Thursday: Things I like this week

Here is a round up of some of the things I really liked this week:

President's Choice Banana Cakes. These are so delicious. They are moist and they have chocolate chips and just amazing for snacking (and sometimes breakfast). Love these and I always have one with me when I'm out.

Bed Bath & Beyond. I am moving out (tomorrow!!) and am loving the sales and cute finds at this store. I picked up a lot for my kitchen and bedroom from there and also found a clock that I may pick up once I get settled in.

Stippling Brush. I recently discovered stippling brushes for foundation. Most days I do my makeup in 5 minutes before I head out the door. But if I want a more polished look, I use this brush with liquid foundation and I get an amazing airbrushed effect. There are some great YouTube tutorials on how to stipple on foundation properly.

Rogers PVR Cable Box. I am always busy with marking or lesson planning in the evening so I don't often get to catch my shows when they are on. I love my Rogers PVR box. I can record all my shows for the week and then have a lazy Saturday where I catch up. Another great thing about this...I can skip commercials!!

Sharpie Highlighters. I have become somewhat highlighter obsessed. I love highlighting completed items off a to-do list (so much nicer looking than crossing it out). I also love colour coding things in my planner so that I can quickly see what I need to do.

Wednesday Health and Beauty: Yoga

I have always been a big fan of yoga. I will admit that it's been a while since I have done yoga but lately I have been wanting to start up again. I often used to attend the Body Flow classes at GoodLife Fitness, which is a combination of Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. But for when I am at home, I love following some of Tara Stiles YouTube Yoga lessons. She has Yoga moves for almost every level and need. There are videos on moves for pain, for weight loss, for relaxation, for an energy boost...and so much more. She also does great videos on healthy foods and tips.


Check out her channel TaraStilesYoga

Everyday posts?

My goal is to try to post something everyday. I want to try to have themes to go with each day of the week. That being said, I often do post random things throughout the day. Having a theme won't keep me from writing my random posts.

So far I have:
Monday Reads
Thursday: Thing I like this week
Friday Foods
Saturday Songs

This week I am going to add a theme for Wednesday which will be Beauty and Health Tips. I will try to add themes for Tuesday and Sunday but I have yet to decide what they will be. If you have suggestions, please let me know!!

Umm...thanks? I think?

Last week one of my grade six boys randomly came up to me and said "I think you may have a few split ends in your hair." That is probably the most random/strange comment I've gotten from a student. I honestly did not know how to respond to that. Then, today I was helping out one of my other grade six students and all of a sudden she says to me "you have some gray hairs." I think I'm going to shave my head.

Monday Reads: Matched

Matched by Ally Condie

Yep, another YA novel. I just can't seem to stop reading them, especially the dystopian ones. It's kind of cool to get a glimpse into what the author imagines our world will be like hundreds or even thousands of years from now. 

I am about half way through the book, so look for a review soon. So far I am really enjoying it. I also am not sure how it's going to end or what twists and turns may be in store, which is always a good thing.

Synopsis: For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the "burden" of choice. When Cassia's best friend is identified as her ideal marriage Match it confirms her belief that Society knows best, until she plugs in her Match microchip and a different boy’s face flashes on the screen. This improbable mistake sets Cassia on a dangerous path to the unthinkable--rebelling against the predetermined life Society has in store for her. As author Ally Condie’s unique dystopian Society takes chilling measures to maintain the status quo, Matched reminds readers that freedom of choice is precious, and not without sacrifice.

Book love

One of my favourite things to do either on a lazy weekend or after a crazy work day is to get ready for bed early, get comfy in my bed and get lost on a good book. Sometimes I get super busy and having a little bit of time to get immersed in a good book always reminds me how much I love reading. I could not be without my books.

I want this mug for my new place so much!!

My routine...

Saturday Songs: Etta James - Trust In Me

I am adding yet another weekly post. Saturday songs. Those of you who know me know that I have over 10, 000 songs in my iTunes library and am constantly listening to music...and singing along. So every week I will share a song that I am liking that week, something that I find myself wanting to listen to over and over.

This week, in memory of Etta James, my song pick is:

Etta James - Trust In Me

Believe

RIP Etta James

Today one of my all time favourite singers passed away. She was an amazing woman with an amazing voice. I had the wonderful opportunity to see her in concert a few years ago. Her music has inspired so many people and will inspire for generations to come.

Friday Foods: Garlic Scallops

I'm in a seafood kind of mood right now. I am definitely looking forward to making these.




What you need:
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 pounds sea scallops
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in garlic, and cook long enough to smell the garlic. Next add in scallops, cooking for 3-5l minutes on each. Cook the scallops until firm and opaque. Remove scallops from skillet and place on a plate. Whisk salt, pepper, and lemon juice into melted butter. Drizzle sauce over the cooked scallops and serve!

Click here for the link to this recipe.

Thursday: Things I like this week (pinterest edition)

I spend hours on pinterest. These are just a few of the pictures I like today :)

Too cute!!

Some more words to live by

Monday Reads: A Million Suns (review)

I just finished another wonderful YA read. I'm not sure why I have only been reading YA for the past few weeks.

My weekend read was:

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Synopsis: Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Thoughts: I often find that many sequels will fall flat. Authors will write an amazing beginning to a series and leave you wanting more. Then when you read the next book you are left disappointed. This book did not fall into this category. The story was quick paced and I loved seeing the characters grow while facing new challenges that were presented to them. This is a great dystopian read. I have really been enjoying the dystopian books. If you have others to recommend, you know what to do!

This is a sequel to last year's Across the Universe, which is another amazing book. You have to read the first one before reading A Million Suns.

Funny autocorrect fail

Book review: The Name of the Star

I just finished reading The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson and figured I would write my thoughts about it. I have already posted the synopsis (see Monday's post). Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a modern day Jack the Ripper story. Not really knowing the details of the original murders, I read up a bit about them as I was reading this novel. For those who do not know anything about the Ripper, the book provides enough background information. There is also a map at the beginning of the book so you can see where the various murders took place.

What I liked: I liked the paranormal take of this story. I also liked the fact that the book was quick paced. I read it in a couple of days and never felt as though it was dragging on. I loved the characters and would like to see how their stories will develop in the series.

What I did not like: The book ended very abruptly. I felt as though the author was running out of pages and felt the need to end the book all of a sudden. I don't mind cliff hanger endings, which this book had, but I felt that perhaps Maureen Johnson could have taken a little more time to tie up some of the loose ends.

I look forward to seeing what happens next. It is so hard waiting for the next book in the series especially when the book ends leaving you wanting more.

A few changes

Happy Friday!! This morning I woke up thinking that it was Saturday and was sorely disappointed to discover that I did have to get out of bed and go to work. I am looking forward to a little bit of down time this weekend, sleep and shopping for my new place!

A little update on my blog: A few things have changed. My layout has changed. I am not 100% sure yet if I like this one. Opinions? I have also added a labels section, which is on the right side of this blog. I have labeled all my posts and this way you will be able to see all posts that relate to a certain topic.

I am adding one more weekly post. So far I have Monday Reads, Thursday: Things I like this week and starting next week I will have Friday Foods. I am moving into my place soon (15 days!!!) and I am collecting recipes. This will be a great place to store them and share them with everyone. If you have any really good recipes, please please please send them to me!

I do post a link to my latest blog entry on Facebook, but if I do not post it there, I will still be posting often on here so bookmark this page and check back often. And if you have suggestions for posts, books, or anything else either leave a comment or send me a message.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday: Things I like this week (TV)

Snow pant adventures

Helping twenty 5-year olds get ready for home in winter is quite an adventure. There are so many articles of clothing! And if you're not watching, they will manage to put every single item on in the wrong order so that they have to get started again...from the beginning. Lessons learned today: A jacket will not fit and zip up over a backpack no matter how hard you try. And if you put your mittens on first, there is no way you will be able to put anything else on. I love my little kindergarten kids. They are full of personality and their enthusiasm always brings a smile to my face. But I will be so happy when winter is over and getting dressed takes less than half an hour.

Monday Reads: Jack the Ripper

I am now four books into my 75 book challenge. Now that I'm back to work, hopefully I will be able to keep up. I will keep posting about books I'm reading in case anyone is interested in reading along or checking out some of these titles.

My current read:





The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Synopsis:The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper in the autumn of 1888.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police now believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I am only on chapter 7 but so far I am really liking it. There hasn't been too much action yet so I am hoping that the book will pick up its pace soon. Stay tuned for a review.

This next book I read in an hour over the weekend. Hilarious!! I am often guilty of autocorrect mishaps and enjoyed reading other people's awkward texts.





Damn You, Autocorrect! by Jillian Madison

You can also check out the website here.

Thursday: Things I like this week

My new Tassimo coffee/tea brewing system. My brother and his lovely girlfriend bought me this for Christmas for my new place. I couldn't wait til moving to try it and have been loving the warm drinks, especially since this week has been insanely cold!!!




Sony Reader. I have had my Sony Reader for the last year. A few weeks ago the battery started dying out on me and I had to send it in for repairs. Even though I love reading on my iPad, I can't wait to get my ereader back!




Wii Sports. I bought a wii a few months ago and recently got wii sports. So much fun!




The Help Movie. I read the book last summer and saw the movie with my family over the Christmas Holidays. I am always curious to see how books are adapted into movies. I will ALWAYS read the book before watching the movie. This one did not disappoint. Very well done!




Thi Fusion Restaurant Lounge and Bar. I discovered this little restaurant A few weeks ago and absolutely love it. I've been there three times and have loved every single dish I have tried. Great flavours and many choices.

The Bungalow review

I just finished reading The Bungalow a few minutes ago (this book was mentioned in my "Monday Reads" post). All I can say is "Wow!" This was another amazing book by Sarah Jio. This book made me laugh, made me smile and even made me shed a few tears. Love love love it! Pick this book up ASAP! You will not be disappointed. Also check out her first book: The Violets of March.

Monday Reads: First pick for the new year

Happy New Year!! I wish all of you health, happiness, love and laughter!

I am super excited to announce my first read for 2012. I read this author's first book back in May of 2011 and completely fell in love with her writing, setting and characters. I even sent her a little message to tell her how much I loved her book and she wrote back! That was a total fan girl moment for me! Her latest book came out on December 27th and it is first on my list of books to read this year. So far I am loving it as much as the first.





The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

Synopsis: In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years.