The Last Song: Book Review

I've been wanting to read The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks for quite some time now, especially because I had seen the movie when it came out on DVD ... and cried. I'm usually the type of person that needs to read the book before I see the movie, but this time it didn't bother me too much and I found that the movie was very, very similar to the book - which is always a great thing. I finished this book in a few days, and would love to watch the movie again to notice the similarities and differences.

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble: 

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels—first love, love between parents and children — that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

My Review: 

Having seen the movie prior, I envisioned the characters on the movie screen, in a way I probably wouldn't have if I didn't see it prior to reading the book. Analyzing them further, it seems as if Ronnie is just like every other rebellious girl her age, but I was never like that and couldn't imagine being mean and cold hearted to either of my parents if they divorced. Time is too short, in my opinion. As for her parents - I found myself wanting to know more about her father, who at the time was living in a quiet town in North Carolina. The mother, it seems, wasn't in the book too often. Ronnie's brother was absolutely adorable; I wanted him to be my brother! I honestly love that the book was told in all different perspectives, something that the movie doesn't quite do. 

There were points, however, when I needed a break from the book since it was a lot of thoughts rather than dialogue between the characters, but then I'd pick the book right back up and continue. 

I loved the connection that Ronnie and Will have, a boy that seems to understand Ronnie or at least want to learn how. It's incredible, to me, the way they are together and how they fit perfectly. But then again, what couple in Nicholas Sparks' books didn't you fall in love with? Aside from maybe Marcus and Blaze, my least favorite characters. I couldn't see how anyone would want to be friends with them, let alone like them. I mean talk about a sociopath and a vulnerable, confused girl! Their relationship is toxic, and at times I feel bad for how trapped Blaze feels and that in the end she was the one to get hurt. After reading into the book, one understands that Marcus nicknamed her 'Blaze' because he loves fire - also demonstrating foreshadowing. 

The book takes several turns, taking your emotions on a roller-coaster. And at one point, Ronnie's dad reminded me of my own dad. 

I honestly loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional read - one filled with a love story, Ronnie's love story and the kind of love that was always there and the kind that develops over time. 

"For nothing is more fulfilling than love itself" (pg 350).

My Rating: 5 Stars

A BBQ, the Beginning of Many

Sal and I were invited to a BBQ at a friend's house on Cinco De Mayo. They were in Jersey visiting from Georgia, the state where they moved to just months earlier. It was great being able to see them after weeks and weeks, and the food just made it even better - it was delicious! Catching up was great, and Sal and I enjoyed the nice weather outside, relaxing. It was our friend's child's birthday, so there were a good amount of children running around, laughing, playing.

Sal may have mentioned disliking Justin Beiber, and just think how well that went over with the three young girls that were there. Let's just say they had the DJ play Justin Beiber on repeat for awhile, and sang as loud as they could to Sal. Not only was it adorable, it was hysterical!

I caught it on video, and watching it the next day was definitely still funny. What was even funnier is that Sal was singing it the next day, because admit it every Justin Beiber song is just catchy!

We made sure to take pictures together, and then we left because it was getting late. Though we did stop at another friend's house and then a bar afterwards, because we just couldn't resist!

Don't mind the Iphone pictures, sometimes it's just easier than carrying a camera. 

The following day we went with two other friends to see the Avengers, and if you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you do! I was hesitant about seeing it, but I'm glad I did. The movie was AMAZING. 

Love Walked In: Book Review

Since my internship ended [blog post to come], I have been able to read... alot. Luckily enough for me, over the past few months due to flea markets and trips to good will, I have been able to score some cheap books, some only costing 50 cents! I recently read Love Walked In, by Marisa De Los Santos, and I have to say, I was hesitant about reading it, like I am with all books that I haven't heard anything about. However, I'm so glad I read this book right up to the last page.

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

A tribute to classic film and true romance, Love Walked In tells the story of two women – one older, one younger – and the unexpected ways in which their lives are forever changed by chance.

For thirty-one-year old Cornelia Brown, life is a series of movie moments, and "Jimmy Stewart is always and indisputably the best man in the world, unless Cary Grant should happen to show up." So imagine Cornelia's delight when her very own Cary Grant walks through the door of the hip Philadelphia café she manages. Handsome and debonair, Martin Grace sweeps Cornelia off her feet, becoming Cary Grant to Cornelia's Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable to her Joan Crawford. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself after her increasingly unstable mother has a breakdown and disappears. With no one to turn to, Clare seeks out her estranged father, and when the two of them show up at Cornelia's café, the lives of Cornelia and Clare are changed in drastic and unexpected ways. A cinematic and heartfelt debut that pays homage to the classic Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story, Love Walked In is sure to win over critics and readers of contemporary fiction.

My Review:

I have to admit, it was extremely tough to get through the 1st chapter, because I had never heard of the Philadelphia Story, I know some of you movie enthusiasts are probably cringing just reading that, but I'm being honest. I vowed that I would watch the movie though, so that counts for something right? I was beginning to understand the point of it though, wanting a movie kind of love. I think we all wish for that kind of romance. Marisa De Los Santos was amazing at describing the environment and what was happening to each of the characters. I enjoyed her writing style, especially giving us insight into Claire's mind, as well as Cornelia's by alternating their chapters. I did think though, in the beginning, that Claire's chapters were written entirely too adult-like; however, when I got to know her more page after page, I knew that the author had written her chapters perfectly. 

We all wish that our life was like a movie, with a fairy tale ending - music playing in the background, our men romantic, everything we'd hoped for, saying all the right things, making the night unforgettable - and sometimes even when we are the star in that movie, it's not what we wanted after all, or not what we thought it'd be. The author referenced many, many movies throughout the books, many of which - like the Philadelphia Story - I had not seen. She makes me want to go out and watch all of these movies and re-read the book, to really understand where Cornelia is coming from. 

"Love was always love; it had a rightness all it's own, even if the person feeling the love was full of wrongness" (p. 184).

"Love always matters" (p. 278).

"But getting what you love? Having what you love love you back? Oh my friend, it's a miracle; your one tiny life's head on collision with divinity" (p. 299). 

I absolutely loved the book, taking me on a journey of twists and turns. I was rooting for the guy who won her heart, since he arrived and I'm glad it ended how it did. I would definitely recommend this book to any one who is looking to get lost in a good read. I'm telling you, you can't even guess what will happen - this book will take you by surprise!

My Rating: 5 Stars

Catching Up Over Coffee

Isn't it strange that whenever we want to meet up with a girl friend we haven't seen in a while, we choose to get coffee with that individual? What is it about a coffee shop that we love so much while indulging our friend in our problems, successes, and daily occurrences? I don't know about you but I always think of this....

How could anyone not think of Central Perk and the cast of F.R.I.E.N.D.S?! ... seriously.

Anyways, when my newly married friend wanted to meet up, of course we decided to get coffee, even though I don't drink coffee [love the smell, not the taste]. We chose the Fine Grind in the next town over from me, but unfortunately there was no parking! So we decided to head back to my town and enjoy hot chocolate and a dessert crepe at Kafe Neo. I'm telling you, I've only eaten dinner at this place, so I had no idea what to expect - it was delicious, though a little expensive.

Of course as these were placed in front of us we snapped pictures and uploaded them to Instagram, which is a great App, and if you haven't registered for it - I suggest you do. 

That's not the point though, the point is that we had a great night just us girls talking about the past, present, and future - especially the future because there are going to be a ton of changes for the both of us in the next half of this year and I cannot wait. Between graduating, putting additions on a house, getting our dream jobs (fingers crossed), and an engagement (maybe), we have one hell of a year planned. Since we don't get to see each other as often as we would like, I really enjoyed the time we spent together - laughing and remembering, talking and relaxing. Hopefully this summer we'll see each other more often, but if not these coffee dates will have to do. 

DIY: Graduation Decoration

As my graduation slowly approaches, I've been wandering around Pinterest to find DIY projects to add that special touch to my home and eventually graduation party. I found a 2012 graduation printable from Upcycled Education. Even though the frame I had that I've used over and over again for other printable artworks didn't fit the entire thing, it fit a good amount, and that's all that mattered.

What You'll Need:
Frame
Graduation Printable
optional - tassel

Directions:

1. Print the subway art out from Upcycled Education.

2. Place in a frame, and add tassel to the top if you'd like. I probably won't add the tassel, but if I do it obviously won't be until that day.

Here's what my finished product looked like. It makes me smile just looking at it.

The MAW Castle

I had to attend Make-A-Wish Training a few weekends ago, to ensure that I could still volunteer. I was originally supposed to go in February, but that weekend I was sick - it just wasn't my month. So I was glad I actually had a chance to go to the last one. It was in Monroe Township, which is pretty far from me, but the drive wasn't all that bad, aside from the rain on the way home. Anyways, the Make a Wish Foundation of NJ just recently built a castle on this land to have a centralized place to grant wishes, and to really make the whole process magical.

We were taken on a tour of the whole castle, but since they still want it to be a surprise to every child that walks into the castle, we were only allowed to take pictures of the outside and the first floor [the second floor is where all the magic happens]. It's truly spectacular, and I was in awe. I could only imagine the reaction of each child, and I hope to one day take on a wish that involves me going to the castle.







Buddy, the Cake Boss, is involved in Make a Wish and helps grant a great amount of wishes because many children want to meet him or bake with him. He made the cake that you see in these pictures for their Grand Opening.

If you're interested in getting involved with the Make a Wish Foundation in your state visit - here

A child with a life-threatening medical condition who has reached the age of 2½ and is under the age of 18 at the time of referral, is potentially eligible for a wish. If you know a child that matches this criteria, and you'd like to refer them to MAW, click here. It's an amazing experience, ask me I've helped wishes get granted, and there is nothing better than seeing the smile and excitement on a child's face.  

Cystic Fibrosis Walk 2012

I'm walking for this boy right here. Kyle. May 12th. 

I've known him since he was practically a baby. His family used to live in Jersey, and his mom would play softball with my mom. At 4 months old he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis - a genetic disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that causes problems in the digestive system, as well as the respiratory system, specifically in the lungs. It not only clogs up the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe, it makes it difficult for people to digest food and get all the vitamins and nutrients needed, because of the narrow passageways in the pancreas.

 

Approximately 30,000 kids and adults in the United States have cystic fibrosis. Kyle was one of them, and he received a double lung transplant on July 5th, 2010, without regret. He put up one hell of a fight for 18 years, and just a month after he turned 18, he passed away while in the hospital. 

He moved to Florida years ago with his family, with the idea that the warmer and less polluted weather would help - I'd like to think it did. Our families kept in contact - texting or through facebook - and we'd always send our prayers as he continued his battle. He had to be one of the strongest boys I've met, and he just kept pushing. I'll never forget the moment I watched a video of him walking, something he hadn't done in a few days while at the hospital, and it was like watching a miracle. To have battled for 18 years is clearly nothing short of just that - a miracle. I looked up to him, even though he was younger, and in the end I hope this story gives you strength and hope.


To find out more information about Kyle's Story visit -


     Ardiana's blog [ his cousin ] - Ardiana
     Cystic Fibrosis Website - CFF
     Ronald McDonald House - A Family's Journey with Cystic Fibrosis

To donate to this wonderful foundation and help Kyle's memory live on click - 

"Money buys science and science buys life" - CFF.org

Thank you. I greatly appreciate it. 

The Help: Book Review

I know, I know, where was I when the movie was coming out... or even before that when the book was just that... a book. Well I didn't get this book until Christmas, and I hadn't had a chance to read it, but boy am I glad I finally made time for it. I'll be honest though, I never even knew about this book, until I saw the preview for the movie - however, I didn't go see the movie, and didn't want to until I had read the book. I try and do that for every book turned movie. Sometimes the book turns out better than the movie, and in one instance, the book turned out worse.

Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:


Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.


Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.


Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.


Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.


In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women-mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends-view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.


My Review:


I must admit, it was a bit difficult to get into at first because the chapters of the book in Aibileen's perspective are written in the way she would say it, and it sounded uneducated, with poor grammar and language. As an African American maid in the south, at that time, she wasn't educated and had been a maid for most of her life, only knowing what she was allowed to know. Everyone's got secrets though, and that includes Miss Skeeter, a 23 year old graduate of college, as well as her friends Hilly and Elizabeth. This book actually held more secrets than any book, except maybe Harry Potter, of course. I have to say though I think Miss Skeeter was my favorite character in the book; she was not only unique and different, but she stood up for something she believed in and was extremely determined. She's also a writer, so I'm sure, like myself, every blogger could relate to her. I hope to be a powerful writer, like she is, one day. 


Aside from the characters, the plot was indescribable. Sure you think you know what happened in the 1960s down south, but you really have no idea until you read this book, because unlike history books, this book opens our minds to the feelings of black people back then - how their world was really black and white. I couldn't believe some of the horrible ways that the whites had treated black individuals, and how there was really no justice. Now I know some of the things in this book didn't happen, but the fact of the matter is, that some of these things did. And if we had more people like Rosa Parks and Aibileen, and even Miss Skeeter, I think the civil rights movement would have arrived a lot quicker. 


I also think it's incredible that a white individual wrote this book. I know she did her research, but she did an incredible job writing from the perspective of the help, and the ending was even more than I hoped for. Seriously, if you haven't read this book, I suggest you go and read it now. I promise, even though it's long, it'll be worth every minute. 


My Review: 5 Stars

"There is so much you don't know about a person, I wonder if I could've made her day a little bit easier, if I'd tried. If I'd treated her a little nicer. Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought" 

(The Help, p 492). 

DIY: Easter 2012

Yes, I am posting about Easter on May 1st. I've been overloaded with posts, that this is the earliest I could post about the Easter I had. So I hope everyone had a great Easter, and spent the day with their loved ones. We decided to have Easter home again, but this time my mom's cousin and her man came over, bringing tons of dishes with her. We made some things, and I made the rolls - but I have to admit I just wasn't interested in baking this year. Not only was I super busy with internship every. single. day. I also just didn't have the money to go out and buy things that I needed for the desserts I wanted to create. The rolls were made using a recipe I found off of Pinterest, of course.

You'll be able to find the recipe on my baking blog - Kay's Sweet Obsessions

I added a little touch to my mom's already decorated house, adding a printable I found off line to a white picture frame, that I've been able to reuse dozens of times already, and placed it next to the yellow flowers I bought her. It looked so simple, and yet so cute. I'm a fan of decorating, and I love when it's easy, and inexpensive.

Flowers are also inexpensive and give you a great centerpiece, or decorative piece, that'll leave people smiling because I mean who doesn't smile at flowers?

So do this little project - buy flowers at your local market or garden center, which is where I went. Buy a cheap, white frame, which can be reused over and over again. Print out the printable from Little Birdie Secrets. Place the printable in the frame, and place in the perfect area, as seen in the picture. It's that simple!

Now I'm usually great with taking picture of everyone, but this year I was surrounded by so much food and conversation that it slipped my mind, and by the time I brought the camera out, our guests had left and my parents were not willing to take pictures. My mom said she'd take pictures of my brother and I, but he didn't really feel in the mood for pictures either, so this was another project in itself.

To get your brother to take a picture with you - you may have to fight him first, but then after... he'll take the picture with you.