New Books!

I'm ashamed to say that I only finished reading 3 books all last year! There were just a few distractions that kept me from focusing on reading. I kept buying books...even started reading them....but never finished them for no particular reason. The good news is I already have a collection to read in the coming year! At least the ones I read in 2010 were good ones.

The Help- I blogged about it here. It's still one of the best books I've ever read. The movie version should be interesting!

It Ain't All About the Cooking- Paula Deen's autobiography made me like the Queen of Southern Cuisine even more.

The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews- as a light southern chick-lit kind of read. It's about a girl in her twenties that moves from DC to a small town in Georgia. I know, sounds way too familiar of a story. But I still liked it.

I asked for a few books for Christmas to get me started this year.

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Pulitzer Prize winner, Tracy Kidder

Something Borrowed is part of a 2-book series by Emily Griffin and a definitely classified as chick-lit. I read and liked the other book in the series, Something Blue a few years ago, but never got around to reading Something Borrowed. It's a story told by two different friend's perspective. The movie has already been filmed and stars Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin and John Krasinki. The release date is scheduled for May and I hope to read the book by then!

The Lee Bros Simple Fresh Southern cookbook. Yes, it's a cookbook but the Lee Bros. take time to explain each dish and southern tradition in detail, so I read it like a book first!

I always love any other reading suggestions that you may have!

A New Favorite!

I just returned from a little trip to Jackson, Mississippi. Okay, not really. But I felt like I had been there when I finished my new book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I. Loved. It. I couldn't put it down and hated for it to end.

Stockett did a great job telling a story from three different perspectives. The book's main storytellers, Aibileen and Minny, are black maids, and Skeeter is a white twenty-something just out of college. As these three women come together to change things in their own way, the vivid storylines are beautifully woven together.

So what was one really cool thing about getting lost in a story about segregation in the south before civil rights? I finished the book just in time to watch our country's first African American President give his first State of the Union Address. Sometimes it's easy to forget just how far we've come in 40 years. I sure hope the Aibileen's, Minny's, and Skeeter's of the world got a chance to see it.

This book is already a bestseller and definitely gets a 5 on my Sweet Tea Scale! The Help was author Kathryn Stockett's first novel and I can't wait to see what she puts out next!

Reading Mojo

It's either all or nothing with me. I'm either blogging a few times a day, or not at all. I try to space it out, and I know that I can schedule postings for certain days. But if I let a post sit there for a few days, I tweak and edit it so much until it turns into something else and I don't even post it. I know, I have issues.

But I need to step up the blogging. My grandparents went out and bought a computer and Internet after reading this post, so I need to make sure they get their money's worth!

Somewhere between last year's break-up books and this year's endless task of reading health reform legislation, I haven't had a lot of motivation to read for fun. I buy the books, and have the best of intentions of reading them. I sometimes even start them. But haven't finished one in longer than I care to admit.

Enter my new book, Half the Sky, by Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I'll go ahead admit that my purchasing of this book contributed to the infamous Oprah Effect, since I originally saw it on this episode of her show.

It's a book about how women around the world deal with some serious oppression. So far, I've learned not to read the forced-into-prostitute-sections of the book before bedtime. That combined with my over active imagination, makes for some interesting dreams.

In all seriousness, the book so far is an inspiring look into the lives of some amazing women and is helping me get my reading groove back. Have you read any good books lately?

Random Acts of Blogness

I have a backlog of things to blog about so this is another one of those random smorgasbord postings.

1. Fantasy Football- I AM THE CHAMPION! I would love to share with you all the wisdom and knowledge of how I did this. I have learned a lot in the three seasons of play in our girls league called "How to Beat a Guy in 10 Days." But the absolute truth is...all you need is luck! It felt really good to win, after a frustrating season last year.

2. Book Praise for Straight Up and Dirty- I've already told everyone that would listen that his book rocked my newly single world. It was like therapy. I wish I could afford to buy multiple copies and send it to all of my friends. Special thanks to my roomie who let me read it first! I literally didn't want the book to end. It's a true memoir by a author (and blogger) Stephanie Klein. There are some comparison's of Klein to Carrie Bradshaw, but to me, Klein is even more endearing than Bradshaw since she's a real person and all! Klein has captured her dating, break-up, and self-discovery experience in a witty, humorous and truthful way. She says all the things that we all think, but don't know if it's normal to be thinking. And most of us certainly don't know how to express it in the way she's able to. I was laughing, thinking, reflecting, and crying.

I know that books like this are all about what you're going through and how you can relate to it at the time. A few times I had to put the book down because it was like reading some of my own thoughts. I loved it. For me, this book gets an enthusiastic 5 on the Sweet Tea Scale. Just like some perfect homemade sweet tea, this is EXACTLY what I needed!

3. TV- I rented part of the first season of Mad Men over the holiday weekend. Is anyone watching this show? I really enjoyed it and can't wait to see more!

A new show called Wake Up Call by He's Just Not That Into You author and comedian, Greg Behrendt, starts up this Thurs. at 10pm on SoapNet. I read this book a few years ago and found my copy while I was home over Christmas. I've been flipping through and reading it again. At first, I was like- "if only I took this advice the first time I read it!" Then, I started getting angry because it makes me feel like, well...He's Just Not That Into Me. And that kinda stinks. The movie version of the book is coming out in a few weeks and the previews look funny. I really hate that I'm all about these cheesy chick flicks these days...but I can't deny it!

I'm sure that's all the randomness you can handle for now. I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year so far!

Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

First and foremost- I just HAVE to mention a highlight of last weekend when Clemson beat up on USC!!! I know several G&G readers and friends are USC fans...but you know how it goes. The Tigers may not have lived up to all the pre-season hype...They didn't win the ACC. They had some disappointing losses and dealt with a coaching shake up mid-season. That said, all that matters right now is they beat USC and are now bowl eligible!! They win the palmetto state football bragging rights for the next year!!!

I started reading this blog- Thrifty Decor Chic- a few months ago. I've been amazed at what this girl comes up with. I just LOVED her Halloween decorating ideas and can't wait to see what she comes up with for Christmas. It makes me want to have my own house and go to town decorating!

Thrifty Decor Chic is hosting a "Favorite Things" blogging event this week and I decided to participate. After all, Oprah isn't the only one that can share her favorite things!

Here are some of my favorite things of the moment:

Favorite Music:
Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)
Single Ladies (Beyonce)
White Horse and Love Story (Taylor Swift)
James Taylor at Christmas
Josh Groban's Noel Christmas CD

Quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Book: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
I haven't had a chance to blog about this one yet, but it's a definite 5 on the Sweet Tea Scale. It's a simple but meaningful book that makes you think about life. It'd be a fabulous read for the holiday season and a great gift idea. I highly recommend everyone to watch or read this story.

Holiday Movies: I started the annual Christmas movie rotation last night by watching Love Actually. My all-time favorites are Miracle on 34th Street (the original version) and Little Women (the newer version.)

Holiday Cookie: I'll admit that I'm hesitant to share my favorite holiday treat. But if it brings you as much joy that it brings me...this will be worth it. There are these cookies that my grandmother always makes around the holidays that make me smile. They don't even really have a name...we call them White Cookies. They don't even need a name- they speak for themself! You take Ritz crackers and make little sandwiches with crunchy peanut butter. Then you dip the whole thing in white chocolate and let them harden. They're creamy, crunchy, and sweet. Pure sunshine in your mouth. I've taken these to work and people oooohhh and ahhhh and love them as much as I do.

Blog: I'm also LOVING my new, festive holiday background!

Book Review

I finished The Late Bloomer's Revolution by Amy Cohen. I've noticed a trend in the type of books I've been reading, so the next one will be branching out! This book was quite similar to the last book I read, Girls in Trucks. It was another story about a girl finding her way in the world. The difference being, it mainly takes place in NYC and the book is a memoir, so the events actually happened. I wanted it to end about 50 pages sooner, but I did enjoy it. The book did have a lot of parallels with Sex in the City, in a darker, less glam way. AKA- REALITY.


This is why you won't be surprised there are reports that Sarah Jessica Parker is going to star in the movie version of this book. Should be interesting! The movie has potential.

This would be a good book if you're going through a break-up, or at some other crossroads in your life! On the Sweet Tea Scale- I give it a 3...Aight. It'd be a 4 if I related more to the character and what she was going through.

Speaking of SJP, Sex in the City is out on DVD TOMORROW! I can't wait to watch it again sometime soon.