Me Night

Does it still count as a girls' night if it's just me? Ha ha. Brad is out of town helping a friend, so to distract myself I am having a 'Me Night'. I painted my fingernails and toenails (don't mind my ugly feet), got me some Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, and am watching one of the ultimate chick flicks, Never Been Kissed. I practically have this movie memorized.

Anyways, after a long day of cleaning and studying, it's nice to chill. The only thing missing is my Brad. Can't wait for him to be back home!
Yours,
Cait

Let The Rain by Sara Bareilles

I wish I were prettyI wish I were braveIf I owned this cityThen I'd make it behave
And if I were fearlessThen I'd speak my truthAnd the world would hear thisThat's what I wish I'd do
If my hands could hold them, you'd seeI'd take all these secrets in meAnd I'd move and mold them to beSomething I'd set free
I wanna darken in the skiesOpen the floodgates upI wanna change my mindI wanna be enoughI want the water in my eyesI wanna cry until the end of time
I wanna let the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come downLet the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come down tonight
I hold on to worry so tightIt's safe in here right next to my heartWho now shouts at the top of her voiceLet me go, let me out, this is not my choice
And I always felt it beforeThat the world was filled with much moreThan the drowning soul I've learned to beI just need the rain to remind me
I wanna darken in the skiesOpen the floodgates upI wanna change my mindI wanna be enoughI want the water in my eyesI wanna cry until the end of time
I wanna let the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come downLet the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come down 
I wanna let the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come downLet the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come down 
I wanna let the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come downLet the rain come downMake a brand new groundLet the rain come down tonight

Addicted

I am the kind of reader who will read anything! I really will. I love fiction, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. You name it, I'll read it. But lately? I am totally addicted to gritty high school/college romance novels (mostly college ones). It all started with Easy by Tammara Webber (I reviewed it in July's book edition). That book was awesome and I have not stopped thinking about it since! In fact, I really want to reread it.
Ok, so technically, I read Beautiful Disaster before Easy, but Easy was ten times better and what really got me going on this book trend. I just finished Crash by Nicole Williams, which is more on the high school spectrum, but ends at the beginning of college. Another great find! I'm onto the sequel, Clash, and am in so much love/hate with this book!
I have been all over Goodreads and Barnes&Noble.com searching for more books like these. I'm not technically allowed to purchase any books right now (it's a long story, but basically I am supposed to read all the ones I own first. Crazy, huh?), so I have been downloading a ton of free books and samples of ones that look promising. I don't know what's come over me, but this book trend has got me totally addicted!
Any good books like this you want to send my way? Go right ahead!
Yours,
Cait

Books: August Edition

You guys, I only read three books in August. Can you believe it?! I'm a little ashamed. I don't know what happened. I really wasn't too busy. I worked some extra hours at work, and started school on the 27th, but that's it! Oh well. Here's what I read in August.

First I read a book called My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking. Here's a synopsis (from bn.com):

Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows.

Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him.

Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

Want my serious opinion? I just could not wait to finish this book. And it was torture. When I read the last paragraph, I literally looked up and said to Nikki (who I was working with at the time),"Thank goodness, it's over!". This book was a terrible Twilight rip off, there was no romance, and the main character was as spineless as you can imagine. I am definitely not investing more of my time into reading the sequels! Two out of five stars on this one.

Then I read The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll. Here's a summary:

From Brittany’s misty shores to the decadent splendor of Paris’s royal court, one woman must fulfill her destiny–while facing the treacherous designs of Catherine de Medici, the dark queen.

She is Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, one of the Cheney sisters, renowned for their mystical skills and for keeping the isle secure and prosperous. But this is a time when women of ability are deemed sorceresses, when Renaissance France is torn by ruthless political intrigues, and all are held in thrall to the sinister ambitions of Queen Catherine de Medici. Then a wounded stranger arrives on Faire Isle, bearing a secret the Dark Queen will do everything in her power to possess. The only person Ariane can turn to is the comte de Renard, a nobleman with fiery determination and a past as mysterious as his own unusual gifts.  

Just a note, this book is very loosely based on historical events, and the author says so before the book even starts. Knowing that, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the author's writing, which was descriptive, but easy and fast to read. The plot line kept my interest and I loved the perspective the author took on magic in the Renaissance. I enjoyed her unique characters, and did really like the main man, the Comte de Renard. I thought he was fiesty, funny, and your classic knight in shining armor. I am very excited to read on in this series. Four out of five stars for this one.

Lastly, I read Deerskin by Robin McKinley. This is a story based on a rather dark old fairy tale, and since I love Robin McKinley I decided to try it out. Here's a summary:

 

As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen--but this seeming blessing forces her to flee from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog, Lissar discovers a world of magic where she finds the key to her own survival. 

As I said, this story covers some dark subjects, but in a way that isn't harsh or abrasive. The main focus of the story was healing and Lissar discovering how to live her life again. As a dog lover, I especially loved the way McKinley wrote about Lissar and Ash's relationship (Ash is her dog). There was a bit of romance, which I loved, and I really enjoyed when Lissar finally takes a stand. McKinley can sometimes be a little long winded, but all in all, it was worth it. Four out of five stars for this one. 

Hopefully I can read more books for September, but with school starting I might not get through more than two a month. We will see! 

Yours,

Cait

Oh, Hey

So August is nearing a close, only about a week left. August is a weird month.. I always feel like it's just a transition month leading me from summer to fall. Which means school. Ha ha. I think I am excited that school starts on Monday. Honestly, not sure. This semester hopefully will be ten times better than last.

I am just going to go into it with the best attitude possible and prepare myself to work my butt off. I am going to try working better with my schedule, as I've already said that time management is my issue. I downloaded a neat scheduling app on my iPad, so I'm going to stick to that as much as I can to keep myself on top of things.

The good thing about this semester is I already think I will enjoy my classes. Most of them are in the internet technology category, which is my fave. I do have a digital audio essentials class that could be yucky, but until I actually get into it I will try not to judge. Otherwise, I am getting more excited as school gets closer!

Also, unrelated to school, my friend Nikki got a new job so I wont be working with her anymore. Sadness! We have been such good coworkers and friends that it will be very hard to see her go! Luckily, her finding a new job doesn't mean our friendship will end. I don't think it's possible for another coworker to be as awesome as Nikki!

Yours,
Cait

Wicked the Musical!!

Oh my heck, I cannot even keep up with my life! And honestly, I have not been all that busy. I obviously just have terrible time-management skills when it comes to my personal life. Fail.

Anyhow! Back in April (or March? No, I think it was April. I think.), Brad bought us tickets to see Wicked at The Capitol Theatre for our anniversary/my birthday. I was so thrilled and excited, because first of all, Wicked is one of my favorite musicals ever, and second, what a sweet husband I have!

This would be the third time I have seen Wicked, and each time has been extremely memorable and amazing. The first time, I saw it with some of my best high school friends at The Pantages Theater in California on our junior year choir trip. The second time, Brad and I were on our honeymoon in New York and got to see it on Broadway; seriously, amazing.

Somehow, my Uncle Jeremy got tickets for him and my Aunt Kris the very same night Brad did! So last Saturday afternoon, we headed up to Salt Lake to meet up with Jeremy and Kris for an awesome, Wicked night. We went out to dinner at a chic little place called Trio and it was delicious. I had their cheese ravioli with butternut squash sauce... oh my, it was divine.

Then we headed out to the theater (after dessert and coffee, of course). I have never been to the Capitol Theatre before, at least that I can remember (apparently, I had been there when I was really little), and it was so neat and classic inside. I love the old theater look, with the gold fixtures and plush carpets. I couldn't wait for the show to start!

Even seeing it for the third time, Wicked still took my breath away. The set was spot on and just so amazing and the costumes had that perfectly wacky Oz look. One of the most magical things is the music, of course. I practically have the entire thing memorized, but hearing it performed live is just wonderful.

And the story is beautiful. I love everything about it. If you haven't seen or heard about Wicked, it's about friendship, most of all, as well as standing up for what's right, finding beauty in the most unassuming places, and it is also a bit of a love story. The friendship between Glinda and Elphaba is just inspiring.

I loved every minute of it! I didn't take pictures myself, but here are some just to show what the musical is about. Hope you enjoy!
Yours,
Cait

Books: July Edition

Hey y'all, it's time for my July book reviews! I read a ton of books this month, so I will try to keep it short-er than usual. Ha ha. Note the word 'try'.

First I read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This book is about a boy and a girl from two completely different neighborhoods who lead very different lives and yet are drawn to each other in spite of it all. I loved that it felt so real, the characters were vibrant and easy to relate with, and it wasn't one of those teenage romances where everything is perfect and fluffy. Five stars for this one, I loved it.

Then I read Leaving Paradise, also by Simone Elkeles. In this one, a teenage girl is still healing from being hit by a boy who left a party drunk. He has been in jail for a year, but has now been released and their lives are about to collide again. This book was heart-breaking and I couldn't put it down. Four stars, because I really enjoyed reading this book.

I read Highland Knight by Hannah Howell after that. I'm not going to lie, it took me what felt like ages to get into this book. The writing was a struggle for me. This is a romance set in France and Scotland, with a great cast of characters. Once I got into it, I could not put it down. I give this one five stars.

Then I read a Pubit book called His Eyes, by Renee Carter. I swear I read this forever ago on Fiction Press, so it was a little like deja vu. This one is about a girl who is hired to 'baby-sit' a boy her age who is blind after a horse jumping accident. The writing was decent, but the main characters drove me nuts with their terrible decisions and inability to stand up for themselves. Three stars for this one, it was only okay.

After that I read another Pubit book called Slammed by Colleen Hoover. In this book, a girl and her family move to a new state and she immediately starts to fall for their sweet, handsome neighbor. Unfortunately, they find out something that could keep them from being together forever. The only thing I didn't like about this book was there was too much death, too many parents who were dead. However, the rest of it really was wonderful so I give it four stars.

Next I read Easy by Tammara Webber. This is probably my favorite book I read all of July. First of all, what a beautiful cover! I instantly wanted to read it for that reason alone. Jacqueline, our main girl, follows her high school boyfriend to college, only to find herself dumped in their sophomore year because he wants to date other girls. Then one night at a frat party, one of her ex's frat brothers tries to rape her and she is rescued by stranger. This book is about college, falling for two boys at once, and standing up for yourself. I couldn't put it down, and there were so many twists and turns to keep me questioning the story. Five stars on this one, and I would highly recommend it.

Then I read The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti. This book is about a high school girl who is trying to deal with her anxiety and does so by watching the Elephants at her local zoo. One day, a boy in a red jacket appears and she is instantly drawn to him. I loved that this book was about young love, but also about dealing with real issues like anxiety and family problems. It was a terrific read. Four stars for this one.

 After that, I tried another book by Hannah Howell called Highland Wolf. This was another Scottish romance about a Laird who is wrongfully accused of the murder of his wife and is forced from his home. Finally he returns, determined to reclaim his home and his daughter. This book was alright, but there were many similarities with Highland Knight and by the end I just wanted it to be over. Three stars for this one.

Well, that's all my books for July! Hope you enjoy and maybe try a few out!

Yours,
Cait