REVIEW: Handle With Care

I just finished the book Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult. I have read numerous books by her and I have loved every single one of them. Those are the only books that have made me cry.

I thought this book was going to be no different.

Handle with Care is about a young girl named Willow O’Keefe who has osteogenesis imperfecta which is also known as brittle bone disease. Sneezing, falling, running into a table, and rolling over while she’s sleeping. She can break a bone so easily that she has broken over 60 bones and she’s only 6. In the book her mother sues the physician that happens to be her best friend. She sues her for wrongful birth, which is a lawsuit that states that if the mother had been informed of the medical condition of her child before birth she would have chosen to terminate the birth.

I don’t want to give any of the good stuff away, but this book is full of surprises. I could hardly put the book down! Not only did I learn about a medical condition that I knew little to nothing about I also learned a bunch of other facts, Willow reads a lot since she isn't allowed to play like normal kids due to how easily she breaks so throughout the book she spouts off random facts. 

Examples: an armadillo can walk underwater, a persons thumb is as long as their nose, a tuna will suffocate if it stops swimming.

I can't even begin to express the way this book made me feel. Jodi Picoult is and always will be my favorite author. Whenever I read her books I feel emotional invested in the lives of the characters. This book was no different. I didn't cry until the end, and even though I had a hunch as to what would happen, as soon as I read it tears welled up in my eyes and my nose began to run. 

I seriously suggest everyone read this book! It is so moving.

Happy reads,

♥  E

Here is a video of Jodi Picoult discussing Handle with Care

REVIEW: So You Think You Can Dance?

   For those of you who don't know what So You Think You Can Dance is {have you been living in a cave?}, it's a dance show that was created in 2005 by Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller. They hold auditions all over the U.S and they eventually eliminate it down to a top 20 {10 boys & 10 girls}, those top 20 are then put on the show. They're paired up and then they get assigned a choreographer. They have a loooong list of choreographers that help out on the show, sometimes the choreographers are used as judges too. The dancers dance then get judged by Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and a third judge that changes every week. At the end of the show America votes for their favorites and then next week people are eliminated based on the votes of America.


    Since I don't really have a lot to blog about because we haven't done much here, I decided to start reviewing things for you guys. I decided to start the reviewing with SYTYCD.
 
I am so pumped because I just got done watching this weeks episode of SYTYCD and OHMYGOSH! 
Can I just say that this season is totally my favorite. I have favorites from past seasons but I LOVE the whole group this season!
My favorite routines this week were as follows:

1. Cyrus and Eliana dancing a NappyTabs routine
2. Chehon and Whitney dancing a Stacey Tookey routine
3. George and Tiffany also dancing NappyTabs

If you couldn't tell Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo are my faovrite choreographing duo. I also LOVE Sonya Tayeh, Travis Wall, Tyce Diorio, Stacey Tookey, Pasha Kovalev, and Sean Cheesman. I think all of them are wonderful dancers and amazing choreographers.

I've been watching this show for so many seasons. I got hooked on it because of my best friend L and ever since I've been obsessed. I think this season is my favorite though.

My favorite individual dancers are{in no particular order}:

• Lindsey Arnold - Latin Ballroom
• Audrey Case - Jazz
• Eliana Girard - Contemporary Ballet
• Matthew Kazmierczak {SO CUTE!} - Contemporary
• Amelia Lowe - Contemporary
• Cyrus Spencer - Popping/ Animating
• Will Thomas - Contemporary
• Alexa Anderson - Contemporary
• Brandon Mitchell - Stepping

I have a serious heart attack every time my favorites are in the bottom 6. I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't seen this weeks episode or last weeks, but OH MY GOSH! I can't believe on of my favorites has gone home both weeks. I really hope two of my favorites make it to the top, maybe even win.

I can't believe they're taking a two week break! That is an outrage! But I know that when they return there will be some killer dance routines.

For those of you who haven't seen it, you should totally check it out and tell me what you think. For those of you who have seen it, you should also tell me what you think :)

Don't forget about National Dance Day guys! July 28! Mark your calendars. Head over to the Dizzy Feet Foundation to learn more and download the dances!

Hope you all have a dance-filled rest of the week!

♥  E

Credit: Wikipedia, YouTube, Google

La biblioteca

This is on one of the corners and I had to take a picture

This is what I made! Chicken parmigiana, pasta, and salad

      Grandpa went to Chicago earlier this week to visit his family, so while he did that I made dinner for grandma and I. I planned the whole dinner and made it all by myself. I'd say it turned out well.

  

       It was super delicious! I will definitely make it again. Maybe for friends when school gets back?

Who knows. All I know is that it was fabulous and I loved it.

Yesterday grandma and I went to the library.

I had high expectations because the library back home is AMAZING!

My hopes were slowly crushed, but overall it was an okay library.

I have a list of books that I want to read before school starts, and unfortunately the library here doesn't have most of them. I mean really? What library doesn't have classic books?!

Just some light reading :)

The books I got:

• The Tempest - William Shakespeare
• As You Like It - William Shakespeare
• Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult
• Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult
• The Complete Novels of Jane Austen Volume II

I thought this was cute

This is the little plaque on the statue

 The best part about that library was the fact that they had different cards that people could choose. I thought that was really cool.

The library kind of sucked but I'm glad that I get to read this summer. I remember that I spent one whole summer reading a few summers ago. Reading is always fun because it takes you away from where you are and puts you in a world of your own.

When I finish each of the books I'll review them for you :)

Read tons of books and have a great weekend!

♥  E

AMAZING!!!

So I basically haven't done anything important or blog worthy in a few days.

But today I not only got the most amazing news ever, I also got to Skype with my best friends!

The good news really doesn't involve me but I am SO excited for the people it does involve!

I couldn't stop smiling when I heard. AHHHHHH!!! BEST. NEWS. EVER!

I'm not allowed to say what it is, but OHMYGOSH!

Then I started Skyping with S and we Skyped for about an hour, then we got my little mermaid and M to Skype with us. It was honestly so amazing to hear from all of them.

We've come in agreeance that I need to get home ASAP!

Unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen. And I have to miss M's birthday at the end of the month :(

Even though I am super homesick, I really enjoyed seeing and talking to those three.

It made my day instantly better. And made my summer infinitely better.

Hopefully we Skype again.

I miss my Ashland Familia :(

But I know that I will see them all in due time.

Good things come to those who wait, so I shall wait for my good thing :)

Have a lovely weekend all,

♥  E

Creativity

This is the skirt that I designed and made last weekend :)

Grandma and I are gonna make a few more things while I'm here and I'm pretty excited.

I used to design clothes when I was little, we were gonna open our own boutique and name it E & E designs, but then I got lazy and stopped designing.

{Laziness is the reason my life isn't totally awesome BTW}

Anyway I love this little skirt, it's totally adorable and I cannot wait to party in it.

Yes I did make this skirt to go partying, I'm in college, what did you expect?

I've already started designing some more stuff ,

{mentally because I have the drawing skills of a two-year-old}, and I can't wait to make them.

I guess in a way coming to Michigan wasn't the worst thing ever.

Don't get me wrong I still very much want to be home, but I get free clothes and stuff so it's not all bad.

On a sad note; I'm almost done watching the whole series of Friends.

Yes I have spent a lot of my time watching "tv" {it's on my computer}, but there's nothing else to do.

I'm not sure how I'm going to handle watching the last season... I've grown VERY attached to that little group of friends, they remind me of my little Ashland family.

WHO I LOVE AND MISS VERY MUCH!

Oh well, I'll just have to start watching a different shows series.

My summer is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glamorous.... NOT!

Have a lovely week all! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA! :)

♥  E

Shopping, shopping, and more shopping

Yesterday Grandma and I went to an out door mall, it was a lot like Bridgeport or Streets of Tanasborne (if you're not from Beaverton/Portland ignore that). We didn't end up buying anything because I pretty much didn't like any of it.

Then today we went to the mall we usually go to. I got a few things :)

We only went to Macy's and Sears because since it's Sunday the mall closes at 6 and we got there at like 5. But it was still enjoyable!

Here's what I got:

SEARS:

New pair of sandals

Super cute laptop sleeve

Summery button up shirt

Of course more stripes.. Damn you Burrito

MACY'S:

This skirt is absolutely adorable!

Zebra print leggings

 When we got back from shopping I planted some flowers in the garden for Grandma and she watered all of her flowers and plants. Then Grandma, Grandpa and I all went grocery shopping to get food for the 4th.
When we came out of the store the sun was setting so I snapped a few pictures

You can't tell here, but the sky was super pink

The moon was so big!

Tomorrow we're going job hunting and to Joann's for fabric. I'm pretty excited. I've come to realize that this summer isn't super horrible, I'd still much rather be home, but I guess I'll be okay.... For now.
♥  E

99 degrees of job applications

This is how hot it was today. Plus humidity

Today was HOT! And of course I wore jeans when we first left. Not my best idea.

But I only did it because I was going to fill out job applications and I thought that was more professional than pink and white striped boot shorts...

I might have an interview though! And we're going to go fill out more applications tomorrow. I really hope I get a job, because even though it would cause me to stay longer I'd have money which would be amazing, especially since Forever 21 is so close :)

After we got back from filling out apps and getting groceries we ate dinner. Then Grandma and I talked for hours. She asked all about school, then freaked out about my school, then tried to "teach me how to really shop", it was overall a good talk but some parts were super annoying.

I like talking to her, but sometimes she takes things too seriously. And she worries too much.

I just hope that I get a job really soon so I won't be stuck in the house 24/7. I'm also going to start running as soon as it isn't a million degrees.

Getting fit and making money. New goals for this summer!

I LOOOOOVED olives when I was younger, and I still LOOOOVE the Olive Garden :)

Happy Throw Back Thursday!

♥  E

ROAD TRIP!

The way to my heart :)

This time my delayed post have a better reason than me being lazy. The internet quit working on Monday around 8am EST and didn't start working until yesterday at about 9pm EST. Anyway here's an overview.

SUNDAY:

Lazy day. I don't think I really got out of bed. But I did iron some fabric for my quilt, and I have to say that was quite fun. I can't wait to finish the quilt and take it back to school with me!

This has music notes on it

Red fabric :)

MONDAY:

Road trip to Jackson, MI., anyone?

My outfit for the day. New tank, blue jeans, sweater

Well this day was quite eventful! I didn't sleep because we needed to be up and out of the door by 8 am, and Grandma and I had a super long talk that lasted until 4:30am so there was no point in sleeping. Then I got up and got ready at about 7. We left at about 8ish and went to McDonald's for a quick breakfast (their bacon, egg and cheese bagel isn't too bad). Then we hit the road, I was in and out of sleep so I have no idea how long the trip took. But we arrived in Jackson, MI and went to the little meeting that Grandpa was attending. It was super boring, it was just a bunch of old people talking about something. I have no idea what because I was reading the whole time. After the meeting we went to Kroger (which I guess is like their version of Fred Meyer, considering Fred Meyer brand is Kroger). We bought some delicious fruit. Then we came home and I took a SUPER long nap, and even with that long nap I still went to bed early (mostly because the internet wasn't working, I was bored, and I was tired).

My favorite picture of the whole trip :)

Oh yeah and Daily Grace liked my post on Tumblr!! :D

TUESDAY:

Grandma wasn't feeling well yesterday so I stayed in my room and tried to be quiet so that I wouldn't bother her. I texted Burrito and my Mermaid and an old friend from high school, which was great. The internet came back to me and that made my day better instantly. I watched Pretty Little Liars, then I watched Friends and Jessie (yeah I still watch kid shows, got a problem with that?). Oh yeah and Grandpa made me bacon :) A man after my heart for sure ♥ 

Around 3 am one of my best friends, my British Mate (she's not British but we pretend we are when we're together), texted me and told me that at the end of the summer she's moving to California. I was in the process of going to sleep when she texted me. That brought my mood down and I wasn't tired at all. Then my Mermaid texted me, it's amazing it's like he always knows I'm down and texts me to make me feel better. He's kind of the best. Then I went out and discovered Grandma was still awake so we talked. Then I stayed up all night and watched Friends and the season finale of Girls, and downloaded new music and games and stuff.

I promise that my next post will be tomorrow and be 100x shorter!

Have a great weekend :)

♥  E

Quilting 101

There is one simple reason I haven't blogged in four days: I haven't felt like blogging.
Let me update you on what has happened.

WEDNESDAY:
We didn't really do anything, except we went to Mejer and our check out guy was creepy.
He looked like a rapist and kept smiling at me. I ran out of there as fast as possible.

This is Creepy Mccreeper

After that Grandpa wanted to try the new Arby's Ultimate BLT so we did. It was AMAZING!

I sent this picture to Burrito because I'm kind of an ass :)

THURSDAY:

We started making a quilt for me. I designed every inch of it. We went to Joann's for some fabric and then we got started that night. It's really coming along. We should be done by July.

Look at all of this fabric! That's not even half their stock

Getting prepared to iron the fabric after we stitch it

The sewing machine that Grandma doesn't let anyone (but me) use

This is just a taste of what part of the quilt will look like

FRIDAY:

Nothing much happened. I felt sick all day and missed my mom and family and friends, so I stayed in bed pretty much all day. Then after dinner Grandma and I worked on my quilt some more. We hand stitched some of the black and white squares together.

SATURDAY:

I woke up super late because I stayed up wayyy to late. Then Grandma and I went to the mall to see if I could get a job. No such luck. Hopefully I'll find something soon, because I want to leave already. I got super homesick and started crying really hard.

I just miss everyone so much, and for some reason it feels like nobody misses me. It just kind of hurts.

I talked to my mom for a little bit and that made me sad too. I actually miss my mom which tells me that I need to go home as soon as possible because I never miss my mom.

Hopefully something amazing happens and I start having fun.

♥  E

Retail Therapy :)

Today Grandma took me to the mall for some much needed shopping.

Prior to this shopping trip I found something out and my mood diminished so this shopping trip was just what I needed. I forgot about everything that was bothering me and just shopped! 

From Macy's I got this:

Sweater and tank top, you can't tell but it's a really cute teal color

From New York and Company I got this:

A peachy colored tank top with a pocket on the front

From Forever 21 I got these:

A blue and white stripped shirt, this reminds me of my Burrito

Blue tank top, it's darker than it appears

From Sears I got these:

Yellow country looking strapless shirt

Blue purse. It was $40 but we got it for like $6

 All in all we should have spent about $167.94 but we only spent $48.63. Talk about bargain shopping!!! It was a pretty great time all in all. It made me homesick a bit because the mall here is way different from the one back home. 

Then when we got back here things went a bit haywire via texting, which only added to my homesickness. Dinner was way awkward because I wanted to cry the whole time, but I didn't. I am entirely too protective of my friends, but it's only because I care. I think everything is going to be okay though. My little family (aka my best friends from home/school) has been through a lot lately and I think this is just one of those speed bumps that we can easily get over. I have faith. Watching Pretty Little Liars isn't helping this serious case of homesickness, but I think I'll be okay... I hope at least. I wonder what tomorrow has in store for me.

I miss and love my little family, and we'll be back together in no time.

♥  E