pick everything for you from your job, what you eat, and who you are matched with. But when Cassia gets her match, another face shows on the screen and she is left with the thought of what one she should be with. The author didn't write the story so that it really grasps you and I was a little disappointed in her writing style. It wasn't terrible but not as cool as it seems.

Little Bee

by Chris Cleave

Genre: British Fiction

Rating: MMMM (out of 5)

This is a story of a friendship between a Nigerian refuge girl and a white British magazine editor. There past and present has intertwined with many very sad events involved. I really liked this book and even though it had some pretty sad stuff in it, it was good. It also had some British language, so if you struggle reading that this is not your book.

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Genre: Children's Fantasy Novel

Rating: MMM1/2 (out of 5)

Even though this is a children's novel it still can be a little freaky! I enjoyed it though. Bod (Nobody Owens) is raised in a graveyard by the ghost who live there. The events that placed him there to begin with return as he gets older and he is faced to defend himself. At first I wasn't sure what the point of the book was but as I got going it all started to come out and there at the end I struggled to put the book down.

MUSIC

Across The Universe Soundtrack

Genre: Soundtrack

Rating: MMMM (out of 5)

Top 3 Songs: I Want To Hold Your Hand, Strawberry Fields Forever, Hey Jude

I have always wanted this Soundtrack since I saw the movie.. which I thoroughly enjoyed (even though a couple parts where a little out there) but oh how Jim Sturgess gets my heart. His looks and his voice. And what better to have The Beatles songs at the same time right?

The Lower Lights

Genre: Gospel

Rating: MMMMM (out of 5)

Top 3 Songs: Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy, For The Beauty of The Earth, There Is A Green Hill Far Away

Oh by golly do I love this. And I bet you will too. It is a bunch of church hymn revivals. It is about 20 different people making some great music. Go here to listen to some songs and download/buy.

Mumford & Sons

Sign No More

Genre: Folk Rock

Rating: MMMM1/2 (out of 5)

Top 3 Songs: The Cave, White Blank Page, Dust Bowl Dance

Great, great, great music. Love the singers voice and the music they make. I bought this one on Vinyl and it is so wonderful. Much better than in MP3 format.

Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends & a View

I think I posted most of my friends pictures in the first one! I am the only one of my friends that is "totally" single these days so honestly I don't have many friends to hang out with :). These boys below have been my bestie's! I spent a lot of Saturday with Pake & Garet and the weekend before with Emett & Mia. This picture totally fits (except I look drugged).

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I survived my first week of a new job! It is going to be a pretty sweet internship. I am still learning the ropes but already I have learned some pretty cool things. It's just amazing that everything is finally coming together and I am here! I am loving it... and loving the view from my floor:

I am on the 10th floor which is only about 1/3 of the way to the top. This building amazes me. (Church Office Building)