Book Review: Sarah's Key

The TLC book for December was Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It is a historical fiction novel that spent more than two years on the New York Times Bestseller List and is definitely a must-read! The novel begins with two perspectives: one is a little girl who lives in Paris during the Jewish round-up of 1942 and is taken (along with her parents) by the French police. The second is an American woman and journalist who resides in Paris with her French husband and daughter during 2002. The two stories come together when Julia, the American, must cover the 60th anniversary of the much-forgotten round-up for an article. She discovers a strong connection between her husband's family and the little girl which eventually leads to a strong connection for her.

I was engaged in this book from the first few pages. Both perspectives were equally interesting and kept me wanting to know more. The unsuspecting connections as well as the stories of the lives both females lived were captivating. I also had no idea that Jewish families living in Paris were arrested by their own police and sent to concentration camps. To see how others in the community responded was a saddening observation on human nature. From the novel, it is clear that many French civilians are not aware of the round-up or those who lived through it may have pushed it from their minds.

While this novel is historical, it is also current. The relationship between Julia and her husband are relevant and complex just as the story of Sarah (the young Jewish girl) is sad but honest. Normally, I am not interested in Holocaust literature as I feel I read quite a few in school or through teaching (Number the Stars, The Diary of Anne Frank, Night) but this was a different perspective from which I appreciated learning. Additionally, I am fascinated by French culture, more-so now that I am planning a honeymoon there, so the mentioning of streets, French ways, and traditions were appealing. I would absolutely recommend this novel to teens and adults. There is also a movie version I have yet to watch. Let's hope it lives up to the book!

Tasty Treat

From Baked Perfection's Blog

Awhile back I re-pinned the recipe, Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, and the time finally came to try out this delicious-sounding treat. Chocolate and peanut butter is already a great combination but adding the brownies makes it even better. They turned out to be just as delicious as they sounded so I would recommend it if you want to mix up a traditional brownie. However, there are a few changes I would suggest.

The original poster of the recipe used mini-cupcake pans but since I didn't have those, I used the regular size ones. It made about 20 brownies when each spot was filled about 3/4 of the way to the top. This worked out fine, just as the mini pans would work, yet next time, I might just put the brownie mix in a square/rectangle pan and cut squares like normal instead of making them into circles. While they look cute as circle brownies, it was time consuming to pour the mix into each slot. Whichever shape you go for, the taste will be sweet and sugary!

Wrapping

With Christmas just a little over a month away (ahhh!), it is time to think snow, Christmas carols, cookies, beautiful, sparkly decorations, and gift wrapping - the worst part of the holidays for me. No matter how many Christmas movies I put on to summon the happy holiday spirit, I just don't seem to enjoy wrapping. If you feel the same, I encourage you to take a look at "5 Great Kraft Paper Wrapping Ideas" posted on Apartment Therapy. These ideas will add a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of originality to your gifts. The idea pictured at the right will also help you get rid of crafting scraps. Maybe if I approach wrapping from an artistic point of view rather than an "I have to wrap so many gifts" point of view, it will help with the doldrum I experience each year in mid-December. Happy wrapping!

The Conversation

I finally sat down and watched an episode of a new(er) show on Lifetime produced by Demi Moore and Amanda de Cadenet called The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet. It has been waiting for me to watch it for quite a few months and I thought it was about time to check it out. The show is a series of candid interviews with famous women on a variety of topics - love, divorce, children, confidence, balance, and the media, just to name a few. Originally, a friend and co-worker told me to DVR it because the discussion topics related to our 10th Grade Media Literacy Unit. Not sure why I waited so long to tune in, but I am glad I finally did.

Sometimes I just need to hear other people discuss their lives in a way that is revealing rather than superficial, making everything seem so wonderful. That is exactly what this show does. I also am a strong believer in the power of women and since The Conversation is a collection of relaxed interviews with women, it is empowering just to listen and think about the topics. Currently, Lifetime is not showing reruns of Season One but you can view the episodes online at www.vimeo.com. Also, be sure to take a peek at the supplemental website, The Conversation, where guest writers contribute daily. Let's hope for a Season Two!

Top 5 Cities for Beer

While beer is not my number 1 choice in alcohol (nor number 2, or 3, or 4...), I was happy to see Cleveland get some recognition for its beer scene. GQ named Cleveland as one of the top 5 cities for beer in America specifically mentioning Market Garden, Nano Brew Cleveland, Heinen's, and Great Lakes Brewing Company. Read the article, "'GQ' Names the 5 Best Beer Cities in America" and enjoy a brewski!

100 Days in Cleveland

While looking for places to take engagement photos, I came across this blog, 100 Days in Cleveland. Julia Kuo, the artist, drew something she liked in/about Cleveland for 100 days. Eventually the blog become a book and calendar. I guess I found a little late as this was in the works about a year ago. But I am still glad I found it! Her drawings are awesome! Each drawing has a caption of some sort to tell you about the place or her reason for liking it. I think she should make a part two to hit more places and to focus more on the West Side of the city. Take some time to check it out!

Scary Shoes

 I am a lover of shoes. All sorts of shoes tickle my fancy - stilettos, wedges, ballet flats, boots, shiny, patterned, one color, many colors - you get the point. But there is a limit to the type of shoe one can wear and the shoes within "The Scariest Shoes of All Time" by Joanna Douglas have reached that limit. Scary and ugly all in one but definitely worth a look.

Take Care of You

It's been awhile. So when I saw this pin appear on my Pinterest account, I thought - perfect read for me and perfect post for finally returning to my blog. "55 Gentle Ways to Take Care of Yourself when You're Busy" found on the blog The Freedom Experiment deserves a few minutes of your time. Or, I should say, YOU deserve the few minutes it will take for you to read this.

Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we miss out on a lot of it. We know what we should do to make ourselves feel better but finding the time to take care of yourself can seem selfish. Yet, it isn't. One of my favorite aphorisms is by the amazing transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." But making the most of you means finding a few minutes to listen to yourself and care for yourself. There is no time like the present to begin (or continue) doing this! Go on - read it.   

This New House!

A variety of slideshows:
Outside progress Some updates with the interior decor The building of the house

Quick Updates for the Home

When household items need some spicing up but you lack the time to do it, you don't have to push the ideas aside. Maybe a small revision is more appropriate and manageable. Better Homes and Gardens shares some inspiration with 22 Weekend Home Decorating Projects - some interesting, some not - but surely worth a look. Here are some other ideas on how to update home goods without breaking the bank and devoting hours to a task.

Use Wood or Stone on top of file cabinets
Add new crystals to an old or boring chandelier
Paint closet doors:

Black and White Classy

Good for a kid's room

Match the closet to the walls and accessories.

Accent small spaces with bright colors.

Skirt to Wear and Website to View

After bothering a co-worker/friend to teach me how to make the cool skirts she wore to work, I got the opportunity to do it this summer. The Sangria and Skirts Party was most definitely a success. I am thrilled with the result and thrilled that I actually made something I can wear. For more info on the pattern we used, visit Linda's website, Linda's Other Life. While visiting, take a look at her other fabulous creations as well as her reading, teaching, dining, and traveling life!

What Should I Read Next?

If you have asked this question at any point in life, there is now a database to answer it. What Should I Read Next? is a book recommendation database that lets you type in the author or title of a book you fancy to find similar authors and books. Each entry on your results list can be purchased through Amazon by clicking on the book to the right of the name. Seems like a nice little device. Give it a try!

Recipes to Try

Seven-Layer Dips, strategically placed around my cactus.

A few weeks ago I was on the hunt for new recipes and found two that I tried and are worth sharing. The first is an appetizer that I served for the 4th of July, Individual Seven-Layer Dips. Basically, it is a taco scoop but I liked the ingredients together and also enjoyed that everyone got their own serving rather than sharing from a big pan. If you make this one, I would recommend getting more guacamole, refried beans, and sour cream than stated, especially if you want to make more than 8. And of course, more chips are necessary!

The second recipe I will most definitely be using again is the Creamy Avocado Chicken Salad. In fact, I made it two days in a row I liked it so much! The recipe instructs you to eat the salad over an avocado, which I did the first day, but the second day I opted for a sun-dried tomato wrap and mixed a cut-up avocado with the rest of the ingredients. Another idea is to scoop up extra salad with blue corn chips. This meal was delicious all three ways, is fantastic for summer, and is easy enough for me to want to make it again real soon!

Book Review: Prada and Prejudice

Mandy Hubbard's Prada and Prejudice was our July's TLC Book. Definitely a book for middle school girls and the occasional naive 9th or 10th grader, it was still an enjoyable read for an adult. Callie is your typical nerdy 15-year-old with a quick wit and potential to be popular. She ends up trying to seek acceptance of her cool peers by getting permission to travel to London on a school trip where she goes off and buys authentic Prada shoes. She can't actually walk in the heels so she almost immediately falls, hits her head, blacks out, and wakes up in a forest. Not knowing where she is or how she got there, she walks until she finds the castle of a duke. Quickly, Callie pretends to be Rebecca, a guest the duke's family was expecting from America, and realizes that she is in 1815 rather than the 21st century. From here, Callie questions the lifestyle and status of women during that time while going on a discovery of self-worth and ultimately falling for the duke, Alex. 

Admittedly, I am tired of the "Callie" character. We are seeing her in different forms all over the place - Bella from Twilight and Mia from The Princess Diaries come to mind first. But even other genres have her too - Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" (the song and video) embody this character. One Direction's "You don't know you're beautiful" is a song which millions of young girls feel could be sung to them. Sure, she is relatable at some level - girls feeling different, being clumsy and uncool - and she is something they strive to be - unknowingly beautiful and intelligent which is recognized by a handsome boy of higher-status. But can't we be a little more creative? It was fine at first, but now it is annoying and I am over it.

Beyond that, this an innocent romance story with time travel involved. It is interesting to see the change in etiquette from those day to now as well as the little touches of 1800's life. I did get swept away in the story of the past and read through it rather quickly. The imagery Hubbard provides of the fashions, people, landscape, and castle made it easy to imagine the setting and action. From reading, I suppose we could learn, or be reminded of, the fact that assumptions are not always right as Callie kept distance from Alex because of what she thought she knew about him. (This could be the title connection to Pride and Prejudice.) In the end, it only stopped her from what could have been a great relationship which lasted longer than a few days. We could also learn that we don't need what everyone else has to be accepted by others. One must find contentment within himself or herself and embrace qwirks instead of trying to hide them. So, if you can stand another clumsy teenage girl and want an easy, light-hearted summer read, then Prada and Prejudice is a good one to choose.

DIY Scarves

Still stuck on DIY projects, I came across a blog titled My Blessed Life and a post called 10 T-Shirt Scarf Tutorials. There are some pretty fun-looking scarves if you are interested in doing something a little different. Standouts for me are the braided scarves as they look more intricate than a regular scarf tied in a braid. This is the perfect time to get started - a few months before the weather gets chilly (at least here in Cleveland).

DIY - Visit Merrick's Art

My tote.

Last week I made a tote at a local store called Crafty Goodness. The shop sells locally made items (I bought a cool Ohio magnet) and also offers classes for all ages. I have never done anything like it before and really enjoyed learning the basics of sewing. That was a surprise to me. While I have watched multiple seasons of Project Runway and Project Catwalk (UK version of Runway) and marveled over the contestants' abilities to produce such beautiful or sometimes hideous clothing, I have never seriously thought about actually making my own. But wouldn't it be thrilling to say "I made this pencil skirt" and have it fit me perfectly? Or, rather than buying a new shirt, why not reuse an old one and make it better? Now that I am interested in trying simple projects, Pinterest users unknowingly gave me an easy way to ease into this sewing thing by posting Merrick's Art. Merrick's blog includes ways to refashion old clothes, simple sewing tutorials, outfit ideas, and links to other blogs. Take a look and maybe you will be inspired, too! Now, I need a sewing machine...

Fitness Rules to Break

Summer is the season of fitness. For most of us, it takes more than a few weeks to get a "beach body" but we sure do see a ton of health articles and posts specifically during the summer. Here is one I like: 7 Fitness Rules You Should Break posted on Yahoo Health by Lisa Collier Cool. The most interesting parts are not the subheadings so be sure to read the small print. For example, I have heard before that completing a dynamic pre-workout is better for you than just stretching (sub-heading info) but I didn't know that static stretching actually causes more injuries (small print). Enjoy.

Master List of Scarf Wearing

While browsing Pinterest, I came across a post which I immediately felt the need to share. Scarves can spice up any outfit and as long as you pay attention to the pattern, colors, and material, they can be worn all seasons. Scarves provide options and versatility for our wardrobe so why not expand on that versatility and mix up the way we wear them? The Scarf Knot Master List found on Scarves.net (or Scarves Dot Net) is a plethora of knots! There are tutorials to aid you in recreating the knots - some videos and some picture-by-picture.

In addition to scarf wearing, you can browse and shop for scarves by season, shape, trend, color, length, and material. Sounds like a site I will be returning to often!

"Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen."

Hair. We all have it. Well, most of us have at least some of it on our heads. But I never really know what to do with mine. When I came across these two posts, one from TheBlush.com and the other from a Pinterest post, I had to share because I know there are others out there who feel like me. TheBlush.com is having a photo challenge where readers post pics of their own hair. Some are boring and others are amazingly intricate braids or beautiful up-dos. It is definitely worth browsing for some new ideas.

The Pinterest post led me to Amy from the music group Karim (They sing "Brokenhearted". Most likely, you know the song: "See I've been waiting all day, for you to call my baby, so let's get up, let's get on it, don't you leave me brokenhearted tonight".) Anyways, she has gorgeous hair and in the posted YouTube clip she shares how she curls her hair to give it a natural, full of body look. It is really pretty simple, I just never thought of doing it that way. This is perfect for us gals with straight hair.

Summer is the perfect time to play around with your long flowing tresses or short easy-to-deal with do. With weddings, showers, trips to the beach, picnics, and long days or nights outdoors, step outside your comfort zone and try something new!

Love Letter to Cleveland

I love Cleveland. I love people who love Cleveland. I love good food. I love people who make good food. And I really love people who love Cleveland and make good food. So, that means I really love Michael Symon. And, I especially love his Love Letter to Cleveland.

Many misunderstand Cleveland. I am not sure why people think it is rundown and empty. Its history, arts, culture, sports teams (The Indians are in 1st place and Kyrie Irving was named Rookie of the Year), food scene, college scene (CSU!), new Horseshoe Casino, new Greater Cleveland Aquarium, rebuilding of the Flats East Bank, and so much more are awesome and alive. There is a variety of great stuff going on and this letter from Symon helps continue the positive momentum.

Symon and I agree with meteorologist and co-founder of The Weather Channel, Bruce Kalinowski, Cleveland is "The Best Location in the Nation".

P.S. - The Weather Channel is 30 years old this May. Click on Bruce's name to read the story.

Summer Reading List

Summer is right around the corner and that means I will have more time to read! In addition to my TLC books, I will be attempting to read the listed books. Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Black Sun Rising
C.S. Friedman

If you look at my reading list for last summer, you will see this book. I read most of it but then ran out of summer and the daily grind kept me away from getting back into this very long yet very interesting fantasy novel. But I will finish it, first thing in June so my fiance will be happy, and so will I! Then I have two other lengthy ones to read to finish the trilogy.

Juliet, Naked
Nick Hornby

High Fidelity was a good read and I know Hornby is a well-respected author so I will read another one of his.

Crossed
Ally Condie

This is the second book in the Matched Series. I enjoyed reading Matched so I hope this one does not disappoint.

It's Not Really About the Hair
Tabatha Coffey

Memoir is not a genre I read much but when I do, I usually enjoy it. And I absolutely love Tabatha Takes Over. So put those together and we get Tabatha's memoir. She's tough, she's talented, and she's taking over! Tabatha really knows her stuff and I can't wait to read about her.

The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls

Many people have recommended this book and I have yet to read it. So, it looks like I will be going with two memoirs this summer.

You Suck: A Love Story
Christopher Moore

I bought this years ago and haven't read it yet. It's another one that is out of my reading realm - comedy/satire - so I am looking forward to something different!

A few books from the Sookie Stackhouse Series
Charlaine Harris

Sticking with the vampire theme - I love, love, love True Blood. I have been waiting to read the book series for a while now and the first 3 books are sitting in my "Reading Room" just hoping to be read this summer.

Book Review: Leverage

Leverage by Joshua Cohen is a teen literature sports fiction novel that I highly recommend reading. If I had the time and eye power to sit down and read a book all at once, I would have done it with Leverage. The novel focuses on two boys, a gymnast named Danny and a football player named Kurt. Kurt has an abusive past as an orphan with a severe stutter but uses his size and muscle to get him status. Danny is small but strong and like the rest of the gymnastics team, is bullied by three relentless, brutal, massive football players who try to pull Kurt into their group. They run the school, are not punished for their outrageous behavior, are adored by girls, and like that Kurt is a powerful athlete who could help lead them to a state title. However, they quickly realize Kurt is not evil like them. In my mind, these three characters are equivalent to Iago from Shakespeare's Othello - as villainous as villainy gets.

Danny and Kurt come together through Kurt's amazement at Danny's ability as a gymnast and desire to learn a back handspring for a touchdown celebration. Their friendship grows as the bullying intensifies and we get to learn about the boys' varying pasts through the honesty of their fears, memories, and motivations. When the bullying reaches its height in a disgusting act, the boys must figure out how to deal with the overwhelming outcome of the situation yet not be harmed themselves.

I will warn that there are very difficult parts of this book. If I were to recommend it to a student in high school, I would tell them in advance that the novel involves extreme cases of physical abuse, drug/alcohol use, rape, and foul language. With that said, it is very well-written and tells a gripping tale that should be read by teens and adults. 

I would never have picked up this book if it wasn't my Teen Lit Club read of the month. While I love sports, sports fiction is not my cup of tea. Yet this is captivating and real. Cohen does not sugar-coat anything and I am glad he didn't. While some parts were challenging to read without crying and other parts I experienced difficultly in refraining from yelling at the characters, I appreciate the genuine quality of this novel. There are characters you will hate and characters you will love. There is sports action and there is a deeper level which questions humanity and how much injustice should be overlooked for a "bigger cause". Put this one on your summer reading list. You will not be disappointed!

A Breath of Fresh Air

During my first few hours of Spring Break, there are a few things I have thought about: sleeping, catching up on TV shows, pleasure reading and internet surfing, drinking some wine/martinis, going outside, and shopping. Since I already dove right into the first two, I feel refreshed enough to start the third. Of course, I started at Apartment Therapy and came upon a post from Chad Schroer titled Spring Resolutions: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Season and Beyond. While I am a sucker for life improvement posts and articles, this one is short enough for those who aren't as willing as me. Tip #1 and #3 are my favorites since I work with teenagers who are constantly attached to their phones and since I am definitely a planner. Check it out and enjoy!

Cleveland Blogs

As a co-founder of The Cleveland Club, I can proudly say that I am interested in all things Cleveland. I do follow a few CLE blogs but this bracket created by Cleveland Magazine is much more comprehensive than any list, or bracket, I could provide. Check out some of the blogs!

Book Review - The Lover's Dictionary

I chose The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan for this month's Teen Literature Club Book. There are a few reasons I chose this novel. One, it was an ALA Alex Award winner for 2012 and since everyone in my book club works or has worked with literature and students, this perfectly fits into our adolescent book genre. The second reason is because of its structure. The novel is written like a dictionary, hence the title, and I was interested to see how I would like this sort of organization. Thirdly, I have yet to finish a book on time for the book club and since I chose the text, I needed to finish it. This is a short, simple read because like I said before, it is written in brief entries. Some are just a few sentences while others are a few paragraphs.

I recommend The Lover's Dictionary for mature teens and adults alike. Although the title includes "lovers", do not be misled. This is not a mushy, fairy tale ending love story. It is real. They have ups and downs, annoyances, quirky jokes, extreme happiness, and anything else a normal couple would experience. As the gender of the narrator's partner is unclear, the reader is left to imagine it as they want. And does it really matter if we know the gender of the unnamed partner? Possibly, what should matter is the idea that feelings are universal in relationships of all kinds. The idea that we all experience relationships in similar ways pleasantly shines through and it is a much needed lesson amongst a world where bullying and hate run rampant.

Another area of discussion at our TLC was the emotion behind the word choices. Levithan did not define the words but created examples of the words. Figuring out the connection was enjoyable and added depth to the storyline. Numerous time I found myself chuckling because I absolutely understood the emotion he was trying to convey in such a small amount of words. It would be interesting to find out whether Levithan wrote the stories and then found words to fit them or thought of words and created stories that way. Whichever it was, this is a book which should be part of your home library (or at least borrowed from the public library).

Self-Esteem Booster

I enjoy reading short articles or blog posts which provide advice on living a better life. Gretchen Rubin's post "Want to Boost Your Self-Esteem? Throw Away Someone Else's Trash" did just that for me today. Often we look for confidence and justification in others and while we can find happiness there, we can also be let down. So what is a sure way to boost feelings about yourself? Doing something small for someone else. I agree with Gretchen - it really does make you feel better.

Spring Fashion

The Early Spring 2012 looks are starting to hit stores and for the most part, I like what I see. Nautical, black and white, pops of color - these are totally me. I also read the article "Tights and other legwear are more fashion forward than ever" by Laura DeMarco and am pleased to see that someone else thinks opaque tights and fun patterns will be sticking around for a while. Here are some of the pieces or full outfits for the upcoming season:

Patterned Skirts:

Banana Republic

Banana Repbulic

New York & Company

JC Penney

Yellows:

The Limited

The Loft - I bought these already!

The Limited

H & M

 

The Loft

Polka Dots and Stripes:

H & M

New York & Company

JC Penney

H & M

Shoes / Accessories

Gap

Old Navy

 

Old Navy

Banyan Tree - Tremont

Banyan Tree - Tremont

JC Penney

Color Blocking:

The Loft

New York & Company

Gap

The Loft