The Book Club Blog

Books for any occasion and other life stuff

Back to Reality

What a Lovely holiday I have had! In fact, I have managed to get into the zone and I have to admit that I could do with a little longer…. Though I fear if I did have any longer, my belly would so not be happy with me as I have just been eating and eating and eating. ( A good thing about that is that I have managed to pick up my weight which I had lost at the end of last year due to stress so I no longer look gaunt and my clothes fit me again, yay).

But apart from eating well, in-between I have formed a love affair with Lays salt and pepper crisps and watermelon and in-between that, chocolate! Tomorrow starts the No Bad Snacking, working out and being as healthy as can be! Then in another weeks time, I will omit caffeine from my diet and only have it on occasion. (its amazing how much more energy I have when I don’t do coffee…)

I recently purchases Its All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow and it is exactly what it says on the cover, All Good. The recipes are easy to use, the food tastes great and its not bad for you! I have made her ‘candy bars’ which are healthy treats, full of nuts and coconut and topped with chocolate. Delicious! I also tried her almond butter biscuits but I didn’t have almond butter and wasn’t prepared to pay R160 for a jar, so used peanut butter instead. They taste just like peanut butter cookies, yum!

Green juice will become a staple again, if thats one thing I can recommend on a daily basis, its green juice!

Right enough about food, I am not sure how this turned into a food post but anyway I will end off with a quick update as to what my holiday consisted of:

* BIL’s 50th Birthday Party (still waiting on photos from my sister as I didn’t take any…)

* Spending some QT with my brother

* Hiking up Lions Head with my daughter. Was Awesome and will so be doing it again!

* A quiet Christmas

* Having some quality alone time and spending some time on me

* Movies, went to watch Frozen, thought was fab!

* Went shopping in the sales

And spent this last week beginning the wake up to Monday. And yes, I am ready!

Are you??

 

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Lets talk about a book

I first read about this book after Exmi had reviewed it and I thought it sounded pretty good. I then promptly forgot all about it (I find if I don’t write book names down, then they go completely out my head) until I saw it in the window of one of my favourite second hand book shops. I dashed in and bought it for a mere 90 raands, was most impressed and then left it on my bookshelf as I had other things to read at the time.

Come Christmas holidays, I had run out books to read, the library was closed so I scoured my bookshelves for something to read. (I still have a good 7 or so books which need to be read from my bookshelves but I did manage to make a dent in them over the holiday season…) And out came 30 Second World.

And I really enjoyed it! Emma van der Vliet is a South African author(as you know, I am a fan of good SA authors) and her previous novel Past Imperfect was published in 2007, I never reviewed the book but I read it at the beginning of 2012 and also enjoyed that novel.

She has a lovely writing style whereby the characters become like friends and you find yourself wondering what is going to happen to them when a) you have to put the book down to go to sleep b) you have finished the book but still the characters stay with you.

It is an easy read, and I love how she contrasts the different worlds. The one of TV ad production and real life. Alison is a working mother and I think that Emma manages to get right down to the nitty gritty of this character showing how often we make the wrong choices because we think they are the right ones and only once Life has pushed you to the absolute limit do we make the changes that were staring us in the eyeball all along! I love the blossoming friendship between Alison and Beth, I love the creativity of the novel, I love the characters. I love that I know where (most aka the swinger club, for those of you who have read it, I would not have a clue) most of the places are and can relate to the book. That is one of my most favourite things about reading South African authors where their books are based in Cape Town:-D

Read it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Have you read anything good lately?

(I have just started  ‘A Discovery of Witches’ by Deborah Harkness which I am already devouring it as if I haven’t read anything in ages….)

 

 

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Vision Board

So, we are 3 days in to  2014 and on FB, there are peoples ‘words’ coming out, I have to admit to this being one of my favourite times of the year in regards peoples words.  Mine is the same as  another blogger, but we can’t help that;-) Last year, my word was dream. This year, my word is brave. And yes, this year I need to BE brave, FEEL brave and DO brave. In most aspects of my life actually. Lets see:

Physical: i need to be brave in my Silks, both with doing drops, and with the duet  work. I have high aims for myself in regards this, I just need to BE BRAVE. Trust my body. I need to teach myself how to do the snatch with the kettle bell so I can officially get my kettle bell trainer certificate.

Emotional: I need to feel brave and decipher what on earth is going on in my relationship and if needs be, am I brave enough to ‘let it go’.

Spiritual: I need to be brave and step out of my comfort zone, I need to fill my cup, feed my soul and tend to my garden

Intellectual: Definitely need to add in some extra brain work this year! Again, brave enough to trust that the funds will come so that the two courses I am aiming to do this year, will be done. 1 being the Yoga for Kids course and 2nd Plant Essences. ( I have wanted to learn about Plant Essences for years now, but have just never done anything about it since a good  almost 10 years ago. Now is the time to be brave and do brave!)

Work: I need to be brave and go for it! – Which I have done, now keeping the faith while growing and trusting in the process.

Play: Definitely need to play more with my daughter. it doesn’t take a lot, a few tickles and some down time. There will be a bit more ‘free’ time in my days from now on, working from home. I also definitely need to chill out a bit more and laugh more with her. She is growing up so quickly that I really want to capture each moment as much as I can can. Even amidst my bad moods, my grumpiness, tiredness or need for alone time.

Balance: I am hoping this year, there will be even more balance between all aspects. Again, trusting, having faith and being brave.

I leave you with this:

Today, I was looking in the mirror bemoaning the fact that my skin has been Sun Hit, and my daughter said to me: Your face is beautiful mommy.  And it doesnt matter what you look like on the outside, you are beautiful on the inside. I replied, thank you for reminding me.

I am blown away by her beauty and the fact that my words do have an impact on her even if I don’t think so.

And though this may not be a vision board per se, ( I have decided that I would like to do one of those this year, I may just do it on pinterest) it is the start to actually figuring out what I hope this year will bring with it.

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2014 here we come!

Goodness, I can almost not believe that it is 2 days until 2014! What  a year!

I thought I should do a year end post with the remarkable things that happened and didnt happen this year…

* We moved into our house that we plan to buy ( didn’t happen this year)

* I participated in the Aerial Silks Showcase doing fancy schmancy things on silks!

* My daughter finished Playschool and starts Grade R next year

* I started teaching at my own home studio and have slowly started growing

* I resigned from teaching at another studio (cue nerves!)

* My sister spent Gemma’s 5th birthday with her and helped me do her cake

* I met Prime Circle and had my stomach autographed;-)

* I will be going to the Rocky Horror Show tomorrow night, but I am sure that will deserve an entire post on its own…!

And so, here is to 2014, may it be an awesome year, with growth, changes, love, confidence and many many blessings. This year, was truly blessed.

And if I don’t post before the first, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

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Oh my, I have been a bad blogger

Considering that it is 3 sleeps till Christmas and I haven’t blogged since November sometime. And right now,I should be doing my Sunday sorting but instead I have been on Goodreads, checking how many books I have read this year(about 80) and now, blogging!

What to tell you, lets see,

* I had a two day holiday up in the Eastern Cape with my daughter, brother, sister and her family to enjoy a 50th birthday party, which was great fun! (And we swopped Christmas pressies, ours are under our tree, waiting patiently to be unwrapped…)

* I have resigned from the studio that I have been working at for the last year and a half and am now going solo. A bit nervous, a bit excited, a bit sad but change wouldn’t be change without change….

* And with going solo, I will have another instructor teaching at my studio with me, Very excited about that, I feel all grown up being a ‘boss’

* My daughter is growing up too fast. She has finished playschool and will be heading into Grade R next year. I have her uniform bar for two pairs of shorts which will be purchased in the New Year, stickers for her stationery and again a small feeling of sadness at the leaving of her old school. It truly was a delight to be there. A small farm school with divine teachers. Ah well, we all have to grow up sometimes. ( And I don’t only mean her;-))

* Christmas will be quiet this year, there will just be the four of us at home so will be keeping it simple but hopefully very very tasty!

* I have had a good book reading year, a couple of my faves of the year have been Wool, The hundred year old man, Me before You, The strongest Librarian but I think this needs an entire post on its own…but I think my favourite favourite, was Mr Penumbra’s 24 hour book store.

And with that, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year! Here’s to all those books we can read in the next year!

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Photo challenge

I have joined in a photo a day challenge for the next 30 days and so far, I am thoroughly enjoying it! All my photos will be taken with an iPhone and I am attempting to think ‘out the box’ in regards to my capturing. Interpreting the prompts as I see fit. So far I am only on day two and I may not post every day here (as I am doing this via facebook too) but will put them all in one place by the end of it.

Day One:

Day Two:

I rather like these two so far and am looking forward to capturing the rest of the month.

If anyone would like to join in, please do, just leave a comment as to where you will be posting so we can come and look see.

Happy Photographing!

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Changing it up

Just a little bit. After some consideration I have decided to combine my two blogs onto The Book Club Blog. Finding the time to keep two blogs updated just isn’t working for me anymore, what with life, work and children, well, child. So, from now on, I will be blogging here. I will still mainly be blogging about the books I read, books I love, books I don’t, just with a touch of life thrown in for good measure.

I have read a couple of good books lately, time, she is in great command at the moment so I am not reading as much as I would like to but that will soon be remedied by the Christmas Holiday coming up. Excited much! I plan to do much loafing, much reading and much resting. It will be a well deserved break from the busyness that is life.

The last book I read was chick lit – Tasmina Perry Kiss Heaven Goodbye, a book club book which I have to say I did rather enjoy. Light, easy reading, without too much thinking involved which was perfect for a busy week wind down. What is it about? A group of friends are on holiday on a private island, a murky secret keeps them locked in the past while trying to live their futures and it all comes back to haunt them at the end. Nice little twist at the end, which I have to admit, I didn’t see coming! I have not read Tasmina Perry before, but for light easy reading, I may just do it again…

Another book which I enjoyed, I recently purchased from Exclusive Books with my ‘cash back’ voucher, don’t you love those?? was The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer. I enjoyed this book, also an easy read, but with a little more depth than my previous read;-) I don’t really want to give too much away as I think it would spoil the reading of it, but here is the back of the book blurb to give you an idea:

‘I’m going to tell you why we came back from the caravan holiday without Simon and how I spent the next ten years living with him. About Nanny Noo’s typewriter and why dead people still have birthdays. About the shock of the fall and the blood on my knee.

There are books you cant stop reading which keep you up all night.

There are books which let us into the hidden parts of life and make them vividly real

There are books which, because of the sheer skill with which every word is chosen, linger in your mind for days.

The Shock of the Fall is all of these books’

Intriguing right? I thought so and it did not disappoint. Definitely a most readable book and definitely skillfully written. I think this would make a great book gift.

As for other stuff, can you believe that Christmas is yet again, almost apon us? This year has flown by in a flurry of days, oh to be a child where the days are longer than they are…

Do you have any particular books you would like Santa to bring you? I don’t actually have anything on my wish list this year so far, can you believe it? Best I get some recommendations….(thats your cue…)

And with that I bid you a fond good night, I am off to read a little bit of my latest book – Elizabeth Gilbert – The Signature of all things. So far, an enjoyable read, nothing like Eat Pray Love, if you were groaning at the thought…;-)

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So many books, so little time…

Where to start?! I have had a lovely reading week and have managed to finish 4 books in the past 2 week and all of them enjoyable.

First up:  The Worlds Strongest Librarian – a memoir of Tourettes, Faith, Strength and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagame. I received this from the Christmas in July Book Swop, and what a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! And to be honest, what the book is about is in its title… definitely a book which makes you thankful for your lot and also, depending on the state of your family, possibly a little envious. Josh’s family structure is awesome, his parents are with him one hundred percent but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t get pushed to succeed in his life even with his tourettes. His faith- mormon, was an interesting read, I really enjoyed learning more about it. All in all a fabulous well recommended read!

Then I read Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius, which is also a true story about a boy who gets a mysterious illness which paralyses him completely and his journey from when he ‘wakes up’. Truly uplifting, heart warming, yet heart breaking in places, makes you realise the tenacity of life when there is love and recognition. He teaches himself to read, to communicate and to love. Beautiful book and again, highly recommended.

I was very keen to read Tiger Babies Strike Back – Kim Wong Keltner, especially after reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother – which caused controversy with mothers everywhere;-) but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Thats not to say it wasn’t enjoyable or interesting, it was, but I think I was expecting a little more oomph,why I am not entirely sure, probably just because of the other book I presume. This one was a lovely read, it was more about why Tiger Mothers are as they are, how they came to be that way and some Chinese history thrown in for good measure. She tell us how she is parenting differently because of how she was raised, but I think Tiger Mother or not, if you didn’t like the way you were raised, there is a pretty good chance that you are going to change your parenting style from those of your parents. I enjoyed this book, very readable, she has a lovely style of writing though I do have to admit to finding some paragraphs a little over the top, but at the same time, I could understand why she was writing as she did. I don’t think this book is for everyone. I do think that some readers may get a bit bored as there does seem to be repetition on the same subjects. This is one you will have to try for yourself…! ( I am glad to see that she has other fiction books out, which I am interested in trying.)

and on that note, I will leave you to it. More reviews to follow soon, currently I am reading Perfect by Rachel Joyce the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry which I Loved. This one seems to be slightly darker but it remains to be seen at the end of the book.

Happy Reading Week everyone!

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And the winner is….

Shayne!

 

Thank you, you followed all the steps and your name was drawn out of a hat:-)

Please contact me  within the next three days to let me know what book you would like The Book Depository to send you.

Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered, I wish I could give you all free books:-)

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Springtime Giveaway!

and this time it is international.

One lucky Book Club Blog reader will win any book of your choosing up to the value of $15 from The Book Depository, please check to see that they deliver to your country.

What do you need to do to enter?

3 simple steps.

1) Like us on FB

2) Share this give away via blog/twitter/facebook, either or, you choose

3) Tell us your favourite springtime reading either book title or author or what you hope to read this Spring or what you have read this Spring. You choose.

And thats it!

Please make sure that you leave an email address in order to get hold of you if you win. No email address, no entry;-(

On the 23rd September 2013 I will put all your names into a hat and my daughter will choose one. Yes, it really is as easy as all that. So,what are you waiting for??

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