I don't really have very much to say about this book. It was just OK. It was tough to get through because it just dragged on at times. I ended up skipping paragraphs. I think it's bad when you can skip paragraphs and not miss anything in the story, that shows me the author is too wordy and could probably have shorten the book.
The format of the story was very interesting though and I enjoyed the twist at the end as well. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars which is my "meh, it was okay" rating. Not exceptional but had a good ending.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Quilt for QOV
I began working on my quilt for the QOV foundation. I'm fairly pleased with my nine-patches. Could be a little tighter but considering this was my first time doing them I am pretty pleased.
These came out a smidge smaller than they should have so I will have to resize the next part which is the border for these nine-patches. I had started to sew the borders on but there are color blocks that aren't matching up with these nine-patches and I just can't have that. It's pretty off and is bothering me so I will need to resize them so it looks good.
This is for the Quilts of Valor Foundation so I don't want to it to look bad.
Everytime I sew I can see areas where I need improvement. It's a learning process the whole time but I am getting better and will continue to get better. I enjoy quilting and plan on doing it the rest of my life.
This is for the Quilts of Valor Foundation so I don't want to it to look bad.
Everytime I sew I can see areas where I need improvement. It's a learning process the whole time but I am getting better and will continue to get better. I enjoy quilting and plan on doing it the rest of my life.
The True Beginning
I never did any of the shows in Middle School, I was WAY too shy to get cast in anything. Plus the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) teacher directed the plays and 9 times out of 10 she would cast her students, which I was not.
Determined to break out of my shell I decided to take drama in high school my freshman year. Our drama teacher was awesome. He was this funny little man with messed up hair and smelled like coffee ALL the time. Made sense since he was always super hyper.
He cast me in the lead of "I Remember Mama" my first semester! I was nervous as heck but he helped me through it. It was only a small portion of the show so that helped. I did pretty good for a first timer. For the spring show he asked me to be the Stage Manager for Steel Magnolias. I was more than happy to do so. I was not ready to act in a full length show. However, the girl that played Clairee was also on the varsity track team and was at a track meet in Santa Maria, CA, the high school was in Ventura, CA and Santa Maria is a couple hours away. She should have made it back in time but there was a horrible accident on the 101 that day that delayed her by HOURS. By showtime she was still not at the theatre. The show must go on so since I knew most of the lines and the blocking, they dressed me up, put some makeup on me and threw a script inside a magazine so I could use it while onstage. AGH!!!!!!
But I did it. Luckily I only had to do it for 1 act, thank goodness! I was shaking soooooo much but the rest of the cast was so supportive and helped me the whole way. By doing this I was free of my shell and the following year was able to perform on my own in Our Town as Mrs. Stimson, the music teacher. (We had to do cross-gender casting often since boys at my school didn't think drama was cool). My senior year was my favorite performance of my high school career though. We did The Man Who Came to Dinner and I was the doctor. I made my role the comedic relief and it worked. Had such a great time doing that show.
My stage fright and shyness had pretty much disappeared at that point. In looking back on my choice to following acting I am glad I did it because without it I don't know if I would be where I am today. I currently work as a Contracts Negotiator and without the skills I learned in acting I don't think I would be as successful as I am today. I wouldn't have the courage or confidence to speak in front of others and have conviction in what I believe in. So I am forever thankful for the time spent in developing those skills so I can be successful today.
Determined to break out of my shell I decided to take drama in high school my freshman year. Our drama teacher was awesome. He was this funny little man with messed up hair and smelled like coffee ALL the time. Made sense since he was always super hyper.
He cast me in the lead of "I Remember Mama" my first semester! I was nervous as heck but he helped me through it. It was only a small portion of the show so that helped. I did pretty good for a first timer. For the spring show he asked me to be the Stage Manager for Steel Magnolias. I was more than happy to do so. I was not ready to act in a full length show. However, the girl that played Clairee was also on the varsity track team and was at a track meet in Santa Maria, CA, the high school was in Ventura, CA and Santa Maria is a couple hours away. She should have made it back in time but there was a horrible accident on the 101 that day that delayed her by HOURS. By showtime she was still not at the theatre. The show must go on so since I knew most of the lines and the blocking, they dressed me up, put some makeup on me and threw a script inside a magazine so I could use it while onstage. AGH!!!!!!
But I did it. Luckily I only had to do it for 1 act, thank goodness! I was shaking soooooo much but the rest of the cast was so supportive and helped me the whole way. By doing this I was free of my shell and the following year was able to perform on my own in Our Town as Mrs. Stimson, the music teacher. (We had to do cross-gender casting often since boys at my school didn't think drama was cool). My senior year was my favorite performance of my high school career though. We did The Man Who Came to Dinner and I was the doctor. I made my role the comedic relief and it worked. Had such a great time doing that show.
My stage fright and shyness had pretty much disappeared at that point. In looking back on my choice to following acting I am glad I did it because without it I don't know if I would be where I am today. I currently work as a Contracts Negotiator and without the skills I learned in acting I don't think I would be as successful as I am today. I wouldn't have the courage or confidence to speak in front of others and have conviction in what I believe in. So I am forever thankful for the time spent in developing those skills so I can be successful today.
Friday, February 7, 2014
100 Books to read in a lifetime
Amazon put together a list of 100 Books to read in a lifetime. Seems like a pretty good list.
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=8192263011
I have only read 20 of them. That's not too bad. Looks like I have some reading to do. ;)
Currently I am reading Sister: A Novel by Rosamund Lupton which is NOT on the list, haha.
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=8192263011
I have only read 20 of them. That's not too bad. Looks like I have some reading to do. ;)
Currently I am reading Sister: A Novel by Rosamund Lupton which is NOT on the list, haha.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
How I got into acting
I started to write this post with the intention of starting to talk about when I started acting in middle school but I realized that it actually started prior to that. I think we are all actors as children, playing make believe and what not, so I'm not going to start there. I believe it started in fifth grade for me. I don't remember if I did it for an assignment or if it was just for fun but I wrote my first play in the 5th grade. It was based on a dream I had had but also a bit on true life.
The play was called "The Day the Unicorns Came" and it was about a little girl who lived in the country (even though I lived in a beach town, the country seemed to make sense for the story) and was sad and lonely most of the time. Her family was always upset or sad about something and despite her efforts to bring happiness to her family, home life was a little depressing. The farm was struggling and the family was broke. One day this little girl spots a beautiful white horse in the field and upon approaching it she notices the horse has a horn, but she is the only one that can see it. I don't remember all the details of the story but in the end the unicorn saved the family. It helped the fields grow and it helped the family become more of a family and the girl wasn't lonely anymore. Of course the unicorn couldn't stay because it was only there to bring happiness to the family so the little girl had to say goodbye but she was much happier now.
My childhood was tense most of the time. There was always tension in the house, someone was always mad at someone else and you could cut through the tension with a knife if someone didn't bite your hand off first. I didn't like drama. I hated the fighting. I dreamed of a loving and kind family all the time but that was a pipe dream. And I had had a dream that a unicorn came and made my life happy and brought my family closer together so that's where I got the idea for the play.
So in fifth grade, for whatever reason, I wrote this play and casted it with fellow classmates and we rehearsed and then performed it in front of the class.
I had almost forgotten about that until this morning. I think that is where my acting career truly started. :)
The play was called "The Day the Unicorns Came" and it was about a little girl who lived in the country (even though I lived in a beach town, the country seemed to make sense for the story) and was sad and lonely most of the time. Her family was always upset or sad about something and despite her efforts to bring happiness to her family, home life was a little depressing. The farm was struggling and the family was broke. One day this little girl spots a beautiful white horse in the field and upon approaching it she notices the horse has a horn, but she is the only one that can see it. I don't remember all the details of the story but in the end the unicorn saved the family. It helped the fields grow and it helped the family become more of a family and the girl wasn't lonely anymore. Of course the unicorn couldn't stay because it was only there to bring happiness to the family so the little girl had to say goodbye but she was much happier now.
My childhood was tense most of the time. There was always tension in the house, someone was always mad at someone else and you could cut through the tension with a knife if someone didn't bite your hand off first. I didn't like drama. I hated the fighting. I dreamed of a loving and kind family all the time but that was a pipe dream. And I had had a dream that a unicorn came and made my life happy and brought my family closer together so that's where I got the idea for the play.
So in fifth grade, for whatever reason, I wrote this play and casted it with fellow classmates and we rehearsed and then performed it in front of the class.
I had almost forgotten about that until this morning. I think that is where my acting career truly started. :)
Acting Stories
I decided to add another section to my Blog for your reading enjoyment. From Junior year of high school to about 5 years ago I wanted to be an actress. It was all I thought about. I focused on it for about 10 years and then decided I didn't want to do it anymore and quit cold turkey. I just wasn't happy with it anymore. It made me depressed more than it made me happy so I felt it wasn't the right life choice for me. I'm happy with my decision so there are no regrets.
But there were a lot of great stories and I feel like telling them and what better place to do so than on my blog. I hope you enjoy! :)
I will be posting my first story shortly.
But there were a lot of great stories and I feel like telling them and what better place to do so than on my blog. I hope you enjoy! :)
I will be posting my first story shortly.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Garbiel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard
This book was the second installment of the Gabriel's Inferno trilogy by Sylvain Reynard. I have to say I was quite disappointed in this one.
SPOILER ALERT
I had hoped this book would be more about their relationship and would dive deeper into their issues but I felt that if any issues were brought up it fizzled out too quickly. It got a little intense when the two of them were going through the "trial" at the University but I have to say even that was a tad too dull. I wanted him to stand up and fight for her. After finishing the book I see now why he didn't but still there was just something missing in that entire exchange. It seemed highly unlikely that she would have missed the cues he was giving her that he wasn't leaving her. She was too smart to not pick up on that. And the fact that nothing happened to Christa was a disappointment. Also, the thing with Paulina seemed to fizzle out too quickly. I thought for sure Paulina was going to wreak more havoc on their relationship but she just seemed to disappear. I feel like Juliette forgave Gabriel too quickly, was hoping her and Paul would have developed more of a relationship and then have Gabriel come back and fight for her. That would have made for a more interesting story. The proposal and marriage of the two main characters was lackluster and boring.
This series fizzled out a bit with this one. I will probably read the third installment just to see how their story ends but probably won't read it for some time. Need a break from the cheese factor.
SPOILER ALERT
I had hoped this book would be more about their relationship and would dive deeper into their issues but I felt that if any issues were brought up it fizzled out too quickly. It got a little intense when the two of them were going through the "trial" at the University but I have to say even that was a tad too dull. I wanted him to stand up and fight for her. After finishing the book I see now why he didn't but still there was just something missing in that entire exchange. It seemed highly unlikely that she would have missed the cues he was giving her that he wasn't leaving her. She was too smart to not pick up on that. And the fact that nothing happened to Christa was a disappointment. Also, the thing with Paulina seemed to fizzle out too quickly. I thought for sure Paulina was going to wreak more havoc on their relationship but she just seemed to disappear. I feel like Juliette forgave Gabriel too quickly, was hoping her and Paul would have developed more of a relationship and then have Gabriel come back and fight for her. That would have made for a more interesting story. The proposal and marriage of the two main characters was lackluster and boring.
This series fizzled out a bit with this one. I will probably read the third installment just to see how their story ends but probably won't read it for some time. Need a break from the cheese factor.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
South Coast Winery in Temecula, CA
Last August I took my mom to Temecula for wine tasting and relaxation for her birthday. My aunt suggested South Coast Winery so we decided to follow her recommendation.
The wine country of Temecula is tucked back in the hills away from the freeway and it is quite lovely. Different topographically from Napa Valley. It's much more open with low rolling hills as opposed to the mountainous green valleys of Napa. Napa feels much more spread out and can be overwhelming for a first timer. Temecula is more compact and easier to navigate as there are only a few wineries.
South Coast Winery is about in the middle, and is quite impressive. It is a resort and spa as well as a winery. The winery is in the front and a hotel sits behind it with luxury villas tucked in the back amongst the vines. We stayed in the Villas and it was wonderful. Each Villas is a stand alone building with private patios, some of the Villas have patios that overlook the vineyards but ours did not. The rooms are suites with eating area and sitting area equipped with a gas fireplace, mini fridge and the basic hotel room amenities. The bathroom is glamorous with marble flooring, a Jacuzzi tub and large shower with multiple shower heads. Luxurious. The beds were super soft and comfortable.
Our first morning we decided to order room service and eat on the lovely patio. The only problem I had with our stay was the room service took a VERY long time to arrive and when it did the food was cold. We sent it back, got a refund and decided to eat at the restaurant. The food was delicious however and sitting on the outside patio of the restaurant was great so it wasn't too bad. Great food in the restaurant, large portions and very tasty.
We planned our wine tasting to go to four wineries nearby and then end up at our own hotels winery that way if we were feeling the wine we could just head back to our room and crash. I bought one bottle of wine at two different wineries that we visited but when we got to South Coast the wine was exceptional and I decided to join the wine club. The vibe of the tasting room was much more fun and laid back. The Sommelier was funny and gave us extra tastings. We felt much more at ease and welcome at South Coast.
Since I liked the wine so much I decided to join the wine club. It was better priced than the other wineries and since the winery had a resort and spa attached to it there were extra benefits to being a wine club member that the other wineries didn't offer; such as discounts on hotel stays, restaurant visits, spa packages, gift shop, free tastings, and member exclusive events. It was more bang for your buck and for good wine. Definitely worth it.
Every quarter there is a new selection of wine ready for pick up or delivery. I had not picked up my November wines and the February wines were ready for pickup so this past Sunday my friend Catherine and I took a trip to South Coast to pickup my wine and do some wine tasting. I got my three bottles for November, 3 bottles for February and my one Holiday bottle so I walked out with 7 bottles of wine! Oh my! My wine fridge is loaded up. Better get drinking to make room for more wine.
If you are ever in the Temecula area I highly recommend South Coast Winery. Wilson Creek winery was also good but South Coast was the best.
The wine country of Temecula is tucked back in the hills away from the freeway and it is quite lovely. Different topographically from Napa Valley. It's much more open with low rolling hills as opposed to the mountainous green valleys of Napa. Napa feels much more spread out and can be overwhelming for a first timer. Temecula is more compact and easier to navigate as there are only a few wineries.
South Coast Winery is about in the middle, and is quite impressive. It is a resort and spa as well as a winery. The winery is in the front and a hotel sits behind it with luxury villas tucked in the back amongst the vines. We stayed in the Villas and it was wonderful. Each Villas is a stand alone building with private patios, some of the Villas have patios that overlook the vineyards but ours did not. The rooms are suites with eating area and sitting area equipped with a gas fireplace, mini fridge and the basic hotel room amenities. The bathroom is glamorous with marble flooring, a Jacuzzi tub and large shower with multiple shower heads. Luxurious. The beds were super soft and comfortable.
Our first morning we decided to order room service and eat on the lovely patio. The only problem I had with our stay was the room service took a VERY long time to arrive and when it did the food was cold. We sent it back, got a refund and decided to eat at the restaurant. The food was delicious however and sitting on the outside patio of the restaurant was great so it wasn't too bad. Great food in the restaurant, large portions and very tasty.
We planned our wine tasting to go to four wineries nearby and then end up at our own hotels winery that way if we were feeling the wine we could just head back to our room and crash. I bought one bottle of wine at two different wineries that we visited but when we got to South Coast the wine was exceptional and I decided to join the wine club. The vibe of the tasting room was much more fun and laid back. The Sommelier was funny and gave us extra tastings. We felt much more at ease and welcome at South Coast.
Since I liked the wine so much I decided to join the wine club. It was better priced than the other wineries and since the winery had a resort and spa attached to it there were extra benefits to being a wine club member that the other wineries didn't offer; such as discounts on hotel stays, restaurant visits, spa packages, gift shop, free tastings, and member exclusive events. It was more bang for your buck and for good wine. Definitely worth it.
Every quarter there is a new selection of wine ready for pick up or delivery. I had not picked up my November wines and the February wines were ready for pickup so this past Sunday my friend Catherine and I took a trip to South Coast to pickup my wine and do some wine tasting. I got my three bottles for November, 3 bottles for February and my one Holiday bottle so I walked out with 7 bottles of wine! Oh my! My wine fridge is loaded up. Better get drinking to make room for more wine.
If you are ever in the Temecula area I highly recommend South Coast Winery. Wilson Creek winery was also good but South Coast was the best.
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