Book Club Friday - The Last Boyfriend

Book Club - The Last Boyfriend

Summary:

Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist—and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers bust on his compulsive list-making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery McTavish...

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation—and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected—and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last…

Review:

The only other Nora Roberts books that I have read is the Bride Quartet Series, that I loved. This is Book 2 in the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy. I really liked this book - it is about 3 childhood friends that move back near each other, and (spoiler) fall in love with three brothers. This one is about Avery, whose first boyfriend might just be her last. I like that it also weaves in the building of the Inn, although there is a ghost story weaved in as well. It was a big part of the first book and since I generally don't believe in ghosts, it is not my favorite part. But this book is diving more into the "who" of the ghost. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. But will read the last book when it comes out in November.

Linking Up Here:

Crazy Hair

One of the best things about having a daughter is that she loves to play "hair". She does 

mine and lets me do hers.

Tonight, she wanted a crazy hairdo. This is what I came up with.

Then of course you need a silly face to go with it!

Sunday Night Ramblings

 It has been almost a week since I last blogged (although I did start one, but it won't be published until October).

So....counting that one.....this is my 800th post!!! Just crazy. 

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I have been saying for a really long time that Abby needs a new big girl bed. But I just can't find one that I love. The bed does convert to a full bed, but I want a white one. And I am not painting hers (we will just keep this one if we have future kiddos ;) .

And most of the time, it is fine. But then I see pictures like this. She doesn't seem to mind though. 

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I am so tired of the TV programs on (well other than Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.....my current love). September can't get here fast enough. I love fall programs! 

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Saturday morning Abby and I decided to clean out the bathroom cabinets. 

Abby loves to organize, so she was in heaven. Heck, she moved onto the living room coffee table without me. 

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I might have a slight overwhelming obsession with Disney. I know it is 3 months out, but I have been spending way too much time planning it. Stu thinks I'm crazy (big surprise). I even have a notebook dedicated to all things Disney. I am currently obsessed with deciding meals. We have three booked, but need three more. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to leave them! 

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On Saturday, we went to a birthday party. I think we have a birthday party every weekend for the next few weeks.

Isn't this just the cutest cake ever? It is from a new bakery in Murfreesboro and it was so delicious! 

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Just to toot my own horn, I have lost 9 pounds! I heart Weight Watchers and have really been sticking with it. I feel so much better - it is amazing to me how LITTLE food that I actually need.

I also had a great one-time opportunity at work, so I will hopefully share that in the next few weeks.

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Our swimming days are numbered, so we took advantage of the heat today with a jump in the pool. 

My little ham! 

Looking a little Hollywood in the pool.

Fair Fun

 This past Saturday we took a little road trip to the Wilson County Fair. We had so much fun!

 Abby playing with trucks in the barrel of corn. 

Abby and Daddy walking the hay bales. 

 Abby wanted this balloon so badly. We deflated it to carry it around and she has completely forgotten about it....Glad that it was $10!

 The merry-go-round was her favorite! 

(Julie....bring back any memories??)

Riding giant bees. 

*On a side note, I had to hold it together not to vomit on this ride. Stu refuses to ride anything that goes in a circle....Disney should be lots of fun! We both get so sick from rides. 

Luckily we found one that she could ride by herself (well, with a random friend).

I confess....I can not recall ever riding a Ferris wheel. I don't know why, but they just look super scary. Even the scene in The Notebook makes me sick to watch. 

But Stu wanted to do it and Abby agreed (hiding behind the sign). 

I am not going to lie...I was a nervous wreck when they took off. But Abby seemed to love it and wanted ice cream when she was done. 

I had to take a picture of this rabbit. Abby wouldn't pose with it to really see the scale, but it was freaking giant. It was seriously like 20 plus pounds. I loved it!

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When I picked Abby up from Sunday School at church, they mentioned that she just loves "jobs". They said she was the best kid in picking up toys. She loves having tasks to do. 

I had mentioned vacuuming out my car and when Abby saw me head to the garage...she was all over it. 

She kept saying "I'll do the seats and you can do the floor". She had a freaking blast cleaning my car.....I'm all good with that! 

Then she entertained herself by buckling herself in the front seat over and over. 

I love this picture, but it makes me realize that she is growing up too fast.....

Bathroom Reveal

 This has been SUCH a project. I really forget how much work it is to paint...until I do it. And regret it. And then love it.

So...here is the new and improved master bath.

Before Pics:

 This is the view to the right when you look in from the bedroom. I hate builder mirrors and that is always the first thing I want gone.

The view behind the toilet. I also despised these shelves.I think they look cheap and just ugly. 

The view to the right from the closet. 

A pic of the garden tub. There were actually three shelves to the left. They basically just collect dust. 

And I have never even used the garden tub, it is just a place for spiders to build a home. 

 I took this picture after I started painting. I sent it to Stu with the caption, "Hope you weren't attached to those blinds, because I might have ripped them out of the wall". Oops.

After Pics:

New gorgeous mirrors!

(Ignore the glass of wine, I'm telling ya, I was OVER this)

 New toilet pic with no shelves!!! Yay! 

We do have more shelves (with a more built-in style), but I have to paint them first. Not thrilled about that, but ready for new shelves.

 View from the closet. Shelves gone, I am thinking a nice big watercolor paint will go on that wall.

The blinds survived! Stu was able to put them back up. 

And just one more picture of my favorite feature.....the new mirrors. I heart them! 

 

I am so happy this is done (well other than the shelves). 

But....I will say that I am highly disappointed in the removal of the builder mirror. You can't really see it in these pictures, but there are spots where the glue was and they look less than awesome in real life. 

The paint did not come out at all like I expected but I break out in a huge smile when I walk in this room, so I am pleasantly surprised. 

 Here is what we did:

New mirrors: $32 each (from Kirklands)

Paint: $33 Behr from Home Depot - we have always used Valspar in the past, but will not go back, this paint is awesome. 

Towel Rings: $5 each - the old ones had an ugly white ring on them, so I figured if we were taking them down to paint might as well replace them. 

 Shelves: Ill post pics when I get them painted - Stu picked them up, so don't know what they cost. I have white paint already, so hoping not to have to get more. 

Picture: It is coming, just have to find it! 

Bath Mats: Ours are green, will be looking for new ones, probably light blue (or dark blue, who knows)

So, what do ya think? Not dramatic enough? Whoa on the blue? Leave me a comment.....I feel like my blood, sweat and tears went into this! And I have paint in my eyebrow (don't ask) - I need some reassurance that this was worth my nightmares about paint!

Book Club - Sister Wives

Book Club Friday - Becoming Sister Wives

Summary:

In many ways, the Browns are like any other middle-American family. They eat, play, and pray together, squabble and hug, striving to raise happy, well-adjusted children while keeping their relationship loving and strong. The difference is, there are five adults in the openly polygamous Brown marriage—Kody and his four wives—who among them have seventeen children. 

Since TLC first launched its popular reality program Sister Wives, the Browns have become one of the most famous families in the country. Now Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn reveal in their own words exactly how their special relationship works—the love and faith that drew them together, the plusses and pitfalls of having sister wives, and the practical and emotional complications of a lifestyle viewed by many with distrust, prejudice, even fear. With the candor and frankness that have drawn millions to their show, they talk about what makes their fascinating family work, addressing the topics that intrigue outsiders: How do the four relationships differ? What effect does a polygamous upbringing have on their children? What are the challenges—emotional, social, or financial—involved in living this lifestyle? Is it possible for all four sister wives to feel special when sharing a husband—and what happens when jealousy arises? How has being on camera changed their lives? And what’s it like to add a new wife to the family—or to be that new wife? 

Filled with humor, warmth, surprising insights, and remarkable honesty, this is a singular story of plural marriage and all the struggles and joys that go with it. At heart, it’s a love story—unconventional but immediately recognizable in the daily moments of trust, acceptance, forgiveness, passion, and commitment that go into making one big, happy, extraordinary family.

Review:

I absolutely adore the show Sister Wives. I watch it every Sunday night and just eat it up. I think their lifestyle is fascinating and it amazes me how they make it work. And last season's season finale between Meri and Robyn had me balling. So I was super excited to read this book. It touched on the beginning of the relationships, how they came to be a plural family and all the struggles and triumphs they have gone through. I learned so much about this family and polygamy in general. Even though I don't necessarily agree with their choices, they are very open and do a great job of explaining decisions they have made. Highly recommended!

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Saturday Morning

 Saturday Morning I got to spend some much overdue time with one of my favorite little guys. 

Spencer!!!

 He is such a good little boy and was a joy to be around.

 Abby was a handful....but we survived it.

Abby loves to pose and was happy to do so while Spencer looked a little....shocked. 

 

He may have just been embarrassed about the pink Bumbo he had to sit in. 

 

And he was a little obsessed with the cheese he was munching on. (Abby still posing). 

 

I love this one....I almost got a smile out of Spencer!

Abby loves to make silly faces super close to someones face. (Funny most of the time except when it is 5:30 AM)

 

I think Spencer was more in shock than anything. 

If you want to see more pictures of Spencer (and MUCH better ones at that), check out my friend Lindsay's blog for his 9 month pictures.

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The rest of the weekend was spent tearing the master bath apart. I hate painting. With a passion. 

I am sure I will love it when it is done, but right now I hate it. 

Hopefully I will have the before and after pictures up on Thursday.

A little sneak peak of the new color...

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Abby loves to play on my phone. Usually games. 

We went to dinner on Sunday night with the family for my bro's birthday. 

This was what she worked on for 15 minutes:

Totally cracks me up....that girl is a mess!!

Book Club Friday

Book Club - Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand

Summary: 

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.  

Review:

I liked this book. But, I think I have read so many books that I am pretty sure I have already read this one. So I might be a little bias. The storyline is interesting....what is the big secret? The book tells the story from everyones perspective, which I loved. And it jumps around alot, so you really have to pay attention. But overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it. 

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Bedtime Wars

Every night is a war to go to bed. 

The process starts at 7 with a 30 minute bath. The good thing about Abby's bathroom is it is right off the living room, so I can use this time to pick up the mess of the day.

Around 7:30 we cuddle. Then pj time, lotion and hair brushing.

Before picture of the crazy hair. 

At 7:55, we read a book in bed. 

Then the fun begins. 

She always has a glass of milk before bed. Sometimes more (on a side note: I don't think we will EVER get out of pull-ups at night). 

She also sleeps with a snow globe that plays music. That I pretty much go in about 5 times to wind up. 

Lately, her "legs hurt, so I need more milk". She has lots of mosquito bites and claims they hurt her legs. Her poor little legs look like we beat her - mosquito bites, bruises, and cuts. I can't really explain to her that milk will solve this problem.

It is usually 8:45 when she finally goes to bed. We are both exhausted by this time.

But I have to remember these moments, as they just fly by! 

Weekend Fun

 Friday was Abby's last day in her "Senior Two's" Class. She is now officially in the "Senior Three's" class. 

This is a picture of her dressed up for her last day:

They had a party in her classroom to celebrate. 

We went today to meet her new teachers, Ms. Heather and Ms. Ann. They were super sweet and I can tell that this class means business. They even learn Spanish! 

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Saturday we took a road trip out to Milton to Caden's Third Birthday. 

Abby pretended to be asleep (but did eventually fall asleep)

 

These little boys are about a month apart and just the sweetest little things!

 

 Abby loved playing in the chair that she has long outgrown. 

 Abby and the birthday boy sharing a chair. 

 Caden shared his Cheetos with Abby and then told her that she could help him open presents. 

She did not forget that, so I had to keep an eye on her when it was present opening time.

 Caden was all boy and tore into all his presents. 

It was a pool party, but there was some vicious rain. Finally it passed and the kids were able to get in the pool. 

Abby and her friend, Ethan. This is what you get when you tell them to cheese!

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Today we finally found some pieces (and agreed on a paint color) to get started on our bathroom re-do. 

I'm sure that it will take forever as I still haven't finished my frame project. 

One day though.....