Book Review: When It Happens To You By Molly Ringwald

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Coco

I should have written this book review in November to keep up with my book-review-a-month blogging schedule, but work, life and Thanksgiving got in the way. I have kept up with my goal of reading a book every month, and this is one that you might want to put on your holiday “wish” list.

I was surprised when I saw a novel by Molly Ringwald on Amazon, and even more surprised when I found the free preview to be well-written and engaging.

The synopsis from Amazon:

When it happens to you, you will be surprised. That thing they say about how you knew all the time, but just weren’t facing it? That might be the case, but nevertheless, there you will be.

Molly Ringwald mines the complexities of modern relationships in this gripping and nuanced collection of interlinked stories. Writing with a deep compassion for human imperfection, Ringwald follows a Los Angeles family and their friends and neighbors while they negotiate the hazardous terrain of everyday life—revealing the deceptions, heartbreak, and vulnerability familiar to us all.

I may have bought this  book because I feel like I grew up with Molly Ringwald (Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club were my coming of age movies), but I kept reading because When It Happens To You tells a great story, and leaves you wondering how you would act if it did.

Have you finished your 2012 reading list? 

What will you be reading in 2013?

Posted in Book Reviews, Life | Tagged | 6 Comments

Easy Holiday Card Garland Craft

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Coco

Our house doesn’t have a good place to display holiday cards. Our fireplace mantel is occupied by an antique sled and we don’t have very many flat surfaces that aren’t occupied by my piles of crap very important papers.

When I was looking through our old craft boxes for the knitting things to send my daughter (hopefully she put down the needles long enough to study for her finals!) I came across a bag of wooden clothespins. They gave me the idea to make this easy holiday card display. I hit up Michael’s for the few other things I would need:

  • silver spray paint
  • a holiday garland
  • small holiday stickers

First, I sprayed the clothespins with metallic silver spray paint. I followed the directions and sprayed, dried, and turned, until they had a nice even coat on all visible surfaces.

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In between coats,  I unwound the garland and arranged the branches.

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 When the clothespins were dry, I decorated them with some festive holiday stickers.

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This is a great step for kids to help with!

The next-to-last step was to pin a test card to see how it looks.

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Perfect!

The garland was easy to hang–I chose a bare window in our family room, and now it is a festive focal point.
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How do you display holiday cards?

Posted in Life | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Is James Bond Too Fit For His Age?

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Coco

We saw the new James Bond movie (Skyfall) over Thanksgiving break. We all enjoyed it, although my son commented that it was “unrealistic.” Isn’t that the point? I did find that the running jokes about Bond’s age made me feel old–if the hero I grew up with is “old” what does that say about me? But, he kicked ass, and that’s all that really matters.

(source)

So, I was amused by this Richard Cohen editorial in the November 27, 2012 edition of The Washington Post. Richard Cohen criticizes James Bond/Daniel Craig for having a physique that took hours to sculpt in the gym:

Bond is in pain from his wounds. I am in pain from all the hours he has spent in the gym.

He waxes nostalgic for Cary Grant in “North by Northwest,” whom Cohen describes as being “a fit man, effortlessly athletic,” in contrast to Craig whom he describes as “an ersatz creation of some trainer.”

My first reaction was that this editorial is sour grapes. Cohen is just jealous that he is not as fit, because he chooses to spend more of his time reading, seeing movies and engaging in conversations–the less strenuous activities he thinks are more important than going to the gym.

My second reaction was to take Cohen’s point more seriously. I have railed against the unrealistic ideals that Hollywood creates for women–I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss similar concerns about unrealistic male heroes. (Although Cohen doesn’t seem to have any problems with svelte Bond girls …)

I certainly did not think that Daniel Craig’s physique was unnatural or unattainable, and I don’t think that spending an hour a day at the gym is unhealthy–even if you would rather be reading a book (or a blog).

Have you seen Skyfall?

Did you think James Bond was too fit for his age?


Posted in Fitness | Tagged | 2 Comments

I Haven’t Outgrown Advent Calendars

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Coco

I’ve always loved advent calendars. When I was a child, I never had the kind with chocolates, just the traditional ones with a holiday scene and 24 windows to open–one each day from December 1 through Christmas Eve.

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Look at this cute one I found for my office!

I gave in to my kids jaded sense of “cool,” and started getting them chocolate ones when they were teenagers. Even then, they would neglect the calendars for several days in a row. This year I ordered my daughter the Starbucks® advent calendar (it was a big hit) and sent my son back to college after Thanksgiving with one from Trader Joe’s (meh).

While it has gotten harder and harder to find traditional advent calendars, there are tons of advent calendars on the internet.

If you are looking for new Christmas cookie recipes to try, you might like the Cookie Countdown Calendar from myrecipes.com.

If the summer Olympics made you an Anglophile, you might enjoy this elaborate London Advent Calendar. It’s the only one I’m listing that is not free (it costs $3), but it might be worth it. Check out the “free demo” video and see what you think.

If you want something more on the kitchsy side, then this Advent Calendar from SantaGames.net may be for you. (Warning: you may want to mute your volume before you click through!)

If you want a calendar with inspirational messages and ideas of how to help people living in poverty around the world, check out the Episcopal Relief and Development Gifts for Life Advent Calendar.

For more inspiration from the blogosphere, these fellow FitFluential Ambassadors have some great blogging planned for December:

Monica is going to be posting a recipe for a holiday treat every day–check out her delicious ideas and drool-worthy photos at MoniMeals.com.

Jenny will be following her son’s Christmas Countdown at SimplyBeMe.com. Watching his wonder and joy surely will put you in the holiday spirit!

Do you enjoy Advent calendars?

Traditional or chocolate?

Posted in Life, My Faith | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Advent: Ready Or Not, Christmas Is Coming!

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Coco

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. 

(source)

In the Christian church calendar, Advent is the “season” when we get ready for Christmas. In most Christian traditions, Advent has a dual meaning: we remember the first Christmas when Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the three kings awaited and rejoiced at the birth of Christ, while we also await and prepare for Jesus’ promised return.

Every year, I feel like Christmas comes earlier and earlier. I am never ready for the holiday season to start, and I usually put off most of my shopping and decorating until mid-December. Maybe it’s because we have so many family birthdays in November and December, and I’m not in the mood to celebrate Christmas until we have finished the last piece of birthday cake, or maybe it’s because I need to catch my breath after Thanksgiving before I add more to my “to do” list.

(Our Christmas tree, which most certainly is not up yet!)

But, Christmas is coming, and I will do all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking and wassailing it takes to make my home merry and bright. (Well, not wassailing, but I will break out the Christmas CDs). I also will  get ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. I will make an extra effort to go to church, say Advent prayers, and try to treat others with kindness and generosity that reflect God’s love for us all.

I’m sure I won’t get everything done that I’d like to do, and I’m sure that I won’t always be cheerful and nice, but Christmas will come, and the wonder and joy of that Holy Night will outshine any of my shortcomings.

(source)

Prayer for the first week of Advent:
The light of God lead us and make us unafraid.
The power of God protect us and make us strong.
The joy of God heal us and make us happy.
The grace of God bless us and keep us loving.
Now and evermore.
Amen

Have you started to get ready for Christmas yet?

Posted in My Faith | Tagged , , | 1 Comment