House Rules by Jodi Picoult

So I had to post one more post before I went way MIA on my blog because I finished a book...I can't just not post a review when I finish a book...So enjoy my review! :) And then I'll see you after vacation!

When your son can't look you in the eye...does that mean he's guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do.

And he's usually right.

 But when Jacob's small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob's behaviors are hallmark Asperger's, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob's mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

My Review - So I pushed myself to finish this book before going on vacation because this will be the first vacation that I can take my Nook aka Herbie with me and not 4 or 5 books. BUT getting off track of the review...I say I pushed myself but it wasn't a painful push at all. In fact I enjoyed this book. It's not my favorite from Picoult and it's not my least favorite. I don't think I'll forget it anytime soon because of the characters and it had me guessing till the end. I knew something was going on with Theo but I didn't know what it was. I would have liked some more info as to what happened to Jacob as far as the trail goes AND what went on between Emma and Oliver after the trail was over. But overall it was a pretty good book. I give it 3 stars! And I'll always be reading Picoult's books when she puts them out!

MIA....

So I'll be MIA from the blog world for about two weeks...Maybe not that long...It's vacation time and although we aren't leaving for our actual vacation yet there is so much to do to get ready to go...Don't forget to check back to see all about my vacation and Maddie! :)

Sunday Stealing

Complete the Sentences:

Right now I'm feeling...happy because my husband is on his way home from work!

When I'm alone I feel...I don't mind being alone sometimes. But sometimes it makes me feel lonely.

When I'm surrounded by people I feel...overwhelmed. I wouldn't ever want to be in Times Square when the Ball drops!

One thing I hate is...stupid people and most of the time that's people who only think about themselves.

One thing I really like about myself is...that I'm pregnant! haha

When I'm feeling sad I...cry (I'm a cry baby and much more so since I've been pregnant).

When I daydream it's usually about...Maddie, vacation, and where we'll move to next and when it'll happen.

I'm afraid of...spiders! ACK!

I'm happiest when...I'm with Jamie.

One thing that really worries me is...it use to be losing Jamie, that was the thing that worried me the most. Now it's about my unborn child. I pray she's healthy and safe always.

If I could change one thing about myself it would be...are you ready??? My boobs, they're just to big! Sorry, you asked.

If I could be with anyone right now I would be with...ANYONE at all then I'd pick my Mawmaw and my Aunt Susie. I'd see them one more time and it'd be awesome. Especially my Aunt Susie, I wasn't able to see her before she passed away because I was out of town.

The family member I am closest to is...Other then my husband I'd say my Mom.

If I was really honest with my father I would tell him...hum....I love him! And he's a mean Daddy...hahahaha (A joke, he's not really)

One thing I regret about my life is...no regrets...God lets everything happen for a reason, if I regret it then I'm questioning what He's doing in my life.

If I only had one more day to live I would...eat something really good most likely but I can't think of what that'd be right off. Probably Schwa restaurant in Chicago.

If I was really honest with my mother I would tell her...I wanted some Oreo ice cream today and she's mean cause she didn't make it! hahaha (Another joke, she's not mean either)

One thing about me that nobody knows is...Well, if I tell it then everybody would know now wouldn't they.

I hope that someday in the future...I can be a stay at home mom.

When I think about my family I feel...very loved and blessed. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have a great family.

Something I'm really embarrassed about is...I'm not sure...

One thing about me I never want to change is...sounds shallow but right now I think my hair looks the best it's ever looked and I'd love for it to stay that way.

One thing I feel really proud of is...my husband...he's a great man, chef, husband, daddy-to-be, Christian, etc.

Blogsville has helped me to...meet new people.

One thing I like about blogsville is...meeting new people and seeing what others think. I also love comments! :)

Need some prayers please...

So I went and had my "big" ultrasound on Monday, July 11th. And then I went to the baby doctor the next day. This "big" ultrasound is where they take measurements of the baby and make sure she's growing at the pace she should be. They say they think she's fine but they want me to get a Level 2 ultrasound. It's more detailed and they can check everything. SO on August 2nd I'll go for this Level 2 ultrasound. Jamie and I both feel like she's okay. We've heard her heartbeat and seen her heart. And I feel more and more movement out of her, which is the coolest thing ever. AND we both know that God will take care of her. But if ya'll would please pray for my Maddie that'd be great. Thanks so much!

Six Word Saturday

Only a little longer till vacation...

So we're going on vacation very soon and I'm so excited. The few weeks of work before a vacation seem to take forever though.

Friday Fill-Ins & Five Question Friday (Even though it's Saturday!)

 

And...here we go!

1. I hold on and don't let go.

2. Jamie is someone I like to travel with because he's my husband and I like spending time with him. (PLUS he takes care of me really well!).

3. That day, was a great day!

4. Gonna have a baby this year. :)

5. Trust in the Lord, with all your heart.

6. Sleep but don't eat in the dark.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with my parents and having homemade Oreo icecream, tomorrow my plans include laundry, crocheting, and a cook out at church and Sunday, I want to go to church, spend some time with family, take a nap, crochet, and most likely grocery shop too!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)? Yes, because I'd want her to tell me if the roles were reversed. I don't mess around with cheating, it's an awful thing!

2. Soda in a can or a bottle? Doesn't matter as long as it's Mountain Dew! :) But I'd rather have it in a glass with lots of ice and a straw if you must know.

3. What do you wash first, hair or body? My hair, my face, condition my hair, and then wash my body. In that order, everyday. I read one time that if you wash your body before your hair then your dirtiness from your hair is just making your body dirty all over again! Don't know how much truth there is to that but I have my routine and I like it.

4. What advice would you give to any new momma? HUM...I'm not sure other then it's okay to tell your child NO. BUT I'm going to be the new Momma looking for advice, anyone have any? Please.....

5. What is your best hangover remedy? Don't have one because I've never been hungover. But the movie The Hangover was pretty funny.

Oh my gosh....100 followers!!! :)

I have 100 followers!! :) I'm so excited...I saw it earlier today when I was on lunch and I wasn't sure I was seeing it correctly. So I came back home tonight and here it was, still 100 followers!! Just wanted to say thank you for all who are following me and thinking my post are worth reading!! :) Thanks again, ya'll are what make me want to blog!

Pregnancy Highlights - 20 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 weeks - Half way there! :)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure...I've either stayed the same OR gained a few pounds maybe...Find out tomorrow...

Maternity Clothes: wearing them and loving it...I wore a pair of my pre-baby jeans the other day and they were so uncomfortable

Gender: A girl...Madelyn Rae "Maddie"

Movement: She's kicking and moving away. I'll feel it but I'm ready for Jamie to feel it! - Feeling Maddie more and more

Sleep: Sleeping good still...wake up every morning at 5am to run to the bathroom! haha

What I miss: medicine in general!

Cravings: Coffee, caramel. I didn't like caramel before I was pregnant and now it taste wonderful! Especially with coffee! OH yes...AND Mt. Dew - yummy goodness!

Symptoms: Indigestion a few times...other then that it's been great because I've gotten some energy back recently...

Best Moment this week: Seeing my baby girl again when I had the big ultrasound today. She's so cute! :) And we saw one of her feet!

Size of baby: 10.5 in, 12.7 oz

Baby is the size of a: Banana 

Hush Money (Talent Chronicles #1) by Susan Bischoff

They call their abilities Talents, and that's what they call themselves as well. Talents are people born with supernatural powers, feared by the population at large. Possession of an "unregistered ability" has become illegal, and those who are discovered are forcibly removed to government-run research facilities. They do not return.

And so the Talents try, as best they can, to keep their abilities secret-- some more successfully than others. For some, keeping that secret begins to define who they are. That's where Hush Money begins...

Be normal, invisible. Don't get close to anyone. Those are the rules to live by for seventeen-year-old Joss. She spent years as an outsider, hoping to hide what she is, until the new girl, Kat, decides she's friend material. Kat doesn't realize her mistake when she stands up for Joss against Marco, a guy who's been giving Joss a hard time since freshman year. Joss is horrified when these heroics lead to the reveal of Kat's Talent. Now she has an unasked-for best friend, who is the victim of an extortion plot by the school bully, who used to like Joss. And if all that weren't complicated enough, Dylan, Joss's long-time crush, is finally starting to talk to her. But as Marco's best friend, can Dylan be trusted at all? Can Joss keep her secret and still save her friend? And what's more important, staying safe or doing what's right?

Hush Money is a novel of approximately 50,000 words, and is rated PG-13 for strong language and one suggestive scene. It is recommended that parents read the sample provided by their retailer before purchasing this book for tweens/younger teens.

Can't get enough Teen Paranormal Romance? Check out indie authors Stacey Benefiel and Imogen Rose. And for more grown-up fare, try out Kait Nolan and Zoe Winters.

My Review - This book was pretty good. From the get go I liked Joss, Kat and Dylan and couldn't stand Marco. I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next book. And I'm still wondering what happened to the Talents that were in Impulse Control. Hum....

Spicy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

So earlier I posted that I was making Spicy Refrigerator Dill Pickles and that'd I'd post later...WELL...I've made one batch and the second batch is soaking...First here's the recipe and then I'll post pictures...

Ingredients - 
 
12 3 to 4 inch long pickling cucumbers (I'm not quiet sure how many cucumbers I used)
2 cups water
1 3/4 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh dill weed (I didn't do this)
1/2 cup white sugar (after reading the reviews posted on Allrecipes.com, I decided to bump it down to 1 Tablespoon of sugar)
8 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 Tablespoons coarse salt (I used Kosher salt)
1 Tablespoon pickling spice
1 1/2 teaspoons dill seed (I didn't use this at all)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste (I just sprinkled some in but I also used a jalapeno in my mixture for some extra heat - I like hot stuff!)
4 sprigs fresh dill weed (I just bought a packet of the fresh dill from the produce section and used the whole packet in the mixture)

Directions -

1. In a large bowl (I did mine in a big pot), combine cucumbers, water (I used hot water), vinegar, dill, sugar, garlic, salt, pickling spice, red pepper flakes, and jalapenos. Stir, and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, until the sugar and salt dissolve. (I also made two batches of the liquid to cover all the cucumbers and I actually thought about making 3 batches.)
2. Remove the cucumbers to three 1 1/2 pint wide mouth jars, placing 4 cucumbers into each jar. Ladle in the liquid from the bowl to cover. Place a sprig of fresh dill into each jar, and seal with lids. Refrigerate for 10 days before eating. Use within 1 month. (I sliced my cucumbers up so they are chip size. And then I just filled the jar up - of course I had to taste one or two or three...haha...And they are yummy...After I put them in the jar I ladled liquid into it and shut it and then put it in the refrigerator!)

And now time for pictures...........

Top - All of the cucumbers I had.

Bottom - All of those cucumbers sliced up.

 Top - This is the second batch...

Bottom - This is one of the jars from the first batch...They look pretty and they taste good too...Can't wait for some time to pass and they get more taste to them from being in the liquid.

 This was a super easy recipe and I'll be doing it again. They were/are yummy!

Six Word Saturday

Going to pickle some cucumbers today!

So my boss bought a bunch (and I mean a BUNCH) of cucumbers to work on Thursday and Friday. So I grabbed up a few, okay really two grocery bag fulls, and I'm going to try my hand at pickling. This is the recipe I'm going to use called Spicy Refrigerator Dill Pickles. I'm not a big pickle person usually and I really DON'T like cucumbers but I'm already wanting to taste these pickles. I'll try to post how they come out in a few days.

Pregnancy Highlights - 19 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure...go to the doctor next Tuesday...Don't feel like I've gained much, if any...

Maternity Clothes: Last week I bought a beautiful maternity dress, these black pants, a shirt, and another pair of pants...Love it all!

Gender: A girl...Madelyn Rae "Maddie"

Movement: She's kicking and moving away. I'll feel it but I'm ready for Jamie to feel it!

Sleep: Sleeping good still...wake up every morning at 5am to run to the bathroom! haha

What I miss: medicine in general!

Cravings: Coffee, caramel. I didn't like caramel before I was pregnant and now it taste wonderful! Especially with coffee! OH yes...AND Mt. Dew - yummy goodness!

Symptoms: Indigestion and Heartburn :(

Best Moment this week: Feeling so blessed and loved by all my family and friends! Maddie will definitely be a blessed little girl!

Size of baby: 6.0 in, 8.5 oz

Baby is the size of a: Mango 

 Another ultrasound picture from last Tuesday...Before we'd seen her left hand and both legs but up until this point we'd never seen her right hand! She's definitely showing it off there :) AND that's the difference between the 2D and 4D...Amazing...Isn't she the cutest??? :)

Impulse Control (Talent Chronicles #0.5)

In the world of the Talent Chronicles, kids born with supernatural powers are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a dangerous experiment has killed two young inmates and threatens others. Ethan, a shape-shifter, is reluctantly recruited by his best friend Karen, a telepath, and Elle, the unique Talent he has a crush on, to thwart the faculty's plans. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning.

"Impulse Control" is a short story of approximately 12,000 words and contains some strong language. Concerned parents are encouraged to read for suitability before downloading this title for tween/younger teen readers.

My Review - This book was short, sweet and pretty good. I liked reading this because I couldn't put it down and that's what I'd been lacking in the last book I read. I've already started the second book in the series and I'm looking forward to getting into it.

Six Word Saturday

Still excited, we're having a girl!!!
And...
I still have the best husband!!!
AND......
I am truly blessed and loved!!!

We're so excited, and I'm personally still in shock that it's a girl. I mean for the past 18 weeks I was convinced it was a boy. We'd picked out a name for a little boy and I was calling him a he when I referred to what actually was a her! I will never forget the day we found out she was a she! We went to a place called Watch Me Grow and had a 3D/4D ultrasound. Actually we'd thought when we'd first found out we were pregnant that it'd be cool to eventually go there. But then we found out that we'd be paying the doctor for the ultrasound to tell us the gender anyhow so we went to our parents and said how much is it worth to you! haha. They all said they'd pay their part and Jamie's aunt said she would pay ours. So I'd already had that day on the calendar at work as off and I told Jamie that we should go then. So his mom came to town to take part in this grand experience. (This is the first grandchild on both sides) We went on June 28th at 10 am. Jamie and I were taken back at the beginning just us two in hopes that the baby would show us the gender and then we'd call everyone in the room to show them. Everyone included: my mom, dad, grandma, Jamie's mom, dad, step-mom and aunt. Well, she wouldn't show us the gender because she had her legs crossed. So we decided instead of being in there the whole time by ourselves we'd call everyone in there and just find out together. I was getting kind of worried because she wouldn't show us. OH YES, we also had two people watching it live on the wonderful world wide web! They were Jamie's brother, Jason and his wife Heather. And then my best friend Erica over at Vicrace Designs. And then the lady said and there's the girl parts! My husband just leaned over and hugged me. I remember feeling so very loved and blessed and thankful all at once. He said it's a girl. I said I know we need to apologize to her for calling her a he/him all along! haha. What an amazing experience it all was. I would recommend everyone having this experience if they can.

And oh yes, I think we've decided on the name Madelyn Rae. :) And we'd call her Maddie.

Saturday 9: Take Me Back

Saturday 9: Take Me Back

1. Think of all your exes. Would you take any of them back? Um, nope that's why they are exes! I do wish them all, only the best in life.

2. If anyone came to your house on your "lazy days" what would you be wearing? My PJ's cause that's what's comfy (I'd love it if the world would wear PJ's normally - haha)

3. What's your favorite shirt? Right now probably my red or green maternity shirt. Otherwise it'd be my Hurricane Hockey t-shirt.

4. Have you ever been on your school's track team? Nope, I don't run.

5. Do you own a pair of Converse? Nope. I have before but not right now. I've learned to be about comfort and not looks!

6. Where are you at right now? Home Sweet Home!

7. Do you eat raw cookie dough? When I'm not pregnant I absolutely love it. But alas that was one of the many things I was told to stay away from.

8. Don't you hate when the radio ruins good songs by playing them over and over? Yes that or playing a remix of them. Can't stand majority of all remixes. And there needs to be a good 90's station where I live. OH, you didn't ask for all that did you!

9. Do you watch the news? Only occasionaly. I think there needs to be more positive "news" instead of all negative.
 

Book Blogger Help

I found it from Jen at Crazy-For-Books.com. She asks a different question each week and this week the question is....

"What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?“

My Answer - I read beyond the first few pages of a book only if the first few pages grab my attention. I love when I read a book and I'll get to page 25 and not even realize when I've read that much! I want to stop reading a book if, like this last book I was reading, it's 400 some pages and I've been reading it for a month and I'm only to page 200! I need books to lead me on an adventure and keep the pace going not drag on and on.

Friday Fill-ins

And...here we go!

1. Blue skies and sunny days (are usually hot as well! haha).

2. Going down memory lane is sometimes so sweet!

3. Kids are a gift from God.

4. Rest, reading, and doing nothing; these are some of the best things about vacation.

5. Love is so great when you are as blessed as me.

6. UM... submarine races.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with my sister, Jessi, and looking at baby GIRL stuff, tomorrow my plans include cleaning house (and of course laundry!) and Sunday, I want to go to church!

Bonding Before Birth by Dr. Miriam Stoppard

Bonding Before Birth combines up-to-the-minute research with enlightened and compassionate wisdom. This book explores what science knows about babies in the womb and explains why mother-baby bonding is so vital for the future well-being of mother, father, and baby. Dr Stoppard writes about the feelings that expectant parents experience during the first, second and third trimesters and promotes the significance of rites of passage through pregnancy, from adjusting to the changes that parenthood brings to celebrating your future as a family.

The emotional and psychological elements of pregnancy are often overlooked in favor of hard facts and scientific evidence. This book redresses the balance and turns its attention to the conflicting feelings of exhilaration and anxiety, dreams and fears that so often characterize the nine months of pregnancy and gives parents-to-be inspiring guidance through these uncharted waters.

My Review - It may be because I've been cramping myself with pregnancy information but this book didn't really have any new information for me. It was full of information but nothing new. Overall it didn't hurt or help to read it.