"Coffee Date"

Happy Tuesday! I hope you survived Monday and that the rest of the week is looking good...

Photo cred

If we were having coffee:
I would tell you I can't believe February is over! This year is flying by...

I would tell you I am glad The Voice is back on! I "heart" Adam! Blake cracks me up. I love Gwen's sass. And Alysha - what an amazing talent!

I would tell you I am SO excited baseball is back! I have entered so many contests to win Cubs Opening Day tickets. (I won't win, but....if I don't enter, I can't have a chance of winning!) I know I am going to one game this season and we will see if any others open up!

I would tell you that the weather has been crazily amazing this "winter". Northern Illinois got no measurable snow in January or February. That doesn't mean we are out of the winter danger zone but it's been pretty great not to scrape windows!!!

I would tell you that I am putting together an author feature series for my blog. If you know an author who might want to be interviewed, please send me an email. (jenmcgee34@yahoo.com)  Thank you!

I would tell you that teenage angst and drama is a REAL thing! I can't tell you how many days in the past week I have gotten to wear the "Worst Mom of the Day" sash and crown. I wear it proudly but some days I wish I didn't have it so often.

I would ask you for book recommendations. I have an endless to read list but am always looking for more to add to it.

I would wish you a GREAT Tuesday!

Monday Musings - The Oscars

This is the only awards show I sit and watch in its entirety. I love the movies* and enjoy Hollywood's glitz and big night.

We watched about an hour of the Red Carpet. Lots of pretty dresses and tuxes...some - not my style or liking, but to each their own.

Here are some of my favorite dresses:

Nicole Kidman

Emma Stone

Charlize Theron

Viola Davis

Jessica Biel

Octavia Spenser

Justin Timberlake rocked the opening act-what a great way to open the show! Well done, sir!

Jimmy Kimmel did a great job as host! He was funny and for the most part kept things moving. There were candy drops; tweets; tourists (we LOVED Gary from Chicago - he was hilarious!); Matt Damon...

(This clip is pretty long):

Yes, there was a "plot twist" at the end of the show with the Best Picture award. I thought it was handled graciously and with humor.

Congratulations to the nominees and winners!

*I am a pretty lighthearted movie watcher and don't usually see most of the nominees and nominations.

Movie reviews

We rented two movies last night.

This is based on a teen book of the same title. A group of "Peculiars" lives in a loop of time to keep them safe. How will a stranger effect their lives?

I give this 3 stars.

Based on the "Miracle on the Hudson" events and the hearing that follows for the pilot, Sully.

I give this 4 stars.

Happy Oscar weekend.

It's ALMOST Friday!!!!

What kind of dots dance?

Polka dots

***************************************

What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down?

It gets toad away.

***************************************

What did the duck say when he bought lipstick?

"Put it on my bill."

***************************************

Why was six scared of seven?

Because seven "ate" nine.

Happy Thursday!

Book review - The Princess Diarist

My rating: 4 stars

Genre: Memoir

I am not a big Star Wars fan. I really enjoyed this book. Carrie Fisher is (was) pretty honest... It is a great look at how she "became" Princess Leia and how it changed her life. It's wonderfully written.

My disclaimer for those easily offended, she does use quite a bit of adult language.

WILW

It's that day again! Happy Wednesday!

Here's what I'm loving this week:

*Beautiful sunsets the past week

*We got a cupcake shop in town! Their lemon and red velvet are to die for!!!!

*Beautiful weather means parking lot lunches - sandwiches and a book. You can't beat that in February!

*This:

*She turned 13 on Sunday

*Potential photo clients are starting to contact me. I'm hoping to book some shoots this spring.

*Reading blogs

*Baseball is back in season

*My husband & kids keeping me on my toes - they are so silly sometimes

*Have I mentioned the amazingly awesome weather we've had the last week?!  ;)

*I have been able to wear my skirts and dresses and not freeze to death.

*My sister in law in Florida hoping to get "one more day of boot weather" while I am wondering where our sandals are for today.

*Coffee!!!!!

What are YOU loving this week?

Travel Tuesday, California 2016 - The One with Hollywood & Universal Studios

So we decided to drive from Joshua Tree back to L.A. and we would stop to "see the sights" in Hollywood. Unbeknownst to us...they were taping the Hollywood Bowl Christmas parade that night. So the important blocks of Hollywood Blvd were closed, so no Chinese Theater, some Walk of Fame stars were covered. BUT they had some cool movie cars lined up for the parade so we got to see those and Young Miss found some stars she wanted to see.

The one star she was DYING to see - Daniel Radcliffe (aka: Harry Potter) was literally half covered by a set of bleachers. Sigh....

 

 

 We all got our picture taken on the "Casting Couch" at Hollywood & Highland Center

 

 

 

Then it was off to our first surprise for the kids. We were staying across the street from Universal Studios. OH yeah...and we have tickets for a couple days there.... The look on Young Miss' face was priceless! ESPECIALLY when she found out we had snuck her Harry Potter robe and wand along too.

 

 

Our first night there we went to Citywalk for dinner and to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

We took the Universal Studio Tour and enjoyed it!

 

 

 

There were several things filming that day:

Home & Family (Hallmark Channel)

The Voice

They were setting up sets and streets for Hairspray Live to air the coming week

We saw the Waterworld show

 Met the Minions:

 Took in the holiday decorations:

 

 

 

  

We had a good time in Hollywood and Universal Studios.

Monday Musings, volume 3

Good Monday morning! For those of you with the day off for Presidents' Day - enjoy!

I hope you all had a nice weekend. The weather here was PERFECTION! It was sunny and upper 60s all weekend. That is unheard of for mid-February.

Saturday we soaked up sunshine; did a little reading and photo editing. I have been working on some travel photos and bombarding my Instagram with them.

Yesterday, Young Miss turned 13. How it possible that we have an "official" teenager?! We went to see the Lego Batman movie and grilled out a late lunch. Then I took her for a photo shoot (which she was "thrilled" [insert teenage eye roll here] about...but she did great)

 Just being silly!

And now for a little randomness:

*The Oscars are this Sunday. I always watch them BUT I am SO afraid that they will become a political arena and spoil the fun!

*I started reading a Murder She Wrote (yes, like the older TV series) book and am LOVING it! I may have found a new series to read through!

*I will be putting up some of our travel photos I've been working on over at my photography blog this week - stay tuned.

*You can follow my Twitter and/or Instagram (@cubsfan3410)

What did you do this weekend?

Book review - Rome is Where the Heart Is

Publication date: March 9, 2017

Publisher's synopsis:

'I'm fully in love with this story and Alessandro is my new book boyfriend!' Darcy's Book Blog

Can a holiday romance ever have a happy ending? Escape with Kate to the sun-drenched city of Rome where a love affair is just about to begin …

When Kate’s husband Matt dumps her on Friday 13th she decides enough is enough – it’s time for her to have some fun and so she hops on a plane to Rome. A week of grappa and gelato in pavement cafes under azure blue skies will be just what the doctor ordered.

What she doesn’t count on is meeting and falling for sexy policeman Alessandro. But the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly – Alessandro has five meddling sisters, a fearsome mama and a beautiful ex Orazia. They’re all certain that Kate is not the girl for him.

Can Kate and Alessandro’s love last the distance? Or will she return home with the one souvenir she doesn’t want – a broken heart …

Fall in love with the colourful cafes and the cobbled piazzas of Rome and follow Kate’s dreams and her heart in this enchanting escapist read. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Carol Matthews.


Genre: Chick Lit


My rating:
4 out of 5 stars


My feelings:
I loved this book from the first page. I cheered for Kate all the way and loved all the shenanigans she gets into. I enjoyed the secondary characters too.


Please make sure you pick up this book - it was really fun!

Five on Friday

I am linking up again this week with: Christina, April, and Natasha for another edition of:

This week I am going to share my 5 work outfits from this week. I am NOT a fashionista! I just try to look presentable.

A lot of my clothes come from resale/secondhand shops; someone's "castoffs" and Goodwill. I'm not too proud to wear them!

(Please excuse the bathroom selfies - it's the only full length mirror I have access to)

Monday I wore my loose fitting purple top and black pants and flats.

I also wore a combination of my bracelets and bobble earrings.

Tuesday it was upper 40s so I decided to break out one of my new skirts to wear.

The cardigan is a castoff from a coworker.

I also wore a combination of my "gold" bracelets

Wednesday is another comfy day.

The cardigan is from Goodwill; black pants & loafers I have had forever.

A Charming Charlie bracelet and sparkly earrings that were a gift several years ago.

Thursday I went with a faux wrap shirt (a Goodwill find from a while ago), black pants and flats.

My bracelet is probably from Wal Mart and my earrings from Clothes Mentor.

Friday is "casual day" at work, so that means jeans and a nice top!

After trying on about 6 different shirts this morning, this is what I am wearing.

The top and jeans are from Clothes Mentor

My bracelets are from Disney World and Game Day Feels and my necklace was picked up on our travels (made by a blacksmith)

Wishing you all a great Friday and weekend ahead!