I can't even contain myself...

My little sister, who lives in North Carolina, is having a baby soon. I am soooo excited to finally be an aunt. And for Brody to no longer be the only child in the family. We are going out to visit them a few weeks after the new addition is born, the first week in March.

This is the first real "vacation" that Brody will be going on. Besides weekends here and there, never far away, we did go to Texas for a family wedding once when he was 10 months old. So, needless to say, the little booger is EXCITED. First plane rides! woo!

What he doesn't know...is that I am planning another vacation inside of our vacation. We are going to fly from Charlotte to Orlando for 2 days in that week long visit to my sister.....

as in HOGWARTS CASTLE. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

He is going to FLIP OUT!!! I can't wait. Every time those commercials come on he stops whatever he is doing to watch, and makes me promise that the NEXT time we get to go on vacation, please, please, please let's go there...

Hee. Hee. Hee.

I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous about all this traveling by myself. I have our plane tickets booked already, but am still debating on where we are staying in Florida. To me, I think it might just be worth it to stay at one of Universals hotels. It's right there, which means no trying to get from a to b for me, and you also get the fast pass thing, plus some other perks. It is more expensive, yes, but what do you think? Has anyone stayed there? Is it worth it?

I do NOT want to have to get a car, even take a cab if it's not neccessary. So hotels with shuttle service to and from the airport would also be a major plus.

I haven't been down to Universal since I was 22....(8 years ago, holy cow...). I am soooo excited for the new Hogwarts area, but what else is different? Any special tips for me??

Let's start this year off right, shall we?

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

~Frederick Keonig

CSN! CSN!

Remember my last post, about a decade ago? Where I had something to review? Well, it was backordered. Apparently everyone else wanted one too. BUT, yesterday it arrived:




Now she's at home looking all cute and sassy sitting on my stovetop. Love her.

So I'm back to cyber-window shopping at CSN. My latest crush? This round chair -



I need 5 of them in red. They'll look fabulous on my patio.

CSN Review coming soon

Do you ever "window shop" online???

You know, fill up your virtual cart with everything that you would love to have, whether it be new clothes, shoes, dishes or even bathroom cabinets to remodel your ugly seafoam green bathroom???

It's one of my favorite things to do. Especially on slow days at work - haha!!

Browsing around CSN today.....be back soon!

Switching things up...

Hey all. Sorry I've neglected this blog. A lot has been going on with me lately, and I've been waddling through the massive mess (it seems) and really focusing on me.

I've decided it's time to make changes. Lots of em. I've been weeding out people, things, commitments, you name it. and I feel really good about it.

Things will be changing around here as well. In fact, this whole blog may be gone. It's a time for new beginnings, and I'm ready to fully embrace it.

Stay tuned. I'm excited, I hope you are too!

Discussion Questions Chapters 21-35

My life has stopped this weekend.

Between our town's celebration, Western Days, and my dad re-shingling my roof, I'm surprised I've found time to read at all, BUT - I can not put this book down. I'm sure I'll be finished by Tuesday! Here's my quick response to the next questions.

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
Maybe... but I think it's probably Naomi. I think that it makes more sense, because she actually CARED about the baby. Tim did not care at all that Genevieve was even pregnant, so I doubt he'd be helping out Eve. I don't think his feelings were EVER real for her.

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
I'm not sure. I do think she's way too overprotective of Cory. It wasn't so bad when she was a baby, but now she is growing up, and needs to experience mistakes, failure, hurts...

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?
I like Jack. He seems to be a genuine person. A little goofy, maybe, but a good guy! I think I'd like him in real life.

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?
I think it's similar that she still "needs" and craves love/attention. I don't really see her standing up for herself much, and I feel like Jack is in charge. BUT Jack is such a different person than Tim, in that he wants to share the relationship with Eve, not control it. It's obviously the better relationship, but it's still not perfect.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
Partially....she was very overprotective, but I think it's also just how Cory is. I don't beleive that it's all Eve's fault she is so fearful. She needs to keep pushing Cory, get her involved, even if she doesn't want to. She needs to face her fears, especially the small ones.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?
I think she did the best she could. Anything that she had said would be a lie...and no matter what, it's going to come back to bite her in the end. Of course, the older she gets, the more curious about her family, both the one she has now, and the one she doesn't know, she is going to be.

Discussion Questions Chapters 11-20

Guys, this book is great!! I read 10 chapters today....some while at work, shh!!!


I can't wait to see what is going to happen!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?
I'm guessing they are hiding out, Tim probably with his other "girlfriend"... I know some of the other book clubbers are holding on to the idea that he is a good guy...but I am not buying it. I guess I've dated one too many jerks!!

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?
I think she did the best she could, under the circumstances. I had a feeling the mother would die, and I kept thinking to myself what a JERK Tim was!

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes? Probably the same thing. I would have kept the baby, what else could she have done?? Poor girl, always seems to draw the short straw. But she makes the best of it.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?
She's young. First love.... She craves the love, she has no one else to love her. I think she's going to surprise us all though. She is incredibly strong, and it's really starting to show.

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?
She'll do what is expected, and work her way up. I think she'll meet a new man...

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?
I actually like her more now. Not because of what she has done, really, but because now her character has CHARACTER. I think she's going to get angry with Tim, and realize she was just a pawn in this whole thing. She's going to be an amazing mother, and really succeed... at least, she would if I was writing the story!

Can't wait for more!

Also, I know I have a review to do. The weather has been so humid here that we haven't had a chance to really enjoy what I got from CSN. This past week was nice, and the weekend looks good too, so I'll snap some pics of us enjoying the end of summer and get up the review!