July 2013

July! I feel like July came, went and never really happened

Highlights of the Month

Back to teaching piano.
A few life decisions made (you'll have to wait for those until things are official)

My Happiness Project for July was to "Make Time for Friends"
Another successful month

Book Recap

What I Read
With extra time on my hands, I spent July reading and studying. No "fun" books in the usual sense, but I really enjoyed reading all of these.

Eating Alive: Prevention Thru Good Digestion by John Matsen (review here)
Healing Arthritis by Penny Kendall-Reed (review here)
The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Linz Wolcott (review here)
Diabetes & Hypoglycemia by Michael T. Murray (review here)
The Nutritional Bypass by David W. Rowland (review here)

What I'm Currently Reading

New Optimum Nutrition for the Mind by Patrick Holford

Monthly Book Spending:

Spent: $0.00*
Saved: $0.00

*textbook costs are excluded

April 2013

April was supposed to be spring according to the calendar. Old Man Winter clearly didn't get the memo. It's been nothing but cold, snowy and miserable. Hopefully all that moisture will make May a nice month.

Highlights of the Month

Scored 89% on my first nutrition exam!

Submitted my second exam. (awaiting results)
Signed up for the remainder of the diploma. I'm committed now for the next 2 years.
Booked NFL Tickets for a 49ers VS Colts game in September (GO COLTS!!)

Happiness Project - April - Aim Higher
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4

Book Recap

I have read 10 books toward my goal of 30 books.

I am right on track!

Pages Read (month): 944

Pages Read (year): 4728

What I Read
Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson Haas (review)

What I'm Currently Reading

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Essentials of Human Anatomy &Physiology by Elaine Nicpon Marieb

Monthly Book Spending:

Spent: ($0.00)
Saved: $0.00

I only read a textbook this month and its cost was included in my tuition so I'm really not sure how much the book ACTUALLY cost for me. 

10/30: Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson M. Haas

Staying Healthy with Nutrition, rev: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson M. Haas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Format: Paperback
Read from February 19 to April 17, 2013

From Goodreads: Decades of practical experience and scientific research are compiled into one encyclopedic volume that features newly expanded chapters on special supplements, lifestage programs, and breakthrough medical treatment protocals for conditions including fatigue, viral illnesses, weight management, and mental and mood disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, and depression.PART ONE gives a detailed analysis of The Building Blocks of nutrition: water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.PART TWO evaluates Foods and Diets, discussing every food group and most diets around the world. A special chapter on the environment and nutrition raises awareness and offers guidance about food additives, industrial chemicals, food irradiation, electropollution, and other health and ecological issues.PART THREE brings all of this nutritional information together, showing readers how to make wise and commonsense choices while Building a Healthy Diet. A personalized eating plan for the year, The Ideal Diet is both seasonally and naturally based, and a healthy lifelong diet.PART FOUR contains specific nutritional and lifestyle therapies for enhancing all stages of life and suggests treatments for common conditions and diseases such as aging, menopause, bone loss, weight loss, and cancer by focusing on Nutritional Applications: 32 Special Diet and Supplement Programs.Anyone interested in enhancing wellness, eating right, treating illness naturally, and living in harmony with nature will find Staying Healthy with Nutrition to be the ultimate handbook for optimal health and vitality.

As part of my Natural Nutrition diploma this was the first textbook. I made it through this entire textbook plus answering questions and writing two tests in 11 weeks.
This book is filled with some amazing information on ourselves and on our planet. The information provided is extensive and covers a wide range of topics.
My favourite portions of the book were definitely discussing how our earth and all the chemicals we put into it really affect our health. It makes you really think twice about what you're eating, breathing and touching.


Reading about preventative medicine really inspires me to be more proactive in my own health rather than reactive. There is something missing in our current medical system and I, like the author, believe it is preventative medicine. We function in a society where unless you're really sick or have some sort of disease, you aren't worth the time of a doctor. We need to start taking care of ourselves and prevent getting to that point. The more we take care of ourselves and prevent disease as best we can, the better our medical system will become in the future. It's a long way off, but we only need to start.

Definitely a must for my nutrition collection

View all my reviews

Say hello to the next 2 years of books

I'm almost finished my last course in the introduction package of my Holistic Nutrition diploma. Rather than finish the intro package and then order the rest of the books, I decided to be proactive and order them early. That way I'll have no break and just continue on with the rhythm I've got working for me.
ALL the textbooks and course material came last night. A big heavy box on my doorstep.

The contents:

say AWWW puppy paws

I'm going to work my butt off to finish my intro package so I can dive into this pile. I also need to clear out some room on my bookshelf to put all these books.

March 2013

March is over. Another month of the year is gone in a blink.
Which is one month closer to our trip!

I've been pretty quiet on the blog front this month, and with the lack of book reviews, I imagine it will remain the same for a while. Now that I'm getting back into baking, expect some more gluten-free recipes!
March was a great month. I spent more time focusing on Frenchie, our trip to France and studying. A much needed shift.

Highlights of the Month

Frenchie celebrated his birthday

Dad celebrated his birthday

Niece celebrated her birthday

Finished my first Natural Nutrition course!

(exam submitted, waiting for the marks)

Not a highlight: One of my piano students quit :(

Spent this month focusing on Frenchie and Remembering Love for The Happiness Project

Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4

Book Recap

I have read 9 books toward my goal of 30 books.

I am 2 books (5%) ahead of schedule.

Pages Read (month): 872

Pages Read (year): 3784

What I Read

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (review)

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl 1) by Eoin Colfer (review)

What I'm Currently Reading

Diet & Nutrition: A Holistic Approach by Rudolph Ballentine

Staying Healthy with Nutrition, rev: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson Haas 

(I'm halfway through my giant textbook!)

Monthly Book Spending:

Spent: $0.00

Saved: $21.17

Where are all the book reviews?

I miss reading!

To clarify, I miss reading fiction and zipping through books in a week. Where did all my book reviews go? I haven't stopped reading, I'm just reading different books that are taking a LONG time to get through.

In February, I signed up for a Holistic Nutritionist diploma through the Canada School of Natural Nutrition. I was able to sign up for the Introduction courses and decide from there if I want to continue through the program. (I am completely in love with this course and will be signing up for the rest as soon as I'm done the first two courses) Why in the world would I have taken on this journey? Because I wanted to. Because I have had a huge health change based on diet changes and the more I talk to people, the more anecdotes I hear of the same success. I love helping people, and I'm passionate about food. I cook breakfast and dinners every day. I hate overly processed food and LOVE the farmer's market year round. Epicure was my first look into nutrition and how to make meals healthier, and it's just going to continue.

This diploma also fits with our life plans. It's a goal to work towards that will allow me, in the far off future, to stay home with our children (God-willing) and still have an income. I plan to teach piano from my home and be a nutritionist. It will be a slow business to build, but one I can do for a long time. I can work from home, or from an office, such as a chiropractor, massage therapist, etc. There are a lot of options and it's out of the IT world, which I believe will make me very happy.

I just finished course number 1, and I am loving every minute of it. Between piano, day job and studying, reading non-school books is taking a backseat. I've been reading my GIANT textbook for the past 2 months, and it's awesome. Frenchie laughs at me every time I start a sentence or text with "Did you know..." and then proceed to tell him some nutritional information he probably didn't want to know. He is my guinea pig for the next 2 years.

The best part about telling people I'm doing this diploma? They typically look at me with a thoughtful expression and say "Yes, I can see you doing that and being really good at it" Having the support of my family, friends and people who just met me is a huge boost.

I set my goal for reading this year at 40 books. Then I modified it to 30 once I signed up for these courses. Reading is reading, and the monster of a text I'm chugging through WILL count as a book sometime this year. I am attempting to read one to two non-school books a month which seems to be all I can manage. I think once summer break hits and my piano students are done for a while, I'll be able to devour some more fiction. Until then, I miss writing reviews!

You can see the books in store for me on my Goodreads shelves.
Textbooks
Recommended Reading

Streusel-topped Apple Muffins (Gluten-free)

I finally got around to going to the store and buying all the ingredients I would need to start baking my own breads and muffins. I'm tired of paying $6 a loaf and it's nearly impossible to find gluten-free baked goods downtown Calgary for a quick snack.

I've tried converting a few of my favourite recipes by using a gluten-free flour mix but they are typically crumbly. I think if I start adding Xanthan gum to those recipes it would work out really great.

I picked up The Gluten-free Gourmet Bakes Bread by Bette Hagman at random only because it had a recipe for French Bread. (I really miss French Toast on the weekends, yet I haven't made it yet)

This book is a good one for people who like to bake. There are recipes for bread, muffins, bagels (yes you read that right), and more. They are fairly simple, requiring a few key gluten-free staples you should probably have in your pantry.

Streusel-topped Apple Muffins
from The Gluten-free Gourmet Bakes Breads

Preheat oven to 375°

Grease muffin tin

Topping	12 - 15 muffins
Sugar	1/4 Cup
Chopped Walnuts	1/4 Cup
(Epicure) Apple Pie Spice	1/2 teaspoon
Butter or margarine	1 tablespoons
Batter
Four Flour Bean Mix	1/4 Cup
Xanthan Gum	1 teaspoon
Baking powder	2 teaspoons
Baking Soda	2 teaspoons
Salt	1 teapsoon
Sugar	1/2 Cup
(Epicure) Apple Pie Spice	1 1/2 teaspoons
Eggs	2
Sour Cream (or non-dairy substitute)	1/2 Cup
Butter or Margarine, melted	4 tablespoons
Peeled, Cored and grated Apple	1 1/2 cups (2 medium)
Chopped Walnuts	1/2 cup

Topping:
Blend sugar, walnuts, spice and butter in a small bowl. Set aside

Batter:
In a mixing bowl, whist together the flour mix, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar and spice. Set aside
In a smaller bowl, blend eggs, sour cream and melted butter. Mix in the apple.
Stir into the flour mixture. Add the nuts and spoon into the prepared muffin cups.
Sprinkle on the topping.
Bake about 20-22 minutes.
Serve warm or cold.

February 2013

Highlights of the Month

Turned another year older.
Registered for a 5K run in May.
Fell in love with a new exercise - Barre.
Began a journey in Natural Nutrition.
Started my Happiness Project

Celebrated at the wedding reception for the newest couple in the family.

Cousin, Me, Frenchie

Book Recap

I have read 7 books toward my goal of 30 books.

I am 3 book (8%) ahead of schedule.

Pages Read: 1540
Because of my nutrition journey, I've bought a few fair sized textbooks and recommended reading books. As I finish them I will count them towards my reading goal and cost.

What I Read

The Evolution of Mara Dyer(Mara Dyer, #2) by Michelle Hodkin (review)
Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis (review)
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare (review)
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell (review)

What I'm Currently Reading

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) by Cassandra Clare
Diet & Nutrition: A Holistic Approach by Rudolph Ballentine
Staying Healthy with Nutrition, rev: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine by Elson Haas

Monthly Book Spending:
Spent: $0.00

Saved: $38.57

2012 - Books in Review

This year was a strange year for reading. I always felt behind my goal. I've read the fewest books this year than the past 4 and it was a struggle to get them all in. Either I'm getting busier, reading slower, or making less time. I've linked my reviews here so you can get them all in one shot. The books in bold are my favourite for the year.

I read 37 out of 40 books in 2012. I'll be keeping my goal the same for 2013. I plan to read through my shelf of to-read that sits staring at me from my giant shelf. It's about time I start putting a dent in it. Frenchie shakes his head every time I buy a book and have no space to put it.

What I Read in 2012 

Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7)

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)

The Marriage Project: 21 Days to More Love and Laughter

The Fault in Our Stars

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

Firelight

Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength

The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, #1)

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)

Speak

Happy Ever After

The Giver (The Giver, #1)

Fracture (Fracture, #1)

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

The Witch's Daughter

Free Four (Divergent #1.1)

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

The Midwife's Confession

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #8)

A Discovery Of Witches (All Souls, #1)

The Espressologist

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

The Girl in the Garden

The Power of a Praying Wife

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)

The Graveyard Book

Interview with the Vampire

The Great Gatsby

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings, #3)

The Virgin Cure

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1)

Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #9)

The Soldier's Wife

Easy

The Hobbit

Book Recap - November 2012

What I read and started in November 2012

Books read to date: 36/40

Finally on target!

Finished

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater  (review here)

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed (review here)
The Soldier's Wife by Leroy, Margaret (review here)
Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #9) by J.R. Ward (review here)
Easy by Tammara Webber (review here)

Started

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Savings

Monthly savings: $50.03

Year-to-date savings: $353.68

October 2012 Book Recap

What I read and started in October 2012

Books read to date: 31/40

I am 2 books behind my goal.

Finished

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings, #3) by Jackson Pearce

Started

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Still Reading

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed – this book just won’t end

Unfinished

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - far too slow to get going

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice (audiobook) – lost interest. I may come back to it later. I liked the story a lot, just not the right time to listen to a book.

Savings

Monthly savings: $35.94

Year-to-date savings: $303.65

August 2012 Book Recap

What I read and started in August 2012

Books read to date: 25/40
I'm 1 book behind my goal.

Finished

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson (review)
The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair (review)
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (review)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (review)

Started
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed
The Graveyard Book  by Neil Gaiman

Still Reading
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (on audio)


Put on Hold
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I like it, but I have book club books that come first
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian - Great book, was due back at the library, on hold.


Savings

Monthly savings: $41.59

Year-to-date savings: $215.99

Planned Reading

Are you a person that plans your reading book to book?
Usually I have a list or shelf of books I want to read but I never plan the exact next book. I just take one off that shelf or list that seems to fit my mood. At least until lately. I've noticed that my love for books has gotten me into 3 book clubs; 2 online and 1 in real life. While I love it and wouldn't give them up, I now have 3 books to read a month and then discuss. 3 books that may or may not have been on my to-read list. It's great that I'm expanding my reading to other genres and it's fantastic to have people to discuss books with, I feel like I don't get to read anything BUT book club books. 

Are you in a book club? What are you reading next?

Here's my list of planned reading.

The Girl in the Garden - Kamala Nair
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
The Sandcastle Girls - Chris Bohjalian

My Goodreads Challenge says I'm 3 books behind. I need to read some short books and get that back to on track.

Craft Project: Book Wreath

I've seen book wreaths all over the internet and thought it would be a fun craft project.
I had a bunch of old textbooks laying around and since I don't have the heart to tear apart a book off my shelf, I figured a textbook would be fitting.
I used my very first programming book on Java. Since I have my Bachelors in Computer Science this seemed like a great fit and rather meaningful.

Supplies:
Styrofoam Wreath form
Glue Gun (and it's pink!)
Java Textbook - I thought about using my math book as well, but ended up not using it.

I started by folding the pages and glueing the first layer onto the wreath form. I only did one layer in a sitting to allow it to fully dry.
I folded the next layer of pages so there was a lip in the middle so I could keep attaching and create stability.

Ended up with 4 layers in total. I went back and glued all the edges down so they are sturdy.

The bow has velcro on the back of it so I can change it with the seasons. Pink seemed appropriate for summer. I'm planning on getting some cardboard to decorate so I can make signs to velcro on.
Something for Book Club, Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc. It will be nice to keep it changing to add a little to the room.

Bookshelf love

I always said I would post pictures of my bookshelf. Never got around to it. We finally got our place looking like a house after the wedding craziness. I can finally get to my bookshelf and not have to crawl over 3 dining room chairs!The pictures are a bit blurry because I took them on my camera.

Each category is ordered by author last name. Fiction and fantasy are both double stacked on the shelf.

The Books I haven't read:
This is an ever growing shelf. I actually have it split by YA to the left, Non-fiction and Fiction to the right. You can't see it very well, but the fiction section hids behind the YA books.

The large stack of books in the bottom left are books that we have multiple of, text books and others we don't want and need to sell.

closer look at the bottom shelves

Chic Fit Geek's Harry Potter Challenge

I have lasted a long time without reading or even spoiling Harry Potter for myself.

Currently I have read books 1 - 3 and watched the first 2 movies (not that I remember much since it was a long time ago). After that I am still clueless as to what happens in the series. I pride myself in that. I'm not sure how I did it, but I did.
The time has come to finish the damn series and join the rest of the muggles in the world.

With the release of Part 2 of Harry Potter 7, I have come to the conclusion that I need to get  my butt in gear and read on. My friend has asked me to see the final movie with her in the theatre, so I have until July 15th (or shortly after) to finish all the books, and the movies. Think I can do it??

I am just finishing up Wise Man's Fear. A large and superfantastic book (GO READ IT! .... after you read Name of the Wind...) Once I'm finished this one, I will be diving head first into the last 4 Harry Potter books.

Here's the goals
Finish Wise Man's Fear - most likely this weekend as long as Frenchie understands the need, which he does since he read it and has been itching to discuss it with me
Read HP and the Goblet of Fire
Read HP and the Order of the Pheonix
Read HP and the Half-Blood Prince
Read HP and the Deathly Hallows
Re-watch Movie 1
Re-watch Movie 2
Watch Movie 3
Watch Movie 4
Watch Movie 5
Watch Movie 6
Watch Movie 7 part 1
Watch Movie 7 Part 2 - in theatre

I have until July 15th (or shortly after) to do the above and....
Get married!
Go on a honeymoon for a week at which point I will switch to reading a few of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I've been told they are definite honeymoon material kind of books *wink*

I've been told it's doable. I work a full time job M-F and teach dance one night a week. I typically read 1 book every 2 weeks, but I've been known to read more depending on the length and how invested I am.

If you want to participate, let me know! I haven't found very many folks in this blogging world that haven't read them yet.

Happy 3rd Birthday Blog!!!

Today is the 3 year mark for me having this blog. I still can't believe it's been that long!

I've decided to do my first giveaway ever!

Not a big one, but a little something to show my appreciation to my followers.

You choose the book you want to win!

I have listed my top 5 from 2010 for you to choose from.

This giveaway will run from March 2 - March 9, 2011

Open to Canada and the US
Random draw will be done and the winner will be contacted by email
ONE ENTRY PER PERSON

Here is a synopsis of the books you can choose from

Still Alice  (From Amazon) 
Alice Howland has a career not unlike Genova's—she's an esteemed psychology professor at Harvard, living a comfortable life in Cambridge with her husband, John, arguing about the usual (making quality time together, their daughter's move to L.A.) when the first symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to emerge. First, Alice can't find her Blackberry, then she becomes hopelessly disoriented in her own town. Alice is shocked to be diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's (she had suspected a brain tumor or menopause), after which her life begins steadily to unravel. She loses track of rooms in her home, resigns from Harvard and eventually cannot recognize her own children. The brutal facts of Alzheimer's are heartbreaking, and it's impossible not to feel for Alice and her loved ones.



The Name of The Wind (From Goodreads)

 The story revolves around Kvothe, an enigmatic red-haired innkeeper who, as he shares his incredible life story with a renowned scribe, turns out to be much more than he appears. Born into a family of nomadic court performers, Kvothe's unconventional education was broadened by spending time with fellow travelers like Abenthy, an elderly arcanist whose knowledge included, among other things, knowing the name of the wind. After his parents are brutally murdered by mythical beings known as the Chandrian, Kvothe vows to learn more about the godlike group, and after suffering through years of homelessness, he finally gets his chance when he is admitted into the prestigious University. But the pursuit of arcane knowledge brings with it unforeseen dangers, as the young student quickly learns

The Sky is Everywhere (From Goodreads)Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

Shadow Hills (From Amazon)

Since her sister’s death, Phe (short for Persephone) has dreamed of a graveyard and a mysterious boy. She is shocked to discover similar dreams in her sister’s diary, and she follows them to a tony boarding school in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts. Phe quickly discovers something is off about Shadow Hills—there’s the hidden graveyard, where everyone died from an unknown epidemic; an old-folk’s home full of people too young to be senile; and the townies, who might have special powers, one of whom is her dream boy, Zach. Phe also discovers her own connection to the town’s history: witchcraft. The mix of science (the townies’ powers are genetic anomalies) and magic gives Hopcus’ debut paranormal thriller a unique spin, and the steady progression of unveiled secrets keeps interest high. Although the convoluted plot isn’t confusing, it’s dependent on long, slow passages of background explanation. The romance is idealized, as is Zach’s too-perfect character, but Phe’s combination of gutsy impulsiveness and nosy inquisitiveness makes her an irresistible force.

Hex Hall (from Goodreads)Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Christmas book haul

 

Thus far....

Matched and The Body finder came from my secret elf. Thank you!!!

The Secret Daughter was duplicate that Frenchie's mom got. She gave it to me, and we sent her a different book in the mail so she would still get a book from us for Christmas.

Crescendo Frenchie gave to me. He kept asking about all the books I read and what ones had sequels, which ones I wanted etc.

Paranormalcy and Anna and The French Kiss I bought last night with one gift card. I'm going today for another book of choice: Clockwork Angel.

Tom Clancy is for Frenchie. He picked it up off the 30% off Hardcover shelf and can't wait to dig in.

I'm heading over for some more books at lunch today since I have more gift cards to spend.