Books I have read recently

  • Shirley by Charlotte Bronte — I'm reading a giant biography of the Brontes "Wild Genius on the Moors" By Juliet Barker (amazing!! but I'll post on that when I finish) So I'm reading each novel as it's discussed in the book. I loved Shirley. I have to agree with the critics that it is a slow painful start and it does take about 150 pages till we meet the title character Shirley. But besides that, it is so well written. Caroline Helstone’s angst is beautiful and poignant. And knowing that the last third of the book was written after Emily & Anne died explains so much about the change in the book. Charlotte likes to fix her world by writing about it and in her version the sick heroine recovers where her sisters did not. I definitely recommend Shirley for the Bronte fan. Don’t skip it.
  • A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas --- It took me a couple chapters to really dive in but after that I was in love. I had read somewhere that it was based on Beauty & the Beast, which is great. What I did not know is that it is a retelling of one of my favorite fairytales: East of the Sun, West of the Moon!!! What a treat when I discovered that. I love that story. It's whimsical and the girl saves the day which I love love love. Sarah does a beautiful job of it and I can't wait for the next one!!
  • Miss Buncle’s Book by D. E. Stevenson —What a little treat. My mom gave these books to me for my birthday and there are so much fun. It’s a light easy read and it made me chuckle.
  • Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder— I adore her soul finder books. I’ve been reading them for years. She builds beautiful strong women and sweeping romance. Her magic system is unique and I want to live in her world.
  • The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and E. B. White — A must read for every writer. Thanks to Stephen King for the recommendation. It has all those little things that I had questions about and answered them quickly and succinctly. It’s not the funnest read but it’s helpful.
  • Click of Titles to go to the book's Amazon page

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas with the Allens

Here is what are apartment looks like Christmas-a-fide






Thursday, December 11, 2008

Blog for Tania

My Life in Pictures
Per request of Tania.
This is pretty much a picture of me life right now


1.The Day starts at


a.m

2.Eat breakfast and make lunches for my husband and I




3. Try and wake matt up.

* Megan in the morning



* Matt in the morning


4. Have a good day at work honey *kiss*


5. Clean Teethx5


6. Lunch Break




7. Clean Teeth x3


8. Cook Dinner


9. Matt does the dishes



10. Rest/ Read/ or Watch T.V.




11. Bed at 10 ish




Begin Again

Sunday, May 11, 2008

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"





Today was Mother's Day. My mother loves blowing bubbles. So we got her this monstrous bubble container for her enjoyment.
Bubbles are amazing. The wind was so strong tonight and the bubbles were flying all around. Each one radiated a reflection of the world. My dad said that every bubble was a fairy being born. I love that idea. The bubbles would appear and they would contain little lights inside (really a reflection from the house). It did almost seem that there must be something more than soap involved. Bubbles are so etherial, like they are not solely from this world.



P.S.
I also could not contain myself from singing "Sing sweet nightingale"

Tuesday, April 1, 2008



As I closed me eyes today I could see it all so clearly. I could feel it and smell it. I remember every detail of the day.
May I never forget it

Friday, March 21, 2008

Loss of sleep √

"If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it, to work day and night for it, to give up your time, your peace, and your sleep for it.if all that you dream and scheme is about it, and life seems useless and worthless without it.if you gladly sweat for it and fret for it and plan for it and lose all your terror of the opposition for it.if you simply go after that thing you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity.if neither cold, poverty, famine, nor gout, sickness nor pain, of body and brain, can keep you away from the thing that you want.if dogged and grim you beseech and beset it, with the help of God, you will get it!" - Les Brown

The above quote is my motto for life at the moment. It is encouraging. If this quote is right I am on my way!

Go out and fight for it √
Work day and night √
Give up time √
Give up peace √√√√
Give up sleep √
The only thing I dream and scheme about √
Life seems useless without √
Life seems worthless without it √
Sweat √
Fret √√
Plan for it √
Lose all fear of opposition √
Use all my capacity √√
Use al my strength √
Use all my sagacity √
Use all my faith √
Use all my hope √
Use all my confidence √
Use all my stern pertinacity √
Don't stop because of cold √
Don't stop because of poverty √
Don't stop because of famine
Don't stop because of gout
Don't stop because of sickness √
Don't stop because of pain of body √
Don't stop because of pain of mind √
Beseech it dogged and grim √
Beset it dogged and grim √

Then with God's help you will get it [ ]
No check there yet

Hmm everything else checked but famine and gout
Guess nothing can stop me now.