Book Reviews: Burn (by Linda Howard), The Girl She Used To Be (by David Cristofano), If I Stay (Gayle Forman)

I have read so many books lately, but here are three that stand out:



Burn: Linda Howard






You know I love me some romance novel, yo and Linda Howard always delivers for me. She really is one of my favorite romance novelists and not only because the stories are always so hokey, but because the men described are usually what I'd like in a guy. Nevermind my husband is not like any of her characters- which let's be real, is probably why I read these. :) But Burn is a really fun, quick read. Is the story plausible? No- but who gives a damn when you get kidnapped by a hot guy who you end up having great sex with and he falls in love with you? Oh yeah- very cool. Plus, anytime Linda write about Black Ops/Secret Agents- I'm there. Secretly- I'd like to think I'd like that kind of job being all secretive. :)

The Girl She Used To Be: David Cristofano

I have to be honest with you here. I cried on this one. I usually don't read the backs of books to see what they are about, as I've mentioned several times I judge books by covers. I totally do. I don't have a lot of time to read, so if the cover can't catch me it's screwed. So this cover kind of reminded me of myself- staring down at my options, figuring out what to do. Coincidentally- the book really isn't about that, it's about a woman who has lived most of her life in Witness Protection and tries to get out of it, but then the book takes a turn into a love story. A sad, but really endearing love story. I'd like to think there would be a part 2 of this where the characters get together..but I suspect David will keep me waiting. I wish he wouldn't be such a bastard and just write a sequel though! :)

If I Stay: Gayle Forman

Some are asking, "jeez Sara, if you judge books by covers- why did you pick this one?" Because I really like the color blue, bitches. Don't get all technical on me.

This book is a "Young Adult" book which means nothing because it is FANTASTIC and you MUST read this. I don't get all strong willed about a book, ok- that's a lie, I feel the same way about this book (which if you haven't read it yet- I'm disappointed in you). But this book is about a young girl, on the brink of so many great opportunities in her life who's family is taken away from her. She's in an accident and basically has to decide whether to fight for her life and live, or give up and die- in order to be with her family who've already died. Talk about heart wrenching. You are right there with her, weighing the pros/cons and thinking about what would you do. The amazing thing is that I got this book done in THREE HOURS. I could not stop reading. I started at bedtime just to get a few pages in and literally could not stop. Needless to say I looked terrible at work the next day- but it was totally worth it.

My favorite parts of the book are when the nurses are talking to her remaining friends and extended family and keep reiterating that it's up to her. They can only do so much as medical staff- but it's up to her to decide. Most heart wrenching moment that made me burst into tears and wake up my husband? When her Grandfather talks to her (she's not awake, she's in a coma) and basically says he'd like for her to stay, but understands if she needs to go, thus giving her the permission she needs. OH.MY.GOD. Cry like a mother fucking baby. And I agree, I think people do decide when to go. At least I would like to think I have some control over it. :)

These are GREAT reads and I highly recommend them!

Get Sketchy Wit It- You Know You Want It

It's that time of week again- (you'll notice I said 'week', not 'month') it's time for the Get Sketchy Challenge! Yes- I did it again. The threat of winning free stamps is what sent me over the edge. It's like, "Alright already...I'll make something. Put the stamps in an envelope and stop waving them at me."

So drumroll folks...

I found some pearlized cardstock at Michaels...on clearance folks. Yes, clearance. What would have been $19.99 for the pack only cost me...(wait for it...wait for it....) $3. I know- bow down you jealous bitches. I am 99% sure this was a fuck up made by a newbie overly zealous with the sticker gun (and really? I think we've all been there with our label makers so let's know jeer this person too much.) But I also go the cardstock on clearance so yeah- this is like a ghetto fabulous card. And we all know I'm all about ghetto fabulous. ;)

Anyways- so there it is. Let's hope I win. I'm also not above "we feel sorry for her" winnings- I'm all for those. :)

AND, because I know you love the card so very much...I know you want to buy it. Along with it's 5 siblings. That's righty-o folks, I made not one, but TWO sets of 6 of these because I was really on a roll last night. So if you want to purchase these- head over to my Etsy shop to do that. And support my children. They'd like a Christmas this year I'm sure and I'm not sure if saying Santa was affected by the recession will work. :)

Get Sketchy #5

Yay! I actually remembered to get my sketch done for this weekend. (golf claps, yo)



I am totally loving this card. As soon as I did I'm like, "Holy shit, Sara. It's actually super cute". GO FREAKING ME. :) Paper, Ink, and Stamp= Stampin Up, the rest is just scraps laying on my desk. Simple and cute. :) Like me. Go figure.

The 30/30 List- FINAL VERSION

Ok, I know that I have promised this for awhile. It has taken me a LONG time to think of 30 things that I can do before I'm 30 (March 10, 2012) that is within my budget and reasonable. My life's bucket list is obviously much larger, but I need to have something to ease me into the transition to 30. (*hold me*)

So here it is:
1. Go kayaking- DONE
2. Go parachuting
3. Go on a sailboat ride
4. Write a book-- in progress
5. Take the kids to Disney World-- scheduled for October
6. Try snorkeling again- try not to drown
7. Learn how to play one song on a piano
8. Take a road trip with friends
9. Go to Las Vegas with Matt
10. Run a 5K-- I'm training. Kind of.
11. Learn how to knit something
12. Attend my 10 year High School reunion (note to self, renew anxiety meds. LOL!)
13. See 10 concerts before I’m 30-- one in September (Kings of Leon) * Paramore in October
14. Go on a helicopter ride
15. Dye my hair
16. Trip to another country (Canada counts)
17. Lose at least 15 pounds
18. Go camping. Outside. In a tent.
19. Visit the Grand Canyon
20. Wear a bikini (preferably after losing the weight) (note to self: being drunk may help)
21. Read 500 books before I’m 30
22. Create a family tree book for the kids
23. See the Northern Lights
24. Go tubing and/or canoeing
25. Take kids to the Wisconsin Dells--tentatively scheduled for summer 2010
26. Hike through the sea caves in the winter
27. Road trip weekend with Matt to anywhere
28. See a waterfall I’ve never seen before
29. Try skiing
30. Be happy

I hope I can do these. I know I can- I am just really lazy. So I will periodically keep updating you on this. Feel free to cheer or jeer. I will post pictures of each thing I finish as proof. :)

Get Sketchy #3/Thank You Ann

So this is a two fold post because both go together even though it happened to be a coincidence.

#1. In this post I mentioned that I was officially a winner. Ann from Creative Antics had a blog giveaway happening and I managed to win. Because yah- I'm cool like that. So I got my prize (which was a mystery until I got it) just the other day:




#2. And as you'll notice from Ann's blog she makes awesome cards. Like the rest of us pale in comparison because she is so awesome. So I decided that I would make cards, using the supplies she so graciously mailed me. Please turn your head to the left to see these properly.

Um, Blogger? If you could just stop fucking with my pictures..that'd be great. THANKS.


#3. So then I see on her blog that she's a guest designer for Get Sketchy, and somehow I know I knew this but I tend to surpress things that I can't use day to day. Because really? There's only so much room. So the sketch this week is:



Um yeah...so I inadvertently did the sketch (without even knowing what it was), using the supplies Ann gave me, who just happens to be on the design team for the sketch challenge.

DIVINE INTERVENTION I tell you. If I don't win or at least get top 5 this week- I may lose my shit. You can't tempt fate folks. :)

And in a very sad turn of events, my cat Lenny ate my "You Rock My World" stamp and later puked it up on the kitchen floor. So I am mourning the loss of my cool new stamp that I only got to use two times (inside of each of the cards I made), but happy he puked on the kitchen floor instead of the carpet. Again.