My latest obsession and why I haven't posted much lately.

OK, I know I keep saying this, but I guess that is my guilt talking. I have not been writing much on my blog because my attention has been on books, and work, and kids, and life. Pretty sure I am driving my husband crazy. What started as just wanting to know what the hype was about, I read "Fifty Shade of Grey", led to reading the other two in the series and from there I kind of went nuts. All I can say is, did it just get hot in here? Not the best written books, but I enjoyed them none the less. I forget how much I love reading. I don't have a lot of time for much, but when I get obsessed about something, I go kind of nuts. My husband and I are both like that. Anyway, so After reading these, I started searching the internet for more books. Usually, I don't read romance books, but I found books that I like from this other book review blog, http://www.maryse.net/ (Thank you, Maryse!) So here is the list of books I have read lately, and bare with me its long...


1. Bared to You - This one was good, alot like 50 shades, but instead of one damaged person, there are two in the relationship and of course there is the billionaire aspect, which is always a fun fantasy. Who wouldn't love to have all the money in the world??? This is also part of a series, the second one, reflected in you, just recently came out, which is a good one too.

2. Gabriel's inferno - This one, I have to admit was not one of my favorites. It was long and kind of slow and kind of mushy. Not that that is a bad thing, but not what I was expecting. Lots of emotions, but like I said, not what I was looking for. This one is a teacher and student relationship. It was sad at times because of the complications of the teacher/student aspect. I am not saying it wasn't worth the read, but it was lacking something for me.

3. Beautiful Disaster - This one BY FAR, is my favorite. Its got your bad boy, a girl with a past she is trying to run from and lots of chemistry and complications that at times, pissed me off. But as all good stories go, it has a great ending. It has a college setting, which I kind of liked. All of it was great. I really like it.

4. Thoughtless - This one I was a bit reluctant to start just because the synopsis suggested cheating within the relationship, but once I got started, I couldn't stop. It has the rock star bad boy, the surfer boy good guy and a silly girl who can't make up her mind. It was emotional and heartbreaking at times, other times it was really hot!!! The second book to the series, Effortless, was really good as well. There is a third one coming out next year!!! I can't wait!!

5. Slammed - This one was really good, and sad. My friend was so mad that I didn't warn her about how sad it was but the story as a whole was really heartfelt. It is a guy who had his entire life dropped in his lap when his parents died and left him with his kid brother to take care of and the girl who moved across the street when her dad died and mom moved them there. There is also the Teacher/student aspect, which is never a good thing. They go to lots of slam poetry nights that yield some really great poems. The second one, Point of Retreat, might have been better than the first one, mainly because of the roller coaster of emotions.

6.Rock Me - Ahh, who doesn't love a hot tattoo artist.... But how do you fall for one when your pretentious parental figures would never go for it. This one was hot and emotional. Definitely a good read!

7. How to Kill a Rock Star - This one I just finished this weekend. I don't want to admit this, but three fourths of the way through the book, I was crying and wanted to throw the book. Luckily I didn't because I was reading it on my android phone and would have broken it. But I finished it and really liked it. I would definitely recommend this one.

8. Fall from Grace - Now on to Paranormal Romances. I tend to like these more, just because I love Vampire, angel, demon books, werewolf  books. I will admit I read the twilight series, but not till after I read the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles books, all of them, I might add. I love supernatural stuff. I was reading this type before they were popular. Anyway, this is a good one, its a little confusing at first, just cause your not sure what the main character is, but once that was clear it was amazing. She is a soul trapped on earth, going from body to body for centuries all because she kissed an angel back in the day. She searches for him for centuries with the help of the Archangel Gabriel, or so you think. Pretty Cool, huh? They just came out with the second one, Saving Grace, which I haven't read yet, but I am looking forward to it.

9. A touch of crimson - Another Paranormal Romance (this is how most sites categorize them, not my words!) More Angels, More Demons and a girl that has a touch of both. Actually, it has an army of angels, which makes it interesting. I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading the rest.

10. Bait - Vampire Romance Book. I liked this one. She is, well, the bait for a vampire. She works for a group of mercenaries and they are out to get the "overlord" vampire. So, she is trying to get one vampire and ends up being "given" as a gift to the overlord. Its just gets more exciting from there.  Kind of racy at parts, but who doesn't like a little raciness (is that a word?) This is also part of a series. I haven't read the rest of them, but I am sure I will. Oh and this one is free on Amazon, for kindle at least!!!!

11. Awakened - Another Vampire Romance book, just set in college, and you really don't get that he is a vamp until well into the book. At first, you just think he is a frat boy, little do the unsuspecting co-eds know. So, bad boy vamp, cute girl, lots of excitement and drama. What more could you ask for? Free, that's what. Its free from Amazon.

12. Branded This one was really good. Jessica tries to never fall asleep. If she does, she goes to trial for people she doesn't know in front of angels and demons, who decide the souls fate, up or down. If they go down, she gets the brand, a giant X on her neck, every time. She even has the marks when she wakes up. Its horrifying and she is terrified, but its been happening for years. It gets better when the evil one falls for her while she is falling for another. So, its a fight to keep her sanity. Love this one!

So, I know its a long list and not even all of the books I have read and I will probably give more of my suggestions as I go. Right now, I am reading, Conversion, Vampire romance. He is a part-vampire, part-human, with a crazy part vampire family. I haven't gotten far in it, but I am enjoying it. I will let you know how it goes.

Friday Music of the Week: In this Moment

Ok, so my music this week comes to us from the band In This Moment. As odd as this is to say for me, this is harder music than I usually listen to. But I love it. Its angry and loud and the lead singer, Maria Brink, has the most incredible scream. I think I have a new girl crush. The band rocks and allows me to get my angry on. The video for "blood" is crazy, I don't even know what the significance of the video is, but its weird and scary, my two favorite things. So, here are a few songs from In This Moment. Enjoy!

Music of the Week: Three Days Grace

Yeah, their Canadian, but we won't fault them for that because the rock. I have been listening to these guys for years. They truly have staying power. I always hate when I first find a band and like them, and then you never hear from them after their first album. Happens a lot to stuff I love, I think, because my tastes are a little more on the outskirts of popular music. I love all types of music, but they stuff I tend to listen to most, does not suit most people. Ah, to each their own.

So, Three days grace are coming out with a new album on October 2, and I am soooo excited. Their newest song that they released is really good, can't wait to hear the rest. Its called "Chalk Outline" and it does not disappoint! You can listen to the whole album here!

Chalk Outline

"Without you!"

I absolutely think this is my favorite song from the album Life starts now. Unfortunately, I don't think it was ever played on the radio. Its is amazing and spoke to me when I need it... Music soothes the savage beast, I think that is the phrase.

"Lost in You!"

I love this song too!! So well written and the lyrics can make you melt!

Music of the Week: Halestorm

Lzzy Hale has to be one of the most awesome women of rock. I love that I can listen to her all the time on Lou Brutus's Hard drive XL radio show. He has an entire segment called "ask Lzzy." Its nice when you can hear them talk and they are normal people. She is a lot of fun and insane! I think I have a girl crush on her or maybe I'm just jealous! Anyway, Halestorm is the band, they are made of Lzzy, her brother Arejay, Joe Hottinger, and Josh Smith. When Halestorm first started, Lzzy and Arejay's dad, Roger Hale played bass for them until Josh Smith started in 2004. I think its awesome that it was a family band before they went big. Anyway, I have been listening to the latest album,The Strange Case Of..., for a while, but this week it has been stuck on repeat. Its great to work out to, scream at the top of you lungs in the car, and rock out with the kids to (Kiera's favorite song right now is "Love bites", that's my rocker daughter for you!) So, here are a few of the songs I like the most. Enjoy!!!

I miss the Misery!

I Get off!

Love Bites

(Kiera's Favorite)

ABC's of life

 I first saw this on my friend Holli's page, who stole it from Insanity rule's blog. Love the idea, so, yes, I stole it!

A} Age:  33

B} Bed Size: King, My husband is one big, heated teddy bear, and we both need our space, I HAVE to have my body pillow or I don't sleep.

C} Chore you dislike: All of them?? But mostly I HATE cleaning the kitchen. With 6 people in my household there are a lot of dishes. Can you say 2 loads a day? I thought you could!

D} Dogs:  Technically, we have a rat terrier named "angel" but she lives with my in-laws, can't have pets in my rental. But I have four kids, that's enough animals for me.
 
E} Essential start to your day: COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE

F} Favorite Colors: Black, maybe turquoise, maybe scarlet red, it changes weekly.

G} Gold or Silver: Silver, Always

H} Height: 5'9"

I} Instruments you play (past/present): Piano, I played for like 14 years. All through public school, and two years in college, I "thought" I wanted to be a Choral Director, Silly me...

J} Job Title: Administrative Secretary for the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (sounds way more impressive than it is)

K} Kids: four, Elena, Kiera, Gabriel and Nevin.

I never tire of this picture

L} Live: The great state of Texas!

M} Mom’s name: Neena
 
N} Nicknames: Les, Mom, Babe....

O} Overnight hospital stays: When I had my babies...

P} Pet Peeves: Slow drivers that don't know the right lane is for "passing". Same thing goes for people who see someone trying to politely go around them in the grocery store with four kids in tow and THEY DON'T MOVE!!!

Q} Quote from a Movie:  I would be considered a sick person probably in my past life but I will always love "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Hunter Thompson was an amazing writer so my quote is "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."

R} Righty or Lefty: Right

S} Siblings: Two, Older Brother, Younger Sister

T} Time you wake up: I get up at 5 to exercise every morning. It is the only peace and quiet I get all day!

U} URL favorite these days: Facebook, Blogger, TMZ (yes, I am guilty of this one indulgence!)

V} Vegetables you don’t like: Collard greens, there aren't many.

W} What makes you run late: Did I mention I had four kids under 8.

X} X-Rays: Had my shoulder x-ray'd in college when I was trying to show off and do something stupid (isn't thats what college is for?) Bad idea. My now husband, he wasn't at the time, made me go to the hospital, if I remember correctly, its kind of fuzzy. Also, wouldn't let me drive home for the weekend, he drove me, and some one followed to take him back. Hadn't thought of that till now. He was sweet to me even before we dated...

Y} Yesterday memory: My son (who has speaking issues) came up to me and without any prodding, said "I love you, mommy!"

Z} Zoo Animal Favorite: Monkey's, not that I don't have four at home already

Weight loss update: down 40 pounds peeps!!!

So, if you follow my blog, you will notice the lack of posts. Sorry about that, with school starting, it has taken us a while to get into the swing of things. My life is nothing but logistics, which I hate. My mornings consist of getting up at 5 to go for a walk/jog, get dressed, get kids up and dressed by 7, in the car by 7:15ish, get the two oldest to school, the two youngest to the babysitters, the hubby to work, then I get to work at 8. I barely have time to do anything lately, especially crafts or blogging. Which I hate. I hate logistics. I feel like a chauffeur or a maid, half the time, not a wife or a mother, or me for that matter. Thats what started my weight loss journey to begin with. I felt like I had lost "me." So I started exercising, which is definetly paying off. I have now lost 40 pounds. I will now say my actual weight. 245. Its hurts to write it but if I think that 40 pounds ago, I was 285. I can proudly say the other number. GO ME!!

Love this. Think this will become my new background on my android!

Another thing I am doing to reconnect me to myself is I am going to get a tattoo at the end of the month. I am so excited. I have been wanting to do this for years, but there was never time, money or I was pregnant (I think I was pregnant for like 5 years straight, so that kind of dampens any chance getting a tattoo!) So, I am getting it on my wrist and this is what I want...

I am going to get it put on my wrist. Not big, but big enough to read it. Whatcha think! 

Anyway, I have never been able to say this before (which is sad since I am 33!) but I am really proud of myself. I have been in a bad place in my head for too long and I realized I was tired of being miserable. Tired of being fat. Tired of disappearing into the crowd. I used to pride myself on standing out, being a bit of an odd ball, being different. I try to instill that sense of originality in my kids. I don't want them to be one of the masses. I want them to stand out because they are smart, beautiful, and one of a kind. But I have to start with myself before I can convince them of this. Luckily, they are starting to see the changes. Kiera, minion #2, tells me I am beautiful everyday, and she hasn't said that to me until the last couple of months. It makes me melt and then I tell her she is also beautiful, and smart and funny and .....the list goes on. So, I guess I am doing something right...

Music of the Week: Breaking Benjamin

Well, my music of the week is a band that I have been listening to for years. I go through phases where I listen to nothing but them. Unfortunately, they broke up and I will never have a chance to see them perform. Boo!!! But anyway, Breaking Benjamin has amazing songs, there are few of their songs that I don't like or don't know the words too for that matter. This is definitely music to turn up loud and scream/sing your head off to at the end of a long day, especially Friday. Her are a few of my favorites!!