Wake (Dream Catcher) by Lisa McMann

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime. She can't tell anybody about what she does, they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control. Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant. Now, I read this book a month or so ago, and you would think I would still have a good idea what it was about right. And what my general feelings were. I suppose this is a lesson in getting my reviews out quicker. The book was a quick, good and an interesting read. I wasn't a huge fan of Janie, but she was a bit sympathetic, minus the "sym". Her powers were interesting, and I see how having them can be a burden, but since Janie never seemed in control, or had any desire to be in control, so I kind of never felt too sorry for her.

I do feel as if we, as readers, should have been cued in to a bit more, I felt like we were missing something when the ending finally came around. Maybe the author felt as if she didn't have to develop much of anything since this is a trilogy. There was a pseudo happy ending, but really, it did not fly with me, especially since this is a series and the ending doesn't necessarily need a happy end just yet. Despite my critiques, I did really like this book, honestly. The romance was sweet (maybe a little wacko, but hey the crazier the better). The powers were something new, which I enjoyed. I liked the style of writing. Many people did not enjoy the sentence fragments, frankly I think it annoyed a great many. But since I like to write in fragments myself, I likewise find it fun to read. Weird but true. My rating for this book is a good 4 out of 5. I think what makes this book good is the brevity. Maybe it isn't the best constructed story/plot-wise, but it is fun to read. I would recommend this book to fans off paranormal romances.

Lauren Conrad - Style

A few weeks ago I was buying something on Amazon and in the recommended list was Lauren Conrad's Style book. Amazon clearly knows me very well. At that time it was only available on pre-order but pre-ordered I did. I finally got round to having a look at it on Friday and I would say in about 45 minutes I was done. It's full of pretty pictures but the content is light and a little pedestrian. You are certainly not going to learn anything reading this, either about Lauren or about style. There are some personal insights that pepper the book, like the fact that she hates eyeshadow and that she loves maxi dresses, but notable absence of others. For instance, I couldn't believe that there was no mention of the taped hair extensions that her stylist Kristin Ess uses, to find out more about that would actually have been interesting and useful but we are just told that Lauren likes "long hair". No kidding! What also annoyed me about the book is the attempts made to Anglicise it for our market, but it clearly hasn't been done diligently.

There is a paragraph referring to how easy it can be to rack up the expense at cheaper stores like H&M and Forever 21. In one sentence they talk about walking out "hundreds of dollars poorer" and then right after it we talk about admiring $20 tops. Oookay. This is like the text equivalent of that badly dubbed Vanessa Hudgens Neutrogena advert. I mean come on, we know it's American, we can get our heads round that! And if you are going to Anglicise it, do it properly! The proofreader needs a little slap! Overall? This was never going to be a grand literary tome. It's fun to flick through and I love some of the photographs. Can I have her hair please? Oh and can I have that Philip Lim blouse? I do think it could have gone further and been more of a personalised experience. A look inside her own closet? Some of her favourite pieces? Some of her must have items? I think I would have bought it to find out more about Lauren, rather than reading generic advice, but Lauren fans the world over need this, simple as that!

How to Develop a Health and Wellness Opportunity

An amazing truth about how to set up a home business opportunity thanks to health products. NHS is the perfect vehicle to help you fulfill your dreams. Their partners by use of multiple universities and other research institutions to develop their nutritional supplements and healthy lifestyle habits. NHS is proud of its products and medical professionals. The company was founded on an integrated health philosophy that combines the latest information and resources from the medical community on disease prevention via the latest scientific breakthroughs in nutrition and alternative medicine. Here are some ideas on health and wellness which will help you to maintain your health and in some cased even improve it. Change your health and general well-being for the better by making positive lifestyle changes. Education and prevention are conducive elements in order to gain an first-rate level of health. NHS is a mission driven company by way of a passion to share health and wellness facilities. Health Experience: To keep the pounds off permanently, you need to incorporate modern, healthy natural behaviors into your routine so that they become one day a natural part of your normal life. 

Fact: The long-term health effects of a high-protein / low-carbohydrate diet are unknown; The Leanology has alot of Omega3’s and is the healthiest of liquid meal substitutes; Eat healthy foods, control your portion sizes and exercise regularly; Science based products that create a wellness experience. Participate in the Media Acquisition Program by purchasing customers the company finds for you. Throughout the year the company sends out millions of educational health and lifestyle publications to keep your customers informed on health trends, news and instructions. Take the magnificent cruise to better health, wealth and wellness thanks to NHS. NHS is proud of its association by way of medical professionals from around the country. The Medical Advisory Board assists in modern product formulation and testing what is good, but for entrepreneurs it’s just as worthwhile that the source of the money is ethical and legitimate. From a branding perspective, NHS is one of the most professional companies I have seen in all my years in the home business industry, and they have one of an innovative reasons to generate a continuous residual income. Article by www.weightshapes.com

Happiness is Easy

Flowers, skirts, ladybugs, sun. What is better for the soul than the glorious return of Spring? The sensation on skin of the warmth of a sun we thought forgotten? How I love this ephemeral season. The magical of rebirth. How I love the way it fills me with that unexplanaible violent feeling of being alive again, possibly deserving a little bit of this humble happiness.

A few New Year's Notes

First and foremost, A very happy new year to you all! May 2014 be your best year so far with each future year being better than the last. Next, I know I've been lax in visiting your blogs and answering your wonderful comments. I apologize. These last couple of weeks has been really strange. Allergies that usually kick my butt in April and August are hitting me with hurricane force. This brings me to last night while exchanging New Year wishes along with jokes and puns with family and friends, one of my friends said something that I questioned. Jules (yes, our Jules from trying to get over the rainbow) e-mailed me this as part of her message. So spend the day doing something you want to all year because that part I know is true. To which I replied, with both jokes and apprehension. Did you mean whatever I do tomorrow, I'll do all year? (insert gmail laughing head and another comment which was personal). Several more exchanges were made and I passed the conversation on to family and friends who had laughs and their own set of comments. Come on, guys, you know me. The Tart is my idol. Use your imaginations. We can't start the year with me spelling everything out for you. Anyway, this morning I awoke with allergy eyes. The ones that are still running but glued shut. They popped open rather suddenly, taking a few eyelashes along, when I greeted the world with a  loud obnoxious sneeze. As I type this both my eyes and nose are running faster than an Indy car. If this is what I'll be doing the next twelve months all I can say is "Acho! Please pass the tissue". Oh yeah, You might want to buy stock in companies that produce tissue. I'm not brand sensitive only nose sensitive. Happy New Year! Do something on this first day you really love repeating.

Max Factor Max Effect Nail Varnish - Orange Varnish

In 09. This colour is screaming to be worn at the beach! Its such a bright orange colour it just makes me feel summery! I never in a million years would wear orange a year ago but now I love it! Its available from most drugstores like boots and superdrug and even Asda. I have the mini one so mines really lickle but it is really lasting. This one definitely does have the lasting effect as I had this on when I went into hospital and it stayed on in spite of me being poked and prodded, lol. I will be taking all three of these with me on holiday this year! They are gorgeous!

This Quilting Momma is Happy!

As I said this quilting momma is very happy! I no longer have to brows the online stores to search or try to coordinate fabrics that I half way completed projects for. I seriously took in all of your suggestions from when I asked what you think what borders would look best with the Ms. Ray quilt top. I went on Fabric.com and used their design board and played around with all the colorways even the ones you thought would look best too! Here is  what I came up with using the two greens and it is some what of what I had in mind. I just did not have the leaf print in mind for the main border but I am not going to complain. I went to both of my LQS's today and this is what they had to offer.  I rather buy local than to buy online any day but I will buy online when I am desperate enough to do so. So what do you think? The green stripe is the binding, the orange is the main border and the green with dots will be used as the accent the main border. I even switched the greens around a bit but we'll see what happen in the end when I get to working on it. I also had another quilt top that I had conflicting issues with of what I wanted to put it all together with and I found these two color ways from the Pom Pom de Paris collection to go with that patchwork charm pack top that I made a while back. 

Well it is not going to be a patchwork quilt too much longer because I bought this little guy about a week ago. Do to the fact that I have all that Lily & Will fabric from my mom and I had no idea what to do with it until I saw a quilt done up using this little guy. I do want the big brother to this little guy too. I could have gotten him today but had to make that awful choice of buying fabric or the tool. I will get the big guy another day. But I am going to use the little guy on the patchwork for practice and for bragging rights I am now finally a proud owner of my very own copy of Moda Bake Shop's Fresh Fabric Treats book. Not a bad little book to own. Yes, it too is a LQS find! And it was on sale too! What's been in the works? Well, not much! I have taken two left over charm squares and paired them up with some left over solid scraps and this is what I came up with. Its a 5.5 in x 7in block. It was pretty easy to do and it would be a great start to a new quilt pattern or another mug rug. More likely a mug rug. Lastly, I have been slowly working on the pot pinchers . I have two more sets to do then I am finished with them for now. I can not give these ones up, I have the thread catchers to match.! Well, that is what has been going on in my neck of the woods lately! Hope everyone is doing well out there!