The Ladybug Lounge

It's Monday, What are you Reading ?

 
If you haven't already head over to One Person's Journey through Books. Sheila is the new host for It's Monday, What are you Reading? She has an incredible blog that I love to read ! 

This week I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and really enjoyed it ! 

 

In fact I JUST finished it so I haven't even chosen what book I'm going to read next. I have so many on my to read list. It never gets shorter, only miles longer. 

I have a couple of options. 

  
 The Other Boleyn Girl

The Pemberley Chronicles (first book in the series)

Within the Hollow Crown 

I hope everyone has a great reading week !! 
 
 

I love Paris = Parisian Love by Google

This commercial ran during the superbowl this year. I didn't watch the superbowl so this commercial is new to me. I love it. How clever are the people who come up with some of these commercials ?! Enjoy ! 

The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock Giveaway ~ WINNERS !!

Hi friends ! TGIF  ! Thanks to all that entered the giveaway for a copy of The Moon Looked Down !! I've randomly chosen 3 winners via Random.org

 The winners are 

Becky at SueberryLane

Dina at 4 Lettre Words

Jessica at Muthering Heights

Blog Awards

I received a few blog awards this last week that I'm proud to announce ! 

 

Your Blog is sooooooo Kewl award was given to me by Aleksandra's Corner ! She writes a book blog. Make sure to check her out. 

I've decided to pass this blog along to 

Julie the Army Wife

Just Thinkin

Live Laugh Latte

Loving my Childrens Gifts

My second award is from  The Pirates Bounty. Head over to Chris's book blog ! 

Tias Comfy Place

One Crafty Mommy

My Life in High Heels

And the final award for this week was given to me from CMash Loves to Read. Thanks !  
 

Really? I'm a Mom

Dollycas

Aubut Family

The Artsy Mom

The Days I'll Remember

Aloha Friday #7

 

I've really enjoyed participating in  Aloha Friday over at Islandlife808 . All the participants as an easy question for their blog readers.  Hop on over and join in the fun. 

The question I'm choosing for this week is 

What was the last movie you saw in the theater ? 

My answer is The Young Victoria (see my review I posted earlier in the week)

Welcome everyone from Follow Friday !!

I wanted to say Welcome to everyone from Follow Friday. This has become such a fun event to be part of. Over the past week I've found some great new blogs and new blogging buddies. If this is you're first time to my blog make sure to check out a few of these links 

My About Me Page will Tell you a little about this blog;or just leave you even more confused. Basically The Ladybug Lounge doesn't fit into any specific niche in the blogging world. I blog about my children, friends, host giveaways, do book and movie reviews, ect. ect . I obviously have blogging ADD. 

Right now I'm hosting a wonderful giveaway for James Patterson's audiobook Worst Case. You can sign up for the giveaway here. It's easy; be a follower and leave a comment with your email address !!

Don't be scared to sign up for email updates!  I have some fabulous giveaways scheduled from some very talented Etsy artists coming up next month !! Your email address is private and you will only get 1 email a day with the posts that were made for the day ! No spam mail here !! Sign up is located on the righthand side of the blog. 

 Subscribe in a reader

Now that I'm done introducing everyone new to the blog..... on with Follow Friday !!! 

Friday Follow is a  celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! 

The Sugar Queen Book Review by Sarah Addison Allen

Author Sarah Addison Allen

Publication Date: 2008
ISBN: 0553805495
Page Count: 288 

Josey Cirinni is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and her passion for the man she loves is best kept a secret, even from him. Josey has grudgingly settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, but her one consolation is the secret stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she keeps in her closet. One morning, she opens her closet for a sweet, but finds Della Lee Baker hiding there instead. Della Lee is a local waitress on the run who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. Under Della Lee's guidance, Josey is soon living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion is so real it can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters.

This book is the perfect example of why I love book blogs and the blogging world in general. I kept seeing wonderful reviews on this authors new book The Girl Who Chased the Moon coming out in March 2010. I put it in my "to read" list and looked through the authors other books. They all have wonderful reviews but the title and description of this book caught my eye so I checked it out from the library. 

Since I had never read anything by Allen before I wasn't sure what to expect. I was in for a big surprise. What a treat (no pun intended!) this book was ! I was instantly pulled into the story ! It's light hearted, fun with a touch of magic and whimsy. 

I don't want to say too much more or it would spoil the book. Unless something else blows me out of the water I have a feeling this book will be in the list of my top 10 books this year. I've already added Garden Spells by this author to my list of books to read and am highly anticipating the release of her new book this year. Ms. Sarah Addison Allen, you have found yourself a new fan ! 

The New Starbucks Rewards Program Card or the answer to my dreams ?

For someone who's favorite thing in the whole world (me) this is an answer to my caffeine filled dreams ! Starbucks is my version of crack; it's expensive and addicting. I live for the Pumpkin Spice latte that comes out every fall. 

All you need to do is register your giftcard online with Starbucks to join the program. 

There are great benefits for joining including a free specialty drink on your birthday and free wifi for 2 hours a day. 

 

After 30 drinks you will attain the Starbucks Gold status ! Not only will you get a pretty gold card (so everyone will know you've spent an obscene amount of money on caffeine) but the gold status gets you personalized offers and coupons. You will also receive a free drink every 15 drink purchases. 

Worst Case by James Patterson Audiobook Giveaway

One by one, children of New York's wealthiest are taken hostage. But the criminal doesn't crave money or power--he only wants to ask the elite if they know the price others pay for their luxurious lifestyles. And, if they don't, he corrects their ignorance--by killing them.

To Detective Michael Bennett, it becomes clear that these murders are linked and must be part of a greater, more public demonstration. With the city thrown into chaos, he is forced to team up with FBI agent Emily Parker, and the two set out to capture the killer before he begins his most public lesson yet--a deadly message for the entire city to witness.

From the bestselling author who brought you the Alex Cross novels comes James Patterson's most action-packed series yet. With the heart-pounding suspense that only Patterson delivers, WORST CASE will leave you gasping for breath until the very end.

Thanks to Anna at the Hachette Book group, I have 2 of these audiobooks to giveaway. Contest will remain open until March 2, 2010 at midnight CST. Winners will be announced March 5, 2010.  

To win:

You must be a follower of this blog to enter the contest. 

1. Leave a comment with your email address. (1st entry)

2. Tweet this contest (2nd entry)

3. Blog about this entry (3rd entry)

4. Add my button to your blog (this will count for 2 entries)

Please be sure to leave a comment for each entry. Shipping to US only.

 

Wordless Wednesday..... The Most Amazing Storm Photos Ever

After having a close call with a tornado last year I have a new appreciation for powerful storms. These are the most amazing photographs of mother nature at her best - or worst depending on how you look at it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  
  You can participate in Wordful Wednesday at 

and Wordless Wednesday at 5 minutes for mom.

 

What's Changed In the Last Decade ?

 

True Colors by Kristin Hannah Book Review

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Published: January 5, 2010
• ISBN-10: 0312606125
• The Grey sisters had only each other when their mother died years ago. Their father provided for them physically on Water's Edge, the ranch that had been in their family for three generations, each of them however, longed for their father's love. 
  
  Winona, the oldest, knew early on that she could never get it. An overweight dreamer and reader, she didn't exhibit the kinds of talents and strengths her father valued. 
  
  
• Vivi Anne, the youngest, had those things. And it was Vivi Anne who only ever saw a glimmer of their father's approval. 
  
  When Vivi Anne makes a fateful decision to follow her heart, rather than take the route of a dutiful daughter, events are set in motion that will test the love and loyalties of the Grey sisters. 
  
  With breathtaking pace and penetrating insight, Kristin Hannah's True Colors is a novel about sisters, vengeance, rivalry, betrayal-and ultimately, what it truly means to be a family.

 This author is another first for me. I hadn't read any reviews about this author online but kept seeing advertisements for this book at Target and my library. Her marketing team did their work because  I decided to read the book. 

This book spans over 30 years so there is alot happening in this book. I really liked the characters and Kristin Hannah does a wonderful job with them bringing them to life on the pages of this book. I love when I feel drawn to the characters. She really gave them depth and made the reader understand why they made the choices they do during the story. I feel like at time I was waiting on the edge of my seat to see what happens and at others I was wondering how much longer the book was. When it was good it was REALLY good but some of it just drags.   The ending was predictable but it was still a good story and it certainly won't stop me from reading more of her books in the future!

I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

 

It's Monday, What are you Reading ?

 
If you haven't already head over to One Person's Journey through Books. Sheila is the new host for It's Monday, What are you Reading? She has an incredible blog that I love to read ! 

Last week I asked if people thought I should read The Sugar Queen or True Colors. 

 I got through them both !! It was my first time reading both authors and they are both amazing and very different from each other ! 

This was an amazing if not somewhat bizarre novel by Sarah Addison Allen. Review coming soon. 

True Colors by Kristin Hannah was also a wonderful novel. 

I've also completed Recollections of Rosings and have enjoyed every minute of it. 

This week I'm going to concentrate on reading  

   

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I feel like I might be one of the last people left who actually hasn't read this novel. It's been a best seller for quite sometime now so it's about time I jump on the bandwagon. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful reading week. What's on your reading list this week ?!
 

The Young Victoria Movie Review

 

My husband and I made a date night and went to see The Young Victoria a few weeks ago. We don't ever get date nights so this was extra special. He didn't know anything about this movie but was willing to take me. It was only playing at one theater in the Denver area. It's our arty theater The Landmark Chez Artiste. Sounds classy, huh ? It's actually a little hole in the wall theater with only a few screens. They play only independent, arthouse, foreign and indie films. I'd never even been there before so this was much like an adventure. I rarely get to see movies in the theater that don't involve animation.  

 The movie was under two hours and I felt like I could've sat there for two more. Queen Victoria has had the longest reign in British monarch history; I think she deserves a much longer movie. This movie follows Victoria from her young teen years and when she became Queen during what we now call the Victoria period. Of course, no movie would be complete (in my world anyway) without a love story. It shows her wonderful love story and marriage to Albert.  I knew very little about either Victoria and Albert and this movie made me want to learn all there is to know. 

As with any movie adaptation there is always a little straying away from the storyline and this movie is no exception. The costuming is amazing. I really think the costumes are what make a good time period film. Emily Blunt does a fantastic job and really plays the role well. Rupert Friend plays Albert and there isn't much to say about him except - HOTTIE ALERT LADIES ! ( In all seriousness he really does an outstanding job, but that isn't what is important for a male leading role is it ?). 

At the very end of the movie they scroll through facts about Victoria and Albert. The one that touched me the most was this fact. 

Albert died from typhoid at age 42, and Victoria had his clothes laid out every day until her death at age 81.

 

 

 

 

 

  
 For us one of the cutest little scene stealers was the little Cavalier King Charles (Tori) who plays Victoria's dog Dash in the movie. What a cutie he was !

Amazon has this for preorder already. It's due out in April of 2010 !! I can't wait ! 

Quotable Sunday .... Humor

 

I'm participating in Quotable Sunday again over at A Daily Dose of Toni . I love reading the quotes everyone chooses as their favorites for the week. Make sure to check out everyone else participating ! 

For this Sunday I'm going to choose humor as the subject ! Enjoy these quotes !

 

Dogs have owners, Cats have staff. 

A compromise is an agreement whereby both parties get what neither of them wanted.  ~Author Unknown

I have six locks on my door all in a row.  When I go out, I lock every other one.  I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.  ~Elayne Boosler

It's always darkest before the dawn.  So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.  ~Author Unknown

Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.  ~Rita Mae Brown

If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?  ~Author Unknown

Everyone has a photographic memory, but some don't have film. 

 

A VERY merry UNbirthday to YOU! {giveaway goodness!}

via www.tiascomfyplace.com

Tia's Comfy Place is having a Birthday Bash giveaway. She's including a Pride and Prejudice book ( who doesn't love this ?!), fabulous vintage gift tags, and awesome products to pamper yourself with !! 

Your only requirement is to be a follower and leave her a comment !! You have until 3/2 to enter. 

So, head on over and sign up for this fun giveaway ! Who doesn't love gifts on your Unbirthday !! 

How to Survive a Hostage Situation

No one ever really wants to think about being put into a hostage situation such as this. Sometimes random knowledge is the best to have. Better to be safe than sorry. 

 

Courtesy of Newsweek
 

Follow Friday #1

This is my first week participating in Follow Friday here at The Ladybug Lounge ! I'm excited to participate. I love learning about new blogs ! 

Friday Follow is a  celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! 

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. 

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like. 

--Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow. 

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

Aloha Friday #6

 

I've really enjoyed participating in  Aloha Friday over at Islandlife808 . All the participants as an easy question for their blog readers.  Hop on over and join in the fun. 

The question I'm choosing for this week is 

What is one thing you've never done, but would like to try ? 

I would have to say I would like to take ballroom dancing lessons at some point but haven't. Maybe one day ! 

The Duchess Movie Review with Keira Knightly 2008

“The Duchess” is the story of an extraordinary woman who rose to fame by staying true to her passions in a world of protocol, gossip and social rules – and paid the price.

The Duchess is a film based on the tragic life of The Duchess of Devonshire - Georgiana Cavendish. Many don't know that Diana, Princess of Wales (Lady Diana Spencer) is one of her descendants. Sarah Duchess of York is also a descendant by her illegitimate daughter Eliza Courtney. 

This movie was based on the book Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. I've put off watching this film because I had read and heard many "not so good reviews" on the film. I'm glad I finally got a chance to watch it for myself, even if I'm a little bit late in doing it. Despite the distorted details in the move, I really enjoyed it.

I realize for the sake of Hollywood that stories sometimes need to be tweaked a little to fit in. However, when they drastically alter history in a movie based on a novel or real circustances it bothers me. For instance her husbands mistress and Georgiana's former best friend conceives and births a son before Georgiana does. That would have been an excellent scene! I can't for the life of me figure out why it wouldn't have been included in the movie. They also don't show how she was addicted to gambling and even with a husband as rich and powerful as he was - it is said she died 20,000 pounds in debt which by today's standards is significant. She was constantly fighting off creditors. Georgiana also developed anorexia or bulimia and became addicted to optiates so she had an escape from her unhappy life. This is the side of pre-victorian life that Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte don't show you. The film is well done, and is an interesting, if depressing, view of 18th century English society.

I do realize this was only a 2 hour movie and it's hard to fit everything in but think they should have stuck a little closer to history.

With that being said, this movie is beautiful and stunning. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor a couple of times.  The costumes are magnificent. The scenery is breathtaking. It does a wonderful job of transporting you to the time period.  I was  impressed with Ralph Fiennes and Kiera Knightley's performances. They both make this a wonderful period film.