Lovely Little Reads: Not Quite Narwhal

Books are my love language.  Have I told you that?  I love a good book; whether that be a high-school-English classic or a children's picture book or a smutty chic-lit read, there is something about engaging and getting sucked into a good book.

I've been a bit behind posting our latest favorites in children's literature to the blog, but I'm quite active over on instagram if you'd like to follow along.

Not Quite Narwhal caught my eye because my kids are obsessed with narwhals.  Fun fact, my husband - the engineer, mind you - wasn't sure narwhals were real things.  He thought they were up there with unicorns and hippogriffs.  Yep, honey.  They're real whales.  

Anyway, Young Kelp was born in the sea, but as a helmet-clad unicorn, grew up believing he was just an unusual narwhal.  He recognized that was he was different growing up; tastes in food, speed of swimming, you know, the basics, but never really understood why.  Until one day, he catches a glimpse of a unicorn's silhouette on the horizon at dusk and is enchanted.  Could it be?  Another creature just like Kelp?  His first experience on land, he must teach himself to walk, and discovers that there is a much bigger world than what he's known in the sea.  A sweet story about finding your footing, learning you you really are and where you want to be.

For more of our favorite reads, follow along on instagram!

My Second Book Club

I started a book club.  Yes, yes, you may remember, I'm actually already a member of another book club with my college girlfriends, but being the reader-bug that I am, I figured, why not?  Two book clubs = twice the fun!  {Plus, how long do we really spend talking about the book? 30 minutes...tops? It's basically an excuse to get together and drink wine}.

A few of my girlfriends came over, I served grilled asparagus tartines, corn chowder salad, and a green salad with blueberries, avocado, and goat cheese.   We dined al fresco on my deck, sipping white wine, and cooing to baby Oliver who popped by for a visit with his mama (our friend Anna).  After dinner, we delved right into chatting about our first book, 50 Shades of Grey.  I know, I know, not exactly a literary marvel, nor even remotely close...but hey, I figured summer is the perfect time for an easy read, where you don't have to think too hard to follow along, and this book definitely fit the bill.

We capped off our night watching women's gymnastics and the Fab 5, polishing off the last of our prosecco, while rooting for team USA, all the way to the gold medal podium.  All in all - a great night.  

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Book Club

Last night was my book club! This month, our book selection was The Summer We Read Gatsby, by Danielle Ganek. In a nutshell, we all pretty much unanimously disliked the book. Knowingly, Carol, our host, suggested an additional book as "extra credit," The Hunger Games. Skip the first book, and go right to that!

However, we didn't let a 'blah' book damper our evening in the slightest. Our version of book club is super casual, less of a meeting, and more of a social gathering to catch up with good friends over wine and sustenance. Carol graciously made us dinner too, Ina's tomato-basil soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on crusty bread, while we recapped the book and everything else under the sun. I can't wait for the next book!

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Faces of the Hunger Games

Have you seen these posters for the Hunger Games movie? I'm sure by now you've heard the hype, but if you happen to be one of the few who has not read this book yet - go now! Seriously, leave your computer this moment. Yes you, I'm serious! Get up, get your butt to a bookstore ASAP! And be sure to carve out a sizable chunk of time and proceed to devour this trilogy. You think I'm kidding...I'm not. You will not be disappointed, TRUST ME!!

I'm getting so excited for the movie, I'm even toying with the idea of rereading book 1 so it's especially fresh in my mind - I just can't believe we have to wait until March! Well, at least there's less than 1 week until my other book-turned-movie series, Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

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Book Club

Last night was book club, to discuss our latest read, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, the Pioneer Woman's memoir about her love story with her handsome cowboy. If you follow the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, you'll know a little bit about her story. A small town girl who sought out the glitz and glamor of the big city during college. After graduation, she returned to her Oklahoma roots for a brief stopover, when she met and fell in love with a rugged rancher in a bar, affectionately known as "Marlboro Man," throughout the book. Eventually she began blogging about life in the country, and with that, she became the Pioneer Woman!

We met at my friend Baillie's house for appetizers and wine, and discussed the Pioneer Woman. For the most part, we enjoyed the book, but Ree lays on the dreaminess of Marlboro Man a little thick...we're hoping there's a sequel eventually, while we were all satisfied with the long story, we were left wondering about the aftermath, and how this famous Pioneer Woman blog was born.

Maybe she'll explain on her new cooking show, coming this fall!

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Book Club

My book club met Monday night to chat about our latest read - The Help. If you haven't read this book, it's a must! Even my friends in the group who are less than keen on reading every book cover to cover enjoyed it.

As for the club itself, typically, the host picks the book, and then provides dinner for everyone who attends. We've been rotating the hostess job and this time, we congregated at Jessica's condo. For dessert, Carrie brought "prison cheesecake," the star dessert in our last read, the true-life prison novel, Orange is the New Black. Surprisingly, prison cheesecake (laughing cow, coffee creamer, and vanilla pudding mashed together in a graham cracker crust) was pretty good!

Excited for our new meeting!

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Book Club

Last night I hosted book club! This month, my pick was the book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, by local Seattle author Garth Stein. If you are a dog person, I highly recommend this book, as the story is told from the persepctive of the golden retriever. I made mushroom lasagna for my ladies, we drank wine, and nibbled other savory appetizers, followed by peaches and cream cookies. Overall our general consensus was we enjoyed the book, a few more so than others (in case you're wondering, those would be the pet lovers).

While it's not official yet, I think Black is the New Orange is our next book, better get reading!

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Books, Books, Books

I need some inspiration my dears. As you know I love to read, and I love getting recommendations for new books to check out. Unfortunately, I've read my way through most all of those recommendations, including my most recent read for my book club. So basically, I'm in need of some new titles.

Are there inspiring, interesting, or moving books you've read lately? Please let me know!

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Book Club

Tonight is my first book club meeting! My sorority friends formed our own book club as a fun way to organize a monthly get-together to see each other, catch up, and enjoy good reads and good company Our first book is a "chick-lit," Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin (author of the Something Borrowed, Something Blue series).

I wasn't expecting to have any real strong reactions to this book, but man...did this book annoy me! I'll have many thoughts to share tonight with my girlfriends as we gab literature over wine!

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