Book of the Month: February

It's no surprise that I have been reading a lot.  I mean, daytime sucks the big one and there is not much else to do while on bed rest.  I read 14 books in the month of February bringing my grand total for the year to 25.  I'm totally going to hit my goal of 60 books for 2012, thank you very much bed rest.

I didn't do this in January but I have decided from now on each month I will pick my favorite book that I read in that month.  

February Books:

12. Home Front by Kristin Hannah

13. Hidden Wives by Claire Avery

14. Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

15. The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

16. The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards

17. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

18. The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

19. To Be Queen by Christy English

20. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

21. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

22. The Lost Hours by Karen White

23. Learning to Breathe by Karen White

24. Deep Down True by Juliette Fay

25. Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

"Before Ever After" by Samantha Sotto.

This month it's hard for me to pick a favorite, I really enjoyed a lot of these books.

This book is part fairy tale, part romance and part self discovery.  I really couldn't put it down.  

Here is the Amazon description which is way better than I can describe.

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well. As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

February Honorable Mentions:

Home Front by Kristin Hannah & The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Happy Reading!

Crafting Update

I've been crafting again!  Well, not again really.  I've been crafting pretty consistently while on bed rest.  I just haven't posted any pictures in a bit.

I made these with inspiration from a craft I saw on pinterest.  They didn't quite come out like the ones on pinterest because I used different fabric but I think they are cute.  

Here are the ones from Pinterest.

Source: goinghometoroost.com via Leslie on Pinterest

I made Violet a cute little tutu for her newborn photos.  I didn't make the tulle go all the way around so that it wouldn't bunch up underneath her while we are taking the photos.  I also made the elastic longer so we can just pin it to her size. The tulle is a cream color but it looks a little more white in the photo.

A headband to match.

Here is another Pinterest inspired craft.  A holder for her headbands and hairclips. I made all the clips.  I love that you can just attach them to whatever headband.  A lot of these are over the top and for photos and I have some supplies I ordered online for more everyday headbands.  This was seriously easy to do.  I painted the frame, hot glued the ribbon on the back and Marc put the hooks in for me.  I could have done that myself but he offered so I took him up on it.  

Here is the one I saw on Pinterest that inspired me.

Source: theparopost.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Lastly I have some pacifier clips that I made.  I have been looking to buy them and most stores want $7 or $8 bucks for them.  I think that is RIDICULOUS.  So I looked online and I looked in the stores and decided to whip them up myself.  I bought cute little suspender/alligator clips and ribbon and on the end is a loop of elastic to attach the pacifier or even a toy.  They were the easiest things ever and probably took me about a minute to make each one.  I want to get some cute little embellishments for the alligator clip part, you can see on the teal one I added a flower.  I think I'm going to make a few for gifts for people I know who are having baby soon plus the ones for Violet.  I bet you this craft cost me less than $2 to make each and I think I'm overestimating at that.

Right now I have two projects going, a crochet bobble blanket for a family member who is pregnant and a rag rug for Violet's room.  I'm hoping to finish both this week but we shall see.

Make a List Monday - Books/Authors

So it's almost 3AM here and I've been up for about an hour.  The joys of not sleeping while pregnant.  Oh well, at least I don't have to be anywhere tomorrow!

I didn't have time to do Make a List Monday from Robyn's Nest  last week but I'm going to today!  This week's topic your Top 10 list of Books/Authors.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that having me pick my favorite authors/books is not an easy thing but for Make a List Monday I will do it!

1. Jennifer Weiner

I love all her books and I frequently re-read them because they are just that good.  My favorites are "Good in Bed", "Little Earthquakes", "Goodnight Nobody" and "Certain Girls".

2. Kristin Hannah

Another writer where I have read all her books.  My absolute favorite is "Winter Garden" followed closely by "Night Road".

3. Wanderlust by Danielle Steel

This is one of her older books and for some reason I find myself reading it about once a year.  I just love the story even though I know what is going to happen. 

4. Diane Chamberlain

I found her books about two years ago and quickly read them all.  I do that a lot, find an author I love and cruise through all their books.  I think my favorite of hers is "The Midwife's Confession".

6. Jennifer Donnelly

I have loved her Tea Rose series and she also writes young adult fiction as well.  "Revolution" was sooooo good!

7. Jodi Picoult

I love her books and am looking forward to her new one that is coming out next week.  I think my two favorites of hers are "Second Glance" and "Handle with Care".  

8.  Tasha Alexander

I love love LOVE her Lady Emily series.  I also look forward to a new book in Lady Emily's adventures.

9. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

I just recently read this and let me tell you the story just transported me.  I couldn't put it down!

10. Julie Klassen

"The Girl at the Gatehouse" is my favorite of Julie Klassen's books.  I read them so fast that I get sad when they end and I have to wait a whole year for her next book.

Fur Babies

I have no excuse on my lack of blogging except that my life consists of my couch, bed, the hospital and lots of TV.  All pretty boring for the most part.

Bed rest is going well, we had a bit of a scare on Monday, my blood pressure was quite high, they ran some more tests and did more monitoring on Tuesday but all turned out well.  On Monday they had said if things were not good on Tuesday that we would be having a baby.  Talk about a mini freak out.  This baby needs to cook longer so I'm being really good and staying on the couch and trying to enjoy this quiet time.

I've been doing a lot of crafting and taking pictures of my cats.  I can't imagine how many pictures of Violet I will take when she gets here if the amount of pictures I've taken of my cats in the last few weeks are any indication.  

I realized in all of my picture posting on this little blog that I haven't really shared pictures of my first children, my fur babies if you will.  So here they are.

My Sully kitty.  He weighs over 20lbs and is the biggest baby you will ever meet, also has the wimpiest meow ever.  Sully is going to be 8 on Feb. 28th.  I've had him since he was a kitten.

Ruby, our sweet kitten.  She is teeny, feisty and quite adventurous.  She will be 5 in June.  Marc and I adopted her together when we moved in together.   

 My closet rod broke before we finished the nursery so all my clothes ended up in the crib and of course the cats ended up laying on them.

This is how you find Sully most of the time. 

They both don't know what to make of all the baby stuff around the house.

The other morning I'm making a bagel for breakfast and I look over and Ruby is staring at me from the top of the door.  I still can't figure out how she managed to get up there!

Hmmm...what is this room for?  

I'm interested to see how the kitties adjust to Violet.  I think for the most part they will steer clear of her, they will just want to sleep on all of her stuff as cats are sure to do.  

Bed Rest and Bobbles

Bed rest is going well.  Boring but when I'm monitored at labor and delivery myself and Violet are looking good so that is the most important thing.  I'm doing all I can to keep us both healthy for as long as possible.

In some other good news in the last three weeks at all of my appointments my weight is staying right about the same.  I'm pretty impressed that with just being home all the time that my weight hasn't shot up 10 or so pounds.  

I also finished my first craft project since being on bed rest.  It's another project idea from Pinterest so I'm proving it's not just a colossal waste of time.  LOL!

Here is the link on Pinterest, Bobble Blanket.

Pin It

Make a List Monday

Anyone who has known me for awhile knows that I am a sucker for any type of list.  Therefore I am jumping on Robyn's Nest bandwagon and participating in Make a List Monday.  Even though it's technically Tuesday here now (thank you bedrest for making me become a night owl).

The category for Make A List Monday is: Places you would like to visit in the world again or for the first time.  It can be a Country, State, City, Park, place of interest, amusement park, or whatever you are interested in visiting.

1. England

My great-grandmother was from England and I have always felt a pull to England and the culture there.

2. Disneyland

I have been to Disney World in Florida many, many times but never to California and to Disneyland.  I want to walk where Walt Disney did.  

3. Australia

My grandfather was in Australia for a time during World War II and he always told me stories and talked about the Koalas when I was little.  I really want to go there someday and hold a Koala.

4. Paris

I took French all through High School and then two years in college.  I need to go to Paris, not that I really remember a word of it but still.  I want to go and of course while I'm there I will visit Disneyland Paris.  

5. Wyoming

I know, it's random.  Years and years ago I read about this bar in Wyoming where the barstool is an actual saddle.  How freaking cool is that?  I want to go.

6. Washington DC

I still can't believe I have never been to DC.  I've wanted to go for years and years but I have just never made it.  Someday!

7. A Broadway Show

I have never been to NYC and I must must MUST see a show on Broadway someday.

Bedrest for Me

Last week my doctor put me on bedrest due to pregnancy induced hypertension.  They ran a bunch of tests, monitored me in labor and delivery, did an ultrasound, basically the works.  Right now the only symptom I have is the high blood pressure but they are monitoring me pretty closely, they are worried about me developing preeclampsia.

The good news is that I'm doing great besides the high blood pressure and that Violet is doing an awesome.  In our ultrasound yesterday she was measuring a little over 4lbs.  Bottom line is that I'm on bedrest pretty much until the end so no work, no shopping which means I'm pretty much going crazy with boredom.  But hey, I'm going to do what I have to do to keep Violet and myself healthy.

The doctors also assure me it is not because of my weight that I developed the high blood pressure, it just happens to some people during pregnancy.  My numbers weren't this high even before band surgery.  

My days pretty much consist of sleeping, reading and watching tv with a little bit of crafting thrown in.  I am starved for conversation as Marc works two jobs so I am alone a lot of the time.  It's hard but I know I will make it.

This is a quick blog post as I wanted to get this update out and I'm trying to make myself sleepy enough for bed so I don't toss and turn and keep Marc up.