Miss You

Dear Gramma, I can't believe you have been gone for three years already. I don't know if a single day has passed where I don't think about you and wish you were still here with us.  I'm sorry I didn't visit you more when you were sick and in the hospital, I think I was just scared.  I would give anything to have you back for one more day. There is so much I wanted to ask you or tell you, but now I can't.  More than anything I wish you could meet your great granddaughter.  You would love snuggling with her and cuddling her. I'm glad that grandpa is able to see her, but it breaks my heart to know that you are not there.  I hope you on know that I miss you like crazy and think about you all of the time.  You will be happy to hear that I am teaching L how to sign.  I want her to have a little part of you with her.  She likes the sign for cookie which I think is the first sign I can remember learning.  I hope you are okay and feeling better.  It was hard to see you in so much pain and frustration.  There have been a few times where I am sure that you are with me, it's like I can feel you or sense you near me.  Thank you for being there and checking up on me. I love you and miss you.

S

Chasing Harry Winston

Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

I have to admit, this book started out a little slow.  The only reason I continued to read past the first chapter was because this book is by the same author of The Devil Wears Prada, a book I quite enjoyed.  I am certainly glad that I stuck with it.  This book follows three friends through a tough year in their lives where they are deciding and discovering what will make them happy.  Not everything is quite as wonderful as it seems for these three friends and this book shares their successes and personal hardships.  I enjoyed reading how each of these girls was their for the other and able to help pick up the pieces.  Each chapter had a little snip-it of what was happening in their personal and professional lives at the time.  Some chapters were a bit hard to catch the transition so I found myself having to go back a few paragraphs just to find out who were talking about. All in all, this was a very heartwarming story of the power of friendship and the struggles of discovering who you really are and what you really want.

Gone Girl

                                   
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn


This book was written so well, I could barely put it down. Every other chapter is written from the husband's point of view, then the wife's point of view. It starts off as a murder mystery that seems so obvious.  Pretty soon you realize that one of these people isn't telling the truth and that there is a whole lot more to this story. I found myself gasping at some points of the book and unable to put it down because I just had to know what really happened.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.  At points there are some gruesome details, but nothing that will make you ill.  It is filled with many twists and turns and makes for a great read.

Lindsey's 2nd Birthday

I can not believe that my little peanut is going to be 2 years old next month. We are getting ready for her birthday party and I got a great deal on invitations from shutterfly.com. For just over $5 I was able to get 12 special cards that I can pick up at Target tomorrow morning AND use my Target discount on! This design was fun because it allowed us to look back at photos over the year and see how much she has changed. I love how proud she looks in her gymnastics outfit!

Framed For Her Birthday

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Fuzzy & Warm

While out on my latest thrift shopping adventure I came across an adorable vest for my little toddler. We were actually on he hunt for the perfect Christmas dress, but struck out. Instead we found a brand new faux fur vest that will look great on her this winter season!

Actual Retail Price: $34.99
Price I Paid: $3.99

Amount Saved: $31.00!!

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain

I'll be honest - I had heard of Ernest Hemingway, but really didn't know much about him other than he was a writer. This book takes a look at his life prior to making it big. There are liberties that the author has taken, but all in all this was a great introduction to Ernest Hemingway and his "Paris Wife" Hadley. The writing was done quite well, I felt as though I was right along side the characters.

Living in Paris certainly does sound glamorous, but it failed to be the happy place for this couple. What a sad life Hadley lived, being an almost afterthought in Ernest's life. Her main duty was to support and love him, yet there was never an opportunity to figure out who she was, have hobbies of her own and even to have real friends other than the significant others of Ernest's friends.

This book was a little slow in parts, but those were the honest, sad parts of their life. So don't expect any glitz and glam of the good life, this book will take you behind the scenes into the hard life that they lived.

For more information on this book, visit the official site:
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/paula_mclain/book/

It Can't Be True

Ever lose contact with someone over time and find yourself wondering what they are doing now? That happened to me a couple weeks ago. I was curious what my old friend Danielle was doing. I tried looking on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest even; but no luck. I could only assume she was in a theater group acting and performing like she loved to do so much. I pictured her hanging out downtown and uptown, visiting trendy restaurants and wearing the perfect outfit. This girl had it all...including an outgoing personality, great sense of humor, business skills. Now that I am thinking about, I still have a necklace and bracelet set that I bought from her when she started her jewelry line.

Today I received the shock of a lifetime. Danielle was dead. It saddens me to even write it, I feel like it is a lie. Danielle was in a car accident a few weeks ago and drowned in a pond while still in her car. I can't help but picture what her last moments must have been like. Life seems so unfair, why would such an amazing soul be taken so young? I can't help regret not trying harder to track her down. I still knew where her mom lived, I could have written a letter. I regret not reconnecting with her again. She was one of those people who you will remember always.

Danielle and I worked together for a number of years. Every Monday night we would order and devour a large Pizza Hut stuffed crust pepperoni pizza. Every Monday for years. We went on our first cruise together. We were giddy running around the ship - drinking too much, staying out too late, sleeping in too late, and seeing some amazing sights in the Caribbean. We laid out in the sun on rafts in her pool, I went to her theater performance in Anoka, hung out with her and her boyfriend at the time that we just happened to meet on the cruise. I remember being in London and emailing her. Danielle was a art major and really knew everything about fine art. I emailed her before walking through the Tate Modern and asked who I should look out for and make a mental note to really stop and reflect on. I remember her giving me a list of names of artists. Because I knew art was so important to her I bought a print of Manet's. It was beautiful and different at the same time. I wonder if she still had it all these years later.

She was so young to be gone already. It really makes me appreciate every moment I have as you never know when it may be your last. Bless her heart and her family. She was an amazing friend, amazing person and will be greatly missed. Until we meet again.