Cool New Tool for Avid (or Not So Avid) Readers

Have you ever found yourself finishing a book, only to feel lost as to what to read next? It happens to me all the time. Sometimes I dread finishing a book because I don’t know the next time I will find such a good read, something so intriguing that it holds my attention throughout the whole book. I’ve done the thing where I go to Barnes & Noble and head straight for the “Featured Books” and the “Current Recommendations” tables. That has more often than not led to disappointment. Not that there aren’t great books on these tables – they just usually aren’t books that I’m in the mood to read at that time. So they pile up on my bookshelf, unread, until a few months (or years) down the road I pick them up again. I probably have 20 books that are dog-eared at about page 45, because that’s how far I got before I went out and sought another book.

ANYWAY, if you are often at a loss for books to read, head over to What Should I Read Next? This is a great site that lets you enter a book title (enter your favorite book or one you just finished reading) and gives you a list of books that you might like based on your selection! Even better – I entered the title of a book I didn’t particularly enjoy reading (see: it was BORING), and it gave me a list of books that I know not to read!

What books did you find? Let me know what you’re reading and what this site led you to! I love feedback!

-C-

Website of the Week: MyPunchBowl

Recently, I discovered MyPunchBowl, a new site for *FREE* online invitations. The concept is very similar to Evite, except they offer tons more personalization and layout options, making it feel as if the invitation is your very own. This is great for people like myself who get sick of receiving the same online invitation (or Facebook invite) for every barbeque, happy hour, pool day, bachelorette party, etc. While I LOVE getting invited (yes, please keep sending, even if it’s the same look/feel as the one we got last week), I am more likely to remember and get super excited and tell all my friends about your event if you put it on a cute lace background or add a snazzy pic. And MyPunchBowl makes all of this so easy! 

Added bonus: every day they feature a new reason to throw a party! For example, today is Yellow Pig Day (yesterday was Macaroni Day!). Sooooo make some cute invites, and let’s get the party started!!

Aww, She's All Growed Up!

Can I just say that married life has been great for Fergie? I mean, look how awesome she looks – natural makeup, clear face sans eyebrow piercing, and luscious dark locks (no more brassiness!). Now, if only “My Humps” didn’t pop into my head every time I see her…

She got that Boom Boom Pow!

Definitely Fergalicious (come on, I had to).

Our Kickball League Made the news!!

For those of you who don’t know, every spring and fall for the past 2 years, Taylor and I have played on an adult kickball league. The league is sponsored by WAKA, or the World Adult Kickball Association. This was our second season as captains of That One Team, and although we haven’t won many games this season, we have a blast! Last week, Channel 8 News was at the fields, filming a bit of every game. The story aired last night, and I invite all of you to watch it:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CHANNEL 8 SEGMENT ON THE WAKA OK STORM KICKBALL LEAGUE!

Sorry for not posting the video on here, but WordPress wants me to install a new widget, and since I am at work, I don’t have the time right now. Go to the WAKA website to find a kickball league in your area!

New Obsession: Planet Earth

Sorry if the title is misleading – I have not gone green or become obsessed with saving our planet (although that is very commendable and I do try to be green in whatever I can…after all, I did trade in my SUV for a fuel-efficient Honda Civic). No, what I am saying is that Taylor and I stumbled upon the Planet Earth series on the Discovery Channel and I am now obsessed! This 11-part mini series took over 2000 days to film, with crew members sometimes sitting in blinds, by themselves, for 8 hours a day for weeks. Now that’s dedication! Taylor and I have DVR’d almost all of the episodes and watch 1 or 2 each night. If you haven’t watched yet, tune in the the Discovery Channel and find out what you’re missing out on!!

PLANET EARTH: DISCOVERY CHANNEL

At least I tried!

So I was hoping to have a wonderful restaurant review for you today and share something fun to do in Tulsa, OK. Last night, I was supposed to go to Joe Momma’s Pizza‘s new flagship location downtown for $1 beer and Trivia night (mainly the beer, but I ROCK trivia!). However, the girl I was supposed to go with, who shall remain nameless, bailed on me to hang out with her man and I stayed at home and watched Center Stage with the Hubband.  It was fun but I was really hoping to get to try something new – Tulsa can get bland very quickly.

SO if you’re in Tulsa and you ever want to try something new, let me know and I’ll probably try it with you!

In other news, I am traveling to Dallas in ONE week and I can’t wait!

Too Funny to Pass Up!

Okay so when reading Jezebel today, I picked my two favorite yucky celeb photos and had to share:

Walken needs a Walker

Seriously, Christopher Walken…all you need to complete your little old lady ensemble is some pink sponge rollers in your hair!

AND:

Why Celebs Have Stylists

Katie Holmes, at least put on some tinted moisturizer! I’m not saying I look great every day, but no one expects me to! And I don’t have a million paps chasing me around trying to sell my pic to a gossip rag!

As the Oscars approach…

I realize that I had not yet seen one of the “great” movies that was nominated last year for an Academy Award. I had heard mixed reviews over the past year of There Will Be Blood, so I added it to our Netflix queue and we watched it last night (we’ve had it for about a week, but we’re busy people!).

It was amazing. Based on Upton Sinclair’s novel, Oil!, it tells the story of an up-a-coming oil baron at the turn of the century. It pits faith against ambition, as the tagline suggests, and Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor for it last year. And he definitely deserved it. I hadn’t read this novel, but I have read several short stories and excerpts of books written by Sinclair, and he always knows how to subtly, yet shockingly, reveal the essence of humanity and the battle between good and evil at the heart of the American Dream. What especially stood out for me was how little dialogue there was in the movie. Very much of the movie was conveyed through action and music. It was one of those movies where almost more is said in the silence than in the speaking. I loved it, and definitely recommend that you see it. Oh and, if you laugh at the ending, please let me know, so I’ll know that I’m not the only sardonic one out there.

For a more intense plot summary and review, go HERE.