Rambling thoughts...

Well, it’s a matter of will power. I don’t know where mine goes sometimes. I really want to lose weight, and I bought a dress to wear in my sister’s wedding (on ebay – custom made). I am going to have it made with a lace up back – my sister’s suggestion so I can get it made now and it can fit tighter later if I lose a lot more weight.

But the way it’s going, about 1 pound a week, is depressing. I am not sure how long I have weighed this much but I know it’s not good. So it’s progress in the right direction. And the clothes are looser, just not falling off. Hopefully I can get my wedding ring off soon. (Yep, I gained so much weight that I can’t get the darn thing off).

And I am so much better with will power when people are around. I find it funny that I have to psych myself up to go out to eat by myself so I won’t over eat. I am better to pick out what I want, order take out – like at Panera or Subway – and leave than to sit in a restaurant. It’s not so much that I even WANT to eat that much – I get full on way less food than I used to. It’s just a hard habit to break. And even though I can have it occasionally, I feel sad without dessert. It was my comfort and friend.

Things that make you go humm…

Thoughts and plans going well

I wanted to take today to be a thankful day:

1. I am thankful for my sister and her son. They are always helpful and willing to do what we need to get the job done. They are going to get a new member of the family soon - Kirk, and I will be thankful for him as well.
2. I am thankful for my husband. He is such a great dad and suffers through my traveling job where I am gone 4 days a week most of the time. He is supportive of the crafting business as well.
3. I am thankful for my local library. They keep me in books up to my ears, with minimal overdue charges. Yes, I am so happy I can sign up on line, walk in and pick up the books and leave.

Thank you for being part of my thankful day. What are you thankful for?

Book Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Ah, a lovely read! I love the way Sophie makes me happy and sad at the same time... And even though I knew how it would end from midway through, I still WANTED to keep reading!

"Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella - copyright 2009

"Where's my necklace?" That's how the story starts, at a funeral for a 105 year old woman. It's a ghost story that's not quite the same as every ghost story you have read. So, Lara, our heroine, gets roped into searching for a beautiful necklace for her great aunt Sadie. And through the twists and turns, and ups and downs, this book is a good read.

Sadie is a fun gal, who, even though she lived to 105 years old, never really got past her first love. Much like Lara is trying to do. Sadie is an impractical ghost, with many demands and an interesting way of getting what she wants. Sadie finds a man for herself, but needs Lara to do the "human" thing so she can go on a date with him.

Lara is trying to have a life, get over an old flame, start her own business and find a necklace. She does find the necklace, but it's just out of her reach. And, as she falls for Sadie's guy, she is torn between the kinship she feels for Sadie and the real feelings she is having for the guy.

A journey of Lara's leads to a discovery of information that helps Sadie to have some peace about how her life was lived out. And it reminds us that everyone is someone who has lived and enjoyed life no matter what we think about it. All of us have a story. And telling it sometimes makes us sad but nonetheless also gives us healing. And helps those who choose to listen.

Book Review: The Bride of Casa Dracula

This book is the 3rd in the series of books by Marta Acosta about a Milagro De Los Santos - a vampire book. You know I love the vampire genre. I have already read the other two books prior to this one.

"The Bride Of Casa Dracula" by Marta Acosta, copyright 2008.

I'm never quite sure why Milagro is so entranced with Dr. Oswald, but she is. I think she wants to be normal and no matter what she does, it just is not her. The cutting, the vampire council, and Ian. That's what this book is about.

Edna, her favorite foil, is off with her paramour, and Milagro is left to deal with Cornelia and Oswald. You get the feeling from the very beginning that Oswald wants Milagro to be normal as well. I honestly think that what he loves about her free spirit is what he eventually decides is the straw that broke the camel's back.

Milagro tries throughout the book to deny to herself that Ian is the best choice for her, and in the end I am still not sure I don't agree. But she gives in - to Ian - and it just seems to work. Her friend Nancy designs Oz and Milagro's wedding but alas, it is not to be.

I do wish that Milagro would not be so worried about taking a man's money - let them give it if they want I say. She has done without love for her entire life, her mother and her ethnicity against her. Perhaps she will decide she loves Ian after all. Perhaps she will become a nun - highly unlikely.

Part of Milagro's problem seems to be that she is trying to be what others want her to be, and not what her destiny is. I do hope that Ian means it when he says that is what he will give her. She deserves that much. And I hope in the next book she writes more stories and gets credit for them.

I could not put this book down, wondering what Ms. De Los Santos was going to do next. I hope you love it like I do.

NickAnny's California Fox

We got a new puppy - a Boxer - about 6 weeks ago. Here's what she looked like a few weeks ago -


She's gotten even bigger now that she's a few weeks older. We have just loved having her - she's such a sweet puppy. She starts puppy class this weekend - I am taking her to Petsmart on Sunday. I hope she does well, my goal is to have her as a great companion and protector for the kids.

We call her Cali. I will update with more pictures soon.

Well, Here We Are Again!

I bet you thought I left you...

Nope, I went on vacation and then I started Weight Watchers. I have been on that program for about 4 weeks now and I am very happy to say I have officially lost about 8#. It's about control and thinking ahead and just portions. I have to say, it is not hard to follow at all.

So, even though I have been bouncing around, I promise that I have been working on some cool new stuff so I can show you! I am even working harder on my Facebook page. Thinking about making a Fan Page for NickAnny Creations.

No need to worry, I am also still going to do book reviews. I have one right now that I am working on so look for it soon.