Reading Challenge - Book 14

This.
Book.

OMG

I think the only reason I picked this book at my library was because I wanted a good read, and knew I'd get it from Jodi Picoult. This late in the year, I know I'm not going to finish all 40 categories on the PopSugar 2016 Reading Challenge, so I'll just list this one for 'a book that takes place during summer.' There were scenes involving riding a bike, and lots of outdoors stuff. I think it was summer. Hahaha...

Anyway, I've struggled with writing any sort of review for Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult because of the revelation toward the end of the book. I don't want to give anything away.

Straight from the Amazon site:

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe she was abandoned, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice’s old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest: Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons, only to later doubt her gifts, and Virgil Stanhope, the jaded private detective who’d originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers. 

As Jenna’s memories dovetail with the events in her mother’s journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent page-turner, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

You should TOTALLY read this book. Everyone I know should read this book so I have someone who knows why I'm blown away, and we can talk about it.
It was available through my local library's Kindle collection, so you may be able to get it to read right now - go on!!

Maggie's kidpik Box - November 2016

Maggie's fourth kidpik box might just be the best one yet! I hope our lucky streak continues, as I loved my last Stitch Fix box too! After hubby had a couple of busts with Bomb Fell, I've almost got him talked into trying one of Stitch Fix's boxes for men. Wish me luck!


Maggie's first instant love from this kidpik box was the Christie Bootie Kids in grey. Their regular retail was $27.50. I'm sort of jealous, as I'd love a pair of booties like these for myself! Since she had them on almost before the box was all the way open, I think they ended up in every picture.

In this first picture, she has the beloved boots with the Chic Necklace Tee (regular retail $16.50) and the Bow Knit Skirt in navy (regular retail $15.50), topped off with the Bow Dot headband in navy (regular retail $3.50). Admittedly, none of these was her favorite. Personally, I thought the 'Chic is Cool' phrase on the shirt was sort of odd for a young girl. She thought it was supposed to be 'chick.' At least it's long-sleeved for winter. The skirt is a little longer than most skirts she has, while not quite being a maxi. Now that I'm looking at it all again, I don't think she's worn either of these pieces again since getting them. But we did keep the whole box.

This outfit was the favorite of Maggie and her dad and me. It's the Suede Hi Lo top in chili pepper (regular retail $16.50), with adorable Bouquet Floral Super Soft Skinny pants in navy (regular retail $19.50). Especially with the new booties, I can't say enough good things about this outfit. Not usually being very into current fashions myself, this looks exactly like a lot of the trendy outfits I'm seeing this season. I doubt I'd have picked out such fabulousness and paired it on my own. If you are another kidpik family, though, be a little careful with this shirt. Part of the reason we loved it was the super-soft feel. I think it's the exact same fabric as the holiday dress she kept from her last box. But it totally dyed her white camisole pink! They're both in the laundry now, so we'll see how it all turns out. I don't remember the dress staining anything, but the shirt sure did! She wore this outfit for our family's Thanksgiving celebration.


Last but certainly not least was this lovely Floral A Line dress in navy (regular retail $19.50). It's super-cute, and I really liked the length. I think we'll try to find a thin white blouse that she can wear under this one for winter. And of course everything needs to match the booties.

Overall, we liked the box! The items we wouldn't have kept without the discount ended up equaling less than the 30% discount for purchasing the whole box. So we kept it all! I also liked that instead of more iron/sew on appliques, the fun little goody bag included this time had textured stickers. Crafty things she can enjoy without my help are my favorite sometimes!

I'm impressed that kidpik has nailed it every time for us. They've saved me major shopping trips for the last several seasons. Between her boxes, the hand-me-downs she regularly gets from a friend, and a few things I can pick up locally (without making a mall day trip), she's got a wardrobe she enjoys, and I've got less tasks on my list!

Shop Now with Groupon Goods

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.


Boy, it's like they saw me coming. I'm getting ready for my '12 Days of Christmas' posts (holiday gifts to give me, in case you're wondering) and the first thing to show on my Groupon Goods posts today is sheets - on sale starting at $14.99!!

What a fantastic deal! That one is ending soon (don't we all have a love/hate relationship with doorbuster sales?!?), but I'm excited to see what might show up next!


If you're not quite ready for the 'sheets' level of adulting, there are definitely some fun items ready to go too!


How about a XtremePro HD 1080p Wifi Sports Camera Bundle with Mounts & Accessories for less than $100?? That looks like something my husband might enjoy.



Or for something fun for any age girl in your life, have you looked at the adorable Mermaid Tail Blankets? For just $19.99, it's a great cozy gift for all your fanciful mermaid lovers.


I've checked Groupon plenty of times when we were planning a trip or headed out for an evening, but Groupon Goods is a whole new world of fun for me! I can use it for spoiling myself, getting gifts I'm searching for, or even picking up something awesome to have on hand when finding out about a special occasion at the last minute! No point in passing up a great deal, right?

Reading Challenge - Book 13

The 13th book I've read this year fits category 29 of the PopSugar Reading Challenge - a dystopian novel.

It turns out this category is one I'm really enjoying, and a few more on my 'to be read' list could fall here as well. I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and now I'm planning to watch the movie again (I saw it years ago, but now I want to watch and compare while the book is fresh in my memory). It seems a lot of parts of the book was just in the narrator's head and won't translate easily into a movie, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they handled it all.

Offred still remembers parts of what her life was like before she was assigned to just be a handmaid. They've taught her at the Red Center that things are better this way, but she's frequently not so sure. She wonders what happened to the people from her life before, and is never sure who she can trust with anything besides her conditioned responses. Can the whole civilization she knew have disappeared, and can it stay gone forever?

I thought this was a more well-known book than apparently it is, at least among the people I see on a regular basis. I was excited to talk about it, but no one else I've seen while reading it knew about it. Hopefully in a few days hubby and I will get a chance to watch the movie and I can babble at him.

I recommend this book. It's definitely not cheerful, but it will certainly get you thinking.

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus EXTREME!!

As expected, the kids and I had a GREAT time at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus again :) It's one of our favorite shows, and hubby wasn't too happy to have ended up so sick and worn-out by the end of the day that he had to skip this time.

We went early enough this time to go on the main floor for some of the pre-show action. Both kids were near the end of the line to walk the tightrope, and they loved it! Luckily that rope looks a lot bigger close-up. Maggie kept trying to jump on the rope, but her helper kept her on the rope without any stunts. I think Jack was just happy not to slip off (even though it would have been onto a mat).

When the real show started, Maggie was so excited that the dogs were still a part of it. She says her spirit animal is a dog. These poodles (I think?) were adorable! There were three different sizes, running circles around each other, catapulting and jumping, and doing all sorts of crazy dances.

Jack couldn't decide what his favorite act was, but I always love the big cats. The tigers, and especially the white ones, look so majestic to me. There's no question they could eliminate anyone who didn't treat them with love and respect. I love watching their graceful power!





Are you still planning on attending the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus EXTREME at the Palace of Auburn Hills this weekend? The show runs all weekend, and tickets are still available. Get dates, times, and ticket links here: http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2016/10/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-nov10-13.html

Stitch Fix - Fix #4

I knew I'd be back for another Fix, and as we head into fall, I figured I need something besides all of my LuLaRoe leggings to keep me warm! My note to my stylist this time mentioned that I'd love some olive green cargo pants, and a cozy cardigan in a darker color. I also mentioned that I do have lots of leggings, so I'm always looking for longer shirts and sweaters. My stylist, Kat, hit it out of the park and I'm keeping it all.

The first item I tried on from my box was this Rockdale Pullover Sweater from RD Style. It's a light knit in a great olive color. The regular retail is $68. I like this sweater so much, I'm planning to keep it clean and new for our family holiday picture in a couple weeks. I did order a few camisoles from Amazon after deciding to keep this sweater, as it's not sewn all the way down the sides (by design). No one wants a glimpse of profile mummy-tummy here.
My stylist also mentioned that the light weight of this knit makes it perfect for layering under a cardigan or coat. I'm wearing my own LA Idol jeans in this picture.


Next up were the Kut from the Kloth Brigitta Cargo Skinny Pant in Olive (regular retail $88), and the Market & Spruce Evella Boatneck Top (regular retail $64). The pants are ankle-length, which might sort of bug me if we weren't well on our way into boot season. I can't get into the booties and bare ankles thing. Makes me cold just to see someone else's poor ankles out in the elements. LOL Otherwise, I have another pair of Kut from the Kloth pants and knew I'd be pleased with the fit - I was right. The Evella Boatneck  Top has great detail at the bottom (like a layered shirt), and on the inside of the shirt cuffs. This shirt was my least favorite item in the box since it's less versatile (I'll probably just wear it with regular pants or jeans), but with all the love in this box, that isn't saying much. They're both keepers.

Per my stylist's suggestion, I next tried layering the RD Style Kalin Draped Cardigan (regular retail $68) over the previous outfit. I seriously have a white (ish) cardigan I wear a lot of the time. It's so old, the white is questionable at this point. I love having a new cozy cardigan in a more stable color. There are even little pockets at the front - yay!! It's also long enough to be great for layering with another shirt and my many leggings.


Last but definitely not least is the RD Style Jana Poncho Pullover. It retails for $78. See, I already have an incredibly comfy poncho that was hand-knit for me by my mom. I wear it a ton, and almost feel a little guilty having another poncho to love. The style of this poncho is interesting in that it has quite structured sleeves, and the poncho and cowl neck seem almost like an overlay to the sleeves, if that makes any sense. The sleeves also help the body of the poncho be a little more form fitting. I definitely can't wear it as a stand-alone top, but if I knew I was leaving it on all day in the spring or fall, I could opt for a lighter short-sleeved top, as the sweater is pretty modest on its own.

Overall, I really liked this whole Stitch Fix box. The full retail was $366, but once I deduct my $20 styling fee (already paid), and my 25% discount for purchasing all five items, I get everything for $254.50! It'll probably be my big fall/winter purchase for clothes, and I'm happy with that.


Want your own fun Stitch Fix box? Join at my link and we both get a bonus! stitchfix.com/referral/6629118

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus EXTREME!!

YES! 

I hope you're getting out and voting before today is over (I voted early myself!), but for this weekend, I hope you'll join me at the circus!

I can think of no better show and performers to take my mind off the stress in my life this fall. For a few blissful hours on Thursday, I'll give myself over to the 'extreme adventure, extreme excitement' of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Palace of Auburn Hills. I've never been more ready to be astonished by UN-XPECTED circus spectacles I've never seen before and that can’t be seen anywhere else but at The Greatest Show On Earth®. I'm ready for an X-HILARATING adventure with X-TRAORDINARY circus artists and magnificent X-OTIC animals.

The show runs all weekend, and tickets are still available. Get dates, times, and ticket links here: http://www.sweetlybsquared.com/2016/10/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-nov10-13.html

Reading Challenge - Book 12

Believe it or not, this is the book I was so excited to finish the last one for. And then life got in the way and it's taken me this long to write about it :)

While I'm so happy to be seeing books I want to read instead of searching by the reading list, it means this book gets the rather boring categorization of 'book with a blue cover.' But I read it on the Kindle, so it really didn't have a cover at all that I could see.

When someone told me one of my favorite movies was first a book, I had to check it out. Now I love them both! Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman was a great book, although I pictured the main characters as they were played in the movie, since I saw it first. There were just a few major differences between the book and the movie.

As I've read up and studied magic in the past, I really appreciated the time they spent in the movie really talking about defining magic and symbols, using the sheriff's badge (a star) as an example. The book focused much more on the actual 'haunting,' which was somewhat subtle and would have been hard to make clear in the movie. I think they met a fantastic compromise in keeping the story true to its meaning, while making it more enjoyable on the big screen.

Overall, I'm so glad I read this book! I think the differences between the book and the movie were totally justified for the presentation, and I don't think it made a difference in my reading that I saw the movie first (by years and years!). I'd recommend both the book and the movie (starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) in either order.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Whew. Made it to another Friday. Most days start out the same, but on Friday I can drop the schedule once I get the hubby and daughter out the door. Jack and I are left to our own devices til school pick-up at almost 4pm.
2. My last post may have helped my contractor karma or something. I got THREE calls later that day. One call dropped, so I called and left him another message. One call made an appointment for yesterday morning (waiting on an actual follow-up quote). The third call made an appointment for next Friday. If yesterday's visitor actually gives a good quote, he said they may be ready to start work next week. So then I can call next Friday's appointment to say come now, or stay away... I'm an optimist at heart <3
3. Tonight is our annual baton twirling dress rehearsal as we get ready for the state competition later this month. Busy night for the girls! After school, we'll hurry through dinner so she can be back to [another] school in hair and make up within about an hour.
4. I'm so grateful that our fall weather isn't any cooler yet. Oh, I know it will be soon enough.
5. Who's started holiday shopping? My Posh commission comes next week, and I plan to use it to make a good dent in shopping. And I think I'll even get our advent jars set up before the last few days of November. Hahaha... 
6. I'm going to try taking the kids to a local craft fair tomorrow morning. I think my daughter will really enjoy it, and I'm hoping my son can be bribed.
7. My office is still clean. I love it in here. Once a week or so I've been bringing up the giant tubs of stuff from my old office. That's all been boxed up and in the basement storage room for more than five years! On the one hand, some of it is easier now to promptly throw away, but a few things are harder to let go now that they've made it this long. Make sense? ;)
8. I don't think the kids were entirely pleased when they got in the car to find the radio playing Christmas carols yesterday. Yay for being the mom - they're gonna have to get used to it for a while!
9. Yes, I'm listening to holiday music while my Halloween is only half packed away. Give me another day ;)
10. And no, I will not be putting up actual winter holiday decorations yet. But the music sounds so happy!!

Fix My House!

I want to tell you a good news story. I really do. But in this case, I don't have one.

See, we've lived in our house for almost 5 1/2 years. When we moved in, the deck was a little rough. We opted against refinishing it, as we eventually want a bigger deck. So we admittedly let it go.

Then a few years ago (two and three years ago, actually), we had terrible, awful, atrocious winters. They were incredibly snowy and cold. You probably remember! Well, here, that also meant frost heaves. I'm sure there's a fancy science-y explanation, but it's really cold, and you hear a creepy popping noise, and things are moving underground.

When the things moved underground, they moved our deck supports. Remember, on the deck we didn't really want anyway. But, when they moved, they changed the attachment of the deck to the house, and water started draining off the unlevel deck into a wall around the basement walk-out, and the (luckily, tiled) basement floor.

Oh, and we're still at the happy part of the story. LOL

Now, we want to fix it all back up so we can get the deck we really want next spring. The old deck is gone. Don't worry about that.

What we want now is someone, preferably licensed and insured, to come fix the icky walk-out with the wood rot. Maybe we can even get a nicer doorwall while we're at it. But first things first. Someone who really knows what they're doing to either repair or replace a wall. A sort of important wall, that holds up two more floors above it.

Maybe you've had this problem too - we've called I think five companies so far for quotes. The first two were weeks (maybe even months?) ago. One came out, but never followed up with any quote information, even when hubby called and asked again. The other? Never even showed up to see what we wanted done.

Yesterday I called two more. One (this sort of makes me go huh), asked me to take down a different number and call him again today. I did. He says he'll call me back again to make an appointment to come look. The other one I left a voicemail and haven't heard back.
And then today I called one I saw in a newspaper flyer. She took down my info and said someone 'in the field' will call me back.
I'm not holding my breath anymore.

Is there a YouTube video on rebuilding a wall of your house? Do I need special tools or can I get it done with my mini craft stapler and some washi tape?

Is the economy so much better that people really don't need to schedule jobs? I really don't get it.