It has been 3 years since the horrific car accident that took the lives of Mia’s entire family; her mother, father and little brother, leaving her as the only gravely injured survivor. 3 years since she wordlessly walked away from her boyfriend, her rock.
Adam Wilde has been on a roller coaster ride since Mia left. Fueled by grief after losing Mia’s family and the breakup he didn’t want, he completely shut down. He left his band that was on its way to stardom and pushed all of his friends and family away, simply going through the motions of life, because that was all he could manage. Finally emerging from his despair, he began writing songs about his anguish and loss. After writing an album’s worth of music, he rejoined the band, signed a recording contract and skyrocketed to fame.
Now living almost 3, 000 miles apart on opposite coasts, Adam seems to have it all; he is a HUGE star, has a celebrity girlfriend and yet finds himself struggling with his fame. Mia has been studying the cello at Julliard, and is becoming a star herself. Fate brings them together for a chance meeting in New York City, which has become Mia’s new hometown. Written in Adam’s voice, follow them on their journey as they reconnect, and work to resolve the hurt, resentment and anger from the past 3 years.
When I was chosen to be a part of this book club for BlogHer, I realized that Where She Went was actually a sequel to If I Stay. I immediately downloaded the first book onto my Nook and read it, while I waited for Where She Went to arrive on my doorstep. I am amazed when an author has the ability, through pages in a book, to be so descriptive that you feel like you are a part of the story. Gayle Forman is incredibly talented at doing just that, taking me through the emotions in both books; I grieved with Mia, felt Adam’s heartache and then sought closure from Mia, right along with him.
I highly recommend this book, after you read If I Stay – it is so much more powerful when read that way. I am thrilled with how the story ended – no loose ends, no unresolved situations, just the way I like it. 
I will be keeping an eye out for Ms. Forman’s future books for sure!
This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club (to be directly deposited into my coffee fund) but the opinions expressed in this post are my own.
As a parent, you never want your child(ren) to be bullied. But the truth is, kids are mean and unfortunately, it seems bound to happen sooner or later. When I recently heard about my son being bullied, my immediate reaction was fury. I wanted to go up to that school and KICK SOME ASS. (Obviously, I didn’t.) However, the situation was handled in such an amazing way, I felt it needed to be shared.
On a recent Friday afternoon, we got a call from the guidance counselor at Grande’s school; some students from his class had been calling him names on the playground. Now some of these details are kind of sketchy but here is what I have surmised, based on what everyone has told me. At recess, the 4th graders were trying to put together a kick ball team, they divided into teams of girls and boys…they needed more players for the other team, and so, told my son that because he likes to hang out with girls, he should go play for the girls’ team. Six boys stood on the playground and humiliated my son by repeatedly telling him that he’s a girl.
When recess was over, G talked to his teacher about it and was very, understandably, upset. His teacher got the guidance counselor and principal involved and together, they held an emergency classroom meeting. Apparently there had also been an incident that morning, involving some girls in the classroom (which had nothing to do with my son) and given the situation at recess, felt it was necessary to address the entire class with a discussion about respect, dignity and integrity.
At the end of the discussion, the principal asked the students if they had enough integrity to stand up and admit to bullying my son on the playground. Each and every one of them stood up and took responsibility for their actions. These boys were brought to the principal’s office, where their punishment was given; 1 week without recess, in which they will research the effects of bullying on kids and write a report. They will then make a presentation to the entire school from this report. The principal also told me that if it goes well in our school, he may have them present it to all of the elementary schools within the district.
I have since heard from both the principal and guidance counselor with updates; the students are practicing their presentation and once an assembly about bullying has been scheduled, they will send me an invitation to attend. As impressed as I am with the swift and innovative way this was handled, I won’t consider this issue to be completely closed until I am in that auditorium, watching that presentation.
If your son or daughter was the victim of bullying, would you be satisfied with the way this situation was handled? What if your child WAS the bully? How would you feel then?
A new Courtyard by Marriott has just opened about 9.4 minutes from my house – in fact, the ribbon cutting ceremony was just on Friday. But the greater news is that it is rumored to have a Starbucks!!! The closest Starbucks is 25 minutes away, so I’m sure you can imagine how excited I am!!! Look at all the exclamation points!!!
As I have been stalking monitoring the progress of this new hotel over the last several months, I have been wondering what the grace period is, for going there just to buy coffee. I mean, it has been open for 3 whole days, so tomorrow should be good, right? RIGHT?!?!
I can see it now:
*entering the lobby*
Desk clerk: Hi, welcome to the new Courtyard by Marriott! Are you checking in?
Me: *sheepishly* Um…no…
Desk clerk: Do you need to make a reservation?
Me: No, thank you…
Desk Clerk: Alright, how can I help you?
Me: Oh, I’m just here for a latte. Thanks anyway, though!
That’s totally normal, right? As is hanging out in the lobby reading my book and drinking my coffee? (And if it’s not? LIE TO ME.)
Jessica Simpson has FINALLY given birth to a baby girl named Maxwell, weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces.
Whew, I’m glad that’s over – her pregnancy was really tough on me. Two months ago she was already being called “heavily pregnant” so I can not imagine being as uncomfortable as she looked and STILL having 2 months to go. Is it me or did she seem to be pregnant a REALLY long time? Based on when she announced her pregnancy and her accompanying picture, I would have guessed she was already 4 – 5 months along. Then of course there was the whole posing nude thing and her tendency to over share…
Now I just wonder how much over sharing she’ll be doing about waiting the 6 weeks before she can have relations…or her daughter’s umbilical cord…or diaper details. *sigh*
So what do you think of the name Maxwell for a girl?
It’s here! The site is done and I LOVE it!
I first heard of Nicole at Tech-mom-ogy back when my friend Steph was working on her own site redesign. Steph was thrilled with her work and highly recommended I contact her. At the time, Teri and I were looking for a designer who could make our vision for Moxie Mavens come to life, on our budget. We gave her a color scheme and 1 graphic that we loved, and she ran with it. After it was done I was completely jealous of the awesomeness and not-so-secretly wished it had been my own site. And so, Happy (early) Mother’s Day to me – the Spill the Beans redesign was my gift.
I’ll be honest, this redesign was a bit more difficult. I had a color scheme and coffee theme (hey, that rhymes!) but no vision for Spill the Beans. First I thought I wanted vintage, then I wanted retro and then I simply didn’t know anymore. Talk about pressure! Nicole put up with my many requests and always wavering opinions; she was wonderfully patient, always kind and would not consider the site “finished” until I was completely thrilled with it.
And I so totally am.
Want to see a picture of my boys?
Aren’t they handsome?
(And yes, I am totally stalling until the site is done.)
Please excuse the changes while we make everything look new and shiny.
xoxo, Lauren
Our boys like to get…creative when loading the dishwasher and so, were kind enough to provide me with enough examples to post a tutorial on how you SHOULDN’T load your dishwasher.
Examples:
I see a perfectly good spot where Lightning McQueen could have fit.
Anyone care for a bowl of Dishwash Soup?
Now here, I can legitimately see that there is nowhere to put this plate. However? Laying it on top of a pot is not the solution, people. Either hand wash it (that’s right, I said it) or let it sit in the sink for the next load.
I have no explanation for this one.
*Please note, the princess sippy cups are not mine; my 1 year old niece stayed with us for a few days. Though now that I think about it…if they were mine, I’d probably spill less.
Oh, and if you try to stack too many bowls together while unloading the dishwasher, this will happen:
I hate to say I told you so to the boys…but I so totally did.
We need to make up a song or a jingle for the Friday 5 – I’m thinking of a rap, maybe? Get on that, would you?
Hearing… a few of the boys playing basketball outside. I say a few because we have some of their friends over right now and I am supervising. From the couch. Tis very effective.
Seeing… Titanic. The offspring requested it after school and I just happen to have it on my TiVo. No worries, I’ll be fast forwarding through all of the nakedness and the sex scene… which is mainly Jack grabbing some boob, Rose’s hand SMACKED up on the car window and the 2 of them basking in the afterglow. Keeping it classy, y’all. (I can’t really pull off y’all.)
Smelling… Fresh, beautiful air, flowing through the open windows on this sunny day.
Tasting… nothing right now. You see I had this BIG brunch at 11:30 this morning. I have 4 words for you: Pumpkin Bread French Toast. Oh…emmmm…geee… I have yet to eat anything else all day because it is impossible to top perfection and I am not ready to tarnish the memory.
Feeling… MAJORLY excited! Spill the Beans will be undergoing a redesign, within the next week or 2!!! I am thinking of going with a vintage or retro coffee feel but am open to suggestions. What do you envision for this site? Leave your suggestions in the comments and you MAY just see them incorporated!
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend! Y’all! (Ha!)
My oldest son, Venti, suffers from a very serious condition. And if any of you have *middle school boys, they probably have it too. The purpose of this post is not to scare you but to spread awareness. I assure you that it is not simple adolescence. It is called “Whatever-itis” and is often accompanied by “I Forgot-osis” and it can be maddening if you aren’t careful.
Symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Exaggerated sighing
- Immediate opposition to anything suggested by the parental units
- Excessive eye rolling
- Shrugging his shoulders and/or saying “Whatever” in response to any/all questions posed from the parents
- Habitually forgets anything/everything in which he is not interested
- Is charming to any/all adults that are not his parents
Examples:
Me: Dude, I asked you to change the trash an hour ago!
Venti: I forgooooooot.
Me: If I had asked you to text your friend, you would have remembered.
Venti: *Rolls eyes* Whatever.
Me: Did you take your shower?
Venti: I forgot.
Me: Life skill! It’s a basic life skill!
Venti: *shrugs shoulders* Whatever.
Me: *Head explodes*
And you know what else? My house always smells like feet! HIS FEET! Which, OMG, reeeeeeeeeek! Hence, the shower convo.
But I digress.
Treatment:
Get thee to a spa, ASAP.
Hang out in the peaceful tranquilness (totally a word) until they close and make you leave.
Have plans to meet a friend for coffee or dinner.
Hang out until they close and make you leave.
The kid should be in bed by the time you get home.
You’re welcome.
*The same may be said about middle school girls, but I wouldn’t know because of the whole boy thing going on here.
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