tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14246026762001145802024-03-14T01:56:39.176-05:00BookWormzCome on in - grab a cup of tea and pull up a chair! This is the perfect forum for you to discuss books, crafts, family, friends - whatever! I'm planning on reviewing books I've read, and I'd love your feedback! Please come back often for more updates.BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-22084258121530187952009-05-16T14:30:00.001-05:002009-05-16T14:30:08.224-05:00Are you betting on the ponies today?<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777233"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777233_blog" /></a></div><br/>I am! I'm definitely betting on Rachel Alexandra since she's not only the fav, but also shares mi nombre... :). Here I am at the "mudbug" otb in Chicago. Sketchy, huh? :)<br /><p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-91549613922685302112009-05-09T13:50:00.001-05:002009-05-09T13:50:44.860-05:00In line at Stanley's<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777231"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777231_blog" /></a></div><br/>Officially the best and least expensive produce market in the city! <p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com327tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-25859845449267117362009-05-08T09:08:00.003-05:002009-05-08T09:14:00.734-05:00Skinny Girl Margarita Party!<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgQ941X4xXI/AAAAAAAAATo/XwcDLVsxv50/s1600-h/DSC02820.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333455905322747250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgQ941X4xXI/AAAAAAAAATo/XwcDLVsxv50/s400/DSC02820.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>Told you I'm obsessed with eating healthy lately. I had a couple of girlfriends over for dinner on Saturday, and we had a fab time! Everyone had some Skinny Girl Margaritas, courtesy of my favorite Real Housewife of New York, Bethenny (prob. butchered the spelling. Sorry!). </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333455908295398370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgQ95Acn0-I/AAAAAAAAATw/7eCgaS0ReNY/s400/DSC02815.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Isn't it so much fun to throw a dinner party? I love setting the scene, but I'm just learning how, as evidenced by my "beginners" set-up on the bar. I did love the colors, though, and had to share. What is your favorite drink to serve at a dinner party?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333455899626381810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgQ94gJxIfI/AAAAAAAAATg/tLtVONcU9zA/s400/DSC02817.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-43122661502447894732009-05-07T09:55:00.001-05:002009-05-07T09:55:19.510-05:00Spring has sprung!<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777229"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777229_blog" /></a></div><br/>This is right outside our buildings front door! I'm feeling all twitterpated!<br /><p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-70804356779997502442009-05-07T08:04:00.002-05:002009-05-07T08:09:23.707-05:00Did he do it??<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgLdbUpLEkI/AAAAAAAAATY/FsazMocTrY8/s1600-h/u1_GosselinJonKate(1).gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333068370227696194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgLdbUpLEkI/AAAAAAAAATY/FsazMocTrY8/s400/u1_GosselinJonKate(1).gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ok, so Kate can definitely be a wench, but with the responsibility of 8 kids hanging over her head, I can definitely understand how being a little blunt becomes part of your personality. Regardless, I absolutely LOVE watching that show. I love watching the kids, and I'm so sad to think of the possibility that Kate and Jon would divorce! Kate seems to be one of those chicks who won't stick around if her man is a cheater, so I hope its not true. :( So.... do you think he did it? </div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-68217853556553396932009-05-06T10:19:00.001-05:002009-05-06T10:19:13.033-05:00Also obsessing over flowers in the house lately!<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777227"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/a28d927/16777227_blog" /></a></div><br/>Isn't this a pretty way for your home to say "hi" when you walk in the door? :)<br /><p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-10862937405663607432009-05-06T10:01:00.003-05:002009-05-06T10:12:23.254-05:00What I'm obsessing about these days<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgGowj8AZbI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rOVn8cwkecU/s1600-h/obsession.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332728986017490354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgGowj8AZbI/AAAAAAAAATQ/rOVn8cwkecU/s320/obsession.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Does anyone feel that every time they discover something new it becomes an obsession for a while? I feel like my obsessions change often, and these days I'm obsessing about the following:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. My new iPhone! The apps are INCREDIBLE! I downloaded one called "Lose it", and it allows me to keep track of my calorie intake and excercise output each day. REALLY easy, too - it already has most foods in it's system, and its really easy to add specific foods that aren't in there, like "Trader Joes Greek Pizza" for instance. It also tells you exactly how many calories you need to consume to meet whatever your goals are. I want to lose about 6 pounds, and I want to do it at a rate of 1/2 a pound a week, which means I can eat exactly 1,683 calories a day! SO fun and easy. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1.5 A natural spin off, due in part to the iPhone is a renewed motivation in terms of diet and excercise. As my wedding approached, I discovered that I really could lose weight by changing my diet, and now that I've gained it all back, I'm really motivated to get back to that wedding weight. This time, however, I'm also adding in excercise (I was too busy when planning my wedding to exercise and lost all the weight by not eating much).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>2. (HEALTHY) Cooking and cleaning! My husband and I did a HUGE spring clean two weeks ago, and I'm trying my hardest to keep it up! It does not come naturally to me. :) Ask my Mom and all my former roommates. (By the way, I also downloaded the Epicurious app on my iPhone - it has all the same recipies as their website, and you can also make shopping lists directly from their recipe!) My major malfunction lately is that I clean the kitchen BEFORE I make dinner, and then I get too tired to clean it after. It's a vicious cycle.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>so what are your current obsessions? Do you do this too? Become obsessed with one or two things in your life? </div><div> </div><div>P.S. Funny pic, huh? ;)</div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-67665834112180860792009-05-04T22:19:00.004-05:002009-05-05T11:33:02.291-05:00Jen Lancaster's new book due out today! Get it while its hot!Ok, so its always going to be hot - I mean, get it while its hot off the presses! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgBqCbsnDgI/AAAAAAAAATI/j661RLFXQFg/s1600-h/prettyinplaid_small.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332378548833816066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SgBqCbsnDgI/AAAAAAAAATI/j661RLFXQFg/s400/prettyinplaid_small.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It is no secret that I have a platonic girl-crush on Jen Lancaster. You can read my previous reviews of her books <a href="http://bookwormzreader.blogspot.com/2009/04/book-review-such-pretty-fat-by-jen.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://bookwormzreader.blogspot.com/2009/01/bright-lights-big-ass-by-jen-lancaster.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I CAN'T WAIT to pick up the latest - "Pretty in Plaid", and YOU should too! Trust me, you're gonna love her. </div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-8672973762127370172009-05-04T19:52:00.001-05:002009-05-04T19:52:14.307-05:00Just got an IPhone!This is my first mobile post... From my spare bedroom. I'm really venturing out of my little bubble here! Do any of you have the iPhone? What is your favorite app?<br /><p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-69077165440405904642009-05-02T16:49:00.003-05:002009-05-02T16:54:18.489-05:00Our living room<div><div><div><div>Hi gang - been spending a lot of time decorating and perfecting lately. I'm going to post some pics and I want YOU to tell me what YOU would do to our apartment! Only catch is: you can only add to it, you can't take anything away. :) This way, we'll get some awesome decorating tips from a whole bunch of creative minds! Feel free to blog about this on your blogs so that you can add pics, etc - just be sure to leave a link in the comments! Thanks, and go nuts!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331347865528060258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfzAoxLWSWI/AAAAAAAAASw/CvV1c678XH8/s320/DSC02804.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331347869733612914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfzApA2B7XI/AAAAAAAAAS4/nT1OyJPSZ2k/s320/DSC02805.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331347865052826498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfzAovaCy4I/AAAAAAAAASo/zcGwlb307qY/s320/DSC02803.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331347876636855954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfzApaj5DpI/AAAAAAAAATA/qVdugblmdO0/s320/DSC02806.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-87936792470214067562009-04-30T13:02:00.003-05:002009-04-30T13:09:07.585-05:00Updates!1. BookWormz hit 100 sales on April 22! Congrats NotNessie and Shhh - I'm Reading! Please shoot me an email with your choices of BookWormz and address - pick anything in my store with the exception of Couture pieces and the "Flags of Our Fathers BookWorm"! :) My email address is rachelswormz@gmail.com<br /><br />2. Went to see Britney Spears last night with some girlfriends! It was a good show, but I saw her Onyx Hotel tour and I have to say it was better. Her costumes were amazing, though, and the opening by Perez Hilton was so fab. :) My husband called me when we were on our way to the arena and sang "Ooops, I'm the oldest one there", which made me giggle. Surprisingly, my 30 year old girlfriends and I were NOT the oldest ones there (okay, so the older ones were moms. To teenagers... KIDDING), and there were lots of groups of girls around our age. I think if a single guy wanted to meet girls, there may be no better place than a Britney concert.<br /><br />3. I took today and tomorrow off. Just for the heck of it. :) Off to enjoy! Talk to you all soon! xoxoBookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-82818480332889594042009-04-25T09:38:00.002-05:002009-04-25T09:42:08.113-05:00off to get my nails did<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfMhLlrTIYI/AAAAAAAAASg/uhOhtKQ54eA/s1600-h/nails.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328639267085427074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SfMhLlrTIYI/AAAAAAAAASg/uhOhtKQ54eA/s400/nails.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>:) Sorry I've been neglecting my lil blog - I've been a VERY busy girl. This morning I'm going to get a mani/peddie with some of my girlfriends and then out to lunch, but I PROMISE this weekend I'll do some updating. I have a special announcement to make, so stay tuned! Hopefully my nails do not look this... artistic... when I'm done! </div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-4878630200212834002009-04-21T10:12:00.003-05:002009-04-21T10:13:54.827-05:00pretty spring Tulips<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Se3iqZSjTHI/AAAAAAAAASY/4eDx-zSdRHA/s1600-h/DSC02791_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327163152220245106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Se3iqZSjTHI/AAAAAAAAASY/4eDx-zSdRHA/s400/DSC02791_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Just love this bouquet - I put it together at Crate and Barrel (they have a flower section in the one I go to), and I just think it is so simple and sweet and spring-like! :) Hope you enjoy like I do! :)</div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-73741888605197151622009-04-20T17:13:00.002-05:002009-04-20T17:49:38.950-05:00Book Review - Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster<div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>(note, the full name of the novel is as follows, but if you'd like to buy it, you can just look for "Such a Pretty Fat" haha)</em></span> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span >"Such a Pretty Fat - One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big" or "Why Pie Is Not the Answer" by Jen Lancaster - <strong>5!!!!</strong></span></div><br /><div><span ></span></div><br /><div><span >Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouldn’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!</span></div><br /><div><span ></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326909259182257122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Sez7v4BMM-I/AAAAAAAAASQ/TLj9kHSJ570/s400/such+a+pretty+fat.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span >"Such a Pretty Fat" by Jen Lancaster absolutely lived up to my expectations. I've read a few of Jen Lancaster's books, and I laugh out loud on pretty much every page. This can be very embarrassing when you're in public, and it can also keep your husband up at night when you're reading and he's trying to go to sleep. :) You've been warned.</span></div><div><br /> </div><div>"Such a Pretty Fat" is a memoir about Jen's struggle to lose weight. Let me clarify - Jen is incredibly self-confident (as she should be! She's totally fabulous - I got to meet her at a book club in Chicago once. Loved her. If this were a Lancaster book, this aside would be a footnote at the bottom of the page haha) and while searching for her next book topic, decided to submit an idea to her publishing house for a book that documented her personal weight loss journey. If she didn't have to write about it, she wouldn't have felt it was necessary, because she knows how totally awesome she is as documented in the following: "My teeth are superwhite, my hair is bouncy, and if I saw me on the street, I'd totally think I was cute. If I were single, guys would want to date me because I wouldn't be the kind of pain in the ass who orders the lobster, takes a bite, and declares herself full. Clean-plate club, baby!" (p. 77). That's what you love about Jen, as you live through this gruelling, but ultimately triumphant, weight loss struggle. You just can't help but fall in love with her honest, quirky observations and experiences. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I think I also loved this book (and all Jen's books) because it takes place in my city - Chicago. I completely relate to her stories about public transportation (like the one where her adorable husband gets spit on by a homeless lady on the "El", which is our version of the subway, or the stories of people-watching in weird neighborhoods with her husband when they go to get gelato). Jen is a master at making the scene come alive, and as I read this book, I found myself involuntarily shouting "YES! I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!" while laughing hard enough to make milk (ok, wine) come out of my nose. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here are a few of my favorite passages:</div><br /><div>(after explaining that she hated her recent trip to New York and being told she couldn't really blame the city for her bad trip) "Fair enough. However, this was the first time I didn't come home wanting to move there afterward. Loving New York has been such a constant in my life that the trip was weird. It's like I've had a crush on New York for years, and we finally hook up and I find out he still reads comic books, has skid-marked undies, and smells like summer sausage." (p. 185)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(talking about how her husband's closet is perfectly organized) "I bet he'd never shove his dirty wedding dress in a garbage bag and stuff it on a shelf in the back of his closet for five years until he just now remembered he should probably get it cleaned." (p. 177) (ummmmmmmmmm - awwwkwaaaarddddd......)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Honestly, there are so many passages that are hysterical. I can personally relate to these two, so they really stood out for me, but I can almost promise you'll end up in giggles every time you open this book. Overall, the theme of this book is that even though we all have things we can work on, we should be happy to be ourselves, and we should work towards being the best version of ourselves possible. I highly recommend this book - a lighthearted read with a great underlying message. </div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com93tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-44051849218881325522009-04-17T16:34:00.003-05:002009-04-17T16:39:16.394-05:00Celebrity baby name or computer virus - can you tell the difference?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Sej25rvtnZI/AAAAAAAAASI/KFkrvffV1FI/s1600-h/babies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325778030221434258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 96px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Sej25rvtnZI/AAAAAAAAASI/KFkrvffV1FI/s400/babies.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Click <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=593" target="_blank">HERE</a> to find out! </div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-68434491056385964262009-04-17T09:30:00.004-05:002009-04-17T09:35:33.139-05:00What to do with a sick husband?I've never had one before. He has a cough and the chills, and since I've never had a sick husband before, I'm not quite sure what to do with him. I'm forcing lots of liquids down, but he's just not cooperating... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325668275553481746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeiTFHvutBI/AAAAAAAAASA/0KbInUA6c4M/s400/HugoSick.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />*****fine print - this is not actually my husband. I googled "sick" and this is what came up. Awesome huh? :) The article that came attached explains that this is a bodybuilder named HUGO and that he wasn't feeling well and was debating whether or not to work out. Looks like someone needs to get to the gym to me... I mean, how out of shape can one man BE? ;)BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-50522840582749733422009-04-15T18:21:00.003-05:002009-04-15T18:25:16.855-05:00Look into your crystal ball...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeZsolzSvHI/AAAAAAAAAR4/C43ZMfAjzPM/s1600-h/crystal+ball.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325063054010006642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeZsolzSvHI/AAAAAAAAAR4/C43ZMfAjzPM/s400/crystal+ball.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So I have 94 sales on ETSY right now. I'm going to run a contest for my blog readers - if you correctly predict the date of my 100th sale, I'll send you a free BookWorm! So warm up your crystal ball and get crackin on a guess, ok? Just post a comment below with your guess and your email address! Good luck!</div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-70800348060843806222009-04-14T08:53:00.003-05:002009-04-14T08:58:07.095-05:00Any Recessionistas out there?<div>You might want to check out <a href="http://stuffundertwenty.blogspot.com/2009/04/hounds-of-baskerville-book-worm.html" target="_blank">Stuff Under Twenty - A Blog for Recessionistas</a>. They're an a - dorable little duo that posts affordable products for home, to wear, to use and to impress your friends with. :) Coincidentally, they are also currently featuring my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23528060" target="_blank">Hounds of Baskerville BookWorm</a>, which is pretty fabulous. ;)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324546000419573490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeSWYHE8TvI/AAAAAAAAARw/aIYuGT7DXWw/s400/DSC02660.JPG" border="0" /></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-80174369465905313872009-04-13T16:23:00.001-05:002009-04-13T16:24:19.276-05:00POLYVORE fun!My first outfit created on Polyvore.com! Enjoy - all sorts of shopping fun without the buyer's remorse! <div><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/how_to_use_polyvore/set?.mid=embed&id=7978916"><img title="How To Use Polyvore" height="400" alt="How To Use Polyvore" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFl9qcUhIM0VvM2hHV2VfRzRFSDZHdGcAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg" width="400" border="0" /></a><br /><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/how_to_use_polyvore/set?.mid=embed&id=7978916" rel="nofollow">How To Use Polyvore</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.mid=embed&id=728833" rel="nofollow">BookWormz</a> featuring <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/j_crew_tops/shop?.mid=embed&brand=J+Crew&category_id=11">J Crew tops</a></small></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-1050512036947823152009-04-13T11:56:00.004-05:002009-04-13T12:05:06.418-05:00Just a reminderYou can find a beautiful surprise in the most unexpected of places. :)<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY</a><br /><br />Give it a watch - I almost cried the first time I saw it. The looks on the judges faces are truly priceless. Sorry, I couldn't find an embedded link, so you'll have to click to see it. The surprise comes about 2 or 3 minutes in...BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-85715357097351125512009-04-13T08:42:00.005-05:002009-04-13T09:17:36.681-05:00Book Review - "Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult"Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult - 4<br /><br />Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouldn’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!<br /><br />I struggled with the rating scale on this one. I'm not sure if it is possible to "love" a book like this. Like "Still Alice", it was pretty tough to read. I have to say, I've never read a poorly written Picoult book. She's one of those authors that has a gift for words, and also a drive and professionalism that shows in the VAST amount of research that appears throughout her novels. Given those factors, I can't responsibly say it wasn't a good book, because it was an EXCELLENT book. I just probably wouldn't read it again, because it was so incredibly sad on so many levels.<br /><br />"Handle With Care" is about a family with a little girl who was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. It is a disease that very few people have, but it causes the bones of the victims to break at almost any moment - from turning over in bed to bumping a leg on a couch. Obviously, the story is also about the effect that this disease has on the family. The teenage sister struggles with self-image and feelings of jealousy and abandonment. The parents' marriage takes a dark turn as the Mother explores a lawsuit that, if won, would change the family's financial situation dramatically. In addition to the family's struggles, "Handle With Care" explores the moral dilemma of whether or not to sue the family doctor (and the Mother's best friend) for "wrongful birth", which essentially means that the parents would have chosen to terminate the pregnancy if they would have known about their daughter's disease in time.<br /><br />One of the signature features of a Picoult book is the exploration of all sides of a moral dilemma. Each of her novels explores a different issue, but instead of presenting only one arguement for or against, Picoult manages to lay out the moral landscape from a birds-eye-view, thus allowing you to draw your own conclusions of which side is right and which is wrong. "Handle With Care" left me unable to decide what I would have done if I were in this Mother's position. On one hand, I can understand why she would want to change her family's dire financial situation (if for no other reason than to provide a better future for her disabled daughter), but on the other hand, I don't think it is right to essentially lie (she had to say she wished her daughter was never born) in order to win a lawsuit.<br /><br />Not only was it difficult to read about the pain and difficulties this poor little girl has to go through every day, but as a newlywed, I found it truly heartbreaking to read about the marital difficulties that this poor couple dealt with. As the reader, you can see that both parents love each other deeply, but they can't agree on a fundamental moral issue. I wanted to reach through the pages and shake them. Because of these painful issues, I have a tough time telling people to read the book. It harbors so much sadness and so much reality that it isn't able to provide the "escape" that I treasure so much in my reading travels. On the other hand, I would absolutely NOT discourage you from reading this wonderful novel. Just read it with the understanding that it will probably make you cry.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324179556560478866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeNJGRUvIpI/AAAAAAAAARo/4jWz2Njf6WQ/s200/handle+with+care" border="0" /><br />For a quick read about the book signing I went to for "Handle With Care", just click <a href="http://bookwormzreader.blogspot.com/2009/03/best-day-ever.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-15141307150205505742009-04-12T17:00:00.004-05:002009-04-12T17:20:57.342-05:00Tea at the Drake - PINKY'S OUT!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeJohB3jzII/AAAAAAAAARg/UjkOD-CfIik/s1600-h/DSC02694_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323932626151787650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeJohB3jzII/AAAAAAAAARg/UjkOD-CfIik/s200/DSC02694_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> This has been a SUPER busy weekend, and SO much fun! I'm sad it is ending tonight at midnight. I feel like Cinderalla. Let me give you the rundown...<br /><br />Friday night I was feeling the culinary itch, so I decided to try a recipe I read about on a blog last week (sorry, I can't remember which blog!!) for spinach gnocchi, which turned into a bit of a debacle. It took me about three pounds of butter and cheese, two hefty glasses of cabernet and 4 hours. The sauce was pretty excellent, but the gnocchi just wasn't quite right... We ate it anyway, but it was definitely not my best kitchen performance... :)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323932615640961538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeJogatlUgI/AAAAAAAAARI/EJCx8kvRod0/s200/DSC02672.jpg" border="0" /><br />Saturday was SO much fun! My girlfriends and I threw a joint baby shower for two of our best friends at the Drake in Chicago! It was a library-themed shower, so we got them <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22414809" target="_blank">Bukushuns</a> (bookends that look like fluffy pillows!) that you see above for the group gift, and each got them a children's book to go with them. Since they're both having little boys, I got them "Where the Wild Things Are", because, well, it's awesome! Favors were candy and Book Plates, and in general, it was all pretty fabulous. How can you go wrong with tea at the Drake? Here are some pics of our fabulous shower. Don't you love the flower arrangements we chose for them? haha<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323932625173114018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeJog-OObKI/AAAAAAAAARY/FVIKSCxVkA4/s200/DSC02687.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323932617204920018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SeJoggidbtI/AAAAAAAAARQ/n91lvElBcmY/s200/DSC02679.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div></div><div>Then Saturday night we went out with some friends - Mexican dinner (fajitas, guac and margaritas - um - YUM!) first, then some random loungy bar called Crimson, where we had a GREAT time drinking too much Effen vodka (my drink of choice? Vodka, soda, lime. Easy, breezy, low in calories haha) and rubbing the walls, which featured FLOCKED wallpaper! So fun! It was a 30th birthday celebration, so after Crimson we somehow ended up in a limo to our next bar, where my hubby and I wisely decided to duck out before it was taken to the next level. :)</div><div></div><br /><div>Today, EASTER celebration with family - my husband has a HUGE family (like, oh, 30 people), and we had a great time playing with the kids and eating Easter breakfast, snacks, lunch and more snacks. :)</div><br /><div></div><div>Phew - see, told you it was a long weekend! :)</div></div></div></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-26783317720978005072009-04-10T08:52:00.004-05:002009-04-10T11:01:25.414-05:00WOOT - gotta love my fellow bloggers!Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - my boss was in town, and it was a very busy week! I'm so lucky to have blogger friends like you - I just wanted to give a shout out!<br /><br />So for those of you who LOVE to read, both books and plentiful blog posts, I highly recommend that you follow THE BOOK RESORT! She is a BookWorm fan, and she's posted the nicest review of her BookWormz <a href="http://thebookresort.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-love-my-bookwormz.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> - you should definitely give it a peek! I love that she reviews just the kinds of books that are so fun to read (Twighlight anyone?), and she is a super active member of the blogging community. She leaves lots of comments which make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323063447520061138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/Sd9SALJMptI/AAAAAAAAARA/pC8e5nHVn0U/s320/thank+you.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />The second blog recommendation I have today is KEEP THIS ON THE DL! She's an American living in Italy, and is currently giving away two BookWormz <a href="http://keepthisonthedl.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-my-birthday-and-ill-blog-if-i-want.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>! First, we're very grateful that she's ok after that horrible earthquake in Italy, and second, she's MORE than ok, since yesterday was her 25th BIRTHDAY!!! :) She writes book reviews and funny, cute little tidbits about her life.<br /><br /><br /><br />Check these two awesome bloggers out today - I don't think you'll regret it! :) This weekend should be a very busy one for me (helping to host a baby shower, 30th birthday dinner and Easter!), but I'm REALLY going to try to get the "Handle With Care" review up! Ok, have a great day, all! :)BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-86808891867500237332009-04-06T16:04:00.001-05:002009-04-06T16:06:43.933-05:00SeekingDesigners Press Release about MOI???Check it out - I think it looks FAB! :) <a href="http://www.insidescoop.seekingdesigners.com/newsflash/2009/3/27/rock-your-reading-glasses-with-bookwormz.html" target="_blank">Click Here to Ch-Ch-Check it out!</a>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424602676200114580.post-15655826864462966332009-04-06T14:26:00.002-05:002009-04-06T14:38:01.252-05:00Spring cleaning<div>You know what I've discovered about myself? I've discovered that the activities I enjoy the most in life are those that make a mess. Delicious dinner for my husband and I? HUGE mess. Making BookWormz? Won't even go into it. Entertaining friends and family? Dishes for days.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The problem is that I do NOT enjoy cleaning. Cleaning and I are not good friends. I enjoy a clean house tremendously, but the huge process that it takes to get it clean...makes me want to crawl into a hole and cover myself up with the mounds of dirty laundry sure to be strewn about the floor. Here are a couple of pictures of the BookWorm factory (a.k.a. - our dining room table), please don't judge me.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321664841551916210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SdpZ-l5jLLI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/GF2KqaZrI6U/s320/DSC02670_edited.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321664839207184866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ModqRIMKjfE/SdpZ-dKhaeI/AAAAAAAAAQw/7UVzCGUk8vQ/s320/DSC02668_edited.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>How am I ever going to make friends with cleaning? We've been frienimies my whole life! I hate cleaning, but I love the results. What to do with myself? Oh, before you suggest it - a housecleaning service is out of the question - I'd rather spend my benjamins on ribbon, any day.</div></div>BookWormzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11182866961828230123noreply@blogger.com10