tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25622590305618134552024-03-13T11:59:58.471-05:00coffee & conversationBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.comBlogger508125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-3263299688852578262018-11-26T15:01:00.000-06:002018-11-26T15:01:47.934-06:00when instagram decides you're an impostor ...At the beginning of the month, a friend notified me that someone had opened an impersonation Instagram account in my name. This person had taken my name, profile picture, and last 24 pictures and copied them into this new account, which had a username just slightly different from my own.<br />
<br />
I put out the call to all of my Facebook friends and Instagram followers to report the fake profile ... and I woke up the next morning to find that my own legitimate account had been disabled for impersonation.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, <a href="https://help.instagram.com/446663175382270" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram states</a> that only the person being impersonated can report another account for impersonation, and I certainly didn't report myself, but there you have it. (Also, I tried to report the other account for impersonation, but Instagram requires you to attach a photo of yourself holding your photo ID, and the report form wasn't working. Of course, it's working now, after it's too late ...) About 72 hours later, Instagram disabled the fake account, but it's now been more than three weeks, and I cannot get any response from Instagram about my real account. I'm beginning to believe that those 1000+ posts from nearly five years are just gone. (Fortunately, I had <a href="https://chatbooks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chatbooks</a>, so all but the last several posts are printed in my Instagram series.)<br />
<br />
The most frustrating thing about it is that I cannot get a real person. Someone who actually looked at the two accounts would be able to tell in an instant that my account was the real account and that I wasn't impersonating anyone, but I am completely unable to get a response from a real person.<br />
<br />
For a few years there, customer service was king, and if you aired a grievance with a company on Twitter, you were sure to get a response. Perhaps we've passed that era, or perhaps Instagram just doesn't care. Whatever the reason, <a href="https://twitter.com/beckyritta/status/1060562808776126469" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Twitter pleas</a> have received zero response.<br />
<br />
So, yes, I'm frustrated, but at least one good thing has come out of all of this. For quite a while, my sister had been telling me that I should start an Instagram account for <a href="https://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my book blog</a>. I always resisted for a variety of reasons, but the main one was that I didn't want to start over with followers. I had close to 400 on my personal account, and, while that's not a huge number, it's a whole lot bigger than zero!<br />
<br />
But with my personal account shut down, I had nothing to lose! So I created a Christian Chick's Thoughts account: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cctblog/" target="_blank">@cctblog</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>I'm loving it!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It's a much more focused account, basically about books, movies, and music ... and, of course, my cats. And there's something about knowing who I'm targeting that makes it easier to write captions and choose what to post.<br />
<br />
I've also been doing a lot of thinking about why I posted what I did before, and I have to be honest and say that I was looking for affirmation. Yes, many of the photos I posted were ones that I wanted to remember (and I did a fair bit of scrolling through my own old posts), but I wanted <i>others</i> to like them, too. I suppose the same could be said of my CCT account, as well, but the purpose of these photos is to "build my brand," so to speak, and drive people to my blog. It also gives me a great forum to share about the books I'm reading, which never really fit well on my personal Instagram. I'm actually interacting a lot more with other book lovers through this account than I ever did before. At least for now, this account feels very fulfilling.<br />
<br />
And I still have Facebook for all of those family and vacation pics đ. (Maybe I'll create a new personal Instagram ... we'll see. If so, I'll be sure to let you know!)Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-41277744238813059982018-01-24T20:31:00.000-06:002018-01-24T20:31:20.480-06:00when hashi rears its head<i>I wrote this yesterday and almost didn't post it. But, in an effort to share the "realness" of life, I decided to go ahead and hit "publish."</i><br />
<br />
I haven't talked publicly about Hashimoto's, <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/hashimoto%27s" target="_blank">my autoimmune disease</a>, for a long time. For a while, it was THE thing in my life. But after getting on the right meds, vastly changing my diet, and learning to take care of myself, it's become just A thing, something that's part of who I am but doesn't rule my life.<br />
<br />
Most of the time.<br />
<br />
Today, though, I'm very aware of Hashi and the limitations it gives me. We had a major snowstorm that dumped 10-ish inches and created drifts of 3 or more feet. My car isn't going anywhere until it gets dug out.<br />
<br />
I know that strenuous exercise isn't good for me, but what was I supposed to do? (Of course, I <i>could've </i>chosen to stay snowed in, at least in theory. But it didn't really feel like a choice. I needed to dig out.) So I bundled up and attacked the snow. After about 30 minutes, I quit. I'm still snowed in. And I spent the next hour sprawled on the couch. Three hours later, I'm not feeling much better.<br />
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I used to feel thisâthis deep, utter exhaustionâevery single time I mowed my lawn. Last summer, I didn't feel it once, which is a testament to how much healing I've done. But it's frustrating to have my limitations thrown in my face. I cringe when I wonder if the neighbors think I'm lazy or wimpyâbecause I look perfectly normal; I look like I should be able to handle some snow. I was even slightly embarrassed when I admitted to my friend (and sometimes mail carrier) that "this" just about killed me when she delivered a package this afternoon, and she knew me when I was at my worst! I guess it's just humbling to be reminded that some things are out of my control, and I'm not really self-sufficient.<br />
<br />
I also worry that this exertion is going to set me back, cause a flare-up of symptoms, and impact more than just today. I know that I'll need to be extra vigilant and extra gentle with myself for a while. This in itself is frustrating, as I'm forgoing some things I'd like to do (like keeping up with my steps in a walking challenge I've joined) in hopes of not making things worse.<br />
<br />
But I'm also so thankful that I'm not where I once was. If it takes a snowstorm to remind me of both my frailty and of how far I've come, I guess I should be grateful. And I'm also grateful for my dad, who came over after he got off work and finished digging me out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaXSr_1Ddq4DU5R8QN5xTKLXavSs8MF9cHOVosYFOI_GqLU7uwRIpEjGsBfECdFfwKEejure2EeJUp2bj0JmmLInGzhzVq0nK5EBqN-QFKYNdEHQp-NwCzX0noX5HEDfCcI9EsuDFET3_/s1600/IMG_20180123_164245_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaXSr_1Ddq4DU5R8QN5xTKLXavSs8MF9cHOVosYFOI_GqLU7uwRIpEjGsBfECdFfwKEejure2EeJUp2bj0JmmLInGzhzVq0nK5EBqN-QFKYNdEHQp-NwCzX0noX5HEDfCcI9EsuDFET3_/s320/IMG_20180123_164245_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-62812409373660203912017-09-08T18:03:00.002-05:002017-09-08T18:03:55.387-05:00friday favorites #35: week of september 7, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxGQp3NUrI2oROKCi7i6HT1-b79z6TYVEO5HKjYFTDs3hyphenhyphenqQsiH03eW4d1nzDnP8WMIG1-qSi-TuRFbkd57vbIP55Sh7e_XwVLPv6liLTUSb5ObUcdDegF5AFElDYihriUxJ7R_ppW1_G/s1600/Five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxGQp3NUrI2oROKCi7i6HT1-b79z6TYVEO5HKjYFTDs3hyphenhyphenqQsiH03eW4d1nzDnP8WMIG1-qSi-TuRFbkd57vbIP55Sh7e_XwVLPv6liLTUSb5ObUcdDegF5AFElDYihriUxJ7R_ppW1_G/s400/Five.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Fun (?) fact: This post has been in the works for about three months. I just never quite seem to get it finished on Friday, so then the next time I come to it, I swap out old favorites and add new ones. But today I've done itâI've actually finished a Friday Favorites! (As my sister would demand: "CLAP FOR ME!")<br />
<a name='more'></a>This time around, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/2017/09/friday-favorites_8.html" target="_blank">A Little Bit of Everything</a> and <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/2017/09/five-on-friday.html" target="_blank">Carolina Charm</a>.<br />
<h3>
1. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1870479/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_4" target="_blank">The Newsroom</a></i></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK-mnGfrn37ZNtW21P8Y7R0wL_C2jS7FBVI64PntqkDqlm3jBldevNWT1PSbjIqcGNcab8CYg7NmnE6F_rUUvA5DzmLCTYjtBVfG9sSYPr56v9QLBCcQeWM8XwjsXIkZd-XT2jzDcyXQ5/s1600/newsroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoK-mnGfrn37ZNtW21P8Y7R0wL_C2jS7FBVI64PntqkDqlm3jBldevNWT1PSbjIqcGNcab8CYg7NmnE6F_rUUvA5DzmLCTYjtBVfG9sSYPr56v9QLBCcQeWM8XwjsXIkZd-XT2jzDcyXQ5/s400/newsroom.jpg" width="270" /></a>I've been a fan of Aaron Sorkin since before I even knew who he wasâ<i>Sports Night</i>, which was created and written by Sorkin, aired when I was in high school, and I loved it. When <i>The West Wing</i> started airing (while <i>Sports Night </i>was still on the air, but on a different network), I thought it sounded boring, so I gave it a pass. Had I known it was also a Sorkin show, I probably would've tried it out, but I paid zero attention to showrunners at that time, so I didn't know Sorkin was behind <i>Sports Night</i>.<br />
<br />
A couple years ago, I finally decided to watch <i>The West Wing</i> ... and then I ended up watching the entire series run in a few months. (<i>The West Wing</i> even ended up in a Friday Favorites <a href="https://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2014/11/five-friday-favorites-7-week-of-nov-21.html" target="_blank">a while back</a>.)<br />
<br />
I remember hearing about Sorkin's <i>The Newsroom</i> when it aired, but it was on HBO, so watching wasn't even a consideration then. It's been on Amazon Prime for a while now, but I was hesitant because it carries a TV-MA rating. (Personally, I don't want the explicit sex and/or violence that can come with a TV-MA rating, but the swearing doesn't usually bother me.) Looking for something different to watch on Labor Day, I finally gave it a go.<br />
<br />
I'm completely addicted.<br />
<br />
First of all, the TV-MA rating comes solely from language (the fairly liberal use of the f-word). Other than that, it is something that could've been shown on broadcast TV. The first season aired in 2012, but it was set in 2010, so they're constantly dealing with real events, and they often use clips from FOX News, CNN, etc. I completely buy Jeff Daniels as moderate Republican anchor Will McAvoy, and I really enjoy all of the characters. There's no loathsome character (the worst so far is Chris Messina's Reese, but he's not that bad), just people who I want to see succeed. And it doesn't hurt that there are three relationships to, well, ship :-) Plus, it's funny. I wouldn't call the show a comedy, but I laugh out loud at least once per episode.<br />
<br />
I've watched all of the first season in just a few days, and I'm already 1/3 of the way through season two. And there are only three season, so by this time next week, I'll probably be finished with the whole thing. (It's just 25 episodes, so don't judge too much.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, if you enjoyed <i>The West Wing</i> and you don't mind a little language, check out <i>The Newsroom</i>. It's just wonderful.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Just-Decided-To/dp/B00CW8DRU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504907369&sr=8-1&keywords=the+newsroom" target="_blank">Watch on Amazon Prime.</a></i><br />
<h3>
2. The Cubs' Twitter account</h3>
Whoever runs this account is brilliant. Case in point:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OsjtUkNs2f93xfLu_PC_-TRUXnBwLmTn1TzmxyFISx0PnrIq3XoPqv98pyE62bFOX8Y7RriCfyFYkcSs_veuBxhLrVOtA14Qc71jbMwOy6PtJHJyZX4OrvPhdp-JweJhsIwxfdbT0yBk/s1600/Screenshot_20170817-121416.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OsjtUkNs2f93xfLu_PC_-TRUXnBwLmTn1TzmxyFISx0PnrIq3XoPqv98pyE62bFOX8Y7RriCfyFYkcSs_veuBxhLrVOtA14Qc71jbMwOy6PtJHJyZX4OrvPhdp-JweJhsIwxfdbT0yBk/s320/Screenshot_20170817-121416.png" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mxfNCfgMMHRW109LkblIZKt8N_D_q293qhwSGExZOJogpZXsYva3Apc1SGWKzXjHh2GOIMU5abDLnUodYh2Cr_75lT1vlSq6n1nMUFXuaQ9Ik7IieN3owfgPX-tENy74jbWDDazHUU1a/s1600/Screenshot_20170817-121440.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mxfNCfgMMHRW109LkblIZKt8N_D_q293qhwSGExZOJogpZXsYva3Apc1SGWKzXjHh2GOIMU5abDLnUodYh2Cr_75lT1vlSq6n1nMUFXuaQ9Ik7IieN3owfgPX-tENy74jbWDDazHUU1a/s320/Screenshot_20170817-121440.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8KAl3Ib2L2_ggB1Mgljpygg_AgqYyMDiuE80s6UVf7HnZXYgw1H13aI4lP8mg3zEgjmmLb3BshCGWahty6kbya8HTBdZliu7HnLMZC92Yb9d1cRvzZ80b938Kmg3qakZtNY-FB5GbtSe/s1600/Screenshot_20170817-121450.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8KAl3Ib2L2_ggB1Mgljpygg_AgqYyMDiuE80s6UVf7HnZXYgw1H13aI4lP8mg3zEgjmmLb3BshCGWahty6kbya8HTBdZliu7HnLMZC92Yb9d1cRvzZ80b938Kmg3qakZtNY-FB5GbtSe/s320/Screenshot_20170817-121450.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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They also have gifs for every.single.thing.ever. For someone who's not a fan (me one year ago), it's probably not quite so entertaining, but following Cubs Twitter is one of my favorite aspects of each game.<br />
<br />
Also. I recently subscribed to a service that will let me listen to the radio broadcast of each game. It's $3/month, so I really just need to pay $6 to get me through the season (once we hit the playoffs, which I sincerely hope the Cubs are part of, I'll be able to watch all the games). TOTALLY worth it!<br />
<h3>
3. <a href="http://nadamoo.com/" target="_blank">Nadamoo</a></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQod8VjN4NAQTjjdQ_AmElEYTdsgUNHKPJzACQZftx4HbiCL4in_PinEa8Mokukl10z905869dN-nfM_HtcyKbeTHRvqL6BhXKy3geLV7n0zum-Ogvubjikpvb9SNUJIVS9NDC8keh3zLP/s1600/IMG_20170813_130544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQod8VjN4NAQTjjdQ_AmElEYTdsgUNHKPJzACQZftx4HbiCL4in_PinEa8Mokukl10z905869dN-nfM_HtcyKbeTHRvqL6BhXKy3geLV7n0zum-Ogvubjikpvb9SNUJIVS9NDC8keh3zLP/s320/IMG_20170813_130544.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Nadamoo and gluten-free lemon scones for my birthday. <br />
Only one of these things was worth the calories!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A little more than a month ago, an ad for Nadamoo popped into my Instagram feed. I'd never heard of it before, but it's turned out to be the best dairy-free "ice cream" I've ever tasted! Huge shout out to Blendy here, as she found it for me in an Omaha Hy-Vee. Here's hoping it comes to Grand Island soon!</div>
<h3>
4. Arie as <i>The Bachelor</i></h3>
<div>
The producers of <i>The Bachelor</i> actually did the unexpected when they named the next Bachelor yesterdayâthey picked Arie Luyendyk Jr. As far as I know, Arie's last appearance on a franchise show was when he showed up during Sean Lowe's season to give him kissing tips ... Arie was known as the "kissing bandit" on Emily Maynard's season of <i>The Bachelorette</i>.<br />
<br />
The reaction to Arie's casting has been mixedâmainly it's either "WHO???" or "I LOVE ARIE!!!" I fall into the second camp đ.<br />
<br />
Arie apparently has quite the reputation as a womanizer, and not for one second do I believe he's going to find a woman to spend the rest of his life with on <i>The Bachelor</i>. But I welcome the opportunity to have Arie on my TV once a week!<br />
<br />
Here's why I love Arie ...<br />
<br />
Exhibit A<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPtt_yVZpgQ?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Exhibit B<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iz0T1EGh9W8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
<h3>
5. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Three-Things-Julie-Buxbaum-ebook/dp/B011G3HBFQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1504910201&sr=1-1&keywords=tell+me+three+things" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tell Me Three Things</a></i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrV0ZfkCblSB7Y-4XQsjUHwyg8Hx0LRfKMFGmAqFsrvVb-7qH5pIGUMFTDUZcTKiBUW8Q3WJSbAORIPQKrWERc6Lnk0jbmoOFF7dpPGIcoXLES_8wp7PAHy_lBCV4WpbrCmXNHUu_vJ22/s1600/three+things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrV0ZfkCblSB7Y-4XQsjUHwyg8Hx0LRfKMFGmAqFsrvVb-7qH5pIGUMFTDUZcTKiBUW8Q3WJSbAORIPQKrWERc6Lnk0jbmoOFF7dpPGIcoXLES_8wp7PAHy_lBCV4WpbrCmXNHUu_vJ22/s320/three+things.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<i>Tell Me Three Things</i> is pretty much the YA version of <i>You've Got Mail</i>. <b>And I loved it.</b> Keep in mind that there's some adult content (language, talk of sex), but I definitely recommend it for adults. So fun! (See my <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/09/tell-me-three-things-by-julie-buxbaum.html" target="_blank">review</a>.)</div>
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<b>What have you been enjoying recently? Do you have feelings about Arie as the Bachelor?</b><br />
<br />Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-50114572758073815902017-08-28T21:29:00.000-05:002017-08-28T21:34:53.805-05:00movie mondays: movies i wish i could find on dvd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtrXu_p8NskQkNp9PjvAp-IhuiHdlZV4DmKtfEeeFtGoa9phBi621u9mF-x1Nxhq1uLwQOCCAYDKUq8t-_Ex70eQ-sblalrEsxqFj47YNVJrwnVUudiQwyA7-kJcLxEGk-S9wEBlFbp2N/s1600/Movie+Mondays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtrXu_p8NskQkNp9PjvAp-IhuiHdlZV4DmKtfEeeFtGoa9phBi621u9mF-x1Nxhq1uLwQOCCAYDKUq8t-_Ex70eQ-sblalrEsxqFj47YNVJrwnVUudiQwyA7-kJcLxEGk-S9wEBlFbp2N/s400/Movie+Mondays.png" width="400" /></a></div>
This afternoon, I checked my TV app to see what was on later tonight, and I noticed that Hallmark was playing one of my TV movie favorites. I couldn't watch it because of work, and it's been a while since I've seen it, so I immediately checked my friend Amazon ... only to find it's not on DVD.<br />
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That got me thinking about the moviesâsome recent, some olderâthat I would gladly pay for if only they were on DVD. Here's my wishlist, in no particular order. (Except for #1!)<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132032/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chance of a Lifetime</a></i> (1998)</h3>
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This is my #1 DVD wish, hands down. <i>Chance of a Lifetime</i> is a marriage of convenience romance starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal well before their days on <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312081/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 Simple Rules</a></i>. Their characters wed because Maguire (Ritter) doesn't have health insurance but needs back surgery due to an injury sustained while helping Irene (Sagal). As they try to convince everyoneâincluding an insurance fraud investigatorâthat their marriage is real, they ... you guessed it ... fall in love. </div>
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I actually still have this one on VHS, and I pull it out every now and again ... but I taped it off of TV, and our reception wasn't great, so it's pretty grainy. Every so often, I search for it on YouTube, but I've never found it.</div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5212042/?ref_=nv_sr_2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Love's Complicated</i> </a>(2016)</h3>
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This is the movie that prompted this post. I don't know why some Hallmark Channel films are released on DVD and others aren't. Since this one is fairly recent, I do have hope that it will be released one day. Author Leah's life is predictable and boring until her boyfriend enrolls her in a conflict resolution class. There she meets shock-jock Cinco, who's attending the class on court order. Though the two initially dislike each other, they ... of course ... fall in love đ. Leads Holly Marie Combs and Ben Bass have more chemistry than is often present in Hallmark films, and this one actually felt a bit unique. I don't often watch a Hallmark film and think I'd like to own it, but I'd like to get my hands on this one.</div>
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Fun fact: <i>Love's Complicated </i>is just one of several recent Hallmark films to be adapted from Christian fiction. This one is based on Rene Gutteridge's <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Doormat-Three-Acts-ebook/dp/B003IGDD34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503972513&sr=8-1&keywords=my+life+as+a+doormat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Life as a Doormat</a></i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218121/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank"><i>Model Behavior</i></a> (2000)</h3>
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This film is far from perfect, at least from what I remember, but I do remember it fondly. I had always been more of a JC girl than a Justin fan, but when I watched this movie, I thought, <i>Hmmm, that Justin Timberlake IS kind of cute!</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>What he <i>wasn't</i> was a particularly good actor (this was his first film role), but that didn't really matter. The story, about two teens (played by Maggie Lawson of <i>Psych</i>) who trade lives, is very <i>The Prince and the Pauper</i>-esque, and it's quite enjoyable. At least it was when I saw it in 2000.</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363129/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Time Around</a> </i>(2003)</h3>
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There was a time (10-15 years ago) when ABC Family made some great romance/romantic comedy movies. Some of my favorites were released on DVD (I own <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Seven-Kimberley-Williams-Paisley/dp/B0000ZMGZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503972766&sr=8-1&keywords=lucky+7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lucky Seven</a></i> with Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Patrick Dempsey and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Love-Bradley-Cooper/dp/B0077PBPTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1503972807&sr=1-1&keywords=reality+of+love+dvd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reality of Love</a> </i>[a.k.a. <i>I Want to Marry Ryan Banks</i>] with Bradley Cooper and Jason Priestley), but this one wasn't. My brother was kind enough to record it for me, since he had cable and I didn't, and I still have the VHS tape. But I'd love to find it on DVD!</div>
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This is an "ugly girl grows up to be unrecognizably pretty and gets the guy she liked in junior high" story, so, basically, completely unrealistic ... but I still really like it. There's just something about Brian Austin Green ...</div>
<h3>
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2400685/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matchmaker Santa</a></i> (2012)</h3>
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Now we get into my Christmas movies wish list! My guess is that if <i>Matchmaker Santa</i> had been made a year or two later, it would be on DVD, as it seems that all of Hallmark's recent Christmas releases eventually find their way to DVD. Starring Hallmark's Christmas queen Lacey Chabert* and Adam Mayfield, it's about a woman who falls for her boyfriend's assistant when they're stranded together in a small town right before Christmas. It does have possibly one of the most "non-ending" endings ever, but the rest of the film is so delightful that I can forgive the end.</div>
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*Honestly, I'm not sure who has made more Hallmark Christmas movies, Lacey Chabert or Candace Cameron Bure. Maybe they can be co-rulers of Hallmark's Christmas Land.</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5902138/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christmas List</a></i> (2016)</h3>
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While several of Hallmark's 2016 Christmas offerings have already been or will soon be released on DVD, <i>Christmas List</i> isn't one of them. And that's too bad. Starring Hallmark's Christmas princess Alicia Witt and the always charming Gabriel Hogan in their second pairing for the network, <i>Christmas List</i> is about a woman who seeks to complete her Christmas bucket list. It's predictable but charming, and it was the biggest surprise of Hallmark's 2016 Christmas season to me. I really enjoyed it, and it's one of the few 2016 premieres that I'd like to own. </div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0136755/?ref_=kw_li_tt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Christmas List</i></a> (1997)</h3>
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Not to be confused with <i>Christmas List</i>, this film is a 1997 charmer starring Mimi Rogers (a.k.a. Mrs. Tom Cruise #1). Melody is a perfume salesgirl whose life is changed after she sends a letter to Santa. I haven't seen this one in years, so I can't really tell you if it's any good, but I remember loving it when I saw it! (I did find it on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA79Yk7oGP8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, but the audio has been dubbed in another language, so I quickly decided not to watch it.)<br />
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</b> <b>Have you seen any of these? What movies do you wish you could own? Does anyone else still ownâand occasionally useâa VCR???</b></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-17280301971760382942017-07-17T22:44:00.000-05:002017-07-17T22:44:44.391-05:00movie mondays: up faith & family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few days ago, I read a <a href="http://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/2017/07/05/love-finds-you-in-valentine-2016-review/" target="_blank">review </a>of <i>Love Finds You in Valentine</i>. Not only did the movie sound like one I'd enjoy, but I was curious about the settingâValentine, Nebraska. I decided to see what it would cost to rent on Amazon, and I discovered it was free to watch with a subscription to UP Faith & Family. Because Amazon is kind and allows a free trial to its add-on channels, I decided to sign up for the free trial ... and then watch all the UP movies I could during the trial period. (Sound familiar? This is basically exactly <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2017/01/movie-mondays-pixl-movie-channel.html" target="_blank">what I did with PixL</a> last winter, only PixL is available through YouTube, not Amazon.)<br />
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While I really only scratched the surface of what UP has to offer, here are a few of the best movies I watched ... and a one to avoid as a bonus!<br />
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I would definitely compare UP's original movies to Hallmark's. The difference here is that UP films, while I wouldn't classify them as "Christian," aren't afraid to touch on faith. Characters are often shown attending church or praying before meals, and several major and minor characters in the movies I watched were either pastors or were heavily involved in their churches. The production values on UP movies are very similar to Hallmark's. And the two share a lot of actors, too. (I noticed that many of the films available to watch on the UP channel are not UP originals, but I think most of the movies I'm talking about are ... since my free trial has ended, I can't go back and check.)<br />
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Five UP Films to Watch</h2>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4769430/?ref_=nv_sr_2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Valentine</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO7XizhP1YaUCtK_NwPK4s0UHQ1gSJQzQ2Ikv1fU_4pC44FTnegzhWc38sc7kKs5J1spFqQgnwf2rRFjf87aFXKRtSHCXOaxGAKhd2nrlFHpWawqv8t_H25wh6tQrAFJiZ8UMz5BvO1kL/s1600/valentine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO7XizhP1YaUCtK_NwPK4s0UHQ1gSJQzQ2Ikv1fU_4pC44FTnegzhWc38sc7kKs5J1spFqQgnwf2rRFjf87aFXKRtSHCXOaxGAKhd2nrlFHpWawqv8t_H25wh6tQrAFJiZ8UMz5BvO1kL/s320/valentine.jpg" width="217" /></a>Following her father's death, Kennedy Blaine learns she has inherited the family ranch in Valentine, Nebraska. Though she'd prefer just to sell it, her father requested that Kennedy visit the ranch first. Once she arrives in Valentine, Kennedy meets many distant relativesâher parents were both from Valentine but moved away due to a longstanding feud between their families. She also meets her grandfather, a man she didn't even know was still living, and she discovers her father's accountant may not have been telling the truth about the ranch's financial state. And, of course, she meets a manâDerek, the ranch foreman, with whom she gets off to a very rocky start.</div>
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<i>Love Finds You in Valentine</i> is sweet and romantic with just a touch of suspense. It is the second movie I watched with my free trial (I'll tell you about the first in the "what not to watch" section), and I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was good, the leads had actual chemistry, and the plot was entertaining. In fact, my only complaint is that the film was so obviously not filmed in Nebraska. (I looked it up on imdb, and it was filmed in Ohio, which is beautiful but clearly not the Nebraska Sandhills. I even spotted an Ohio license plate at one point.) <i>One Tree Hill </i>fans will recognize Michaela McManus (Kennedy), and I must say that she's much more likeable here than she was as Lucas's girlfriend Lindsey! Other cast members include the always great Ed Asner and the Bionic Woman herself, Lindsay Wagner. <b>4-1/2 stars.</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4122118/?ref_=nv_sr_3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Charm</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjYIoz4ezXtM40Xb8OcvAw0SityrRu5gfvaaIz0d0iFWoTfnVeHv18qfmi72rjhldMPgGgLzhEn2sHo9L2qWFRNjsZozdiiczhnqWh_IUUUN2iNOH_cFL7CMTMVPpMuJhRvLOIA-U1P7j/s1600/charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjYIoz4ezXtM40Xb8OcvAw0SityrRu5gfvaaIz0d0iFWoTfnVeHv18qfmi72rjhldMPgGgLzhEn2sHo9L2qWFRNjsZozdiiczhnqWh_IUUUN2iNOH_cFL7CMTMVPpMuJhRvLOIA-U1P7j/s320/charm.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Emma is a young Amish woman who longs to experience the world. When she goes to visit a widowed cousin over the summer, she meets two intriguing menâAmish man Noah and Englischer Andy. She also becomes friends with Kelly, a young woman who fled to her aunt's inn following a difficult breakup. As Emma explores the world of cars, clothes, makeup, and men, she must decide where she fitsâwith the Amish or with the Englisch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Amish fiction is <i>so</i> not my thing (unless it's written by <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/search?q=suzanne+woods+fisher+amish" target="_blank">Suzanne Woods Fisher</a>). I wouldn't normally have watched <i>Love Finds You in Charm</i>, but I enjoyed <i>Love Finds You in Valentine</i> so much that I thought I'd give it a try! (Both films, as well as <i>Love Finds You in Sugarcreek</i>, are based on novels from Guidepost's "Love Finds You" lineâI've reviewed <i><a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/love-finds-you-in-sugarcreek-ohio-by.html" target="_blank">Love Finds you in Sugarcreek, Ohio</a></i>; <i><a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/love-finds-you-in-sunset-beach-hawaii.html" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii</a></i>; <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/07/love-finds-you-in-mackinac-island.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan</a>;<i> </i>and <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/12/love-finds-you-in-glacier-bay-alaska-by.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska</a>, on my <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">book blog</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Love Finds You in Charm</i> is a very enjoyable film. Sure, I never fully bought Trevor Donovan (Noah) as an Amish man, and Drew Fuller played Andy as too forward and smarmy to be a believable option for Emma, but I still enjoyed watching it. It's not great cinema, but it's an enjoyable way to pass a few hours. </span><b>3 stars.</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3212830/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love Finds You in Sugarcreek</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFRmJSDnR4TOtSkfKoicgL_gWzAH6ohMBJR3YH3tMCLUGpdKIKmSPThK7l-yhivPWi-ykA5_TUBHYjsVZUVzmkj4U4eXqzvbJPs5McfJp8kWtzWsAMZRu-NU6tL77TWgfuxNg5JFFWuqY/s1600/sugarcreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFRmJSDnR4TOtSkfKoicgL_gWzAH6ohMBJR3YH3tMCLUGpdKIKmSPThK7l-yhivPWi-ykA5_TUBHYjsVZUVzmkj4U4eXqzvbJPs5McfJp8kWtzWsAMZRu-NU6tL77TWgfuxNg5JFFWuqY/s320/sugarcreek.jpg" width="217" /></a>While traveling with his young son Bobby, Joe Matthews (Tom Everett Scott) finds himself stranded in the Amish community of Sugarcreek, Ohio. He meets a kind Amish man who takes them to an inn run by three Amish sisters. The women take to Bobby immediately and agree to let Joe stay in exchange for doing some work around the property. However, their niece Rachel (Sarah Lancaster), a Sugarcreek policewoman, is highly suspicious of Joe and sets out to uncover his secrets. She learns that there's more to Joe's story than he's letting on ... but when she's losing her heart to him, will his real identity matter?</div>
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Really, I think the UP free trial was worth it for these three Love Finds You films alone. <i>Love Finds You in Sugarcreek</i> is sweetly romantic with a touch of mystery and suspense. Scott (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0012642/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">who will always be "Shades" to me</a>) and Lancaster have great chemistry, and the movie is just incredibly enjoyable. Also, the screenwriter wisely fixed the one problem I had with the <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/love-finds-you-in-sugarcreek-ohio-by.html" target="_blank">novel </a>the film is based onâa pregnant teen who seemed to be present solely to advance the plot is nowhere to be found in the film! <b>4 stars.</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3274632/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">Guess Who's Coming to Christmas</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyX7sKMaJ0mUp0w5O2IoEJ09kvzj8mjaZEhP84TahbNl2W-iqqPJFcTzpWhI5c3DKCTMPIEGFNHBOMJb1ybf2tKrI_R3UJXfNV2LSzf2nYrvcyP-9zVldSVOFY8E_uudEXjwUdQU_lHTM/s1600/guess+who%2527s+coming+to+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyX7sKMaJ0mUp0w5O2IoEJ09kvzj8mjaZEhP84TahbNl2W-iqqPJFcTzpWhI5c3DKCTMPIEGFNHBOMJb1ybf2tKrI_R3UJXfNV2LSzf2nYrvcyP-9zVldSVOFY8E_uudEXjwUdQU_lHTM/s320/guess+who%2527s+coming+to+christmas.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dax (Drew Lachey) is a washed-up rock star desperate for another hit. Following an embarrassing incident involving alcohol and a frozen turkey, he agrees to image rehabâby spending a week with a fan. That chosen fan is Kelly Harding, a woman who recently moved back in with her parents and younger brother after the New York publisher she worked for went under. Though Kelly has loved Dax since adolescence, she soon realizes the real Dax is nothing like the idol she once dreamed about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Here's the thing about <i>Guess Who's Coming to Christmas</i>: It's really predictable, Drew Lachey isn't a particularly great actor, and the song that Dax and Kelly write together is truly terrible ... but I really enjoyed the movie! I caught myself laughing out loud multiple timesâI definitely did not expect it to be so funny. Much of the humor comes from the basically amoral Dax trying to live with Kelly's Christian family for a week. I really dislike when Christian films come across as preachy, but that's not the case with <i>Guess Who's Coming to Christmas</i>. Instead, the faith feels organic, like it's an integral part of the lives of the Hardings. I wouldn't even call it a Christian movieâit's a movie where some of the characters happen to be Christians. </span><b>3-1/2 stars.</b><br />
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Side note only important to a Nebraskan: Dax is originally from Beatrice, Nebraska ... only it's always pronounced BEE-uh-triss (like the woman's name) instead of bee-AT-russ. It's one of those things you'd never know if you weren't from the area ... but it also takes away from the authenticity of the film. (Not that <i>Guess Who's Coming to Christmas </i>is incredibly realistic, but still ...)</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3367814/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dear Viola</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzlCIT_eFJ1cyt_lNl3LwSz5BVv9_mbTqAtig3CEFNDIFGatrz3vxW5b2k8VDpIA1Mfplz79WEbIduRCVZtsyhm7uFyBxF-zbYiuumP24hsOk2GSvubq5AuKuSwNHtJh1hJq_FfXcRC9G/s1600/dear+viola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzlCIT_eFJ1cyt_lNl3LwSz5BVv9_mbTqAtig3CEFNDIFGatrz3vxW5b2k8VDpIA1Mfplz79WEbIduRCVZtsyhm7uFyBxF-zbYiuumP24hsOk2GSvubq5AuKuSwNHtJh1hJq_FfXcRC9G/s320/dear+viola.jpg" width="217" /></a>Accountant Katie has always dreamed of being a writer, so when the advice columnist at the small-town newspaper she keeps books for retires, Katie takes a stab at writing the column ... anonymously, of course. Through the column, she begins sparring with widowed father Russ, a man she already knows (and secretly admires) from church, and a <i>You've Got Mail</i> type of situation soon unfolds, as she knows his identity, but he doesn't know she is Viola.<br />
<br />
I always enjoy Kellie Martin in Hallmark-type movies, and <i>Dear Viola </i>is no exception. She is so likeable as the shy, slightly awkward Katie, and Jefferson Brown is quite charming as Russ. (Brown certainly has the charming thing downâhe was the best part of the dreadful <i>Please Kill Mr. Know It All</i>, which I wrote about <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2014/10/movie-mondays-movies-to-avoid-amazon.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) Sure, there's the clichĂŠd gorgeous, self-centered woman who so dazzles Russ that he can't see Katie right in front of him, and the ending is rather unbelievable (nothing new for this type of movie), but it's still a really enjoyable story. <b>4-1/2 stars.</b><br />
<h2>
One UP Film to Avoid</h2>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4742556/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accidentally Engaged</a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvA7IoHZTuL3CcncpZEELtPja-aCBh4_giG1rQbzuSpt4SkiwMUyKIn7PvGOWuvU2ZqE3aniccCEh4BOtZxyyW04Xbk41kr1sEZx282OFna6V2Hj-3SbYz2ibsvHU8wnnksS9E_bLRG1g/s1600/accidentally+engaged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvA7IoHZTuL3CcncpZEELtPja-aCBh4_giG1rQbzuSpt4SkiwMUyKIn7PvGOWuvU2ZqE3aniccCEh4BOtZxyyW04Xbk41kr1sEZx282OFna6V2Hj-3SbYz2ibsvHU8wnnksS9E_bLRG1g/s320/accidentally+engaged.jpg" width="217" /></a><br />
Clarissa (Lexi Giovagnoli) is a struggling actress who, through a string of fairly implausible events, becomes linked in the tabloids to superstar Chas Hunter (Brant Daugherty). Hoping to cover up his relationship with his married publicist, Chas asks Clarissa to pretend to be his girlfriend. But when Chas accompanies Clarissa to her best friend's wedding back home, the fake relationship takes a turn into real territory.<br />
<br />
I am such a sucker for fake relationships turned real stories! So when I first heard about this film, I knew I wanted to watch it. It goes exactly as you'd expect, with Clarissa and Chas eventually falling in love. Here's the thing, though: Giovagnoli and Daugherty have <i>zero </i>chemistry. But Giovagnoli and Randy Wayne, who plays Clarissa's best guy friend Graham? They have chemistry in spades. So I found myself hoping that the film would do the unexpected and have Clarissa and Graham fall in love. But no. The movie goes just as you'd think, and Clarissa and Chas end up together, despite the predictability and lack of chemistry. Blurg. <b>2 stars.</b></div>
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<b>Note:</b> An <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?_encoding=UTF8&benefitId=upfaithfamily&node=2858778011&ref=sxts_snpl_1_0_2602202842&qid=1500347657&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2602202842&pf_rd_r=ZMJSREHTE742DYRSE6PD&pd_rd_wg=RKQjG&pf_rd_s=desktop-signpost&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=j473d&pf_rd_i=up+faith+and+family+subscription&pd_rd_r=MNQCQAKJX13DP8X27810" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UP Faith & Family subscription</a> is $4.99 per month following your free 7-day trial. (You must have an Amazon Prime membership to purchase any of Amazon's add-on channels.) The movies can also be rented individuallyâbut if you want to watch more than one, it's definitely worth it to subscribe for a month. Also note that several UP Faith & Family titles (but not nearly all, and none that I talked about here) are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.</div>
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<b>Have you seen any of these films? What did you think? </b></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-79250743854621737922017-06-09T23:24:00.000-05:002017-06-09T23:24:57.735-05:00friday favorites #34: week of june 9, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdi0VMLrUkzp10K_mer_PzUL-iay28pzHjqztIDbXx1UimtLqs1TeCLmKJ69ImriqJ2TjX096E5RFyZECTnlbOGMqwItJPxheEycZ7EOhOTbWEDkLWZFOuWL07TWpV7czXmPh9fBIv0K7/s1600/Five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdi0VMLrUkzp10K_mer_PzUL-iay28pzHjqztIDbXx1UimtLqs1TeCLmKJ69ImriqJ2TjX096E5RFyZECTnlbOGMqwItJPxheEycZ7EOhOTbWEDkLWZFOuWL07TWpV7czXmPh9fBIv0K7/s400/Five.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Why yes, I <i>do </i>still have this blog! I haven't written in forever, but today deserves celebrationâ<b>I submitted my yearbook today!!! </b>I hope to blog a little more regularly now that my school year has officially <i>officially</i> wrapped up.<br />
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Here are some of the things that have made me happy recently:<br />
<h3>
1. Finishing the Yearbook</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F2iQVYyHjcmjcSJ6BymcPcz_g8wVgBKsDRKEr970dT6jHan6e9MiMudGc8CWeiqMyGnzXs0GJTWL72eX9oxWv8lghUIy_d89-kVtIjAHxBkSf6DraYnmRMCsYr0iYbg2E4ckJHWaEC5C/s1600/IMG_20170609_203537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F2iQVYyHjcmjcSJ6BymcPcz_g8wVgBKsDRKEr970dT6jHan6e9MiMudGc8CWeiqMyGnzXs0GJTWL72eX9oxWv8lghUIy_d89-kVtIjAHxBkSf6DraYnmRMCsYr0iYbg2E4ckJHWaEC5C/s320/IMG_20170609_203537.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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See that little purple circle on the screen? It represents the yearbook. It's a pie chart where the colors show the progress on the book. Purple represents "submitted." And now it's all purple! This was like the yearbook that would never end; the only time it ever took me longer than this to finish was 2012, when I had my gallbladder removed the week after school got out, and I didn't touch the yearbook for more than a week. Contrast that with this year, when most of my working hours since school got out have been devoted to yearbook, and I've worked well over 40 hours each week. <b>But now it's been sent off to the printer, and I don't plan to read one bit of it after it's printed!</b></div>
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2. Free Music!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyhkFb1r7XFdpuhWvkd247wr7j6XIO09MX7jN0aacSio29lvRyzO0vk-xQAA_VLa9tvOCLWu96FCebLMoZTBt7SBGLVQG0_tUNVzcsIUR9WZMPBB-_QhApW99oh1WegB4vswgTBf5buJq/s1600/lady+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyhkFb1r7XFdpuhWvkd247wr7j6XIO09MX7jN0aacSio29lvRyzO0vk-xQAA_VLa9tvOCLWu96FCebLMoZTBt7SBGLVQG0_tUNVzcsIUR9WZMPBB-_QhApW99oh1WegB4vswgTBf5buJq/s400/lady+a.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tonight, in the middle of my marathon yearbook submission, I got an email from Ticketmaster saying my recent purchase of Lady Antebellum tickets included a download of their new album, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2r4jiGU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heart Break</a></i>. I had no idea when I bought the ticketsâI got in on a sweet $20 sale and didn't really pay attention to anything elseâbut I'll never turn down free music!</div>
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<h3>
<b>3. <i>Wonder Woman</i></b></h3>
<div>
If you haven't seen <i>Wonder Woman </i>yet, what are you waiting for? My mom and I saw it last weekend, and it was amazing! Also, I got in free, and my mom got free popcorn and pop, thanks to a promotion one of our local theaters was running. (The fact that I just said "one of our local theaters" still astounds me. I live in a town of 3000, yet we have two movie theaters. Just over a year ago, we had none. Currently, <i>both</i> theaters are showing <i>Wonder Woman</i>. Small town politics.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uPY99SzWc2jS-fR4UORgSyrz4p759yynLimfpLNwNfX_MWXvGSzJTPdS2gJM4eKAij34cMq9Fz0Em7PhL6KjDqJ_9b0mVjkkG9pGC7AOV6zwSvs2LXyU2RThyphenhyphenYHF7IY3w0dBK12D4bXk/s1600/IMG_20170602_192752_893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uPY99SzWc2jS-fR4UORgSyrz4p759yynLimfpLNwNfX_MWXvGSzJTPdS2gJM4eKAij34cMq9Fz0Em7PhL6KjDqJ_9b0mVjkkG9pGC7AOV6zwSvs2LXyU2RThyphenhyphenYHF7IY3w0dBK12D4bXk/s320/IMG_20170602_192752_893.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anyway, <i>Wonder Woman</i>. Hands down the best DC movie I've seen, and it beats a lot of the Marvel ones, too. Forget the tortured "hero" who does decidedly anti-heroic things. Diana fights for those who can't fight for themselves. She is firmly on the side of good, and she values others above herself. Diana is the type of woman we should want our daughters to emulate.</div>
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<h3>
4. The Cubs</h3>
<div>
It's true that the Cubs are having a rough go of it. As of today, their record is 30-30, they're second in the NL Central, and they recently went 0-3 vs. the Padres (RIP, <i>Pitch</i>!). But I am so enjoying following their games and watching the few that I can get on TV. Apparently (and I never knew this before because I didn't care), I live in Royals country. Pretty much every Royals game is on TV and on the radio. Where's the love for the Cubbies???<br />
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Anyway, I'm learning a ton about baseball, and I'm really enjoying it! I'm also enjoying this, which is admittedly a couple months old, but I still get a kick out of it every time I see it: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmlb%2Fvideos%2F10155207011967451%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<h3>
5. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2r4NZvy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jane of Austin</a></i> by Hillary Manton Lodge</h3>
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I've been eagerly anticipating this book for a while, and my review copy came today! It's a take on <i>Sense & Sensibility</i>, and you know I'm a sucker for all the Austen adaptations! I have a few other books I have to read firstâafter all, I've read virtually nothing but yearbook pages for a monthâbut I can't wait to pick it up.</div>
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<br /><b>So that's what's been making me happy recently. I'd love to know what's making you happy, too! </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b>Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span><div style="background-color: #fcfbf4; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Alegreya, Garamond, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-68680861650426772542017-03-24T22:48:00.000-05:002017-03-24T22:48:50.422-05:00friday favorites #33: week of march 24, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdi0VMLrUkzp10K_mer_PzUL-iay28pzHjqztIDbXx1UimtLqs1TeCLmKJ69ImriqJ2TjX096E5RFyZECTnlbOGMqwItJPxheEycZ7EOhOTbWEDkLWZFOuWL07TWpV7czXmPh9fBIv0K7/s1600/Five.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdi0VMLrUkzp10K_mer_PzUL-iay28pzHjqztIDbXx1UimtLqs1TeCLmKJ69ImriqJ2TjX096E5RFyZECTnlbOGMqwItJPxheEycZ7EOhOTbWEDkLWZFOuWL07TWpV7czXmPh9fBIv0K7/s400/Five.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, it's been forever since I participated in a Friday Favorites ... or even posted anything on this blog! I'm coming to you on my thirdâyes, thirdâsick day in a row. Influenza has been going around, but I'm pretty sure I just have a really (really, really) nasty cold. I spent the first two days flat on the couch, but today has been a bit better. I actually feel like reading and blogging, whereas during the first two days, I watched a lot of TV and Netflix. Let me save you some time if you find yourself home with a cold that makes your head fuzzy and you want to watch something. Say yes to Hallmark's <i>Home & Family</i> (I'm as surprised as you are!), <i>Monk</i>, <i>Diagnosis Murder</i>, <i>Fuller House</i>, and <i>Army Wives</i>. Say no to ... every single movie I started watching: <i>Your Sister's Sister </i>(did not finish), <i>The Brothers</i> (did not finish), <i>October Gale </i>(finished and wish I hadn't), and <i>Blind Date </i>(did not finish). (To be fair, <i>Blind Date</i> may be wonderful ... but it's a French film, and no way was my brain capable of following subtitles while in the throes of a cold!)<br />
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Anyway, on to the favorites!<br />
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<h3>
1. March Madness</h3>
I love, love, this time of year! As I type this, I'm watching UCLA and Kentucky battle it out in the Sweet Sixteen. I <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-madness.html" target="_blank">wrote</a> about the roots of my March Madness love a few years ago:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I was bit by the MM bug in 1995, when I watched the UCLA Bruins win the National Championship. The fact that I still remember (a) the names Ed O'Bannon and Tyus Edney and (b) that the TV coverage of the event began with a montage of tournament moments set to "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" from the Lion King is perhaps pathetic, but it shows how much that game impacted me. </blockquote>
I've really been enjoying this tournament, especially since Kansas is still in it! If they play like they played in the last 12 minutes of last night's game against Purdue, I think they're unstoppable. The problem is that it takes them a while to really get rolling!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqyzgi_06Y_GZAUP1v_ou-3ELPxkh8oU6DVqWUYjK-kMySJsnZkw6xZkdzlSTMkaBia3IUEtlgnJIGa9hLMab3ilU7tBCSTu3AasR6jtSIs2LSEaLQ7F4PZv60iQPy7i0qMu7Y3LOOhVs/s1600/IMG_20170319_162416_348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqyzgi_06Y_GZAUP1v_ou-3ELPxkh8oU6DVqWUYjK-kMySJsnZkw6xZkdzlSTMkaBia3IUEtlgnJIGa9hLMab3ilU7tBCSTu3AasR6jtSIs2LSEaLQ7F4PZv60iQPy7i0qMu7Y3LOOhVs/s320/IMG_20170319_162416_348.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this tournament, it's <i>always</i> about KU!</td></tr>
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Besides the basketball, my favorite aspect is the Capital One commercials with Charles Barkley, Samuel L. Jackson, and Spike Lee. This year's are all pretty good, but my favorite by far is this one:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iRfjiRsLI40?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Cracks me up every time! (I do love "<a href="https://youtu.be/J88BSNXE_4w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snack Hoodie</a>" and "<a href="https://youtu.be/qjIIF9bZ_Xs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clapper</a>," too.)<br />
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I'd be remiss if I didn't show you my favorite one they've ever done. This is from 2015. A classic:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TCjtv3Cz0Jg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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2. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6690D980D8A65D08" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Lizzie Bennet Diaries</a></h3>
I started watching these when I was packing to move in 2013. I watched the first 20 or so, and then I just kind of forgot about it. I rediscovered them today, and I powered through about 40 before stopping for basketball. (It's not as bad as it sounds--each episode is only four or five minutes long.) I wish I would have thought to stream these two days ago ... I could have saved myself from some terrible Netflix movies :-)<br />
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3. Lentil chips</h3>
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I recently began eating lentils. They're a great source of fiber, and they don't have much tasteâso they mix into things well. At first, I was just eating lentils, but then I found lentil pasta at Trader Joe's, and then ... lentil chips! I bought <a href="http://amzn.to/2ngx8or" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these</a> from Amazon. They totally remind me of Bugles (remember those?)! They make a great semi-healthy, low-guilt snack.</div>
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4. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5031234/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Time after Time</a></i></h3>
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I mean, it's like this show was tailor made for me. H.G. Wells. Time travel. Romance. Of course I'm gonna love it!</div>
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It's based on the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080025/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1979 film of the same name</a> (which I never saw). After H.G. Wells invents a time machine, he discovers his friend John is Jack the Ripper. Conveniently, H.G. has just explained the time machine to John, so when the police come looking for him, John hijacks the time machine. Because of some science thing I can't remember, the time machine returns to H.G., who then follows John ... to 2017 New York City. </div>
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One thing about this showâit's violent, which you would expect from a show where one of the main characters is <i><b>Jack the Ripper</b></i>. So I do close my eyes and mute the TV at times, but I'm really enjoying the story.<br />
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5. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2ngBnjT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">For Love and Honor</a></i></h3>
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If you like medieval fiction or YA romance, then you need to check out Jody Hedlund's <i>An Uncertain Choice</i> trilogy! <i>For Love and Honor</i> is the final book (maybe ... Hedlund has hinted that there may be another story about a minor character in the works), and it's definitely my favorite. Sir Bennet, one of the three knights featured in the series, finally gets his love story, and it's a great one! (See my <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/03/for-love-and-honor-by-jody-hedlund.html" target="_blank">review</a>.)</div>
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<b>So that's what's been making me happy recently. What have you been enjoying lately? Are you as crazy for March Madness as I am? Let me know!</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></div>
Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-89458019779284681362017-01-23T11:14:00.000-06:002017-01-23T11:14:15.499-06:00movie mondays: pixl movie channel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you love clean romance movies, like what Hallmark puts out? You know I do ... I'm such a sucker for a good Hallmark movie. Recently, one of my blogging buddies <a href="http://www.rissiwrites.com/2017/01/late-bloomer-2016-pixl-romantic-comedy.html#more" target="_blank">wrote about a movie she watched on PixL</a>. I'd never heard of the channel before, so I did some investigating.<br />
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<a href="http://pixltv.com/" target="_blank">PixL</a> is a movie channel that you might be able to find through your cable or satellite provider, but it also has a YouTube channel, and that's how I've checked it out.<br />
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For a small fee (currently $1.99/month or $14.99/year), you can get access to a whole slew of movies. Some are PixL originals (I thinkâit's kind of hard to tell), but the majority aired on the Hallmark Channel, sometimes under different names.<br />
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One of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2400685/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Matchmaker Santa</a></i>, which has never released on DVD, is on PixL. So are all of the Love Comes Softly movies (not my cup of tea, but I know many people loved them).<br />
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I decided to sign up for a 14-day free trial, and I selected the yearly plan for if I choose to stay. (That's my one complaintâwhen you sign up for the trial period, you have to choose which plan you want.)<br />
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Last night, I watched <i>Twist of Fate</i> (aka <i>Rescue Me</i>âsee what I mean about the multiple titles?). I know for a fact it's not a Hallmark movie, as I am totally on top of Hallmark's releases, but it might as well have been. The production values and acting were good, and it was full of faces you'll recognize if you've watched much Hallmark.<br />
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<i>Twist of Fate </i>was fairly predictable, though there was one twist (ha, ha) at the end that I didn't anticipate. Still, we don't watch romance movies to be surprised, do we? I look forward to checking out more of PixL's offerings soon.<br />
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I can't tell you if I'll power through the PixL movies I've not seen in the next two weeks and then cancel or if I'll stick with it for the year. But I'm certainly glad to know about it.<br />
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<b>Have you heard of PixL before? What's your favorite Hallmark-ish movie?</b>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-32421782704350586752016-12-23T18:25:00.002-06:002016-12-23T18:25:34.948-06:00friday favorites #32: top 5 tv shows of 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's Friday Favorites is a little differentâI'm talking about my five favorite shows of 2016. With all the TV watching I do, I can't believe I've never done a "best of TV" post before! These shows were all airing new episodes in 2016 (which is why <i>One Tree Hill </i>isn't on the list đ).<br />
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1. <i>Pitch</i></h3>
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<i>Pitch </i>is one of two new dramas created by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1557594/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" target="_blank">Dan Fogelman</a> this season. It's the less famous, less critically acclaimed of the two, but it's my favorite. The only reason it never made it into my Friday Favorites until this special edition is because <i>I've become such a slacker about posting</i>, but trust me, it's a favorite.<br />
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<i>Pitch </i>stars <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3954896/?ref_=tt_mv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kylie Bunbury</a> as pitcher Ginny Baker, the first female to play in the Major Leagues. It also stars a nearly-unrecognizable (until you know it's him) Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Mike Lawson, Ginny's catcher. It took me about one episode to be <i>all in</i> on this show.<br />
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It's only 10 episodes long, and all 10 have already aired and are available on <a href="http://www.hulu.com/search?q=pitch" target="_blank">Hulu</a>. Remember how I said that <i>Pitch</i> isn't nearly as famous or acclaimed as Fogelman's other show? Well, it's apparently a bubble show, meaning it could go either way as far as cancellation or renewal. Here's hoping FOX doesn't pull the trigger and gives us a second season of "Bawson"! (<i>Terrible</i> name, I know. But what other option was there? Gike? Minny? Laker? All awful.)<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNvHGHtj9uD/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Guilty pleasure... Watching fan-made shipper videos on YouTube. Veronica & Logan, Pacey & Joey, Lucas & Peyton, and now Ginny & Mike from @pitchonfox. Once I start, I can't stop. And yes, I am 35 years old đđđ #photochallenge #sacredholidays</a></div>
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A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on <time datetime="2016-12-08T00:30:41+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 7, 2016 at 4:30pm PST</time></div>
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2. <i>This Is Us</i></h3>
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I <i>have </i>actually written about <i>This Is Us </i><a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/09/friday-favorites-30-week-of-sept-23.html" target="_blank">before</a>. <i>This Is Us </i>is the other new show from Dan Fogelman. </div>
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<b>If you haven't watched and plan to, stop reading now and skip to #3. If you don't, you might feel the same anger for me that I felt for EW's social media handler when I came across a post on Facebook that said, "Now that Rory is _______, what's next?" (I left that blank in case you don't know what happens on the <i>Gilmore Girls </i>reboot.)</b></div>
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<i>This Is Us</i> follows the Pearson siblings, beginning on their 36th birthday. Kevin is a moderately successful yet deeply unhappy actor, Kate is morbidly obese and lets her weight completely define her, and Randall is a successful businessman with a beautiful family who just reconnected with his dying birth father. The present story is interspersed with stories from the past, from when the siblings' parents Jack and Rebecca were raising them. It is simply fascinatingâespecially the stories surrounding Randall (the 36-year-old Randall is played by the magnificent <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1250791/?ref_=nmawd_awd_nm" target="_blank">Sterling K. Brown</a>). </div>
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<i>Side note: In my opinion, the biggest snub from this year's Golden Globes nominations was the exclusion of Brown for his portrayal of Randall (he was nominated for his portrayal of Chris Darden in </i>The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story<i>, a role he won an Emmy for earlier this year). The Screen Actor's Guild got it right, though, nominating Brown for both </i>This Is Us <i>and </i>People v. O.J.</div>
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3. <i>The Flash</i></h3>
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Apparently I talk about <i>The Flash </i><a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20flash" target="_blank">a lot</a>. While I enjoy all of the DC shows on the CW (well, I have a love/hate relationship with <i>Arrow</i>), <i>The Flash </i>is by far my favorite. It's so much fun! This season, I've enjoyed that a) "Flashpoint" (when Barry went back and changed the timeline to save his mother) didn't last forever and b) there are major repercussions for his actions. I also love that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146915/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Tom Cavanagh</a> is portraying a third version of Harrison Wells. This season's version, H.R., just might be my favorite yet. </div>
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4. <i>Fuller House</i></h3>
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Critics <i><b>hate</b> Fuller House</i>. In fact, I just saw it on a list of worst shows of 2016. But <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/02/in-defense-of-fuller-house.html" target="_blank">I really enjoy it</a>! Season one pushed all the right nostalgia buttons, and, while I've only seen the first two episodes of season two so far, I assume I'll like it just as much. And I'm still 100% Team Steve.</div>
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5. <i>The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story</i></h3>
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When I heard that Ryan Murphy (<i>Glee</i>, <i>American Horror Story</i>) was making a series about the O.J. Simpson trial, I was skeptical. But I was curious enough to tune in for the first episode, and I was immediately hooked. This series is done so well! I watched every episode, and I can't stop telling people how good it is. Seriously. If you haven't watched it, do it as soon as it hits Netflix!<br />
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I do have two complaints: I think John Travolta as Robert Shapiro and Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson were a bit miscast. But everything else was absolutely spot on!<br />
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There's my list ... but why no <i>Gilmore Girls</i>? <b>Because I haven't watched it yet.</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><span style="font-weight: bold;">(And I also hear that people hated the 2nd and 3rd installments.) </span>I think I'm one of two <i>Gilmore </i>fans in the world who hasn't watched yet...the other being my sister. But we're going to remedy that this weekend!<br />
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<b>What are your favorite shows of 2016?</b>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-83817537480669803562016-12-02T18:29:00.000-06:002016-12-02T18:29:02.189-06:00friday favorites #31: week of dec. 2, 2016 + giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't done a Friday Favorites in <i>forever</i> (OK, it was really <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/09/friday-favorites-30-week-of-sept-23.html" target="_blank">September 23</a>, but that's like forever in blog time), so this Friday Favorites will encompass my world over the last two months. So don't be mad that my #1 happened a month ago, OK?<br />
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1. The Cubbies!!!</h3>
Though the Chicago Cubs have always had a special place in my heart, I never really paid attention to baseball until this postseason. In fact, I thought baseball was one of the most boring sports on the planet. But in the midst of the Cubs' postseason run and World Series victory, I became a raving fan. We'll see if that carries through to next season, but for now, I'm still loving all things Cubs. In fact, the World Series movie (is that what you call it?) is on FS1 tonight, and I can't wait to watch and relive the greatness! (I've talked about the Cubbies a lot on <i>Christian Chick's Thoughts</i> recently, so <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/search?q=cubs" target="_blank">here it is</a> if you're interested.)<br />
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Also, I'll just leave this here ...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YreZRQupCYk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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2. The CW's DC Crossover Extravaganza</h3>
I haven't actually watched the whole crossover yetâI had choir practice last night so missed <i>Legends of Tomorrow</i>. But I greatly enjoyed <i>The Flash</i> and <i>Arrow </i>this week. (<i>Supergirl </i>was good, too, but it wasn't much of a crossoverâBarry and Cisco just showed up at the very end.) I loved seeing the characters interact, and it got me to watch <i>Arrow</i>, a show I checked out of a long time ago. (So dark, that <i>Arrow</i>. I prefer the lightness of the other three shows.) I hope the CW keeps doing these crossover events, 'cause they're so fun!<br />
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Speaking of fun, if you're a fan of <i>The Flash</i>, check out <a href="http://screencrush.com/the-flash-honest-trailer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Honest Trailer</a>.<br />
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3. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4483518/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Austentatious</a></i></h3>
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<i><br />
</i> The other day, I stumbled across <i>Austentatious</i> on Amazon Prime. As <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/search/label/jane%20austen" target="_blank">a sucker for all things Austen</a>, I couldn't help but start watching.<br />
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Emma Woodhouse, Lizzie Bennett, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and Grant Knightly are all friends living in the same city. Will Darcy works at the same law firm as Emma, and he gets realtor Lizzie to help him find a house (which, of course, ends up being for his sister Georgiana). Nurse Brandon falls for Marianne, who is oblivious, and accountant Elinor has a flirtation with IRS agent Edward Ferrars. The real Austen-like plots kick into gear around episode seven, and <i>nothing</i> is resolved by the end of the final episode. So far, there's only one season of ten episodes, but I hope that more will come!<br />
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The production value is ... not very good, and the acting is just serviceable. (The notable exceptions here are Elise Groves as Lizzie and Kristen Marie Jensen as Elinor.) But I still really enjoyed it!<br />
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Also of note is that this show is one of the cleanest made-for-adults series I've ever seen. No swearing, no innuendo, nothing. Totally G-rated, which is nice for a change. While your kids would probably be bored out of their minds, you could watch this without fear of what content may pop up.<br />
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If you have Prime, you can watch for free <a href="http://amzn.to/2fUeYDI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. It's also available on <a href="http://amzn.to/2gvYYvJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DVD</a>.<br />
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4. Christmas Music</h3>
I love, love, love Christmas music! With the advent of Spotify and Amazon Prime music, I'm able to listen to almost any Christmas music I want ... and I can pick and choose songs, rather than listening to whole albums. One of my favorite songs to play is *NSYNC's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays"âit never fails to brighten my mood! (If you've never seen the video before, do yourself a favor and <a href="http://vevo.ly/Xeecqt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch it now</a>. It pretty much <i>screams</i> 90's!)<br />
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In between my Michael W. Smith-athons (seriously, the man makes amazing Christmas albums!) and repeated playings of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (both the original and Bieber versions. <a href="https://youtu.be/cXeROScOQaw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yes, Bieber.</a>), I've also been enjoying Amy Grant's new album, <i>Tennessee Christmas</i>. It's more mellow and melancholy than I anticipated, but it's also very good. I reviewed it <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/12/tennessee-christmas-by-amy-grant.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and I have a copy to give away! Enter below:<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="988b762e28" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/988b762e28/" id="rcwidget_lzb3qiaj" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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(Rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open in the US only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.)<br />
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5. <i>The Thirteenth Chance</i></h3>
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I debated whether I should really make this a favorite today, but then I found out about a crazy-good sale on Amazon, and I knew I needed to do it! <i>The Thirteenth Chance</i> is going to make my best of list for 2016, no question. It's engaging, romantic, and funny ... and, for a limited time, <i>really</i> cheap! The Kindle version is currently <a href="http://amzn.to/2gKgs54" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">99¢</a>, and the paperback is just <a href="http://amzn.to/2gRz3Nb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$4.99</a>! (See my full <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-thirteenth-chance-by-amy-matayo.html" target="_blank">review</a>.)<br />
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<b>So that's what's been making me happy over the last couple months. As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying lately?</b><br />
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<a border="0" href="http://www.sept-farm.com/" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c151/karlib83/HOLIDAY-16-oh-hey-friday_zpsrz4bkzxf.png" width="200" /></a><img alt="THE GOOD LIFE BLOG" height="200" src="https://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p782/thegoodlifeblog/5onFridayLogo-Final-forblogsidemenu_edited-1_zps7fcf6068.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received some of the products mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-28365621627326036102016-11-15T21:47:00.000-06:002016-11-15T21:47:07.050-06:00top ten tuesday: made for tv christmas movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been doing my Top Ten Tuesday posts over on <i>Christian Chick's Thoughts</i> for a while now, but I thought you might be interested in today's post, which is all about Christmas movies (something I've talked about here on <i>Coffee & Conversation</i> <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20movie" target="_blank">at length</a>). So head on over and check out what I think are the best made for TV Christmas movies: <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/11/top-ten-tuesday-made-for-tv-christmas.html?spref=bl">Christian Chick's Thoughts: top ten tuesday: made for tv christmas movies</a>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-8218649887598110392016-10-12T19:36:00.000-05:002016-10-12T19:36:59.935-05:00stranded: halloween candy edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't done a "<a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/stranded%20with" target="_blank">Stranded With</a>" post since June ... oops! But I actually remembered today's post in time to get something posted, so here you go!<br />
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Today's topic, in honor of the month, is <a href="http://mixandmatchmama.com/stranded-halloween-candy-edition/" target="_blank">Halloween candy</a>. Because of my rather restrictive diet, I can't eat much candy anymore, but I'm going to say that in this scenario, I would magically no longer need to avoid gluten!<br />
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<b>1. Twix</b><br />
Twix has been my favorite candy for as long as I can remember. That crispy shortbread cookie and gooey caramel wrapped in milk chocolate ... well, the thought of it is making my mouth water! A gigantic supply of Twix would definitely make any deserted island stay a lot happier.<br />
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<b>2. M&M's</b><br />
Here's the thingâI don't crave M&M's. I don't even <i>like</i> them that much. But once I start eating them, <i>I. Cannot. Stop.</i> Especially when I'm driving. I should never have M&M's when I travel, but they always seem to find their way into my cart when I'm shopping for a trip. So, if I ever became stranded, chances are good I actually would have some M&M's on me!<br />
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<b>3. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups</b><br />
It would be a sad day indeed if I ever had to stop eating peanut butter. Peanut Butter Cupsâespecially frozen onesâare so good! Plus, peanut butter has protein, so Peanut Butter Cups could maybe pass for a meal on a deserted island ...<br />
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<b>Speaking of Peanut Butter Cups...</b><br />
I've had to change my diet drastically over the past few years as <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2015/12/one-year-later.html" target="_blank">I fight Hashimoto's and reclaim my health</a>. I still eat M&M's sometimes (even though I shouldn't), and I haven't yet found a good replacement for Twix, but I found <a href="http://detoxinista.com/2014/05/no-bake-peanut-butter-cup-bars-vegan/" target="_blank"><i>the best</i> peanut butter cup recipe</a>! I make it far too often, and the flavor is pretty close to the real thing.<br />
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<b>What Halloween candy would you want to have on a deserted island? Let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your own post so I can visit your blog!</b>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-17582969028089893632016-10-03T20:07:00.000-05:002016-10-03T20:07:15.839-05:00read with us: a book that has been banned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our September topic for <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2016-reading-challenge/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2016 Reading Challenge</a> was a book that has been banned. We had slightly more success with this book than we had in August, and this post will certainly be longer, mainly because brother Andrew decided to join in the fun! This is good, as Susan and Stephanie didn't even attempt a book this month, and Becky only got 1/3 of the way through hers. (You can see are thoughts on all of the books we've read for the challenge <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/2016%20reading%20challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsa8tSBMJWGU8V9BHsUZFYfGTfvT1e0uqesNKztQ4YrAntMaVGbCJ7paJVe0K8nKYDNlAPJMf61GSYWVeIX1BAg0WZFnqG4v5XZSq3MiY0aPYPiDXGCiVFwcMRW2Cs0GCmzLccW7x6pLJ/s1600/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsa8tSBMJWGU8V9BHsUZFYfGTfvT1e0uqesNKztQ4YrAntMaVGbCJ7paJVe0K8nKYDNlAPJMf61GSYWVeIX1BAg0WZFnqG4v5XZSq3MiY0aPYPiDXGCiVFwcMRW2Cs0GCmzLccW7x6pLJ/s320/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe.png" width="213" /></a><b> Becky says:</b> My approach to this topic was, as you'll soon see, <i>very</i> different than Andrew's. I didn't care where or why the book had been bannedâI just wanted to find a book that I already owned that would fit into the category! I've been meaning to read <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> for several years nowâI bought it around the time the movie released (no, I haven't seen the movie, either), but I just never cracked it openâso I decided to see if it had ever been banned. Sure enough, it had! In 2014, it was banned from the Riverside (California) Unified School District's middle schools. (It has since been reinstated.)<br />
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As I began reading the book, I could see why it was so popular. And if I'd followed Val's advice and knocked it out in one afternoon, I probably would have loved it. As it was, I read in bits and pieces, and I never felt fully immersed in the story. I also never finished it.<br />
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The protagonist of the book is Hazel Grace, a girl with Stage IV cancer who has survived far longer than anyone thought she would. She meets Augustus Waters at a cancer support group, and they become fast friends ... and I assume more, but that's about as far into the novel as I've gotten! (I <i>did</i> get far enough to learn where the title comes from.)<br />
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I won't even attempt to give this a star ratingâI haven't read enough of it to really judge it. But if I ever do finish it, I'll let you know!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AVqfj91wuG9P0O4cjRTsLYFY7DohkxC44gUyy1VKCVmT1cnuc-u2iApVxjG64HzJ8fLHsryxPTfulESyyScjW0eQ8BTTSkf0YLLDn4TjoQwwYLPpWBoxblaTBUhzdgO6mCyPrH-T2NhJ/s1600/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AVqfj91wuG9P0O4cjRTsLYFY7DohkxC44gUyy1VKCVmT1cnuc-u2iApVxjG64HzJ8fLHsryxPTfulESyyScjW0eQ8BTTSkf0YLLDn4TjoQwwYLPpWBoxblaTBUhzdgO6mCyPrH-T2NhJ/s320/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe+%25281%2529.png" width="213" /></a><b>Val says: </b>This month, I read <i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time</i> by Mark Haddon. According to the <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/banned-books/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy blog post I read listing this as a frequently-banned book</a>, it is the bookâs language that often ends it up on the âbannedâ list. There were a few instances of the âfâ word used throughout, but they were infrequent and were always used by adults. <br />
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The protagonist and narrator of the book is a 15-year-old boy with autism. This is the is the first book Iâve ever read that had a character with autism, and I SO appreciated that he was the one narrating the story because it really gave the reader such an excellent glimpse into what life is like for someone with Christopherâs particular type and severity of autism. I knew (vaguely) that sensory sensitivity can be an effect of autism, but the book really showed what the world is like through Christopherâs eyes and how he deals with his particular triggers. (Thereâs one very memorable scene where Christopher is in the train station by himself, and thereâs a picture of what all the signs really say, and then thereâs a picture of what Christopher sees as his senses are overloaded.)<br />
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As much as Iâve made this sound like itâs just a completely educational book, itâs actually a story with an interesting plot and believable characters. The book opens with Christopher setting out to solve the mystery of what happened to his neighborâs dog, and he ends up solving some bigger mysteries along the way. I would highly recommend this book, especially to someone who wants to learn more about autism or just to glimpse what life can be like for individuals with autism. <b>4.5 stars</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDk_LjoGLFbeBcHMbyG25rUnH-C8nNvweaC-BR6TqbetkhKZSwJs4cJTjnUO3XwMfZbplzRSHJcBcDSssSAgLhAHTWOniH7mVOC8JNIEMDH2kGb53WCiNLmvXVaHsSS4KEPHOL6hylGhN/s1600/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDk_LjoGLFbeBcHMbyG25rUnH-C8nNvweaC-BR6TqbetkhKZSwJs4cJTjnUO3XwMfZbplzRSHJcBcDSssSAgLhAHTWOniH7mVOC8JNIEMDH2kGb53WCiNLmvXVaHsSS4KEPHOL6hylGhN/s320/BThe+future+belongs+to+those+who+believe+%25282%2529.png" width="213" /></a><b>Andrew says: </b>I went looking for a list of banned books, and quickly found that basically every book of any value has been banned or âchallengedâ in one place or another. I decided to use the American Library Associationâs Banned and Challenged Classics list. I wanted to use a US-based list because we have a largely robust anti-censorship legal system and this is the culture that I inhabit. It felt a little like cheating to pick a book that has only been banned/challenged in some much more restrictive culture or political climate. I chose to go off the classics list because it seemed more interesting. As I looked at the lists of most challenged books for the 1990s and 2000s, it became clear that people will challenge books that involve any of the following: 1) nonwhite people, 2) non cis-gendered people, 3) âMagicâ outside a fantasy setting, or 4) puberty and the female body.<br />
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I chose to read <i>Go Tell It On The Mountain</i> by James Baldwin, and you should too. I had heard very good things about Baldwinâs writing from people whose opinion I trust, and I was not at all disappointed. Baldwinâs prose is incredible, and his insight into the human condition is precise. <i>Go Tell It On The Mountain</i> tracks the salvation experience of 14-year-old John in Harlem. In the process, it jumps back in time to visit his father as a young man and his mother as a young woman. We see both how they relate to each other in the present and formational experiences of Johnâs parents affect the family dynamic and are shaping John in his spiritual journey. Baldwin is incisive in his critique of the shame of sin and the human tendency to secrecy as an effort to avoid shame both public and private. Baldwinâs characters and narrative are real in a way that everyone who reads him will identify truth that resonates with them. For me, one of the most moving themes was Johnâs experience with a strictly legalistic religious tradition and the perfectionist tendencies that engenders, along with the self-doubt and feelings of secret shame that come with a failure to live up to those standards. Growing up in a fundamentalist tradition, I felt a resonance with Baldwinâs description of these phenomena that transcend the distance between Harlem in the 1930s and Nebraska in the 1990s.<br />
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Go read <i>Go Tell It On The Mountain</i>. It will challenge you. You wonât regret it. <b>5 stars</b><br />
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<b>If you've read any of these books, we'd love to know your thoughts! (Also, Becky would love to know if <i>The Fault in Our Stars </i>is worth finishing.) Be sure to join us again next month, when we'll be talking about books we should have read in school.</b><br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-683753936551848162016-09-23T20:54:00.000-05:002016-09-23T20:54:13.593-05:00friday favorites #30: week of sept. 23, 2016 + giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Friday, everyone! It's officially fall, but it certainly doesn't feel like it here in Nebraska. That hasn't stopped me from enjoying a pumpkin spice latte or two :-)<br />
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So I was totally planning to make <i>One Tree Hill</i> one of my Friday favorites this week ... until I realized that it was one of my favorites <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/09/friday-favorites-29-week-of-sept-9-2016.html" target="_blank">last time</a>! Suffice it to say, I'm still <i>completely </i>obsessed. So, in lieu of more gushing about OTH, here are some favorites that I haven't talked about recently:<br />
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1. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5555260/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">This Is Us</a></i></h3>
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Is one episode enough to know if I'm going to love a show? I don't know, but I absolutely adored the pilot episode. I'm not going to say anything else except <i style="font-weight: bold;">you must watch it for yourself.</i> It's available on <a href="http://www.hulu.com/this-is-us" target="_blank">Hulu</a>.</div>
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2. <i>The People v. O.J. Simpson</i>'s Emmy awards</h3>
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I cannot believe that <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2788432/?ref_=ttawd_awd_tt" target="_blank">The People v. O.J. Simpson</a></i> never made it into a Friday Favorites post. I loved it so, so much! I was in junior high during the trial, so I very vaguely remembered it. (I remember exactly where I was during the Bronco chaseâon my way home from summer campâand when the verdict came downâat schoolâbut I didn't know too much about the trial). I was thrilled to see the show receive so many Emmy nominations in the "Limited Series or Movie" category. It won nine awards, including best limited series ... and Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark), Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran), and Sterling K. Brown (Christopher Darden) won acting awards. The series will hit Netflix sometime in 2017, so if you missed it on FX, be sure to catch it then!</div>
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3. Trader Joe's dairy-free options</h3>
A couple weeks ago, my mom, sister, and I went to see my sister-in-law perform at an Irish festival in Omaha. She was amazing! (And this is from someone who normally isn't a big fan of Irish music!)<br />
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I tried to upload a video I took, but I couldn't get it to work, so here's a pic instead.<br />
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Afterwards, we went to Trader Joe's. And there, I hit the mother lode. I've been cow dairy free for over a year now. I don't know if it's making a difference with my <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/hashimoto%27s" target="_blank">Hashimoto's</a> symptoms, but I am absolutely positive being dairy free has reduced my <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/pcos" target="_blank">PCOS </a>symptoms, so I'm ready to settle in for the long haul. I've discovered, though, that sheep's milk and goat's milk don't affect me negatively. Unfortunately, cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk can be expensive and hard to find. (Well, it's pretty easy to find a basic soft goat cheese, but I'd like variety!)<br />
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Anyway, Trader Joe's had goat's milk feta, cheddar, and gouda! They definitely have that goat's milk tang, but they're so tasty! And now that I have the cheddar, I'm dreaming of pizza.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfJe3OwOOgGGrvGKfSp03PimXBYjIxnM6AcOoZwn3Iu06ITsy_iFqfSN20r5u_TzRlH4n9IyFxeh36eX7Hx6wVDFoUf4aCzoeb0gOREwUquLn65C6CfBEFt_0a6E956rgFy_eYFNwWSHE/s1600/20160911_200817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfJe3OwOOgGGrvGKfSp03PimXBYjIxnM6AcOoZwn3Iu06ITsy_iFqfSN20r5u_TzRlH4n9IyFxeh36eX7Hx6wVDFoUf4aCzoeb0gOREwUquLn65C6CfBEFt_0a6E956rgFy_eYFNwWSHE/s400/20160911_200817.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also found coconut milk ice cream that's about half the price of So Delicious, and it tastes better, too! I've already placed my cheese and ice cream order with <a href="http://blendyblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blendy</a>, who is coming home next weekend.<br />
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4. <i>Live on Forever</i> by The Afters</h3>
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About 10 years ago, I first heard of The Afters when a friend played "MySpace Girl" for me. If you'd like a hilarious flashback to the MySpace era (wow, that was long ago!), check out this video:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zOn4og65i5c?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I really didn't know much else about the group, but I recently had the opportunity to <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/live-on-forever-by-afters-giveaway.html" target="_blank">review their new album</a>. I loved it! I also have a copy to give away. If you'd like a chance to win, enter through the Rafflecopter below.<br />
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(Rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open in the US and CANADA only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.)<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="988b762e27" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/988b762e27/" id="rcwidget_81945mx1" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br />
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5. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2cA2YsN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Montana Skies</a></i> by Susan May Warren</h3>
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It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Susan May Warren's writing. Her latest novel, <i>Wild Montana Skies</i>, releases next month, and I got to read an early copy. It's so good! (<a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/wild-montana-skies-by-susan-may-warren.html" target="_blank">See my review</a>.)</div>
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<b>So that's what's been making me happy. As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><br />
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received some of the products mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-57019436759378679172016-09-09T21:25:00.000-05:002016-09-09T21:25:23.577-05:00friday favorites #29: week of sept. 9, 2016 + giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Friday! Doesn't it feel like Labor Day was four weeks ago instead of four days ago? Maybe it's just me ... anyway, I'm thrilled that it's the weekend. I'm even <i>more </i>thrilled that I decided to mow my lawn last night after work, so I don't have to take time out of my weekend to do it!<br />
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Here are a few things I've been enjoying recently!<br />
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<b>1. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368530/?ref_=ttmi_tt" target="_blank">One Tree Hill</a></i></b><br />
To say I've been enjoying <i>One Tree Hill</i> is a bit of an understatement. For years (literally), <a href="http://thesingingbarista.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blendy</a> has been telling me to watch <i>One Tree Hill</i>, and, for whatever reason, I've resisted. But one night last month, I inexplicably decided to watch the pilot episode. I wasn't crazy about it, but Blendy said to give it a couple episodes, so I did ... and I basically haven't stopped watching since.<br />
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Now, probably 50 percent of our text conversations are about <i>OTH</i>. Usually, it's me ranting about something and Blendy laughing at me.<br />
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The show is so implausible: in the first two seasons alone, two juniors in high school get married, another junior runs off with his infant daughter because her mother is trying to take her away, the villain survives what should have been certain death not once but twice, a teen who had never before sung in public ends up on tour with Michelle Branch, and a laundry list of mid-2000s bands play at a club owned by the main character's mom. It would never happen. <b>AND I LOVE IT.</b><br />
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I'm totally #TeamPeyton, which I did not anticipate, considering I haven't loved Hilarie Burton in the other things I've seen her in (except for Hallmark Channel's <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5922484/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1" target="_blank">Summer Villa</a></i>, which was adorable).<br />
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Anyway, I'm pretty much obsessed with <i>One Tree Hill</i>, and I wish <a href="http://onetreehill.wikia.com/wiki/Dan_Scott" target="_blank">Dan Scott</a> would get hit by a bus. But he'd probably just survive ...<br />
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<b>2. Blooming Gladiolus</b><br />
At the beginning of the summer, I planted a couple gladiolus bulbs. Earlier this week, one of them began blooming. So pretty!<br />
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Once it was in full bloom, I decided to bring it into the house. One of my cats was <i>very</i> interested.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to call this look "goa'uld eyes."</td></tr>
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So then I googled "gladiolus toxic to cats" and discovered that ingesting the plant could cause unpleasant symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. So now when I'm gone or sleeping, I close the flowers in the bathroom. Just to be safe.<br />
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<b>3. Football Season</b><br />
Here in Nebraska, football season is huge. Husker football kicked off last Saturday, and it was definitely bittersweet, as it was the first game following punter Sam Foltz's death in a car accident. When it came time to punt for the first time, this happened:<br />
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Makes me tear up every time.<br />
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The Huskers went on to win the game in decisive fashion, and I hope it's just the beginning of great things for this team!<br />
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<b>4. Having a Plan</b><br />
I started blogging on MySpace in 2006. In 2008, I started <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Christian Chick's Thoughts</a>, and I began reviewing books a few months later. Then in 2014, I decided to make Christian Chick's Thoughts all about books and <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2014/10/welcome-to-coffee-conversation.html" target="_blank">move the life stuff over here to Coffee & Conversation</a>. In my 10 years of blogging, the only "plan" I've had is to keep track of dates that reviews are due. That's it. So while I love doing things like <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/p/friday-favorites.html" target="_blank">Friday Favorites</a> and <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday.html" target="_blank">Top Ten Tuesday</a>, those posts often don't get written because they're not on my radar until other bloggers' posts start popping into my feed.<br />
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But that's all changing.<br />
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I spent a large portion of my Labor Day weekend working on blog stuff, and one of the things I did was download a blog planner. I almost bought one on etsy, but then I turned to my friend Google and found a great free one at <a href="http://designerblogs.com/" target="_blank">Designer Blogs</a>. It didn't have everything I wanted, but almost. I've only used a couple pages so far, but I'm in love ... and feeling so much more organized!<br />
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<b>5. <i>The Biggest Story</i></b><br />
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This week's book recommendation is Kevin DeYoung's <i>The Biggest Story</i>. I got an audiobook/short film combo to <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-biggest-story-by-kevin-deyoung.html" target="_blank">review</a>. It's geared toward children, but it's totally suitable for adults. The best part is that I have a set to give away! Enter here:<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="988b762e26" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/988b762e26/" id="rcwidget_8v6dy66k" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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Giveaway rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open in the US and CANADA only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.<br />
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<b>So that's what's been making me happy. As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-69636669809265598662016-09-06T21:00:00.000-05:002016-09-06T21:00:50.776-05:00top ten tuesday: favorite 90's tv shows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/2016/09/top-ten-tuesday-daisys-top-ten-shows.html" target="_blank">Top Ten Tuesday</a> topic is one I couldn't pass up: <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "century gothic" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"> </span><b>In honor of Fall TV, do a TV-themed topic! </b>You know I love me some TV, and my love for television really developed in the 1990's, so what could be better than talking about my favorite 90's shows?<br />
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Top Ten 90's Shows I Watched in the 90's</h3>
<b>1. <i>Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman</i></b><br />
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I was completely obsessed with <i>Lois & Clark</i> ... as well as Dean Cain! The problem was that the show aired Sunday nights at 7, which is when we had evening church. We also didn't have a VCR during the first two seasons, so I couldn't record it. I remember once, as a 7th or 8th grader, telling my mom that I couldn't wait to be an adult so that I could choose if I was going to go to night church or not. <i>Clearly</i>, I had my priorities straight!<b> </b><br />
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<b>2. <i>Full House</i></b><br />
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Oh, how I loved <i>Full House</i>! Even though I'm pretty much exactly the same age as Stephanie, I always identified with D.J. (and I wished for a Steve of my own!). I can't really handle too much <i>Full House</i> these days, but <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/02/in-defense-of-fuller-house.html" target="_blank">I am loving <i>Fuller House</i></a>, and I can't wait for season two!<br />
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<b>3. <i>Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman</i></b><br />
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Saturday nights in our house meant <i>Dr. Quinn</i>. Loved, loved, loved it! It was one of the few shows that we all watched together (well, maybe Dad wasn't there ... but it's possible he was, as these were his pre-Hallmark Channel days).<br />
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<b>4. <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i></b><br />
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My dad used to watch <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation </i>every Saturday night after the news. As an older teen, he let me stay up and watch with him. As a younger teen, I used to watch through my barely cracked open bedroom door. This show was really my first introduction to science fiction, and I fell in love!<br />
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<b>5. <i>JAG</i></b><br />
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I love, love, love courtroom dramas, and <i>JAG </i>is probably what set that love in motion. Plus, without <i>JAG</i>, there'd be no <i>NCIS</i>, and that would be tragic.<br />
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</i></b> <b>6. <i>Sports Night</i></b><br />
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My brother and I watched this sadly short-lived show together when we were in high school. (We actually watched lots of shows togetherâhe was definitely my partner in crime when it came to watching TV on the sly.) I thought the show was so witty and different, and I hated when it got cancelled.<br />
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<b>7. <i>California Dreams</i></b><br />
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"Surf dudes with attitude ... Kinda groovy!" Most girls of my generation would probably list <i>Saved by the Bell </i>here. While I did enjoy that show later on, I didn't start watching the TNBC Saturday morning lineup until after <i>Saved by the Bell </i>ended. <i>California Dreams</i> was still in full swing, and I loved the mashup of teen comedy, romance, and music. I could also still sing the entire theme song for you. (If you were a fan, watch <a href="https://youtu.be/frvT-0nvqmQ" target="_blank">this</a>. Thanks, Jimmy Fallon!)<br />
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<b>8. <i>Boy Meets World</i></b><br />
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<i>Boy Meets World</i> was greatâit's one of the few sitcoms from my childhood that I still love to watch. I wish I could say the same about <i>Girl Meets World</i>.<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>9. <i>Early Edition</i></b><br />
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<i>Early Edition</i> was such an interesting conceptâevery morning, a cat and a newspaper arrive outside Gary Hobson's door. The newspaper is tomorrow's newspaper, so Gary has one day to try to prevent whatever tragedies are found in the paper. This show ran for four seasons, but only the first two are on DVD, and it's not available to stream through legitimate channels. Tragic, especially considering how well Kyle Chandler has done recently.<br />
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<b>10. <i>Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place</i> (aka <i>Two Guys and a Girl</i>)</b><br />
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<i>Two Guys and a Girl</i> introduced me to both Ryan Reynolds and Nathan Fillion. What I remember most about this show is the wild Halloween episodes. I'm no fan of Halloween, but those episodes were fantastic! Also, I just found out the series is (finally!) <a href="http://amzn.to/2c5OtcX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">available on DVD</a>. It's a little pricey, but it's now on my Amazon wish list!<br />
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<b>Bonus: Top Five 90's Shows I Watched Later</b></h3>
<b>1. <i>Stargate: SG-1</i></b><br />
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My dad is responsible for my love of SG-1, as well. I'm not sure when I started watching, but I'm sure I was already in college. I watched most of the seasons in syndication and ended up buying the entire series on DVD. Plus, my cats are all named after SG-1 characters: Skaara (who was briefly named Ry'ac until <a href="http://thesingingbarista.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blendy</a> informed me that was stupid, and now I have to agree that Skaara is a much better name), Hammond, and Isis.<b> </b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> <b>2. <i>Friends</i></b><br />
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<i>Friends</i> premiered when I was in junior high, and everyone watched it. Everyone but me, that is. I watched it at first (I probably made it halfway through the first season), but then my mom caught me watching it and banned it. Being a "letter of the law" follower, I stopped watching <i>Friends</i> until college. (That didn't stop me from watching every other comedy on NBCâafter all, Mom had only banned <i>Friends</i>, not <i>Caroline in the City</i>, <i>Veronica's Closet</i>, <i>Just Shoot Me</i>, <i>News Radio</i>, <i>Jesse</i>, or any other show that happened to be on. I definitely was an NBC girl back in the day. Now? I can't think of a single NBC show I watch!)<br />
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After I finally had cable, I caught up on all the seasons of <i>Friends</i> I'd missed. <i>Friends </i>is one of those shows that I could watch at any timeâI could even jump in mid-episode and be perfectly happy!<br />
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<b>3. <i>Dawson's Creek</i></b><br />
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Growing up, we didn't have cable or a WB station, so <i>Dawson's Creek </i>wasn't really on my radar ... until the summer of 2012, which I like to call the <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2012/08/reflections-on-creek.html" target="_blank">Summer of <i>Dawson's</i></a>, when I watched all six seasons in three months. I'm currently facing a similar obsession with <i>One Tree Hill</i>, though no pairing on that show looks like it could possibly live up to Pacey & Joey!<br />
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<b>4. </b><i><b>7th Heaven</b></i><br />
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I didn't watch this show in the early seasons because we didn't have the WB. Somehow, I caught a few episodes and fell in loveâso I set up my grandma's VCR to record it each week and then swapped out the tapes when we went to visit. Desperate times and all that!<br />
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<b>5. <i>The West Wing</i></b><br />
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My mom watched <i>The West Wing</i> when it aired, and I thought it looked really boring. How wrong I was! A couple years ago, I finally watched it, and I loved it. I'm pretty sure I'll be making another pass through the series in the future.<br />
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<b>Did you watch any of these shows? What are your favorite 90's TV shows?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are âaffiliate links.â This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-77075066555088167082016-09-02T21:07:00.001-05:002016-09-02T21:07:39.558-05:00read with us: a book that intimidates us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, this is either incredibly easy or incredibly sad. Or both. Val is the only one of us who even attempted a book this month. She's been pretty anxious for me to post about it, too. See our conversation from earlier today:<br />
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Next month should be easier (what were we thinking, choosing an intimidating book for the month that school starts???)âour category is a book that's been banned. Practically <i>everything</i> has been banned by someone at some time, so surely we can all find something. In fact, Mom discovered today that <a href="https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/09/24/banned-books-week-green-eggs-and-ham" target="_blank"><i>Green Eggs & Ham </i>was once banned</a>, so I'm gonna keep that one in my back pocket in case I need something super easy. (See all of our previous recaps <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/2016%20reading%20challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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Since no one else has anything to say this month, I'll let Val take it from here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd05HvDPuAw8tryzNa-2sc3NJ3JTU5Aw6iTeGUCug7LSE_jkRyVdbf4iVNlp4IKpSuoqFvxbN1FYUU_JxysC62ePZfE8ZiQuv1VbJdiGQhSxtRxtbd4P0f7oP2XFLtKB1yPkk9rTpggLA/s1600/Val%2527s+Pick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd05HvDPuAw8tryzNa-2sc3NJ3JTU5Aw6iTeGUCug7LSE_jkRyVdbf4iVNlp4IKpSuoqFvxbN1FYUU_JxysC62ePZfE8ZiQuv1VbJdiGQhSxtRxtbd4P0f7oP2XFLtKB1yPkk9rTpggLA/s320/Val%2527s+Pick.jpg" width="213" /></a>Val says: For this monthâs category, a book that intimidates you, I chose <i>Lonesome Dove</i> by Larry McMurtry. This book has been on my To Be Read list for a couple of years, ever since a coworker mentioned that he considers it to be the Great American Novel. This book is intimidating in its length â the copy I read clocked in at 821 pages. This book was SO much more engaging than I thought it would be â for the first 50-100 pages, I was worried that I would be bored, and that the book would be a chore to get through. This could not have been more wrong. Around page 200, things really picked up, and from there on, I was captivated to the end. <br />
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The general plot is that two former Texas rangers decide to do their first ever cattle drive from South Texas to Northern Montana â basically traveling the entire length of the country. Adventures ensue. The book is set in 1876 (according to Wikipedia â I knew it was 1800âs post-Civil War, but didnât notice if it actually said what year it was), so the West is still very much Wild. Also, a word of caution â because this is set in the old west, prostitution and violence were pretty much the order of the day. There was only once scene where I would call the violence graphic, but there is a fair amount of killing, and many of the characters are rough around the edges. So maybe consider that if youâre deciding if this book is for you. Personally, I am SO glad I read it and am strongly considering reading the other books in the series (<i>Lonesome Dove </i>was written first but is third chronologically). <b>5 stars.</b><br />
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<b>Have you read <i>Lonesome Dove</i>? If so, what did you think?</b>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-37439768777962468622016-08-26T22:40:00.000-05:002016-08-26T22:59:13.334-05:00friday favorites #28: week of august 26, 2016Two weeks down, how many to go? These first days of school have been <i style="font-weight: bold;">brutal</i>. I cannot remember a time when the beginning of school was so stressful and complicated. I think we've made it, though--today actually felt like a normal work day, not a crazy we've-just-gotten-back-to-school-and-everyone-needs-something-from-me day. Hooray!<br />
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Here are a few things I've been enjoying recently:<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>1. <i>BrainDead</i></b><br />
"Previously on <i>BrainDead</i>!" are four (three?) of my favorite words this summer. I remember seeing commercials for the show before it premiered, and I thought it looked stupid. How wrong I was!<br />
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<i>BrainDead</i> asks this question: What if the fighting and utter inability to accomplish anything in Washington was actually caused by space bugs that were taking over people's brains?<br />
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Though this trailer doesn't give you the full scope of how fun <i>BrainDead</i> actually is, it's closer than any of the other trailers I found.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JeTDnX0PCls" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Hands down, <i>BrainDead </i>is my favorite show of the summer. While I enjoyed the pilot, you have to give it at least two episodes to decide if you're in or not...because it's in episode two that the hilarious recap songs begin. (You can read the story behind the songs--and watch the song from episode two--<a href="http://www.tvguide.com/news/braindead-recap-song-previously-on-jonathan-coulton/" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can watch all the songs--please, only if you've watched the show!--<a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/braindead/news/1005332/the-braindead-musical-recaps-guaranteed-to-get-stuck-in-your-head/" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<i>BrainDead </i>is a 13-episode series currently airing on CBS, and the previous week's episode is available through Amazon Prime each Thursday. If you're looking for something different and quirky, check it out!<br />
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<b>2. Yellow & Purple Wax Beans</b><br />
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While I have been loving my green beans this summer, I haven't gotten too many. (I'll need a bigger garden next year!) Today, a coworker brought in these yellow and purple wax beans. I ended up bringing home a plastic sack full of them because I was the last person in the office tonight, so I brought everything that was left. They are so tasty!!!<br />
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Unfortunately, they lose that gorgeous purple color when they're cooked, but they still taste great.<br />
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<b>3. Hastings' Going Out of Business Sale</b><br />
A couple weeks ago, I went out to dinner with a friend. She mentioned that we should stop at Hastings, a local bookstore chain, before we returned to Central City. Hastings is closing soon, and everything is on sale. We spent about an hour going through the used movies, and we both came out with way more than we needed!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why yes, I did just get rid of more than 50 movies. So why not buy more???</td></tr>
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A couple days later, I went back with several family members ... and I found more stuff! My absolute favorite finds are these two books:<br />
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> is my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, and this is a very cool illustrated version. And I couldn't pass up Melissa Rycroft's book--it cost me all of $3, and I can't wait to read her take on her experience with <i>The Bachelor</i>!<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>4. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/momentum/laookkfknpbbblfpciffpaejjkokdgca?hl=en" target="_blank">Momentum</a></b><br />
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<br />
This is a web app that I just found out about this week, and I'm absolutely loving it! It's an extension that you can add to Chrome that pops up each time you open a new tab. The image varies, but it never fails to relax me. It's also a great way to keep track of my "to do" list for the day.<br />
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<b>5. <i>If Ever I Would Leave You </i>by Susan May Warren</b><br />
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Believe it or not, I actually haven't been doing much reading lately. The Olympics, coupled with the beginning of school, kept me from doing much reading this month. (Don't even ask about the state of my book for the MMD Reading Challenge. It's not even funny.) <i>If Ever I Would Leave You</i> is a quick read, though--I ended up reading it in a couple hours one evening--and it's everything I've come to expect from something written by Susan May Warren, featuring strong characters, romantic chemistry, and realistic conflict. (<a href="https://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/08/if-ever-i-would-leave-you-by-susan-may.html?showComment=1472267185218#c5270474852403659989" target="_blank">See my review</a>.)<br />
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If you haven't read a Susan May Warren book yet, this novella is a great place to start--especially because it's <a href="https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/76530?v=6" target="_blank">free</a>!<br />
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<b>As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-57708469917731621462016-08-21T17:02:00.000-05:002016-08-21T17:05:07.422-05:0035 before 35: #28<i>I am now past my 35th birthday (how did that happen?), but I did this prior to my birthday ... I just didn't get it written up until now.</i><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> <b><i>#28: Grow my own <strike>herbs</strike> herb</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> So I haven't <i>technically </i>fulfilled this goal, as I grew one herb: cilantro. But I also grew green beans, tomatoes, and carrots. So I'm going to count it. Here are some pics of my first-ever gardening attempt!<br />
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Not a great picture, I know, but here from bottom to top we have carrots, green beans, and cilantro.<br />
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My cilantro was ready <i>way</i> before anything else. I also tired of it quickly and let it go to seed.<br />
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But first, I made cilantro salt for use in Mexican cooking!<br />
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And now I also have a handful of coriander seeds to do <i>something</i> with. I think I'll need to look up a few recipes!<br />
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Now on to the veggies! My beans are almost finished, but my tomato plants are still (slowly) producing tomatoes, and my carrots are still growing.<br />
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Both Isis the cat and Skarra are obsessed with the green beans. Every time I pick beans, I give them one to play with. Hammond is always completely unamused.<br />
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Overall, I've <i>loved </i>my garden! There's definitely a difference between gardening by choice and gardening by force (a la my childhood). I'm already thinking about next year's garden, which needs to be much larger!<br />
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<i>See all of my <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2011/09/35-things-before-35.html">35 before 35 </a>posts, where you'll see that I didn't even come close to my goal ... but that's OK!</i>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-42363338280966023202016-08-04T20:23:00.000-05:002016-08-04T20:23:36.798-05:00read with us: a book published before we were born<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had ... virtually no success this month. Susan and Val finished reading their <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/07/read-with-us-book-weve-already-read.html" target="_blank">June books</a>, and Becky and Steph chose the same book to read, but neither of them finished it. Here's hoping for a better August! Even though no one finished a new book for this month's challenge, Susan and Becky have updates on what they did read. (See all of our other updates <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/2016%20reading%20challenge" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fFnMK4zkTDR0-LAoCDpNyAx0xtCfXjYur0jyE7MpXFTcZervKSKnxVjwSEBJoyWeccqI4lmM-sKkAutAtfDDQTpxH6-0FwMrcgDnUuTi3k7rHE47QaaDFomHkJECzExnwb5N6A9DM0m8/s1600/Susan%2527s+Pick+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fFnMK4zkTDR0-LAoCDpNyAx0xtCfXjYur0jyE7MpXFTcZervKSKnxVjwSEBJoyWeccqI4lmM-sKkAutAtfDDQTpxH6-0FwMrcgDnUuTi3k7rHE47QaaDFomHkJECzExnwb5N6A9DM0m8/s320/Susan%2527s+Pick+%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a>Susan says: This month, I finished reading <i>The Robe</i> by Lloyd C. Douglas. This is such a terrific book, and the second half was a fantastic finish to the first part of the book that I read last month. <br />
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I loved how it described Marcellus' travels seeking the truth about Jesus, the robe, and the increasing numbers of his followers. These people were convinced that Jesus was now alive, despite Marcellus' first-hand knowledge that he was truly dead on the cross. His interactions with people who had witnessed Jesus' miracles during his lifetime eventually convinced him that Jesus is God and indeed living. He became a dedicated Christ-follower who impacted many people living in the sphere of his influence. Many of the characters in this book were mentioned in the Biblical accounts, and it was interesting to see how the author wove these actual historical figures into the story line.<br />
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The experience of rereading this book after many years have passed was so good! I remember how it moved me so many years ago and was again impacted by it. I highly recommend this book. <b>5 stars.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sRlsQr8EngsWhf5sQxAoQebmJ1EFcZmdUmTNeXK9Y-DaKeUgON8fFcS-k0LDxe8rEr1jZOXmT_9gSVa59vJUETZKiqD6-PF3vvRWRXjYXRs2N-zNHQwwtpZft5GBbOhB3PrOOD0xO3fk/s1600/Susan%2527s+Pick+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sRlsQr8EngsWhf5sQxAoQebmJ1EFcZmdUmTNeXK9Y-DaKeUgON8fFcS-k0LDxe8rEr1jZOXmT_9gSVa59vJUETZKiqD6-PF3vvRWRXjYXRs2N-zNHQwwtpZft5GBbOhB3PrOOD0xO3fk/s320/Susan%2527s+Pick+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a>Becky says: When Steph and I discovered we both had chosen <i>A Lantern in Her Hand </i>by Bess Streeter Aldrich, we decided to take it along on our road trip to Indiana and Nashville and read it aloud to each other.<br />
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<i>A Lantern in Her Hand</i> is the story of prairie wife Abbie Mackenzie Deal. As a child in Iowa, Abbie dreamed of becoming a famous singer. Her dreams changed when she fell in love with childhood friend Will Deal, and they moved to Nebraska to make a life for themselves.<br />
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I had always been very hesitant to read this book because of the truly terrible TV film adaptation <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113859/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2" target="_blank">A Mother's Gift</a></i>. Steph was <b>completely obsessed</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>with this movie when she was a kid, and I finally hid the video tape and told her it was broken. (Or maybe I told her it was lost. Either way, I hid it and lied about it.)<br />
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Anyway, we started our road trip, and I started reading aloud. We were stunned to discover that the book was set in Nebraska! We were also pleasantly surprised by Bess Streeter Aldrich's writing style. The book has so many touches of humor thrown in!<br />
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We only made it to Chapter 9, and neither of us read any more after the trip--but I definitely want to finish it, and I know Steph does, too.<br />
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<b>If you've read any of these books, we'd love to know your thoughts! Be sure to join us again at the end of the month--we're reading books that intimidate us. </b>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-36024986548913329672016-07-09T17:09:00.000-05:002016-07-09T17:46:53.935-05:00read with us: a book we've already readThis month in the <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/01/read-with-us-mmds-2016-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">reading challenge</a>, our category was <b>A Book You've Already Read</b>. However, life got in the way of our good intentions. As Susan put it when I sent out the email asking for reviews, "Just report that I am a failure."<br />
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But in reality, none of us are failures. <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2016-reading-challenge/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> is getting us to read things we wouldn't otherwise be reading, and, even if we don't finish those books, I still consider that a win. <i>Plus</i>, this month's category was "a book you've already read at least once," so the only thing we missed out on by not finishing our books was seeing these books through new eyes. And I would guess that each of us who didn't finish our book will do so at some time in the future.<br />
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We "read" <i>The Robe</i>, <i>The Dandelion Field</i>, <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>, and <i>Pride & Prejudice</i>.<br />
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<b><i>The Robe</i> by Lloyd C. Douglas</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudFuQ_6pMg4KYFsFOZnm-IrGiTM0toQ43FQVITgJ-AXnHAS4LtmdwD_CvIQxabg0wpIRuO2xTp_dHa10u2FcGvANoHr8pW06ifBoiYARtqGlhczwxTC3krqkrqQHjzWeELN9sGjMoaHYi/s1600/TheRobe-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudFuQ_6pMg4KYFsFOZnm-IrGiTM0toQ43FQVITgJ-AXnHAS4LtmdwD_CvIQxabg0wpIRuO2xTp_dHa10u2FcGvANoHr8pW06ifBoiYARtqGlhczwxTC3krqkrqQHjzWeELN9sGjMoaHYi/s320/TheRobe-01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></a>Susan says: I read <i>The Robe</i> by Lloyd C. Douglas. I very much enjoyed the first half of it, which is all I finished reading last month. This book was in my parents' library, and I was in about 7th grade when I first read it. It made such an impact on me that I purchased a hardback copy to put in my own library when I was in college.<br />
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The story is about Marcellus, a Tribune in Rome, who fell into disfavor with the Roman Prince Gaius and was sent to run the Roman Garrison at Minoa in southern Palestine. He was responsible to oversee the crucifixion of Jesus, whom he was convinced was innocent of the charges brought against him. He was the recipient of Jesus' robe, and after being coerced to put it on, became deeply emotionally disturbed and overwhelmed with guilt for his part in that terrible day.<br />
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Another important character is Demetrius, the Greek slave of Marcellus, who was his true friend and who was eager to find a way to heal Marcellus' sick mind. The robe itself was key in that healing process.<br />
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This book was interesting for its descriptions of the corrupt government of that time, and of the people who were either slave owners or slaves themselves. The story of people who believed Jesus was God and put their faith in him, in spite of severe persecution, resonates in our day and age.<br />
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I highly recommend this book and give it <b>5 stars</b>.<br />
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<b><i>The Dandelion Field </i>by Kathryn Springer</b><br />
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Becky says: This is another month when reality got in the way of my intentions. I <i>really</i> wanted to read <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>, but June actually turned into my month of previously reads, thanks to the INSPYs. I was a judge for the Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense category, and a whopping four out of five titles that made the shortlist were books I'd already read. (Maybe this means I just have really great taste?) So, I'm choosing to count <i>The Dandelion Field</i>, which is the book that won the INSPY, as my book for this month, even though I read it for the INSPYs and not for this challenge.<br />
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<i>The Dandelion Field </i>tells the story of single mom Gin and her teen daughter Raine as they try to build a life in Bannister Falls. It deals with some heavy issues like teen pregnancy, abuse, prejudice, and poverty, but it's also a very enjoyable story to read. And after you read it, you'll definitely want to go right into <i>The Hearts We Mend</i>, which <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-hearts-we-mend-by-kathryn-springer.html" target="_blank">I liked even more</a>!<br />
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You can see my <b>5 star </b>review <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-dandelion-field-by-kathryn-springer.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and be sure to check out all the <a href="http://inspys.com/?page_id=2979" target="_blank">2016 INSPY winners</a> (and if you want to go even deeper, the <a href="http://inspys.com/?page_id=2645" target="_blank">shortlisted books</a>)--you can find some great reads to add to your TBR pile!<br />
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<b><i>Anne of Green Gables</i> by L.M. Montgomery</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLG-wV2jriyUxlKZTDJPIw9ZDbFNr8VlaorZinZLXcqXr1XKMuD1bSvjiT3G6ZF1107dX6fsN4OSobAPtHUQcVlfwW10sZiOF2GJn4WzzIKPxj0rz6Z03zHKtrodr9OgZlZ953YPA92d-/s1600/anne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLG-wV2jriyUxlKZTDJPIw9ZDbFNr8VlaorZinZLXcqXr1XKMuD1bSvjiT3G6ZF1107dX6fsN4OSobAPtHUQcVlfwW10sZiOF2GJn4WzzIKPxj0rz6Z03zHKtrodr9OgZlZ953YPA92d-/s320/anne.jpg" width="214" /></a>Val says: For June's reading challenge, I read (ok, am still reading) <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>. I've seen the movies (with Megan Follows) approximately eleventy billion times and LOVE them, but I'd only read the book once. <br />
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June was a busy month - moving into a new house and closing on the old one plus the wedding of a dear friend meant that there hasn't been much time for reading. But that doesn't mean that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed the time I <i>did </i>spend rereading the first half of this book. Anne is utterly endearing in her earnestness, her "all in" approach to life and friendships, and her expressions of priceless imagination. My goal is to carve out some time this weekend to finish the book because I'm always glad after I've spent some minutes/hours with the gentle souls of Avonlea. <b>5 stars.</b><br />
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<b><i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by Jane Austen</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOzjUVCUUTE_J5DWzYqpkduEVphDh5gW3ZEzW4UoCR7T9kKCtbX71fP1CeA8tPG-R8cf-T_8dtuivE33pYdYb-hl79bYaBA3gq8sR4mR7WjtMmXV2fMPhuJGQWN9RlQ-5yGSmL2AX8M60/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOzjUVCUUTE_J5DWzYqpkduEVphDh5gW3ZEzW4UoCR7T9kKCtbX71fP1CeA8tPG-R8cf-T_8dtuivE33pYdYb-hl79bYaBA3gq8sR4mR7WjtMmXV2fMPhuJGQWN9RlQ-5yGSmL2AX8M60/s320/IMG_0940.JPG" width="320" /></a>Steph says: This is a book that I have read more than any other. This go round is probably somewhere between my 10th and 12th time through the book since picking it up in high school. For years it was the book that I carried in my purse if I wasnât reading another one. There are so many things I like about this book. Each time I read it there is some nuance that I notice for the first time. When I first picked up the book I loved the sarcasm and wit that Austen used to describe the ridiculousness in society on page one. Then I loved Lizzie and the way that she knew who she was and how she would stick to her guns against whatever the world might say otherwise. Then I loved the bond between sisters, between Lizzie and Mr. Bennet, between Collins and his benefactress Lady Catherine.<br />
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But what stuck with me the most is what I first loved about the leading ladyâthe way she could laugh at the ridiculous side of life. In the first few pages, Lizzie and company are at a ball. She overhears Darcy calling her âtolerableâ and refuse to dance with her. Her response, in the words of Austen, âShe told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.â Rather than allowing her worth to be diminished by the opinion of others, she laughs at the ridiculousness of the situation and lives life to the fullest. I admire that so much, probably because it is very much how I would like to handle things.<br />
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As always, I would give <i>Pride and Prejudice </i><b>5 stars</b>. I loved it when I first read it, and I still love it now. Itâs a great book for a glimpse at family life, ridiculous people, the bonds of friendship, and how everyone is a little bit stupid when it comes to love.<br />
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</b> <b>If you've read any of these books, we'd love to know your thoughts! Be sure to join us again at the end of the month--we're reading books that were published before we were born.</b><br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-24811643531943427762016-07-08T23:53:00.000-05:002016-07-08T23:53:26.726-05:00friday favorites #27: week of july 8, 2016Happy Friday! Why is it that holiday weeks feel longer than usual? It can't be just me, can it? I only worked Wednesday through Friday, but boy did those days feel long! So I'm thrilled that the weekend has arrived! Here are some of my recent favorite things:<br />
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</b> <b>1. 4th of July in Indiana</b><br />
Spending the 4th in Indiana is becoming a bit of a tradition. <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-spectacular-fourth.html" target="_blank">Last year</a>, my mom and I went out to see my sister and brother-in-law, and this year, my dad went along, too! We were gone Friday through Tuesday, and, despite some horrible delays due to road construction and bad traffic, we had a wonderful time!<br />
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It's never a sure thing that Dad's going anywhere until he's in the car, so I snapped this pic as we left to prove to Val that he was with us.</div>
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When we got there, Miss Chloe decided she really liked my bed. She's such a fluff ball, and she's so full of personality. Not very cuddly, that one, but certainly entertaining. She also scared me to death the first nightâI saw her leave my room while I was getting ready for bed, so I closed the door. At 3 a.m., she jumped on top of me! Apparently, she snuck back in before I closed the door.<br />
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We went blueberry picking! Most of the blueberries weren't ripe yet, so we had to do some searching, but we ended up with 10 pounds for Val.<br />
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Dad was very tired after picking blueberries ...<br />
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We played lots of Rummy and Golf. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of my <i>perfect</i> Rummy hand. I went out on my first turn, and I was the first player!<br />
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We went to a "patriotic" concert in the park at Winona Lake ... only the concert didn't include much patriotic music. The highlight was the Four Seasons medley the band played. (In retrospect, I'm not sure that the concert was even advertised as patrioticâI just made that assumption because the concert took place over the holiday weekend.)<br />
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We girls saw <i>Ragtime</i> at the <a href="http://wagonwheelcenter.org/" target="_blank">Wagon Wheel</a>. <i>It was phenomenal</i>. Last year, we saw <i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> there, and it was really good, but <i>Ragtime </i>was something special.<br />
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It was almost chilly the whole time we were there, and we took advantage of the coolness by taking several walksâat Grace, around Winona Lake, and in Val & Greg's new neighborhood. As we walked, I was totally obsessed with the hostas. Now that I have my own baby hostas, I'm eager to see everyone else's! They seem to be a very popular plant in Val & Greg's neighborhood.<br />
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We had to head home on Tuesday, and we made sure to stop at a Chick-fil-A. Oh, how we need one in central Nebraska!<br />
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<b>2. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177789/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Galaxy Quest</a></i></b><br />
I have loved <i>Galaxy Quest </i>ever since I saw it in the theater way back in '99. I've seen it multiple times over the years, but I'd forgotten just how clever the writing is! And, in addition to the at-the-time stars, it has so many now-famous people in it: Corbin Bleu, Enrico Colantoni, Rainn Wilson, Sam Rockwell.<br />
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We (and by "we," I mean "everyone but Dad who was sleeping") watched it at Val's, and it was a pure delight from start to finish. If you're in need of a good laugh, check it out on Netflix!<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>3. <i>30 for 30</i> documentaries</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfZ6vG7k0Kd_Amx0BNkKX-3lxxc-V3XIfHaCJqJ53uboRrCk1BdWMu6S0hPuWuGSRzhi6Y2Zk5sn7KULKRcxWEsW-JQAEsiKxjpXTeP0SEWrOcIR9ysRAU40JF_-QL7TRe25MiZVCay77/s1600/magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfZ6vG7k0Kd_Amx0BNkKX-3lxxc-V3XIfHaCJqJ53uboRrCk1BdWMu6S0hPuWuGSRzhi6Y2Zk5sn7KULKRcxWEsW-JQAEsiKxjpXTeP0SEWrOcIR9ysRAU40JF_-QL7TRe25MiZVCay77/s320/magic.jpg" width="208" /></a>I recently discovered that many of ESPN's <i>30 for 30</i> documentaries are on Netflix, and now I can't get enough of them! My favorites so far are <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5598194/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6" target="_blank">This Magic Moment</a></i>, about the rise and fall of the Orlando Magic in the 1990s, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1509848/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Jordan Rides the Bus</a></i>, about Michael Jordan's foray into minor league baseball, and (obviously, if you know me at all) <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3417870/?ref_=ttep_ep16" target="_blank">The Price of Gold</a></i>, about the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal. Up next: <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5737126/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Believeland</a></i>. We'll see if it can make me stop loathing the Cavs.<br />
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(Tangentially related note: I <i>love</i> that Kevin Durant has joined the Warriors. And, while I can understand Thunder fans' disappointment, I don't get why people who aren't Thunder fans are upset, and I don't see how "chasing rings" is a bad thing. If the goal of NBA basketball is to win a championship, why wouldn't you do whatever you can to get there?)<br />
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</b> <b>4. <i>The Great British Baking Show</i></b><br />
It's back! My mom and I enjoy watching baking competitions together, and <i>The Great British Baking Show</i> is by far our favorite. Season 3 just started (which apparently was season 6 in the UK). It airs on PBS (and on the PBS app), and it's so fun! You can watch episodes <a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/great-british-baking-show/" target="_blank">here</a>. Just do it!<br />
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</b> <b>5. <a href="http://inspys.com/?p=2895" target="_blank">INSPY award winners!</a></b><br />
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Instead of just one book recommendation today, I'm going to give you a bunch. At the end of last month, the INSPY award winners for 2016 were announced. I was privileged to be one of the Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense judges this year, and it was such a great experience. I've read several of the winners (see them all <a href="http://inspys.com/?p=2895" target="_blank">here</a>), and they're greatâbut the winner I'm most excited about is Sarah Sundin's <i><a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2015/08/through-waters-deep-by-sarah-sundin.html" target="_blank">Through Waters Deep</a></i>. While I generally prefer contemporary to historical fiction, I can't get enough of Sundin's books, and I'm so excited to see her win this award!<br />
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But seriously, check out <a href="http://inspys.com/?p=2895" target="_blank">all the winners</a>. You're sure to find something great to add to your TBR pile.<br />
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(Fun fact: When I first posted about <i>Through Waters Deep </i>last year, my friend <a href="http://verysleepygirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer</a> commented that the guy on the cover looks like Ryan Reynolds. So now all I can think of is Ryan Reynolds when I look at it!)<br />
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<b>If you've made it to the end of this post, <i>bless you</i>! As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-44000451908327844302016-06-24T20:23:00.000-05:002016-06-24T20:23:08.642-05:00friday favorites #26: week of june 24, 2016I think I'm settling pretty comfortably into an every-other-Friday Favorites pattern! Here are some things I've been enjoying over the last couple weeks:<br />
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<b>1. Cleaning</b><br />
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If you know me, you know cleaning is never one of the top things on my to-do list. But last weekend, the bug hit me, and I'm so glad it did! I moved into my house almost three years ago, and I still had several boxes that I never unpacked. So I did it. And I rearranged. And I hung pictures. And my parents came to haul out my old electric stove that's been sitting there ever since my dad put in my gas stove last summer. Now I'm loving my back storage room--and so are the cats! I should have done this months (years?) ago.<br />
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<b>2. So Delicious Chocolate Coconut Milk "Ice Cream."</b><br />
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I have been completely craving ice cream lately, but I'm still basically dairy free. (I do goat and sheep cheese, but no cow dairy yet.) At Walmart last weekend, I decided to see what kind of diary free treats they might have--and I found this! It still has some ingredients I'm not crazy about, but I can live with them. At $5 for a pint, it's expensive, but it's SOOOO worth it for a treat every now and again! And no, it doesn't taste like ice cream, more like a fudgesicle ... but I can live with that!<br />
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<b>3. Eggs</b><br />
Eggs may seem like an odd choice for a favorite, but bear with me! Eggs are not allowed on <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search/label/aip" target="_blank">AIP</a>, the diet I began in September in an effort to reclaim my health. It worked wonderfully (I know, a full post about this is needed!), and I'm feeling better than I've felt in years. Early on in the reintroduction process, I tried eggs, and it didn't go well. But I recently tried again, and eggs have become my new best friend, especially since it's too hot to turn on the oven most of the time. So I'm praising God for better health and for the incredible, edible egg!<br />
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<b>4. <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1895587/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Spotlight</a></i></b><br />
I've wanted to watch <i>Spotlight</i> ever since it first started generating awards buzz. It showed up on Netflix two days ago, and I watched it right away.<br />
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<b>It. Is. Fantastic.</b><br />
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The plot centers around the <i>Boston Globe</i> reporters who uncovered the extent of the Catholic Church's priest abuse coverup. In some ways, it reminded me of <i>All the President's Men</i>, and that's definitely a good thing. The film is rated R for language, and it includes some very uncomfortable discussions about molestation. But I also think it's a film worth watching.<br />
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<b>5. Mended Hearts series by Varina Denman</b><br />
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This week's book recommendation is actually a series: <i>Jaded</i>, <i>Justified</i>, and <i>Jilted</i>. These novels tell the story of a small Texas town, dealing with issues like unplanned pregnancy, abuse, infidelity, mental illness, and corruption within the church. I know that makes this series sound like a serious downer, but it's really so good! I read all three books this week, not because I had to (I'm on a tour for <i>Jilted</i> but not the other two) but because I wanted to. This is some excellent writing! You can check out my review of <i>Jilted </i>(the others will soon follow) <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/search/label/Mended%20Hearts" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<b>As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fcfbf4; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Alegreya, Garamond, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.6px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-36849109314581609342016-06-16T15:10:00.000-05:002016-06-16T15:10:20.365-05:00six weeks with morrocco methodFor a while now, I've been searching for a solution to my ever thinning hair. I have the double whammy of <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/search?q=hashimoto%27s&submit=Search" target="_blank">Hashimoto's disease</a> and PCOS, both of which can cause hair loss. I've also been moving toward the natural side of things as I attempt to reclaim my health. When I saw an ad for Morrocco Method on one of the blogs I follow, I decided to check it out. I could find nothing but rave reviews (which actually made me even more skeptical), but as it was cheaper than Monat, the shampoo brand I'd been using with some success, I decided to give it a go. I settled on the <a href="http://shop.morroccomethod.com/Healthy-Hair-Starter-Package?sc=43&category=6470" target="_blank">Healthy Hair Starter Package</a>. At $69, it's a good chunk of change, but I thought it would give me the best taste of what the company had to offer.<br />
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Day 1: Used "Earth" shampoo, Diamond spray conditioner, and Blood of the Tiger gel. Shampoo smells horrible. My hair dried much faster than normal today. It also seems dull and lifeless. I also used my normal hair spray to finish off my style--not sure I could go without hair spray on a rainy day like today.<br />
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Day 10: My hair is a nasty grease ball. It has been ever since Day 2. I've rotated the shampoos like is recommended, but my hair never feels clean. They talk about a "detox process" on their website, so I guess that's what is happening to me. But YUCK! I'd throw in the towel if I hadn't paid so much for the system. So I'll stick it out for my month, I guess. Also, I should note that I'm not using any product anymore except what came with the system. And I should note that we took our yearbook staff picture for this year's yearbook today ... so the grease will be immortalized.<br />
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Day 11: I used the Zen Detox Masque tonight. Honestly, it felt like I was slathering mud on my hair. BUT, after I rinsed it out and my hair dried, the top of my head felt so much less greasy! I'm not going to shampoo tomorrow--it's Saturday, and I don't need to go anywhere--so we'll see where things stand on Sunday. I also watched a bunch of Morrocco Method videos on YouTube tonight. I probably should have watched them long ago--lots of helpful information about brushing and using that weird rubber massager that came with the kit!<br />
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Day 15: Got my hair cut today. As usual, my stylist washed it and then styled it with lots of product afterward. After using Zen Detox, my hair felt way less oily, but now it feels downright dry. Hope I'm not taking a step backwards ...<br />
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Day 30: So I took a major break from posting, but this is SO. WEIRD. My hair has become super curly! I've always had natural curl, but this is ridiculous. <br />
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I decided to continue beyond the initial month because I still had shampoo left. It's now been six weeks. So, what are my thoughts? I think my hair is healthier. The curls have backed off some, and there are times that my hair still feels greasy. I now wash every 2-3 days instead of every day. (On the off days, I still get my hair wet in the shower, I just don't wash it.)<br />
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What I haven't noticed is a slowdown in hair loss or new hair growth--two things I am positive were happening with Monat. So I'm still on the fence. I like Morrocco Method (except for the smell, which isn't terrible, but it's certainly not pleasant), but I'm not sure if it's the answer I've been looking for.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461142634929195207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562259030561813455.post-9327356099540335602016-06-10T18:13:00.001-05:002016-06-10T18:13:36.808-05:00friday favorites #25: week of june 10, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>1. <i>Lois & Clark</i></b></div>
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I started rewatching <i>Lois & Clark</i> while I was yearbooking.</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BF0Ljk7zVpD/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Long yearbooking night ahead, and I'm going old school with my entertainment. I was SOOOOO in love with Lois & Clark (and #deancain). Watching the pilot now. Look, it's the original Jimmy and the soon-to-disappear Cat Grant! #yearbookadvisor #90snostalgia</a></div>
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A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on <time datetime="2016-05-25T03:34:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 24, 2016 at 8:34pm PDT</time></div>
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I got <i>completely</i> hooked ... to the point that one night, after watching about four episodes, I dreamed I was planning my wedding to Dean Cain. It is seriously the celebrity crush that never dies!</div>
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I'm currently in season three, and I'm loving it! Also, watching <i>Lois & Clark</i> just brings to light how much the TV landscape has changed in the last 20 years. For example, Lois & Clark don't sleep together until after their wedding; in fact, Clark is a virgin when they marry. When was the last time a TV couple saved sex for marriage? I can't think of any examples. (I'm sure they're out there--so let me know in the comments if you think of one!)</div>
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<b>2. NBA Finals</b><br />
I'm absolutely 100% pulling for the Golden State Warriors. I couldn't care less about the NBA during the regular season, but I always enjoy watching the playoffs, and I just love the Warriors!<br />
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Game 3 wasn't much fun to watch (you Cavs fans probably disagree with me), but hopefully it gave the Warriors the push they need to wrap this thing up in two more games.<br />
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</b> <b>3. Reading for the INSPY Awards</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRKV3exA3CZqmqwgYxwtqeVRNxBaBKdxo7twEY1Ml0GShLRiEL67IZsykG4n3yiDJvHRdKp0rnGvbx7mJBu7z5MZfNhwp0ehk3sdz4xD6wsDAEVDVqXCg3qvPtRlgGWufGgmptIRaG-gg/s1600/20160608_194548.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRKV3exA3CZqmqwgYxwtqeVRNxBaBKdxo7twEY1Ml0GShLRiEL67IZsykG4n3yiDJvHRdKp0rnGvbx7mJBu7z5MZfNhwp0ehk3sdz4xD6wsDAEVDVqXCg3qvPtRlgGWufGgmptIRaG-gg/s400/20160608_194548.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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</b> I can't really talk about these books yet, but I'm immersed in the five selections I'm reading as a judge for the contemporary romance/romantic suspense category of the INSPYs. When I do INSPY reading, I try to block off a chunk of time when I can read one whole book, so I can just immerse myself in the author's world. (It helps that I'm a very fast reader!) You can see the short listed books in all of the categories <a href="http://inspys.com/?page_id=2645" target="_blank">here</a>. I've read many of them, and I can't wait to find out which books win!<br />
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</b> <b>4. Gardening</b><br />
I know, I know--this was a favorite <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2016/05/friday-favorites-24-week-of-may-20-2016.html" target="_blank">last time</a>. But I'm SO enjoying my plants!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kjF8D1hErCBOcA8zWFJKE7DxwBqH7EzhsAd09qE88zwkprneKmcH7yCegY8w36vXPqOysJuHwC-2jx8vUiO4xmxp_T6NUlGnkBpxlQY27wZBWyNQ2AsfbXLlcZ1z09iyROfGyRpECa2Q/s1600/20160610_163434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kjF8D1hErCBOcA8zWFJKE7DxwBqH7EzhsAd09qE88zwkprneKmcH7yCegY8w36vXPqOysJuHwC-2jx8vUiO4xmxp_T6NUlGnkBpxlQY27wZBWyNQ2AsfbXLlcZ1z09iyROfGyRpECa2Q/s640/20160610_163434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Please ignore the grass that so obviously needs to be mowed and the weeds that need to be pulled!<br />
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I even had my first cilantro a few days ago!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLiafj-uFetIk0O7qklMPPpn_dqo2CqLXrFPs2P4hREnHgVuESSCWjLWBjbiC4uvXf43pP1YYs2Ma1sUicDqxfG_Kt62Bvdj2HJ3v3AL-I5ls6K-ZJsPdIZ3HhbD86HvhGJdC4b49YHfn/s1600/IMG_20160608_170539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLiafj-uFetIk0O7qklMPPpn_dqo2CqLXrFPs2P4hREnHgVuESSCWjLWBjbiC4uvXf43pP1YYs2Ma1sUicDqxfG_Kt62Bvdj2HJ3v3AL-I5ls6K-ZJsPdIZ3HhbD86HvhGJdC4b49YHfn/s320/IMG_20160608_170539.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This week, I decided to branch out in my gardening, and I purchased some hostas (and a couple other plants)! They came in the mail today, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielK1p8G9SGz878iQaG0U_gDWuRxV7zwqSLdOufEY1nXGiUk6D_9Rj-Q6cV6UgUXKfBW5yFclwWOv_xT3bR_a7BosJbzVk76wIA7X5K_ziCDq6c_Ux3nhuNdkD6sACqPgSdsQpJYpD7YC4/s1600/20160610_163131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielK1p8G9SGz878iQaG0U_gDWuRxV7zwqSLdOufEY1nXGiUk6D_9Rj-Q6cV6UgUXKfBW5yFclwWOv_xT3bR_a7BosJbzVk76wIA7X5K_ziCDq6c_Ux3nhuNdkD6sACqPgSdsQpJYpD7YC4/s640/20160610_163131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's hoping I can be more like my father than my mother when it comes to keeping plants alive! (My track record <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-wrong-with-my-plants.html" target="_blank">isn't </a>so <a href="http://beckyritta.blogspot.com/2010/03/short-weekend-short-week.html" target="_blank">good</a>.)<br />
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<b>5. <i>Anchor in the Storm </i>by Sarah Sundin</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v1rRsqkQU4kWv9i7bU0G9vPRpusapNlSsmo9LvDxJeVI8pDJgVLJQaikdwgO1xOuWmS8T3_pOsVMrv6tkva8PX7ZlS8gtUYfpzeckoGMuEX1kuf_U80XXbnsQO2voQsHI3bXAfP1DDMH/s1600/unnamed+%252873%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v1rRsqkQU4kWv9i7bU0G9vPRpusapNlSsmo9LvDxJeVI8pDJgVLJQaikdwgO1xOuWmS8T3_pOsVMrv6tkva8PX7ZlS8gtUYfpzeckoGMuEX1kuf_U80XXbnsQO2voQsHI3bXAfP1DDMH/s320/unnamed+%252873%2529.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Sarah Sundin is one of my top three authors. I absolutely devour everything she writes, and her latest book, <i>Anchor in the Storm</i>, released last month. <b>It is fantastic.</b> Set during World War II, it follows a young pharmacist who uncovers a drug ring that seems to be centered around the pharmacy she works at. Plus, there's great romance. Here's part of what I said in my review:<br />
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<b><i>Anchor in the Storm</i> </b>is a book that will captivate you from beginning to end while transporting you into the fascinating world of Boston during World War II. I loved every second I spent reading it, and I almost wish I could start it all over again!</blockquote>
Go <a href="http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/06/anchor-in-storm-by-sarah-sundin.html" target="_blank">here</a> to see the rest of my review.<br />
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<b>As usual, I'm linking up with <a href="http://tabanderika.blogspot.com/">Erika</a>, <a href="http://www.northcarolinacharm.com/">Christina</a>, and <a href="http://farmerbell.blogspot.com/">Karli</a>. What are some things you've been enjoying this week?</b><br />
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