My friend invited me and a few other girls over to do some ab exercises at her house the other day. We followed a 15 minute DVD routine called Ab Ripper X. It was intense! I love the burn when working out abs, and this routine provides serious burnage.

I have been doing the 15 minutes every other day for maybe 3 weeks now and can say there is a definite difference. Try it out. Who doesn’t have 15 minutes

I don’t own the DVDs, so I found the ab section of the video online; here are the links below:

Part 1

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2445079873095200471

Part 2

 video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6584463388003516309

I took a lot of pictures of flowers on our FLA vacation. This one is my favorite.

Here is my favorite picture from Epcot. It deserved to be by itself.

The Wind in the Willows is supposed to be such a great classic. A book for boys of all ages and times. I do not think this is a kid’s book at all. It is a book for adults who cannot let go of their childhood. A book for adults who idealize the freedom of children and wish they could go “simply messing about in boats” forever. Rat says this phrase at the beginning of the novel to Mole, and it made me think about all the adults who do their own messing about in boats in order to hold onto their childhood. Here is what I mess about with:

What are you messing about with?

The most amazing popcorn is being given away and all you have to do is pay the $10 shipping. I think everybody has heard us talk about Dale and Thomas Popcorn. For those of you that have tried it, here is your chance to have some more for very cheap. For those of you who have not had the privilege of trying it yet, this is your chance. Normally this popcorn costs over $25 plus shipping. I know you are probably wondering who would pay that much money for popcorn, but believe me it is definitely worth the price. For your free sample copy and paste the website below and follow the instructions.

https://www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com/dtp/sample.aspx?channel=EMLF&ym_mid=938245&ym_rid=324118

But you better hurry, they only give away a certain amount.

Welcome to the Cave of Wonders…the spookiest door at Batty Hill. Turn back now if you are faint hearted. The creeping spiders and shrieking bats will scare a weak soul. It’s not too late…

Why did we do that to our door? For money of course…and fun. Our apartment complex had a contest for best door decorations on Halloween. We got second place. Here is the first place winner:

I was Sailor Moon for Halloween and Ryan was Tuxedo Mask. We couldn’t get all of the costume parts perfect, but we came pretty close. We made the cookies for our Scout’s Pack Meeting. That picture of me standing at the door is me watching all the children’s reaction when they came up to the door (creepy, I know). Our decorations scared most of the little trick-or-treaters. Halloween is awesome!

I am reading The Dollmage by Martine Leavitt, and she says something interesting in the story. The book reminds me of a Lois Lowry story because it is set in a nonexistent, ancient feeling time. In the village, the people are given a promise doll when they are born. These dolls are like a person’s spirit and conscience. (To really undesrtand what the dolls are used for, you would need to read the book.)

A person’s promise doll is an indivual’s potential as well as a standard for that person to uphold. If someone makes a promise, the person’s doll would hold that person accountable.

In the story, the Dollmage reads from a scroll on the God doll and explains to a young girl, Renoa, the secret workings of the dolls:

“‘Words are God’s dolls…. With a word he made us. Only to us, his children, did he give words and the power to make.’ That is why the promise is so important. If we break a promise, a word means nothing, and if a word means nothing, then we have lost the power God gave us.”

“But…but with that power came the freedom to lie, the ability to destroy a real thing with words,” Renoa said.

With all of the frivilous YA books out there, it is heartening to know that there are some causing people to think about real things. Remember all you YA haters, there are ones worth reading.

Book: Little Sister

Author: Kara Dalkey

Category: Fantasy/Magical realism

What I like: The main character, Mitsuko, goes on an adventure to save her sister’s soul. This book is filled with Japanese folklore, myth, and tradition, so it’s not your typical heroine story. The story is written very lyrically and is pleasant to read as well as suspenseful. 

What I don’t like: It’s short! I never want the story to end, but after 200 pages it does. Thankfully there is a sequel: The Heavenward Path.

It also can be difficult to find these book in libraries and bookstores because it was out of print for a while. Thank goodness for Amazon.com

I’m going to start posting about books I’ve read and what I think about them.

I am always up for suggestions on what to read. Going to the library with all of those spines facing me, I can never make an informed choice. I end up with a stack of books that I only read the first few pages of and then return because they stink. 

Hopefully, these posts will help others with the same library/bookstore dilemma.

Then again maybe it won’t. It’s difficult to know what books people like to read.

Book: Llama Llama Mad at Mama

Author: Anna Dewdney

Category: Picture Book

What I like: This book is hilarious (and so is the author’s last name). I laughed so hard in the bookstore I almost cried. Ryan was completely confused why I liked it so much. I will tell you. The book is written in simple rhymes, and it’s all about a baby llama who has to go shopping with his mama llama. He grows impatient and starts throwing a tantrum in the store. The premise is very relatable, but the illustrations are what make this picture book. The llama looks so grumpy, I can’t help but laugh. Plus all is well in the end because what llama doesn’t love his mama.

What I don’t like: The price. It cost me $20 to have this book in my personal library. I suggest renting from the public library if you want to read this book.