Family, Reviews, Healthy Living, Photography and More!
February 22, 2017
We just celebrated Family Day here in Ontario and we spent the day at the waterfront throwing rocks, walking the paths and eating fish at Hutch’s. Here is a small glimpse at our day:
Please link up below so that I can visit you! Happy Wednesday.
February 17, 2017
Are YOU a cheater? Both my husband and I are very guilty of this awful habit on a regular basis. Whether it be late at night, when one of us is away at work or on a business trip. We just can’t help doing a little bit of Netflix cheating! (Pull those minds out of the gutter, of course we were only talking about Netflix – what were you thinking about??).
Do you cheat on your Netflix partner? Statistics show that you probably are, even if you are quite ready to admit it.
Statistics say that 37% of Canadians are Netflix cheaters when it comes to their favourite shows. While 76% of Canadians admit that they don’t mean to cheat, us Canucks clearly can’t help ourselves! I can say that I am one of those statistics and completely without shame when it comes to my cheating.
So how does Netflix cheating affect our lives? My husband is the type that usually waits until I fall asleep (which most of the time is well before he does) and he keeps on playing new episodes of some of our favourite shows (Luke Cage and Shadowhunters were two series he constantly watched without me). He never even hides his behaviour and doesn’t even try to move the episodes back when we watch it together again as he will start the series as the episode he left off on (or he just tells me what happens and spoils the surprise for me).
For me I am guilty of watching shows behind his back when he is at work and I am at home during the day because I am working a late shift. I was even more guilty when I was off after my gallbladder surgery, I passed my days watching our favourite Netflix series.
So who are the most guilty profiles? We fit in to two out of the three profiles.
Here is profile number one, The Long Distance Cheater:
Profile Number Two, The Sleepless Cheater (aka My Husband):
Profile Number Three, the Sorry Not Sorry Cheater (ME!):
We can clearly see that is far too easy to be a Netflix Cheater and here are some ways to make it up to your spouse when you have been unfaithful with your viewing habits:
Are you a Netflix Cheater or maybe the victim of Netflix cheating? Tell me what shows are the worst culprits for cheating?
Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 14, 2017
In Let’s Try This Again we have one girl and two guys. It’s complicated. And hot.
About Let’s Try This Again
First there is Isaac, the ex-boyfriend who threatens her move to a sunny new life on the west coast when he suddenly comes back into the picture. The chemistry is intoxicating and Josie starts eating, breathing, and sleeping with him again until the move. Things are hard enough saying goodbye to her childhood home and very best friends, but when Isaac makes it seem like he might actually want her to stay, Josie wonders if she’s giving up on him too quickly.
Josie takes the plunge and moves to California.
Then comes Carter. Sweet, doting – and, oh my god! – former boy band heartthrob, Carter. Josie’s new life falls into place, with new friends and a job working as the personal assistant for Carter as he plans the re-launch of his career. When it seems like there might be something between Josie and her new boss, she can’t help but hold back in fear of crossing a line and, worse yet, getting her heart crushed. Once again.
What spirals into a complicated, heart wrenching, unexpected love triangle forces Josie to face a decision that she is not sure she can make. Carter or Isaac. Or – who knows?
It’s Sex in the City meets Bridget Jones Diary under the Hollywood sign. A masterful debut novel of love, sex and rock & roll in the New Adult genre.
My Thoughts
Oh my goodness – Let’s Try This Again is hilarious, honest, emotional and full of hope. We have Josie, who is like your best friend. The one you love with all your heart but who makes the same bad decisions over and over again. You want nothing more than the absolute best for her but can’t help her when she makes the same decisions over and over again (like going back to the bad ex-boyfriend who makes her feel used and unloved). You just have to be there for them with the ice cream and wine. And that’s what her friends do in this hilarious novel.
Just when you think she can’t make any more bad decisions when it comes to her ex, Josie decides to move to California. Some of this was to make him jealous and another part for a fresh start for her. This is when it gets really steamy (and a tad bit confusing and fun!). She meets her teenage crush, Carter, and actually begins to work for him. This slowly becomes a little bit more until a romance emerges. A huge part of me kept rooting for her and Carter – he seemed so perfect for her! But she feels conflicted every step of the way. Carter and Isaac. And then back again.
This novel was awesome – fun, sexy and felt like a conversation with your best friend. Hearing it described as Sex in the City meets Bridget Jones Diary is the exact way I would describe it. If you are a huge fan of those movies, you will love Josie and the adventure she gets herself in. A definite great read that you will fall in love with over and over again.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo books and iTunes.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Jordyn Woodtke is an exceedingly gifted new author who is destined to take the New Adult genre by storm with her debut novel entitled Let’s Try This Again.
A graduate of NYU, she majored in screenwriting with a minor in bottomless brunching, skills she took with her when she moved to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a writer. Jordyn started writing poetry and plays in high school, garnering prestigious awards and accolades from the Hartford Stage, Drexel University, the Waterbury Young Playwrights Festival and the national Scholastic Art & Writing awards, among others.
Now, on any given afternoon you are likely to find Jordyn petting random dogs on her street, noshing at any of the numerous brunch spots in LA, or bingeing Netflix on her couch. She’s grateful and dedicated to the art of storytelling because it lets her say all the things she wished she’d said when she had the chance.
And if Let’s Try This Again is any indicator of future success, Jordyn will get to keep saying them for a long, long time.
Connect with Jordyn on her website, Twitter and Instagram.
Cinematic Scene
Book Trailer
The Giveaway!
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 13, 2017
Restoring Love, part of New Hope Publishers’ line of contemporary missional fiction, demonstrates how God can turn our greatest tragedies and failures into beautiful acts of love and grace that can impact the lives of others.
About Restoring Love
Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She’s almost his worst nightmare, and she’s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband’s incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?
My Thoughts
A truly lovely story about starting over, believing in one’s self and hope for the future. Both of our main characters, Mitch and Angela have had difficult lives. They have tried over and over again but they always seem to be faced with just one more obstacle. Angela is a beautiful woman on the inside and out but is sometimes viewed as odd for her style of clothing, carefree spirit and sometimes bad cooking! She has also made some pretty bad mistakes in her past, these mistakes are what she lets guide her and sometimes stop her from stepping forward in life. Mitch has had a different type of difficult times more so with his son and ex-wife. Both have been scarred and changed by these moments in life and can sometimes stop them from moving forward.
They are drawn together by a young mother who is doing everything she can to survive. They make it their mission to help her and her children see that they are loved and that there are people in this world that truly want to help others. Their hopes for this young family draw them together in many ways, and at times they both want to let go of their past but find it hard to do so. They both have so many things about each other that they love and respect but are afraid to let go of their past and move forward.
Restoring Love is a well written, thought out novel of hope, faith and moving forward in life. We all mistakes that feel like they haunt us but we shouldn’t let them stop us from seeking happiness. We are loved by the people around us, by God and our community and it is so important to recognize and accept this love. It is even more important to forgive ourselves and move forward. We watch as our main characters learn to forgive themselves, learn to let love in and find happiness again. A truly beautiful story!
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
Rating:5/5
About the Author
Jennifer Slattery, author of Breaking Free, Beyond I Do, Intertwined, and When Dawn Breaks, is an inspiring contemporary novelist whose stories of hope, love, and grace resonate with real people. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com; Internet Cafe Devotions; and oversees the blog and social media accounts for Takin’ It To The Streets, a ministry serving Omaha Metro’s working poor and homeless. When not writing, she enjoys hanging out with her teenage daughter and real-life hero husband, as well as serving in her church.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 12, 2017
There is no better way to show your love for your children and the special person in your life then with a book. Books take your children on an adventure, teach them a moral lesson and give them a chance to learn and explore. You can literally find a book for every occasion, whether it be birthdays, holidays or special occasions. As you prepare your gifts for your loved ones, think about adding a book in with the chocolates, flowers, gift card or toy – they make lasting memories for your child.
This Valentine’s Day, Raincoast books has rounded up their top four picks of special books that showcase love, strength, believing in yourself and grace.
The Fox Wish
This story follows two children who go looking for their jump rope and discover that a group of foxes have claimed it as an answer to their wish. With classic illustrations and lyrical text, here is a subtle, sensitive piece of magic that proves to sisters, brothers, and foxes alike that the trusted familiar often lives right next to the truly extraordinary-if only you have the eyes to see it.
Kimiko Aman is one of Japan’s leading children’s book authors and her fantasy tales are loved by all generations. Her books have won awards such as the Noma Children’s Literature Award, the Shogakukan Literature Award, and-for this book-the Japan Picture Book Award. She lives in Kyoto, Japan.
Komako Sakai has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, many of which have been published in the United States, including Emily’s Balloon . Her illustrations have garnered such awards as the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava Golden Apple and the Nati per Leggere. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.
Love Is
Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any tender moment, this story of a girl and a duckling who share a touching year together will melt the hearts of old and young a like. In this tenderly funny book, a girl and a duckling grow in their understanding of what it is to care for each other, discovering that love is as much about letting go as it is about holding on tight. Children and parents together will adore this fond exploration of growing up while learning about the joys of love offered and love returned.
Diane Adams is the author of Two Hands to Love You, among other picture books. She lives in California.
Claire Keane is the author and illustrator of Once Upon A Cloud and is also known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen . She lives in Venice Beach, California, with her husband and kids.
Leave Me Alone!
A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book that The New York Times calls both classic and ultra contemporary,” Leave Me Alone! is an epic tale about one grandmother, a giant sack of yarn, and her ultimate quest to finish her knitting.
One day, a grandmother shouts, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” and leaves her tiny home and her very big family to journey to the moon and beyond to find peace and quiet to finish her knitting. Along the way, she encounters ravenous bears, obnoxious goats, and even hordes of aliens! But nothing stops grandma from accomplishing her goal – knitting sweaters for her many grandchildren to keep them warm and toasty for the coming winter.
Vera Brosgol’s slyly clever and unexpectedly funny modern folktale is certain to warm even the coldest of hearts.
Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her first graphic novel, Anya’s Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second. Her picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book. She drew storyboards for the animated films Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls . She lives in Portland, Oregon, and at last count has knit twenty-two sweaters. Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her first graphic novel, Anya’s Ghost, was published in 2011 by First Second. Her picture book Leave Me Alone! was a 2017 Caldecott Honor book. She drew storyboards for the animated films Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls . She lives in Portland, Oregon, and at last count has knit twenty-two sweaters.
Gracious
From New York Times bestselling author of Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps Kelly Williams Brown comes a funny, charming guide to modern civility.
Graciousness is practicing the arts of kindness, thoughtfulness, good manners, humanity, and basic decency. As a bonus, it makes your life and even the world much lovelier.
It’s not about memorizing every rule of traditional etiquette to a T (though there is so much there to explore!) or spending all your time maintaining a spotless house. It’s about approaching the world with compassion, conviction, self-confidence, and whole-heartedness, whether you’re at the Met Gala or saying good morning to a convenience store clerk.
Throughout the book, she provides tips on how to deal with the people and circumstances that challenge even the most socially graceful among us, advice on how to practice graciousness in everyday life, and thoughtful discussions on being kind to those around you without ever losing your sense of self. With the wisdom of gracious folk ranging from celebrities to the author’s mother-in-law, this book explains the perspective, actions – and, sometimes, inaction – that help us move smoothly and effectively through whatever life tosses at us.
So as you finish up your Valentine’s day shopping, it’s not too late to pick up a great story of love, inspiration and strength to add to your gift and to show your love for the special person in your life. Make the gift even more personalized with a special note written on the inside cover that they can cherish for years to come.
Wishing you all the best this Valentine’s Day!