It's Complicated

I took my Mom to see It’s Complicated yesterday afternoon. Oh.My.God…. it’s too funny! Meryl Streep is beyond awesome (as always) and the chemistry between her and Alec Baldwin and her and Steve Martin is perfection.  I'm not generally a huge fan of Baldwin, but he is GREAT in this movie.

If you haven't seen this yet, go see it.  Luckily it's not one of those movies where all the funny parts are spoiled in the previews and the story is not what you'd expect.  It's a feel good, laugh-out-loud movie with a great story and awesome cast.

Quick Getaway

We took a spontaneous trip to Niagara Falls this weekend. And by spontaneous I mean we decided at about 2 o’clock Friday afternoon. I gave Bub a list of stuff to pack for me since we wanted to leave as soon as I was done work at 4:30, and that was that.

I, of course, had something come up at work at the last minute so I sent Bub to drop the dogs off with my Mum while I finished that up and then we hit the road. We made really good time and arrived in just a little over 2 hours (including a pee break!) and checked in to the hotel.

We hit up Mick and Angelo’s for dinner, which was really our primary reason for heading down there since its Bub’s favorite restaurant. And man… I have to admit. The Chicken Calzone is To.Die.For!!!!! We took a little drive down to the falls and through the light tour and then went back to the hotel.

The light tour- I can't take credit for this pic. I just did a google search.

We spent a good portion of the rest of the night and the following morning in the Jacuzzi. Bub just kept saying to me... “yeah, we need one of these at home”.

We got up, stopped at the IHOP for breakfast- which was nothing special IMO- and then hit the outlet mall. I came home with a super cute wrap sweater and a new hoodie.

We both love Niagara (we go a couple times a year and honeymooned there) so it was super nice to get away like that. I think it was even more fun because it wasn’t planned at all. It was totally spur of the moment, and that somehow made it more exciting.

I'm wishing I was back there right now... lazing in the jacuzzi.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I've been dying to get my hands on this book since I came across a summary of it before it was released. Long reserve lists for my library's single copy kept me waiting for months, so I was more than excited to get my own copy as a Christmas gift.


I have to say that when the story started out, I was a little disappointed. I think it was one of those situations where the hype and anticipation had built to breaking point before I read it and my expectations were too high. I was really enjoying it, but I wasn't IN LOVE with it like I had expected (or hoped) to be. However, by the end of the story I was totally hooked. I was completely attached to the characters and loving the story.

The writing style is absolutely beautiful. The use of Sam's lyrics are haunting and somehow make his character so much deeper and yet easier to understand.

I think one of my favorite parts of the story is the idea of the Wolves.... and that they are a more "realistic" kind of werewolf. There is no magic or ancient battles... it's simply a boy who becomes a wolf, a real wolf, in the winter. No magic powers, no super human strength or immortality, just a boy and the wolf he becomes.

The final pages made me physically ache and were, in my opinion, the best writing of the entire book. The last paragraph was stunning. I can't wait to get my hands on Linger so I can revist Mercy Falls, Sam & Grace and Stiefvater's fabulous writing.

Definitely an all time favorite.

Who doesn't love a free book contest?

I just started following "Only Sexy Books Allowed" (I mean really... who can resist that title???)

There's a contest going on over there right now for an ARC of Something Like Fate by Susanne Colasanti... go check it out!

Awww...my baby

When we brought Baby Lola home when she was just 10 weeks old, I went camera crazy.  Seriously.  I had so many pics of that dog it was kinda sickening.  But she was just the cutest puppy ever!!!!!  Until, one day, I turned my camera on to find that the memory card had errored ("memory card requires formatting") and I had lost all of my pictures.  I was heartbroken because I had yet to do a backup of any of the pics onto my PC.... which meant they were gone.  All the baby pictures of my sweet, sweet Lola were lost forever.

That was in late 2005 and early 2006.   Today, a friend of my Mum's contacted her to ask who I had used for my wedding invitiations.  I couldn't remember the vendor name so I logged in to my (very) old email address to look through my saved files for a confirmation email from the company to pass along. 

While searching through my saved messages, I found an email from December of 2005 from my Uncle titled "Baby Lola, Jake & Sydney" and another entitled "Baby Lola and the Doug-mister".  Jake and Sydney are my Uncle's dogs and Dougie is my Mum's dog... so I opened it up and LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!

Lola and her "Ma" (my Mum) on Christmas morning

Lola and Dougie on the stairs at my Mum's

My sweet girl giving sweet kisses

Baby pictures of my little Lola Bean!!!!  She looks so different now, but my GOD she really was the cutest puppy in the entire world.  You have no idea how happy these pictures make me.  I was so sad that I didn't have any pics from that time.  It's not many, but it's something.

I so love that little girl.  She's my furry soul-mate.

I'm broke this winter so...

I broke down and bought this....

The last two winters I have got myself a gym membership and alternated swimming and running 4 or 5 mornings a week, and although I'm really going to miss is this year I just can't afford it.  On top of that, we've been rocked with snow this year and running outside is just not a safe option right now. So, I had to find something to keep me busy until I can get back outside. 

I've heard good things about this and am hoping that I find it effective.  I'm worried that there won't be enough of a cardio workout (I'm sure the strength training will brutal since I don't really do any) but we'll see how it goes.  Perhaps I can start getting up in the morning and walking my dogs for the time being to supplement a little?

Regardless, it's better than the nothing I've been doing since going back to school.  My running shoes have been lonely in the closet since September and I MISS IT!  This should tie me over until I get back to running. 

I hope to start tomorrow morning... so here goes nothin'.  We'll see what all the hype is about anyway.

I forgot to post...

got an A in Microeconomics?

Yep-  A

I thought I bombed the exam.

Whatevs... I'll take it.

Time for a happy dance!!!!