Swestie

Hello Goodbye

2011-07-29T07:22:00.000-04:00

I've moved! Check out my new digs at www.swestie.wordpress.com. See you there!

Oh the times, they are a-different...

2011-07-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

Hello friends out in the blog-o-sphere!

Swestie had to take a little time off, but she's on her way back... she's gotten a new look and is ready for fun! Watch this space for more to come!

RIP, my sweet Daddy. 1930-2010

2010-10-15T16:09:00.001-04:00

Hop on the Bus, Gus

2010-09-16T12:25:00.000-04:00

Afternoon Well Spent

2010-09-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

2010-09-11T12:48:00.000-04:00

(:

2010-09-10T16:40:00.001-04:00

A-MEN!

2010-08-31T15:33:00.001-04:00

Vacation Swestie

2010-08-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

I've Got to Get Some Evian!

2010-08-21T07:34:00.002-04:00

Enjoy! And have a nice weekend! Don't forget to click on the link to see the whole thing!

The Shouting Prayer

2010-08-19T16:08:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to actually click on the video itself to see the full version of it! And remember... God loves you!

The Last Mointain Morning

2010-08-08T08:51:00.001-04:00

At Shenandoah Caverns! Kewl!

2010-08-07T11:06:00.001-04:00

Tadasana

2010-08-06T18:16:00.001-04:00

Savasana-aaahhhhhh!

2010-08-06T10:57:00.000-04:00

I'm going where the water tastes like wine...

2010-08-05T10:23:00.001-04:00

THIS is what you call a LEAF.

2010-07-31T18:14:00.001-04:00

Bug size increasing exponentially!

2010-07-29T17:20:00.001-04:00

Lol Cat of the Week... of How I Feel About Fake Cheese

2010-07-25T19:20:00.001-04:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Biggest Bug I've Ever Seen

2010-07-13T09:27:00.001-04:00

The Last Worthless Evening

2010-07-09T10:06:00.002-04:00

For ten years, I have struggled to lose weight. Well, that is not entirely accurate. I have lost weight easily several times, but failed miserably at keeping it off. Since the turn of the millennium, I have lost over 100 pounds at different times, and put it all. back. on. every. single. time.

I’ve “attempted” umpteen diets and detailed them here.

I’ve learned to love my body, extra pounds and all, and detailed that here and here.

I’ve made peace with exercise and have come to actually enjoy it. I detailed that here, here, here and here.

I ran a marathon. (This was before I was blogging...)

I cooked healthy meals. (Glorious One Pot Meals)

But when push comes to “shovel,” I shovel it right on in. Put me in front of a bowl full of noodles and suddenly my arms are not long enough to reach my pause button on my fork. My mother calls this the “Hand to Mouth Disease.”

If you go to a Weight Watchers meeting, you will learn that this behavior is not uncommon… I should know. I’ve been around the block with WW more than once… some might call me a Weight Watchers floozie… I know all the tricks and tips and hot buttons. It is such a great program and easy to follow… until it’s not.

That is where I always get tripped up. I fizzle out and the “energy storage” (as I’ve taken to calling my excess body weight) creeps back on. I simply fail to make the necessary changes to my lifestyle.

When I say necessary changes, I don’t mean giving up carbs or becoming vegan or subsisting only on the chaff of wheat grown in Kansas… I mean simply journaling my food intake and exercise. When I journal, my angel of goodness who sits on my right shoulder will almost always beat the devil of temptation on my. But if I’m not keeping track, there is no angel…. and there is no devil either, because I probably already ate what he was tempting me with!

“Well, what’s new?” you say. This: I’m going public. I’ve always approached my weight loss journey in silence, sharing my successes and failures with few so that I didn’t have to endure the pain of failing in front of many… so that I didn’t have to be fully committed. But I’m thinking I need some support. I need for someone to reply to this post in October and ask me if I am still journaling my food… to see if I’m still letting the angel win. I need someone to share my daily triumphs with. THAT IS YOU!

I am not going to make this about the pounds. My goal is follow the WW plan and to make this about successes – both small and large. My ultimate goal is that this is the last time the yo-yo goes down.

What can you expect from me? Moment-by-moment success reports on my Twiitter feed. (Need to get on Twitter? Click my link on the top right of the screen.) I’ll also give periodic updates here.

I appreciate your support as I walk this journey, hopefully for the last time. Also, I’d love to hear YOUR success story. You can leave it as a comment, or if you prefer, you can e-mail me at salwonthewest@yahoo.com.

Up on the Roof

2010-07-08T11:40:00.002-04:00

Justa Swangin...

2010-07-06T16:18:00.002-04:00

Where I'd rather be, and what I'd rather be doing...

Sometimes...

2010-07-05T16:02:00.002-04:00

When sadness wraps around you like a blanket, your favorite music can feel like your best friend.

Chillaxin in the Country

2010-07-04T14:48:00.001-04:00

Grow Young

2010-07-04T06:21:00.000-04:00

10 Things I Liked About Eclipse

2010-07-02T16:16:00.003-04:00

Ohemgee. I so enjoyed this movie, and all of the anticipation of waiting for it since November made finally seeing it that much sweeter. I could drone on for an hour about all of the things I appreciated about this movie, but to keep you interested, I'll just stick to 10.

I'm not pointing you to any synopsis or overview this time like I did for my review of New Moon. If you don't know about the storyline of the Twilight Saga yet, you probably don't care and are never gonna. In that case, you may now be excused.

So here goes:

10 Things I Liked About Eclipse

10. The new views you see of the Cullens' home are beautiful, even if the exterior is nothing like it is described in the book.

9. Jacob rocking the James Dean/bad boy vibe. All I knew was that I want to be the girl on the back of that bike when Jacob rides away from Forks High... but would Bella really have skipped school to hang out with Jacob? It seems unlikely, but it has been one year since I read Eclipse, so I could be wrong.

8. Alice finally got some better clothes! The reigning fashion diva of the Cullen family was costumed so hokey-ly (is that a word??) in New Moon. The Eclipse wardrobe is much kinder to Alice.

7. "Little" Seth! He is like a cute and fuzzy little puppy skittering around at your feet! And of course, when the rubber meets the road, he is as tough as his older and larger brothers... and purer too.

6. I like how this one showed a little more of Bella and Edward just hanging. They were cute - almost normal - in the meadow, doing their homework, making out, acting like teenagers generally do.

5. I really liked the coloring of the meadow. It has the purple flowers that remind you of the meadow in the original Twilight, but I really love the addition of the golden browns and greens they infuse in there as well... it plays so prettily in that soft focus.

4. The soundtrack is most enjoyable. My favorite song is My Love by Sia. I checked her out because I was interested in buying more of her music. However I didn't because the rest of her music sounded very different than this song... I love the simplicity of the song's instrumentation and also the almost Asian, lilting melody. I did not like the way the score had the main song of the soundtrack [Eclipse (All Yours) by Metric] woven into cheesey, sentimental strains throughout the rest of the movie... it might not have been so obvious to me if I hadn't been listening to the soundtrack since June 8 though.

3. The comedy. There were some truly funny moments in this flick... wouldn't have thought there would be, but it's nice to give your face a break from the wide-eyed worry of all of the action scenes.

2. The emergence of the femme fatale - Leah. While not the most likeable character, she is played well in the film.

1. Edward's new hair. I really hated that crazy straight up thing he had going before. His new hair is much more normal.

Flower Power

2010-07-01T09:56:00.001-04:00

Swestie has a date tonight...

2010-06-30T15:22:00.002-04:00

Twilight,Twilight pictures,Twilight fansite

GET THIS COUNTER FOR YOUR PROFILE!

To prepare, I've just finished re-reading both Twilight and New Moon. I really have enjoyed re-reading New Moon, however, I had completely forgotten how Bella was just beginning to fall for Jacob right before she runs off to save . I didn't really feel sorry for Jacob first read through, but I did this time. Plus, I know what hell he goes through in Eclipse, and it's hard not to be sad for all of that.

A Favorite Song

2010-06-29T10:44:00.003-04:00

Hard to be sad when you hear this song!

Not Scared

2010-06-28T16:00:00.002-04:00

Swestie could melt into a puddle, but you'll never hear her complain!

Hipstamatic

2010-06-25T11:25:00.002-04:00

Check out this cool photo of my hubs that I took with my iPhone!

"What? You took that with your iPhone?"

Yep. I used a cool new app referred to me by a friend called Hipstamatic. It is an app that adds cool affects to your photos to make them look like they were taken with old cameras on old film! So much fun! You know I'm an iPhone fan, but I'm not much into apps... but this one is defintiely worth the two bucks I paid for it!

The Color for which the Word "Luscious" Was Coined

2010-06-08T16:37:00.001-04:00

Book Review: Splendor of Silence by Indu Sundaresan

2010-06-03T16:27:00.003-04:00

Hello friends! Let me tell you about my most recent read - The Splendor of Silence by Indu Sundaresan.

This lushly descriptive book began slowly (read a description here...) with the first 200 pages foreshadowing the heart-rending tragedy and giving historical backgound of the time of British occupation in India. I felt like I had to trudge through these 200 pages, as a Georgia girl slogging through knee-deep snow, and it took me weeks to do so. However, the story then began to pick up pace and snowballed to a finish that was suspenseful up to the last five pages off the book.

I enjoyed the lyrical writing of Sundaresan, flowing and descriptive in a detailed way that is obiously Indian. She does not waste one single word, and her descriptions of the Sukh dessert, chiffon saris, curried food, and round characters left me feeling as if I had taken a quick trip east. She obviously has a great love for India.

How did I like it? Well, it was a very sad story. Compared to The Bronze Horseman, I would rate this a six and a half out of ten... (I would rate The Bronze Horseman an 11 of ten...) The passion and love was there, the story good, but I wanted a little more, er, how shall I say it, detail of this passion and love. I think I prefer more epic type books. I enjoyed this book, but I will not likely seek out more by this author.

You will remember that I'm part of a reading challenge called Mixology 2010. And I hate it that must admit this early in the year that I'm straying slightly from my goals. I had challenged myself to read every selection chosen by my book club this year, and I'm not going to complete that challenge. One person chose a German theological depresser entitled Letters from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I did purchase the book. My friendly reader HK will be delighted to know that I even know the person who translated from its original German into English. I even tried to read this book. But I just couldn't do it. It was as much a struggle to read one page as if it were still IN German, and I just decided that book club books should be more fun. Since the person who selected that book didn't even read it, I'm letting myself off the hook with this one. So here's one more tick for the category of "Book Club Books."

I'm going crazy... And I think I like it.

2010-06-02T09:05:00.001-04:00

Just in case you had forgotten...

2010-06-01T16:06:00.002-04:00

Twilight,Twilight pictures,Twilight fansite

GET THIS COUNTER FOR YOUR PROFILE!

Yea! 29 days and counting!

Bad Hair Day

2010-05-31T15:50:00.001-04:00

Coffee Zombie

2010-05-27T16:27:00.001-04:00

Swestie wonders how ANYONE can wait until they get to the coffee shop before they have their first cup of the day...

I can do anything, yeah, yeah, yeah...

2010-05-26T16:36:00.003-04:00

This is not my child, but I would claim her if I could! Just a randon Facebook find!

Kindle... no, no...

2010-05-24T15:52:00.001-04:00

Swestie's Office Rule #1

2010-05-20T16:49:00.001-04:00

A girl should always keep an extra vase at her desk for "those special occasions."

Where My Kids At: The Swagger Wagon

2010-05-18T17:56:00.003-04:00

Too funny... they're making the Toyota minivan be as cool as I wish the V Dub minivan were... remember, click on the actual video to see the full version... I haven't actually seen it on TV, but I'm tagging it in that category... Thanks to Porkchop for the vid!

2010-05-17T17:21:00.001-04:00

This is a drawing my seven year-old daughter did in English at school. She had to draw a picture of a word that is a noun. She drew apartments.

Here is what she wrote:

"I decided to do apartments for my noun picture, because I think they're so cool and a little tall. The people that live there means more friends."

I felt exactly the same way about apartments when I was a little girl!

What I love about this drawing:

I love how each apartment is a little different.
I love that there is a clothes line! Where has she ever even seen that? Notice there are not clothes on it, so maybe she doesn't know what it is really for.
My kitty-lover had to include at least one happy kitten.
No "gron-ups" allowed!

THX! THX! THX! I love you!

2010-05-13T17:09:00.001-04:00

ThxThxThx: A Thank You Note A Day is a super-cute blog about being grateful for the little things in life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Outside of my office...

2010-05-12T12:16:00.001-04:00

Spiderweblog?

2010-05-11T17:02:00.004-04:00

You know Swestie has been busy at work when her weblog looks more like a spiderweblog!

Nick Drake+Christo=AT&T

2010-05-07T10:19:00.003-04:00

What I love:
-The music: Nick Drake... also of VW Cabrio spot fame

-The way the fabric just rolls and rolls and the light reflects on it

-The clever take on coverage

-The reference to the artist Christo

Swestie's Take on Exercise

2010-05-05T20:49:00.003-04:00

"The best thing about a good workout is washing it off afterward."

Heaven on Earth... Robin's Garden

2010-04-27T07:12:00.002-04:00

Let the Wild Rumpus Begin

2010-04-26T07:32:00.001-04:00

Swestie and family had so much fun on Spring Break this year! I hope you enjoy our video. To watch it, don't press the play button here... click on the photo and it will take you directly to You Tube to view the video... (Maybe one day I'll figure out how to make it work the right way!)

Caterer of choice?

2010-04-24T13:13:00.001-04:00

The sign on that green food cart says "We Cater..." I just wonder what and where...

My Kind of Art

2010-04-15T16:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, walking through the lobby of an office building, I saw an art show being hung, and I had to stop and take these three pictures...

This is not my artwork, and I take no credit for the creation of any of these pieces.

I do however, love them! The top two are just beautiful to me... large... colorful... graphic... accidental... I would buy either/both of them with any expendable income I had... if I had it...

And the third one, is curious. I looked at this classically posed woman with a modern haircut and earrings... then I noticed the title, "Self-Portrait as Bacchus." Then I knew that I loved it. I might have to create a "Self Portrait as Bacchus" one day myself!

2010-04-13T16:26:00.001-04:00

I would really LOVE to have an iPad... click on the side of the video to see the whole format...

The Little Bloom That Could

2010-04-11T13:05:00.001-04:00

Have a Good Time - Easter Parade in Richmond, Virginia

2010-04-06T16:14:00.004-04:00

Spring has sprung! Happy Easter! (To see the full version of the video, click on the photo - NOT the play button!)

Sometimes, Swestie Doesn't Even Bother With Makeup

2010-04-01T15:45:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, Swestie doesn't even bother with makeup.

For you occasional dose of weird... come here!

2010-03-30T15:28:00.002-04:00

Really? This will make Japanese people buy Kleenex?

Wanted: Warm Weather

2010-03-25T15:59:00.001-04:00

Sometimes "spring break" feels more like "winter break."

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-03-24T16:17:00.001-04:00

Something to look forward to!

TGIF!

2010-03-19T16:17:00.001-04:00

Smile!

2010-03-19T09:28:00.001-04:00

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

The Future of Publishing

2010-03-17T16:21:00.001-04:00

So very clever... and very true... (Not my creation, by the way.)

Your Fashion Questions Answered

2010-03-16T15:35:00.002-04:00

Swestie answers your fashion questions... What is the purpose of a winter sandal? To show off a winter pedi, of course?

Book Review: Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

2010-03-15T16:20:00.001-04:00

This month's I'm reviewing my book club selection - Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji. I actually chose this book, and was drawn to it because the jacket categorized it as a coming of age story... I always love a good sweet and salty coming of age story. I also liked the cover too. The lure of a cultural images so foreign to mine will draw me in every time. (=

Anyway, set in early 1970s Tehran, this book gives a charming snapshot of Persian/Iranian culture - one I'm not familiar with in the least. Seraji wrote with the explicit intention of exposing American readers to details of Iranian life that they would never be privy to otherwise. Always a little old fashioned myself, I enjoyed reading about the polite, gentle courtship of the main characters of the story and the sweet friendship of the protagonist and his best friend. These descriptions are obviously very real to the writer and to me where his writing really sparkles. Based on his writing, Seraji seems to be a very tender man

The story unfolds in a series of flashbacks which crescendo to the wrenching climax. While it was suspenseful, I didn't find myself longing to read this book while at work or rushing to find out the outcome. All in all, this was a simple story, pretty-well told. The writer's command of English (not his native language) is great. My friends are all rushing through reading it, so maybe my lackadaisical reading of it is indiciatve of the place I am in my personal life today.

Final verdict: while not a soul-stirring page-turner, this book was enjoyable and worth a read, if you've got the time.

As far as the Mixology 2010 Challenge, this will count as one book club selection and one book about foreign culture. So I've now finished the foreign culture section (lofty as it was... 2 books! Hey, just reading perpetually is my real challenge... give me a break!)... you can bet that a classic will be my next book club selection... I've been recommended to start with Jane Austen... do you have a recommendation for me? I'd love to hear it if you do.

Cappuccino? Khaki chino? Wah?

2010-03-12T16:24:00.002-05:00

Grandma Swestie obviously likes plain, old Maxwell House.

Tuesday can't get here fast enough...

2010-03-11T07:04:00.000-05:00

Now really...

2010-03-10T15:27:00.001-05:00

How can it be all about YOU when it is REALLY all about ME?

This Too Shall Pass

2010-03-09T16:26:00.001-05:00

Fashion Tip from Swestie

2010-03-08T15:59:00.001-05:00

Fashion tip from Swestie: If you are going to wear dark nail polish, you need to have short nails, lest you look like Mortitia Adams!

Enything, enytime...

2010-02-20T13:29:00.004-05:00

Friends, this was too sweet not to share. I found this drawing that my daughter made, and I asked her if I could post it. She agreed.

She is a freckle-faced, curly girl who has been known to struggle with shyness... I love how she pumps herself up here with this drawing. She's using her creative powers of visualization to create a desirable reality for herself. We all need to do that every now and again.

So when you're feeling anything less than wonderful, just remember, "You can do enything, enytime."

Out of the mouths of babes...

In case it is too small for you to read, her writing (spelling errors and all) says:

"I say just be yourself at school

don't be someone different

because you will always find a friend

that is what happend to me

and don't be shy

just speake

remember you can do enything enytime

Book Review: The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons

2010-02-15T16:06:00.001-05:00

Okay. I told you about The Bronze Horseman. I told you about Tatiana and Alexander. Now I will tell you about the third and final book in the trilogy, The Summer Garden.

I read one review about this book that said something like, "this book goes on too long and should really only be read by hard core fans of the series that absolutely must know what happened to their favorite star-crossed lovers." And while I enjoyed the book, I agree with whoever it was that said that. I loved the characters, and that's what kept me reading. The story, however, just went on like a Russian winter. Touching all of the major crossroads that most married couples come to, and many that they don't, I feel that there were several places the book could've ended logically. Instead, we're led to a cheesy portrait of two old people sitting on a bench together, one eating icecream, just like when the story first began over 1500 pages ago. That felt contrived and silly. It did delve more into the past of our heroine, which I liked and felt like was some of the best part of the story of all three books.

But hear me when I say that I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I was sad when I finished. I miss Tatiana and Alexander... and if anything else, this portrait of Tatiana as Superwoman, Superwife and Supermom, while unrealistic, helps me strive to be better at all of the jobs I do.

Because they were in the US in this book, it can't qualify as a book about foreign culture. So this will only count to increase my total number of books read for the Mixologoy 2010 Challenge. Three down, twelve to go. (Can't believe I've already read so much so early in the new year...)

You Say It's Your Birthday?

2010-02-12T16:26:00.001-05:00

This is what we do in my house on snow days... Happy birthday, Angel!

Um, thanks?

2010-02-10T16:20:00.004-05:00

When certain people compliment your clothing, it can make you feel like your "Do" was really a "Don't"!

Snow Much Fun

2010-02-08T16:22:00.001-05:00

Book Review: French Milk by Lucy Knisley

2010-02-06T06:26:00.005-05:00

This past Christmas, my wonderful hubby gave me for Christmas several books that were on my Amazon Wish List. One of those, French Milk by Lucy Knisley, had been on my list for a while.

French Milk is part travel journal, part sketchbook, part "Dear Diary." Now, I admit, these travel memoirs are a favorite genre of mine. You've got your soul-bearing expose, your cultural commentary, or should I culture clash comedy. It just so happens that many of these books are about France, as this one obviously is too... (hmmm... maybe that's my "fascination" with French culture... perhaps books about France are all that are commercially available... H.K., time to write A Year in the Sheisse... =) )

Knisley details a month-long trip she took with her mother to Paris just before she graduated from college. In my opinion, the story line is a bit too insipidly-generic-college-graduation-angst-y. But the drawings that comprise the bulk of the heft and beauty of this book are delightful. As it is said, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and I believe this goes for drawings as well. When Knisley sat down in a spot and drew what was around her, you're seeing everything that was important her. It's like a glimpse right into her heart, and that is cool.

So, if you love to travel, and you love Paris, and you love graphic books, this book will be interesting to you. But if whiney college-aged kids grate on your nerves, you'd better pass this one up.

For the Mixology 2010 Challenge, this will count as a book about another culture. This means, that I've already wiped that (not very challenging) category! Hey, I take what I can get. Progress is progress. Two down thirteen to go.

P.S. If you're interested, you can click here to see some sketches I did way back when when I did some traveling "last century."

Over the Top

2010-02-01T19:46:00.007-05:00

I've been plugging away on the little olde blog for nearly two years now, for better or worse. And I finally found out... someone likes me!

She is Elisabeth Wang of Babbette's Book Blog, a life-long friend-like-family I've only recently reconnected with. At Babbette's Book Blog, you can find thoughtful reviews of all sorts of books, and it looks great too. I feel honored and grateful, and I hope you'll check out her site. Thanks Beth!

In order to receive this award, I must answer the following questions with one word answers and then pass the award on to 5 other bloggers whom I believe are also "Over the Top!" (They will then repeat.) Here goes:

Your Cell Phone? cracked
Your Hair? long
Your Mother? sweet
Your Father? strong
Your Favorite Food? cheese
Your Dream Last Night? unremarkable
Your Favorite Drink? wine
Your Dream/Goal? freedom
What Room Are You In? living room
Your Hobby? creativity
Your Fear? collapse
Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? teenagers
Where Were You Last Night? friend's
Something That You Aren't? unopen
Muffins? meh
Wish List Item? inheritance
Where Did You Grow Up? Augusta
Last Thing You Did? dinner
What Are You Wearing? jammies
Your TV? off
Your Pets? conflicted
Friends? close
Your Life? full
Your Mood? calm
Missing Someone? no
Vehicle? convertible
Something You Aren't Wearing? bra
Your Favorite Store? Anthropologie
Your Favorite Color? pink
When Was The Last Time You Laughed? work
Last Time You Cried? ?
Your Best Friend? hubs
One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? Starbucks
Facebook? constantly
Favorite Place To Eat? CanCan

So now, I pass along the honor!

First, there's my great friend at Mommy Gourmet/My Original Recipes. We're friends in real life, as well as in the blog-o-sphere. Vanessa is always whipping up delicious treats that make me truly glad I get to actually taste some of them in person.

Next is lsaspacey over at Shelter & As I Said. A friend of a friend, we have gotten to know each other a through blogging, and it's nice to know someone else in the world makes all of the kooky connections with homes that I do.

Next is Missy K at Daily Portion. Missy's thoughtful, quiet words, along with her beautiful photographs are like a needed quiet retreat in the midst of a noisy, chaotic day.

Then there is JenniferBB at Cookin' in the 'Cuse. Hip, urban, tasty, pretty... what more could a girl ask for in a blog?

These are my top favorites, so I'm just gonna leave it a four. Thanks girls, for being "Over the Top!"

Why I don't check my voicemail anymore...

2010-01-29T18:21:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Ashton Kutcher on Twitter and Redux.

Book Review: Tatiana and Alexander

2010-01-26T15:49:00.002-05:00

*Spoiler Alert for The Bronze Horseman*

Last week, I reviewed The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. I shared with you how much I loved it. However, I didn't share with you that the ending was beYOND sad... it was so heart-breakingly, dramatically heart-rending that fifty pages before I finished reading it, I nearly put it down (with sobs, mind you) because I didn't know if I could withstand the ending (of this fiction novel... what can I say... I'm a sap...). But I finished it, cried a few more buckets and mourned the loss of the characters the way I always do when I finish a really engaging book.

So I went online to look for other books by Simons, and guess what I found out... The Bronze Horseman is only one book in a TRILOGY! There are two more books about Tatiana and Alexander to read!

Hooray!

I immediately purchased a used copy of the second book, Tatiana and Alexander. At $20 plus shipping, I felt this was a bit high... but it turns out this book is a little bit hard to find... not in libraries, etc. Perhaps it was published in the UK. The third book in the series, The Summer Garden, couldn't be had for less than $70 when I looked, but a friend was able to find a less expensive copy. I've already read the second book (in a record three days... haven't read this fast since I read Breaking Dawn...) and will be starting on the third this weekend. (Can't wait!)

Anyway, Tatiana and Alexander did not disappoint... me at least. This book weaves together the stories of the two main characters in two veins: their lives 1) before they met and 2) after they parted at the end of The Bronze Horseman. It is FILLED with war and gulags and post WWII New York and daring European rescue attempts, tempered with (steamy) memories of the characters' time together along with creation of a few more. I will not spoil for you how this one ends... you'll have to read it yourself.

For the Mixology 2010 Challenge, this book will count as as a book about another culture. So, one down... fourteen to go!

Some Days You Gotta Dance: Part II

2010-01-25T15:40:00.005-05:00

'

Same concept as last week's post, different song... I so would love to happen upon one of these! I love spontaneous dancing!

Some Days Are Just Much Too Much

2010-01-22T15:48:00.001-05:00

Some days are just much too much.

Book Review: Ten Things About "The Bronze Horseman"

2010-01-21T16:41:00.003-05:00

Ten Things About The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

This is one long story. At 800 plus pages though, it kept me happily reading through a long snowy weekend and several nights after the snow was cleared away. Simply put, I could not stop reading this book... very inconvenient when read during the midst of a busy holiday season. (This book will not count toward my Mixology 2010 challenge because I read it in December.)
Taking place in the Soviet Union just as it enters World War II, there is no shortage of strife, famine, misery or destitution in this novel. Take heed: it is not for the faint at heart.
There is no shortage of, um, er, romance either. If you're looking for a story that will heat you up on these longs winters nights, well, I'll just leave it at that and let you read for yourself.
No hot love story is ever as sweet as an innocent love story.
I never realized before, but the USSR was a cruel, unusual, machine that took away every freedom that I enjoy as an American. The masses were pacified not with any small comfort or assurance that life would be better, but with liberal distribution of vodka. If people weren't paranoid, hungry, or lacking basic needs of privacy, it is only because they were too drunk to notice.
People will do strange things for the people they love.
Hope floats... a lot and for a long way.
I am lucky to be a citizen of the United States of America, and I am grateful to all of the public servants and warriors who have secured my place in its history.
I am always amazed to learn how crude life was for people all over Europe in the 1940s and 50s... not just in the USSR.
No matter what the cost, I always believe that honesty is the best policy.

Mixology Challenge

2010-01-19T16:23:00.005-05:00

Last week, I told you about Babbette's Book Blog and about her Mixology 2010 Challenge. Well, in the spirit of participation, I've made my choices.

In 2010, it is my goal to read 15 books. I know, this is not a lofty challenge... but at least it's a goal.

The categories and numbers I would like to read are:

classics - 2
non-fiction - 3
books about other cultures, fiction or non-fiction - 2
book club choices (this is like a random field because we don't limit our selections to any certain category or genre) - 12

Now, I realize if I meet these goals, it will give me more than fifteen books. But I already know some of the ones I plan to read cross categories, so I'm going to stick with the plan.

In addition, I am adding my own component of the challenge which is to give you a short review of each of the books I've read. I've already read two this year (I was on a trip...) and I'll start getting those reviews together soon.

If you are taking the Mixology Challenge with me, post a comment and let me know!

Some Days You Gotta Dance

2010-01-18T16:11:00.002-05:00

Some times you gotta dance... love how this gets bigger and bigger... then *poof* it's gone.

The Music in My Soul

2010-01-13T16:11:00.002-05:00

Have you ever met a soul friend for the first time who you feel like you've known longer than forever?

Have you ever seen a cracked, sepia photo of a place in the grainy, distant past that seems uncannily familiar, as if you were there at that time, even though it is impossible for you to have been?

I am reading a book about the cast of characters who populated Paris around the turn of the 20th century and they made a reference to the music of Erik Satie. Being the good student that I am, I looked it up and found this song... as the pianist slowly and plaintively unfurled the song's lucid melody, I felt breath slowly collecting around my heart... stopping there - time swirling all around yet standing still - and upon resolution of this sweet refrain, I heaved a great sigh... the song of my soul.

Press play to hear this song.

Swestie Loves a Good Book

2010-01-11T16:42:00.003-05:00

I went to a small private elementary school that embraced several "alternative" learning styles. When other kids were learning math facts, we were learning sophisticated ways to count on our fingers. When other kids were using stilted reading primers we were (forced to be) reading real books... fifty of them each year.

Yes, fifty. Now, if a kid already appreciated the escape of reading, this was great news. But I was not one of those kids. I, who was generally a cheerful and diligent student, slugged through my way through fifty books for three years, with all of the joy of a pig in a bath. As a matter of fact, the one time I remember being sent to my room as a kids was one weekend when I had until Monday to read 5 books... my mom brought my meals to my room on a tray so I wouldn't be distracted. After the third year of forced indenture to books, I equated reading with torture... and luckily changed schools too.

I would willingly pick up about one book per year after that, but encountered a change when I heard some friends in high school talking about a novel they were reading for English class... it wasn't at classic! (Gasp!) It wasn't a text book! (Oh my!) It was a current bestseller at the time! (Almost cool!) I read that book, and it was the first piece of fiction that spoke to my adolescent heart in a way that made me want to read more and more and more.

As an adult, I have loved vacation for the chance to put the feet up and read non-stop, but I've always been a little disappointed that I haven't made time to read more. Recently I became a part of a reading group that has been so much fun and gotten me regularly reading again! Yea! Thank you book club! I love reading suggestions that I wouldn't have necessarily found myself and going on the journey of a book with friends around me.

Well, along these lines, I've reconnected with an old friend and she has a wonderful book blog called Babbette's Book Blog. And for 2010, she's posed a reading challenge which I hereby accept. Read about it here.

I'm going to devise my plan for the challenge and let you know... we'll have to see how it goes! Happy reading!

Welcome to my world...

2010-01-08T07:51:00.001-05:00

Sometimes Swestie Feels a Bit "Status-less"

2009-12-31T11:48:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Susan Booker!

All you need is love... all over the world...

2009-12-30T07:33:00.002-05:00

I just love these kinds of things...

2009-12-28T12:34:00.001-05:00

@ Yahoo! Video

From me to you...

2009-12-23T06:51:00.002-05:00

Going back in memory, Christmas was such a magical season for me as a child because of the promise of Santa's magical journey from the North Pole... new toys... family members laughing all around... going to church... being in a Christmas pageant... there was such a flurry of colorful and special activity... such a crescendo. With a child's limitless energy, I let this joy rain all over me, soak into my skin and fuel my light for the year to come.

However, early into this year's holiday season, I felt a little down and out. I wasn't feeling so much into the spirit. I was desiring to feel the magical childhood exhilaration... instead I was feeling the blah blah blah blues. As a Christian, I personally celebrate the birth of Christ not just on December the 25, but every day of every year. I celebrate by sharing kindness, loving strangers, reaching out to people who need me, whether I know them or not. In my opinion, THIS is the true celebration of the birth of Jesus, and it can't - MUSTN'T be confined to just one day a year. That's just the life I live... but it doesn't do much to brighten the holidays!

So this year, I made the magic. I looked to the light in my children's eyes as they experience the same things I did as a child. And as I opened my heart to let in some of their joy and light, magically my holiday lights turned on as well.

Please enjoy this little video of what has made my holidays... and all of 2009... special.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Love and peace to you in 2010!

Love, Swestie

I Stand Corrected

2009-12-16T05:42:00.003-05:00

Wow! The Les Mills team saw my lil' ole post and corrected me on #1... it's a PONGA tree, a fern type tree that is native to New Zealand, the REAL place that Les Mills is located... I originally said Australia...

Thanks for noticing Caroline! Kia ora!

The 12 Days of Fitness from Les Mills

2009-12-15T16:34:00.002-05:00

Here's a holiday wish from the Les Mills team in New Zealand! And don't forget it's summer there...

To the best of my knowledge, it is:

1st day: a Pump bar in a potted (?) tree.

2nd day: 2 tricep dips

3rd day: 3 sweaty men

4th day: 4 downward dogs

5th day: 5 drunk PDs (program directors)

6th day: 6 sweaty singlets

7th day: 7 gloves a boxing

8th day: 8 programs milking it

9th day: balls a dangling

10th day: 10 supermans

11th day: 11 tunes (?) a strumming

12th day: 12 wheels a spinning

Because I love you, I got you a holiday fruit cake!

2009-12-14T16:22:00.001-05:00

Pass it on! Courtesy of The Martin Agency...

There's always room for more!

2009-12-06T17:32:00.003-05:00

Franc-o-phile...

2009-11-30T16:23:00.002-05:00

I don't know if it is because of the time I spent in Europe (mostly in Germany), or if I've simply fallen prey to America's modish marketing of all delicate things al a Francais, but I just love most things that smack of being even the tiniest bit Frenchie.

Doesn't almost every American woman long to have that je ne sais quoi, even if we're not quite sure what it even is?

Well, I saw this ad on television on Thanksgiving day. I first heard the song and immediately loved it and looked up the singer to find out it is no other than the original French icon of sexiness, panache and altruism all rolled into one - Brigitte Bardot. Va va voom!

On first viewing of this TV spot advertising a new French perfume, Miss Dior Cherie, I though it energetic and soft and beautiful and wonderful. It seemed to sum up all things "French" and mash them up into one candid, magical breath-taking minute of "How to Be Beautiful and French."

However, when I watched this commercial, directed by Sofia Coppola, again, I realized that I thought those things because I was led to them directly... literally. This commercial is like a condescending primer of "all things French," including:

fancy French pastries - including tasty macaron
beautiful, sun-spotted views of traditional Paris... the River Seine, the lovely and nearly ancient bridges, opulent fountains
quaint views of things that make the girl seem carefree and so different than the modern American woman: bicycle riding in a dress... peony sniffing... dog walking... convertible riding on a fuzzy blue day...
Vogue magazine and beautiful clothing
the Brigitte Bardot-esque hairstyle
of course some obligatory shots of the Dior house in Paris

and, the piece de resistance

the red balloon

Obvious and leading as it it, I love this silly advertisement anyway, and I wish I could be the girl in it! I'm a sucker for things marketed just to me and will likely go out and sniff the perfume today!

Spotted at the Goodwill Truck...

2009-11-29T16:39:00.001-05:00

Now THAT'S a slipcover!

Let the shopping begin!

2009-11-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

Click on this ad to see the full version... I still can't figure out how to embed my You Tube vids properly! And by they way... any Gap gifts you want to send to me are most welcome and appreciated! (=

Will Suffer for Fashion

2009-11-24T16:23:00.002-05:00

How Twilight Should've Ended...

2009-11-23T16:26:00.001-05:00

What does Swestie love even more than The Twilight Saga? Making fun of it. Enjoy this video.

So, so funny.

You know you're shopping on the wrong side of town when...

2009-11-21T18:22:00.002-05:00

The baby formula is kept behind lock and key. Yikes!