Obsession, like totally Obsessed

I am Obsessed. Out of my head and totally off of my rocker. I'm going on a girl's trip. IN 17 DAYS!!!

WHOO-HOO! I am so excited about getting away with the girls that I have already started packing. It's too bad I made the mistake of leaving the suitcase open on the floor. Now I have to wash everything again as Tata, our Jack Russel decided that it was the perfect place to take a nap. I so wish I had gotten a picture of that.

I've been shopping too. I love me some Target. I got a new swimsuit and a cover-up. On sale of course! You can't have one without the other. I bought all kinds of fabric to make some cruise wear for myself, but that's not going so well. I'm most of the way through one dress, it was meant to be a cover-up, but I'm not liking it so much. Hopefully, I'll like the next dress better.

Anyone have any cruising advice for me? Besides taking a chill pill so I can get through the next 17 days?

Review of Mercedes Lackey's Fortune's Fool

So, I'm drifting a little away from my goals for the Once Upon A Time Challenge. Not so much in content as to my goal to read new authors. But what is a girl to do when her favorite authors release new books? I am not known for my patience. ;-)

Mercedes Lackey is hands down one of my favorite authors. She is someone I can't wait to introduce my (not yet in existence) kids to. Her writing always has a moral to it. It's not "shove it down your throat-holier than thou" obvious, but it is there, easy to see. Whether it is a message of saving the environment or animals or simply how to be a better person by showing the cause and effects of your actions, the message is there and given through character that are easy to relate to. Fortune's Fool is no different.

Fortune's Fool is part of Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series. Pure fairy tales in the once upon a time but with more of a behind the scenes feel to it. The Characters in the series know that they are in a fairy tale world and what is expected of them, which gives them the chance to work with or against the 'tale. Fortune's Fool is an adaption of the Little Mermaid, sort of. If you can picture the Little mermaid with strong Russian fairy tale influence's. The Five Hundred Kingdoms series, Fortune's Fool included, fun fluffy romantic reads. So enjoyable to read on a lazy day.

Review for Eldest by Christopher Paolini

So I've finally finished reading Eldest by Christopher Paolini. It took me a little longer than I hoped, but my crafting/sewing life interfered with my reading time. But, Hey, that happens to all of us, right?

I was a bit leery of putting this one on my list. I really didn't enjoy Eragon. Sacrilege I know, but I felt that the storyline was weak and the characters plodded through it. Eldest, however, was much more enjoyable. The plot moved more quickly with a little more flaver and texture to the writing. I'm interested in seeing how the story progress in the next book.

One of these day's I'm going to learn how to write a proper review. Does anyone have guidelines on how/what to do?

Prelude to Trouble (with a capital T)

My Easter weekend was a blast. Zalebaby, Marathon Girl and I went to Tampa for the weekend. Ybor city, to be exact. Poor Zalebaby, we made him go shopping on Saturday. Lucky for him, he brought his camera. He took some really cool shots while Marathon Girl and I ransacked Urban Outfitter's.

Then trouble happened. Trouble came in 2 forms.

1. Zalebaby found the Tampa Brewery, which had a patio, so, what do you drink on a patio while sitting in the sun. Margarita's of course. Lots of them.

This started at 1pm. We were still there at 5pm, due to Marathon Girl's friend, Jewels. Jewels Lives in Tampa, and she joined us, oh, at about 2:30-3:00. I'm not sure when, as telling time was getting a little bit difficult at that point. She is a hoot! This was my first time meeting her and she had me rolling under the table I was laughing so hard.

We left the Restaurant around 5:30ish and weaved our way back to the hotel, so we could get ready for dinner. We got all glamed up and went to Samurai Blue for sushi, then to the Ybor City comedy club afterwards. Then we stumbled ourselves back to the hotel to pass out.

Even after a couple of aspirins and a bottle of water before bed, Sunday hurt.

The prelude part is I'm going on a cruise in May with Marathon Girl and most probably Jewels. The Hampton Girl, who is going on the cruise with me and MG can out party both of us. I have the feeling I'm going to need a couple of days off of work after the cruise to recover.

Review of Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

I've finished the first book for my Once Upon A Time Challenge. Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan was a lovely, quick read. It definitely belongs in the juvenile/teen category. It had all the best elements of a young reader fantasy, a slightly confused hero, the old teacher, conflict at home and different world to explore and learn to grow. I'd give it 3 stars (on a 5 star scale)

One of the parts that bothers me is Henry's (our hero's) home problem. Just because it is odd (his mother is having an affair with his father's female secretary, that's a new one to me) and that it really wasn't important to the story. All of that plot line could have been edited out of the story. It didn't have any affect on Henry's actions in the story. I would have liked to see Henry have to struggle more, grow a little more character. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would encourage my 8 year old niece to read it. Herbie Brennan has written a couple of other books in the series, I'll borrow them from the Library rather than buying them. Not something I would reread.

Next Up on my reading list is Eldest by Christopher Paolini. I've already started it, so it shouldn't take too much longer.