The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
January 2012, Dutton Books

Synopsis from Goodreads: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.


My Thoughts: We all know people suffering from cancer. I know people who have died from this disease and who have beat it and are thriving today. It is a terrible thing that seems to be growing and spreading more rapidly than ever. I loved this book because it gives you a glimpse into the mind of a person fighting cancer. 


The main characters – Hazel and Gus describe cancer and talk about it in a very different way than I’ve ever thought about it personally. I loved everything about this novel. I feel like everyone should read it because in some way or another, we are all affected by cancer. Whether it is because of a loved one suffering from it, or a friend. It is a remarkable story. What would you do if you were diagnosed and knew you didn’t have much longer to live? Where would you go for your last big hoorah? I gave this book 5 stars. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Hampton was definitely spoiled by the Easter bunny this year. Here are a few pics from our day:

Most of you know I had a baby boy almost 6 months ago. I struggled getting off the last bit of baby weight for a couple of months until I finally put my foot down and started eating healthier and exercising every day. I didn’t start a “diet,” but I changed my lifestyle. Yoplait was definitely involved in this change. I love yogurt, especially for breakfast or to mix in shakes.

When I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Yoplait Greek 100 Strawberry yogurt vs. Chobani Simply 100 Strawberry challenge, it was a no brainer! I couldn’t wait to find out the best Greek yogurt. I pulled my husband into the Yoplait Taste Test as well. After blindfolding him, he tasted each yogurt. Here were the results: 


First up: Yoplait Greek 100 Strawberry

Next up: Chobani Simply 100 Strawberry

And the winner is: 


YOPLAIT!!! By …a lot. No offense to Chobani, but Ryan didn’t care for it at all, and after trying them both for myself, I couldn’t agree more. Chobani had a bit of a sour taste to it and the Yoplait yogurt had a much stronger strawberry taste which is the whole point of buying flavored yogurt, right? Congratulations, Yoplait!


Yoplait Greek 100 contains only 100 calories and is available in 12 flavors. It is a perfect healthy choice to add to any diet.


Click here to find out more on this challenge and see what other people are saying.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
July 2013, Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam


Synopsis on Goodreads: Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

My Thoughts: If you remember, The Husband’s Secret is on my Must Read in 2014 list. I was very excited to read it and it definitely did not disappoint. I loved What Alice Forgot that I read a few months ago (and was our Literary Junkies April read), so when I saw that this book had come out, I knew I had to read it ASAP. Like her previous hit book, this one makes you think. I honestly thought I knew what this book was going to be about but it was completely different which was a great surprise. It contains loss, hurt, lies, betrayal and how different women deal with all of the above. It was a wonderful story that left me breathless and in tears at the end. It was beautifully written. I can’t wait to read more from Moriarty. I gave this book 5 stars.




Have you read The Husband’s Secret? What are you reading?

I have been struggling with Easter basket ideas for Hampton this year. He is 5 1/2 months old, so it’s not like he has been begging me for the latest most popular toy. Do I fill it with things he needs like diapers, oragel, and wipes or do I fill it with fun things like teething rings, toys, books, etc.? So, I decided to do a little bit of everything. Here is what’s in Hampton’s Easter basket:

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Baby’s First Bible (board book)

Bath Toys

Oragel Teething Tablets

Gerber Oatmeal and Banana Cereal

Fisher-Price Rock and Learn Guitar

Thomas the Train

Veggie Tales Easter Collection 

I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling I get after a hot shower or bath. I feel so clean and fresh – it puts me in a better mood almost instantly. As a woman, I know and understand the importance of feeling fresh and clean throughout the day. Here are a few steps to help you feel more clean and fresh during your day:

Step 1: Start your day with a warm shower. It is the best way to wake up and get feeling clean and ready to face the day.

Step 2: Use Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper. People – especially women – shy away from talking about their bathroom habits. Why is that? I guess I’m just not shy about it. Everyone poops. That’s right, I said it. I’m sorry if that offends you, but you do it too, so it shouldn’t. This two-ply, tuggable, huggable, soft toilet paper goes a long way. Side note: My husband is always complaining about how much toilet paper I use. Since switching to Cottonelle Clean Care, I don’t use near as much. It saves money in the long run and leaves me feeling just as clean.

Step 3: Make yourself feel even more fresh by pairing your Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper with the Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Wipes. Seriously, these flushable bum cloths leave me feeling so refreshed. The wipes break up after flushing which makes them sewer and septic safe and they are alcohol free! These are a must have to add to your clean routine.

You can receive a $1.50 coupon to save on the Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper or cleansing wipes. Now you and your clean bum can make like Outkast and feel “so fresh and so clean” all day long.

Don’t forget to “Like” Cottonelle on Facebook!

Eleanor and Park
by Rainbow Rowell
February, 2013 St. Martin’s Griffin

Synopsis on Goodreads: Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.

Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.


My Thoughts: I was so excited to read this. It was actually a really good story, but I could only give it 3 stars.Why? Because it was too cliche.Your typical troubled teenage love story. There was nothing exciting about it. Nothing special about the story. It was even a bit boring in the beginning. I did like how she wrote it – going back and forth between their perspectives. I also enjoyed the characters. I don’t know if I was just too old for this novel, or if it just didn’t really captivate me like it does some people. I guess I couldn’t relate to the story. I wanted to love it. I really did, but I just didn’t. Anyways…I gave it 3 stars. Maybe Fangirl will be better? 

I went to the beach for my cousin’s Bachelorette party this past weekend. When you put us together, there is nothing but fun and good memories in the making. Although it rained most of the weekend, we did get a little beach time in. We shopped till we dropped and ate…and ate and ate.

Once we got to PCB, we went straight to Margaritaville, wore funny balloon hats (I didn’t get a picture of myself, darn) and got our Parrotheads on. I also enjoyed a Cheeseburger in Paradise that was as good as always.