A Day in the Life

Trish had this great idea to have bloggers take a day to share a Day in the Life post. I really wanted to participate and a share a typical day here. So, here it is...

Wednesday, March 18th

6:54am Woken up by the little girl calling me from her room. Early wake up due to another accident in the bed. Got her bed stripped, little girl changed. Asked her to hang out for a bit so I can get 20 more minutes of sleep. 

7:30 More "Mommy"s and crying. Hungry, hurt herself, doesn't want to be in her room. 

7:45 Making breakfast. More crying because she doesn't want egg. 

8:00 Eat breakfast. Egg and feta scrambles on whole wheat English muffins. Crying for cartoons. 

8:15 Crying for candy. Since when do we eat candy in the morning? Mom is going to be crying soon. I could not fall asleep last night so am tired and have had no coffee yet. Need caffeine!

8:20 Cartoon (15 min Sprout show) and vitamins. I get dressed and ready to leave for school. Wishing it was a drop off day. Co-op work day for me this morning. Sink full of dishes will have to wait until later, as will the washer full of wet, stinky sheets and pajamas. 

8:40 Walk to school. The walk and the cool morning should help refresh me. Little girl is very quiet in the BOB on the way over. It's like she knew I needed it. Ahhh. Hope someone has already made the coffee. 

9:00-12:00 School time. Didn't get coffee until almost 10! 23 four and five year olds, 3 teachers and 8 parents... Sometimes this is harder than when I had 18 kids and just me. How can that be? In charge of art. Lots of glitter! Need lots of coffee! Oh no, glitter in my coffee.

I do get some adult conversation in, though. That was nice.

12:20 walk home. Much warmer out now. Get lunch ready while E waits for a friend to come over. Gets a little sad when learns she won't be coming until later in the afternoon.

1-1:30 Lunch of fruit and toaster waffles. They were whole wheat. :) 

1:30-2:45 Rest time. Little girl is in her room playing. Calling for me after only 20minutes. Continues the whole time. Time tacked on to end to make up. No nap for me. 

3:30-  P over for a play date. While they tear up the room, I prep for dinner, wash the stinky sheets from this morning, and type up my review of The Witch of Painted Sorrows to post tomorrow. The girls were very cute playing Cinderella outside. Running up the stairs, losing the shoe, bringing it over to see if it fits. Loved listening to them act it out.

4:45- P picked up. M brings over an onion so I can make my sauce for dinner.

5:00- Make dinner while the little girl watches some Disney,Jr. 

6:00- Dinner! We have baked broccoli and chicken pesto stuffed shells. One of the meals I made with our Make Ahead Moms and Dads. Much better with the added sauce. The shells were dry last time. Little girl refused the broccoli but ate up the shells.

7:00- Bedtime routine commences. First, FaceTime with Daddy, who is out of town for work. Brush teeth, potty, pajamas and book. She chooses another Magic School Bus book. Now I wait for the little girl to fall asleep because she throws a fit if I leave the room. Need to break her of this habit, especially now that it takes her forever to fall asleep. What happened to 20 minutes! An hour is way to long sitting here waiting for her to sleep.

7:55- Little girl is asleep! Yay! She was quick tonight. Time for a shower then a glass of wine. Have to finish knitting a baby blanket for a shower next weekend and continue assembling the lights for the shower all while watching some TV. iZombie and The Sound of Music special with Diane Sawyer .  

11:00- tv off, clean up kitchen, get ready for bed. 

11:30- read a chapter or two of my book for book group. Daemon by Daniel Saurez. 

11:45- get distracted by games on my iPad. 

12:30- lights out and attempt to sleep. Probably fall asleep an hour later. 

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

The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M.J. Rose

Publication Date: March 17, 2015 Atria Books Formats: Hardcover, Ebook Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Mystery

  My Review
I am a big fan of MJ Rose's books and especially of those which follow Jaq L'Etoile, but also of her other books. I was very excited to get the chance to read this book, part of a new intriguing sounding series- Daughters of La Lune. As usual, I was sucked into the story from the very first page. 
Sandrine runs from her husband in New York to Paris and her grandmother, a famous and well respected courtesan. Her home, which she visited at the age of fifteen holds a special place in her heart and she is eager to return to it. However, Maison de la Lune is closed up and her grandmother fears that if Sandrine enters it will change her forever.
This book is full of intrigue, mystery and magic. The Witch of Painted Sorrows is set at the beginning of the Belle Epoque, when many of Paris's inhabitants were interested in the macabre and supernatural forces. Paris at this time is a wonderful backdrop to the story of Sandrine and la Lune.  
READ AN EXCERPT
Praise for the novels of M.J. Rose

The Witch of Painted Sorrows

"Rose's new series offers her specialty, a unique and captivating supernatural angle, set in an intriguing belle époque Paris: a perfect match for the author's lush descriptions, intricate plot and mesmerizing storytelling. A cliffhanger ending will leave readers hungry for the next volume. Sensual, evocative, mysterious and haunting." (Kirkus Reviews)
"A haunting tale of possession."(Publishers Weekly)

The Collector of Dying Breaths

"Breathtaking...combines fascinating history, torrid romance and a compelling mystery into a marvelous package that will entice fans of Anne Rice and Diana Gabaldon.î (Associated Press)
"A page-turning, alluring concoction of fiction infused with fantastical yet actual history. Readers will be charmed by her well-drawn and memorable characters, and they will be mesmerized by her enchanting narrative, which takes them on a mystical and magical journey." (Library Journal (starred))
"A terrific piece of entertainment." (CT Post)
"Wondrously original... elegantly written. Rose manages to utterly suspend our disbelief in a book that leaves us, appropriately enough, breathless." (Providence Journal)
"Mysterious, magical, and mythicalÖwhat a joy to read!" (Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants)

Seduction

"Atmospherically romantic and perfectly toned. Classy and elegant literary seduction of the highest measure. As wondrously crafted as it is original." (Providence Journal)
"Readers will be enchanted by M.J. Rose's supernaturally charged novel Seduction, inspired by Victor Hugo's self-imposed exile on the British island of Jersey in the 1850s." (USA Today)
ìHas just about everything a thriller fan could wish for.î (Philadelphia Inquirer)
ìFull of well-researched history, the paranormal, and modern intrigue, this atmospheric tale of suspense is fully engrossing to those willing to suspend their disbelief.î (Library Journal (starred review))

The Book of Lost Fragrances

"A compelling page turner...Once you catch a whiff, you will be enchanted." (Associated Press)
"M.J. Rose is a bold, unflinching writer and her resolute honesty puts her in a class by herself." (Laura Lippman)
"The Book of Lost Fragrances resonates with spirit, blending myth with reality, tragedy with triumph, pain with joy. You'll find yourself questioning everything you believe--and wanting more." (Steve Berry)
ìProvocativeÖa sweeping sense of romance [and] history.î (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

Buy the Book

Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes IndieBound

About the Author

New York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it. 

Please visit her blog, Museum of Mysteries at http://www.mjrose.com/blog/

Her photo was taken by Judith Pushett utilizing an old relic: a turn-of-the-century 11 x 14 inch wood camera.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

Her most recent novel THE COLLECTOR OF DYING BREATHS (Atria/S&S) was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and her next novel, THE WITCH OF PAINTED SORROWS will be released March 2015.

Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization's co-president..

Connect with M.J. Rose on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Sign up for M.J. Rose's newsletter and get information about new releases, free book downloads, contests, excerpts and more.

Click on the banner for the tour schedule.

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

The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore

The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 2015, William Morrow and Company

Source: provided by publisher for review, TLC Book Tours

About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore channels William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in The Serpent of Venice, a satiric Venetian gothic that brings back the Pocket of Dog Snogging, the eponymous hero of Fool, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff.

Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy of Britain and France, and widower of the murdered Queen Cordelia: the rascal Fool Pocket.

This trio of cunning plotters--the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago--have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of spirits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia.

But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve.

My Review

I have a limited history with Christopher Moore books, but the one I have read I loved. You Suck was hilarious and fun. It made me excited to read this book that was published last year. (It is now available in Paperback.)

Not sure if you know, but I love Shakespeare and Poe. Who doesn't? So how cool that this book draws on these two great writers? A little Merchant of Venice, a little Cask of Amontillado...

I understand the characters are from another Moore book, Fool, which I have not read. I was worried I would be lost having not read it, but I wasn't. So, no need to read that one first if you haven't already. You can if you like, though.

This book was fun...reminded me a bit of Monty Python. Similar absurdist, satirical humor. I really enjoyed it.

About the Author

Christopher Moore (born 1957 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American writer of absurdist fiction. He grew up in Mansfield, OH, and attended Ohio State University and Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA.

Moore's novels typically involve conflicted everyman characters suddenly struggling through supernatural or extraordinary circumstances. Inheriting a humanism from his love of John Steinbeck and a sense of the absurd from Kurt Vonnegut, Moore is a best-selling author with major cult status.

For more info on the book and author visit his WEBSITE.

Buy the Book

Amazon

IndieBound

Barnes & Noble

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Current Read and Teaser: Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Jill's Pet Sematary Read-Along is this month and I am totally engrossed in this book. I may be ignoring other books that I should be reading.  I have a month tp read this but will most likely finishes much sooner. Here is a snippet foreshadowing what is to come...

"Louis Creed came to believe that the last really happy day of his life was March 24, 1984. The things that were to come, poised above them like a killing sash weight, were still over seven weeks in the future, but looking over those seven weeks he found nothing which stood out with the same color." Chapter 35

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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

Pet Sematary Read Along

Jill of Somewhere in a Book is hosting a Pet Sematary read along this month. Yay. I love everything by Stephen King, and this is one book of his that I had not read before. So excited to read it now... and with friends! So fun.
I started reading last night and had a hard time putting it down. I read eight chapters. Not scary yet, so had no problem reading at midnight. Not sure if I will be doing that when the hubby is not here and the real scares begin.
The little girl is at school-time to read a bit more!

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

Seed by Lisa Heathfield

Seed by Lisa Heathfield Hardcover, 336 pages  Available March 2015, Running Press Teens
Source: Publisher for review
I have been a little obsessive these days reading about cults and fundamental Christian groups. 
Seed, fell perfectly into this topic for me. 
It is the story of a young girl growing up in a closed cooperative society. There is one "messiah" like father figure/leader. Many women who are there basically to procreate. And all are closed off from the outside world. 
Pearl feels as though she lives in a utopia. She was born into this world and knows nothing else and now that she is a woman, she hopes to be paired with Papa S, who is their connection to Mother Earth. 
It is when outsiders come to live with them, that Pearl begins to question their lives and beliefs. Is there something better? Is what she has been taught wrong? Perhaps the evil is within their walls not on the outside as they have been told.
Teens questioning their abusive, manipulative elders...nothing good can come of this.  Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.