Beach Music
Pat Conroy

This book tops one of my all time favorite books. I do not re-read books but I think that this is one that I will soon pick up and read again. It was not a short book and actually it took me an entire summer plus to read this book. I would pick it up, read a few chapter or read it for a few days and then put it down for a few weeks (of course I would read something in between) The more I got into the book the more I did not want it to end so the slower I read it. I felt as if I was apart of the book and the lives and I just wanted to keep living it.

I can't tell you what it was about this book exactly, maybe it was the style of writing, maybe it was the content of the story or the lure of the characters or of the descriptions if Italy. Or maybe it was a combination of all of that, but whatever it was, I found this book very moving and it has a very fond place in my heart.

The story is of a man and his daughter and their life after the death of his wife. The story explores family life, secrets and love. My description of this story could not do it justice so I will let you either check out the description online or read the book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Andrea: Wednesday Book Blog: Eclipse and Full Moon

Book 3 and 4 of the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

Eclipse and Breaking Dawn

Sorry to have missed last weeks book blog, but I was on vacation and did not have access to the Internet. Yes it was wonderful to be liberated from technology for a few days.

This week I am going to talk about both Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Mostly because I can't keep track of what happened in which book and it just seems like the right way to do it.

Eclipse, the 3rd book in the series took me longer to read than the first two. For some reason, I personally was not as captivated by this book as the first two, however it could have been a bunch of things, including reading the books all in a row - I may have just needed a bit of space from Bella, Edward and Jacobs world, and I was pretty busy with not as much time to read. But the book was very good and really set up things for the 4th book.

As you can see, I read the 4th book while on vacation. As I looked around the beach, I saw more sunbathers than not with one of the books from the series. One woman saw me reading Breaking Dawn and even stopped to talk to me about the book. Funny how a book about vampires can cause conversations with complete strangers.

Breaking Dawn was by far my favorite book of the series and as with the first 2 books, I blew right through all 700 and something pages in a few days (okay so being on vacation with nothing to do but read helped). So much happened and came together in this last book and the story is told a bit differently from the other books. In case you have not read it, I am not going to spoil it for you because it was a pleasant surprise for me. Reading the last book made the first three all the more better. These are books I wish I could read again for the first time. I can't wait to see the movie when it comes out on DVD on the 20th.

Until next week, happy reading.

Andrea: I did it!

I did it and I am so proud of myself. I just completed the 28 day detox and I have never felt better. My body feels cleaner and lighter and my clothes are fitting better than ever. I actually got into a pair of jeans I have not comfortably fit in for 2 years.

Aside from the wonderful health benefits, I am most proud of myself for not only sticking with it but sticking with it strong for 28 days. I did not cheat once, I kept to the proportions and serving sizes and did almost all of the recommended things to help with a detox (brushing my skin, lymphatic massage, exercise) and I learned so much, not only about healthy eating but about myself. One of the best things for me from this detox is proving to myself I can finish what I start and finish as strong as the day I started. No slacking and no giving in.

Go me and all the women that did the detox with me. Now I am going to go celebrate with a vacation for a few days on a sunny beach!

Andrea: Book Blog: Law of Attraction

Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't by Michael J. Losier


One day I was listening to an Oprah show on xm radio and I heard Michael Losier taking calls from listeners about how to practice the Law of Attraction. Now I have read The Secret and I find the Law of Attraction fascinating and have found that it really does work the more I put it into practice. However sometimes I felt like maybe I was missing something. Was I, in practical ways using it correctly? After listening to the show for about 20 minutes, I realized that Mr. Losier was giving people advice how to practice the law of attraction, not just the principals and the success stories, but he was actually giving advice as to how to practice it and the correct ways to think and say and live what you want from the universe.


I immediately ordered the book and could not wait for it to get here. A few days later it arrived and I picked up the book and did not put it down until I finished it. After learning the principals of the Secret, this book went one step further and taught me how to practice it. It even gave examples and you can download worksheets from the books website to help you. It took the mystery out of the law of attraction and gave me what I needed to use it more effectively. I definitely think this is a book worth reading if you have read The Secret, it takes it one step farther and I also think this is a great book to read if you want to learn about and how to practice the Law of Attraction.

Andrea: Wednesday Book Blog: The Necklace

The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment That Transformed Their Lives

By Cheryl Jarvis

A wonderful friend gave this book to Tracy and I for Christmas and said we had to read it. And she was right! This book was fabulous. I picked it up at 10pm one night with the intention of just reading one or 2 of the women's stories and stayed up until 1am reading this book. I could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book to any and every woman who wants to be inspired.

This book is the story of 13 women who purchase a diamond necklace together and share it throughout the year. It is utterly amazing how one necklace can bring a group of women together and what they were able to accomplish because of this necklace. Each chapter is the story of one of the necklace owners, what was going on their life before the necklace, why they bought into the necklace and how being apart of this group affected their lives.

I can't say enough good things about this book and I think that every women should read this and be inspired to find a group of women to bond with and to do something bigger than themselves with.

Thank you Kristen for sharing this book with me.

Andrea: Emptying the Wallet

You know the song It's Raining Men? Well it has not been raining men for me but I certainly have been bleeding money! In my head I hear those words to the music of it's raining men, and let me tell you when my head sings I am bleeding money, the next word is not hallelujah.

The last 2 weeks my wallet has seen an out flux of cash like it has not seen in quite some time. Of course like everyone else lately I thought I was trying to watch my money, and not watch it go out but watch it stay in. But for some reason that is has not been the case for me. When I look back at all the money I have spent, none or not very much of it has been frivoulous. Visits to doctors, car maintenance, joining a gym, so that helps, but geez, that is alot of money going out. One good thing I can say is that I did pay off my credit card, so I got that going for me.

At least I can know my money going out is going towards my February is For Me goals and I like to think or rationalize that all my spending is helping the economy. Okay off to buy a lotto ticket now. Cross your fingers for me.

Andrea: I am doing it!

I am doing it and I am so proud of myself. I joined the gym AND I went three times this week. I reached my goal my first week! Now to some of you that may not sound like a big deal or it may sound crazy, but for me that is big. Typically I do not enjoy going to the gym at all. But this time is different. Well so far, and I have high hopes it is going to remain different.

The first day I went, I went with Tracy, that helped too, it was my first time going to a new gym and I was definitely nervous and intimidated. Having a friend to go with really helped. I even found myself enjoying it. I think the new mix I put together on my ipod really helped as well.

The second day I went, I had my free consultation with a trainer. You know the one they give you whenever you join a new gym to try to convince you that you should hire a trainer. I thought cool, someone to show me how the machines work so I can use them eventually but no way am I spending the money and getting a trainer. I had it secure in my mind that I was not going to be "sold:. Well half way through the free session, I had pretty much made up my mind that I would get a trainer. I enjoyed the work out so much and knowing myself, I know I would never do any of the things shown to me on my own again. Despite the fact that I had it set in my head I was not going to do it, and it is an expenditure I had not planned on, I am really excited about it and look forward to the new, fun exercises as well as having a motivator and someone to help guide me. And I have to admit, thinking about bathing suit season looming on the horizon is definitely another motivator.

The third day, today, I was very tempted not to go. Tracy was not going and I did not have an appointment with a trainer and heck it is Saturday, but I made a promise to myself and I decided to stick with it, so I went. Of course I felt much better for going and for keeping my promise to myself. Week 1 success, week 2 here I come and looking forward to it!