Halloween 2013

We had a very busy day on Halloween this year. It was a pleasant surprise that Chloe actually wanted to wear a hat and didn't once try to take it off (she actually got upset every time it fell off). She was the most adorable little witch and of course we can't forget Elliot who was a lovely little bouncy tigger. He also wore the pj's that Chloe wore two years ago on her first Halloween!

We went trick or treating at about 5pm, I think we were the first people out but it's getting pretty cold and dark early now so I didn't want to be outside too late. We only stayed outside for about an hour but Chloe got lots of compliments and everyone thought she was a little cutie. I was trying really hard to get her to say trick or treat but she just stared at people. At least she did take the sweets from them and say bye bye.

After trick or treating we ate and my friend Neil came round to do my make up before we went out for the night. I dressed as a geisha! It was such a fun night and I didn't even have to recover from alcohol, just lack of sleep!

Book: Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Book description: The compelling story of two outsiders striving to find their place in an unforgiving world. Drifters in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other and a dream--a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are doomed as Lennie, struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy, becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes such as the friendship of a shared vision, and giving voice to America’s lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Menhas proved one of Steinbeck’s most popular works, achieving success as a novel, a Broadway play and three acclaimed films.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

**

I read this book because it's classed as one of the classics but I found it really hard to get into. A good show of friendship though.

Book read October 12th 2013.

My tattoo's: Armando's Name

Monday 30th September 2013

One tattoo I never thought I would get was a name of a partner. But being married means something to me. We already have our wedding rings tattooed but I thought it would be nice to get Armando's name. I got the tattoo on the side of my left foot with a little heart next to it.

Book: The Transfer

The Transfer by Veronica Roth

Book description: Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be captivated by “Four: The Transfer,” the first of four stories, each between fifty and seventy-five pages long, set in the world of Divergent and told from Tobias’s perspective. In “The Transfer,” readers witness Tobias’s aptitude test, Choosing Day, and the moment he is given the infamous nickname “Four.” 

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

*****

I loved reading more about Four. Sometimes in the main books his opinions and choices are a little confusing so to be able to look at things from his perspective is cool. I can’t wait for the other short stories to come out too.

Book read September 21st 2013.

Book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident if the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Book description: Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. What follows makes for a novel that is funny, poignant and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing are a mind that perceives the world entirely literally.

 
Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

****

A really interesting and different type of book to read. It’s from a completely different perspective than normal so it’s great to see things through another person’s eyes that you wouldn’t normally.
I knew a little about people with aspergers but not very much so the more in depth look into their mind was a new experience for me as I’m sure it would be for most people.

Book read September 20th 2013.

Book: Insurgent

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Book description: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

****

As is usually the case – the second book wasn’t as good as the first but it was still a really interesting read with lots of excitement. There is a lot of double crossing so it makes you doubt the connections you’ve felt with some of the characters in the book previously. There’s a huge surprise right at the end of the book so I can’t wait for the third one to come and wrap that up; it’s definitely going to be interesting to find out what comes out at the end of the story.

Book read 12th September 2013.

Book: Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book description: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Veronica Roth is the New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, the first in a trilogy of dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

*****

I definitely see why people have compared this book to The Hunger Games - with a strong, young female main character who does things her own way and the division between different districts of the city...
The story line really sucked me in and made me continue reading on. There's lots of unexpected twists but also some things that you can see coming from early on in the book. I can't wait for this book to be released as a film and I'll be reading the second book straight away.

Book read August 28th 2013.

Chloe's Second Birthday Party Decorations

Saturday 17th August 2013

This years birthday party was a LOT smaller than last year. We had it a few weeks before Chloe's actual birthday.
She had a pink princess dress so we decided to make that the theme of the party, very girly. Some of the decorations went up the night before but mostly we spent the morning cleaning our flat, decorating and preparing food. It was only very simple things really.
There were only a few guests that turned up - some of my friends, one of their children and my sister with her two boys.
We just ate food, had music on in the background, talked and let the kids play together. It was a very simple little party but Chloe enjoyed herself and that's the important part, she liked the balloons quite a lot this year too.

Book: Whatever You Say I Am

Whatever You Say I Am by Anthony Bozza

Book description: does eminem matter?
On assignment for his first cover story for Rolling Stone, the very first national cover story on Eminem, Anthony Bozza met a young blond kid, a rapper who would soon take the country by storm. But back in 1999, Eminem was just beginning to make waves among suburban white teenagers as his first single, “My Name Is,” went into heavy rotation on MTV.
Who could have predicted that in a mere two years, Eminem would become the most reviled and controversial hip-hop figure ever? Or that twelve months after that, Eminem would sit firmly at the pinnacle of American celebrity, a Grammy winner many times over and the recipient of an Oscar.
did eminem change or did america finally figure him out?
Whatever You Say I Am attempts to answer this question and many more. Since their first meeting, Bozza has been given a level of access to Eminem that no other journalist has enjoyed. In Whatever You Say I Am, original, never-before-published text from Bozza’s interviews with Eminem are combined with the insight of numerous hip-hop figures, music critics, journalists, and members of the Eminem camp to look behind the mask of this enigmatic celebrity. With an eye toward Eminem’s place in American popular culture, Bozza creates a thoughtful portrait of one of the most successful artists of our time. This is so much more than a biography of a thoroughly well-documented life. It is a close-up look at a conflicted figure who has somehow spoken to the heart of America.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought: 

**

I expected the book to be more about Eminem but it was really just about society and how they have or haven't accepted him as a white rapper. I wasn't really interested in that at all, I wanted to find out things about an artist I enjoy listening to and there wasn't much about his life in the book at all.

Book read August 8th 2013.

Book: Lone Wolf

Lone wolf by Jodi Picoult

Book description: Luke Warren would sleep in the dirt if it meant he could be under the stars. He lives by the laws of nature, and would surely want to die that way. But Luke is in a coma, and his family must make an unbearable decision.
As tensions and secrets rise to the surface, the tragic accident which brought them back together against the odds could well tear Luke's family apart forever.
They know Luke would not want to live like this.
But how can they choose to let him die?

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book: 

***

Another controversial story from Jodi Picoult. There was a bit too much nature for me but it definitely teaches you a lot and makes you look at situations from every different person's prospective. I didn't know wolves were such intelligent creatures and had such a strong bond as a pack, it was interesting to learn about that but a bit too much of the book was about that for my taste.

Book read July 5th 2013.

Book: Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Book description: Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

***

The third and last book of the series. It started off pretty slow and most of the book kind of dragged out trying to build up to one big event. I did still enjoy reading further into the story that we've been following but I just felt like it was all such a big anti climax and didn't live up to expectations. I wasn't happy about the very end and the epilogue at all. It didn't seem like Katniss's character to do those things in her life.

Book read May 29th 2013.

Book: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Book description: Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

****

I enjoyed continuing the story from the first book but I didn't find it anywhere near as exciting and nail biting. There are still lots of very clever twists and turns and you can never tell what's about to happen. The book ends with a real cliff hanger where you just have to carry on reading to the third book to find out what happens next...

Book read May 9th 2013.

Book: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book description: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

*****

Considering I had watched the film first it's hard to be able to imagine everything as you would like to instead of what the film has portrayed. That being said I still really enjoyed reading this book and it did still have quite a few details which aren't shown in the film. It's exciting and the end of each chapter leaves you wanting to read on to find out more.
It's different to the type of book I would normally read but it's a great story line with lots of dark sides and controversy.

Book read 24th April 2013.

Book: Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

Book description: A woman is found in a Los Angeles graveyard, unable to remember anything about herself or her life. No one is more surprised than she when, days later, her husband comes to the police station to take her home - and turns out to be Hollywood's leading superstar, Alex Rivers. Cassie Barrett begins to remember bits about her life: her passion for her career as an anthropologist, the whirlwind romance on location in Africa, her childhood. But she senses there is something troubling in this perfect life that she can't remember; and then, when she sees a pregnancy test, it all comes flooding back - and once again, Cassie feels there is no alternative but escape.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book: 

***

It’s not one of Jodi’s better books. I wasn’t dragged in my the plot but there were definitely things that were interesting in the book – seeing things from the prospect of a superstar and then from a humble person from a completely different background. It’s always interesting to learn about different cultures too and see how differently they live and what different beliefs they have.

Book read 12th April 2013.

Book: Salem Falls

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Book description: Love can redeem a man...but secrets and lies can condemn him.
A handsome stranger comes to the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls in hopes of burying his past: Once a teacher at a girls' prep school, Jack St. Bride was destroyed when a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation. Now, washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-Or-Diner, he slips quietly into his new routine, and Addie finds this unassuming man fitting easily inside her heart. But amid the rustic calm of Salem Falls, a quartet of teenage girls harbor dark secrets -- and they maliciously target Jack with a shattering allegation. Now, at the center of a modern-day witch hunt, Jack is forced once again to proclaim his innocence: to a town searching for answers, to a justice system where truth becomes a slippery concept written in shades of gray, and to the woman who has come to love him.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

****

Jodi often writes about very touchy subjects and this book is definitely one of those sensitive subjects. The book really proves that there really is two sides to every story and it's not always the side you expect that is true. It was an interesting read and you really start to doubt your initial judgement about some of the characters after you find out a little more about them.

Book read 3rd February 2013.

Book: Middlemarch

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Book description: Middlemarch is a complex tale of idealism, disillusion, profligacy, loyalty and frustrated love. This penetrating analysis of the life of an English provincial town is set during the time of social unrest prior to the first Reform Bill of 1832. It is told through the lives of Dorothea Brooke and Dr Tertius Lygate and includes a host of other paradigm characters who illuminate the condition of English life in the mid-nineteenth century.
Henry James described Middlemarch as a 'treasure-house of detail' while Virginia Woolf famously endorsed George Eliot's masterpiece as 'one of the few English novels written for grown-up people'.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

**

It took me months to read this! It's such a long book and there's so many different characters to try and follow. I just found it difficult to get into it and really relate with any of the people because it was jumping about so much instead of staying with just one person for long. That being said it was interesting to read about all the different views from the different types of people all living in close proximity with each other.

Book read 18th January 2013.

Wedding Ring Tattoo's

Tuesday 13th Novemeber 2012 

We decided that instead of getting actual wedding rings we would get tattoo's like rings instead. You can't loose it, it's a lot more personal and it shows how completely committed we are to each other.
We each designed our own tattoo and included the date of our marriage (12/11/12). We designed them to be just like a ring going around our fingers with the date on the outside and a little personal design on the inside. Mine had a letter A with a heart on either side and Armando's was in the shape of an infinite sign but with a heart on one side and a K on the other.

When we went to get them done the tattoo artist told us having them on the inside of the finger was a bad idea because they would fade away very fast. So instead of getting the full ring tattoo's we'd planned we had them just on the back of our fingers. We're still really pleased with how they turned out and it means they're more noticeable this way too.

Marriage Celebrations

After we had finished up with the lawyer and were officially married the first thing to happen was everyone gathering around to congratulate us.

Armando his friends and I went out for a meal while Grandma and Grandad watched Chloe.

After the meal we went to buy some drinks from the market and went back home to celebrate. When we got home it was about 10pm and Chloe had woken up. I tried to put her to sleep but there was too much noise in the house so she just came downstairs with us. She's always well behaved when there's lots of people around.

There were lots of shots drank and lots of drunken dancing from Armando's friends. It was a great way of celebrating and having some fun. Chloe didn't go to bed until everyone had left for the night but we figured it was ok since it was just a one off.

Two days after our marriage Armando, Chloe and I went out for a nice meal together as an extra little family celebration.

Married!

Monday 12th November 2012

Exactly two years after we got engaged, we got married today.

It wasn't a big white wedding with tons of friends and family surrounding us like I would have hoped for. It was just at home with a lawyer and some of Armando's friends to be witnesses and translate for me. Admittedly it's not as romantic, without the nervous walk down the isle of the humble smiles of close loved one's but since I have no-one here with me in El Salvador this was the best option for us.

Even though it's not really a wedding, it's the day of our marriage and that makes it so special in itself. I'm now connected completely to the man I love forever. 12/11/12! A fantastic date for the marriage. Not only is it just a cool date to write down but it's also 2 years after Armando proposed to me. Armando loves to have little random meanings behind everything too and when he realised that 121112 added up to 8 (his lucky number) he said "it has to be that day!"

We each wrote each other something special to read before getting married. I just wrote something really short that are like my 'vows' I guess. Armando wrote me a letter and along with it he gave me a letter he had written years ago, a year before he even met me. He wrote it to his future love saying that even though he didn't know who I was yet or if we'd already met he already had the love in his heart for me knowing that I would be with him in the future, it was so sweet. It's pretty strange that he wrote it in English even though it's not his first language but I guess deep down he somehow knew he wanted someone from somewhere else.

My something old was a picture of my Mum from her wedding day, something new was the dress that Chloe wore, something borrowed was a bracelet from Armando's Mum and something blue was my hair clip.

We had 3 witnesses for our marriage (Mario, Alvaro and Alejandro). They all came early (which was very surprising especially on Mario's count because he's always late haha). The lawyer came just after 7pm. I really am not sure about everything she said because it wasn't really translated but it was just all the legal mumbo jumbo that goes along with getting married. I was pretty bummed that I didn't even get to say "I do"! "Si accepto", not quite the same ring to it right?

We signed our life away (just kidding) then that was it... we were married. No longer Miss Tarry. Now Mrs Tarry Tamayo (I still don't like that I have to have the two names, now Armando, Chloe and I all have different names) but that's just how they do it here.

Books I read 2012

• Mum on the Run by Fiona Gibson 3*
• Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy 4*
• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James 3*
• Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks 4*
• Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James 4*
• Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore 1*
• Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice 3*
• Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James 4*
• Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult 3*
• Toxin by Robin Cook 3*

Book: Toxin

Toxin by Robin Cook

Book description: Just how safe is America's meat supply? Recent health scares and new public awareness have made this one of today's most controversial subjects --- and the basis of Robin Cook's most startling, and important novel.
When a doctor's daughter becomes infected with E. coli, the widespread dangers of bacterial contamination are no longer a subject for debate, but a grim reality. In desperation, he is forced to follow a trail of ignorance and corruption from the tangled red-tape of the medical community to the highest levels of the powerful meat industry. It is an eye-opening thriller that every American should read.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

***

The subject of this book was so shocking and disgusting! I couldn't believe that things like that could really happen and it's scary to think about. There's so much going on behind closed doors that people just believe are being taken care of in the safety and health of the public but in reality none of us know that. This book definitely paints a very clear picture of the potential risks of eating meat and how easy it is to slip up and get sick from something very serious.

Book read 28th October 2012.

Book: Change of Heart

Change of heart by Jodi Picoult

Book description: Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?
One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.
For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.
Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

***

Like always I love Jodi Picoult's style of writing a chapter from each characters perspective. It gives you a great insight into the mind and thoughts of each person and lets you see every side of the story. This book wasn't my favourite of Jodi's though because it was based so much around religion which really isn't a subject that I'm at all interested in. I know it did focus on everything including the point of view of an atheist but it was still very much based on Christianity. Saying that it did have a good basic story line with some very interesting twists. It makes you really wonder what you would do if you were faced with the same situation, it's a tough one.

Book read 15th October 2012.

Book: Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Book description: When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian's singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed. Now, together, they have more-love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity, or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present. Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

****

Normally when you read a series of books or watch a series of films the first one is unbeatable and the rest don't get close to living up to it. But in this series I liked each book more than the last. The first book I wasn't particularly captured by but as I read further and further into the stories of these characters I came to like them a bit more. Ana became much more independent and Christian became much more agreeable.
The style of the book was written slightly differently on some parts having flashbacks - some of which seemed a bit all over the place so it was at times hard to keep track.

Book read October 15th 2012.

Book: Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Book description: Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force—a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

***
Stories about vampires aren't my usual type of book to read at all but it was an interesting book. I like the style of it being in an interview, I've never read a book like that before. It's definitely interesting to read a book that is set over a large period of time to see the differences in past and present. The end of the book is written very well leaving you wanting to know what happens next.

Book read October 5th 2012.

Book: Lorna Doone

Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore

Book description: First published in 1869, Lorna Doone is the story of John Ridd, a farmer who finds love amid the religious and social turmoil of seventeenth-century England. He is just a boy when his father is slain by the Doones, a lawless clan inhabiting wild Exmoor on the border of Somerset and Devon. Seized by curiosity and a sense of adventure, he makes his way to the valley of the Doones, where he is discovered by the beautiful Lorna. In time their childish fantasies blossom into mature love—a bond that will inspire John to rescue his beloved from the ravages of a stormy winter, rekindling a conflict with his archrival, Carver Doone, that climaxes in heartrending violence. Beloved for its portrait of star-crossed lovers and its surpassing descriptions of the English countryside, Lorna Doone is R. D. Blackmore’s enduring masterpiece.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

*

Another old fashioned genre of books and wow was it hard to get into. There really wasn't anything that particularly gripped me or pulled me in to keep reading this. I hate to leave books unfinished otherwise I probably would have stopped this one quite near to the start. I kept going in hope of something more interesting to my taste but it really wasn't my kind of book at all. There are some romantic parts though so those parts I do enjoy but the rest: farming, wrestling, fighting... really not my thing.

Book read September 25th 2012.

Book: Fifty Shades Darker

Book: Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Book description: Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven, and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront her anger and envy of the women who came before her and make the most important decision of her life.

Erotic, sparkling and suspenseful, Fifty Shades Darker is the irresistibly addictive second part of the Fifty Shades trilogy.
Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

****

Ok I have to admit with this book I did get a lot more into it than the first. It's kind of strange for someone to enjoy a second part of the story more than the first part but I personally thought there was a lot more depth to it. More of a story line instead of just constant "kinkey fuckery".
I started to warm a lot more to the main characters and felt more connected with them than in the first, they sort of became more human and realistic to me because they actually showed a lot more emotion.
There is definitely a LOT going on in this book so it's quite hard to keep up sometimes with how much they seem to go through in such a short amount of time but I suppose that could be what rich people's lives are like... I wouldn't know.
If you've made it through the first book and didn't like it I would still recommend reading this one because it does redeem itself in my opinion.

Book read September 24th 2012.

Party Decorations

The theme for Chloe's birthday party was purple and white.

First up is the little flower arrangement that I made and put into the middle of the table. It was so simple yet I'm still pretty proud of it. We just bought really cheap bunches of fake flowers in purple and white, I cut them apart to mix up and cut off the leaves. Stuck the leaves around the outside of a clear plastic bowl then arranged the flowers on top to place in the middle of the table.

I'm glad we decided to get the piñata because everyone was complimenting us on how unique it was and I think it made a really nice decoration too.

The rest of the pictures are pretty much all the balloon decorations. On one wall I stuck a range of sizes randomly and although it's simple I think it looked pretty effective.

We stuck up a few Happy Birthday banners over the walls of the house with balloons around them.

We also made a few flower balloons. It wasn't the easiest thing to do and a few times we had balloons pop trying to get them all the same size and stuck them on the wall but I think they look really pretty. We did one in each colour.

One of the best but easiest parts was just sticking up balloons with a string from the ceiling with some of the string curled. Very simple yet a really great way of decorating.

And last but by no means least; Chloe's birthday cake. We looked through the sample books at the cake shop, picked out a pretty design and told them what colours to do. I was kind of worried they would spell Chloe's name wrong on the cake because obviously it's not a common name (or I should say it's NEVER ever used) here and I always have to repeat it at least five times when telling someone what she's called. But they wrote it right and the cake turned out to be even prettier than I had expected.

Book: Message In A Bottle

Message In A Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

Book description: Thrown to the waves, and to fate, the bottle could have ended up anywhere. Instead, it is found just three weeks after it begins its journey. Theresa Osborne, divorced and the mother of a twelve-year-old son, discovers it during a seaside vacation from her job as a Boston newspaper columnist. Inside is a letter that opens with, "My Dearest Catherine, I miss you my darling, as I always do, but today is particularly hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together." For Garrett, the message is the only way he knows to express his undying love for a woman he has lost. For Theresa, wary of romance since her husband shattered her trust, the message raises questions that intrigue her.
Challenged by the mystery, and driven to find Garrett by emotions she does not fully understand, Theresa begins a search that takes her to a sunlit coastal town and an unexpected confrontation. Brought together either by change or something more powerful, Theresa and Garrett's lives come together in a tale that resonates with our deepest hopes for finding everlasting love. Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity, Message in a Bottle takes readers on a hunt for the trusth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love. For those who cherished The Notebook and readers waiting to discover the magic of Nicholas Sparks's storytelling, here is an achingly lovely novel of happenstance, desire, and the choices that matter most.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book: 

****

This is the fastest I've read any book in a long time. It's a nice refreshing change to have such an easy to read book. Someone actually lent me this book but I'm glad because it was such a pleasant romantic novel. It's the first of Nicholas Sparks's books I've ready but I had already heard of him because of a few of his books being made into films already so I was intrigued to read something by him. I will definitely be reading more of his books in future.
The storyline of the book was easy to get enthralled by and it's a very simple book to read. It gives hope to people about loving or even loving again after loss. There's some deep feelings in the book that really make you reflect on what you see as important in your own life. Sometimes the small arguments aren't worth it when you could loose someone at any point.

Book read August 25th 2012.

Book: Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Book description: When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resits Ana's quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too - but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success - his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family - Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey's secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book:

***

The first thing that I'll say about this book is that I don't understand at all what the whole giant fuss was about. If I hadn't been offered this book for free I had no plans of reading it at all but since someone sent me all three books for nothing I didn't see any reason to not read them.
I did find it somewhat entertaining to read on some levels but not very many. The characters are very frustrating; Ana cannot make her mind up about what she wants and is very needy and Christian is just so uptight, arrogant and controlling. I see people saying all the time about how much they would love to have someone like Christian but I just think they must be crazy if they want to be told what to do like that all day long.
There has been a lot of talk about this book being made into a film and I'm not sure if that's actually going to happen or not but either way I'm glad I got to read the book before that happens because it leaves your mind open to portray the characters however you see them and a lot of the rumored actors named to play those characters are just nothing like I imagine.
I will be reading the next two books but only because I have them already and I want to see how much more unrealistic it can get (seriously how many times have these two slept together already in such a short time... and if she was a virgin that's just not how it would have all played out in real life) and how much more controlling Christian will become. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but there's certainly room for improvement, especially since there's such a huge buzz around this book that I just don't understand.

Book read July 14th 2012.

Book: Far From the Madding Crowd

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Book description: Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, solidier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swift passion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com

What I thought of the book: 

****

 I normally don't like old fashioned styles of books but this one really was exciting to read. I thought it was a book about the character in the first few chapters Gabriel Oak but it turned out to follow a bunch of different people in their lives. It has a lot of different twists that I didn't expect and the story was really interesting as it unfolded.

Book read 22nd July 2012.

Book: Mum on the Run

Mum on the Run by Fiona Gibson

Book description: Laura Swan was dreading the school sports day Mum's race - but whoever would have thought it could be quite so life changing? Sports day at her children's school is a nightmare for Laura because of the event she dreads - the Mum's Race. She knows the other mothers have been in training for at least three months - even though they're trying to pretend that they haven't. Laura's vowed never to take part, but the morning of the School Sports Day she makes a fatal error and promises her daughter that if she eats her Rice Crisps, she will run. With no escape, Laura is forced to take part and as she moves towards her inevitable humiliation, she is horrified to spot her husband Jed flirting with Celeste the delectable French girl who works with him. Determined to put up a fight and show Jed there is still plenty of spice left in their marriage, Laura decides it is time to give her body the work out it has been desperately crying out for. But when Laura makes a special new friend at the running club that she has joined, she gets much more than she bargained for. From buying sexy lingerie displayed alongside the gherkins at Tesco to struggling into the last playsuit in Topshop, this novel is full of humor and Laura is a true heroine for our times. A sparkling, witty novel, that fizzes off the page.

Picture and description taken from goodreads.com


What I thought of the book:

***

A lot of this book didn't really talk to me because I'm only the Mum of one and I don't have the problems with dieting, exercising etc. that Laura is going through. But some of the things in this book were really funny and something every woman can relate to. Everyone wants to feel loved and attractive so it's something this book definitely looks at.

Book read 8th May 2012.