A New Year 2012

My really good friend Heather told me her New Years resolution was to read one new book a week. I really liked her idea so I'm attempting to read at least a few new books a month. So far for 2012 I have read:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

First Date by Krista McGree

Being as today is January 30th, I guess I accomplished Heathers goal of reading one new book a week. Granted I didn't start each new book and read it during the week...  I read War Horse yesterday and First Date today, but still. I read four books for the four months of January. Before I go to bed tonight I'm starting Suicide Blonde by Darcey Steinke. I've had this book for awhile and am finally getting the oportunity to read it. The first line of the book is, "Was it the Bourbon  or the dye fumes that made the pink walls quiver like vaginal lips?"  What book could suck that starts out with that first line! Needless to say I'm excited to get started. Maybe I'll wait until Wednesday so I can count this as one for February.....or maybe I'll start it tonight and then count it towards February. 

Butterfinger Cream Pie from Betty's Pie's

Well... I tried my photography skills at PIE'S... what do you think? Makes me hungry just looking at it....

Review: First Date by Krista McGee

First Date by Krista McGee

This book starts out with telling about a young girl (Addy) and how she is chosen to go on a reality dating show to win a prom date with the President's son. She doesn't want to do the show but goes anyway thinking that God must have a plan for her. She runs into all sorts of issues with the other girls, her feelings about being on the show, and one very cranky producer who seems to have it out for her from the very beginning. Addy ends up learning more about her self, her deceased parents, and her faith in God than she ever imagined she would. Not only does she make a friend for life out of the deal but she is able to channel God's love through her actions and really show other's what it means to be a true Christian.

I absolutely adored this book. I read all 320 pages in one sitting and to tell you honestly would start it over and read it again if I had the time. Addy was a shy person in the beginning not wanting to step out of her well scheduled box and I can relate to that. I know what it's like to not want to be in the spotlight and just fade into the back. It was an eye opener for me to read what she had gone through by just putting herself out there and trusting in God. This story is a loosely based around the Esther story... but with up to date additions... I recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Review: Peace Be With You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror Filled World by David Carlson

Peace Be With You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror Filled World by David Carlson

Peace Be With You by David Carlson is a book which looks at how "abbots, nuns, monks, and other seekers at monasteries and retreat centers" responded and reacted to the events and aftermath of September 11th. David Carlson takes a journey through these churches conducting interviews to answer questions like "Are Christianity and Islam destined to confront one other as clashing civilizations?".

While I found this topic of reading to be interesting I really felt the book was less fact and more opinion on Carlson's part. One part of the book I found very interesting however is how up to date these people were. When I think of monks and nuns I see them tucked away in big churches in the middle of no where only aware of whats going on around them within the church. I was suprised to learn that so many of them not only knew everything of what was going on, but had opinions of their own about it.

Carlson is a very talanted reader and I found this book easy to read and follow along. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in EXACTLY the topic of the book. To read it is merely to learn about Carlson's journey and opinion, nothing else.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Frozen Photographers - "A Worms Eye View"

I joined this group on Facebook called the Frozen Photographers and each week they have a top of a picture to take and everyone posts what they did. I really enjoy it and so far the pictures I've taken have been pretty cool. This week the topic was "A worms eye view". These are the pictures I submitted... what do you think?

Yet another attempt at being a professional photographer...

Maybe I should just quit my day job and do this full time... it's way more fun! Jesse & Liz's engagement photos:

 This one below is my favorite of the two of them. Jesse looks so happy, and Liz looks so much in love...

 Jesse wanted one "peaking" through the grass... this one just makes me laugh... (below)

Another attempt at being a professional photographer.....

Well... I'm at it again.. I just can't seem to keep away from my camera. Not a bad thing I suppose. Another attempt at being a professional photographer! Adriana's grad photos:

 This one down below is my FAVORITE: