Let's Pretend This Never Happened

What have you been doing the last ten years of your life? If you’re Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, you’ve been writing your memoir. Your twisted, bizarre and hysterically funny memoir. And for the last week or so you’ve been squeeing because it actually made the New York Times Bestseller list. Not too shabby.

I won a proof copy of Jenny’s book, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir, from the publisher. If I hadn’t, I would have paid money for it (which is saying something for a girl who has a love affair with her local library). It’s funny. It’s quirky. It’s totally Jenny. If you don’t read her blog… well I feel sorry for you. If you do, this book is a must read. So go, read it!

Let’s preface this by saying I’m not a huge fan of the memoir. I like the always-something-happening feel of a novel or the treasure trove of new facts in any kind of “informational” book. Memoirs, unless they are about someone famous (and someone famous that I actually care about), don’t particularly interest me much. So to say that I really loved this book is really saying something.

One of my favorite chapters is the one where Jenny tells stories about her time in Human Resources. People are bizarre, boys and girls (especially you boys), and if  you’re ever looking for a never-ending source bizarre but true tales, HR is the job for you. My other favorite chapter is about Jenkins, the jumbo quail (turkey) and his friends. They lived in Jenny’s front yard. The were horrible. And? Awesome. Because it’s just too weird not to be true.

I belly-laughed my way through this book. My husband thought I was insane. Given what I was laughing at, he might be right.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading The Bloggess, go and have a look. And if you want more, go buy this book. You will not be sorry.

About The Author: Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Posted by Megan G. for Buy-Her.com.

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I’m sort of a fan of superhero movies.  And it all started with Tobey McGuire in the Spider-Man movies (way back in 2002).  My husband was thrilled that I was willing to go see each movie as it came out.

Since I have had kids, my house is all superhero all the time.  I have one child obsessed with the Hulk, another with Iron Man… they all love Thor and Captain America and I’m afraid to admit how many times I have seen the Iron Man movies as their insistence.

But deep down I love them.

I didn’t admit it to my guys for the longest time, but I am dying to see the Marvel’s The Avengers movie, which hits theaters on May 4, 2012.  The countdown is on my friends.

For those not in the know, it’s the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Who can you expect to see?  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson.  Oh yeah.  Chris Hemsworth ladies!  I said it.

You can check out a little about the movie here.

I have exciting news!  We are doing an Avengers giveaway!  One of our lucky readers will get a prize pack consisting of:

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt in adult sizes (S, M, L, XL)

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

While the movie doesn’t open up till May 4th, you can follow up now with Marvel’s The Avengers on Twitter and Facebook.

(...)
Read the rest of Marvel’s The Avengers

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1)   I am a geek.  Or a nerd.  Whichever word works best for you.  I love to read, I love all things techie, and science fiction/fantasy and I are good friends.

2)   Given the first statement, this one may be a surprise:  I do NOT like Stephen King.  My imagination is far too vivid for the creepy things in most of his stories.

3)   My secret shame is that I am addicted to audio books.  Yup, you read that right.  If you see me listening to my IPhone, it most likely an audiobook that I’m tuned into.

Given that I’m addicted to my audiobooks, it should come as no surprise that I’m writing this review about a book that you should definitely listen to.  Like today.  Right now, even.

Given my aversion to Stephen King, it may surprise you to hear that the book I’m recommending is 11-22-63.

So why do I make an exception for this book?  Simply put, it’s a great story and not creepy at all.  The concept behind it is that a high school English teacher travels back through time with the purpose of trying to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  Think about it: if that one historic tragedy could be prevented, how different would today’s world be?  It’s a big and confusing thing to think about but King does a great job of telling the story in way that even the easily confused (namely, me, when it comes to time travel) can follow and understand.  What I didn’t expect was the love story that is also included in the narrative.  I know it’s cliché but I laughed, I cried, and now I want to listen to it again.  The narrator, Craig Wasson, does an amazing job of voicing the large number of characters, both male and female, in such a way that you know exactly who is speaking without being told.

11-22-63 was released last November and spent 17 weeks in the number one spot on the NY Times bestseller list and is still there, although further down.  It’s been getting great reviews in other places, too.  If you’re interested in the print version, you can get it from most major booksellers like Amazon where over 1,600 people have reviewed it and it gets 4 ½ stars.  I got my audio version through Audible.  The regular price is $52.50 but I have a membership and paid about $12 for 30 plus hours of an amazing listening experience.

Whether in print or in audio form, 11-22-63 is a thought-provoking story that deserves a good read.

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Fifty Shades of Grey.

You know you’ve heard about it.  Moms are whispering about it everywhere… from book clubs to coffee dates… to kid’s birthday parties.  True story.  The book by E.L. James that had (and still has) housewives running out to buy their husband a silver gray tie.  I didn’t pay much attention when I first started hearing the rumblings.  Then there was the clip on the Today show and I had to find out what it was all about for myself.

I downloaded the first last Friday to my tablet – the Kindle app.  Honestly I had planned to go to the bookstore last week and pick it up, then one of the boys got sick so I never made it.  Friday night I went to order them on Amazon but my husband showed me how to get them on the tablet.  As much as I love actual books, I have to admit I kind of liked the instant gratification of having it right.away.

HOT.BOOK.

I was done with it in less than 24 hours.  Not going to lie, some of the writing is a bit painful to get through.  If I had to hear any more about the main character Anastasia’s inner goddess or how her belly felt … well lets just say I give all that a big eye roll.  Yeah, I said it.

Fifty Shades of Grey follows Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.  Anastasia is graduating from college, sweet and inexperienced.  She goes in place of her roommate to interview Christian, a young handsome wealthy businessman.  And there is an instant connection.  He tries to push her away, while pursuing her at the same time.  The relationship she finds with him is complicated to say the least, and introduces her to the world of BDSM.  But can she handle it when she wants so much more from Christian?

Fifty Shades of Grey is quite graphic.  Not since I was 12 and my best friend and I were reading Jean M Auel’s Clan of the Cavebear (from the Earth’s Children series) has my jaw dropped reading a book.  And I should tell you my mom was strict.  Had she realized what I was reading there would have been none of that.  I mean there was even a time where she banned me from Blossom!  Joey would definitely give this a ‘Whoa!’  That being said, this is not a book you would want your teenage daughter (or son – I have 3 boys) reading.

But… after finishing that book, I had to start on the next one right.away.  Fifty Shades Darker.  Fifty Shades of Grey had a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I had to see what would happen.  Why was Christian the way he was, what happened in his past.  Would Anastasia stay, or run again.

In Fifty Shades Darker we uncover a bit more about Christian’s past, and Anastasia has to decide whether she can handle the women from Christian’s life who came before her.  Angry, envious… he had never fallen for a single one of them the way he has for Anastasia.  The end of Fifty Shades Darker sets up the next book.  Just who caused Christian’s plane to go down, who is after him?

The third and final book of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed was by far my favorite.  Fast paced, so much happening its hard to remember how little time is actually going by.  Anastasia finally learns everything there is to know about Christian and the truth is heartbreaking.  There were times I wanted to cry as the secrets about Christian’s life as a child spilled out.  In between the drama of Anastasia and Christian’s ever changing relationship, there is still someone out to get not only Christian, but his entire family.

While I have read some women started skimming just for the more erotic scenes, I found myself skipping through them a little in the last book because I really wanted to find out what was going on with the rest of the story.  And when its over?  E.L. James does something I found pretty cool.  She adds in some back story for you, after the last chapter.  Christian as a child, the story briefly told through his eyes upon meeting Anastasia.  And a hint as possibly more to come.

I loved every minute of these books.  I finished the entire trilogy in just 6 days, which is saying something with everything else going on.  I couldn’t put the books down.  While I am not loving them being deemed ‘mommy porn’, I definitely am recommending these books to everyone I know.  Trust me when I say you will not want to put them down.

You can get the entire trilogy on Amazon for the Kindle.  Right now Fifty Shades Darker is available for Pre-Order (and will not be released until April 17, 2012).

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Nook Color Puts The Fun Back In Reading

I have a confession to make: I don’t read nearly as much as I used to. There was time when I always had a book in the car and was constantly in the midst of one compelling story or another. Then life (and blogging) got in the way. Until my husband bought a Nook Color. I’d stayed away from e-readers because I love the feel of a book in my hands, particularly if it’s one of those weighty trade paperbacks, my personal favorite. An e-reader is just not the same.

But I’m finding that’s a good thing.

Five Great Things About The Nook Color

1. One little device replaces a whole (large) bookshelf worth of books. My office has one large and one smaller bookcase that are filled to the brim with books I’ve read – most several times, which is why they are still there. Since getting the Nook Color, the collection has stopped growing.
2. No more bookmarks. Although I finally found a bookmark that won’t fail me by sliding out and falling to the floor, leaving me to try to figure out where the heck I stopped reading, I still had to strap it in place. No more. Your place is always saved, without effort.
3. It’s backlit. I know the Kindle boasts about being easy to read in bright light, but the truth is I don’t read in bright light. If I do happen to venture to the beach, I sit under an umbrella with polarized sunglasses on. Glare is just not an issue. The backlight makes it easier to read in any kind of light. This way I don’t have to turn the light on inside while it’s still light outside, hence saving electricity so I can buy more books. Also? Reading by candlelight in the tub is totally possible (just be careful!).
4. You can still use the library. I haven’t bought many books lately; I’ve been trying to reserve my precious funds for things like new camera equipment and travel. The Nook Color can use Adobe’s Digital Editions (which is free) to borrow books from my local library. I don’t even have to go to the library, just download them from my home computer (as long as my library card is current).
5. It’s not just for reading. I use the Nook Color to watch episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” on Netflix when my husband is watching something I don’t want to watch. It’s awesome.

It holds a charge for a good long time (not as long if you watch a lot of video or surf the ‘Net – yes you can do that too!). While I still love the feel of an actual book, I’m warming up to the 21st century version quite nicely.

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Posted by Megan G. for Buy-Her.com.

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The Alphabet Series: The Beginning

The thing about a book series is that you get a chance to get comfortable with a character, to the point that they end up feeling like an old friend. I don’t know about you, but I love that. Sure, I love to read just about any book, but I don’t get as excited about any old book as I do about one that’s part of favorite series.

There are only a handful of series that I will actively seek out, and The Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton is one of them. It’s a great detective series for people who may not actually like detective series.

Four Reasons Why I Love The Alphabet Series

1. There are plenty of books. She’s not quite through all 26 letters yet, but her latest offering is V Is For Vengeance. That’s plenty of books to enjoy until the next new one comes out.

2. They are set in the 1980s. I am a child of the 80s, so I love the nostalgia. It’s worth noting that Grafton starting writing these in 1982, which is where the series starts. I think the latest is set in 1987. Anyway, I love reading about a time before computers and cell phones. It’s low-tech, but somehow it never feels dated to me.

3. They have a strong heroine. Probably one of my favorite things about this series is Kinsey Millhone, a 30-something PI that lives alone and likes it that way. She has a few flings along the way, but she doesn’t need a man to be complete. She’s can take care of herself, she knows how to pick a lock and love McDonald’s Quarter Pounders With Cheese. She’s a former cop who also knows how to bend the law when it suits her purposes. I love her and totally identify with her.

The Latest Kinsey Millhone Caper

4. They have just the right amount of twists and turns. They’re easy to follow, but not necessarily predictable. They focus on the lives of ordinary people, cases that a typical PI may actually come across in the course of a career. But they are not boring. There’s always plenty of action and danger to keep you interested and turning the pages.

5. They are set in Northern California. This beautiful area is the backdrop for most of the stories. While I’ve never been there, I feel as if I have. The area is almost another character; you get to know it over time.

This wildly popular series has been featured and mentioned in TV series and movies for years. There’s a reason for that: The books are good. I’ve read most of them several times and they never get old.

If you’re looking for a good, solid read, grab A Is For Alibi and see what you think. I’m willing to bet that before long your reader will look like alphabet soup.

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Posted by Megan G. for Buy-Her.com.

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Oh How I Love Bas Bleu!

Confession time: I love information. I like knowing things. And I love books, because they give me information. And that, my dears, is why I PPH Bas Bleu.

What’s that you say? What is a Bas Bleu? Bas bleu (baa blue) is French for blue stocking. And a bluestocking is a literary woman. What this lovely little site does is sell books. Odd little books. Quirky little books. Interesting little books, both fiction and non-fiction. Most of these books you probably have never heard of, but if you read them you’ll be damn glad you did. I get this catalog at my house every holiday season and I always make a nice l “I need to read this” list.

My Bas Bleu Wish List 2011

• Who Put The Devil In Deviled Eggs? The Fascinating Stories Behind America’s Favorite Foods
• Signing Their Lives Away
• Deadly Dictionaries
• How To Write A Sentence And How To Read One
• The Bible: A Biography
• The Thinker’s Thesaurus

In addition to books, they have some great gift ideas that will work for anyone in your life: paint your own watercolor postcard kits, Roman numeral candles, uncommon sticky notes and even toys and books for kids. There is something about this site that just makes me very happy. I think it’s a wonderful destination for the woman who wants something more than what the big box stores offer. I dare you to poke around and not find something you’d love have for your very own.

You can also join the Bas Bleu Society for $30 a year and get free shipping, 15% off most regular-priced items, discounted gift wrap and special offers via e-mail. Oh, and a nifty little membership card.

Oh, come on. You know you want one.

Featured photo credit

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Friday Find: Vintage Vinyl Journals

I have a THING for paper products, specifically notebooks and journals. I can’t make it out of my local Staples without slowing down in the fancy notebook aisle. Whether spiral or perfect bound, give me a notebook with a nice cover and some good, weighty paper and I’m in love. So imagine my joy when I received an e-mail from Vintage Vinyl Journals introducing themselves.

Dare I ask for a sample?

I did and they were gracious enough to oblige me. And when it arrived I died, went to Heaven and came back again. Not only was it beautifully bound and full of heavyweight paper, there was something very special about this journal. The front cover was Janet Jackson’s “Control” album and the back was art from the album cover.

A genuine vinyl record on the front...

Yes, you read that right. There was a record on the front of my journal. That’s what Vintage Vinyl Journals are all about. They take old-school vinyl record albums and repurpose them into journals. Not only is that a clever way to keep vintage records out of the landfill, it makes a great gift for someone old enough to appreciate the distinctive pop and hiss of music embedded in vinyl.

The journals are well-made and sturdy and contain 240 pages of unlined, acid-free paper with a sewn-in bookmark. You can choose from a variety of genres, from classics like Bing Crosby to legends like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin to newer artists like Taylor Swift. They’ll even make a custom journal for you, often at no extra charge (depending on how hard the album is to find – if you’re looking for Al Jolson, you’ll probably have to pay a premium).

...and album cover art on the back

These books make a great gift for just about anyone, but for music lovers in particular. And they work even if the recipient isn’t a journaler. I’m not a fan of writing on unlined paper, so I’ve been using my journal as an inspiration book for home decor projects (I’m always on the hunt and love to pull pictures of things I like) so my ideas are all in one place. Other uses I thought of:

° Scrapbook— grab one with an album from the year someone’s child was born and fill it with pictures and mementos.
° Birthday gift for an old friend—choose a record from your high school years (or however far back you go) and paste pictures and memorabilia from that time inside.
°Concert tickets – this would be a great way to document all the fun you had (if you’re one who saves these things).

The possibilities are just about endless!

Disclaimer: As I said, Vintage Vinyl Journals was kind enough to give me a journal to use. It was my choice to write about it because this is exactly the kind of thing that makes me indescribably happy. I hope it will make you happy too.

Posted by Megan G. for Buy-Her.com.

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The Digital Mom Handbook

I have to tell you about a book I waited four months for.  The Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home.

Never have I ever thought to pre-order a book.  My birthday was in March and The Digital Mom Handbook went right on my list when I heard about the pre-order.  My sister was cool enough to get it for me.  Tuesday night when the boys and I got home I was beyond excited to find it waiting in my door.  I perused the pages a bit before bed with every intent to start reading it in the morning.

Can I just say, not since the Twilight series have I been so excited to crack open a book?  (That should tell you something right there.)  It tends to take me weeks to get through a book with all the chaos at home.  Only the Twilight books did I read in a few hours over a few days.  Could not put it down.  Though totally different subject matter, The Digital Mom Handbook was the same way for me.  It took me the whole entire morning but I did not put it down once, and I dog eared several pages along the way so I could go back over them later.

This book more than spoke to me, it inspired me.  It discusses finding your passion, how to begin and what to do along the way.  It was written by Audrey McClelland of Momgenerations and Colleen Padilla of Classymommy.  They broke down everything into 7 basic steps… even including smaller things along the way, such as how to set up a Twitter or You Tube account in case you are new to that aspect of social media.  While I had already done several of the things they suggested, there were some I had overlooked.

What I loved most was reading Colleen and Audrey’s stories about how they got where they are, along with excerpts from many other bloggers.  The further in I read, the more excited I felt myself becoming.  For so many years I did not know what I wanted career wise.  It was only a little more than a year ago that I really realized this was it… but part of me wondered if I was too late to the game.  The Digital Mom Handbook made me feel like it’s not too late, that there is really room for all of us.

I should also tell you that I happen to know Audrey McClelland personally.  I nervously introduced myself to her at Style Week Providence last January.  She was incredibly nice.  The Digital Mom Handbook talks about finding a mentor.  I can say that for me, Audrey is that person.  When she barely knew me she emailed me the answers to my blogging questions when I didn’t know who else to ask.  She is beyond wonderful and I hope to have a career like her at some point.

If trying to get a career from blogging is something you are thinking about, this book is definitely for you.  Even if you just want a small crash course in all things social media, this is for you too.  The Digital Mom Handbook retails for $15.99 and can even be found for as low as $10.10 on Amazon.

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When Did I Get Like This? By Amy Wilson

You cruise along in your life, making decisions, getting things done, kicking life’s ass. And then one day you find yourself in a full-on panic because Chuck E. Cheese’s is booked on the day you planned your son’s birthday party and you don’t quite understand why you care so much. Amy Wilson‘s memoir, When Did I Get Like This? asks the very question that will inevitably go through your mind more times than you’ll care to admit once you’ve given birth. Or even thought that maybe it would fun to have a baby. Possibly.

For me it began when, after getting pregnant with scientific precision, I had a miscarriage. For Amy it began when she couldn’t accomplish what seems like a natural, easy thing: actually getting pregnant. Nothing makes you feel more like a failure than being unable to accomplish something 15-year-olds manage by accident in the back of some senior’s Mustang on a boring Saturday night. Except maybe actually having that baby.

I immediately bonded with Amy when I discovered she had the same distaste (pun intended) for What To Expect When You’re Expecting‘s now-defunct Best Odds Diet as I did. All through this book I found myself nodding my head along with her, from breastfeeding hysteria to knowing that something’s wrong with your child and everyone thinking you’re nuts to doing a really good job on something and having it go completely unnoticed and unremarked on (This, I believe, is the essence of motherhood: No one notices when you’re doing it right, but one bad moment and the whole world’s judging you).

The book is totally relatable; I can’t imagine a contemporary mother who hasn’t questioned both her maternal skills and her sanity after being assaulted with as much information and pressure to be “perfect” as we are subjected to on a daily basis. It’s about questioning every decision you make regarding your children and wondering frequently how in the hell your mother managed to get through your entire childhood without a stack of parenting books by her side (Hint: it’s because she didn’t have a stack of parenting books by her side). It’s about wanting to do what’s best for your kids and never really being sure exactly what that is. It’s the recognition that insanity has become the new sanity and none of us seems to be immune.

But what saves Amy, I think, is her sense of humor, her ability to see the insanity and identify it even while indulging in it. It’s the only sane thing to do, really.

Knowing you’re not alone is half the battle. If you’re a mom, go get this book. If you want to be a mom, go get this book.

You won’t be sorry.

Posted by Megan G. for Buy-Her.com.

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