Saturday, May 28, 2011

New Book Club Book - The Search


So far I am LOVING this book! What's not to love when you have a book with dogs and a serial killer?? It doesn't get much better!

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life — a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare.

Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer — a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He’s the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon’s house, and he’s at his wit’s end.
To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can’t handle. Simon is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he’s a rugged and intensely private artist, known for creating exquisite furniture. Simon never wanted a puppy, and he most definitely doesn’t want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to the laws of attraction.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws and as Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands. . . .

My Son's Poetry...so talented:-)

beauty Knows no bounds


I wish I was shorter

I wish i was taller

I wish I was Larger

I wish I was smaller

the cries of our youth

the unbalance we dish out

creates a big soup

full of hate and doubt

So I ask all the girls

And I ask all the guys

to take one look and say

I like your eyes

Your hair looks nice

Your not fat

your not ugly

you dont need a spray tan

just take one step into the unknown

as you are

as the Lord God Almighty made you

and say I R who I R

I dont need to wear ten pounds of make up

I dont need to fry off my hair

if the guy doesnt like me for how i wake up

then surely, he just doesnt care

I can be beautiful in skinny jeans

I can be beautiful in In Seams

I can be beautiful!!!

So just please

Give me a chance

to show you my heart

without all the sand

and grime that makes it dark

A heart thats whole

And is beautiful to me

And to the soul

I hope you love me for who I set out to be.


The Epic of The Black Eagles


:: Black Eagle::

In silent agility we walk

Through the desert

through the Rock

Across the silent summer storm

into the darkness

cold or warm

We wave our colors

Black

held high

into the Darkening

Summer sky

our neck worn crowns

guide us too

the everlasting

way thats true

Three tests it takes

to see whose true

of heart

of life

Black eagles anew

Once past this worrisome phase

an era of light

the moonbeam rays

the smell of summer

and dark burnt skies

bring us closer together

as brothers

as guys


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Day 18-24 of 30 Day Challenge

This past week has been much better! I have been eating better...working out a little more (still not as much as I need to)...drinking lots of water....and really trying to watch my portion control. I have dropped a few pounds again...but want to do more then go up and down a few pounds. I am ready to really lose the weight and keep it off! I am making a trip to the grocery store this weekend and am going to load up and LOTS of healthiness!!! Summer is here...and I want to get in my bikini....it's cute.....:-) I will be in it before the summer is over...you can bet your butt I will:-)....or actually lets bet my butt...he he!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Singer - 5 months old!



Singer is growing like a weed!! I need to get some good pictures of both him and Bella:-) Maybe I will be able to do that this weekend. Joel got this picture of Singer while they were driving down the road...It's too cute! He LOVES hanging out the window and letting his ears and lips flop in the wind! I need to get a video so you can see how funny this really is! Oh how we love our boy...he has become a huge part of our family and is a sweetheart...but you have to watch him...he can be a sneaky little terd too:-)

2 Year Anniversary!!!







Well, we made it another year:-) I love Joel more every day. I love how are relationship has grown so much . We have been through some rough times...don't get me wrong...but that is what makes us who we are as a couple. I really enjoy spending my life with him, Thomas, Haley and Brenden. We have all grown very close over the years!



This year we decided not to go all out for our anniversary so we went out for dinner at a little lakeside place close to out house called The Oasis. It was really nice. They had jazz music playing and the view was beautiful. It made you feel like you were on the coast! The food was good too! I was surprised....usually places like that aren't very good...more about the view then the food...but I was pleasantly surprised:-)



I look forward to spending many more years with Joel. We have a long life ahead of us...and lots of great thing to do! I can't wait!!!!



I love you Joel Patterson...you are my life! I would be lost without you:-)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Day 15-17 30 Day Challenge

This week is going MUCH better!!! I am getting back on track and feeling good! I know that I probably won't see big results this week...but if I keep it up I will gradually see great results which is what I want to see!

Drinking lots of water
Eating lots of chicken
Staying away from anything fried
No sodas
No sweets
Exercising!


Need to eat more veggies...think I might go to the Farmers Market this weekend:-)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Weekly Menu 5/16/11 Healthier

Last week was crazy! I had so much going on...I didn't cook at all...I ate out every night! OMG! I am so glad things are back to normal. I really enjoy cooking supper for my family every night:-) This week I am going to focus on getting back on track by eating better...exercising...and drinking lots of water!!!

Monday: Tacos (with turkey)...I am going back to using less ground beef...more ground turkey

Tuesday: I have book club with my girls....but will have spaghetti made for the boys to heat up

Wednesday: Going out on a date with my husband for our 2 year anniversary...Thomas will have to take care of himself!

Thursday: Spaghetti, Salad, Bread (made with turkey)

Friday: Homemade grilled pizza's and movies with the kiddos!

Sat: Grilled BBQ Chicken, potatoes, salad

Sunday: (NEW RECIPE) Brisket Sandwiches, corn on the cobb and coleslaw

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Awesome Series to read!!!!


If you like thriller and you haven't read this series...you really should check it out! The 4th book just came out and I am soooo excited! I started it last night but was so darn tired...I couldn't read it for long....I am diving back into it tonight! Here is some more info on the series.

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Heartsick:
Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him. Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she mysteriously decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now Gretchen has been locked away for the rest of her life, while Archie is in a prison of another kind — addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his old life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. Archie's a different person, his estranged wife says, and he knows she's right. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week, saying that only he can get her to confess as to the whereabouts of more of her victims, but even he knows the truth — he can't stay away.

When another killer begins snatching teenage girls off the streets of Portland, Archie has to pull himself together enough to lead the new task force investigating the murders. A hungry young newspaper reporter, Susan Ward, begins profiling Archie and the investigation, which sparks a deadly game between Archie, Susan, the new killer, and even Gretchen. They need to catch a killer, and maybe somehow then Archie can free himself from Gretchen, once and for all. Either way, Heartsick makes for one of the most extraordinary suspense debuts in recent memory.


Sweetheart:

With Heartsick, Chelsea Cain took the crime world by storm, introducing two of the most compelling characters in decades: serial killer Gretchen Lowell and her obsessed pursuer Portland Detective Archie Sheridan. The book spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews around the world. But the riveting story of Archie and Gretchen was left unfinished, and now Chelsea Cain picks up the tale again.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland's Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's — she's in prison — but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison.

Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all.

Chelsea Cain has topped her own bestselling debut thriller with this unputdownable, unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat read.


Evil At Heart:

Chelsea Cains novels featuring Portland detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell have captivated fans through two New York Times bestselling entries, Heartsick and Sweetheart.

And Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose. These days, shes more of a cause célèbre than a feared killer, thanks to sensationalist news coverage that has made her a star. Her face graces magazine covers and there have been sightings of her around the world. Most shocking of all, Portland Herald reporter Susan Ward has uncovered a bizarre fan club that celebrates the number of days shes been free.

Archie Sheridan hunted Gretchen for a decade, and after his last ploy to catch her went spectacularly wrong, he remains hospitalized months later. When they last spoke, they entered a détente of sortsArchie agreed not to kill himself if she agreed not to kill anyone else. But when a new body is found accompanied by Gretchens trademark heart, all bets are off and Archie is forced back into action. Has the Beauty Killer returned to her gruesome ways, or has the cult surrounding her created a whole new evil?

With Evil at Heart, Chelsea Cain­ is in top form. Delivering heart-stopping thrills and chills, she is an unmatched master of suspense.


The Night Season:

Chelsea Cain launches the next stage of her bestselling series as Archie Sheridan works to regain his life and Susan Ward steps in to share the spotlight in this electric thriller from one of todays most talented suspense writers.

With Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Portland detective Archie Sheridan can finally rest. Meanwhile, the city of Portland is in crisis. Several people have drowned in heavy rains that have flooded the Willamette River. But the medical examiner discovers that in fact the latest victim was poisoned before she went into the water — she didn't drown. A little detective work shows that so far three of those previously thought to be accidental drownings have actually been murdered. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case. Meanwhile, reporter Susan Ward is following up on an entirely separate mystery: the dramatic flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died during catastrophic flooding more than sixty years ago that washed away an entire neighborhood and killed at least 15 people.

As Archie follows the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch his killer, he has to battle the rising waters of the Willamette first.

Week 2 30 Day Challange

Week 2 was CRAZY for me! We had this convention thing going on at work and I was out every night this week. I ate out....ate dessert...didn't work out....so all around it was just bad! But, I did enjoy myself:-) I realized how much I like my boring, normal routine though:-) Time to get back in the grind! I didn't weight myself this week....because I really don't want to know what I weigh! Ha!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Week 1 - 30 Day Challenge

Week 1 went ok. I lost a few pounds...but only worked out twice. This week I hope to do a little better. I will have to work out in the morning though...because I have work stuff going on Tu-F nights...ugh! This week will be more of a challenge,....but we will see how it goes:-)

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Weekly Menu 5/2/11

Sunday: Sloppy Joe's, potatoes, veggie

Monday: *new* recipe - Chicken with a cream chive sauce, veggie, salad

Tuesday: Taco Salad

Wednesday: Chicken kabobs, rice, salad

Thursday: Burgers, chips

Friday-Sat: I am out of town....Joel will have to take care of supper:-)

Sun: Family dinner/Mother's Day Dinner - Fajitas!!

Day 22 - 30 of 30 Day Challenge (Round 2)

Well, this month wasn't that great for me. The good thing is I didn't gain a lot of weight...but I didn't lose any either. I did ok with my eating and portion control. My biggest struggle is exercising. I am going to try the 30 challenge again and see how I do:-) I won't give up! I need to get my butt back to yoga. I have been so busy lately...I know...it's on an excuse...but it does make it harder. I just have to DO IT!!!

I started this 30 days at 156...and ended it at 159. I am still less then the 160 I started out with on the first 30 day challenge...but am disappointed that I haven't had more progress:-(

Let's see what next month brings. Summer is right around the corner...you would think that would push me to get my butt in gear right???

Book Club - Half Broke Horses


We have picked out next book for the club. We are going to read Half Broke Horses. It sounds interesting...we shall see!!
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Jeannette Walls's memoir The Glass Castle was "nothing short of spectacular" (Entertainment Weekly). Now, in Half Broke Horses, she brings us the story of her grandmother, told in a first-person voice that is authentic, irresistible, and triumphant.

"Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did." So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette Walls's no nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier town -- riding five hundred miles on her pony, alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car ("I loved cars even more than I loved horses. They didn't need to be fed if they weren't working, and they didn't leave big piles of manure all over the place") and fly a plane. And, with her husband Jim, she ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette's memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle.

Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds -- against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn't fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit. Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa or Beryl Markham's West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix audiences everywhere.

Out of My Mind *Review*


I thought Out of My Mind was ok. It was a good story...but it didn't get to me the way it did other people that I read it. What the whole thing boiled down to was that she wasn't much different then anyone else....we all have struggles....she just had a harder time expressing them. Like I said...I think it was a good story. I would have probably enjoyed it more as a movie then a book.