Book Love

I love reading great books but hate wasting time on books that are just "so-so". I heard about the book "Divergent" by Veronica Roth from a blog I follow. The blogger compared it to being as good as "Hunger Games", so I knew I must give it a go. On a side note, I loooove Hunger Games. Like re-read it, love it.  Anyways, the past 7-8 days in Iowa have been scorching hot, like above 100* hot. It had me in a funk, but gave me a good excuse to stay inside and read Divergent.

This book was great. It's the first in a trilogy series.  It is set in a post-Apocolyptic war Chicago where society is divided into 5 factions. The factions all represent a trait/characteristic that was meant to be kept and maintained to have a "balanced" and peaceful society that would not war and create major destruction.  The five factions are Abnegation (promotes and maintains unselfishness), Dauntless (promotes and maintains fearlessness, bravery and heroism), Erudite (promotes and maintains knowledge and constant pursuit of new knowledge), Amity (promotes and maintains Peacefullness), and Candor (promotes and maintains honesty). 

The book follows a 16 year old girl named Beatrice Prior. She grows up in the Abnegation faction. At 16, you choose which faction you want to be in, which is completely your decision, but you are given a test that tells you the faction that suits you best.  Will she change factions?? You must read to f ind out! haha, like that cliffhanger?  Anyways, I won't blab on about the rest, but you should read it. Its really good! I started reading the second in the series; its called Insurgent.

Here's a really good website if you want to get good, honest reviews before you buy a new book: http://www.goodreads.com/.  The site lets you rank and rate books you have read, gives you suggestions of books it would like based on the rankings you assign books, and you can read reader reviews of a variety of books. I like it and have found a couple books from the site.

Anyways, hope everyone had a good and happy Fourth of July!

Sara

Sisters.

Upon hearing some unbearably sad news tonight...I felt the need to gush on why I love each of my sisters so much.  Seriously, I am so thankful for each one.

LISA....Lisa is my "big sis."  The best kind...the kind that let me go to high school camp with her when I was a wee 8th grader.  The kind that included me when she had friends over.  The kind that hugged me and comforted me when I was being punished.  The kind that always took my side but told on me when I needed to be told on....get the picture?  As adults...she is a great planner and plans all of our girly outings.  She is gifted in hosting....for example: she doesn't get stressed out to have people over or have college students/family members live with her.  She is focused and a great runner because of it.  She is incredibly smart but completely humble.  She is drop dead gorgeous without an ounce of makeup on or hair done...AND she is that girl who doesn't even know it.

SARA...my Irish twin sister.  Sara is fiercely loyal...seriously, don't say crap about any of her people or she will go hog wild on you....no.holds.bar.  She is well-liked and the life of the party...everyone wants to hang out with Sara.  She is tactfully witty.  She is book smart but incredibly street smart.  She does NOTHING half-ass and works incredibly hard.  She is ambitious and fearless...her solo flight was in record time (according to me).  She can make her hair look fabulous with a pen or pencil.  She is an outdoorsy, girly, tom-boy, hook baitin', country girl in the city.

ALLISON....Allie, Allie, Allie.  The best word to describe her is sweeter than apples.  She is a WONDERFUL friend....I would genuinely like every aspect of her even if she wasn't my sibling.  She is extremely helpful.  She is a giver...not only of time and energy but also a very thoughtful gift giver.  She would do anything for anyone.  She is gifted in care...AND this is why she will be everyone's favorite nurse.  She is non-confrontational and a peace-maker.  I love hanging out with her because she is laid-back and go-with-the-flow.  She has the most amazing hair ever.  Also...my kidlets love her.

Leaving you with a goofy picture of my girls. I hope they grow up and love each other as much as I love my sisters.

Lots of lovin' going on here tonight....
Katie

Funky Funk...and some randomness.

Do you ever have those days where you feel like the whole world is against you?!  Even when you know it absolutely is not?!  I am pretty sure I have one or a few of those days at least once a month...if you know what I mean?!  I am on the struggle bus today...I REALLY LOVE TO BE JOYOUS AND POSITIVE...but today I am crabby and HOT!  I sound whiny and high maintenance...two qualities I cannot stand. 
Okay. Enough. Enough.
I really just want to take a quick second to share what I have been pouring myself into lately (besides my three amigos)!  I am finishing up our 2011 family photo album (aka my family blog turned into a photo book).  I use a software called BLURB.  Their books turn out really beautiful!  They are the first thing (besides my 3 amigos) that I'll grab if an Iowa tornado or house fire ever happen...really!  They are all of our little memories and photos bound into a keepsake.  I know when I am "90 something" I will love peeking through them! 
*My goal of completion was June...it is now July...hopefully I send it to print by the weekend! 
*Here is a glimpse of our 2010 edition.

Front cover...these pics do not do it justice!

Back cover.

Inside pages

What I stare at while I edit the book!

Well friends, on a completely different note...I have high hopes to go to Goodwill tomorrow!  Hopefully I will have some good finds for you!  In the meantime I will leave you with a picture of my wallet...definitely bought at Goodwill on my last visit for $1.50!

Perfect size and shape!  Plus neutral in color!

Sweating in my air conditioned home as we speak...
Katie

Random Thursday Travel Wishes

Ever since I saw the movie, The Beach, I have wanted to travel to Thailand. The country looks insanely beautiful and they have the Floating Market.

Doesn't this look gorgeous?!

Another place I would like to go is Greece...

And... Nova Scotia (my favorite childhood movies, Anne of Green Gables, was shot there).

And... locally, I would like to see Alaska and Boston.

Happy Thursday!!

Sara

Holiday High FIVE!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I am giving everyone a holiday high five in the form of 5 things I'm loving!  Gotta love my cleverness!  Here you go.
5. My hubby.  (I know blah...mushy, gushy!)  It's his birthday today!!  We spent tonight celebrating with our little family!  Here is a peek at what I got him...

This smells AHHHmazing! Manly yet satisfies my womanliness?! 

These are Target's version of the Under Armor boxer briefs...I can't vouch for the similarity in comfort or wear but they are $15 dollars cheaper than the Under Armor brand!!  They look great on too! ;) Sorry for posting your skibbies babe!

4. SMOOTHIES!  They taste like summer in the form of a drink and are insanely good for you too!  I am obsessed!

A whole lot of fruit, carrots, spinach, greek yogurt and ice!  YUMMM!

3. FRENCH BRAIDS.  I know sounds like a "mom do"  but I tried to copy cat one I saw on Pinterest and got some compliments on it...so I figured it can be to mommyish! 

The rear view!

creepy front-side view

2. TARGET CLEARANCE DRESS.  I found this dress at Target for $8.98.  I wasn't sure if I really liked it but I tried it on for Jon and he loved it....so, it found a permanent place in my closet!  It will be a great Sunday dress!

1. TEAM USA!!  I love the Olympics in general but I am CRAZY about the women's gymnastic team!  Seriously...not only are they amazing but I use to dream about being one of them!!  Sara and I were obsessed as kidlets!  We still are!

oh my word....LOVEEEEEE!!!!

Have a PATRIOTIC 4th!!  Get your Red, White and Blue on and wear it proud!!
GOD BLESS THE USA!
Kate

Red White and Blue

I truly love America and what it stands for. I love the entrepreneurial spirit, innovative nature and hard-work-gets-you-somewhere attitude that most Americans possess. I hope my generation doesn't grow into entitled Americans looking for a handout from big government, but starts looking back at itself asking, "What can I do for my country, instead of what can my country do for me?" THANKS JFK.

Here's what I wore to celebrate AMERICA today.

Red shirt and white leather belt is thrifted from Sal Army. Blue jeans are from F21.

Here's my nails--celebrating the USA all day erryday.

Have a happy Fourth!

Sara

Light Mint

Morning Folks!  It's the third of July and I am feeling VERY patriotic.  I will post about my clothing attire for work later on this week.

Here is a top I found at a garage sale with my friend Gina. We have a theory that the unpublicized sales are the best because they are not picked over, and boy, do I think we are correct.

These pictures aren't amazing quality (had my Dad snap the full length one--good job BJ!), but you get the gist. I wore this to church on Sunday morning. Usually the white shorts are cuffed but I figured that would be a bit risque to rock at church, so I unfolded them. Forgive me for the pleated lines and un-ironed shirt. I don't absolutely love ironing.  The garage sale that I found this top, I found another fuschia top and an electric wok! I will try and post on these later. I have been doing a crappy job at taking pictures lately.

Happy early Fourth of July! GOD BLESS THE USA!

Sara