The Fault In Our Stars; an emotional review

Today I read an amazing book, a book that deserves to be praised with words that outshine mine, a book that has to be incredibly haunting to those with the misfortune of being touched by the subject matter, today I read The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

I have been hearing/seeing how amazing the book is for months, months upon months. And like most good readers, and likely children of former librarians I am the type of person who always has at least 3 or 4 good books in their possession that they somehow haven't managed to schedule in and read yet. Instead I often re-read old books or seek out entirely new ones.

Everything I had heard about this book before finally picking it up and starting it was praise. So much freaking heaping praise you couldn't believe. Barnes and Noble gives it it's on little section in the store. It has two versions available in hardback (yet not available in paperback), a regular version and whatever the silver looking lining means about the deluxe version means. But anyway back to the praise, so much praise. On twitter, yes this is where late twenty somethings get everything from the news to book/movie recommendations from complete strangers who feel like friends, I follow a couple of writers whose books I love and other people in general whose lives I envy, and they are all like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS the best book of 2012, the best book ever, the BEST! And spoiler alert it's a tearjerker. It's a box of Kleenex as your constant companion tearjerker. No one ever once tried to hide the tearjerker nature of the novel from me, or as far as I can tell from the internet from anyone. Oh no those total strangers won't steer you wrong. The book also doesn't pull any punches, for the record the book jacket spells it out pretty clearly. "Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal,"

Ok so going into it you know the miracle has been used up and you are in for the beautiful sadness that remains. I devoured this book, probably the fastest I read 317 pages in a long time. I also decided to read a book that I was well, well aware was a tearjerker on my patio/balcony for all my neighbors to see. I'm not always the smartest girl in the world but I somehow couldn't resist the afternoon sun and so instead I decided to introduce myself to the neighbors by quietly sobbing for 3 hours on my balcony. At least I can hope they don't think I'm crazy and I am just really moved by Memorial Day.

I'm not going to spoil it for you. Really this book is too good to spoil. You need to read it, you need to feel like, you need to quietly sob on your metaphorical balcony. And spoiler alert unless you heart is made entirely of stone you are going to cry, probably sob. And yet you will love it and keep on reading until the end, the very very end.

P.S. This is actually classified as young adult novel. I read of lot of young adult novels, not because I  long to be a teenager again. Like gag me with a spoon if I had to go through that again, but simply after a certain grade reading level good books aren't classified by how much education you need to have achieved to understand it but rather by its subject matter. And I can say without a doubt I have read so many young adult novels that outshine "adult" novels in every way imaginable.

Accessorizing with Lynne

I got so many compliments on my outfit today I decided it must be documented. For the record my office is allowed to dress causal until after Labor Day- hence the jeans.

lips: fiery by tarte

eye shadow: combo of shag by Urban Decay and stray dog also by Urban decay

eye liner: zero by Urban Decay

blush: vibrant 24 by neutragena

 Here is the overall shot- I have been rocking the bright lip lately, unfortunately I haven't quite find one with staying power, this one looks good for approximately 1 hr or until you eat anything. But it is easy to apply and I like the color. Any makeup pros out there with tips for lasting lips? Also for the record the eye color and hair are God given (hair has much help from Rebecca @Bekahstyle)

head band: Gold Leaf goddess look- target clearance section

Like I said above the headband I found on clearance, and although I think it is a bit of a bold statement I went for it for a couple of reasons: I have paid more for a cup of coffee than this thing cost me, I think my dark hair really helped pull it off, and I am a goddess so I should look like it right? Only drawback it after 10 plus hrs of wearing it hurts- it is definitely made of real metal.

Necklace: Gift from Great- Grandma Johnson

I have had the necklace since I was about 15, my great grandmother gave it to me one Christmas, I distinctly remember her saying I probably wouldn't appreciate it then, but the beads were from the holy land and she wanted me to have it. Great Grandma was probably right, but I kept it, I loved it, it just took me years to learn how to properly accessorize with it. I remember the beads were from Jerusalem, but she never stated where the pendant came from, it looks so similar to the painted plates I remember from childhood: someone from my family must have painted it. When I don't double or triple it up, it hangs way past my waist. It is lovely and delicate and is a beautiful reminder of my great grandmother. I have always envisioned it as my something old on my wedding day- here's hoping it can still be.

earrings: forever 21

The earring are from forever 21- I am sure I didn't spend more than 1.99 on them. They have just the right amount of blue in them to go with a ton of my clothes. However they are gold and don't get that much wear due to my abundance of silver jewelry- if this headband gets a lot of wear, so will these earrings

Tang Top: Old Navy Clearance, Shrug Dress Barn

I got the blue and white tang top on super clearance at old navy- I paid less than 10 bucks for it, I have pared it with both the navy shrug in the picture and a white cardigan before, I like the navy look a bit better and I think it accessorized better.

Everything went with a dark wash jean (again from old navy) and gold sandals, although I like pairing red shoes with anything navy. Plus who doesn't love a pop of color with any outfit? I think this a pretty perfect outfit for a causal Friday, I don't really have the right shade of dress pant to pull it off during the week.

Meeting Loretta...

She's a beaut and she is all mine. I love her down to her very last inch and cannot wait to show her off to EVERY SINGLE PERSON I KNOW. So if i know you, you should invite me somewhere, and then I will show up with Loretta and things will be grand!

Lovely lovely Loretta...

It is hard to tell, because I take pictures at night, but she is really a lighter blue than this.

The amazing Robert Kibbe- who did someone a amazing work both finding and  bargaining for this car has promised to remove the dealer sticker for me!

I love her, you should met her. Yes so so much!

I agree, I so, so agree

Lourve him!

Please Ron Perlman, Please. My love for Guillermo Del Toro knows no bounds. My love for Hellboy is a very close second. So please Ron Perlman, PLEASE!

I located that charger, now you can locate cuties!

My car hit 150,000 miles on my way to Grandpa Johnson's

Laura and her (and mine) nephew Charley!

The lovely Family (reach for it Charley, reach!)

Charley and I chillin at Em's 4th birthday (thank you Greg for capturing this)

Emily turns 4!

were going vintage y'all

After a delightfully filling Buffet City dinner, Shea, Nicole and I came home to be lumps of the couch. While in the process of being lumps I turned on the tv and Baz Luhrmann's version of Romeo and Juliet was on the Fox Movie Channel. I happen to love this movie it takes me back, way back to six grade and Katie Petty's house. As I continued to tell Shea and Nicole the various reasons why I love this movie, they both confessed they had never seen this version of the movie. And I am all like what? Where were you in 1996? See I was in LOVE with Leo DiCaprio like maybe 18 months before every other girl my age was. Which rocks. But also kind of a curse with me I love something a lot, but when it hits super mainstream I resent all other who get on board. But now as time has passed I can LOVE it again. So this weeks Film Friday is vintage y'all. If you haven't seen this version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet you totally should.

I'm a grown up now.

Different people gage being a grown up in different ways. This is how I gage:
In the last year....
I went through a period of unemployment without having to seek assistance with my financials.
I stop waiting for someone else to care as much about my birthday as I did, and threw myself the best 25th birthday party I could imagine.
I went on a fabulous vacation (and crossed an item off my life list) by going to the Winter Olympics, just because I wanted to.
I turned 25 (lower car insurance rates).
I test drove a car for the first time, and sat through the "we want to get you in this car" speech without once being tempted to go for it, even though I really liked the car.
I got a job that I actually get excited to go to everyday.
I moved without my brother's truck or friends truck, but not without my brother's assistance.
I threw my back out.
I started to enjoy the taste of coffee for the first time.

What made you say- I'm grown up now?

I am so thirsty I could just quaff that down...

Again- courtesy of dictionary.com:

quaff

  [kwof, kwaf, kwawf] 

–verb (used without object)

1.

to drink a beverage, esp. an intoxicating one, 
copiously and with hearty enjoyment.

–verb (used with object)

2.

to drink (a beverage) copiously and 
heartily: We spent the whole evening quaffing ale.

–noun

3.

an act or instance of quaffing.

4.

a beverage quaffed.

Origin: 
1515–25;  orig. uncert.

—Related forms

quaffer, noun

outquaff, verb (used with object)

un·quaffed, adjective

—Synonyms 
1.  swallow, gulp, swig, guzzle. 

This week I am not sure I used it right, but I love it all the same. 

This is what a young cool girl does on the 4th of July

I didn't do anything fun. I mean I had fun but I imagine the average person looking in would have been: "What? That poor girl has no life" I cleaned the kitchen, did all my laundry, and completely rearranged my room. It's hard going from a huge 1 1/2 bedroom apartment all to yourself to a 2 bedroom apartment where one of the other rooms belongs to someone else. I have like 1/5 the closet space and twice as much furniture that needs to be in my room that can no longer hang out wherever I want it to. I used yesterday to essentially open Shea's Bedroom door and go "Oh yeah, that floor plan works better" and shamelessly copy it. (except you know with better style). Luckily for me Shea was out boating and didn't have to see me eying all his stuff. Now I have even space in my room to throw out my arms and twirl round and round. Because isn't that what every girl want for her room?

This is horrid

Horrid, is like my new favorite word. For sure. I have used it in like perfect context 4 or 5 times in the past week. I want everyone else to enjoy it as well. So here you go, from dictionary.com:

hor·rid

   [hawr-id, hor-] 

–adjective

1.

such as to cause horror; shockingly dreadful; abominable.

2.

extremely unpleasant or disagreeable: horrid weather; She thought her uncle was horrid.

3.

Archaic . shaggy or bristling; rough.

Friday night my siblings and I threw a retirement party for my Father and Step mom. I had a great time seeing everyone.- baby Charley is getting big- and is too darn cut for words. Dallas seemed all grown up to me, he was communicating with more words than the last time I saw him- and was so darn cute when he laughed. Plus he blew me kisses as he was leaving, my heart melted for sure. That little man is a going to be a lady killer. Emily is talking up a storm as usual. She and I both had yellow dresses for the party and we danced the evening away. By the time I captured this picture Emily and I might have been a bit sweaty- but really who wasn't? Dad and Barb were quite popular dozens of people braved the storm and heat to help them celebrate retirement!

Dallas loved wearing my glasses!

I got to the castle, but then I couldn't figure out to carry the toad...

The weather has either been a bit unbearable hot or super rainy therefore I have been using my free time at night playing Super Mario Bros on Wii. When we got the Wii way back in December this was the one game I insisted we own, having a few fond memories of it from childhood. Sadly I was super bad then, and I am super bad now. But I have played like three days straight and now on only 5 lives I can get through worlds 1-1, 1-2, 1-3  and most of the way through the castle. Right as your clear world 1-3 this message pops up and asks you to go back and save toad. I don't care about toad really, but I went back for him. I can't figure out how to carry him to the finish. It is frustrating. I just want to win. Any tips out there y'all?

A Guilty Pleasure... I dare you not to love

Here is the truth: I love Celine Dion. It isn't just an idle love, like I really LOVE her. Perhaps ten or fifteen years ago when she was all over the place in terms of popularity, I was too young and thought my musical tastes were too cool to include someone like Celine. But back then they included the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls. (Don't judge, they are still on the ipod) Now with a massive sweep a maturity I love Celine for exactly who she is. And she is awesome. Part of my reawareness of the awesomeness that is Celine Dion came a couple years ago. I was watching a Kathy Griffin stand up special where she talks about her love and experience meeting Celine. It suddenly made me realize you can make fun of someone and still love them all at the same time. I dare you to listen to any one of her greatest hits and not love her. So that is why when earlier this week she announced she is pregnant with twins was a genuinely excited and please for her and her family.

ABC i am really starting to Hate you...

I know, I know... the very few people who read my blog don't watch Lost. Even though I have tried again and again to convince you to. But Sunday was pretty momentous - it was the series finale for Lost. It was great, maybe a little to uplifting but thrilling and satisfying all the same. And then ABC went and ruined it all by shoving in random shots of the original flight 815 wreckage after the LOST screen. Which left millions of us going huh? You mean they died at the beginning and this was all imaginary? Personally I went a different way and assumed, incorrectly that the Ajara flight piloted by Frank Lapdis crashed. But alas no- ABC is beyond silly and did this. And then we all debated for 3 days before they cleared it up. If I was anyone from the production team of Lost I would be mighty might pissed right now. Whatever, this clearly means i am too involved.

Happy Birthday Laura

Not to be forgotten in the new baby news- it is Laura's Birthday today. She is pretty freaking cool and the best sister I could ask for. Happy Birthday!

Ladies Man... yes already

New discoveries, old objects....

So I have Directtv. It is one of those things that was vaguely influenced by my love of Friday Night Lights, and my hate of Mediacom. (for all non directtv viewers, FNL has started to air on NBC, on friday's natually, this week. And it is So, SO, SOOOOOO good. Do. Not. Miss. It!) You remember when I hated Medicacom right? They still mostly blow, but I use them for the Internet still. Because apparently have issues letting go, but alas I will never trust them with my precious DVR needs again! Never!

Well now I enjoy the almost always trustworthy DirectTv with all my viewing needs, and although I have had them since December I have only recently began to enjoy the fact that I have BBC America! Do you have any idea how many fabulous programs play on BBC America? It is like crazy good. I LOVE LOVE Doctor Who- I am seriously crushing on Matt Smith (the new doctor) If you are able I 100% suggest you check it out.

We have also had a Wii since December, but I only recently discover live streaming from netflix through the Wii- and I maybe spent several hours today watching fabulous movies instantly though my fabulous tv and Wii. It rocks. So do I.

Veishea 2010

Film Friday

Here is a blast from the past for some of my loyal readers- Film Friday. I watched this last weekend, mostly i hated it, I mean these kids were horrible to their dad. Like super really bad. I will now laughingly tell you it is described as a comedy (and i am not laughing at the jokes, just the idiot how tried to market that way). But still at the end I was crying, tears a streaming down my face. So I don't recommend it, because it was mostly awful but heart wrenching in the end.

This movie also had tears streaming down my face, but in a much more positive way. On my last plane trip (the one where I purposely brought along no emotionally charged books so I wouldn't end up weeping on public transportation, again (because it happens frequently) the in flight movie- moved me) I saw this gem. Maybe I have a soft spot for Clive Owen and red head children, or maybe it was just really good. I recommend!

to look or not to look...

Have you noticed the gorgeous weather out lately? I have basically been trying to make my spring/fall coats work for me since I returned from the Olympics. It was rough in the beginning but lately I might even get to throw off the shackles of a simple coat! Yay!
Tonight I finally decided it was time to put away the winter coats for good. I know two simple things about this process 1). it is completely tempting fate and saying "hey snowstorm come on down, because now everything I own that could remotely keep me warm is tucked far far away." And 2). do you look in your pockets now or wait until you pull the coat back out again and search them? some of the best things about it getting cold out in the fall is being able to pull your coat out and make a buck or two, maybe even more!
Tonight I was unable to resist the sound of things clattering in my pockets and found a $1.50- I was mildly surprised and happy, but part of me can't help wondering if I would have been jumping for joy if I found the money next fall instead....