Name: Adam Pascal
Age: 40
Location: United States
Status: Married
♥: the blond lashes, the distress, the scowl, the temper, the ignition
Stalk him: Me and Larry official website
Monday, January 10, 2011
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pajamas by Judy Parkinson
Judy Parkinson
Page Count: 176
Release Date: 30 September, 2010
Publisher: Reader's Digest
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publicist, FSB Media, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!!)
Strike while the iron's hot and bone up on the origins of your favorite expressions. Cat got your tongue? Well, for Pete's sake, use this collection of colorful expressions to enrich your everyday speech. This book spills the beans on our best-loved euphemisms and most curious sayings, explaining their fascinating origins and the remarkable stories that surround them. It rounds up the usual suspects—the catch phrases, quotations, and expressions that keep our language flourishing—and makes them easy to find in a convenient A-to-Z format.What an absolute delight! You don't know how ecstatic I was to be able to review Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pajamas by Judy Parkinson. I love word reference books like these—read them on a train, a bus, whatever, and be able to enjoy it all the way through! The alphabetical listing is so facile; I can look up my favorite euphemisms and scan through the book to catch interesting words, and since there were no chapters like most reference books, I am satisfied with reading about just one phrase, and am able to move on to the next. Maybe it's because of my love for the English language, or maybe it's just because I'm such a curious person, but it was fascinating to learn about common, everyday phrases I normally say without second thought. Each article would list the definition of the expression, its origin, and sometimes even a direct quotation from the said source. In honor of the book, I'll give you excerpts on the two title expressions, as well as my all-time favorite :
Did you know that...
- The expressions all that glitters is not gold and apple of the eye have each been in use for more than a thousand years?
- To bark up the wrong tree comes from the sport of raccoon hunting?
- Embarrassed parents can thank the songwriter Cole Porter for the euphemism the birds and the bees?
Spill the Beans
The expression beans "to let on," to tell all—perhaps prematurely, to an eager audience, to give away a secret, or "to let the cat out of the bag" (which is evidently, a whole nother story).
There are various explanations for the derivation, one of the most colorful being that it may have originated at the turn of the twentieth century as a euphemism for vomiting, because beans represent basic food.
Another possibility is that the phrase comes from the ancient Greek voting practices, where black and white beans were used to represent agreement and disagreement with the issue being voted on. Each voter put one bean into a pot or helmet and the result was revealed by spilling the beans.
The Cat's Pajamas
This colloquialism first surfaced in the 1920s to describe something or someone superlatively good or top-notch and has retained its meaning for almost a hundred years.
Alternative sources suggest that the phrase may come from an early nineteenth-century English tailor E. B. Katz, who apparently made the finest silk pajamas, though there is little evidence to prove this is true.
Cute as a Button
To be charming, pretty, or attractive in a dainty way, almost always with the connotation of being small.
This often used simile sounds odd when you think about it. After all, how is it that a button is cute? That's debatable. Some say the "button" referred to here is not the kind you find on a shirt but actually the flower bud on a bachelor's button. Others insist the phrase refers to the button quail, and adorable little gray, fluffy bird.
Definitely one of the most entertaining reference books I've had the privilege of picking up. Totally recommend it!
Radical Rating: 9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Definitely one of the most entertaining reference books I've had the privilege of picking up. Totally recommend it!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
❤author: Elaine Cantrell Interview and Giveaway!
It's my pleasure to welcome author, Elaine Cantrell to the blog today. Elaine, will you please share a short bio with us? I’d be delighted to! I’m a Southern girl, born and raised in upstate South Carolina. I say "ya’ll", which is always plural, and I like grits. I graduated from Clemson University with a BA in secondary education and went back for a Master’s degree in personnel services. I’m a member of Alpha Delta, Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators, Romance Writer’s of America, and EPIC Authors. My second novel A New Leaf was the winner of the 2003 Timeless Love Contest and was published by Oak Tree Books in 2004. I’m still teaching social studies at our local high school, and in my spare time, if there is any, I like to read, play with my grandchildren, and collect vintage Christmas ornaments. You can see my vintage collection in my Facebook photos at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=10000015304148.
As a girl with Southern roots, I can completely relate to your "ya'll" thing! :) Tell us some more about your books.
My books are all traditional romances. By that, I mean there’s no explicit sex in them. People do go to bed together, it’s just I don’t give a blow by blow account of it. I prefer the plot to drive the story, not the sex. When people read my work I want them to come away feeling good about the story and also feeling as if something wonderful could happen to them as well as it did to the characters. I just love that breathless, heart-pounding anticipation of a new relationship!
Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.
He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.
Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?
So many people would say traditional romances are boring, but Elaine's stories are anything but that! I got the opportunity to read Purple Heart, and let me tell you: it was AMAZING! Read the full review here! When and why did you begin writing, Elaine?
LOL. That’s an interesting question. I started writing because of my son. He came home one day and told me he had written a book. Who can describe the pleasure and pride in a mother’s heart at that moment? He told me he had always made up stories in his head to amuse himself, so he thought he might as well write them down. After I picked myself up off the floor, I told him that I had always done the same thing, so I sat myself down at my computer to see if I could write. I bet I stared at that blank screen for ten minutes before I remembered that I had a delete key, and if I didn’t like what I wrote I could start over. Since that time I’ve never looked back. I write now because it’s a compulsion. I’ve even been known to take my computer with me on vacation.
I finished my first book in record time, and I just loved it! The poor hero went through so many awful things before he found happiness, but to my surprise nobody liked my work. My husband didn’t want the hero to lose his leg in an accident, and my friends said my heroine wasn’t any fun because she was a good girl. Well! I didn’t care if they liked it or not. I just wrote another book, and as luck would have it, they liked this one better.
About the time I finished it, a small publisher was sponsoring a writing contest. The first prize in the contest was publication of your book. At the last minute I sent my manuscript off. Then, I forgot about it. Imagine my surprise when the phone rang about four months later, and the publisher informed me I had won the contest. I had just taken a carton of ice cream out of the freezer, but I was so thrilled I left it on the counter where it melted and made a tremendous mess. I had to clean it up, but I was too thrilled to care. That book was A New Leaf, and it’s published by Oak Tree Press.
A dream come true! How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories?
Probably even more than I realize. Some of the things that happen to my characters actually happened to me, and sometimes I recognize one of my own qualities in a character, but I’m
sure my personality bleeds through into everything I write. In A New Leaf, for example, the
sure my personality bleeds through into everything I write. In A New Leaf, for example, the
house that my hero and heroine bought is really my son’s house.
What are your biggest motivations for writing?
I can’t paint or sculpt, and I’m not musical, but I can tell a story that people enjoy reading, and that gives me serious pleasure. I’ve loved books from the time I was just a little girl, and to actually see my own name on a cover still stuns me.
Which books, do you think, have most influenced your life and your writing the most?
As a child I read anything I could get my hands on. Louisa May Alcott was one of my favorites, and I think I picked up some wisdom about life there. I was crazy about horses so I read Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books. From them I picked up some ideas for action and adventure plots. I also loved the Anne of Green Gables books. They’re just so well done! As an adult, Danielle Steele and Elizabeth Peters are at the top of my list. I learned both life lessons and writing lessons from all of the the above authors and many more besides.
What books are on your nightstand right now?
LOL. I’m reading Elizabeth Peters's new one -- A River in the Sky. I also just finished Juliet by Anne Fortier which was a fabulous book. I liked it so much I reviewed it on my blog.
Haven't read either yet, but have got to check em out! What’s the most challenging aspect of writing?For me, it’s gotta be the promotion. I can write the story, but I’m such an introvert it scares me to put myself out there in front of God and everybody.
Easiest?
Getting started. When I start a new book, I can’t type fast enough to get the words on paper.
LOL. I have to revise later, but it’s totally thrilling to begin a new book.
And the most rewarding?
Oh, this one’s easy. The most rewarding part is having a reader tell you that they liked your book. Seriously folks, if you enjoyed an author’s work, let them know it. It makes our day.
Describe your books in three words.
Fast-paced. Exciting. Believable.
What’s the most interesting comment you have ever received about your books?
I guess the most recent thing is a review for my latest book Return Engagement. The reviewer called it a page turner that was filled with conflict and intrigue, but she only gave me a 3 ½ out of 5 because she didn’t like my characters. I’ve thought about why she didn’t like them, and I’ve decided it’s because they are anything but stereotypical. They’re real people who make mistakes, and I showed all of their little warts and quirks. Sometimes romance readers don’t want to see the warts and flaws.
I personally loved that aspect of your writing. Perfection is overrated, and flaws are what makes characters real. To make a reader enjoy the book even with imperfect characters, is a huge achievement. What's next for you?
In June I have a new release coming out. It’s tentatively titled Jilted! That wasn’t the first title, but the title I wanted sounded very similar to a book that recently came out, and the publisher didn’t want anyone to confuse the two. After that, I guess I’ll get to work on a new book. It’s sequel to Return Engagement, and it’s practically written already, but I have some revisions to do before I submit it.
I'll be waiting on its release! Where can you be found on the web?
Web page: http://www.elainecantrell.com
Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
I’d like to invite them to check out my website where they can read some excerpts of my work. I also have a couple of short stories posted for my readers. Then, I’d love to know which one they liked best and why.
Thank you for being here today! Readers, Elaine is kind enough to give away a nice set of beautiful metal bookmarks to one lucky commenter. One is in the shape of a purple heart; so very fitting!
All you have to do is:
- Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.
- Answer Elaine's question in a comment on THIS post. Remember to leave your email address so you can be contacted when you win!
For another special treat, everyone who leaves comment on my review of Purple Heart will be entered to win a copy of their book of choice from my booklist. Commenters must be following this blog and should include their email address as well. All comments must be meaningful. Comments containing only "Hi, great interview" or "Please enter me in this contest" will not be eligible in the giveaway!
Winners will be chosen at random on Sunday, January 16th, 2011 at 11.59 pm EST. Winners have three days to claim their prize. After three days, a new winner will be drawn. Good luck!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Lies the Government Told You by Andrew P. Napolitano
Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
Page Count: 368
Release Date: 2 March, 2010
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Source: Complimentary copy provided by BookSneeze in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
You've been lied to by the government.With emphasis both on government and on U.S. history, two topics I take interest in, this book thoroughly awed me. Using laws present in our own U.S. Constitution, as well as accurate historical information acknowledged by most American citizens, Napolitano criticizes and picks apart the flaws present in a government that to say in the least, is hypocritical.
We shrug off this fact as an unfortunate reality. America is the land of the free, after all. Does it really matter whether our politicians bend the truth, here and there?
When the truth is traded for lies, our freedoms are diminished and don't return.
In Lies the Government Told You, Judge Andrew P. Napolitano reveals how America's freedom, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, has been forfeited by a government more protective of its own power than its obligations to preserve our individual liberties.
Many of Napolitano's examples include Obama, the current war, and today's problematic economic system. I found both positive and negative aspects in this. Positive: the book was easy to comprehend and relate to, since it discussed stories I hear everyday from peers and on the news. Negative: the economy and government can change swiftly, so I don't expect this book to be considerably timeless.
The only reason my rating isn't higher is because of Napolitano's writing style. He didn't have poor grammar or anything, but reading Lies the Government Told You felt like reading a cross between a self-help book and a history textbook, which personally is not my cup of tea. For a nonfiction constitutional law and social politics title, it was pretty satisfactory, though.
Stephanie Loved: Below, are the seventeen lies Napolitano presents. Take some time thinking about how they are said but unjustified in the American government. Your mind will be blown:
- "All men are created equal"
- "All men ... are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights"
- "Judges are like umpires"
- "Every vote counts"
- "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech"
- "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"
- "Your body is your temple"
- "The federal reserve shall be controlled by Congress"
- "It's only a temporary government program"
- "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"
- "We are winning the war on drugs"
- "Everyone is innocent until proven guilty"
- "The Constitution applies in good times and in bad times"
- "Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars"
- "We don't torture"
- "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, shall not be violated"
- "America has a free market"
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Purple Heart by Elaine Cantrell
Elaine Cantrell
Page Count: 152
Release Date: 5 June, 2009
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Complimentary copy from author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)
Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.
He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.
Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?
What Stephanie Thought: Elaine Cantrell is a new author for me. When given the opportunity to read Purple Heart, I accepted, being a fan of the independent romance publisher. 152 pages and two hours later, I was happy I had.
Purple Heart is a heartwarming, poignant tale that bends the rules of common manners and tests the shallow capacity of our American society. Mike Hightower, a handsome Purple Heart recipient for the war-wounds he attained while serving in Iraq, still holds bitterness against the Iraqis, even a year later after the death of his fellow soldier and good friend, Ramirez. He blames the entire Middle Eastern race for what happened to his comrade, and when returning home to Eden's Crossing after serving, is put at much unease when discovering his landlady and cohabitant of the new duplex he's renting is Lebanese.
It was really uncomfortable for me to read Mike's thoughts. His hatred toward Jenna—a perfectly polite and welcoming neighbor—was based solely off her ethnicity, which is definitely a touchy subject, especially in our country. On the other hand, I could understand his resentment, and enjoyed being able to see his attitude towards Middle Easterns change as he realized that not all of them were terrorists. In fact, I would have thought this book to be extremely prejudice, had not his opinion change as he found himself falling for Jenna more and more everyday.
Jenna West, the protagonist of the novel—I loved her. So maternal and affectionate in character, and still an exceptionally hard worker, she is exactly the kind of woman I enjoy reading about; one with morals, charm, and most importantly, persistence. Her little daughter, Jo is adorable too. With precious naïvete, she brought both tears to my eyes, and laughter to my heart.
The turning point of the novel is when Jo is taken away by social services, under the accusation that Jenna, by her precarious father-in-law (father of her late husband, Ethan), was a neglecting and unfit mother for the little girl. Mike, sensing Jenna's anguish and disarray, does everything in his willpower to help her get Jo back, and in the process, becomes conscious of how much he actually cares about her and Jo, coming to senses that a single aspect of a certain ethnicity does not define the entire ethnicity itself.
Purple Heart is a delectable story that universally shows to the reader, any reader, that true love is always out there for everyone, only if one's heart is open and willing. After all, as Jenna's mother told her, you always catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar. Purple Heart is a book you don't want to miss.
Special Interview
Elaine was kind enough to stop by Books à la Mode and answer a few questions for us. Read the interview here!
Radical Rating: 9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Friday, January 7, 2011
and here we run again ❤
A classic.
You know, there was a point in time when I swore I'd marry this guy. And that was like three weeks ago, but hey, at least I've stopped stalking him on Youtube. Maybe.
You know, there was a point in time when I swore I'd marry this guy. And that was like three weeks ago, but hey, at least I've stopped stalking him on Youtube. Maybe.
Name: Kurt Schneider
Age: 22
Location: United States
Status: regardless of his status, he's a collegeboy, which guarantees his attendance of endless frat parties, beer-pong parties, let's-have-sex-with-random-people parties, etc.
♥: the big brown eyes, the nerdiness, the talent, the HE GOES TO YALE
Stalk him: KurtHugo on Myspace
Sunday, January 2, 2011
just in time ❤
Walked into my room today, and was greeted with this:
Yeah. Just to give you a sense of ground perception, that's about two feet of books. Everywhere. In the end, it turned out pretty well because I realized it was a new year and I had been meaning to declutter my sagging bookshelf anyway. So now I've got this large box of books I need to donate to Goodwill, or the library, or Sunnyside. Whatever. You know.
It was fun looking through all the good, the bad, and the haven't-been-picked-up-since-fifth-grade. No doubt I'm going to have to do it all over again come mid-February, though ❤
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