Little Earthquakes book review

This week I'm reviewing:

Goodreads says:
Jennifer Weiner's rich, witty, true-to-life "New York Times" bestselling novel tells the story of three very different women as they navigate one of life's most wonderful and perilous transitions: the journey of new motherhood.Becky is a plump, sexy chef who has a wonderful husband and baby girl, a restaurant that's received citywide acclaim -- and the mother-in-law from hell. Kelly is an event planner who's struggling to balance work and motherhood while dealing with an unemployed husband who seems content to channel-surf for eight hours a day. And Ayinde's basketball superstar husband breaks her trust at her most vulnerable moment, putting their new family even more in the public eye. Then there's Lia, a Philadelphia native who has left her Hollywood career behind, along with her husband and a tragic secret, to start her life all over again.

I say:
I love this author and instantly requested the book the moment I could get my hands on it.  I enjoyed how strangers became friends and the trials of each relationship.  It got kinda boring in some parts in the end but I made it through and I wish there was a continuation so we could see just what happens to this group of friends - maybe in the future, I hope!

I gave it 5 STARS on my Goodreads list.

What are you reading this week?

Stuff n things!

Another week is flying by - I felt like last week went slower than this week but then we had 2 days off last week which is why.  Anywho:

• I'm in a blog funk simply because I have stuff to write but no time.  I'll pick up on it soon!
• We have our yearly USO trivia night tomorrow night.  I'm excited for it.
• What I'm not excited for is immediately after, we drive straight to my parents for our flight to Colorado bright and early Saturday morning.  So I need to be fully packed before the trivia night.  Wish me luck!
• Like I posted the other day, wedding planning for my sister is going pretty well however she's experiencing a few bumps in the road with a few people.  Hopefully it all goes the way its supposed to.
• I love the library - what I don't love is there isn't one located on my daily route anymore which makes returning items on time very hard.
• I've been meeting with a trainer the past month - that is a separate post soon, so stop by then.
• I won a VIP experience at a concert series hosted by WIL 92.3 called Hot Country Nights.  I get to pick a concert of my choice plus dinner at the Brew House.  I need to pick the artist I want to see.
• In case you haven't heard, the Rams left St. Louis and went back to LA.  Now we are entertaining the idea of an MLS team to come here.  Keith thinks we'll get season tickets if that happens - which would be fun even though we are already hockey season ticket holders - but I told him we have to get a house first ;)
• Did I mention I'm headed to the Rockies?  I'm super excited!

Have a great Thursday!

So I haven't blogged in awhile...

...because I've been living life:

Have I wanted to blog?  Yes but finding time to sit down and do it wasn't going to happen.

You know what - that's okay!

I went to a 2nd bridal show with my sister where she was able to finalize a few things she didn't find at the 1st show.  We now have just about everything nailed down for the upcoming September wedding.  She tried on dresses for the first time also and was overwhelmed but it gave her an idea of what she's looking for.  We do it again in a few weeks.

I had a fun VIP experience at Ballpark Village - I will be posting about that soon!

We leave Saturday for a snow getaway in Colorado - I'm super excited to get away and relax!

Have a great Monday!

Bridal show #1 - but I'm not the bride!

Eeek I'm a matron of honor!

In case you missed this post, my sister is in engaged and we (me, bride and 2 bridesmaids) went to a bridal show last weekend.  She's got her date picked (Sept 17), and both the ceremony and the reception sites booked so it was time to explore other items we needed.

It was at America's Center and they shuttled us over there from Ballpark Village in the huge bus limos - sweet!  I didn't go to this one when I was engaged but I had heard it was the biggest one STL has - it was a good start but I think the other one in St. Charles, that we're going to this coming weekend, is the better one.

From this show she booked a photographer, a photo booth and things with the men's wear (no suits in this wedding) and a few ideas for when she goes to the next one.  

After the show, there was an after party at Ballpark Village where we got to snack on various sweets, cheeses, etc and they had a champagne fountain:

Cheers to the wedding planning!

Missouri History Museum

The weekend of New Year's I wanted to do something before heading back to work after being off for 2 weeks so we headed to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park:

St. Louis is home to many gems and one of them is Forest Park filled with lots of museums and fun for families.  I have never been to the history museum so I figured why not.  The best part of most of our area's things is that they are free (score)!

Keith got excited because it was the last day of the coffee museum and he is a coffee fanatic.  This mural is made out of 250,000 coffee beans:

From there we visited other exhibits that were solely about STL:

Now the only museum I haven't been to is the art museum.  I do plan on visiting it one day!

Have you visited any museums lately?

34 while 34 update

Its been 3 months since I've turned 34 so its time for an update:

1)  Travel to a new city for a hockey game
2)  Visit a museum in Forest Park
3)  Go on a carriage ride in Tilles Park at Christmas time - completed Dec 2015

4)  Get professional pictures of Keith and I done
5)  Complete a scrapbook for 2015
6)  Get my own classroom
7)  Do something different with my hair - completed Dec 2015
8)  Make a new craft once a month: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept

October craft

November craft

December craft

9)  Explore Christmastime in a different city - completed Dec 2015

Christmas in Chicago

10)  Play around at Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags
11)  Go to the Balloon Glow at Forest Park or Eureka
12)  Donate a bag of clothes to Goodwill
13)  Go on just a dessert date
14)  Visit Colorado again (its been a few years)
15)  Get a massage
16)  Sell a condo/buy a house
17)  Attend a cooking class
18)  Make the beignets from New Orleans - completed Jan 2016 (forgot the pic, oops!)
19)  Visit Kimmswick - completed Oct 2015

20)  Visit the Zoo - completed Oct 2015

21)  Take a hike outside - completed Nov 2015

22)  Help Dad finish his windmill at our property
23)  Do something spontaneous!
24)  Get back down to SEMO for something
25)  Buy something from American Girl - completed Dec 2015

American Girl Chicago

26)  Join a new gym - completed Dec 2015

27)  Eat at the Blue Owl Restaurant
28)  Collect more beads at STL's Mardi Gras
29)  Do something fun for New Year's - completed Dec/Jan 2016

New Year's at the movies

30)  Make 5 new-to-me recipes
31)  Attend AB's Holiday Lights - completed Dec 2015

32)  Trek back to Crown Valley Winery where Keith and I got engaged
33)  Attend a concert I haven't been to yet!
34)  Just be me!!  Speak up, don't shy away, ya know!

Score of 11/34 = 32%

Yay my score keeps going up up up!

Sister got some bling + stuff & things!

On Wednesday, I got a call that this happened:

My baby seester was in Colorado and her boyfriend proposed at the top of the mountain at our favorite ski resort, Copper Mountain.  We knew it was coming, we just didn't know when!  I am the matron of honor (she had already told me this whenever it was going to happen but she says she'll officially ask me soon) which means I have a lot to do:

• She is planning on getting married in late September/early October in Colorado.  Which means 2 trips to that state in 2016!
• Bridal shows in STL start as soon as this coming weekend so we'll be headed to one then, then another one the next weekend.
• I have to start researching bachelorette party ideas - would love to do it out of Missouri, maybe Memphis or Nashville and it will have to be summer most likely.  Any suggestions?
• It'll be a country wedding, and I was told I would have to buy my first pair of cowboy boots to go with the dress.
• Bridal shower for the spring - will have to coordinate the moms on that one.
• She is having a matron of honor, then 3 bridesmaids.  She's skipping the maid of honor because she knows 2 of her bridesmaids don't get along so she said this was I'd be in charge of it over them - ha!
• I need to create a unique hashtag!

This will be a fun but busy 9-10 months of planning but I think it will be all good - wish us luck!

Have a great Thursday!

Book Review: Catch My Heart

This week I'm reviewing:

Goodreads says:
No one said love was easy. No one said love was perfect. No one said love didn't hurt. No one said love would last forever.

Follow these characters from your favorite Lyssa Layne books as they experience Valentine's Day in an unexpected, non-traditional fashion...

Love is a Fire/Burst Into Flame-Andy Garrity lost the love of his life almost three years ago. Giving in to his daughter-in-laws, he decides it's time to get back in the saddle and go on a first date for the first time since high school. Before he even meets his mate, Andy's having second thoughts and ready to pass on this opportunity at love.

Everybody's After Love/My Favorite What If-James Paul and Brianna Rossi are expecting their second child in less than a month. Brianna can't wait to have a daughter while James Paul is thrilled to have a new princess to spoil. Brianna has the perfect day planned for her husband until her plans blindside her in a way she never imagined.

Loved by the Linebacker-Recovering from a torn ACL, Blake Purser isn't used to taking it easy. He also isn't used to not having his best friend, Camila Lemos, spend more time with her boyfriend, his brother Evan, than him. His long-time on-again, off-again girlfriend, Molly Feiser, is doing her best to entertain him during the off season but Blake isn't prepared for her latest idea.

Holding the Other-Lee Maverick and Miranda Wallen are the king and queen of country music. The married couple have ruled the charts for the last ten years and fans love the chemistry between them. This Valentine's Day will be one for the records before the night is over.

My Favorite What If-Sloan Talbott and Jacob "Smitty" Smith are spending their first Valentine's Day as a couple. In the short time they've been together, they've carved out the perfect nook for just the two of them. Having spent the last six months in Italy, it's time they head back home to the States and learn to be together with their meddling families surrounding them 24/7. What if life for the new couple isn't perfect in the real world?

Love's not easy. Love's not perfect. Love hurts. Love doesn't last forever. Can these couples endure love at its ugliest or will it break them down more than they can handle?


I say:
I was excited when Lyssa released a collection of Valentine's stories that included many of my favorite characters.  It allowed me to get a tease of what might come with the characters in the future while it made me want to read even more!

Andy Garrity is back on the dating scene after losing his wife a few years prior.  Will he have success and find a love like he lost?

James Paul & Brianna are a made-for each other couple.  They seem to have it all but all changes in a split second, a way they weren't prepared for.

Blake & Molly are a couple that is hidden by the ins and outs of their daily lives.  Her latest plan of action isn't what Blake had in mind.

Lee & Miranda are country crooners who have ruled many charts for the past few years.

Sloan & Smitty have had a whirlwind romance that has taken a non-conventional path.  Life changes shows them that their dream life may not be what it was meant to be.

These stories show that love is not easy, its not perfect, it can hurt and sometimes it won't last forever but hopefully all can overcome!


I've given it 5 STARS on my Goodreads list.

What are you reading this week?

New Year's 2015

We had a low-key celebration this year, a total 360 from last year's celebration in Nashville, which was actually just what the doctor ordered.

My sister in law Tracy turned 30 at the beginning of December and she cancelled her dinner out because of not feeling good so in turn my in-laws treated us to a movie to celebrate instead on NYE.  We saw the movie "Joy":

I'm a huge Bradley Cooper fan so I wasn't opposed to spending NYE with him (ha)!  Our ticket included unlimited soda & popcorn, along with a goodie bag at midnight so we settled in for the movie and rang in the new year watching the ball drop on the movie screen afterwards:

I hope you had a great New Year's celebration!  Cheers to a sweet 2016!

Christmas 2015

A little late but better late than never!

Christmas came fast this year, didn't it?  Christmas eve is always spent with Keith's family.  They don't celebrate other holidays for the most part so we make sure we spend this with them.  We always start out at Texas Roadhouse for dinner before going to his sister's to have the 3 nieces open presents and have dessert:

We then headed to our house where we put on Christmas vacation and our pjs and open what is under our tree.  Keith and I did good in the present department and surprised each other pretty well:

Christmas Day we always go to my parents for the day as we have 2 houses to celebrate at.  We arrived early and saw that Santa left a lot at the ridge house:

We have the kiddos open first, one by one so we all can see what they got.  Then the parents open first then each one of us takes a present, yells who it is from and open it.  As our family grows, we've figured out this is the best way to do it.  After presents we snack on appetizers while lunch cooks and we then enjoy:

The rest of the day is spent relaxing while the family disperses to go where we need to go.  We make sure to take flowers to Mom then our day is finished with dessert down the street at our family friend's house.

We had a great holiday, I hope you did too!

Catch My Heart Release Day Blitz!

Happy 2016 everyone!

Why not get started off on the right track with a great book?

May I suggest:

CATCH MY HEART: A VALENTINE'S DAY COLLECTION

COVER: K.S. Thomas
GENRE: Contemporary Romance

CONTENT WARNING: Some adult content

No one said love was easy. No one said love was perfect. No one said love didn't hurt. No one said love would last forever.

Follow these characters from your favorite Lyssa Layne books as they experience Valentine's Day in an unexpected, non-traditional fashion…

Love is a Fire/Burst Into Flame - Andy Garrity lost the love of his life almost three years ago. Giving in to his daughter-in-laws, he decides it's time to get back in the saddle and go on a first date for the first time since high school. Before he even meets his mate, Andy's having second thoughts and ready to pass on this opportunity at love.

Everybody's After Love/My Favorite What If - James Paul and Brianna Rossi are expecting their second child in less than a month. Brianna can't wait to have a daughter while James Paul is thrilled to have a new princess to spoil. Brianna has the perfect day planned for her husband until she’s blindsided in a way she never imagined.

Loved by the Linebacker - Recovering from a torn ACL, Blake Purser isn't used to taking it easy. He also isn't used to not having his best friend, Camila Lemos, spend more time with her boyfriend and his brother Evan than him. His long-time on-again, off-again girlfriend, Molly Feiser, is doing her best to entertain him during the off season but Blake isn't prepared for her latest news.

Holding the Other - Lee Maverick and Miranda Wallen are the king and queen of country music. The married couple have ruled the charts for the last ten years and fans love the chemistry between them. Before the night is over, this Valentine's Day will be one for the records.

My Favorite What If - Sloan Talbott and Jacob "Smitty" Smith are spending their first Valentine's Day as a couple. In the short time they've been together, they've carved out the perfect nook for just the two of them. Having spent the last six months in Italy, it's time they head back to the States and learn to be together with their meddling families surrounding them 24/7.

Love's not easy. Love's not perfect. Love hurts. Love doesn't last forever. Can these couples endure love at it's ugliest or will it break them down more than they can endure?

           Sloan fingers walk up my chest, grabbing my shirt and forcing me to look down at her. Her eyes glimmer with sensuality and I know exactly where her mind is going. Leaning down, our lips barely touch and the passion is ignited. With a shrill squeal, I scoop her into my arms as though we’re newlyweds about to cross the threshold for the first time. Sloan nibbles on my neck and I moan as I walk us toward the bedroom, ready to christen our new bed.

“You gonna give me the chance to marry you and do this for real?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Not a chance in hell.”

I chuckle as I set her on the bed, tugging my shirt off. “I’ll get you to change your mind some day.”

Sloan pulls her own shirt off, leaving me licking my lips at the sight of her in just a black lacy brassiere. Teasing me, she runs her index finger from her collarbone between her breasts, licking her lips and keeping direct eye contact with me. The tip of her finger slips inside her bra and I bite my lip, wanting to replace her hand with mine, but am way too turned on by her own handiwork to stop her.

“Maybe one day, when we’re old and gray,” Sloan says, drawing out her words and speaking in barely a whisper.

She stands up, wiggling her hips and pushing her pants to the floor. Now she’s in just her black lace bra and thong. She turns her back to me, crawling over our king size bed and I reach out, running my hand over her perfectly tight runner’s ass. Sloan stops moving forward, placing her hand on top of mine and leaning up on her knees. Her back is against my chest, our bodies flush against each other’s and I squeeze my hand tightly around the handful in my touch.

“I don’t want easy right now, Smitty. I want you, me, and passion.”

Available on Kindle Unlimited!!!

Amazon US ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon UK~ Amazon AUS

Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.

Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa's own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.

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