Pin It and Do It Challenge: October

It's that time of the year when I start feeling crafty. Must be Halloween. So many cute Halloween crafts on Pinterest. Thankfully, Trish is having her Pin It and Do It challenge again this month and I will be participating. Yay!
I am going to be a Timid pinner this month, 1-3 pins are about my speed. Perhaps I will do more, but seems safer to aim low.    Happy Reading! _________________________________________
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Toddler Tales: 3 Years Old!

It is hard to believe, but the little girl is three. Three! How is it possible? I feel like it was just yesterday that we brought this precious baby home. We celebrated the day she came into this world last Saturday with a family dinner and a playdate with friends earlier in the day. 
I loved how every gift she opened was her "favorite" or "just what I wanted".  Whenever she was asked what she wanted for her birthday before Saturday she would answer "Grammy". Such a sweet girl. Well, she got Grammy, but also a model of the solar system, a world map and many books along with a few dinosaur toys and some stuffies. Very happy that her birthday gifts were all so educational but also exactly what she is interested in.

She is such a big girl now. Going to school, talking up a storm, arguing with me! She may skip to adolescence a little too fast for my liking.   Birthday Books:

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl! _________________________________________
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My Stitchfix came!

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was going to try Stitchfix to update my wardrobe. My first box arrived last week and I was quite happy with what I found in the box. 5 items (4 clothing items and a necklace) and a personalized note wrapped in some crisp white tissue paper. Each item came with a style card with photos of ways to wear the items. Very helpful.

I am so excited that I liked what was sent. Only two items were sent back, and only because of the fit. Shirt too big, necklace too small. So, what did I keep?

This Pintucked Tank from Mystere Another Mystere item- Color blocked crocheted cardigan And these Sanctuary Rizzo Pointe Pants

I love my new clothes! Do you want to try it out? Click on the button and try it out! Plus, I get a referral discount if you order using this link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3172673 Thanks!

Happy Shopping! _________________________________________
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Review: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

368 pages, paperback

April 2013, Harper Perennial

Source: Purchased

I joined a mother's group Book Club and this was the first book I have had a chance to read with them. I am hoping to make the meeting, but never too sure with the hubby's travel schedule. Anyway, I am glad I got to read it even if I don't make it to the meeting.

Beautiful Ruins follows the lives of multiple characters from 1962 Italy to present day Hollywood.  Pasquale Tursi dreams of making his tiny hotel in his tiny town a destination for American tourists. He is surprised when an American actress comes to stay and even more surprised when he learns how she ended up there. Their chance encounter and how it affects their and the future generations lives is the story here. A story for the movies.

Loved how the story jumps between characters and time. I am a sucker for these generational story lines. It is an interesting look into the politics and publicity of Hollywood and the affects it has on the people who come in contact with them. A great mix of drama, romance and humor. The description alone of Michael Dean had me in stitches. The picture it put in my head. I wonder if he based on anyone?

This one is highly recommended. Going to make for a great discussion. 

Italy

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
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Giveaway Winner!

We have ourselves a new owner of this very cute Sherlock Holmes Action Figure! Congratulations, Tif !  Email me your address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom. Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Wordless Wednesday: 9/18/13

San Carlos, CA

Happy Wednesday! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Mailbox Monday: Thin Yellow Line M.J. Urrea

I happily purchased a self published book on Amazon the other day. It is written by my cousin's wife. She used to send chapters to me and a couple other family members to read and to offer feedback.  So excited for her and hope the book does well. 
"THIN YELLOW LINE follows an investigation into the illegal organ harvest and murder of a patient at John Sealy Hospital on the barrier island of Galveston off the Texas coast."
Go check it out! I can't wait to read it. Mailbox Monday is hosted this month by Yolanda at Notorious Spinks Talks.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: Lace One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

Lace One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

304 pages, paperback

Storey Publishing LLC, September 2013

Source: ARC through NetGalley

  The patterns inside this book are varied and many. They can have you, your family and friends covered from head to toe in lace. From delicate shawls to thick warm socks, you will be busy kitting some lovely lace items for quite a long time. A great stash buster for all your yarn. This is not only for lace weight. 
There are plenty of beginner patterns, such as the Etta Hat. Knit with worsted weight on size 6 needles in the round and an easy to follow lace pattern, this is a great one to start with. There is no chart for this one, but are for the more complicated patterns. The glossary has abbreviations explained and techniques  for different cast-ons, increases and bind offs described.
I am currently knitting the Wavelet Hair Tie. The pattern and chart are both easy to follow and it seems to be knitting up nicely. Lace weight yarn on size 7 needles makes for a lovely open lace. It should look nice after blocking. My yarn isn't as fine as in the photo, so probably not going to be as lacy.
Lace One-Skein Wonders was published today, so go get yourself a copy! 
Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

R.I.P VIII: A little late but ready to jump in!

This is one of my all time favorite challenges. These are my kind of books. The ones I am happiest reading during the best time of the year. This just get me ready to enjoy the Halloween season. (Is Halloween a season?)

Anyway, I have some great books to choose from, some that will take care of a few challenges at once and some that are just too interesting not to read.  My goal is to read 4 books! It is a lofty goal but I do have some Sherlock to read and some TBR books to take care of. Also, the Murakami is our Book Group's choice! I think Peril the First is doable.
What will you be reading? Join in the fun at Stainless Steel Droppings.
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Saturday Snapshot

This past weekend we flew out to Phoenix then drove three hours north east to Holbrook, AZ. A small town on I- 40 which was once a popular spot on Route 66 before the freeway came through. Sound a bit like Cars? There is a reason for that. :)

The drive was long and desolate but quite beautiful. It's monsoon season so we got some big rain storms along the way. The sky in the desert is amazing. 

We drove around Saturday to see all the dinosaurs around the city. One of my sister in law's loves dinosaurs and insisted on taking pictures with them all. The little girl loved it, too.

The reason for going was to have a wedding reception for the groom's family that couldn't make it out to the wedding the weekend before. It was held at the family's B&B, Heward House Inn. It was a lovely Southwestern affair. We all had a great time.

 And the bride's new shawl was complemented quite nicely by the turquoise and silver.

And to top off the weekend, before flying home from Phoenix, we got to see the Giants beat the Diamondbacks. Woohoo!

Happy Travels!
Saturday Snapshot was started by Alyce of At Home With Books and is now hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Go by and share your own Snapshots or take a look at some more.
Vacation Reads: Finished Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle (review)  Started Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter _________________________________________
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Review: Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle

Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle 352 pages, Paperback Published August 2013, NAL/Penguin
Source: ARC sent by author for review
It has been five years since Piper's four year old daughter was killed in a car accident. Her family, which aren't all that functional themselves, are worried about her drinking, her relationship with her ex-husband and her dalliances with random men. When she finally hits rock bottom, Piper realizes she needs to get help and live a life that her daughter would be proud of. She has to learn to deal with her sister and mother, the guilt she feels about her daughter and learn to love herself.
I really enjoyed this book. Piper is a flawed character and does things that aren't very attractive, but she is easy to like despite that. I felt for her and imagined how I would react in the same situation. You just don't know how someone will deal with the loss of a child. I liked her journey to sobriety and happiness. It had its ups and downs. It felt real. 
Her relationship with Selwyn was secondary to her relationship with herself and her lost daughter. I liked that. I liked that he was there for her by not being there for her for most of the book. He has these quick dips into the story here and there and always seems to help her out when she is in desperate need, then leaves and gives her the space she wants until she feels she deserves happiness and something/someone good.
I can't wait to read more Renee Swindle. Thanks for sending this my way. 
For more information about the book and author, visit her WEBSITE.
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Sherlock Reading Challenge September Check-In and Giveaway!

Don't forget to link up your reviews! You can find the MisterLinky here. Remember, each review will be an entry for a giveaway of Season 1 or 2 DVD of Sherlock.  Haven't signed up for the challenge yet? Not a problem. You have plenty of time to join and get some reading done. Four months is plenty of time to read some of these stories. Join here! Here is a quick and easy to enter giveaway for all readers/followers of MariReads. Let me know your favorite adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and be entered to win this Sherlock Holmes Action Figure from GoneReading.com! 

You have until September 17th to enter! Open Internationally.  Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

New Kindle Deal

The Kindle Deals are heating up with LIP SERVICE, the titillating novel by International Bestselling Author M.J. Rose, available for just 99 cents on Amazon!

This is a great alternative to Fifty Shades of Gray. You can check out my review here. 

This is a great deal! Click on the book and go get yourself a copy.


Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.