Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

I get teased by my book club members that I remember all the characters and plots of all our books.  Just so I never forget, I thought I would write a mini review of our picks going forward.  Our book club just finished a fun book last week, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.  This book was actually recommended to me by my Aunt Patti and I had been itching to read it.  I was thrilled when it ended up being the pick for this month.  In a weird way, I summarized this book as a mash up between White Oleander and The Help - 2 books that I really loved.  Saving CeeCee has the same unbelievable moments of a mentally ill mother just like White Oleander does but in a much more heartbreaking way.  CeeCee loses her mother to her mental illness and is forced to relocate from Ohio to Savannah.  Here is where the the mash up where The Help comes in.  The 1960s southern hospitality that CeeCee is thrown in to made me jealous.  Every time the author would describe various foods she was eating, I seriously got hungry.  CeeCee is able to make friends with some great southern women that it reminded me of the memorable characters in The Help.  If you are looking for a fun read with a happy ending, this is a book for you.  At the end of the book, I was left wanting a little more drama and plot development, but all in all I was still glad I read it.  

366: Week 4

366: Week 3

Get a Hobby!

For any of you of Real Housewives fans, you may remember that line, "Get a Hobby" from The Real Housewives of NYC - famously said by Bethenny Frankel to Jill Zarin.  However, this post is not about the Real Housewives, it is about hobbies!

January is National Hobby Month.  Yay!  A lot of people ask me how I have time for a blog, book club, my photography and crafts and the answer is pure and simple - I make time.  Many people only think of resolutions or better yet diets when it comes to January.  This January you could start thinking about a developing a new hobby or rekindling your love for an old one.  The month is only half over and quite frankly the year has just begun!  If you are looking for inspiration, check out Pinterest, go to Hobby Lobby, or surf the internet for something interesting.  You don't have to spend tons of money or even tell anyone about your new hobby.  Remember, hobbies are not just crafts or DIY projects.  Hobbies can be any activity or interest outside your job that is done primarily for pleasure.  Happy Hobbying!

366: Week 2

366: Week 1

Renovation Reality

A few weeks ago, Brad embarked on a hefty goal of installing hard wood floors in our dining room & living room.  He did this once before when he lived in a townhouse in Naperville so he was confident that with the right tools he could crank this out in a week.  

 Before

 Ripping out the carpet

 Progress

All done!

The Renovation Reality is that Brad finished about the half the room and then had to call in some back up.  Who knew how hard it would be to try to work all day and then come home and install hard wood floors?  The floor was finished by Christmas Weekend as promised and then the room was all put back together by the New Year.

365: Week 52